1. Indigenous Hansa-3 (NG) Trainer Aircraft

On 29th November 2025, Union Minister for Science and Technology launched the production version of the Hansa-3 (NG) pilot trainer aircraft at CSIR–National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), Bengaluru, while reviewing progress on the SARAS Mk-2 aircraft and inaugurating key aerospace facilities aimed at boosting India’s civil and defence aviation capabilities.

Key Points

Hansa-3 NG Production: India’s first all-composite two-seat trainer will address the growing demand for pilots, with a new ₹150-crore facility in Andhra Pradesh capable of manufacturing 100 aircraft annually.
Reducing Imports: The trainer aircraft is expected to lessen dependence on foreign platforms and support India’s expanding aviation training ecosystem.
SARAS Mk-2 Development: A 19-seater light transport aircraft is under development for civilian and defence use, featuring a pressurised cabin, digital avionics, and a glass cockpit.
Iron Bird Facility: The Minister inaugurated this full-system integration platform to enhance flight safety and accelerate SARAS Mk-2 testing.
High Altitude Platforms (HAPs): A new facility will develop solar-powered unmanned aircraft capable of flying above 20 km, with the first full-scale flight planned for 2027.
Aviation Weather Systems: The NAviMet system was launched at HAL Airport, adding to over 175 aviation weather systems already deployed by CSIR-NAL.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar will represent the Election Commission of India as he assumes the chair, positioning India to play a central role in guiding the organisation’s global democratic initiatives.
International IDEA, established in 1995, is an inter-governmental body dedicated to promoting democracy, electoral integrity, and institutional strengthening across its 35 member states and observers.
India, a founding member, has consistently contributed to International IDEA through electoral research, capacity-building programmes, and support for strengthening election management bodies worldwide.
The organisation’s decision to elevate India to the chairmanship underscores global confidence in the ECI’s ability to conduct free, fair and transparent elections for an electorate of more than 90 crore voters.

Key Points

Research Focus: The study examined female patients with a history of chewing tobacco-infused betel quid, a major risk factor for oral cancer in southern and northeastern India.
Genetic Analysis: Whole-exome sequencing of tumour samples from 38 women revealed ten significant gene mutations.
CASP8 & TP53 Findings: CASP8 emerged as a potential driver mutation in women, differing from patterns seen in male-focused studies, while co-occurring TP53 and CASP8 mutations were linked to aggressive and recurrent cancers.
AI-Based Immune Profiling: Artificial intelligence analysis identified two distinct patient groups with differing immune responses, pointing toward varying treatment outcomes.
Clinical Implications: The findings underscore the need for more women-focused cancer studies and could inform personalised treatment approaches, though larger cohort validation is required.

The DoT has mandated that the Sanchar Saathi app must be clearly visible and accessible during a user’s first device setup, ensuring no essential feature of the application is hidden, disabled, or restricted by manufacturers or importers.
The directive requires companies to push the Sanchar Saathi application through software updates for all devices already manufactured and currently circulating within sales pipelines so that older stock also remains compliant with the new rule.
A 90-day timeline has been set for full implementation of the pre-installation mandate, while manufacturers and importers must submit detailed compliance reports to the government within 120 days of the notification date.
Sanchar Saathi, launched by the DoT, enables users to verify handset authenticity through IMEI checks, report fraudulent communications, block stolen or lost phones, and review all mobile connections registered under their identity, thereby acting as a central tool against telecom-related cybercrimes.
The Telecommunication Cyber Security Rules empower the central government to direct manufacturers of devices bearing IMEI numbers to facilitate investigations involving tampered or fraudulent handsets, and the new mandate reinforces these legal obligations across the mobile ecosystem.