Uttarakhand experienced a noticeable escalation in forest fire activity during the first four months of 2026. Fire occurrence remained relatively moderate in January, with 200 MODIS active-fire detections recorded across the state. Activity then declined to 113 detections in February, representing a 43.5% decrease, likely due to the influence of residual winter moisture and comparatively lower fuel flammability. As temperatures Continue Reading »

Sal forests cover 11 million hectares in the Indian subcontinent. They are important for the environment and the economy because they support biodiversity and provide a range ecological services including livelihoods of indigenous people. These forests face a major threat from an insect called the Sal Heartwood Borer, or "Hoplo". When these beetles multiply quickly, they kill thousands of trees. Continue Reading »

Authors: Manu Mehta, Shivani, Khushbu Dahiya, Somya Garg and Ranu Gadi, Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, ISRO Dehradun Aerosols are well known for their impact on the climate as well as public health. Numerous studies have outlined these dual effects of aerosols, which highlight the urgent need for effective mitigation techniques and additional research. Due to air pollution, India, a Continue Reading »

The Ramganga Dam Reservoir and Tehri Dam Reservoir are two important water storage systems in Uttarakhand that support hydropower generation, irrigation, flood control, and drinking water supply. Monitoring these reservoirs using SWOT (Surface Water and Ocean Topography) satellite data helps in understanding their hydrological behaviour, seasonal storage variability, and response to climatic conditions. The reservoirs were selected because they represent Continue Reading »

Rice is the staple food for nearly two-thirds of India's population, particularly in eastern, northeastern and southern India, and is also consumed occasionally in the northern and central parts of the country. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is executing a 5-year pilot project on crop diversification (2023–2028) under the National Food Security and Nutrition Mission (NFSNM) in order to Continue Reading »