Suburban AC trains in Mumbai are now cheaper. Indian Railways are also planning to add more AC trains in Mumbai.

Mumbai: Suburban AC trains are now cheaper, Indian Railways plan more AC trains

Through a video conferencing today, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched a global initiative 'Lifestyle for the Environment (LiFE) Movement'. He said technology can be a great supporter and mission puts collective duty on us.

LiFE Movement: Technology can be a great supporter, says Indian PM Narendra Modi

An explosion has rocked an electronics factory in India. At least 12 people were killed and 21 were injured in the blast. PM Modi has expressed grief.

Explosion at an electronics factory in India: At least 12 killed, 21 injured in the blast

Through a video conferencing, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched a global initiative 'Lifestyle for the Environment (LiFE) Movement'.

Indian PM Narendra Modi launches 'Lifestyle for the environment movement'

NAVIC, India's satellite-based navigation system, has the potential of becoming one of India's biggest soft powers and technological exports. It can also contribute to Asia's regional security as China looks to flex its muscles. Palki Sharma brings you a story that dates back to the Kargil war.

Gravitas Plus: NAVIC: India's own satellite-based navigation system

If you like to explore how it feels to be around robots, then you must head to this newly launched restaurant in the National Capital Region. WION visits this one-of-a-kind high-tech restaurant.

First eatery with robots in the National Capital Region

There's global shortage of wheat due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, export restrictions and rising food prices. In a recent news, Turkiye has rejected 60,000-tonnes of wheat shipment from India. Meanwhile, Indian government is in touch with Turkiye authorities.

Turkiye says no to 60,000-tonnes of wheat shipment from India

The US accused Indian officials of instigating hate crimes in a report on international religious freedoms. India hit back, urging the US to avoid biased and motivated assessments. Palki Sharma Upadhyay tells you why it's time for America to take a close look in the mirror.

Gravitas: India hits back at US after religious freedoms report

Have you heard of sologamy? It is the act of marrying oneself. A 24-year-old Indian woman is all ready to marry herself. She won't be the first. Palki Sharma Upadhyay brings you a fascinating story.

Gravitas: Sologamy: Indian woman all set to marry herself

According to a world bank report, 11% of global road accidents happen in India. Indian city of Nagpur is all set to employ AI for road safety.

World Bank Report: 11% of global road accidents are in India

The Indian External Affairs Minister Jaishankar spoke at Globsec 2022. He called out Europe's hypocrisy amid a row over importing Russian oil & gas.

Indian External Affairs Minister Jaishankar speaks at Globsec 2022, calls out Europe's hypocrisy

Sologamy is an act of marrying oneself. Kshama Bindu is the first Indian women to opt for Sologamy. The 24 year old, thinks that sologamy is an act of self love and self acceptance. But wait, can you legally marry yourself?

India's first 'Sologamy': Can you legally marry yourself?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the 'Lifestyle for the Environment (LiFE) Movement', a global initiative, on Sunday via video conferencing.

The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said the launch will initiate "LiFE global call for papers" inviting ideas and suggestions from academics, universities and research institutions to influence and persuade individuals, communities and organisations across the world to adopt an environment-conscious lifestyle.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/corbevax-becomes-first-vaccine-in-india-to-get-dcgi-approval-for-heterologous-covid-19-booster-shot-485081">Corbevax becomes first vaccine in India to get DCGI approval for heterologous COVID-19 booster shot</a>

Modi will also deliver the keynote address during the programme.

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: India hits back at US after religious freedoms report

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It said the programme will also witness participation of Bill Gates, Co-Chairman of the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation, climate economist Lord Nicholas Stern, Nudge theory author Cass Sunstein, World Resources Institute CEO and president Aniruddha Dasgupta, UNEP Global Head Inger Andersen, UNDP Global Head Achim Steiner and World Bank president David Malpass, among others.

The idea of LiFE was introduced by the prime minister during the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow last year.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indian-student-becomes-worlds-top-coder-wins-worlds-largest-coding-competition-484904">Indian student becomes 'world's top coder', wins world’s largest coding competition</a>

The idea promotes an environment-conscious lifestyle that focuses on "mindful and deliberate utilisation" instead of "mindless and destructive consumption", it noted.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the 'Lifestyle for the Environment (LiFE) Movement', a global initiative, on Sunday via video conferencing. The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said the launch will initiate "LiFE global call for papers" inviting ideas and suggestions from academics, universities and research institutions to influence and persuade individuals, communities and organisations across the world to adopt an environment-conscious lifestyle.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the 'Lifestyle for the Environment (LiFE) Movement', a global initiative, on Sunday via video conferencing. The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said the launch will initiate "LiFE global call for papers" inviting ideas and suggestions from academics, universities and research institutions to influence and persuade individuals, communities and organisations across the world to adopt an environment-conscious lifestyle. Also read | Corbevax becomes first vaccine in India to get DCGI approval for heterologous COVID-19 booster shot Modi will also deliver the keynote address during the programme. Watch | Gravitas: India hits back at US after religious freedoms report It said the programme will also witness participation of Bill Gates, Co-Chairman of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, climate economist Lord Nicholas Stern, Nudge theory author Cass Sunstein, World Resources Institute CEO and president Aniruddha Dasgupta, UNEP Global Head Inger Andersen, UNDP Global Head Achim Steiner and World Bank president David Malpass, among others. The idea of LiFE was introduced by the prime minister during the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow last year. Also read | Indian student becomes 'world's top coder', wins world’s largest coding competition The idea promotes an environment-conscious lifestyle that focuses on "mindful and deliberate utilisation" instead of "mindless and destructive consumption", it noted. 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.

Indian PM Narendra Modi to launch 'lifestyle for environment' movement

The Indian auto industry has managed to make a recovery in May of this year. It has registered healthy growth in terms of vehicle sales as compared to same period last year. WION's Business Editor Sumit Chaturvedi speaks to Shashank Srivastava, Senior ED, Maruti Suzuki.

Indian auto industry manage to make a recovery in May 2022

In Kabul today, a team of Indian diplomats met with a senior leader of the Taliban. What happened at the meeting? What's driving India's engagement with the Taliban? Palki Sharma gets you a report.

Gravitas: Indian diplomats meet senior Taliban leadership

Israel's Defence Minister Benny Gantz is visiting India as the two countries mark 30 years of bilateral and defence ties. Gantz called on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, also held a discussion with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Palki Sharma brings you a report.

Gravitas: Israel's Defence Minister Benny Gantz visits India

A 29-year-old bank manager hailing from Rajasthan was shot dead by a terrorist of banned Lashkar-e-Taiba inside his office premises in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Thursday. Sine January, 16 people have lost their lives in targeted killings in the valley, there has also been a series of terror attacks on people.

Target Killing in Kashmir: Bank manager from Rajasthan shot dead in Kulgam district

Israel Defence minister Benny Gantz lands in New Delhi. He is scheduled to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his counterpart Rajnath Singh. During the visit, both sides will sign a document aimed at deepening security relations.

Israeli defence minister Benny Gantz to meet Indian PM Modi and Rajnath Singh in New Delhi

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif wants 'healthy trade activity' with India. On a visit to Turkey, he said India and Pakistan can gain a lot from mutually beneficially trade. At the same time, he discussed Kashmir with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Palki Sharma reports.

Gravitas: Pak wants 'healthy trade' ties with India

The US emerged as India's biggest trade partner in 2021-22. China has slipped to second place. But Beijing refuses to accept this. It is trying to come back on top by rejigging the numbers. Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: The US is now India's biggest trade partner. China disagrees

More than 70 percent of river monitoring stations in India have alarming levels of heavy toxic metals like iron and nickel, a latest report said on Thursday.

The 'State of India's Environment -2022' report revealed that 40 percent of the river monitoring stations have high levels of total coliform and 15 percent have biochemical oxygen demand beyond permissible limits, which indicate poor wastewater treatment from industry, agriculture and domestic households.

The report, released ahead of World Environment Day to be celebrated on June 5, said that more than a third of India's coastline, spread across 6,907 km, witnessed soil erosion between 1990 and 2018 due to rise in sea level and anthropogenic activities.

India has almost 30 percent of its geographical area under degradation, triggered by various factors which include climate change.

The soil health remains deficient in several key macro and micro-nutrients that are key for sustainable agriculture, it said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-york-mass-shooting-suspect-is-indicted-on-a-domestic-terrorism-charge-484305" hreflang="en">New York mass shooting: Suspect is indicted on a domestic terrorism charge</a>

It warned that while the cost of cultivation has increased, the income from it has gown down.

The cost of cultivation has increased by almost 35 percent between 2012-13 and 2018-19, but the share of income from cultivation in an agricultural household has diminished from 48 percent in 2012-13 to 37 percent in 2018-19, it said.

"At the same time, half of all agricultural households are under debt. As per government data, on an average, at least 29 farmers and farm labourers commit suicide in the country daily," the report said.

Scientists said that forest cover in 244 out of 638 assessed districts across India's 27 states and five union territories has shrunk between 2019 and 2021.

By 2050, the entire forest cover might become a climate hotspot, it said.

The report, prepared by India's environmental think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), made some startling revelations on the various environmental issues in India.

India witnessed an unprecedented heatwave this year, as in impact of climate change, which caused massive crop damage and deaths. &nbsp;

In 2022, India recorded its hottest March. This triggered an early onslaught of heatwaves.

As per the report, the country reported 280 heatwave days between March 11 and May 18, the highest in the past 10 years. This is almost double of what the country experienced in 2012, the second highest heatwave year in the past decade.

Climate triggers more internal displacements than conflicts in the world now and India is the fourth worst hit after China, the Philippines and Bangladesh.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/oil-slides-on-report-of-saudi-arabia-ready-to-pump-more-if-russian-output-sinks-484383" hreflang="en">Oil slides on report of Saudi Arabia ready to pump more if Russian output sink</a>

It said that more than 1.7 million Indians die due to diseases attributable to unhealthy diet and that 71 percent of the country's population cannot afford a healthy diet.

The report said that only five large states in India which are Telangana, Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, and two small states -Mizoram and Telangana- show good overall performance in Health Index that looks at key health indicators and existing infrastructure.

In the energy sector, the report said that one-third of all carbon emissions come from burning coal, making it the single largest contributor to climate change in the world. India has the world's second largest operational coal plants capacity, after China.

"By 2050, the world must reduce its GHG emissions from coal by 99 per cent to restrict the temperature rise to 1.5 degree C by 2100," it said.

India recycled 12 percent and burnt 20 percent of the 3.5 million tonnes of plastic waste it generated in 2019-20, the report said, adding that there is no information on the remaining 68 percent of plastic waste, which most likely ends up in dumpsites and landfills.

The report said that reducing air pollution to meet the World Health Organization's levels would add 2.2 years to global life expectancy and in India, the life expectancy will go up by 5.9 years if the country meets the WHO levels of PM2.5.

In the last 50 years since the Stockholm conference in 1972 started a global debate around environment, the world has seen a 38-fold increase in environmental laws but the condition of the planet continues to worsen, a latest report said on Thursday.

The 'State of India's Environment -2022' report released ahead of World Environment Day to be celebrated on June 5, revealed that India's performance on climate action slipped between 2019 and 2020.

Globally, the report said that annual CO2 emissions have reached 36.7 billion tonnes, which is more than double of what was emitted in 1972 and it will have an impact on the planet's health and biodiversity in the next 50 years, unless corrective measures are fast-tracked.

It warned that with eight years left to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030, under the United Nations, India’s preparedness remains far from satisfactory.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, was adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, which provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future.

There are 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries - developed and developing - in a global partnership.

It said that India has identified 295 primary indicators, but it is monitoring only 115 of these.

Performance of all the states and union territories remains poor in the 13th SDG which is climate action.

"In essence, India is not even monitoring progress on 61 per cent of its indicators. For instance, there are 41 indicators identified under SDG 8, which deals with sustained and inclusive economic growth and productive employment. India monitors just nine of them. It is silent on crucial indicators such as the growth of registered micro, small and medium-sized enterprises," the report said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pak-will-break-into-pieces-ex-pm-khan-warns-of-civil-war-if-polls-not-announced-484372" hreflang="en">Pak could split into 3 parts &amp; also lose nuclear deterrent capabilities: Khan</a>

There are 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries - developed and developing - in a global partnership.

The report, prepared by India's environmental think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), made some startling revelations on the various environmental issues in India.

It said that India has identified 295 primary indicators, but it is monitoring only 115 of these.

Performance of all the states and union territories remains poor in the 13th SDG which is climate action. 
"In essence, India is not even monitoring progress on 61 per cent of its indicators. For instance, there are 41 indicators identified under SDG 8, which deals with sustained and inclusive economic growth and productive employment. India monitors just nine of them. It is silent on crucial indicators such as the growth of registered micro, small and medium-sized enterprises," the report said.

India witnessed an unprecedented heatwave this year, as in impact of climate change, which caused massive crop damage and deaths. &nbsp;

In 2022, India recorded its hottest March. This triggered an early onslaught of heatwaves. The country reported 280 heatwave days between March 11 and May 18, the highest in the past 10 years. This is almost double of what the country experienced in 2012, the second highest heatwave year in the past decade.

According to the report, 74 percent of river monitoring stations in India have alarming levels of heavy toxic metals like iron and nickel.

40 percent of the stations have high levels of total coliform, and 15 percent have biochemical oxygen demand beyond permissible limits, which indicate poor wastewater treatment from industry, agriculture and domestic households.

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More than 70 percent of river monitoring stations in India have alarming levels of heavy toxic metals like iron and nickel, a latest report said on Thursday. The 'State of India's Environment -2022' report revealed that 40 percent of the river monitoring stations have high levels of total coliform and 15 percent have biochemical oxygen demand beyond permissible limits, which indicate poor wastewater treatment from industry, agriculture and domestic households.

More than 70 percent of river monitoring stations in India have alarming levels of heavy toxic metals like iron and nickel, a latest report said on Thursday. The 'State of India's Environment -2022' report revealed that 40 percent of the river monitoring stations have high levels of total coliform and 15 percent have biochemical oxygen demand beyond permissible limits, which indicate poor wastewater treatment from industry, agriculture and domestic households. The report, released ahead of World Environment Day to be celebrated on June 5, said that more than a third of India's coastline, spread across 6,907 km, witnessed soil erosion between 1990 and 2018 due to rise in sea level and anthropogenic activities. India has almost 30 percent of its geographical area under degradation, triggered by various factors which include climate change. The soil health remains deficient in several key macro and micro-nutrients that are key for sustainable agriculture, it said. Also read | New York mass shooting: Suspect is indicted on a domestic terrorism charge It warned that while the cost of cultivation has increased, the income from it has gown down. The cost of cultivation has increased by almost 35 percent between 2012-13 and 2018-19, but the share of income from cultivation in an agricultural household has diminished from 48 percent in 2012-13 to 37 percent in 2018-19, it said. "At the same time, half of all agricultural households are under debt. As per government data, on an average, at least 29 farmers and farm labourers commit suicide in the country daily," the report said. Scientists said that forest cover in 244 out of 638 assessed districts across India's 27 states and five union territories has shrunk between 2019 and 2021. By 2050, the entire forest cover might become a climate hotspot, it said. The report, prepared by India's environmental think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), made some startling revelations on the various environmental issues in India. India witnessed an unprecedented heatwave this year, as in impact of climate change, which caused massive crop damage and deaths. In 2022, India recorded its hottest March. This triggered an early onslaught of heatwaves. As per the report, the country reported 280 heatwave days between March 11 and May 18, the highest in the past 10 years. This is almost double of what the country experienced in 2012, the second highest heatwave year in the past decade. Climate triggers more internal displacements than conflicts in the world now and India is the fourth worst hit after China, the Philippines and Bangladesh. Also read | Oil slides on report of Saudi Arabia ready to pump more if Russian output sink It said that more than 1.7 million Indians die due to diseases attributable to unhealthy diet and that 71 percent of the country's population cannot afford a healthy diet. The report said that only five large states in India which are Telangana, Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, and two small states -Mizoram and Telangana- show good overall performance in Health Index that looks at key health indicators and existing infrastructure. In the energy sector, the report said that one-third of all carbon emissions come from burning coal, making it the single largest contributor to climate change in the world. India has the world's second largest operational coal plants capacity, after China. "By 2050, the world must reduce its GHG emissions from coal by 99 per cent to restrict the temperature rise to 1.5 degree C by 2100," it said. India recycled 12 percent and burnt 20 percent of the 3.5 million tonnes of plastic waste it generated in 2019-20, the report said, adding that there is no information on the remaining 68 percent of plastic waste, which most likely ends up in dumpsites and landfills. The report said that reducing air pollution to meet the World Health Organization's levels would add 2.2 years to global life expectancy and in India, the life expectancy will go up by 5.9 years if the country meets the WHO levels of PM2.5. In the last 50 years since the Stockholm conference in 1972 started a global debate around environment, the world has seen a 38-fold increase in environmental laws but the condition of the planet continues to worsen, a latest report said on Thursday. The 'State of India's Environment -2022' report released ahead of World Environment Day to be celebrated on June 5, revealed that India's performance on climate action slipped between 2019 and 2020. Globally, the report said that annual CO2 emissions have reached 36.7 billion tonnes, which is more than double of what was emitted in 1972 and it will have an impact on the planet's health and biodiversity in the next 50 years, unless corrective measures are fast-tracked. It warned that with eight years left to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030, under the United Nations, India’s preparedness remains far from satisfactory. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, was adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, which provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. There are 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries - developed and developing - in a global partnership. It said that India has identified 295 primary indicators, but it is monitoring only 115 of these. Performance of all the states and union territories remains poor in the 13th SDG which is climate action. "In essence, India is not even monitoring progress on 61 per cent of its indicators. For instance, there are 41 indicators identified under SDG 8, which deals with sustained and inclusive economic growth and productive employment. India monitors just nine of them. It is silent on crucial indicators such as the growth of registered micro, small and medium-sized enterprises," the report said. Also read | Pak could split into 3 parts & also lose nuclear deterrent capabilities: Khan There are 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries - developed and developing - in a global partnership. The report, prepared by India's environmental think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), made some startling revelations on the various environmental issues in India. It said that India has identified 295 primary indicators, but it is monitoring only 115 of these. Performance of all the states and union territories remains poor in the 13th SDG which is climate action. "In essence, India is not even monitoring progress on 61 per cent of its indicators. For instance, there are 41 indicators identified under SDG 8, which deals with sustained and inclusive economic growth and productive employment. India monitors just nine of them. It is silent on crucial indicators such as the growth of registered micro, small and medium-sized enterprises," the report said. India witnessed an unprecedented heatwave this year, as in impact of climate change, which caused massive crop damage and deaths. In 2022, India recorded its hottest March. This triggered an early onslaught of heatwaves. The country reported 280 heatwave days between March 11 and May 18, the highest in the past 10 years. This is almost double of what the country experienced in 2012, the second highest heatwave year in the past decade. According to the report, 74 percent of river monitoring stations in India have alarming levels of heavy toxic metals like iron and nickel. 40 percent of the stations have high levels of total coliform, and 15 percent have biochemical oxygen demand beyond permissible limits, which indicate poor wastewater treatment from industry, agriculture and domestic households. 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's performance on climate action slipped between 2019 and 2020: Report

German Ambassador Walter Lindner spoke exclusively to WION's Principal Diplomatic Correspondent Siddhant Sibbal about his 3.5 year tenure in India and about India's position on the Russia-Ukraine war.

WION Exclusive: India must have a permanent seat at UNSC, says German Ambassador Walter Lindner

A visiting delegation from the American Space Agency (NASA) has indicated that the NASA-ISRO joint mission, 'NISAR', would be launched from India's spaceport at Sriharikota in early 2023. NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) is a satellite that will use&nbsp;advanced radar imaging to provide an unprecedented, detailed view of Earth. It is designed to observe and take measurements of some of the planet's most complex processes, such as&nbsp;ecosystem disturbances, ice-sheet collapse, and natural hazards such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, and landslides.

Sharing the status of the satellite development, Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen,&nbsp;Associate Administrator, NASA, Science Mission Directorate revealed that the "radar payload is fully electrically integrated and functionally tested; 12-meter deployable boom and reflector radar antenna integration underway, joint initial mission operations tests successfully completed." Furthermore, it was stated that environmental testing (analyzing spacecraft performance in simulated thermal and vacuum conditions of space) would be carried out in different phases in the coming months.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/epitome-of-hell-on-earth-nasa-to-study-unique-exoplanet-55-cancri-e-484291">Epitome of 'hell on earth’: NASA to study unique exoplanet '55 Cancri e' &nbsp;</a>

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Congratulations to ISRO's new Scientific Secretary, B. Shantanu! It was a delight meeting you and your team today as we talked about <a href="https://twitter.com/NASAEarth?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASAEarth</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/isro?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ISRO</a>'s joint mission NISAR. <a href="https://t.co/HzNxXn5dJK">pic.twitter.com/HzNxXn5dJK</a>
— Thomas Zurbuchen (@Dr_ThomasZ) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dr_ThomasZ/status/1532047766284820481?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 1, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Indicating the mission launch to be around the first quarter of 2023, the NASA delegation also revealed that the radar payload would ship to India in late-February 2023.&nbsp;According to NASA,&nbsp;NISAR will observe Earth’s land and ice-covered surfaces globally with 12-day regularity on ascending and descending passes, sampling Earth on average every six days for a baseline three-year mission.&nbsp;Data collected from NISAR will reveal information about the evolution and state of Earth's crust, help scientists better understand our planet's processes and changing climate, and aid future resource and hazard management.

Watch |&nbsp;NASA Mars lander's mission coming to an end, but why?

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In March 2021, quoting the then ISRO Chairman Dr. K. Sivan, WION reported that the launch of NISAR would be around the end of 2022 or early-2023.&nbsp;On March 4th,&nbsp;2021, Dr. K. Sivan virtually flagged off the Indian-made S-Band payload from the Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad.&nbsp;NASA adds that NISAR will be the first satellite mission to use two different radar frequencies (L-band and S-band) to measure changes on the earth's surface.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/nasa-isro-earth-observation-satellite-launch-on-gslv-mk-ii-by-jan-2023-369143">NASA-ISRO Earth observation satellite launch on GSLV Mk II by Jan 2023</a>

It was on September 30th,&nbsp;2014, that NASA and ISRO signed a partnership to collaborate on and launch NISAR. NASA is providing the mission’s L-band synthetic aperture radar, a high-rate communication subsystem for science data, GPS receivers, a solid-state recorder and a payload data subsystem. ISRO is providing the spacecraft bus, the S-band radar, the launch vehicle and associated launch services.

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A visiting delegation from the American Space Agency (NASA) has indicated that the NASA-ISRO joint mission, 'NISAR', would be launched from India's spaceport at Sriharikota in early 2023.

A visiting delegation from the American Space Agency (NASA) has indicated that the NASA-ISRO joint mission, 'NISAR', would be launched from India's spaceport at Sriharikota in early 2023. NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) is a satellite that will use advanced radar imaging to provide an unprecedented, detailed view of Earth. It is designed to observe and take measurements of some of the planet's most complex processes, such as ecosystem disturbances, ice-sheet collapse, and natural hazards such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, and landslides. Sharing the status of the satellite development, Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen, Associate Administrator, NASA, Science Mission Directorate revealed that the "radar payload is fully electrically integrated and functionally tested; 12-meter deployable boom and reflector radar antenna integration underway, joint initial mission operations tests successfully completed." Furthermore, it was stated that environmental testing (analyzing spacecraft performance in simulated thermal and vacuum conditions of space) would be carried out in different phases in the coming months. Also read | Epitome of 'hell on earth’: NASA to study unique exoplanet '55 Cancri e' Congratulations to ISRO's new Scientific Secretary, B. Shantanu! It was a delight meeting you and your team today as we talked about @NASAEarth & @ISRO's joint mission NISAR. pic.twitter.com/HzNxXn5dJK — Thomas Zurbuchen (@Dr_ThomasZ) June 1, 2022 × Indicating the mission launch to be around the first quarter of 2023, the NASA delegation also revealed that the radar payload would ship to India in late-February 2023. According to NASA, NISAR will observe Earth’s land and ice-covered surfaces globally with 12-day regularity on ascending and descending passes, sampling Earth on average every six days for a baseline three-year mission. Data collected from NISAR will reveal information about the evolution and state of Earth's crust, help scientists better understand our planet's processes and changing climate, and aid future resource and hazard management. Watch | NASA Mars lander's mission coming to an end, but why? In March 2021, quoting the then ISRO Chairman Dr. K. Sivan, WION reported that the launch of NISAR would be around the end of 2022 or early-2023. On March 4th, 2021, Dr. K. Sivan virtually flagged off the Indian-made S-Band payload from the Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad. NASA adds that NISAR will be the first satellite mission to use two different radar frequencies (L-band and S-band) to measure changes on the earth's surface. Also read | NASA-ISRO Earth observation satellite launch on GSLV Mk II by Jan 2023 It was on September 30th, 2014, that NASA and ISRO signed a partnership to collaborate on and launch NISAR. NASA is providing the mission’s L-band synthetic aperture radar, a high-rate communication subsystem for science data, GPS receivers, a solid-state recorder and a payload data subsystem. ISRO is providing the spacecraft bus, the S-band radar, the launch vehicle and associated launch services. 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.

NASA team in India to discuss on joint mission 'NISAR' with ISRO; launch likely by Q1 2023

India, where not even 50 per cent women use disposable sanitary napkins, annually generates around 3.37 lakh tonnes of waste from sanitary napkins and baby diapers.

The report "Sanitary Waste Management in India: Challenges and Agenda" released by India's environmental think tank Centre for Science and Environment estimates that India’s consolidated daily generation of sanitary napkins and baby diaper waste, is approximately 925 tonnes, which accounts for 0.65 per cent of total solid waste.

If adult diapers, tampons, condoms, incontinence sheets, and similar waste, are added to the 0.65 per cent mentioned above, it may go up to 4 percent of the total solid waste generated in India, which is 141,000 tonnes per day.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/ban-on-import-of-key-materials-to-produce-sanitary-napkins-is-forcing-pakistani-women-to-go-pad-less-482509">Ban on import of key materials to produce sanitary napkins is forcing Pakistani women to go pad-less</a>

According to the Menstrual Hygiene Alliance of India (MHAI), 336 million girls and women of reproductive age in India use about 1 billion sanitary napkins per month, or 12.3 billion sanitary napkins annually.

However, there is no adequate mechanism to dispose of this waste, the report said.

Due to unorganised sanitary waste management in cities and villages, poor source segregation, and inadequate collection, transportation, and disposal networks, most sanitary waste ends up in landfills mixed with solid waste or dumped openly, posing significant health and environmental hazards.

According to the Solid Waste Management Rules (SWM), sanitary napkins and diapers are included in the definition of dry waste in the SWM Rules, 2016.

As per SWM rules, every waste generator must collect and segregate all waste into three categories: biodegradable, non-biodegradable, and domestic hazardous waste.

In the case of sanitary waste, the waste generator must wrap the used product in the manufacturer’s pouches or any other suitable wrapping material as directed by the local authorities and collect it with other non-biodegradable waste.

The guidelines of India's top pollution watchdog, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), urge users to dispose of sanitary waste in the wrapper provided by the manufacturer or use newspaper to wrap it.

Watch |&nbsp;Spain to allow menstrual leaves: Which other countries are doing so?

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/spain-to-allow-menstrual-leaves-which-other-countries-are-doing-so-478882/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Under the Swachh Bharat Mission guidelines, sanitary napkins and diapers must be separated, specially marked, and sent to a biomedical waste facility for incineration.

Speaking to WION, Shailshree Tewari, Programming Officer, CSE and the author of the report, said sanitary napkins are not being considered as bio-medical waste in India, which is leading to a lot of problems in their disposal.

She said that there are also inadequate incinerators in India to dispose of sanitary napkins.

A sanitary napkin incinerator disposes of napkins in an environmentally friendly method by burning the pads and converting them into ash.

Tewari said that besides the inadequate number of incinerators in India, the ones available are inconsistent and many do not even meet the emission standards prescribed by the CPCB.

What is even more concerning is that there is no provision for a penalty for not complying with the guidelines, she added.

"While CPCB’s guidelines are legally enforceable, a lack of standards for small-scale incinerators attracts no penalty." Tenders for the purpose of procurement of decentralised incinerators that are publicly available also reflect the same concern, "Tewari said."&nbsp;

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/may-28-time-to-shift-focus-to-womens-health-menstrual-hygiene-482748">&nbsp;May 28: Time to shift focus to women’s health, menstrual hygiene</a>

She said there is a dearth of awareness and organized sanitary waste disposal infrastructure and disposal practices in rural and urban locations vary greatly.

In parts of India, women dispose of their sanitary napkins or cloth in drains and potholes; some who are uncomfortable disposing of sanitary napkins in public flush them in toilets.

Many women do not use dustbins because they think it might bring them disgrace as waste collectors might think poorly of them if they notice soiled napkins, the report said.

As per the report, 41.8 per cent of women in the age group of 15–24 use disposable sanitary napkins while 16.4 per cent use locally produced napkins.

Assuming a one-month-old infant uses 10 diapers a day—or 300 diapers per month—a single one-month-old baby could generate around 3,600 used diapers every year, it said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-menstrual-hygiene-day-how-women-have-managed-periods-throughout-history-482520">Menstrual Hygiene Day: How women have managed periods throughout history</a>

According to the United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF), 25 million children are born in India each year, and the average weight of a soiled diaper is 800 grams. Hence, India generates approximately 548 tonnes of baby diaper waste per day, or 2 lakh tonnes annually.

However, in the last four years, more women have started using sanitary napkins in the states of Bihar, Assam, West Bengal, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh, the report found.

India, where not even 50 per cent women use disposable sanitary napkins, annually generates around 3.37 lakh tonnes of waste from sanitary napkins and baby diapers.

India, where not even 50 per cent women use disposable sanitary napkins, annually generates around 3.37 lakh tonnes of waste from sanitary napkins and baby diapers. The report "Sanitary Waste Management in India: Challenges and Agenda" released by India's environmental think tank Centre for Science and Environment estimates that India’s consolidated daily generation of sanitary napkins and baby diaper waste, is approximately 925 tonnes, which accounts for 0.65 per cent of total solid waste. If adult diapers, tampons, condoms, incontinence sheets, and similar waste, are added to the 0.65 per cent mentioned above, it may go up to 4 percent of the total solid waste generated in India, which is 141,000 tonnes per day. Also read | Ban on import of key materials to produce sanitary napkins is forcing Pakistani women to go pad-less According to the Menstrual Hygiene Alliance of India (MHAI), 336 million girls and women of reproductive age in India use about 1 billion sanitary napkins per month, or 12.3 billion sanitary napkins annually. However, there is no adequate mechanism to dispose of this waste, the report said. Due to unorganised sanitary waste management in cities and villages, poor source segregation, and inadequate collection, transportation, and disposal networks, most sanitary waste ends up in landfills mixed with solid waste or dumped openly, posing significant health and environmental hazards. According to the Solid Waste Management Rules (SWM), sanitary napkins and diapers are included in the definition of dry waste in the SWM Rules, 2016. As per SWM rules, every waste generator must collect and segregate all waste into three categories: biodegradable, non-biodegradable, and domestic hazardous waste. In the case of sanitary waste, the waste generator must wrap the used product in the manufacturer’s pouches or any other suitable wrapping material as directed by the local authorities and collect it with other non-biodegradable waste. The guidelines of India's top pollution watchdog, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), urge users to dispose of sanitary waste in the wrapper provided by the manufacturer or use newspaper to wrap it. Watch | Spain to allow menstrual leaves: Which other countries are doing so? Under the Swachh Bharat Mission guidelines, sanitary napkins and diapers must be separated, specially marked, and sent to a biomedical waste facility for incineration. Speaking to WION, Shailshree Tewari, Programming Officer, CSE and the author of the report, said sanitary napkins are not being considered as bio-medical waste in India, which is leading to a lot of problems in their disposal. She said that there are also inadequate incinerators in India to dispose of sanitary napkins. A sanitary napkin incinerator disposes of napkins in an environmentally friendly method by burning the pads and converting them into ash. Tewari said that besides the inadequate number of incinerators in India, the ones available are inconsistent and many do not even meet the emission standards prescribed by the CPCB. What is even more concerning is that there is no provision for a penalty for not complying with the guidelines, she added. "While CPCB’s guidelines are legally enforceable, a lack of standards for small-scale incinerators attracts no penalty." Tenders for the purpose of procurement of decentralised incinerators that are publicly available also reflect the same concern, "Tewari said." Also read | May 28: Time to shift focus to women’s health, menstrual hygiene She said there is a dearth of awareness and organized sanitary waste disposal infrastructure and disposal practices in rural and urban locations vary greatly. In parts of India, women dispose of their sanitary napkins or cloth in drains and potholes; some who are uncomfortable disposing of sanitary napkins in public flush them in toilets. Many women do not use dustbins because they think it might bring them disgrace as waste collectors might think poorly of them if they notice soiled napkins, the report said. As per the report, 41.8 per cent of women in the age group of 15–24 use disposable sanitary napkins while 16.4 per cent use locally produced napkins. Assuming a one-month-old infant uses 10 diapers a day—or 300 diapers per month—a single one-month-old baby could generate around 3,600 used diapers every year, it said. Also read | Menstrual Hygiene Day: How women have managed periods throughout history According to the United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF), 25 million children are born in India each year, and the average weight of a soiled diaper is 800 grams. Hence, India generates approximately 548 tonnes of baby diaper waste per day, or 2 lakh tonnes annually. However, in the last four years, more women have started using sanitary napkins in the states of Bihar, Assam, West Bengal, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh, the report found.

India annually generates over 3 lakh tonnes of waste from sanitary napkins and baby diapers: Report

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