Lakshadweep administration’s proposed two-child norm defies all logic

There is no evidence that a two-child policy is effective even for states which have high fertility rates than Lakshadweep

Fertility in 91 countries insufficient to maintain population: study

The baby bust in 91 countries, including Singapore, Spain, Portugal and South Korea is happening simultaneous to a baby boom in 104 countries, …

How India is positioned to achieve UN’s sustainable consumption and production goal

The population of China and India together constitutes 36% of the global population but generates only 27 per cent of the global municipal waste

Why the debate over India’s population explosion is on the wrong track

According to government data, India’s Total Fertility Rate has already reached replacement levels

Global goal, local fight

The success of Swachh Bharat Mission will decide if the world will achieve its goal of being open defecation-free

Swachh Bharat is now about toilets built, not change in attitude: Experts

At a book launch in New Delhi, sanitation experts say the scheme has defeated the purpose of community-led total sanitation approach

Use of triclosan in popular brand of toothpaste raises concern over USFDA processes

Colgate Total contains the chemical ingredient associated with growth of cancer cells in animals

Adolescent fertility rate, teenage pregnancies decline in Indian states: NFHS-5

Tripura records the highest adolescent fertility rate for women aged 15-19 years; Goa the least

Prescription for plant-based diet overlooks vitamin B12 deficiency

While an EAT-Lancet study had found that the world must shift to plant-based diets to meet the SDGs, this vitamin is only found in animal meat …

Swachh Bharat Abhiyan: What are the barriers for toilet construction

Ability to raise the initial funds, lack of space in urban slums and lack of awareness is hampering the sanitation programme

Budget 2018: To make India open defecation-free, Centre must invest less in building toilets

The focus should be on educating people and building capacity for effective implementation of Swachh Bharat Mission

Tracking aerosol built-up in the country through satellite images

While air quality bulletins recently highlighted north India’s dust problems, satellite reanalysis data show the problem of toxic Sulfate …

World Toilet Day: India needs one toilet every two seconds to achieve target by 2019

The need to construct toilets per minute has increased from 35 to 41; target may stretch up to 2035 due to extremely slow pace

Will India get freedom from open defecation?

Skyrocketing numbers on government websites project a doubtful picture of what has been achieved in one year. Read our Independence Day special

Doubts dog toilet-building campaign

Over half a billion, which is nearly half of the country’s population, defecate in the open

Climate change to be blamed for alarming decrease in groundwater around Dead Sea

The lowest lake on Earth is one of the biggest tourist attractions in West Asia; more than four million people rely on the groundwater resources …

Fertility rate down in most states, NFHS-5 finds

Kerala only state to record increase in fertility rate, phase 1 of survey finds; urban women had lower fertility rate than women in rural areas …

Population populism: UP draft population bill will impact the vulnerable, especially women

The focus must be on safeguarding women and girls’ reproductive health. Smaller families can be achieved by ensuring gender equality, …

Mission possible

The Centre gives India just about eight years to free its villages of open defecation. This seems unlikely. But the states of Sikkim, Haryana and …

Centre gears up to launch revamped sanitation mission

Corporate houses will have a major role in Swacchh Bharat Abhiyan which aims at achieving total sanitation by 2019

India does need toilets more than temples

Modi’s toilet remark has sparked a political row, but no one is paying attention to India’s sanitation challenge

Indians spending less on food, says national survey

Total consumer expenditure on processed foods, beverages, and refreshments level has increased

One in six people worldwide affected by infertility, finds WHO

Urgent need to expand access to prevention, diagnosis and treatments; rates of infertility are similar across all countries and regions

Can a cash-on-delivery model work for global aid?

As rich nations try to heal the scars of 2008 global financial crisis through deep budget cuts and protectionist policies, business models like …

Usage of toilets in India is over 95 per cent, reveals new NSSO survey

This finding is, however, from a two-month rapid survey, considered too short by experts