Author: News Desk

When India’s first privately built orbital rocket Vikram-1 launched successfully, millions watched the historic moment. But behind the mission was a team of engineers who worked for years on critical technologies that made the launch possible. One of them was Prithvi Sanghani, an engineer who helped develop the autopilot control system for Vikram-1. Coming from a farming family in Gujarat, her journey from a small-town background to India’s growing private space sector reflects the power of education, determination and persistence. From Gujarat Village to Aerospace Engineering Prithvi’s journey began in Jamnagar, Gujarat, where she grew up in a farming family. After completing her engineering degree in…

India’s first high-speed rail project, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train, is expected to start passenger services in phases from August 15, 2027. The project will bring Japan’s advanced Shinkansen technology to Indian Railways and drastically reduce travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad. 508 Km Corridor Connecting 12 Stations The bullet train corridor will cover 508 km across Maharashtra, Gujarat and Dadra & Nagar Haveli. The route will include 12 stations: First Phase to Begin on Independence Day The first phase of passenger operations is planned for August 15, 2027, coinciding with India’s Independence Day. Services will initially begin on a completed section of the route, with the full corridor…

The Indian Navy has commissioned INS Malvan, the second indigenously designed and built Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft, at Karwar. The commissioning ceremony was presided over by Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Chief of the Air Staff, in the presence of Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, along with senior naval officers, shipbuilders, veterans and other distinguished guests. Built by Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kochi, INS Malvan is the second of eight ASW-SWCs being constructed by the shipyard and the sixth of 16 such vessels to be commissioned into the Indian Navy. With over 80%…

Reliance Retail has launched AJIO Beauty, expanding its presence in India’s fast-growing beauty and personal care market. The new platform brings together skincare, makeup, haircare, fragrances, bath and body products, personal care and beauty accessories from over 1,500 brands, including Indian and global names. AJIO Beauty will offer nationwide delivery across more than 19,000 pin codes, while eligible customers in select cities will also have access to faster delivery through AJIO Rush. The launch brings together the strengths of AJIO and Tira, Reliance Retail’s omnichannel beauty platform. AJIO Beauty will use AJIO’s fashion-first digital reach and Tira’s beauty expertise to…

Alhind Tours & Travels will begin handling passport renewal, document attestation, and other consular services for Indian citizens in the UAE from Wednesday, July 22. The Kerala-based company secured the outsourcing contract in November 2025, but legal challenges delayed the start of operations. During the delay, Indian missions in Abu Dhabi and Dubai managed services directly, resulting in long queues and difficulties for applicants. With Alhind now taking charge, applicants will have to follow new procedures for accessing passport and consular services. How to Book Appointments Applicants can book appointments online through the official portal, consularsevainuae.com. Appointment slots will be released…

Adani Power has reported a strong performance for the first quarter of FY27, with consolidated net profit rising 47.24% year-on-year to ₹4,866.60 crore. The company attributed the growth to higher revenues, strong power demand, increased operating capacity and improved tariff realisation. Consolidated operating revenue rose 28.08% to ₹17,550.43 crore during the quarter, compared with ₹13,702.94 crore in the same period last year. Power sales under power purchase agreements increased 30.3% to 24.5 billion units, while tariff realisation rose 8.5% to ₹5.95 per kWh. Merchant and short-term realisation also improved 13.1% to ₹7.04 per kWh. Adani Power’s installed generation capacity increased…

What if essential supplies could reach places where roads cannot — and where helicopters are costly or difficult to deploy? That is the challenge Bhubaneswar-based deeptech startup BonV Aero is trying to solve with autonomous heavy-lift cargo drones. The company’s flagship platform, Air Orca, is designed to operate in extreme terrain and high-altitude environments. It has reportedly carried a 30 kg payload to more than 19,000 feet, where thin air and harsh weather make conventional drone operations significantly more challenging. BonV Aero’s drones are already being used for high-altitude logistics involving the Indian Army, helping deliver supplies to remote locations…

India is considering a major policy change that could allow airport operators to own and operate airlines. The move is reportedly being examined as the government looks to increase competition in India’s highly concentrated aviation market, which is currently dominated by a small number of major airline groups. If approved, the proposal could allow major airport operators such as Adani Airports and GMR Airports to enter the airline business, potentially creating new competition in the sector. The idea comes amid growing concerns over the impact of India’s airline duopoly on fares, capacity and passenger choice. Allowing airport operators to launch…

Former India cricket captain MS Dhoni has entered India’s clean-energy startup space with an investment in residential rooftop solar company SolarSquare. Dhoni has invested in the startup through his family office, Midas Deals, as part of SolarSquare’s recently announced $53 million Series C funding round. He will also join the company as its brand ambassador. The size of Dhoni’s investment has not been disclosed. Founded in 2015, SolarSquare provides end-to-end rooftop solar solutions, including consultation, installation, financing, monitoring and maintenance. The company says it has installed systems in more than 50,000 homes across 29 cities. SolarSquare plans to use the…

In 2018, when India’s private space sector was still largely closed to private companies, Mukesh Bansal made a risky ₹12 crore investment in Skyroot Aerospace. The Myntra and Cultfit founder became the startup’s sole angel investor at the time, backing former ISRO scientists Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka, who had founded Skyroot with the vision of building India’s first private orbital rocket. The bet came nearly two years before India officially opened the space sector to private players. Skyroot later went on to launch Vikram-S in 2022 and achieved a major breakthrough with Vikram-1’s historic orbital mission. The…