Reserve Bank of India (RBI) raises banks’ M&A financing limit to 20% of tier-1 capital.
[Reserve Bank of India (RBI)]
Key Updates:
- Reserve Bank of India (RBI) allows banks to finance acquisitions up to 20% of their tier-1 capital, doubling the earlier draft cap of 10%.
- Aggregate capital market exposure (CME) of a bank must not exceed 40% of its eligible capital base on both solo and consolidated basis.
- Direct capital market exposure, comprising investment exposures, capped at 20% of eligible capital base on solo and consolidated basis.
- Banks can fund up to 75% of the acquisition value for both listed and unlisted entities.
- Debt-equity ratio of 3:1 required for the acquiring company together with the target on a consolidated basis.
- Acquisition must result in acquirer gaining control of the target through a single transaction or interconnected transactions completed within 12 months.
- Loan-to-value ratios set at 75% for mutual funds, 60% for loans against shares and NCDs, and 85% for debt mutual funds.
- Banks permitted to lend against government securities, sovereign gold bonds, loan against shares, NCDs, mutual funds, ETF units and InvITs.
Similar Coverage
- Reserve Bank of India (RBI) raised the collateral-free loan ceiling for micro and small enterprises from ₹10 lakh to ₹20 lakh.
- The earlier ₹10 lakh limit had remained unchanged since 2010.
- The revised limit applies to all loans sanctioned or renewed on or after 01 April 2026.
- Governor Sanjay Malhotra stated the revision indexes the limit for inflation.
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released draft norms permitting banks to lend to Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs) registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
- To be eligible for bank financing, a REIT must be listed, have a minimum three-year operational track record, and have reported positive net distributable cash flows in the preceding two financial years.
- The aggregate credit exposure of all banks to a REIT, its underlying Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs), and holding companies is capped at 49% of the asset value as of March 31 of the preceding financial year.
- Banks are permitted to extend loans only for operational or completed assets, while financing for land acquisition is strictly prohibited.
- The draft framework mandates amortised repayment schedules for loans and explicitly disallows bullet or balloon repayment structures.
- Lending must be fully secured through the mortgage of identified assets and a charge over receivables or escrow arrangements to prevent cash-flow diversion.
- Overseas branches of Indian banks are permitted to lend to overseas REITs provided the jurisdiction has an effective statutory insolvency or bankruptcy framework.
- The proposed directions are scheduled to come into force from July 1, 2026.
- The RBI has approved the application for ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company Limited (ICICI Prudential AMC), along with group entities of ICICI Bank, to acquire an aggregate holding of up to 9.95% in eight banks.
- The lenders covered under the approval are Bandhan Bank Limited, City Union Bank Limited, Equitas Small Finance Bank Limited, Federal Bank Limited, IDFC First Bank Limited, HDFC Bank Limited, The Karur Vysya Bank Limited, and RBL Bank Limited.
- ICICI Bank, the second-largest private sector lender in India, must complete the acquisition of paid-up equity capital or voting rights within one year from the date of the RBI letter.
- The permissions were granted under the consolidated Master Direction on acquisition and holding of shares or voting rights in banking companies.
- India Inc’s M&A deal value in H1 2025 stood at USD 50.5 billion, according to EY data cited in the article.
- Under the draft RBI norms, Indian banks can extend acquisition-finance ECBs only up to 10% of their Tier-1 capital; lenders are asking for this ceiling to be raised to 20%-40% of net worth.
- At the current 10% limit, domestic banks have less than USD 30 billion (about Rs 2.5 lakh crore) available for acquisition financing.
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approves India’s first underwater road-cum-rail tunnel under Brahmaputra river
[Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)]
Key Updates:
- The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved India’s first underwater road-cum-rail tunnel to be built under the Brahmaputra river in Assam.
- The 33.7-km long project includes a 15.8-km twin tube tunnel under the river and will be developed at a cost of ₹18,662 crore in Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) mode.
- The tunnel will connect Gohpur on NH-15 and Numaligarh on NH-715, reducing the distance between the two Assam cities from 240 km to 34 km and travel time from six hours to 20 minutes.
- The project alignment integrates with Rangia-Mukongselek Railway Section under Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) on Gohpur side and Furkating-Mariani loop line section under Tinsukia Division of NFR on Numaligarh side.
- The Cabinet also approved three Railways multi-tracking projects at a cost of ₹18,509 crore and three highway projects at a cost of ₹11,079 crore.
Similar Coverage
- Indian Railways is finalising Detailed Project Reports for seven high-speed rail corridors announced in Union Budget 2026-27.
- The seven corridors are Mumbai–Pune, Pune–Hyderabad, Hyderabad–Bengaluru, Hyderabad–Chennai, Chennai–Bengaluru, Delhi–Varanasi and Varanasi–Siliguri.
- National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) has been directed to take immediate action for timely progress.
- Railway Board estimates the combined length of the corridors at nearly 4,000 km and projected investment of approximately ₹16 lakh crore.
- Standardisation of high-speed rail systems, creation of dedicated core teams and initiation of pre-construction activities have been approved.
- Planning for trained technical manpower for upcoming high-speed rail projects has been emphasised.
- India’s first bullet train, the 508 km Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor, is planned to operate on a 100 km stretch by 2027.
- The Uttar Pradesh Public Works Department has proposed a first-of-its-kind North-South corridor project to improve connectivity for 20 districts.
- The chief minister’s office has approved six stretches connecting various cities along the North-South corridor.
- The total length of this North-South corridor is 2,340 km.
- The Government of India announced seven new high-speed rail corridors: Mumbai-Pune, Pune-Hyderabad, Hyderabad-Bengaluru, Hyderabad-Chennai, Chennai-Bengaluru, Delhi-Varanasi, and Varanasi-Siliguri.
- The new corridors will span approximately 4,000 km and involve an estimated investment of ₹16 lakh crore.
- The Ministry of Railways (MoR) will utilise indigenous technologies for the development of track works, slabs, viaducts, signalling systems, and overhead electricals.
- Future Bullet trains for these corridors will be manufactured in India by Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML).
- The MoR is currently manufacturing 200 Vande Bharat Sleeper trains and plans to implement 52 commodity-wise reforms in the freight sector this year.
- An East-West dedicated freight corridor is being planned to connect industrial hubs in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha to ports on the East and West coasts.
- The propulsion systems for these trains, including converters, inverters, and motors, are already being manufactured in India and exported to Europe and the United States.
- The Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project achieved its second mountain tunnel breakthrough with completion of tunnel MT-6 in Palghar district, Maharashtra.
- Tunnel MT-6 is 454 metres long and 14.4 metres wide, designed to accommodate both up and down tracks.
- The breakthrough follows the first mountain tunnel breakthrough of MT-5 near Saphale on January 2, both completed within one month.
- The New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM), a drill-and-controlled blast technique, was used to excavate MT-6 from both ends.
- Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that seven new high-speed rail corridors have been announced in the Union Budget.
- Rs 16,000 crores worth of work is underway for the Mumbai suburban network and the budget for Maharashtra railway is Rs 23,926 crore.
Reliance Industries secures US licence to import Venezuelan crude oil
[Reliance Industries Limited, United States, Venezuela]
Key Updates:
- Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) received a US general licence to purchase Venezuelan crude oil directly without violating sanctions.
- The licence enables RIL to resume discounted heavy crude imports suited to its Jamnagar refinery configuration and optimise refining margins.
- RIL operates the world’s largest single-site refining complex at Jamnagar, Gujarat.
- RIL bought 2 million barrels from trader Vitol when Venezuelan oil flowed through traders this year.
- State-owned Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) jointly bought 2 million barrels: 1.5 million barrels for IOC’s Paradip refinery, Odisha, and 500,000 barrels for HPCL’s Visakhapatnam unit, Andhra Pradesh.
- Venezuelan crude grades from the Orinoco Belt are predominantly heavy and extra-heavy, trading at deep discounts.
- US President Donald Trump stated Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to stop buying Russian oil and purchase more from the US and possibly Venezuela after a US-India trade deal that led the US to drop 25 per cent tariffs on Indian goods.
Similar Coverage
- India has made its first-ever export of jet fuel to the US West Coast, supplying Chevron.
- A 60,000-metric-ton (472,800 barrels) shipment departed from Reliance Industries' Jamnagar port between October 28 and 29.
- The export opportunity arose due to supply constraints in Los Angeles, following an operational disruption at Chevron's El Segundo refinery in southern California, a 285,000 barrel-per-day facility.
- Repairs at the El Segundo jet fuel production facility are expected to conclude in early 2026.
- As of November 7, US West Coast jet fuel inventories were at their lowest in three months, registering 11.12 million barrels.
- US West Coast jet fuel prices exceeded Singapore's spot free on board prices by $10 per barrel.
- Jet fuel exports from Northeast Asia to the US West Coast reached five-month peaks of roughly 600,000 tons in the previous month.
- India’s Russian hydrocarbon imports fell to €2.3 billion in December from €3.3 billion in November.
- Turkiye replaced India as the second-largest buyer, importing €2.6 billion of Russian hydrocarbons in December.
- China retained the top position, accounting for 48% (€6 billion) of Russia’s export revenues from the top five importers.
- Russian crude constituted 78% of India’s purchases, totalling €1.8 billion in December.
- Reliance Industries’ Jamnagar refinery halved its Russian crude imports in December.
- State-owned refiners cut Russian crude imports by 15% month-on-month in December.
- Russia’s share in India’s total crude imports dropped to 25% in December from 35% in November.
- Trump ordered 'a total and complete' blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela.
- Venezuela's government denounced the move as 'warmongering threats'.
- The US has seized an oil tanker off Venezuela's coast and conducted deadly strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats.
- More than 30 of the 80 ships in Venezuelan waters or approaching the country were under US sanctions.
- Trump wrote that Venezuela was 'completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled in the History of South America'.
- Indian public sector oil companies have signed a one-year deal to import liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from the United States.
- The deal is for imports of around 2.2 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of LPG for the contract year 2026.
- This volume represents close to 10 per cent of India's annual LPG imports and will be sourced from the US Gulf Coast.
- The purchase has been benchmarked to Mount Belvieu, a key pricing point for global LPG trade.
- Teams from Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) held discussions with major American producers.
- The Government of India absorbed a burden of over Rs 40,000 crore to shield consumers from international price shocks, ensuring Ujjwala consumers paid Rs 500-550 per cylinder against an actual cost of over Rs 1,100.
Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approves procurement of Air-Ships Based High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (AS-HAPS) for Indian Air Force
[Defence Acquisition Council (DAC)]
Key Updates:
- Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) granted Acceptance of Necessity to procure AS-HAPS for the Indian Air Force as part of a Rs 3.60 lakh crore capital acquisition package.
- AS-HAPS will provide persistent Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), Electronic Intelligence (ELINT), telecommunications, and remote sensing for military applications.
- The system is expected to cost approximately Rs 15,000 crore.
- National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) successfully tested a 23-kg scaled-down prototype at Challakere Aeronautical Test Range in Karnataka's Chitradurga district in February 2024.
- NAL's prototype flew for about eight and a half hours at an altitude of 3 km and achieved altitudes of 24,000 feet during pre-monsoon flight test campaigns.
- NAL is developing a full-scale HAPS with a 30-metre wingspan capable of flying at 23 km altitude for 90 hours by 2027.
- NewSpace Research and Technologies, a Bengaluru-based start-up, has flown a similar solar-powered UAV developed through the iDEX initiative of the Defence Ministry.
- Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has announced collaboration with a start-up to develop a futuristic HAPS.
- HAPS platforms have civilian applications including disaster management communications, 5G network extension to remote areas, precision agriculture, and environmental monitoring.
Similar Coverage
- The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the proposal to procure 114 Rafale fighter jets from France under an inter-governmental deal for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
- Of the 114 jets, 90 will be manufactured in India with close to 50 per cent indigenous content.
- The DAC also cleared the procurement of six additional P-8I maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft from the United States for the Indian Navy.
- Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) was accorded for multiple proposals worth an estimated Rs 3.60 lakh crore by the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
- The Indian Air Force currently operates 36 Rafales, and the Indian Navy will induct 26 Rafale M aircraft for carrier operations.
- The P-8I aircraft will be procured in a fly-away condition with no offsets, technology transfer, or other obligations.
- AoNs were also granted for Combat Missiles, Air-Ship Based High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (AS-HAPS), 4 MW Marine Gas Turbine based Electric Power Generator, Anti-Tank Mines (Vibhav), and overhaul of Vehicle Platforms of Armoured Recovery Vehicles (ARVs), T-72 Tanks and Infantry Combat Vehicles (BMP-II).
- The DAC also accorded AoN for procurement of Electro-Optical/Infra-Red system for Dornier aircraft for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG).
- A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California and deployed COSMO-SkyMed CSG-FM3 into a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 618 kilometers.
- COSMO-SkyMed is a dual-use synthetic aperture radar (SAR) system operating in low Earth orbit, supporting civilian and military applications including natural-disaster monitoring under all weather conditions, day and night.
- CSG-FM3, with a launch mass of about 2,207 kilograms and a deployed span of 16.66 meters, features a new antenna that ‘is more flexible and efficient, allowing a single pass to observe multiple areas and respond to multiple user requests at the same time.’
- The satellite carries a new laser reflector array that ‘enables millimeter-level accuracy in georeferencing SAR imagery.’
- Thales Alenia Space builds the satellites and handles the overall mission, Telespazio develops the ground segment and manages civilian operations, e-GEOS distributes commercial data, and Leonardo supplies additional onboard technologies; the Italian Ministry of Defense manages security and defense signal processing.
- Bengaluru-based Digantara Industries and Singapore’s Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) signed an agreement to co-develop Space Situational Awareness (SSA) tools for protecting Singapore’s national satellites from space-debris collisions.
- The partnership was announced on the sidelines of the Space Summit 2026 in Singapore.
- Digantara will provide DSTA with flight-dynamics services and conjunction-screening alerts for Singapore satellites approaching orbiting debris.
- The collaboration includes integrating Digantara’s sensor data with AI-driven analytics to enhance satellite-tracking accuracy.
- Singapore’s government will participate in assembly, integration and testing of a space-based sensor on an upcoming Digantara mission as part of Singapore’s broader space strategy.
- Digantara views the Singapore deal as a gateway to expand into other Asia-Pacific markets such as South Korea, Malaysia and Thailand.
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh: 'The decisions taken today will help in enhancing operational capabilities of the Armed Forces.'
- AoN approved for Loiter Munition System for Artillery Regiments, Low Level Light Weight Radars, Long Range Guided Rocket Ammunition for Pinaka MRLS, and Integrated Drone Detection & Interdiction System Mk-II for Indian Army.
- For Indian Navy: AoN accorded for procurement of Bollard Pull (BP) Tugs, High Frequency Software Defined Radios (HF SDR) Manpack, and leasing High Altitude Long Range (HALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS).
- For Indian Air Force: AoN approved for Automatic Take-off Landing Recording System, Astra Mk-II Missiles, Full Mission Simulator for LCA Tejas, and SPICE-1000 Long Range Guidance Kits.
V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOC Port) becomes India’s first Major Port to receive IGBC Platinum Rating
[V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority]
Key Updates:
- V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOC Port) has become India’s first Major Port to receive the IGBC Platinum Rating from the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC).
- The rating was conferred on VOC Port’s Administration Building which integrates rooftop solar panels, high Solar Reflectance Index reflective roof coating, rainwater harvesting, IoT-enabled water meters and indoor air quality monitoring systems.
- The building operates 100% on renewable energy with 89% of electricity met through on-site solar power and the remaining 11% sourced from off-site renewable sources.
- Potable water usage has been reduced by 37% and all wastewater is treated in an on-site Sewage Treatment Plant for full reuse.
- VOC Port’s Hospital and CISF Barracks have received Shunya Plus certification while the Administrative Building and Guest House hold Shunya certification from the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE).
- The port maintains over 70% green cover and is aligned with Maritime India Vision 2030 and Harit Sagar – Green Port Guidelines.
Similar Coverage
- Tripura State Load Dispatch Centre (SLDC) has achieved ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification, making it the first in the northeast to do so.
- The certification is designed to safeguard critical computerised systems from escalating cyber threats, ensuring the security of the national power grid.
- Power minister Ratan Lal Nath announced the certification during the 22nd foundation day celebration of the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL).
- Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), a Maharatna Public Sector Undertaking (PSU), has been certified as a Great Place to Work for the period February 2026 to February 2027.
- This recognition marks the third consecutive year that SAIL has received this certification following an assessment by the Great Place To Work Institute, India.
- The assessment process involved a company-wide survey measuring the TRUST INDEX© score, which evaluates parameters such as credibility, respect, fairness, pride, and camaraderie.
- SAIL has implemented the SAIL DARPAN initiative to establish a transparent and performance-driven work environment focused on objective evaluation and accountability.
- The organisation has partnered with several institutions for capability enhancement, including Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Kozhikode, IIM Bangalore, IIM Jammu, IIM Raipur, IIM Ranchi, XLRI, and Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI).
- Shri Amarendu Prakash currently serves as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of SAIL.
- Paradip Port Authority (PPA) won the First Prize at Swachhata Pakhwada Awards 2025 instituted by Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW).
- The awards evaluate ports and maritime institutions nationwide on cleanliness drives, waste management, green initiatives, and public involvement.
- PPA implemented three core pillars of Swachhata Pakhwada 2025: Jan Bhagidari, Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam, and Safai Mitra Suraksha.
- Under Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0, 40,000 saplings were planted at Paradip Sea Beach to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday.
- Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Union Minister of State Shantanu Thakur presented the award in New Delhi.
- P. L. Haranadh, Chairman of Paradip Port Authority, received the honour on behalf of the port team.
- Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal virtually inaugurated the 3rd Session of the Council of the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation (IALA) in Mumbai.
- The Council session is organized by the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL) under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW).
- The event brings together 42 IALA Council Members, 3 AIMG Members, 11 international observers, IALA Secretariat delegates, and representatives from 30+ countries.
- India launched a Digital Ticketing Portal for Lighthouse Tourism to streamline visitor access to 75 lighthouse destinations across the country.
- All lighthouses in India are now fully solar powered, and tourism footfall at these sites has seen significant growth.
- India’s maritime strategy is guided by Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, focusing on port modernization, green shipping, and global integration.
Oil India Limited (OIL) bags FIPI Award 2025 as Oil & Gas Production Company of the Year
[Oil India Limited (OIL)]
Key Updates:
- Oil India Limited (OIL) received the FIPI Award 2025 in the ‘Oil & Gas Production Company of the Year’ (More than 1 MTOE) category.
- The award was presented by Petroleum & Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Petroleum and Natural Gas Secretary Dr Neeraj Mittal.
- The ceremony was organised by the Federation of Indian Petroleum Industry (FIPI) at India Energy Week in Goa.
- OIL Chairman and Managing Director Dr Ranjit Rath accepted the award on behalf of the company.
Similar Coverage
- Financial Software and Systems (FSS) is the first payments company in India, the Middle East, APAC and South Africa to be certified as an ISO IEC 42001 Certification Lead.
- ISO IEC 42001 establishes clear ownership of AI systems, defined governance structures and ongoing performance monitoring.
- FSS AI governance framework has been independently assessed by TUV SUD.
- Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) has been recognised by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and Mind the Bridge as one of the Top 100 Corporate Startup Stars (CSS) globally.
- BPCL is the only Indian organisation included in this year’s international ranking.
- The Corporate Startup Stars Awards 2025 identified 100 companies from the Forbes Global 2000 and Fortune Global 500 lists.
- The awards honor leading corporates for their efforts in promoting open innovation, engaging with startup ecosystems, and supporting new technology development.
- Sanjay Khanna serves as BPCL's Chairman and Managing Director (CMD).
- BPCL’s startup initiative is named Ankur.
- Ankur was launched in 2016.
- Ankur has supported 30 startups.
- BPCL established the BPCL Ankur Fund to invest in promising early-stage companies.
- John W. H. Denton AO is the Secretary General of ICC.
- Alberto Onetti is the Chairman of Mind the Bridge.
- The Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) has rated the Indian Railway Finance Corporation Limited (IRFC) as 'excellent' for the financial year 2024-25.
- This achievement marks the fifth consecutive year that IRFC has received the highest performance rating since its listing in FY 2020-21.
- IRFC has achieved its annual sanction guidance of ₹60,000 crore for FY 2025-26 by the end of the third quarter (Q3).
- Established in 1986, IRFC is a Navratna CPSE under the administrative control of the Ministry of Railways.
- The mandate of IRFC includes financing railway projects and related infrastructure such as metro rail, ports, logistics, and power generation.
- Andhra Pradesh secured the National Energy Conservation Award for the fourth consecutive year.
- Andhra Pradesh secured the First Prize in the Group II category at the National Energy Conservation Award–2025.
- The President of India Droupadi Murmu will present the National Energy Conservation Award–2025 on December 14, 2025, to the State Designated Agency, Andhra Pradesh State Energy Conservation Mission (APSECM).
- The State government nominated L Sivashankar, CMD APSPDCL, to receive the award on behalf of APSECM.
- Key initiatives include the Integrated Clean Energy Policy, Andhra Pradesh Industrial Development Policy 4.0 (2024–29), and sector-specific policies for MSMEs, Electronics, and Food Processing.
- Andhra Pradesh, placed in Group II by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, emerged as the top performer with 89.25 points in State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI)–2025.
- The State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI)–2025 score of 89.25 marks a 2.3 percent improvement over its SEEI–2024 score of 87.25.
- Significant progress was made in enforcing the Energy Conservation Building Code, implementing energy efficiency projects in schools, hospitals, and ITI colleges, introducing advanced technologies in MSMEs, formulating the Energy Conservation Policy, and finalising the State Energy Efficiency Action Plan.
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) study suggests Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC) is 8,000 years old
[Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC)]
Key Updates:
- Researchers from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and collaborating institutions have found evidence suggesting the Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC) may be approximately 8,000 years old.
- The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, utilised radiocarbon dating on pottery fragments and animal remains from the Bhirrana site in northern India.
- The findings indicate that the roots of the IVC may stretch back further than the first Egyptian pharaohs and the Mesopotamian civilisation.
- At its peak, the IVC supported a population of over five million people and covered a territory extending from the Arabian Sea to the Ganges basin.
- Urban planning features identified at sites like Mohenjo-daro and Harappa include grid-pattern streets, covered drainage systems, and houses with access to wells and bathing areas.
- The civilisation demonstrated complex economic organisation through the use of standardised stone weights, copper and bronze tools, and dockyards.
- Evidence suggests the IVC adapted to weakening monsoon patterns by shifting from water-intensive wheat and barley to drought-resistant crops such as millets and rice.
- The IVC script found on intricately carved seals remains undeciphered despite decades of research.
Similar Coverage
- Approximately 30 Tamil-Brahmi and Prakrit inscriptions dated to 2,000 years ago were documented inside six rock-cut royal tombs in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings.
- The inscriptions were recorded by Professor Ingo Strauch of the University of Lausanne and Professor Charlotte Schmid of the French School of Asian Studies.
- The name ‘Cikai Korran’ appears in eight locations, with one inscription reading ‘Cikai Korran vara kanta’ meaning ‘Cikai Korran came and saw’.
- The discovery confirms that ancient Tamil traders travelled beyond Egyptian port cities and visited inland heritage sites during the early historic period.
- The findings were presented on 11 February at the International Conference on Tamil Epigraphy organised by the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology in Chennai.
- Tamil Nadu accounts for nearly 30,000 documented inscriptions in India, providing an unbroken historical record from the 6th century BCE.
- A 37,000-year-old fossilized bamboo stem, unearthed in Manipur, reveals early thorn evolution as a defense mechanism against Ice Age herbivores.
- The fossil, found along the Chirang River in Manipur’s Imphal Valley, is the earliest known thorny bamboo in Asia and is assigned to the genus *Chimonobambusa*.
- Researchers from the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP) analysed the fossil, with findings published in Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology.
- This discovery highlights northeast India's role as a vital biodiversity refuge during climatic shifts, maintaining warm and humid microclimates as part of the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot.
- Bamboo, particularly thorny varieties, responds sensitively to temperature, rainfall, and soil conditions, making it a reliable indicator of past environmental parameters and ecologically important in stabilising soil, supporting wildlife, and maintaining forest structure.
- A red hand stencil in Liang Metanduno cave on Muna Island, Sulawesi, Indonesia, is dated to at least 67,800 years ago, making it the oldest rock art discovered.
- Indonesian and Australian archaeologists used uranium-thorium laser analysis of cave popcorn calcite to determine the minimum age.
- The stencil is over 1,000 years older than Neanderthal-attributed hand stencils in a Spanish cave and more than 15,000 years older than previous Sulawesi art found by the same team.
- The cave shows repeated use for rock art, with some works painted over up to 35,000 years later.
- The discovery supports the northern migration route for Homo sapiens from Asia through Sulawesi to Papua New Guinea and into the ancient supercontinent Sahul that included Australia.
- Researchers from Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) and Tamil Nadu’s Department of Archaeology used optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating on four sediment samples from Keezhadi pits KDI-1 and KDI-2.
- OSL ages span roughly the last 1,200 years and vary with depth, matching layered flood deposits.
- The study concludes that burial of the urbanesque structures at Keezhadi likely happened a little over a thousand years ago—around 1,155 years before present—due to a high-energy flood event that deposited sands and then finer silts and clays on the floodplain.
- Fine silty-clay layers sit over brick structures and coarse sand layers deeper down, with potsherd layers and fragments of roof tiles at some levels.
NSSTA Celebrates 18th Foundation Day on 13 February 2026
[National Statistical Systems Training Academy]
Key Updates:
- The National Statistical Systems Training Academy (NSSTA) celebrated its 18th Foundation Day on 13 February 2026 at Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
- The theme for the 18th Foundation Day was Reimagining Capacity Building for Official Statistics to achieve vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.
- Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh inaugurated the Digital Data Lab to strengthen digital capacity building and technology-enabled learning.
- Two journals titled AAROHAN and PRATIBIMB, prepared by the Indian Statistical Service (ISS) officer trainees of the 2024 and 2025 batches, were released.
- Dr. Saurabh Garg, Secretary of the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI), described data as the fifth factor of production alongside land, labour, capital, and technology.
- The United Nations Resident Commissioner (UNRC), Mr. Stefan Priesner, described statistics as the grammar of development.
- The event highlighted the restructuring of the ISS, which now deploys officers across 60 ministries to ensure data harmonisation and machine-readability.
- Ms. S. Radha Chauhan, Chairperson of the Capacity Building Commission (CBC), emphasised the need to scale human capacities to match the evolution of Agentic AI.
- A panel discussion on Communicating Statistics to the Policymakers and Public was moderated by the former Chief Statistician of India (CSI), Dr. T. C. A. Anant.
- Certificates of Appreciation were presented to top performers of the MoSPI in the iGOT Karmayogi courses.
Similar Coverage
- National Productivity Day is observed annually in India on 12 February to promote awareness about productivity, economic growth, and efficiency.
- The day marks the founding anniversary of the National Productivity Council (NPC), which was established on 12 February 1958.
- The NPC is a premier autonomous organisation functioning under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.
- The theme for National Productivity Day 2026 is Clusters as Growth Engine: Maximizing Productivity in MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises).
- The observance of this day initiates the National Productivity Week, which is held from 12 February to 18 February.
- The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) will celebrate the International Day of Education 2026 on Saturday, January 24, 2026.
- The theme for the International Day of Education 2026 is The power of youth in co-creating education.
- UNESCO will host key activities and hybrid events for the observance at its headquarters in Paris, France.
- The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted Resolution 73/25 on December 3, 2018, proclaiming January 24 as the International Day of Education.
- The first observance of the International Day of Education took place on January 24, 2019.
- The day aims to promote Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4), which seeks to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning for all.
- Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore is the only Indian institute to feature in the global top 100 of the Times Higher Education (THE) Subject Rankings 2026.
- The Election Commission of India (ECI) is conducting a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in 12 states and Union Territories (UTs) as part of its 2025 achievements.
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) celebrates its 78th raising day on November 23, 2025.
- NCC was officially formed after the National Cadet Corps Act was passed on April 16, 1948, and operations began on July 15, 1948.
- Started with 20,000 cadets, NCC is now the world's largest uniformed youth organization with 20 lakh cadets.
- NCC has a presence in 713 of India's 780 districts.
- Brigadier M.L. Rawat is known as the father of the NCC.
- Army Service Corps Day marks the 265th anniversary of the Army Service Corps (ASC).
- The ASC was established in 1760 and is one of the oldest and largest logistic arms of the Indian Army.
- The celebration took place at ASC Centre & College, Bengaluru, the Alma Mater of the Corps.
- Lt Gen JK Gera, Commandant, ASC Centre & College, led the wreath-laying ceremony at the War Memorial.
- A separate wreath-laying ceremony was held at the Animal Transport Memorial to honour animals and their handlers.
- The motto of the Army Service Corps is 'Seva Asmakam Dharma'.