The study by Das and his collaborators at Mangalore University and the University of Bern, Switzerland, found that the proto-Dravidian ancestry makes up around 20 per cent of the modern-day Indian genome.

Scientists studying a primitive tribe in India have uncovered a genetic signature previously unknown in Indian genomes that traces back to early Dravidian-speaking people from the Iranian plateau, roughly 4,400 years ago.

The findings have deepened the understanding of South Asia’s complex population history, adding a sixth ancestral source to India’s population genetic makeup — alongside South Asian hunter-gatherers, Neolithic Iranian farmers, Caspian steppe pastoralists, and Tibeto-Burman and Austroasiatic groups.

Multiple studies over the past two decades, seeking to explore the roots of modern populations, have shown that nearly all present-day Indians carry highly mixed ancestry, with varying proportions of genetic material from at least five ancestral populations.

Now, geneticists studying the Koragas, a primitive and vulnerable tribe native mainly to coastal Karnataka and Kerala, have identified a sixth ancestral component. They call it the proto-Dravidian ancestry, which appears to have emerged around the dawn of the Indus Valley civilisation.

“The Koragas were the key to this discovery — we found the proto-Dravidian ancestral component in them first,” Ranajit Das, a population geneticist and associate professor at Yenepoya University, Mangalore, told The Telegraph.

“But subsequent analyses show that it is present in other Indian populations as well.”

The study by Das and his collaborators at Mangalore University and the University of Bern, Switzerland, found that the proto-Dravidian ancestry makes up around 20 per cent of the modern-day Indian genome.

The proto-Dravidian ancestry is “distinct” from all other known ancestral components, the researchers said in a paper describing their findings published in the European Journal of Human Genetics on Friday. Mohammed Mustak, Jason Jeevan Sequeira and Swati Krishna in Mangalore and George van Driem in Berne were coauthors on the paper.

Earlier genetic studies had revealed that present-day Indians derive their ancestry from multiple populations that entered the subcontinent over tens of thousands of years.

The earliest were the South Asian hunter-gatherers, descendants of modern humans who had migrated out of Africa roughly 60,000 to 70,000 years ago.

Several Indian tribes, including those in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, retain large portions of this ancient heritage.

The later waves included Neolithic farmers from the Iranian plateau, who arrived between 8,000 and 6,000 years ago and mixed with the South Asian hunter-gatherers.

They were followed 3,000 to 4,000 years ago by Caspian steppe pastoralists from the northwest. Additional contributions came from the Northeast, where Tibeto-Burman groups entered the region, and from Southeast Asia, which brought the Austroasiatic component.

The Koragas are among the oldest tribes in Karnataka’s Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts and Kasargod in Kerala. Social scientists have documented their traditional occupations as basket-weaving and drum-beating.

Researchers believe that endogamy may explain the unusually high prevalence of multiple genetic diseases — congenital deafness, congenital retinal disease, congenital anaemia and several genetic neurological disorders — among members of the Koragas.

The discovery of the proto-Dravidian ancestral signature provides fresh evidence for the theory that the region between the Iranian plateau and the Indus Valley was a Dravidian heartland before the arrival of the Indo-European languages into thesubcontinent.

The Koragas speak a Dravidian language that, the researchers believe, is related to a set of north Dravidian languages. Brahui, spoken in Balochistan, is the only surviving north Dravidian language.

The results illustrate how studies on isolated population groups can show hidden ancestral signatures,” said Kumaraswamy Thangaraj, a scientist at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, who was not associated with the study. Two decades ago, his CCMB team had shown that the Andaman and Nicobar tribes were descendants of the earliest modern humans to arrive in India from Africa — a finding that underscored the same principle.

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)

Narlikar challenged the Big Bang theory, which states that the universe was created in a single moment.

India’s most celebrated astrophysicist Jayant Narlikar, who passed away in May, was on Saturday selected for the Vigyan Ratna Puraskar.

Narlikar challenged the Big Bang theory, which states that the universe was created in a single moment. He, along with British astronomer Fred Hoyle, proposed that the universe had always existed with continuous creation of new matter into infinity.

Narlikar died on May 20 at the age of 86.

Modelled on the Padma awards, the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar is the country’s top science award. The winners for 2025, the second edition of the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar, were announced on the website of the national awards — awards.gov.in — on Saturday.

The government also announced eight Vigyan Shri, 14 Vigyan Yuva and one Vigyan Team awards.

Noted agriculture scientist Gyanendra Pratap Singh, popularly known as the wheat breeder, won the Vigyan Shri award for his contribution to the field of Agricultural Science.

Yusuf Mohammad Seikh, Director of the physics group of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, won the Vigyan Shri for his contribution to the field of Atomic Energy.

K Thangaraj of the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology has won the award in the field of Biological Sciences and Pradeep Thalappil of IIT-Madras bagged the Vigyan Shri in the field of Chemistry.

Aniruddha Bhalchandra Pandit, Vice Chancellor of the Institute of Chemical Technology, was awarded the Vigyan Shri in the field of Engineering Sciences and S Venkata Mohan, Director of National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, won the award in the field of Environmental Science.

Mahan Maharaj, a monk of the Ramakrishna Order and Professor of Mathematics at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, won the Vigyan Shri in the field of Mathematics and Computer Science.

Jayan N of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre has been selected for his contribution to Space Science and Technology.

The 14 Vigyan Yuva awardees are Jagdis Gupta Kapuganti (Agricultural Science), Satendra Kumar Mangrauthia (Agricultural Science), Debarka Sengupta (Biological Sciences), Deepa Agashe (Biological Sciences), Dibyendu Das (Chemistry), Waliur Rahaman (Earth Science), Arkaprava Basu (Engineering Sciences), Sabyasachi Mukherjee (Mathematics and Computer Science), Shweta Prem Agrawal (Mathematics and Computer Science), Suresh Kumar (Medicine), Amit Kumar Agarwal (Physics), Surhud Shrikant More (Physics), Ankur Garg (Space Science and Technology), and Mohanasankar Sivaprakasam (Technology and Innovation).

The CSIR Aroma Mission Team, which heralded the ‘Lavender Mission’ in Jammu and Kashmir, won the Vigyan Team award.

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headline edited)

Chemical Sciences Associate Professor recognized for pioneering work in systems chemistry, exploring ‘Life 2.0’ and the origins of life.

Associate professor of Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata, Dibyendu Das, has been selected for the prestigious ‘Vigyan Yuva Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award’ under the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar (RVP) 2025, officials said on Saturday.

Das, an associate professor in the department of chemical sciences, is internationally recognised for his pioneering contributions to the emerging field of systems chemistry, where his laboratory investigates how life-like functions can emerge from simple chemical building blocks.

His research addresses fundamental questions such as how living-matter-like materials can be artificially created, whether concepts of “Life 2.0” can be realised in the laboratory, and how chemistry can illuminate the origins of life.

Confirming the news, Das said, “It was scheduled to be announced on August 22, but was delayed for a few months.” An IISER Kolkata official said, “The award in chemistry for the year 2025 was announced by the government of India under the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar in recognition of Das’ pioneering discoveries, internationally acclaimed publications and leadership in shaping the rapidly growing discipline of systems chemistry.” The RVP is positioned as one of the highest recognitions in India for contributions in science, technology and technology-led innovation.

Earlier, IISER Kolkata faculty including Soumitro Banerjee (2003, Physical Sciences), Biswarup Mukhopadhyaya (2003, Physical Sciences), Swadhin Kumar Mandal (2018, Chemical Sciences), and Rahul Banerjee (2018, Chemical Sciences) were also conferred the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award for their innovative work, officials said.

Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Telegraph Online staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)

Imagine a single test that can guide your doctor on which medicines will work best for your body, not just today, but for the rest of your life. AIG Hospitals, in collaboration with GenepoweRx, has launched an affordable pharmacogenomics test – which helps doctors prescribe medicines based on an individual’s genetic makeup.

Every person metabolises medicines differently. Some drugs that work well for one individual may be ineffective, or even harmful, for another. The pharmacogenomics test analyses a patient’s genetic code to predict how their body responds to common medications for heart disease , diabetes, cancer, gastrointestinal disorders, neurological and psychiatric conditions, and pain management.

The test is priced at ₹5,000, a fraction of the ₹80,000 charged for similar genomic tests in Western countries. The test results can be used anytime in the future. Patients receive a personalised report booklet, which can be shown to any doctor, anywhere, ensuring all future prescriptions are tailored to their genetic profile, said D. Nageshwar Reddy, chairman, AIG Hospitals.

The launch follows a joint study involving more than 2,000 patients, which revealed that nearly 30% were taking medicines that were not suited to their genetic makeup. In some cases, the dosage needed to be increased, while in others it needed to be reduced. The mismatch led to poor treatment outcomes or avoidable side effects.

How the test works?

A 2 ml blood sample is drawn at AIG Hospitals. DNA is extracted and analysed using sequencing technology on validated platforms such as Illumina and MGI. Approximately 5 GB of genomic data per patient is processed to determine how the body metabolises drugs across multiple disease pathways. The results are compiled in a report and delivered to the patient within 12–13 days, said Hima Challa, clinical genomics expert, Harvard Medical School, who is part of the project.

The test evaluates around 120–190 genes that influence drug metabolism. It is not disease-specific, instead, it provides a comprehensive profile of how an individual responds to medications for any condition. Even if a patient develops a new disease or is prescribed a new drug in the future, the information can guide correct dosing.

Data sources and research

The test uses a combination of AIG Hospitals’ own study of over 2,000 Indian patients and UK Biobank data, which includes about 15% Indian representation among a million participants. This ensures that genetic variations specific to the Indian population are considered before arriving at a decision.

Cost and benefits

“Beyond affordability, the test can reduce pharmaceutical costs by preventing over-prescription and unnecessary high dosages, while also avoiding complications and hospitalisations caused by adverse drug reactions,” said Dr. Reddy.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

The 46-year-old’s latest book, described by judges as “important reading” in the context of the climate crisis, received the coveted prize at a ceremony at the British Academy in London on Wednesday evening.

‘The Burning Earth: An Environmental History of the Last 500 Years’ by Indian-origin historian Sunil Amrith has been named the winner of this year’s British Academy Book Prize, a prestigious 25,000-pound award that celebrates the world’s best works of non-fiction.

Amrith, a Professor of History at Yale University in the US, was born in Kenya to South Indian parents, grew up in Singapore and graduated from the University of Cambridge in England.

The 46-year-old’s latest book, described by judges as “important reading” in the context of the climate crisis, received the coveted prize at a ceremony at the British Academy in London on Wednesday evening.

“I’ve sometimes been asked whether ‘The Burning Earth’ is a bleak book,” said Amrith, via live video link from the US. There’s no doubt it details a great deal of harm and suffering, both human and environmental, and it shows that the two were almost always interlinked.

But in the end, what I’d like to read from the book is a sense that many parts brought us to this point of time.

So there were also many paths not taken, ideas that have been forgotten, movements that may have failed but have left a lasting legacy, technologies that were humbler and more sustainable.

“And perhaps we can find, in returning to those paths not taken, seeds of inspiration for a more hopeful and less violent way of living together on this planet, which we share with each other and with so much other life that we depend on,” he said.

The announcement was made by the chair of the judges, UK-based historian Professor Rebecca Earle, who described the winning work as a magisterial account of the interconnections between human history and environmental transformation.

“It is vivid in detail and beautifully written important reading for anyone seeking to understand the origins of today’s climate crisis,” said Earle.

“Amrith is a remarkable scholar whose global perspective reveals the impact of the environment on human history, as well as our impact on the environment.

In fact, as he shows, it’s not really possible to separate these two. It is never an easy task to choose one winner from an exceptional shortlist of six, but our panel agreed that ‘The Burning Earth’ exemplified the spirit of the prize: to deepen understanding of our world,” she said.

The British Academy, the UK’s national academy for the humanities and social sciences, notes that Amrith’s “ground-breaking work of global environmental history” draws on decades of meticulous and eye-opening research to reveal how colonisation, industrialisation and the shifting patterns of human settlement have not only shaped the modern world but also fuelled the climate crisis we are now faced with.

Spanning continents and centuries from the conquest of the Americas to British gold mining in South Africa, from the Black Death to the Second World War, Amrith takes the reader on an epic journey, offering a new perspective on humanity’s impact on the planet.

“This fresh look at the interplay of human history with the shape of the earth combines rigorous research with page-turning prose.

It is precisely the combination of evidence-informed insight, well-honed ideas, and great writing that we are proud to celebrate through our annual international book prize,” said Professor Susan J Smith, President of the British Academy.

The other five shortlisted works, which each receive 1,000 pounds, included ‘The Golden Road: How Ancient India Transformed the World’ by William Dalrymple; ‘The Baton and The Cross: Russia’s Church from Pagans to Putin’ by Lucy Ash; ‘Africonomics: A History of Western Ignorance’ by Bronwen Everill; ‘Sick of It: The Global Fight for Women’s Health’ by Sophie Harman; and ‘Sound Tracks: A Musical Detective Story’ by Graeme Lawson.

The British Academy Book Prize was established in 2013 to reward writing grounded in exceptional research in the fields of the humanities and social sciences.

To be eligible for the prize, books must be works of non-fiction published in the UK, with authors of any nationality, based anywhere in the world and working in any language, provided that the nominated work is available in the English language.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

Among serious complications is delayed wound healing, often resulting in diabetic foot ulcers, infection and in severe cases, amputation.

Nagaland University researchers have identified a naturally occurring plant compound called “Sinapic acid” as a powerful therapeutic agent capable of significantly accelerating wound healing in diabetic conditions, according to officials.

The discovery marks a major advancement that could result in safe, natural and effective treatments for diabetic wound management, they said.

According to Panav Kumar Prabhakar, Head, Department of Biotechnology, Nagaland University, this is the first study globally to demonstrate that Sinapic acid, when administered orally, can accelerate diabetic wound healing in preclinical models. The research established that the compound works by activating the SIRT1 pathway, which plays a crucial role in tissue repair, angiogenesis and inflammation control.

The findings have been published in Nature Scientific Reports, a peer-reviewed, open-access journal from Nature Portfolio (Springer Nature).

“This discovery not only highlights the strength of our scientific community but also reflects our commitment to addressing pressing health challenges through innovation rooted in nature. I congratulate the research team for their dedication and contribution towards improving healthcare solutions,” said Jagadish K Patnaik, Vice Chancellor, Nagaland University.

Prabhakar explained that diabetes mellitus remains one of the world’s most pressing chronic diseases, affecting hundreds of millions globally.

“Among its serious complications is delayed wound healing, often resulting in diabetic foot ulcers, infection and in severe cases, amputation. Existing synthetic drugs have shown limited efficacy and often cause undesirable side effects,” he said.

“We set out seeking a safe, plant-based alternative — exploring how Sinapic acid, a naturally occurring antioxidant found in various edible plants, could accelerate tissue repair, reduce inflammation, and promote new blood vessel formation in diabetic wounds,” he added.

The researchers explained that we found that a lower dose (20 mg/kg) was more effective than a higher one (40 mg/kg), a phenomenon known as “Inverted Dose-Response”.

“This result not only optimises dosage strategy but also has significant clinical implications for future drug development. The key implications of this discovery include reducing the risk of amputation and accelerating recovery in diabetic foot ulcers and providing an affordable, natural oral therapy, improving accessibility for patients in rural and resource-limited settings,” he said.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Celebrating Diwali in Denver, Udemy co-founder Gagan Biyani said that the US now embraces Indian culture more openly than before. 

Udemy co-founder Gagan Biyani has shared a heartwarming reflection on celebrating Diwali in the United States, saying the festival reminds him of why he is Indian, but also why he remains proud to be American.

In a long post on X, the entrepreneur drew parallels between what the festival looked like in the US years ago and how it had amassed a jubilant status now. “Today’s Diwali and it reminds me of why I’m Indian but also why I’m proud to be American,” he wrote.

Biyani said that he was marking Diwali this year in Denver with his wife, brother, sister-in-law and mother, decorating the house and preparing a festive dinner. The celebration took on a deeper meaning when his brother mentioned that their four-year-old neighbour was “begging to join” the festivities after learning about the festival last year.

Biyani shared that the young neighbour, who is white and has little exposure to Indian communities, enjoyed a “mini Diwali” arranged especially for her last year, complete with lights, decorations and a short pooja ritual. “Given we’re in Denver, she’s white and has very few Indian friends, so normally this would be quite a shock,” he wrote.

“When I was young, I lived in a suburb with 20% Indians and still nobody ever asked me about Diwali. That was still the era when Indian Americans were most associated with Apu, the convenience store owner from The Simpsons,” Biyani continued.

‘Proud to be celebrating my culture in US’

The entrepreneur contrasted that experience with what he now sees as a broader cultural openness in the US over the past three decades. “In 2025, I found nothing odd about a 4-year-old who is curious about my culture and where my parents are from. In fact, I’ve found that over my 30+ years here I have felt more and more curiosity and acceptance all around the country (not just in liberal enclaves like Denver and Oakland),” he said.

Further, Biyani acknowledged the polarisation in American politics and “some backsliding,” but said that his lived experience across the world leaves him more optimistic than discouraged.

“We constantly hear about how divisive America is. But I’ve traveled nearly everywhere – 60+ countries, often solo, including 15 times to India. America has its problems and it sucks to see the recent backsliding but the big picture is very clear to me,” he wrote, before firmly establishing that no other place ever felt like “home” to him like the US did.

“No place feels like home to me like the US of A. No place outside of India accepts my people the way America does. I’m proud to be celebrating my culture in the land of the free and the home of the brave,” he said.

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headline edited)

The Defence Minister inaugurated the third production line of the LCA Mk1A, and the second production line of the Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 (HTT-40), which is an indigenous Basic Trainer Aircraft designed and developed by HAL for the IAF.

The maiden flight of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A, manufactured at the third production line of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), took place on October 17 in Nashik in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

The Defence Minister also inaugurated the third production line of the LCA Mk1A, and the second production line of the Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 (HTT-40), which is an indigenous Basic Trainer Aircraft designed and developed by HAL for the IAF.

The first two production lines of the LCA, and the first production line of the HTT-40, are located in Bengaluru.

he company initiated establishment of the third production line in order to fast-track delivery of LCA Tejas aircraft to the IAF.

The production line in Nashik has a capacity of eight aircraft per annum.

According to the company, with this third production line, HAL will achieve a total production capacity of 24 aircraft per year for LCA Mk1A. The third Line has resulted in creation of approximately 1,000 jobs, and development of more than 40 industry partners in and around Nashik, including in cities of Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh.

With the additional production line, HAL can also target export of the aircraft to friendly countries, and will facilitate completion of export requirement at an enhanced production rate.

By the next two years, the company plans to expand capacity in Nashik up to 10 aircraft per annum by way of establishing an additional Assembly Jig Line, Tooling and Pre-installation Check facilities for Line Replaceable Units.

HTT-40

The HAL undertook design and development of the HTT-40 aircraft with its own funding to comply with IAF requirements. It flew the first prototype (PT1) in May 2016, and the second prototype (PT2) in May 2017.

The HTT-40 programme is a significant contributor to employment, particularly within India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem. It is expected to create approximately 1,500 direct employment opportunities within HAL.

The company estimates that up to 3,000 indirect jobs will be generated across more than 100 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) involved in the supply chain.

As per the total flying requirements, IAF has an option for a follow-on procurement of additional 36 aircraft.

“As a cost-effective, indigenous trainer, the HTT-40 has potential for export to other countries, particularly nations with similar training needs,” HAL stated.

There was a fly past by the Su-30 Mki and a formation flight of the HTT-40 on the occasion.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)
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