India has unveiled an ambitious plan to build the world’s deepest underwater laboratory in the Indian Ocean, a project that could redefine the country’s scientific presence in the deep sea over the next 25 years. Designed to operate at a depth of 6,000 metres, the proposed habitat aims to enable long-duration stays, advanced experimentation, and direct monitoring of one of the least explored regions of the planet.

According to Dr Balaji Ramakrishnan, Director of the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), the journey will begin with a demonstrator module placed at a depth of 500 metres. Three scientists will be able to stay in this initial station for more than 24 hours, as reported by TOI. The facility will include an advanced life-support system and a docking arrangement for deep-sea vehicles. Officials describe the concept as the marine equivalent of the International Space Station.

Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh today said that India has emerged as the world’s 6th largest patent filer with over 64 thousand patents, out of which more than 55 per cent are by resident Indian innovators. Addressing the Annual Tech Fest in New Delhi, Dr Singh highlighted that the country has climbed up from 81st rank to 38th in the Global Innovation Index. He also lauded the country’s milestones such as Chandrayaan-3, the development of the world’s first DNA vaccine, indigenous antibiotics and others.

Furthermore, the Minister emphasized that in the rapidly transforming India, entrepreneurship, start-ups, skilling, and applied sciences are offering more opportunities than traditional government jobs. He also added that the government has ensured accessible funding, mentorship, and skill development pathways even for those without advanced degrees. The Ministry of Science and Technology informed that during the visit, Dr Singh interacted with students, examined their prototypes, and encouraged them to pursue innovation with confidence and entrepreneurial spirit.

Today is the National Press Day, observed every year on 16th November to celebrate the role of a free and responsible press. The day commemorates the establishment of the Press Council of India, which began its operations on this day in 1966. Since its inception, the Council has functioned as an independent moral watchdog, working to uphold high standards of journalism and protect the press from external influence and threats.

This year’s theme focuses on safeguarding press credibility amidst rising misinformation, highlighting the growing importance of accurate and ethical reporting. National Press Day serves as a reminder of the crucial role the press plays in strengthening the country’s democracy.

Since its formation, the Press Council of India has worked diligently to uphold press freedom, maintain journalistic standards, and address the challenges confronting the media. The day not only celebrates the achievements of the press but also reinforces the responsibility it bears in building a more informed and transparent society, ensuring that the future of journalism remains strong, free, and responsible.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal chaired a meeting with Canada’s Minister of International Trade, Maninder Sidhu, in New Delhi. In a social media post, Mr Goyal informed that the meeting was part of the 7th India-Canada Ministerial Dialogue on Trade and Investment.

He added that during the meeting, both sides discussed avenues to strengthen bilateral trade, promote investments and deepen cooperation between India and Canada.

Greenland's Parliament has adopted legislation limiting foreigners' right to own property on the vast Arctic island, following mounting interest from U.S. investors in the Danish territory coveted by President Donald Trump.

The text was adopted late Thursday (November 14, 2025) by 21 votes, with six lawmakers abstaining.

Non-Danish citizens and foreign companies will only be allowed to buy property or land-use rights if they have been permanent residents and paid all their taxes in Greenland for the previous two years.

The Colombo Security Conclave (CSC), a regional security grouping, officially welcomed Bangladesh as its fifth member state on Wednesday. The announcement came during the 8th Deputy National Security Adviser (DNSA) level meeting, hosted virtually by Mauritius. The existing members – India, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, and the Maldives – warmly received Bangladesh into the fold, while Seychelles participated as an observer state.

The Colombo Security Conclave was established in 2020, when India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives agreed to expand the scope of their trilateral meeting on maritime cooperation. Mauritius joined the conclave at the fifth meeting of the grouping in Male in March 2022.

During Wednesday’s virtual meeting, member states reviewed the progress of activities outlined in the CSC’s Roadmap for 2023-2024. They also discussed decisions taken at previous high-level meetings, including the 7th DNSA level meeting hosted by the Maldives in July 2023 and the 6th NSA level meeting in Mauritius last December.

Marble from Ambaji, Gujarat’s prominent pilgrimage site and Shaktipeeth, has been awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) tag for its high-quality white stone, an official said on Friday (November 14, 2025).

The Geographical Indications Registry under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has granted the tag in the name of the Ambaji Marbles Quarry and Factory Association in Banaskantha district.

A GI tag recognises products that possess unique qualities or characteristics linked to their geographical origin.

The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) Friday notified the long awaited data protection rules, paving the way for India to have a functional privacy law, eight years after the Supreme Court ruled it as a fundamental right. The notification of the rules comes over two years after the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP Act) received the President’s assent in August 2023.

While the law is now operational, only parts of it are currently in force, as some of the most important protections available to citizens under the law will take longer — between 12 to 18 months — to be implemented.

For instance, the requirement for entities to seek informed consent from users before processing their personal data, using their personal data only for specified legitimate uses, and for entities to notify data breaches to users, will all only be operationalised after 18 months.

The UAE has officially made the Digital Dirham a legal form of money, marking a major step in its push toward a fully digital financial system. A new federal law passed this week places the e-Dirham on the same level as cash, giving the Central Bank of the UAE the authority to issue and regulate it. The move is part of the country’s wider Digital Dirham Policy for 2025. To mark the launch, the government completed its first payment using the Digital Dirham, settling a cross-border transaction on the mBridge platform in less than two minutes.

Officials said the test showed clear gains in speed, cost, and security. Residents are expected to feel the impact later this year, when approved digital wallets will enable instant transfers and top-ups from bank accounts. The system is set to change how salaries, bills, and remittances are handled. Analysts say the UAE’s early adoption could strengthen its position as a regional fintech leader, with one user on X calling the development “sci-fi come to life.”

Jharkhand is today celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of its revered tribal freedom fighter Bhagwan Birsa Munda. The state is also celebrating the Silver Jubilee of its Foundation Day. The state was officially carved out of the southern part of Bihar, becoming India’s 28th state on this day in 2000. The year-long celebrations marking the 150th birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, celebrated as Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh, also culminate today.

Several events are scheduled to be held to mark the day, highlighting the legendary leader’s significant contributions to the country’s tribal heritage and freedom movement. On the occasion, Union Minister of Tribal Affairs Jual Oram and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren are scheduled to visit Ulihatu in Khunti district, the birthplace of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, to honor the tribal hero. Earlier, Union Minister Oram paid floral tributes to the revered tribal freedom fighter at the Bhagwan Birsa Munda Tribal Freedom Fighter Museum in Ranchi. To promote tourism and celebrate the occasion, the state government has declared the Birsa Festival in Ulihatu as a Tourism festival.