Is a 24-hour water supply possible?
An answer to this question was attempted at a workshop organised in Hyderabad, from September 23-24, 2003, by the Administrative Staff College of …
Learning from the Gujarat quake
It is more than two years since the terrible earthquake struck Gujarat. In this period the catastrophe-struck areas have witnessed rehabilitation …
The US' mixed record in green causes
A globalising world requires multilateralism to attain shared goals -- particularly the preservation of ecological security. While this can …
Are some humans more equal?
A recent study suggests that poor nations will have to do with more arsenic in water. A rebuttal by the arsenic and medical group, School of …
Medical tests: How necessary?
Doctors are increasingly prescribing tests to arrive at a diagnosis. Has this benefited medical practice or patients? Four experts debate
Teesta dams: A recipe for disaster?
The Gujarat 2001 earthquake drove home the point that cities built on river alluvium and sand are likely to suffer maximum damage from an …
V(a)x populi: Should we or should we not vaccinate
Three experts come from three different points of view to the debate on compulsory vaccination
A non-verbal communication expert watched Trump-Biden debate with no sound. Here’s what he saw
Even when directly dealing with attacks from Trump, Biden often smiled; Trump presented a much less aggressive and more thoughtful face
Clean Thiruvananthapuram, but dirty Villappilsala
Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala was once known as the cleanest city in India. Today, it is littered with garbage
Where are the tapovans?
Both India and China are ancient civilisations possessing characteristic indigenous knowledge of conservation of natural ecosystems. The Chinese …
Gaming: How much is too much?
The WHO's decision to list gaming disorder as a mental health condition has several gamers and experts debating on its acceptance and validity
In Parliament on December 7, 2016
Vehicle emission standards, depletion of groundwater and death of endangered animals were among the issues discussed at the question hour of …
Fate of Lokpal Bill hangs in balance
Opposition parties and ally Trinamool want states to decide on appointing lokayuktas
Facebook's wild and severe side effects
Facebook is undermining democracies and leading to shallow and degraded public discourse
How good is your MP? These maps will help you track
A Harvard report maps estimates for indicators of nutrition, health and development for all the Parliamentary constituencies in the country
Ways to weed parthenium out
Parthenium, a notorious weed, first sneaked into the country along with wheat grains imported from the us in the early 1950s. It has become a …
Not ready for Roundup Ready
Notwithstanding the resounding failure of its Bt cotton, Monsanto has begun to introduce another genetically modified crop into India, its …
Dams in the north-east will also ruin livelihoods
After neglecting the north-east for years, Delhi now feels the need to initiate "developmental" activities in the region. There is good reason. …
How should tribal owners profit from forest wealth?
The gross tribal produce of Bastar is in excess of Rs 1,000 crore a year. Tribals, 'owners' of the minor forest produce -- in terms of the …
The devil and the 'deep sea' fishing
In the Indian context, the term 'deep sea' has very little to do with depth. It refers to India's Exclusive Economic Zone: the 188 nautical miles …
Did the polio vaccine start AIDS?
The origin of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has generated considerable interest and controversy amongst scientists the world over. Flaming …
The way out of energy and climate change dilemmas
Providing energy to the poor does not make good business. Take electricity. Connecting the 2 billion in the world who do not have access to large …
Elegy to the cotton farmer
Food security is not charity
Give the poor a say in planning and executing drought relief works
Mission impossible
Can the UK juggle energy demands and Kyoto Protocol commitments
