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FAQ
A recent study says two-thirds of the glaciers in the Himalaya-Karakoram-Hindu Kush mountain ranges could
disappear by 2100 if global emissions are not reduced. The International Centre for Integrated Mountain
Development, an intergovernmental organisation focussed on environmental and social change in Hindu Kush
Himalaya, released the findings of a report in Feb, 2019. It warned that one-third of the glaciers in the Hindu
Kush Himalayan region could disappear by the end of the century — even if the world limits the temperature
rise to 1.5 degrees C. And if greenhouse gas emissions continue at their current levels, the region could lose as
much as two-thirds of its ice. Why is this a bad news?

Here is a FAQ on it - basic concepts and current development.

WHAT are glaciers?

Seventy per cent of the earth’s surface is water. Of the remaining 30%, 20% is land and 10% is ice. Most of
the ice is in the Arctic and the Antarctic, and the rest is scattered around the world in the form of mountain
glaciers. The Himalaya-Karakoram-Hindu Kush mountain ranges contain the third-largest deposit of ice and
snow in the world.
Glaciers are slow moving ice masses formed over many years of accumulation of snow – the snow that
escaped melting and sublimation over the years. Glaciers flow due to stress from their own weight. They
abrade rocks on their way and form crevasses. Glaciers form only on land, unlike the much thinner sea ice and
lake ice that form on the water surface.
Glaciers store water in the form of ice during the colder seasons and release it during warmer seasons by way
of melting. This serves as a water source for humans, animals and vegetation.
WHAT is the importance of the Hindu Kush-Himalayan glaciers?
The Hindu Kush-Himalayan region covers some 3,500 km across Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China,
India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan. There are about 46,000 glaciers in the region, which provide water
resources to around a quarter of the world’s population.
The glaciers feed 10 of the world's most important river systems, including the Ganges, Indus, Yellow,
Mekong and the Irrawaddy.
WHY are the glaciers melting?
The current report suggests global warming as the primary reason for glacial melt here. It also says the melting
could accelerate because of increased air pollution. Air pollution from the Indo-Gangetic Plains also deposits
black carbon and dust on the glaciers, hastening the thaw. In general, deforestation, land-use changes, changes
in precipitation and decrease in snowfall could also impact the rate of glacial retreat.
WHAT is the impact of glacial melt?
The changes have a direct impact on freshwater flow. As millions are dependent on this water source, the
effect is multidimensional. Drinking water supplies, hydropower, industry, agriculture and biodiversity will all
be affected.
When glacial mass melts on a large scale, it contributes to sea level rise. Large quantities of fresh water will
be added to the ocean every day.
HOW will glacial melt affect us in the long run?
You may have wondered: Is it not good to get more water from glacial melt? Yes, the glaciers will initially
provide extra runoff from melting, but as the ice diminishes, the runoff will wane.
Glaciers are like reserves which provide water when it is most needed – during the dry season and during
times of drought. With the glacial retreat, we could lose this ‘buffer’ eventually. The region that loses glaciers
will be subject to erosion and decreased stability.
WHAT are glacial lakes?
The most worrying outcome of glacial recession is the increase in the formation and size of glacial lakes. They
are formed when a glacier erodes the land, and then melts within the hole it has created. This in turn could
lead to glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF) when there is an avalanche or an earthquake. Satellite data shows
that the number of such lakes in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region grew to 4,260 in a decade from 3,350 in
1990
Practice Questions
1. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana (PM-KISAN) will provide multiple benefits to farmers.
Substantiate.
2. Pakistan is currently on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list. Elaborate.

Today’s MCQ
I. Consider the following statements regarding ‘National Green Tribunal’:
1. India is the first country having a dedicated environmental court.
2. It aims at time bound disposal of cases within a window of 6 months.
3. It is a statutory body.
Select the correct answer from the codes given below.
a) 1 and 2 only b) 3 only
c) 2 and 3 only d) 1, 2 and 3
II. Which among the statement is incorrect about ‘Electoral Bond Scheme’:
a) A person being an individual can buy Electoral Bonds
b) The Electoral Bonds shall be encashed by an eligible Political Party only through a Bank account with
the Authorized Bank.
c) Both (a) and (b)
d) Neither (a) nor (b)
III. ‘National Waterway-1’, is on which among the following river?
a) Ganga b) Yamuna
c) Barak d) Brahmaputra
IV. ‘SWAS, SAFAL and STAR’, recently seen in news are:
a) Firecrackers
b) FSSAI standard for food products for different categories
c) Satellites developed by ISRO for weather prediction
d) None of the above
V. Consider the following about ‘Asia Environment Enforcement Award’:
1. The award can also be conferred upon outstanding individuals.
2. United Nation Environment Programme awards the Asia Environment Enforcement Awards.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
a) 1 only b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2
Today’s MCQ Answer & Explanation
I. Answer: c)
Explanation: • India is the third country after Australia and New Zealand to have a Green Tribunal.
• The time window for expeditious disposal of a case is 6 months and not 90 days.
II. Answer: d)
Explanation: Government of India has notified the Electoral Bond Scheme 2018. As per provisions of the
Scheme, Electoral Bonds may be purchased by a person who is a citizen of India or incorporated or
established in India.
• A person being an individual can buy Electoral Bonds, either singly or jointly with other individuals.
• Only the Political Parties registered under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (43 of
1951) and which secured not less than one per cent of the votes polled in the last General Election to the
House of the People or the Legislative Assembly of the State, shall be eligible to receive the Electoral Bonds.
• The Electoral Bonds shall be encashed by an eligible Political Party only through a Bank account with the
Authorized Bank.
• Electoral Bonds shall be valid for fifteen calendar days from the date of issue and no payment shall be made
to any payee Political Party if the Electoral Bond is deposited after expiry of the validity period. The Electoral
Bond deposited by an eligible Political Party in its account shall be credited on the same day.
III. Answer: a)
Explanation: The National Waterway 1 or NW-1 or Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river system is located in
India and runs from Haldia (Sagar) to Allahabad across the Ganges, Bhagirathi and Hooghly river systems. It
is 1,620 km (1,010 mi) long, making it the longest waterway in India. It is of prime importance amongst all
the national waterways considering its locational advantages. The NW-1 passes through West Bengal,
Jharkhand, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh and serves major cities.
IV. Answer: a)
Explanation: CSIR scientists have developed Less Polluting Firecrackers which are not only environment
friendly but 15-20 % cheaper than the conventional ones.
These crackers have been named as safe water releaser (SWAS), safe minimal aluminium (SAFAL) and safe
thermite cracker (STAR).
Highlighting that the Indian Fireworks industry is over 6000-crore worth of annual turnover and provides
employment opportunities to over 5 lakh families directly or indirectly, the Minister said that this endeavour
of CSIR aims at addressing the pollution concerns at the same time protecting the livelihoods of those
involved in this trade.
The crackers have been named as safe water releaser (SWAS), safe minimal aluminium (SAFAL) and safe
thermite cracker (STAR).
It has unique property of releasing water vapour and /or air as dust suppressant and diluent for gaseous
emissions and matching performance in sound with conventional crackers.
SWAS crackers eliminates usage of (KNO3) Potassium nitrate and Sulphur with consequent reduction in
particulate matter (30-35%) SO2 and NOx. It has matching sound intensity with commercial crackers in the
range of 105-110 dBA.
SWAS has been tested for shelf life upto 3 weeks with consistent performance.
STAR eliminates usage of KNO3 and S with consequent reduction in particulate matter (35-40%), SO2 and
NOx. It has matching sound intensity with commercial crackers in the range of 105-110 dBA.
V. Answer: c)
Explanation: United Nation Environment has awarded Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), Ministry of
Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India with Asia Environment Enforcement Awards,
2018 for excellent work done by the Bureau in combating transboundary environmental crime.
Asia Environment Enforcement Awards
The Asia Environment Enforcement Awards publicly recognize and celebrate excellence in enforcement by
government officials and institutions/teams combating transboundary environmental crime in Asia.
The awards are given to outstanding individuals and/or government organizations/teams that demonstrate
excellence and leadership in enforcement of national laws to combat transboundary environmental crime in
one of the following eligibility criteria areas: collaboration; impact; innovation; integrity and gender
leadership.
WCCB has been conferred this award in Innovation category. WCCB has adopted innovative enforcement
techniques that have dramatically increased enforcement of transboundary environmental crimes in India.
Notably it has developed an online Wildlife Crime Database Management System to get real time data in
order to help analyze trends in crime and devise effective measures to prevent and detect wildlife crimes
across India.
Operations
This system has been successfully used to analyse trends, helping put in preventive measures as well as for
successfully carrying out operations such as Operation SAVE KURMA, THUNDERBIRD, WILDNET,
LESKNOW, BIRBIL, THUNDERSTORM, LESKNOW-II along with other enforcement agencies resulting in
the arrest of 350 wildlife criminals and huge seizures of Tiger/Leopard Skin/bones and other trophies, Rhino
Horn, Elephant Ivory, turtles/tortoises, Mongoose raw hairs as well as Mangoose hair bruses, protected birds,
Marine products, live Pangolin as well as its scales, deer antlers etc. across all the states.