ग्रामीण भारत के लिए जीवन रेखा, सीएसअईआर-एनपीएल के वैज्ञानिकों द्वारा विकसित एक नया सॉलिड स्टेट रेफ्रीजरेटर, जो कि बैटरी या सौ-संचालित सैल द्वारा संचालित हो सकता है। यह रेफ्रीजरेटर पर्यावरण के लिए सुरक्षित है तथा इसका उपयोग कम तापमान पर खाद्य-पदार्थ और दवाओं को संरक्षित करने के लिए हो सकता है।

आयातित प्रौद्योगिकी पर भारत की निर्भरता खत्म करने हेतु सीएसआईआर-एनपीएल के शोधकर्ताओं ने आपातस्थिति के दौरान अंधकार में प्रकाश और जीवनरक्षक चिह्नों के स्रोत के रूप में सेवा प्रदान करने वाले स्वदेशी दीर्घावधिक आफ्टर (एलएपी) पाउडर और पेंट विकसित किए हैं।

China recently announced restrictions on the export of seven rare earth elements (REEs), soon after US President Donald Trump decided to impose tariffs. As the world's dominant supplier—responsible for over 85 to 90 per cent of rare earth processing (Jayadevan, 2025)—this decision has raised alarms across the tech, defence, and energy sectors worldwide. But why do these obscure-sounding minerals matter so much? What gives China such leverage? And how is a country like India preparing to shield itself from these vulnerabilities? This article explores the growing significance of Rare Earth Elements (REEs), their global supply dynamics, and how India is navigating the evolving geopolitical landscape to secure its future.

The International Seabed Authority (ISA) marked a watershed moment on September 15, 2025, signing a 15-year contract with the Indian government, revolutionising deep-sea exploration. India has been granted exclusive rights for the exploration of polymetallic sulphides (PMS) in the 10,000 sq km Carlsberg Ridge in the Indian Ocean, landmarking it as the first state which now holds three contracts, making India the only nation with the largest allocated international seabed territory. This contract is India’s third exploration agreement with the ISA and its second for PMS. The agreement was formalised in New Delhi by ISA Secretary-General Leticia Carvalho and India’s Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) Secretary Dr M. Ravichandran. Dr Vijay Kumar, Advisor (Scientist-G) to MoES, cemented India’s historic leadership in deep-sea exploration during the meeting, reaffirming the Ministry's commitment to advance the Deep Ocean Mission in a fruitful way, balancing economic growth with environmental safeguards while drawing renewed focus to global seabed governance and environmental stewardship.

India is set to embark on a new chapter in its Polar exploration journey with the construction of Maitri II. The Indian government plans to establish a new research station near the existing Maitri base, located in the Schirmacher Oasis region of East Antarctica, which was commissioned in 1989. The completion of the research station would be India's fourth research base. The new station is projected to be operational by January 2029. It will be established as a green research base with automated instruments and electricity generated from renewable energy sources, including solar and wind.  Maitri II’s superior facilities, capable of accommodating approximately 90 scientists, are to be maintained by the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), reinforcing India's commitment to the Antarctic Treaty, scientific leadership, and active participation (Parashar, 2024) in global environmental monitoring and exploration, advancing polar and climate research.