In - Depth

Here comes the megacities
Urbanisation
Here comes the megacities

By 2100, at least 10 cities are predicted to have population over 50 million. How can society keep pace?
July 25, 2018
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Swachh Bharat is not just about chasing toilets
Governance

Swachh Bharat is not just about chasing toilets
A man carrying a bucket of water from a small roadside spring in Cape Town, South Africa (Photo: Reuters)
Water

Last few drops
Climate Change
Photographs: Srikant Chaudhary

India's climate quandary

The National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture, India's flagship programme that aims to make Indian villages climate-proof, is at crossroads due to a lack of strategy for expansion
April 02, 2018
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Energy
The future is electric

The future is electric

The global automobile fleet is marching forward to wean away from fossil fuels. India has shown intent but lacks a clear policy and roadmap. What is the way out?
February 12, 2018
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Health
Credit: Vikas Choudhary / CSE

They cannot cast out women

Khap Panchayat's recent posturing against SC judgement on inter-caste marriage and threatening not to produce a girl child shows that time has come to dismantle these caste councils
February 09, 2018
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Governance
The rise of the rurals

The rise of the rurals

The Bharatiya Janata Party's famed "Gujarat Model" gets a rude jolt in the state's recent polls, especially from rural communities in the Saurashtra region
January 29, 2018
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Climate Change
Study suggests that climate change is the dominant factor in the decisions of 14.5% of migrants leaving the Mekong Delta. Credit: Pixabay

Climate change is triggering a migrant crisis in Vietnam

It looks as if climate change is forcing 24,000 people to leave the Mekong Delta every year
August 16, 2018
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Wildlife & Biodiversity
The income of tribal communities of Kalahandhi district, Odisha, increased three-fold once their right to sell tendu leaves to traders of their choice was recognised under the Forest Rights Act (Photo: Vikas Choudhary)

Forest governance 2.0

Forest dwelling communities have created a new economy courtesy a decade of the Forest Rights Act. Will the bureaucracy support the empowered communities?
January 02, 2018
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Economy
Credit: Cuika Foto / Flickr

Did WTO MC 11 achieve anything?

Members failed to remove WTO constraints on countries’ ability to feed their hungry population and improve farmers’ livelihoods
August 16, 2018
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Energy
Illustration: Tarique Aziz

The futility of CoP23

Although in its 25th year, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is still struggling to find a way out of this century's biggest developmental challenge: climate change
February 22, 2018
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Environment
So many years later, the victims have to still struggle for medical support, rehabilitation, compensation and environmental remediation

Justice eludes

So many years later, the victims have to still struggle for medical support, rehabilitation, compensation and environmental remediation
December 03, 2017
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Environment
Is permaculture a real solution to agricultural distress?

Is permaculture a real solution to agricultural distress?

Permaculture farming, which spread across the West as part of the hippie movement, is fast gaining ground in India among subsistence farmers and those who want to grow their food
November 24, 2017
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Health
Antibiotics are one of the most commonly prescribed and used drugs to treat infections and their use has been linked to NCDs. Credit: istock

Antibiotics could be contributing to rise of non-communicable diseases

Several NCDs are accompanied by increased susceptibility to infections, which are treated with antibiotics
November 13, 2017
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Governance
Fast food MNCs indifferent towards eliminating antibiotic use in India; consumers unaware

Fast food MNCs indifferent towards eliminating antibiotic use in India; consumers unaware

None of the fast food companies that CSE surveyed has made any specific time-bound commitment to reduce or eliminate any kind of antibiotics
November 14, 2017
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Climate Change
Of late, Langcha village in Himachal Pradesh has been experiencing increased heat after monsoons and alternating cycles of high and low temperatures (Photographs: Srikant Chaudhary)

Himalayan glaciers are receding faster than before

To understand their changing behaviour in the wake of climate change, Indian scientists have for the first time set up a high-altitude glaciology research station in the lofty mountain range
December 12, 2017
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Climate Change
The chances are that negotiations will continue along the path of nothing happening until the last minute. Credit: UNclimatechange / Flickr

Five things that should happen at the Bonn climate talks but probably won’t

Parties could agree on certain rules in order to help the first stocktake of progress in implementing the agreement
November 06, 2017
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Governance
The green crusader

The green crusader

On the centenary of Indira Gandhi's birth, Down To Earth reveals her hitherto unknown role, that of an environmentalist
March 12, 2018
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Water
Women dedicate long hours in collecting water from nearby hand pumps for various purposes. Credit: Vikas Choudhary / CSE

To meet 2017 target, one million rural households need to be connected with piped water supply every day

Community involvement is missing and so is the interest towards maintaining sustainability of drinking water projects. What else hinders progress of rural drinking water scheme?
October 30, 2017
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Climate Change
Ice-free Arctic may happen much sooner than predicted so far: study

Ice-free Arctic may happen much sooner than predicted so far: study

While Arctic sea ice volume and extent continue to dip each year, a new study has found out that salinity in snow cover affects accuracy of satellite readings on sea ice thickness
August 16, 2018
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Energy
Sorit / CSE

The last coal power plant in India can be closed by 2050

With an aim to connect 40 million households to the grid by 2018, India is investing heavily in coal mines. But our analysis shows India is chasing a dream far removed from reality
November 07, 2017
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Food
World Food Day: investing in food security for a better future

World Food Day: investing in food security for a better future

As the number of hungry people is on the rise again globally, we must invest in rural development to drive about a change
October 16, 2017
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Climate Change
Vessels that sank during Hurricane Irma in St John, US Virgin Islands on September 16 (Photo: Reuters)

What makes 2017 Atlantic hurricane season unprecedented?

Tropical cyclones like hurricanes and typhoons are changing character due to global warming. Not only are they becoming more frequent, wind speeds are also intensifying much quickly, putting the lives of coastal communities at grave risk and causing widespread devastation.
October 10, 2017
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