Current Affairs 29 August 2025

India requires $50 billion new investment in storage by 2032: Report.

• India has crossed 50% installed power capacity from non-fossil sources five years early.
• The next challenge is rapidly scaling up Energy Storage Systems (ESS) to meet rising demand, cut costs, and keep power affordable.
• Energy Storage Systems store energy when supply exceeds demand and release it when demand peaks.

India’s industrial production growth accelerates to 3.5% in July 2025.

• India’s industrial production growth accelerated to 3.5% in July 2025, the highest in four months.
• Manufacturing sector was the key driver, growing by 5.4% in July, up from 3.7% in June.
• Electricity generation saw a marginal rise of 0.6%, while mining output contracted by 7.2%.

Younger forests outnumbering old, disturbing world’s carbon balance.

• A recent study highlights a global shift towards younger forests, disrupting the carbon balance as older, carbon-rich forests decline.
• Between 2010–2020, the area of forests aged 21–40 years increased by 17% (0.03 billion hectares), but this came at the cost of older forests.
• Young forests grow faster, their regrowth does not fully compensate for the carbon loss from older forests.

BNHS, Maharashtra govt sign MoU to restore Ujani reservoir wetland.

• BNHS & Maharashtra Water Resources Department signed an MoU for eco-restoration of Ujani reservoir.
• Ujani wetland (Bhigwan) – a man-made wetland on Bhima river, western Maharashtra.
• Recognised as an Important Bird Area (IBA) under the Central Asian Flyway.
• Key habitat for migratory birds and supports agriculture, hydropower, drinking water & fisheries.

Centre sets up 21-member authority to regulate India’s carbon market.

• Govt finalised a 21-member National Designated Authority (NDA) for carbon markets.
• Mandatory step under Article 6 of Paris Agreement (2015), finalised at COP29, Baku (2024).
• About NDA: Statutory body under Environment Ministry; Chairperson: Environment Secretary; Members from External Affairs, Steel, Renewable Energy, Power, NITI Aayog; Acts as nodal regulator for India’s carbon market.