** Bengaluru chosen for pioneer cities programme

Bengaluru is among four cities in the country selected by the World Economic Forum, a Geneva-based not-for-profit organisation, to pioneer a new global policy roadmap for smart cities developed by the G20 GlobalSmart Cities Alliance. The other Indian cities selected for the programme are Faridabad, Hyderabad and Indore.

** Five varieties of virus-resistant local chillies to hit market

Conventional breeding techniques have been used on watermelons too.

Chillies literally add spice to life, and each region has its own special variety. To preserve local varieties and provide seeds to farmers at cheap rates, the Indian Institute of Horticulture Research (IIHR) has developed virus-resistant local chilli varieties, which are likely to hit the market next year.