ID: 66229
Title: Bringing back from the brink: a new initiative to prevent the extinction of critically endangered tree species in the wild
Author: Ganesan Balachander, E. M. Muralidharan, G. Ravikanth, B. R. Ramesh, Uma Shankar and Kamal Bawa
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (7) 654-655 25 March (2025)
Subject: Bringing back from the brink: a new initiative to prevent the extinction of critically endangered tree species in the wild
Keywords: None
Abstract: We live in what many consider the Age of
Anthropocene, where Homo sapiens has
become the dominant species on Earth.
Human activities have significantly altered
ecosystems, impacting biodiversity and
ecosystem processes. The scale and speed
of these changes, largely driven by anthropogenic factors, are unprecedented. These
include: Land and sea use change; Direct
exploitation of species for food, fuel, timber
and medicines; Pollution; The introduction
of invasive alien species.
Furthermore, owing to vastly developed
supply chain logistics, what was previously
for subsistence and local use has now become a source for the global marketplace1
.
Historically, mass extinction events were
triggered by natural phenomena like asteroid impacts or volcanic eruptions. However,
for the first time in Earth’s history, human
actions are causing a mass extinction,
where species are becoming extinct significantly faster (the sixth mass extinction)
than they have for millions of years before2
.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: . IPBES, Global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services of the Intergovernmental Science – Policy Platform
on Biodiversity and Ecosystem services.
IPBES Secretariat, Bonn, 2019, p. 1148;
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3831673.
Ceballos, G., Ehrlich, P. R., Barnosky, A.
D., García, A., Pringle, R. M. and Palmer,
T. M., Sci. Adv., 2015, 1(5), e1400253
Literature cited 2: Christenhusz, M. J. M. and Byng, J. W.,
Phytotaxa, 2016, 261(3), 201–217.
Rivers, M., Newton, A. C., Oldfield, S.,
and Global Tree Assessment Contributors,
Plants, People, Planet, 2023, 5(4), 466–
482.
ID: 66228
Title: Standardisation of artificial diet for fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) mass culturing to accomplish research needs of management strategies
Author: J. N. Prithiva, S. Jeyarani, J. Indhumathi, N. Sathiah, V. Baskaran, T. Srinivasan and P. S. Shanmugam
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (6) 627-632 25 March (2025)
Subject: Standardisation of artificial diet for fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) mass culturing to accomplish research needs of management strategies
Keywords: Artificial diet, fall armyworm, mass culturing, Spodoptera frugiperda.
Abstract: Standardising artificial diets for mass-rearing insects
in laboratory is crucial for deepening our understanding
of insect biology, behaviour and nutritional needs, which
are pre-requiste for developing effective integrated
pest management strategies. The present study was focused on formulating an optimal artificial diet for the
invasive pest Spodoptera frugiperda by evaluating various
diet ingredients and their impact on insect development.
Out of 32 diet compositions tested, 16 diets supported
developments to the adult stage and these 16 diets were
further evaluated to identify the best-suited diet. Among
these, a diet based on lab lab beans emerged as the
most effective for rearing fall armyworm in the laboratory. Larvae fed with a diet of lab lab beans soaked
and supplemented with maize leaf powder, excluding
Wesson’s salt, achieved the highest larval weight
(0.3807 g on the 7th day after hatching), the shortest
larval duration (14.47 days), the highest pupal weight
(0.2520 g), the shortest pupal duration (10.03 days) and
the highest adult emergence rate (94.50%). These results were comparable to the diet of soaked lab
beans without maize leaf powder and Wesson’s salt,
which recorded a larval weight of 0.2343 g, a larval
duration of 15.50 days a pupal weight of 0.2107 g, a
pupal duration of 10.25 days, and an adult emergence
rate of 93.00. The addition of Wesson’s salt did not
significantly enhance growth parameters. Although the
diet including maize leaf powder supported the highest
adult emergence, its cost and the difficulty of sourcing
pesticide-free maize leaf powder make it impractical.
Therefore, the diet without maize leaf powder has been
standardized as the most efficient and reliable method
for producing a large and continuous supply of insects
for research purposes. This optimized diet not only ensures the robust growth and development of S. frugiperda but also provides a cost-effective and practical
solution for laboratory rearing, significantly advancing
research capabilities in pest management.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Kuate, A. F. et al., Spodoptera frugiperda Smith (Lepidoptera:
Noctuidae) in Cameroon: case study on its distribution, damage,
pesticide use, genetic differentiation and host plants. PLoS ONE,
2019, 14, 0215749.
Sharanabasappa, D. et al., First report of the fall armyworm,
Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), an alien
invasive pest on maize in India. Pest Manage. Hortic. Ecosyst.,
2018, 24(1), 23–29.
Literature cited 2: Deshmukh, S. S., Pavithra, H. B., Kalleshwaraswamy, C. M.,
Shivanna, B. K., Maruthi, M. S. and David Mota-Sanchez., Field
efficacy of insecticides for control of invasive fall armyworm,
Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on
maize in India. Florida Entomol., 2020, 103(2), 221–227;
doi:org/10.1653/024.103.0211.
Deshmukh, S. S. et al., Economic analysis of pesticide expenditure
for managing the invasive fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda
(J. E. Smith) by maize farmers in Karnataka, India. Curr. Sci.,
2021, 121(11), 1487–1492.
ID: 66227
Title: Kinetics, isotherms and thermodynamics of Cu(II) metal ions adsorption: an insight into chitosan and bentonite
Author: Sarita Joshi, Bhupender Singh and R. K. Srivastava
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (6) 618-626 25 March (2025)
Subject: Kinetics, isotherms and thermodynamics of Cu(II) metal ions adsorption: an insight into chitosan and bentonite
Keywords: Adsorption isotherm model, adsorption kinetic model, adsorption thermodynamics, bentonite, chitosan, FTIR
Abstract: Chitosan + bentonite modified composite was synthesized to analyse its removal efficiency for Cu(II) metal
ions. FTIR analysis done for chitosan, bentonite and
the prepared biocomposite of chitosan + bentonite gave
detailed information about the active functional group
present on the site of adsorbent. SEM-EDS micrographs reflected the distribution and weight percent of
elements in the prepared bio-composite with prominent
porosity and roughness but after the adsorption of
Cu(II), the porosity and roughness of the adsorbent
decreased. Freundlich isotherm best fitted to Cu(II)
metal ions indicates that the adsorbent surface is heterogenous. The value of the regression coefficient for the
Lagergren kinetic model for the adsorption of Cu(II)
metal ions was 1 and hence, it has the highest conformity towards the pseudo-first-order kinetic model.
Adsorption thermodynamics revealed that it was a
spontaneous and exothermic adsorption.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: . Bhatnagar, A. and Sillanpää, M., Utilization of agro-industrial and
municipal waste materials as potential adsorbents for water treatment: a review. Chem. Eng. J., 2010, 157, 277–296.
Gupta, M., Gupta, H. and Kharat, D., Adsorption of Cu(II) by lowcost adsorbents and the cost analysis. Environ. Technol. Innov., 2018,
10, 91–101
Literature cited 2: Sari, A., Tuzen, M., Citak, D. and Soylak, M., Equilibrium, kinetic
and thermodynamic studies of adsorption of Pb(II) from aqueous
solution onto Turkish kaolinite clay. J Hazard. Mater., 2007, 149,
283–291.
Septhum, A., Rattanaphani, A., Bremner, J. B. and Rattanaphani,
V., An adsorption study of Al(III) ions onto chitosan. J. Hazard.
Mater., 2007, 148, 185–19.
ID: 66226
Title: Understanding the impact of urbanisation on wetlands using random forest machine learning algorithm in Google Earth Engine: a case of East Kolkata Wetlands, India
Author: Tanmay Mondal and Preeti Onkar
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (6) 608-617 25 March (2025)
Subject: Understanding the impact of urbanisation on wetlands using random forest machine learning algorithm in Google Earth Engine: a case of East Kolkata Wetlands, India
Keywords: Change detection, Google Earth Engine, machine learning, prediction, random forest.
Abstract: Land cover maps help in understanding the spatial and
temporal dynamics of a particular area in a given time.
The present study was done in the Kolkata Metropolitan Area (KMA) and East Kolkata Wetland (EKW) in
India using the machine learning (ML) algorithm of
random forest classification and prediction in Google
Earth Engine. The ML algorithm was used to classify
the land use land cover (LULC) maps of KMA and
EKW for 2002, 2013 and 2023. The ML prediction
model further used these LULC maps to predict the future land cover map for the year 2033, both for KMA
and EKW. A correlation analysis was done between
the built-up of KMA and the built-up of EKW to assess
the impact of the urban expansion of KMA on the wetlands of EKW. The present study explored the impact
of the increase in built-up area on the wetland and it
was seen that the built-up of EKW was increasing due
to the increase in the urban expansion of KMA. As a
result, the wetland is experiencing a decrease in biodiversity and quality of water and soil.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Song, M., Ma, X., Shang, Y. and Zhao, X., Influences of land
resource assets on economic growth and fluctuation in China.
Resour. Policy, 2020, 68, 101779.
Hassan, Z. et al., Dynamics of land use and land cover change
(LULCC) using geospatial techniques: a case study of Islamabad
Pakistan. SpringerPlus, 2016, 5, 812
Literature cited 2: Assefa, W. W., Eneyew, B. G. and Wondie, A., The impacts of
land-use and land-cover change on wetland ecosystem service
values in peri-urban and urban area of Bahir Dar City, Upper Blue
Nile Basin, Northwestern Ethiopia. Ecol. Process., 2021, 10, 39.
Davidson, N. C., How much wetland has the world lost? long-term
and recent trends in global wetland area. Mar. Freshw. Res., 2014,
65, 934–941
ID: 66225
Title: Reproductive interventions for revitalising the sustainable production of Malabar labeo, Labeo Dussumieri, an indigenous candidate for aquaculture diversification
Author: B. L. Chandana , C. P. Abhilash, K. R. Saikrishnan, Charan Ravi , Uttam Kumar Sarkar and V. S. Basheer
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (6) 599-607 25 March (2025)
Subject: Reproductive interventions for revitalising the sustainable production of Malabar labeo, Labeo Dussumieri, an indigenous candidate for aquaculture diversification
Keywords: Indigenous fish, induced breeding, minor carp, spawning, Western Ghats.
Abstract: Malabar labeo, Labeo dussumieri is one of the cyprinids, endemic to the Western Ghats, India. The lack of
availability of proper captive production techniques
and over-exploitation has led to a decline in the population of this fish in its natural habitats. In the present
study Malabar labeo were acclimatised to captive conditions and selected brooders were introduced into
breeding pools. They were administrated with synthetic
hormones for dose optimisation as well as breeding
trial experiments. To determine the effective dose for
induced breeding, the females were injected with WOVAFH at 0.5 (T1), 0.75 (T2) and 1.0 (T3) ml/kg body
weight. The spawning fecundity was 2.2 ± 0.2 lakhs
eggs/kg during the peak spawning season. Among the
three treatments, T2 (0.75 ml/kg body wt.) showed the
best results in terms of egg fecundity (89,560 ± 592),
fertilisation rate (94.76 ± 0.57%), hatching rate (90.31 ±
0.68%) and spawn survival rate (85.25 ± 0.54%). The
fertilised eggs were round, non-sticky with a diameter
of 2.48 ± 0.1 mm, and hatching took place between 16
and 20 h after fertilisation. The newly hatched larvae
had an average total length of 4.1 ± 0.2 mm and a
weight of 2.7 ± 0.4 mg. The study revealed the potential
of producing L. dussumieri under captivity and meeting its demand for farming and conservation
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: FAO, Fishery and Aquaculture Statistics, Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome, Italy, 2019, p. 10; doi:10.4060/cb7874t.
Day, F., The fishes of India, being a natural history of fishes known
to habit the seas and freshwaters of India, Burma and Ceylon, Bernard Quaritech Ltd, London, 1878, p. 195; doi:10.5962/bhl.title.
55567.
Literature cited 2: Kurup, B. M. and Kuriakose, B., Labeo dussumieri (Val) an indigenous endangered carp species of Kerala. Fish. Chimes, 1991, 14,
39–42.
Talwar, P. K. and Jhingran, A. G., Inland Fishes of India and Adjacent Countries, Volumes I and II, Oxford and IBH Publishing, New
Delhi, India, 1991, p. 1158.
ID: 66224
Title: How do marketing channel choices affect the welfare of paddy growers in Punjab and Haryana
Author: Vinita Kanwal, Bitan Mondal , Arti and Jaspal Singh
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (6) 590-598 25 March (2025)
Subject: How do marketing channel choices affect the welfare of paddy growers in Punjab and Haryana
Keywords: Agricultural marketing, farmer welfare, marketing channels, multinomial logit, paddy growers.
Abstract: The marketing channel choices of paddy growers and
their subsequent effect on welfare (indicated by quantity, return and prices) are empirically estimated in the
study, conducted in the states of Punjab and Haryana.
Using data from the third Situation Assessment Survey,
the study focuses on households engaged in paddy cultivation. Results reveal that the local market is still the
most prominent marketing channel in rural Punjab
and Haryana. Around 46% of produce is disposed of
through it, and more than 50% of growers opt for the
same. There are significant variations in awareness of
the minimum support price and the price realized after
selling paddy across different categories of land ownership. Government assistance is a major factor in shaping
the marketing channel choices. The findings in the study
indicate a strong link between marketing channel choices
and the welfare of paddy growers. It provides valuable
insights into the dynamics of agricultural marketing in
India and underscores the need for tailored policy interventions to improve the welfare farmers.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Durand-Morat, A. and Bairagi, S., International rice outlook: international rice baseline projections 2020–2030, AAES Research Reports and Research Bulletin, 2021.
FAO, Market Summaries, Food Outlook June 2022, Food and Agriculture Organ
Literature cited 2: Press Information Bureau, Final estimates of production of major
crops released for the year 2022–23 Ministry of Agriculture and
Farmers Welfare, New Delhi, 2023.
Berry, L. L., Bolton, R. N., Bridges, C. H., Meyer, J., Parasuraman,
A. and Seiders, K., Opportunities for innovation in the delivery of
interactive retail services. J. Interact. Mark., 2010, 24(2), 155–167
ID: 66223
Title: Prevalence, diagnosis, treatment and control of hypertension, diabetes and their co-occurrence, and its correlates in India using NFHS-5 data
Author: Maya Singh and Gyan Prakash Singh
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (6) 578-589 25 March (2025)
Subject: Prevalence, diagnosis, treatment and control of hypertension, diabetes and their co-occurrence, and its correlates in India using NFHS-5 data
Keywords: Diabetes, hypertension, multivariate logistic regression, odds ratio, risk factor.
Abstract: Hypertension and diabetes are the two most prevalent
non-communicable diseases in India, and their exposure is increasing fast with time. In the present study,
an attempt is made to assess its prevalence (P), diagnosis
(D), treatment (T) and control (C) in three mutually
exclusive groups of individuals aged 30–79 who are only
hypertensive (OH), individual with only diabetes (OD)
and hypertensive as well as individual with diabetes
(HD) and its correlates based on fifth round of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) with the help of
chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression. The
prevalence, diagnosis, treatment and control (PDTC)
rates of the disease among OH were 21.7%, 26.9%,
23% and 10.7% respectively, and it was 11.4%, 17.1%,
16.4% and 5.1% among OD, followed by 9.9%, 24.6%,
22.4% and 3.1% among HD. They also exhibited significant associations (P-value < 0.05) and risks, such that
rural (odds ratio (OR): 0.628), and female OR: 0.876)
had a lower risk of coexistence compared to urban and
male respectively. Individuals who were divorced (OR:
1.137), age group 70-79 (OR: 7.468), smokers (OR:
1.71) and consuming alcohol (OR: 1.100), as well as
those overweighed, had a higher chance of HD. In conclusion, addressing these risk factors with association
and the geographical distribution of PDTC of HD in
India could potentially enhance public health in the
region.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Zhou, B. et al., Worldwide trends in hypertension prevalence and
progress in treatment and control from 1990 to 2019: a pooled
analysis of 1201 population-representative studies with 104 million
participants. The Lancet, 2021, 398(10304), 957–980.
WHO, Global report on hypertension: the race against a silent killer,
World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland, 2023.
Literature cited 2: Alberti, K. G. M. M. and Zimmet, P. Z., Definition, diagnosis and
classification of diabetes mellitus and its complications. Part 1: diagnosis and classification of diabetes mellitus. Provisional report of
a WHO consultation. Diabet. Med., 1998, 15(7), 539–553.
Murray, C. J. et al., Global burden of 87 risk factors in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global
Burden of Disease Study 2019. The Lancet, 2020, 396(10258),
1223–1249.
ID: 66222
Title: Growth dynamics analysis of cauliflower in Himachal Pradesh
Author: Lalenpuii , Ravinder Sharma , Niyati Thakur , Pinaki Roy, Anirban Mukherjee and Kumari Shubha
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (6) 570-577 25 March (2025)
Subject: Growth dynamics analysis of cauliflower in Himachal Pradesh
Keywords: ARIMA, cauliflower, decomposition analysis, forecasting, seasonal indices
Abstract: India, one of the top producers of cauliflower (Brassica
oleracea var. botrytis) has made a significant contribution to the agricultural, nutritional and commercial
value. The present study examines the growth dynamics of cauliflower production, pricing, productivity
and area in the state of Himachal Pradesh. It focuses
on the Solan district for data on pricing, productivity
and output from 2003 to 2020, and on area, production
and productivity from 1995 to 2020. The study projects
future scenarios and analyses previous trends using
statistical tools, such as seasonal indices, decomposition analysis, Cuddy–Della Valle Index (CDVI), compound annual growth rate (CAGR) and autoregressive
integrated moving average (ARIMA) modelling. Results indicate that the growth rate in production
(8.77%) surpassed the growth in area (6.48%), whereas productivity growth stood at 7%. Despite fluctuations, cauliflower cultivation remains relatively stable,
with area expansion being the primary driver of production growth. The optimal ARIMA models for forecasting area, production and productivity were
identified as ARIMA (0, 2, 1), ARIMA (2, 2, 2) and
ARIMA (2, 2, 1) respectively, suggesting an increasing
trend in area and productivity, whereas production is
projected to decline. Price growth rates ranged from
4.45% to 7.51%, exhibiting low variation, and seasonal
indices revealed higher off-season variability compared
to peak season. The selected ARIMA model for price
forecasting is ARIMA (0, 0, 1) (0, 1, 2) with drift. These
insights provide valuable information for policymakers
and stakeholders in the cauliflower market.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Yousef, E. A. A., Muller, T., Borner, A. and Schmid, K. J., Comparative analysis of genetic diversity and differentiation of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) accessions from two ex situ
genebanks. PLoS ONE, 2018, 13, 1–19; doi:10.1371/journal.pone.
0192062.
Bhushan, L. S. and Pathma, J., Economic importance of cauliflower
(Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) under Indian scenario, challenges
faced in crop protection and a survey on arthropod complex on late
season varieties of cauliflower grown in Kapurthala district, Punjab. J. Gujarat Re
Literature cited 2: Kumari, R., Shekhawat, P. S. and Jain, S., An economic analysis
of production of cauliflower in Sikar district of Rajasthan. Econ.
Affair., 2021, 66(04), 535–542; doi:10.46852/0424-2513.4.2021.2.
Gupta, G., Kumar, V., Paruthi, M. and Mendiratta, P., The cauliflower dilemma. Int. J. Indian Cult. Business Manage., 2019, 18(3),
291–297.
ID: 66221
Title: Methodology for assessment of biogas technology usage in the hilly regions of Himachal Pradesh using CART model on survey data
Author: Rajinder Kumar , Gurpreet Singh , Kaustav Aditya, D. K. Vatsa , Vishakha Butail , Bharti , R. S. Rana and Achala Aggarwal
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (6) 562-569 25 March (2025)
Subject: Methodology for assessment of biogas technology usage in the hilly regions of Himachal Pradesh using CART model on survey data
Keywords: Biofuel, biogas technology, classification and regression tree, hilly regions, machine learning, renewable energy
Abstract: Renewable energy, particularly biogas, stands as a
pivotal solution amidst global energy challenges, offering sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels. Himachal
Pradesh, a mountainous region in North India, exemplifies this shift with a growing network of biogas
plants to alleviate energy poverty and environmental
degradation. However, the operational success of these
biogas plants remains precarious, marked by a significant non-functionality rate. The present study examines
180 biogas plants across Hamirpur and Kangra districts,
revealing that 74.81% of these plants are non-operational. Key reasons include inadequate cattle populations,
lack of interest and constructional issues. Classification
and regression tree (CART) model was used to identify
the reasons and found that inadequate cattle population, coupled with socio-economic factors like declining
interest and migration were primary barriers to sustained biogas plant functionality. These findings highlight
the urgent need for targeted interventions, including
technological upgrades and policy reforms, to enhance
biogas plant sustainability and foster rural energy resilience in hilly terrains. By addressing these challenges,
Himachal Pradesh can harness its rich agricultural resources more effectively, thereby advancing towards a
greener and more sustainable energy future and informing policymakers on enhancing biogas technology’s effectiveness in addressing energy poverty and
promoting sustainable practices in rural communities
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Ighravwe, D. E. and Babatunde, M. O., Determination of a suitable
renewable energy source for mini-grid business: a risk-based multicriteria approach. J. Renew. Energy, 2018, 3, 120; https://doi.org/
10.1155/2018/2163262.
2. Sica, D., Esposito, B., Supino, S., Malandrino, O. and Sessa, M. R.,
Biogas-based systems: an opportunity towards a post-fossil and circular economy perspective in Italy. Energy Policy, 2023, 182,
113719.
Literature cited 2: Singh, G., Vatsa, D. K., Kaushal, S., Butail, V., Kumar, B. and Gupta,
R. K., Development and performance evaluation of insulated biogas plant and usage potential in hilly regions. Biomass Convers.
Biorefin., 2023, 14, 25293–25305.
Ramachandra, T. V., Krishnadas, G., Setturu, B. and Kumar, U.,
Regional bioenergy planning for sustainability in Himachal Pradesh, India. J. Ene
ID: 66220
Title: Path tracing of the Chandrayaan-3 Rover from OHRC images
Author: Kannan V. Iyer, Medha S. Alurkar, Ajay Kumar Prashar, K. Suresh and Amitabh
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (6) 558-561 25 March (2025)
Subject: Path tracing of the Chandrayaan-3 Rover from OHRC images
Keywords: Chandrayaan-3, moon, OHRC, regolith change detection, rotations, rover
Abstract: The Chandrayaan-3 Pragyaan Rover traversed a path of approximately 101 m on the lunar surface
after the soft landing of Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram Lander on 23 August 2023. Experiments were carried
out by the two science instruments, namely APXS and LIBS mounted on the rover. A rover traversal
path was plotted over the image captured by the Orbiter High Resolution Camera (OHRC) onboard
the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter, taken after the post-landing of the Vikram lander. This plot was based
on the mobility commands uploaded to the rover through lander. Subsequent opportunities of imaging the landing site by OHRC could not infer the rover mobility path due to poor illumination conditions over the site. However, recently acquired OHRC image had better illumination conditions and
the images were analysed for fetching the rover mobility tracks. Since the rover tracks could not be
seen directly in the images, they were further processed to find the rover in-place turn locations, as
these must have done the maximum disturbance to the regolith. However, these changes could not be
clearly detected using some of the conventional methods. Hence, an indigenous technique was
adopted to detect these changes. The present article discusses the findings on the possible landmarks left back by the rover mobility and its coordinates on the lunar terrain.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: . Amitabh et al., Terrain characterisation of potential landing sites for
Chandrayaan-3 Lander using Orbiter High Resolution Camera
(OHRC) images, In 54th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference
(LPSC), The Woodlands, Texas, 2023 LPI Contribution No. 2806,
Id.1037, 2023.
Durga Prasad, K. et al., Contextual characterisation study of Chandrayaan-3 primary landing site. MNRAS, 2023, 526, L116–L
Literature cited 2: Chowdhury, A. R. et al., Orbiter high resolution camera onboard
Chandrayaan-2 orbiter. Curr. Sci., 2020, 118(4), 560.
Rohini S. et al., Change detection techniques for a remote sensing applications: an overview. In Cognitive Systems and Signal Processing in
Image Processing (eds Zhang, Y.-D. et al.), Academic Press, Elsevier
Inc., 2022, chap. 6, pp. 129–143
ID: 66219
Title: Diet composition and habitat suitability of rainbow trout streams in Western Ghats, South India: an ecological study
Author: Walter Devaa, Marimuthu Muthukatturaja, Chellaiah Balasubramanian and U. Ramesh
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (6) 556-557 25 March (2025)
Subject: Diet composition and habitat suitability of rainbow trout streams in Western Ghats, South India: an ecological study
Keywords: None
Abstract: Rainbow trout inhabit the streams of Ooty, Kodaikanal and Munnar in the Western Ghats region of South India.
The significant issue of rainbow trout in these areas is their decreasing body size. The present study explored
the waterbodies in the above locations to assess them as good foraging sites for the rainbow trout by examining
their stomach contents. Rainbow trout were collected from Gundar Stream, Kodaikanal; Rajamallay Stream,
Munnar; Upper Bhavani Reservoir, Ooty and their stomach contents showed an abundance of caddisfly larvae and
less percentage of other prey, proving that the three waterbodies are suitable foraging sites for the rainbow trout
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Jonsson, N. et al., Ecol. Freshw. Fish,
1993, 2, 152–159; https://doi.org/10.1111/
j.1600-0633.1993.tb00097.x.
MacCrimmon, H. R., J. Fish Res. Board
Can., 1971, 28, 663–704; https://doi.org/10.
1139/f71-098
Literature cited 2: Gopalakrishnan, A., Lal, K. K. and Ponniah,
A. G., Naga: ICLARM Q., 1999, 22(3),
16–19.
Mackay, W. S. S., J. Bombay Natl. Hist.
Soc., 1945, 45(3 and 4), 352–373; 542–547
ID: 66218
Title: Agroforestry in achieving Amrit Kaal Vision 2047: insights on wood resource sustainability and development
Author: S. Sarath, Sajitha Siril, N. N. Shahina and P. V. Nikhil
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (6) 554-555 25 March (2025)
Subject: Agroforestry in achieving Amrit Kaal Vision 2047: insights on wood resource sustainability and development
Keywords: None
Abstract: The concept of Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 envisions a sustainable and prosperous future for India, aligning with
the nation’s commitment to environmental stewardship and economic resilience. This article explores the potential
of agroforestry systems to reduce pressure on natural forests, foster climate resilience and create sustainable
supply chains for wood-based industries. By advocating for agroforestry as a key strategy, the article provides
actionable insights into achieving sustainable development, ensuring resource security and advancing towards
India’s vision for 2047.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Handa, A. K., Toky, O. P., Dhyani, S. K. and
Chavan, S. B., World Agric., 2016, 7, 7–16.
Arunachalam, A., Rizvi, R. H., Handa, A. K.
and Ramanan, S. S., Curr. Sci., 2022, 123,
743–744
Literature cited 2: Kant, P. and Nautiyal, R., India Timber
Supply and Demand 2010–2030. International Tropical Timber Organization, Yokohama, Japan, 2021, pp. 5–54.
Minini, D. et al., Agrofor. Syst., 2024, 98,
715–737
ID: 66217
Title: Leveraging plant physiology: innovations in plantation crops inspired by food crops and model systems
Author: S. V. Ramesh, Murali Gopal and K. B. Hebbar
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (6) 552-553 25 March (2025)
Subject: Leveraging plant physiology: innovations in plantation crops inspired by food crops and model systems
Keywords: None
Abstract: The three-day National Conference of
Plant Physiology 2024 (NCPP-2024) was
jointly organised by the ICAR-Central
Plantation Crops Research Institute
(ICAR-CPCRI), Kasaragod, and the Indian
Society for Plant Physiology, New Delhi.
The theme of the conference, ‘Frontiers in
cell to whole plant physiology: bridging
science and sustainability’, focused on the
latest advancements in molecular, cellular,
organelle, and whole-plant physiology
and their translation for sustainable production to feed the growing population during the current critical period of climate
change.
P. V. Varaprasad (Kansas State University, USA), during the inaugural address,
spoke about global challenges, particularly
the decreasing relative yield gains as an
impediment to development. He highlighted
ten major innovations, including speed
breeding at the genomic level, gene editing, stress-tolerant crop varieties, nutritious
and climate-resilient plants, biofortified
varieties, above- and below-ground intercropping, agroforestry, perennial grains,
and cross-disciplinary approaches that are
driving sustainable intensification for climate-resilient agriculture. Collectively,
these innovations underscore the pivotal
role of plant physiology in ensuring food
security, protecting biodiversity and mitigating climate change – essential pillars of
global sustainability.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1:
Literature cited 2:
ID: 66216
Title: Performance of human–wildlife conflicts compensation scheme in Karnataka, India
Author: Naveen Kumar Naik, P. Venkatesh D. R. Singh Alka Singh M. Balasubramanian G. K. Jha V. Sangeetha D. K. Sharma
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (6) 545-547 25 March (2025)
Subject: Performance of human–wildlife conflicts compensation scheme in Karnataka, India
Keywords: None
Abstract: A recent article by Naik et al.1 titled, ‘Performance of human–wildlife conflicts
compensation scheme in Karnataka, India’
examines the limitations and obstacles encountered by agriculturalists engaged in a
reparation programme for human–wildlife
clashes in Karnataka, India. Farmers residing in the vicinity of the Bannerghatta National Park faced setbacks and deficiencies
when it came to obtaining reimbursement
for agricultural losses and livestock fatalities. The initiative was scrutinized for its
insufficient coverage of damages, bureaucratic processes, and the absence of farmer
participation in loss assessment. Examination unveiled undervaluation of reimbursements, delays in disbursement, elevated
transaction expenses, disregard for market
fluctuations, and difficulties in quantifying
harm inflicted by wildlife. Suggestions include revising compensation protocols, enlisting experts for loss evaluation, settling
land conflicts and using online governmental resources for effective compensation
allocation
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Naik, N. K. et al., Curr. Sci., 2024, 126(4),
434–441
Ayele, A., Worku, M. and Bekele, Y., Heliyon, 2021, 7(9).
Literature cited 2: Nagendra, Dabali, S. D. and Handigol, J. A.,
Int. J. Com. Bus. Manage, 2011, 4(2), 269–
276.
Kumara Charyulu, D. et al., Pigeonpea Baseline and Early Adoption Surveys in South
Asia, Insights from TL-II (Phase 1) Project
in India, Documentation. ICRISAT, Patancheru, 2014.
ID: 66215
Title: Urbanization and sustainable urban development
Author: S. K. Satheesh, K. Krishna Moorthy
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2025
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 128 (6) 543-544 25 March (2025)
Subject: Urbanization and sustainable urban development
Keywords: None
Abstract: Sustainability is one of the major challenges facing humanity in the current era. Consequent to the uncontrolled/
unfocused developments and the rapidly changing climate
(in climatic time scales), which is rapidly approaching the
tipping point, humanity is facing increasing challenges in
sustainability. Because of this importance, several articles
addressing this issue have been repeatedly appearing in
this editorial.
Increasing urbanisation is a global phenomenon. Currently, a large fraction of the global population lives in
urban regions. It is expected that the urban population will
be two-thirds of the global population in the next two decades or so. Urbanisation has several advantages. It facilitates easy access to better infrastructure, habitat, better
facilities (access to essential daily needs for living, including food, water, mobility, communication and health
care), access to better education, better health interventions, and better job opportunities
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1:
Literature cited 2: