Introduction Deserts cover more than one-fifth of the Earth's land surface and can be found on all continents. A desert is defined as a location that receives fewer than 10 inches (25 cm) of rain each year. Deserts are part of a larger category of landforms known as drylands. These places have a "moisture deficit," which implies they lose more moisture through evaporation than they receive from annual precipitation. Vegetation Both hot and mid-latitude deserts are dominated b

Introduction What are Dead Zones? Dead zones are areas of low oxygen in the world's oceans and lakes and occur when dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration falls to or below 2 mg of O₂/liter. This low level of oxygen is also referred to as Hypoxia and makes these areas unfavourable for sustaining life and that is why these areas are referred to as dead zones. Once the dissolved oxygen levels decline below 0.5 ml O₂/liter in a body of water, mass mortality occurs. Do you know that

Introduction The Circum-Pacific Belt, often known as the Ring of Fire, is a region along the Pacific Ocean marked by active volcanoes and frequent earthquakes. It is roughly 40,000 kilometres long . It traces boundaries between several tectonic plates—including the Pacific, Juan de Fuca, Cocos, Indian-Australian, Nazca, North American, and Philippine Plates. More than 450 volcanoes, or 75% of all volcanoes on Earth, are found along the Ring of Fire. Also, about 90 per cent of

Introduction Global transportation sector is facing three major challenges, namely depletion of fossil fuels, volatility in crude oil prices and stringent environmental regulations. Alternative fuels specific to geographies can address these issues. Ethanol is considered to be one of most suitable alternative blending, transportation fuel due to its better fuel quality (ethanol has a higher octane number) and environmental benefits. Our nation's energy demand is increasing du

Introduction Lead is a toxic metal that occurs naturally in the Earth's crust. Its widespread use has resulted in widespread environmental contamination, human exposure, and serious public health issues in many parts of the world. The World Health Organisation has listed lead as one of 10 chemicals that are very dangerous to public health (WHO). The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MOEFCC) has passed a rule called "Regulation on Lead contents in Household

Introduction In India, the maritime sector has been the backbone of the country's trade and has grown exponentially over the years. The Government of India has launched the ambitious Sagarmala Programme to promote port-led development in the country, leveraging India's 7,500 km long coastline, 14,500 km of potentially navigable waterways, and strategic location on key international maritime trade routes. On March 25, 2015, the Union Cabinet approved the Sagarmala concept. A N

Introduction Biogas is a renewable and environmentally benign energy source. It is produced anaerobically, when organic matter, such as food or animal waste, is broken down by microbes in the absence of oxygen. To accomplish this, the waste material must be enclosed in an atmosphere devoid of oxygen. Biogas can be produced either organically or through an industrial process for use as a fuel. Working of Biogas Plant The mixing tank is where the biomass and water are mixed tog

Introduction Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by monkeypox virus infection. The monkeypox virus belongs to the same virus family as the variola virus, which causes smallpox. The symptoms of monkeypox are similar to those of smallpox, but they are milder, and monkeypox is rarely fatal. Monkeypox was discovered in 1958 after two outbreaks of a pox-like disease in research colonies of monkeys. Despite the name "monkeypox," the disease's origins are unknown. However, African ro

Introduction Ozone is a gas that exists both in the Earth's upper atmosphere and at ground level. Depending on where it is in the atmosphere, ozone can be "good" or "bad" for ones health and the environment. Ozone can be found in two layers of the atmosphere. Ground level or "bad" ozone is an air pollutant that is hazardous to one's health and harms crops, trees, and other vegetation. It is a major contributor to urban smog. The stratospheric, or "good" ozone layer, extends u

Introduction Pollution from single-use plastic items has become a major environmental challenge for all countries. India has made a commitment to take action to reduce pollution caused by littered Single Use Plastics. Single-use plastics, also known as disposable plastics, are used only once before being discarded or recycled. Plastic is so inexpensive and convenient that it has supplanted all other materials in the packaging industry, but it takes hundreds of years to degrad

Introduction If there were four women for every ten males in the agricultural sector in 1991, there were six women for every ten men in 2011. This phenomenon of growing female engagement, especially in agricultural labour, is referred to as the feminisation of the Indian agricultural workforce. Causes of Indian Agriculture Feminisation Poverty is a key element that forces women to work as agricultural labourers to augment their family's income. Women also work as unremunerate

Introduction According to FAO “Organic agriculture is a unique production management system which promotes and enhances agro-ecosystem health, including biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological activity, and this is accomplished by using on-farm agronomic, biological and mechanical methods in exclusion of all synthetic off-farm inputs” Lord Northbourne is credited with coining the phrase "organic farming." The phrase is derived from his notion o

Introduction A rock is a natural substance made up of solid crystals of various minerals that fused together to form a solid mass. The minerals might have formed at the same time or not. What matters is the natural processes glued them all together. Igneous Rocks Because igneous rocks are formed from magma and lava from the earth's interior, they are referred to as primary rocks. Igneous rocks (Ignis - Latin for "Fire") occur when magma cools and solidifies.When magma in its

Introduction The fundamental approach to agricultural diversification should be comprehensive in character, including the traditional expertise of local farmers as well. In addition to crop components, livestock, fisheries, and other supportive measures should be included for practicability and wide-scale implementation. Diversified agriculture is essential for feeding the world's population sustainably and in perpetuity while mitigating climate change and preventing the coll

Introduction The concept of sustainable development was emphasised by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), which defined it as: ‘Development that meets the need of the present generation without compromising the ability of the future generation to meet their own needs. The definition's usage of the term 'needs' refers to resource distribution. The seminal report—Our Common Future — that gave the above definition explained sustainable developme

Introduction Biodiversity is all the different kinds of life you’ll find on planet earth —the variety of animals, plants, fungi, and even microorganisms like bacteria that make up our natural world. Each of these species and creatures interacts in ecosystems to preserve equilibrium and sustain life, much like an intricate web. Biodiversity supplies everything humans need in nature to survive: food, clean water, medicine, and shelter. We advocate biodiversity for biodiversity’

Introduction A forest is a complex ecosystem. Forests are home to a wide range of living forms, including plants, animals, birds, insects, and reptiles. In addition, the woodlands are rich in bacteria and fungus, which play a vital role in decomposing decaying organic matter and nourishing the soil. Forests supply a wide range of natural services and goods. Many forest products are utilised on a daily basis. Aside from this, trees play an essential function in preserving ecol

Introduction Following the completion of the United Nations Conference on Human Environment in Stockholm in 1972, researchers paid close attention to environmental problems. By the 1980s, the "green movement" had become a global phenomenon, embraced by many nations throughout the globe, including India. These movements are concerned with issues such as tribal’s right to retain their indigenous traditional knowledge and livelihood, environmental protection, and the preservatio

Introduction India is among the world's largest agricultural economies, sustaining a huge population. At the time of independence, India's economy was heavily reliant on agriculture. Nonetheless, the agricultural sector was in turmoil. Productivity was poor and heavily reliant on the monsoon, there were no irrigation facilities, no infrastructure, and no modern technologies. Agriculture plays a pivotal role in Indian society. Despite contributing 19% to the GDP, agriculture a

Introduction The Ramsar Convention is an international convention that establishes a framework for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. It is the only global treaty that focuses specifically on wetlands. The Convention was signed in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971 and came into effect in 1975. Since then, about 90 percent of UN member nations have become "Contracting Parties," pledging their support for the Convention's three pillars: Objective Wo

Introduction In simple terms, an earthquake is the ground shaking. This is a natural occurrence. It occurs as a result of energy being released, which causes waves that travel in all directions. Although the Earth appears to be a rather stable planet from the surface, it is actually quite busy beneath the surface. Earth is composed of four fundamental layers: a solid crust, a heated, almost solid mantle, a liquid outer core, and a solid inner core. The lithosphere is not a si

Introduction A volcano is a fissure in the crust of a planet or moon through which molten rock, hot gases, and other substances erupt. Volcanoes frequently develop a hill or mountain as a result of the accumulation of layers of rock and ash from numerous eruptions. Volcanoes are categorized according to their state of activity: active, dormant, or extinct. Active volcanoes have recently erupted; they are quite likely to do so again. Dormant volcanoes have been dormant for an

Introduction A wildfire is an uncontrolled fire that burns in the vegetation of a wilderness. Wildfires can and have burned in forests, grasslands, savannas, and other ecosystems for hundreds of millions of years. They are not geographically or environmentally restricted. Wildfires can burn in both below- and above-ground vegetation. Ground fires generally start in soil that is dense with organic stuff that can act as a fuel source for the flames, such as plant roots. Ground

Introduction Human rights are rights that all humans possess, regardless of race, gender, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or another status. Human rights include the right to life and liberty, freedom from slavery and torture, freedom of speech and expression, the right to work and education, and many more. Everyone, without exception, is entitled to these rights. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a watershed moment in human rights history. The D