BITS-Pilani gets $1 million donation from alumni for rural innovation centre
KRITI will expand BITS Pilani's engagement in the social impact sphere, building upon the legacy of successful alumni-led initiatives such as Sattva, Nirmaan, Thinkerbell Labs, and Ashoka Changemakers. By harnessing the creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit of BITS students and alumni, the Centre will develop sustainable and scalable solutions to pressing rural and social challenges.'The establishment of KRITI marks a pivotal moment in BITS Pilani's journey,' stated Prof. Ramgopal Rao, Vice Chancellor, BITS Pilani.advertisement'It reinforces our unwavering commitment not only to academic excellence but also to nurturing socially responsible innovators who can transform the future of rural India. This Centre will serve as a vital launchpad for a new generation of change makers dedicated to building inclusive growth . We are profoundly grateful to Neeraja and Raju Reddy for their visionary support; their commitment is a powerful testament to their belief in the ability of BITS students and alumni to drive meaningful change,' the Vice-Chancellor added.The Centre's core objectives include cultivating value-based leadership for social transformation, supporting the incubation of high-impact ventures, creating robust pathways for engagement with non-profits, social enterprises, grassroots innovators, and fostering empathy, volunteerism, and responsible citizenship. KRITI also aims to cultivate a vibrant community of faculty and alumni who will collaboratively develop and implement technology driven solutions for rural development. Trending Reel
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News18
an hour ago
- News18
Iranian President Pezeshkian in Pakistan to strengthen bilateral ties
Islamabad, Aug 2 (PTI) Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in Pakistan on Saturday on a two-day state visit aimed at strengthening ties and increasing bilateral trade volume to USD 10 billion annually. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and other high-ranking government officials warmly received the Iranian President at Noor Khan Air Base. A 21-gun salute was also presented to the visiting dignitary. President Pezeshkian is accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, senior ministers, and other high-ranking officials. Speaking before departure from Tehran, Pezeshkian said Iran and Pakistan have always maintained 'good, sincere, and deep relations" and plan to increase bilateral trade volume to USD 10 billion annually, Iran's state-run Press TV reported. 'Through Pakistan, we can connect to the Silk Road between China and Pakistan, and this road can connect to Europe through Iran," he said. In Islamabad, Dar, who is also the foreign minister, met his Iranian counterpart Araghchi and the two leaders discussed various issues, state-run PTV said. 'The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening Pakistan-Iran ties, with a focus on expanding cooperation in regional stability, trade, and economic collaboration. They also discussed enhancing bilateral engagement across key areas of mutual interest," the Foreign Office (FO) said in a post on X. Main meetings of the Iranian president are scheduled for Sunday. President Pezeshkian will meet with Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and hold delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Sharif. Earlier in the morning, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Federal Housing Minister Raiz Hussain Pirzada received Pezeshkian on arrival in Lahore, the Foreign Office said. During his brief stay in Lahore, he had a meeting with Nawaz Sharif. President Pezeshkian also visited the mausoleum of poet Allama Iqbal, who is still popular in Iran due to his Persian poetry. This marks Pezeshkian's first official visit to Pakistan as President of Iran. 'The visit is expected to further strengthen the brotherly relations between Pakistan and Iran," the FO added. Prime Minister Sharif had visited Iran on May 26. PTI SH RD NPK GSP view comments First Published: August 02, 2025, 23:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Print
an hour ago
- The Print
No duty concessions to US on agri, dairy, GM foods: An explainer
Earlier, this duty was to be imposed from August 1. The President has also not specified the penalty which he has announced on India for buying crude oil and military equipment from Russia. With the US not able to finalise a deal with India so far, US President Donald Trump on Thursday announced imposition of an additional 25 per cent import duty on Indian goods entering American markets from August 7. New Delhi, Aug 2 (PTI) India has toughened its stance on extending duty concessions on agri products, dairy and GM foods in the proposed bilateral trade agreement (BTA) with the US. Here is a list of Q&A (questions and answers) to explain reasons behind India's stand and impact of US tariffs on labour-intensive sectors: * What is the India-US bilateral trade agreement (BTA)? – India and the US entered into negotiations for a fair, balanced and mutually beneficial BTA in March 2025 with a target to complete the first tranche/phase of the pact by fall (October-November) of 2025. So far, five rounds of talks have been completed. For the next round, the US team, headed by Assistant US Trade Representative for South and Central Asia Brendan Lynch, is visiting India from August 25. * What is the aim of the BTA? – Normally in a trade agreement, two trading partners either significantly reduce or eliminate import duties on the maximum number of goods traded between them. Besides, they ease norms to promote trade in services and increase two-way investments. The India-US BTA is aimed at more than doubling the bilateral trade to USD 500 billion by 2030 from the present USD 191 billion. *What are the major demands of the two countries from each other in the BTA? – The US wants duty concessions on certain industrial goods, automobiles, especially electric vehicles, wines, petrochemical products, agri goods, dairy items, apples, tree nuts, and genetically-modified crops. India is seeking the removal of this additional tariff (25 per cent now) and cut in tariffs on steel and aluminium (50 per cent), auto sector (25 per cent), labour-intensive sectors, such as textiles, gems and jewellery, leather goods, garments, plastics, chemicals, shrimp, oil seeds, grapes, and bananas. *How much tariff is imposed by the US on Indian goods at present? – India's average import duty is about 17 per cent, while the US' is 3.3 per cent. On April 2, the US announced to impose 26 per cent duty (16 per cent reciprocal tariff and 10 per cent baseline tariff). At present, only the baseline tariff is in force. It is over and above the existing import duty on Indian goods. For example, before April 2, the Indian textiles were attracting a 6-9 per cent tariff in America. With the baseline tariff, it rose to 16-19 per cent. But from August 7, the sector will attract a 31-34 per cent duty. The baseline tariff will be replaced by 25 per cent duty notified on July 31 by the White House. However, certain products are exempted from these tariffs such as pharmaceutical, electronics and energy products. * From when the 25 per cent duty will come into force? – The duty, announced this week, will come into force from August 7 (9.30 am IST). The executive order has also clarified that goods in transit until October 5, 12:01 am eastern daylight time (EDT), or 09:30 am IST, will be subject to a 10 per cent tariff, provided that such goods have entered into transit before August 7 12:01 am EDT. *Why India is not ready to provide duty concessions on dairy, agri and GM foods? – Agri: Farm livelihoods are at stake. This is a politically and economically sensitive area as over 700 million people in India's rural economy are dependent on the sector. If India removes tariffs, cheap, subsidised US grains could flood Indian markets during global price crashes. Unlike the US, where agriculture is corporatised, Indian farming is a livelihood issue. Tariffs are essential to protect small farmers, manage price volatility, and ensure food security. Dairy: India wants to safeguard its small farmers. GTRI stated that the US argues that India's GM-free feed certification and facility registration protocols effectively bar American dairy imports. 'Indian rules prohibit imports from animals fed with animal-derived feed'for example, butter from a cow fed meat'due to religious sensitivities. India considers this policy non-negotiable,' GTRI has said. GM Food: These are created by inserting specific genes, often from bacteria, viruses, other plants, or occasionally animals, into a plant's DNA to introduce new traits, such as pest resistance or herbicide tolerance. Allowing the import of GM products such as soybean meal and distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) for animal feed would affect India's agricultural exports to the EU, a key destination for Indian exporters. PTI RR ANU ANU This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Kerala unveils draft film policy; focus on financial framework, gender equality, global presence
Thiruvananthapuram, The Kerala government on Saturday unveiled a draft film policy at the two-day Malayalam film conclave here, with a focus on establishing a transparent financial framework for the industry and promoting gender equality. Kerala unveils draft film policy; focus on financial framework, gender equality, global presence According to the draft, film production and exhibition will be designated as an industry, enabling access to various incentives and easing financing processes. "The recognition of film production as an industry will bring multiple advantages, enhancing transparency and promoting social responsibility within the sector," the policy stated. The government aims to ensure opportunities for all sections of society to contribute to Malayalam cinema's growth, positioning it as a key global stakeholder and preserving its cultural heritage for future generations. The vision statement outlines the goal of building a strong visual communication ecosystem, ensuring equality across related sectors, and transforming Kerala into a regional production hub by adopting advanced technology and increasing the industry's contribution to the state's GDP. The draft notes that India is the world's largest film producer, with over 2,000 releases annually. Hindi cinema leads with about 400 films a year, followed closely by Malayalam with approximately 300. In 2015, India was the fourth-largest film market globally, with theatrical revenue of USD 2.1 billion. Between 2016 and 2021, the Indian film industry grew at an annual rate of 7.7 per cent. The film industry is optimistic about cinema exhibition prospects this year, with experts estimating theatrical revenue for 2023 in India at around ₹12,000 crore. Kerala alone recorded box office collections exceeding ₹2,000 crore in 2023, the draft said. The policy affirms the government's commitment to continued dialogue with various film industry associations, supporting demands for better wages, job security, medical benefits, and insurance. A general financing incentive scheme for Malayalam cinema will be introduced, with specific provisions for women and marginalised communities. The draft also encourages the production of other Indian languages and foreign films in Kerala. A dedicated film development fund will support promotional and humanitarian initiatives outlined in the policy. A venture capital fund for film production, with private participation and crowdfunding options for socially relevant films, will be created and managed by the Kerala State Film Development Corporation . To promote an equitable work environment, the state will issue detailed guidelines and best practices for the film industry. A single-window film facilitation centre will be established to streamline all shooting-related permits in the state. A Film Development Council, chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and co-chaired by Culture Minister Saji Cherian, with an industry representative as vice-chairman, will be established as the apex body to oversee the development of the film industry. The council will monitor industry activities and recommend policy interventions to the state cabinet as required. The draft policy was distributed among delegates and will be discussed in detail during the two-day conclave, which concludes on Sunday, official sources said. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
