Category Archives: Amazing Feats

Sriram Krishnan – The Indian-American who could decide the AI arms race

Sriram Krishnan is the 6ft 6in tech guru steering US policy in the battle for AI supremacy with China.

Who’s the most powerful Indian-American on the planet right now? Toss the big names into a hat and pull them out one by one.

Could it be Microsoft’s quietly effective Satya Nadella, who turned the software giant into an AI powerhouse? Or Sundar Pichai, steering the Google juggernaut from one innovation to the next? Or Vinod Khosla, billionaire and Silicon Valley oracle for decades, though a vocal anti-Trumper, which rules him out for Washington’s inner circle.

Still wondering? There’s a newer star already ensconced in the White House. Enter Sriram Krishnan, 41, the White House policy adviser on Artificial Intelligence – and at 6ft 6in, a man who literally towers over his rivals.

He’s at the cutting edge of the most transformative technologies of our time that are about to change the world beyond recognition.

Krishnan sees AI not just as an innovation but as the new frontier of world domination.

‘If we don’t win the AI race with China, the consequences are catastrophic,’ he warned on a podcast. To him, AI is the new 21st-century arms race – one that will decide who runs the world in the decades ahead and who becomes the next superpower.

Krishnan has been in the thick of AI action ever since he parachuted into the upper ranks of the US government. Soon after the Trump administration took charge, he was at the Paris AI Summit in February, where he made his presence felt by pushing aggressively for the adoption of US AI technology with the message: buy American AI or get left behind.

His firm conviction that the US must dominate AI technology was once again on display, though more controversially, when Trump struck a string of chip deals with Saudi Arabia and the UAE, under which the US would sell cutting-edge AI chips to the Gulf kingdoms in huge quantities.

The deals sparked strong criticism, with detractors pointing out that the Chinese could quickly get their hands on the advanced chips being sold. Krishnan disagrees, arguing that it’s a win if US companies are selling billions of dollars’ worth of hardware.

Krishnan had already been a technology evangelist long before entering the White House. Together with his wife Aarthi Ramamurthy, he has hosted one of Silicon Valley’s most popular podcasts, The Aarthi and Sriram Show.

Drawing on their deep tech-world contacts, they have pulled in industry mega-stars like Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg and Marc Andreessen (of Andreessen Horowitz fame, Silicon Valley’s ‘super-angel’ venture capitalist). Elon Musk’s appearance on the podcast sent listenership numbers soaring, pushing it into tech stratosphere mode.

The couple like to joke they’re ‘outsiders who crashed the gates’ of Silicon Valley through sheer drive and talent. Recently, they chatted with Aravind Srinivas, the 31-year-old CEO of Perplexity, which calls itself a ‘free AI-powered answer engine.’ At one point, Krishnan joked to his wife about Srinivas: ‘He’s calling us old!’ – a reminder that even tech veterans age fast in a world moving at warp speed.

A Chennai native, Krishnan studied at SRM Institute of Science and Technology, earning a Bachelor of Technology in IT, before moving to the US in 2007. He went on to lead engineering teams at Microsoft, Yahoo, Facebook and Snap.

His name even surfaced as a potential CEO for Twitter when Musk took over the platform for a staggering $44 billion. Of Musk, he says admiringly: ‘He tries to push things to the absolute simplest. His ability to take risk is beyond what most human beings are capable of.’

When the Trump government moved into office and his transition team began building its tech roster, Krishnan received a call from the government’s new AI czar, David Sacks, who offered him a chance to shape the ‘right’ AI policies.

Krishnan didn’t hesitate when Sacks came knocking. He told Politico: ‘I thought we were heading in the wrong direction with AI. I thought we were in a precarious position when it came to all things China.’ That sense of urgency and rivalry continues to define his approach to policy.

Krishnan doesn’t toe the MAGA line on everything. He has opposed country-based Green Card quotas, arguing that the rule works against skilled migrants from populous countries like India. His call for a global merit-based system that attracts ‘the very best talent from around the world’ hasn’t sat well with Trump’s anti-immigration supporters, who vociferously opposed his hiring as AI adviser.

MAGA stalwarts believe no outside talent is needed and that America has more than enough homemade talent to get ahead in the world of technology. But Krishnan’s not backing down.

To him, it’s simple: innovation wins wars, and talent wins innovation.

It’s impossible to talk about Krishnan without mentioning his wife Ramamurthy. They met online – but not on a dating app, as they like to joke. They both pride themselves on their nerdiness and were discussing coding issues online.

Ramamurthy was a prodigy at Coimbatore’s PSG College of Technology and was hired by Microsoft before she finished college. Later, she joined Netflix before striking out as a venture capitalist. This year, she launched Schema Ventures, which has a $20 million kitty and has made bold early investments in the start-up world.

Together, Aarthi and Sriram are something of a power couple for the digital age: entrepreneurs, podcast influencers and policy-shapers all rolled into one.

With their success, they’re also eager to ‘give back’ and believe they have valuable counsel to offer youngsters looking to make it big in technology. Two years ago, they hosted a seminar in Chennai for college students keen to make their mark in the ‘big bad world of tech’, offering tips from two people who know what it takes to make the leap from outsider to insider.

For now, though, Krishnan’s focus remains squarely on the race that could define the next century. He has one goal in mind: keeping the US on top in the AI age.

As the man helping steer US AI policy from the White House, his decisions could help determine whether America or China rules the future of artificial intelligence. If Krishnan gets his way, that future won’t just be ‘Made in America’ – it’ll be powered by it.

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)

Anjali Gopalan, Sharon Lowen, Uma Nair to receive Aalekh Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award

 Renowned women personalities including human rights activist Anjali Gopalan, Odissi dancer Sharon Lowen, and art curator Uma Nair will be honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Aalekh Foundation on July 19 at The Leela Palace.

The Delhi-based not for profit organisation has announced the names as part of the 3rd Aalekh Women Achievers Award.

Apart from Nair, Gopalan, and Lowen, artist Arpana Caur and former HoD Anatomy at AIIMS Dr Raj Dulhari Mehra will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The organisation will also honour leading women professionals, including designer Anshu Arora, Maitri India co-founder Winnie Singh, and YouTuber Neetu Bisht with the Aalekh Women Achievers Award.

The annual awards honour outstanding women from diverse walks of life, such as the arts, public service, media, law, literature, medicine, entrepreneurship, education, and social impact.

“These awards are a tribute to women who lead with integrity, imagination, and impact. Each story we honour is a story of courage, compassion, and contribution — rooted in values yet forward-looking. Through the Awards, we aim to spotlight journeys that inspire a more equitable and empathetic future,” Rennie Joyy, founder, Aalekh Foundation, said in a statement.

Other recipients of the Women Achievers Awards include film producer Karuna Badwal, actor Rituparna Sengupta, classical music exponent Basavi Mukherji, fashion designer Bambi Kevichusa, textile policy expert Chandrima Chatterjee, and filmmaker Shonali Bose.

Cricketer Anjum Chopra, IIS officer Maushami Chakravarty, journalist Shubhra Gupta, lawyer Malavika Rajkotia, director of Red FM Nisha Naryanan, fashion model Sonalika Sahay, textile expert Mira Gupta, yoga guru Pratishtha Saraswat, former IFS officer Sangeeta Bahadur, British Council director Alison Barrette, and writer Bijoya Sawain will also receive the award.

The previous recipients of the award include Shovana Narayan, Laila Tyabji, Kausar Munir, Richa Anirudh, Sonal Kalra, Anju Bobby George, Ekta Bist, Geeta Chandran, Garima Wahal, and Princess Gauri Lakshmi Bayi.

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

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headline edited)

Neeraj Chopra clinches Paris Diamond League title with victory over Germany’s Julian Weber

The 27-year-old Chopra won the title with his first round throw of 88.16m in a star-studded field having five competitors in the 90m club.

Indian javelin superstar Neeraj Chopra won his first Diamond League title in two years as he upstaged Julian Weber of Germany after back-to-back second place finishes here on Friday.

The 27-year-old Chopra won the title with his first round throw of 88.16m in a star-studded field having five competitors in the 90m club. His second throw measured 85.10m and he then fouled his next three attempts before recording 82.89m in his sixth and final effort.

Weber was second with his opening throw of 87.88m, while Luiz Mauricio Da Silva of Brazil was third with his third round attempt of 86.62m. Chopra had breached the 90m mark in the Doha leg of the Diamond League on May 16 with a throw of 90.23m for a second place finish. Weber had won the title in Doha with his last round throw of 91.06m.

The 31-year-old Weber had also beaten Chopra at the Janusz Kusocinski Memorial meet on May 23 in Poland where both performed below their best under chilly and overcast conditions. Weber had produced 86.12m while Chopra could only come up 84.14m to finish second.

Chopra had won his last DL title in Lausanne in June 2023 with a throw of 87.66m. Since then till Friday, he has finished second in six DL meetings.

This was Chopra’s first win in the Paris leg of the prestigious DL series. He last competed in the Paris DL in 2017 as a junior world champion and finished fifth with a throw of 84.67m.

The two-time Olympic medallist Indian began the 2025 season with a title in an invitational meet at Potchefstroom, South Africa, which was a minor — category F — event with a throw of 84.52m.

On June 24, Chopra will compete at the Golden Spike athletics meet in Ostrava, Czech Republic. After that, the reigning world champion will feature in the inaugural edition of the Neeraj Chopra Classic on July 5 in Bengaluru, a World Athletics category A event which he is hosting.

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)

PM to flag off first indigenous locomotive for export to Guinea on June 20 in Bihar

The Marhowrah facility will supply 150 locomotives worth more than ₹3,000 crore for the iron ore project in Guinea.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the first locomotive manufactured at the Marhowrah factory in Bihar for export to the Republic of Guinea on June 20, the Railway Ministry said on Wednesday (June 18, 2025).

“On June 20, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the first locomotive being exported to the Republic of Guinea,” said Dilip Kumar, Executive Director of Information and Publicity, Railway Board.

The Marhowrah facility will supply 150 locomotives worth more than ₹3,000 crore for SimFer’s Simandou iron ore project in Guinea, Africa, in three years.

According to Mr. Kumar, 37 locomotives will be delivered in the current financial year, 82 in the next, and the remaining 31 in the third year.

All locomotives will feature air-conditioned cabins and will be capable of hauling 100 wagons in pairs at maximum permissible speed, he said.

The Ministry noted that three types of tracks— broad gauge, standard gauge and cape gauge— have been laid at the Marhowrah factory for manufacturing these locomotives. The export project was secured through global competitive bidding, highlighting India’s capabilities in world-class manufacturing.

Mr. Kumar said the locomotives will come equipped with best-in-class emission standards, fire detection systems and ergonomic crew cabins with modern amenities such as a refrigerator, microwave and waterless toilet.

“They are fitted with DPWCS (Distributed Power Wireless Control System) for synchronised operations and superior freight handling. This positions the Marhowrah factory as a global hub for locomotive exports, boosting local employment and technology,” he said.

The Ministry said the export will help build infrastructure for Guinea’s largest iron ore project and strengthen India-Africa economic ties.

“This is a shining example of Atmanirbhar Bharat powering global infrastructure through innovation and quality manufacturing. We hope that Indian firms receive more such orders from other countries in future,” Mr. Kumar added.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Bound for space: Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla set for SpaceX mission with halwa

Shukla will be the pilot on the Dragon spacecraft commanded by US astronaut Peggy Whitson with Poland’s Slawosz Uznanski-Wisiniewski and Hungary’s Tibor Kapu as mission specialists on the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) during their 14-day stay on the orbiting laboratory.

Indian Air Force combat pilot Shubhanshu Shukla is set to fly to the International Space Station next week from a US spaceport aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and become India’s second astronaut since Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 Soyuz mission.

Shukla will be the pilot on the Dragon spacecraft commanded by US astronaut Peggy Whitson with Poland’s Slawosz Uznanski-Wisiniewski and Hungary’s Tibor Kapu as mission specialists on the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) during their 14-day stay on the orbiting laboratory.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Ax-4 crew aboard the Dragon from Nasa’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on June 10. While aboard the ISS, the Ax-4 astronauts plan to conduct over 60 science experiments, public outreach and technology demonstrations. The launch was earlier set for June 8.

Shukla is a group captain with over 2,000 hours of experience flying multiple combat aircraft.

Shukla is one of four candidate astronauts selected for the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (Isro) Gaganyaan human space flight mission expected to take place in 2027.

“It’s been an amazing journey until now — the best is yet to come,” Shukla said on Tuesday at a countdown-to-launch media conference organised by Axiom Space, a US-based private aerospace company engaged in commercial missions to the ISS and working towards building the first commercial space station.

Shukla and fellow IAF group captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, who’s serving as his designated backup, have been under training for the AX-4 mission since August 2024. All the AX-4 crew have undergone training at Axiom Space, Nasa’s Johnson Space Centre and SpaceX. The training has involved simulations of the launch and docking practice, emergency response drills, space station systems training and scientific payload operations.

“We’re ready to go, we’ve trained for all scenarios, bonded as a team,” said Whitson, who will be commanding her second commercial human spaceflight mission and add to her standing record of 675 days for the longest cumulative time in space by an American astronaut.

Shukla revealed during the media briefing that an air show during his school years and a fascination for fighter jets had drawn him into his career as a combat pilot. “When the opportunity (for an Indian human spaceflight mission) arose in 2018, I instinctively applied,” he said.

Among the seven science experiments Shukla will carry for India, one will examine the impact of microgravity on edible microalgae — a nutrient-rich food source. Another experiment will probe the growth of the organisms called Spirulina, a blue-green algae often described as a “superfood” in space.

Shukla will carry mango nectar, carrot halwa and moong dal halwa to share with his fellow astronauts on the ISS.

The experiments, developed under a tie-up between Isro and India’s department of biotechnology with support from Nasa, are intended to generate data for self-sustaining life support systems for future long-duration space travel.

“From orbit, I hope to speak to students, educators, and members of India’s space industry,” Shukla said, outlining some of the crew’s planned outreach activities from the ISS. Uznanski-Wisiniewsky plans to demonstrate physics experiments to students across Poland.

India’s space agency views the Ax-4 mission as yet another step towards its human spaceflight ambitions.

“The experience and the knowhow from the AX-4 mission is significant to us and will feed into our Gaganyaan programme,” Sudeesh Balan, project director at Isro, had said at a mission overview media briefing earlier this month.

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)

IISc researchers develop novel nanozyme which prevents excess clotting

When a blood vessel is injured, specialised blood cells called platelets get activated, and cluster together around the vessel to form protective blood clots. However, when these signals go haywire, oxidative stress and levels of toxic Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) increase, leading to over-activation of platelets.

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc.) have developed an artificial metal-based nanozyme that can potentially be used to clamp down on abnormal blood clotting caused by conditions like pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE).

According to IISc., under normal circumstances, when a blood vessel is injured, specialised blood cells called platelets get activated, and cluster together around the vessel to form protective blood clots.

This process, known as the blood clotting cascade (haemostasis), involves a complex series of protein interactions triggered by signals from physiological agonists (chemicals), such as collagen and thrombin.

However, when these signals go haywire in conditions like PTE or diseases like COVID-19, oxidative stress and levels of toxic Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) increase, leading to over-activation of platelets. This triggers the formation of excess clots in the blood vessel, contributing to thrombosis, a major cause of morbidity and mortality.

To tackle this challenge, researchers led by G. Mugesh, professor in the Department of Inorganic and Physical Chemistry, have developed nanomaterials that mimic the activity of natural antioxidant enzymes, which scavenge reactive oxidative molecules.

These nanozymes work by controlling ROS levels, thereby preventing the over-activation of platelets that leads to excess clot formation or thrombosis.

The team synthesised redox active nanomaterials of different sizes, shapes, and morphologies via a series of controlled chemical reactions starting from small building blocks. They then isolated platelets from human blood, activated them using physiological agonists, and tested how effectively the different nanozymes could prevent excess platelet aggregation.

The team found that spherical-shaped vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) nanozymes were the most efficient. These materials mimic a natural antioxidant enzyme called glutathione peroxidase to reduce oxidative stress.

“The unique chemistry of the vanadium metal is crucial because the redox reactions that reduce ROS levels are happening on the surface of the vanadium nanomaterial,” said Prof. Mugesh.

The team injected the nanozyme in a mouse model of PTE. They found that it significantly reduced thrombosis and increased the animals’ survival rates. They also observed the weight, behaviour, and blood parameters of the animal for up to five days after injecting the nanozyme, and did not find any toxic effects.

The team now plans to explore the efficacy of the nanozyme in preventing ischemic stroke, which is also caused by clogging of blood vessels.

“We are hopeful about clinical studies in humans because we have done our experiments with human platelets, and they worked,” said Prof. Mugesh.

source/content: thehindu (headline edited)

68 Indian Institutions feature in CWUR global 2000 rankings; IIM Ahmedabad leads national list

IIM Ahmedabad tops Indian chart at 428th despite drop; Harvard retains global No.1 spot.

 A total of 68 Indian universities and institutes have secured places in the 2025 edition of the Global 2000 list released by the Center for World University Rankings (CWUR) on Monday. Leading the Indian contingent is the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad, ranked 428th globally, despite slipping 18 places from last year.

CWUR is a prominent consulting organisation offering strategic insights to governments and academic institutions to enhance educational and research outcomes.

For the fourteenth consecutive year, Harvard University has retained its position as the top-ranked university in the world. It is followed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Stanford University. The University of Cambridge and University of Oxford complete the top five, making them the highest-ranked public universities globally.

The remainder of the global top 10 includes Princeton, the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia, Yale, and the University of Chicago all private US institutions. China, meanwhile, has overtaken the US in terms of the number of institutions featured in the rankings, with 346 universities included, up from 324 last year.

An official statement from CWUR noted, “India is enhancing its global standing in higher education. Thirty-nine universities from India have improved their rankings from last year, while 29 have seen a drop.” The main driver of this upward trend is improved research performance — with 37 Indian institutions showing gains in this area.

IIM Ahmedabad, while still the top-ranked Indian institute, fell 18 spots to 428th place. It retains an impressive 11th position globally for employability but declined in the quality of education indicator. The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) is ranked 521st, down 20 places, while IIT Madras jumped 21 places to 561st, just ahead of IIT Bombay (562nd) and IIT Delhi (582nd).

India’s top ten institutions also include Delhi University (636), Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (644), IIT Kharagpur (689), Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research (736), and Homi Bhabha National Institute (820).

CWUR President Nadim Mahassen commented, “With sixty-eight Indian institutions in the rankings, India is well represented among the world’s top universities. Increased financial support from the government and prioritising education and science will make India even more competitive globally.”

Globally, Mahassen warned of a concerning trend in the US, noting that while top institutions remain dominant, many others are falling in the rankings. “The decline of the vast majority of US institutions should concern the education authorities, particularly as Chinese universities benefit from years of consistent government support,” he said.

Asia rankings:
The University of Tokyo remains Asia’s highest-ranked institution at 13th globally. Other Asian leaders include Kyoto University (24th), Seoul National University (31st), Tsinghua (37th), Peking (44th), University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (46th), Shanghai Jiao Tong (61st), Hebrew University (65th), Zhejiang University (68th), and Weizmann Institute (70th).

Ranking methodology:
CWUR assessed 74 million data points to rank 21,462 universities globally based on four key metrics:

  • Quality of education (25%)
  • Employability (25%)
  • Quality of faculty (10%)
  • Research performance (40%)

Only the top 2,000 universities made it to the published list, representing 94 countries. Full results are available at cwur.org/2025.php.

India’s Top 10 in CWUR 2025 Rankings:
(Global rank | 2024 rank | Score)

  1. IIM Ahmedabad – 428 ▼ (410) – 75.2
  2. Indian Institute of Science – 521 ▼ (501) – 74.2
  3. IIT Madras – 561 ▲ (582) – 73.8
  4. IIT Bombay – 562 ▲ (568) – 73.8
  5. IIT Delhi – 582 ▲ (616) – 73.6
  6. Delhi University – 636 ▼ (622) – 73.2
  7. Tata Institute of Fundamental Research – 644 ▼ (606) – 73.1
  8. IIT Kharagpur – 689 ▲ (704) – 72.7
  9. Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research – 736 ▲ (798) – 72.4
  10. Homi Bhabha National Institute – 820 ▲ (903) – 71.8

(The full list includes 68 Indian institutions.)

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

Valmik Thapar, tiger conservation trailblazer, passes away at 73

Thapar worked mainly with tigers in the Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan where he championed community-based conservation efforts, while simultaneously advocating for stronger nationwide government initiatives to protect tigers and their ecosystem.

Valmik Thapar, an anthropology graduate who became one of India’s leading wildlife conservationists, shaping government policies on tiger conservation efforts and drawing global attention to the big cats through books and films, died on Saturday. He was 73.

Thapar worked mainly with tigers in the Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan where he championed community-based conservation efforts, while simultaneously advocating for stronger nationwide government initiatives to protect tigers and their ecosystem.

Former Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh described Thapar as “a legendary figure” in the conservation domain. “Today’s Ranthambore, particularly, is a testimony to his deep commitment and indefatigable zeal,” Ramesh posted on X on Saturday. He was uncommonly knowledgeable on a variety of issues relating to biodiversity and not a day passed during my ministerial tenure without our talking to each other —with me almost always at the receiving end.”

Thapar was among a generation of conservationists who had the opportunity to witness the evolution of India’s Project Tiger — launched in 1972-73 — which is widely regarded as among the world’s most successful conservation programmes.

“His passion arose purely from his heart, inspired by the charisma of the big cat,” said Ullas Karanth, emeritus director of the Centre for Wildlife Studies in Bangalore, who has himself focused on tiger ecology and the fate of tiger populations since the 1970s.

Thapar was only 23 when he went to Ranthambore in 1976. Over the next four decades, he studied nearly 200 tigers, spending hours in the forests in close proximity to the animals, observing their behaviour, even naming some of them — Broken Tooth, Genghis, Laxmi, Machli, Padmini.

Thapar had played a key role in “pushing for” regulatory initiatives such as the establishment of a Wildlife Crime Control Bureau to curb poaching and amendments to wildlife regulations. “I was amazed by Valmik’s incredible drive and a shrewd understanding of how political systems worked,” Karanth said.

Ravi Chellam, a wildlife biologist and a specialist on India’s lions, said Thapar had some “very strong views on what needed to be done”, which he would not be shy of expressing.

“He was also a prolific author, lucid presenter and narrator of films and documentaries who built a global reputation as one of the foremost spokespersons for India’s wilderness,” Chellam said.

Among his earliest books was With Tigers in the Wild, published in 1983 and co-authored with Fateh Singh Rathore, a Ranthambore forest officer, and tiger conservation advocate Tejbir Singh. “This was among the first books with outstanding photographs of tigers in the wild from India,” Karanth said.

Thapar, while seeking to influence government policy through memberships in over 150 panels or task forces, also wrote or edited more than 30 books, including The Secret Life of Tigers in 2016, which documents the lives of three tigresses and their cubs from birth to adulthood. He also helped produce multiple films and documentaries on tigers.

Thapar was married to theatre artist Sanjana Kapoor, daughter of actor Shashi Kapoor, and they have a son.

Thapar, appointed a member of the country’s tiger task force in 2005, had written a dissent note, expressing concern that the task force’s report was overly optimistic about the coexistence of tigers and humans, a PTI report said on Saturday. Thapar argued that for tigers to survive in the long run, certain areas needed to be kept entirely free from human interference.

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)

Army chief awards felicitates woman BSF officer Assistant Commandant Neha Bhandari for exceptional courage during Operation Sindoor

Commanding a border outpost within eyeball-to-eyeball contact of a Pakistani post along the International Border, the assistant commandant led her troops to silence three forward hostile posts across the zero line (the area closest to enemy territory) by giving a befitting reply.

Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Upendra Dwivedi, on Friday (May 30, 2025) awarded Border Security Force (BSF) Assistant Commandant Neha Bhandari with the Commendation Disc for her exceptional courage and operational proficiency during Operation Sindoor in the Jammu frontier.

Commanding a border outpost within eyeball-to-eyeball contact of a Pakistani post along the International Border, the assistant commandant led her troops to silence three forward hostile posts across the zero line (the area closest to enemy territory) by giving a befitting reply.

“On 30 May 2025, COAS General Upendra Dwivedi, PVSM, AVSM, felicitated Assistant Commandant Neha Bhandari of BSF Jammu with the Commendation Disc for her exceptional courage and operational proficiency during Operation Sindoor,” BSF Jammu said on X.

She gallantly commanded a forward-deployed BSF company under challenging conditions, it said.

Apart from Neha, six women constables held gun positions at a forward border post, with their “josh” rising with every bullet they fired at the enemy positions across the IB in the Samba, R S Pura and Akhnoor sectors.

Neha, a third-generation officer from her family in Uttarakhand, takes pride in being a part of the BSF and commanding a border outpost in the Pargwal forward area of Akhnoor sector in Jammu district during Operation Sindoor.

“I feel proud to be manning a post along the International Border with my troops. It is approximately 150 meters away from the Pakistani post in the Akhnoor–Pargwal area,” she told PTI here on Wednesday.

Neha’s grandfather served in the Indian Army and her parents are from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), making her a third-generation officer in the family.

“My grandfather served in the Army. My father was in the CRPF. My mother is in the CRPF. I am a third-generation officer in the force,” she said.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

India’s space sector created 22,000 job in last decade, positively contributed to economy: study

The study noted that the number of homegrown space startups in India surged from 1 in 2014 to 229 by mid-2024.

A marked increase in homegrown space startups, industries manufacturing space-qualified products, and a growing reliance on satellite-based services have all positively impacted India’s economy, a new study has found. It also said the space sector has contributed to the country’s employment and overall social development.

The study, titled ‘Space economy of India, its impact on the rest of the economy’, published in the journal Space Policy enlisted the creation of around 22,000 new jobs in this sector in the past decade.

In 2020–21, the space sector contributed a modest 0.19 per cent of India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), but this share has been rising, as per the study. Monetarily, the New Space India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), generated a revenue worth Rs 2,940 crore in 2022-2023, the study noted.

The year-on-year increment in the revenue is estimated to remain around 24 per cent, said the study authored by experts from the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram; Centre for Development Studies, Thiruvananthapuram; Ahmedabad University and National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru.

Policy-level changes with the introduction of Space Activities Policy 2023 and the establishment of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (In-SPACe), too, created a positive shift in the way the space economy has shaped in recent years, according to the study.

According to the study, with more countries turning into private players for venturing into space, employment generation holds potential even in India.

“Private space startups are attracting substantial investments, generating revenue through satellite manufacturing, launch services and space-based applications. Sectors like telecommunications, agriculture and navigation have benefited from satellite services, enhancing their operational efficiency and productivity,” said the study.

In India, the number of homebred space startups went from one to 229 from 2014 mid-2024, and they are believed to employ about 2,500 people at present.

ISRO has remained the primary driver of space-related activities in India and the space agency directly employs over 17,000 people. The overall employment covering the broader space industry is estimated to be 45,000–50,000.

India’s space economy covers manufacturing, operations and applications. The space manufacturing segment includes the production of launch vehicles, satellites, spacecraft subsystems, scientific instruments and ground equipment.

Space operations encompass launch services, satellite operation and brokerage, ground station management, in-orbit servicing, space surveillance, debris removal, space tourism, in-space manufacturing and the operation of spaceports. Space applications cover services like direct-to-home broadcasting, satellite communications, location-based services, satellite data processing and downstream applications using satellite signals.

According to the study, some of the key emerging areas in this sector include deep exploration missions, greater involvement of private players and international collaborations.

Even with modest spending with respect to the country’s GDP, the space sector holds immense potential and far-reaching and multi-sectoral reach, the study said. Improvements brought through satellite-based services and geographical information services-based tools are immensely benefitting sectors like agriculture, disaster management, national security, weather forecasting, urban planning, energy planning, navigation, infrastructure development, land management and more, it said.

The researchers said the technological innovations and spillovers to sectors also added to the overall contribution to the economy.

source/content: indianexpress.com (headline edited)