Government Updates: Key Points from the Daily Press Information Bureau (18-07-2025)
In a groundbreaking development, scientists at the S.N. Bose Centre for Basic Sciences (SNBCBS) have created a novel method to produce hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) directly from sunlight and water using an advanced photocatalyst called Mo-DHTA COF. This breakthrough marks a pivotal step towards cleaner, low-cost, and greener chemical synthesis and could revolutionise the industrial production of hydrogen peroxide and other green chemicals.
The photocatalyst integrates dimolybdenum units with α-hydroquinone linkers, forming a stable, high-performance framework. Under visible light, it generates excitons that drive oxygen reduction to produce hydrogen peroxide. Compared to traditional photocatalysts, Mo-DHTA COF exhibits excellent structural stability and recyclability, and improves catalytic activity, charge separation, and electron mobility.
This new photocatalyst demonstrates high photocatalytic efficiency even in pure water and organic solvents, making it a versatile tool for various applications, including pharmaceuticals & healthcare, environmental remediation, materials & energy science, and water splitting, CO2 reduction, and synthesis of value-added chemicals.
Meanwhile, the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) has been conducting a five-year study at a high-altitude site in Nainital, shedding light on the greenhouse gas levels in the Central Himalayas. Both natural processes like photosynthesis and human activities, such as biomass burning and agriculture, influence these levels in the region.
Long-term trends indicate that carbon dioxide and methane levels are rising steadily, faster than at Mauna Loa (a global background monitoring site), highlighting the growing human impact. The diurnal cycle shows that carbon dioxide is lowest during the day due to plants absorbing it, while methane and carbon monoxide peak during daytime from mountain wind transport of pollutants from lower altitudes. Seasonal variations show that carbon dioxide peaks in spring due to biomass burning and low vegetation, methane peaks in autumn, linked to agriculture, and carbon monoxide peaks in late spring due to regional pollution.
The findings provide valuable, localized information to policymakers and scientists, aiding climate mitigation strategies and policy decisions in South Asia's changing climate scenario. Greenhouse gas concentrations in the Central Himalayas are higher than at other remote sites but lower than urban areas, indicating effects from both local and distant pollution sources. Carbon monoxide levels, however, are gradually declining, possibly due to cleaner combustion and changing emission sources.
On the other side of India, the Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 Awards, India’s flagship urban cleanliness initiative, recognised several cities for their achievements in sanitation and cleanliness management. Indore, Surat, and Navi Mumbai maintained their leadership by securing the top three positions respectively in the newly introduced "Super Swachh League," which recognises cities with sustained excellence in cleanliness. Vijayawada ranked fourth in this category.
A total of 78 awards were conferred across various categories, including cities, cantonments, and institutions. The survey classified cities into five tiers by population size to ensure fair evaluation and recognition tailored to city sizes. Chandigarh secured second place in the Super Swachh League for cities with populations between 3-10 lakh, achieving 100% scores in several key cleanliness parameters while noting room for improvement in source segregation (currently at 14%).
The 2024-25 edition emphasised the theme "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle," aligning with sustainable urban cleanliness goals under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban. The results dashboard was digitally launched, providing an interactive overview of rankings and achievements, enhancing transparency and public engagement. Special recognitions were given to cities, institutions, and individuals for their outstanding contributions to cleanliness and sanitation management.
These achievements collectively illustrate significant advancements in urban sanitation in India, with increasing emphasis on sustained performance, inclusivity across city sizes, worker safety, and tackling large-scale event sanitation challenges.
- The groundbreaking photocatalyst developed by scientists at SNBCBS, known as Mo-DHTA COF, has potential applications in environmental remediation, utilizing its ability to produce hydrogen peroxide directly from sunlight and water.
- In the realm of science and technology, the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) is conducting a study on greenhouse gas levels in the Central Himalayas, contributing valuable information to climate mitigation strategies in South Asia.
- As part of India's commitment to sustainability, the Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 Awards recognized several cities for their achievements in sanitation and cleanliness management, emphasizing the theme "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban.
- Additionally, education and self-development are vital components of this initiative, with the results dashboard from the Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 Awards providing an interactive overview, enhancing transparency and public engagement.
- Although the Mo-DHTA COF photocatalyst exhibits excellent structural stability and recyclability, its high performance could have significant impacts on other sectors, such as finance, business, and lifestyle, by potentially reducing production costs of chemicals and contributing to cleaner technologies.
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