In India, marginal farmers account for more than 75 % of the total farming population operating about 30 % of the total agriculture area operated and their number is growing. Ironically, while large farmers have capitalised on cheaper sources like canal marginal farmers are mostly saddled with oversized diesel / electrical pumps along with conventional irrigation methods (flood / furrow). Access to affordable and efficient irrigation is vital to reduce input cost in cultivation, enhance their productivity, and net income from farming.

We all enjoy a healthy, tasty and refreshing glass of pomegranate juice. Some of us prefer the juice over eating the arils as we may not like biting into the tasteless seeds. But do you know that the seeds are a source of a very healthy oil?  In a study, Prof. Amit Arora and his team from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay have proposed a new cost-effective, zero-waste method of extracting oil from pomegranate seeds, which also yields high-quality protein and dietary fibres.

It is well documented that there is a dearth of affordable housing units in urban India. The real estate prices in cities like Mumbai and Kolkata have soared, forcing the middle-class to move to adjacent areas, in search of houses they can pay for. There is a growing consensus that development of ‘new towns’ like Navi Mumbai, adjacent to Mumbai, and Rajarhat near Kolkata can not only relieve parent city of infrastructure pressure but also address the housing crisis.  But, how effective are these new towns in solving the problem of affordable housing?

Urban-rural transition zones are a breeding ground for unexpected changes in resources and livelihood, shows study from IIT Bombay

Increasing demand for space in cities are forcing people to move to surrounding rural regions, which are more affordable. These areas, called peri-urban regions, have a mix of rural and urban elements. In a study, researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) have observed that the natural resources were stressed and livelihoods changed to non-agricultural means in the  peri-urban regions around Mumbai.  

Floods in Mumbai due to heavy rains on 26th July 2005 took a toll of more than 400 lives and resulted in economic loss of over Rs. 5000 crore. The events of that day highlighted the importance of designing constructions for floods. A flood model that can predict the amount of flooding in a region could be of great utility in minimising the damages.

IIT Bombay study proposal to account for ecological sensitivity to help developmental and  planning authorities.

IIT Bombay researchers study the effects of poor ventilation on occupants of low-income households