International Young Scientist Awards

Two-dimensional (2D) materials, such as graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), and MXenes, have garnered significant attention due to their remarkable mechanical, electronic, and thermal properties. However, their application potential in diverse fields, including electronics, energy, and biomedicine, is closely linked to their stability under biological and environmental conditions. Understanding the degradation behavior of 2D materials is critical to ensuring their reliable and sustainable use. Biological Degradation: When exposed to biological environments, 2D materials interact with biomolecules, enzymes, and cells, leading to structural and chemical changes. For example, graphene oxide and TMDs may undergo oxidation or enzymatic degradation when exposed to reactive oxygen species (ROS) or specific enzymes like myeloperoxidase. These interactions can alter their morphology, electrical conductivity, and surface chemistry, potentially limiting their long-term biocompatibi...

  Indian glaciers in the Himalayas, often referred to as the " water towers of Asia, " are retreating at an unprecedented pace due to the impacts of climate change. Scientists and policymakers voiced their concerns at the United Nations, highlighting the alarming acceleration in glacial melting driven by rising global temperatures, increased greenhouse gas emissions, and local environmental factors such as deforestation and urbanization. The retreat of these glaciers has far-reaching implications. Millions of people depend on the glacier-fed rivers of the Himalayan region, including the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Indus, for drinking water, agriculture, and hydroelectric power. As the glaciers shrink, water availability becomes increasingly erratic, leading to potential droughts during dry seasons and floods during the monsoon. Additionally, the rapid melting contributes to sea-level rise and increases the risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), threatening downstream com...

  The year 2024 was a landmark period for India in science and technology, with achievements spanning diverse fields such as space exploration, renewable energy, healthcare, and artificial intelligence . These accomplishments not only showcased India’s technical prowess but also underscored its commitment to addressing global challenges through innovation. As India strides confidently into 2025, the nation’s aspirations in science and technology are defined by its growing ambition to lead the world in innovation, sustainability, and equitable growth. With a population exceeding 1.4 billion and a burgeoning economy, India’s scientific and technological expectations are intertwined with its developmental goals and global responsibilities. Driving Self-Reliance through Innovation India’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) initiative has set the tone for technological self-sufficiency. By 2025, the country expects significant progress in sectors like advanced manufacturing, a...

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing industries, driving efficiencies, and unlocking unprecedented opportunities. To maximize its potential, integrating AI development with Concurrent Design Engineering (CDE) offers a transformative approach. CDE emphasizes parallel processes and cross-disciplinary collaboration, enabling faster, more innovative solutions that align with complex, dynamic requirements. By embedding AI in the CDE framework, organizations can streamline product design and innovation processes. AI algorithms can analyze vast datasets, predict design outcomes, and optimize decision-making , reducing the iterative cycles traditionally required in design engineering. Machine learning models integrated into CDE platforms empower engineers to simulate, test, and refine concepts in real-time, fostering a seamless interplay between ideation and execution. Moreover, the synergy of AI and CDE accelerates time-to-market while maintaining high-quality standards . AI-driven...

China’s surging electric vehicle (EV) output has ignited demand for automotive chips, but domestic firms remain reliant on foreign suppliers for more than 90 per cent of their needs, according to analysts and industry insiders. Officials from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and the Development Research Centre of the State Council have repeatedly underscored China’s low self-sufficiency in automotive semiconductors. “Currently, the self-sufficiency rate of automotive chips in China is less than 10 per cent,” according to Luo Daojun, deputy director of the Institute of Components and Materials at MIIT, who was a keynote speaker at several industry conferences this year. Wang Qing, deputy director at the Development Research Centre, told another conference last year that China’s dependency on foreign auto chip suppliers was as high as 95 per cent. “For computing and control chips, the self-sufficiency rate is less than 1 per cent, while for power and memory c...

  The government on Friday launched a satellite-based agricultural decision support system to provide farmers with critical data for crop management and productivity enhancement. Minister of State for Agriculture Bhagirath Choudhary unveiled the Krishi-Decision Support System (Krishi-DSS), a geospatial platform that will offer real-time information on crop conditions, weather patterns, water resources, and soil health. "This platform is a new milestone for farmers amid growing climate challenges," Choudhary said at the launch event. Krishi-DSS, developed using technology similar to the government's Gati Shakti initiative, will utilize satellite imagery to deliver early warnings about potential disasters such as pest attacks and extreme weather events. The system will aid in crop mapping, monitoring, and promoting crop rotation and diversification. It will provide data on crop patterns across regions and track crop conditions throughout various growth stages. Agriculture S...