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The Keladi Shivappa Nayaka University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences in Shivamogga will organise a five-day workshop on ‘Empowering Early Career Researchers in Advancing Climate-Resilient Agriculture Research and Collaboration’ in Shivamogga from January 5.

The workshop has been supported by the International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF-British Council) and the Indian Council of Social Science Research in collaboration with the Natural Resource Institute of the University of Greenwich, UK, according to a release issued by the university.

The workshop will host 45 participants from India and the United Kingdom. They will take part in deliberations on climate-resilient agricultural innovations, carbon farming, agrometeorology, and sustainable technologies. Prof. R.C. Jagadeesha, Vice-Chancellor of the university, said that the workshop would provide a transformative platform for young researchers to exchange knowledge, build networks and develop impactful solutions for climate-smart agriculture.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Scientists from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) have unveiled an intriguing secret behind the dusty veil of a young star named T. Chamaeleontis (T. Cha), quietly forming planets about 350 light years from Earth when part of its circumstellar inner wall collapsed partially.

According to the Department of Science and Technology, this can help rewrite our understanding of how planetary systems evolve.

T Chamaeleontisan (T. Cha) is surrounded by a planet-forming disk called circumstellar disk that contains a wide gap- likely carved out by a newborn planet.

“Normally, the dense inner regions of such disks act like a protective wall or veil blocking much of the star’s ultraviolet light from reaching the colder, outer regions. That shielding makes Poly Atomic Hrydrocarbons (PAHs), flat, honeycomb-shaped molecules (Benzene rings) made of carbon and hydrogen thought to be among the earliest precursors of life’s chemistry, especially hard to detect around low-mass, Sun-like stars,” the department said.

While these molecules are common in interstellar clouds, detecting them in the disks of low-mass, Sun-like stars has been challenging due to the low amount of ultra violet light produced by them.

The IIA scientists used archival spectroscopic data from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Mid Infrared Instrument (MIRI) to study polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the spectrum of this star.

The ultra-sensitive JWST telescope, almost by accident, caught the moment in 2022 when that veil thinned- and an ancient kind of chemistry lit up in space. The material from the disk of the star suddenly plunged onto the star in a burst of accretion, thinning or partially collapsing that inner wall. As this happened ultraviolet radiation suddenly streamed outward, illuminating parts of the disk that were once in shadow. This helped shed light on the survival and variation of complex hydrocarbon molecules in the planet-forming disk around a young, Sun-like star.

“JWST’s MIRI has now revealed them clearly in T. Cha and this is one of the lowest mass stars with PAH detection in their circumstellar disk,” said Arun Roy, a post-doctoral fellow at the IIA.

T. Cha was observed by the JWST in 2022, when the inner wall had partially collapsed allowing ultraviolet photons to flood the outer disk.

“This sudden illumination excited the PAHs in the disk, making them glow strongly in the JWST’s detectors. It was like a curtain lifting, revealing chemistry that had been hidden for years,” Mr. Roy added.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

ISRO achieved a milestone in the beginning of the year with the successful launch of two ‘SpaDeX’ satellites.

2025 was a successful year for the Indian space ecosystem led by ISRO despite a few unexpected setbacks. Thus, there were moments of joy as well as disappointment.

ISRO achieved a milestone in the beginning of the year with the successful launch of two ‘SpaDeX’ satellites. Separated by about 20km in orbit, the satellites were successfully docked on January 16. Two months later, they were successfully undocked. This process was repeated for the second time in orbit, thereby making India one of the few countries having this capability with far reaching implications.

The year also saw GSLV Mark–II, which metamorphosed into an ‘obedient child’ from its earlier ‘naughty boy’ image, flawlessly proving its versatility by placing the 2,400kg NISAR satellite in its intended orbit on July 30.

Another event that the country rejoiced was the successful sojourn of ISRO’s Gaganyatri Group Capt Shubhanshu Shukla as the pilot of the ‘Axiom 4’ mission to International Space Station (ISS). And LVM3, the most powerful launch vehicle built by ISRO and affectionately referred to as ‘Bahubali’, achieved another success on November 2 by placing CMS-03 communication satellite in its intended intermediate orbit.

The PM inaugurating the Skyroot Launch Vehicle integration facility in Hyderabad on November 27 signified the notable progress in the Indian space startups domain.

However, there was disappointment, too, when NVS-02 of the NavIC navigation satellite constellation failed to reach the final orbit on its own, following its successful launch by GSLV MkII on January 29. This was compounded by the inability of India’s workhorse launch vehicle PSLV to accomplish the launch of EOS-09 radar satellite on May 18.

What was surprising was PSLV repeatedly proving its reliability, versatility and resilience in the past three decades. In the meantime, postponement of the launch of the first industry-built PSLV (rather than ISRO) as well as the first unmanned flight of Gaganyaan came as a bit of a disappointment. But delays are common in the global space programmes. Considering the mind-boggling speed and stress involved in spaceflight, this cautious approach is inevitable indeed.

In the beginning of 2025 when the NISAR satellite, jointly built by NASA and ISRO, was being prepared for launch, there was a lot of excitement, expectation coupled with apprehension. After all, it was a costly and complex earth observation satellite worth $1.5 billion that carried two types of radars. One of its radars (L-band) and the 40-foot wide sieve-like antenna and associated system was supplied by NASA. The other radar (S-band), the satellite itself, and more importantly, the launch, were facilitated by ISRO.

Compared to its siblings PSLV and LVM3, GSLV’s track record was not very impressive. But after a majestic lift-off from Sriharikota, the vehicle proved its mettle by successfully placing the NISAR satellite in its intended orbit.

2025 was a watershed year for the Indian human spaceflight programme, the maiden step of which is Gaganyaan. On June 25, Group Capt Shubhanshu Shukla was successfully launched by SpaceX launch vehicle ‘Falcon 9’ along with three others as part of the private ‘Axiom 4’ mission to the ISS. During his 18-day stay onboard ISS, Group Capt Shukla gained invaluable experience on living and working in space. It was heartening to see him to be part of around 60 experiments, of which seven were designed and developed in India. His successful return on July 15 signified a major input to our Gaganyaan programme on training gaganyatris and accomplishing human spaceflight.

Another major milestone in the Gaganyaan programme was the Integrated AirDropTest of a crew module from a helicopter in which its critical parachute-assisted descent validated on August 24.

In the context of setbacks suffered by ISRO in 2025, it is pertinent to remember the dictum – ‘spaceflight is not for the faint hearted’. Its highly complex nature makes engineers ‘have butterflies in the stomach’ each time they conduct a rocket launch.

Against this background, 2026 looks very challenging for the Indian space ecosystem in general and ISRO in particular. Considering the gruelling challenges successfully met by ISRO in the past, whether in the realm of rockets, satellites or allied systems, we can be cautiously optimistic about India’s ascent trajectory in space.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

Designed and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the Dhruv NG is 5.5-tonne, light twin-engine, multi-role helicopter.

The maiden flight of the Dhruv NG multi-role helicopter took place at the HAL helicopter division in Bengaluru on Tuesday.

Designed and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the Dhruv NG is 5.5-tonne, light twin-engine, multi-role helicopter.

Technical specifications

Max take-off weight: 5,500 kg

Maximum speed: ~285 km/h

Range: ~630 km (with 20 min reserve)

Endurance: ~3 Hours 40 Minutes

Service ceiling: ~6,000 m (high-altitude capable)

Payload internal: ~1,000 kg

HAL said that it is engineered to master the diverse and demanding requirements of the Indian terrain. 

“It is specifically upgraded to meet the rigorous demands of the global civil aviation market. Designed for enhanced safety, performance, and passenger comfort, the helicopter represents a milestone in indigenous rotary-wing capability,” the Bengaluru headquartered defence PSU said.

The key technology and performance highlights of the helicopter include: twin Shakti 1H1C engines, providing enhanced power ratings and the advantage of internal maintenance capabilities within India, civil-certified glass cockpit compliant to AS4 requirements, and a modern avionics suite for superior situational awareness, crashworthy seats, self-sealing fuel tanks, and a proven twin-engine configuration for high redundancy and advanced vibration control systems ensure a smooth ride, tailored for VIP and medical transport.

HAL said the Dhruv NG features a highly configurable cabin (7.33 Cu m) adaptable for various civilian roles. 

It can be used for VIP transport, passenger utility, HEMS (Air Ambulance) and other specialised roles such as operations, Law Enforcement, and Disaster Relief (SAR).

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

 Mangaluru has been identified as one of India’s most cost-efficient and scalable locations for next-generation data centres, according to the Mangaluru Data Centre Feasibility Study 2025 released by the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM) and the Silicon Beach Program (SBP) in collaboration with Deloitte India.

The study, commissioned to assess Mangaluru’s potential in supporting India’s growing demand for cloud computing, artificial intelligence and mission-critical digital infrastructure, highlights the coastal city’s strong economic and operational advantages. It aligns with Karnataka’s broader vision of building resilient, secure and sovereign-aligned digital infrastructure.

According to the findings, land lease rates in Mangaluru average Rs 7.69 per sq ft per month, offering a cost advantage of four to five times compared to Mumbai and up to 95 per cent savings over Chennai, depending on location and asset type. Power tariffs ranging between Rs 5.95 and Rs 6.60 per kWh further strengthen Mangaluru’s competitiveness, undercutting Chennai’s average tariff of Rs 7.50 per kWh and remaining lower than most major data centre markets in the country.

The study also points to high grid reliability and assured industrial water availability as key enablers for large-scale data centre operations, creating a stable foundation for future-ready digital infrastructure.

With India projected to reach 10–12 GW of national data centre capacity by 2030, the report positions Mangaluru as a strategic supporting node in a Bengaluru-led hub-and-spoke model. This approach is expected to facilitate decentralised computing, reduce latency for critical workloads and enhance disaster recovery and business continuity capabilities.

Releasing the report, KDEM chairman B V Naidu said robust infrastructure remains central to digital leadership. He noted that Mangaluru offers an optimal mix of affordability, reliability and capability, making it well suited to host mission-critical workloads while complementing Bengaluru’s role as India’s primary digital hub.

Rohith Bhat, lead industry anchor for the Mangaluru cluster at KDEM and founding member of the Silicon Beach Program, said the city has steadily developed the core elements required for a large-scale data centre ecosystem. These include coastal geography, stable power supply, skilled talent availability and strong multimodal connectivity. He added that the study outlines a clear pathway to unlock up to 1 GW of sustainable, AI-ready data centre capacity in the region, supporting Karnataka’s Beyond Bengaluru growth strategy and the development of future-focused technology clusters across the state.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

  Pavani S. Shetty of Mysuru won bronze medal in 63rd National Roller Skating Championship held at Visakhapatnam recently. Pavani finished third in Road 1 (1 Lap) event in the 15 to 18 years age group of quad category.

She is the daughter of K. Satish and Pushpa residents of Siddhartha Layout. Pavani is training under Adithya S. Rao and M.G. Uma at Elite Roller Skating Association.of Mysuru won bronze medal in 63rd National Roller Skating Championship held at Visakhapatnam recently.

Pavani finished third in Road 1 (1 Lap) event in the 15 to 18 years age group of quad category.

source/content: starofmysore.com (headline edited)

BWSSB Chairperson Dr. V. Ram Prasad Manohar emphasized love for Kannada and urged non-Kannadigas to learn the language.

Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) and its employees’ association celebrated Kannada Rajyotsava on December 23 at Rajatha Bhavan, Malleswaram.

Presiding over the event, BWSSB Chairperson Dr. V. Ram Prasad Manohar expressed gratitude to Karnataka, recalling his days of unemployment when the State supported him. He emphasized love for Kannada and urged non-Kannadigas to learn the language.

Kannada Development Authority Chairperson Purushottam Bilimale highlighted the need for language preservation.

Singer Vijay Prakash enthralled the audience with Kannada songs.

Meritorious students and sports winners were felicitated. 

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Naturopathy physician Dr Rashma Mohith Shetty, a Kannadiga from Mulund, has been crowned Mrs India – Season 15 at the grand finale of the prestigious beauty pageant held at the Jai Bagh Palace in Jaipur from December 18 to 21. The event was organised by national director Deepali Phadnis.

Mrs India is one of the country’s most renowned and long-running beauty pageants. Forty finalists from across India competed in the four-day contest, which included talent rounds, inspirational life stories, personal interviews, ramp walk, national costume, traditional round and evening gown segments. The organisers said Dr Rashma’s confidence, dedication and overall excellence on the national stage earned her the coveted title.

Earlier, Dr Rashma had secured the first runner-up title at the Mrs India Karnataka 2024 competition, where she also won awards for best performance in the talent round, best ramp walk and first prize in the best task (short film) category. She was also the first runner-up at the Mrs India Karnataka Mangaluru competition held at Kadri Park on May 19, and at the Akanksha Mrs Bunts 2023 contest organised by the Bunts Sangha Mumbai youth wing.

Dr Rashma is the daughter of Naryaguttu Raghunath Shetty and Amtur Balike Kasturi Shetty, and the wife of Mohith Shetty. The couple has a seven-year-old daughter, Nesara. She is the daughter-in-law of Katapady Moodubettu Housamane Manohar Shetty of Eyenak Optics and the late Mamata Shetty, former president of the Mulund Bunts women’s wing. Raised in Pononiya of Mundoor village in Puttur taluk, she is currently serving as a doctor in Mumbai.

Along with her medical practice, Dr Rashma is actively involved in social service. She serves as committee secretary of the Mulund Hills Inner Wheel Club and has conducted several live seminars focusing on women’s health and lifestyle disorders. She is also a guest lecturer at Dr D Y Patil College of Naturopathy, Navi Mumbai.

She completed her primary and high school education at Papemajalu government school, followed by pre-university education at Puttur Kombettu government college. She earned her degree in naturopathy from Alva’s College, Moodbidri, secured second rank at Rajiv Gandhi University, and was declared the best student of her college.

A state-level athlete and throwball player, Dr Rashma is also active in theatre. She won the best actress first prize at the state-level ‘Dr Shivaram Karanth Theatre Festival 2024’ held at Bunts Bhavan, Kurla, for her role in the play Swami Koragajja, directed by Baba Prasad Aras and presented by the Kala Spandana Mumbai team.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

The company begun ground tests of its half-scale electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, SYLLA SYL-X1, at its Bengaluru facility.

In a significant step towards advanced air mobility, Bengaluru-based Sarla Aviation on Monday announced the start of ground testing for its electric air-taxi demonstrator, marking the country’s most advanced private effort yet in vertical flight technology.

The company begun ground tests of its half-scale electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, SYLLA SYL-X1, at its Bengaluru facility. With a wingspan of 7.5 metres, the aircraft is the largest private eVTOL demonstrator currently under development in India.

Developed in about nine months, the programme has progressed at a fraction of the cost seen in comparable global projects. The demonstrator is designed to test structural performance, propulsion integration and system-level safety, and has been developed with certification requirements in mind.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)