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The Hindu
2 hours ago
- Science
- The Hindu
No State showed net increase in forest cover between 2015 and 2019, study reveals
A first comprehensive analysis of forest connectivity between 2015 and 2019 across Indian States has found that India has lost 18 sq. km of forest for every one sq. km gained during this time. While two States alone accounted for half of the gross forest loss of 1,033 sq. km, four States had half of the gross forest gain of about 56 sq. km. Even as some States lost forest cover, they also recorded some increase. However, across India, the net forest cover gained was less than the net forest cover lost such that not a single State reported a net increase in forest cover. What is more concerning is that while the loss was in the forest core and bridge areas (corridors connecting different core areas), the increase in forest area was mostly restricted to islets — patches of forest containing no core and representing isolated habitats. Nearly half of newly added forests were islets while a negligible 6% increase in forest cover was in the core, according to a study by researchers from SASTRA University and IIT Bombay. The results were published in the journal Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. Structural connectivity plays a crucial role in habitat permeability, species dispersal, gene flow and biodiversity within a forest landscape. In this, the islets, which are isolated patches, play the least role in habitat permeability and species dispersal. 'Islets have the least ecological value as they are isolated habitats. What that means is that species found in islets cannot migrate to any other habitat as islets do not have any bridge or loop or any other facility to facilitate migration,' says Dr. V. Sathyakumar from the School of Civil Engineering, SASTRA University, and the first and one of the corresponding authors of the study. So any increase in forest cover of the islets without attempting to link them to the main forest does not help increase biodiversity. 'The novelty in our study is that we assessed the forest connectivity, which currently is not available in any Forest Survey of India report. We also looked into gross forest gain and gross forest loss, while FSI reports mainly focus on net change,' says Dr. Sathyakumar. 'There are studies on total forest gain or loss but structural connectivity has not been studied so far. Knowing structural connectivity will help in understanding ecological health, and carry out biodiversity conservation,' says Dr. R. Ramsankaran, Professor at the Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay and a corresponding author of the study. Forests have been divided into seven distinct connectivity classes, with core at one end of the spectrum while islets are at the other end of the spectrum. According to Dr. Ramsankaran, islets are more prone to deforestation compared with the cores. And across India, net additions to forest cover have been largely restricted to islets and not the forest cores. Compared with 2015, forest core area that has been converted into non-forest in 2019 is nearly 204 In the case of islets, the conversion into non-forest has been even higher at nearly 230 sq. km. What makes the conversion into non-forest in the case of islets stand out is that the net loss of about 230 sq. km is from a far smaller area of about 32,000 compared with net loss of about 204 sq. km of forest core from about 5.87 lakh sq. km, points out Dr. Sathyakumar. 'Forest core has more resilience. As a result, even when some portion of the forest core is converted into non-forest, the core has better chances of survival, which is not the case with other structural entities of the forest, particularly the islets,' says Dr. Sathyakumar. 'In the case of the core, we found only 0.035% has become non-forest, while 0.72% of islet has become non-forest. The conversion rate of islets to non-forest has been almost 20 times higher between 2015 and 2019.' The higher rate of islet loss would mean that even when attempts to afforest the islets are made, the chances of sustenance of afforestation will be very less, says Dr. Sathyakumar. Based on the study, he says forest cores have higher resilience while islets have the least and so any attempt at afforestation should be in the forest core with the least preference given to islets. 'As far as possible, if afforestation of islets is undertaken, it should be done to convert them to a higher-ranking class such that islets become a branch so they have better resilience,' he says. Across India, forest cover decreased from 24.13% in 2015 to 24.10% in 2019. While there was about 56 sq. km of forest gain, forest loss was 1,033 sq. km, resulting in a net loss of about 977 sq. km. This equates to a loss of approximately 18 sq. km for every 1 gained. Mizoram had the highest forest cover (about 99%) and Ladakh the lowest (0.91%) in both years. The largest net reductions were observed in West Bengal (0.28% points), Tamil Nadu (0.20% points), Kerala (0.14% points) and Goa (0.12% points). More importantly, forest core area loss was highest and exceeded the national rate in six States — Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, and Telangana. In particular, Tamil Nadu's rate was sixteen times higher than the national-level rate. 'These six states specifically require targeted interventions to address the rapid loss of forest cores,' they write.
Indian Express
8 hours ago
- Indian Express
Dear Editor, I Disagree: ‘Campus mothers' initiative must be seen for what it is: A displacement of responsibility
Have India's educational institutions always been sites of silent, systemic violence? Spaces meant for learning, for nurturing questions, and for producing knowledge are turning into graveyards of unrealised dreams. From student suicides to institutional apathy, from unaddressed harassment to symbolic initiatives like 'Campus Mothers', the violence remains constant, structural, and often deadly. The recent suicide of a student in Odisha who set herself on fire after being denied justice for sexual harassment, the tragic case of Darshan Solanki at IIT Bombay, and the long, painful list that includes names like Rohith Vemula and Payal Tadvi, are not disconnected events. These are not isolated tragedies, but a reflection of systemic violence. They show how institutional spaces can push students to the brink, and then respond with symbolic gestures instead of accountability. Academic spaces continue to be shaped by patterns of violence that define the everyday lives of students. There are countless students whose names will never be known. Those who live and study within institutions that shame, isolate, and silence them. Those who endure relentless academic pressure, wait months for fellowships to be released, face discriminatory behaviour from faculty, or are punished for simply demanding dignity. Women students who are moral-policed, students from marginalised communities who are made to feel they do not belong and students struggling with mental health who are offered no support. They are made to carry these burdens quietly, as though suffering is an expected part of their education. In this context, the editorial 'Mum's not the word', (IE, June 14), argues that though the intention behind the initiative may be good, its gendered framing is problematic. However, it stops short of questioning the logic of such initiatives. The issue is not only about who is being assigned the task of care but also about what this task is meant to replace. The editorial narrows its critique to the gendered framing of the 'Campus Mothers' initiative — it fails to confront a deeper concern that such gestures of care are being used to substitute structural accountability with symbolic empathy. This initiative at IIT Kharagpur must be seen for what it is: A displacement of responsibility. The institution, in assigning women such as faculty or non-teaching staff as emotional points of contact, has not created support structures. It has rebranded care as an individual act, rather than a systemic responsibility. The burden of care is both feminised and depoliticised. It is taken away from structures with the power to change conditions. It is reinforcing a gendered logic in which women are made responsible for tending to emotional wounds, regardless of where those wounds come from. Their academic expertise, institutional authority, and professional roles are sidelined to make room for a more palatable identity: The ever-giving, ever-listening, ever-available mother. To imagine care differently, we need to turn to political frameworks that have treated it as a collective right, not a personal burden. Feminist thinkers like Kristen Ghodsee have shown how collectivised care systems, especially under socialist frameworks, allowed women greater freedom, dignity, and autonomy. Care cannot be a temporary plaster over structural wounds. Students need care. They need to be seen and heard. But modelling it into motherhood turns care into something private, emotional, and feminine, rather than collective, political, and structural. It is a redistribution of institutional neglect. The editorial recognises this. It notes that 'a more inclusive and thoughtful model that invites faculty, staff and residents of all genders to serve as trained campus mentors would reflect the span of empathy, equality, and shared responsibility'. But a truly empathetic care system hinges on listening to the student. The editorial overlooks this imperative. Student movements have already imagined what collective care can look like. Through peer support networks, anti-caste collectives, and demands for institutional changes like functioning grievance bodies, these students have built spaces of care grounded in solidarity. Student organisations and collectives are often the only ones demanding structural change. Yet, in several institutions, they are the first to be surveilled, vilified, and punished. This is part of a broader refusal to engage with dissent, to treat students as stakeholders, or to acknowledge the violence embedded in campus hierarchies. Care, if it is to be meaningful, cannot come from silencing those who resist. It must come from listening to them, learning from them and building with them. To truly reimagine care, institutions must first learn to listen. It is students who have already begun to show what solidarity, support, and resistance can look like. Institutions must follow their lead. It is through their vision that campuses can imagine something better — structures of care rooted not in symbolism, but in justice and shared responsibility. The writer is a research scholar at the Department of Political Science, AKDC, affiliated to the University of Allahabad
India Today
19 hours ago
- Science
- India Today
IIT Bombay launches website for Joint Admission Test Masters 2026, opens Sept 5
IIT Bombay, which is the organising institute for JAM 2026, has launched the official website for the Joint Admission Test for Masters (JAM) can now visit for all related updates and admission JAM Online Application Processing System (JOAPS) will be active from September 5, 2025, allowing eligible students to apply for postgraduate science programmes offered across India's premier TO IIT POSTGRADUATE SCIENCE COURSES JAM is a national-level entrance examination for admission into various postgraduate courses, including MSc, Joint MSc-PhD, MSc-PhD dual degree, and other PG science degrees at top Indian per the JAM 2026 announcement, a total of 89 postgraduate programmes will be offered across 22 IITs for the 2026-27 academic year, covering more than 3,000 BASED ON INSTITUTE-SPECIFIC CRITERIACandidates who qualify in JAM 2026 will be eligible for consideration across participating institutes. However, admission is subject to the specific eligibility criteria (MEQ) of the admitting institute.A note on the official website states: 'The Joint Admission Test for Masters (JAM) has set the benchmark for undergraduate science education in the country for the past two decades.'The exam remains a pivotal route for students aiming to pursue advanced education in pure sciences from top technical institutes in India.- Ends
Business Standard
21 hours ago
- Business
- Business Standard
IIT Alumni Council Invites Industry Partners to Build India's First Electric Aircraft Ecosystem
PNN Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 30: In a landmark step towards positioning India at the forefront of clean aviation globally, the IIT Alumni Council today unveiled plans to create a fully indigenous ecosystem for the manufacturing of electric aircraft and high-endurance drones under its GO Mobility initiative. The proposed consortium will bring together manufacturers of advanced materials, components, sub-assemblies, and complete systems, alongside service providers for airline operations, drone services, terminal infrastructure, and maintenance and repair. The project seeks to establish India as a global leader in sustainable, autonomous air mobility. A PUSH FOR INDIGENOUS ELECTRIC AVIATION The GO AERO platform marks one of the most ambitious aviation projects ever attempted in India. It aims to overcome long-standing barriers in electric aviation by creating a domestic supply chain and technology base capable of delivering large-scale, zero-emission flying vehicles for both civilian and strategic applications. "Technology takes time and perseverance. Our national objective now is to get ready for global roll out with advance planning. This requires a careful analysis of the PERT chart to identify and work on the critical path activities. To make it to the finish line quickly, all activities have to go on in parallel. The challenge is cost reduction, electrification and safety enhancement. The key technology challenge was availability of suitable battery technologies which has now been solved by the GO Power Technology platform. The project will require cutting edge technology, patient risk capital and viability gap funding. That is why social impact funding from a technology savvy investor group is critical to the plan. This is not an area where government grants alone will deliver global winners. Else it would have happened decades ago," said Dr Girish Deodhare, alumnus of IIT Bombay, former DG of the Aeronautical Development Authority and a firm believer in the need for locally manufactured aircraft based on indigenous technologies. Dr Deodhare spent thirty-three years as part of the core team behind the Tejas light combat aircraft. "These projects require significant capital investments--possibly exceeding ₹10,000 crores just for the 72-seater Regional Transport Aircraft," said Ravi Sharma, President and Chief Volunteer, IIT Alumni Council. "It is a chicken and egg situation. Till the airplane has a track record, it would be difficult to get customers and till there are customers, it would be difficult to fund the development. The only way out is an integrated approach which crosses the chasm by working backward from the domestic market need, especially in sectors like rural air transportation where existing global options don't exist." TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM AND USE CASES The GO AERO platform will use an indigenous serial hybrid electric propulsion system from Ionique Research, customisable for diverse applications such as rural air connectivity, emergency medical services, disaster response, mapping, cargo transport, and long-range surveillance. All aircraft will be fully autonomous, feature multi-fuel micro turbines for range extension, and high-density fireproof MegaCell energy storage integrated into the wings. Runway requirements will not exceed 1,000 metres, with vertical take-off versions for select models. GO A6: SIX-SEATER FOR RURAL AND EMERGENCY OPERATIONS Designed for military reconnaissance, rural connectivity, air ambulance and cargo applications, the GO A6 will be priced under ₹8 crore. It will offer a 300 km/h cruise speed, up to 1,500 km range, and rapid stretcher transfer from ambulance to aircraft in under 120 seconds. Test flights and regulatory filings are planned for January 2026. GO A18: AMPHIBIAN AIRCRAFT FOR REMOTE AND HIGH ALTITUDE REGIONS The GO A18, an 18-seater with land and water take-off options, will have a two-ton payload, 1,500 km range, and is priced under ₹18 crore. Test flights are expected in January 2027. GO A72: 72-SEATER REGIONAL TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT A pressurised regional aircraft designed for passenger and cargo use, the GO A72 will offer a 4,000 km range, 10-ton payload, and cruise speed of 800 km/h. Unit prices are projected at ₹250 crore, with test flights targeted for January 2028. GO D20K: HIGH-ENDURANCE PSEUDO-SATELLITE DRONE The fully autonomous drone will support highway safety, communications, hyperspectral imaging, disaster management, forestry monitoring, and other applications. It will be capable of 1,000-day flight endurance with solar propulsion and backup batteries. Test flights are planned for 2028. BREAKTHROUGH TECHNOLOGY AND APPLICATIONS All aircraft under the GO AERO platform will be powered by Ionique's indigenous serial hybrid electric propulsion system, with sustainable multi-fuel micro turbines for extended range. Ultra-high-density, fireproof MegaCell energy storage systems from Go Power will be integrated into the wings. The aircraft are designed to offer advanced solid wall LCD windows with adjustable zoom screens in place of windows. All versions will feature large transparent cockpits for enhanced visibility. Potential use cases range from emergency services, air ambulances and disaster relief, to remote area connectivity, surveillance, mapping, cargo operations, and rural air mobility. This ecosystem is expected to create new market segments where no comparable global solutions currently exist. CALL FOR INDUSTRY PARTNERS Interested organisations may write to applications@ on or before August 15, 2025. Access to the project's data room and related materials will be provided only to patron members of the IIT Alumni Council. This invitation is not open to the public. ABOUT IIT ALUMNI COUNCIL The IIT Alumni Council is the largest global body of alumni across all 23 IITs, aggregating the technological and philanthropic resources of over 50,000 members in 100 city chapters worldwide. Its mission is to catalyse India's technological renaissance through initiatives funded by the IIT Alumni Social Fund and supported by incubators, project management forums, and research institutes.
News18
a day ago
- Science
- News18
IIT JAM 2026 Registration To Begin From September 5, Schedule & Official Website Details here
The registration for IIT JAM 2026 will begin on September 5 at with the exam scheduled for February 15 for MSc, Joint MSc-PhD, and other PG science programmes. IIT JAM 2026 Registration: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay has officially launched the website for the Joint Admission Test for Master's (JAM) 2026, marking the beginning of the postgraduate science admission process for aspirants across the country. The registration window for JAM 2026 will open on September 5, 2025, through the official portal at and candidates will be able to submit their applications online until October 12, 2025. JAM is a national-level entrance examination conducted for admission to MSc, Joint MSc-PhD, MSc-PhD dual degree, and other postgraduate science programmes offered by the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and other participating institutions. IIT Bombay, which is organising the 2026 edition of the exam, has also released a tentative schedule, paper-wise session timings, and the list of exam city zones along with the website launch. The JAM 2026 examination is scheduled to take place on February 15, 2026, in a computer-based test (CBT) mode. The exam will be conducted in cities grouped under eight zones, each coordinated by a designated IIT. Candidates are required to select three preferred exam cities within the same zone. Major centres include Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Kanpur, Chennai, and Guwahati. JAM 2026 Eligibility To be eligible, applicants must hold a bachelor's degree and meet the specific criteria set by the participating institutes. There is no upper age limit for appearing in the exam. While filling out the online application form, candidates must upload scanned copies of their photograph, signature, category certificate (if applicable), and academic details. JAM 2026 Tentative Schedule IIT Bombay has released the following provisional timeline for the JAM 2026 admission cycle: Candidates should note that all the above dates are tentative and subject to change. How To Apply For IIT JAM 2026? Visit the official website at Register on the JAM Online Application Processing System (JOAPS) using your name, email address, and mobile number (portal opens September 5, 2025). Log in with the generated Enrollment ID and password. Fill out the application form with personal, academic, and communication details. Choose your preferred test paper(s) and select three exam cities within the same zone. Upload required documents: recent passport-size photo, signature, qualifying degree/marksheet, and category/PwD certificate (if applicable). Pay the examination fee via debit card, credit card, or net banking. About the Author Education and Careers Desk A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses and information on college and school admissions, board and competitive exams, career options, topper interviews, job notifications, latest in ...Read More First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
