Down To Earth
Down To Earth is an Indian nonprofit environmental journalism publication, founded in 1992 and affiliated with the Centre for Science and Environment, producing a fortnightly print magazine, multilingual digital editions, video, and the annual State of India's Environment report for readers across India, South Asia, and Africa.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersNew Delhi, India
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Down To Earth does
Down To Earth is an Indian environmental journalism publication founded in 1992 by the nonprofit Society for Environmental Communications and operationally tied to the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a Delhi-based research and advocacy think tank. It operates as a fortnightly print magazine (24 issues annually), a primary English website (downtoearth.org.in), and regional editions in Hindi and Malayalam, with editorial coverage spanning climate change, agriculture, water, waste, air pollution, public health, biodiversity, governance, and renewable energy in India and South Asia. Recent product extensions include Africa-focused reporting, the Young Environmentalist youth platform, a Data Centre for data-driven storytelling, and video content including The Sunita Narain Show. Editor Sunita Narain has led the publication since founding.
The underlying technology stack is modest: a digital publishing platform built on Quintype CMS, with content delivered via website, email newsletters, social media, and a dedicated mobile app presence. Down To Earth's business model is a hybrid reader-funded nonprofit operation combining recurring subscriptions for print and digital access, tiered reader donations (INR 1,000 / 2,000 / 5,000 plus custom amounts in INR and USD), and bookstore sales of environmental publications through the CSE Bookstore. Its primary readership segments are policy-interested general readers, researchers and academics, and government and policy stakeholders. The publication maintains no disclosed B2B revenue lines, no venture capital or private equity backing, and no public funding instruments beyond a 2018 IPSMF grant of undisclosed value.
Down To Earth firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Down To Earth
- Legal name
- Society for Environmental Communications
- Website
- https://downtoearth.org.in
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Down To Earth is an Indian nonprofit environmental journalism publication, founded in 1992 and affiliated with the Centre for Science and Environment, producing a fortnightly print magazine, multilingual digital editions, video, and the annual State of India's Environment report for readers across India, South Asia, and Africa.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Down To Earth industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Environmental Journalism and Science Media
- NAICS
- Periodical Publishers (513120), Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131)
- SIC
- Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- News, Politics & Current Affairs Magazines (MPAJAEAO)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Government, Public Policy & Regulatory Reference (Public Administration, Regulatory Guidance) (EDAGAGAK), Nature & Biodiversity Reporting (TNFD, natural capital) (EUAHAJAM)
Keywords
Where Down To Earth is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New Delhi
- HQ country
- India
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Down To Earth business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Subscriptions: The magazine generates revenue through magazine subscriptions, with both print and digital access options available to readers.
- Donations and Contributions: The publication accepts one-time and recurring monetary contributions from supporters. Donation tiers include INR 1000, 2000, 5000, and custom amounts. Direct bank transfers are also accepted. The editor actively solicits reader support to maintain editorial independence.
- Bookstore Sales: CSE Store sells books, reports, and environmental publications. URL: csestore.cse.org.in
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Basic Support |
| Subscription | Monthly | Standard Support |
| Subscription | Monthly | Premium Support |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Custom Amount |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Down To Earth product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Down To Earth is an Indian fortnightly magazine and digital publication founded in 1992 that delivers science-based environmental journalism across print, web, video, and email channels. Its editorial portfolio covers climate change, air and water pollution, agriculture, biodiversity, waste, public health, governance, and development in India and South Asia. The publication sells subscriptions, accepts reader contributions, and sells environmental books and reports through the affiliated CSE Bookstore.
Product overview
Down To Earth is a media organization operating primarily as a print and digital publication focused on environmental journalism. The company offers a unified portfolio centered on its flagship magazine (published 24 times annually) and its companion website, which together deliver news, analysis, and opinion on environmental topics. Key offerings include the annual State of India's Environment report (produced with CSE), the Data Centre for data-driven storytelling, video content, newsletters, and the youth-focused Young Environmentalist section. The CSE Bookstore extends the brand into e-commerce for environmental publications. The organization operates multilingual editions in Hindi, Malayalam, and English, covering India, South Asia, and Africa.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Down To Earth Magazine Print and digital fortnightly (24 issues per year) environmental magazine covering climate change, environment, science, and development issues for readers in India and South Asia.
- Down To Earth Website Online news portal delivering daily coverage of environmental topics across Health, Agriculture, Water, Waste, Climate Change, Air Pollution, Africa, and Food for general and policy-focused readers.
- State of India's Environment Report Annual analytical report co-published with the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) providing data-driven analysis of India's environmental trends across climate, forests, biodiversity, water, air pollution, and public health using official government data.
- Young Environmentalist Dedicated youth platform engaging young audiences with environmental education and youth-focused environmental coverage, hosted at young.downtoearth.org.in.
- CSE Bookstore Online bookstore selling books, reports, and environmental publications produced by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and Down To Earth.
- Down To Earth Newsletters Email newsletter subscription delivering environmental news and analysis updates to readers on a regular cadence.
- Down To Earth Video Series Video series including The Sunita Narain Show and other multimedia content covering environmental issues and climate events in India and globally.
Companies that use Down To Earth
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Down To Earth technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Down To Earth partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Centre for Science and Environment (CSE)coreCentre for Science and Environment is the parent think tank that publishes Down To Earth magazine. CSE is a Delhi-based research and advocacy organization working on environmental issues. The State of India's Environment annual reports are jointly produced by CSE and Down To Earth.
- Official Government Data SourcescoreDown To Earth's annual State of India's Environment reports use official government data to track environmental trends across climate, extreme weather, forests, biodiversity, water, air pollution, and public health.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Down To Earth competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Mongabay India: Mongabay India is a dedicated environmental and conservation news site covering India and South Asia. It overlaps directly with Down To Earth in target audience (environmentally engaged readers, researchers, policy community) and topic mix (climate, biodiversity, forests, pollution).
- The Wire: The Wire is an Indian digital news publication covering politics, policy, science, and the environment with an independent, donor-supported model. It competes for the same policy-engaged, English-reading Indian audience that Down To Earth serves.
- Scroll.in: Scroll.in is an independent Indian digital news outlet with strong climate, environment, and science coverage funded through reader donations. Its nonprofit-adjacent funding model and topic mix position it as a close comparable.
Broad incumbents
- National Geographic India: National Geographic India is a magazine and digital outlet covering nature, environment, and science as part of a global portfolio. It competes for advertising and reader attention in the same popular-science/environment niche as Down To Earth.
- The Hindu (Environment section): The Hindu is a major English-language Indian newspaper with dedicated science and environment coverage. It competes for the same English-reading policy and academic audience, though environment is one beat among many.
- India Today: India Today is a large Indian mainstream news magazine covering environment, climate, and policy within a broader general-news portfolio. It competes for the same mass Indian readership and advertiser dollars.
- Nature (journal) India coverage: Nature and its India-related editorial coverage provide authoritative science and environment reporting relevant to researchers and policy makers. It competes for the same academic and policy audience as DTE's data-driven reports.
Others
- Centre for Science and Environment (CSE): CSE is Down To Earth's parent-affiliated think tank and a major producer of environmental research, reports, and policy advocacy in India. It is comparable as the underlying research engine that powers DTE's editorial depth and the joint State of India's Environment report.
Regional players
- Carbon Brief: Carbon Brief is a UK-based climate science and policy website. It is comparable in its data-driven environmental journalism and reader-funded model, though it serves a UK/global audience rather than South Asia.
- DeSmog: DeSmog is a global investigative outlet covering climate disinformation, energy, and environment. It is comparable as an independent, donor-supported environmental news outlet, though it operates primarily in Western markets.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Down To Earth social profiles
Digital presenceDown To Earth financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Down To Earth leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Down To Earth funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Down To Earth M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Down To Earth
What does Down To Earth do?
Down To Earth is an Indian fortnightly magazine and digital publication founded in 1992 that delivers science-based environmental journalism across print, web, video, and email channels. Its editorial portfolio covers climate change, air and water pollution, agriculture, biodiversity, waste, public health, governance, and development in India and South Asia. The publication sells subscriptions, accepts reader contributions, and sells environmental books and reports through the affiliated CSE Bookstore.
Is Down To Earth a public or private company?
Down To Earth is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Down To Earth founded?
Down To Earth was founded in 1992. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Down To Earth based?
Down To Earth is headquartered in New Delhi, India, in the Asia region.
How does Down To Earth make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are donations and Contributions and bookstore Sales.
Who are Down To Earth's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Mongabay India, The Wire and Scroll.in. Broad incumbents are National Geographic India, The Hindu (Environment section), India Today and Nature (journal) India coverage. Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) is listed as an others. Regional players are Carbon Brief and DeSmog.
Does Down To Earth have an API?
No public API is recorded for Down To Earth.
What industry is Down To Earth in?
Down To Earth's product category is Environmental Journalism and Science Media. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAEAO, News, Politics & Current Affairs Magazines, with a secondary code of EDAGAGAK, Government, Public Policy & Regulatory Reference (Public Administration, Regulatory Guidance). Its NAICS code is 513120 and its SIC code is 2721.