UPSC Daily Current Affairs - 17th December 2025
Source: The Hindu
Relevance:
GS Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Climate Change
Important Key Concepts for Prelims and Mains:
For Prelims:
- Methane (CH₄), Global Warming Potential (GWP), Landfill methane, Satellite monitoring, Global Methane Pledge, IMEO, CarbonMapper, ClimateTRACE
For Mains:
- Landfill methane emissions, Urban waste management and climate change, Role of satellite technology in environmental governance, Data-driven climate action
Why in News?
Satellite observations reveal that methane emissions from Indian landfills are far higher than official estimates, posing a serious challenge to India’s climate goals, urban safety, and public health. Methane, though a valuable fuel, becomes a powerful greenhouse gas and fire hazard when released uncontrolled from waste sites.
What is Methane?
- Methane (CH₄) is the simplest alkane, consisting of one carbon and four hydrogen atoms.
- It is odourless, colourless, tasteless, and lighter than air.
- On complete combustion, it produces CO₂ and water.
- It is the primary component of natural gas (80–95%), widely used for cooking, electricity, CNG vehicles, and industry.
Methane Emissions in India
- India is the third-largest methane emitter globally, after China and the USA.
- Annual emissions: 31 million tonnes (≈9% of global emissions).
- As per India’s 3rd Biennial Update Report (2016), methane emissions (excluding LULUCF) were 409 million tonnes CO₂e.
Major Sources of Methane
- Natural: Wetlands (anaerobic decomposition).
- Agriculture: Rice paddies, livestock enteric fermentation.
- Energy & Industry: Fossil fuel extraction and transport.
- Waste Sector:
- Landfills and wastewater treatment.
- Accounts for ~15% of India’s methane emissions.
- Others: Biomass burning, fertiliser production.
Why Landfills Are Critical Methane Hotspots
- Organic waste decomposes anaerobically in landfills.
- The same biological processes that formed fossil fuels are now occurring in urban dumpsites.
- Methane fuels landfill fires, explosions, and air pollution while accelerating global warming.
Global Warming Potential of Methane
- Over 20 years, methane is 84 times more potent than CO₂.
- Over 100 years, it is 28–34 times more potent.
- Thus, short-term methane reduction yields immediate climate benefits.
Limitations of Conventional Methane Estimation
- Traditional models rely on waste input volumes and baseline assumptions.
- Data are often aggregated, outdated, and infrequently updated.
- Ground-based monitoring is expensive, labour-intensive, and hard to scale.
- As a result, actual hotspots remain invisible.
Role of Satellite Monitoring
Satellite data bridge this gap through two approaches:
- Regional monitoring: Captures national and state-level trends.
- High-resolution detection: Pinpoints leaks down to a few square metres.
Key Satellite Platforms
- ISRO (2023 study)
- CarbonMapper – Tanager
- SRON missions
- ClimateTRACE & WasteMap platforms
Evidence from Indian Cities
- Ahmedabad: Pirana landfill identified as a major emitter.
- Mumbai: Deonar and Kanjurmarg landfills show emissions 10× higher than model estimates.
- Delhi: Ghazipur and Bhalswa landfills alone emit almost as much as the entire waste sector estimate.
- Hyderabad: Jawaharnagar landfill detected as a hotspot.
- Kolkata: Dhapa landfill shows significant emissions.
Globally, satellite surveys show landfill emissions can be 1.8 times higher than model-based estimates.
Data Gaps and Discrepancies
- State-level waste data is mostly from 2018.
- Satellite data shows emissions from single landfills rival entire sector estimates.
- This mismatch highlights a critical information and governance gap.
Integrating Satellite and Ground Action
- Satellite detection identifies hotspots.
- Ground teams verify causes:
- Poor waste covering
- Gas collection failure
- Illegal dumping
- This creates a feedback loop improving both detection and mitigation.
Policy and Institutional Coordination
Key requirements:
- Expand satellite coverage of all major landfills.
- Establish on-ground validation systems in metro cities.
- Create standardised data-sharing platforms.
- Urban Local Bodies currently operate separately from SPCBs.
- Revised municipal waste guidelines allow scope for a centralised methane data portal.
- CAQM and Swachh Bharat Mission can integrate methane targets into urban governance.
Climate, Urban, and Energy Co-benefits
- Methane capture enables energy recovery.
- Example: Indore’s Bio-CNG plant under GOBARdhan scheme.
- Benefits include:
- Reduced landfill fires
- Cleaner cities
- Renewable fuel generation
- Faster climate mitigation gains
Conclusion
Methane from landfills is both a serious climate threat and a missed opportunity. Satellite technology has finally made the invisible visible. By integrating space-based detection, ground-level action, and coordinated governance, India can transform landfill methane from an urban hazard into a strategic climate and energy solution—delivering cleaner cities, faster emission reductions, and tangible progress toward climate commitments.
UPSC PYQ
Q. Which of the following statements is/are correct about the deposits of ‘methane hydrate’? (2019)
- Global warming might trigger the release of methane gas from these deposits.
- Large deposits of ‘methane hydrate’ are found in Arctic Tundra and under the sea floor.
- Methane in the atmosphere oxidises to carbon dioxide after a decade or two.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Ans: (d)
Q. Due to their extensive rice cultivation, some regions may be contributing to global warming. To what possible reason/reasons is this attributable? (2010)
- The anaerobic conditions associated with rice cultivation cause the emission of methane.
- When nitrogen-based fertilizers are used, nitrous oxide is emitted from the cultivated soil.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans: (c)
CARE MCQ
Q. Satellite-based methane monitoring is particularly significant for India because it:
(a) Replaces the need for waste segregation
(b) Identifies landfill methane hotspots with high spatial precision
(c) Eliminates the need for urban local bodies
(d) Fully substitutes ground-level environmental assessments
Answer: (b)
Explanation:
- Satellite monitoring enables precise detection of methane hotspots, overcoming data gaps in traditional models.
- It complements, not replaces, ground-level action and governance mechanisms.
Source: The Hindu
Relevance:
(GS Paper III – Science & Technology, Internal Security)
Important Key Concepts for Prelims and Mains:
For Prelims:
- Biosecurity, Biosafety, Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), Ricin, Recombinant DNA Guidelines 2017, Environment Protection Act 1986, WMD Act 2005, Global Health Security Index, Australia Group
For Mains:
- Bio-risk governance, non-state actors, emerging biothreats, lab oversight, synthetic biology, national security, public health surveillance, biodefence strategy
Why in News?
The rapid evolution of new-age biotechnologies has dramatically expanded human ability to manipulate biological systems. As these tools become more accessible, the potential for deliberate misuse—by states or non-state actors—has increased. This has renewed attention on whether India’s existing biosecurity architecture is strong enough to manage escalating risks.
What is Biosecurity?
Biosecurity refers to systems, practices, and policies aimed at preventing the intentional misuse of biological agents, toxins, or technologies.
It includes:
- Safeguarding laboratories handling dangerous pathogens
- Detecting and containing deliberate disease outbreaks
- Preventing harmful manipulation of biological materials
- Protecting human, livestock, and plant health
How it differs from biosafety:
- Biosafety → prevents accidental release of pathogens
- Biosecurity → prevents intentional misuse
A strong biosafety foundation supports overall biosecurity.
The Biological Weapons Convention (BWC)
- Established in 1975
- First global treaty to ban the development, production, and stockpiling of biological weapons
- Requires signatories to destroy existing stockpiles
- Has contributed to a long period with minimal state-level bioweapon use
However, new technologies and non-state actors are creating fresh risks that the BWC framework must keep up with.
Why India Needs Stronger Biosecurity
Several factors heighten India’s vulnerability:
1. Geographic and ecological risk
India’s size, biodiversity, dense population, and porous borders increase exposure to cross-border biological threats.
2. Agricultural dependence
Biological attacks on crops or livestock could disrupt food security and economic stability.
3. Growing interest of non-state actors
There have been reports of attempts to prepare Ricin, a toxin derived from castor oil, for use in terror attacks — signalling that extremist groups may explore biological tools.
4. Rapid spread of biotechnology
Affordable genetic editing, open-access biological databases, and DIY labs increase the risk of amateur or malicious experimentation.
India’s Existing Biosecurity Governance
Multiple agencies oversee different aspects:
Human Health & Research
- Department of Biotechnology (DBT): Lab governance, research safety
- National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC): Surveillance & outbreak response
Animal Health
- Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying: Livestock diseases, transboundary bio-risks
Plant Health
- Plant Quarantine Organisation of India: Agricultural import/export regulation
Legal and Policy Framework
- Environment (Protection) Act, 1986: Regulates hazardous microorganisms, GMOs
- Biosafety Rules, 1989: Oversight of genetically engineered organisms
- Recombinant DNA Research Guidelines, 2017: Biocontainment norms
- WMD Act, 2005: Criminalises biological weapons
Disaster Preparedness
- NDMA’s Guidelines for managing biological disasters
International Cooperation
- Member of BWC and the Australia Group
The Gap
Despite many bodies, India lacks:
- A unified national biosecurity framework
- Updated laws addressing modern genetic tools
- Sufficient capacity for rapid response
India currently ranks 66th on the Global Health Security Index—a warning sign that response capabilities lag behind detection systems.
How Other Countries Are Responding
United States
- National Biodefense Strategy (2022–28) integrates health + defence
- 2024 Synthetic DNA Screening Guidance requires companies to verify DNA orders to prevent pathogen misuse
European Union
- EU Health Security Framework (2022)
- Strong dual-use research controls under Horizon Europe
- One Health–based integrated biosecurity
China
- Biosecurity Law (2021) treats biotechnology and genetic data as national security assets
- Centralised control over research and genetic material
Australia
- Biosecurity Act (2015) unifies human, animal, plant biosecurity
- Now expanded to synthetic biology
United Kingdom
- Biological Security Strategy (2023) emphasises biosurveillance + rapid response
Risks Ahead for India
Without upgrades, India faces:
- Vulnerability to deliberate biological attacks
- Inability to contain engineered pathogens
- Threats to billions of lives, food systems, and national security
- Regulatory gaps in synthetic biology, gene editing, and DNA synthesis markets
A national biosecurity framework must:
- Coordinate all agencies
- Identify infrastructure gaps
- Integrate new tools like microbial forensics and social-media-based outbreak detection
Conclusion
India’s expanding biotech ecosystem demands a modern, unified, and forward-looking biosecurity system. While multiple agencies and laws exist, they were designed for an earlier era. To safeguard national security and public health, India must upgrade its legal frameworks, strengthen inter-agency coordination, and invest in advanced biodefence technologies. As biothreats evolve rapidly, India’s biosecurity preparedness must evolve even faster.
UPSC PYQ
Q. The Cartagena Protocol, to which India is a party, is related to: (CAPF 2020)
(a) Combat the greenhouse gases and reduce global warming and climate change
(b) Biosafety, negotiated under the aegis of the Convention on Biological Diversity
(c) Combat the ozone-depleting substances to protect human lives from diseases
(d) Combat the phenomenon of desertification by improving dry land farming in dry regions
Correct Answer: (b)
Explanation
- The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (2000) is a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
- It regulates the safe handling, transport, and use of Living Modified Organisms (LMOs) created through modern biotechnology.
- Its primary purpose is to prevent potential adverse effects on biodiversity, with due consideration to human health.
CARE MCQ
Q. Consider the following statements regarding the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety:
- The Cartagena Protocol is a legally binding agreement under the Convention on Biological Diversity aimed at ensuring the safe handling and transfer of living modified organisms.
- The Protocol was adopted in Cartagena, Colombia, where negotiations concluded in 1999.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Correct Answer: (a) 1 only
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct:
- The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety is legally binding and falls under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
- It aims to ensure the safe transfer, handling, and use of living modified organisms (LMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology, considering risks to biodiversity and human health.
- Statement 2 is not correct:
- Although the Protocol was named after Cartagena, Colombia, the city where negotiations were initially planned, the final adoption took place in Montreal, Canada on January 29, 2000, not in Cartagena.
