https://www.downtoearth.org.in/water/stricter-rules-to-protect-european-waters-eu-parliament-sets-stricter-standards-to-curb-pollution-in-rivers-lakes-and-groundwater https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-05/y9cnzhl7/Europe-Water-Pollution.jpg downtoearth en 2026-04-05T13:51:02.055Z Stricter rules to protect European waters: EU Parliament sets stricter standards to curb pollution in rivers, lakes and groundwater Water, Europe, Water Pollution, European Parliament https://www.downtoearth.org.in/wildlife-biodiversity/shir-what-the-lion-meant-to-irans-achaemenids-and-sassanids https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-05/0lv6e4tc/TheDariusseal.DariusstandsinaroyalchariotbelowAhuraMazdaandshootsarrowsatarampantlion.FromThebesEgypt.6th-5thcenturyBCE.BritishMuseumcropped.jpg The Darius seal. Darius stands in a royal chariot below Ahura Mazda and shoots arrows at a rampant lion. From Thebes, Egypt. 6th-5th century BCE. https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-05/n29n3x6e/Susa-Lion.jpg Decorative ancient panels of molded terracotta bricks with Lion Bas Relief from ruins of Susa, Iran. https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-05/emulxntp/Sassanian-King-Lions.jpg Silver plate with Sasanian noble hunting lions, from Sari, 4th century AD, National Museum of Iran, Tehran, Iran. downtoearth en 2026-04-05T13:48:20.570Z Shir: What the lion meant to Iran’s Achaemenids and Sassanids Wildlife & Biodiversity, Lion, african lions, Lions, Asiatic lions, Iran, Gir Forest, Persia, Khuzestan, Fars, Achaemenids, Sassanids https://www.downtoearth.org.in/water/simply-put-ask-a-billion-people https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-04/sc00vcmm/Simply-Put-4-Apr-hero-image-copy.jpg https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-04/bzoar6wo/Simply-Put-4-AprYamuna-copy.jpg downtoearth en 2026-04-04T08:18:54.387Z Simply Put: Ask a billion people Water, Rivers, Delhi, Water Pollution, Yamuna, River Yamuna, Clean Yamuna https://www.downtoearth.org.in/environment/why-bengalurus-thigala-community-worships-draupadi-protects-nature-through-karaga-festival https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-03-31/3y417hcr/Karaga-festival Through this ritual, the community protects two important elements of the local ecosystem: Indian Beech trees and ponds. https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-02/f3h3py52/Jacarnda-at-Cubbon Jacarnda flowers adorned the grounds of the park. https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-02/s46lcg1s/Karaga-Prasaad Cucumber, watermelon and buttermilk were the main components of the Karaga prasaadam. https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-02/t58zudge/Karaga-inside-Cubbon Devotees of Draupadi near the honge mara tree inside Cubbon Park. downtoearth en 2026-04-04T05:08:44.898Z Why Bengaluru’s Thigala community worships Draupadi & protects nature through Karaga festival Environment, TREE, community conservation, Karaga, Bengaluru Karaga, draupadi, thigala, cubbon park https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/dried-streams-to-declining-bats-the-fate-of-kashmirs-iconic-willows-hangs-in-the-balance-as-climate-change-takes-a-toll https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-04/6m4gp1g9/Arjumand-Willow-Photo-3.jpg Bashir Ahmad Wani, a sawmill labourer from Gulzarpora village in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, about 40 kilometres from Srinagar. For 20 years, he has worked at a sawmill that processes willow wood used in making cricket bats. https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-04/dl8hv22o/Arjumand-Willow-Photo-7.jpg A unit manufacturing Kashmir willow cricket bats. downtoearth en 2026-04-04T05:08:15.545Z Dried streams to declining bats: The fate of Kashmir’s iconic willows hangs in the balance as climate change takes a toll Climate Change, Water, kashmir valley, Willow, cricket bats https://www.downtoearth.org.in/wildlife-biodiversity/the-last-dance https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-01-16/lhyf6672/53.jpg https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-01-16/y2feevxp/54.jpg downtoearth en 2026-04-04T05:08:02.205Z The last dance Wildlife & Biodiversity, Asia, Assam, Bengal Florican, Charismatic Megafauna, Lesser-known species https://www.downtoearth.org.in/food/value-food https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-04/itdarlz7/Antonio-Guterres.jpg https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-04/otug7ews/Antonio-GuterresN.jpg downtoearth en 2026-04-04T04:32:19.909Z Value food Food, United Nations, Antonio Guterres, Food wastage https://www.downtoearth.org.in/governance/dte-ground-report-electoral-freebies-for-women-brought-himanta-biswa-sarma-to-power-in-2021-can-they-rework-their-magic https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-03/5nqq43p3/Assam-DBT-1.jpg Lakhsmi Naik (Right) with other Adivasi women from Kakochang village in Bokakhat constituency of Golaghat district. They, along with 300 women, were duped by agents offering microcredit. Naik is a beneficiary of the Orunodoi DBT scheme. But she says half the amount was spent in servicing loans. https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-03/bbi69nla/Assam-DBT-2.jpg Women from Bagchung block under the Titabor Constituency took time out from a wedding to tell that only 10 per cent of the women received the benefits under the flagship Orunodoi scheme of the Assam Government in which Rs 3,600 crore were transferred to 4 million women of the state. https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-03/byi522i7/Assam-DBT-3.jpg Increasingly, women beneficiaries of government schemes are siding with independent candidates or opposition contesting the Assam elections citing failure of the incumbent NDA government to address issues of indebtedness, inflation, poor healthcare and lack of LPG. Lakhsmi Naik and along with other Adivasi and tribal women welcoming an independent candidate, Pranab Doley contesting in Bokakhat against Assam Agricultural Minister, Atul Bora. downtoearth en 2026-04-03T14:56:06.245Z DTE Ground Report: Electoral freebies for women brought Himanta Biswa Sarma to power in 2021; can they rework their magic? Governance, Assam, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Microcredit schemes, Women voters, NDA, himanta biswa sarma, Assam Assembly Elections 2026