CURRENT AFFAIRS

Electronic waste or E-Waste refers to discarded electrical and electronic equipment that are no longer usable — such as mobile phones,computers, televisions, refrigerators, etc. These devices contain valuable metals (gold, silver, copper) as well as hazardous materials (lead, mercury, cadmium, beryllium). Therefore, proper e-waste management is not only an environmental necessity but also an economic opportunity.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has simplified the “Know Your Vehicle – KYV” process for FASTag users.

In an agriculture-based country like India, the conservation of soil quality and fertility is extremely important. However, more than one-third of India’s land area is affected by land degradation. This is not only an environmental challenge but also a question of food security, livelihoods, and climate change adaptation.

India is moving rapidly toward urbanization — by 2030, nearly 40% of the country’s population will reside in cities. However, this urban growth is also generating a mountain of solid waste.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has launched a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls covering 51 crore voters in 12 states and union territories to ensure the accuracy and correctness of electoral rolls.

Recently, one of the most significant mysteries in decades has been unraveled on Failaka Island, Kuwait. A 4,000-year-old temple belonging to the mighty Bronze Age Dilmun (Dilmun/Telmun) civilization has been discovered here.

India is the 13th most water-stressed country in the world (World Resources Institute, 2023). Major metropolitan cities — Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad — already face severe water stress. In such a scenario, water recycling and reuse have become essential components of sustainable development.

In India, groundwater is the largest source of water for drinking, irrigation, and industrial use. However, this vital resource is now facing severe contamination and depletion.

Rapid urbanization, vehicular growth, industrialization, and construction activities have severely affected air quality in India. Today, urban India ranks among the most polluted regions in the world — where clean air has become not only a basic need but also a matter of justice.

Water pollution is a serious environmental challenge in India. Rivers, lakes, and groundwater are increasingly burdened with industrial waste, domestic sewage, and chemical contaminants. To address this, the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 was enacted.