Bengaluru: In a significant development for India's mineral resources, Union Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Jitendra Singh has announced about the discovery of Lithium deposits in the state's Mandya and Yadgir districts. The metal is predominately used in rechargeable batteries for mobile phones, laptops, digital cameras and electric vehicles, reports IndiaToday.in.

Preliminary surveys and limited subsurface exploration conducted by the Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD), a unit of the Department of Atomic Energy, have identified around 1,600 tonnes of lithium resources in the Marlagalla area of Mandya district.

Dr. Singh revealed this information in a written response to an unstarred question in the Rajya Sabha. He highlighted that AMD is actively exploring potential geological domains for lithium in other parts of India, including Korba district in Chhattisgarh, as well as major mica belts in Rajasthan, Bihar, and Andhra Pradesh, and pegmatite belts in Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Karnataka.

In a related development, AMD's preliminary survey in Himachal Pradesh has identified surface uranium occurrences in Masanbal, Hamirpur district. However, Dr. Singh clarified that the Atomic Energy Commission has not conducted any studies to establish an atomic energy plant in Himachal Pradesh.

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Dr. Singh also addressed the Department of Atomic Energy's (DAE) interest in small modular reactors (SMRs). While the DAE is evaluating various technologies and designs of SMRs from different countries and foreign vendors, there are currently no proposals to collaborate with foreign entities. Additionally, no private players have shown interest in producing SMRs, although some have expressed interest in deploying small reactors at their captive sites.

Highlighting international cooperation, Dr. Singh noted that the Government of India and the Government of the Russian Federation have expressed mutual interest in expanding cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy, including in the field of SMRs.

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Bengaluru: As online shopping surges, particularly during festive seasons, cybercriminals are preying on unsuspecting customers with fake e-commerce websites that closely mimic legitimate platforms.

These fraudulent platforms lure users with flashy deals and deep discounts, aiming to steal money and sensitive personal information, as reported by The New Indian Express on Monday.

“Two main types of scams are currently being reported: one involves fraudsters creating counterfeit versions of popular brand websites, while the other features entirely new but fake e-commerce platforms—both heavily promoted on social media and messaging apps to attract buyers,” TNIE quoted a senior officer from a CEN (Cybercrime, Economic Offences and Narcotics) police station in Bengaluru as saying.

The officer added that in most cases, customers are tricked into paying in advance but never receive the products, as fraudsters either collect the money without delivering goods or steal users’ data through malicious links.

He warned that such fake sites often contain subtle spelling errors in brand names that typically go unnoticed, and added that clicking unknown links or trusting deals that seem too good to be true significantly increases the risk. “Always verify the URL, look out for misspellings in the domain, and double-check offers through official brand websites,” he said.

A senior officer from the North division further revealed that some companies have filed police complaints after receiving disputes over orders they never processed. “Victims who lose small amounts, between Rs 1,000 and Rs 2,000, often don’t report it, which allows these scams to continue unchecked,” TNIE quoted him as saying.

Authorities are advising online shoppers to stay vigilant and report any suspicious websites to help curb further fraudulent activity.