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“Be daring and inspired”

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9 years ago

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FOR POSTERITY: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and nine Nobel laureates at Science City. Their handprints will be installed on "Nobel Path" at the Nobel Prize Exhibition

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Modi inaugurates Nobel Exhibition  

By Sujit Bhar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s hurricane tour of the country landed him, Monday evening (January 9), at his home state of Gujarat, at Ahmedabad’s Science City, far from his political affiliates.

Amid a fascinating crowd, that had no less than nine Nobel laureates, including Indian-origin Dr Venkatraman Ramakrishnan (Nobel in Chemistry, 2009, for his work on ribosome structure), he inaugurated the Nobel Exhibition—“The Nobel Prize: Ideas Changing World” —a travelling exhibition that showcases the best in every discipline that the Nobel Committee offers.

This was no political or business meeting, but Modi was not one to be caught off-guard. His speech converged on the “innovation” issue that fell in with his Make in India policy. He said: “…today, we are making history by having a galaxy of Nobel laureates in Gujarat… My government has a clear vision of where we want India to be in the next 15 years. Science and technology is the pivot on which that vision will translate into strategy and action.”

This is a special exhibition, which 250 students selected from around the country through a competition are attending, interacting with some of the best scientific minds from around the world. Addressing these students, Modi said: “Globally, science and technology have emerged as one of the major drivers of socioeconomic development. You will be scientists soon and must not neglect the challenge posed by poverty.”

BENIGN INFLUENCE: These past PMs nurtured scientific research during their tenures

BENIGN INFLUENCE: These past PMs nurtured scientific research during their tenures

A few special qualities would separate the achievers in this field, he said. “Be inspired and be daring, have courage and be your own person and not imitative. That is how our honoured guests succeeded and that is what you should learn from them.”

Even Lars Heikensten, executive director, Nobel Foundation, had come down for the exhibition. Said he: “(Alfred) Nobel knew that good role models – people and organizations – can show that it is possible to understand the world and improve it. It is in this spirit that we organize events such as this one.”

He talked about the 15 Nobel Laureates from India, of Indian origin or who have worked in India.”Persons like Tagore, Raman, Sen and Satyarthi are the role models Nobel was looking for. In the world today, many of his ideals are threatened. Even facts are refuted—climate change is good example of this. Thus, we all have good reason to work on what he believed in,” he said.

This year, India has been fortunate to receive a double bounty, around the same time. A day before Modi had inaugurated the 104th Science Congress at the Sri Venkateswara University in Tirupati (Tuesday, January 10). That was before he went over to meet the Nobel laureates.

Science and India

Science was the predominant occupation of the intelligentsia, especially in the east, in pre-Independence India. Eminent scientists of the era, starting from Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose, to Prafulla Chandra Ray were pioneers in this. Later, world renowned scientists Satyen Bose, Nobel laureate CV Raman, nuclear scientist Homi J Bhabha, father of Indian space research Vikram Sarabhai and others were instrumental in promoting progressive thoughts in society.

To this end, and with the help of two British chemists, Professor J. L. Simonsen and Professor P. S. MacMahon, the Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) was set up in Kolkata in 1914. Today it has a membership of over 30,000 scientists.

The association meets in the first week of January, and helps in the advancement of scientific thoughts and teaching in the country.

Science thoughts have always been apolitical in this country, though it was because of India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s initiative that science has seen phenomenal growth in the country. His dream of setting up premier scientific schools around India resulted in the formation of Indian Institutes of Technology as well as the Indian Institute of Science.

Later, his daughter and Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, stressed on the use of science to boost India’s agriculture.

Modi has taken up the cause that had seen some slack in the recent past, and science education, he has said before, fits well into his development agenda. To this end, this was a great opportunity for him to make the best of a brief appearance.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1484053914518{background-color: #afafaf !important;}”][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”THE NOBEL LAUREATES PRESENT” google_fonts=”font_family:Roboto%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C500%2C500italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_column_text]The following were the Nobel laureates present at the Nobel Exhibition:[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

  • Venkatraman Ramakrishnan (Nobel in Chemistry, 2009, for his work on ribosome structure). He shared the prize with Dr Thomas A Steitz and Dr Ada Yonath.
  • Dr Ada Yonath
  • Dr Richard J Roberts (1993, Medicine)
  • Dr Harold Varmus (1989, Medicine)
  • Dr David J Gross (2004, Physics)
  • Dr Serge Haroche (2012, Physics)
  • Dr Randy Schekman (2013, Medicine)
  • Dr W E Moerner (2014, Chemistry)
  • Dr H C Harmut Michel (1988, Chemistry)

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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India and Russia vow to walk together against terrorism, reaffirm strategic partnership

PM Modi and President Putin reaffirm India-Russia unity against terrorism, deepen energy and trade cooperation, and discuss peace efforts amid the Ukraine conflict.

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December 5, 2025

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday underlined that India and Russia “walk together in the fight against terrorism,” reinforcing a decades-old strategic partnership that remains steady amid global geopolitical churn. The leaders issued the joint statement following talks at Hyderabad House in Delhi, where they also announced steps to boost trade, economic cooperation, and energy collaboration.

India-Russia stand firm on counter-terror cooperation

PM Modi described President Putin as a “dear friend” and highlighted Moscow’s consistent support to India on counter-terror efforts. Russia had earlier strongly condemned the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, allegedly linked to Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed, and reiterated solidarity with India’s fight against terrorism in all forms.

The joint remarks emphasized that the bilateral friendship, rooted in trust and mutual respect, has remained resilient for decades despite global challenges.

Focus on energy, trade and use of national currencies

A key highlight of the engagement was Russia reaffirming “uninterrupted shipments” of fuel to India. PM Modi expressed gratitude for Russia’s commitment, noting energy cooperation as a crucial pillar of the relationship. While he did not specifically mention oil purchases, given ongoing Western pressure, he emphasised cooperation in civil nuclear and clean energy.

The two countries also discussed expanding economic ties, including a possible free trade agreement. President Putin said bilateral trade was being targeted to reach USD 100 billion, and acknowledged progress toward using national currencies for payments — a remark expected to draw global attention.

Putin shares peace plan insights on Ukraine conflict

Putin briefed the Prime Minister on Russia’s perspective for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing Ukraine war and appreciated India’s continued role as a “champion of peace.” PM Modi reiterated India’s consistent position on dialogue and diplomacy.

Agreements across jobs, health, shipping and minerals

Officials exchanged multiple agreements covering employment mobility, health, shipping, chemicals and cooperation in critical minerals — further broadening the strategic footprint of the partnership.

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India News

RBI cuts repo rate to 5.25%, paving the way for cheaper loans

The RBI has cut the repo rate to 5.25%, aiming to support growth as inflation softens. The central bank also raised GDP projections and announced liquidity-boosting measures.

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6 hours ago

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December 5, 2025

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Reserve Bank of India

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reduced the key repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.25% on Thursday, signalling relief for borrowers as banks are expected to offer lower EMIs on home and vehicle loans. Governor Sanjay Malhotra announced the move after the conclusion of the three-day Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting.

RBI prioritises growth as inflation eases

Malhotra said the decision was unanimous, with the central bank choosing to focus on supporting economic momentum despite concerns over a weak rupee. The repo rate was earlier cut in June from 6% to 5.5% amid easing inflation trends.

The RBI now projects Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation at 2% for FY2025-26, significantly softer than earlier estimates. For the first quarter of FY2026-27, inflation is expected at 3.9%, lower than the previous projection. The governor noted that rising precious metal prices may contribute to the headline CPI, but overall risks to inflation remain balanced.

GDP outlook strengthened

In a strong upward revision, the central bank increased the GDP forecast for the current financial year to 7.3%, previously estimated at 6.8%. Growth for the October–December quarter has also been revised to 6.7%.

The last quarter registered a six-quarter high expansion of 8.2%, reflecting resilient demand and steady credit flow.

“The growth-inflation balance continues to offer policy space,” Malhotra said, reiterating that the RBI’s stance remains neutral.

Other key decisions

Alongside the repo rate cut, the RBI announced adjustments to key policy corridors:

  • Standing Deposit Facility (SDF): 5%
  • Marginal Standing Facility (MSF): 5.5%

To improve liquidity and strengthen monetary transmission, the RBI will conduct forex swaps and purchase ₹1 lakh crore worth of government bonds through Open Market Operations (OMO).

RBI reviews a challenging year

Reflecting on 2025, Malhotra said the year delivered strong growth and moderate inflation even as global trade and geopolitical uncertainties persisted. He added that bank credit and retail lending remained healthy, providing support to the economy.

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India News

IndiGo flight chaos deepens as over 500 services cancelled, passengers stranded for hours

Over 500 IndiGo flights were cancelled nationwide, leaving passengers stranded without food, clarity or their luggage as airports struggled to manage the disruption.

Published

6 hours ago

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December 5, 2025

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IndiGo flight

India’s largest airline continued to face massive operational breakdowns, triggering frustration among travellers at major airports across the country. From piles of unattended suitcases to passengers waiting over 12 hours without food or clarity, the disruption stretched into its fourth consecutive day.

Long delays, no communication leave passengers anguished

Several travellers at Delhi airport described the situation as “mental torture”, as thousands of unclaimed suitcases lay scattered across the terminal. Many slept on the floor, while others expressed anger over the lack of communication from airline staff.

One flier said he had been waiting for over 12 hours without any explanation: “Every time they say one-hour or two-hour delays. We were going to a wedding but don’t even have our luggage.”

A passenger in Hyderabad recounted a similar ordeal, saying the flight was delayed indefinitely with no food, water, or updates from the airline. At the airport, some travellers blocked an Air India flight in protest over the lack of arrangements.

Goa and Chennai airports also witnessed tense moments. Videos from Goa showed fliers shouting at IndiGo staff as police attempted to calm the situation. At Chennai, CISF denied entry to IndiGo passengers due to heavy congestion.

Major metro airports impacted; cascading cancellations nationwide

Flight cancellations and delays were reported across multiple airports:

  • Over 200 flights were cancelled in Delhi
  • More than 100 each in Mumbai and Bengaluru
  • Around 90 in Hyderabad
  • Dozens more in Pune, Vishakhapatnam, Chennai and Bhopal

Pune airport stated that parking bay congestion worsened the situation, as several IndiGo aircraft remained grounded due to lack of crew. Other airlines continued operations without disruption.

Airport authorities said they had mobilised additional manpower for crowd control and passenger support.

IndiGo admits planning lapses, says more cancellations expected

The airline acknowledged a “misjudgment” in assessing crew requirements under revised night-duty norms, which it said created planning gaps. Winter weather and airport congestion further aggravated the crisis.

IndiGo informed the aviation ministry and DGCA that some regulatory changes—such as the shift in night-duty timings and a cap on night landings—have been rolled back temporarily to stabilise operations.

The airline warned that cancellations may continue for another two to three days, and from December 8, schedules will be trimmed to prevent further disruption.

In a message to employees, CEO Pieter Elbers said restoring punctuality would not be an “easy target”.

Airline issues apology amid nationwide frustration

In a late-night statement, IndiGo apologised to customers and industry partners, acknowledging the widespread inconvenience caused by the disruptions. The airline said all teams were working with authorities to bring operations back to normal.

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