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 https://www.downtoearth.org.in/africa/e-powering-ethiopia-and-its-integrated-leap-to-zero-emission-mobility https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-03/qp5jqev9/Addis.jpg Addis Ababa. downtoearth en 2026-04-03T12:08:52.121Z E-powering Ethiopia and its integrated leap to zero-emission mobility Africa, Air, Ethiopia, EVs, zero-emission mobility, internal combustion vehicles https://www.downtoearth.org.in/environment/simply-put-troubled-planet https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-03/c39kp1w5/Simply-Put-3-Apr-hero-image-copy-2.jpg https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-03/s827rxhu/Simply-Put-3-Apr.jpg downtoearth en 2026-04-03T08:16:17.162Z Simply Put: Troubled planet Environment, Governance, earth, WARS, aliens https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/climate-change-strikes-north-indias-mango-hub-as-malihabads-orchards-lie-desolate-and-farmers-suffer-from-declining-yields-rising-costs https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-03/69r8oa3v/Malihabad-Mango.jpg A mango tree in Malihabad near Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh. downtoearth en 2026-04-03T07:38:44.843Z Climate change strikes North India’s ‘mango hub’ as Malihabad’s orchards lie desolate and farmers suffer from declining yields, rising costs Climate Change, Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow, mangoes, Malihabad, Dussehri Mango, Inclement weather https://www.downtoearth.org.in/governance/between-2019-and-2025-individuals-with-rs-1000-crore-and-above-in-terms-of-headcount-grew-by-77-and-their-wealth-grew-by-227-study https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-03/ah3eudj2/Collage.jpg (Left) Gautam Adani and (Right) Mukesh Ambani. downtoearth en 2026-04-03T06:38:21.713Z Between 2019 and 2025, individuals with Rs 1,000 crore and above in terms of headcount grew by 77% in India and their wealth grew by 227%: Study Governance, Poverty, wealth, Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani, Billionaires in India, rich and poor, distribution of wealth https://www.downtoearth.org.in/science-technology/first-crewed-moon-mission-of-the-21st-century-artemis-ii-launched-successfully https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-03/qm7ncvdl/Artemis.jpg downtoearth en 2026-04-03T05:10:12.887Z First crewed moon mission of the 21st century, Artemis II launched successfully Science & Technology, earth, Moon, moon mission, Artemis II https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/pakistan-babies-born-in-southern-punjab-northern-sindh-and-baluchistan-likely-to-be-of-low-weight-due-to-mothers-exposure-to-extreme-heat-finds-study https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-02/29ce8eol/WomenandgirlsinQamberShadadkotnorth-westSindhPakistan8406155976.jpg Women and girls in Qamber, Shadadkot, north-west Sindh. https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-02/oh6hy76r/Pakistan.jpg A map showing southern Punjab, Sindh and Baluchistan in Pakistan. downtoearth en 2026-04-02T12:45:06.675Z Pakistan: Babies born in southern Punjab, northern Sindh and Baluchistan likely to be of low weight due to mothers’ exposure to extreme heat, finds study Climate Change, Sindh, Pakistan, Punjab, mothers, babies, University of Adelaide, heat, Baluchistan, University of Canberra https://www.downtoearth.org.in/rivers/yamuna-the-river-that-became-stagnant https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-02/wjlexpnq/Yamuna-Floodplain-1.jpg Heavy encroachment of the Yamuna in Delhi causes the formation of pools. https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-02/0aa12bjo/Yamuna-Floodplain-2.jpg When the Yamuna runs high, its capacity to drain adjacent lands is reduced, causing water to remain in low-lying floodplain areas for weeks. https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-02/r8rft2qw/Yamuna-Floodplain-3.jpg These pools become reservoirs of pollution and threaten public health. downtoearth en 2026-04-02T12:35:06.286Z Yamuna, the river that became stagnant Rivers, Delhi, public health, Yamuna, pools https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/why-2026-stands-out-as-a-worrying-year-for-forest-fires-in-india https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-02/7b77ejql/iStock-2167735121.jpg https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-02/33w0swrb/27Maps.jpg downtoearth en 2026-04-02T12:08:47.420Z Why 2026 stands out as a worrying year for forest fires in India Climate Change, wildfires, Forest Fires, uttarakhand, north east india, disaster risk https://www.downtoearth.org.in/energy/simply-put-evolution-of-cooking-fuel https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-02/wz00txu7/Simply-Put-2Apr-hero-image-copy.jpg https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-02/4dr8qmpt/Simply-Put-2-Apr-copy.jpg downtoearth en 2026-04-02T12:06:47.777Z Simply Put: Evolution of cooking fuel Energy, Cooking fuel, LPG crisis, LPG shortage https://www.downtoearth.org.in/agriculture/decoding-sovereignty-the-global-souths-strategic-stand-over-the-source-code-of-future-food https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-02/e31vga15/iStock-1150285146.jpg downtoearth en 2026-04-02T11:04:29.879Z Decoding sovereignty: The Global South’s strategic stand over the ‘source code’ of future food Agriculture, Food, Science & Technology, Wildlife & Biodiversity, global south, Genetic Resources, Biopiracy, food sovereignty, digital sequence information, Plant treaty, ITPGRFA https://www.downtoearth.org.in/environment/when-oil-burns-everything-does https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-02/ppkd0p7i/Tehran.jpg Residents in Tehran on the third day of US-Israeli airstrikes, 3 March 2026. downtoearth en 2026-04-02T09:51:15.138Z When oil burns, everything does Environment, Iran, Persian Gulf, TEHRAN, Iran-Israel War 2026, black rain https://www.downtoearth.org.in/food/beyond-the-plate-the-science-of-cravings-and-the-policy-gaps-that-sustains-it https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-02/zs9to836/HE0OAK1bIAApu8.jpeg downtoearth en 2026-04-02T09:07:45.853Z Beyond The Plate | The science of cravings and the policy gaps that sustains it Food, Agriculture, podcast, Ultraprocessed food, cravings, food addiction https://www.downtoearth.org.in/waste/daily-court-digest-major-environment-orders-april-1-2026 https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-02/x76dwvcl/court.jpg downtoearth en 2026-04-02T08:57:46.239Z Daily Court Digest: Major environment orders (April 1, 2026) Waste, Industrial Pollution, Forest Fires, West Bengal, Hazardous Waste, solid waste management, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, National Green Tribunal (NGT) https://www.downtoearth.org.in/environment/no-flex-boards-or-plastic-clutter-why-chandy-oommens-green-campaign-in-puthuppally-is-evincing-interest-in-ecologically-fragile-kerala https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-02/f1gg515s/chandyoommen1.jpg Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi (Left) with Chandy Oommen. downtoearth en 2026-04-02T08:12:20.815Z No flex boards or plastic clutter: Why Chandy Oommen’s ‘green campaign’ in Puthuppally is evincing interest in ecologically fragile Kerala Environment, Governance, Kerala, BJP, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, ldf, CPI and CPI(M), Kerala Assembly Elections 2026, Puthuppally, UDF, Chandy Oommen https://www.downtoearth.org.in/health/five-countries-account-for-over-a-third-of-global-maternal-deaths-lancet-study-finds https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-02/0qlljyst/iStock-1539129040.jpg https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-02/zlb2n493/MMR-lancet-map.png downtoearth en 2026-04-02T07:21:08.948Z Five countries account for over a third of global maternal deaths, Lancet study finds Health, public health, Maternal Health, Maternal healthcare, Maternal mortality ratio (MMR), global health, united nations-mandated sustainable development goals (sdg), women's health https://www.downtoearth.org.in/governance/untaxed-wealth-hidden-offshore-by-richest-01-surpasses-entire-wealth-of-the-poorest-half-of-humanity-oxfam https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-02/12iziq8a/Monaco-Tax-Haven.jpg The Principality of Monaco, a premier tax haven in Europe. downtoearth en 2026-04-02T07:17:42.243Z Untaxed wealth hidden offshore by richest 0.1% surpasses entire wealth of the poorest half of humanity: Oxfam Governance, Poverty, Tax on super rich, Oxfam, Super rich, Taxing the rich, untaxed wealth https://www.downtoearth.org.in/science-technology/for-humanity-as-a-whole-artemis-ii-is-both-a-symbol-and-a-tool https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-02/v0biophx/Artemis-II.jpg Artemis II takes off. downtoearth en 2026-04-02T06:48:42.196Z For humanity as a whole, Artemis II is both a symbol and a tool Science & Technology, earth, Moon, space, soviet union, United States, Apollo Landings, Artemis II https://www.downtoearth.org.in/science-technology/artemis-ii-humans-back-to-moon-after-more-than-50-years https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-02/21cwyq06/Artemis.jpg The launch of Artemis II. downtoearth en 2026-04-02T06:48:29.380Z Artemis II: Humans back to moon after more than 50 years Science & Technology, humans, Moon, Artemis II, Apollo 17 mission https://www.downtoearth.org.in/africa/africas-electric-motorbike-future-can-be-built-locally-and-powered-by-solar-our-6000-km-ride-shows-whats-possible https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-02/sv7hxqi7/file-20260327-57-vjf35h.jpg The electric bike on the road in Kenya. downtoearth en 2026-04-02T06:20:11.530Z Africa’s electric motorbike future can be built locally and powered by solar — our 6,000 km ride shows what’s possible Africa, Energy, Renewable Energy, engineering, Kenya, east africa, Transport, Batteries, Manufacturing, solar power, mobility, solutions, Climate solutions, Science and innovation for development, Recharging stations, E-bikes, boda boda, EV batteries, Electric vehicles (EV), Motorcycles, electric motorbikes https://www.downtoearth.org.in/wildlife-biodiversity/poisoned-buried-covered-up-tigress-death-sparks-outrage-in-mp https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-02/y37c3yuy/Satpura-tigress.jpg downtoearth en 2026-04-02T05:50:15.162Z Poisoned, buried, covered up: Tigress death sparks outrage in MP Wildlife & Biodiversity, Madhya Pradesh, tigress, Tiger poaching, Satpura Tiger Reserve