https://www.downtoearth.org.in/forests/banjars-forest-rights-can-become-a-model-for-community-led-development-in-himachal-pradesh https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-10-15/yd6gv72y/iStock-832016696.jpg For forest-dependent communities, a forest is much more than a collection of trees. downtoearth en 2026-10-15T13:33:18.637Z Banjar’s forest rights can become a model for community-led development in Himachal Pradesh forest rights, community-led development, Himachal Pradesh, Banjar forests, Forest Rights Act, Gram Sabha, sustainable livelihoods, climate resilience, ecological health, participatory planning, biodiversity protection, water security, women participation, NTFPs, local governance https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/state-of-one-planetary-boundary-critical-in-india-south-asia https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-10-15/agt86upv/50.jpg downtoearth en 2026-10-15T12:13:51.662Z ‘State of one planetary boundary critical in India, South Asia’ planetary boundaries, South Asia, India pollution, aerosol loading, climate change, biosphere integrity, monsoon system, freshwater change, ocean acidification, biogeochemical flows, regional pollution, Aerosol Optical Depth, Down To Earth, environmental report, planetary health https://www.downtoearth.org.in/agriculture/international-day-of-rural-women-free-to-make-farming-choices-this-woman-revives-family-land-and-transforms-fortunes https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-10-15/yzv4odbs/1000447873.jpg downtoearth en 2026-10-15T11:54:30.218Z International Day of Rural Women: Free to make farming choices, this woman revives family land and transforms fortunes Agriculture, Agriculture, Farmer, Maharashtra, woman, International Day of Rural Women, farming choices https://www.downtoearth.org.in/mining/writing-on-the-wall-gadchirolis-transformation-comes-at-a-cost https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-10-15/t2ssn5lg/20.jpg Residents of Bande village complain of health problems and ruined agriculture after mining activities started in Surjagarh downtoearth en 2026-10-15T11:47:24.149Z Writing on the wall: Gadchiroli's transformation comes at a cost Gadchiroli mining, iron ore reserves, environmental impact, Lloyds Metals, forest wealth, health issues, Surjagarh mining, water contamination, Maharashtra investments, Naxalite unrest, economic transformation, mining contracts, drought restrictions, villager struggles, Down To Earth https://www.downtoearth.org.in/economy/indias-innovation-quagmire https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-10-15/t4vh92ym/42.jpg downtoearth en 2026-10-15T11:40:30.384Z India’s innovation quagmire India innovation, deep tech, R&D funding, technology stagnation, corporate apathy, innovation quagmire, RDI fund, bureaucratic delays, private sector, China comparison, entrepreneurial growth, frontier technologies, research spending, Imagined in India, innovation index https://www.downtoearth.org.in/health/has-the-world-escaped-covid-19s-grip https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-10-15/9bf3fhps/Covid-19 The long-term effects of COVID-19 continue to inflict millions, adding to the morbidity levels downtoearth en 2026-10-15T11:40:01.899Z Has the world escaped COVID-19's grip? COVID-19, pandemic, long COVID, WHO, life expectancy, global health, excess deaths, India COVID, public health, viral pandemic, morbidity, health recovery, death toll, global estimates, long-term effects https://www.downtoearth.org.in/governance/surat-migrant-workers-demand-eight-hour-shifts-and-weekly-holidays-in-gaon-chalo-protest https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-10-14/69qhntk6/iStock-2153245798.jpg downtoearth en 2026-10-15T11:24:49.368Z Surat migrant workers demand eight-hour shifts and weekly holidays in ‘Gaon Chalo’ protest Surat protests, textile workers, labour rights, migrant exodus, working hours, Diwali production, embroidery industry, social security, Gaon Chalo, labour laws, worker exploitation, power looms, employment benefits, labour shortage, factories bill https://www.downtoearth.org.in/health/how-big-tobaccos-political-influence-is-growing https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-10-15/znmt90di/Tobacco.jpg The tobacco industry has for many decades lobbied governments to not raise tobacco taxes, or to roll them back. Wikimedia Commons, CC0 1.0. downtoearth en 2026-10-15T11:16:56.066Z How Big Tobacco’s political influence is growing Big Tobacco, tobacco lobbying, illicit tobacco, tobacco excise, public health, political influence, smoking rates, tobacco control, taxation debate, organized crime, lobbying transparency, political donations, revolving door, vaping policy, health policies https://www.downtoearth.org.in/food/food-warfare-is-on-the-rise-as-a-conflict-strategy https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-10-15/yxoiqai3/10.jpg downtoearth en 2026-10-15T10:48:54.226Z Food warfare is on the rise as a conflict strategy food warfare, global food system, Russia-Ukraine war, food insecurity, grain exports, Black Sea blockade, Ukraine agriculture, fertile soil, famine risk, El Niño impact, wheat prices, trade routes, fertiliser crisis, grain harvest, food imports https://www.downtoearth.org.in/natural-disasters/one-in-three-people-unable-to-act-on-disaster-warnings-despite-receiving-alerts-report https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-10-15/si47rd3k/iStock-2296159979.jpg Aftermath of the Ahar Earthquake in 20212 in East Azerbaijan, Iran. downtoearth en 2026-10-15T10:32:30.377Z One in three people unable to act on disaster warnings despite receiving alerts: Report disaster warnings, early warnings, disaster preparedness, World Risk Poll, low-income countries, protective action, mobile alerts, disaster risk, warning coverage, climate risk, resilience planning, disaster impact, multiple warnings, disaster reduction, mobile systems https://www.downtoearth.org.in/forests/nagar-van-yojana-the-challenge-of-maintaining-indias-urban-forests https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-10-15/jpt2vmjl/2.jpg https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-10-15/lc04xvtz/Why-Indias-Urban-Forests-are-Dying-and-How-to-Save-Them1.png Rising summer temperatures compared with declining urban green cover across major Indian cities (2005–2025) https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-10-15/59bgxm64/IMG-20260630-WA0059.jpg A frontline worker clears invasive grass to prepare planting beds at a Nagar Van site https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-10-15/edqux5yd/IMG-20260616-WA0044.jpg Visitors and children enjoying the open green space and playground facilities at Etawah Nagar Van https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-10-15/zj97t4nv/1.jpg Entrance gate and paved boundary of an urban forest site near the hilly landscape of Viratnagar downtoearth en 2026-10-15T09:58:43.142Z Nagar Van Yojana: The challenge of maintaining India’s urban forests Forests https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/daily-weather-tracker-heavy-rain-hailstorm-alerts-for-delhi-punjab-and-haryana-as-northeast-monsoon-approaches-south-india https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-10-15/2tklpesu/1000447750.jpg downtoearth en 2026-10-15T09:33:28.671Z Daily weather tracker: Heavy rain, hailstorm alerts for Delhi, Punjab and Haryana as Northeast monsoon approaches South India Climate Change, Haryana, Kerala, Rainfall, Punjab, SOUTH INDIA, northeast monsoon, hailstorm https://www.downtoearth.org.in/economy/238-million-indians-are-multidimensionally-poor-one-fifth-of-the-population-remains-vulnerable-due-to-basic-deprivations https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-10-15/s6hz7fs4/iStock-1069263912.jpg downtoearth en 2026-10-15T08:34:25.660Z 238 million Indians are multidimensionally poor; one-fifth of the population remains vulnerable due to basic deprivations Economy, Nutrition, Water, Poverty, Sanitation, poverty line, UNDP, multidimensional poverty, measuring poverty https://www.downtoearth.org.in/environment/daily-court-digest-major-environment-orders-october-13-2026 https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-10-07/yaop3jvv/Court-Digest.jpg downtoearth en 2026-10-15T07:04:43.503Z Daily Court Digest: Major environment orders (October 13, 2026) Environment, Encroachment, Punjab, River, desilting, Agra, NGT, river rejuvenation, river encroachment, law https://www.downtoearth.org.in/natural-disasters/panama-declares-emergency-after-powerful-earthquakes-trigger-more-than-100-aftershocks https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-10-15/rjzr4n1b/MH-drought.png downtoearth en 2026-10-15T06:55:27.609Z Panama declares emergency after powerful earthquakes trigger more than 100 aftershocks Panama earthquake, state of emergency, Richter scale, aftershocks, tectonic plates, Pacific Ring, Herrera province, seismic activity, earthquake damage, Civil Protection, Colombia tremors, building codes, Rio Grande quake, mechanical readjustment, Panama provinces https://www.downtoearth.org.in/health/menopause-triggers-sudden-bodily-changes-with-hormonal-shifts-beginning-over-a-decade-earlier-study-finds https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-10-15/lg17p1x1/iStock-1306693036.jpg downtoearth en 2026-10-15T05:09:23.469Z Menopause triggers sudden bodily changes, with hormonal shifts beginning over a decade earlier, study finds menopause changes, hormonal shifts, bone health, Nature Medicine, final menstrual, reproductive hormones, physiological cliff, menopausal therapy, blood chemistry, kidney function, liver health, preventive care, estrogen decline, lead release, aging vs menopause https://www.downtoearth.org.in/africa/zimbabwe-plans-for-drought-as-super-el-nino-threatens-2026-27-rainy-season https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-10-14/e9j2tyca/iStock-1170096581.jpg downtoearth en 2026-10-14T15:02:37.617Z Zimbabwe plans for drought as super El Nino threatens 2026-27 rainy season El Nino, drought plan, food security, climate-smart, rain-fed farming, grain reserves, livestock protection, climate change, traditional grains, irrigation, early warning, crop failures, water shortages, conservation farming, agricultural financing https://www.downtoearth.org.in/agriculture/cheruvayal-raman-keeper-of-wayanads-vanishing-rice-heritage-dies-at-74 https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-10-14/rshm8xt4/IMG9439.jpeg Cheruvayal Raman downtoearth en 2026-10-14T12:39:14.526Z Cheruvayal Raman, keeper of Wayanad’s vanishing rice heritage, dies at 74 Agriculture, Kerala, Wayanad, indigenous seeds, indigenous varieties of rice, padma shri, Seed conservation, Tribal farmers, seed keepers, Agricultural biodiversity, traditional farming, Indigenous rice varieties, Kurichya community https://www.downtoearth.org.in/health/toxic-chromium-found-at-1000-times-drinking-water-limit-in-nashik-109-residents-diagnosed-with-skin-ailments https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-10-14/9mlxae8c/chromium-nashik.png Children have developed blisters after bathing in polluted water (left) and show non-healing ulcers (right). Photographs taken on October 3, 2026. https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-10-14/fbfiic6m/img-20261003-wa0001.jpg Yellow borewell water used by residents for washing clothes and utensils and bathing. downtoearth en 2026-10-14T12:38:52.657Z Toxic chromium found at 1,000 times drinking water limit in Nashik; 109 residents diagnosed with skin ailments Health, Water, Governance, Environmental Health, public health, groundwater contamination, Water Pollution, Industrial Pollution, Maharashtra, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, toxic chemicals, hexavalent chromium, nashik groundwater contamination https://www.downtoearth.org.in/urbanisation/simply-put-human-blunder https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-10-14/vgqixxxq/Simply-Put-14-OCT-hero-image-copy.jpg https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-10-14/faw8e130/Simply-Put-14-Oct-copy.jpg downtoearth en 2026-10-14T11:42:22.707Z Simply Put: Human blunder Urbanisation, Water, Lucknow floods https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/resilience-to-disaster-risk-is-shared-responsibility https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-10-14/qjcx8kuw/iStock-2295003147.jpg The aftermath of massive flooding along the Bhotekoshi River in Devighat, Nuwakot, Nepal, on August 28, 2026, which inundated low-lying areas and settlements near the riverbanks. downtoearth en 2026-10-14T11:39:13.409Z Resilience to disaster risk is shared responsibility Climate Change, Climate Adaptation, climate resilience, Disaster Preparedness, Sendai Framework, disaster risk reduction, Early warning systems, community resilience https://www.downtoearth.org.in/africa/africa-should-take-selective-approach-to-carbon-removal-technologies-report https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-10-14/rrjrosla/iStock-2179149070.jpg downtoearth en 2026-10-14T11:07:54.834Z Africa should take selective approach to carbon removal technologies: Report carbon removal, climate finance, biochar, enhanced weathering, direct air capture, carbon markets, ecosystem restoration, agriculture benefits, geothermal energy, afforestation, reforestation, local institutions, development priorities, carbon storage, African resources https://www.downtoearth.org.in/energy/opec-oil-output-rebounds-in-september-even-amid-strait-of-hormuz-tensions https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-10-14/tgfpzmkz/iStock-2264193758.jpg Oil tanker movement through Strait of Hormuz increased in September https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-10-14/bll11rtn/Crude-oil-production-graph.jpg downtoearth en 2026-10-14T10:31:54.366Z OPEC oil output rebounds in September even amid Strait of Hormuz tensions OPEC oil, Strait Hormuz, Saudi oil, oil output, Iraq oil, global fuel, gas prices, energy security, oil tankers, Black Sea, Russian diesel, Yanbu pipeline, European gas, cold weather, BP strategy https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/is-india-investing-enough-in-disaster-risk-reduction https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-10-14/w78lrnxs/iStock-1353319600.jpg Destruction caused by cyclone Amphan in West Bengal in 2020. downtoearth en 2026-10-14T10:12:17.737Z Is India investing enough in disaster risk reduction? Climate Change, Disaster Management, Climate Adaptation, climate resilience, Disaster Preparedness, Extreme weather, disaster risk reduction, Early warning systems, Disaster mitigation https://www.downtoearth.org.in/air/pollution-control-needs-action-not-shutdowns https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-10-14/sop2ek3e/Editor-Hindi-copy.jpg downtoearth en 2026-10-14T09:41:46.623Z Pollution control needs action not shutdowns Air, Pollution, Governance, air pollution causes and effects, Environment, Industrial Pollution, Delhi-NCR, Vehicular Pollution, Public Transport, delhi air pollution, Pollution Control, air quality, winter pollution, Environmental policy, Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), Delhi winter pollution https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/indonesia-faces-worst-wildfire-season-in-a-decade-as-super-el-niño-fuels-fires https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-10-14/fqklvdg2/Wildfires-FIRMS-NASA.png Satellite data from NASA’s Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS) showing active fires across Indonesia. https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-10-14/dtw9j0u4/Wildfires-Indonesia-Nusantara-Atlas-.png https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-10-14/jeuenpnj/Active-Fires-and-Aerosols-Copernicus-Windy.png downtoearth en 2026-10-14T09:01:00.693Z Indonesia faces worst wildfire season in a decade as Super El Niño fuels fires Indonesia wildfires, Super El Niño, wildfire hotspots, air quality, slash-and-burn, Nusantara Atlas, Malaysia smoke, Singapore pollution, Indian Ocean smoke, public health, dry conditions, aerosol maps, land clearing, Bay of Bengal, decade worst fires https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/daily-weather-tracker-weather-takes-a-dramatic-turn-across-india-as-storms-hailstorms-and-heavy-rain-threaten-several-states https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-10-14/ln7yv1dt/1000446611.jpg downtoearth en 2026-10-14T08:25:48.599Z Daily weather tracker: Weather takes a dramatic turn across India as storms, hailstorms and heavy rain threaten several states Climate Change, Agriculture, Tamil Nadu, Weather, Lightning, Storms, rain, northeast monsoon, imd, hailstorm, Crop, Thunderstorm https://www.downtoearth.org.in/africa/bambara-groundnut-new-maps-show-where-southern-african-farmers-can-grow-this-droughttolerant-crop https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-10-14/nozc7y7h/iStock-909890874.jpg Bambara groundnut. downtoearth en 2026-10-14T06:33:48.926Z Bambara groundnut: new maps show where southern African farmers can grow this drought‑tolerant crop bambara groundnut, drought-tolerant, southern Africa, food security, indigenous crops, climate resilience, crop suitability, Eswatini farming, nutritious crops, frost risk, AquaCrop model, planting maps, smallholder farmers, commercialisation, climate shocks https://www.downtoearth.org.in/governance/weekly-water-cuts-borewell-ban-maharashtra-tightens-restrictions-amid-drought https://cf-images.assettype.com/downtoearth/2026-10-13/1p9da3v1/drought.jpeg Grape vineyards in Maharashtra impacted by drought. downtoearth en 2026-10-13T14:51:14.511Z Weekly water cuts, borewell ban: Maharashtra tightens restrictions amid drought Governance, Water, water crisis, Irrigation, Groundwater depletion, Marathwada, Maharashtra drought, Nagpur, Reservoir storage, pune water cuts