Summary of the Article

The Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Tirupati, is poised to hold its sixth convocation on August 5, 2025. Celebrating its inception in 2015, the institute has significantly broadened its academic offerings and research activities. It initially started with only a Bachelor of Science-Master of Science (BS-MS) program and has since expanded to include:

• Integrated PhD and PhD programs.
• A four-year Bachelor of Science in Economics and Statistical Sciences (BS-ESS).
• A two-year Master’s by Research (MS) program, set to launch in August 2025.

This year, a total of 255 students are scheduled to graduate, including:

• 22 PhD graduates,
• 8 Integrated PhD graduates,
• 3 MSc graduates,
• 141 from the BS-MS program,
• 69 from professional Master’s programs,
• 6 Bachelor of Science graduates,
• 6 Bachelor of Science (BSc) graduates.

IISER Tirupati Director Dr. Santanu Bhattacharya highlighted notable achievements during a media interaction. The institute’s H-index, which measures research productivity and impact, currently stands at 57, with a cumulative citation count of 17,256. The institute was ranked 33rd in the Nature Index-2025 among academic institutions in India.

International Collaborations and Research Funding

Dr. Bhattacharya emphasized that IISER Tirupati has strengthened its international collaborations, establishing partnerships with:

• Heidelberg University and the University of Cologne in Germany.
• Future academic initiatives with the University of Melbourne in Australia.
• Additionally, ties have been formed with the University of Buffalo, USA, and the Australian National University (ANU).

The institute is witnessing a significant increase in extramural research funding, which has doubled from the previous year, amounting to ₹29.43 crore.

Key Points

• IISER Tirupati will hold its sixth convocation on August 5, 2025.
• The institute began in 2015 and has expanded its academic offerings significantly.
• Graduation cohort includes 255 students across various programs.
• IISER-Tirupati’s current H-index is 57 with a total of 17,256 citations.
• Ranked 33rd in Nature Index-2025 for Indian academic institutions.
• Strengthened international collaborations with notable universities in Germany and Australia.
• Extramural research funding reached ₹29.43 crore, doubling from the previous year.

This article emphasizes IISER Tirupati’s growth as a premier educational institution in India, showcasing its academic expansion, research contributions, and international collaboration efforts.

A comprehensive summary of the mock drill conducted in Delhi-NCR is as follows:

On August 2, 2025, a multi-agency mock drill was conducted across 55 locations in Delhi-NCR to evaluate the preparedness for potential earthquakes and industrial accidents. Below are the key details of the exercise:

• Purpose of the Drill: The primary goal was to assess the incident response system (IRS) and validate the capability of emergency services in response to a high-magnitude earthquake followed by chemical leaks.

• Simulated Scenarios: The exercise commenced at 9:03 a.m. with a simulated earthquake scenario, which was subsequently followed by mock chemical leak situations in industrial and transport areas across various districts.

• Participants: Several stakeholders participated, including:

  • Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA)
  • Delhi Police
  • Delhi Transport Department
  • Delhi Fire Services
  • Municipal Corporation of Delhi
  • Civil Defence Volunteers
  • Home Guards
  • Residents’ Welfare Associations (RWAs)
  • School teachers
  • Metro staff

• Feedback and Gaps: Krishan Kumar, the CEO of DDMA, reported that while the drill was executed smoothly, feedback indicated certain gaps that needed attention. He highlighted the need for enhanced preparedness in critical zones such as the Yamuna floodplains and ridge areas.

• Objectives of the Drill:

  • To assess the readiness of emergency medical services and fire response units.
  • To evaluate the activation of the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) and inter-agency coordination protocols.
  • To test communication systems and improve the overall preparedness and response mechanisms.

• Post-Drill Sessions: Brigadier B.S. Thakar, from the National Disaster Management Authority, facilitated a brainstorming session and debriefing with all participating stakeholders to derive lessons from the drill.

• Future Actions: The DDMA plans to collect detailed action reports from District Magistrates and various government departments to identify infrastructure gaps, IRS activation issues, public messaging deficiencies, and to enhance inter-agency coordination based on findings from the mock drill.

This mock drill is a significant step in fortifying disaster management strategies in Delhi-NCR and underscores the importance of preparedness in mitigating risks associated with natural disasters and industrial crises.

Key Points:

• Multi-agency mock drill conducted on August 2, 2025, in Delhi-NCR at 55 locations.
• Simulated scenarios included earthquakes and chemical leaks.
• Participants included multiple governmental and civil bodies.
• Drill aimed at assessing the effectiveness of the emergency response system.
• Identified gaps in preparedness, particularly in critical areas.
• Future reports will focus on improving disaster management infrastructure and coordination among agencies.

Summary of Recent Events in the Russia-Ukraine Conflict (August 1, 2025)

On July 31, 2025, Ukraine experienced severe missile and drone attacks by Russia that resulted in significant casualties and damage, particularly in Kyiv. Here are the key points from the incident and related developments:

• Casualties and Damage in Kyiv:

  • At least 13 people were killed, including a young boy, and 132 others were injured.
  • A noteworthy number of children were affected, with 14 children wounded, including a 5-month-old girl. This marks the highest number of child injuries from a single attack since the onset of the conflict three years ago.
  • A large part of a nine-story residential building collapsed due to the attacks. Search and rescue operations were initiated for those trapped under the debris.

• Nature of the Attack:

  • The Ukrainian Air Force reported that 309 Shahed drones, alongside 8 Iskander-K cruise missiles, were launched during the nighttime assault.
  • Ukrainian defenses countered by intercepting and jamming 288 drones and three missiles, though five missiles and 21 drones ultimately hit various targets.
  • Over 27 locations in Kyiv were affected, with the Solomianskyi and Sviatoshynskyi districts experiencing the most damage. More than 100 buildings, including residential structures, schools, and medical facilities, were reported damaged.

• Additional Attacks and Claims:

  • In Kramatorsk, a Russian strike on a residential building resulted in one death and at least 11 injuries.
  • The Russian Defence Ministry claimed to have downed 32 Ukrainian drones during the night.
  • A drone attack in Russia's Penza region caused a fire at an industrial site, although there were no reported casualties.

• Geopolitical Context:

  • Russian forces asserted control over the city of Chasiv Yar in eastern Donetsk, a tactical location crucial for the regional military strategy.
  • The claim of control over Chasiv Yar was disputed by Ukrainian sources, with military spokesperson Victor Trehubov labeling it "fabrication" and reporting ongoing clashes in the area.

• International Response:

  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attacks as a reflection of Russia’s disregard for peace, calling on allies to honor their defense commitments and pressure Russia into meaningful negotiations.
  • On the international front, U.S. President Donald Trump set a deadline of August 8 for Russia to demonstrate progress towards peace, after which he indicated that the U.S. would impose further sanctions if no advancements were made. Trump expressed growing criticism of Russia's actions and their impact on ongoing peace efforts.

• Strategic Importance:

  • The conflict continues to be marked by significant military operations and geopolitical maneuvers, with both sides maintaining a high level of military engagement and strategic control over key locations.

In summary, the recent attacks in Ukraine underline the ongoing fluctuations in the military confrontation between Russia and Ukraine, with rising casualties and international diplomatic pressures playing a crucial role in the situation's dynamics. The global community continues to watch developments closely, with implications for international relations and regional stability.

Important Sentences:

• On July 31, 2025, Russian missile and drone attacks in Kyiv killed at least 13 and injured 132.
• Notably, 14 children, including a 5-month-old girl, were among the injured.
• The Ukrainian Air Force intercepted 288 drones and three missiles, while five missiles and 21 drones struck their targets.
• The strike caused damage to over 100 buildings, including schools and medical facilities.
• Russian forces claimed control of Chasiv Yar, a strategically vital location, although this was disputed by Ukrainian officials.
• President Zelenskyy called on allies to uphold defense commitments and criticized Russia's lack of engagement in peace efforts.
• U.S. President Trump set a deadline of August 8 for progress in peace talks, or face new sanctions.

On Wednesday morning, an earthquake of magnitude 8.8 struck the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia, approximately 6,500 km east of Moscow. This seismic event, one of the strongest recorded, occurred on the Circum-Pacific seismic belt, known as the "Ring of Fire." Its tremors generated a tsunami that affected several nations along the northern Pacific Ocean, with wave heights reaching 3-4 meters in Kamchatka, nearly five feet in Hawaii, and two feet in Japan. Fortunately, despite reports of flooding and damage, there were no fatalities linked to this earthquake.

Key Facts from the Earthquake:

• Magnitude: 8.8, marking it as one of the strongest earthquakes in recent history and the largest since the 9.1 magnitude earthquake in Japan in 2011.
• Location: Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia, part of the "Ring of Fire" seismic belt.
• Tsunami Impact: Waves of 3-4 meters recorded in Kamchatka; affected Hawaii and Japan with lesser waves.
• Casualties: No lives lost; compared to the 7.6 magnitude earthquake in Nepal in 2015 that resulted in over 15,000 fatalities.

Seismic Context:

• Frequency of Large Earthquakes: Only five earthquakes of magnitude 8.5 and above have occurred globally in the last 20 years, indicating the rarity of such events despite the region's seismic activity.
• Ring of Fire: A highly active seismic belt encompassing the Pacific Ocean, accounting for over 80% of the planet's largest earthquakes, including notable events like the 9.5 magnitude quake in Chile in 1960 and the 9.2 quake in Alaska in 1964.
• Earthquake Data: The region, extending from Kamchatka to northern Japan, has experienced over 130 earthquakes of magnitude 7-plus since 1900, with a historically significant magnitude 9 event recorded in 1952.

Geological Processes:

• Subduction Processes: The Ring of Fire is characterized by multiple subduction zones where tectonic plates converge, leading to significant stress and eventual release in the form of earthquakes. The Pacific Plate, being denser, subducts beneath lighter continental plates, intensifying geological activity.
• Global Earthquake Zones: The Ring of Fire is one of three principal earthquake-prone regions globally. The Alpide belt, spanning from Indonesia through the Himalayas to Turkey, is the second-most active, contributing 15-17% of significant earthquakes, primarily impacting densely populated areas.

Impact and Implications:

• Population Density: Kamchatka's population density is low, approximately 0.62 persons per square kilometer, which mitigated the impact of the earthquake, whereas earthquakes in more populated regions often result in higher casualties.
• Potential for Stronger Earthquakes: The size of an earthquake correlates with the length of the faultline involved; a 9.5 magnitude earthquake represents the upper limit of known natural seismic events, with no current faultlines expected to produce a magnitude of 10 or more.

Summary Bullets:

• An 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia, on Wednesday.
• The tsunami generated waves of 3-4 meters in Kamchatka and triggered waves in Hawaii and Japan, without any reported fatalities.
• The earthquake is one of only five in the last 20 years of 8.5 magnitude or greater.
• The earthquake occurred in the Circum-Pacific seismic belt, accounting for over 80% of the world's largest earthquakes.
• Historical data shows the region has experienced over 130 earthquakes of magnitude 7 or greater since 1900.
• The geological process of subduction contributes to the high seismic activity in this region.
• The Kamchatka region's low population density helped prevent casualties from this significant seismic event.

Summary of the National Cybersecurity Exercise 2025

The Bharat National Cybersecurity Exercise 2025 culminated recently, marking a significant event within India's cybersecurity framework. This exercise, organized by the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) and Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU), attracted over 600 participants from diverse sectors, including cybersecurity experts, policymakers, military representatives, and industry leaders.

Key Highlights:

• Focus Areas:

  • The 2025 exercise placed an emphasis on the security of Industrial Control Systems (ICS) and artificial intelligence-driven cyber threats. Specific threats included adversarial attacks and the manipulation of deepfake technologies.
  • Core training modules included Security Operations Centers (SOC), API security, Reverse Engineering Malware Analysis (REMA), and Digital Forensics and Incident Response (DFIR).

• Complementary Events:

  • The Bharat CISOs Conclave and the BHARAT Cybersecurity Startup Exhibition were conducted alongside the main exercise. These platforms facilitated strategic discussions and showcased advancements aimed at enhancing India's cybersecurity landscape.

• Strategic Exercise (Stratex):

  • This segment focused on inter-agency coordination, crisis management, and real-time responses to simulated national-level cyber threats.
  • The Stratex component was deemed essential for enhancing situational awareness and collective cyber defense readiness against potential attackers.

• Key Addresses:

  • Shri T. V. Ravichandran, Deputy National Security Advisor, delivered a significant closing address, underlining the importance of integrating fluid cyber threat paradigms into national security strategies. He advocated for strong commitments across agencies and innovation to protect India's digital sovereignty.
  • Major General Manjeet Singh, Joint Secretary (Cyber) at NSCS, provided insights on the exercise's takeaways, emphasizing the rising trends in cyber threats and the necessity for adaptable, resilient defenses.

• Academic Contribution:

  • Professor Kalpesh Wandra, Pro Vice-Chancellor of RRU, stressed the critical role of academia in enhancing national cybersecurity capabilities. He advocated for the encouragement of innovation, research, and interdisciplinary collaboration to cultivate a highly skilled cybersecurity workforce.

• Acknowledgment:

  • The event concluded with Colonel Debashish Bose, Director of NSCS, offering thanks to all participants, partner organizations, and specifically to RRU for their essential contributions to the exercise's success.

• Legacy:

  • The National Cybersecurity Exercise 2025 is characterized by its collaborative spirit, innovative approaches, and strengthened national preparedness, ultimately contributing to a secure and self-reliant digital India.

Important Points Recap:

• The exercise convened over 600 stakeholders across various sectors.
• Focused on emerging cyber threats, particularly in ICS and AI.
• Key events included the Bharat CISOs Conclave and the BHARAT Cybersecurity Startup Exhibition.
• The Stratex segment tested inter-agency cooperation and response techniques.
• Emphasis was placed on the integration of evolving cyber threats into national security frameworks.
• Calls for continued innovation and collaboration among agencies were highlighted.
• Academia's role was recognized as vital for the future of national cybersecurity capabilities.
• The event aimed to bolster India's defenses against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats and ensure digital sovereignty.

This recap demonstrates the exercise's importance in enhancing India's cybersecurity measures and reflects the growing complexity and necessity of addressing digital threats in contemporary society.