Category: Education

Odisha Signs Four International MoUs in Singapore to Boost Clean Energy Research and Innovation

Bhubaneswar, Oct 29 (UDN): Odisha has stepped up its efforts to strengthen the clean energy sector through international collaboration, with the State Energy Department signing four Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with global technology companies and research partners in Singapore.

 Pic Credit: x.com/EnergyOdisha

The agreements were signed during the Asia Clean Energy Summit (ACES), organised as part of Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW) 2026, held from October 27 to 29.

The partnerships aim to promote research, innovation and technological development in key areas, including artificial intelligence (AI), digitalisation, battery energy storage systems, smart grids, microgrids and green hydrogen.

Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, will serve as the knowledge partner for the collaborations, providing research support and technical expertise to advance Odisha’s clean energy ambitions.

Four Agreements Target Emerging Energy Technologies

The four MoUs cover different aspects of clean energy research and technological advancement.

Under the agreement with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Singapore, the focus will be on joint research into digitalisation and AI-powered workbench solutions. These technologies are expected to support smart governance and improve consumer services in the energy sector.

The partnership with Singapore-based VFlowTech will focus on advanced flow battery technologies, with the objective of strengthening energy storage capabilities and improving grid resilience.

Similarly, the MoU with PHENOGY, Singapore, will facilitate research and development of sodium-ion battery-based Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) for grid applications.

The fourth agreement, signed with Finland-based DANFOSS Drives Oy, will focus on next-generation microgrids, smart grid integration and green hydrogen production.

Deputy CM Highlights Importance of Global Collaboration

Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo welcomed the Energy Department’s initiative, describing international partnerships as an important step towards building a sustainable and technologically advanced energy ecosystem in Odisha.

He said the State is committed to developing a future-ready energy sector through innovation, research and cooperation with leading global institutions and companies.

According to the Deputy Chief Minister, the agreements will create opportunities to explore advanced technologies in energy storage, artificial intelligence, smart grids and green hydrogen.

He further emphasised that such collaborations could strengthen Odisha’s renewable energy ambitions, improve energy security and position the State as an emerging destination for clean energy investment and innovation.

Odisha Focuses on Future-Ready Energy Infrastructure

The latest agreements reflect Odisha’s growing emphasis on research-driven development and the adoption of emerging clean energy technologies.

With renewable energy integration becoming increasingly important, technologies such as advanced batteries, smart grids and microgrids are expected to play a significant role in ensuring reliable and efficient electricity supply.

The collaboration with international technology companies and NTU is expected to provide a platform for knowledge exchange, research partnerships and the exploration of innovative energy solutions.

Through these initiatives, Odisha aims to strengthen its clean energy ecosystem while supporting the broader transition towards a sustainable, resilient and low-carbon energy future.

OPSC Mains Exam: Aspirants Seek 15-Day Postponement Amid Flood Disruptions Across Odisha

Bhubaneswar, Oct 30: With flood-related disruptions continuing in several parts of Odisha following the recent cyclone, candidates appearing for the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) Mains examination have urged the authorities to defer the examination by at least 15 days.

 Representational Image 

The examination is scheduled to commence on October 31, but aspirants from several districts, particularly southern Odisha, have raised concerns over transportation difficulties, disrupted connectivity and waterlogging in their respective areas.

Candidates have appealed to both the state government and the OPSC to reconsider the examination schedule, arguing that the prevailing situation could prevent many aspirants from reaching their designated examination centres on time.

Cyclone Disruptions Add to Candidates’ Concerns

The OPSC Mains examination was originally scheduled to begin on October 29. However, in view of the approaching cyclone, the commission rescheduled the examination to October 31.

Although the cyclonic system has moved away, its aftermath continues to affect normal life in several parts of the state. Waterlogging, damaged roads and flood-like conditions have created fresh challenges for candidates preparing to travel to examination centres.

Aspirants from southern Odisha have expressed particular concern, saying that transportation services remain disrupted in some areas. Train services have reportedly been affected on certain routes, while irregular bus operations have added to the difficulties faced by candidates.

Aspirants Seek Fair Opportunity

Apart from travel-related challenges, several candidates have pointed out that the adverse weather conditions and flooding have also affected their examination preparations.

Disruptions at home, difficulties in accessing study materials and uncertainty over transportation have added to the stress of candidates who have been preparing for the competitive examination.

Aspirants believe that conducting the examination under the prevailing circumstances could put candidates from cyclone- and flood-affected regions at a disadvantage compared to those from relatively unaffected areas.

They have, therefore, requested the commission to grant an additional 15 days before conducting the Mains examination so that all candidates get a fair and equal opportunity to appear.

Decision Awaited From OPSC

With the examination date approaching, candidates are awaiting an official response from the commission regarding their demand.

The aspirants have maintained that their appeal is not for an indefinite postponement but for a reasonable extension to allow transportation services and normal connectivity to improve across affected districts.

Whether the OPSC will reconsider the October 31 schedule remains to be seen. For now, uncertainty continues among candidates, particularly those travelling from flood-affected parts of Odisha.

Odisha Extends CT/D.El.Ed. Admission Deadline by Two Days Amid Cyclone Arnab

Bhubaneswar, Oct 29: The Odisha School and Mass Education Department has extended the deadline for Third Phase Slide-up Admission to CT/D.El.Ed. courses for the 2026–28 academic session by two days in view of the prevailing cyclonic conditions across parts of the state.

 Representational Image 

The department announced the extension in a post on X, stating that the last date for the admission process had been extended beyond the originally scheduled dates of October 29 and 30, 2026.

Cyclonic Weather Prompts Deadline Extension

The decision comes as several districts of Odisha continue to face the effects of heavy rainfall associated with Cyclone Arnab. Rain-related disruptions, including power outages and transport difficulties, have affected normal life, particularly in southern parts of the state.

The extension is intended to provide additional time for candidates to complete the admission-related formalities amid the adverse weather conditions.

Candidates Advised to Check Official Updates

Students seeking admission to CT/D.El.Ed. courses for the 2026–28 session are advised to check official notifications from the School and Mass Education Department for the revised schedule and any further instructions regarding the Third Phase Slide-up Admission process.

The revised deadline is an important update for candidates who may have faced difficulties completing the admission process due to the ongoing weather disruptions.

Note: The department’s official notification should be checked to confirm the precise revised closing date and any related admission instructions.

How Enzymes Learn to Distinguish Between Molecules

Oct 29: Enzymes are the molecular tools of life. They accelerate chemical reactions and are able to distinguish very precisely between molecules that are similar to one another. The high selectivity of many enzymes is key to the production of important medicines such as penicillin and cyclosporine. But how did enzymes develop this ability to distinguish between similar chemical functionalities with such precision? An international research team, including researchers from Graz University of Technology, has investigated this question using a group of plant enzymes known as borneol dehydrogenases as a case study. The results show that it is not only changes in catalytic center of the enzyme, but also changes at other sites on the protein, which together can have a decisive influence on an enzyme’s selectivity. The results of the study have been published in Nature Communications.

An evolutionary path to selectivity

Borneol dehydrogenases are plant enzymes that are involved, among other things, in the formation of camphor. Some of these enzymes are able to distinguish very specifically between the two mirror-image forms of the molecule 1-borneol. One of the two borneol variants is preferentially bound to the enzyme and is thus made available for oxidation processes. This high selectivity of the enzymes is of interest for many biotechnological applications, such as the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients, cosmetics and fragrances.

Particularly in the manufacture of medicines, the effects of mirror-image variants can vary significantly, and using the wrong mirror-image variant can cause side effects. “While natural enzymes recognise these mirror images with a high degree of precision, in many cases it is unclear why this function has become established through evolution and which changes in the enzyme were responsible for this,” says Robert Kourist, head of the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology at TU Graz.

To investigate how the selectivity of BDHs has evolved, the researchers drew on sequences from 97 related enzymes from 59 plant genera and used these to reconstruct various “ancestral enzymes”. Using these reconstructed proteins, they were able to trace the various stages of a possible evolutionary pathway. “This revealed a significant evolutionary leap: a particular reconstructed ancestral enzyme showed little distinction between the two mirror-image forms of the molecule, whereas a later ancestral enzyme, by contrast, was highly selective,” says co-first author Jasmin Zuson from the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology.

Interaction between the active site and the periphery is crucial

There are 19 amino acid changes between the two enzyme variants under closer scrutiny. Only one of the changes affects the active site. Although this mutation alone did alter the enzyme’s selectivity to a measurable extent, further changes at places outside the active site were necessary to achieve very high selectivity. “The results show that the function of an enzyme cannot be explained solely on the basis of its active site. Changes in other parts of the protein can, when acting in combination, have a decisive influence on the properties of the enzyme as a whole,” says Robert Kourist.

Molecular simulations provided a possible explanation for this. It is not only the sequence of the enzyme’s amino acids that influences its reaction selectivity, but also its shape and mobility, which are largely determined by the periphery of the molecule. It influences how an enzyme and a reactant can come into contact with one another in a liquid. In the study, the highly selective molecular form more frequently adopted a spatial arrangement that enables a successful reaction.

Prospects for enzyme engineering

The study thus provides new insights into how evolution gives rise to molecular precision. In the long term, this knowledge may also be relevant to biotechnology: “A better understanding of the evolutionary origins of selectivity could help us to optimise enzymes more specifically for certain tasks in the future,” says Robert Kourist

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju Inaugurated 8th ALS Moot Court Competition 2026 at Amity University Haryana

Gurugram, Oct 29: Shri Kiren Rijiju, Hon’ble Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Government of India, inaugurated the 8th ALS Moot Court Competition 2026, organised by Amity Law School, Amity University Haryana (AUH).

Bringing together emerging legal talent from across the country, the competition features 36 teams from reputed law schools and universities, including National Law Universities (NLUs); Dharmashastra National Law University (DNLU), Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh; Sikkim National Law University (SNLU); Bennett University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh; Symbiosis International (Deemed University), among others. The participants will engage in rigorous legal research, analysis, drafting and courtroom advocacy while arguing the moot proposition based on freedom of speech and expression and constitutional law. The competition will be held till 01 November 2026.

Under the visionary leadership of Dr. Aseem Chauhan, Hon’ble Chancellor, Amity University Haryana, the University continues to promote academic excellence, interdisciplinary learning and professional development, with a strong emphasis on nurturing responsible future leaders.

Addressing the gathering, Shri Kiren Rijiju, Hon’ble Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Government of India congratulated Amity University Haryana and Amity Law School for providing young law students with a meaningful platform to develop their legal acumen, analytical thinking and advocacy skills. Shri Rijiju Ji emphasised that legal education must enable students not merely to study the law, but also to reason, speak and listen, thereby contributing to a deeper understanding of law and the pursuit of justice. He also appreciated the contemporary relevance of the moot proposition, observing that it was significant for both Gen Z and the lawmakers of the country.

The Minister underscored that legal education extends beyond the acquisition of legal knowledge. He encouraged students to cultivate intellectual honesty, respect for constitutional institutions and a commitment to ensuring equal access to justice. Cautioning young people against accepting unverified claims circulating on social media, he urged them to develop the habit of examining evidence, facts and issues objectively and inspired students to connect their professional aspirations with the larger responsibility of nation-building.

Encouraging the participants to uphold the highest standards of professional conduct, Shri Rijiju urged them to “argue courageously, cite accurately, respect the bench and opponents, and accept results with grace.” He further reminded the aspiring legal professionals: “Be ambitious in your career, but never so ambitious that you forget the people your profession is meant to serve. Let your success be an opportunity for service to the people, society and the nation.” Hon’ble Minister apprized the participants of the initiatives and programs being implemented by the Government of India under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji for accelerated development of India as Viksit Bharat@2047. The agenda of nation’s development is well supported by reforms in various sectors including law and justice with a clear mandate for their transformative impact.

Prof. (Dr.) P. B. Sharma, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, AUH in his welcome address highlighted AUH’s progress in cutting-edge research and innovation and the strong employability outcomes of its undergraduate and postgraduate students. Prof Sharma emphasised that we need a thorough rethinking in designing the university of tomorrow, to nurture ethical and moral dimensions in the young budding professionals of the new age.

Prof Sharma further said that the university of tomorrow must go beyond academic and professional achievements to nurture healthy, happy and responsible individuals. He highlighted the importance of creating an enabling campus environment that promotes physical and mental well-being, emotional balance, meaningful relationships and a sense of purpose among students and faculty. Sharing his vision for Viksit Bharat@2047 Prof Sharma said that we all need to contribute to the realization of this great vision so that by the time we celebrate 100 years of Independence of our Great Nation, India, the Bharat should be one of Happiest, Healthiest and Wealthiest nation in the world. Our strategic policy framework and our mission should be aligned accordingly to achieve this noble objectives.

Maj Gen Sandeep Kumar, AVSM, VSM (Retd.), Dean & Director, Amity Law School, in his opening remarks, welcomed the distinguished dignitaries, participating teams, faculty members and students. He highlighted that the 8th ALS Moot Court Competition provides law students with an experiential platform to strengthen their legal research, interpretation, drafting, argumentation and courtroom presentation skills. Emphasising that a moot court is much more than an academic exercise, he described it as an opportunity for students to sharpen their legal reasoning, test their preparation, refine their judgment and develop professional character.

The inaugural ceremony also witnessed the formal release of the 8th ALS Moot Court Competition 2026 compendium by the distinguished dignitaries. The compendium highlights the competition, its moot proposition and the academic objectives of the event, providing participants with an important reference for the proceedings on a theme so important for the new age budding professionals, the provisions of law as needed to address the monumental challenges of Cyber Security as well as Integrity of Information and Secrecy of university and board examinations including the entrance tests.

An interaction session with the Hon’ble Minister and the law students was also held following the inaugural address, during which the law students interacted with the Hon’ble Minister to seek the perspectives on contemporary legal issues, the role of young legal professionals and their contribution to nation-building.”

The inaugural ceremony was attended by Prof. (Dr.) P. B. Sharma, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, AUH; Prof. (Dr.) Vikas Madhukar, Pro Vice-Chancellor, AUH; Maj Gen Sandeep Kumar, AVSM, VSM (Retd.), Dean & Director, Amity Law School; Registrar, Rear Admiral K. K. Pandey; Sq Ld SK Singh; Prof. (Dr.) Paras Chawla; Prof. (Dr.) Sanjna Vij; along with Heads of Institutions, Heads of Departments, faculty members and students from various disciplines.

SiliconIndia Recognises iThrive Academy as Company of the Year 2026 for Wellness & Functional Nutrition Education

29 October 2026: iThrive Academy has been recognised by SiliconIndia Magazine as Company of the Year 2026 in Wellness & Functional Nutrition Education, acknowledging its commitment to training practitioners in functional nutrition through personalised, evidence based approaches and an emphasis on understanding the root causes of health conditions.

Established in 2021 by Mugdha Pradhan, Founder and CEO of iThrive, the Academy was established with a focus on connecting scientific understanding with clinical reasoning and practical application. Rather than treating certification as the end point of learning, its programmes are designed to help practitioners develop the ability to examine individual cases, interpret health information in context and make informed decisions within their scope of practice.

Mugdha Pradhan, Founder & CEO of iThrive, says, “Nutrition education cannot stop at helping someone understand what happens in the body. It must also prepare them to think critically, interpret information in the context of an individual and understand how to apply their knowledge responsibly. At iThrive Academy, we have made practical learning, clinical mentorship and supervised case work central to our programmes because we believe that this is where knowledge begins to translate into capability. Our recognition by SiliconIndia is encouraging, but the larger work continues that of building a community of practitioners who can approach health with scientific rigour, sound judgement and a deeper understanding of the individual.”

At the centre of this approach is the Integrative Certification in Functional Nutrition (ICFN), a 6 month programme combining live teaching, nutritional biochemistry, blood chemistry, functional diagnostics, case based learning and supervised practical training. Learners work on real-world cases under faculty mentorship and receive individual feedback, helping them develop skills that extend beyond theoretical knowledge.

The Academy has trained more than 1,000 practitioners across 60+ completed batches, with learners practising across 20+ countries. Its wider learning ecosystem includes specialised short courses and advanced mentorship, reflecting its focus on continued professional development.

For Mugdha, the larger objective is to contribute to a more practically equipped community of nutrition professionals, capable of questioning assumptions, evaluating evidence and understanding the complexity of individual health needs.

The recognition marks a milestone in iThrive Academy’s journey as it continues to expand its educational pathways, with a focus on clinical reasoning, practical training and continuing practitioner development.

Scientists Use Light to Reveal the Hidden Workings of Superconductors

Oct 29: Scientists at Rutgers and in Estonia have used invisible light to look into tiny magnetic whirlpools, called vortices, inside a superconductor, revealing details that could help researchers develop better materials for carrying electricity.

Their study, published in Physical Review Letters, distinguishes two groups of particles trapped within those vortices, and measures properties that conventional techniques couldn’t readily separate.

“To improve superconductors, scientists need to understand what vortices contain and how they behave,” said Girsh Blumberg, a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy in the Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences and a co-author of the study. “This study provides a new way to look inside them.”

Each vortex consists of circulating electrical current around a narrow core where superconductivity is weakened. The surrounding material remains superconducting.

Superconductors can carry electricity without losing energy as heat and are used to create powerful magnets in MRI scanners and particle accelerators. But magnetic fields can produce tiny vortices inside many superconductors. When these vortices move, they cause energy losses. Understanding their contents and behavior could help scientists develop materials that perform more reliably in strong magnetic fields.

“It’s like Swiss cheese, with many holes,” Blumberg said.

The “holes” in this comparison are vortices. Particles confined within them follow the rules of quantum physics, which govern matter at extremely small scales.

In 1964, physicists predicted these trapped particles would occupy separate energy levels. The levels resemble the rungs of a ladder. A particle can move from one allowed level to another by absorbing the right amount of energy.

Earlier experiments had detected these states. Blumberg and his colleagues wanted to learn more about transitions between them and distinguish the contributions of different groups of particles.

Finding suitable material was essential. In many conventional superconductors, the energy levels are packed so closely together that their signals blur. The iron-based superconductors the team chose has narrow vortex cores, which help keep the levels far enough apart to distinguish.

The experiment depended on thin superconducting films prepared by the Rutgers team, which included researchers Seongshik Oh, a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, and Hee Taek Yi, a postdoctoral research associate. Made by controlled atomic layer-by-layer deposition of iron, tellurium and selenium, each superconducting film was 40 nanometers thick, or roughly thousand times thinner than a human hair. A nanometer is one-billionth of a meter.

“We need extremely clean films, thin and clean films, to do that experiment,” Blumberg said.

Imperfections can interfere with the particles’ behavior and obscure their signals. The films also had to be thin enough for the researchers to measure light passing through them.

The light measurements took place at the National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics in Tallinn, Estonia. Researchers cooled the samples and exposed them to powerful magnetic fields. Both samples became superconducting at about minus 438 degrees Fahrenheit.

The team passed terahertz radiation, a form of invisible light, through the films and measured changes in the light’s polarization, or the orientation of its electric field.

Light waves can vibrate in a pattern that turns clockwise or counterclockwise. One group of particles responded to left-handed light pattern, while the other group responded to the opposite, right-handed, pattern. That difference allowed the researchers to tell the two groups apart and study each one separately.

“By looking for these transitions with light of different handedness, you can separate them,” Blumberg said.

Using their light measurements and mathematical calculations, the researchers estimated the size of the vortices and how long the particles’ responses to light lasted. They also estimated how strongly the vortices resist changes in speed or direction and how strong a magnetic field would disrupt superconductivity for each group of particles.

Members of the team compared two versions of the material containing different amounts of selenium. Both began carrying electricity without resistance at almost the same temperature. But changing the recipe changed the mix of particles trapped inside the vortices.

In one sample, the calculations suggested there were nearly four particles of one group for every particle of the other. In the second, the two groups were about equal in number. Changing the recipe also changed how much energy the particles needed to jump between levels and how quickly their responses to the light faded.

The comparison shows how materials with similar superconducting temperatures can have substantially different internal properties. The technique gives scientists a way to examine those differences as they change a material’s composition.

The authors said the approach could be used to investigate other superconductors with sufficiently narrow vortex cores, expanding the tools available to researchers developing new materials.

“The technique is especially useful because it can separate the contributions of two different groups of particles,” Blumberg said. “Earlier methods could detect the trapped states but could not reveal this difference as directly.”

vivo India Felicitates 10 Student Innovations Under vivo Ignite 2026, Scholarship of upto INR 35 Lakh for Tech-Driven Social Solutions

New Delhi, October 29, 2026: vivo India announced Dheyay Shah from RMG Maheshwari English School, Surat, Gujarat, as the National winner of vivo Ignite 2026, the fourth edition of its nationwide technology and innovation initiative for students in Grades 8-12. His project, JALAAKAR – The Shape of Water: Predict, Alert, & Act, uses machine-learning techniques and historical groundwater-related data to estimate groundwater availability and support informed water management.

The winner was announced at the vivo Ignite 2026 National Finale, held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on October 28, where the Top 10 student innovations were recognized for addressing real-world challenges through creativity, scientific thinking and problem-solving abilities of young innovators. The finalists comprised 13 young innovators across eight individual and two group projects, with solutions spanning groundwater conservation, water safety, women’s online safety, road safety and assistive technologies. The program offers educational scholarships and rewards worth upto INR 35 lakh*.

The fourth edition recorded over 38,000 registrations from more than 12,000 schools, with students submitting over 6,100 innovative ideas. Participation spanned over 4,500 cities across 705 districts, covering all 28 states and 8 Union Territories, including 92 Aspirational Districts.

Geetaj Channana, Chief Corporate Communications Officer, vivo India, said, “We congratulate Dheyay Shah, the national winner and all the Top 10 finalists of vivo Ignite 2026 for their remarkable innovations. As we complete the fourth edition, the growing participation from over 12,000 schools across 705 districts reinforces the potential of vivo Ignite to become one of India’s largest school-level STEM innovation platforms. Our ambition is to build on this momentum by expanding our reach, particularly across government schools and Aspirational Districts, while strengthening mentorship and opportunities for students to take their ideas beyond the classroom. We envision vivo Ignite becoming India’s most credible school-level innovation platform, empowering young minds to transform their ideas into meaningful solutions and contribute to India’s long-term innovation ambitions.”

The National Finale brought together student innovators, educators, program partners and other stakeholders to recognize the achievements of the finalists. The event was attended by Dr. Panneerselvam Madanagopal, CEO, MeitY Startup Hub – Government of India, Shri Ratnesh Jha, Executive Director – UNGC NI, Dr. M J Shankar Raman – CEO, IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation – Technology Innovation Hub (TIH) of IIT Madras and hosted by India’s ‘Tech Guru’ Rajiv Makhni.

As part of the finale, vivo India also felicitated 10 educators selected under the National Teacher Innovation Fellowship (NTIF), an extension of vivo Ignite that recognizes innovative approaches to STEM education. Selected from over 200 applications across 14 states and 26 districts, the fellows were recognized for their work in making science and technology education more practical, inclusive and engaging for students.

The Top 10 student projects were evaluated by a jury of academicians and industry experts on creativity, scientific application, feasibility, cost-effectiveness and potential social impact.

The fourth edition of vivo Ignite was supported by IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation – Technology Innovation Hub (TIH) of IIT Madras, Science Olympiad Foundation (SOF) and UN Global Compact Network India (UNGCNI) as knowledge partners, with Grant Thornton serving as the process validator. 

Details of the Top 10 Projects

Rank 1 – JALAAKAR – The Shape of Water: Predict, Alert, & Act: Developed by Dheyay Shah of RMG Maheshwari English School, Surat, Gujarat, the project combines historical borewell records, rainfall and soil-related data, and machine-learning techniques to estimate groundwater availability at the taluka level.

Rank 2 – JalRakshak: Predicting Borewell Failure Before It Happens: Developed by Vidyut Sundar and Shreyan Limaye of Dhirubhai Ambani International School, Mumbai, Maharashtra, the project uses borewell-specific time-series analysis to predict water-level decline by accounting for rainfall recharge and groundwater extraction.

Rank 3 – HydroPlastiNet: Developed by Anish Srinivas, Achyutha Pranav V Subramanian and Akhilesh Ram R of Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan Senior Secondary School, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, the project combines mechanical filtration with bentonite and activated charcoal to trap microplastics and adsorb dissolved pollutants.

Rank 4 – Project Unmuted – The Voice of Women: Developed by Anushka Bhattacharya of SNBP International School, Rahatani, Maharashtra, the platform uses AI, cybersecurity and secure data management to provide structured guidance to women facing cybercrime, drawing on existing deepfake detection technology.

Rank 5 – Project IRIS: Infrared Reflective Interface System : Developed by Ayushman Choudhary of Bhavan’s B.P. Vidya Mandir, Ashti, Nagpur, Maharashtra, the project combines infrared reflectometry and inertial measurement to track eye direction and head movement, with potential applications in assistive technology.

Rank 6 – AVRODH – Automated Verification for Restricted Operator Descent into Hazard: Developed by Shaurya Dubey of Army Public School, Bareilly Cantt, Uttar Pradesh, the project uses safety interlocks, gas-threshold sensing, RFID-based presence detection and authorisation checks to help prevent unsafe entry into hazardous environments.

Rank 7 – Smart Device for Instant Helping during Vehicle Accidents: Developed by Abhinav Srivastava of SJS Shaktingar Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh, the device uses sensors to detect potential vehicle accidents and can switch to a backup power source before initiating a voice call to emergency number 112.

Rank 8 – Project DrishtiBodh: LiDAR-Based Smart Safety Collar for Visually Impaired: Developed by Jitesh Ladda of Scottish Academy Parbhani, Maharashtra, the project uses LiDAR sensors to detect nearby obstacles and a microcontroller to trigger directional vibration alerts.

Rank 9 – AquaSentinel AI: Smart Fluoride Safety Device for School: Developed by Sai Adhrit Singh of Dr. Virendra Swaroop Education Centre, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, the device uses a colour-based chemical test, light sensing and an offline machine-learning model to estimate fluoride concentration in water.

Rank 10 – Neuradrive: Movement for All : Developed by Advik Jain of The Emerald Heights International School, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, the project explores the use of electrooculography and electroencephalography signals to translate eye movements and brain activity into commands for assistive applications.

*Terms and conditions apply, inclusive of scholarships & rewards for winners, runner-ups and other participants.

Shalimar Paints Captures India’s Cultural Soul in Colors of India, a Book Inspired by the Nation’s Heritage

New Delhi, Oct 29: Shalimar Paints, a pioneer in the Indian paint industry for over 120 years, unveiled ‘Colors of India’, a book that celebrates the country’s rich cultural diversity through the landscapes that give its destinations their distinctive character. Guided by the thought ‘Every City has a story, Every Home has a color’, the book forms part of the brand’s larger ‘Har Rang Khoobsurat’ campaign, exploring how colours reflect the heritage of a place, from its architecture and artistry to its natural surroundings and the people who call it home.

An AI-powered film accompanying the campaign celebrates the distinctive identities of destinations across the country, from the pink hues of Jaipur and the royal splendour of Mysuru to the golden legacy of Amritsar, the coastal charm of Goa and the lush tea gardens of Dibrugarh. It introduces the book, bringing these regional stories to life and capturing how colour is connected to a place’s history, architecture, traditions and surroundings.

‘Colors of India’ builds on Shalimar Paints’ larger ‘Har Rang Khoobsurat’ campaign, which also featured ‘Pujo Ka Har Rang Khoobsurat’, celebrating the diverse stories, emotions and traditions that make Durga Pujo special. Through an AI-powered montage film, the initiative captured the journeys of artisans, decorators, dhakis and devotees, highlighting the devotion, creativity and togetherness that define the celebrations. Through these campaigns, Shalimar Paints celebrates India’s cultural diversity and the role of colour in expressing the unique character and spirit of its many communities.

Commenting on the campaign, Mr. Kuldip Raina, MD and CEO, Shalimar Paints, said,

“In India, colour is inseparable from how we experience our culture and heritage. From the vibrant celebrations of our festivals to the distinctive architecture of our cities, colours shape how we see a place, remember it and connect with its identity. At Shalimar Paints, we did not want to create a catalogue of shades; we wanted to honour the places, traditions and people that give these colours their meaning. Every palette in the Colors of India book is a tribute to a region’s character, history and cultural richness. Through this initiative, Shalimar Paints brings people closer to India’s rich cultural heritage, offering them new ways to experience the colours, stories and traditions of India in their own homes.”

The campaign reflects Shalimar Paints’ approach to storytelling, serving as an invitation to experience India’s rich cultural heritage through colour, bringing the stories, traditions and landscapes of its diverse regions to life and showing how each finds expression in the colours that define it.

For Shalimar Paints, the book extends its engagement with colour beyond paint and interiors to the cultural references that influence how people experience and personalise their spaces.