The database, built on Indian patient data, will be made open source, opening it up for clinicians and researchers aiming to study neuropsychiatric disorders.

Researchers at the Rohini Nilekani Centre for Brain and Mind (CBM), a partnership between the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) and the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) – TIFR, have developed CALM-Brain, a first-of-its-kind digital repository of data in India on brain structure and function from a range of psychiatric disorders.

According to the researchers, the database, built on Indian patient data, will be made open source, thereby opening it up for clinicians and researchers aiming to study neuropsychiatric disorders and to better understand disease onset, progression and underlying biological changes leading to disease symptoms.

This, they feel, could help transform the understanding of mental disorders and provide better diagnosis and plan personalised treatments for patients. 

Datasets on five disorders

CALM-Brain collects clinical, neuro-imaging, behavioural, genetic and other datasets on five disorders – addiction, bipolar disorder, dementia, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and schizophrenia.

The dataset is also linked to a biorepository of stem cells, which can be used to perform biology research in psychiatry to understand the origins of such severe mental illnesses.

Initiated in 2016 as part of the Accelerator program for Discovery in Brain disorders using Stem cells (ADBS project) jointly funded by the Department of Biotechnology and the Pratiksha Trust, the repository contains data of over 2,000 participants from 900 families. 

By studying such large numbers of families with both mental illness-affected and unaffected members, scientists hope to come up with robust methods of identifying key neurocognitive biomarkers. This could potentially help diagnose mental disorders at an early stage, when intervention is most likely to be effective and eventually help develop targeted therapy.

Identifying biological markers

“Given how complex the brain as an organ is and how our behavioural responses are continuously modulated based on prior experience and various physicochemical factors, only further fundamental research can help gain mechanistic insights to various psychiatric disorders. Large data sets being made available on both affected and unaffected individuals in a family would help us to accelerate discovery and develop more effective preventive and therapeutic interventions,” said L.S. Shashidhara, Director, NCBS.

Prof. Y.C. Janardhan Reddy, CBM coordinator at CBM-NIMHANS, noted that the primary goal of the project was to identify biological markers of severe psychiatric illnesses, which cut across traditional diagnostic frameworks.

“In addition, we will try to identify fundamental biological mechanisms of the disease and medication response,” he said. 

Collaborative effort

Rohini Nilekani, Chairperson of the Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies (RNP), launched the repository on March 25, 2026. “A data repository like CALM-Brain can only come together through the collaborative effort of multiple people and institutions. This is a moment to recognise and celebrate the power of diverse stakeholders coming together,” said Ms. Nilekani.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

The colossal LPG carrier ‘Pyxis Pioneer’, transporting approximately 47,236 tonnes of LPG from Texas, USA, docked at New Mangaluru Port on March 22. Around 16,714 tonnes of LPG from the shipment are being unloaded at the port.

According to the central government, several more vessels are expected in the coming days, enabling New Mangaluru Port to handle a total of 72,700 tonnes of LPG, highlighting its growing strategic significance.

The arrival of these massive shipments is linked to a landmark energy project in Mangaluru: India’s largest underground LPG storage facility, the ‘Rock Cavern’, located near Katipalla in Baala.

Designed by Engineers India Limited and constructed by Megha Engineering, the cavern sits within the premises of the HPCL unit at Baala and can store 80,000 metric tonnes of LPG, making it India’s largest single underground LPG storage facility.

Built at a cost of Rs 890 crore, the cavern is not just a storage site but a strategic energy reserve. Officials say it will safeguard LPG supply during emergencies such as war-like situations, international supply disruptions, or sudden price spikes, ensuring uninterrupted access to cooking fuel.

India already operates similar underground storage at Visakhapatnam, Mangaluru, and Padur (Udupi district), with a combined capacity of 5.33 million metric tonnes of crude oil, sufficient for roughly 9.5 days of national demand. Additional caverns are planned at Chandikhol (Odisha) and Padur, which would extend reserves to 22 days.

“The Mangaluru Rock Cavern is a first-of-its-kind facility in India designed exclusively for LPG,” said an Engineers India Limited spokesperson. “Unlike traditional warehouses that store grains, these caverns are engineered for high-pressure fuel storage with maximum safety.”

The cavern is carved into solid rock approximately 156 metres below sea level and uses hydraulic containment, a natural mechanism where underground water pressure prevents gas leakage. All safety and operational tests, including a continuous 100-hour wind pressure trial, were successfully completed by June 2025.

LPG stored here is supplied via pipelines to Mysuru, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, providing a buffer against supply disruptions and price volatility in a country heavily reliant on imports.

The cavern receives imported LPG through New Mangaluru Port and distributes it to the Mangaluru LPG bottling plant as well as via road and rail tankers.

As reported by The Economic Times, cross-country pipelines ensure smooth delivery to southern cities, making the cavern a key node in India’s energy security.

The facility includes a 1.1 km-long main access tunnel, two primary storage caverns— Cavern S1 (220 m) and Cavern S2 (225 m)—and 486.2 m of connecting tunnels, together forming nearly half a kilometre of underground storage. At 156 metres below ground, it is equivalent to a 50-storey building underground.

A crucial operational feature is the 6.5-metre-diameter operation shaft, extending 164.5 metres, through which advanced pumps extract LPG. Surrounding the cavern, a ‘water curtain’ protection system with over 13 km of perforations maintains pressure, preventing leaks through rock fissures.

With the capacity to safely store 80,000 tonnes of LPG, the Mangaluru Rock Cavern has become a landmark in India’s energy infrastructure, combining scale, safety, and cutting-edge engineering.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) affect between 25% and 34% of diabetic patients at some point in their lifetime, with half of those cases progressing to serious infection.

Medical Education and Skill Development Minister Dr Sharanprakash Patil launched the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) service at the Karnataka Institute of Endocrinology & Research Institute (KIER) in Indiranagar on Monday.

“HBOT is not just a medical treatment. It is a restoration of dignity and livelihood for patients who have been suffering,” he said. “We are now able to offer patients a genuine path to recovery that was not available before.”

For the nearly 80 million Indians living with diabetes, a devastating complication quietly threatens their quality of life and limbs. Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) affect between 25% and 34% of diabetic patients at some point in their lifetime, with half of those cases progressing to serious infection. Now, HBOT is emerging as a powerful, life-changing solution that gives patients a real chance at healing and staying whole, a press release said.

“Diabetes prevalence in Karnataka is estimated at 12-16%, with higher rates in urban populations. In Karnataka, an estimated 11,000-13,500 new diabetic foot cases occur annually. These complications are a leading cause of hospital admissions and account for nearly 80% of non-traumatic lower limb amputations,” the release added.

“HBOT is changing the outlook for patients living with active diabetic foot wounds. By delivering high concentrations of oxygen in a pressurised environment, the therapy accelerates wound healing, fights infection and critically helps save limbs that might otherwise be amputated,” noted Dr Ravi, director of KIER.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

 Fuddar Prathisttan (R) organised “Fuddar Prathisttan Puraskar-2026” for the special achievers of Mangaluru and Udupi Diocese on Saturday, March 21, at MCC Bank, Mangaluru.

For the last 20 years, Fuddar Prathisttan has felicitated over 3,000 academic achievers from the Catholic community, and for the last two years, sports achievers at the international, national and state levels were also added to the list.

This year, as another milestone, Fuddar Prathisttan (R), under the aegis of MCC Bank, Mangaluru, for the first time recognised and felicitated 65 special achievers in sports, literary arts, performing arts and PhD awardees, to give special recognition to the top achievers of the community on a separate platform.

‘Sahakaari Rathna’ Anil Lobo, chairman of MCC Bank, inaugurated the programme by lighting the lamp. Nigel Pereira, president of Fuddar Prathisttan, presided over the programme.

Chief guest and keynote speaker, advocate M P Noronha, principal district government pleader of Dakshina Kannada; Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh and Udupi Pradesh presidents Santhosh D’Souza and Ronald D’Almeida; secretary Vivid D’Souza; management committee member Robert Menezes; president of Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy Stany Alvares; renowned writer and journalist H M Pernal; and well-known Konkani singer Vincent Fernandes were present.

Anil Lobo, in his inaugural address, congratulated all the awardees and their parents on receiving the recognition. He urged the awardees to stay in the country and remain connected with their families, live a value-based life and serve society in all possible ways.

For the first time, Fuddar Prathisttan had come up with the idea of separately honouring special achievers in various fields, and MCC Bank supported recognising these special talents who had brought laurels to the community, he added.

M P Noronha, in his keynote address, congratulated Fuddar Prathisttan Trust for organising a meaningful programme to felicitate the achievers and motivate them. In his address, he emphasised the need to choose a career through which one remains grounded and connected to one’s roots, which would help in serving mankind.

He added that it is not achievements or medals that make one valuable, but empathy and richness of heart that make the place around better, which the present generation must focus on.

On behalf of the felicitated students, Reuban Machado, Roshvitha D’Sa and Vinitha D’Souza shared their success stories and expressed their gratitude to the organisers of the felicitation programme.

The management committee members and donors who supported generously for the success of the event were honoured. The support and suggestions of Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh and Udupi Pradesh were greatly acknowledged.

Nigel Pereira, president of Fuddar Prathisttan, welcomed the gathering. Vivid D’Souza, the secretary, delivered the vote of thanks. Norbert Misquith and Ida Furtado compered the event. The programme concluded with a fellowship meal.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

The startup received a cash prize of ₹1 crore along with a trophy.

Cambrian Skillsda Technologies and Consultancy Services LLP (CSTCS), a startup based at the Cambridge Institute of Technology (CIT), Bengaluru, has emerged winner of the Cyber Security Grand Challenge 2.0, organised by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) in association with the Data Security Council of India (DSCI).

The startup received a cash prize of ₹1 crore along with a trophy.

The challenge, launched in January 2025 on the MyGov platform, aims to strengthen India’s cyber security capabilities and encourage innovation in critical technology domains such as API security, data security, wearable device security and privacy, clone and fake app mitigation, AI for threat detection, incident response and next-generation biometric systems.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

President Droupadi Murmu, who felicitated them, appreciated them for their contributions. The Ministry of Jal Shakti is organising Jal Mahotsava 2026 from March 8 to March 22.

Two women from the state’s rural areas – Anitha and Channamma – were honoured during the ongoing Jal Mahotsava 2026 for the smooth implementation of rural water governance under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). President Droupadi Murmu, who felicitated them, appreciated them for their contributions. The Ministry of Jal Shakti is organising Jal Mahotsava 2026 from March 8 to March 22.

While Anitha of Muddatanuru was honoured for her efforts to ensure 24/7 water supply to Muddatanuru Gram Panchayat, Channamma received the award for ensuring that every house in Sarawad has tap water connections with round-the-clock supply.

Anita who worked alongside the Gram Panchayat and the Village Water and Sanitation Committee in Ballari, said, “I went door to door to identify households that lacked water connections and encouraged them to apply for it. I also helped in the operation and maintenance of the water supply system, coordinating with water supply staff, monitoring daily distribution and reporting leakages or breakdowns for timely rectification.”

Channamma, a resident of Sarawad GP in Vijayapura district, said, “As an Anganwadi worker, I reached out to families and created awareness about responsible water use and safe drinking water practices. I also encouraged every family to responsibly use and maintain their piped water connection.”

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

The partners now plan an aerial corridor between Electronic City and the upcoming hospital in Banashankari, with expansion across Bengaluru and to cities including Kolkata.

A pilot project on drone-based medical logistics has demonstrated how diagnostic samples can be transported across urban healthcare systems, significantly reducing delivery time and improving efficiency.

The pilot connected Narayana Health’s clinic in Chandapura to its central laboratory in Narayana Health City, Electronic City, covering a 4-km distance in about 10 minutes, far quicker than traditional traffic-laden road transport.

Over 54 consecutive days, the system completed over 700 flights, carrying up to 40 samples per trip with zero failure. The drone network replaced the earlier system of making four transfers through the road, with frequent, on-demand deliveries, enabling continuous flow of samples and faster diagnostics for patients.

Dr Devi Prasad Shetty, founder and chairman, Narayana Health, said, “This shift presents a massive opportunity to lower the cost of diagnostics and improve access. India could become the first country to dissociate healthcare from wealth within the next five to seven years.”

The pilot was carried out by Narayana Health in partnership with Airbound, whose founder and CEO Naman Pushp said, “Completing over 700 flights with zero failures shows aerial logistics is already reliable in real-world conditions.”

The partners now plan an aerial corridor between Electronic City and the upcoming hospital in Banashankari, with expansion across Bengaluru and to cities including Kolkata.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

The Karntaka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM) supported setting up 40 new Global Ccapacity Centres (GCC) in Bengaluru and 10 in Beyond Bengaluru clusters in the financial year 2024-25, as per KDEM’s annual report released on Tuesday. 

The State currently hosts more than 880 GCCs, up from around 500 GCCs in 2021. 

Samir Venugopal, VP at KDEM, highlighted that GCC talent in the State has gone up from around 3.5 lakh in FY 2021 to 6.5 lakh in FY 2026. He also noted that Bengaluru has recorded the highest absorption of office space for three consecutive quarters.

Startups surge

According to the report, the year also saw the number of DPIIT-registered startups in the State rising to 16700. With the Beyond Bengaluru push, more than 3300 startups were registered in cities outside Bengaluru.  

According to the officials, four corporate proposals have been approved to train people under the Nipuna Scheme, and the programme will go live soon. Around 10,000 beneficiaries expected. 

Beyond Bengaluru 

Sanjeev Gupta, CEO at KDEM, noted that the Beyond Bengaluru clusters have seen 15 GCCs in the last three years. According to him, 11,10,000 sqft of IT park infrastructure is now available in these clusters.  

In the coming year, under the initiative, KDEM aims to onboard 30 new companies, with 10 in each of the clusters, including Mysuru, Mangaluru and the Hubballi-Belagavi-Dharwad cluster. KDEM data suggests that 126 new companies have been set up across the clusters and more than 5,500 jobs have been generated so far under the Beyond Bengaluru programme. 

For the coming year, the initiative aims to anchor 10 plus next-gen GCCs that focus on AI, cybersecurity, semiconductor, climate tech, and healthtech, and to form three clusters of NRI forums outside India to network and invite investment opportunities to the clusters.

Reset needed

While the State continues to lead on many fronts, Bhaskar Verma, regional director at Nasscom, remarked that it is time for a reset. “While we can keep on talking about Karnataka numbers, the neighbouring State is taking a little lead,” he said, citing a recent Nasscom report. “While we still have huge numbers, we have to see what needs to be done differently,” he said.

The event also saw an MoU being launched between STPI and KDEM. Arvind Kumar, Director General of STPI, said that consumer internet was a low-hanging fruit when the ecosystem was being created, and startups are now more serious about creating sustainable systems. “I have been seeing scientists from institutions like ISRO and DRDO leaving to join startups, and to serve the country,” he said.

Rahul Sharanappa, MD, KITS, hoped for a 5x improvement in the achievements that KDEM has gained so far, in the coming years. 

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

The State of Berlin opened a representative business office in Bengaluru on Wednesday, the first such office in India and the third globally after New York and Beijing.

The inauguration of the office comes eight months after the capital city of Germany signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Karnataka to further start-up growth in both cities and facilitate innovation and talent exchange.

“The Berlin office in Bengaluru is part of our decision to be present here continuously,” said Franziska Giffey, Mayor of Berlin and Senator/Minister for Economic Affairs, Energy and Enterprises.

Export increase to India

“The focus would be inbound, outbound, and talent,” she said, elaborating that the office would support talent migration from India to Germany or Indian students who wish to study in Germany and companies from either of the countries who wish to invest in the other.

According to her, the Indian population in Berlin has risen significantly, which has gone up from around 2,000 a decade ago to around 45,000 currently. She noted that exports from Berlin to India witnessed a significant rise in 2025. 

“Berlin’s average export increase was 6% last year, whereas to India the exports increased by 21%,” she said.

Berlin’s imports from India totaled €285 million last year, compared to €169 million in exports to India during the same period, she added.

Start-up cities

Emphasising the parallels between Bengaluru and Berlin, Ms. Giffey observed that Bengaluru is regarded as the Silicon Valley of India, and Berlin as that of Germany.

“Our target is to become the most innovative place in Europe. We want to be at the forefront of international competition. For that, we have to broaden our mind, which means not just limit our focus to the United States or European countries, but also work with the Asian market and partners,” she said.

Berlin hosts the largest start-up ecosystem in Germany with about 6,000 start-ups that employ around 100,000 people.

“When we looked at which city was the best fit for Berlin, we felt Bengaluru could be a strong partner. There is the potential for cooperation in key technology areas and innovation. Then there is also the aspect of our demographic change on the one hand and India’s very young population on the other. We also see the potential for economic growth,” Ms. Giffey said.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Operation Quench Thirst initiative by PfA Wildlife Hospital focuses on replenishing critical water sources inside Turahalli Forest through daily water tanker deployments and installation of water troughs while also refilling and sustaining existing natural water sources.

The PfA Wildlife Hospital, a non-profit organisation dedicated to protecting and rehabilitating urban wildlife, has been running Operation Quench Thirst to ensure regular replenishment of water sources inside Turahalli forest in Bengaluru.

The NGO said that every summer, spotted deer are among the most commonly rescued animals along the edges of Turahalli forest, often found injured after encountering dangers that arise when they stray out of forest zones, including road accidents.

“In 2025 alone, PfA rescued many spotted deer under such circumstances,” it said,

It added that deer, peafowl, golden jackals, babblers and mynas are frequently rescued near forest boundaries during peak summer, highlighting the growing stress on wildlife due to drying water sources.

“When water sources inside forests dry up, animals are forced to move out in search of water. That’s when we see an increase in injuries, conflict, and distress — most of which are preventable,” said Colonel. Dr. Navaz Shariff, Chief Wildlife Veterinarian, PfA Wildlife Hospital.

It added that the Operation Quench Thirst initiative focuses on replenishing critical water sources inside Turahalli Forest through daily water tanker deployments and installation of water troughs, which have been strategically installed across Turahalli and KB kaval forest ranges, while also refilling and sustaining existing natural water sources within the forest ecosystem.

The initiative is carried out in collaboration with the Karnataka Forest Department and with support from the citizens of Bengaluru.

“Providing water within the forest is one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect wildlife and reduce conflict with humans,” Dr. Shariff said.

The forest supports a rich diversity of species including leopards, spotted deer, wild boars, golden jackals, mongooses, hares and peafowl, along with birds such as owls, barbets, cuckoos, babblers and white-rumped shama, and several snake species.

PfA added that it continues to receive multiple rescue calls daily for dehydrated animals and birds, further underlining the urgent need for sustained water support both inside forests and across urban spaces.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)