The Institute for Plasma Research (IPR) in Gujarat has commissioned India’s first spherical tokamak and begun plasma experiments, marking the country’s entry into a specialised area of fusion research.

Behind the compact machine lies a big question: Can scientists learn to control on earth the same process that powers the sun, and eventually use it to generate electricity?

A tokamak uses powerful magnetic fields to hold an extremely hot gas called plasma. Under extreme conditions, atoms can fuse together and release enormous amounts of energy. This process, nuclear fusion, is what powers the sun.

Google has launched a project - first in India- using artificial intelligence (AI) models to support targeted agricultural solutions that can help increase farm productivity and reduce the impact of climate change.

It has developed two artificial intelligence (AI) models for this to ensure global food security and higher agricultural production through targeted interventions addressing current and future concerns.

“Our effort is focused on solving agriculture using AI. We want to demonstrate how AI can responsibly solve and transform the lives of millions of farmers in many ways,” said Alok Talekar, Lead, Agriculture and Sustainability Research, Google DeepMind.

Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal on Saturday inaugurated the Indore Metro Priority Corridor-2 in the presence of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, marking a major expansion of the city’s public transport network.

The newly inaugurated Phase-I (Reach-II) corridor stretches approximately 11 km from Super Corridor-3 to Malviya Nagar Chauraha and comprises 11 stations. The project has been developed at an estimated cost of Rs 2,850 crore.

With the opening of the new corridor, Indore’s operational metro network has expanded to 16 stations covering around 17 km, with the cumulative project cost reaching approximately Rs 4,370 crore.

Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu was also present at the inauguration.

The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has crossed a significant milestone in the implementation of India’s Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) framework, with cumulative ABS disbursements exceeding 200 crore rupees. Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry said that NBA has sanctioned 8.23 crore rupees in access and benefit- sharing proceeds to be disbursed to states and UTs from utilisation of four key vegetable crops. These crops are Bitter Gourd, Okra, Chilli and onion.

The Ministry further added that the distribution is based on the area under cultivation, as published by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. This approach will enable the ABS proceeds to be channelled towards States and Union Territories associated with the cultivation of the respective biological resources, where direct identification of the individual providers or source communities is not possible.

The Ministry highlighted that Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra have emerged as the largest cumulative recipients among the States and UTs receiving the ABS proceeds. The Ministry said that this disbursement will also mark another important step in India’s efforts to ensure that benefits arising from the utilisation of biological resources are channelled towards biodiversity conservation and associated community-oriented activities.

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.