Month: February 2026

    India could be heading towards another challenging monsoon season as early climate signals point to the possible development of an El Nino later this year. While meteorological agencies say certainty will emerge only by April, the likelihood of weaker rainfall during the crucial monsoon months has already raised concerns among policymakers, farmers and climate experts. An El Nino refers to the warming of the central equatorial Pacific Ocean by at least 0.5 degrees Celsius for five consecutive overlapping three-month periods. Historically, such warming events have often coincided with subdued monsoon rainfall over the Indian subcontinent, making them a key factor in seasonal climate forecasting. El Nino Probability May Rise After July According to M. Mohapatra, ...

    The World Bank Group has announced a new partnership with the Government of India aimed at accelerating job creation across urban and rural regions, with funding that could reach up to $50 billion over the next five years. The new country partnership framework came into effect at the beginning of 2026 and marks a significant expansion over the previous funding cycle. Under the new plan, the World Bank will provide annual financing of $8–10 billion, compared to $6–7 billion a year under the earlier framework that ran from FY18 and was extended till December 2025 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The initiative is expected to play a key role in supporting India’s long-term development and employment goals. Focus on Job-Intensive Growth Sectors The World Bank said the...

    A budget-friendly solar drying technique developed using locally available materials has helped around 500 farmers in Nagaland reduce post-harvest losses and increase their incomes by 30–40 per cent, highlighting the growing role of frugal solar innovation in rural agriculture. India loses agricultural produce worth nearly ₹1.53 trillion every year due to poor storage, handling and lack of cold-chain infrastructure. Fruits and vegetables account for a major share of this loss, with nearly 40 per cent of food produced in the country wasted annually. Limited electricity access and unpredictable weather further compound the problem for small farmers, particularly in hilly and remote regions. Solar Innovation Designed for Local Conditions The solution emerged in Na...

    The Economic Survey 2025–26 has placed climate change adaptation at the centre of India’s development strategy, arguing that growth and resilience must move together. Released on January 29, the survey underlined that strengthening infrastructure, agriculture, energy access and health systems is as crucial to climate action as emission cuts. In a chapter titled Environment and Climate Change: Building a Resilient, Competitive and Development-Driven India, the survey stated that “development is, in itself, a form of adaptation,” stressing that economic progress helps societies absorb and recover from climate shocks. Growth, resilience and climate action must move together According to the survey, effective climate action depends on improving the capacity of peop...