The reintroduction of cheetahs in India's Kuno National Park, sourced from Africa, has disrupted the lives of indigenous communities, affecting their traditional rights and livelihoods. The project, celebrated by animal lovers and government officials, faces criticism for potentially endangering the Asian lion population and ignoring the Supreme Court's 2013 order to relocate lions to ensure their survival. Experts question the suitability of Kuno National Park as a habitat for cheetahs and the impact on local biodiversity. The project's long-term success remains uncertain, with concerns about human-wildlife conflicts as the cheetah population grows.

The India Meteorological Department has issued a health advisory due to a cold wave in northern India, warning of increased respiratory issues and eye infections. Severe cold conditions are expected to persist in parts of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan for the next two days. Minimum temperatures range from 4 to 12°C across the region, with the lowest recorded at 1.0°C in Sikar, East Rajasthan. A western disturbance will cause heavy snowfall in higher altitudes of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, and bring rainfall to the Northern plains. Unstable weather with thunderstorms and hailstorms is expected in parts of north Madhya Pradesh, south Bihar, and other areas. The IMD's extended forecast indicates below-normal rainfall for India's homogenous regions, with isolated heavy rainfall in extreme south Peninsular India in the coming days.

The Indian government has significantly reduced funding for major wildlife conservation initiatives over the past five years, including a two-thirds cut to the Wildlife Habitat Development Fund and a 50% reduction in Project Tiger funds. This decrease in funding coincides with an increase in tiger deaths, with a record number of fatalities reported this year. The habitat development fund's reduction from Rs 165 crore in 2018-19 to Rs 56 crore in 2022-23, along with the decrease in Project Tiger's budget from Rs 322.9 crore to Rs 150.6 crore, raises concerns about the future of wildlife conservation and the increase in human-wildlife conflicts due to inadequate habitats.

India's lentil imports from Canada have significantly decreased following a diplomatic dispute, while imports from Australia have tripled despite higher prices. The conflict arose after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggested India's involvement in the death of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India's total lentil imports till August were 6.10 lakh tonnes, with Australia contributing half. Trade agreements have stalled due to diplomatic tensions, according to commodity analyst Rahul Chauhan. India, facing a pulses shortage, has implemented measures such as stock limits and import duty waivers.

The Union Cabinet Committee, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved a Rs 22,303 crore Nutrient Based Subsidy for the Rabi season on Phosphatic and Potassic fertilisers. The subsidy rates for nitrogen, phosphorus, potash, and sulphur were set for the season. Minister Anurag Thakur confirmed that farmers would continue to receive DAP at the previous rate and mentioned the availability of other fertilisers at maintained rates. The government also approved the Jamrani Dam Multipurpose Project in Uttarakhand under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, with central support of Rs 1,557.18 crore, aiming to provide irrigation, drinking water, and power benefits.

Cyclone Hamoon, which has intensified in the Bay of Bengal, is expected to make landfall in Bangladesh on October 25. It began as a 'deep depression' and has evolved into a 'very severe cyclone', fueled by higher sea surface temperatures. Hamoon is disrupting the Northeast monsoon in southern India, causing heavy rainfall in Northeastern states and light to moderate rainfall in coastal West Bengal, Odisha, eastern Bihar, and Jharkhand. As it approaches the coast south of Chittagong, it is expected to weaken slightly. The storm surge may inundate low-lying areas between Khepupara and Chittagong, but severe impacts in Bangladesh are not anticipated. The cyclone has also delayed the onset of the Northeast monsoon by four days, affecting winter crops, drinking water, and industrial use in Tamil Nadu. Meanwhile, cyclonic storm 'Tej' over Yemen has weakened into a deep depression. Northwestern Indian states are expected to have normal and dry weather conditions with a gradual decrease in minimum temperatures.

India's food production for the 2022-23 period is projected to have increased by 4.4%, reaching a record high of 3,296.87 lakh tonne, which is 140.71 lakh tonne more than the previous year. Rice and wheat production saw significant increases despite adverse weather conditions. Other crops such as nutri/coarse cereals, pulses, oilseeds, sugarcane, and cotton also registered higher outputs, with only Jute and Mesta not following the trend. Horticulture production is estimated to have grown by 1.37% to 351.92 million tonne, with fruits, vegetables, plantation crops, flowers, and honey all seeing increased production.

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved a 4% increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) for government employees and pensioners, affecting around 1.27 crore individuals. Additionally, a bonus equivalent to 78 days' salary was announced for eligible non-gazetted railway employees, excluding Railway Protection Force personnel. The total cost of the DA, DR, and bonus is estimated at Rs 14,825.87 crore annually. The Cabinet also approved the establishment of an inter-state power transmission line to evacuate solar power from a 13 GW renewable energy project in Ladakh to Kaithal in Haryana, with a target completion by FY 2029-30 and an estimated cost of Rs 20,773.70 crore.

The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee directed Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu from October 16 to October 31, despite Karnataka's objection due to drought-like conditions. The decision was made during the 88th meeting chaired by T D Sharma in New Delhi. Karnataka reported a 50.89% shortfall in reservoir inflows and declared drought conditions in several regions. The CWRC also instructed Tamil Nadu to release water for Karaikal in Puducherry.

President Droupadi Murmu highlighted the need for gender justice in the agriculture sector, emphasizing the crucial role of women in the entire food supply chain, from sowing to marketing. Speaking at a global conference in New Delhi, she called for the removal of discriminatory social norms that hinder women's recognition and ownership in agri-food systems. Despite women's significant involvement in agriculture, as evidenced by the 2011 census, there is a stark gender disparity in land ownership, with women owning only 12.8% of operational holdings. Murmu criticized the government's policy that links agricultural benefits to land ownership rather than recognizing farmers by their contribution to household income.

India's coal-fired power plants are lagging in installing flue-gas desulfurisation (FGD) technology to control sulphur emissions, with only 5% of plants equipped and over 50% yet to begin feasibility studies despite approaching deadlines. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has extended the deadline thrice, with new targets set between December 2024 and December 2026. India, after Russia, is the second-largest emitter of sulphur, which contributes to 4.2 million global deaths per year according to the WHO. Issues such as high costs, supply chain disruptions, and low domestic manufacturing capacity of FGD technology, with BHEL's production costs at Rs 1-1.2 crore per MW, are hindering progress.

Flash floods in North Sikkim, India, caused by a cloudburst over Lhonak Lake, have resulted in at least 10 fatalities and 81 missing persons, including 22 Army soldiers. A search operation is ongoing, with one soldier rescued and in stable condition. The floods have damaged infrastructure, severing North Sikkim's connectivity. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured support to Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, who has visited affected areas. The Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority reported severe damage in several districts due to the Glacial Lake Outburst Flood, and the Chungthang dam was also affected. The Indian Army reported missing personnel and submerged vehicles, with all other personnel in Sikkim and North Bengal safe but unable to contact families due to communication disruptions.

The Indian Meteorological Department reported that the depression over the Konkan region has weakened, leading to less intense rainfall over central Maharashtra. Despite this, heavy rainfall is expected in the Gangetic Bay of Bengal region and adjoining areas due to a low-pressure system. The wind speed of the depression, which was formed on September 30, was between 40-60 kmph, below the cyclone category. The weakened system is anticipated to reduce the southwest monsoon rainfall deficit, which ended the season 5.6% below normal. The IMD also noted the withdrawal of the southwest monsoon from various northern regions and predicted a deficit northeast monsoon with hotter days and nights in October.

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has released nine new standards for biofuels in India, aligning with the Global Biofuel Alliance's clean energy goals announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G20 meeting. The standards aim to support India's target of blending 20% ethanol into fossil fuels for transportation, which could save the country from importing crude oils and contribute to the net-zero by 2070 goal. The USA, Brazil, and India are the leading producers and consumers of biofuels, with significant global market shares. India's move towards biofuels is also a response to the increased oil prices due to the Russia-Ukraine war, with potential savings of 4 billion dollars from ethanol blending.

The article explores how eight billion people will be fed in the future, considering options like lab-grown meat, fish from underwater cages, and tomatoes from the Sahara. It includes essays and reports on agriculture and food production, as well as the impact of bee mortality on food supply.

The article discusses the challenges faced by the Gaddi community, a group of semi-nomadic pastoralists in the Himalayas, due to climate change. Rising temperatures have disrupted traditional grazing patterns, forcing shepherds to move their flocks higher into the mountains, which leads to overgrazing and environmental distress. The Indian Meteorological Department has noted a lack of winter precipitation in recent years, which affects pasture lands. The Department of Agronomy and Grassland Management at Himachal Pradesh Agriculture University acknowledges the impact of climate change on these pastures. Additionally, the expansion of agriculture and invasive plant species are threatening the pastoralists' way of life. The Gaddi community is shrinking as many abandon their ancestral profession for other work, signaling a potential end to their culture. Ranjit Singh, a Gaddi shepherd, expresses his concerns and resignation, yet remains committed to his traditional lifestyle for the time being.

The Indian government is considering the legalization of herbicide-tolerant genetically modified (GM) crops and is preparing a workforce to manage the application of glyphosate, a herbicide that these crops depend on. Glyphosate is currently restricted to use in certain areas and is considered a possible carcinogen. The National Institute of Plant Health Management (NIPHM) in Hyderabad is tasked with training master trainers, who will then train pest control officers (PCOs) to safely apply glyphosate. The government aims to create over 4000 PCOs, primarily from the ranks of progressive farmers and rural educated youth. So far, 370 master trainers and around 450 PCOs have been trained. The move comes amid reports of illegal cultivation of herbicide-tolerant GM cotton, which may lead to its legalization following this initiative.

The Southern Rice Black-Streaked Dwarf Virus (SRBSDV), first identified in China, has been detected in paddy fields in northern India, raising concerns over potential crop yield reductions. The virus, spread by the white-backed planthopper, affects plant growth and has been associated with a 30 to 50 percent decrease in rice yields. The Indian government is worried about the added strain on grain production, which has already been impacted by irregular monsoon rains. An expert committee has been formed to assess the situation, and farmers are being advised on how to manage their crops to minimize the spread of the virus. Investigations are ongoing to understand the virus's entry into India and its mechanism of action. Rice traders fear significant production losses, with estimates suggesting up to a seven percent reduction in rice output in key producing states like Punjab and Haryana.

New research indicates that India, along with other nations, is at risk of having its sovereign credit rating downgraded by the 2030s due to the impacts of climate change and increased temperature volatility. The study, led by Dr. Patrycja Klusak from the University of East Anglia and affiliated with Cambridge's Bennett Institute for Public Policy, utilized artificial intelligence to project the economic effects of climate change on Standard and Poor's ratings for 108 countries. The findings, published in the journal Management Science, suggest that without emission reductions, 59 countries could face an average downgrade of over one notch by 2030, with India potentially seeing a five-notch downgrade by the end of the century. The research emphasizes the financial consequences of delayed green investments, which could lead to higher borrowing costs and corporate debt.

The article discusses the alarming decline of bird species in India, as highlighted in the second edition of the State of India’s Birds Report 2023. The report, which assessed 942 bird species, reveals that 60% of species are showing a long-term decline, while 40% are declining annually. Challenges in data collection were noted, with only 55% of species having sufficient data for long-term trends. The report categorizes 178 species as high priority for conservation, with some discrepancies between the report's priority list and the IUCN Red List. The decline is attributed to habitat loss, pollution, and climate change, with specific concerns for grassland species, woodland specialists, and long-distance migrants. The article also points out the inadequacy of current policies and laws in protecting bird species and their habitats, suggesting the need for better conservation planning and interdepartmental coordination, as well as local community involvement.