DRDO’s Dr. Panigrahi: ‘We are leading towards… a robot-centric autonomous system… no one’s army’.
Dr SP Panigrahi, senior scientist at DRDO’s Center for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR), elaborated on the future of warfare, which he terms ‘Army of Anyone’. In this future, conflicts will be dominated by robot-centric, autonomous systems rather than human soldiers. Dr. Panigrahi explains that the domain of warfare has expanded beyond land, sea and air to space, cyberspace and the electromagnetic spectrum. The primary objective of war has also shifted from territorial gain to ‘cognitive warfare’, the aim of which is to influence human cognition. He discusses how technologies such as AI-enabled drones, high-endurance underwater vehicles, and intelligent tanks are no longer mere tools, but are becoming autonomous, cognitive machines capable of making their own decisions. The conversation also discussed the development of AI, robotics and the huge, largely untapped potential of the human brain to innovate beyond machines.
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Bihar Elections 2025: More than 60% voting in the first phase, highest in Begusarai
This special report is based on the high-stakes first phase of Bihar Assembly Elections 2025, where the voting percentage had reached 60.13% till 5 pm. The analysis includes insights from political expert Amitabh Tiwari, who helps understand what these crucial numbers could mean for the state’s political landscape. Key districts in focus include Begusarai, once called the ‘Leningrad of Bihar’, which saw the highest turnout, and Patna, which saw the lowest turnout. The program explores whether the high turnout is indicative of an anti-incumbency wave or a sign of strengthening of support for the ruling NDA alliance, comprising the BJP and JD(U), against the Grand Alliance, comprising the RJD and Congress.
Bihar’s high-stakes polls: Heavy turnout in phase 1 sparks debate
This special report focuses on the first phase of Bihar Assembly elections, where voting took place in 121 constituencies. Major themes emerging from the day included significant turnout of 60.13% till 5 pm, peaceful conduct of elections and major participation of women voters. A central question is what the high turnout indicates, as one analyst put it, ‘Who benefits from it, what is the message here, is it an anti-incumbency wave, a sign of change or is it essentially a tick for the Nitish model of governance.’ This election is a big test for the current government led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the opposition alliance. The results on November 14 will show whether the high participation signals a vote for change or support for the current leadership.
After being declared dead, Chhattisgarh man goes home alive
Pranab Venpati: Disabled man’s ‘I have no dignity’ comment inspires India’s affordable bionic arm
Pranab Venpati, Founder and CEO, Makers Hive, recalls the journey of creating KALARM, India’s first fully functional bionic arm. Venpathy shared the story of a disabled man who told him, ‘I don’t even have basic dignity in life and you are talking about big fancy words like dreams’, which became a driving force for the project. The initial inspiration came from the paradox of Indian soldiers who lost limbs in border conflicts and received artificial limbs made in China. Developed in Hyderabad, KALARM is priced at a fraction of imported bionic hands, which can cost between ₹15 lakh to ₹70 lakh. Inspired by the frugal innovation of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam and ISRO, the company spent much less on R&D than its global peers. Venapathi also revealed he is working on a new, affordable device to prevent tremors for Parkinson’s patients. This venture is supported by government grants from bodies such as the Department of Science and Technology.
