वैज्ञानिकों ने मटर की दो अलग-अलग प्रजातियों वीएल-8 और पीसी-531 के संकरण के जरिये मटर की नई किस्म तैयार की है

Scientists from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research developed a pea variety that bears more flowers per stalk and therefore yields more peas per plant

FSSAI’s recent notification claiming food fortification to be a scientifically safe method to address micronutrient deficiencies has got experts worried

Research showed that over the next two years, it is 64% likely to be anomalously warm 

Ignoring experts’ recommendations on protecting fragile ecology of Western Ghats, Kerala had chosen development over environment

The generation of hydropower from the top seven hydropower projects in India has suffered due to climate variability in the past six decades

The heavy spell cannot be seen in isolation from the seasonal distribution, rainfall abnormalities over the rest of the country or abnormal weather trends around the world

Deep-rooted mistakes unearthed when a CAG audit report on flood control and forecasting was analysed

If India’s laws do not adequately punish those who commit sexual assault on animals, they may move on to unleash their cruelty on humans too

Indu Bhushan, CEO of Ayushman Bharat says government is trying to put systems in place which can help in spending money effectively

A young group of environmental engineers has begun a startup to manage municipal solid waste in Mumbai. The company called Sanjeevani S3 is helping residential societies, school, eateries and hotels manage their waste in a sustainable and affordable manner.

The recently-concluded 'Gaj Mahotsav’ in Delhi celebrated the Indian Elephant, an animal that is fast losing its habitat in India

Here are some non-nutritional components of grams and vegetables that don’t interact well with vitamins and minerals

Although the average farm income per month saw a rise in the last four years, it is still not enough to help farmers cope with the current agrarian crisis

Of the 613 districts considered, nearly half the districts are unlikely to achieve the target of reducing deaths in newborns and under 5-year-old children by 2030

The degree of deforestation was greater in Assam compared to Arunachal Pradesh, say researchers from the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, Dehradun

Two old timers recall the contributions that Vajpayee made to the field of environmental governance in India

It was in Machilipatnam that the world caught the first glimpse of light from a new material - helium

The ban is delayed and addresses only a part of the problem of toxic pesticides in India

The IMD says the rainfall density is expected to reduce majorly in the next 2-3 days

The ex-environment minister writes to the current one saying the new rules make for a fit case to move a privilege motion against Vardhan

Marine heawaves have already become longer-lasting and more frequent, extensive and intense and this trend is likely to accelerate under further global warming, says a new study

Experts from the fields of history and conservation tell Down To Earth about why, despite featuring so frequently in Indian history and culture, the elephant is struggling to find a home for itself in India

There are chances that the scheme will just see a formal launch on September 25 and won’t be rolled out across the country

Even after 71 years of independence, 1 in 11 children in India is a child labourer, 1 in every 3 is malnourished, only 3 in every 10 children complete education age-appropriately

Kendu pluckers union is batting for state collection of Kendu while the activists oppose it

Melting of Arctic ice might be altering the paths of certain high speed winds in the region called jet streams, also associated with tornadoes in the summer season in the US

The Tumakuru Forest Division has submitted a proposal to the Karnataka government for declaring the Bukkapatna State Forest as a Wildlife Sanctuary. If adopted, it will be a boon for the biodiversity and ecological health of the region

A national survey of India’s coastline from 1990 to 2016 shows West Bengal saw the biggest coastal erosion followed by Puducherry, Kerala & Tamil Nadu

The first Hothouse state last occurred 125,000 years ago, and the risk of a new one was raised by a study recently 

Making your own personal hygiene products are easier than you think. Kirti Negi Bajoria, a professional who is on a sabbatical makes a lot of household and personal care products on her own. In this video, she demonstrates a simple recipe to make floor cleaners and dish-wash which is free of harmful chemicals

A preliminary report by the Sikkim government suggests the green state is carbon-negative, but emissions are on the rise

The whole Himachal Pradesh got 500% more average rainfall within a day than it normally does

Thought to be a game changer for India's mining affected people, the District Mineral Foundation is yet to identify its beneficiaries

Instead of encouraging them on paper, the government has to create a few model FPOs in the country and provide institutional support to them

The rules of the Compensatory (Afforestation) Fund Act 2016 are better than the draft but not impactful

A new study says that it will be challenging to reconcile oil palm expansion and African primate conservation as most areas suitable for growing palm oil are primate habitats

The last most powerful quake in the North Slope was in 1995 at 5.2, and the jump to 6.4 is significant because earthquakes rapidly grow in strength as magnitude rises

It's a reason to worry because this caterpillar can also destroy crops like rice, cotton and sugarcane

Floods triggered by the southwest monsoon is being likened to the 2009 typhoon Ketsana, which killed hundreds in Metro Manila

People belonging to the Baiga tribe mostly depend on forests and its plants for their livelihood. They possess the ability to recognise hundreds of species around them and know their usage in myriad ways

Global warming does not cause wildfires. Rather, global warming exacerbates the conditions and raises the risk of wildfire

Despite excellent information from across the border from Nepal, and much preparation Bihar remains flood prone, with problems of communication with officers in the field and an embankment approach to flood management

The floods in this monsoon season have caused the state a loss of Rs 8,316 crore

Flash flood has ruptured the main pipeline that supplies drinking water to the town

This last-minute decision came after the Jain community protested against livestock export to the Middle-East

36 people have died in the Democratic Republic of Congo less than two weeks after the WHO declared an end to the outbreak

Hardly one-third of the fire is under control and it is unlikely to be extinguished before early September

The resorts have been built in the major elephant corridor in the area, something that the court was especially displeased about

Since the beginning of the monsoon season, 14 districts in the state have been affected by floods comprising over 2,000 villages, says the National Disaster Management Authority

IIT-Gandhinagar researchers found that average fire load energy density was three times the average found during a study done conducted 20 years ago in Kanpur

शोधकर्ताओं का मानना है कि ये निशान लुप्त हो चुकी सारदा नदी के हो सकते हैं, जिसका उल्लेख ऐतिहासिक ग्रंथों में मिलता है  

वर्ष 2015 में भारत का स्कोर 100 में से सिर्फ 44 था, जो नाममात्र की बढ़ोत्तरी के साथ अब 45 हुआ है। 

The state’s scheme, aimed at creating environmentally sustainable villages, saw only up to 6% funds being used for green projects

Refineries of Bharat Petroleum and Indian Oil have seen a string of fire incidents in the past two years

All of them launch a protest today to make their demands heard

आजादी का मतलब किसी को बेड़ियों से मुक्त करना नहीं बल्कि एक सम्मानजनक जिंदगी जीना और दूसरों की स्वतंत्रता को महत्व देना है

Developed by scientists at the Chennai-based National Institute of Ocean Technology & School of Engineering at Vels University, the sensor can be deployed on drifting buoys on the sea

A new study shows that species richness of birds was higher in agricultural lands than in the protected area, except for specialised species such as hornbills and large woodpeckers

How blackbuck have managed to survive and thrive in this Odisha district is a conservation success story

सूखे के निपटने के लिए 150 वर्षों के अनुभव के बाद भी भारत इस दिशा में कारगर कदम क्यों नहीं उठा पाया है?

From 2006 to 2010, the cost of setting up an AIIMS shot by 147% under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana, shows a report by the Comptroller Auditor General of India

This is happening when 80 per cent of deliveries are taking place in health facilities, says a report

The latest CAG report says the country might not meet the SDG goal as well with its current schemes

The DMK patriarch was a pioneer in reforming governance in Tamil Nadu. Here are three of his most notable schemes

Now that the rich are also being hit by climate change & the “attribution” is clear, the targets for the world’s anger will be emerging rich in emerging countries like India

2011 से 2013 के बीच आंध्र प्रदेश, कर्नाटक और तेलंगाना में इन राज्यों के कुल भौगोलिक क्षेत्र का क्रमशः 14.35, 36.24 और 31.40 प्रतिशत भूभाग धरती को बंजर बनाने वाली प्रक्रियाओं से प्रभावित हुआ है

Looking at raw materials, manufacturing, transport, and eventual disposal, researchers calculate greenhouse gas emissions, waste disposal, water and energy consumption and other impacts

From seed banks to rainwater harvesting, one village on the Brahmaputra has spread innovative agriculture through the region – as farmers battle against worsening floods and droughts

A Parliamentary Standing Committee report says the potential of the fisheries sector in India needs more exploring

Down to Earth travels across north India to speak with farmers and animal rearers to find out how cow vigilantism has affected the rural economy

Dahanaput, a small hamlet in a remote corner of Odisha, is rewriting the story of child malnutrition as they commit to push their children towards a healthy future

The presence of the lumps of solid crude mean there has been an oil spill in the area

The food regulator refuses to take those food products off the shelf, ignoring possible risks

कोयला और खान मंत्रालय ने ट्राइबल सबप्लान की धनराशि आदिवासियों के सामाजिक-आर्थिक कल्याण के बजाय उन्हें नुकसान पहुंचाने वाली योजनाओं पर खर्च की

Almost 90,000 people and more than 7,500 hectares of land under water as NEEPCO dam releases water from the Doyang river that flows through Nagaland and Assam

The magazine had reported on how UPL's chemcial and pesticide units were worsening pollution scenario in Vapi

Villagers were protesting the lack of notice and the lack of information in the local language

Doctor-patient ratio in India is much less than the WHO-prescribed limit of 1:1000  

Several factors have led to slow progress in the country’s biodiesel development programme, nbotably, the Jatropha plant

A new study says warm and humid climate led to formation of Himalayas

Wildlife Conservation Trust recommends measures to achieve a win-win solution for development and wildlife

50 years after he first visited North Sentinel Island in the Andaman archipelago, veteran anthropologist, T N Pandit talks to Down To Earth about the Sentinelese people, other tribal groups in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and his legacy

खनन प्रभावित क्षेत्रों और लोगों के लिए जिस मकसद से डीएमएफ गठित किया गया था, वह पूरा होता नहीं दिख रहा

Early warning systems and better weather forecasting have become a matter of life and death for communities facing more frequent and intense flash floods

Rashtriya Kisan Mahashangha demands farmers's involvement in deliberations over use of MGNREGA in farm sector

No clarity on LPG use for the rest of the beneficiaries

Though the monsoon is behaving erratically, drought-prone districts are still water rich

Despite having immense nutritive and medicinal properties, the rice bean is a lesser-known pulse

Sikiya (Digitaria Sanguilanis) is a variety of wild millet harvested by the Baiga tribals of Dindori district in Madhya Pradesh. Its grains are even smaller than those of little millets and has a yellowish colour. The Baiga tribals prepare rice and kheer out of it.Currently, the Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR) based in Hyderabad is researching on Sikiya for nutritional analysis. This crabgrass finger millet, which has always been a part of tribal culture, has 12 per cent protein.

While IMD says the climatic phenomenon will be ineffective, other forecasters disagree

A new book exposes the lacunae in the way India manages its waste and recommends changes in practices and attitudes toward waste. Robin Jeffrey and Assa Doron, authors of the book, speak to Swati Singh Sambyal on the layered challenges of managing solid waste

Indian researchers have shown that antibiotic resistant genes are present in micro-organisms of mangrove regions in Kerala

A transformation in the food system is underway with 100 consumers funding traditional millet farmers

Scientists and manufacturers are looking for ways to keep synthetic microfibers from getting into the environment in the first place

Food manufacturers have been issuing warnings that they’ve nearly run out of carbon dioxide. So why we can’t just capture the excess CO2 from the atmosphere and use that?

The government is dragging its feet over controlling dog population, vaccinating them or even making enough shots available for victims

Although Earth Overshoot Day is a compelling concept, the methodology used to calculate it and the ecological footprint on which it is based is conceptually flawed

India’s booming e-commerce industry has huge environmental costs and there are no estimates about the amount of packaging and waste disposed from e-commerce

2018 is the year when the shrub is flowering again in the hills of South India. Here is its story

Making your own floor cleaner and dish wash liquid is easier than you think. Kirti Negi Bajoria, a professional who is on a sabbatical, makes a lot of household and personal care products on her own. In this video, she demonstrates a simple recipe to make floor and cleaners that are free of harmful chemicals.

By 2080, deaths from heat waves could increase by up to 2,000 percent in some areas of the world, say Australian researchers

A new Bill will amend all laws that discriminate against leprosy patients, but the list is long

Arsenic Trioxide - a naturally occurring metalloid – may be helpful in inducing cell death and also halt growth of liver cancer cells

The questionnaire-based tool, Chandigarh Autism Screening Instrument, has been developed specifically for autism screening in North India

Poor policy measures, rising input costs and limited market are affecting growth of organic farming in the country

While forest dept says the villagers have agreed to move, activists call it a lie

The well-intentioned verdict throws up various legal and ecological questions

Millions of people becoming stateless in their own land is totally unacceptable

In the garb of streamlining green clearances, the Union government has sidelined communities and diluted environmental regulations over the past four years

Farmers seek MSP since surplus skimmed milk powder is lowering demand and prices

A recent study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) found genetically modified ingredients in processed foods sold in India. Sunita Narain, director general of CSE and editor of Down To Earth raises questions on legality of these products in the Indian market and asks why Indian consumers are deprived of their right to make an informed choice about food they eat?

A certain protein of zika virus affects proliferation rates of human neural stem cells and promotes faulty neuron formation

Excluson of four million people from Assam's draft National Citizen Registry has created panic among the inhabitants

Sex determination is an issue related to the degraded moral values of a few. Introducing six months of ultrasound training can't inculcate moral values

Earth dwellers have used a year’s worth of resources in seven months

The price of the totapuri mango has crashed due to low demand for its pulp, leaving farmers to dump produce on roads

The most expensive farmer welfare scheme in Telangana is providing land-owning farmers monetary assistance even before they plant the first seed but is excluding most beneficiaries

Africa has to build resilience to both energy and climate crisis, but analysis of public finance flowing to energy infrastructure in Africa from 2014 through 2016 has revealed a worrying trend. Between 2014 and 2016, nearly 60 per cent of Government-backed finance for energy in Africa went into supporting fossil fuel projects

Monsoon ditched them so bad that they stare at lowest rain deficit in 13 years

Globally, companies are collecting and processing waste through producer responsibility organisations

Rockets may have been intended for use in Tipu’s wars against the British

21 of the 65 processed foods tested had genetically modified ingredients; most of these products do not mention anything about GM on their labels.

Rajarshi Banerjee, who heads CSE's laboratory, explains the method adopted to detect GM ingredients in packaged foods

Amit Khurana, Programme Director, Food Safety & Toxins, Centre for Science and Environment, talks about the findings of the study on GM ingredients in foods. 

The court is of the opinion that common people should be informed about the impacts of polluted river water

मंच के राष्ट्रीय प्रवक्ता दीपक शर्मा ने बताया कि सीएसई की रिपोर्ट बेहद गंभीर है। खाद्य उत्पादों में जीएम को लेकर कोई समझौता नहीं किया जा सकता।

The allegations of collusion between the Andhra government and Singapore companies under the Swiss Challenge Method are not untrue

The scheme, which attempts to increase solar installations while consequently providing relief to Delhi’s agricultural sector, offers very little for any of the stakeholders involved other than well-off, large landowning farmers

Gill Braulik, who has been studying Indus River dolphins in Pakistan for over 15 years, speaks to Down To Earth about the future of the animal in both Pakistan and India

FSSAI says it will frame a law to regulate GM food, but fails to talk about the prevalent illegal trade and mislabeling

The Ladakhi engineer, environmentalist and innovator has been awarded ‘Asia’s Nobel’ for ‘harnessing nature, culture and education for community progress’

According to the Coalition for a GM-free India, CSE's findings point to adoption of an anti-citizen policy by the government

A biosphere reserve is a site destined to reconcile the conservation of biodiversity and human activity through the sustainable use of natural resources

समाजवादी पार्टी के राज्यसभा सांसद सुखराम सिंह यादव ने कहा, सरकार को ऐसा करने वाली कंपनियों के खिलाफ सख्त कार्रवाई करनी चाहिए।

भारत में जीएम खाद्य उत्पादों का आयात, निर्यात, उत्पादन और वितरण स्वीकृत नहीं है। 

जीएम भोजन का स्वास्थ्य के प्रति एक चिंताजनक पहलू यह भी है कि इससे एलर्जिक रिएक्शन हो सकता है। 

Besides its application in finding a breakthrough against TB, the new work is expected to be of importance in terms of the further development of the biopharmaceuticals sector

A slew of measures like horticulture, beekeeping, polycropping and creation of water harvesting structures guarantee income augmentation among rural poor

In a first-of-its-kind study in India, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) tested 65 food products available in the market for genetically modified (GM) ingredients. To its horror, CSE found GM genes in 32% of the products; almost 80% of them imported

दिल्ली स्थित सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट (सीएसई) के अध्ययन में 32 प्रतिशत खाद्य उत्पादों में जीएम के अंश मिले हैं। सीएसई ने कुल 65 प्रसंस्कृत खाद्य उत्पादों में जीएम अंश पता लगाने के लिए जांच की। ये उत्पाद दिल्ली, पंजाब ओर गुजरात से लिए गए। जीएम पॉजिटिव पाए गए करीब …

Chandra Bhushan, Deputy Director General of Delhi-based Centre For Science and Environment talks about their new study on GM ingredients in packaged foods

From endosulfan poisoning in Kerala to the presence of a carcinogen in bread, CSE has conducted many studies of imminent concern to human beings

Cultivation of genetically modified herbicide tolerant crops relies heavily on glyphosate, a possible carcinogen

Through the years, Indian stamps have featured local flora and fauna in varying degrees. Here is an overview

CSE tested 64 processed food products bought from retail stores in Delhi-NCR, Punjab and Gujarat and one sample of crude cottonseed oil. These products were tested for the presence of genetically modified (GM) ingredients using the advanced technology qPCR (quantitative polymerase chain reaction). Results showed that 32 per cent of the products tested contained GM ingredients

In the absence of long-term studies to ascertain health impacts, countries are following precautionary principle to regulate genetically modified foods

People are concerned about the possibility of eating GM food.  Can we not expect the government to ensure that they have the right to choose?

FSSAI has so far dragged its feet on regulating GM foods. Its recent attempt to regulate the industry may do more harm than good as the draft regulations are too expensive and cumbersome to be implemented

These 8,214 projects, launched between 2009-10 and 2014-15, should have been completed in 4-7 years

The five are among a total 16 projects approved by the Indian Government as part of ‘a Scheme of National Projects’ for water resource development and irrigation

छह योजनाओं की मूल लागत 3,530 करोड़ रुपए थी लेकिन अब इसकी लागत बढ़कर 86172.23 करोड़ रुपए हो गई है। यह निष्कर्ष कैग ने अपनी रिपोर्ट में निकाले हैं। 

The Gubbi Tree Park, inaugurated recently by the Tumakuru Forest Division in Karnataka, has shone a light on creating state-of-the-art green spaces meant for civic as well as forestry purposes

उत्तराखंड का 48 प्रतिशत से अधिक हिस्सा मिट्टी के कटाव से अत्यधिक प्रभावित हो रहा है, जो स्थानीय पर्यावरण, कृषि और आजीविका के लिए एक प्रमुख चुनौती बन सकता है।  

Climate change could be linked to a total of 14,020 excess suicides in the US and 7,460 excess suicides in Mexico by 2050, says a new study

Climate change at the global and local levels is reducing water flow in the Mahanadi river, severely impacting agriculture. Tackling that together is far more important than fighting over the sharing of its waters

The country-wide truck operators’ strike continued for the fourth day and it was the farmers who lost the most

While 22 districts in Odisha see 200 per cent more rainfall than normal, Bihar’s 22 districts get less than 50 per cent

We cannot wish away air-conditioning in today’s world, but we can be reasonable in choosing where, when and how to resort to the energy guzzlers

Mark Dybul, an American AIDS researcher and diplomat warned of a situation where the AIDs epidemic could spiral out of control, at the ongoing International AIDS Conference in Amsterdam

The GST rate on these products was brought down from 5% to nil by the GST Council in its 28th meeting held on July 21

The US’ FDA has approved a drug that can flush out a recurring parasite that causes 34 per cent malaria cases in India

In a letter dated June 27, Leena Nair, the then secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs had written to the chief secretaries of states raising violations under FRA, especially in Kerala

Urgent global intervention is needed to stop the unregulated dumping and reduce health and climate risks

Rs 14,088 crore unspent under Swachh Bharat Gramin between April 2017 and May 2018

India will need to feed a projected 394 million more people by 2050. What are the agricutural challenges? 

Here’s a round-up of today’s debates and reports on environmental and developmental issues

Heavy rains bring threats of landslides and deadly disease to refugee camps

When water shortages loomed in Chennai, India, one man’s campaign to conserve rainwater saved the day

Uttar Pradesh, which generates over 130,000 tonnes of plastic waste annually, needs to take early measures to facilitate the transition

जाफना में जन्मे के. रत्नराज सिंघम ने हजारों तमिल शरणार्थियों की आर्थिक मजबूती के प्रयास किए हैं। स्पीरूलिना की खेती के जरिए वह तमिल शरणार्थियों के बीच उम्मीदों की फसल उगा रहे हैं। 

अल्जाइमर नामक लाइलाज महामारी पूरी दुनिया को अपनी चपेट में ले रही है, ऐसे में हम केवल अपने जीने का तरीका बदल सकते हैं ताकि इसके बढ़ते कदमों को रोका जा सके

River Kosi has been changing its course whimsically, damaging everything in its way, but villagers in North Bihar are rebuilding their lives by reusing the silt which damaged their land

Here’s a round-up of today’s debates and reports on environmental and developmental issues

Tree rings have commonly been used to reconstruct past environmental and climatic conditions in the absence of direct observation

The level of pesticide is much higher among 11-15-year-old girls as compared to boys in the same age group

What is needed is to actually alter behaviour, if not preferences

Child marriages are not illegal yet but they could be if the WCD ministry’s proposal is accepted

Worse, the government's latest move to regulate the domestic organic market can also push tens of thousands of organic farmers out of business

While the Bill has a provision of punishing those who leak information, it does not guarantee that DNA data won't be breached

Dredging, freight transport, pollution, and a lack of management plan leaves India’s only dolphin sanctuary under threat, and a drop in numbers has experts worried

A recent SC order approving a recommendation to set up a landfill and a Waste-to-Energy plant in Delhi Ridge is an ill-thought move

Land owned or managed by indigenous people is valuable for conservation. About 65% of indigenous lands have not been intensively developed, compared with 44% of other lands

Even the outstanding liabilities of states have been growing at double digits

In Uttarakhand, farmers are slowly shifting away from hybrid seeds to traditional varieties.  They find the traditional seeds better resilient to climatic conditions of the region and well suited to organic cultivation. These seeds produce better fodder as well.

A survey by FAO, OIE and WHO has found wide discrepancies in countries’ efforts toward tackling AMR

Tree spinach, or chayamansa, is nothing less than a superfood for humans as well as livestock

ISRO researchers have found that about 28.66 sq km area of high tidal mudflats was eroded in less than 4 years in Gulf of Khambhat, that is a hotspot for major development activities

Researchers identified immune-modulatory function of a protein that could potentially help in treating sepsis and other inflammatory diseases

Maharashtra’s dairy farmers are on an indefinite strike to seek Rs5/litre subsidy to make up for crashing prices

A vicious cycle of debt and loan waivers is worsening the plight of the marginal and tenant farmer

Weaponisation of space has long seemed inevitable and Trump's announcement of Space Force diverges from historical conventions that consider space as a global common for peaceful purposes

Activsts took to Twitter raising issues about misuse of tribal lands, displacement of communities under Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act 

The WHO says it causes cancer and studies link it to many diseases. Countries have been struggling to ban or restrict its use. But a new movement to ban this chemical is gaining ground

Scientists at Indian Institute of Technology, Mandi identified bacteria involved in breaking down natural rubber in order to make it environmentally safe

The fibre-rich fenugreek seeds and sulfur compound-rich onion are now understood to possess significant sugar-lowering as well as lipid-lowering action

Ethanol blending in petrol is an effective way of increasing domestic petrol availability and for that, all-round efforts need to be made to increase ethanol production

The worst affected states in terms of loss of lives have been Karnataka and Maharashtra

Few wildlife enthusiasts have tracked leopards more closely or known them more intimately than jonathan and Angela Scott, who have made the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya their home for over 40 years. They speak to Deepanwita Gita Niyogi about their book, The Leopard's Tale, that chronicles the secret and risky life of two leopards and their cubs

WTO rules that Australian laws on tobacco packaging don't violate global obligations to protect intellectual property

Majority of the top 50 cities recognised as clean by the Swachh Survekshan-2018 dump waste in poorly managed landfills and dumpsites

In a guidance note, the food regulatory authority has advised consumers, traders and lab technicians to use the preliminary test kits, developed by Central Institute of Fisheries Technology

“गोबर टाइम्स” हमारे नन्हे पाठकों के लिए पर्यावरण पर आधारित पत्रिका है जो डाउन टू अर्थ के अंग्रेजी संस्करण के साथ उपलब्ध है। 

जम्मू एवं कश्मीर में आतंकवाद की समस्या के समाधान के लिए फौजी ताकत का इस्तेमाल समझदारी भरा कदम नहीं है

The apex court asks the Parliament to draft a new legislation against lynching

Indonesia’s Ciptagelar community, 130 km southwest of Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, is in many ways both a model smart village of the future as well as a relic of the past

Processing is difficult and rural women often feel the burden of this onerous task. To help them, both states have set up processing units

The world has seen 16 record-breaking hottest years since 2000. In fact, global surface temperatures are already rising about 20 times faster than the Earth’s fastest natural climate change, during the transition in and out of ice ages. There has been an 8-inch rise in global sea levels over the last century. The rate of rise has nearly doubled in the last two decades. Human-induced climate change is quite clearly the culprit.

Rushed up notifications, illegal raids, and lack of alternatives have marred Maharashtra's plastic ban 

10 million farmers have dropped out of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana in just a year

India has been dragging its feet over abating odour pollution. Does it lack in infrastructure, or will?

Making your own toothpaste is easier than you think. Kirti Negi Bajoria, a professional who is on a sabbatical makes different household and personal care products on her own. In this video, she demonstrates a simple recipe for toothpaste.

The Green Mahanadi Mission would fiercely impact the livelihood of farmers and cattle herders

Conscious consumption and 'cheapness' needs to be disassociated

A slew of crucial Bills are likely to be tabled in the session, which will have only 18 working days

The union territory’s administration has sent a proposal to delist the animal from Schedule 1 of the Wldlife Protection Act ‘in order to control their growing numbers’

Jonathan Drori, author of Around the World in 80 Trees tells S S Jeevan about the phylogeny, ecological services, and the sociological importance of trees

लीची परिवार का यह फल स्वादिष्ट होने के साथ स्वास्थ्यवर्धक है। मुजफ्फरपुर स्थित राष्ट्रीय लीची अनुसंधान केंद्र में इसकी वाणिज्यिक प्रजाति विकसित करने के लिए शोध हो रहा है

जॉन एल इंग्राहम सूक्ष्मजीव संसार से हमारे संबंध पर विस्तार से रोशनी डाल रहे हैं

Sanjay Gubbi, who recently set up a nature information centre in Karnataka, says this it’s the first such centre to disseminate information in a vernacular language

जल्द ही इस नाम-बदलाव के सु-परिणाम आने लगे। इस नाम-बदलाव ने देश की कई समस्याओं को समाप्त रातों-रात ख़त्म कर दिया था। 

The National Board of Wildlife’s recommendation that state governments use Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code while dealing with wildlife emergencies may be useful but is not enough

K S Gopi Sundar, a well-known expert on cranes, recently conducted a study on how climate change and cropping patterns affect the nesting cycles of the Sarus Crane 

A giant detector at the South Pole has discovered that a “blazar”, a galaxy with a supermassive black hole at its centre, also produces neutrinos

शहरीकरण ने तालाबों को बहुत नुकसान पहुंचाया है और पुराने जल मार्ग आज गायब हो गए हैं। चेन्नई शहर में जलापूर्ति की व्यवस्था 1872 में शुरू हुई। तब इसकी आबादी 4.7 लाख थी। 

The survey will be conducted from August 1-31, and top performing states and districts are expected to be awarded on October 2

The latest study argues that uranium leaching from the Himalayan granite rocks has possibly contaminated Punjab's groundwater

There is an urgent need for people to focus on sustainable use of resources so that they are available in the long-term, for future generations

So far, rainfall in the Indo-Gangetic plain has remained deficient, with last week recording largely deficient rain

आसमान छूती ये इमारतें ही अब हीट आईलैंड बन गई हैं। एक अध्ययन में इन स्थानों का तापमान सामान्य से 4 से 5 डिग्री सेल्सियस अधिक मापा गया है।

High variability of rainfall has created increased occurrence of droughts and floods

अंग्रेजी की जगह स्थानीय भाषाओं में विज्ञान पढ़ाना कितना तार्किक और यथार्थवादी है? 

स्विट्जरलैंड में आत्महत्या के लिए मदद को नागरिक का अधिकार माना जाता है। यह देश सुसाइड टूरिज्म के रूप में उभर रहा है। 

मैं आपके पूर्वजों के घुमंतू से सभ्य समाज का हिस्सा बनने तक की यात्रा का गवाह रहा हूं। सभ्य समाज का प्राणी बनने के आपके संघर्ष को मैंने आंखों से देखा है।

उत्तराखंड भारत का पहला राज्य होगा जो अर्थव्यवस्था को सकल घरेलू उत्पा द की बजाय सकल पर्यावरण उत्पा द के आधार पर गणना करेगा। 

ई-कचरा उत्पादक देशों में भारत पांचवें स्थान पर है, लेकिन देश में पैदा हाेने वाले इस कचरे को लेकर कोई सरकारी आंकड़े उपलब्ध नहीं हैं।

Justice DY Chandrachud told lawyers that same sex couples living in denial with no access to medical care were more prone to contracting and spreading sexually-transmitted diseases

रेत की कमी और अवैध उत्खनन के दोहरे खतरे से लड़ने के लिए आयातित रेत की क्षमता को महसूस किया जा रहा है। 

प्रदूषकों से भरे बादल मौसम में बड़ा बदलाव ला सकते हैं। मौसम को प्रभावित करता करने वाला कारक एरोसॉल है।

2018 में भारत के 16 राज्यों में 50 धूलभरी आंधी की घटनाएं हुई हैं, जिसके कारण 500 से अधिक मौतें हुईं। जानमाल को बड़ा नुकसान पहुंचाने वाली इस घटना पर दस सवाल...…

जलस्रोतों को कानूनी संरक्षण की जरूरत है ताकि वर्षा जल को संचय किया जा सके। ज्यादातर राज्य दावा करते हैं कि उन्होंने कारगर कदम उठाए हैं लेकिन उनके दावों की पुष्टि नहीं होती। 

Some places have even seen about 337 per cent week-over-week increase in rainfall 

The objective is to curb the illegal use of herbicide-tolerant BT cotton

The SC blasted the Lieutenant Governor as neither he nor the civic bodies are ready to take the responsibility for the city’s poor garbage disposal system

The hilly and forested district in southeast Karnataka is giving new lessons to the rest of India on responsible forestry

While the SC expends its energy on shouting at the authorities to save the Taj Mahal, let’s look at the 17th century mausoleum’s sad state of affairs

Application of Nitrogen Phosporus Potassium with farmyard manure increases the minerals' availability in the soil as compared to other treatments

In a huge victory for those who advocate free and fair internet access, the Indian government has approved net neutrality, but the road to victory was far from smooth

Data suggests that the Earth can support at most one-fifth of the present population, 1.5 billion people, at an American standard of living

The apex court was told by the Centre that it won’t contest the petitions seeking to decriminalise homosexuality 

They say that Kalahandi district’s divisional forest officer issued a transit permit to take bamboo out of forest land when he has no right to do so

Dry taps and tube wells and a possibility of a prolonged water crisis is casting huge shadows on Ladakh's present and future

The apex court imposes penalty on states and union territories for failing to comply with its orders regarding solid waste management

After Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, now Himachal Pradesh and Odisha have reined in on thermocol and plastic

Yatan Pal Singh Balhara, associate professor of psychiatry at AIIMS, says WHO’s move to call gaming disorder a mental health condition a big step forward

The court blasts the Centre and UP government on their ‘lethargy’ to protect the monument

Last year, herbicide tolerant cotton was blamed for the deaths of farmers due to inhalation in Vidharbha region

Kirti Negi Bajoria took a sabbatical when her child was born. Ever since then she has been making her toiletries and hygiene products at home. She does this to protect her family, particularly her child, from harmful chemicals. She makes more than a dozen of different products from natural substances.

इस लीग में किसी टीम को रन नहीं बल्कि सीटें बटोरनी पड़ती हैं। खेल शुरू हो चुका है। 

राज्यों में इस साल और लोकसभा के अगले साल होने वाले चुनाव में किसानों के मुद्दे अहम भूमिका निभाएंगे। 

पाट प्रणाली के अंतर्गत पहाड़ी से नीचे बहते हुए पानी को खास तरह से सिंचाई-नालों की तरफ मोड़ दिया जाता है

These states and UTs, mostly in north and east India, reported a deficit between 27 per cent and 74 per cent till July 10

It also recorded a deficit of 9% between June 28 and July 4. What explains the anomaly?

The WHO's decision to list gaming disorder as a mental health condition has several gamers and experts debating on its acceptance and validity 

The objective is to combat negative nutritional trends and fight lifestyle diseases

झील और उसकी फूमदियों में कई ऐसे जीवाणु मिले हैं, जो बहु-एंजाइम उत्पादक माने जाते हैं और पौधों की वृद्धि के लिए उत्तरदायी उत्प्रेरक रसायनों का भी उत्पादन करते हैं।

Indian scientists have identified biomarkers to reflect the impact of heat stress on meat characteristics and productivity in goats

भारत में पर्यावरण पर चल रही बहस को अमीरों और गरीबों के चश्मे से देखने की जरूरत है

तमाम प्रगति और विकास सूचकांकों की चकाचौंध में आज भी टीबी को लेकर स्टिग्मा कायम है। चिंताजनक तथ्य यह है कि एक बड़ा आंकड़ा देश में छिपे हुए टीबी रोगियों का है। 

Members of the Association of Responsible Krill decided to voluntarily stop fishing for the crustaceans in order to ensure fisheries are sustainable

Most of these involved crop and property damage, shows data by the Wildlife Conservation Society

The pace of loss of forests has slowed in recent years even though the world’s forest area decreased from 31% to 30% between 1990 and 2015

The dogma that invasive alien species should be eradicated is now suspect

The 15th Finance Commission has recommended the use of Census 2011 instead of the norm of considering Census 1971, and this change has led to political protests and accusations of bias as many states that have done well in controlling population will end up receiving less money from the Central tax pool

Two recent developments could precipitate a global debate on whether poverty triggers extremism

The increase in consumption along with wastage of fish, overfishing is likely to have huge impacts on global food security

Bawana was created to shift polluting industrial units operating in Delhi's residential areas, but the initiative has benefitted factory owners at the cost of workers

N J Enfield’s book inverts traditional concerns about language and and seeks to understand it as we experience it—via the messy back-and-forth of conversation

Most males in the area have fallen prey to power lines built by Suzlon and GETCO

The history of the working class and how working people gained and lost privileges through the ages

Look no further than the plate you are served in 

While the masses are struggling, there are few Mumbaiites who are trying to keep the rest informed

Scientists at the Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute at Phaltan in Maharashtra developed a solar water purifier, that does not require electricity and does not waste water

International trade rules are unfair, but even Trump’s tariff-centric trade policies won’t fix what’s broken about the global trading system

Modi’s government should focus on local solutions and stronger governance rather than build large dams and river diversions, argues Ashok Swain

भारतीय वैज्ञानिकों द्वारा विकसित सीयूसैट-एसटी-205 नामक रडार को केरल में ऐसे स्थान पर लगाया गया है, जहां से मानसून भारतीय उपमहाद्वीप में प्रवेश करता है। 

Kaluwala, Sodhinagar and Bhagwatpur were given the revenue status, which means that the inhabitants, Tongia tribals, will now have access to civic amenities 

Conflict is one of the main driving factors of hunger; strengthening sustaianble agriculture can promote peace, says the UN Food and Agricultural Organization

Sale of incandescent bulbs, which consume four times more power than a CFL, accounted for half the total sale of bulbs and tubelights in India last year

CUSAT ST-205 Radar is specifically designed to scan the stratosphere which is the upper skies

The girl from Sheopur district was admitted in a centre for malnutrition treatment; in the past hundreds of children have died in several districts due to malnutrition 

Industry has peddled straw man arguments about primary control technology being not competent enough to control power plant emissions

Cotton, oilseeds, pulses and coarse cereals are among the worst-hit crops

Progressive provisions like social impact assessment and consent of the affected people are being ignored

If procurement of farm produce increases with the announcement of a new MSP, farmers’ post-harvest losses may increase manifold

When it comes to managing their waste, small cities are showing the way through key policies and strict monitoring

A contradictory policy towards export of red sanders is fuelling illegality and hurting farmers

There is a huge decline in the number of Monpa and Sema speakers

The Union government is trying to centralise food procurement in the Mid Day Meal Scheme. Instead, it should decentralise purchasing

Thermal power plants will not be able to meet emission norms by 2019 and brick kilns’ conversion to a cleaner technology will not lead to real reductions in emissions

India has not been able to achieve self-sufficiency in palm oil production despite 40 years of efforts. Down To Earth travelled to some of the oil growing states to understand why

As tiny fibers shed from synthetic textiles invade our bodies, researchers scramble to identify potential threats

The absence of concrete measures gives the government space to shrug off all responsibilities

Protests are against the amendments in the land acquisition act, which dilute social impact assessments and consent of the landowners  

Animal rights experts and lawyers hail the move, calling it a good evolution of law

Herders in villages on the outskirts of Ladakh's Hemis National Park were involved in initiatives that helped reduce attacks on livestock and make the snow leopard a symbol of fortune

While the Modi cabinet claims that land rent is included, calculations suggest otherwise

न्यूट्रिफाई इंडिया ऐप गाइड के रूप में कार्य करता है, जो उपभोग किए जाने वाले खाद्य पदार्थों से शरीर को मिलने वाले पोषक तत्वों का आकलन करने में मददगार हो सकता है।

NPCIL has missed 2018 deadline for building AFR facility to store spent nuclear fuel, which is currently kept within the power plant

Notification mandates use of only cleaner fuels and bars all toxic and polluting fuels from being used in the city

The first species is named after a sacred abode of a spirit invoked by Mishmi community in Lohit district, & second acknowledges the work by RIWATCH, Dibang Valley district

Data from one of the largest state-funded health insurance scheme in India shows gender disparity continued even where free hospital care was provided

One Tiger Reserve and three wildlife sanctuaries will become unsuitable for the wild mountain ungulate in the future due to climate change

WIPO begins talks on controversial proposal to allow countries to outsource their patent examination processes to another country

The scientific idea that forests influence rainfall fell into decline during the middle of the twentieth century. But it has regained popularity, particularly during the past 2 decades

This is the expectation of the National Building Code, which defines standards for ‘comfortable’ temperatures for buildings in India

Thanks to a high yield sugarcane variety, India witnessed bumper harvests in the last 3 seasons, but sugar prices have fallen and sugarcane farmers have been incurring heavy losses

FSSAI has rolled out new standards for used cooking oil and it is exploring possibility of using it as feedstock for biodiesel production

While the restructuring of the earlier Mission is good news, there is much more that needs to be done

Decision comes after various states said oxytocin is very important to prevent human maternal mortality

HIV rate among gay men in Indonesia has increased five-fold from 5% in 2007 to 25% in 2015

Forest lands, over which rights of adivasis have been recognised or are pending recognition, have been usurped for carrying out plantations under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act

Scientists from the Indian Council of Medicl Research reportedly confirmed the source of Nipah virus to be fruit bats

To bring scientists working in both the poles together, the International Polar Year was observed during 2007-2008 and it was decided to have such an event once in every ten years

The amendment to the Rules has taken away the right of people to participate in making decisions on a fund meant for them

Nutrify India Now allows search in 17 languages and six food groups. Users can also search foods by nutrients in the National Institute of Nutrition's app 

If you are a resident of Hong Kong, or for that matter, Abu Dhabi or Doha, you have to admit that you have a much larger carbon footprint than most other cities. Our friends in the US are not leaving behind a small carbon footprint either. Each of them is emitting at least 20 tonnes of CO2 every year, which is equal to the per capita carbon footprint of about 14 individuals in Mumbai—India’s largest city.

The national capital region of Delhi has the highest annual carbon footprint in the country. In fact, Delhi’s annual CO2 emission of 69.4 million tonnes is equal to the CO2 emission of Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai put together. When it comes to per capita CO emission, Chandigarh and Vadodara are far ahead of the rest with 3.9 tonnes and 3.5 tonnes respectively.

This information is needed to access the impact for humans and enables implementation of possible control measures for antimicrobial resistance in humans, animals, and environment

After scientific interventions helped revive the dying springs in more than 300 villages, communities took the ownership of maintaining these resources

Apart from not factoring in increasing input costs, the renewed emphasis on revised MSP is taking away the focus from key interventions that Indian agriculture needs

Sunday's incident follows the trend of a steep rise in number of days with cloudburst-like events in the Himalayas from 2001 to 2013

Temperature and population density could facilitate transmission and thus increase in antibiotic resistance, say scientists 

Northern River Terrapin, Clouded Leopard, Arabian Sea Humpback Whale, and the Red Panda were added to a recovery programme for critically endangered species

एक ताजा अध्ययन से पता चला है कि नाविक उपग्रह से प्राप्त होने वाले सिग्नल रिसीवर्स में वाई-फाई के सिग्नल से बाधित हो सकते हैं।

प्रोफेसर प्रशान्त चन्द्र महालनोबिस ने अपने कार्यों से देश की विकास संबंधी नीतियों के निर्माण में सर्वे की उपयोगिता से लोगों का परिचय कराया।

The population of the Southern Flying Lizard of the Western Ghats is fast dwindling and needs conservation

The Heat, Ventilation and Air Conditioning industry has made sure that we get used to heating and cooling appliances by setting arbitrary standards 

Humans are built to get used to local environments but unfortunately industry interests have come to define what ‘comfortable’ room temperature is  

The private sector can help develop new products, services, and business models that minimise environmental impact while driving economic growth

In a city like Delhi, where air pollution is a round-the-year phenomenon, rains can provide only temporary respite

The founder of the discipline of statistics in India also had a pioneering role to play in nurturing another branch of science

Petition filed against proposed broad gauge conversion through Melghat 

In the last 12 years, the MGNREGA has created at least 46 new water harvesting structures in every village

A pest that feeds on sorghum, millet and maize will cause severe destruction to crops if left unchecked, warns the Food and Agriculture Organization

There has been a more than 300 per cent hike in dengue cases since 2009, and even the total number of deaths in 2017 was the highest in the last one decade

While more than a century-old data projects a warmer world, India still needs a proper regional data on climate vulnerability

FabIndia School Bali, Pali is a shining example of resource efficiency. It draws 90 per cent of its electricity from solar, harvests rainwater, segregates and composts its waste, has banned packaged food in its campus. It also has its own organic farm.

While automation can drastically bring down the maintenance cost of solar plants, ensuing job losses cannot be discounted

Cause of death included getting entangled in wire fencing and being attacked by stray dogs

Amounts received would be used for planting and nurturing trees as well as cleaning water bodies

This is the fifth GIB to have died due to collision with power lines in the last one year

One of the biggest producers of e-waste in the world, India doesn't have data and monitoring mechanisms to manage e-waste

Most affected states will be Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh

New zoos in the country would be designed as per the manual

The revised price will push more sugar mills to produce ethanol and increase their revenue

If water efficiency is the agenda for agriculture, then water recycling has to be the agenda for cities and industries

With most of the global export market for bamboo products yet to be tapped and potential to generate 516.33 million man days of work every year, India’s restructured bamboo mission needs serious thought and effective implementation

Activists are calling for setting up of a multi-member judicial commission to do a comprehensive enquiry into the process of land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement

Heat waves are likely to increase by up to 30 times by 2100; the government needs to focus on the most vulnerable population, including the poor, women, children, elderly and disabled

The Kasturirangan Committee has been set up to suggest measures to conserve the ecology of the hill range

Imagine a scenario where packaging isn’t easy and cheap. The need would be, then, to create a self-sufficient neighbourhood 

Emissions from crop stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh are increasingly spreading towards central, southern states & eastern fringes of the Indo-Gangetic Basin 

Sustainable timber sourcing can protect over 5 million hectares of tropical forest, says a new report on sustainability of Europe’s timber imports 

DMF fund should instead be used to address concerns of mining-affected people like lack of access to clean drinking water, health care, livelihoods and poor nutrition levels among children

With a projected 5-25% rise in input prices of fuel, agricultural rentals and agrochemicals, the new MSPs for kharif crops will not lead to any gains

Much of the groundwater in Malwa, Punjab has chemicals exceeding permissible limits, putting children at risk of a blood disorder

Venezuela opened up a large swath of the country to mining to prop up its economy. But a huge part of the area is a fragile ecosystem that can be severly affected by the project

The river continues to stink, in the fifth year of the Modi government

The Kerala state body tried to change the status of the land it acquired for a marine park near Kozhikode as it was 50 metres away from the seashore

IIT-Delhi researchers have developed models which are being used by many Indian Ocean rim countries, besides Indian Meteorological Department, for operational purpose

The hump-backed mahseer, native to South India, has been given a scientific name in a race to save it from extinction

A new study shows that starfish can resort to rapid genetic selection when subjected to mortality shock due to a wasting disease

What is a comfortable temperature? The question seems benign on the surface but the answer has far reaching ecological consequences

Weak legislation, corruption, lack of data are compunding environmental problems in a country which has over 10% of its area covered by national parks

What is a comfortable temperature? The question seems benign at surface but the answer has far reaching ecological consequences

Between 2014 and 2017, the government planted 28,12,000 trees against the target of 36, 57,000, leaving a shortfall of 845,000 trees

Let’s find out how reliable the government’s assessment of the country’s state of cleanliness is

Scientists at the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, Dehradun, attempted to estimate how weather conditions can lead to a more severe outbreak 

Draft guidelines on Social, Environmental and Economical Responsibilities of Business water down specific recommendations on accountability of businesses 

With at least 290 districts receiving deficient and largely deficient rainfall, about 1.2 million fewer hectares have been planted this month than last year

Harendra Singh Lodhiyal is a farmer who promotes sustainable and eco-friendly farming in Ramgarh block of Nainital district, Uttarakhand. He makes this biopesticide with locally available leaves and wild grass.

4 people die as the southwest monsoon brings torrential rain to the city

Mallet navigates the various issues, including culture, politics and practises that define the Ganga

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Why statehood is no answer to the city’s pollution mess

The interactive voice response system has been introduced in Anantapur district to cover groundnut farmers

A fascinating history of how red jungle fowl from India is the progenitor of all chickens served across the world

Total fertility rate falls below two children per woman in 12 states, reaches replacement levels in 9 others

Southern states such as Tamil Nadu and Telangana are not doing any better, finds National Health Profile 2018

According to the latest National Health Profile, India is one of the countries with the lowest public health spending

Residents protesting against a dump site did sadan and kachra aasan to highlight the irony that while yoga is being promoted, the government is risking their lives by dumping garbage there

BJP leader Tarun Vijay recently tweeted that Havelock Island in the Andaman Archipelago should be renamed as “Rani Lakshmibai Island”. Internationally-acclaimed professor of Linguistics, Anvita Abbi had written a letter to similar effect but with a different suggestion late last year. Read on

The fully robotic optical research telescope is designed to capture cosmic events occurring in timescales much shorter than light years – years, days and even hours

Rising temperatures, changing weather patterns, depleting groundwater, unsustainable agriculture and deforestation are turning large parts of North India into a Dust Bowl. It is time we recognised this ecological disaster

The conglomerate blames the government for the sulphuric acid leak and demands that power supply be restored in the plant

As floods ravage Assam and other north-eastern states in India, failed promises by politicians to deal with floods come under close scrutiny

Haryana saw an almost 100% spike in chikungunya cases from 2013 to 2017, according to the National Health Profile 2017

Latest data from the National Health Profile 2017 confirms a previous study which said that hypertension is a bigger concern than diabetes in India

Infant mortality, neo-natal mortality and maternal mortality are much higher in these states as compared to national average

States that are wealthier and more urban on an average have a higher risk of heart disease incident within a decade, shows a new study

That is what saved a part of Kanyakumari town’s coastal strip during my tenure about 8 years ago

New research reveals number of cities and citizens threatened by direct and indirect climate hazards if global greenhouse gas emissions continue unchecked

Managing our cooling and heating demands is critical to environmental sustainability. Are we doing it right? Sunita Narain explains why we need to rethink comfort and push for better standards both in the way we build our buildings and the efficiency of devices we use.

There is a probability of El Niño developing between July and September, which are the peak monsoon months in India

Given the state government’s past record, one can’t but help feel skeptical

Discrimination against the Dalits is still pervasive in our society, and this is seriously marring the potential of the Mid Day meal scheme

Since the author was involved in the protests against endosulfan, he has been able to seamlessly integrate the story with the real movement

Mallet navigates the various issues, including culture, politics and practises that define the Ganga

Jasanoff's book takes on the enduring mystique about the human brain being abstract, sovereign and piecemeal

India's patent office has ignored the strict safeguards against evergreening and allowed a flood of secondary drug patents

India is importing river sand to satiate the growing demand of its construction industry and to keep soaring sand prices in check. But imports alone will not suffice without effective implementation of regulations and promotion of alternative construction materials

One of the biggest producers of e-waste in the world, India doesn't have data and monitoring mechanisms to manage e-waste

Strong westerly winds are flowing in from north India in the absence of monsoon current, thus, increasing both minimum and maximum teperatures

Almost half the world’s population and 20% of its economy depend on Himalayan rivers. China and India’s competition for their headwaters increases this threat

Women with the most common type of early stage breast cancer can be spared chemo as researchers identified patients who will best benefit from it based on a test called, OncotypeDx

While a two-year-old response to an RTI query said the site had been cancelled for the waste-to-energy project, a recent public notice called it a sanitary landfill

4 died due to floods and landslide in Assam since Friday

The World Health Organization classified traditional medicine in International Classification of Diseases (ICD -11), a system that allows health professionals to share information globally

The sterlite plant used to sell about 600,000 tonnes of sulphuric acid

US retail giant Walmart is desperate to take-over the Indian market in retail and online segments. But will it go the extra mile to fill a critical gap in storage capacity for agricultural produce?

Sterlite Copper's survival despite being shutdown five times in the past two decades owes much to India's malleable regulatory authorities

According to experts, farmers should be paid for the ecosystem services they provide

Connections-based approach does not necessary bolster usage A scheme that was introduced to ensure better penetration of clean energy in the hinterlands of the country, reduce indoor pollution levels and in turn, the deaths it caused, has become successful in terms of numbers but not in intent. Transition from biomass to LPG cylinders has not happened in real sense. Expense, perception of LPG being unsafe and lack of awareness of its advantages are common reasons cited for low adoption. What does the future hold for this scheme?

Withering of Aravallis, mainly due to erosion of forests along the northern and central tracts, is making dust storms more intense

Experts at the 3rd National Dialogue on Himalayan Ecology called for assessing the value of ecosystem services in monetary terms

The NITI Aayog, in its latest assessment, analyses the water index scores of states between 2015-16 and 2016-17

Anumita Roychowdhury, head of air pollution and clean transportation programme at CSE, explains why Delhi and North India is besieged by dust, what are the repercussions on health, and what should the governments do under such a situation.

Governments need to pay equal attention to the safety of abortions, sex education and counselling, and varied problems faced by new borns of single mothers and the mothers 

Nipah virus is part of a clutch of emerging pandemics threatening the world due to global warming and environmental pressure

Centre is urging Finance Commission to finalise tax-devolution formula keeping in mind the national development programme

Being conceived is like being punished to a slow death owing to environmental pollution that needs a reality check

When Shimla ran out of water, and tourists as well

The forecast for the next three days says PM10 levels will be in the “Very Poor” category

Dust coverage across Haryana-Delhi area has shown slight improvement owing to a dip in maximum temperature and increased moisture content in air

The fact is that storms of 2018 hold a mirror to our future

Do not dismiss dust fall event only as an act of god. Crack down on dust sources and push for green walling and vegetative barrier across the region

देश भर में करीब 43.2 करोड़ उपयोग किए गए सैनेटरी नैपकिन हर महीने फेंक दिए जाते हैं। भविष्य में यह संख्या तेजी से बढ़ सकती है। 

Desertification, unprecedented heat wave conditions, more Western Disturbances, increasing cyclonic circulations & 2 lines of low pressure winds combined to trigger the storms 

A confluence of global, regional and local variables is leading to the development of massive storms

NITI Aayog will launch Composite Water Management Index to assess and improve states’ performance in efficient management of water resources

A survey of 9,641 houses in Thiruvananthapuram underlined the fact that dengue control should start right from one’s own home

Since shell composition varies with ambient temperature and moisture, scientists use these as parameters to map future weather changes and predict climatic trends with more certainty

The Sikiya millet grows on its own in the bewar plots managed by the Baigas. Currently, IIMR is working towards establishing its nutritional qualities

GreenDispo will incinerate the sanitary napkins completely with minimal flue gas emission

Air pollution levels alarmingly high a day after dust storms from Rajasthan hit the city

A recent study attributes increasing surface air temperature over India between 1956 and 2005 to anthropogenic factor

India may not have killed sharks in a “genocidal proportion” ever, but ecological balance demands zero tolerance, says the court

The magnitude of floods is likely to increase by 25 per cent in Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, parts of Meghalaya and Nagaland

After a deadly smog episode in winter, the city witnessed severe ozone pollution this summer, followed by a spike in PM10 level due to pre-monsoon storm season

The tribunal refuses to accept financial crunch as the reason behind the nagar palikas polluting the river

The criteria for exemption from labelling of food containing GM ingredients need to be much stricter

The recently released Draft Coastal Regulatory Zone, 2018, intends to replace the existing framework and further dilutes regulatory mechanisms and withdraws safeguards for the coastal ecosystem

Local farmers and communities are succeeding to conserve crops and wildlife where government has failed in one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots in northeast India

This is when severely high levels of Uranium are present in groundwater that people consume, says a study

Elandha vada is a traditional nutritional snack that is fast disappearing from our food basket

Cheap electricity, rising incomes, and badly designed buildings that trap heat are encouraging energy intensive practices, shows a CSE analysis of Delhi’s electricity demand this summer

As groundwater levels fall to crisis levels, the government moves to limit use of borewells, but activists say it's not enough, and not based on any information of water needs and usages

National Disaster Response Force teams have been deployed at various places, including Hindmata

Grossly neglects the scope of mining-affected people to have a say in investments and decisions of DMFs 

Data on cervical cancer suggests we do not need HPV vaccine, especially when there is doubt about its efficacy

NTPC’s power plant in Dadri is the first in the country to decide on adopting DSI that is expected to lower SO2 emission and eliminate high operational costs

Preventing plastic pollution and encouraging solutions

Farmers are in distress owing to low farm prices, poor logistics for transport and government-assured purchases

More than 90 per cent of IMD’s forecast for the next two days is about strong advancement of monsoon; in the coming week, it has predicted the same

State taxes are affecting inter-state supply for ethanol, which could, otherwise, generate additional income for farmers

Here's a round-up of today's news and reports on waste

Here's a round-up of today's news reports and debates in health

India can achieve this if it replaces 1 per cent of the area under food grains with horticulture

The analysis reveals 99 genes that are unique to peacocks and could be responsible for peacock’s feathers and its long life span  

Union minister for science and technology said this step is towards expansion and upgradation of weather services

This is important since oilseed crop requires cold days and the number of cold days required for full plant cycle has shrunk owing to climate change

Small cities such as Vengurla and Panchgani manage waste better and are innovative in their approach, shows a CSE report which assessed waste management models of 20 cities

Increased emission from vehicles and growing heat stress has accelerated formation of ozone

Here's a round-up of today's news and debate on waste

Here's a round-up of today's news and debate on health

The low performance of these 5 states can prevent India from achieving 100 % toilet coverage by October 2019

Storm water drains are being cleaned; Mithi river has been widened, but flood sensors are yet to be installed in five rivers and two lakes

60 school children have died due to an anti-dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia, provided by a government-run immunisation program in spite of the admittance by the manufacturer of its dangerous side effects

Thousands of villages in Maharashtra are water stressed but will not receive help from the Centre because they fall short of the new definition of drought

Bihar State Crop Assistance Scheme will ensure that farmers have enough money for next crop cycle if their current crop is destroyed by natural calamities

Besides loan waiver and MSP+50 per cent as remuneration, the farmers are now demanding fixed income

While sugar mills in Uttar Pradesh owe about Rs 12,500 crore to farmers, the government’s measures were directed mostly towards tackling current price crash

A book by a former rural development professional guides parents how to prepare tasty and healthy food for school-going kids

Here’s a round-up of today’s news reports and debates on waste

Here’s a round-up of today’s news reports and debates on health

Ramdev's corporate behemoth Patanjali's claim that Indian firms do not have to share benefits for using bio resources is troubling

Here’s a round-up of today’s news reports and debates on energy

Here’s a round-up of today’s news reports and debates on pollution

सौर ऊर्जा से चलने वाले इस नए कोल्ड-स्टोरेज से बिजली की समस्या से जूझ रहे किसानों को सबसे अधिक राहत मिल सकती है। 

Gujarat can find solace in its traditional water monuments. For that, it first needs to restore them

The people's movement in Tuticorin against Sterlite and for a clean environment reinforces the ideal of Swaraj and democracy as envisioned by the father of our nation

Fragments of plastic film have been shown to release potentially carcinogenic substances into soil

The convergence of multiple factors have ensured that almost four decades since the epidemic broke in the US there are now several ways of treating AIDS and containing HIV

By 2018 end, the Paris Agreement rule book has to be finalised. But efforts to finalise these set of rules at Bonn was marred by tardy pace and no concrete text

Can an alien worldview like western science be taught in the vernacular or is it best conveyed in the languages of the culture that created it?

Until we reform environmental governance fundamentally, cases like Sterlite will keep happening and environmental conflicts will only grow

The World Health Organization launched a global action plan to reduce physical activity in adults, a major risk factor in lifestyle diseases

Farmer protests continue to be at the centre stage with farmers in at least 15 states taking to the streets. There are three broad reasons for this growing discontent: government's failure to safeguard farmers against crop loss, fair price for their produce and forceful farmland acquisitions for developmental projects

ताजा सर्वेक्षण से पता चला है कि न केवल अशिक्षित, बल्कि शिक्षित लोगों को भी एंटीबायोटिक दवाओं के सही उपयोग और एंटीबायोटिक प्रतिरोध के खतरों के बारे में पता नहीं है।

SoE in Figures is an annual compendium of environmental statistics put together by Down To Earth magazine

UNEP chief Erik Solheim, during his visit to India, the global host for World Environment Day, says unlike climate change, plastic waste can be tackled without treaties and targets

Here’s a round-up of today’s news reports and debates on health

Here’s a round-up of today’s news reports and debates on waste

Here’s a round-up of today’s news reports and debates on energy

A new study shows that recycling black plastic from electronic waste is introducing harmful chemicals such as bromine and lead into everyday products, including food and toys  

Here’s a round-up of today’s news reports and debates on pollution

On the World Environment Day, Sunita Narain puts focus on the pollution caused by plastics and why we need to put an end to this toxic addiction.

They are carefully segregated and processed to create nutrient-rich organic manure

मई के आखिरी हफ्ते में उत्तर भारत लगातार लू यानी हीटवेव की चपेट में रहा और इससे अब भी राहत मिलती नजर नहीं आ रही है। 

With just nine months to go, Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana, a scheme that is low on priority of the Lok Sabha and Rajya MPs, is way off the target and calls for a regular and strict monitoring 

Kerala Agricultural University scientists have developed a database that lists 40 mango varieties based on features like the type of flower, seed, leaf, time of flowering

In a survey of 504 persons, scientists at the National Chemical Laboratory found that 47% of people were unaware of the difference between over-the-counter drugs and antibiotics

Not if the food industry has its way. They do not see a link between trans fats and ill health 

India generates around 25,940 tonnes of plastic waste a day, of which Delhi contributes the largest share (689.52 tonnes a day).

Despite this, policy and implementation is woefully out of step to deal with the problem of managing the mounting waste

But that doesn’t mean you get to consume more because even if India's per capita consumption is low compared to developed countries, it will continue to rise year-on-year

An unprecedented storm season challenges India's scientific community

On World Bicycle Day (June 3), let's emphasise the fact that cycling as a mode of travel can only pick up in India only when the 'smart cities' develop bicycle-friendly infrastructure, especially dedicated cycle lanes and routes that ensure cyclers' safety.

Out of the 15 most polluted cities in the world in terms of PM 2.5 concentration, 14 are in India. The country is certainly one of the riskiest places in the world to breathe. While Delhi, India’s capital city, may be notorious for smog episodes and choking air that is now changing the colour of Taj Mahal, at least dozens of other Indian cities are dealing with severe pollution too. Unfortunately, rural areas are just as badly affected by poor air. In 2015, about 75 per cent of deaths (1.1 million people) linked to air pollution in India occurred in rural areas.

Apart from the cloudbursts, there have been heavy rains in several districts of Uttarakhand

The city’s peak demand has been consistently higher than that of Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai combined during this time of the year

The new 10-day probabilistic forecasts will be able to provide rainfall forecasts with probabilities according to rainfall intensities

577 conservation projects raised $4 million since 2009 for projects ranging from protection of wilderness areas in remote Tasmania to research informing the conservation of California's coast

प्रदूषण से सिर्फ इंसान प्रभावित नहीं होते, बल्कि इसका असर पेड़ों की सेहत पर भी पड़ रहा है। भारतीय वैज्ञानिकों द्वारा किए गए एक ताजा अध्ययन में यह बात सामने आई है।

A farmer’s plea to register a traditional rice variety has once again raised concerns about loopholes in the Protection of Plant Variety Act

With time, cancer has increasingly come to be understood as a lifestyle and an environmental disease with several causal pathways

Here's an overview of recently released reports and studies on air pollution and e-vehicles

ड्रैगन फ्रूट तनाव कम करता है व मधुमेह नियंत्रित रखता है। इसमें मोटापा दूर करने वाले तत्व भी पाए जाते हैं तथा यह कई प्रकार के हृदय रोगों को भी ठीक कर सकता है।

जहां जानवर घूमते थे, अब वहां हाथी ट्रेन के नीचे आकर कटकर मर जाता है तो कभी कोई हिरन, जंगली सूअर, तेंदुआ या नीलगाय वाहनों के नीचे आ जाता है। 

As opposed to the promise of creating 2 crore jobs, the government now stands witness to a steady decline in job growth

Lominda Afedraru visits farmers in various parts of Uganda and assesses how the government is mitigating climate change impacts

प्राचीन काल में राजाओं और प्रधानों द्वारा बनवाए गए तालाब अब भी प्रयोग में हैं लेकिन उनकी हालत बेहद खराब है। 

Currently, some two billion people are affected by desertification and land degradation; 41 per cent of the landmass worldwide is prone to desertification

Indian Institute of Chemical Biology researchers say a protein that comes into the picture early in an aggregation pathway could be responsible for development of Parkinson’s

उत्तराखंड के पहाड़ों में आग लगने की घटनाएं हर साल सुर्खियां बटोरती हैं। इससे बड़ी संख्या में पेड़ों, जीव जंतुओं और पर्यावरण को नुकसान पहुंचता है। 

स्वचालित वाहन की अवधारणा काफी रोमांचक तो है लेकिन परिवहन का यह भावी साधन कई जगह खतरनाक भी साबित हो रहा है। 

Dietary changes are better than vitamin supplements in prevention of cardiovascular disease, says a recent study

The Kashmir red deer is the only surviving sub-species of red deer in the Indian sub-continent

Distributing LPG connection is a job half done as ensuring its sustained usage is a bigger challenge that the government is currently facing

Rain deficit, scanty snowfall, leaking pipelines are few of the many reasons that landed the tourist town into the water crisis

During the first stage long-range forecast issued, IMD had predicted 44% probability of below-normal monsoon

Given the serious threat that such fire incidents cause to human health, the Delhi administration has to answer why it has not yet taken action against illegal factories clustered in residential areas

The swine flu and PRRS outbreak, which killed over 2,900 pigs in Mizoram since March, could mean an increased risk of transmission of swine infections to humans

While the state says the order was based on the pollution control board’s findings, the opposition and activists doubt its legal strength

पंचायती राज व्यवस्था अपने 25वें साल में है। विकास का महत्वपूर्ण यंत्र बनने के कारण ये सभी दलों को आकर्षित कर रही है। 

उत्तराखंड में बांधों का निर्माण, सड़क चौड़ीकरण, ऑल वेदर रोड, भव्य भवन निर्माण और अब रेल लाइन निर्माण आदि कार्यों से विनाश के दरवाजे खोले जा रहे हैं।

दुनिया को ऐसे विचारों की जरूरत है जो तय कर पाएं कि जनसंख्या श्राप है या संसाधन क्योंकि जनसंख्या को श्राप बताते वाले कई अनुमान औंधे मुंह गिरे हैं। 

आर्थिक हित व एजेंसी की प्राथमिकताएं यह तय करती हैं कि देश उपग्रह के आंकड़ों का इस्तेमाल किस तरह करें। 

उत्तराखंड में पलायन रोकने और पशुपालन को प्रोत्साहित करने के लिए बकरी स्वयंवर की अनूठी पहल की गई है। स्वयंवर को सफल बनाने के लिए निमंत्रण पत्र भी छपवाए गए हैं। 

10 countries, 20 writers and a continent in churn

Rising temperatures coupled with misuse and overuse of water resources has had a catastrophic impact on the nation

The continent, home to around 16% of the world’s population, produces less than 1% of the world's research output

Thunderstorms and negative Indian Ocean Dipole indices could affect its distribution and progress

In Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary, thousands of hectares of land leased to private contractors is threatening wildlife in the region 

The mission to end the plastic menace must include ending single-use plastics, promoting alternatives to fossil fuel-based materials, promoting 100 per cent recycling of plastics, corporate and government accountability and changing human behaviour concerning plastics

On Monday evening, the state government passed a government order to shut down Vedanta group's Serlite copper smelting plant permanently

All five regions in Africa have been experiencing an increase in temperature. This trend is likely to worsen in the coming decades. There has also been a decline in precipitation indicating less rainfall, which could make the continent even more food insecure

BITS Pilani scientists developed a microneedle, which unlike a syringe needle, doesn’t cause much injury as they need minimal invasion of the skin

Researchers at IIT Guwahati have developed a membrane that can separate water from various forms of oil-contaminations

An important but contested roles of journalism is the act of putting political violence into words. If they sound neutral, it’s likely you’ve avoided layin responsibility 

Grace Manda from Malawi never thought a climate-resilient method of farming could help her build a fixed roof, send her kids to school, that too from cultivating a hectare of unfertile land

Extremely high summer temperature and inflammable pine needles causing fire to engulf forests in the state

Activists say the government plans to cremate the protestors who died in police firing on its own

Despite a court order, ban on internet has not been lifted and activists claim police are harassing people

Women adopt sustainable menstruation after govt stops funding their pad-making units

Managing periods can be extermely challenging when you are a woman living in a flood-prone area

A tête-à-tête with Dr Meenakshi Bharath, a gynaecologist for the last 35 years and a green campaigner

Let’s debunk a myth that keeps women from using menstrual cups

The current rate is just nine cases a day

Unlikely since nobody knows where and how it has spent environmental cessess, such as the coal cess, meant to mitigate climate change 

A public health problem in some parts of the country, filariasis is caused by parasitic worms 

India was among 20 countries who abstained during a vote on a draft decision on 23 May, proposing support to Palestine to provide health services in lieu of the May 14 massacre

The research organization’s efforts to ensure that pollution was not directly attributed to the copper smelting plant led to the SC not ordering the plant to be shut down earlier

Africa is the only continent that imports more food than it produces. Down To Earth brings ground report from 10 African countries to assess steps taken to become self-sufficient in food

A district-level analysis of data shows that 19 per cent of the time low BMI is the factor contributing to difference in stunting prevalence between very high and low-burden districts

This record, if kept, would have helped the pollution control board plan a better, cleaner tomorrow

Protests against the expansion of the smelter have been going on for three months

भारत में हीटवेव तीसरी सबसे बड़ी “हत्यारन” के रूप में उभरी है। इसका दायरा बढ़ रहा है और यह नए-नए क्षेत्रों को चपेट में ले रही है। क्या इसके लिए जलवायु परिवर्तन जिम्मेदार है?

Although tribes in Arunachal Pradesh have used Stapletonia rigoense for almost a century, scientists have only recently discovered and published their results

Farmers need to be better informed where they can sell their crops for good prices so that they’re confident they can recoup the cost of investing in water harvesting

Women in rural areas face humiliation due to absence of safe bathing spaces. Can Swachh Bharat Mission address this issue?

The ministry is asked to look into Centre for Science and Environment's report and prepare an action plan in two months on how an inventory of e-waste will be created 

According to new rules adopted for waste management and recycling by the European Council, all member states must recycle 50% plastic packaging by 2025     

A study conducted 11 north Indian cities says that annual premature mortality rate linked to air pollution ranges from 150-300 people per 1 lakh population

The corals in the Gulf of Mannar suffered severe losses during the global coral bleaching event that occurred between March and October 2016, says a new study

Now, government has promised ‘world’s largest health scheme’ whose implementation is not possible, at least in 2018.

Plastic debris in oceans is a potential threat to Africa's food security, economic development, marine ecosystems and establishment of a vibrant blue economy

Irrespective of being left or right in orientation, the next elections will be about rural issues

Here’s a round-up of today’s news reports and debates on energy

Here’s a round-up of today’s news reports and debates on pollution

Sattu is a powder made by grinding a mixture of roasted pulses, mainly chickpeas and cereals.  Rich in protein, it leaves one satiated for a long time. It also helps fight diabetes.

Delhi Public School in Patna is a shining example of resource efficiency. It harvests rainwater, segregates its waste, is energy efficient and has banned junk food in its campus. All the students know about effects of air pollution and travel to school only by buses.

Why the Jharkhand government is promoting illegal, parallel governance

At the 71st World Health Assembly, the Union minister spoke about India’s efforts to provide more people with access to health services

Just building infrastructure to bridge inequality in basic services like education is not the answer

At least 30 others were injured when police opened fire to quell the protest

India is home to more than 7 per cent of world's biodiversity and people, whose lives intertwine with this biodiversity, have found ways to celebrate its taste. Down To Earth's First Food project brings to you a glimpse of this treasure.

Even as West Africa struggles to plug rampant illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing, rising sea surface temperature poses new challenges

It is one of the 17 mega biodiversity rich countries and accounts for 7 to 8 per cent of the recorded species of the world

It is one of the 17 mega biodiversity-rich countries and accounts for 7 to 8 per cent of the recorded species of the world

Indian scientists have developed a biosensor technique, which can be used to develop a point of care device for rapid identification of the dreaded disease

Know the most likely animals in India to become extinct soon

जम्मू एवं कश्मीर में गडरिया खानाबदोशों के सामने चुनौतियों महज राजनीतिक नहीं हैं। सालों से उनके अस्तित्व के साधनों पर संकट मंडरा रहा है।

Support smallholders, family farmers to reduce poverty, says FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva at a regional conference in Russia

If biodiversity disappears, food will become impersonal. It will become a sterile package designed for universal size and taste

A new survey finds that one-third of this area is subject to pressure from human developments, potentially putting wildlife at risk

An upcoming study raises concern over lack of data to back claims that spring rejuvenation has improved water availability in Sikkim

Infectious diseases that were once confined to animals in forests are now attacking human beings, at a faster pace

Waste segregation at source improves collection efficiency and leads to better processing of waste

ज्यादातर राज्य बांधों की सुरक्षा और मरम्मत के लिए पर्याप्त धनराशि उपलब्ध कराने में नाकाम रहे हैं। इसी वजह से बांधों की विफल होने की घटनाओं में इजाफा हुआ है। 

Why the move to grant Constitutional protection to Nomadic, Semi-Nomadic and Denotified Tribes is a step in the right direction

Forest officials admit that they are facing resource crunch when it comes to tackling forest fires

सोयाबीन अमेरिका-चीन के बीच व्यापार युद्ध का मुख्य केन्द्र बन गया है। क्या भारत इसका उत्पादन और प्रसंस्करण क्षमता बढ़ाकर लाभ ले सकता है?

Coral reefs along the east coast of Africa have been badly hit due to ocean warming and acidification. This has hit tourism badly. Some efforts, however, are underway to revive them

मोदी की बातों में सच्चाई है। यह बात कई बार साबित हो चुकी है कि डॉक्टर अनैतिक कार्यों में लिप्त रहे हैं। क्लिनिकल ट्रायल में डॉक्टरों के लिप्त होने की बातें उजागर होती रहती है। 

गरीब ऊंचे तापमान में आराम से रह सकते हैं क्योंकि उनका शरीर इसके अनुकूल हो गया है। समाजवाद का यह भारतीय रूप है जो सभी के लिए आरामदायक हालात नहीं बनाता। 

On April 28, when Leisang, a tiny hamlet in Manipur, was connected to the grid, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that it would be "remembered as a historic day in the development journey of India" as India has achieved 100 per cent electrification. What he forgot to mention is the fact that there are more than 32 million households in the country that are yet to be electrified. They are still in the dark. We have certainly not achieved universal access to energy, but how far are we from it? As per data available on the official website of Saubhagya Yojna, on an average 22,300 households are electrified per day. It means, between May 2018 and December 2019, the …

Designed to resist the bollworm pest, Monsanto's Bollgard II is seen as useless as the pink bollworm ravages cotton fields across the country

The government has stalled standards that could have made heavy-duty vehicles guzzle and pollute less. Is it hand-in-glove with the industry or under pressure from it?

Early detection and management of hypertension is necessary to prevent complications, but shortfall of trained health workforce, particularly in rural areas, is a challenge

Spatial distribution of rainfall is one of the factors ensuring healthy agriculutral production that keeps food inflation under control

देश के कुल कृषि श्रमिकों में करीब 37 प्रतिशत महिलाएं हैं लेकिन, खेतीबाड़ी में उपयोग होने वाले ज्यादातर औजार, उपकरण और मशीनें पुरुषों के लिए ही बनाए जाते हैं। 

The All India Poultry Development and Services Private Limited has been asked to withdraw or modify the ad by May 23

A study by the University of Virginia on cooperation between India and Spain aims at rejuvenating the Yamuna as it flows through India’s capital, but there are important, niggling details

The impact of climate change on the spread of diseases in Africa is well established but there is little data available for action

K J Ramesh explains how this season’s thunderstorms is due to a peculiar condition wherein heating in north and northwestern India has coincided with the movement of western disturbances

The gruesome Kathua rape was a reminder of the institutional denial of forest and land rights of Jammu and Kashmir's nomadic communities

The species may face minimal threat for survival as it was discovered in an unpolluted area

Reflections from the Asia Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development 

An abridged selection of his memorable statements on the environment

The West Bengal State Climate Action Plan expressed concern over reduced productivity of Darjeeling tea due to increase in extended drought periods

An ancient wolf lineage in the Himalayas needs an identity and conservation attention

According to EPCA, the government has not done sufficient work to detail out the proposal for induction of 1,000 e-buses and their necessary infrastructure

A recent study says that land-use change interacts with climate to determine species redistribution

India has only met 9.5 per cent of the target for roof-top solar power, which has the maximum job potential

In the last few years, several governments, which were relying on social welfare schemes for electoral win, were defeated. Ashok Gehlot’s government in Rajasthan is one such example.

For every $1 invested in policies to control lifestyle diseases, the financial returns can ensure millions of lives are saved, says WHO. But is the investment enough?

Panaji, which emerged as the best innovator in the West Zone, was recognised by the Centre for Science and Environment in 2016 as one of the cleanest and most efficient cities for waste management

In the forests of Kanyakumari, an invasive species has been proliferating since the 1960s. It is time to remove it altogether

इस अध्ययन से पता चला है कि देश के कई जिले ऐसे हैं, जहां उत्पादन क्षेत्र अधिक होने के बावजूद प्रति हेक्टेयर उत्पादकता बेहद कम है। 

As a means of bringing long-term change in public attitudes, education at present is too weak and demands radical improvement

For four years, two academics and a photojournalist researched urbanisation in the Himalayas to bring out the deadly scams of human activities in the world's youngest mountain range

As many as 34 private power plants with a combined capacity of slightly over 40,000 MW have become stressed assets

Agricultural antibiotics, those fed to animals, were detected in many people who claimed they hadn’t taken antibiotics in the year prior to their sample collections

Indian scientists have confirmed and tracked the retreat—over 3kms—of an important Himalayan glacier, attributing it to climate change, and giving a shape to the changes to come

Country’s premier food watchdog also plans to evaluate organisations based on systems put in place to promote health and wellness

कार्बन डाइऑक्साइड के कारण फसल उत्पादन पर सकारात्मक प्रभाव पड़ सकता है, पर इसके साथ ही फसलों के लिए हानिकारक कीटों की आबादी में भी बढ़ोत्तरी हो सकती है।

स्वच्छ ऊर्जा विकल्पों और जल उपलब्धता की चुनौती को पूरा करने के लिए सफल प्रौद्योगिकी समाधान आधारित प्रदर्शन और स्थापना कार्य हो रहे हैं। 

Ganga was found to be polluted with five heavy metals, namely chromium, copper, nickel, lead and iron

This annual compendium of environmental statistics covers diverse subjects ranging from air pollution to environmental crimes, and sanitation to energy security

Global warming is manifesting itself over parts of India in the maximum temperatures observed during the warm pre-monsoon period

The plans of both Odisha and Chhattisgarh to usurp water of the Mahanadi river have reached ridiculous levels

India needs smarter and effective policing of emissions on road to reduce public health risk

Why is breastfeeding in the first hour after birth so important?

Why is breastfeeding in the first hour after birth so important?

Kendriya Vidyalaya Pangode is one of greenest schools in the country. It has put in place a host of sustainable practices including good waste management, rainwater harvesting, energy efficiency measures, and a good food programme.

A professor at the University of Texas, he was nominated for Nobel Prize several times. If found true, his theory of particles travelling faster than light can change how we see the universe

Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre scientists used tools to identify important regions on the bacteria that could play an important role in developing a vaccine for the zoonotic disease

Food regulation should be such that that healthy food is protected, not just food in general, says a new report 

Fleeing brutality, the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh have been settled along elephant corridors, sparking conflict with the gentle giants of forests, who have been, in turn, displaced

Married women in both rural and urban India spend more on treating non-communicable diseases than other diseases, shows a study

In Jharkhand, movement for self-rule is about seeking better governance and community rights over natural resources

Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar on restlessness among dalit youth

Conservationists across the world have to warm up to the idea of communicating problems in local parlance and interpreting global challenges in local context

A round-up of what's new in waste and sanitation 

A round-up of what's new in health

Here’s a round-up of today’s news reports and debates on energy

Here’s a round-up of today’s news reports and debates on pollution

This year, western disturbances are drawing attention of weather experts because of their severity and spread

These vehicles play a significant role in enhancing last-mile connectivity and improving the city’s air quality. However, several initiatives need to be taken to plug loopholes in this sector

While extended range forecast shows some signs of an early onset, other meteorological conditions have shrouded the forecast in uncertainty

As an ambitious Ganga renovation plan is underway, and ghats in Patna are being beautified, there is little attention being paid to the fact that river has moved kilometres away from the city

 नितिन गडकरी का दावा है कि गंगा मार्च, 2019 तक 70 से 80 प्रतिशत तक साफ हो जाएगी। लेकिन क्या यह वास्तव में संभव है?

Popular welfare schemes will be the focus of upcoming elections, but the unilateral focus to provide benefits to individual voter leads to less and less investment in public capital

So far, the government has focussed largely on curbing flow of untreated sewage into the river, but not on managing faecal sludge

The water level in 85 per cent of the reservoirs has dipped to 40 per cent or less height

An FAO report highlights that livestock manure is one of the top sources of soil contamination

Did you know testing of nuclear weapons and remnants of war have polluted our soil for centuries? Find out here

नदी के संगम का कुंड गायब हो चुका है। चाहे जितनी बरसात हो और बाढ़ आए, एक भी डॉल्फिन नहीं आती। मंदिरों पर बने घाटों पर मछलियों की कलाबाजी गायब हो चुकी है।

The forest department has been misusing the transit permit, which is essential to sell kendu leaf, a lucrative Minor Forest Produce

Here’s a round-up of today’s news reports and debates on pollution

Government report terms this as the 'often overlooked' aspect of the agrarian crisis in the country

Studying the cognitive impact of discrimination suffered by minorities can provide inputs in policymaking to help minorities process their environments better

Forest department in India needs to reverse its role from being the owner and regulator of forests to becoming a facilitator in community-managed forests

Sugar industry sees red over FSSAI's draft regulations, HC slams government hospital for discrimination of HIV patient

Chandigarh plans segregation without a plan, Cuttack's solid waste projects awaits HC verdict

Here’s a round-up of today’s news reports and debates on energy

Here’s a round-up of today’s news reports and debates on pollution

Oxygen isotope values of fish ear bones gives information on the temperature of the water, while studying concentrations of trace elements such as barium can indicate salinity levels

Littering in protest is indicative of a discordant society, and a culture of littering can tell us a lot about a society's ethos

Despite campaigns for cleanliness, India has ignored the massive proliferation of plastics along rivers like the Ganga, in towns and villages, where no waste disposal systems exist

In a recent event, BJP MLA Gopal Parmar said that child marriage is the solution to many problems like ‘love jihad’, elopement and divorce

Amount to be used as financial aid to reduce stunting among children

This relatively new virus killed more than 11,000 people across West Africa from 2014-16. After an unprecedented epidemic, the diseases continued to rear its ugly head time and again. But do we know that this rapid spread of Ebola is triggered by environmental destruction? Destroying rainforest and similar habitats of animals (bats), which are natural carriers of Ebola virus, has made interaction between bats and humans more frequent, and viral transmission more likely. We present before you a timeline of events ever since the virus was first discovered and various strains were identified.

Apex Court has been listening to a petition on the upkeep of the white mausoleum

If the world spends even a fraction of the predicted loss, it can reverse land degradation, which affects the poorest the most

The Arab Spring may not have put an end to re-colonisation of the Middle East and North Africa, but the fall of long-time dictators shows signs that democratisation is possible 

A comparative study between an internal combustion engine and an electric powertrain shows why electric vehicles are the future

The reason socialist awareness is not possible in the 21st century is that the middle class in India in the 60s was primarily dominated by the established middle, says Ashis Nandy  

After the introduction of cash incentives under Janani Suraksha Yojana in 2005, institutional deliveries increased from 39 per cent in 2005 to 78 per cent in 2015

A blueprint for scientific research in forestry, the plan is made every 20 years and was formulated last in 2000

In the 21st century, counter reactions to globalisation have been taking radically different forms

Down To Earth interviews Earth Networks, a global organisation which helps track lightning strikes through a network of sensors placed around the world

Solutions to floods, droughts and pollution that look upstream, downstream and everywhere in between save dollars and make sense

Here’s a round-up of today’s news reports and debates on energy

Here’s a round-up of today’s news reports and debates on pollution

A  study in western Tanzania shows that poachers take risks to widen their livelihood options and improve their situation

The sensors will warn the civic administration as soon as water levels start rising in the water body

The challenge facing India today is in many ways the biggest challenge facing the entire world

नई तकनीक के उपयोग से किडनी रोगों का समय रहते पता लगाना आसान हो सकता है और मरीजों को किडनी की बीमारियों से होने वाले दुष्प्रभावों से बचाया जा सकेगा।

Piezo-electric materials change their shape when an electric field is applied and have a wide range of applications from use in inkjet printers to ultrasound machines

A group of scientists and students are braving heat and dust this summer in the national capital to map all possible sources of air pollution

The IFC-funded power project is destroying livelihood of fishermen in Gujarat, but the funding agency is hiding behind an immunity law

The audit report highlights that no NOC from panchayat or approval for diversion of forestland was obtained for the 195-MW project

Although the local administration had generated alerts about the dust storm, the intensity and scale was unexpected and unprecedented

The effect of deforestation is felt more during deficit years than monsoon surplus years

Social media could be just the start of a slippery slope leading to an Orwellian world controlled by Big Data Brother

A new study has found that using wastewater from dairy farms for soil irrigation significantly increased the presence of antibiotic resistant genes in the soil

The carbon footprint of tourism is about four times larger than previously thought, according to a world-first study published in Nature Climate Change

Nanoflowers can find applications in optoelectronics devices or sensors, catalysis and solar cells and also have great potential for possible applications in nanotechnology

If detected early, mere modifications in diet and intake of ACE inhibitors may prevent the progression to end stage renal disease

Between May 2 and May 3, intense dust storm and thunderstorm killed at least 124 people in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab and injured more than 300. Locals do not remember when was the last time they had seen such deadly storms.

Residents of the famous tourist destination are struggling with acute water shortage as they receive water supply once in four or five days

To address the growing unrest across the world, we need to effectively utilise the demographic dividend

Their frustrations in an unjust world can take various expressions—a fidayeen in Iraq, a stone pelter in Kashmir, a mercenary in Saudi Arabia, a rabid gaurakshak (cow protector) in India or a hedonist in Shanghai

Unusually high temperature has aided such intense storms across the country, indicating more turbulent days ahead

The plan to build a massive hydropower dam in Sumatra as part of China’s immense Belt and Road Initiative threatens the habitat of the rarest ape in the world

Specialised environmental courts are now operating on every continent except Antarctica. What’s behind the boom?

People around the world are now living longer, even in some of the poorest countries, but are they still living long enough? There is a huge disparity in how long people from the most affluent and impoverished countries are living. Life expectancy gap is increasing. The low-income countries, which are already bearing a huge burden of poverty, are dragging down the global average life expectancy. The growing chasm between the rich and poor is an alarm for policymakers who need to better understand precise causes of disparity and follow it up with coordinated policy initiatives.

नए भवन का निर्माण करीब नौ एकड़ क्षेत्र में किया जाएगा, जिसमें भूमि का 22 प्रतिशत हिस्सा घिरा होगा, हरित क्षेत्र 52 प्रतिशत होगा। इस परिसर में 16,500 वर्गमीटर क्षेत्र में कार्यालय होंगे।

Banana flower is called Mocha in Bengali language. This flower has been a part of various cuisines in india which includes Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharastra and West Bengal. The flower has a sour taste and needs to be cooked properly. It has been scientifically proven to treat diseases such as dysentery, ulcers and bronchitis. Research studies have shown that the flower has properties to reduce blood glucose levels. It also contains nutrients such as antioxidants, fibre, proteins, vitamin E and flavonoids.

Tarun Sebastian Nanda, a civil and environmental engineer has taken up a project of cleaning the Hauz Khas lake in Delhi by using artificially constructed wetlands. These wetlands act as biofilters, and are far easier to maintain than mechanical treatment plants

A few e-shops are changing the way wet markets operate by offering fresh, chemical-free fish, poultry and meat at the doorstep. Will they be able to stand by their claims and cater to masses at an affordable price?

A study finds that coal pollution in China is leading to people getting significant levels of mercury poisoning from rice

Between the impact of climate change, pollution, and overfishing, the Sher Mahi is dwindling away

A six-year study conducted by UK researchers showed that these steps can help increase milk yield and fertility parameters and drop clinical mastitis rates

There is no denying the fact that wind–blown dust contributes significantly to the pollution problem, but this should not divert our attention and efforts from devising solutions to curb anthropogenic emissions

From 2000 to 2014, quinoa production increased by 72% in Peru, Bolivia and Eucador, the world's biggest quinoa producers, says a new report

The newly found species faces threats from road traffic, habitat loss, and a possible fungal infection, say scientists

Here’s a round-up of today’s news reports and debates on energy

Here’s a round-up of today’s news reports and debates on pollution

A round-up of what's new in waste

A round-up of what's new in health

Historian Romila Thapar speaks to Rajat Ghai

Banaras Hindu University scientists found that most wheat cultivars developed after 2000 are more sensitive to damage due to ozone, a byproduct of air pollution

Almost 95 per cent of funds allocated for nutrition intervention for pregnant women in Bihar’s Purnea district were utilised for institutional delivery

In its latest development, the Supreme Court has asked the Karnataka government to release 4 TMC water for Tamil Nadu

पाकिस्तानी शहर नवाबशाह में मार्च में भी भीषण गर्मी थी। मार्च के आखिर में यहां का तापमान 45.5 डिग्री सेल्सियस पहुंच गया था जो राष्ट्रीय रिकॉर्ड था।  

We, a team of Wildlife Institute of India (WII) scientists, reached this sobering conclusion recently after conducting a complex and statistically-intensive survey in the state

Dust storms in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh are a sign of the time to come when freak weather will intensify with the increase in global temperature

From cloudburst in Himachal, dust storms in Rajasthan and UP to lightning in Andhra Pradesh and devastating rainfall in Haryana and Punjab, freak weather is making its presence felt

Local authorities say that the death toll due to the dust storm is expected to rise

Scientists reason why the beneficial weather phenomenon has become increasingly disastrous

Here’s a round-up of today’s news reports and debates on energy

Here’s a round-up of today’s news reports and debates on pollution

A round-up of what's new in waste and sanitation 

A round-up of what's new in health 

In Brazil, patients are thought of as having the “right to beauty.” In public hospitals, plastic surgeries are free or low-cost

J Suresh is an Engineering graduate, and had been working for six years as a techie before he left his job to start a millet restaurant. After much struggle, he started Thirukkural Unavagam in Karayanchavadi, Chennai. The restaurant has one more branch in Adyar, Chennai, which Suresh runs along with another former professional, E Karthikeyan. Suresh spoke to Down To Earth on what all went into starting the venture. Excerpts…

It is misguided to blame armed conflict and violence on climate change alone

आईआईटी कानपुर द्वारा विकसित प्रदूषण निगरानी की एक ऐसी ही तकनीक से गंगा नदी के जल की गुणवत्ता का पता लगाने में के वैज्ञानिकों को आरंभिक सफलता मिली है।

The country needs both financial and administrative attention towards ensuring effective management and disposal of solid and liquid waste

Indian and American researchers have developed a weed removal device for precise application of herbicide that can reduce crop damage and contamination

बरामदे की घास पर दो-तीन गौरैया फुदक रही हैं। अब गौरैया बहुत कम हो गई हैं। गौरैया क्या, कौए, गिद्ध सभी कम हो रहे हैं। यह चिन्ता की बात है क्योंकि पक्षी कुदरत में अहम भूमिका अदा करते हैं।

The struggle of one village at India’s southern tip to save itself from corporate interests is a tale in itself

IIT Madras researchers found that by aligning drug administration with the internal rhythms of reactive molecules production, the efficiency of drugs could be increased

They are good for human and environmental health but have been ignored due to a lack of awareness, research, policy support and market oppurtunities

Of the 5,000 odd cities and towns in India, monitoring is being done in only 307 cities

Despite a ban on sale of pepper under Rs 500 per kg, its price has dipped to Rs 335 per kg owing to imports from Vietnam, Sri Lanka

Here’s a round-up of today’s news reports and developments on energy

Earthworm gut provides an ideal environment to nurture a variety of cellulose-degrading bacteria because of which they are able to convert organic waste from plant sources into fertliser

Here’s a round-up of today’s news reports and developments on pollution

Indian researchers derived a techinue to show that nanoparticles from table sugar can be used as sensor for detection of lead in water

A round-up of what's new in health sector

A round-up of the latest news and developments on waste management 

Fourteen of the world’s 20 most polluted cities are in India, says the new WHO database

90 per cent of childhood asthma and 50 per cent of adult asthma is caused due to environmental allergens

Tackling air pollution could help bring down crime rate in London, say researchers from London School of Economics

Stunting, which causes irreversible damage, is highest among children in Bihar, where the share of state budget assigned for social welfare is on decline

‘इंडियन साइंस ट्रांसफॉर्मिंग इंडिया’ नामक एक नई पुस्तक में भारत की वैज्ञानिक उपलब्धियों को छोटी-छोटी कहानियों के रूप में पेश किया गया है। 

Here’s a round-up of today’s news reports and developments around waste

Here’s a round-up of today’s news reports and developments on energy

Here’s a round-up of today’s news reports and developments on pollution

Here’s a round-up of today’s news reports and developments around health

Angry residents have brought rubbish collection to a halt in northern Pakistan’s major city – in protest against waste being dumped on their doorstep

Results show that 50 per cent of the face wash products and 67 per cent of the facial scrubs contain microplastics

With 44 per cent probability of below-normal monsoon this year, groundwater situation is likely to aggravate

Did a change in climate caused or contributed to a mass extinction around 260 million years ago?

The power company laid transmission lines in protected areas without getting necessary permissions