Soil Erosion

Why in news?

• A recent study by the IIT Bombay reveals a staggering 94% increase in soil erosion in the Western Ghats Region from 1990 to 2020.

About Western Ghats (aka the Sahyadri Mountain Range):

• It is a UNESCO’s World Heritage Site and one of the Earth’s 36 biodiversity hotspots, and is recognized as one of the world’s eight ‘hottest hotspots’ of biological diversity.
• It includes national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and reserve forests etc.
• It is spread across six Indian states including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.
• Red soils are typically found on the western side of the Ghats where the slopes are steep and the rainfall is high.

Protection of the Western Ghats:

• The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) constituted two Committees:
• Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) headed by Prof. Madhav Gadgil.
• High Level Working Group (HLWG) headed by Dr. K. Kasturirangan, to review the recommendations of the WGEEP.

Alarming Increase in Soil Erosion:

The Impact and the Need for Conservation:

• The Western Ghats is home to hundreds of globally threatened flora, fauna, bird, amphibian, reptile, and fish species, and is impacted by urbanisation, agricultural expansion, livestock grazing, forest loss, habitat fragmentation, habitat degradation by invasive plant species, encroachment, conversion, and climate change.
• The loss of soil not only affects the fertility of the land but also leads to a decrease in the water-holding capacity of the soil, affecting the overall ecosystem.
• The increasing soil erosion is detrimental to the region’s globally important biodiversity.

Conclusion:

• The study highlights the importance of considering the long-term effects of land use change on soil erosion and the need for sustainable land management practices.
• The results can be used to sensitise government agencies on the need to protect the natural land cover, which will reduce soil erosion.

Gaming Sector

Why in news?

• The India Gaming Report 2024 has been released jointly by the Interactive Entertainment and Innovation Council and online gaming firm Winzo.

Major Findings:

• Annual Revenue: The annual revenue for gaming is projected to reach USD 6 billion by 2028.
• Mobile gaming contributes to 90 percent of the gaming market in India as compared to around 37 percent and about 62 percent in the US and China.
• Among the gaming community, nearly 50 percent fall within the age bracket of 18 to 30 years.
• Job Demand: The Indian gaming sector is presently witnessing a surge in demand for talent, with job openings ranging from 50,000 to 60,000 across various roles, including developers, programmers, testers, artists, and customer support.

India’s Gaming Sector:

• India is the world’s largest mobile gaming market in terms of App downloads.
• The sector is expected to grow by 20% by FY25 to reach INR 231 Bn.
• Indian gaming raised $2.8 Bn from domestic/global investors in the last 5 years.
• India has produced 3 gaming unicorns: Game 24X7, Dream11 and Mobile Premier League.
• It is widely estimated that AI and online gaming can add up to $300 billion to India’s GDP by 2026-27.

Government Initiatives:

• Digital Gaming Research Initiative: The government has started a digital gaming research initiative, and the SERB-INAE Conclave was organised recently to support the Indian digital gaming research space and industry.
• The Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) of the Department of Science and Technology has identified three main directions for its Digital Gaming Research Initiative – R&D in learning and leisure gaming platforms, immersive game prototypes with an emphasis on Indian culture and values, and a collaborative technical design process, which was made by SERB Game Labs.
• AVGC Promotion Task Force: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has established the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comic (AVGC) Promotion Task Force.
• The government recognizes that the Indian AVGC industry has the ability to carry the “Make in India” and “Brand India” banners.

Regulation of Industry:

• At present, there is no uniform federal law regulating the skill gaming industry in India.
• The Public Gambling Act, 1867 and Prize Competitions Act, 1955 currently govern India’s online gaming industry at the federal level while varying legislation in different Indian states supersede these Acts.
• This is because state governments in India are empowered by the constitution to legislate on gambling.
• Recently the government decision to appoint the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) as the nodal ministry for online gaming in India has finally provided legitimacy to the sector.
• The government will shortly draft regulations for intermediaries in the online gambling industry and initiate a public consultation process.

Way forward:

• In recent times, India has witnessed a genuine uptick in e-sports, console gaming, mobile gaming, and game development, this growth was significantly aided by the pandemic.
• Future growth in the Indian gaming industry will be brought about as a result of rapid digitalisation and change, rising internet usage, and increasing smartphone penetration.
• Gaming experiences will continue advancing and eventually help the Indian gaming industry achieve remarkable heights.