Climate Change Adds 6 Pregnancy Heat-Risk Days Yearly; Preterm Birth Risk Up 26%

Climate Change: 145 Million Indian Children (0-9) Face Heat Stress Risk, VUB Study Warns

A new study reveals that human-induced climate change has pushed 145 million Indian children (aged 0-9) into at least one additional month of dangerous heat stress annually, making them vulnerable to dehydration, heatstroke, and developmental issues. The findings highlight the disproportionate impact on children, especially from low-income families, and call for urgent emission cuts aligned with the Paris Agreement.

IYRP 2026: Rangelands Covering 50% Earth; Need for Portable Governance for India's Pastoralists

2026 is International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP). The article examines challenges pastoral communities face due to fixed-address welfare delivery, highlights Forest Rights Act recognition of grazing rights, and advocates for 'portable governance' to ensure continuity of education, health, and veterinary services despite seasonal mobility.

15,800 Excess Heat Deaths Projected in India Amid Super El Niño: CIL Report

A new report from the Climate Impact Lab warns of 15,800 excess heat-related deaths in India between September 2026 and February 2027, driven by a Super El Niño. Southern India is especially vulnerable. This is a 'postcard from the future' – a preview of climate impacts 20 years ahead.

World Bank Report: Extreme Heat Costs South Asia 31 Million Jobs, 7% GDP by 2050

World Bank report warns extreme heat costs South Asia 31 million jobs annually and threatens 7% GDP loss by 2050. It urges governments to treat heat as a core development challenge, not a seasonal emergency. Essential for UPSC: climate-economy linkages, urban resilience, and vulnerable worker protection.

Ken-Betwa Link: Centre Defers Displacement Grievances to MP Govt; 7,000 Families at Risk Under FRA

The Ken-Betwa River Link Project, a flagship interlinking river project, faces protests over displacement of over 7,000 families. The Centre has shifted responsibility to the Madhya Pradesh government for implementing the Forest Rights Act and compensation, raising questions about federal accountability and tribal rights. This is crucial for UPSC Polity (Centre-State relations), Environment (river linking), and Social Justice (tribal rights).

WCCB Links Wildlife SOS to Elephant Smuggling from Nepal & Leopard Poaching in MP

Wildlife SOS, a prominent NGO known for rescue operations, is under investigation for alleged involvement in leopard poaching and elephant smuggling from Nepal. The case raises critical questions about NGO accountability, wildlife crime networks, and regulatory oversight in conservation.

Ken-Betwa River Link: Adivasis Resist Daudhan Dam Displacement, Offered ₹12.5 Lakh Compensation

The Ken-Betwa river linking project in Madhya Pradesh is displacing tribal communities in Bundelkhand. Affected villagers are protesting despite compensation of ₹12.5 lakh per eligible adult and ₹5 lakh per acre, because they fear losing their cultural identity, language, and community. This highlights the conflict between development and indigenous rights.

Madras HC Confers Legal Personhood on Tamirabharani River via Deity Status to Bypass SC Ruling

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has ruled that the Tamirabharani river can be treated as a legal person by categorising it as a deity, effectively circumventing the Supreme Court's 2023 decision that non-human entities cannot be granted legal personhood. This allows the court to enforce pollution control measures against religious waste dumping, balancing Article 25 (religious freedom) and Article 21 (right to healthy environment).