CATEGORIES

TERMITE TRAP

A common tall grass variety provides a chemical-free option to control termites, highlights the need for mainstreaming local ecological knowledge

CLIMATE'S UNSOLICITED PAYOUT

Rising weather extremes is destabilising the insurance industry, driving up premium prices and pushing insurers out of high-risk markets. The crisis is also spurring re-invention of insurance sector.

NOTHING PSEUDO ABOUT IT

The fibre-rich banana pseudo-stem is a treasure trove of minerals and health benefits

Organic move

After 10,000 farmers in Dantewada district secured Chhattisgarh's first organic certification, the entire district now gears up to transition fully to organic farming

No more a rarity

What has caused widespread outbreak of the rare Guillain-Barré syndrome cases from seven states of the country?

DeepSeek AI model is a sobering idea for India

The Chinese artificial intelligence breakthrough reveals how far behind India is in the race for technological prowess

'Fragile terrain not the cause of tunnel collapse but an excuse'

In November 2023, the under-construction Silkyara Bend-Barkot tunnel in Uttarakhand collapsed, trapping 41 workers under the rubble. The rescue operation in the 4.5 km tunnel lasted 17 days and involved multiple teams. Australian geologist ARNOLD DIX, who is also the president of Switzerland-based International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association, as well as an engineer, a barrister and a farmer, assisted in the mission at India's request. Dix has now written a book on the incident. In an interview with ADITYA MISRA, Dix says the mishap was a failure to adapt construction methods to the rock conditions encountered. Excerpts:

BUDGET SQUEEZE

Poised to woo the middle class and tame fiscal deficit, Union Budget 2025-26 cuts corners on key welfare schemes, offers little for climate adaptation and decarbonisation

Decoded script

Genomelndia project creates genomic sequence database of 10,000 Indians, moving a step forward in disease detection and treatment

Introduce layers in poverty measurement

This is with reference to the article \"Convenience of poverty lines\" (16-31 January, 2025). Poverty is not like atmospheric pressure, which can be scaled down with high-precision instruments. It is a matter of deprivation. Poverty is also highly misunderstood. At one extreme, poverty means no food, no clothes, bad health and inadequate shelters; in essence a dearth in common and customary amenities. One can recognise this poverty. But, even if a person's conditions are only a notch above this level, their situation slides through the slick fingers of all the measurement of figures and wielders of statistics.

On an equal footing

A mixed-gender cricket tournament in Madhya Pradesh boosts girls' participation in sports, empowers them to be changemakers

Avian influenza strains find new hosts

THE UK in late January confirmed its first human case of H5N1 avian influenza in three years. The case involves a poultry worker who contracted the virus after prolonged contact with infected birds, marking a rare instance of bird-to-human transmission in the country, says a statement released by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on January 27.

Missed opportunity

The draft National Policy on Agricultural Marketing highlights challenges in markets but offers no long-term solutions beyond privatisation

THE CIRCULARITY ARGUMENT

A circular economy can help India achieve its developmental aspirations while following the low-carbon pathway. It will also help address the challenges of waste management, pollution and overexploitation of natural resources. Industries are already innovating to reuse high-volume wastes and have shown that the transition can usher in both environmental and financial windfalls

Banking on flawed drug voluntary licences

The Medicines Patent Pool is pushing for more VLs, but its bad deal with Novartis on a cancer drug shows the pitfalls

Lasting solutions

For the first time, the UN has recognised the role of indigenous communities in tackling aridity. A repository of traditional knowledge India has the wherewithal to lead the way

IMD at 150

India's journey into modern weather forecasting took a decisive turn 150 years ago with the establishment of India Meteorological Department during the British rule. The agency has come a long way since then, shaping the way the country predicts and responds to its diverse climate challenges

Every drop counts

In drought-prone Marathwada region, 14 villages have managed to counter water shortage by budgeting the resource

Threat to survival

Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary in Assam faces ecological challenges as railway electrification and hydrocarbon exploration endanger its fragile biodiversity

'Migration is going to be a battlefield'

AMITAV GHOSH is one of the foremost chroniclers of our times. His literary sojourn includes writings on topics that range from languages to climate change to human lives. His latest book, Wild Fictions, brings some of his works on these issues under one title. In a conversation with RAJAT GHAI, Ghosh shares his views on the future of human movement. Excerpts:

Face of future

California wildfires confirm forest fires are intensifying in a hotter world, emitting substantial amounts of greenhouse gases and reinforcing global warming

Friends of the forest

Residents of 30 villages in Uttarakhand establish a model for public participation in saving forests from wildfires

Climate-crazy playbook

Just hours after his second (and final) term began on January 20, US President Donald Trump unleashed 46 presidential actions. Several of these are centred on the US' climate commitments, energy transition, migration and trade policies, and are likely to have negative global implications

Inspiring initiative for revival of native seeds

Apropos the article \"Return of Rambhog\" (16-31 December, 2024), which focuses on the revival of Rambhog paddy in Kanpur Dehat and Kanpur Nagar districts of Uttar Pradesh.

On shaky ground

Despite reporting net gains in green cover, the latest forest survey shows degradation of natural forests, particularly in ecologically sensitive hotspots

Burden of proof

The government's drive for e-KYC verification to ensure rightful targeting of beneficiaries has proved exclusionary for many

Rupee slide impacts agricultural trade

THE UNION Cabinet on January 1, 2025, approved the extension of a subsidy package of ₹3,500 per tonne on di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) for companies.

THE 500 GW SWITCH OVER

Coal is the king of energy at present. India needs to dislodge it with clean energy for an equitable green transition

MANIFESTING 500 GW

Ensure that renewable energy is available round the clock.Establish a viable market and reward those who take lead

Lifting a curse

How Gangabai Rajput helped her water-scarce village in Madhya Pradesh let go of superstition and revive an ancient waterbody