Urea Supply Threatened by West Asia Conflict
- Context: The ongoing West Asia conflict has disrupted LNG and fertiliser supply chains, posing risks to India’s urea production just before the Kharif cropping season.
India relies heavily on West Asia for
- LNG used in domestic urea manufacturing
- Direct urea imports, accounting for 71% of total imports from the region
Current Facts- The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) operates under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, to identify and recover proceeds derived from criminal activities.
About Urea-
- Urea is a nitrogen-rich chemical compound with the formula CO(NH₂)₂.
- It contains 46% nitrogen, making it the most concentrated and widely used nitrogenous fertiliser.
- Made from ammonia and carbon dioxide using the Haber-Bosch method and urea synthesis process
- Natural gas (LNG) is a key input as it provides hydrogen for ammonia production
- India has transitioned from naphtha/fuel oil-based plants to gas-based plants
Benefits of gas-based production
- Higher efficiency
- Lower emissions
- Supports sustainable fertiliser production
Prakriti 2026- Context: ‘Prakriti 2026’ an international conference on carbon markets organized by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (under the Ministry of Power) and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) was held in New Delhi.
- This serves as a flagship event conducted under the aegis of the ‘Bharat Electricity Summit 2026,’ with a specific focus on carbon markets and climate action.
- The conference aimed to facilitate discussions on carbon markets, climate finance, and green growth, placing particular emphasis on mobilizing finance and strengthening global partnerships to achieve the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) targets outlined in the Paris Agreement.
Key Initiative – Carbon Market Infrastructure
- Launch of the Indian Carbon Market portal to facilitate and regulate carbon trading within India.
- Strengthening the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) as a pivotal market-based mechanism.
Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS)
- This is a market-based mechanism operating under the framework of the Indian Carbon Market (ICM).
- Its objective is to mitigate Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions by establishing a price for carbon and enabling carbon trading.
- It serves as a successor to the Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme, shifting the focus from mere energy efficiency to tangible emission reduction.
- Under this scheme, Carbon Credit Certificates (CCC) are issued, wherein 1 CCC represents an emission reduction equivalent to 1 tonne of CO₂.
Current Facts- Sarhul Festival
- Sarhul is a three-day traditional festival observed by tribal communities such as the Oraon tribe, Munda tribe, and Ho tribe.
- It is mainly celebrated in Jharkhand and also in parts of Bihar, Odisha, and West Bengal.
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- The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) operates under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, to identify and recover proceeds derived from criminal activities.
