2 August 2025 Current Affairs | Asiatic Lion Deaths in Gujarat, ICAR AI Advisory for Farmers, ₹2000 Cr Boost to NCDC

 🌧️ Slums in Floodplains – A Growing Problem in India

Source:-TH

📌 Why in News?

1. A global report published in Nature Cities said that India has the highest number of slums in flood-prone areas in the whole world.

2. The majority of these slums are located in the Ganga river delta, which experiences annual floods.

🌍 Global Trends: Floods & Slums

1. India tops the global list – Around 158 million slum people in India live in areas where floods happen often.

2. About 40% of slum people in India live in crowded urban or suburban areas with poor drainage and bad infrastructure.

3. After India, countries like Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Pakistan also have many people living in flood-risk slums.

4. Slum dwellers globally are 32% more likely to live in flood zones than other people. Because floodplains have cheaper land, poor people go there.

5. Cities like Mumbai and Jakarta have both high flood risk and high slum population – a bad combo!

6. In countries of the Global South (developing countries), about 1 in 3 informal settlements are already exposed to flooding.

7. Floods hurt slum people more:

   • They may lose jobs,

   • Get displaced from homes,

   • Or can't reach healthcare or schools.

8. Reasons include low education, no flood insurance, and lack of money.

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🌊 Why So Much Flooding in India?

1. River Floods:

• When big rivers like Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Krishna overflow after heavy rains or glacier melt.

• Himalayan areas are at more risk due to steep mountains.

2. Urban Expansion:

• Big cities like Mumbai and Bengaluru are growing into river floodplains.

• Between 1985–2015, India ranked 3rd in the world for building in flood-risk areas.

3. Flash Floods Increasing:

• These are sudden floods that happen fast.

• In 2022, there were 184 flash flood incidents, up from 132 in 2020.

• Examples:

  • Himachal Pradesh (2025)

  • Wayanad, Kerala (2024)

  • Sikkim (2023)

4. Climate Change:

• From 1981–2020, extreme rainfall has doubled.

• Monsoon rains have increased by 56% – this means more chances of floods.

5. Poor Drainage in Cities:

• Cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru have old and blocked drainage systems.

• Chennai 2015 floods got worse because canals were blocked by plastic waste.

6. No Local Planning:

• Cities don’t have flood-specific action plans.

• So, forecasting, land-use planning, and infrastructure are weak.

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🏘️ Status of Slums in India

1. What is a Slum?

• As per 2010 Pranab Sen Committee:
  A slum is an area where 20+ families live in badly built houses, with no toilets, clean water, or sanitation.

• UN-Habitat says: A slum is where people don’t have proper houses, drinking water, enough space, or land rights.

2. Slum Population in India:

• 2011 Census: About 17% urban population lives in slums – that's 1.39 crore families.

• 2012 NSSO Survey: Found 33,510 slums in India.

• Big slum states: Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, UP, West Bengal.

• Mumbai and Kolkata have very large slum areas.

3. Who Manages Slums?

• In India, 'land' and 'housing' are State matters.

• So, State governments make rules about slums.

• Slum Areas Act, 1956 helps clear and improve slums in Union Territories.

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🏠 Schemes for Slum Development

1. Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY–Urban):

   • Gives pucca houses to poor families.

   • Till Dec 2024, about 118.64 lakh houses approved; 29 lakh for slum people.

2. AMRUT & Smart Cities Mission:

   • Improve drainage, water supply, toilets, and overall infrastructure in slum areas.

3. Swachh Bharat Mission – Urban (SBM-U 2.0):

   • Focuses on making cities clean and garbage-free.

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✅ What Can Be Done? (Solutions)

1. Make Area-Specific Plans:

• Use topography and soil data to create flood strategies.

• Improve early warning systems.

• NDMP (National Disaster Plan) says every region should have a special risk plan.

2. Stop Construction in Flood Zones:

• Use Smart Cities zoning laws to stop building in dangerous areas.

• Make flood-resilient structures.

3. Improve Urban Drainage:

• Use SUDS (Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems) like:

  • Permeable pavements

  • Rain gardens

  • Parks and green areas to absorb rainwater.

4. Upgrade Slums:

• Under PMAY, build houses on raised platforms, and improve drainage and toilets in slums.

5. Use Technology and Data:

• Use satellite images and weather data from IMD and NRSC.

• Tools like IFLOWS–Mumbai and CFLOWS–Chennai help predict and manage floods.

6. Sponge City Concept:

• Cities act like sponges to absorb rainwater and avoid floods.

• Shanghai is doing this using green roofs and permeable roads.

• Mumbai also started using this idea.

7. Climate Resilience & Water Bodies:

• Restore urban lakes and wetlands to reduce flood risks.

• Example: Jakkur Lake in Bengaluru was revived and is now helping manage floods.

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🧾 Conclusion

1. The world is working on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) till 2030.

2. India must speed up efforts to protect slum people from floods.

3. We must focus on:

   • SDG 1: No Poverty

   • SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

   • SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

4. These vulnerable people need safe housing, stronger flood systems, and proper planning to live a better life.

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📝 FAQ: Slums in Floodplains

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1. ❓ Why are slums mostly found in floodplains?

Answer:
Because land in floodplains is cheap or illegal, and poor people can’t afford to live in expensive parts of the city. So, they move to flood-prone areas, even if it's risky.

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2. ❓ How many slum dwellers in India live in flood-prone areas?

Answer:
India has the highest number in the world — around 158 million slum people are living in areas that get floods often.

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3. ❓ Which cities in India have large slum populations in flood zones?

Answer:
Cities like Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, and parts of Chennai have a large number of slums in dangerous flood areas.

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4. ❓ What are the major reasons for urban flooding in India?

Answer:

1. Heavy rains and overflowing rivers

2. Blocked drains and plastic waste

3. Construction on floodplains

4. Flash floods due to extreme rain

5. Climate change making monsoons worse

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5. ❓ What is the 'Sponge City' concept?

Answer:
It’s a new idea where cities are designed to absorb rainwater like a sponge.
They use things like green roofs, permeable roads, and parks to stop floods.
Mumbai is now using this method too.

🎓 5 Years of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 

Source:-PIB

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📰 Why in News?

1. Recently, the Union Education Minister launched the Akhil Bharatiya Shiksha Samagam (ABSS) 2025.

2. This event was to celebrate the 5th anniversary of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

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📘 What is NEP 2020?

1. NEP 2020 is India’s new education policy after 34 years (last one was in 1986).

2. It was made based on Dr. K. Kasturirangan Committee’s recommendations.

3. Main aim:

   • To make education affordable, accessible, equitable, and high-quality.

   • Suitable for 21st-century needs.

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✅ Key Achievements of NEP 2020 (in 5 years)

1. 🧒 Mother Tongue & Curriculum Reform

• Introduced the 5+3+3+4 school structure (instead of old 10+2).

• Promotes learning in mother tongue in early years.

• Focus on competency-based & hands-on learning.

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2. 👧 Inclusive Education

• Over 1.15 lakh students from disadvantaged groups (SEDGs) and 7.58 lakh girls joined residential schools.

• PRASHAST App helps in disability screening to support inclusive learning.

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3. 📖 Foundational Literacy & Numeracy (FLN)

• Through NIPUN Bharat and Vidya Pravesh, about 4.2 crore students benefited across 8.9 lakh schools.

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4. 👩‍🏫 Teacher Training Boost

• Over 4 lakh+ teachers trained under NISHTHA via platforms like DIKSHA and PM e-VIDYA.

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5. 🎓 Multidisciplinary & Flexible Higher Education

• MERUs (Multidisciplinary Education & Research Universities) are being set up for world-class education.

• Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) allows:

  • Flexible learning

  • Credit transfer

  • Multiple entry-exit options in college.

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6. 🌐 Digital Push in Schools

• 72% of schools now have internet access.

• Use of AI tools like:

  • Katha Sakhi (AI storytelling bot)

  • Teacher Tara (AI teacher assistant)

• Other initiatives:

  • Vidyanjali, e-Jaadui Pitara, PM e-Vidya, DIKSHA platform.

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7. 📝 Common Entrance Test (CUET)

• CUET launched in 2022 for college admissions.

• Makes the process centralised and merit-based.

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📚 Key Initiatives under NEP 2020

1. PM SHRI Schools – Model schools for quality education.

2. NIPUN Bharat – Focused on basic reading and maths skills.

3. PARAKH – A new national assessment framework.

4. NISHTHA – Teacher training at scale.

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⚠️ Challenges in NEP 2020 Implementation

1. 🚫 Lack of Consensus Between Centre & States

• Some states like Tamil Nadu and West Bengal oppose:

  • Three-language policy

  • Common CUET exam

  • Mother tongue instruction

They say it’s against federal structure and local interests.

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2. 💸 Low Spending on Education

• NEP says 6% of GDP should be spent on education.

• But right now, spending is still below target.

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3. 🏫 Infrastructure Gaps

• Rural areas still lack:

  • Digital tools

  • Qualified teachers

  • Strong Anganwadi system for pre-school education.

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4. 🧑‍🏫 Teacher-Related Issues

• Still delay in:

  • National Curriculum for Teacher Education

  • Training teachers in local languages

  • Hiring regionally fluent staff

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5. 📉 Slow Reforms in Higher Education

• HECI (Higher Education Commission of India), which will replace UGC, is still not fully ready.

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6. 🔍 Weak Monitoring & Resistance

• Many schools and universities are not ready to change teaching methods.

• Also, data collection and implementation is weak in many areas.

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🛠️ What Needs to Be Done?

1. 📊 Invest in Research & Innovation

• Support local research on how students learn.

• Use real-world data to make better policies.

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2. 💻 Close the Digital Divide

• Only 57.2% schools have working computers.

• Only 53.9% have internet (UDISE+ 2023–24).

• We must provide ICT tools to all schools, even in rural areas.

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3. 👨‍🏫 Better Teacher Capacity Building

• Teachers need training in:

  • Digital tools

  • Critical thinking

  • Creativity and ethics

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4. 🤝 Encourage Collaboration

• Educators, policy experts, and tech professionals must work together to build future-ready learning.

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🧾 Conclusion

1. NEP 2020 is a visionary policy — it’s modern, inclusive, and holistic.

2. Some big wins include:

   • Better foundational literacy

   • Digital access

   • Reforms in higher education

3. But still there are big challenges like:

   • State resistance

   • Money shortage

   • Slow execution

4. With the right investment, teamwork, and innovation, NEP 2020 can really change Indian education for the better — if we don’t lose momentum.

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📘 FAQ: 5 Years of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020)

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1. ❓ What is the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020?

Answer:
NEP 2020 is India’s new education policy launched in 2020.
It replaced the NEP of 1986, and aims to ensure quality, affordable, and inclusive education for all levels.
It is based on the K. Kasturirangan Committee’s recommendations.

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2. ❓ What is the new school structure introduced under NEP 2020?

Answer:
NEP replaced the old 10+2 system with a 5+3+3+4 structure:

• 5 years: Foundational stage

• 3 years: Preparatory stage

• 3 years: Middle stage

• 4 years: Secondary stage

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3. ❓ What are some key initiatives launched under NEP 2020?

Answer:

• PM SHRI Schools

• NIPUN Bharat (Foundational Literacy & Numeracy)

• NISHTHA (Teacher Training)

• PARAKH (National assessment body)

• PM e-VIDYA, DIKSHA, e-Jaadui Pitara

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4. ❓ What is the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC)?

Answer:
ABC is a digital system that allows students to store and transfer academic credits, so they can take multiple entry and exit options in higher education.

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5. ❓ What is CUET and why was it introduced?

Answer:
CUET stands for Common University Entrance Test.
It was introduced in 2022 to bring uniformity in UG admissions and reduce dependency on Board marks.

Facts For Prelims:-

🦁 Asiatic Lion 

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Source:-NIA

📌 What is it?

1. Asiatic Lion is a rare subspecies of lion found only in India.

2. Its scientific name is Panthera leo persica.

3. It looks different from African lions — has less mane, visible ears, and a belly fold.

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🌍 Where do they live?

4. Mostly found in Gir National Park, Gujarat.

5. Now they’re also seen in areas like Amreli, Junagadh, Bhavnagar, and coastal parts.

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⚠️ Conservation Status

6. IUCN Red List: Vulnerable

7. Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I

8. CITES: Appendix I (international trade banned)

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🧾 Historical Facts

9. Long ago, they were found from eastern India to the Mediterranean.

10. By 1900s, only a few survived — all in Gir.

11. Thanks to conservation, numbers have increased — but still just one wild population, which is risky.

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❗ Recent Concern

12. Three cubs died in Amreli, Gujarat recently.

13. Six more under observation — this raises concerns about high cub mortality, even though total lion count is rising.

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🌾 ICAR’s AI-Powered Agromet Advisory for Farmers

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Source:-NEWSONAIR

🤖 What is it?

1. It’s an AI-based advisory system for farmers.

2. Helps them take climate-smart farming decisions.

3. Developed by ICAR + ICRISAT, under India’s Monsoon Mission-III.

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📍 Where is it used now?

4. Being tested (pilot) in Maharashtra — will expand across India later.

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🧠 How it works?

5. Uses AI & ML to give personalised, local weather advice.

6. Advisories based on:

   • Crop cycle

   • Soil data

   • Location

   • Farmers’ profile

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📱 Key Features

7. Delivers advice via:

   • WhatsApp bots (in local languages)

   • IVRS

   • Mobile apps

   • Village resource centres

8. Uses IMD data, satellite images, and other weather tech.

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🌾 Why is it Important?

9. Will help over 120 million small/marginal farmers.

10. Reduces risk from unpredictable climate.

11. Improves farm productivity and income.

12. Closes the "last-mile" gap in agriculture tech delivery.

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🧺 National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC)

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Source:-TOI

🏛️ What is NCDC?

1. NCDC is a statutory body to help cooperative societies in rural/agriculture sectors.

2. Formed in 1963 by an Act of Parliament.

3. It works under the Ministry of Cooperation.

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📌 Headquarters: New Delhi

📍 Offices: 18 regional/state offices across India

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🎯 What does it do?

4. Gives loans and grants to support:

   • Farming

   • Dairy

   • Poultry

   • Fisheries

   • Rural industries (like handloom, sericulture)

5. Helps in:

   • Production

   • Storage

   • Processing

   • Marketing

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🌾 Recent News

6. ₹2,000 crore grant approved for NCDC over 4 years by Union Cabinet.

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🤝 Why is NCDC Important?

7. Serves over 13,000 cooperative societies (with 2.9 crore members).

8. Supports women-led, labour-intensive cooperatives.

9. Helps build infrastructure like cold storage, animal health, irrigation, etc.

10. Promotes inclusive rural growth and self-reliance.