India projected to surpass Paris Agreement clean energy commitment
According to a new report from Moody’s, India will likely see the share of non-fossil fuel power generation capacity to 45% by 2022 against a commitment of 40% by the same year.
South Asia
South Asia spans countries including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and their neighbors. This archive gathers progress stories from the region — covering public health, education, climate adaptation, economic inclusion, and more.
Sanitation coverage in India hits 99%, up 60% in 5 years
Three infants die every two minutes in India due to lack of access to adequate water and sanitation services. The Swachh Bharat Mission aims to achieve 100% sanitation by October 2019.
Prices of nearly 400 anti-cancer drugs in India slashed by up to 87%
Hundreds of lifesaving cancer medications will now be available to Indian patients at a much cheaper cost, according to the government’s pharmaceutical department.
Indian soap opera called “I, A Woman, Can Achieve Anything” becomes world’s most watched TV show
The show designed by an NGO to promote sexual health and family planning. It now has over 400 million viewers from over 50 countries.
Indian state of Sikkim is launching the largest basic income experiment in history
Sikkim will provide cash payments to each of its 610,000 citizens — the largest basic income experiment in history.
India plans to add 500 GW of renewable energy capacity within 10 years
India will auction off 40 gigawatts (GW) of solar and wind capacity every year until 2028, part of the country’s goal to produce 40 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030.
Swachh Bharat Mission on track to declare India open defecation free by October 2019
Under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen), over 500,000 villages and 585 districts in India have been declared Open Defecation Free (ODF).
5 million Indian women just made a 385-mile human chain for gender equality
The wall was a statement of gender equality, and a call to end violent protests against women trying to enter Kerala’s Sabarimala temple, a pilgrimage site for Hindus.
India’s Sikkim becomes the first 100% organic state in the world
India’s north-eastern state of Sikkim has won the award for the being the “100 per cent organic state” that promotes agroecological and sustainable food systems.
Pakistani government hires first transgender employee
The Pakistani federal government counts a transgender employee among its work force for the first time.