Environment Minister Reviews NIRANTAR to Boost MoEFCC Coordination

14 Jan 2026 CW Team

Highlighting the strategic importance of natural resources, Yadav said that contemporary geopolitics is increasingly shaped by access to and utilisation of natural resources. “Our strength lies in our natural resources, particularly bio-resources,” he said, adding that while India has made significant progress in manufacturing, data, software and other industrial sectors, the four essentials of life—food, medicine, energy and oil—ultimately originate from nature.

Emphasising that India possesses a vast repository of natural resources, the Minister underlined the need for their balanced, appropriate and judicious use. He said the country must pursue a policy framework that strikes a balance between environmental protection and industrial development.

Yadav noted that the four verticals of the NIRANTAR platform focus on different dimensions of research, outcome assessment and eventual utilisation. He highlighted the importance of India’s bioresources and said the platform could play a key role in ensuring their sustainable use for long-term development.

Referring to climate change challenges, the Minister said glaciers are shrinking and stressed that development in ecologically sensitive regions such as the Himalayas must be carefully balanced. He pointed out that institutions such as the GB Pant National Institute for Himalayan Ecology and the National Institute for Sustainable Coastal Management can contribute significantly through greater cooperation and collaboration.

The Minister said MoEFCC should actively contribute to national development while preventing over-exploitation of natural resources, noting that environmental preservation and conservation policies have far-reaching economic implications. He emphasised that NIRANTAR should focus on research, its role in policymaking and future pathways, supported by strong institution-building and capable human resources. Concluding, Shri Yadav stressed that a “Whole of Government” approach, backed by enhanced coordination, is essential to achieve meaningful outcomes from the NIRANTAR platform.

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav chaired a meeting of the National Institute for Research & Application of Natural Resources to Transform, Adapt and Build Resilience (NIRANTAR), a collaborative platform bringing together institutions under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), with the objective of strengthening coordination and institutional collaboration.Highlighting the strategic importance of natural resources, Yadav said that contemporary geopolitics is increasingly shaped by access to and utilisation of natural resources. “Our strength lies in our natural resources, particularly bio-resources,” he said, adding that while India has made significant progress in manufacturing, data, software and other industrial sectors, the four essentials of life—food, medicine, energy and oil—ultimately originate from nature.Emphasising that India possesses a vast repository of natural resources, the Minister underlined the need for their balanced, appropriate and judicious use. He said the country must pursue a policy framework that strikes a balance between environmental protection and industrial development.Yadav noted that the four verticals of the NIRANTAR platform focus on different dimensions of research, outcome assessment and eventual utilisation. He highlighted the importance of India’s bioresources and said the platform could play a key role in ensuring their sustainable use for long-term development.Referring to climate change challenges, the Minister said glaciers are shrinking and stressed that development in ecologically sensitive regions such as the Himalayas must be carefully balanced. He pointed out that institutions such as the GB Pant National Institute for Himalayan Ecology and the National Institute for Sustainable Coastal Management can contribute significantly through greater cooperation and collaboration.The Minister said MoEFCC should actively contribute to national development while preventing over-exploitation of natural resources, noting that environmental preservation and conservation policies have far-reaching economic implications. He emphasised that NIRANTAR should focus on research, its role in policymaking and future pathways, supported by strong institution-building and capable human resources. Concluding, Shri Yadav stressed that a “Whole of Government” approach, backed by enhanced coordination, is essential to achieve meaningful outcomes from the NIRANTAR platform.

Real Estate

07 Aug 2026

BXB Estates Sets AED 110 Million Jumeirah Golf Estates Record

BXB Estates has completed an AED 110 million residential transaction at Jumeirah Golf Estates, setting a new sales record for the prestigious Dubai residential community.Negotiated by Alfie Tabrez, Managing Partner of BXB Estates, the deal surpassed the previous record of AED 58 million for a completed ready villa in the development.The six-bedroom residence offers 21,714 sq ft of built-up space on a 15,873-sq-ft plot. It features nine bathrooms, four living lounges, a home office, bar lounge, private cinema and rooftop terrace.The property also includes a dedicated wellness area comprising a ..

Infrastructure Urban

07 Aug 2026

SECR Floats Rs 6,019 Mn EPC Tender For Paradol Nagpur Link

South East Central Railway (SECR) has invited bids for an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract to build a new broad gauge single line between Paradol Takeoff Point and Nagpur Road Station in Chhattisgarh. The contract carries an estimated cost of Rs 6,019.0 mn and requires an earnest money deposit of Rs 120.4 mn. The work is framed as an EPC assignment intended to strengthen regional rail infrastructure. The tender, issued under number CAO-C-BSP-26-27-15, specifies a completion period of 730 days and a bid validity of 180 days. Two pre-bid meetings are scheduled for 24 Augu..

Infrastructure Transport

07 Aug 2026

Indian Railways Reports Nine Per Cent Rise In July Freight Loading

Indian Railways handled 141.3 million tonnes (141.3 mn t) of freight in July, marking a rise of nine per cent year on year. Freight loading maintained a positive trajectory across the network compared with the same month last year. Passenger traffic also increased in July, contributing to higher overall network utilisation. The July outcome continued a pattern of steady monthly gains, reflecting gradual improvement in industrial and logistics activity. The growth in freight volumes reflected stronger demand across multiple sectors and improvements in logistics and train turnarounds. Enhanced r..