One of India&#8217;s most iconic monuments became a canvas for conservation on World Environment Day as the story of the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard, known locally as Godawan, was projected onto Delhi&#8217;s Qutub Minar. The large-scale installation highlighted the bird&#8217;s gradual revival amid decades of decline.



Once a contender for India&#8217;s national bird, the Godawan had faded from public consciousness as its numbers dwindled across the country&#8217;s grasslands. Recent developments, however, signal growing recognition and renewed hope for the species&#8217; survival.



Prime Minister Narendra Modi spotlighted the Godawan in the 133rd episode of Mann Ki Baat, praising India&#8217;s wildlife conservation efforts. In May, Rajasthan observed its first state-level Godawan Day on May 21 to boost awareness.



A public tribute supported by Godawan Estuary Premium Water aimed to enhance ecological literacy around one of the world&#8217;s rarest birds and its revival. The event brought together conservationists, local communities, private partners and government agencies.



“What makes this effort encouraging is the coming together of multiple stakeholders with a shared commitment towards conservation,” said Kedar Shrimal, president of Gramodaya Samajik Sansthan in a statement.



“This growing spirit of collaboration is helping build greater awareness, stronger ecosystems, and renewed hope for the future of the species.”



Conservation efforts have intensified through scientific intervention and community participation. Initiatives include restoring native grasslands, fencing nesting sites, improving water availability, captive breeding programmes and predator management. Local Bishnoi community members have played a key role in monitoring and protecting breeding grounds.



Encouraging signs emerged in May with new hatchlings from breeding and hatchery programmes in Rajasthan, supported by specialised transport for relocating eggs and chicks when needed.

Godawan revival: Qutub Minar lights Up for India&#8217;s rare Bustard

<a href="https://www.hul.co.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL), i</a>n partnership with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), HSBC India and JSW Foundation, on Sunday inaugurated the 25th Suvidha Centres in Borivali, Mumbai, marking 10 years of the innovative urban sanitation initiative. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal formally opened the facility.



Launched in 2016, Suvidha Centres has emerged as a transformative social innovation model, delivering essential hygiene and sanitation services to over 600,000 people annually. The centres have recorded more than 10 crore service uses since inception, achieving 95% user satisfaction.



The revolutionary Suvidha Centres model reimagines community toilets into integrated hygiene hubs offering clean toilets, purified drinking water, showers and laundry facilities. Designed for inclusivity, the centres prioritise women, children, senior citizens and persons with disabilities.



Independent assessments show households using Suvidha Centres save over ₹33,500 annually through reduced medical costs and time savings. Users report a 50% reduction in diarrhoeal incidence and low Urinary Tract Infection rates.



Operationally self-sustaining within nine months, profits from Suvidha Centres maintain high hygiene standards. The centres feature solar power and water recycling systems, saving over 30 crore litres of water cumulatively while building climate resilience.



HUL is scaling the model nationally through the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs via the Centre for Hygiene and Sanitation Excellence (CHASE) and has released the Suvidha Toolkit for wider adoption.



“I am delighted to inaugurate the 25th Suvidha Centre,” said Piyush Goyal. “These centres serve as comprehensive community utility hubs providing modern sanitation, bathing, drinking water and laundry services.”



Priya Nair, CEO &amp; MD of HUL, said: “Suvidha Centres brings to life our belief that what is good for India is good for HUL. This financially sustainable model addresses urban sanitation challenges through deep insights and strong partnerships.”

HUL Opens 25th revolutionary Suvidha Centres in Mumbai

<a href="https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/hp-futures" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UNESCO </a>and the Government of Himachal Pradesh on Saturday unveiled a transformative education roadmap marking the second year of the HP FUTURES project, as the initiative shifts from research and pilots into sustained classroom reform across all 12 districts of the state.



The roadmap was presented at the Third Steering Committee Meeting of the HP FUTURES project, accompanied by new teacher resources including competency-based learning guides, green education toolkits, and a localized Hindi edition of UNESCO&#8217;s Sport Values in Every Classroom Toolkit.



The HP FUTURES education roadmap builds on a first year in which the initiative reached more than 10,000 students, 500 teachers, and nearly 200 schools while engaging over 750 education stakeholders statewide, an official statement said.



&#8220;The HP FUTURES project is not meant to be an activity or even an annual calendar — this is actually meant to be a cultural shift in the way we know and see education in our schools,&#8221; said Shri Rakesh Kanwar, Secretary of Education, Government of Himachal Pradesh.



Himachal Pradesh has risen from 21st to 5th place in national school learning outcome rankings, even as officials acknowledge that the primary challenge has shifted from awareness to implementation. A survey of 2,527 teachers across 199 schools found that 78 percent were familiar with the <a href="https://www.education.gov.in/nep/about-nep" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Education Policy 2020</a>, yet translating that policy into daily classroom practice remains the central task ahead.



A review of 34 national and state policy documents confirmed that the state&#8217;s education framework is closely aligned with India&#8217;s National Education Policy 2020 and the <a href="https://ncfhome.ncert.nic.in" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Curriculum Framework 2023</a>. Two scoping missions conducted between October 2025 and February 2026 visited ten districts, gathering firsthand accounts from teachers and students.



Under a values education initiative, 200 teachers from 56 PM SHRI schools participated in workshops held in Shimla, Mandi, and Kangra. A classroom activity called &#8220;Paper Toss,&#8221; introduced in approximately 25 schools for students in Grades 3 to 5, generated early reports of improved peer interaction and social-emotional learning.



Climate education has also gained traction. In November 2025, more than 8,500 students participated in a statewide climate awareness quiz during SWACHHOTSAV 2025. Twenty-two PM SHRI schools across 11 districts joined the Climate Detective pilot programme, which guides students to investigate local environmental challenges using Traditional Ecological Knowledge. The effort draws on a broader base of more than 14,000 Eco Clubs operating across the state under the Mission LiFE initiative.



In year two, the HP FUTURES education roadmap will target six core competencies outlined in the National Curriculum Framework — critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and digital literacy — while piloting a new teacher professional development model combining workshops, classroom mentoring, and peer-learning networks across 12 schools in 12 districts.



Curriculum, textbooks, and assessments reviewed in the first phase will be more closely aligned with competency-based learning goals, while Eco Clubs and the Value Education through Sport pillar will be expanded and connected to local ecosystems and community knowledge.



&#8220;HP FUTURES represents a holistic vision for education — anchored in competency-based learning, value education through sport, and greening education,&#8221; said Joyce Poan, Chief of Education, UNESCO Regional Office for South Asia. &#8220;What makes this initiative truly significant is how it brings global evidence, national priorities and state-level leadership into one coherent agenda for transformation.&#8221;



The HP FUTURES — Foundation for Upskilling, Teacher Excellence, Understanding, Readiness, Equity, and Sustainability — project is jointly led by the Government of Himachal Pradesh and UNESCO, with the Pratham Education Foundation serving as coordinating agency.

HP Futures launches transformative education roadmap in Himachal Pradesh

<a href="https://www.devisansthan.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DEVI Sansthan</a> (Dignity Education Vision International), a 33-year-old not-for-profit organisation focused on foundational literacy and numeracy, is set to make a landmark entry onto the <a href="https://www.bseindia.com/markets/MarketInfo/SocialStockExchange.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bombay Stock Exchange&#8217;s Social Stock Exchange (SSE)</a>, with its public issue scheduled to open on June 29, 2026.



The Social Stock Exchange listing marks a significant milestone for the Ranchi-based organisation, positioning it among a small group of social enterprises to access transparent, impact-aligned public funding through India&#8217;s regulated capital markets framework.



Funds raised through the issue will be channelled into foundational literacy and numeracy programmes, teacher training, learning outcome assessments, accelerated learning interventions, and school-based education models aimed at improving learning outcomes at scale across underserved communities.



Founded in 1992 by educationist and former World Bank economist Dr. Sunita Gandhi — who also serves as Chief Academic Advisor of <a href="https://www.cmseducation.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">City Montessori School</a>, recognised as the world&#8217;s largest school — DEVI Sansthan operates through its proprietary ALfA (Accelerating Learning for All) methodology. The model deploys peer-learning-based approaches to help children acquire foundational reading, writing, and arithmetic skills in a significantly compressed timeframe.



&#8220;For decades, we have seen millions of children move through education systems without acquiring basic reading and arithmetic skills,&#8221; Gandhi, Founder and CEO of DEVI Sansthan said in a statement. 



&#8220;The Social Stock Exchange listing is an important step towards strengthening transparency, expanding collaborations, and taking foundational learning interventions to communities that need them the most.&#8221;



Nixon Joseph, Group Executive Director of DEVI Sansthan and former President of SBI Foundation, said foundational literacy and numeracy represented one of the most critical challenges within the education ecosystem today.



&#8220;The Social Stock Exchange listing reflects our commitment towards transparency, accountability, and long-term impact,&#8221; Joseph said. &#8220;It will help us strengthen our outreach, deepen collaborations, and expand access to quality foundational learning for underserved communities across geographies.&#8221;



The organisation&#8217;s work currently spans foundational learning interventions, educator capacity-building programmes, learning outcome assessments, and large-scale literacy campaigns targeting children, youth, and adults across the Ranchi district. DEVI Sansthan collaborates with government agencies, schools, and private stakeholders to build what it describes as sustainable learning ecosystems at scale.



The<a href="https://www.bseindia.com/markets/publicIssues/IPOMain.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> BSE Social Stock Exchange</a> was established to connect social enterprises with mainstream capital markets investors seeking measurable social impact alongside financial accountability.

DEVI Sansthan to list on Social Stock Exchange to scale foundational learning

<a href="https://www.balrampurchini.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Balrampur Chini Mills Limited (BCML) </a>formally launched Bioyug Green Command 2026 on Friday, marking World Environment Day with a first-of-its-kind platform aimed at accelerating India&#8217;s bioplastics revolution and reducing the nation&#8217;s dependence on conventional petroleum-based plastics.



The launch, held in collaboration with the Lucknow Cantonment Board, was presided over by <a href="https://x.com/i/status/2062855942639952176">Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh </a>as chief guest, signalling growing government support for bio-based indigenous manufacturing as a strategic national priority.



The event formalised a landmark collaboration between Balrampur Bioyug and the Lucknow Cantonment Board following an earlier memorandum of understanding and BCML&#8217;s first institutional order for compostable polylactic acid (PLA)-based products. PLA, derived from sugarcane, is a fully organic bioplastic that breaks down within 180 days and converts into compost rather than waste.



Speaking at the launch, BCML Chairman and Managing Director Vivek Saraogi said India stood at a defining moment where economic growth and environmental responsibility must advance together.



&#8220;Through Bioyug Green Command 2026, we are bringing together government, industry, institutions and communities to accelerate this transition and demonstrate how innovation-led solutions can contribute meaningfully to a cleaner, greener and more self-reliant India,&#8221; Saraogi said.



Executive Director Avantika Saraogi framed the shift to biomaterials as an economic opportunity as much as an environmental necessity.



&#8220;The last century belonged to oil and petrochemicals; the next can belong to farmers and fields,&#8221; she said. &#8220;The materials of the future will not only be mined from beneath the earth but cultivated above it, through the power of agriculture.&#8221;



Addressing the gathering, Defence Minister Singh drew attention to the accelerating public health toll of microplastics, citing scientific research indicating that approximately 350,000 people die globally each year due to microplastic exposure, with plastic particles now detectable in the blood of newborns.



Singh highlighted the national security dimension of the transition to bioplastics, noting that India&#8217;s existing 20% ethanol blending programme had shielded the domestic economy from supply chain disruptions triggered by recent West Asian geopolitical turbulence.



&#8220;By generating resources from our sugarcane, rice, and organic waste, we will strengthen our security framework,&#8221; Singh said. &#8220;While fulfilling our environmental obligations, we can become a self-reliant, bio-based economy.&#8221;



Two high-level panel discussions formed a centrepiece of the programme. The first, titled &#8220;Mandate to Market: Unlocking the Bioplastics Value Chain in Uttar Pradesh,&#8221; examined policy support and market opportunities required to scale bioplastics adoption. The second, &#8220;From Mess to Mission: Bioplastics for Defence,&#8221; explored sustainable material integration within defence establishments.



A parallel highlight was the felicitation of meritorious ITI girl students from Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh, participating in the &#8220;Building Skills. Transforming Futures&#8221; initiative — a women-focused 3D printing training programme using Bioyug PLA, run by Balrampur Foundation in partnership with ITI Mohammadi.



BCML, one of India&#8217;s largest integrated sugar companies, is currently developing the country&#8217;s first PLA plant with a capacity of 80,000 tonnes per annum. The company operates ten sugar factories across Uttar Pradesh with an aggregate crushing capacity of 80,000 TCD.



The event drew participation from over 2,000 stakeholders spanning government, industry, academia, defence, and civil society.



Bioyug Green Command 2026 is anchored in the proposition that &#8220;the future of materials is grown, not drilled,&#8221; positioning India&#8217;s agricultural base as the foundation of its emerging circular bioeconomy.

Balrampur Chini launches Bioyug Green Command 2026 to drive India&#8217;s bioplastics revolution

HCLTech awards USD 1 million under its <a href="https://americas-grant.hcltech.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HCLTech Climate Grant </a>to three nonprofit organizations in the Americas for innovative climate resilience projects, with Guatemala’s CISP taking the top prize.



CISP will receive USD 500,000 to enhance water security and sustainable land management in Guatemala’s dry corridor through rainwater harvesting benefiting 200 families, the company said in a statement.



Runners-up Aves Argentinas (Argentina) and Lluvia para Todos (Mexico) will each get USD 250,000 for biodiversity conservation in the Atlantic Forest and community rainwater systems serving 2,300 people, respectively.



The third edition of the HCLTech Climate Grant saw applications from 10 countries across the Americas, a 41 percent increase from previous years. A jury of HCLTech leaders and external experts selected the winners based on scalability and local relevance.



“We are inspired by the ingenuity and commitment demonstrated by this year’s recipients,” said Nidhi Pundhir, Senior Vice President, Global CSR, HCLTech.



Launched in 2023 with a USD 5 million commitment over five years, the program has so far supported ecological restoration, planted over 360,000 trees and mangroves, and empowered more than 1,400 young people in climate leadership.

HCLTech awards $1 million climate grants in Americas

Multi-business conglomerate ITC deploys ITC AI climate tools to decode nature’s signals and drive targeted adaptation measures across its operations and agricultural catchments as the world marks World Environment Day 2026.



Under the theme “Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future” and the call #NowForClimate, ITC has conducted AI-powered climate risk assessments at 140 sites, including owned assets and third-party units, covering 20+ metrics such as floods, drought, extreme wind and more across multiple scenarios.



Using these insights, the company is implementing site-specific adaptation plans featuring engineering solutions, nature-based interventions, early warning systems and community preparedness measures, ITC said in a statement.



In agriculture, ITC has leveraged AI for farm-level studies to assess climate impacts on crop yields and is rolling out hyper-local advisories, climate-resilient crop varieties and regenerative practices through its ITCMAARS platform.



The company has expanded its Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) programme to nearly 32 lakh acres, benefiting over 12 lakh farmers, with a target of 4 million acres by 2030.



“By combining AI, climate science and collaborative partnerships, we can turn data into insights and insights into meaningful action,” said S. Sivakumar, Group Head – Agri &amp; IT Businesses and Sustainability, ITC Ltd.



ITC has also scaled decarbonisation efforts, with over 50% of its energy from renewable sources and a goal of 100% renewable electricity by 2030. The company aims for Net Zero Operations by 2050.

ITC deploys AI for climate resilience in India

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday pledges a massive West Bengal tree plantation campaign named &#8216;Ekti Gaach Mayer Naame&#8217;, targeting 1.10 crore trees by March 2027, while raising alarm over rapid concretisation of Kolkata and shrinking green cover.



Speaking at a state-level <a href="https://www.un.org/en/observances/environment-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Environment Day</a> event at Nalban in Bidhannagar, Adhikari said unchecked urban expansion under the previous regime had turned Greater Kolkata into a &#8220;concrete jungle&#8221;, ignoring mandatory green space norms in construction projects.



&#8220;Greater Kolkata region is gradually turning into a concrete jungle… We have created vast stretches of concrete and will have to pay the price for this injustice in the future,&#8221; he said.



Adhikari announced that the new government would strictly enforce rules requiring at least one-third of construction project areas to be maintained as green spaces. He also expressed concern over declining forest land in North Bengal and its impact on ecological balance.



The <a href="https://www.westbengalforest.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">West Bengal tree plantation initiative,</a> coordinated by the forest department, will involve large-scale sapling plantation across the state over the next 10 months. The drive was symbolically launched with Adhikari planting an indigenous sapling along the Nalban waterbody, followed by the release of fish fingerlings to restore aquatic ecosystems.



The Chief Minister said educational institutions, clubs and social organisations forming eco-clubs would receive financial assistance from the state government. He urged citizens, especially the youth, to make environmental protection a way of life beyond just observing Environment Day.



Senior officials, including the chief secretary and department heads, along with 50 student &#8216;environment ambassadors&#8217; under Mission LiFE, participated in the event.

West Bengal CM launches 1.1cr tree plantation drive

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu led an Andhra CM bicycle ride in Visakhapatnam on Friday to commemorate <a href="https://www.un.org/en/observances/environment-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Environment Day</a> and promote sustainable living.



Donning a light green cap, Naidu pedalled from <a href="https://www.andhrauniversity.edu.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Andhra University</a> to a nearby hotel where he was scheduled to attend a workshop on seafood exports. Public representatives, officials and local residents joined the Chief Minister on bicycles.



&#8220;Today is Environment Day and to increase awareness among people I will travel on a bicycle. Cycling should become a lifestyle,&#8221; Naidu told reporters before starting the Andhra CM bicycle ride.



The Chief Minister directed officials to transform Andhra University into a net-zero campus and commits to developing solar energy and planting trees across its 450-acre land bank. He highlighted the environmental imbalance evident from rising temperatures and frequent cyclones.



Naidu also pledged a dedicated cycling track in Visakhapatnam, increasing the port city&#8217;s green cover to 50 per cent, and measures to reduce pollution from the port and other institutions.



Source: PTI

Andhra CM Naidu leads bicycle ride in Vizag on World Environment Day

<a href="https://rajasthan.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rajasthan Chief Minister</a> Bhajanlal Sharma on Friday launched two major greening initiatives — ‘Hariyalo Rajasthan’ and ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ — by planting a banyan sapling at the World Forestry Arboretum in Jhalana on <a href="https://www.unep.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Environment Day</a>.



Extending greetings on the occasion, Sharma urged citizens across the state to actively participate in plantation drives during the upcoming monsoon season and contribute to environmental conservation.



The chief minister said the state government is committed to a clean environment and sustainable green development. He emphasised that collective efforts are key to nature conservation, water preservation, afforestation and maintaining ecological balance.



“We must work together to make Rajasthan environmentally strong and secure a better future for coming generations,” Sharma said.



He highlighted ongoing initiatives such as ‘Vande Ganga’ for water conservation and ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ for widespread tree plantation. The state budget for 2026-27 has set a target to plant and conserve 10 crore saplings to transform Rajasthan into a green state.



Sharma stressed the importance of public participation in environmental protection, water conservation and increasing green cover.



Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel, Forest Minister Sanjay Sharma, MP Manju Sharma and senior officials were present on the occasion.