News in Shorts: 21 February 2026

Maharashtra’s First Net Zero Village: Bela Gram

Context: During Mumbai Climate Week 2026, Bela Gram in Maharashtra was highlighted as the State’s first net-zero village driven by panchayat-led climate action.

• Bela Gram also won the 2024 Rashtriya Panchayat Puraskar.

About Net Zero Village

A net-zero village balances greenhouse gas emissions with equivalent reductions or offsets through renewable energy, afforestation, sustainable livelihoods, and community-driven climate governance.

Factors Making Bela Gram a Net-Zero Village

• Community-Led Afforestation: The Gram Panchayat planted over 90,000 trees during weddings and festivals, enhancing carbon sequestration and community participation.
• Clean Energy Transition: Households shifted from traditional smoky chulhas to LPG, reducing indoor air pollution and carbon emissions.
• Solar Energy Adoption: Solar panels were installed in homes, anganwadis, and Panchayat offices, promoting decentralised renewable energy generation.
• Waste Management Reforms: Doorstep waste segregation and elimination of single-use plastics strengthened sustainable waste practices.
• Water and Livelihood Sustainability: Climate-resilient measures supported ecological balance, biodiversity conservation, and long-term rural livelihoods.

Significance

• Model of Grassroots Climate Governance: Bela Gram demonstrates that Panchayati Raj Institutions can lead decentralised and participatory climate action.
• Replicable Rural Sustainability Framework: The village provides a scalable template for integrating renewable energy, afforestation, and waste management at the local level.
• Contribution to National Climate Goals: Bela Gram’s achievement supports India’s commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2070, announced at COP26 under the five-point Panchamrit strategy, by translating national climate pledges into measurable grassroots action.

Mumbai Climate Week (MCW)

• MCW is first-of-its-kind, citizen-led climate action initiative in India, designed to accelerate climate solutions specifically for the Global South.
• The inaugural edition was held from February 17–19, 2026, at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai

Zinc-Ion Batteries

Context: Indian researchers have created a new cathode material that could make zinc-based batteries a viable option for storing renewable energy on a large scale.

What are Zinc-Ion Batteries?

• Zinc-Ion Batteries are rechargeable batteries that use zinc metal (Zn) as the anode and Zn²⁺ ions as charge carriers.
• They usually employ an aqueous (water-based) electrolyte, making them safer than lithium-ion batteries.
• During discharge, zinc oxidizes (Zn → Zn²⁺ + 2e⁻) and releases electrons; during charging, zinc ions deposit back onto the anode.
• Key Components: 
  • Anode: Metallic zinc
  • Cathode: Materials like manganese dioxide (MnO₂), vanadium oxides, or Prussian blue analogues
  • Electrolyte: Aqueous zinc salt solution (e.g., ZnSO₄)
• Major Advantages: 
  • Exceptional Safety: Non-flammable aqueous electrolytes eliminate fire/explosion risks (unlike lithium-ion’s organic electrolytes).
  • Very Low Cost: Zinc is abundant, cheap, non-toxic, and widely recycled.
  • Eco-Friendly: Low environmental impact, no rare/critical metals (e.g., no cobalt/lithium dependency), and easier recycling.
  • High Ionic Conductivity: Aqueous electrolytes enable fast ion transport and ambient manufacturing.
  • Best Suited For: Stationary/grid-scale storage, solar/wind integration, and applications prioritizing safety and cost over ultra-high energy density..
• Challenges: 
• • Zinc Anode Issues: Dendrite growth (risk of short circuits), corrosion, passivation which causes reduced efficiency and cycle life
  • Cathode Limitations: Structural instability, dissolution (e.g., in MnO₂ or V-based materials), poor Zn²⁺ diffusion/kinetics causing capacity issues.
  • Overall Performance: Lower energy density compared to lithium-ion batteries

New Cathode Material for Zinc-Ion Batteries

• Discovery By: at the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS) in Bengaluru, an autonomous institute under India’s Department of Science and Technology.
• Cathode Material: A material called “sulfur vacancy-induced 1T-phase Molybdenum Disulfide (1T-MoS₂)”. 
• Key features: This metallic 1T-phase material includes intentional sulfur deficiencies (vacancies).
• Synthesis method: A controlled hydrothermal process produces nanoflakes with high surface area and improved electrical conductivity.
• Efficiency:  The fabricated zinc-ion battery  retained 97.91% of its initial capacity after 500 continuous charge-discharge cycles.
  • The device also exhibited a Coulombic efficiency of 99.7%, indicating highly reversible zinc-ion insertion.
• Benefits: These properties enable faster electrochemical reactions, better zinc-ion diffusion, and higher charge storage capacity.

El-Fasher, Sudan

Context: The UN’s independent fact-finding mission on Sudan said that the siege and capture of El-Fasher by a paramilitary group bore “the hallmarks of genocide”.

About El-Fasher

• Location: El Fasher is a major city in western Sudan, serving as the capital of North Darfur state in the Darfur region.
• Civil War: El Fasher has been at the center of Sudan’s ongoing civil war (since April 2023) between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
• Genocide: In 2024-25 the RSF imposed an 18-month siege on the city, trapping an estimated 260,000 civilians.
  • The siege involved blocking food, water, medical supplies, and humanitarian aid, leading to starvation, disease outbreaks, famine conditions, and widespread suffering.
• According to the recent report by the UN the genocide particularly targeted non-Arab ethnic groups like the Zaghawa and Fur communities.
• Strategic Importance: The city’s location gives the RSF full access to vital supply lines.

Vibrant Village Programme Phase-II

Context: Recently, the Union Government expanded the Vibrant Village Programme Phase-II to cover 1,954 villages along India’s western and eastern international borders.

About Vibrant Village Programme Phase-II (VVP-II)

• VVP-II is a Central Sector Scheme aimed at comprehensive development of strategic villages along international land borders, excluding those covered under the northern border phase.
• Targeted Villages: The scheme covers 1,954 villages across 15 States and 2 Union Territories bordering Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Myanmar.
• Financial Outlay and Duration: Approved in 2025 with an outlay of ₹6,839 crore, the programme will be implemented till financial year 2028–29, with ₹3 crore proposed per village.
• Objectives: The scheme seeks to strengthen infrastructure, saturate welfare schemes, enhance livelihoods, promote national integration, and reduce vulnerability to trans-border crimes and migration.

About Vibrant Village Programme (VVP-I)

• VVP-I was launched in 2023 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for villages along the northern border adjoining China.
• Implementing Ministry: Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
• Allocation: ₹4,800 crore (including ₹2,500 crore for roads).
• Duration: FY 2022-23 to 2025-26.
• Targeted Villages: The first phase focused on select villages in blocks along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
• • It was implemented in 662 border villages across 46 blocks in Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, and Ladakh.
• Core Objectives: The programme aims to provide all-weather road connectivity, telecom and television access, electrification through convergence of schemes, and improved socio-economic conditions.

Significance

• Strengthening Border Security: Development reduces migration and discourages illicit cross-border activities by integrating residents as partners in border management.
• Promoting Inclusive Growth: The programme ensures that remote border regions participate in national development and benefit from infrastructure and livelihood opportunities.
• Enhancing National Integration: By fostering trust between border communities and security forces, VVP reinforces social cohesion and internal security.

Diego Garcia

Context: Recently, US President Donald Trump warned the U.K. against leasing Diego Garcia to Mauritius, citing its strategic importance amid potential U.S. military action against Iran.

• The 2019 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice termed its separation from Mauritius unlawful and a 2025 UK–Mauritius treaty proposes sovereignty transfer with base retention under lease.

About Diego Garcia

• Diego Garcia is a coral atoll in the central Indian Ocean, about 1,800 km south of India, forming the largest island of the Chagos Archipelago.
• Landform & Ecology: A horseshoe-shaped atoll enclosing a 19 km lagoon, featuring flat terrain, coral reefs, rich marine biodiversity, and proximity to the equator influencing a tropical maritime climate.
• Administrative Status: Administered by the United Kingdom as part of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), with restricted civilian access and governed directly by a UK-appointed commissioner.
  • It is currently inhabited by around 2,500 U.S. and U.K. military personnel and contractors, with no permanent civilian population after Chagossian displacement.
• Historical Evolution: Detached from Mauritius in 1965 to form BIOT, followed by relocation of Chagossians (1968–73) to facilitate establishment of a U.S. military base.
• Military Infrastructure: Hosts Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia with a 3.7 km runway, deep-water port, logistics hubs, satellite tracking, and pre-positioned military equipment.
• Strategic Significance: Located near key sea lanes linking the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, enabling rapid force projection, surveillance, and refueling operations across the Indo-Pacific.

IEA State of Energy Innovation 2026

Context: Recently, the International Energy Agency released the State of Energy Innovation 2026, highlighting geopolitics-driven clean energy competition.

About IEA State of Energy Innovation 2026

• The report assesses global trends in clean energy research, technology deployment, financing, and policy frameworks shaping the energy transition.

Key Findings of the 2026 Report

• Geopolitical Drive: Many policies launched in 2025 by major economies prioritize technological leadership and supply chain security (e.g., US Genesis Mission, EU Competitiveness Fund).
• Active Ecosystem: Over 320 new energy start-ups raised first-round funding in 2025, and energy-related patents continue to rise, constituting 1 in 10 global patents.
• Battery Dominance: Energy storage (batteries) constitutes an unprecedented 40% of energy patents.
• The “Valley of Death” Persists: Despite innovation, funding gaps remain between prototypes and commercial-scale deployment for new technologies.
• Funding Dip: Public energy R&D spending is estimated to have dropped by 2% in 2025 to USD 55 billion, and VC investment shrank for the third consecutive year. 

Technology Focus Areas as per the Report  (2025–2026)

• Nuclear Fusion: Major milestones were achieved in 2025 in Germany, the UK, China, France, and the US.
• Perovskite Solar: Reached 33% efficiency, showing potential to expand the PV market.
• Grid Technologies: The report highlights a critical need for grid-enhancing technologies (e.g., solid-state transformers, long-duration energy storage) to improve resilience.
• Emerging Areas: Carbon dioxide removal, critical minerals, next-generation geothermal, and low-emissions industrial production are gaining traction.

About the International Energy Agency (IEA)

• The IEA is an autonomous intergovernmental organisation established to promote reliable, affordable, and clean energy worldwide.
• Members: It comprises 32 member countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Japan, and Canada, along with 13 association countries including India.
• Role and Functions: The IEA provides policy recommendations, data analysis, technology roadmaps, and emergency response coordination for global energy security and transition.

India and the IEA

• Association Country Status: India is an association country, engaging closely with the IEA on energy data, policy dialogue, and transition pathways.
• Energy Transition Goals: India aims to achieve 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030 while balancing energy security and development priorities.
• Strategic Focus Areas: The report recommends India strengthen public R&D, secure critical mineral supply chains, and accelerate grid and clean technology deployment

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