Geography
Physical geography, resources, disasters and urbanisation
National Maritime Day: India's oil lifeline churns through conflict waters
India observed its 63rd National Maritime Day on April 5, 2026 — a date that acquired unusual salience given the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz, thr...
Indian Railways hits new milestone: Western Dedicated Freight Corridor fully completed; train capacity set to double
The Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) completed the entire Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) on March 31, 2026, with t...
Treat Western Ghats to coast as one ecosystem, says policy document
A coalition of environmental organisations released "From Forest to Sea: Kerala People's Environmental Charter" on March 11, 2026, in Thiruvananthapuram, urg...
Bahrain postpones vote on UN resolution aimed at ending Iran's stranglehold on Strait of Hormuz
Bahrain, as the sponsor of a draft UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution, postponed a scheduled vote on a measure that would authorise the use of "defensive ...
Climate change strikes North India’s ‘mango hub’ as Malihabad’s orchards lie desolate and farmers suffer from declining yields, rising costs
Malihabad in Uttar Pradesh, India's premier mango-growing belt accounting for roughly 34% of national mango production across approximately 11,500 hectares, ...
Rajasthan HC issues contempt notices over delay in panchayat, local body elections
The Rajasthan High Court (Division Bench led by Acting Chief Justice S.P. Sharma) issued contempt notices on April 2, 2026, to the State Election Commission ...
Parliament passes Jan Vishwas Amendment Bill
Parliament passed the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026, which amends 784 provisions across 79 central laws to decriminalise minor offences an...
Education Ministry notifies NCERT as deemed university
The Ministry of Education formally notified the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) as an "Institute Deemed to be University," mark...
India flags ‘unimpeded transit’, 60-nation meet calls for reopening Hormuz
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri represented India at a UK-hosted virtual meeting of over 60 nations convened to explore diplomatic and operational pathways to...
UN to vote on using 'all defensive means' to secure navigation in Strait of Hormuz
Bahrain, backed by the Gulf Cooperation Council and over 22 signatory nations, circulated a draft resolution at the UN Security Council that would authorise ...
Navy escorting tankers from Strait of Hormuz, no dearth of fuel or gas in country, says defence minister
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh assured the nation that there is no shortage of fuel or gas in India, citing active Indian Navy escort operations for oil and ...
Yamuna, the river that became stagnant
A detailed assessment by Down to Earth documents the Yamuna's transformation from a living river to a stagnant, ecologically dead waterway due to compounding...
Hormuz crisis chokes shipping, sends freight rates soaring fivefold
The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, following Iran's closure of the waterway in response to US-Israeli strikes on February 28, 2026, has caused freight rat...
Iran War: Fertiliser, agri-input stress emerges; Kharif outlook hinges on policy, farmer choices
The West Asia conflict and Strait of Hormuz blockade are creating significant stress in India's fertiliser supply chains, with serious implications for khari...
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri represents India at UK-convened meet to discuss Strait of Hormuz
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri attended a UK-convened virtual summit of 35 countries on April 2, 2026, to discuss reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which has b...
Govt exceeds FY26 indirect tax collection estimates of ₹15.52 lakh cr
The Central Government has exceeded its FY26 Revised Estimate (RE) for indirect tax collections of ₹15.52 lakh crore, achieving approximately 101.2% of the r...
India’s Russian crude purchases hit 9-month high in March amid West Asia war, but discounts vanish
India's crude oil imports from Russia climbed to a 9-month high of approximately 1.96 million barrels per day (mbpd) in March 2026, sharply up from 1.04 mbpd...
India attends UK talks on Strait of Hormuz opening; MEA in 'touch with Iran' for safe passage
India participated in a UK-convened virtual summit of 35 countries focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which has been effectively shut since late Febr...
Why is India pushing piped gas now? | Explained
The Central Government has issued the Natural Gas and Petroleum Products Distribution Order, 2026, mandating a time-bound transition for households in areas ...
Indian cities’ heat action plans must focus on high night-time temperatures, study says
A new study published ahead of the 2026 summer season finds that India's existing city-level Heat Action Plans (HAPs) are significantly under-prepared for th...