** Chennai-based Ram Charan Company to supply chargers to Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt’s EV venture

The US-based Bolt Mobility is into personal transportation with focus on small electric two-wheelers, and is committed to ensuring access, equity, and quality of life through micromobility.

** Praveen Kumar launches 300-day yatra

Good response to Khilashapur meeting

Former IPS officer and coordinator of Bahujan Samaj Party in Telangana R. S. Praveen Kumar launched his 300-day State-wide yatra, christened ‘Bahujana Rajyadikara Yatra’, from Khilashapur village in Jangaon district on Sunday.

Along with dozens of leaders from various fronts representing SC/ST, BCs and minority groups, he addressed a well-attended public meet to announce his plans about the journey, timed with the next State elections.

** Govt to aid startup using daylight to illuminate basements 24×7

The solar energy spectrum has 45 per cent energy as visible light, and this can be used to harvest building illumination for about 9-11 hours a day.

The Technology Development Board (TDB) under the Ministry of Science and Technology will provide Rs 5 crore as support to a startup called Skyshade Daylight Private Limited for developing new technologies for 24×7 basement illumination. The company works on lighting technologies to reduce carbon footprint and improve energy efficiency.

** 65-year-old ICF of Indian Railway exported 650 rail coaches in last few years to 14 countries

The ICF has also obtained the distinction of being the only carbon negative unit of Indian Railways.

According to official data of railway obtained by TNIE, the ICF has exported more than 650 rail coaches, shells, and other components manufactured in Chennai based unit during the last few years to 14 countries, including Thailand, Burma, Taiwan, Philippines, Tanzania, Uganda, Vietnam, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Mozambique, Malaysia, Angola and Sri Lanka.

Official sources added that the ICF has also exported one rake of 1600HP DEMU against the order of two rakes of 1600HP DEMU to neighbouring Nepal railways

** International Women’s Day: Odia scientist Dr Mamoni Dash invents polymer for pest control

This new invention in the field of agriculture has made her one of the 75 achievers under 50 in the field of Science and Technology in India.

A native of Baripada, Dash has done her post graduate from NIT, Rourkela and PhD from University of Pisa, Italy. After her post-doctoral degree from Belgium, she had joined ILS as a Ramalingaswami Fellow in 2018 and as a faculty in 2021.

** Biodegradable nanoparticles to protect crops from diseases

Developed by scientists and researchers of University of Hyderabad, IRRI and IIT-Kanpur

A novel nanoparticle-based bio-degradable-carbonoid-metabolite (BioDCM) that can protect agricultural crops from pathogens has been developed jointly by scientists and reseachers of the University of Hyderabad (UoH), Indian Institute of Rice Research-Hyderabad and IIT-Kanpur.

The invention of these novel nanoparticles would act as shields to protect crops, especially the rice crop, from infection and diseases. The technology serves as a protective biological alternative that can be used to enhance crop protection against various diseases in rice crops, said an official release.