Content : Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 Awards Complex greenhouse gas dynamics in the Central Himalayas revealed Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 Awards Introduction & Background Swachh Survekshan is the world’s largest urban sanitation survey, conducted annually by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) under the Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban (SBM-U). Launched in 2016, the survey evaluates cities on parameters like waste management, sanitation, citizen feedback, and innovation. 2024–25 marks the 9th edition, with a sharper focus on inclusivity, circular economy, and city-to-city mentoring. This edition commemorates 10 years of Swachh Bharat Mission (2014–2024), showcasing India’s transformative journey in urban cleanliness. The revamped framework in 2024–25 introduced: 10 new indicators 5 city-size categories Equal opportunity for smaller cities to compete with metros. Relevance : GS 1(Indian Society ) , GS 2 ( Governance & Policy Implementation ) Top Awards & Recognitions Indore, Surat, Navi Mumbai entered the Super Swachh League, the topmost tier for cleanliness. Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Lucknow declared India’s New Clean Cities. 43 National Awards presented across categories. Mahakumbh 2024 (66 crore footfall) received special recognition for urban waste management. Special Category Winners Best Ganga Town: Prayagraj Best Cantonment Board: Secunderabad Cantonment Best SaafaiMitra Surakshit Shehar (Worker Safety): GVMC Visakhapatnam Jabalpur Gorakhpur Promising Clean Cities 34 cities (1 from each State/UT) awarded under the ‘One City, One Award’ framework. Created a level playing field for smaller towns with simplified scoring parameters. New Initiatives Launched Swachh City Partnership: 78 top-performing cities to mentor 78 low-performing cities. Promotes peer learning, handholding, and accountability. Motto: “Each one clean one”. Accelerated Dumpsite Remediation Program: Launch Date: 15 August 2025 Duration: 1 year Goal: Remediate legacy waste, reclaim urban land, and enhance scientific processing capacity. Framework Enhancements Revamped assessment model: Introduced 10 new evaluation parameters Five distinct population categories to ensure fair competition. Simplified process enabled small cities to compete with metro cities. Presidential Address – Key Messages Emphasized 3R Principle: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Highlighted role of waste-to-wealth innovations, including the circular economy model. Applauded initiatives: Zero-waste colonies School-based interventions Segregation startups “Swachhata is now part of our swabhav and sanskaar.” Envisioned a Viksit Bharat 2047 that leads the world in cleanliness. Impact & Vision 10 years of Swachh Bharat Mission celebrated. Urban sanitation is now deeply integrated into public life and governance. Next focus: A long-term strategy aligned with Viksit Bharat @2047 roadmap. Other Notables Launch of Swachh Survekshan Dashboard for real-time rankings and performance. Artistic sarangi made from waste gifted to the President — symbolizing sustainability meets culture. Complex greenhouse gas dynamics in the Central Himalayas revealed Introduction & Background First high-resolution, continuous ground observations of key greenhouse gases in the Central Himalayas, conducted by ARIES-Nainital (under DST, GoI). Study fills a critical data gap in mountain regions of South Asia, previously underrepresented in global climate datasets. Observations span 5 years (2014–2018) from a high-altitude station in Nainital. Relevance : GS 1(Geography) ,GS 3(Environment and Ecology) Key Greenhouse Gases Monitored Carbon dioxide (CO₂) Methane (CH₄) Carbon monoxide (CO) Major Findings CO₂ & CH₄ concentrations are rising steadily: CO₂: +2.66 ppm/year CH₄: +9.53 ppb/year Higher than Mauna Loa (a global background station) CO shows a declining trend: –3.15 ppb/year Suggests improved combustion efficiency or emission shifts. Concentration levels in the Central Himalayas: Higher than other remote sites (due to regional/local sources) Lower than urban/semi-urban areas Diurnal & Seasonal Patterns CO₂: Lowest during daytime due to active photosynthesis CH₄ & CO: Peak during daylight, transported by upslope mountain winds Spring: CO₂ spikes due to biomass burning and bare vegetation Autumn: CH₄ peaks linked to rice cultivation (agricultural emissions) Late Spring: CO peaks suggest regional transport from fires/pollution Meteorological Influences Solar radiation, temperature, and boundary layer height significantly shape GHG patterns. Data reveals interactions between biospheric uptake, regional emissions, and complex mountain meteorology. Global & Policy Relevance Supports validation of satellite climate data over Himalayan region. Enhances climate models and GHG emissions inventories for India. Aids localised mitigation policies in ecologically sensitive zones. Aligns with India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) and SDG 13: Climate Action. Scientific Significance Provides baseline for long-term Himalayan climate monitoring. Valuable for forecasting climate patterns, early warning systems, and carbon budgeting. Empowers policymakers with real-time, regional climate insights. Value Addition : 1. Scientific & Global Significance Fills a Global Monitoring Gap: The Central Himalayas were previously a blind spot in the global GHG network. Enhances India’s contribution to WMO’s Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) and IPCC datasets. Strengthens South-South Cooperation in climate science by building regional data ecosystems. 2. Data-Driven Insights for Mitigation Local CH₄ spikes in autumn → scope for methane mitigation in rice cultivation (e.g., alternate wetting & drying). CO trends → can feed into National Carbon Markets, informing emission baselines. Seasonal biomass burning data → helpful for pre-emptive policy action during fire seasons (e.g., stubble management). 3. Satellite + Ground Data Integration These observations can validate ISRO’s climate monitoring satellites like Megha-Tropiques and INSAT-3DR. Supports integration with Copernicus, MODIS, and GHGSat global datasets for cross-verification. 4. Alignment with SDGs & Global Commitments SDG 13 (Climate Action) → Enhancing resilience through real-time data. Supports India’s 2021 Updated NDC Targets (e.g., net zero by 2070). Promotes Just Transition in mountain regions by linking emissions to socio-economic activity (e.g., agriculture, tourism). 5. Potential Follow-up Research & Policy Needs Need for multi-site Himalayan observation networks (e.g., in Sikkim, Arunachal, Himachal). Integration with ICIMOD regional programs for transboundary data sharing. Policy suggestion: Inclusion of GHG hotspots in India’s State Climate Vulnerability Index.