IPL 2025 Schedule: Date, Format, Locations, and Teams
The IPL 2025 season will commence on March 22, 2025, featuring the defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The tournament will comprise 74 matches spread across 13 venues, with several double-headers. The playoffs are scheduled to take place in Hyderabad and Kolkata, culminating in the final at Eden Gardens on May 25, 2025. The season promises exciting cricket action, with all ten teams battling for the coveted title in a thrilling format.
NAMASTE Scheme Empowers Sanitation Workers
During a recent visit to Jammu, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Dr. Virender Kumar, distributed Ayushman health cards and PPE kits to Safai Mitras under the flagship NAMASTE Scheme. This scheme, launched to ensure the safety and dignity of sanitation workers, focuses on mechanizing sanitation work, preventing hazardous cleaning practices, and providing health insurance. It also promotes safe work environments through training, PPE kits, and mechanized cleaning equipment. Additionally, the scheme supports Self-Help Groups and entrepreneurship among sanitation workers, aiming to create sustainable livelihoods and elevate their socio-economic status.
ANRF Launches J. C. Bose Grant to Honor Senior Researchers
The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) has introduced the J. C. Bose Grant (JBG) to recognize senior Indian scientists and engineers for their outstanding contributions. This initiative provides extra-mural funding to support cutting-edge research across various scientific and technological fields, including agriculture, medicine, and humanities. Recipients receive ₹25 lakhs annually for five years, along with an additional ₹1 lakh per year for overhead costs. Eligible candidates must hold a professor-level position or equivalent and have a proven track record of excellence in their respective fields.
India Advances BrahMos NG Missile Development
India is advancing its BrahMos NG (Next Generation) cruise missile program, with production set to begin by 2027-28 after initial flight tests next year. The BrahMos NG, retaining an effective range of 290 km and a speed of 3.5 Mach, is a more compact and lightweight iteration. This new version is compatible with various platforms, including the Sukhoi-30MKI and Tejas fighter aircraft. It features advanced stealth capabilities and an indigenous seeker with AESA radar technology, enhancing its precision and effectiveness. These advancements mark a significant leap in India’s missile technology and defense capabilities.
Zoonotic Disease Risks in Urban-Wildland Interfaces
Recent research by the Yale School of the Environment reveals that nearly 44% of the global population, approximately 3.5 billion people, may face exposure to zoonotic diseases. The study focuses on the wildland-urban interface (WUI), where urbanization meets wildlife, heightening the risk of disease transmission from animals to humans. Activities such as hunting, land use changes, and peri-urban agriculture contribute to this risk, with livestock often acting as intermediaries. Understanding and mitigating these risks are crucial to prevent future zoonotic disease outbreaks.
India-US TRUST Initiative to Boost Critical Minerals Cooperation
India and the United States have launched the TRUST Initiative (Transforming Relationship Utilizing Strategic Technology) to enhance cooperation in recovering and processing critical minerals. This initiative aims to reduce barriers to technology transfer, address export controls, and strengthen supply chains for strategic minerals like lithium and rare earth elements. The collaboration focuses on innovation in sectors such as defense, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and clean energy, countering China’s dominance in critical minerals supply chains. The TRUST Initiative is expected to promote economic and technological cooperation between the two nations.