Good Food is First Food. It is not junk food. It is the food that connects nature and nutrition with livelihoods. This food is good for our health; it comes from the rich biodiversity of our regions; it provides employment to people. Most importantly, cooking and eating give us pleasure. …
The agriculture sector receives substantial fiscal subsidies in various forms, including through programs that are linked to production and others that are decoupled. As the sector has reached the technology frontier in production over the last three decades or so, particularly in high- and middle-income countries, it is intriguing to …
India’s electric mobility sector is witnessing swift expansion, surpassing 1.5 million units in sales in 2023, primarily driven by the electric two-wheelers segment. Despite achieving cost competitiveness with internal combustion engine counterparts over their lifecycle, commercially used electric two- and three-wheelers continue to face challenges stemming from higher initial expenses …
The fifth edition of The State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI), initiated by Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), in association with Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE), to evaluate the annual progress of energy efficiency implementation in the states. The State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI) identifies and addresses gaps concerning …
India has 13,874 leopards, with the heart of the country — Madhya Pradesh — having the largest number of its third-biggest felid, a landmark report released by the Centre on February 29, 2024 showed. The pan-India population of the Indian leopard (Panthera pardus fusca) was estimated at 13,874 (Range: 12,616–15,132) …
A working group under the Niti Aayog said an 'open-ended' procurement of wheat and rice from farmers at MSP acts as a disincentive for crop diversification, and suggested that the Centre should purchase these commodities only to meet the requirement under the food law and other welfare schemes. The 23-member …
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) on February 29, 2024, issued the Draft Central Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Rules, 2024, to further amend the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. The following amendments have been stated: In rule 50, which states “Form and manner of display of registration marks on …
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has unveiled the draft design specifications for Solar Cold Storage (SCS), setting the stage for public feedback and stakeholder engagement. This move underscores the government’s commitment to leveraging renewable energy for agricultural preservation while ensuring inclusivity in policy formulation. This notification was …
With municipal waste set to rise by two thirds and its costs to almost double within a generation, only a drastic reduction in waste generation will secure a liveable and affordable future, according to this new report by the UNEP. In response to Resolution 2/7 from the second session (UNEP/EA.2/RES.7) …
The heatwave affecting India from March to May 2022 was exceptional for its record temperatures, its early onset, its unusually long duration and the large area that was affected. This report evaluated the media coverage of the heatwave from March to May 2022 in English, Hindi, Marathi and Telugu media …
The Central Government has amended the rules regarding late payment surcharges in the power sector. These amendments likely aim to address issues related to delayed payments by DISCOMs to power generators. The amendments now allow long-term power generators to sell power in the short-term market. This provision offers flexibility to …
The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change notified the Living Animal Species Rules 2024 stating, Every person who is in possession of any animal species (in schedule IV) shall report the details and make an application for registration electronically to the Management Authority or the authorised officer within a …
The world is getting warmer and natural hazards are becoming more intense, likely bringing higher economic losses in the future. Today, four major weather perils result in expected economic losses of USD 200 billion annually. With more severe weather coming, economic losses are set to rise. The study analysis finds …
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC;) on February 26, 2024, notified the methodology for calculating the green credit in respect of any activity undertaken under the Green Credit Rules, 2023. The following methodology, for calculation of green credit in respect of tree plantation are as stated: The …
Based on WRI India’s work in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala, the report drives the case for integrating equity into climate action planning, enabling Indian city officials, planners, consultants and community members to deepen their understanding of urban climate hazards, its causes and its impact on communities. The report introduces the …
India has made a policy choice to prioritize the institutionalization of the SDGs, not to look at sustainable development as a standalone or parallel framework but to make them an integral part of the national thinking about development. This Indian model of SDG localization is built around four foundational pillars: …
After a gap of 11 years, the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) under the Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation released data on national household consumption expenditure. The survey aims at generating estimates of household monthly per capita consumption expenditure (MPCE) and its distribution separately for the rural and …
The study undertakes a quantitative analysis of the value chain of plastics in India to estimate the social benefits that can be generated from adopting a circular framework. The study also conducted an alternate scenario analysis, where the degree of circularity in 2030 is varied to emphasise the need for …
The Government of India has approved amendments to the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020. Issuing the amendments, the Union Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy stated that these amendments further reduce the timeline for getting new electricity connections and that they simplify the process of setting up …
The global COVID-19 recovery presented an exceptional opportunity for countries to integrate climate adaptation and resilience into a significant, yet unforeseen, increase in public spending in line with the Paris Agreement. While there have been efforts to analyze the “green” or mitigation components of country recoveries, none have systematically considered …
Cross-border guarantees are an important but underused tool for mobilizing private climate finance. A recent OECD evaluation found that guarantees leveraged 26% of all mobilized private finance between 2018-2020 and were among the preferred risk mitigation tools of private investors. Studies suggest that larger and more effective credit guarantee facilities …