Category: National

In a landmark move for India’s aerospace sector, Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Dassault Aviation have signed four Production Transfer Agreements to manufacture the fuselage of the Rafale fighter aircraft in India. This marks the first time Rafale fuselages will be built outside France, a major milestone in Indo-French defence collaboration and a strong push towards the Indian government’s “Make in India” and aerospace self-reliance goals. As part of the agreement, Tata Advanced Systems will establish a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Hyderabad to produce crucial structural components of the Rafale. These include the lateral shells of the rear fuselage, the complete rear section, the central fuselage, and the front section. The production is slated to begin by FY2028, with the facility targeting an output of two complete fuselages per month. Dassault Aviation Chairman and CEO Eric Trappier emphasized the strategic nature of this move, saying, “This is a decisive step in strengthening our supply chain in India. With partners like TASL, we are confident the facility will meet our quality and competitiveness requirements and support the successful ramp-up of the Rafale.” Echoing the sentiment, Sukaran Singh, CEO and MD of Tata Advanced Systems, noted, “The production of the complete Rafale fuselage in India reflects the deepening trust in our capabilities and the strength of our partnership with Dassault Aviation. It marks a significant step in India’s journey to becoming a global aerospace manufacturing hub.” What Is an Aircraft Fuselage? The fuselage is the main body of an aircraft, serving as the central structure to which wings, tail, and landing gear are attached. According to NASA, it is typically a long hollow tube designed to be lightweight yet strong, helping reduce drag and support various functions depending on the aircraft type. In a fighter jet like the Rafale, the fuselage is streamlined for supersonic flight, with the cockpit positioned on top, weapons mounted on the wings, and engines and fuel located at the rear. The fuselage bears a large share of the aircraft’s weight, housing vital systems, crew, and — in commercial aircraft — passengers and cargo. This manufacturing shift represents a giant leap in India’s defence industrial capabilities, positioning the country as a strategic aerospace manufacturing node in the global supply chain and reinforcing its ambitions of technological and economic self-reliance.

The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday refused to grant interim bail to influencer and law student Sharmista Panoli, emphasizing that freedom of speech is not absolute and does not permit hurting religious sentiments. The court highlighted India’s diverse social fabric and noted that Panoli’s remarks had offended a section of the population. The 22-year-old, a student at Symbiosis Law School in Pune with nearly 2 lakh social media followers, had posted an allegedly offensive video targeting people based on their religious identity in connection with Operation Sindoor. After facing widespread backlash, she apologized and deleted the video. The High Court stated, “This video was made on social media, it was heard, this incident has led to a section of people’s sentiments being hurt. Look, we have freedom of speech but that doesn’t mean you will go on to hurt others. Our country is diverse, with all persons from different caste, creed, religion, etc. We must be cautious by saying this.” Panoli was arrested in Gurugram on May 30 amid a massive controversy and was subsequently sent to 14 days judicial custody by a Kolkata court. Her counsel argued that the arrest was illegal, citing that the FIR offences were non-cognisable and no prior notice was served. The police, however, stated that a notice had been issued but could not be delivered as Panoli and her family had allegedly relocated to Gurgaon. The High Court denied her bail, designating the primary case registered in Kolkata as the principal case since it was filed first. It ordered discontinuation of all other cases filed against her on the same allegations. West Bengal was directed to ensure no further FIRs are lodged against Panoli on this matter, while the investigating agency will continue probing the principal case. The court scheduled the next hearing for June 5, when the state must file an affidavit and the police are expected to present the case diary.

Heavy to very heavy rainfall continues to lash the northeastern states of India, with no relief expected until Tuesday, according to weather forecasts. Since May 29, relentless rains and landslides have claimed at least 36 lives, including three Army personnel, and affected nearly 6 lakh people across the region. Among the most tragic incidents, ten people—including children and a pregnant woman—lost their lives in Arunachal Pradesh. Assam too reported ten deaths, mostly due to devastating floods and landslides. The death toll stands at six in Meghalaya, four in Mizoram, two in Tripura, one in Nagaland, and three in Sikkim. Manipur remains the only northeastern state without reported casualties so far. Assam Worst Affected Assam is bearing the brunt of the disaster, with nearly 4 lakh people affected across districts like Lakhimpur, Silchar, South Salmara, Kaziranga, and Sribhumi. Floodwaters have submerged major roads and railway tracks, especially in the Barak Valley, leading to the cancellation of several train services, including both up and down services on the Dullabcherra-Guwahati route and Silchar-Naharlagun and Badarpur-Dullabcherra trains. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited Lakhimpur district on Monday to assess the flood situation and oversee relief efforts, accompanied by his Cabinet colleagues. He is scheduled to visit Silchar in the Barak Valley on Tuesday. Arunachal Pradesh: Flash Floods and Infrastructure Collapse In Arunachal Pradesh, Namsai, Changlang, and West Kameng districts are the worst affected. Flash floods triggered by the overflowing Sigin River inundated large parts of Daporijo town in Upper Subansiri district, damaging more than 117 homes and critical infrastructure. Deputy Commissioner Tasso Gambo is leading relief operations in the district, advising immediate relocation for residents in high-risk areas such as Polo Colony, Sigin Colony, Bukpen Colony, and Forest Colony. Landslides have disrupted road connectivity in West Kameng district, especially near Jamiri on the Balipara-Chariduar-Tawang (BCT) road, leaving hundreds stranded. Blockades have also been reported in Jyoti Nagar, Dirang, Padma, and Durga Mandir. In Bomdila’s Petaling Colony, landslides destroyed roads and culverts, though fortunately no casualties were reported. Shi Yomi district has been severely hit, with the strategic town of Mechuka near the Indo-China border completely cut off after the connecting road was washed away. Restoration efforts are ongoing with Border Roads Organisation (BRO) teams deployed, but continuous rainfall is hampering progress. District Disaster Management Officer Mindu Yangzom confirmed that teams are working round the clock, yet warned that the situation remains precarious due to the relentless downpour. A Region on Edge With inclement weather forecast to continue through Tuesday, emergency response teams are on high alert across all northeastern states. Authorities are urging residents in vulnerable areas to stay vigilant and cooperate with evacuation and relief operations. The scale of damage underscores the urgent need for long-term infrastructure resilience and disaster preparedness in the region.

Chennai-based Greenvironment Innovation, a start-up tackling water and environmental challenges using IoT and sensor-based technologies, has secured $1 million in funding from Rainmatter, the impact investment arm of stock broking firm Zerodha. Smart Water Tech Powered by Data Operating out of the IIT-Madras Research Park, Greenvironment deploys smart IoT sensor systems across: The data gathered — measuring water quality, flow rates, and energy usage — is monitored in real-time and processed through Greenvironment’s proprietary analytics platform to deliver alerts, actionable insights, and early warnings to prevent failures and ensure operational efficiency. “We currently operate in over 300 buildings across India including offices, hospitals, apartment communities, malls, hotels, and factories,” said Varun Sridharan, co-founder and CEO.“We’ve built a profitable subscription-based model with ₹6 crore in ARR and 60% of revenue from recurring subscriptions.” Future-Focused Tech and Global Plans Greenvironment is actively expanding into international markets, especially the Middle East, where it has initiated pilot programs. Its R&D roadmap includes: Founding Team and Governance Greenvironment is helmed by: Jafeel serves as the independent director, ensuring governance and board oversight. Why Rainmatter Invested Abhinav Singh Negi from Rainmatter highlighted the synergy with India’s growing ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) focus, saying: “Greenvironment isn’t just offering tech. It’s creating a mindset shift—viewing water as a system that needs intelligent, responsible management.” He noted that Rainmatter has invested in 5–6 start-ups in the water sector in the past six months, signaling a growing focus on sustainability-driven innovations. Summary This funding round will help Greenvironment scale its operations, enhance automation and intelligence in water management, and expand its global footprint, particularly in water-scarce regions. As climate and sustainability concerns rise, Greenvironment is positioning itself as a pioneer in data-driven water system management.