In an extraordinary example of innovation meeting national service, Apollyon Dynamics, a defence-tech startup born at BITS Pilani Hyderabad Campus, has taken flight—quite literally—by delivering custom-built unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to active Indian Army units across Jammu, Chandimandir, Panagarh (West Bengal), and Arunachal Pradesh, all within just two months of launching operations.
Founded by two enterprising students, Jayant Khatri, a Mechanical Engineering student from Ajmer, and Sourya Choudhury, an Electronics Engineering student from Kolkata, Apollyon Dynamics began as a modest prototype assembly operation in a hostel room. Today, it is building cutting-edge indigenous drones that are already in active deployment—proving that world-class defence technology can originate from a college dorm room.
The startup’s UAVs are designed for high-stakes military missions including precision kamikaze strikes, nighttime surveillance, and strategic payload delivery. Their flagship kamikaze drone boasts a top speed of over 300 km/h and delivers payloads up to 1 kg with pinpoint accuracy, making it one of the most advanced and effective systems in its category.
This rapid success was made possible with the backing of Dr. Sanket Goel, Dean of Research and Innovation at BITS Pilani Hyderabad, who supported the founders in transitioning from a makeshift setup to a state-of-the-art lab facility within the institute. Today, Apollyon Dynamics operates from this lab, designing rugged, modular, and mission-specific drones that address India’s evolving defence and surveillance needs.
Their growing lineup features multi-role aerial platforms for long-range surveillance, tactical payload drops, and high-precision kamikaze operations—a powerful mix of flexibility, speed, and intelligence in aerial warfare tech.
The team recently demonstrated their drone technology on campus in front of Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chancellor of BITS Pilani and Chairman of the Aditya Birla Group, earning praise for their vision and execution.
In an era where indigenous defence capabilities are more vital than ever, Apollyon Dynamics represents not just a technological breakthrough—but a symbol of youth-driven innovation and national strength.
Hyderabad, July 19, 2025 — In a significant step toward expanding access to cutting-edge AI education, the International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad (IIIT-H) has announced the launch of a fully online Minor Program in Modern Machine Learning. Offered through its Flexible Learning and Outreach Division, the one-year program is designed to run alongside students’ regular academic coursework, making it accessible without disrupting existing degree plans.
Aimed at undergraduate students in their third year or above—specifically those pursuing degrees in Science, Mathematics, Engineering, or Technology—the program takes a modular, flexible approach. It blends live interactive sessions, hands-on lab components, real-world projects, and mentorship by IIIT-H faculty, ensuring that learners gain both strong theoretical foundations and practical skills.
The curriculum is divided into five distinct terms:
Foundations of Machine Learning
Modern Machine Learning
Applied AI: Computer Vision
Applied AI: Natural Language Processing
Capstone Project
Students can choose to earn individual course certificates, or complete the full set for a Minor Certificate in Modern Machine Learning. Importantly, individual colleges and universities may opt to recognize this certificate as a Minor Degree, depending on their academic policies.
Speaking about the initiative, Prof. Venkatesh Choppella, Associate Dean of the Flexible Learning Division at IIIT-H, highlighted the program’s relevance:
“Machine Learning is rapidly transforming every sector, and our aim is to equip students with a strong foundation and hands-on experience in this high-demand field.”
Key Dates:
Application Opens: July 26, 2025
Application Closes: August 15, 2025
Program Begins: August 25, 2025
With AI and machine learning continuing to disrupt industries worldwide, this program represents a timely opportunity for aspiring professionals to gain a competitive edge through one of India’s top research institutes.
Hyderabad, July 17 — In a bid to bridge India’s linguistic diversity through technology, the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has launched WaveX, a dedicated platform to support media and language-tech startups. Speaking at T-Hub Hyderabad on Thursday, I&B Secretary Sanjay Jaju emphasized the government’s commitment to promoting Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) innovations tailored to India’s rich cultural and linguistic fabric.
During his visit to T-Hub, Jaju engaged with AI and ML startups, as well as representatives from IIT Hyderabad, NITs, and various Centres of Excellence. He highlighted the importance of scalable, local AI solutions that reflect India’s linguistic landscape, urging young innovators to collaborate and contribute to the nation’s digital transformation.
Jaju introduced two key initiatives under the WaveX platform — “Kalaa Setu” and “Bhasha Setu” — challenge programs designed to encourage the development of digital tools that celebrate India’s cultural and language diversity. These challenges aim to find cutting-edge solutions that can support inclusive communication across the country.
“AI should reflect the linguistic diversity of India,” Jaju said, inviting startups to create tools that are not just technologically advanced, but also culturally rooted and accessible.
Finalists of the WaveX challenges will be invited to present their solutions before a national jury in New Delhi. Winning startups will receive full support from All India Radio (AIR), Doordarshan, and the Press Information Bureau (PIB) to help scale their innovations.
The WaveX platform, officially launched at the WAVES Summit in May 2025, is already being hailed as a catalyst for innovation in India’s media-tech ecosystem. Startups interested in participating can apply through the official WaveX portal.
With platforms like WaveX, the government is paving the way for a more inclusive and tech-enabled media landscape — one where every Indian voice can be heard and understood.
Hyderabad, July 12: In an inspiring tale of hard work and determination, 20-year-old Sheikh Sohel, a final-year B.Tech student specializing in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI & ML) at JNTU Hyderabad, has secured a whopping ₹60 lakh annual salary package from renowned software and financial trading firm D.E. Shaw.
What’s more impressive? Along with the offer, Sohel has also been granted a monthly internship stipend of ₹2 lakhs – a rare and enviable combination for any college student.
This life-changing opportunity didn’t come easy. Sohel was among 200 top students from Computer Science, AI & ML, and Electronics & Communication branches who vied for a single position at D.E. Shaw. Through multiple rounds of rigorous selection, Sohel emerged as the final topper, impressing the company not just with his knowledge but more so with his problem-solving approach during the interview.
“More than what I knew, it was about how I solved the problems. I managed to answer all the questions within the given 30-minute time frame and scored the highest,” Sohel shared with pride.
Sohel hails from a humble background in Khammam district, Telangana. After losing his father six years ago due to illness, his mother, Chanbanu, singlehandedly raised him through financial struggles. He attributes his success to her unwavering support.
“My mother has been my pillar of strength. This offer is not just my achievement – it’s hers too,” he said.
He also credited Hyderabad city for giving him the wings to fly toward his dreams, saying the environment here has been pivotal in shaping his journey toward a brighter future.
Sohel’s story is a shining example of how talent, grit, and the right opportunities can transform lives. With this remarkable offer, he not only secures his future but also becomes an inspiration to thousands of aspiring engineers across the country.
🎉 Mana Santha 2025 – Mahilaa Abhivruddhi Neti Avasaram – Women Empowerment is the Need of the Hour concluded on a powerful and positive note! 💐 The event stood as a vibrant platform to honor the strength, creativity, and resilience of women. 🛍️ With over [insert number] stalls featuring handmade products, organic goods, handlooms, and food, the marketplace was alive with color and purpose. 🙏 Heartfelt thanks to the stallholders, visitors, and our enthusiastic volunteers – your energy made all the difference. 🎨 Today’s creative workshops like Seed Ball Making, Art & Crafts, and Eco-friendly Activities sparked imagination and awareness. 🌟 A special note of gratitude to Sri Krishna Reddy Garu for being the driving force behind this successful initiative. 🤝 The festival became a space for connection – where entrepreneurs shared, collaborated, and grew together. 📸 The smiles, the stories, the sales – every moment captured the spirit of community and empowerment. 💪 Mana Santha – A Festival with Purpose proudly carried forward the mission of Vocal for Local. 🌿 It wasn’t just a mela – it was a movement toward sustainable, inclusive, and women-led growth. 🌈 We are deeply grateful for the support of our community and partners who believed in this vision. 📢 From the entire Mana Santha team – Thank You! Let’s carry this energy forward and meet again, stronger than ever!
Literature, folklore, cultural roots & craft communities
🎯 A true village-to-home market experience.
🍛 Special Farm-to-Table Lunch – ₹150 Only!
Enjoy a nutritious and delicious meal made with organic desi rice, rooted in tradition and packed with goodness.
🙌 Gratitude & Acknowledgement
We are proud to celebrate the 1st successful anniversary of Mulam Santha! A heartfelt thank you to the incredible Badruka Volunteers for your continued support and effort.
🧭 Join the Movement – Go Back to the Roots
Bring your friends and family! Reconnect with nature, tradition, and healthy living through this one-of-a-kind experience.
Even as artificial intelligence continues to evolve rapidly, Google CEO Sundar Pichai emphasized that human talent remains central to innovation. Speaking at the Bloomberg Technology Conference in San Francisco, Pichai said Alphabet, Google’s parent company, will continue to expand its engineering workforce at least into 2026.
“We expect to grow from our current engineering base even into next year,” said Pichai. “It allows us to do more with the opportunity space. I just view this as making engineers dramatically more productive—getting a lot of the mundane aspects out of what they do.”
While U.S. tech giants like Microsoft have trimmed staff this year to offset the enormous investments required to lead in AI, Pichai stressed that Google remains committed to hiring. Google itself has undergone rounds of layoffs in recent years to redirect resources toward key growth areas, particularly AI.
Still, Pichai struck a balanced tone—optimistic about AI’s potential, yet realistic about its current limitations.
“While AI excels in areas like coding, the models continue to make basic mistakes,” he noted. “So are we on an absolute path to AGI [artificial general intelligence]? I don’t think anyone can say for sure.”
AGI refers to the long-term goal of building AI systems that match or exceed human performance across a wide range of tasks. Pichai acknowledged the ambition but cautioned against overconfidence.
Meanwhile, as Google incorporates more AI-generated content into its search results, some publishers have raised concerns that AI answers might reduce web traffic to their sites. Pichai responded by reaffirming Google’s commitment to maintaining a healthy ecosystem for content creators.
“Compared to most companies in the world, we take care to design an experience that showcases links,” he said. “We took a long time testing AI overviews and prioritized approaches that drive high-quality traffic out. I’m confident that many years from now, that’s how Google will continue to operate.”
Safeguard your family’s health while supporting nature, dairy traditions, literature, craftsmen and indigenous livelihoods—all in one vibrant marketplace.
Panchagavya & Ayurvedic remedies with expert consultations
Special Programmes
Chief Guests • Dr P. V. Rao – Former Dean, PJTSAU; Chairman, Ekalavya Grameena Vikas Foundation • Sri T. Nagaraju – Natural-farming master trainer, Basampalli
Felicitation Honouring Guruswamy Balakrishna for completing a foot pilgrimage from Kashmir to Kanyakumari with sacred cow Ridhi Gomata.
🌿 𝐌𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐦 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐚 📅 𝟏𝟗-𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥-𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 🌱 Mulam Santha – A Step Towards a Healthier Way of Life We are delighted to announce the 10th of 𝐌𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐦 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐚, jointly organized by 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐚 𝐁𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐢 and the 𝐂𝐒𝐑 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, with a shared vision to restore our traditional and wholesome way of living. 🧘♀️🌾 🛍️ Mulam Santha is not just a market — it’s a movement for change. It brings together: 🥦 Organic agricultural products 🍪 Traditional snacks made from millets 🧶 Authentic handicrafts — all aimed at promoting a sustainable and healthy lifestyle. 🎯 Main Objectives of Mulam Santha: ✅ Provide unadulterated, organic produce directly from farmers to consumers ✅ Ensure fair prices for farmers 👨🌾 ✅ Offer handmade crafts at affordable rates 🎨, preserving our rich artisan heritage In today’s world, where most food is adulterated 🍔❌ and lifestyle diseases are on the rise, this event is an effort to reconnect with our roots and prioritize health and tradition. 💪🏽🫶🏽 📍 Venue: 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢 𝐊𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐧𝐚 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐥, 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐤𝐚 🤝 Organized by: 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐚 𝐁𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐢 & 𝐂𝐒𝐑 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 🎙️ Key Organizers: – 👤 𝐊𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐧𝐚 𝐑𝐞𝐝𝐝𝐲 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐮 (Founder, CSR Memorial Foundation) – 👩💼 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐲𝐚 𝐊𝐚𝐥𝐚 (President, Grama Bharathi) – 👥 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐦 𝐆𝐨𝐮𝐝, 𝐊𝐚𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐫 𝐆𝐨𝐮𝐝, 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐦 ✨ Come, support our farmers, celebrate our culture, and take home the taste of tradition!
NASA Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore Return to Earth After Extended Space Mission
NASA astronauts Sunita “Suni” Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore have successfully returned to Earth after spending an unexpected nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Initially slated for a short eight-day mission, their stay was significantly prolonged due to technical challenges with their return spacecraft. Their safe arrival marks the conclusion of a historic mission that tested their endurance and the resilience of NASA’s spaceflight operations.
Extended Stay Due to Technical Issues
Williams and Wilmore originally launched on June 5, 2024, as part of Boeing’s Starliner crewed test mission, intended to evaluate the spacecraft’s capabilities. However, a series of propulsion system anomalies and docking complications meant that Starliner could not safely return them to Earth. As a result, NASA decided to extend their mission and integrate them into the ISS crew until an alternative plan was put in place.
During their time on the ISS, Williams and Wilmore adapted to the prolonged mission by taking on additional responsibilities. They assisted in multiple scientific experiments, routine maintenance, and spacewalks, contributing to ongoing research on long-duration spaceflight.
Return to Earth Aboard SpaceX’s Dragon Freedom
After months of delay and extensive planning, the astronauts finally departed the ISS aboard SpaceX’s Dragon Freedom capsule. Their journey back to Earth was completed on March 18, 2025, with a successful splashdown off the coast of Florida near Tallahassee at 5:57 p.m. ET. The re-entry process, which lasted approximately 17 hours, was closely monitored by NASA and SpaceX ground teams to ensure the astronauts’ safety.
Upon landing, Williams and Wilmore were extracted from the capsule and taken for immediate medical evaluations, as prolonged exposure to microgravity can lead to muscle atrophy, bone density loss, and other physiological changes.
Achievements and Contributions Aboard the ISS
During their extended stay, Williams and Wilmore played a critical role in advancing space research. Some of their key contributions include:
Conducting over 150 scientific experiments related to microgravity’s effects on human health, plant growth, and material sciences.
Performing spacewalks for maintenance and upgrades to the ISS, ensuring the continued functionality of critical systems.
Testing new technologies for upcoming deep-space missions, including tools that could be used for future Moon and Mars explorations.
Assisting in spacecraft operations and training new astronauts joining the ISS crew over the course of their mission.
Williams, a veteran astronaut, accumulated a total of 608 days in space over her three missions, making her one of the most experienced female astronauts in NASA’s history. Wilmore also set new records, strengthening his expertise in piloting and operations.
Health and Rehabilitation Post-Return
After their return, both astronauts were transported to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston for extensive medical evaluations. The rehabilitation process for astronauts after extended missions typically includes:
Physical therapy and strength training to counteract muscle weakening caused by prolonged exposure to microgravity.
Nutritional assessments and bone density tests to monitor long-term health effects.
Neurological evaluations to analyze spatial orientation and balance readjustment.
NASA scientists are particularly interested in studying the effects of prolonged space travel on Williams and Wilmore, as these findings will be crucial for future deep-space missions, including NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon and eventually send astronauts to Mars.
Public and Political Reactions
The delay in their return drew significant public attention, with many closely following NASA’s plans for their safe retrieval. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and former U.S. President Donald Trump criticized NASA’s previous handling of the situation, suggesting that the delays were due to bureaucratic inefficiencies. However, NASA officials maintained that the astronauts were never in danger and that every precaution was taken to ensure their safe return.
The successful completion of this mission highlights the importance of collaboration between NASA and private aerospace companies, such as SpaceX and Boeing, in shaping the future of space exploration. As commercial spaceflight becomes more prominent, lessons from missions like this will help refine spacecraft technology and mission planning.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Human Spaceflight
With Williams and Wilmore safely back on Earth, NASA now shifts its focus to future missions. The Artemis program continues preparations for its next crewed Moon landing, and Boeing’s Starliner program will undergo further testing and redesigns to address the technical failures encountered during this mission.
For Williams and Wilmore, their journey does not end here. They will continue working with NASA in training and mission development roles, helping to prepare the next generation of astronauts for even more ambitious space explorations.
The resilience and adaptability demonstrated by these astronauts serve as a testament to the human spirit of exploration, paving the way for a new era of space travel.
