NATIONAL SCHEMES

Project Cheetah: India’s Cheetah Conservation Initiative

- Context: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister released two female cheetahs brought from Botswana into an open forest in the Kuno National Park following the completion of their quarantine period.

The reintroduction of cheetahs brought from Nigeria, South Africa, and now Botswana is achieving consistent success, and today Madhya Pradesh has earned nationwide recognition as the ‘Cheetah State.

This will give impetus to ‘Project Cheetah’ and add another important chapter to India’s wildlife conservation history.
The objective of the project is to restore the endangered animal species in the state, increase their numbers, and prepare them for free hunting and roaming.

Project Cheetah

Project Cheetah is India’s premier wildlife conservation initiative focused on bringing back cheetahs, which were declared extinct in the country in 1952.

- The programme represents a landmark ecological effort, as India became the first nation to undertake the intercontinental relocation and reintroduction of an extinct large carnivore species.

The first group of African cheetahs was translocated from Namibia to Kuno National Park in 2022.

A second batch of cheetahs was brought from South Africa in 2023 to strengthen the reintroduction programme.

The project is being carried out under the supervision of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change with assistance from Indian and international wildlife specialists.

Major Objectives of Project Cheetah

To reintroduce cheetahs into the Indian ecosystem after an absence of over seven decades.

To create a self-sustaining and genetically healthy cheetah population in natural habitats over the long term.
To revive and conserve grassland and savannah ecosystems, which have historically received limited conservation attention in India.
To enhance biodiversity by restoring the role of a top predator within the ecological food chain.
To encourage eco-tourism opportunities and support livelihood generation for local communities through public participation.
To reinforce India’s position as a global leader in wildlife protection, ecological restoration, and species recovery initiatives.

Ethanol Blending Program

Context: India is currently exploring the possibility of utilizing 100% ethanol as an alternative to petrol. This solution is being advanced during a period of critical challenges.
While this news may seem astonishing to us, it is not novel to Brazil. Since 2003, a vehicular fuel blend consisting of 95.6% ethanol and 4.4% water has been in use there.

About Ethanol

Ethanol (C₂H₅OH) is a renewable, flammable, and colorless bio-alcohol used as a transportation fuel.
It is produced either through the fermentation of sugars/starches or via the hydration of ethylene.
Ethanol possesses a high octane rating but has an energy density that is 27% lower than that of petrol.
It functions both as an additive when blended with petrol and as a standalone fuel (E85, E100) in flex-fuel vehicles.
Ethanol is also utilized in the manufacture of disinfectants, perfumes, beverages, and industrial solvents.

Based on the source of the raw material, ethanol is classified into three generations

2G Ethanol: Derived from crop residues, bagasse (sugarcane pulp), and bamboo.
3G Ethanol: Derived from algae; this remains in the Research and Development (R&D) phase.

Miscibility: Ethanol is 99.9% pure alcohol, and due to its chemical compatibility, it blends with petrol.

Ethanol blending improves fuel combustion and reduces carbon monoxide (CO₂) and hydrocarbon emissions.

Government Initiatives for Ethanol Blending

Ethanol Blending Programme (EBP): Aims to reduce import dependency, save foreign exchange, boost the domestic agricultural sector, and yield associated environmental benefits.

The blending ratio has risen from 1.5% (2014) to 10% (2022), and is targeted to reach 20% by 2025.
E27 Target: India aims to achieve a 27% ethanol blend by 2030, supported by a phased approach.
To ensure consumer awareness, the ethanol blend percentage must be mandatorily displayed on fuel pumps and vehicles.

The POCSO Act

Historical Background

In 1992, by ratifying the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), India assumed international obligations to strengthen its child protection laws.

All these developments collectively paved the way for the enactment of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, which was notified on November 14, 2012.

Objectives of the POCSO Act

To protect children under the age of 18 from sexual assault, sexual harassment, and exposure to pornography.
To protect both boys and girls equally, thereby ensuring non-discriminatory legal action.
To provide a safe environment for reporting, medical examination, and investigation, with the aim of minimizing psychological trauma.
To establish Special Courts to ensure the timely disposal of cases within a stipulated timeframe.
To impose stringent penalties, including life imprisonment and the death penalty (introduced post-2019).

Government Initiatives for Child Protection

POCSO Act (2012) and POCSO Rules (2020): Provide for stringent punishments for sexual offenses against children, interim compensation, support persons, and child-friendly reporting mechanisms.
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP): Focuses on preventing female infanticide, improving the survival of the girl child, promoting education, and reducing the risk of exploitation.
National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR): Monitors children’s rights, inspects institutions, conducts inquiries, and ensures the implementation of child protection laws.
PM CARES for Children Scheme (2021): Provides financial assistance, education, health insurance, and welfare support to children who have lost their parents due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal: Facilitates the online reporting of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) and cyber exploitation.
Operation Smile and Operation Muskan (State Police): Nationwide rescue operations aimed at recovering missing and abducted children.