Recently, the government has accorded the ‘Maharatna’ status to state-owned Power Finance Corporation (PFC). An order to this effect was issued by the Department of Public Enterprises, under the Ministry of Finance. PFC has become the 11th public sector enterprise to get the ‘Maharatna’ status in the country and joins the ranks of other such companies like ONGC, Indian Oil …

The international environmental think tank ‘Germanwatch’ released the Global Climate Risk Index 2021. This is the 16th Edition of the Index. It is published annually. Germanwatch, based in Bonn and Berlin (Germany), is an independent development and environmental organisation which works for sustainable global development. Important points: The Index analyses the extent to which countries and regions have been affected by the impacts of weather-related loss events (storms, …

In India, countless workers engaged in mines, construction and factories are silently dying of exposure to dust. This is better referred to as silicosis Silicosis can be described as an occupational disease or hazard due to dust exposure. It is incurable and can cause permanent disability. However, it is totally preventable by available control …

Recently, the Kunming Declaration was adopted by over 100 countries at the ongoing 15th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity in china. The adoption of the declaration will create momentum for a new global biodiversity pact. In a previous agreement, Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, signed in Aichi, Japan, in 2010, governments agreed …

Recently, the government of India has launched the ambitious Gati Shakti scheme or National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity plan, with the aim of coordinated planning and execution of infrastructure projects to bring down logistics costs. Important points: To ensure integrated planning and implementation of infrastructure projects in the next four years, with focus on …