Raajwrita Dutta

They are often admired as architectural wonders, but India's stepwells were built to solve everyday challenges. By storing rainwater, replenishing groundwater and creating naturally cooler spaces, these underground structures reveal how earlier generations adapted to a demanding climate.

On a school trip to Delhi's Sundar Nursery in 2023, 17-year-old Mahi Malhani noticed wrappers and bottles lying close to bins. She decided to build a robot that could do something about it. Two years on, TRASHbot is being tested in homes, schools and societies.

What if the crop residue farmers once burned after every harvest could become a new source of income? Bengaluru-based RenewCred, founded by Abhimanyu Rathi and Yogendra Panchal, is helping Indian farmers turn farm waste into carbon credits.

Every harvest left Hardik Vaghasiya with two things: produce to sell, and heaps of crop residue he had to spend time, labour and money clearing. The 35-year-old farmer from Bardoli in Gujarat grows banana, sugarcane and maize. These crops feed...

From a stinging wild plant to a bowl of everyday comfort, Sisnu Ko Jhol carries memories of Sikkim's kitchens. The first episode of ‘Finding India's Lost Recipes' uncovers the story, preparation, and cultural significance of a dish many outside the region have never tasted.

Before it becomes a bowl of warm jhol (gravy), sisnu has to be handled with care.The wild plant, also known as Bichu Booti or stinging nettle, has tiny thorns that can cause itching and rashes when touched. Yet in many Sikkimese homes, these leaves...

Unhappy with the quality of vegetables in the market, Vijay Sharma planted a few cluster bean seeds at home. Years later, that small experiment has grown into a lush garden with over 150 plant varieties. Along the way, he picked up lessons that can help any home gardener.

For seven years, Berunda's Gautam Yadav has gone door to door each evening, collecting leftover rotis that families set aside for him. Around 300 stray cows and calves now depend on the cart he wheels through the town after a full day's work.

By the time the sun begins to set over Berunda, Gautam Yadav has already put in a full day’s work. Like countless daily wage labourers, he spends his mornings and afternoons earning enough to support himself. But when most people begin returning home...

At Deep Griha Academy in Pune, students learn soil testing through experience, gaining practical skills while helping 70 farmers across 13 villages. Here is how this school combines classroom learning with real-world impact and inspires others to follow suit.