Fossils of possibly largest snake to have ever lived found in Kutch, scientists say
New Delhi (PTI): Fossils recovered from Kutch in Gujarat may have belonged to the spine of one of the largest snakes to have ever lived, according to new research from the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee.
From the Panandhro Lignite Mine, researchers discovered 27 "mostly well-preserved" bones forming the snake's spinal column, or vertebra, with some connections still intact. They said the vertebrae appeared to be from a fully-grown animal.
The snake is estimated to be between roughly 11 and 15 metres long, comparable in size only to the extinct Titanoboa, known to be the longest snake to have ever lived, the researchers said. Owing to its size, it may have been a "slow-moving ambush predator," similar to an anaconda, they said. The findings are published in the journal Scientific Reports.
The researchers have named this newly discovered snake species 'Vasuki Indicus' (V. Indicus) after the mythical snake round the neck of the Hindu deity Shiva and in reference to its country of discovery, India. V. Indicus is part of the now extinct madtsoiidae family, known to have lived across a broad geography, including Africa, Europe and India, they added.
The authors said the snake represented a "distinct lineage" originating in India which then spread via southern Europe to Africa during the Eocene, about 56 to 34 million years ago. The first ancestors and close relatives of the modern mammal species are said to have appeared in the Eocene period.
The authors dated the fossils to the Middle Eocene period, roughly 47 million years ago.
The vertebrae, measuring between 38 and 62 millimetres in length, and between 62 and 111 millimetres in width, suggested V. Indicus to possibly have had a broad, cylindrical body, the researchers said.
They extrapolated the measurements of V. Indicus to be between 10.9 and 15.2 metres in length.
Despite uncertainties in estimates, the researchers said the snake was comparable in size to Titanoboa, the fossils of which were first discovered in the 2000s from present day Colombia.
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Try not to make AI or mobile phone the master: PM Modi tells students
New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said students should not let technology enslave them, but use it to increase their potential.
In the second episode of Pariksha Pe Charcha, he noted that mobile phones have become masters of some children, who cannot even eat food without them or without a television screen.
"It means that you have become slaves of mobiles. You have to make a firm resolve that you will not let technology enslave you," Modi said in an interaction with students that took place in Coimbatore, Raipur, Guwahati and Gujarat.
The prime minister urged students not to be afraid of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, but use them to hone their skills and improve potential.
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"We should try not to make AI or mobile the master; some kids do not eat food unless they see the smartphone. We can use AI efficiently," he said.
The prime minister also urged students to practice previous papers and have a good sleep to perform better at examinations.
"You will never feel tense after preparing well for exams. A good night’s sleep will keep you cheerful for the rest of the day,” Modi said.
The prime minister said he felt good to see that the students of Classes 10 and 12 in the country can also carry the dream of Viksit Bharat 2047 in their minds.
"This is a matter of great happiness for me. We should adopt the habits of developed countries—we should turn off engines at red lights, we should not leave food, and should reduce wastage... Discipline is very important in our life..."
The prime minister recalled the role of his teachers in his days as a student and their insistence on exercise to remain healthy.
"If you ask any great person, they will say that their mother and teachers helped shape their life,” Modi said.
On leadership, the prime minister said a key quality was the ability to communicate better.
"To become a leader, develop a mindset to take initiative. Leadership does not only mean contesting elections. A key leadership quality is the ability to communicate your thoughts clearly and effectively to at least ten people,” the prime minister said.
The first episode of the ninth edition of Pariksha Pe Charcha was aired last week where the prime minister advised students to listen to everyone's advice but change lifestyle pattern only when they want to. He also told them that education should not feel like a burden and advised them to focus not only on marks but also on improving life.
Launched in 2018, Pariksha Pe Charcha began as student interaction in townhall format before expanding into one of India's largest education engagement exercises. Registrations rose from about 38.8 lakh in 2023 to 2.26 crore in 2024, before touching 3.53 crore in 2025 - a milestone that earned the programme a Guinness World Record. The ninth edition broke the previous record with over 4.5 crore registrations.
