Leaders, Karnataka State – Page 2

13th edition of ‘Bengaluru INDIA NANO’ 2024 event: All you need to know

Theme: Nanotechnology for sustainability: Climate, energy, and healthcare.

The 13th edition of ‘Bengaluru INDIA NANO’, the country’s flagship event in the Nanotech sector, will have the theme Nanotechnology for Sustainability: Climate, Energy, and Healthcare.

The three-day event which will take place from August 1st – 3rd, 2024 in Bengaluru is expected to attract 25 sessions, more than 75 speakers, over 700 delegates and 3,500 attendees. The event is being organised by the Department of Science & Technology, Government of Karnataka, Karnataka Science and Technology Promotion Society (KSTePS) and Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR).

“Sustainability is now an impending necessity. The impacts of climate change are increasingly visible, manifesting in rising temperatures, natural calamities, and widespread displacement. Simultaneously, the world is grappling with severe economic and environmental consequences of energy crises. While industries are striving to develop green and clean energy solutions, these efforts alone may not be sufficient to achieve true sustainability. Health challenges, highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic, have exposed critical vulnerabilities in healthcare systems globally. This pandemic was neither the first nor will it be the last; thus, our preparedness and resilience are of utmost importance,” observed N. S. Boseraju, Minister of Minor Irrigation and Science & Technology, Government of Karnataka.

Nanotechnology has the promise to deliver small-sized but high-impact solutions, which can potentially revolutionise our approach to these global issues, he added.

The event will have speeches and engaging panel discussions by eminent experts from around the globe and the conference will address cutting-edge developments in nanotechnology and its applications in climate, energy, healthcare, electronics and semiconductors.

Professor Pulickel Ajayan – Chair, Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, Rice University, Balajee Sowrirajan – Managing Director, SSIR; Professor Neetu Singh – Professor & Head, Center of Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi; Professor Dhirendra Katti – Director, Indian Institute of Technology Goa; Professor Nitash Balsara – The Charles W. Tobias professor in Electrochemistry, University of California, Berkeley besides others will be the main speakers at the conference.

Pre-conference Tutorials will offer in-depth knowledge and hands-on experience in various aspects of nanotechnology, catering to both beginners and seasoned professionals. The Pre-conference Tutorial will delve into topics such as Nano Fabrication and Nano Characterisation, The Poster Showcase at the event is expected to give an opportunity to more than 175 young researchers from academia and research institutions to display their research posters. The exhibition at the event will showcase the latest innovations, products, and technologies from leading companies, research institutions and startups in the field of nanotechnology. More than 50 organisations will also be showcasing their Nanotech products & services.

It was announced that the event will also witness the bestowing of the ‘Prof. C.N.R. Rao Bengaluru INDIA NANO Science Award’ for making meaningful contributions to Nanoscience.

Additionally the ‘Bengaluru INDIA NANO Innovation Award’ will be presented for Innovative and Disruptive Technology Development in Nanotech.

There will also be other awards such as the Nano Excellence Award- to the best researchers in the realm of Nanoscience; Best Poster- The Best Students for revolutionary research; and Exhibitor Awards- For the best showcase across various categories during the event.

There would also be the National Nanotech Quiz which will feature participation of students from across the country. The first 2 rounds of the Quiz will be held digitally while the final showdown will take place in person at the event for the first time. The event will also host an array of programmes such as NanoSparX- a startup pitching initiative, as well as B2B partnering meetings.

source/content: theweek.in (headline edited)

KARNATAKA gets five Union ministers. Nirmala Sitharaman, HD Kumaraswamy, Pralhad Joshi, Shobha Karandlaje & V Somanna

Though the saffron party members won from the coastal region, they are all first-time MPs and have not been included in the ministry.

As Karnataka has elected 19 National Democratic Alliance MPs, the highest from South India, it was on Sunday rewarded with five ministerial posts in the Modi 3.0 cabinet. Of the five ministers, including Rajya Sabha member Nirmala Sitharaman, two are women.

Apart from Nirmala, the four other ministers are Pralhad Joshi, JDS state president HD Kumaraswamy, Shobha Karandlaje and V Somanna. While Nirmala, Joshi and Kumaraswamy have cabinet rank, the other two are ministers of state. Interestingly, Kumaraswamy was among the first few MPs to take oath in New Delhi on Sunday evening.

Of the 293 NDA MPs, the state’s contribution of 19 MPs constituted over 6 per cent and the number of ministries too is above that mark, considering that the Modi cabinet has 72 ministers.

Even among these five ministers, the representation to the Old Mysore region is more. Kumaraswamy represents Mandya, Shobha Bangalore North and Somanna Tumkur. Joshi, who has been reinducted, is the only MP from North Karnataka. This could be because of the lacklustre performance of BJP in these parts. Though the saffron party members won from the coastal region, they are all first-time MPs and have not been included in the ministry.

Joshi, who has the Sangh Parivar background and is the fifth time MP, had served as Law and Parliamentary minister in the previous government. Shobha, the first-ever woman MP from Bengaluru, had served as a minister of state.

Somanna, who was with Congress and JDS, joined BJP in 2009 and has stayed with the party since then. After suffering a defeat from two constituencies in the last Assembly polls, he won the parliamentary polls this time from Tumkur. His loyalty to the party has paid off with a ministerial berth.

Kumaraswamy, who is JDS state president, became a chief minister for the first time in 2006, thanks to his party’s alliance with BJP. But as per the power-sharing agreement between the two parties then, he refused to transfer power to BJP’s BS Yediyurappa in 2007, ending the coalition. The fallout was ugly and the two parties had kept their distance since then. But the 2023 Assembly polls were a wake-up call to the regional party as it won mere 19 seats. Fearing a complete meltdown, the party tied up with BJP for the Lok Sabha polls and Kumaraswamy helped BJP get a good number of seats in the Old Mysuru region.

Breaking down the caste equation, two Brahmins (Joshi and Nirmala), two Vokkaligas (Kumaraswamy and Shobha) and one Lingayat (Somanna), have made it to the Modi ministry.

Sources from BJP said that though two Vokkaligas have been given the honour, only Shobha is originally from BJP. Asked why former chief ministers Basavaraj Bommai and Jagadish Shettar were not inducted, they said, “Since both are former CMs, they cannot be made ministers of state.”

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: KARNATAKA / SPORTS : Cheppudira Arun Machaiah Appointed As Joint Chief Of Karate India Organisation (KIO). First Kannadiga to achieve Highest Post of KIO.

Former MLC and International Karate expert from Kodagu, Cheppudira Arun Machaiah has been appointed as the new Joint Chairman of the Technical Commission of Karate India Organisation (KIO).

Director of World Shitorio Karate Council and President of All India Shitorio Karate Organisation, Arun is the first Kannadiga to achieve the highest post of KIO.

source/content: starofmysore.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: KARNATAKA: ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION: Meet IIT graduate Ravi Poovaiah who designed EVMs, became beacon of innovation

As India is bracing up to hold the seventh and last phase of polling in the ongoing 2024 general elections, the spotlight continues to shine on the electronic voting machines (EVMs), a pivotal tool in the democratic process. While the device itself is familiar to most, the minds behind its creation have remained largely anonymous—until now.

Leading the charge in designing the EVMs were Ravi Poovaiah and A G Rao, both products of the esteemed Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT). Among them, Ravi Poovaiah stands out as a luminary in the field. A distinguished faculty member at the Industrial Design Centre (IDC), IIT Bombay, Poovaiah’s journey is a testament to his interdisciplinary prowess.

Armed with degrees in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Madras and Product Design and Graphic Arts from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in the USA, Poovaiah brought a unique blend of technical expertise and creative insight to the table. His academic journey culminated in an MTech. degree from IIT Bombay, where he now holds the esteemed D L Shah Chair for Innovation.

But Poovaiah’s impact extends far beyond the academic realm. His advocacy for open-sourcing design and integrating design education into mainstream curriculum underscores his commitment to democratizing knowledge and innovation.

In the professional arena, Poovaiah’s collaborations with industry giants like Microsoft, Yahoo, and Google India speak volumes about his practical acumen and problem-solving abilities. His contributions to projects with Motorola India, Indian Oil Corporation, and Siemens India further cement his reputation as a leader in his field.

Through his leadership in the EVM project, Poovaiah has not only revolutionised electoral technology but also underscored the importance of multidisciplinary approaches in addressing complex societal challenges. As India stands on the finishing line to the 2024 general elections, Poovaiah’s legacy as the visionary behind the EVM serves as a beacon of innovation in the world’s largest democracy.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: Bengaluru gets new ‘Centre for Smart Protein and Sustainable Material Innovation’ in collaboration with IKP Knowledge Park and Good Food Institute (GFI)

According to industry experts, the highest profit in this sector can be derived from exporting alternative meat (Rs 8,652 crores) followed by dairy (Rs 1,889 crores) and eggs at Rs 632 crores.

With the right roadmap and investment from individuals and companies, the smart protein or alternative protein industry in the country is poised to grow 10x by 2040 and a total evaluation of four billion US dollars by 2030.

According to industry experts, the highest profit in this sector can be derived from exporting alternative meat (Rs 8,652 crores) followed by dairy (Rs 1,889 crores) and eggs at Rs 632 crores. However, currently with regulatory restrictions, a volatile market, a lack of research and development facilities and limited investment from venture capitalists, the 100+ smart protein startup ecosystem in the country needs a bigger push to scale its full potential.

The IKP Knowledge Park, science park and incubator, along with Good Food Institute (GFI) has launched the Centre for Smart Protein and Sustainable Material Innovation in the city. The centre will be dedicated to helping entrepreneurs create sustainable alternatives for food and materials by offering them early research and development support, mentorship, legal and regulatory assistance, and more.

Deepanwoita Chattopadhyay, Chairman and CEO, IKP said, “India has several challenges ahead of itself while it aims to become an economic power. As aspirations grow the need for protein intake is also important. Food and nutrition are paramount for a healthy country. Unfortunately, 80% of children in the country are nutrition deficient. It’s time for a protein revolution.”

The CEO added that the standard cultivation and production of protein is limited and climate-inefficient. “The ratio of what goes into production and the final protein product is barely touching 1:10 or 1:8. With incubation centres such as these more startups can collaborate and make India a bigger player.”

Leveraging the country’s large crop biodiversity and building sustainable value addition in pulses, millets and other crops can make India a big contributor to smart protein products. “We are home to one of the most talented competitive pools and skills such as entrepreneurship, engineering and scientific skills need to be recognised,” said Aiyanna Belliappa, Senior Innovation Specialist, GFI India.

The group echoed the sentiment that India is already home to the best biotechnology innovation, capitalizing on it is the way ahead.

With three modalities in the alternative protein – plant-based, fermentation and cultivated (grown from animal cells in labs) Sneha Singh, Acting Managing Director, GFI said, “Though India has some regulatory pathway for plant-based protein, the fermentation and cultivation need more support from the government, its progress is slow.”

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited0

NATIONAL: India’s AI: Ola’s AI Platform Krutrim, to outdo global players in energy-efficient data centres: Founder Bhavish Aggarwal

He alleged that big technology companies like Amazon, Google and Apple are having closed ecosystems and locking developer’s work on their platform.

Ola’s AI platform Krutrim will compete with global technology majors in building energy-efficient data centres and offer cloud services at the lowest price for the development of artificial intelligence, its founder Bhvish Aggarwal said.

While speaking at an event, Aggarwal announced an AI cloud platform – Krutrim Cloud – to enterprises, researchers, and developers at low cost with a focus on addressing the needs of Indian developers.

“We are building our own technology to do energy management to make the most efficient data centres in the world. I am willing to compete with Microsoft, Google or whoever to say, we will do better than them. The cloud cost we pay is the same as the amount paid by American developers. How is it justified? We will resolve that,” Aggarwal said.

He alleged that big technology companies like Amazon, Google and Apple are having closed ecosystems and locking developer’s work on their platform.

“Krutrim’s overall ambition is to build a full stack AI platform, which allows developers to create applications easier, faster and cheaper,” Aggarwal said.

He also said that no startup makes a profit due to high cloud service costs.

Ola claims that the Krutrim assistant app has been built on its own large language model and trained on over 2 trillion tokens with the largest representation of Indic data.

The company claims that Krutrim currently understands and generates intelligent responses in over 10 Indian languages, which will be expanded to 22 official languages in the near future.

Aggarwal said Krutrim is an Indian platform for developing global applications.

“We are going to make many more models which are useful in the Indian context. We are working on voice models, vision-based models etc,” he added.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

source/content: business-standard.com (headline edited)

SOUTH INDIA: AVIATION & TRAVEL HUB: Air India and BIAL sign agreement to make Bengaluru premier aviation hub of south India

Air India said that this partnership will stimulate the MRO ecosystem and is projected to generate over 1,200 new job opportunities for highly skilled individuals in the State.

Air India and the Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) have entered into an agreement intended to develop Bengaluru as a premier aviation hub for southern India.

Air India (along with other Tata Group airlines—AIX and Vistara) and BIAL will collaborate to enhance international connectivity, operational efficiency, and passenger experience over the next five years.

This includes strengthening the group’s presence at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) through an enhanced network and establishing a dedicated domestic lounge for premium and frequent travellers of Tata Group airlines Air India and Vistara.

As part of this initiative, Air India has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of Karnataka to establish comprehensive Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities at KIA.

Air India said that this partnership will stimulate the MRO ecosystem and is projected to generate over 1,200 new job opportunities for highly skilled individuals in the State.

“Airline-airport synergy is key to elevated customer experience and efficient operations, while Bengaluru is highly attractive as an origin and destination market as well as a connecting hub,” said Campbell Wilson, Managing Director and CEO of Air India. “We are therefore delighted to be strengthening our relationship with BIAL with a view to developing a greater presence at the airport, expanding air connectivity as well as building a major MRO center. This partnership agreement is a significant milestone in the ongoing transformation of Air India,” he added.

Hari Marar, Managing Director and CEO, BIAL, said, “Given that over half of the international outbound travellers from Bengaluru and our catchment head to Europe, North America, Australia, and the Far East, our alliance with Air India represents a substantial leap towards this goal. We aim to capture a significant share of long-haul routes from the Airport over the next five years.”

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: HISTORY: Know Your City: The Bengaluru ‘Jayamahal Palace Hotel’ connected to 03 Royal families and a musical mind of the Wodeyar family

A well-known admirer of music, Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar is said to have pursued his interests at what is now Bengaluru’s Jayamahal Palace hotel.

Connections to the bygone royals are everywhere in Bengaluru for those looking in the right place, from the Gangas to Kempe Gowda. But today, the most common reminders are those of the Wodeyar dynasty, most often seen in the marks of the twin-headed Gandaberunda sigil. But one heritage hotel can draw its lineage back to not one but three of India’s erstwhile royal families—Jayamahal Palace.

The earliest trace of the history of the building, blending colonial and Indian architecture of the time, is from around 1892, by which time it had already been built for the Jagirdar of Arni. This was a small state dating back to around the time of Shivaji, when the founder of the jagir had been granted the territory by Shivaji’s father Shahaji as a reward. By the early 20th century, however, the palace had passed into the hands of the Wodeyar family.

The hotel probably takes its current name from Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar’s successor. His nephew, Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar, was a well-known admirer of music and is said to have pursued his interests at Jayamahal. A composer in his own right, Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar was the president of the Philharmonia Concert Society in London and a patron to composers as far afield as Europe.

One of these musicians was Nikolai Medtner. This association happened towards the close of Medtner’s life, during a period of relative obscurity. The New York Times noted in October 1948, “In characteristic regal fashion, this Hindu ruler has expressed a desire, backed by a special endowment, that the entire stock of Medtner’s works—sixty works in all—be recorded on gramophone disks, so that posterity may avail itself of the composer’s neglected contribution to musical art. For the past twelve years Nicholas Medtner has been living quietly and modestly… One may well imagine the composer’s complete bewilderment when…he was informed of the Maharaja’s friendly wish.”

After a stint of about a half century with the Wodeyars, the building was by 1950 in the hands of the erstwhile royal family of Gondal, a princely state of Rajput origin located in Gujarat. According to Sanjay Sinhji, a member of the family, “The connection with the family is that Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar was married to my grandfather’s sister (Maharani Pratapa Kumari), who hailed from Vana in Gujarat. The hotel later was sold to Vikram Sinhji, the head of the family and erstwhile king of Gondal. Today, it is owned by his grandson.”

source/content: indianexpress.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: Mangaluru’s Dr Oshin Hegde Wins ‘Mrs Karnataka Global World India 2024’ Beauty Pageant

Dr Oshin Hegde won the ‘Mrs Karnataka Global World India 2024’ in the month of February which was conducted by Global India Entertainment Production (GIEP) held at Westend inn hotel, Delhi.

It was a pan-India beauty pageant, for which contestants from all over the country were auditioned and then selected. She represented herself from the city of Mangaluru for the grand finale. There were different rounds throughout the event after which she received her title.

She is an oral radiologist and forensic dentist by profession practicing in Ivory Shine dental clinic, Kavoor, Mangaluru along with her husband Dr Deviprasad Rai a practicing paedodontist as well. She is a mother to 2 boys.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA’s Judiciary is leading social transformation with Highest Number of Women Civil Judges: CJI Chandrachud

In Karnataka, of the 447 civil judges, 200 are women, which constitutes about 44% of the working strength in the civil judges’ cadre.

The Karnataka district judiciary is leading social transformation in the country by employing the highest number of women civil judges and its rate of disposal of cases is truly a performance to replicate across the country, said Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud in Bengaluru on Saturday.

Speaking at the 21st biennial State-level conference of judicial officers of Karnataka in Bengaluru, he said the number of women in judiciary is heartening as its 37% of its working strength in district judiciary.

In Karnataka, of the 447 civil judges, 200 are women, which constitutes about 44% of the working strength in the civil judges’ cadre, the CJI said while pointing out that the increase in the number of women judicial officers is crucial not only to correct historic lack of representation in our courts but also to bring diverse perspectives and experiences to the table, resulting in the more effective adjudication process.

“Your contribution to judiciary is of immense importance and you serve as a source of inspiration for the future generation of women aspiring to purpose career in law and Indian judiciary,” the CJI told the women judicial officers.

Disposal of cases

On disposal of cases by the district judiciary in Karnataka, he said that 20.62 lakh cases were disposed of the 22.25 lakh cases instituted between January 1, 2023, and March 23, 2024, while stating this performance is a model to replicate across the country.

Stating that work-life balance is integral to fulfil duties effectively, the CJI said that a judge, who is overwhelmed with work and unable to prioritise personal time with family and self care may struggle to perform optimally. “Therefore, the ability to manage stress and to achieve work-life balance is not separate from but rather intertwined with delivering justice,” he added.

The CJI said that the judiciary must have objective yardsticks to access what is its output and what is the quality of work that it is rendering, and how different the judiciary is making the life of citizens by the expenditure and investment of public revenue.

Stating that the district judiciary and grassroots-level judges are the backbone of the Indian judiciary, Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court N.V. Anjaria has said that the common man’s faith in judicial institution originates from here as the district courts and its judges bear a direct connection to the litigants for their plight and aspiration of justice more than the role played by the High Courts or the Supreme Court.

On language

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that language should not be a barrier to justice. “The use of the local language in court proceedings, or the integration of artificial intelligence to provide real-time updates and translations, can significantly enhance the understanding and participation of litigants in the judicial process,” Mr. Siddaramaiah said.

‘I was trolled through doctored video’

CJI Chandrachud recalled a recent incident where he was subjected to trolling and vicious abuse through a doctored video clip, from the Supreme Court’s live streaming, posted on social media, for merely adjusting his seating position during the hearing of a case.

“I was labelled as arrogant by some social media users claiming I got up in the midst of an important argument in court,” he said while pointing out that he had some pain in his back, and all that he did was that he placed his elbows on the armchair in the court and just shifted position.

“I didn’t leave the court. I only shifted my position but I was subject to vicious abuse, trolling, the knives were out…” he said while talking about work-life balance and stress management for judges.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)