Hon. Dr. Bhagyashree Patil was honored with the esteemed “Shakti Award“in a spectacular ceremony at the Pune Police Commissioners Excellence Center. This recognition in the field of healthcare and medicine was presented to her by the Pune Police Commissioner, Retesh Kumaarr, and Chief Guest Hon. Ms. Anu Aga, ex MP and chairperson of Thermax. On the occasion of Navratri, 94.3 Fever FM Pune has taken the initiative to highlight the Extra Ordi-Naaris of Pune with the Shakti Award. The event also celebrated our brave Women Police Officers. In partnership with Pune Police, 94.3 Fever FM Pune felicitated these extraordinary women who stand as the protective shield of our society.

Hon. Dr.Bhagyashree Patil receiving the Shakti Award from the Pune Police Commissioner Mr.Retesh Kumaarr and Chief Guest Hon. Ms. Anu Aga, Ex MP and Chairperson of Thermax

Hon. Dr. (Mrs.) Bhagyashree Patil, a renowned educationist, entrepreneur and philanthropist, is the Pro-Chancellor of Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University). She is also the visionary Founder Chairperson of Rise n Shine Biotech Pvt. Ltd. Under her astute leadership, The Yashoda Human Milk Bank has made significant strides in healthcare, establishing itself as a beacon of hope in mother and child care. Furthermore, her commendable work with the Rise N Shine Biotech Park and a myriad of initiatives focusing on womens empowerment are a testament to her unwavering commitment. Noteworthy are her initiatives at D. Y. Patil Private Super Specialty Hospital, which include providing complimentary meals to patients and enhancing the hospitals infrastructure, both of which underscore her holistic vision for healthcare.

Upon receiving the award, Hon.Dr. Bhagyashree Patil expressed, “I am humbled and honored to receive this recognition. My work, whether in medicine or empowerment, is a testament to the strength and potential of every woman. I believe in creating a society where every woman has the opportunity to shine and contribute positively. This award is not just for me but for every woman who dreams and works hard to make it a reality.”

The Yashoda Milk Bank stands as a pioneering initiative in Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Area, marking itself as the first Human Milk Bank in a Private Medical College and the 12th in India. It is the only Human Milk Bank in India that operates round the clock, 24×7. The Yashoda – Advanced Milk Bank, Comprehensive Lactation Management, and Training & Research Centre, an initiative by D. Y. Patil Private Super Specialty Hospital, is dedicated to reducing infant mortality by ensuring the availability of safe and nutritious donor human milk. This center, with its state-of-the-art infrastructure, guarantees utmost comfort for mothers during the donation process and assures the highest standards for preserving the donated milk. It stands as the first holistic healthcare service of its kind in PCMC.

Rise n’ Shine Biotech Pvt. Ltd., established in 2004, stands as a pioneer in Plant Biotechnology. Situated in Theur, Pune, with its state-of-the-art laboratories, Hi-tech Green Houses and a dedicated team of experts, Rise n’ Shine has been at the forefront of advancements in Biotechnology, Floriculture and Horticulture. Central to Rise n’ Shines success is its unwavering commitment to globally training and empowering farmers. The company employs over 2000 women, empowering them through meaningful work and opportunities. This dedication to womens empowerment is mirrored in their workforce, where a remarkable 80% are women. Infused with a deep-seated passion for flora and a core principle of womens empowerment, Rise n’ Shine has cultivated an environment where aspirations are achieved and dreams come to fruition. Rise n’ Shine is not just a company but a cohesive family, united by mutual objectives and a shared vision of excellence.

The Shakti Award, which began in 2022, have consistently celebrated outstanding women in various sectors. Originating from a humble yet impactful initiative in 2021, where self-defense classes were organized across Pune for numerous women in collaboration with the Pune Police, it has grown in prominence. These classes were led by Taekwondo gold medalists and super cops, promoting safety and empowerment among women. Reflecting on the journey of the Shakti Award, it is evident that these honors are not just awards; they are a manifestation of merit, genuine effort and a commitment to excellence.

Global crises, such as climate change, pandemic, urbanisation and many others, require deep science and technology interventions. This is a moment for Indian Science to play a significant role at the global scale. It would require deep scientific capabilities, building our science infrastructure to meet these requirements and investments by both government and industry in the national innovation system.

T N Ninan, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Naushad Forbes, and Pankaj Chandra (from right) during the inaugural panel discussion of the Asia-Pacific Innovation Conference 2023 held at Ahmedabad University

The Centre for Technology Innovation and Economic Research (CTIER) and Ahmedabad University jointly organised the 13th Asia-Pacific Innovation Conference from October 19-21, 2023.

At the inaugural panel discussion of the Conference, held at Ahmedabad University, on the Need for Indias 1991 Moment for Science and Technology Reform, Naushad Forbes, chair of the panel, talked about whether Indias national innovation system is on the cusp of a change and why investment in research, development, and innovation must greatly matter to India. The panellists were Montek Singh Ahluwalia, a key figure in Indias economic policy and reforms since the 1980s and the former Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission of India; T N Ninan, one of Indias leading commentator on the Indian Economy and the former Chairman of Business Standard Limited; and Pankaj Chandra, Vice Chancellor, Ahmedabad University.

Dr Forbes, the Co-Chairperson of Forbes Marshall, Member – Board of Governors, Ahmedabad University, and Chairman, CTIER, said in his keynote address, “India has more skill and capital intensive industries than countries with similar per capita GDP. This means our industries must innovate more. Lessons from China and South Korea can help us rapidly deepen our research and restructure our institutions.”

Mr Ahluwalia spoke on the possible watershed movement for Indias research and development in the context of 1991 economic reforms, “In 1991, we had a first-rate microeconomic crisis. People knew that they had to do something different. The government used that public awareness not just to stabilise the economy but also to push through a series of reforms. There was also an awareness that India was falling behind compared to other East Asian countries. This combination led to a deeper set of changes that happened. In research and innovation, we must look at the significant gap between our performance and the rest of the world.” He mentioned that, in Mr Manmohan Singh, the country also had a first rate economist as our Finance Minister.

Regarding whether we can create a science and technology crisis to bring out changes in innovation and research, Mr Ninan said, “We have to differentiate between overt crisis and silent crisis. We dont need to create a crisis because India has several silent crises. For instance, we have gone from water-rich, to water scarce to water scanty, and we use 80 per cent of this water in agriculture, so there is also a need to develop less water-intensive crops. Silent crises like these call for research and innovation driven solutions.”

Professor Chandra emphasised that the Indian higher education system needs dramatic reform – autonomy to make decisions internally, quality science and technology infrastructure in small colleges and state level public institutions, and access to high-quality faculty resources will go a long way in building an environment of excellence in science.

About the Asia Pacific Innovation Conference

The Asia Pacific Innovation Conference was formed in January, 2010, to bring together scholars in the Asia Pacific region interested in the Legal, Managerial and Economic aspects of innovation. They conference conduct regular workshops, conferences, and events in the region focusing on research in innovation.

About Centre for Technology Innovation and Economic Research (CTIER)

CTIER, based in Pune, has been incorporated under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013 in India. CTIER is completely autonomous and works with some of India’s leading industry and academic experts in the field of innovation and technology policy. It aims to facilitate high quality economic research, provide a platform to inform policy making and impact higher education in India.

About Ahmedabad University

Ahmedabad University is a leading private, non-profit research university offering students a liberal education focused on interdisciplinary learning, practice orientation, and research thinking.

The University has been

Recognised by the Government of Gujarat as a Centre of Excellence.

Accredited with A grade by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).

Awarded a 5-star rating, the highest awarded in the Gujarat State Institutional Rating Framework (GSIRF) for 2021-22 by the Knowledge Consortium of Gujarat (KCG), Department of Education, Government of Gujarat.

Recognised by the UGC under section 12(B) of the UGC Act, becoming one of the very few private research universities to have been awarded this recognition for select research universities.

Recognised as a Highly Commended University for Teaching and Learning Strategy of the Year in the Times Higher Education (THE) Awards Asia 2023.

Awarded the AACSB’s Innovations That Inspire Award 2023 for its Foundation Programme.

Awarded Gold Rating by the Indian Green Building Council for achieving the Green Building Standards at our University Centre.

The University, established in 2009, is rooted in the vision of one of India’s finest educational foundations, the Ahmedabad Education Society, which was founded in 1935 by nationalist leaders. Programmes at the University range from bachelors to doctoral levels in humanities and social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, and management through its 11 Schools and Centres:

Amrut Mody School of Management | School of Arts and Sciences | School of Engineering and Applied Science | School of Public Health | Centre for Heritage Management | International Centre for Space and Cosmology | VentureStudio | Centre for Learning Futures | Global Centre for Environment and Energy | Centre for Inter-Asian Research | Ahmedabad Design Lab

An urban university, Ahmedabad promotes independent-mindedness and diversity across all dimensions of its activity and helps students mature into critical thinkers who are analytically equipped, practically oriented, and contextually aware global citizens. The University provides a contemporary educational framework that brings liberal arts, sciences, and the professions to engage together in creating new knowledge for addressing complex challenges of the society and in offering majors that merge the boundaries of disciplines to prepare students for the new economy.

Silicon Valley techpreneur and renowned Co-founder of Hotmail, Sabeer Bhatia announced the launch of ShowReel – an AI driven entrepreneurship course, in partnership with Jamia Millia Islamia, on October 20. An inquiry based learning platform, ShowReel is an all cloud based virtual accelerator app to develop an ecosystem of entrepreneurship for young minds to share and test their ideas.

Exclusive discussion organised by Primus Partners on ShowReel, an inquiry based learning platform by Sabeer Bhatia, renowned co-founder of Hotmail, with esteemed guests from prestigious institutions

ShowReel serves as a key to unlocking the path to success through the development of critical thinking skills crucial for the entrepreneurial journey. The AI-driven application is designed to nurture entrepreneurial acumen among the younger generation, offering them a valuable resource in the form of concise and insightful videos. In addition, ShowReel creates an inclusive platform that caters to the aspirations of both urban and rural youth who are eager to embark on the entrepreneurial path.

Commenting on the launch of ShowReel, Sabeer Bhatia, Co-founder, ShowReel said, “Entrepreneurship represents a transformative avenue for addressing the pressing issue of youth unemployment, offering a pathway toward meaningful solutions and opportunities.”

He furthersaid, “Entrepreneurship is about solving societal problems using technology and other human resources. In order to make people great entrepreneurs, we have to teach them people skills, problem solving skills, leadership skills, motivational skills, pitching skills, fundraising skills, digital marketing skills and most importantly teach them to be empathetic individuals. If all the aforementioned skills are taught from an early age, they will develop naturally in individuals.”

“Jamia Millia Islamias pioneering partnership with ShowReel introduces the first-ever cloud-based AI entrepreneurship course, setting us on a path to global prominence. Aligned with the National Education Policy 2020, our pursuit of internationalization is reshaping the Indian education system. This collaboration is a game-changer, with our pilot project in entrepreneurship poised for rapid success. The curriculum, designed by industry-leading experts, paves the way for faculty participation in future programs hosted on the ShowReel platform,” added Najma Akhtar, Vice-Chancellor Professor Jamia Millia Islamia.

Immediately after launch, Primus Partners organized an exclusive discussion and demonstration of ShowReel by the entrepreneur Sabeer Bhatia –ReelTalk. The event attracted a notable gathering of educators hailing from prestigious institutions, including Heritage, Pathways (Noida), Sanskriti, DPS (Patna, Pune, Coimbatore, Ludhiana), College of Vocational Studies and Ashoka University.

“Sabeer has decoded critical thinking patterns that can create pathways for an entrepreneur’s journey, and ShowReel aligns this discovery with an AI application. We are excited to see how this all pans out in the current climate of startups in India,” commented Charu Malhotra, Co-founder and Managing Director of Primus Partners.

Sanjiv Kumar, Founder, Takshila Educational Society and promoter of several Delhi Public Schools said,“Entrepreneurship involves critical thinking and problem-solving and should be taught in junior classes. However, it should not be forced upon everyone. Students should be made aware of these curricula and allowed to choose to study them.”

“Our schools are known for experiential learning pedagogy. To me, entrepreneurship is more of an attitude to take charge and take ownership. So, in schools, the only way to teach them this is to give students the agency to do the same,” added Manit Jain, Co-founder and Director of Heritage Xperiential Learning School, Gurgaon.

A survey report by NASSCOM, in partnership with TiE Delhi-NCR and Grant Thornton Bharat, found that access to mentorship (13%) is among the biggest hurdles faced by entrepreneurs, based on a detailed survey of the start-up ecosystem in India comprising founders, investors, incubators, etc. The finding underscores the need for targeted efforts to bridge these gaps and empower entrepreneurs in India, and hence the curriculum of ShowReel has been designed by top-notch professionals, who have made a mark in the domain of entrepreneurship. The programs will also see participation from faculty members towards the creation of curriculum that would be hosted on the ShowReel platform.

The highly anticipated Formula Imperial and Indian Karting Race, a thrilling motorsport extravaganza, took place at the prestigious Galgotias University campus and the iconic Buddha International Circuit. Organized in collaboration with JK Tyre Co., ISIE, and Galgotias University, the event showcased exhilarating racing action featuring 20 electric karts and 12 vehicles from across the country.

Galgotias University Hosts Formula Imperial and Indian Karting Race 2023

The final race of this adrenaline-fueled event was officially flagged off by Dheerendra Singh, MLA of Jewar, and Mr. Dhruv Galgotia, CEO of Galgotias University. The event witnessed participants from 18 states, all vying for victory in this fiercely competitive competition.

Sanjay Sharma, Head of JK Tyre Motorsports, had the honor of flagging off the Formula Imperial segment of the race, setting the stage for a breathtaking display of speed, skill, and sportsmanship. The winners were celebrated during the award distribution ceremony held at the Buddha International Circuit.

In a heart-pounding finish, the title of JK Tyre Formula Imperial champion was claimed by “Team Screwdrivers” from Dhole Patil College of Engineering, Maharashtra. Their remarkable performance and determination secured their victory in this prestigious category, earning them accolades from motorsport enthusiasts and experts alike.

In the electric vehicle category, “Team Luftwaffe” from Rajarambapu Institute of Technology, Maharashtra, emerged as the champions, showcasing outstanding expertise and teamwork throughout the competition.

Mr. Dhruv Galgotia, CEO of Galgotias University, expressed his excitement about the event, saying, “We are thrilled to host such an exhilarating event that brings together talented racers from different parts of the country. The Formula Imperial and Indian Karting Race not only highlights the spirit of competition but also highlights the importance of innovation and sustainable practices in motorsports. We congratulate all the participants and winners for their exceptional performance and sportsmanship.”

The Formula Imperial and Indian Karting Race served as a platform for young racing enthusiasts to showcase their skills and passion for motorsports. With high-octane action and a display of exceptional talent, the event left an indelible mark on the racing community, promising an even more exciting edition in the future.

About Galgotias University

Galgotias University, located in Uttar Pradesh and sponsored by Smt. Shakuntala Educational and Welfare Society began operations in the 2011-2012 academic session and welcomed its first batch of students in July 2011. Since then, it has grown to have more than 30,000 students. Today, with 17 schools offering over 200 programs, including Polytechnic, Undergraduate, Postgraduate, and PhD courses, Galgotias University ranks among India’s top universities. Galgotias University’s recognition in the ARIIA Ranking 2021 as an “Excellent” institution and its fifth position in India for Patent Filing attests to its innovative and research-focused approach. Galgotias University’s contributions include 10,000+ publications and 1700+ patents. At the forefront of the education sector, Galgotias University is unwavering in its dedication to the UNs sustainable development goals.

Today, one of the Co-founders of Infosys, Mr. S. D. Shibulal announced that his family members have sold a portion of their holding in Infosys Limited on the stock exchanges yesterday.

Mr. S. D. Shibulal

The sale was executed by Cholamandalam Securities Limited as the Sole Broker.

The Co-founders have nurtured the company for over three decades, transforming it into one of the most professionally-run companies in India with a global presence. Proceeds from the partial stake monetization will be utilized for a combination of personal and philanthropic activities.

This press release is for information purposes only and is not an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any of the shares described herein. The shares have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “US Securities Act”), or in any state or other jurisdiction of the United States. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements under the US Securities Act. There has not been and there will not be any public offering of the shares in the United States.

The Public Affairs Forum of India (PAFI) is organising its 10th Annual Forum 2023, PAFI’s flagship event, in New Delhi on 26th – 27th October 2023. The theme for this year will be ‘India’s Vision @ 2030: 3rd Largest Economy-Issues, Ideas, Implementation’. Over 70 speakers, represented by Central and state Ministers, Secretaries, industry, media and civil society, will be participating to share their views during 15 sessions spread over two days. There will be participation by 300+ Policy Heads and CXOs.

PAFI 10th Annual Forum 2023

PAFIs Annual Forum has a long tradition of adding to the conversation that sets the direction for long-term policy and economic agenda resulting from active participation, dialogues and interaction among a wide range of stakeholders.

Some of the important Ministers who will address the gathering are Smriti Zubin Irani-Minister of Women and Child Development; Ashwini Vaishnaw-Minister of Railways; Hardeep Singh Puri-Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs and Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas; Rajeev Chandrasekhar-Minister of State for Electronics & IT; and G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant.

During these sessions, eminent Secretaries to the Government of India will also be sharing their views on issues ranging from Economy, Employment, Health, Infrastructure, Technology, and so on. Eminent panellists will include Vini Mahajan-Secretary, Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti; Apurva Chandra-Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting; Anurag Jain-Secretary (RT&H), Ministry of Road Transport and Highways; Katikithala Srinivas-Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs; Rohit Kumar Singh-Secretary, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution; S Krishnan-Secretary, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology; Arti Ahuja-Secretary, Ministry of Labour & Employment, and several others.

Uttar Pradesh is the Partner State for this year’s Annual Forum.

Razorpay, India’s Leading Full-Stack Payments, and Banking Platform for Businesses has secured the top spot at the RBI’s 2nd Global Hackathon – ‘HaRBInger 2023‘ for its remarkable product, ‘DrishtiPay‘, which facilitates easy-to-use, innovative Card and UPI payments for the visually impaired.

Shri T. Rabi Sankar – Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank of India (in the middle) presenting the award to the Razorpay POS team

Designed by Razorpay’s POS Team (earlier known as Ezetap), the solution ‘DrishtiPay‘ integrates with UPI apps and cards, to facilitate digital payments for the visually impaired. DrishtiPay operates seamlessly with feature phones, even in the absence of an internet connection, in case of card transactions. With a tap of a card or through an NFC-enabled phone, it allows visually impaired users to provide OTP securely for transacting instead of struggling to enter a PIN. DrishtiPay is designed to contribute to the ease and accessibility of financial services while bringing efficiency and inclusion. The prestigious award was presented by Shri T. Rabi Sankar, Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, recognizing the exceptional innovation and inclusivity brought forth by DrishtiPay.

The HaRBInger hackathon’s second edition was launched in February’23 with the theme ‘Inclusive Digital Services’. In October, it received proposals from 154 teams spanning various countries, including India, Australia, Canada, Germany, Singapore, Sweden, the UK, and the USA. The competition sought innovative ideas in four key areas:

User-friendly digital banking services for differently-abled individuals;

RegTech solutions to streamline compliance for Regulated Entities (REs);

Exploring use cases for Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) in retail transactions, even in offline scenarios;

Enhancements to improve Transactions Per Second (TPS) and blockchain scalability.

During the initial phase, 28 proposals were shortlisted by external expert judges, across the four problem statements. The final evaluation phase occurred on October 10-11, 2023, in Bengaluru, where 28 finalist teams presented their solutions for the designated problem statements to the panel of jurors who evaluated the winners and runners-up based on parameters like innovation, technology, demonstration, user experience, security and ease of implementation, among others.

Proud of this accomplishment, Byas Nambisan, Head of Razorpay POS said, “DrishtiPay is a shining example of whats possible when technology and empathy converge. With its seamless features and accessibility for differently-abled, senior citizens, and special needs alike, DrishtiPay is the bridge towards inclusivity and technological advancement. Our Razors have always been the backbone of our innovation and we are thrilled that our team has won. The future holds even more exciting possibilities, and were excited to see how razors will further push the boundaries.”

The POS device enabled with DrishtiPay is meticulously engineered to articulate transactions in the customers preferred language, offering a personalized and inclusive experience, while the merchants interface remains in their chosen language. In addition to its proficiency in facilitating card payments, DrishtiPay is designed to enhance the efficiency of UPI transactions by seamlessly integrating with well-established UPI applications.

Meet the brains behind the innovative product from Razorpay POS Team:

Anand N A, Senior Director, Product QA Engineering & Program Management

Apurva Gupta, Senior Manager, Product Development Engineering

Bhaskar Chatterjee, Vice President, Product Management

Deepak Nair, Associate Director, Product Development Engineering

Mohit Srivastava, Manager, Product Development Engineering

Raghav Gupta, Product Development Engineer

About Razorpay

Razorpay, a full-stack financial services company helps Indian businesses with comprehensive and innovative solutions built over robust technology to address the entire length and breadth of the payment and banking journey for any business. Established in 2014, the company provides technology payment solutions to over 10 Mn businesses. Founded by alumni of IIT Roorkee, Shashank Kumar, and Harshil Mathur, Razorpay is the second Indian company to be a part of Silicon Valley’s largest tech accelerator, Y Combinator. Marquee investors such as Lone Pine Capital, Alkeon Capital, TCV, GIC, Tiger Global, Sequoia Capital India, Ribbit Capital, Matrix Partners, Salesforce Ventures, Y Combinator, and MasterCard have invested a total of $741.5 Mn through Series A to F in funding. A few angel investors have also invested in Razorpay’s mission to simplify payments and business banking and redefine how finance works in India.

For more information, please visit razorpay.com.