Latest news with #GauravUpadhyay
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Explained: What a 'Just Transition' means for coal workers, states and financial regulators?
New Delhi: As India accelerates its climate commitments and shifts away from fossil fuels, the question of how to finance a 'Just Transition' — one that supports workers, communities and local economies — has come to the fore. According to a new report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), India must build an inclusive Just Transition (JT) financing ecosystem that brings together ministries, regulators, financial institutions, corporates, and civil society actors. The report, titled Just Transition Financing Ecosystem: Stakeholder Consultation, was released on July 7, 2025, and recommends a phased roadmap — starting from pilot schemes and fiscal incentives in the short term to structural reforms in the long term. What is Just Transition in India's energy context? Just Transition in India refers to an equitable shift away from carbon-intensive sectors like coal, steel, cement, and automotive. It means that those most affected — such as workers in fossil fuel-based industries and vulnerable communities — are not left behind as India builds a greener economy. The IEEFA report notes that while sustainable finance in India is evolving, social priorities like worker reskilling, community resilience, and economic diversification remain underfunded. Who are the stakeholders in Just Transition financing? The report outlines a broad ecosystem of stakeholders. At the top are regulators like the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), which can enable a shift through policies on disclosure, lending norms, and green finance tools such as Priority Sector Lending (PSL) and Sustainability Linked Loans. 'Capital can be mobilised through public and private sources, guided by ministries via blended finance and incentives. Corporates and their supply chains are key to implementation, especially in high-emission sectors,' said Gaurav Upadhyay, Energy Finance Specialist, IEEFA. Financial instruments like Green Deposits and Sovereign Green Bonds could also be modified to include JT-aligned eligibility and impact metrics. What policy support is required? Central ministries such as the Ministry of Finance (MoF), Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Ministry of Power (MoP), and Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) are seen as key actors in setting the policy framework. 'The MoF can embed JT into India's fiscal framework by aligning green taxonomies, allocating resources, and creating a dedicated fund for affected regions and communities,' said Sangeeth Raja Selvaraju, Policy Fellow (India and ASEAN), Grantham Research Institute at LSE. The MoEFCC could help align JT with national environmental policies and leverage programmes like the Green Skill Development Programme and Green Credit Programme. The ministry is also expected to tap into international funding like the Green Climate Fund for nature-based and community resilience solutions. What's the role of SEBI and RBI? SEBI's Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR) framework and its ESG-linked product regulations could play a role, the report says. 'For instance, SEBI has initiated sustainability reporting through BRSR and ESG-linked products, but JT indicators are still missing. Expanding BRSR to include social risk and JT metrics could help channel capital toward companies with credible transition plans,' said Labanya Prakash Jena, co-author and sustainable finance consultant at IEEFA. Are corporates prepared for Just Transition? According to the report, corporates are starting to integrate JT in their business planning, but many face roadblocks. These include high transition costs, limited finance access for MSMEs, and supply chain constraints. Companies are asking for clearer policy guidance, supportive regulation, and structured investor engagement. There's also a growing demand for integrating social inclusion metrics into Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) frameworks. What about state-level readiness? A key gap is at the state level, especially in coal-dependent regions. 'The government must also look to boost state-level engagement, especially in coal-dependent regions, as many states lack the technical capacity to design, finance, or implement JT-aligned programmes,' said Jena. What are the report's recommendations? IEEFA advocates a three-phase approach to institutionalise JT financing: 1. Short term – Pilot schemes, fiscal incentives, and state-level engagement 2. Medium term – Regulatory scaling through integration of JT metrics in finance and ESG 3. Long term – Structural reforms such as dedicated JT funds, blended finance platforms, and community-level inclusion 'Ultimately, a successful JT will require sustained coordination between ministries, regulators, state governments, corporates, and civil society,' Upadhyay said. He added that investing in capacity building, financial innovation, and inclusive planning will help ensure that India's energy transition is not just green, but also equitable.
Mint
23-06-2025
- Mint
Who is IPS officer Gaurav Upadhyay accused of assaulting 14-yr-old in Assam? ‘Force to kiss, touched private parts'
An Assam-based Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, Gaurav Upadhyay, has been accused of molesting a minor. A special court in Assam recently ordered the framing of charges under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and other sections of the IPC against Upadhyay in the six-year-old case. The incident, involving a 14-year-old girl, took place in December 2019, news agency PTI reported. A police case was registered in January 2020. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) probed the case and submitted its chargesheet against the IPS officer subsequently. In its order, the special court said that there were "two incidents of sexual assault on the survivor" by the accused, who was the superintendent of police of Assam's Karbi Anglong at the time of the incident. "The first assault occurred in the SP Bungalow at Diphu [town in Assam]. The second assault took place in the hotel room where the survivor was staying with her mother and brother," the court was quoted by news agency PTI as saying. The judge noted that as Upadhyay was the Karbi Anglong SP at the time of the incident, it occurred within the limits of his jurisdiction and control as a police officer, attracting clauses (i) and (l) of Section 9 of the POCSO Act and punishable under Section 10 of the same law. The court's order reportedly stated that the use of "criminal force to kiss" the victim and "physical contact and advances" by touching her private parts — as stated specifically by the minor in her statement — leads to charges under Sections 354 and 354A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). "In the circumstances, charges under Section 10 of the POCSO Act and Sections 354, 354A of the IPC are hereby framed," the special judge ruled. Section 10 of the POCSO Act deals with the punishment for aggravated sexual assault, while Sections 354 and 354A of IPC are for offences related to assault or criminal force on a woman with the intent to outrage her modesty or sexual harassment Gaurav Upadhyay is an IPS officer of 2012 batch. He hails from Uttar Pradesh. As per his LinkedIn profile, Upadhyay "transitioned into the Indian Police Service borne on Assam-Meghalaya Cadre" in 2012 and "served as Superintendent of Police in four challenging districts, overseeing Crime Detection and Prevention, managing Law and Order, Logistics etc." Upadhyay is currently the additional secretary of the state Transport Department; State Project Director, Assam Inland Water Transport Development Society; and Project Officer, Assam Integrated River Basin Management. Gaurav Upadhyay said in his LinkedIn profile that he also has an extensive experience in the Information Technology sector. "Holding a in Information Technology and an MBA in IT and Marketing from the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, he possesses a solid foundation in both technical and managerial domains," the profile read. It added, "Over a span of nearly six years in IT Multinationals such as IBM, Black Box Corporation, and Dimension Data, he excelled in roles involving account management, market segment analysis, and business development across northern India."
Indian Express
21-06-2025
- Indian Express
Assam court frames charges against IPS officer in 2019 sexual harassment case
A Special Court in Assam's Karbi Anglong recently framed charges under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and for sexual harassment against IPS officer Gaurav Upadhyay in a six-year-old case from the time when he was the Superintendent of Police (SP) of the district. In an order issued on June 18, R. Lal., the Special Judge, POCSO of Karbi Anglong framed charges under section 354 and 354A of the Indian Penal Code – provisions that pertain to criminal force to a woman 'with intent to outrage her modesty' and sexual harassment – and Section 10 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act against Upadhyay and set July 21 as the next date of hearing. On that day, the court is scheduled to inquire whether he pleads guilty or intends to face trial. The incident, involving a minor girl, allegedly took place in 2019 and a police case was registered in January 2020. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had probed the case and subsequently submitted its chargesheet against the IPS officer in 2021. The court has recorded that there are two alleged incidents from 2019. In its order, the court noted that the case has been in the pre-trial for several years. On the June 18 hearing as well, the counsel for the accused had sought directions of the court to call for the investigating officer to produce statements of 13 witnesses not relied upon at the time of submitting the chargesheet. 'The chargesheet is for an offence under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. The legislature has mandated a time-bound completion of trial in such cases. Judicial precedents also direct the trial courts to expedite such cases, placing them on the fastest track possible. It is noted that this case has remained at the pre-trial stage for several years and further adjournment runs the risk of infringing Article 21 of the Constitution, a right available to the victim with equal vigour,' states the order. Upadhyay, is an IPS officer of the 2012 batch. He is currently the additional secretary of the state transport department, the state project director of the Assam Inland Water Transport Development Society, and the project officer of Assam Integrated River Basin Management. Bringing on record the statement of the victim, the court stated, 'The court has perused all relevant materials furnished by the prosecution side, including the statement of the victim. This court has also heard both sides. Based on the materials, there is ground for presuming, under section 288 CRPC, that the accused has committed an offence under Section 10 of the POCSO Act. IT is pertinent to mention here that there were two incidents of sexual assault on the victim. The first assault occurred in SP Bungalow in Diphu. The second assault took place in the hotel room where the victim was staying with her mother and brother'.
