Latest news with #IICT
India Gazette
a day ago
- Entertainment
- India Gazette
Indian Institute of Creative Technologies begins admissions for Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, in August
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 1 (ANI): The Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) opens admissions for its first batch of students this August, offering a robust portfolio of industry-driven courses in the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR) sector. The institute announced by Union Minister of Information & Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw at the Waves Summit in May is backed by prestigious global partnerships and industry leaders. As per the press note shared by IICT, the inaugural academic offering includes six Specialised Courses in Gaming, four Courses in Post Production and eight Courses in Animation, Comics & XR. These programs have been meticulously designed in collaboration with top industry players to ensure students are equipped with the skills required for the ever-evolving creative technology landscape. Two weeks ago, IICT signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of York, UK, paving the way for collaborative research, faculty exchange, and global certification pathways, as quoted in an IICT press note. Adding to its strong foundation, leading global companies such as Google, YouTube, Adobe, Meta, Microsoft, NVIDIA and JioStar have committed to long-term collaborations with IICT. Their collaboration covers curriculum development, scholarships, internships, startup incubation, and placement opportunities. Speaking on these courses, Vishwas Deoskar, CEO of IICT, said, 'Our vision is to make India a global powerhouse in the AVGC-XR sector by nurturing world-class talent. These courses are designed to meet global standards while being rooted in India's dynamic creative potential,' as quoted in an IICT press note. A more detailed curriculum will be announced this month. IICT's esteemed governing board includes Sanjay Jaju, Vikas Kharge, Swati Mhase, Chandrajit Banerjee, Bhupendra Kainthola, Ashish Kulkarni, Manvendra Shukul, and Rajan Navani, while Ninad Raikar serves as the COO. (ANI)
The Hindu
21-06-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Wealth from waste: how crop residue can provide nutritious cattle fodder, make farming eco-friendly
Scientists at CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) here seems to have found a solution to the country's mounting problem of dealing with agriculture residue such as paddy straw and rice and wheat husk. Over the past few years, scientists at the premier institute have been working on converting rice straw and other crop residue into nutrient rich fodder for the livestock and also other value-added products such as Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) and Fermented Organic Manure (FOM). Usually farmers resort to burning the crop residues, leading to environment pollution. Though it is already being used as cattle fodder, it is not as nutritious as other foods. Scientists have now shown that crop residue like rice straw when treated with a relatively simple chemical process could effectively help bridge the gap in the country's fodder needs, besides protecting the environment. By separating 'lignin', a complex polymer found in plant cell walls, and adding a few essential ingredients, rice straw could be turned into a cattle fodder with improved palatability and digestibility. The process is called 'delignification', said principal scientist Polumati Anand. After testing the process in an in house pilot plant on the institute campus in Tarnaka, the fortified fodder was evaluated in field trials. Buffalo calves and sheep were fed the fodder and their food intake, digestion and growth examined. These field trials of the fortified fodder held at the ICAR-National Research Centre on Meat, Chengicharla, (Hyderabad) showed 'remarkable' improvements in digestibility of buffaloes as palatability increased from 20% to 60%, he explained. Weight gain in the sheep was approximately 3.7 times higher and methane emissions from the animals also dropped. Following tests on sheep, goats and buffaloes, the treated biomass is being fed to cows as well, said Dr. Anand. Utilising the 'delignified' paddy straw in the animal diets offers a sustainable and economical alternative, reducing feed costs and promoting eco-friendly farming practices. Studies are also being carried out at P.V. Narsimha Rao Telangana Veterinary University, Rajendranagar (Hyderabad), to evaluate the effect of fortified fodder developed by CSIR-IICT on the milk yield and quality, said the principal scientist. Scientists are of the view that treated biomass could effectively deal with the growing need for a cost-effective animal fodder with enhanced nutritional efficiency with farmers as direct beneficiaries. The institute has also developed a Dry Anaerobic Digester with Unique Hydrodynamics (DAD-UH) Technology for the generation of CBG and FOM from rice straw and rice husk. A pilot plant, which is being operated on the institute campus for the past 18 months, has shown that about 100 kg and 140 kg of CBG could be generated from one tonne of rice husk and straw respectively, said scientist Sameena. Chief Scientist A.G. Rao said that as per the Centre's SATAT (Sustainable Alternative towards Affordable Transportation) programme, a minimum of two tonnes per day capacity CBG plant can be installed by an entrepreneur, and the gas generated could be supplied to nearby CNG bunks being operated by Oil Manufacturing Companies. These plants are remunerative with a simple payback period of four years with guaranteed CBG and FOM (Fermented Organic Manure) purchase from by the Centre, he said. The pilot plants and the process of reinventing crop residues was showcased during a recent farmers conclave held at the institute, where Telangana Agriculture Secretary M. Raghunandan Rao expressed concern over farmers burning crop residue. The government is proposing to set up agri-based industries using biomass and others, including CNG plants on land belonging to the Agriculture department, he said. Hailing the farm friendly products, CSIR-IICT Director D. Srinivasa Reddy said the institute, which had played a pioneering role in promoting pharma and allied industries, has also been working on developing eco-friendly technologies. 'Resources currently considered as 'waste' are being utilised as 'resources' for the generation of value-added products in addition to complimenting farmers' income,' he added.
India Gazette
14-06-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
IICT, University of York sign MoU to foster talent in creative technologies
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 14 (ANI): The Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) formalised a partnership with the University of York, United Kingdom, through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Mumbai on Saturday. This partnership aims to open new frontiers across future-ready disciplines, including Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR), filmmaking, and design, per the press note shared by IICT. The collaboration involves CoStar Live Lab, a research lab led by the University of York. The partnership will focus on dual-degree pathways, joint curriculum development, startup incubation, and immersive learning experiences designed to nurture India's next generation of creative technologists and storytellers, stated the press note. The agreement, signed by Dr. Vishwas Deoskar, CEO of IICT, and Professor Charlie Jeffery, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of York, spans a five-year term and aims to significantly enhance the academic and professional scope for Indian learners. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Vishwas Deoskar, CEO of IICT, said, 'This MoU represents not just an academic partnership but a shared vision for the future of creative education. We are thrilled to collaborate with an institution of York's global repute. Together, we aim to empower Indian students with international exposure and transformative opportunities in creative technologies,' as quoted in a press note. Professor Charlie Jeffery commented, 'We are delighted to join hands with IICT in this exciting venture. The creative industries are global in nature, and this partnership enables students in both India and the UK to benefit from shared expertise, cutting-edge research, and real-world innovation. It's an important step in developing talent that will shape the future of storytelling and digital experience.' This partnership is expected to add momentum to India's ambition of becoming a global hub for creative technology education and innovation. With the University of York joining the growing list of global collaborators at IICT, the institute continues to build an impressive global academic network to train and empower India's creative and digital talent pool, as per the IICT press note. (ANI)
The Hindu
13-06-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Telangana govt to host event to bring farmers, farm research bodies together
Telangana Government is planning to organise a conclave of the Hyderabad based Central and State scientific organisations working on agriculture research to have an outreach programme with the farming community, informed Agriculture secretary M. Raghunandan Rao on Thursday (June 12, 2025). Addressing farmers and scientists at a one-day workshop on 'Environmentally Benign Farming Practices for Farmers: Fermented Organic Manure from Anaerobic Digestion and Pheromones for Pest Control' organised by the CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) here, Mr. Rao said about 25 such organisations are researching diverse crops like rice, millets and also in meat, poultry, bio-manures, biogas etc., are working from the capital region. The government wants farmers of the State to know about the four to five key products being offered by these organisations in the planned exhibition, where farmers can also interact with the scientists. Proposed to be held over a period of three days in two months time, it is to help farmers enhance their incomes and livelihoods by going for eco-friendly measures in agriculture and in livestock maintenance. Action plan to disburse Rythu Bharosa ready The annual financial assistance of ₹6,000 per acre ('Rythu Bharosa') will soon be released for all the farmers, and an action plan is ready for the same. The government has also decided to participate in centrally sponsored agriculture schemes for improving soil health, mechanisation, drip irrigation, digitisation, and promoting oil seeds production with a budget allocation of ₹1,600 crore after a gap of five years, said Mr. Rao. CNG plant using paddy residue Another interesting concept in the offing is the proposal to set up agri-based industries using biomass and others on lands belonging to the agriculture department with CNG plants likely to take off first using paddy residue. The secretary has urged farmers to avoid overuse of fertiliser as it would affect the soil health and not to burn paddy residue. 'Let us not follow Punjab and Haryana, where soil health has taken a beating due to the excess usage of fertilisers. Burning of paddy residue will lead to atmospheric pollution and other hazards. We will soon have a plant to make use of it,' he said. Earlier, CSIR-IICT director D. Srinivas Reddy explained about the institute's initiatives towards helping farmers and promoting green energy like the production of biogas using vegetable waste, bio-manure, and others. Senior scientists A Gangagni Rao and B.V. Subba Reddy participated. About 300 participants were later shown the pilot plants for organic farming, anaerobic gas lift reactor technology, accelerated anaerobic composting technology, and the pheromone application eco-friendly pest management that traps insects/pests.
The Print
30-05-2025
- Business
- The Print
IICT landmark step for institutionalising India's cultural, creative strengths: I&B secretary
Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, was speaking at the CII Summit here at a session — 'India's Soft Power: Catalysing Global Ascendancy'. The IICT has been envisioned as the 'creative counterpart' to the IITs and IIMs. New Delhi, May 30 (PTI) The recent establishment of the Indian Institute of Creative Technology (IICT) in Mumbai is a landmark initiative for institutionalising the country's cultural and creative strengths, a top official of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said here on Friday. Jaju underscored India's unique civilisational journey and diverse cultural expressions as the foundation of the country's growing global soft power, according to a statement issued by the organisers. Drawing on classical references like 'drishti', 'shruti' and 'kriti' — representing India's visual, oral and written traditions — the Union secretary emphasised how ancient legacies like the Natya Shastra and the Vedas, along with storytelling epics, music and mudras, continue to shape the country's vibrant creative economy. He highlighted the establishment of the IICT as a landmark initiative for institutionalising India's cultural and creative strengths, the statement said. Jaju emphasised that India is a 'storytelling superpower', with many untapped narratives waiting to be transformed into immersive global experiences. He reaffirmed the country's 'potential to become a creative superpower', urging the industry to harness this opportunity through unity, innovation and a shared cultural vision. Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, in his address, highlighted that India's rising stature on the global stage is a result of a renewed national pride and a transformed self-image. He noted a paradigm shift in tourism post-COVID-19, with travellers increasingly seeking immersive and experiential journeys. India's tourism sector, supported by robust infrastructure development, airports, roads and railways, is witnessing significant growth, particularly in spiritual and domestic tourism, the minister said. Destinations like Ujjain's Mahakal Lok corridor have attracted more than 10 lakh visitors in a month, illustrating the sector's resurgence, he added. With domestic tourism showing greater potential than international travel, India is aiming to align its tourism GDP contribution to global benchmarks, targeting 10 per cent of the national GDP by 2030, Shekhawat was quoted as saying in the statement. Puneet Chhatwal, Chairman, CII National Committee on Tourism and Hospitality, emphasised that India's soft power is deeply rooted in its rich culture, heritage and hospitality, which serve as powerful tools for global engagement and trust-building. He noted that every USD 1 million invested in tourism can generate nearly 100 direct and 250 indirect jobs and significantly increase foreign-tourist arrivals and foreign-exchange earnings. PTI KND RC This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
