Research Projects

The Central University of South Bihar (CUSB), located in Gaya, an Aspirational District of NITI Aayog, has rapidly emerged as a hub for teaching and research. With NAAC ‘A++’ accreditation and UGC Category I recognition, CUSB aims to address one of the most pressing challenges of our time: climate change and its impact on livestock, poultry, and fisheries in heat-stress-prone South Bihar. The IPCC Climate Change 2023 Report confirms that the planet has already warmed by 1.1°C above pre-industrial levels, while more than 80% of the world’s population lives under light-polluted skies. Yet, there is no systematic documentation of climate change and Artificial Night Light (ANL) effects on animal health and productivity in the Magadh region—marking a critical research gap this project will address. The project integrates long-term monitoring, experimental research, biomarker discovery, and field outreach to develop safe, ethical, endocrine-based interventions that improve thermal tolerance, reproductive performance, and feed efficiency. Outcomes will contribute to India’s food and nutritional security while supporting the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat. Alongside research, the program will build communication and writing skills, encourage competitive projects including public–private partnerships, train young scientists, and conduct outreach for the wider community. Year 1 will focus on baseline data collection for dairy, poultry, and fisheries, recording productivity, reproduction, and disease under natural heat and ANL stress. Protocols for biomarker analysis will be standardized, and laboratory capacity for endocrine assays will be strengthened. Year 2 will quantify heat and ANL effects on hypothalamus–pituitary axes (HPG, HPA, HPL/Gut-Brain) in indigenous and cross-bred species. Controlled experiments in farms and labs will link endocrine shifts with reproduction and productivity, generating the first comparative dataset for South Bihar. Year 3 will identify endocrine and molecular biomarkers of heat stress, reproduction, and disease susceptibility. Pilot mitigation strategies—including nutritional supplements, shading, and light-reduction—will be tested, with predictive models linking climate parameters to productivity. Year 4 will validate biomarker panels, conduct farmer demonstrations through experimental farms, deliver structured training to young scientists, and share findings with policymakers. Year 5 will integrate results into comprehensive mitigation strategies tailored for South Bihar’s agro-climatic conditions. Policy briefs and high-impact publications will ensure dissemination, while successful interventions will be scaled up through state agencies, NGOs, and private partners. By bridging fundamental science with applied innovation, the project will position CUSB as a national center of excellence in climate change and livestock research while building resilience in agriculture and nurturing the next generation of researchers.