Recently, when Demis Hassabis, the CEO of Google DeepMind won Nobel Prize he did not win it for physics. Instead, he won in for chemistry, specifically the kind of chemistry that goes into our bodies inside our genes and DNA. Now, DeepMind has introduced a new artificial intelligence model AlphaGenome. This is a new AI model that is specifically tuned to accurately predict how individual mutations in human DNA affect their functions.

In other words, the AI will help scientists and doctors better understanding of genome functions. This advanced AI model, developed by DeepMind, is said to bring a major leap in the research around genome. The human genome is a complete set of genetic instructions. Think of it as a comprehensive instruction manual which has the data to build and operate a living thing. Its genetic material primarily consists of DNA. Genomes can influence everything from physical traits of a human being to possible risks of diseases like cancer.

In a bid to reduce litigation and promote compliance under the Employees' State Insurance (ESI) Act, 1948, the ESI Corporation (ESIC) on Friday approved a one-time amnesty scheme – applicable from October 1, 2025.

“The scheme aims to reduce the number of litigations by providing a mechanism for the resolution of disputes outside the court, offering employers an opportunity to come forward for a mutual settlement to promote ease of doing business,” the labour ministry said in a statement after the meeting of the apex decision making body of the social security organisation.

The scheme will be applicable till September 30, 2026.

Under the scheme, the regional directors have been empowered to withdraw cases where contributions and interest have been paid, and also to withdraw cases filed against insured persons over five years ago where no notices were issued. For the first time, disputes along with cases involving damages and interest regarding coverage are included.

State and Central Government officials from across the country working in the domain of tribal welfare have concluded after a two-day workshop in New Delhi that the reason tribal areas continued to face backwardness was not a lack of schemes for them but a “lack of motivation” in the implementers.

Based on these conclusions, parts of which were presented during the two-day “Adi Anveshan” National Conference of the Tribal Affairs Ministry, Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Jual Oram on Friday (June 27, 2025) announced the government’s “Adi Karmyogi” programme.

The programme was announced at the end of the brainstorming session and is meant to build a “cadre of officers” dedicated to working with a citizen-centric ideation and delivery-orientated approach to implementation of schemes, government officials said on Friday (June 27, 2025).

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) created the country's first dedicated wildlife corridor on a national highway in a groundbreaking initiative blending infrastructure development with environmental conservation.

The 12-kilometre stretch, part of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, passed through the buffer zone of Ranthambore Tiger Reserve and featured five wildlife overpasses and India's longest underpass to facilitate safe animal movement.

This marked the first time an expressway in India was designed not just for human transport but also to protect the habitat and lives of wild animals, including tigers, bears, and other endangered species.

In a significant boost to India’s biodiversity conservation credentials, Kerala has been declared the best-performing state in the Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) 2020–2025 of National Parks and Protected Areas (PAs). Conducted by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the report places Kerala at the forefront of ecological stewardship, with a standout performance score of 76.22%—the only state to receive a “Very Good” rating.

Eravikulam National Park in Kerala and Dachigam National Park in Jammu & Kashmir emerged as the top-rated protected areas in India, each securing an impressive MEE score of 92.97%. Located in the southern Western Ghats, Eravikulam is celebrated for its rare shola-grassland ecosystem and as the last stronghold of the endangered Nilgiri Tahr. It also shelters the iconic Neelakurinji flowers, which bloom once every 12 years.

R Praggnanandhaa reached a historic milestone on Friday, June 27 when he became the No.1 ranked Indian chess player in the live rankings. The 19-year-old achieved the feat by beating Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov with Black pieces in the final round of the UzChess Cup Masters.

With the win, Praggnanandhaa's live rating has jumped to 2778.3. This has made the Indian grandmaster No.4 on the rankings, the highest he has achieved in his career so far. The 19-year-old jumped three places to be in the No.4 spot at the moment ahead of his compatriot and World Champion D Gukesh, who has 2776.6 rating points.

The government has appointed senior IPS officer Parag Jain as the next Secretary of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) for a term of two years. Jain, who is a 1989-batch IPS officer of the Punjab cadre, will succeed Ravi Sinha. The appointment committee of the cabinet has approved the appointment of Parag Jain.

The world pauses on 30 June to look skyward. People mark World Asteroid Day, remembering the massive asteroid explosion over Siberia in 1908. The Tunguska event flattened 2,000 square kilometres of forest. Its force matched nearly 185 Hiroshima bombs, leaving behind a lasting scar on Earth’s history.

The remote location meant the event went unnoticed for years. A scientific team only reached the site 19 years later, in 1927. They found shattered trees and burn marks, clear signs of the asteroid’s impact.

World Asteroid Day raises awareness of space rock risks. It advocates for improved research on the detection and deflection of asteroids. The day also calls for investment in space science and security. This year, the global campaign is celebrating its 10th anniversary.

In a pioneering move, Sense International India, in collaboration with global partners and with support from the Nelumbo Foundation, has launched the Global Deafblindness Resource Hub (GRH) — the first multilingual, inclusive platform offering practical, accessible knowledge for individuals with deafblindness, their caregivers, and professionals.

The launch aligns with a historic moment — the first-ever International Day of Deafblindness, declared by the United Nations and celebrated globally today on Helen Keller’s birth anniversary. With over 15 million people worldwide living with deafblindness, the GRH seeks to address a longstanding gap in access to credible and user-friendly resources.

The virtual launch event brought together individuals with deafblindness, global experts, educators, caregivers, and advocates. Attendees witnessed a live demonstration of the platform’s accessible design, followed by a panel discussion on “Bridging the Information Gap: Accessibility, Inclusion, and the Right to Know.”

The historic Golconda Fort came alive with colour, devotion and festive fervour as the annual Bonalu celebrations kicked off on a grand note on Thursday. The month-long festivities began with traditional prayers to Goddess Jagadambika at the Sri Jagadamba Mahankali temple atop the fort.

The first Bonam — a traditional offering of rice, jaggery, curd and neem leaves carried in decorated brass or earthen pots — was brought in a massive procession from Langar Houz Crossroads, accompanied by beats of drums, chants and the rhythmic dance of ‘Potharajus’ wielding whips.

Women dressed in vibrant traditional attire thronged the temple, offering Bonams to the goddess as priests performed age-old rituals. The celebration, rooted in Telangana’s rich folk culture, draws lakhs of devotees every year from Hyderabad, Secunderabad and beyond.