IISc sets up unit to boost quantum computing

The FQCI is also working on shared, world-class infrastructure for quantum device fabrication, characterisation, testing and technology development.

The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, has established the Foundation for Quantum Computing Innovation (FQCI) as a Section 8 not-for-profit company under the National Quantum Mission implemented by the department of science and technology.

Shankar Kumar Selvaraja, a professor and project director of FQCI at IISc, said, “The NQM provides a unique opportunity to build a strong and globally competitive quantum computing ecosystem in India… Our focus is on bringing together India’s research capabilities, advanced infrastructure, industry and entrepreneurial talent to translate cutting-edge research into indigenous quantum computing technologies and applications. We aim to create an ecosystem where fundamental research, technology development and real-world applications progress together.”

The FQCI is also working on shared, world-class infrastructure for quantum device fabrication, characterisation, testing and technology development.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

60-day cloud-seeding in Karnataka gets nod

The operations will be conducted under the supervision of Cauvery Neeravari Nigam with scientific/technical assistance from the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC).

The Karnataka state government has given administrative approval for cloud-seeding operations for 60 days in drought-hit areas at an estimated cost of Rs 28 crore.

The operations will be conducted under the supervision of Cauvery Neeravari Nigam with scientific/technical assistance from the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC). During their meetings with CM Shivakumar, the elected representatives urged him to take steps for cloud-seeding in view of the poor monsoon, and a proposal was submitted by M/s Kyathi Climate Modification Consultants LLP (KCMC) on August 13, according to a government order.

Based on the results of the previous “Varshadhare” cloud-seeding programme implemented by the government and CAIPEEX (Cloud Aerosol Interaction and Precipitation Enhancement Experiment) by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), “Karnataka Emergency Cloud Seeding Programme – 2026” has been prepared by KSNDMC. According to a report by KSNDMC, the state recorded a rainfall deficit of 42% by the end of June and 29% by the end of July. In all, 178 taluks in 27 of the 31 districts face rainfall deficit.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

CIIL will publish 75 books on linguistics: Director

Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL) Director Basavaraj Kodagunti on Monday announced CIIL’s initiative to prepare around 75 introductory books in linguistics, incorporating greater representation of Indian languages and perspectives.

“Around 15 volumes are expected to focus on Indian grammatical traditions, while other books will incorporate Indian perspectives in areas including phonology, morphology, syntax and semantics,” he said at the inauguration of a two-week orientation programme on Indian Grammatical Traditions at CIIL.

Prof. Kodagunti called upon the younger generation, particularly teachers and researchers, to carry these studies forward and integrate them into their academic work.

He said Indian grammatical traditions cannot be confined to Sanskrit alone. Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Pali, Prakrit and other Indian languages have their own traditions and histories of grammatical analysis. He pointed to the interaction among different linguistic traditions as an important feature of India’s intellectual history.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Ayurveda teacher from Belagavi gets award

An Ayurveda college professor from Belagavi has been selected for the National Level Best Physiotherapy PG Teacher Award.

Shobha R. Itnal, who is Head and Professor of the Department of Physiotherapy, J.G. Cooperative Ayurveda Medical College, Ghataprabha, Gokak taluk, received the award at the eighth National Conference ATACON-2026 organized by the NCISM-accredited Ayurveda Teachers Association, New Delhi, in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh recently.

NCISM president Manisha Kothekar said that she was selected for this award considering her contribution to the field of teaching, guidance and education in the field of Physiotherapy.

The college management, teaching and non-teaching staff congratulated her, said a release.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

GIS-based application launched for rural water asset management in Karnataka

He directed officials to remove pump sets and electricity connections from non-functional borewells to avoid unnecessary power bills.

Karnataka Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Eshwar B Khandre on Thursday launched a GIS-based mobile and web application to ensure scientific management of rural water assets, improve transparency and prevent fraudulent billing.The application will geo-tag rural water supply assets and record details of their physical condition, operation and maintenance.

The application is developed by the Rural Drinking Water and Sanitation Department in collaboration with the Karnataka State Remote Sensing Applications Centre (KSRSAC).

The app can geo-tag assets with an accuracy of up to five metres. Borewells, overhead tanks, open wells, pump houses, water treatment plants, reservoirs, lakes, laboratories and hand pumps are covered under the system. According to Khandre, the state has over three lakh water assets, which are expected to be digitised by the end of September. At present, more than 70,000 such assets have been documented. The initiative will have a three-stage verification mechanism.

RDPR engineers shall carry out physical and random inspections at different levels. Khandre said geo-tagging would help prevent fake billing for works that have not been executed and enable authorities to monitor the quality and status of assets.

He directed officials to remove pump sets and electricity connections from non-functional borewells to avoid unnecessary power bills. He said 7700 borewells have been recharged so far, while more borewells suitable for recharge are being identified.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

Anveshana 2026 in Bengaluru showcases students’ research projects from across India

All projects were presented through a poster exhibition, ensuring that all 20 teams that participated had the opportunity to share their research.

Anveshana 2026, the flagship student-led research initiative of Bengaluru-based nonprofit Prayoga Institute of Education Research, saw 61 students from Classes 9-12 present 20 independent research projects, highlighting the scope for scientific inquiry at the school level earlier this week. The final project presentation saw shortlisted top four projects showcased.

According to a release from Prayoga, Anveshana, the five-month student science research programme, drew students from across India, including Leh.

All projects were presented through a poster exhibition, ensuring that all 20 teams that participated had the opportunity to share their research with an audience comprising researchers, educators, industry representatives and parents.

The event was attended by Tejasvi Surya, Member of Parliament, Bangalore South, Manu Saale, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India (MBRDI), Dr Renata Jovanovic, Chief Scientific Officer, Deloitte South Asia, and Pratyush Mehrotra, President & COO, SBI Foundation.

“The impact of Anveshana extends well beyond the annual showcase. Over the years, research emerging from the programme has contributed to international peer-reviewed publications, while some student projects have progressed towards patent applications,” said Prayoga.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Aldovia Resort & Convention honoured with prestigious WORLDCOB Business Awards in Vienna

Aldovia Resort & Convention, Swiss Town, Bengaluru, has received prestigious international recognition from the World Confederation of Businesses (WORLDCOB), Houston, Texas, in the United States of America, at The Bizz Awards 2026, held at the InterContinental Wien, Vienna, Austria, on August 25.

The international event brought together leading business establishments and industrial houses from several countries, with 33 awards presented across various categories. Aldovia Resort & Convention was selected following the recommendation of WORLDCOB’s evaluation committee, recognising its standards of business excellence, leadership, and hospitality based on OTA and review aggregators’ statistics.

Among the principal honours, Aldovia Resort & Convention was conferred the “World Business Leader” award, recognising the organisation for consistently demonstrating business excellence. It was also conferred the “Recognition of Inspirational Company”, upon the recommendation of WORLDCOB’s evaluation committee.

The Vienna recognition also extended to members of Aldovia’s leadership team. Nigel Rufus Colaco was honoured as a “World Leader Businessperson” for consistently demonstrating business excellence, while Randal Shawn Colaco received the “Excellence in Business Leadership” recognition. Balaji Mukunda received the “Excellence in Business Management” award for his consistently demonstrated business excellence management.

The honours assume special significance as the Aldovia brand enters a new chapter in its hospitality journey. Formerly known for two decades as Clarks Exotica Convention Resort & Spa, the landmark property has evolved into Aldovia Resort & Convention, carrying forward the vision of its property owner and founder, Dr Ronald Colaco. The change of brand was opted following the acquisition of the Clarks Exotica brand in Delhi, Jaipur, and other states by the Tata Group, as Dr Ronald Colaco wanted to retain the property and hotel ownership under the new brand Aldovia Resort & Convention.

A pioneer in integrated township development and hospitality, Dr Colaco has played a leading role in developing landmark international standard projects including Hollywood Town, Swiss Town, Oval Reef, Serene Gardens, and Parkland View. His vision for Aldovia is founded on the belief that true luxury extends beyond physical excellence to grace, warmth, emotion, and meaningful human experiences.

Spread across 70 acres near Kempegowda International Airport, within a self-developed township in an approximately 300-acre property offering three swimming pools and various indoor and outdoor sports facilities, Aldovia combines luxury hospitality, large-scale conventions, weddings, corporate gatherings, leisure, wellness, and recreation. Aldovia Resort & Convention offers a total of 11 indoor banquet halls, of which the flagship Ocean Convention Centre happens to be the largest indoor convention centre attached to a five-star hotel in South India. It also offers multiple event venues, one Oasis-formal bar, three separate restaurants—multi-cuisine Ambrosia, pan-Asian Shogun, and Mediterranean grills Ember—and one café, Mirage. Besides a health and wellness spa offering Ayurvedic therapies, aromatherapy, and modern wellness practices, its extensive landscaped grounds and recreational facilities have established the destination as a significant hospitality and convention venue in Bengaluru.

The 2026 recognition adds to the property’s longstanding association with WORLDCOB honours. The organisation had earlier received recognition at The Bizz Awards in Muscat, Oman, in 2015, and at The Bizz 2017 Peak of Success Awards in Dubai, UAE, including recognition as an inspirational company.

For Dr Ronald Colaco, the recognition represents more than business achievement. Over more than three and a half decades, his professional journey has been accompanied by extensive philanthropic and social initiatives across numerous sectors, including contributions towards education, healthcare, public infrastructure, and community welfare.

The latest international honours reinforce Aldovia’s new identity and its commitment to building an Indian hospitality brand distinguished by excellence, purpose, and gracious service.

“This international recognition is not merely an award for business success; it is a recognition of the people, values, and purpose behind Aldovia. Our endeavour is to create a destination where excellence is expected, hospitality comes from the heart, and every guest carries back an experience of genuine warmth and grace,” the management stated reiterating, “Aldovia is where grace finds you.”

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

Take note: B’luru’s Keziah Thomas on winning big at the World Film Festival

City-based composer Keziah Thomas, who recently won two awards at the World Film Festival in Cannes, shares what went into the music and how global recognition alongside living in Bengaluru influenced her as an artiste.

A child sits between two arguing parents, surrounded by a tension he cannot escape. There are no easy words for what he is feeling, but in Milo, the music says it for him. That emotional space is where Bengaluru-based composer Keziah Thomas found herself while scoring the animated short – figuring out how a melody could carry deep emotions like fear, hope and the pain of uncertainty. Her work on the film has now earned her Best Soundtrack and Best Composer of the Future at the World Film Festival in Cannes.

Interestingly, the 22-year-old approaches music long before the first note is written, as she shares, “Before I write any music, I spend time understanding the characters, the emotional arc and what the film is really trying to say beneath the dialogue.” This approach became particularly important while working on Milo, which follows a young child caught in the middle of his parents’ constant arguments. Thomas also had several conversations with director Dillon Sharp about the story and the emotional direction he wanted to take.

She also believes animation presents a different relationship between image and music because the score can carry much of the emotional storytelling. And for Milo, she wanted the music to have its own identity but rooted in the story. I recorded myself humming a simple melody, which became the main motif and emotional thread connecting the entire film. I then manipulated those vocal recordings by stretching, reversing, and transforming them into different textures and colours to reflect the changing emotions throughout the story,” she says.

But one particular scene pushed that idea further, bringing two worlds together. The music had to move from something hopeful and ethereal into something much darker, without making the transition feel abrupt. “The emotional shift had to feel completely seamless – it couldn’t sound like one cue ending and another beginning. Finding that balance took a lot of experimentation, but it ended up being one of my favourite moments in the score,” she says.

Even with a distinct musical identity, Thomas also sees film scoring as a collaborative process. “I believe my job is to serve the film first. Every composer brings their own artistic identity, but I never want my style to overshadow the story and vision the director has. If a director asks for a rewrite, I don’t see it as a setback. Those conversations lead to even stronger ideas than the original,” she says.

Thomas’ relationship with music began in Bengaluru when she was seven, creating simple melodies on the piano. By 14, she explored different instruments and musical styles. She moved to Boston in 2023 to study at Berklee College of Music, and now she doesn’t separate the two cities when she thinks about where she is today. “Bengaluru is where I built my entire musical foundation and Berklee is where I refined my craft as a composer,” she says.

The Cannes recognition has given that journey another kind of validation. Not simply because of what the awards mean professionally, sharing, “It made my dreams feel real to people who once doubted them. That’s been a very rewarding part of this experience as well.”

However, while technology has made international collaboration and global platforms accessible, she believes India still needs to change the way it views creative careers. “Many people still don’t see it as a viable profession, which means a lot of talented young musicians are discouraged from pursuing it. If that mindset begins to change and more families and institutions support creative careers, we’ll see many more Indian composers making their mark internationally. The talent is already here, we just need more people to believe that this path is possible,” she says.

Now, she looks forward to film and television scoring, collaborations with filmmakers around the world and, ultimately, stories she genuinely connects with. “I want to contribute to stories that bring a change in the viewers. Because my hope is to create music that not only supports a film but leaves a lasting emotional impact on the audience.”

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

Mysuru’s wildlife photographers receive EFIP distinction

Mysuru’s wildlife photographers S.R. Madhusudhana, V. Sheshadri and M.R. Bhaskar, who were honoured by the Federation of Indian Photography (FIP) with EFIP (Excellence FIP) distinction recently.

To get the EFIP distinction, one must have 300 acceptances and over 50 national or international prizes.

source/content: starofmysore.com (headline edited)