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Indian Express
an hour ago
- General
- Indian Express
‘It was in kitchen, on third floor…': Snake sightings surge in Delhi as monsoon pushes them out of natural habitat
'It was in the kitchen… on the third floor,' said East of Kailash RWA president Karan Aggarwal as he recalled that he was informed about the presence of a snake on Sunday in a house in the neighbourhood. The three-foot-long Indian rat snake was found inside the kitchen cabinet at a house on the third floor in a residential building, triggering alarm in the area. After the Wildlife SOS emergency helpline was approached, the NGO's rapid response unit arrived and caught the yellowish, slender, and non-venomous reptile with black crossbands, said residents. Even as such sightings may sound rare, incidents like these become common during monsoon in the Capital. With flooded burrows and waterlogged grounds, snakes seek dry refuge and often get pushed out of their natural shelters and end up inside homes, schools, warehouses, and even government buildings, according to experts. 'The monsoon season typically leads to an increase in snake sightings as they seek dry and safe shelters, often leading them into urban areas,' said Suvidha Bhatnagar, Director of Communications at Wildlife SOS. In the last few weeks, Wildlife SOS says it has caught multiple snakes across Delhi-NCR. A four-foot-long spectacled cobra was removed from a Jawaharlal Nehru University canteen, where it was found coiled close to a gas cylinder. In the first week of July, a similar incident took place at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence — a rat snake was found and later removed. In Greater Noida, a cobra had to be removed from inside an almirah, while in Ghaziabad, a seven-foot-long rat snake was rescued from a cricket practice net in Raj Nagar Extension. In Paschim Vihar, Burari, and Chhatarpur too, snakes have been spotted and removed by the teams of Wildlife SOS. All these incidents were reported in June. This sharp increase in snake sightings and rescues is not limited to Delhi. In Agra, over 100 snake rescue calls were received between June and mid-July this year, according to the NGO. The reptiles thus removed included 34 Indian rat snakes, 23 spectacled cobras, and 21 common wolf snakes. Kartick Satyanarayan, Co-founder and CEO of Wildlife SOS, said, 'Instead of reacting out of fear, people are now seeking safe and humane solutions. This change is not just encouraging, it is essential for the survival of these ecologically critical reptiles.' Similar trends have been observed in the rest of the country, according to the NGO. For example, in Kashmir, the Wildlife SOS team recently caught multiple snakes from residential areas of Pampore and Budgam. In one case, a snake was found inside the bonnet of a car. In another, two snakes were taken out from the same chicken coop. In July 2024, the NGO's rapid response team in Delhi handled at least 48 reptile rescues and in July 2023, they reported 56 reptile rescues, predominantly snakes, following heavy rain. The Delhi Forest and Wildlife department also has an active helpline number for snake rescues, with multiple rapid response teams deployed based on the forest divisions, said a senior forest department official. In Delhi, the NGO has observed that the monsoon season coincides with the hatching period of several native snake species. 'During past monsoon seasons, snakes such as the spectacled cobra, common krait, Indian rock python, Indian rat snake, and black-headed royal snake have frequently been rescued from homes and commercial areas in Delhi-NCR,' it said in an advisory issued on June 23. Baiju Raj M V, Director of Conservation Projects at Wildlife SOS, and a herpetologist, said, 'The increase in rescue calls shows that awareness campaigns and community outreach are working, but there's still a long way to go.' Adding to that, Aggarwal says, 'Residents do not know what to do when they see a snake… and whom to contact. There is a serious lack of awareness of such procedures. There were many incidents last year too. We are most worried for our children since they are more vulnerable to these in the park.' The NGO said it actively educated residents and debunks myths. Indian rat snakes, for instance, are non-venomous and play a vital role in controlling rodent populations, yet they are often mistaken for venomous species and killed out of fear. As per the Wildlife SOS protocol, the reptile is medically examined and if deemed healthy, released into a suitable wild habitat away from human settlements. 'When people respond calmly and contact trained professionals, it results in a win for both safety and conservation,' said Satyanarayan. To help prevent such encounters, the NGO 'recommends keeping surroundings clean and rodent-free, sealing drains and cracks, storing waste off the ground, and avoiding barefoot walks in grassy or waterlogged areas.'
News18
4 days ago
- General
- News18
JNU Admission 2025: Registration Begins For UG, COP Programmes; Check Full Schedule
Last Updated: JNU Admissions: Students who have completed class 12 can apply for the admission process. The last date to apply is July 15 at Jawaharlal Nehru University has opened admissions for Undergraduate (UG) and Certificate of Proficiency (COP) courses for the 2025-26 session. Students who have completed class 12 can apply for the admission process. The last date to apply is July 15. To do so, candidates must visit JNU's website at Step 1 – Go to the Candidate Login section and log in using your NTA application number and date of birth. Select the UG or COP course. Step 2 – Provide details such as your name, address, mobile number, and email. Step 3 – Upload the 10th and 12th mark sheets, photo, and signature. Step 4 – The pre-admission fee is Rs 313 for UG and Rs 264 for COP, to be paid online. Step 5 – Submit the form. Save and take a print out for further reference. Candidates can rectify any errors in the application form between July 16-17. The first merit list for JNU admissions will be released on July 23, 2025. Students selected will have to log in to the website between July 23 to 25, pay the fee, and verify their documents. For Admission will be based on your JEE Main score, with seat allocation through the JoSAA or DASA scheme. For BA (Hons) Foreign Language, Ayurveda Biology, and COP: Admission will be based on the CUET UG 2025 score. This year, the exam was conducted from May 13 to June 4 for approximately 13.54 lakh students. The results were released on July 4. Publication of First Merit Lists for Admissions – July 23, 2025 (Tentative) Pre-enrolment registration and payment – July 23 to 25, 2025 of fee with blocking of seats of First List (Tentative) Physical verification of Admission/Registration – July 30, 31, August 1, 2025 for UG and 4 for COP for first list of selected candidates Publication of Second Merit Lists – August 1, 2025 (Tentative) & Supernumerary Seat for Admissions Pre-enrolment registration and payment – August 1 to 3, 2025 of fee with blocking of seats of Second List (Tentative) & Supernumerary Seat Physical Verification of Admission/Registration – August 7, 2025. view comments First Published: July 09, 2025, 18:50 IST 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.
News18
4 days ago
- Business
- News18
Why Piprahwa Gems Must Be Returned To India
Last Updated: Not only are they part of the sacred relics of the Buddha who lived and attained Parinirvana in India but their sale would be gross commodification of revered remains It's a measure of what India is up against that the story of India intervening to stop the sale of literally priceless relics of the Buddha was carried by BBC on May 8, 2025 with the headline 'Sotheby's halts Buddha jewels auction after India threat". It makes India sound like a bellicose local bully besides underplaying the importance of the Piprahwa hoard that included sacred remains of the Buddha as well as gems, which international conventions decree cannot be sold. Had it not been for the concerted effort of one of India's foremost authorities on art and aesthetics, Professor Naman Ahuja of the Jawaharlal Nehru University, these holy relics may well have been auctioned like artefacts. Apart from the gross disrespect and ignominy of such an act, that the sacred gems may have gone to China (or some Chinese moneybags) as they were to be auctioned in Hong Kong cannot be ruled out either. And the significance of that is manifest. As Prof Ahuja recounted at a talk given at the India International Centre on Wednesday, his urgent appeal to External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar alerted India to the imminent sale and the Ministry of Culture promptly sent a notice to stop Sotheby's and the Peppe family—the 'owners" of this hoard that originally comprised fragments of Buddha's remains and 1,800 gemstones and crystals—from going ahead with the auction. The letter made crucial points. India averred that the gems constituted 'inalienable religious and cultural heritage of India and the global Buddhist community. Their sale violates Indian and international laws, as well as United Nations conventions". A delegation from India also took up the matter with Sotheby's leading the auction house to release a statement saying that in light of the matters raised by India 'and with the agreement of the consignors, the auction … has been postponed". The notice was sent to Sotheby's Hong Kong and the seller, Chris Peppé, one of three heirs of William Claxton Peppé, a British colonial landowner who in 1898 excavated five caskets of relics and gems from a 2,000 year old stupa buried on his 'estate"—Birdpur—in Basti district on the border with Nepal. The Peppes' portion of those gems (also regarded as part of the 'sarira' or body of the Buddha) were expected to fetch HK$100m (£9.7m) at the May 7 auction. Auctioning part of what is regarded by scholars as one of the greatest archaeological finds ever because of convincing epigraphic evidence that the fragments in the caskets were that of the Buddha profoundly upset academics like Prof Ahuja and Buddhist leaders. India rightly pointed out in its notice to Sotheby's that the proposed auction of the Piprahwa relic-gems had offended the global Buddhist community. And their sacredness was long evident. Prof Ahuja wrote in a recent article, 'What is being offered for sale is from the holy stupa of Piprahwa regarded as the site of the relics of the Buddha himself, which his paternal family buried with his ashes…India has not taken this stance with regard to all stupas, particularly those where the relics have been taken from uninscribed reliquaries, where the identity of the person whose relics they are is unknown… When the evidence is as strong as Piprahwa, the case changes." The 19 December 1898 edition of London's Morning Post said in a report from Calcutta headlined Buddhist Relics Discovered that 'The King of Siam is sending an Envoy to India to receive the relics of Buddha discovered some time ago on the Nepaul Frontier, which were offered to his Majesty by the Indian Government. The King, who gratefully accepted the offer, has agreed to distribute portions of the relics among the Buddhists of Burma and Ceylon." It went on to say, '…In January last a well-preserved stupa was opened at the village of Piprahwa on the Nepaul Frontier in the Basti district… This village was in the Birdpur grant…owned by Mr William C Peppé and his brother. Inside the building was found a large stone coffer, crystal and steatite vases, bone and ash relics, fragments of lime, plaster, and wooden vessels, and a large quantity of jewels and ornaments placed in two vases in honour of the relics." Significantly, the report added, 'A careful list was at once made of all the articles, and Mr Peppé generously offered to place them at the disposal of the Government. The special interest of the discovery lies in the fact that the relics in honour of which the stupa was erected appear to be those of Gautama Buddha Sakya Muni himself and may be the actual share of the relics taken by the Sakyas of Kapilavastu at the time of the cremation of Gautama Buddha." This important conclusion was arrived at because the inscription on one of the caskets was translated from Brahmi to say, 'This relic-shrine of divine Buddha is the donation of the Sakya-Sukiti brothers, along with their sisters, sons and wives." Although there were later 'controversial' translations that averred the relics were only of the clansmen, the 2013 translation reiterates the original one and establishes the relics interred with the gems were of the Buddha. The entire Piprahwa hoard, thus, was of unique reverential value, not just artefacts of archaeological import. No wonder the report also noted, 'The relics, being a matter of such intense interest to the Buddhist world, were offered by the Indian Government to the King of Siam, who is the only existing Buddhist monarch, with a proviso that he would not object to offer a portion of the relics to the Buddhists of Burma and Ceylon." India's claim to the relics is clear. Interestingly, the British Crown laid claim to the Piprahwa relics under the Indian Treasure Trove Act of 1878 and took it upon itself to disperse most of the relics and 1,800 gemstones to the Indian Museum in Kolkata and the King of Siam; the Peppé family was allowed to 'retain" a portion of the gems which were deemed to be 'duplicates" of the major ones. But the fact that the gems were interred along with the sarira of the Buddha made them sacred objects too. The flurry of excavations of stupas in the 19th and early 20th centuries led to the discovery of many exquisite reliquaries containing sacred remnants of the Buddha. The British as the rulers of India had magnanimously decided to distribute them to 'Buddhist nations" like Burma, Ceylon and Thailand. So, the three fragments found in the 'Kanishka reliquary' at a stupa near Peshawar in 1908-09 were sent off to Burma while the casket is still in Pakistan. The 2.5-inch solid gold Bimaran reliquary found at a stupa near Jalalabad in Afghanistan during excavations from 1833 to 1838 contained only burnt pearls, precious and semi-precious stone beads and four coins. But the Kharoshti inscription on its steatite container said, 'Bhagavata śarirehi Śivarakṣitasa Muṃjavaṃdaputrasa daṇamuhe" or 'With relics of the Lord, donation of Śivarakṣita son of Mujavada". Gems were obviously deemed relics too. Although Sotheby's claims the auction has been merely 'postponed", Prof Ahuja's lecture made it abundantly clear that the parties concerned are not on very strong grounds on the relics—and that includes the gems too as they are regarded as part of remains—and that their repatriation rather than sale is the only acceptable recourse. And that process is governed by international laws and conventions on sacred human remains as well as national legislations. Prof Ahuja pointed out that the existing Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972 is not enough to ensure that the current Piprahwa case and any future sacred relics (of Buddhist or other genesis) that may be discovered can be rightfully restored to India. A more specific law on sacred relics needs to be enacted, particularly when it comes to recovering those in private or personal collections as some museums are already working to repatriate such items in their collections. The Pitt Rivers Museum of Oxford University, for instance, met the elders of the Hoho Naga tribe in early June this year to discuss the repatriation of Naga ancestral human remains and also the care of other Naga artefacts, which had been taken away from India to Britain during the Raj a century ago. The earliest Naga ancestral human remains were 'donated" by a British ICS officer and amateur anthropologist JH Hutton; other such 'donations" had followed. The case of the relics of the Buddha's two seniormost disciples Sariputra and Moggallana excavated at Sanchi and Satdhara in 1851 by Alexander Cunningham and FC Maisey is instructive too. The Satdhara relics were sent to London's Victoria & Albert Museum in 1866 and eventually bought by it, while the Sanchi relics were lost at sea on way to the UK. Pressure by Buddhist organisations to return the relics to Asia (note, not just to India!) began to build not long after. The British government finally conceded to this in the early 20th century despite strong objections from the museum, but the world wars delayed their return. They were finally sent to Colombo Museum in Sri Lanka in 1947 and began tours of other parts of Asia two years later. Eventually the disciples' relics were divided in 1952, with parts sent to the Kaba Aye Pagoda in Rangoon, Burma, the Maha Bodhi Society temple in Colombo and the Chethiyagiri Vihara at Sanchi. top videos View all It is clear that India has to bolster its legal arsenal, as Prof Ahuja urged in his talk at IIC, in order to get back the sacred remains removed and disbursed by the British as they wished. The Piprahwa case in every sense is a test of India's will to reclaim its sacred legacies. Only a part of relics of Buddha's disciples were returned to India in 1952; the same cannot be allowed to happen to the sacred relics of Buddha himself embodied in the Piprahwa gems in 2025. The author is a freelance writer. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. tags : buddha Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: June 30, 2025, 13:21 IST News opinion Opinion | Why Piprahwa Gems Must Be Returned To India
News18
4 days ago
- General
- News18
JNU PG Admission 2025: MA, MSc, MCA Third Cutoff List Released, What's Next
Last Updated: JNU Admission 2025: Students seeking admission in courses like MA, MSc, or MCA can check the list by visiting the official website at JNU PG Admission 2025: Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has released the third cut-off list for PG courses. Students seeking admission in courses like MA, MSc, or MCA can check the list by visiting the official website at JNU Admission 2025: How Is The Cut-off Determined And What Are The Next Steps? JNU's cut-off list is based on several factors, including the number of applicants, the difficulty of the exam, and student scores. This process involves considering multiple aspects to make a decision. If the student's name is on the cut-off list, they must prepare for counselling. They must bring both photocopies and originals of their important documents for verification. JNU Admission 2025: Key Dates JNU has announced the complete schedule for PG admissions for the 2025-26 session. The first cut-off will be released on July 23, 2025, and the second on August 1. Students selected in the first list must pre-register and pay fees from August 1 to 3, with physical verification of documents on August 7. The final list will be announced on August 19, and selected students must register and pay fees from August 19 to 21. Document verification will occur on August 25, with the last admission date on August 29, 2025. – Proof of name in the cut-off merit list – 10th mark sheet and certificate (for date of birth) – 12th mark sheet and certificate – All semester mark sheets of graduation – Degree certificate (if completed) – Caste certificate (SC/ST/OBC/EWS, latest and valid) – PwD certificate (if applicable) – Residence certificate (for some courses) – Aadhaar card or any government ID – Recent passport size photo – Interview/Admit card (if requested) Meanwhile, JNU has completed the application process for admission to undergraduate courses. The first merit list for JNU admissions will be released on July 23, 2025. Students selected will have to log in to the website between July 23 to 25, pay the fee, and verify their documents. view comments 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.
Sustainability Times
5 days ago
- Science
- Sustainability Times
Jaya Anand Singh 's Research Path : A Journey Through Science and Soil
Jaya Anand Singh 's research trajectory reflects a remarkable blend of field adventure, from India's tiger reserves to soil biosensors in the United States. With a strong foundation in biotechnology and synthetic biology, he is paving the way for sustainable solutions in energy, bioproducts, and environmental sensing. Jaya Anand Singh's interest for wildlife research Jaya Anand Singh's scientific journey began in the wilds of Madhya Pradesh, India. As a master's student, he spent three intense months inside the Pench Tiger Reserve, collecting fecal samples as part of a project to estimate tiger populations using non-invasive techniques. The thrill of navigating predator territory so closely to natural tiger kill zones left a lasting impact, grounding his scientific curiosity in both adventure and responsibility. Engineering Resilience: A Doctoral Evolution Singh's doctoral research at Jawaharlal Nehru University took him far from the forest and deep into the world of metabolic engineering. His focus was on enhancing the tolerance of microbial systems to advanced biofuels—specifically Isobutanol. Through adaptive laboratory evolution and systems biology, he engineered strains with significantly improved tolerance, increasing their viability for industrial-scale production. His success in linking gene mutations and transcriptional reprogramming to phenotypic traits marked a turning point, not just in the project but in his ability to translate complexity into real-world applications. Bioengineering for Better Therapeutics His postdoctoral work at IIT Delhi saw a pivot toward biopharma, where Singh investigated the metabolic stress caused during recombinant protein production. Using transcriptomics and targeted gene co-expression, he improved protein yields and identified strategies to reduce cellular stress. This work not only honed his molecular biology toolkit but also introduced him to industrial-style thinking within an academic setup—an environment where Singh thrived. Singh's second postdoctoral experience at a major U.S. research university offered the opportunity to engineer genetic toolkits for challenging biological systems. One of his most notable achievements involved enabling waste-to-value transformation using engineered microbial strains. In collaboration with colleagues, he developed new genome manipulation techniques and successfully demonstrated the potential to convert plastic waste into commercially valuable compounds. It was a practical demonstration of circular economy principles, powered by synthetic biology. Sensing Life Beneath Our Feet Now at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Dr Singh is investigating how molecules travel through fungal networks in soil—so-called 'fungal highways.' His work is at the forefront of developing soil-based biosensors capable of detecting contamination or signaling interkingdom communication. In parallel, he's exploring how to enhance transformation capacity in thermotolerant microbial strains, a step critical to pathway engineering in high-temperature industrial processes. With his extensive experience in molecular biology, bioengineering, and data-driven problem-solving, Singh's long-term goal is to contribute to industries focused on sustainable bioproducts. Whether it's recombinant proteins, biofuels, or high-value metabolites, his passion lies in addressing complex challenges that sit at the interface of biology and industry. Jaya Anand Singh thrives both independently and in collaboration, always seeking to identify and solve problems before they escalate in the future. To his mind, science is not just a profession but an evolving journey of learning, teamwork, and curiosity. His blend of hands-on fieldwork, cutting-edge lab research, and interdisciplinary thinking makes him a promising force of sustainable biotechnology. *Partner content Did you like it? 4.5/5 (24)
