The article details India's significant progress in wind energy, reaching an installed capacity of 57,443 MW by June 30, 2026, and ranking 4th globally in wind energy installation as of December 31, 2025. It highlights various government initiatives aimed at promoting renewable energy, including wind power, such as the Green Energy Corridor Scheme, waiver of Inter State Transmission System (ISTS) charges, 100% FDI under the automatic route, Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) and Renewable Consumption Obligation (RCO) trajectories, Viability Gap Funding (VGF) for offshore wind projects, and several new Electricity Rules and policies like the National Repowering and Life Extension Policy for Wind Power Projects, 2023, and the Offshore Wind Energy Lease Rules, 2023. The article also provides state-wise installed capacity and power generation data, with Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka leading.
The article details the extensive environmental conservation efforts undertaken by the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) across India. Over the last five years (2020-2025), CAPFs have planted more than 6.68 crore saplings, developed 3212 nurseries, and dedicated 1995 gardens/vatikas in the name of martyrs. The report provides state-wise tree plantation data and force-wise details of nurseries and vatikas, highlighting the significant contribution of forces like BSF, CRPF, Assam Rifles, and others in greening initiatives. This information was provided by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs in a Rajya Sabha reply.
The article discusses the government's response to earthquake risk in the Kangra–Chamba–Dharamshala region of Himachal Pradesh, which lies in Seismic Zone V. It highlights continuous monitoring by the National Center for Seismology (NCS) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) through the National Seismological Network. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) promotes preparedness through drills, training, and disaster management plans. The government also issues advisories for earthquake-resistant construction via the National Building Code (NBC) and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) codes, with implementation being the responsibility of State Governments and Urban Local Bodies. Financial and technical assistance is provided to states for disaster resilience.
The article details Mission Mausam, launched by the Prime Minister on January 14, 2025 (as stated in the article), with the aim of making India a 'Weather-ready and Climate-smart' nation. The mission focuses on strengthening Earth System observations, enhancing weather and climate forecasting, and providing seamless early warning services. It highlights the role of IMD and MoES in modernizing meteorological services, implementing Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems, and collaborating with state governments (e.g., Uttar Pradesh) for localized relevance and last-mile connectivity. The article also lists the network of IMD's Regional Meteorological Centres (RMCs) and Meteorological Centres (MCs) across the country, along with the technologies used like Automated Weather Stations (AWS), Automatic Rain Gauges (ARG), and Doppler Weather Radars.
The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Nalanda University (NU) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on science-led sustainable development, technology deployment, rural transformation, skill enhancement, and scientific outreach. The partnership aims to leverage CSIR's indigenous technologies and Nalanda University's international academic ecosystem to create community-centric development models. Key focus areas include model village development, solid waste management, water quality improvement, and environmental sustainability, with an emphasis on scientific social responsibility and interdisciplinary approaches for societal benefit.
The article explains the scientific methods used to identify fossil fuels as the remains of ancient life, debunking the common misconception that they primarily originate from dinosaurs. It details how physical evidence (plant imprints in coal), chemical markers (hopanoids, steranes in crude oil), and isotopic analysis (carbon-12 enrichment due to photosynthesis) confirm their organic origin. The article clarifies that oil and natural gas are mainly derived from ancient plankton and algae, while coal comes from ancient forests and swamps. The association of dinosaurs with fossil fuels is attributed to a 1930s marketing campaign by Sinclair Oil Corporation.
A recent debris slide in Wayanad, Kerala, near an under-construction tunnel, resulted in six deaths, highlighting the region's ecological fragility and susceptibility to climate-induced disasters. The incident, occurring in the vicinity of areas previously devastated by landslides, has led to the suspension of construction work and a probe into compliance with environmental clearance conditions set by the MoEFCC's Expert Appraisal Committee. Environmentalists had opposed the project, but the Supreme Court had earlier upheld its 'national importance'. The article points to a mix of heavy rainfall, fragile ecology, and alleged failures in debris management and disaster preparedness as contributing factors, urging a review of the project's social and environmental costs.
The Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus), once common across Southern India, has become locally extinct in The Nilgiris and no longer breeds in Tamil Nadu, with fewer than 150 resident individuals estimated across Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Globally listed as Endangered by IUCN, its decline is attributed to veterinary NSAIDs like diclofenac, electrocution, poisoning, habitat disturbance, and changes in traditional livestock rearing. While Karnataka holds the most significant remaining breeding populations, Tamil Nadu serves as a wintering habitat for migratory birds. Conservationists are urging for coordinated efforts, including the establishment of an Egyptian Vulture Conservation Breeding Programme in Tamil Nadu, building on successful models by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) for other vulture species.
The article discusses the severe urban flooding in Mumbai due to intense southwest monsoon rains, exacerbated by factors like the city's geography (reclaimed land, low-lying areas), haphazard urbanisation, and the coincidence of heavy rainfall with high tides. It highlights the increasing erraticity of monsoon patterns due to climate change, which undermines existing infrastructure assumptions. Despite projects like BRIMSTOWAD and pre-monsoon desilting efforts, governance lapses and incomplete works contribute to the city's vulnerability. The article also points out the fragmented accountability across multiple agencies and the cascading failures in infrastructure, emphasizing the need for proactive adaptation strategies rather than merely reacting to disasters.
India's Asiatic lion conservation is a success in population growth, but faces a critical challenge due to the species being confined to a single location, Gir Forest in Gujarat. Despite scientific consensus, a 2013 Supreme Court directive for translocation to Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, and risks like the 2018 Canine Distemper Virus outbreak, the establishment of a second, geographically separate population has been stalled for over a decade due to State-level resistance. This single-site concentration makes the lions highly vulnerable to extinction from a single catastrophic event, highlighting a tension between national conservation priorities and State interests.
The article discusses the challenges and implementation of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, in Tamil Nadu, particularly focusing on Chennai. It highlights the critical need for 100% source segregation to improve waste processing, recycling, and reduce the burden on Urban Local Bodies (ULBs). Key issues include public resistance to waste-to-energy plants due to pollution concerns, health risks faced by ragpickers, and the need for robust infrastructure and manpower. The new rules introduce concepts like environmental compensation based on the 'polluter pays' principle and emphasize digital tracking and stakeholder responsibilities. Various cities in Tamil Nadu are grappling with compliance, infrastructure gaps, and the need for behavioral modification campaigns.
India is grappling with severe water stress, evidenced by monsoon deficits, stressed river basins, and aquifer depletion, despite existing initiatives like the Jal Jeevan Mission. The article highlights challenges such as poor infrastructure upkeep, inadequate wastewater treatment, and high pollution. To achieve water security, it proposes four key actions: climate-proofing water systems through risk assessments, promoting water reuse for non-potable purposes, scaling up micro-irrigation with policy reforms for small farmers and crop diversification, and improving water data collection at the river basin level for better decision-making.
