Article 48A
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Current affairsAATAL: India's World-First Integrated Atmospheric Chemistry and Aerosol Toxicity Analysis Laboratory at IITM, New DelhiUnion Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the Integrated Atmospheric Chemistry and Aerosol Toxicity Analysis Laboratory (AATAL) at the IITM New Delhi campus on October 24, 2026. Described as the world's first of its kind, the ₹80 crore facility — set up under Mission Mausam — analyses the chemical fingerprint of Delhi-NCR's air pollution at 400-metre resolution, providing 72-hour forecasts and enabling source-attribution to guide targeted interventions. Current affairsFund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD): $21.6 Million for Nepal FloodsThe Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD), operationalised under the UNFCCC framework, has provisionally set aside $21.6 million for Nepal following the devastating August 2026 floods — marking the fund's first-ever allocation for a specific disaster. The allocation covers less than 0.5% of Nepal's estimated $4.77 billion recovery needs, highlighting the vast gap in climate finance for vulnerable nations. Current affairsIMD Launches Cyclone Warning and Marine Weather Decision Support System: India's First WebGIS Platform for Location-Specific Cyclone ForecastingThe India Meteorological Department (IMD) on 12 October 2026 launched the Cyclone Warning and Marine Weather Services Decision Support System (DSS), an interactive WebGIS platform providing location-specific cyclone track forecasts, intensity, wind, rainfall, and storm surge information on digital maps. Available at mausam.imd.gov.in and rsmcnewdelhi.imd.gov.in, the DSS targets coastal communities, disaster management authorities, and maritime users ahead of the October–December post-monsoon cyclone season. Current affairsWWF Living Planet Report 2026: Global Wildlife Populations Down 73% Since 1970The WWF Living Planet Report 2026, released on October 7, reveals that monitored vertebrate wildlife populations have declined by an average of 73% between 1970 and 2022. Freshwater species suffered the steepest loss at 85%, while Latin America and the Caribbean recorded the worst regional decline at 95%. The report simultaneously documents conservation success stories — tigers, turtles, and tuna recovering — and calls for urgent global action to halt the biodiversity crisis before critical tipping points are crossed. Current affairsIndia's Critical Minerals Stockpiling Policy: Government to Announce Strategic Reserve Framework by November 2026India's Mines Secretary announced on 9 October 2026 that the government will roll out a critical minerals stockpiling policy within a month, covering 30+ minerals vital to defence, energy, pharma, and telecom sectors. The policy will specify release protocols, quantities, and eligible recipients, and will be complemented by four dedicated critical minerals processing parks (Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha) and a ₹1,500 crore recycling boost — part of India's strategy to reduce import dependence and secure supply chains. Current affairsBuxa Tiger Reserve Gets First Tigress: Inter-Reserve Translocation from Valmiki Marks Wildlife Conservation MilestoneA Bengal tigress was formally released into Buxa Tiger Reserve, West Bengal, on October 2, 2026 — the first resident tiger in the reserve since approximately 2012. The tigress was airlifted from Valmiki Tiger Reserve (Bihar) under the National Tiger Conservation Authority's inter-reserve translocation protocol, marking a landmark step in Project Tiger's effort to restore self-sustaining tiger populations in reserves that have lost their apex predator. Current affairsIndia Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS): Compliance Carbon Market Becomes Operational in 2026India's Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS), notified in June 2023 under the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act 2022, moved into its operational phase in 2026 with the launch of the Indian Carbon Market Portal (March 21, 2026) and emission-intensity targets notified for seven industrial sectors. The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) administers the scheme, which replaces the Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) mechanism and links India's domestic carbon market to its Paris Agreement commitments. Current affairsGreat Indian Bustard Rewilding 2026: Two Captive-Bred Birds Released into Desert National Park — A Conservation Milestone After 10 YearsOn October 3–4, 2026, India achieved a landmark conservation milestone as two captive-bred male Great Indian Bustards (GIBs) were soft-released into a predator-free enclosure at Desert National Park, Jaisalmer, marking the culmination of a decade-long captive breeding programme by the Wildlife Institute of India and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Current affairsNational Coastal Mission 2.0: ₹767 Crore Central Scheme for Coastal Resilience, Blue Economy and Marine Ecosystem Conservation (2025–2031)Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav launched the operational guidelines for National Coastal Mission (NCM) 2.0 on September 30, 2026. The Central Sector Scheme carries an outlay of ₹767 crore for 2025–26 to 2030–31, covering 9 coastal states and 4 Union Territories. It targets climate-resilient coastal communities, Blue Economy development, and conservation of mangroves, coral reefs, and other marine ecosystems. Current affairsCAFE-III Norms Notified: India Sets 16.7% Fleet Fuel Efficiency Target for Passenger Vehicles by 2031-32The Ministry of Power notified India's Corporate Average Fuel Economy-III (CAFE-III) norms on September 30, 2026. The new standards — effective April 1, 2027 through March 31, 2032 — require the fleet-average fuel consumption of passenger vehicles to improve by 16.7%, from 3.996 litres per 100 km in 2027-28 to 3.327 litres per 100 km in 2031-32. The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) sets the standards; enforcement is by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. Current affairsIndia Adds 5 New Sites to UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List, Including 4 from Madhya Pradesh and Transnational Satyagraha SitesIndia's UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List has grown to 78 entries after five new sites were added in September 2026. Four of the five are from Madhya Pradesh: Bagh Cave Paintings, the Group of Temples of the Chambal Valley, Udaigiri Caves, and Ginnorgarh Fort. The fifth is a transnational serial nomination — Sites of Satyagraha — co-proposed with South Africa, linking Gandhi's South African struggle with his Indian campaigns. India currently has 45 inscribed UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Current affairsGandhi Jayanti 2026: 157th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and International Day of Non-ViolenceOctober 2, 2026 marks the 157th birth anniversary of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi — Mahatma Gandhi — the father of the Indian nation. It is also the birth anniversary of India's second Prime Minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri. The United Nations observes October 2 as the International Day of Non-Violence, established by UNGA Resolution A/RES/61/271 in 2007, to disseminate the message of non-violence and promote peace, tolerance, and understanding.
In previous-year questions
- Article 48A of the Constitution of India, added by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment (1976), directs the State to:UPSC · Current Affairs
- Article 48A of the Indian Constitution, which directs the State to protect and improve the environment, was inserted by which Constitutional Amendment?UPSC · Current Affairs
- Which Fundamental Duty under Article 51A of the Indian Constitution specifically requires citizens to "protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures"?UPSC · Current Affairs
- Which Fundamental Duty in the Indian Constitution specifically casts an obligation on every citizen to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers, and wildlife?UPSC · Current Affairs
- Which Article of the Indian Constitution imposes a Directive Principle on the State to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country?UPSC · Current Affairs
- Which Article of the Indian Constitution contains the Directive Principle on promotion of international peace and security and maintenance of just and honourable relations between nations — the constitutional basis for India's active multilateral engagement through forums like BRICS?UPSC · Current Affairs
- Which Constitutional Article directs the State to protect every monument or place of artistic or historic interest declared by Parliament to be of national importance — directly relevant to the conservation of UNESCO-listed heritage sites in India?UPSC · Current Affairs
- Which Directive Principle of State Policy (DPSP) under the Indian Constitution directs the State to protect and improve the environment and safeguard forests and wildlife — the constitutional foundation for protecting national parks like Mathikettan Shola?UPSC · Current Affairs
- Article 48A of the Indian Constitution, inserted by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment (1976), directs the State to protect and improve the environment. Under which category of constitutional provisions does Article 48A fall?UPSC · Current Affairs
- Which Constitutional provision imposes a Fundamental Duty on every Indian citizen to protect and improve the natural environment, including forests, lakes, rivers, and wildlife?UPSC · Current Affairs
- Which of the following Fundamental Duties under the Indian Constitution is directly relevant to glacier and environmental protection?UPSC · Current Affairs
- Which Constitutional article imposes a Fundamental Duty on every Indian citizen to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers, and wildlife and to have compassion for living creatures?UPSC · Current Affairs