https://smogandsoot.com/2026-08-18https://smogandsoot.com/share-home.svg https://smogandsoot.com/news/supreme-court-upholds-centre/2026-08-18https://smogandsoot.com/share-supreme-court-upholds-centre.svgSupreme Court Upholds Centre's Power to Notify Post-Facto ClearanceThe Supreme Court has struck down the central government's 2021 Office Memorandum on post facto environmental clearances, but stated that the central government can frame statutory amnesty schemes... https://smogandsoot.com/news/clues-how-animals-evolved/2026-08-18https://smogandsoot.com/share-clues-how-animals-evolved.svgNew Clues into How Animals Evolved an Internal Compass to Navigate EarthScientists have made new discoveries about how animals evolved an internal compass to navigate the Earth, but the origins of this ability remain elusive. (Source: Mongabay India) https://smogandsoot.com/news/assam-activist-detention-sparks/2026-08-18https://smogandsoot.com/share-assam-activist-detention-sparks.svgAssam Activist's Detention Sparks Widespread CondemnationRights groups condemn the detention of Assam-based environmental and Indigenous rights activist Pranab Doley under the National Security Act, calling it a clear attempt to punish and vilify activists... https://smogandsoot.com/news/heatwaves-lightning-recognized-national/2026-08-18https://smogandsoot.com/share-heatwaves-lightning-recognized-national.svgHeatwaves and Lightning Recognized as National Disasters in IndiaThe Indian government has officially recognized heatwaves and lightning as national disasters, making them eligible for relief under the State and National Disaster Response Funds. https://smogandsoot.com/news/indian-peafowl-expanding-range/2026-08-17https://smogandsoot.com/share-indian-peafowl-expanding-range.svgIndian Peafowl's Expanding Range Sparks Conflict with Farmers in Eastern HimalayasThe Indian peafowl, a national symbol and protected species, is causing significant agricultural damage in the eastern Himalayas, exacerbating tensions between farmers and conservationists. https://smogandsoot.com/news/india-online-ornamental-plant/2026-08-17https://smogandsoot.com/share-india-online-ornamental-plant.svgIndia's Online Ornamental Plant Trade May Be an Overlooked Pathway for Invasive SpeciesA new study has found that a majority of ornamental plants sold online in India are alien species, many of which are known to be invasive or naturalised in other countries. (Source: Mongabay India) https://smogandsoot.com/news/mine-closures-india-complex/2026-08-17https://smogandsoot.com/share-mine-closures-india-complex.svgMine Closures in India: A Complex TransitionIndia's mine-closure framework has expanded in recent years, but challenges remain in implementing scientific closure and ecological restoration. Local communities are often unaware of developments... https://smogandsoot.com/news/herders-quitting-occupation-threatens/2026-08-17https://smogandsoot.com/share-herders-quitting-occupation-threatens.svgHerders Quitting Occupation Threatens Human-Tiger Coexistence in Kanha-Pench CorridorHerders play a vital role in mediating between villages and the forest department in the Kanha-Pench corridor, but many are quitting due to low wages, loss of pastures, and the risk of being attacked... https://smogandsoot.com/news/tourism-human-disturbance-linked-e27606/2026-08-17https://smogandsoot.com/share-tourism-human-disturbance-linked-e27606.svgTourism and Human Disturbance Linked to Elevated Stress in India's TigersA study across five tiger reserves in India reveals that tigers exposed to higher levels of tourism and human disturbance exhibit elevated stress hormone levels. Female tigers appear to prefer less... https://smogandsoot.com/news/assam-floods-expose-crisis-39a5da/2026-08-17https://smogandsoot.com/share-assam-floods-expose-crisis-39a5da.svgAssam Floods Expose a Crisis Beyond Heavy RainThe recent floods in Assam and Nagaland have left a trail of destruction, with over 100 people reported dead and thousands displaced. While heavy rainfall is being cited as a primary cause... https://smogandsoot.com/news/himalayan-pheasants-face-mounting-e75726/2026-08-17https://smogandsoot.com/share-himalayan-pheasants-face-mounting-e75726.svgHimalayan Pheasants Face Mounting Human PressureA study on the white-crested kalij pheasant in the northwestern Himalayas has identified habitat degradation, hunting, and human disturbance as major threats to the species. The findings serve as an... https://smogandsoot.com/news/western-ghats-states-odds-4c3220/2026-08-17https://smogandsoot.com/share-western-ghats-states-odds-4c3220.svgWestern Ghats States at Odds Over Eco-Sensitive Areas NotificationThe Union Environment Ministry has released a new draft notification defining Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA) across 56,825 sq km of the Western Ghats, but states including Kerala and Goa continue... https://smogandsoot.com/news/nine-anchor-species-could-94f623/2026-08-16https://smogandsoot.com/share-nine-anchor-species-could-94f623.svgNine Anchor Species Could Boost India’s Biodiversity and Climate GoalsNew research identifies nine key species whose habitat conservation could protect over 700 vertebrates and 1.1 gigatonnes of carbon in India, offering a pathway to meet biodiversity and climate... https://smogandsoot.com/news/carbon-market-bets-invasive-fe7b24/2026-08-16https://smogandsoot.com/share-carbon-market-bets-invasive-fe7b24.svgThe Carbon Market Bets on an Invasive TreeBig companies are paying to convert invasive trees in India into charcoal-like substances to solve climate change, but the process raises several questions about its effectiveness and impact on local... https://smogandsoot.com/news/free-ranging-dogs-threaten-8387ab/2026-08-16https://smogandsoot.com/share-free-ranging-dogs-threaten-8387ab.svgFree-ranging dogs threaten livelihoods in Spiti's agro-pastoral landscapeA new study finds that free-ranging domestic dogs are a growing threat to livestock in Himachal Pradesh's Upper Spiti, with many herders considering them a greater risk than traditional predators. https://smogandsoot.com/news/india-bats-ecological-guardians-48d7f3/2026-08-16https://smogandsoot.com/share-india-bats-ecological-guardians-48d7f3.svgIndia's Bats: Ecological Guardians Under ThreatIndia's diverse bat species play vital roles in pest control, pollination, and seed dispersal, yet face declining populations due to habitat loss, persecution, and wind turbine collisions. With only... https://smogandsoot.com/news/shrinking-shola-grasslands-threaten-a28158/2026-08-16https://smogandsoot.com/share-shrinking-shola-grasslands-threaten-a28158.svgShrinking shola grasslands threaten bird connectivity in the Western GhatsA new study of the high-elevation shola sky islands shows that loss of native grasslands and the spread of exotic woodlands are restricting movement for endemic birds, especially the... https://smogandsoot.com/news/divergent-climate-rankings-highlight-5a19aa/2026-08-16https://smogandsoot.com/share-divergent-climate-rankings-highlight-5a19aa.svgDivergent Climate Rankings Highlight Ethical Choices Behind India's ScoresIndia’s low placement in the 2026 Environmental Performance Index and its high ranking in the Climate Change Performance Index expose how differing ethical assumptions-total emissions versus... https://smogandsoot.com/news/declining-breeding-population-arunachali-ad50a6/2026-08-16https://smogandsoot.com/share-declining-breeding-population-arunachali-ad50a6.svgDeclining Breeding Population of Arunachali Mithun Raises Conservation ConcernsA recent genetic study on the Arunachali mithun has revealed a declining breeding population, highlighting the need for informed breeding decisions and conservation efforts. (Source: Mongabay India) https://smogandsoot.com/news/invasive-species-impact-severe-ed0e16/2026-08-16https://smogandsoot.com/share-invasive-species-impact-severe-ed0e16.svgInvasive Species Impact More Severe in Global South, Study FindsA recent study published in the Science journal challenges the notion that the impacts of invasive alien species are greatest in wealthy countries of the Global North. (Source: Mongabay India) https://smogandsoot.com/air/2026-08-18 https://smogandsoot.com/health-policy/2026-08-18 https://smogandsoot.com/about/ https://smogandsoot.com/sources-and-methods/ https://smogandsoot.com/corrections/