China and India proposed almost 88 percent of new coal-fired power generation proposals around the globe in the first half of 2025, despite a swift increase in renewable generation.

New edible yam species, Dioscorea balakrishnanii has been found in the evergreen shola forests of Wayanad, Kerala. Known domestically as chola kizhangu by the Kattunayikar tribes, the tuber has a low glycemic index and a strong flavour, and is potentially a viable food security crop.

The Shinkansen high-speed rail system in Japan continues to be a world standard in speed, safety and design as at 2025. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently visited the Tokyo-Sendai route as it is becoming globally recognised as a symbol of modern engineering.

Studies based on new coral microatolls have shown that the sea-level rise in the central Indian Ocean started decades before it was first registered. Using sea-level records dating back to the 1930s scientists have demonstrated that changes caused by warming are attacking the delicate reef ecosystems at a faster rate than anticipated.

In 2025, there was an above-average southwest monsoon in India which allowed the kharif crop to be sown, leading to significant pressure on fertiliser demand but supply shortages at the peak season.