Going backward

As the Maratha community in Maharashtra finally gets 16 per cent reservation in government jobs and education, Down To Earth profiles other traditionally well-off farming communities who are demanding similar reservations, an offshoot of a deepening agrarian crisis that if ignored can snowball into an explosive situation

Fisheries: an answer to food security and nutrition

For several countries fish exports are essential to national economies, FAO experts say

World Wildlife Day: India’s conflict with elephants

Elephants stand at the focal point on the occasion of World Wildlife Day. In India, human-elephant conflict is increasing due to shrinking habitats

Agricultural biotechnolgies a boon for family farmers, say experts

A range of biotechnologies can help bring about high yields, improve nutrition quality and add value to the productivity of crops, livestock, fish and trees

Zika-the new global pandemic

After dengue and chikungunya, the Aedes mosquito is delivering a new emergency— Zika. Down To Earth looks into the reasons behind the spread and the threat the virus holds

Tax rebate to promote rainwater harvesting

Various municipal corporations in the country are offering concession of property tax in exchange of a rainwater harvesting system. Is the scheme working?

World Cancer Day: 'Toxins in the environment are a major problem'

With the rise in the number of cancer cases reported in India every year, prevention and affordable treatment will become critical in battling the disease

How is fodder crisis rendering livestock vulnerable?

Today, India faces an acute fodder shortage that has left drought-hit farmers and livestock vulnerable. Jitendra finds out how fodder crisis has the potential to cripple India's rural economy

World ocean assessment warns of excessive pressures on ocean resources

The report has compiled environmental impacts of all human activities on oceans and warned that a failure to act quickly would pose the greatest threat to oceans

Save and Grow: a guide to sustainable cereal production

The technique focuses on conservation agriculture, maintaining soil health, selecting crops with higher yield potential and greater resistance to climate change and efficient water management

Meet thy neighbours

Every existence has its excuse, it is said. Every year taxonomists in India venture into uncharted landscapes and scan every nook and corner to find out many such existences and unveil the excuses. In the past year they found 523 species of animals and plants. Down To Earth introduces a few of the country's newest citizens to you, each of them equally contributing to the megadiversity of India

Indian Science Congress: assessing progress and challenges

Why this abandoned village is a threat to Uttarakhand

People are abandoning their villages despite high economic growth, leaving behind few, who find it difficult to continue farming without community support

International Mountain Day: Highland people to face vagaries of weather, food insecurity

Released on the occasion of Mountain Day, two reports highlight climate threats to high altitude areas

CAG assesses performance of ministries

The Comptroller and Auditor-General of India had submitted 16 performance reports on various sectors to the Finance Ministry and they were tabled in the Parliament 

2015: The year that was

Taking stock of developments of the year   

Why better sewage management in Chennai will help fight floods

Down To Earth Editor Sunita Narain explains how the city's three rivers and 320 tanks and lakes that worked as flood barriers are used mostly for dumping sewage

Labour exit

Labour shortage in agriculture forces Indian farmers to innovate to stay afloat

Where dry gardens wilt

India is one of the 17 megadiverse countries, with over 11 per cent of the world's plant species. Herbaria across the country store millions of rich biological samples, helping scientists to connect with the past and better understand evolution, extinction, climate change and even introduction of invasive species. But due to inadequate funds and little government support, these repositories …

A look at the changing scenario of Bihar politics

Of late, women have become the it factor in elections. Caste also plays a dominant role in voter polarisation