Kautilya

Chavya (Piper retrofractum Vahl.): Ayurveda’s Pungent Herb for Agni, Ama and Digestive Balance

The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India officially defines Chavya as the dried stem of Piper retrofractum. It describes the plant as a smooth, fleshy climber cultivated mainly in southern India. The dried medicinal stem occurs as cylindrical or slightly twisted greyish-brown pieces with visible nodes and internodes. It possesses a pepper-like odour and a distinctly acrid taste.

HCLTech and Sarvam Plan ₹14,257-Crore Sovereign AI Data Centre in Odisha

The investment represents one of India’s largest proposed AI infrastructure projects and is intended to create domestic computing capacity for training, deploying and operating advanced artificial intelligence models. Such infrastructure is increasingly important as governments and businesses seek secure computing systems that keep sensitive data and AI workloads within India.

Lesser Florican: India’s Leaping Grassland Jewel

The Lesser Florican is known by several regional names. In parts of Gujarat and Rajasthan, it is commonly called Kharmor, Khamor, Tanmor or the “grass peacock,” names inspired by the male’s extraordinary monsoon display. The bird belongs to the family Otididae, which also includes the Great Indian Bustard and Bengal Florican.

Indian Railways Tests AI-Based Stain Detection to Improve Linen Quality

The automated system uses AI-enabled cameras to inspect linen after washing and identify visible stains that may have escaped conventional quality checks. The technology is being tested at Pune Division under Central Railway and the Jaipur and Jodhpur divisions of North Western Railway. The results of the pilot could guide its wider deployment across the railway network.

Palakkad Rajas: Guardians of Kerala’s Strategic Eastern Gateway

The early history of Palakkad contains a mixture of inscriptional evidence, royal genealogies and regional traditions. After the decline of the Chera Perumals, Kerala became divided among hereditary chiefs and royal houses exercising authority over different nadus or territorial divisions. The prominent powers of the Palakkad region included the Valluvakonathiri of Valluvanad, the Kollengode Rajas of Vengunad and the Sekharivarma Rajas of Palakkattussery.

India Expands Hyperlocal Weather Network to Strengthen Farming and Crop Insurance

Seven States and Union Territories—Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Odisha, Puducherry, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand—have adopted the WINDS initiative. A total of 16,843 locations have been approved for the installation of weather-monitoring equipment. Civil work has been completed at 1,188 sites, while 892 Automatic Weather Stations and Automatic Rain Gauges have been installed.