Study Says Renewable Energy Subsidies In India Dropped By 35 Percent In 2016-19 Period
A new study by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW) report stated that India's renewable energy subsidies fell 35% between 2016-17 and 2018-19.
The report was titled "Mapping India's Energy Subsidies 2020" which said that the support for renewable energy was to increase again. But the COVID-19 pandemic has made it critical to stay on track.
Policy decisions such as the solar safeguard duty and tariff caps on auctions meant that there was a slowdown in new capacity addition and as a result of lower state subsidy outgo as well.
Apr 16, 2020
Southwest Monsoon To Be Normal This Year, Predicts IMD
Southwest monsoon will be normal this year (2020), the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its forecast for the four-month rainfall season in the country.
IMD Director General M Mohapatra said the Long Period Average (LPA) of monsoon will be 100 per cent which falls in the "normal" category.
Apr 13, 2020
Biofortified Carrot Variety Developed By Farmer Scientist Benefits Local Farmers
Madhuban Gajar, a biofortified carrot variety with high β-carotene and iron content developed by Shri Vallabhhai Vasrambhai Marvaniya, a farmer scientist from Junagadh district, Gujarat is benefitting more than 150 local farmers in the area. It is being planted in an area of over 200 hectares in Junagadh, and the average yield, which is 40-50 t/ha, has become the main source of income to the local farmers. The variety is being cultivated in more than 1000 hectares of land in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh during the last three years.
The Madhuvan Gajar is a highly nutritious carrot variety developed through the selection methodwith higher β-carotene content (277.75 mg/kg) and iron content (276.7 mg/kg) dry basis and is used for various value-added products like carrot chips, juices, and pickles. Among all the varieties tested, beta-carotene and iron content were found to be superior.
NIF Develops Wormivet, A Chemical Method To Treat Worms
National Innovation Foundation India (NIF) has developed "wormivet," an indigenous herbal medication (dewormer) in the form of commercial products for livestock owners. The product will be an alternative to the chemical method of treatment of worm. Wormivet is a medication to treat endoparasite (worm) infestation among livestock sent by Harshadbhai Patel, Gujarat.
Mar 26, 2020
Glaciers in Sikkim Are Losing Mass Faster Than Other Parts Of The Himalaya
Scientists from Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG), Dehradun an autonomous research institute for the study of Geology of the Himalaya under the Department of Science and Technology, have found that glaciers in Sikkim are melting at a higher magnitude as compared to other Himalayan regions.
The study published in Science of the Total Environment assessed the response of 23 glaciers of Sikkim to climate change for the period of 1991-2015 and revealed that glaciers in Sikkim have retreated and deglaciated significantly from 1991 to 2015. Small-sized glaciers in Sikkim are retreating while larger glaciers are thinning due to climate change.
Great Barrier Reef Suffers Third Mass Bleaching In Five Years
Australia's Great Barrier Reef has suffered another mass bleaching event - the third in just five years.
Warmer sea temperatures - particularly in February - are feared to have caused huge coral loss across the world's largest reef system.
Scientists say they have detected widespread bleaching, including extensive patches of severe damage. But they have also found healthy pockets.
Two-thirds of the reef was damaged by similar events in 2016 and 2017.
The reef system, which covers over 2,300km (1,400 miles), is a World Heritage site recognised for its "enormous scientific and intrinsic importance".
Mar 15, 2020
India Gained C Grade, no Country Made up to A Grade: Animal Protection Index 2020
World Animal Protection released the 2nd edition of global Animal Protection Index (API) 2020, where India gained C grade (also in 1st edition in 2014) with other 8 countries which indicates India is one of the better-performing countries. Tragically no country gained A grade.
Gist about API 2020
It aims to display whether countries are doing well & where they lack on animal welfare policy and legislation, so they could take steps to improve.
It helps the countries to have good animal welfare practices such as keeping animals clean, healthy and with sufficient space to exhibit natural behaviours.
It assesses the animal welfare policies and legislation of 50 countries and ranks them from A (highest score) to G (lowest score) with 10 indicators, grouped into 4 goals namely;
Recognition of animal sentience and prohibition of animal suffering
Presence of animal welfare legislation
Establishment of supportive government bodies
Support for international animal welfare standards