In a significant step towards becoming the first coal PSU in India by adopting paste fill technology for coal mining, South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) has signed a Rs 7,040 crore agreement with TMC Mineral Resources Private Limited on Friday.

According to a release from the Ministry of Coal, under this agreement, large-scale coal production will be undertaken using paste fill technology in the Singhali underground coal mine located in SECL's Korba area.

The report also mentioned that over a period of 25 years, the project is expected to produce approximately 8.4 million tonnes (84.5 lakh tonnes) of coal.

In a first, the government is organising a two-day conclave starting April 21 in Arunachal Pradesh to highlight the spread and impact of Buddhism in India’s Northeast. To be organised jointly by the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, the event at Namsai — just bordering Myanmar — is likely to be attended by Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Deputy CM Chowna Mein, officials said.

Earlier, the international Buddhist conclaves were held in Delhi with participation from monks and scholars from neighbouring South Asia and SouthEast Asia countries. However, since Arunachal is a sensitive region and requires multiple permissions, the international contingent this time won’t be large.

However, Consul General of Bhutan in Guwahati, Jigme Thinlye Namgyal, is likely to attend the event, while students of Buddhism from Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar, currently studying in India, are also expected to mark their presence, as per officials. Besides, MLAs and academics from the region and other parts of the country will also attend, officials say.

French luxury brand Chanel on Wednesday (April 16) named Bollywood star Ananya Panday as its first-ever brand ambassador from India. This comes after Ananya made her presence felt at the Chanel Spring/Summer 2025 show in Paris.

A star who is best known for her performances in films such as Gehraiyaan (2022), Kho Gaye Hum Kahan (2023), and CTRL (2024), and the comedy series Call Me Bae (2024), Ananya has undoubtedly become a fashion icon for Gen Z. Her Instagram account, followed by 25.9 million people, features several photoshoots in which the star can be seen wearing Chanel.

The luxury house, in a statement to The Business of Fashion, said, “Ananya characterises a generation of evolving tastes and fiercely independent identities who navigate the world with their curiosities. Her values resonate with Chanel, making her the perfect choice to represent the house.”

Olympic silver medallist Mirabai Chanu and Commonwealth Games gold medallist S. Sathish Kumar have been elected chairperson and vice-chairperson, respectively, of the Athletes’ Commission of the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF). Their term will last four years.

Mirabai is one of India’s most decorated weightlifters, holding multiple national records and historic milestones to her name. Her personal best in the total lift is 205kg — 86kg in snatch and 119kg in clean and jerk — which also stands as the national record.

She holds the national record in snatch as well, with a lift of 88kg. At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, she became the first Indian weightlifter to win a silver medal, marking a watershed moment for the sport in the country. Earlier, in 2017, she ended a 22-year wait by becoming the first Indian in over two decades to win gold at the World Weightlifting Championships.

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay have discovered a host protein that uses tiny tweezer-like machines to kill germs before they harm the human body.

The study to discover the new arsenal of the human immune system was conducted by a group of researchers led by IIT Bombay Prof Anirban Banerjee, said the institute on Thursday.

The study found a host protein, which works like an elite special operation unit that detects the threats and neutralises them before they can cause harm to the body, it said.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Sunday (April 13, 2025) announced the successful trial of a Mk-II(A) Laser- Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) system “mastering the technology of disabling missiles, drones and smaller projectiles.” The success has put India in the exclusive and limited club of nations, which are possessing the high-power Laser-DEW system, DRDO said in a statement.

“Indigenously designed and developed Mk-II(A) DEW system was demonstrated in its entire spectrum of capability by engaging the fixed wing drones at long range, thwarting a multiple drone attack and destroying enemy surveillance sensors and antennae,” the statement said. “The lightning speed of engagement, the precision and the lethality delivered at the target within few seconds made it the most potent counter drone system.”

The requirement for cost-effective defence solutions to offset the low-cost drone attacks is driving the adoption of DEWs by military organisations worldwide, DRDO said. “Cost of firing it for few seconds is equivalent to the cost of couple of litres of petrol. Therefore, it has the potential to be a long-term and low-cost alternative to defeat the target.”

In a forward-thinking initiative that aligns with the rapidly evolving landscape of law enforcement, Telangana has taken a definitive step toward digital policing with the inauguration of T-SHIELD (Telangana - Security Hub for Innovation in Enforcement & Lawful Digital Defense) -- the state's first fully equipped cybersecurity hardware lab.

The facility was inaugurated by Sri V. V. Srinivasa Rao, IPS, Additional Director General of Police and Director of RBVRR Telangana State Police Academy, on April 15, 2025, at the Police Training College (PTC), Medchal.

T-SHIELD, conceptualized and executed by Skillvedha Innovations Private Limited, is designed to serve as a high-impact technological enabler for the police force, offering infrastructure and tools for real-time cyber defense training, hardware forensics, embedded system analysis, and digital crime simulations. The lab is not only the first of its kind in Telangana, but also one of the few facilities nationally focused on hardware-level cybersecurity capabilities within the law enforcement ecosystem.

In Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today launched the e-SEHAT App, a comprehensive one-stop digital solution designed to cater for the healthcare needs of the people of the Union Territory. The App is a smart e-health solution offering tele-diagnosis for healthcare needs. It is especially beneficial in remote areas and serves a broad range of users, including the general public, healthcare professionals and medical students.

The Chief Minister directed the concerned authorities to conduct hands-on training through scheduled workshops for the staff to familiarize them with the application. He said once the staff is trained, awareness campaigns can be launched to educate the public about the app and its benefits. To ensure effective implementation and monitoring, Mr. Abdullah called for regular reviews to assess the App’s performance.

The Ministry of Ayush organised a special session of the Rashtriya Karmayogi Jan Seva Programme at Ayush Bhawan on Wednesday, with the objective of enhancing the service orientation and professional skills of its employees. The initiative was held in collaboration with the Capacity Building Commission under the Mission Karmayogi framework.

The programme marks a continued effort by the Ministry to build a responsive and efficient workforce. The first phase of the session was inaugurated earlier on March 18 by Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, who underscored the importance of applying training insights to everyday tasks for better service delivery.

The second phase of the session, conducted on Wednesday, was led by Programme Director Dr. Subodh Kumar and facilitated by Shipra Singh. Designed as an interactive module, the session moved away from conventional lectures, incorporating team-based exercises, discussions, and problem-solving activities to promote experiential learning.

The Supreme Court today laid down stringent guidelines for the prevention and expedited trial of child trafficking related offences across the country. The Bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan directed High Courts across the country to issue directions to lower courts to complete trials in child trafficking cases in six months. The top court also mandated that such cases be heard on a day-to-day basis to prevent delays in justice. The Court issued the directions while hearing anticipatory bail pleas filed by the accused in a child trafficking case from Uttar Pradesh. The court criticised the Uttar Pradesh government’s handling of child trafficking cases and the Allahabad High Court for issuing bail to child trafficking accused.

The Apex court said that any laxity showing to implement the directions would be taken seriously and be treated as contempt of court. In a significant direction, the Court said that if a newborn is stolen from the hospital, the first step to be taken is to cancel the license of the concerned hospital. The case involved a stolen baby being delivered to a couple who were desirous of having a son.