In 2024, India's gas consumption surged by 11% annually, driven by industries, refineries, and increased residential and transport sector usage. This led to a 21% rise in LNG imports amid declining domestic production. The government seeks to boost natural gas in the energy mix to 15% by 2030, focusing on energy security and diversification of LNG supplies.
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Total annual groundwater recharge in India slightly declined in 2024 due to higher extraction, with significant contributions from northwest states like Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi. Increase in 'critical' and 'over-exploited' units raises concerns about water scarcity, despite improvement in some areas.
India and Nepal met to discuss customs cooperation. They want to stop smuggling and other crimes across the border. Both countries are worried about gold, drugs, and fake money. They will share information and work together. They also talked about using technology to track goods and improve trade. Abhai Kumar Srivastav and Mahesh Bhattarai led the discussions.
India and the EU aim to conclude their Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations by the end of 2025. Both sides are determined to resolve differences over import duties and advance political engagement. Progress in recent talks has been positive, with the broader global environment accelerating negotiations. An FTA would encourage EU investments in India and is expected to be WTO-compliant.
Passengers on a Virgin Atlantic flight from London to Mumbai faced over 20 hours of delay at Diyarbakır Airport in Turkey due to an emergency medical diversion. The travelers, including a pregnant woman and passengers with medical conditions, complained about inadequate food, lack of communication, and challenging conditions at the airport.
India is actively contributing to global AI policy shaping with AI4India and CPRG hosting a panel at the AI Action Summit Paris 2025. The discussion will focus on data sovereignty, AI's economic impact, and workforce transformation in emerging economies, featuring top experts and policymakers from India and worldwide.
Anurag Srivastava highlights the importance of policy innovation and technology for water governance in Uttar Pradesh. He discusses the role of AI, IoT, and data analytics in managing water resources, and the significant progress under the Jal Jeevan Mission to improve tap water coverage in rural areas.
India reimagines the National Youth Festival as the 'Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2025' to engage youth in leadership and nation-building. The three-stage competition aims to identify and nurture young leaders. The event, featuring discussions, cultural programs, and interactions with PM Modi, emphasizes youth's role in achieving 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047.
Home Minister Amit Shah will launch the Bharatpol portal to streamline international criminal cooperation through Interpol. This CBI-developed portal will enhance real-time information sharing among law enforcement agencies, facilitating faster responses to transnational crimes. The launch will take place during the CBI investiture ceremony where police medals will be awarded to 35 officers.
Indian Forest Service officer Praveen Kaswan shared a video of a man provoking an elephant and narrowly escaping, warning against such behavior. Kaswan highlighted that harassment can cause stress and defensive actions in elephants. He urged people to avoid irritating wild animals for personal amusement.
A five-year-old girl from Badhaal village in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district has died, and five of her siblings were hospitalized due to food poisoning-like symptoms. Four critically ill children were transferred to Jammu. This incident follows the deaths of nine people from unknown diseases in the same village last December. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation.