Publications

The study describes a new species of Polyrhachis, or spiny ant, named Polyrhachis garbhangaensis sp. nov., from the state of Assam, northeastern India. This species was collected and identified during field sampling in the Garbhanga Reserve Forest, near the city of Guwahati in Assam. It represents a third Indian species of the P. mucronata species group in the subgenus Myrmhopla. Polyrhachis Smith, 1857 is a genus of ants, found widely across the Old-World tropics, with significant diversity across Southeast Asia. The discovery and characterisation of this species clearly indicate the need to revise the classification key of the genus Polyrhachis. As a step towards this, we present an updated key to the species of the mucronata group of Polyrhachis (Myrmhopla), including the new species. This finding contributes to a deeper understanding of the taxonomic diversity of Polyrhachis and highlights the unexpected importance of urban and fragmented forest areas in sustaining tropical ant biodiversity. 

The study describes a new species of Polyrhachis, or spiny ant, named Polyrhachis garbhangaensis sp. nov., from the state of Assam, northeastern India. This species was collected and identified during field sampling in the Garbhanga Reserve Forest, near the city of Guwahati in Assam. It represents a third Indian species of the P. mucronata species group in the subgenus Myrmhopla. Polyrhachis Smith, 1857 is a genus of ants, found widely across the Old-World tropics, with significant diversity across Southeast Asia. The discovery and characterisation of this species clearly indicate the need to revise the classification key of the genus Polyrhachis. As a step towards this, we present an updated key to the species of the mucronata group of Polyrhachis (Myrmhopla), including the new species. This finding contributes to a deeper understanding of the taxonomic diversity of Polyrhachis and highlights the unexpected importance of urban and fragmented forest areas in sustaining tropical ant biodiversity. 

The shift from carbonaceous sources to cleaner alternatives necessitates reorienting and optimizing energy supply chains. Despite technological advancements, energy security remains susceptible to disruptions caused by geopolitical tensions, resource constraints, and market fluctuations. This chapter explores how genetic simulations, leveraging metaheuristic optimization techniques, facilitate a trade-off between the resilience and cost-effectiveness of green hydrogen supply chains. A data-driven case study examines the first-level viability of the envisaged green hydrogen system, covering prominent pathways for production, storage, and transportation and distribution (T&D). Scenarios are ranked based on cost per tonne for production, storage, and T&D. Prima facie viable cases are further discussed considering supply chain vulnerability under geopolitical and logistical constraints. Such studies help strategize long-term energy security for developing economies like India.