The 2025 Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) has revealed a stark reality. It said no country has met all the criteria for a top overall rating. As a result, the top three positions on the list remain vacant.

“No country performs well enough in all index categories to achieve an overall very high rating. The first three overall positions, therefore, remain empty,” the CCPI report stated.

The report added that the high-ranking countries must continue to intensify their actions to help limit global warming to well below 2°C, with 1.5°C as the ideal target.

GHG Emissions, Renewable Energy, Energy Use and Climate Policy are the four areas in which the effectiveness of climate mitigation was evaluated.

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Denmark leads the pack as the highest-ranked country, holding the 4th position with an overall score of 78.37. The nation does well, particularly in renewable energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions management, while achieving a moderate rating in energy consumption.

The Netherlands and the United Kingdom hold 5th and 6th on the list, respectively.

Meanwhile, the bottom 10 countries in the 2025 CCPI include the Islamic Republic of Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, with scores ranging from 17.47 to 39.23.

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India’s ranking

India secured the 10th spot in this year’s CCPI rankings, marking a slight drop from previous years but maintaining its status among the better performers globally.

According to the report, the country scores high in greenhouse gas emissions and energy use, medium in climate policy, but low in renewable energy.

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It also stated that India has made strong strides in expanding renewable energy, particularly solar power. Large-scale solar projects and the Rooftop Solar Scheme have seen progress, alongside growing adoption of electric vehicles, especially two-wheelers.

But coal remains a major energy source, stated the report, with India among the top holders of coal reserves and planning increased production.

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Even UK among top performers

The report stated that it assesses 63 countries and the EU, “which together account for over 90% of global greenhouse gas emissions.”

While India and the UK are among the few G20 nations on track with relatively low per capita emissions, other major emitters such as China (ranked 55), the United States (ranked 57), Canada (ranked 62), and the United Arab Emirates (ranked 65) lag.

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According to the report, the United Kingdom has significantly improved its position, rising to 6th place in the current CCPI rankings. The UK scores high in greenhouse gas emissions and energy use, holds a medium rating in climate policy, but ranks low in renewable energy.

The top and bottom 10 countries in the 2025 Climate Change Performance Index

Top 10:

First three position remain vacant.

4th: Denmark – 78.37

5th: Netherlands – 69.6

6th: United Kingdom – 69.29

7th: Philippines – 68.41

8th: Morocco – 68.32

9th: Norway – 68.21

10th: India – 67.99

Bottom 10:

67th: Islamic Republic of Iran – 17.47

66th: Saudi Arabia – 18.15

65th: United Arab Emirates – 19.54

64th: Russian Federation – 23.54

63rd: Republic of Korea – 26.42

62nd: Canada – 28.37

61st: Kazakhstan – 33.43

60th: Chinese Taipei – 34.87

59th: Argentina – 35.96

58th: Japan – 39.23

The findings underline the urgent need for more ambitious and effective climate policies worldwide, particularly from the largest emitters.

A man, who moved back to India last year after spending about six years in Canada, is finding it difficult to adjust. The 31-year-old said living in Canada “offered structure, opportunity and independence”, but in India, he is “struggling to find meaningful or quality work” and it feels “frustrating”. The man, currently living in Dehradun with his parents, took to social media to share his pain and also asked internet users for tips to “improve quality of life” in India.

In a Reddit post, the man revealed that he is originally from Delhi, and went to Canada for work and study. He moved back to India in 2024 to be closer to his family for some personal reasons.

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“While I really value being close to my family again and, of course, enjoying the food, almost everything else feels… off,” he said in the post.

He said he doesn’t have a social circle anymore, as most of his friends are abroad or settled elsewhere. He said he is struggling to find meaningful or quality work, especially remote or well-paying roles that match his background.

He also said that he feels demotivated and finds it difficult to stay active. He doesn’t enjoy the weather or lifestyle and said that the “lack of civic sense, general chaos, and everyday inconveniences are exhausting”.

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“I feel like I’m stuck between two worlds: one that feels familiar but frustrating, and another (Canada) that was lonelier at times but offered structure, opportunity, and independence,” he wrote.

The post went viral, with online users reacting with their own experiences. One user said, “Give it some time. I came back after 15 years from the US. It took about 1.5 years for me to adjust.”

“Made a similar move last year. Give yourself time. Remember why you moved & be kind to your family coz sometimes you will feel bad that you had to move coz of them,” another user said.

“You adjust the same way you adjusted to Canada when you moved there. It’s just that the adjustment phase came easy and effortlessly since you were probably excited to live a western lifestyle as an NRI,” one user said.

One user suggested, “Join a gym.”

The 8th Pay Commission, approved by the Union Cabinet, is set to roll out on January 1, 2026, bringing significant changes to the salary structure, allowances, and pensions of central government employees in India. This initiative aims to address inflation, economic shifts, and the evolving needs of government officers.

The commission’s mandate includes compensation, pensions, and welfare measures to align with current economic realities and improve the quality of life for both employees and retirees. Key highlights include a proposed Fitment Factor of 2.28, potentially increasing the minimum wage by 34.1%. The Dearness Allowance (DA), projected to reach 70% by January 2026, will be merged into the base salary for revised calculations.

The 8th Pay Commission could benefit approximately 48.62 lakh employees and 67.85 lakh pensioners, with estimated salary revisions ranging from Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000. The official website for updates is https://dopt.gov.in/. The minimum pension is also expected to rise significantly, potentially reaching Rs 20,500.

Pay Commissions are typically formed around 18 months before implementation to allow sufficient time for reviews and recommendations. A salary calculator is available to estimate revised salaries based on the new commission’s guidelines.

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Here’s a step-by-step guide to calculating your estimated gross salary under the 8th Pay Commission:

Step 1: Identify Your Current Basic Pay: Determine your current basic pay according to the 7th Pay Commission’s pay scale.

Step 2: Calculate Revised Basic Pay:

Revised Basic Pay = Current Basic Pay x Fitment Factor (3.0)

Step 3: Calculate Dearness Allowance (DA): DA is a percentage of your revised basic pay.

DA = Revised Basic Pay × 0.50

Step 4: Calculate House Rent Allowance (HRA):

HRA is a percentage of your revised basic pay and varies depending on your city:

* Metro cities: 27%

* Tier-2 cities: 20%

* Tier-3 cities: 10%

HRA = Revised Basic Pay x City Percentage

Step 5: Add Travel Allowance (TA):

Your TA depends on your employee level and city classification. (Consult official guidelines for your specific TA amount.)

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Step 6: Calculate Gross Salary:

Gross Salary = Revised Basic Pay + DA + HRA + TA – Standard Deduction

8th Pay Commission Fitment Factor

Throughout the history of pay commissions, significant changes in pay, fitment factors, and minimum basic salaries have been observed.

The 4th Pay Commission saw a 27.6% hike with a minimum basic salary of Rs.750.

The 5th Pay Commission provided a 31% hike and a minimum basic salary of Rs 2,550.

The 6th Pay Commission introduced a fitment factor of 1.86 with a 54% hike, setting the minimum basic salary at Rs.7000.

The 7th Pay Commission brought a 14.29% hike and a fitment factor of 2.57, resulting in a minimum basic salary of Rs.18,000.

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The 8th Pay Commission is expected to bring a 20% hike, a fitment factor of 3.00, and a minimum basic salary of Rs.21,600.

In a groundbreaking scientific achievement, Indian scientists have successfully demonstrated quantum entanglement-based free-space secure communication over a distance of more than one kilometre via an optical link. The development, made possible by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)-Industry-Academia Centre of Excellence (DIA-CoE), IIT Delhi, has ushered in a new quantum era in the country.

The experiment achieved a secure key rate of 240 bits per second with a low error rate. This was not just a simulation; it was done in real-world conditions, showcasing the practical viability of quantum communication alongside traditional data transmission.

“This entanglement-assisted quantum secure communication paves the way for real-time applications in quantum cyber security, including long-distance Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), the development of quantum networks, and the future quantum internet,” the Ministry of Defence stated.

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also congratulated DRDO and IIT-Delhi for the achievement, showcasing India’s rapid advancements in the field, “which will be game changer in future warfare”.

Notably, the project ‘Design and development of photonic technologies for free space QKD’ was sanctioned by the Directorate of Futuristic Technology Management (DFTM), DRDO, while Prof Bhaskar Kanseri’s research team demonstrated the test.

A breakthrough has been achieved by demonstrating quantum entanglement based communication in an experimental setup through DRDO-Industry-Academia Centre of Excellence (DIA-CoE), IIT Delhi. The free-space quantum secure communication using quantum entanglement over a distance of… — DRDO (@DRDO_India) June 16, 2025

What is quantum entanglement?

In simple terms, quantum communication involves sending information from one place to another using something called “quantum entanglement”. Think of quantum entanglement like an invisible twin connection where two particles, even if miles apart, are linked in a way that what happens to one instantly affects the other. Unlike sending a physical object, you are sending the state or condition of a particle.

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Benefits of quantum communication

Unbreakable encryption makes it a dual-use technology with applications in securing data in strategic sectors such as defence, finance, and telecommunications.

Protecting national security-related communications.

Free-space QKD eliminates the need to lay optical fibres, making it less expensive.

Can be deployed in challenging terrains and dense urban environments.

Previous breakthroughs

Last year, in another DRDO-supported project, the scientists successfully distributed quantum keys using entanglement over a 100 km spool of telecom-grade optical fibre. Meanwhile, in 2022, the country’s first intercity quantum communication link between Vindhyachal and Prayagraj was established using commercial-grade underground dark optical fibre.

India is well-positioned to deal with the negative effects of US tariffs and global trade disruptions as domestic growth drivers and low dependence on exports anchor the economy, Moody’s Ratings said on Wednesday.

In a note on India, the agency said government initiatives to boost private consumption, expand manufacturing capacity and increase infrastructure spending will help offset the weakening outlook for global demand.

Easing inflation offers the potential for interest rate cuts to further support the economy, even as the banking sector’s liquidity facilitates lending.

“India is better positioned than many other emerging markets to deal with US tariffs and global trade disruptions, helped by robust internal growth drivers, a sizable domestic economy and a low dependence on goods trade,” Moody’s said.

Besides, the Pakistan-India tensions, including the flare-up earlier in May, would weigh on Pakistan’s growth more than on India’s.

“In a scenario of sustained escalation in localised tensions, we do not expect major disruptions to India’s economic activity because it has minimal economic relations with Pakistan. Moreover, the parts of India that produce most of its agricultural and industrial output are geographically distant from the conflict zones,” Moody’s said.

However, higher defense spending would potentially weigh on India’s fiscal strength and slow its fiscal consolidation.

The central government’s infrastructure spending supports GDP growth, while personal income tax cuts bolster consumption.

India’s limited reliance on the trade of goods and its robust service sector are mitigants to US tariffs. Nonetheless, sectors such as autos, which have some exports to the US, face global trade challenges despite their diversified operations.

Moody’s had earlier this month lowered its economic growth projections for the 2025 calendar year to 6.3 per cent, from 6.7 per cent, but its growth rate will be the highest among G-20 economies.

In early April, the US administration announced and then paused for 90 days the implementation of sweeping, country-specific tariffs on trading partners.

It maintained a base tariff of 10 per cent, with exemptions for some sectors and higher tariffs imposed previously for other sectors, including steel and aluminium.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)