Dry Ports
Telangana is planning to develop more dry port facilities to boost exports.
- An inland terminal that is meant to provide connectivity to a sea port by rail or road.
- Also known as inland port
- Includes Inland Container Depots (ICDs), Container Freight Stations (CFSs), and Air Freight Stations (AFSs), etc.
- Benefits – Provide a more efficient and cost-effective gateway to international trade for landlocked states/ regions, reduces pressure on coastal ports, easing congestion and improving efficiency, etc.
Biodiversity Credits
A coalition of civil society organizations has raised concerns over promotion of biodiversity credits.
- An economic instrument that allows private companies to finance activities, such as forest conservation or restoration.
- Purpose – To have a net-positive impact on nature and biodiversity.
- Not limited to compensating for companies’ negative and unavoidable impacts on nature.
- Functioning –
- Stakeholders that have a goal to conserve land generate a supply of credits
- Private companies then purchase these credits to meet their biodiversity-based commitments.
Academic Freedom Index
India slipped on academic freedom index over the past decade
- Published by – Global Public Policy Institute
- Purpose – Provides an overview of academic freedom in 179 countries by assessing 5 indicators.
- Indicators – Freedom to research and teach, Freedom of academic exchange and dissemination, Institutional autonomy of universities, Campus integrity and freedom of academic and cultural expression.
- India’s academic freedom slipped from 0.6 points to 0.2 points from 2013 to 2023.
Black Carbon
According to a recent study, black carbon emissions from kerosene lamps make up 10% of total residential emissions in India.
- A component of fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5).
- Short-Lived Climate Pollutant
- Commonly known as soot
- Formed by – Incomplete combustion of wood and fossil fuels.
- Has a warming impact up to 1500 times stronger than CO2 per unit of mass.
Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM)
ISRO announces target date for launch of Venus Orbiter Mission
- India’s maiden mission to Venus.
- Target date for launch – March 2028
- Launch Vehicle – Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM-3).
- Objectives of VOM – Examine dust in Venusian atmosphere and its airglow, mapping its surface topography, studying solar X-ray spectrum and investigating sub-surface characteristics.