General Awareness

ENVIRONMENT - October 2021

Oct 2021

Dec 18, 2025

Green School Award 2025 goes to Gandhinagar govt primary school

A government primary school in Jivraj Na Muvada village, Gandhinagar, has won the Green School Award 2025 under the Green Your School programme. The school ranked first among 720 schools nationwide and receives Rs 3 lakh. It was recognised for implementing 11 green ideas, including home-made compost, paper recycling, mood painting, earthen pot air conditioning, portable biogas, plastic-free initiatives, smart energy auditing, grey-water systems, a solar pump, a kindness wall, and digital data management. The campus features about 1,200 trees and seeks to promote sustainable practices and environmental education across schools.

Gandhinagar government primary school wins Green School Award 2025.
Rs 3 lakh prize; 11 green ideas implemented.
Campus hosts about 1,200 trees.
Initiatives include composting, recycling, grey-water systems.

Delhi implements No PUC, No Fuel under GRAP-4 from Dec 18

From 18 December 2025, Delhi enforces the No PUC, No Fuel regulation under GRAP Stage IV to curb hazardous air pollution. Vehicles without valid Pollution Under Control certificates cannot refuel at stations. The government has deployed 580 police personnel and 37 Prakhar enforcement vans at 126 checkpoints, with ANPR cameras and the VAHAN database monitoring compliance. BS-III and BS-IV vehicles registered outside Delhi are banned from entering the capital; only BS-VI, CNG, and electric vehicles are permitted. The measure forms part of a broader, enforceable set of anti-pollution actions in the NCR region.

GRAP-4 No PUC, No Fuel enforced from 18 Dec 2025.
580 police personnel and 37 enforcement vans deployed.
126 checkpoints; ANPR and VAHAN used for verification.
BS-III/BS-IV outside Delhi banned; BS-VI/CNG/EV allowed.

Dec 17, 2025

Miyana railway station receives National Energy Conservation Award 2025

Miyana Railway Station in Guna district, Madhya Pradesh, was honoured with the National Energy Conservation Award (NECA) 2025. The award recognises energy efficiency and sustainable operations at railway stations. The National Energy Conservation Award is conferred by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) under the Ministry of Power. The recognition underscores the contribution of Indian Railways to energy savings, cost efficiency, and environmental stewardship. The award highlights best practices in energy management, operations, and infrastructure improvements across major rail nodes, supporting national goals for energy efficiency.

Miyana Railway Station awarded NECA 2025.
Award presented by the President; BEE involvement.
Recognises energy efficiency in railway operations.
Supports India’s energy conservation and sustainability goals.
Spotlight on railway stations as energy managers.

NHAI unveils wildlife-safe road on NH-45 in Madhya Pradesh

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) debuted India’s first wildlife-safe road feature on NH-45 in Madhya Pradesh. The stretch includes table-top red road markings designed to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions as the route passes through Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary and Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve. The 11.96-kilometre section between Hiran and Sindoor lies about 60 kilometres from Jabalpur and traverses dense forest habitats. The initiative demonstrates a balance between road development and conservation, offering a potential model for wildlife-friendly infrastructure across India and encouraging drivers to slow down in ecologically sensitive zones.

Table-top red road markings deployed on NH-45, MP.
Aims to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions near protected areas.
Passes through Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary and Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve.
11.96 km stretch between Hiran and Sindoor; ~60 km from Jabalpur.
Represents wildlife-friendly infrastructure in India.

Dec 16, 2025

New Tiny Pumpkin Toadlet Species Discovered in Brazil

Scientists have identified a new tiny toadlet species from Brazil’s cloud forests, part of the Brachycephalus group. Measuring about 8.9 to 13.4 millimetres, the pumpkin toadlet ranks among the smallest four-legged animals on Earth. Notable for deafness to its own calls, the species relies on visual cues for communication. The discovery highlights biodiversity richness and underscores ongoing conservation challenges in fragile montane habitats. Researchers aim to advance understanding of evolutionary processes and inform regional biodiversity protection strategies in South American cloud forests.

New Brachycephalus pumpkin toadlet discovered in Brazil.
Size: 8.9–13.4 mm; among world’s smallest vertebrates.
Species uses visual signals; not responsive to its calls.
Implications for biodiversity and habitat conservation.

India Resolution on Global Wildfire Management Adopted at UNEA-7

India’s resolution on strengthening global wildfire management was adopted at the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) in Nairobi, Kenya, in December 2025. The ministry stated that wildfires pose rising global threats, underscoring the need for proactive prevention, planning, early warning, and risk reduction. The resolution referenced UNEP’s report Spreading Like Wildfire, which projects significant increases in wildfire activity by 2030, 2050, and 2100 if trends persist. The government emphasised international cooperation and investment in capacity-building to protect vulnerable regions and ecosystems from wildfire risks.

India-led wildfire management resolution adopted at UNEA-7 (Dec 2025).
Focus on proactive prevention, planning, and early warning.
Cites UNEP report predicting rising wildfire risk through 2100.
Calls for international cooperation and capacity-building.

MP Tiger Reserve to House Cheetahs as New Habitat

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve will become a cheetah habitat, following successful translocations to Kuno National Park. The cabinet gave in-principle approval to develop the reserve, located in Nauradehi, Sagar district, as the state’s third cheetah habitat. This follows Kuno's 2022 introduction and Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary’s 2025 addition. Officials expect ecological benefits and potential eco-tourism growth. The plan will require environmental clearances and community consultations to balance conservation with local livelihoods and land use.

Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve to host cheetahs.
Third cheetah habitat in Madhya Pradesh; cabinet approved plan.
Follows translocations to Kuno (2022) and Gandhi Sagar (2025).
Requires environmental clearances and community input.

Dec 15, 2025

Meghalaya inaugurates Soil Lake to boost conservation and sustainable development

Meghalaya inaugurated Soil Lake at Williamnagar in East Garo Hills under the Nengsang River Valley Project. The project aims to restore a degraded waterbody, support eco-tourism, and strengthen ecological resilience amid climate stresses. Soil Lake will be a focal point for conservation and community livelihoods, linking water management with biodiversity protection. Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma flagged the initiative as part of broader state efforts to preserve soil and water resources, while promoting sustainable development and regional tourism opportunities in the ecologically sensitive Garo Hills area.

Soil Lake inaugurated in Williamnagar, Meghalaya
Part of Nengsang River Valley Project
Aims: water conservation, eco-tourism, resilience

Andhra Pradesh earns National Energy Conservation Award for fourth year

Andhra Pradesh received the National Energy Conservation Award 2025, securing First Prize in Group II category for the fourth consecutive year. The award acknowledges state‑level efforts in energy conservation across buildings, industry, municipal services, agriculture, DISCOMs, and transport. Chief Secretary K. Vijayanand credited institutional coordination, policy reforms, and implementation zeal for the sustained performance. The recognition places the state among national leaders in energy efficiency, aligning with broader federal goals to reduce energy intensity and promote sustainable development across sectors.

AP wins NECA 2025 First Prize Group II
Fourth consecutive year; multiple sectors covered
Leadership: K. Vijayanand cites reforms and coordination

DMRC East Vinod Nagar Metro wins national energy conservation award

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) East Vinod Nagar Metro Station won the ‘Best Performing Unit Award’ at the National Energy Conservation Awards 2025. President Droupadi Murmu presented the award, recognizing sustained energy efficiency efforts and reduced energy consumption. The award highlights DMRC’s initiatives in energy management across operations, passenger facilities, and technology adoption. The Bureau of Energy Efficiency, under the Ministry of Power, evaluated metro systems nationwide before selecting the winner. The recognition adds to India’s broader push for energy efficiency in public infrastructure.

East Vinod Nagar Metro wins NECA 2025 award
Award presented by President Murmu
DMRC cited for energy efficiency improvements

Kopra Reservoir in Chhattisgarh declared first Ramsar site

Chhattisgarh’s Kopra Reservoir in Bilaspur district was designated the state’s first Ramsar site, recognizing its international importance as a wetland. The designation follows coordinated efforts by the State Wetland Authority, forest officials, researchers, and local communities. Kopra Reservoir is a rain‑fed system supported by small streams, providing drinking water and irrigation for nearby villages. The Ramsar status highlights biodiversity significance and sustainable water management, and is expected to boost conservation efforts, eco‑tourism, and regional resilience to climate change while supporting local livelihoods.

Kopra Reservoir named first Ramsar site in Chhattisgarh
Rain‑fed wetland; supports water supply and irrigation
Biodiversity and conservation significance highlighted

Dec 13, 2025

Chhatrapati Shivaji Airport earns Level 5 carbon accreditation

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), operated by Mumbai International Airport Limited, has earned Level 5 accreditation under the Airport Carbon Accreditation program. This is the highest tier, indicating net-zero emissions for Scope 1 and 2 with a plan to reach net-zero Scope 3 emissions by 2050. The airport follows the Measure, Manage, Reduce and Communicate framework and operates under a robust ESG policy with a carbon management committee. CSMIA joins a global group of about 30 airports with advanced decarbonisation maturity, including several in the Asia-Pacific region and in India.

CSMIA achieves Level 5 Airport Carbon Accreditation.
Net-zero for Scope 1 and 2; 2050 target for Scope 3 emissions.
Follows Measure-Manage-Reduce-Communicate framework.
ESG policy with a dedicated carbon management committee.
Among roughly 30 global airports with advanced decarbonisation.

India-EU Ideathon on marine plastics concludes in Bhubaneswar

An India-EU Ideathon on Combating Marine Plastic Pollution concluded in Bhubaneswar in December 2025. The event, organized under the India-EU Trade and Technology Council Working Group 2 on Green and Clean Energy Technologies, ended with a final ceremony at the Bhubaneswar City Knowledge Innovation Cluster, KIIT-DU. Teams presented solutions across three tracks: tracking marine plastics, scalable removal technologies, and community awareness. The top three winners were Ocean Resilience India, Nautilus Nexus, and TrashTrek App. Each received INR 5,00,000 in prize money, with incubation support from the Mphasis F1 Foundation. Indian and European juries evaluated pitches on impact and feasibility.

Event held under India-EU TTC Working Group 2 in Bhubaneswar, December 2025.
Three tracks: tracking plastics, removal technologies, community awareness.
Winners: Ocean Resilience India; Nautilus Nexus; TrashTrek App.
Prize: INR 5,00,000 each with incubation support.
Juries included Indian and European experts.

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