Sushmita Pathak

Hot nights are worsening India’s heat crisis. But low-tech solutions show some promise.

Summer is in full swing in India, and many cities are experiencing scorching heat, fueled in part by climate change. And in India’s bustling cities, as the sun sets and the worst of the day’s heat subsides, a sinister threat emerges: high nighttime temperatures. But some low-tech solutions may help address the problem. 

How a deeply Buddhist Bhutan keeps religion and politics from mixing

Sacred Spaces

A tiny Himalayan nation’s big crypto gamble

The drink of India’s Indigenous people gets a modern twist

Food

Why Indian men are fighting for Russia in Ukraine

Conflict & Justice

India’s Diamond City is reeling from the war in Ukraine

Ukraine

Sanctions on Russian diamonds, imposed in response to the war in Ukraine, have damaged business in Surat, India’s diamond polishing hub. Many of the city’s diamond artisans from lower-income communities have become collateral damage in a tussle between the West and Russia.

Why a megacity in India is reviving the humble water well

Environment

In the Indian tech hub of Bengaluru, water has become a precious commodity. One initiative leverages an age-old, well-digging technique to help residents tap into a forgotten source. 

‘It so clearly discriminates against Muslims’: India rolls out faith-based test for citizenship

Sacred Nation

A new law that provides refugees with a path to Indian citizenship went into effect in March. But it’s controversial because it excludes refugees who are Muslims. There were widespread protests in 2019 when it was first passed and now India’s supreme court is hearing a bunch of petitions against it.

Rising temperatures in India are pushing those who have to be outdoors to adapt to a new reality

Climate Change

Unprecedented temperatures have struck large parts of northern and central India for weeks, killing dozens of people and unleashing a public health crisis.

Darjeeling is nestled amid lush tea gardens and overlooking the snow-capped Himalayas in India’s northeast. But landscapes like these pose challenges while conducting elections.

What it takes to pull off the world’s largest election in India

Elections

Election officials spread out across India to set up voting booths in some of its most remote corners of the country. It’s to ensure, by law, that no voter is farther than 1.25 miles from a polling station. Poll workers haul precious cargo — braving extreme weather and difficult terrain — to make sure everyone votes.

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