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NEW DELHI: Indian Institutes of Technology and IISc are unlikely to break into the list of world’s top 50 universities unless they run full-fledged medical colleges, IIT-Madras director Professor V Kamakoti has said, revealing that the institution is considering setting up a medical college to overcome this gap in its portfolio.In an exclusive interaction with TOI, Kamakoti said IIT-M has already begun internal discussions on establishing a medical college, which would be integrated with its engineering and science departments, as part of its long-term vision, and is looking for a large hospital.Further, the institution has planned a global outreach through its proposed research centres in Dubai, Malaysia, and Germany and a sustainability campus in Puducherry, another important parameter for global rankings that Indian institutions lag on. In what’s an unconventional move, IIT-M has formalised a platform to help its students prepare for civil services exams.“If you want to come into top 50 (in global rankings), you must have a medical school,” Kamakoti stressed, adding, “The top-ranked universities all have global campuses, deep-research collaborations, and, critically, medical schools”.He added: “This is not just about rankings — it’s about enabling convergence in areas like AI in healthcare, biomedical engineering, and public health. A medical college will amplify our research depth and societal impact”.On the plan for developing a sustainability-focused campus in Puducherry, the director said, “This campus will be a living laboratory for climate, water, and energy research”. Explaining the move, he added: “Sustainability is now a global benchmark in rankings. That’s why we’ve started School of Sustainability under School for Interdisciplinary Studies. It’s aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Every project must resonate with these goals — from green tech to zero-emission housing. Auroville collaborations in Puducherry are a part of this vision”.To expand global footprint, the institution will go for research collaborations and set up satellite centres in Dubai, Malaysia, and Germany. These will encourage Indian researchers to work on global problems and offer Indian students cross-border learning.“It’s called IITM Global,” Kamakoti said, detailing the vision behind the international outreach. “If you solve an issue for India, you’ve solved it for the world. Our IITM Global will take these to Malaysia, Germany, Dubai (by this academic year), and beyond.”Kamakoti also highlighted IIT-M’s initiative to nurture engineers for civil services. To enable this, institute has created Pragati, a platform to guide and support UPSC aspirants on campus. “We want our students to start early — during BTech or MTech — with structured preparation, peer interactions, and access to faculty and civil servants who’ve walked that path,” he said.“We’re not just a tech school anymore — we’re shaping India’s future in several ways,” Kamakoti summed up.

NAGPUR: Chief Justice of India (CJI) Bhushan Gavai on Thursday cautioned against judicial overreach, stressing that though judicial activism is bound to stay, but it should not be allowed to turn into judicial adventurism or judicial terrorism.Speaking at a grand felicitation by the District Bar Association (DBA) on the premises of the District and Sessions Court in Nagpur, Gavai emphasised the importance of maintaining constitutional boundaries between the three organs of democracy.“Every institution must function within the limits drawn by the Constitution. Parliament frames laws, the executive implements them, and the judiciary ensures they comply with constitutional principles. When the Parliament or assemblies enact laws that violate the Constitution of India, the judiciary can step in. But if the judiciary tries to interfere unnecessarily in the functioning of the other two pillars, that must be avoided,” he said.The event was graced by Supreme Court justices Dipankar Datta, Prasanna Varale, and Atul Chandurkar, along with Bombay high court chief justice Alok Aradhe, senior administrative judge of Nagpur bench Nitin Sambre, senior judge Anil Kilor, and others. Justice Gavai’s mother Kamaltai and wife Tejaswini also shared the dais.Recalling several milestones of his career, Gavai recounted his early reluctance to practise law and how the teachings of Dr BR Ambedkar and his father RS Gavai, a stalwart in social and political spheres, shaped his life. “From my childhood, I was exposed to Dr Ambedkar’s ideals. My father would often say that one day his son would be the CJI, but sadly, he isn’t here to see it. I am grateful that my mother is alive to witness this moment,” he said emotionally.Paying rich tributes to Dr Ambedkar, he called the Indian Constitution a unique document. “It ensures social, financial, and political justice, along with liberty of thought and equality. I have always said that whatever I am today, it is because of the Constitution and Dr Ambedkar’s vision,” he said.Gavai also recalled unveiling Dr Ambedkar’s statue and portrait at the Nagpur bench when he was the administrative judge. “But more than his portrait, what we need are his thoughts. They must guide us,” he remarked.Describing the Nagpur bar as a secular and inclusive institution, he lauded DBA for never discriminating on the basis of caste and religion. He congratulated DBA secretary Manish Randive, and president Roshan Bagade, recalling how the latter became the association’s first backward-class president. “Many small communities have produced lawyers today. I’m proud to be a member of this bar,” he said.Gavai revisited significant cases, including a PIL he filed on behalf of a student from the Mehtar community in 1985, which led to a landmark high court decision allowing the student’s admission — a moment he termed more satisfying than any financial gain. He also recalled being part of a plea that saved lakhs of slum dwellers from eviction in Mumbai after securing a stay in the Supreme Court within eight days.Highlighting the judiciary’s constructive role, he credited public interest litigations (PILs) at the Nagpur bench for facilitating the new district court building and helping regulate slum settlements on zudpi jungle lands, safeguarding the right to livelihood. “Directive Principles and Fundamental Rights were carefully considered in these decisions,” he noted.Gavai also fondly remembered his days as a DBA member, sharing anecdotes with justice Sambre and others during bar elections. He acknowledged legal luminaries from Nagpur like ex CJI Mohammed Hidayatullah, Bhausaheb Bobde, and VR Manohar, calling them ‘legal eagles’ and ‘gifts from Nagpur to the judiciary’. “Like justice Datta said, my natural choice should be politics, but it was till 1990 before I decided to take up the legal profession,” he said.“My father once told me, ‘You can earn money as a lawyer, but as a judge, you can fulfill Babasaheb Ambedkar’s dream of social and economic upliftment’,” said the CJI, reflecting on his journey. Gavai, who credits his late father, veteran leader Dadasaheb Gavai, for shaping his path, also acknowledged the personal cost of his public role.

NEW DELHI: India has asked China to constructively work towards a “permanent solution” to the border issue under a structured roadmap to bridge trust deficit, de-escalate tensions and rejuvenate the existing mechanism to demarcate it, even as their armies continue to be forward deployed against each other along the frontier for the last five years.Defence minister Rajnath Singh also told his Chinese counterpart, Admiral Dong Jun, on the sidelines of the SCO conclave Thursday that Beijing should understand and respect India’s “principled approach” to defend itself against cross-border terror sponsored by Pakistan, officials told TOI.Rajnath: India, China should not remain stuck in the past Briefing Admiral Dong about the “heinous” Pahalgam massacre and the subsequent Operation Sindoor launched by India against terrorist networks in Pakistan, Singh said both New Delhi and Beijing should “avoid adding new complexities” to their bilateral relationship. This came in the backdrop of Pakistan using a wide array of Chinese weapons, including J-10 fighters firing the PL-15 beyond visual range air-to-air missiles, against India during the cross-border hostilities from May 7 to 10. Under their deep military collusiveness, China is now also going to supply Pakistan with at least 40 J-35A fifth-generation stealth jets and HQ-19 long-range air defence missile systems. The hour-long meeting, however, mainly focussed on the need to maintain peace and tranquillity along the 3,488-km Line of Actual Control (LAC), with Singh stressing the need for “solving the complex issues through a structured roadmap of permanent engagement and de-escalation”. India’s repeated use of ‘permanent’ represents a new push for resolving the decades-old festering border dispute. Acknowledging efforts by both sides to bring back a “semblance of normalcy” in bilateral ties, Singh also put forward a four-point plan to put the overall relationship on an upward trajectory, officials told TOI. This involves both sides first strictly adhering to the plan that led to troop disengagement at the two remaining face-off sites at Depsang and Demchok in eastern Ladakh last Oct, which has reduced the risk of any inadvertent escalation. They should now move forward to the next steps of de-escalation and de-induction of troops from their forward deployments along the LAC. The two countries should also accelerate efforts to achieve the goal of demarcation and delimitation of the border and register concrete progress in the existing special representatives (SR) level mechanism to achieve a fair and mutually-acceptable solution to the boundary question and other issues. The forward momentum in bilateral ties has gained ground since national security advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi discussed various issues under the SR mechanism in Beijing last Dec for the first time since 2019. “Singh said India and China should not remain stuck in the past. He called for bridging the trust deficit created after the border standoff in 2020 by taking action on the ground,” an official said. “The two ministers agreed to continue consultations at various levels to achieve progress on issues related to disengagement, de-escalation, border management and eventual de-limitation through existing mechanisms,” he added.

MUMBAI: Uddhav and Raj Thackeray will hold a joint protest march of their parties here on July 5 against what they allege is the imposition of Hindi in Maharashtra’s schools from Class 1 through the new three-language policy. This will be the first time that the two will come together on a political platform after Raj’s decision to quit Shiv Sena to form MNS nearly two decades ago.There has been speculation of a possible reunion of the estranged cousins for the coming civic polls; the protest march is being seen as the first step in that direction.Initially, Uddhav and Raj had on Thursday announced two separate marches: on July 6 and 7 respectively. Speculation rife about Uddhav, Raj joining hands for BMC polls According to Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, Raj dialled him Friday and said it would not be good to hold two marches for the Marathi language in this way and a joint movement could have a big impact. Raut said he then spoke to Uddhav, who agreed “without hesitation.” The march will mostly be from Girgaum Chowpatty to Azad Maidan. Both parties have said it will be non-political and no party flags will be displayed.MNS functionary Sandeep Deshpande and Sena (UBT) MLA Varun Sardesai also met on Friday at a restaurant in Dadar (W), further fuelling speculation that the parties would come together not just for the protest but for the BMC polls too.Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray also met Deshpande at an event on Friday, where they greeted each other; Deshpande has fought the 2024 assembly polls against Aaditya from Worli and lost.Marathi language expert Deepak Pawar, who had called for a protest on July 7, said Marathi language activists will join the July 5 protest and continue protests on July 7 if govt doesn’t roll back its three-language policy. The opposition and several groups have criticized the state govt, alleging it is trying to impose Hindi as the third language, though the govt has said Hindi is not mandatory. After issuing a GR on June 17 on the third-language policy, the govt took two steps back this week, first by saying it would have wide-ranging consultations before finalizing the policy and second by saying the third language would be taught via the play-way method, only orally, in Class 1 and 2, with no textbooks for students and no tests or exams.Raut said Raj initially told him he had no idea about the UBT Sena’s march. When he discussed Raj’s message of having one march with Uddhav Thackeray, Raut said that “he said he too was not in favour of a separate march but as July 6 is Ashadhi Ekadashi, it would be difficult to reach the people. I conveyed this to Raj Thackeray. After talking to Uddhav Thackeray, we suggested July 5 as the date. Raj Thackeray agreed to it after talking to his colleagues… This march will be without any political agenda. Through it, govt will see the strength of the Marathi people.”Education minister Dada Bhuse had met Raj on Thursday to explain the govt’s stand, but Raj had said the govt’s view wasn’t acceptable. Deshpande said, “Raj Thackeray took the initiative and called Sanjay Raut and the date of the march was decided. We are inviting all parties, including Marathi-loving office-bearers of BJP and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena. “It’s a good thing the Thackerays are keeping aside political differences and coming together as Marathi manoos. They will decide if they will come together politically. For now, we are focusing on the march. “The protest will change the political direction of Maharashtra. The protest is not Raj or Uddhav Thackeray’s, it belongs to the Marathi manoos.”Sardesai said there was dialogue between Sena (UBT) and MNS. “We are asking everyone to join the protest, so we met to plan the march,” he said.MNS functionaries said they were reaching out to Congress, NCP and NCP (SP) netas along with other parties and organisations to invite them for the march.

US President Donald Trump (left) and Canadian PM Mark Carney (AP)

US President Donald Trump came down hard on Canada over its decision to impose a Digital Services Tax (DST) on American technology companies, calling it a “direct and blatant attack” on the United States. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump announced the immediate suspension of all trade discussions with Canada on Friday.Citing what he called excessive tariffs on American agricultural exports, Trump claimed that Canada has long been a “very difficult country to trade with.”“For years, they have imposed tariffs on dairy products that have cost our farmers up to 400%,” Trump wrote.He further accused Canada of following the European Union, which has also implemented similar digital taxation policies that are currently under discussion with the US government. “They are obviously copying the European Union, which has done the same thing,” he said.In a sharply worded statement, Trump declared that the US would soon impose tariffs on Canadian goods. “We will let Canada know the tariff that they will be paying to do business with the United States of America within the next seven day period,” the post warned.Canada’s digital services tax, first proposed years ago, is aimed at ensuring that large multinational tech firms, many of which are US based, pay taxes on revenues generated from Canadian users. The policy has drawn criticism from US lawmakers and trade officials who argue it disproportionately targets American companies like Google, Amazon, and Meta.While the Trump administration has been in talks with Ottawa over trade, this statement marks a clear break, signalling a return to his combative “America first” stance.There was no immediate response from Canadian officials, but trade experts warn that the sudden halt in dialogue could escalate into a wider economic dispute, potentially affecting billions in cross-border commerce.

BENGALURU: He was the kind of cadet who didn’t just learn to fly — he belonged in the sky. Years before Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla became the first Indian to board the International Space Station (ISS), he was already turning heads in the cockpit of a Super Dimona aircraft at the National Defence Academy (NDA). Back then, he was just another cadet from the Hunter Squadron — call sign not yet famous, dreams still earthbound. But to the instructor watching closely from the co-pilot’s seat, one thing was clear: the young man had wings.“He had a natural flair for flying,” recalled Group Captain (retd) Anupam Banerjee, Shukla’s first flying instructor at NDA. “In just the first few sorties, we could tell. Some cadets struggle with the feel of the controls or spatial awareness. Not Shukla. He was confident, intuitive — a very natural flier.”It was 20 years ago. The aircraft was an Austrian-built HK-36TC Super Dimona, used for ab-initio flying exposure at NDA before cadets move on to formal pilot training at the Air Force Academy. Shux, as Banerjee recalled, aced those initial flights — an early indication of the career that lay ahead: Jaguars, test pilot school, and finally, a ride to low-Earth orbit on Axiom-4 (Ax-4).But what truly stood out, Banerjee said, wasn’t just skill. “He was sincere, extremely hardworking, and that’s a rare combination when paired with ability. I told him then — you’ll go far if you keep this up.”Years later, when Shukla was preparing for spaceflight, he sent Banerjee a message. He hadn’t forgotten the words. “He told me he remembered what I’d said: that it’s not enough to be a good flier or officer — you must be a good human being. That stayed with him. And when he told me that, it meant a lot.”Banerjee had flown with Shukla only seven or eight times, but the connection endured. “He always stayed in touch. Not many do. Whenever he reached a big moment in life, he’d send a message. That says a lot about the man he’s become.”Before launch, the two had one last conversation. “I knew he was about to enter quarantine, so I wished him luck. I told him life had already prepared him for what was coming. And that, a part of me was going to space with him.”Watching Shukla dock with the ISS, Banerjee says he felt something beyond pride. “It’s still unbelievable to me — that someone I trained, someone who first flew with me, is now in space. It’s not just about reaching orbit. It’s about who he is as a person. That matters even more.”In a way, Shukla’s story is a flight path traced not just in the sky, but in character. “When your students do well, you feel proud. But when they turn out to be fine human beings too — that’s greater joy.”So yes, Shux may now be astronaut number 634. But long before he floated weightlessly in a pressurised module, he was already soaring — on skill, sincerity, and the sort of quiet steel that can’t be taught.