Latest news with #ProjectElephant
Indian Express
2 days ago
- General
- Indian Express
Daily subject-wise quiz : Environment and Geography MCQs on Elephants in India, Clarion-Clipperton Zone and more (Week 116)
UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Attempt today's subject quiz on Environment and Geography to check your progress. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for June 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at With reference to the Elephants in India, consider the following statements: 1. Project Elephant is a centrally sponsored scheme. 2. In north-eastern India, the elephant's range extends along the foothills of the Himalayas from the eastern border of Nepal through northern West Bengal to western Assam. 3. Elephants are protected under Schedule II species of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. 4. As per the recent elephant census, there are zero elephants in Nilambur—Silent Valley—Coimbatore region. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four Explanation — The Union Environment Ministry held a review of key initiatives under Project Elephant on Thursday at the 21st meeting of the project's steering committee, chaired by Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav. Phase-I of the synchronised elephant population estimation for the Northeastern states was completed, according to the ministry. — Project Elephant is a centrally supported plan, and the steering committee oversees its implementation, as well as problems such as elephant conservation and habitat protection. Hence, statement 1 is correct. — The last elephant census or estimating exercise was conducted in 2017, and it revealed that the country was home to around 29,964 elephants. Although a report on the next synchronised elephant census titled 'Status of Elephants in India 2022-23' was created, The Indian Express reported in October that it was delayed due to a delay in the census in the North-East and because it was an interim report. According to that report, the number of elephants has decreased by 20% over the previous five years. — The elephant is India's national heritage animal, classified as a Schedule I species under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. Hence, statement 3 is not correct. Elephants in India — The elephant's range in north-east India runs along the Himalayan foothills from Nepal's eastern border to northern West Bengal to western Assam. Hence, statement 2 is correct. — Elephant populations in central India are very fragmented, with a few individuals straying into Chhattisgarh from Orissa, Jharkhand, and the southern section of West Bengal. — In northwestern India, the species is distributed in six scattered populations in the Himalayan foothills of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, extending from the Bahraich Forest Department's Katranighat Wildlife Sanctuary in the east to the Yamuna River in the west. — Southern India has eight primary clusters that are split from one another: Northern Karnataka, Crystalline of Karnataka—Western Ghats; Bhadra—Malnad; Brahmagiri—Nilgiris—Eastern Ghats; Nilambur—Silent Valley—Coimbatore; Anamalai—Parambikulam; Periyar—Srivilliputhur; and Agasthyamalai. Hence, statement 4 is not correct. Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer. (Other Source: With reference to the 'tigers outside of tiger reserve', consider the following statements: 1. The scheme will be implemented by the Chief Wildlife Wardens of state forest departments, in close collaboration with the National Tiger Conservation Authority. 2. The scheme aims to manage conflicts more effectively through enhanced monitoring and protection. 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 Explanation — With frequent human-tiger conflicts in various forest divisions of the country, the Union Environment Ministry has approved funds for a pilot plan called 'tigers outside of tiger reserve' to better manage such conflicts through greater surveillance and protection. Hence, statement 2 is correct. — According to official documents, the executive committee of the National Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), which is part of the Environment Ministry, approved in-principle funding for the scheme on a pilot basis for one year. The scheme will provide funds to 80 forest divisions across ten states that were initially identified based on data from recurring human-tiger conflicts. — This will be used for technical interventions to preserve and monitor tigers and co-predators, to strengthen forest managers to deal with conflict caused by technology, to collaborate with civil society and professional veterinarians, and to expand the prey base. — The initiative will be executed on the ground by state forest department Chief Wildlife Wardens, in close collaboration with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). When asked about the initial rollout of the pilot, a government official stated that the NTCA was finalising the list of forest and wildlife divisions. Hence, statement 1 is correct. Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer. With reference to the rare earth magnets, consider the following statements: 1. They are a crucial component in electric vehicle motors. 2. Russia controls over 90 per cent of global processing capacity for the magnets. 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 Explanation — India stated it had communicated with China on the supply of rare earth magnets, as Beijing has imposed export limits. — China, which controls more than 90% of worldwide processing capacity for magnets used in autos, clean energy, and home appliances, imposed restrictions in April forcing companies to acquire import permits from Beijing. Hence, statement 2 is not correct. — While rare earth magnets are essential components in electric vehicle motors, they are also required in equipment such as power windows and audio speakers found in gasoline or diesel-powered vehicles. Hence, statement 1 is correct. — According to industry estimates, India's car sector bought 460 tonnes of rare earth magnets, largely from China, in the fiscal year ending March 31, and plans to import 700 tonnes valued at $30 million this year. Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. With reference to the tiger reserves, consider the following pairs: 1. Palamau Tiger Reserve – Mizoram 2. Sariska Tiger Reserve – Haryana 3. Madhav Tiger Reserve – Assam How many of the pairs given above are correctly marked? (a) Only one pair (b) Only two pairs (c) All three pairs (d) None of the pairs Explanation Madhav Tiger Reserve is situated in the northern part of Madhya Pradesh in Shivpuri District, very close to the Shivpuri township This was notified as a National Park in the year 1958. Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer. (Other Source: The Banakacherla reservoir project was recently in the news. It is the water dispute between: (a) Goa and Maharashtra (b) Odisha and Telangana (c) Andhra Pradesh and Telangana (d) Karnataka and Tamil Nadu Explanation — Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has challenged former Chief Minister and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Chandrashekar Rao to a discussion in the state Assembly over the contentious Banakacherla reservoir project. It is the most recent water dispute between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. — The Banakacherla reservoir project aims to transform Andhra Pradesh's drought-prone Rayalaseema area into arable land. — According to the idea, the first phase would be to increase the capacity of the Polavaram Right Main Canal from 17,500 to 38,000 cusecs, allowing Godavari water to be transferred to Krishna. Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer. Where is the Clarion-Clipperton Zone found? (a) In the Antarctic Ocean (b) In the low Earth orbit (LEO) where astronauts primarily travel (c) Between troposphere and stratosphere (d) In the Pacific Ocean Explanation — Scientists have been fascinated by the mystery of dark matter for decades, thinking that it uses gravitational attraction to hold galaxies together. Recently, an exciting discovery has shed light on another unseen phenomena: dark oxygen. — Dark oxygen is found well below the ocean's surface. A recent study published in Nature Geoscience reveals that oxygen is released from mineral deposits located 4,000 meters (13,000 feet) below the surface in the Pacific Ocean's Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ). — This depth is almost half of Mount Everest's height. Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer. Consider the following pairs: 1. Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary : Sikkim 2. Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary – Maharashtra 3. Kuno National Park – Madhya Pradesh 4. Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary – Kerala Which of the pairs given above are not correctly matched? (a) Only 1 (b) Only 2 (c) Only 3 (d) All of the above Explanation — The Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary renamed on 25 May 2004, formerly known as the Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary or Hollongapar Reserve Forest, is an isolated protected area of evergreen forest located in Jorhat district of Assam, India. Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. These migratory birds, locally known as 'Kahuaipuina,' arrive in northeastern India, particularly in Manipur and Nagaland, in large numbers during October. Which birds are being referred to in the above lines? (a) Amur Falcons (b) Rosy Pelican (c) Black-crowned Night Heron (d) Siberian Cranes Explanation Amur Falcons (Falco amurensis) – These migratory visitors, locally known as 'Kahuaipuina,' arrive in northeastern India, particularly in Manipur and Nagaland, in large numbers during October. They are on their southbound migration from their breeding grounds in northern China, eastern Mongolia, and far eastern Russia. During their stopover, which lasts three to four weeks, the falcons build fat reserves by foraging on termites before continuing their journey to their wintering grounds in South Africa. Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 115) Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 116) Daily subject-wise quiz — Science and Technology (Week 116) Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 116) Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 115) Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 115) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Project Elephant review: Census ph-I completed in N-E, over 3,000 km rly lines mapped to prevent collisions
The Union Environment Ministry Thursday held a review of key initiatives under Project Elephant in the 21st meeting of the project's steering committee chaired by Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav in Dehradun, and it was noted that Phase-I of the synchronized elephant population estimation was completed for the Northeastern states, as per the ministry. Yadav also chaired a meeting of the standing committee of the National Board for Wildlife in Dehradun and the committee recommended the inclusion of sloth bear and gharial in the ministry's species recovery programme, the ministry added. According to the ministry, during the meeting it was also noted that as part of the government's plans to mitigate elephant mortalities due to collisions with trains, 3,452.4 km of sensitive railway stretches were surveyed and 77 high-risk areas were identified for mitigation. Project Elephant is a centrally sponsored scheme and the steering committee reviews the project's implementation and issues such as elephant conservation and protection of habitats. On the synchronized elephant population estimation in the Northeastern states, the committee noted that over 16,500 elephant dung samples have been collected, as per the ministry. Further, the committee also discussed regional action plans on human-elephant conflict in southern and Northeastern India. The last elephant census or estimation exercise was in 2017 which found that the country was home to around 29,964 elephants. Even though a report on the next synchronized elephant census titled 'Status of Elephants in India 2022-23' was prepared, The Indian Express had reported last October that it was shelved citing a delay in census in the North-East and because it was an interim report. That report had noted a 20% drop in elephant count compared to five years ago. Last December, in reply to a question in Parliament, the Environment ministry had said that between 2019-20 and 2023-24, 73 elephant deaths due to collision with trains or train accidents were reported. The committee also noted progress on DNA profiling of captive elephants, with 1,911 genetic profiles completed across 22 states. Yadav urged coordinated efforts between Indian Railways, Ministry of Power, NHAI and mine developers to reduce human-wildlife conflict, as per a government release. He also emphasised the need for systematic collection and analysis of data on elephant deaths due to railway accidents, and knowledge sharing among states. An award-winning journalist with 14 years of experience, Nikhil Ghanekar is an Assistant Editor with the National Bureau [Government] of The Indian Express in New Delhi. He primarily covers environmental policy matters which involve tracking key decisions and inner workings of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. He also covers the functioning of the National Green Tribunal and writes on the impact of environmental policies on wildlife conservation, forestry issues and climate change. Nikhil joined The Indian Express in 2024. Originally from Mumbai, he has worked in publications such as Tehelka, Hindustan Times, DNA Newspaper, News18 and Indiaspend. In the past 14 years, he has written on a range of subjects such as sports, current affairs, civic issues, city centric environment news, central government policies and politics. ... Read More
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Apple's biggest contract manufacturer Foxconn readies 300-acre iPhone making campus in India with dorms for 30,000 employees
As Apple looks to diversify its supply chain away from China, the Taiwanese firm is readying a 300-acre campus for its army of workers who assemble Apple products. The dormitories for plant's 30,000 workforce are in advanced stages of construction. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Last week, US President 's statement to : "I don't want you building in India," made during his Qatar visit to Doha, appears to have had little impact on the tech giant's strategic plans. Despite Trump's comments, Cook maintains that the majority of iPhones destined for the US market will be manufactured in India instead of China, with the company steadily progressing towards this objective. Evidence of this commitment is visible at Foxconn's Devanahalli facility in Karnataka. Operations continued normally at the expansive 300-acre site of the Taiwanese contract manufacturer on Monday, including ongoing construction of dormitories, which are essential to Foxconn's operational framework, according to an ET report. The company serves as Apple's main contract manufacturer. Also Read | The Taiwanese electronics giant is allocating $2.56 billion to its Devanahalli operation. The facility, situated between Doddagollahalli and Chapparadahalli villages in Devanahalli taluk, is positioned 34 km from Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport. Foxconn's investment plan includes Rs 3,000 crore for phase 1 (2023-24), with a similar amount planned for the second phase (2026-27). Production targets indicate manufacturing approximately 100,000 iPhones by December this year, according to the financial daily. The residential complex has capacity for approximately 30,000 staff members, establishing it as India's largest accommodation facility of its kind, according to sources familiar with the project. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The construction is scheduled for completion by December. Following its established practice in China, Foxconn has established residential quarters in Tamil Nadu, accommodating 18,000 workers at its Sriperumbudur operations. The accommodation facilities are specifically designated for factory workers, excluding management personnel. Also Read | Sources at Foxconn told the financial daily that female employees will receive priority for accommodation, as they constitute between 50-80% of the 30,000-strong workforce at the Devanahalli site. Project Elephant represents Foxconn's strategic initiative to expand manufacturing beyond China. In India, Foxconn and Tata Electronics are the main manufacturers of iPhones and related components. Tata's division has acquired the Indian operations of both Wistron and Pegatron, fellow Apple suppliers. Staff members indicated that assembly of certain iPhone models commenced in May, with additional variants scheduled for August production. With preparations intensifying for the iPhone 17 release in September, the organisation is prioritising the timely completion of its residential facilities. On May 1, Apple's Cook announced their expectation that most iPhones sold in the US during the June quarter would be manufactured in India. Foxconn maintains facilities across Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Telangana. Beyond the Bengaluru unit, they've established a new AirPods manufacturing facility in Hyderabad, expanding Apple's Indian production portfolio. This complements their substantial iPhone assembly operations at the Sriperumbudur facility near Chennai. Also Read |
The Hindu
20-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Farmers' association in Coimbatore sceptical of installing steel wire fences along forest fringes to prevent human-animal conflict
A farmers' association in Coimbatore has expressed scepticism over the effectiveness of steel wire fences at select stretches of Coimbatore Forest Division to prevent human-animal conflict. Referring to two stretches identified for installation of steel wire fences along a 10-km distance from Thondamuthur in Boluvampatti Forest Range and Thadagam in Coimbatore Forest Range, State general secretary of Vivasayigal Sangam said the Forest Department ought to evaluate the utility of the project rather than implementing it for the sole reason that funds have been sanctioned. A sum of ₹7 crore has been allotted by the Government for the project, it is learnt. While the iron fencing has been found to be useful along the plains abutting the forest, the utility is low at 'bottle-neck' points where wild animal intrusions happen mostly, Mr. Kandasamy said. He referred to the instance of Bannerghatta National Park where, in addition to the different types of physical barriers: solar electric fences, elephant proof trenches, rubble walls, concrete walls, concrete moats, spike pillars spike gates and mesh barriers, the Forest department in Karnataka was also exploring the utility of railway line barrier, by using steel rails from old railway tracks. The August 2024 report of a study carried out under Project Elephant, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India and Wildlife Institute of India, suggesting measures to mitigate Asian Elephant-Train collisions on vulnerable train stretches also throws light on the effectiveness of railway line barrier. The Forest Department had, during April, stalled works on steel wire fencing in deference to a directive of High Court. The petitioner had called for stoppage of the works till elephant corridors are established.
Scroll.in
16-05-2025
- Business
- Scroll.in
Bengaluru: Foxconn factory turns rural town into real estate goldmine
This article was originally published in Rest of World, which covers technology's impact outside the West. Foxconn's arrival is quickly changing a rural town in southern India into a real estate hot spot. Devanahalli, located on the outskirts of India's tech hub, Bengaluru, is home to Foxconn's 'Project Elephant', a 13-million-square-foot site, roughly the size of 220 football fields. The $2.5 billion facility is set to be Foxconn's second-largest factory outside China and create 40,000 jobs. The factory is part of Foxconn's broader effort to diversify supply chains amid the US-China trade war. The company plans to double its iPhone production in India to up to 30 million units. Foxconn's Devanahalli project, approved by the local government in 2023, is the biggest in an agricultural belt known for pomelos, blue grapes, and silk, among other things. Property prices in the area have risen by 35% since Foxconn's entry, according to data from property consultancy Anarock. Still, resistance persists against the wider industrial push in Devanahalli: While many farmers have come around, some continue to hold out, demanding higher compensation for their land. 'Foxconn's entry is huge for Devanahalli – arguably a pivotal moment in its transformation,' Ashwanth Sajeevan, chief executive of a data intelligence and advisory platform for Bengaluru real estate, told Rest of World. 'It's like seeding a whole new city's worth of employment in Devanahalli almost overnight. Naturally, such a scale has a cascading effect: It boosts demand for housing, it attracts ancillary industries and suppliers, and it generally puts the spotlight on the region.' Foxconn has tied up with local real estate developers to house its workforce coming from China and Southeast Asian countries like the Philippines and Taiwan. Developers predict an influx of tens of thousands of workers, driven not only by Project Elephant but also by Project Cheetah – a Foxconn factory for electric vehicle components, under construction nearby. Developers are marketing properties within a 10-kilometre radius of Project Elephant as 'near Foxconn' – a strategy that has paid off, with listings doubling over the past three years. According to PropPulse, some 60 residential projects, including apartments, villas, and plots, are underway within a 20-km radius. Prices range from $40,000 to nearly $700,000 (Rs 34 lakh to Rs 6 crore). Driving back from a temple visit with family in December 2023, Neethu Ramagiri saw a billboard for luxury apartments in Devanahalli. The IT professional drove in to see the property, was offered an immediate discount, and sealed the deal for a 1,760-square-foot three-bedroom apartment. The residential complex was far from the city centre, and it didn't have a metro line nearby. The sales agents, however, pointed to Foxconn's entry and nearby infrastructure projects as guarantees of future demand. 'He [the property dealer] said, 'You just invest in it and the rent is guaranteed',' Ramagiri told Rest of World. A year on, Ramagiri's tenants are three senior-level Foxconn employees from the Philippines, China and Taiwan. She said she knew at least 10 other homeowners in the residential complex who had rented their apartments to Foxconn staff. Ramagiri said she now earns Rs 36,000 ($420) in monthly rent, claiming it was well above the average rate in the area. Since Foxconn provides catered meals for its employees, the minimal wear and tear on the kitchen has been a bonus for her. Meanwhile, the value of her apartment has appreciated by about 70% since she purchased it. Almost two decades before Foxconn broke ground, Devanahalli's industrial makeover was already in the works. The inflection point came in 2008, with the opening of an international airport, which set off a wave of state-led development. The government began acquiring land and building IT, aerospace, and science parks. These zones, combined with new and improved road links and still-affordable land, turned Devanahalli into a destination for large-scale investments, attracting giants like Foxconn. Foxconn has been recruiting for its Devanahalli facility through 2024 and 2025. Another iPhone supplier, Wistron – now part of India's Tata Group – is building a 1.4-million-square-foot facility, which is expected to generate 3,000 jobs. German software giant SAP is also establishing an office in the area. Before the construction boom, food delivery platforms like Zomato did not offer services in Devanahalli because of the town's narrow, broken roads, according to real estate dealer Ashish Jha. Now, Zomato and Swiggy delivery workers are fixtures at the many eateries in the area. Amazon deliveries are smooth, too, and the e-commerce major is moving its Bengaluru office to Devanahalli by April 2026. In 2019, when Jha first started selling real estate in the industrial area, under-construction properties were priced at Rs 3,500 ($41) per square foot, he told Rest of World. That number has skyrocketed to Rs 9,500 ($105), he said. There are now more than three dozen schools, several malls, and many state-of-the-art hospitals in the region. Foxconn has tied up with real estate firm BCD Group to house its incoming workforce in Hoskote, a town adjacent to Devanahalli. In mid-2024, the electronics manufacturer signed 900 three-year residential leases with BCD to accommodate between 6,000 and 8,000 female workers, Angad Bedi, managing director of BCD Group, told Rest of World. The municipality has bolstered civic amenities, reviving old wells, installing filtered borewells, and introducing wastewater recycling initiatives to convert gray water into a potable supply. In 2018, with backing from the Gates Foundation, Devanahalli became the first in the country to implement a low-cost, low-power fecal sludge treatment system. But the shift from farming to industry hasn't been without conflict. As land transactions continue across Devanahalli, developers acknowledge that negotiations with farmers remain complex and are often drawn out. For more than two years, a group of Devanahalli farmers has been protesting over 13 villages receiving notices of acquisition from the state authority, which will affect almost 1,300 families. Last year, farmers in Devanahalli staged a protest while fencing was being set up for Foxconn's land acquisition, claiming they had not received proper compensation for their land. Government officials did not respond to Rest of World 's questions about farmer protests. Farmers remain hesitant to buy the government's job creation rhetoric tied to the rise of the tech hub. 'These promises are not very new for the villages. … It's a very good fairy tale they bring every time,' Ramesh Cheemachanahalli, a farmer leader from Devanahalli, told Rest of World. 'But what are the preparations for the jobs?'. Cheemachanahalli said the government has not equipped farmers and their children with the education and skills needed for the jobs Foxconn will bring – and beyond a handful of roles such as janitors or gatekeepers, most villagers are unemployable at the factories.
