NATURAL RESOURCES

“Natural resources can be defined as the resources that exist (on the planet) independent of human
actions.”
These are the resources that are found in the environment and are developed without the
intervention of humans. Common examples of natural resources include air, sunlight, water, soil,
stone, plants, animals, and fossil fuels.
On the basis of recovery time or availability natural resources are classified into:
1. Renewable resource
2. Non-renewable resource
Renewable resource: Renewable resources are the ones that are consistently available regardless
of their use. They can be fairly recovered or replaced after utilization.
Examples include vegetation, water, and air.

As much as these resources are renewable, it may take tens to hundreds of years to replace them.
The renewable raw materials that come from living things namely animals and trees are termed as
organic renewable resources while those that come from non-living things such as sun, water and
wind are termed as inorganic renewable resources.
Non-renewable resource: Non-renewable resources are the ones that cannot simply be substituted
or recovered once they have been utilized or destroyed.
Examples of such natural resources include fossil fuels and minerals.

Minerals are categorized as non-renewable because, even though they take shape naturally
through the rock cycle, their formation periods take thousands of years. Some animals mostly the
endangered species are similarly regarded as non-renewable because they are at the verge of
extinction.
Renewable resource Non-renewable resource
It can be renewed as it is available in infinite Once completely consumed, it cannot be
quantity renewed due to limited stock
Sustainable in nature Exhaustible in nature
Low cost and environment-friendly High cost and less environment-friendly
Replenish quickly Replenish slowly or do not replenish naturally at
all

On the basis origin natural resources are classified into:

1. Biotic resources: All living elements of the environment are considered as biotic resources.
These resources rejuvenate and duplicate themselves, make them renewable.
2. Abiotic resources: All non-living elements of the environment are considered abiotic resources.
It includes land, air, water and minerals. Because they cannot be regenerated or replicated, they are
finite and non-renewable.
 Conservation of Natural Resources:
Land resources: Land resources refer to declinable area of the earth‟s terrestrial surface
encompassing all attributes above and below the earth‟s surface. It include physical, biotic,
environmental, infrastructure and socio-economic component of natural land unit including surface
and near surface elements.
Ex: minerals, coal, plants, animals, fuels, water etc
Land use: Land use is characterised by the arrangements, activities and inputs by people to
produce, change or to maintain a certain land cover type.
According to Di Gregorio and Jhansen „It is the way that establishes a direct link between land
cover and the action of people in their environment‟
Land cover is the observed physical cover on the earth‟s surface.
Methods to conserve land resources:
 Prevent deforestation, overgrazing
 Avoid using chemicals
 Avoiding improper agricultural practices
 Prevent water logging
 following 3R‟s (reduce, reuse, recycle)
Functions of Land
 A store of wealth for individual, groups or a community.
 Production of food, fibre, fuel and other biotic material for human use.
 Provide habitat for all living beings.
 Regulation of Biogeochemical cycles (Carbon, Nitrogen, H2O, oxygen).
 Regulating of the surface and flow of surface water and ground water.
 Storehouse of minerals.
 A buffer zone, filter or modifier for chemical pollutants.
 Storage of historical evidences
World Land Use Pattern
Total geographical land area on earth 149 M Km2.
Type of land use Percentage
Forest 32
Range land and pasture 26
Desert 20
Cropland 11
Tundra and wetland 9
Urban areas 2
 Indian Land Use Pattern
Total geographical land area of India is 3.287MKm2. Land use records are maintained by Land
Revenue Department and this land area is surveyed by Survey Of India. The area which is under
land use is referred as reported area.
Changes in land use pattern in India:
Sl TYPE PERCENTAGE MORE IN LESS IN
no
1 Forest 24.39% Madhya Pradesh, Dadra and nagar haveli,
Arunachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and goa.
Odisha, Maharashtra,
Andhra Pradesh,
Andaman and Nicobar
island
2 Land not available for 12.11% Arunachal Pradesh, Dadra and haveli,
Rajasthan, Gujarat and Chandigarh, Sikkim,
Cultivation
Madhya Pradesh Andaman and Nicobar
3 Cultivable wasteland 8.6%
A) Permanent pastures Rajasthan, Himachal Manipur, Dadra and
or grazing area pradesh, Madhya Nagar
pradesh
B) Land under Uttar khand, Uttar Goa, Delhi,
miscellaneous tree crops pradesh, Odisha, Puducherry, Chandigarh
Andra pradesh
C) Cultivable waste Rajasthan, Tripura, Manipur,
land Maharashtra, Madhya Sikkim, Punjab
Pradesh
4 Follow land 8.13% Rajasthan, Andra Tripura, Manipur,
Pradesh, Jharkhand Dadra and Nagar Haveli,
Puducherry
5 Net sown area 46.2% Haryana & Punjab Uttar Pradesh,
Himachal Pradesh,
Jammu and
Kashmir,Meghalaya,
Nagaland,Mizoram,Arun
achal Pradesh

Forest area: Forest which is under land use pattern is different from natural forest it is called as
reported area. During 1950 there was 14.2% of forest area and by the year 2017-18 it has been
increased to 24.39%. According to National Forest Policy 1952, the reporting area should be
33.39%.
Land not available for cultivation: The land used for human settlements, transport routes,
canals, quarries, mountains, deserts, marshes etc are taken under land not available for cultivation.
Cultivable wastelands: This category includes Permanent pastures and grazing area, Land under
miscellaneous crops and cultivable waste lands.
Permanent pastures and grazing area: Most of the land is owned by village panchayat, this comes
under common property resources.
Land under miscellaneous crops: Land area which is under production of miscellaneous crops
such as cereals, fruits, vegetables, coffee etc.
Cultivable waste land: Land area which is left uncultivated for more than 5 years, this area can be
brought to cultivation by improving it through reclamation activities.
Follow land: Land which is not cultivated for 3-5 years is considered under follow land.
Net sown area: Net sown area represents the land on which crops are sowed and harvested.
There is a drastic increase in the net sown are in the last 5 decades due to reclamation of barren,
uncultivable, pasture land etc.
LAND DEGRADATION
Land degradation refers to the change in characteristics and quality of soil which adversely affects
the fertility is called degradation.
Land degradation is defined as
 Loss of natural fertility of soil.
 Less vegetation cover.
 Pollution of water resource due to surface runoff.
 Changes in climatic condition.
Causes for land degradation:
 Deforestation
 Overgrazing
 Agricultural practices: Crop rotation, Mixed cropping, Fertilizers and pesticides, irrigation
 Industrialization
 Urbanization
 Urban sprawl: Expanding urban areas
Prevention and control measures:
 Strip farming
 Crop rotation
 Ridges and furrow formation
 Construction of dams
 Contour farming
 SOIL EROSION
It is a process in which the top fertile layer of soil is lost. Due to soil erosion, the soil becomes less
fertile. The top layer of soil is very light which is easily carried away by wind and water. The
removal of topsoil by the natural forces is known as soil erosion.
Types of soil erosion:
1. Water erosion
 Splash erosion: This happens when the raindrops hit ground causing displacement of soil
when rainfall is not heavier.
 Sheet erosion: The detachment or replacement of a layer of soil along the rainflow water
when rain is heavier.
 Gully erosion: Erosion that happens through the channel worn by running water.
 Stream erosion: erosion that occurs at shores of streams, rivers due to flowing water.
 Coastal erosion: Erosion of soil along the sea shores.
2. Wind erosion
 Silt erosion: happens when soil is blown by the wind in a series of short bounces.
 Suspension: transported over a long distance in the form of suspended particles.
 Surface creep: this involves transport of large particles at ground level due to high speed
winds.
Causes of Soil Erosion:
Various agents, like wind, water, deforestation, overgrazing by cattle, etc., cause soil erosion. The
various factors of soil erosion are:

1. Wind: When strong winds blow, the topsoil along with the organic matter is carried away by the
wind. This happens more often when the land is not covered with grass or plants. Such conditions
are very common in desert and semi-desert regions where strong winds blow very frequently.
2. Water: When it rains in the hilly areas, the soil gets washed away towards the plains. The
running water deposits the mineral-rich soil in the riverbed and over the years this deposition of soil
can change the course of the river. This can lead to floods which cause the destruction of life and
property. Water erosion leads to loss of agriculture potential.
3. Overgrazing: When cattle are allowed to graze on the same field repeatedly, all the available
grass, including the roots are eaten by them. This makes the topsoil vulnerable to wind and flowing
water, leading to soil erosion.
4. Deforestation: Humans have taken land from the forest to cultivate in order to feed the ever-
increasing population and to build houses, industries, etc. Cutting down trees on a large scale for
these purposes is deforestation. The roots of trees hold the soil together, thus preventing the soil
from getting uprooted. When large areas of the forest are cleared, the topsoil gets eroded by wind
and flowing water.
5. Mining: In the extensive quarrying, denudation of hill slopes leading to condition that causes
soil erosion.
6. Improper agricultural practices: using more or unnecessary fertilizers, irrigation problems,
growing pattern, agricultural waste management.
 Harmful Effects of Soil Erosion

A major problem with soil erosion is that there is no guideline as to how quickly or slowly it will
occur. If largely impacted by ongoing weather or climate events, it may be a slow-developing
process that is never even noticed.

However, a severe weather occurrence or other experience can contribute to rapid-moving

erosion, which can cause great harm to the area and its inhabitants.

Effects of soil erosion include:

1. Loss of Topsoil: topsoil is so fertile, if it is removed, this can cause serious harm to farmer‟s
crops or the ability to effectively work their land.
2. Soil Compaction: When the soil under the topsoil becomes compacted and stiff, it reduces the
ability for water to infiltrate these deeper levels, keeping runoff at greater levels, which increases
the risk of more serious erosion.
3. Reduced Organic and Fertile Matter: removing topsoil that is heavy with organic matter will
reduce the ability for the land to regenerate new flora or crops.
When new crops or plants can‟t be placed successfully in the area, this perpetuates a cycle of
reduced levels of organic nutrients.
4. Poor Drainage: Sometimes too much compaction with sand can lead to an effective crust that
seals in the surface layer, making it even harder for water to pass through to deeper layers.
5. Issues with Plant Reproduction: When soil is eroded in active cropland, wind, in particular,
makes lighter soil properties such as new seeds and seedlings to be buried or destroyed. This, in
turn, impacts future crop production.
6. Soil Acidity Levels: When the structure of the soil becomes compromised, and organic matter
is greatly reduced, there is a higher chance of increased soil acidity, which will significantly
impact the ability for plants and crops to grow.
7. Long Term Erosion: Unfortunately, if an area is prone to erosion or has a history of it, it
becomes even harder to protect it in the future. The process has already reduced the soil structure
and organic matter of the area, meaning that it will be harder to recover in the long run.

Remedies or Strategies to control erosion:

 Crop rotation
 strip farming
 Contour farming
 Mulching
 Afforestation and reforestation
 Ridges and furrow farming
 Dam building
 DESERTIFICATION and DEFORESTATION:
Desertification is a man-made process which is causing natural deserts to expand catastrophically
beyond their usual limits, as well as causing new deserts to form in places that were once filled with
lives.
Deforestation refers to the decrease in forest areas across the world that are lost for other uses
such as agricultural croplands, urbanization, or mining activities.

The Causes of Deforestation:

1. Agriculture is the Number 1 Cause of Deforestation (~80%)
2. Deforestation Caused By New Constructions (~15%)
3. Urbanization Is Causing Deforestation (~5%)
Causes for desertification :
1. Overgrazing: If there are too many animals that are overgrazing in certain spots, it makes it
difficult for the plants to grow back, which hurts the biome and makes it lose its former green glory.
2. Deforestation: When people are looking to move into an area, or they need trees in order to
make houses and do other tasks, then they are contributing to the problems related to
desertification.
3. Farming Practices: Some farmers do not know how to use the land effectively. Desertification
becomes more of a reality for the area that is being used for farming.
4. Excessive Use of Fertilizers and Pesticides: The use of excessive amounts of fertilizers and
pesticides to maximize their crop yields in the short term often leads to significant damages for the
soil.
5. Over drafting of groundwater: Over drafting is the process in which groundwater is extracted
in excess of the equilibrium yield of the aquifer that is pumping or the excessive pulling up of
groundwater from underground aquifers. Its depletion causes desertification
6. Urbanization and Other Types of Land Development: development can cause people to go
through and kill plant life. It can also cause issues with the soil due to chemicals and other things
that may harm the ground.
7. Climate Change: Climate change plays a huge role in desertification: As the days get warmer
and periods of drought become more frequent, desertification becomes more and more eminent.
8. Stripping the Land of Resources: If an area of land has natural resources like natural gas, oil, or
minerals, people will come and mine it or take it out. This usually strips the soil of nutrients, which
in turn kills the plant life, and eventually leads to the process of becoming a desert biome as time
goes on.
9. Natural Disasters: There are some cases where the land gets damaged because of natural
disasters, including drought. In those cases, there isn‟t a lot that people can do except work to try
and help rehabilitate the land after it has already been damaged by nature.
10. Soil Pollution: When soil becomes polluted due to various human activities, Higher the level
of pollution more will be the degradation of soil over time.
11. Mining: land becomes arid, which may not be recoverable, and desertification occurs.
 Causes for deforestation:
SOLUTIONS SAME AS FOR SOIL EROSION
Programmes undertaken to overcome desertification:
By government of India:
 CAD: Command Area Development: launched in 1974, they enhance irrigational
potential use and optimize agricultural output through effective water management.
 IWMP: Integrated Watershed Management Plan 1989-90.
 NAPCD: National Action Program to Combat Desertification by MoEFCC (Ministry of
Environment, Forestry and Climate Change) on 1985.
Global Actions:
 Establishment of UNCCD( United Nation Convention to Combat Desertification) 1994
 Establishment of SDG‟s (Sustainable Development Goals)2015
 Bonn Challenge: Launched by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), It
is a global effort to restore 150 million hectares of land by 2020 and 350 million hectare of land by
2030.
Effects of Desertification and Deforestation
1.Farming becomes next to impossible: If an area becomes a desert, then it‟s almost impossible to
grow substantial crops there without special technologies
2. Decrease in Crop Yields: A major effect of desertification is the decrease in crop yields. Once
land turns from arable to arid, it is often on longer suitable for farming purposes anymore.
3. Hunger: Without farms in these areas, the food that those farms produce will become much
scarcer, and the people who live in those local areas will be a lot more likely to try and deal with
hunger problems. Animals will also go hungry, which will cause even more of a food shortage
4. Flooding: Without plant life in an area, flooding is a lot more imminent. Flooding can also
negatively affect the water supply.
5. Poor Water Quality: This is because plant life plays a significant role in keeping the water clean
and clear; without its presence, it becomes a lot more difficult for you to be able to do that.
6. Overpopulation: When areas start to become desert, animals and people will go to other areas
where they can actually thrive. This causes crowding and overpopulation, which will, in the long
run, end up continuing the cycle of desertification that started this whole thing anyway.
7. Poverty: All of the issues that we‟ve talked about above can lead to poverty if it is not kept in
check. Without food and water, it becomes harder for people to thrive, and they take a lot of time
to try and get the things that they need.
8. Biodiversity Loss: In general, the destruction of habitats and desertification may also
contributes to a loss of biodiversity.
9. Endangerment and Extinction of Species
The desertification results in a decline in population for which species may become endangered or
even extinct.
11. Migration: The desertification implies the destruction of the livelihood of farmers.
 Remedies to overcome deforestation:
1. Plant More Trees: Engage in tree-planting initiatives in your community or through global
organizations.
2. Go Paperless: Reduce paper consumption by going digital at home and in the office. When you
do need to print, use both sides of the paper.
3. Support Responsible Companies: Choose to support companies that are committed to reducing
deforestation and use sustainable practices.
4. Buy Certified Wood Products: Opt for wood or paper products that are certified by the Forest
Stewardship Council (FSC) or similar organizations.
5. Buy and Use Responsibly: Consider your purchases carefully. Buy only what you need, and
prioritize items with less packaging or reusable containers.
6. Avoid Palm Oil: Palm oil production contributes significantly to deforestation. Check labels and
avoid products containing palm oil where possible.
7. Recycle and Buy Recycled Products: Support the recycling economy by buying recycled
products and recycling them again after use.
8. Educate Others: Raise awareness about deforestation in your social circle and community. The
more people know, the more they can help.
9. Support Sustainable Agriculture: Buy from local farmers who practice sustainable agriculture,
helping to reduce the demand for deforested land.
10. Advocate for Forest Protection Policies: Support policies and politicians that prioritize forest
conservation and responsible land use.
11. Support Indigenous Rights: Support Indigenous communities who often are excellent
stewards of the forests they inhabit.
12. Offset Your Carbon Footprint: Consider supporting carbon offset programs that protect
existing forests or plant new trees.
13. Reduce Meat Consumption: Livestock farming is a major cause of deforestation. Consider
reducing your meat intake or choose products from sustainable farms.
14. Use Renewable Energy: Using renewable energy reduces the need for deforestation caused by
mining and drilling.
15. Volunteer or Donate: Consider donating your time or money to organizations that work to
prevent deforestation.

WATER

 Water is a cyclic resource with abundant supplies on the globe.

 Approximately, 71 per cent of the earth‟s surface is covered with it but freshwater
constitutes only about 3 per cent of the total water.
 97% of the water on the Earth is salt water and only three percent is fresh water;
slightly over two thirds of this are frozen in glaciers and polar ice caps.
 The remaining unfrozen freshwater is found mainly as groundwater, with only a small
fraction present above ground or in the air.
 Water resources are under threat from water scarcity, water pollution, water conflict
and climate change.
 Over-Utilization of Surface & Ground Water
The rapid increase in population and industrial growth led to severe demand on water
resources.
  The increased extraction of groundwater far in excess of the natural recharge led to
decreased groundwater level.
 Building construction activities seal permeable soil zone and reduce the area for
percolation of rainwater thereby increasing surface runoff.
 If groundwater withdrawal rate is higher than recharge rate, sediments in aquifers
get compacted resulting in sinking of overlaying land surface.
 Over—utilization of groundwater in arid and semi—arid regions for agriculture
disturbs equilibrium of reservoir in the region causing problems like lowering of water
table and decreased pressure in aquifers coupled with changes in speed and direction of
water flow.
 Over utilization of groundwater in coastal areas leads to rapid intrusion of salt
water from the sea thereby rendering it unusable for drinking and agriculture.
 Over—utilization of groundwater lads to decrease in water level thereby causing
earthquake, landslides and famine.
 Decrease in flow of water in rivers
 Drying of ponds and lakes specially during summers
 Reduction in wetlands and green lands
 Migration of public due to scarcity of water.

FLOODS

 A high—water level that overflows the natural banks along any portion of a stream is
called a flood. Thus, Floods are commonly associated with a stream or river.
 A stream floods when its discharge is greater than the capacity of its river channel.
Excess water flows over the river banks and submerges the adjacent land which is
usually dry.
Types of Floods
 A flash flood occurs when runoff from excessive rainfall causes a rapid rise in the water height
(stage) of a stream or normally-dry channel. Flash floods are more common in areas with a dry
climate and rocky terrain because lack of soil or vegetation allows torrential rains to flow
overland rather than infiltrate into the ground.
 River flooding is generally more common for larger rivers in areas with a wetter climate, when
excessive runoff from longer-lasting rainstorms and sometimes from melting snow causes a
slower water-level rise over a larger area. Floods also can be caused by ice jams on a river or
high tides, but most floods can be linked to a storm of some kind.
 Coastal floods are caused by strong winds or storms that move towards a coast during high
tide. When powerful waves breach the coast‟s dune or dike, the area is usually flooded. Coastal
regions with fewer defences and lower elevations are the most affected. The best time to repair
the breach is during low tide.
 Effects of floods:
 to bridges and roadways.
 Diseases and Loss of lives and property.
 Decreased purchasing and production power.
 Mass Relocation.
 Psychosocial effects.
 Political implications.
 Hindering economic growth and development.
 Soil erosion.
 Structural damage epidemics.
 Landslides.

DROUGHTS

Drought is a temporary reduction in water or moisture availability below the normal or

expected amount for a specific period.
Drought occurs when there is a prolonged absence or inadequacy of rain, resulting in a
significant hydrologic (water) imbalance and, as a result, water shortages, agricultural
damage, stream flow decrease, and groundwater and soil moisture depletion.

Types of Droughts
Meteorological Drought
 Meteorological drought is a form of drought that occurs when there is insufficient
rainfall for an extended period of time.
 According to Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), a drought exists when the
average annual rainfall is less than 75% of the normal.
Agricultural Drought
 The agricultural drought, also known as the soil moisture drought, is attributed to low
soil moisture, critical for crop support.
Hydrological Drought
As the name indicates, the hydrological drought is caused by a shortage of water.
There are 2 types of Hydrological Droughts
 Surface water Drought: It is concerned with the drying up of surface water resources
such as rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, tanks, reservoirs, etc.
 Groundwater Drought: It is associated with the fall in the groundwater level.
Ecological Drought
 It occurs when the productivity of the natural ecosystem fails due to a shortage of
water and causes environmental damages like the deaths of cattle, wildlife, and trees in
the forest.
Socio-Economic Drought
 It reflects reduced availability of food and income loss due to crop failure.
 Enerqy Resources
Natural resources are the materials provided by nature that can be directly or indirectly
used by humans for their personal or economic gain.
Some examples of natural resources are: Sunlight, Water, air, minerals, Plants and animals
etc.

On the basis of availability, the natural resources are classified as —

 Renewable Resources
 Non—Renewable Resources

Renewable resources
 Renewable resources are those which can be replenished by nature in a short period of
time.
 These include air, water, crops, forests, etc.
Non-renewable Resources
 Non-renewable resources are formed over a very long geological period.
 These include minerals and fossil fuels.
 Since their rate of formation is very slow, they cannot be replenished quickly once
they are used. Hence their supply is limited and exhaustible.

Fossil Fuels
Fossils are the remains of plants and animals that were buried under the earth for millionsof
years.
Coal, petroleum, and natural gas are fossil fuels as they are formed from fossils.
 Coal is a combustible black or brownish—black sedimentary rock with a high
amount of carbon and hydrocarbons.
 Coal is classified into four main types, or ranks: anthracite, bituminous, lignite, and peat.

 Coal accounts for about 40% of the world‟s electricity production, according to the
International Energy Agency.


Petroleum and Natural Gas
 The word petroleum means rock oil and is found between layers of rocks in the form
of a thick black liquid.
 In its raw form petroleum is called crude oil which is drilled from oil fields located
in offshore and coastal areas.
 The major petroleum—producing countries in the world are Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia,
and Qatar.
 USE OF ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES

Alternative energy is energy that does not come from fossil fuels and does not
contribute to the greenhouse effect that causes climate change.
These energy sources are referred to as “alternative” because they represent the
alternative to coal, oil, and natural gas, which have been the most common sources
of energy since the Industrial Revolution.
Alternative energy here includes hydroelectric energy, solar energy, geothermal
energy, wind energy, nuclear energy, biomass energy, and green hydrogen.

HYDROELECTRIC ENERGY
 Hydroelectricity is a renewable energy source that uses the potential energy
of the water stored in the dams, reservoirs, flowing rivers etc.
 The falling or flowing water rotates the turbine which spins a generator and
the mechanical energy of the generator is converted to electric energy and hence
the electricity is generated from the water.

SOLAR ENERGY
 The solar energy is produced from radiation that is received from the sun and
utilized in the form electricity and thermal energy by using various available
technologie like photovoltaic panels, solar heater etc.
 Solar Photovoltaic: Solar photovoltaic (SPV) cells convert solar radiation
(sunlight) into electricity. A solar cell is a semi—conducting device made of silicon
and/or other materials, which, when exposed to sunlight, generates electricity.
 Solar thermal: Solar Thermal Power systems, also known as Concentrating
Solar Power systems, use concentrated solar radiation as a high temperature energy
source to produce electricity using thermal route.
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
 Geothermal energy is natural heat from the interior of the earth that can be
used to generate electricity.
 It is the thermal energy generated from radioactive decay and continuous
heat loss from the earth‟s formation.
 The natural examples of geothermal energy are Geysers, Lava Fountain, and
Hot Springs.
WIND ENERGY
 Wind is used to produce electricity using the kinetic energy created by air in
motion.
 This is transformed into electrical energy using wind turbines or wind energy
conversion systems.
 Wind first hits a turbine‟s blades, causing them to rotate and turn the turbine
connected to them. That changes the kinetic energy to rotational energy, by
moving a shaft which is connected to a generator, and thereby producing electrical
energy through electromagnetism.
  The amount of power that can be harvested from wind depends on the size of
the turbine and the length of its blades.

NUCLEAR ENERGY

 Nuclear energy is a form of energy released from the nucleus or core of

atoms, made up of protons and neutrons.
 This source of energy can be produced in two ways: fission — when nuclei of
atoms split into several parts or fusion when nuclei fuse together.
 A nuclear reactor is a power plant that can control nuclear fission to produce
electricity. In the nuclear reactor, uranium is used as fuel.
 Atoms of uranium are split, which creates fission products which cause other
uranium atoms to split, thus creating a chain reaction.
 The energy from this chain reaction is released in the form of heat. This heat
is used to warm the nuclear reactors cooling agent, which results in the formation
of steam.
 This steam turns the turbines, which drive the engines or generators to
produce electricity.

BIOMASS ENERGY

Biomass energy is energy generated or produced by living or once—living

organisms. Biofuels may be solid, liquid or gaseous in nature.
 Solid: Wood, dried plant material, and manure
 Liquid: Bioethanol and Biodiesel
 Gaseous: Biogas

These can be used to replace or can be used in addition to diesel, petrol or other fossil
fuels for transport, stationary, portable and other applications. Also, they can be
used to generate heat and electricity.
Some of the main reasons for shifting to biofuels are the rising prices of oil,
emission of the greenhouse gases from fossil fuels and the interest for obtaining fuel
from agricultural crops for the benefit of farmers.
Biomass is converted to energy through various processes,
including: Direct combustion (burning)
 Direct combustion is the most common method for converting biomass to
useful energy. All biomass can be burned directly for heating buildings and water, for
industrial process heat, and for generating electricity in steam turbines.
Thermochemical conversion to produce solid, gaseous, and liquid fuels
 Thermochemical conversion of biomass includes pyrolysis and gasification.
 Both are thermal decomposition processes in which biomass feedstock
materials are heated in closed, pressurized vessels called gassifiers at high
temperatures.
Chemical conversion to produce liquid fuels
 A chemical conversion process known as transesterification is used for
converting vegetable oils, animal fats, and greases into fatty acid methyl esters
(FAME), which are used to produce biodiesel.
Biological conversion to produce liquid and gaseous fuels
Biological conversion includes fermentation to convert biomass into ethanol and
  anaerobic digestion to produce renewable natural gas. Ethanol is used as a
vehicle fuel.

HYDROGEN
Hydrogen is one of the most abundant elements on earth for a cleaner alternative
fuel option.
Type of hydrogen depend up on the process of its
formation: Green Hydrogen
 Green hydrogen is produced through electrolysis using renewable sources of
energy such as solar, wind or hydel power.
 Electrolysis is the process of using electricity to split water into hydrogen and
oxygen. This reaction takes place in a unit called an electrolyzer.
 Green hydrogen can be stored for long periods of time.

 The stored hydrogen can be used to produce electricity using fuel cells.

 In a fuel cell, a device that converts the energy of a chemical into electricity,
hydrogen gas reacts with oxygen to produce electricity and water vapour.
Brown hydrogen

Brown hydrogen is produced using coal where the emissions are released to the
air. Grey hydrogen
Grey hydrogen is produced from natural gas where the associated emissions are
released to the air.
Blue hydrogen

Blue hydrogen is produced from natural gas, where the emissions are captured
using carbon capture and storage.

Growinq Enerqy Needs

The demand for energy in India is growing because of population growth and a
developing economy.
The NITI Ayog estimated that the country will need to increase its primary energy
supply by 3 to 4 times, and electricity generation capacity by 5 to 6 times (2003—04
levels) if it is to meet the energy needs of all its citizens by 2032.

India Energy Outlook 2021 Report

 Recently, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has released the India Energy
Outlook
2021 Report.

 According to India Energy Outlook 2021 Report, Presently, India is the fourth—
largest global energy consumer behind China, the United States and the European
Union.
 India‟s oil demand is seen rising by 74% to 8.7 million barrels per day by 2040
under the existing policies scenario.
 Natural gas import dependency increased from 20% in 2010 to almost 50% in
2019 and is set to grow further to more than 60% in 2040.
 Coal currently dominates India's electricity sector, accounting for over 70%
of overall generation. Coal demand is seen rising to 772 million tonnes in 2040
from the current 590.
It also estimated that India will be third Largest Energy.

INTER AND INTRA NATIONAL WATER DISPUTE

Dispute Regions involved
Krishna river dispute Karnataka, Andhra pradesh and Maharashtra
Cauvery river dispute Karnataka, tamil nadu, kerala, puducherry
Satluj Yamuna link canal issue Punjab, Haryana, rajasthan
Yamuna water dispute Haryana, uttar Pradesh, rajasthan, delhi, himachal Pradesh
Son-rihand water dispute Bihar, uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh
mahi water dispute Rajastan and Gujarat
Narmada dispute Rajastan and Gujarat
Ravi-beas dispute Punjab, Haryana, rajastan
Ganga river dispute India and Bangladesh
Mahakali river dispute India and Nepal
Brahmaputra river dispute India and china
Nile river dispute Ethiopia-egypt,sudan
Tigris river dispute Turkey-iraq