Is India Winning the War Against Pollution? The fight for cleaner air and water intensifies as the nation grapples with the escalating impacts of climate change. From the devastating floods in Assam to the alarming rise in air pollution levels in Delhi, environmental challenges demand urgent action. This week saw crucial discussions on sustainable agriculture and renewable energy sources at the India Climate Change Conference, highlighting the government's commitment to tackling deforestation and promoting biodiversity conservation. But are these efforts enough? Experts warn of looming water scarcity and the need for stricter regulations on industrial emissions. The future of India's environment hangs in the balance, demanding collective responsibility and innovative solutions. Explore Abtak.com for in-depth analysis and the latest updates on environmental policies, climate activism, and the ongoing struggle for a sustainable India. Discover how you can contribute to a greener tomorrow.
It reveals crucial insights into how this saline apocalypse unfolded Millions of years ago, the Mediterranean Sea was transformed into a vast, desolate salt desert, its waters evaporating at an alarming rate and leaving behind a giant salt bed. This dramatic shift, known as the Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC), was a time when the Mediterranean was effectively cut off from the Atlantic Ocean, causing one of the most extreme environmental events in Earth's history. Now, new research is shedding light on this ancient catastrophe, revealing crucial insights into how this saline apocalypse unfolded -- and what it means for our understanding of climate change and oceanic connections. The Mediterranean Sea today is a critical part of the world's water cycle, but more freshwater evaporates from it than is replenished by rivers. If the connection between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic were to be severed, the sea level could drop by about 0.5 meters per year. However, during the Messinian Salinity Crisis, a far more extreme event took place. Nearly one million cubic kilometers of salt, mainly gypsum and halite, were deposited, creating a legacy that continues to puzzle scientists today. The big question remains: was this salt accumulation caused by a massive drop in sea level, or did the Mediterranean remain a brine-filled sea with little change in height? Scientists have long debated the scale of the sea level drop during the MSC, with estimates ranging from 200 meters to as much as 2 kilometers. Evidence from geological features such as deep canyons, widespread erosion, and layers of evaporite salts suggests a dramatic transformation, but the exact details of this change have remained elusive. Now, a team of researchers has turned to the chlorine isotopes in the Mediterranean's salt deposits to unlock the mystery. Chlorine, a major component of salt, has different isotopes that can reveal the speed at which salt was deposited. The researchers found that during periods of extreme evaporation, the salt absorbed more of the heavier chlorine isotope, 37Cl. This discovery provides a new way to measure how quickly the salt formed and whether it was part of a rapid, dramatic sea-level drop or a slower, brine-filled process. This breakthrough offers new insight into the ancient forces that shaped the Mediterranean, helping scientists piece together the puzzle of one of Earth's most catastrophic climate events. Understanding this ancient shift could hold valuable lessons for today's rapidly changing climate and ocean systems.
NEW DELHI: India's Shubhanshu Shukla and three other astronauts entered the International Space Station (ISS) to warm hugs and handshakes on Thursday as the Dragon spacecraft docked to the orbital laboratory after a 28-hour journey around Earth. The new spacecraft -- fifth in the Dragon series, named Grace -- achieved a soft capture with the Harmony module of the space station at 4:01 pm IST over the North Atlantic Ocean and it took another two hours to establish communication, power links and pressure stabilisation. This is the first time an Indian astronaut has travelled to the ISS. "The ...Read More >
Speaking at IIT Bombay's Techfest 2024, Mr Adani, the 27-year old younger son of infrastructure magnate Gautam Adani, said the future of technology is both scary and exciting. India cannot stay out of global technological race, said Jeet Adani. Mumbai: India cannot stay out of global technological race and should build capabilities that will keep it at the top while remaining vigilant against its misuse, said Jeet Adani, Director, Adani Airport Holdings Ltd. Speaking at IIT Bombay's Techfest ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 5 (PTI) Rising temperatures, driven by climate change, is increasing the atmosphere's 'thirst', making droughts around the world 40 per cent more severe over the past 40 years, according to a new study. Researchers, including those at the University of California-Santa Barbara, US, explained that the atmosphere is becoming warmer, thereby increasing its capacity to hold moisture -- atmospheric evaporative demand -- and making droughts more severe, even in places where rainfall has stayed the same. Also Read | Who Is Pinaki Misra? From Age to Family Background and Net Worth, He ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar has written a strongly worded letter to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, criticising General Education Minister V Sivankutty for walking out of a function held at Raj Bhavan on June 19. The Governor described the incident as a breach of protocol and an insult to the constitutional office. The letter, dated June 26, refers to an awards ceremony for the Bharat Scouts and Guides, where Sivankutty -- who also serves as President of the Association's Kerala chapter -- objected to the presence of a garlanded portrait of Bharat Mata on the stage, ...Read More >
Bengaluru Power Cuts: Citizens of Bengaluru brace yourself for long hours of power outages from June 29 and June 30. More than 100 areas will be impacted as BESCOM undertakes its quarterly maintenance work in various of its division. Bengaluru Power Outages June 29: According to the update by BESCOM on its X handler, there will be power outages in Kittaganahalli, Palasandra, Saptagiri, Maruthinagar, Sankapur, Raghavendra Nagar, Goolarivee, Baddihalli, Kesaramadu, C.M Badawan, Kalalli and SKS village on June 29 from 10 am to 5 pm. BESCOM's executive engineer has appealed to consumers to coop ...Read More >
New Delhi: The problem of air pollution continues to plague Delhi, and the authorities may reportedly once again resort to artificial rain to curb that issue. According to a report by the NDTV, IIT Kanpur has asked the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for permission to conduct cloud seeding trials between April and June to bring about the artificial rain over the national capital. This is going to be another fresh attempt to test if the chances of bringing on artificial rain can be increased by pre-monsoon conditions. Last year, the Delhi government and IIT Kanpur rolled out the c ...Read More >
New Delhi, July 8: Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Rio 2025 BRICS Summit highlighted India's approach towards key issues like climate change and health security as the country is set to chair BRICS next year, emphasising that under India's presidency, it will endeavour to present BRICS in a new form with a 'humanity-first' approach. After wrapping up a "very productive" visit to Rio de Janeiro where PM Modi attended the 17th BRICS Summit, the Prime Minister on Monday arrived in the Brazilian capital of Brasilia where he is expected to hold talks on India-Brazil relations with President Lu ...Read More >
New Delhi: According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), a specialized agency of the United Nations, sand and dust storms affect about 330 million people in more than 150 countries, and these are having a serious impact on health, economy and environment. WMO representative Laura Patterson told the United Nations General Assembly that about 2 billion tons of dust is released every year, which is equivalent to 300 Giza pyramids of Egypt. She said that more than 80% of the world's dust comes from the deserts of North Africa and the Middle East. It spreads hundreds and thousands of k ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], August 3 (ANI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday called on President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here. In a social media post on X, Rashtrapati Bhavan wrote, "Union Minister for Home Affairs and Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan." Also Read | Tejashwi Yadav Asked To Produce His '2nd' Voter ID Card a Day After RJD Leader Claimed His Name 'Missing in Bihar Draft Electoral Roll'. https://x.com/rashtrapatibhvn/status/1951993358873723199 Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on President Droup ...Read More >
Srinagar, Sept 25: As a part of nationwide Shramdaan "Ek Din Ek Gantha Ek Saath" with a pledge call to citizens for joining hands for the Nations cleanliness under Swachhata Hi Seva 2025 campaign, Krishi Vigyan Kendra -Srinagar, SKUAST-K organised the mega Swachhata Service drive (National Shramdaan) today on 25 Sept 2025 in collaboration with the higher Secondary education Institutions in vicinity of the Kendra at Aspire World School (AWS), Humhama Srinagar. According to a statement issued here, speaking on the occasion of today's event on National Shramdaan, Head KVK Srinagar Prof Shamim A ...Read More >
Haridwar: Acharya Balkrishna, who has been continuously working to give Ayurveda global recognition and to preserve India's knowledge tradition, has been honoured with another international award. He was conferred with the 'Vishwa Ayurveda Ratna' under the Earth Award and High Impact Sustainability Dialogue 2026, organised by the Net Green Foundation. The prestigious ceremony was held at UNESCO House in New Delhi, where several eminent personalities from India and abroad were present. Although Acharya Balkrishna could not attend the event in person, he dedicated the award to the great traditi ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 8 (ANI): Union Minister of Earth Sciences Dr Jitendra Singh, addressing the Monaco Marine Conference on Sunday, reiterated India's commitment to a resilient Blue Economy and pointed out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had spoken about it twice in his two consecutive Independence Day addresses. In a symbolic show of global cooperation for ocean sustainability commemorating the 'World Ocean Day' today, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh and Norway's Minister of International Development, Asmund Grover Aukrust, jointly hosted a high-level event on Marine Spatial Planning ...Read More >
Patna, Aug 1 (PTI) Healthcare services were affected at AIIMS-Patna on Friday as resident doctors went on an "indefinite strike" in protest against the alleged high-handedness of Sheohar MLA Chetan Anand. According to a press statement issued by the Resident Doctors' Association (RDA), AIIMS-Patna, on Friday, "The RDA expresses deep disappointment and anguish over the lack of action by the administration following the violent and traumatic incident that occurred on Wednesday, when MLA Chetan Anand, his wife and their armed guards breached hospital security, physically assaulted staff, and thr ...Read More >
KAKINADA: Andhra Pradesh has unveiled plans to undertake seaweed culture in 14 villages across 9 coastal districts, including Tirupati, with the collaboration of the Amrita University, the central salt and marine chemicals research institute and national institute of ocean technology. The project is to be taken up by society for elimination of rural poverty, with a view to establishing seaweed cultivation as a transformative and sustainable alternative livelihood for coastal communities. This would help around 6,000 families earn around '1.5 lakh per annum. The initiative would be entrusted t ...Read More >
Uber has launched India's first Shikara ride on Srinagar's Dal Lake, offering a unique and scenic experience. This new service allows passengers to enjoy the tranquil beauty of the lake while riding in a traditional Shikara boat. Booking is easy through the Uber app, with rides available daily from 10 AM to 6 PM. This initiative aims to boost tourism in the region while providing locals with a new way to experience the lake. With Uber's entry into the Shikara market, visitors can now enjoy a blend of modern convenience and traditional charm on Dal Lake. ...Read More >
New Delhi, July 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Rio 2025 BRICS Summit highlighted India's approach towards key issues like climate change and health security as the country is set to chair BRICS next year, emphasising that under India's presidency, it will endeavour to present BRICS in a new form with a 'humanity-first' approach. After wrapping up a "very productive" visit to Rio de Janeiro where PM Modi attended the 17th BRICS Summit, the Prime Minister on Monday arrived in the Brazilian capital of Brasilia where he is expected to hold talks on India-Brazil relations w ...Read More >
A new study from IIT Roorkee has just flipped the long-standing belief about what keeps the Ganga flowing during the harsh Indian summer. New fingings show that it is in fact not glacier melt but groundwater that keeps the mighty river alive, at least until Patna. Researchers from IIT Roorkee tracked the river right from its Himalayan beginnings to its delta end, using advanced isotopic analysis. Published in Hydrological Processes, the study is the first of its kind to cover such a full-scale s ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday announced the provisional attachment of assets worth approximately ₹131.45 crore in Spain, including a luxury yacht and immovable properties, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). These assets belong to Pavel Prozorov, a Spanish national and the alleged mastermind behind the unauthorised forex trading platform OctaFX. The attached assets comprise a commercial Italian-model luxury yacht cruising in the Western Mediterranean, a minijet boat, a luxury car, and two residential properties in Spain. The ED's probe was launched ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 9 (PTI) A new study has projected that for every fractional increase in global warming, the duration of heatwaves could extend by a greater amount than previously observed. This suggests that as the planet continues to warm, heatwaves will last longer at an accelerating rate. The longest heatwaves will see the greatest acceleration in extending in duration, and the frequency of the most extreme heat waves will increase the most, the study found. Climate change has been consistently linked to hotter, longer, more intense and frequent heatwaves. However, the study, published in ...Read More >
From Lucknow To Stars: 5 Lesser-Known Facts About Shubhanshu Shukla - 1st Indian On International Space Station CBSE Supplementary Exam Schedule 2025: The Central Board of Education (CBSE) has officially released the timetable of the Class 10th and Class 12th Supplementary Exams. Students who could not clear the class 10th or 12th exams (not more than two) or want to improve their scores can check their exam schedule through the official website, i.e. cbse.gov.in. The exams will start from 15th July, 2025 so students are advised to prepare accordingly. The exam will start at 10:30 AM and wil ...Read More >
Delhi is gearing up for its first artificial rain initiative between July 4 and 11, aiming to combat air pollution. The Environment Department, under Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, is pioneering this effort, with IIT Kanpur providing the cloud-seeding technology. Despite past criticisms, the government emphasizes its commitment to clean air, finalizing plans for the trial after securing necessary approvals.In a first for the national capital, Delhi is set to witness artificial rain aimed at reducing ...Read More >
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has said that the day is not far when the entire Himachal Pradesh may vanish in thin air from the map of the country as it flagged the ecological imbalance in the state. The top court also remarked, "God forbid this doesn't happen". A bench comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan said, "The situation in the state of Himachal Pradesh has gone from bad to worse. The severe ecological imbalance and other environmental conditions have led to serious natural calamities over a period of years". "This year also hundreds of people perished in the floods and lan ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 5 (PTI) Rising temperatures, driven by climate change, is increasing the atmosphere's 'thirst', making droughts around the world 40 per cent more severe over the past 40 years, according to a new study. Researchers, including those at the University of California-Santa Barbara, US, explained that the atmosphere is becoming warmer, thereby increasing its capacity to hold moisture -- atmospheric evaporative demand -- and making droughts more severe, even in places where rainfall has stayed the same. "Drought is based on the difference between water supply (from precipitation) an ...Read More >
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], April 28 (/NewsVoir): Aman Group, the world's preeminent lifestyle and hospitality brand, announces two forthcoming destinations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in partnership with Diriyah Company - Aman Wadi Safar and Janu Diriyah. Aman Wadi Safar, located in the exceptional desert landscape near the city of Riyadh, will be home to a 78-key Aman hotel, a collection of up to 34 Aman Branded Residences, and expansive amenities including a vast Aman Spa and an array of dining experiences. Following the successful opening of Aman New York, Denniston Architects has b ...Read More >
Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], June 28: Following its historic feat of planting over 500,000 trees in just 1 hour under the banner of "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam," Save Earth Mission has captured the world's attention and inspired a global climate awakening. The Guinness World Record-breaking campaign, which saw massive participation across India, was celebrated internationally and featured on prestigious media platforms including Forbes, Fox, Business Insider, and leading national and international TV networks. Also Read | Google Play Store Top Free Apps List: Kuku TV, ChatGPT, Seekho, Meesho and Inst ...Read More >
SRINAGAR: Flash floods triggered by intense monsoon rains have killed at least 34 people in a remote Himalayan village in Indian-administered Kashmir. District Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Sharma confirmed the toll, stating 35 injured individuals were rescued from the disaster-hit Kishtwar district. Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah described the situation as grim, attributing the devastation to a sudden cloudburst. Local resident Sushil Kumar reported seeing at least 15 bodies brought to a nearby hospital as rescue efforts continued. Rescuers face significant challenges reaching the area ...Read More >
Jaisalmer: A rare fossil believed to date back to the Jurassic period has been discovered in Megha village of Fatehgarh Panchayat Samiti in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer district. The find, an extremely well-preserved vertebrate skeleton, was examined by Professor Virendra Singh Parihar, Head of the Geology Department at Jai Narayan Vyas University, Jodhpur, along with geologist Dr Narayan Das Inkhaia. According to Parihar, the fossil belongs to a species called 'Phytosaur', a reptilian creature that lived during the Jurassic era. Comparable in size to a crocodile, it is estimated to have been around ...Read More >
Surat (Gujarat) [India], August 21: KP Group, a leading name in India's renewable energy sector, is stepping up its expansion with a clear goal of reaching 10 GW capacity by 2030. With projects already underway in Gujarat, the Group is working on projects in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, supported by a strong order book and government partnerships. KP Group has signed memoranda of understanding with Gujarat, Odisha, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh for over 2.6 GW of renewable projects, while exploring new opportunities in other states. The Group has already e ...Read More >
New Delhi, Aug 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Ministry of Earth Sciences on Wednesday announced the successful 5,000-metre deep dive of Indian aquanauts aboard the French submersible Nautile in the Atlantic Ocean. The achievement marks a major step towards India's ambitious MATSYA 6000 project -- the nation's first indigenously developed deep-sea human submersible under the Samudrayan Project, said Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences, Dr Jitendra Singh. The 'MATSYA 6000' is designed to reach depths of up to 6,000 metres for deep-ocean exploration, resource assessment, an ...Read More >
major new scientific report was launched on Sunday, a day ahead of the opening of the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP16), charted an urgent course correction for how the world grows food and uses land in order to avoid irretrievably compromising earth's capacity to support human and environmental well-being. Produced under the leadership of Professor Johan Rockström at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) in collaboration UNCCD, the report, titled Stepping back from the precipice: Transforming land mana ...Read More >