CURRENT AFFAIRS

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), in collaboration with the United Nations (UN), has launched a new initiative called the “Integrity Matters Checklist.”

India is the world's largest democracy. Article 39A of our Constitution clearly states that the State shall ensure that no citizen is denied access to justice by reason of economic or other disability.

Solid waste management remains one of the major environmental challenges in Indian cities. Most urban local bodies (ULBs) have legacy dumpsites where waste has been accumulating for decades, leading to severe soil, water, and air pollution.

India is one of the 17 mega-diverse countries in the world in terms of biodiversity. Approximately 8% of global biodiversity is found in India, including 7% of mammals, 12% of birds, 6% of amphibians, and around 6% of flowering plants. Rapid population growth, urbanization, and industrialization pose serious threats to wildlife, making wildlife conservation in India increasingly critical.

India has established several institutional frameworks to conserve wildlife and safeguard biodiversity. Among these, the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) serves as the apex advisory body, playing a key role in wildlife policies, conservation strategies, and decisions related to notifications of protected areas.

Ahead of the Leaders Summit (COP 30) in Belém, Brazil, India announced its participation as an observer country in the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF).

On October 31, 2025, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit 2025 was held in Gyeongju, South Korea. This summit made headlines, particularly due to the trade agreement between the United States and China.

Recently, the Karnataka government rejected the Kasturirangan Committee’s report for the environmental conservation of the Western Ghats. The state government argued that the report exaggerated the extent of the Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA), which could hinder developmental projects. This decision has once again revived the debate between development and environmental conservation.

India, being a country with diverse geomorphology and rich biodiversity, faces the challenge of balancing development with environmental conservation. To maintain this balance, the government has developed the concept of Ecologically Sensitive Zones (ESZs). The idea is to allow controlled development without disturbing the ecological balance of protected areas.

According to recent reports, the water level in the dam reservoirs supplying water to the northeastern Iranian city of Mashhad has fallen below 3%, and the country is facing a severe water crisis. The president has warned that if the situation does not improve, the capital, Tehran, may have to be evacuated.