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.

India and the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) today signed the Headquarters Agreement in New Delhi today. The Agreement was signed by External Affairs Secretary (East) P Kumaran and Director General, IBCA, Dr S.P. Yadav. The Agreement provides for India to be the host for the IBCA Headquarters and Secretariat. Under the agreement, the government will provide budgetary support of 150 crore rupees to IBCA for creating a corpus, building infrastructure, and meeting recurring expenditure for five years.

The agreement also entails necessary provisions to enable IBCA to meet its intended objectives, including efficient discharge of its official functions. The text pertains to visas, privileges, and immunities to be extended to the IBCA Secretariat and personnel, premises, entry into force, supplementary agreements, and some general provisions.
The International Big Cat Alliance was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2023, during an event “Commemorating 50 years of Project Tiger” at Mysuru. The IBCA primarily aims for the conservation of seven big cats, namely Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar and Puma.

Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Paatil launched a digital platform to boost freshwater biodiversity conservation in New Delhi today. The Minister was chairing a review meeting of various projects of Wildlife Institute of India under the aegis of the National Mission for Clean Ganga. The platform will serve as a comprehensive digital hub offering ecological insights and conservation case studies. It will also provide information on physiography, biodiversity, and community engagement activities across major Indian rivers like Ganga, Cauvery, Godavari, among others.

Speaking on the occasion, the Minister expressed appreciation for the commendable work being carried out by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and WII in restoring aquatic biodiversity, improving river health, building local capacities, and engaging communities in conservation. He also acknowledged the impact of extensive outreach and capacity-building programs conducted across the basin and highlighted the role of WII in mass awareness initiatives, particularly those involving Ganga Praharis. Mr Patil also released a series of knowledge products developed under the initiatives.

NITI Aayog launched a report on Hand and Power tools sectors – ‘Unlocking $25+ Billion Export Potential - India’s Hand & Power Tools Sector’. The report underscores the transformative potential of hand and power tools industry for India’s economic growth, delving into the challenges, policy headwinds, and necessary interventions vital for strengthening the Indian hand and power tool ecosystem. It outlines a strategic path for the sector to enhance its global competitiveness and capture a significantly larger share of the international market. The report was launched by Shri Suman Bery, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog in the presence of Dr. V.K. Saraswat, Member, Dr. Arvind Virmani, Member, and Shri BVR Subrahmanyam, CEO, NITI Aayog.

The report suggests that the global trade market for power and hand tools, currently valued at approximately $ 100 billion, is projected to grow significantly, reaching around $ 190 billion by 2035. Within this market, hand tools account for $ 34 billion and are expected to expand to $ 60 billion by 2035, while power tools, including tool accessories, represent $ 63 billion and are anticipated to surge to $ 134 billion, with electrical tools comprising the majority. China dominates global exports, holding about 50% of the hand tools market with $ 13 billion and 40% of the power tools market with $ 22 billion, whereas India has a smaller presence, exporting $ 600 million in hand tools (1.8% market share) and $ 470 million in power tools (0.7% market share).