ndia’s population is expected to stabilise by 2080 at 1.8 or 1.9 billion due to dipping total fertility rate, which is currently below the replacement level at 1.9, an official said.

India is undergoing a rapid demographic transition, with the birth rate dropping sharply over the past two decades, he said.

“In 2000, our TFR was 3.5 and today it stands at 1.9. This is a drastic decline,” Indian Association for the Study of Population general secretary Anil Chandran told PTI.

He said India’s population is expected to peak at 1.8 or 1.9 billion by 2080, when growth is expected to stabilise.

“All estimates show that India’s maximum population will remain below two billion,” Chandran added.

He attributed the fall in fertility primarily to increasing development and education levels. Increased female literacy, he said, has directly shaped decisions around marriage and childbearing, leading to smaller families.

Greater use of contraceptives and wider access to birth control have further accelerated the decline, he said.

“Couples today are better informed and exercise greater control over when and how many children to have,” Chandran said.

He said that late marriages and growing economic opportunities especially for women pursuing careers have also significantly influenced reproductive choices.

“Development is inversely proportional to birth rates. Illiterate groups still have fertility levels above three, but among the educated, TFR ranges between 1.5 and 1.8,” he said.

Citing Kerala’s example, Chandran said the state achieved replacement-level fertility between 1987 and 1989 and now has a TFR of around 1.5.

West Bengal’s fertility rate has also seen a sharp fall. According to the Sample Registration System Statistical Report 2023, the state’s TFR has dropped to 1.3, down from 1.7 in 2013 a decline of nearly 18 per cent and well below the replacement level of 2.1. West Bengal now ranks among the lowest in the country, on par with Tamil Nadu and just above Delhi, while recording the lowest urban TFR and the second-lowest rural TFR nationally, he said.

The demographer noted that while birth rates are falling, life expectancy continues to rise due to improvements in healthcare.

“More people are living beyond 60, and this brings new challenges of elderly care, especially as younger people migrate for work,” he said, adding that solutions such as elderly day-care facilities are increasingly being discussed.

IASP, founded in 1971 and comprising around 1,100 demographers and population scientists, regularly deliberates on such issues with support from bodies including UNFPA, the Population Council and the Population Foundation of India.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headlines edited)

In a bid to place Meghalaya and the region firmly on the global organic map, the state government on Friday inaugurated the first Northeast India Organic Week, a multi-nation platform that brought together delegations and buyers from 13 countries to boost trade and innovation in the sector.

The event was organised in partnership with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority , the Union Commerce Ministry and IFOAM-Organics Asia.

Officials said representatives from Malaysia, Taiwan, Mongolia, Indonesia, New Zealand and several other countries are participating at the event, signalling the region’s growing potential as a gateway for global organic trade.

EDA general manager Dr Saswati Bose described the initiative as a “significant milestone for India and the global organic community”, noting Meghalaya’s biodiversity and strong community farming traditions.

She said EDA had helped products such as turmeric, ginger, niche spices and fruits enter West Asia markets in recent years.

Meghalaya Agriculture Commissioner and Secretary Dr Vijay Kumar D said the state was among the fastest growing in the country, driven largely by agriculture.

“Meghalaya is the second fastest growing state behind Tamil Nadu and the only one with 10 per cent growth over the last four years post-COVID,” he said.

He said Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma’s vision was to more than double farmers’ income by 2028 and highlighted the government’s “hub-and-spoke model” linking village-level centres to major processing hubs.

A new ginger processing unit worth ₹25 crore has been set up as the largest organic spice processing facility in the Northeast, he added.

Dr Kumar said Lakadong turmeric, with up to 13 per cent curcumin content, was among the finest in the world.

The state is also establishing an extraction unit for bio-curcumin tablets and aims to bring one lakh hectares – nearly 25 per cent of the state’s cultivated area – under certified organic agriculture by 2028.

He also cited ongoing climate action efforts under the ‘Green Meghalaya’ initiative and said bamboo-based biochar could help revive the state’s acidic soils.

EDA chairman Abhishek Dev said Meghalaya had “significant export potential” in organic produce and emphasised the need for strong partnerships with state governments to improve last-mile connectivity.

He also highlighted the rollout of the eighth edition of the National Programme for Organic Production , which focuses on strengthening certification systems.

IFOAM-Asia executive director Jennifer Chang said the event was a major milestone for the global organic movement.

Referring to her visit to a Khasi mandarin orchard in Mawphu, she said farmers in the region were “organic by default” and served as “stewards of nature”.

IFOAM adviser Brendan Hoare called the organic movement “borderless and collaborative” and urged long-term cooperation among stakeholders.

Following the inauguration, dignitaries opened an exhibition featuring certified organic products from farmer producer organisations, cooperatives and enterprises across the Northeast.

A dedicated Meghalaya Organic Pavilion displayed produce from state-supported collectives alongside kiosks from EDA, the Tea Board, the Directorate of Food Processing and other agencies.

A presentation by CRISIL associate director Priyanka Uday described Meghalaya as an emerging powerhouse in India’s organic sector.

She said exports of organic ginger to Dubai had reached 15 metric tonnes between 2019 and 2023, while sales of organic black pepper had doubled.

GI-tagged Khasi mandarins have also made inroads into Gulf markets through the Lulu Group, she added.

The afternoon sessions included a buyer-seller meet and discussions on NPOP regulations and labelling norms.

The Northeast India Organic Week will continue till December 1 and aims to strengthen youth-led innovation and build a robust ecosystem for organic agriculture and trade in the region.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headline edited)

The facility will be available, with tickets priced at Rs 3,000 per person, excluding taxes, for a ride that takes participants around 120 feet in the air.

Delhiites can now enjoy hot-air balloon rides from Saturday at the Delhi Development Authority’s (DDA) Banseera Park near Sarai Kale Khan, officials said. Earlier this week, Lt Governor VK Saxena launched the facility from Banseera Park.

“The rides will be launched for the public from Banseera Park around 3:30 pm,” a DDA official said on Friday.

In July, the DDA had finalised a private agency to conduct these activities at four locations, including the Yamuna Sports Complex, the Commonwealth Games sports complexes, and two other sites along the Yamuna Bank at Asita and Baansera.

The facility will be available from Saturday, with tickets priced at Rs 3,000 per person, excluding taxes, for a ride that takes participants around 120 feet in the air.

The trips will last between seven and 12 minutes, with each ride able to hold four people, officials added.

According to the officials, four hours of flying time will be allowed each day. The private company will operate on a revenue-sharing model and will also be allowed to advertise on the balloons.

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)
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Presented as a fully mobile and AI driven counter drone platform, the Ranger has been developed to detect, track and neutralise hostile drones even while in motion, addressing a long standing vulnerability in India’s defence grid.

Presented as a fully mobile and AI driven counter drone platform, the Ranger has been developed to detect, track and neutralise hostile drones even while in motion, addressing a long standing vulnerability in India’s defence grid.

Unlike traditional anti-drone systems that operate from fixed positions, the Ranger has been conceptualised as a combat vehicle capable of on the move surveillance, real time patrolling and rapid interception.

The Ranger is built on an all-terrain 4×4 Toyota Hilux platform and can detect drones up to 10 kilometres away and neutralise threats within a 4 kilometre envelope.

It is equipped with an integrated cyber takeover unit, GNSS spoofing technology, RF jamming capability and a spring-loaded kill switch for clean and autonomous takedowns.

Using AI, radar and jamming systems, the vehicle is designed to secure convoys, bases and borders by stopping threats ranging from small quadcopters to coordinated swarm attacks.

The urgency behind its development stems from recent national security incidents that underscored drones as a preferred conduit for cross border smuggling and illegal activity.

India has witnessed a spike in ISI-linked weapons being pushed deep into its territory and a surge in drone based drug drops that feed a Rs 3 lakh crore narcotics trade.

Security agencies have also neutralised hundreds of Pakistani drones this year alone. These developments made a fast and mobile counter drone response critical.

Kiran Raju, CEO and Founder of Indrajaal, highlighted the mission guiding the project and said that every hostile drone taken down translates into lives saved and internal security strengthened. He added that the company’s core objective is to defend freedom.

The ADPV is built to provide seamless and dynamic coverage across border roads, canals, agricultural belts, critical infrastructure zones and dense urban areas.

Lieutenant General Devendra Pratap Pandey, Retired, who attended the launch as guest of honour, lauded the innovation and said that India’s youth deserve a safer nation free from the influence of international crime networks.

He called technologies like the Anti-Drone Patrol Vehicle as shields protecting citizens, farmers and future generations and said that the country will value such a transformative contribution.

Indrajaal is recognised as India’s pioneering autonomous Counter UAS and air defence technology enterprise.

Its proprietary autonomy engine, SkyOS, integrates multi sensor intelligence and real time decision making into a unified C5ISRT framework.

The firm has secured ARDTC certification for Counter UAS deployment and has already demonstrated operational success.

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)

This transition is driven by an innovation-focused ecosystem that emphasizes biosimilars, peptides, complex generics, and next-generation biologics.

 India’s pharmaceutical sector is currently transitioning from a focus on generic drugs to the development of next-generation innovative biologics, as highlighted by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

This transition is driven by an innovation-focused ecosystem that emphasizes biosimilars, peptides, complex generics, and next-generation biologics.

Dr. R. Chandrashekar, Joint Drugs Controller at CDSCO, spoke at the CPHI & PMEC India Expo, stating, “This transition is being accelerated by government reforms and CDSCO initiatives, including streamlined approval processes, reduced regulatory barriers, the decriminalization of non-serious offenses, and the endorsement of research and development (R&D) projects.” He emphasized that these government initiatives have significantly changed the R&D landscape in the country.

“The recommendation of R&D projects worth ₹5,000 crore and the newly launched Hospital Finance scheme of ₹1,00,000 crore further strengthen the country’s R&D framework,” Chandrashekar stated.

At the event, experts from India’s pharmaceutical industry urged the sector to pursue value-driven innovations such as peptides, biosimilars, and targeted therapies.

Namit Joshi, Chairman of the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil), noted, “With patents expiring, Indian manufacturers are well-positioned to enter high-value markets.” He pointed out that breakthrough classes of drugs, like GLP-1 inhibitors, are redefining global health outcomes, and Indian companies need to keep pace with these advancements.

GLP-1 receptor agonists are a ground-breaking class of medications that mimic the natural GLP-1 hormone to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity, offering additional benefits for cardiovascular, renal, and neurodegenerative diseases.

“To enhance India’s role in global healthcare, a shift towards broader thinking and innovation is essential,” Joshi added.

The 18th edition of the expo, organized by Informa Markets in India, will take place from November 25 to 27, 2025, at the India Expo Centre in Greater Noida, Delhi-NCR.

The expo is expected to bring together over 2,000 exhibitors from more than 120 countries, including China, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, and South Korea. It serves as a hub for collaboration in pharmaceutical machinery, packaging, ingredients, and advanced lab technologies.

Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director of Informa Markets in India, noted, “India’s pharmaceutical sector has achieved remarkable growth, with exports doubling to USD 30 billion and nearly half of global life sciences leaders establishing operations here.”

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

The agreement was signed in New Delhi by BEL CMD Manoj Jain and SED Executive Vice President Alexandre Ziegler. Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar and Safran CEO Olivier Andries were present for the ceremony.

India’s Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and France’s Safran Electronics and Defence (SED) signed a Joint Venture Cooperation Agreement (JVCA) on Monday (November 24, 2025) to manufacture the Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range (HAMMER) precision-guided air-to-ground weapon in India.

The agreement was signed in New Delhi by BEL CMD Manoj Jain and SED Executive Vice President Alexandre Ziegler. Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar and Safran CEO Olivier Andries were present for the ceremony.

According to the Ministry of Defence, the JV is a major boost to the Make in India initiative. The JVCA builds on an MoU signed during Aero India on February 11, 2025, and confirms plans to establish a 50:50 joint venture company in India. The private limited entity will focus on the local manufacture, supply, and lifecycle support for HAMMER munitions for the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy.

Indigenisation levels will be progressively increased to nearly 60%, with key electronics, sub-assemblies and mechanical components to be produced domestically. Production transfer will take place in phases, with BEL responsible for final assembly, testing and quality assurance, the Ministry added.

The HAMMER system, already combat-proven, is valued for its precision, modular architecture and compatibility with platforms such as the Rafale and the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft.

The agreement marks a significant step in strengthening India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem while leveraging SED’s global expertise in smart precision-guided weapons.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

The GSAT-7R is the successor to the GSAT-7 “Rukmini,” India’s first dedicated military satellite, launched in 2013. While Rukmini revolutionised naval communications by providing real-time data links across the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, the GSAT-7R significantly upgrades these capabilities.

The successful launch of India’s CMS-03 (GSAT-7R) satellite aboard the LVM3-M5 rocket on November 2, 2025, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota will provide a major boost to the country’s pursuit of maritime security and technological self-reliance.

The 4,400 kg multi-band communication satellite, designed and developed indigenously by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), is the heaviest communication satellite launched into the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) from Indian soil. It will play a crucial role in enhancing the Indian Navy’s operational reach, situational awareness, and surveillance capabilities across the Indian Ocean Region.

Secure communication coverage

The GSAT-7R is the successor to the GSAT-7 “Rukmini,” India’s first dedicated military satellite, launched in 2013. While Rukmini revolutionised naval communications by providing real-time data links across the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, the GSAT-7R significantly upgrades these capabilities. Equipped with multi-band transponders (UHF, S, C, and Ku bands), the GSAT-7R enables seamless voice, data, and video communication between naval ships, submarines, aircraft, and Maritime Operations Centres (MOCs). The satellite’s advanced payload ensures high-capacity, secure, and jam-resistant communication — vital for network-centric warfare and joint operations with the Army and the Air Force.

With a lifespan of 15 years, the GSAT-7R extends secure communication coverage up to 2,000 km from India’s coastline, encompassing vast stretches of the Indian Ocean Region. This expanded coverage will allow the Indian Navy to monitor critical sea lanes, chokepoints, and potential maritime threats more effectively. It will support continuous coordination among naval assets deployed on anti-piracy, anti-submarine, and humanitarian missions, ensuring real-time situational updates and rapid response capabilities.

Moreover, the GSAT-7R will enhance maritime domain awareness (MDA) by integrating space-based communication with surveillance platforms, such as coastal radars, reconnaissance aircraft, and unmanned systems. This synergy will allow the Navy to maintain an uninterrupted watch over the region’s dynamic maritime environment, strengthening India’s ability to deter and respond to any hostile activity.

According to experts, the launch of the GSAT-7R underscores India’s growing self-reliance in defence space technology under the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. By securing robust and indigenous satellite communication infrastructure, the Navy can operate independently of foreign systems, ensuring confidentiality and reliability in strategic operations.

Quantum leap

In essence, the GSAT-7R represents a quantum leap in India’s maritime communication and surveillance architecture, empowering the Indian Navy to maintain a vigilant, connected, and technologically advanced presence across the Indian Ocean Region.

The Navy’s satellites, sensors, radars, unmanned aerial vehicles, and surveillance aircraft relay real-time data to the Information Management and Analysis Centre (IMAC), now being upgraded into a National Maritime Domain Awareness (NMDA) platform. The NMDA will integrate data from multiple sources to create a unified operational picture for naval commanders. Using AI-enabled analytics, it will enhance situational awareness, improve surveillance, and support swift decision-making. The system will help detect and counter threats such as illegal fishing, smuggling, piracy, and maritime terrorism, strengthening India’s maritime security and safeguarding its strategic interests across the Indian Ocean Region.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

The ITBP, with a manpower of more than one lakh personnel, has its border posts ranging between the height of 9,000 feet and over 14,000 feet, affected by inclement weather and low levels of oxygen.

The Indo-Tibetan Border Police force, which guards the 3,488 km-long India-China LAC, is establishing 10 all-women border posts along this arduous and icy frontier, the director general of the paramilitary said.

The force, as part of its ambitious “forwardisation” plan, initiated post the 2020 military clash in Ladakh, has also moved its 215 border posts forward along the front on India’s north and eastern flank so far.

Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) DG Praveen Kumar said this during the 64th Raising Day parade of the force held in Jammu on Saturday (November 22, 2025).

“We have worked on the forwardisation plan and, as a result, the number of forward-deployed BOPs (border outposts) is now 215 as compared to 180.

“The establishment of seven new battalions and a sector headquarters has not only strengthened this plan (forwardisation) but has also enhanced our reach and supervision of the forward areas…,” the DG said.

The Centre had sanctioned seven more battalions and a sector office comprising about 9,400 personnel for the ITBP in 2023.

The DG said the force will establish 41 more such forward bases along the India-China Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the near future in order to “strengthen security and coordination”.

As part of enhancing the role of women combatants, the ITBP is in the process of establishing two all-women BOPs in Ladakh’s Lukung and Thangi in Himachal Pradesh.

Eight more all-women BOPs will be made operational on this front, the DG said.

The ITBP chief said the training institutions of the force have been “reorganised” and five new skilling modules have been launched for the troops, including on subjects like mountain warfare and tactical survival.

The ITBP, with a manpower of more than one lakh personnel, has its border posts ranging between the height of 9,000 feet and over 14,000 feet, affected by inclement weather and low levels of oxygen.

The force, raised in 1962, functions under the command of the Union Home Ministry.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

At present, the duration of warship construction has been reduced to 31 months as opposed to 55-60 months in the past.

On May 10, the Indian Navy was told to stand down, 200 nautical miles short of Karachi, after India and Pakistan ceased hostilities. It is believed that in a review meeting soon after, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the Navy that its time would come.

On Diwali, Modi spent more than 17 hours on Indian aircraft carrier INS Vikrant watching night-fighter operations and live firing off the coast of Goa. But there’s more to New Delhi’s renewed focus on its Navy than statements of intent.India’s focus on enhancing its maritime military capabilities and power projection in the Indo-Pacific, has meant that the Indian Navy has set a record by launching no less than 12 (11 warships, one submarine) since December 2024.

Today, the duration of warship construction (from keel laying to commissioning) has been reduced to 31 months as opposed to 55-60 months in the past. Guided missile destroyer INS Surat, commissioned by PM Modi, on January 15, was constructed in a mere 31 months. If 12 surface and sub-surface combatants is a record — it is — it won’t last long with the Indian Navy planning to add 17 ships in 2026. This includes guided missile frigates, next generation off-shore patrol vessels, multi-purpose vessels, and anti-submarine warfare vessels .

The Indian Navy is now commissioning one ship in 40 days but the numbers pale in comparison to the US, which does one ship in 18 days, and China, which does one in a week’s time.Besides building warships, the Indian Navy is acquiring submarine deterrence with Project 75 I (air-independent propulsion or AIP) submarine set to sign this financial year. Price negotiations are currently underway and the government has set aside some ₹42,968 crore for acquisition of six submarines to be constructed at Mazagon Dockyards Limited with AIP being provided by German firm ThyssenKrupp Maritime Systems under a joint venture.China commissioned its state of the art 80,000 ton Fujian aircraft carrier on November 5, and India is concerned about Beijing helping Islamabad build its Navy with new frigates and submarines.

As of now Pakistan has 53 combatants in its Navy with five submarines (Agosta 90B and Agosta 70), four Zulfiquar and four Tughril class frigates. Four Yuan (Hangor) class submarines are being built in Wuhan for delivery to Pakistan in December 2025 and January 2026. Four more Hangor classes will be constructed in Karachi and delivered end-December 2026 onwards. And Pakistan will get delivery of its Jinnah class frigates in June 2030.Apart from monitoring the Pakistan Navy, India is noting maritime developments in the Indo-Pacific with the Chinese PLAN expanding its area of influence all the way up to Gulf of Aden.

On November 12-14, Indian Navy Chief Admiral Tripathi visited INDO-PACOM headquarters in Hawaii and met the US Indo-Pacific fleet commander Admiral Samuel J Paparo. The two navies have decided to increase the complexity of bilateral exercises, training and port visits keeping the Indo-Pacific in mind. With Indian Navy set to acquire a nuclear attack submarine from Russia in 2028 and 26 Rafale-Marine jets a year later, India’s power projection on high seas is set to increase manifolds this decade.

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headline edited)