Abhinandan Sah

  India’s Forest Achievements (GFRA 2025) Global Forest Area Ranking: 9th position globally, up from 10th in the previous assessment. Total forest area: Approximately 72.74 million hectares , constituting about 2% of the world's total forests . ( The Better India ) Annual Forest Gain Ranking: Maintains 3rd position globally in annual net forest gain. Annual net gain: Approximately 191,000 hectares per year between 2015 and 2025. ( ThePrint ) Key Qualitative Highlights Forest Quality Improvement: Significant growth in the 'very dense forest' category, expanding by 22.7% over the decade from 2010-11 to 2021-22. ( The Times of India ) Community Engagement: Programs like Van Dhan Yojana and Joint Forest Management have empowered local communities in forest conservation and livelihood generation. ( Insights IAS ) State-Level Initiatives: States like Gujarat have seen notable increases in tree cover outside forest areas, contributing to the overall green cover. ( The Ti...

Empowering MSMEs to Lead India’s ESG Transformation ( MSME's Role in sustainability ) Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are the heartbeat of India’s economy — contributing nearly 30% to GDP and employing millions. But beyond numbers, MSMEs hold the key to accelerating India’s ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance) targets — if they consciously align business operations with sustainability and ethics. Here’s how MSMEs can expand their role: 🌱 Environmental Responsibility Adopt energy-efficient technologies and waste management systems . Explore renewable energy sources like solar for operations. Partner with suppliers and vendors who follow green procurement standards. Participate in government-led carbon neutrality and clean manufacturing programs. 🤝 Social Impact Promote inclusive employment , especially for women, rural youth, and marginalized communities. Create safe and healthy workplaces with fair wages and skill development initiatives. Engage with l...

Connection between the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and ESG Framework 1. ESG in Context ESG stands for Environmental, Social, and Governance , a framework for evaluating a company’s sustainability and ethical impact. E (Environment): Pollution control, waste management, resource efficiency, emissions, etc. S (Social): Employee welfare, community health, social responsibility. G (Governance): Compliance, ethical conduct, transparency, and accountability. A. “Environmental” Aspect – Direct Link 1. Pollution Control = Core Environmental Compliance The Water Act, 1974 directly governs the E in ESG. It ensures industries: Do not pollute natural water bodies , Treat sewage and effluents before discharge, Maintain consent under Sections 25 and 26 for any effluent release. Thus, a company’s ESG performance on environmental metrics depends on its adherence to this Act. 2. Water Management & Resource Use Efficient use and recycling of water reduce the envi...