The finance minister pleased the growth brigade with three letters "PPP" but failed to bring change where it was most needed. Down To Earth lists five such key development areas
An order of chaos
How to cure corruption in healthcare
Brief history of a line
Security threat to hornbill
Armed with a feather and a memory, Vivek Ramachandran pitches for saving the last 300 Narcondam hornbills from radar ...
Getting more with less
System of crop intensification, specially in rice, has shown sizeable savings in water and seed usage. Yet its adoption ...
A juicy business
Cold-pressed juice is the latest fad among the country's health-conscious lot. Is it worth it?
Can we save Ganga?
The Ganga is getting political attention. What does it take to clean the river? Down To Earth team travels ...
Forest to farms
India's paper industry now sources more wood from farmers. Why does it still demand forestland?
Does civil society activism fit in with electoral politics?
Many activists took part in the recent elections. Has their participation in electoral politics exposed civil society activism to ...
City trapped in a solar oven
Climate-incompatible buildings that fuel excessive use of air- conditioners not only add to the energy needs of cities but ...
Wheels of pollution
No one is tracking the substantial amount of lead that escapes into the environment from car tyres
Pray before you sow
2014 could be an El Niño year. This weather event has historically caused devastations across countries. Its mysterious nature ...
Courtyard as cold island
With a little twist in traditional design, Akshay Urja Bhawan in Haryana provides a model for affordable green buildings
Land for ladies
Rural women in Uttar Pradesh join hands to end gender bias in agriculture and claim joint ownership of land
Smart grid's here
As India experiments with smart power grid, Ankur Paliwal explains how the technology functions
Boon or doom?
The commerce ministry's recommendation to impose duty on imported solar cells has started a debate. Will it boost the ...
Where are rural courts?
The Gram Nyayalaya Act was passed in 2008 to make the judicial process participatory, inexpensive and accessible to rural ...
Green lore
Environment has been intrinsic to our oral traditions much before we developed writing. But it is only in the ...
A shy killer
Contrary to popular perception of being savage, dhole wild dogs are quite shy
Grow food anywhere
With innovative use of space, people in cities are reclaiming their right to safe food
Contours of inequality
Global estimates of the unmet energy needs in India have been available for some time. These only indicate whether ...
Environment Day: Green agenda for new government
Get the focus on environment and health, Mr Prime Minister
Energy wise, resource foolish
Most eco-friendly claims of Indira Paryavaran Bhawan are hogwash
Heading towards a cliff
As India elects new government, the 12th Five Year Plan may no longer be pro-poor