It is a matter of national pride that an Indian astronaut is an active participant with defined scientific responsibilities in an international mission, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology (Independent Charge) Dr Jitendra Singh said on Tuesday, as he announced that Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will carry out a series of crucial scientific experiments in space.

The announcement marks a significant milestone in India’s growing presence in global space exploration. Dr Singh, who also holds responsibilities as MoS in the Prime Minister’s Office and of the Space Department, said that Group Captain Shukla’s space research will cover a wide range of scientific domains.

These include studying physical, cognitive, and physiological responses in space, as well as the effects of continuous electronic display use in microgravity — an important consideration for future long-duration missions. The astronaut will also investigate skeletal muscle dysfunction in microgravity and test possible therapeutic strategies to counter its effects.

In addition, he will perform experiments involving extremophiles like Tardigrades, tiny organisms known for surviving extreme conditions. These experiments could expand our understanding of how life might sustain itself beyond Earth. Group Captain Shukla is one of the four astronauts selected for India’s ambitious Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission, scheduled for launch in early 2027.

He is also participating in the upcoming Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS), with Group Captain Prasanth Nair named as the designated backup. The minister highlighted that discussions around sending an Indian astronaut to the ISS were part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to the United States.

He credited the post-2014 policy reforms in the space sector — such as opening Sriharikota to citizens and inviting private sector participation — as pivotal to India’s emergence as a leader in NewSpace initiatives. Speaking about Gaganyaan, Dr Singh said the trial phases are currently underway, and once completed, India will take a major leap forward in becoming truly Atmanirbhar (self-reliant) in the space domain. He called these space experiments ‘game-changers’ that will significantly strengthen the country’s space ecosystem.

Singh also noted that India’s space economy is projected to grow fivefold, from $8 billion to $44 billion, aligning with the government’s long-term vision of Viksit Bharat @2047. He said 2014 was a turning point when PM Modi opened the space sector to private players, foreign direct investment, and global collaborations.

Beyond space, the Minister touched upon the government’s focus on deep ocean exploration, stating that India’s vast coastal resources remain underutilised. The Deep Ocean Mission aims to change that by unlocking the potential of the marine economy. He also emphasised India’s push for clean energy, with increased funding for nuclear energy research and the development of Bharat Small Modular Reactors, key to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2070.

–IANS

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Union Minister for Railways, Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, on Wednesday said a collaboration between India AI Mission and the Gates Foundation, an American private foundation founded by Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates, is on the cards.

In a post on X, the Union Minister said an MoU will soon be signed to create AI-based solutions to strengthen several critical sectors in the country. “AI solutions for better crops, stronger healthcare, smarter education and climate resilience— MoU soon between India AI Mission and @gatesfoundation,” Vaishnaw tweeted after meeting Gates who is currently visiting the country.

In a bid to make access to quality datasets easier for developing AI technologies, the government recently took a big step in its India AI Mission by launching AIKosha, the country’s sovereign datasets platform, and an AI Compute Portal. The government has also set a target of developing GPUs domestically within the next three to five years.

This is part of the larger Rs 10,000-crore IndiaAI Mission. The AI Compute Portal will allow companies to access subsidised GPUs for research and development. As of now, about 14,000 GPUs have gone live, with another 4,000 in the pipeline. Earlier, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) had announced the procurement of 18,693 GPUs from selected vendors. According to Vaishnaw, ministries related to agriculture, weather forecasting, and Bhashini have already provided data to the platform.

“India’s own AI foundational model is progressing well; we have 67 applications, of which 22 are for developing large language models (LLMs),” Vaishnaw said earlier this month.

The significant part of India’s compute capacity will be used for developing sovereign AI models. Meanwhile, Gates, co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, on Monday visited NITI Aayog’s Viksit Bharat Strategy Room (VBSR) and experienced an advanced AI-enabled immersive centre designed to enhance evidence-based decision making for policymakers across the country. The ‘Viksit Bharat Strategy Room’ was launched on March 7, 2024, as a revolutionary step in data-driven governance.

–IANS

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About 66 per cent of women in India now feel equipped to use artificial intelligence (AI) in their roles, compared to less than 40 per cent last year, a new report said, ahead of the International Women’s Day 2025, on Friday.

International Women’s Day 2025 is observed every year on March 8. The report, by ANSR, an Accel portfolio company, reveals a significant shift in workplace diversity initiatives and the growing confidence of women in AI adoption.

It showed that the number of women perceiving their company’s diversity efforts as merely symbolic or slow-moving has dropped from 70 per cent in 2024 to 40 per cent in 2025, marking a substantial improvement. Nearly 75 per cent of women also reported that their workplace provides a safe and inclusive environment.

However, persistent challenges such as the glass ceiling, pay disparity, and lack of mentorship continue to hinder career advancement. The number of women citing unfair pay has increased by 10 per cent, while 7 in 10 women say career advancement opportunities remain out of reach. About 58 per cent of women also report a lack of strong mentorship, a significant rise from 35 per cent last year, highlighting a critical gap in leadership development.

“Diversity should not be a metric but a horizontal priority embedded across an organisation’s DNA. True progress happens when inclusivity extends beyond hiring — into policies, leadership development, boardroom discussions, and governance. Our survey shows promise year on year, but to drive lasting change, diversity must be an integral part of how businesses operate, not just an initiative,” said Smitha Hemmigae, Head of Marketing at ANSR.

The report draws insights from over 3,000 women professionals in IT/ITES, Global Capability Centers (GCCs), startups, and product companies across India. It also highlights a growing need for structured mentorship and leadership development programmes, with 58 per cent of women reporting a lack of strong mentorship.

This gap in leadership support is particularly evident in Global Capability Centers (GCCs), where organisations are increasingly focused on developing leaders who can manage diverse, global teams. As the demand for leadership talent grows, companies must invest in training programmes that empower women with the skills to navigate cross-cultural challenges, drive innovation, and make strategic decisions, said the report.

–IANS

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India’s Fourth-Generation Deep-Ocean Submersible ‘Matsya-6000’ has successfully completed wet testing at the harbour, paving the way for conducting shallow-water demonstrations at depths reaching up to 500 meters by the end of 2025, according to an official statement issued on Monday.

To ensure a seamless integration of all systems within its exo-structure, the Matsya first underwent a comprehensive series of integrated dry tests over a 500-metre operational range. Following the successful completion of these tests, it was transported to the L&T Shipbuilding facility located at Kattupalli Port, near Chennai from January 27 to February 12, 2025, for conducting wet tests and demonstrating the submersible functionality, the statement said.

The tests aimed to meticulously assess Matsya’s performance across several critical parameters. Evaluations focused on the robustness of power and control networks, floatation and stability of the vehicle, human support and safety systems, and manoeuvrability within limited degrees of freedom, specifically forward and reverse motion.

Additionally, navigation and communication capabilities were scrutinised. The scientific payloads, which included multiple sophisticated oceanographic sensors, were thoroughly tested and demonstrated to confirm their intended functionality. This demonstration phase featured eight dives in total, comprising five unmanned dives and five manned dives. Each manned dive was rigorously qualified, ensuring the reliability of the life support system.

Due to the restricted water depth in the harbour, underwater voice communication was less effective, highlighting the necessity for further testing at greater depths to enhance confidence in shallow-water operations.

In certain areas, additional efforts are needed to achieve optimal performance and completeness, the statement said. Under the government’s Deep Ocean Mission initiatives, the Ministry of Earth Sciences has entrusted the National Institute of Ocean Technology with the ambitious task of designing and developing the Matsya-6000, as part of the Samudrayan Project.

This cutting-edge submersible is engineered to accommodate three humans within its compact 2.1-meter diameter spherical hull, marking a significant milestone in India’s ocean exploration capabilities.

Following the completion of the design phase, various subsystems vital to Matsya-6000’s functionality were identified and developed. The submersible features a comprehensive array of components: a main ballast system for diving, thrusters for movement in all three directions, a battery bank for power supply, and syntactic foam for buoyancy. It also includes a sophisticated power distribution network, cutting-edge control hardware and software, along with advanced underwater navigation devices.

Communication systems include an acoustic modem, underwater telephone, and VHF for surface communication, supplemented by underwater acoustic positioning and GPS for precise surface location tracking. Inside the spherical hull, careful attention has been given to the integration of human life-support systems, displays of various environmental/critical parameters, navigation joysticks for manoeuvrability, as well as various oceanographic sensors, underwater lighting and cameras outside the hull.

All these subsystems have been indigenously designed and are currently undergoing thorough integration and qualification testing, the statement added.

–IANS

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In the next 10 years, the Indian space economy is projected to touch $44 billion, said Union Minister of State (independent charge) for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh on Tuesday. Speaking at an exclusive programme on Sansad TV, the MoS highlighted India’s transformation in the space sector, which began with the opening of the sector to private investment said Union Minister of State (independent charge) for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh on Tuesday.

Speaking at an exclusive programme on Sansad TV, “The space economy has grown to $8 billion and is projected to touch $44 billion in the next decade,” Singh said. “Milestones like the indigenous Gaganyaan Mission, the upcoming Chandrayaan-4 (2027), Shukrayaan (2028), and the Indian Space Station (2030) showcase India’s robust trajectory,” he added. The Minister also lauded startups and FDI for fuelling innovation, with missions like SPADeX enabling docking capabilities, marking a leap in technological advancement. He highlighted the Vyom Mitra robo mission as a precursor to human space exploration. The Minister also spoke on India’s biopharma sector, and the nation’s strides in governance and climate action.

He claimed that biomanufacturing and bio-foundries would foster the Fourth Industrial revolution. “India’s bio-economy, backed by abundant resources from the Himalayas to its shores, is the growth driver. As one of the first nations with a dedicated bio-economy policy, India is set to lead global innovation in recycling, manufacturing, and startups in this sector,” said Singh, adding that “India is one pioneer country who has prepared its BIO-E3 policy”. Singh also emphasised the shift to citizen-centric governance with initiatives like Mission Karmayogi that are redefining bureaucracy by prioritising role-based capacity building. “Digital innovations like the face-recognition-enabled digital life certificate and dynamic online modules have eased citizens’ lives,” he said.

Singh reiterated India’s commitment to combating climate change and addressing its heterogeneous climatic challenges, while stressing India’s leadership in preventive healthcare, meeting global standards in addressing health and environmental concerns. “India has emerged as a reliable partner on the world stage, driven by collaborative efforts, transparency, and innovation. The conducive environment created under PM Modi’s leadership has made the nation a hub for startups, businesses, and industries, cementing its position as a leader in technology, sustainability, and governance,” the Minister said.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 20 (IANS): The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has inaugurated a research centre at the Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG) to digitise archived data from the over 180-year-old Colaba geomagnetic observatory.

The Ministry of Science & Technology said on Monday that the Colaba Research Centre will focus on digitising the archived data sets from one of the oldest observatories in India. The Colaba observatory, which operated from 1841 to 1906 and is set in a historic location in Colaba, Mumbai, was where the first regular observations of the geomagnetic field variations in India were carried out.

The commissioning of the Alibag magnetic observatory maintains the continuity of magnetic observation. The Colaba—Alibag combined series produces magnetic data for a period of more than 175 years. The historical site consists of ancient equipment that documented geomagnetic data, registered geomagnetic storms over the years, and created a piece of the history of scientific exploration in India.

The Ministry said the digitisation “will be done by integrating modern techniques for providing valuable insights into historical geomagnetic storms at the site housing a heritage building and armed with a staff strength of nine. ”

This can help form a benchmark for the probability of geomagnetic storm occurrence in the future. The centre will also research the impact of space weather and allied fields.

The Colaba geomagnetic observatory recorded the first continuous magnetic observations in 1841, providing continuous magnetic data for over 180 years. The observatory preserves the magnetic data through magnetograms, microfilms, and volumes. It is the only observatory that recorded the Super-intense Carrington event of 01-02 September 1859 in India, when the magnetic field decreased by 1600 nT.

The centre also provides real-time geomagnetic field variations to international geomagnetic repositories.

Director of IIG, Professor A P Dimri, elaborated on the institute’s activities, including IIG’s work on the earth’s geomagnetic protective shield, the study of wave-particle interaction in the Earth’s magnetosphere, lake sediment core collections, integrated geophysical work in the Northeast Himalayan Region, and so on.

The IIG established in 1971 as an autonomous Institution of DST succeeded the Colaba Observatory. It is dedicated to basic and applied research in geomagnetism, geophysics, atmospheric physics, space physics, and plasma physics and carries out interdisciplinary research, encompassing all aspects of the Sun-Solar Wind-Magnetosphere-Ionosphere-Atmosphere.

It operates 13 magnetic observatories across India and hosts a World Data Center for Geomagnetism, maintaining comprehensive geomagnetic data.

–IANS

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Scientists at the Bose Institute in Kolkata, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology, have shown that Ayurveda can provide new hope for Alzheimer’s Disease.

The team, led by Professor Anirban Bhunia, employed two distinct strategies to fight amyloid proteins and peptides, known to play a pivotal role in various neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD).d They began by using chemically synthesised peptides to combat amyloid beta aggregation. Next, they repurpose a drug called Lasunadya Ghrita (LG) from Ayurveda.

The traditional Indian medicine system has previously shown efficacy in treating depression-related mental illnesses.

The non-toxic compounds of LG and their components were characterised and repurposed for use against amyloid beta 40/42 aggregation. “The water extract of these compounds, referred to as LGWE, not only disrupted the fibrillation process during the elongation step but also inhibited the formation of oligomers in the initial stages of the fibrillation pathway,” said the researchers at Bose Institute.

Further, these compounds demonstrated greater efficacy in breaking down amyloid aggregates into non-toxic smaller degradable molecules compared to the chemically designed peptides. This suggests its novel role in disaggregating amyloid-prone proteins. These chemically designed peptides are “non-toxic, serum-stable, and effective in inhibiting as well as disaggregating amyloid proteins,” said Professor Bhunia, along with his collaborators from the Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics (SINP) Kolkata and IIT-Guwahati, in the paper published in the journal Biochemistry (ACS).

In addition, other Ayurveda experts from the State Ayurvedic College and Hospital at Lucknow University, along with other researchers from the Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, demonstrated how natural compounds can enhance the inhibition and breakdown of amyloid beta more effectively than the chemically designed peptides. The findings highlight the potential of Ayurveda as a viable solution to complex neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s, and dementia.

–IANS

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Elon Musk-led SpaceX’s Starship successfully aced the seventh test flight but lost the upper stage. Starship and Super heavy booster lifted off from SpaceX’s Starbase site in South Texas at 5:37 p.m. EST (4.07 am IST).

All 33 Raptor engines powered the Super Heavy booster and Starship on a nominal ascent. Starship’s giant first-stage booster, known as Super Heavy was caught by the Starbase’s launch tower, using the structure’s “chopstick” arms, as it did for the first time on Starship Flight 5 in October. While this was achieved about seven minutes after liftoff, SpaceX lost contact with Ship.

“All six of Ship’s Raptor engines fired up during the stage’s ascent burn, but telemetry was lost with the vehicle after approximately eight and a half minutes of flight,” SpaceX said in a statement after the flight.

“Initial data indicates a fire developed in the aft section of the ship, leading to a rapid unscheduled disassembly,” it added.

The ship was earlier stated to fly much of the way around the world, then splash down softly in the Indian Ocean off the west coast of Australia about 66 minutes after liftoff. Meanwhile, in coordination with the FAA, the company launched an investigation to understand the root cause.

“Starship is the first rocket design where success in making life multiplanetary is in the set of possible outcomes,” Musk said in a post on social media platform X. He also stated that more than individual launches, building up civilisation on Mars is more important.

“Any individual launch is not very important. What matters is the expected date when Mars becomes a self-sustaining civilisation,” Musk said in a post.

Starship’s Flight 6 occurred in November last year. It could not repeat the success of Flight 5 to catch Super Heavy due to a communication issue with the launch tower. SpaceX is developing the resusable Starship, the biggest and most powerful rocket ever built standing 123 meters tall, to help humanity settle the moon and Mars, among other feats. The company informed that preparations are underway for the eighth flight test, and is going through prelaunch testing

. –IANS

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The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said on Thursday that with the successful docking of the satellites of the SpaDEX mission, India became the fourth nation to ace the space docking technology.

ISRO informed the merging of two small spacecraft — SDX01, the Chaser, and SDX02, the Target — weighing about 220 kg each. The satellites were part of the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission, which lifted off aboard the PSLV-C60 rocket, from Sriharikota on December 30. India is now the fourth country, after the US, Russia, and China, to master the docking technology.

“Docking Success Spacecraft docking successfully completed! A historic moment,” ISRO shared in a post on social media platform X. “Docking successfully completed. India became the 4th country to achieve successful Space Docking. Congratulations to the entire team! Congratulations to India!” it added. Dr. V. Narayanan, Secretary DOS, Chairman of Space Commission, and Chairman ISRO, congratulated the team ISRO.

On Sunday, the two satellites came as close as three metres in a trial attempt for space docking up to 15 m. It later moved back to a safe distance. But now, “manoeuvre from 15m to 3m hold point completed,” ISRO said while noting that the docking was achieved “with precision, leading to successful spacecraft capture”.

“Retraction completed smoothly, followed by rigidisation for stability”. The docking technology was indigenously developed and has been named the ‘Bharatiya Docking System’. It includes a docking mechanism, a suite of four rendezvous and docking sensors, power transfer technology, indigenous novel autonomous rendezvous and docking strategy, and an inter-satellite communication link (ISL) for autonomous communication between spacecraft, incorporated with inbuilt intelligence to know the states of the other spacecraft, among others.

ISRO believes the SpaDeX mission will help establish India’s capability in orbital docking — a key technology for future human spaceflight and satellite servicing missions. In addition to joining the elite club of spacefaring nations, docking technology is also key for India’s impending space missions including the Moon mission, setting up the Indian space station, and lunar missions like Chandrayaan-4 without the support of GNSS from Earth.

According to ISRO, it will also demonstrate the transfer of electric power between the docked spacecraft, which is essential for future applications such as in-space robotics — composite spacecraft control, and payload operations after undocking.

–IANS

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A report said on Tuesday that the adoption of Generative AI (GenAI) is projected to transform at least 38 million (3.8 crore) jobs in India by 2030, driving a 2.61 percent productivity boost to the economy through gains in the organised sector and an additional 2.82 percent with the adoption of GenAI by the unorganised sector.

At least 24 per cent of tasks across industries have the potential for full automation, while another 42 per cent can be enhanced through AI, freeing up between 8-10 hours per week for knowledge workers,” according to the EY India report. GenAI is poised to transform every job, unlocking immense potential for productivity and economic gains.

“This revolution will fundamentally reshape jobs, driving productivity and innovation. Building talent pipelines and prioritising upskilling must be at the forefront of every organisation,” said Rajiv Memani, Chairman and CEO, EY India.

He added that by fostering public-private collaborations and investing in talent development, India can also become a global hub for AI-skilled talent. The report stated that at an industry level, the largest productivity gains are expected in the services sector due to its higher labour share to gross output, while manufacturing and construction will see a smaller impact.

While the promise of AI is vast, the survey reveals that adoption is still in its early stages. Only 15 per cent of surveyed enterprises have implemented GenAI in production, with 34 per cent having completed proof of concepts (POCs) and 11 per cent working on productionalising successful POCs. Enterprises in India are also at different stages of data readiness.

Only 3 per cent of surveyed enterprises report being fully ready, with 23 per cent reporting that they’re in no state of data readiness to take up AI deployments, the report mentioned.

The analysis of over 10,000 tasks across industries showed varying productivity gains across sectors. Among the business processes to see the most impact is call centre management, which is likely to witness an 80 per cent productivity enhancement, and software development with a potential for 61 per cent growth in productivity.

This is followed by content development and distribution with 45 per cent, customer services at 44 per cent, and sales and marketing at 41 per cent. “Productivity boost in IT/ITeS is expected to be around 19 per cent, followed by healthcare at 13 per cent and banking/insurance at 8-9 per cent,” the report noted.

–IANS

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