Traditional institutions such as the Dorbar Shnong and the Hima continue to play central roles in enforcing community norms.

Long before climate conferences, carbon credits and biodiversity targets entered global vocabulary, communities in the hills of Meghalaya were already protecting forests with something far older — custom, belief and collective responsibility.

A new study published in the Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences found that centuries-old Khasi community institutions continue to play a crucial role in conserving forests.

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headlines edited)

Built on two acres near Ekana Cricket Stadium, the vatika is dedicated to the valour, indomitable courage and modern technical proficiency of India’s maritime borders.

Union defence minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated Navy’s memorial museum, the Nausena Shaurya Vatika, in his parliamentary constituency on Saturday and said it is a symbol of patriotism and military pride, showcasing the glorious tradition of the Indian Navy’s valour, bravery and service to the nation.

Built on two acres near Ekana Cricket Stadium, the vatika is dedicated to the valour, indomitable courage and modern technical proficiency of India’s maritime borders. It has been developed as Phase-II of the Nausena Shaurya Sangrahalaya, the Navy’s memorial museum.

The defence minister noted that the Indian Navy has played a crucial role in securing the country’s maritime boundaries and protecting national interests. Praising the courage and commitment of naval personnel, he said such memorials help take the country’s military history to every citizen.

He announced that a submarine will soon be installed at the naval memorial as well.

Addressing the event, chief minister Yogi Adityanath said tanks that helped the Indian Army win wars should be installed at important intersections across the state. He said they will inspire youth and increase respect for the Army and soldiers among people.

“Anyone visiting Lucknow can tour centres linked to India’s traditions, heritage and security, and feel proud of them. Nausena Shaurya Vatika has been set up as a new centre in that series,” he said.

He added that INS Gomti served India’s maritime security for a long time and was decommissioned from the Navy in 2022. It has now been installed on the banks of Lucknow’s lifeline, the Gomti river. The site will give youth from the state and the country information about the Indian Navy and inspire them to face life’s challenges.

Amid the global crisis triggered by disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz due to the ongoing conflict between Iran, the US and Israel, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi said India’s economic progress and future development depend on the seas. The Indian Navy ensures safe passage of maritime routes, he said.

Citing reasons for setting up a maritime museum in a landlocked state like Uttar Pradesh, Admiral Tripathi said, “First, centuries ago, even before trains, the region remained connected to the sea. Rivers like the Ganga and Gomti linked this area to the sea. Second, ships were built using timber from UP’s forests.

“Third, even today, the maximum number of officers, sailors and Agniveers in the Indian Navy come from Uttar Pradesh. The state also has the highest number of veterans. Also, the Gomti river. Though the sea is far from Uttar Pradesh, the state was never distant from the sea,” he added.

Admiral added that the equipment from INS Gomti installed at Nausena Shaurya Vatika came from a warship built at Mumbai’s Mazgaon Dockyard.

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headlines edited)

Jalpaiguri:

North Bengal will no longer resonate with the mesmerising melodies of the Sarinda that once recreated the calls of birds and animals with astonishing perfection. The magical strings of the traditional folk instrument fell silent forever with the demise of Padma Shri awardee and legendary Sarinda maestro Mangala Kanta Roy.

The iconic folk artiste breathed his last at his residence in Dhowlaguri village under Amguri Gram Panchayat of Maynaguri block in Jalpaiguri district early on Friday morning. He was 104.

His death has cast a deep shadow of grief across the folk music and cultural fraternity of North Bengal, where he was regarded as one of the finest exponents of the Sarinda — a traditional string instrument deeply rooted in the region’s folk heritage.

Family members said the veteran musician had been suffering from age-related ailments for nearly a month. His elder son, Umakanta Roy, said Mangala Kanta Roy was first taken to Maynaguri Hospital after falling ill on April 27 and was later referred to Jalpaiguri Medical College and Hospital for advanced treatment.

“Doctors informed us that he had developed a tumour-like condition in his throat. After his condition stabilised slightly, he was brought back home where treatment continued. However, for the last week he had almost stopped eating completely. He finally breathed his last around 3 am on Friday,” his son said.

Widely celebrated for his extraordinary mastery over the Sarinda, Mangala Kanta Roy earned recognition for preserving the rich folk traditions of North Bengal through his unique performances.

He is survived by his wife, three sons, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren.

source/content: milleniumpost.in (headline edited)

The bench permitted the Centre to issue a medical rescue protocol for trauma cases within three months, and directed all the states and UTs to operationalise the same within three months thereof.

Observing that right to trauma care of citizens is an integral part of right to life, the Supreme Court has asked all states and Union territories to operationalise within three months one helpline number ‘112’ for emergency responses and establish functional good samaritan grievance redressal system.

A bench of Justices J K Maheshwari and A S Chandurkar also directed the states to furnish periodic compliance reports by organising monthly meetings and uploading the minutes on the concerned portals.

The bench passed the order on Tuesday on a plea filed by Savelife Foundation which raised the need for trauma care to be recognised as a matter of right in the Indian public law system.

The top court said when a person suffers an accident or any such similar incident which requires urgent trauma care, they usually feel shock and disorientation, a sense of helplessness where they have to hope that those around them would somehow help them get the care that they need.

“In such a situation, every minute spent without medical intervention or urgent care significantly narrows the scope for survival. Swiftness, is quite literally, like medicine,” it said.

Referring to different stages of care after such an incident, the bench said a robust mechanism for trauma care must take a “bottom-up approach” which accounts for various stakeholders.

It said usually, no matter how strong the urge to be a good samaritan is, the bystander hesitates, suffers a reactive paralysis, sometimes due to fear of legal proceedings, of getting summoned to police station as a witness and sometimes due to the psychological weight of the situation itself.

“To address these barriers, what is required is a systemic intervention, creation of a uniform framework for trauma care, building public awareness, standardization of first aid skills and proper good samaritan laws; since right to trauma care of citizens is an integral part of right to life enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution of India,” the bench said.

It permitted the Centre to issue a medical rescue protocol for trauma cases within three months, and directed all the states and UTs to operationalise the same within three months thereof.

“All states/UTs shall ensure full automative industry standard-125 (AIS-125) compliance across all registered ambulances (public and private); mandate Global Positioning System (GPS)/vehicle location tracking device (VLTD) fitment and real-time integration with helpline 112; and conduct periodic structured audits (response times, quality of care, equipment, outcomes) with compliance reporting to a designated union-level authority, within a period of three months,” it said.

The bench asked the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to issue guidelines prescribing the requisite data format for a trauma registry within eight weeks.

It said all states/UTs would establish state trauma registries in conformity, covering all medical facilities and linking the same to a coordinated trauma registry within four months.

Besides passing other interim directions, the bench directed the Centre, states and UTs to undertake sustained, structured, multi-lingual mass-media campaigns covering helpline 112, the good samaritan protection under Section 134A of the Motor Vehicles Act and the grievance redressal system, the cashless treatment scheme (PM RAHAT) with defined obligations and compliance reporting within a month.

“In addition to the above, all states and UTs that have not yet adopted the cashless treatment of road accident victims scheme, 2025 – PM RAHAT, shall take necessary steps to fully operationalise the said schemes within a period of three months…,” it said, and listed the matter after four months.

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)

Survey conducted in 2023-2024 found reduced stunting, severe wasting among young children, improvements in services and nutrition for pregnant women, progress towards universal vaccination.

India made significant progress in maternal and child health, with improvements in vaccination and hospital births, and a drop in stunting and severe wasting among young children, according to the National Family Health Survey-6, for which field work was conducted in 2023 and 2024.

The Health Ministry released data from the survey on Friday (May 29, 2026). It showed that institutional deliveries rose from 88.6% in the previous round of the NFHS conducted between 2019 and 2021, to 90.6% this time. Full vaccination among children aged 12 to 23 months increased from 83.8% to 87.1%, while 95.6% of infants under six months were being breastfed during the survey period.

The survey, which is the first to be conducted after the COVID-19 pandemic, recorded improvements in child health indicators. Stunting among children under five years declined from 35.5% to 29.3%, severe wasting dropped from 7.7% to 5.2%, and the percentage of underweight children in this age group slipped marginally from 32.1% to 31.8%. Symptoms of acute respiratory infection among children fell from 2.8% to 1.9%, while the prevalence of severe diarrhoea also dropped to 0.5%.

The survey flagged the increase in non-communicable diseases, lifestyle-related risks, and the dual burden of undernutrition and increasing obesity among adults as persistent health challenges.

Maternal health progress

India’s total fertility rate held steady at 2.0 in 2023-24, just under the replecement threshold of 2.1%, while the contraceptive prevalence rate rose from 66.7% to 69.1%.

The survey highlights progress in maternal health services across the country, with 95.9% of pregnant women receiving antenatal care, including 76.2% in the first trimester, an increase from 70% in the previous survey period. Mothers receiving at least four antenatal care visits also increased from 58.5% to 65.2%.

Maternal nutrition indicators also showed improvement, with mothers consuming iron folic acid supplements for 100 days or more during pregnancy rising from 44.1% to 54.9%, while those consuming supplements for 180 days or more rose from 26% to 37.8%.

Aiming for universal immunisation

Conducted by the Health Ministry along with the International Institute for Population Sciences, the survey documented progress towards universal immunisation coverage.

Based on vaccination cards, full vaccination coverage among children aged 12-23 months rose from 83.8% to 87.1%, with 95.6% of children getting most of their vaccinations through public health facilities. Among major vaccines, rotavirus vaccination coverage rose substantially, from 36.4% to 85.4%. The coverage of the second dose of measles-containing vaccines also increased significantly from 58.6% to 71.8%.

Health insurance coverage rises

It found that the use of hygienic methods of menstrual protection among women age 15-24 years has increased from 77.6% to 79.2%. Health insurance or financing scheme coverage expanded significantly from 41% to 60.2% at the household level. The percentage of women who have used the internet nearly doubled from 33.3% to 64.3%, while women having a bank or savings account that they use themselves rose from 78.6% to 89%, and women having a mobile phone that they use themselves rose from 53.9% to 63.6%.

NFHS-6 fieldwork for was conducted in two phases, the first from May 28, 2023 to February 26, 2024, and the second from February 7, 2024 to December 31, 2024. In all, 27 field agencies gathered information from nearly 6.79 lakh households across 715 districts.

The survey provides vital data on population, health, nutrition, and family welfare indicators. This round includes several new topics, including the coverage of direct bank transfers and self-help groups, as well as digital literacy and financial transactions.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Pune-based Nibe Limited completes no-cost, no-commitment demonstrations of its indigenous loitering munition system.

Pune-based defence technology firm Nibe Limited has successfully completed no-cost, no-commitment demonstrations of its indigenous loitering munition system ‘Vayu Astra-1’ during trials conducted at Pokhran in Rajasthan, and Joshimath (Malari) in Uttarakhand in April for the Indian Army.

According to Nibe Limited, the company conducted the first demonstration of the anti-personnel variant of the Vayu Astra-1 at the Pokhran Range on April 18-19. Equipped with a 10-kg warhead, the loitering munition successfully struck its target at a range of 100 km in a single attempt, achieving a Circular Error Probable (CEP) of less than one metre. The system also demonstrated abort attack and reattack capability during the trial.

The company further added that the loitering munition is based on an Israeli-origin platform and has been adapted for operational requirements.

During the demonstration, the team also carried out an anti-armour night strike using an infrared camera. The munition successfully engaged the target within a CEP of two metres in a single attempt. The trial additionally demonstrated the capability of handing over operational control from the Ground Control Station to a Forward Control Segment located 70 km away.

High-altitude trials of the Vayu Astra-1 were conducted at Joshimath (Malari) in Uttarakhand on April 26-27. During these tests, the loitering munition successfully completed endurance flying for more than 90 minutes at an altitude exceeding 14,000 feet.

The company said the system also demonstrated successful recovery after mission completion, enabling reuse for subsequent operations.

Earlier, the company successfully conducted firing trials of its indigenous Suryastra rockets with strike ranges of 150 km and 300 km at the Integrated Test Range on May 18 and 19.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

An Indian researcher based in Japan has named a newly discovered large structure of galaxies after Manipur’s Loktak Lake, seeking to “immortalise” the northeastern state’s identity in the cosmos.

Dr. Ronaldo Laishram, who led an international research team as a postdoctoral researcher at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ), said the structure was studied using the Subaru Telescope in Hawaii and the James Webb Space Telescope.

“The study, which began around October 2024 as part of a broader ongoing research programme, was published this month in the ‘Astrophysical Journal Letters’,” he told PTI over phone.

Dr. Laishram said the idea of naming the structure after Loktak Lake came to him immediately after the discovery.

“When I first discovered it, the first thing that came to my mind was to do something for my home Manipur. Loktak is the mirror and lifeline of Manipur. It is not just a lake — it is deeply woven into the identity, the stories, and the lives of our people. I wanted to place Manipur, and Loktak, in the story of the universe itself,” he said.

The 29-year-old researcher from Khangabok in Thoubal district said he considered several names linked to Manipur’s cultural and historical identity before finalising Loktak.

“I thought of several names associated with Manipur’s history and identity. Taoroinai, a mythical serpent deeply associated with Manipur’s cultural and religious legacy, also came to my mind. But, when I saw the four separate concentrations of galaxies all linked together into one larger system, Loktak felt like the most natural name,” he said.

“There was also a moment years ago when I took an aerial photograph and saw Loktak from above. That image stayed with me, the way everything was connected. When I looked at this cosmic structure, that memory came back,” Laishram said.

Describing the significance of the lake, Laishram said it is the largest freshwater lake in the northeast, and serves as a lifeline providing livelihoods to thousands of fishermen.

“It also hosts the only floating national park in the country where Sangai, the brow-antlered deer, lives. By naming this discovery Loktak, I want to immortalise its name forever in the cosmos,” he said.

He said the naming has generated curiosity among researchers abroad about the lake and Manipur. “That curiosity is exactly what I hoped for. Loktak deserves to be known,” the researcher said.

Laishram said the findings of the discovery suggest that even 12.6 billion years ago, when the universe was about 1.2 billion years old, a galaxy’s surrounding environment influenced its growth.

Galaxies in crowded regions were already evolving differently from those in quieter regions, offering fresh evidence that a galaxy’s environment affects its development, he said.

Dr. Laishram is the son of Laishram Mahajon Singh and Laishram Sanahanbi Devi, and is the youngest among five siblings from Khangabok village in Thoubal district.

A computer science and engineering graduate from JSS Science and Technology University (SJCE), Mysuru, he later completed his Master’s and PhD in astronomy and astrophysics at Tohoku University, Japan.

Recalling his childhood fascination with astronomy, Laishram said he became curious about the night sky after spotting a bright object, while playing in a field in his village at the age of six.

“Since then, I would regularly look at the night sky to watch the stars. That curiosity never left me, it only grew stronger with every question I could not answer,” he said.

Dr. Laishram and his associates also launched the Manipur Astronomical Society in 2025 to bring together astronomy enthusiasts and researchers on a common platform.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and other Ministers were present during the Civil investiture ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan.

President Droupadi Murmu on Monday (May 25, 2026) conferred the Padma Vibhushan on Bollywood actor Dharmendra posthumously and classical musician and violinist N Rajam at a Civil Investiture Ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here.

Dharmendra’s award for exceptional and distinguished service in the field of art was received by his wife and MP Hema Malini.

Rajam was honoured for her pioneering contribution to Indian classical music, especially for revolutionising violin performance through the ‘Gayaki Ang’ style that replicates vocal music on the instrument.

Full list of Padma Awards 2026

The President conferred Padma Bhushan on former Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and banker Uday Kotak. Others honoured were Shatavadhani R Ganesh, acclaimed polymath who revived the challenging classical Indian art form ‘Avadhana’ and gastroenterologist Kallipatti Ramasamy Palaniswamy.

Ms. Murmu also conferred the Padma Bhushan award posthumously on ad guru Piyush Pandey and former parliamentarian Vijay Kumar Malhotra. Pandey’s wife and Malhotra’s son, respectively, received the awards.

Indian women’s team captain Harmanpreet Kaur was conferred with the Padma Shri award.

Actor Prosenjit Chatterjee has been conferred with the prestigious Padma Shri Award by President Droupadi Murmu.

Honoured for his immense contribution to Indian cinema, particularly Bengali films, Prosenjit received one of the country’s highest civilian awards amid loud applause.

For the occasion, Prosenjit Chatterjee chose a traditional ensemble, consisting of a golden kurta set.

Para athlete Praveen Kumar and former Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) director general K. Vijay Kumar received the Padma Shri awards.

The ceremony, which was held in the Gantantra Mandap of the Rashtrapati Bhavan, began with an instrumental rendition of the national song, “Vande Mataram”, followed by the national anthem, “Jana Gana Mana”. It was attended by Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, among others.

For 2026, the President has approved conferment of 131 Padma Awards — five Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri. The awards will be conferred at two separate Civil Investiture ceremonies.

(With inputs from Agencies)

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Four Indian high courts will simultaneously have women chief justices for the first time, following the appointment of Justice Meenakshi M Rai in Patna.

In a historic first for the higher judiciary, four high courts across the country are set to simultaneously have women chief justices after the Supreme Court collegium headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant recommended the appointment of Sikkim High Court judge Justice Meenakshi M Rai as the chief justice of the Patna High Court.

The collegium, in a resolution passed on May 22, recommended Justice Rai’s elevation consequent upon the retirement of incumbent Patna High Court chief, Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo, on June 4.

“The Supreme Court Collegium in its meeting held on 22nd May, 2026 has recommended appointment of Ms Justice Meenakshi M Rai, Judge, High Court of Sikkim as Chief Justice, High Court of Judicature at Patna, consequent upon retirement of incumbent Chief Justice on 4th June, 2026,” the resolution stated. The collegium also included justices Vikram Nath and JK Maheshwari.

With Justice Rai’s appointment, Indian high courts will, for the first time, have four serving women chief justices simultaneously. The other women presently heading high courts are Justice Sunita Agarwal at the Gujarat High Court, Justice Revati Mohite Dere at the Meghalaya High Court and Justice Lisa Gill at the Andhra Pradesh High Court. There are 25 high courts in India.

The development marks another milestone in the slow but visible increase in women’s representation in the higher judiciary, an issue repeatedly flagged by judges, lawyers and parliamentary panels.

According to data placed by the Union law ministry in Parliament earlier this year, 170 women judges have been appointed to various high courts since 2014, including 96 in the last five years alone, while six women have been elevated to the Supreme Court during the same period. The government stated that appointments are made only after recommendations by the Supreme Court collegium and added that high courts are encouraged to consider women candidates to enhance social diversity in the judiciary.

To be sure, this will be only the second known instance of four women simultaneously heading high courts in the country; however, in the earlier instance in 2017, one of the four was serving as an acting chief justice and not as a regular chief justice appointed on the recommendation of the Supreme Court collegium.

Justice Rai, who has been a judge of the Sikkim High Court since April 2015, is among the senior-most women judges presently serving in the constitutional courts. Born in July, 1964, she is the daughter of former Sikkim home secretary Madan Mohan Rasaily. She enrolled with the Bar Council of Delhi in 1990 and practised before the Delhi High Court and Supreme Court before returning to Sikkim.

She has also served as acting chief justice of the Sikkim High Court but this tenure was not without controversy. In a development earlier reported by HT, Justice Rai had in December 2025 withdrawn certain post-retirement facilities extended to her predecessor, Justice Biswanath Somadder, sparking a debate within judicial circles regarding conventions relating to retired chief justices and administrative propriety. Justice Rai not only undertook a sweeping overhaul of the high court registry and the district judiciary through transfers and fresh assignments, but also issued directions for the immediate withdrawal of security and facilities, including an official car and driver, that had been provided to Justice Somadder.

The controversy has at the time reached the Supreme Court. CJI Kant and other senior judges of the top court, particularly Justice JK Maheshwari who had served as chief justice of the Sikkim High Court for nearly eight months before his elevation to the Supreme Court in August 2021, took note of the situation and were compelled to intervene swiftly to de-escalate what was emerging as a serious institutional crisis, especially in view of the imminent eviction of Justice Somadder and the broader implications of the other orders.

The episode had triggered discussion over the extent of powers exercised by acting chief justices in matters concerning administrative benefits and protocol.

The recommendation also assumes significance because the Patna High Court, one of the oldest constitutional courts in the country, has historically seen limited representation of women in senior judicial leadership positions.

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headline edited)