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Political
Centre all set to sustain country's ODF status
Posted on 02 Oct, 2019 11:12 AMNational rural sanitation strategy launched to sustain open defecation-free (ODF) status
![A toilet constructed under Swachh Bharat Mission (Source: IWP Flickr photos)](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/dsc04543_0_0.jpg?itok=bvAGDyeS)
Monsoon withdrawal delayed; more extreme weather events the new trend
Posted on 02 Oct, 2019 11:01 AMMonsoon’s withdrawal likely to begin around October 10: IMD
![Image used for representational purposes only. Image source: India Water Portal on Flickr](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/from_iwp_flickr_dropshot_contest_for_26_june_2019_news_round_up_lead_image_0.jpg?itok=QnDptTg5)
River as a cultural mosaic
Posted on 02 Oct, 2019 10:41 AM"River conversations are critical to re-evaluate histories, reconnect civilisations, cultures and peoples, ideas and regions and open streams of thought for a future with exciting possibilities," says Kishalay Bhattacharjee, Associate Professor and Vice Dean, Jindal School of Journalism and Communication who has conceptualized a new series of quarterly river conversations.
![Yamuna near Taj Mahal (Image: Flickr Commons, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/yamuna_6.jpg?itok=sCZ_ivE3)
India’s target to combat land degradation and desertification
Posted on 01 Oct, 2019 05:44 PMIndia finally announced that it would increase its targets of restoring degraded lands from 21 million hectares to 26 million hectares[1].
![Combating desertification and land degradation in semi-arid regions of Maharashtra, India (Image Source: WOTR)](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/desertification6.1.jpg?itok=bK5U13kg)
From droughts to floods: India’s tryst with climate extremes
Posted on 01 Oct, 2019 11:54 AMIndia has witnessed extreme weather conditions this year. While parts of the north and south have battled drought like conditions this summer, the northeast and western coastal areas witnessed heavy rains and floods.
![Water talk Series at Mumbai (Image Source:Tata Insitute of Social Sciences)](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/water_talk_series1.jpg?itok=cs3tu1tn)
Solving the energy conundrum
Posted on 30 Sep, 2019 08:10 PMAccess to electricity is a key metric in development. In rural areas, getting on to the grid is a major step forward, improving literacy rates, agricultural productivity and overall household income. However, providing access to power derived from traditional sources like coal, diesel and hydropower, are proving unsustainable in the short and long term.
![There has to be a policy shift for decentralised off grid or distributed generation catering to small communities. (Image: MAJLIS)](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/vagsingh_solar.jpg?itok=gJHXrT_b)
The Water Future Conference in Bangalore: Towards a Sustainable Water Future
Posted on 30 Sep, 2019 12:38 PMThe Water Future Conference in Bangalore last week, saw many from the scientific community, academia, research, civil society and the media come together to discuss the state of water resources across the world and in India, as well as future pathways and scenarios, and different technological a
![Charles Vorosmarty, Chair, COMPASS Initiative, Water Future at the opening plenary on advanced water system assessments to address water security challenges of the 21st century.](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/img_7269.jpeg?itok=y8Th5XHv)
Climate vulnerability map of India coming soon
Posted on 28 Sep, 2019 04:27 PMNew Delhi, September 27 (India Science Wire): Rising sea levels, increasing number of extreme weather events, urban floods, changing temperature and rainfall patterns - such impacts of climate change are being felt in many parts of India, and not just in the coastal areas or hilly regions.
![Dr. Akhilesh Gupta , head of the climate change programme at DST. Image source: India Science Wire](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/isw_article_lead_image_1.jpg?itok=VQPCWhzO)
Return of the pearl millet
Posted on 28 Sep, 2019 01:46 PMPandutalav, a small quiet village nestled in the dry teak forests in the tribal pocket in Dewas boasts an authentic rural way of life. This little dot on the map is known for its attempts to introduce indigenous varieties of crops, in particular pearl millet these days.
![This variety of bajra has extended whiskers on its seeds when on the plant. This prevented the birds from eating it. Growing bajra in Pandutalav became possible only when Majlis could lay its hands on this variety. (Image: Majlis)](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/bajra.jpg?itok=pntS2Nlu)