On June 15, the landfall process of Cyclone Biparjoy started near Jakhau port in the state’s Kutch district and continued till midnight.

What is landfall of a cyclone?

Ø  Landfall is the event of a tropical cyclone coming onto land after being over water.

Ø  As per the IMD, a tropical cyclone is said to have made a landfall when the renter of the storm – or its eye – moves over the coast.

Ø  The "eye" of a cyclone is a region of relatively calm weather found at the centre of the storm.

Ø  It is a circular or oval-shaped area characterised by light winds, clear or partly cloudy skies, and decreased precipitation.

Ø  The size of the eye can vary significantly, ranging from a few kilometers to over 50 kilometers (30 miles) in diameter in larger cyclones.

Ø  During landfall, the outer bands of the storm may have already reached the coast, bringing strong winds, heavy rain, and storm surge.

Ø  Landfall marks the moment when the cyclone officially reaches the land.

Ø  A landfall should not be confused with a ‘direct hit’, which refers to a situation where the core of high winds (or eyewall) comes onshore but the centre of the storm may stay remain offshore.

What is the damage caused by a cyclone’s landfall?

Ø  The damage caused by the landfall will depend on the severity of the cyclone – marked by the speed of its winds.

Ø  E.g., Cyclone Biparjoy, classified by the IMD as a “very severe cyclonic storm”, the impact may include extensive damage to kutcha houses, partial disruption of power and communication lines, minor disruption of rail and road traffic, etc.

How long does a landfall last?

Ø  Landfalls can last for a few hours, with their exact duration depending on the speed of the winds and the size of the storm system.

Ø  e.g., Cyclone Biparjoy’s land process is expected to last around five to six hours, with the cyclone almost completely dissipating over approximately the next 24 hours.

Ø  Cyclones lose their intensity once they move over land because of sharp reduction of moisture supply and increase in surface friction.

Ø  This means that while landfalls are often the most devastating moments of cyclones, they also mark the beginning of its end.

Management of cyclones -

Ø  The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in India outlines several key components for the management of cyclones. These components include -

Risk Assessment and Early Warning Systems —

Ø  Conducting risk assessments to identify vulnerable areas, populations, and infrastructure.

Ø  Developing and maintaining robust early warning systems that provide timely and accurate information about approaching cyclones.

Ø  Disseminating warnings and advisories through multiple channels to reach the affected communities and stakeholders.

Preparedness and Planning —

Ø  Developing and regularly updating cyclone-specific disaster management plans at national, state, and local levels.

Ø  Identifying and establishing cyclone shelters, evacuation routes, and assembly points in vulnerable areas.

Ø  Stockpiling and pre-positioning essential emergency supplies such as food, water, medical provisions, and relief materials.

Ø  Conducting regular drills, exercises etc.

Mitigation measures —

Strict adherence to building Codes and Regulations in cyclone-prone areas

Coastal Zone Management —

Ø  Implementation of effective coastal zone management plans to regulate development activities along vulnerable coastlines.

Ø  It also includes Mangrove Plantation, development of bio-shields, shelter belt plantation, coastal flood management etc.

Infrastructure Development —

Ø  Regular maintenance and strengthening of critical infrastructure such as roads, bridges, power lines, and communication networks.

Response and Coordination —

Ø  Activating emergency response mechanisms at all levels of governance, including the National, State, and District Disaster Management Authorities.

Ø  Coordinating with various stakeholders including NGOs

Ø  Mobilising resources, including manpower, equipment, and relief supplies, for rescue, evacuation, medical assistance, and other response operations.

Ø  Establishing emergency operation centres and coordination cells to facilitate realtime information sharing and decision-making.

Evacuation and Shelter Management —

Ø  Ensuring the availability and readiness of cyclone shelters and evacuation centres, equipped with basic amenities and facilities.

Ø  Organising systematic and orderly evacuations, prioritising the safety and well-being of vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children, and people with disabilities.

Recovery and Rehabilitation —

Ø  Undertaking post-cyclone damage assessments to ascertain the extent of destruction and prioritise recovery efforts.

Ø  Providing immediate relief assistance to affected communities, including shelter, food, water, healthcare, and sanitation facilities.

Ø  Implementing medium- and long-term rehabilitation and reconstruction plans to restore infrastructure, livelihoods, and community resilience.

Ø  Promoting sustainable development practices and resilient infrastructure designs to minimise future vulnerability.

Steps taken by India -

National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP) —

Ø  Launched by the MHA, this project aims to reduce the vulnerability of coastal communities and infrastructure to cyclones and storm surges.

Ø  It focuses on capacity building, early warning systems, cyclone shelters, evacuation planning, and community awareness.

IMD’s Colour Coding of Cyclones —

Ø  Four colours - Green, Yellow, Orange, and Red – are used by IMD to make people aware about the severity of cyclones.

Ø  Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Project

Ø  Coastal Regulation Zones (CRZ)

Other general steps taken —

Ø  National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)

Ø  National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP)

Ø  National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM)

Ø  State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs)

Ø  The governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Shaktikanta Das was honoured with the title of ‘Governor of the Year’ for 2023 by Central Banking Awards 2023 in London.

Ø  Mumbai-based Fino Payments Bank has entered into a tie-up with Sequoia Capital-backed fintech Hubble to introduce India’s & world’s first spending account.

Ø  RING, India's leading digital credit platform has partnered with National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to add its newly launched UPI Plug-in functionality to RING's pre-existing suite of digital services.

Ø  Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL), India’s first smart mobility solutions provider and largest exporter since inception, announced the cricketing youth icon – Hardik Pandya as its brand ambassador for its sports utility vehicle (SUV), Exter.

Ø  The Ministry of Steel has given 3 months extension to Amitava Mukherjee, Director (Finance) of the National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) to hold the additional charge of Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) mining major NMDC and its disinvested company NMDC Steel Limited (NSL) from June 01, 2023 to Aug 31, 2023.

Ø  India's preferred carrier, IndiGo announced that its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Pieter Elbers has been elected as the chair-elect of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Board of Governors.

Ø  Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta inaugurated the indigenously designed and developed state-of-the-art Naval Airfield Integrated Security System (NAISS) and Naval Anti-Drone System (NADS) at Indian Naval Ship (INS) Dega in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh (AP).

Ø  The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) gave its approval to SBI Mutual Fund (SBI MF), along with its group entities, to acquire up to 10% stake in ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Limited (ICICI Lombard).

Ø  Union Minister of Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Shri Dharmendra Pradhan flagged off Gabon’s first Agri- SEZ project from New Delhi

Ø  Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda, the government is taking several steps for the welfare of the tribal people in the country

Ø  In line with the vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, the Ministry of Coal is focused on ensuring the energy security of the Nation.

Ø  The third and final working group on W-20 began at Mahabalipuram near Chennai.

Ø  A Unified Registration Portal for GOBARdhan launched by Union Jal Shakti Minister.

Ø  Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar will confer the fourth National Water Awards in New Delhi

Ø  India and Nepal signed seven agreements in various fields on June 2023

Ø  India’s Esow Alben won bronze medal in Keirin at Finale Bahnen-Tournee 2023 cycling.

The Union government is now looking to design a survey that can gauge the Human Development Index (HDI) specifically for about 28 lakh people of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).

Ø  Recently, Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Shri Arjun Munda has said that development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in mission mode has been taken up as focus area for the first time ever.

Ø  The Ministry is now looking to design a survey that can gauge the Human Development Index (HDI) specifically for about 28 lakh people of the PVTGs.

Ø  A fund of Rs 15,000 crore has been allocated for the socio-economic development of the group for the next three years.

Ø  The programme envisions connecting all 22,544 PVTG villages to basic government services like communications, electricity, public education, healthcare, water supply, and connectivity.

Ø  It is part of this programme to create an HDI for PVTGs will be conducted.

Ø  Giving details of the strides made in the education of tribal people, the minister said that the Government is setting up 740 Eklavya Residential Model Schools (EMRS) which will serve 3.5 lakh tribal students with quality education.

Ø  Over the next three years, 38,800 teachers and support staff will be recruited centrally for the 740 EMRSs.

Ø  These schools will also lay emphasis on local languages to ensure that the students are not detached from their roots.

Ø  In 2023-24, a budget of Rs 12,460 Crores has been allocated to the Ministry.

Scheduled Tribes in India -

Ø  According to the 2011 Census, the Scheduled Tribes account for 104 million representing 8.6% of the country’s population.

Ø  These Scheduled Tribes are spread throughout the country largely in forest and hilly regions.

The essential characteristics of these communities are —

Ø  Primitive Traits

Ø  Geographical isolation

Ø  Distinct culture

Ø  Shy of contact with community at large

Ø  Economically backwards

Ø  Government of India set up Ministry of Tribal Affairs in 1999 after the bifurcation of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Objective — To provide a more focused approach towards the integrated socio-economic development of the Scheduled Tribes (the most underprivileged section of the Indian Society) in a coordinated and planned manner.

Ø  As in the case of the Scheduled Castes, the Plan objective of empowering the tribals is being achieved through a three-pronged strategy of —

Ø  Social empowerment,

Ø  Economic empowerment,

Ø  Social justice.

What is a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG)?

Ø  PVTGs are more vulnerable among the tribal groups.

Ø  Due to this factor, more developed and assertive tribal groups take a major chunk of the tribal development funds, because of which PVTGs need more funds directed for their development.

Ø  In this context, in 1975, the Government of India declared 52 tribal groups as PVTGs on the recommendation of Dhebar commission.

Ø  Currently, there are 75 PVTGs out of 705 Scheduled Tribes.

Ø  The PVTGs are spread over 18 states and one Union Territory (UT), in the country (2011 census).

Ø  Odisha has the highest number (more than 2.5 lakh) of PVTGs.

Characteristics of PVTGs —

Ø  Population – stagnant/declining

Ø  Technology – pre-agricultural

Ø  Literacy Level – extremely low

Ø  Economy – Subsistence level

Government scheme(s) for PVTGs -

Ø  Ministry of Tribal Affairs implements a scheme in the name of 'Development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)’.

Ø  It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme having a provision of 100% Central assistance to 18 states and Union territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

Ø  The scheme of Development of PVTGs aims at socio-economic development of PVTGs in a comprehensive manner, while retaining their culture and heritage.

Ø  As a part of the scheme, State Governments undertakes projects that are tailored to cater to sectors like education, health and livelihood schemes for the PVTGs.

About Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) -

Ø  EMRS started in 1997-98 with the aim of imparting quality education to children belonging to Scheduled Tribes (ST) in remote areas.

Ø  The EMRS aims to enable students to avail of opportunities in high and professional educational courses and get employment in various sectors.

Ø  The schools focus not only on academic education but on the all-round development of the students.

Ø  Each school has a capacity of 480 students, catering to students from Class VI to XII.

Ø  These are being set up by grants provided under Article 275(1) of the Constitution.

Ø  Nodal Ministry – Ministry of Tribal Affairs

Eklavya Model Day Boarding Schools (EMDBS) –

Ø  Wherever density of ST population is higher in identified Sub-Districts (90% or more), it is proposed to set up Eklavya Model Day Boarding School (EMDBS) on an experimental basis.

Ø  This is aimed at providing additional scope for ST Students seeking to avail school education without residential facility.

Three States, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Telangana, have deferred a proposal to test a new kind of transgenic cotton seed that contains a gene, Cry2Ai. Cry2Ai, purportedly makes cotton resistant to pink bollworm, a major pest.

Ø  The proposal was approved by the Centre’s Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC).

Ø  GEAC functions in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

Ø  It is responsible for appraisal of activities involving large scale use of hazardous microorganisms and recombinants in research and industrial production from the environmental angle.

Ø  It is also responsible for appraisal of proposals relating to release of genetically engineered (GE) organisms and products into the environment including experimental field trials.

What is the status of transgenic crops in India?

Ø  There is an array of crops — brinjal, tomato, maize, chickpea — in various stages of trials that employ transgenic technology.

Ø  However, cotton remains the only transgenic crop that is being commercially cultivated in India.

Ø  In October 2022, the GEAC approved the environmental release of Mustard hybrid DMH-11.

Ø  This is one step away from full commercial cultivation.

What is the process of regulating transgenic crops in India?

Ø  There are multiple safety assessments done by committees before they are cleared for further tests in open plots of lands.

Ø  These lands are located at either agricultural universities or plots controlled by the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR).

Ø  Open field trials often take place over multiple crop seasons and types of geographical conditions, to assess its suitability across different States.

Ø  A transgenic plant can apply for commercial clearance, only after it has proven to be demonstrably better than comparable non-GM variants on claimed parameters without posing ecological harm to other species.

The need for approval from state governments -

Ø  Agriculture being a State subject means that, in most cases, companies interested in testing their seeds need approvals from the States for conducting such tests.

Ø  In the present case of Cry2Ai, only Haryana gave permission for such tests.

Ø  The Cry2Ai seed had passed preliminary, confined trials and was recommended by the GEAC to be tested in farmer’s fields at Telangana, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Haryana.

GM Crops -

Ø  Conventional plant breeding involves crossing species of the same genus to provide the offspring with the desired traits of both parents.

Ø  Genetic engineering aims to transcend the genus barrier by introducing an alien gene in the seeds to get the desired effects.

Ø  The alien gene could be from a plant, an animal or even a soil bacterium.

Ø  For e.g., Bt cotton has two alien genes from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt).

Ø  It allows the crop to develop a protein toxic to the common pest pink bollworm.

Ø  In Bt brinjal, a gene allows the plant to resist attacks of fruit and shoot borer.

Ø  Crops produced using genetic engineering are called Genetically Modified Crops.

GM Crops and Transgenic Crops -

Ø  It should be noted that all transgenic crops are genetically modified crops, but not all genetically modified crops are transgenic.

Ø  Transgenic crops are a specific subset of genetically modified crops.

Ø  The term "transgenic" refers to the process of introducing genes from one species into the DNA of a different species.

Ø  In the context of crops, transgenic crops are created when genes from one organism, such as bacteria, animals, or other plants, are inserted into the DNA of a target crop plant.

Ø  Legal position of genetically modified crops in India -

Ø  In India, the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) is the apex body that allows for commercial release of GM crops.

Ø  In 2002, the GEAC had allowed the commercial release of Bt cotton.