Latest news with #ManojKumar
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Science
- Time of India
‘Secondary pollutants a serious health risk'
Kolkata: A new study by Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) revealed that nearly one-third of Kolkata's PM2.5 pollution is caused by secondary pollutants — invisible particles formed through chemical reactions between gases like sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and ammonia (NH₃). Yet, these critical contributors remain largely overlooked by India's National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), which continues to focus on direct particulate emissions. Secondary pollutants pose serious health risks, penetrating deep into lungs and entering the bloodstream. Prolonged exposure to PM2.5 is linked to heart disease, respiratory illnesses, and premature death. The CREA analysis shows that ammonium sulfate, a secondary pollutant formed in the atmosphere from SO₂ and NH₃, makes up 34% of the PM2.5 mass on an average across Indian cities. In Kolkata, ammonium sulfate concentrations reach 21.7 µg/m³, placing it among the top five NCAP cities most affected by this pollutant, alongside Patna, Muzaffarpur, Howrah, and Varanasi. "We are ignoring one-third of the problem. Unless we address the gases forming PM2.5, real air quality improvement will remain out of reach," said Manoj Kumar, analyst at CREA. Secondary pollutants differ from primary pollutants in that they form in the atmosphere through chemical reactions, making them harder to trace and regulate. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Reimagining Modern Workspaces Starts With Smarter Monitors CRN UK Learn More Undo Because they are transboundary in nature, their impact is felt far beyond state and city borders. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata CREA's study finds that 114 out of 130 NCAP cities had ammonium sulfate contributing more than 30% to PM2.5 levels. Cities like Jodhpur, Rajkot, and Srinagar were among the few where the contribution was below 25%. The nationwide average ammonium sulfate concentration is 11.9 µg/m³ and the maximum recorded is 22.5 µg/m³ in Patna. In areas near coal-fired thermal power plants, concentrations of ammonium sulfate are 2.5 times higher than in distant regions. CREA found that SO₂ emissions from these plants are the single largest driver, accounting for over 60% of India's SO₂ output. Despite the overwhelming evidence, the study finds, NCAP continues to focus largely on PM10, while PM2.5 — finer, more toxic, and deadlier — gets inadequate attention. Secondary particles like ammonium nitrate also add significantly to the burden, with secondary pollutants forming up to 50% of PM2.5 mass in some areas. CREA recommends NCAP and city-level clean air plans expand focus to PM2.5 and its precursor gases, mandate flue gas desulfurisation in thermal power plants to cut SO₂, regulate ammonia sources, and ensure compliance with emission standards. "Without this, tackling secondary PM2.5 will stay a challenge," Kumar said.
Time of India
2 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Ammonium sulfate contributes to one-third of Faridabad's PM2.5 pollution
Gurgaon: Ammonium sulfate is responsible for a staggering one-third of Faridabad's PM2.5 concentration, according to a study by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), which underlined the need for National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) to take a closer look at the secondary pollutant. Ammonium sulfate forms insidiously in the atmosphere through chemical reactions between sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and ammonia (NH₃). CREA's analysis reveals that this pollutant, averaging 19.76 µg/m³ out of a total PM2.5 level of 58.28 µg/m³ of Faridabad mean data, is prevalent across nearly all NCAP cities, irrespective of their proximity to major emission sources, therefore showing the need for a unified national strategy. NCAP primarily targets PM10. However, PM2.5 poses great danger to human health, its smaller size allowing it to penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream. The health impacts are severe, ranging from increased risk of premature death, nonfatal heart attacks, irregular heartbeat, aggravated asthma, decreased lung function, and even lung cancer. Faridabad's designation as the sole 'non-attainment' city in Haryana under the NCAP highlights its consistent failure to meet National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Thị trường có dấu hiệu suy thoái không? IC Markets Đăng ký Undo These precursor gases are commonly spewed from coal-fired thermal power plants, agricultural fertiliser use and livestock waste — sources that often extend far beyond city limits. You Can Also Check: Gurgaon AQI | Weather in Gurgaon | Bank Holidays in Gurgaon | Public Holidays in Gurgaon The new study further highlights the complex challenges cities are facing. The transboundary nature of ammonium sulfate pollution means that local emission controls, while necessary, are insufficient on their own. A comprehensive, national approach is imperative to tackle this pervasive and deadly component of India's air pollution crisis, ensuring cleaner air for all its citizens. "To make real progress, NCAP must evolve to include targeted measures for reducing secondary pollutants," said Manoj Kumar, an analyst at CREA, adding that city and state-level clean air action plans must explicitly tackle major sources of precursor gases. Kumar also emphasised the importance of source-specific strategies, such as installing flue-gas desulfurisation units in coal-fired power plants to reduce sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions, promoting efficient fertiliser management to curb ammonia release and ensuring strict compliance with existing emission norms across all polluting sectors. The study serves as a wake-up call for policymakers to recalibrate India's clean air strategy, shifting focus from just visible dust to invisible but deadly chemical reactions that are silently poisoning the air. "In addition to ammonium sulfate, other secondary pollutants like ammonium nitrate also contribute significantly to PM2.5 mass. In fact, secondary particles can account for up to 50% of total PM2.5 mass, according to an IIT study which triggered our analysis. The IIT study found that even beyond 200km of a thermal plant, sulfate concentrations were found," he added. Experts also pointed out that the air pollution crisis in cities like Faridabad might not improve until the govt takes all parameters into account. "The dominance of ammonium sulfate in Faridabad's PM2.5 profile is a stark reminder that India's air pollution crisis is no longer just about visible smoke or dust. It's about invisible chemical transformations driven by coal and fertiliser emissions. Without a strategic shift to tackle secondary pollutants and precursor gases, cities like Faridabad will continue to choke under a haze that knows no boundaries," said Shubhansh Tiwari, a research associate at Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). "We recognise the growing complexity of air pollution in Faridabad, especially the role of secondary pollutants like ammonium sulfate. We are factoring in results of the recent source apportionment study to expand our monitoring network to better understand and tackle these emerging challenges," said an HSPCB official. NCAP is an initiative launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in Jan 2019. Its primary goal is to improve air quality in 131 cities across India, known as non-attainment cities and million-plus cities. The programme aims at achieving a 20-30% reduction in particulate matter concentrations by 2024, using 2017 as the base year. Recently, the target was updated to a 40% reduction by 2026.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
2 NSO surveys to map tourism trends from July 1
Lucknow: To understand how people spend on tourism and how they travel, the National Statistical Office (NSO) will conduct two surveys from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. These are the Domestic Tourism Expenditure Survey (DTES) and the National Household Travel Survey (NHTS). The DTES will collect information about how much people spend on tourism, while the NHTS will study how people travel—like which transport they use, why they travel and how often. These surveys will help govt make better tourism and transport policies and create special data tools like the Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) and Origin-Destination Matrix (OD) for ministries such as tourism and railways. To train officers for these surveys, a three-day Regional Training Camp (RTC) began on Wednesday and was inaugurated by Manoj Kumar, director (DDG), zone and Suchita Gupta, director, SCRO Lucknow. Suchita said the DTES is part of the NSS and will help build the TSA, which matches global standards and supports the Ministry of Tourism in giving data to international organisations like UNWTO. Director Mohammad Tayyab highlighted the need to collect good quality data and follow proper methods. He encouraged officers to stay alert and careful during the work.
India.com
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
Released 65 years ago, this blockbuster of Manoj Kumar beat Sholay, saved Dilip Kumar's career, film is...
When a filmmaker becomes his own leading man and reignites another legend's career, cinema witnesses a rare revolution. That revolution was Kranti . Manoj Kumar, originally an actor, began his cinematic journey with humble beginnings. Though he debuted before, stardom truly knocked on his door with the 1965 patriotic hit Shaheed . From there, he became Bollywood's face of nationalism, crafting narratives soaked in social values and love for the motherland. But Manoj didn't stop at acting. He turned director with Upkar in 1967—a film that set the tone for his signature style: patriotic, emotionally charged, and deeply rooted in Indian values. Hits like Poorab Aur Paschim and Roti Kapda Aur Makaan followed. Yet it was Kranti , released in 1981, that emerged as his cinematic landmark. With a stellar cast that included Shashi Kapoor, Hema Malini, Parveen Babi, Shatrughan Sinha, and himself, Manoj Kumar pulled off what few filmmakers could. But the biggest headline? Kranti marked the return of the legendary Dilip Kumar—after a five-year hiatus and a decade without a major hit. 'Kranti was the turning point for Dilip Sahab,' film buffs still recall. He had been away from the limelight since films like Aadmi and Sangharsh underperformed. But Kranti brought him back with thunderous applause and reminded the industry why he was once called the 'Tragedy King'. At the box office, Kranti didn't just succeed—it dominated. Earning Rs 20 crore in the early '80s was no small feat. The film overtook even giants like Sholay and Mother India . Though Sholay reclaimed its crown during its re-release, Kranti had already left a cultural footprint. Such was the craze, that merchandise flooded the markets— Kranti -branded t-shirts, jackets, even underwear. Rare for its time, the film became a pop-cultural wave. While Dilip Kumar had once ruled the '50s and '60s, it was Kranti that repositioned him in the cinematic map of the 1980s, where he ended up giving some of the decade's top-grossing films, surpassing even Amitabh Bachchan in box office pull for a brief time. Manoj Kumar directed a revolution, but it was Dilip Kumar who roared back as its voice.
Economic Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
Plans to make mutual fund rules more investor and industry friendly: Sebi official
SEBI is overhauling mutual fund regulations to be more investor-friendly and boost industry growth, according to Executive Director Manoj Kumar. The aim is to simplify existing rules and adapt to evolving investor needs. SEBI is also reviewing scheme categorization and has introduced a new product category, SIF, for larger investments. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) is undertaking a comprehensive review of mutual fund regulations to make them more investor-centric and industry-friendly, a senior official said on Saturday."We are reviewing the entire mutual fund regulatory framework to enhance ease of doing business for all stakeholders, including the regulator," SEBI executive director Manoj Kumar said at the 17th Mutual Fund Summit organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) regulations governing the sector are among the lengthiest and require simplification to keep pace with evolving investor needs and industry innovations, stakeholders said."The process has started and soon we will come out with draft regulations for feedback and consultation process before it is finalised," Kumar said without giving any timeline for the rollout of the new outlined the regulator's strategic roadmap to strengthen India's securities market, with mutual funds positioned as a critical pillar in fostering inclusive financial growth and investor protection.A consultation paper on regulations which governs advisory functions in mutual funds is also in the the event, Kumar said India has undergone major market transformations under SEBI's include the shift to an electronic trading ecosystem in 1998, followed by achieving 100 per cent dematerialisation of shares, making India the only jurisdiction globally to do so."The third transformation is unfolding now through the mutual fund revolution," he said, calling it a cornerstone of SEBI's "optimum regulation" approach, one that seeks balance among the interests of the regulator, the industry, and India's mutual fund industry has crossed Rs 72 lakh-crore in AUM and monthly SIP contributions have touched Rs 28,000 crore, the investor base remains limited to just five crore in a population of 140 crore, Kumar pointed is also actively reviewing scheme categorisation norms to make them more intuitive for investors, while ensuring all offerings remain "true to label" to prevent offer wider choice to investors, SEBI has approved a new product category, referred to as SIF, aimed at investors with ticket sizes between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 50 funds were selected to manage these products given their established governance and handling of retail SEBI has opened faster registration windows for Portfolio Management Services (PMS) and Alternative Investment Funds (AIF) with similar industry concerns over stress test disclosures for mid- and small-cap funds, Kumar reaffirmed SEBI's disclosure-based regulatory model, stressing that informed investors are central to market he acknowledged that some disclosure requirements may seem burdensome, he assured stakeholders that SEBI remains open to feedback and streamlining urged the industry to avoid situations that warrant regulatory intervention, saying, "Our goal is not to disrupt but to allow business to thrive."Highlighting the untapped potential in eastern India, Kumar said SEBI views West Bengal and the Northeast as strategic regions for mutual fund expansion, underscoring the need for targeted penetration this vision, AMFI chief executive V N Chalasani said India is transitioning from financial inclusion to financial well-being, where saving smartly and investing wisely will enable sustainable wealth cited the exponential growth of mutual funds post-2017, following SEBI's investor education mandate, which helped expand the investor base and improve financial Chalasani pointed out that India's mutual fund AUM still forms only about 20 per cent of GDP, compared to a global average of 65 per stressed the need for deeper financial literacy, especially in Tier 3 and 4 cities, where AMFI is focusing through school and university programmes, distributor expansion via India Post, and new product innovations aimed at mid-income investors."Every Indian can evolve from a saver to an investor and ultimately a wealth creator," he said, calling for sustained collaboration between regulators, industry, educators and investors to build an empowered, financially resilient India. PTI
