** Scientists develop customized fertilizer, micronutrients for Chinese potato

The Thiruvananthapuram-based Central Tuber Crops Research Institute that introduced high-yielding Chinese potato and elephant foot yam to the farmers of Tirunelveli and Tenkasi districts in last February, has developed tailor-made fertilizer and micronutrient formulations for Chinese potato, a tasty much sought-after tuber variety in the southern districts.

** For the first time, India has more women than men

Parents in India have historically favoured sons over daughters.

India has more women than men for the first time on record, according to government data that also showed a slowing birthrate in the world’s second-most populous nation.

Parents in India have historically favoured sons over daughters, who are often considered burdensome and costly due to the tradition of wedding dowries.

** Galwan clash: Colonel B.S. Babu posthumously awarded Mahavir Chakra

Four other soldiers, who also laid down their lives valiantly fighting the Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley clash on June 15 last year, have been conferred with Vir Chakra awards posthumously

Colonel Bikumalla Santosh Babu, the commanding officer of the 16 Bihar regiment who led from the front against the brutal Chinese attacks in Galwan Valley in June last year, was on November 23 posthumously awarded Mahavir Chakra by President Ram Nath Kovind for displaying “exemplary courage” during the clash.

Mahavir Chakra is the second-highest military award for acts of gallantry in the presence of the enemy. Four other soldiers, Naib Subedar Nuduram Soren, Havildar (Gunner) K. Palani, Naik Deepak Singh and Sepoy Gurtej Singh, who also laid down their lives valiantly fighting the Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley clash on June 15 last year, have been conferred with Vir Chakra awards posthumously.