News for 'Centre of Science and Environment'

COVID-19 is raging across the country

COVID-19 is raging across the country

Rediff.com20 Aug 2020

'Governments have neither any idea of the source of the infection, nor a grip on the disease.' 'Headline management will not work, not in this case,' observes Sunita Narain.

Vajpayee's condition stable, still in ICU

Vajpayee's condition stable, still in ICU

Rediff.com12 Jun 2018

In the latest medical bulletin issued by AIIMS, the hospital said that he 'continues to respond well to treatment'.

What I learnt from fighting COVID-19

What I learnt from fighting COVID-19

Rediff.com24 Aug 2020

'The genetic thing is not in your control. The virulence is not known.' 'The only thing is if you can avoid it.' 'Once you get COVID-19, none of it is in your control.'

Ericsson sees $27bn revenue from 5G for India, but at a cost

Ericsson sees $27bn revenue from 5G for India, but at a cost

Rediff.com18 Nov 2018

While everybody is talking about the vast potential of 5G, the uptake of such services in India depends on operators getting around 100 Mhz 5G spectrum. At the reserve price proposed by Trai, getting this spectrum will cost a telco around Rs 490 billion. Which amount could be difficult for operators to mop up, given the financial stress they are undergoing, says Kiran Rathee.

The many challenges awaiting Himachal's new CM

The many challenges awaiting Himachal's new CM

Rediff.com19 Dec 2017

Fund crunch may come in the way of infrastructure development; women's safety another issue that will be in focus.

India's cry for water falls on deaf ears

India's cry for water falls on deaf ears

Rediff.com23 Mar 2021

India's water future remains very bleak. The monsoon season, which once extended to 4 months, is now down to less than 30 days of heavy rain.

An ideal mining policy & how it will impact the economy

An ideal mining policy & how it will impact the economy

Rediff.com20 Jul 2015

The new mining policy must be rock solid

PHOTOS: Mangalyaan and other successful Mars missions

PHOTOS: Mangalyaan and other successful Mars missions

Rediff.com24 Sep 2014

Rediff.com takes a look at spacecraft that have successfully made it to Mars.

Can Wastewater Testing tell us more about COVID-19?

Can Wastewater Testing tell us more about COVID-19?

Rediff.com6 Jul 2020

'Wastewater containing excreted material can tell us how a community is doing in a particular area pertaining to any epidemic, pandemic, and other bacterial and viral diseases.'

Maybe we need to 'shut down' Delhi

Maybe we need to 'shut down' Delhi

Rediff.com26 Dec 2016

'It is clear that nature is not in a mood to give us leeway to be lazy, inefficient or just do business as usual.' 'It is telling us that we have no time to get things wrong. We need to take drastic actions - now

Toxic smog continues to chokes Delhi

Toxic smog continues to chokes Delhi

Rediff.com12 Nov 2017

Pollution levels skyrocketed by the hour in Delhi on Sunday, turning the air quality hazardous, which agencies consider unfit for inhalation even by healthier people.

Why we need to pay more for the water we use

Why we need to pay more for the water we use

Rediff.com21 Nov 2019

'We have severely under-invested in waste water treatment.' 'We charge for water a minimal amount and we don't charge anything extra for providing sewerage service.' 'As a result, every water entity is cash-strapped.'

Cyclone politics: Cong claims credit for effective handling of Phailin

Cyclone politics: Cong claims credit for effective handling of Phailin

Rediff.com14 Oct 2013

Congress on Monday appeared to claim credit for effective handling of cyclone 'Phailin', saying all steps are being taken under its rule to make the country "disaster-resilient" which was evident from the Indian Meteorological Department's accurate prediction and "record" evacuation of over one million people in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.

Should Sania Mirza disassociate from 'misleading' advertorial?

Should Sania Mirza disassociate from 'misleading' advertorial?

Rediff.com6 Mar 2018

A green body has urged tennis star Sania Mirza to disassociate herself from a 'misleading' advertorial by an organisation representing the poultry industry.

How those who can't afford masks are dealing with Delhi's toxic air

How those who can't afford masks are dealing with Delhi's toxic air

Rediff.com2 Dec 2018

Rickshaw pullers and construction workers are the worst hit.

It's high time to revamp India's inefficient power plants

It's high time to revamp India's inefficient power plants

Rediff.com16 Mar 2015

Green rating of thermal power plants are way behind the global best.

Check out Curiosity's stunning Martian selfie

Check out Curiosity's stunning Martian selfie

Rediff.com25 Feb 2015

A sweeping view of the "Pahrump Hills" outcrop on Mars, where NASA's Curiosity rover has been working for five months, surrounds the rover in Curiosity's latest self-portrait.

'No objection to constructing 10 Parliaments'

'No objection to constructing 10 Parliaments'

Rediff.com21 Jan 2021

'But you cannot encroach upon the spaces that belong to the public.' 'For this new Parliament building, we envisage a minimum of 400 trucks, the huge long trailer trucks will be coming in day in and day out right into the heart of the national capital.' 'It will completely destroy Delhi's peace.' 'The beautiful sylvan surroundings of the quiet, beautiful, New Delhi is going to be destroyed for all time to come.'

Delhi is crumbling under its own weight

Delhi is crumbling under its own weight

Rediff.com18 Dec 2019

While Delhi boasts of one of the best metro systems in the world and decent infrastructure, reckless construction, legalising unauthorised colonies, and the worsening water and air quality dent its image of being a robust cosmopolitan city.

Supreme Court okays green levy on trucks entering Delhi

Supreme Court okays green levy on trucks entering Delhi

Rediff.com10 Oct 2015

Detailed order, to be passed on Monday, will consider green tribunal's decisions

The Dream Evangelist

The Dream Evangelist

Rediff.com3 Aug 2015

'President Kalam pitched his dreams high. He will be best remembered for that feat.'

India's Mangalyan to be launched on November 5

India's Mangalyan to be launched on November 5

Rediff.com22 Oct 2013

India's ambitious space mission to explore planet Mars would be launched on November 5 from the spaceport of Sriharikota, ISRO announced on Tuesday.

Does anyone care what air Delhi breathes?

Does anyone care what air Delhi breathes?

Rediff.com21 Nov 2017

'The greatest danger is that the current crisis will clear a little, we'll be able to see our hands in front of our faces, and with great relief we'll forget all about it and willingly breathe poison until next November', says Mitali Saran.

Scientists identify ways of preventing next pandemic

Scientists identify ways of preventing next pandemic

Rediff.com4 Jan 2021

There can be no one answer to the question at the centre of an anxious debate across a world coping with COVID-19 and wondering what will happen if another one comes, but the global scientific community has been working on multiple tracks to ensure that humankind is better prepared.

They still won't say the 'C' word

They still won't say the 'C' word

Rediff.com16 Dec 2016

Donald Trump denied it. Hillary Clinton avoided saying it. But the Climate Change crisis is frighteningly real, says Sunita Narain.

Will India do a Kenya and burn its ivory pile?

Will India do a Kenya and burn its ivory pile?

Rediff.com10 May 2016

Close on the heels of Kenya, which recently set on fire over a hundred ton of its ivory stockpile, experts in India are mulling a similar provision to destroy the "white gold" to send a strong message against poaching.

Why Maggi controversy is an eye-opener for packaged food industry

Why Maggi controversy is an eye-opener for packaged food industry

Rediff.com10 Jun 2015

The Maggi controversy is likely to be a stepping stone in the evolution of country's packaged and processed food industry.

Lessons for the govt to help crisis-hit farmers

Lessons for the govt to help crisis-hit farmers

Rediff.com14 Sep 2015

We need to invest in the science of monsoons and weather forecasting.

GM field trials: Regulator proposes but most states decline

GM field trials: Regulator proposes but most states decline

Rediff.com26 Mar 2014

A survey conducted by Business Standard reveals that a majority of the country's states are still firmly against the move, while a few are open to considering only conditionally.

Ladakh's UT status leaves many happy and confused

Ladakh's UT status leaves many happy and confused

Rediff.com2 Sep 2019

A separate Union Territory has been a long-standing demand of locals, many of who have alleged that the Ladakh region had been neglected by leaders of Jammu and Kashmir.

Wanted! A National Security Strategy

Wanted! A National Security Strategy

Rediff.com31 May 2021

India's national security strategy needs to be revised periodically since the global and regional geopolitical situation is dynamic, points out Commodore Venugopal Menon (retd).

Over 400 students hospitalised after gas leak near Delhi school

Over 400 students hospitalised after gas leak near Delhi school

Rediff.com6 May 2017

The Delhi government has ordered a magisterial probe into the incident.

Why India will do nothing about killer 'diesel'

Why India will do nothing about killer 'diesel'

Rediff.com26 Oct 2015

Every time we pointed out the overwhelming evidence of diesel's toxicity, we were brushed aside.

How monkeys logged off Modi's WiFi idea!

How monkeys logged off Modi's WiFi idea!

Rediff.com20 Aug 2015

'Monkey menace' has reached epic proportions in India. So pronounced is the problem of monkeys, that they have even derailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's plans of making his parliamentary constituency of Varanasi Wi-Fi-enabled.

How best to tackle the 'US factor'

How best to tackle the 'US factor'

Rediff.com8 Jan 2018

In IT, the two-way flow of investments and intellect has been central to the growing linkage, which provides a great opportunity for both nations to improve the quality of life of their citizens, says Raman Roy.

These 'clownselors' heal patients one smile at a time

These 'clownselors' heal patients one smile at a time

Rediff.com25 Jul 2019

Volunteers dressed as clowns visit hospitals and old-age homes to spread cheer and dispel the gloom of ill health and old age.

Delhi smog: 37 flights diverted; air quality worsens

Delhi smog: 37 flights diverted; air quality worsens

Rediff.com4 Nov 2019

Pollution levels in Delhi and satellite towns shot up again on Sunday morning, with the air quality bordering the 'severe plus' category at several places.

'The past has a knack of exploding in our faces'

'The past has a knack of exploding in our faces'

Rediff.com19 Sep 2018

'People beat their chests when the Babri Masjid was brought down, not realising that it was just one event in a chain going back centuries; to look at the last link or two in isolation is absurd.'

Toxic smog suffocates Delhi; schools shut, construction halted

Toxic smog suffocates Delhi; schools shut, construction halted

Rediff.com8 Nov 2017

The air quality in Delhi is turning worse, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said.

Why environmentalists are worried about rubber plantations in Northeast

Why environmentalists are worried about rubber plantations in Northeast

Rediff.com19 Mar 2018

These plantations are not only eating into the land occupied by the region's native forests, they could also disturb the ground water reserve and soil quality