Apple has removed the offline messaging app Bitchat from its India App Store following a demand from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). Developed by Jack Dorsey, Bitchat faced scrutiny under Section 69(A) of the IT Act, 2000, due to concerns about its potential misuse by anti-national elements and for evading lawful surveillance, especially during public disorder. This marks the second time the app has faced government action in India.
The Indian government has ordered the removal of Jack Dorsey's Bitchat app from app stores, citing law-and-order concerns due to its ability to bypass communication restrictions. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) issued the takedown demand under Section 69(A) of the IT Act, 2000. The government also addressed the issue of banning minors from social media, indicating a search for a better solution than outright bans.
Twenty individuals were arrested in Lonavala, Maharashtra, for operating an illegal call centre that defrauded foreign nationals. The accused impersonated representatives of companies like Amazon and Google, threatening victims with fake drug cases to extract banking details and money.
Maharashtra Cyber has arrested Phannendra Balkrishna Pamarti, a 34-year-old Bengaluru resident, for allegedly stalking and harassing a female stand-up comedian through multiple Instagram accounts. The comedian had lodged a complaint about persistent online harassment, leading to an FIR under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and IT Act sections. Investigators used cyber-forensic tools to trace and arrest the accused.
Researchers at IIT Delhi have successfully demonstrated the simultaneous transmission of quantum-entangled photons and classical data over a 50-km optical fibre link. This breakthrough addresses key challenges in integrating fragile quantum signals with existing telecommunications infrastructure, paving the way for more scalable and secure future quantum networks.
Blue Machines AI has launched Floe, a context-aware language detection model designed for AI agents. Floe distinguishes between code-mixing and genuine language switches in multimodal interactions, supporting over 10 Indic languages with ultra-low latency. It aims to improve enterprise AI conversations by understanding user intent in multilingual settings.
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.
Goa has successfully completed its first pilot drone-skilling workshop for 12 women and plans to train 100 women annually under the Goa Drone Didi Training Scheme. This initiative aims to promote drone technology, rural livelihoods, and women-led entrepreneurship, aligning with the Centre's Namo Drone Didi programme.
The Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Branch has arrested two men from Rajasthan for allegedly defrauding people of Rs 8 lakh by selling fake garba event passes during Navratri. The accused used Instagram, forged email IDs, WhatsApp, and AI tools like ChatGPT to create authentic-looking tickets and promotional material, targeting around 40,000 people. They sold 686 bogus passes for various high-end events before being apprehended based on a complaint from a garba organiser.
Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, stated that Starlink's services in India must be affordable for widespread adoption and that competition would benefit consumers, despite potentially reducing Reliance Jio's profits. He criticised Reliance Jio as a 'de facto monopoly' in India, alleging that certain business conglomerates were blocking Starlink's entry.
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay has released 'anti-discrimination guidelines' advising students, faculty, and staff against inquiring about birth, admission category, or entrance exam ranks to prevent bias. This move follows the suicide of student Sahil Wakode, whose parents alleged caste discrimination. The guidelines also prohibit hateful messages and aim to foster inclusivity on campus.
ideaForge Technology has received an order from the Survey of India for its Q6 V2 unmanned aerial vehicles. These advanced, DFCA-certified drones will enhance the Survey of India's ability to collect high-quality aerial and geospatial data for surveying and mapping across diverse terrains, offering efficient and rapid deployment for large-scale projects.
rediffGURU Dr Nagarajan JSK, a career counsellor with nearly 34 years of experience in teaching, research and career guidance, answers students' questions about engineering and dental admissions, counselling rounds, college preferences and admission prospects.
The Trinamool Congress has lost the chairpersonship of two significant Parliamentary panels following a reconstitution by Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. This development comes after a split in the TMC, with rebel MPs joining the Nationalist Citizen Party and supporting the NDA. The TMC has strongly criticised the move, alleging that Parliament is being turned into a 'deep, dark chamber' due to their exclusion from committee leadership.
Flash floods in Tibet's Gyirong County, near the China-Nepal border, have resulted in five deaths and 558 missing individuals, including 260 foreign nationals. The disaster also caused significant casualties in Nepal and disrupted infrastructure. Rescue operations are underway, and concerns are rising over a newly formed barrier lake that poses a risk of further flooding.
Devastating flash floods near the Tibet-Nepal border have led to the evacuation of over 1,000 people, including tourists, from Gyirong County. The floods caused casualties in both Tibet and Nepal, disrupted infrastructure, and prompted a Level-IV alert due to a rapidly forming barrier lake with a high risk of breaching and causing further downstream flooding.
Assam Police have arrested a cyber fraudster suspected of involvement in multi-state digital crimes. The arrest was made by the Crime Investigation Department's Cyber Police Station, and the suspect is believed to have operated a highly active mule account.
IIT Guwahati researchers have developed SH²RFSSM, a model inspired by how biological neurons communicate.
Cathy Li, Head of the Centre for AI Excellence at the World Economic Forum, advocates for integrating AI literacy into India's education curriculum and incentivising AI companies to prioritise child safety. She stresses the need for localised solutions that account for India's linguistic and cultural diversity, as well as varying levels of connectivity and digital literacy, to ensure AI systems are safe and beneficial for children.
The Haldwani forest division has launched India's first AI-based forest acoustic surveillance system. This innovative technology uses AI, acoustic sensors, and long-range wireless communication to detect illegal logging, poaching, and other suspicious activities in real-time, even in remote areas. Powered by solar energy, the system provides continuous monitoring, significantly enhancing forest protection, wildlife conservation, and biodiversity monitoring efforts.
The political confidence required to place high-end Japanese aircraft and personnel on Indian soil is itself a data point.
It indicates a level of trust that would have been difficult to imagine when India-Japan defence ties were largely symbolic, explains Varun Arya.
TRAI Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti has called for robust safeguards, human oversight, and intervention capabilities as Artificial Intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into telecom networks. While acknowledging AI's potential to transform network management and threat detection, Lahoti stressed the need for responsible AI deployment, risk assessments, and clear accountability to ensure consumer trust and prevent misuse, especially in combating online fraud.
Apple has officially launched its Apple Pay service in India, initially partnering with Axis Bank for Visa and Mastercard credit card users. The service allows secure, cashless transactions via iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch using NFC technology, without requiring PINs or OTPs. This move is set to intensify competition in India's digital payments market, currently dominated by UPI and local players, with Apple planning to onboard more banks and expand merchant networks.
Quantum computing is set to redefine artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and scientific discovery, promising unprecedented speeds and capabilities while also necessitating urgent development of quantum-safe security measures and strategic enterprise readiness, says Sunil Varghese.
Industry leaders at an AIMA panel discussion emphasised the need for businesses to quickly adapt to changing market conditions and invest in technologies like artificial intelligence to build resilience and achieve long-term growth. They highlighted the current era of uncertainty driven by geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, and rapid regulatory changes, stressing that tactical responses are as crucial as long-term strategy.
Researchers from IIT Bhubaneswar and Virginia Commonwealth University have theoretically predicted a new two-dimensional material, a FeCl3 monolayer, exhibiting i-wave altermagnetism. This discovery holds significant potential for developing faster, more compact, and energy-efficient electronic devices, including applications in high-density memory, spintronics, and quantum technologies.
India has attracted foreign direct investment (FDI) worth approximately 4,896 crore across 29 projects since May, following the government's relaxation of norms under Press Note 2 of 2026. The revised rules permit investment without government approval from entities with up to 10 per cent non-controlling ownership by land-bordering countries.
rediffGURU Nagarajan JSK, a career counsellor with over 30 years of experience, addressed readers' queries and offered practical advice on how to make the right decision.
The parents of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode, who died by suicide, spent eight hours at the Mumbai Crime Branch office, while Union Minister Ramdas Athawale visited IIT Bombay, seeking a thorough investigation into the death and alleging potential caste discrimination.
Researchers have successfully demonstrated the transmission of quantum information over commercial fibre-optic infrastructure, a significant step towards building practical quantum networks. This breakthrough addresses the challenge of cost and maintaining fragile entangled states outside laboratory settings.
Sikkim has identified 40 high-hazard glacial lakes, with 16 at the highest risk of catastrophic outbursts. Following a devastating GLOF in 2023, the state is developing India's first dedicated GLOF Risk Mitigation Protocol, using advanced monitoring and interdisciplinary approaches to protect downstream settlements and serve as a model for other Himalayan regions.
'Every period of excessive optimism eventually gives way to a correction, while periods of extreme pessimism often create the best investment opportunities.'
Prof Ajit Kumar Chaturvedi, Vice-Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University, highlighted Artificial Intelligence's transformative potential in healthcare, emphasising its role in augmenting doctors' capabilities and enhancing efficiency. Speaking at PGIMER's Foundation Day, he stressed the need for India to develop AI solutions tailored to its unique healthcare realities, moving beyond being a mere consumer of Western-trained systems. PGIMER Director Vivek Lal also detailed the institute's expansion and commitment to affordable healthcare.
Professor Subha Shankar Sarkar has resigned as the head of a five-member committee investigating alleged ABVP vandalism at Jadavpur University, citing his inability to conduct an effective inquiry, prompting the university to seek a new chairperson.
The United States and the European Union have strongly criticised India's trade policies at the World Trade Organization review, highlighting concerns over high tariffs, quality-control orders (QCOs), and restrictions on digital trade and services, which they argue undermine India's economic openness.
A 57-year-old man from Thane district was defrauded of Rs 9.08 lakh by cyber criminals who used a malicious link disguised as a Mahanagar Gas bill payment update, gaining remote access to his device and siphoning funds.
This is one of the coldest temperatures achieved in a research facility in India with more than 80 per cent domestically sourced components.
India Post is reinventing itself from a traditional mail service into a modern logistics, e-commerce, and real estate powerhouse. Several post offices situated inside major university campuses, called Gen Z post offices, have received a facelift, with cafe-like decor and wi-fi availability.
The Sikkim home department has filed an FIR to investigate the creation and circulation of a forged document falsely attributed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, which claimed a merger of Sikkim and Darjeeling.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu marked World Telecommunication and Information Society Day by emphasising the state's growing quantum technologies ecosystem and the importance of secure digital infrastructure.
