Hello, I'm akshay
Over 15 years, I have reported from various parts of India about a wide variety of issues for digital and print publications based within the country and outside it. Some of the prominent Indian publications that I worked with include The Economic Times, HuffPost India, Frontline and Down To Earth. Among the international publications that I wrote for are Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, BBC Future and Climate Home News.
Most recently, I was on a fellowship with the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project. It was funded by the reputed Trace Foundation for investigative journalism and I wrote about environmental crimes and regulatory capture of policy and law making processes by big corporations. Presently, I am freelancing for multiple publications.
Featured Articles
Explore a featured selection of my writing work below.
Inside Indian Energy and Mining Giant Vedanta's Campaign to Weaken Key Environmental Regulations
It was 2021 and the COVID-19 pandemic was ripping through India, crippling the country’s health system and bringing the economy to a standstill. But for Anil Agarwal, chairman of the energy and mining giant Vedanta Resources Ltd, the crisis presented an opportunity.The government could add “impetus” to India’s “rapid” economic recovery by allowing mining companies to boost production by up to 50 percent without having to secure new environmental clearances, he wrote in a letter to the then envir...
How Modi Govt Gave Early Permissions For Rs 19,000-Cr Adani Energy Projects In India’s Oldest Forests
Indian coal giants pushed for lax pollution rules while ramping up production
The Indian government weakened rules to curb pollution caused by its expanding coal industry after lobbying by top producers, even as it agreed internationally to phase down the use of coal, an investigation by Climate Home has found.
India’s coal giants pushed back hard against environmental regulation meant to tighten up the disposal of fly ash – a byproduct of coal-fired power plants known to harm both humans and the environment if not managed properly.
Letters sent by coal companies to th...
India’s coal giants pushed back hard against environmental regulation meant to tighten up the disposal of fly ash – a byproduct of coal-fired power plants known to harm both humans and the environment if not managed properly.
Letters sent by coal companies to th...
How a just transition can make India's coal history
IIn the dusty coal town of Jharia in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand, the ground has been on fire for more than 100 years. Fires that began accidentally early in the 20th Century are still steadily burning their way through the town's underground coal reserves, releasing toxic fumes and destroying homes. Efforts to put out the fires have so far failed.
Jharia is perhaps the worst casualty of coal in Jharkhand, which has the largest known coal reserves in India. Despite its coal resources,...
Jharia is perhaps the worst casualty of coal in Jharkhand, which has the largest known coal reserves in India. Despite its coal resources,...
Modi Govt’s Obsession With World Bank Ranking Led To Weaker Green Laws
Documents Show How Modi, Jaitley Gamed World Bank's Doing Business Rankings
On 3 November, for instance, Modi said, the rankings are an "indicator of India's strengthening economy and quick progress". He said this while answering a question posed by a BJP volunteer from Korba, Chattisgarh, who wanted to know the relevance of the rankings in the life of the 'common man'. Modi further said that the improvement in rankings over four years by almost half —going from 142 in 2014 to 77 in 2018—shows the Indian economy had improved twice over ever since his government was swor...
Under close watch
ON December 22, the office of the Lieutenant Governor (LG) of Delhi, Najeeb Jung, issued a statement that he had “submitted his resignation to the Government of India”. Political circles in the national capital were taken by surprise and speculation peaked about the possible causes for the unexpected decision, as the statement did not mention any reason for his resignation. Curiously, according to senior officials, Jung had not sent his resignation letter to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) or...
