https://www.downtoearth.org.in/economy/indias-middle-class-bears-a-large-share-of-revenue-cost-while-receiving-a-small-share-of-expenditure-benefit https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-08/mwgfdm6l/India-Middle-Class.jpg downtoearth en 2026-04-08T07:23:20.708Z India’s middle class bears a large share of revenue cost while receiving a small share of expenditure benefit Economy, Budget, gst, middle class, Russian Crude, VAT https://www.downtoearth.org.in/agriculture/women-farmers-remain-the-missing-link-in-indias-digital-agriculture-push https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-08/o3e5273t/Woman-Farmer.jpg A woman harvesting wheat in Jodhpur. downtoearth en 2026-04-08T07:23:07.667Z Women farmers remain the missing link in India’s digital agriculture push Agriculture, women farmers, patriarchy, digital agriculture push, digital architecture https://www.downtoearth.org.in/governance/more-than-half-of-odishas-pvtg-population-missed-out-on-welfare-schemes-cag-finds https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-08/155qbaqv/downtoearth-hindi2026-04-07caue8bq0pvtg.avif https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-08/sty41og1/downtoearth-hindi2026-04-07d33i8hgbpvtg2.avif https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-08/av307nwu/downtoearth-hindi2026-04-07e9u0jkxkpvtg.avif downtoearth en 2026-04-08T06:56:37.025Z More than half of Odisha’s PVTG population missed out on welfare schemes, CAG finds Governance, Rural Development, Odisha, tribal rights, Social welfare schemes, social justice, Particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTG), child marriage, Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, CAG audit report https://www.downtoearth.org.in/science-technology/how-the-artemis-ii-crew-trained-to-observe-and-photograph-the-moon-a-nasa-science-team-geologist-explains https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-08/nvgrh5ky/Earth-and-moon-Artemis-NASA https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-08/982i3036/Moon-surface-NASA The moon, viewed from Earth and by Artemis II crew. T marks the Tycho crater; O marks the Orientale crater. https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-08/khvyj424/Moon-surface-NASA A close-up view taken by the Artemis II crew of Vavilov Crater on the rim of the older and larger Hertzsprung basin. The right portion of the image shows the transition from smooth material within an inner ring of mountains to more rugged terrain around the rim. The image was captured with a handheld camera at a focal length of 400 millimetres, around the far side of the moon. https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-08/ax088uoz/NASA-scientists Artemis science officers, from left, Kelsey Young, Trevor Graff, and Angela Garcia stand at the new SCIENCE console in the Mission Control Center at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. (NASA/Josh Valcarcel) https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-08/1stahe2h/NASA-scientist Artemis II Pilot Victor Glover, Commander Reid Wiseman, and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen configure their camera equipment shortly before beginning their lunar flyby observations. downtoearth en 2026-04-08T06:01:19.671Z How the Artemis II crew trained to observe and photograph the moon: A NASA science team geologist explains Science & Technology, Moon, NASA, Geology, Artemis II, lunar expedition, Apollo mission https://www.downtoearth.org.in/africa/seizure-of-2000-ants-at-nairobi-airport-highlights-the-hidden-scale-of-insect-trafficking https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-08/6p4a15fa/iStock-468867044.jpg downtoearth en 2026-04-08T04:58:46.449Z Seizure of 2,000 ants at Nairobi airport highlights the hidden scale of insect trafficking Africa, Wildlife & Biodiversity, Wildlife trafficking, Kenya, Insects, Smuggling, Organised crime, Natural world, ant smuggling, Transnational crime, native flora and fauna, Illicit trade, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) https://www.downtoearth.org.in/health/a-mass-human-capital-loss https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-08/aji2pw8u/Dutch.jpg According to reports, the Netherlands has the tallest average height population, with both men and women growing significantly taller over the past 200 years. downtoearth en 2026-04-08T04:38:11.157Z A mass human capital loss Health, covid-19, World Bank Group, Human capital, Height https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/up-to-15-of-sundarbans-losing-ability-to-recover-from-climate-stress-over-25-years-research-shows https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-07/rrygbf1r/iStock-1137892510.jpg Findings show signs of “critical slowing down” in the UNESCO Sunderbans, where ecosystems take longer to recover from disturbances. downtoearth en 2026-04-07T13:13:55.598Z Up to 15% of Sundarbans losing ability to recover from climate stress over 25 years, research shows Climate Change, Environment, India, Biodiversity, conservation, Deforestation, Cyclones, Sundarbans, Mangroves, Coastal Ecosystems, Salinity, Extreme weather, Bangladesh https://www.downtoearth.org.in/agriculture/caught-off-guard-unseasonal-hailstorms-rain-wipe-out-entire-fields-in-rajasthan-punjab-days-before-harvest https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-07/zsb8dz7p/Rajasthan-hailstorm-Rabi-crop-loss Since the end of March, hailstorm and heavy rain have destroyed all crops in about 20 villages in Bikaner’s Arjunsar region. https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-07/vde1pn2j/Hailstorm-bikaner https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-07/2rm0qdx0/Bikaner-crop-loss downtoearth en 2026-04-07T13:10:38.838Z Caught off-guard: Unseasonal hailstorms, rain wipe out entire fields in Rajasthan, Punjab days before harvest Agriculture, Wheat, Rajasthan, Rabi, Punjab, Bikaner, Western Disturbances, hailstorm, Crop https://www.downtoearth.org.in/governance/delhi-drowns-in-vehicles https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-07/if2jp1yt/Delhi-Traffic-1.jpg This is the scene on the roads of the national capital every sunset as bumper-to-bumper traffic chokes every major carriageway. https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-07/iluahqms/Delhi-Traffic-2.jpg The number of registered vehicles in Delhi is equal to the combined total of registered vehicles in the three metropolitan cities of Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai, according to government figures. https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-07/zp1v6itn/Delhi-Traffic-3.jpg Until there is behavioural change among the residents of Delhi regarding public transport use, these scenes of chaos will repeat every year. downtoearth en 2026-04-07T12:22:56.653Z Delhi drowns in vehicles Governance, Delhi, Public Transport, Vehicles, Traffic, Private vehicles https://www.downtoearth.org.in/air/ghaziabad-recorded-highest-pm10-pollution-in-2025-26 https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-07/h6me5kkx/Ghaziabad-pollution-air https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-07/aiu5pv62/1000311546.jpg https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-07/ng219ttb/1000311547.jpg https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-07/769eyz9y/1000311547.jpg downtoearth en 2026-04-07T12:15:26.553Z Ghaziabad recorded highest PM10 pollution in 2025-26 Air, Pollution, Air Pollution, PM10, PM2.5 https://www.downtoearth.org.in/governance/daily-court-digest-major-environment-orders-april-6-2026 https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-07/29scgekk/Court-Digest.jpg downtoearth en 2026-04-07T11:30:44.829Z Daily Court Digest: Major environment orders (April 6, 2026) Governance, Environment, Kerala, Supreme Court, Punjab, National Green Tribunal, daily court digest, Meerut https://www.downtoearth.org.in/energy/energy-crisis-forces-india-to-revisit-kerosene-a-fuel-it-had-nearly-left-behind https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-07/o1u0oacb/iStock-1249768989.jpg Strait of Hormuz tensions ripple to Indian homes as government revives kerosene supply. downtoearth en 2026-04-07T11:05:27.114Z Energy crisis forces India to revisit kerosene, a fuel it had nearly left behind Energy, energy crisis, liquefied petroleum gas (lpg), Energy security, Kerosene, oil and gas, cost of living, Starit of Hormuz, Kerosene PDS, Clean cooking fuel https://www.downtoearth.org.in/governance/simply-put-smartest-of-them-all https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-07/y6h2725q/Simply-Put-7-Apr-hero-image-copy.jpg https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-07/r8uywq19/Simply-Put-7-Apr-Smart-animal-copy.jpg downtoearth en 2026-04-07T10:53:20.795Z Simply Put: Smartest of them all Governance, humans, WARS, non-humans, animal kingdom https://www.downtoearth.org.in/water/canals-in-a-warming-world-why-irrigation-is-indias-quiet-climate-infrastructure https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-07/qn5bow7o/Irrigation.jpg downtoearth en 2026-04-07T10:29:56.248Z Canals in a warming world: Why irrigation is India’s quiet climate infrastructure Water, Climate Change, Irrigation, Canals, National Council for Applied Economic Research (NCAER), climate infrastructure https://www.downtoearth.org.in/agriculture/soil-health-cards-have-already-proved-india-can-collect-soil-data-at-scale-the-remaining-challenge-is-political-and-institutional https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-07/6u4dab7t/Soil.jpg downtoearth en 2026-04-07T09:16:13.324Z Soil health cards have already proved India can collect soil data at scale; the remaining challenge is political and institutional Agriculture, Farmers, soil health, soil, soil health cards, agri retailers https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/solutions-exist-for-the-hindu-kush-himalaya-that-can-make-it-more-resilient https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-07/ft9itj32/Nepal-Himalaya.jpg Yaks resting in front of a snowy camp high above the Khumbu valley overlooked by the iconic spire of Ama Dablam (6812m) deep in the Himalaya mountain wilderness of the Sagarmatha National Park in Nepal. downtoearth en 2026-04-07T09:15:55.222Z Solutions exist for the Hindu Kush Himalaya that can make it more resilient Climate Change, Climate finance, climate resilience, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Hindu Kush Himalaya https://www.downtoearth.org.in/waste/global-south-is-heading-toward-a-waste-tipping-point https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-07/xyiaoj8r/Landfill Bhalswa landfill, 2018 downtoearth en 2026-04-07T08:59:08.925Z Global South is heading toward a waste tipping point Waste, global south, solid waste management, Waste Processing, EPR, Waste collection, waste tipping point https://www.downtoearth.org.in/agriculture/when-crop-insurance-fails-farmers-pmfby-needs-a-rethink https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-07/ujpeido9/Farmers.jpg Photo for representation. downtoearth en 2026-04-07T08:40:51.075Z When crop insurance fails farmers: PMFBY needs a rethink Agriculture, Farmers, Crop Insurance, PMFBY, Tenant farmers https://www.downtoearth.org.in/governance/cag-finds-nearly-half-of-jammu-and-kashmirs-lakes-have-vanished-since-1967-warns-of-ecological-crisis https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-07/gjfshyc4/iStock-485422676.jpg Land-use changes in Dal Lake, driven by failed land acquisition, malfunctioning sewage treatment plants, poor weed removal, and weak monitoring, have worsened its ecological health. downtoearth en 2026-04-07T07:08:10.678Z CAG finds nearly half of Jammu and Kashmir’s lakes have vanished since 1967, warns of ecological crisis Governance, Environment, Climate Change, conservation, Lakes, biodiversity loss, Wetlands, water bodies, Jammu and Kashmir, CAG audit report, land use change https://www.downtoearth.org.in/wildlife-biodiversity/the-sunita-narain-show-what-are-the-complexities-of-human-wildlife-conflicts https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-07/ysexej3w/SN-Show.jpg downtoearth en 2026-04-07T07:05:44.235Z The Sunita Narain Show: What are the complexities of human-wildlife conflicts? Wildlife & Biodiversity, Farmers, Human-wildlife conflict, docuseries, The Sunita Narain Show, farm lossess https://www.downtoearth.org.in/economy/hormuz-closure-threatens-the-global-food-supply-why-grocery-price-hikes-are-coming https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-07/m6f3rsvj/Fertiliser-machine Fertilizer scarcity and costs are just the beginning of the problems. downtoearth en 2026-04-07T06:31:28.631Z Hormuz closure threatens the global food supply — why grocery price hikes are coming Economy, Food, Food, Food Prices, Wheat, Corn, Rice, Fertiliser, Strait of Hormuz, hormuz, grocery https://www.downtoearth.org.in/africa/nigeria-imports-70-of-its-medicines-why-local-manufacturing-doesnt-meet-demand https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-07/x19tl2xj/iStock-525984851.jpg downtoearth en 2026-04-07T05:57:01.998Z Nigeria imports 70% of its medicines — why local manufacturing doesn’t meet demand Africa, Health, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Pharmaceuticals, Medicines, Manufacturing, Uganda, Imports, Pharmacy, Community Pharmacy https://www.downtoearth.org.in/energy/kalpakkam-indias-indigenously-developed-atomic-reactor-attains-criticality https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-07/5ht6jwo6/Kalpakkam.jpg A Fast-Breeder Test Reactor at the Kalpakkam Nuclear Complex. downtoearth en 2026-04-07T04:48:45.132Z Kalpakkam: India’s indigenously developed atomic reactor attains criticality Energy, Nuclear, Nuclear energy, Thorium, Kalpakkam, Nuclear energy production, Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR https://www.downtoearth.org.in/energy/batteries-are-now-cheap-enough-to-enable-solar-to-meet-90-of-indias-electricity-demand-economically-says-ember-analysis https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-07/9bwky0lh/Solar-India.jpg https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-07/nx9xz00u/Ember-1.png https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-07/6ys0ellu/Ember-2.png downtoearth en 2026-04-07T04:23:27.559Z Batteries are now cheap enough to enable solar to meet 90% of India’s electricity demand economically, says Ember analysis Energy, Battery, monsoon, SOLAR, Ember, battery economics https://www.downtoearth.org.in/environment/from-hormuz-to-suez-how-geography-shaped-human-history https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-07/iv5067vq/Humans-Geography.jpg downtoearth en 2026-04-07T04:01:23.446Z From Hormuz to Suez: How geography shaped human history Environment, geography, Iran, Strait of Hormuz, Gulf, Suez, Strait, Isthmus, Peninsula, Bay, Cove https://www.downtoearth.org.in/governance/the-uniform-civil-code-promises-equal-inheritance-the-data-shows-women-are-not-getting-it-anyway https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-06/x8u6fpj7/GujaratVidhanSabha.jpg The Gujarat Vidhan Sabha building. downtoearth en 2026-04-06T12:11:40.395Z The uniform civil code promises equal inheritance. The data shows women are not getting it anyway Governance, Gujarat, uniform civil code, Women, uttarakhand, inheritance https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/daily-heat-tracker-26-cities-record-above-normal-night-temperatures https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-06/0w6xtgoc/Heat-1.jpg downtoearth en 2026-04-06T11:32:35.656Z Daily Heat Tracker: 26 cities record above normal night temperatures Climate Change, heatwave, India Meteorological Department (IMD), heat, Daily Heat Tracker https://www.downtoearth.org.in/science-technology/simply-put-artemis-2 https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-06/2r3llykd/Simply-Put-6-Apr-hero-image-copy.jpg https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-06/b0vnnygp/Simply-Put-6-Apr-Artemis-copy.jpg downtoearth en 2026-04-06T10:05:57.577Z Simply Put: Artemis-2 Science & Technology, SPACE SCIENCE, Artemis-2 https://www.downtoearth.org.in/agriculture/sweet-potato-may-be-a-neglected-crop-elsewhere-but-its-cultivation-remains-a-significant-part-of-agriculture-in-indias-rainfed-and-tribal-regions https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-06/td7oeh0m/women-farmer-harvesting-white-variety-sweet-potato-from-her-field.jpg A woman farmer harvesting the white variety of sweet potato from her field. https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-06/3ob039a9/white-and-red-variety-sweet-potato.jpg White and red sweet potatoes. downtoearth en 2026-04-06T07:54:38.796Z Sweet potato may be a neglected crop elsewhere; but its cultivation remains a significant part of agriculture in India’s rainfed and tribal regions Agriculture, Odisha, malkangiri, rainfed agriculture, Sweet Potato, tribal regions https://www.downtoearth.org.in/rivers/daily-court-digest-major-environment-orders-april-2-2026 https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-06/v2ez5b85/court.jpg https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-06/z150imr0/BalasonRiver03.jpg Balason River at Dudhia in Darjeeling district. https://gumlet.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-04-06/p1fxiozk/BalasonRiver03.jpg Balason River at Dudhia in Darjeeling district. downtoearth en 2026-04-06T07:30:26.250Z Daily Court Digest: Major environment orders (April 2, 2026) Rivers, Environment, River Pollution, National Green Tribunal (NGT), forest encroachment, Balason river, Ramganga pollution, Odisha airport