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RSS 3-day lecture series begins today: Mohan Bhagwat to reflect on Sangh’s 100-year journey, spell out road ahead

Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi, Dr Naresh Trehan and environmentalist Sunita Narain are some other eminent personalities who are expected to attend the event. Around 1,300 people from all walks of life, including politicians, judges, diplomats and social workers, are likely to attend the RSS’s three-day lecture series beginning Tuesday in Delhi, where Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat will articulate his views on the organisation’s 100-year journey and the road ahead. Sources said the event was an attempt by the RSS to reach out to “eminent personalities” of the country and familiarise them with the Sangh. In the run-up to the event, the RSS had categorised invitees into 17 categories and 138 sub-categories, ranging from social and religious to economy and security. Advertisement “We are inviting people from all sections of the society, communities and ideologies apart from various sectors of the economy and from all political parties. Many have agreed to come and we hope that through this interaction, a lot of clarity on the Sangh, its ideas and work will reach society,” RSS publicity in-charge Sunil Ambekar said. A similar conference was organised in 2018 where Bhagwat had spelt out the RSS’s thoughts. Ministers, ex-judges and former army chiefs on guest list According to RSS insiders, Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia and MoS (Petroleum and Natural Gas) Suresh Gopi are also likely to attend the event. Among the other invitees are retired judges, including former Chief Justices of India Ranjan Gogoi and J S Khehar and several former ambassadors such as Kanwal Sibal and Navtej Sarna apart from former bureaucrats. Former army chiefs M M Narawane, Deepak Kapoor and J J Singh also feature on the Sangh’s guest list. From the field of Arts, notable names like Dhrupad artists Dagar Brothers, actor Manoj Joshi and sculptor Ram Sutar may attend the event while eminent sportspersons like Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra and cricketer Kapil Dev have also been invited. Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi, Dr Naresh Trehan and environmentalist Sunita Narain are some other eminent personalities who are expected to attend the event. Social workers and diplomats of USA, China also invited The Sangh has also invited ambassadors of various countries, including the neighbourhood. According to Ambekar, diplomats from the USA, China, Kuwait, Kazhakhstan, Nepal, Bhutan, Argentina and Australia among others are expected to attend the event. “Social workers from all communities have been invited. A separate programme will be held for religious leaders. The first two days of the event will see lectures by the Sarsanghchalak (Bhagwat) while he will give answers to written questions submitted by the invitees on the third day,” Ambekar said. Commemorating 100 Years While the 2018 conference was organised in Delhi alone, this time similar conferences will be organised in Bengaluru, Kolkata and Mumbai till February. The initiative is part of Sangh’s larger outreach program to commemorate its centenary year. Addressing a press conference earlier, Ambekar had said more than 1,000 seminars and discussions, involving senior RSS functionaries, would be held across the country over the course of a year to commemorate 100 years of the RSS. There will also be discussions on RSS’s views on the “five transformations” (panch parivartan) and the expected participation of society in these efforts. “The focus would be on how India, progressing rapidly on the path of development, can fulfill its rising hopes and aspirations, with contributions from RSS volunteers. It will be emphasised that if India is to move toward new horizons, it must do so based on its own values and inner strength. There will be a critical look at colonial standards of development that originated during the period of subjugation, and discussions on how to bring forth the vast untapped potential of Indian society,” Ambekar said. Topics of national and societal importance in the present context, as well as India’s global role, would also be addressed.

RSS To Host Three Day Event Marking 100 Years

Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi, noted doctor Naresh Trehan and environmentalist Sunita Narain will be present too. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has launched a three day lecture series at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi to mark its centenary year. The theme of the programme is “100 Years of Sangh Journey - New Horizons.” The event will highlight the organisation’s century long path, its role in nation building and the future that it envisions. RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat is leading the discussions. On the opening day, he will present his views on the journey of the Sangh and on themes such as social service, education, environment and technology. Later sessions will also touch on participation of women in leadership and the scope of innovation in shaping India’s growth. The gathering has drawn around 1,300 guests from politics, judiciary, diplomacy, armed forces and civil society. The outreach is seen as an effort to familiarise eminent figures with the work and ideas of the Sangh. The invitees were divided into 17 categories and 138 sub categories that represent a wide spectrum of national life. Union ministers Jyotiraditya Scindia and Suresh Gopi are among the political leaders expected. Former Chief Justices of India Ranjan Gogoi and J S Khehar are also on the guest list. Several ex ambassadors such as Kanwal Sibal and Navtej Sarna and former army chiefs M M Narawane, Deepak Kapoor and J J Singh will attend as well. From the field of arts actor Manoj Joshi, sculptor Ram Sutar and the Dagar Brothers have been invited. Sports icons like Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra and cricketer Kapil Dev are also expected. Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi, noted doctor Naresh Trehan and environmentalist Sunita Narain will be present too. The guest list also extends to diplomats from the United States, China, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Nepal, Bhutan, Argentina and Australia. Social workers from diverse communities and religious leaders will participate in special sessions. Bhagwat will speak for two days and on the third day he will answer written questions submitted by the audience. The centenary outreach is not confined to Delhi. Similar conferences will be organised in Bengaluru, Kolkata and Mumbai in the coming months. The wider plan involves more than 1,000 seminars and discussions across the country with the goal of opening dialogue on five major areas of transformation. These will include debates on development models, cultural values and India’s role as a global power. In a press briefing, RSS publicity in charge Sunil Ambekar said that the idea is to encourage clarity about the Sangh’s work and to bring forward untapped social potential. He said that India must move toward new horizons based on its own values rather than colonial models of growth.

SWaCH cooperative faces threat as PMC plans Indore model

The future of SWaCH, India’s largest waste picker-run cooperative, hangs in the balance as the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) considers adopting the Indore model of waste collection, a shift that could drastically alter the city’s current waste management system. On Sunday, nearly 1,500 waste pickers marked SWaCH’s 18th anniversary by raising concerns about the proposed changes. Recognised by the Ministry of Cooperation as a national model — alongside Gujarat’s SEWA, SWaCH currently serves over 900,000 households in Pune. Its decentralised, doorstep waste collection model allows waste pickers to earn directly from user fees and recyclable materials, while delivering high rates of segregation and recycling at minimal cost to the city. PMC’s plan to move toward a vehicle-based, gate-to-gate collection system threatens to dismantle this framework. According to SWaCH, the shift could displace up to two-thirds of Pune’s 3,900 waste pickers, approximately 2,600 workers, and undercut the cooperative’s user-fee system. “If citizens in one area stop paying because the service is covered by taxes, why would others continue paying us?” asked Vidya Naiknavre, a SWaCH worker. Experts echoed these concerns. “It’s shocking that Pune is looking to copy Indore, when it’s the Pune model that the rest of India should be emulating,” said Atin Biswas, programme director for Solid Waste Management at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). SWaCH representatives said they had planned to meet municipal commissioner Ram Naval Kishor and union minister of State Murlidhar Mohal, but both officials cancelled at the last minute. The gathering was so large that a second meeting had to be held outside.

India celebrates clean energy milestone, but coal still king

Non-fossil fuels now account for half of India’s installed energy capacity — years ahead of schedule — but the third-largest greenhouse gas polluter remains deeply reliant on coal for electricity generation. “A landmark in India’s energy transition journey,” Indian Minister of Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi sid after the world’s most populous nation released figures last month. “Five years early,” he added, referring to India’s 2030 target under the Paris Agreement, and marking a step to the country’s stated goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2070. However, while the 50 percent milestone is significant, climate expert Avantika Goswami said the figures — which refer only to potential energy production — tell just part of the story. “Overall, actual generation from renewable sources is still quite low,” Goswami said from the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment. The reason is stark: Nearly three-quarters of electricity continues to come from heavily polluting coal-burning power plants. The challenge becomes even more apparent when examining India’s continued dependence on coal. Far from decreasing its usage, the globe’s second-largest consumer of coal pushed up production of the dirty fossil fuel by five percent last year, mining 1 billion tonnes, according to the coal ministry. “Coal remains crucial,” the Indian Ministry of Coal said. The stance highlights the practical challenges of India’s energy transition. Coal is needed to fulfil power demands while storage capacity lags behind the surge in renewable sources of power. “The coal sector remains a crucial contributor to India’s energy mix, powering over 74 percent of the country’s electricity and sustaining key industries like steel and cement,” the coal ministry said, celebrating what it dubbed “India’s coal boom.” This reliance places India in a challenging position globally. The country ranks behind only China and the US for carbon emissions overall. However, analysts point out that in a country of 1.4 billion people, per capita emissions are only one-third of the global average, according to official figures. “Looking at India’s per capita emissions, the effort it is making, India is doing pretty well,” said activist Harjeet Singh, head of the Satat Sampada Climate Foundation. India has set itself the daunting challenge of reducing emissions by 45 percent by 2030. At the same time, electricity needs are expected to more than double by 2047, according to the country’s Center for Science and Environment. Supplying some of that demand “is likely to be met by the addition of renewables”, Goswami said. Half of India’s 484.8GW installed capacity is from non-fossil fuel sources. The majority comes from solar, totaling 119GW — the third-largest level globally. India is building one of the world’s largest solar and wind energy farms, spread over a desert the size of Singapore. It is followed by hydro and wind, and also nuclear power — which makes up less than 2 percent of the total mix. However, solar and wind create steady power only when the conditions are right, and India’s storage capacity is a meagre 505MWh — far lower than it can generate. The storage bottleneck was not lost on the renewable energy minister. Speaking at the inauguration of a battery storage systems plant in June, Joshi said India’s renewable energy potential was “growing fast” and “adding 25-30 GW every year.” “But without storage, we will either waste that energy or fall back on coal when renewables dip,” he added. Building storage based on batteries requires rare earth metals, with rival and neighbor China controlling 70 percent of the world’s supplies. “We still remain dependent on China,” said Harjeet Singh, the climate activist. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (王毅) was in New Delhi for talks on Tuesday, with the supply of rare earth metals on the agenda. One solution India is considering is pump-hydro energy storage projects. When wind and solar plants produce excess energy, water is pumped into high reservoirs. That stored energy can then be released to generate power when demand surges. However, Goswami believes the transition to cleaner power requires a multi-pronged approach. The transition to cleaner power must come from “emission intensity reduction” of often inefficient coal plants, combined with better integrated renewable energy in the grid that “will actually make the shift happen,” he said.

India celebrates clean energy milestone but coal still king

But while the 50 per cent milestone is significant, climate expert Avantika Goswami says the figures — which refer only to potential energy production — tell just part of the story. ‘Overall, actual generation from renewable sources is still quite low,’ Goswami told AFP from the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). Non-fossil fuels now account for half of India’s installed energy capacity — years ahead of schedule — but the third-largest greenhouse gas polluter remains deeply reliant on coal for electricity generation. ‘A landmark in India’s energy transition journey,’ renewable energy minister Pralhad Joshi proclaimed after the world’s most populous nation released figures in July. ‘Five years early,’ he added, referring to India’s 2030 target under the Paris Agreement, and marking a step to the country’s stated goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2070. But while the 50 per cent milestone is significant, climate expert Avantika Goswami says the figures — which refer only to potential energy production — tell just part of the story. ‘Overall, actual generation from renewable sources is still quite low,’ Goswami told AFP from the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The reason is stark: nearly three-quarters of electricity continues to come from heavily polluting coal-burning power plants. The challenge becomes even more apparent when examining India’s continued dependence on coal. Far from decreasing its usage, the globe’s second-largest consumer of coal pushed up production of the dirty fossil fuel by five per cent last year, mining one billion tonnes, according to the coal ministry. ‘Coal remains crucial,’ the ministry said. The stance highlights the practical challenges of India’s energy transition. Coal is needed to fulfil power demands while storage capacity lags behind the surge in renewable sources of power. ‘The coal sector remains a crucial contributor to India’s energy mix, powering over 74 per cent of the country’s electricity and sustaining key industries like steel and cement,’ the coal ministry said, celebrating what it dubbed ‘India’s coal boom’. This reliance places India in a challenging position globally. The country ranks behind only China and the United States for carbon emissions overall. But analysts point out that in a country of 1.4 billion people, per capita emissions are only one-third of the global average, according to official figures. ‘Looking at India’s per capita emissions, the effort it is making, India is doing pretty well,’ said activist Harjeet Singh, head of the Satat Sampada Climate Foundation. India has set itself the daunting challenge of reducing emissions by 45 per cent by 2030. At the same time, electricity needs are expected to more than double by 2047, according to the country’s Centre for Science and Environment. Supplying some of that demand ‘is likely to be met by the addition of renewables’, Goswami said. Half of India’s 484.8 GW installed capacity is from non-fossil fuel sources. The majority comes from solar, totalling 119 GW — the third-largest level globally. India is building one of the world’s largest solar and wind energy farms, spread over a desert the size of Singapore. It is followed by hydro and wind, and also nuclear power — which makes up less than two per cent of the total mix. But solar and wind create steady power only when the conditions are right, and India’s storage capacity is a meagre 505 MWh — far lower than it can generate. The storage bottleneck was not lost on the renewable energy minister. Speaking at the inauguration of a battery storage systems plant in June, Joshi said India’s renewable energy potential was ‘growing fast’ and ‘adding 25–30 GW every year’. He added: ‘But without storage, we will either waste that energy or fall back on coal when renewables dip.’ Building storage based on batteries requires rare earth metals, with rival and neighbour China controlling 70 per cent of the world’s supplies. ‘We still remain dependent on China,’ said Harjeet Singh, the climate activist. Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi was in New Delhi for talks on Tuesday, with the supply of rare earth metals on the agenda. One solution India is considering is pump-hydro energy storage projects. When wind and solar plants produce excess energy, water is pumped into high reservoirs. That stored energy can then be released to generate power when demand surges. But Goswami believes the transition to cleaner power requires a multi-pronged approach. The transition to cleaner power must come from ‘emission intensity reduction’ of often inefficient coal plants, combined with better integrated renewable energy in the grid that ‘will actually make the shift happen’.

ETAuto qanunsuz söküntü və çirklənmə mərkəzi aşkar edib

The sound of a constant metallic thud reverberates through the lanes in Phase II at Mayapuri Industrial Area. A man is hammering at the rusted bonnet of an old car. Beside him, another man bends over a motorcycle, dismantling its engine with his bare hands, while two others load metal bales of compressed car bodies into trucks using a crane. Around them, piles of bike body frames, still slick with grease and engine oil, broken wheel hubs and smashed parts of motor cars lie scattered on parts of the road. This is Delhi's largest scrap market, where end-of-life vehicles are torn apart in violation of all safety and environmental norms. Though these units were shut down in 2019 on the orders of the National Green Tribunal, which took cognisance of TOI’s 2018 report on the place, the illegal work began again. Locals complain that apart from occupying road space, the unscientific dismantling of vehicles is causing air, water and noise pollution. Hundreds of these dismantling units have thrived in west Delhi's Mayapuri Industrial Area’s Phase II, including blocks B, C, D, E, and W. Hundreds of vehicles, especially two-wheelers, are stripped down in mere hours. But under the rules, a registered scrapping vehicle facility (RSVF) needs consent and authorisation from Delhi Pollution Control Committee to operate because of a plethora of rules related to management of hazardous, electronic and plastic waste. These units do not meet the norms under the Central Pollution Control Board’s Guidelines for Environmentally Sound Facilities for the Handling and Scrapping of End-of-Life Vehicles, alleged Mayapuri Rewariline Industrial Welfare Association. In fact, Delhi currently has only one RSVF, which is an ‘orange’ industry or a moderately polluting unit, according to the Union road transport and highways ministry. When TOI visited Mayapuri on Wednesday, it found a large number of scrappers operating in C, E and W blocks. They had encroached on the public road to store the broken-down parts of vehicles, while terraces of the buildings held the front body portions of cars and trucks. Significantly, the workers were not using any protective gear. CP Jain, who has run a factory here for 55 years here, said, “This illegal industry was curbed in 2019, but the units have begun operating again in contempt of NGT’s orders. They dismantle vehicles in the open and keep the scrap on the road, reducing the four-lane road to one.” Rajiv Chopra, treasurer of the Mayapuri Industrial Welfare Association, added that the use of cranes caused prolonged traffic jams. Satish Sinha, associate director of Toxics Link, an environmental research and advocacy organisation, reminded, “In 2010, Mayapuri became the epicentre of a nuclear radiation scare due to the dismantling of a discarded medical device containing radioactive Cobalt-60. All sorts of waste are handled here.” Sinha said most informal recyclers use rudimentary tools and processes and do not have information on the composition of the material they handle, many of which can be hazardous and could release toxicity into the environment. “Vehicle service stations have effluent treatment plants to treat discharged chemicals. However, such plants do not exist here. If the soil in Mayapuri is checked, for sure it is contaminated by untreated chemicals seeping into the ground,” he said. “Dismantling vehicles in an unscientific manner is not only dangerous for the workers but also for everyone living in and around the area. The quantum of waste being generated is so large that it adds to Delhi’s air pollution load.” Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director (Research and Advocacy), Centre for Science and Environment, reiterated that small-scale units engaged in scrapping of ELVs needed to comply with the CPCB norms for safe dismantling and pollution control. “Their operations and waste disposal require continuous monitoring to prevent contamination of air, soil, and water,” she said. "These clusters require support to build common infrastructure for safe operations and treatment. At the same time, it is necessary to expand the capacity of the formal automated scrappage centres for advanced material recovery and material separation.” She added as these small-scale units were a source of livelihood and would continue to operate, so it was necessary to rationalise their operations and integrate them with the formal scrapping centres. In 2018, TOI reported how thousands of these units were running despite three NGT orders in 2013, 2014 and 2015 banning gas-cutting of discarded bodies, transformers and electronic waste in the open. Previous reports estimated the Mayapuri scrap market’s annual turnover at Rs 6,000 crore. Acting on TOI’s report, NGT formed a special task force to take remedial steps. STF surveyed the area and found that almost all units had “encroached upon public space”, that the “conduct of trade was injurious to theJ health of the community” and “vehicles remained stuck on roads for hours, causing huge air pollution”. In 2019, DPCC issued notices to 765 units that were in violation of norms. There were violent scenes when at least 30 people, including policemen, were injured after the scrap dealers clashed with a team of officials sent to seal the illegal units. Despite repeated attempts, both DPCC and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi did not respond to TOI’s queries in the matter.

West Delhi’s Mayapuri back to scrap chaos: Illegal units encroach roads, rules flouted; pollution risks loom

The sound of a constant metallic thud reverberates through the lanes in Phase II at Mayapuri Industrial Area. A man is hammering at the rusted bonnet of an old car. Beside him, another man bends over a motorcycle, dismantling its engine with his bare hands, while two others load metal bales of compressed car bodies into trucks using a crane. Around them, piles of bike body frames, still slick with grease and engine oil, broken wheel hubs and smashed parts of motor cars lie scattered on parts of the road. Encroachments on both sides of roads due to storage of dismantled materials, leading to traffic snarls. This is Delhi's largest scrap market, where end-of-life vehicles are torn apart in violation of all safety and environmental norms. Though these units were shut down in 2019 on the orders of the National Green Tribunal, which took cognisance of TOI's 2018 report on the place, the illegal work began again. Locals complain that apart from occupying road space, the unscientific dismantling of vehicles is causing air, water and noise pollution. Hundreds of these dismantling units have thrived in west Delhi's Mayapuri Industrial Area's Phase II, including blocks B, C, D, E, and W. Hundreds of vehicles, especially two-wheelers, are stripped down in mere hours. But under the rules, a registered scrapping vehicle facility (RSVF) needs consent and authorisation from Delhi Pollution Control Committee to operate because of a plethora of rules related to management of hazardous, electronic and plastic waste. These units do not meet the norms under the Central Pollution Control Board's Guidelines for Environmentally Sound Facilities for the Handling and Scrapping of End-of-Life Vehicles, alleged Mayapuri Rewariline Industrial Welfare Association. In fact, Delhi currently has only one RSVF, which is an 'orange' industry or a moderately polluting unit, according to the Union road transport and highways ministry. When TOI visited Mayapuri on Wednesday, it found a large number of scrappers operating in C, E and W blocks. They had encroached on the public road to store the broken-down parts of vehicles, while terraces of the buildings held the front body portions of cars and trucks. Significantly, the workers were not using any protective gear. CP Jain, who has run a factory here for 55 years here, said, "This illegal industry was curbed in 2019, but the units have begun operating again in contempt of NGT's orders. They dismantle vehicles in the open and keep the scrap on the road, reducing the four-lane road to one." Rajiv Chopra, treasurer of the Mayapuri Industrial Welfare Association, added that the use of cranes caused prolonged traffic jams. Satish Sinha, associate director of Toxics Link, an environmental research and advocacy organisation, reminded, "In 2010, Mayapuri became the epicentre of a nuclear radiation scare due to the dismantling of a discarded medical device containing radioactive Cobalt-60. All sorts of waste are handled here." Sinha said most informal recyclers use rudimentary tools and processes and do not have information on the composition of the material they handle, many of which can be hazardous and could release toxicity into the environment. "Vehicle service stations have effluent treatment plants to treat discharged chemicals. However, such plants do not exist here. If the soil in Mayapuri is checked, for sure it is contaminated by untreated chemicals seeping into the ground," he said. "Dismantling vehicles in an unscientific manner is not only dangerous for the workers but also for everyone living in and around the area. The quantum of waste being generated is so large that it adds to Delhi's air pollution load." Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director (Research and Advocacy), Centre for Science and Environment, reiterated that small-scale units engaged in scrapping of ELVs needed to comply with the CPCB norms for safe dismantling and pollution control. "Their operations and waste disposal require continuous monitoring to prevent contamination of air, soil, and water," she said. "These clusters require support to build common infrastructure for safe operations and treatment. At the same time, it is necessary to expand the capacity of the formal automated scrappage centres for advanced material recovery and material separation." She added as these small-scale units were a source of livelihood and would continue to operate, so it was necessary to rationalise their operations and integrate them with the formal scrapping centres. In 2018, TOI reported how thousands of these units were running despite three NGT orders in 2013, 2014 and 2015 banning gas-cutting of discarded bodies, transformers and electronic waste in the open. Previous reports estimated the Mayapuri scrap market's annual turnover at Rs 6,000 crore. Acting on TOI's report, NGT formed a special task force to take remedial steps. STF surveyed the area and found that almost all units had "encroached upon public space", that the "conduct of trade was injurious to theJ health of the community" and "vehicles remained stuck on roads for hours, causing huge air pollution". In 2019, DPCC issued notices to 765 units that were in violation of norms. There were violent scenes when at least 30 people, including policemen, were injured after the scrap dealers clashed with a team of officials sent to seal the illegal units. Despite repeated attempts, both DPCC and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi did not respond to TOI's queries in the matter.

India is curbing solar output — here’s why it is happening and what it implies

Down To Earth cited NSEFI’s call for urgent government action, including fast-tracking transmission projects, compensation mechanisms, and battery storage deployment. Experts, such as those at the Centre for Science and Environment, warned that without upgraded infrastructure, India’s target of 280 GW solar capacity by 2030 could face serious risks. India is reducing solar output during periods of low demand to maintain grid stability and ease pressure on congested transmission lines, according to a Reuters report citing the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). The ministry confirmed that some plants had come online ahead of schedule, while transmission projects faced delays, worsening bottlenecks. The National Solar Energy Federation of India (NSEFI), representing companies such as Adani, Tata, Amazon, SHV and Gentari, highlighted that curtailments in Rajasthan have been severe. Reuters reported producers losing over $26 million since April, with output reduced by as much as 48 per cent during peak hours. Down To Earth noted that about 3–4 gigawatts of capacity had been curtailed since March, resulting in losses of up to Rs 250 crore. Delays in transmission NSEFI said projects in Rajasthan had already been deferred by nearly 20 months due to infrastructure delays, but even those ready for commissioning remain stuck. Critical transmission projects such as the Khetri-Narela and Bhadla II-Sikar II lines are facing up to two years of delay, according to the federation’s letter to MNRE. Impact beyond Rajasthan While Rajasthan is worst affected, Reuters reported that Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Maharashtra have also seen output reductions. Tamil Nadu’s Renewable Energy Producers Association found solar output 10 per cent lower than expected during April–June, though the state energy department described curtailment as a last-resort measure. Investor confidence at risk Down To Earth cited NSEFI’s call for urgent government action, including fast-tracking transmission projects, compensation mechanisms, and battery storage deployment. Experts, such as those at the Centre for Science and Environment, warned that without upgraded infrastructure, India’s target of 280 GW solar capacity by 2030 could face serious risks.

In 2022, generator sets emitted over 1k tonnes of PM2.5 in Haryana: Study

Gurgaon: Diesel generator (DG) sets across Haryana pumped out over 1,121 tonnes of PM2.5 pollutants in 2022, an analysis by the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP) has found. For perspective, that's roughly one-fifteenth of the annual PM2.5 emissions from heavy commercial vehicles (HCVs), which released about 16,600 tonnes (16.6 Gg) in the same timeframe, in Haryana. PM2.5, tiny particles that can only be seen with an electron microscope, can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, driving up asthma, cardiovascular diseases and early mortalities. "DG sets installed in Haryana emitted around 1.1 Gg of PM2.5 during 2022. Bhiwani district alone emitted around 10% of the state's emissions," said Anirban Banerjee, senior associate at the think-tank's air quality team. The study — Switch on, Smoke off: Reducing Emissions from Diesel Generator Sets -- released on Thursday used data on DG sets and combined it with emission factors from CPCB and international studies to arrive at these figures. Banerjee said on Thursday that Haryana needs a multi-pronged approach to reducing emissions from DG sets. "Identify and scrap old DG sets, along with replacing them with solar and CPCB IV+ DG sets can reduce emissions. Gas-based generators can help, but the state needs to increase last-mile connectivity," he said, adding that Haryana currently does not produce enough solar energy for a clean switch. What makes DG emissions particularly dangerous is their concentration in populated areas. "DG sets may look small in comparison to the trucking sector, but their emissions are highly localised and concentrated. A large truck fleet disperses its emissions over highways and regional corridors. DG sets pump toxic particles right where people live, work and breathe," said an air quality analyst associated with the study. According to the study, Bhiwani led the pollution chart, with 97 tonnes of PM2.5 annual emissions from DG sets, followed by Panipat with 66.1 tonnes, Kaithal with 65.5 tonnes and Gurgaon with 57 tonnes. Together, these districts accounted for nearly one-fourth of the state's generator-linked PM2.5 emissions. Particularly concerning are medium- to large-capacity DG sets in the 76KVA to 750KVA range, which contribute 74% of Haryana's total generator-linked PM2.5 load, the study said. These workhorses of industrial hubs, construction sites and high-rise complexes often run for hours during power cuts. In India, regulatory response to diesel generators has evolved. In 2019, the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) identified DG sets as a significant pollution source — contributing up to 18% of ambient air pollution in non-compliant cities — and pushed for dual-fuel retrofitting or emission control devices (RECDs). Haryana's pollution board followed suit in mid-2020, directing industries in Gurgaon, Faridabad, Sonipat, Panipat and Bahadurgarh to convert or retrofit DG sets over 500 kVA. But deadlines were repeatedly extended. More recently, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in Oct 2023 formalised strict year-round norms for NCR, mandating that generators be retrofitted with RECDs or run in dual-fuel mode. Before that, use of traditional diesel generators was banned in NCR only in the polluted winter months. The CSTEP report, reflecting 2022 emissions, offers a pre-regulation snapshot that underscores the scale of the problem before the latest norms took effect. On Thursday, experts warned that without strict emissions norms and reliable power supply, Haryana's dependence on DG sets could worsen pollution in rapidly growing urban centres like Gurgaon and Faridabad. "DG sets are meant for backup, but in many areas with frequent power cuts or industrial demand, they are running almost daily. The cumulative emissions are enormous, especially in urban and industrial hubs," said a senior scientist. Shubhansh Tiwari, a research associate with the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said: "Mandatory retrofitting with emission control devices, enforcing limits on run-time and incentivising the shift to gas-based or solar backup could sharply reduce emissions." The study found that 14.7 lakh DG sets were operational across the country in 2022. These added 42 Gg of PM2.5, 23 Gg of black carbon, and 877 Gg of nitrogen oxides (NOX).

Clean power milestone for India

Non-fossil fuels now account for half of India’s installed energy capacity – years ahead of schedule – but the third-largest greenhouse gas polluter remains deeply reliant on coal for electricity generation. “A landmark in India’s energy transition journey,” Minister of Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi proclaimed after the world’s most populous nation released figures in July. “Five years early,” he added, referring to India’s 2030 target under the Paris Agreement, and marking a step to the country’s stated goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2070. But while the 50 per cent milestone is significant, climate expert Avantika Goswami said the figures – which refer only to potential energy production – tell just part of the story. “Overall, actual generation from renewable sources is still quite low,” Goswami told AFP from the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The reason is stark: nearly three-quarters of electricity continues to come from heavily polluting coal-burning power plants. The challenge becomes even more apparent when examining India’s continued dependence on coal. Far from decreasing its usage, the globe’s second-largest consumer of coal pushed up production of the dirty fossil fuel by five per cent last year, mining one billion tonnes, according to the coal ministry. “Coal remains crucial,” the ministry said. The stance highlights the practical challenges of India’s energy transition.

CNG buses in Delhi to be phased out by 2031:DTC and cluster services to run only electric buses as govt prioritises clean mobility and pollution control

The push towards electrification comes against the backdrop of Delhi’s alarming air pollution levels. Vehicular emissions contribute nearly 40% of PM2.5 pollution during winter months, according to studies by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). In a landmark move towards sustainable urban transport, the Central Government has announced that all CNG buses operating in Delhi under the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and the cluster bus service will be phased out in the coming years. By August 2031, the national capital’s bus fleet will be fully electric a shift expected to significantly reduce vehicular pollution in one of the world’s most polluted cities. 2,743 CNG buses to be removed Replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu informed that Delhi currently has 5,691 operational buses, of which 2,743 run on CNG. These include 993 buses owned by DTC and 1,750 operated under the cluster model. The government plans a two-step withdrawal older DTC buses, already past the 10-year mark, will be retired by 2026–27, while the cluster fleet will continue till 2031. “Delhi has communicated that only electric buses are now being added to the fleet,” Sahu said. No new CNG additions in recent years Interestingly, the Centre revealed that in the last five years, no funds have been allocated by either the Union or Delhi government for purchasing new CNG buses. Instead, all investments have been redirected towards scaling up electric mobility. Cluster buses, Sahu added, are being inducted on a Gross Cost Contract (GCC) basis, which allows the government to control costs while ensuring service delivery through private operators. Delhi’s electric fleet present and future At present, Delhi has nearly 1,650 electric buses on the road, making it one of the largest EV bus fleets in India. The Delhi government has projected that this number will cross 8,000 by 2027, with a final target of 11,000 buses by 2031, equally split between DTC and private operators. To support this transition, the city is expanding charging infrastructure across depots and bus terminals. According to the Delhi Transport Department, over 55 charging stations dedicated to electric buses are either operational or under construction. Why this matters: air quality crisis The push towards electrification comes against the backdrop of Delhi’s alarming air pollution levels. Vehicular emissions contribute nearly 40% of PM2.5 pollution during winter months, according to studies by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). Although CNG was introduced in Delhi in 2001 to curb rising smoke from diesel buses, experts note that it is no longer sufficient to meet the city’s climate and health challenges. A 2022 IIT-Kanpur report estimated that switching Delhi’s entire bus fleet to electric could cut CO₂ emissions by more than 4.5 million tonnes annually, while also reducing nitrogen oxides and particulate matter pollutants directly linked to respiratory illnesses. Global comparisons Delhi’s target aligns with global practices in sustainable transport. Cities such as London and Paris plan to go fully electric with their public buses by 2030, while China already operates the world’s largest e-bus fleet, with over 400,000 electric buses in service. Road ahead While the transition is ambitious, challenges remain. Experts stress the need for reliable charging infrastructure, lower battery costs, and consistent financial support. However, with Delhi’s clear roadmap, the capital could soon emerge as a model for other Indian cities aiming to clean up their transport systems. By August 2031, the familiar green-and-white CNG buses will be history, replaced by a new fleet of zero-emission electric buses a milestone in Delhi’s journey towards a cleaner and healthier future.

India achieves 50% renewable energy capacity, but coal still powers the nation

"Overall, actual generation from renewable sources is still quite low, " said Avantika Goswami from the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), highlighting the gap between installed capacity and power actually delivered to the grid. In his Independence Day address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed a significant achievement in India’s energy transition journey: non-fossil fuel sources now account for 50 percent of the country’s installed energy capacity—five years ahead of its 2030 target under the Paris Agreement. However, despite this progress, India’s energy reality remains heavily tied to coal. The announcement marks a pivotal moment for the world’s most populous nation, which remains the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases. "A landmark in India's energy transition journey, " said Renewable Energy Minister Pralhad Joshi, following the July release of new energy capacity figures. “Five years early, ” he added, referring to the country’s early fulfilment of a key climate commitment, and signalling progress towards India’s broader goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2070. Installed capacity vs actual generation While the 50 percent figure is a noteworthy milestone, experts caution that the headline number does not tell the full story. "Overall, actual generation from renewable sources is still quite low, " said Avantika Goswami from the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), highlighting the gap between installed capacity and power actually delivered to the grid.

India celebrates clean energy milestone but coal still king

"A landmark in India's energy transition journey," Minister of Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi proclaimed after the world's most populous nation released figures in July. "Five years early," he added, referring to India's 2030 target under the Paris Agreement, and marking a step to the country's stated goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2070. But while the 50 percent milestone is significant, climate expert Avantika Goswami says the figures -- which refer only to potential energy production -- tell just part of the story. "Overall, actual generation from renewable sources is still quite low," Goswami told AFP from the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).

India celebrates clean energy milestone but coal still king

Non-fossil fuels now account for half of India's installed energy capacity -- years ahead of schedule -- but the third-largest greenhouse gas polluter remains deeply reliant on coal for electricity generation. "A landmark in India's energy transition journey," Minister of Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi proclaimed after the world's most populous nation released figures in July. "Five years early," he added, referring to India's 2030 target under the Paris Agreement, and marking a step to the country's stated goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2070. But while the 50 percent milestone is significant, climate expert Avantika Goswami says the figures -- which refer only to potential energy production -- tell just part of the story. "Overall, actual generation from renewable sources is still quite low," Goswami told AFP from the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The reason is stark: nearly three-quarters of electricity continues to come from heavily polluting coal-burning power plants. - Coal paradox - The challenge becomes even more apparent when examining India's continued dependence on coal. Far from decreasing its usage, the globe's second-largest consumer of coal pushed up production of the dirty fossil fuel by five percent last year, mining one billion tonnes, according to the coal ministry. "Coal remains crucial," the ministry said. The stance highlights the practical challenges of India's energy transition. Coal is needed to fulfil power demands while storage capacity lags behind the surge in renewable sources of power. "The coal sector remains a crucial contributor to India's energy mix, powering over 74 percent of the country's electricity and sustaining key industries like steel and cement," the coal ministry said, celebrating what it dubbed "India's coal boom". This reliance places India in a challenging position globally. The country ranks behind only China and the United States for carbon emissions overall. But analysts point out that in a country of 1.4 billion people, per capita emissions are only one-third of the global average, according to official figures. "Looking at India's per capita emissions, the effort it is making, India is doing pretty well," said activist Harjeet Singh, head of the Satat Sampada Climate Foundation. India has set itself the daunting challenge of reducing emissions by 45 percent by 2030. At the same time, electricity needs are expected to more than double by 2047, according to the country's Center for Science and Environment. Supplying some of that demand "is likely to be met by the addition of renewables", Goswami said. - 'Waste that energy' - Half of India's 484.8 GW installed capacity is from non-fossil fuel sources. The majority comes from solar, totalling 119 GW -- the third-largest level globally. India is building one of the world's largest solar and wind energy farms, spread over a desert the size of Singapore. It is followed by hydro and wind, and also nuclear power -- which makes up less than two percent of the total mix. But solar and wind create steady power only when the conditions are right, and India's storage capacity is a meagre 505 MWh -- far lower than it can generate. The storage bottleneck was not lost on the renewable energy minister. Speaking at the inauguration of a battery storage systems plant in June, Joshi said India's renewable energy potential was "growing fast" and "adding 25–30 GW every year". He added: "But without storage, we will either waste that energy or fall back on coal when renewables dip." Building storage based on batteries requires rare earth metals, with rival and neighbour China controlling 70 percent of the world's supplies. "We still remain dependent on China," said Harjeet Singh, the climate activist. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was in New Delhi for talks on Tuesday, with the supply of rare earth metals on the agenda. One solution India is considering is pump-hydro energy storage projects. When wind and solar plants produce excess energy, water is pumped into high reservoirs. That stored energy can then be released to generate power when demand surges. But Goswami believes the transition to cleaner power requires a multi-pronged approach. The transition to cleaner power must come from "emission intensity reduction" of often inefficient coal plants, combined with better integrated renewable energy in the grid that "will actually make the shift happen".