Technology

Washington, April 7 (IANS) Astronauts aboard NASA’s Artemis II mission have set a new record for the farthest distance travelled by humans from Earth, marking a major milestone in the first crewed lunar mission in over five decades.

Four astronauts — Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen — crossed the historic threshold six days into their mission, travelling 248,655 miles from Earth and eventually reaching about 252,756 miles at the farthest point of their journey.

The milestone surpasses the previous record set during the Apollo 13 mission in 1970, establishing a new benchmark in human spaceflight.

“At NASA, we dare to reach higher, explore farther, and achieve the impossible. That’s embodied perfectly by our Artemis II astronauts – Reid, Victor, Christina, and Jeremy. They are charting new frontiers for all humanity,” said Dr. Lori Glaze, acting associate administrator for Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate.

“Their dedication is about more than breaking records – it’s fueling our hope for a bold future. Their mission is carrying our promise to return to the Moon’s surface, this time to stay as we establish a Moon Base,” she added.

The crew is currently on a 10-day mission designed to test the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft in a deep space environment with astronauts onboard. The mission includes a lunar flyby before returning to Earth.

Speaking from aboard the Orion spacecraft, Hansen reflected on the moment.

“From the cabin of Integrity here, as we surpass the furthest distance humans have ever traveled from planet Earth, we do so in honoring the extraordinary efforts and feats of our predecessors in human space exploration,” he said.

“We will continue our journey even further into space before Mother Earth succeeds in pulling us back to everything that we hold dear. But we most importantly choose this moment to challenge this generation and the next to make sure this record is not long-lived.”

During the lunar flyby, the astronauts conducted extensive observations, capturing high-resolution images of the Moon and studying surface features, including craters and geological formations. The crew also witnessed a solar eclipse as the Moon passed in front of the Sun and experienced a planned communications blackout lasting about 40 minutes as the spacecraft moved behind the Moon.

At one point, the spacecraft came within about 4,067 miles of the lunar surface, offering astronauts a rare view of regions of the Moon not previously seen directly by humans.

The mission has also produced scientific data through imagery, telemetry, and direct human observation, which will inform future Artemis missions.

The crew is scheduled to splash down off the coast of San Diego on April 10, where recovery teams will retrieve them for post-flight medical evaluations before their return to shore.

Artemis II is the first crewed mission in NASA’s Artemis programme, which aims to return humans to the Moon and establish a sustained presence there. The programme is also seen as a stepping stone for future human missions to Mars.

The last time astronauts travelled beyond low Earth orbit was during the Apollo missions more than five decades ago. By surpassing that record, Artemis II marks a significant step in reviving deep space human exploration and advancing long-term ambitions for lunar and interplanetary missions.

--IANS

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Mumbai, April 6 (IANS) The government on Monday dismissed reports suggesting that India was in discussions with Iran over imposing a transit levy through the Strait of Hormuz, calling such claims baseless and without any foundation.

Speaking on the issue, Mukesh Mangal, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Shipping, clarified that India has held no talks with Iran regarding any levy for passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

“The government is not aware of any such development, seeking to allay concerns amid heightened tensions in the region,” he stated.

Providing an update on maritime movement, Mangal said that 16 Indian vessels operating west of the Strait of Hormuz are being closely tracked.

“LPG carriers Green Sanvi and Green Asha have safely crossed the critical shipping route and are expected to arrive in India on April 7 and April 9, respectively,” he added.

The two vessels are carrying 46,500 tonnes and 15,500 tonnes of LPG, ensuring continuity in energy supplies.

On the energy front, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, noted that LPG imports have seen some decline while domestic production remains limited.

However, she emphasised that steps are being taken to bridge the gap, adding that imports from countries like the US continue to be driven by commercial considerations.

She also highlighted that gas supply to fertiliser plants has been increased to 90 per cent, while city gas distributors across the country are receiving an additional 10 per cent allocation to support demand.

Meanwhile, Aseem R. Mahajan, Additional Secretary (Gulf) in the Ministry of External Affairs, said that around 7.3 lakh Indians have returned to the country since February 28 amid the evolving geopolitical situation in the region.

He also noted that Qatar Airways is operating between eight and ten flights to India on Monday to facilitate travel.

--IANS

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New Delhi, April 6 (IANS) The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) has recorded a cumulative Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) of Rs 18.4 lakh crore, including Rs 5 lakh crore transacted in the financial year 2025–26, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said on Monday.

Moreover, Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) accounted for 68 per cent of total orders placed on the platform during the year and 47.1 per cent of the total GMV.

More than 11 lakh MSEs are registered on GeM and received over 51 lakh orders cumulatively in FY26, a growth exceeding 20 per cent over the previous year, according to the ministry.

Meanwhile, women-led enterprises, SC/ST businesses and startups each recorded strong growth, with startups registering the highest year-on-year increase at 36 per cent, it said. Over 2.1 lakh women-led MSEs received orders exceeding Rs 28,000 crore, up approximately 28 per cent.

Similarly, the SC/ST MSEs recorded a jump of 28 per cent, receiving orders valued at over Rs 6,000 crore.

GeM Chief Executive Officer Mihir Kumar said at a press briefing that the milestone reflected the confidence of buyers, sellers and institutions in a technology-driven procurement ecosystem.

"Crossing a cumulative GMV of Rs 18.4 lakh crore reflects the confidence of buyers, sellers and institutions in a transparent and technology-driven procurement ecosystem," said Kumar.

GeM operates ML-based catalogue validation and pre-sanity checks to reduce listing errors, alongside real-time transaction monitoring for anomaly detection.

The platform uses analytical tools to flag abnormal pricing, suspected collusive bidding, technical rejection anomalies and potential buyer-seller collusion. Bid Health Scores are used to support procurement decision-making.

Following adoption by central ministries, departments and Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs), the platform is registering growing uptake from state governments and Union Territories.

The ministry further stated that state procurement on GeM grew 38.3 per cent in FY 2025–26, reflecting wider penetration of the platform beyond the central government.

The platform -- which serves as the government's primary digital public procurement system -- has grown to connect buyers across central ministries, state governments and public sector enterprises with sellers nationwide.

--IANS

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New Delhi, April 5 (IANS) As the West Asia situation is still evolving, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is likely to maintain status quo in the upcoming monetary policy committee (MPC) meeting next week (April 6-8), a report by SBI Research said on Sunday.

As the first policy since the staring of US-Israel and Iran war, the RBI would be much careful in communicating its position.

The Central Bank needs to “concomitantly explore the probability of conducting Operation Twist” that pushes up the short-term yield while sobering the yield on long term papers ensuring various reference rates remain within the prescribed bands, aligned with policy rate in calibrated manner, while addressing balance of payment deficit through well crafted measures, the report mentioned.

Since the last policy, a war raging in West Asia has plunged the entire world into chaos.

The de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz and damage to regional infrastructure have produced the largest disruption to the global oil market in its history since 1973, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

“Obviously, India is not unscathed from the current crisis and feeling the mercury rising. Rupee is already hovering above 93 per dollar and crude oil is adamant above $100/bbl resulting in jump in imported inflation across states. This along with projection of ‘Super El Nino’ may put upward pressure on inflation,” said Dr Soumya Kanti Ghosh, Group Chief Economic Adviser, State Bank of India.

Alarmed over the spike in rupee’s gravitational pull during the current conflict, RBI has come out with several announcements, targeting curbing of speculations spread across both Onshore, as also Offshore NDF markets.

However, some of the norms may pose operational challenges for banks.

Consequently, CPI trajectory (as of now) may indicate more than 4.5 per cent inflation for the next three quarters, though the FY27 projections are well under RBI’s target range, said the report.

“However, the government’s recent decision for full customs duty exemption on a wide range of critical petrochemical products till June 30, 2026 may lower input costs and hence may have benign impact on imported inflation,” Dr Ghosh noted.

“Given the current volatility in rupee and yield, “we believe the liquidity should be modulated to ensure rupee also gets support,” the SBI economist added.

—IANS

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New Delhi, April 4 (IANS) The government is working to ensure minimal disruption to supply chains amid global uncertainties, while remaining prepared for a potential dip in exports and imports, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said on Saturday.

Addressing the press conference on the sidelines of a 'Chintan Shivir’ session in Hyderabad, Agrawal told the media that the initiative aims to bring together government and industry stakeholders to identify challenges and chart a clear roadmap.

The official also stated that India is focusing on sustaining the growth trajectory of pharmaceutical exports.

He said the exercise, guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, seeks to define the roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders through detailed consultations.

Agrawal noted that discussions focused on maintaining India’s leadership in emerging areas such as biosimilars, biologics and innovative drugs, while ensuring that both export and import supply chains remain resilient and insulated from external shocks.

India’s pharmaceutical industry, valued at over $60 billion, remains a key contributor to exports and global healthcare supply chains.

On the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, the official said it could have some impact on energy supply chains, which are critical for the sector.

However, he expressed confidence in the industry’s ability to adapt.

"India has a strong adaptive and resilient industry. We will be able to address these challenges going forward,” he said, adding that there is no immediate impact on prices at present.

Agrawal said the government will work closely with industry stakeholders to address any emerging challenges, while ensuring that supplies remain unaffected.

Earlier this week, PM Modi chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) to review the evolving situation in West Asia and assess its potential impact on India's national interests.

This was the second CCS meeting since tensions escalated on February 28, 2026, following US-Israel airstrikes on Iranian targets and subsequent retaliatory actions, which have led to disruptions in the region, including in the Strait of Hormuz, and volatility in global energy markets.

--IANS

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New Delhi, April 4 (IANS) NITI Aayog and the Atal Innovation Mission launched the ATL Sarthi and Mentor India Academy in Telangana to extend structured mentorship and institutional support to 379 Atal Tinkering Labs, an official statement said on Saturday.

The initiative will enable young innovators to translate ideas into solutions that contribute to India’s development journey and position Telangana as a key node in India’s expanding grassroots innovation ecosystem, the statement from NITI Aayog said.

The initiative will cluster ATLs regionally, connect them with leading local institutions to ensure continuous mentorship, teacher training, and pathways for incubation and startup support.

ATL Sarthi and Mentor India represents a focused effort to deepen the impact of ATLs by moving from access to sustained engagement.

Vardhaman College of Engineering has been onboarded as the nodal institution for Telangana, bringing its expertise in technical education, innovation, and entrepreneurship to support ATL schools and strengthen the local innovation ecosystem.

“The initiative strengthens the foundation of innovation in our schools by creating meaningful linkages between young learners and institutions of excellence. It will empower students to think creatively, solve real-world problems, and contribute to nation-building,” said Shiv Pratap Shukla, Governor of Telangana.

Such initiatives are critical in shaping a generation that is confident, capable, and future-ready and AIM is making it happen, Shukla added.

The ATL Sarthi and Mentor India Academy initiative is designed to empower students with hands-on exposure to emerging technologies, structured problem-solving approaches, and opportunities to scale their innovations.

By strengthening teacher capacity and providing institutional support, the program ensures that innovation becomes a continuous and evolving process within schools, the statement added.

The rollout builds on AIM’s broader national mission of establishing one of the world’s largest innovation ecosystems for students, with over 10,000 ATLs operational across the country.

—IANS

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New York, April 1 (IANS) More than half-a-century after mankind’s sojourn to the moon, four astronauts are planned to take off Wednesday on a voyage that will take them around the celestial body in preparation for journeys beyond, deep into space.

“Fifty-three years ago, humanity left the moon and did not return. Now we go back”, declared NASA Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya, clearing the mission.

NASA’s Artemis II rocket with the Orion spacecraft with four astronauts is set to lift off at 6:24 pm local time Wednesday (3:54 am Thursday in India) from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on a 10-day odyssey that will take them tantalisingly close to the moon, but they will not land there.

Kshatriya said at a news conference that the mission that had been delayed last month due to possible rocket problems was now all set, ready for the flight.

“I have complete confidence in this team and the NASA workforce,” he said.

The last time humans ventured that far into space was in December 1972 when astronauts on the Apollo 17 mission landed on the moon.

Artemis II’s goal is to test the rocket and the space capsule in preparation for a planned moon landing in 2028 by Artemis IV with a crew.

Hence the four astronauts will not set foot on the moon and will only fly around the farside of the moon.

The crew reflects diversity with an African American pilot, Victor Glover, a woman, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and a Canadian Space Agency Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen.

NASA’s Reid Wiseman commands the mission.

“It is our strong hope that this mission is the start of an era where everyone, every person on Earth, can look at the moon and think of it as also a destination”, Koch said.

During the 10-day mission, the spacecraft is to fly on a figure-8 pattern, looping around the Earth and the moon, 7,400 kilometres away.

The first orbit around the Earth is to test the Orion space module with the crew onboard, during next orbit the manual controls and the ability of the Orion to dock are up for tests.

Next, it is to head towards the moon, looping around it, before returning home on April 10, going partway around the Earth and splashing down on the Pacific Ocean, near San Diego, California.

US plans to eventually set up a base on the moon as it prepares for missions to Mars with humans.

--IANS

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New Delhi, April 1 (IANS) A regular weekday morning turned into a moment of shock for thousands of employees at Oracle Corporation, as reports of large-scale layoffs surfaced.

According to multiple reports, employees across teams began receiving termination emails as early as 6 AM.

What started as a normal workday quickly turned into confusion and uncertainty, with many workers trying to understand the sudden decision while the news spread rapidly online.

Reports suggest that the company may have laid off between 20,000 and 30,000 employees globally. This would account for nearly 18 per cent of its total workforce of around 162,000 people.

However, Oracle has not officially confirmed the exact number of layoffs or provided detailed information about severance packages and support for affected employees.

The reported job cuts are said to have impacted several departments, including engineering, cloud operations, sales, and cybersecurity.

In India alone, as many as 12,000 employees are believed to have lost their jobs, although there is no official confirmation on this figure either.

As the news unfolded, many employees took to social media to share their experiences. Several posts reflected the emotional and financial stress caused by the sudden layoffs, with many also seeking new job opportunities.

One employee described the experience as completely unexpected, especially after having joined the company just a year ago.

Sharing their story online, the employee wrote that they received a termination email in the morning without any prior indication.

They added that they were given a severance package of around Rs 6 lakh along with one year of insurance coverage.

Another employee spoke about the emotional impact of the decision, saying the sudden loss of routine and stability was difficult to process. Despite the uncertainty, they expressed hope about finding new opportunities in the future.

--IANS

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New Delhi, April 1 (IANS) India’s industrial and warehousing sector recorded absorption of 18.5 million square feet in Q1 2026, marking a robust growth of 15.6 per cent year‑on‑year, a report said on Wednesday.

The report from Savills India said that growth was led by the manufacturing segment, while Pune made a notable leap to become the second-largest contributor to overall absorption.

Manufacturing accounted for 35 per cent of absorption (about 6.5 million square feet), up from 30 per cent in Q1 2025. Third-party logistics (3PL) segment followed with a 23 per cent overall contribution, while the FMCG and FMCD segment contributed 14 per cent.

Grade‑A space gained prominence with its share of absorption rising to 60 per cent from 51 per cent in Q1 2025 reflecting occupiers' growing emphasis on quality, compliance, and ESG standards, the report noted.

Tier‑I cities accounted for 79 per cent of absorption. Tier-II and Tier-III cities also maintained a meaningful presence, contributing 21 per cent of overall absorption and 16 per cent of overall supply during the quarter.

Pune contributed to 4.5 million square feet or 24 per cent of total absorption. Delhi-NCR and Mumbai followed with 19 per cent and 12 per cent, respectively.

India’s industrial and logistics real estate sector remains strong and resilient, even amid ongoing uncertainty in West Asia.

With occupiers diversifying supply chains and absorption on the rise, total absorption is set to surpass 75 million square feet by 2026, the report forecasted.

On the supply front, the sector delivered 22.1 million square feet in Q1 2026, up 39 per cent YoY, with Tier‑I cities supplying 18.6 million square feet (84 per cent). Tier‑II and Tier‑III cities added 3.4 million square feet or 16 per cent of total supply.

Delhi-NCR accounted for the highest contribution of 20 per cent in Q1 2026, followed by Pune at 18 per cent and Chennai at 17 per cent, while the Tier-II & III cities together accounted for 16 per cent of the total supply.

--IANS

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New Delhi, April 1 (IANS) The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has amended income tax rules to provide clarity on the applicability of General Anti-Avoidance Rules (GAAR), in a move aimed at reducing ambiguity around tax avoidance provisions.

In its notification, the CBDT said that GAAR will not apply to income arising from the transfer of investments made before April 1, 2017. The amendment will come into effect from April 1, 2026.

The clarification is expected to provide certainty to investors, particularly in relation to legacy investments, by clearly defining the scope of GAAR provisions.

The development follows a recent ruling by the Supreme Court against Mauritius-based Tiger Global International, where the apex court upheld the Income Tax Department’s right to tax the private equity major on gains from its exit from Flipkart in 2018.

The amendment is seen as part of the government’s broader effort to balance anti-avoidance measures with the need for a stable and predictable tax regime.

Apart from this, the new income tax law has come into effect from the new fiscal, replacing the six-decade-old 1961 legislation and introducing changes in compliance, terminology and taxation.

A key reform under the new framework is the replacement of the ‘Financial Year’ (FY) and ‘Assessment Year’ (AY) with a single ‘tax year’, which is expected to simplify the filing process and improve clarity for taxpayers.

In addition, timelines for filing income tax returns have been revised. While the July 31 deadline remains unchanged for salaried individuals, non-audit cases such as self-employed taxpayers and professionals will now have time until August 31 to file their returns.

Meanwhile, charges on trading in futures and options have increased, as the Securities Transaction Tax (STT) was raised in the Union Budget by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

In a major shift, stock buybacks will now be taxed as capital gains instead of deemed dividends, impacting both promoters and retail investors.

--IANS

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