‘Blue Category’ – The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
▪ The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has recently introduced a new category of industries called the ‘Blue Category’, which falls under Essential Environmental Services (EES).
▪ The ‘Blue Category’ is introduced as part of a subset of EES activities like composting, biogas plants, sewage treatment, and material recovery facilities.
▪ Waste-to-Energy (WTE) incineration, previously under the ‘Red Category’ with a PI of 97.6, is now reclassified as a ‘Blue Category’ industry.
About Pollution Index (PI)
▪ The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) introduced a Pollution Index (PI) to categorise industries based on pollution levels.
▪ PI is calculated on the basis of emissions (air pollutants), effluents (water pollutants), hazardous waste, and resource consumption.
▪ PI ranges from 0 to 100, with industries classified as:
✓ White Category (0–20): Least polluting
✓ Green Category (21–40)
✓ Orange Category (41–59)
✓ Red Category (60–100): Most polluting
The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR)- 75th anniversary
▪ The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) marked its 75th anniversary with a grand celebration hosted by the Indian Cultural Centre under the High Commission of India in Dhaka.
▪ The event highlighted ICCR’s legacy since its establishment in 1950, its crucial role in cultural diplomacy, and its deep contributions to India-Bangladesh cultural ties.
▪ The celebrations included traditional performances and showcased the vibrant exchange of artistic and educational initiatives between the two nations.
Purpose of ICCR
✓ Promote India’s rich cultural heritage globally.
✓ Strengthen international cultural diplomacy.
✓ Facilitate people-to-people and educational exchange.
