President of India to inaugurate the 8th India Water Week (IWW) at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi

• Theme: ‘Partnerships and Cooperation for Inclusive Water Development and Management’
• Objective: Emphasizes the need for collaboration across all sectors and levels to achieve sustainable water management.

Key highlights of the event:

• Inaugural session and Ministerial Plenary where Government leaders will share their vision and perspectives on water sector;
• Global Water Leaders’ Plenary where global experts in water sector will share their insightful and thought-provoking ideas for water sector;
• Water Leaders’ Forum covering all major thematic sectors where experts drawn from public, private and non-government sector;
• Country Forum on the sidelines with countries like Denmark, Israel, Australia, Singapore, etc.
• Practitioners’ Forum where Government, Private and Non-Government experts will share experiences of implementing water sector programs and initiatives highlighting the best practices.
• Water Convention where papers will be presented on various themes.
• Startup Forum where startups will get an opportunity to pitch for their ideas in water sector.
• Exhibition spread over 4,800 square meters - showcasing high-tech solutions and technologies on display from number of countries like Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Colombia, UK, USA, many African countries etc.
• Valedictory session shall reflect on key insights and outcomes of the IWW.
• Will host 5000+ delegates from around the world in parallel events and conference sessions.

Sub themes and topics

1. Collaboration and Cooperation for Water Security

• Public Private Partnership (PPP) for Efficient Water Management in Urban and Rural Areas.
• Need for Cooperation and Coordination for Water Security keeping in view of the Climate Change Scenario.

2. Integrated Water Resources Development & Management

• Role of Inter Basin Water Transfer in Water Resources Development.
• Inclusive Water Planning.
• Issues in Water Scarcity and way forward.

3. Challenges in Water Sector Infrastructure

• Waste Water Management — Recycle, Reuse and Circular Economy.
• Operation and Management of Water Assets and Infrastructure
• Source Sustainability -Irrigation, Domestic Use etc.

4. Risk and New Approaches to Climate Resilience

• Role of Advanced Technologies in Water Security.
• Managing Climate Uncertainty in Water Sector.
• Risks in Water Sector due to Climate Change.

5. Ground Water Sustainability and Management

• Ground Water Assessment — Tools & Techniques.
• Challenges in Sustainable Management of Ground Water.

6. Water governance and financing

• Water Infrastructures — Financing and Operation & Maintenance Models.
• Role of Policy in Water Security.
• Convergence of Various Stakeholders in Water Sector.

7. Water related Disasters and its Management

• Glacial Lake Outburst Flood Risks and Mitigation
• Challenges in Management of Floods & Droughts
• National Disaster Managements Policies and Action Plan.

India Water Week:

• Conceptualized and organized first in 2012, the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India is organizing the India Water Week 2024 biannually.
• It is a 4-day conference and exhibition which is India’s international water resources event.
• Seven editions of events have been organized in 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2022.
• The India Water Week has continued to focus on the inter-relatedness of water and life-systems over the years.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurates 4th Global Renewable Energy Investor’s Meet and Expo (RE-INVEST) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat

Key Themes and Announcements

1. India’s Renewable Energy Milestones:

• India has achieved over 200 GW of installed non-fossil fuel capacity.
• The Prime Minister highlighted the commitment to expand this capacity, aiming for 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030.

2. Government’s Achievements and Plans:

• 100 Days of Governance: Focused on rapid development, including infrastructure expansion and policy implementation.
• Housing Initiatives: Plans to construct 7 crore houses; 4 crore houses completed in previous terms.
• Industrial and Transport Projects: Creation of 12 new industrial cities, 8 high-speed road corridors, and 15 semi-high speed Vande Bharat trains.

3. Green Energy Initiatives:

• Offshore Wind Energy: Introduction of a viability gap funding scheme worth Rs 7,000 crore.
• Hydropower: Plans to generate 31,000 MW of hydropower with an investment of Rs 12,000 crore.
• Solar Energy: Launch of PM Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme for rooftop solar setups; 1 crore 30 lakh families registered.

4. Global Recognition and Initiatives:

• Paris Agreement Commitments: India is the first G20 nation to meet its climate commitments 9 years ahead of the deadline.
• International Solar Alliance: Highlighting India''s role in global solar energy leadership.
• Green Hydrogen Mission: Launch of a mission worth Rs 20,000 crore to promote green hydrogen.
• Waste to Energy Campaign: Efforts to convert waste into energy.

5. Local and Symbolic Highlights:

• Modhera Solar Village: Gujarat’s solar village that powers itself entirely with solar energy.
• Ayodhya Solar City: Initiative to transform Ayodhya into a model solar city.

6. Employment and Economic Impact:

• Job Creation: The PM Surya Ghar scheme is expected to generate around 20 lakh jobs, including 1 lakh solar PV technician.
• Economic Benefits: Estimated savings of Rs 25,000 annually per family from the solar scheme; potential investment returns through Public Provident Fund.

RE-INVEST

• RE-INVEST is a GoI’s flagship event to showcase India’s RE potential to the world & to invite investment in the sector by initiating multilateral dialogue.
• It is a global renewable energy investor meet and expo organized by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India.
• It is a platform for bringing together global investors, developers, manufacturers, and innovators in the renewable energy sector.
• The event is aimed to accelerate the development and deployment of renewable energy in India, and to connect the Indian energy stakeholders with the global investment community.
• The first RE-INVEST India was held in 2015, and the second was held in 2018 and the third RE-INVEST India was held in 2020.
• The RE-INVEST India events have been successful in attracting a large number of participants from India and abroad.

India launches Operation Sadbhav to provide humanitarian assistance to Typhoon Yagi affected countries

• India sent urgent relief materials to Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam to assist them in dealing with the impact of the major typhoon. 
• 10 tonnes of aid, including dry ration, clothing and medicines, were dispatched to Myanmar onboard the Indian naval ship INS Satpura.
• A military transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force is carrying 35 tonnes of aid to Vietnam and 10 tonnes of relief materials to Laos. These include genset, water purification items, hygiene supplies, mosquito nets, blankets and sleeping bags.
• Operation Sadbhav is part of India’s broader effort to contribute to HADR within the ASEAN region, in line with its ‘Act East Policy’.

Typhoon Yagi: Origin and Impact 

• Typhoon Yagi began as a tropical storm in the western Philippine Seaon September 1, 2024.
• Yagi, which means goator the constellation of Capricornus in Japanese.
• It made landfall in the Philippines but intensified again due to warm waters in the South China Sea, reaching Category 3 winds by September 4.
• Yagi further strengthened to a Category 5 typhoon with peak winds of 260 kmph, making it one of only four Category 5 storms recorded in the South China Sea.
• Although downgraded to a tropical depression, it continued to bring heavy rains and floodsto Myanmar and other areas.

Key Points about Typhoons

• Typhoons are a kind of storm. The storms, depending on where they occur, may be called hurricanes, typhoons or cyclones.
• Typhoons: In the China Sea and Pacific Ocean.
• Hurricanes: In the West Indian islands in the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean.
• Tornados: In the Guinea lands of West Africa and southern USA.
• Willy-willies: In north-western Australia and
• Tropical Cyclones: In the Indian Ocean Region.
• The scientific name for all these kinds of storms is tropical cyclones.
• Tropical cyclones are intense circular storms that originate over the warm tropical oceans with speed more than 119 kilometres per hour and heavy rains.
• Tropical cyclonesrotate counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere.
• The Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre (RSMC) Tokyo - Typhoon Centre assigns a typhoon a name. The name ‘Rai’ is contributed by Micronesia.

FM Nirmala Sitharaman to Launch NPS-Vatsalya Scheme

• The NPS Vatsalya scheme will allow parents to save for their children’s future by investing in a pension account and ensuring long-term wealth with the power of compounding.
• The scheme offers flexible contributions and investment options, allowing parents to invest Rs. 1,000 annually in the name of the child.

NPS Vatsalya Scheme:

• It is a scheme under the National Pension Scheme (NPS).
• It is designed to help parents and guardians plan for their children''s future financial needs.
• Under this scheme, parents or guardians can open an account for their minor children and make contributions towards their retirement savings.
• The funds will accumulate until the child turns 18.
• Once the child reaches adulthood, the accumulated amountwill be transferred to the standard NPS account. 
• This plan could be seamlessly converted into a non-NPS plan when the child becomes an adult.
• The scheme operates similarly to the existing NPS.

National Pension Scheme (NPS):

• It is a voluntary retirement benefit scheme introduced by the Government of India to facilitate regular income post-retirementfor all subscribers. 
• A citizen of India, either a resident, non-resident,or an Overseas Citizen of India, can open an NPS account. 
• It helps individuals build a retirement corpusby making regular contributions throughout their careers.
• NPS contributions are invested in market-linked instrumentssuch as stocks and bonds, providing the potential for higher returns compared to traditional fixed-income options.
• Subscribers also have the option to exitthis plan before retirement or opt for superannuation. 
• It is based on a unique Permanent Retirement Account Number (PRAN), which is allotted to every subscriber.

What is the current status of the introduction of African cheetahs?

Project Cheetah represents India''s ambitious effort to introduce African cheetahs into its ecosystems, focusing on both species conservation and restoring savanna habitats. However, the project has faced challenges, including extended captivity and fatalities, which have raised concerns about its long-term success.

Objectives of Project Cheetah

• Species Conservation: The project aims to conserve the African cheetah and restore the ecological balance in savanna ecosystems.
• Flagship Species: Cheetahs are to serve as a flagship species for promoting the conservation of degraded dry-open forests and savanna ecosystems.
• International Cooperation: India plans to assist Iran and the global community in conserving the Asiatic cheetah.
• Local Communities: The project aims to benefit local communities through eco-tourism.

Challenges and Failures

• Extended Captivity: The prolonged captivity of cheetahs has hindered their adaptation to the wild, contrary to the project''s original plan. Captivity can make cheetahs unfit for release into the wild.
• Deaths: Several cheetahs have died due to pre-existing conditions, mismanagement, and environmental factors such as heatstroke and septicaemia. The death toll has raised concerns about the project''s execution.

Selection of Kuno National Park

• Site Selection: Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh was selected after surveying 10 sites across five states. It was found to have suitable habitat and prey for cheetahs.
• Fenced Captivity: The cheetahs have been largely held in captivity at Kuno, contrary to plans of releasing them into the wild by 2024 or 2025.
• Other Sites: Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary and Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary have also been considered for future cheetah introductions.

Management and Oversight

• Responsible Agencies: The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC), and Madhya Pradesh Forest Department are responsible for managing the project. Technical inputs come from the Wildlife Institute of India.

Success Criteria and Long-Term Prospects

• Short-Term Goals: The initial objectives include a 50% survival rate for the first year, establishment of home ranges, and reproduction in the wild. These goals have not been met due to prolonged captivity.
• Long-Term Success: Over 15-40 years, the project aims to establish a viable metapopulation, improve habitat quality, increase prey diversity, and generate sustainable conservation benefits for local communities.

Concerns and Sunset Clause

• Habitat Adequacy: The key question is whether India has sufficient habitat of the required quality (4,000-8,000 sq. km) to sustain a free-ranging cheetah population.
• Constant Management: The project will require long-term management, with success measured over decades, potentially stretching to 30-40 years.