Invasive Plant Species Species Native Region Habitat / Spread Major Impacts Special UPSC Notes Acacia (Wattles) Africa, Australasia Dry regions; deep roots Suppresses native flora; destroys grasslands Conversion of shola–grassland ecosystems in Western Ghats → Nilgiri Tahr habitat loss Billygoat Weed Tropical America (Brazil) Rice fields, disturbed land Crop weed; competes with crops Medicinal +…
Fish Species IUCN Endemism (India) Key Habitat Distribution (Core Areas) Special / Unique Tags Legal Protection Deolali Minnow CR Yes (Western Ghats) Hill streams with rocky gradients Darna River, Nashik (MH); Nandur Madhameshwar Ramsar Site First Ramsar site of Maharashtra; freshwater minnow — Ganges Shark CR Yes (India–Bangladesh) Rivers & estuaries (turbid water) Ganga–Brahmaputra–Padma systems;…
Birds – Critically Endangered (CR) Species IUCN Endemism (India) Key Habitat Distribution (Core Areas) Special / Unique Tags Legal Protection Baer’s Pochard CR No Freshwater wetlands NE India, WB, Odisha, Terai Freshwater diving duck WPA: Sch I; CMS: Appx I Bengal Florican CR No Grasslands with scrub Assam, Arunachal, UP; Nepal Terai Bustard species; courtship…
Mammals – Critically Endangered (CR) Species IUCN Status Endemism (India) Key Habitat Distribution (Core Area) Special / Unique Tags Legal Protection Andaman White-toothed Shrew CR Yes (Andaman Islands) Tropical moist deciduous & evergreen forests Narcondam Island Island endemic; insectivorous, nocturnal mammal — Himalayan Brown Bear (sub-species) CR No (sub-species level) High-altitude forests & alpine meadows…
At the global level, climate action today is no longer limited to clean energy production; it equally emphasises how we consume energy. The cover decision of COP-27, titled the Sharm el-Sheikh Implementation Plan, highlights the transition to sustainable lifestyles and sustainable patterns of consumption and production as a core requirement for addressing climate change.👉 This…
India’s renewable energy transition is not only a technological challenge, but equally a financial and institutional challenge. Therefore, the government has created specialised institutions and innovative financial instruments to mobilise long-term capital for green energy. Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) What is IREDA? Core Role IREDA is the financial backbone of India’s renewable energy…
Background Let us begin with a simple idea:Renewable energy is clean and sustainable, but it is not always reliable in the way conventional power is. Low Plant Load Factor (PLF) Intermittency Problem Mismatch example: 👉 Neither solar nor wind can independently meet peak demand. Transmission and Cost Issues Financial Weakness of DISCOMs Smart Grid: A…
Why Hydrogen? The Core Idea Hydrogen is often called a clean energy fuel because when it is used, the only by-product released is water vapour — no carbon dioxide, no particulate matter, no sulphur. The Hydrogen Economy refers to a long-term vision where hydrogen becomes a major low-carbon energy carrier, helping us decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors…
What are Biofuels? In simple terms, biofuels are hydrocarbon fuels derived from organic matter—material that is living or was once living—and crucially, produced over a short period of time.This short renewal cycle clearly distinguishes biofuels from fossil fuels, which take millions of years to form. Types of Biofuels (Based on Physical State) Because biofuels emit…
Wind energy harnesses the kinetic energy of moving air using wind turbines to generate electricity. It is a clean, renewable, and indigenous energy source, but its deployment is shaped strongly by geography, technology, and policy choices. India’s Installed Capacity State-wise Concentration 👉 Key UPSC insight:Wind power in India is regionally concentrated, unlike solar, which has…
