On August 26, 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.
Ministry of Home Affairs closely monitoring the situation arising out of flash floods in Nepal.
The Central Government in close watch on the situation arising out of the flash flood in Nepal. Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah spoke with the Chief Ministers of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh regarding the disasterin Nepal.
As per the Advisory of the Central Water Commission (CWC) and media reports, a sudden rise in river water level in the Trishuli River at Furke Khola in Nepal, around 160 km from the Indian border, due to suspected Flash flood/GLOF activity near the Nepal–China border, has been reported. The impact of flood is likely to travel downstream in the Gandak River, in India.
Detailed report link:
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?PRID=2303589®=48&lang=1
CAQM, under Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, conducted surprise industry inspection drive.
As part of its continuing drive against illegal and polluting industrial units in the National Capital Region (NCR), the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) conducted a Special Intensive Inspection Drive in Loni, Ghaziabad on 25.08.2026 under Operation Clean Air. The inspection drive was undertaken with a focus on identifying units operating illegally outside environmental regulatory mechanisms.
Seven flying squads were deployed by the Commission, along with Magistrates, Police and Officials of the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) to conduct inspections across 28 industrial premises in Loni, Ghaziabad. The inspections revealed widespread non-compliances, with all 28 inspected premises found to be non-compliant with applicable environmental norms.
Detailed report link:
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?PRID=2303566®=48&lang=1
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change calls for community-led initiatives to restore grasslands.
India has emphasised the critical role of rangelands in sustaining pastoralist communities, conserving biodiversity and regulating water and carbon cycles, while calling for restoration approaches rooted in science, secure tenure and community stewardship. Addressing the Ministerial Dialogue on “Restoration of Rangelands and the Well-being of Pastoralist Communities” at the 17th Conference of Parties (CoP17) of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, highlighted India’s experience in restoring grasslands and rangelands through a combination of scientific planning and community participation.
Detailed report link:
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?PRID=2303391®=48&lang=1
PIB backgrounder discussed recent price rise of sugar, assured about the availability
India’s sugar industry is a major agricultural, industrial, and rural livelihood ecosystem. India is the world’s second-largest sugarcane producer. The sugarcane sector supports nearly 5 crore farmers and around 5 lakh workers in sugar factories and its allied industries.
India’s sugarcane production has reached 500 MMT in 2025-26 as per the Third Advance Estimate of Production released by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. This marks approximately 43.5 percent growth over the last 10 years, compared with 348.44 MMT of production in 2015-16.
The area under sugarcane cultivation has also increased from 49.27 lakh hectares in 2015-16 to 58.87 lakh hectares in 2025-26. Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra are the top sugarcane-producing states in India. India exported 8 lakh MT of sugar in 2025-26, compared with 0.47 lakh MT in 2016-17.
Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane for the sugar season 2026-27 (October – September) has been set at ₹365/quintal by the government. This provides a basic recovery rate of 10.25%. This price is ₹135 more than the FRP for the sugar season 2016-17, which was fixed at ₹230/quintal with a basic recovery rate of 9.5%.
Detailed report link:
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?PRID=2303478®=48&lang=1