Read the latest press releases from industry, corporates, NGOs, and organizations on biodiversity, climate action, environment, forest, water, and sustainable development actions, highlighting independent initiatives shaping India’s ecological landscape.
Mumbai, January 23, 2026: Moody’s Ratings has issued a Second Party Opinion (SPO) on the Union Bank of India’s Sustainable Financing Framework, assigning a rating of SQS2 – “Very Good Sustainability Quality”. This rating is the second-highest on Moody’s Sustainability Quality Score (SQS) scale, underscoring the Bank’s strong commitment to sustainable and responsible financing.
The Second Party Opinion by Moody’s Ratings is a globally recognized benchmark that provides independent assurance on the credibility and robustness of sustainability frameworks. This opinion fosters transparency for investors and stakeholders, reaffirming alignment of Union Bank of India’s Sustainable Financing Framework with international best practices and meaningful contribution to environmental and social objectives.
Union Bank of India remains steadfast in its mission to integrate sustainability into its core operations and financing activities, reinforcing its vision of creating long-term value for environment, society and the future generations.
Union Bank of India is one of India’s leading public sector banks, committed to delivering innovative financial solutions while promoting sustainable development.
New Delhi, January 22, 2026: SiriNor, a deep-tech aerospace and defence startup developing an emission-free electric jet engine based in India and Norway, unveiled its 2026 roadmap at the Inaugural Global CleanTech Forum on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum’s 56th annual meeting in Davos. The startup was shortlisted as one of only a few globally, initially focusing on rolling out small engines, with a UAV retrofit test planned for India by mid-to-late 2026.
The program is positioned at a critical moment for global climate action, emphasising clean energy, climate innovation, and large-scale collaborations between governments, investors, startups, and institutions. The Global CleanTech Forum brings together founders, investors, policymakers, and climate leaders to accelerate clean-energy solutions through curated access to global decision-makers.
“Davos is the perfect forum to highlight a massive gap. The aviation sector plays an invaluable role in driving the global economy, but it desperately needs a reboot that ditches the emissions of traditional combustion jet engines," said Abhijeet Inamdar, Founder and India CEO, SiriNor.
The aviation sector is predicted to contribute up to 20% of global emissions by 2050 as air travel demand grows. SiriNor is addressing this challenge with a 100% electric (no combustion), zero-emissions jet engine that is power-source agnostic, operable on existing battery tech today and designed to be compatible with hydrogen fuel cells.
The startup is backed by investors including Shell E4, Shriram, and Innovation Norway. The startup has so far signed 11 LOIs and MoUs across regional and international stakeholders. It recently secured a global patent in the USA for its unique tip-driven propulsion architecture, which is being scaled up to cover major aviation manufacturing hubs in the US, Canada, EU, and India.
Noida, 9 January 2026: The Habitats Trust (THT), a leading not-for-profit organisation addressing urgent conservation challenges related to biodiversity loss, climate change, and water scarcity, has announced the launch of the 9th edition of The Habitats Trust Grants, inviting applications from conservation practitioners, researchers, and non-profit organisations across India. Applications open 10 January 2026 and will close on 10 February 2026. Grant recipients will be announced in the first week of August 2026.
India hosts 7–8% of the world’s biodiversity, yet many species and ecosystems remain underfunded and poorly documented, particularly outside formally protected areas. The THT Grants aim to bridge this gap by supporting holistic, innovative, and replicable conservation projects, with special emphasis on lesser-known species and underrepresented habitats.
The ₹3.5 crore funding pool will support projects demonstrating measurable ecological outcomes, strong community engagement, and long-term sustainability. Applications are available at www.thehabitatstrust.org.
Since its inception in 2018, the THT Grants programme has funded over 38 projects across 21 states and union territories, disbursing more than ₹16.2 crore. Supported projects have spanned species recovery, habitat restoration, applied research, and community-led conservation, producing tangible outcomes while building local conservation capacity.
Rushikesh Chavan, Director of The Habitats Trust, said:
"India’s conservation challenges are complex and interlinked with climate pressures and governance issues. Through THT Grants, we aim to support organisations tackling urgent conservation needs with models that are sustainable, replicable, and inclusive. We are particularly keen on initiatives focused on lesser-known species and habitats that often miss mainstream funding."
Grant Categories and Funding
THT Conservation Grants (₹1 crore): For holistic conservation efforts addressing India’s critical habitats and lesser-known species. Administered over three years, two recipients will be selected.
THT Research Grants (₹40 lakh): For interdisciplinary research informing practical conservation solutions. Administered over two years, two recipients will be selected.
THT Action Grants & Action Service Projects (₹25 lakh): For urgent on-ground conservation action targeting lesser-known species and habitats. Administered over two years, three recipients will be selected.
The selection process will be conducted by a panel of 12 experts, evaluating applications on relevance, conservation impact, stakeholder engagement, scalability, replicability, and sustainability.
In 2025, THT received 119 applications, shortlisted 36 for field evaluation, and awarded 12 projects with a total grant of ₹3.8 crore. Notable recipients included Grameen Sahara (Assam) and Hume Centre for Ecology and Wildlife Biology (Kerala) under the Conservation Grant; Coastal Conservation Foundation (Mumbai) and Wildlife Institute of India (Trans-Himalayas) under the Research Grant; and ATREE (Kanchenjunga), Bryan Miranda (Goa & Chennai coasts), Noel Giri (Darjeeling), and Sunil Harsana (Delhi NCR) under Action Grants.
The 2026 edition of THT Grants reaffirms the organisation’s commitment to addressing India’s underfunded conservation priorities by combining research-driven insight with immediate on-ground action, enabling scalable and sustainable solutions that protect biodiversity while empowering local communities.
About The Habitats Trust
Founded in 2018 by Roshni Nadar Malhotra, Chairperson of HCL Technologies, and Shikhar Malhotra, CEO and Vice-Chairman of HCL Healthcare, The Habitats Trust is committed to tackling critical environmental challenges through regenerative models for a thriving planet. THT works across 32 states and union territories in India with over 120 partners, covering more than six lakh hectares, and has pioneered innovations in ecological restoration, species and habitat conservation, and multidisciplinary climate solutions.
New Delhi, 9 January 2026 – A new analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) reveals that just 4% of India’s chronically polluted cities are covered under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). Nearly half of all Indian cities (44%) remain in PM2.5 non-attainment, with no compliance recorded for over five consecutive years, indicating persistent, year-round pollution from transport, industry, and power plants.
CREA’s satellite-based assessment of 4,041 statutory towns found that 1,787 cities exceeded national PM2.5 standards consistently from 2019–2024 (excluding 2020). Yet only 130 cities are included in NCAP, with just 67 overlapping with these chronically polluted cities. Uttar Pradesh leads with 416 non-attainment cities, followed by Rajasthan (158), Gujarat (152), Madhya Pradesh (143), Punjab and Bihar (136 each), and West Bengal (124).
NCAP progress has been uneven: while 23 cities met PM10 reduction targets, 23 others recorded rising PM10 levels. Funding of ₹13,415 crore has largely gone to road dust management (68%), with limited allocations for industrial emissions, domestic fuel, and capacity building. Infrastructure measures like road paving and waste processing dominate, while emission reductions at source remain insufficient.
The 2025 PM2.5 rankings highlight Byrnihat (Assam), Delhi, and Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh) as the most polluted cities, while Delhi also leads in PM10 levels with an annual average of 197 μg/m³. CREA calls for urgent, science-driven reforms including stricter emission standards, revising NCAP city coverage, source-based funding allocation, and airshed-based regional approaches.
“India must strengthen air quality governance by prioritizing PM2.5 and precursor gases, updating non-attainment city lists, and implementing targeted interventions at the source,” said Manoj Kumar, India Analyst, CREA.
About CREA:
The Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) is an independent research organization dedicated to analyzing air pollution trends, health impacts, and clean energy solutions. CREA provides scientific data and research to support governments, companies, and NGOs in advancing air quality and sustainable energy initiatives. www.energyandcleanair.org
New Delhi, January 2nd, 2026: JK Tyre & Industries Limited has been awarded the Silver Rating by EcoVadis. The four pillars adopted by EcoVadis to rate sustainability performance of companies globally are Environment, Labour & Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement. This achievement places the company in the 93rd percentile globally, ranking it among the top 7% of companies worldwide assessed by EcoVadis across industries, reaffirming JK Tyre’s strong commitment to sustainability, ethical business practices, and responsible operations. The Silver rating reflects the significant progress made by JK Tyre in strengthening its sustainability performance across these dimensions.
In FY25, JK Tyre achieved an overall score of 77/100. Environment emerged as the strongest performer with a score of 89 points, reflecting JK Tyre’s initiatives on climate action, energy efficiency, emissions management, and environmental management systems.
Dr. Raghupati Singhania, CMD, JK Tyre & Industries Limited, said:
“This significant performance in our EcoVadis performance is the outcome of focused initiatives across environmental stewardship, ethical governance, labour practices, and responsible sourcing. The Silver rating is a strong validation of our integrated sustainability approach and the dedication of our teams. It further motivates us to continue strengthening our sustainability journey and creating long-term value for all stakeholders.”
An overall score of 77/100 reinforces JK Tyre’s commitment to combating climate change, fostering a safe and inclusive workplace, upholding high ethical standards, and driving sustainability across its value chain.
New Delhi, Jan 2, 2026: Arya.ag, India's largest integrated grain commerce platform, today announced that it has raised Rs 725 crore (approximately USD 80.58 million) in equity from GEF Capital Partners.
The investment will enable Arya.ag to deepen its engagement with farmers and their organisations to promote climate-smart, market-led agriculture practices. It will accelerate the Company’s effort to build resilience among smallholder farmers against uncertainties of climate change through improved access to technology solutions. The funds will also strengthen Arya.ag’s ability to control post-harvest losses at the farm gate and across the agricultural supply chain.
Founded in 2013 by Prasanna Rao, Anand Chandra and Chattanathan Devarajan, Arya.ag’s model is designed to bridge the trust gap in Indian agriculture, build efficient networks and unlock higher incomes for farmers. Through its integrated value chain approach - spanning pre-harvest to post-harvest solutions - Arya.ag enables the smallest of stakeholders in Indian agriculture to participate equitably in value chains by helping them decide when and to whom to sell their produce to. Its expanding network of Smart Farm Centres, combined with a comprehensive suite of storage, finance and commerce solutions, helps farmers and FPOs sustainably and structurally improve incomes at scale.
"This investment validates our approach of building integrated solutions that address the real challenges faced by India's farming community. GEF as a partner, shares our conviction on profitably building equitable agri value chains by reducing vulnerability to climate and market risks. We will use this capital to reach more farmers and develop products that reward sustainable practices at the farmgate. Our goal is to ensure that the smallest of stakeholders have access to information(data insights), finance and markets, through affordable technology, and in doing so, have the ability to significantly increase their incomes," said Prasanna Rao, Co-Founder and CEO of Arya.ag.
With over 60% of India's workforce engaged in agriculture and more than half of farming households excluded from formal credit sources, Arya.ag's integrated platform addresses a critical gap in the market by providing farmgate-level agri networks and solutions, including farm insights, storage, instant finance, and transparent market linkages. Avendus Capital served as the exclusive financial advisor for this equity round.
Arya.ag continues to grow as India’s only profitable agritech and has cemented its position as India’s leading integrated agri solutions platform. The company reported net revenue of ₹300 crore in H1 FY26, marking 28% growth over last year, while profits rose 39% to ₹31.5 crore during the same period. With rapid growth across storage, finance, and commerce, Arya.ag has been the partner of choice for farmers, FPOs, agri-enterprises, and financial institutions building a more efficient, climate-smart agri-ecosystem.
The company's operations currently span 60% of Indian districts with a network of 12,000 agri-warehouses, aggregating and storing USD 3 billion of grain annually while enabling disbursement of over USD 1.5 billion in loans to agricultural stakeholders.
PwC, Law firm JSA and Aeka also provided advisory support on this round.
Chennai, December 29, 2025: Garuda Aerospace, conducted an ESG Awareness Workshop, reinforcing its commitment to ethical, accountable, and sustainable business practices. The workshop saw participation from over 150 employees and stakeholders, underscoring the organisation’s focus on embedding sustainability across operations.
The workshop aimed to build awareness around Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, with a strong emphasis on responsible practices, data integrity, compliance, and skill-building. Through structured sessions and interactive discussions, participants were sensitised to the role ESG plays in long-term value creation, operational transparency, and responsible innovation within the aviation and aerospace ecosystem.
Rithika Agnishwar, Co-founder and Chief Administrative Officer, Garuda Aerospace, said, “Sustainability starts with awareness and accountability. At Garuda Aerospace, we believe that responsible aviation goes beyond technology, it is about people, processes, and purpose. This ESG Awareness Workshop is a step towards building a culture where ethical practices, data integrity, and governance are deeply embedded in how we operate and grow.”
The ESG Awareness Workshop forms part of Garuda Aerospace’s broader efforts to strengthen responsible business conduct and align with global sustainability standards.
New Delhi, December 24, 2025 - The Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, in close collaboration with TEXMiN, the Technology Translation Research Park established by the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, at IIT(ISM) Dhanbad, inaugurated the Centre of Research Excellence in Mining and Innovation for Critical Materials (CoRE-MiN), a recognised Centre of Excellence (CoE) on Critical Raw Materials under the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM), Ministry of Mines, Government of India.
The Centre was inaugurated by Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Honourable Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Government of India, in the august presence of Shri B. Sairam, Chairman, Coal India Limited, and Prof. Sukumar Mishra, Director, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad and Chairman, Hub Governing Board, TEXMiN Foundation, at the IIT (ISM) Dhanbad campus.
The formal inauguration marks the operational launch of CoRE-MiN, building on TEXMiN, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad’s earlier recognition as one of the nine Centres of Excellence under NCMM. It represents a key milestone in advancing India’s scientific, technological, and industrial capabilities across the critical minerals value chain. CoRE-MiN, which is anchored at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad as the academic hub, is implemented in close collaboration with its Technology Translation Research Park, TEXMiN, serving as the translational and industry-interface backbone of the Centre.
The Centre is supported by a strong consortium of national and international partners, including leading global academic institutions such as IIT Gandhinagar, IIT BHU, Curtin University, the University of Cambridge, and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, which contribute advanced research expertise across exploration, processing, and critical mineral systems. Industry collaboration is led by key Indian mining and mineral organisations, including Hindustan Copper Limited, MOIL Limited, Maheshwari Mining, Odisha Mining Corporation, Jindal Steel, Elitech Earth Science, CPI, Novasensa, CODELCO, enabling field validation, pilot-scale demonstrations, and technology deployment. This integrated partnership model ensures that CoRE-MiN delivers scientifically rigorous, industry-ready, and globally benchmarked solutions that are aligned with India’s National Critical Mineral Mission and its strategic objectives for self-reliance.
CoRE-MiN’s research agenda is closely aligned with the objectives of the National Critical Mineral Mission, focusing on AI/ML-enabled mineral exploration, digital rock-core characterisation, real-time traceability of critical raw materials, and advanced beneficiation and recycling solutions. These initiatives aim to strengthen secure and resilient supply chains for minerals essential to clean energy, e-mobility, electronics, defence, and strategic sectors.
Commenting on the inauguration, Prof. Sukumar Mishra, Director, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad and Chairman, Hub Governing Board, TEXMiN Foundation, said, “The inauguration of CoRE-MiN marks a defining moment for IIT (ISM) Dhanbad and TEXMiN. As a recognised Centre of Excellence under NCMM, CoRE-MiN will drive impactful research and technology translation through deep academic, industrial, and international collaboration, contributing meaningfully to India’s goal of self-reliance in critical minerals.”
Prof. Dheeraj Kumar, Deputy Director, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, Project Director, TEXMiN, and HoC of the CoE, added, “TEXMiN is proud to serve as the translational backbone of CoRE-MiN. Our focus will be on converting high-quality research into deployable technologies across AI-driven exploration, core digitisation, traceability platforms, and pilot-scale beneficiation of critical minerals. This Centre will play a catalytic role in accelerating India’s mineral technology readiness and industry adoption.”
The inauguration of CoRE-MiN marks a significant national commitment to developing indigenous capabilities in critical mineral exploration, processing, recycling, and advanced technologies, while fostering collaboration among academia, industry, and global research institutions.
About TEXMiN IIT(ISM) Dhanbad: Technology Innovation in Exploration & Mining Foundation (TEXMiN) is a Section 8 company with a status of Technology Translation Research Park (TTRP) set up by the Department of Science and Technology, Govt of India, at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad under the aegis of the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS). TEXMiN aims to develop commercially feasible mineral exploration and mining solutions using cyber-physical systems, including IoT, AI/ML, blockchain, drones, robotics, and satellite imagery. It aims to address the issues and challenges of the mining and exploration industry through the intervention of CPS-based technologies, achieving 3S Mining (Safe, Smart, and Sustainable Mining) and ultimately leading to Mining 4.0 through operation & process optimization across the mining value chain.
Bengaluru, December 23, 2025: Zoomcar Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: ZCAR), India’s largest peer-to-peer car-sharing marketplace, today released its EV Experience Insight Report, arguing that India’s EV adoption challenge is less about intent—and more about first-hand experience.
While policy momentum is building, electric cars remain ~2% of new passenger vehicle sales in India. The report highlights three persistent adoption blockers: charging access friction, battery health concerns, and low real-world familiarity. Zoomcar believes that short, real-life EV trials—beyond showroom test drives—can meaningfully reduce hesitation as the ecosystem matures.
Pilot takeaways: Zoomcar’s EV pilots across select metros showed strong renter interest, with EVs performing best in urban mobility, airport runs, and short-distance trips. The pilots also surfaced recurring constraints, including charging anxiety on longer routes, uneven fast-charger availability across highways/tourist corridors, limited home-charging access for apartment-dwelling hosts, and higher downtime driven by charging cycles.
2026 outlook: With the next phase of EV policy support under discussion, continued expansion of charging infrastructure, and growing private network coverage, Zoomcar sees 2026 as a practical window to scale EV access through its marketplace. The company plans to work with OEMs, charging partners, and policy stakeholders to build a structured EV experience program—enabling more consumers to live with an EV before buying one.
Deepankar Tiwari, CEO - Zoomcar said “India doesn’t have a demand problem — it has an experience gap. Giving people access to EVs for just 2–3 days can accelerate adoption more effectively than any marketing campaign. As India scales toward its 2030 EV goals, experience-led mobility will be the foundation.”
About Zoomcar: Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Bengaluru, Zoomcar is India’s largest peer-to-peer car-sharing marketplace. Through its digital-first platform, Zoomcar connects individual vehicle owners (Hosts) with users (Guests), offering flexible access to vehicles for self-drive carsharing. The company’s mission is to promote smarter, shared mobility that is both economically empowering and environmentally sustainable.
Bengaluru, December 22, 2025: redBus, the world’s largest online bus ticketing platform, has launched its latest Christmas ad film, ‘Everyone’s Christmas’. The campaign continues to celebrate togetherness and highlights the message that differences should never divide people. The film reinforces the idea that acceptance and empathy help create truly inclusive journeys. The campaign message is that journeys should foster a welcoming and respectful environment for all communities, such as the transgender community, ensuring that every traveller feels comfortable. At its core, the film serves as a gentle call to action - urging people to change their mindsets, embrace inclusivity - during festive seasons like Christmas and in everyday moments of travel.
The film follows a simple yet emotional bus-journey moment: a passenger expresses discomfort when he realises his co-traveller is a transgender person. What begins as discomfort slowly unfolds into an eye-opening experience, as the people around him choose empathy over judgment. Subtle, everyday gestures—sharing space, exchanging seats, sharing a smile, acknowledging someone’s presence—shift the atmosphere from tension to warmth.
With the message to change regressive mindsets, the film drives home a clear thought: on the occasion of Christmas - and any joyous occasion - every traveller deserves dignity, comfort, and respect for who they are. By spotlighting the experiences of communities which may not be in the mainstream such as transgender individuals, redBus aims to spark conversations around acceptance in public spaces and drive home the message ‘Make this christmas, everyone's christmas'
About the Film
The film opens with Mihir, a 40-year-old traveller absorbed in his work and mobile game as he gets onto the bus. Inside, the festive mood is light and cheerful, but it shifts when he realises his co-passenger is a transgender woman, Kamla. Uncomfortable with the situation, he immediately asks for a seat change.
This moment creates a brief but palpable tension inside the bus. The bus operator politely asks if anyone is willing to switch seats, but the other passengers remain hesitant, highlighting societal stigmas.
Rahul, a young child, raises his hand, offering to exchange seats with Mihir. This simple, thoughtful gesture transforms the atmosphere of the bus, and all the other passengers also raise their hands - volunteering to sit next to Kamla. In a powerful moment, Mihir realises his error and sits back down next to Kamla.
The film’s underlying philosophy is clear: “Make this Christmas everyone’s Christmas.” It reinforces that the holiday spirit is not just about physical space or gifts—it’s about opening our hearts, embracing diversity, and fostering an inclusive environment where every traveller, including transgender passengers, feels respected and valued.
Through this narrative, redBus beautifully conveys that travel can be more than a journey from one city to another; it can be a space for empathy, acceptance, and meaningful human connection, especially during the season of celebration and togetherness.
Speaking about the campaign, Pallavi Chopra, CMO, redBus, said “Every Christmas, we try to capture the real human moments that unfold on India’s buses, because these stories reflect the world our customers travel in. Our film captures the real spirit of Christmas - goodwill, love, kindness, and selfless giving.
With Everyone’s Christmas, we wanted to show how a small shift in perspective can transform a shared journey through generosity. Today’s travellers increasingly seek experiences that feel warm, welcoming, and kind — and so much of that comes from how we relate to one another on the move. This film encourages people to pause, reconsider their first instinct, and bring a little more Christmas joy and cheer into shared spaces. If the story prompts viewers to reflect, even briefly, on how they engage with those around them, it will have served its purpose.”
Link to Ad: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSeNhm2CHLA/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==