Highlights from the Issue
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Sunita Narain’s Desk: Liveable cities need a new model
A modern city in India must not resemble Delhi, which is gridlocked and lacks basic services, from healthcare to clean water
Sunita Narain’s Desk argues that a modern city in India must be designed with livability as a central principle. Sunita Narain emphasizes that Delhi, as an example, suffers from chronic gridlock and a shortage of essential services such as healthcare and clean water. Sunita Narain calls for a fresh urban model that prioritises efficient transport, reliable water supply, and accessible health facilities. Sunita Narain stresses that without re‑thinking the planning paradigm, other Indian cities may repeat the same shortcomings observed in Delhi. The column invites policymakers, planners, and citizens to imagine a cityscape where congestion is minimized and basic needs are guaranteed for every resident.
Cover story: First food under threat
What happens when mother's milk, the first food and first vaccine of babies, begins to mirror the load of environmental contaminants?
The cover story explores the alarming reality that mother’s milk, recognised as the first food and first vaccine for infants, is increasingly reflecting the burden of environmental pollutants. The investigation reveals that contaminants present in the wider environment are finding their way into breast milk, thereby exposing newborns to substances that were previously absent from this vital nourishment. The narrative details how this convergence threatens infant health, raises concerns about long‑term developmental impacts, and underscores the urgent need for stronger environmental safeguards. By highlighting the direct link between ecological degradation and infant nutrition, the piece calls for coordinated action to protect both ecosystems and the youngest members of society.
Interview: ‘It’s a systematic effort by US to dismantle climate policy’
Niklas Höhne, a climate policy expert and founder of the NewClimate Institute in Cologne, Germany, explains what the US' move to overturn its “endangerment finding” means for the country and for global climate diplomacy
In this interview, Niklas Höhne provides a detailed assessment of the United States’ decision to overturn the “endangerment finding.” Niklas Höhne, as founder of the NewClimate Institute in Cologne, Germany, characterises the action as part of a systematic effort by US to dismantle climate policy. Niklas Höhne explains that the reversal could weaken domestic regulatory frameworks, reduce emissions‑tailoring mechanisms, and diminish the credibility of the United States in international climate negotiations. According to Niklas Höhne, the move signals a shift in political priorities that may reverberate across diplomatic channels, potentially slowing progress on worldwide climate aCrickxoments. Niklas Höhne stresses that understanding the motivations behind the United States’ policy shift is essential for crafting effective counter‑strategies at the global level.
Special report: Coal v corridor
A proposal to mine coal along a corridor that links two tiger reserves in central India is a step away from getting final clearance. The move could affect movement and genetic diversity of tiger populations in the region
The special report examines a proposal to extract coal within a corridor that connects two tiger reserves in central India. The report notes that the proposal is now a step away from receiving final clearance, indicating that regulatory approval is imminent. The analysis highlights that the corridor serves as a critical passage for tiger movement, enabling gene flow between otherwise isolated populations. Disruption of this corridor through mining activities could impede tiger dispersal and reduce genetic diversity, thereby threatening the long‑term viability of tiger populations in the region. The investigation calls for careful consideration of ecological consequences before granting clearance for coal extraction.
Special report: Unwanted barter
Pursuit of renewable solar power in Rajasthan sees indiscriminate felling of khejri trees vital to the Thar landscape
This special report focuses on the expansion of solar power projects in Rajasthan and the resulting impact on the Thar landscape. The report documents that the pursuit of renewable solar energy has led to the indiscriminate removal of khejri trees, which are an essential component of the Thar ecosystem. The loss of khejri trees threatens soil stability, local biodiversity, and the cultural heritage associated with the distinctive desert environment. The narrative underscores the paradox of renewable energy development when it proceeds without adequate environmental safeguards, thereby compromising the very landscapes it aims to protect.
Special report: A bridge across forever
For two decades, a Chhattisgarh village remains stuck in a loop of building temporary river crossings to access markets and sell forest produce
The report chronicles the persistent challenge faced by a village in Chhattisgarh that has, for twenty years, been forced to repeatedly construct provisional river crossings. These temporary structures are essential for villagers to reach markets and transport forest produce for sale. The recurring need for makeshift bridges highlights a systemic failure to provide a permanent, reliable crossing. The report emphasizes the economic and social hardships endured by the community as a result of this continual cycle, and calls for long‑term infrastructure solutions that would break the pattern of temporary fixes.
Appraisal: Charged with eco‑rage
Awareness of climate change, and the stress it induces, may be linked to rising aggressive behaviour among young people
The appraisal investigates a possible connection between heightened climate‑change awareness and an increase in aggressive behaviour among youth. The analysis suggests that the stress associated with understanding climate threats can manifest as heightened irritability or confrontational actions in younger individuals. By examining psychological responses to climate information, the appraisal seeks to illuminate how environmental anxiety might translate into behavioural changes. The findings call for supportive interventions that address both climate education and emotional wellbeing.
Patently absurd: India’s challenging AI predicament
Hobbled by lack of innovation and AI skills in its crucial technology sector, India is focusing on a ruinous plan to host data centres
This commentary examines India’s current artificial‑intelligence landscape, noting a shortage of homegrown innovation and AI expertise within the nation’s technology sector. The piece argues that, in response to these deficiencies, India is pursuing a strategy centred on attracting large‑scale data centres—a plan described as ruinous. According to the analysis, the emphasis on data‑centre development does not address the underlying gaps in AI research and talent cultivation. The commentary warns that without a robust domestic AI ecosystem, the data‑centre strategy may fail to deliver the intended economic and technological benefits.
Civil lines: Poverty, sans the threshold
Oliver Sterck's 'average poverty' measure considers the entire income distribution
The article introduces Oliver Sterck’s novel metric, labelled ‘average poverty,’ which evaluates poverty by taking into account the full spectrum of household incomes rather than relying on a fixed threshold. By incorporating every income level, Oliver Sterck’s approach provides a more nuanced picture of economic deprivation across a population. The piece explains how this methodology captures subtle shifts in living standards that conventional poverty lines might overlook, thereby offering policymakers a richer dataset for designing targeted interventions.
Opinion: The great pivot
China’s moves to transition to clean energy offer critical lessons to India
The opinion piece argues that China’s ongoing transition toward clean energy sources contains valuable insights for India’s own energy strategy. By analysing recent policies, investment patterns, and technological deployments in China, the author extracts lessons that could help India accelerate its own clean‑energy ambitions. The commentary stresses that adopting comparable measures could improve India’s energy security, reduce emissions, and foster sustainable economic growth.
Opinion: A step back
Recent amendments to Uttarakhand’s Van Panchayat rules push the state into a risk zone. The state must usher in forest reforms to rescue community forest governance
This opinion analyzes recent changes to the Van Panchayat regulations in Uttarakhand, describing how the amendments place the state within a precarious risk zone for forest governance. The author argues that the new rules undermine community‑based management structures that have traditionally safeguarded forest resources. To restore effective stewardship, the piece calls for comprehensive forest reforms that empower local communities and reinstate robust governance mechanisms.
Life and nature: Saintly guardians
For over 20 years, residents of Mudh village in eastern Ladakh have been protecting the ruddy shelduck that visits their mountains to breed
The feature tells the story of Mudh village, situated in eastern Ladakh, where locals have spent more than twenty years safeguarding the ruddy shelduck during its breeding season. The residents of Mudh village actively monitor nesting sites, deter predators, and maintain habitat conditions conducive to successful reproduction. This long‑standing stewardship reflects a deep cultural connection between the community and the migratory bird, highlighting how grassroots conservation can yield lasting ecological benefits.