-The Telegraph Amphan changed the institutional knowledge of the Sunderbans folks. The Telegraph recounts how they lived the countdown to Cyclone Sitrang Gobardhanpur: Shankar Das is taking stock of the luggage for the last time. Hurriedly, with fear-ridden eyes. Outside, the wind speed is changing. It will take time to reach the school building on the village outskirts. His family will accompany him. If it gets late, there might be no space...

-TheWire.in * The proposed Biological Diversity (Amendment) Bill 2021 encourages a conducive environment for investments and to simplify the patent application process. * Farmers in India have historically been against any kind of IP rights – whether patents or plant variety protection over seed and planting materials. * In a confused mix of laws, the government also grants IP rights to BMCs for farmers’ varieties – formed under the Biological Diversity Act –...

-TheIndiaForum.in Anurag Mehra teaches engineering and policy at IIT Bombay. His policy focus is the interface between technology, culture, and politics. The shallow form of schooling with its emphasis on information kills rather than develops curiosity and creativity, all made worse by the importance given to 'marks' recorded in exams. An overhaul is needed but not one driven by digital delusions. Policymakers seem to have a deep love for the word 'innovation'. The...

-Press released by Lok Samvad Sansthan (Jaipur), Rupayan Sansthan (Jodhpur) and All India Media Conference (AIMC), dated August 2nd, 2020 Jaipur: A two-day virtual streaming of infotainment educational event for ‘Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage and Diverse Cultural Traditions of India’ will be held through a webinar during August 9-10, 2020 from the desert museum of Arna Jharna, Jodhpur. Please click here to register yourself for the webinar/ event. On the occasion...

-Livemint.com The production of ‘mahua’ is finally entering the formal economy as new initiatives seek to upscale this indigenous drink, selling it across the country and even the globe It is a cloudy morning in Nangur village in Bastar district, Chattisgarh. It is a settlement of a little over 400 families, considered fairly large in these parts. We make a bumpy journey down a narrow, unpaved road intermittently shaded by sargi (sal)...