New Delhi, April 19 (IANS) In order to ensure the smooth implementation of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA, an amount of Rs 17,744.19 crore is being released to states and union territories towards the wage component as the first instalment for the financial year 2026–27, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said.The minister urged states to ensure timely and effective utilisation of these funds so that wage payments are made without delay. He further highlighted that necessary funds are also b…

New Delhi, April 19 (IANS) Leading specialists on Sunday warned that excessive consumption of energy drinks is emerging as a leading cause of liver damage among India’s youth, on the occasion of the ‘World Liver Day’.Doctors warned that the trend is accelerating, with young patients increasingly showing early signs of liver disease.Energy drinks are aggressively marketed to young consumers as performance enhancers and fatigue relievers but these drinks often contain caffeine levels far exceeding…

Jaipur, April 18 (IANS) In a result that is turning heads across Rajasthan, Virendra Charan from Pokharan in Jaisalmer has secured the second rank in the Rajasthan Administrative Service Examination, without stepping into a single coaching institute.​ The son of a Head Constable and currently serving as a Tehsildar, Virendra’s journey is not just about rank; it is about rethinking how India prepares for competitive exams. While most aspirants rely heavily on coaching hubs, Virendra chose a d…

Thiruvananthapuram, April 16 (IANS) In a key leadership transition at one of India’s premier biotechnology institutions, the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (BRIC-RGCB) has appointed noted scientist Dr Beena Pillai as its new Director.The appointment, approved by the Appointments Committee of the Union Cabinet, is for a five-year term.Functioning under the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council of the Department of Biotechnology, BRIC-RGCB plays a crucial national role in advancing …

New Delhi, April 16 (IANS) A SpiceJet aircraft collided with a stationary plane of Akasa Air at Delhi airport on Thursday afternoon, causing minor damage to both aircraft, though no injuries were reported.The incident took place around 2:15 pm when the SpiceJet aircraft, arriving from Leh, was taxiing towards its designated gate and made contact with the Akasa Air plane, which was preparing for departure to Hyderabad.According to initial reports, the right winglet of the SpiceJet aircraft sustai…

Jaipur, April 15 (IANS) Taking a significant step towards addressing global energy challenges, Dr Shahab Ahmad, Associate Professor in the Department of Physics at IIT Jodhpur, is leading pioneering research in advanced energy materials work that has the potential to fundamentally transform future methods of energy generation and storage. At the Advanced Energy Materials Lab, established in 2019, Dr Ahmad and his team are working at the intersection of physics, materials science, and engineering…

New Delhi, April 15 (IANS) Artificial intelligence (AI) can identify early risk pattern among individuals at higher risk of melanoma, a new study showed on Wednesday.The study was based on registry data that is routinely collected on the whole of Sweden’s adult population.The analysed data included age, sex, diagnoses, use of medications and socioeconomic status.Of the 6,036,186 individuals included, 38,582 (0.64 per cent) developed melanoma during the five years of the study.“Our study show…

Srinagar, April 14 (IANS) Police in J&K’s Budgam said on Tuesday that it has registered an FIR against an individual for operating a fake WhatsApp account in the name of the Senior Superintendent of Police.A police official said that Budgam police station had received reliable information that an individual, namely Sameer Ali Bhat, son of Ghulam Muhammad Bhat, resident of Pallar Budgam, was sharing screenshots of chats with a fake WhatsApp account operating in the name of SSP Budgam among …

Amaravati, April 14 (IANS) India’s first quantum reference facilities were unveiled here on Tuesday, opening a new chapter in quantum technology to mark the World Quantum Day. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu inaugurated the ‘1S Open Access Quantum Facility’ at SRM University, as well as the ‘1Q Quantum Facility’ situated at Medha Towers.These two quantum testbeds provide the necessary infrastructure to test quantum computing devices and components, officials said.With the unveiling of …

New Delhi, April 13 (IANS) The 2026 southwest monsoon seasonal (June to September) rainfall over the country is most likely to be below normal or around 95-90 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA), the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Monday.Releasing its Long Range Forecast for the 2026 Southwest Monsoon season rainfall, the IMD said that the seasonal rainfall over the country as a whole is likely to be 92 per cent of the LPA with a model error of plus-minus 5 per cent.The LPA …