Deep Ocean Mission: Samudrayaan in sight, India takes a 5,002m plunge
As part of Indo-French research collaborations, two Indian aquanauts - Jatinder Pal Singh and Raju Ramesh - successfully completed one deep dive each in the North Atlantic Ocean in the French submersible "Nautile" on August 5 and 6. Happening as it did around a month after Shubhanshu Shukla became the first Indian to reach International Space Station, Union earth sciences minister Jitendra Singh Thursday called it India's quest for a double conquest.
"We have an Indian going into space and an Indian going into the deep ocean almost simultaneously," he said.
Ramesh, a scientist at National Institute of Ocean Technology, went 4,025m down on August 5, followed by a dive of 5,002m by Navy commander (retd) Singh on August 6. "This expedition was conducted as part of Deep Ocean Mission. One of the verticals of DOM aims to develop technology to harness non-living ocean resources and a submersible which can carry humans to the deepest parts of the ocean," said M Ravichandran, secretary, ministry of earth sciences.
He said more dives will be undertaken in the same submersible before India conducts a deep dive in indigenous 'Matsya 6000' submersible, which could happen around Dec 2027, under 'Samudrayaan' project.
'Shux may meet PM this weekend'
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the second Indian to travel to space and the first to visit ISS, is expected to arrive in India this weekend and is set to meet PM Modi before leaving for hometown Lucknow to meet family, reports Surendra Singh. This was revealed by space minister Jitendra Singh, who said Shukla will return to Delhi for National Space Day celebrations on August 23.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
India–Australia bioinnovation corridor launches cross border tech accelerator
The Bangalore Bioinnovation Centre (BBC) and La Trobe University (LTU), Australia, have launched the Ind–Aus Launchpad Programme, a cross-border accelerator designed to fast-track high-potential biotech, digital health, and sustainable technology startups for global initiative builds on the Bioinnovation Exchange Corridor, established under a September 2024 MoU between the State of Victoria and the State of Karnataka. Supported by the Department of IT, BT and S&T, Government of Karnataka, and the Victorian Government, the corridor integrates the startup ecosystems of Bengaluru and Melbourne, enabling joint R&D, advanced prototyping, and rapid commercialization in sectors including digital health, sustainable agriculture, precision medicine, and environmental resilience. The programme's first cohort of 11 Indian startups underwent an intensive 12-week pre-accelerator at BBC, combining shared lab and prototyping facilities, market access simulations, IP advisory services, and advanced TRL (Technology Readiness Level) assessments. Startups were also evaluated on Commercialization Readiness Level (CRL) and Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) to ensure technology viability and scalability. Following this process, three startups were selected for a fully sponsored immersion programme at LTU's Bio Innovation Hub in Melbourne: 1. Microbeworks Scientific – Developing bioengineered microbial dyes to replace toxic synthetic dyes in textiles, with potential to reduce water contamination by up to 90%. 2. HornetBiologicals – Using RT-PCR and microarray-based genetic screening to improve livestock breeding productivity by over 30%. 3. IMRobonix – Creator of SurgiKot, India's first robotic handheld device for precision-driven minimally invasive surgeries, integrating AI-guided navigation. The Melbourne immersion includes co-location with LTU researchers, regulatory readiness workshops, investor roundtables, and product-market feasibility studies for Australia and global markets. Over the next phase, the programme will add a one-month onsite immersion, 12-month virtual residency, and cross-border co-innovation sprints for startups from both India and Australia. 'The Ind–Aus. Launchpad operationalizes a global innovation pipeline — giving startups real-world access to R&D infrastructure, regulatory expertise, and market intelligence,' said Dr Mohamed Adil A.A, Managing Director, BBC. 'This is a two-way bridge between two leading innovation economies, designed to deliver deep-tech and digital health solutions with global relevance,' added Professor Theo Farrell, Vice-Chancellor, La Trobe University. With global biotech expected to reach USD 3.88 trillion by 2030 (Grand View Research), and India projected to become a USD 150 billion bioeconomy by 2025, the corridor exemplifies how international innovation diplomacy can accelerate the translation of research into market-ready technologies. By linking India's high-growth startup ecosystem with Australia's advanced research infrastructure, the Ind–Aus. Launchpad positions both economies to address shared challenges in health, sustainability, and technology-led growth.
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Time of India
US says ties with India good despite Trump's tariff tantrums
TOI correspondent from Washington: The Trump administration on Friday maintained that the "historic relationship" between India and the US is "consequential and far-reaching" despite taking punitive steps over trade issues that shaken and undermined ties. The upbeat message came from the State Department on the occasion of India's Independence Day. While such statements are typically pro-forma, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the two countries are "united by our shared vision for a more peaceful, prosperous, and secure Indo-Pacific region" and described the partnership as spanning industries, promoting innovation, pushing the boundaries of critical and emerging technologies, and extending into space. "Working together, the United States and India will rise to the modern challenges of today and ensure a brighter future for both our countries," he said. The statement, with its reference to Indo-Pacific security and a broader agenda, seemed to confirm the impression that the wide berth given to China by the Trump White House and its sudden embrace of Pakistan is largely tactical, and US-India ties remain on solid footing. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Kharadi's Only Fully-Automated Homes Codename Kharadi Plus Learn More Undo Key Indian officials have said on background that the White House and rest of the administration don't seem to be in sync because outside of the trade and tariff issue, it is business as usual on all other fronts, including close cooperation in critical security and mil-tech areas. Among other things, right in the middle of the trade spat, India and US conducted a joint space mission involving ISRO and NASA, launching the satellite NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) on July 30 to monitor changes on Earth's land and ice surfaces and generate data for understanding natural hazards and climate change. Indian companies are also on track -- barring more mishaps -- to receive from nVidia advanced Blackwell chips for AI that the US has been blocked for China. The State Department issued a similar statement a day earlier on Pakistan's independence day but it was conspicuously narrower in scope, focusing on counterterrorism, trade, and exploiting Pakistan's purported resources. "The US deeply appreciates Pakistan's engagement on counterterrorism and trade. We look forward to exploring new areas of economic cooperation, including critical minerals and hydrocarbons, and fostering dynamic business partnerships which will promote a prosperous future for Americans and Pakistanis," the message said. According to knowledgeable sources, the White House's tactical embrace of Islamabad is largely driven by private business interests aimed at exploiting Pakistan's purported natural resources, including oil, gas, and minerals. A Trump family-backed firm with ties to the "Pakistan Crypto Council" that Islamabad drummed up out of the blue reportedly fired up new ardor in Trump White House for a country that President once said was a haven for terrorists. While the outreach is ostensibly aimed at drawing Pakistan out of the Chinese stranglehold, another new argument is that Washington needs Islamabad to counter Iran, the new US bogey now that Afghanistan has returned to the dark ages. But the American commentariat is largely unanimous in saying the White House move has badly damaged US-India ties, possibly irreparably despite the State Department's buoyant message on Independence Day. "Even if Trump again reverses course, the damage has been done. Indians believe that the United States has shown its true colors: its unreliability, its willingness to treat its friends badly. They will understandably feel that, to hedge their bets, they need to stay close to Russia — and even make amends with China," Fareed Zakaria, host of CNN's GPS program said on Friday, adding that the country is "united in its shock and anger at Trump's insulting behavior. "
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
9 hours ago
- Business Standard
PM Modi asks scientists to focus on R&D, secure patents for new drugs
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday asked scientists and entrepreneurs to focus more on research and development (R&D) and secure patents for new drugs and medical technologies to ensure self-reliance in the pharmaceutical segment. Speaking from the Red Fort on the occasion of India's 79th Independence Day, PM Modi said that this move will ensure that India not only meets its own healthcare needs but also becomes a global hub of medical innovation. The call comes at a time when India has been lagging behind in terms of R&D spending, according to a Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) study paper on industry-academia linkages in the segment. It states that while a number of initiatives for industry-academic linkages in India have produced positive research results over the years, due to their sporadic nature, India's share of world researchers has remained at about 2 per cent, compared to 20 per cent in the US and China. 'An analysis of the share in R&D reveals that in India, the government contributes between 75 and 80 per cent, the private sector contributes 20 to 25 per cent, and universities contribute 3 per cent,' the paper added. In comparison, OECD countries see a 69 per cent contribution from private sector companies, followed by universities at 18 per cent, government contribution at 10 per cent, and non-profit organisations at 3 per cent. Commenting on the issues faced by the pharma industry, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, executive chairperson of Biocon and Biocon Biologics, told CNBC TV18 that the timeline to take a new molecule from the lab to the market is a very long process, making investments in research and innovation very risky. 'Unless we have very bold regulatory reforms that shorten this lab-to-market journey, we may not see the research investment needed for a country like India,' she added. Calling on the industry to demonstrate India's ability to lead in science, technology, and human welfare, PM Modi also urged the nation to achieve self-reliance in medicines and innovation, highlighting the country's strength as the pharmacy of the world. India currently has approximately 3,000 pharmaceutical businesses with over 10,500 manufacturing facilities, offering around 60,000 generic brands in 60 therapeutic categories. Many Indian pharmaceutical companies are now looking to jump on the generic bandwagon for off-patent molecules, while pressing on plans to develop a biosimilars pipeline post the Covid-19 pandemic. Pharma firms have gone on a generic spree after several blockbuster molecules used in diabetes medications, such as empagliflozin and dapagliflozin, went off patent in the last two years. Major blockbuster molecules that have seen several generic launches in this timeframe include empagliflozin and dapagliflozin, used in diabetes medications, which saw the prices of these drugs fall by 85 per cent in the Indian market. Similarly, companies such as Sun Pharma, Torrent, Lupin, Glenmark, and Dr Reddy's are also working on generic versions of weight loss drugs based on the blockbuster molecule semaglutide, which is expected to go off patent by March 2026. According to the DoP's study paper, more than 300 drug patents in different categories and geographies will be expiring every year during the patent cliff period of 2022 to 2032. 'The patent cliff will provide an opportunity for Indian generic companies to enter the US and other regulated markets and produce more affordable versions of those medications,' the paper added. PM flags obesity crisis in I-Day speech, calls for less oil intake PM Modi on Friday expressed concerns over obesity becoming a future crisis for India, asking people to cut down consumption of cooking oil by at least 10 per cent. India is currently projected to have the third-highest population of overweight or obese people globally, after the United States of America (USA) and China. Asking every family to take the concern seriously, the Prime Minister resolved that the country must protect itself from obesity. 'While many steps will have to be taken, I have made one small suggestion that every family should resolve that when cooking oil comes into the house, it should be 10 per cent less than usual, and its use should also be 10 per cent less. By doing so, we shall make our contribution towards winning the fight against obesity,' he stated from the ramparts of the Red Fort. According to the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-21), 24 per cent of women and 23 per cent of men in India are overweight or obese, a sharp rise from 20.7 per cent and 18.6 per cent recorded in the NFHS-4 (2015-16), respectively. A recent Lancet study had also predicted that nearly one-third of the country's population, amounting to 218 million men and 231 million women, will be obese by 2050.
