Madhya Pradesh Power Transmission Company (MP Transco) has successfully eliminated bird-related power failures in the Vindhya region by installing custom-designed bird guards and excreta preventers on high-voltage transmission towers. This initiative not only ensures uninterrupted electricity supply but also protects local wildlife, significantly reducing tripping incidents and promoting bird conservation.
At least four to five privately placed infrastructure investment trusts (Invits) are expected to transition to public listings by the end of the 2026-27 financial year, significantly increasing the number of publicly traded Invits to 12-14, according to N S Venkatesh, CEO of the Bharat Invits Association (BIA).
Tata Sons has the balance sheet to support them, for now.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has announced plans for a new Rs 1,200 crore Assembly-cum-Secretariat integrated complex in Chennai, moving the administration from the historic Fort St George. The modern facility will house all state government departments, addressing space constraints and aiming for efficient governance. Additionally, the CM unveiled plans for a Tamil Nadu Olympic City and a Motor Sports City to boost sports infrastructure and tourism.
A new study projects that by the end of the century, hot days could experience an additional four hours of extreme heat, with low and middle-income countries being disproportionately affected. The research highlights that traditional daily temperature metrics often overlook shorter, intense periods of heat, and hourly assessments are crucial for effective heat risk management and public health planning in a warming climate.
The death toll from devastating flash floods in Nepal has tragically risen to 903, with 4,247 people still reported missing, including security personnel and foreigners. India has dispatched an 18-member team of forensic experts to assist with DNA analysis and identification of victims.
India's UPI system continues its rapid growth, dominating retail payments. Recent amendments to the Payment and Settlement Systems Act allow for targeted Merchant Discount Rates (MDR) on high-value merchant transactions, aiming to create a self-sustaining revenue model for the ecosystem while keeping P2P and low-value payments free. This move could generate significant revenue and encourage ecosystem participation.
Arundhati Bhattacharyya, Salesforce President and CEO for South Asia, highlighted how cloud and AI are democratising capabilities, offering India a unique opportunity to leapfrog in the technology revolution. Speaking at the IMC Chamber of Commerce, she emphasised that AI will create more jobs by addressing unmet business demands and could significantly boost India's GDP, with NITI Aayog estimating a USD 500-600 billion addition by 2035. She urged Indian businesses to transform using technology, focus on data, redesign work, and invest in skills, stressing that AI is not just for large corporations.
In many ways, 17th century India occupied a position in the global economy comparable to that of the United States today. Just as millions of people now look towards America because of its economic opportunities, merchants, adventurers and trading companies once looked towards India.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is significantly increasing the demand for flexible office spaces in India, as enterprises prioritise agility, speed-to-market, and struggle with forecasting workforce requirements. AI-native startups are a primary driver, while established companies are adopting 'core-plus-flex' strategies to balance stability with adaptability.
BRICS leaders, in their New Delhi Declaration 2026, have called for wider access to Artificial Intelligence resources and stronger international cooperation to ensure the technology is safe, secure, inclusive, and reliable. The declaration outlines a broad technology agenda covering AI, cybersecurity, digital public infrastructure, telecom, quantum technologies, and advanced manufacturing, committing to implement the grouping's statement on 'Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence'.
One of the important topics of discussion between the two leaders is expected to be the Northern Sea Route and the Chennai-Vladivostok Maritime Corridor.
Top Indian javelin thrower Sachin Yadav has undergone elbow surgery, forcing him to miss the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest, despite being in a qualifying spot. He is currently undergoing rehabilitation and hopes to return next season.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has approved the establishment of India's first dedicated Quantum and AI University campus in Amaravati by NIELIT. This significant project, funded by the MeitY, Government of India, will focus on advanced technologies like Quantum, AI, and Semiconductors, integrating education, research, and entrepreneurship.
SCTIMST and Invasive Technologies have launched "Chitra Core," a new drug-eluting coronary stent designed with significantly less metal to reduce complications. This indigenous innovation, developed in collaboration, aims to provide advanced and cost-effective cardiac care, building on decades of Indian medical device development. The institute is also developing a unique TiN-coated stent for global markets.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced a complete ban on construction activities from December 10 to January 20 to combat severe winter air pollution. The government will use its AI-powered Dust Portal 2.0 and AI-enabled cameras to monitor construction sites over 500 square metres in real-time, issuing alerts and fines for violations. Citizens are encouraged to report non-compliance.
State-owned Coal India Ltd (CIL) and ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AMNS) have signed an MoU to explore setting up a coal gasification plant near AMNS's Paradip pellet plant in Odisha. This initiative aims to produce synthesis gas for cleaner steel production, reduce reliance on imported fuels, and align with India's goal of gasifying 100 million tonnes of coal by 2030, supported by a Rs 37,500-crore government incentive scheme.
Tamil Nadu's new government, led by C Joseph Vijay, is committed to advancing the ~38,000 crore shipbuilding project with HD Hyundai in Thoothukudi, securing bipartisan support from the Opposition DMK, despite initial industry concerns about policy continuity after the change in leadership.
OpenAI's chief scientist, Jakub Pachocki, has issued a stark warning about the accelerating pace of artificial intelligence, stating that "no one is prepared" for its rapid rise and potential consequences. He highlights concerns over autonomous AI agents taking unintended actions and calls for international coordination, voluntary slowdowns, and robust safety measures to ensure human control and alignment with human values as machine intelligence surpasses human capabilities.
Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal highlighted the critical need for India to diversify its services exports beyond the dominant IT/ITeS and professional services sectors. Speaking at the Global Fintech Fest 2026, he emphasised the vast potential in the global financial services market, where India currently holds a small share, and stressed how fintech solutions, like UPI, can drive growth, reduce remittance costs, and support MSME trade finance, ultimately leading to sustainable economic expansion.
The Maharashtra government has approved the deployment of sovereign artificial intelligence solutions from Sarvam AI for its departments, with a two-year outlay of Rs 11.26 crore. This initiative includes the Indus AI workspace for 2,500 users, ensuring government data remains within India, along with citizen outreach agents and speech models for the MahaAI platform.
Security agencies have uncovered a new operational tactic by terror groups and Pakistan's ISI, who are now using pornography websites and niche encrypted applications to communicate secretly and recruit in Jammu and Kashmir. These platforms, including Tor-based apps and privacy-focused messengers, help them evade surveillance, posing significant challenges for intelligence efforts.
Ladakh has inaugurated its first international-level artificial ice hockey rink, a state-of-the-art facility costing Rs 42 crore. Equipped with a 24x7 chilling system, it allows year-round training, overcoming the previous limitation of a short natural ice season. This development is expected to boost winter sports, nurture local talent, and promote sports tourism in the region.
India is set to launch Bharat Vecto, its first certification tool for assessing the fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions of medium and heavy commercial vehicles, by December, with a full launch targeted for the Bharat Mobility Global Expo in February 2027.
Indian banks anticipate a reduction of up to 50 basis points in their funding costs due to a surge in liquidity from robust Foreign Currency Non-Resident (Bank), or FCNR (B), flows, lessening their reliance on more expensive certificates of deposit (CDs).
Former Chief Economic Adviser Krishnamurthy V Subramanian outlines India's strategy to become a USD 55 trillion economy by 2047. The plan hinges on leveraging its young demographic in AI, dominating sunrise sectors like space and defence tech, attracting FDI, and achieving sustained 8% GDP growth.
A sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) posted in Punjab's Gurdaspur has been arrested in connection with the Rs 1.63 crore embezzlement of funds linked to land acquisition for a national highway project in 2018-2019.
Lodha Developers plans to generate approximately 10,000 crore in sales over the next three to four years by monetising about 150 acres of land at its data centre park in Palava, part of the Mumbai metropolitan region (MMR). This strategy is a planned recurring pillar of their business, funding the build-out of 1 gigawatt of powered shell capacity and aiming for over 2,000 crore in annual rental income by FY32.
If an OTT series can make a young person curious about the armed forces, make a family understand the sacrifices made by those in uniform, or simply make someone walk up to a veteran and say, "Thank you for your service," then it has achieved something far more important than merely getting its history right, notes Air Commodore Nitin Sathe (retd).
Hindutva influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj, known for provocative social media posts and claims of political proximity, has been detained in Bulandshahr. His detention follows a viral video where he boasted about assaulting a Jantar Mantar protester's father, leaving him with severe injuries, and claiming to have avoided jail due to political connections. Police acted after public outcry and protests.
Despite repeated demands over the years, the proposal to develop Khudiram Bose's cremation ground in Muzaffarpur into a martyr park has yet to see the light of day due to official apathy.
Nepal is grappling with one of its worst disasters in recent years as massive flash floods, triggered by an ice avalanche, have claimed 270 lives and left thousands missing across multiple districts, prompting urgent rescue and relief operations.
India's fresh investment plans in Q1FY27 surged 71 per cent to 14.77 trillion, primarily driven by four large nuclear power projects worth 6.5 trillion, according to investment monitoring firm Projects Today. Excluding these nuclear projects, fresh investment plans actually declined 4.27 per cent quarter-on-quarter.
Delhi golfer Kshitij Naveed Kaul secured a one-shot clubhouse lead with a four-under 66 in the second round of the Coal India Open at Tollygunge Club before heavy rain forced the suspension of play. Akshay Sharma is in second, with Om Prakash Chouhan and Saptak Talwar tied for third.
Pune police busted a party named 'Project X' in Tulapur village, booking over 70 individuals for drug and liquor violations. The raid led to the seizure of ganja, banned smoking products, and liquor worth Rs 85 lakh, with some attendees being underage.
Kit Harington replaces Nicholas Hoult as Gilderoy Lockhart in Season 2 of HBO's Harry Potter series.
'Ultimately, everything has to be shared. That's why you have that talent. To share it. Unless you share, it won't continue.'
Broadband technology firm GX Group is set to commence manufacturing operations at its advanced photonics facility in India from December, investing Rs 500 crore. This initiative aims to strengthen domestic manufacturing, create skilled jobs, and reduce dependence on imported optical components crucial for high-speed data networks and AI data centres.
World Cup-winning Spanish footballer Gerard Pique has become a strategic shareholder in the Global Chess League franchise American Gambits. Pique, known for his illustrious football career, expressed his long-standing fascination with chess and his ambition to elevate the sport's global appeal. The fourth edition of the Global Chess League, featuring top grandmasters, is scheduled for September 3-13.
NeoGeoInfo Technologies, a spatial intelligence solutions provider, has secured a Series A investment of approximately USD 20 million from Neev II Fund and Aavishkaar Capital. This funding will fuel the company's R&D, expand its international presence in the Middle East and Americas, and strengthen its team for complex projects.
