https://www.downtoearth.org.in/governance/simply-put-democracys-strongest-pillar https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-19/7iv1eilx/democracy-india-gen-z https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-19/302a35c3/democracy-india-genzzz downtoearth en 2026-08-19T08:26:20.699Z Simply Put: Democracy’s strongest pillar Governance, youth, Democracy, protest, Gen Z https://www.downtoearth.org.in/energy/india-on-e-wheels-gujarat-green-mobility-policy-targets-evs-ethanol-and-hydrogen-vehicles https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-19/fc41up5k/downtoearth-hindi2026-08-18efeujlxu20260804155548.jpg Electric buses have been added to the bus fleet in Ahmedabad. downtoearth en 2026-08-19T08:11:21.479Z India on e-wheels: Gujarat green mobility policy targets EVs, ethanol and hydrogen vehicles Energy, Air, Gujarat, Biofuel, clean transport, vehicle scrappage, Electric vehicles (EV), India on e-wheels, hydrogen vehicles, Green Mobility Policy, Ethanol vehicles, EV incentives https://www.downtoearth.org.in/energy/india-on-e-wheels-exempted-tolls-residential-charging-aid-ev-transition-in-maharashtra https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-19/9xnqrl6a/EV-bus-Maharashtra downtoearth en 2026-08-19T08:11:01.595Z India on e-wheels: Exempted tolls, residential charging aid EV transition in Maharashtra Energy, Electric vehicles, electric cars, Decarbonisation, Emissions, Maharashtra, Transport, electric two-wheelers, EV charging, electric bus, India on e-wheels, state transport https://www.downtoearth.org.in/africa/governments-shouldnt-rely-on-ai-to-decide-who-gets-a-social-grant-inside-a-south-african-court-case https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-19/ykzhr1io/South-Africa-AI-governance-social downtoearth en 2026-08-19T06:33:02.739Z Governments shouldn’t rely on AI to decide who gets a social grant: Inside a South African court case Africa, Governance, Science & Technology, World, Africa, South Africa, machine learning, Court cases, AI governance, Social grants, automated digital decision-making https://www.downtoearth.org.in/agriculture/the-soils-early-warning-system-microbes-can-predict-desertification-before-plants-start-to-die https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-19/uu67h928/iStock-1428271673.jpg downtoearth en 2026-08-19T04:18:28.643Z The soil’s early warning system: microbes can predict desertification before plants start to die Agriculture, Africa, Climate Change, Health, World, Antibiotics, gut microbiome, Bacteria, soil, Ecology, Desertification, Fungi, microbial life, Carbon storage, microbiome, gut, Microbiomes, carbon cycle, viruses, microbial communities, Nutrient cycle, Soil microbiome, Microbial ecosystems https://www.downtoearth.org.in/urbanisation/uttarakhand-tunnel-disaster-shows-why-himalayan-excavation-needs-a-hydrological-rethink https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-18/l8f268nr/cm-at-the-ground-zero.jpeg Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Pushkar Singh Dhami at the tunnel collapse site. downtoearth en 2026-08-18T14:45:05.079Z Uttarakhand tunnel disaster shows why Himalayan excavation needs a hydrological rethink Urbanisation, Environment, himalayas, Hydropower, uttarakhand, Joshimath, flood risk, Vishnugad-Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project, Tunnel disaster, Himalayan geology https://www.downtoearth.org.in/environment/most-countries-will-miss-2030-food-system-goal-emission-removal-among-biggest-gaps-study https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-18/bw58b1t9/food-systems-emissions-US downtoearth en 2026-08-18T12:26:06.828Z Most countries will miss 2030 food system goal, emission removal among biggest gaps: Study Environment, Food, Agriculture, Water, Emissions, Ultra-processed foods, United Nations, Pesticide, Food systems https://www.downtoearth.org.in/natural-disasters/what-actually-caused-the-tunnel-collapse-on-the-vishnugad-pipalkoti-hydroelectric-project https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-18/x07vekt6/Uttarakhand-Tunnel-Collapse.jpg downtoearth en 2026-08-18T11:19:16.807Z What actually caused the tunnel collapse on the Vishnugad-Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project? Natural Disasters, uttarakhand, Chamoli, tunnel collapse, Vishnugad-Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project https://www.downtoearth.org.in/governance/simply-put-poisoning-the-innocents https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-18/l9f2mqdz/Simply-Put-18-Aug-hero-image-copy.jpg https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-18/5flodhr2/Simply-Put-18-Aug-Demand-copy.jpg downtoearth en 2026-08-18T11:06:31.568Z Simply Put: Poisoning the innocents Governance, Education, schools, Students, Student protests https://www.downtoearth.org.in/air/india-on-e-wheels-odishas-ev-policy-should-not-apply-a-uniform-approach-say-experts https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-18/lwc481lu/Odisha-Emobility-1.jpg An e-bus, operating between the Baramunda transit hub and the historic Lingaraj Temple, awaits passengers at the Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bus Terminal in Bhubaneswar. This terminal supports a growing fleet of zero-emission e-buses to promote pollution-free public transport across the capital. https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-18/ylp65089/GFX-EV-special.jpg https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-18/4mczgzr3/2-GFX-EV-special.jpg https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-18/rn9qo170/3-GFX-EV-special.jpg https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-18/z0dt1xgs/Odisha-Emobility-2-New.jpg Inaugurated in March 2024, the Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bus Terminal in Baramunda, Bhubaneswar, is Odisha's largest state-of-the-art inter-state bus terminal, featuring striking contemporary architecture designed to handle thousands of daily passengers. https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-18/ihtduyla/Odisha-Emobility-3.jpg Formed in 1974, the Odisha State Road Transport Corporation provides affordable bus services across over 1,900 routes, connecting cities and rural areas in Odisha and neighboring states. It now plans to add 100 e-buses each year until 2030. downtoearth en 2026-08-18T10:57:39.291Z India on e-wheels: Odisha’s EV policy should not apply a uniform approach, say experts Air, Energy, Pollution, Odisha, EVs, EV policy, India on e-wheels https://www.downtoearth.org.in/science-technology/a-safe-childhood-digital-too https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-18/fspg2cqe/Child-with-mobile.jpg Representative photo downtoearth en 2026-08-18T10:43:39.876Z A safe childhood, digital too!  Science & Technology, National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), CRY, childhood, digital, Artificial intelligence (AI), child exploitation https://www.downtoearth.org.in/agriculture/erratic-monsoon-rainfall-deficit-threatens-manipurs-agrarian-economy https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-18/8q8c0ry8/Farmers-transplanting-paddy-at-Maklang-village-Imphal-west-district-Manipur.jpg Farmers transplanting paddy at Maklang village, Imphal west district, Manipur. https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-18/8rjx982a/Irengbam-Ranjana.jpg Irengbam Ranjana. https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-18/n9gm3q3f/Arambam-Subhasini.jpg Arambam Subhasini. downtoearth en 2026-08-18T09:45:27.211Z Erratic monsoon, rainfall deficit threatens Manipur’s agrarian economy Agriculture, Climate Change, Northeast India, Manipur, Southwest monsoon, Farmers, agrarian economy, India Meteorological Department (IMD), Southwest Monsoon 2026 https://www.downtoearth.org.in/governance/practice-as-movement-adivasi-rights-find-an-alternative-voice-in-jhargram https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-18/ikm8zikr/Image-1.JPEG Children from Lodha-Shabar tribe participated in the mask-making workshop at Lalbazar village. https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-18/9gh9kh47/Image-2.JPEG Children are painting on their mud houses during an awareness program on Forest and Wildlife Conservation, 2019. downtoearth en 2026-08-18T08:59:39.975Z Practice as movement: Adivasi rights find an alternative voice in Jhargram Adivasi rights, Khwaabgaon, Jhargram, tribal rights, forest rights, Jangal Mahal, Lodha-Sabars, community art, cultural resistance, Forest Rights Act, Red Corridor, ecological justice, art activism, sapling plantation, Chalchitra Academy https://www.downtoearth.org.in/energy/cag-flags-rs-468-crore-in-fame-incentives-to-ev-makers-violating-localisation-norms https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-18/fe8fopx0/downtoearth-hindi2026-08-17zx3tsbrd20260805113954.jpg FAME scheme was introduced to promote electric vehicles. https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-18/vhnw4mm7/Picture-1.jpg downtoearth en 2026-08-18T07:07:05.518Z CAG flags Rs 468 crore in FAME incentives to EV makers violating localisation norms FAME scheme, CAG report, EV incentives, localisation norms, FAME II, electric buses, charging stations, demand incentives, EV manufacturers, Phased Manufacturing, charging infrastructure, Heavy Industries, EV policy, audit findings, public chargers https://www.downtoearth.org.in/africa/lithium-in-the-sahel-how-armed-groups-are-exploiting-the-global-scramble-for-the-critical-mineral https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-18/twm7rwcq/Sahel-mining-terrorism Beneath parts of the Sahel lie some of Africa’s most promising lithium deposits. downtoearth en 2026-08-18T05:57:55.645Z Lithium in the Sahel: How armed groups are exploiting the global scramble for the critical mineral Africa, World, Lithium, Electric vehicle, Renewable Energy, Nigeria, Botswana, Niger, SAHEL, Mali, Chad, Boko Haram, Terrorism, critical minerals, Burkina Faso https://www.downtoearth.org.in/economy/why-a-vote-on-taxing-californias-billionaires-is-being-watched-around-the-world https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-18/p89arp13/Screenshot-2026-08-18-at-10.29.49-AM.png US independent senator Bernie Sanders discusses the California Billionaire Tax Act in a clip shared on his X profile. downtoearth en 2026-08-18T05:12:31.893Z Why a vote on taxing California’s billionaires is being watched around the world California billionaire tax, wealth tax, billionaire wealth, global inequality, taxing billionaires, Sergey Brin, AI capitalism, union power, monopoly power, cost of living, wealth inequality, billionaire backlash, democratic socialism, superstar firms, American democracy https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/daily-weather-tracker-depression-over-jharkhand-triggers-very-heavy-rain-alert-across-several-states-check-your-citys-weather-forecast https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-18/kd0vftas/Depression.jpg downtoearth en 2026-08-18T05:00:32.645Z Daily weather tracker: Depression over Jharkhand triggers very heavy rain alert across several states; check your city’s weather forecast Climate Change, Jharkhand, Southwest monsoon, depression, West Bengal, India Meteorological Department (IMD), Daily Weather Tracker, Southwest Monsoon 2026 https://www.downtoearth.org.in/environment/rural-odishas-pm25-pollution-exceeds-national-standard-even-as-urban-rural-gap-remains-below-10 https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-17/47ivque9/Odisha-rural-air-pollution https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-17/d3tenlas/rural-air-pollution https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-17/44xxdvdx/rural-air-pollution downtoearth en 2026-08-17T12:40:47.541Z Rural Odisha’s PM2.5 pollution exceeds national standard even as urban-rural gap remains below 10% Environment, India, Odisha, Air Pollution, air pollution in rural areas, rural air pollution https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/unccd-cop17-opens-in-ulaanbaatar-with-a-single-demand-enough-declarations-turn-land-pledges-into-money-and-action https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-17/cd997swf/HPg8qYNbIAACCz1.jpeg downtoearth en 2026-08-17T12:15:58.442Z Combat desertification COP17: UNCCD summit opens in Ulaanbaatar with a single demand, enough declarations, turn land pledges into money and action UNCCD COP17, global drought, land degradation, drought framework, land restoration, Ulaanbaatar summit, desertification, climate finance, drought resilience, Mongolia desertification, El Niño droughts, sustainable land, environmental subsidies https://www.downtoearth.org.in/africa/high-risk-human-elephant-conflict-areas-in-southern-africa-could-expand-by-33-100-by-2085-a-new-study-forecasts https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-17/aqkze9d8/Chobe-Elephant.jpg Tourists in a boat encounter an elephant at the Chobe river between Botswana and Namibia. downtoearth en 2026-08-17T12:02:46.620Z High-risk human-elephant conflict areas in Southern Africa could expand by 33%-100% by 2085, a new study forecasts Africa, Wildlife & Biodiversity, Human-elephant conflict, Southern Africa, African elephants, crop raiding https://www.downtoearth.org.in/wildlife-biodiversity/why-upbringing-matters-for-conservation https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-17/80foeg7c/TheLastSurvivingPopulationofHangul.jpg A herd of Hangul in Dachigam National Park, Kashmir. downtoearth en 2026-08-17T11:47:06.636Z Why upbringing matters for conservation Wildlife & Biodiversity, wildlife conservation, Children, nature, adults, childhood https://www.downtoearth.org.in/air/india-on-e-wheels-gujarat-ranks-16th-in-electric-mobility-index-as-evs-make-up-136-of-vehicle-fleet https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-17/fw3i0n5t/downtoearth-hindi2026-08-17tep4mpil20250523164644.jpg Few e-rickshaws can be seen on the streets of Gujarat. downtoearth en 2026-08-17T11:18:21.538Z India on e-wheels: Gujarat ranks 16th in Electric Mobility Index as EVs make up 1.36% of vehicle fleet Air, Energy, Gujarat, mobility, Electric vehicles (EV), India on e-wheels, Electric Mobility Index, vehicle fleet https://www.downtoearth.org.in/rivers/tamil-nadus-tamirabharani-or-porunai-river-is-now-a-legal-person-marking-a-milestone-in-indias-earth-jurisprudence https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-17/uadj2hya/ThamirabaraniRiver.jpg Thamirabarani River flowing across Tirunelveli, southern Tamil Nadu. downtoearth en 2026-08-17T11:17:00.083Z Tamil Nadu’s Tamirabharani or Porunai river is now a ‘legal person’, marking a milestone in India’s Earth Jurisprudence Rivers, Water, Yamuna, Ganga, Madras High Court, whanganui river, Tamirabharani, Madurai Bench https://www.downtoearth.org.in/governance/simply-put-unheeded-warnings https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-17/ce1qnysz/Tunel-collapse-uttarakhand-cartoon https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-17/sao5z6c1/Uttarakhand-tunnel-collapse downtoearth en 2026-08-17T10:28:15.696Z Simply Put: Unheeded warnings Governance, uttarakhand, tunnel collapse, tunnel tragedy https://www.downtoearth.org.in/wildlife-biodiversity/my-unfinished-agenda https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-17/ww5vpwee/Editor-July-copy.jpg downtoearth en 2026-08-17T10:21:13.143Z My unfinished agenda Wildlife & Biodiversity, Editorial, Rajasthan, Tigers, Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, 2005 tiger task force, Sariska National Park, Madhav Gadgil, Valmik Thapar and H S Panwar, Pugmark, Y V Jhala and Qamar Quresh https://www.downtoearth.org.in/africa/drc-faces-its-deadliest-ebola-outbreak-as-virus-spreads-to-6th-province https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-05-21/oueym927/iStock-1351266625.jpg downtoearth en 2026-08-17T10:11:38.413Z DRC faces its deadliest ebola outbreak as virus spreads to 6th province Africa, Health, virus, ebola, democratic republic of congo, Ebola outbreak, DRC https://www.downtoearth.org.in/rivers/keralas-recent-floods-show-pamba-river-vembanad-kuttanad-wetland-system-under-enormous-strain-experts https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-17/b5ghfxla/Vembanad-Lake.jpg Vembanad Lake. downtoearth en 2026-08-17T10:08:39.371Z Kerala’s recent floods show Pamba river, Vembanad-Kuttanad wetland system under enormous strain: Experts Rivers, Water, Kerala, Western Ghats, Kuttanad, Lake Vembanad, Pamba river, Floodplain https://www.downtoearth.org.in/governance/major-us-study-finds-undocumented-immigration-does-not-increase-neighbourhood-crime https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-17/n07oaom3/260810oxford01.png As anti-immigration sentiment rises across the US, federal agencies like US Immigration and Customs Enforcement face growing condemnation for repeatedly violating fundamental human rights in enforcement and detention. downtoearth en 2026-08-17T09:36:30.179Z Major US study finds undocumented immigration does not increase neighbourhood crime undocumented immigration, neighbourhood crime, unauthorised immigrants, property crime, UC Irvine research, robbery rates, Journal of Urban Affairs, immigration enforcement, migrant workers, public safety, crime trends https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/european-cities-plan-to-offset-a-fifth-of-emissions-through-carbon-removal-but-few-have-clear-strategies https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-08-17/intigqqg/Carbon-removal Current climate neutrality plans do not include detailed assessments of land availability. Photo for representation. downtoearth en 2026-08-17T08:43:15.328Z European cities plan to offset a fifth of emissions through carbon removal, but few have clear strategies Climate Change, Energy, Europe, Carbon Credit, Emissions, Transport, URBAN, Carbon, TREE, Residual Emission Strategy Robustness Index