State PCS - Uttarakhand (UKPSC)

• 14 Mar 2026

MoEFCC Holds Workshop in Uttarakhand to Prevent Elephant–Train Collisions

Why in News? 

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) organized a national workshop titled “Policy Implementation for Minimizing Elephant Mortalities on Railway Tracks” at the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun to strengthen strategies for preventing elephant deaths in railway accidents. 

Key Points: 

• Workshop: The workshop was held in March 2026 at the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun to discuss policy implementation and mitigation measures. 
• Elephant Habitat & Challenges:  India hosts over 60% of the global Asian elephant population, but habitat fragmentation and expanding railways have increased elephant deaths in states like Assam, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand. 
  • The workshop identified 110 sensitive railway stretches across elephant habitats for mitigation, and 77 critical stretches covering 1,965.2 km were prioritized for implementation of safety measures.  
• Mitigation Structures: A total of 705 mitigation structures were recommended, including ramps and level crossings, bridge extensions, fences or trenching structures, exit ramps, underpasses, and overpasses — designed to facilitate safe passage for elephants across rail networks. 
• Technology Interventions: Innovative solutions such as Distributed Acoustic System (DAS)‑based Intrusion Detection Systems and AI‑based early warning systems are being tested to detect elephant movement near tracks and alert authorities to prevent collisions.  
• Strategy: The workshop stressed joint planning between railways, forest departments and scientific institutions, sharing best practices like early warning systems, GIS monitoring, and community‑based alert networks to improve safety and reduce wildlife mortality. 

Read More: AI, Early warning systems, GIS 

Digital Twin Technology at V.O. Chidambaranar Port

Why in News? 

The V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority has achieved a major technological milestone by becoming the first Indian major port to implement a Digital Twin platform for port management, marking a significant step in modernising port operations.  

Key Points: 

• Inauguration: The Digital Twin platform was inaugurated by Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. 
• Digital Twin Initiative: It is a real-time virtual replica of the port’s physical infrastructure and operations—aimed at improving operational efficiency and visibility. 
  • The system integrates advanced technologies such as IoT sensors, GPS tracking, LiDAR mapping, drone imaging, and CCTV networks to continuously mirror real-time conditions across the port. 
• Benefits: Real-time port monitoring, predictive maintenance, intelligent vessel scheduling, reduced congestion, and energy & emission tracking. 
  • The initiative aims to reduce vessel turnaround time by up to 25%, improve equipment reliability, enhance safety through predictive alerts, and optimize energy usage to lower carbon emissions. 
• National Vision Alignment: The project aligns with the Maritime India Vision 2030 and Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, reflecting the government’s focus on digitalisation, technology adoption, and global competitiveness of Indian ports. 

Read More: V.O. Chidambaranar Port, Maritime India Vision 2030, GPS