The Southern Railway’s Thiruvananthapuram Division has inaugurated India’s longest special train service, marking a historic milestone in the country’s railway operations.

The maiden journey, Train No. 06015, departed from Thiruvananthapuram Central on April 5 at 4:45 pm, bound for New Tinsukia. Covering a massive distance of 4,028 kilometres, the journey is expected to take approximately 83 hours and 45 minutes, with the train arriving in Assam at 4:30 am on the fifth day.

The return service, Train No. 06016, will leave New Tinsukia at 8:00 pm on April 9 and reach Thiruvananthapuram at 7:45 am on the fifth day. The route traverses major railway hubs including Kollam, Kottayam, Ernakulam Town, Palakkad, Vijayawada, Bhubaneswar, Kharagpur, New Jalpaiguri, and Guwahati, connecting the southern peninsula with the Northeast.

The 22-coach train comprises 2 AC Three-Tier coaches, 18 Sleeper Class coaches, and 2 Second Class coaches designed for accessibility for persons with disabilities (Divyangjan), catering to high long-distance travel demand.

This service significantly enhances connectivity between Kerala and Assam, providing passengers a convenient option for long-haul journeys across the country.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

Leh, In a landmark initiative to preserve Ladakh’s ancient heritage, Lt Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Saturday laid the foundation stone for India’s first Petroglyph Conservation Park on the banks of the Indus River here on World Heritage Day.

Petroglyphs are prehistoric images, symbols, or carvings etched, pecked, or engraved directly onto rock surfaces.

The park aims to serve as a dedicated conservation space for centuries-old rock carvings that are increasingly under threat due to unregulated tourism, rapid infrastructure development, and a lack of awareness, officials said.

They said the park will house petroglyphs collected from vulnerable and isolated locations across Ladakh, ensuring their preservation for future generations while also making them accessible to visitors in a curated and educational setting.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums and the Archaeological Survey of India for the preservation of heritage for future generations through joint intervention, they said.

Officials informed that nearly 400 sites across Ladakh contain petroglyphs, found either in clusters or in isolation.

While cluster sites are relatively easier to conserve, isolated petroglyphs especially those along the banks of the Indus River and Zanskar River face significant risk of damage due to construction activities and lack of awareness among people.

These endangered artefacts will be carefully relocated to the Petroglyph Conservation Park for protection and display, officials said, adding that some of the oldest petroglyphs have inscriptions in Chinese, Arabic, Sanskrit and other ancient languages.

The Lt Governor emphasised that the park would serve as a vital step towards preserving the region’s ancient art and history for generations to come.

He termed Ladakh as a “repository of ancient heritage” and said the region hosts one of the most extensive collections of prehistoric rock art in South and Central Asia.

“Beyond natural weathering and climate stress, human activities, such as road construction, blasting of rocks, and unregulated tourism, pose serious risks to these petroglyphs.

“Conservation of these heritage sites must be treated as an ethical responsibility and integrated into development planning,” Saxena said, while addressing a workshop on the occasion of World Heritage Day, themed “Ancient Art, Modern Challenges: Safeguarding Petroglyphs and Shaping Tourism Circuits in Ladakh”.

He noted that these rock carvings depicted early human life, including hunting scenes, animals like ibex and snow leopards, and later, symbols of Buddhist faith such as stupas and inscriptions.

This, he said, showcased the cultural transition over the centuries.

The Lt Governor also emphasised the creation of curated heritage circuits, including petroglyph and Buddhist circuits, to manage tourist flow responsibly while promoting lesser-known sites.

He described the petroglyphs as “open-air museums” and “civilisations carved on stone,” representing a continuous record of human history from the Palaeolithic Age to later historic periods.

Found in regions such as Domkhar, Dah Hanu, Alchi, Chilling, and Tangtse, these carvings depict ancient trade routes, migration patterns, belief systems, and ecological histories.

Calling for community participation, the Lt Governor urged local residents, monks, youth, and stakeholders to act as custodians of Ladakh’s heritage. He reiterated that sustainable preservation requires collective effort, awareness, and respect for cultural and ecological sensitivities.

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

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headline edited)

Vikram Doraiswami described his time in London as a “transformative period” for the bilateral relationship, including the conclusion of the India-U.K. Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

Indian High Commissioner to the U.K. Vikram Doraiswami was on Wednesday (April 8, 2026) awarded the Freedom of the City of London for his “outstanding contribution” to strengthening the India-U.K. relationship.

Mr. Doraiswami received the prestigious honour, dating back to the 13th century in celebration of significant achievements in public life, at a ceremony at London’s Guildhall led by the Lady Mayor of the City of London – Dame Susan Langley.

It comes towards the conclusion of his over three-year tenure in the U.K. before he takes up his next post as India’s new ambassador to China.

“It is a singular and profound honour to be accorded the Freedom of the City of London, a distinction that stands as a testament to the heritage of this One Square Mile and its vision for a global future,” said Mr. Doraiswami.

“To be woven into the historic fabric of the city in this way is a gesture I accept with the utmost humility and pride, in the hope that it contributes to realising the extraordinary potential that the Indian economy offers businesses in the City of London for mutually beneficial partnership in an era of great global churn,” he said.

The senior diplomat described his time in London as a “transformative period” for the bilateral relationship, including the conclusion of the India-U.K. Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Inside the reactor, plutonium atoms get split, releasing heat and neutrons that sustain the reaction and generate power, while a blanket of uranium surrounding the core gets converted into more plutonium fuel, a process key to breeder technology.

A nuclear reactor two decades in the making at the coastal nuclear complex of Kalpakkam, 70km from Chennai, achieved a self-sustaining chain reaction on Monday, marking India’s entry into the second stage of a long-planned three-stage nuclear energy strategy.

The 500MW Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR), designed to produce more nuclear fuel while it generates power, “successfully attained first criticality” — a controlled nuclear fission chain reaction — at 8.25pm on Monday, India’s Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) said on Tuesday.

Three generations of physicists and engineers at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam, designed the PFBR, which was built by the public sector Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam (Bhavini) after clearance by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board following a detailed safety review of plant systems.

Scientists have been working on the design of fast breeder reactors at least since 1980s while construction on the PFBR began in 2004.

Inside the reactor, plutonium atoms get split, releasing heat and neutrons that sustain the reaction and generate power, while a blanket of uranium surrounding the core gets converted into more plutonium fuel, a process key to breeder technology.

Fast breeder technology is a critical bridge between India’s current fleet
of pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs) and its planned thorium-based reactors, which will seek to harness India’s abundant thorium reserves for centuries of clean energy.

Fast breeder reactors globally have faced persistent delays and cost escalations, partly due to the engineering complexity of using liquid sodium coolant, which is highly reactive and comes with corrosion, leak and fire risks, necessitating stringent safety systems and complicating plant operations. Only Russia currently operates large fast breeder reactors.

“India has entered the 2nd stage of our three-stage nuclear power programme with the achievement of criticality of PFBR,” the former DAE secretary Anil Kakodkar wrote on Monday night in a post on X.

The DAE has described the PFBR criticality as a “historic step” towards long-term energy security and advancing homegrown nuclear technology capabilities.

Kakodkar has previously called for steps to accelerate the transition to the third stage, which he said was critical for long-term energy security and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

India currently operates the sixth-largest nuclear reactor fleet in the world with 24 operational reactors and an installed nuclear power capacity of nearly 8.8GW. Seventeen planned or under-construction reactors will add 22.38GW by 2032. The government has set a target of 100GW by 2047.

Nuclear energy currently makes up 3.1 per cent of the country’s total electricity generation.

A Parliamentary panel reviewing the atomic energy department’s activities last month had expressed concern that the current pace of capacity addition falls “significantly short” of what would be required to realise the planned 100GW target.

The panel had recommended that the Centre should establish a “ring-fenced funding mechanism” for nuclear capacity addition, insulated from year-to-year budgetary variability to provide long-term financial certainty to ongoing and planned nuclear power reactors.

The panel had also asked the DAE to prepare a roadmap for the transition from stage two to stage three, including projected timelines for a fleet-mode deployment of fast breeder reactors.

The existing PHWRs use natural uranium to produce plutonium, which is then used in the second stage along with thorium to generate fissile uranium-233. In the third stage, thorium is used to continue the production of uranium-233, enabling a self-sustaining fuel cycle.

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)

As part of the strategic engagement, Wipro will deliver end-to-end transformation services to Olam Group through a consulting-led and AI-powered approach.

IT services firm Wipro has secured an eight-year transformation deal with Singapore-based food and agri-business major Olam Group, which is expected to exceed USD 1 billion (about Rs 9,314 crore) in contract value.

As part of the broader engagement, Wipro said it will acquire Olam Group’s IT and digital services business, Mindsprint Pte. Ltd., for USD 375 million (about Rs 3,494 crore).

“Wipro has secured a multi-year strategic transformation deal with Olam Group, a leading USD 50+ Billion Food and Agri-business headquartered in Singapore, employing nearly 40,000 people, and majority-owned by Temasek Holdings. This 8-year deal with Olam Group is expected to exceed USD 1 billion in contract value, with a committed spend of USD 800 million.

“As part of this broader engagement, Wipro will acquire Mindsprint, Olam Group’s IT services arm,” Wipro said in a regulatory filing on Monday.

Mindsprint, founded in 2007 and headquartered in Singapore, employs over 3,200 professionals across India, Singapore, the US, the UK, and the Middle East. It reported consolidated revenues of USD 135.6 million for the calendar year 2025.

The proposed sale, subject to closing adjustments, is in line with Olam Group’s Updated 2025 Re-organisation Plan to responsibly divest and monetise the remaining Olam Group’s assets and businesses over time and progressively distribute the net proceeds to its shareholders via special dividends.

As part of the strategic engagement, Wipro will deliver end-to-end transformation services to Olam Group through a consulting-led and AI-powered approach. The engagement will draw on Wipro’s industry expertise, partnerships with leading technology providers, and Wipro Intelligence, its unified suite of AI-powered platforms, solutions and transformative offerings.

The acquisition of Mindsprint, an all-cash deal for 100 per cent shareholding, is expected to be completed by June 30, 2026, subject to customary closing adjustments and regulatory approvals, including anti-trust clearances in Saudi Arabia and Australia.

“Wipro’s strategic engagement with Olam Group is an important step in expanding our farm-to-fork capabilities and scaling the impact of Wipro Intelligence across the food and agri-business industry.

“By bringing Mindsprint’s deep domain expertise and IP-led solutions, together with Wipro’s consulting-led and AI-powered capabilities, we aim to unlock growth opportunities, catalyse innovation, and drive market-ready transformation for Olam Group and our global clients across the industry,” Wipro CEO and MD Srini Pallia said.

Under the terms of the transaction, Mindsprint will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Wipro. Key management personnel, led by Mindsprint CEO Suresh Sundararajan, will continue to lead the business.

“As Mindsprint enters its next phase of growth with Wipro, we are confident that the combination of its deep domain expertise and Wipro’s global scale and advanced capabilities will further strengthen the value it delivers to Olam Group.

“This partnership positions us well to accelerate our transformation agenda and build a more agile, resilient and future-ready organisation,” said Sunny Verghese, Co-Founder and CEO of Olam Group.

Olam Group is a leading food and agri-business, majorly owned by Temasek Holdings. The company employs nearly 40,000 people and supplies food, ingredients, feed, and fibre to almost 22,000 customers across more than 60 countries.

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)

The move follows a week-long “Global Taco Vote” where American diners chose between India’s Butter Chicken Taco and Thailand’s Kickin’ Chicken Taco.

Global fast-food giant Taco Bell has announced that its Butter Chicken Taco—originally a star of its Indian menu—is officially coming to the US.

The move follows a week-long “Global Taco Vote” where American diners chose between India’s Butter Chicken Taco and Thailand’s Kickin’ Chicken Taco.

In a landslide victory reflecting a mainstream obsession with Indian flavours, the Butter Chicken Taco secured 65 per cent of the total vote.

Once a speciality item found only in “Little India” pockets, butter chicken has evolved into one of the most beloved international dishes for Americans.

Global fast-food giant Taco Bell has announced that its Butter Chicken Taco—originally a star of its Indian menu—is officially coming to the US.

The move follows a week-long “Global Taco Vote” where American diners chose between India’s Butter Chicken Taco and Thailand’s Kickin’ Chicken Taco.

In a landslide victory reflecting a mainstream obsession with Indian flavours, the Butter Chicken Taco secured 65 per cent of the total vote.

Once a speciality item found only in “Little India” pockets, butter chicken has evolved into one of the most beloved international dishes for Americans.

“Butter chicken is the ultimate ‘bridge’ dish,” says a Houston-based food blogger. “Mainstream America already loves it, and Indian-Americans grew up on it. This fusion defines our identity in places like Missouri City and Sugar Land.” The taco features shredded, slow-roasted chicken in a tomato-cream sauce with Indian spices, wrapped in a crispy fried chalupa shell—a texture mirroring a well-made paratha.

While excitement is high, some in the diaspora remain sceptical about whether a mass-market chain can replicate the nuanced depth of a traditional makhani sauce without an Indian kitchen’s touch. For many, the true test will be in the execution.

“This vote is about celebrating the creativity of our global menus,” said Amy Ellis Durini, Taco Bell International’s Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer. “The Butter Chicken Taco has a passionate following in India, and we are thrilled to bring that innovation to US fans.” It is expected to be available later in 2026 as a limited-time offer.

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)

The INS Aridaman is the third vessel of the Arihant class nuclear submarines being built for the Indian Navy under the Project ATV at Vishakhapatnam.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday formally commissioned the indigenous nuclear-powered submarine INS Aridhaman into the Indian Navy, marking a significant step in India’s strategic maritime capabilities.

The INS Aridhaman is the third vessel of the Arihant class nuclear submarines being built for the Indian Navy under the Project ATV at Vishakhapatnam.

The induction of the nuclear submarine is going to further strengthen the capability of the forces. The defence minister also inducted the frigate Taragiri in the city.

The induction of Taragiri comes at a time when the strategic and maritime importance of India’s eastern seaboard continues to grow, driven by evolving regional security dynamics and India’s deepening engagement in the Indo-Pacific.

The commissioning of Taragiri highlights the Navy’s sustained focus on strengthening its combat readiness and operational might through its ambitious fleet augmentation programme. As the fourth potent platform of the Project 17A class, Taragiri is not merely a ship; it is a 6,670-tonne embodiment of the ‘Make in India’ spirit and the sophisticated engineering capabilities of our indigenous shipyards.

Built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, this Frigate represents a generational leap over earlier designs, offering a sleeker form and a significantly reduced Radar Cross-Section that allows it to operate with lethal stealth. With indigenous content exceeding 75 per cent, the ship highlights the maturity of a domestic industrial ecosystem that now spans over 200 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), contributing to the GoI’s Aatmanirbharta initiatives supports thousands of Indian jobs.

Driven by a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion plant, Taragiri is designed for ‘High-Speed – High Endurance’ versatility and multi-dimensional maritime operations. The ship’s weapon suite is world-class, featuring supersonic Surface-to-Surface Missiles, Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missiles, and a specialised Anti-Submarine Warfare suite. These systems are seamlessly integrated through a state-of-the-art Combat Management System, ensuring that the crew can respond to threats with split-second precision.

Beyond its role as a premier hunter of the seas, Taragiri is built for the complexities of modern diplomacy and humanitarian crises. Its flexible mission profile makes it ideal for everything from high-intensity combat to Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR).

The Indian Navy continues to grow as a combat-ready, cohesive, credible, Aatmanirbhar force, safeguarding the seas for a Viksit, Samriddha Bharat guarded by ships designed by Indians, built by Indians and operated by Indians. Taragiri stands ready for a promising future as a beacon of rising maritime power and an ironclad guardian of the country’s blue frontiers.

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headline edited)

Both Houses cleared 6 bills, including legislations to make Amaravati the sole capital of Andhra Pradesh, to fix the quota for IPS officers in higher CAPF posts.

The acrimonious second half of the Budget session ended on Thursday after the passage of key legislations, including the Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Bill, the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, a bill seeking to recognise Amaravati as the sole and new capital of Andhra Pradesh.

Both Houses will meet again on April 16 for a short session to push amendments for the implementation of the women reservation law.

During the Budget session, political narrative shifted from domestic issues and the upcoming assembly elections to the ongoing war in West Asia, which disrupted global fuel lifelines, including India’s LPG supplies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured the country that the government was relentlessly trying to minimise the impact of the West Asia war even as he warned that difficult global conditions might persist for a long time and called upon people to be prepared and united, just as they had during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In a statement in the Lok Sabha – his first after the war broke out on February 28 – Modi called the attacks on commercial ships and obstruction in the Strait of Hormuz unacceptable, addressed concerns related to the impact on fuel, fertilisers, and national security, and said a unanimous voice should go out to the world from India’s Parliament on this crisis.

The session also witnessed the Opposition moving a no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla — the first such move in 39 years — but it was defeated. The Opposition has also moved the first ever no-confidence notice against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, which remains pending, even as a BJP lawmaker tried to move a substantive motion against Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi.

Both Houses cleared six bills, including legislations to make Amaravati the sole capital of Andhra Pradesh, to fix the quota for IPS officers in higher CAPF posts, and a controversial bill that significantly narrows the definition of transgender persons.

The Lok Sabha approved the Finance Bill 2026 before the Rajya Sabha returned it to the Lower House. The demands for grants or ministry-wise budgets were also cleared even as the government rejected the Opposition’s demand to debate the working of the external affairs ministry.

According to PRS — a non-profit that provides research support to MPs— the productivity of the budget session so far stood at 79% and 100% in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, respectively.

On Thursday, the Lok Sabha passed the CAPF bill by a voice vote, even as opposition members demanded sending it to a parliamentary panel for comprehensive discussion and deliberation. The bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

The bill provides that to appoint officers from IPS in CAPFs, 50% of the posts will be filled by deputation in the rank of inspector general and a minimum of 67% of the posts by deputation in the rank of additional director general.

Responding to the debate, minister of state for home affairs Nityanand Rai said the opposition is confused about the measure and is, in turn, confusing people. He added that mutiplicity of rules for different central forces was a hurdle in their smooth functioning and the new law will take care of such issues. “Opposition tried to create confusion. Historically, Sardar Patel had dreamt of a strong system in India, and that has been developed over the years. CAPF’s role has been expanded. There were ambiguities. It was thought that for clarity, an umbrella structure should be formed. Earlier, there were different laws which led to ambiguities. The law also ensures financial benefits.”

In a video statement, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi slammed the CAPF bill, and asserted that his party will repeal such a “discriminatory law” when it comes to power.

He recalled that he recently met assistant commandant Ajay Malik, who he claimed did not get any promotion despite 15 years in service. “Despite over 15 years of loyal service — no promotion, not even the right to lead his own force. Because all top positions are reserved for IPS officers. This is not just one officer’s pain — it is institutional injustice happening to millions of CAPF personnel,” he said in the video he shared on X.

The session also saw the government withholding the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday after protests by the opposition and a controversy in poll-bound Kerala.

source/content: hindistantimes.com (headline edited)

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Titled Yashoda and Krishna, the work was made by the feted Indian artist, Raja Ravi Varma in the 1890s and bears his signature.

A 35 x 28.25-inch oil painting by Raja Ravi Varma sold for ₹167.2 crore at the Saffronart spring auction on Wednesday, making it the costliest Indian painting to be sold in an auction till date. Titled Yashoda and Krishna, the work was made by the feted Indian artist in the 1890s and bears his signature. “It shows the immense value of our culture, and the lengths that collectors are willing to go to acquire such a work,” Dinesh Vazirani, co-founder and CEO of Saffronart said after the sale.

The painting was bought by Cyrus S Poonawalla, the founder and managing director of the Pune-headquartered Serum Institute of India.

“I am privileged to have the opportunity to acquire, preserve, and care for the iconic Raja Ravi Varma painting Yashoda and Krishna. This national treasure deserves to be made available for public viewing periodically, and it will be my endeavour to facilitate this going forward,” a press release sent by Saffronart quoted him as saying.

Raja Ravi Varma’s works are classified as national treasures and are thus non-exportable, making the buyer an Indian collector.

“This is a defining moment for the Indian art market. Raja Ravi Varma’s Yashoda and Krishna — a universal subject reminiscent as much of Madonna and Christ, or of any mother and child, and arguably the most iconic and desirable work, the Mona Lisa of Indian art — has not only achieved a new world record, it has done so with conviction, more than doubling its lower estimate of ₹80 crore, exceeding it by ₹87.2 crore — an increase of over 100%,” said Ashish Anand, MD and CEO of DAG (formerly Delhi Art Gallery).

Last March, a work by Maqbool Fida Husain sold for a record $13.7 million (approximately ₹118.7 crore) at a Christie’s South Asian Modern + Contemporary Art auction in New York setting the world record for Indian art.

The Raja Ravi Varma work sale surpassed the record by ₹49.2 crore — an increase of over 40%.

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headlines edited)

The delivery was carried out by PLR Systems, a joint venture between IWI and Adani Group, the first private company in India to manufacture small arms and ammunition.

Israeli small arms manufacturer Israel Weapons Industries has delivered the first batch of light machine guns to India, marking a key milestone in bilateral defence cooperation and local manufacturing under the ‘Make in India’ initiative.

The initial consignment of 2,000 NEGEV 7.62×51 LMGs — part of a larger order of 41,000 units — was delivered over the weekend, with another 4,000 units slated for supply later this year, the company said in a recent press release.

The delivery was executed by PLR Systems, a joint venture between IWI and Adani Group, which is the first private firm in India to manufacture small arms and ammunition.

“The milestone follows the successful completion of the technology transfer process under India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative and reflects IWI’s commitment to delivering advanced systems in accordance with contractual schedules and the highest quality standards, while supporting India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem,” the company said.

The NEGEV 7.62×51 — among the lightest in its class of 7.62 mm light machine guns — features both semi-automatic and fully automatic modes and is currently deployed by the Israel Defence Forces. It is engineered for reliability in harsh operational conditions, offering high precision and effective target acquisition.

Its lightweight build and 7.62 mm ammunition enhance its ability to penetrate fortified cover, making it suitable for urban warfare and critical missions. The weapon can also be mounted on helicopters, vehicles, and naval platforms, adding to its operational flexibility.

Equipped with Picatinny rails and tritium night sights, the system is optimised for improved targeting in low-light environments, while adherence to NATO standards ensures durability.

The NEGEV LMGs are also compatible with a computerised weapon system designed to enhance operational effectiveness by enabling precise engagement under stress, the release added.

In a sign of deepening defence ties, PLR Systems has also secured a contract to supply 170,000 close-quarter battle (CQB) carbines, with the first 18,000 units expected to be delivered this year.

India and Israel, in November last year, signed an agreement to boost defence, industrial and technological cooperation, facilitating the transfer of advanced technologies for co-development and co-production.

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)