The global agri-food system faces critical sustainability challenges linked with land degradation, deforestation, water depletion, climate change, biodiversity loss, and food insecurity. Agriculture contributes to one-third of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, largely driven by food waste, deforestation, changes in land practices and enteric fermentation. Food waste alone contributes 10% o
India’s cricket journey is more than a record of sporting triumphs; it is a live case study in strategy, incentives, and equilibrium: the very foundations of Game Theory. As India prepares for its eight-match white-ball series against Australia, the world’s most-watched rivalry will again unfold. Yet beyond the athletic spectacle; every delivery, field placement, and captain’s
Every year, as Diwali approaches, I begin my annual ritual of cleaning – opening drawers, cupboards, and those mysterious “boxes of everything” we all seem to have. It starts as an act of tidying up, but it always turns into a little journey of rediscovery. Among the old receipts and forgotten keys, I always find a jumble of forgotten gadgets – tangled chargers, obsolete
By the end of this century, global sea levels may rise by more than 1 metre, and the mean sea level rise is expected to increase by 180 mm. Climate change is one of the gravest issues before us and one of the most pressing issues linked to the climate change is the sea level rise. The coastal communities are at a high risk of coastal hazards, with the sea level rising due to rising temperatures
The Human Capacity Development landscape in the social development context has evolved significantly over the years. From the more simplistic term “training,” it has now developed into a much more nuanced concept, “Competency-Based Capacity Building” (CBCB). Yet, one question persists: Why do so many well-intended capacity building efforts end with impressive reports but
Imagine a city where trash isn’t trash, energy isn’t wasted, and economic prosperity isn’t achieved at the cost of human wellbeing. A city where every rupee invested in infrastructure yields returns not just in roads and buildings, but in health, jobs, equality, and dignity. Smart city projects promise exactly that. But all too often, their economic potential remains half-real
Critical minerals, including rare earths, are emerging as the foundation of economic growth, national security, and the global energy transition. The International Energy Agency estimates that demand for critical minerals will rise by 250% by 2030. For countries dependent on imports, this represents a strategic vulnerability, as supply chains increasingly overlap with geopolitical and regulator
There was a time when philanthropy in India meant two things: generosity and immediacy. You saw a problem, wrote a cheque, and a life was eased. That impulse is pure and indispensable. But increasingly, many of us who have been gifted the capacity to give are asking a different question: how can my giving not just help an individual today, but change the conditions that make that need so persis
Anger is not a flaw; it is one of our oldest instincts, deeply embedded in human nature for survival. At its best, it helps us confront threats, assert boundariesand respond to injustice. But when anger is left unchecked or unprocessed, it can escalate into violence. What begins as a natural emotion can, over time, lead to real harm. Anger is a complex emotion shaped by stress, povertyand traum
For decades, international efforts have prioritised emissions reduction, often overshadowing adaptation. Consequently, the vast majority of tracked climate finance goes to mitigation, while only a small share of funds goes to adaptation. The global climate finance has hit ~$1.5 trillion, essentially driven largely by renewable energy and low-carbon technology investment. However, adaptation i
India’s ambition to become a developed nation by 2047 cannot be met by counting hospital beds, cards issued, or apps downloaded alone. The decisive variable is quality of care—what patients actually experience and the outcomes they achieve. Quality is the bridge between entitlement and health; without it, coverage schemes risk becoming promises that do not travel the last mile.
The White House’s decision to impose a $100,000 fee on new H-1B petitions has triggered immediate boardroom conversations across corporate America and far beyond. While the Trump administration frames it as a move to safeguard domestic jobs, the economic implications for firms, global talent flows, and emerging markets are far deeper. The rule clarifies that existing H-1B h
The ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar is an extensive exercise to update voter lists through verification of existing voter information, removal of deceased or ineligible voters, and correcting errors. Several concerns have been raised about SIR regarding wrongful deletion of voters, and especially its effect on poor and marginalised communities. Many have tal
In a village in Bihar, a mother brings her pale, lethargic child to a government health camp. A hemoglobin test confirms anemia. She leaves with iron tablets and dietary advice. Months later, the child remains unwell. What if the problem was never iron deficiency, but lead poisoning, silently damaging the child’s blood, brain and future? India has made notable progress in a
In the heart of Delhi’s Nizamuddin Basti, one of the world’s most densely populated neighbourhoods, women and young people across socio-economic groups are quietly reshaping their environment. Amidst narrow lanes and crowded homes, they are coaxing spinach, chillies, bitter gourd, and tulsi out of recycled buckets and broken tubs. These ‘Gardens of Hope’ are not simply j
Rani, a student of a school in Wadepuri, a remote village in Nanded district of Maharashtra, says, “There is a big Devi mandir in my village where many pilgrims come every year. This year we have planted 200 trees along the pathway to the mandir, and we will take care of the trees and celebrate their birthdays.” Sensitivity for the environment is built in young minds,
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is often hailed as the great equaliser, a technology that can democratize knowledge, drive economic growth, and help societies leapfrog development. In the Global South, governments and companies alike see AI as a tool to close the gap with advanced economies. India, for instance, speaks of “AI for All,” positioning itself as both a market and a hub for
Just six months ago, in February 2025, prime minister Narendra Modi stood with the newly re-elected president Donald Trump at the White House, announcing their ambitious "Mission 500" – a target to more than double bilateral US-India trade to $500 billion by 2030. Today, that optimism has given way to harsh reality as India faces some of the highest tariffs
Family-owned businesses in India contribute nearly 79% of the country’s GDP, one of the highest ratios globally, according to HSBC’s latest report on succession trends. Yet their future looks uncertain. The study shows that while most entrepreneurs trust the next generation’s ability to manage wealth, only 7% of Indian heirs reported feeling a sense of obligation to join the f
A kid in rural India gets a high fever. The family`s nearest clinic is hours away, they don`t know how to get there, and by the time they get to the hospital, the bill is more than what they make in a month. This isn`t a rare case; it`s something that happens every day to millions of people. Ayushman Bharat, which started in 2018, was meant to help with this kind of problem. The
