Dying for ration: Centre to give free foodgrains to 813 million from New Year, but what of those excluded

Coverage of the National Food Security Act is still done on the basis of the outdated 2011 Census  

What is Aam Aadmi Party’s new deal on transport?

There are dangers in ignoring the demand for collective dignity on roads and in pandering to the arrogance of cars. Hope AAP will steer the …

Faulty formula

New drug pricing policy proposes bringing all essential medicines under price control, but makes them expensive

Supreme Court questions Tata on Singur land acquired for Nano plant

Court directs Tata Motors to make clear its stand on its rights over the land after it chose to shift plant site to Gujarat

Lobbying begins

Just before mining bill is tabled in Parliament, industry calls profit-sharing a burden. Government is unsure

Access to drinking water, power has improved in slum areas, says slum census report

63.5 per cent slum dwellers in Indian cities have mobile phone connections, but only 19 per cent have toilets

Daily Court Digest: Major environment orders (July 16, 2020)

Down To Earth brings you the top environmental cases heard in the Supreme Court, the high courts and the National Green Tribunal

Liberal politics of Economic Survey 2011-12

The Economic Survey 2011-12 showcases the dividends of economic liberalisation started by the ruling party. But admits: growth is not possible …

Lokpal Bill put in cold storage

Need more time to respond to 187 amendments submitted in Rajya Sabha, says parliamentary affairs minister

Data indicates poor enforcement of law to check female foeticide

Only 143 persons have been convicted till date under PC&PNDT Act that bans sex determination test

Socio-economic caste census: only 4 states, UTs complete survey

Union rural development minister, Jairam Ramesh, asks all states to sort out inconsistencies in preliminary data

Karnataka receives lowest solar energy tariff bid till date

Sun Pharma bags solar project by quoting Rs 5.51 per unit; previous lowest bid was for Rs 7 in Odisha

Innovation key to meet Aichi biodiversity targets by 2020

Meeting the goals of Strategic Plan for Biodiversity can help sustainable development post-2015

Most Indians drinking adulterated milk, finds FSSAI survey

70 per cent milk samples collected across the country by food safety authority did not conform to standards

What drives illegal trade in Asian bears

2,801 bears have been traded dead or alive for their parts and derivatives between 2000 and 2011 in Asia, especially in Cambodia and China, …

Poor kids rarely get free treatment in private hospitals of Delhi: study

Quota for free treatment of economically weaker sections in private hospitals under-utilised; less than half of the children referred from …

Food security bill forgoes nutrition security

The bill will ensure food for millions of hungry Indians. But has the government identified them?

Child malnutrition is down: survey

Prevalence of underweight children down from 76  to 43 per cent for boys, 74 to 42 per cent for girls over past  four decades, says …

Stop forceful land acquisition for Delhi-Mumbai industrial corridor project, say farmers of Raigad

They want state to follow the proposed land acquisition Bill likely to be passed soon by Parliament

Odisha miners to pay royalty for tribal welfare

State CM approves formulation of new mining regulation; funds to be used for local infrastructure in Scheduled Areas

Enforcing e-waste rules a challenge

Loopholes in the rules make it difficult to regulate informal sector dealing in e-waste and bulk consumers of electronic goods

Japan to release treated water from Fukushima nuclear plant from August 24 

Over 1.3 million tonnes of radioactive water stored from 12 years; UN nuclear watchdog had approved plan in July 2023  

Home ministry delayed Plachimada bill

RTI response reveals why bill meant to secure compensation from Coca-Cola has not received president’s assent till now 

Water Footprint: a stumbling block?

As government mulls using water footprint as a tool to measure water consumption by farming and industrial processes, experts warn of its limitations

Air pollution is group 1 carcinogen, says WHO agency

Our cities urgently need action plan to meet clean air targets, given the high level of air pollution and increased incidence of lung cancer