Indian space tech startup PierSight on Wednesday announced the Varuna satellite that will deliver 24/7 all-weather maritime surveillance.

The Varuna mission that aims to redefine maritime intelligence with an in-orbit demonstration of groundbreaking imaging technology is the first step by PierSight to establish a constellation of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and Automatic Identification System (AIS) satellites.

The SAR & AIS satellite constellation will provide 100 per cent ocean coverage with up to 30-minute revisit times. Unlike conventional optical satellites, Synthetic Aperture Radars aboard the satellite can see even through cloud cover, extreme weather, and nighttime. This enables PierSight’s dedicated maritime-focused constellation to offer persistent monitoring, a vital tool to accurately track ship movements, detect oil spills, and geo-fencing critical infrastructure such as undersea cables and pipelines.

Developed in an unprecedented nine months, Varuna is equipped with breakthrough technologies, including a SAR system in CubeSAT format and an indigenously developed reflectarray antenna, showcasing the first private SAR satellite in-orbit demonstration from India.

“Technology readiness level (TRL) is defined on a scale of 1 to 9 (with 9 being the highest). With Varuna, we will achieve TRL-9 for all subsystems. This will demonstrate flightworthiness for all future missions,” said Vinit Bansal, CTO and Co-founder, PierSight.

PierSight is co-founded by ex-ISRO scientist Gaurav Seth and Bansal who is an ex-national instruments engineer.

The satellite features a deployable reflectarray antenna and a modular Software-Defined Radar & Radio (SDRR), innovations crucial for enhancing satellite adaptability and future operational needs.

Varuna also exemplifies PierSight’s rapid deployment capabilities, setting new standards in the industry where 18-24 months is the norm.

“This rapid development demonstrates our ability to respond swiftly to the urgent needs for environmental and security surveillance,” said Gaurav Seth, CEO and Co-founder of PierSight.

“We are setting new standards in the industry by rapidly advancing from concept to flight-readiness in such a short span. Our existing and potential customers are interested in launch-on-demand capabilities; Varuna is a demonstration of this capability.”

Varuna will fly aboard the ISRO’s PSLV launcher as a secondary payload aboard the POEM platform. ISRO is yet to announce the date, however, it is slated for launch within the year.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

The device uses a protein-based biosensor to detect harmful pollutants like phenol and benzene from water samples.

In a significant development for sustainable environmental management, scientists at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) have introduced AroTrack, an economical and portable device to accurately detect harmful pollutants such as phenol or benzene in water.  

Scientists claim that the device can be a game-changer given the increasing water pollution due to industrialisation, urbanisation, and unregulated effluent discharge.  

AroTrack device uses proteins typically found in bacteria living in heavily polluted environments to effectively identify multiple aromatic pollutants in water. Once mixed in the water sample, the protein undergoes a highly selective ATP hydrolysis chemical reaction if an aromatic compound is present in the sample. This reaction is expressed with a change in the colour of the protein solution, which AroTrack can then detect. The device is highly robust and compact, measuring slightly smaller than a small projector. 

Professor Ruchi Anand from the Department of Chemistry, Professor Rajdip Bandyopadhyaya from the Department of Chemical Engineering and their team at IIT Bombay introduced a simple and affordable biosensing device capable of detecting harmful compounds such as, phenol, benzene, and xylenols.  

The key component of the device is a biosensing module called MopR – a sensitive sensor for detecting phenol. Ms. Anand’s research team engineered it from the Acinetobacter calcoaceticus bacteria in 2017. MopR is both selective and stable, meaning it can detect pollutants even in complex environments with a high degree of precision. 

Researchers at IIT Bombay have further diversified the MopR biosensor to detect other pollutants from the benzene and xylenol groups by engineering mutations in the bacterial protein. “The protein biosensing is very specific as the protein sensing pocket is tailor-made for the ligand (ion or molecule, like phenol or benzene). We have engineered mutations in the DNA of the protein sequence that can give mutant versions of the protein that now sense different molecules, creating a battery of sensors. Each sensor is particularly designed for a ligand,” Ms. Anand explains. 

Once interfaced with an in-house, multi-channel monitoring apparatus, the MopR-based sensor forms the core of the newly developed aromatics tracking device—AroTrack. Talking about how the AroTrack detects the pollutants using the biosensor modules, Mr. Bandyopadhyaya explained, “AroTrack contains a light emitting diode [LED]-phototransistor assembly, that shines a light of appropriate wavelength through the sample and detects how much is absorbed. A more intense colour generates a higher absorbance.”  

The overall cost of the device is a minimum of $ 50 [less than ₹5,000]. Mr. Bandyopadhyaya said that AroTrack was born out of the philosophy to make field-usable analytical devices, based on translating analytical capabilities generated in the laboratory into actual field-ready devices. “It is designed so that almost any user, technically trained or layman, may quickly learn and generate accurate data for traditionally difficult to measure and distinguish aromatic xenobiotic pollutants,” he said. 

“Using in-house 3D printing in our laboratory, we were able to economically design, fabricate and iterate a fully functional device. Also, the cost could be kept down by using basic electronics and open-source, mass-produced microcontrollers for data processing and analysis,” Mr. Bandyopadhyaya added. 

AroTrack can detect several aromatic contaminants, including phenol, benzene, and 2, 3 dimethylphenol, even when these pollutants are present in low concentrations – usually in the 10-200 parts per billion range. 

Tests in simulated wastewater and actual environmental samples have found that the AroTrack is highly reliable, offering a degree of accuracy and efficiency on par with modern spectrophotometers, which are currently used for detection. The device also reliably worked in water temperatures up to 50 degrees Celsius and completed the tests in under 30 minutes, the scientists said. 

Due to its low cost, battery-operated nature, and portability, AroTrack can be ideal for rural and low-income settings that often lack resources and have difficulty accessing expensive laboratory tests, Ms. Anand said, “We are currently trying to increase the type of pollutants to biphenyl aromatics and pollutants that are complex aromatics.” 

Speaking about its market readiness, Mr. Bandyopadhyaya said, “The product is ready as an initial functional prototype, which can demonstrate all the reported functions. To make it fully market-ready, more field trials and quality analysis are needed to assess its robustness under more varied working conditions in the field, with a wider variety of water sources and compositions.” 

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Top five source countries for international students in the US for 2023-24 are — India, China (2,77,398), South Korea (43,149), Canada (28,998) and Taiwan (23,157).

More than 3.3 lakh Indians are studying in the US, making India the “top sender” of international students to America for the first time in 15 years, according to the Open Doors Report 2024 released on Monday.

In the academic year 2022-23, the leading source country for international students in the US was China followed by India.

According to the latest Open Doors Report, the number of Indian students studying in the US in the academic year 2023-24 is at an “all-time high” at 3,31,602, a rise of 23 per cent from 2022-23 when the number stood at 2,68,923.

“India is now the leading country of origin for international students in the United States, accounting for 29 per cent of the total international student population,” according to a note shared by the US Embassy on the Open Doors Report 2024.

According to official data associated with the latest report, the top five source countries for international students in the US for 2023-24 are — India, China (2,77,398), South Korea (43,149), Canada (28,998) and Taiwan (23,157).

“India is the top sender of international students (for the first time since 2008/2009) with over 3,31,602 students studying in the United States. The number of Indian students is at an all-time high,” the US Embassy’s note read.

Normally, the academic year in the US begins in September and runs through May.

India also “remained the largest sender” of international graduate (masters and PhD level) students in the US for the second year. The number of Indian graduate students increased by 19 per cent to reach 1,96,567, it said.

The number of undergraduate students from India also increased by 13 per cent to 36,053 while the number of non-degree students experienced a 28 per cent decline to 1,426 students, according to the report.

The release of the Open Doors Report marked the beginning of International Education Week (IEW), which celebrates the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide.

The report is published by the Institute of International Education. The IIE has been conducting an annual statistical survey on international students in the US since its founding in 1919 and in partnership with the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs since 1972.

Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Telegraph Online staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)

The government also has revamped the existing fleet of buses, equipping them with power steering and adjustable seats.

Delhi has made history with the inauguration of its first all-women bus depot, with Sarojini Nagar being renamed the ‘Sakhi Depot’. The renaming of the oldest depot in the city is a tribute to women and a symbol of the changing time in a mainly male-dominated field.

Unveiled by Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot, the depot aims to “break barriers for women”. “The all-women initiative is not just about operating buses, but also about empowering women to take charge in a space where they have traditionally been underrepresented. The depot is just the beginning; we will establish many such depots under the ‘Sakhi’ initiative,” he said.

The ‘Sakhi Depot’ has a total workforce of 223 women, comprising 89 drivers and 134 conductors. It operates a fleet of 70 buses, including 40 air-conditioned and 30 non-AC buses, serving 17 routes across Delhi.

The shift didn’t come without challenges, though. The government has tweaked steps such as revision in the height requirement for drivers. “The original minimum height requirement of 159 cm excluded many aspiring women drivers. In February 2022, the height requirement was reduced to 153 cm,” an official said.

The government also has revamped the existing fleet of buses, equipping them with power steering and adjustable seats. Another hurdle was obtaining Heavy Motor Vehicle licences.

The first batch of 11 women drivers successfully graduated from the programme in August 2022. Currently, 89 women drivers are operating DTC buses.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

The precision strike variant for Pinaka MLRS is an indigenous weapon system designed, and is expected to become the mainstay of the long range rocket artillery.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Thursday (November 14, 2024) announced the successful completion of flight tests of guided Pinaka multi-barrel rocket (MBRL) system as part of Provisional Staff Qualitative Requirements (PSQR) validation trials paving the way for its induction. This enhances the range of the Pinaka to over 75km.

The flight tests have been conducted in three phases at different field firing ranges.

“During these tests, the PSQR parameters viz., ranging, accuracy, consistency and rate of fire for multiple target engagement in a salvo mode have been assessed by extensive testing of rockets. Twelve rockets from each production agency from two in-service Pinaka launchers upgraded by the launcher production agencies have been tested,” DRDO said in a statement.

The Indian Army has four Pinaka regiments in service and six more are on order. The Pinaka Mk1 has a range of 38 km and several extended ranges are under development. It can fire a variety of ammunition. Eventually, the plan is to take up the range to 120 km and then to 300 km.

In addition to the Pinaka, the Army has five Grad rocket regiments and three Smerch regiments. Eventually, the indigenous Pinaka will become the mainstay of the long range rocket artillery.

The precision strike variant for Pinaka MLRS is a totally indigenous weapon system designed and developed by Armament Research and Development Establishment in association with Research Centre Imarat, Defence Research and Development Laboratory, High Energy Materials Research Laboratory and Proof & Experimental Establishment. Munitions India Limited and Economic Explosives Limited are the production agencies for ammunition while Tata Advanced Systems Limited and Larsen & Toubro are for Pinaka launcher and battery command post.

Dr. Samir V. Kamat, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO, said that the rocket system has completed all “pre-requisite” flight trials before induction into the Indian Army.

As reported by The Hindu earlier, France is considering India’s Pinaka for its requirements along with other systems and a team is expected to visit Indian soon to carry out detailed evaluation of the system. Armenia became the first export customer for the Pinaka with interest expressed by several countries in the system.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu U.S. Congresswoman, challenges identity labels by being a Hindu-American with no Indian heritage, redefining what it means to embrace faith and culture.

In the kaleidoscope of American politics, few figures are as fascinating and unexpected as Tulsi Gabbard. The former Democratic Congresswoman turned Republican icon, appointed by President-elect Donald Trump as the new Director of National Intelligence, is not just making headlines for her shift in party allegiance or her military service.

Yes, you read that right.

Tulsi Gabbard, born in American Samoa and raised in Hawaii, is often mistaken for an Indian-American due to her Hindu faith and first name. But here’s the twist—while she practices Hinduism and carries the name “Tulsi” (a common name in Indian families), her roots aren’t Indian at all.

Gabbard’s mother, Carol Porter Gabbard, converted to Hinduism in the 1970s and raised her children as devotees of the Gaudiya Vaishnav school, which originates in Bengal. It was this spiritual practice—not any ancestral connection to India—that shaped Tulsi’s identity.

So why does this matter? In a country where identity is often tied to ethnic background, Gabbard’s case is a reminder that religion, culture, and heritage can be inherited in ways that defy conventional expectations.

The “Indian-American” misconception

The world may see Tulsi and assume she’s of Indian origin. After all, her first name is an homage to a sacred plant revered in Hinduism, and her role as the first Hindu member of Congress was widely celebrated in Indian-American communities. But Gabbard’s connection to Hinduism comes from her upbringing, not a familial legacy in India. It’s a story that challenges the typical narrative of what it means to be “Indian-American.”

Hailing from Hawaii, Tulsi had little in the way of Indian subcontinent exposure, but her faith and dedication to her religion of Hinduism were authentic. She would go on to explain how her mother’s conversion to the Hindu faith, along with their family’s practices on reincarnation, dramatically affected the family. It was the mother’s faith that induced them to turn in their Samoan roots, and this faith was preserved in their family.

Breaking stereotypes in American politics

Although Gabbard’s Hindu identity allowed her to stand out from the rest, it is worth mentioning that she wasn’t embraced by everyone in the political arena. Geographically, Gabbard held a foreign policy that irked some leftists, and sometimes she was challenged by members of the Hindu American communities because she did not fit the definition of ‘Indian’. However, the most diverse of all nations was intriguingly surprised by the revelation that, for Gabbard, political behaviour was not just about being an American politician of Indian descent but also about being an American politician of Hindu origin.

Gabbard’s story is a study in contrasts. She’s a progressive former Democrat who has now allied herself with the Republican Party, breaking ranks with the establishment for reasons that have raised eyebrows. Her military service, her commitment to Hinduism, and her candid criticism of both the Democratic and Republican establishments have made her a magnet for both admiration and controversy.

The faith that defines her

Tulsi’s Hindu identity is central to her narrative, yet it is not confined to the “Indian-American” label. The distinction is crucial because it highlights the multifaceted nature of religious and cultural identity in the U.S. Many Americans associate Hinduism with Indian heritage, but Gabbard’s story shows that Hinduism can be a path of personal discovery and commitment, even without a direct cultural link to the subcontinent.

Her embrace of the Gaudiya Vaishnav tradition—a branch of Hinduism rooted in devotion to Lord Krishna—reflects a deeply spiritual journey rather than a national or ethnic one. It’s this personal connection to faith that set her apart, not the geography of her ancestry. When she took her congressional oath on the Bhagavad Gita, it wasn’t just a religious symbol—it was a statement of her spiritual identity, forged in the U.S., by a family that embraced Hinduism long before it became widely recognized in American political circles.

The “Hindu-American” who challenges labels

Tulsi Gabbard’s rise to prominence has forced the world to rethink the labels we often assign to people based on religion or ethnicity. She represents a new kind of American identity—one that defies traditional boundaries. While her story doesn’t fit neatly into the “Indian-American” box, her story is just as powerful, showcasing the beautiful complexity of religious and cultural expression in the modern world.

So next time you hear Tulsi Gabbard’s name, remember this: She’s not just an Indian-American politician with a Hindu identity. She’s a Hindu-American who is not Indian-American—an identity that proves labels are often just a small part of who we truly are.

source/content: indiatvnews.com (headline edited)

Scientists have described the SKAO’s two arrays of telescopes — one in Australia and the other in South Africa — as “game-changers” for radio astronomy that will open new opportunities to explore the universe and the fundamental laws of physics.

India has joined as a full member of an international research consortium building the world’s largest radio telescope split across two continents and designed to probe the skies in unprecedented detail 10,000 times faster than possible now.

India’s department of atomic energy and department of science and technology are set to contribute ₹1,250 crore (140 million euros), about 10 per cent of the estimated 1.3 billion euros, for the construction of the Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO).

Scientists have described the SKAO’s two arrays of telescopes — one in Australia and the other in South Africa — as “game-changers” for radio astronomy that will open new opportunities to explore the universe and the fundamental laws of physics.

Indian scientists have participated in discussions on the design, construction and science goals for the SKAO since 2012 but India joined the SKAO Council this July. “India’s contributions to the SKAO have been substantial, spanning science, engineering and governance,” SKAO director-general PhilDiamond said.

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)

Women personnel constitute over seven per cent of the force whose present strength is about 1.80 lakh.

A first-ever all-women CISF battalion comprising more than 1,000 personnel has been sanctioned by the Union government keeping in mind the burgeoning duties of the force in VIP security, airports and other vital installations.

Officials told PTI that the unit will be raised from within the sanctioned manpower of the force of about two lakh personnel.

The Union home ministry issued a sanction order on Monday approving an exclusive women unit called “reserve battalion” in the force with a total strength of 1,025 personnel led by a senior commandant-rank officer, they said.

Women personnel constitute over seven per cent of the force whose present strength is about 1.80 lakh.

A force spokesperson said preparations for the early recruitment, training and selection of location for stationing the new reserve battalion has been initiated.

“The training is being specially designed to create an elite battalion capable of performing a multifarious role as commandos in VIP security and also security of airports, Delhi Metro, etc.,” he said.

Once raised, it will be the first all-women reserve battalion of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

The CISF has 12 reserve battalions under its establishment at present and they have a mix of both men and women personnel.

As the name suggests, reserve units are kept in readiness and this pool is used as reinforcement when the force gets a new job like temporary duties of conducting elections and permanent tasks of guarding an installation like the Parliament House complex that came under CISF cover this year, an official said.

The force has a huge interface with women commuters and visitors at facilities like the 68 civil airports it guards, the Delhi Metro and historical monuments like the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort. It already has female personnel deployed at these duty locations.

Apart from these installations, the 1969-raised CISF provides a counter-terrorist security cover to a number of facilities in the nuclear and aerospace domain apart from those in the private sector like the Infosys offices in Bengaluru and Pune, Reliance refinery in Jamnagar (Gujarat), among others.

The CISF projected a requirement of having an all-women reserve battalion early this year following the directions of Union home minister Amit Shah during the 53rd Raising Day of the force that was held in March 2023, a home ministry official said.

“The addition of a ‘mahila’ (women) battalion would encourage more aspiring young women across the country to join CISF and serve the nation. It will give a new identity to women in CISF,” the spokesperson said.

Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Telegraph Online staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)

During the test, all sub-systems performed as per expectation and met the primary mission objectives.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Tuesday conducted the maiden flight test of Long Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LRLACM) from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Odisha, from a mobile articulated launcher.

The missile performance was monitored by several range sensors like Radar, Electro-Optical Tracking System and telemetry deployed by ITR at different locations to ensure complete coverage of the flight path.

During the test, all sub-systems performed as per expectation and met the primary mission objectives.

The Ministry of Defence said, “The missile followed the desired path using waypoint navigation and demonstrated its capability to perform various manoeuvres while flying at various altitudes and speeds.”

The missile is also equipped with advanced avionics and software to ensure better and more reliable performance, MoD added.

LRLACM is a Defence Acquisition Council-approved, Acceptance of Necessity-sanctioned, Mission Mode Project. It is configured to launch from the ground using mobile articulated launchers and also from frontline ships using a universal vertical launch module system, MoD said.

LRLACM has been developed by the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), Bengaluru along with contributions from other DRDO laboratories and Indian industries. Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), Hyderabad and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bengaluru are the two Development-Cum-Production-Partners for LRLACM and they are engaged in missile development and integration.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has complimented DRDO, the Armed Forces, and the Industry on the successful Maiden Flight Test. It paves the way for future indigenous cruise missile development programmes, he said.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

The other countries who participated were Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Pakistan, the Maldives and Nepal.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India hosted South Asian nations for a multilateral event in New Delhi. Notably, the South Asian Telecommunication Regulators’ Council, the three-day event organised by the Asia Pacific Telecommunity (APT), includes a delegation from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, a significant inclusion. 

The Afghan officials present at the annual council declined to answer questions, but provided their names: Saed Baraat Shah Agha Nadeem, the chairman of the Afghanistan Telecom Regulatory Authority (ATRA), Sebghatullah Andar, the Telecommunication Monitoring and Control Director, and Rohullah Raihan, a protocol director. There was also a Pakistani delegation; the country’s delegation was led by Khawar Siddique Khokhar, Member (Compliance & Enforcement) at the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). 

At the plenary session, TRAI chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti was voted the chair of SATRC for the coming year, a customary appointment as India hosted this year’s session. “It is important that Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) policies are increasingly related to development objectives,” Mr. Lahoti said in remarks after being voted chair. He brought up spam as an issue on which countries would have to collaborate to address. “This is not a political forum, this is a sectoral gathering,” he told The Hindu when asked about the significance of the countries in attendance. “We are fortunate that all the eight member countries of the SATRC are present here.“

“We need to work harder and more patiently than ever to build our region,” Mr. Nadeem of ATRA said at his remarks in the plenary session, in which he also highlighted the importance of regional and sub-regional cooperation in telecommunications, and thanked India for its hospitality. Iran also participated with a representative present; however, the gathering was addressed by the country virtually by Alireza Darvishi, an official at the country’s Communications Regulatory Authority.

Last week, J.P. Singh, joint secretary at the Ministry of External Affairs’ Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran division met with Afghan officials and discussed issues like Afghan businesses accessing the Chabahar Port, and humanitarian assistance. Afghan state-associated media reported this week that the country’s consulate would begin issuing passports to citizens in India.

“South Asia faces unique challenges regarding access and inclusion, cybersecurity, spectrum management, smart cities and societies, e-waste and the regulation of social media and OTT platforms, etc,” Mr. Khokhar of Pakistan said in his remarks. 

The other countries who participated were Sri Lanka, Bhutan, the Maldives and Nepal. “Post-pandemic, online platforms have taken the forefront of teaching and learning,” Bhutan InfoComm and Media Authority Director Jigme Wangdi said. “Therefore, demand for fixed broadband, ADSL, leased line, has increased, and our telecom companies are struggling to meet the demand. The universal service funds are depleting, and we still have villages to cover with usable internet connectivity. With 5G we’re in a better position to deal with the increased demand of leased lines and home broadband…” 

Ilyas Ahmed, chief executive of the Communication Authority of Maldives, said that the archipelago nation had made progress in its broadband rollout, adding that it had become “the first country in the region” to roll out SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet services. Mr. Ahmed also brought up the issue of spam, saying it was important to “educate our citizens on spam techniques” and “make sure scammers cannot easily operate across borders.” 

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)