RailTel, a premier telecom and ICT solutions provider PSU, has announced a strategic collaboration with Cylus, a leading cybersecurity firm specializing in the rail industry on Friday. This partnership aims to enhance the cybersecurity framework of Indian Railways' extensive infrastructure.

According to RailTel, it will integrate and deploy Cylus' proprietary cybersecurity solution, CylusOne™. The partnership will focus on fortifying the security of railway signalling systems, including trackside, onboard, and SCADA systems.

Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) on Friday said that it has received the first ever order for the demonstration of methanol firing in a Gas Turbine at the 350 MW Kayamkulam Combined Cycle Power Plant (CCPP) of NTPC installed at Alappuzha district in Kerala. This will be the first such demonstration project of its kind in India.

Significantly, this demonstration will pave the way for reviving unutilised gas turbine sets in the country which are inoperative due to unavailability of natural gas and naphtha, the company added.

Notably, Kayamkulam CCPP comprising two gas turbines of 115 MW each and one steam turbine of 120 MW was set up by BHEL on turnkey basis in 1998-99.

State-owned Coal India Ltd (CIL) has entered into non-disclosure pacts with companies from different nations to check the viability of potential investment in critical mineral projects, the government said on Monday. Critical minerals are the foundation on which modern technology is built.

From solar panels to semiconductors, wind turbines to advanced batteries for storage and transportation, the world needs critical minerals to build these products.

Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy in a written reply to Rajya Sabha said, "CIL (Coal India Ltd) has signed non-disclosure agreements with companies from different countries.... in the critical mineral projects."

In a groundbreaking move to position India as a leader in sustainable energy, Hindu College, in collaboration with the Hydrocarbon Sector Skill Council (HSSC) and the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), has launched its first skill training program on green hydrogen. This initiative, under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) scheme, is a significant part of the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM) and aims to educate a large number of students on green hydrogen technology.

Green hydrogen, produced through water electrolysis powered by renewable energy, represents a clean and sustainable fuel source. The four-day training program, which comprises 11 comprehensive sessions, seeks to enhance students' knowledge and expertise in this emerging field. The program is expected to bolster India's capabilities as a major producer and supplier of green hydrogen globally, fostering indigenous manufacturing.

South Africa's SA20 has announced former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik as the ambassador of the league.

Karthik's vast cricketing expertise as a World Cup Winner and former Indian national player is an exciting development for the League, which continues to gather momentum as one of the world's top-tier franchise leagues, a release said.

"I'm thrilled to join the Betway SA20 as an ambassador. The League has been electric in the first two seasons with some of the world's best players on show and exciting young talent putting up their hands on the global stage. It's a privilege to be associated with the Betway SA20 and I look forward to working with Graeme and his team," Karthik said, according to the release.

Sweden's Armand 'Mondo' Duplantis claimed his second Olympic gold medal after brushing off a tough competition in the men's pole vault final at the Stade de France.

Duplantis raised the heat in the final by etching his name into the history book with a set of remarkable performances in the final of the event at the Paris Olympics.

In a single night, he broke the men's pole vault Olympic and world record to get his hands on his second Olympic medal.

While facing tough competition from United States' Sam Kendricks, the 24-year-old pole vaulter flew over the bar to break the Olympic record.

In Rio 2016, Brazil's Thiago set the Olympic record by registering a jump of 6.03m. Duplantis beat the Olympic record by clearing 6.10m.

The National Commission for Women has inaugurated the Digital Shakti Center to combat cyber crimes against women in New Delhi today. The centre is a dedicated facility that aims at raising awareness about cyber crimes. It will provide essential technical support for registering and addressing complaints. The commission emphasised that with the alarming rise in cyber crimes such as identity theft, cyberstalking, and sexual exploitation, this initiative is crucial in empowering women to navigate and protect themselves in the digital world. It said that building on the success of its Digital Shakti campaign, which was launched in 2018, the centre will offer expert guidance to ensure timely and effective resolution of cybercrime complaints. The NCW added that the Digital Shakti campaign has reached millions of women, equipping them with the knowledge and tools to safeguard their digital spaces.

The Digital Shakti Center was inaugurated by the National Commission for Women (NCW) Chairperson Ms. Rekha Sharma in collaboration with the Cyber Peace Foundation. Addressing the gathering Ms Sharma noted that there has been a surge in cyber crime cases in India, rising from 52,974 in 2021 to 65,893 in 2022. She said that the NCW has also observed an increase in complaints related to cyber crimes against women.

India has shortlisted two astronaut-designates for the upcoming Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station. Indian astronauts Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair have been shortlisted to go to the U.S. to train for the upcoming Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

A National Mission Assignment Board has recommended two Gaganyatris (astronauts) as prime and backup Mission Pilot for this mission. Group Captain Shukla will be the prime mission pilot and Group Captain Nair will be the back up.

The Axiom-4 mission is the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station.

The Centre on Friday approved eight National High-Speed Road Corridor Projects with a total length of 936 km at a capital cost of Rs 50,655 crore to improve logistics efficiency, reduce congestion and enhance connectivity across the country.

The approved projects are the six-lane Agra-Gwalior, four-lane Kharagpur-Moregram, six-lane Tharad-Deesa-Mehsana-Ahmedabad, four-lane Ayodhya Ring Road, the five-lane section between Pathalgaon and Gumla of Raipur-Ranchi, six-lane Kanpur Ring Road, four-lane Northern Guwahati Bypass and widening and improvement of existing Guwahati Bypass and eight-lane elevated Nashik Phata - Khed Corridor near Pune.

In a statement, the government said that the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the development of eight important National High Speed Corridors and implementation of these projects would generate an estimated 4.42 crore mandays of direct and indirect employment.

A total of 7.28 crore ITRs (income tax returns) for the assessment year 2024-25 were filed till the ITR deadline of July 31, 2024. This is 7.5 per cent more than the total ITRs of 6.77 crore recorded a year ago, the finance minister said in a statement on Friday. It added that nearly 72 per cent of taxpayers opted for the new tax regime this year.

“The taxpayers and tax professionals made their compliances in time, leading to a surge in filing of income tax returns (ITRs), which resulted in a new record of ITRs filed till July 31, 2024. The total number of ITRs for AY 2024-25 filed till July 31, 2024, is more than 7.28 crore, which is 7.5 per cent more than the total ITRs for AY 2023-24 (6.77 crore) filed till July 31, 2023,” the ministry stated.

According to the official statement, an increasing number of taxpayers have opted for the new tax regime this year.