Indian astrophysicist Annapurni Subramaniam has been awarded the COSPAR Vikram Sarabhai Medal 2026 at the 46th COSPAR Scientific Assembly in Florence, Italy. Annapurni Subramaniam is the Director of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru. The COSPAR Vikram Sarabhai Medal is awarded to scientists from developing countries for outstanding contributions to space research. COSPAR is an international scientific body affiliated with the International Science Council (ISC) and the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN-COPUOS). The medal was instituted in 1990 in honour of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the father of India’s space programme.

ICAR–National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (ICAR-NIHSAD), Bhopal has developed India’s first indigenous live attenuated African Swine Fever (ASF) vaccine. The vaccine is based on the MA-104 cell line. It was field-validated with the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD). It is recommended for healthy pigs above 8 weeks of age. African Swine Fever (ASF) is a viral disease affecting domestic and wild pigs. It is caused by the African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV). ASF was first detected in India in 2020. There is no effective treatment for ASF.

Russia has recently inducted the S8000 Banderol lightweight air-launched cruise missile into serial production after completing its trials. The S8000 Banderol is a lightweight, low-cost air-launched cruise missile developed by Russia for long-range precision strikes. It is designed to attack stationary targets such as ports, logistics hubs and military infrastructure. The missile can be launched from the Orion (Inokhodets) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and the Mi-28 attack helicopter. It has also been linked to possible ground-based launchers. It is powered by a Chinese-made Swiwin turbojet engine and carries a high-explosive fragmentation warhead.

PM-PRANAM stands for PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness Generation, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth. It was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on 28 June 2023. The scheme is implemented from 2023–24 to 2025–26. It promotes balanced fertilizer use and reduces dependence on chemical fertilizers. States reducing fertilizer use receive 50% of the fertilizer subsidy saved as an incentive. 95% of the incentive goes to the State/UT, while 5% is retained by the Central Government. The information was provided by Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Anupriya Patel in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.

Recently, Nagaland proposed a joint river basin management plan for the Dikhow River with Assam. The plan aims to improve flood management, erosion control, and disaster preparedness. The Dikhow River is a left-bank tributary of the Brahmaputra River. It originates in Zunheboto district, Nagaland, flows through Sivasagar district, Assam, and joins the Brahmaputra at Dikhowmukh.