CURRENT AFFAIRS

The River Basin Management (RBM) Scheme has gained renewed attention as the Government of India has decided to continue and strengthen it for the period 2026–27 to 2030–31, with a sharper focus on scientific planning and sustainable water governance.

The Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) norms have come into renewed focus due to ongoing discussions between the government and automobile industry regarding the implementation of stricter CAFE-III standards, aimed at improving fuel efficiency and reducing vehicular emissions in India.

A recent case before the Supreme Court of India has highlighted the conflict between: Construction of houses under PMAY-G on forest land, Legal provisions of forest conservation.

The draft master plan for the development of Great Nicobar Island has identified tourism as the primary growth driver for the island’s future development.

Recent developments in bauxite mining in Odisha have reignited conflicts between mining authorities, local communities, and environmental groups.

India has withdrawn its bid to host the COP33 climate summit in 2028, a major global conference under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has released draft rules to manage tar balls, aiming to protect India’s coastline and marine ecosystems from oil pollution.

Recently, WWF-India, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, organized awareness and outreach activities in Gwalior to mark 20 years of Earth Hour, which is celebrated on the last Saturday of March, highlighting growing global concern over climate change and sustainability.

A recent report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) titled “Safe Disposal of Unused Medicines” has warned that improper disposal of medicines is emerging as a serious threat to both environmental sustainability and public health.

The Supreme Court of India recently took suo motu cognisance of media reports highlighting the ecological threats posed by illegal sand mining in the eco-sensitive zone of the National Chambal Sanctuary.