The Geological Survey of India on Friday (July 31, 2026) said Varsha Ashok Aglawe has assumed charge as its 54th director general, becoming the first woman to head the country’s premier geoscientific organisation in its 176-year history.

Ms. Aglawe, a palaeontologist with over three decades of experience, succeeds Asit Saha, who served as the GSI director general for two years.

She joined GSI in 1992 after a stint with the Indian Bureau of Mines. Ms. Aglawe recently served as the additional director general and head of department, eastern region, in Kolkata.

On taking charge, she said GSI would align its programmes with the government’s priorities on critical mineral exploration and mineral security.

The surveyor will focus on accelerating exploration of deep-seated and concealed mineral deposits, expanding offshore mineral exploration and strengthening laboratory infrastructure, she said.

Ms. Aglawe also stressed the need to promote advanced geoscientific research, natural hazard studies, glaciology and capacity building for young geoscientists while enhancing scientific publications, the GSI said.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

The show, which will be screened before the planetarium’s regular presentations, explores Aryabhata’s role in laying the foundation for the country’s space programme, leading to landmark missions such as Chandrayaan, Mangalyaan and Aditya-L1.

Nearly 50 years after the satellite Aryabhata marked India’s entry into the space age, its legacy came alive once again beneath the dome of the Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium in Bengaluru on Thursday (July 30) morning. Scientists, students and educators gathered for the unveiling of The Inspiring Legacy of Aryabhata, a new four-minute sky show commemorating India’s first satellite.

The show, which will be screened before the planetarium’s regular presentations, explores Aryabhata’s role in laying the foundation for the country’s space programme, leading to landmark missions such as Chandrayaan, Mangalyaan and Aditya-L1.

The programme was inaugurated by M. Sankaran, Director of the U.R. Rao Satellite Centre, and presided over by former ISRO Chairman A.S. Kiran Kumar. B.R. Guruprasad, Director of the Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium, welcomed the gathering, which included scientists, educators and schoolchildren from across Bengaluru who attended the inaugural screening.

Addressing the audience, Mr. Sankaran reflected on the importance of remembering India’s early achievements in space exploration. “The reason you need to remember the past is to look forward to the future, and that should give us the strength to go on,” he said, describing Aryabhata as the beginning of a journey that continues to shape India’s achievements in the space race.

One school student described the show as “really inspiring”, while another said, “I really liked that they chose to commemorate Aryabhata this way. It helped us understand how one satellite became the foundation of India’s space programme.”

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

The lotus-shaped jewel is handcrafted in gold and set with 16.9 carats of lab-grown diamonds.

For the first time in the world, a lab-grown diamond jewel has made it to space. Named the Cosmos Bloom Diamond, the jewel, created by Bengaluru start-up Cosmos Diamonds, travelled aboard Vikram-1, the country’s first privately built orbital launch vehicle.

The lotus-shaped jewel is handcrafted in gold and set with 16.9 carats of lab-grown diamonds, and “represents the coming together of India’s heritage, craftsmanship, scientific ambition, and technological innovation”, notes a statement from the start-up.

‘Like a diamond in the sky’

The idea reportedly originated during a casual conversation between Pawan Kumar Chandana, co-founder and CEO, Skyroot Aerospace, and Sanjana, founder of Cosmos Diamonds, about the children’s nursery rhyme Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, which led the duo to wonder whether they could actually place a diamond in space.

“The project was never just about sending a diamond into space. It became a celebration of what Indian innovation can achieve when technology, design, and culture come together. Skyroot is shaping India’s future in space, while we believe lab-grown diamonds represent the future of jewellery. It felt like a natural partnership between two companies building for tomorrow while remaining deeply rooted in India,” said Ms. Sanjana.

Multiple iterations

According to the start-up, the Cosmos Bloom Diamond underwent more than 100 design sketches and 11 production iterations over the course of a year before reaching its final form. Multiple metals and materials were tested to ensure the payload could withstand launch conditions. The final jewel incorporates lab-grown diamonds from India, precision-crafted gold components, custom aluminium elements, and a gold replica of rocket screws designed to securely hold the lotus during flight.

Following extensive technical validation, the payload received approvals from both Skyroot Aerospace and IN-SPACe, the Government of India’s agency enabling space activities.

Six payloads

The other payloads that successfully reached the orbit aboard Vikram-1 include SCOPE, which is Skyroot Aerospace’s in-house atmospheric and Earth observation satellite, SOLARAS, a 1U CubeSat developed by Indian space company Grahaa Space to study solar activity, Embrace, an in-orbit robotic arm demonstration by Cosmoserve Space designed to advance space debris capture technologies, uD3PP and mD3RN, which are in-orbit technology demonstration payloads developed by Germany-based DCubed, and an 18K gold micro-sculpture featuring a rocket carrying microscopic portraits of Indian space pioneers Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, and Sir C.V. Raman — each smaller than a grain of rice.

Grahaa Space, yet another Bengaluru-based space tech company, on Wednesday (July 29) had announced that SOLARAS, its technology demonstration nanosatellite that reached the low earth orbit aboard Vikram-1, successfully transmitted telemetry signals confirming healthy spacecraft operation.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Kakatiya University, Warangal, Vice-Chancellor, K. Prathap Reddy said that naturopathy remained highly relevant in the context of present-day lifestyles and stressed the importance of adopting healthy living practices for longevity.

Speaking at the 8th anniversary celebrations of the International Naturopathy Library and Research Centre at the Kakatiya University Senate Hall on Friday, Mr. Reddy released 11 bibliography volumes on naturopathy compiled by former professor G. Rameshwaram, founder of the research centre. He also added that Kakatiya University had entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the centre to benefit research scholars.

Commending Prof. Rameshwaram’s contribution to the field, the Vice-Chancellor lauded his efforts in promoting naturopathy and creating valuable academic resources.

Prof. Rameshwaram said the bibliographies had been published in Telugu, English, Hindi and Marathi and would serve as useful reference material for naturopathy scholars worldwide. He noted that the International Naturopathy Library and Research Centre houses around 8,000 rare manuscripts, books and journals on the subject.

Telangana University Vice-Chancellor T. Yadagiri Rao appreciated Prof. Rameshwaram’s sustained efforts to promote naturopathy for improving human health.

Congratulating Prof. Rameshwaram, KU Retired Teachers’ Association president A. Sadanandam said, “Knowledge advances not by preserving old ideas unchanged, nor by rejecting them outright, but by constantly examining them in the light of new evidence.”

Kakatiya University Registrar V. Ramchandram and others attended the programme.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Curated every week, this newsletter brings you all the latest news from the world of movies and streaming.

Around Tinsel Town

>> 72nd National Film Awards announced

The 72nd National Film Awards, which honoured films that received certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) during the 2024 calendar year, were announced. Here are some highlights:

Full list of winners

> Mammootty bags fourth National Award with ‘Bramayugam’

> ‘Article 370’ bags best feature film

> Tamil films ‘Raayan,’ ‘Amaran’ bag top honours; ‘Meiyazhagan’ and ‘Maharaja’ miss marquee categories

> ‘Mithya’ adjudged Best Kannada Film, bags two more honours

> Telugu cinema shines with 9 awards; ‘Kalki 2898 AD,’ ‘Pushpa 2’ win big

> Randeep Hooda reacts on National Award win for ‘Swatantrya Veer Savarkar’

> Sanjay Mishra reacts to winning Best Supporting Actor honour

Bollywood

Prime Video original ‘Phoolan’ to be screened at Toronto International Film Festival

First look from Huma Qureshi and Mrunal Thakur’s upcoming thriller ‘Pooja Meri Jaan’ unveiled

Hollywood

‘Avatar: Seven Havens’ gets release date; first look teaser unveiled

Judge says Paramount and Warner must halt merger for at least two weeks

Amazon’s Jeff Bezos pushes Prime Video redesign focused on AI

Regional Cinema

SS Rajamouli reveals glimpse of Priyanka Chopra’s character from Mahesh Babu starrer ‘Varanasi’

Piracy fails to dampen advance bookings for Tamil Nadu CM Vijay’s ‘Jana Nayagan’

Nivin Pauly film ‘Bethlehem Kudumba Unit’ to reach theatres on August 21

Nagaland-set ‘Angh’ to compete in TIFF 2026’s Platform section

Trailers

Doctor Doom declares war as Marvel unites the X-Men, Fantastic Four and Avengers in trailer of ‘Avengers: Doomsday’

‘Ramayana’ trailer postponed as producer Namit Malhotra announces Sony Pictures as global distributor

Trailer of Zach Cregger’s ‘Resident Evil’ reboot promises thrilling, game-accurate horror

Jessica Chastain battles her sinister doppelgänger in trailer of new Blumhouse horror ‘Other Mommy’

Johnny Depp returns to Hollywood in trailer of Ti West’s ‘A Christmas Carol’ adaptation ‘Ebenezer’

Essential reading

1) ‘Jana Nayagan’ director H Vinoth interview: On Thalapathy Vijay’s support during controversies

>> The filmmaker speaks about the unwavering support he received from the former star during the turbulent months prior to his film’s release

2) Seo In-guk and Park Ji-hyun interview: On ‘See You At Work Tomorrow’, and life at the K-Drama office

>> The leads of the romantic-comedy K-Drama talk to us about their characters and reveling in the office experience

3) Kay Kay Menon: Acting is more about restraint than exposition

>> Menon, Naveen Kasturia, and director Himank Gaur talk about their show ‘Adarsh Baal Vidyalaya’ and how their school life shaped their journey in films

4) Richard Gadd on ‘Half Man’: ‘I never set out to answer questions’

>> Gadd also talks about the themes of male repression and violence his series explores, and the challenges he faced writing it

5) ‘Chennai Love Story’ director Ravi Namburii: Kiran Abbavaram’s character draws from my filmmaking journey

>> Ravi discusses the film’s Chennai backdrop, Sri Gouri Priya’s role, Mani Sharma’s music and the subtle influence of his observations on the story

6) The MGR-Vijay parallel: ‘Jana Nayagan’ revives a rare moment in Tamil Nadu history

>> When MGR became Chief Minister, ‘Meenava Nanban’ followed. Now, history repeats with Vijay’s ‘Jana Nayagan’

7) Before ‘Jana Nayagan’: when an 18-year-old Vijay walked the halls of Loyola College

>> Vijay’s maiden venture as a solo hero, ‘Naalaiya Theerpu’, was released in 1992. This was Vijay’s moment to shed his previous child-artiste image and carve a fresh path

8) Sundance winner ‘Nocturnes’ comes to Hyderabad schools via special screenings

>> Nearly 5,000 students in Hyderabad watch the acclaimed documentary as part of the nationwide Nocturnes Travelling Cinema project

9) Beyond the Northeast label: Why globally acclaimed filmmakers reject regional tags

>> From veteran auteurs to a new generation of directors, Northeast cinema has consistently found global audiences through stories grounded in the region’s realities

10) Malayalam actor Lenaa Kumar on her new book on menopause

>> The actor also talks about dealing with perimenopause and her desire to help women going through it

11) Photographer Atul Kasbekar’s ‘Honest’ portraits of actors

>> The exhibition titled ‘HONEST’, held recently in Mumbai, presented intimate black-and-white images of well-known character actors

What to watch

1) ‘Thalapathy’ Vijay bids adieu to cinema with ‘Jana Nayagan,’ an overstuffed crowd-pleaser

Read the full review here

2) Sri Gouri Priya is terrific,but ‘Chennai Love Story’ loses steam midway

Read the full review here

3) ‘Karavali’ is a race that stumbles before the finish line

Read the full review here

4) Adil Hussain’s ‘Max, Min and Meowzaki’ is a heartfelt drama about grief, dad issues and complex societal prejudices

Read the full review here

5) Kay Kay Menon struggles to score in this facile school of mess, ‘Adarsh Baal Vidyalaya’

Read the full review here

6) ‘Attack on Titan: The Last Attack’ is a colossal political epitaph for the children of war

Read the full review here

7) Octavia Spencer and Hannah Waddingham are charming in this buddy comedy ‘Ride or Die’

Read the full review here

8) ‘Heartstopper Forever’ is a tender, bittersweet farewell to a show unlike any other

Read the full review here

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT), on Thursday, formally handed over an indigenously developed 500 KLD decentralised Combined Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) for treating textile dyeing effluent and domestic wastewater to the Siripuram gram panchayat in Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district.

Developed with financial support from the Department of Science and Technology (DST), the facility demonstrates how indigenous scientific research and engineering innovation can be translated into practical and scalable solutions for environmental challenges faced by rural textile and handloom clusters, according to an official release.

The facility, earlier inaugurated by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology Jitendra Singh, is expected to benefit nearly 7,000 residents of Siripuram village, part of the renowned Pochampally Ikat handloom cluster, by improving environmental conditions and supporting sustainable livelihoods.

Scientists pointed out that textile dyeing activities generate coloured wastewater containing dyes, salts and organic contaminants. When discharged without adequate treatment, particularly after mixing with domestic wastewater, such effluents can adversely affect local drains, agricultural land, surface water bodies and groundwater resources.

To address this challenge, CSIR-IICT developed the decentralised treatment system specifically for rural and semi-urban textile clusters. The demonstration facility is intended to serve as a technological model that can be replicated and adapted in similar handloom and textile clusters across the country.

“The technology integrates hybrid biological treatment with bio-electrocatalytic processes. It is chemical-free, gravity-assisted and requires minimal maintenance, making it a replicable model for handloom and textile clusters across India,” said S. Venkata Mohan, who conceptualised, designed and implemented the project along with A. Kiran Kumar. Other contributors included Harishankar, Santosh, B. Ravikiran and T. Chandrasekhar.

Explaining the technology, Dr. Mohan said that the system combines multiple biological metabolic pathways with advanced bio-electrocatalytic processes to efficiently degrade complex textile dyes and organic pollutants while ensuring low energy consumption, minimal chemical dependency and water reuse.

Calling it a true “Lab to Loom” initiative, CSIR-IICT Director D. Srinivasa Reddy said that the project translates indigenous research into a practical and sustainable solution for the handloom sector. “We believe this model will contribute to water conservation, pollution prevention and sustainable rural development,” he said.

Nakrekal MLA Vemula Veeresham said that the facility would help protect local water resources, support the livelihoods of handloom artisans and also help showcase the village’s rich handloom heritage. Village Sarpanch Ambati Upendhra, District Panchayat Officer Srinivas Reddy, and other officials were present.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

An artificial intelligence (AI)-based autonomous electric vehicle and an AI reception robot, developed by students of the Institute of Engineering and Technology, Srinivas University, Mukka, were demonstrated on the campus on Thursday.

A release here said the retrofitted electric vehicle developed by the students integrates light detection and ranging (LiDAR), AI-based vision, GPS navigation and an AI assistant. The vehicle currently operates autonomously along a predefined route and includes a remote-controlled override facility for enhanced safety and operational flexibility. Research is currently under way to enable fully autonomous navigation in previously unmapped environments.

The self-driven autonomous vehicle has a six-seater capacity and has been modified to carry patients guided through an ambulance re-routing app. Equipped with a 5 kW lithium-ion battery with a 1.5-hour backup, the vehicle can travel 20 km on a single charge. The maximum speed in manual mode is about 28 kmph, while in autonomous mode it is 5 kmph.

Professor Vishwas C. Shetty was the guide, while research associate Vishak Mendon was the technical lead for the student team comprising Shreyas, Adwitiya, Ujjwal, Akshay, Manjunath, and Prakhyath.

AI receptionist robot

The students also demonstrated ‘SRINIBOT’ is an AI-powered reception robot developed for the university to modernise visitor engagement and enhance the overall campus experience. The robot serves as a smart digital receptionist capable of welcoming visitors, answering queries, providing university information, and assisting students, parents, faculty members, and guests through natural voice interaction. By integrating AI, computer vision and human-robot interaction technologies, SRINIBOT reflects the university’s commitment to innovation, research, and next-generation automation, the release said.

The robot has an 11.6-inch interactive touch display for information and user interaction. Face detection and face recognition are done using an integrated camera. Natural voice conversation enables intuitive human-robot interaction. Multilingual communication helps assist diverse visitors.

The project was guided by Akhil K.P. and coordinated and executed by research associates Niketh Jadav, Joyal Jose and Samarth Naganur.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

India has been among the first responders during Kenya’s public health emergencies.

India has delivered the first tranche of medical assistance to Kenya to strengthen the country’s preparedness and response to the Ebola virus and other infectious diseases, according to an official statement.

The first consignment, weighing 4.5 tonnes, was handed over by Indian High Commissioner Adarsh Swaika to Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Health Aden Duale at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi on Wednesday (July 22, 2026), the Indian High Commission said in the statement.

The initiative follows India’s supply of more than 45 tonnes of medical assistance to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in May and June to bolster the continent’s preparedness against Ebola.

India has been among the first responders during Kenya’s public health emergencies. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it supplied 1.12 million doses of made-in-India vaccines to Kenya under the Vaccine Maitri initiative, besides providing medicines and other medical assistance.

The recent shipment comprises 279 packages of essential medical supplies, including personal protective equipment (PPE) kits, sample transportation kits, infrared thermometers, face shields, heavy-duty protective boots and other infection-prevention materials, the High Commission said in the statement.

A second tranche of assistance will be delivered shortly, it said.

The assistance is aimed at strengthening Kenya’s long-term public health preparedness and response capacity by supporting disease surveillance, safe collection and transportation of samples, infection prevention and control, and the protection of frontline healthcare workers, it said.

The two countries have also expanded cooperation in the health sector through grant assistance for medical equipment, including a Bhabhatron radiotherapy machine for Kenyatta National Hospital and diagnostic equipment for the Kenya Navy Hospital in Mombasa.

According to the High Commission, over 10,000 Kenyans travel to India every year for medical treatment, while Indian pharmaceutical products account for more than half of Kenya’s pharmaceutical market.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday flagged off India’s first hydrogen-powered train from Haryana’s Jind, marking a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to introduce cleaner and more sustainable railway transport.

The hydrogen-powered train will operate on the 89-km Jind-Sonipat route under the Northern Railway, ushering in a new era of environmentally friendly rail travel. The service is expected to reduce carbon emissions while promoting the use of green energy in the transport sector.

The launch was met with enthusiasm in Jind, where residents described the occasion as a historic moment that has placed the district in the national spotlight.

Many locals expressed pride over Jind becoming the starting point for the country’s first hydrogen-powered train and welcomed the initiative as a major step forward for Indian Railways.

An elderly resident said the inauguration marked a proud day for both the district and the nation. He said the train would make travel more convenient, reduce journey time and provide affordable transportation for passengers.

Another resident, Captain Rathi, described the launch as a matter of great honour for Jind, saying the district had earned nationwide recognition through the introduction of the country’s first hydrogen-powered rail service.

Local resident Pala Ram echoed similar sentiments, saying the project had brought international attention to Jind and reflected the pace of infrastructure development under the current government.

Residents said the launch of the hydrogen-powered train was not only a technological achievement but also a source of pride for Haryana, with many expressing hope that similar eco-friendly transport initiatives would be introduced across the country in the future.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)