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.
NEW DELHI - On the morning of July 10, 2025, a magnitude 4.5 earthquake struck the National Capital Region, sending tremors through Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad, and nearby parts of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. The quake's epicentre was in Jhajjar, Haryana, about 60 kilometres from central New Delhi. The National Centre for Seismology reported the quake began at 9:04 AM IST at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres, which made the shaking feel stronger in affected areas. NDTV reported that People across the city were alarmed, with many leaving tall buildings and offices as the ground moved beneath them. Residents described brief but intense shaking that rattled household items and shook computers in offices. Amit Sharma in Noida said, "I was just having tea when everything started to shake. At first, I thought it was a truck outside. Then it got much worse, and we all ran outside. It was frightening." Another local, Sparsh Sinha, shared a video online showing objects swaying in his home, reflecting the confusion and concern many felt during the event. By Thursday evening, New Delhi Police and the National Disaster Response Force confirmed there had been no injuries or major structural damage. Police released a statement on social media, assuring the public that everything was under control and urging everyone to stay safe. The NDRF also posted simple advice, reminding people to protect themselves by dropping to the ground, taking cover, and holding on during tremors, and to move to open spaces if possible. Experts explained that earthquakes at shallow depths, like this one, often produce stronger shaking even if their magnitude is not very high. Dr O.P. Mishra from the National Centre for Seismology said, "When a quake is only 10 kilometres deep, the shaking travels a shorter distance and feels much stronger." Delhi sits in Seismic Zone IV, which means the risk of moderate to strong earthquakes is always present. The area's closeness to the Himalayan region, where two major tectonic plates meet, makes such events more common. This earthquake comes just months after a similar 4.0-magnitude quake hit the area in February 2025, with the epicentre close to Dhaula Kuan. That event didn't cause harm, but did worried many people. Priya Malhotra from Gurugram, who lived through both quakes, said, "It feels like these are happening more often. I keep thinking, what if a bigger one hits next time?" New Delhi has a long history of earthquakes. Since 1720, the city has experienced at least five quakes above magnitude 5.5, including a significant one near Bahadurgarh in 1960 that measured 6.0. While recent events have been less severe, they are happening more often. In 2020, three quakes above magnitude 3.0 were recorded in Delhi-NCR, including one near Rohtak, which was followed by several aftershocks. In 1999, the Chamoli earthquake shook New Delhi from 280 kilometres away, causing some minor damage and reminding locals of the city's vulnerability to Himalayan quakes. Delhi's risk doesn't come only from geography. The National Disaster Management Authority highlights that the city's dense population, unplanned construction, and many buildings not designed to withstand earthquakes make it more exposed to harm. The 1997 Vulnerability Atlas of India showed that about 6.5% of New Delhi's homes face high risk, while 85.5% could be moderately damaged in a strong quake. Many buildings still do not meet modern safety codes, especially those built before regulations were introduced in 1962. Some scientists also believe that activities like drawing groundwater may add to earthquake risk. A 2020 study suggested that changes in Delhi's groundwater levels might trigger small tremors, a trend seen in other parts of the world as well. Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on social media after the quake, calling for calm and urging everyone to follow basic safety steps and stay prepared for possible aftershocks. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely. Experts such as A.K. Shukla, former head of the National Centre for Seismology, warned that a large quake from the Himalayan fault lines could lead to serious damage in New Delhi, particularly along faults like Sohna, Mathura, and Delhi-Moradabad. Thursday's earthquake is a clear sign that New Delhi remains at risk from seismic events. Residents are encouraged to prepare by keeping emergency kits ready, securing heavy furniture, and knowing evacuation paths. Staying informed and ready can help reduce risks from future quakes.
Kareena Kapoor Khan brought a deeply personal and touching element to her meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi by requesting him to write a heartfelt message for her two sons, Taimur Ali Khan and Jeh Ali Khan, who were unable to attend the event. A memorable highlight from the gathering showcased Kareena watching intently, her expression radiating pride and warmth, as the Prime Minister inscribed a note dedicated to her children, affectionately called "Tim and Jeh."Kareena Kapoor Khan added ...Read More >
PRAYAGRAJ, India (AP) -- Millions of Hindu devotees, mystics and holy men and women from all across India flocked to the northern city of Prayagraj on Monday to kickstart the Maha Kumbh festival, which is being touted as the world's largest religious gathering. Over about the next six weeks, Hindu pilgrims will gather at the confluence of three sacred rivers -- the Ganges, the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati -- where they will take part in elaborate rituals, hoping to begin a journey to achieve Hindu philosophy's ultimate goal: the release from the cycle of rebirth. Here's what to know abo ...Read More >
New Delhi: Nepal's Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's decision to visit China before India after assuming office in 2024 had reignited speculations about the trajectory of India-Nepal bilateral ties. While some analysts see this as a shift in Kathmandu's diplomatic priorities, New Delhi has downplayed concerns, maintaining that relations between the two South Asian neighbours remain strong. "I can tell you that the relations between the two countries remain good and strong and we want to further strengthen these," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during his regular medi ...Read More >
Mumbai: The birth of three penguin chicks at Mumbai's Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan and Zoo has sparked an unexpected row not over their care, but their names. BJP functionary Nitin Bankar from the Byculla Assembly constituency has objected to the chicks being given English names, insisting they be named in Marathi instead. The BMC is expected to respond by June 10, after which Bankar will decide his next move. Speaking to The Free Press Journal, Bankar said, "When penguins were brought from abroad, we accepted that their names would be in English. But these chicks were born on the soil of M ...Read More >
Ed Sheeran, Shah Rukh Khan, and Arijit Singh unite for a song?: Fans worldwide have been enthralled by British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran's recent trip to India, particularly because of his encounters with Bollywood's Shah Rukh Khan and Arijit Singh. Sheeran posted some sweet moments of friendship on Instagram, including Shah Rukh Khan jokingly repeating the hook of Sheeran's upcoming song "Sapphire," and a calm coffee conversation with Arijit Singh on a barge. Sheeran immersed himself in Indi ...Read More >
Hyderabad, December 4: After an earthquake of 5.3 magnitude hit the Mulugu district of Telangana on Wednesday morning, Dr Prakash Kumar, Director of CSIR-NGRI said that the state capital is generally considered as a stable and low-risk area for seismic activity, making an earthquake of this magnitude rare for the region. The official said that since Hyderabad is not in a major seismic zone, such an event may not pose immediate cause for alarm, but it is still valuable to monitor the scientific background behind it. Earthquake in Telangana: Quake of Magnitude 5.3 on Richter Scale Hits Mulugu, ...Read More >
Chennai: In a bid to strengthen the organizational infrastructure of the Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) and to develop a robust campaign machinery, the party's founder president Vijay announced the names of 17 new key office-bearers for various wings with Adhav Arjuna, former deputy general secretary of the VCK, becoming the general secretary for campaign management on Friday. Apart from Adhav Arjuna, another known political leader who had been co-opted by Vijay is C T R Nirmal Kumar, a former BJP leader who switched over the AIADMK and has now landed in the TVK as deputy general secretary for ...Read More >
Hyderabad: In a significant boost for 'Make in India' and 'Atmanirbharta' in the aerospace and defence sector, and Hyderabad's growing stature as a global aerospace hub, the complete fuselage of the Rafale fighter jet will now be made in India at Hyderabad. This move marks the first time that these Rafale components will be manufactured outside France for the Indian as well as global markets.French aerospace major Dassault Aviation has signed four production transfer agreements with Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) for manufacturing key sections of the Rafale fighter jet, including the lateral ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], January 10 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that people misunderstand the meaning of, "minimum government, maximum governance". He said that the efforts must be to increase the speed of work done by government departments and thus, he had made different ministries for skill, cooperatives, and fisheries. Speaking in a podcast with Zerodha Co-founder Nikhil Kamath, PM Modi said that the government took away 40,000 compliances to increase the speed of work in different departments. "We often misunderstand the concept of minimum government, maximum governance. Some bel ...Read More >
Mumbai, June 5: On the occasion of World Environment Day, actress and newly-elected BJP MP Kangana Ranaut participated in a special tree plantation initiative under the campaign 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam.' Taking to social media, Kangana revealed that she planted a sapling at her Delhi residence to mark the day, dedicating the gesture to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In her post, the actress expressed heartfelt gratitude to environmental warriors who tirelessly work to protect and restore the Earth's natural resources. She acknowledged those who have devoted their lives to saving rivers, cleaning t ...Read More >
SRINAGAR: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday raided and subsequently searched 32 locations across Kashmir Valley as part of its "continuing investigations against terror conspiracy by Pakistan backed proscribed terrorist organisations and their offshoots to destabilise Jammu and Kashmir". The locations, it claimed, were residential premises of hybrid terrorists and overground workers associated with The Resistance Front (TRF), United Liberation Front Jammu & Kashmir (ULFJ&K), Mujahideen Gazwat-ul-Hind (MGH), Jammu & Kashmir Freedom Fighters (JKFF), Kashmir Tigers, PAAF and ot ...Read More >
Haridwar: A woman politician has been arrested for allegedly letting her boyfriend and others repeatedly rape her 13-year-old daughter in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. The horrifying crime, which occurred between January and March, was exposed when the minor bravely confided in her father, prompting a police investigation that led to the arrest of the accused. The accused was arrested with her boyfriend and one more. According to police reports, the minor was gang-raped multiple times, often in the presence of her mother. The minor, who had been living with her father following her parents' separat ...Read More >
Chennai: Former union finance minister P Chidambaram said on Thursday that the Union govt had delayed the census deliberately to undertake the delimitation exercise."A delayed Census after 2026 will trigger the provision that delimitation shall be done immediately afterwards. That is why the announcement to conduct a Census in 2027. Since the Census will be conducted in 2027, delimitation will follow," Chidambaram said in a social media post. Claiming that Tamil Nadu and several states will stand to lose seats in the Lok Sabha, Chidambaram said Prime Minister Modi is moving "step-by-step to ac ...Read More >
Srinagar: Railway stations across the Kashmir Valley have been beautifully decked out as preparations peak for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to flag off the inaugural Delhi-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express -- the first-ever train connecting the valley directly to the rest of India. This landmark train will depart from Delhi and travel through Katra, the gateway to the revered Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, before reaching Srinagar. The event marks the successful culmination of one of India's most ambitious infrastructure projects, featuring two engineering marvels: the world's highest railway bridge o ...Read More >
New Delhi, June 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on Friday welcomed the Foreign Ministers of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan in New Delhi for the 4th India-Central Asia Dialogue, as India continues to put a strong foot forward in enhancing anti-terror and de-radicalisation partnerships across the region. "4th India-Central Asia Dialogue begins in Delhi. EAM S Jaishankar warmly welcomed Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu, Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin of Tajikistan, Deputy Chairman of C ...Read More >
Hours after Atul Subash's wife Nikita Singhania, her mother Nisha and brother Anurag were arrested for allegedly abetting the suicide, the Bengaluru techie's father, Pawan Kumar Modi has questioned where Atul's four-year-old son is and said the family was worried about him. Modi thanked the police for arresting the woman and her family members. However, he said, "We don't know where she has kept our grandson. Has he been killed or is he alive? We don't know anything about him. I want my grandson ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Former head of Air India and chairman of the Railway Board Ashwani Lohani is the new Prime Ministers Museum and Library (PMML) director. The official order for his appointment was issued on Wednesday. A 1980-batch officer of the Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineering (IRSME), Lohani is known for turning around various organisations during his illustrious career. Following his retirement from IRSME service, he joined the GMR Group as the CEO. According to the order dated June 4, his appointment to the post of director, Prime Ministers Museum and Library in the rank and pa ...Read More >
The Smart India Hackathon (SIH) 2024, one of India's largest platforms for fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, is set to culminate in its Grand Finale at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee from 11th to 15th December 2024. As part of its 7th edition, SIH 2024 continues to exemplify the vision of Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji to make India self-reliant and globally competitive through youth empowerment and innovation. He will interact with young innovators at the Grand Finale of Smart India Hackathon 2024 on 11th December 2024, at around 4:30 PM, via video con ...Read More >
Sample of Earth Minerals. (Representative) Quick Read Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. India is negotiating with companies to create long-term rare earth magnet stockpiles. The initiative aims to reduce dependence on China, which controls 90% of magnet processing globally. The government is considering fiscal incentives to boost domestic production of rare earth magnets. New Delhi: India is holding talks with companies to establish long-term stockpiles of rare earth magnets by offering fiscal incentives for domestic production, people familiar with the matter said. Building ...Read More >
Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], June 5 (ANI): The Uttarakhand Government has suspended three engineers from the Public Works Department (PWD) over the damage to an under-construction bridge at Tharali in Chamoli district. Secretary of the Public Works Department, Pankaj Kumar Pandey, issued the suspension orders on the instructions of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, said an official release. According to the release, under the leadership of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, concrete and decisive steps are being taken in the direction of transparent and accountable governance in the stat ...Read More >
Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], June 5 (ANI): Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel graced the distribution ceremony of 50 JCB machines organised by the Bharwad Yuva Sangathan - Gujarat Pradesh, held at Town Hall in Gandhinagar on Thursday. During the event, 50 economically disadvantaged youths from the Bharwad community were provided with JCB machines without any down payment, as part of an initiative to empower them towards self-reliance, according to the press release. Commending the efforts of the organization, the Chief Minister stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always emphas ...Read More >
Bill Gates' comments on India's potential as a 'laboratory to try things' during a podcast have sparked backlash among Indian social media users, who felt the remark was disrespectful. While some saw it as reducing India to a testing ground, others defended Gates, claiming his statement was misinterpreted. Bill Gates' latest comments on a podcast with Reid Hoffman have set off a firestorm of controversy among Indian commentators. In a discussion, he referred to India as a "kind of laboratory to try things," which has caused great outrage and accusations of disrespect. The tech mogul has faced ...Read More >
Hyderabad, Dec 4 (VOICE) The earthquake that hit Telangana on Wednesday morning was the second earthquake of over 5 magnitude on the Richter Scale in the region in the last 55 years.According to the National Center for Seismology, an earthquake of 5.3 magnitude was felt at 7.27 a.m. on Wednesday with Medaram in Mulugu district of Telangana as the epicentre. The region experienced an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.7 on April 13, 1969, with Bhadrachalam as the epicentre. According to scientists, both earthquakes were linked to the Godavari rift valley, which is a fault zone. The tremors on ...Read More >
Srinagar, Dec 4 (PTI) Security forces continued their search for militants in the Dachigam forest here on Wednesday, a day after a Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist was killed in an encounter in the area, officials said. According to officials, the security forces halted their search on Tuesday night but maintained a tight cordon in the area. The search for militants in the vast mountainous and forest area of Dachigam resumed in the morning, they said. Also Read | ISRO PROBA-3 Mission Launch Delayed: Indian Space Agency Reschedules Launch of PSLV-C59 After Detecting 'Anomaly'. "The search operation ...Read More >
Delhi Triple Murder: Within hours of investigating the horrific murders of a couple and their 23-year-old daughter in South Delhi's Neb Sarai, Delhi police have revealed that the killings were carried out by their son, Arjun Tanwar. Initially, Arjun claimed he had been out on a morning walk when the murders occurred. Ex-army man Rajesh Kumar (51), his wife Komal (46) and their daughter Kavita (23) were found dead at their house in Deoli village on Wednesday morning. Arjun, who is currently studying political science at Delhi University, is also a trained boxer and a silver medalist at a stat ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: To achieve the goal of 2047 and make India a global phenomenon, we need to follow global strategies and parameters, said Union minister Dr Jitendra Singh at the "India Economic Conclave" organised by a media house in New Delhi on Saturday. India's space, marine and Himalayan resources, which remained inadequately explored before PM Narendra Modi took over, will contribute substantially to India's future economic growth. While answering to a question on how India can unleash benefits out of its natural resources in future in terms of creative growth, the minister said that Prime Mi ...Read More >
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government on Thursday took strong action against the police officers allegedly responsible for the Bengaluru stampede, suspending several high-ranking officials, including the city's police commissioner. Addressing a press conference, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also announced a one-man commission to probe the lapses that triggered the deadly stampede. "Cubbon Park Police Station police inspector, station house master, station house officer, ACP, Central Division DCP, cricket stadium in-charge, additional commissioner of police, commissioner of police have been susp ...Read More >
Aryan Meena, who lived in the Dausa district of Rajasthan state, was trapped in the narrow well for three days after falling into it while playing on Monday afternoon. The boy, wearing pants and a t-shirt, had to endure plummeting winter temperatures inside the well as well as hunger and thirst. Children and even adult people dying from falling into open borewells is not uncommon in rural India where they are dug to pump water for irrigation and drinking and left abandoned after they run dry. ...Read More >
SSAB, a Nordic and US-based steel company, along with its subsidiary Ruukki Construction, has announced a donation of roofing products and steel to aid in the reconstruction of war-damaged buildings in Ukraine. This philanthropic effort is in collaboration with the nongovernmental organisation OperationAid, focusing on the Mykolaiv region's urgent rebuilding needs. The donation includes approximately 3,000m² of colour-coated steel for roofing, manufactured at Ruukki's plant near Ukrainian capi ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jan 14 (PTI) The National Turmeric Board will help develop new markets internationally to promote exports and double production to about 20 lakh tonnes in the next five years, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday. Inaugurating the Board, he also said that it would promote research and development into new products and develop on the country's traditional knowledge for value-added turmeric products. "Turmeric is also called as golden spice. India accounts for 70 per cent of global turmeric production... We are looking to double the production to 20 lakh tonne ...Read More >