Rajnath Singh was joined by the Republic of Korea’s Minister of Patriots & Veterans Affairs in unveiling the war memorial at the Imjingak Park in Seoul.

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday (May 21, 2026) inaugurated the Indian War Memorial in South Korea’s Seoul and paid tributes to the Indian soldiers during a commemorative ceremony.

The War memorial has been constructed as part of commemorative events marking the 75th anniversary of the Korean War. It stands as a tribute to the courage, sacrifice and humanitarian service rendered by the 60 Para Field Ambulance of the Indian Army and the Custodian Force of India (CFI) during the war.

Mr. Singh was joined by the Republic of Korea’s Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs in unveiling the war memorial at Imjingak Park in Seoul.

The two Ministers laid a wreath at the memorial and paid homage to the brave Indian soldiers, whose service continues to be remembered by the people of the Republic of Korea, with deep respect and gratitude.

The ceremony was attended by senior officials from both countries, military representatives, veterans, members of the diplomatic community and distinguished guests. The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs of Korea dedicated this month in honour of Colonel Rangaraj.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh highlighted the enduring legacy of India’s contribution to peace and humanitarian assistance on the Korean Peninsula and stated that the shared history and sacrifices of the two nations continue to serve as a strong foundation for the India-South Korea Special Strategic Partnership. He added that commemorating the role of Indian troops helps strengthen people-to-people understanding and brings renewed attention to the historic bonds between the two countries.

He also extended appreciation to the Korean government for its valuable support and cooperation in the establishment of the memorial. The Indian War Memorial has been constructed in the same area where the CFI had established the ‘HIND NAGAR’ in September 1954, housing almost 22,000 prisoners of war till their peaceful repatriation.

The commemoration served as an important effort to honour a significant yet relatively lesser-known chapter of shared India-Republic of Korea history. The contributions of Indian personnel during the Korean War remain a powerful symbol of India’s long-standing commitment to peace, humanitarian assistance and international cooperation.

The inauguration of the Indian War Memorial also marked the conclusion of Rajnath Singh’s four-day visit to Vietnam and South Korea.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Tushar Kumar, a 23-yr-old Labour Party member took charge as mayor of Elstree and Borehamwood town in eastern UK. 

Rohtak-born Tushar Kumar has become the youngest-ever Indian-origin mayor in the United Kingdom (UK).

Tushar, 23, a Labour Party member, took charge as mayor of Elstree and Borehamwood, a town in eastern UK.

His family, originally from Rohna village in Haryana’s Sonepat district, shifted to Rohtak, where Tushar was born, before moving to UK with his parents–Sunil Dhaiya and Praveen Rani–in 2013. A graduate from King’s College London, he is currently pursuing his postgraduation.

Speaking to HT about his journey, Tushar said his family has long been associated with community welfare and civic initiatives in Britain.

“In 2023, I became a councillor at the age of 20, representing a local council in eastern England. Two years later, I became deputy mayor and now the youngest mayor,” he said.

His mother also serves as a councillor while his father is a businessman. “As Mayor, I want to support local organisations, inspire more young people to enter politics and continue serving society,” he added.

Recalling his political journey, Tushar said neither he nor his family had any political background when they arrived in Britain. “We started with social and charity work, and gradually people gave us the opportunity to represent them,” he said.

Drawing a comparison between politics in India and the UK, Tushar observed that political growth in Britain is often shaped more by capability and public service than by family lineage. “In the UK, people look at your calibre and commitment towards the community. Age is not necessarily a barrier, although being young did bring its own challenges,” he said.

Speaking about the family’s social initiatives, Tushar said, “We teach Hindi free of cost and also have an MoU with Delhi University for British-born children to learn Hindi through both online and offline classes,” he added.

He added that the Indian community in the area is relatively small compared to the Jewish population, his family remained actively involved in charity and cultural activities. Despite settling abroad, Tushar said his family still remains connected to its roots in Haryana and they also own a house there. “The last time I visited India was in 2025, and we are planning to come to Rohtak again soon,” he said.

Looking ahead, Tushar said he now aspires to become a member of Parliament in Britain and hopes to play a larger role in British politics. “Hopefully, one day I would become the Prime Minister of Britain,” he said.

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headline edited)

The Indian Air Force in a post on X said that Squadron Leader Saanya’s historic achievement marks a proud milestone for the IAF and is an inspiration for aspiring aviators across the nation.

In another major milestone for women in the Indian armed forces, Squadron Leader Saanya has scripted history by becoming the first woman officer in the Indian Air Force (IAF) to earn the prestigious Category-A Qualified Flying Instructor (QFI) qualification.

The achievement marks a significant milestone for women officers in military aviation and highlights the growing role of women in operational and training leadership positions within the Indian armed forces.

Proud milestone for IAF

In a post on X, the IAF said, “Excellence takes flight. Squadron Leader Saanya achieved a historic first by becoming the first woman officer to earn the coveted Cat-A Qualified Flying Instructor (QFI) qualification.”

Highlighting her achievement, the Air Force added, “Her achievement embodies dedication and relentless pursuit of excellence. A proud milestone for the IAF and an inspiration for aspiring aviators across the nation.”

Excellence takes flight.

Sqn Ldr Saanya achieved a historic first by becoming the first woman officer to earn the coveted Cat-A Qualified Flying Instructor (QFI) qualification. Her achievement embodies dedication and relentless pursuit of excellence.
A proud milestone for the… pic.twitter.com/K6hWya0iUi

— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) May 18, 2026

Know all about IAF’s cat-A qualified flying instructor

The Air Force follows a structured grading system to assess the instructional expertise of its pilots. While Category-C is meant for trainee or probationary instructors and Category-B for instructors qualified to provide standard flying training, Category-A represents the highest level in the system. Officers with Cat-A qualification are authorised to train other instructors and evaluate advanced flying skills.

A Category-A Qualified Flying Instructor (QFI) trains young aviators, assesses their progress, rectifies errors, builds confidence, and prepares them for the complex flying skills required for air combat operations.

The role demands exceptional flying ability along with patience, composure, clarity in instruction, and deep technical expertise. 

According to public service records, Sqn Ldr Saanya belongs to the Flying Branch and was commissioned into the IAF on June 20, 2015, through the 42 SSC (W) FP Course. She was promoted to the rank of Flight Lieutenant in 2017 and Squadron Leader in 2021.

source/content: indiatvnews.com (headline edited)

Efforts needed to bring back copper plates issued by an 8th-century Pandya ruler from the British Museum; inscriptions on Leiden copper plates record a Chola gift of land to build a Buddhist vihara.

The return of the Chola-era Anaimangalam copper plates charter from the Netherlands this week marks a watershed event in the history of the repatriation of India’s invaluable bronzes, stone sculptures, and carved temple pilasters, according to historians and archaeologists.

The artefacts, which have been in the possession of Leiden University for almost two centuries and are popularly known as the Leiden copper plates, were presented in a ceremony at the Hague on Saturday (May 16), in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Dutch counterpart Rob Jetten.

This is the first time that the Chola-period copper plates are being brought back to India,” said V. Vedachalam, an archaeologist who specialises in the Pandya, Pallava and the Chola copper plate charters, welcoming the development. “We should make efforts to bring back the Velvikkudi copper plates issued by the Pandya ruler Parantaka Nedunchadaiyan (regnal years 765 -815 CE) from the British Museum, London, to Tamil Nadu,” he added.

‘Enduring record of Tamil history’

Former Tamil Nadu Archaeology Minister Thangam Thenarasu, who is also a scholar of Chola history, said the Anaimangalam copper plate inscriptions were “enduring records of Tamil history, culture, and the grandeur of the Chola era.”

The late R. Nagaswamy, who was the director of the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology, had described the artefacts in this way in a 2009 lecture: “One of the most important copper plates of Raja Raja Chola I (regnal years 985-1014 CE) is from Anaimangalam near Nagapattinam.”

The plates recorded Raja Raja Chola I’s gift of land at Anaimangalam village to a Buddha vihara, he had said. This vihara was built by the king Sri Mara Vijayotunga Varman of Java in the name of his father Sri Chudamani Varman, and so was called the Chulamanivarma Vihara. Unfortunately, the tower of the vihara itself was demolished by Jesuit priests in 1867, with the permission of the colonial government of Madras.

How Saivite kings helped build a Buddhist vihara

“The plates are an interesting example of how a Saivite king helped in building a Buddha vihara,” Nagaswamy said, according to an article published in The Hindu on December 25, 2009.

While Raja Raja Chola I gave the order for building the Buddha vihara, it was his son Rajendra Chola I (regnal years 1014-1044 CE), who implemented the command. This is mentioned in the larger Leiden plates, Dr. Vedachalam said. The Chulamanivarma Vihara was also called the Raja Raja Cholan Perumpalli (or the big vihara), during the time of Rajendra Chola I.

“The Leiden copper plates… are a complete set of 21 large plates and three small plates. The large plates were committed to writing by Rajendra Chola I in five Sanskrit plates and 16 Tamil plates, honouring his father Raja Raja’s oral commitment,” says K. Kirubanidhi in the book titled, Epic saga of the Cholas: Their art, temples and heritage, first published by The Hindu in August 2023.

The return of the Chola-era Anaimangalam copper plates charter from the Netherlands this week marks a watershed event in the history of the repatriation of India’s invaluable bronzes, stone sculptures, and carved temple pilasters, according to historians and archaeologists.

The artefacts, which have been in the possession of Leiden University for almost two centuries and are popularly known as the Leiden copper plates, were presented in a ceremony at the Hague on Saturday (May 16), in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Dutch counterpart Rob Jetten.

“This is the first time that the Chola-period copper plates are being brought back to India,” said V. Vedachalam, an archaeologist who specialises in the Pandya, Pallava and the Chola copper plate charters, welcoming the development. “We should make efforts to bring back the Velvikkudi copper plates issued by the Pandya ruler Parantaka Nedunchadaiyan (regnal years 765 -815 CE) from the British Museum, London, to Tamil Nadu,” he added.

‘Enduring record of Tamil history’

Former Tamil Nadu Archaeology Minister Thangam Thenarasu, who is also a scholar of Chola history, said the Anaimangalam copper plate inscriptions were “enduring records of Tamil history, culture, and the grandeur of the Chola era.”

The late R. Nagaswamy, who was the director of the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology, had described the artefacts in this way in a 2009 lecture: “One of the most important copper plates of Raja Raja Chola I (regnal years 985-1014 CE) is from Anaimangalam near Nagapattinam.”

The plates recorded Raja Raja Chola I’s gift of land at Anaimangalam village to a Buddha vihara, he had said. This vihara was built by the king Sri Mara Vijayotunga Varman of Java in the name of his father Sri Chudamani Varman, and so was called the Chulamanivarma Vihara. Unfortunately, the tower of the vihara itself was demolished by Jesuit priests in 1867, with the permission of the colonial government of Madras.

How Saivite kings helped build a Buddhist vihara

“The plates are an interesting example of how a Saivite king helped in building a Buddha vihara,” Nagaswamy said, according to an article published in The Hindu on December 25, 2009.

While Raja Raja Chola I gave the order for building the Buddha vihara, it was his son Rajendra Chola I (regnal years 1014-1044 CE), who implemented the command. This is mentioned in the larger Leiden plates, Dr. Vedachalam said. The Chulamanivarma Vihara was also called the Raja Raja Cholan Perumpalli (or the big vihara), during the time of Rajendra Chola I.

“The Leiden copper plates… are a complete set of 21 large plates and three small plates. The large plates were committed to writing by Rajendra Chola I in five Sanskrit plates and 16 Tamil plates, honouring his father Raja Raja’s oral commitment,” says K. Kirubanidhi in the book titled, Epic saga of the Cholas: Their art, temples and heritage, first published by The Hindu in August 2023.

“The small plates in Tamil, later given effect to by Kulottunga Chola I (regnal years 1070-1120 CE), talk about the additional grants made to the sangha associated with the vihara in Nagapattinam,” Mr. Kirubanidhi wrote.

Dr. Vedachalam added that two emissaries from the Javanese kingdom appealed to Kulottunga Chola I to ensure the implementation of Raja Raja Chola I’s order. Kulottunga not only gave them that assurance but made a grant of 4,500 kalam (a unit of measurement) of paddy plus land to the Chulamanivarma vihara. This was in addition to Raja Raja Chola I’s grant of 8,943 kalam of paddy.

Chola insignia

The Leiden plates were strung together by a ring bearing the royal insignia of the Chola dynasty. These included a tiger, the royal emblem of the Cholas, the two fish of the Pandyas, the bow of the Cheras, two chamaras, the royal parasol, lamps, and a swastika. The inclusion of the two fish and the bow signified that the Cholas had defeated the Pandyas and the Cheras.

The bigger Leiden plates carry the word ‘Anaimangalam’ in Tamil on the royal emblem, and a short sloka in Sanskrit in praise of Rajendra Chola I, Dr. Vedachalam said. The small plates carry a brief sloka lauding Kulottunga Chola I.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Demand for the company’s technology has surged amid rising global geopolitical tensions, including the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

ICEYE, a global leader in space-based intelligence, is set to establish its first Indian production facility within the next year to manufacture small satellites for defence, surveillance and environmental monitoring.

Rafal Modrzewski, CEO and co-founder of ICEYE, said that the facility will serve as the company’s primary manufacturing hub for the Asia-Pacific region, complementing its existing operations in Europe and the US.

The company’s satellite constellations currently serve sectors ranging from defence and intelligence to insurance and emergency management. Demand for ICEYE’s technology has surged amid rising global geopolitical tensions, including the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

“There is a strong alignment between what India needs and what we offer. Globally, we are seeing two key trends: increasing defence spending and rapid adoption of space-based capabilities,” Modrzewski told PTI in an interview.

“India reflects both these trends. Countries are learning from recent conflicts that space is the next frontier for intelligence and defence. We specialise in defence and intelligence, so naturally, we see India as an important market for our solutions,” he said.

Modrzewski said ICEYE specialises in defence intelligence capabilities, particularly national intelligence systems based on space-based data.

Traditionally, intelligence systems relied on multiple data sources, with space-based data being just one layer.

Today, that is changing as space-based assets are increasingly becoming the primary source of intelligence. We manufacture small satellites at scale, which allows us to deploy large constellations quickly,” he said.

“We provide not just satellites, but also ground segment infrastructure and training to governments globally. Our customers span Europe, Japan, the Middle East, Brazil, Canada and the United States,” he added.

Declining to share the quantum of investment that ICEYE is looking to make in India, Modrzewski said the company aims to manufacture around 10 satellites in the first year and will scale it up to 20 to 40 satellites annually in the successive years.

“Investment will be significant, likely in the range of tens of millions of dollars, though exact numbers are still being finalised,” he said.

ICEYE owns the world’s most advanced SAR (synthetic aperture radar) satellite constellation and provides intelligence and surveillance services to its customers.

“Yes, it is fair to say that India could become our Asia-Pacific hub, alongside Europe and the United States,” Modrzewski said.

He said the plan is to put a supply chain and manufacturing facility in place in India within the next six to 12 months.

Modrzewski said ICEYE is keen to have a foothold in India as it represents a strong growth opportunity due to a large and highly skilled talent pool, a rapidly growing economy and increasing complexity of challenges requiring advanced intelligence solutions.

At present, ICEYE produces around 50 satellites annually and it plans to take the number beyond 100 annually by 2028.

“We are planning to deploy hundreds more satellites in the coming years

“Satellites manufactured in India will serve global markets, while also supporting local demand. We are not making our India presence dependent solely on government orders. We are committed to building here regardless of the order book,” Modrzewski said.

“We already have customers in India through our existing operations. We are in active discussions with both existing and potential customers, including government stakeholders, but cannot disclose details at this stage,” he said.

Modrzewski indicated that ICEYE is holding talks with the relevant government departments on its ambitious plan.

“We are an established company and can operate independently. However, we value open dialogue and collaboration with the government, especially where there is alignment in capabilities and priorities. So far, we have not encountered any major challenges,” he said.

The ICEYE CEO also said that the company is looking at a potential collaboration in India including with satellite launch providers such as ISRO and private players, manufacturers of electronics and other components, technology partners and players in the defence ecosystem such as drones and integrated systems.

Founded and headquartered in Finland, ICEYE operates globally with over 1,000 employees across Poland, Spain, the UK, Australia, Japan, the UAE, Greece and the US.

It has crossed approximately USD 280 million in revenue this year and is aiming to double it. “India is a priority market for us this year, and we are committed to building a strong presence here,” Modrzewski said.

ICEYE, a global leader in space-based intelligence, is set to establish its first Indian production facility within the next year to manufacture small satellites for defence, surveillance and environmental monitoring.

Rafal Modrzewski, CEO and co-founder of ICEYE, said that the facility will serve as the company’s primary manufacturing hub for the Asia-Pacific region, complementing its existing operations in Europe and the US.

The company’s satellite constellations currently serve sectors ranging from defence and intelligence to insurance and emergency management. Demand for ICEYE’s technology has surged amid rising global geopolitical tensions, including the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

“There is a strong alignment between what India needs and what we offer. Globally, we are seeing two key trends: increasing defence spending and rapid adoption of space-based capabilities,” Modrzewski told PTI in an interview.

“India reflects both these trends. Countries are learning from recent conflicts that space is the next frontier for intelligence and defence. We specialise in defence and intelligence, so naturally, we see India as an important market for our solutions,” he said.

Modrzewski said ICEYE specialises in defence intelligence capabilities, particularly national intelligence systems based on space-based data.

Traditionally, intelligence systems relied on multiple data sources, with space-based data being just one layer.

“Today, that is changing as space-based assets are increasingly becoming the primary source of intelligence. We manufacture small satellites at scale, which allows us to deploy large constellations quickly,” he said.

“We provide not just satellites, but also ground segment infrastructure and training to governments globally. Our customers span Europe, Japan, the Middle East, Brazil, Canada and the United States,” he added.

Declining to share the quantum of investment that ICEYE is looking to make in India, Modrzewski said the company aims to manufacture around 10 satellites in the first year and will scale it up to 20 to 40 satellites annually in the successive years.

“Investment will be significant, likely in the range of tens of millions of dollars, though exact numbers are still being finalised,” he said.

ICEYE owns the world’s most advanced SAR (synthetic aperture radar) satellite constellation and provides intelligence and surveillance services to its customers.

“Yes, it is fair to say that India could become our Asia-Pacific hub, alongside Europe and the United States,” Modrzewski said.

He said the plan is to put a supply chain and manufacturing facility in place in India within the next six to 12 months.

Modrzewski said ICEYE is keen to have a foothold in India as it represents a strong growth opportunity due to a large and highly skilled talent pool, a rapidly growing economy and increasing complexity of challenges requiring advanced intelligence solutions.

At present, ICEYE produces around 50 satellites annually and it plans to take the number beyond 100 annually by 2028.

“We are planning to deploy hundreds more satellites in the coming years

“Satellites manufactured in India will serve global markets, while also supporting local demand. We are not making our India presence dependent solely on government orders. We are committed to building here regardless of the order book,” Modrzewski said.

“We already have customers in India through our existing operations. We are in active discussions with both existing and potential customers, including government stakeholders, but cannot disclose details at this stage,” he said.

Modrzewski indicated that ICEYE is holding talks with the relevant government departments on its ambitious plan.

“We are an established company and can operate independently. However, we value open dialogue and collaboration with the government, especially where there is alignment in capabilities and priorities. So far, we have not encountered any major challenges,” he said.

The ICEYE CEO also said that the company is looking at a potential collaboration in India including with satellite launch providers such as ISRO and private players, manufacturers of electronics and other components, technology partners and players in the defence ecosystem such as drones and integrated systems.

Founded and headquartered in Finland, ICEYE operates globally with over 1,000 employees across Poland, Spain, the UK, Australia, Japan, the UAE, Greece and the US.

It has crossed approximately USD 280 million in revenue this year and is aiming to double it. “India is a priority market for us this year, and we are committed to building a strong presence here,” Modrzewski said.

Last week, ICEYE handed over MikroSAR, Poland’s sovereign radar satellite reconnaissance system, less than 12 months after contract signing.

According to publicly available data, this marks the fastest deployment of an operational satellite programme in the world.

The sovereign satellite system gives the Polish Armed Forces complete independence in satellite reconnaissance, allowing them to acquire imagery from anywhere in the world, day or night and in any weather.

Each satellite in the constellation carries a SAR radar that emits microwave pulses and turns their reflections into detailed images with a resolution as fine as 25cm.

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)

‘I have made a new decision. We will provide Rs 30,000 immediately after the birth of a third child and Rs 40,000 for a fourth child. Isn’t this the right decision?’ Chandrababu Naidu said on Saturday.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday announced incentives of Rs 30,000 for the birth of a third child and Rs 40,000 for a fourth, as part of efforts to reverse the state’s declining population trend.

Addressing a public meeting at Narsannapeta in Srikakulam district, Naidu said the government had taken the decision and would announce further details within a month.

I have made a new decision. We will provide Rs 30,000 immediately after the birth of a third child and Rs 40,000 for a fourth child. Isn’t this the right decision?” Naidu said on the sidelines of the SwarnaAndhra–SwachAndhra cleanliness programme.

Although he had once advocated population control measures, the CM said the time had now come for society to work together to increase the birth rate.

Naidu’s latest announcement follows an earlier proposal to provide a Rs 25,000 incentive for the birth of a second child.

On March 5, the CM informed the Assembly that the state government was considering an incentive of Rs 25,000 for couples having a second child.

However, Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav later told PTI that the government had decided to extend the incentives to families having a third child and beyond.

According to Naidu, some couples are opting to have only one child as their incomes rise, while others choose to have a second child only if their firstborn is not a boy.

As a result, he warned that the state’s population growth rate is declining and stressed the importance of maintaining the replacement-level Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of 2.1.

Naidu noted that a population remains stable only when the average fertility rate is 2.1 children per woman. He claimed that declining populations and ageing societies in several countries have negatively affected their economies.

Rejecting the notion that children are a burden, Naidu argued that they are an asset and said he would prove it.

Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Telegraph Online staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)

Lung cancer is among the most common cancers in India, with about 80,000 people detected with it annually.

Cancer patients and their caretakers in India often spend long, arduous hours in hospitals for conventional treatment.

But now with the launch of the world’s first subcutaneous or under-the-skin immunotherapy for lung cancer on Thursday, treatment is available in approximately seven minutes.

Launched by Swiss pharma giant Roche on Thursday, Tecentriq SC (atezolizumab), a breakthrough innovation, promises to dramatically improve the cancer treatment experience of patients, reduce treatment time by 80 per cent, lower indirect treatment costs, minimise the need to travel long distances, and enable caregivers to spend less time in hospitals.

Approved by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) three months ago for treating patients with adjuvant and metastatic Lung Cancer (NSCLC), it costs Rs. 3.7 lakh per dose, given once in a 21-day cycle. The drug is also available to CGHS cardholders.

Lung cancer is among the most common cancers in India, with about 80,000 people detected annually.

Driven heavily by smoking, especially beedis and air pollution, it is the most common cancer among Indian males and a leading cause of cancer-related mortality, with 80-90 per cent of patients diagnosed with it at advanced stages.

Roche Pharma India Chief Medical Officer Dr Sivabalan Sivanesan said, “Cancer care is evolving beyond survival outcomes alone towards approaches that also prioritise patient experience, convenience and quality of life.”

“With Tecentriq SC, we are bringing an innovation that meaningfully reduces treatment time while maintaining the established efficacy and safety profile of Tecentriq. We believe such advances can play an important role in enabling more patient-centric and future-ready cancer care delivery in India.”

Dr Sajjan Rajpurohit, Director and Head of Medical Oncology at Medanta, said, “Immunotherapy has transformed the treatment landscape for people living with cancer, but conventional IV administration can be long and arduous for patients while also placing significant pressure on tertiary care hospitals. Repeated hospital visits and long treatment hours add to the emotional and physical burden of cancer care. Subcutaneous administration can allow patients to be treated much more quickly and easily, improving their overall treatment experience while reducing waiting times and treatment delays.”

Approved in 85 countries, Tecentriq SC has benefited 10,000 patients globally. It has the potential to treat up to five patients in the time required to treat one patient via intravenous infusion, helping optimise healthcare resources.

Dr Rajpurohit said the drug can be used as a monotherapy (chemotherapy-free) in eligible adults with adjuvant and metastatic NSCLC.

“We have been using the drug in our hospital since February. It has reduced both mental and physical pain for our patients. Subcutaneous delivery reduces pain, is effective, and has fewer side effects. We are moving away from more and more invasive ways to use more comfortable, more accurate ways to either diagnose or treat our patients,” he added.

Dr Amit Rauthan, Consultant and HOD of Medical Oncology at Manipal Hospital, Bangalore, said, “India’s growing cancer burden requires us to rethink how cancer care is delivered. Innovations such as subcutaneous immunotherapy have the potential to simplify treatment administration, reduce pressure on hospital beds and support more decentralised models of care beyond large metro hospitals. Shorter administration formats can help improve accessibility and make cancer care more practical for patients and healthcare systems alike.”

He further said that the entire process of receiving immunotherapy was very cumbersome for patients. “But now with this innovation, things have changed. From the patient’s point of view, they now have to go to an infusion chair, take their dose, and then they are fit to go back home. Not like earlier times when they had to spend hours getting their treatment.”

“From an oncologist’s perspective, it’s again very useful. In our setups, we have limited daycare beds. Sometimes we have to rush through multiple shifts: patients come in the morning, go through treatment, and when they finish, the next patient is taken in. We run through beds because many of these drips and infusions of immunotherapy take a long time. So having a subcutaneous injection for us is a boon because patients can take it up very quickly and finish their treatment fast, and we save the chair time or bed time,” he added.

“This drug is a win-win for the patient, doctor, hospitals, and various therapy centres. It will have a major impact on most patients’ lives,” he added. 

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

Mr. Jaishankar said Prime Minister Narendra Modi attached high importance to creating a database of the Girmitya community and conducting research on its legacy.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said an archival cooperation agreement between India and Trinidad and Tobago would help members of the Indian diaspora trace their ancestral roots and reconnect with families, as he underlined New Delhi’s efforts to preserve the legacy of the Girmitya community.

Girmitya refers to Indian indentured labourers transported by the British to colonies in Fiji, South Africa, Mauritius, and the Caribbean between the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Addressing a gathering at the historic Nelson Island on Saturday (May 9, 2026), Mr. Jaishankar recalled the arrival of the first Indian indentured labourers in Trinidad and Tobago 180 years ago. He paid tribute to their “fortitude, determination and resolve” in building new lives under difficult circumstances.

He said the immigrants had carried with them their traditions, faith and way of life, adding that it was fitting for such history to be preserved as a heritage site.

Mr. Jaishankar said Prime Minister Narendra Modi attached high importance to creating a database of the Girmitya community and conducting research on its legacy.

He said India was working towards establishing a dedicated Girmitya Studies Centre on Modi’s directions.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

The changes are likely to be included in final rules that are due to be published in the next couple of months after the country opened its nuclear generation sector to private and foreign players last year; India aims to expand nuclear capacity to 100 gigawatts by 2047 from about 8 gigawatts at present as part of its clean energy strategy.

India plans to reduce the size of exclusion zones around nuclear plants to free up significant amounts of land for reactor expansions, three officials familiar with the matter said, in a move to attract private investment that is likely to face backlash from opposition parties and the public.

At present, all nuclear reactors in India have a minimum buffer of about 1 km (0.62 miles) around reactors where no habitation or economic activity is allowed, a provision meant to keep radiation risks at a distance.

India’s atomic energy regulator and the Department of Atomic Energy have approved an “in principle” plan to reduce these buffers, the three officials said. They requested anonymity because they are not authorised to speak to the media.

The changes are likely to be included in final rules that are due to be published in the next couple of months after the country opened its nuclear generation sector to private and foreign players last year. India aims to expand nuclear capacity to 100 gigawatts by 2047 from about 8 gigawatts at present as part of its clean energy strategy.

The in-principle agreement between the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board and the Department of Atomic Energy to reduce the exclusion zones around nuclear plants to free up land for expansion as well as the size of the cuts have not been previously reported. The proposal was not part of a bill that was approved by parliament and it is expected to be set out in detailed rules that have yet to be released.

India’s Department of Atomic Energy, its Atomic Energy Regulatory Board and the Prime Minister’s Office did not respond to queries from Reuters.

The revisions to the buffer zones would cut the land needs by half for large reactors and by nearly two-thirds for small units, potentially allowing two to three times more capacity on the sites, according to an internal presentation reviewed by Reuters.

With smaller exclusion zones, a 10-reactor nuclear complex with 700 megawatts of capacity each could be set up within less than 700 hectares, the presentation showed. India’s existing nuclear plants typically use around 1,000 hectares of land.

Small modular reactors could also be placed in industrial zones for captive use, two of the officials said. And cutting exclusion zones would also allow existing plants to add new reactors more easily using shared infrastructure, the presentation said.

The change is aimed at easing land constraints, a key hurdle, as the private sector – including Tata Power, Adani Power and Reliance Industries – looks to invest in the sector.

The three officials said the exclusion zones are being reduced because of safer reactor technologies, in line with global norms followed by countries like the US and France that do not fix exclusion distances.

Strict siting rules – including distance from human settlements and safety risks – along with lengthy land acquisition processes, often exceeding four to five years, make identifying new sites difficult.

The decision on exclusion zones, however, risks a backlash in a country where nuclear power has faced public opposition despite no major accident record.

For much of the public, nuclear power in India is closely associated with radiation risks and the exclusion zones serve as a measurable assurance that risk is kept at a distance.

Some Indian lawmakers, while debating the opening of the nuclear sector in parliament in December, said the reforms prioritised private investment over safety and flagged risks including radiation and nuclear waste. Opposition leaders said the legal amendments risked weakening nuclear safety safeguards by diluting liability protections, easing reactor siting rules and expanding private participation without stronger independent oversight.

The bill was cleared by parliament despite the safety concerns raised by opposition lawmakers during the debate.

“The reduction is a meaningful shift that has been under discussion for nearly 18 months,” said R. Srikanth, the engineering dean at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, a research institute. “Data from existing plants show that radiation levels around them are significantly lower than natural background levels in parts of coastal Kerala and Tamil Nadu.”

“Unfortunately, good news of the Indian nuclear power has been kept hidden from the public,” he said. “We need to overcome this all-pervasive sense of secrecy around civilian nuclear power plants.”

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)

What is an orbital data centre? Why are global firms interested? What does the Pixxel-Sarvam partnership involve?

On May 4, Pixxel, a Bengaluru-based imaging satellite company, said that it would partner with the AI firm Sarvam to launch what is being described as India’s first ‘orbital data centre’ satellite, named Pathfinder. This is expected to be a 200 kg class satellite scheduled for orbit by the fourth quarter of 2026. It will carry datacentre-class GPUs (graphics processing units) alongside Pixxel’s hyperspectral imaging camera, the company’s bread-and-butter business.

What is an orbital data centre?

It is a constellation of satellites carrying the same kind of GPUs found in terrestrial data centres. It can train and run AI models in orbit rather than only relaying data to ground stations. Such a centre can do more demanding work than the low-power “edge” processors that conventional satellites use for tasks like signal compression. Edge computing on earth refers to the practice of running computation close to where data is generated rather than in a centralised cloud, and the same logic, applied in orbit, is what space-based compute promises to extend.

Pixxel’s Pathfinder is being built as a single-satellite demonstrator, designed to test whether ground-grade hardware can be made to function reliably in the harsh, hot environment of low Earth orbit. “It will start off as being one satellite, obviously, that we will try to launch before the end of this year,” Awais Ahmed, the company’s chief executive, told The Hindu.

Why are global firms suddenly interested?

Three factors have converged in the past two years, prompting large tech companies to strive towards making such centres real. Data centres are being constrained by limits on energy availability, land, water, and local regulation, all of which have been amplified by the demands of AI. In the right orbit, solar power is effectively continuous and offers free electricity, which proponents regard as the strongest argument for moving computation to space.

Earth observation satellites also generate detailed, heavy image files that are expensive to downlink; processing the data in orbit and beaming down only the conclusions has long been seen as a way to ease that bottleneck.

The third factor is competitive positioning. SpaceX CEO, Elon Musk said on X in 2025 that “simply scaling up Starlink V3 satellites, which have high-speed laser links, would work. SpaceX will be doing this.” He also argued that “Starship (the company’s most powerful rocket) could deliver 100GW/year to high Earth orbit within four to five years if we can solve the other parts of the equation.” Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin, Microsoft’s Azure Space, and Lonestar Data Holdings have already begun pilot deployments. None of these efforts has yet produced a commercial-scale orbital data centre.

What are the challenges?

The GPU chips powered by electricity from solar panels become hot. Now space may be cold, and common sense may suggest it is a natural sink for the heat. However, space is also empty and its vacuum eliminates convection. This is the mechanism by which warm air on earth is normally carried away from terrestrial servers; in orbit, a hot GPU chip is effectively an oven unable to fan away its own waste energy, with no air to carry it off. The only solution to this is radiation, which requires that heat be pumped through ammonia-filled loops to deployable panels, where it can be radiated as infrared light into space. The history of crewed spaceflight is studded with reminders of how unforgiving this regime can be.

Radiation damage is the second problem and one that has shaped the design of every long-duration mission flown to date. ‘Bit flips’ — where bits and bytes of computers randomly change — and long-term semiconductor degradation are caused by cosmic rays, and radiation-hardened chips, which govern most space hardware, typically lag commercial GPUs by years. Power requires storage for eclipse periods, and maintenance is effectively impossible without robotic servicing, so redundancy must be designed in from the start.

What does the Pixxel–Sarvam partnership actually involve?

The Pathfinder satellite will be designed, built, launched, and operated by Pixxel. Sarvam, an Indian AI firm, will provide what it describes as the AI backbone, with full-stack language models being run on the satellite’s GPU layer for both training and inference. Pixxel’s hyperspectral camera will be carried on the same platform, giving the mission an immediate use case: imagery captured in orbit can be analysed in orbit, with only the conclusions transmitted to Earth. Mr. Ahmed declined to disclose costs, the number of GPUs, or the launch provider, saying the choice between ISRO and SpaceX would be determined by slot availability. However, the Pixxel team has several experts who have worked with the Indian Space Research Organisation and have experience in thermal management in space.

Can data crunching in space ever be cheaper than on ground?

Not yet, and not for some time, on the available evidence. Mr. Ahmed said that a single satellite carrying a given number of GPUs is more expensive than the same hardware on Earth. The argument for eventual parity is built on three assumptions: that constellations will be scaled to tens of thousands of satellites; that launch costs will be reduced sharply once SpaceX’s Starship is operational; and that the absence of cooling and grid-power expenses in orbit will eventually offset the higher capital outlay. Mr. Ahmed set the horizon at 5-10 years. “It would take about 100-500 satellites to replace a data centre in India and if someone were to pay for it, we could launch them even in 24 months,” he said. Independent assessments have been markedly more cautious than the timelines offered by Pixxel and its peers. Edge processing on satellites is judged viable in the near term by academic and agency reviews, but a wholesale replacement of terrestrial cloud is treated as a 10-to-30-year proposition.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)