India and the European Union (EU) have concluded a landmark free trade agreement (FTA), described by leaders as the “mother of all deals”, marking a major step to deepen economic engagement and strengthen a rules-based global order amid rising protectionism.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the India-EU Summit, a day after EU leaders were chief guests at India’s Republic Day celebrations — an honour reserved for New Delhi’s closest strategic partners.

Under the agreement, the EU will eliminate tariffs on 99% of Indian exports by value over seven years, with duties on $33 billion worth of labour-intensive goods — including textiles, leather, footwear, gems and jewellery — set to be removed immediately once the pact is signed. India, on its part, will cut tariffs on 96.6% of EU exports, with nearly one-third of the reductions taking effect as soon as the pact becomes operational in early 2027, while the rest will be phased over five to 10 years.

The deal comes at a time when both sides are looking to counter what von der Leyen called a world where “trade is increasingly weaponised”, as global commerce faces uncertainty due to fluctuating tariff regimes.

Calling it India’s biggest trade pact so far, Modi said, “Today, India has concluded the largest free trade agreement in its history,” noting that two-way trade currently totals €180 billion, while over 8 lakh Indians reside in the EU region.

The full text of the agreement is expected to be published in mid-February, followed by legal review and translations, with formal signing likely in August 2026. The pact is expected to become operational in early 2027, nearly two decades after negotiations first began in 2007.

“This historic agreement will facilitate access to the European market for our farmers and small industries, create new opportunities in manufacturing, and further strengthen cooperation between our services sectors,” Modi said.

Indian service providers have secured access to 144 EU sub-sectors, while India has opened 102 sub-sectors to European firms, expanding opportunities in IT, professional services, education and business consulting.

Von der Leyen hailed the pact as a major breakthrough, stating, “Prime Minister, distinguished friend, we did it. We delivered the mother of all deals. We are creating a market of two billion people,” adding that the agreement sends a strong message that cooperation is the best response to global challenges.

The agreement is expected to cut €4 billion in annual tariffs for exporters and generate large-scale employment across India and Europe.

Key consumer benefits in India include a sharp reduction in import duties on European goods. Car tariffs will fall from 110% to 10% for 2.5 lakh vehicles annually under calibrated liberalisation, while wine duties will drop from 150% to 20-30%, and spirits from 150% to 40%. Major tariff cuts are also expected on EU machinery, pharmaceuticals and medical devices.

The EU remains India’s largest trading partner, accounting for €120 billion in goods trade in 2024 and 11.5% of India’s total trade, while services trade reached €59.7 billion in 2023. The pact is also expected to provide a boost to Indian textile and jewellery exports impacted by steep US tariffs in recent months.

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said the agreement opens vast potential, noting that India currently accounts for just 1.5% of the EU’s goods imports and 2.5% of services imports, leaving significant room for growth. He added that in marine products, nearly 94% of tariff lines will get duty-free access, while in textiles and apparel, 100% of the European market will be open from day one.

On the contentious EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said both sides will launch technical dialogue to ensure Indian industries retain market access, and that any flexibility granted by the EU to other countries will automatically apply to India.

Beyond trade, India and the EU also signed a Security and Defence Partnership, enhancing cooperation in counter-terrorism, maritime security, cyber security, and defence industrial collaboration, including co-development and co-production of military hardware.

A comprehensive mobility framework was also finalised to facilitate the movement of Indian students, researchers and skilled workers, while the EU will set up its first Legal Gateway Office in India to support talent migration aligned with member state policies.

A new roadmap titled “Towards 2030: A joint India-European Union comprehensive strategic agenda” will guide cooperation across five pillars — prosperity and sustainability, technology and innovation, security and defence, connectivity and global issues, and enablers such as skills mobility and simplified Schengen visa procedures.

Costa, who highlighted his Goan roots during the interaction, said the agreement signals that both sides “stand together as strategic and reliable partners” in a changing global order.
The leaders also reaffirmed support for the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) to strengthen connectivity, while a joint statement reiterated commitment to peace through dialogue in Ukraine and called for unhindered humanitarian access and a two-state solution in Gaza.

Industry leaders welcomed the agreement, with Bharti Enterprises chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal calling it a sign of trust and stability, and CII director general Chandrajit Banerjee describing it as a “strategic breakthrough” that strengthens India’s global competitiveness.

However, economists noted that the pact will still require approval from the European Parliament and that CBAM could potentially reduce gains for carbon-intensive sectors such as steel, even though pharma and textiles are expected to be less affected.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

India and the U.S. on Tuesday (May 26, 2026) firmed up a key framework for cooperation in ensuring steady supplies of critical minerals, a move that comes amid growing concerns over China’s export controls on rare earth elements and strategic metals vital for global technology supply chains.

The framework on securing supplies of mining and processing of critical minerals was signed on the sidelines of the Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting in New Delhi.

“It is something very timely and critical,” External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said in presence of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

“This framework aims to deepen our cooperation across the entire critical minerals and rare earth supply chain, including mining, processing, recycling and related investment,” he said. The External Affairs Minister said the framework will strengthen resilient and diversified supply chains, help financing of projects as well as ensuring effective management of critical minerals and rare earths.

“It is one more sign of how close our cooperation has been in a world where there are so many challenges but also so many opportunities,” he said. In his remarks, Mr. Rubio highlighted the strategic partnership between the US and India and how important it is for the respective national interests of both countries.

“It is a tangible example of that,” he said referring to the inking of the pact. “We are two countries that have strategic interests in ensuring reliable long-term access to critical minerals and supply chains that are important for our innovation economy,” he said.

Mr. Rubio also mentioned the U.S.-backed Pax Silica initiative. “The groundwork was laid for this on February 4 when you joined us at the Critical Minerals Forum that we hosted in Washington DC,” he said, adding it gained momentum after India signed on to Pax Silica.

“Today, because we both have a strategic and shared interest in the fact that vibrant innovation economies such as ours cannot afford to leave the foundational materials of these industries vulnerable to single source monopoly that could deny us these things, not just in a time of conflict, but as a leverage point contrary to our sovereign national interests,” he said.

“I’m glad we were able to sign this because in addition to being an important document and important agreement, it brings a tangible example of the strategic partnership between the U.S. and India,” he said.

The Pax Silica initiative was launched in December to build a secure, resilient, and innovation-driven supply chain for critical minerals and artificial intelligence (AI).

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

The rediscovery in the Eastern Himalayan region is being seen as a major botanical achievement and an important addition to India’s biodiversity records.

Researchers have rediscovered ‘Vaccinium piliferum’, a rare and endangered wild relative of the blueberry, in the remote forests of Vijoynagar in Arunachal Pradesh’s Changlang district, nearly 188 years after it was first recorded in 1836.

The rediscovery in the Eastern Himalayan region is being seen as a major botanical achievement and an important addition to India’s biodiversity records. Researchers said ‘Vaccinium piliferum’ belongs to the Ericaceae family, which includes blueberries and cranberries.

The species was rediscovered recently by researchers from the Society for Education and Environmental Development, CSIR-North East Institute of Science (NEIST) and Technology and collaborating institutions, a source in the institute said.

The plant was originally recorded in 1836 during the colonial period but had not been traced for generations, leading many botanists to believe it may have disappeared from the wild.

The species was found near tributaries of the Noa-Dihing River in the dense forests of Vijoynagar, an ecologically sensitive area known for rich biodiversity, the CSIR-NEIST source said.

Researchers said only 16 individual plants were recorded during the field survey, indicating the species’ fragile population status. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed ‘Vaccinium piliferum’ as an ‘endangered’ species.

Experts said the rediscovery highlights the ecological importance of Arunachal Pradesh’s Eastern Himalayan ecosystem and the need for conservation of rare flora and fauna.

Wild relatives of cultivated berry species are considered important for research related to climate resilience, disease resistance and crop improvement, botanists said.

A remarkable chapter in the natural history of Arunachal Pradesh has been rediscovered after nearly 188 years.

Vaccinium piliferum, a rare and endangered wild relative of blueberry, has been rediscovered in the forests of Vijoynagar, Changlang district, reaffirming the Eastern… pic.twitter.com/BlVcEBFqa2

— Chowna Mein (@ChownaMeinBJP) May 26, 2026

Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein described the rediscovery as “a remarkable chapter in the natural history of Arunachal Pradesh”.

“This finding highlights the immense ecological wealth of our State and reinforces the urgent need to protect and preserve our fragile Himalayan ecosystems for future generations,” he said in a post on X. Mein also appreciated the efforts of researchers involved in the rediscovery.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

The successful test flight represents a major leap in the C295 programme and the government’s “Make in India” initiative.

India on Wednesday conducted the maiden test-flight of country’s first “Made in India” Airbus C295 military transport aircraft from the Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Vadodara.

The event marks a significant milestone for the country’s aviation and defence manufacturing sectors, with the successful test flight representing a major leap forward for the C295 programme and the government’s “Make in India” initiative.

“The first ‘Made in India’ Airbus C295 military transport aircraft has conducted its first test flight from the Final Assembly Line in Vadodara, marking a milestone for Indian aviation and defence. This maiden test flight is a crucial step in the aircraft’s post production testing process,” Airbus Defence said in a social media post.

The aircraft is the first of 40 C295 aircraft to be built in India under a partnership between Airbus and Tata Advanced Systems Limited for the Indian Air Force.

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headline edited)

Lt. Commander Dilna K. and Lt. Commander Roopa A. of the Navy are among the Shaurya Chakra recipients after completion of Navika Sagar Parikrama II; Sepoy Janjal Pravin Prabhakar of the Mahar Regiment of Rashtriya Rifles and Lt. Shashank Tiwari of the Sikkim Scouts have been conferred the Kirti Chakra posthumously.

President Droupadi Murmu on Monday (June 8, 2026) conferred seven Kirti Chakras, including two posthumously, to personnel of the armed forces for displaying raw courage, unparalleled bravery and total disregard for personal safety in the line of duty.

Air Commodore Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, an Indian Air Force pilot and a Gaganyatri, is also among the recipients of the Kirti Chakra, India’s second-highest peacetime gallantry award.

Ms. Murmu conferred seven Kirti Chakras, including two posthumously; 15 Vir Chakras, including three posthumously; and 29 Shaurya Chakras, including one posthumously, to the personnel of the defence forces, Central Armed Police Forces and State and Union Territory police forces during phase-I of the Defence Investiture Ceremony hosted at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the Defence Ministry said.

Lt. Commander Dilna K. and Lt. Commander Roopa A. of the Navy are among the Shaurya Chakras recipients.

The President presented the gallantry award to them for their exemplary endurance, bravery and devotion to duty in Navika Sagar Parikrama II.

Lt. Commander Roopa along with Lt. Commander Dilna sailed over 25,600 nautical miles through the Indian, Pacific, Atlantic and Southern Oceans.

“While navigating through the perilous Drake Passage in stormy conditions that caused the boat to heel severely, regaining control required exceptional skill and extraordinary courage. During the expedition, they also became the first Indians to reach Point Nemo, the oceanic Pole of Inaccessibility, by sailboat,” reads the citation in a post on X by the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Lance Naik Meenatchi Sundarama of Rashtriya Rifles, Naib Subedar Doleshwar Subba of Para (Special Forces), Major Arshdeep Singh of Assam Rifles and Captain Lalrinawma Sailo of Para (Special Forces) have also been conferred the Kirti Chakra, according to the list of awardees shared by the government.

Sepoy Janjal Pravin Prabhakar of the Mahar Regiment of Rashtriya Rifles and Lt. Shashank Tiwari of the Sikkim Scouts have been conferred the Kirti Chakra posthumously.

The Rashtrapati Bhavan, in a series of posts on X, also shared some photos of the ceremony along with citations.

“President Droupadi Murmu presents the Shaurya Chakra to Major Anshul Baltoo, The Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry, 32 Assam Rifles, for displaying bravery in the line of duty. In April 2025, during a combing and search operation in Dima Hasao, South Assam, he confronted an armed cadre at close quarters and single-handedly neutralised him. The operation resulted in the elimination of three armed cadres and the recovery of weapons and war-like stores,” it said.

Another post said the President presented the Shaurya Chakra to Major Leishangthem Deepak Singh, 11 Para (Special Forces), for his exceptional bravery.

“Acting on intelligence regarding the kidnapping of two innocent civilians, he neutralised a terrorist at very close range and shielded a kidnapped civilian with his own body. This resulted in the neutralisation of two hardcore cadres and the rescue of an innocent civilian,” it said.

“President Droupadi Murmu presents Shaurya Chakra to Lieutenant Colonel Neetesh Bharti Shukla, 19th Battalion, The Sikh Regiment, for planning and executing a clinical operation without own casualty. On receipt of specific input regarding infiltration by a group of terrorists, Lieutenant Colonel Shukla laid an ambush along the Line of Control in July 2024. The operation eliminated three heavily armed foreign terrorists,” the Rashtrapati Bhavan posted.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also attended the ceremony.

In a post on X, he said, “We are proud of their extraordinary courage, commitment and selfless service to the nation.”

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Modi will have served 4,399 days as Prime Minister on Wednesday, becoming the longest continuously serving elected premier.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Wednesday become the country’s longest continuously serving elected premier, marking 12 years at the helm of the central government during a period that saw the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) become the national political hegemon, expand to newer regions, and attract support from myriad communities.

Modi will have served 4,399 days as Prime Minister on Wednesday, becoming the longest continuously serving elected premier. India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru first assumed office in 1947, won the first election in India in 1951-52 and remained in office until his death in 1964. Indira Gandhi, India’s first woman PM, was in office for a little less than 16 years, but in two separate stints.

Over the course of the past 12 years, the government has managed to eradicate the once dreaded left-wing terrorism, revolutionise welfare delivery, build the JAM trinity and UPI, boosted rail, road and airport infrastructure, reshaped India’s defence and nuclear doctrine, and avenge Pakistani terrorism, especially the Pahalgam terror attack, with Operation Sindoor. The government has also steered the country through a pandemic and three devastating global wars.

The milestone comes weeks after Modi led the BJP to landmark victories in assembly elections in West Bengal and Assam. The party formed the government in Bengal for the first time since independence, vanquishing the Trinamool Congress and building a base for itself in a province once dominated by the Left and the Congress but where Jana Sangh ideologue Syama Prasad Mookerjee was born.

To mark the occasion, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is set to pass a resolution at its meeting on Wednesday. According to people aware of the details, the PM will be felicitated by NDA members at the meeting for his performance and leadership. The meeting, which will be attended by 72 NDA leaders, will be chaired by the PM.

The PM said the 12-year journey was dedicated to trust, development, and public welfare. “With the blessings of 1.4 billion fellow citizens and the spirit of nation first, we have spared no effort in empowering our youth, women, and our farmer brothers and sisters. It is the result of these tireless efforts that today, from infrastructure to the digital revolution, the country has gained a new identity on the global stage,” he said

On May 26, 2014, Modi took charge as India’s Prime Minister. He was re-elected with a bigger mandate in 2019 and became the PM for the third time in 2024.

As congratulatory messages poured in from across the world, BJP president Nitin Nabin said Modi’s tenure was marked by development and public welfare, with the country having made unprecedented progress across sectors. He said more than 250 million people were pulled out of poverty through schemes designed for poverty alleviation such as 40 million permanent houses; subsidised health care for 600 million; 570 million Mudra loans for economic empowerment; and construction of 120 million toilets, which specifically addressed women’s dignity.

The party chief also said that record defence exports worth ₹38,400 crore were achieved, along with record overall exports worth ₹79 lakh crore. On the security front, he said the government has been able to end left-wing terror, clamp down on terror networks in the border states and enhance security measures on the ground.

Speaking at the event which was attended by Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, JP Nadda, Dharmendra Pradhan, Piyush Goyal, and Ashwini Vaishnaw and BJP general secretaries Vinod Tawde and Tarun Chugh, Nabin also referred to the government taking strong political decisions including the effective abrogation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir.

Union minister for parliamentary affairs Kiren Rijiju said the PM’s 4,399 days in office were a moment of pride for the party. “I believe the work accomplished for our country during this tenure will be etched in golden letters, marking the time when, under Modi ji’s leadership, India took its first steps towards becoming a Viksit Bharat [developed India].”

Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said the country was witnessing history. “…On this day, PM Modi established himself as the longest-serving democratically elected Prime Minister of India… India’s domestic production rate has reached an average of 7% over the past 12 years, on the basis of which an unprecedented transformation has also occurred.”

This 12-year tenure, he said, will take India’s direction, position and prominence on the global stage to new heights. “Whether it is the G20 presidency, International Yoga Day, or Vaccine Maitri… Whether we talk about national highways, which have increased to 1.5 lakh kilometres, in the field of civil aviation, we are going from 74 airports to 160, in the railway sector, there has been a fourfold increase in the development rate and capacity of railways… Unprecedented transformation has also come in social development…” he said.

Leaders across the world also congratulated the PM and acknowledged his transformative governance, advocacy for the Global South, and his vision of an inclusive and economically dynamic India.

Anura Kumara Disanayaka, the President of Sri Lanka, in a letter said, “This milestone is a testament not only to your years in office, but also to the trust and confidence that the people of the world’s largest democracy have repeatedly placed in your leadership.”

James Marape, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, in a video message, described Modi as “a role model and an example of leadership” and said, “lifting over 200 million people out of poverty to a good life today is an amazing feat.”

Kamla Persad-Bissessar, PM of Trinidad and Tobago, said under Modi’s leadership, India evolved as a leading voice on global matters.

Over the course of the week, the BJP will amplify these achievements of the Modi government, underlining how changes have been made across sectors and reforms ushered in public service, expansion of social security net, empowerment of socially and economically disadvantaged and self-reliance in defence and energy production said people aware of the details.

Modi will chair a meeting of the chief ministers and deputy chief ministers of NDA-ruled states and Union Territories on Thursday. According to people aware of the details, the meeting will take stock of the implementation of policies and programmes initiated by the government, the roadmap for the Viksit Bharat campaign and the measures being taken to mitigate the impact of the ongoing West Asia crisis.

There is also speculation that the meetings will be followed by a rejig in the council of ministers as well as in the organisational setup of the BJP. Since the government came to power for the third term in June 2024, there have been no changes in the council of ministers. Recently two Union ministers of state, Ravneet Singh Bittu and George Kurien, were not renominated to the Rajya Sabha on the expiry of their tenure, which has stoked speculation that new faces will be inducted into the Modi cabinet.

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headline edited)

Made of bamboo and other natural materials, the eco-friendly hat integrates several features into a single platform — from weather and snake alerts to offering relief from extreme heat.

Two Class X students of the Chakdah Purbachal Vidyapith in Chakdah, Nadia, have developed what they call a “farmer’s shield”, a solar-powered smart hat designed to protect farm workers from multiple hazards.

Made of bamboo and other natural materials, the eco-friendly hat integrates several features into a single platform — from weather and snake alerts to offering relief from extreme heat.

The brains behind the hat, Sannoriyo Sanyal and Aditya Saha, both Chakdaha boys, explained the features.

The hat has a Bluetooth speaker that delivers weather forecasts and emergency warnings such as thunderstorms. It also features a solar-powered cooling fan, a detachable LED torch for visibility before daybreak and after sundown, a solar-charged power bank for mobile phones in remote areas, weather sensors to monitor environmental conditions, and a snake-detection system.

To access the full range of features in the hat, users need to sync their smartphone to it.

The hat apart, the boys have designed a bamboo-and-straw flask that keeps drinking water cool during the long hours of work in the fields.

Developed under the mentorship of Tanmay Sanyal, the assistant professor of zoology at the Krishnanagar Government College, the project was showcased at the National Climate Innovation Challenge held at IIT-Kharagpur on World Environment Day, June 5.

The innovative model secured first spot in the Class XI-XIII category.

According to the boys, the idea of a smart hat emerged from their observation that farmers often spend long hours under the sun, face extreme humidity and poor visibility during early mornings and evenings, making them vulnerable to sunstroke, lightning strikes and snakebites.

The duo said the death of a farmer from sunstroke at Hingnara village in Chakdah two years ago pained them. “The future of his son was thrown into uncertainty,” said Sannoriyo.

“Other hazards such as lightning, thunderstorms and snakebites collectively claim hundreds of lives in Bengal every year. So we tried to develop a comprehensive solution by integrating multiple utilities into a single device,” he said.

Aditya called the smart hat a tribute to farmers whose hard work often goes unnoticed despite the risks they face.

He said the gross cost of the hat comes to around ₹600.

Their mentor, Tanmay Sanyal, said the project sought to ensure a “safer, more sustainable and dignified life for farmers”.

The smart hat also received special appreciation from the Noble International University, US.

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)

India’s total fertility rate has declined, according to the government report. Notably, the national TFR has moved below the replacement benchmark of 2.1.

India’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has fallen below the replacement threshold for the first time, according to the Sample Registration System Statistical Report 2024, published by the office of the registrar general and census commissioner under the Union ministry of home affairs.

This means that the total fertility rate, which measures the average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime, is now below the level required to maintain a stable population over time.

Is India’s population declining?

India had a population of 360 million in 1950, when the average woman gave birth to six children. Today, the country has a population of 1.45 billion. It overtook China in 2023 to become the world’s most populous nation and has continued to grow since then.

However, India’s total fertility rate has declined, according to the government report. Notably, the national TFR has moved below the replacement benchmark of 2.1.

But what is the replacement level? It refers to the average number of children each woman must have for a population to replace itself from one generation to the next without growing or shrinking. If fertility remains below this level for a long period, population growth gradually slows.

The population is expected to keep increasing for some years. However, unless fertility climbs above 2.15 again, a decline in population is unavoidable in the future. Fertility is more likely to continue falling, which could speed up that decline, The Economist said in a report.

Researchers at the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) estimate that India’s population will reach its highest point in 21 years before beginning a steep decline, the report said. By the end of the century, the country’s population is projected to be slightly above one billion, representing a drop of nearly half a billion people.

Bihar tops in fertility, Delhi’s rate lower than Finland’s

Although the national figures point to slower population growth, the government report shows major differences across regions.

Bihar recorded the highest fertility rate in the country at 2.9. It was followed by Uttar Pradesh at 2.6, Madhya Pradesh at 2.4 and Rajasthan at 2.3. These remain the only large states with fertility rates above the replacement level.

At the other end of the scale, Delhi recorded the lowest TFR in the country at 1.2, which is lower than Finland’s 1.3, Finnish broadcasting firm Yle quoted Statistics Finland as saying in a report.

Fertility levels remained much lower across several southern and western states. Tamil Nadu, Kerala and West Bengal each reported a TFR of 1.3. Andhra Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra and Punjab recorded 1.4, while Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana each stood at 1.5.

Elon Musk on India’s birth rate

Tech billionaire Elon Musk also shared a post on social media to amplify a media report mentioning the decline in the total fertility rate.

“India’s birth rate has fallen below replacement. Among those most educated, India’s birth rate fell below replacement many years ago,” Musk wrote on X.

What led to this?

The Economist outlined several factors that may be affecting family-planning choices across the country.

One reason is the changing ambitions of present-day Indian parents. Many families with limited incomes are opting to have only one child so they can afford private tutoring and other educational opportunities.

Another factor behind smaller families is the weakening of the joint-family system. Government data show that about 70 per cent of people now live in nuclear families, driven by urbanisation and shifts in employment patterns. As a result, raising children places greater pressure on parents, encouraging them to have fewer children.

A third reason is cultural change. While education and family arrangements influence decisions, social attitudes also play a role.

Smaller families are increasingly viewed as desirable, a trend linked to access to technology and information, the report said. One study found that the arrival of cable television in villages during the 2000s was followed by a decline in pregnancies. The researcher connected this to television dramas that portrayed urban middle-class women raising smaller families.

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headline edited)

His campaign was highlighted by a remarkable achievement — defeating seven-time champion and World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen twice in classical chess — a rare accomplishment that underlined his determination to bounce back from the disappointment of an underwhelming Candidates Tournament in Paphos earlier this year.

Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa etched his name in the history books as he became the first Indian to win the prestigious Norway Chess title with a final-round victory over Germany’s Vincent Keymer here, capping off a brilliant campaign in style.

Praggnanandhaa, who began the final round in second place with 15 points on Friday, delivered when it mattered the most, securing a classical win worth three full points to finish on 18 points and clinch one of the most coveted trophies in elite chess.

In doing so, the 20-year-old Chennai player achieved a feat that had eluded even Indian chess legend Viswanathan Anand and reigning world champion D Gukesh among others, since the tournament’s inception in 2013.

Competing in Norway Chess for only the second time, Praggnanandhaa endured a slow start in the elite six-player field before gathering momentum in the second half of the event to secure four wins on the trot.

His campaign was highlighted by a remarkable achievement — defeating seven-time Norway Chess champion and World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen twice in classical chess — a rare accomplishment that underlined his determination to bounce back from the disappointment of an underwhelming Candidates Tournament in Paphos earlier this year.

As reigning world champion Gukesh fell out of contention in the closing stages, Praggnanandhaa ensured that India’s challenge remained alive, ultimately carrying it all the way to the title.

The result was made possible after American Grandmaster Wesley So, who led the standings with 15.5 points heading into the final round, was held to a draw in his classical game against Alireza Firouzja, sending their contest into an Armageddon tie-break.

That outcome opened the door for Praggnanandhaa, who knew that a classical victory over Keymer would propel him to the top of the standings and secure a landmark title.

Although Wesley So went on to win the Armageddon tie-break, the victory was worth only 1.5 points, taking his tally to 17 points — one short of Praggnanandhaa’s winning total of 18.

Alireza, who had also entered the final round with title hopes, finished third with 15.5 points.

Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa etched his name in the history books as he became the first Indian to win the prestigious Norway Chess title with a final-round victory over Germany’s Vincent Keymer here, capping off a brilliant campaign in style.

Praggnanandhaa, who began the final round in second place with 15 points on Friday, delivered when it mattered the most, securing a classical win worth three full points to finish on 18 points and clinch one of the most coveted trophies in elite chess.

In doing so, the 20-year-old Chennai player achieved a feat that had eluded even Indian chess legend Viswanathan Anand and reigning world champion D Gukesh among others, since the tournament’s inception in 2013.

Competing in Norway Chess for only the second time, Praggnanandhaa endured a slow start in the elite six-player field before gathering momentum in the second half of the event to secure four wins on the trot.

His campaign was highlighted by a remarkable achievement — defeating seven-time Norway Chess champion and World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen twice in classical chess — a rare accomplishment that underlined his determination to bounce back from the disappointment of an underwhelming Candidates Tournament in Paphos earlier this year.

As reigning world champion Gukesh fell out of contention in the closing stages, Praggnanandhaa ensured that India’s challenge remained alive, ultimately carrying it all the way to the title.

The result was made possible after American Grandmaster Wesley So, who led the standings with 15.5 points heading into the final round, was held to a draw in his classical game against Alireza Firouzja, sending their contest into an Armageddon tie-break.

That outcome opened the door for Praggnanandhaa, who knew that a classical victory over Keymer would propel him to the top of the standings and secure a landmark title.

Although Wesley So went on to win the Armageddon tie-break, the victory was worth only 1.5 points, taking his tally to 17 points — one short of Praggnanandhaa’s winning total of 18.

Alireza, who had also entered the final round with title hopes, finished third with 15.5 points.

“I think this is like (the biggest win of my career)…also stronger in terms of like average rating. I think, because you have like some 2600s (rating) in Wijk Aan Zee (Tata Steel Chess tournament). But here it’s just the top players,” said Praggnanandhaa after his final-round win over Vincent Keymer, which took him to 18 points and held off challenges from USA’s Wesley So and France’s Alireza Firouzja.

“So, yeah, winning this is more special and also like adding to it, Magnus was there… also winning four (games) in a row. So, certainly this will come like top,” said Praggnanandhaa, whose previous biggest triumph came at the 2025 Tata Steel Chess Tournament in Wijk Aan Zee, Netherlands.

A beaming Praggnanandhaa revealed after the match that a pep talk from his mother back home in Chennai had lifted his spirits.

“She told me that June would bring good luck,” he said with a smile — a prediction that came true.

“I was speaking to my mother on June 1, before Alireza’s game, and she was telling me, ‘It’s a new month, you’ll play well!’ It’s just one of those things that mum always says, and then these four games I won. She knew something, I guess,” said Praggnanandhaa.

Praggnanandhaa went on to string together four consecutive victories after that.

Even Carlsen, the record seven-time Norway Chess champion, was effusive in his praise for Praggnanandhaa, describing the Indian youngster’s performance as “superb” throughout the tournament.

Such wholehearted admiration is not something the Norwegian legend hands out lightly — especially not to a rival in the same generation as Gukesh — underscoring just how impressive Praggnanandhaa’s title-winning campaign had been.

“That’s pretty insane. That’s as clutch as it gets, and it just shows that it would have been possible for me as well with a similar finish, but yeah, that’s incredible. It shows you the volatility of the system, and he is an incredible fighter, and it’s fun to see him get rewarded for that,” Carlsen told the broadcaster.

Praggnanandhaa later admitted, during his second visit to the “confession box”, that he had missed a strong continuation that could have wrapped up the game much sooner. Despite letting that opportunity slip, he remained determined to keep probing.

His persistence eventually paid off as the pressure began to tell on Keymer. In an endgame that had appeared roughly balanced, the German faltered with a series of inaccuracies, culminating in the weakening 30…h5? which fatally exposed the g5 square and tilted the game decisively in Praggnanandhaa’s favour.

Meanwhile, Gukesh’s disappointing campaign continued as his third appearance in the tournament ended without the breakthrough he had hoped for in a year when he is set to defend his world title against challenger Javokhir Sindarov.

In the final round, Carlsen, playing with the white pieces, defeated the 20-year-old Indian in a classical game to collect three full points. However, the victory was not enough to propel the Norwegian great into title contention, as he finished fifth in the standings with 13 points.

Results (Round 10):

Open: Alireza Firouzja (Fra, 15.5) lost to Wesley So (USA, 17); Magnus Carlsen (Nor, 13) bt D. Gukesh (Ind, ); R. Praggnanandhaa (Ind, 18) bt Vincent Keymer (11).

Women: Zhu Jiner (Chn, 16) by Koneru Humpy (Ind, 9); Ju Wenjun (Chn, 13.5) bt Bibisara Assaubayeva (Kaz, 16.5); Anna Muzychuk (Ukr, 15) bt Divya Deshmukh (Ind, 10).

Tamil Nadu CM congratulates Praggnanandhaa

Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay on Saturday congratulated Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa on winning the Norway Chess title.

“My heartfelt congratulations to Grandmaster Praggnanandhaa on achieving the historic feat of becoming the first Indian to win the Norway Chess 2026 tournament held in Oslo”, he said in a statement.

Stating that he set a remarkable record by defeating the reigning champion, Magnus Carlsen, twice in the same tournament and securing four consecutive victories, Vijay said: “I extend my best wishes to Grandmaster Praggnanandhaa, who has brought pride to both Tamil Nadu and India, as he goes on to achieve further milestones”.

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)

Backed by Blackstone and the CPPIB, AirTrunk’s proposed investment programme would rank among the largest digital infrastructure initiatives currently being considered in the country.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced that AirTrunk, an Asia-Pacific and Middle East technology company, plans to invest more than Rs 3 lakh crore in India and develop 5 GW of data centre capacity by 2030 following his meeting with founder and CEO Robin Khuda.

The leading hyperscale data centre specialist said the investment would support the expansion of India’s digital infrastructure and position the country as a cornerstone of its global growth strategy.

“India’s digital infrastructure journey is gathering remarkable momentum. AirTrunk has announced plans to invest around Rs 3 lakh crore (USD 30 billion) in India and develop 5 GW of data centre capacity. This is among the largest proposed investments in the country’s digital infrastructure ecosystem,” Modi said in a post on X.

India’s digital infrastructure journey is gathering remarkable momentum.

AirTrunk has announced plans to invest around Rs. 3 lakh crore ($30 billion) in India, and develop 5 GW of data centre capacity. This is among the largest proposed investments in the country’s digital… pic.twitter.com/ZW82nneN5x

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 5, 2026

The prime minister noted that such investments will strengthen India’s position as a global hub for cloud computing and AI, while generating employment opportunities, supporting local supply chains and accelerating innovation-led growth. “It is clear that the future of the world’s digital economy is increasingly being shaped in India,” he said.

AirTrunk is a hyperscale data centre specialist creating a platform for cloud, content and large enterprise customers across the Asia-Pacific and Middle East (APME) region.

AirTrunk CEO Khuda said that Prime Minister Modi’s vision for India’s digital economy has helped create one of the world’s most compelling destinations for technology investment.

“India has the scale, talent, and ambition required to become a global AI powerhouse. AirTrunk is excited to support that vision,” he said in a company statement.

Backed by Blackstone – one of the largest foreign investors in India – and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB), AirTrunk’s proposed investment programme would rank among the largest digital infrastructure initiatives currently being considered in the country and help enable the next wave of growth in cloud and artificial intelligence.

“AirTrunk plans to invest more than INR 3,000 billion (USD 30 billion) in India by 2030 in support of digital infrastructure capacity, positioning the country as a cornerstone of AirTrunk’s global growth strategy and one of the company’s most significant long-term investment markets,” AirTrunk said in its statement.

The company’s proposed development pipeline in India, across multiple states and union territories, would support India’s ambition to become a global destination for AI and cloud infrastructure investment while generating significant economic activity, employment, and technology ecosystem growth, it said.

The announcement follows AirTrunk CEO Khuda’s first senior government engagement programme in India since the company’s entry into the market through the acquisition of Lumina CloudInfra in April this year.

Through this acquisition, AirTrunk’s existing development pipeline in India includes 600 MW across Mumbai, Chennai, and Hyderabad.

The company develops and operates data centre campuses with industry-leading reliability, technology innovation and energy and water efficiency.

Founded in 2015, AirTrunk set up Australia’s first and largest hyperscale data centres in 2017, then set its eyes on rapid expansion and now operates a platform of hyperscale data centres across the APME region.

(With inputs from PTI)

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)