Aravalli hills
Environment
In News
- The central empowered committee of the Supreme Court (SC) has assigned the task of mapping mining areas in the Aravalli hills of Rajasthan to the Forest Survey of India.
Aravalli hills
- Origin: Formed during the Proterozoic era (Precambrian period) by the Aravalli-Delhi Orogeny.
- It is a Fold Mountain system, now reduced to “residual hills” due to millions of years of erosion.
- Extent: Stretches approximately 670–800 km from Gujarat (Ahmedabad) through Rajasthan and Haryana to Delhi.
- Highest Peak: Guru Shikhar (1,722 m) on Mount Abu, Rajasthan.
- Major Rivers: Source of the Banas, Luni, Sabarmati, and Sahibi rivers.
- Mineral Wealth: Rich in copper, zinc, lead, silver, marble, and granite.
Ecological & Strategic Significance
- Climate Regulator: Acts as a barrier guiding the South-West Monsoon towards the Himalayas, nourishing the North Indian plains.
- “Green Wall”: Serves as a natural shield preventing the eastward expansion of the Thar Desert into fertile Indo-Gangetic plains.
- Groundwater Recharge: A vital source of water for the National Capital Region (NCR) and surrounding areas.
- Biodiversity: Home to 300+ bird species and wildlife like leopards, striped hyenas, and golden jackals
Additional Information – Forest Survey of India
- Established in – 1981
- Functions under – Ministry of Environment and Forests
- Function -is the premier national body for monitoring India’s forest resources.
- Significance – Its core mandate includes publishing the biennial State of Forest Report to assess cover changes and maintaining a comprehensive inventory of tree resources in forest and non-forest areas.
India’s Bioeconomy Moving Towards $300 billion
Economy
Context
- Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh said India’s bioeconomy has witnessed a remarkable surge from around $10 billion in 2014 to over $195 billion in 2025.
BioEconomy
- It is the knowledge-based production and use of biological resources to provide products, processes and services in all economic sectors within the framework of a sustainable economic system.
- It encompasses sectors like agriculture, forestry, fisheries, food production, biotechnology, and bioenergy.
Subsectors of the BioEconomy in India are;
- BioPharma or BioMedical: It includes the development and production of medical products and services, such as pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and lab-grown organoids.
- BioAgri: It includes the development and production of genetically modified crops and animals, precision agriculture technologies, and bio-based products. EX: Bt Cotton
- BioIndustrial: It includes the development and production of biobased chemicals and products using enzymes, biosynthetic routes, and recombinant DNA technology.
Major Government Initiatives
- BioE3 Policy (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment): Promotes sustainable biomanufacturing and bio-based industries.
- The focus areas include smart proteins, precision therapeutics, and climate-resilient agriculture.
- Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund: ₹1 lakh crore corpus aimed at supporting deep-tech innovation and scaling startups.
- Startup and Incubation Support: Strengthening biotech clusters and innovation hubs across India.
- Inclusive Talent Development: Special focus on tier-2 and tier-3 cities, women entrepreneurs, and young researchers.
RELIEF Scheme
International Relations
In News
- The Centre has launched the RELIEF Scheme to support exporters affected by disruptions due to the West Asia crisis.
Resilience & Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation (RELIEF) Scheme
- It is a ₹497-crore initiative launched by the Government of India on March 19, 2026.
- Objective – It is designed to support Indian exporters—particularly MSMEs—facing extraordinary freight hikes, insurance premium spikes, and logistical disruptions due to geopolitical tensions in West Asia.
- Mission: Launched under the Export Promotion Mission (EPM).
- Nodal Agency for implementation – Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India.
- Target Region: Consignments destined for or transshipping through the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Iraq, Iran, Israel, and Yemen.
- Significance – To mitigate financial risks, prevent order cancellations, and safeguard employment in export-linked sectors during maritime disruptions
Small Hydro Power Development Scheme
Schemes
News
- The Union Cabinet has approved the Small Hydro Power Development Scheme for 2026–31 to boost clean energy (low-emission renewable power) and rural development.
Small Hydro Power (SHP) Development Scheme
- It is a centrally sponsored initiative approved by the Union Cabinet in March 2026
- Objective – to boost clean energy generation in remote and rural areas.
- Implementation – It is managed by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)
- Target – Approximately 1,500 MW of capacity between FY 2026-27 and FY 2030-31
World Happiness Report 2026
Economy
Context
- The World Happiness Report 2026 highlights that heavy social media use is adversely affecting the well-being of young people across many countries.
World Happiness Report 2026
- The annual report is published by the University of Oxford’s Wellbeing Research Centre in partnership with Gallup, and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
Six factors for evaluation of happiness ranking:
- GDP per capita,
- Life expectancy,
- Social support,
- Freedom to make life choices,
- Generosity,
- Perceptions of corruption.
- Top 3: Finland (1st, since 2018), Iceland (2nd), and Denmark (3rd).
- Bottom 3: Malawi (145th), Sierra Leone (146th), and Afghanistan (147th).
- India: Ranked 116th (improved from 118th in 2025).
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