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The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai, has introduced eight new high-yielding, climate-resilient varieties of wheat, rice and oilseeds, it said on Friday. Developed using radiation-based mutation breeding techniques, these non-GMO crop varieties are set to "revolutionise" agriculture across India, the BARC said in a statement here. The new varieties -- five cereals and three oilseeds -- are tailored to diverse agricultural conditions and were launched in collaboration with state agricultural universities. Speaking at the launch, Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, highlighted BARC's significant contribution in enhancing farmer incomes and boosting food and nutritional security. Vivek Bhasin, Director, BARC, called these varieties a "boon for farmers" due to their early maturity, disease resistance, climate resilience, salt tolerance, and higher yields compared to existing options. India's
Renowned physicist and Director of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) Ajit Kumar Mohanty has been appointed as the chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission and the secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy. Mohanty succeeds K N Vyas to the posts that oversee India's nuclear programme and forays into harnessing atomic power for civilian needs. "The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Dr Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Director, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, as Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy and Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission tor a tenure up to the age of 66 years i.e. till 10.10.2025 or until further orders, whichever is earlier," said a government order issued late on Saturday. Mohanty was appointed as the BARC director in March 2019. Born in Odisha in 1959, Mohanty completed his graduation in 1979 with Honours in Physics from the MPC College in Baripada and post-graduation from Cuttack's Ravenshaw College. In 1983, he joined the Nuclear
Atal Incubation Centre was launched at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in Mumbai on Thursday with the signing of agreements to help convert technologies into viable commercial products. To mark the occasion, the Atal Incubation Centre Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (AIC-BARC) signed agreements with MSME industries for the incubation of prominent Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) technologies for societal and industrial applications. The technologies for which incubation agreements have been entered on this occasion are aligned with India's global commitments of achieving Net Zero, providing access to safe drinking water, and spurring the growth of potential import substitutes for advanced and affordable healthcare in the country, Rajesh Vatsa, Head, Public Awareness Division of the DAE said in a statement. These include the technologies for Alkaline Water Electrolyser for Green Hydrogen production; DC Accelerator for Wastewater Treatment; novel Gamma Monitoring; and X-Band ...
The CBI has filed a charge sheet against former BARC CEO Sunil Lulla for allegedly manipulating viewership ratings of channels from "his ends" during his tenure in the ratings agency, officials said Tuesday. During the probe that was started on a complaint from a Lucknow-based advertiser, the CBI did not find any evidence of alleged manipulation being done at the customer level by channels, they said. The alleged manipulation in TV ratings took place at the level of Lulla when he was heading the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC), according to the agency charge sheet filed at a special CBI court in Lucknow. Lulla has denied the charges. Sources refused to share details of the charge sheet as the special court is yet to take cognizance of it. The agency has pressed charges under IPC sections 406 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating) and others, they said. The court will take cognisance of the charge sheet on December 15, for which it has issued summons to Lulla, they