Reference:

• The “State of India’s Environment in Figures 2025” report has been jointly released by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and Down To Earth (DTE).

Objective:

• A data-driven analysis of India’s environmental, climate, health, agriculture, energy, and socio-economic status.

Methodology:

• Analysis of 36 States and Union Territories based on 48 indicators.

Key Highlights:

1. Ranking of States and Union Territories (Based on 48 Indicators):

• Andhra Pradesh: Tops in forest and biodiversity conservation, but weak in sewage treatment and river pollution control.
• Sikkim: Leads in organic farming and land use, but lags in farmer welfare.
• Goa: Performs well in public health and infrastructure, but lacks hospital beds and shows poor female labor force participation.
• Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal: These large states rank low across categories, reflecting major challenges in environmental management, agriculture, and public health.

2. Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events:

• 2024 was the hottest year on record in India, with 25 states witnessing the highest monthly rainfall in 123 years.
• Around 3,500 deaths were reported in 2024 due to extreme weather events (floods, heatwaves, landslides, etc.).
• About 4.07 million hectares of crop area were damaged — the highest in the last three years.
• Climate disasters caused 5.44 million internal displacements in 2024.

3. Forest Land Diversion and Biodiversity:

• In 2023–24, 29,000 hectares of forest land were diverted for non-forest activities — the highest in a decade and 66% more than the previous year.
• From 2014–15 to 2023–24, a total of 1,73,397 hectares of forest land was diverted — more than the entire forest area of Haryana.
• Diversions were mainly for roads, mining, power, irrigation, railways, and hydropower projects.
• As a result, human-wildlife conflicts (e.g., human-elephant conflict) have increased.

4. Water Crisis and Groundwater Depletion:

• 16 states are overexploiting their groundwater resources, raising future water scarcity concerns.
• The quality of both surface and groundwater remains a major concern.

5. Energy and Fisheries Production:

• Thermal power generation rose from 7,92,053 GWh in 2013–14 to 13,26,549 GWh in 2023–24.
• Renewable energy generation grew from 65,520 GWh in 2013–14 to 2,25,835 GWh in 2023–24 — a threefold increase.
• Inland fisheries production increased from 6.136 million tonnes in 2013–14 to 13.907 million tonnes in 2023–24.

6. Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions:

• India’s share in global GHG emissions stood at 7.8% in 2023, the highest since 1970.

7. Waste Management and Pollution:

• Plastic pollution is a major environmental and economic burden for India and the world, with an estimated annual cost of USD 300–600 billion.
• The data on waste management, air, and water pollution is alarming and calls for urgent action.