Research Papers

Nanomaterials for enhancing photosynthesis: interaction with plant photosystems and scope of nanobionics in agriculture

Mony Chanchal, Kaur Pawan ,Rookes James E. , Callahan Damien L. , Eswaran S. V. , Yang Wenrong , Manna Palash Kumar
| 2023

The complex process of photosynthesis requires precise arrangements of light harvesting molecules in the photosynthetic system. Artificial imitation of such reaction systems is difficult as they involve complex protein structures. Global population increase and the associated rise in demand for food have become a vital concern in the present and therefore it is essential to develop methods to improve agricultural yields, enhancing photosynthesis could be key to this.

Mobilising Finance for Climate Action and Disaster-Resilient Infrastructure in Developing Countries

Yadav Anita , Sharma Himanshi , Venkataramani Vivek
| 2023

A fundamental obstacle all cities, especially those in developing countries, must overcome on the path to a low-emissions and climate-resilient future is the lack of capital and access to finance. International adaptation finance flows to developing countries remain between five and ten times lower than the estimated needs, and the gap is widening. As the impacts of climate change intensify, the developing world urgently needs financial mechanisms to mobilise funds to help vulnerable countries and communities adapt and build disaster-resilient infrastructure.

Delivery of Agrochemicals and Nutrients Through a Biopolymer‑Based System Derived from Lignocellulosic Rice Straw

Sharma Neha, Allardyce Benjamin James , Rajkhowa Rangam , Agrawal Ruchi
| 2023

Contemporary agricultural practises have stimulated environmental pollution, which has led to the debasement of the ecosystem, land, and environment. The utilization of chemical fertilizers and pesticides is increasing annually, which further damages agriculture. The current situation in agriculture has become unsustainable. Recent advances in nanotechnology have provided an innovative and resourceful approach to the agriculture sector by implementing a biopolymer-based delivery system that delivers agrochemicals in a controlled manner without polluting the environment.

A novel essential small RNA, sSp_p6 influences nitrogen fixation in Azospirillum brasilense

Koul Vatsala , Kochar Mandira
| 2020

Azospirillum brasilense Sp245, a diazotrophic plant growth-promoting bacterium influences host plants via wellknown mechanisms, gene interactions and confers abiotic and biotic stress tolerance mediated by signalling molecules. We present here, the functional characterization of a small RNA (sRNA), sSp_p6, identified from the 468 sRNAs identified in A.

Genome-wide identification of Azospirillum brasilense Sp245 small RNAs responsive to nitrogen starvation and likely involvement in plant-microbe interactions

Koul Vatsala , Srivastava Divya , Singh Pushplata Prasad , Kochar Mandira
| 2020

Small RNAs (sRNAs) are non-coding RNAs known to regulate various biological functions such as stress adaptation, metabolism, virulence as well as pathogenicity across a wide range of bacteria, mainly by controlling mRNA stabilization or regulating translation. Identification and functional characterization of sRNAs has been carried out in various plant growth-promoting bacteria and they have been shown to help the cells cope up with environmental stress. No study has been carried out to uncover these regulatory molecules in the diazotrophic

Assessment of the pesticidal behaviour of diacyl hydrazine-based ready-to-use nanoformulations

Pandey Alka, Srivastava Shivani, Aggarwal Nisha , Srivastava Chitra , Adholeya Alok, Kochar Mandira
| 2020

Application of nanotechnology for crop protection in the form of nanopesticide has attracted significant interest in modern agriculture for the management of devastating polyphagous pests. In the present work, highly stable, ready-to-use water-based nanoformulations of hydrazine-based pesticides were evaluated for their Insect Growth Regulatory potential against the polyphagous insect pest—Spodoptera litura. Also, the nanoformulations were screened for their antifungal behaviour against plant pathogenic fungi; Colletotrichum gloeosporioides,

Factors affecting acceptance of electric two-wheelers in India: A discrete choice survey

Chakraborty Rahul, Chakravarty Sujoy
| 2022

Government of India has adopted policies to grow the share of electric vehicles (EVs) to ‘de-carbonize’ India’s transport sector and reduce import dependence for oil. For the lower-middle income economy two-wheelers play a significant role in the private vehicle market. This paper focuses on the effectiveness of some of the demand incentives; roles of infrastructure, market visibility; and peer effects on acceptance of electric two-wheelers in India. It utilizes a discrete choice survey to collect responses from Indian residents. Respondents in six different

Monitoring the Role of Temporal Land Cover Changes on Mountain Hazard Susceptibility in Beas Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India

Ghosh Sayanta, Lata Renu, Gouda Krushna Chandra
| 2023

In the last 50 years, drastic change in the spatio-temporal variation of climate patterns have been observed over the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) resulting increase in the frequency of Extreme Weather Events (EWE) such as cloud burst, flash flooding, land slide etc. Change in climate parameters has direct impact and consequence on the Himalayan ecosystem, which in turn adversely affects livelihood of people living in the high altitude area. Also, alteration in Land Use

Maximising Resource Efficiency and Circularity in the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Value Chain and the E-Waste Sector

Atiq Abdullah , Kaur Mehar , Gautam Shweta , Pandey Suneel
| 2023

Countries face various challenges in streamlining the management of e-waste, whose global volume reached an estimated 53.6 million metric tonnes (MT) in 2019. Primary of these challenges is lack of accurate data reporting. The untapped recovery of e-waste also results in huge financial losses. The Global E-Waste Monitor, 2020, calculated the valuation of materials that could be recovered from e-waste generated in 2019 alone at about US$57 billion.

From Linear to Circular: Pathways for Sustainable Lifestyles

Joshi Sukrit , Kaushik Trinayana
| 2023

As countries around the world commit to more ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to climate action, it has become increasingly important that policies deal with de-coupling economic growth and environmental degradation, and re-coupling growth with planetary and ecological sustenance. Towards this, SDG-12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) acts as the bedrock of strategies aimed at accomplishing the Sustainable Development Goals. This Policy Brief outlines pathways to nudge behaviour towards a Circular Economy approach and away from linear production and consumption.