The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) continues to play a transformative role in India's skill development landscape through its flagship CSIR Integrated Skill Initiative, a national programme aligned with the Government of India's vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Skill India.

Designed to bridge the gap between scientific research and industry-ready skills, the initiative integrates skill development with science and technology by leveraging CSIR's extensive research infrastructure, nationwide laboratory network, and deep scientific expertise.

The programme aims to address real-world industrial, societal, and entrepreneurial demands while enhancing employability across diverse sectors, Ministry of Science & Technology said in a statement.

The state government on Tuesday launched a five-year scheme ‘Aame Padhiba Aama Bhasare’ along with a 100-day campaign to prevent child marriage and a pilot project to prevent teenage pregnancy and support teenage mothers.

Launching the initiatives, deputy chief minister Pravati Parida said women empowerment is the key to a developed Odisha and providing a safe, equal and respectful environment to women and children is the priority of the state government.

Under the five-year scheme, early childhood education will be provided to children in the age group of 3-6 years in their mother tongue in line with the National Education Policy, 2020. In the first phase, the scheme will be implemented in Munda, Kui, Saura, Kuvi, Gondi and Koya languages in Keonjhar, Kandhamal, Gajapati, Rayagada, Nabarangpur and Malkangiri districts.

Indian boxing icon Vijender Singh has been appointed as a member of the Asian Boxing Council, marking another significant milestone in his journey from an elite athlete to global sports administrator.

Vijender, India's first Olympic medallist in boxing, brings with him nearly two decades of experience at the highest level of the sport, both in amateur and professional boxing.

His appointment to the Asian Boxing Council reflects his deep understanding of the sport and his continued commitment to its growth across the continent.

Speaking on the development, Vijender said, "I am honoured to be appointed as a member of the Asian Boxing Council. I would like to thank the Boxing Federation of India and its leadership for entrusting me with this responsibility.”

Chief Minister MK Stalin on Sunday announced an annual literary award for best works in languages including Tamil, Telugu, Bengali and Marathi.

The award, under the auspices of the state government, will carry Rs 5 lakh cash prize, he said, adding it is named as "Semmozhi Illakiya Virudhu (Classical Language Literary Award)." In the first phase, awards will be for the best works in the languages of Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Odiya, Bengali and Marathi.

In his address at the valedictory event of the Chennai International Book Fair, the chief minister said the Sahitya Akademi awards announcement had been cancelled following the alleged intervention of the Union Culture Ministry.

Underlining what he called the uncertainty over the awards, he said political interventions, even in art and literary awards was dangerous.

A team of Indian scientists has uncovered a rare, subterranean amphibian species in Maharashtra’s northern Western Ghats, throwing light on one of the least understood groups of animals on the planet.

The newly identified species, Gegeneophis valmiki, is the first addition to its genus in more than a decade, underscoring how much of India’s biodiversity still lives unseen, beneath the soil.

The species was first collected in 2017 from the Valmiki Plateau in Satara district by Dr. K.P. Dinesh, Senior Scientist at the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI). It has now been formally described following years of detailed study.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday addressed the Bagurumba Dwhou 2026, a major cultural event celebrating the rich heritage of the Bodo community, at Sarusajai Stadium in Guwahati. Calling the festival a tribute to Assam’s cultural pride, the Prime Minister said Bagurumba Dwhou honours the great traditions of the Bodo society and reflects the state’s journey from conflict to cultural resurgence.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said it had been his privilege to witness Assam’s culture closely and observe the traditions of the Bodo community. He remarked that no Prime Minister had visited Assam as frequently as he had, underlining his consistent desire to provide Assam’s art and culture a larger platform and global recognition through grand celebrations. He cited large-scale Bihu festivities, Jhumoir Binondini, the grand Bodo Mahotsav held in New Delhi one and a quarter years ago, and other cultural programmes as part of sustained efforts in this direction.

New Delhi will host the 2nd Global Buddhist Summit (GBS) on January 24-25, as the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Culture, brings together global Buddhist leaders, scholars and policymakers to deliberate on contemporary global challenges through the lens of Buddha Dhamma.

The Summit, to be held at Bharat Mandapam, will be organised under the theme “Collective Wisdom, United Voice, and Mutual Coexistence”. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to inaugurate the two-day event as Chief Guest, continuing the tradition set during the inaugural Global Buddhist Summit held in New Delhi in 2023.

At a time marked by rapid social, political and environmental change, the Summit seeks to explore how the timeless principles of Buddha Dhamma – compassion, wisdom, harmony and coexistence – can offer meaningful responses to conflict, alienation and uncertainty in the modern world. The deliberations will emphasise ethical leadership, social harmony and sustainable living in an era shaped by technological advancement, consumerism and environmental stress.

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) conducted a joint Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS) response drill in Mumbai, reaffirming their strong maritime partnership and commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.

As part of the engagement, Japan Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Yoshio Seguchi, along with a high-level delegation, visited the Indian Coast Guard Regional Headquarters (West) yesterday. Admiral Seguchi held a courtesy meeting with Inspector General Bhisham Sharma, Commander, Coast Guard Region (West).

During the meeting, both sides underscored the importance of enhanced cooperation and interoperability.

The highlight of the visit was a specialised joint training exercise conducted onboard the Indian Coast Guard’s pollution response vessel ICGS Samudra Prahari.

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh on Sunday launched India’s first-ever open-sea marine fish farming project in the Andaman Sea.

The launch took place at North Bay, Sri Vijaya Puram, during Dr Singh’s field visit to the open waters of the Andaman Sea.

Addressing the gathering, Dr Jitendra Singh said the initiative represents one of the earliest and most significant efforts to unlock the economic potential of India’s oceans.

He observed that India’s marine resources, much like its Himalayan and mainland assets, possess immense and dive

Discoveries under Lake Mendota are helping scientists better understand early human life in North America. Researchers have found ancient wooden canoes resting at the bottom of the lake, showing that people lived, travelled, and used advanced skills in the Great Lakes region thousands of years ago, reported the Newsweek.

Researchers with the Wisconsin Historical Society have discovered a total of 16 ancient hollow wooden boats in Lake Mendota. Researchers say the oldest of these boats dates back to a time before the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt even existed.

The first boat, approximately 1,200 years old, was discovered in 2021. Another boat, approximately 3,000 years old, was discovered in 2022. Further discoveries identified 14 other boats, six of which were discovered in the spring of 2025.