Can Vaccines Help Beat Latest Surge

ON APRIL 14, the country recorded 11,000 new COVID-19 cases, the highest so far in 2023. As cases rose throughout the month, states and Union Territories issued advisories on wearing masks and avoiding large gatherings to prevent the infection.

Power of pine

Women in Solan, Himachal Pradesh use abundantly available pine needles to weave items of everyday use and decor, earning a handsome monthly income

A silent crisis

Years of undernutrition and a heavy reliance on rice, supplied through public distribution system, could be fuelling diabetes among tribal population

POTENT EMITTER

Termites are a major source of methane, but determining the risk they pose to global warming is fraught with uncertainty

PLANT BABOOL

The tree can grow well on degraded land, can survive droughts and floods, and has numerous medicinal properties

Tiger reserved

Fiftieth anniversary of Project Tiger means little to forest-dwelling communities

GREEN FLIGHT

From sustainable fuel to hydrogen-propelled engines, the aviation sector is experimenting with various technologies for a clean future

'ALL HAVE A RIGHT TO MARRIAGE'

Nearly five years after scrapping Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code that criminalised homosexuality, the Supreme Court in April 2023 began hearing petitions seeking legalisation of same-sex marriage, which would not just recognise unions within India's LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, transgender, queer-identifying and others) community, but also allow partners to open joint bank accounts, make medical decisions and be eligible for inheritance. As a five-judge bench of the Apex Court headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud heard arguments both for and against the petitions, debates arose on the institution of marriage, on whether marriage equality was an \"elitist concept\", and even on the biological definitions of a man and a woman. DOWN TO EARTH spoke to two experts on the fate of marriage equality in India.

When generics turn into Big Pharma

Top generics firms, some from India, are charged with price-fixing and sleazy deals; Sun Pharma has paid up to settle claims

Every count matters

India’s first census of waterbodies is a much awaited one but experts question the methodology

RISE OF THE FUNGUS

Fungal infections often go undiagnosed. Even when identified, they are among the most difficult diseases to manage. They are now quietly spreading across the globe, preying on people's weakened immune system and taking advantage of the high diabetes burden. Some are even showing resistance to the existing arsenal of drugs and are becoming virulent in a warming world.

Deserted by state

Rural households in West Bengal are pushed into debt traps and forced migration after the Centre's decision to withhold funds to implement India's flagship public wage programme in the state

Mined To Destruction

Sand is the second most exploited resource after water and the most mined material globally, as per the UN Environment Programme. Its extraction from riverbeds is often done without regard to the adverse impact on natural river ecology. In India, sand mining grew as a large and, in many cases, illegal industry after the rapid urbanisation brought on by the economic liberalisation in the 1990s

Revival of a tradition

Rajasthan communities restore pastureland to ease impacts of fodder crisis in livestock farming

Fatal coincidence

Forest fire season in Uttarakhand coincides with flowering and breeding months of several vulnerable species, many of them native to Himalayas

A brave, flimsy take

BHEED IS A LOUD SOCIAL COMMENTARY THAT FALLS FLAT DUE TO THE WEIGHT OF TOO MANY HALF-COOKED STORIES AND CHARACTERS SEQUENCED INTO A LINEAR PLOT

PERENNIAL GUAVA

Used in street food, chutneys and perfumes, the climate-resistant fruit is a clear option for farmers

Bedaquiline patent win is a half victory

India's ability to eliminate its huge TB burden by 2025 will be a test of both its patent laws and healthcare policy

HEAVY SWAY

India developed the concept of farmer producer company (FPC) two decades ago to help small farmers own and run businesses and gain standing in the market by negotiating collectively. In 2019, the government set a target of creating 10,000 FPCs by 2024. It also introduced the concept of cluster-based business organisation (CBBO) to provide hand-holding support to farmers in forming FPCs. The move, however, has led to creation of FPCs that are controlled by the bigger companies that operate as CBBOs

Fake determinants

A series of research papers and an open letter by 200 global figures hold industries accountable for the growing publichealth problems, call for urgent actions

Displaced by settlers

Tribal communities in Kerala's Attappady block are being alienated from their land despite laws in place to protect their rights

Familiar discourse

The world met to discuss the burgeoning water crisis after nearly half a century; but commitments on action were largely a reiteration of ongoing work

Disturbed frontier

Restoration of degraded forests is the only way to curb monkey menace in Karnataka and to tackle the outbreaks of monkey fever in humans

A DEBT TO OFFSET

Offering debt relief in lieu of climate action could allow rich countries to pay for their acts of historical injustice, while helping the poor ones manage mounting public borrowings and climate change challenges

Fading history of Novartis v Union of India

The 2013 landmark Supreme Court judgement offers critical lessons on the intent behind crucial aspects of India's key patent law

PHARMA DISRUPTOR

Pharma companies today deploy artificial intelligence with a potential to reduce the drug development cycle by half. But doubts remain about reliability of the technology

DEEP UNKNOWN

The Earth's core works as an engine to generate heat for natural processes and produce the planet's magnetism. But as this iron-rich layer gradually solidifies into a ball, what will happen to the planet's habitability? As the world drills into and analyses the Earth's interiors, certain clues about its evolution and state emerge.

Sewage overload

Ganga remains polluted despite cleanliness drives

GRAIN SIZE: SEED TROUBLE

An increase in number of days with extreme temperatures or rain has caused a decline in quality and size of seeds across India

ROUGH WATERS AHEAD

Rapid intensification and unpredictable movement of tropical cyclones in recent years may form a template for future storm systems