• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

India Needs 10-Fold Bus Fleet Expansion by 2047: Sector Outlook

A report by the Centre for Science and Environment reveals a 70% deficit in India’s urban bus transit, requiring the fleet to grow to 671,000 vehicles by 2047. This massive expansion demands a ₹14.2 lakh crore investment, with a heavy emphasis on electric vehicles. Investors should track how funding models and infrastructure constraints shape this long-term growth opportunity. A new study by the Centre for Science and Environment and the CITIES Forum has brought the scale of India’s urban transport challenges into sharp focus. The report highlights that over 400 Indian cities currently lack organized bus services, contributing to a 70% deficit in urban transit. With the urban population projected to reach 763 million by 2047, the demand for public transport is set for a significant long-term increase. To bridge this gap, India needs to expand its urban bus fleet tenfold, moving from the current 65,000 buses to 671,000 vehicles over the next two decades. This requirement translates to an ambitious procurement target of roughly 41,500 buses annually—a 17-fold increase from current purchasing levels. Achieving this will require a cumulative investment of ₹14.2 lakh crore, covering not just the buses themselves, but the necessary depots, power grids, and charging infrastructure. The Shift Toward Electric Mobility A critical part of this expansion is the push toward cleaner energy, with the report aiming for 90% of the new fleet to be electric by 2047. This transition represents a major industrial shift for bus manufacturers and the power sector. Scaling up to this level would require an estimated 121 gigawatt-hours of battery capacity annually and a massive increase in electricity supply. For the automotive and infrastructure industries, this signals a long-term demand cycle for electric vehicle (EV) technology, charging stations, and grid management services. Financial and Operational Risks While the growth potential is high, the execution path faces distinct challenges. A major hurdle is the financial health of State Transport Undertakings, many of which struggle with low creditworthiness. Without sustainable subsidy models, green bonds, or concessional financing, state-run bodies may find it difficult to fund such massive fleet upgrades. Furthermore, the high upfront cost of electric buses—which can be significantly more expensive than diesel counterparts—puts pressure on project viability. Infrastructure readiness is another critical monitorable. Simply buying more buses will not solve the transit deficit if there is no corresponding development of depots, electricity grid capacity, and fast-charging networks. What Investors Should Monitor As this sector evolves, investors may look for updates on the proposed National Urban Bus Mission, which aims to provide structured support and dedicated funding for this transition. The speed of fleet procurement, the stability of government EV subsidy schemes, and the ability of power utilities to meet increased electricity demand will be key indicators. Additionally, tracking how companies manage the shift from diesel to electric manufacturing and their ability to secure large-scale government contracts will be important for assessing the long-term impact on their profit margins and market share.

• Director General Office

El Niño, Climate Change And India's Monsoon | Why 2026 Matters | Sunita Narain Show

India's monsoon is the country's true pierce brosnan finance minister. It determines food production, water availability, livelihoods and economic growth. north korea In 2026, India faces the combined challenge of a strong El Niño and a warming climate, raising concerns about below average rainfall and increasing weather extremes. As weather systems become more volatile, the need to value every drop of rain and strengthen rainwater harvesting has never been greater. Understanding the monsoon is essential to understanding India's future.

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

KSRTC requires 25,000 buses in 2025-26, only behindUP in demand

Karnataka is among the top five states with the largest bus fleets in the country, according to a study conducted by Delhi-based organisations Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and CITIES Forum, a global technical consultancy. The study found that Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation achieves an 85% cost-recovery ratio, with an average fare of Rs 9.2 per 10km, the third highest in the country. It estimated that Karnataka would require 25,000 buses in 2025-26, the secondhighest demand after Uttar Pradesh, which requires 95,000 buses. While Uttar Pradesh was categorised as a state with “stressed and large accumulated losses”, Karnataka was classified as “moderate and improving”. Despite the challenges, Karnataka is among five states that account for more than 50% of the national active bus fleet. Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) was also recognised as one of the few organised urban bus service agencies in the country. The study, titled ‘Reinventing the Urban Bus: Financial Strategies and Strategic Roadmap for Scaling India’s Bus Sector’, noted that high-performing transport undertakings such as KSRTC (Karnataka), KSRTC (Kerala) and GSRTC (Gujarat) achieve cost-recovery ratios of 80-93% while maintaining manageable staff-to-bus ratios of 5.5 to 5.8. The report stated that the southern region, led by Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, has the most developed State Transport Undertaking (STU) ecosystem in India, with extensive networks, relatively high utilisation levels and advanced adoption of electric buses. “Karnataka’s KSRTC operates one of India’s largest and most professionally managed transport networks. Kerala’s KSRTC has been an early mover in electric bus adoption,” the study observed. In terms of regional fleet distribution for 2025-26, Karnataka accounts for 33% of the active fleet of 3.5 lakh buses. The study highlighted the state’s strengths as having the “highest fleet intensity, strongest STU capacity and the most advanced EV adoption”.

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

भारत के शहरों में बसों की 70% भारी किल्लत: 400 से अधिक शहरों में एक भी बस नहीं, CSE रिपोर्ट में बड़ा खुलासा

भारत के शहरों में सार्वजनिक बस परिवहन प्रणाली की हालत बेहद चिंताजनक है। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) और ग्लोबल टेक्निकल फर्म CITIES Forum द्वारा संयुक्त रूप से जारी की गई अध्ययन रिपोर्ट "द इकोनॉमिक्स ऑफ बस ट्रांसफॉर्मेशन्स: ए रोडमैप फॉर विकसित भारत 2047" में सामने आया है कि देश के शहरी इलाकों में बसों की 70 प्रतिशत से अधिक की भारी कमी है। आंकड़ों के अनुसार, देश के 400 से अधिक छोटे-बड़े शहरों में संगठित बस सेवा पूरी तरह नदारद है। इन शहरों में आम नागरिक पूरी तरह से अनौपचारिक मिनीबसों, ऑटो-रिक्शा और शेयरिंग टू-व्हीलर्स पर निर्भर हैं। देश में इस समय कितनी अर्बन बसें चल रही हैं और क्या हैं सरकार के मानक? अध्ययन के मुताबिक, भारत की शहरी बस प्रणाली आबादी की जरूरतों के मुकाबले काफी पीछे है: बसों की संख्या: देश में कुल 14.5 लाख पंजीकृत बसों और राज्य परिवहन उपक्रमों (STUs) की 2.9 लाख बसों में से केवल 65,000 बसें ही संगठित शहरी सिटी बसों के रूप में संचालित हो रही हैं। प्रति लाख आबादी पर उपलब्धता: वर्तमान में प्रति एक लाख शहरी आबादी पर केवल 13.3 से 13.8 बसें उपलब्ध हैं। जबकि सरकार का न्यूनतम मानक प्रति लाख आबादी पर 44 बसों का है। बढ़ती आबादी की चुनौती: वित्तीय वर्ष 2026 में भारत की शहरी आबादी 49 करोड़ से बढ़कर वित्तीय वर्ष 2047 तक 76.3 करोड़ (763 मिलियन) होने का अनुमान है। यानी शहरों में 27 करोड़ नए नागरिक जुड़ेंगे, जिससे यह संकट और गहरा हो सकता है।

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Nagpur Breathed Illegal Air Every Other Day While Clean-Air Funds Sat Half Unspent

The Centre for Science and Environment audit of how that spending broke down found that 64 percent went to road dust mitigation measures — water sprinkling, smog guns, road washing — while industrial pollution controls received 0.61 percent of NCAP expenditure nationally.

• Down To Earth

Disrupted monsoons force India to face climate threat

The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) found that extreme weather affected India on 331 of 334 monitored days in 2025, or 99% of the period assessed. More than 4,000 people died, about 3,000 during the monsoon, while at least 30 states and union territories experienced extreme weather simultaneously for eight consecutive months. Sunita Narain, director general of the CSE, argues that adaptation therefore needs to become part of the country's development strategy. "Climate change is no longer a future threat. It is already here in the form of extreme heat, extreme rainfall and increasingly destructive weather events," Narain told DW.

• Down To Earth

Disrupted monsoons force India to face climate threat

The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) found that extreme weather affected India on 331 of 334 monitored days in 2025, or 99% of the period assessed. More than 4,000 people died, about 3,000 during the monsoon, while at least 30 states and union territories experienced extreme weather simultaneously for eight consecutive months. Sunita Narain, director general of the CSE, argues that adaptation therefore needs to become part of the country's development strategy. "Climate change is no longer a future threat. It is already here in the form of extreme heat, extreme rainfall and increasingly destructive weather events,"

• Urban Lab

Climate change is making humid heat more intense in these Indian cities

A 2024 report by Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment analysed three factors that contribute to heat stress in six megacities of India during summer—air temperature, land surface temperature and relative humidity. Humidity had contributed to a significant increase in these cities’ heat stress, they had found. In Chennai, humidity was responsible for adding on average 6.3°C heat stress to the city. Long dry spells this monsoon in some parts of India meant warmer days and nights even in July. Climate change is making the world hotter and more humid, and the number of dangerous humid heat days is rising, a new study shows. Sixteen Indian cities saw dangerous humid days for more than six months each year, the study found. ‘Felt temperature’ or ‘wet bulb temperature’ is the thermal discomfort the human body feels and is a combination of maximum temperature and relative humidity. Researchers at Climate Central defined dangerous humid heat days as days when the maximum wet-bulb temperature is 25°C or higher. In simple terms, it could mean a daytime maximum temperature of around 26°C and humidity levels around 20 percent or a variation of the same (use this calculator). Humid heat inhibits the body’s ability to cool down through its natural mechanism of sweating. Across India, humidity has increased at the rate of 0.79 percent per decade between 1969 and 2012. High humidity levels coinciding with high temperatures are likely to create lethal weather conditions and affect the lives of millions across the Indian subcontinent. Climate change will make such conditions more frequent as the 21st century comes to a close. While India is not among the worst-affected countries, the study shows several Indian cities where dangerous humid heat days attributable to climate change have multiplied in about 55 years. Overall, 59 Indian cities were included in the study, of which only two—Bengaluru and Srinagar—did not see any days with dangerous humid heat. Tirunelveli, Chennai, Tiruchirapalli and Vijayawada saw more than 250 days (or eight months) of dangerous humid heat a year in the past decade. Tirunelveli ranks 34th and Chennai ranks 39th in the list of 961 cities analysed across the globe. Among the worst affected countries in Asia are Brunei Darussalam (also worst affected in the world), Singapore, Malaysia and Cambodia, while India ranks 16th in Asia. The country had, on average, 141 days of dangerous humid heat during 2016-2025, of which 49 days or 35 percent were attributable to climate change. The study calculated the number of observed days with dangerous humid heat, and used a counterfactual analysis to estimate the number that would have occurred without the influence of climate change. ISignal reached out to the Union health and environment ministries, and the National Disaster Management Authority on how they plan to adapt to climate-driven humid heat, what health protocols will be put in place for vulnerable groups, how the departments will plan for occupational protections and adaptation funding for most impacted Indian cities. We will update this report when we receive a response. Southern and central Indian cities worst off Our survival depends on our bodies staying at a consistent temperature, as ISignal explained in August 2017. Normally, our core temperature—from the top of the head to mid-chest, encompassing the brain, lungs and chest—is regulated at 37°C, and our skin at 35°C. Sweating helps us shed excess heat—sweat beads cool the skin, and evaporation of sweat gets rid of heat, restoring the equilibrium. This process of thermoregulation occurs efficiently only when ambient air is favourable for us. Air can hold a limited quantity of water until it saturates. In dry air without much water content, sweat evaporates quickly, causing cooling. In humid air that has much moisture already, sweat does not evaporate as easily, leading to overheating of the body. An earlier study by Indian researchers had calculated physiological strain using core body temperature and heart rate. It identified a threshold of 32°C temperature and 60 percent relative humidity as a “critical point beyond which thermoregulatory mechanisms become inefficient”, we explained last year. Climate Central uses a lower threshold. Their study found that if the 1970s are compared to the past decade (2016-2025), dangerous humid heat days have more than doubled globally—from an average 10 days per year to 23. In nearly 70 percent of the cities analysed, climate change led to an average of 46 more humid heat days per year during the last decade. Climate change is making such days more frequent. For example, in Tirunelveli, climate change was responsible for 72 percent of humid heat days in the 2016-25 decade as compared to only 32 percent in the 1970s—or an additional 197 days per year. Five other Indian cities are among the top 100 across the world where this is becoming increasingly frequent: Madurai (164 additional days), Tiruchirapalli (135) and Kallakurichi (125) in Tamil Nadu, and Mumbai and Navi Mumbai (115 additional days) in Maharashtra. Ranchi saw 12 days with a wet-bulb temperature above 25°C during 1970-79, of which four were attributed to changing climate. During 2016-25, the city saw 83 days with dangerous humid heat, 75 of which were due to climate change. In effect, accelerating global warming led to an 18-fold increase in the number of such days attributable to climate change. Climate change added 164 dangerous humid heat days a year in Madurai, nearly eight times the 21 days added in the 1970s. Today, 82 percent of its 200 days every year with humid heat are due to climate change. In Maharashtra’s Nagpur, humid heat days more than doubled and 71 percent now are due to climate change. Even Bhopal recorded an 83 percent attribution, Indore even higher at 94 percent, Nowrangapur in Odisha 93 percent. In Hyderabad, 100 percent or the entire increase in humid days, is attributed to climate change. The other 100-percenters are Aurangabad, Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad in Maharashtra. “These findings show how profoundly climate change is reshaping our world. Dangerous humid heat has gone from being an uncommon event to a defining feature of daily life in some regions, pushing conditions closer to the limits of what the human body can safely endure," said Kaitlyn Trudeau, applied climate scientist at Climate Central in a press release. “Those numbers for southern India, like the 197 extra humid heat days in Tirunelveli, sound extreme, but they track with what we're seeing on the ground. The Tamil Nadu pattern actually makes a lot of sense,” said Vidhya Venugopal, professor of occupational and environmental health at the Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (SRIHER), Chennai. The worst off of the worst hit Why this matters is because humid heat is affecting our health in several ways. Extreme heat and humidity lead to heat strain, dehydration, cardiovascular strain, renal strain, and respiratory distress, potentially culminating in heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and an elevated risk in cardiovascular and respiratory morbidities and mortalities. “Elevated body temperatures cause blood to be redirected from the core to the skin to aid in heat dissipation. This decrease… along with high internal temperature, can increase gut permeability, allowing bacteria to enter the bloodstream. As a result, widespread clotting and multiple organ failure can occur, which may be fatal,” found researchers from multiple global universities in this paper published in the journal Annual Review of Environment and Resources last year. Further, the paper warns, people with preexisting kidney disease are at higher risk of renal failure during exposure to extreme heat and humidity, primarily due to reduced blood flow to the kidneys. “Vulnerable populations, including the elderly, young children, and those with preexisting health conditions, face greater risks due to lower physiological adaptive capacity. Those from socioeconomically disadvantaged communities are also vulnerable because of increased exposure and reduced capacity,” the paper says. Workers exposed to high humidity were 150 percent more likely to experience more physiological strain compared to those in low humidity conditions, we reported last year. Speaking about why India’s policies for adapting to humid heat fall short, Venugopal said, “In India, heat gets less attention than air pollution does, and even when someone does act on it, they treat it like a public health issue, for example by providing cooling centers, heat alerts, instead of a workplace safety issue.” She explained that heat policy gets split across environment, labour, and health ministries, “and nobody is really coordinating across those”. Humidity added 5-6 degrees heat stress for Chennai, Mumbai The Climate Central study mirrors findings of other studies done over the years. A 2024 report by Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment analysed three factors that contribute to heat stress in six megacities of India during summer—air temperature, land surface temperature and relative humidity. Humidity had contributed to a significant increase in these cities’ heat stress, they had found. In Chennai, humidity was responsible for adding on average 6.3°C heat stress to the city. “There is direct co-relation between increase in built up area and increase in urban heat stress,” the CSE analysis on Chennai found, adding that the city’s built up area has increased in two decades while green cover fell from 34 percent to 20 percent in the same time (2003-23). In Mumbai, summer registered a 0.6°C increase in comparison while relative humidity increased by 7 percent between 2001-10 and 2014-23. High humidity was responsible for adding, on average, 5°C of heat stress to the city. Mumbai’s built up area has increased from 38 percent in 2003 to 52 percent in 2023 while its green cover has decreased from 36 percent to 30 percent in the same time period. Chandni Singh, lead researcher at the Indian Institute for Human Settlements and an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change author, believes that India needs a mix of adaptation strategies to deal with humid heat. "Humid heat is something many of our coastal cities already deal with. We need more research to devise cost-effective ways to deal with humid heat because air conditioning is expensive,” Singh explained. “Tree cover can help with heat but when it comes to humid heat, it is not so simple. Often when you plant trees, localised humidity increases because of evapotranspiration. So, a lot more research is needed on what kind of trees to plant and does that work in hot-humid conditions.” “Also, we must realise that as built up area changes and air circulation changes, that also exacerbates humid heat. Within cities, you now have spaces where air circulation is not happening. In coastal cities, the sea breeze allows you to have cooler evenings but that changes due to changes in the urban form. That is why, we need a mix of adaptation strategies to deal with humid heat," said Singh. Venugopal believes India needs heat and humidity rules with real teeth, real-time monitoring, protection schemes for informal workers, and enforcement that means something. “Right now, none of that exists at any real scale and the gap between what the research shows and what policy does is only getting wider,” said Venugopal.

• Sustainable Food Systems

चेहरे की चमक के पीछे छिपा जहर! नकली कॉस्मेटिक कर रहे सेहत का दुश्मन, क्रीम में 752 गुना ज्यादा मिला पारा

त्वचा को गोरा करने वाली नकली क्रीमों में मिलाई जाने वाली मरकरी त्वचा की मेलानिन कोशिकाओं को नुकसान पहुंचाती है। इससे कुछ दिनों के लिए त्वचा का रंग हल्का दिखाई देता है, लेकिन यह वास्तविक सौंदर्य नहीं, बल्कि गंभीर रासायनिक क्षति का परिणाम होता है। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट के अध्ययनों में दैनिक उपयोग के कई कॉस्मेटिक उत्पादों में मरकरी, क्रोमियम और निकेल जैसी भारी धातुओं की मात्रा सुरक्षित सीमा से अधिक पाई गई। कई उत्पादों में बैक्टीरिया, यीस्ट और फफूंद जैसे सूक्ष्मजीव भी मिले, जो निर्माण प्रक्रिया में स्वच्छता की कमी को दर्शाते हैं। यही कारण है कि बाजार में उपलब्ध अनेक गैर-ब्रांडेड सौंदर्य प्रसाधन स्वास्थ्य के लिए सुरक्षित नहीं माने जा सकते। आज लगभग सभी, विशेषकर कामकाजी लोग, अपनी त्वचा और चेहरे को सुंदर एवं आकर्षक बनाए रखने के लिए विभिन्न प्रकार के सौंदर्य प्रसाधनों का उपयोग करते हैं। बाजार में उपलब्ध अनेक ब्रांड के कॉस्मेटिक उत्पाद उपभोक्ताओं को आकर्षित करते हैं। प्रतिष्ठित राष्ट्रीय एवं अंतर्राष्ट्रीय कंपनियां अपने उत्पादों में निर्धारित मानकों के अनुरूप सामग्रियों का उपयोग करती हैं, लेकिन कुछ मुनाफाखोर निर्माता कम लागत में अधिक लाभ कमाने के लिए निम्न गुणवत्ता के नकली सौंदर्य उत्पाद बाजार में उतारकर लोगों के स्वास्थ्य से खिलवाड़ कर रहे हैं। केंद्र और राज्य सरकारों के खाद्य एवं औषध प्रशासन (एफडीए) द्वारा ऐसे उत्पादों की निगरानी की जाती है, फिर भी नकली कॉस्मेटिक उत्पादों का कारोबार लगातार बढ़ रहा है। हाल ही में नागपुर की 18 महिलाओं में त्वचा को गोरा करने वाली एक ऑनलाइन उपलब्ध क्रीम के प्रयोग के बाद गुर्दे से जुड़ी गंभीर समस्याएं सामने आईं। महाराष्ट्र एफडीए की जांच में पाया गया कि पाकिस्तान निर्मित उस क्रीम में मरकरी (पारा) की मात्रा निर्धारित कानूनी सीमा से 752 गुना अधिक थी। इसके बाद महाराष्ट्र एफडीए ने 10 जुलाई 2026 को ऐसे उत्पादों के विरुद्ध चेतावनी जारी की। जांच में त्वचा को निखारने का दावा करने वाली नौ क्रीम और एक साबुन में मरकरी का स्तर अत्यधिक पाया गया, जिनमें अधिकांश उत्पाद ई-कॉमर्स प्लेटफॉर्म पर आसानी से उपलब्ध थे। कई उत्पादों की पैकेजिंग पर बैच नंबर, निर्माण तिथि और एक्सपायरी जैसी आवश्यक जानकारी भी अंकित नहीं थी। नकली कॉस्मेटिक से स्वास्थ्य के प्रति खतरे आज बाजार में 15 दिन से एक महीने के भीतर त्वचा गोरी बनाने का दावा करने वाली नकली एवं मिलावटी क्रीमों की भरमार है। कम लागत में अधिक मुनाफा कमाने के उद्देश्य से इनमें मरकरी (पारा), सीसा (लेड) और आर्सेनिक जैसी भारी धातुएं निर्धारित मानकों से कई गुना अधिक मात्रा में मिलाई जाती हैं। मरकरी त्वचा की मेलानिन कोशिकाओं को प्रभावित कर त्वचा को अस्थायी रूप से गोरा दिखाती है, लेकिन इसके परिणामस्वरूप त्वचा पर रैश, जलन, दाग, त्वचा पतली होना तथा लंबे समय में कैंसर जैसी गंभीर समस्याएं उत्पन्न हो सकती हैं। मरकरी विषाक्तता से हाथ कांपना, याददाश्त कमजोर होना, चिड़चिड़ापन, अवसाद, अनिद्रा तथा गर्भस्थ शिशु के मस्तिष्क के विकास पर भी प्रतिकूल प्रभाव पड़ सकता है। सीसा (लेड) मस्तिष्क, गुर्दे, हृदय और हड्डियों को प्रभावित करता है। इससे बच्चों में सीखने की क्षमता और बौद्धिक विकास पर असर पड़ सकता है, जबकि वयस्कों में एनीमिया, उच्च रक्तचाप, हृदय रोग, गुर्दे की खराबी तथा महिलाओं में बांझपन और गर्भपात जैसी समस्याओं का जोखिम बढ़ जाता है। इसी प्रकार आर्सेनिक युक्त क्रीमों का लंबे समय तक प्रयोग त्वचा, फेफड़े, मूत्राशय और यकृत के कैंसर, किडनी और लीवर की क्षति तथा मधुमेह और हृदय रोग जैसी गंभीर स्वास्थ्य समस्याओं का कारण बन सकता है। नकली त्वचा क्रीमों की हकीकत त्वचा को गोरा करने वाली नकली क्रीमों में मिलाई जाने वाली मरकरी त्वचा की मेलानिन कोशिकाओं को नुकसान पहुंचाती है। इससे कुछ दिनों के लिए त्वचा का रंग हल्का दिखाई देता है, लेकिन यह वास्तविक सौंदर्य नहीं, बल्कि गंभीर रासायनिक क्षति का परिणाम होता है। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट के अध्ययनों में दैनिक उपयोग के कई कॉस्मेटिक उत्पादों में मरकरी, क्रोमियम और निकेल जैसी भारी धातुओं की मात्रा सुरक्षित सीमा से अधिक पाई गई। कई उत्पादों में बैक्टीरिया, यीस्ट और फफूंद जैसे सूक्ष्मजीव भी मिले, जो निर्माण प्रक्रिया में स्वच्छता की कमी को दर्शाते हैं। यही कारण है कि बाजार में उपलब्ध अनेक गैर-ब्रांडेड सौंदर्य प्रसाधन स्वास्थ्य के लिए सुरक्षित नहीं माने जा सकते। कॉस्मेटिक उत्पादों में भारी धातुओं की जांच संयुक्त राज्य अमेरिका की फूड एंड ड्रग एडमिनिस्ट्रेशन (यूएस-एफडीए) ने विभिन्न कॉस्मेटिक उत्पादों में आर्सेनिक, कैडमियम, क्रोमियम, कोबाल्ट, लेड, मरकरी और निकेल जैसी भारी धातुओं की उपस्थिति का व्यापक अध्ययन किया। प्रतिष्ठित ब्रांडों पर किए गए इन सर्वेक्षणों में इन धातुओं की मात्रा अत्यंत सूक्ष्म और निर्धारित सुरक्षा सीमा के भीतर पाई गई। एफडीए के अनुसार कॉस्मेटिक उत्पादों में मरकरी और लेड की मात्रा निर्धारित सीमा से अधिक नहीं होनी चाहिए। इससे स्पष्ट होता है कि समस्या प्रतिष्ठित ब्रांडों से अधिक नकली और अवैध उत्पादों में है, जहां मुनाफे के लिए भारी धातुओं का अंधाधुंध उपयोग किया जाता है। कोशिका, जीन एवं त्वचा विषाक्तता भारी धातुओं से युक्त कॉस्मेटिक उत्पादों के लंबे समय तक उपयोग से कोशिका विषाक्तता (सेल टॉक्सिसिटी) और जीन विषाक्तता (जीनोटॉक्सिसिटी) का खतरा बढ़ जाता है। ये धातुएं कोशिकाओं की सामान्य कार्यप्रणाली, डीएनए तथा प्रोटीन को प्रभावित कर कैंसर जैसी गंभीर बीमारियों की आशंका बढ़ा सकती हैं। नकली त्वचा क्रीमों में स्टेरॉयड की मिलावट भी सामान्य है, जिससे चेहरे पर बाल उगना, मुंहासे, त्वचा का पतला होना और नसों का उभरना जैसी समस्याएं हो सकती हैं। चूंकि भारी धातुएं शरीर से आसानी से बाहर नहीं निकलतीं, इसलिए वे लंबे समय तक लीवर, किडनी और मस्तिष्क जैसे महत्वपूर्ण अंगों में जमा होकर स्थायी नुकसान पहुंचा सकती हैं। नकली क्रीम की पहचान और रोकथाम सात दिन या कुछ ही दिनों में त्वचा गोरी करने का दावा करने वाली अत्यधिक सस्ती क्रीमों से सावधान रहना चाहिए। तेज कृत्रिम सुगंध, पैकेजिंग पर लाइसेंस नंबर, बैच नंबर, निर्माण तिथि और एक्सपायरी का अभाव तथा मरकरी, सीसा, हाइड्रोक्विनोन या क्लोबीटासॉल जैसे रसायनों का उल्लेख बिना मात्रा के होना भी ऐसे उत्पादों की पहचान हो सकती है। प्रतिष्ठित कंपनियां गुणवत्ता नियंत्रण का पालन करती हैं, लेकिन नकली उत्पादों के निर्माण और बिक्री पर प्रभावी निगरानी तथा कठोर कार्रवाई आवश्यक है। स्वास्थ्य एवं परिवार कल्याण मंत्रालय, केंद्रीय औषधि मानक नियंत्रण संगठन (सीडीएससीओ) तथा भारतीय मानक ब्यूरो द्वारा मरकरी, सीसा और आर्सेनिक युक्त हानिकारक कॉस्मेटिक उत्पादों के निर्माण, आयात, विक्रय और ऑनलाइन बिक्री पर सख्ती से नियंत्रण किया जाना चाहिए। साथ ही उपभोक्ताओं को भी केवल प्रमाणित और विश्वसनीय ब्रांड के उत्पादों का ही उपयोग करना चाहिए। सौंदर्य तभी सार्थक है, जब वह स्वास्थ्य से समझौता किए बिना प्राप्त हो।

• Sustainable Habitat

Delhi Records 98 Percent of Normal August Rainfall in Just Five Days Following Intense Monsoon Spells

Dr. Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director of Research and Advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in New Delhi, has consistently advocated for decentralized water management. "Cities must become spongy," Roychowdhury argues. "We cannot rely solely on concrete drains. We need to revive natural water bodies, mandate rainwater harvesting, and increase permeable surfaces to absorb these sudden shocks." The Indian capital has experienced an unprecedented deluge, recording nearly its entire normal monthly rainfall quota for August in just five days. The intense precipitation has brought both relief from sweltering heat and significant urban logistical challenges, underscoring the increasing volatility of South Asian monsoon patterns. According to data released by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday, Delhi received daily showers from August 4 to August 8, accumulating 229.5 millimeters of rain. This figure represents over 98 percent of the city's normal August rainfall, which historically averages 233.1 millimeters. The rapid accumulation highlights a growing trend of compressed, high-intensity weather events. The Anatomy of the Deluge The intense rainfall was driven by the specific positioning of the monsoon trough. Safdarjung, Delhi’s base station for weather observations, recorded its wettest first week of August since at least 2011. Between 8:30 a.m. on August 1 and 8:30 a.m. on August 8, the station logged a staggering 225.7 millimeters of rain. Meteorologists indicate that a temporary break in the rain over the weekend was caused by a southward shift of the monsoon axis. Navdeep Dahiya, an independent meteorologist, noted that this shift led to mainly dry weather across the Delhi-National Capital Region, Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh on Sunday. However, the IMD forecasts that as the axis begins its northward migration, multiple spells of light to moderate rain will resume by mid-week, practically ensuring Delhi will surpass its monthly quota by the second week of August. Temperature Fluctuations: Following the brief dry spell, maximum temperatures are expected to briefly rise to between 34°C and 36°C before dipping back to a more comfortable 32°C by Friday. Urban Disruption: The rapid rainfall overwhelmed municipal drainage systems, leading to localized waterlogging, severe traffic bottlenecks, and disruptions to daily commerce. Alert Status: The IMD has issued a yellow alert for potentially disruptive weather in the coming days as the monsoon trough returns. Global Climate Volatility and Economic Impact Delhi's highly concentrated rainfall is not an isolated anomaly but part of a broader global shift in precipitation patterns. Climate scientists warn that global warming is altering the hydrological cycle, leading to longer dry spells punctuated by extreme, concentrated rainfall. This "boom and bust" rain cycle strains urban infrastructure and agricultural planning. The economic implications of such weather volatility are profound. For a megacity like Delhi, with a population exceeding 30 million, infrastructure resilience is a critical economic variable. Supply chains, retail foot traffic, and informal sector labor are heavily disrupted during severe waterlogging events. This pattern of extreme weather holds direct parallels for East Africa. In Nairobi, heavy "long rains" frequently result in similar infrastructural stress, flooding major arteries like Mombasa Road and disrupting operations at the Inland Container Depot. Kenyan agricultural economists at the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) study these South Asian monsoon shifts closely, as Indian weather patterns often correlate with broader Indian Ocean dipole fluctuations that dictate East African rainfall. A strong monsoon season in India can sometimes precede shifts in Indian Ocean sea surface temperatures that affect precipitation in the Horn of Africa. The Need for Climate-Resilient Infrastructure The sheer volume of water dumped on Delhi in under a week highlights the urgent need for climate-adapted urban planning. Traditional drainage systems, designed for evenly distributed seasonal rainfall, are ill-equipped to handle the sudden, massive volumes characteristic of modern monsoon downpours. Dr. Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director of Research and Advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in New Delhi, has consistently advocated for decentralized water management. "Cities must become spongy," Roychowdhury argues. "We cannot rely solely on concrete drains. We need to revive natural water bodies, mandate rainwater harvesting, and increase permeable surfaces to absorb these sudden shocks." As Delhi prepares to officially cross its August rainfall threshold more than two weeks ahead of schedule, municipal authorities face mounting pressure to upgrade the city’s civic infrastructure. Without significant investment in climate-resilient engineering, megacities across the developing world will continue to incur heavy economic and social costs from increasingly erratic weather systems.

• Down To Earth

Environmental Performance Index 2026 Report: Estonia No. 1, India No. 176

Goa has been the topper in the environment category of the 'State of India's Environment 2026' report released on June 4 by the Center for Science and Environment (CSE). That means the environment of Goa is better than other states of the country. India stands at the 176th position, according to the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) 2026 report. The EPI evaluated 177 countries based on 47 parameters, such as environmental health and climate change, and compiled a ranking. India’s 176th position means it is the second-worst and second-most polluted country in the world. According to the index, air quality in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka is better than in India. In the EPI 2026, India has got a score of 22.46. Although India's EPI score has improved by 7.47 points over the last decade, its performance remains weak due to persistent challenges regarding environmental health, ecosystem protection, and combating climate change. The primary factor affecting India's ranking is its poor environmental health performance; it ranks 174th in this category with a score of 15.13. Air pollution is a major concern. India ranks 175th in air quality (AQI), with a score of only 7.89. Indicators such as the ambient PM2.5 DALY rate (0.49; -6.20 over 10 years), carbon monoxide exposure (0.00; -2.88), and sulfur dioxide exposure (8.94; -2.20) reflect this poor performance. This indicates that industrial emissions, vehicular pollution, coal-based energy generation, and biomass burning continue to pose persistent problems. Poor waste management and unsafe drinking water have impacted the ranking: India has shown improvement in sanitation and drinking water facilities. While its score has risen by 8.33 points over 10 years to reach 26.35, performance remains below global standards. Unsafe sanitation (27.05, +9.25) and unsafe drinking water (25.88, +7.72) continue to affect public health. Additionally, the poor state of waste management is a cause for concern; the score for sustainably managed solid waste stands at just 18.40 (ranked 141st). India’s score for Ecosystem Vitality is also very low. It ranks 171st with a score of 22.82. Biodiversity and habitat conservation is one of the weakest areas, where it ranks 174th with a score of 9.09. Low scores in terrestrial biome protection (1.13), protected area representation (3.58), and protected area connectivity (0.60) reflect inadequate ecosystem conservation. The index score is 31.62, marking a decline of 9.05 points, which indicates mounting pressure on endangered species. Forest conservation poses another challenge for India. India's forest score stands at 17.97, a decline of 3.96 points over 10 years. The 'tree cover loss' indicator scored 16.71, showing a change of -3.96. This reflects the deterioration of forests due to land-use changes, infrastructure expansion, and developmental pressures. The agricultural picture presents a mixed scenario. India ranks first in 'Relative Crop Yield' with a score of 100, indicating high agricultural productivity. However, environmental impact remains a concern, as evidenced by the metrics for 'Pesticide Pollution Risk' (45.75, -17.16) and 'Phosphorus Surplus' (38.89, -0.28). These figures highlight concerns regarding chemical usage and nutrient-related pollution. What Does The Topper, Estonia, Have That India Lacks? Located in the Baltic region of Northern Europe with a population of approximately 1.4 million, Estonia holds the top spot in the EPI 2026 with a score of 74.79. Estonia's high ranking reflects robust environmental governance, clean technologies, effective waste management systems, and sound climate policies. India's low ranking is primarily attributed to air pollution, poor waste management, biodiversity loss, inadequate wastewater treatment, and a high risk of future emissions, despite improvements in sectors like agriculture and sanitation. While India has made strides in areas such as sanitation, renewable energy, and agricultural productivity, these improvements are insufficient to tackle its major environmental challenges. In terms of environmental health, Estonia's performance is much better than India (15.13). His score is 75.88. Estonia's score in air quality is 80.76 while India's score is only 7.89. India's very low PM2.5 score (0.49) reflects severe air pollution from emissions from transportation, industries, coal use, and biomass burning. Estonia ranks first in sustainable solid waste management (score 100), which reflects effective systems of waste collection, recycling and disposal. India's score is only 18.40 (rank 141). Similarly, Estonia's score in waste water treatment is 91.69 while India's score is 28.83, indicating challenges in sewage treatment and water pollution control. In terms of ecosystem liveliness (63.66), Estonia is ranked eighth while India is ranked 171st (22.82). Biodiversity protection is stronger in Estonia (67.06) than in India (9.09). India's low score on terrestrial biome security (1.13) and protected area indicators reflects pressure on forests, wildlife habitats and ecosystems. Due to strong policies to reduce emissions, Estonia ranks first in mitigating climate change with a score of 90.58, whereas India is at 130th position with a score of 28.01. Estonia performs well in emissions trends while India faces challenges such as dependence on fossil fuels and increasing greenhouse gas emissions. India's forest score is 17.97 while Estonia's score is 6.90. However, India is facing greater pressures from deforestation and land-use change. The score for 'tree cover loss' is 16.71 (-3.98, over 10 years). Habitat fragmentation and development activities remain major concerns. India performs well in agricultural productivity and ranks first (score 100) in 'Relative Crop Yield'. However, the environmental impact is high, especially the risk of pesticide pollution (45.75, -17.16) and nutrient pollution. Estonia is in a better position to control the environmental impact of agriculture. Estonia performs well in the conservation of marine ecosystems and scores 82.49 in 'Marine Habitat Protection'. India's maritime performance is weak due to pressure on marine resources. Fisheries score is 32.69 and a decline is seen in the 'regional marine trophic index' (38.70, -10.27). Estonia's 'Projected Emissions 2050' score is 100, indicating a strong path towards reducing emissions. India's score in this case is 0.00, indicating challenges in reducing emissions in the future due to rising energy demand and dependence on carbon-intensive fuels. Goa's Air Is The Best Goa has been the topper in the environment category of the 'State of India's Environment 2026' report released on June 4 by the Center for Science and Environment (CSE). That means the environment of Goa is better than other states of the country. Goa is number one in rank. After this comes Andhra Pradesh, Tripura and Odisha. At the same time, West Bengal is at the lowest position. Apart from this, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Punjab also remained at the bottom of the list. Among Union Territories, Chandigarh remained on top and Puducherry remained in the worst position. What is the basis of EPI: According to the EPI methodology, a scientifically reliable and internationally comparable environmental dataset is prepared for the Environmental Performance Index. These datasets are based on criteria such as relevance, validation, completeness, novelty and open access. The data is checked as per the standards and requirements. Each indicator is then scored on a scale of 0 to 100 using 'distance-to-target'. The EPI 2026 comprises 47 indicators, grouped into 12 categories (climate change mitigation, air quality, forests, grasslands, fisheries, air pollution, agriculture, water resources, sanitation and drinking water, heavy metals, waste management, biodiversity and habitat) under three policy objectives – environmental health, climate change and ecosystem viability. The final EPI score is calculated by taking the mean of these indicators. In this, 25 per cent weightage is given to environmental health, 30 per cent to climate change and 45 per cent to the viability of the ecosystem.

• Down To Earth

भारत दुनिया में दूसरा सबसे प्रदूषित देश; राज्यों में गोवा सबसे साफ, पश्चिम बंगाल गंदा

गोवा की हवा सबसे अच्छी, पश्चिम बंगाल का वातावरण दूषित: सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) की ओर से 4 जून को जारी 'स्टेट ऑफ इंडियाज एनवायरनमेंट 2026 रिपोर्ट के पर्यावरण कैटेगरी में गोवा टॉपर रहा है. यानी गोवा का पर्यावरण देश के अन्य राज्यों से बेहतर है. गोवा रैंक में नंबर वन है तो असर दूसरे नंबर पर जमा हुआ है. इसके बाद आंध्र प्रदेश, त्रिपुरा और ओडिशा का स्थान आता है. वहीं, पश्चिम बंगाल सबसे निचले पायदान पर है. इसके अलावा राजस्थान, तमिलनाडु, बिहार, पंजाब भी लिस्ट में सबसे नीचे रहे. केंद्र शासित प्रदेशों में चंडीगढ़ टॉप पर रहा और पुडुचेरी सबसे खराब स्थिति में रहा. India Environment Report: पर्यावरण बचाने और दुनिया को दिशा दिखाने यानी विश्वगुरु बनने के दावों के बीच भारत को एनवायरनमेंटल परफॉर्मेंस इंडेक्स 2026 (Environmental Performance Index, EPI 2026) की रिपोर्ट ने जोर का झटका धीरे से दिया है. EPI ने पर्यावरणीय स्वास्थ्य, जलवायु परिवर्तन जैसे 47 मानकों पर 177 देशों को परखा और एक लिस्ट तैयार की. जिसमें भारत 176वें पायदान पर है. यानी भारत दुनिया में दूसरा सबसे खराब और प्रदूषित देश बन कर उभरा है. इंडेक्स के अनुसार पाकिस्तान, बांग्लादेश और श्रीलंका की हवा भी भारत से काफी अच्छी है. रिपोर्ट में जानते हैं कि भारत की स्थिति इतनी खराब क्यों है? भारत की हवा खराब होने की मुख्य वजह क्या: EPI 2026 में भारत 177 देशों में 176वें स्थान पर है और उसका कुल स्कोर 22.46 है. हालांकि पिछले दशक में भारत के EPI स्कोर में 7.47 अंकों का सुधार हुआ है, लेकिन पर्यावरण स्वास्थ्य, इकोसिस्टम की सुरक्षा और जलवायु परिवर्तन से निपटने में लगातार बनी चुनौतियों के कारण उसका प्रदर्शन अभी भी कमजोर है. वाहनों का धुआं, कोयला-बायोमास को जलाने से रेंकिंग गिरी: भारत की रैंकिंग पर असर डालने वाला सबसे बड़ा कारण इसका खराब पर्यावरण स्वास्थ्य प्रदर्शन है, जिसमें यह 15.13 के स्कोर के साथ 174वें स्थान पर है. वायु प्रदूषण एक बड़ी चिंता है. वायु गुणवत्ता यानी AQI में भारत 175वें स्थान पर है.इसका स्कोर केवल 7.89 है. एम्बिएंट PM2.5 DALY दर (0.49, 10 वर्षों में -6.20), कार्बन मोनोऑक्साइड एक्सपोजर (0.00, -2.88) और सल्फर डाइऑक्साइड एक्सपोजर (8.94, -2.20) जैसे इंडिकेटर खराब प्रदर्शन को दिखाते हैं. इससे पता चलता है कि औद्योगिक उत्सर्जन, वाहनों से होने वाले प्रदूषण, कोयले से बनने वाली ऊर्जा और बायोमास जलाने से लगातार समस्याएं बनी हुई हैं. खराब कचरा प्रबंधन और असुरक्षित पीने के पानी ने रैंकिंग पर डाला असर: भारत ने साफ-सफाई और पीने के पानी की सुविधा में सुधार दिखाया है. दस वर्षों में 8.33 अंकों की बढ़ोतरी के साथ इसका स्कोर 26.35 हो गया है, लेकिन प्रदर्शन अभी भी वैश्विक मानकों से नीचे है.असुरक्षित साफ-सफाई (27.05, +9.25) और असुरक्षित पीने का पानी (25.88, +7.72) लगातार सार्वजनिक स्वास्थ्य को प्रभावित कर रहे हैं. इसके अलावा, कचरा प्रबंधन की खराब स्थिति भी चिंता का विषय है. सस्टेनेबली मैनेज्ड सॉलिड वेस्ट (ठीक से प्रबंधित ठोस कचरा) का स्कोर केवल 18.40 (रैंक 141) है. इकोसिस्टम की जीवंतता: भारत के इकोसिस्टम की जीवंतता (Ecosystem Vitality) का स्कोर भी बहुत कम है. यह 22.82 के स्कोर के साथ 171वें स्थान पर है. जैव विविधता और आवास संरक्षण सबसे कमजोर क्षेत्रों में से एक है, जिसमें यह 9.09 के स्कोर के साथ 174वें स्थान पर है.टेरेस्ट्रियल बायोम प्रोटेक्शन (1.13), प्रोटेक्टेड एरिया रिप्रेजेंटेशन (3.58) और प्रोटेक्टेड एरिया कनेक्टिविटी (0.60) में बहुत कम स्कोर इकोसिस्टम के अपर्याप्त संरक्षण को दर्शाते हैं. इंडेक्स का स्कोर 31.62 है, जिसमें 9.05 अंकों की गिरावट आई है. यह खतरे में पड़ी प्रजातियों पर बढ़ते दबाव को दिखाता है. वन संरक्षण बना है चुनौती: भारत के सामने वन संरक्षण एक और चुनौती है. भारत का वन स्कोर 17.97 है, जो दस वर्षों में 3.96 अंक कम हुआ है. 'ट्री कवर लॉस' (पेड़ों के आवरण में कमी) इंडिकेटर का स्कोर 16.71 रहा और इसमें -3.96 का ​​बदलाव आया. यह जमीन के इस्तेमाल में बदलाव, इंफ्रास्ट्रक्चर के विस्तार और विकास के दबावों के कारण वनों की स्थिति बिगड़ने को दिखाता है. खेती-किसानी में अव्वल, पर पेस्टीसाइड के प्रयोग ने कराई किरकिरी: कृषि के मामले में मिली-जुली तस्वीर दिखती है. 'रिलेटिव क्रॉप यील्ड' (सापेक्ष फसल उपज) में भारत 100 के स्कोर के साथ पहले स्थान पर है, जो उच्च कृषि उत्पादकता को दर्शाता है. हालांकि, पर्यावरण पर असर अभी भी चिंता का विषय है, जैसा कि 'पेस्टिसाइड पॉल्यूशन रिस्क' (45.75, -17.16) और 'फॉस्फोरस सरप्लस' (38.89, -0.28) से पता चलता है. ये रसायन के इस्तेमाल और पोषक तत्वों से होने वाले प्रदूषण के बारे में चिंताएं जाहिर करते हैं. टॉपर एस्टोनिया में ऐसा क्या है जो भारत में नहीं: उत्तरी यूरोप के बाल्टिक क्षेत्र में स्थित करीब 14 लाख की आबादी वाला एस्टोनिया 74.79 के स्कोर के साथ EPI 2026 में पहले स्थान पर है, जबकि भारत 22.46 के स्कोर के साथ 176वें स्थान पर है. एस्टोनिया की उच्च रैंकिंग मजबूत पर्यावरण प्रशासन, साफ-सुथरी तकनीकों, प्रभावी अपशिष्ट प्रणालियों और जलवायु नीतियों को दर्शाती हैं. भारत की कम रैंकिंग मुख्य रूप से वायु प्रदूषण, कमजोर अपशिष्ट प्रबंधन, जैव विविधता की हानि, अपर्याप्त अपशिष्ट जल उपचार और भविष्य में उत्सर्जन के उच्च जोखिम से जुड़ी है, भले ही कृषि और स्वच्छता जैसे क्षेत्रों में सुधार हुआ है. हालांकि भारत ने स्वच्छता, नवीकरणीय ऊर्जा और कृषि उत्पादकता जैसे क्षेत्रों में प्रगति की है, लेकिन ये सुधार उसकी बड़ी पर्यावरणीय चुनौतियों से निपटने के लिए काफी नहीं हैं. पर्यावरणीय स्वास्थ्य और वायु गुणवत्ता: पर्यावरणीय स्वास्थ्य के मामले में एस्टोनिया का प्रदर्शन भारत (15.13) की तुलना में बहुत बेहतर है. उसका स्कोर 75.88 है. वायु गुणवत्ता में एस्टोनिया का स्कोर 80.76 है, जबकि भारत का स्कोर केवल 7.89 है. भारत का बहुत कम PM2.5 स्कोर (0.49) परिवहन से निकलने वाले उत्सर्जन, उद्योगों, कोयले के इस्तेमाल और बायोमास जलाने से होने वाले गंभीर वायु प्रदूषण को दर्शाता है. कचरा प्रबंधन और जल उपचार: सस्टेनेबल तरीके से ठोस कचरा प्रबंधन (स्कोर 100) में एस्टोनिया पहले स्थान पर है, जो कचरा इकट्ठा करने, रीसाइक्लिंग और निपटान की प्रभावी प्रणालियों को दिखाता है. भारत का स्कोर केवल 18.40 (रैंक 141) है. इसी तरह, अपशिष्ट जल उपचार में एस्टोनिया का स्कोर 91.69 है, जबकि भारत का स्कोर 28.83 है, जो सीवेज उपचार और जल प्रदूषण नियंत्रण में चुनौतियों को दर्शाता है. जैव विविधता और इकोसिस्टम की सुरक्षा: इकोसिस्टम की जीवंतता (63.66) में एस्टोनिया आठवें स्थान पर है, जबकि भारत 171वें स्थान (22.82) पर है. भारत (9.09) की तुलना में एस्टोनिया में जैव विविधता की सुरक्षा (67.06) अधिक मजबूत है. स्थलीय बायोम सुरक्षा (1.13) और संरक्षित क्षेत्र संकेतकों में भारत का कम स्कोर जंगलों, वन्यजीव आवासों और इकोसिस्टम पर दबाव को दर्शाता है. जलवायु परिवर्तन पर प्रदर्शन: उत्सर्जन कम करने की मजबूत नीतियों के कारण एस्टोनिया जलवायु परिवर्तन को कम करने में पहले स्थान पर 90.58 स्कोर के साथ है. वहीं, भारत 28.01 स्कोर के साथ 130वें स्थान पर है. एस्टोनिया उत्सर्जन के रुझानों में अच्छा प्रदर्शन करता है, जबकि भारत को जीवाश्म ईंधन पर निर्भरता और ग्रीनहाउस गैस उत्सर्जन में बढ़ोतरी जैसी चुनौतियों का सामना करना पड़ रहा है. वन और भूमि प्रबंधन: भारत का वन स्कोर 17.97 है, जबकि एस्टोनिया का स्कोर 6.90 है. हालांकि, भारत को वनों की कटाई और भूमि-उपयोग में बदलाव से ज्यादा दबाव का सामना करना पड़ रहा है. 'ट्री कवर लॉस' (पेड़ों के आवरण में कमी) का स्कोर 16.71 (-3.98, 10 वर्षों में) है. आवास हैबिटेट फ्रेगमेंटेशन और विकास गतिविधियां बड़ी चिंताएं बनी हुई हैं. कृषि और प्रदूषण का जोखिम: भारत कृषि उत्पादकता में बेहतर प्रदर्शन करता है और 'रिलेटिव क्रॉप यील्ड' (फसल की सापेक्ष पैदावार) में पहले स्थान (स्कोर 100) पर है. हालांकि, पर्यावरण पर असर ज्यादा है, खासकर कीटनाशक प्रदूषण का जोखिम (45.75, -17.16) और पोषक तत्वों से होने वाला प्रदूषण. कृषि से पर्यावरण पर पड़ने वाले असर को नियंत्रित करने में एस्टोनिया की स्थिति बेहतर है. समुद्री और मत्स्य पालन प्रबंधन: एस्टोनिया समुद्री पारिस्थितिकी तंत्र के संरक्षण में बेहतर प्रदर्शन करता है और 'मरीन हैबिटेट प्रोटेक्शन' (समुद्री आवास संरक्षण) में 82.49 स्कोर करता है. समुद्री संसाधनों पर दबाव के कारण भारत का समुद्री प्रदर्शन कमजोर है. मत्स्य पालन का स्कोर 32.69 है और 'रीजनल मरीन ट्रॉफिक इंडेक्स' (38.70, -10.27) में गिरावट देखी जा रही है. जलवायु और भविष्य का उत्सर्जन: एस्टोनिया का 'प्रोजेक्टेड एमिशन 2050' स्कोर 100 है, जो उत्सर्जन कम करने की दिशा में मजबूत रास्ते को दिखाता है. इस मामले में भारत का स्कोर 0.00 है, जो बढ़ती ऊर्जा मांग और कार्बन-प्रधान ईंधन पर निर्भरता के कारण भविष्य में उत्सर्जन कम करने में चुनौतियों का संकेत देता है. गोवा की हवा सबसे अच्छी, पश्चिम बंगाल का वातावरण दूषित: सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) की ओर से 4 जून को जारी 'स्टेट ऑफ इंडियाज एनवायरनमेंट 2026 रिपोर्ट के पर्यावरण कैटेगरी में गोवा टॉपर रहा है. यानी गोवा का पर्यावरण देश के अन्य राज्यों से बेहतर है. गोवा रैंक में नंबर वन है तो असर दूसरे नंबर पर जमा हुआ है. इसके बाद आंध्र प्रदेश, त्रिपुरा और ओडिशा का स्थान आता है. वहीं, पश्चिम बंगाल सबसे निचले पायदान पर है. इसके अलावा राजस्थान, तमिलनाडु, बिहार, पंजाब भी लिस्ट में सबसे नीचे रहे. केंद्र शासित प्रदेशों में चंडीगढ़ टॉप पर रहा और पुडुचेरी सबसे खराब स्थिति में रहा. EPI का आधार क्या: EPI कार्यप्रणाली के अनुसार, एनवायरनमेंटल परफॉर्मेंस इंडेक्स के लिए वैज्ञानिक रूप से विश्वसनीय और अंतरराष्ट्रीय स्तर पर तुलना करने योग्य पर्यावरण डेटासेट तैयार किया जाता है. ये डेटासेट प्रासंगिकता, सत्यापन, पूर्णता, नवीनता और ओपन एक्सेस जैसे मानदंडों पर आधारित होते हैं. डेटा को मानकों और आवश्यकतानुसार जांचा जाता है. फिर प्रत्येक संकेतक को 'डिस्टेंस-टू-टारगेट' के जरिए 0 से 100 के पैमाने पर स्कोर दिया जाता है. EPI 2026 में 47 संकेतक शामिल हैं, जिन्हें तीन नीतिगत उद्देश्यों - पर्यावरणीय स्वास्थ्य, जलवायु परिवर्तन और पारिस्थितिकी तंत्र की जीवनक्षमता के तहत 12 श्रेणियों (जलवायु परिवर्तन शमन, वायु गुणवत्ता, वन, घास के मैदान, मत्स्य पालन, वायु प्रदूषण, कृषि, जल संसाधन, स्वच्छता और पेयजल, भारी धातु, अपशिष्ट प्रबंधन, जैव विविधता और आवास) में रखा गया है. अंतिम EPI स्कोर की गणना इन संकेतकों का मीन यानी माध्य निकालकर की जाती है. इसमें पर्यावरणीय स्वास्थ्य के लिए 25%, जलवायु परिवर्तन के लिए 30% और पारिस्थितिकी तंत्र की जीवनक्षमता के लिए 45% का वेटेज दिया जाता है.

• Sustainable Food Systems

Why Are Cold Drinks Banned In Parliament? The 2003 Report That Sparked The Decision

The controversy began in August 2003, when the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) — a Delhi-based research and advocacy organisation — released the results of tests carried out at its Pollution Monitoring Laboratory. Samples of soft drinks collected from various parts of Delhi were examined, and the results were troubling: all twelve brands tested, including those made by Coca-Cola and Pepsi, showed traces of pesticide residues. Among the chemicals detected were lindane, DDT, malathion and chlorpyrifos — substances known for their harmful, long-term health effects.

• Climate Change and Green Economy

Why Farmers Need To See The Money To Stay In Carbon Farming

Trishant Dev, programme officer for climate change at the Centre for Science and Environment, underlined that the primary question to ask must be whether “it is making economic sense for farmers to adopt a new practice and if it is incentive enough for them to make this behavioral change permanent”. Uttar Pradesh: Three years ago, Vinod Kumar Maurya (33) travelled village to village in Uttar Pradesh’s Sitapur on his two-wheeler to inform farmers about an upcoming carbon project in their region. Maurya’s tasklist was long, and so he packaged the information in simple terms: “Farmers who don’t burn their crop residue and plough it back to the soil instead, and who use minimal chemical fertilisers, will receive some subsidy.” Maurya did not have an answer to the follow-up questions of “when?” and “how much?” In Uttar Pradesh, carbon farming projects owned by private companies as part of Voluntary Carbon Market are onboarding wheat, paddy and sugarcane farmers for agricultural land management. Officially identified as VM0042 by Verra Carbon Registry, this methodology includes reduced tillage and improvements in fertiliser application, biomass residue and water management, cash and cover crop planting and harvesting practices, and grazing practices. These projects are centred around avoidance, as ISignal explained in the first part of this series. One initiative is getting farmers to eschew burning crop residue to avoid emissions. Companies are supporting farmers by facilitating the use of superseeder machines which help sow the wheat crop by mixing the crop residue into the soil. Another initiative is direct seeded rice (DSR), a technique that replaces flooded transplanting and reduces emissions. The resulting reduction in emissions, and the increased organic soil carbon are then used to generate carbon credits. These credits are bought by companies looking to reduce their own carbon footprints. One carbon credit typically represents one metric tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO₂e) reduced or removed, or the amount of emissions from a car on a road trip from Kanyakumari to Leh and back. The agriculture sector is responsible for 15% of India’s annual greenhouse gas emissions. As of July 2026, Verra has 42 agricultural and forestry projects registered in India, of which four use VM0042 methodology. ISignal looked at two of these projects—one by Boomitra, a climate-tech company based in San Mateo, California, and another by Varaha ClimateAg Private Limited, a climate-tech start-up based in Gurugram. The second project now lists Kheti Pte Ltd. as the project proponent, which is a subsidiary of Varaha, as confirmed by Shantanu Jain, who leads the latter’s CEO’s office. Boomitra’s project is structured as a grouped project including Uttar Pradesh where it is “under verification”, Abhinav Gupta, Director Project (APAC), Boomitra said. Varaha’s project is also registered as a grouped project, generating credits for Punjab-Haryana, planning to expand to wheat-rice cropping systems in the Indo-Gangetic belt including Uttar Pradesh. Taking the leap Maurya opened an application on his phone that flashed 5,970 acres on its home screen—the acreage he had onboarded under the project between April 2023 and April 2026. “The mammoth task,” as Maurya described it, had begun after Ozone Farmer Producer Company joined Varaha as a channel partner. Their primary job is to collect data and act as a bridge between the company and the farmers. “Initially they were indecisive on which farmers they wanted to work with, so we [Ozone] onboarded everyone who was interested. Then they asked us to shortlist farmers growing wheat and paddy,” he told ISignal. Using his 15 years of expertise in the field, he identified 1,250 farmers who stuck to growing the two crops due to geographical reasons such as low-lying land or soil quality. One of the firsts in the list was Subeg Singh (27) from Saraiyan Kaysthan village in Parsendi block in Sitapur district. Much before Varaha’s intervention began, Singh was using a Rs 2.5-lakh worth superseeder machine. The soil quality for his 30 acres’ land improved and wheat production rose by 2.5 quintals per acre, he told us. About 12 km away in Musepur village, the subsidy promise made Babloo Rajput (40), who owns 2 acres, to switch to superseeder in 2024. “For two consecutive years, I have produced 4.5 quintals of wheat in 1 bigha (0.2 acre here), as compared to 3 quintals earlier. The soil has definitely become more fertile,” he told ISignal. Singh explained that Varaha had initially promised a subsidy of Rs 1,750 to switch from crop-residue burning. “We received it in 2024. But the next year, they reduced it to Rs 700,” he told ISignal. While Singh spent a one-time cost of Rs 1.6 lakh on his superseeder machine in 2019, with the rest coming from a government scheme, other farmers pay Rs 1,700 per acre to rent it. Varaha’s subsidy is aimed at reducing this cost. “I remember them telling me that by selling carbon credits we might receive Rs 2,500-Rs 3,000 per acre, but when the initial subsidy itself has been reduced, how do we expect that we will get the carbon credits payment or not?” Singh said. He had heard about direct seeded rice (DSR) earlier, he said, but it was not until farmers from Punjab and scientists from the Krishi Vigyan Kendra answered his doubts—during a training by Varaha-Ozone—that he considered it. In 2025, he made the shift. “It is difficult to find labourers in the village for transplantation, and water requirements are too high. This will only increase in the future and DSR solves that. More farmers in the village are now interested,” Singh explained. He did see a small production drop the first year, he said, but it still made sense to continue as the overall cost was less, considering his large landholding. Close to his house, Kuldeep Singh (43) was overseeing wheat harvesting on his 15 acres of land under the sweltering April sun, with his turban doubled by a gamcha (cotton cloth). In his first DSR attempt, paddy production dropped by 2-3 quintals per acre “but at least we don’t need much water and labour for the job. It is difficult to comment how successful this might be in just a year”. He wants to fix probable mistakes in his method and try again.

• Industrial Pollution

Decarbonising the aluminium sector in India: implications of the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme

Analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (Kumar, 2025) highlighted that in the first four notified sectors alone, which include primary aluminium, the opportunity was lost for reducing more than 2 million tonnes of emissions in the next two years.

• Down To Earth

How The Climate Crisis Accelerates Child Marriage In India: The Need For Intersectional Safety Nets

Madhya Pradesh witnessed a rise in climate- and weather-related disasters in recent years. A 2025 assessment by the Centre for Science and Environment reported that the state recorded the highest disaster-related deaths: 532. Varsha Beldar, from the Pardhi community, was sixteen years old when her family decided she would be married. The engagement had been made three years earlier, in 2022, when she was barely a teenager. Her mother, speaking in a mix of Hindi and her local dialect, described the circumstances of her daughter’s marriage in Rajgarh, a district on the northern edge of the Malwa plateau in Madhya Pradesh. They had no choice; once engaged, “the marriage just had to happen.” And it did in 2025. Within weeks, Varsha was back in her village. The family on the other side was now demanding four to five lakh rupees to nullify the wedding as part of the Jhagda practice—breaking an engagement or child marriage arrangement can trigger demands for large monetary settlements, social retaliation, violence, or community punishment. Varsha and her family live almost 50 km from Rajgarh in a small, half-built house with no roof. They have a small piece of agricultural land, which sustains their home, in addition to labour work, which the father takes on whenever circumstances allow. Considering their economic situation, they can’t afford to pay the monetary settlements as part of Jhagda, particularly after what they have spent during the wedding.