A teenager rescued a 10-year-old boy who was being swept away by strong waves at Someshwara Beach, police said on Sunday.
The incident occurred on Saturday evening.
According to officials, Muhammad Arshaman (10), a resident of Vitla Megginapete, had come to the beach with his family when he was caught in a strong current. Noticing the situation, Muhammad Ismail Faiz (16), son of Ashraf from Mudipu, immediately jumped into the sea to rescue him.
Faiz battled the waves for about 10 minutes before managing to bring the boy to safety.
Following the rescue, Faiz became exhausted and briefly lost consciousness. He was later admitted to a private hospital in the city and is recovering.
Arshaman is also reported to be out of danger, police said.
Faiz recently passed the SSLC examination and secured second place in a state-level karate competition.
Both Arshaman and Faiz are relatives and had visited the beach with their families when the incident occurred.
Local swimmers also assisted in the rescue after being alerted.
Faiz said that he knew how to swim, which gave him the confidence to attempt the rescue.
source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Karavali / by Vartha Bharati / April 26th, 2026
Professor (Dr.) Ahmad Sajjad, a distinguished author, critic, and intellectual who devoted his entire life to the service of knowledge and the Islamic movement, breathed his last at his native place Ranchi, Jharkhand on Sunday, April 26, 2026. He had been unwell for several years. He was 87.
Born in Nalanda, Bihar on12 October 1939, he completed his M.A. in Urdu from Patna University and was teaching at Ranchi College, Ranchi. Later he served as Head of the Department of Urdu, Ranchi University.
Professor Ahmad Sajjad was also a member of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind and served on its Markazi Shura.
He was a great Islamic scholar and Urdu literary figure. His Urdu books include Jadeed Nazriyat ki Khuli Nakami aur Islam ka Roshan Mustaqbil (1990), Hindustan ka Jadeed Taleemi Inquilab aur Muslim Aqliyat (2000), Ekiswin Sadi ka Challenge aur Milli Taleemi Agenda (2014), Tanqeed-o-Tehreek (1979), Tameeri Adabi Tahreek (1994), Tanqeed-o-Tanqeeh (2015), Kya Barre-e-Sagheer ki Urdu Abadi Azab-e-Musalsal ka Shikar Hai (2014), Meer Ghulaam Ali Ishrat Barelvi (1978), and Banda-e-Momin ka Hath ya Tareekh All India Momin Conference (2011).
Besides, he compiled many books, including Bunyadi Masail aur Unka Hal (1973). He was also Editor-in-Chief of Urdu literary magazine, Fankar, published from Hyderabad. All of his works earned recognition in the circles of Urdu literature and Islamic thought. His writings reflect truthfulness, intellectual clarity, and deep movement-oriented insight.
For a long time, he remained at the forefront of community and welfare work in Ranchi and was always among the leading ranks in collective social efforts. In the construction of Idris Hostel and the establishment of Millat Academy, he was in many ways the driving force. For Idris Hostel, he travelled across India with medical students to raise support and mobilise efforts. These two collective projects in Ranchi stand as lasting testimony to his leadership and dedication.
When he was elected President of Idara Adab-e-Islami Hind in 1982, he devoted all his energy, and his heartfelt commitment to the organisation. His tenure remains one of its brightest chapters, especially in terms of organisational tours, literary activities, and mushairas, where he left a remarkable mark. He had also held several discussions with the late Syed Asad Gilani on building an international front for Islamic literature.
Professor Sajjad was a sincere, active, dynamic, compassionate, and visionary personality. One of his greatest qualities was that wherever he lived, he remained fully engaged with his surroundings – constantly striving, questioning, and confronting challenges. Courage, bravery, and speaking the truth were his defining traits. He was straightforward and passionate in expressing his views. His opinions, particularly on the issue of elections, were widely discussed. Whatever work he took part in, he did so wholeheartedly. There was neither hypocrisy nor unnecessary compromise in his character.
His demise is an irreparable loss not only for the Islamic movement but also for Urdu literature and Islamic thought. He was a scholar and man of letters whose writings will continue to serve as a guiding light for future generations.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Latest News>Obituary / by Radiance News Bureau / April 23rd, 2026
Parents and educators celebrate as girls achieve top marks, breaking educational barriers.
Aligarh :
Muslim girl students in Uttar Pradesh’s Aligarh have defied traditional challenges, excelling in the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Class X and XII exams. Their success has ignited joy and optimism in the community, encouraging parents to support higher education for their daughters.
Among the top achievers is Uzma Khan from Iqra Public School, who scored 96.8% in her Class X exams. “The marks met my expectations. I thank my parents and teachers for their support,” Uzma said. She now aims to prepare for the NEET exam.
Motida Nayab, the school’s second topper, secured 96.4%. “My parents are thrilled, and my teachers’ guidance was invaluable,” she said.
Iqra School’s principal, Tarannum Masroor Chowdhry, expressed pride: “Our results are consistently excellent. Our students’ hard work and the support from parents and teachers have been remarkable.”
source: http://www.clarionindia.net / Clarion India / Home> Editor’s Pick> Indian Muslims > Women / by Clarion India / May 18th, 2024
Once, in Bihar Dashrath Manjhi cut through a mountain for the love of his wife. Today, Sarfaraz Ansari has built a bridge over a river for the love of his mother. Neither had money; they had passion to face obstacles and do extraordinary deeds despite being men of small means.
Sarfaraz Ansari, who lives in a small village in Bihar’s Jhajha block (Jamui district), ekks out his livelihood by repairing punctures.
His earnings are just enough for his family, as he is landless and only owns a small shop. Despite his ordinary life, he has accomplished something that people with huge incomes and assets may never think of.
A day in the monsoon season of 2019 changed his life. One day, it was pouring heavily, and the river was overflowing its banks. At that very moment, Sarfaraz’s mother suddenly fell ill. Her condition was critical, and every moment was precious.
He had to cross the river in spate to take his mother to the hospital. Sarfaraz mustered courage and somehow carried his ailing mother in his arms across the dangerous river.
He braved the strong current and the darkness to beat time in saving his mother. However, by the time he reached the hospital, it was too late. His mother passed away the same night.
After his mother’s burial, Sarfaraz Ansari was constantly nagged by the thought that there is no bridge on the river. His mother’s life could have been saved if a bridge had been there.
This thought made him restless; he couldn’t sleep for several nights as he visualised his mother’s face the moment he slept.
Sarfaraz decided to build a bridge over the river.
On knowing this, people remarked, “You’re a puncture repairer, how can you build a bridge? Ask the government.”
Sarfaraz knew that knocking at the government doors would mean endless visits to leaders and officers and years of struggle. In the meantime, more villagers would die like his mother for want of access to medical care.
He didn’t wait for the government. He started saving small amounts of money from his earnings. After months of hard work, when he had saved some money, he shared his dream with the villagers.
The villagers not only praised him but also supported him. Some donated money, some worked as labourers, and others donated construction materials.
One day, the bridge was constructed, and it happened with government assistance; a bridge was built solely through the villagers’ labour and cooperation.
This 25-foot-long, 13-foot-wide, and 8-foot-high bridge, built for Rs 12 lakh, has become a source of hope for nearly 40 villages.
People of these villages had to travel several kilometres to reach the city or risk their lives by wading through the river water.
Today, with the bridge, children have easier access to school, and farmers can transport their crops to market on time. And most importantly, lives are saved as the sick can easily reach the hospital. N
Sarfaraz is happy that nobody has to go through the pain of losing his dear ones and the pain he suffered.
Sarfaraz says, “I’m not a big man, but one should have a big heart. I still feel the pain of losing my mother, but I’m relieved that no one else’s mother will have to endure that pain.”
He adds, “To the world, this is a bridge made of cement and iron rods, but to me, it’s a dream built in my mother’s memory that has come true.”
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Stories / by Amir Iqbal / March 02nd, 2026
In an innovative educational endeavour that takes place in Chennai, Aalimah students gain exposure to the study of comparative religion through a disciplined approach.
Chennai: A momentous academic occasion took place at Hidhaaya Islamic College for Girls, as third year Aalimah students plunged themselves into researching world religions. As a part of their course curriculum for the fifth semester, the students conducted research about world religions, which culminated in the submission of research papers in the sixth semester.
To begin with, the session started off on a tranquil note with recitation from the Holy Qur’an done by third year Aalimah student Hameera. The session was chaired by Burooj Association President and third year Aalimah student Arshiya. She addressed the participants and Guests with an opening welcome speech.
The presentations were evaluated by distinguished guests including, Dr. K.V.S. Habib Mohammad, eminent scholar of Islam, writer and Shura member of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (Tamil Nadu) and Mr. Jalaluddin, Correspondent of Good Word Public School and Vice President of JIH Tamil Nadu and chairman Nazeer Ataullah of Hidhaaya Islamic College for girls.
With regard to the study of Sikhism, Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, and Hinduism, five of the students made a commendable effort to understand the beliefs, holy books, and rituals of each religion. Their understanding showed in their thoughtfully prepared PowerPoint presentations. The analysis was enriched by yet another five students who compared the five religions mentioned above with Islam.
The whole exercise was an exemplar in both research and intellectual engagement. The evaluation panel acknowledged the effort of the students and suggested ways to improve the academic methodology and presentation style.
Pointing out the importance of such exercises, Dr. Habib Mohammad described it as a groundbreaking initiative by Hidhaaya Islamic College for Girls. This is truly a commendable and progressive initiative. Stating the necessity of comparative study of religions, he commented:
“Comparative study of various religions is very important to develop a better understanding. It is just the beginning of a long academic journey which needs to be taken further with sincerity and respect.”
He also recommended that students take up specialisation in one religion for greater knowledge and suggested that they should refer to the primary source of any religion to acquire true knowledge. He exhorted students to adopt an open mind with respect and regard for all religious beliefs.
This project represents a milestone effort towards the creation of enlightened and thoughtful women who have a proper understanding of the complexities of a pluralistic world.
In acknowledging the significance of this endeavour, Dr. Habib Mohammad mentioned how much the participants seemed to know about their disciplines, which was evident from their active involvement with the literary and intellectual aspect of religion. He also commented on how this programme reflects the institution’s academic excellence and hints at the future success of graduates.
Likewise, Mr. Jalaluddin appreciated the high calibre of performances and gave useful advice regarding improvements in terms of language skills and presentation techniques.
The event concluded with a warm vote of thanks offered by student Ashiqua, one of the 3rd Aalimah students.
“When knowledge is guided by understanding and compassion, it becomes a force that not only enlightens minds but also unites humanity.”
[Dr. Rabia Basri is Correspondent and Principal of Hidhaaya Islamic College for Girls, Chennai]
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Latest News> Report / by Dr Rabia Basri / April 29th, 2026
Shahzada Husain Burhanuddin, the youngest son of His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin.
Mumbai :
The Dawoodi Bohra community has launched a new online initiative aimed at expanding access to the sacred sciences of the Quran. The newly launched Sawt al-Quran al-Karim YouTube channel presents the recitation of the entire Quran in the voice of Shahzada Husain Burhanuddin, the youngest son of His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin. This project forms part of the work of Mahad al-Zahra, an institution dedicated to the study, memorisation and recitation of al-Quran al-Karim.
The channel presents the complete Quran according to the Khalaf ‘an Hamza narration, one of the ten canonical traditions of Quranic recitation preserved through continuous scholarly transmission over centuries. Known for its demanding precision and distinctive phonetic characteristics, this narration remains less widely available in full digital recordings. Its publication online offers students of the Quran a rare opportunity to study and listen to this recitational tradition in its entirety.
Mahad al-Zahra leads the Dawoodi Bohra community’s efforts in Quranic education. The institute was established in 1976 by the late Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin to cultivate excellence in the memorisation and recitation of the Quran. Since 1998, Shahzada Husain Burhanuddin has guided the institution’s development, overseeing programmes that train students in the disciplines of tilawah (recitation) and hifz (memorisation) while maintaining rigorous scholarly standards.
In his role as provost of Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah, the community’s premier educational institute, Shahzada Husain Burhanuddin personally supervises examinations for huffaz (plural of hafiz, are individuals who have memorized the entire Quran), ensuring accuracy and mastery in Quranic memorisation. A distinguished qari himself, he also holds honorary membership in the Naqabat Qurra al-Quran al-Karim in Cairo, regarded as one of the world’s most respected guilds of Quran reciters.
His scholarship in the field of Quranic recitation includes the three-volume work Qiraat Zahira li Kitab Allah, which presents the principles of Quranic readings through structured tables and visual guides. Each page of the publication includes QR codes that connect readers directly to his recitation of the Qiraat ‘Ashr (the ten recognised schools of Quranic recitation, each preserving a unique phonetic tradition from a renowned reciter), allowing students to hear the precise rendering of the recitation rules they study. The work has received certification from Al-Azhar University, widely recognised as a leading authority in the teaching and transmission of Quranic sciences.
The launch of the Sawt al-Quran al-Karim channel reflects the vision of His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin to strengthen engagement with the Quran across generations. He has consistently encouraged families within the community to nurture the study of the Quran at home, expressing the hope that every household will include at least one hafiz and that the community will cultivate 100,000 huffaz worldwide.
By presenting authentic recitation through digital platforms, the initiative extends access to students and listeners across continents. Families, scholars and learners can now listen to and study these recitations regardless of location, strengthening their connection with the Quran in daily life.
Murtaza Jafar, a senior member of Mahad al-Zahra, described the initiative as an important step in sharing Quranic knowledge with a wider audience.
“The launch of this channel marks an important moment in our efforts to preserve and share the sacred sciences of the Quran. By publishing the complete Quran in the Khalaf ‘an Hamza narration, we are providing students and listeners around the world with access to a recitational tradition that requires great care and precision.”
He added that the project will continue to expand.
“We plan to add further recordings representing other recognised narrations of Quranic recitation. Work has already begun on recordings in the transmissions of Hafs ‘an Asim, Warsh ‘an Nafi and al-Susi ‘an Abi Amr. Our hope is that these resources will support students of the Quran for generations to come.”
The Sawt al-Quran al-Karim YouTube channel is now available online and offers listeners direct access to the complete recitation.
Syed Adnan Shafi, Afimol Ashraf, Ryan Azim Shaikh, Muskan Fatema, and Arisha Tauqeer are among the JAM 2026 toppers the list of which was released by the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) Thursday.
JAM 2026 Toppers List:
Syed Adnan Shafi, Afimol Ashraf, Ryan Azim Shaikh, Muskan Fatema, and Arisha Tauqeer are among the JAM 2026 toppers the list of which was released by the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) Thursday.
The Joint Admission Test for Masters (JAM) is the entrance exam conducted for admission to top-tier postgraduate programs.
The JAM 2026 exam this year was conducted on February 15, 2026. JAM 2026 result was announced on March 19, 2026. The scorecard of the candidates along with the list of subjectwise toppers was released today i.e. Thursday March 26, 2026.
As per the JAM toppers list released today, Syed Adnan Shafi is among the Physics toppers, Afimol Ashraf is one of the toppers in Chemistry subject, Ryan Azim Shaikh is one of the toppers in Mathematics subject, whereas Muskan Fatema and Arisha Tauqeer are among the Biotechnology toppers.
JAM 2026 Top 10 List
JAM 2026: Physics Toppers
AIR Registration ID Name 1 PH811A336 Sarvesh Gupta 2 PH321A435 Jatin Yadav 3 PH620A193 Ankur Saha 4 PH811A310 Anmol Mehrotra 5 PH515A041 Varun Singh Gautam 6 PH407A501 Debarshi Das 7 PH304A048 Sudhanshu Sethi 8 PH407A250 Pratyush Yadav 9 PH406A092 Dinabandhu Maji 10 PH322A088 Syed Adnan Shafi
JAM 2026: Chemistry Toppers
AIR Registration ID Name 1 CY303F047 Ayushi Agrawal 2 CY301B011 Deepak Poonia 3 CY620F051 Soumo Pal 4 CY620F403 Anubrata Chatterjee 5 CY316F111 Nancy 6 CY113F052 Afimol Ashraf 7 CY314F199 Pihu Roy 8 CY616F277 Rahul Guchhait 9 CY320F148 Jaspreet Singh 10 CY406F235 Sourav Gorai
Candidates who have qualified in the examination will be eligible to apply for admission to 89 postgraduate programes across 22 IITs for the academic year 2026-27 through the JAM Online Application Processing System (JOAPS 2026) from March 27 to April 15. The first admission list is scheduled to be released on May 25. The second, third and fourth admission lists will be respectively released on June 08, 16 and 27, 2026. Additional list if any will be published on July 03, 2026, IIT Bombay said.
source: http://www.ummid.com / Ummid.com / Home> Education & Career / by ummid.com news network / March 27th, 2026
The sisters come from a modest background. Their father, Abdul Malik, works as a carpenter, while their mother studied up to Class 9.
Two sisters from Meerut have drawn attention with their impressive performance in the Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad examinations, securing the top two positions in the district.
Adeeba Malik scored 95.68 per cent in the high school examination to secure first place, while her sister Shifa Malik ranked second with 82 per cent in the science stream.
Their achievement has brought joy to the locality, with residents visiting their home to congratulate the family.
Adeeba attributed her success to discipline and consistency. “I studied for long hours every day and stayed focused. Hard work and a proper routine helped me achieve this result,” she said. She scored full marks in mathematics, her strongest subject.
Notably, she prepared entirely at home without any tuition or coaching support.
The sisters come from a modest background. Their father, Abdul Malik, works as a carpenter, while their mother studied up to Class 9. Expressing his pride, Abdul Malik said, “I could not study much myself, but my daughter is making me proud. There is no difference between a son and a daughter. I want her to study and move ahead.”
The sisters were felicitated at St Joseph Inter College, where teachers and students celebrated their success. Sweets were distributed, and similar celebrations were held at their home.
Family members said the achievement reflects the sisters’ consistent dedication and hard work.
Adeeba aspires to become an IAS officer and serve the country.
Education experts say such success stories are significant, especially in areas where awareness about girls’ education is still evolving and students often face challenges in continuing their studies. The sisters’ achievement is being seen as an inspiring example for others.
source: http://www.clarionindia.net / Clarion India / Home> Editor’s Pick> India> Indian Muslim / by Mohammad Bin Ismail / April 25th, 2026
Army personnel handing over the tricolour to the wife of Hawaldar Althaf Ahmed, who died in Kashmir on February 22. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Althaf Ahmed | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The last rites of 37-year-old Indian Army Hawildar Althaf Ahmed, who died in a blizzard while on duty in Kashmir, were performed in his native in Meenupete in Kodagu district’s Virajpet taluk with state honours on Saturday.
The body of Althaf Ahmed, who had died on February 22, arrived in his native in Kodagu early on Saturday as its departure by air from Srinagar was delayed owing to bad weather. The body was kept at Eidgah Maidan in Meenupete for the public to pay their last respects before it was laid to rest at the burial ground as per Islamic rituals.
Virajpet MLA K.G. Bopaiah, MLCs Suja Kushalappa and Veena Achaiah, besides Deputy Commissioner B.C. Satish, Kodagu Superintendent of Police M.A. Aiyappa and other senior officials of the district administration were among the large number of people, who paid their last respects.
According to sources, Althaf Ahmed grew up in Meenupete and completed his SSLC in St Anne’s School in Virajpet and Pre University Education at the Virajpet Government Junior College. He later joined the Army Ordnance Corps (AOC) regiment. He had been serving the Army in various places since the last 19 years.
While guarding the border in Kashmir, Althaf Ahmed was caught in a blizzard on February 22 and died.
After the ceremonial gun salute during the funeral of the martyred solider, Army personnel handed over handed over the tricolour that draped Althaf Ahmed’s body and his uniform to his wife and two children. He leaves behind his mother, wife, a son and a daughter.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / February 26th, 2022
* On the list are 14 Muslim zoologists and scientists
* To date, India has identified 102,718 animal species
* Work is underway to discover new species in ecosystems
* 15 million living species still to be discovered
THE Kolkata-headquartered Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), whose scientists and field staff are engaged in exploring, naming, describing, classifying, and documenting animals from all over the world’s most populous country, has a miserably low number of Muslims – 23 – on its rolls that has a total of 591 officers, administration and field staffers, according to Mohammed Abdul Mannan’s new book, At the Bottom of the Ladder: State Of The Indian Muslims – https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0GF1Q9R25. The book quantifies Muslim presence in 150 key organisations, including Union ministries, departments, and organisations.
The Muslim scientists and zoologists at the ZSI are – Sarfraz Ul Islam Kazmi, Shaikh Rehnuma Sultana, Mohammed Hafiz, Imran Alam, Shabnam Nizamuddin Ansari, Jalil Ahmed, Mohammed Rasmanjani Ali, Anjum Nasreen Rizvi, Rifat Hussain Raina, Jafer Palat, Mohammed Ethtesham Ul Hassan, Ruqiya Bano, and K Bakh Mollah. There are seven Field Assistants from the largest minority community.
Among 82 ZSI scientists are two Muslims – Dr M E Hassan, a Scientist ‘E’ at the Gangetic Plains Regional Centre in Patna, and S R Sultana, Assistant Zoologist at the Freshwater Biology Regional Centre in Hyderabad. Among 98 officials at 15 Regional Centres, eight are Muslims, including two NRCs in Dehradun – Dr. Anjum Nasreen Rizvi, a scientist in Nematology, Helminthology and Molecular Systematics, and Dr S I Kazmi, a scientist in Hymenoptera. The Western Regional Centre in Pune’s four staff members include Dr Muhamed Jafer Palot, a scientist in animal taxonomy with a special interest in birds, reptiles, and butterflies. Dr Anjum Rizvi is the Managing Editor of the Journal of Indian Zoology.
The 108-year-old organisation has been working to understand and investigate the faunal diversity for scientific use and equitable sharing of the benefits of animal resources of the country. Formed in July 1916, it conducts surveys, exploration, and research that lead to the advancement of zoological knowledge. ZSI originated from the establishment of the Zoological Section of the Indian Museum at Calcutta in 1875.
It gradually expanded in terms of its manpower and research programme. Today, India is among the 17 mega-diversity countries of the world, with four biodiversity hotspots, including the Western Ghats/Sri Lanka, Indo-Burma, and the Himalayas. Currently, there are about 1.7 million living species described from all over the world, and another 15 million species are waiting to be discovered. To date, India has been able to describe 102,718 species of animals, and work continues to discover and explain new species, especially from the lower invertebrate groups occurring in various ecosystems. Also, the status of the higher group of animals is studied before their habitats disappeared on the planet Earth.
The country’s custodian of the animal resources has broadened its work in line with the Articles of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD), a multilateral treaty focused on conserving biodiversity, promoting its sustainable use, and ensuring the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from genetic resources. As many as 157 countries signed it, like the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), at the UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The CBD now has 196 countries as signatories, including India.
To take the agenda further up, India also enacted the Biological Diversity Act in 2002 to implement the provisions of CBD, which covers biodiversity at all levels: ecosystems, species, and genetic resources. To support the implementation of its objectives, two internationally binding agreements were adopted within the framework of the CBD. The Cartagena Protocol, adopted in 2000 and entered into force three years later, regulates the transboundary movement of living modified organisms (LMOs).
The Nagoya Protocol, adopted in 2010 in Japan and entered into force four years later, establishes a legally-binding framework for access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from their use. Experts say considerably less is done to assess the degree and value of biodiversity without knowing the species involved. The ecosystem’s health also cannot be monitored without recognizing the presence of the individual organisms crucial for the indication of ecological processes.
The ZSI has made extensive surveys across the country, and a large number of specimens have been collected. Of these collections, only about 65 percent have been taxonomically studied. These include the major groups of vertebrates. The organization provides information and vital data for the in-situ conservation of various species in different ecosystems, both within and outside the protected areas. The ZSI provides regular services with regard to permissible limits of legal trading of faunal resources or derivatives thereof, monitoring services on population status of commercially important species, and providing inputs for underutilised, culturable species, both from terrestrial and aquatic systems.
A part of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, it also undertakes Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) with special reference to ecology and wildlife. Zoological surveys worldwide are crucial for understanding and managing biodiversity. These surveys involve various methods to collect data on animal populations, behaviour, and habitats, including field observations, monitoring programs, and advanced techniques like DNA analysis and satellite tracking.
There are about 1.7 million living species described from all over the world and another 15 million species are waiting to be discovered. Based on the largest dataset to date, the global Living Planet Index (LPI) shows an average 73 percent decline in monitored wildlife populations between 1970 and 2020. It reports that there has been a large average decline across more than 34,000 animal populations. In 2024, ZSI set up a pilot project to use eDNA (environmental DNA) to study and monitor wildlife.
Data analysis of the 2010-2020 decade reveals that a total of 4,112 species — 2,800 new species and 1,312 new records in 2020, India added 557 new species to its fauna, which included 407 new species and 150 new records, according to a document by the ZSI. The number of faunal species in India has climbed to 1,02,718 species with the discovery of the new species. There is no definitive, universally agreed-upon number for the total number of animal species in the world.
Estimates range from three million to 100 million. However, the most common estimates fall between seven and 10 million. About 1.5 million animal species have been formally described and named by scientists. The ZSI publishes the Red Data Book on Indian Animals, which was first published in 1983 and is similar to the Red Data Book published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network known for producing authoritative reports, standards, and tools for conservation.
