Abstract: Pansari practices, based on the use of Jadi Buti (medicinal plants), have been central to healthcare in Rajasthan for centuries. This study explores how traditional practices are preserved and adapted in modern times. Ethnobotanical surveys, interviews with Pansaris, and market observations were conducted in Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Churu districts. Results indicate that while modernization and allopathic medicine have influenced traditional healthcare, Pansaris continue to provide accessible remedies, especially in rural and semi-urban areas. The study highlights challenges such as declining plant availability, erosion of knowledge, and limited formal recognition. Recommendations focus on systematic documentation, youth engagement, sustainable harvesting, and integration with modern healthcare systems.

Abstract: Soil characteristics play a crucial role in determining the growth, distribution, survival strategies, and pharmacological strength of medicinal plants in arid ecosystems. The Churu district of Rajasthan offers a unique natural laboratory where sandy soils, high salinity, low organic matter, and extreme climatic fluctuations interact with xerophytic medicinal flora. This study examines soil–plant relationships and adaptive mechanisms across 34 selected medicinal plant species in Churu district. Field sampling, soil physicochemical analysis, quadrat vegetation surveys, and root–soil interaction assessments were conducted across sand dunes, saline depressions, rocky uplands, agro-ecological fringes, and protected enclosures. The results indicate distinct ecological strategies such as deep taproot systems, succulence, salt excretion, reduced leaf surface, osmotic adjustments, secondary metabolite intensification, and drought-induced dormancy. Species like Salvadora persica and Suaeda fruticosa demonstrated halophytic behavior, while Commiphora wightii, Withania somnifera, and Leptadenia pyrotechnica showed advanced drought-defense pathways. Findings confirm significant correlations between soil mineral content, stress ecology, and medicinal phytochemistry. The research establishes that aridity not only shapes plant distribution but may enhance therapeutic secondary metabolites, making Churu’s medicinal flora biomedically valuable. Conservation of soil–plant relationships is therefore essential for ecosystem sustainability and traditional healthcare continuity.

Abstract: Neem Ka Thana, a semi-arid region in Rajasthan, exhibits a longstanding tradition of medicinal plant use and domestication. This study investigates the applied use of domesticated medicinal plants in households, farms, and community spaces, highlighting contemporary adaptations of traditional practices. Primary data were collected from 120 households, 18 local pansaris, and 12 herbal vendors. Key domesticated species included Tulsi, Aloe vera, Ashwagandha, Guduchi, Neem, Harad, and Amla, which were used for preventive, therapeutic, and wellness purposes. Findings reveal that traditional knowledge remains resilient, adapting to modern healthcare needs while supporting cultural heritage and biodiversity conservation.

Abstract: Groundwater in central Rajasthan—particularly in Jaipur, Ajmer, Tonk, and Nagaur districts—is under increasing ecological stress due to excessive agricultural fertilizer use. Nitrate contamination is becoming a major health concern, particularly for rural communities dependent on groundwater for drinking. This study assesses nitrate levels in agricultural wells across 16 villages and evaluates associated health risks, especially methemoglobinemia, gastrointestinal distress, thyroid dysfunction, and reproductive concerns. Groundwater samples from 128 wells were analyzed using spectrophotometric methods. A significant proportion (42%) exceeded the WHO guideline of 50 mg/L nitrate. Health surveys (n = 310 respondents) indicated higher prevalence of blue-baby syndrome risk factors in infants, digestive problems among adults, and possible endocrine disturbances. The study concludes that agricultural nitrogen fertilizers are the primary source of contamination and recommends integrated nutrient management and groundwater monitoring.

Abstract: Urbanization is one of the most powerful anthropogenic forces reshaping biodiversity in rapidly expanding cities of India. Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, has undergone unprecedented urban growth over the last five decades, resulting in large-scale land-use transformation. This study assesses the impact of urbanization on mammalian diversity in and around Jaipur city. Surveys were conducted in peri-urban, semi-urban, and core urban zones using direct sighting, camera trapping, pellet count, and interviews with local residents. A total of 23 mammalian species were recorded, including species such as Canis aureus, Herpestes edwardsii, Nilgai, Pipistrellus coromandra, and Felis chaus. Data show a clear decline in species richness in high-density urban areas, coupled with behavioral modifications, changes in feeding patterns, nocturnal shifts, and increased human–animal conflict. The study reveals that habitat fragmentation, pollution, vehicular traffic, roadkills, and loss of vegetation are critical factors influencing the decline. Peri-urban areas retain the highest diversity, whereas the walled city and high-rise colonies show the lowest. The paper recommends enhancing green corridors, conserving microhabitats, and implementing urban biodiversity management strategies to protect mammalian fauna in Jaipur.

Abstract: Malnutrition continues to be one of the most persistent public health challenges in India, especially among tribal communities. Southern Rajasthan—including Udaipur, Dungarpur, Banswara, Pratapgarh, and parts of Sirohi—hosts one of the largest tribal populations in the country. These areas exhibit high levels of stunting, wasting, and underweight prevalence in children under five years. This study applies medical geography and spatial epidemiology to examine the distribution, determinants, and pattern of malnutrition among tribal children. Using primary field surveys (540 households), Anganwadi records, NFHS-4 (2015–16) datasets, the research identifies clusters of severe malnutrition and correlates them with environmental and socio-economic factors such as food insecurity, poor maternal health, water scarcity, low literacy, and inadequate healthcare accessibility. The spatial analysis reveals that wasting is highest in Dungarpur (29%), stunting is most severe in Banswara (41%), and underweight prevalence peaks in southwestern Udaipur (38%). The study concludes that malnutrition in tribal Rajasthan is a multi-dimensional problem shaped by environmental constraints, cultural practices, and settlement isolation. It proposes geographically-targeted interventions including nutrition gardens, mobile health units, tribal women’s SHGs, and community-based monitoring of child growth.