The Indian Navy has commissioned INS Anjadip, the fourth indigenously designed and built Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC). Constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), the 77-metre vessel is specifically engineered to detect and neutralize enemy submarines in littoral or coastal waters. Equipped with advanced sonar systems, lightweight torpedoes, and anti-submarine rockets, the ship reflects India's growing 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' capabilities in naval design. Beyond combat, it is equipped for coastal surveillance, search and rescue, and low-intensity maritime operations.
- INS Anjadip is the fourth vessel in a series of eight ASW SWC ships built indigenously by GRSE, Kolkata.
- The ship is designed for the 'littoral combat environment,' focusing on shallow-water submarine threats.
- It features modern combat management systems, shallow-water sonars, and lightweight torpedoes for precision strikes.
The Supreme Court is hearing a petition challenging the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act of 2025. The petition argues that the Act allows private and foreign companies to operate nuclear plants while capping their liability at an 'absurdly low' level of ₹3,000 crore and exempting suppliers from accountability. Chief Justice Surya Kant noted that while nuclear power is essential for India's energy security, a balance must be struck between national interest and the potential for catastrophic loss, similar to the Chernobyl or Fukushima accidents.
- The SHANTI Act 2025 facilitates private and foreign sector participation in India's nuclear energy production.
- Critics argue the ₹3,000 crore liability cap for operators is insufficient compared to the potential damage of nuclear accidents.
- The Act's exemption of suppliers from liability is challenged on the grounds that it may lead to compromised safety standards.
India is repositioning critical minerals as a core pillar of its industrial and energy security. The 2026 Budget reflects this shift by removing import duties on capital goods for processing and reducing duties on monazite sands. The government has launched the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) with a ₹16,300 crore outlay to discover and process 30 identified minerals. To de-risk exploration, India is adopting an AI-first approach and leveraging international partnerships with the US, UK, and Australia. The goal is to build a domestic ecosystem for batteries, solar modules, and electric vehicles while ensuring technological sovereignty in a turbulent global market.
- The National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) targets 1,200 exploration projects by FY2031 to secure mineral supply chains.
- India has identified 30 critical minerals, including lithium and beryllium, which were previously classified as restricted atomic minerals.
- The strategy emphasizes 'AI-first' exploration, utilizing seismic AI tools like Mission Anveshan for hydrocarbon and mineral discovery.
The article discusses the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) recent decision to release a technical report regarding the NVS-02 satellite's failure to reach orbit in January 2025. While the transparency is welcomed, the author argues that ISRO has become increasingly opaque following back-to-back failures of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles (PSLV) in 2025. The failure of the NVS-02 was attributed to a signal failure in the engine's oxidizer line. The article emphasizes that for a public institution, maintaining transparency is crucial for reinforcing public confidence and ensuring accountability in manufacturing and assembly processes, rather than retreating into a shell of secrecy.
- The NVS-02 satellite failed to reach its intended orbit on January 29, 2025, due to a faulty electrical connector in the engine's oxidizer line.
- ISRO successfully implemented lessons from this failure in the November 2025 LVM-3 M5 mission which launched GSAT-7R.
- The article criticizes ISRO's recent tendency to withhold 'Failure Analysis' reports, which were previously a routine practice for the organization.
Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) refers to technologies that capture CO2 emissions and convert them into valuable products like fuels and chemicals. Unlike Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), which stores CO2 underground, CCU promotes a circular economy. This technology is essential for 'hard-to-abate' sectors like steel and cement. India, the world's third-largest CO2 emitter, has developed a draft 2030 roadmap for CCUS. However, high costs, energy intensity, and the lack of infrastructure remain significant hurdles. International strategies, such as the EU Bioeconomy Strategy, also support CCU as a pathway to sustainability.
- CCU converts captured CO2 into inputs for fuels, chemicals, building materials, or polymers.
- The technology is vital for decarbonizing carbon-intensive sectors that are difficult to transition to renewables.
- India's 2070 net-zero target and circular economy goals are supported by the adoption of CCU.
An apex committee investigating the failure of ISRO's NVS-02 satellite concluded that a loose electrical connection prevented it from reaching the intended orbit. The signal to activate a key valve in the engine's oxidiser line failed to reach its destination, preventing the necessary orbit-raising maneuvers. NVS-02 was part of the NavIC constellation, intended to enhance India's regional navigation capabilities. Despite this, ISRO successfully launched the CMS-03 (GSAT-7R) communication satellite, which is vital for the Indian Navy's maritime domain awareness and space-based communications. The committee recommended systemic improvements for future GSLV and PSLV missions.
- The NVS-02 satellite failed to transition from an elliptical transfer orbit due to a faulty electrical connector.
- NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) is India's indigenous regional satellite navigation system.
- The CMS-03 (GSAT-7R) is a heavy communication satellite weighing 4,400 kg designed for naval security.
India has introduced a nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program for girls aged 14 to combat the high incidence of cervical cancer. Following WHO recommendations, the program will deploy a single-dose vaccine at designated government health facilities. Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among Indian women, with the country contributing over 65% of the burden in the South-East Asia Region. The editorial stresses the importance of post-vaccination observation, maintaining a robust cold chain, and ensuring transparent reporting of adverse events (AEFI) to overcome anti-vaccination sentiments and historical trial concerns.
- HPV types 16 and 18 account for more than 80% of cervical cancer cases in India.
- Cervical cancer is largely preventable through HPV vaccination and regular screening if detected early.
- The South-East Asia Region (SEARO) has the second-highest cervical cancer incidence globally, with India being the primary contributor.
Researchers have confirmed that the HIV capsid—the protein shell protecting the virus's genetic material—is an excellent target for long-acting antiretroviral therapy. A new drug, Lenacapavir, the first capsid-based inhibitor, has shown high efficacy in clinical trials. Unlike older drugs, Lenacapavir is administered as a subcutaneous injection once every six months, forming a slow-release reservoir. While HIV can develop resistance, studies show that mutations in the capsid significantly impair the virus's ability to replicate, making it a 'high cost' adaptation for the virus. This discovery opens doors for a new generation of durable HIV treatments.
- The capsid is essential for protecting viral RNA and must remain largely unchanged for the virus to survive.
- Lenacapavir offers a long-acting treatment option (bi-annual injection) compared to daily oral pills.
- Viral resistance to capsid inhibitors comes at the cost of significantly reduced viral fitness and replication.
ISRO has formed a high-level committee, including external experts like K. Vijay Raghavan, to investigate 'systemic issues' behind the recent failures of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). The PSLV-C62 mission failed in January 2026 when the third stage failed to ignite, a mishap similar to the PSLV-C61 failure in May 2025. The panel will examine manufacturing, procurement, and organizational problems. This move marks a departure from ISRO's usual internal Failure Analysis Committees, seeking a 'third-party appraisal' to ensure accountability and improve the reliability of India's workhorse rocket in an increasingly privatized space ecosystem.
- The PSLV is ISRO's 'workhorse' rocket, but consecutive failures have raised concerns about its reliability.
- The probe will look beyond technical faults to organizational, manufacturing, and procurement processes.
- External experts are involved to provide an unbiased, third-party assessment of the failures.
At the India Energy Week 2026, Prime Minister Modi emphasized India's $500 billion investment opportunities in the energy sector, focusing on green hydrogen and its derivative, green ammonia. The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) recently concluded a successful auction under the SIGHT programme, attracting 15 bidders. This auction model is seen as a global benchmark, achieving prices significantly lower than international standards. Green ammonia, produced by combining nitrogen with green hydrogen, is crucial for decarbonizing industries like fertilizers and marine fuel. The initiative aims to insulate India from global gas market volatility and currency risks.
- Green ammonia is produced by combining nitrogen with green hydrogen, serving as a clean alternative for fertilizers and fuel.
- SECI's auction under the SIGHT programme resulted in seven successful awardees for 7,24,000 tonnes of green ammonia.
- The discovered prices for green ammonia in India range between ₹49.75 and ₹64.74 per kg.
The AI Impact Summit in New Delhi highlighted India's position as a massive user base for Artificial Intelligence. During the summit, 89 countries signed a voluntary declaration to share knowledge on AI democratization. However, India faces challenges such as high infrastructure costs, specifically the rising price of GPUs, and a reliance on foreign capital. The article suggests that while India is a hub for model deployment, it must focus on training and fine-tuning to mitigate risks. It calls for the Global South to lead in building safety standards and tools to exercise leverage over Large Language Models (LLMs).
- India is currently the largest user base for AI technologies outside of the United States.
- A total of 89 countries have committed to a voluntary framework for sharing AI knowledge and democratization.
- High costs of Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) and electrical capacity are significant hurdles for domestic AI deployment.
India has joined the Pax Silica alliance, a U.S.-led coalition focused on securing infrastructure for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and critical minerals. This strategic move aims to bolster domestic initiatives like IndiaAI and the National Critical Mineral Mission by securing raw materials and attracting investment. While the alliance offers a 'trusted ecosystem' and a shift away from China-centric supply chains, it poses risks of Chinese economic retaliation and rigid export controls. India must balance its preference for 'issue-based alignments' with the potential constraints of a formal technological bloc that could influence its domestic AI regulations and security standards.
- Pax Silica focuses on building secure technology networks for AI, semiconductors, and critical mineral processing.
- India provides significant engineering talent and assembly capacity, adding geopolitical weight to the coalition's efforts.
- The alliance aims to establish democratic governance standards for critical technologies to counter non-democratic influences.
Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda launched the indigenously manufactured Tetanus and adult Diphtheria (Td) vaccine at the Central Research Institute (CRI) in Kasauli. This marks a significant milestone as CRI becomes the first government institute to manufacture vaccines under Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) standards. The vaccine has been introduced for supply under the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP), with an initial supply of 55 lakh doses. This move strengthens India's public health infrastructure and reinforces its status as the 'pharmacy of the world,' following the successful development of indigenous COVID-19 vaccines.
- The Td vaccine is indigenously manufactured by the Central Research Institute (CRI), Kasauli, strengthening national health security.
- CRI is the first government institute to achieve Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) standards for vaccine production.
- The vaccine will be integrated into the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP), which is the world's largest immunization program.
The AI Impact Summit concluded in New Delhi with 85 countries and three international organizations signing the 'New Delhi Declaration.' Guided by the principle of 'Sarvajan Hitaya, Sarvajan Sukhaya' (Welfare for all, Happiness for all), the declaration establishes a voluntary, non-binding framework to ensure the benefits of AI are shared equitably across humanity. Key outcomes include the launch of the 'Global AI Impact Commons,' a repository for AI tools and best practices, and the 'Charter for the Democratic Diffusion of AI.' The summit highlighted the need for AI literacy, workforce development, and secure, trustworthy AI ecosystems.
- The New Delhi Declaration promotes a voluntary framework for equitable access to AI resources and resilient AI ecosystems.
- The 'Global AI Impact Commons' will serve as a database for countries to draw inspiration for AI implementation and best practices.
- India launched its first domestically trained multi-billion parameter Large Language Model (LLM) by Sarvam AI during the event.
India's maiden solar mission, Aditya-L1, has provided crucial data to help scientists understand unusual geomagnetic disturbances during strong solar storms. By measuring changes in the solar wind—a continuous flow of charged particles from the Sun—the spacecraft has decoded how these events trigger sharp changes in Earth's magnetic field. These observations are vital because extreme solar wind conditions can disrupt technological systems such as satellites, navigation systems, and power grids. The combined data from Aditya-L1 and ground-based magnetometers offer new insights into Solar Cycle 25's peak phase.
- Geomagnetic storms are large disturbances in Earth's magnetic field caused by solar wind variations.
- Aditya-L1's observations during the intense storms of May and October 2024 have been particularly significant for space weather research.
- Understanding these patterns helps in protecting critical infrastructure from the adverse effects of solar activity.
The AI Impact Summit held in India concluded with landmark investment commitments totaling $250 billion for AI infrastructure. IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that the summit also secured $20 billion in deep tech venture commitments. A key outcome was the 'Delhi Declaration' for AI, signed by over 70 countries, including the U.S. and China, establishing a global framework for AI cooperation and safety. The summit marks a significant step for the IndiaAI Mission, aiming to elevate the country's capabilities in large language models and common compute infrastructure.
- The summit attracted over five lakh visitors and 400 exhibitors, demonstrating India's growing leadership in the global AI landscape.
- The Delhi Declaration signifies a rare consensus among major powers like the U.S. and China on AI governance.
- The investments will be directed toward building robust AI infrastructure and fostering a new level of safety in AI applications.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at the AI Impact Summit, emphasized that India views Artificial Intelligence as a tool for future growth rather than a threat. He called for a 'human-centric' approach to AI and introduced the 'MANAV' framework, which focuses on moral systems, accountable governance, and national sovereignty over data. Modi also highlighted the 'BHASHINI' initiative, an AI-enabled translation tool used to stream his speech in seven Indian languages. He stressed the need to democratize AI to ensure it benefits the Global South and bridges the digital divide.
- The MANAV framework advocates for moral, ethical, and accountable governance of AI models.
- The BHASHINI initiative aims to provide real-time AI translation across diverse Indian languages.
- India is building a resilient AI ecosystem focusing on semiconductors, quantum computing, and data centers.
Swiss President Guy Parmelin announced that Geneva will host the 2027 AI Impact Summit, with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) serving as the partner for the 2028 edition. The summit aims to promote global governance of Artificial Intelligence, ensuring it is not dominated solely by major powers like the U.S. and China, who currently control over 70% of the industry. During a meeting with Prime Minister Modi, both leaders discussed bilateral cooperation in innovation and the benefits of the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) between India and the EFTA.
- Geneva, Switzerland, is designated as the host for the 2027 AI Impact Summit.
- The UAE will partner for the Geneva summit and host the subsequent 2028 AI Impact Summit.
- The initiative seeks to democratize AI governance and include smaller nations in technological decision-making.
The governance of AI in the military domain (REAIM) is a critical global challenge due to national security implications. While some nations have signed the 'Pathways to Action' declaration, major powers like the US, India, and China have shown strategic reluctance. The primary concern is the development of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS). India maintains that a legally binding instrument on LAWS is premature given regional security concerns. The article suggests a non-binding framework rooted in accountability and transparency as a starting point, eventually leading to legally binding norms as AI deployment in combat becomes more frequent.
- The REAIM summit focuses on Responsible Artificial Intelligence in the Military Domain.
- Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS) are a major point of contention in international disarmament talks.
- Strategic reluctance stems from AI's dual-use nature and the difficulty of verifying compliance with military constraints.
As India hosts the AI Impact Summit, there is a call for a human-centred AI that drives inclusive social justice. AI is expected to transform the world of work by enhancing productivity rather than just replacing jobs. India's e-Shram platform, which supports over 315 million informal workers, is a prime example of using technology for social protection. The Union Budget 2026-27 announced a High-Powered Committee to assess AI's impact on employment. To ensure equitable outcomes, India must focus on skilling, digital infrastructure, and international collaboration to bridge the AI access gap between high and low-income economies.
- AI could generate over three million new technology jobs in India by 2030 while reshaping ten million existing ones.
- The e-Shram platform serves as a digital backbone for social protection for 315 million informal workers.
- The Global Coalition for Social Justice, involving the ILO, aims to strengthen evidence-based AI policies.
Modern copyright law has expanded significantly from its 18th-century origins, moving toward copyright maximalism that can obstruct access to knowledge. The debate has intensified with the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) models, which require vast datasets for training. While some jurisdictions like the EU and Japan have created text and data mining exceptions, India lacks a flexible fair use provision for AI. The article argues for a return to the original intent of copyright—promoting creativity and public benefit—rather than just protecting industry interests. It suggests that India should lead efforts to adopt flexible exceptions that serve both creators and the public.
- The Statute of Anne (1710) was the first copyright law, granting limited monopolies to authors.
- Current copyright laws often last for the author's lifetime plus 70 years, creating near-perpetual monopolies.
- The Marrakesh Treaty enables the exchange of accessible-format books for visually impaired persons.
The Indian Army unveiled a suite of indigenous Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions at the India AI Impact Summit, highlighting its shift toward a data-centric force. Key systems include SAMUN for situational awareness and disaster response, EKAM (AI-as-a-Service) for secure cloud processing, and PRAKSHEPAN for climatology and disaster prediction. These dual-use platforms are designed for both military operations and civilian needs like cybersecurity and governance. The technologies also include advanced facial recognition (XFace) and AI-enabled driver fatigue detection, supporting India's vision of technological self-reliance and secure digital capability in critical infrastructure.
- SAMUN is an AI-enabled system for mission planning, disaster response, and situational awareness.
- EKAM provides a secure, air-gapped indigenous AI cloud platform focused on data sovereignty.
- PRAKSHEPAN offers early alerts for natural disasters like landslides, floods, and avalanches.
Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda launched two significant digital health initiatives: SAHI (Secure AI for Health Initiative) and BODH (Benchmarking Open Data Platform for Health AI). These platforms, unveiled at the India AI Impact Summit, aim to promote safe, ethical, and evidence-based deployment of Artificial Intelligence in healthcare. SAHI serves as a governance framework for responsible AI use, while BODH provides a mechanism to test and validate AI solutions before large-scale deployment. These initiatives align with the National Health Policy 2017 and the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission to create a scalable and inclusive digital health ecosystem.
- SAHI and BODH are launched to ensure ethical and evidence-based AI deployment in healthcare.
- SAHI acts as a policy compass and governance framework for responsible AI use.
- BODH allows for the testing and validation of AI solutions to ensure reliability and performance.
Researchers have developed a new genome-editing approach called Prime-Editing-mediated Readthrough of premature Termination codons (PERT) to treat diseases caused by 'nonsense mutations.' These mutations create a premature 'stop' signal in DNA, halting protein production. PERT reprograms a cell's own genes to override these signals without disrupting global protein synthesis. Tested on models of Batten disease and Tay-Sachs, the method restored protein function significantly. This 'gene-agnostic' strategy could potentially treat thousands of rare diseases using a single platform, making therapy development faster and more cost-effective than creating separate treatments for each disorder.
- Nonsense mutations account for about 25% of all known disease-causing genetic changes in humans.
- PERT uses 'suppressor tRNAs' to ignore premature stop signals and continue the assembly of full-length proteins.
- The strategy is 'gene-agnostic,' meaning the same tool can be adapted for different genes sharing the same mutation type.