Unravelling the food mess

Reaching food to people who need it the most has remained one of the most stubborn problems in India. The public distribution system (PDS) is in …

Rooftop hurdles

Financial and policy issues hinder the adoption of grid-connected rooftop solar power in the country

Loud and unclear

Smoke in the kitchen

The new ‘green’ biomass cookstove has immense potential but why is it missing in homes?

EU threat to farmers

Free trade pact with EU will have a severe impact on Indian agriculture, specially the dairy sector

Freeing bamboo from the state

A recent notification making bamboo a minor forest produce can only be the first step

The Bali myth of $1 trillion trade gains

Trade facilitation is a major imposition on developing countries with little likelihood of promised benefits

Transition failure

With an eye on the 2014 general election, the UPA government is expanding its ambitious Direct Benefit Transfer programme that promises welfare …

Mission possible

The Centre gives India just about eight years to free its villages of open defecation. This seems unlikely. But the states of Sikkim, Haryana and …

Capturing the monsoons

It's a season that inspires and engages everyone, from the farmer to the policy maker. From the scientist to the travel writer. From the …

On foot and pedal

The teeming millions on foot and pedal are powering mobility in Indian cities. Their numbers exceed those who use cars. Yet they are victims of …

Kind to cash

The government has a plan to reach welfare to the poor without wasting money. It wants to put hard cash in their hands instead of spending on …

Let solar shine

Census 2011 throws light on the darkness across India. Of the 246 million households, 67 per cent get electricity from the grid, while 31 per …

News 360°-Brief

Costs and benefits of India's waste disposal options

Urban India produces 120,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste each day. Businesses want to burn this garbage to produce electricity, using …

Dash for cash

Government unprepared but goes ahead with direct cash transfer

Fighting a flawed WTO regime

India and G-33 are pushing for reform of the agriculture subsidy system but the US and EU have a different agenda for the upcoming Bali meet

Metal meltdown

The global crash in aluminium prices, triggered by overproduction in China, is forcing Indian companies to shut down operations. The solution may …

Report paints thought-provoking picture of developing world due to climate change

The report says that climate change threatens the economic growth trajectories of India, Bangladesh and Indonesia

'Fossil fuel subsidies should be deemed as negative climate finance'

Experts cite examples of many countries which have begun diverting fossil fuel subsidies towards development projects

Doha endgame at Nairobi

WTO has buried the development mandate of the Doha round, with India failing to pull its weight at the ministerial meeting

Labour exit

Labour shortage in agriculture forces Indian farmers to innovate to stay afloat

Budget attempts to provide relief to drought-hit farmers

But boost in agriculture budget not enough, say experts

UP’s mini-grid policy tries to boost rural electrification

Private players can now set up solar plants to power rural households and recover tariff from the users in Uttar Pradesh

The poor and the environment: lessons from energy crisis