For thousands of years, sandalwood has held a special place in Indian life. It is used in temples, rituals, royal traditions, perfumes, skincare and medicine. Ayurveda sees Chandana as a dravya that cools the body, soothes the mind and supports balance when heat, inflammation, irritation and restlessness rise in the system.
The research was carried out by the International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials, Hyderabad, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology. The work focused on joining stainless steel SS316L with the nickel-based superalloy Inconel IN718 through additive manufacturing, creating a strong and reliable interface between two very different metals.
During June 2026, Indian Railways loaded 142.21 million tonnes of freight, compared to 136.71 million tonnes in June 2025. This marks a 4 per cent increase over the corresponding month last year. Freight earnings also recorded positive growth, generating additional revenue of nearly ₹430 crore, reflecting a 3 per cent rise over June 2025.
ABC, APAAR and NAD are transforming India’s education ecosystem with secure digital records, seamless credit transfers and quicker verification for admissions, scholarships and jobs.
Under the proposed benefits of the agreements, Indian toys are expected to receive zero-duty access in the UK and EU markets. At present, such imports face duties of around 5–6 per cent, which affects the final landed cost of Indian products. Removal of these duties can help Indian exporters offer more competitive pricing while expanding their reach among distributors, retailers and consumers abroad.
The project gained fresh strategic importance during the 16th India–Japan Annual Summit in July 2026. The joint statement recorded that the two Prime Ministers were satisfied that an agreement had been reached in principle on the remaining technical details of the UNICORN project. Both sides also expressed expectation for early conclusion of the project and agreed to explore further defence equipment and technology projects.
Amaravati’s selection reflects Andhra Pradesh’s fast-rising position in India’s deep-tech landscape. The IBM quantum system is expected to support researchers, startups, academic institutions and enterprises working in pharmaceuticals, materials science, finance, logistics, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and advanced industrial research. These are sectors where quantum computing can help solve highly complex problems that remain difficult for conventional computing systems.
For the Indian Army, the approvals include the Anti-UAV Electronic Warfare System AKASH TARANG, Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile systems, Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile weapon systems, Very Short Range Air Defence Systems, Active Protection Systems for tanks and jet-based kamikaze drone systems.
India’s Duty-Free Tariff Preference Scheme has played an important role in strengthening this trade relationship. With Mali’s global exports valued at nearly US$4 billion, the untapped export potential in the Indian market is estimated at around US$3.96 billion, highlighting the large scope for future growth.
Vande Bharatam has been designed as a national platform for Indians with ideas, innovations, prototypes, early-stage ventures or established enterprises. The programme will reach all 36 States and Union Territories, more than 800 districts, and multiple Indian languages, making it one of the broadest entrepreneurial discovery initiatives in the country.
