Astrophysicist Annapurni Subramaniam has been awarded the COSPAR Vikram Sarabhai Medal 2026 for her contribution to space research. Instituted in 1990 in honour of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the medal is given jointly by the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) and ISRO to scientists from developing countries.
Justice M.S. Liberhan, former Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh and Madras High Courts, passed away in Chandigarh at the age of 87. He had earlier been a judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. He headed the Liberhan Commission set up to inquire into the demolition of the Babri Masjid on 6 December 1992.
India's first exploration licence for rare earth minerals has been awarded in Rajasthan, covering blocks in Balotra and Jodhpur districts. It was granted to the Central Mine Planning and Design Institute (CMPDI) under the national critical minerals framework. Geological studies show Lanthanum, Cerium, Praseodymium and Neodymium in the blocks.
India ranked 176th of 177 countries in the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) 2026 with a score of 22.46, second from bottom, and has stayed among the five worst performers since 2022. It ranked 174th in both air quality and biodiversity. Estonia topped (74.79), followed by Luxembourg, the UK, Finland and the Netherlands.
A joint communication from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and MoEFCC asked States to align Community Forest Resource Management Plans (CFRMPs) with Forest Department Working Plans, raising concern that it could dilute Gram Sabha powers. The Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006 makes the Gram Sabha the primary authority for determining and managing community forest rights.
The NTCA's 'Roadmap for Active Management of Tigers in India', based on the 2022 All India Tiger Estimation, found that 38 of India's 58 tiger reserves have a declining prey base, poor habitat, or both. Only 20 reserves have both adequate prey and good habitat; 36 face prey shortages and 17 have both problems.
India has reached near-universal banking coverage, with 99.92% of inhabited villages having a banking outlet within 5 km. Of 6,01,328 inhabited villages, 6,00,868 are served by a bank branch, Business Correspondent (BC) or India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) centre. The network has over 1.81 lakh branches, 17.36 lakh BCs and 1.65 lakh IPPB centres.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) will set up India's first Telecom Manufacturing Zone in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. India aims to connect 100 crore people to 5G by 2030, double the current base of about 50 crore.
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