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A family-led startup from Kolkata is attempting to reduce India’s dependence on imported marine technology by developing indigenous underwater robotic systems designed for river inspection, hydrographic surveys, and underwater mapping.

Founded by the Banerjee family, Banergy is building Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) and Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) that can be used for underwater inspection, environmental monitoring, and maritime survey operations. The startup has been conducting real-world testing of its prototypes at Prinsep Ghat along the Hooghly River.

The company’s current prototypes include a cylindrical ROV equipped with dual thrusters for underwater movement and a catamaran-style unmanned surface vehicle designed for hydrographic and surface-level survey operations. While some specialised components are sourced globally through collaboration with Blue Robotics, Banergy says the systems are being engineered and assembled in India.

The startup is led by Rakhi Banerjee as Managing Director, alongside Swarnab Banerjee overseeing operations and Rishav Banerjee leading engineering development. According to the team, the idea emerged from observing the growing need for indigenous marine technologies suited to India’s rivers, ports, and coastline.

India currently relies heavily on imported underwater survey and inspection systems for activities ranging from port infrastructure monitoring to riverbed mapping and maritime research. Banergy aims to create cost-effective alternatives that can support domestic infrastructure, inland waterways, and coastal management projects.

The startup’s focus comes at a time when India is investing heavily in river transport, smart ports, coastal surveillance, and inland waterway development. Experts say indigenous underwater robotics could play a crucial role in reducing operational costs, improving accessibility for local agencies, and strengthening technological self-reliance in the marine sector.

Unlike many early-stage technology ventures focused primarily on software, Banergy is positioning itself as a hardware-driven engineering startup that develops and tests physical systems under field conditions. The company describes its mission as creating technologies “born from Indian rivers” and adapted to local environmental challenges.

As interest in blue economy technologies and maritime infrastructure grows, Banergy’s efforts highlight how smaller Indian startups are beginning to enter specialised deep-tech sectors traditionally dominated by international manufacturers.

The Supreme Court on Monday sharply criticised the National Testing Agency (NTA) over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, observing that the examination body had “not learnt its lesson” even after the major controversy surrounding the medical entrance examination in 2024.

A Bench presided over by Justice P.S. Narasimha, who heard the petitions, expressed dismay that the NTA seemed to have repeated its errors despite the orders issued by the Supreme Court to restructure the examination system.

The remarks follow the cancellation of the NEET-UG 2026 exam that went on on May three, 2026, for almost 23 lakh medical aspirants throughout the nation. The exam was cancelled following claims that the paper had been leaked prior to the exam. A fresh examination has now been scheduled for June 21, 2026, and the case is being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Supreme Court Remembers the Controversy Over NEET in 2024

The Court drew parallels with the controversy over paper leaks and irregularities that marred the trust of the national medical entrance examination (NEET-UG 2024).

The Supreme Court had earlier ruled against cancellation of the 2024 exam, noting that the leak seemed to be “localised.” But the Court had earlier recognised the need for a fundamental change in the manner in which the NTA conducted the examination process and had appointed a high-level expert committee headed by the former ISRO chairman K. Radhakrishnan for the purpose.

During the hearing, Justice Narasimha remarked,“It is so sad, really, that the NTA has not learnt its lesson. We had with such difficulty heard the petitions in 2024 and passed orders… We had directed the constitution of a committee to give recommendations… Those recommendations, we believe, were accepted… a monitoring/high-powered committee was appointed.”

Petitions Seek Major Changes in NTA Structure

The Court was considering petitions by the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) and the United Doctors Front, which called for a far-reaching overhaul of the NTA's working.

One petition called for a basic restructuring of the NTA or its complete replacement. Yet another suggested that the agency should be transformed from a registered society to a statutory body with an Act of Parliament to make it more accountable and subject to parliamentary scrutiny.

The petitions termed the paper leak in NEET (UG) 2026 as a “recurring, systemic and catastrophic failure” in the way the exams were conducted.

Court wants NTA to submit an affidavit

The Supreme Court has now asked the NTA to file an affidavit in three days providing details of the measures taken to implement the recommendations of the K. Radhakrishnan committee.

The Court specifically sought information on reforms such as enhanced exam security systems, digitalization of question papers, and the potential switch to computer based testing (CBT) to mitigate risks associated with physical movement of paper.

Former ISRO chief K. Radhakrishnan has also been asked to separately inform the Court about the implementation status of the committee’s recommendations. The case will be heard again later this week.

Increasing Questions about Exam Transparency

The latest developments have added to worries about the credibility of India's centralized entrance exam system. Students, parents and education experts have increasingly wondered whether enough can be done through a succession of administrative changes to regain trust in high-stakes exams that impact millions of aspirants.

The controversy has sparked a renewed discussion on examination security, accountability in NTA,.coaching centre networks, and the increasing mental stress on students appearing for competitive exams.

The Supreme Court's upcoming hearings on the NTA's implementation of its earlier recommendations for reform are expected to be pivotal for the future of the national testing system in India, given that the court has now been directly challenged on whether the NTA took the recommendations of the earlier reforms seriously.

People who dislike even the smallest changes in daily life are often misunderstood as lazy, rigid or stubborn. However, psychologists say this behaviour is usually connected to anxiety regulation, emotional safety and the brain’s deep preference for predictability rather than simple unwillingness to adapt.

Whether it is ordering the same meal repeatedly, following identical routines every day or feeling stressed by sudden plan changes, experts explain that routines often function as psychological stabilisers in an increasingly uncertain world.

The brain is wired to prefer predictability

Psychology research suggests the human brain naturally seeks patterns because predictability lowers stress and reduces the mental effort required to assess potential threats.

This tendency is closely linked to a concept known as “Intolerance of Uncertainty,” where individuals experience heightened discomfort when situations feel unpredictable or uncontrollable. For such people, even minor disruptions — changing workspaces, trying unfamiliar food or shifting schedules — can trigger emotional unease.

Psychologists say routines help reduce cognitive overload by allowing the brain to conserve emotional and mental energy.

Why routines feel emotionally safe

Daily habits and rituals often provide emotional regulation benefits. Experts note that routines can:

• Reduce decision fatigue
• Create structure and stability
• Lower anxiety levels
• Increase feelings of control
• Help regulate emotions during stress

This explains why some individuals repeatedly wear similar clothing, take the same travel routes or maintain highly structured schedules. In many cases, these routines act as coping mechanisms rather than lifestyle preferences.

Anxiety and anticipatory stress

Mental health experts frequently associate resistance to change with anxiety-related thinking patterns. The brain often interprets unfamiliar situations as potential risks, activating the body’s stress response system and increasing emotional alertness.

Psychologists describe this as “anticipatory anxiety” — fear generated by uncertainty about what could happen rather than by immediate danger itself.

For many people, maintaining familiar patterns creates a sense of emotional protection against unpredictable outcomes.

Familiarity creates psychological comfort

The behaviour is also explained through the “Mere Exposure Effect,” a psychological theory introduced by Robert Zajonc, which suggests people tend to prefer things they already know because familiarity produces comfort and safety.

This can be seen in habits such as:

• Rewatching familiar television shows
• Wearing similar outfits repeatedly
• Avoiding relocation or job changes
• Preferring familiar restaurants and environments

The brain perceives familiar experiences as less emotionally risky because they are already understood and predictable.

Childhood experiences shape adult behaviour

Psychologists also point to early life experiences as a major factor influencing how adults respond to uncertainty.

According to Attachment Theory, developed by John Bowlby, children raised in unstable or unpredictable environments may become highly attached to routines later in life because consistency feels emotionally protective.

Experts say individuals from chaotic households often rely more heavily on structure and repetition to feel calm and emotionally secure as adults.

Routine as stress management

Researchers studying Cognitive Load Theory explain that routines reduce mental effort by automating everyday decisions. This is why people experiencing stress, burnout or emotional exhaustion often become even more dependent on structured habits during difficult periods.

Modern lifestyles may intensify this need. Constant notifications, financial pressures, social media overload and information fatigue have increased people’s desire for stability and predictability.

The popularity of highly structured “morning routine” culture, meal-prepping trends and productivity systems on social media reflects this broader psychological search for emotional control and stability.

When routine dependency becomes unhealthy

Psychologists caution that preference for routine becomes problematic when it begins to significantly interfere with relationships, work or daily functioning.

Warning signs may include:

• Severe distress during unexpected changes
• Avoiding opportunities solely due to uncertainty
• Panic over minor disruptions
• Social withdrawal from unfamiliar situations

In more severe cases, extreme rigidity may overlap with anxiety disorders or obsessive-compulsive tendencies.

Not weakness, but emotional regulation

Experts emphasise that people strongly attached to routines are often attempting to regulate stress rather than intentionally resisting life. What appears externally as stubbornness may actually reflect the nervous system’s effort to maintain emotional safety in environments perceived as overwhelming or unpredictable.

Psychology suggests that for many individuals, consistency is not simply preference — it is a deeply rooted mechanism for creating stability, control and psychological comfort in a rapidly changing world.

A growing number of people around the world are deliberately turning away from the news, not because they are indifferent, but because constant exposure to negative information is becoming emotionally exhausting.

According to the 2025 Digital News Report released by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, nearly 40 per cent of people globally now say they sometimes or often avoid the news — the highest level ever recorded. In Canada alone, 69 per cent reported occasionally disengaging from news consumption.

Psychologists say the trend reflects a deeper neurological reality rather than a decline in civic awareness. Researchers studying human behaviour argue that the modern information ecosystem is overwhelming a brain that evolved to respond primarily to immediate, local threats.

At the centre of this explanation is what scientists call the “negativity bias,” a widely studied psychological phenomenon showing that humans process negative information more intensely than positive experiences. Across decades of cognitive research, the brain has consistently been shown to detect threats faster, react more strongly to bad news and remember distressing information longer.

From an evolutionary perspective, this response once helped humans survive. Paying attention to danger — such as predators, conflict or scarcity — increased the chances of survival. Missing a threat could be fatal, while overreacting merely cost a few moments of caution.

However, experts argue that the same survival mechanism is now being stretched beyond its limits in the digital age.

Unlike earlier generations that mainly dealt with nearby social and environmental risks, modern audiences are exposed to a nonstop stream of global crises — wars, climate disasters, economic instability, violence and political conflict — often within minutes of waking up.

A study published in Nature Human Behaviour analysing over 105,000 news headlines found that negative language significantly increased click-through rates, while positive wording reduced engagement. Researchers say this creates a feedback loop where emotionally distressing content receives greater visibility online.

Some psychologists have described extreme forms of compulsive news engagement as “Problematic News Consumption” (PNC), a condition linked to anxiety, stress and disruptions in daily functioning. Studies suggest individuals experiencing severe levels of PNC report substantially poorer mental well-being.

Researchers also note that news fatigue can be especially intense for immigrant and minority communities, who may experience repeated exposure to stories involving violence, discrimination or instability affecting their countries or communities of origin.

At the same time, experts caution that complete disengagement from credible journalism is not a healthy solution. Democracies rely on informed citizens, and withdrawing entirely from reliable information may increase vulnerability to misinformation and manipulation.

Instead, psychologists recommend developing healthier news habits. Suggested strategies include limiting news intake to specific times of the day, prioritising in-depth reporting over endless social media scrolling and avoiding “rage bait” — emotionally provocative online content designed mainly to trigger outrage and maximise engagement.

Mental health researchers also stress the importance of distinguishing between awareness and control. Studies show that stress increases when individuals feel informed about problems but powerless to influence outcomes. Identifying small, meaningful actions connected to issues in the news can help reduce feelings of helplessness.

Experts believe the challenge is no longer simply staying informed, but learning how to engage with information in a more intentional and psychologically sustainable way in an era of constant digital exposure.

Indian agriculture is increasingly operating under pressure from unpredictable weather, labour shortages, rising input costs, water stress, and volatile markets. In this environment, agricultural engineering is emerging as a critical force helping farmers improve efficiency, reduce losses, and adapt to changing conditions.

Experts say agricultural engineering is no longer limited to machinery alone. Instead, it is reshaping how different stages of farming connect with one another, creating more coordinated and reliable agricultural systems.

Traditionally, farming activities such as land preparation, sowing, irrigation, and harvesting were treated as separate operations. However, modern farming has become far more interdependent. A delay in planting can now affect irrigation schedules, pest management, and harvest timing, while uneven land preparation may lead to inefficient fertiliser use and inconsistent crop growth.

Agricultural engineering is helping address these gaps through technologies that improve operational consistency across the farming cycle. Laser land levelling, for instance, enables uniform water distribution, while precision seeders ensure even crop spacing and mechanised harvesting reduces delays that often lead to field losses.

Water management has become another major area of transformation. With climate variability increasing pressure on water resources, traditional irrigation practices based on observation and routine cycles are becoming less effective.

Technologies such as drip irrigation and sprinkler systems are gradually shifting farming toward demand-based water use. Rather than distributing water uniformly across fields, these systems deliver water according to crop needs and soil conditions. Experts say this encourages more disciplined irrigation decisions, improves water efficiency, and reduces crop stress during critical growth stages.

Agricultural engineering is also addressing one of India’s biggest but often overlooked agricultural challenges — post-harvest losses. A significant share of agricultural produce loses value after harvesting due to poor storage, inadequate grading, and weak transportation systems.

Engineering interventions such as scientific storage structures, grading systems, and improved handling technologies are helping reduce biological deterioration and mechanical damage during transport. Experts note that reducing post-harvest losses can sometimes improve farmer incomes more effectively than marginal increases in crop yields.

Climate adaptation has further expanded the role of agricultural engineering. As weather patterns become increasingly unstable, farmers are adopting systems such as polyhouses, shade nets, drainage infrastructure, and rainwater harvesting structures to reduce climate-related risks.

These technologies do not eliminate climate uncertainty, but they help stabilise farming operations by reducing exposure to heat stress, flooding, and water shortages.

Another key contribution of agricultural engineering lies in reducing operational volatility. Mechanisation reduces dependence on seasonal labour availability, irrigation systems lessen dependence on erratic rainfall, and storage infrastructure allows farmers to avoid distress sales immediately after harvest.

Experts say the broader goal is not to remove risk entirely, but to help farmers gain greater control over timing, execution, and resource management under uncertain conditions.

However, challenges remain. Many agricultural technologies continue to face low adoption because they are costly, difficult to maintain, or poorly suited for small landholdings. As a result, agricultural engineering is increasingly focusing on usability and accessibility rather than only technological advancement.

Shared machinery services, modular tools, local repair ecosystems, and simplified equipment models are becoming central to making agricultural technology practical for everyday farming.

Experts believe agricultural engineering is not transforming Indian agriculture through dramatic disruption, but through gradual correction of long-standing inefficiencies. By improving coordination, reducing operational variability, and strengthening resilience, it is helping Indian farming systems become more adaptable and reliable in an era of growing uncertainty.

With more than three lakh students appearing for the CAT examination every year in hopes of securing admission into India’s top business schools, concerns around employability, rising competition, and the future relevance of MBA degrees are intensifying. Against this backdrop, Amrish Patel, Chancellor of SVKM's NMIMS, has said that traditional degrees alone may no longer guarantee career security in an increasingly AI-driven economy.

Speaking in an interview with ET Education, Patel argued that management education must move beyond conventional classroom models and focus more on adaptability, leadership, critical thinking, and real-world problem-solving. He stressed that the rapid growth of artificial intelligence and digital technologies is fundamentally reshaping industries and redefining employer expectations.

“A degree alone won’t save careers anymore,” Patel said, highlighting how employers are increasingly valuing skills, practical exposure, and the ability to navigate uncertainty over academic credentials alone.

The conversation comes at a time when India’s MBA ecosystem is facing growing scrutiny over return on investment, placement pressures, and skill gaps. While lakhs of aspirants compete annually for seats in premier institutions, experts say only a small percentage ultimately secure admission into top-tier business schools, intensifying stress and psychological pressure among students.

Patel also reflected on the widening gap between aspiration and access in higher education, particularly as rising fees and competitive admission systems make elite management education inaccessible to many students. He argued that technology, if used responsibly, could help create more personalised and equitable learning experiences.

According to the discussion, the future of management education may increasingly depend on how institutions integrate AI, industry collaboration, experiential learning, and interdisciplinary thinking into their programmes. Experts believe business schools can no longer rely solely on legacy brand value or theoretical curricula in a rapidly changing labour market.

The debate around the future of MBA programmes has intensified globally as companies place greater emphasis on practical capabilities, digital literacy, and innovation skills. Many recruiters are now seeking professionals who can combine business knowledge with data interpretation, strategic thinking, and technological adaptability.

Patel’s remarks also align with broader global conversations around the transformation of universities in the AI era, where institutions are being urged to redesign learning systems around reasoning, leadership, and decision-making rather than rote information delivery.

As India prepares for another highly competitive MBA admission cycle, education experts say the larger question may no longer be simply where students study, but whether institutions are preparing them for careers that are constantly evolving under the influence of AI and automation.