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.
The station is located in Larsmann Hills in East Antarctica. Polar regions are "amplifiers" of global climate change, said Ding Minghu, director of the Institute of Global Change and Polar Meteorology at the Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences. He said the station's observation data would have "unique geographical advantages and scientific value" which would aid the study of the impact of human activities on the environment. China in February opened its Ross Sea scientific research station in Antarctica. It also has five other research stations in Antarctica that were built between 1985 and 2014. (Reporting by Farah Master; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)
New Delhi: The drenching rain that Delhi has waited for stayed away another day, while humidity caused the "feel-like" temperature to soar to 46.8 degrees Celsius at 4pm.A few areas recorded very light rain on Sunday. Najafgarh got moderate showers of 19mm. Delhi's air quality remained 'satisfactory' for the eleventh straight day.A partially clouded sky brought the temperature down by a bit, but the sweaty stickiness that has sat on the city went nowhere. The Met office had issued a yellow alert for moderate rain on Sunday. However, no such weather activity was recorded across the city until l ...Read More >
Srinagar, Jul 3: Kashmir recorded its hottest June in nearly five decades as a prolonged dry spell and 50 percent rainfall deficit triggered an intense and sustained heatwave across the Valley, according to meteorological data. Srinagar registered an average maximum temperature of 33 degrees Celsius last month - at least three degrees above normal - making it the hottest June since 1978. The average minimum temperature also remained elevated at 18.2 degrees Celsius. "This June mimicked the extreme heat of 1978, although peak temperatures were slightly lower," said Mukhtar Ahmad, Director of ...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 >
Visakhapatnam: The Indian Navy is hosting the fifth edition of the Indo-Indonesian joint bilateral maritime exercise 'Samudra Shakti - 2025' in Visakhapatnam. The participating units include INS Kavaratti, an Anti-Submarine Warfare Corvette of Eastern Fleet under the aegis of Eastern Naval Command (ENC) and the Indonesian Navy Ship KRI John Lie, a Corvette (with an integral helicopter), which arrived at Visakhapatnam. Commenced on October 14, the exercise will continue till October 17. The harbour phase features a range of activities aimed at building camaraderie and professional rapport th ...Read More >
Shillong, Jul 12: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday emphasised the need to balance ecological preservation with developmental aspirations, particularly in states like Meghalaya. Speaking at an interactive session in Shillong, she acknowledged that the climate crisis has intensified to the extent that even the best meteorological tools struggle to predict weather patterns accurately. "Extreme weather events have become the norm. Flash floods and intense rains, which used to be spread across months, are now occurring in a single day, causing immense damage to people and pro ...Read More >
Noida: With the ban on firecrackers lifted for the first time in five years, Delhi-NCR experienced a sharp surge in pollution levels this Diwali, with both Noida and Ghaziabad recording 'very poor' air quality. This was also the worst Diwali AQI to be recorded in the two cities in the last three years, even though pollution levels didn't worsen after the festival.Experts said moderate winds of around 10 km per hour and warmer afternoons -- maximum temperature was recorded around 33 degrees Celsius -- aided dispersion, which is why air quality in Noida improved from 342 at 9am on Monday to 341 ...Read More >
Noida: As the city inches closer to winter months, stagnant winds continue to trap pollutants close to the surface, increasing the likelihood of air quality deterioration in the coming days. According to the India Meteorological Department, Gautam Budh Nagar and Ghaziabad districts are likely to witness clear skies, zero rainfall, and daytime temperatures between 32-33°C over the next week. Nighttime temperatures will gradually drop to 19-21°C, while morning humidity will remain high around 80%. "Winter chill will become noticeable by the last week of October, but the current calm and dry co ...Read More >
Delhi is bracing for a spell of heavy rain and thunderstorms on Monday, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicting a generally cloudy sky throughout the day. The maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to settle around 32 and 25 degrees Celsius, respectively. The forecast indicates that the wet conditions will continue through the week, with moderate showers until September 2, thunderstorms with rain on September 3, and rain or thundershowers on September 4 and 5. On Sunday ...Read More >
Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], July 2 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha participated in a special aarti at the Jammu Tawi riverfront. Sinha also visited the Amarnath Yatri Niwas base camp on Tuesday evening. After inspecting the Yatri Niwas base camp, Sinha stated that the security arrangements for the Yatra are more robust than ever before. 'I have witnessed the last four Yatras. The arrangements are better than ever, as far as the security and convenience of pilgrims are concerned... The manner in which pilgrims have come here from across the country - till now, ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: Odisha govt aims to create 10 lakh green livelihoods through engagement in eco-tourism activities by establishing 100 facilities to process medicinal plants. The move is an attempt to engage local communities in its mission to establish green Odisha by 2036. On the occasion of the 76th Van Mahotsav, chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi said on Monday. The govt also introduced new awards for environmentalists and conservationists as well as increased the award money.In his speech, the chief minister emphasised the goal of creating a beautiful and green Odisha by 2036 as part of the Vi ...Read More >
New Delhi: The city got light to moderate showers overnight on Sunday and Monday, and heavy rain in isolated areas. On Monday morning, parts of central and south Delhi recorded light to moderate rain until 8:30am. However, later in the day, the weather became sunny and humid, with very light rain and drizzling in parts of the city.Between Sunday night and Monday morning, Najafgarh recorded heavy rain, logging 95mm. Met officials said the monsoon trough is likely to persist close to the capital in the coming days, and light to moderate showers are forecast for both Tuesday and Wednesday. The IM ...Read More >
"Currently, Delhi is getting easterly winds. These winds are not only calm, but are also bringing moisture, which aids pollution accumulation," said Mahesh Palawat, vice-president of meteorology and climate change at Skymet Weather, a private weather forecasting service. The Central Pollution Control Board's 4pm bulletin said average AQI was 427 on Monday. At 431, Delhi's 24-hour average AQI exceeded the 400-mark - i.e. 'severe' category - for the first time this winter on Saturday. AQI deteriorated to 461 Sunday -- the worst reading this season. On CPCB's scale, air quality is categorised ...Read More >
The Supreme Court has asked the Central government for a response regarding the implementation of heatwave action plans. This follows a petition highlighting over 700 heatwave deaths last year. The court wants to know why national guidelines aren't being followed. The petition also requests better forecasting, early warning systems, and helplines.Taking note of a PIL highlighting more than 700 heatwave deaths last year, the Supreme Court has sought the Centre's response on a plea seeking directio ...Read More >
Mumbai: India's Southwest Monsoon 2025 has recently concluded with "above normal" rainfall -- or 108% of the long-period average (LPA) -- with the Mumbai Metropolitan Region registering 20% more than the season's average. In Mumbai, suburban Mumbai, which has Aarey and the national park in its backyard, received the second highest surplus rainfall after Palghar, and was followed by Raigad and Thane (see box).An analysis by Climate Trends shows five out of the past 10 seasons have registered above normal rainfall. Around 45% of the country's landmass experienced extreme rainfall this time, said ...Read More >
Excessive groundwater extraction is causing Earth's rotational pole to shift, with long-term climatic implications, according to a study in Geophysical Research Letters. Led by Seoul National University, the research found Earth's pole has shifted 80 cm eastward due to 2,150 gigatons of groundwater depletion. This extraction has raised sea levels by 0.24 inches and altered Earth’s mass distribution, affecting polar motion. Areas like western North America and northwestern India, with high groundwater usage, have significantly impacted this shift. Researchers warn that continued depletion could ...Read More >
New Delhi: India has formally concluded its four-month Southwest Monsoon season, finishing on September 30, with the country overall experiencing a surplus of 8 per cent in rainfall. On Tuesday, the India Meteorology Department (IMD) indicated that there is "very likely" to be continued prolonged wet conditions in themonths ahead, with it being expected that there will be above-normal rainfall in October. Above-Normal Rainfall in October is Expected "India is highly likely to experience rainfall in excess of 115 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA) of 75.4 mm for October," said IMD Dire ...Read More >