PFBR Marks Milestone in India’s Energy Security

15 Apr 2026 CW Team

At VAKTAVYA 2026 at Hindu College, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said the indigenously developed Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) marks a major milestone in India’s journey towards self-reliant energy security.

The minister said the reactor uses plutonium with liquid sodium as coolant, ensuring higher energy output with lower input and paving the way for thorium-based reactors by leveraging India’s thorium reserves.

He underlined that artificial intelligence is inevitable and will become integral to governance and daily life, and said AI can be an enabling tool for research, analysis and decision-making but must be deployed so human intelligence is not overshadowed.

He noted that India is ranked among leading startup nations, with the number of startups reaching about 0.2 million (mn) and rising over the past decade, and highlighted that nearly 50 per cent of these startups are emerging from tier-2 and tier-3 cities such as Sonipat, Panipat and Surat reflecting democratisation of opportunities.

He noted rising participation of women in the startup ecosystem and urged a change in mindset so students explore diverse opportunities beyond conventional career paths and use technological tools effectively.

He described the National Education Policy (NEP) as a shift that provides students flexibility to choose and change academic pathways and to pursue interdisciplinary learning aligned to evolving interests, and pointed to initiatives such as the VAIBHAV programme and the Pratibha Setu portal that link the scientific diaspora and verified UPSC aspirants respectively with domestic institutions and potential employers, helping build an enabling ecosystem for talent and innovation.

Infrastructure Transport

07 May 2026

IRCON Celebrates 50 Years of Infrastructure Excellence

IRCON International, a Navratna Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Railways, celebrated its 50th Foundation Day at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The Golden Jubilee event marked five decades of contribution to India’s railway and infrastructure development, while reaffirming the company’s commitment to nation-building through engineering excellence. The celebration was attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Railways, IRCON’s leadership, industry stakeholders and employees. The event featured the launch of a commemorative coffee table book on IRCON’s 50-year ..

BorgWarner Wins Three Electric Motor Orders in Asia

BorgWarner has secured three electric motor business awards with Asian original equipment manufacturers across China and South Korea, strengthening its electrification portfolio across battery electric and hybrid vehicle applications. Production under the new programmes is expected to begin in phases from June 2026 to September 2027. In South Korea, BorgWarner will supply a stator assembly for a new electric B-segment SUV programme. The award builds on its earlier supply of hairpin eMotor technology for the customer’s multi-purpose vehicle platform, reinforcing its position as a trusted supp..

AIDO Showcases Door Systems At Aluminium Expo

AIDO, an endorsed brand of dormakaba, marked its participation at Aluminium Expo 2026, held from 1–3 May at Calicut Trade Centre, Calicut. Organised by the Aluminium Dealer Forum, the event saw AIDO showcase its SLYNK Profiled Door System and advanced Digital Door Lock range. The SLYNK Profiled Door System is designed for seamless spatial transitions, minimal aesthetics, smooth operation and optimised space use. It supports wooden doors, framed glass doors and frameless glass doors, with configurations including invisible sliding, pocket sliding, telescopic sliding, synchro sliding and singl..