India's Green Investment Growth

India is projected to significantly increase its investments in green infrastructure and energy projects, with a five-fold growth expected over the next five years, reaching Rs 31 trillion by 2030, according to CRISIL. This growth is driven by government announcements, corporate plans, and on-ground progress.

Green Investment Breakdown

• Renewable Energy (RE): Rs 18.8 lakh crore
• Oil and Gas: Rs 3.3 trillion
• Transport and Automotive: Rs 4.1 trillion

Net-Zero Goals and NDC Commitments

• India requires $10 trillion investments by 2070 to achieve net-zero goals.
• The Updated First Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement includes: 
  • A 45% reduction in the carbon intensity of GDP by 2030 from 2005 levels.
  • Increasing the share of cumulative installed power capacity from non-fossil-fuel-based resources to 50%.

Decarbonisation in Road Transport

The road segment is a major contributor to carbon emissions, accounting for 90% of CO2 emissions in the transportation sector. CRISIL suggests a multi-faceted approach for decarbonisation, including:

• Creation of green financing pools through government-backed green bonds.
• Establishment of a national decarbonisation fund and public-private partnerships.
• Innovative financing like asset monetisation, which has raised over Rs 1.1 trillion for National Highways Authority of India.
• Funds should focus on sustainable construction materials, IoT-enabled road management, and green logistics hubs, with an emphasis on high-traffic corridors initially.

Renewable Energy in Indian Railways

Increased central budget allocations will lead to rapid growth in the production of renewable energy by Indian Railways, aiding in achieving net-zero carbon emissions and reducing operational costs. This will require:

• Supportive government policies, including subsidies for renewable energy and streamlined approvals.

Emerging Technologies and Financing

• For high-risk projects like green hydrogen, CCUS, and energy storage, government grants and incentives are essential.
• Private sector participation, specialised climate/venture funds, and multilateral involvement will play a crucial role.
• Blended finance and first-loss guarantee structures through multilateral organizations will help scale these technologies.

Water Cycle and Groundwater

Water is continuously moving through processes such as melting, evaporating, condensing, and circulating within the Earth's systems. This dynamic cycle involves water seeping into the soil and accumulating in underground reservoirs, which become essential sources of groundwater.

Advancements in the 20th Century

• Water Well Drilling: Significant advancements in drilling technology allowed for the extraction of larger quantities of groundwater.
• Pumping Technology: Enhanced pumping systems facilitated efficient groundwater extraction.
• Energy Access: Improved access to energy supported the widespread use of these technologies.
• Geological Knowledge: Better understanding of geological formations aided in identifying and accessing groundwater resources.

Importance of Groundwater

• Human Well-being: Groundwater is a critical resource that supports human health and livelihoods.
• Economic Development: It plays a vital role in boosting economic activities, especially in urban areas.

Despite its significance, groundwater is often misunderstood, undervalued, and poorly managed, posing challenges for sustainable usage.

Current Dependence

• Nearly 50 per cent of the world's urban population relies on groundwater, highlighting its critical importance.

Supreme Court Inquiry on Mining Practices

The Supreme Court of India, in 2019, raised concerns regarding the possibility of illegal mining operations continuing without the involvement of officials. This inquiry was a part of their examination following the incident of 15 miners trapped in a rat-hole mine in East Jaintia Hills in December 2018.

Report by NGT Monitoring Committee

• The committee highlighted that despite an official ban, the demand for coal in the northeast for cement and thermal power plants supported the illegal rat-hole mining activities.

State Authorities' Involvement

• State authorities have occasionally recognized and celebrated rat-hole miners, as observed in 2023, where miners from Assam were brought in to assist with a rescue operation in Uttarkashi.
• This highlights a contradiction where traditional miners were relied upon after modern technology and professional expertise failed in rescue efforts.

Recurring Pattern of Mining Accidents

• There is a cyclical pattern of accidents, such as the Dima Hasao operation, where attempts to save those trapped often end in either success or failure.
• This pattern leads to temporary awareness that fades until the next mining disaster occurs.

Mission Mausam Explained

The India Meteorological Department (IMD), established in 1875, will complete 150 years of service. To commemorate this milestone, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Mission Mausam on January 14.

Objective of Mission Mausam

• Upgrade capabilities in forecasting, modelling, and dissemination.
• Enhance disaster management capabilities through advanced meteorology.
• Budget of Rs 2,000 crore for the first two years of implementation.

Impact Areas

• Improves weather surveillance and forecasting.
• Directly benefits sectors such as agriculture, aviation, defence, disaster management, tourism, and health.

Mission Mausam aims to offer comprehensive coverage of all weather and forecasting services in India.

Achievements and Comparisons

• Relates to Mission Monsoon (2012) for monsoon prediction improvements.
• Current IMD accuracy: 
  • Heatwaves: 97.99% accuracy for forecasts up to 24 hours in advance.
  • Heavy rainfall: Approximately 80% accuracy.

Additional Functions of Mission Mausam

• Manage weather events such as enhancing or suppressing rainfall, hail, fog, and later lightning strikes.
• Strengthen research in cloud physics with a focus on weather modification.
• Establishing a first-of-its-kind cloud chamber at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune.

The cloud chamber will allow studies on seed particles forming cloud droplets or ice particles under controlled conditions, with convection properties essential for studying Indian monsoon clouds.

Oversight and Implementation

Mission Mausam will be overseen by three institutions funded by the Ministry of Earth Sciences:

• India Meteorological Department (IMD)
• Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune
• National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting, Noida