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Keeping in mind the detrimental effects of sprawl on the urban landscape, an accurate and thorough analysis of the spatiotemporal growth pattern is necessary for well-organized and sustainable urban progression. This study mainly focuses on urban sprawl and land use/land cover changes (LULCC) in Hisar City of Haryana, India. The extent of urban sprawl and changes in different land utilization over 30 years have been assessed using Shannon's entropy technique. Additionally, the land consumption rate and land absorption coefficient are introduced to support the quantitative evaluation of changes. Finally, the accuracy assessment (producer's, user's, and overall) with the Kappa coefficient was applied for spatial accuracy valuation to confirm the land use/land cover (LULC) reliability based on Landsat multi-temporal satellite data from 1991 to 2021. The study deals with water bodies, open/bare land, vegetation, agricultural lands and built-up area as LULC categories for changes evaluations. As per findings, the built-up area has increased more than twice (2,826.72 hectares) by the total area throughout the studied period, whereas farming land has lost almost half part (3,497.94 hectares). The urban sprawl and LULC change mechanisms have directly influenced other natural resources, including farming land. The increasing entropy values also confirm the sprawl or fragmented development in the city, mainly from the centre to the periphery. This unrestricted expansion has changed the geography of the concerned region and surpassed the land use plans. The suggested policy options may assist decision-makers in resolving the urban impediments, minimizing the additional loss of peripheral landscape, and achieving longterm urban growth planning in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research relates to the northern state of Haryana in India and to find out the objective of advancement and the existing gender gap in literacy with identification of responsible factors, the study uses the secondary data obtained from different censuses of India, National Crime Record Bureau and various other related sources. The disparity index is calculated to examine the gender gap in literacy whereas the correlation coefficient is used to ascertain its relationship with major determinants. Though the country and the state have achieved a reputed position with the literacy rate of 74.04 and 75.SS per cent respectively in 2011 yet inequality in the learning of male-female is a matter of concern for both entities. The figure for the district Mewat (which also lies at bottom in overall literacy as per ongoing census data) shows more discrimination in male-female learning, as here the male literacy rate is approximate to the double (69.97 per cent versus 36.60 per cent) of the females. To some extent, in areas like Mewat, Palwal and Fatehabad this discrimination is an outcome of societal stances, religion, fiscal or ethnical determinants and cultural stereotype as these factors of the environs have a direct or indirect association with literacy. So to ensure the equality and quality in education in basic or compulsory education, there is a need for massive investment on resources with communal awareness regarding significance as well as claptrap obstacles in the way of the learning [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ecology and breeding biology of Indian stone curlew was studied in two selected sites of Kurukshetra, Haryana. Indian stone curlew morphologically characterized by sandy black bill, large yellow eyes and prominent black and white wing bars. The nest was found to build on furrowed soil with fine clay, gravel or sand having free drainage during the months of March and April. The vegetation in breeding ground mainly comprised of species of Family Amaranthaceae, Solanaceae, Malvaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Polygonaceae and Asteraceae. During the breeding both the parents defend breeding ground against their natural enemies by maintaining the nest territory of 100 meters. Two eggs dirty white in colour with dark brown irregular patches were observed in each nest. The incubation period was 27 days. Both the parents participate in incubation and rearing the hatchlings. Hatchlings are precocial and start feeding after hatching. The young one migrates to feeding grounds after a span of approximately three to four months. Due to intensive anthropogenic activities, Indian stone curlew is facing habitat and breeding ground shrinkage. The farmers and town planners should be advised to manage some area with natural habitation to ensure its nesting, feeding and breeding success of this important species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]