CAMPA Approves 4 Projects for River Dolphins, Snow Leopards; Fund Ratio 10:90

CAG Audit Flags 91.87% Shortfall in Forest Cover Improvement Under Green India Mission

The CAG audit reveals the Green India Mission (GIM) – a key component of India's NDC commitments – has failed to meet its forest cover quality improvement target by 91.87% and forest cover increase target by 97.57%. This exposes severe implementation gaps, weak convergence with other schemes, and poor monitoring, directly threatening India's climate pledge under the Paris Agreement.

SC Bans Construction within 100m of Jojari River, Prohibits Hazardous Industries within 500m

Supreme Court imposes strict environmental buffer zones on Jojari River in Rajasthan — banning construction within 100 metres and hazardous industries within 500 metres — to curb severe contamination affecting around 2 million people in a water-starved state. This is a critical example of judicial intervention in environmental protection and river pollution governance.

CWMA Chief Proposes River Board on BBMB Lines for Cauvery Basin; Yield Assessed at 740 TMC ft

CWMA chairperson Saumitra Kumar Haldar has proposed a Cauvery River Board on the lines of the BBMB to own, operate, manage, and regulate reservoirs, aiming to resolve the Tamil Nadu-Karnataka water dispute. He also advocated for curtailing irrigation in distress years, citing the Tungabhadra Board's decision, and stressed water conservation following an unfavourable monsoon forecast.

Centre Amends EIA 2006: Port Environmental Clearance Validity Doubled to 20 Years, Extendable to 30

The Centre has doubled the validity of environmental clearances for ports and harbours from 10 years to a minimum of 20 years, with provisions for two five-year extensions. This amendment to the EIA 2006 notification aims to rationalise the clearance framework for long-gestation port projects, reducing compliance burden while maintaining environmental safeguards. For exam aspirants, this is a key policy change linking environmental regulation, infrastructure development, and governance.

72% of Punjab's Groundwater Blocks in 'Red Zone' as Extraction Rate Hits 152% - Pani Bachao Scheme Offers Cash for Conservation

Punjab's groundwater crisis deepens with an extraction rate of 152%, and 72% of its 153 blocks classified as 'over-exploited'. The rice-wheat cropping system, supported by subsidised electricity and assured procurement, drives this overuse. The 'Pani Bachao, Paisa Kamao' scheme offers cash incentives for electricity conservation, but low enrolment limits impact. This is a critical issue for UPSC Environment, Agriculture, and Governance papers.

15th FC Air-Quality Grant: BMC Spends ₹573.88 Cr, but Mumbai Clean Air Rank Falls to 28th

BMC spent 92.54% (₹573.88 Cr) of the 15th Finance Commission's air-quality grant, but Mumbai's clean air ranking slipped to 28th from 25th. The bulk (79.56%) went to electric buses, yet BEST's fleet shrunk and half the buses are undelivered. This is a classic case of misaligned spending – examiners will ask why funds meant for pollution mitigation were diverted without addressing local hotspots.

7th ESA Draft Notification: 9,993.7 sq km in 131 Kerala Villages Under Western Ghats Regulation

The 7th draft ESA notification for Kerala's Western Ghats has triggered protests from settlers and farmers who fear displacement and land-use restrictions. The notification covers 9,993.7 sq km across 131 villages, but the state government wants it reduced to 8,590.69 sq km excluding human habitations. This is a decade-old conflict between ecological conservation and livelihood rights, with implications for UPSC GS3 (Environment) and GS2 (Federalism, Governance).

Bihar, Jharkhand Sign Sone River Water MoU; Marks 4th Inter-State Water Agreement in 2026 under Cooperative Federalism

Bihar and Jharkhand signed an MoU for sharing Sone river water, resolving a long-pending dispute. This is the fourth inter-state water agreement in 2026, highlighting the government's push for cooperative federalism. The agreement will benefit lakhs of farmers in Bihar and Jharkhand districts.