India Valves 2026, a leading national conference on valvular and structural heart disease held in Chennai on Saturday launched an India Valve Registry.

The clinician-led, AI-enabled Registry will create a national database covering valve disease, treatments, procedures and long-term patient outcomes. This is expected to help generate India-specific evidence and support better diagnosis, treatment and patient care.

Vice-President of India C.P. Radhakrishnan launched the database in the presence of key delegates including Tamil Nadu Health Minister Dr. K.G. Arunraj and members of the management team of Apollo Hospitals among others.

The Vice President said that a valve registry, by systematically recording information on patients undergoing heart valve interventions, their treatment and outcomes over time, can transform individual clinical experiences into collective medical knowledge, as per a government statement.

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav today inaugurated a national workshop in Panchkula to mark International Vulture Awareness Day.

In his address, Shri Bhupender Yadav said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government’s approach to environmental conservation is based on a holistic, ecosystem-oriented model rather than being limited to any specific species.

He noted that India is actively working towards the conservation of various vulture species. He called for the creation of safe zones for vultures and the development of technical capabilities to aid in the conservation of these species in the wild.

In football, India qualified for the AFC U20 Asian Cup main tournament for the first time in 20 years, after a 3-nil win over Bangladesh in their final qualifying match in Tashkent yesterday.

In their final Group B qualifier, Danny Meitei Laishram opened the scoring in the 25th minute, before Vishal Yadav doubled India’s lead with an acrobatic finish on the hour mark. Substitute Md Arbash made it 3-nil in the 79th minute.

The victory, India’s second in the qualifiers, took them to six points from three matches. India then waited for the result of the Syria-Uzbekistan match.

Uzbekistan’s 3-nil win over Syria confirmed India’s qualification as one of the seven best runners-up across the eight groups. India last featured in the AFC U20 Asian Cup in 2006. Uzbekistan topped Group B with nine points, while Syria finished third with three points. Bangladesh, who lost all three matches, were relegated to the Development Phase.

The AFC U20 Asian Cup will be held in China from 24th March to 10th April, next year.

In a major capability boost for the Indian Air Force, the Defence Ministry is taking up a proposal to modify the Su-30 MKI aircraft to integrate them with the Russian-origin RVV BD air-to-air missile that can take out enemy targets at 300 kilometres at high speed in the air.

The proposal is being taken up for consideration by the Defence Ministry just a few days before tha arrival of Russian President Vladimir Putin for the BRICS meeting, and many important defence deals are likely to be discussed between the two sides.

The proposal to modify the Su-30 MKI aircraft to be integrated with RVV BD missiles is expected to be taken up for clearance at the meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council scheduled to be held today, defence sources told ANI.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) Sarang Helicopter Display Team has reached Egypt to participate in the 2nd edition of the EI Alamein International Airshow. The Air Show is scheduled to be held from 08th to 10th of this month at EI Alamein International Airport.

The Ministry of Defence said that the team will showcase precision, professionalism and flying skills through a series of meticulously choreographed displays. The Ministry added that this will mark another significant milestone in international engagements by the IAF reflecting growing defence and diplomatic ties between India and Egypt.

The Ministry further stated that Sarang team will be flying the indigenously designed and manufactured Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv.

The 16th National Meet of the State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils (UTBCs) was inaugurated on Sunday in Chandigarh.

Organised by the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), the two-day National Meet, being held from 6–7 September 2026, brings together Chairpersons and Member Secretaries of SBBs and UTBCs from across the country, along with senior officials, experts and scientists, a release said.

In his address, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav highlighted India’s long-standing environmental ethos and referred to initiatives under the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi like Mission LiFE, Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam, Amrit Sarovar and the Green Credit Programme. India takes along its scientific prowess as well as traditional community wisdom together in this conservation journey, he stated.

The festival of Janmashtami, marking the birth of Lord Krishna is being observed across the country with religious fervour today. On the occasion, devotees observe fast, perform ceremonies and visit temples. Sweets and other foods associated with Krishna are prepared and offered to Lord Krishna. Devotional songs and chanting is performed through the day and often late into the night. President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have extended their greetings on the occasion of Janmashtami.

In Gujarat, grand celebrations and special religious rituals are underway at major Krishna shrines including the world-famous Dwarkadhish, Dakor, and Shamalaji temples.

In Uttar Pradesh, the streets of Mathura and Vrindavan are reverberating with the chanting of Jay Shri Krishna. All temples are decked up with flowers petals and colorful lights for midnight celebration.

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever has stated that Belgium will work towards strengthening maritime cooperation with India and announced that a full Belgian delegation from the maritime and port sector would visit India in February next year, with steps to be taken towards undertaking concrete work in this area. He was addressing the India-Belgium high-level discussions on the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement held in Mumbai today. He said the Free Trade Agreement is a symbol of strategic openness, trust and mutual respect and expressed confidence that it would further strengthen the economies of both India and the European Union and help them remain resilient amid global uncertainty.

Prime Minister Bart De Wever asserted that at a time when the world is witnessing increasingly violent conflicts, strengthening trade relations between strong partner countries is the only answer. He stressed that safe and reliable maritime supply chains have become twice as important in such circumstances, and that the India-EU Free Trade Agreement comes at a particularly crucial time. He expressed confidence that the agreement would provide a foundation on which many major initiatives could be built in the future. He also criticised countries that impose unilateral and unfair tariffs on others.

President Droupadi Murmu has called upon teachers and educators to continually update their knowledge, embrace technology, and adopt innovative teaching methods.

In her message on the occasion of Teachers’ Day today, the President said teachers and educators play a vital role in nurturing talent and strengthening character through their guidance and mentorship.

She said, dedicated and caring teachers can recognise the unique potential of students, inspire them, and encourage them to strive for excellence. President Murmu also urged teachers to promote independent thinking and cultivate a spirit of enquiry among students.

Expressing gratitude to all dedicated teachers for their contributions, the President wished them continued success in nurturing enlightened generations who will take the nation to greater heights.

An 18-metric-tonne consignment of four varieties of NPOP-certified ethnic rice from Tripura has been flagged off for export to Austria and the Netherlands, opening new international market opportunities for farmers and Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) in the northeastern state.

The consignment, facilitated by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), comprises Aromatic Kali Khasa Rice, Aromatic Harinarayan Rice, Biron Rice, a white sticky variety, and Maimi Hanga Rice, a black rice variety.

The rice has been aggregated from FPCs supported by the Tripura State Organic Farming Development Agency (TSOFDA) and is being exported by Pratithi Organic Foods, Sonepat, an exporter of Indian organic agricultural products.