On April 22, 2026, the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) commemorated World Earth Day at its headquarters Prithvi Bhavan in New Delhi, organising a high-level convocation around the global theme 'Our Power, Our Planet'. Senior scientists, technical staff and officials collectively administered the Earth Day Pledge, reaffirming their commitment to environmental stewardship and climate justice. The event was graced by Padma Shri Dr Shailesh Nayak, former Secretary of MoES and current Director of the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), who delivered the keynote address calling for equitable sustainability that distributes the burden of climate action between developed and developing economies. Officials emphasised that humans currently consume natural resources 1.8 times faster than the Earth's ecosystems can regenerate, highlighting the urgency of behavioural and policy shifts. Speakers underlined that India remains the only country in the world with a dedicated Ministry of Earth Sciences, reflecting an institutional commitment to planetary stewardship. The Ministry showcased its flagship missions including the Deep Ocean Mission, Mission Mausam, the PRITHVI umbrella programme and the National Polar and Ocean Research Programme, all of which feed into India's Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) and the country's Updated Nationally Determined Contributions submitted in early April 2026 targeting 47 per cent emissions intensity reduction and 60 per cent clean power by 2035.
Ministry of Earth Sciences Commemorates World Earth Day 2026 at Prithvi Bhavan on April 22; Calls for Climate Justice and Equitable Sustainability under Theme 'Our Power, Our Planet'
Ministry of Earth Sciences commemorated World Earth Day 2026 at Prithvi Bhavan on April 22 around the theme 'Our Power, Our Planet'. Padma Shri Dr Shailesh Nayak (NIAS Director) delivered the keynote calling for climate justice. Officials flagged that humans consume resources 1.8 times faster than Earth can regenerate; flagship missions Deep Ocean Mission, Mission Mausam and PRITHVI were showcased.
Key facts
- Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) commemorated World Earth Day 2026 at its headquarters Prithvi Bhavan, New Delhi on April 22, 2026.
- Global theme for Earth Day 2026: 'Our Power, Our Planet', emphasising renewable energy transition and collective accountability.
- Chief Guest Padma Shri Dr Shailesh Nayak, former MoES Secretary and current Director of NIAS, called for climate justice and equitable sustainability.
- MoES officials flagged that humans currently consume resources 1.8 times faster than the Earth's ecosystems can regenerate.
- India remains the only country in the world with a dedicated Ministry of Earth Sciences.
- Flagship missions showcased: Deep Ocean Mission (Samudrayaan crewed sub), Mission Mausam (weather modernisation), and the PRITHVI umbrella programme spanning ocean, atmosphere, polar and seismology services.
- India's Updated Nationally Determined Contributions submitted in April 2026 target 47 per cent emissions intensity reduction and 60 per cent clean power by 2035.
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Who delivered the keynote address at the Ministry of Earth Sciences Earth Day 2026 commemoration at Prithvi Bhavan on April 22, 2026?
Padma Shri Dr Shailesh Nayak, former Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences and current Director of the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru, was the chief guest and delivered the keynote address calling for climate justice at the Prithvi Bhavan event on April 22, 2026.
Source: DD News (Government of India)
Frequently asked questions
What is the theme of World Earth Day 2026?
The global theme for Earth Day 2026 is 'Our Power, Our Planet', focusing on the collective agency of individuals and governments to transition to renewable energy and protect ecosystems.
What are the flagship missions of the Ministry of Earth Sciences mentioned at the Earth Day 2026 event?
Deep Ocean Mission, Mission Mausam (weather forecasting modernisation), and the PRITHVI umbrella programme covering ocean, atmosphere, polar and seismological services were showcased.
What is climate justice as called for by the Ministry of Earth Sciences on April 22, 2026?
Climate justice is the principle that the burden of climate action and the costs of climate impact should be distributed equitably between developed economies (historically responsible for emissions) and developing economies, while protecting vulnerable communities from disproportionate harm.
What are India's Updated Nationally Determined Contributions targets?
India's Updated NDCs submitted in early April 2026 target a 47 per cent reduction in emissions intensity of GDP and 60 per cent clean (non-fossil) power capacity by 2035.
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