Month: June 2025

In a groundbreaking study, researchers at the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST), Guwahati, have discovered that several poisonous plants native to Northeast India may hold the key to developing new therapeutic drugs.   The study, titled “The Hidden Healers in Poisonous Plants”, led by Prof. Ashis K. Mukherjee and Bhagya Lakhmi Rajbongshi, identified 70 plant species traditionally considered toxic but used in folk, Ayurvedic, and homeopathic medicine to treat various ailments. The research was recently published in the reputed journal Toxicon: X.   The research highlights…

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The Indian Navy marked a significant milestone in its drive toward maritime self-reliance with the formal commissioning of INS Arnala, the first of the Arnala-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC), in a ceremony held at the Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam.   The ship was commissioned in the august presence of General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), along with senior naval officers and dignitaries from the defence and shipbuilding sectors.   INS Arnala has been built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, under the Make in…

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In a proud moment for Indian animation, “Desi Oon”, a 7‑minute stop‑motion short by Studio Eeksaurus, secured the prestigious Jury Award for Best Commissioned Film at the Annecy International Animation Festival 2025, the world’s foremost animation showcase.   Directed by acclaimed animator Suresh Eriyat and brought to life using actual Deccani wool, the film weaves a poignant narrative around the plight of India’s indigenous wool industry, shepherded by the beloved Deccani sheep. Studio Eeksaurus spent over a year in the field, closely collaborating with the Centre for Pastoralism, shepherds, and…

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The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, has signed a Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) and the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT).   The agreement aims to foster inclusive, equitable, and quality education for children and youth with disabilities, in line with the provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016 and the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.   DEPwD will provide policy support, funding, and…

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Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, alongside Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, today inaugurated India’s largest automobile Gati Shakti multi‑modal cargo terminal on Maruti Suzuki’s Manesar plant premises—marking a significant milestone for green logistics under the PM GatiShakti initiative. This sprawling 46‑acre hub is part of the first phase of the Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor (HORC), featuring a 6.9 km rail link to Northern Railway’s Patli station and onward access to the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor. Equipped with four loading tracks and an engine escape line totaling 8.2 km, it can handle…

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In a major breakthrough in cancer treatment, a team of Indian scientists has developed a novel nanotechnology-based method to kill cancer cells using heat. The technique uses specially designed gold nano-cups—microscopic hollow particles—that can be injected into the body and activated by laser light to precisely burn tumor cells.  This approach, known as photothermal therapy, provides a highly targeted way to treat cancer, avoiding the harsh side effects of chemotherapy or radiation.  “Our method simplifies the synthesis of these nano-cups, making the treatment more accessible and cost-effective,” said Dr. Richa…

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In a groundbreaking discovery that sheds new light on India’s ancient ecology, scientists have unearthed fossilized leaves in Assam’s Makum Coalfield that date back an astonishing 24 million years. The fossils, found in the Tirap colliery, belong to two previously unknown species of the tree genus Nothopegia—plants that today grow only in the Western Ghats. The newly identified species, named Nothopegia oligotravancorica and Nothopegia oligocastaneifolia, are evidence of an ancient, dense evergreen forest that once stretched from northeast India to the southern Western Ghats—a tropical “green corridor” long lost to…

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The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and IIT Delhi have successfully demonstrated quantum entanglement-based free-space quantum secure communication over a distance exceeding 1 km, marking a significant milestone in India’s quest for ultra-secure communication technologies.  The demonstration involved the use of quantum entangled photon pairs transmitted through free space, enabling hack-proof data transmission—a vital capability for defence and strategic communications.  This achievement is part of India’s broader effort to develop quantum technologies for secure military networks, under the National Quantum Mission and DRDO’s advanced R&D initiatives.  Experts view the…

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