• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Delhi Air Pollution: CAQM Constitutes 15-Member Expert Panel; Recommendations Within 2 Months

Delhi Air Pollution: Amid the deplorable air pollution in Delhi-NCR, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has constituted an expert committee under the Chairmanship of IIT Madras Professor Ashok Jhunjhunwala. Vehicular emissions remain a major contributor to air pollution in Delhi-NCR, aggravating PM 2.5, Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), Carbon Monoxide (CO), and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) emissions. This poses serious public-health challenges in the region. "The Expert Committee brings together leading academicians, health specialists, automotive research institutions and other experts in the field to recommend a robust, multi-pronged roadmap for emission reduction in the vehicular sector," the committee said, quoted by ANI. The committee would also examine technology readiness, infrastructure demands, cost considerations, and possible incentives to accelerate the shift to Electric Vehicles (EVs) across different categories. Furthermore, it would propose any additional measures needed to curb air pollution from vehicular transport. Who Will Be Part Of The CAQM Committee? Professor Ashok Jhunjhunwala, IIT Madras – Chairman Dr (Professor) Randeep Guleria, Former Director, AIIMS Delhi – Co-Chairman Professor Mukesh Sharma, IIT Kanpur – Member Dr (Professor) Arvind Kumar, Founder, Lung Care Foundation – Member Professor Sagnik Dey, IIT Delhi – Member Representative at the level of Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) – Member Representative at the level of Joint Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) – Member Archana Mittal, Advisor, NITI Aayog – Member Dr Reji Mathai, Director, ARAI Pune – Member Saurabh Dalela, Director, ICAT Manesar – Member Dr Arunabha Ghosh, CEO, CEEW, New Delhi – Member Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director, CSE, New Delhi – Member Amit Bhatt, Managing Director, ICCT New Delhi – Member Dr Anju Goyal, Associate Director, TERI, New Delhi – Member Dr Virendra Sharma, Member Technical, CAQM – Convener

• Sustainable Food Systems

Eggoz Eggs Controversy: अंडों में कैंसर का खतरा? Egoz विवाद की पूरी कहानी”

CSE (सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट) की स्टडीज़ ने पहले ही भारतीय पोल्ट्री फार्म में एंटीबायोटिक-रेसिस्टेंट बैक्टीरिया की पुष्टि की है। Egoz सिर्फ़ एक प्रोडक्ट का मामला नहीं है — यह पोल्ट्री सेक्टर में एक सिस्टमिक कमी को दिखाता है। पिछले दस सालों में इंडिया का फ़ूड लैंडस्केप काफ़ी बदल गया है। कभी अख़बार में लिपटे सड़क किनारे ठेलों पर बिकने वाले अंडे, अब AC वाले सुपरमार्केट के गलियारों में आ गए हैं—शानदार डिब्बों में पैक होकर और “प्रीमियम,” “एंटीबायोटिक-फ़्री,” “हर्बल-फ़ेड,” और “फ़ार्म फ़्रेश” कहकर बेचे जाते हैं। शहरी इंडिया, जो अब पहले से कहीं ज़्यादा हेल्थ को लेकर जागरूक है, इन दावों पर यकीन कर लेता है और खुशी-खुशी ज़्यादा कीमत चुकाता है। वायरल रिपोर्ट जिसने दहशत फैला दी कुछ दिन पहले, फ़ूड और सप्लीमेंट्स की इंडिपेंडेंट ब्लाइंड लैब टेस्टिंग के लिए जाने जाने वाले एक YouTube चैनल ने एक वीडियो अपलोड किया जिसमें दावा किया गया था कि इगोज़ के अंडों में खतरनाक केमिकल्स होते हैं। नतीजों से पता चला कि ये नतीजे कथित तौर पर NABL से मान्यता प्राप्त लैब के थे। इन नतीजों से पता चला कि पैकेज्ड अंडों में नाइट्रोफ्यूरान और AOZ (3-एमिनो-2-ऑक्साज़ोलिडिनोन) मौजूद थे। कथित तौर पर AOZ का पाया गया कंसंट्रेशन 0.73 से 0.74 µg/kg के बीच था। यह एक ऐसा केमिकल है जो कई देशों में अपने कैंसर पैदा करने वाले नेचर की वजह से बैन है। कुछ ही घंटों में, सोशल मीडिया पर हंगामा मच गया। कंज्यूमर पूछने लगे: “क्या ये अंडे हमें ज़हर दे रहे हैं?” “क्या ये हमारे DNA को बदल सकते हैं?” “क्या यह धीमा ज़हर हेल्थ फ़ूड के तौर पर दिया जाता है?” हंगामे को समझने के लिए, पहले कंपनी के स्केल और दावों को समझना होगा। Egoz कितना बड़ा है? Egoz कोई छोटा प्लेयर नहीं है। यह भारत के तेज़ी से बढ़ते स्टार्टअप इकोसिस्टम का हिस्सा है, जिसे 2017 में IIT खड़गपुर के पुराने स्टूडेंट अभिषेक नेगी, आदित्य सिंह और उत्तम कुमार ने लॉन्च किया था। फाउंडर्स ने एक बड़ी कमी पहचानी: भारत में हर साल 140 बिलियन से ज़्यादा अंडे बनते हैं, फिर भी लगभग 95% मार्केट अनऑर्गनाइज़्ड है। पारंपरिक मंडियों में बिकने वाले खुले अंडों के लिए क्वालिटी कंट्रोल बहुत कम होता है। इन्वेस्टर्स को Egoz के विज़न पर भरोसा था। कंपनी ने ये पैसे जुटाए: IvyCap Ventures की लीडरशिप में Series B (2022) में $8.8 मिलियन Series C (जून 2025) में $20 मिलियन—इसका सबसे बड़ा फंडिंग राउंड आज, Egoz दिल्ली-NCR, बेंगलुरु, हैदराबाद, चेन्नई, मुंबई और पुणे समेत 11 बड़े भारतीय शहरों में काम करता है। आरोप असल में क्या हैं? यह विवाद तब शुरू हुआ जब एक YouTube चैनल ने Egoz के अंडे खरीदे और सैंपल एक सर्टिफाइड लैब में भेजे। लैब ने कथित तौर पर AOZ का पता लगाया, जो एक बैन नाइट्रोफ्यूराज़ोन एंटीबायोटिक ग्रुप का मेटाबोलाइट है। AOZ कई देशों में इसके जीनोटॉक्सिक और कार्सिनोजेनिक पोटेंशियल की वजह से बैन है। यह खोज सीधे तौर पर Egoz के मार्केटिंग दावों के उलट है: “100% एंटीबायोटिक-फ्री अंडे” “हर्बल से बनी मुर्गियां” “ज़ीरो केमिकल्स” कस्टमर्स ने ब्रांड पर प्रॉफिट के लिए पब्लिक हेल्थ से कॉम्प्रोमाइज करने का आरोप लगाया। क्या अंडे सच में आपका DNA बदल सकते हैं? साइंस ने समझाया ऑनलाइन फैले सबसे बड़े डरों में से एक था: “क्या ये अंडे खाने से मेरा DNA बदल जाएगा?” साइंटिफिकली, नहीं। जब आप कोई भी खाना खाते हैं—पौधे का या जानवर का—तो उसमें मौजूद DNA पेट के एसिड और एंजाइम से छोटे न्यूक्लियोटाइड में टूट जाता है। ये आपके जीनोम में खुद को नहीं डालते। आप अंडा, चिकन या चावल खाने से “म्यूटेंट” नहीं बन सकते। तो असली खतरा क्या है? जीनोटॉक्सिसिटी असली खतरा जीनोटॉक्सिसिटी है, जेनेटिक म्यूटेशन नहीं। जीनोटॉक्सिक केमिकल: अपना DNA दोबारा न लिखें। लेकिन वे DNA स्ट्रैंड को नुकसान पहुंचा सकते हैं या गलतियां पैदा कर सकते हैं। खराब DNA रिपेयर से अनकंट्रोल्ड सेल डिवीज़न हो सकता है — जो कैंसर है। नाइट्रोफ्यूरान और AOZ इस जीनोटॉक्सिक कैटेगरी में आते हैं। नाइट्रोफ्यूरान और AOZ क्या हैं? नाइट्रोफ्यूरान बैन एंटीबायोटिक्स की एक क्लास है। AOZ एक मेटाबोलाइट है जो जानवरों को एंटीबायोटिक फुराज़ोलिडोन खिलाने पर बनता है। भले ही ओरिजिनल दवा कुछ घंटों में ब्लडस्ट्रीम से गायब हो जाए, AOZ टिशू (मीट, अंडे) में हफ्तों या महीनों तक रहता है, इसीलिए लैब AOZ के लिए टेस्ट करते हैं, एंटीबायोटिक के लिए नहीं। AOZ मिलने से यह साबित होता है कि मुर्गी किसी समय नाइट्रोफ्यूरान के संपर्क में आई थी। किसान अभी भी बैन एंटीबायोटिक्स का इस्तेमाल क्यों कर रहे हैं? क्योंकि ये हैं: बहुत सस्ते साल्मोनेला और E. कोलाई जैसे बैक्टीरिया के खिलाफ असरदार भीड़भाड़ वाले पोल्ट्री फार्म में काम के, जहां इंफेक्शन तेजी से फैलता है अंडों का प्रोडक्शन और वज़न बढ़ाने में मदद करते हैं यह गैर-कानूनी लेकिन आम तरीका लागत कम रखता है और आउटपुट स्थिर रखता है। क्या 0.74 µg/kg कंज्यूमर्स के लिए खतरनाक है? 0.74 पार्ट्स पर बिलियन (ppb) सुनने में बहुत कम लगता है — और यह है भी। ऐसे अंडे खाने से तुरंत बीमारी नहीं होगी। लेकिन दिक्कत लंबे समय तक एक्सपोजर की है। कार्सिनोजेन्स के लिए, दुनिया भर की रेगुलेटरी बॉडीज़ का मानना ​​है: “कोई भी मात्रा सच में सुरक्षित नहीं है।” बड़ा खतरा: एंटीबायोटिक रेजिस्टेंस (AMR) कैंसर के खतरे से भी ज़्यादा खतरनाक AMR (एंटीमाइक्रोबियल रेजिस्टेंस) है। जब पोल्ट्री बार-बार बैन एंटीबायोटिक्स खाती है: उनके पेट के बैक्टीरिया सुपरबग बन जाते हैं। ये दवा-रेसिस्टेंट माइक्रोब्स अंडे, मीट या खेत के कचरे के ज़रिए इंसानों में फैलते हैं। एक बार इन्फेक्ट होने पर, आम एंटीबायोटिक्स काम करना बंद कर देती हैं। फूड पॉइज़निंग या टाइफाइड का एक मामूली मामला जानलेवा हो सकता है। CSE (सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट) की स्टडीज़ ने पहले ही भारतीय पोल्ट्री फार्म में एंटीबायोटिक-रेसिस्टेंट बैक्टीरिया की पुष्टि की है। Egoz सिर्फ़ एक प्रोडक्ट का मामला नहीं है — यह पोल्ट्री सेक्टर में एक सिस्टमिक कमी को दिखाता है। विदेशी देश क्या करते हैं? USA FDA ने 2002 में नाइट्रोफ्यूरान पर बैन लगा दिया था। ज़ीरो-टॉलरेंस पॉलिसी। थोड़ी सी भी पता चलने वाली मात्रा भी प्रोडक्ट को गैर-कानूनी बना देती है। बैच नष्ट कर दिए जाते हैं; कंपनियों को ब्लैकलिस्ट किया गया है यूरोपियन यूनियन। नाइट्रोफ्यूरान पर भी बैन। टेक्निकल डिटेक्शन लिमिट के तौर पर 0.5 µg/kg AOZ तक की इजाज़त। Egoz के अंडे (0.74 µg/kg) इस लिमिट से ज़्यादा हैं — मतलब उन्हें यूरोप में कानूनी तौर पर नहीं बेचा जा सकता। भारत की कानूनी स्थिति क्या है? भारत के कानून उलटे हैं: FSSAI ने नाइट्रोफ्यूरान और AOZ पर बैन लगाया है। लेकिन 1.0 µg/kg की टेस्टिंग टॉलरेंस लिमिट भी तय की है। क्योंकि Egoz के सैंपल में कथित तौर पर 0.74 µg/kg दिखा, इसलिए ब्रांड यह तर्क दे सकता है: “हमारा प्रोडक्ट भारत की कानूनी सुरक्षा लिमिट के अंदर है।” यह रेगुलेटरी गैप ही कन्फ्यूजन की जड़ है। Egos क्या कहता है? फाउंडर अभिषेक नेगी ने सोशल मीडिया पर कंपनी का बचाव किया: “हम कोई भी बैन या परमिटेड एंटीबायोटिक इस्तेमाल नहीं करते।” “हमारे लिए, बैन का मतलब है पूरी तरह बैन।” “हम 11 लेयर की सेफ्टी चेक और 100% हर्बल फीड फॉलो करते हैं।” “हम ट्रांसपेरेंसी बनाए रखते हैं और क्वालिटी से कोई कॉम्प्रोमाइज़ नहीं करेंगे।” Egoz ने कंज्यूमर्स को भरोसा दिलाने के लिए अपनी लैब रिपोर्ट भी ऑनलाइन पोस्ट कीं।

• Down To Earth

Crisis looms

The year, 2025, has been a continuing saga of climate tragedies for many parts of India. It has also been the year when political rhetoric on how the nation guides the world got shriller. In August, Punjab, our breadbasket, got flooded; millions faced displacement when the Beas and the Sutlej overflowed after extreme rains. The tragedy soon faded away from public memory. Next, in the rugged hills of Uttarakhand, cloudbursts and landslides tore through tens of villages, wiping out entire hamlets, homes, small hotels, and footbridges. People eking out a living from tourism found themselves displaced overnight, their livelihoods lost and lives shattered. Roads and access routes became history. The fragility of mountain livelihoods came to fore as the deluge erased the future of thousands. Earlier, in summer, heat waves enveloped much of central and southern India, hitting the poorest the hardest, particularly in the countryside and small towns. If the north witnessed flooding in August, much of western and central Maharashtra, particularly Marathwada, was cursed in September. Historically drought-prone, that region bore the brunt of heavy rains and floods. A region hardened by years of water stress and neglect was suddenly caught in the vortex of excess rain and flash floods. Grapes, sugarcane, soybeans, maize, and other crops got destroyed completely over thousands of acres, and homes and livestock got washed away. The destruction of poorer households sparked a mental health emergency and left many uncertain about their futures. On India’s east coast, Cyclone Montha wreaked havoc in October. The storm flattened crops and battered farmlands, leaving behind a trail of losses. There was more, but these four episodes are enough to lay bare how shifting climatic patterns are erasing traditional coping strategies of people. India experienced “extreme weather events on 99 per cent of the days in the first nine months” of 2025, the Centre for Science and Environment says in its 2025 climate assessment report. The data are glaring: extreme weather events claimed more than 4,000 human lives — a 48% increase from 2022 — and over 3,000 of those lives were lost during the monsoon in floods and landslides. Crops over 47 million hectares were destroyed — a 400% rise in four years. More than 30 states and Union territories recorded extreme weather for eight consecutive months. The report and the anecdotes portray a broader map of a country torn between ecological volatility and tattered regional economies. Add to it the sudden impact of the tariffs imposed by the president of the United States of America, Donald Trump, and you have a tragedy that is accentuated multiple times over. Taken together, the year’s events expose three interlinked policy gaps. First, water governance remains fragmented, even wanting. Second, disaster-climate finance and preparedness are a hoax. Relief and meagre cash compensation remains the only policy response; they are band aids. Finally, what matters is the political economy. Macro growth and industrial production data can be misguiding. Real resilience requires attention and budgets toward rural infrastructure and local health systems to cope with consequences and adaptation at scale before — not after — a calamity strikes. The climate and economy are two intertwined spirals.

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

PM2.5 level rises beyond safe limit in Gurgaon, Teri Gram pollution hotspot

Gurgaon: The city's air quality index (AQI) on Wednesday went up to 276 from the previous day's 260. An analysis of PM2.5 data from air quality monitoring stations over the past 10 days shows that pollution is concentrated in a few chronic pockets instead of being distributed evenly across the region. Data from Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) indicates that Teri Gram has emerged as the city's most critical pollution hotspot so far this month, recording PM2.5 levels above 300 on six days. The station reported levels of 304 on Dec 1, 333 on Dec 2, 326 on Dec 4, 342 on Dec 6, 345 on Dec 7 and 323 on Dec 9. Sector 51 has reported consistently high baseline pollution as well, with short periods of relief. PM2.5 levels remained in the poor category for most of the first 10 days of the month, recording 283 on Dec 1, 292 on Dec 2, 251 on Dec 3, 262 on Dec 4 and 295 on Dec 5. After a brief dip to 179 on Dec 7, pollution rose again to 327 on Dec 8 and remained high at 297 on Dec 9. At Manesar's industrial belt, monitored at Sector 2 IMT, PM2.5 levels crossed 320 for four consecutive days between Dec 1 and 4, with readings of 323, 331, 327 and 302. Levels dropped slightly to 282 on Dec 6, 254 on Dec 8 and 238 on Dec 9. Vikas Sadan showed noticeable day-to-day variation rather than persistent high levels. PM2.5 levels fell to 159 on Dec 2 and 162 on Dec 9, although the area also recorded temporary spikes to 293 on Dec 4 and 290 on Dec 5. Gwal Pahari remained the least polluted among the five stations, although it too experienced seasonal smog. While there were brief spikes above 300 in early Dec, PM2.5 levels generally stayed lower than in the city's core hotspots. Lower traffic density and better air movement due to its elevation helped keep pollution comparatively lower. "The data shows that the air crisis is driven by persistent micro hotspots rather than uniform pollution across the city. With Teri Gram, Sector 51 and IMT Manesar repeatedly recording unsafe air, civic agencies need to focus on location-specific enforcement and source-wise control instead of broad city-level measures that do not address these chronic pockets," said Shubhansh Tiwari from the Centre for Science and Environment. "We have identified hotspots where pollution levels remain consistently high. Targeted enforcement drives are under way in these areas, including checks on construction dust, industrial emissions and waste burning. Strict action is being taken against violators, and monitoring is being intensified," said Krishan Kumar, regional officer, Haryana State Pollution Control Board.

• Director General Office

NHRC Conference Highlights Public Services for Human Dignity

Ms. Sunita Narain, Director General of the Centre for Science and Environment, stressed the necessity of recognizing the right to a clean environment as fundamental to living with dignity. She urged stakeholders to innovate and support scalable solutions in sanitation, energy, and public health sectors, reinforcing that rights should reflect true lived experiences, not mere policy frameworks. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India hosted a pivotal National Conference today, themed ‘Ensuring Everyday Essentials: Public Services and Dignity for All,’ at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. This event, held in observance of Human Rights Day, was chaired by NHRC Chairperson, Justice V. Ramasubramanian, who emphasized the importance of public services and individual dignity in upholding the country’s status as a welfare state. Justice Ramasubramanian pointed out that elected representatives create policies aimed at public welfare, while civil servants are responsible for executing these policies. He stressed that public servants play a crucial role in bridging the gap between policy formulation and the delivery of benefits to citizens, citing ideals from the Ramayana to illustrate the importance of efficiency in achieving maximum benefit swiftly and cost-effectively. Reflections on Progress and Human Rights Delivering the keynote address, Dr. P. K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, highlighted Human Rights Day as a reaffirmation of India’s democratic principles. He noted the country’s significant strides in recent years, particularly in enhancing living standards through housing, nutrition, healthcare, and employment security. Citing Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Dr. Mishra pointed out India’s transition from focusing solely on civil and political rights to a more comprehensive approach that includes socio-economic and cultural entitlements.

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

दिल्ली-NCR में इस बार पॉल्यूशन का 'टॉक्सिक कॉकटेल', इन 5 नए खतरों की आहट

CSE की अनुमिता रॉयचौधरी कहती हैं कि यह ट्रेंड दिखाता है कि मौसम पर निर्भरता कम होनी चाहिए, लोकल स्रोतों पर नियंत्रण जरूरी है.

• Urban Lab

दिल्ली की हवा ‘मौत का कॉकटेल’, पराली नहीं लोकल प्रदूषण असली कातिल

सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) की नई रिपोर्ट ‘टॉक्सिक कॉकरटेल ऑफ पॉल्यूशन ड्यूरिंग अर्ली विंटर इन दिल्ली–NCR’ बताती है कि अब राजधानी की हवा को सबसे ज्यादा नुकसान स्थानीय स्रोत पहुंचा रहे हैं। वाहन, उद्योग, कचरा जलाना और बिजली संयंत्र मिलकर 85% प्रदूषण पैदा कर रहे हैं।

• Urban Lab

Delhi-NCR Faces 'Toxic Cocktail' Of Pollution, Says CSE Report Warning Of Five New Dangers As Local Sources Gain In Strength

This year, the pollution crisis in the Delhi-NCR region has stretched from October to December, maintaining consistently severe to critical AQI levels even with minimal contribution from the crop residue burning. A new report by the Centre for Science and Environment, 'Toxic Cocktail of Pollution During Early Winter in Delhi-NCR', identifies local emission sources as the prime culprits and warns of five new dangers that are now expanding and aggravating. The pollution this year, the report said, is a deadly combination of high PM2.5 combined with high NO2 and CO. Experts at the CSE say that minor measures can no longer help; strong, systemic changes are needed to cut emissions from vehicles, industries, and power plants. 1. Longer And Uncontrolled Pollution Season This year, the pollution episode has lasted for over 80 days, extending from October well into December, whereas it used to subside by November. In fact, the AQI has stayed in the 'Very Poor' to 'Severe' category for almost the entire month of November. Scientific Fact: Compared to the previous year, PM2.5 averaged 9% less but equaled the three-year average, remaining steady at around 100 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³). Reason: During winter, the atmospheric boundary layer turns shallow and traps pollutants. Vehicular emissions increase manifold during peak traffic time-7-10 Am and 6-9 PM-and the PM2.5 increase is pretty rapid. According to the CSE expert Anumita Roychowdhury, this trend reflects a reduced dependence on meteorology, with greater priority given to source control at the local level. 2. Explosion Of Pollution Hotspots And Regional Spread Hotspots of pollution have increased manifold since 2018, where a number of places recorded alarming levels of contamination. Worst Affected: Jahangirpuri recorded an annual PM2.5 average of 119 µg/m³, followed by Bawana and Wazirpur at 113 µg/m³. New Hotspots: Other emerging areas include Vivek Vihar with 101 µg/m³, Nehru Nagar, Alipur, Siri Fort, Dwarka Sector-8, and Patparganj, crossing the 90 µg/m³ mark. Reason: These hotspots, now identified as permanent, are driven by dense traffic, industries, construction activity, and waste burning in North and East Delhi. 3. Local Sources Emerge As Primary Villain: Contribution of 85% Due to heavy rains in Punjab and Haryana, the incidents of stubble burning were considerably fewer this year, contrib­uting less than 5% on most days in October-November, and peaking at only 22% on November 12-13. Scientific Fact: Even with minimal stubble burning, the air remained toxic. PM2.5 affected AQI for 34 days, PM10 for 25 days, and Ozone for 13 days. Reason: This points overwhelmingly to local sources: vehicles (contributing NO2 and CO), industries, power plants, waste burning, and domestic fuels. CSE draws the conclusion from this that although reduced stubble burning prevented severe peak spikes, the dangerous average pollution levels remained stable. ADVERTISEMENT 4. The Silent Threat: Toxic Cocktail of NO2 and CO While headlines might be dominated by PM2.5, the concurrent rise in NO2 and CO levels creates a toxic cocktail often overlooked. Science Fact: NO2 and PM2.5 increase together at morning and evening peaks because of traffic. CO exceeded the 8-hour standard of 2 mg/m³ on more than 30 days at 22 monitoring stations, with a maximum of 55 days in Dwarka Sector-8. Health hazard: This combination is especially hazardous because it deteriorates the lungs, blood, and heart, making the air much more toxic to breathe.

• Down To Earth

Climate In 2025: Extreme Weather Events That Shaped India's Year

As 2025 draws to a close, it's worth looking back at what's been a genuinely terrifying year for India's climate. If there's one thing this year will be remembered for, it's the extreme weather events that highlighted the country's vulnerability to climate change. The Year's Worst Hits Remember that brutal April heatwave? Delhi was absolutely sweltering, and temperatures crossed 40°C. It doesn't sound that dramatic until you realise it was 4 degrees hotter than similar heatwaves before 1987. Human-induced climate change was the main culprit, affecting not just India but Pakistan too, according to a ClimaMeter study. Then there was Cyclone Montha. The destruction it left behind was staggering, about Rs 53 billion in damages, impacting Andhra Pradesh the most. Tamil Nadu experienced heavy rainfall, while alerts went out to Odisha, West Bengal, Puducherry, and several other regions. Meanwhile, North India faced cold waves, with fog and low temperatures, basically making everyone's daily routine a nightmare. Extreme Weather Events On 99% Of Days The Centre for Science and Environment and Down To Earth dropped their Climate India 2025 report in November, and the findings are shocking. India faced extreme weather events on 99% of days during the first nine months of 2025. When it comes to extreme weather events, we're talking about heatwaves, cold waves, lightning, storms, heavy rain, floods and landslides. As per the report, at least 4,064 lives were lost, and 9.47 million hectares of crops were affected. This is just a summary; the details of the report are far more scary, highlighting the urgent need to work on quick response action during such weather conditions. The northwest region recorded the highest frequency of extreme weather events, with 257 event days, followed closely by the east and northeast at 229 days.

• Water Programme

Rajasthan Secures Over ₹130 Crore in CSR Commitments to Boost Water Conservation Efforts

Rajasthan’s push toward long-term water security received a major boost as corporate and civil society partners committed more than ₹130 crore in CSR support at a recent high-level state consultation in Jaipur. The consultation, centred on “Building Public–Private–People Partnership for a Water-Secure Rajasthan,” was organised by UNICEF in collaboration with the Department of Watershed Development and Soil Conservation and implementing partner Aravali. The platform brought together government departments, CSR organisations, academia and grassroots institutions to chart a coordinated path for sustainable water management. The Government of Rajasthan signed MoUs amounting to ₹100 crore with leading CSR partners including Piramal Foundation, PHD Chamber, Arpan Seva, HPCL and ITC to support Mukhya Mantri Jal Swavlamban Abhiyan (MJSA) 2.0. The commitments aim to strengthen rural infrastructure, promote innovative water-conservation practices, and build capacity at the panchayat level. Additional MoUs worth ₹14 crore were formalised—₹9 crore from PHD RDF Chamber of Commerce and ₹5 crore from Piramal Foundation and Arpan Seva Sansthan—to mobilise ₹100 crore investment for carbon credits through plantation efforts across 10,000 hectares of wasteland. Further pledges of ₹21 crore came from Ambuja Cement, Dharampal Satyapal Group, ITC, Jamnalal Bajaj Trust and HPRRL, along with support for village groundwater cooperatives under the MARVI concept. Deliberations through the day focused on aligning government schemes with CSR strategies, reinforcing the link between water security, rural livelihoods, farmers’ income and climate resilience. Participants identified the need for stronger infrastructure, technology-driven solutions, capacity-building and scalable conservation models. Representatives from more than 20 corporate entities—including Piramal Foundation, ITC, Ambuja, Shree Cement, DS Group, JK Cement and the Jamnalal Kaniram Bajaj Trust—shared insights. Their views were complemented by contributions from 15 NGOs such as Arpan Seva Sansthan, Ibtada, Pradan, FES, Centre for Micro Finance and Gramin Vikas Trust, highlighting on-ground challenges and innovations. Academic and research institutions including ICRISAT, MNIT Jaipur, IIT Roorkee, Kanoria College and Western Sydney University added scholarly depth to the discussions. Padma Shri awardees Laxman Singh and Shyam Sundar Paliwal also provided valuable perspectives rooted in community-led models. Officers from key water-related departments ensured a comprehensive administrative lens to the conversations. Addressing the consultation, Panchayati Raj Minister Madan Dilawar said the CSR commitments mark a decisive step toward a water-secure Rajasthan. He underscored the role of community participation and innovation in ensuring sustainability. In his keynote remarks, he highlighted how CSR-backed interventions under MJSA enhance community ownership and strengthen long-term outcomes. Muhammad Junaid, Director, Watershed Development and Soil Conservation, outlined progress under MJSA and PMKSY, stressing the importance of adopting best practices from ongoing innovations. He said showcasing successful models and interventions is critical to shaping future strategies and action plans. UNICEF reiterated its commitment to climate resilience and environmental sustainability. Paulos Workneh, Chief of WASH, emphasised alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 6 and SDG 13. He noted that collaborative efforts since 2023 have strengthened local water-security initiatives. Rushabh Hemani, Chief In-Charge and WASH Specialist, UNICEF Jaipur, noted that the partnership aligns with the state’s 2047 water-security vision, structured into phased milestones for 2030, 2035 and 2047. The consultation also featured experience-sharing sessions with organisations including AIWC Marvi, Centre for Science and Environment, Ambuja Foundation, Jamnalal Kaniram Bajaj Foundation, ITC, PHD Chamber of Commerce, Dharampal Satyapal Group and Shree Cement Foundation. UNICEF presented field insights to guide collaborative planning, marking a significant stride in Rajasthan’s journey toward a water-secure and climate-resilient future.

• Industrial Pollution

दिल्ली से भी भयावह है भिवाड़ी का प्रदूषण संकट लेकिन इस पर कोई बात नहीं करना चाहता

लाल ज़ोन में छोटे शहर बीवाड़ी राष्ट्रीय संकट की स्थानीय तस्वीर है. छोटे औद्योगिक शहर बड़े प्रदूषणकारी बन गए हैं. CPCB निरीक्षण, CAG ऑडिट और संसदीय कमेटी की रिपोर्टें बार-बार बताती हैं कि देशभर में पर्यावरण इंजीनियरों, लैब तकनीशियनों और मॉनिटरिंग सिस्टम की भारी कमी है. 2021 की सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एन्वायरनमेंट (CSE) रिपोर्ट में पाया गया कि 2009 में प्रदूषित घोषित किए गए 88 औद्योगिक क्लस्टरों में से कई में 2018 तक हवा, पानी और मिट्टी का प्रदूषण और बढ़ गया. 33 क्लस्टरों में वायु गुणवत्ता बिगड़ी, जिनमें मथुरा, बुलंदशहर-खुर्जा, मुरादाबाद और तारापुर शामिल हैं. पिछले साल मेघालय के औद्योगिक शहर बर्नीहाट को IQAir रिपोर्ट में दुनिया के सबसे प्रदूषित शहर के रूप में रैंक किया गया था. हरियाणा का धारूहेड़ा भी एक बड़ा दावेदार है.

• Water Programme

Nigeria discloses readiness to end open defecation nationwide by 2030

The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, has reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Government towards eradicating open defecation nationwide by 2030 in line with the United Nations Convention. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mahmud Adams Kambari, who represented the Minister, revealed this recently in Abuja during a press briefing with the global theme: Sanitation in a Changing World, We’ll Always Need the Toilet.Geographic Reference Balarabe lamented that 4.2 billion people globally live without safe toilets, while over 45 million Nigerians still practice open defecation, adding that only about 25 per cent of the population has access to safely managed sanitation facilities. He noted that the 2025 WTD theme reflects the growing impacts of climate change, rapid urbanisation and widening inequalities that weaken sanitation systems. The Minister called on sub-nationals to prioritise the provision of toilets and the effective management of waste to enhance environmental health, explaining that lack of toilets and poor waste management contribute significantly to diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea, typhoid and intestinal worm infections, which continue to claim lives—especially among children below the age of five. Mrs Sushmita of the Centre for Science and Environment, India, pledged the support of their centre to mitigate open defecation and promote environmental sustainability in Nigeria.Waste Management In her welcome address, the Director of Pollution Control and Environmental Health (PC/EH), Bahijjah Abubakar, who represented the Permanent Secretary, noted that millions globally still lack access to safe toilets, while many continue to practice open defecation. The Permanent Secretary stated that open defecation poses serious health and environmental risks, especially to women, children and other vulnerable groups, as poor sanitation fuels the spread of diarrhoea, cholera and typhoid, which remain major causes of illness and death among children under five. The Registrar of the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON), Dr Yakubu Mohammed Baba, in his goodwill message, called for urgent inclusive action on sanitation, stressing that inadequate access to safe toilets remains a major challenge amid climate change, population growth, urbanisation and social inequality. Yakubu maintained that toilets are not ordinary facilities but essential markers of public health, human dignity and social progress. Also, the Secretary-General of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Dr Abubakar Ahmed Kende, emphasised the constant necessity of sanitation as a human right despite global challenges and called for urgent action to expand access to safely managed sanitation in a world affected by aging infrastructure, rising demand, climate change and widening inequality. Kende reiterated: “We live in a changing world marked by innovation, migration, economic changes and climate uncertainty. In fact, one thing remains constant—we will always need the toilet for convenience and dignity.”

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

If Breathing in Delhi is Not a Right, What Does Dignity Even Mean?

The truth, if we follow the historical trail, is that this crisis did not creep up on us. It was engineered through choices. Is Delhi choking because winter arrives? Or because leadership repeatedly chose convenience over caution, industry over health, and spectacle over science? The Centre for Science and Environment has documented this journey in unsettling detail: from the “black smog” of the 1990s to the long battle for clean fuels, to the brief relief brought by the CNG transition, and finally to the slow erosion of every gain as diesel vehicles surged, construction sprawled unchecked and public transport fell behind demand. The city’s air did not become toxic in a single moment; it became toxic through a chain of decisions that consistently placed citizens last. If a citizen cannot breathe safely in the capital city of the world’s largest democracy, what does that say about the state of our democracy itself? This is the question that Delhi forces upon us each winter, when the air turns abrasive and the horizon dissolves into a grainy, toxic blur. We deem this as seasonal, inevitable, and even cultural. But is it natural for a state to allow its citizens to inhale poison? And more importantly, what does it reveal about the place of dignity in India’s constitutional imagination? Our constitution does not treat dignity as a flower-pot decoration. It is embedded in Article 21, consolidated by judgments that ‘the right to life means the right to live in conditions that honour the human spirit’ i.e. the conditions that allow people to grow, work, breathe and aspire without fear. In a growing nation that takes pride in ambition, economic rise, and global visibility, dignity must be understood not as charity but as an entitlement. Yet Delhi’s air tells a different story: a story of how dignity is quietly negotiated away. Why has breathing, an act that precedes every right in a democracy become the first right to be compromised?

• Director General Office

NHRC, India organises a National Conference on ‘Ensuring Everyday Essentials: Public Services and Dignity for All' commemorating Human Rights Day

Ms. Sunita Narain, Director General, Centre for Science and Environment emphasised the importance of right to a clean environment in realising a dignified life.Noting the progress, she called for more innovative, scalable and institutionally supported solutions in the field of sanitation, energy and public health. She urged strengthening public institutions to deliver rights as lived realities rather than policy aspirations. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India organised a National Conference on ‘Ensuring Everyday Essentials: Public Services and Dignity for All’ to commemorate Human Rights Day at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi today. Chairing the inaugural session, NHRC, India Chairperson, Justice V. Ramasubramanian said that the Commission has looked at the theme of this year’s Human Rights Day from the perspective of public services in India and the dignity of the citizens. The reason why we chose public services and dignity of the individual as ‘everyday essentials’ is that our country is a welfare State, as seen from the Directive Principles of State Policy.

• Director General Office

NHRC, India organises a National Conference on ‘Ensuring Everyday Essentials: Public Services and Dignity for All' commemorating Human Rights Day

Ms. Sunita Narain, Director General, Centre for Science and Environment emphasised the importance of right to a clean environment in realising a dignified life. Noting the progress, she called for more innovative, scalable and institutionally supported solutions in the field of sanitation, energy and public health. She urged strengthening public institutions to deliver rights as lived realities rather than policy aspirations. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India organised a National Conference on ‘Ensuring Everyday Essentials: Public Services and Dignity for All’ to commemorate Human Rights Day at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi today. Chairing the inaugural session, NHRC, India Chairperson, Justice V. Ramasubramanian said that the Commission has looked at the theme of this year’s Human Rights Day from the perspective of public services in India and the dignity of the citizens. The reason why we chose public services and dignity of the individual as ‘everyday essentials’ is that our country is a welfare State, as seen from the Directive Principles of State Policy.

• Director General Office

राष्ट्रीय मानव अधिकार आयोग(एनएचआरसी), भारत ने मानवाधिकार दिवस के उपलक्ष्य में ‘दैनिक आवश्यकताओं की सुनिश्चितता: सार्वजनिक सेवाएं और सभी के लिए गरिमा’ विषय पर एक राष्ट्रीय सम्मेलन का आयोजन किया

सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट की महानिदेशक सुनीता नारायण ने गरिमापूर्ण जीवन सुनिश्चित करने में स्वच्छ पर्यावरण के अधिकार के महत्व पर जोर दिया। प्रगति का उल्लेख करते हुए, उन्होंने स्वच्छता, ऊर्जा और सार्वजनिक स्वास्थ्य के क्षेत्रों में अधिक नवोन्मेषी, व्यापक और संस्थागत समर्थन वाली समाधान प्रणालियां विकसित करने की आवश्यकता बताई। उन्होंने आग्रह किया कि सार्वजनिक संस्थानों को इस प्रकार मज़बूत किया जाए कि अधिकार सिर्फ नीतिगत आकांक्षाएं न बनें, बल्कि वास्तविक जीवन में अनुभव किए जाने वाले अधिकार हों।