'Village level forecast will take time'
What prevents Indian scientists from making weather forecasts for farmers? Sailesh Naik, secretary to the Ministry of Earth Sciences, tells …
Seeds of Strife
The Seed Bill takes away states’ power to regulate seed prices, could lead to Centre-state confrontation
Urban shit: where does it all go?
India is staring at a big sanitation crisis and needs to reinvent its excreta disposal mechanism
World leaders come together, demand price on carbon ahead of Paris climate talks
Carbon pricing is an effective way to decarbonise the global economy, feel alliance members
Fall of the paragon
Century-old teak plantation business loses ground in India because of poor management and short-sighted policies
Centre ignores certifying agency
Private players set up forest certification body even as the ministry, which manages 90 per cent of the forests, gives it a cold shoulder
Rise of third sector
NGOs’ relationship with the government has been redefined over the years with changing social and political scenario
The last common property
OSCAR OLIVERA is today an icon for all people's movements to regain control of their resources. He tells RICHARD MAHAPATRA why water is not for sale
Stuart Cole on effective transport management
Transport economist Stuart Cole is director of the Wales Transport Research Centre in Cardiff. On a recent visit to Mumbai, he spoke to Nidhi …
How to cure corruption in healthcare
Rx: Only an effective governing body, which includes medical and non-medical members, can stop the culture of kickbacks
Cauvery gouged
Ten years after the Tamil Nadu government took over sand mining from private players, illegalities continue, harming agriculture and draining the …
Handloom threatened
Textile ministry proposes change in definition of handloom. Weavers fear it can ruin the tradition
Health Act faces hurdles
Centre drafts guidelines to regulate clinical establishments; Indian Medical Association resists
Is new land bill up to mark?
Draft land bill proposes higher compensation for land acquisitions, but complaints persist
Breach of trust
The world’s premier rice research institute tilts towards intellectual property rights
Freeing coal
As domestic coal production dips, plan panel proposes to allow captive coal power companies to trade coal
High-speed derailment
Indefinite closure of Delhi airport metro line dashes faith in public private partnerships
One-sided deal
Contract farming is increasing in India, but laws are not in place to protect farmers
Battle against TB
Latest WHO report highlights the advances made by countries in controlling the spread of tuberculosis and recommends ways to achieve eradication
Tussle over land
Land acquisition Bill should take into account demands of those dependant on natural resources
The meat you eat
A behind-the-scene look at how slaughterhouses in India dispose hazardous bio-waste by endangering the environment
Get your own vaccine
Down To Earth filed an RTI application to find out the reason of vaccine shortage in India. The response revealed how a plan to promote private …
Private funds for Madhya Pradesh forests: Beware of legal concerns, warn experts
MP government plans to hand over 37,420 sq km degraded forest to private companies for afforestation
Paris Agreement and India’s climate change challenges
Environment Minister said that India would start preparing for Paris Agreement implementation from 2017, but the budget did not see a boost for …
Budget can't bring change
The finance minister pleased the growth brigade with three letters "PPP" but failed to bring change where it was most needed. Down …