Fodder Material for NABARD Grade A/B

Topic 1 – Sustainable Nitrogen Management has become a necessity for

sustainable environment. Discuss

Among the plant nutrients, nitrogen is the most important nutrient for the
growth of the plant. Its importance as a growth and yield determining nutrient
has led to large and rapid increase in nitrogen application rates. This has often
resulted into the poor nitrogen use efficiency and it has also a negative impact
on the environment.

Other roles of Nitrogen in Agriculture Production

• Nitrogen is necessary for the formation of amino acids which are

building blocks of protein.
• Nitrogen is essential for plant cell division and imparts green colour to
the plants.
• Nitrogen is a component of chlorophyll and therefore essential for
photosynthesis.
• Nitrogen plays an important role in synthesis of auxin.

Negative Impact of Excessive use of Nitrogen Fertilizers in Agriculture and

Environment

• Excessive use of nitrogen through fertilizers causes a loss of certain plant

species.
• Too much nitrogen in a soil also creates an imbalance of nutrients that
causes a depletion of other important minerals such as phosphorus,
calcium and magnesium.
• Nitrogen soaks deeply into the soil after a rain or irrigation, reaching
ground water and nearby wells. This has led to contamination of water
which directly harms human beings.
• When nitrogen levels in rivers and streams increases, it aid in algae
overgrowth. As algae dies and decomposes, organic matter in the water
increases which resulted in deficiency of oxygen in the water. Without
oxygen fish and other aquatic animals die.

These are all reasons which directly affect the environment.

Solution

After going through the impacts of nitrogen in agriculture production and

environment, we should think of the possible solutions to end this menace.
There are some of the probable solution for that. Like:

• Use the appropriate amount of fertilizers which are required for the
plant growth. For this Indian government has also started Soil Health
Card Scheme.
Under the scheme, government provide Soil Health Card to farmers
which have soil nutrient status of his/her holding. This will help farmer
to know exactly the amount of fertilizer required to soil.
• Farmers should use neem coated urea. It will increase the nitrogen use
efficiency and there will be no need to use excessive amount of
fertilizer.
For this government has also made mandatory for domestic fertilizer
firms to neem coat at least 75% of their urea production.
• The farmers should go for organic farming under which farmers use
green manures and compost, biological pest controls etc. This will
reduce the impact of excessive use of nitrogen to the environment.
• NGOs and the government should create awareness among farmers
about the impact of excess nitrogen to the environment.

To conclude, we can say that excessive use of nitrogen is affecting the

agriculture production and environment as well. Therefore, sustainable
nitrogen management has become a necessity for sustainable environment.

Topic 2- Do you think Universal Sanitation Coverage will be a milestone in the

journey of Swachh Bharat Mission?

Swachh Bharat Mission is a mass movement that seeks to create a Clean India
by 2019. The father of our nation Mahatma Gandhi always laid the emphasis
on swachhta as swachhta leads to healthy and prosperous life. Keeping this in
mind, the Indian government has decided to launch the swachh bharat mission
on October 2, 2014.The mission will cover all rural and urban areas. The urban
component of the mission will be implemented by the Ministry of Urban
Development, and the rural component of the mission by the Ministry of
Drinking Water and Sanitation.

Objectives of Swachh Bharat Mission

• The mission aims to achieve an “open defecation free” India by October

2, 2019 and achieve universal sanitation coverage.
• To convert the insanitary toilets into pour flush toilets.
• To remove the system of manual scavenging.
• To make people aware of healthy sanitation practices by bringing
behavioural changes in people.
• To link people with the programmes of sanitation and public health in
order to generate public awareness.
• To build up the urban local bodies strong in order to design, execute and
operate all systems related to cleanliness.
• To completely start the scientific processing, disposals reuse and
recycling of the Municipal Solid Waste.

Achievements of Swachh Bharat Mission

• Till now, around 89 million household toilets were built since 2 nd

October, 2014.
• Under the Swachh Bharat Mission, more than 5 lakh villages were made
open defecation free.
• Total 533 districts and 25 states were made open defecation free.
• According to National Annual Rural Sanitation Survey (NARSS) 2018-19,
the ‘Household Toilet Coverage’ in India has increased to 96.55% till
November 2018 from 38.70% in October, 2014.

Conclusion

As we have discussed that universal sanitation coverage is one of the primary

objectives of Swachh Bharat Mission. To achieve this, central and state
government has started many initiatives like Namami Gange initiative,
Mission Nirmal Bangla of West Bengal etc. The day is not very far when we
achieve universal sanitation coverage and this will be a milestone in the
journey of Swachh Bharat Mission.
Topic 3- Suggest some measures to mitigate the impact of the most severe
water crisis being faced by India.

Introduction

• Water is life because plants and animals cannot live without water.
• Water is needed to ensure food security, feed livestock, needed for
industrial production and to conserve the biodiversity and environment.
• Although, India is not a water poor country, due to growing human
population, severe neglect and over-exploitation of this resource, water
is becoming a scarce commodity.
• While this is a growing concern all over the world, India is most
vulnerable because of the growing demand and in-disciplined lifestyle.
• This calls for immediate attention by the stakeholders to make
sustainable use of the available water resources to ensure better quality
of lives.

Reasons behind water scarcity in India

• Inefficient use of water for agriculture.

• Reduction in traditional water recharging areas.
• Sewage and wastewater drainage into traditional water bodies.
• Release of chemicals and effluents into rivers, streams and ponds.
• Lack of on-time de-silting operations in large water bodies that can
enhance water storage capacity during monsoon.
• Lack of efficient water management and distribution of water between
urban consumers, the agriculture sector and industry.

Solutions to the water crisis

• Increasing water storage capacities through activities such as farm

ponds, percolation tanks, water reservoirs and construction of small and
medium size dams can retain more surface water, while increasing the
ground water recharge.
• Interlinking of rivers will help in preventing floods while improving water
distribution in the country.
 • Judicious distribution of water for different uses can help in preventing
water scarcity.
• Efficient irrigation practices like drip and sprinkle irrigation will reduce
the water requirement.
• Development of watersheds is an important programme to make best
use of the rainwater which can provide assured water supply to
agriculture in rain fed areas.
• One of the most important reasons for water scarcity in India is
increasing water pollution. So we should try to control water pollution.
• Over 70% of the global water resources being saline, economic
desalination of sea water is an excellent option to meet the future
shortage of sweet water particularly to meet the human consumption.
• There is a need for promoting multidisciplinary researchers to study
various aspects of water resources, conservation, efficient storage,
reduction of losses and sustainable utilisation.
• Development of local capabilities by grooming new generation water
management technicians and managers to implement various innovative
projects with greater efficiency.
• Review of the National Water Policy to enforce a ban on flood irrigation,
discontinuation of free power supply to pump underground water and
prevention of untreated sewage and effluent into rivers should be taken
up immediately.

Conclusion

• India is not a water deficit country, but due to severe neglect and lack of
monitoring of water resources development projects, several regions in
the country experience water stress from time to time.
• Further neglect in this sector will lead to water scarcity during the next
1-2 decades.
• It is therefore necessary to prevent this crisis by making best use of the
available technologies and resources to conserve the existing water
resources, convert them into utilisable form and make efficient use of
them for agriculture, industrial production and human consumption.
Topic 4- What is the importance of the coral cover for the protection of
biodiversity below water?
Introduction
• Biodiversity is the variety of living species that can be found in a
particular place like region, ecosystem, planet, etc.
• Coral reefs are often called the rainforests of the sea, both due to the
vast amount of species they harbour, and to the high productivity they
yield.
• Coral reefs are believed by many to have the highest biodiversity of any
ecosystem on the planet, even more than a tropical rainforest. It is home
to a multitude of different types of fish, invertebrates and sea mammals.
• Occupying less than one percent of the ocean floor, coral reefs are home
to more than twenty-five percent of marine life.
Importance of Coral Reefs
• The coral reefs protect coastlines from the damaging effects of wave
action and tropical storms.
• It provides habitats and shelter for many marine organisms.
• The coral reefs are the source of nitrogen and other essential
nutrients for marine food chains.
• It assists in carbon and nitrogen fixing and also helps with nutrient
recycling.
• The fishing industry depends on coral reefs because many fish
spawn there and juvenile fish spend time there before making their
way to the open sea.
• The study of coral reefs is important for providing a clear,
scientifically-testable record of climatic events over the past million
years or so. This includes records of recent major storms and human
impacts that are recorded by the changes in coral growth patterns.

How coral reef protects biodiversity below water?

• Climate change from rising levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) is having two
major effects in our seas: global warming and ocean acidification and
the combination of these threats are affecting marine life from single
organisms to species communities.
 • So the reefs play important part in protecting the biodiversity by
working as a shield to the biodiversity below water.

Conclusion
It is important to protect coral reefs because they are a significant part of
how people of the world live their lives.

Topic 5- Mention the features of Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana

Introduction

• In March 2019, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has

approved the “Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN (Jaiv Indhan- Vatavaran Anukool
fasal awashesh Nivaran) Yojana” for providing financial support to
Integrated Bioethanol Projects using lignocellulosic biomass and other
renewable feedstock.
• The scheme was launched under Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
with total financial outlay of Rs 1969.50 crore for the period from 2018-
19 to 2023-24.
• The scheme aims to incentivise 2G Ethanol sector and support this
nascent industry by creating a suitable ecosystem for setting up
commercial projects and increasing research and development in this
area.

Features of the scheme

• To accomplish the Government of India’s vision to reduce import

dependence by way of substituting fossil fuels with biofuels.
• Meeting of the green house gas emissions reduction targets through
progressive blending/ substitution of fossil fuels.
• Addressing environmental concerns caused due to the burning of
biomass/ crop residues and to improve the health of citizens.
• Augmenting the farmer’s income by providing them remunerative
income for their otherwise waste agriculture residues.
• Creation of rural & urban employment opportunities in 2G Ethanol
projects and Biomass supply chain.
 • To complement the Swacch Bharat Mission by supporting the
aggregation of non-food biofuel feedstocks such as waste biomass and
urban waste.
• 12 commercial scale and 10 demonstration scale second generation (2G)
ethanol projects will be provided a viability gap funding.
• Contribute to Swachh Bharat Mission by supporting the aggregation of
non-food biofuel feedstocks such as waste biomass and urban waste.
• Indigenizing of second generation biomass to ethanol technologies.
• The ethanol produced by the scheme beneficiaries will be mandatorily
supplied to oil marketing companies to further enhance the blending
percentage under Ethanol Blending Programme.
• Centre for High technology, a technical body under the aegis of Ministry
of Petroleum and Natural Gas, will be the implementing agency for the
scheme.

Topic 6- Some states have started to take the measures related to drought
proofing and rejuvenation of water bodies. Discuss the need of such
measures.

Introduction

• Droughts are a common occurrence in semi-arid areas and their

frequency and intensity is expected to increase with climate change.
• For a period 1871 to 2002, India experienced 22 droughts of which 5
were severe.
• Drought is a normal feature of climate and it will keep occurring at
intervals.
• Meteorologically, ± 19% deviation from the long-term mean is
considered as normal whereas deficiency in the range of 20-59% is
considered as moderate drought and more than 60% is severe drought.
• Due to weak monsoons in last 3-4 years and decrease of groundwater
has led to the drought like situations in most part of the country and
especially in South India.
• For this reason, some states have started to take the measures related
to drought proofing and rejuvenation of water bodies.
Need for measures like drought proofing and rejuvenation of water bodies

• As water is the basic necessity of the human beings as human being

cannot live without water. The water is used for domestic purposes like
washing, drinking, cooking, washing etc.
• Water is also needed to ensure food security, feed livestock, needed for
industrial production and to conserve the biodiversity and environment.
• Water is used by agriculture sector for the purpose of irrigation.
Therefore, water is essential for providing good irrigation for the better
productivity of crops.
• Water is also used by industrial sector. Some of the major water
intensive industries are: pulp and paper industries, textile industries,
breweries and soft drinks etc. So, these industries also need water for
their sustenance.
• The water is also used for hydro-electricity power generation.

For these reasons there is a need to take measures related to drought proofing
and rejuvenation of water bodies.

Measures of Drought Proofing

Different states have also taken some drought proofing measures to prevent
water scarcity. Some of the steps taken by state governments are:

• Harness water trough further spread of irrigation, groundwater and

watershed development.
• Evolve and spread drought resistant and short duration high yielding
varieties of crops.
• Construction of large reservoirs and dams.
• Water harvesting techniques were adopted by states.
• Institutional arrangements for drought monitoring are established
under Indian Meteorological Department.
• Early warning and relief measures have also been taken by state
governments.

Topic 7- Do you agree with the fact that policies of Forest Management in
India need a major change so as to give a boost to the forest based industries
of India?
Introduction

• Forests provide a wide range of economic and social benefits to

mankind. These include contributions to the overall economy like
through employment, processing and trade of forest products and
energy and investments in the forest sector.
• It also includes the hosting and protection of sites and landscapes of
high cultural, spiritual or recreational value. Maintaining and enhancing
these functions is an integral part of sustainable forest management.

Problems related to Indian Forest

• Inadequate and dwindling forest cover.

• Low productivity.
• Nature of forests and their uneconomical utilisation.
• Lack of transport facilities.
• Forest fires.
• Plant diseases, insects and pests.
• Lack of Commercial forest.
• Lack of scientific techniques.

Need for Forest Management

• To ensure sustainable management of forests and land resources.

• To ensure effective stakeholder participation in the planning process.
• To provide protection of areas identified as significant for conservation.
• To identify areas for forest harvesting.
• To ensure proper and equitable returns to stakeholders based on
sustained productivity.

Solutions

As we have seen that in India the focus of forest policy is to make a balance
between tribal rights and preservation of ecology. The Forest policy of 1988
had also emphasised that. Therefore, the policy would be such that forest
based industries should be promoted but not at the cost of tribal rights and
ecology.
For this reason, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change came
up with draft National Forest Policy in March 2018. The objective is to
safeguard the ecological and livelihood security of people, of present and
future generations based on sustainable management of the forests for the
flow of ecosystem services.

Salient features of Draft National Forest Policy 2018

• The draft forest policy has introduced some new concept:

1) Economic valuation of ecosystem services
2) Forest Certification
3) National forest ecosystem management information system
• It aims to bring a minimum one-third of India’s geographical area under
forest cover through scientific interventions and enforcing strict rules to
protect the dense forest.
• To stabilize ecologically sensitive catchment areas with suitable soil and
water conservation measures and also by planting suitable trees and
grass like bamboo.
• Compensatory Afforestation Fund will be a major source of funds for
taking up afforestation and rehabilitation works.
• Threats to forests due to encroachments, illegal felling of trees, forest
fires, invasive weeds, grazing, etc. will be addressed within the
framework of the approved management plan and also by ensuring
community participation in forest management.
• Establishment of National Community Forest Management Mission.
This mission will have a legal basis and an enabling operational
framework.

There are also concerned raised against the provisions of Draft National Forest
Policy 2018, however with rigorous measures like integration of the forest
policy and decentralisation of forest wealth, the policy will solve the lacunas of
the problem of forest management.

Topic 8- Discuss the relevance of “India Cooling Action Plan” launched by the
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

Introduction
 • Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has released India
Cooling Action Plan (ICAP).
• India is one of the first countries in the world to develop a
comprehensive Cooling Action plan.
• It has a long term vision to address the cooling requirement across
sectors and lists out actions which can help reduce the cooling demand.
• Cooling requirement is an essential part for economic growth and is
required across different sectors of the economy such as residential and
commercial buildings, cold-chain, refrigeration, transport and industries.
• ICAP aims to provide sustainable cooling while keeping in mind, at the
same time, the need to protect the ozone layer.
• It provides a 20-year perspective, with projections for cooling needs in
2037-38.

Objectives of India Cooling Action Plan

• Assessment of cooling requirements across sectors in the next 20 years

and the associated refrigerant demand and energy use.
• Map the technologies available to cater to the cooling requirement
including passive interventions, refrigerant-based technologies and
alternative technologies such as not-in-kind technologies.
• Suggest interventions in each sector to provide for sustainable cooling
and thermal comfort for all.
• Focus on skilling of Refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) service
technicians.
• Develop an R&D innovation ecosystem for indigenous development of
alternative technologies.

Key Features of India Cooling Action Plan

• It seeks to recognize “cooling and related areas” as a thrust area of

research under National Science and Technology Programme.
• It also seeks to reduce cooling energy requirements by 25% to 40% by
2037-38.
• Training and certification of 1,00,000 servicing sector technicians by
2022-23, in synergy with Skill India Mission.
 • It also makes provision for cooling for Economically Weaker
Section (EWS) and Low Income Group (LIG) housing.
• ICAP is in line with Montreal Protocol, the plan emphasis on cutting
those elements that deplete ozone layer.
• Its goal is to provide sustainable cooling and thermal comfort for all
while securing environmental and socio-economic benefits for the
society.
• It also seeks to reduce cooling demand across sectors by 20% to 25% by
the year 2037-38.
• It also seeks to reduce refrigerant demand by 25% to 30% by the year
2037-38.

Relevance of India Cooling Action Plan

• The plan encourages the use of materials that are energy

efficient where embodied energy is minimum i.e. amount of energy
used in making the material is less.
• Thermal cooling through refrigerators or air conditioners will be done in
more energy efficient manner.
• The plan will possibly lead to emergence of new technologies in the
area of cooling and can also make India leader of such technologies.
• The plan will help in convergence with the interests of consumers that
with of the interests of the economy and that of the mankind in terms
of climate change.
• Consumers will be able to save money as their electricity bill due to air
conditioning will come down.
• New efficient technologies will provide a marketing advantage to
builders.
• The plan will help India in meeting its Paris commitment of reducing
carbon emissions.

Topic 9- Do you think providing livelihood opportunities in rural India is most

important for sustainable development in urban areas? Suggest some
measures to do so.

Introduction
 • The famous quote by Mahatma Gandhi – “India lives in its village” still
holds true. Villagers comprise the core of Indian society and also
represent the real India.
• According to Census 2011, 68.84% of the people live in rural areas.
• People living in rural areas are facing different problems and the most
important is lack of livelihood opportunities.
• Due to this problem, people are migrating from rural areas to urban
areas in search of jobs which cause unbalanced urbanisation and
extreme urban decay in India.
• Currently, India is facing two major problems, rural unemployment and
unbalanced urbanisation which are both interconnected.

Reason for Lack of Opportunities in Rural Areas

• Rapid population growth especially in the rural areas.

• As in rural areas, agriculture is the only means of employment. Due to
seasonal nature of agriculture, people living in rural areas are facing
problem of unemployment in off-season.
• Due to increase in population, fragmentation of land occurs which
creates great obstacle in the part of agriculture.
• Decline of cottage industries is all one of the most important reasons for
the lack of opportunities in rural areas.
• Due to backward nature of agriculture, the productivity of the land is
less. Therefore, people finding other opportunities for employment
which is a cause of unemployment.
• Lack of transport and communication is also directly affecting the
unemployment rate in rural areas.
• Lack of quality education and absence of college nearby also directly
impacted the unemployment rate in rural areas.
• Lack of innovative ideas and proper employment planning had also
affected the employment situation in rural areas.

Problems of Rapid Urbanization

As people are migrating from rural to urban areas, the problems of

urbanisation occur. The problems of rapid urbanisation are:

• High population density

• Rapid urbanisation leads to a chronic problem of shortage of houses in
urban areas.
• Unemployment in urban areas is also directly linked to urbanisation.
 • Development of slum areas especially in metropolitan centres.
• Problems of traffic congestion increases as urbanisation increases.
• Water scarcity and unavailability of safe drinking water.
• Problem of sanitation and unavailability of hygienic food.

Measures to solve problems Rural Unemployment

• One of the most important solutions for rural unemployment is to

provide employment to the people living in rural areas. Government has
also started various programmes like Prime Minister Employment
Generation Programme, MGNREGA etc.
• The reason of rural unemployment is also the absence of investment
opportunities for the private sector. Government should provide
favourable environment and incentives to private sector so that they
would invest in rural areas as well.
• Labour intensive technology should be used which can create jobs
especially in rural areas.
• Diversification of agriculture is also a probable solution for rural
unemployment. There is a need for farmer to shift from growing of crops
to horticulture, vegetable production, floriculture, animal husbandry,
fisheries etc. which are more labour absorbing and higher income
yielding.
• Promotion of agro-processing industries for export purposes has also a
large employment generation potential.
• The central and state government should also focus investing in
education and health. In addition to education, government should also
focus on imparting the appropriate skills according to the needs of the
industry.
• Creating more employment opportunities in the rural areas through
intensive farming, greater irrigation facilities, extension of community
projects, co-operative farming, development of village industry and
settlement of agricultural labourers on the reclaimed land.
• Emphasis should also be laid on the development of small-scale and
cottage industries to relieve the pressure on land. These not only help in
creating employment opportunities but also check the rate of migration
from rural to urban areas.
• Self-employment schemes for the unemployed youth have to be
launched to enable them to start their own business or small-scale firm,
which can also generate employment for many others.
Topic 10- How has the PM-UJJWALA yojana changed the lives of rural people
by providing LPG connections?

Introduction

• Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana was launched by the PM Narendra Modi

on May 1st, 2016 in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh.
• The objective of this scheme is to provide free LPG connections to
women from BPL households. The list was later expanded to include all
SC/ST households and forest dwellers among others. Recently, the
scheme is being extended to all poor household.
• Under the scheme, Rs 8000 crore has been earmarked for providing
five crore LPG connections to BPL households. The Scheme provides a
financial support of Rs 1600 for each LPG connection to the BPL
households.
• The identification of eligible BPL families will be made in consultation
with the State Governments and the Union Territories.
• This Scheme would be implemented over three years from 2016 to
2019.
• This is the first time in the history of the country that the Ministry of
Petroleum and Natural Gas would implement a welfare scheme
benefitting crores of women belonging to the poorest households.

Objectives of the scheme

• Protecting the health of women and empowering them.

• Curbing health issues that result from using fossil fuels and other fuels
for cooking.
• Reducing casualties that occur as a result of unclean fuels used for
cooking.
• To control respiratory issues that which occurs due to indoor pollution
because of using fossil fuel which does not burn cleanly.
• Preventing the degradation of purity of environment that is
compromised by widespread usage of unclean cooking fuel.

Changes bring by PM Ujjwala Scheme

• The scheme has strengthened the lives of the poor, marginalised, dalits,
tribal communities and played a central role in social empowerment.
 • Some of the independent survey revealed that cooking on gas stoves
helped women to save at least 1-2 hours daily. This was partly because
cooking on gas was faster and because it saved them the time and effort
needed to go out to collect firewood.
• The survey also revealed that women found their houses to be cleaner
now, in the absence of smoke emissions that would earlier come with
using biomass and firewood, staining their utensils and roofs with soot.
• The lack of smoke had also reduced health problems in women, such as
burning sensation in the eyes, coughing and even headaches.
• The scheme has enhances Ease of Living of rural women through smoke
free kitchens.

Challenges

Besides great benefits of this scheme, it has also numerous challenges.

• Main challenge is identification of poor household for allotment of free

LPG connection in the absence of proper and authentic data.
• Usage of socio economic caste census data may be misused by well offs
or it remain poorly targeted.
To conclude we can say that the Pradhan Mantri Ujwala Yojana is one of the
most important schemes to assist the unemployed or self-employed
individuals of India.