DEOSS International Conference on Dry Eye Disease to be held in Bengaluru on January 31

The event will bring together leading specialists and researchers to discuss the latest advancements in the diagnosis and management of ocular surface disorders.

An international conference of the Dry Eye and Ocular Surface Society (DEOSS) will be held in Bengaluru on January 31.

With Dry Eye Disease emerging as a major public health concern — fuelled by increased screen time, modern lifestyle, pollution, and prolonged exposure to air-conditioned environment — the conference aims to address the growing challenges in eye health.

Organised by Narayana Nethralaya, the event will bring together leading specialists and researchers to discuss the latest advancements in the diagnosis and management of ocular surface disorders.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

MRPL wins two major honours at FIPI Awards during India Energy Week 2026

Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL), a Schedule ‘A’ CPSE and a subsidiary of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, has once again reinforced its leadership in innovation by winning two major honours at the Federation of Indian Petroleum Industry (FIPI) Awards, held on the sidelines of India Energy Week (IEW) 2026.

MRPL was conferred with the FIPI Innovator of the Year (Team) Award 2025, recognising the organisation’s sustained excellence in refining innovation and indigenous technological advancement. In addition, R Karthick of MRPL was honoured with the Young Achiever of the Year in Oil Industry (Male) award, acknowledging his outstanding individual contribution to innovation in the downstream oil and gas sector.

The FIPI Innovator of the Year (Team) Award was received by Mundkur Shyamprasad Kamath, managing director, MRPL, along with Nandakumar Velayudhan Pillai, director (refinery). The award was presented by Hardeep Singh Puri, minister of petroleum and natural gas, government of India, in the presence of Dr Neeraj Mittal, secretary, ministry of petroleum and natural gas.

India Energy Week (IEW) is India’s flagship global energy event, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, innovators, and technology providers to shape the future of energy security and energy transition. The Federation of Indian Petroleum Industry (FIPI) is the apex industry body representing India’s oil and gas sector, promoting policy advocacy, innovation, and sustainable growth.

With these recognitions, MRPL has achieved a significant milestone—winning innovation awards in refining from the Government of India for the fifth time in the last four years, underscoring its consistent focus on process excellence, operational efficiency, and technology-driven growth.

Commenting on the achievement, MRPL’s top management stated, “These awards are a testament to MRPL’s deep-rooted culture of innovation and teamwork. Our people continue to push boundaries through indigenous solutions, digitalisation, and sustainable refining practices. Recognition at a national platform like FIPI and India Energy Week further strengthens our resolve to support India’s energy security while advancing the transition towards a cleaner and more resilient energy future.”

MRPL continues to play a pivotal role in India’s downstream energy ecosystem, leveraging innovation, scale, and sustainability to deliver world-class fuels and petrochemicals in alignment with national priorities.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

India to become third largest space-tech economy by 2030: Report

The report estimates that by 2030 India’s space economy will touch $40 billion and expects the sector to grow at twice the pace of the global market.

India’s space economy, currently estimated to be at $13 billion, is set to touch $40 billion by 2030, according to the recent India Spacetech-2026 report by early-stage venture capital firm, Arkam Ventures.

Titled ‘India’s Space Odyssey’, the report forecasts the sector to grow at twice the pace of the global market and that structural shifts in India’s spacetech ecosystem will propel it to the world’s third-largest space-tech economy by 2030. The growth will be fuelled by cost-efficient engineering, deep manufacturing capabilities and a new generation of startups building advanced space technologies for customers worldwide, it notes.

Higher capital inflow expected

Over the past five years, more than 300 space-tech startups have emerged in India, in areas such as satellite manufacturing, earth observation, launch vehicles and in-space solutions.

“More than two-thirds of the historical capital flows in the Indian spacetech sector have come in the last 5 years, post the space policy being formulated. We expect $3-$5 Bn of private capital flows in the sector over the next couple of years to fund cutting edge space innovations.” the report reads.

According to the VC, this momentum is built on ISRO’s legacy of low-cost, high-impact missions and its active support for private innovation.

“Its frugal engineering philosophy has shaped how startups design, test, and deliver products. Access to ISRO facilities and technology transfers has helped reduce time and cost to market. A talent flywheel is emerging with companies founded by alumni of ISRO and institutions such as BITS and IIT Madras, supported by more than 25,000 skilled engineering graduates in aerospace and allied sectors, annually. This combination of institutional backing and fresh talent is enabling startups to move from prototypes to market-ready solutions at unprecedented speed,” a statement from the firm said.

Indian companies to be among world’s top

The report also forecasts five Indian companies featuring among the world’s top 10 companies across the space-tech value chain in the coming years.

“India is uniquely positioned to lead the global spacetech sector fuelled by the unique ecosystem development role played by ISRO and the support from the Government. Over the next five years, we expect $3-$3.5 Bn of VC and Private Equity investments in the sector. We foresee 5 Indian startups feature among the world’s top 10 companies in vehicle launch, situational awareness, earth observation satellite manufacturing, and space debris handling,” said Rahul Chandra, Managing Director, Arkam Ventures.

The report also projects that by 2030 Indian private players will conduct 40 to 45 launches each year for global customers, manufacture one-third of the world’s Earth Observation Satellites and emerge as major exporters of avionics, GNSS, SATCOM and ground RF systems.

Aerospace scientist B.N. Suresh, former Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre and former chancellor of Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, unveiled the report at the Arkam Spacetech Meetup held in Bengaluru.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Karnataka trio among Padma Shri awardees, Anke Gowda named unsung hero

Anke Gowda, S G Susheelamma and Dr Suresh Hanagavadi from Karnataka have been named recipients of the prestigious Padma Shri Awards, announced on the eve of Republic Day.

The Padma Awards, among India’s highest civilian honours, recognise exceptional contributions across diverse fields. This year, Anke Gowda has been selected under the ‘unsung heroes’ category for her selfless service.

Dr Suresh Hanagavadi, professor of pathology at JJM Medical College and founder of the Karnataka Hemophilia Society, has been honoured for his decades-long contribution to improving the lives of hemophilia patients. A severe hemophilic himself, Hanagavadi has travelled extensively across the country to strengthen hemophilia care services and played a key role in ensuring that expensive medicines are made available free of cost at government district hospitals across Karnataka.

He has also established a state-of-the-art Hemophilia Treatment Centre in Davangere, bringing all inherited blood disorder services under one roof by mobilising support from the public, philanthropists and the government. Recognised earlier as a Changemaker in 2021, Hanagavadi said the Padma honour came as a surprise.

“This is the result of nearly four decades of efforts to get national-level recognition for hemophilia. The silent pain of hemophilia patients has been rewarded. I hope this award helps ensure quality healthcare for hemophilics across the country,” he said, recalling that late playback singer S P Balasubrahmanyam, associated with the Karnataka Hemophilia Society, had often encouraged him to seek national recognition.

S G Susheelamma has also been recognised among this year’s Padma awardees, which celebrate a wide spectrum of unsung heroes from across India. The list includes individuals from marginalised communities, primitive tribes and remote regions, highlighting grassroots contributions that often go unnoticed.

This year’s Padma Shri honours reaffirm the spirit of recognising silent service and transformative social impact from across the length and breadth of the country.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

Indian history video series to be launched at Sabha BLR in Bengaluru

The 15-episode video series titled ‘Indian History, Thali by Thali’ will explore different periods of Indian history through the lens of food. 

The Historically Tempered Collective will launch ‘Indian History, Thali by Thali’, a video series, on January 27 at Sabha BLR.  

History through lens of food

The 15-episode video series will explore different periods of Indian history through the lens of food. The short videos spanning eight to fifteen minutes target youngsters between the ages of 12 and 16 years. 

“We have already released two. One more will be released at the event and the next one in about a week,” said Janaki Nair, senior historian and a member of the collective.   

Engaging format

The videos, produced in an engaging format, feature conversations with professional historians.  

“Given the way a very large number of people are interested in speaking about history lately, even if they’re not necessarily professional historians, we felt we should intervene. We wanted to do it in a popular and accessible format,” Ms. Nair said.  

“While most experts who are speaking in the videos are very senior, they also include a few younger and fresher voices. Therefore, we have been able to communicate in very direct and simple ways,” she added.  

Workshop and panel discussion

Before the launch event, a workshop will also be held for school teachers.  

“The workshop is to look at how to use these videos in creative ways. Without teachers, we feel, this might not be something that youngsters will actually look for. So, we need the intervention of teachers to take it forward,” Ms. Nair said. 

The event will also feature a panel discussion in which, apart from Ms. Nair, Meera Iyer, convenor at INTACH Bengaluru chapter, Saisudha Acharya, nonfiction author and educator, and Ajay Cadambi, educator, would participate.

There is no entry fee for the event and it will be held at Sabha BLR, 6 PM, January 27.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Conservationists name ultra-rare leopard colour morph in Karnataka as ‘Sandalwood Leopard’. Spotted and Documented for First Time in Karnataka.

Internationally, leopards of this colour morph are referred to as ‘Strawberry leopards’ and have been sporadically recorded in South Africa and in Tanzania.

In a rare and significant wildlife record, an ultra-rare leopard colour morph has been documented for the first time in Karnataka, in Vijayanagara district, by conservation biologist and expert on leopards, Sanjay Gubbi and his team from the Holématthi Nature Foundation (HNF).

Most leopards (Panthera pardus) possess tawny coats with black rosettes. However, this exceptionally rare colour morph exhibits a pale reddish-pink coat—resembling the hue of sandalwood—with light-brown rosettes.

“This genetically unusual colouration is believed to result from a genetic condition involving either an excess of red pigmentation or a deficiency of dark pigmentation. To give the morph a native identity and reflect Karnataka’s cultural heritage, Dr Sanjay Gubbi has named it the Sandalwood Leopard,” a statement by the Foundation noted.

It added that internationally, leopards of this colour morph are referred to as ‘Strawberry leopards’. Globally, such individuals have been sporadically recorded in South Africa and on a single occasion in Tanzania, with only a handful of documented cases worldwide.

In India, Sandalwood Leopards are extremely rare. A single individual was previously documented from the Ranakpur region of Rajasthan in November 2021, making the Vijayanagara record only the second confirmed documentation from the country.

The Sandalwood Leopard recorded in Vijayanagara district is a female, estimated to be 6-7 years old, and was documented through camera trapping. In one of the images, the female was photographed with a cub that displays normal coat colouration and black rosettes.

“This leopard is consistent with conditions such as hypomelanism or erythrism, both of which are naturally occurring genetic traits identified in wild mammals. At present, this assessment is based on photographic evidence and visual characteristics. While these features are distinctive, definitive confirmation of the exact genetic mechanism would require molecular analysis using DNA from non-invasive samples such as scat or hair. Until such genetic evidence is available, it is scientifically appropriate to describe this animal as a rare colour morph rather than assign a specific genetic condition,” the statement quoted Sanjay Gubbi as saying.

Another well-known leopard colour morph observed in India is the melanistic (black) leopard, which is far more frequently reported than the Sandalwood Leopard.

The documentation was carried out by the HNF team comprising Sanjay Gubbi, Sandesh Appu Naik, Shravan Suthar, Poornesha H.C., Ruma Kundarkar, Ravichandra Velip, Dayanand Mirashi, Sumit Velip, Aishwarya Karanth, and Mayur Mirashi.

Camera trapping was conducted as part of HNF’s ongoing efforts to estimate leopard populations and identify key landscapes for large mammal conservation in the Kalyana-Karnataka region. This region remains under-studied from a wildlife conservation perspective yet holds significant potential for conserving arid-zone species such as the Indian grey wolf, striped hyena, and Bengal fox.

HNF’s research indicates that Karnataka supports an estimated ~2,500 leopards. The Foundation’s work has also led to several important discoveries, including the first-ever documentation of the honey badger in the state, the white morph of wild dogs, and range extensions of chinkara, dhole, and brown mongoose, among other significant findings.

source/content: downtoearth.org (headlines edited)

Karnataka records highest-ever organ donations in 2025, ranks third nationally

Officials say increase was driven by the empanelment of more hospitals as non-retrieval organ transplant centres, including in tier-two cities, along with sustained awareness efforts.

Karnataka’s State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO), the nodal agency that facilitates cadaver organ donations, has recorded 198 donations in 2025, the highest recorded in the State so far. This surpasses the previous peak of 178 donations in 2023. With this, Karnataka ranked third in the country in organ donations for the year, after Tamil Nadu with 267 donations, and Telangana with 205.

The steady rise in donations over the past five years reflects expanded hospital participation, growing awareness and improved systems, officials said. In 2024, the State recorded 168 donations, while the figure stood at 70 in 2021.

Principal Secretary (Health) Harsh Gupta told The Hindu that the increase was driven by the empanelment of more hospitals as non-retrieval organ transplant centres (NTHORCs), including in tier-two cities, along with sustained awareness efforts. “We are also felicitating donor families on January 26 and August 15 through the Chief Minister and Ministers, which has helped in building awareness and trust around organ donation,” he said.

Expansion plans

Mr. Gupta said the government now plans to expand the programme to taluk-level hospitals. “Doctors also need to be sensitised about declaring brain death. A lot more needs to be done. We are identifying where there is potential for donations and what the challenges are,” he said.

He pointed out that institutions such as NIMHANS see a significant number of cases where brain death could potentially be declared, but these opportunities are not being fully utilised. “This is a challenge. We had planned to place dedicated counsellors and earmark beds for potential brain-death cases, but these are not being used effectively. We will soon depute two dedicated grief counsellors there,” he said.

Tamil Nadu software

To improve transparency and efficiency, Karnataka SOTTO has adopted a software system already in use in Tamil Nadu. The platform tracks the entire process- from registration of patients, declaration of brain death to identification of eligible recipients from the waiting list and facilitation of transplants.

“Basic data entry has begun. Once a patient is registered, the queue system starts. All documents will be uploaded by hospitals and every step will be tracked online,” Mr. Gupta said.

Under the new system, once a donation is activated, alerts will be sent to the top 50 registered patients and empanelled hospitals. “Everything will be managed online and there will be transparency at every stage,” he said.

Cross-matching services

Karnataka has also decentralised cross-matching services, which earlier required patients to travel to Bengaluru.

The State has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Bangalore Medical Services Trust (BMST) laboratory to provide cross-matching and HLA testing for eligible recipients in Mangaluru (Wenlock Hospital), Hubballi (KIMS), and Mysuru (K.R. Hospital). For each donation, the first five to 10 eligible patients will be called for matching, a process that takes five to six hours.

“Karnataka has considerable untapped potential for organ donation and the recent gains represent only a modest beginning. This trend now needs to be pushed much further,” Mr. Gupta added.

State missed 15 potential donations in 2025

Karnataka has missed 15 potential organ donations in 2025. This is mainly due to reluctance by families of potential donors and misconceptions surrounding organ donations.

Elaborating on the reasons, the officials said potential donations are missed sometimes because the identified donor is not fit to donate due to clinical reasons. Or, someone from the donor family/distant family/friends circle says no to organ donation and the next of kin do not have much say in taking a decision against the wish of those opposing it. Also, there are misconceptions surrounding organ donation.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Karnataka’s Bhoomi project, a governance success

The project offers lessons for other States rushing to digitise land records.

For decades, access to land records was one of rural India’s most persistent governance failures. Karnataka’s Bhoomi project, now completing 25 years, offers an instructive counterpoint showing how administrative reform can reshape the relationship between governance and the people.

Until the late 1990s, land administration in Karnataka relied almost entirely on handwritten records maintained by village accountants. Farmers seeking a Record of Rights, Tenancy, and Crops (RTC) often had to repeatedly visit revenue offices, navigate complex procedures, and rely on intermediaries. Errors in records were common, and corrections took months. In an agrarian State where land disputes routinely spilt into civil courts, the costs of administrative inefficiency were borne disproportionately by small and marginal farmers.

Launched in 2000, Bhoomi was a bold departure from this legacy. Its immediate goal was simple: computerise land records and make them accessible. Its greater ambition was to replace discretion with rules, delay with timelines, and opacity with transparency. The legal recognition of computerised RTCs and the abolition of handwritten records marked a historic shift. Over the last 25 years, more than 39.8 crore RTCs have been issued, fundamentally altering how land records are accessed across the State.

Many revenue officials were initially hesitant to abandon familiar manual systems. Karnataka responded with large-scale capacity building, training nearly 9,000 village accountants, 8,000 revenue inspectors, and 1,000 computer operators. The establishment of 204 Bhoomi Kendras at the taluk level enabled the digitisation of nearly 2.5 crore land records covering about 3.5 crore farmers. What followed was not merely digitisation, but a cultural shift within the administration.

Initially, the Bhoomi project in Karnataka began as a modest effort to computerise only manual RTCs. But today, it functions as a comprehensive digital ecosystem that integrates land and revenue administration with multiple welfare services. The integration of Bhoomi with the Kaveri registration system changed the face of land registration in Karnataka. By linking registration with land records, the State sharply reduced fraudulent transactions and eliminated middlemen. Mutation, once a source of endless delay, became automatic and transparent. Survey and boundary disputes, another chronic problem, were addressed through the introduction of the Mojini (Survey) software in 2007. For the first time, land measurement and survey processes were brought under a digital, time-bound framework. The 11E Sketch, a pre-conversion map introduced by Karnataka, further improved accuracy in land boundaries and area measurement. The result has been a visible reduction in land-related disputes.

Bhoomi’s evolution also reflects Karnataka’s broader approach to governance: using administrative reform to strengthen welfare delivery. Since 2016, crop compensation has been credited directly to farmers’ bank accounts, bypassing intermediaries. During the 2018 loan waiver programme, Bhoomi data enabled the waiver of loans for nearly 20 lakh farmers. The integration with PM-Kisan, the Agriculture Department’s FRUITS platform, and Aadhaar seeding of over 2.17 crore farmer accounts has improved targeting and reduced leakages. By ensuring accurate and up-to-date records, Bhoomi has helped convert entitlement on paper into benefits on the ground.

Perhaps Bhoomi’s most significant achievement is not technological but experiential. Farmers no longer have to travel from village to taluk and taluk to district offices for routine services. The scope for discretionary abuse has narrowed. The relationship between citizens and the revenue administration has become more predictable. In a State where land remains emotionally and economically central, this shift has strengthened trust in public institutions.

As Karnataka reflects on Bhoomi at 25, the project offers lessons for other States rushing to digitise land records. Technology alone does not deliver reform. Bhoomi worked because it was embedded in administrative restructuring, legal change, and continuous institutional learning. It shows that digital governance succeeds when it is incremental, inclusive, and grounded in local realities.

Dr. Kumara IAS is Deputy Commissioner, Mandya District

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)