Indian Railways CCTV Cameras: To improve safety and security, Indian Railways has decided to install CCTV cameras in coaches and locomotives.

Indian Railways CCTV Camera Installation: To improve safety and security, Indian Railways has decided to install CCTV cameras in coaches and locomotives. The move also aims to reduce miscreant activity, vandalism, thefts, act as deterrent against crime and aid in investigation.

Indian Railways CCTV Cameras Passenger Safety

So far, the national transporter has installed CCTV cameras in 11,535 coaches, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on August 6, 2025. He was responding to questions from MPs Chavan Ravindra Vasantrao and Manish Jaiswal, who had sought zone-wise details of coaches equipped with CCTV cameras. The MPs had also asked about plans to install CCTV cameras in all railway coaches to further enhance passenger safety.

CCTV Cameras in Indian Railways Coaches

The highest number of CCTV-equipped coaches are in the Western Railway zone (1,679), followed by Central Railway (1,320), Southern Railway (1,149), Eastern Railway (1,131), and Northern Railway (1,125).

Serial Number	Zonal Railways	No. of coaches fitted with CCTV SN Zonal No. of coaches Railways cameras	Serial Number	Zonal Railways	No. of coaches fitted with CCTV SN Zonal No. of coaches Railways cameras
1	CR	1,320	9	NWR	285
2	ER	1,131	10	SR	1,149
3	ECR	437	11	SER	575
4	ECoR	823	12	SCR	753
5	NR	1,125	13	SECR	280
6	NER	509	14	SWR	529
7	NFR	335	15	WR	1,679
8	NCR	339	16	WCR	266
			Total		11,535

(Source: As per written statement submitted by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in Lok Sabha on August 6, 2025)

Indian Railways CCTV Cameras

The Railway Minister also informed the house that CCTV cameras will be installed in around 74,000 coaches and 15,000 locomotives. He added that each coach will be provided with four CCTV cameras – two in each entrance way.

“Each locomotive will have six CCTV cameras, one camera each at the front, rear and on both sides of the locomotive and one in each cab along with two desk mounted microphones. CCTV cameras will be STQC (Standardization Testing and Quality Certification Directorate, attached office of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology) certified and as per the latest RDSO specification. These cameras will provide high quality footage even for trains running at speeds of 100 kmph or more,” Vaishnaw said.

The Union Minister further said that the installation of CCTV cameras will not compromise the privacy of the passengers as the CCTV cameras in coaches will be installed in the common movement area near the doors.

source/content: indianexpress.com (headline edited)

In its X page, the Indian Air Force also shared an old excerpt from a gallantry award citation on him.

Indian Air Force veteran Gp Capt D K Parulkar (retd), who led a daring escape from captivity in Pakistan during the 1971 war, has passed away, the IAF said on Sunday (August 10, 2025).

He died near Pune, Maharashtra, according to a senior official.

“Gp Capt DK Parulkar (Retd) VM, VSM — 1971 War hero, who led a daring escape from captivity in Pakistan, embodying unmatched courage, ingenuity & pride in the IAF — has left for his heavenly abode. All Air Warriors of the IAF express their heartfelt condolences,” the IAF posted on X.

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It also shared an old excerpt from a gallantry award citation on him.

Captain Parulkar was commissioned in the IAF in March 1963. In past, he held various appointments, including as a Flying Instructor at the Air Force Academy, according to the excerpt.

“During the Indo-Pak conflict of 1965, his aircraft was hit by enemy fire and had injured his right shoulder. Despite the advice from his leader to eject, he flew the crippled aircraft back to base, for which he was awarded Vayu Sena Medal,” the excerpt reads.

During the 1971 India-Pakistan War, Captain Parulkar then a wing commander, while being a prisoner of war in Pakistan displayed “initiative, pride in his nation and in the Indian Air Force of an exceptional degree. He was the leader of an escape attempt in which he along with two colleagues escaped from PoW camp,” it says.

He was also a recipient of the Vishisht Sena Medal.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

As part of this, students from IIT Bombay will get internship opportunities in Rolls-Royce to work alongside the defence engineering team in Bengaluru.

Rolls-Royce on Friday said it has signed an agreement with the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB) to enhance innovation and pool of technology talent.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will enable knowledge exchange and upskilling, and explore opportunities to collaborate on joint projects in areas of mutual interest, Rolls-Royce said in a statement.

As part of this, students from IIT Bombay will get internship opportunities in Rolls-Royce to work alongside the defence engineering team in Bengaluru.

“This partnership with IIT Bombay reflects our broader commitment to building strategic collaborations that advance shared ambitions in innovation, talent development and technology leadership.

“As we deepen our engagement in India, initiatives like this help unlock new opportunities to co-create solutions through structured engagement between the academic and industrial ecosystems. We look forward to knowledge-sharing opportunities with the experienced academics and faculty at IIT Bombay,” GS Selwyn, Executive Vice President of Rolls-Royce India and Managing Director of MTU India, 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)

HpNPV, identified and mass-developed by KFRI, offers eco-friendly alternative to chemical pesticides and prevents massive defoliation in teak.

A revolutionary technology developed by the Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) can transform the way teak plantations are protected from their most notorious pest – the teak defoliator moth (Hyblaea puera). The institute has successfully identified, mass-produced and patented a naturally occurring virus, Hyblaea puera Nucleopolyhedrosis Virus (HpNPV), which causes lethal infection in the pest larvae and prevents widespread defoliation of teak trees.

For decades, the teak defoliator has wreaked havoc in plantations, stripping entire forests of their foliage up to six times a year, weakening trees and causing significant loss in timber yield. “When the larvae attack, the tree spends its energy regenerating leaves instead of growing. It’s a huge invisible loss,” explains T.V. Sajeev, Principal Scientist at KFRI.

Conventional control methods such as aerial spraying of chemical pesticides were tried — at Konni in Kerala and Barnavappara in Madhya Pradesh — inviting protests due to environmental concerns. The KFRI even presented a paper at the 1980 Forestry Conference at Dehradun titled ‘The problem of teak defoliator: to spray or not to spray?’

Economic loss

KFRI’s sustained research showed that the economic loss due to teak defoliators is staggering: an estimated 3 cubic metres of wood per hectare annually, translating to ₹562.5 crore loss in Kerala and ₹12,525 crore in India. The institute screened the pest’s natural enemies and zeroed in on HpNPV, a virus that is entirely host-specific, targeting only the teak defoliator larvae, and thus completely safe for the forest ecosystem.

“The beauty of the virus is in how it works,” said Dr. Sajeev. “It multiplies at least a trillion times inside a single larva. When the body breaks open, it releases huge quantities of inoculum. Even if the infection is sub-lethal, the virus stays in the insect, gets passed on to the next generation, and proves lethal then.”

With a clear understanding of the pest’s life cycle, HpNPV can be applied during early-stage outbreaks to prevent larger infestations.

Field trials at Nilambur in Malappuram, seen as India’s cradle of teak, were a success. KFRI has already transferred the know-how for outbreak monitoring and virus application to the Forest department. “Now it’s up to the department to formally adopt the technology,” said Dr. Sajeev.

Export potential

What makes this innovation more significant is that many of the 64 countries now cultivating teak — from its native range of just four (India, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand) — have banned chemical pesticide use. This opens up a massive export potential for the eco-friendly HpNPV technology.

KFRI will showcase the HpNPV solution at the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) R&D Summit 2025, to be held on August 7 in Thiruvananthapuram, positioning it as a scalable, sustainable model for forestry management across the globe.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

This series is part of Cricket Australia’s long-term player development strategy. It forms part of the preparation for a two-year-long ICC U19 World Cup cycle, with the tournament scheduled for January 2026.

Two boys with Indian roots, Aryan Sharma and Yash Deshmukh, will be in the Australia U19 squad for the upcoming series against India from 21 September to 10 October. The series between India U19 and Australia U19 teams will feature three 50-over matches and two four-day matches in Brisbane and Mackay.

While Aryan Sharma hails from the state of Victoria, Yash Deshmukh is from New South Wales.

This series is part of Cricket Australia’s long-term player development strategy, offering young players the chance to gain international experience in white-ball and red-ball formats. It forms part of the preparation for a two-year-long ICC U19 World Cup cycle, with the tournament scheduled for January 2026 in Zimbabwe and Namibia. The cycle has so far included a camp at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane, AUS U19 tour to India, and a specialised spin/batting training camp in India.

The matches mark the first appointment for former Australian coach Tim Nielsen as head coach of the national U19 squad, bringing a wealth of experience at international level, which will be invaluable in guiding Australia’s next generation of cricketers.

The National Under-19 male championships will be held in December, after which the final squad for the ICC U19 Men’s World Cup 2026 will be selected.

Cricket Australia said that the Australia U19 squad was chosen by the youth selection panel in collaboration with state talent managers. Following the series, players will return to their states and territories to continue preparations for the upcoming season.

Australia Men’s U19 Squad for India series

Simon Budge (WA/Melville CC)

Alex Turner (VIC/Prahran CC)

Steve Hogan (QLD/Sandgate-Redcliffe District CC)

Will Malajczuk (WA/Subiaco Floreat CC)

Yash Deshmukh (NSW/Fairfield Liverpool CC)

Tom Hogan (ACT/Ginninderra CC)

Aryan Sharma (VIC/Carlton CC)

John James (NSW/Northern Districts CC)

Hayden Schiller (SA/Northern Districts CC)

Charles Lachmund (QLD/Western Districts CC)

Ben Gordon (QLD/Sunshine Coast Scorchers)

Will Byrom (NSW/Northern Districts CC)

Kasey Barton (NSW/Sutherland CC)

Alex Lee Young (NSW/Mosman CC)

Jayden Draper (QLD/Valley District Cricket Club)

India U19 vs Australia U19 schedule

September 21: 1st 50-over match, Ian Healy Oval, Brisbane, 2:30pm AEST (D/N)

September 24: 2nd 50-over match I, Ian Healy Oval, Brisbane, 2:30pm AEST (D/N)

September 26: 3rd 50-over match, Ian Healy Oval, Brisbane, 2:30pm AEST (D/N)

September 30-October 3: 1st Four-day match, Ian Healy Oval, Brisbane, 10am AEST

October 7-10: 2nd Four-day match, Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay, 11am AEDT

source/content: indianexpress.com (headline edited)

In cases where individuals cannot produce sound, attempting to speak generates airflow from their lungs.

Researchers at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Guwahati, and Ohio State University, USA, have developed an underwater vibration sensor that enables automated and contactless voice recognition.

The sensor, they said, offers a promising alternative communication method for individuals with voice disabilities who are unable to use conventional voice-based systems.

The findings of the research have been published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials.

According to Uttam Manna, Professor, Department of Chemistry, voice recognition has become an integral part of modern life of late.

“It helps users in operating smart devices including mobile phones, home appliances and other devices through voice commands. However, for the people with voice disorders, this technological development remains inaccessible.

“Recent studies show that a noticeable percentage of children and young adults aged between 3 and 21 experience some form of voice disability, underscoring the significant need for more inclusive communication technologies,” Manna said.

To address the limitation, the research team found a solution by focusing on the air exhaled through the mouth while we speak, a basic physiological function.

In cases where individuals cannot produce sound, attempting to speak generates airflow from their lungs. When this air flows over a water surface, it produces subtle waves.

The research team developed an underwater vibration sensor which can detect these water waves and interpret speech signals without depending on audible voice, thus creating a new pathway for voice recognition.

Manna explained that the developed sensor is made from a conductive, chemically reactive porous sponge.

When placed just below the air-water interface, it captures the tiny disturbances created by exhaled air and converts them into measurable electrical signals.

The team used Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN), a type of deep learning model, to accurately recognise these subtle signal patterns. This setup allows users to communicate with devices from a distance, without the need to generate sound.

“It is one of the rare designs of material allowing to recognise voice based on monitoring the water wave formed at air and water interface because of exhaling air from mouth. This approach is likely to provide a viable solution for communication with those individuals with partially or entirely damaged vocal cords,” Manna said.

On a lab-scale, the working prototype costs Rs 3,000, he said.

“With research exploring potential industry collaboration for bringing the technology from lab to real world use, the cost of the final product is expected to reduce,” he said.

The research team now plans to get clinical validation for the device. Further, the team plans to collect more datasets from individuals with voice disabilities who can articulate different words necessary for operating home appliances and other voice-commanded smart devices.

“Using these datasets, the research team will be able to refine the developed model for recognising specific words or phrases when exhaled air is directed over a water surface.

“This development holds potential beyond voice recognition. Other than hands-free operation of various devices, the developed sensor can also be used in exercise tracking and movement detection.

“Additionally, its proven durability, remaining stable after extended underwater use, suggests potential applications in underwater sensing and communication,” Manna 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)

Three-day event to focus on global cooperation, safety mechanisms, and regulatory convergence for traditional medicine.

India will host the World Health Organization (WHO) – International Regulatory Cooperation for Herbal Medicines (IRCH) workshop from August 6 to 8. Organised by the Ministry of Ayush in collaboration with WHO and supported by the Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H), the three-day international workshop aims to strengthen global capacity in the regulation of herbal medicines.

The workshop is expected to serve as a platform for international cooperation and technical exchange, focusing on five key objectives – fostering collaboration, enhancing safety and efficacy mechanisms, supporting regulatory convergence, and empowering traditional medicine systems globally, an Ayush official said.

Among the highlights are reviews of WHO–IRCH working groups on safety, regulation, efficacy, and intended use of herbal medicines, along with sessions on pre-clinical research, regulatory frameworks, and safety case studies, including a focused discussion on Ashwagandha.

“Participants will benefit from hands-on training in herbal drug identification, heavy metal analysis, and chemo-profiling using HPTLC technology at PCIM&H laboratories. The workshop will also introduce the Ayush Suraksha (Pharmacovigilance) programme, aimed at strengthening safety monitoring of traditional medicines,” the official explained.

To provide exposure to India’s integrative health ecosystem, the delegates will also visit PCIM&H, the National Institute of Unani Medicine (NIUM), Ghaziabad, and the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi.

With participation from regulatory authorities and experts across continents, the Ministry noted that the workshop is expected to significantly contribute towards harmonising global standards and promoting the safe and effective integration of traditional medicine into mainstream public health systems.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Centre presents roadmap to expand low-cost cinemas, promote content creation beyond metro cities.

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry on Tuesday (August 5, 2025) urged States to utilise the India Cine Hub portal to facilitate global film production locally and also presented a roadmap for promoting low-cost cinemas.

At a conference attended by State and Union Territory Information and Public Relations secretaries, Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L. Murugan said the portal had been revamped into a unified single-window system, offering streamlined access to filmmaking permissions and services across the country.

“With GIS features and common forms, it supports ease of doing business and showcases India’s film-friendly policies under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he said.

The Minister highlighted grassroots cinema initiatives aimed at empowering women and local communities through low-cost theatres. He said major global events such as WAVES 2025 and IFFI Goa attracted global talent, boosted India’s creative economy, promoted cultural diplomacy worldwide, and empowered creative minds of tomorrow.

He said the recently launched Indian Institute of Creative Technology would skill the youth in animation, gaming, music, and other creative fields.

I&B Secretary Sanjay Jaju emphasised the role of Centre-State collaboration in effective communication and media development. He highlighted the rise of digital creators, vernacular media, and the need to strengthen district-level information and public relations setups. He urged all States to integrate with the Press Sewa portal for smoother publication processes and flagged concerns over disjointed responsibilities in media departments across States.

Mr. Jaju stressed the need to expand beyond metros and support local talent, stating that initiatives like India Cine Hub were introduced to promote filmmaking and enable creators to monetise content.

A major focus area of the conference was sensitisation and onboarding of the officers concerned of the States and Union Territories on the Press Sewa portal. Another key highlight was the emphasis on the revamped India Cine Hub portal, which went live on June 28, 2024. Seven States and two Union Territories have already completed full integration, while 21 States and six Union Territories have been onboarded through a common application form.

The India Cine Hub portal supports GIS-based location mapping, crowdsourced content from industry professionals, and differentiated workflows for filming, non-filming, and incentives.

The conference also discussed identifying low screen density zones using GIS mapping, repurposing existing public infrastructure, streamlining licensing through single-window systems, and offering tax and land policy incentives to attract private investment in affordable cinema infrastructure.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

The scientists pointed out that infections at wound sites are often difficult to detect early, especially in chronic or deep wounds.

An interdisciplinary team of scientists from BITS Pilani Hyderabad campus has developed a smart wound dressing capable of killing the infection-causing bacteria and also visually signalling the presence of infection — all without the use of traditional antibiotics.

The work has been published in ACS Infectious Diseases, a journal of the American Chemical Society, highlighting its promise in tackling one of the most pressing global health threats of our time—Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR), said an official release on Monday.

The study has been authored by a team comprising Vaishnavi N., Ramakrishnan Ganesan, and Jayati Ray Dutta who have also developed a user-friendly colour analysis application for instant infection assessment by analysing a photograph of the dressing.

The scientists pointed out that infections at wound sites are often difficult to detect early, especially in chronic or deep wounds. Delayed diagnosis can lead to prolonged healing, the spread of infection, or even sepsis.

The newly developed wound dressing addresses this issue using a multi-layered design: base layer with antibiotic-free fibres functionalised with ionic silver to kill bacteria on contact. Over this, a hydrogel layer is embedded with an enzyme-specific colour-changing compound to serve as an infection sensor.

When bacteria colonise the wound, they release enzymes that migrate upward into the hydrogel layer, triggering a visible colour change — a signal that infection is present. “Our dressing is designed to be proactive. It simultaneously kills bacteria and alerts clinicians or caregivers to the onset of infection. It does so without relying on antibiotics, which is key in the fight against drug-resistant bacteria,” said the scientists.

The technology functions without the need for complex equipment or laboratory processing, making it particularly well-suited for bedside care and home use. The research team envisions the dressing being further developed into commercial point-of-care products, including infection-responsive bandages or integrated wound monitoring strips.

Such products could revolutionise the way wounds are monitored and treated, especially for diabetic ulcers, post-surgical wounds, and burns. This work was supported by the Department of Science and Technology, the release added.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

“NISAR is one of the key missions that will garner large-scale operational user feedback from across the globe,” Ex-Project Manager of NISAR said.

The NISAR mission, a collaborative effort between ISRO and NASA, will demonstrate Indian space engineering capabilities for Earth observation on a global scale, a top scientist has said.

The NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) is a global mission, and its data will be accessible for download worldwide by users, said Radha Krishna Kavuluru, former Ground Segment Engineer and Ex-Project Manager of NISAR.

ISRO is set to launch the NISAR satellite aboard the GSLV-Mk II rocket from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, on July 30 at 5:40 p.m. The GSLV-F16 marks the 18th flight of India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle and the 9th operational flight with an indigenous cryogenic stage.

The countdown is expected to commence later on Tuesday (July 29, 2025), ISRO sources said.

This mission is the first GSLV launch to achieve a Sun-Synchronous Polar Orbit. The 51.7-meter-tall, three-stage rocket will lift off from the second launch pad, approximately 135 km east of Chennai. About 19 minutes after launch, the satellite is expected to be placed into its designated orbit.

Elaborating on the mission, Mr. Kavuluru explained that NASA provides the L-Band, while ISRO contributes the S-Band for the Synthetic Aperture Radar, enabling the collection of vast amounts of data.

“The satellite will transmit extensive data covering the Earth, including Antarctica, the North Pole, and oceans,” he told PTI.

Highlighting the mission’s significance, Mr. Kavuluru noted that unlike earlier ISRO observation satellites such as the Resourcesat and RISAT series, which could capture images globally but were operationally focused on India and surrounding regions, NISAR will collect data across the entire globe for operational use.

“This data will be extensively utilised by governments and commercial entities worldwide,” he said.

“NISAR is one of the key missions that will garner large-scale operational user feedback from across the globe,” Mr. Kavuluru emphasised.

“All countries will leverage NISAR data for various applications, showcasing the strength of Indian space engineering. This is the core importance of the mission,” he added.

Mr. Kavuluru underscored the mission’s importance as ISRO’s first major partnership with NASA for an Earth observation satellite. “This collaboration fosters significant technical exchange, with ISRO and NASA sharing insights into their respective planning and execution processes,” he said.

Mr. Kavuluru added that ISRO will process and make most of the data available as open-source, accessible to users globally. The satellite, which will cover the entire Earth every 12 days, will provide approximately 2.5 coverages per month and 10 coverages in 120 days.

“This will enable us to monitor seasonal changes, including forest dynamics, mountain shifts, and glacier movements in regions like the Himalayas and Antarctica,” he explained.

“This is a highly significant, high-value, and ambitious mission for ISRO,” Mr. Kavuluru remarked. The GSLV-F16/NISAR mission is designed for a lifespan of five years.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)