During September 11-13, various union government departments and agencies published several news releases linked to the environment, climate change, public health, and related social sectors that are important for the country’s present and future. The Plurals has collated the key information for you.
Critical minerals vital for India’s energy security, industrial competitiveness, and national security, said union minister Jitendra Singh
India is no longer a country that waits for others to experiment and then follows their success; it is now confident of shaping its own global role in emerging technologies, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, and MoS in the Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh said today.
Critical minerals are key to India’s Energy security, Industrial competitiveness and national security, he asserted.
The Minister said critical minerals and metals will be a driving component of the next phase of technological development, with their importance extending beyond mining to energy security, industrial competitiveness and national security.
Detailed report link:
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?PRID=2309144®=48&lang=1
Conservation of Great Indian Bustard, restoration of grassland, and Project Cheetah monitored by environment minister
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, today chaired a Review Meeting of Flagship Programmes at Bhuj, Kachchh (Gujarat), covering the conservation status of the Great Indian Bustard, grassland restoration and Project Cheetah. The Review Meeting was also attended by Shri Arjun Modhwadia, Cabinet Minister for Forest and Environment, Climate Change and Science & Technology, Government of Gujarat. Senior officials of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Gujarat Forest Department, the Wildlife Institute of India and the National Tiger Conservation Authority were also present.
On the occasion, the Union Minister emphasised that conservation must move beyond individual species to the restoration of entire landscapes, combining scientific management, habitat restoration and community participation, and said India is working towards becoming a global benchmark in landscape-level conservation
Detailed report link
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?PRID=2309882®=48&lang=1
Delhi Declaration on Drylands called to transform drylands through science, innovation, and partnerships
The three-day Dryland Congress 2026 concluded today in New Delhi with a strong call for greater South–South and triangular cooperation to accelerate solutions for dryland agriculture.
The final day coincided with the United Nations Day for South–South Cooperation and culminated in the adoption of the Delhi Declaration on Drylands (3D), setting out a shared agenda for transforming dryland agriculture through collaboration, knowledge exchange, innovation and collective action across the Global South.
It was endorsed at the closing plenary by participating governments, institutions, partners and delegates of the Dryland Congress 2026.
Detailed report link:
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?PRID=2309628®=48&lang=1
BRICS declaration at Delhi gave a push to traditional medical systems
The New Delhi Declaration adopted at the 18th BRICS Summit has given a significant push to international cooperation in Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM), recognising its growing relevance to strengthening health systems and contributing towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
A key outcome of the Declaration is the welcome accorded to the proposed establishment of a BRICS Expert Working Group on TCIM under the BRICS Health Track. The proposed Working Group is envisaged as a platform for dialogue, collaboration and exchange among BRICS Member States, providing a structured mechanism for advancing cooperation in traditional medicine.
Detailed report link:
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?PRID=2309695®=48&lang=1
Coastal cleanup drive at Digha Beach under the newly introduced ‘Clean Sea, Safe Sea 5.0’ program
To mark the beginning of Swachh Sagar Surakshit Sagar 5.0 campaign, a coastal cleanup drive was organised today at Digha, East Midnapore, by Ministry of Earth Sciences and coordinated Nation wide by National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai. The cleanup drive commenced with an inaugural ceremony at the Marine Aquarium and Regional Centre (MARC). Around 100 participants, including college students and officials from MARC, Niot, Incois, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Coast Guard, participated in the initiative.
Shri Sreenivasa Rao Gangi Reddy, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), inaugurated the programme, along with NIOT.
The initiative was organised as a prelude to International Coastal Cleanup Day, to be observed on September 19, 2026, with the objective of creating greater awareness about marine pollution and encouraging sustainable practices for the protection of coastal and marine ecosystems.
Detailed report link:
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?PRID=2309629®=48&lang=1