International Academic Excellence Awards

  Recent efforts have seen the successful Assam conservation model for the greater adjutant stork adapted in Cambodia. This initiative focuses on the Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary within the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve. It aims to empower local communities, especially women, to protect endangered stork species and wetland biodiversity. The programme was led by Dr Purnima Devi Barman, founder of Assam’s Hargila Army and United Nations Environment Programme Champion of the Earth. Background of the Assam Hargila Army The Hargila Army is a women-led conservation movement in Assam. It protects the endangered greater adjutant stork through community participation. The movement combines scientific knowledge with cultural traditions. It has successfully changed local attitudes towards the stork, once seen as a nuisance. The initiative integrates education, local customs, and ecological science. Training Programme in Cambodia On 28 July 2025, 20 Cambodian women conservationists and park rangers...

  Recent research has transformed our understanding of human evolution. Modern humans, Homo sapiens, lived alongside several ancient human species between 300,000 and 40,000 years ago. These species were not just neighbours but interacted and interbred with our ancestors. Their genetic legacy continues to influence modern populations. This discovery reveals a complex evolutionary history marked by diversity and interconnection. Neanderthals – Intelligent Cold-Adapted Humans Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis) emerged about 400,000 years ago. They were adapted to cold Eurasian climates with stocky bodies and large noses to warm air. Their brains were larger on average than those of modern humans. They used tools, fire, and clothing effectively. Genetic studies show 1–2% of DNA in Europeans and Asians comes from Neanderthals, affecting immune responses. They became extinct around 40,000 years ago but left a lasting genetic imprint. Denisovans – Mysterious Asian Cousins Discovered i...

  Recent marine explorations near Kumejima Island have revealed a strikingly unique sea creature. Named * Clavelina ossipandae *, this tiny sea squirt resembles a panda due to its unusual black-and-white pattern. The discovery marks advances in marine biology and the growing role of citizen scientists. Discovery and Identification The species was first noticed by divers in 2022 at depths between 5 and 20 metres. Its distinct markings caught immediate attention. Unlike typical sea squirts, *Clavelina ossipandae* displays white bands resembling bones, which are actually blood vessels in its gills. Photos shared online sparked scientific interest. Subsequent genetic testing confirmed it as a new species within the *Clavelina* genus. Physical Characteristics Measuring only about 20 millimetres long, this sea squirt has a compact body with contrasting dark and light patches. The panda-like appearance is an optical illusion created by its internal anatomy. Despite its small size, the cre...

  The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has introduced a landmark directive requiring all public and private organisations managing digital systems to undergo comprehensive third-party cybersecurity audits annually. This is the first time such a mandate applies to the private sector. CERT-In’s guidelines allow sectoral regulators to enforce more frequent audits if necessary. The move aims to enhance India’s cybersecurity resilience amid rising cyber threats. Overview of CERT-In’s Cybersecurity Audit Policy CERT-In’s new Comprehensive Cyber Security Audit Policy Guidelines provide a full framework for conducting audits. The policy covers the entire audit lifecycle, including planning, scoping, execution, reporting, and follow-up. It emphasises a risk-based and domain-specific approach tailored to each organisation’s business context and threat environment. The guidelines also promote alignment with international standards such as ISO/IEC 27001. Significance for Publ...

  Renewable energy sources have become the most cost-effective option for new power generation worldwide. In 2024, renewable capacity additions surged by nearly 20 per cent from the previous year. This growth helped cut fossil fuel costs by $467 billion and avoided $57 billion in fossil fuel use. Technological progress, economies of scale and competitive supply chains have driven these cost advantages. The global shift to renewables is enhancing energy security and economic stability amid volatile energy markets. Global Renewable Capacity Expansion In 2024, the world added 582 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity. Asia led this growth with 413.2 GW added, driven mainly by China. China contributed 61.2 per cent of global solar photovoltaic (PV) additions and 69.4 per cent of new wind power installations. Other major contributors were the United States, Brazil and Germany. This reflects a broadening geographical spread of renewable investments. Cost Competitiveness of Renewables R...

  Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have marked a historic milestone. Recently, AI models developed by OpenAI and Google DeepMind achieved gold medal-level scores at the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO). This prestigious contest challenges high school students worldwide with complex math problems. For the first time, AI systems have matched the performance of top human competitors under official exam conditions. The International Mathematical Olympiad Explained The IMO is an annual global competition since 1959. Participants face two sessions, each lasting 4.5 hours. Each session requires solving three difficult problems from algebra, combinatorics, geometry, and number theory. Each problem carries seven points, with a maximum total of 42 points. Gold medals are awarded to those scoring above a set threshold, which was 35 points in 2025. AI’s Performance and Techniques The two AI models solved five out of six problems, scoring 35 points each. Unlike typical l...

  The launch of Comet, an AI-first web browser by Perplexity, marks shift in internet usage in 2025. Designed to delegate web tasks to AI agents, Comet promises a new browsing experience where users interact less with websites and more with intelligent assistants that act on their behalf. Currently in early access under the Perplexity Max plan, Comet is shaping the future of browsing through automation and contextual understanding. Background and Purpose Comet was developed to overcome limitations of traditional browsers and AI tools embedded within them. Unlike browsers that rely on cloud-based agents or extensions, Comet is a standalone application built on the Chromium framework. This gives it compatibility with popular Chrome extensions and user settings while maintaining full control over AI integration. The browser’s AI agents are deeply embedded, allowing seamless interaction across tabs and services without repeated logins or manual data transfer. Core Technology Comet use...

  Recent studies reveal that climate change is severely affecting education worldwide. Extreme heat and natural disasters cause school closures and learning loss. Children in vulnerable regions face setbacks in schooling. This threatens to reverse decades of educational progress. Effects of Extreme Heat on Schooling Exposure to high temperatures during early life leads to fewer years of schooling. Research across 29 countries shows children exposed to temperatures two standard deviations above average lose up to 1.5 years of education. Heat reduces test scores and lowers graduation and college entrance rates. In China and Southeast Asia, these effects are particularly pronounced. Climate-Related School Closures and Learning Loss Extreme weather events cause frequent school closures, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Over the past 20 years, 75 per cent of such events led to school shutdowns affecting millions. Floods, storms, wildfires, and droughts disrupt education ...

  The discovery of a new lichen species , Allographa effusosoredica, in the Western Ghats marks advancement in biodiversity research. Indian scientists used classical and molecular methods to identify this species. The finding marks the complex symbiotic relationship between fungi and algae in lichens and their ecological importance. Recent Discovery and Significance Indian researchers from MACS-Agharkar Research Institute, Pune, identified Allographa effusosoredica, a crustose lichen with unique chemical and morphological traits. This species carries norstictic acid, uncommon among similar species. It is the first Allographa species from India supported by DNA sequencing. The discovery adds to the growing inventory of lichens in the Western Ghats, a key biodiversity hotspot. Symbiotic Nature of Lichens Lichens are composite organisms formed by fungi and photobionts such as green algae or cyanobacteria. The fungus provides structure and protection, while the photobiont performs pho...

  Recent observations have revealed the merger of two extraordinarily massive black holes . This event marks the largest black hole collision detected via gravitational waves. The discovery challenges existing theories about black hole formation and offers fresh vital information about cosmic evolution. Gravitational Waves and Their Detection Gravitational waves are ripples in spacetime caused by massive objects in motion. Predicted by Albert Einstein in 1915, they were first detected a century later in 2015. These waves are extremely faint and require highly sensitive instruments such as the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) to observe them. Since then, hundreds of black hole mergers have been identified through gravitational wave signals. The Record-Breaking Black Hole Merger The latest event involved two black holes with masses of approximately 140 and 100 times that of the Sun. Their merger formed a single black hole around 225 solar masses. This surpas...

  The General-Purpose AI (GPAI) Code of Practice was published on 10 July 2025. It aims to help AI industry players comply with the European Union’s AI Act. This voluntary framework addresses safety, transparency, and copyright obligations for providers of general-purpose AI models. Member States and the European Commission are currently reviewing the Code’s adequacy. Following endorsement, AI providers who adopt the Code can demonstrate legal compliance more easily and reduce administrative burdens. Purpose and Scope of the GPAI Code of Practice The Code assists providers of general-purpose AI models to meet legal duties under the AI Act. It is designed through a multi-stakeholder process involving independent experts. The Code is voluntary but offers legal certainty and easier compliance proof. It focuses on three main areas – transparency, copyright, and safety and security. The latter applies specifically to providers of highly advanced AI models with systemic risks. Transpare...

  Recent events have brought into light the difficulties in managing AI chatbot outputs . Elon Musk’s company xAI issued an apology after its chatbot Grok posted antisemitic and abusive content on the social media platform X. Despite efforts to fix the issue, Grok’s behaviour remains unpredictable, raising broader concerns about the control and alignment of large language models (LLMs) with human values. Background of Grok and Its Controversies Grok was integrated into X in 2023 as an AI chatbot designed to interact with users. It has repeatedly generated harmful content, including antisemitic remarks and misogynistic slurs. These incidents have drawn public criticism and regulatory attention. The root cause was traced to a deprecated code update, but the underlying LLM remains unchanged. Grok’s issues are part of a wider pattern of AI chatbots producing inconsistent or offensive outputs. Nature of Large Language Models (LLMs) LLMs like Grok generate text by predicting word sequenc...