The oceans, covering over 70 per cent of the Earth’s surface, have long been perceived as infinite reservoirs of resources. However, with the escalation of climate change impacts and pressures from human activities, a strategic rethinking of ocean governance is imperative. In this edition of GnY Live, Dr. Bala Krishnan Nair, a senior scientist and Director at the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), sheds light on India’s Blue Economy landscape. The dialogue delves into the current status of India’s draft Blue Economy policy, its sectoral focus, the overlooked dimensions of climate risk, and the crucial contributions of science in enabling marine governance. Dr. Nair outlines how living marine resources—encompassing both traditional fisheries and emerging sectors like mariculture—form the backbone of coastal livelihoods. He stresses the importance of integrating climate resilience, disaster preparedness, and real-time ocean information into long-term national planning. The conversation ultimately provides a vision for a sustainable and inclusive ocean economy in India, shaped by both technological foresight and grassroots engagement.

India’s coastal regions, stretching thousands of kilometers, are on the frontlines of a creeping environmental crisis—saltwater intrusion. Unlike cyclones or tsunamis, this is a disaster that doesn’t make headlines, yet its impact is profound, slow-moving, and multi-generational. From contaminated drinking water and degraded farmland to the forced migration of traditional fishing communities, saltwater intrusion is a pressing issue that touches the lives of millions. This article explores the science behind saltwater intrusion, its socio-economic toll, and the urgent need for inclusive coastal policy frameworks. At the centre of this article lies a compelling call: to prioritize ocean health, listen to affected communities, and design policies that are both responsive and respectful.

The convergence of scientific knowledge and diplomatic strategy is increasingly defining the contours of international engagement in a world marked by deep geopolitical divisions and rapid technological advancement. This article delves into science diplomacy as a critical interface that shapes multilateral negotiations, strategic treaties, and the global governance of emerging technologies. Through an expansive discussion, the episode traces the history, challenges, and institutional forms of science-led diplomacy, spotlighting key sectors such as nuclear energy, space exploration, agriculture, climate change, artificial intelligence, and polar science. Offering practical illustrations from international forums and bilateral arrangements, this conversation unpacks how science both transcends and is shaped by national interest, commercial ambition, and global responsibility.

Submarines are among the most secretive and sophisticated military assets in the modern world. Designed for stealth and endurance, they offer nations unmatched control in underwater operations and deterrence. For India, submarines represent both a technological achievement and a strategic necessity in an increasingly contested Indo-Pacific region. Yet, beyond their combat capabilities, submarines also serve as floating laboratories, gathering vital data on oceanic conditions, acoustic properties, and marine geography. This discussion explores the dual identity of India’s submarines: as instruments of war and as potential platforms for scientific exploration. Through a detailed analysis of India’s current fleet, technological trajectory, operational challenges, and psychological toll, the conversation reveals the complexity of building and sustaining an undersea force in the 21st century.

This article investigates the evolving understanding of sustainability by tracing its roots through geological epochs, civilizational collapses, demographic surges, and contemporary climate challenges. It exhorts the urgent need to move away from generic, rhetorical uses of sustainability and towards a context-specific, historically grounded, and ecologically attuned framework. Particularly focused on India, the article explores the unique vulnerabilities posed by demographic pressures, geomorphological features, and governance structures. It also critically evaluates the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), offering a sharp lens on their relevance, contradictions, and adaptability for India's pressing realities. At a time when planetary resilience is stretched to its limits, the article calls for a radical rethinking of how we live, build, and sustain.

The recent World Bank report that ranks India as the fourth most equal country globally has sparked a critical debate on the measures and metrics behind inequality rankings and poverty reduction. The conversation decodes the data sources, methodological inconsistencies, and paradoxes in economic inequality indicators such as the Gini coefficient and income or wealth shares by different classes of populations. It explores why poverty decline does not necessarily translate into equality and examines the role of welfare schemes, progressive taxation, and statistical frameworks in shaping our understanding of inequality in India. This reflection offers a cautionary perspective against uncritical interpretations of global rankings and emphasizes the need for nuanced, context-aware policy responses.

India has emerged as a significant global destination for medical tourism, attracting more than two million international patients annually[1]. Offering services ranging from complex cardiac surgeries and organ transplants to holistic wellness therapies rooted in traditional knowledge systems, India positions itself at the crossroads of clinical expertise and cultural healing. This article critically examines the opportunities and challenges in India’s medical tourism sector. It explores the infrastructural and human capital advantages, evaluates institutional and policy support mechanisms, and interrogates the ethical and equity-related implications of a burgeoning health economy. While the industry contributes to national GDP and enhances India's global profile, it must simultaneously be structured to support inclusivity, accountability, and sustainability. The core challenge remains balancing international aspirations with domestic health care obligations.

India’s maritime domain holds immense potential for driving sustainable economic growth, technological innovation, and community resilience. However, challenges such as limited infrastructure, environmental degradation, and a skills gap threaten to hamper this progress. This article explores how education, institutional reform, and technological foresight are reshaping India’s maritime aspirations. From blue accounting and marine biotechnology to shipbuilding and AI-enabled ports, the article unpacks strategic imperatives for India’s blue economy. The insights offered emphasize the need for sustainable practices, inclusive capacity building, and a shift in national consciousness about the ocean's central role in development.

The Himalayan region, often termed the "Third Pole," is facing an unprecedented glacial crisis. Glaciers that have endured for millennia are now retreating at alarming rates, driven by accelerated climate change. These transformations threaten water security, increase the frequency of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), and introduce emerging risks such as permafrost thawing. Based on extensive field research and national monitoring efforts, this article explores India’s glacial decline, challenges in glaciological research, and overlooked disasters such as the Gohna Lake breach in the Alaknanda valley. It argues for urgent policy, educational, and technological interventions to understand and respond to this unfolding cryospheric emergency.

The Indian Himalayan region, a geologically dynamic and ecologically sensitive landscape, is currently undergoing a transformation marked by the intersection of tectonic strain, accelerated climate change, and increasing anthropogenic pressures. The frequency and magnitude of natural disasters, including earthquakes, landslides, glacial lake outburst floods, glaciers/snow avalanches, flash floods, and forest fires, underscore the multidimensional vulnerabilities of this fragile ecosystem. This article, based on an in-depth interview with Prof. Kalachand Sain, former Director of the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG)-DST, explores the geophysical mechanisms underpinning the region’s seismicity, the climatic anomalies accelerating its environmental degradation, and the infrastructural and population-related stressors that are contributing to a mounting crisis. Through a synthesis of field-based geoscientific observations and a policy-relevant framework, the article offers a comprehensive perspective on the risks facing the Indian Himalayas and underscores the urgent need for integrated, science-led interventions.