National Green Hydrogen Mission Strengthens India–Japan Clean Energy Partnership

Context: In a significant milestone under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), ACME Cleantech Solutions Private Limited signed long-term agreements with Japanese companies for the export of Green Ammonia and Green Methanol under the National Green Hydrogen Mission.

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• ACME Group signed an agreement with IHI Corporation to supply 4,05,000 tonnes per annum (405 kTPA) of Green Ammonia and a 10-year agreement with Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc. for the supply of 1,00,000 tonnes per annum (100 kTPA) of Green Methanol from its Paradip facility.
• The company has been allocated a production capacity of 3,70,000 tonnes per annum (370 kTPA) under the Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) Programme, which provides production incentives through a transparent bidding process conducted by the Solar Energy Corporation of India.
• The Green Ammonia agreement is supported by Japan's Contract for Difference (CfD) scheme, while the Green Methanol project is designed to meet European Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBO) requirements and International Maritime Organization (IMO) standards for cleaner marine fuels.

About the National Green Hydrogen Mission

• Launch: Approved in January 2023with a financial outlay of ₹19,744 crore under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
• Objective: Position India as a global hub for the production, utilisation and export of Green Hydrogen and its derivatives while supporting energy independence by 2047 and Net Zero emissions by 2070.
• Targets by 2030: Production capacity of 5 million metric tonnes of Green Hydrogen annually,
  • addition of 125 GW of renewable energy capacity,
  • mobilisation of over ₹8 lakh crore in investments,
  • creation of more than 6 lakh jobs,
  • reduction of fossil fuel imports worth over ₹1 lakh crore,
  • and annual abatement of nearly 50 million metric tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.
• Key Features: Supports production through the SIGHT Programme, promotes research and development, facilitates renewable energy integration, and aims to make India a major exporter of Green Hydrogen and its derivatives.

3rd Global Conclave on Plastic Recycling and Sustainability (GCPRS 2026)

Context: The 3rd Global Conclave on Plastics Recycling and Sustainability (GCPRS 2026) was held from July 2–5, 2026, at the Bharat Mandapam (Pragati Maidan) in New Delhi, to promote circular economy practices and sustainable plastic recycling.

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• During the inaugural session, the government stressed alignment with the proposed UN Global Plastics Treaty, adoption of advanced recycling technologies, and greater collaboration among industry, academia and waste collectors.
• The event featured an international exhibition and conference on plastic recycling technologies, circular economy, biodegradable plastics and sustainable waste management, with participation from over 400 exhibitors and 50,000 business visitors.

About the Global Conclave on Plastic Recycling and Sustainability (GCPRS)

• Nature: India's premier international conclave and exhibition dedicated to plastic recycling, circular economy and sustainability.
• Organisers: Jointly organised by the All-India Plastics Manufacturers' Association (AIPMA) and the Chemicals & Petrochemicals Manufacturers' Association (CPMA) with support from the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals.
• Objective: Promote sustainable plastic production and recycling, encourage innovation, reduce plastic pollution and strengthen the circular economy.
• Platform: Brings together policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, startups, technology providers, investors and academia to exchange knowledge and develop collaborative solutions.
• Key Components: International exhibition on recycling machinery, waste management technologies, biodegradable and compostable plastics, along with technical conferences on recycling technologies, policy frameworks and circular economy.
• Focus Areas: Advanced mechanical and chemical recycling, design-for-recycling, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), resource efficiency, value addition, and integration of informal waste collectors into the formal recycling ecosystem.
• Significance: Supports India's transition towards a resource-efficient plastics sector, promotes technology adoption and innovation, enhances global competitiveness of the recycling industry, and contributes to environmental sustainability and responsible waste management.

South North Commission on Development

Context: The South North Commission on Development was launched during the Hamburg Sustainability Conference (HSC) 2026 to strengthen cooperation between the Global South and Global North and shape the global development agenda beyond 2030.

About the South North Commission on Development

• Launch: Established during the Hamburg Sustainability Conference 2026 in Hamburg, Germany.
• Co-Chairs: Former German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and former President of Costa Rica Laura Chinchilla.
• Composition: An independent body of around 20 commissioners from politics, business, labour, academia, international organisations and civil society, with a majority representing the Global South.
• Need: Constituted amid growing challenges to the rules-based multilateral order, rising debt burdens, climate change, trade tensions and increasing demand for greater representation of the Global South in global governance.
• Objective: Redefine North-South cooperation by moving beyond the traditional donor-recipient model and promoting an equitable partnership between the Global South and Global North.
• Key Mandate: Recommend reforms for a more inclusive, representative and effective international order and provide inputs for the post-2030 global development agenda succeeding the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Focus Areas: Development finance, sovereign debt, climate change, trade, industrialisation, conflict, critical minerals, artificial intelligence, and reform of multilateral institutions.
• Working Principles: Operates on equality through joint agenda-setting and decision-making by representatives of both the Global South and North, supported by regional consultations across Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America.
• Legacy: Builds upon the Brandt Commission (1977), which highlighted the North-South development divide and called for greater international cooperation.
• Timeline: The Commission will submit an interim report in 2027 and a final report by the end of 2028, with its recommendations expected to guide future global development and cooperation frameworks.

Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee

Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee on his 125th birth anniversary (6 July 2026), remembering his contributions to nation-building, education, industrial development and national integration.

About Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee

• Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee was born on 6 July 1901 in Kolkata to Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee, the eminent educationist, jurist and former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calcutta.
• He became the youngest Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calcutta in 1934 at the age of 33 and played an important role in strengthening higher education in India.
• During the Partition period, he strongly advocated that large parts of Bengal should remain within the Indian Union, thus contributing to the formation of present-day West Bengal.
• After Independence, he served as Minister for Industry and Supply in India's first Cabinet under Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and contributed to the country's early industrial development.
• He resigned from the Union Cabinet in 1950 over differences regarding the Nehru–Liaquat Pact.
• In 1951, he founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, which emerged as an important political force in post-independence India.
• He strongly advocated national integration and opposed the system of separate permits for entry into Jammu & Kashmir.
• Dr. Mookerjee passed away on 23 June 1953 while under detention in Jammu & Kashmir.

Legacy

• Dr. Mookerjee is remembered as a distinguished educationist, parliamentarian and nationalist leader who left a lasting impact on India's political and intellectual life.
• His contributions to higher education, industrial development and public policy helped shape the foundations of independent India.
• Through the establishment of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, he played a significant role in the evolution of India's democratic and political landscape.
• His commitment to national unity and territorial integration continues to be widely remembered and commemorated.

Centre Names 23 JeM, LeT Operatives as Terrorists

Context: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) designated 23 individuals linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and affiliated terror networks as terrorists under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA).

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• The designated individuals are accused of involvement in terror recruitment, infiltration, training, financing, radicalisation and logistical support for attacks targeting India.
• Several of them are wanted by Indian investigative agencies in connection with major terrorism-related cases.
• The list includes operatives associated with JeM, LeT and affiliated organisations, including individuals linked to cross-border terror networks and attacks in Jammu & Kashmir.
• With these additions, the number of individuals designated as terrorists under the UAPA has increased to 80.

About Designation of Individuals as Terrorists under UAPA

• The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA) is India's principal anti-terror legislation.
• The UAPA (Amendment) Act, 2019 empowered the Central Government to designate individuals, in addition to organisations, as terrorists.
• Such individuals are added to the Fourth Schedule of the Act if the government believes they are involved in terrorism.
• Designation as a terrorist is distinct from a criminal conviction; however, it enables stronger legal measures such as surveillance, restrictions on movement, financial scrutiny and asset-related actions.
• An affected individual may seek removal of their name, and the request is examined by a Review Committee headed by a sitting or retired High Court judge.