Current Affairs: Passage of the Day - 03 April 2025 | Current Affairs & General Knowledge - CLAT PDF Download

Directions: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.
Asserting its recognition of the adverse impact of climate change on women and children, the govt on Friday, in response to a question in Parliament, emphasised that it is now globally accepted that the “climate crisis and its impact are not gender-neutral.” The minister for women and child development, Annpurna Devi, however, also highlighted that so far, no audit regarding the impact of climate change on women and children has been conducted by her ministry or the ministry of environment, forests and climate change.
She was responding to a written question in Lok Sabha raised by B K Parthasarathi (TDP) in which among other things he sought to know if any audit has been conducted.
The minister said that according to Third National Communication (TNC), submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Dec 2023, women, especially those from lower economic backgrounds, face some of the most severe effects of climate change.
She further said that UNICEF has recognised that children face additional vulnerabilities due to certain factors. For instance, they are more prone to dehydration due to their lower ability to regulate body temperature, making them more vulnerable to heat waves and high temperatures. Also climate change may cause crop failures and rising prices, which in turn may lead to increased rates of malnutrition among children.
The minister shared the findings of a study done this year by MS Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF). It examines the implications of climate change on women and children across various agro-ecological zones in India and reveals that women and children in Bihar, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Telangana are especially vulnerable to climate-related disasters.
“Children exposed to climate hazards are more likely to experience stunting, underweight conditions, and increased susceptibility to early pregnancies. According to the study, exposure to drought events raises the likelihood of underweight women by 35%, child marriage by 37%, teenage pregnancy by 17% and intimate partner violence by up to 50%,” she said.
On the response to the challenges, the WCD minister said, “The govt recognises the adverse impact of climate change on women and children and has taken several steps to mitigate the vulnerabilities.”
Besides the fact that the govt implements the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), the minister highlighted the National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH) launched by the health ministry in 2019 to reduce morbidity, mortality, injuries and health vulnerabilities to climate variability and extreme weather events especially among vulnerable groups like women, children and marginalised communities.
[Excerpt from TOI "WCD Report on Climate Change Impact on Women and Children" Dated 03/04/25]

Q1: According to the report, which group is at a higher risk of death during disasters?
(a) Men
(b) Women and children
(c) Elderly men
(d) Government officials

View Answer  

Ans: (b)
Sol: The report highlights that women and children face a higher risk of death during disasters due to societal roles and vulnerabilities.

Q2: How many agro-ecological zones does India have?
(a) 10
(b) 15
(c) 20
(d) 25

View Answer  

Ans: (c)
Sol: India has 20 agro-ecological zones, each with different climate conditions and challenges.

Q3: Which state has five agro-ecosystems?
(a) Tamil Nadu
(b) Punjab
(c) Jharkhand
(d) Kerala

View Answer  

Ans: (c)
Sol: Jharkhand, along with Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh, has five agro-ecosystems.

Q4: Which region spreads across nine states?
(a) Western Coastal Plains
(b) North Eastern Hills
(c) Central Plateau
(d) Eastern Ghats

View Answer  

Ans: (b)
Sol: The North Eastern Hills (Agro-eco region 17) spans nine states.

Q5: What is the increase in heatwave frequency in India by 2022?
(a) 10 times
(b) 20 times
(c) 30 times
(d) 50 times

View Answer  

Ans: (c)
Sol: Heatwaves in India have increased 30 times by 2022, posing a serious health risk.