The article argues that global and national climate policies remain overly focused on forests while neglecting grasslands, despite their critical role as stable carbon sinks, biodiversity reservoirs, and livelihood systems for indigenous and pastoral communities. It highlights how institutional silos between climate, biodiversity, and land-degradation frameworks have marginalised grasslands, using examples from Australia, Brazil’s Cerrado, and India. The piece calls for integrating grasslands into national climate plans and NDCs, recognising community land rights, and building coordination among UN bodies to ensure effective, science-based, and socially just climate action.
Click to View MoreIndia’s rice exports rebounded strongly in 2025 after the lifting of export restrictions, rising nearly 20% to around 21.55 million tonnes, close to a historic high. Non-basmati rice led the surge due to strong demand from Asia and Africa, while basmati exports reached a record level driven by premium markets in West Asia and Europe. Competitive pricing and ample domestic production helped India regain global market share, lower international rice prices, and strengthen its role in global food security, even as challenges of domestic price stability and sustainability remain.
Click to View MoreThe Pinaka LRGR-120 is the latest long-range guided rocket in the Pinaka system, successfully demonstrating precise strikes at ranges of about 120 km. Compatible with existing Pinaka launchers, it validates advanced guidance, control, and in-flight manoeuvre capabilities. The system extends India’s battlefield reach, enables accurate long-range artillery strikes, supports counter-battery and deep interdiction roles, and strengthens defence indigenisation under Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
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The Supreme Court has stayed its earlier judgment that accepted a uniform definition of the Aravalli hills based on height and cluster criteria. It took this step after concerns that the definition could reduce protection for large parts of the Aravalli range and encourage mining and construction. The Court has paused the grant or renewal of mining leases in the region without its permission and proposed setting up a high-powered expert committee to scientifically reassess the definition. The order emphasises the precautionary principle and underscores that the Aravallis must be protected as an integrated ecological system until a final decision is reached.
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A recent scare over counterfeit rabies vaccines has raised serious public-health concerns. Suspected fake or repackaged batches of a commonly used rabies vaccine were reported in multiple Indian cities, prompting advisories from several countries for travellers vaccinated in India. Investigations indicate that while most vials contained genuine vaccine, packaging was altered and government-supplied stock was likely diverted to the private market, revealing weaknesses in supply-chain monitoring. The incident risks creating vaccine hesitancy for a disease that is almost 100% fatal once symptoms appear. The crisis underscores the need for strict regulation, better tracking systems, strong law enforcement, transparent public communication, and assured availability of authentic vaccines and immunoglobulin to maintain trust and prevent avoidable deaths.
Click to View MoreReducing methane emissions from paddy fields can generate additional income for farmers through carbon markets. By shifting from continuously flooded rice fields to practices such as Alternate Wetting and Drying, methane emissions can be significantly lowered without affecting yields while also saving water. The verified reductions are converted into carbon credits that companies purchase to offset their own emissions, enabling farmers to earn extra revenue. This approach links climate mitigation, water conservation and livelihood enhancement, though it also requires reliable measurement systems and fair benefit-sharing to ensure small farmers benefit equitably.
Click to View MoreIndia is prioritizing the development of domestic rare-earth permanent magnet (REPM) manufacturing to reduce import dependence, secure supplies of critical minerals, and support clean-energy, electric mobility, electronics, and defence sectors. The initiative aligns with national strategies such as the National Critical Minerals Mission and recent mining-policy reforms that promote exploration, processing, and private participation. Alongside international partnerships and resource acquisition efforts through KABIL, strengthening REPM capacity positions India to build resilient supply chains, advance self-reliance, and integrate more strongly into global value chains for advanced materials.
Click to View MoreIndia’s crude oil basket has evolved from dominant dependence on West Asia to a more diversified mix, influenced by geopolitics, sanctions, price dynamics, and refinery flexibility. The decline of Iranian supplies due to sanctions, the rise of U.S. and African crude, and especially the rapid increase in discounted Russian oil since 2022 have reshaped India’s sourcing pattern. Today, India imports nearly 85% of its crude requirement, with Russia emerging as a leading supplier alongside Middle Eastern producers, reflecting a strategy focused on cost efficiency, energy security, and diplomatic balancing.
Click to View MoreRabies is a highly fatal but completely preventable viral disease that primarily affects the central nervous system and is mostly transmitted to humans through dog bites in India. It disproportionately impacts poor and rural communities and children, largely due to low awareness and limited access to timely post-exposure vaccination and immunoglobulin. India has launched programmes such as the National Rabies Control Programme and the National Action Plan for Rabies Elimination 2030, based on the One Health approach, focusing on dog vaccination, sterilisation, surveillance, and free PEP in public hospitals. With sustained awareness, mass dog vaccination, and improved access to treatment, India can eliminate dog-mediated human rabies deaths by 2030.
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India has significantly reduced malaria cases, but the spread of the invasive city-breeding mosquito Anopheles stephensi is increasing urban malaria and threatening the goal of elimination by 2030. High-burden pockets remain in Odisha and parts of the Northeast, with added challenges from asymptomatic infections, difficult terrain and cross-border transmission. Government initiatives such as the National Framework and Strategic Plan for Malaria Elimination focus on stronger surveillance, vector control, community participation and improved access to diagnosis and treatment to achieve zero indigenous cases by 2027.
Click to View MoreIndia’s goal of “Health for All” faces major hurdles such as low public health spending, rising non-communicable and infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and persistent gaps in infrastructure and access. Although initiatives like Ayushman Bharat, Health and Wellness Centres, and disease-control programmes have expanded services, missed TB targets and repeated pharmaceutical quality lapses reveal systemic weaknesses. Achieving true universal health coverage will require higher funding, stronger regulation, and a primary healthcare–centred approach.
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The Supreme Court has issued targeted directions to safeguard the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard, whose population has sharply declined due to habitat loss and collisions with power transmission lines in Rajasthan and Gujarat. The Court expanded priority conservation areas, created dedicated power-line corridors, ordered undergrounding and rerouting of high-risk lines, and restricted new wind and large solar projects in key habitats. It also directed state-specific conservation actions such as grassland restoration, predator management, captive breeding support, the “jump-start” technique in Gujarat, and greater community participation. These combined legal, ecological, and management measures aim to prevent the species’ extinction and ensure its long-term recovery.
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