Kautilya

Economy

Tripura’s Organic Ethnic Rice Enters European Markets With First 18-Tonne Export to Austria and Netherlands

The shipment includes Aromatic Kali Khasa Rice, Aromatic Harinarayan Rice, Biron Rice and Maimi Hanga Rice. Biron is a white sticky rice variety, while Maimi Hanga is a distinctive black rice. The produce was aggregated from Farmer Producer Companies in Tripura supported by the Tripura State Organic Farming Development Agency, creating a direct link between organised farmer groups in the state and international buyers.

By Kautilya / September 4, 2026

Research

Manipal Researchers Combine Lasers and AI for Real-Time Industrial Fuel Quality Monitoring

The project will combine Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy, or LIBS, with artificial intelligence and machine-learning algorithms to estimate the Gross Calorific Value of fuels at the point where they are received or used. The collaboration brings together researchers from MAHE’s Manipal Institute of Applied Physics and engineers from GHCL, one of India’s major chemical manufacturers.

By Kautilya / September 4, 2026

Economy

Palakkadan Matta Rice — The Bold Red Grain of Kerala’s Palakkad Plains

Unlike highly polished white rice, traditional Palakkadan Matta retains much of its coloured outer layer and is commonly parboiled before milling. The resulting rice has a firm texture, substantial grain and distinctive taste that has made it a staple of Kerala meals as well as an ingredient in traditional snacks and rice preparations.

By Kautilya / September 4, 2026

Akhanda Bharath Heritage Temples and Places

Lata and the Mahabharata-Era Geography of Southern Gujarat: The Ancient Region Between the Mahi and Tapi

Lata should therefore be understood as a historically important ancient name for southern Gujarat whose geographical landscape overlaps with regions known to the Mahabharata, rather than as a kingdom that can confidently be assigned a named ruler or capital directly from the epic.

By Kautilya / September 4, 2026

Economy Make in India

Indi Energy: Turning India’s Agricultural Waste Into Sodium-Ion Batteries

Indi Energy, the brand of Indigenous Energy Storage Technologies Private Limited, is developing sodium-ion batteries in India while converting agricultural and biological waste into a high-value battery material called BioBlack™ hard carbon.

By Kautilya / September 4, 2026

Stories Vidya

The Elephant Named Ashwatthama: The Half-Truth That Brought Down Dronacharya

By the time the war at Kurukshetra reached this stage, Drona had become almost impossible to stop. His mastery of weapons, knowledge of celestial astras and experience in warfare allowed him to cut through the Pandava forces with devastating effect. Krishna understood that defeating him through ordinary combat would be extraordinarily difficult.

By Kautilya / September 4, 2026

Defense Economy

BEL Pays ₹934.47-Crore Dividend to Government as Defence PSU Expansion Gains Pace

BEL Chairman and Managing Director Manoj Jain presented the cheque, covering interim and final dividend attributable to the government’s equity holding, during the annual performance review of Defence Public Sector Undertakings chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi on September 1, 2026. BEL subsequently announced the development on September 2.

By Kautilya / September 3, 2026

Defense Make in India

Kalyani Strategic Systems and Thales to Manufacture 70-mm Rocket Systems in India

KSSL, the wholly owned defence subsidiary of Bharat Forge, and Thales signed the Strategic Alliance Agreement in New Delhi on September 3, 2026, during the high-level Belgian visit to India. The arrangement creates a framework for technology transfer, local production and distribution of 2.75-inch, or 70-mm, rocket systems and associated equipment.

By Kautilya / September 3, 2026

Defense

HAL Receives Three More F404 Engines as Tejas Mk1A Production Push Accelerates

GE Aerospace confirmed the shipment on September 3, stating that three F404-IN20 engines were dispatched to HAL during August. The deliveries followed the seventh engine supplied in July and represent a noticeable acceleration compared with the slower supply rate that had affected the programme earlier.

By Kautilya / September 3, 2026

Diplomacy

Quad Sherpas Meet in New Delhi as Grouping Accelerates Maritime, Technology and Disaster-Relief Cooperation

The Quad’s maritime agenda has gradually broadened beyond conventional naval security. It now encompasses maritime-domain awareness, protection of shipping routes, transnational crime, illegal activities at sea and cooperation among regional information-sharing centres.

By Kautilya / September 3, 2026