India News: Nuclear Reactor at Kalpakkam Achieves Criticality

India has made a significant stride in its civil nuclear initiative as the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, has successfully reached criticality. This marks the reactor’s ability to maintain a controlled, self-sustaining chain reaction, a pivotal moment for the nation’s energy goals.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the achievement, calling it a “defining” step in India’s nuclear journey. In a message on X, he emphasized that the reactor, which generates more fuel than it consumes, showcases the country’s scientific and engineering capabilities. The PFBR, a 500-megawatt facility near Chennai, is part of a three-stage plan to expand nuclear power production.

“The indigenously designed and built Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam has attained criticality,” Modi stated. “This advanced reactor reflects the depth of our scientific capability and the strength of our engineering enterprise.”

Leadership Change at Air India

Campbell Wilson, the CEO of Air India, has stepped down from his role, as reported by Indian media. The airline’s board accepted his resignation last week, but he will remain in office until a replacement is appointed, completing his current contract. No official statement has been released by Air India or its parent company, the Tata Group.

Wilson’s departure follows a series of challenges, including financial difficulties and heightened regulatory oversight. The airline’s recent fatal crash in 2025, which claimed 260 lives, has intensified scrutiny. Wilson was appointed in 2024 and is now leaving as the final report on the Ahmedabad crash, involving 242 passengers and 19 others, is pending.

Police Officers Face Death Sentences

A court in Tamil Nadu has sentenced nine police officers to death for their role in the custodial deaths of a trader and his son. The incident, which occurred during the pandemic in June 2020, led to public outrage over police brutality. P Jeyaraj and his son J Benicks were arrested for violating lockdown rules and were subjected to physical abuse at the Sathankulam police station.

Both men were later taken into judicial custody and admitted to a government hospital. Benicks died on June 22, and his father followed the next day. The case was investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) after drawing national attention. Ten officers were initially arrested, but one succumbed to COVID-19 complications during the trial. Over 100 witnesses were examined during the five-year process.

The court described the abuse of power as a “rarest of rare” case, noting that the father and son were “stripped and ruthlessly assaulted in front of each other as an act of vendetta.” The ruling underscores concerns about accountability and the use of force by law enforcement.