The six-day trek commenced at Kenzamani and it will culminate at Pungteng in Tawang on April 5.

A 300-member group of monks, village chiefs, personnel of border-guarding forces, tourists and Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) members embarked on a 100-km trek along the Freedom Trail in Arunachal Pradesh on Monday afternoon, retracing the route taken by the 14th Dalai Lama during his great escape from Tibet.

The six-day trek commenced at Kenzamani and it will culminate at Pungteng in Tawang on April 5, commemorating the day when the Tibetan spiritual leader arrived in this India-China border town in 1959.

Organised by the district administration, the inaugural ceremony of the event began with prayers for long life of the Dalai Lama, followed by cultural performances by monks and villagers. 

Addressing the participants, Lungla MLA Tsering Lhamu emphasised the spiritual and historical significance of the journey, stating, “As we embark on this journey along the Freedom Trail, we draw strength from the wisdom of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and hope for a peaceful future.” 

He said Arunachal’s relationship with Tibet is centuries-old, rooted in shared history, culture, and mutual understanding.  “The bond between our people goes beyond borders. We remain inspired by the teachings of His Holiness and his unwavering commitment to compassion, non-violence and promotion of human values,” Lhamu added.

Tsering Lhamu along with the Department of Karmik and Adhyatmik Affairs chairman Jambey Wangdi, flagged off the trek. Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) jawans received the portrait of the Dalai Lama and a branch of the holy tree at Chudangmo, offering a guard of honour.

The participants reached Chhu-Dang-Mo later in the day, covering a small yet significant distance of 3 km. Accommodation for them was arranged by the ITBP and the Indian Army.

On day 2, they will undertake a 10 km trek to Gorzam Chorten, a five-hour walk deep into the heart of history. The next day of the event will entail a gruelling ten-hour walk to Shakti, located 22 km away. The participants will be joined by village chiefs and PRI members from Pangchen Dhingro.

On day 4, they will walk a distance of 23 km to reach Old Lumla, culminating in a visit to Thar Dhoe Norbu Ling Gonpa. It will be followed by a 14 km stretch to Thongleng on day 5 before the final push.

On the last day, the participants will take part in a 28 km march to Tawang Monastery, an 11-hour journey ending in the embrace of history.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

Larsen & Toubro’s (L&T) Hydrocarbon Business, L&T Energy Hydrocarbon (LTEH), has secured its largest-ever contract with QatarEnergy LNG. The Ultra Mega Offshore Contract, awarded for the North Field Production Sustainability Offshore Compression Project (NFPS COMP 4), marks a significant milestone for L&T in the global liquefied natural gas (LNG) sector.

L&T added in a release that the scope of work encompasses the engineering, procurement, fabrication, installation, and commissioning of two offshore compression complexes, each comprising of large offshore platforms with compression and power generation facilities, living quarters, flare platforms, interconnected bridges, and other associated structures to be located at approximately 80 kms off the northeast coast of Qatar.

S N Subrahmanyan, Chairman & Managing Director- L&T commented, “Securing QatarEnergy LNG’s Ultra Mega Offshore Contract–the largest single order in our history, is a landmark achievement. This prestigious project strengthens our global energy portfolio while supporting Qatar’s energy security objectives. I thank QatarEnergy LNG for placing their trust in L&T to deliver this complex and strategically important project. We look forward to setting new benchmarks in project execution that will reinforce Qatar’s position as a global LNG leader.

Subramanian Sarma, Deputy Managing Director & President-L&T commented, “The award of a project of such nature is a reflection of the confidence & trust placed by QatarEnergy LNG in L&T’s expertise and its ability to deliver such large-scale projects for which L&T is very thankful. This collaboration not only strengthens our partnership but also reaffirms L&T’s commitment to supporting Qatar’s strategic energy objectives through innovative and reliable solutions.”

The Axis Capital, in its report earlier added that the contract is a part of QatarEnergy’s broader plan to expand its liquefied natural gas (LNG) production capacity from 70 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to 126 MTPA. The report added that L&T has already disclosed approximately Rs 350 billion in core orders on exchanges for Q4FY25.

The company reported a strong performance in Q3FY25, with a notable core order inflow beat and a 20 per cent growth in core revenue, the report added in its analysis.

The report added that L&T’s FY26 prospect pipeline will be a key indicator of its growth potential, with an expected 8 per cent-10 per cent increase. (ANI)

This report is auto-generated from ANI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.

source/content: theprint.in (headline edited)

Dr Merlin Rengith Ambrose has been nominated by the Pontifical Urban University in Rome to serve on the International Scientific Committee and Editorial Board of Ius Missionale, a prestigious Italian canonical journal published by the university. In this newly acquired role, he will represent Asia while also continuing his important work as a faculty member of Canon Law at St Peter’s Pontifical Seminary in Bengaluru and as the executive secretary of the Commission for Canon Law within the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI).

This appointment complements his existing docens stabilis (Missio Canonica), granted by the Dicastery for Culture and Education at the Vatican in 2023. His academic contributions are well-documented through a wide array of publications, including authored books and peer-reviewed articles in both Indian and international academic journals. Additionally, he is an executive committee member of the Canon Law Society of India (CLSI).

Dr Merlin Ambrose’s profound loyalty to the Church, his committed approach to research, and his passion for teaching, coupled with a pastoral heart, are truly commendable. It is anticipated that his contributions rooted in his experience within the Indian ecclesiastical context will significantly enhance the academic standing of Ius Missionale and further advance the field of canonical studies within both the Indian Church and the universal Church.

Apart from the secular studies, Fr Merlin Ambrose has pursued his doctorate in Canon Law and post-graduate diplomain superior course on Praxis and Ecclesiastical Jurisprudence, Pontifical Urban University, Rome; He also has diploma in Canonization Processof Saints (postulator course), Dicastery for the causes of Saintswith the canonical faculty to act as postulator for the Roman phase in the same congregation; diploma in Latin, Pontificium Institutum Altioris Latinitatis, Rome; diploma in Praxis and Canonical Administrative Procedure, Dicastery for the Clergy, Vatican; Certificate Annual Course on the Ongoing Formation of Priests, at Dicastery for the Clergy, Vatican; PG diploma in Safeguarding of Minors and Vulnerable Persons at Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, diploma in Integral Ecology with an Alliance of Pontifical Universities and Athenaeum in Rome.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

India is the top producer of milk in the world and has set a target of producing 300 million metric tons (MMT) of milk in the next five years from the present 239 MMT, Union Minister of Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh said in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday (March 25, 2025).

Mr. Singh also said that ever since the Modi government has launched the Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) in 2014, the milk production in the country has increased by 63.5 per cent and the government is hopeful of further increasing it by 15 per cent in next three years.

“India is now the top milk producing country in the world. We have now set a target of producing 300 MMT of milk in next five years from the present 239 MMT,” he said.

Rashtriya Gokul Mission

The Minister said about 10 crore people in the country are engaged in milk production of which 75 per cent are women. He said the per person consumption of milk in India is 471 gram.

The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying is implementing Rashtriya Gokul Mission. It mains objective is development and conservation of indigenous breeds, genetic upgradation of bovine population and enhancement of milk production and productivity of bovines thereby making milk production more remunerative to the farmers.

The scheme, launched in 2014, is continued under revised realigned schemes of the Department from 2021-2022 to 2025-2026.

Its objectives are to enhance productivity of bovines and increasing milk production in a sustainable manner using advance technologies and to propagate use of high genetic merit bulls for breeding purposes.

It also aims to enhance artificial insemination coverage through strengthening breeding network and delivery of artificial insemination services at farmers’ doorstep.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

The breakthrough, based on a technique called photoacoustic sensing, can change the way glucose level is monitored.

For millions of people with diabetes, checking blood glucose levels is a painful yet daily necessity as it requires pricking the skin several times a day, which is inconvenient and poses risk of infection. However, scientists at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have developed a painless alternative, using light and sound instead of needles.

This breakthrough, based on a technique called photoacoustic sensing, can change the way glucose level is monitored.

‘Photoacoustic sensing’ is a method wherein a laser is beamed on to biological tissues. When the tissue absorbs the light, it heats up slightly – by less than 1 degree Celsius – causing it to expand and contract.

This tiny movement generates ultrasonic sound waves, which can be detected by specialised instruments. Since different molecules absorb light in unique ways, they create distinct “fingerprints” in the emitted sound waves, allowing scientists to identify and measure specific substances in the body – without ever needing to break the skin.

To make this technique work for glucose detection, the IISc team used polarised light – light waves vibrating in only one direction. This is similar to how sunglasses reduce glare by filtering out certain light waves. Glucose, like many biological molecules, is chiral – meaning it rotates polarised light when it interacts with it.

The researchers found that this rotation affected the intensity of the sound waves produced, revealing a way to measure glucose levels accurately.

“We do not know why the acoustic signal changes when we change the polarisation state. But we can establish a relationship between glucose concentration and the intensity of the acoustic signal at a particular wavelength,” Jaya Prakash, Assistant Professor at IISc’s Department of Instrumentation and Applied Physics, and the study’s corresponding author, explained.

As glucose concentration increases, it rotates the polarised light more, and this change is reflected in the strength of the sound waves. By analysing these signals, the researchers precisely estimated glucose levels – without needing a blood sample.

To prove the method, the team tested in different environments, starting from measuring the glucose levels in water and serum solutions, then on to slices of animal tissues, achieving near-clinical accuracy. The team could measure glucose at different depths within the tissue – a key requirement for practical medical use.

“If we know the speed of sound in the tissue, we can use the time series data to map our acoustic signals to the depth at which they are coming from,” Swathi Padmanabhan, a PhD student and first author of the study, said, adding that unlike light, which scatters inside the body, sound wave travels in a more predictable manner, allowing for clearer and more precise measurements from deeper layers of tissue.

Human trials

The researchers, following successful trials in different environments, conducted a pilot study on a healthy human participant, monitoring blood glucose level before and after meals over three days. The results showed that the technique could track glucose changes in real time.

However, researchers mentioned that scaling up the technology for widespread use comes with challenges. The current set-up requires a laser that produces extremely short nano-second pulses, which makes it bulky and expensive.

“Finding the right set-up to do this was very challenging. We need to make it more compact to put it to clinical use, and have already started work on this,” Swathi said.

The researchers believe their technique is not limited to glucose monitoring as many commonly used drugs are also chiral molecules, meaning the same method can be used to measure medication levels in the body. To test this idea, they measured the concentration of naproxen, a popular painkiller and anti-inflammatory drug, in ethanol solution, and succeeded.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

New Delhi must strengthen the foundation for meaningful and ground-level governance.

The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) is an apex regional organisation that promotes open regionalism between the countries of Asia, Africa and Australia, connected via Indian Ocean waters. As the Indian leadership prepares to step up to chair IORA from November 2025 — it is now Vice-Chair — it can bring impetus to increased resilience in its governance structure. As IORA chair for the next two years, India will have three priorities: creating funding opportunities to enlarge IORA’s budget; integrating technology for data management and policy analysis, and creating maritime-ready courses with academic and research institutions using collaborations.

The Indian Ocean Region and IORA

Geostrategically, the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) is a subset of the Indo-Pacific, yet unique. The Indian Ocean, home to two-thirds of humanity, has a rich and diverse marine life. It also transports 75% of global trade and 50% of daily oil consumption. It produces $1 trillion in goods and services, and its intra-IORA trade was $800 billion in 2023. However, this region is also marred by poor development, troubled political systems, climate change-induced disasters, and environmental degradation. It also faces security challenges such as piracy, terrorism, and human and drug trafficking. These supranational issues compel the regional countries to cooperate and find workable solutions.

Therefore, as one of the oldest regional inter-governmental organisations, IORA has been working to further cooperation among its members by facilitating dialogue on cultural and academic exchanges and crucial issues such as disaster risk management. While the United States, China and the European Union are IORA’s dialogue partners, it is mainly driven by only middle and small powers and, therefore, requires a tour de force to become more relevant.

Issues faced by IORA

The Indian Ocean region is relatively free of the great power competition yet has its own set of challenges, including funding. IORA’s annual budget is member-dependent. Barring Singapore, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and France, the member-states are developing Asian and African economies. The budget is indicated to be just a few million. Incidentally, the Indian Ocean Commission, which has only five IO countries, has a $1.3 billion budget for the 2020-25 time frame. Thus, the funds generated fall short of achieving IORA’s growing areas of engagement such as maritime safety and security, fisheries management, disaster risk management, technology and innovation, and the blue economy.

Notably, each of these pillars is resource-intensive and requires constant engagement. One way to generate more funds would be to include private players as consultative partners as they are some of the biggest players in the maritime domain. From shipping companies to marine-related industries such as oil and gas, and marine tourism, these industries are relevant to the blue economy. These industries can be involved in maritime policy-making and also contribute to the IORA fund. The IORA has a small Secretariat with limited staff based in Mauritius. Since government-based structures and institutions have limited bandwidth for data processing, technology can be a big help in improving governance. Accounting for data is laborious with a large margin of error, and quick and efficient policy analysis would be made easier with digitised record keeping.

Other suggestions for India

India’s Security and Growth for All (SAGAR) vision complements IORA’s objectives and must leverage its excellent relations with IORA member-states to develop workable solutions. IORA members, such as Australia, have made significant contributions to research in marine science and technology. France and Singapore, have their strength in marine-related technologies, and the UAE and Oman can contribute through investments in sectors where IORA seeks help. Traditional knowledge that exists in coastal and small island nations (Sri Lanka, Seychelles, Mauritius) should be mainstreamed for developing sustainable methods of marine governance. To further productive outcomes, IORA needs sustained and improved collaborative avenues.

Lastly, as marine and maritime-related employment opportunities will only multiply, industrial leaders should collaborate with educational and research institutions to provide problem statements and seek solutions, and to create newer, industry-related courses. Marine accounting is an interdisciplinary course that could help create a base for a blue economy. With the available talent in the region, scholars and practitioners are most likely to work out solutions.

IORA holds immense promise for regional prosperity and India must use its leadership to overcome the existing issues at the institutional level.

Pooja Bhatt is an Associate Professor at O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonepat and teaches maritime geopolitics and regional institutions

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)