PIB 5

1. India’s Intended Nationally Determined Contribution: To reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 33 to 35 per cent by 2030 from 2005 level. India to create additional Carbon Sink of 2.5 to 3 Billion Tonnes of Co2 Equivalent through Additional Forest and Tree Cover by 2030. India to Anchor a Global Solar Alliance

2. Urban transport policy-focus on Mass Rapid Transit Systems, The switch from Bharat Stage IV (BS IV) to Bharat Stage V (BS V) and Bharat Stage VI (BS VI) to improve fuel standards across the country is also planned for the near future.

3. The range of ecosystem goods and services provided by forests include carbon sequestration and storage. Despite the significant opportunity costs, India is one of the few countries where forest and tree cover has increased in recent years and the total forest and tree cover amounts to 24% percent of the geographical area of the country. Over the past two decades progressive national forestry legislations and policies of India have transformed India’s forests into a net sink of CO2. With its focus on sustainable forest management, afforestation and regulating diversion of forest land for non-forest purpose, India plans to increase its carbon stock. Government of India’s long term goal is to increase its forest cover through a planned afforestation drive which includes number of programmes and initiatives like Green India Mission, green highways policy, financial incentive for forests, plantation along rivers, REDD-Plus & Other Policies and Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority. For the first time devolution of funds to states from the federal pool will be based on a formula that attaches 7.5 % weight to the area under forest.

4. The prime objective of the Sagarmala project is to promote port-led direct and indirect development and to provide infrastructure to transport goods to and from ports quickly, efficiently and cost-effectively.

5. KISAN Project-envisages use of Space Technology and geoinformatics (GIS, GPS and Smartphone) technology  needed for crop insurance programme-a pilot project in select districts.

6. Despite the uncertain Monsoon, Government food management, including use of the price stabilization fund to augment domestic supplies with imports, will ensure that food inflation is contained. We are in the process of setting-up a National Infrastructure Investment Fund (NIIF) that will channelize both domestic and foreign resources to satisfy the infrastructure needs of our economy.

7. Union Health Minister launches phase-2 of Mission Indradhanush in 352 districts targeting full immunization

8. Government to train 10,000 “barefoot” technicians in civil engineering for better execution of MGNREGA works in 2,500 most backward blocks: Birender Singh. Similarly, to improve maintenance of the large PMGSY rural roads network

9. unauthorized mining activities going on in river Ganga at Bijnor leading to change in river hydrology and resulting in soil erosion as well as impinging upon the conservation of endangered aquatic species.