The Union Government recently informed the Lok Sabha that it has not received any proposal from Karnataka seeking Environmental Clearance (EC) for diversion of the Mahadayi River for various projects.
The development is significant because the Mahadayi River has been at the centre of a long-standing water-sharing dispute between Karnataka and Goa.
Geographical Profile
The Mahadayi River, also known as the Mandovi or Mhadei River, is a rain-fed west-flowing river shared by Karnataka and Goa.
It originates in the Bhimgad Forest of the Western Ghats in Belagavi district of Karnataka. From there, it flows westwards and ultimately enters the Arabian Sea at Panaji in Goa.
The river has a total length of nearly 81 km, of which approximately 29 km lies in Karnataka and 52 km in Goa.
Its basin is particularly important for Goa’s water requirements and covers a substantial part of North Goa.
Important Places and Islands Along the River
The Goan capital, Panaji, and the historic town of Old Goa are located on the left bank of the Mandovi River.
Near Old Goa, the river contains three prominent freshwater islands—Divar, Chorao and Vashee.
The island of Chorao is particularly significant from an ecological perspective because it houses the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary.
Tributaries
The Mahadayi River is fed by several tributaries, including Rogaro, Kushavati, Nanorem, Nanuz, Valvota and Mapusa.
Among these, the Kalasa and Bhandura streams have become particularly important because of their connection with the inter-state water dispute.
Mahadayi Water Dispute
The Mahadayi River has been at the centre of a decades-long dispute between Karnataka and Goa.
The major point of contention is Karnataka’s proposal to divert water from the Kalasa and Bhandura tributaries of the Mahadayi system towards the Malaprabha basin.
Karnataka has argued that the diversion is required primarily to meet drinking-water needs, whereas Goa has raised concerns regarding the diversion of water from a river that is crucial for its water security and ecological systems.
Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal
To adjudicate the inter-state water-sharing dispute, the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal (MWDT) was constituted.
In 2018, the Tribunal allocated 13.42 TMC (380 Mcum) of Mahadayi water to Karnataka.
The allocation included permission for limited diversion from the two disputed streams:
Kalasa: 1.72 TMC
Bhandura: 2.18 TMC
Thus, the dispute involves not only the allocation of river water but also the question of diversion of water across river basins.
Environmental Clearance Context
The recent statement by the Union Government is important because projects involving the diversion of river water can have implications for environmental flows, forests, biodiversity and downstream water availability.
The Mahadayi originates in the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats, making environmental considerations particularly important in assessing projects associated with its diversion.
The Prime Minister of India attended the opening ceremony of the 6th World Nomad Games (WNG) in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. India’s participation highlights the country’s growing cultural and strategic engagement with Central Asia.
Origin and Evolution
The World Nomad Games originated from the 2012 Bishkek Declaration, adopted by Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkey. The initiative was launched to promote the traditions, history and cultural heritage of nomadic peoples.
The first World Nomad Games were held in 2014. Since then, the event has developed into a UN-recognised biennial platform promoting intercultural dialogue and sustainable development. It has expanded beyond its Central Asian origins, with participation from 90+ countries and events hosted across regions including Central Asia, Türkiye and Kazakhstan.
What Makes the World Nomad Games Different?
Unlike the conventional Olympic model, the World Nomad Games primarily emphasise ancestral civilizational heritage and traditional knowledge rather than strict geopolitical groupings.
The Games bring together countries and communities to celebrate traditional nomadic practices that historically supported survival and social life, including horseback riding, falconry and indigenous wrestling traditions.
Three Major Components
1. Sports Programme
The sports programme consists of traditional athletic, equestrian and tactical games that have developed among nomadic communities.
Major disciplines include Kok Boru, Kurash, Goresh, Mongol Bokh, archery and Toguz Korgool.
Kok Boru is a traditional Kyrgyz horseback game similar to polo. It was recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2017.
2. Cultural Programme
The cultural component showcases the music, crafts, cuisine, festivals and other indigenous traditions of participating communities.
The cultural heritage dimension of the Games is officially associated with the UNESCO Register of Good Safeguarding Practices under the project titled “Nomad Games: Rediscovering Heritage, Celebrating Diversity.”
3. Scientific Programme
The scientific component focuses on the study of nomadic history, preservation of traditional knowledge, and promotion of intercultural dialogue.
Thus, the World Nomad Games are not limited to sporting competitions but combine sports, culture and scientific exchange.
India’s Participation in 2026
India recorded its largest-ever participation in the World Nomad Games in 2026, fielding an 87-member contingent.
Indian participants competed in traditional disciplines such as Kurash, Goresh and Mongol Bokh in wrestling, Kok Boru in equestrian sport, and Toguz Korgool, a traditional strategy-based board game.
India’s participation provides an opportunity to showcase its own traditional sporting traditions and cultural heritage while strengthening people-to-people and cultural connections with Central Asian countries.
Strategic and Geopolitical Significance for India
The World Nomad Games provide India with an important platform for cultural diplomacy in Central Asia. Cultural engagement complements India’s wider strategic interests in the region.
India’s engagement with Central Asia is relevant for post-Taliban security cooperation, particularly in the context of regional stability and counter-terrorism.
The region is also strategically important for India because of its energy resources and the need to diversify energy and economic partnerships.
Greater engagement with Central Asian countries can also support India’s efforts to strengthen connectivity networks, including the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).
Therefore, participation in the World Nomad Games represents a combination of cultural diplomacy, people-to-people engagement and broader strategic outreach towards Central Asia.
The State Wetland Authority Kerala (SWAK) is launching a one-month pilot project at Kumarakom, Kerala, to control the spread of the invasive aquatic weed water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) in Vembanad Lake through the use of robotic technology.
The project represents an application of technology-based wetland management for controlling an invasive species that threatens aquatic ecosystems and associated economic activities.
Government Framework
The pilot project is being implemented under the National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
The NPCA provides a framework for the conservation and management of aquatic ecosystems, including wetlands and other important water bodies.
Vembanad Lake
Vembanad Lake is a major Ramsar Wetland Site and is among the most important aquatic ecosystems of Kerala.
The lake supports biodiversity, fisheries, tourism and local livelihoods. Therefore, the uncontrolled spread of invasive aquatic weeds can have ecological as well as socio-economic consequences.
Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)
Scientific Identity
Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is a free-floating freshwater aquatic weed belonging to the Pontederiaceae family. It is an invasive alien species in several parts of the world, including India.
Its ability to reproduce rapidly allows it to establish dense populations in suitable freshwater environments.
Origin and Introduction
Water hyacinth is native to the Amazon Basin of South America. It was introduced into several countries, including India, mainly as an ornamental plant because of its attractive purple flowers.
After introduction, its rapid growth and reproduction enabled it to spread extensively in many freshwater bodies.
Rapid Growth and Formation of Floating Mats
The plant can reproduce rapidly and form dense floating mats over the surface of water bodies.
These thick mats can block sunlight from penetrating the water and reduce the availability of light for aquatic organisms and submerged vegetation. They can also contribute to a decline in dissolved oxygen levels, thereby adversely affecting aquatic biodiversity.
Ecological and Economic Impacts
Excessive growth of water hyacinth can contribute to eutrophication and can choke rivers, lakes, ponds and wetlands.
Its dense growth can interfere with several human activities and ecosystem functions. It can disrupt fisheries, navigation, irrigation channels, tourism activities and recreational use.
Therefore, water hyacinth represents not merely a weed-management problem but also a challenge for wetland ecology, local livelihoods and water-body management.
Management of Water Hyacinth
Mechanical Removal
Mechanical removal is one of the methods used to control water hyacinth. Plants are physically removed from the water body to reduce their abundance and prevent the formation of extensive floating mats.
The proposed robotic technology at Kumarakom represents a technology-based approach to this form of control.
Biological Control
Water hyacinth can also be controlled through biological methods, including the use of Neochetina weevils. These insects feed on water hyacinth and can help reduce its growth and spread.
Reducing Nutrient Pollution
Controlling the excessive availability of nutrients is another important management strategy. Reduction of nutrient pollution and sewage discharge can limit the conditions that encourage excessive growth of water hyacinth.
Thus, long-term management requires addressing both the existing weed biomass and the environmental conditions that promote its proliferation.
Potential Uses of Water Hyacinth
Despite being an invasive species, the removed biomass can potentially be utilised for several purposes. Water hyacinth can be used in the production of compost, bio-fertiliser and soil supplements.
It can also be used for making handicrafts and paper products. In addition, the plant can be employed in phytoremediation, a process in which plants are used to help remove or reduce pollutants from water.
Researchers at IISc’s SPIRE Lab, in collaboration with ARTPARK and Google, have released SraVaani, a multilingual speech recognition model designed to address the limited availability of speech-technology resources for several Indian regional and non-scheduled languages.
What is SraVaani?
SraVaani is described as the first multilingual Indian speech recognition model. It extends Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) capabilities to Indian languages that have traditionally remained underserved by existing speech technologies.
The model covers 20 scheduled languages and 45 regional languages and dialects, thereby attempting to capture a wider range of India's linguistic diversity.
Multilingual and Multiscript Capabilities
One of the important features of SraVaani is its ability to convert spoken words into written text across 10 different scripts.
The model can also automatically identify the language being spoken, meaning that users do not have to manually select the language before using the speech-recognition system.
It supports several languages and dialects that have comparatively limited representation in mainstream speech technology, including Garo, Angika, Chakma, Kokborok, Tulu, Bundeli and Bajjika.
Foundation: Project Vaani
SraVaani is based on Project Vaani, one of the major programmes of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) aimed at understanding and documenting India's extensive linguistic diversity.
Project Vaani has collected approximately 31,000 hours of speech data from more than 156,000 speakers spread across 165 regions.
This large and geographically diverse speech dataset provides researchers with information on natural conversational speech, which is particularly important for developing speech-recognition systems that can function beyond controlled laboratory conditions.
Technology Behind SraVaani
SraVaani uses a FastConformer-based Automatic Speech Recognition architecture.
The use of such an architecture enables the model to process spoken language and convert it into textual form while supporting a broad range of languages, dialects and scripts.
The combination of a large speech dataset with the FastConformer-based ASR architecture is intended to improve the ability of speech technology to handle India's highly diverse linguistic environment.
Potential Applications
SraVaani could be applied across several sectors where people prefer to interact with digital systems in their regional languages.
In education, it could facilitate voice-based learning and access to educational resources. In digital services and e-governance, it could make government and digital platforms more accessible to people who are more comfortable communicating in regional languages.
The technology could also support banking and healthcare services, where speech-based interfaces can help users interact with digital systems. Similarly, customer-support services could use multilingual speech recognition to communicate with users in a wider range of Indian languages.
Significance for India
India has a highly diverse linguistic landscape, but speech technologies have historically been concentrated around languages with larger datasets and greater commercial demand. SraVaani attempts to address this linguistic technology gap by extending speech recognition to a wider range of scheduled, regional and non-scheduled languages and dialects.
By enabling automatic language identification, multilingual speech-to-text conversion and support for multiple scripts, the model can contribute to more inclusive and accessible digital technology.
The Government has highlighted the importance of Jan Ganga, the public participation pillar of the Namami Gange Programme (NGP). It seeks to transform river conservation from a primarily government-led activity into a people-driven movement based on the principle of Jan Bhagidari.
The Namami Gange Programme (NGP) was launched in 2014 as a Flagship Integrated Conservation Mission. Its primary objective is the effective abatement of pollution, conservation, and rejuvenation of the National River Ganga and its tributaries.
The programme adopts an integrated approach rather than focusing only on cleaning the river. It also addresses ecological restoration, biodiversity conservation, sustainable management, and the overall health of the river ecosystem.
The NGP follows a phased approach to achieve comprehensive river rejuvenation. Its activities are organised into Entry-Level Activities, which aim to create immediate visible impact, followed by Medium-Term Activities and Long-Term Activities.
This approach allows pollution-control measures to be combined with measures aimed at the long-term ecological restoration and sustainable management of the river system.
The programme covers a broad range of activities related to river rejuvenation. These include sewage treatment, riverfront development, afforestation, scientific monitoring, biodiversity conservation, and public awareness campaigns.
Thus, the programme combines infrastructure-based interventions with ecological and community-based measures.
Under the Namami Gange Programme, 524 projects have been sanctioned, of which 355 projects have been completed. These projects cover areas such as river rejuvenation, pollution control, and ecological restoration.
Scientific conservation initiatives under the programme have strengthened the protection of important aquatic species. These include the Gangetic Dolphin, Gharial, turtles, Hilsa, and otters.
Their conservation involves activities such as restoration, rescue, and rehabilitation programmes, thereby linking river-cleaning efforts with the protection of the wider aquatic ecosystem.
Forestry interventions undertaken across the Ganga basin have resulted in afforestation of around 33,024 hectares.
Such interventions contribute to the improvement of riverine ecology and biodiversity, while plantation along riverbanks can also support bank stabilisation and reduction of soil erosion.
According to CPCB monitoring, water quality in the Ganga has shown improvement. pH and Dissolved Oxygen (DO) levels have been found to meet bathing criteria across monitored locations of the Ganga.
Jan Ganga is the public participation pillar of the Namami Gange Programme. It is based on Jan Bhagidari, or people’s participation, and seeks to create awareness, participation and a sense of ownership among communities.
The underlying approach is to transform citizens from passive observers into active stakeholders in river conservation.
Ganga Swachhta Pakhwada, observed from 16–31 March, encourages students, volunteers, community groups and other stakeholders across Ganga basin states to participate in cleanliness activities.
Such initiatives seek to make river conservation a regular civic responsibility rather than an activity restricted to government agencies.
Community-based plantation campaigns such as “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” encourage citizens to participate in tree plantation.
Plantation along river landscapes can contribute to riverbank stabilisation, reduction of soil erosion and restoration of riverine ecosystems.
University Ganga Clubs, eco-clubs and educational institutions provide an important platform for engaging young people in river conservation.
Youth participation takes place through lectures, field visits, volunteering, competitions and awareness programmes, helping develop a long-term sense of environmental responsibility.
Initiatives such as Ganga Utsav, Swachhta Hi Seva and the International Day of Yoga help strengthen the cultural and social connection between communities and rivers.
Through exhibitions, performances and public dialogues, these programmes seek to connect river conservation with the broader cultural and social relationship between people and the Ganga.
Ganga Praharis and Ganga Seva Doots operate at the grassroots level to support river conservation.
They contribute by spreading awareness, protecting biodiversity, promoting sustainable practices and encouraging local communities to become guardians of river ecosystems.
Innovative initiatives can also create direct interaction between citizens and river conservation. For example, the BSF all-women Ganga river rafting expedition has been used to promote environmental awareness and public engagement with river conservation.
The experience of the Namami Gange Programme demonstrates that river rejuvenation requires more than pollution-control infrastructure and scientific interventions. Long-term conservation also depends upon community participation, behavioural change and local ownership.
Through Jan Ganga, communities are encouraged to become active participants in protecting the river and its surrounding ecosystems. This creates a model in which scientific interventions, sustainable practices and public participation work together for long-term river conservation.
According to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), more than 68,000 students have been trained in semiconductor chip design under the government’s Chips to Start-ups (C2S) Programme.
Background and Objective
The Chips to Start-ups (C2S) Programme is an umbrella capacity-building initiative launched by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) in 2022.
The programme seeks to strengthen India’s semiconductor ecosystem by developing skilled human resources and encouraging innovation in chip design and related technologies. It also seeks to make academic institutions more actively involved in India's semiconductor value chain.
Funding and Targets
The programme has a total financial outlay of ₹250 crore for a period of five years.
Its principal target is to develop 85,000 industry-ready professionals at the undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral levels. In addition to human-resource development, the programme aims to catalyse the incubation of 25 start-ups and facilitate 10 technology transfers.
Capacity Building and Innovation
The C2S Programme seeks to provide students with access to SMART lab facilities and aims to train one lakh students. It also envisages the generation of 50 patents and support for at least 2,000 focused research publications.
Through these activities, the programme focuses on innovation, employability and practical semiconductor skills, thereby helping academic institutions contribute more directly to India's growing semiconductor industry.
Hands-on Semiconductor Training
A key feature of the programme is its emphasis on practical, hands-on learning rather than classroom-based training alone. Students receive exposure to different stages of semiconductor development, including chip design, fabrication and testing.
Regular training sessions are conducted in collaboration with industry partners, while students also receive mentorship and practical support for undertaking semiconductor-related projects.
Access to Advanced Technology
Participating students receive access to advanced chip-design tools, fabrication facilities and testing resources. These include state-of-the-art Electronic Design Automation (EDA) software and access to semiconductor foundries.
Such facilities allow students to gain practical experience with technologies and processes used in the real-world semiconductor industry.
Development of Chip Prototypes
The programme also enables students and institutions to undertake Research and Development (R&D) projects for developing functional semiconductor prototypes.
These projects can involve the development of Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Systems-on-Chip (SoCs) and Intellectual Property (IP) Core designs. Thus, the programme creates a pathway from academic learning and research to prototype development and eventual commercialisation.
Significance for India’s Semiconductor Ecosystem
The C2S Programme is designed to address the shortage of skilled semiconductor professionals while simultaneously encouraging research, intellectual property creation, start-ups and technology transfer.
By connecting students, academic institutions, industry partners, semiconductor design tools, fabrication facilities and research projects, the programme seeks to strengthen India's capabilities across different stages of the semiconductor value chain.
The Subansiri River in Upper Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh has recently risen to an unusually high and forceful level, despite no rainfall being reported in the area. The unusual rise has caused concern among local residents.
The Subansiri is the largest tributary of the Brahmaputra River and is a right-bank tributary. It originates in Tibet and flows through Arunachal Pradesh and Assam before joining the Brahmaputra.
The river is classified as both a trans-Himalayan and an antecedent river. An antecedent river is one that existed before the uplift of the Himalayas and maintained its course as the mountains rose, cutting through the rising mountain ranges.
The Subansiri is also known as the “Gold River” because gold dust is found in its waters.
The river originates in the Tibetan Plateau, where it is formed by the confluence of three small streams—Lokong Chu, Chayal Chu, and Tsari Chu.
From its source, the Subansiri flows eastward through Tibet for about 170 km. It subsequently turns towards the south and enters India near Taksing in Arunachal Pradesh.
After entering Arunachal Pradesh, the river flows generally east and southeast through the Miri Hills. During this journey, it cuts through the mountainous terrain, forming deep gorges and contributing to the rugged landscape of the Eastern Himalayas.
The river covers approximately 250 km in the Eastern Himalayas before descending into the Assam Valley at Dulangmukh in Dhemaji district.
Once it reaches the plains of Assam, its character changes considerably. The river slows down and meanders through the plains for about 86 km. During this stretch, it passes near Majuli, recognised as the world’s largest river island, before finally joining the Brahmaputra River at Jamurighat in Lakhimpur district of Assam.
The Subansiri has a total length of approximately 442 km and drains a basin of around 32,000 sq. km. Because of its considerable length and basin size, it constitutes an important component of the Brahmaputra river system.
The river receives water from two major sources. Its Tibetan headwaters are fed by snowmelt, while the river also receives substantial water from the intense southwest monsoon precipitation occurring over the Himalayan foothills.
The monsoon contribution is particularly important during June to September, when heavy precipitation can significantly increase the river's discharge.
The Subansiri River system is fed by several tributaries. Important tributaries include Laro, Nye, Yume, Tsari, Kamla, Jiyadhol, Ranganadi and Dikrong.
The Lower Subansiri Hydroelectric Project is a 2,000 MW run-of-the-river hydroelectric project being constructed on the Subansiri River.
The project is located at Gerukamukh, along the Arunachal Pradesh–Assam border. Once completed, it is expected to become the single largest hydroelectric power plant in India.
The Subansiri is particularly significant because it links the Tibetan Plateau, Eastern Himalayas and Assam Valley within a single river system. Its course demonstrates the characteristics of an antecedent Himalayan river, while its snowmelt- and monsoon-fed flow makes it an important river for understanding the hydrology of the Eastern Himalayas and Brahmaputra basin.
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We provide offline, online and recorded lectures in the same amount.
Every aspirant is unique and the mentoring is customised according to the strengths and weaknesses of the aspirant.
In every Lecture. Director Sir will provide conceptual understanding with around 800 Mindmaps.
We provide you the best and Comprehensive content which comes directly or indirectly in UPSC Exam.
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