Chilika Lake is the largest brackish water body of Asia and the first Ramsar site of India. Researchers at IIT Madras conducted geotechnical, hydraulic and satellite imagery studies and developed a dredging methodology with minimum impact on the lake ecosystem.

In 1981, Chilika Lake was designated the first Indian wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, an international treaty for the conservation of wetlands

The lake was in a degraded condition and included in the threatened list (Montreux Record) by Ramsar Convention in 1993. This warranted urgent action for restoration of the lake.

The geotechnical, hydraulic and satellite imagery studies showed the spit of Chilika is constantly changing.

The sand bar has been widening, and the position of the mouth constantly shifting, moving generally towards the northeast.

It also showed the Chilika lake mouth located originally near Sipakuda in 1800 has gradually shifted in the last 200 years towards the northern side to Arkhakuda.

The sedimentation in the South and erosion in the North due to littoral drift is the major cause of continuous shift of the mouth towards the North.

Also read ‘Nagaland 10th and 12th exam results for 2020 will be released on 30 May‘

The outer inlet channel of 18km length was formed between Sipakuda and Arkhakuda and the tidal exchange through this channel was not sufficient to maintain the quality of brackish water and overall brackish ecosystem of in the lake.

The Researchers at IIT Madras who undertook the study were Professor R. Sundaravadivelu, Department of Ocean Engineering, IIT Madras, Dr. L. K. Ghosh (Ex-Additional Director CWPRS POONA), Dr. P. Chandramohan (Indomer Coastal Hydraulics, Chennai) and Dr. Ajit Kumar Pattnaik (Ex-Chief Executive, Chilika Development Authority) to trace the root cause of degradation.

The Researchers at IIT Madras found that the hydrodynamic regime of the lagoon was affected due to shifting of the mouth towards the northeast and subsequent reduction of seawater into the lake.

Speaking about the outcomes of the study taken up by Researchers at IIT Madras, Professor Sundaravadivelu said Chilika Lake was restored with a cost of Rs.10 crores by opening the mouth and taking up other related works in six months’ time which has resulted in fish catch worth Rs.100 crore and revenue of Rs. 35 crore due to Tourism every year.

The Sipakuda mouth opened in 2000 has significantly improved the ecosystem. The tide levels at Satapada before the opening of the mouth (March 2000) was 10 cm, while this improved to 60 cm, which is the indication of more tidal inflow and stabilising the brackish water nature in the Chilika.

But the mouth was consistently migrating towards the north and another mouth at Gabakund opened naturally. In the process of migration the Sipakuda mouth merged with Gabakund mouth in 2012 and the width was about 2700 m at the time of merging.

Studies conducted indicate the need for further interventions inside the lake like the desiltation.

Researchers at IIT Madras also developed the dredging IIT Madras developed the dredging methodology identifying the location of dredging along with disposal and selection of suitable dredger with minimum impact on the ecosystem.

Based on the outcome of this successful hydrological intervention by Researchers at IIT Madras undertaken under the auspices of the Chilika Development Authority (CDA), the flood inundation and freshwater weeds are reduced.

The hydrological intervention restored the lake ecosystem and ameliorated the biodiversity. The fish production increased 7-fold and the population of highly threatened Irrawaddy dolphin increased.

The enhancement of fishery resources and the increase of population of Irrawaddy dolphin promoted ecotourism which immensely benefited the local fishers.

The Chilika Lake Authority has developed an Ecosystem Health Report Card. Periodical monitoring of salinity, fish and dolphin, freshwater weeds, birds and other biological parameters are being carried out by an Advisory Committee chaired by Mr. Sushanta Kumar Nanda IFS (Chief Executive Chilika development Authority), in which IIT Madras is an active member.

The information bulletin for CUET UG 2025 was also be released along with the release of the notification for the exam.

Schedule

CUET UG 2025 Exam registration is on from 1 to 22 March 2o25. The application can be submitted till 11:50 PM on 22 March 2025.

Corrections in the CUET UG 2025 exam registration submitted can be taken up from 24 to 26 March 2025 (up to 11.50 PM).

The exam will be conducted from 8 May to 1 June 2025, dates for release of hall ticket, answer key, city intimation slip and result will be announced in due course on the official website.

What is CUET UG 2025 Exam?

The full name of the exam is Common University Entrance Test Undergraduate, it is popular as CUET UG. It is a national-level exam conducted once a year.

CUET UG 2025 is meant to be held for 2025. The exam is conducted online, and answers must be registered on a computer screen at the designated test center.

The questions in CUET UG 2025 Exam would be related to languages, general ability and various academic subjects.

Questions will be in a multiple-choice format where each question has more than one reply and the right one among that has to be chosen to get marks.

Post passing the exam, candidates have to visit the websites of various participating institutions and know the schedule for submitting applications for admissions.

Once the schedule is known, students must submit applications there along with CUET UG 2025 Exam scores and other required documents.

Who can take up CUET UG 2025 Exam registration?

Candidates who have passed plus two from a recognized educational institution can take up CUET UG 2025 Exam registration.

Subjects in the plus two must be related to the subject in which candidates wish to study graduation.

Candidates can pass plus two in any stream if applying for arts or humanities programs. Applicants targeting commerce in graduation must pass plus two preferably in the commerce stream.

Also read – IIT Guwahati innovates great fabric for cold climates

Those aiming for graduation in science can pass plus two in science stream. Students who are about to appear for the qualifying exams or those who have appeared and are waiting for the results can also submit CUET UG 2025 Exam registration.

However, they have to pass the exam and provide proof of it by the time of admission process commencement.

1. The URL mentioned above must be typed into the browser and then submitted to allow the website to download.

2. Once the website is ready, candidates have to scroll down the page and click <CUET (UG) 2025-Registration> under Candidate Activity menu.

3. Clicking the above button will open another webpage with the URL ‘https://examinationservices.nic.in/examsys25/root/Home.aspx?enc=Ei4cajBkK1gZSfgr53ImFYsjZOdyj8DuPcxGBqAK2DwqFCalp/sPjeNMpmZAoiTR’

4. Once the webpage is available, applicants can click the New Registration and create an account with username and password.

5. They can come back to the same page with URL ‘https://examinationservices.nic.in/examsys25/root/Home.aspx?enc=Ei4cajBkK1gZSfgr53ImFYsjZOdyj8DuPcxGBqAK2DwqFCalp/sPjeNMpmZAoiTR’

6. After the page with above URL opens, they can click Login and use their username and password and  submit.

7. Once they login, they start taking up CUET UG 2025 Exam registration.

8. Form has to be filled and registration fee has to be paid and submitted. Candidates can obtain a confirmation message indicating successful submission. Once obtained, applicants can download it and take a printout of it.

Website for CUET UG 2025 Exam Registration is Here

How to download hall ticket?

Candidates who have successfully submitted CUET UG 2025 exam registration can alone download the hall ticket for the exam from the official website which can be accessed at ‘https://cuet.nta.nic.in/’

Process to obtain hall ticket is mentioned below for the sake of the students:

1. The URL mentioned above has to be typed into the browser and the website should be allowed to download.

2. Once the webpage is available, candidates can click the link for the hall ticket and then enter their username and password and submit them to obtain the hall ticket.

3. The admit card can be downloaded and then a printout of it has to be taken. Applicants have to appear for the exam at the designated test center with the hall ticket.

After the exam

Students have to view the results for the exam, they can visit the official website of the exam at the appropriate time and log in using the credentials they created while submitting CUET UG 2025 exam registration.

Post login, the students can view their scorecards. Those who have passed the exam with the required qualifying marks can apply for admission into courses of their choice.