Research Papers

Solar threads and social knots: Gender and energy transitions in the weaving community of Varanasi, India

Murali Rashmi, Govindan Mini
| 2025

India's renewable energy transition presents an opportunity for transformative social change, especially in advancing gender equality and inclusion. This paper examines the Sustainable Energy in Micro-enterprises for Income & Livelihood Enhancement (SMILE) program, led by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), which introduced low-carbon energy solutions into micro-enterprises, focusing on the silk weaving cluster in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

Omics-Based Exploration of Potential Soil Microorganisms for Sustaining the Productivity of Soybean: Prospects and Challenges

Bundela Vindhya , Ranjan Prem , Saini Neha , Ramesh Aketi, Pandey Komal , Das Paramita , Jakhar Geetanjali , Das Subhasis, Sharma Mahaveer P.
| 2026

Root-associated microbial communities play a pivotal role in enhancing soybean productivity, particularly under adverse climatic conditions. These microbes are integral to a range of critical processes, including nutrient acquisition, disease suppression, phytohormone synthesis, and conferring tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Advances in omics technologies have unveiled the profound significance of unculturable rhizomicrobial niches, reshaping our perception of their contributions to modern soybean production.

In-situ bio-stimulation for enhanced biological methane production and its effect on the microbiome of CBM wells in Raniganj block, India

Chawla Mansi , Lavania Meeta , Sahu Nishi , Banerjee Dipanjana , Singh Nimmi, Lal Banwari
| 2025

Microbially enhanced coalbed methane production (MeCBM) is a way towards translation of the recent momentum of the high demand for renewable energy into operational capacity. The present study demonstrates the enhancement of biogenic methane in coalbed methane (CBM) wells of an Indian coal reservoir via in-situ biostimulation. A laboratory-scale strategy was previously developed to understand and enhance the microbial processes for the bioconversion of coal to methane before transferring it to the field.

Study of occurrence, abundance, and characterization of microplastics in wastewater treatment plant in New Delhi, India

Bisht Heena, Maurya Ankita C., Channashettar Veeranna, Jeyaseelan C. Paul, Siddhanta Soumik, Lal Banwari, Khare Sunil K., Kuppanan Nanthakumar
| 2025

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are considered the most significant contributors to microplastic (MP) pollution in aquatic ecosystems. MPs are defined as plastic particles less than 5 mm in size that are difficult to remove by WWTPs, posing risks to aquatic life, human health, and the overall ecosystem. This study investigates the prevalence of MPs in influent wastewater, treated effluent water, and sludge from WWTP. The samples were collected from Keshopur WWTP in New Delhi, whose effluents flows into the Yamuna River via Najafgarh drain.

Artificial intelligence for restoring land: A review of land degradation mapping, climate change prediction and ecosystem service valuation

Ghosh Sayanta, Sharma Jitendra Vir
| 2026

Land degradation, climate change, and declining ecosystem services are increasingly interconnected challenges that threaten ecological integrity, agricultural productivity, and livelihood security across vulnerable landscapes. At the same time, advances in artificial intelligence (AI), remote sensing, geospatial analytics, and large environmental datasets are reshaping the way these challenges can be assessed, predicted, and managed.

Future trends in short-duration rainfall: A statistical analysis using bias-corrected GCM ensembles

Singh Prasoon , Sinha Vinay S. P. , Muriki Santosh K.
| 2026

High-intensity, short-duration rainfall can cause significant losses. These events are influenced by intricate and interrelated hydro-climatic interactions that are being modified due to climate change. These alternations in rainfall need to be accounted for in future development and design of hydrological systems. Climate model projections have been the primary tools for providing crucial information about the future climate.

Microplastic Pollution in a Tropical River–Mangrove System of the Brahmani River in Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha (India)

Kumar, R., Das, M. M., Das, S., Verma, A., Valsan, G., Tamrakar, A., Warrier, A. K., Lamba, J., & Sharma, P.
| 2026

Microplastics (MPs), recognised as emerging contaminants, are increasingly prevalent in riverine ecosystems due to escalating anthropogenic activities. River deltas, which typically serve as ecologically rich and pristine habitats, are now under threat from solid and liquid waste inputs, particularly in rivers flowing through urban and agricultural landscapes. This research investigates MP contamination in sediments of the Brahmani River within the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha (India), encompassing both mangrove and non-mangrove sites.

Physiochemical and sensory assessment of lip salve formulation utilizing red microbial colourant from Talaromyces assiutensis, CPEF04 and supercritical carbon dioxide extracted hemp seed oil.

Kaur Mehak , Jauhari Jhalak , Ali Usman , Garg Monika , Goel Mayurika
| 2025

Colors have been used since ancient times to enhance the aesthetics of various commodities. Synthetic colorants, extensively employed in cosmetic, food and textile industries, are known to be recalcitrant, toxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic. Their effluents in water bodies decrease sunlight penetration, photosynthesis and plant proliferation.

Mangroves uptake lithium and beryllium, contributing to the mitigation of contamination risks in the sundarbans

Mandal Sanjay Kumar , Ray Raghab , Dutta Buddhadeb , Jana Tapan K
| 2025

Mangroves are well recognized for their capacity to accumulate heavy metals within their tissues and surrounding sediments, positioning them as promising candidates for phytoremediation in polluted coastal environments. However, mangroves are increasingly threatened by the natural and man-made activities that cause adverse effects on their growth. Such effects are rarely recognized for certain hazardous trace metals used in the battery industry like lithium (Li) and the coal industry like beryllium (Be).

Synergizing Biogas: The Vital Role of State-Level Energy Policies in Ensuring India's Energy Security for future

Yadav Siddhita , Mathur Ritu
| 2026

India's Viksit Bharat vision for 2047 demands an energy system that is secure, affordable, and set to power sustained high and rapid growth. As energy demand increases with development, enhancing the reliance on a diversified suite of low carbon fuels that are indigenously available can help hedge against geopolitical uncertainties and risks on account of price volatility and supply chain disruptions.