# Recognition under the MIONP platform highlights his contribution to sustainable agriculture, soil health, and chemical-free farming practices across India Rahul Sharma, Founder of 5S Farm, has been conferred with the “Natural Farming Icon – 2026” award under the Farms category at the Crop Icon Awards 2026. The recognition acknowledges his contribution to advancing sustainable and natural farming practices in India. The award, presented under the MIONP (Make India Organic, Natural & Profitable) platform, honours individuals driving meaningful change in organic and eco-friendly agriculture. Rahul Sharma’s work has focused on…

In a pioneering sustainability milestone, a coaching depot in Ahmedabad has become India’s first water-neutral railway facility by using plant-based systems to recycle and reuse water.   The Kankaria Coaching Depot has achieved this feat through a natural treatment process that relies on specially designed green zones where plants purify wastewater. The system, inspired by ecological filtration methods, treats water generated from train washing and other depot operations, making it fit for reuse.   Officials said the depot now recycles nearly all of its wastewater, drastically reducing dependence on fresh…

In a significant advance in solar physics, scientists have observed simultaneous oscillations in solar filaments, shedding new light on the properties and dynamics of these massive structures on the Sun.   Solar filaments—vast, thread-like clouds of cooler plasma suspended above the Sun’s surface—are held in place by complex magnetic fields. Using high-resolution observations, researchers detected synchronized oscillations occurring across different parts of the same filament, a phenomenon that could help decode their internal structure.   The study reveals that these coordinated movements are likely governed by the Sun’s magnetic field,…

Astronomers have uncovered fresh evidence suggesting that even the universe’s smallest galaxies—known as dwarf galaxies—could host black holes, challenging long-held assumptions about where these enigmatic objects can exist.   Dwarf galaxies, which are faint, low-mass systems often orbiting larger galaxies like the Milky Way, were traditionally considered unlikely candidates for housing black holes due to their limited size and matter. However, new research indicates that these galaxies may contain intermediate-mass black holes, bridging the gap between smaller stellar black holes and the supermassive ones found at the centers of large…

In a landmark move for India’s tech ambitions, the government has officially notified the country’s first semiconductor chip fabrication plant at the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Dholera, Gujarat. The Centre has formally notified a 66.16-hectare Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Dholera for setting up India’s first semiconductor fabrication plant, to be developed by Tata Semiconductor Manufacturing Pvt Ltd.   The project, involving an investment of around ₹91,000 crore, marks a major step in India’s push to build a domestic semiconductor ecosystem and reduce dependence on imports. The facility will…

India’s largest life insurer, Life Insurance Corporation of India, has rolled out two new mobile applications—’MyLIC’ and ‘Super Sales Saathi’—aimed at enhancing customer experience and strengthening digital accessibility. The ‘MyLIC’ app is designed for policyholders, offering a range of services such as policy tracking, premium payments, and access to policy-related information on a single platform. The move is expected to reduce dependence on physical branches and streamline routine transactions for users.   Meanwhile, the ‘Super Sales Saathi’ app is targeted at LIC’s sales force and agents. It seeks to improve…