logo
India proposes Alwar's Siliserh Lake as Ramsar site

India proposes Alwar's Siliserh Lake as Ramsar site

Time of India4 days ago
Alwar: Union minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change,
Bhupender Yadav
Thursday proposed that Alwar's renowned Siliserh Lake should be designated as a Ramsar site. Yadav, Lok Sabha MP from Alwar, forwarded the proposal during a meeting with Musonda Mumba, secretary general of Wetland Convention, during Ramsar COP-15, currently underway in Zimbabwe.
Representing India at the event, Yadav underscored the cultural and spiritual significance of Siliserh Lake and said its designation as a Ramsar site would grant Siliserh Lake international recognition as a wetland, enhance conservation efforts, and provide opportunities for sustainable development and international cooperation.
With 91 Ramsar sites, India now has the most number of Ramsar sites in Asia. Recently, Khichan in Rajasthan's Phalodi district, and Menar in Udaipur, were declared Ramsar sites.
India has also proposed the inclusion of Arunachal Pradesh's Glow Lake, Bihar's Gogabil Lake, Gujarat's Chhari Dhand Wetland Reserve, and Gosabara Wetland in the Ramsar list. This increase in Ramsar sites reflects India's commitment to wetland conservation and management. The growth in Ramsar sites, initiatives like 'Amrit Dharohar', and the recognition of wetland cities demonstrate India's emphasis on wetland preservation.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Pahalgam-Operation Sindoor debate: Opposition slams Amit Shah for 'security lapses'
Pahalgam-Operation Sindoor debate: Opposition slams Amit Shah for 'security lapses'

New Indian Express

time27 minutes ago

  • New Indian Express

Pahalgam-Operation Sindoor debate: Opposition slams Amit Shah for 'security lapses'

The Opposition on Monday held Union Home Minister Amit Shah accountable for the security lapses that led to the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam. During a special Lok Sabha debate on the Pahalgam strikes and Operation Sindoor, Congress Deputy Leader Gaurav Gogoi demanded answers from the government on critical national security concerns and questioned the silence surrounding key details. Gogoi called on the government to reveal how many Indian fighter jets were downed during Operation Sindoor, stating, "Each jet costs crores of rupees. The nation deserves to know. Our soldiers are being misled, and the truth must come out. The Defence Minister must clarify." Citing US President Donald Trump's repeated claims that he leveraged trade pressure to broker peace between India and Pakistan, Gogoi asked, "Before whom did Prime Minister Modi surrender? Trump has said it 26 times, we cannot ignore that." He also slammed the government's narrative of military success, questioning the repeated declarations that India "entered and destroyed terror infrastructure" after the Uri and Pulwama attacks. "Now again, after Pahalgam, similar statements are being made. If Operation Sindoor is still incomplete and Pakistan remains a threat, then how is this being projected as a success?" he asked.

More than 31,500 government employees opt for UPS till July 20: Finance Ministry
More than 31,500 government employees opt for UPS till July 20: Finance Ministry

The Hindu

time27 minutes ago

  • The Hindu

More than 31,500 government employees opt for UPS till July 20: Finance Ministry

As many as 31,555 Central Government employees have opted for the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) till July 20, 2025, and the last date to enrol under the scheme is September 30, 2025, the Parliament was informed on Monday (July 28, 2025.) In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said as on July 20, 2025, at least 7,253 claims have been received and out of which 4,978 claims have been processed for payment of benefits under UPS. Editorial | Middle path: On the Unified Pension Scheme From April 1, 2025, the government has introduced UPS as an option under the National Pension System (NPS) for the Central Government employees. The UPS will provide assured payouts to the employees. In reply to a separate question in the House, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said, 'as on July 20, 2025, 31,555 employees have opted UPS.' Further, Ms. Sitharaman said based on the representations from employees and associations, the cut-off date to opt for UPS was extended for a period of three months up to September 30, 2025. Centre finally notifies Unified Pension scheme option for government staff covered by NPS "As per eligibility criteria, there are 25,756 retired Central Government subscribers eligible to receive additional benefits under UPS," Ms. Sitharaman said. 'These eligible subscribers are those Central Government employees who have either superannuated or deceased, or retired under Fundamental Rules 56(j), on or before March 31, 2025, after completing 10 years or more of qualifying service and were covered under NPS,' the Minister said. The government has extended the benefit of 'Retirement gratuity and Death gratuity' under UPS. Further, the government employees who opt for the UPS under NPS shall also be eligible for option for availing benefits under the CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021 or the CCS (Extraordinary Pension) Rules, 2023, in the event of death of the government servant during service or his discharge on the ground of invalidation or disablement. The government has also extended tax benefits to UPS as are available to NPS under the Income Tax Act, 1961. To a question on whether the government proposes to extend such benefits to other pension schemes or sectors in the near future, Ms. Sitharaman said, "UPS has been introduced as an option under National Pension System (NPS) for the employees of Central Government who are covered under the NPS. There is no proposal under consideration to extend such benefits to other pension schemes or sector."

Congress' Gaurav Gogoi tears into govt, asks ‘after Uri, Pahalgam, why was war not our intention?'
Congress' Gaurav Gogoi tears into govt, asks ‘after Uri, Pahalgam, why was war not our intention?'

Mint

time27 minutes ago

  • Mint

Congress' Gaurav Gogoi tears into govt, asks ‘after Uri, Pahalgam, why was war not our intention?'

Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi on Monday slammed the central government during a debate session on Operation Sindoor in the Parliament. Shortly after Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh wrapped up the government's arguments defending the Operation, the Opposition took over the discussion and raised questions over the same. "Rajnath Singh is talking about ghus ke marenge (will hit in your country); this was the same thing they said when Pulwama happened. Rajnath Singh says we dismantled terror infrastructure after Pulwama, Uri. Then how did the terrorists come in Baisaran?" Gogoi asked. 'Even today Rajnath Singh is saying Operation Sindoor has only paused and not stopped. He says if Pakistan attacks again, we will respond. On one hand, they say terror infrastructure has been dismantled and on the other hand, they say terror attack can happen again,' he added. 'Rajnath Singh says the government's intention was not to start a war. I ask, why? Why was war not our intention?' the Congress MP asked. Raising more questions over the government's response to the recurring terrorist attacks in India, Gogoi said, 'Rajnath Singh ji gave a lot of information, but as the Defence Minister, he never mentioned how terrorists from Pakistan reached Pahalgam and killed 26 people. It is our duty to ask these questions in the interest of the nation.' Hitting out the government even further, Gogoi even raised questions on why the five terrorists responsible for the Pahalgam attack had not been caught yet. 'It has been 100 days since the Pahalgam attack took place, but this government has not been able to catch those five terrorists. Today, you have dones, Pegasus, satellites, CRPF, BSF, CISF, and the Defence Minister went there a few days ago, but still you are not able to catch them,' Gogoi said. Gogoi recounted the Pahalgam attack on April 22, when terrorists opened indiscriminate fire at tourists in the Baisaran valley, killing 26 civilians. 'It took almost one hour for an ambulance to reach Baisaran. The Army came on foot. I cannot forget those visuals when a mother and her daughter saw an Indian soldier; they started crying. They thought the terrorist wearing the uniform of a soldier who killed people in Baisaran was waiting for them. That soldier had to say that he was an Indian, and you were safe... This is the kind of terror the people had there. Rajnath Ji, you should have spoken one word on this terror..' the Congress MP added. India paused its action – Operation Sindoor – against terror infrastructure in Pakistan because the predicted political and military objectives were achieved, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told the Parliament on Monday. Defending Operation Sindoor, the defence minister said, 'Saying that this operation was paused under any pressure is baseless and absolutely wrong... In my political life, I have always tried not to speak lies ever...' Rajnath Singh further said that Pakistan admitted defeat and offered to cease hostilities after India launched its Operation Sindoor on May 10, under which the Indian Air Force had struck hard at multiple airfields in Pakistan. (With inputs from ANI and PTI)

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store