India and the Global Methane Challenge: Key Current Affairs for Exam Prep

India’s Methane Problem: Why It’s an Urgent Exam Topic
Methane is a greenhouse gas far more powerful than carbon dioxide in the short term—trapping 80 times more heat over a 20-year period. While methane plays a role in clean energy solutions like biogas and CNG, it’s also a significant driver of climate change. This paradox makes it a recurring theme in environment-related questions in UPSC, SSC, and PSC exams.
Major Sources of Methane:
Natural Causes (30%): Includes wetlands, termites, and forest fires.
Human Activities (70%):
Agriculture (40%): Emissions from livestock (enteric fermentation) and flooded rice paddies.
Fossil Fuels (35%): Methane leaks during coal mining and oil/gas extraction.
Waste (20%): Emissions from landfills and untreated sewage.
Exam Tip: Questions may focus on methane’s potency, emission sources, or mitigation technologies.

Global Response: Are We Doing Enough?
While international platforms have acknowledged methane’s climate impact, implementation remains patchy. Here’s a quick breakdown of key efforts:
Kyoto Protocol (1997): Listed methane as a target but had limited success.
Paris Agreement (2015): Focused on CO₂, with no methane-specific goals.
Global Methane Pledge (2021): Aims for a 30% global cut by 2030, but India and China haven’t joined.
MARS (COP27): Satellite tech to detect methane leaks from space.
ODGC (COP28): Commits fossil fuel companies to net-zero methane.
COP29 Declaration (2024): Targets methane from organic waste.
Exam Insight: Know the differences between binding and voluntary commitments in climate treaties.

Why India Opted Out of the Global Methane Pledge
India’s methane emissions largely come from agriculture—a sector dominated by small and marginal farmers. Joining global pledges would risk harming rural livelihoods and food security.
Key Reasons:
80% of agricultural methane comes from rice and livestock managed by poor farmers.
Rice is a staple and a major export; livestock sustains 150+ million Indians.
India argues its emissions are for survival, unlike the “luxury emissions” of the developed world.

India’s Homegrown Methane Mitigation Plans
Despite not joining the Global Methane Pledge, India is pursuing various strategies to control emissions domestically.
Agriculture:
System of Rice Intensification (SRI): Reduces water use and methane by up to 40%.
Direct Seeded Rice (DSR): Avoids flooding, cutting emissions by 60%.
Crop Diversification: Promotes climate-friendly crops like millets.
Livestock & Waste:
GOBAR-Dhan Scheme: Converts animal waste into biogas (6,800+ plants set up).
National Biogas Programme: Offers subsidies for small digesters.
Breed Improvement Programs: Enhance milk yield to reduce cattle numbers.

Energy:
SATAT Initiative: Boosts compressed biogas from organic waste.
Methane Capture in Coal Mines: Mandatory for new mining projects.

Sectoral Progress & Exam Relevance
Different sectors have varied success rates in methane mitigation:
Energy: Easier to control, with solid results from biogas plants and methane capture.
Waste: Moderately effective, but urban areas need better segregation.
Agriculture: Most challenging—requires incentives, awareness, and irrigation support.
Model Mains Question: “Evaluate India’s methane mitigation strategies with respect to its socio-economic priorities and global climate commitments.”

Smart Revision Points for Mock Tests:
Methane is 80x more potent than CO₂ over 20 years.
Agriculture contributes 40% of global methane emissions.
India has not joined the Global Methane Pledge due to farmer livelihood concerns.
GOBAR-Dhan and SATAT are key methane reduction schemes in India.
International initiatives lack legal enforcement; many are voluntary.

ere are 10 exam-relevant questions and answers on the topic of Methane Emissions and India’s Climate Policy, ideal for SSC, UPSC, PSC, and other competitive exams:

🔹 1. What is methane and why is it significant in climate change discussions?
Answer:
Methane (CH₄) is a potent greenhouse gas that traps 80 times more heat than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. Though it stays in the atmosphere for a shorter duration, it significantly contributes to global warming, accounting for about 30% of current temperature rise.

🔹 2. What are the main sources of methane emissions globally?
Answer:
Natural Sources (30%): Wetlands, termites, wildfires.
Anthropogenic Sources (70%):
Agriculture (40%) – Livestock digestion, flooded rice fields.
Fossil Fuels (35%) – Oil/gas leaks, coal mining.
Waste (20%) – Landfills and sewage.

🔹 3. Why did India not sign the Global Methane Pledge (GMP)?
Answer:
India opted out due to concerns over rural livelihoods and food security. Over 80% of its methane emissions come from small-scale rice and livestock farming. India argues these are “survival emissions” unlike the “luxury emissions” of industrialized countries.

🔹 4. Name two agricultural techniques India uses to reduce methane emissions from rice farming.
Answer:
System of Rice Intensification (SRI) – Cuts water usage and reduces methane by 40%.
Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) – Avoids field flooding, reducing emissions by up to 60%.

🔹 5. What is the GOBAR-Dhan scheme?
Answer:
GOBAR-Dhan (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan) is a government scheme that converts cattle dung and other organic waste into biogas. It aims to reduce methane from waste and promote clean rural energy.

🔹 6. What is the SATAT initiative in India?
Answer:
SATAT (Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation) promotes the production and use of compressed biogas (CBG) from agricultural and organic waste, contributing to methane reduction in the energy sector.

🔹 7. How does methane emission from livestock occur?
Answer:
Methane is released during enteric fermentation, a digestive process in ruminant animals like cows and buffaloes. It contributes to over 50% of methane emissions from India’s agricultural sector.

🔹 8. Mention two global initiatives to control methane other than the GMP.
Answer:
MARS (COP27): Uses satellite technology to detect methane leaks.
ODGC (COP28): Pushes fossil fuel companies toward net-zero methane emissions by 2030.

🔹 9. Why is methane mitigation considered a “quick win” for climate action?
Answer:
Because methane has a short atmospheric lifespan (about 12 years) but high heat-trapping capacity, cutting it quickly can yield near-term cooling benefits, potentially avoiding 0.3°C of warming by 2045.

🔹 10. What challenges does India face in reducing methane from agriculture?
Answer:
Low awareness and adoption of methane-reducing practices.
Dependence on flood irrigation in rice cultivation.
Financial constraints among small and marginal farmers.
Limited access to technology and support infrastructure.