'Mann ki Baat' : Modi praises AI-driven bird census in Assam's Kaziranga
For the first time a comprehensive Grassland Bird Census was conducted in Kaziranga's grasslands, revealing over 40 species of birds, including many rare ones.
The census leveraged cutting-edge technology such as sound recording devices which were installed across the park, capturing bird calls which were then analyzed using AI-based computer software. This innovative approach allowed the identification of
birds solely by their sounds without disturbing their natural habitat.
The Prime Minister praised the successful blend of technology and ecological sensitivity, emphasizing that such initiatives deepen our understanding of nature. He encouraged the promotion of similar hi-tech efforts nationwide to better recognize India's rich biodiversity.
Speaking about the initiative, the Prime Minister said, 'If you are asked how many kinds of birds there are around you, what would you say? Most of us might notice five to six birds daily — some familiar, some unfamiliar. But it is truly fascinating to discover the variety of species living right in our vicinity.'
Kaziranga National Park in Assam is famous for its rhinos, (but) this time the topic of discussion is its grasslands and the birds living in them. For the first time, a Grassland Bird Census has been conducted here. You will be happy to know that, as a result of this census, more than 40 species of birds have been identified. Many of these are rare species, said the PM
'This is a significant achievement,' he added, stating, 'because it shows that our biodiversity is far richer than we often realise.'
The use of technology played a crucial role in this endeavor. Modi explained, 'The team installed sound recording devices across the grasslands, and these recordings were analysed using Artificial Intelligence. Birds were identified solely by their calls — without any disturbance to their natural habitat. This seamless integration of technology and ecological sensitivity makes understanding nature easier and deeper.'
The Prime Minister urged greater support for similar scientific and conservation efforts, adding, 'such initiatives not only help us recognise our rich biodiversity but also inspire the next generation to connect deeply with nature.'
Welcoming Kaziranga's recognition by the Prime Minister, Diganta Kalita, MLA from 32 Kamalpur, Assam, and spokesperson for BJP Assam Pradesh, expressed his delight on X. He said the thriving diversity of bird species and the park's ecological transformation represent a remarkable achievement.
'This recognition is a matter of immense pride for Assam,' he remarked.
Ranjan K Baruah, Advisor, Skill Employment and Entrepreneurship Department of Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), noted that the park has long captivated tourists and intrigued scholars alike.
He said the recent discovery of rare bird species will further enhance its appeal to both visitors and researchers. Calling for stronger conservation efforts, he urged state authorities to adopt cutting-edge technologies to preserve and showcase this ecological treasure trove.
UNI AJ BM
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
United News of India
2 hours ago
- United News of India
DRDO successfully conducts two consecutive flight-tests of Pralay missile
New Delhi, July 29 (UNI) Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted two consecutive successful flight-tests of Pralay missile from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam island off the coast of Odisha. The flight tests were carried out on July 28 and 29 as part of the user evaluation trials to validate the missile system's maximum and minimum range capabilities. The missiles precisely followed the intended trajectory and reached the target point with pinpoint accuracy, meeting all the test objectives, a Defence Ministry statement said. All subsystems performed as per expectations, which were verified using test data captured by various tracking sensors deployed by Integrated Test Range (ITR) including instruments deployed on ship positioned near the designated impact point. Pralay is an indigenously developed solid propellant quasi-ballistic missile employing state-of-the-art guidance and navigation to ensure high precision. The missile is capable of carrying multiple types of warheads against various targets. The system has been developed by Research Centre Imarat in collaboration other DRDO labs. The flight-tests were witnessed by senior scientists of DRDO, representatives of the users from the Indian Air Force and the Indian Army as well as the industry representatives. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh while complimenting the DRDO, armed forces and industry said that the missile equipped with modern technologies will give further technological boost to the Armed Forces against threats. Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and chairman DRDO Samir V Kamat congratulated the teams, stating that the successful completion of this phase-1 flight tests paves the way for induction of the system into the armed forces in near future. UNI RBE PRS
United News of India
3 hours ago
- United News of India
Countdown for the NISAR satellite launch to start in the afternoon
Chennai, July 29 (UNI) The countdown for the July 30 launch of the first Indo-US joint earth observation satellite NASA ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) is slated to start at about 2.10 pm on Tuesday, said ISRO officials. 'The 27-hour-and-30 minute countdown for the launch of the NISAR Mission is expected to start at 2.10 pm today (Tuesday),' an official of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said. According to the official, during the countdown, fuel for the rocket will be filled while checking of the rocket systems will also be done. India's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-F16 (GSLV-F16) carrying the NISAR weighing 2,393 kg will blast off at 5.40 pm from the second launch pad at the rocket port in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. Around 19 minutes after its lift-off, the 420-ton GSLV-F16, an expendable rocket will eject the NISAR satellite. The satellite will be injected into a 747 km Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSO) with an inclination of 98.4 degree, ISRO said. Built at a cost of about $1.5 billion, NISAR's mission life will be five years. The three-stage GSLV rocket standing 51.7 metre tall and weighing 420 ton is powered by a solid, liquid and cryogenic fuel -- liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. The GSLV-F16 rocket is a three-staged vehicle. The first stage (GS1) is powered by a solid propellant motor having 139-ton propellant and four earth-storable propellant stages strap-on motors with 40 tons of liquid propellant in each. The second is also an earth-storable liquid propellant stage loaded with 40-ton propellant. The third stage is a cryogenic stage with a 15-ton propellant loading of liquid oxygen (LOX) and liquid hydrogen (LH2). Incidentally this will be the first mission for the GSLV rocket to the Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit. The rocket was basically developed for orbiting communication satellites in the Geo Transfer Orbit (GTO). GSLV-F16 is the 18th flight of India's GSLV series and the 12th flight with the indigenous cryogenic stage. This is the 9th operational flight of GSLV with indigenous Cryogenic stage. The Payload Fairing or the heat shield in GSLV-F16/NISAR Mission is 4 m dia Ogive configuration. NISAR-only for earth observation: A retired chief of ISRO said NISAR is only for earth observation and not for strategic purposes though it has SAR that can look through the clouds. The Indian space agency said NISAR is a unique earth observation satellite and the first satellite to observe the earth with a dual frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar (NASA's L-band and ISRO's S-band). The satellite will observe earth with a swath of 242 km and high spatial resolution, using SweepSAR technology for the first time. According to ISRO, the satellite will scan the entire globe and provide all-weather, day-and-night data at 12-day intervals and enable a wide range of applications. NISAR can detect even small changes in the Earth's surface such as ground deformation, ice sheet movement and vegetation dynamics. Further applications include sea ice classification, ship detection, shoreline monitoring, storm characterization, changes in soil moisture, mapping and monitoring of surface water resources and disaster response, the Indian space agency added. The data gathered will assist in tasks as infrastructure monitoring, disaster response, biomass assessment, and agricultural management. ISRO identified science and applications that were complementary to the primary mission objectives: agricultural monitoring and characterization, landslide studies, Himalayan glacier studies, soil moisture, coastal processes, coastal winds, and monitoring hazards. The NISAR launch is the result of strong technical cooperation between ISRO & NASA/JPL (National Aeronautics and Space Administration and Jet Propulsion Laboratory) technical teams for more than a decade. NISAR will be the first Earth-observing satellite with two kinds of radar — an L-band system with a 10-inch (25-centimeter) wavelength and an S-band system with a 4-inch (10-centimeter) wavelength. The NISAR carries a 12m wide deployable mesh reflector mounted onto a deployable 9m boom developed by NASA's JPL which shall be used by both-JPL-NASA developed L-Band SAR payload system and ISRO developed S-Band SAR payload. Whether microwaves reflect or penetrate an object depends on their wavelength. Shorter wavelengths are more sensitive to smaller objects such as leaves and rough surfaces, whereas longer wavelengths are more reactive with larger structures like boulders and tree trunks. So NISAR's two radar signals will react differently to some features on Earth's surface. By taking advantage of what each signal is or isn't sensitive to, researchers can study a broader range of features than they could with either radar on its own, observing the same features with different wavelengths. After the successful in-orbit checkout of the satellite, the science operations phase will start and extend for three years and contain all data collection required to achieve the L1 science objectives. During this phase, the science orbit will be maintained via regular maneuvers, scheduled to avoid or minimize conflicts with science observations. Extensive calibration and validation activities will take place throughout the first five months, with yearly updates of 1-month duration. The data acquired through S-band and L-band SAR from a single platform will help the scientists to understand the changes happening to Planet Earth. A delayed launch: The NISAR satellite launch was to have happened much ahead but owing to several reasons it got delayed. The Indian space agency had earlier said the NISAR satellite will be launched in 2022 or early 2023. In 2025, the NISAR launch was expected to happen in June, but got delayed again. It was on September 30, 2014, ISRO and NASA signed an equal partnership to collaborate and launch NISAR. UNI VJ PRS
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
20 hours ago
- Business Standard
NEP making contribution to holistic development of students: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that there have been many positive changes in the field of education during the last five years and the new National Education Policy (NEP) is making a significant contribution to the holistic and multidimensional development of students by encouraging research and innovation. In a message on the completion of five years of NEP, Modi noted that the Ministry of Education is organising Akhil Bhartiya Shiksha Samagam (ABSS) on Tuesday and new initiatives will be launched in the field of education during the programme. "Education is the medium that makes a person self-reliant and a nation strong. Our aim is to ensure such an education system in which students can move forward according to their interest, ability and dreams. Today, the country is moving on the path of progress by equipping the education related to the glorious Indian culture with technology and global standards. "There have been many positive changes in the field of education during the last five years. Whether it is education in mother tongue, strengthening school education or giving special emphasis on skill-based education, the National Education Policy is making a significant contribution to the holistic and multidimensional development of students by encouraging research and innovation," Modi said. The prime minister noted that in Amrit Kaal, India is rapidly moving towards the creation of a grand and developed country. "During this period, the role of National Education Policy-2020 will be important in promoting the confidence, curiosity and creativity of our youth. The shiksha samagam is a symbol of our shared resolve and spirit of cooperation. "I am confident that this event will not only give educational institutions an opportunity to share their best practices, strategies and achievements, but will also further strengthen the continuous efforts for the successful implementation of the National Education Policy," he said. The Ministry of Education is organising the ABSS on Tuesday to coincide with the fifth anniversary of NEP, when academicians, policymakers, educators, industry leaders and government will review the progress made so far in implementing the ambitious policy. The deliberations during ABSS 2025 will focus on making education more accessible, practical, skill-oriented and seamlessly integrated with employment opportunities, ensuring students are equipped for a dynamic global economy, they said. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan is scheduled to inaugurate the conference that is scheduled to be held at Bharat Mandapam. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
