Experts carried out an in-depth study about its biodiversity, archaeological ancestry and unique ecosystem and later, a proposal was sent to include its name in the UNESCO tentative list.

In a significant achievement for Chhattisgarh’s tourism, the state’s Kanger Valley National Park is India’s new UNESCO heritage claimant with its unique biodiversity.

The park has been included in the tentative list of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites, marking the first site in Chhattisgarh to achieve this prestigious recognition.

It was an arduous journey to get the exceptional beauty and historical importance of Kanger Valley recognised to this stage. In December 2023, the Chhattisgarh government and the Archaeological Survey of India planned to facilitate global awareness of this amazing site.

Experts carried out an in-depth study about its biodiversity, archaeological ancestry and unique ecosystem and later, a proposal was sent to include its name in the UNESCO tentative list. Chhattisgarh achieved the first vital step to get entry into the special list carrying names of places that can be declared as World Heritage in future. The state keeps its hopes alive that Kanger Valley will get the status of permanent World Heritage in the coming years.

“It is a matter of pride for the state that Kanger Valley has been included in the UNESCO Tentative List, which will open up new possibilities in tourism and employment. We will continue to work together to preserve our heritage in the future”, said Vishnu Deo Sai, Chhattisgarh chief minister.

A government spokesperson said that Kanger Valley is not just a forest, it is an incredible realm that for many, appears like a fairy tale world.

The region, with more than 15 mysterious caves such as Kotamsar, Kailash and Dandak caves, looks no less than a mystical world. The 15 limestone caves in the Valley are not only geological wonders but also narrate archaeological stories.

Various rare animals—otters, mouse deer, giant squirrels, Lethis softshell turtles, and wild wolves, among others thrive in this park. More than 200 bird species wing their way above in the sky with a colorful carpet of over 900 plants on the ground. Across this bio-geography landscape, over 140 different butterflies fill the air with colour.

In the surrounding villages inhabited by Dhruva and Gond tribes, the Kanger Valley forest is not just a jungle but a part of their culture and life. With the increase in tourism, new employment opportunities will also open up for the locals.

A few months ago, Dhudmaras village of Bastar gained the attention of the world with its simplicity and has been included in the top 20 villages of the world by joining the UNWTO’s “Best Tourist Village” promotion programme. Now Kanger Valley has taken the regional glory to another height.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

This performance marked a major milestone in the composer’s illustrious career.

Ilaiyaraaja presented his “first ever western classical symphony,” titled Valiant, at London’s Eventim Apollo Theatre at midnight on March 9, Sunday. Joining Ilaiyaraaja in the historic event was London’s famous Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, in what he described as a “special surprise performance.”

This performance marked a major milestone in the composer’s illustrious career. With it, he has become the first musician from the field of cinema in India to achieve this feat in London. He is also among first composers from India to utilise elements of Western classical music for film music, as well as the first to compose a full-length symphony. The event in London served as the world premiere or debut of Valiant.

Ilaiyaraaja recorded Valiant alongside the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. He recently shared a video showing what went behind the scenes during its making. At the time of its creation, Ilaiyaraaja even introduced himself to the Scottish orchestra and told its members that he “used to record a song or a film score” daily. He also told the team that it was a sudden decision to write a symphony in this genre. “When I started writing, I never thought I would record with you all,” said the composer.

He has been showered with words of effusive praise since the announcement of the event earlier this year. Recently, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin described it as the “crown jewel among the countless achievements of Ilayaraja, a musical soul deeply intertwined with the lives of Tamils ​​around the world.”

He also presented an orchestra iteration of some of the most popular compositions from his career at the London theatre in March. The Western symphony adds to the musical maestro’s growing body of work, which also includes albums such as How To Name It and Nothing But Wind.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

Professor Suman Chakraborty’s body of work boasts a plethora of affordable, simple-to-execute, and innovative diagnostic solutions covering various medical challenges, such as anaemia, cancer, COVID-19, and tuberculosis.

Suman Chakraborty, institute chair professor in the Mechanical Engineering department of the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur (IIT-KGP), has been awarded the 2026 TWAS Award in Engineering and Computer Sciences by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

According to The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) website, this biennial award is given to “individual scientists from developing countries in recognition of an outstanding contribution to scientific knowledge in nine fields of sciences and/or to the application of science and technology to sustainable development.”

Professor Chakraborty is an alumnus of Jadavpur University in Kolkata and the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru and has been a visiting professor at Stanford University in the United States with an Indo-US Fellowship. He has also been an Alexander von Humboldt Fellow in Germany, as well as a Fellow of the American Physical Society, American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Professor Chakraborty is currently a J.C. Bose National Fellow.

His body of work boasts a plethora of affordable, simple-to-execute, and innovative diagnostic solutions covering various medical challenges such as anaemia, cancer, COVID-19, tuberculosis etc.

His notable innovations include Oroscreen, a torch-like imaging device for the early detection of oral cancer, and Covirap, a rapid COVID-19 detection test kit. The latter has been granted a U.S. patent for its rapid nucleic acid testing technology using DNA RNA samples. 

He has also developed PrepapQR, a home test for women to accurately test vaginal Ph with the help of a strip, and HemoQR, a simplified anaemia screening technology. Both these tests are currently available commercially.

“We are also currently developing a flagship technology for rapid detection of tuberculosis. I have always focussed on developing diagnostic technology and interventions that will be affordable and accessible for the Indian masses without the requirement for expensive laboratory resources,” Professor Chakraborty told The Hindu.

“I am elated to win this award from India because it’s a recognition of humanitarian work through science and technology. This achievement also recognises government-funded science innovation in India given most diagnostic solutions in my body of work were developed in IIT-KGP. This award, I am sure, is a matter of pride for the Government of India as well,” he added.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

International Women’s Day 2025:

The Ipsos IWD 2025 Global Survey found that 78 per cent of Indian citizens believe in the importance of achieving gender equality, with both genders supporting the cause.

International Women’s Day 2025: A 30-country survey conducted by research firm Ipsos for International Women’s Day reveals that Indians are among the most progressive when it comes to views on gender equality and challenging traditional gender stereotypes.

The Ipsos IWD 2025 Global Survey found that 78 per cent of Indian citizens believe in the importance of achieving gender equality, with both genders supporting the cause. In comparison, other countries showed more polarised views on gender parity, with South Korea (52%) and the Netherlands (54%) exhibiting significantly lower levels of agreement.

The firm conducted online interviews with 24,269 people across 30 countries between December 20, 2024, and January 3, 2025.

Regarding gender stereotypes, 48 per cent of Indians view domestic chores, like housekeeping and cooking, as shared responsibilities between genders. In contrast, 28 per cent believe the responsibility lies with women, and 18 per cent attribute it to men.

Further, 69 per cent of Indians which is at least two in three people feel that women holding positions of responsibility in business and government is a key step in advancing gender equality.

About 53 per cent believe that the responsibility of unpaid care for family members, such as caring for children and elderly relatives, should be shared equally between both genders.

“It is heartening to see that both men and women in India are aligned in their views on equal treatment and opportunity for women,” CEO of Ipsos India Amit Adarkar said, highlighting the progress India is making, especially in light of a World Economic Forum report which found that it could take five generations to achieve full gender parity.

Adarkar pointed out that India is witnessing shifts in rural areas, with initiatives like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and Lakhpati Didi, alongside government policies designed to foster systemic change. He also said that families are smaller now and some families have a girl child.

Despite growing acceptance of gender parity, the report said that many Indians still believe men should be the primary breadwinners of the family, with the idea of stay-at-home dads remaining largely unacceptable.

“Gender equality is the theme and the buzzword for 2025 and beyond, but the other extreme of a man staying at home to look after his children is also not acceptable to Indians – he is seen as less of a man – this view was held by at least 6 in 10 Indians,” the report read. A significant 60 per cent of Indians hold this view, a notable increase from 39 per cent in 2019. The global average stands at 19 per cent, while South Korea leads with 69 per cent.

Notably, the survey also found that 64 per cent of Indians believe that men are being unfairly pressured to support gender equality through what they see as “overambitious” policies.

source/content: indianexpress.com (headline edited)

The trial phase will span up to 24 months and involves deployment of 16 such vehicles with varying configurations and payload capacities.

Tata Motors, country’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturer, on Tuesday commenced the first-ever trials of hydrogen-powered heavy-duty trucks to assess their viability for long-haul transportation solutions. The trial phase will span up to 24 months and involves deployment of 16 such vehicles with varying configurations and payload capacities.

These trucks, equipped with new age Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engines (H2-ICE) and Fuel Cell (H2-FCEV) technologies, will be tested on India’s most prominent freight routes, including those around Mumbai, Pune, Delhi-NCR, Surat, Vadodara, Jamshedpur and Kalinganagar.

Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways said that hydrogen is the fuel of the future with immense potential to transform India’s transportation sector by reducing emissions and enhancing energy self-reliance.

Tata Motors Executive Director Girish Wagh said that during the trial run, feedback would be collected in terms of performance of this technology in real life operating conditions, infrastructure and commercial viability.

As hydrogen fuel cells or hydrogen internal combustion engines can probably be a viable technology for heavy duty, longer duration transportation, the auto major is investing in the technology, Wagh said.

Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi said the beginning of the trial is a significant step forward in showcasing the potential of green hydrogen in decarbonising India’s transportation sector. Tata Motor was awarded the tender for this trial, which is funded by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy under the National Green Hydrogen Mission. With an operational range of 300-500 km, these vehicles are engineered for sustainable, cost-efficient, and high-performance transportation.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

Conducted between 2021 and 2023, the survey covered 8,406 km long stretches of Ganga and Brahmaputra river basins, inclusive of its tributaries, and a 101 km long stretch of the Beas river.

India has 6,324 Gangetic dolphins across the Ganga and Brahmaputra river basins and three Indus river dolphins in the Beas river basin in Punjab, the country’s first-ever detailed dolphin population survey has found.

Conducted between 2021 and 2023, the survey covered 8,406 km long stretches of Ganga and Brahmaputra river basins, inclusive of its tributaries, and a 101 km long stretch of the Beas river.

“The dolphin estimate for Ganga is 5,689 (range: 5,371-6,024), while 635 dolphins were estimated in Brahmaputra, totalling a population estimate of 6,234 (range: 5,977-6,688) in the surveyed rivers,” the report stated.

PM Narendra Modi released the results of the dolphin population survey during the 7th meeting of National Board for Wildlife held Monday at the Gir National Park. He launched Project Dolphin on August 15, 2020.

The survey was done by Wildlife Institute of India, state forest departments of Punjab, UP, Bihar, Assam, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and non-profit organisations including Aaranyak, World Wildlife Fund, Turtle Survival Alliance and Wildlife Trust of India.

Of the 6,324 Gangetic dolphins, 3,275 were found on the river’s main stem, 2,414 were found in Ganga’s tributaries while 584 were found in Brahmaputra’s main stem. A total of 28 rivers were surveyed by boat for the estimation exercise and 30 river stretches were mapped by road.

Among range states, 2,397 dolphins were counted in UP, 2,220 in Bihar, 162 in Jharkhand, 95 in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, 815 in West Bengal, 635 in Assam and three in Punjab.

In Ganga, a total of 7,109 km was actively surveyed, which included the main stem of Ganga as well as its tributaries – Chambal, Yamuna, Rapti, Sharda, Ghaghara, Mahananda, Kosi, Gandak, Geruwa, Rupnarayan, Torsa, Kaljani, Churni, and Haldi, covering UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan.

In UP, the highest encounter or concentration of dolphins was found in the 47-km stretch of Bhind-Pachnada in Chambal River.

The Kanpur-Vindhyachal stretch of 380 km had an encounter rate of 1.89 dolphins/km. The dolphin population in 366-km long Narora to Kanpur stretch was almost non-existent, the report said.

In Bihar, the survey found dolphin populations thriving in most stretches due to relatively higher water depth owing to tributaries such as Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi and Son, coupled with ideal river morphology. The stretch from Chausa–Manihari, covering the Ganga’s main stem has 1,297 dolphins in 590 km, making it one of the most densely populated stretches.

source/content: indianexpress.com (headline edited)

Siddhi pursued bachelor’s degree in music from Vishwakarma Institute and completed postgraduate studies at Westminster University in London.

 In a remarkable musical feat, 22-year-old Siddhi Kapshikar has set a world record in harmonium playing, performing continuously for an astounding 10 hours, 23 minutes, and 22 seconds. The achievement was recognized by the Genius World Records, and she accomplished this milestone on Vasant Panchami (February 2, 2025).

She pursued a bachelor’s degree in music from Vishwakarma Institute and later completed her postgraduate studies at Westminster University in London. Currently, she is working as an Audio-Video Engineer at HSBC (Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation) in London.

A Record Honoring India’s Musical Legacy

Siddhi’s record attempt was dedicated to India’s 75th Republic Year (Amrit Mahotsav), where she performed over 75 classical ragas under music therapy.

Her repertoire included:

• Geet Ramayan
• Bhajans and abhangs
• Bollywood songs
• 25 different musical forms

Siddhi Kapshikar said: “As an Indian and a Maharashtrian, I feel immense pride in setting this world record. This achievement is a tribute to my country, my musical journey, and my passion for harmonium playing. Music has been a part of my life since I was in the 5th grade.”

Her parents, Sheetal and Vivek Kapshikar, expressed their happiness and pride, stating: “Siddhi has not only honored our family but also paid tribute to Indian classical music and her beloved instrument—the harmonium. She has proved her dedication through this achievement. While she learned singing from Madhuri Kolpe, she mastered the harmonium on her own.”

source/content: thebridgechronicle.com (headline edited)