• 17 Jan 2025

World’s Most Powerful Hydrogen Train Engine

Why in News? 

Recently, the Union Railway Minister announced that India has achieved a significant milestone in green energy leadership by developing the world’s most powerful hydrogen-powered train engine. 

• The hydrogen-powered train engine will undergo its first trial run on the Jind-Sonipat route in Haryana. 

 Key Points 

• Key Features of India’s Hydrogen Train Engine: 
  • Power Output: 1,200 horsepower, surpassing global counterparts. 
  • Technology: Fully developed using indigenous expertise. 
  • Green Milestone: Marks a significant step in India’s transition to hydrogen-powered transportation. 
• Global Leadership: 
  • Only four countries—Germany, France, Sweden, and China—currently operate hydrogen-powered trains,delivering a power output of 500-600 horsepower. 
  • India's indigenously developed hydrogen engine surpasses these with a power output of 1,200 horsepower, the highest in its category. 
• Indigenous Development: 
  • The engine was developed entirely by indigenous expertise, showcasing the country’s innovation in clean energy solutions. 
  • This achievement is a step toward India leading major economies in green energy-driven growth. 

 Green Energy 

• Green energy is defined as energy derived from renewable sources. It is also known as clean, sustainable, or renewable energy. 
• Green energy generation emits no dangerous greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, resulting in little or no environmental impact. 
• Solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, low-impact hydroelectricity, and certain qualified biomass sources are all key green energy sources. 

Falcated Duck

Why in News? 

Recently, a rare bird species, the Falcated Duck was spotted by bird watchers and nature enthusiasts at Sultanpur National Park in Gurugram. 

 

Key Points 

• Falcated Duck: 
  • The Falcated Teal (Mareca falcata), also known as the Falcated Duck, is a dabbling duck. 
  • Distribution: 
    • Found from eastern Siberia and Mongolia to northern Japan. 
    • Wintering grounds include Southeast Asia and eastern India. 
    • Rare sightings have also been recorded in America, Poland, and Thailand. 
  • Habitat: 
    • Prefers freshwater lakes, ponds, rivers, and marshes surrounded by forests. 
  • Breeding: 
    • The breeding season lasts from May to early July. 
    • Nests are built on the ground near water, typically in tall grass or brush. 
  • Diet: 
    • Primarily herbivorous, feeding on vegetable matter, seeds, rice, and aquatic plants. 
    • Occasionally consumes small invertebrates and soft-shelled mollusks. 
  • Threats: 
    • Hunting is a major threat, driven by demand for their meat and feathers. 
  • Conservation Status: 
    • Listed as "Near Threatened" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). 

 Sultanpur National Park   

• About:   
  • Sultanpur National Park is a bird paradise for bird watchers. It is famous for its migratory as well as resident birds.   
    • Migratory birds start arriving in the park in September. Birds use the park as a resting place till the following March-April.   
    • During summer and monsoon months the park is inhabited by many local bird species.   
  • In April 1971, the Sultanpur Jheel inside the park (an area of 1.21 sq. Km.) was accorded Sanctuary status under section 8 of the Punjab Wildlife Preservation Act, 1959.   
  • The status of the park was upgraded to National Park under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 in July 1991.   
• Location:   
  • It is situated in Gurgaon district of Haryana. The distance of the park is around 50 Km from Delhi and 15km from Gurgaon.   
• Important Fauna at the Park:   
  • Mammals: Blackbuck, Nilgai, Hog deer, Sambar, Leopard etc.   
  • Birds: Siberian Cranes, Greater Flamingo, Demoiselle Crane etc. 

Maoists Encountered in Indravati National Park

Why in News? 

Security forces killed five Maoists during an encounter inside Indravati National Park in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district. 

 Key Points 

• Operations in Indravati National Park: 
  • Multiple security teams reached the Bandepara-Koranjed area, after receiving intelligence about Maoist activity. 
  • Security forces identified the Maoists as members of the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) based on their uniforms. 
• Weapons Recovered: 
  • Recovered items included a self-loading rifle, a barrel grenade launcher, a 12-bore gun, a Bharmar gun, explosives, and other weapons. 

 Indravati National Park 

• About:  
  • It is situated in the Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh. 
  • It was established in 1981 and declared a tiger reserve in 1983 under India’s Project Tiger. 
  • It is named after the Indravati River, which flows from east to west and forms the reserve's northern boundary with Maharashtra. 
• Vegetation: 
  • Comprises three major forest types: 
    • Moist Mixed Deciduous Forest with Teak. 
    • Moist Mixed Deciduous Forest without Teak. 
    • Southern Dry Mixed Deciduous Forest. 
• Flora: 
  • Common tree species include teak, achar, karra, kullu, shisham, semal, haldu, arjun, bel, and jamun. 
• Fauna: 
  • Hosts one of the last populations of rare wild buffalo. 
  • Other species include Nilgai, Black Buck, Sambar, Gaur, Tiger, Leopard, Chital, Sloth Bears, and more. 

Utricularia Found in Keoladeo National Park

Why in News? 

Recently, a rare and unique carnivorous plant, 'Utricularia,' has been discovered in Rajasthan's Keoladeo National Park.  

• Commonly known as bladderworts, this plant is typically found in regions like Meghalaya and Darjeeling. 

 

Key Points 

• Role in Biodiversity: 
  • Experts believe the presence of bladderworts in the park enhances biodiversity and positively contributes to the ecosystem of Keoladeo. 
  • Utricularia plays a vital role in maintaining environmental balance by capturing small insects. 
    • It was last discovered in India in 2021 in the Mandal Valley of Chamoli, Uttarakhand, after a 36-year gap. 
• Feeding Mechanism: 
  • The plant entraps creatures such as protozoa, insects, larvae, mosquitoes, and tadpoles in its bladder-like traps. 
    • Once trapped, the organism dies inside the bladder. 
  • Terrestrial species of Utricularia thrive in soil filled with water, where they capture small swimming creatures. 
• Ideal Growth Conditions: 
  • The growth of Utricularia is due to the abundant water supply from the Panchana Dam, which creates ideal conditions for the plant’s growth. 

 Keoladeo National Park 

• About: 
  • It is a wetland and bird sanctuary and a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Bharatpur, Rajasthan.  
    • Chilika Lake (Orissa) and Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) were recognized as the first Ramsar Sites of India in 1981. 
    • Currently, Keoladeo National Park and Loktak Lake (Manipur) are in the Montreux Record. 
  • It is known for its rich avian diversity and abundance of waterbirds and is home to over 365 species of birds, including several rare and threatened species, such as the Siberian crane.  
• Fauna:  
  • Animals such as jackals, sambar, nilgai, wild cats, hyenas, wild boar, porcupine and mongoose can be found in the region. 
• Flora:  
  • The principal vegetation types are tropical dry deciduous forest dominated by Acacia nilotica intermixed with dry grassland. 
• River:   
  • Gambhir and Banganga are two rivers that flow through this National Park 

Great Indian Bustards

Why in News? 

Researchers spotted 12 Great Indian Bustards (GIBs) at Desert National Park (DNP) in Rajasthan. This provides a major boost to efforts to conserve one of India's most critically endangered species. 

 Key Points 

• GIB Population Status: 
  • The GIB is critically endangered, with only 173 birds remaining. 
  • Of these, 128 are found in the wild, and the remaining birds are bred in captivity. 
  • Besides Rajasthan, the species is also found in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka. 
• Conservation Efforts: 
  • The GIB was listed as "critically endangered" by the IUCN Red List in 2011 due to hunting, habitat loss, and fragmentation. 
  • In response, Rajasthan launched a Rs 12.90 crore project in 2013 to conserve the species, focusing on protecting its habitat and improving breeding conditions. 
    • The project has led to the successful breeding of 45 chicks in two locations, Sam and Ramdevra. 
• Habitat Protection and Breeding: 
  • The birds spotted were born in the wild, mostly females aged three to four years, with some males up to one year old. 
  • Efforts to protect their habitat include improving grasslands and fencing areas to shield the birds from predators such as desert foxes, cats, and mongooses. 
• Milestone in Conservation: 
  • In 2018, the Wildlife Institute of India, along with the Rajasthan government and the Forest Department, established the National Conservation Breeding Centre in Jaisalmer. 
    • In October 2024, Rajasthan achieved a milestone when a GIB chick successfully hatched through artificial insemination. 

 Great Indian Bustard 

 

• About: 
  • The Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps), the State bird of Rajasthan, is considered India’s most critically endangered bird. 
  • It is considered the flagship grassland species, representing the health of the grassland ecology. 
• Protection Status: 
  • IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered 
  • Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES): Appendix 1 
  • Convention on Migratory Species (CMS): Appendix I 
  • Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I 

 Desert National Park 

• It is situated in Jaisalmer & Barmer Districts of Rajasthan. 
• Great Indian Bustards, Rajasthan State animal- Chinkara and State tree- khejri and State flower- Rohida are found naturally at this park. 
• It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980 and National Park in 1992.