-The Economic Times Uttarakhand has been rated top in the Planning Commission's green ranking based on quality of air and water, waste management, forest cover and climate change. The panel lists Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Sikkim and Andhra Pradesh as the other top four states on its Environmental Performance Index, which will serve as a measure of a state's green initiative and be linked to financial assistance from the Centre. The index was prepared...

Since early November, Delhi and large parts of North India have been enveloped in a thick, grey smog, sparking concerns and a debate on what is leading to the rising levels of air pollution. A January 2012 paper by Ridhima Gupta from the Indian Statistical Institute, Delhi is drawing linkages between the quality of air in the capital and agricultural practices during harvest season on farms in the neighbouring state...

-The Hindustan Times There is a nip in the air even though winter is yet to arrive in full force in Delhi. The Capital, however, is choking with winter smog due to a heavier pollution load. The levels of respirable particulate matter (PM10) have surged 47% and nitrogen dioxide levels have increased 57%. The current levels of fine particulates are four to six times higher than the acceptable limit. Along with...

-The Indian Express 207 HRS and Counting Met warns of dense smog starting Nov 12, says not seen since 1989 After 207 hours of smog cover, the city saw clear sky when the afternoon sun returned on Thursday. But the worst of the fog spell, which leads to smog formation, is yet to come, the weatherman claims. The maximum total fog hours in November was in 2008, when there were three spells of...

-NDTV Over-ruling the objections of India's defence forces, the government has said that 4500 canteens in the Navy, Air Force and Army will be reviewed by the national auditor CAG. The canteen's run by the armed forces qualify as the biggest retail chain of the country which serve all serving and retired personnel of the three services. At the top of the chain are the 34 outlet of the Canteen and Stores...