पश्चिमी घाट संरक्षण: नई पर्यावरण रिपोर्ट जारी
पर्यावरण मंत्रालय ने पश्चिमी घाट के पारिस्थितिक रूप से संवेदनशील क्षेत्रों (ESA) के संरक्षण के लिए नए दिशा-निर्देश जारी किए हैं।
2-Minute Summary (TL;DR)
- Approximately 37% of the Western Ghats (around 1,64,280 sq km) has been designated as Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs).
- The ESAs span six states: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
- Mining, quarrying, and hazardous industries are completely banned within these designated ESAs.
- The Western Ghats is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the world's eight major biodiversity hotspots.
- The recent report builds upon recommendations from the Madhav Gadgil and Kasturirangan Committees.
- The primary goal is to conserve biodiversity, mitigate climate change impacts, and ensure sustainable development.
- A significant portion of the ESAs is proposed as a 'No Development Zone' (NDZ).
- The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has accepted the report for implementation.
How This Topic is Tested in Competitive Exams
| Exam | Frequency | Approx. Marks | What Gets Asked |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPSC / State PCS | High | 8–15 | UPSC tests physical, human, and economic geography together with environment policy. |
| State PCS / PSC | Medium | 3–6 | State-specific geography — rivers, forests, mineral belts — is heavily tested in state exams. |
| SSC (CGL / CHSL / MTS) | High | 3–6 | Physical geography, national parks, rivers, and climate events appear in SSC Tier-1. |
Key Facts to Remember: पश्चिमी घाट संरक्षण: नई पर्यावरण रिपोर्ट जारी
- Approximately 37% of the Western Ghats (around 1,64,280 sq km) has been designated as Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs).
- The ESAs span six states: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
- Mining, quarrying, and hazardous industries are completely banned within these designated ESAs.
- The Western Ghats is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the world's eight major biodiversity hotspots.
- The recent report builds upon recommendations from the Madhav Gadgil and Kasturirangan Committees.
- The primary goal is to conserve biodiversity, mitigate climate change impacts, and ensure sustainable development.
- A significant portion of the ESAs is proposed as a 'No Development Zone' (NDZ).
- The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has accepted the report for implementation.
Practice Questions
Q1. What percentage of the Western Ghats has been designated as Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs) according to the recently accepted report?
- Approximately 10%
- Approximately 25%
- Approximately 37%
- Approximately 50%
Explanation: The report accepted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change designates approximately 37% of the Western Ghats as Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs). This significant portion aims to protect the region's rich biodiversity.
Q2. Which of the following activities is strictly prohibited within the Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs) of the Western Ghats as per the new guidelines?
- Sustainable agriculture and organic farming
- Eco-tourism and nature walks
- Mining and quarrying
- Afforestation drives
Explanation: The new guidelines for the Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs) in the Western Ghats impose a complete ban on destructive activities such as mining and quarrying. These activities pose a significant threat to the fragile ecosystem and its biodiversity.
Q3. The Western Ghats, recognized for its ecological importance, is also a designated site by which international organization?
- World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
- United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
- International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
- UNESCO
Explanation: The Western Ghats was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2012. This recognition highlights its outstanding universal value and the need for its global conservation efforts.
Q4. Which of these states is NOT among the six states through which the Western Ghats ESAs extend?
- Kerala
- Karnataka
- Andhra Pradesh
- Tamil Nadu
Explanation: The Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs) in the Western Ghats extend across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. Andhra Pradesh is not included in this list.
Q5. The recent report on Western Ghats conservation builds upon the recommendations of which two prominent committees?
- Swaminathan Committee and Rangarajan Committee
- Madhav Gadgil Committee and Kasturirangan Committee
- B.N. Yugandhar Committee and M.S. Swaminathan Committee
- Kasturirangan Committee and Rangarajan Committee
Explanation: The recent report accepted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is a continuation and refinement of the work done by the Madhav Gadgil Committee (2011) and the Kasturirangan Committee (2013), which previously studied the conservation needs of the Western Ghats.
How to Prepare Geography & Environment for Government Exams — पश्चिमी घाट संरक्षण: नई पर्यावरण रिपोर्ट जारी
Always locate a news event on a map. Geography questions link topical news to physical location. Practice placing events on a blank India map.
Environment news is high-yield. Track new Ramsar sites, World Heritage sites, and biosphere reserves added each year.
For UPSC, read about climate policy outcomes alongside geography. IPCC reports and India's emission targets are core material.
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