Days after a renaming bid that drew sharp criticism, China has now been left fuming over Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to Arunachal Pradesh. A foreign ministry spokesperson from the other country insisted that Shah's visit to a 'Chinese territory' had violating Beijing's territorial sovereignty.

China fumes as Amit Shah visits Arunachal Pradesh, dubs it 'violation of territorial sovereignty'

The G20 presidency and the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, an initiative of the Indian government to honour 75 years of Independence and the history of its people's culture and achievements, are discussed in this interview with WION with the Indian minister of state for external affairs and culture, Meenakashi Lekhi.

'We have the Presidency of G20, we also have Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav' says Meenakashi Lekhi

India and China accuse each other of making visa issues for their journalists deployed in New Delhi and Beijing after long-standing border tensions between India and China developed into a number of people-to-people encounters. Two Indian journalists posted in Beijing were recently prohibited from returning to their positions.

India-China Tensions: China bars two Indian journalists from returning to Beijing

Ukraine's First Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova, who is currently in India, met with MoS Meenakshi Lekhi. Earlier today, she also held a crucial meeting with the officials of India and the EU.

Ukraine's first Deputy FM Emine Dzhaparova meets Indian MoS Meenakshi Lekhi

Over 2,470 Sikh pilgrims have crossed the Wagah Border to celebrate Baisakhi in Pakistan. They will be taken to various Sikh shrines in Punjab province. Is Pak trying to signal that it wants to defuse tensions with India? Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas: 2,470 Sikh pilgrims to celebrate Baisakhi in Pakistan

Tigers have seen their numbers increasing in India with conservation efforts paying off. Molly Gambhir takes a closer look at the journey of project Tiger and its milestones.

Gravitas: India now has over 3,167 Tigers

India must work on expanding its existing navigation with the Indian Constellation ('NavIC') series of satellites, provide space-based Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) and ensure secure satellite-assisted communications, said Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Anil Chauhan.

India's highest-ranking military officer was speaking at the ‘Indian DefSpace Symposium 2023’, organised by the Indian Space Association and the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO).&nbsp;

Speaking on the occasion, Lt Gen AK Bhatt (Retd.), Director General, Indian Space Association, said, “the symposium will pave the way forward of how we leverage international space cooperation and also the policy and strategy for building an overall comprehensive defence space strategy."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-to-soon-conduct-trial-run-of-its-first-underwater-metro-581284">India to soon conduct trial run of its first underwater metro</a>

At the event aimed at enhancing collaboration between India's Space and Defence sectors, Gen&nbsp;Chauhan emphasised on the need to develop dual-use(utilised for civilian and military purposes) platforms with special focus towards incorporating cutting-edge technology.

Touching upon what was expected from the Indian space sector, he said that India needed to focus on miniaturisation of satellites, reusable launch vehicles and similar cost-effective solutions. He also mentioned the need to safeguard India's space assets with counter-space capabilities(anti-satellite weapons).&nbsp;

India's NavIC series of navigation satellites presently provide coverage throughout the Indian landmass and up to 1500 kms further from India's frontiers. WION has learnt that the Indian Space agency ISRO is likely to launch the next-generation of NavIC satellite 'NVS-01' in May, on-board a GSLV rocket.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-police-officer-places-order-on-e-com-firm-his-details-get-leaked-to-scammers-581276">India: Police officer places order on e-com firm, his details get leaked to scammers</a>

This will be the first of the series of NaVIC satellites with L1 frequency band and will offer greater security. While India does have more than 50 satellites orbiting the earth and performing various functions, most of them are large and expensive ones.

Developing low-cost and highly-efficient nano satellites that can be built and deployed rapidly are an area that requires attention, in India. While India operates four types of launch vehicles of varying sizes and payload capacities, all of them are expendable. India is working on reusable rocket technology.

Speaking at the event, Dr Samir V Kamat, Chairman, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), mentioned how the premier defence lab has started increasing focus on space-based surveillance, space situational awareness, protecting space-based assets.

"We are now looking at working very closely with industry as well as academia right from the development stage and have started DRDO industry-academia Centers of excellence in about 15 institutions mostly within the country. We request academia, startups, MSMEs and larger companies to work with us closely so we can help our country achieve these capabilities much faster than what we have been able to do for all other systems,” he said.&nbsp;

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India must work on expanding its existing navigation with the Indian Constellation ('NavIC') series of satellites, provide space-based Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) and ensure secure satellite-assisted communications, said Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Anil Chauhan.

India must work on expanding its existing navigation with the Indian Constellation ('NavIC') series of satellites, provide space-based Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) and ensure secure satellite-assisted communications, said Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Anil Chauhan. India's highest-ranking military officer was speaking at the ‘Indian DefSpace Symposium 2023’, organised by the Indian Space Association and the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO). Speaking on the occasion, Lt Gen AK Bhatt (Retd.), Director General, Indian Space Association, said, “the symposium will pave the way forward of how we leverage international space cooperation and also the policy and strategy for building an overall comprehensive defence space strategy." ALSO READ | India to soon conduct trial run of its first underwater metro At the event aimed at enhancing collaboration between India's Space and Defence sectors, Gen Chauhan emphasised on the need to develop dual-use(utilised for civilian and military purposes) platforms with special focus towards incorporating cutting-edge technology. Touching upon what was expected from the Indian space sector, he said that India needed to focus on miniaturisation of satellites, reusable launch vehicles and similar cost-effective solutions. He also mentioned the need to safeguard India's space assets with counter-space capabilities(anti-satellite weapons). India's NavIC series of navigation satellites presently provide coverage throughout the Indian landmass and up to 1500 kms further from India's frontiers. WION has learnt that the Indian Space agency ISRO is likely to launch the next-generation of NavIC satellite 'NVS-01' in May, on-board a GSLV rocket. ALSO READ | India: Police officer places order on e-com firm, his details get leaked to scammers This will be the first of the series of NaVIC satellites with L1 frequency band and will offer greater security. While India does have more than 50 satellites orbiting the earth and performing various functions, most of them are large and expensive ones. Developing low-cost and highly-efficient nano satellites that can be built and deployed rapidly are an area that requires attention, in India. While India operates four types of launch vehicles of varying sizes and payload capacities, all of them are expendable. India is working on reusable rocket technology. Speaking at the event, Dr Samir V Kamat, Chairman, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), mentioned how the premier defence lab has started increasing focus on space-based surveillance, space situational awareness, protecting space-based assets. "We are now looking at working very closely with industry as well as academia right from the development stage and have started DRDO industry-academia Centers of excellence in about 15 institutions mostly within the country. We request academia, startups, MSMEs and larger companies to work with us closely so we can help our country achieve these capabilities much faster than what we have been able to do for all other systems,” he said. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

India must miniaturise satellites, develop re-usable launch vehicles: Chief of Defence Staff

The UEFA Champions League 2022-23 will return after almost two months with the quarterfinal stage. Manchester City and Bayern will clash in the first leg of the quarterfinals, followed by another match between Benfica and Inter Milan.

The UEFA Champions League 2022-23 will return after almost two months with the quarterfinal stage. Manchester City and Bayern will clash in the first leg of the quarterfinals, followed by another match between Benfica and Inter Milan. Manchester City will lock horns with Bayern Munich at the Etihad Stadium on April 12, 2023, at 12:30 AM IST. Meanwhile, Benfica will face Inter Milan at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon, Portugal, on April 12, 2023, at 12:30 AM IST. Before the clash between the two heavyweights in the club division, Bayern Munich appointed a new manager, Thomas Tuchel. Man City's Pepe Guardiola and Tuchel have come across ten times. UEFA Champions League 2022-23 will get more thrilling as the matches proceed. Here's everything you need to know about the live streaming details and schedule of the UEFA Champions League 2022-23. UEFA Champions League: Live Streaming Football freaks in India can watch the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal stage on the Sony LIV app. The match between Manchester City and Bayern Munich will commence at 12:30 AM IST on April 12, 2023. In the United Kingdom, BT Sport 1 and BT Sport Ultimate will live telecast the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals on TV. BT Sport App will also live stream the matches. Furthermore, fans in the United States can watch the quarterfinal matches live on Univision, TUDN and Paramount+. UEFA Champions League: Full Schedule for April 2023 The first and second legs of the quarterfinal matches of the UEFA Championships will begin on April 11 and continue till April 20. Here's the full schedule for the quarterfinal stage of the UEFA Champions League 2022-23. First Leg April 12, Wednesday Benfica vs Inter Milan - 12:30 AM IST Manchester City vs Bayern Munich - 12:30 AM IST April 13, Thursday Real Madrid vs Chelsea - 12:30 AM IST AC Milan vs Napoli - 12:30 AM IST Second Leg April 19, Wednesday Napoli vs AC Milan - 12:30 AM IST Chelsea vs Real Madrid - 12:30 AM IST April 20, Thursday Bayern Munich vs Manchester City - 12:30 AM IST Inter Milan vs Benfica - 12:30 AM IST

UEFA Champions League Live: How to watch UCL 2022-23 quarterfinal matches live in India; Check full schedule

How often have we heard of cases in India, where bank customers receive an SMS saying their accounts would get frozen or their reward points are expiring? These text messages are worded to appear legitimate and also provide links for redeeming the reward points or updating the customer details to prevent the account from being frozen. Those who end up clicking the links get scammed of huge amounts of money and only realize their mistake after it's too late.&nbsp;

In the latest incident, a serving Indian police officer was at the receiving end of something similar, after shopping on a popular e-commerce platform. With the aim of alerting fellow users, P Aravindhan, Zonal Director of Narcotics Control Bureau, Chennai Zone, shared his experience on social media.&nbsp;

According to the officer's social media post, he had recently placed an order on the Indian E-commerce website 'Nykaa' and the products had even been delivered. However, a short while after his order had been delivered on Monday 10th April, he received a call from someone claiming to be from Nykaa Customer care.&nbsp;

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Scam alert/serious data breach issue 
I ordered few products from nykaa and within half an hour after delivery i got a scam call claiming to be from nykaa call center. This is the second time i am getting similar call and decided to play along <a href="https://t.co/HlpWwl6vHR">pic.twitter.com/HlpWwl6vHR</a>
— Aravindhan P IPS (@aravindhanIPS) <a href="https://twitter.com/aravindhanIPS/status/1645360113689976835?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2023</a></blockquote>
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"Claiming to be a customer care executive from Nykaa, the caller told me that I could win an iPhone 12 or a Sony Bravia TV, if I place an order worth more than Rs.5000. The caller asked me to select all the products and add them to cart. Instead of making the payment directly on the E-com platform, the caller asked me to make the payment to their account" the officer told WION. They even had my exact name, mobile number, delivery address and said that the products and the gift would be delivered there.&nbsp;

Sensing that this was a malicious call, the officer didn't proceed further and make any payment. He highlighted the issue on social media and mentioned that he is facing this issue for the second time, suspecting that the data leak could have happened from Nykaa or the delivery partner 'Delhivery'. He also raised questions on how the scammers got access to his personal data that was shared with Nykaa and how the scammers managed to call him immediately after the order delivery is fulfilled.&nbsp;

He told WION that he had raised the issue further with Nykaa and provided them with the relevant details for probing the matter.&nbsp;

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How often have we heard of cases in India, where bank customers receive an SMS saying their accounts would get frozen or their reward points are expiring? These text messages are worded to appear legitimate and also provide links for redeeming the reward points or updating the customer details to prevent the account from being frozen.

How often have we heard of cases in India, where bank customers receive an SMS saying their accounts would get frozen or their reward points are expiring? These text messages are worded to appear legitimate and also provide links for redeeming the reward points or updating the customer details to prevent the account from being frozen. Those who end up clicking the links get scammed of huge amounts of money and only realize their mistake after it's too late. In the latest incident, a serving Indian police officer was at the receiving end of something similar, after shopping on a popular e-commerce platform. With the aim of alerting fellow users, P Aravindhan, Zonal Director of Narcotics Control Bureau, Chennai Zone, shared his experience on social media. According to the officer's social media post, he had recently placed an order on the Indian E-commerce website 'Nykaa' and the products had even been delivered. However, a short while after his order had been delivered on Monday 10th April, he received a call from someone claiming to be from Nykaa Customer care. Scam alert/serious data breach issue I ordered few products from nykaa and within half an hour after delivery i got a scam call claiming to be from nykaa call center. This is the second time i am getting similar call and decided to play along pic.twitter.com/HlpWwl6vHR — Aravindhan P IPS (@aravindhanIPS) April 10, 2023 × "Claiming to be a customer care executive from Nykaa, the caller told me that I could win an iPhone 12 or a Sony Bravia TV, if I place an order worth more than Rs.5000. The caller asked me to select all the products and add them to cart. Instead of making the payment directly on the E-com platform, the caller asked me to make the payment to their account" the officer told WION. They even had my exact name, mobile number, delivery address and said that the products and the gift would be delivered there. Sensing that this was a malicious call, the officer didn't proceed further and make any payment. He highlighted the issue on social media and mentioned that he is facing this issue for the second time, suspecting that the data leak could have happened from Nykaa or the delivery partner 'Delhivery'. He also raised questions on how the scammers got access to his personal data that was shared with Nykaa and how the scammers managed to call him immediately after the order delivery is fulfilled. He told WION that he had raised the issue further with Nykaa and provided them with the relevant details for probing the matter. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

India: Police officer places order on e-com firm, his details get leaked to scammers

Russia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade and Industry, Denis Manturov, is set to visit India next week for a key inter-governmental meeting aimed at enhancing trade ties between the two countries. Manturov will co-chair the 24th India-Russia Inter-governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC) during India visit starting 17th April.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/is-there-a-medicine-to-stop-this-naz-founder-anjali-gopalan-shares-internal-battles-homosexuals-fight-580795">'Is there a medicine to stop this...?' Indian activist Anjali Gopalan shares internal battles homosexuals fight</a>

The IRIGC-TEC is the primary mechanism at the government level for enhancing trade and economic cooperation between India and Russia. The commission was established by an Agreement on Inter-governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation signed in May 1992, and the first session of IRIGC was held on 13 and 14 September 1994.

The visit by Manturov comes just a month after a virtual review meeting on trade issues between him and India's External Affairs Minister (EAM) Jaishankar. The two countries have held 23 IRIGC meetings so far. The 23rd session of the IRIGC was held on 14 September 2018 in Moscow.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-massive-fire-engulfs-faith-lutheran-church-in-cambridge-after-easter-service-580818">Massive fire engulfs Faith Lutheran Church in Cambridge after Easter service</a>

India and Russia have been working to boost their trade ties, with India increasing its imports of Russian energy in recent months. The visit by Manturov is expected to further enhance the economic cooperation between the two countries that has grown leaps and bounds.&nbsp;

The visit by Manturov to India comes just days after the first visit by any top Ukrainian official to Delhi since the Russia-Ukraine conflict began last year.

Watch | President Vladimir Putin may visit India for G20 summit ?

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First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Emine Dzhaparova is on an India visit and will hold talks with Minister of Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture Meenakshi Lekhi, Sanjay Verma, Secretary (West), MEA and Deputy National Security Adviser Vikram Misri. She will also make an address at ICWA think tank in Delhi.&nbsp;

The Russian Deputy PM's visit is expected to be followed by the visit of Russian Defence minister Sergei Kuzhugetovich Shoigu for the SCO Defence ministers meet from 27th to 28th April in Delhi, and Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov for SCO Foreign ministers meet in Goa from 4-5 May.

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You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Russia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade and Industry, Denis Manturov, is set to visit India next week for a key inter-governmental meeting aimed at enhancing trade ties between the two countries.

Russia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade and Industry, Denis Manturov, is set to visit India next week for a key inter-governmental meeting aimed at enhancing trade ties between the two countries. Manturov will co-chair the 24th India-Russia Inter-governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC) during India visit starting 17th April. Also Read | 'Is there a medicine to stop this...?' Indian activist Anjali Gopalan shares internal battles homosexuals fight The IRIGC-TEC is the primary mechanism at the government level for enhancing trade and economic cooperation between India and Russia. The commission was established by an Agreement on Inter-governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation signed in May 1992, and the first session of IRIGC was held on 13 and 14 September 1994. The visit by Manturov comes just a month after a virtual review meeting on trade issues between him and India's External Affairs Minister (EAM) Jaishankar. The two countries have held 23 IRIGC meetings so far. The 23rd session of the IRIGC was held on 14 September 2018 in Moscow. Also Read | Massive fire engulfs Faith Lutheran Church in Cambridge after Easter service India and Russia have been working to boost their trade ties, with India increasing its imports of Russian energy in recent months. The visit by Manturov is expected to further enhance the economic cooperation between the two countries that has grown leaps and bounds. The visit by Manturov to India comes just days after the first visit by any top Ukrainian official to Delhi since the Russia-Ukraine conflict began last year. Watch | President Vladimir Putin may visit India for G20 summit ? × First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Emine Dzhaparova is on an India visit and will hold talks with Minister of Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture Meenakshi Lekhi, Sanjay Verma, Secretary (West), MEA and Deputy National Security Adviser Vikram Misri. She will also make an address at ICWA think tank in Delhi. The Russian Deputy PM's visit is expected to be followed by the visit of Russian Defence minister Sergei Kuzhugetovich Shoigu for the SCO Defence ministers meet from 27th to 28th April in Delhi, and Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov for SCO Foreign ministers meet in Goa from 4-5 May. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Russia's deputy PM Manturov to visit India for key trade talks, boosting economic ties

The battle for hoisting the tallest national flag on the Wagah-Attari border between India and Pakistan is likely to start once again. Watch the video to know more.

Indo-Pak battle of tallest flag at Wagah Border to start once again: Reports

India's digital public infrastructure, one of the biggest success stories of the country, has got a thumbs up from the International Monetary Fund. While praising India's digital public infrastructure, a recent paper by the IMF noted that the country's digital journey has "lessons for other countries embarking on their own digital transformation."

IMF paper hails India's public digital infrastructure

Emine Dzhaparova, Ukraine's first deputy foreign minister, has arrived in India for a four-day visit, the first by a Ukrainian government minister since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February last year.

Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova lands in New Delhi

After the spike in Covid-19 cases in India, Indian government has announced nationwide mock drills on Monday and Tuesday to assess hospital preparedness. Both public and private hospitals are part of the drills.

Indian government announces nationwide Covid preparedness drills

India on Monday rubbished reports that it halted trade discussions with the United Kingdom over the attacks at the Indian consulate by Khalistani supporters in London. Indian officials called the report "baseless," while a British diplomat confirmed that trade talks between the countries were continuing as usual.

"Baseless," India denies reports of halting trade talks with UK over London High Commission attack

India ranked second in the world for the rate of deforestation after losing 6,68,400 hectares of forest cover between 2015 and 2020 and&nbsp;witnessing&nbsp;the highest rise in deforestation in the last 30 years,&nbsp;according to a <a href="https://www.utilitybidder.co.uk/compare-business-energy/deforestation-report/">survey</a> by a UK-based consulting firm called Utility Bidder.&nbsp;

The study employed data collected between 1990 to 2000 and from 2015 to 2020 by the online data repository, Our World In Data, to illustrate the advancement of deforestation in 98 nations.

Brazil and Indonesia came in first and third, with deforestation totalling 16,95,700 hectares in Brazil and 6,50,000 hectares in Indonesia, respectively.

With a difference of 2,84,400 hectares in forestry loss between 1990 and 2020, India also topped the list for the biggest increase in deforestation.

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<h2>Making sense of these figures: What does a loss in&nbsp;forest cover really mean?</h2>

The Forest Survey of India (FSI) has been mapping India's forest cover since the early 1980s, even though it only started publishing its biennial State of Forest reports in 1987.

WION spoke to Dr Yogesh Gokhale, Senior Fellow at the Centre for Forest Management and Governance,&nbsp;The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), in New Delhi, in order to examine the previously mentioned data and understand its complexities.&nbsp;

Comparable data on India’s forest cover was made possible only in 2007, with the advent of wall-to -wall mapping by the interpretation of satellite data, says Dr Gokhale.&nbsp;

Based on FSI's 17th biennial assessment of India's forests, which covered the years from 2007 to the present, forests and tree cover constitute about 23-25 per cent of the nation's total land area. 18–19 per cent of which are designated as natural forests, 2–3 per cent as protected areas (wildlife sanctuaries), and the remainder as agro-forests (a collective name for land-use systems and technologies where woody perennials (trees, shrubs, palms, bamboos, etc.) are deliberately used on the same land-management units as agricultural crops and/or animals).

Indian forest cover is broadly classified into four classes by the FSI, namely very dense forest, moderately dense forest, open forest and mangrove. The classification of the cover into dense and open forests is based on internationally adopted norms of classification.

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&nbsp;

Source: Forest Survey of India

&nbsp;

<a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1789635">Data provided by the Forest Survey of India</a> reveals that in the two years between 2019 and 2021, the overall area covered by forests increased by 1,540 square kilometres.

India also includes all plots having a tree canopy density of at least 10 per cent&nbsp; and a size of one hectare or greater, regardless of land use or ownership, in its calculation of forest cover.

"We also need to know the set classification of forests as per its canopy density," claims Dr Gokhale, "in order to understand the above mentioned loss of forest cover."

Most surveys, especially those that don't fall within the scope of FSI, solely include natural forests found in India as part of their analyses. A consistent decrease in numbers is observed exactly there. When the FSI generates data that shows an increase in forest area, they count both forests and tree cover within them. In general, other studies tend to discount tree cover (an estimated area comprising tree patches, which are less than one hectare and isolated trees outside the recorded forest).

“India is currently experiencing a trend where very dense forests are becoming moderately dense forests,” says Dr Gokhale.

“In the India context, we are gaining moderately dense forests, but losing very dense forest areas. Unfortunately, only the loss gets highlighted,” he adds. We must account for the significant portion of agroforestry tracks that are gaining ground outside of typical forest belts if we are to quantify growth holistically, he continues.&nbsp;

“More than 80 per cent&nbsp;of our domestic timber demand is satisfied by agroforestry plantation, and not from natural forest areas,” he says. Agroforestry plantations are expanding, yet this growth is not being counted.&nbsp;

<h2 dir="ltr">How do we revive our naturally dense forests?&nbsp;</h2>

Only 9.96 per cent of India was covered by dense forests under Recorded Forest Areas in 2021, despite substantial planting by the forest department since the 1990s. Since the FSI measured 10.88 per cent dense forest in 1987, there has been a tenth decline in that figure.&nbsp;

The centrepiece initiative for increasing India's forest cover has been its compensatory afforestation programme, which aims to ensure that forest lands being "diverted" for non-forest purposes, like industrial or infrastructure development, are required to be accompanied by afforestation efforts on at least an equal area of land.

“We have already reached an alarming rate of deforestation which requires human intervention to restore the delicate balance of the environment,” says Dr Neha Sharma, Assistant professor of Environment sciences at Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Delhi University.&nbsp;

To restore biodiversity and ecological balance, the creation of artificial forests has become a necessity in the present world, she adds.&nbsp;

Additionally, as part of its international climate change commitments, India has promised to increase its forest and tree cover to ensure that they are able to absorb an additional amount of 2.5 billion to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2030.

<h2 dir="ltr">Questionable compensatory afforestation? A relook at India’s contentious proposal of bringing down a forest on the Great Nicobar Island and compensating for the loss with a jungle safari in Haryana</h2>

India's forest conservation law requires that trees be planted over an equal amount of non-forest land to make up for any ecological loss when a forest is cut down for industrial or development purposes. The organisation responsible for deforestation has to send funds to an administrative body, which then directs them to the organisation responsible for planting trees. Compensatory afforestation is the term used to describe this procedure.&nbsp;

A particularly problematic idea under this compensatory act is the plan to use funds obtained for compensatory afforestation in Nicobar to build a jungle safari in Haryana.

To begin with, the two territories are located 2,400 kilometres apart in climatically distinct regions. Experts point out that the geographical isolation of the Nicobar Islands has endowed them with unique biodiversity; of the 2,200 varieties of plants recorded there, 200 are rare native species, and 1,300 do not occur in mainland India.&nbsp;

"Recreating a forest like the one in the Great Nicobar in Haryana is practically impossible,” says Dr Gokhale.

Despite the fact that there is no legal prohibition against compensatory afforestation funds raised in one state being used in another, experts point out that this is not the case with the Nicobar Islands.

Environmentalists claim it is a prime example of how India's compensatory afforestation programmes are diverging from their intended purpose of addressing ecological demands and allowing governments to exploit forests for financial gain.

&nbsp;

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India ranked second in the world for the rate of deforestation after losing 6,68,400 hectares of forest cover between 2015 and 2020 and witnessing the highest rise in deforestation in the last 30 years, according to a survey by a UK-based consulting firm called Utility Bidder.

India ranked second in the world for the rate of deforestation after losing 6,68,400 hectares of forest cover between 2015 and 2020 and witnessing the highest rise in deforestation in the last 30 years, according to a survey by a UK-based consulting firm called Utility Bidder. The study employed data collected between 1990 to 2000 and from 2015 to 2020 by the online data repository, Our World In Data, to illustrate the advancement of deforestation in 98 nations. Brazil and Indonesia came in first and third, with deforestation totalling 16,95,700 hectares in Brazil and 6,50,000 hectares in Indonesia, respectively. With a difference of 2,84,400 hectares in forestry loss between 1990 and 2020, India also topped the list for the biggest increase in deforestation. × Making sense of these figures: What does a loss in forest cover really mean? The Forest Survey of India (FSI) has been mapping India's forest cover since the early 1980s, even though it only started publishing its biennial State of Forest reports in 1987. WION spoke to Dr Yogesh Gokhale, Senior Fellow at the Centre for Forest Management and Governance, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), in New Delhi, in order to examine the previously mentioned data and understand its complexities. Comparable data on India’s forest cover was made possible only in 2007, with the advent of wall-to -wall mapping by the interpretation of satellite data, says Dr Gokhale. Based on FSI's 17th biennial assessment of India's forests, which covered the years from 2007 to the present, forests and tree cover constitute about 23-25 per cent of the nation's total land area. 18–19 per cent of which are designated as natural forests, 2–3 per cent as protected areas (wildlife sanctuaries), and the remainder as agro-forests (a collective name for land-use systems and technologies where woody perennials (trees, shrubs, palms, bamboos, etc.) are deliberately used on the same land-management units as agricultural crops and/or animals). Indian forest cover is broadly classified into four classes by the FSI, namely very dense forest, moderately dense forest, open forest and mangrove. The classification of the cover into dense and open forests is based on internationally adopted norms of classification. Source: Forest Survey of India Data provided by the Forest Survey of India reveals that in the two years between 2019 and 2021, the overall area covered by forests increased by 1,540 square kilometres. India also includes all plots having a tree canopy density of at least 10 per cent and a size of one hectare or greater, regardless of land use or ownership, in its calculation of forest cover. "We also need to know the set classification of forests as per its canopy density," claims Dr Gokhale, "in order to understand the above mentioned loss of forest cover." Most surveys, especially those that don't fall within the scope of FSI, solely include natural forests found in India as part of their analyses. A consistent decrease in numbers is observed exactly there. When the FSI generates data that shows an increase in forest area, they count both forests and tree cover within them. In general, other studies tend to discount tree cover (an estimated area comprising tree patches, which are less than one hectare and isolated trees outside the recorded forest). “India is currently experiencing a trend where very dense forests are becoming moderately dense forests,” says Dr Gokhale. “In the India context, we are gaining moderately dense forests, but losing very dense forest areas. Unfortunately, only the loss gets highlighted,” he adds. We must account for the significant portion of agroforestry tracks that are gaining ground outside of typical forest belts if we are to quantify growth holistically, he continues. “More than 80 per cent of our domestic timber demand is satisfied by agroforestry plantation, and not from natural forest areas,” he says. Agroforestry plantations are expanding, yet this growth is not being counted. How do we revive our naturally dense forests? Only 9.96 per cent of India was covered by dense forests under Recorded Forest Areas in 2021, despite substantial planting by the forest department since the 1990s. Since the FSI measured 10.88 per cent dense forest in 1987, there has been a tenth decline in that figure. The centrepiece initiative for increasing India's forest cover has been its compensatory afforestation programme, which aims to ensure that forest lands being "diverted" for non-forest purposes, like industrial or infrastructure development, are required to be accompanied by afforestation efforts on at least an equal area of land. “We have already reached an alarming rate of deforestation which requires human intervention to restore the delicate balance of the environment,” says Dr Neha Sharma, Assistant professor of Environment sciences at Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Delhi University. To restore biodiversity and ecological balance, the creation of artificial forests has become a necessity in the present world, she adds. Additionally, as part of its international climate change commitments, India has promised to increase its forest and tree cover to ensure that they are able to absorb an additional amount of 2.5 billion to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2030. Questionable compensatory afforestation? A relook at India’s contentious proposal of bringing down a forest on the Great Nicobar Island and compensating for the loss with a jungle safari in Haryana India's forest conservation law requires that trees be planted over an equal amount of non-forest land to make up for any ecological loss when a forest is cut down for industrial or development purposes. The organisation responsible for deforestation has to send funds to an administrative body, which then directs them to the organisation responsible for planting trees. Compensatory afforestation is the term used to describe this procedure. A particularly problematic idea under this compensatory act is the plan to use funds obtained for compensatory afforestation in Nicobar to build a jungle safari in Haryana. To begin with, the two territories are located 2,400 kilometres apart in climatically distinct regions. Experts point out that the geographical isolation of the Nicobar Islands has endowed them with unique biodiversity; of the 2,200 varieties of plants recorded there, 200 are rare native species, and 1,300 do not occur in mainland India. "Recreating a forest like the one in the Great Nicobar in Haryana is practically impossible,” says Dr Gokhale. Despite the fact that there is no legal prohibition against compensatory afforestation funds raised in one state being used in another, experts point out that this is not the case with the Nicobar Islands. Environmentalists claim it is a prime example of how India's compensatory afforestation programmes are diverging from their intended purpose of addressing ecological demands and allowing governments to exploit forests for financial gain. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Data Lab: Making sense of India's forest cover change, both gains and losses

There will soon be a significant bilateral development between India and Ukraine. Emine Dzhaparova, the deputy foreign minister of Ukraine, arrived in Delhi today to begin a four-day tour to India. She is the first senior Ukrainian official to travel to India since the start of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.

Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova lands in New Delhi

Nirmala Sitharaman, the Indian Finance Minister, is in the United States for a week. During her stay, she plans to attend a number of meetings at the World Bank, the IMF, and other institutions.

Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to meet G20 FM's today in US

A group of leading Indian CEOs will be led by Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal at the India France Business Summit in Paris on Tuesday. The upcoming trip is expected to improve trade ties with France, the second-largest economy in the European Union.

India talks business and trade with France

In a landmark move, Narendra Modi government approved a project to build an advanced gravitational-wave detector in Maharashtra at an estimated cost of Rs 2,600 crore. In the US, there are already two such ligo observatories. The third such cutting-edge gravitational-wave observatory will be ligo-India. The facility is expected to be completed by 2030.

Observatory in Maharashtra to study gravitational waves

In a landmark move, Narendra Modi government approved a project to build an advanced gravitational-wave detector in Maharashtra at an estimated cost of Rs 2,600 crore. In the US, there are already two such Ligo observatories. The third such cutting-edge gravitational-wave observatory will be Ligo-India. The facility is expected to be completed by 2030.

In a landmark decision, India gives nod to LIGO

Anjali Gopalan, the founder of the Naz foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) which has been working on HIV/AIDS health issues since 1994, spoke to WION on the rights of same-sex couples who are seeking legalisation of their relationship.&nbsp;

At the outset of the conversation, Gopalan dismissed the joint statement dated 24 March, 2023 by the retired High Court Judges which listed out its reasoning as to why same-sex marriages should not be allowed in India.&nbsp;

For those who are unaware, the statement by these 21 former judges talks about how India will see an uptick in HIV/AIDS after same-sex marriage legalisation and how India's cultural roots are attacked by western practices. It also went on to define what is marriage.&nbsp;

To start with, Gopalan questioned the logic behind the aforementioned arguments in the statement.&nbsp;

"Their argument is that if we allow same-sex marriages, HIV infection will spread. Where is the logic in this? As a matter of fact in India, over 80 per cent cases are in heterosexual couples and women who have gotten infected have gotten it from their husbands."&nbsp;

"So what are they talking about? the HIV is more rampant in the heterosexual community in this country than it is in the gay community."&nbsp;

She also dispelled the argument that same-sex marriage is adopted from the western culture. The activist raised questions on how do we view marriage and how do we define it.&nbsp;

The rights activist explained that marriage it is not just doing the right thing for society's sake which is to get married by a certain age and have kids.&nbsp;

"One is supposed to be caring. So how we are valuing marriage any more or any less than the west," Gopalan said adding, "We need to get off sanctimonous horse in this culture." &nbsp;

When asked about the instances of homosexual people coming out at Naz foundation, Gopalan's voice turned heavy as a wave of emotions made their way into the conversation.&nbsp;

Gopalan said, "This is what always make my heart ache. They are young people asking me 'Is there a medicine to make me stop feeling this way... to stop feeling attracted to the same sex. It really breaks my heart because it is not a disease but this is what the society does, it devalues people in their own eyes so much."&nbsp;

"As far as I am concerned, if you are not going to value yourself you are not going to protect yourself from HIV, which is a highly preventable infection."

But Naz founder Anjali Gopalan has all the faith in the Indian Judiciary. "My only hope is the court."&nbsp;

Recalling the 2018 Supreme Court verdict when the apex court decriminalized homosexuality, she said, "the government of that time which was not the same regime as now had also taken the same stance (opposing the move)... that it goes against our values, our moral ethos, it is a western concept and all of that. But the court did the right thing. They stood by people."&nbsp;

"If you think about it logically, we are living in a democracy where we are denying a bunch of our citizens the rights which are guaranteed in the constitution and the rights everyone should have by virtue of being the citizens of this country. And we are denying it based on who they love and who they care about and who they want to spend their rest of the lives with."&nbsp;

She defiantly shattered the belief that marriage rights should exclusively be for heterosexual people. "Why is that rights are only for heterosexual people to adopt or to bring up a family."&nbsp;

To make a case in point, she gave a challenge to those people who argue that same-sex marriages cannot create a home which is stable.&nbsp;

"I am saying please go to family court. Just for half a day sit there and listen to their cases. By that logic, no heterosexual couple should ever have home and ever have children. So what are we talking about? They refuse to believe that gay people are more than capable of loving, caring and creating a stable and a loving home. It is not a prerogative of straight people alone."&nbsp;

Naz foundation is focused on HIV/AIDS related issues. It carries out trainings, do counsellings and linkages to government Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) centres. It also runs a home for children living with HIV. All of its work is through the lens of HIV prevention and care.&nbsp;

Gopalan said that the foundation has been working with the LGBTQ community since the inception of the trust in 1994. "We have reached out to thousands from within the community."

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Anjali Gopalan, the founder of the Naz foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) which has been working on HIV/AIDS health issues since 1994, spoke to WION on the rights of same-sex couples who are seeking legalisation of their relationship.

Anjali Gopalan, the founder of the Naz foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) which has been working on HIV/AIDS health issues since 1994, spoke to WION on the rights of same-sex couples who are seeking legalisation of their relationship. At the outset of the conversation, Gopalan dismissed the joint statement dated 24 March, 2023 by the retired High Court Judges which listed out its reasoning as to why same-sex marriages should not be allowed in India. For those who are unaware, the statement by these 21 former judges talks about how India will see an uptick in HIV/AIDS after same-sex marriage legalisation and how India's cultural roots are attacked by western practices. It also went on to define what is marriage. To start with, Gopalan questioned the logic behind the aforementioned arguments in the statement. "Their argument is that if we allow same-sex marriages, HIV infection will spread. Where is the logic in this? As a matter of fact in India, over 80 per cent cases are in heterosexual couples and women who have gotten infected have gotten it from their husbands." "So what are they talking about? the HIV is more rampant in the heterosexual community in this country than it is in the gay community." She also dispelled the argument that same-sex marriage is adopted from the western culture. The activist raised questions on how do we view marriage and how do we define it. The rights activist explained that marriage it is not just doing the right thing for society's sake which is to get married by a certain age and have kids. "One is supposed to be caring. So how we are valuing marriage any more or any less than the west," Gopalan said adding, "We need to get off sanctimonous horse in this culture." When asked about the instances of homosexual people coming out at Naz foundation, Gopalan's voice turned heavy as a wave of emotions made their way into the conversation. Gopalan said, "This is what always make my heart ache. They are young people asking me 'Is there a medicine to make me stop feeling this way... to stop feeling attracted to the same sex. It really breaks my heart because it is not a disease but this is what the society does, it devalues people in their own eyes so much." "As far as I am concerned, if you are not going to value yourself you are not going to protect yourself from HIV, which is a highly preventable infection." But Naz founder Anjali Gopalan has all the faith in the Indian Judiciary. "My only hope is the court." Recalling the 2018 Supreme Court verdict when the apex court decriminalized homosexuality, she said, "the government of that time which was not the same regime as now had also taken the same stance (opposing the move)... that it goes against our values, our moral ethos, it is a western concept and all of that. But the court did the right thing. They stood by people." "If you think about it logically, we are living in a democracy where we are denying a bunch of our citizens the rights which are guaranteed in the constitution and the rights everyone should have by virtue of being the citizens of this country. And we are denying it based on who they love and who they care about and who they want to spend their rest of the lives with." She defiantly shattered the belief that marriage rights should exclusively be for heterosexual people. "Why is that rights are only for heterosexual people to adopt or to bring up a family." To make a case in point, she gave a challenge to those people who argue that same-sex marriages cannot create a home which is stable. "I am saying please go to family court. Just for half a day sit there and listen to their cases. By that logic, no heterosexual couple should ever have home and ever have children. So what are we talking about? They refuse to believe that gay people are more than capable of loving, caring and creating a stable and a loving home. It is not a prerogative of straight people alone." Naz foundation is focused on HIV/AIDS related issues. It carries out trainings, do counsellings and linkages to government Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) centres. It also runs a home for children living with HIV. All of its work is through the lens of HIV prevention and care. Gopalan said that the foundation has been working with the LGBTQ community since the inception of the trust in 1994. "We have reached out to thousands from within the community." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'Is there a medicine to stop this...?' Naz founder Anjali Gopalan shares internal battles homosexuals fight

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the latest tiger census data on April 9, which revealed that the population of big cats in India was 3,167 in 2022. Watch this to know more.

Indian PM Narendra Modi releases tiger census data: Details

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