Veteran physicist Professor Umesh V Waghmare has been appointed as the Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology. Currently a professor at JNCASR, Bengaluru, his appointment was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. He succeeds Professor Abhay Karandikar and brings a distinguished academic background from IIT-Bombay, Yale, and Harvard to the role.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for staging a protest outside the Prime Minister's residence regarding the NEET paper-leak issue. Pradhan accused Gandhi of using students as "political tools" to disrupt Parliament, while asserting the government's commitment to discussing NEET concerns in the House. The incident involved Gandhi and other opposition leaders being detained after refusing to end their sit-in.
Despite a subdued atmosphere in Glasgow ahead of the Commonwealth Games, with limited public buzz, preparations are underway, and athletes are arriving. Meanwhile, Sri Lankan javelin thrower Rumesh Tharanga, fresh off a Diamond League win, is a strong contender for gold, offering a significant medal hope for his nation.
The Indian education ministry has undergone a significant reshuffle of top officials, including the removal of higher education secretary Vineet Joshi, amidst widespread controversies surrounding NEET-UG paper leaks and CBSE digital evaluation glitches, with the opposition demanding the resignation of Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The CEO of the National Health Authority, Sunil Kumar Barnwal, highlighted BRICS nations' shared aspiration for connected, patient-centric, and resilient healthcare systems through digital health infrastructure and responsible AI. Discussions at the 16th BRICS Health Ministers' meeting focused on overcoming challenges like limited interoperability and workforce constraints, with countries like Brazil and Indonesia sharing successful digital health initiatives.
The Nirmohi Akhara has approached the Supreme Court, seeking a directive to the Centre to reconstitute the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Theerth Kshetra Trust as a 'public trust' and include structural safeguards for oversight by seers, citing alleged large-scale embezzlement of donations.
India's Rishikanta Singh secured a silver medal in the men's 60kg weightlifting at the Commonwealth Games, despite matching the Games record in snatch, due to two failed attempts in the clean and jerk, which allowed Malaysia's Mohamad Aniq Kasdan to win gold.
A new report suggests China's maritime vulnerability lies in the Strait of Hormuz, not Malacca, creating strategic competition in the Indian Ocean.
Himachal Pradesh is on high alert with schools and colleges shut in several districts as heavy rainfall triggers landslides, flash floods, and road closures, prompting authorities to issue warnings and activate emergency centres.
Over half of the employees engaged in counting donations at the Ram temple have resigned amid the ongoing investigation into the alleged embezzlement of offerings, reducing the strength of counting personnel to just around a dozen, sources said on Friday.
Popular educator Faisal Khan, widely known as 'Khan Sir', has received a significant interim relief as a Patna court stayed his arrest in a case involving alleged firing by his guards following the vandalism of his coaching institute.
A lesson for India is to clearly define objectives beforehand, so that the adversary or other parties do not attempt to mitigate them midway.
Mobile payments pioneer Paytm reported significant growth in its UPI payments business for Q1 FY27, driven by app simplification, AI investments, and a focus on attracting Gen Z customers. The company saw a 45% year-on-year increase in Consumer UPI Gross Transaction Value and a rise of 60 lakh in Monthly Transacting Users, outpacing the industry. Paytm's strategy prioritises customer retention and product innovation, leading to a profitable quarter with strong revenue and EBITDA growth, further supported by AI-led operational efficiencies and an India-focused language model.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk has stated he will end his indefinite hunger strike if the Centre provides an unequivocal assurance that no punitive or retaliatory action will be taken against students and youth who participated in protests against alleged examination irregularities.
The Ayodhya Development Authority has issued a notice to the wife of a Ram temple donation theft accused for alleged unauthorised construction, as police intensify their investigation into the embezzlement case. Recoveries of cash, gold, silver, and a "Ramrajya Kosh" donation box have been made, and eight people have been arrested.
Chinese President Xi Jinping called for global collaboration in artificial intelligence development, emphasising a "symphony of global collaboration" over a "solo performance" by any single nation. Speaking at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, Xi highlighted the need for ethical AI governance, shared prosperity, and addressing challenges like the widening digital divide. He also announced China's commitment to support developing countries with 5,000 AI research projects and training programmes. The event also saw 29 countries sign an agreement to establish the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation (WAICO) in Shanghai.
IIT Madras, in partnership with Herbalife International India, has inaugurated India's first Centre of Excellence for plant cell fermentation technology. This new facility aims to be a national hub for sustainable innovation, research, and development, focusing on producing herbal biomass, enriched extracts, and high-value phytochemicals, while bridging the gap between lab research and industrial applications.
Born in African refugee camps and raised in Australia, Mohamed Toure, Nestory Irankunda and Awer Mabil are carrying the Socceroos' World Cup hopes while showcasing the nation's increasingly diverse football identity.
Scientists have detected erythrulose, a sugar found on Earth, in the interstellar medium, marking the first direct discovery of sugar in space. This finding, published in Nature Astronomy, suggests that complex, biologically important molecules can form in space and may have contributed to the chemical ingredients necessary for early metabolic and replication processes on Earth, offering new insights into the origins of life.
'The market is currently neither cheap enough to be exciting about nor expensive enough to worry about.'
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta has argued that video-recording of the ongoing CJP-led protest against the NEET paper leak at Jantar Mantar is in 'legitimate state interest' for security reasons, while petitioners allege 'continuous, indiscriminate and intrusive surveillance'.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced a significant waiver of approximately Rs 48,000 crore in pending electricity dues for farmers, aiming to facilitate new agricultural power connections and support the state's agricultural sector.
Gujarat has reported 35 rain-related deaths in the past two days, primarily in the worst-affected districts of Valsad and Navsari, as floodwaters recede and authorities initiate damage assessment surveys and post-flood cleanliness drives.
'The government has to act as one unit since the threat from these newer models will soon scale up.'
Assam's flood situation continues to worsen, affecting 46,000 people across six districts, with Dhemaji being the most severely impacted. The first flood-related fatality has been reported, and major rivers are flowing above danger levels, causing extensive damage to infrastructure and submerging vast areas of cropland.
India bowling coach Sunil Joshi revealed that a minor adjustment in leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi's run-up was crucial in helping him regain his rhythm against Zimbabwe, following a challenging performance against England.
US-Indian space company Pixxel has partnered with Bengaluru-based artificial intelligence firm Sarvam to build an orbital data centre satellite.
India's IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has directed officials to summon Meta regarding Instagram ads promoting child sexual abuse material, following a BBC investigation. This action comes shortly after the government also questioned Meta about WhatsApp's planned username feature, citing concerns over increased online fraud and cybercrimes.
Indian selectors face a selection dilemma for the upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka, with Washington Sundar unlikely to be fit for the first Test, while senior all-rounder Hardik Pandya is set to return to white-ball cricket from August after recovering from injury.
A central government committee has upheld the ban on the Diljit Dosanjh-starrer film Satluj, citing concerns over India's sovereignty and integrity, sparking political debate in Punjab.
Indian boxer Sachin Siwach advanced to the pre-quarterfinals in the men's 60kg class, while the women's lawn bowls pair of Rupa Rani Tirkey and Pinki Singh secured their third consecutive victory at the Commonwealth Games. Despite some disappointments in swimming and wheelchair basketball, India is looking forward to potential medals, with Olympic silver medallist Mirabai Chanu expected to retain her weightlifting crown.
Former India captain Gouramangi Singh offers his expert analysis on the upcoming FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain. He highlights Spain's aggressive pressing game and defensive transitions against Argentina's champion's mentality and composure, predicting the match will be decided by small margins. Singh also discusses the individual strengths of both teams and downplays the Messi vs. Yamal narrative.
Aam Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal has strongly criticised the Central government's crackdown on Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protesters, comparing the police brutality to that of the British Raj. He announced the launch of a helpline to provide medical and legal aid to injured protesters and their families.
A delegation from the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) met Union Health Minister JP Nadda in New Delhi amidst widespread protests demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination irregularities. Nadda assured the CJP representatives that he would hold internal discussions and requested time to address their demands, which include the minister's resignation, compensation for NEET aspirants, and the release of Sonam Wangchuk. Protesters, facing police action, continued their march towards Parliament.
Chief Economic Adviser V Anantha Nageswaran has urged the industry to invest in skilling, capability development, and innovation to counter the challenges posed by artificial intelligence, particularly for Global Capability Centres (GCCs). He noted that while the government has supported GCCs through Budget measures like simplifying transfer pricing and promoting expansion into tier-II/III cities, industry must move beyond low-cost execution to thrive in an an AI-driven landscape. Nageswaran emphasised that AI displaces routine tasks, necessitating a focus on higher-value work and continuous skill enhancement to maintain India's competitive edge.
India has actively engaged in cultural diplomacy over the past 12 years, providing grant assistance and expertise for the restoration and conservation of significant heritage sites, including temples and archaeological complexes, across multiple Asian countries, reinforcing shared civilisational ties.
The bill was passed by both houses of the state legislature during the winter session in Belagavi that concluded on December 19 last year, despite strong opposition from the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Janata Dal-Secular.
Rockwell Automation's CEO Blake Moret highlights India as the centrepiece of the company's Asian growth strategy, detailing its four-decade presence, significant employee base, and support for the 'Make in India' initiative. The company sees major opportunities in pharmaceuticals, automotive, food and beverage, and consumer products, with AI playing a crucial role in simplifying industrial automation and boosting productivity for Indian manufacturers, including MSMEs.
The political drama 'Article 370' was the biggest winner at the 72nd National Film Awards, securing the best feature film honour, with its lead star Yami Gautam named best actress. Mammootty and Kartik Aaryan shared the best actor award for 'Bramayugam' and 'Chandu Champion' respectively.
Indian IT service providers face heightened competition from AI-native firms in the next three years, potentially eroding their revenue base unless they remain competitive and protect recurring businesses, according to a report by S&P Global Ratings.
