Dumping of e-waste, comprising electronic items like television sets, mobile phones and computers is illegal from now on. It is also illegal to sell e-waste to local scrap dealers. Under the Electronic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules 2011, notified a year ago has come into effect from today, such waste must be routed to one of 73 authorized recyclers in India. As per the law, non-compliance can entail imprisonment or a fine. As of now, these penalties are only for manufactures and bulk consumers.
e-waste now has to be disposed off directly to authorized collection centres or directly to any authorized recycler or the manufacturer. India's e-waste has hit an all-time high estimated at around eight lakh metric tonnes in 2012.

Earth Sciences Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh held that India is probable to experience average monsoon rains this year, thus forecasting a third straight year without drought. Deshmukh held that the rains during the June-September season are probable to be 99% of the long-term average. The state-run India Meteorological Department (IMD) considers rains between 96-104% of a 50-year average of 89 cms in the entire 4-month season as normal. The last time there was a drought with rains below this range was 2009 and before that, in 2004.

The rain forecast ardently watched by traders and policymakers. Monsoon rains, essential for agricultural output and economic growth, irrigate about 60% of farms in the world's 2nd-biggest producer of rice, wheat, sugar and cotton. The farm sector accounts for nearly 15% of India's nearly $2 trillion economy.

This most recent government forecast is also in conformity with last week's estimate of a global weather forum.

IMD held that the Monsoon is probable to have average rainfall in 2012 in spite of fears that the El Nino weather pattern may come forth in the second half of the season. In 2009, the El Nino weather pattern turned monsoon rains patchy, leading to the most terrible drought in almost 4 decades. Rains were within long-term averages in following years, assisted by La Nina. El Nino, an abnormal warming of waters in the equatorial tropical Pacific, is linked with poor rains or a drought-like situation in Southeast Asia and Australia. The La Nina weather pattern, which is linked with heavy rains in south Asia and flooding in the Asia-Pacific region and South America, and drought in Africa, finished in March. In the meantime before El Nino appears, weather officials articulate a neutral condition continues over the tropical Pacific.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved implementation of the programme National Monsoon Mission of the Earth System Science Organization for a period of 5 years.

Main Objective of National Monsoon Mission: To build a working partnership between the academic, Research, Development organizations, both national and international, and operational agencies to improve monsoon forecast skill over the nation.

In Russia, the Shiveluch volcano on Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula ejected an ash cloud to as high as almost 11 km above the sea level. There was no instant danger for the population, and no emissions of volcanic dust were supervised in neighbouring villages. This was the heftiest eruption of ash recorded this year at Shiveluch which has been active for more than 4weeks.

Shiveluch volcano: Shiveluch is the northernmost active volcano in Kamchatka Krai, Russia. It is sometimes called Sheveluch or Sopka Shiveluch. It is one of Kamchatka's largest and most active volcanoes. Shiveluch is one of the biggest and most active of a line of volcanoes that follow the spine of the Kamchatka Peninsula in easternmost Russia. The volcanoes and peninsula are part of the tectonically active "Ring of Fire", a zone of active volcanoes and frequent earthquakes that nearly surrounds the Pacific Ocean.

The PEW Charitable Trust (an eminent American non-profit organisation) in its report held that India has emerged as one of the top performing clean energy economies in the 21^st century, with Indian receiving US $10.2 billion investments in clean energy. India's clean energy sector sustained to flourish in 2011, with private investment raising 54% to $10.2 billion, placing India at 6^th position amid the G-20 nations.

• Clean energy is another name for renewable or alternate energy.

What placed India amongst the top clean energy economies of the world?

Read on...