Sacred groves and community reserves in India

International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)

• An intergovernmental organization with its headquarters in India has been officially formed as the International Big Cat Alliance
• It is a multi-country, multi-agency coalition focused on big cat conservation

Origin

• Launched by India's Prime Minister in 2023
• Launched at an event commemorating '50 years of Project Tiger'.

Membership

• Open to 97 "range" countries, which host the natural habitat of big cats
• Includes interested nations and international organizations

Budgetary Support

• Rs. 150 crores allocated for five years, from 2023-24 to 2027-28

Objectives

• For global conservation efforts focus on seven big cats: Tigers, Lions, Leopards, Snow Leopards, Cheetahs, Jaguars, and Pumas
• India is home to five of these big cats: Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, and Cheetah (excluding Jaguar and Puma)
• Intends to prevent illegal wildlife trade with stronger anti-poaching laws and enforcement
• Offers financial & technical support for conservation in range and non-range countries
• First-ever global alliance dedicated to big cat conservation

Ratifications

• Has received ratifications from India, Nicaragua, Eswatini, Somalia, and Liberia

Fort William

• The Army's Fort William in Kolkata has been renamed "Vijay Durg"
• Renamed to shed colonial legacies and promote indigenous traditions

About

• Named after King William III of England, constructed by the British in 1781
• Located in Kolkata and serves as the Eastern Command Headquarters of the Indian Army
• Played a key role during British colonial period, symbolizing their military control over India

Architecture

• Spreads over 70 hectares, the fort is one of the largest British-era military structures in India
• Features a star-shaped layout to enhance defense capabilities
• Site of the "Black Hole Tragedy" incident in 1756

Key Renaming Announcements

• Kitchener House renamed to Manekshaw House
  • Named after Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, India's first Field Marshal and architect of 1971 Indo-Pak War
• South Gate (formerly St. George's Gate) renamed to Shivaji Gate
  • Honoring Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, known for guerrilla warfare tactics

Change in Indian Navy's Flag (2022)

• Saint George's Cross, a British colonial symbol, was replaced
• Replaced with an Indianized naval ensign inspired by Chhatrapati Shivaji's seal

Supreme Court's Directive on Sacred Groves

• The Supreme Court has directed the Rajasthan Forest Department to map and classify sacred groves
• To classify as 'forests' and 'community reserves' under the Wildlife Protection Act

SC Directives

• The Supreme Court of India instructed the Rajasthan Forest Department to map all sacred groves
• Use of both ground surveys and satellite imagery
• Groves must be identified based on their cultural and ecological significance, irrespective of size
• The court directed groves to be classified as 'forests' and notified as 'community reserves'
• It is under the Wildlife Protection Act (WLPA) 1972
• Transference of control from local communities to forest authorities for conservation occurred
• The decision now conflicts with the Forest Rights Act (FRA) 2006, which sought to restore control over forest land to gram sabhas

Sacred Groves in Rajasthan

• Sacred groves in Rajasthan are known locally as 'orans', 'malvan', 'deo ghat', and 'baugh'
• They are community-regulated forest patches
• Rajasthan has around 25,000 sacred groves, covering approximately 6 lakh hectares
• Managed by communities, often linked to local deities, shrines, temples, and burial grounds
• Serve as biodiversity hotspots and sources of perennial streams and medicinal plants

About Sacred Groves

• Patches of natural vegetation protected for religious, cultural, or ecological significance
• Associated with deities or spirits
• Human interference is generally prohibited or restricted
• India has over 13,000 documented Sacred Groves
• Protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972

Famous Sacred Groves of India

• Living Root Bridges (Jingkieng Jri) of Meghalaya are recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Hariyali, one of the largest sacred groves of India, located near Gauchar in Chamoli District of Uttarakhand
• Deodar grove, located in Shipin near Simla in Himachal Pradesh

Local Names of Sacred Groves

• Sacred groves have different local names in different states
• Haryana -- Kovil Kadu
• Meghalaya -- Kaw Kyntang
• Himachal Pradesh -- Dev Van
• Manipur -- Umang Lai
• Rajasthan -- Orans
• Assam -- Than
• Maharashtra -- Devrai
• Kerala -- Kavu
• Madhya Pradesh -- Sarna, Dev
• Karnataka -- Devarakadu
• Odisha -- Jahera, Thakuramma
• Gujarat -- Sabarkantha, Banaskantha

Community Reserve Definition

• Introduced in the WLPA (2002) as a Protected Areas category
• Declared over private or community lands where locals agree to conserve wildlife
• A Community Reserve Management Committee is responsible for overseeing the management of the reserve

Restrictions in Community Reserves

• No hunting or harming wildlife
• Land-use changes require approval from the management committee and the State government

Conflict between Supreme Court Order and the Forest Rights Act (FRA) 2006

• FRA 2006 recognizes the customary rights of forest-dependent communities
• Groves will be classified as 'community forest resources' rather than community reserves, if covered under FRA

Community Forest Resources (CFR) under FRA

• Managed by gram sabhas rather than the Forest Department
• Gram sabhas have statutory power to protect, regenerate, and conserve these forests
• Communities must develop their own conservation plans, supported by the State government
• Classifying sacred groves as 'community reserves' undermines the traditional governance model and FRA provisions
• The Union Environment Ministry has been tasked with mapping all sacred groves in India to formulate a national policy

Trump's Proposal on Gaza and Middle East Policy Shift

• U.S. President Donald Trump announced a radical policy shift on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
• He is proposing the United States take over the Gaza Strip

Key Proposals of US President

• Palestinians Should Leave Gaza
  • Trump suggested a displacement to Jordan, Egypt, and other Arab states
  • The claim was Palestinians would not want to return as Gaza has become a "demolition site"
  • He stated that he could convince Jordan and Egypt to accept displaced Palestinians

U.S. to 'Take Over' Gaza

• Declared that the U.S. would "own" Gaza and be responsible for:
  • Clearing unexploded bombs and weapons
  • Developing Gaza economically, calling it the "Riviera of the Middle East"
  • Creating jobs to make it a model of prosperity

Return of 'Maximum Pressure' on Iran

• Trump signed an executive order to reimpose maximum pressure sanctions on Iran
• He re-designated the Yemeni Houthis as a terrorist organization

The "maximum pressure" policy

• A strategy where a country applies economic and diplomatic sanctions
• To force another nation to change its behavior
• The goal is to force Iran to halt its nuclear activities and curb its influence

Widespread Global Opposition

• Saudi Arabia rejected the proposal, standing for an independent Palestinian state
• European & Global Leaders rejected Trump's plan and reiterated support for a two-state solution
  • Including: Australia, Ireland, Germany, China, and New Zealand
• Turkey found forced deportations of Palestinians as unacceptable
• Palestinian Authority President called Trump's plan a violation of international law

Why Are Egypt and Jordan Rejecting Trump's Proposal?

• Jordan's ministry warned that any attempt to resettle Palestinians would be considered a declaration of war

Demographic & Political Risks

• Jordan already hosts over 2 million Palestinian refugees (1 in 5 people)
• The rise of Palestinian nationalist groups can affect Jordan's monarchy
• The 2024 Jordanian elections saw the IAF win 31 seats
• It is the largest victory since 1992 due to a pro-Hamas stance

Egypt's Concerns

• President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has cracked down on the Muslim Brotherhood since 2013
• It is to prevent Islamist movements formgaining influence
• Accepting displaced Palestinians could strengthen opposition forces

Extreme Temperature Surge at the North Pole

• Recent temperatures at the North Pole rose more than 20°C above average
• The northern Svalbard region (Norway) recorded temperatures 18°C above the 1991-2020 average

Why Did the North Pole Experience Such High Temperatures?

• Low-Pressure System Over Iceland
  • A deep low-pressure system over Iceland created conditions for warm air to move into the Arctic
  • The system acted as a gateway for warm air from lower latitudes to enter the polar region

Unusually Warm Sea Surface Temperatures

• The northeast Atlantic Ocean experienced hotter-than-normal conditions, which:
• Strengthened wind-driven warming in the Arctic
• Contributed to the intensification of the warming event

Arctic's Role in Global Climate Regulation

• The Arctic acts as a "refrigerator" for the Earth, helping to regulate global temperatures
• Continuous Arctic warming could lead to:
• Rising sea levels due to ice melt
• Disruptions in weather patterns worldwide
• More extreme climate events globally

Why Is the Arctic Warming Faster Than the Global Average?

• Rapid Arctic Warming Since the 1970s
  • The Arctic has warmed four times faster than the global average
  • A 2022 study showed that the Arctic has warmed 3.8 times faster since the late 1970s
  • Global temperatures have increased by 1.3°C between the 1850–1900 baseline

The Albedo Effect (Sunlight Reflection Mechanism)

• Sea ice reflecting sunlight keeps temperatures low
• As the ice melts, darker land and ocean surfaces are exposed, which absorb more heat
• Creates a self-reinforcing feedback loop that is accelerating temperature rise in the Arctic

Weak Atmospheric Convection in the Arctic

• Convection (heat transfer via rising warm air) is weaker in the Arctic compared to the tropics
• With weak convection in the Arctic:
• Heat from greenhouse gases remains trapped near the surface instead of being distributed upwards
• This results in more concentrated warming at ground level

India Likely to Miss Deadline for 2035 Climate Action Plan Submission

• India is expected to miss the February 10 deadline for submitting its 2035 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement

India's Current Position

• India is not ready with its 2035 action plan
• No penalties for late submissions; many developed nations are yet to submit their 2035 NDCs
• India is also yet to submit its first Biennial Transparency Report (BTR), which was due on December 31, 2024

Paris Agreement and NDC Submission Cycle

• The Paris Agreement requires countries to update their NDCs every five years
• India submitted its 2030 NDCs in 2020
• The 2035 NDCs were expected to be submitted by February 10, 2025
• Early submissions help in compiling data, clarifications and synthesis reports

Paris Agreement 2015

• A legally binding international treaty reducing greenhouse gas emissions
• Aims limit global warming to below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, with efforts to limit it to 1.5°C

Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)

• Countries submit NDCs outlining climate actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• NDCs are updated every five years

India's NDC's

• Reduce the emissions intensity of India's GDP by 45% from 2005 levels by 2030
• Create a carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 GtCO2e through additional forest and tree cover by 2030
• Achieve 50% cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030
• India is on track to achieve all three targets ahead of 2030

Reasons for Delay in India's NDC Submission

• Disappointment Over Climate Finance at COP29 (Baku, 2024)
  • Developing nations were expecting at least $1 trillion annually in climate finance from developed countries
  • The final COP29 agreement only promised $300 billion per year starting from 2035
• India criticized this as "abysmally poor" and a setback
• The Economic Survey 2025 hinted possible readjustments

India's Plan to Host COP33 in 2028

• India announced plans to host in Dubai at COP28 in Dubai (2023) in 2028
• Host countries announce new climate initiatives before the event

India and COP33

• India may reserve some climate commitments for announcement ahead of COP33

Mount Taranaki

• Mount Taranaki has become the 3rd natural feature in New Zealand to be bestowed with an individual/Human status
• Status after Te Urewera National Park and Whanganui River

Details

• Located: North Island, New Zealand, on the Taranaki Peninsula
• Stratovolcano made up of alternating layers of ash and lava flow
• Most symmetrical volcanic cones in the world
• Created by subduction of the Pacific Plate below the Australian Plate
• The Indigenous Maori people of New Zealand respect the snow-covered Taranaki Maunga as a sacred ancestor

Editorial Summary: A green signal for India to assert its health leadership

• The Union Budget 2025-26 aims to position India as a leader in global healthcare and innovation
• Success thruogh strategic initiatives

Key Budget Allocations and Announcements for Healthcare

• Total Healthcare Budget: ₹90,958 crore

Expansion

• 75,000 new medical seats to be added in five years -10,000 seats to be added in FY26 alone

Cancer Investment

• 200 new day-care cancer centres in district hospitals

"Heal in India"

• Positioning India as a global healthcare destination with:
  • Streamlined visa processes for medical tourists
  • Upgraded hospital infrastructure to attract foreign patients
  • Public-private partnerships

"Heal by India"

• Addressing the global shortage of healthcare professionals by:
  • Training and deploying doctors, nurses, and paramedics abroad
  • Creating new opportunities

Duty Exemptions for Life-Saving Drugs

• 36 life-saving drugs for cancer, rare diseases, and chronic conditions exempted from duty
  • Lower treatment costs benefiting thousands of patients Enhanced Access to Critical Medications: 13 new patient assistance programmes launched for chronic patients

Advancing Medical Innovation

• Excellence to drive research in AI, diagnostics, and treatment
  • Use of Artificial Intelligence for early disease detection and patient care improvement
  • Apollo Hospitals was the first in Asia to launch Proton Therapy

Future Goal via Strengthening India's Global Role

• Budget recognizes healthcare as a pillar of national development
• India's transition from a struggling system to a global medical hub
• "Heal in India" and "Heal by India" to set global benchmarks in healthcare

Acton Items

• Leverage technology to enhance healthcare delivery
• Expand medical education to create more skilled professionals
• Ensure quality healthcare reaches all sections of society

The Case for Easing Banking Regulations

• The Union Budget 2025-26 sets the stage for India's economic expansion

Union Budget Projections

• Projecting GDP growth from $3.7 trillion (2023-24) to $7 trillion (2030-31)
• Achieving this goal requires strong policies, development, and efficient capital allocation

Challenges for India's Economic Growth

• Low Private Sector Investment
  • Private sector investment-to-cash flow has dropped from 114% (2008-09) to 56% (2023-24)
    • Due to uncertainty in future risks

Limited Credit Access for MSMEs

• Large corporates access bank credit equity, and bond markets
  • MSMEs face credit shortages
    • Savings shifting to mutual funds and pension schemes

Regulatory Constraints on Banking Liquidity

• 30% of bank deposits are locked in regulatory preemptions (SLR: 26%, CRR: 4%)
  • High Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) requirements further reduce
  • Banks invest 13 trillion in G-Secs out of ₹40 trillion deposit inflows

Framework

• PSL requirement alignment at 40% alignment with current economic priorities
  • Pricing does not reflect credit risk
• Credit growth lagging behind GDP growth impact is the challenge to financing for expansion. Over-regulation on interest rates and clean lending influences inclusion

Impact

• Defending the rupee has on strong dollar reduces market liquidity
• High Bank Tech Investment generates investment in banking but only 4% has revunue
• Free UPI transactions increase costs without revenue
• India's bond market share only 3%

Needs

• Boost Investment: corporate investment thruogh tax benefits and ease of doing business reforms Strengthen demand confidence through policy stability and infrastructure growth
• Improve Access for MSMEs Encourage risk-based pricing and cash-flow-based lending instead of heavy lending
• Fintech partnerships to expand MSME credit reach
• Reduce Preemptions on Banking
• Update PSL
• Regulatory burdens effect risk, improve structure and economic

Detailed Coverage: Nutraceuticals Sector in India

Context

• The Indian government is keen to help the nutraceuticals sector to reach its full potential

Nutraceuticals Defined

• They are food-based products with medicinal benefits, beyond basic nutritional value
• These products are a blended of nutrition and pharmaceuticals improving health

Types of Nutraceuticals

• Dietary Supplements: Vitamins, minerals, amino acids, probiotics, etc.

• Functional Foods: Fortified cereals, dairy products, energy drinks

• Medicinal Foods: Products designed for specific dietary needs (e.g., diabetic-friendly foods)

• Herbal Products: Ayurvedic formulations, plant-based extracts

• Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is responsible for regulating approvals, promotions, and labeling standards for health supplements and nutraceuticals

Advantages for India

• Knowledge: India has a history due to Ayurveda
• Conditions: With 52 agroclimatic zones agro India well-suited for the cultivation of materials
• Plants: Home over medicinal await further expertise pharmaceutical formulation

Associated Challenges

Jurisdictions regulatory Standard compliance Material management material

• Global players

Solutions

• Quality control
• Compliance
• Managment
• Stable studies
• Safety

Explore the roles of sacred groves and community reserves in India's environmental conservation. Differentiate between management approaches and ecological importance. Understand their broader strategy in protecting biodiversity beyond religious and cultural significance.