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Time of India
8 hours ago
- Science
- Time of India
‘Chorabari glacier near Kedarnath retreating 7m per year'
Dehradun: The Chorabari glacier, located above Kedarnath in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district, is retreating at an average rate of nearly 7m per year, according to Doon-based Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG). Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Just below the glacier is Chorabari Tal, a moraine-dammed lake that breached in June 2013 after heavy rainfall and rapid snow and ice melt, triggering catastrophic floods in Kedarnath that killed over 4,000 people and destroyed more than 3,300 homes. WIHG shared this data in response to an RTI query filed by Dehradun-based activist Amit Gupta, noting that the glacier's ice-covered area shrank from 6.1 sq km in 2009 to 5.91 sq km in 2019. The institute said the retreat rate is consistent with broader glacial recession trends across the Indian Himalayas driven by rising temperatures and shifting precipitation patterns. While the decline may appear modest, experts said that it signals long-term glacial degradation. Manish Mehta, senior scientist at WIHG, told TOI that there are many other glaciers in the Himalayas that were steadily retreating, like the Chorabari glacier. "In the case of Chorabari, the rate of retreat would have been significantly higher if not for the thick debris cover, which acts as an insulating layer, slowing down the glacier's melting", he added. A 2018 study by IIT Mumbai supports WIHG's findings. Using Landsat satellite data to track glacial retreat between 1976 and 2016, it found an average area loss of 0.8% per year, reinforcing concerns about sustained ice loss in the region. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Experts caution that continued glacial melt increases the risk of lake outburst events, and stressed the urgent need for sustained monitoring and broader climate action to reduce warming in the region. "It's clear that global warming and human activities are directly affecting the glacier near Kedarnath. There's an urgent need to regulate such activities and define a carrying capacity to prevent further damage. We must ask ourselves, at what cost are we pursuing development? It is our responsibility to protect Kedarnath's sanctity and ecological balance," said RTI activist Amit Gupta. WIHG has been monitoring the Chorabari glacier since 2003 through satellite data and field studies to track changes in snow cover and glacial dynamics. In 2011, the institute installed three automatic weather stations near the glacier to study local meteorology and surface mass balance, but they were destroyed in the 2013 floods.
Hans India
20 hours ago
- Health
- Hans India
Agrifields hosts health camp
Vizianagaram: As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) outreach, Agrifields, a global agricultural solutions company, organised free medical camp and school sports day on Saturday in Rellivalasa village, Pusapatirega mandal of Vizianagaram district. The health initiative included a door-to-door awareness drive followed by a full-day medical camp, benefiting over 200 villagers. Free screenings were conducted for blood pressure, sugar levels, and general wellness. Doctors provided consultations, medicines, and nutrition advice at free of cost. 'Many villagers learned of health issues for the first time. We began their treatment immediately,' said Amit Gupta, Co-Founder & CEO of Agrifields. In parallel, Agrifields supported a vibrant sports and academic celebration at Zilla Parishad High School, Rellivalasa. Over 250 students participated in games like kabaddi and kho-kho. Prizes were distributed to winners, and cash awards were given to five top-performing students, including a girl who lost both parents, in a gesture of encouragement.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Digital frauds surge in east UP; sharp rise in Lucknow, Prayagraj, Kanpur, rural areas: Airtel
A sharp rise in digital fraud cases has been reported across eastern Uttar Pradesh, with cybercriminals increasingly targeting users through fake delivery links, phishing messages, and bogus banking alerts, according to Airtel . Major urban centres, such as Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi, and Prayagraj, have seen a worrying uptick, while districts such as Jaunpur, Kushinagar, Mau, Mirzapur and Kanpur Dehat that comprise large rural parts also witnessing growing instances of such cyber frauds, it noted. Airtel in a statement on Wednesday said as part of its nationwide rollout of AI-powered fraud detection system, it has successfully safeguarded more than 15 million users in Uttar Pradesh (east) within just 56 days of launching the advanced features. The telecom operator has 36,260,483 users in UP East, a company official here, citing TRAI data updated till May 2025. The figures for UP (West) were not immediately available, the official added. "With Uttar Pradesh ranked as one of India's most digitally advanced states, the threat of online fraud has grown in both its urban and rural regions. Fraudsters increasingly target users through phishing links, fake deliveries, and spurious banking alerts," Airtel said. "Cities like Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi, and Prayagraj, along with remote areas such as Kanpur Dehat, Jaunpur, Kushinagar, Mau, and Mirzapur among others, have seen a sharp rise in such fraudulent attempts," it added, without any specific numbers on such offences. On Wednesday, Bharti Airtel CEO Uttar Pradesh (East) Amit Gupta met Naveen Arora (IPS), ADG, Technical Services, Uttar Pradesh Police, to discuss Airtel's Fraud Detection Solution and explore collaborative measures to tackle the growing threat of cyber frauds in the state, according to the statement. The company said its advanced system that scans and filters links across SMS, WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook, Instagram, E-mail and other browsers are automatically enabled for all Airtel mobile and broadband customers. "It leverages real-time threat intelligence to examine over 1 billion URLs daily and blocks access to harmful sites in under 100 milliseconds," Airtel stated. PTI
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Digital frauds surge in east UP; sharp rise in Lucknow, Prayagraj, Kanpur, rural areas: Airtel
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel A sharp rise in digital fraud cases has been reported across eastern Uttar Pradesh, with cybercriminals increasingly targeting users through fake delivery links, phishing messages, and bogus banking alerts, according to Airtel Major urban centres, such as Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi, and Prayagraj, have seen a worrying uptick, while districts such as Jaunpur, Kushinagar, Mau, Mirzapur and Kanpur Dehat that comprise large rural parts also witnessing growing instances of such cyber frauds, it in a statement on Wednesday said as part of its nationwide rollout of AI-powered fraud detection system, it has successfully safeguarded more than 15 million users in Uttar Pradesh (east) within just 56 days of launching the advanced telecom operator has 36,260,483 users in UP East, a company official here, citing TRAI data updated till May 2025. The figures for UP (West) were not immediately available, the official added."With Uttar Pradesh ranked as one of India's most digitally advanced states, the threat of online fraud has grown in both its urban and rural regions. Fraudsters increasingly target users through phishing links, fake deliveries, and spurious banking alerts," Airtel said."Cities like Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi, and Prayagraj, along with remote areas such as Kanpur Dehat, Jaunpur, Kushinagar, Mau, and Mirzapur among others, have seen a sharp rise in such fraudulent attempts," it added, without any specific numbers on such Wednesday, Bharti Airtel CEO Uttar Pradesh (East) Amit Gupta met Naveen Arora (IPS), ADG, Technical Services, Uttar Pradesh Police, to discuss Airtel's Fraud Detection Solution and explore collaborative measures to tackle the growing threat of cyber frauds in the state, according to the company said its advanced system that scans and filters links across SMS, WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook, Instagram, E-mail and other browsers are automatically enabled for all Airtel mobile and broadband customers."It leverages real-time threat intelligence to examine over 1 billion URLs daily and blocks access to harmful sites in under 100 milliseconds," Airtel stated. PTI
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
China's rare earth chokehold may open some doors for India
India is poised for an industrial shift as rare earth elements and critical minerals gain prominence amid a strategic push for self-reliance and reduced dependence on appears to be on the verge of a significant industrial transformation, with rare earth elements (REEs) and other critical minerals taking centre stage. The nation's strategic push towards self-reliance, spurred by geopolitical tensions and China's near-monopoly on rare earths, presents a compelling opportunity for investors. The effort aims to leverage India's substantial natural resources to support its growing electric vehicle (EV), renewable energy and defence sectors. The geopolitical crucible The global rare earth market, heavily dominated by China, has come under intense scrutiny due to export restrictions and trade disputes. According to CNBC, China controls an estimated 90% of the global rare earth magnet market. This dominance was highlight in April 2025 when China tightened export licensing for critical REEs like terbium and dysprosium, elements essential to Neodymium-Iron-Boron (NdFeB) magnets used in EV motors, wind turbines and defence systems. Notably, while China remains the dominant player, its share of global rare earth mining is projected to decline to 51%, and refining to 76% by 2030, as global supply chains diversify, according to a report by CareEdge Global. As Amit Gupta, Executive Group Vice President at Motilal Oswal Private Wealth, told ET Now, the recent geopolitical crises are catalysing the emergence of new sectors in Indian markets. Gupta notes that while India previously stayed away from rare earth mining due to environmental concerns, the global scenario now positions India, home to 8% of the world's rare earth reserves, as a key player. 'Rare earth is coming as that kind of opportunity... the reserves are almost 250 times higher than what is being mined now,' Gupta says. This shift is encouraging countries to diversify rare earth supply chains, creating strategic openings for resource-rich nations like India. India's untapped potential Although China holds the largest REE deposits at 44 million tonnes, India's 6.9 million tonnes give it the third-largest share globally, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. India also possesses about 35% of the world's beach and sand mineral deposits, as per an EY report. These reserves are especially significant for high-performance applications in EVs, electronics, and defence. Gracelin Baskaran, Director of the Critical Minerals Security Program at CSIS, told CNBC that India is "poised to play a key role in building a more diversified global rare earths supply chain." However, despite its endowment, India's output has remained low, just 2,900 tonnes annually from 2012 to 2024, per Statista. CNBC, citing Abhijit Kulkarni of EY Parthenon, attributes this gap to limited refining technologies, insufficient technical expertise, and inadequate mining infrastructure. Baskaran notes that while India cannot displace China, it can certainly serve as a vital alternate source of supply. To address these limitations, CNBC-TV18 reports that the government is exploring partnerships between IREL (India) Ltd. and the private sector, alongside incentives and capital subsidies to enhance domestic mining and processing. Regulatory and institutional challenges India's rare earth resources are primarily found in monazite-rich coastal deposits in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and West Bengal, with smaller reserves in Jharkhand, Gujarat, and Maharashtra, according to the Financial Express. Despite institutional support from Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL), the end-to-end value chain, from extraction to magnet manufacturing, remains underdeveloped. The Atomic Energy Act, 1962, which designates monazite as a "prescribed substance" due to its thorium content, reserves mining of these minerals for public sector entities. This legal framework has historically excluded private participation, limiting scaling opportunities. India must now evolve beyond producing REE oxides to manufacturing value-added products like rare earth metals. This requires focused R&D, global collaborations and specialised industrial zones. Strategic global partnerships India is strengthening international collaborations to build more resilient rare earth supply chains, with Australia emerging as a key strategic partner. As the world's fourth-largest producer of rare earth elements (REEs), Australia plays a central role in this effort. Under the India–Australia Critical Minerals Investment Partnership, established through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in March 2022 between Khanij Bidesh India Ltd (KABIL) and Australia's Critical Minerals Facilitation Office, India is exploring investments in Australian rare earth projects, according to the Press Information Bureau ( PIB ). According to a July 9 report by The Economic Times, India is actively in discussions with Australia to secure access to rare earth minerals , amid a global shortage of rare earth magnets triggered by China's tightening of export controls. 'They [India and Australia] are talking about rare earth, and there are blocks available,' said Malini Dutt, Trade and Investment Commissioner for the New South Wales Government in Australia. 'So there is an opportunity for India to take an early-stage block and have tie-ups with a few companies.' In addition, the CSIRO-led India–Australia Critical Minerals Research Partnership, funded through 2026, supports joint research and development across the entire value chain, from exploration and processing to recycling. These initiatives are further reinforced by the broader India–Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the Quad's minerals cooperation framework. Lessons from Japan Japan's experience following China's 2010 export halt offers valuable insights. The embargo, stemming from a territorial dispute, disrupted Japan's manufacturing sector. In response, Japan invested in Australia's Lynas Rare Earths via the Japan Australia Rare Earths (JARE) joint venture, securing $450 million in funding over the years. This strategic move helped Japan reduce its dependence on Chinese REEs from over 90% to around 58% by 2022, as per Quartz. India can learn from this state-led, targeted approach to supply chain diversification. National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) In 2025, India launched the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM), according to PIB. The mission aims to bolster self-reliance in critical minerals through exploration, mining, processing, and recycling. The Geological Survey of India (GSI) will conduct 1,200 exploration projects by 2030-31. Efforts include auctions for 100+ mineral blocks, exploration of offshore polymetallic nodules, and relaxed rules to enable mineral recovery from secondary sources like fly ash and red mud. A fast-track approval mechanism and a new Exploration Licence are also being introduced. A Centre of Excellence on Critical Minerals (CECM) is proposed to guide policy and keep the critical minerals list updated. IREL's expanding role IREL (India) Ltd., under the Department of Atomic Energy, holds a near-monopoly on India's REE mining and processing. It achieved a record production of 531,000 tonnes in FY24, as per Outlook Business. The Rare Earth Extraction Plant in Odisha saw a 9.8% increase in chemical output. IREL has begun manufacturing rare earth magnets and metals at its Visakhapatnam and Bhopal facilities. These are being tested by BARC and DMRL, as reported by Financial Express. The company also plans to supply around 500 tonnes of raw materials to OEMs. To diversify supply chains, IREL is scouting for REE resources in Oman, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, per Times of India . However, expansion has been hampered by delays in mining permits and environmental clearances, along with CRZ guidelines. Overseas acquisitions Through KABIL, a joint venture of three PSUs, India is acquiring overseas mineral assets. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visits to Argentina and Brazil, part of the lithium-rich ' Triangle ,' underscore this push. Key initiatives: On January 15, 2024, KABIL signed an agreement with Argentina's CAMYEN SE for lithium exploration over 15,703 hectares. In March 2022, KABIL signed an MoU with Australia's Critical Mineral Office. Due diligence is underway for lithium and cobalt projects in Australia. Downstream opportunities While direct mining of radioactive REEs remains a PSU domain, private companies are increasingly eyeing downstream activities like magnet manufacturing. The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 2023, now permits private exploration of non-radioactive rare earths. According to Economic Times, 13 acreages have already been auctioned. India's domestic rare earth magnet demand surged from 12,400 tonnes in FY21 to nearly 54,000 tonnes in FY25. The market is projected to hit USD 993 million by 2033. To support this, the government is finalising a Rs 3,500–Rs 5,000 crore Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme. An initial Rs 1,000 crore outlay aims to boost domestic magnet production to 1,500 tonnes. Notable private players include: Sona Comstar plans to begin magnet production by end-2025 (ET). Vedanta and Hindustan Zinc are exploring serious entry into this space, driven by demand from EVs and defence sectors (Outlook Business, July 1, 2025). Midwest Advanced Materials Pvt Ltd, Hyderabad, has received Ministry of Science and Technology support for local magnet production (Times of India, June 21, 2025). Challenges and future strategy Despite momentum, challenges remain. Legal restrictions from the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, limit the role of private entities in mining radioactive REEs. Moreover, many of India's reserves are lean and complex to extract. The economics are also challenging, though imports rose 88% to 53,700 tonnes in FY25, their value increased just 5% to Rs 1,744 crore, as per Times of India. Beyond rare earths India's ambition extends to a wider basket of critical minerals. The NCMM identifies 30 critical minerals, including lithium, cobalt and nickel, essential for EV batteries and clean energy. The EV market is projected to hit 6.3 million units by 2027, with wind energy capacity rising from 42 GW to 140 GW by 2030 (ET). According to PIB, India aims to reduce its GDP's emissions intensity by 45% by 2030 (from 2005 levels), achieve 50% electric power capacity from non-fossil sources by 2030, and reach net-zero emissions by 2070.
