24 Sep 2026 - "Daily Current Affairs" Updates

Kasturirangan Committee Report on the Western Ghats

Why in News: Karnataka Chief Minister said that implementation of the Kasturirangan Committee recommendations could affect the livelihoods of people living in the Western Ghats region.

Background: Gadgil to Kasturirangan

• The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change constituted the Madhav Gadgil Commission, or Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel, in 2010 to assess the ecological status of the Western Ghats.

• The K. Kasturirangan High-Level Working Group was constituted in 2012 to examine the Gadgil Report in a more holistic and multidisciplinary manner while considering stakeholder concerns.

Key Recommendations of the Kasturirangan Committee

• It recommended that about 37% of the Western Ghats be declared an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA), a substantially smaller area than that proposed by the Gadgil panel.

• Around 60% of the Western Ghats was classified as Cultural Landscape, including settlements, plantations and agricultural areas.

• The remaining area was identified as Natural Landscape with greater biological diversity.

• Mining, quarrying, thermal power plants, township projects and other highly polluting industries were to be prohibited within the ESA.

• Existing mining was to stop within five years or when the lease expired, whichever came earlier.

• Hydropower projects were to maintain a minimum 30% ecological flow and undergo Cumulative Impact Assessment.

• Transport infrastructure projects were also to undergo appropriate cumulative assessment.

• The report supported eco-sensitive tourism with community ownership.

• Orange-category industries were required to minimise environmental pollution.

Western Ghats: Why They Matter

• The Western Ghats run parallel to India's western coast through Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

• They are globally significant for biodiversity, endemism and ecological, geological, cultural and aesthetic value.

• They act as a barrier to the western branch of the Southwest Monsoon, producing heavy rainfall along the western margins.

• They perform major hydrological and watershed functions and support millions of people through forests, water resources and ecosystem services.

Quick Recall

• Gadgil Commission -> 2010.

• Kasturirangan HLWG -> 2012.

• Recommended ESA -> about 37% of the Western Ghats.

• Cultural Landscape -> about 60%.

• Within ESA -> mining, quarrying, thermal power plants and highly polluting projects restricted.

• Hydropower -> minimum 30% ecological flow + cumulative impact assessment.

2. Black Panther

Why in News: A black panther was recently spotted in the Western Ghats of the Coimbatore Forest Range.

What is a Black Panther?

• A black panther is not a separate species.

• It is a melanistic, or black-furred, colour variant of the leopard (Panthera pardus) in Africa and Asia or the jaguar (Panthera onca) in the Americas.

Distribution

• Globally, melanistic leopards and jaguars occur in dense forests of Africa, Asia and the Americas.

• In India, melanistic leopards are recorded in parts of the Western Ghats such as Kabini/Nagarhole, Bandipur, Periyar, Silent Valley and Wayanad.

• They are also recorded in Central Indian landscapes such as Satpura, Pench and Tadoba.

• In the Northeast, records include Pakke in Arunachal Pradesh and Manas and Nameri in Assam.

Conservation Status

• Leopard -> IUCN Vulnerable globally; some subspecies are Critically Endangered.

• Jaguar -> IUCN Near Threatened.

• The term black panther is not separately assessed by the IUCN.

• Both leopard and jaguar are listed in CITES Appendix I.

• In India, the leopard is protected under Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.

Quick Recall

• Black panther -> colour variant, not a separate species.

• Asia/Africa -> melanistic leopard.

• Americas -> melanistic jaguar.

• Leopard IUCN -> Vulnerable.

• Jaguar IUCN -> Near Threatened.

• CITES -> Appendix I for both leopard and jaguar.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

3. Partners for Multilateralism (P4M)

Why in News: India participated in the Partners for Multilateralism meeting at the United Nations during the UN General Assembly High-Level Debate. India joined as a co-sponsor and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar participated in the summit.

What is P4M?

• Partners for Multilateralism is an initiative founded by leaders of the European Union, Brazil, Kenya and Canada.

• It seeks to support UN-based multilateralism rather than a system dominated by superpower politics.

• Its objective is to strengthen the United Nations while making multilateral institutions more representative, legitimate, effective and trusted.

Issues in Focus

• P4M seeks stronger multilateral responses to Artificial Intelligence, climate change, health security and digital transformation.

• India highlighted what it called the 4F crisis: Fuel, Food, Fertilizer and Finance.

• India also called for technology frameworks and guardrails, de-risking, diversification of supply chains and cooperation among like-minded countries.

Quick Recall

• P4M -> Partners for Multilateralism.

• Founding leaders -> EU, Brazil, Kenya and Canada.

• Core idea -> stronger and more representative UN-based multilateralism.

• Key issues -> AI, climate, health security and digital transformation.

• India's 4F framing -> Fuel, Food, Fertilizer, Finance.