Archive

India’s Strategy for Rare Earth Self-Reliance and Manufacturing Expansion         1. Union Budget 2026–27 announced Dedicated Rare Earth Corridors in Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, integrating mining, processing, research and REPM manufacturing to expand domestic capacity national. 2. In November 2025, the government approved a ₹7,280 crore REPM Manufacturing Scheme […]

MISSION ZERO DUMPSITES: DRAP AND LEGACY WASTE REMEDIATION 1. DRAP launched in November 2025 to achieve Lakshya: Zero Dumpsites by October 2026, accelerating scientific remediation of long-standing municipal legacy waste across cities nationwide. 2. India has identified about 2,479 legacy dumpsites with 1,000+ tonnes waste, containing roughly 25 crore metric tonnes spread across nearly 15,000 […]

Mission Amrit Sarovar: Restoring Traditional Ponds, Recharging Groundwater Background and Vision   Amrit Sarovars plays an important role in increasing the availability of water, both on surface and under-ground. Development of Amrit Sarovars is also an important symbol of constructive actions, dedicated to the country on the occasion of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, that create […]

Ocean-to-Plate: Seaweed Farming and India’s Blue Economy Push   1. Seaweed is a nutrient rich marine plant containing vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and 54 trace elements, linked with reduced risks of diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, hypertension, and cancers. 2. Cultivation occurs in shallow coastal waters and needs no land, freshwater, fertilizers, or pesticides, positioning seaweed […]

1. International Day of Forests is observed on March 21 to celebrate all forest types, highlight benefits like oxygen, food, medicine, and livelihoods, and mobilize protection actions worldwide annually for awareness. 2. United Nations designated March 21 as International Day of Forests in 2012, and each year a theme is selected by the Collaborative Partnership […]

Ganga Rejuvenation: Projects, Standards, and Basin Strategy     1. Namami Gange began in June 2014 as an integrated mission for pollution abatement, conservation, and rejuvenation of National River Ganga. 2. The programme originally had ₹20,000 crore outlay up to March 2021, later extended to March 2026 with ₹22,500 crore. 3. For 2025–26, the National […]

Intensity-Based Carbon Market Framework     1. Carbon Market Buildout: India is developing a regulated carbon pricing ecosystem, combining a rate-based emissions trading system with voluntary crediting to support decarbonisation and climate-aligned growth. 2. Rate-Based ETS Concept: In a rate-based ETS, entities face benchmark emissions-intensity limits rather than absolute caps, allowing flexibility for growth while […]

India’s Groundwater Revival: Recharge Gains, Quality Challenges, and Key Management Initiatives   “We must adopt the mantra of ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recharge, and Recycle’ to secure the nation’s water future” ~Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi     1. Total annual groundwater recharge increased by 15 billion cubic meters in 2024, while annual extraction declined by 3 […]

Green Hydrogen Mission: Targets, Certification, Infrastructure, and Strategic Interventions           Key Takeaways     India targets 5 MMT of Green Hydrogen production annually by 2030. A port-based Green Hydrogen pilot has been commissioned at V.O. Chidambaranar Port, and Deendayal Port Authority, Kandla has commissioned a megawatt-scale, indigenous Green Hydrogen Facility Hydrogen […]

Project Cheetah: Reintroduction and Expansion in India   Snapshot   World’s first inter-continental translocation of a large carnivore successfully completed with 20 cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa (2022-23) coming to India. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi personally released the first eight cheetahs on 17 September 2022 As of December 2025, India has a total of 30 cheetahs – […]