National

Nuclear Energy Essential for India’s Net Zero Objectives: Jitendra Singh

Published

1 year ago

March 5, 2025

Union Minister for Science and Technology, Jitendra Singh, underscored the vital importance of nuclear energy in India’s journey towards clean energy and the goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. Speaking on Tuesday, he urged for increased private sector involvement, necessary regulatory reforms, and ongoing public engagement.

The Union Minister also unveiled a Small Modular Reactor (SMR) R&D Mission, aimed at developing five SMRs by the year 2033. These versatile reactors have the potential to be utilized in industrial regions, remote locations, and in challenging sectors such as cement and steel production.

During a post-budget webinar hosted by NITI Aayog, Dr. Singh reiterated that nuclear energy is essential to India’s objective of reaching net-zero emissions. He pointed to the 2024-25 Union Budget’s blueprint for expanding the country’s nuclear power capability, which sets an ambitious target of 100 GW by 2047.

Highlighting the surging energy demands, Dr. Singh emphasized that India’s electricity requirements are projected to increase four to five times by 2047. While renewable energy resources are growing, they cannot sufficiently satisfy base-load demand on their own, positioning nuclear power as a pivotal element of India’s energy strategy.

“Achieving the 100 GW nuclear power milestone will necessitate a dedicated and strategic approach, targeting an annual addition of approximately 4 GW moving forward,” Dr. Singh stated, expressing optimism about reaching this goal through meticulous planning and implementation.

A significant change in India’s nuclear policy is the proposal to involve the private sector in the design, construction, and operation of nuclear power plants. The Union Minister acknowledged that updates to the Atomic Energy Act, Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, and Electricity Act will be necessary to facilitate this engagement. “Opening the nuclear sector will deliver a robust policy message to industry stakeholders, enhancing investor confidence and fostering long-term investments,” he added.

Dr. Singh also noted that NPCIL and its subsidiaries aim to account for nearly half of the 100 GW target by leveraging both domestic and international collaborations. Meanwhile, NTPC’s joint venture, Ashwini, is already progressing on the construction of four 700 MWe PHWRs at Mahi-Banswara.

National

11 Hospitalised After Dead Lizard Found in Birthday Cake

Published

2 days ago

August 16, 2026

Namma Kudla

Maharashtra : Eleven people were hospitalised after eating a birthday cake that allegedly contained a dead lizard in Nalasopara, Maharashtra.

The incident took place during a birthday celebration. The affected group included seven children and four women.

According to reports, they complained of sudden stomach and chest pain shortly after eating the cake.

They were immediately taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Doctors said that all 11 patients are in stable condition.

The incident has raised serious concerns about food safety and hygiene standards in bakeries.

The case comes amid growing concerns over food safety in Maharashtra. Earlier, a rat was allegedly seen inside an ice cream freezer at a Blinkit store in Thane’s Godrej Hill area in Kalyan.

In another incident, food safety officials suspended the FSSAI licence of a Blinkit-linked facility in Malad West after finding several violations.

The recent incidents have increased calls for stricter checks on food storage, hygiene and safety standards across the state.

National

Dead Russell’s Viper Found on Vande Bharat Express

Published

2 days ago

August 16, 2026

Namma Kudla

Ernakulam: A dead Russell’s viper was found on a passenger seat inside a Vande Bharat Express in Ernakulam, causing panic among passengers.

The incident took place on Friday, August 14, at around 2.30 pm. The train was scheduled to leave Ernakulam Junction for Bengaluru.

The incident came to light before the train began its journey. Vinu Varghese, who works for an insurance company in Ernakulam, had booked a ticket to travel to Coimbatore with his two-year-old child.

When he returned to his seat after visiting the restroom, he noticed the dead snake lying on the seat. He was shocked and immediately informed the Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) and railway staff.

The railway staff quickly responded to the situation. With the help of passengers, they removed the dead snake from the coach.

After the snake was removed, the passengers felt relieved. Vinu Varghese later filed an official complaint through the railway portal.

In his complaint, he questioned the safety and cleanliness standards on the train. He said passengers pay a significant amount for travelling on Vande Bharat trains and expected better safety measures.

Varghese said the railway staff later apologised for the incident.

The incident has also raised questions about how a snake entered the passenger compartment. Vande Bharat trains are air-conditioned and have sealed gangways and automatic doors that open only at designated stations.

The incident has raised concerns about pest control and safety protocols on the train. Railway authorities have ordered a detailed investigation into the matter.

This is not the first reported incident involving a snake on a Vande Bharat train. In December 2025, a passenger was allegedly accused of deliberately placing a snake inside the Mumbai-Solapur Vande Bharat Express.

National

West Bengal Man Detained in Bengaluru over Alleged Terror Links

Published

3 days ago

August 15, 2026

Namma Kudla

Bengaluru: Bengaluru police have detained a 25-year-old man from West Bengal over his alleged links with a terror group.

The accused has been identified as Asafool Mallik. He is a native of Naopara village in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district.

Police detained Mallik in the Jigani area after receiving information about his alleged suspicious online activities.

According to the police, Mallik had allegedly established contact with a person identified as Imran Haider through Facebook. Haider, who is from Afghanistan, is suspected to have links with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Police said Mallik allegedly wanted to travel to Afghanistan and join the group. He also allegedly discussed retaliatory attacks against the Pakistan Army and possible attacks in India.

Mallik had reportedly applied for a visa to travel to Afghanistan. However, he later dropped the plan due to financial difficulties and family responsibilities, police said.

Mallik was living near APC Circle in Jigani. He had been working as a security guard at Tata Advanced Limited in the Jigani Industrial Area since December 2025.

Police said they received information about his activities while conducting patrols in the Bommasandra Industrial Area.

During questioning, Mallik allegedly said he was angry over what he believed were attacks on Muslims in Pakistan. He also reportedly expressed anger over Pakistan’s position on the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Police further said Mallik was allegedly being encouraged to retaliate if Muslims faced difficulties in India.

Police later examined Mallik’s mobile phone. They allegedly found chats, voice calls and audio conversations between Mallik and Haider.

The police are now examining the chats, recordings and other material recovered from the phone.

The investigation is underway to determine the extent of Mallik’s alleged links with the terror network.