India Approves Its First Underwater Road–Rail Tunnel Project, Worth $2 Bn

The Union Cabinet has approved a landmark ₹18,662 crore project to build India’s first underwater road-cum-rail tunnel beneath the Brahmaputra River in Assam.

What Assam’s Brahmaputra project represents is India’s first underwater road-cum-rail tunnel, and one of only a handful globally.

Assam’s Chief Minister described it as the world’s second underwater road-rail tunnel, after the Fehmarnbelt Fixed Link between Germany and Denmark, which is longer and still under construction. So, while it’s not the longest, it is among the most ambitious and unique — especially because it combines both road and rail under a major river in a seismic zone.

Project Details

• Length & Design: 15.79 km twin-tube tunnel, part of a 33.7 km greenfield corridor connecting Gohpur (NH-15) to Numaligarh (NH-715).
• Depth: Tunnel will sit about 32 meters below the riverbed.
• Capacity: Two road lanes in each direction, plus provision for a railway line.

Impact

• Travel Time: Reduces current 240 km detour (~6 hours) to just 34 km, cutting travel time to about 20 minutes.
• Economic Boost: Expected to generate 80 lakh person-days of employment and enhance freight, tourism, and security near the Indo-Tibet border.
• Strategic Importance: Strengthens connectivity in the Northeast, supports the Act East Policy, and adds Assam’s fourth rail crossing over the Brahmaputra.

Political & Regional Significance

• Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma hailed it as a historic milestone, thanking PM Narendra Modi and Minister Nitin Gadkari for advancing regional connectivity.

C‑DOT Teams Up with Synergy Quantum to Safeguard Defence, Telecom, and Banking from Quantum Threats

The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), India’s premier telecom R&D body under the Department of Telecommunications, has signed an agreement with Synergy Quantum India Private Limited to jointly develop a quantum vulnerability detection tool.

Key Highlights of the Partnership

• Scope: It targets sectors like defence, telecom, and banking, where future quantum computing capabilities could break existing encryption methods.
• Functionality: The automated system will scan cryptographic mechanisms, flag vulnerabilities, and distinguish between quantum-safe and quantum-vulnerable algorithms.
• Strategic Importance: This initiative is part of India’s broader push to strengthen cybersecurity preparedness against emerging quantum threats, ensuring resilience in national digital infrastructure.
• Outcome: The tool is expected to become a foundational capability for organizations preparing for next-generation cryptographic security.

Why It Matters

Quantum computers, once mature, could render today’s widely used encryption (like RSA and ECC) obsolete. By proactively identifying vulnerable algorithms, India is positioning itself to transition toward quantum-safe cryptography before such threats materialize.

Here’s a deeper look at the quantum vulnerability detection tool being developed by C-DOT and Synergy Quantum, along with a global analogy to similar initiatives:

About the Tool

• Automated Detection: Scans devices, networks, and infrastructure to identify cryptographic algorithms in use.
• Classification: Distinguishes between quantum‑safe and quantum‑vulnerable algorithms (e.g., RSA, ECC).
• Reporting: Flags vulnerabilities and provides actionable insights for migration to post‑quantum cryptography (PQC).
• Target Sectors: Defence, telecom, and banking — areas most at risk if quantum computers break classical encryption.
• Strategic Role: Serves as a foundational capability for India’s cybersecurity ecosystem, enabling proactive transition before quantum threats materialize.

Global Analogies

India’s move mirrors efforts in other regions where governments and companies are preparing for the post‑quantum era:

Region / Organization	Initiative	Focus
United States (NIST)	Post‑Quantum Cryptography Standardization Project	Developing global standards for quantum‑resistant algorithms.
European Union (PQCrypto, ETSI)	Quantum‑Safe Cryptography Working Groups	Researching migration strategies for telecom and finance sectors.
China	National Quantum Communication Network	Building secure quantum key distribution (QKD) infrastructure.
UK (Quantinuum, Cambridge Quantum)	Quantum cybersecurity solutions	Commercial tools for quantum‑safe encryption and migration.
Japan (NTT, Toshiba)	Quantum key distribution trials	Integrating QKD into telecom networks.

Strategic Implication

India’s tool is unique in its automated vulnerability detection approach, complementing global PQC standardization efforts. While the US and EU focus on algorithm development and standards, India is emphasizing practical detection and migration

About Synergy Quantum

Synergy Quantum is relatively a new company, which was established in December 2022, registered in New Delhi, India. The company's private limited company, classified under research and experimental development. Synergy Quantum specializes in quantum communication and cybersecurity solutions, with emphasis on post-quantum cryptography.

Notably, the founder of Synergy Quantum India Private Limited is Jay Oberai, who also serves as the company’s CEO. He has been prominently featured in discussions on India’s quantum sovereignty and cybersecurity, including recognition by the Forbes Technology Council for his role in advancing quantum‑safe solutions.

Oberoi, a Harvard University graduate, has been seed investor in Cambridge Quantum Computing (CQC), which later merged into Quantinuum (valued at over $10 billion). This positioned him at the forefront of quantum technology investment globally.

Jai Oberoi actively advises governments and institutions in the UK, Switzerland, UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia on quantum strategy and digital infrastructure planning.

15 Giants Forge Trusted Tech Alliance to Shape Secure Digital Future

The Trusted Tech Alliance (TTA) has just been launched by 15 of the world’s biggest technology companies, including Google, Microsoft, Jio Platforms, AWS, Nokia, Ericsson, SAP, Anthropic, Cohere, NTT, Cassava Technologies, Hanwha, Nscale, Rapidus, and Saab. The announcement was made at the Munich Security Conference on February 13, 2026.

Purpose of the Alliance

• Cross-border collaboration: Designed to unite tech firms from Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America.
• Trusted technology stack: Focus areas include AI, cloud infrastructure, connectivity, semiconductors, and software.
• Shared principles: Members commit to transparency, security, and data protection, regardless of their country of origin.
• Global trust-building: The alliance aims to counter fragmentation in the tech industry and ensure that innovation benefits are passed on globally.

Why It Matters

• Geopolitical context: Launched at a major security conference, signaling its role in addressing global concerns about digital sovereignty and secure supply chains.
• Industry impact: By pooling resources and influence, these companies can set standards for responsible AI, secure cloud services, and ethical data use.
• Strategic positioning: It’s also a move to strengthen resilience against cyber threats and reduce dependency on single-nation tech ecosystems.

Quick Snapshot of Members

Region	Companies
US	Google, Microsoft, AWS, Anthropic, Cohere
Europe	SAP, Ericsson, Nokia, Saab
Asia	Jio Platforms, NTT, Hanwha, Rapidus
Africa	Cassava Technologies
Global startups	Nscale

This alliance could become a benchmark for global tech governance, much like how financial institutions rely on Basel standards.

Is Your Valentine Actually Royalty? 4 Apps That Reveal Your Partner's Secret Title (Warning: You Might Be Dating Your 10th Cousin!)

Is your Valentine’s Day date a simple meeting of hearts, or a merger of two ancient dynasties? While we treat the 14th of February as a modern holiday, the secrets of your romantic future may actually be hidden in your ancestral past. In an era where data meets destiny, a new wave of genealogical technology is allowing couples to look beyond the surface and uncover hidden royal lineages, warrior clan connections, and even accidental 'genetic overlaps.' From tracing 1.6 billion historical records to analyzing cosmic compatibility through digital Kundlis, this is how you can use the power of lineage tech to find out if your Valentine's date is truly your 'chosen one' or a 'secret heir'.

iMeUsWe: A dual-purpose platform for tracing lineage and analyzing relationship compatibility. Users can explore over 1.6 billion historical records to build family trees and uncover ancestral connections. Beyond genealogy, the app’s astrology module provides Kundli and Marriage Reports, offering insights into partner traits, financial alignment, and marital compatibility. Users can also access a free compatibility test for a modern, data-driven look at their romantic connections.

Kulvriksh: This is one of the most popular India-specific apps for deep lineage research. It allows users to build family trees that specifically track traditional markers like Gotra, Kuldevi, and native villages. It features a "Community Tree" that helps you discover long-lost relatives by matching your family data against its growing database of Indian families.

AstroSage: For those focused on the "compatibility" side of your project, AstroSage is a leading choice. It offers comprehensive Kundli Matching (Guna Milan) and AI-driven horoscopes. Its "AstroSage Cloud" feature allows you to store birth charts for your entire family lineage, making it a digital repository for ancestral astrological data.

Kintree: Positioned as a "social media for families, Kintree is available in 12 Indian languages. It focuses on private family collaboration, allowing multi-generational members to contribute photos and stories to a shared tree. It is particularly useful for modern Indian families who are spread across different cities or countries but want to maintain a single "family room".

India’s Defence Acquisition Council Approves $39.7 Billion Procurements: Rafale Jets, S-400 Missiles, Naval Upgrades

India’s Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, has approved a record-breaking defence procurement package worth ₹3.60 lakh crore on February 12, 2026. This marks one of the largest modernization pushes in India’s military history.

Key Highlights of the Procurement

• 114 Rafale Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA)
  - A government-to-government deal with France’s Dassault Aviation.
  - Addresses squadron shortages in the Indian Air Force.
  - Most jets will be manufactured in India with significant indigenous content, boosting self-reliance and employment.
• 288 S-400 Missiles from Russia
  - Includes 120 short-range and 168 long-range missiles.
  - Strengthens India’s air defence capabilities after extensive use during Operation Sindoor in 2025.
• Naval and Coast Guard Upgrades
  - Procurement of P-8I maritime patrol aircraft.
  - Overhaul of T-72 tanks and Armoured Recovery Vehicles (ARVs).
  - Advanced surveillance systems and upgrades for the Indian Coast Guard.
• Indigenous Manufacturing Focus
  - Strong emphasis on “Make in India” with local industry participation.
  - Expected to boost R&D, create jobs, and extend the life of existing platforms.

Strategic Significance

• Enhances combat readiness across Army, Navy, and Air Force.
• Positions India as a stronger regional power amidst evolving geopolitical challenges.
• Marks a force multiplier moment, with experts calling it a game-changer for national security.

India’s Defence Procurement Budget: 2025 vs 2026

In 2025, India’s Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approved procurement proposals worth ₹54,000 crore. These included 307 indigenously designed artillery guns (₹7,000 crore) and other modernization projects, alongside reforms to shorten procurement timelines by 10–15%.

Separately, the Union Budget for FY 2025–26 allocated ₹6.81 lakh crore to the Ministry of Defence, with a significant portion earmarked for modernization and procurement. This was later raised to ₹7.85 lakh crore in FY 2026–27, marking a 15.19% increase over the previous year.

Comparison: 2025 vs 2026 Procurement Approvals

Year	DAC Procurement Approvals	Union Budget Defence Allocation	Key Focus Areas
2025	₹54,000 crore	₹6.81 lakh crore	Artillery guns, reforms to speed procurement
2026	₹3.60 lakh crore