UN OCEAN CONFERENCE 2025
The 3rd UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) 2025 was held in Nice, France. The declaration “Our Ocean, Our Future: United for Urgent Action” was adopted to accelerate efforts under SDG 14 (Life Below Water). Indigenous leaders advocated for a binding plastics
INTERNATIONAL BIG CAT ALLIANCE (IBCA)
The first Assembly of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) was held in New Delhi on June 16, 2025. Union Minister Bhupender Yadav was endorsed as President of IBCA by nine participating countries. Marked a significant step in global big
STATE OF INDIA’S ENVIRONMENT IN FIGURES 2025
The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and Down To Earth released the State of India’s Environment in Figures 2025. The report highlights critical challenges across environment, agriculture, public health, and human development, using 48 publicly available indicators. No Indian
INDIA’S BFSI SECTOR
India’s BFSI (Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance) sector, though growing rapidly, faces structural bottlenecks such as: Fragmented regulation Shallow corporate bond market Rising shadow banking risks Low insurance penetration These challenges necessitate comprehensive reforms to ensure sustainable financial sector development
GLOBAL ADOPTION OF CARBON PRICING MECHANISMS
The World Bank’s 2025 State and Trends of Carbon Pricing Report highlights: Carbon pricing instruments now cover nearly two-thirds of global GDP. The number of operational carbon pricing instruments has increased from 5 in 2005 to 80 in 2025. Emerging
WILDLIFE (PROTECTION) ACT, 1972
Kerala Government has requested the Union Government to amend the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (WPA). The aim is to permit controlled killing of wild animals that pose a threat to human life or agriculture. The move comes in light of
SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES (SEZ)
The Ministry of Commerce & Industry has amended SEZ Rules, 2006 to: Encourage investment in semiconductors and electronics component Streamline operations in capital-intensive and high-gestation high-tech sectors. Major upcoming projects: Micron to develop a semiconductor SEZ in Sanand, Gujarat. Aequs
HIGH SEAS TREATY
The High Seas Treaty, also called the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty, was adopted by UN member states in June 2023. Eighteen additional countries ratified the High Seas Treaty bringing the total to 49 countries; the treaty comes into
