Author: News Desk
India has taken a major step towards expanding its nuclear energy capacity by inviting bids for the core construction package of the Mahi Banswara nuclear power project in Rajasthan. The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL) has invited bids for the nuclear island package of the 2.8 gigawatt project, with the contract estimated at around ₹28,000 crore. The tender has been issued by Anushakti Vidhyut Nigam Ltd., a joint venture between NPCIL and India’s largest power producer NTPC Ltd. The project will become India’s first nuclear power facility that is not fully owned by NPCIL, which currently operates the…
India has officially launched its first hydrogen-powered train, marking a major milestone in the country’s transition towards clean and sustainable transportation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the indigenously developed train on the Jind–Sonipat route in Haryana, making India one of the few countries to operate hydrogen-powered passenger rail services. Unlike conventional diesel trains, the new train uses hydrogen fuel cells that generate electricity through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. The only by-product of this process is water vapour, making the train a near-zero-emission mode of transport and an important step in reducing the carbon footprint of Indian…
Former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Raghuram Rajan has been appointed by the US Federal Reserve to a task force reviewing the central bank’s balance sheet policy as part of a broader effort to reshape monetary policymaking. Rajan is among several global experts selected by newly appointed US Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh for five review groups examining key areas of the central bank’s operations. The task forces will focus on communications, balance sheet policy, economic data, productivity and jobs, and the inflation framework. Warsh said the initiative aims to bring new perspectives and ensure that the Federal Reserve…
Malabar Gold & Diamonds has achieved a major milestone by becoming the first jewellery importer under the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), marking a significant moment for India’s jewellery export industry. The company’s inaugural jewellery consignment to the United Kingdom under the trade agreement was recognised by Periasamy Kumaran, High Commissioner of India to the UK, who presented a commemorative certificate to Mohammed Ziad, Head of UK & Europe Operations at Malabar Gold & Diamonds. The India-UK CETA, which came into force on July 15, 2026, is expected to provide duty-free access for nearly 99% of Indian exports…
Former ISRO Chairman Dr. S. Somanath has joined Chennai-based AgniKul Cosmos as a Board Observer, ahead of the startup’s Mission 02. While the appointment is a major boost for AgniKul, it has also reignited discussions about the growing migration of experienced scientists from ISRO to India’s private space companies. This trend has accelerated since the government opened the space sector to private participation. Industry experts say India’s space reforms have created exciting opportunities for startups, but they have also triggered concerns over a potential brain drain at ISRO. Senior scientists, launch vehicle experts, propulsion engineers, and mission specialists are increasingly…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate key sections of the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway to the nation, marking a major milestone in India’s road infrastructure expansion. The new expressway is expected to significantly reduce travel time between Delhi, Punjab and Jammu, while improving connectivity for passengers, pilgrims and businesses. The Prime Minister will inaugurate 157.92 km of the four-lane Greenfield expressway, covering Packages 1 to 5, built at an estimated cost of ₹9,680 crore. He will later inaugurate the 30.9 km Package 6 section in Jalandhar, Punjab. Part of the 667-km Delhi-Amritsar-Katra corridor, the expressway is expected to reduce the journey time…
The implementation of the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is expected to create new growth opportunities for Kerala’s exporters, with the state already beginning to utilise the benefits of the agreement from its first day. The first consignments from Kerala under the trade pact were dispatched immediately after the agreement came into force, marking a new phase for the state’s export sector. Kerala’s food processing industry is expected to be among the biggest beneficiaries of the agreement. With a large Malayali diaspora living in the United Kingdom, demand for Kerala’s food products is likely to receive a boost.…
A declaration of independence may create headlines, but it does not automatically transform a region into a recognised country. Recent claims by groups calling themselves the “Republic of Balochistan” have renewed attention on Pakistan’s largest province and its long-running separatist movement. However, becoming a sovereign nation requires far more than announcing independence. Balochistan’s path to statehood would depend on a combination of international law, effective governance, territorial control and recognition from other countries. Pakistan continues to consider Balochistan an integral part of its territory and has rejected separatist demands. Legal requirements for becoming a country International discussions on statehood often…
The Centre is redesigning its semiconductor support strategy under the newly approved Semicon 2.0 programme, shifting from one-time grants to a model based on milestone-linked funding and equity investments in semiconductor startups. Approved with an outlay of ₹1.27 lakh crore, Semicon 2.0 expands India’s semiconductor mission beyond fabrication and assembly, with a stronger focus on building a sustainable domestic chip ecosystem. India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) CEO Amitesh Kumar Sinha said the new approach recognises the unique capital needs of semiconductor companies, which require significant long-term investment well beyond the chip design stage. Unlike software startups, semiconductor firms need substantial funding…
The Delhi High Court has set aside the Indian government’s decision to award the contract for passport, visa and consular services in the United Arab Emirates to Alhind Tours & Travels, creating fresh uncertainty over the transition of services for millions of Indian expatriates. The decision comes after legal challenges from unsuccessful bidders delayed the planned handover from existing service providers BLS International and SGIVS Global. The transition was originally scheduled to begin on July 1 but was put on hold after the Supreme Court directed that the status quo be maintained until the Delhi High Court completed its review…