New Delhi, Aug 12: A new artificial intelligence (AI) framework that identifies three distinct developmental states of cancer stem-like cells can help identify hidden cancer stem cells from thousands of patient samples and bring precision medicine one step closer to reality specially in areas with limited health facilities.

Cancer remains one of humanity’s greatest medical challenges. Although modern treatments can destroy millions of cancer cells, a small population of cells often survives, allowing tumours to return, spread to distant organs and develop resistance to therapy.

Scientists have long believed that these rare cancer stem-like cells that help tumours survive and return and are responsible for tumour recurrence, metastasis and treatment failure. However, because these cells are extremely rare and constantly change their identity, accurately detecting them has remained one of the biggest challenges in cancer research.

Researchers from S. N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences (SNBNCBS), an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, in collaboration with Ashoka University, have now developed an artificial intelligence (AI) framework that reveals hidden cancer stem-like cell states from tumour gene-expression data.

This work led by Dr. Shubhasis Haldar builds upon the team’s earlier AI platform, OncoMark, which accurately decoded the biological hallmarks that drive cancer progression across millions of cells with over 99% predictive accuracy.

By enabling researchers to measure the fundamental processes that fuel tumour growth, metastasis and drug resistance, OncoMark demonstrated how artificial intelligence can uncover complex biological information hidden within massive genomic datasets. Building on that success, the team has now turned its attention to one of cancer biology’s most difficult problems—identifying the elusive stem-like cells that drive tumour evolution.

Their new framework, called ACSCeND (AI-based Cancer Stem-like Cell Profiler and Neoplasm Deconvoluter), goes beyond conventional methods that assign tumours a single “stemness” score. Instead, it identifies three distinct developmental states of cancer stem-like cells—pluripotent-like, multipotent-like and unipotent-like—providing an unprecedented view of tumour heterogeneity. The system combines knowledge learned from high-resolution single-cell sequencing with deep learning to analyse conventional bulk tumour RNA sequencing, allowing these hidden cell populations to be studied in thousands of patient samples where single-cell experiments are unavailable.

The researchers rigorously validated ACSCeND against existing computational approaches and showed that it consistently outperformed current methods across independent datasets and sequencing platforms. They then applied the framework to analyse more than 25,000 tumour samples from major international cancer databases, including TCGA and PRECOG. The analyses revealed that tumours enriched with highly potent, pluripotent-like cancer stem cells were associated with poorer patient survival, a greater likelihood of tumour recurrence and reduced response to modern immunotherapies.

Beyond identifying these dangerous cells, ACSCeND also uncovered the molecular programs that enable them to survive, adapt and evade the immune system. Such insights could help scientists discover new drug targets, identify patients who are more likely to relapse and design more effective precision cancer therapies.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming an indispensable partner in modern biomedical research. AI enables researchers to detect hidden biological patterns across enormous genomic datasets that would be impossible to analyse manually.

Studies such as OncoMark and ACSCeND illustrate how AI can accelerate discoveries that ultimately improve cancer diagnosis, predict treatment response and guide the development of more effective therapies.

New Delhi, Aug 12: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Wednesday informed Rajya Sabha that central government is committed to the progressive and phased implementation of the national anti-terror ‘PRAHAAR’ strategy.

Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs Nityanand Rai in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha said this approach prioritizes immediate institutional and systems integration while thoroughly assessing performance outcomes through a framework of layered oversight mechanisms.

He said the Ministry of Home Affairs has unveiled ‘PRAHAAR’ as India’s first comprehensive National Counter Terrorism Policy & Strategy on 23rd February, 2026. It provides a national counter-terrorism framework for prevention of, and responding to terrorist activities and radicalization through coordinated “whole of government” and “whole of society” approaches.

The minister said that ‘PRAHAAR’ strategy & policy is predicated on the pillars which include: prevention of terror attacks to protect Indian citizens and interests; responses, which are swift and proportionate to the threat posed; aggregating internal capacities for achieving synergy in a whole-of-government approach; human rights and ‘Rule of Law’ based processes for mitigation of threats; attenuating the conditions conducive to terrorism, including radicalization; aligning and shaping the international efforts to counter terrorism; and recovery and resilience through a whole-of-society approach.

The minister also said that ‘PAHAAR’ addresses all counter-terrorism objectives through a comprehensive, intelligence-led proactive framework built upon a seven-pillar strategy. It shifts India from a reactive security stance to a proactive doctrine by formalizing real-time intelligence sharing through the Multi Agency Centre (MAC), securing critical infrastructure, and deploying a swift, coordinated chain of command between State agencies/Police and Specialized Central Forces like the National Security Guard (NSG). Simultaneously, it integrates cutting-edge technology, strictly upholds the Rule of Law and human rights, and implements community-collaborative counter-radicalization modules to dismantle the terror ecosystem.

The minister highlights that the anti-terror strategy counters terror financing by tracing crypto wallets, choking dark web crowd sourcing, and seizing assets through Central Agencies. It aligns with Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards and uses international treaties to block cross-border state-sponsored terror funding networks.

In addition to the regular monitoring and assessments, one such mechanism is organizing Annual ‘Anti-Terror Conference (ATC)’ by the NIA under the aegis of the Ministry of Home Affairs, which serves as an important platform to review and strengthen its counter-terrorism strategy by bringing together senior officials from law enforcement agencies, intelligence organizations, security forces, policymakers, and legal experts.

The minister said the anti-terror conference enables stakeholders to assess the effectiveness of existing counterterrorism measures, identify operational/ administrative gaps and preparedness, recommend policy, legal & institutional reforms, and promote collaboration, capacity building, and a coordinated national response to strengthen and continuously evolve India’s counterterrorism framework in response to an increasingly dynamic security environment.

New Delhi, Aug 12: Union Government on Wednesday said that Indian Railways have taken several measures to safeguard lives of passengers and damage to railway property.

This information was provided by the Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting and Electronics & Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, in a reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.

The Railway Minister said that regular drives are conducted against anti-social elements like drunkard, mischievous elements etc. in the effected section/black spots and the apprehended persons are prosecuted under legal provisions of law.

The train escorting parties have been sensitized to remain more vigilant in the vulnerable sections/spots, where incidents of vandalizing on trains are frequently reported.

Various awareness programme including OPERATION SATHI are conducted regularly in inhabited areas adjacent to Railway track to sensitize people towards the menace of stone pelting and its consequences.

Detailed guidelines have been issued regarding action to be taken to control incidents of stone pelting on moving trains. Analysis of these incidents followed by substantive action is taken to curb these incidents.

Regular co-ordination with GRP/Local Police is maintained by RPF, sharing the critical information to control the menace of pelting of stones on trains.

State Level Security Committee of Railways (SLSCR) have been constituted for all State Union Territories under the Chairmanship of respective Director General of Police Commissioner of States/Union Territories for regular monitoring and review of security arrangements of the Railways.

Safety of train operations is accorded top priority on Indian Railways (IR). Pedestrian subways are also being provided with safety fencing in order to facilitate crossing of railway alignment by cattle, pedestrians and smaller vehicles.

Union Minister for Railways continued that about 19,700 km of fencing has been provided along the railway tracks in Indian Railways which includes sections situated in Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, so far.