News for 'Centre for Ecological Sciences of the Indian Institute of Science'

Breakthrough Recombinant Antivenom Offers Broad Protection Against Indian Cobra Species

Breakthrough Recombinant Antivenom Offers Broad Protection Against Indian Cobra Species

Rediff.com10 Sep 2026

Researchers from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and Technical University of Denmark have developed a recombinant antivenom that provides broad protection against the venom of spectacled cobras, monocled cobras, and Indian king cobra species in mice. This lab-produced antivenom offers a next-generation solution to traditional animal-derived antivenoms, addressing issues like variability and limited species coverage.

Noted ecologist Madhav Gadgil passes away

Noted ecologist Madhav Gadgil passes away

Rediff.com8 Jan 2026

Noted ecologist Madhav Gadgil, known for his work on the conservation of Western Ghats, has passed away in Pune after a brief illness. He was 83.

How Self-Fertilisation Drives Plant Invasions: IISc Study Reveals Key Trait

How Self-Fertilisation Drives Plant Invasions: IISc Study Reveals Key Trait

Rediff.com8 Jul 2026

A recent study by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, has identified self-fertilisation, or uniparental reproduction, as a critical trait enabling plants to become invasive. Researchers examined 28 species from the daisy family, finding that all 11 invasive species studied could reproduce uniparentally, unlike most native and non-invasive alien species. This ability allows a single plant to establish new populations, displacing local flora and altering ecosystems, highlighting the importance of reproductive strategy in weed-risk assessment.

6 professors awarded Infosys Prize 2019 for science and research

6 professors awarded Infosys Prize 2019 for science and research

Rediff.com7 Nov 2019

The annual award includes a pure gold medal, a citation and a prize purse worth $ 100,000 or its equivalent in the Indian rupees.

Chinese GPS tracker found on seagull near Karwar naval base

Chinese GPS tracker found on seagull near Karwar naval base

Rediff.com18 Dec 2025

Security agencies are investigating after a Chinese-made GPS tracking device was found attached to a seagull near a sensitive naval zone in Karwar, India. Preliminary findings suggest scientific research, but concerns remain due to the proximity of a strategic naval base.

At Science Congress, PM preaches Five-E concept to scientists

At Science Congress, PM preaches Five-E concept to scientists

Rediff.com3 Jan 2016

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday told scientists that the government would make it easier to do scientific research in the country and asked them to keep the five principles of economy, environment, energy, empathy, equity at the centre of enquiry and engineering.

Modi, Macron fly together to Marseille, open new Indian consulate

Modi, Macron fly together to Marseille, open new Indian consulate

Rediff.com12 Feb 2025

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron have called for enhancing trade and investment ties between their countries and committed to further deepening their engagement in the Indo-Pacific. They discussed a full spectrum of bilateral relations, including key global and regional issues, and stressed the urgent need for reform in the United Nations Security Council. The leaders also underscored their commitment to ensuring the global AI sector can drive positive social, economic, and environmental outcomes.

Flash floods devastate Uttarkashi village; 4 killed, houses buried

Flash floods devastate Uttarkashi village; 4 killed, houses buried

Rediff.com5 Aug 2025

A cloudburst in the high altitude villages of Dharali in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand led to flash floods, causing damage to houses and sweeping away structures. Several people are feared buried under debris.

Dropping Darwinian evolution may lead to superstitious beliefs, warn experts

Dropping Darwinian evolution may lead to superstitious beliefs, warn experts

Rediff.com9 May 2023

The Theory of Evolution, proposed by the English naturalist, explains that all living beings evolved through natural selection, which favours inherited traits that improve an individual's ability to compete, survive, and reproduce.

Will India do a Kenya and burn its ivory pile?

Will India do a Kenya and burn its ivory pile?

Rediff.com10 May 2016

Close on the heels of Kenya, which recently set on fire over a hundred ton of its ivory stockpile, experts in India are mulling a similar provision to destroy the "white gold" to send a strong message against poaching.

India Shining! Precious forest land wiped away for 23,716 industrial projects

India Shining! Precious forest land wiped away for 23,716 industrial projects

Rediff.com3 Jun 2016

The government may claim planted trees compensate for forests lost, but that does not mean complex flora and fauna destroyed have been restored, points out Himadri Ghosh.

Delhi's transport sector 3 times more polluting than Mumbai's

Delhi's transport sector 3 times more polluting than Mumbai's

Rediff.com21 Dec 2015

Despite a 187 km, seven-line metro network carrying 2.4 million commuters every day, private vehicles rose 92% over the last 15 years

Why is Wayanad Quiet About Tragedy?

Why is Wayanad Quiet About Tragedy?

Rediff.com13 Nov 2024

There is a definite attempt to put the landslides on the backburner because news of them and climate change worry Wayanad's tourism and real estate businesses greatly. Whatever I experienced of Wayanad's 2024 by-elections; the July landslides were not a burning issue, observes Shyam G Menon.

Joshimath: There will be more disasters, accept it

Joshimath: There will be more disasters, accept it

Rediff.com17 Feb 2023

Each disaster has the same message: Learn to respect the mountains before you build tunnels, roads, and houses, notes Sunita Narain.

Why the Garden City is submerged under apathy

Why the Garden City is submerged under apathy

Rediff.com18 Dec 2015

Today, half the lakes in Bengaluru are encroached upon.

Controversies take their toll on Nalanda University, peers race ahead

Controversies take their toll on Nalanda University, peers race ahead

Rediff.com27 Feb 2015

For an institution looking to revive past glory, the Nalanda University's initial days have been far from glorious.

India, France sign 17 agreements during PM Modi's visit

India, France sign 17 agreements during PM Modi's visit

Rediff.com11 Apr 2015

India and France on Friday signed 17 agreements, including on the stalled nuclear project in Jaitapur in Maharashtra, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held wide-ranging talks with French President Francois Hollande.

'If we make proper choices, we'll be a great nation'

'If we make proper choices, we'll be a great nation'

Rediff.com7 Jan 2018

'If not, we can become frighteningly chaotic, more chaotic than what we are today.' 'In today's environment in the country, we still have a window of opportunity.'

Swami's 100-day fast highlights battle to save Ganga

Swami's 100-day fast highlights battle to save Ganga

Rediff.com23 Sep 2013

The Ganga agitation and the question of preserving the Himalayan ecology has become a deadly cocktail of politics and religion. Behind the scene, of course, at play are powerful business interests. What is needed is an independent scientific assessment of the problem and preparation of a blueprint for preservation of the Himalayan rivers and associated ecology, says Dinesh C Sharma.

River experts miffed at being ignored on Ganga revival plan

River experts miffed at being ignored on Ganga revival plan

Rediff.com24 Jun 2015

Were river experts excluded from IIT consortium on the Ganga River Basin Management Plan? Rashme Sehgal reports.

Lessons from Uttarakhand: When 'development' is destruction

Lessons from Uttarakhand: When 'development' is destruction

Rediff.com28 Jun 2013

To avert another Uttarakhand-type catastrophe, we must change course. We should stop pandering to the Indian elite's insatiable appetite for electricity, which is driving reckless dam construction, says Praful Bidwai

Let Gandhi enter your heart

Let Gandhi enter your heart

Rediff.com7 Feb 2019

'Gandhi turned his life into a counter-intuitive experiment in old ideas like non-violence and swadeshi.' 'He offered numerous universal ideas that talk to the human condition.' 'His ability to take risks was outstanding,' says Sopan Joshi, explaining why the Mahatma's ideas are as relevant as ever.

'Intolerance is part of democracy'

'Intolerance is part of democracy'

Rediff.com2 Nov 2015

'The darkest days of Indian democracy were (during) the Emergency when basic democratic rights were suspended. For a time it seemed as though India would move along the East Asian model -- everybody works hard, nobody asks questions, certainly not of the government.' 'There are people who say we are headed that way, but I am not persuaded by the evidence,' says Mahesh Rangarajan who recently resigned as director of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library in New Delhi.

'What we did for the environment has been undone by the new govt'

'What we did for the environment has been undone by the new govt'

Rediff.com19 Feb 2015

'This is not a Sanjay Baru or Natwar Singh type of book. It's not a memoir. It's not a book to reveal conversations, real or imaginary. This is not a book to position myself at the centre of the world.' Jairam Ramesh on his stint as environment minister.

100 years of ITC: Corporate India's big success story

100 years of ITC: Corporate India's big success story

Rediff.com8 Dec 2014

ITC is one of those few enterprises in the world that has traversed a 100 year journey and has yet managed to remain contemporary, relevant and competitive.

Kashmir's sorrow

Kashmir's sorrow

Rediff.com11 Sep 2014

'For lakhs of people in the flood-afflicted state, battling against the elements is taking a huge toll. This is the time of the year that apples ripen, rice starts being harvested and preparations start in full swing to put aside some of the food stocks for the long winter months ahead. At this moment, though, people there believe if they can succeed in coming out of this calamity in one piece they will have won the war,' says Rashme Sehgal.

President Pranab's address to Parliament: The transcript

President Pranab's address to Parliament: The transcript

Rediff.com9 Jun 2014

President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday addressed the first joint sitting of Parliament as mandatorily required under the Constitution after the general elections. The address is the political, economic and foreign policy road map of the Narendra Modi government and covers virtually all crucial areas.