India’s First National Cooperative University

 The Lok Sabha recently passed the Tribhuvan Sahkari University Bill, 2025, marking step in cooperative education in India. This initiative aims to establish the country’s first national cooperative university at the Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA) in Gujarat. The university is designed to enhance education, research, and training in the cooperative sector nationwide.

Purpose and Structure of the University

The Tribhuvan Sahkari University will serve as a hub for cooperative training. It will register cooperative training institutes across all states as affiliated colleges. The university will offer degree, diploma, and PhD courses. It is projected that around 800,000 individuals will receive certification annually.

Historical Context and Significance

The university is named after Tribhuvandas Kishibhai Patel, a pioneer of the cooperative movement in India and the founder of Amul. The cooperative model initiated by Patel transformed the dairy industry, boosting rural economies. Amul’s journey from a small cooperative to a leading dairy brand exemplifies the potential of cooperative societies.

Economic Impact and Job Creation

The establishment of the university is expected to create job opportunities. Currently, many cooperative leaders tend to hire from their own circles. The university will provide formal education in cooperative management, enhancing the skills of individuals in this sector. This initiative aims to develop a robust cooperative model that will strengthen the rural economy.

Funding and Future Plans

The government plans to infuse ₹10,000 crore into the cooperative dairy sector. This funding will promote a circular economy, facilitating the provision of resources like fodder and veterinary services. Plans also include the establishment of a cooperative insurance company and the introduction of ‘Sahkar Taxi’, which will operate similarly to ride-sharing services.

Challenges and Criticisms

Some opposition members questioned the decision to establish the university in Gujarat, suggesting other states with strong cooperative structures should have been considered. Concerns were raised about the potential bureaucratic challenges that could hinder the university’s effectiveness and accountability.

Broader Implications for Cooperatives

The new university will address the inadequacies in the current cooperative education and training framework. It aims to unify 284 training institutes and expand long-term cooperative courses. The establishment is expected to enhance the capacity of existing centres and create a comprehensive system for cooperative education.

Vision for the Cooperative Sector

The Tribhuvan Sahkari University is aligned with the government’s vision of ‘Sahkar Se Samriddhi’, aiming to boost rural economies and create valuable career opportunities in sectors like dairy, fisheries, and banking. It seeks to establish centres of excellence in cooperative education and training.

Microlightning’s Role in Origin of Life

 Recent studies have reignited interest in how life began on Earth. Traditionally, the Miller-Urey hypothesis suggested that lightning strikes on primordial oceans created the necessary organic compounds for life. However, new research indicates that crashing waterfalls and breaking waves may have played important role in generating these compounds through a process involving water sprays.

Miller-Urey Hypothesis

• The Miller-Urey experiment conducted in 1952 by Stanley Miller and Harold Urey is a mainstay of abiogenesis theory.
• They demonstrated that organic molecules could form from inorganic precursors when exposed to electrical energy.
• Their experiment simulated early Earth conditions, using a mixture of water, methane, ammonia, and hydrogen.
• The results yielded amino acids, essential building blocks of life.
• Despite its significance, the hypothesis faced criticism regarding the frequency and effectiveness of lightning strikes in real-world scenarios.

New Findings on Water Sprays

A new research at Stanford University challenges the lightning-centric view. The study published in *Science Advances* posits that water sprays can generate organic compounds without the need for external electricity. When water droplets collide, they acquire opposite charges, leading to tiny sparks termed “microlightning.” This process occurs naturally in various environments, suggesting that water sprays could have been ubiquitous on early Earth.

Microlightning Mechanism

The mechanism of microlightning is crucial to understanding this new perspective. Larger water droplets become positively charged while smaller droplets carry a negative charge. As these droplets approach each other, the resulting electrical discharges can facilitate chemical reactions. In experiments, spraying water into a gas mixture produced organic compounds like hydrogen cyanide, glycine, and uracil.

Implications for Abiogenesis

These findings have implications for theories of abiogenesis. The idea that water sprays could have been a primary source of organic compounds offers a more plausible scenario for the emergence of life. Unlike lightning, which is sporadic, water sprays would have been a constant feature of the early Earth’s environment. This research provides a fresh perspective on the conditions necessary for life to begin.

Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction 2024-2025

 In 2024, the building and construction sector’s emissions did not increase for the first time since 2020. This milestone was reported by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction. Despite this progress, the sector still accounts for over a third of global emissions. The Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction 2024-2025, released on March 17, 2025, indicates that decarbonisation efforts are beginning to yield results.

Current Emission Trends

The building sector’s emissions stabilised in 2024. This marks a very important shift in a sector that has long been a substantial contributor to climate change. The energy intensity of buildings decreased by nearly 10 per cent. Additionally, the proportion of renewable energy in final energy demand rose by about 5 per cent.

Importance of Policy Implementation

The report emphasises the urgent need for ambitious energy codes. Almost half of the world’s future buildings are yet to be constructed. Therefore, implementing strong energy policies is crucial. Currently, over 50 per cent of new buildings in emerging and developing economies lack such regulations.

Key Measures for Decarbonisation

The adoption of zero-carbon building energy codes is essential. Major carbon-emitting countries should implement these codes by 2028. All other nations are encouraged to follow suit by 2035. This measure is critical for achieving global climate objectives.

Financial Investments Required

Investment in building energy efficiency must increase . The sector needs to double its investments from $270 billion to $522 billion by 2030. This funding is vital for implementing measures such as circular construction practices, green leases, and energy-efficient retrofitting.

Challenges in Material Use

Construction materials like cement and steel contribute to emissions. They account for 18 per cent of global emissions and generate substantial waste. Addressing these challenges is necessary for reducing the sector’s environmental impact.

Workforce Development Needs

The building sector faces skill shortages. Workforce development programmes are essential to equip workers with the necessary skills for a sustainable future.

How ‘microlightning’ in water droplets may have sparked life on Earth

 

A new study adds another angle to the much-disputed Miller-Urey hypothesis, which argues that life on the planet emerged from a lightning strike. The analysis says that water sprays are sufficient for generating organic compounds, without requiring electricity from external sources

How life began on Earth has been a long-standing mystery, but according to a study the process could have been kicked off simply with crashing waterfalls and breaking waves that would have thrown up mists of water.

The findings add another angle to the much-disputed Miller-Urey hypothesis, which argues that life on the planet emerged from a lightning strike. They were described in the study, ‘Spraying of water microdroplets forms luminescence and causes chemical reactions in surrounding gas’, which was published in the journal Science Advances last week.

What is the Miller-Urey hypothesis?

The Earth formed around 4.6 billion years ago. For a few billion years afterwards, it had a rich mixture of chemicals but almost no organic molecules with carbon-nitrogen bonds. These bonds are crucial for proteins, enzymes, nucleic acids, chlorophyll, and other compounds that makeup living beings today.

In 1952, American chemist Stanley Miller and physicist Harold Urey performed an experiment in which they successfully demonstrated that the organic compounds (such as amino acids) needed for life could form with the application of electricity to a mixture of water and inorganic gases. Put simply, the two scientists showed that a lightning bolt struck the ocean, triggering chemical interaction with gases such as methane, ammonia, and hydrogen that created organic molecules.

The experiment was considered a landmark at the time as it gave one of the possible explanations for how life could have found its first foothold on Earth. However, in the following years, many scientists raised doubts about the experiment, saying “real lightning would have struck infrequently — and mostly in open ocean, where organic compounds would have quickly dispersed,” according to a report by Scientific American.

And what did the new study find?

According to the new study, water spray is sufficient to generate organic compounds without the requirement of external electricity. Stanford University chemist Richard Zare, who led the analysis, told Scientific American, “Unlike lightning… water sprays are everywhere”. Zare and his team showed that when water droplets divide, they develop opposing charges. While larger droplets have positive charges, smaller ones carry negative ones. When these oppositely charged droplets move close together, tiny sparks leap between them. This process, called “microlightning” by the researchers, imitates how lightning forms in clouds. As a result, when Zare and his team sprayed water into a mixture of nitrogen, methane, carbon dioxide and ammonia, it led to the formation of organic compounds, including hydrogen cyanide, glycine, and uracil. According to the researchers, the findings showed that it was not necessarily that lightning strikes may have kick-started life on Earth. Tiny sparks due to crashing waves or waterfalls may have done the job. “On early Earth, there were water sprays all over the place – into crevices or against rocks, and they can accumulate and create this chemical reaction… I think this overcomes many of the problems people have with the Miller-Urey hypothesis,” said Zare in a statement.

Written by Alind Chauhan

Source: Indian Express, 18/03/25

Decline in Rural to Urban Migration in India

 Recent data from a study titled ‘400 Million Dreams!’ by the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) indicates decline in rural to urban migration in India. The report reveals a reduction of 5.4 million migrants, or 11.8 per cent, compared to 2011. This decline is attributed to various factors, including improved government services and better economic opportunities in rural areas.

Migration Trends Over the Years

The migration rate in India has decreased from 37.6 per cent in 2011 to 28.9 per cent in 2023. The number of workers migrating for economic reasons has fallen to 5 million, representing only 6.7 per cent of the workforce. This is a notable drop from 8.2 per cent in 1991 and 2001, and 9.3 per cent in 2011. The workforce has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.8 per cent, while migration decreased at -1 per cent.

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Factors Influencing Migration Decline

The study suggests that improved government services, such as education and health, along with better infrastructure and connectivity, have contributed to the decline in migration. However, the reality of this assertion is questionable, as data shows a decrease in labour movement despite these improvements.

Evidence from Transport Data

Using railway ticket data, the report marks a 6.7 per cent decline in post-pandemic migration during peak months. Additionally, bus travel has seen a 16 per cent decline since FY11. The number of non-suburban railway passengers has also decreased, indicating a contraction in economic migration.

Urban-Rural Remittance Patterns

The report analyses savings account to current account (SA/CA) ratios to assess urban-rural remittances. Higher SA/CA ratios indicate areas with outbound migration, while lower ratios reflect high economic activity. Major cities like Mumbai and Delhi have lower ratios, suggesting greater economic activity compared to rural areas like Bihar, which has a high ratio of 10.14.

Rural Infrastructure and Migration

The claim that rural electrification has reduced migration is debated. Historical data shows minimal increases in electrification since FY01. The pace of rural housing construction under the PM Awaas Yojna-Gramin has also been modest, suggesting that improved infrastructure has not impacted migration trends.

Economic Slowdown and Migration

The report indicates that the decline in migration reflects a rising ruralisation trend rather than urbanisation. The dependence on agriculture has increased, leading to disguised unemployment and flat rural wages. The slowdown in economic activities and rising automation have contributed to this trend.

1. The EAC-PM is a key advisory body for India’s economic policy.
2. Bihar’s high SA/CA ratio indicates lower economic activity.
3. The PM Awaas Yojna-Gramin aimed to improve rural housing.
4. The contraction in migration has resulted in rural labour oversupply.
5. Urbanisation previously drove migration during India’s economic liberalisation.
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Implications for Future Policies

The contraction in migration suggests a need for policies that support rural incomes through fiscal measures or employment-generating programmes. The stagnation in worker movement across various transport modes indicates a broader economic challenge that requires targeted interventions to stimulate growth and migration.