Sun Temple In India

Sun has been revered since Vedic age with many hymns written for the celestial Body, it is worshipped as Aditya or Surya. There are many rituals in practice for worshipping the deity. Many temples have also been constructed with Sun as the chief deity. Sun temples are even found in Japan, Egypt, China, etc. Some of the Rajput cans, namely "Suryavanshi", worship Sun and claim themselves to be the descendants of the deity. 

Some of the major temples in India are: 

1. Modhera Sun Temple, Gujarat. It was built in 11 th century.
   
   
2.  Konark Sun temple, Odisha. It was made by Narasimhadeva I, the Eastern Ganga king in 13th century. It is in a shape of Rath ( Chariat) with mandapa on a raised platform.
   
   
3. Brahmanya Dev Temple, Unao (Madhya rradesh)
   
   
4. Suryanaar Kovil, Kumbakonam (Tamil Nadu) was built in 11th century in Dravidian style. It also has shrines of eight celestial bodies, together called Navagraha's It has beautiful five-layered Gopuram.
   
   
5. Suryanarayana Swamy temple, Arasavalli (Andhra Pradesh)  It is said to be made by a Kalinga king in 7th century. The idol is made of granite and holds a lotus.
6.  Dakshinaarka Temple, Gaya (Bihar) is said to be built by King Prataparuda of Warangal in 13th century AD. The deity is made in granite and the idol wears Persian attire like waist girdle, boots and a jacket. it has a Surya Kund (water reservoir) nearby.
   
   
7. Navalakha Temple, Ghumb (Gujarat) was made in 11th century.it is build in Solanki and Maru-Gurjara style.
   
   
8. Surya Pahar Temple, Goalpara (Assam)
   
   
9. Martand Sun Temple Kashmir
   
   
10. Sun Temple, Gwalior
    
    Sun Temple of Gwalior is dedicated to the Sun god and one of the must see tourist attractions Of Gallant Gwalior. This holy temple is similar to the Sun temple of Konark and among the famous pilgrimage centres in the city.
    
    
11. Sun Temple in Ranchi
    
    It one of the must visit place in Ranchi and among the top tourist attractions of Jharkhand. The temple is situated about 39 km from Ranchi on Tata-Ranchi road.
    
    
12. Surya Narayana Temple, Domlu
Surya Narayana Temple in Domlu is located in Bangalore city and amongst the top 12 famous Sun God Temples in India. The Surya temple is situated in Domlur, 8 Km from center of Bangalore city.
13. Sun Temple, Katarmal
    
    Katarmal Surya Temple is situated inside the the thick deodars forest of Kumaon hills near Almora. Surya temple of Katarmal is an monument of national importance and noted for its magnificent carved pillars and wooden doors.

New Programs Science and Technology 2016-17

Bringing the Best of Global Science to India

From Brain Drain to Brain Gain 

Visiting Advanced Joint Research (VAJRA) Faculty Scheme (SERB/2017) 

Overseas Doctoral Fellowship (SERB) 

National Post-doctoral Fellowships (2016) 

Early Career Research Awards (2016) 

Empowering and Retaining Women Scientists: KIRAN (A, B, C) Plus Women Entrepreneurship Training Fellows (2017) 

LIGO Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory 

Swacch Bharat: Clean Coal Technology for Power :(BHEL, DHI; NTPC, MoP) 

Swacch Bharat: Waste Processing (MoUD); Climate change; Electric Mobility (DHI) 

Digital India: Digital reconstruction of Heritage structures (Culture & Tourism)

Swasth Bharat: Science and Technology of Yoga and Meditation (SATYAM) 

Make in India: Advanced Manufacturing Technologies New Programs: National Missions Being Future Ready 

Technology Vision 2035 (TIFAC); Plus Sectoral Reports (2016): 

(1) Materials 

(2) Manufacturing 

(3) ICT 

(4) Medical Science and Health Care

(5) Transportation. 

Digital India: Threats and Opportunities Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical-Systems (ICPS): IoT; AI; Big data; Deep Leaning; Robotics; Industry 4.0; Smart Sensors; Quantum Computing and Communication;

Already Launched Examples : 

National Supercomputing Mission (with DeitY): 6 Supercomputers being established in 2017 

DST-Intel PPP Collaborative Research for Real-Time River Water and Air Quality Monitoring with Smart Pebbles 

Networked programme on Imaging Spectroscopy (NISA) 

Cyber-Security Center for Critical Infrastructure (at IITK)  Smart Grids for Power 

India and Israel: Cyber Space and Water in Agriculture 

Indo-Japan Joint Laboratories: IoT; Big data

Ten New Facts On Indian Economy 2018

Several important schemes for development of women and children are being implemented by WCD Ministry

The Ministry of Women and Child Development is implementing various schemes/programmes for empowerment of women and development of children across the country. The details of those schemes are as follows:

For Women empowerment:

1. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP), a comprehensive programme is being implemented to address the declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR) and related issues of empowerment of women over a life-cycle continuum.
2. Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), {erstwhile Maternity Benefit Programme} has been contributing towards better enabling environment by providing cash incentives for improved health and nutrition to pregnant and nursing mothers.
3. Scheme for Adolescent Girls aims at girls in the age group 11-18, to empower and improve their social status through nutrition, life skills, home skills and vocational training.

4. Pradhan Mantri Mahila Shakti Kendra scheme, promote community participation through involvement of Student Volunteers for empowerment of rural women.

5. National Creche Scheme to provide day care facilities to children of age group of 6 months to 6 years of working women who are employed.

6. Rastriya Mahila Kosh (RMK) to provide micro-credit to poor women for various livelihood support and income generating activities at concessional terms in a client-friendly procedure to bring about their socio-economic development.
7. Swadhar Greh to provide relief and rehabilitation to destitute women and women in distress.

8. Ujjawala, a Comprehensive Scheme for prevention of trafficking and for rescue, rehabilitation, re-integration and repatriation of victims of trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation.

9. Working Women Hostels for ensuring safe accommodation for women working away from their place of residence. Under this scheme, 2 new proposals have been received and 2 sanctioned in Himachal Pradesh during last three years.

10. Schemes of One Stop Centre (OSC) and Women Helpline (WH) are being implemented to facilitate access to an integrated range of services including medical aid, police assistance, legal aid/ case management, psychosocial counseling and temporary support services to women affected by violence.

11. Gender Budgeting Scheme is being implemented as a tool for mainstreaming gender perspective at various stages of planning, budgeting, implementation, impact assessment and revisiting of policy/programme objectives and allocations. The Scheme helps in strengthening of institutional mechanisms and training of various stakeholders so as to mainstream gender concerns in Central and State Governments.

For Child Development

12. Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme is being implemented through States/UTs with the aim of holistic development of children upto 6 years of age and to meet nutritional needs of pregnant women and lactating mothers.

13. Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) (now Child protection Services) is being implemented through the State Government/UT Administrations to create a safe and secure environment for overall development of children in need of care and protection in urban and semi-urban areas.

14. National Nutrition Mission (NNM): The Government of India has approved setting up of National Nutrition Mission (NNM) commencing from 2017-18.  The NNM, as an apex body, will monitor, supervise, fix targets and guide the nutrition related interventions across the Ministries.  The programme through the targets will strive to reduce the level of stunting, under-nutrition, anaemia and low birth weight babies. 

This information was given by Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Dr. Virendra Kumar in reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

Four ‘hot Jupiter’ exoplanets discovered

 Scientists have discovered four new ’hot Jupiter’ extrasolar planets orbiting dwarf stars. Using telescopes of the Hungarian ­made HAT South Exoplanet Survey, they found four dwarf stars known as HATS­50, HATS­51, HATS­52 and HATS­53. 

2 new ginger species found in the northeast

Scientists have discovered two new species of ginger in easternmost districts, Ukhrul in Manipur and Tuensang in Nagaland, both bordering Myanmar. Hedychium chingmeianum, the species discovered in Tuensang district, is an epiphytic plant and grows on tall trees, while  Caulokaempferia dinabandhuensis was found growing in rock crevices, boulders and humus rich soil in the Shirui Hills, where the highest peak stands at an elevation of 2,938 metres. 

 Both the plants are from the family of Zingiberaceae, to which the commonly found ginger (Zingiber ocinale) belongs.

 Two Botanical Survey of India (BSI) scientists, Nripemo Odyou and Dilip Kumar Roy, found the plant  Hedychium chingmeianum, growing on tree trunks at Chingmei village in Tuensang district. 

The plant, with reddish stems and creamy white owers, was brought to the regional centre of BSI, Shillong, and cultivated there.  Paper published A paper on the discovery was published earlier this year in Telopea, an international Journal of Plant Systematics. “Most of the species under the genus  Hedychium have medicinal properties. 

It is yet to be ascertained whether the newly discovered species  Hedychium chingmeianum has medicinal properties or not,” Mr. Odyou told The Hindu. He said that out of 44 taxa, 31 species and 13 varieties of genus  Hedychium found in India, only five are reported in south India. 

The remaining species are all found in the northeast. The species Caulokaempferia dinabandhuensis was discovered by Biseshwori Thongam and Bipin Konsam of the Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development. The species has beautiful oval­ shaped pink owers which appear in June ­July. 

It was during a trip to Ukhrul hills that Dinabandhu Sahoo, director of the IBSD, spotted this species.  

The scientists named the species after Mr. Dinabandhu Sahoo

New night frog species found in western Ghats

Nyctibatrachus mewasinghi was discovered in the Western Ghats

A new frog from Kerala is the latest contribution to the spurt in amphibian discoveries across India: scientists have just discovered the Mewa Singh’s night frog, belonging to a genus endemic to the Western Ghats, from Kozhikode’s Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary.

  According to a scientific paper published on December 26 in  The Journal of Threatened Taxa (an international journal on conservation and taxonomy), the new night frog  Nyctibatrachus mewasinghi is light brown in colour with an o­ white underside, and sports faintly wrinkled skin with prominent granular projections. 

 Since many frogs in the genus  Nyctibatrachus look similar, scientists from institutes, including the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (Pune, Maharashtra) and the Zoo Outreach Organisation (ZOO, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu) used both physical characteristics as well as genetic methods to conrm the frog as a new species.  Using tissue samples of 10 collected specimens, the scientists analysed portions of two genes and found that it varied enough from other closely ­related species to make the Mewa Singh’s night frog a different species. 

They also found that the frog’s genetically closest relatives are the Athirappilly night frog (found south of the Palakkad Gap in Thrissur and Idukki) and the Kempholey night frog (found in the northern Western Ghats of Kerala and Karnataka). ‘Interesting species’ Morphologically, the Mewa Singh’s night frog can be distinguished from these similar ­looking and genetically close relatives by several physical characteristics, including the pattern of its webbed fingers and toes. 

The frog has been named after wildlife scientist Mewa Singh, in honour of his contributions to behavioural ecology and primate studies. The new frog is currently known only from Peruvannamuzhi in the Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary, where the scientists found it in a small stream running along the Peruvannamuzhi dam.

  “It is an interesting species because of this currently­ known restricted distribution,” says author Sanjay Molur of ZOO. What is unusual is that the frog’s genetically closest relative — the Athirappilly night frog — is found far away and across the Palakkad gap, says Mr. Molur. “Hence the species is also unique from a genetic perspective,” he says.  Frogs in the genus Nyctibatrachus, commonly known as night frogs, are found only in the Western Ghats mountain range. 

The addition of the Mewa Singh’s night frog to this group brings the total number of night frogs to 36

New endemic ants from the Andamans

There's more to the Andamans than magical beaches and colourful corals. Scientists have discovered two new ant species of the genus Tetramorium in the evergreen forests of the archipelago. 

 Scientists of the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bengaluru and the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Japan have discovered the new species Tetramorium krishnani and Tetramorium jarawa during a detailed island ­wide survey of Havelock Island, a part of the Andaman archipelago. 

The species are named in honour of late scientist K.S. Krishnan of the NCBS, and after the Jarawas, an indigenous people of the islands, who are thought to have inhabited the islands for at least several thousand years. 

 The newly discovered ants dwell in leaf litter in the evergreen forests of Havelock Island and are endemic to the Andamans. 

In total, the study recorded the presence of 50 ant species, many of which have been recorded for the first time. The study published in Peer J also provides accounts of all Tetramorium ant species seen in India and an illustrated identication 'key' for these Indian species, which allows ant enthusiasts to use the distinct features of an ant to identify what species it belongs to. In a first for India, the team used a novel X­ ray micro CT technology to build 3D models of the ant specimens to observe anatomical structures in detail for easier taxonomic identification of the species. These 3D images can be mapped with the genetic profiles of species using the new technology to study the evolution of ant morphology. 

 “We are excited about the discovery, though we did expect to come across new species because we know very little about India's ant species, they are not well­ documented,” says Gaurav Agavekar, one of the authors. “I hope to sample other islands of the archipelago in future, as well as mainland India to generate quality baseline data for ants across the country, which can be used to answer interesting ecological and evolutionary questions.”

Yaogan 30 project:

Context: China has launched its Long March 2C rocket with a trio of Yaogan-30 satellites into space. Developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the Yaogan-30 03 trio consists of three identical satellites equipped with two deployable solar arrays.

Yaogan is a series of Earth-observing satellites launched by China since 2006. The satellites are intended for scientific experiments, land survey, crop yield assessment and disaster monitoring.

Tropic of Capricorn passes through

Countries that the Tropic of Capricorn passes through

The Tropic of Capricorn (or the Southern Tropic) is the circle of latitude that contains the sub solar point on the December (or southern) solstice. It is thus the southernmost latitude where the Sun can be directly overhead. Its northern equivalent is the Tropic of Cancer.

There are 10 countries, 3 continents and 3 water bodies lies on Tropic of Capricorn passes.

South America

Argentina, Brazil, Chile Paraguay

Africa

Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar

Australia

Australia

Water Bodies

Indian Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean

see also -

1. Prime Meridian passes through
2. Equator Passes Through
3. Tropic of Cancer Passes Through
4. The Countries Bordering to Red Sea
5. The Countries bordering the Mediterranean sea

Prime Meridian passes through

Prime Meridian passes through following countries :-

1- United Kingdom( Greenwich, London)

2- France

3- Spain

4- Algeria

5- Mali

6- Burkena Faso

7- Togo

8- Ghana

See also -

1. Tropic of Capricorn passes through
2. Prime Meridian passes through
   
3. Equator Passes Through
   
4. Tropic of Cancer Passes Through
   
5. The Countries Bordering to Red Sea
   
6. The Countries bordering the Mediterranean sea

Tropic of Cancer Passes Through

1-Mexico

2- Bahamas

3-Western Sahara

4- Mauritania

5- Mali

6-Algeria

7-Niger

8- Libya

9- Egypt

10- Saudi Arabia

11- U.A.E

12-Oman

13- India

14- Bangladesh

15- Myanmar

16- China

17-Taiwan

1. Tropic of Capricorn passes through

2. Prime Meridian passes through
   
3. Equator Passes Through
   
4. Tropic of Cancer Passes Through
   
5. The Countries Bordering to Red Sea
   
6. The Countries bordering the Mediterranean sea

Peace clause

The ‘Peace Clause’ is available to developing nations, including India, till a permanent solution is found to public stock holding for food security purposes. Official sources said India would fight to ensure that at least the ‘Peace Clause’ is made the permanent solution, and will not accept any ‘terribly stringent or onerous’ conditions. However, the ‘Peace Clause’ is learnt to be difficult to invoke even in its current form because prior to using it, the country concerned will have to first admit that it ‘is breaching’ or ‘is about to breach’ the ceiling entitlement to give product-
specific domestic support.

Difficult to invoke Also, the ‘Peace Clause’ can be used only for public stock holding programmes that have been in existence on
the date at which it was agreed upon at the Bali Ministerial Conference in December 2013, and not for new programmes on public stockholding for food security purposes.

Cabinet approves the establishment of the National Anti-profiteering Authority under GST

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval for the creation of the posts of Chairman and Technical Members of the National Anti-profiteering Authority (NAA) under GST, following up immediately on yesterday's sharp reduction in the GST rates of a large number of items of mass consumption.This paves the way for the immediate establishment of this apex body, which is mandated to ensure that the benefits of the reduction in GST rates on goods or services are passed on to the ultimate consumers by way of a reduction in prices.

The establishment of the NAA, to be headed by a senior officer of the level of Secretary to the Government of India with four Technical Members from the Centre and/or the States, is one more measure aimed at reassuring consumers that Government is fully committed to take all possible steps to ensure the benefits of implementation of GST in terms of lower prices of the goods and services reach them.

It may be recalled that effective from midnight of 14th November, 2017 the GST rate has been slashed from 28% to 18% on goods falling under 178 headings. There are now only 50 items which attract the GST rate of 28%. Likewise, a large number of items have witnessed a reduction in GST rates from 18% to 12% and so on and some goods have been completely exempt from GST.

The "anti-profiteering" measures enshrined in the GST law provide an institutional mechanism to ensure that the full benefits of input tax credits and reduced GST rates on supply of goods or services flow to the consumers. This institutional framework comprises the NAA, a Standing Committee, Screening Committees in every State and the Directorate General of Safeguards in the Central Board of Excise & Customs (CBEC).

Affected consumers who feel the benefit of commensurate reduction in prices is not being passed on when they purchase any goods or services may apply for relief to the Screening Committee in the particular State. However, in case the incident of profiteering relates to an item of mass impact with 'All India' ramification, the application may be directly made to the Standing Committee. After forming a prima facie view that there is an element of profiteering, the Standing Committee shall refer the matter for detailed investigation to the Director General of Safeguards, CBEC, which shall report its findings to the NAA.

In the event the NAA confirms there is a necessity to apply anti-profiteering measures, it has the authority to order the supplier / business concerned to reduce its prices or return the undue benefit availed by it along with interest to the recipient of the goods or services. If the undue benefit cannot be passed on to the recipient, it can be ordered to be deposited in the Consumer Welfare Fund. In extreme cases, the NAA can impose a penalty on the defaulting business entity and even order the cancellation of its registration under GST.

The constitution of the NAA shall bolster confidence of consumers as they reap the benefits of the recent reduction in GST rates, in particular, and of GST, in general.

Two-day 12th North East Business Summit inaugurated in New Delhi

The Two-day “12th North-East Business Summit” was inaugurated here today. The summit aims to explore the scope for business opportunities in the North-Eastern region of India. Focus areas are Infrastructure and Connectivity with Public Private Partnerships, Skill Development, Financial Inclusion, Services Sector Development- Particularly in Tourism, Hospitality & Food Processing. The Summit is being organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), with Manipur being the state partner for the event.

Boost to infrastructure facilities for judiciary

Cabinet approves continuation of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme to improve judiciary infrastructure

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved continuation of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for Development of Infrastructure Facilities for Judiciary beyond 12th Five Year Plan i.e. from 01.04.2017 to 31.03.2020 to be implemented in a Mission Mode through National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms with an estimated outlay of Rs.3,320 crore.

The Cabinet also approved setting up of an on-line monitoring system with geo-tagging by the Department of Justice enabling data collection on progress, completion of court halls and residential units under construction, including for future projects as well as better asset management and formulation of norms and specification of court halls and residential units to be constructed under Scheme for implementation throughout the country for future.

Benefits from the Scheme: 

The Scheme will increase the availability of suitable number of Court Halls and Residential Accommodations for Judges / Judicial Officers of District and Subordinate Courts all over the country including at District, Sub-District, Taluka, Tehsil and Gram Panchayat and Village levels. This will help in improving the functioning and performance of the Judiciary across the country in reaching out to every citizen.

Financial assistance:

The central assistance is provided to the State Governments / UT Administrations under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for development of Infrastructure Facilities for Judiciary for construction of court halls and residential units for Judicial Officers / Judges of District and Subordinate Courts. The funds sharing pattern for Centre and State is 60:40 in respect of States other than North Eastern and Himalayan States. The funds sharing pattern is 90:10 in respect of North Eastern and Himalayan States; and 100% in respect of Union Territories. This will help for completion of on-going projects for construction of 3,000 court halls and 1,800 residential units for judicial officers of District and Subordinate Courts.

Monitoring of the Scheme

An on-line monitoring system will be set up by the Department of Justice enabling data collection on progress, completion of court halls and residential units under construction as well as better asset management.

Regular meetings of the Monitoring Committee may be organised in various States with State Chief Secretaries and PWD officials to enable speedy and good construction. It may also be monitored if the funds released by the Centre are released without delay onward to PWD by the State Governments.

Background:

Central Government augments the resources of the States in this regard through the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for development of infrastructure facilities for Judiciary which is being implemented since 1993-94. The central assistance is provided to the State Governments / UT Administrations under the Scheme for construction of court halls and residential units for Judicial Officers / Judges of District and Subordinate Courts.

Joint Indo-Bangladesh Exercise Sampriti 2017 Culminates

Joint Indo-Bangladesh Training Exercise SAMPRITI 2017, which is being conducted at Counter Insurgency & Jungle Warfare School, Vairengte in Mizoram culminated today with a validation exercise. 
It is the seventh such exercise in the SAMPRITI series.  The exercise has been aimed to strengthen and broaden the aspects of interoperability and cooperation between the Indian and Bangladesh Armies. The 13-day long field training exercise commenced on 06 November 2017, which was culminated with a validation exercise on November 15-16. It was conducted in a progressive manner wherein the participants initially familiarised themselves with each other’s organisational structure and tactical drills. Subsequently, the training advanced to various joint tactical exercises by the two Armies.
            Scenario of terrorists hiding in a village was painted for the validation exercise. It had commenced with joint briefings by the company commanders of both the Armies. Based on which troops established a cordon of the village. Validation Exercise finally culminated with a daring raid in the jungle terrain to neutralise the terrorists. A spectacular demonstration on room intervention drills was also conducted jointly by Indian and Bangladesh Army troops.
            The final exercise was reviewed by Major General Md Moshfequr Rahman of the Bangladesh Army and Major General M S Ghura of the Indian Army. The combined exercise was an unprecedented success. Besides promoting understanding and interoperability between the two Armies, it further helped in strengthening bilateral ties. 

Health Ministry introduces Daily Drug Regimen for treatment of Tuberculosis

The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has recently announced the launch of daily regimen for TB patients across the country under The Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP). The Health Ministry has been providing the thrice weekly regimen for the treatment of tuberculosis (TB), however it has now decided to change the treatment strategy for TB patients from thrice weekly to daily drug regimen using fixed dose combinations (FDC) for treatment. This change will bring transformation in the approach and the intensity to deal with this disease which accounts for about 4.2 lakh deaths every year.
The daily FDC anti-TB drugs will be made available to private pharmacy or at private practitioners to dispense to TB patients who seek care in private sector, depending upon the convenience of patient and practitioner free of cost. The Health Ministry will take this forward with all major hospitals, IMA, IAP and other professional medical associations to expand the access to daily FDC to all TB patients.
The salient features of this treatment strategy are use of Ethambutol in continuation phase for all patients, drugs to be given daily (as against only 3 times weekly previously), fixed dose combination (FDC) tablets to be used which will reduce pill burden (as against separate 7 tablets previously), for children, child friendly formulations as dispersible tablets and use of Information Technology (IT) enabled treatment adherence support system.
Current WHO Global TB Report, 2017 has reported that incidence of TB has reduced from 28.2 lakh to 27 lakh and mortality by 60 thousand over the last one year, which is a testimony of anti TB drive by Government of India.

New ant species found in the Western Ghats

Researchers have discovered a new species of ant in the Western Ghats. It has been found in the Periyar Tiger Reserve. 

The research, published in journal Zootaxa, has been undertaken by Kalesh Sadasivan and Manoj Kripakaran, members of the non-governmental organisation Travancore Natural History Society’s Ant Research Group. Belonging to Tyrannomyrmex, a rare tropical genus of ants, the species was discovered by the team from the Vallakadavu range a year ago. 

Paying tribute to their mentor and eminent myrmecologist Musthak Ali, who is regarded as the country’s ‘ant man’, the authors of the study have named the new species Tyrannomyrmex alii (or T. alii) Sadasivan and Kripakaran 2017. 

According to Dr. Sadasivan, Tyrannomyrmex is a rare myrmicine ant genus that is distributed in the Indomalayan bioregion that extends from southern India and Sri Lanka to southeast Asia. 

Edible wild banana species discovered, the second such on the island in two years

Botanists in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have been quietly going bananas. And it is not their fault, for the islands are a biodiversity hotspot that hosts seven different species of wild banana that we know of, not to mention numerous, as yet undocumented, others. 

The latest discovery, published in the Nordic Journal of Botany, is of a species of wild banana named Musa paramjitiana, in honour of Paramjit Singh, who happens to be the director of the Botanical Survey of India (BSI).

 The species was found in North Andaman’s Krishnapuri forest, 6 kilometres from any human habitation. The plant grows to a height of nine metres and bears an edible, sweet-andsour tasting fruit that is boat-shaped and has numerous bulb-shaped seeds. 

Its conservation status has been declared as ‘Critically Endangered’ as it has so far been spotted in only two locations on the islands, each with 6 to 18 plants in a clump. “No population has been located in the other regions of the Andaman Islands, and the drastic disappearance of its mixed forest habitat indicates that the species should be considered Critically Endangered, based on IUCN Red List categories and criteria,” observed the article by Lal Ji Singh, a BSI scientist. 

According to Mr. Singh, the fruit is part of the diet of local tribes. “The fruits and seeds have ethno-medicinal importance. Pseudo-stem and leaves of these species are also used during religious and cultural ceremonies,” he added. Conserve germplasm “These discoveries present a great opportunity for plant breeders and horticulture experts to improve the existing banana crop. 

The germplasm of all the wild banana species needs to be conserved on an urgent basis, since most of these are found in very small habitats and at risk of extinction,” Mr. Singh said. In 2014, he discovered Musa indandamanensis, another wild banana, in a remote tropical rain forest on the Little Andaman island. It has dark green cylindrical flower buds.