Author: Bhakti Narayanan

India’s Ministry of Mines has earmarked approximately $1.9 billion to strengthen its critical minerals sector, a move designed to secure essential raw materials like lithium for its growing energy and infrastructure needs. To lessen dependence on imports, the country identified 30 key minerals in 2023, with lithium being a top priority. Sources indicate that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet is likely to approve an initial investment of around $300 million this week. A significant portion of the funding will come from the National Mineral Exploration Trust, which is set to contribute over $1 billion. Additionally, the Department of Science and…

The United Payments Interface (UPI) has established itself as the leading platform in India’s digital payment sector, accounting for 83% of total payment transactions in 2024, a significant leap from 34% in 2019, according to the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Payments System Report. UPI transaction volumes skyrocketed from 3.75 billion in 2018 to an astounding 172.21 billion by 2024, out of a total digital payment volume of 207.87 billion. The value of these transactions surged remarkably, growing from $67.71 billion in 2018 to $2,852 billion in 2024, reflecting a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 89.3% in volume and…

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to achieve another major milestone with its 100th launch, the GSLV-F15 mission, scheduled for January 29 at 6:23 am from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. This mission will deploy the NVS-02 satellite, further enhancing India’s Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) system. Marking the 17th flight of the GSLV, this mission includes the 11th use of an indigenous cryogenic stage and the eighth operational flight featuring fully indigenous technology. The rocket will launch from the Second Launch Pad (SLP) using a 3.4-meter metallic payload fairing. Its key goal is to place…

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has carried a personal letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for US President-elect Donald Trump, according to news sources. Representing PM Modi as his special envoy, Jaishankar will attend Trump’s inauguration in Washington DC. This event marks a historic milestone as Trump becomes the 47th President of the United States, regaining office after a four-year interval. Trump is only the second US president, after Grover Cleveland, to reclaim the presidency following an electoral defeat. The tradition of Indian ministers attending presidential inaugurations abroad continues with this visit. Previously, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh attended Nigeria’s presidential…

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has undertaken extensive measures to guarantee safe and hygienic food for the millions attending Maha Kumbh 2025 in Prayagraj. Partnering with Uttar Pradesh’s Food Safety and Drug Administration, FSSAI has deployed 10 Mobile Food Testing Labs (Food Safety on Wheels) and stationed food analysts across the event. These mobile labs perform on-the-spot tests for food adulteration and spoilage while educating food vendors and visitors about proper food safety practices. The event is divided into five zones and 25 sectors, with 56 Food Safety Officers (FSOs) monitoring hygiene and food quality. Each…

California Congressman Ro Khanna has called for a thorough and transparent investigation into the death of Suchir Balaji, a whistleblower who accused OpenAI of violating federal copyright laws. Balaji’s allegations had gained national attention last year, making him a controversial figure in the tech world. Khanna’s statement followed the preliminary findings by the San Francisco County Medical Examiner, which ruled Balaji’s death as a suicide. The 26-year-old was discovered deceased in his San Francisco apartment nearly two months ago. However, his family has raised doubts about the cause of death and commissioned an independent autopsy, with results still pending. Expressing…

India has joined an elite group of nations by achieving successful space docking, becoming the fourth country globally to accomplish this milestone. On Thursday, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced the success of the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX), marking a historic achievement in India’s space program. The SpaDeX docking process involved precise manoeuvres from a 15-metre distance to a 3-metre hold point, resulting in the successful capture of two spacecraft. Following this, retraction and rigidisation were smoothly completed, ensuring stability for the docked spacecraft. ISRO announced, “Following docking, the control of both satellites as a single entity has been…

The catastrophic wildfires raging through Los Angeles have caused widespread destruction, leaving entire neighborhoods in ruins. The Pacific Palisades area, home to many, was among the hardest hit. Amit Shiwalkar, a local resident, recounts his harrowing escape. On January 7, 2025, the situation escalated rapidly as he and his wife fled their home, grabbing only essential items like wedding photos and sacred relics, unsure of their fate. “We thought we’d return, just like after the 2019 fires, but this time was different,” said Shiwalkar, who now faces a future uncertain of where to begin again. His property was among many…

Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has become a global phenomenon, with international guests marveling at its efficiency, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated during a podcast hosted by Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath. PM Modi emphasized that India has set a global benchmark for democratizing technology in the fintech sector. During the podcast, titled People with The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi x Nikhil Kamath, By WTF, the Prime Minister discussed India’s advancements in innovation and digital payments. Highlighting UPI’s capabilities, PM Modi said, “In just 30 seconds, I can transfer funds directly to 100 million farmers or send subsidies to 130 million…

As Mahakumbh Mela 2025 begins on January 13, Indian Railways has implemented extensive measures to manage the travel needs of 450 million devotees heading to Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. Over 10,000 trains, including 3,300 special services, have been planned for the mega religious event, which concludes on February 26. To accommodate the massive crowds, color-coded waiting and holding areas for unreserved passengers have been set up at major stations. Security arrangements include systematic queue management led by Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) officers. The commercial department has also deployed numerous Travelling Ticket Examiners (TTEs) to assist passengers…