Current Affair 24-October-2025

India Among Top 9 in the Global Forest Assessment 2025

India has been ranked among the Top 9 countries globally in the Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) 2025, released by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.
 The report highlights India’s continued commitment to forest conservation, afforestation, and sustainable forest management, recognizing it as one of the few nations showing consistent forest cover growth.

About the Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA)

• The FAO’s Global Forest Resources Assessment is conducted every five years to evaluate the state of the world’s forests.
• The 2025 edition provides updated data on forest area, biodiversity, carbon stocks, and forest management practices across 236 countries and territories.
• The assessment serves as a critical input for global climate action, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development indicators (SDG 13 & SDG 15).

India’s Performance in FRA 2025

• India is placed in the Top 9 countries worldwide for forest resource management and expansion.
• The country has recorded a net increase in forest area, aligning with its National Forest Policy (1988) target of maintaining 33% of total land area under forest and tree cover.
• India’s forest and tree cover currently stands at around 24.6%, with consistent improvements due to afforestation drives and community-based forest management.
• Mangrove cover and carbon stock have also shown positive trends, reinforcing India’s contribution to global carbon sequestration.

Key Findings from the Global Report

• The world lost over 10 million hectares of forest annually between 2015–2024, though the rate of loss has slowed compared to previous decades.
• The Top 10 countries account for more than 66% of global forest area, led by Russia, Brazil, Canada, the U.S., China, and India.
• India stands out for its sustained reforestation programs, particularly under the Green India Mission and Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).

Major Indian Initiatives for Forest Conservation

• Green India Mission (GIM): Part of the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), it aims to increase forest and tree cover on 5 million hectares of land.
• National Afforestation Programme (NAP): Focuses on degraded forest restoration through participatory management.
• CAMPA Funds: Used for compensatory afforestation and forest regeneration in lieu of diverted forest land.
• Eco-Task Forces and Joint Forest Management (JFM): Engage local communities and ex-servicemen in forest protection and sustainable resource use.

Significance of the Achievement

• Reinforces India’s position as a global leader in forest conservation and climate action.
• Supports India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, especially in carbon sequestration and land restoration.
• Demonstrates the effectiveness of India’s decentralized forest governance involving states, panchayats, and local communities.
• Strengthens India’s credibility in global environmental platforms like the UNFCCC, CBD, and UNCCD.

About FAO

• The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized UN agency established in 1945, headquartered in Rome, Italy.
• Its mission is to achieve food security for all and ensure the sustainable management of the planet’s natural resources.
• India is a founding member of the FAO and maintains close collaboration on forestry, agriculture, and nutrition initiatives.

Conclusion

India’s inclusion among the Top 9 countries in the Global Forest Assessment 2025 underscores its balanced approach to development and ecology, proving that economic growth and environmental conservation can progress together.

India’s Progress Towards Crewed Lunar Mission – Building on the Success of Chandrayaan

India is advancing its space exploration program with plans for its first crewed lunar mission, building upon the technological and scientific successes of Chandrayaan-1 (2008), Chandrayaan-2 (2019), and Chandrayaan-3 (2023).
 The upcoming mission aims to demonstrate India’s capability to safely transport astronauts to the Moon and back, marking a major milestone in India’s journey toward human spaceflight beyond Earth’s orbit.

About Chandrayaan Missions

• Chandrayaan-1 (2008):
  
  
  • India’s first lunar mission, launched by ISRO using the PSLV-C11 rocket.
  • Confirmed the presence of water molecules on the lunar surface, a major global scientific discovery.
  • Laid the foundation for India’s deep-space exploration program.
• Chandrayaan-2 (2019):
  
  
  • Aimed to explore the lunar south pole region.
  • Included an orbiter, lander (Vikram), and rover (Pragyan).
  • While the lander lost communication during descent, the orbiter remains functional and continues to study the Moon.
• Chandrayaan-3 (2023):
  
  
  • Made India the first country to successfully land near the lunar south pole.
  • The mission achieved soft landing and rover exploration, showcasing India’s engineering excellence and resilience in space technology.

India’s Upcoming Crewed Lunar Mission

• ISRO is now working towards a crewed lunar mission as a part of its long-term roadmap after the Gaganyaan Mission.
• The mission aims to send Indian astronauts to lunar orbit and eventually to the lunar surface.
• It will involve collaboration between ISRO, the Indian Air Force (IAF), and other national agencies.
• Technologies being developed include:
  
  • Human-rated launch vehiclesLife-support and re-entry systems
  • Advanced spacecraft navigation and docking modules

Significance of the Mission

• Positions India among a select group of nations capable of human lunar exploration.
• Strengthens India’s status as a major space power.
• Boosts domestic space research, innovation, and industrial capability.
• Encourages STEM education and scientific curiosity among the youth.

About ISRO

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was founded in 1969 under the Department of Space, Government of India.
• Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• ISRO’s primary objectives include advancing space technology, conducting planetary exploration, and supporting socio-economic development through space applications.

Conclusion

Building upon the legacy of its Chandrayaan missions, India’s push toward a crewed lunar mission symbolizes a new era in its space exploration journey  from robotic missions to human presence on the Moon.

Methane Leaks Soar, World Stalls – Climate Clock Ticking Fast

Recent global studies and satellite data have revealed a sharp increase in methane emissions from fossil fuel operations and agriculture, raising serious concerns over the pace of climate action.
 Despite international pledges, methane leakage control efforts remain inadequate, threatening global climate targets under the Paris Agreement.

About Methane (CH₄)

• Methane is a potent greenhouse gas (GHG) with a global warming potential nearly 80 times greater than carbon dioxide (CO₂) over a 20-year period.
• It accounts for around 30% of global warming since pre-industrial times.
• Major anthropogenic (human-caused) sources of methane include:
  
  
  • Oil and gas extraction and transport
  • Coal mining
  • Agriculture (especially livestock and paddy cultivation)
  • Landfills and waste decomposition

Recent Findings

• Satellite monitoring indicates a record rise in methane concentrations in the atmosphere in 2024–25.
• Major leaks have been detected from oil and gas infrastructure in the U.S., Russia, China, and parts of the Middle East.
• India is among the top five methane emitters globally, largely due to agriculture and waste sectors.
• Despite commitments under the Global Methane Pledge, most countries are falling behind on reduction targets.

Global Methane Pledge (GMP)

• Launched in 2021 at COP26 (Glasgow) by the United States and the European Union.
• Aims to reduce global methane emissions by at least 30% by 2030 (from 2020 levels).
• Over 150 countries have joined the pledge, representing more than half of global methane emissions.
• However, implementation has been slow and uneven, especially in energy and waste sectors.

Why Methane Reduction Matters

• Methane has a short atmospheric lifetime (around 12 years), meaning emission cuts can yield quick climate benefits.
• Reducing methane can slow global warming significantly in the near term.
• It also improves air quality by reducing ozone formation, thus lowering premature deaths and crop losses.

India’s Context

• India has not yet signed the Global Methane Pledge, citing concerns over its impact on agriculture.
• However, initiatives under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) and National Bioenergy Mission indirectly address methane mitigation.
• The government promotes biogas, waste-to-energy projects, and scientific livestock management to control methane emissions.

Way Forward

• Strengthen methane monitoring and leak detection using satellite and drone technologies.
• Implement strict regulations on oil and gas operations to plug leakages.
• Promote climate-smart agriculture and manure management practices.
• Encourage international cooperation and technology transfer for methane capture and utilization.

Conclusion

Methane emission control is one of the fastest and most cost-effective strategies to combat climate change.
Without immediate global action, the “climate clock” may tick faster, making it harder to achieve the 1.5°C temperature goal of the Paris Agreement.

NHAI to Deploy Network Survey Vehicles (NSVs) to Monitor Highway Conditions

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has announced the deployment of Network Survey Vehicles (NSVs) to monitor the condition of highways across the country.
This initiative aims to improve the riding experience, ensure timely maintenance, and promote data-driven road management across India’s National Highways.

About the Initiative

• NHAI will deploy Network Survey Vehicles (NSVs) across 23 states, covering approximately 20,933 km of National Highways.
• The NSVs will conduct scientific and automated road condition surveys, helping the authority assess the health of the road network.
• The data collected will guide maintenance planning, prioritization of repairs, and overall asset management.

About Network Survey Vehicles (NSVs)

• NSVs are specialized, sensor-equipped vehicles designed to assess the condition of road surfaces.
• They use laser profiling, high-resolution cameras, and GPS-based mapping systems to record parameters such as:
  
  • Surface roughnessCracks and potholesRutting (surface deformation)
  • Pavement strength and texture
• These vehicles enable objective, consistent, and rapid assessment of large road stretches.

Significance of the Deployment

• Enhances road safety by identifying damaged or deteriorated stretches in advance.
• Facilitates predictive maintenance, reducing long-term repair costs.
• Promotes transparency and accountability in highway upkeep.
• Improves data accuracy for planning future road infrastructure projects.
• Supports NHAI’s move towards digital highway management under its broader modernization initiative.

About NHAI

• The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) was established in 1995 under the National Highways Authority of India Act, 1988.
• It functions under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).
• NHAI is responsible for the development, maintenance, and management of India’s National Highways network.
• It implements flagship programs such as Bharatmala Pariyojana for expanding and upgrading highway infrastructure.

Expected Impact

• The use of NSVs will help maintain highways at international quality standards.
• It ensures real-time monitoring, enabling faster response to maintenance needs.
• This initiative will ultimately enhance travel safety, comfort, and efficiency on India’s major road corridors.

India Introduces Standards for NavIC Location Receivers

The Government of India has introduced comprehensive standards for Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) location receivers to promote the wider adoption of India’s indigenous satellite-based navigation system.

About NavIC

• NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) is India’s regional satellite navigation system, developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
• It provides accurate position information services to users in India and surrounding regions extending up to 1,500 km beyond the Indian boundary.
• NavIC is designed to provide two types of services:
  
  
  • Standard Positioning Service (SPS) – available to all users.
  • Restricted Service (RS) – encrypted service for authorized users, mainly for defence and strategic applications.

New Standards for NavIC Receivers

• For the first time, India has introduced detailed technical standards for NavIC-enabled receivers.
• These standards define parameters for signal compatibility, accuracy, interoperability, and reliability.
• They aim to ensure that mobile phones, vehicles, and other devices can efficiently use NavIC signals in addition to or instead of the US GPS (Global Positioning System).
• The standards will help promote mass adoption of NavIC in consumer electronics, logistics, and navigation industries.

Significance of the Move

• The step will accelerate the integration of NavIC into smartphones, automobiles, and wearable devices.
• It supports India’s goal of technological self-reliance in navigation systems, reducing dependence on foreign services like GPS, GLONASS (Russia), Galileo (EU), and BeiDou (China).
• It enhances national security, ensuring uninterrupted navigation capability even during global or geopolitical disruptions.
• The move aligns with the government’s “Atmanirbhar Bharat” vision and strengthens India’s space-based infrastructure.

Background: Development of NavIC

• NavIC was approved in 2006 and became operational in 2018.
• The constellation currently consists of 7 satellites in geostationary and geosynchronous orbits.
• The system provides position accuracy better than 20 meters, which is comparable to the US GPS.

Applications of NavIC

• Disaster management and emergency response
• Fishermen tracking and marine navigation
• Road transport and fleet management
• Aviation and railways navigation systems
• Timing and synchronization for telecom and banking sectors

Future Plans

• ISRO plans to expand NavIC’s coverage to a global scale in the coming decade.
• The government also plans to mandate NavIC compatibility for all smartphones sold in India in the near future.