https://www.downtoearth.org.in/governance/rural-workers-groups-demand-halt-to-vb-gramg-act-rollout https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-06-08/cxz92pkx/dig068214.jpg MGNREGA workers protest at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, on August 2, 2022, over delayed wages, inadequate funding and alleged corruption in the scheme. downtoearth en 2026-06-08T13:38:07.786Z Rural workers’ groups demand halt to VB-GRAMG Act rollout Governance, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), rural employment, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Wage payments, Union Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), NREGA Sangharsh Morcha, rural livelihoods, VB-GRAMG, VB-GRAMG Act, Workers’ Rights https://www.downtoearth.org.in/water/simply-put-water-cycle-2 https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-06-08/v3pdltjo/Simply-Put-8-June-hero-image-copy.jpg https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-06-08/x1ul5x0m/Simply-Put-8-June-Water-evaporation-copy.jpg downtoearth en 2026-06-08T11:57:44.734Z Simply Put: Water cycle Water, heat stress, Water shortage, water cycle https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/bonn-climate-conference-2025-health-groups-urge-tripling-adaptation-finance-to-120-billion-by-2035 https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-06-08/ls0t93al/54597998768bb6d8d2135c.jpg downtoearth en 2026-06-08T11:36:43.722Z Bonn Climate Conference 2026: Health groups urge tripling adaptation finance to $120 billion by 2035 Climate Change, public health, Climate finance, Loss and Damage, climate resilience, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Adaptation and mitigation, UNFCCC COP31, Bonn Climate Conference 2026, Global Climate and Health Alliance https://www.downtoearth.org.in/wildlife-biodiversity/the-world-has-spent-35-years-funding-biodiversity-why-is-nature-still-losing https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2025-10-30/zffzaw53/Biodiversity downtoearth en 2026-06-08T10:18:24.789Z The world has spent 35 years funding biodiversity. Why is nature still losing? Wildlife & Biodiversity, GEF, samarkand, biodiversity fund, Kunming Montreal Biodiversity Framework, Biodivsersity, 71st Global Environment Facility (GEF) Council, GEF-8, 6th Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF) https://www.downtoearth.org.in/energy/rural-indias-energy-crisis-why-dung-cakes-still-fuel-kitchens-in-uttar-pradesh-villages https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-06-08/aiueb7iq/Rural-uttar-pradesh Sushila (60) from Dara village is comfortable using the LPG stove only when someone lights it for her. Otherwise, she relies on firewood or dungcakes as fuel to cook. https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-06-08/qmxyqw8j/1000346265.jpg https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-06-08/qav27d7w/Energy-rural-india For Ram Kishore Chandrapal from Fakeerabad village in Badaun district, LPG is a secondary fuel. His family's main cooking needs are met by dung cakes which are cheaper. He refills his cylinder only once every four to six months. downtoearth en 2026-06-08T09:52:52.556Z Rural India’s energy crisis: Why dung cakes still fuel kitchens in Uttar Pradesh villages Energy, Cooking fuel, clean fuel, Uttar Pradesh, Firewood, Village, LPG, rural, Badaun, dung cakes, Dara village, Fakeerabad https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/climate-change-may-expand-chikungunya-risk-in-north-america-europe-and-asia-study-says https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-06-08/tfus98ec/iStock-176014274.jpg The Asian tiger mosquito can survive cooler temperatures than the yellow fever mosquito, allowing it to spread into warmer former cold regions and increase the risk of local chikungunya transmission. downtoearth en 2026-06-08T08:59:49.899Z Climate change may expand chikungunya risk in North America, Europe and Asia, study says Climate Change, Wildlife & Biodiversity, Health, Climate Change, Europe, Global Warming, public health, North America, disease surveillance, Vector-borne diseases, World Health Organisation (WHO), Chikungunya, East Asia, Aedes aegypti, Tropical Diseases, aedes albopictus, mosquito-borne diseases, aedes mosquito, Health and Climate https://www.downtoearth.org.in/natural-disasters/15-dead-129-injured-as-78-magnitude-earthquake-hits-southern-philippines https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-06-08/3dlkjf5r/Earthquake-Phillippines downtoearth en 2026-06-08T07:57:48.099Z 19 dead, 134 injured as 7.8 magnitude earthquake hits Southern Philippines Natural Disasters, Earthquake, Tsunami, Philippines https://www.downtoearth.org.in/forests/nearly-48000-rejected-community-forest-rights-claims-show-fra-implementation-failures-experts https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2025-04-01/arard2ec/iStock-1034237604.jpg Photo for representation. downtoearth en 2026-06-08T07:19:21.961Z Nearly 48,000 rejected community forest rights claims show FRA implementation failures: Experts Forests, Governance, forest rights act, forest governance, Community Forest Right, Community Forest Resource Rights (CFRR) https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/hindu-kush-himalaya-countries-need-12-trillion-in-climate-finance-with-indias-share-at-269-trillion-icimod https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-06-08/4763gztg/iStock-2239306876.jpg Bhutan needs more climate finance per person than any other country in the HKH region—about $2,127 per person each year. https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-06-08/hqzslg1u/Screenshot_2026_06_08_at_12_05_12_PM.png https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-06-08/pq8htfjz/Screenshot_2026_06_08_at_12_03_11_PM.png Estimated climate finance needs of HKH countries. downtoearth en 2026-06-08T06:47:49.435Z Hindu Kush Himalaya countries need $12 trillion in climate finance, with India’s share at $2.69 trillion: ICIMOD Climate Change, Climate Mitigation, Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region, Climate Adaptation, Climate finance, climate resilience, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), ICIMOD, Hindu Kush Himalaya https://www.downtoearth.org.in/health/andaman-and-nicobar-islands-record-indias-lowest-fertility-rate-in-nfhs-6 https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-06-08/5upvuxqj/downtoearth-hindi2026-06-024p5zpa6gtfr.jpg downtoearth en 2026-06-08T04:46:14.323Z Andaman and Nicobar Islands record India’s lowest fertility rate in NFHS-6 Health, Governance, Fertility rate, Ageing population, Population decline, Total Fertility Rate, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Ministry Of Health And Family Welfare, Demographics, NFHS-6, Replacement rate https://www.downtoearth.org.in/waste/why-does-the-global-zero-waste-forum-matter-for-indias-waste-management https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-01-27/vwqf2bbg/informal-waste-worker-India-recycling-GST downtoearth en 2026-06-07T05:43:25.870Z Why does the Global Zero Waste Forum matter for India’s waste management? Waste, Waste Management, global zero waste forum