At 21 years of age, Krishangi Meshram is now the youngest solicitor in England and Wales, after graduating from The Open University (OU) at just 18.

Indian-origin law graduate Krishangi Meshram has made history as one of the youngest to become a solicitor in England. At 21 years of age, Meshram is now the youngest solicitor in England and Wales, after graduating from The Open University (OU) at just 18.

Along with the historical achievement, Meshram also had another milestone by getting featured in the Law Society Gazette’s August 1 copy.

Meshram, who hails from Mayapur in West Bengal, took an interest in law and started her journey at just 15, making an informed and thoughtful decision to enrol with OU in England’s Milton Keynes, as she wished for a UK degree but without having to leave her parents and young sister.

“As I had studied British qualifications, I was keen to complete my degree at a university in the UK. However, at only 15, I didn’t want to move away from my parents and younger sister. My family and I are also lucky enough to travel a lot, so I needed a study option that I could take with me on our adventures around the world. This is when I found out about the OU – it ticked all the boxes. I could utilise the open entry policy so I could start a degree without A Levels, I’d be studying at a UK university, where I could remain living at home and carry on travelling with my family,” Meshram was quoted as saying by the OU.

Mesharam decided to pursue law as she was looking for a degree that would provide “a breadth of transferable knowledge.” But along with it came other “valuable skills” the OU taught her, “from self-discipline to organisation.”

After completing the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree at the age of 18, Mesharam soon landed a remote job at a Singapore law firm, which helped her enrol as a lawyer in just three years.

“I’ve been working full-time since I graduated and am now finishing the qualifications needed to become a qualified lawyer,” she said.

As the youngest solicitor in England now, the young talent is now looking towards taking the next step in her career.

“My next step will be to finalise my specialism. I’m hoping to become a lawyer for businesses and private clients, helping them with important documents like wills and probate,” she said.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

Consul General of India in Seattle Prakash Gupta along with Mayor of Seattle Bruce Harrell and other select dignitaries from the Seattle city leadership joined the historic and landmark occasion.

The Indian tricolour was hoisted at Seattle’s iconic 605-feet-tall Space Needle on India’s 79th Independence Day, the first time that a foreign nation’s flag was raised at the popular American destination.

Consul General of India in Seattle Prakash Gupta along with Mayor of Seattle Bruce Harrell and other select dignitaries from the Seattle city leadership joined the historic and landmark occasion.

“No greater honour than this ! Raising the Tiranga on top of Seattle skyline at Space Needle,” Mr. Gupta said in a post on X, along with a video of the tricolour flying high atop the iconic Seattle monument with sprawling views of the city below.

Calling the commemoration a “historic first in Seattle”, the Consulate General of India in Seattle said the celebration underscored the contributions of the Indian-American diaspora in shaping the city’s journey as a tech hub in the U.S. Pacific Northwest.

Later, a community reception was hosted by the Consulate at the scenic Kerry Park, with India’s flag on top of the Space Needle in the backdrop.

A large number of Indian-American community members turned up to witness the historic sight, the Consulate said in a press release.

The reception was attended by several dignitaries including US Congressman Adam Smith, Chief Justice of the Washington Supreme Court Debra Stephens, Seattle Port Commissioner Sam Cho and Superintendent/Director of Seattle Parks and Recreation AP Diaz.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Smith welcomed the historic celebration, noting that the Indian tricolour’s hoisting atop the Space Needle is a tribute to the region’s diversity and the strong bonds between India and the Pacific Northwest.

The Space Needle, which was built in 1962, stands as a symbol of Seattle’s skyline and epitomises the U.S. Pacific Northwest region’s tech-driven future.

In a special gesture to honour India’s Independence Day in the Greater Seattle area, King County, which covers 39 cities, along with Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma and Bellevue, issued official proclamations marking August 15 as India Day.

Separately, several iconic buildings across Seattle were also lit up in the Indian tricolours. These included the Lumen Stadium, T-Mobile Stadium, Westin, Seattle Great Wheel and Space Needle.

The Indian flag was also hoisted at the prestigious Tacoma Dome, Tacoma City Hall and at the Headquarters of Tacoma Police and Fire Departments, the Consulate said.

A vibrant cultural extravaganza featuring national anthems, along with dance performances showcasing the rich diversity of Indian art forms as well as a poetic recital by renowned artist and actor Piyush Mishra also enthralled those attending the special celebrations.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Hydrogen Train India Launch Date: India’s first hydrogen trainset is ready for its official launch. Recently, this train has cleared load tests and is set for final commissioning.

Hydrogen Train India, Hydrogen Train India Launch Date: India’s first hydrogen trainset is ready for its official launch. Recently, this train has cleared load tests and is set for final commissioning. The Ministry of Railways has plans to run 35 Hydrogen-powered trains under “Hydrogen for Heritage” on various heritage/hill routes.

Developed by Chennai-based Integral Coach Factory (ICF), the hydrogen train will push India ahead in its journey towards green transportation technology to support zero carbon emission goals as a clean energy source.

“The much-anticipated Hydrogen Trainset has successfully passed load tests and is progressing well. It will be rolled out shortly,” said U Subba Rao, General Manager, ICF on Friday.

Hydrogen Train India Route

The railways will conduct the field trials of first hydrogen trainset on 89-km-long Jind to Sonipat stations of Haryana. The stations fall under the administrative control of Delhi Division of Northern Railway (NR).

Sharing a 40-second video on X (formerly Twitter) on August 12, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that India’s first hydrogen train is coming soon.

Hydrogen Train Engine India

Developed by the Research, Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO), India’s hydrogen-powered engine is set to be the most powerful in the world. While most nations have built hydrogen trains with capacities ranging from 500 to 600 horsepower (HP), India has achieved a breakthrough by creating an engine with a capacity of 1,200 horsepower (HP).

On August 12, in another post on X, the Ministry of Railways shared a 37-second video announcing: “For the first time in India a hydrogen-powered train is set for its final commissioning, a landmark that showcases India’s rise as a technological powerhouse, driving innovation on the global stage.” The video shows glimpses of both the train’s interior and exterior designs.

Hydrogen Train India News

India’s hydrogen train is slated to be the longest (10 coaches) and maximum-powered (2400 kW) hydrogen train in the world.

source/content: indianexpress.com (headline edited)

Not just his longest Independence Day speech at 103 minutes, this was PM Modi’s 12th address on this occasion and now he has given more consecutive addresses than former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who gave 11 consecutive addresses and 16 in total.

– PM Modi’s speech lasted for 1 hour and 43 minutes (103 minutes) marking his longest I-Day speech till date.

– In his address on the occasion of 79th Independence Day, PM Modi praised the wonders of Made in India in ‘Operation Sindoor’.

– The PM also announced the ambitious “Sudarshan Chakra Mission,” aimed at bolstering India’s national security over the next decade.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered his 12th consecutive Independence Day address from the Red Fort on Friday. His speech lasted for 1 hour and 43 minutes (103 minutes) marking his longest I-Day speech till date. 

Not just his longest Independence Day speech, this was PM Modi’s 12th address on this occasion and now he has given more consecutive addresses than former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who gave 11 consecutive addresses and 16 in total.

PM Modi Independence Day Speech – Highlights 

1-  In his address on the occasion of 79th Independence Day, PM Modi praised the wonders of Made in India in ‘Operation Sindoor’. 

“We have seen the wonders of Made in India in Operation Sindoor. Even the enemy was shocked at the kind of ammunition that was destroying them within seconds. Had we not been self-reliant, would we have been able to carry out Operation Sindoor at such a level? In the last 10 years, we set our target to become self-reliant in the defence sector, and today we are seeing the results,” he said. 

2- “We are all seeing the feat in the space sector and we are filled with pride. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has returned from ISS and in the coming few days, he is coming to India. In space, we are preparing for Gaganyaan, as Aatmanirbhar Bharat. We are also working towards building our own Space Station. I am proud that more than 300 startups in the country are working just in the space sector. Among those 300 startups, thousands of youth are working with full capability. This is the strength of the youth of our country and this is our trust in th youth of our country,” he added. 

3- Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the ‘High-Power Demography Mission’ and said, “I would like to alert the nation about a concern, a challenge. Under a well-thought-out conspiracy, the country’s demography is being changed, seeds of a new crisis are being sown. Infiltrators are snatching away the livelihood of the youth of my country. Infiltrators are targeting the sisters and daughters of my country. This will not be tolerated. These infiltrators mislead innocent tribals and capture their land. The country will not tolerate this.”

4- PM Modi also announced next-generation GST reforms and stated, “This Diwali, I am going to make it a double Diwali for you… Over the past eight years, we have undertaken a major reform in GST… We are bringing next-generation GST reforms. This will reduce the tax burden across the country”

5- “Today, when economic selfishness is rising day by day in the global situation, it is the need of the hour that we don’t sit crying over those crises. Himmat ke saath apni lakeer ko lambi karein…If we take that path, no selfishness will not able to entangle us,” he said. 

6- The Prime Minister also launched a scheme worth Rs. 1 lakh crore for the youth of India. 

“My country’s youth, today is 15th August, and on this very day, we are launching a scheme worth Rs 1 lakh crore for the youth of our country. From today, the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rojgar Yojana is being implemented… Under this scheme, young men and women getting their first job in the private sector will receive Rs 15,000 from the government. Companies that create more employment opportunities will also be given incentive amounts. The Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rojgar Yojana will create nearly 3.5 crore new employment opportunities for the youth,” he elaborated. 

Sudarshan Chakra Mission

The PM also announced the ambitious “Sudarshan Chakra Mission,” aimed at bolstering India’s national security over the next decade.

Emphasizing self-reliance, PM Modi stated that by 2035, the nation seeks to expand, strengthen, and modernize its security framework, drawing inspiration from Lord Shri Krishna’s Sudarshan Chakra.

(with ANI inputs)

source/content: zeenews.india.com (headline edited)

India has secured the third position globally in building general dry cargo vessels for the European short sea trade, as per private data cited by Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Mr. Sarbananda Sonowal.

He credited this achievement to Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi’s “bold Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047”. He highlighted the transformation of India’s shipbuilding ambitions into globally recognised outcomes. He emphasised that through strategic reforms and skilling initiatives, the government realises the vision of “Make in India, Make for the World.”

This development underscores India’s growing prominence in the global maritime sector.

The Maritime India Vision (MIV) 2030 serves as a comprehensive framework for port infrastructure, logistics, shipbuilding, and waterways development through 150 targeted initiatives.

These are aligned under 10 themes, including sustainability, innovation, and global collaboration. Key indicators of progress over the past three years include an increase in Major Port capacity from 1,598 Million Metric Tonnes Per Annum (MMTPA) in 2022 to 1,630 MMTPA in 2024, a reduction in Vessel Turn Around Time (TAT) from 53 to 48 hours, and a rise in Ship Berth Day Output from 16,000 Metric Tonnes (MT) to 18,900 MT. Capital expenditure by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways rose by 37% to Rs. 7,571 crore (US$ 882.50 million) in FY24, with Gross Budget Support (GBS) increasing by 54% to Rs. 1,687 crore (US$ 196.64 million).

In the same period, around 75 port development projects were awarded aimed at enhancing cargo capacity and operational efficiency.

Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.

source/content: ibef.org (headline edited)

According to the official, Stage 1, initiated in May 2024, involved the removal of cab partition doors and the gradual covering of the driving console, while the train operator remained present. in the cab.

The Pink Line from Majlis Park to Shiv Vihar will go driverless, making Delhi Metro one of the largest driverless metro networks in the world, according to a DMRC official.

Delhi Metro’s Magenta Line, which runs between Janakpuri West and Botanical Garden, has successfully achieved full compliance with Unattended Train Operations (UTO), marking a major milestone in the city’s journey towards automation, the official said.

“The whole fleet of trains on the Magenta Line runs on UTO now,” he said.

The Unattended Train Operations were initiated by the Delhi Metro in the year 2020. The transition to UTO (driverless) has been carried out in phased stages, all approved by the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS).

According to the official, Stage 1, initiated in May 2024, involved the removal of cab partition doors and the gradual covering of the driving console, while the train operator remained present in the cab.

“By August 2024, in Stage 2, the train operator was allowed to be present anywhere inside the train,” he said.

Stage 3A, also in August 2024, reduced the presence of train operators to every alternate train, leading to final Stage 3B in May 2025, where the operators were completely withdrawn, marking the beginning of full-fledged driverless operations on the line.

Delhi Metro has now also started implementing UTO on the Pink Line – Majlis Park to Shiv Vihar (Line-7).

He said the automation process began in March 2025, and by June 2025, the Pink Line had attained Stage 2. It is expected to become fully driverless within the next 3 to 4 months.

“With UTO implementation on both the Magenta and Pink lines, Delhi Metro will be amongst one of the largest driverless metro networks in the world, with 97 km of fully automated corridors out of its total 395 km network in Delhi-NCR,” he said.

This transformation represents a significant leap in urban mobility as the advanced system ensures high-frequency, punctual, and safe services while minimising manual intervention, he said.

The automation not only enhances operational efficiency but also promises a seamless and reliable travel experience for commuters, the official added.

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)

Indian Railways CCTV Cameras: To improve safety and security, Indian Railways has decided to install CCTV cameras in coaches and locomotives.

Indian Railways CCTV Camera Installation: To improve safety and security, Indian Railways has decided to install CCTV cameras in coaches and locomotives. The move also aims to reduce miscreant activity, vandalism, thefts, act as deterrent against crime and aid in investigation.

Indian Railways CCTV Cameras Passenger Safety

So far, the national transporter has installed CCTV cameras in 11,535 coaches, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on August 6, 2025. He was responding to questions from MPs Chavan Ravindra Vasantrao and Manish Jaiswal, who had sought zone-wise details of coaches equipped with CCTV cameras. The MPs had also asked about plans to install CCTV cameras in all railway coaches to further enhance passenger safety.

CCTV Cameras in Indian Railways Coaches

The highest number of CCTV-equipped coaches are in the Western Railway zone (1,679), followed by Central Railway (1,320), Southern Railway (1,149), Eastern Railway (1,131), and Northern Railway (1,125).

(Source: As per written statement submitted by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in Lok Sabha on August 6, 2025)

Indian Railways CCTV Cameras

The Railway Minister also informed the house that CCTV cameras will be installed in around 74,000 coaches and 15,000 locomotives. He added that each coach will be provided with four CCTV cameras – two in each entrance way.

“Each locomotive will have six CCTV cameras, one camera each at the front, rear and on both sides of the locomotive and one in each cab along with two desk mounted microphones. CCTV cameras will be STQC (Standardization Testing and Quality Certification Directorate, attached office of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology) certified and as per the latest RDSO specification. These cameras will provide high quality footage even for trains running at speeds of 100 kmph or more,” Vaishnaw said.

The Union Minister further said that the installation of CCTV cameras will not compromise the privacy of the passengers as the CCTV cameras in coaches will be installed in the common movement area near the doors.

source/content: indianexpress.com (headline edited)

In its X page, the Indian Air Force also shared an old excerpt from a gallantry award citation on him.

Indian Air Force veteran Gp Capt D K Parulkar (retd), who led a daring escape from captivity in Pakistan during the 1971 war, has passed away, the IAF said on Sunday (August 10, 2025).

He died near Pune, Maharashtra, according to a senior official.

“Gp Capt DK Parulkar (Retd) VM, VSM — 1971 War hero, who led a daring escape from captivity in Pakistan, embodying unmatched courage, ingenuity & pride in the IAF — has left for his heavenly abode. All Air Warriors of the IAF express their heartfelt condolences,” the IAF posted on X.

x

It also shared an old excerpt from a gallantry award citation on him.

Captain Parulkar was commissioned in the IAF in March 1963. In past, he held various appointments, including as a Flying Instructor at the Air Force Academy, according to the excerpt.

“During the Indo-Pak conflict of 1965, his aircraft was hit by enemy fire and had injured his right shoulder. Despite the advice from his leader to eject, he flew the crippled aircraft back to base, for which he was awarded Vayu Sena Medal,” the excerpt reads.

During the 1971 India-Pakistan War, Captain Parulkar then a wing commander, while being a prisoner of war in Pakistan displayed “initiative, pride in his nation and in the Indian Air Force of an exceptional degree. He was the leader of an escape attempt in which he along with two colleagues escaped from PoW camp,” it says.

He was also a recipient of the Vishisht Sena Medal.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

As part of this, students from IIT Bombay will get internship opportunities in Rolls-Royce to work alongside the defence engineering team in Bengaluru.

Rolls-Royce on Friday said it has signed an agreement with the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB) to enhance innovation and pool of technology talent.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will enable knowledge exchange and upskilling, and explore opportunities to collaborate on joint projects in areas of mutual interest, Rolls-Royce said in a statement.

As part of this, students from IIT Bombay will get internship opportunities in Rolls-Royce to work alongside the defence engineering team in Bengaluru.

“This partnership with IIT Bombay reflects our broader commitment to building strategic collaborations that advance shared ambitions in innovation, talent development and technology leadership.

“As we deepen our engagement in India, initiatives like this help unlock new opportunities to co-create solutions through structured engagement between the academic and industrial ecosystems. We look forward to knowledge-sharing opportunities with the experienced academics and faculty at IIT Bombay,” GS Selwyn, Executive Vice President of Rolls-Royce India and Managing Director of MTU India, said.

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)

HpNPV, identified and mass-developed by KFRI, offers eco-friendly alternative to chemical pesticides and prevents massive defoliation in teak.

A revolutionary technology developed by the Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) can transform the way teak plantations are protected from their most notorious pest – the teak defoliator moth (Hyblaea puera). The institute has successfully identified, mass-produced and patented a naturally occurring virus, Hyblaea puera Nucleopolyhedrosis Virus (HpNPV), which causes lethal infection in the pest larvae and prevents widespread defoliation of teak trees.

For decades, the teak defoliator has wreaked havoc in plantations, stripping entire forests of their foliage up to six times a year, weakening trees and causing significant loss in timber yield. “When the larvae attack, the tree spends its energy regenerating leaves instead of growing. It’s a huge invisible loss,” explains T.V. Sajeev, Principal Scientist at KFRI.

Conventional control methods such as aerial spraying of chemical pesticides were tried — at Konni in Kerala and Barnavappara in Madhya Pradesh — inviting protests due to environmental concerns. The KFRI even presented a paper at the 1980 Forestry Conference at Dehradun titled ‘The problem of teak defoliator: to spray or not to spray?’

Economic loss

KFRI’s sustained research showed that the economic loss due to teak defoliators is staggering: an estimated 3 cubic metres of wood per hectare annually, translating to ₹562.5 crore loss in Kerala and ₹12,525 crore in India. The institute screened the pest’s natural enemies and zeroed in on HpNPV, a virus that is entirely host-specific, targeting only the teak defoliator larvae, and thus completely safe for the forest ecosystem.

“The beauty of the virus is in how it works,” said Dr. Sajeev. “It multiplies at least a trillion times inside a single larva. When the body breaks open, it releases huge quantities of inoculum. Even if the infection is sub-lethal, the virus stays in the insect, gets passed on to the next generation, and proves lethal then.”

With a clear understanding of the pest’s life cycle, HpNPV can be applied during early-stage outbreaks to prevent larger infestations.

Field trials at Nilambur in Malappuram, seen as India’s cradle of teak, were a success. KFRI has already transferred the know-how for outbreak monitoring and virus application to the Forest department. “Now it’s up to the department to formally adopt the technology,” said Dr. Sajeev.

Export potential

What makes this innovation more significant is that many of the 64 countries now cultivating teak — from its native range of just four (India, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand) — have banned chemical pesticide use. This opens up a massive export potential for the eco-friendly HpNPV technology.

KFRI will showcase the HpNPV solution at the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) R&D Summit 2025, to be held on August 7 in Thiruvananthapuram, positioning it as a scalable, sustainable model for forestry management across the globe.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)