Based on a report by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, climate change has led more than 77% of the Earth’s surface to experience dryness over the past 30 years. Experts have called for prompt action to limit the discharge of greenhouse gases, failing which many regions around the world could face the risk of turning into drylands over time. 

The first Integrated Waste Management City cum Learning Centre in India, which will enable efficient waste handling, is being built in Uttar Pradesh’s Gorakhpur. This facility will be equipped to manage different types of waste, including industrial and biomedical waste, and is expected to commence operations in September. 

An initiative by the Maharashtra government called Shashan Aaplya Dari, which aims to deliver government services, schemes and other benefits directly to the public, was honoured with the SKOCH Award. The initiative, which translates to ‘Government at Your Doorstep’, was picked from a pool of 280 initiatives submitted for the competition from all around India. 

The Indian Railways has made noteworthy progress by facilitating the electrification of about 97% of its broad-gauge railway network. According to Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw, the rate of electrification has accelerated to a great extent over the past years and approximately 45,200 route kilometres of the network have been successfully electrified. 

To make educational material available to the hearing-impaired, the Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan introduced India’s first television channel featuring content in Indian Sign Language. This channel, operated by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), will offer content on a range of subjects such as mental health, news and career guidance.