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Hindustan Times
26-05-2025
- Science
- Hindustan Times
Cave-dwelling fish that can survive on surface found in Meghalaya
A team of zoologists from Gauhati University, Lady Keane College in Shillong, and the ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources in Lucknow discovered Schistura densiclava — a new species of fish that thrives underground but can adapt to surface conditions as well — in Krem Mawjingbuiñ, a cave in Meghalaya. The limestone cave is located just 15 kilometres from Mawsynram, one of the wettest places on earth. Most hypogean (underground-dwelling) species lose their eyesight and pigmentation over generations, relying on heightened non-visual senses to navigate pitch-dark waters. Unlike them, this unique species of stone loach has eyes and shows off its colours too. Published in the Journal of Fish Biology, a prestigious journal by the Fisheries Society of the British Isles, the discovery has drawn international attention and national applause. Assam's education minister Ranoj Pegu took to social media platform X to congratulate the team, calling it 'a proud moment for Northeast India's scientific community.' With a pale yellow-green body and bold black bars numbering between 14 and 20, the fish sports a distinctive thick stripe near its dorsal fin — the very feature that earned it the species name densiclava, meaning 'dense stripe' in Latin. 'This discovery highlights the untapped biodiversity thriving in Meghalaya's underground ecosystems. It's the ninth new fish species we've described from Northeast India, and the sixth known cave-associated fish from Meghalaya' said Professor Dandadhar Sarma, head of Zoology department at Gauhati University. Unlike fully cave-adapted species such as Schistura papulifera and Neolissochilus pnar — which are pigmentless, blind, and cannot survive in a surface environment— Schistura densiclava thrives inside caves but isn't entirely dependent on subterranean life. Researchers said that the fish was found exclusively in a cool, fast-flowing stream some 60 metres inside the cave, where water temperatures hover at a chilly 18°C and oxygen levels are low. The fish's resilience in such nutrient-scarce conditions is remarkable. Its diet includes copepods, tiny shrimp, insect fragments, and even bat guano. According to Kangkan Sarma, one of the study's lead authors, the species shows clear sexual dimorphism. 'Males are slimmer with irregular patterns and puffier cheeks, while females are more robust and display more uniform markings,' he noted, adding, 'DNA sequencing confirms that this is a genetically distinct species, unlike any other Schistura found in the region.' The East Khasi Hills region, where Krem Mawjingbuiñ lies, is a part of Meghalaya's celebrated cave systems — one of the richest and least explored subterranean landscapes in the world. With over 1,700 caves and cave locations documented, but only a fraction thoroughly studied, Meghalaya is considered a global hotspot for cave biodiversity. 'There were no visible signs of human disturbance inside Krem Mawjingbuiñ,' said one researcher, noting how seasonal access and the surrounding dense forest have kept the cave largely untouched by tourism or ecological isolation, researchers said, is a double-edged sword — protecting species for now, but making them vulnerable to even minor intrusions.
Hindustan Times
25-05-2025
- Science
- Hindustan Times
Schistura Densiclav: New species of cave-dwelling fish found in Meghalaya
A new species of cave-dwelling fish was discovered in Meghalaya's Mawsynram town by a team of researchers from Gauhati University, Lady Keane College in Shillong, and the ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources in Lucknow. The discovery was made in Krem Mawjingbuiñ, a cave located just 15km from Mawsynram beside Sohra (Cherapunji). Despite the cave's remote location and inaccessibility, the team of researchers undertook a challenging expedition that led to the unearthing of this unique species of stone loach. 'This discovery highlights the untapped biodiversity thriving in Meghalaya's underground ecosystems,' said Professor Dandadhar Sarma, Head of the Zoology Department at Gauhati University. 'It's the ninth new fish species we've described from Northeast India, and the sixth known cave-associated fish from Meghalaya.' What makes Schistura Densiclava particularly intriguing is its deviation from the expected evolutionary adaptations of hypogean (underground-dwelling) species. Most cave fish lose their eyesight and pigmentation over generations, relying on heightened non-visual senses to navigate pitch-dark waters. But S. Densiclava still sees — and shows off its colours too. With a pale yellow-green body and bold black bars numbering between 14 and 20, the fish sports a distinctive thick stripe near its dorsal fin — the very feature that earned it the species name densiclava, meaning 'dense stripe' in Latin. Also Read: Scientists discover new species of cricket frog in Western Ghats Published in the Journal of Fish Biology, a prestigious journal by the Fisheries Society of the British Isles, the discovery has earned plaudits from across the world. Assam's education minister Ranoj Pegu took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to congratulate the team, calling it 'a proud moment for Northeast India's scientific community.' Unlike fully cave-adapted species such as Schistura papulifera and the ghostly Neolissochilus pnar — which are pigmentless, blind, and highly specialised troglobites — S. Densiclava represents a different evolutionary strategy. It is a troglophile, a species that thrives inside caves but isn't entirely dependent on subterranean life. It retains its vision and pigment, suggesting that it still teeters between two worlds — the surface and the subterranean. Yet field reports suggest S. Densiclava may be shifting further into darkness. It was found exclusively in a cool, fast-flowing stream some 60 metres inside the cave, where water temperatures hover at a chilly 18°C and oxygen levels are low. The fish's resilience in such nutrient-scarce conditions is remarkable. Its diet includes copepods, tiny shrimp, insect fragments, and even bat guano — a feast made possible by the web of interdependence between cave organisms. According to Kangkan Sarma, one of the study's lead authors, the species shows clear sexual dimorphism. 'Males are slimmer with irregular patterns and puffier cheeks, while females are more robust and display more uniform markings,' he noted, adding, 'DNA sequencing confirms that this is a genetically distinct species, unlike any other Schistura found in the region'. The East Khasi Hills region, where Krem Mawjingbuiñ lies, is a part of Meghalaya's celebrated cave systems — one of the richest and least explored subterranean landscapes in the world. With over 1,700 caves and cave locations documented, but only a fraction thoroughly studied, Meghalaya is considered a global hotspot for cave biodiversity. The state's unique karst topography, formed by the slow dissolution of soluble rocks like limestone and dolomite, provides ideal habitats for specialised and often endemic species. The discovery of S. Densiclava adds to a growing list of fascinating finds from Meghalaya's caves. In 1998, Schistura papulifera, another loach from the Siju Cave in South Garo Hills, was the first troglobitic fish to be described from India. More recently, in 2019, researchers stunned the scientific world with the announcement of Neolissochilus pnar, a large blind fish discovered in the Um Ladaw Cave system. With no eyes and no pigmentation, N. Pnar was likened to the 'golden mahseer of the dark.' One of the most striking aspects of the Schistura Densiclava find is the pristine condition of its habitat. 'There were no visible signs of human disturbance inside Krem Mawjingbuiñ,' said one researcher, noting how seasonal access and the surrounding dense forest have kept the cave largely untouched by tourism or development.
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Science
- Time of India
State Class XII Pass Rate Dips By 5 To 7% Across All Three Major Streams
Guwahati: After last year's notable improvement in Class XII state board examination results , the pass percentage has declined across all three major streams this year, dropping by 5% to 7%. The Assam State School Education Board (ASSEB) announced the results on Wednesday morning. Pass rates in the science and commerce streams saw a dip of around 5% compared to the previous year, while the arts stream witnessed a more significant decline of seven percent. "There has been about a 5% decrease in the pass percentage compared to last year. However, I am satisfied with the results. ASSEB declared the results within 44 days of the examination's completion, which is commendable," said state education minister Ranoj Pegu . Though Pegu said detailed analysis is needed for the decline, he suggested that changes in the question paper format might have contributed to the shift. "In the higher secondary examination, we have changed the question paper pattern, similar to the matric exams. Alongside MCQs, focus has been given on conceptual questions to assess students' critical and creative thinking. The number of factual questions has been reduced," Pegu said. A senior official from ASSEB said for the first time, the number of students appearing for the Class XII state board examination crossed three lakh. The poor performance by a substantial number of students might have played a role in the overall drop in pass percentages. "In the last 10 years, the results graph has never followed a straight line. Fluctuations are often influenced by the batch of candidates. While a detailed analysis is required, this decline is not alarming," ASSEB secretary Naranarayan Nath said. Whereas in science stream, the pass percentage has dropped to 84.88this year from 89.88 last year, in commerce and arts the decline has been from 87.66% (2024) to 82.18% (2025) and 88.36% (2024) to 81.03% (2025), respectively. In vocational stream, only 1,202 candidates appeared and the pass percentage has been 68.55%. In all streams, girls outperformed boys. In science, the girls' pass percentage was 85.54, whereas pass percentage of boys was 84.39. Girls pass percentage in arts has been 82.95, whereas the pass percentage of boys has been 78.42. In commerce, the pass percentages of girls and boys have been 82.4 and 82.08, respectively. In vocational stream, girls pass percentage has been 74.39, whereas that of the boys has been 65.53. Highest 2.26 lakh students appeared from the arts stream, while science recorded 56,909 candidates, and commerce had 17,746. The Class XII results were declared within the shortest span of time this year, earning appreciation from CM Himanta Biswa Sarma. For the first time, rank holder was announced. ASSEB also introduced a certificate-cum-marksheet, combining both documents into a single entity. In science, the top three performing districts are West Karbi Anglong (100%), Sivasagar (97.13%) and Baksa (95.66%), whereas Dima Hasao remained at the bottom of the tally with 56.27%. In arts, the top three districts are, Baksa (94.21%), Darrang (93.82%) and Sivasagar (90.78%), while Cachar stood at the bottom with 58.96%. In commerce, South Salmara Mankachar district produced 100% results, followed by Baksa with 98.2% and Chirang district with 98.15% On the other hand, in vocational stream, Sribhumi, Lakhimpur, Nalbari and Biswanath each recorded pass percentage of 100.
India.com
29-04-2025
- General
- India.com
Assam HS Result 2025: AHSEC Class 12th Results To Be Released Today At ahsec.assam.gov.in- Check Steps To Download Scorecard Here
Assam HS Result 2025: The Assam State School Education Board is set to declare the AHSEC Assam HS Result 2025 on April 30 through its official website, The Class 12 results will be announced at 9 AM. A direct link to check the Assam HS 2025 result will be made available on the site once it goes live, allowing students to download their digital marksheets. Assam's Education Minister, Ranoj Pegu, confirmed via X that the results for all streams — Arts, Science, Commerce, and Vocational — will be declared at the same time. This year, a total of 3,02,420 students appeared for the Assam Higher Secondary exams. The official Assam Class 12 Board Result 2025 will be published by the Assam State School Education Board (Division II) on the same website. To pass the Assam HS exam, students need to score at least 33 percent in each subject and overall. Those who fail in one or two subjects will be given a chance to sit for compartment exams. However, students who do not meet the criteria in more than two subjects will need to appear for the board exams again next year. Assam HS Result 2025: Steps to download here Go to the official AHSEC website: Click on the link for Assam HS Result 2025. Log in by entering your credentials and submit the details. Your Class 12 result will appear on the screen. Download it and take a printout for future use. In addition to the official website, students will also be able to check the Assam HS Result 2025 on several third-party websites after it is announced. The Assam Higher Secondary Final Exam 2025 was held from February 13 to March 17. The Class 12 exams were conducted in two shifts — the first shift from 9 am to 12 noon and the second shift from 1.30 pm to 4.30 pm.
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Science
- Time of India
NCERT textbook shows Indian rhino with 2 horns, sparks row
1 2 Guwahati: The new NCERT mathematics textbook for Class 4 has sparked a controversy due to an incorrect illustration showing two horns on an Indian rhinoceros. The issue has drawn attention from academics, wildlife specialists and the public in Assam, prompting the state's education department to address the matter. Talking to the media, education minister Ranoj Pegu said, "I have not seen the NCERT book, but I have directed SCERT to check the textbook, and if such a picture has been published, they will inform the NCERT to correct it. We know that there are different types of rhinos. Of them, the Indian rhino has one horn. Rhinos with two horns can be found in Africa." Assam's state animal is the one-horned rhinoceros , locally known as 'gor'. In Chapter 4, titled 'Thousands Around Us', the text discusses the Indian rhinoceros. Under 'Did you know?', it states: "The Indian rhinoceros is found in the foothills of the Himalayas in Northeast India. Floods and the medicinal value of their horns have led to a reduction in their population. In the early 1900s, their population was driven to near extinction with as few as 200 rhinoceroses. But with recent conservation measures, there are now around 4,000 (four thousand) rhinoceroses." The illustration contains significant inaccuracies about the species. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Up to 90% Bill Reduction: Thousands Cancel Electricity Bills with £0 Down Solar UK Solar Program Learn More Undo Aaranyak's secretary general and CEO, Bibhab Kumar Talukdar, a distinguished rhino conservation biologist, expressed concern about the inaccurate information. He highlighted that the term 'greater one-horned' explicitly indicates a single-horned species, and the inclusion of an African rhino image raises questions about NCERT's quality control. He noted that these rhinos inhabit the Brahmaputra Valley's floodplain ecosystem alongside the Eastern Himalayan foothills. Talukdar cautioned that referencing medicinal properties of rhino horns could encourage poaching. As a recognised rhino expert, he emphasised that Assam's floods are natural and essential for the ecosystem. He pointed out that despite regular flooding since the 1950s, rhino populations have increased significantly, citing Kaziranga's growth from 366 rhinos in 1966 to approximately 2,613 currently. He expressed concern about NCERT's choice of authors for educational materials. The error attracted criticism on social media platforms. A user named Udoy Bhaskar Borah posted on X: "In the recently published NCERT Class 4 Math textbook, an Indian rhino is shown to have two horns (Pg 45). Such mistakes are not acceptable in an NCERT textbook."
