VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html Indian-origin Nasa astronaut Anil Menon embarks on maiden 6.5-hour ISS spacewalk Quote of the day by Keanu Reeves: ‘Grief changes shape, but it never ends,’ and why healing is not the same as forgetting Eleven national-level hackathons and innovation challenges have so far resulted in 62 AI prototypes. NEW DELHI: The Centre has selected 20 indigenous foundation-model proposals for support and sanctioned over 93 lakh hours of subsidised computing capacity as part of its effort to reduce India’s dependence on foreign artificial intelligence infrastructure and technologies.In a written reply in Lok Sabha on Wednesday, minister of state for electronics and information technology Jitin Prasada said the proposals were selected from 506 applications received under the IndiaAI Mission. They include 12 large multimodal models and eight small language models, with the intellectual property remaining with the developers.Among the models already launched are Sarvam AI’s 30-billion and 105-billion parameter models and Indus, Gnani.AI’s speech-to-speech model, BharatGen’s multilingual models and Avataar AI’s video-generation model.The IndiaAI Mission, approved in March 2024 with an outlay of Rs 10,371.92 crore over five years, is aimed at creating domestic capabilities in computing, foundation models, applications, research and responsible AI.The government has empanelled 15 computing service providers and approved subsidised computing support for 237 projects, involving 93.18 lakh GPU hours. It has also issued a purchase order for a high-performance AI computing system of around 1.1 exaflops at the National Informatics Centre’s data centre in Shastri Park, Delhi.Eleven national-level hackathons and innovation challenges have so far resulted in 62 AI prototypes, of which 20 have been deployed in public-sector institutions. The government has also approved 58 AI centres of excellence across states and Union territories. Of these, work has begun on 22 centres in 13 states and UTs.Another 13 projects have been selected to work on AI safety issues such as bias, privacy, algorithm audits, explainability and machine unlearning.Prasada said India was also strengthening the wider technology ecosystem through the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems, which has an outlay of Rs 3,660 crore. Twenty-five technology innovation hubs have been established at academic institutions in areas including AI, robotics, cybersecurity, quantum technology and fintech.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesOn semiconductors, the minister said 12 manufacturing projects involving committed investments of Rs 1.64 lakh crore had been approved under the Semicon India programme, with three having started commercial production.The Union Cabinet approved Semicon 2.0 on July 15 with an outlay of Rs 1.27 lakh crore. The programme will support Indian-designed chips, semiconductor fabrication and packaging units, and the production of materials, gases and equipment required by the industry.The government acknowledged that India’s AI computing ecosystem currently depends on imported graphics processing units procured through approved service providers. It said the IndiaAI and semiconductor missions were intended to progressively build domestic capabilities across the AI supply chain.Citing Stanford’s Global AI Vibrancy Report of November 2025, the reply said India ranked third globally in AI competitiveness and was the second-largest contributor to AI projects on GitHub.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorManash Pratim GohainManash Pratim Gohain is a seasoned journalist with over two decades at The Times of India, where he has built a rich body of work spanning education policy, politics, and governance. Renowned for his incisive coverage of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, accreditation reforms, and skilling initiatives, he has also reported on student politics, urban policy, and social movements. His political reportage—both reflective and news-driven—adds depth to his writing, bridging policy with public impact. Through his 2,500 articles and related outlets, he has emerged as a trusted voice in national discourse, particularly in linking education reform to broader societal change.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBombay HC Convicts Tehelka Founder Tarun Tejpal In 2013 Sexual Assault Case; Reverses 2021 AcquittalThe Bankipur Effect: How One Bypoll Has Put BJP’s Upper-Caste Strategy Under The SpotlightSupreme Court Frees Man After 22 Years In Jail, Overturns Wrong ConvictionJPSC-JSSC Protesters Hold Tiranga March In Ranchi Ahead Of Aug 10 Assembly Gherao Over Leak RowKanpur-Lucknow Expressway Toll Suspended After Road Slippage, NHAI Acts Against Contractor’It’s My Moral Call To Be Here’: Author Nilotpal Mrinal Joins Ranchi Student ProtestMeta CEO Mark Zuckerberg Apologises Over PM Modi Video Row, Admits Paid Content BoostingJharkhand Students Display Mark Sheets, Allege Irregularities In JPSC-JSSC Evaluation’Merit Can’t Beat Money’: Jharkhand Aspirant On Hunger Strike Demand Strong JPSC-JSSC Reforms’I’m A Farmer’s Son, I Can’t Buy Papers’: In JPSC-JSSC Exam Leak, Students Demand CBI Probe123PhotostoriesNot everything you were taught was meant to set you free: 8 beliefs every woman needs to unlearn to finally live life on her own terms5 simple ways to reheat pizza so it tastes fresh again: Which method works best and why5 subtle signs the universe is preparing you for a new beginningInside Nagma Mirajkar’s dreamy Mumbai home: A massive living room, a balcony with stunning views and more10 money habits you should learn in your 20s to build long-term wealth15000-year-old bones and teeth reveal what humans ate before agricultureFrom tiger cubs to penguin chicks: 7 incredible places to witness baby animals in the wildSuriya says the secret to his 20-year marriage with Jyotika is surprisingly simple: ‘Keep loving every day’Why Indians eat pickle with every meal: Is there actually a reason?Is 10,000 steps really necessary? Doctor explains whether 6,000 steps are enough for a healthy heart and what science actually says123Hot PicksSaurav DasDelhi rainAbhijeet DipkeRRB ALP CBT 2 answer keyTN Agriculture BudgetTASMAC OnlineAnkur WarikooUPI transactionsGold rate todayTop TrendingAkhilesh YadavNagpur Rape CaseAbhijeet DipkeTasmac Liquor Online PurchaseJPSC ProtestNagpur Rape CaseDelhi Wife MurderAkhilesh YadavTamil Nadu BudgetPraveen Nettaru Murder Case Updated: Aug 06, 2026, 17:59 IST UGC flags 32 fake universities; warns students against unauthorised EdTech tie-ups and invalid degrees GV Prakash Kumar drops a big hint about Suriya and Mamitha Baiju’s ‘Vishwanath & Sons’: ‘The ending is positive’ Moved to America, Indian professional reveals 5 workplace lessons he learned from the US | ‘Can’t be run in India as per US law’: Govt, Meta discussions continue on algorithms and compliance Who is Sadhana Gollapudi? Row over Indian woman’s dancing video as she’s baselessly accused of visa fraud; attorney says she’s US citizen IIT Guwahati researchers develop portable device that quickly detects toxic metals in water NEW DELHI: Researchers at IIT Guwahati have developed a portable optical sensing device that can quickly detect toxic metals, fluoride and bacteria in water samples, offering a low-cost tool for on-site water-quality checks in rural areas and places without easy access to laboratories.Named E-Eye, the device has detected arsenic, lead, iron, chromium, fluoride and Escherichia coli bacteria during laboratory tests, the institute said on Thursday. The estimated cost of the device is about Rs 3,500, with each sample test costing around Rs 2.The device uses a chemical reaction that produces a coloured compound. The intensity of the colour changes according to the concentration of the contaminant. E-Eye analyses the colour through optical sensing, converts the reading into digital data and displays the concentration of the toxicant.According to the researchers, the portable system can be deployed directly at water sources, unlike conventional testing equipment that generally requires samples to be taken to laboratories. It can also wirelessly transmit test results to water-treatment facilities.The team said E-Eye’s results were comparable with those obtained through standard UV-Visible and Atomic Absorption spectrophotometers. More than 2,700 samples have been tested using the device, it added.“The device operates on the Beer-Lambert law and combines optical sensing with digital electronics to generate accurate quantitative measurements. Our device has been able to successfully detect toxicants such as arsenic, lead, iron, chromium, fluoride, and Escherichia coli bacteria,” said Tapas K Mandal, professor in IIT Guwahati’s department of chemical engineering.The researchers said the device could support water-quality monitoring under the Centre’s Jal Jeevan Mission, which seeks to provide tap water to rural households while ensuring that the water supplied is safe.Apart from drinking water, E-Eye can be used to test environmental and biological samples, vegetables, food products, tea, herbal products, soil and milk, the institute said. It may also help industries monitor liquid effluents containing heavy metals, bacteria and odour-causing compounds.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe research, supported by a grant from the ministry of electronics and information technology, has been published in the IEEE Sensors Journal. The team includes IIT Guwahati professors Mandal and Harshal B Nemade, along with researchers from the institute, KIIT Bhubaneswar and Ramakrishna Mission Residential College, Kolkata.The researchers have set up ENVIONIX Labs Pvt Ltd to commercialise the technology and are exploring an industry partnership for its transfer. They are also working to integrate solar panels and cloud connectivity into the device for remote monitoring and data management.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorManash Pratim GohainManash Pratim Gohain is a seasoned journalist with over two decades at The Times of India, where he has built a rich body of work spanning education policy, politics, and governance. Renowned for his incisive coverage of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, accreditation reforms, and skilling initiatives, he has also reported on student politics, urban policy, and social movements. His political reportage—both reflective and news-driven—adds depth to his writing, bridging policy with public impact. Through his 2,500 articles and related outlets, he has emerged as a trusted voice in national discourse, particularly in linking education reform to broader societal change.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBombay HC Convicts Tehelka Founder Tarun Tejpal In 2013 Sexual Assault Case; Reverses 2021 AcquittalThe Bankipur Effect: How One Bypoll Has Put BJP’s Upper-Caste Strategy Under The SpotlightSupreme Court Frees Man After 22 Years In Jail, Overturns Wrong ConvictionJPSC-JSSC Protesters Hold Tiranga March In Ranchi Ahead Of Aug 10 Assembly Gherao Over Leak RowKanpur-Lucknow Expressway Toll Suspended After Road Slippage, NHAI Acts Against Contractor’It’s My Moral Call To Be Here’: Author Nilotpal Mrinal Joins Ranchi Student ProtestMeta CEO Mark Zuckerberg Apologises Over PM Modi Video Row, Admits Paid Content BoostingJharkhand Students Display Mark Sheets, Allege Irregularities In JPSC-JSSC Evaluation’Merit Can’t Beat Money’: Jharkhand Aspirant On Hunger Strike Demand Strong JPSC-JSSC Reforms’I’m A Farmer’s Son, I Can’t Buy Papers’: In JPSC-JSSC Exam Leak, Students Demand CBI Probe123PhotostoriesNot everything you were taught was meant to set you free: 8 beliefs every woman needs to unlearn to finally live life on her own terms5 simple ways to reheat pizza so it tastes fresh again: Which method works best and why5 subtle signs the universe is preparing you for a new beginningInside Nagma Mirajkar’s dreamy Mumbai home: A massive living room, a balcony with stunning views and more10 money habits you should learn in your 20s to build long-term wealth15000-year-old bones and teeth reveal what humans ate before agricultureFrom tiger cubs to penguin chicks: 7 incredible places to witness baby animals in the wildSuriya says the secret to his 20-year marriage with Jyotika is surprisingly simple: ‘Keep loving every day’Why Indians eat pickle with every meal: Is there actually a reason?Is 10,000 steps really necessary? Doctor explains whether 6,000 steps are enough for a healthy heart and what science actually says123Hot PicksSaurav DasDelhi rainAbhijeet DipkeRRB ALP CBT 2 answer keyTN Agriculture BudgetTASMAC OnlineAnkur WarikooUPI transactionsGold rate todayTop TrendingAkhilesh YadavNagpur Rape CaseAbhijeet DipkeTasmac Liquor Online PurchaseJPSC ProtestNagpur Rape CaseDelhi Wife MurderAkhilesh YadavTamil Nadu BudgetPraveen Nettaru Murder Case Updated: Aug 06, 2026, 18:13 IST ‘Auqib Nabi shouldn’t have come in as a replacement’: Ex-cricketer questions India’s original squad selection Quote of the day by Charlie Chaplin: ‘Nothing is permanent in this wicked world, not even our troubles,’ a timeless and serious life lesson shared by the late comedy legend, highlighting that change is the only constant Living in a small home? These 7 dog breeds are the perfect fit Bible Quote Of The Day, 06 August, 2026: “They may forget, but I will not forget you” – a comforting message from God for those struggling in silence ‘We are not enemies’: Rijiju meets Rahul to break Parliament logjam over Delimitation, FCRA In 1986, Australia eradicated rabbits from an island stripped bare by 150 years of grazing; native vegetation and seabird habitat are returning A courtroom verdict and a fatal crash dominate the day’s news. Tejpal convicted: Bombay HC overturned Tarun Tejpal’s acquittal, convicted him in the 2013 rape case and sentenced him to 10 years in prison.Fatal crash: Atiq Ahmed’s son Abaan and his friend Sonu were killed after their SUV crashed into a divider in Jhansi.No poll plunge: CJP said it will stay out of electoral politics for now and continue functioning as a public pressure group.Soren under fire: Jharkhand job aspirants demanded CM Hemant Soren’s resignation and announced an Assembly gherao on August 10.Tax Bill passed: Lok Sabha cleared the Taxation Amendment Bill without debate amid Opposition protests and disruptions.Here are top 5 news of the day:HC convicts ex-Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal in rape case, sentences him to 10 years imprisonmentThe Bombay high court convicted former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal in a rape case and sentenced him to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment, overturning a trial court’s 2021 acquittal. The case relates to the alleged rape of a colleague in the elevator of a starred hotel in Goa in 2013. The high court was hearing the Goa government’s appeal against the acquittal and granted Tejpal two weeks to surrender. Read full storyAtiq Ahmed’s son Abaan killed in Jhansi road accidentAbaan, the son of deceased gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed, was killed in a road accident in Uttar Pradesh’s Jhansi after the SUV he was travelling in crashed into a divider. His friend Sonu also died in the accident, while three others sustained injuries and were admitted to a medical college for treatment. According to police, the Hyundai Creta was travelling from Prayagraj to Jhansi when the driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle, causing it to hit the divider. Read full storyCJP rules out electoral politics, to continue as pressure groupThe Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) said it will continue to function as a public pressure group instead of entering electoral politics for now. The announcement came after a two-day meeting of the party’s core team in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Founder Abijeet Dipke said the organisation will focus on building a nationwide citizens’ movement on issues such as unemployment, education, transparency, accountability and institutional reforms, while also launching a campaign titled “Kya Bolti Public.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelines” Read full storyJharkhand job aspirants demand Hemant Soren’s resignation amid recruitment protestsStudents protesting alleged irregularities in Jharkhand’s government recruitment process intensified their agitation, demanding chief minister Hemant Soren’s resignation over the government’s failure to address their concerns. A hunger-striking protester called Soren “unfit” to hold office, accusing him of ignoring the demonstrations despite returning from Bengaluru. The protesters also announced plans to gherao the state Assembly on August 10, saying they would continue their agitation until their demands are met. Read full storyLok Sabha clears Taxation Amendment Bill amid opposition protestsThe Lok Sabha passed the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill without any discussion as persistent sloganeering by Opposition members disrupted proceedings. The legislation, which also amends the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, aims to attract greater foreign investment, boost domestic electronics manufacturing and simplify the use of India-based data centres by overseas cloud service providers. Following its passage, the House was adjourned for the day. Read full storyGet the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBombay HC Convicts Tehelka Founder Tarun Tejpal In 2013 Sexual Assault Case; Reverses 2021 AcquittalThe Bankipur Effect: How One Bypoll Has Put BJP’s Upper-Caste Strategy Under The SpotlightSupreme Court Frees Man After 22 Years In Jail, Overturns Wrong ConvictionJPSC-JSSC Protesters Hold Tiranga March In Ranchi Ahead Of Aug 10 Assembly Gherao Over Leak RowKanpur-Lucknow Expressway Toll Suspended After Road Slippage, NHAI Acts Against Contractor’It’s My Moral Call To Be Here’: Author Nilotpal Mrinal Joins Ranchi Student ProtestMeta CEO Mark Zuckerberg Apologises Over PM Modi Video Row, Admits Paid Content BoostingJharkhand Students Display Mark Sheets, Allege Irregularities In JPSC-JSSC Evaluation’Merit Can’t Beat Money’: Jharkhand Aspirant On Hunger Strike Demand Strong JPSC-JSSC Reforms’I’m A Farmer’s Son, I Can’t Buy Papers’: In JPSC-JSSC Exam Leak, Students Demand CBI Probe123PhotostoriesNot everything you were taught was meant to set you free: 8 beliefs every woman needs to unlearn to finally live life on her own terms5 simple ways to reheat pizza so it tastes fresh again: Which method works best and why5 subtle signs the universe is preparing you for a new beginningInside Nagma Mirajkar’s dreamy Mumbai home: A massive living room, a balcony with stunning views and more10 money habits you should learn in your 20s to build long-term wealth15000-year-old bones and teeth reveal what humans ate before agricultureFrom tiger cubs to penguin chicks: 7 incredible places to witness baby animals in the wildSuriya says the secret to his 20-year marriage with Jyotika is surprisingly simple: ‘Keep loving every day’Why Indians eat pickle with every meal: Is there actually a reason?Is 10,000 steps really necessary? Doctor explains whether 6,000 steps are enough for a healthy heart and what science actually says123Hot PicksSaurav DasDelhi rainAbhijeet DipkeRRB ALP CBT 2 answer keyTN Agriculture BudgetTASMAC OnlineAnkur WarikooUPI transactionsGold rate todayTop TrendingAkhilesh YadavNagpur Rape CaseAbhijeet DipkeTasmac Liquor Online PurchaseJPSC ProtestNagpur Rape CaseDelhi Wife MurderAkhilesh YadavTamil Nadu BudgetPraveen Nettaru Murder Case How a curious middle school student turned an everyday ant trail into a scientific breakthrough ‘It was always Ranbir in my head’: Shoojit Sircar reveals why he gave up his Kishore Kumar biopic once he learned the ‘Ramayana’ star was doing Anurag Basu’s version How to clean yellowed white shoes and sneakers: 5 easy ways to brighten them and 5 mistakes to avoid | Surya Grahan 2026: Do’s and Don’ts for Pregnant Women During Eclipse Detroit was built for 2 million people, but its shrinking population turned abandoned lots into one of America’s largest urban farming movements | World News Kentucky family rejects $26 million offer to buy portion of their farm land for ‘poison’ AI data center, says ‘we know we’ve had it’ ‘Akshay Kumar would go running in Ooty at 6am in the morning,’ recalls actor Avinash Wadhawan, says they would share jackets and bikes during their struggling days When a mother camel rejects her newborn, Mongolian herders sing to reunite them; the centuries-old tradition is UNESCO-recognised 8/8 Lion’s Gate Portal 2026: Lucky Manifestation for Every Date of Birth India gets its first woman ‘Top Gun’: Bhawana Kanth scripts IAF history New York recycled almost 5,000 discarded toilets into artificial oyster reefs beneath Jamaica Bay instead of sending them to landfill; know why | World News 10 Indian sailors have been killed in the Middle East while hundreds are still sailing the dangerous waters For thousands of Indian merchant seafarers, the Middle East war has transformed the sea from a workplace into a battlefield.They are not soldiers. They are civilians who keep global trade moving, transporting oil, fuel and essential cargo through some of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, including the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf of Oman and the Red Sea. But since the US-Israel war with Iran erupted on February 28, many have found themselves navigating through missile strikes, drone attacks and naval hostilities.Some never made it home. Indian sailors have been killed in attacks on commercial vessels. Others have been injured or stranded at sea for weeks, unable to escape the conflict. Back home, anxious families spend their days glued to news bulletins, fearing every report of another ship being struck and praying for a phone call confirming their loved ones are still alive.The scale of the crisis is stark.The ministry of external affairs (MEA) recently said 166 Indian seafarers remained in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz region, with 125 aboard six Indian-flagged vessels and another 41 serving on foreign ships. In an update on August 4, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said 3,972 Indian seafarers had been repatriated from the Gulf region, underscoring the massive effort to bring them out of one of the world’s most dangerous conflict zones. Watch Caught In The Crossfire: How 10 Indian sailors Became Victims in Someone else’s warNumbers tell the storyIndia is the world’s second-largest supplier of seafarers after the Philippines, with 311,936 personnel accounting for 12.16 per cent of the global maritime workforce, according to the BIMCO-ICS Seafarer Workforce Report 2026.Indian officers make up 13.41 per cent of the world’s officer workforce, while the country also supplies 171,218 ratings, representing 11.29 per cent of the global ratings workforce.That vast presence at sea has come at a heavy cost since the Iran war erupted.Last month, the MEA said Indian seafarers had suffered the highest number of fatalities of any nationality in attacks on commercial shipping. Later, the government informed Parliament that 10 Indian seafarers were among the 16 Indian nationals killed in the Middle East conflict.However, the human cost extends far beyond those killed in missile and drone attacks.Hundreds of Indian sailors stranded in conflict-hit waters have faced prolonged deployments, delayed crew changes, disrupted medical evacuations, supply shortages and worsening onboard conditions, exposing them to mounting physical and mental risks.One such tragedy unfolded in June when 35-year-old Second Officer Nishanth Uirthanathan died from medical complications aboard the MT Celestial near Oman after falling seriously ill.An officer died as he got sick on vessel off Oman CoastThe Indian Embassy coordinated the repatriation of his remains, while the Federation of Seafarers’ Unions of India (FSUI) alleged that critical medical assistance was delayed because the vessel was operating in a conflict zone. Following his death, crew members reportedly had to preserve his body using bottles of cold water as the ship lacked adequate refrigeration facilities.The silent toll on IndiaThe human cost for India was almost immediate.The cost of war that India has paid Within 24 hours of the Iran war erupting, Indian seafarers had begun paying the price.On March 1. Captain Ashish Kumar and crew member Dalip (Daleep) Singh were killed when the Palau-flagged tanker Skylight was attacked near Oman’s Musandam Peninsula. Hours later, another Indian seafarer lost his life after the Marshall Islands-flagged gasoline tanker MKD Vyom was struck off the Omani coast.The attacks continued over the following months.On March 11, 54-year-old Deonandan Prasad Singh was killed when the Marshall Islands-flagged Safesea Vishnu came under fire near Basra, Iraq.On May 8, Indian seafarer Altaf Talab Ker died and four others were injured after the Indian-flagged dhow Al Faize Noor Suleimani was caught in crossfire in the Strait of Hormuz.The single deadliest attack came on June 10, when the Palau-flagged Settebello was struck by US forces in the Gulf of Oman, killing Chief Engineer Patnala Suresh, Deck Cadet Aditya Sharma and Fitter Shivanand Chaurashiya.The toll continued to climb in July.Marine engineer Herambh Karmarkar was killed on July 12 after the Cyprus-flagged GFS Galaxy was hit shortly after transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Ten of the vessel’s 11 Indian crew members were rescued.Two days later, Indian seafarer Rohan Kumar was killed when the Liberia-flagged Mombasa B was struck by Iranian missiles alongside Al Bahyah in Omani waters.Together, the two vessels carried 30 Indian seafarers.Other India-linked vessels also came under attack but avoided fatalities. The cargo ship Haji Ali was hit on May 13, while Marivex and Jalveer were attacked in June, with all Indian crew members rescued.The violence has shown little sign of easing.On August 4, the Indian-flagged MSV Faize Noore Oliya was hit near Yemen and sank. All 13 Indian crew members survived, narrowly escaping what could have been another deadly addition to India’s mounting toll.‘Seafarers are not warriors’For merchant seafarers, the risks are fundamentally different: commercial vessels can become targets, crews can be stranded for days and even routine medical emergencies can become life-threatening when ports and evacuation routes are disrupted.That has put a new question at the centre: who protects the people onboard?Recently, the sinking of the Indian-flagged MSV Faize Noore Oliya on 4 August has intensified calls for stronger protection of merchant crews. The Federation of Seafarers’ Unions of India (FSUI), one of the key seafarer bodies advocating for their safety, has asked PM Modi to deploy Navy assets to protect Indian-flagged ships and Indian crews across the Hormuz, the Red Sea and the Black Sea.The Navy already operates Urja Suraksha, an escort mission for energy shipments through the Strait. FSUI wants such protection extended to commercial vessels and says it had warned the government about the risks in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait roughly a month before the Faize Noore Oliya attack.Raising concerns on safety, FSUI general secretary Manoj Yadav told TOI. “Today’s escalation of war, which has reached the sea from land, targets commercial vessels from either side — the US and Iran,” adding that crews, including large numbers of Indians, are being caught in a conflict they had no role in.Yadav argued that military or naval forces can stop a commercial vessel without harming its crew; by boarding or detaining it, for instance instead of targeting sensitive areas such as engine rooms and accommodation blocks.“Seafarers are not warriors. They work to serve the nation and the global supply chain,” Yadav reiterated.FSUI’s concerns extend beyond attacks. It says thousands of seafarers remain at risk in the Persian Gulf and Black Sea, while war-risk insurance gaps can leave families without compensation. The union has called for a government-backed insurance mechanism, $5 million for each deceased seafarer’s family and employment support for next of kin.FSUI has also urged the government to seek a UN-backed independent inquiry into the deaths of seafarers in conflict zones and establish accountability.“Seafarers are the heartbeat of the ocean,” Yadav said. FSUI has called on seafarers both aboard ships and ashore to observe September 25 as a Day of Global Maritime Mourning.Life on boardFor the people actually on ships, the war is not a headline, it’s a watch schedule.Deepak Kumar, a Third Officer in the Merchant Navy, said shipping companies now run detailed risk assessments and add security measures before entering high-risk waters, and depending on the threat level, some deploy armed guards while naval forces patrol the surrounding sea.But no amount of planning removes the strain.”No seafarer wants to sail through a high-risk maritime zone,” as every transit means disturbed sleep, patchy contact with home, and having to “put your emotions aside” and keep the ship running regardless.Kumar added that the hardest part often isn’t the danger itself but the silence around it: families hearing of an attack near their loved one’s trading route and waiting for a message confirming they’re safe.While world powers engage in military blockades and political posturing, the people suffering the real humanitarian crisis are the innocent seafarers trapped onboard.Deepak Kumar, third officer in merchant navyRitik Raina, another Third Officer, explained why the Hormuz transit is uniquely brutal.There is a distinction between a High Risk Area, where seafarers face threats such as piracy and armed attacks, and a Warlike Operations Area, where they are exposed directly to an ongoing military conflict. The latter carries far greater implications for crews, including enhanced compensation and, under international maritime labour agreements, the right to refuse to enter the area, he explained.The Strait of Hormuz was initially designated a High Risk Area on March 2, before being upgraded to a Warlike Operations Area three days later.For crews already inside the Gulf, however, the geography makes that distinction consequential.The Gulf is enclosed on three sides, with the Strait of Hormuz as its only maritime exit.“Once a ship is inside the Gulf, it simply cannot leave until the blockade lifts, leaving crews to ration food, watch fresh water systems run down, and lose internet access as onboard connectivity, decided by shipowners, thins out or disappears,” said Raina.Contracts do carry war-zone bonuses, he further explained, and sailors can refuse to sail into a designated danger area before a vessel enters it.Meanwhile, former chief engineer and managing director at Barrow & Trent Shipping India Amit Khareta said geopolitical risk is increasingly becoming a reality the shipping industry has to plan around. Larger companies can sometimes divert via the Cape of Good Hope, but the added cost is not always practical for smaller owners, who may continue using high-risk routes after risk assessments and taking additional war-risk insurance.For seafarers, the choice is complicated.Khareta said many crews he has spoken to are willing to sail.Higher war-risk bonuses and additional compensation also influence that decision, with some owners offering several times the normal salary for such voyages.While Khareta himself has chosen not to sail through the current danger zone because of family obligations, he said he understands why experienced seafarers do it. But the decision, he stressed, must remain voluntary; “every seafarer should have the right to decline sailing through a high-risk area without fear of damaging their career.”Every seafarer should have the right to decline sailing through a high risk area without fear of damaging their career.Amit Khareta, MD at Barrow & Trent Shipping IndiaThe bigger burden, he said, is often psychological. Families worry constantly, seafarers face enormous pressure themselves while longer routes, disrupted schedules and fatigue add to the strain, but the uncertainty of not knowing what may happen once a ship enters a conflict zone weighs most heavily. “Merchant seafarers are civilians,” Khareta said. “They are not part of the conflict, yet they are exposed to its consequences simply because global trade depends on them.”Protecting sailorsBeyond the decisions made by individual seafarers and shipping companies, the crisis has also put the spotlight on the systems meant to protect shipping in conflict zones.International maritime law already provides several layers of protection.The Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 sets minimum standards for seafarers’ working and living conditions, including wages, medical care, repatriation and welfare. SOLAS lays down safety requirements for ships, while the ISPS Code deals specifically with ship and port security, requiring vessels to assess security risks and maintain plans and procedures to respond to them. But these rules were not designed to make merchant ships immune to an active war.In this context, Vidhu Shekhar, associate professor at SPJIMR, brought an economic lens to the problem, particularly on how maritime risk is distributed between shipowners, insurers and crews.“Routing decisions are made principally by owners and charterers, while the physical risk is borne by crews who have little influence over those decisions,” Shekhar said. He said sharper protections such as hazard pay and refusal rights have therefore often come through collective agreements, leaving some seafarers facing the same danger without equivalent protection. “Risk is therefore priced by contractual coverage rather than consistently by the hazard itself,” he added.For Indian sailors, Shekhar said the exposure is particularly unusual because most Indians serving internationally work aboard foreign-flagged vessels, making protection dependent on coordination between India, flag states, shipowners and insurers.India has meanwhile strengthened its own safety net. The government’s ‘Seafarer-First’ framework includes real-time tracking of vessels and Indian crews, a 24-hour control room, coordination with the Indian Navy and voyage-specific risk assessments.Government advisories have also directed shipping companies and licensed Recruitment and Placement Services (RPSL) agencies to avoid deploying Indian seafarers on voyages through the Strait of Hormuz during periods of heightened risk.Meanwhile, for Upasha Kumari, a researcher on India’s SAGAR doctrine, the bigger problem is that the human cost remains secondary to discussions around shipping.“We often discuss oil prices and shipping routes, but rarely the people operating those ships,” she said. “Indian seafarers are on the frontlines of these crises.” As commercial routes increasingly overlap with conflict zones, she argued that protecting civilian crews must become a central part of maritime security and not an afterthought.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesCost of trade For India, the challenge is not only keeping its seafarers out of danger, but ensuring that those who keep global trade moving are not left to bear the cost of conflicts they did not choose.They are civilians, working far from home, often on vessels whose routes and risks they do not control.As the war pushes commercial shipping deeper into contested waters, the question is no longer simply how to keep the cargo moving. It is how to make sure the people carrying it can make it home.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTrisha MahajanTrisha Mahajan is a journalist with The Times of India digital, with keen interest in covering business and corporate affairs. She also reports on key national and world developments and global news trends. A keen reader with a strong interest in storytelling that adds context, clarity, and depth to complex issues.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBombay HC Convicts Tehelka Founder Tarun Tejpal In 2013 Sexual Assault Case; Reverses 2021 AcquittalThe Bankipur Effect: How One Bypoll Has Put BJP’s Upper-Caste Strategy Under The SpotlightSupreme Court Frees Man After 22 Years In Jail, Overturns Wrong ConvictionJPSC-JSSC Protesters Hold Tiranga March In Ranchi Ahead Of Aug 10 Assembly Gherao Over Leak RowKanpur-Lucknow Expressway Toll Suspended After Road Slippage, NHAI Acts Against Contractor’It’s My Moral Call To Be Here’: Author Nilotpal Mrinal Joins Ranchi Student ProtestMeta CEO Mark Zuckerberg Apologises Over PM Modi Video Row, Admits Paid Content BoostingJharkhand Students Display Mark Sheets, Allege Irregularities In JPSC-JSSC Evaluation’Merit Can’t Beat Money’: Jharkhand Aspirant On Hunger Strike Demand Strong JPSC-JSSC Reforms’I’m A Farmer’s Son, I Can’t Buy Papers’: In JPSC-JSSC Exam Leak, Students Demand CBI Probe123Photostories5 subtle signs the universe is preparing you for a new beginningInside Nagma Mirajkar’s dreamy Mumbai home: A massive living room, a balcony with stunning views and more10 money habits you should learn in your 20s to build long-term wealth15000-year-old bones and teeth reveal what humans ate before agricultureFrom tiger cubs to penguin chicks: 7 incredible places to witness baby animals in the wildSuriya says the secret to his 20-year marriage with Jyotika is surprisingly simple: ‘Keep loving every day’Why Indians eat pickle with every meal: Is there actually a reason?Is 10,000 steps really necessary? 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Government says PM Modi’s overseas travel has crossed Rs 550 crore since 2021 (Image credit: PTI) NEW DELHI: The expenditure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign visits has increased fivefold since 2021, with the annual bill rising from over Rs 36 crore in 2021 to more than Rs 180 crore in 2025, ministry of external affairs informed Rajya Sabha on Thursday.In a written reply, minister of state for external affairs Pabitra Margherita said the cumulative expenditure on the prime minister’s overseas visits since 2021 has crossed Rs 550 crore.So far in 2026, expenditure has reached over Rs 74.58 crore, although some figures remain provisional and the cost of the France visit in June is yet to be finalised.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesAmong the visits for which expenditure has been compiled this year, the Norway leg of the prime minister’s five-nation tour in May accounted for the highest cost at Rs 17.46 crore, Margherita said.According to the data shared by MEA, expenditure on PM Modi’s foreign visits stood at over Rs 36 crore in 2021, Rs 55 crore in 2022, Rs 93 crore in 2023, Rs 109 crore in 2024 and more than Rs 180 crore in 2025.Defending the expenditure, MEA said that 316 MoUs and agreements have been signed during the foreign visits since July 2021. These cover sectors including defence, digital technology, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, renewable energy, healthcare, education, agriculture, space cooperation, mobility and migration, climate action and cultural exchanges.The MEA further noted that India received $381.8 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) between April 2021 and December 2025.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAastha JhaAastha Jha is a writer at The Times of India, covering politics. She also writes on business, global affairs, social issues, with a focus on policy, governance and their impact on everyday lives. Her work brings together reportage and analysis, tracking developments in India and abroad while examining the broader social and economic currents shaping public discourse.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBombay HC Convicts Tehelka Founder Tarun Tejpal In 2013 Sexual Assault Case; Reverses 2021 AcquittalThe Bankipur Effect: How One Bypoll Has Put BJP’s Upper-Caste Strategy Under The SpotlightSupreme Court Frees Man After 22 Years In Jail, Overturns Wrong ConvictionJPSC-JSSC Protesters Hold Tiranga March In Ranchi Ahead Of Aug 10 Assembly Gherao Over Leak RowKanpur-Lucknow Expressway Toll Suspended After Road Slippage, NHAI Acts Against Contractor’It’s My Moral Call To Be Here’: Author Nilotpal Mrinal Joins Ranchi Student ProtestMeta CEO Mark Zuckerberg Apologises Over PM Modi Video Row, Admits Paid Content BoostingJharkhand Students Display Mark Sheets, Allege Irregularities In JPSC-JSSC Evaluation’Merit Can’t Beat Money’: Jharkhand Aspirant On Hunger Strike Demand Strong JPSC-JSSC Reforms’I’m A Farmer’s Son, I Can’t Buy Papers’: In JPSC-JSSC Exam Leak, Students Demand CBI Probe123Photostories5 subtle signs the universe is preparing you for a new beginningInside Nagma Mirajkar’s dreamy Mumbai home: A massive living room, a balcony with stunning views and more10 money habits you should learn in your 20s to build long-term wealth15000-year-old bones and teeth reveal what humans ate before agricultureFrom tiger cubs to penguin chicks: 7 incredible places to witness baby animals in the wildSuriya says the secret to his 20-year marriage with Jyotika is surprisingly simple: ‘Keep loving every day’Why Indians eat pickle with every meal: Is there actually a reason?Is 10,000 steps really necessary? 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Here’s what we know Bombay HC sentences Tarun Tejpal to 10 years rigorous imprisonemnt for rape PANAJI: Thirteen years after the arrest of a high profile editor-in-chief of Tehelka magazine, Tarun Tejpal, for rape in an elevator of a starred hotel, the Bombay high court on Thursday found him guilty of rape and sentenced him to ten years Rigorous imprisonment.The HC has granted him two weeks time to surrender.The sentence was pronounced in the State’s challenge to Tejpal’s acquittal by the trial court in 2021.After the court found him guilty, senior advocate Aabad Ponda representing Tejpal sought lenient sentence for him on the grounds that he is a senior citizen today, aged 62 and that the case is a 13 year old one.Tejpal addressing the division bench of Justices Dr Neela Gokhale and Amit Jamsandekar said he is a “political victim” and is 62 years old and a father of two with a wife and sought a lenient sentence.He said that there is so much evidence in favour of him that he can be acquitted ten times.Solicitor general of India representing Goa Government Tushar Mehta however argued for maximum sentence for Tejpal. He urged the court to consider that Tejpal was old enough to be in a parental position vis-a vis the survivor and argued that the sentence should set a precedent and have a strong deterrent effect.Mehta said that this was not some “misunderstanding or some banter” and pointed out that Tejpal had no remorse after the incident and alleged that he repeated the same thing on the next day. He said Tejpal was brazen despite resistance and despite the survivor saying no.He further argued that the survivor’s mature conduct after the incident had been wrongly portrayed as that of someone who had enjoyed the molestation.”It is high time the highest constitutional court of the state gives him the maximum sentence. No means No. You may be whosoever you are but when a girl says no it means no. That deterrent message may be considered,” Mehta told the court while arguing on maximum sentence for him.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesMehta during the hearings seeking Tejpal’s conviction argued that the survivor was a stellar witness and stood by her case and that Tejpal’s apology to her was proof of what he had done. He also argued that there was no reason for a man of her father’s age to send her such her the ‘the fingertips’ text message after midnight and that it could not reasonably have an innocent meaning. Ponda had countered that saying the ‘fingertips’ text message had a different context and did not prove charge of rape.He had argued that the survivor had a “propensity to lie” and that her behaviour after the alleged incident was not commensurate with someone who had been raped and traumatised.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosThe Bankipur Effect: How One Bypoll Has Put BJP’s Upper-Caste Strategy Under The SpotlightSupreme Court Frees Man After 22 Years In Jail, Overturns Wrong ConvictionJPSC-JSSC Protesters Hold Tiranga March In Ranchi Ahead Of Aug 10 Assembly Gherao Over Leak RowKanpur-Lucknow Expressway Toll Suspended After Road Slippage, NHAI Acts Against Contractor’It’s My Moral Call To Be Here’: Author Nilotpal Mrinal Joins Ranchi Student ProtestMeta CEO Mark Zuckerberg Apologises Over PM Modi Video Row, Admits Paid Content BoostingJharkhand Students Display Mark Sheets, Allege Irregularities In JPSC-JSSC Evaluation’Merit Can’t Beat Money’: Jharkhand Aspirant On Hunger Strike Demand Strong JPSC-JSSC Reforms’I’m A Farmer’s Son, I Can’t Buy Papers’: In JPSC-JSSC Exam Leak, Students Demand CBI Probe’56% Indian Vehicles Uninsured’: Supreme Court Calls For ‘Challans’, Urgent Enforcement Action123PhotostoriesIs 10,000 steps really necessary? 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