In News:

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has launched Operation Hawk in 2025 to combat international cybercrime networks involved in online child sexual exploitation (OCSE). The operation led to arrests in Delhi and Mumbai, following inputs from foreign agencies including the United States.

About Operation Hawk

Feature                         Details

Launched By            CBI’s International Operations Division

Year of Launch       2025

Main Objective       Target and dismantle cybercriminal networks engaged in OCSE

Scope                             International cooperation, digital forensics, and prosecution

Key Objectives

• Disrupt organized cyber-pedophile networks.
• Enhance coordination with agencies like Interpol, FBI, and foreign governments.
• Strengthen legal action under IPC, IT Act, and POCSO Act.
• Address complaints involving Indian nationals from foreign jurisdictions.
• Boost cross-border digital evidence collection and swift response systems.

Previous Related Operations

• Operation CARBON (2021):Targeted dark web CSAM (Child Sexual Abuse Material) users globally.
• Operation MEGH CHAKRA (2022):Pan-India action based on Interpol alerts; resulted in large-scale arrests and digital data seizures.

In News:

Rajasthan has joined hands with Madhya Pradesh to develop India’s first inter-state cheetah conservation corridor, a landmark initiative under the Cheetah Reintroduction Project. The corridor will facilitate the safe movement of cheetahs across a 17,000 sq. km protected landscape, enhancing conservation and habitat connectivity.

Key Features of the Cheetah Conservation Corridor

Aspect                          Details

Total Area                  17,000 sq. km (MP: 10,500 sq. km; Rajasthan: 6,500 sq. km)

States Involved      Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan

Supported by           National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Wildlife Institute of India (WII)

MoU Status                 In progress between Chief Ministers of MP and Rajasthan

Geographical Scope and Key Sites

• PalpurKuno National Park (MP):Core site for cheetah reintroduction; located in Sheopur district.
• Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary (MP):Being developed as a second habitat for cheetahs; located in Mandsaur district along the Chambal River.
• Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve (Rajasthan):Proposed extension site; comprises parts of Darrah, Jawahar Sagar, and Chambal sanctuaries in Kota division.
• Rajasthan Districts Involved:Kota, Bundi, Baran, Jhalawar, Sawai Madhopur, Karauli, Chittorgarh
• Proposed Future Expansion:Forest regions of Jhansi and Lalitpur in Uttar Pradesh

Objectives and Benefits

• Inter-State Wildlife Connectivity:India’s first corridor linking cheetah habitats across state borders.
• Seamless Migration:Enables cheetahs to roam freely between reserves, mimicking natural ecological patterns.
• Ecological Restoration:Aims to revive and conserve India’s arid grassland ecosystems, which are essential habitats for cheetahs.
• Federal Conservation Model:Demonstrates cooperative federalism in wildlife management and biodiversity conservation.
• Global Recognition:Touted as a unique conservation model in Asia, aligning with Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) targets.

In News:

India has signed agreements to supply 4.12 lakh tonnes of green hydrogen derivatives to Japan and Singapore, signaling its emergence as a global leader in green hydrogen. Simultaneously, the Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme of India (GHCI) was launched to ensure transparent and credible verification of green hydrogen production.

Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme of India (GHCI)

• Launched by: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)
• Nodal Agency: Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)
• Support: National Green Hydrogen Mission (2023; outlay ?19,744 crore)
• Certification by: Accredited Carbon Verification (ACV) Agencies
• Operational Basis: Evaluated annually, aligned with the financial year
• Objective:
  • Certify hydrogen produced exclusively using renewable energy (e.g., solar, wind, biomass) as "green."
  • Promote transparency, traceability, and market credibility.
  • Align with India’s target of 5 million metric tonnes (MMT) of green hydrogen production by 2030.
  • Enable integration with India’s Carbon Credit Trading Scheme from 2026.
• Key Features:
  • Scope: Applies at the project level up to hydrogen purification (excludes transport/storage).
  • Eligibility: Applies to hydrogen produced via electrolysis and biomass conversion; additional methods subject to BEE approval.
  • Compliance: Mandatory for domestic producers; exempt for export-only units.
  • Verification: Annual third-party audits with data logging via the Green Hydrogen Portal.
  • GHG Measurement: Emissions calculated in kg CO? equivalent per kg of H?.
  • Guarantee of Origin (GO): Validates green hydrogen claims, crucial for global markets.

Significance and Impact

• Credibility Boost: Certified hydrogen gains international recognition and competitive advantage.
• Export Readiness: Facilitates global trade through verified green hydrogen standards.
• Investment Attraction: Defined certification process encourages private and foreign investment.
• Carbon Market Linkage: Future integration with India's carbon trading market allows certificates to become tradable assets.
• Fossil Fuel Reduction: Supports India’s long-term goal of energy transition and emission reduction.

International Agreements

• India to supply 4.12 lakh tonnes of green hydrogen derivatives to Japan and Singapore, enhancing strategic energy ties and export potential.
• Discussions ongoing with state governments to facilitate Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) for renewable energy sourcing.
• Coordination underway with Ministry of Power and Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) to address regulatory barriers.

In News:

At the ongoing 2025 Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm (BRS) Conventions in Geneva, there has been a renewed global call to list chlorpyrifos under Annex A of the Stockholm Convention, which would mandate a complete global ban without exemptions.

About Chlorpyrifos

• Type: Organophosphate insecticide.
• Usage: Widely used in agriculture and public health to control pests like mosquitoes, termites, and roundworms.
• Mechanism: Inhibits the acetylcholinesterase enzyme, disrupting nerve functions in pests and non-target species including humans.
• Introduced in India: Registered under the Insecticides Act, 1968 since 1977.
• Consumption in India: Accounted for 9.4% of total insecticide use in 2016–17 (IPEN Report).

Health and Environmental Concerns

• Human Impact: Exposure via skin, inhalation, or ingestion can cause headache, nausea, dizziness, muscle cramps, and in severe cases, paralysis and respiratory distress. Forms a toxic byproduct (chlorpyrifos oxon) in the body.
• Environmental Impact:
  • Persistence: Remains in soil for weeks to years; degrades slowly in acidic conditions.
  • Water Contamination: Reaches water bodies through erosion.
  • Toxicity: Highly toxic to birds, fish, bees, and earthworms.
  • Bioaccumulation and Biomagnification: Accumulates in organisms and magnifies through the food chain.
• Detection in India: Residues found in agricultural produce, water, human blood, and breast milk.
  • A 2003 Indian study recorded levels 41 times higher than WHO safety limits.

Stockholm Convention on POPs (2001; in force since 2004)

• Objective: Eliminate or restrict Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).
• Annex A: Complete elimination of listed chemicals (e.g., aldrin, chlordane).
• Annex B: Restricted use.
• Annex C: Minimize unintentional emissions.
• Financial Mechanism: Supported by Global Environment Facility (GEF).
• India’s Status: Ratified in 2006.
  • Enacted "Regulation of POPs Rules, 2018" under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs): Overview

• Definition: Toxic, long-lasting, bioaccumulative chemicals resistant to degradation.
• Health Effects: Cause cancer, endocrine disruption, immune suppression, neurotoxicity, and reproductive harm.
• Examples: DDT, Endosulfan, Aldrin, Dieldrin, PCBs.

Debate at Geneva Meeting (2025)

• Proposal: Listing chlorpyrifos in Annex A without exemptions.
• Supporting Arguments:
  • Recommended by the POPs Review Committee (POPRC).
  • Detected even in remote areas like the Arctic.
  • Long-term harm to child brain development (as per PAN International).
  • Disproportionate impact on vulnerable and developing nations.
  • Safe alternatives (e.g., agroecological and organic practices) are available.
• India’s Opposition: Cited lack of viable alternatives and threat to food security.

In News:

Madhya Pradesh has become the first state in India to implement an AI-based Real-Time Forest Alert System (RTFAS), marking a significant leap in leveraging technology for sustainable forest management.

Key Highlights

• The AI-based Real-Time Forest Alert System integrates satellite imagery, machine learning, and mobile app feedback for proactive forest monitoring.
• The system is currently being piloted in five forest divisions: Shivpuri, Guna, Vidisha, Burhanpur, and Khandwa—regions with high incidences of encroachment and deforestation.
• Developed using the Google Earth Engine, the system analyses multi-temporal satellite data to detect land use changes, such as:
  • Encroachment
  • Tree felling
  • Construction
  • Agricultural expansion

Features of the AI System (RTFAS)

• Custom AI Model: Detects forest degradation by comparing satellite images from three different dates.
• Real-Time Alerts: Sent to forest staff via a mobile application, enabling instant field verification with:
  • GPS-tagged photographs
  • Voice notes
  • Geo-fencing tools
• Interactive Dashboard: Displays live alerts categorized by beat and region with filters for area, density, and time.
• Data Enrichment: Includes indices such as:
  • NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index)
  • SAVI (Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index)
  • EVI (Enhanced Vegetation Index)
  • SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar)

Forest Status in Madhya Pradesh & India

• Madhya Pradesh:
  • Has the largest forest cover in India: 85,724 sq. km (India State of Forest Report 2023)
  • Also reported the highest deforestation: 612.41 sq. km lost in 2023
• India:
  • Forest and tree cover: 25.17% of total geographical area
  • Below the 33% target set by the National Forest Policy, 1988

Role of Technology in Forest Conservation

Application                                      Technology Used

Forest Monitoring                       AI + Satellite imaging (e.g., RTFAS)

Forest Fires                                      AI cameras, thermal sensors, satellite constellations (e.g., FireSat), drones

Encroachment Detection     Satellite alerts with 2–3 day response time

Human-Wildlife Conflict      AI camera traps, GPS tracking, RFID tags, geofencing

Afforestation                                 Green bots for planting and monitoring tree growth

Biodiversity Monitoring        Acoustic AI (e.g., Rainforest Connection), Environmental DNA (eDNA)

India’s Initiatives for Sustainable Forest Management

Government Initiatives:

• Green India Mission: Increased forest cover by 0.56% (2017–2021)
• National Agroforestry Policy (2014): Promotes tree farming on private lands
• CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund): Reforestation of diverted forest lands
• Trees Outside Forests in India (TOFI): Involves private stakeholders in increasing green cover

Community & Corporate Involvement:

• CSR-driven plantations by auto, cement, and energy sectors
• Agroforestry: Integrates timber, fruit, and medicinal plants with crops
• Carbon Credit-linked Afforestation