India has launched a pilot facility for nuclear heat hydrogen production at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu. The Department of Atomic Energy inaugurated the technology demonstrator on Friday, June 26, 2026, at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research. The department described the project as the first hydrogen facility to use heat drawn directly from a nuclear reactor rather than depending mainly on electricity. The plant remains a

Cape Verde’s World Cup run reached the knockout stage after the tournament debutant secured a 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia. The Blue Sharks finished the group stage unbeaten with three points from three draws and advanced to the round of 32. Cape Verde World Cup run secured by Vozinha Goalkeeper Vozinha, 40, made several decisive saves as Saudi Arabia pushed for the victory it needed. He stopped Mohamed Kanno’s header in first-half stoppage t

The Modi Seychelles visit is expected to deepen maritime security, infrastructure, trade and tourism ties as Seychelles marks 50 years of independence and the two countries commemorate five decades of diplomatic relations. Seychelles Foreign Minister Barry Faure said the trip could lift the partnership to a “qualitatively higher level” as both sides advance plans discussed during President Patrick Herminie’s February visit to India. Modi Seychelles visit put

ISRO’s semi-cryogenic engine test reached 88% of its designed thrust on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, marking a major step toward upgrading India’s LVM3 rocket. The Indian Space Research Organisation tested the Power Head Test Article, or PHTA, at its propulsion facility in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu. The PHTA includes most major engine systems but excludes the thrust chamber, allowing engineers to evaluate fuel delivery, ignition and pressure performance before testing the complete e

Indian residents filed 1,153,748 Schengen short-stay visa applications in 2025, and 181,111 did not result in a uniform visa, according to European Commission data published on Thursday, May 28, 2026. Under the Commission’s methodology, India’s non-issuance rate was 15.8%, compared with a global refusal rate of 14.6%. India was the world’s third-largest source of Schengen visa applications, behind China and Türkiye. A total of 966,529 uniform visas were issued to applicants f

A magnitude 6.2 Afghanistan earthquake sent tremors across Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, and other parts of northern India on Saturday, June 27, 2026. No deaths, injuries or property damage had been reported in the initial information available after the quake. 6.2 Afghanistan earthquake sends tremors across Delhi India’s National Centre for Seismology said the earthquake occurred at 7:04:51 p.m. IST on Saturday, Jun

The Canada World Cup visa refusal rate for Indians reached about 71%, with only 355 of 1,225 FIFA 2026-related visitor visa applications approved, according to data attributed to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. The figures cover applications processed from Saturday, November 15, 2025, through Tuesday, March 31, 2026. Canada processed nearly 17,000 visitor visa applications linked to the tournament during that period and approved

A US-based NRI won relief in an NRI cash deposit tax case in India after the Delhi bench of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal accepted that ₹11.18 lakh deposited during demonetisation came from earlier overseas remittances intended to support his parents. In an order pronounced on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in Arun Bussi v. ACIT, the tribunal directed the deletion of the tax addition for assessment year 2017-18. The

The Tamil Nadu government has appointed K Venkata Narayana as its Special Representative in New Delhi for a period of one year. According to an official government order issued on Friday, the appointment is temporary and will be effective from the date he assumes office. The state government stated that the detailed terms and conditions of his role will be issued separately. The appointment has attracted political attention and criticism due to Narayana’s professional association

Rolls-Royce and India discussed deeper manufacturing investment, technology partnerships and an engine proposal tied to the country’s next-generation AMCA fighter program on Friday, June 26, 2026. The talks focused on how the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, or CETA, could support advanced manufacturing, engineering cooperation and more resilient supply chains. Rolls-Royce India Manufacturing Investment

How to enable earthquake alerts on Android in India is a timely question after powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday, June 24, 2026. Android’s warning system can provide some users with seconds of notice after an earthquake begins, although alerts are not guaranteed. Magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes struck western Venezuela at about 6:04 PM and 6:05 PM Venezuela time on Wednesday, June 24, 2026. Reuters reported that the confir

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology recorded 286 students from India during the 2025–26 academic year, according to statistics published by MIT’s International Students Office. MIT, which holds the No. 1 position in the QS World University Rankings 2027, remains one of the most sought-after US universities among students interested in engineering, science, technology and research. MIT’s appeal to international students is also supported by its

The RBI introduced the US dollar-rupee swap facility on Monday, June 8, 2026. It applies to eligible fresh FCNR(B) deposits, including deposits renewed at maturity, with an original tenure of at least three years and no more than five years. Deposits must be mobilized between Monday, June 8, 2026, and Wednesday, September 30, 2026. Banks may use the RBI swap window through Friday, October 16, 2026. The swap

The R Madhavan Titan watch worn during his Padma Shri ceremony was more than an expensive accessory. Priced at ₹40.5 lakh, or 4.05 million rupees, the rare timepiece brought Indian miniature art, Jaipur’s architectural heritage and advanced mechanical watchmaking together on one dial. President Droupadi Murmu presented Madhavan with the Padma Shri at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. The Padma Shri is one of India’s highest civilian ho

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has declared that his government will adopt a zero-tolerance approach against anyone found guilty of exploiting Sanatan values or misusing the faith of devotees. His remarks came a day after Uttar Pradesh Police arrested eight individuals in connection with the alleged embezzlement of donations collected at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The arrests followed the registration of an FIR based on the preliminary findings of a Special Investigation Team (S

The alleged Ram Temple donation theft case has taken a major turn with the Uttar Pradesh Police arresting all eight accused shortly after registering the first FIR based on the preliminary findings of a Special Investigation Team (SIT). The arrests mark the first major enforcement action in a case involving the alleged misappropriation of donations offered by lakhs of devotees at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. According to police sources, the

India’s early petrol retail system began in the early 1920s during the British colonial period when automobiles were still a rare luxury. The petrol retail system in colonial India first appeared in major cities like Bombay (Mumbai) and Calcutta (Kolkata). At that time, there were no modern fuel stations, and petrol was supplied through depots, barrels, and basic manual systems. This early structure marked the foundation of the petrol retail system in colonial India and served only a limited group of users. Dependence on imported fuel sources During this period, India had very limited oil production. Most petrol was imported through the British imperial trade network. The imported oil came mainly from Burma, Persia, and other oil-producing regions under British control. This imported oil system made India heavily dependent on external sources for fuel supply. The oil import system played a key role in shaping how early petrol retail operations functioned across cities. Role of burmah shell in fuel distribution One of the major companies involved was Burmah Shell, which managed fuel storage and distribution across urban centers. Burmah Shell India operated depots and controlled the supply chain in key regions. These early fuel depots were not modern petrol pumps but organized colonial-era storage and distribution points. The company played a central role in shaping early fuel retail operations and expanding access in cities. Manual petrol pumps and basic technology Early petrol stations used manual petrol pump systems instead of modern electric dispensers. Fuel was moved using hand-operated pumps or gravity-fed systems from barrels into containers or vehicles. Workers had to physically operate the system, making the process slow and labor-intensive. This manual petrol pump system represented the early stage of fuel retail evolution in India. Limited access and elite vehicle ownership Vehicle ownership during the colonial period was extremely limited. Cars were mainly owned by British officials, princely rulers, and wealthy Indian elites. Because of this, petrol usage was also restricted to a small section of society. While there were no legal restrictions on petrol access, high costs and limited infrastructure made it inaccessible for the general population. Evolution towards modern petrol stations By the 1930s and 1940s, with increasing automobile usage, the petrol retail system began to evolve. Basic depots gradually transformed into structured petrol stations with better storage systems and improved dispensing technology. This transition marked the beginning of modern fuel retail development in India, leading to today’s automated petrol pump network.

The Indian government has taken another major step to improve medicine safety by making QR codes mandatory on several categories of critical drugs, including vaccines, anti-cancer medicines, antimicrobials, and narcotic medications. The move is aimed at helping consumers and healthcare providers easily verify the authenticity of medicines and reducing the spread of counterfeit and substandard drugs in the country. The Union Health Ministry

The shocking death of Ketan Agarwal at Pune's Lohagad Fort has taken an emotional turn after the parents of accused Siya Goyal publicly stated that they would support the harshest punishment if their daughter is found guilty. The case has become one of the most talked-about crime stories in Maharashtra, with investigators alleging that Siya Goyal and her alleged boyfriend, Chetan Chaudhary, conspired to kill Ketan by pushing him into a gor

New Delhi, June 26: Passport applicants in India will have to pay higher fees from July 1, 2026, as the government has revised charges for fresh passports, reissues and replacement of lost or damaged passports. Under the revised rules, a fresh or reissued ordinary 36-page passport will cost Rs 2,500, while the Tatkal fee for the same category has been increased to Rs 5,000.