Indian physicist Professor Deepak Dhar has won the 2026 Dirac Medal for contributions to statistical mechanics and complex systems. The International Centre for Theoretical Physics honour is shared with Bernard Derrida, Marc Mezard and Haim Sompolinsky for advancing equilibrium statistical mechanics and extending it to non-equilibrium systems, optimisation, theoretical neuroscience and AI. Dhar’s sandpile-model research showed how simple interactions can trigger complex, unpredictable behaviour, with applications to earthquakes, traffic jams and financial-market fluctuations. Born in Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Dhar studied at Allahabad University and IIT Kanpur before joining Caltech on a Richard Feynman fellowship. He worked as Feynman’s teaching assistant, earned his PhD in 1978, then returned to India joining TIFR. (PC: The Economic Times)

The article reports that the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has formed a 12-member leadership team to steer its movement for the next six months. The team was announced after a two-day meeting in Sambhaji Nagar, shortly after the organisation ended its 36-day Jantar Mantar protest following acceptance of its key demands. CJP says it will remain a youth-focused organisation rather than become a formal political party. Founder Abhijeet Dipke has been named national convener, while Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das are co-conveners. The team includes professionals from journalism, engineering, law, accountancy, entrepreneurship, hotel management, public policy, finance and technology.

Pranav Ilango, a student from Erode, Tamil Nadu, has secured a Rs 3.35 crore scholarship to study Applied Mathematics and Public Health at Brown University for the 2026-30 academic years. The scholarship will fully cover his academic and living expenses, which would otherwise have been beyond his family’s reach. He is expected to begin his studies in late August. Pranav was among the top-performing students at CS Academy School in Erode, where he pursued the international IGCSE Cambridge curriculum. He previously earned the “World Topper” title in IGCSE Mathematics and joined the “Outstanding Cambridge Learners” cohort. He credits choosing the Cambridge syllabus with helping him pursue his ambition of studying abroad. (PC: @IndianTechGuide)

Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Monday condemned the use of force against protesting students in Jharkhand, calling for dialogue to resolve their grievances. His remarks came as thousands of JPSC-JSSC aspirants marched towards the Jharkhand Assembly in Ranchi over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations. Police used water cannons, tear gas and lathi-charge after protesters breached barricades, with several protesters claiming injuries. Gandhi said students have a right to peaceful protest and urged the Jharkhand government to continue hearing them out and resolve their issues immediately. The students’ agitation has continued for weeks, with protesters demanding action over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations.

The United States has expanded an existing immigration fee that will increase employment-related visa costs for some H-1B and L-1 petitions, affecting many Indian professionals working there. The Department of Homeland Security has extended the 9-11 Response and Biometric Entry-Exit Fee to certain extension-of-stay petitions, including cases where workers continue with the same employer. The charge is $4,000 for H-1B petitions and $4,500 for L-1 petitions and is imposed on the petitioning employer, not directly on the employee. The rule applies only to employers that meet specified criteria under existing immigration law, meaning not every company or visa holder will be affected by the expanded fee. (PC: India Today)

India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi met Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka, with the talks described as “positive” amid tensions over former PM Sheikh Hasina’s stay in India. According to Bangladesh’s PMO, Hasina’s extradition and the return of murder suspect Osman Hadi were among the issues discussed. Bangladesh urged India to expedite Hasina’s extradition. Trivedi said both countries have issues but share a common interest in good relations, adding that no issue is beyond dialogue. He conveyed New Delhi’s intent to work with Dhaka in a “positive, constructive, and forward-looking” manner. Trivedi is returning to Delhi to brief the PMO and foreign ministry and also met Bangladesh Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed. (PC: NDTV)

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for dialogue to address grievances raised by protesters in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), while warning that attempts to create chaos or anarchy will not be tolerated. Sharif said the government remains open to talks with the Awami Action Committee (JAAC) and stressed that issues should be resolved through discussion. He expressed hope that dialogue would continue under the new government. At the same time, Sharif said those seeking peaceful discussions would be given an opportunity to present their concerns with patience and tolerance, while those attempting to disturb peace would face a different approach. His remarks come amid continuing concerns and demands raised by protesters in PoK. (PC: Reuters)

Jharkhand CID on Monday arrested former JPSC chairperson L Khiangte over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations, amid an ongoing student protest in Ranchi. Khiangte, who resigned on July 22, had been summoned for questioning on August 5. The arrest came a day after the state government accepted most student demands, including a judicial inquiry headed by a retired judge. The government said the Enforcement Directorate would probe if financial irregularities were found, but students continued demanding a CBI investigation. Meanwhile, the ED has begun a money-laundering probe into alleged irregularities, including the JSSC-CGL examination, based on an FIR filed by the CID. Thousands protesting outside the Assembly faced police lathicharge and tear gas. (PC: The Statesman)

The pilot of an Air India Phuket-Delhi flight reported multiple technical failures after the aircraft suddenly lost around 300 feet during severe turbulence on August 4. Sources said all three hydraulic systems and flight controls disconnected at the same time. The autopilot also switched off, while warnings showed a risk of altitude loss. The pilot took manual control and stabilised the aircraft without automated assistance. The flight faced four to five minutes of strong turbulence. At least 17 people, including four crew members, were injured. Some suffered neck and spinal injuries. Air India has reportedly contacted Airbus over the technical problems.

Russian cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station sent Independence Day wishes to India while holding the Indian tricolour. They wished Indians peace and prosperity and highlighted the long friendship between India and Russia in space exploration. The cosmonauts recalled the launch of Aryabhata, India’s first satellite, by the Soviet Union in 1975. They also mentioned Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian to travel to space in 1984. The message highlighted new cooperation through India’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme. Indian astronauts have trained in Russia for the mission. The cosmonauts ended their message by wishing continued success for India.