Down To Earth
Back to the Moon
Half a century after Apollo, NASA's Artemis II will open new chapter in deep-space exploration
5 min |
April 16, 2026
Down To Earth
World far from curbing maternal deaths
INDIA HAS cut its maternal mortality ratio (MMR) by 80 per cent since 1990, according to a recent analysis published in The Lancet.
1 min |
April 16, 2026
Down To Earth
Measured targets
India updates its climate commitments with incremental increase in goals for emissions reduction and clean power by 2035
6 min |
April 16, 2026
Down To Earth
A surprising yield
An unexpected payout under India's Access and Benefit Sharing rules is now funding conservation efforts in a Maharashtra village
3 min |
April 16, 2026
Down To Earth
Lake or wetland?
While villages around Almora's Tadag Tal want the seasonal lake to be developed into a perennial waterbody, experts say the area is a wetland and should not be disturbed
5 min |
April 16, 2026
Down To Earth
IN MAHUA TERRITORY
Once mahua starts to flower, every thing else takes a back seat for tribal communities in forests of central India
6 min |
April 16, 2026
Down To Earth
Roots of revival
Chhattisgarh's Baiga community mounts conservation efforts to keep alive a traditional art form at risk of vanishing due to ecological changes
2 min |
April 16, 2026
Down To Earth
Pathogen benefit-sharing pact: victory of failed round
Developing nations have made it clear they will only agree to an equitable, enforceable Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing pact
4 min |
April 16, 2026
Down To Earth
Clean cycles
Women in rural areas of Himalayan states adopt reusable menstrual hygiene products, reduce sanitary waste
2 min |
April 01, 2026
Down To Earth
War on Iran strikes India's pharmaceuticals sector
Shortages of critical raw materials and rising input costs for the drug industry will have global consequences
4 min |
April 01, 2026
Down To Earth
FADING WINTER
India's winters are warming, becoming shorter, shifting and spilling beyond their traditional bounds. The consequences are already evident in meltwater availability, forest-fire intensity and changes in flowering cycles and insect behaviour.
10+ min |
April 01, 2026
Down To Earth
ATTACKS THAT WILL OUTLAST THE WAR
The war in west Asia could trigger the worst oil crisis in history, with nastiest impacts on Asia
7 min |
April 01, 2026
Down To Earth
FOREVER DEPENDENT
India depends on global fertiliser supply chains for 70 per cent of its needs, leaving its food security exposed to geopolitical disruptions
6 min |
April 01, 2026
Down To Earth
Masterstroke
Residents of a small Kerala town reject an inadequate state-led development blueprint and create their own master plan that prioritises protection of historic water systems and urban commons
4 min |
April 01, 2026
Down To Earth
Nuances of human-animal conflict claims
This refers to the article “Complete hunting ban has reduced animals’ fear of humans, fuelled crop losses, says scientist Milind Watve at AAD 2026”, published online on February 25, 2026.
2 min |
April 01, 2026
Down To Earth
POWER IN AN AGE OF INSECURITY
Energy transition is no longer solely about emission reduction but also about energy security
3 min |
April 01, 2026
Down To Earth
Rethinking E20
It is pertinent to explore potential of ethanol as high-value industrial feedstock
4 min |
April 01, 2026
Down To Earth
A CASE THAT RESHAPED INDIA'S ENVIRONMENT
The case of MC Mehta v Union of India stands as proof that a proactive judiciary can accelerate action even when the executive drags its feet
4 min |
April 01, 2026
Down To Earth
BEYOND COLLATERAL DAMAGE
Recent geopolitical conflicts are urging a reconsideration of what constitutes environmental harm in war and the limits of existing legal frameworks
3 min |
April 01, 2026
Down To Earth
SPARK IN THE GAME
The Reserve Bank of India's restored recognition of Default Loss Guarantees re-enables credit flow into last-mile electric mobility
3 min |
March 16, 2026
Down To Earth
POWERING TRANSITION
India's renewable ambitions are rising rapidly, with half of its installed power capacity now coming from non-fossil sources. Yet the gap between capacity and generation remains wide. The experiences of two pioneering states, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, which together generate over a fifth of the country's renewable energy, offer crucial lessons for accelerating the transition, reports PUJA DAS from Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai and New Delhi
10+ min |
March 16, 2026
Down To Earth
'Bad environment can never be good economics'
The Supreme Court of India and even the high courts were once very active and took a proactive role in protecting the environment; unfortunately, that is no longer true
4 min |
March 16, 2026
Down To Earth
Ushering in new eras
An appraisal of the state of biodiversity conservation, pollution reduction and climate adaptation regimes in India
3 min |
March 16, 2026
Down To Earth
Poisoned promise
Toxicity from intensive use of pesticides is rising globally. In India, levels exceed the global average in Indo-Gangetic plains
3 min |
March 16, 2026
Down To Earth
Himalayan fire shift
As the Himalayas warm and winters grow drier, forest fires are climbing to unprecedented heights, where their number has quadrupled over the past decade
4 min |
March 16, 2026
Down To Earth
CATCH BY THE ROOTS
Sabai grass could be a game-changer for the marginalised economies of West Bengal's dry uplands. All it needs is an efficient market strategy
4 min |
March 16, 2026
Down To Earth
What's on your plate
An upcoming digital tool can help people learn about the origin of their meals and make climate-positive food choices
2 min |
March 16, 2026
Down To Earth
At core of survival
Water scarcity defines life in a village inside Sariska Tiger Reserve's critical habitat, as debates over its relocation drag on
5 min |
March 16, 2026
Down To Earth
Universities in crisis, innovation is stifled
Political control and skewed policies have led to unrest in academia, stifling creativity and meaningful research
4 min |
March 16, 2026
Down To Earth
GREAT NICOBAR DILEMMA
In the fragile ecosystem of Nicobar, strategic development must align with constitutional commitment to protect environment, indigenous dignity
3 min |