ANRF reconnects modern India with an ancient tradition which posits that the pursuit of knowledge is a responsibility shared by the entire nation. AI generated image The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) is often seen as a new experiment in science funding. In reality, it represents the return of a long Indian tradition in which governments, industry, philanthropy and society collectively supported the pursuit of knowledge. For most of India’s history, knowledge

PART II: India’s strategic autonomy in space depends on an ISRO equipped to serve both civilian and strategic needs in an increasingly unstable world. Recently, a certain segment within the Indian space ecosystem, motivated by vested interests and operating clandestinely, has begun to undermine ISRO’s future significance. This segment argues that the commercial sector will lead innovation and that the era of the publicly operated civilian agency ISRO has concluded. However, g

In the first of a two-part series, we examine why India’s space programme must evolve for an age of wars and global instability, where old civilian-military binaries no longer suffice. In the lead-up to the multi-state assembly elections scheduled for April 2026, and subsequently during his international visit in May 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi consistently emphasised the substantial challenges the global community is currently facing, including ongoing conflicts, supp

As geopolitical shocks expose India’s imported fuel dependence, the country’s vast thorium reserves may hold the key to long-term energy sovereignty. India’s energy future may ultimately depend less on imported oil, solar panels or even foreign uranium, and more on a mineral buried quietly in its coastal sands: thorium. For decades, thorium occupied a curious place in India’s energy discourse — celebrated in scientific circles, occasionally invoked in policy speeches, yet oft

A culture of secrecy and poor communication is weakening informed scientific voices in India’s nuclear debate AI generated image India’s nuclear establishment has long been associated with scientific excellence, strategic achievement, and technological self-reliance. From the early vision of Homi Jehangir Bhabha to the development of indigenous reactors and advanced fuel-cycle technologies, the country’s nuclear program has played a crucial role in shaping India’s global stan

Digital fraud leaves behind clues, but protecting your banking details is the first line of defence. Today, sending money is as easy as tapping a few buttons on your phone. Online banking and UPI (Unified Payments Interface) have made life convenient, but they have also opened the door to new types of fraud. Many people lose money through fake calls, phishing links, and scam messages. This is where forensic investigation comes in—it helps track down criminals and understand h

The question is no longer whether scientists can produce more but whether science can rediscover what is enough. There was a time when scientists struggled not for recognition, but for survival. Research grants were scarce, journals were limited, laboratories were modest, instruments were primitive, and communication moved at the speed of postal mail. A scientist often spent years conducting experiments before publishing a single paper. Citations were not counted daily. Ranki

Instant emotional validation may feel comforting, but real healing often requires human insight and accountability. As a counsellor and therapist, one pattern I have been noticing more frequently in recent times is this—many people are now turning to AI before they turn to a mental health professional. They go to AI for emotional advice, relationship clarity, conflict support, and even help in understanding their feelings. And honestly, this is not surprising. AI is available

On Technology Day, India’s future as a technological power will depend as much on a culture of maintenance as on innovation itself. National Technology Day, observed on May 11, commemorates India’s successful Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1998, a powerful demonstration of scientific capability, strategic ambition, and sustained national effort. These milestones rightly celebrate innovation and breakthroughs. Yet they also prompt a deeper reflection: such achievements rest not o

What does it mean to democratise science? At its simplest, it means widening participation, ensuring that the opportunity to ask meaningful questions, access resources, and contribute to knowledge is not confined to a narrow set of institutions or individuals. It means that scientific talent, wherever it exists, can find expression. It also means that public investment in science serves not only excellence at the top but also capacity across the system. India’s scientific pot

India is cautiously courting private capital in its tightly held nuclear sector, seeking scale and innovation without surrendering strategic control. India’s nuclear sector, long defined by state control and strategic caution, is now edging toward a calibrated opening to private participation. This shift is not a sudden ideological pivot but a pragmatic response to rising energy demand, climate commitments, and fiscal constraints. As India aims to expand its nuclear power cap

As academic incentives harden into predictable pathways, science risks trading curiosity for predictable outcomes. A recent article in Nature magazine describes an unusual online game from China in which players step into the life of a young faculty member. They must publish papers, secure research grants, manage teaching, and navigate institutional pressures. What is striking is not the game's premise but how real it feels to those who play it. This reaction is worth pausi

With the PFBR’s first criticality, India’s three-stage nuclear vision moves from doctrine to deployment, reshaping its geopolitical calculus. The successful first criticality of India’s 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam is much more than a technical milestone; it is a decisive step in India’s three stage nuclear programme. This indigenous, sodium cooled fast breeder reactor bridges the gap between our current uranium based nuclear fleet and the long-t

Two recent developments in scientific publishing should worry us. In one case, AI-generated inputs were found in peer review, leading to the rejection of papers. In another, an AI-written paper successfully passed peer review. Together, these highlight a deeper shift in how science is now created and assessed. For the first time, AI is not just aiding science on the fringes. It is now involved in the entire scientific process, from writing to evaluation. There is a fundamenta

Democratizing science does not mean lowering standards but widening access for talent to translate into meaningful work. We like to believe that science is a fair field where the best ideas win, talent rises to the top, and hard work gets rewarded. It is a reassuring belief, especially for young students entering research. But reality tells a different story. Two scientists may have similar abilities, equal curiosity, and the same level of dedication, yet their careers can

While modern science celebrates originality, the systems that fund and evaluate research often reward caution over bold ideas. AI generated image Science proudly claims to reward originality. Research proposals must explain what is new. Journals ask authors to highlight novelty. Prestigious prizes celebrate discoveries that open entirely new directions. In principle, scientific progress depends on bold ideas. Yet many researchers recognise a quiet contradiction. Novelty is we

In the age of AI, the deeper challenge is whether human judgment can keep pace with the machines we have built. AI generated image A student today can write an essay in minutes with the help of artificial intelligence. A doctor can consult AI systems to analyze medical scans, and a lawyer can generate a legal draft within seconds. Tasks that once required hours of human effort can now be completed almost instantly, illustrating how rapidly intelligent machines are entering pr

A dead body has stories to tell with the help of forensic taphonomy; even in decay and silence, nature preserves a record of truth waiting to be read. When a decomposed body is discovered buried in soil, floating in water, or left exposed, it is often assumed that time has erased the truth. Modern forensic science proves otherwise. Through forensic taphonomy, investigators interpret nature’s own record of death, supported by empirical data, technology, and global research. Fo

Edison showed that invention works only when method, money and markets align, a lesson India needs to master. Thomas Alva Edison is often celebrated as a prolific inventor, but rarely as an inventor of the process of invention itself. The popular image is of sudden inspiration. However, the reality was far more deliberate. Edison believed that invention could be designed, organized as a process, and executed through a method. He transformed creativity from a matter of chance

Narcoanalysis is often sensationalised as a “truth serum”, but in reality, it is a scientific investigative aid grounded in neuroscience and forensic psychology. In an era where crime has become increasingly sophisticated, law-enforcement agencies are compelled to rely on science as much as instinct. Among the most debated tools in this scientific arsenal is narcoanalysis, often sensationalised as a “truth serum” test. While critics question its ethics and reliability, narcoa