More than just an academic space, the Azim Premji University campus in Bengaluru is fast becoming a thriving ecosystem of its own. Located in Sarjapura, the campus is more than classrooms and labs — it is a habitat shared with birds, reptiles, insects, small mammals, and a growing canopy of trees and plants. This report is a first step in documenting the biodiversity of our campus. From trees and shrubs to spiders and snakes, students of the BSc in Environmental Science and Sustainability, teachers, and other members have come together to observe and record the life that surrounds us. Thus, this is a collective effort that reflects both scientific curiosity and deep care for our environment. As the campus grows, we aim not only to track carbon sequestration and environmental change — but also to nurture a sense of stewardship and belonging in everyone who calls this campus home.

This paper examines recent trends in corporate concentration in India’s non-financial sector, with a focus on developments since 2015. Using firm-level data from the CMIE Prowess database we document changes in asset and income distribution across firms. We find that while the overall decline in the public sector’s share of assets and income contributed to a reduction in measured concentration in earlier years, this was accompanied by a steady increase in the share held by large private business groups. By 2023 – 24, the top five business groups — Reliance, Tata, Adani, Aditya Birla, and Bharti — accounted for approximately 24(%) of total assets and 16(%) of total income in the non-financial corporate sector.

Authors:

Zico Dasgupta and Arjun Jayadev

This paper assesses excess mortality in India during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the year 2021 when the country experienced a substantial surge in deaths. Drawing on newly released official data from the Civil Registration System (CRS) and the Sample Registration System (SRS), and supplemented with estimates based on the National Family Health Survey (NFHS‑5), we construct a range of mortality estimates using multiple baseline comparisons. Excess deaths are calculated in absolute terms, per 1,000 population, and using age-standardised death rates to facilitate cross-state and international comparisons. Particular attention is paid to persistent challenges in India’s mortality data landscape, including regional disparities in death registration completeness, limitations in cause-of-death certification, and inconsistencies between administrative and survey-based sources. The analysis includes alternative projections that adjust for estimated registration completeness, underscoring the sensitivity of mortality estimates to underlying data assumptions. By applying standard demographic techniques such as age standardisation, we attempt to mitigate the effects of India’s heterogeneous age structure and registration coverage. The findings suggest a substantial mortality impact from the pandemic, exceeding officially reported figures, and raise broader questions about the capacity of statistical systems to support real-time health surveillance. We identify correlates in terms of state capacity.These results have implications for public health preparedness, intergovernmental coordination, and the long-term strengthening of civil registration and vital statistics systems in India.

Authors:

B S Bhargav, Dipa Sinha and Arjun Jayadev

The book explores the nature of human creativity and its importance in education with reference to past and ongoing work on creativity theory. It aims to direct the attention of teachers to the need for creativity in education by dispelling the mystique surrounding it, and the feelings of inadequacy or apprehension it may evoke in educators, particularly in the Asia region.

The book offers an introduction to creativity in writing: the rationale for including it in language programmes, the benefits it can bestow and the results it can produce – as well as dealing with common objections to it. It divides creative writing into two major sections – poetry and stories, followed by a copious set of varied classroom activities. For each activity, a standard format is adopted to offer teachers maximum support in implementing the procedures, including supplementary comments on each activity. It is distinct for its accessibility and clarity, its abundance of practical and ready-touse classroom activities and its unique combination of theoretical underpinnings and practical implementation.

This book will be useful to students, pre-service teachers and researchers who are new to the teaching of English Language, both in the Asian context and in the wider world. It will also be an essential companion to practicing in-service teachers and Teacher Trainers to further sharpen their concepts and skills.