India Ends Key Renewable Energy Subsidy, Raising Project Costs

By BPN News Desk July 2, 2025

Environment Green Energy

The Indian government has officially ended a major subsidy that exempted solar and wind energy projects from inter-state transmission system (ISTS) charges. As of July 1, all new renewable energy projects will now be required to pay 25% of these costs, with charges set to progressively increase

Climate Change Environment

IMD Forecasts Above‑Normal July Monsoon: Farmers and Cities on Alert

By BPN News Desk July 1, 2025

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued its July monsoon outlook, forecasting above‑normal rainfall expected to exceed 106% of the long‑period average. This buoyant projection builds on an early and vigorous monsoon onset—nearly nine days ahead of schedule—that has already driven record kharif sowing and brought relief from heatwaves. Monsoon Outlook for July

Environment Green Energy

India Eyes $20 Trillion Oil Windfall with ‘Guyana‑Sized’ Find

By BPN News Desk June 16, 2025

India’s Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister, Hardeep Singh Puri, has signalled a potential game‑changer in India’s energy sector: a “Guyana‑sized” oil discovery in the Andaman Sea. Early estimates suggest this find could translate into a staggering $20 trillion leap, dramatically boosting the nation’s hydrocarbon capabilities. Andaman oil exploration India is aggressively

Environment

Monsoon Pauses as Dry Air Halts Progress; Revival Expected by June 18

By BPN News Desk June 9, 2025

After an unusually early onset on May 24 over Kerala, the southwest monsoon has now entered a pause phase due to a dry air incursion from western and northwestern India. The progression, which initially showed promise of a swift advance, stalled after May 29. Between June 1 and June 6, India received only 19 mm […]

Environment Green Energy

Renewable Energy Now 49% of India’s Power Mix

By BPN News Desk June 9, 2025

India has marked a significant milestone in its transition toward sustainable energy. As of April 2025, renewable sources, including solar, wind, biomass, small hydro, and nuclear, now account for 49% of the country’s total installed power capacity. This is a dramatic rise from 32% in 2014, underlining the government’s sustained push for green energy. This […]

Environment Wildlife

Bengaluru Overtakes Mumbai as India’s Leopard Capital

By BPN News Desk June 6, 2025

A year-long camera trap survey has revealed that Bengaluru now hosts the highest number of free-ranging leopards among all Indian metro cities, earning it the informal title of India’s new “Leopard Capital.” With 80–85 leopards recorded in and around the city, Bengaluru has overtaken Mumbai, which was previously known for its remarkable urban coexistence with […]

Environment

Kerala Hit by 6x Rainfall in a Week Amid Monsoon Onslaught

By BPN News Desk May 31, 2025

Kerala is reeling under intense monsoon activity, having received nearly six times the normal rainfall over the past week. Since the southwest monsoon made its early onset on May 24, the state recorded an average of 40 centimeters of rain by May 30—far exceeding the expected 7 centimeters for this period. Districts in North and […]

Environment

SC Orders States to Reclaim Reserved Forests from Private Use

By BPN News Desk May 19, 2025

In a significant step toward environmental justice, the Supreme Court of India has directed all states and Union Territories to reclaim reserved forest lands that were illegally allocated to private entities. Issued on May 15, 2025, the order gives authorities a one-year deadline to identify, recover, and restore such ecologically sensitive land to forest departments. […]

Environment Natural Calamities

New Jersey Wildfire Burns 8,500 Acres, Prompts Mass Evacuations

By BPN News Desk April 23, 2025

A fast-moving wildfire broke out on April 22, 2025, in Barnegat Township, Ocean County, New Jersey, scorching over 8,500 acres of land and forcing the evacuation of thousands. What began as a forest blaze in the Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area quickly turned into a major emergency as flames spread rapidly due to dry, windy […]

Environment Wildlife

India to Receive Eight Cheetahs from Botswana, First Batch of Four Arriving in May

By BPN News Desk April 19, 2025

India is set to receive a fresh batch of eight cheetahs from Botswana as part of its ongoing cheetah reintroduction initiative, with the first four expected to arrive in May. The project, which aims to restore the population of the world’s fastest land animal to Indian ecosystems, continues despite early challenges since its launch in […]