Sethu 🇮🇳

Interested in infrastructure, development finance, and learning Sanskrit and Spanish. The occasional tweets reflect my views only.

[HBCSE @HBCSE_TIFR]

Another Golden Sweep by India as our Chemistry team bags 4 Gold medals securing Rank #1 (jointly with China, Vietnam, and Individual Participant (Russia)) at the 58th International Chemistry Olympiad, Uzbekistan (https://t.co/ZCxapjbtvG).
1/5

[Malay Krishna @Malay4Product]

I taught JEE physics for years. That paper breaks strong kids in three hours.

This exam is five hours of theory and five hours of lab work, and these five did close to perfect scores on it.

Let me tell you what actually happened.

The International Physics Olympiad is the world championship of school physics. It was the 56th edition. Held in Bucaramanga, Colombia, from July 5 to 12.

381 students. More than 85 countries. Every one of them the best physics student their country could find.

India sent five kids.

All five came back with gold.

Their names are Kanishk Jain from Pune. Riddhesh Anant Bendale from Indore. Rishit Garg from Dwarka in Delhi. Shresth Suraiya from Mumbai. Svarit Joshi from Ahmedabad.

We know a hundred cricketers by their nickname and not one of these boys. :)

That clean sweep put India at joint World Number One. Tied with China, Russia, Kazakhstan, South Korea and Taiwan.

Those are countries that pour serious money and national pride into science education. We are standing level with them.

Now here is what the exam actually was.

Two papers. Each five hours long.

The theory paper had three problems. One on the thermodynamics of paramagnetic cooling. One on the photoionisation of ozone. One on the dynamics of electron positron pairs.

The experimental paper was another five hours in a lab, working through heat transfer and thermodynamic processes in fluids.

That means you get given equipment you have never seen, and you have to design your own experiment, take your own readings, handle the errors, and reach a real answer.

Not multiple choice. No shortcuts. No pattern recognition. You either understand physics or you sit there for five hours.

HBCSE says the Indian students were near perfect on theory and excellent on the practical too.

Now, this was India's 27th appearance at the IPhO.

Across all those years, about 44 percent of Indian students have won gold, 41 percent silver, 10 percent bronze.

In the last ten years, every single Indian student has come home with a medal. 62 percent gold, 38 percent silver.

Not one kid has gone and come back empty handed in a decade.

Five golds in one year has happened only twice. This year, and in 2018.

So who built this.

The programme is run by HBCSE, the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education. It sits under TIFR, which sits under the Department of Atomic Energy.

They run the whole funnel. A national exam, then a national olympiad, then a brutal selection and training camp, and out of everyone in the country, five kids get on a plane.

The team was led by Professor Anwesh Mazumdar of HBCSE-TIFR and Dr Leena Joshi from St Xavier's College, Mumbai.

The scientific observers were Professor Ananda Dasgupta from IISER Kolkata and Nisha Kelkar from Gogate-Joglekar College in Ratnagiri.

Yes. Ratnagiri. A college in a small coastal town in Maharashtra.

This is public education doing something the private coaching industry could never do on its own.

The coaching industry is very good at one thing. Teaching you to solve a known problem fast.

That is what JEE and NEET reward, and I say that with love because I was part of that world.

But an olympiad paper does not have a known type. There is no shortcut chapter. There is no formula sheet that saves you. You have to sit with a problem you have never seen and think.

That is a completely different muscle. And a government funded centre has been quietly building it in Indian teenagers for 27 years.

So yes, be proud. Loudly.

HBCSE also shared that around 64 percent of India's olympiad medallists go on to do a PhD.

But only about 32 percent of medallists end up settling in India.

I do not say that to spoil the moment. These kids owe the country nothing. They earned every option they have.

But it should tell us something. We are excellent at finding this talent. We are excellent at training it. We are still not great at giving it somewhere worth staying.

Congratulations Kanishk, Riddhesh, Rishit, Shresth and Svarit. This is one of the best things an Indian did this year and most of the country will never hear about it.

[Swapan Dasgupta @swapan55]

Thank you Rashbehari’s voters.

[K.Annamalai @annamalai_k]

உலகெங்கும் உள்ள தமிழ் மக்கள் அனைவருக்கும், இனிய தமிழ்ப் புத்தாண்டு நல்வாத்துக்களைத் தெரிவித்துக் கொள்கிறேன்.

தொடங்கவிருக்கும் பராபவ ஆண்டு, நல்ல அரசியல் மாற்றத்தையும், தமிழக மக்கள் வாழ்வில் ஏற்றத்தையும் அளிக்கட்டும். ஐந்து ஆண்டுகளாகத் தமிழகத்தைச் சூழ்ந்துள்ள இருள் அகன்று, நல்லொளி பிறக்கட்டும். நல்லாட்சி மலரட்டும். பெண்கள், குழந்தைகள் உள்ளிட்ட தமிழக மக்கள் அனைவரும், பாதுகாப்பாக உணரட்டும்.

வரும் பராபவ ஆண்டில், தமிழகம் தனது இழந்த பெருமையை மீட்கவும், நாட்டிலேயே முதன்மை மாநிலமாக உருவாகவும், தமிழக மக்கள் அனைவரும் அனைத்து நலமும், வளமும் பெற்று மகிழ்வுடன் வாழவும், இறைவனை வேண்டிக் கொள்கிறேன்.

[Narendra Modi @narendramodi]

Best wishes on the special occasion of Puthandu.

[Narendra Modi @narendramodi]

Called on Vice President Thiru CP Radhakrishnan Ji and conveyed greetings on the special occasion of Puthandu. Praying for a wonderful year ahead, filled with good health and happiness.

@VPIndia

@CPR_VP

[Narendra Modi @narendramodi]

In the midst of election campaigning, had the opportunity to meet Thiru Ramesh Vinayakam Ji and his family in Chennai. Ramesh Ji is a music composer and has devoted his life to popularising Indian music. He gave me a glimpse of his work in making the Gamaka Box Notation System. This is an innovative way to take Indian music to the world!

@RameshVinayakam

[Ajay Ahlawat @Ahlawat2012]

Lt Aabha Singh
Daughter of Sena Medal (Posthumous) Lance Naik Jeet Singh (1 MAHAR), being pipped by her mother.

Proud dad blessed her from the warrior heaven.

[Narendra Modi @narendramodi]

Interacted with members of the Indian Jewish community.

Their deep-rooted connection to India and their remarkable contributions to Israel stand as a living bridge between our two nations.

[Narendra Modi @narendramodi]

Thank you Israel, for the warmth and affection.

Deeply touched that Prime Minister Netanyahu and Mrs. Netanyahu personally came to the airport to see me off.

Confident that the India–Israel partnership will continue to reach new heights in the years to come.

@netanyahu

[Narendra Modi @narendramodi]

Honoured by the gesture. Looking forward to addressing the Knesset later today.

@KnessetENG

[Narendra Modi @narendramodi]

Vetrivel Muruganuku Arogara!

On this sacred Thai Poosam, my greetings to everyone. May the blessings of Lord Murugan always remain upon us. May everybody be blessed with good health, success and prosperity.

[The Hawk Eye @thehawkeyex]

Post-Op Sindoor glow-up!🚀 Kuch toh hua hai!

Indian Armed Forces' promo shorts have dramatically leveled up. Cinematic AF. Direction. BGM. Goosebumps every drop. From real footage to effects, quality is hitting Bollywood blockbuster tier.

Who's scripting this? 🇮🇳💥

[K.Annamalai @annamalai_k]

Hearty congratulations to Tamil Nadu’s pride, Thiru @KVijayKumarIPS avl, on being conferred the Padma Shri this year.

An exemplary police officer and an enduring inspiration to many, including me, Thiru K Vijay Kumar avl is a recipient of the President’s Police Medal for Gallantry, Distinguished Service, and Meritorious Service. He played a pivotal role in combating left-wing extremism and terrorism, serving the nation with courage, clarity, and conviction.

His tenure in Tamil Nadu stands etched in history as a period marked by professionalism, integrity, and fearless leadership, setting benchmarks for generations of officers to follow.

[Padma Awards @PadmaAwards]

Kindly Visit: https://t.co/v5ZXY2FG6c

#PeoplesPadma
#Padmaawards2026

[Narendra Modi @narendramodi]

Tamil Nadu is with NDA!

I’ll be joining NDA leaders at the rally in Madhuranthakam later today. Tamil Nadu has decided that it’s time to bid farewell to the corrupt DMK Government.

The NDA’s governance record and commitment to regional aspirations are striking a chord with the people of the state.

[Masato Kanda @ADBPresident]

I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Takeo Konishi, ADB’s Director General for South Asia.

Takeo exemplified the very best of ADB's mission and values throughout his remarkable career of more than 26 years with us. Joining as a Young Professional, he progressed and undertook a broad range of assignments, including multiple senior and strategically important roles in the Human Resources Department, the Office of the Secretary, and Regional Departments as a Sector Director and Country Director for Uzbekistan and India.

I feel a deep personal loss at Takeo’s passing. Since I joined ADB last February, Takeo became not only a trusted colleague upon whom I could implicitly rely, but also a dear friend. Our connection deepened through our work together, both at headquarters and in the field. I hold particularly fond memories of our missions in India and Bhutan, where I witnessed his warmth, his intellect, and the respect he earned from our partners. I will always cherish these moments.

Takeo’s leadership in South Asia helped deliver transformative results across the region. In 2025, he led South Asia to achieve a record commitment of close to $8 billion in development assistance that has touched many lives, especially those of the poor and vulnerable. These included projects to fast-track clean energy transition in India, investments in sustainable agriculture in Sri Lanka, and boosting private sector participation for a greener textile industry in Bangladesh.

Beyond his professional achievements, Takeo was a man of strong family values. He had a strong sense of duty, humility, and compassion, and was committed to making a positive difference in the world.

Our thoughts are with Takeo’s family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time. His legacy will continue to inspire all of us as we carry forward ADB’s important work.

[Narendra Modi @narendramodi]

What 19 year old Vedamurti Devavrat Mahesh Rekhe has done will be remembered by the coming generations!

Every person passionate about Indian culture is proud of him for completing the Dandakrama Parayanam, consisting of 2000 mantras of the Shukla Yajurveda’s Madhyandini branch, in 50 days without any interruption. This includes several Vedic verses and sacred words recited flawlessly. He embodies the finest of our Guru Parampara.

As the MP from Kashi, I am elated that this extraordinary feat took place in this sacred city. My Pranams to his family, the several saints, seers, scholars and organisations from all over India that have supported him.

[Narendra Modi @narendramodi]

On his 350th Shaheedi Diwas, we bow to Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji. His unparalleled courage and supreme sacrifice inspire millions.

[Narendra Modi @narendramodi]

To witness the Dharma Dhwajarohan Utsav at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir is a moment crores of people in India and the world have waited for. History has been made in Ayodhya and this inspires us even more to walk the path shown by Prabhu Shri Ram.