https://www.downtoearth.org.in/governance/census-2027-to-include-question-related-to-caste-a-first-in-independent-india https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-16/gm2lk3my/SelectspecimenfromvariousHinducastes1874.jpg Select specimen from various Hindu castes, 1874, Imperial Gazetteer of India. From left to right: Konkanasth Brahmin man, Deshasth Brahmin lady, Rajput man, Koli fisherman, Pasi man from Awadh, Vaishnav Brahmin from Allahabad, Komati lady from Telangana. https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-16/82bjaa5o/CastepercentageofGujaratpopulationin1931.png Caste breakdown in Gujarat in 1931. downtoearth en 2026-08-16T05:27:19.676Z Census 2027 to include question related to caste, a first in independent India Governance, Census 2011, Ministry of Home Affairs, caste, Census 2027, Caste census https://www.downtoearth.org.in/wildlife-biodiversity/this-independence-day-get-to-know-about-zanskari-ponies-the-silent-warriors-of-siachen https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-15/qcd1qrn9/Zanskari-Ponies-1.jpg Zanskari ponies carrying loads on the Siachen Glacier. https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-16/a9kp9ej4/Zanskari-Ponies-2.jpg Zanskari ponies on Kartavya Path during Republic Day Parade 2026. https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-16/me84czlg/Zanskari-Ponies-3.jpg Foals at the breeding farm in Partapur. downtoearth en 2026-08-15T01:58:51.776Z This Independence Day, get to know about Zanskari ponies, the silent warriors of Siachen Wildlife & Biodiversity, Ladakh, Horses, Indigenous breeds, mechanisation, Zanskar, ponies, Siachen Glacier, Independence Day 2026, Zanskari ponies, equines https://www.downtoearth.org.in/agriculture/our-plate-in-the-courtroom https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-15/as5zf2ts/p52DLpix-Screenshot-2026-07-30-at-4.53.36-PM.jpg https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-15/u7i23foa/p52DLpix-The-India-Story.jpg downtoearth en 2026-08-15T01:42:49.684Z Our plate in the courtroom Agriculture, Health, Governance, Kerala, Punjab, Green Revolution, Pesticides, chemicals, Endosulfan, The India Story: Slow Poison in Progress, Cancer Train https://www.downtoearth.org.in/governance/who-belongs-to-the-night-womens-mobility-and-the-unequal-city https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-15/ce4v0ajk/Bhopal-Road-Night.jpg A road in Bhopal at night. downtoearth en 2026-08-15T01:27:46.695Z Who belongs to the night? Women’s mobility and the unequal city Governance, Women, Bhopal, night, Men, Night-time economy, Independence Day 2026, 80th Independence Day https://www.downtoearth.org.in/wildlife-biodiversity/simply-put-shrinking-spaces https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-15/sh9hua0k/Simply-Put-14-AUG-hero-image-copy.jpg https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-15/5dpmosfv/Simply-Put-14-Aug-Kaziranga-copy.jpg downtoearth en 2026-08-15T01:16:21.291Z Simply Put: Shrinking spaces Wildlife & Biodiversity, Governance, elephants, Eco-Sensitive Zone, Kaziranga, Kaziranga national park, RHINOS https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/marine-heatwaves-why-is-the-ocean-getting-hotter https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-15/7udk6gxs/Marine-Heatwaves.jpg downtoearth en 2026-08-15T01:09:43.528Z Marine heatwaves: Why is the ocean getting hotter? Climate Change, marine heatwaves, Ocean, extreme heat https://www.downtoearth.org.in/natural-disasters/another-tunnel-accident-in-uttarakhand-seven-workers-dead-search-continues-for-those-trapped-inside https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-14/r6540wx0/pic-grab-from-video-shared-by-info-dept.png Screen grab from video shared by Uttarakhand Information Department. downtoearth en 2026-08-14T14:18:48.240Z Another tunnel accident in Uttarakhand: Seven workers dead; search continues for those trapped inside Natural Disasters, uttarakhand, EIA, Alaknanda river, Tehri Hydro Development Corporation (THDC), Pushkar Singh Dhami, Vishnugad-Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project https://www.downtoearth.org.in/air/india-on-e-wheels-assam-and-tripura-show-why-a-bigger-ev-number-is-not-always-a-deeper-mobility-transition https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-14/s6uky5qt/iStock-1327063662.jpg https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-14/vga60b01/nesegmentstacked.jpg CSE analysis based on VAHAN dashboard data, accessed June 5, 2026. Cumulative stock is summed annual registrations, not adjusted for retirements. https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-14/cp0pudv2/Slope.jpg Copernicus GLO-90 elevation data, 250-metre resolution. https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-14/6brq58pu/neenergygrid.jpg CSE analysis based on PPAC, CEA and VAHAN dashboard data, accessed June 5, 2026. 2025-26 figures are provisional. Panels use independent y-axis scales. downtoearth en 2026-08-14T13:44:31.169Z India on e-wheels: Assam and Tripura show why a bigger EV number is not always a deeper mobility transition Air, Energy, Assam, Tripura, Public Transport, E-Rickshaws, charging infrastructure, transport planning, Electric vehicles (EV), India on e-wheels, Electric autos, Intermediate public transport https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/as-record-el-nino-peaks-world-leaders-meet-in-mongolia-to-confront-a-drying-planet https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-14/8t4dejgz/1000397224.jpg downtoearth en 2026-08-14T13:32:16.746Z As record El Nino peaks, world leaders meet in Mongolia to confront a drying planet Climate Change, El Nino, Desertification, Land Degradation, UNCCD, UNCCD COP17, Ulaanbaatar https://www.downtoearth.org.in/governance/nearly-90-of-railway-stations-lack-prescribed-amenities-supplied-drinking-water-found-contaminated-cag https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-14/t0iwlmjk/iStock-972647478.jpg downtoearth en 2026-08-14T11:33:14.185Z Nearly 90% of railway stations lack prescribed amenities, supplied drinking water found contaminated: CAG Governance, Drinking Water, Sanitation, Public Transport, Indian Railways, E coli, CAG audit report, railway stations, railway safety, Railway Budget, Passenger amenities https://www.downtoearth.org.in/environment/daily-court-digest-major-environment-orders-august-13-2026 https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-13/yruwebfm/Gavel.jpg downtoearth en 2026-08-14T11:12:18.732Z Daily Court Digest: Major environment orders (August 13, 2026) Environment, Kolkata, Kerala High Court, Kolkata Municipal Corporation, environmental compensation, historical building restoration, construction on waterbody https://www.downtoearth.org.in/air/india-on-e-wheels-ev-buses-in-chennai-reduce-both-smoke-and-noise-with-22-drop-in-particulate-matter-in-5-years-across-the-state https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-14/bpp151o1/Chennai-Ebuses.jpg Over the past nine years, the Madras Transport Corporation has changed more than 30 per cent of its bus fleet to EVs. downtoearth en 2026-08-14T10:39:41.386Z India on e-wheels: EV buses in Chennai reduce both smoke and noise, with 22% drop in particulate matter in 5 years across the state Air, Energy, Tamil Nadu, Chennai, EVs, EV buses, India on e-wheels, Madras Transport Corporation (MTC) https://www.downtoearth.org.in/air/india-on-e-wheels-how-serious-is-gujarat-about-tackling-vehicle-pollution https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-14/rgvy1e8f/downtoearth-hindi2026-08-14c3rxhk5eSurat-mobility.jpg The number of private vehicles is steadily increasing in Surat, Gujarat. downtoearth en 2026-08-14T10:11:34.978Z India on e-wheels: How serious is Gujarat about tackling vehicle pollution? Air, Energy, Gujarat, Vehicular Pollution, Air Pollution, Rajkot, PM10, Ahmedabad, SURAT, Diesel vehicles, VADODARA, National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), India on e-wheels https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/heat-is-a-disaster-now-what-does-that-mean-for-workers https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-14/vlpmu1zj/Workers-Heat.jpg Workers work in the heat in Jodhpur. downtoearth en 2026-08-14T08:36:53.466Z Heat is a disaster now. What does that mean for workers? Climate Change, Workers, Disaster, humidity, world health organization, World Meteorological Organization (WMO), heat, extreme heat, International Labour Organization (ILO) https://www.downtoearth.org.in/agriculture/drought-spreads-despite-heavy-rainfall-events-as-kharif-crops-face-moisture-stress https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-07-21/imn972xj/Sonepat-Paddy-2.jpg https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-14/tggjgd01/1000396994.jpg https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-14/p0kyuq6z/Dr. downtoearth en 2026-08-14T07:51:34.690Z Drought spreads despite heavy rainfall events as kharif crops face moisture stress Agriculture, monsoon, Drought, Floods, Northeast India, Kharif, Millet, Paddy, rain, Rainfall, PULSES, Kharif crop, moisture https://www.downtoearth.org.in/air/india-on-e-wheels-a-plan-to-bring-e-mobility-lagging-jammu-and-kashmir-back-on-track https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-14/rdnyu0za/IMD.png Smart City buses parked at Pantha Chowk in Srinagar. downtoearth en 2026-08-14T07:09:42.508Z India on e-wheels: A plan to bring e-mobility-lagging Jammu and Kashmir back on track Air, Energy, SRINAGAR, Jammu and Kashmir, Electric vehicles (EV), e-mobility, Jammu city, India on e-wheels https://www.downtoearth.org.in/africa/a-new-class-of-metals-could-transform-africas-clean-energy-economy-scientists-explain https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-14/11vcv9xw/metal-africa Photo for representation only. downtoearth en 2026-08-14T06:34:54.053Z A new class of metals could transform Africa’s clean energy economy — scientists explain Africa, World, raw material, Metal, critical mineral, natural resource, alloy https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/daily-weather-tracker-monsoon-depression-triggers-heavy-rain-alert-across-eastern-and-northern-india-clouds-will-also-pour-heavily-over-the-mountains https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-14/8wjzkvej/IMD.png downtoearth en 2026-08-14T05:59:36.749Z Daily weather tracker: Monsoon depression triggers heavy rain alert across Eastern and Northern India; clouds will also pour heavily over the mountains Climate Change, Southwest monsoon, India Meteorological Department (IMD), Daily Weather Tracker, Southwest Monsoon 2026