Feature Article

This paper analyses the causes of the high inflation experienced in 12 food commodities between January 2008 and July 2010. It is shown that a majority of the commodities were subject to inflationary pressures due to domestic supply-side constraints. They include pulses, fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, spices, tea, coffee and sugar. Cost escalation was the primary reason for rising prices of milk and eggs. The high inflation of rice was caused by a complex interplay of factors.

There is an insufficient understanding of the seriousness of India’s energy security problem and the impact this is having on the country’s development. This has led to various crises in the energy sector, which, in turn, have prompted ad hoc emergency responses that do not address the underlying fundamentals.

Dealing with e-waste must remain the primary responsibility of manufacturers of electronic goods. (Editorial)

The primary drivers of the Northern Hemisphere expansion of the tropical climate zone over the past several decades are shown to be the recent increases in black carbon aerosols and tropospheric ozone rather than in greenhouse gases, which contribute to a lesser extent.

Epigenetics and lifestyle are conspiring to inflict a massive epidemic of type 2 diabetes in the subcontinent.

Legislation that came into effect in India this month aims to deal with the environmental effects of electronic waste in the country. According to a government report, this waste stream has increased by a factor of more than five in seven years and is expected to exceed 800,000 tonnes in 2012. (Correspondence)

The WHO releases action plan to tackle the spread of insecticide-resistant mosquitoes.

Frustration mounts as ambitious US project is scaled back.

The US National Institutes of Health should rethink plans to limit a nationwide study of children. It must not miss a rare opportunity to probe the causes of childhood diseases. (Editorial)