NewsBytes

The UNICEF India has launched the country's first Child Protection Innovation Fund (CPIF) to back technology-driven solutions aimed at safeguarding children, officials said. The fund will focus on strengthening the child protection workforce, improving access to social protection schemes, supporting adolescent girls and promoting online safety, UNICEF said in a statement. After a nationwide call for entries from the UNICEF intervention states in May 2025, three innovations -- SponsorSmart, BalMitrabot, and SurakshyaNet -- were shortlisted for their digital-first approach to protecting children. A jury comprising experts from the Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), Bosch Global Software Technologies, and the United Nations Office at Vienna selected SponsorSmart as the winning idea.  The panel assessed submissions on scalability, feasibility, sustainability, ethical considerations, and inclusion of children's perspectives in the design process.

Despite a 6 per cent dent in fortune, Reliance Industries' Mukesh Ambani has reclaimed his title as the richest Indian in 2025, overthrowing rival Gautam Adani, as per a list of wealthiest in the country published on Wednesday. The 68-year-old Ambani's fortune declined 6 per cent to Rs 9.55 lakh crore, and was far ahead of Adani's Rs 8.14 lakh crore, as per the M3M Hurun India Rich List 2025. Adani, who had witnessed a 95 per cent jump in fortunes to Rs 11.6 lakh crore as his group's shares recouped the losses caused by shortseller Hindenburg, had displaced Ambani last year to be the richest Indian. Roshni Nadar Malhotra of HCL broke into the top-three for the first time with a fortune of Rs 2.84 lakh crore, which gave her the number three spot. Cyrus Poonawalla and family maintained their fourth position with wealth estimated at Rs 2.46 lakh crore, while Kumar Mangalam Birla was fifth at Rs 2.32 lakh crore. Birla's fortune suffered a 1 per cent dent -- the least among the top-5 wealthy individuals. The cumulative wealth of those in the list is pegged at Rs 167 lakh crore, equivalent to nearly half of India's GDP.

Delhi will soon get two new modern biomedical waste treatment plants, with the government setting a strict three-month deadline for tenders as part of efforts to plug long-standing gaps in the capital's waste management system. The Delhi government has cleared the way for two new Common Biomedical Waste Treatment and Disposal Facilities (CBWTFs) to serve the capital. The facilities will replace the Nilothi unit and bring modern capacity to Region 1 (East, North East, Shahdara) and Region 2 (West, South West, Central), according to a statement. Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa has directed the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to fast-track the tendering process and complete bid evaluation, award, and agreement signing within three months. The tenders will be issued under a Build–Own–Operate (BOO) model with a 10-year term, backed by technical oversight from the National Productivity Council (NPC).

Union minister Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani inaugurated the country's first 3D concrete-printed rural house at the Central Building Research Institute (CSIR-CBRI) in Uttarakhand's Roorkee on Wednesday. The landmark innovation marks a defining moment in India's rural-housing journey, bridging traditional knowledge with cutting-edge technology, a statement issued by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) said. Addressing scientists, researchers and stakeholders, Pemmasani said India has shown an "unwavering commitment" to provide housing for all. "From mud walls to 3D printing, India has demonstrated its unwavering commitment to providing safe, strong and sustainable homes for all. These 3D-printed houses are not merely about technology -- they represent a future where housing is affordable, adaptable and environmentally-responsible," the minister of state for rural development said.