Latest news with #IIT-B
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
New solar cell tech developed at IIT-Bombay a gamechanger: Union minister
Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi on Tuesday said that new solar cell technology developed at Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B) is a 'gamechanger' and urged industry players to invest in scaling up the project. In a major boost to works happening in solar energy sector at IIT-B, Joshi announced disbursement of fourth instalment of total funding of Rs 200 crore that was assured more than a decade ago to the National Centre for Photovoltaic Research & Education (NCPRE) — the umbrella body for various research projects in renewable energy sector at the institute. In the current phase of funding, which is expected to bring Rs.83 crore, it will be through Public Private Partnership (PPP) model as government is urging industry players to invest in scaling up the project, particularly the high-efficiency 2-terminal tandem solar cell using a perovskite-silicon combination, achieving about 30 per cent power conversion efficiency, which is significantly higher than the current 20 per cent. Talking about this innovation at the IIT Bombay, the Union minister who visited the NCPRE at IIT-B, said, 'It is a game-changer for India's solar energy future. This makes India a global leader in next-gen photovoltaics and by investing in such innovations, we are driving down the cost of solar energy, making it more accessible for all Indians.' Assuring continuous support from MNRE, Joshi emphasised the need of scaling up of this technology for commercial success. 'Private investment is crucial for large-scale technology development and some of the industry representatives present for the meeting today have shown great interest,' said Joshi. Prof Dinesh Kabra head of the team which has successfully engineered a semi-transparent perovskite solar cell (PSC) said that funding in this phase will be for scaling up of this technology at commercial wafer-size. Further it will be catalysing the support for the future pilot line through which commercialisation will be made possible. 'After having formed the 4-terminal (4T) tandem structure, with this renewed funding the team will now work on developing a 2-terminal tandem structure with support from the manufacturing partner,' he said. The Indian Express had reported about the major breakthrough in the Solar Energy Sector at the IIT Bombay. The semi-transparent perovskite solar cell (PSC) which is layered over a traditional silicon-based solar cell, forming a 4-terminal (4T) tandem structure enables a better energy conversion and durability, especially in India's heat-intensive conditions. Apart from boost in efficiency over conventional solar technology, it has potential to reduce the cost of solar power at around Re 1 per kwh compared with Rs 2.5-4 per unit now.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Panel orders action against IIT-Bombay under SC/ST Act for denying tribals water
MUMBAI: The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes has directed the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT-B) not to evict the tribals of Bhangshila Pada without following the legal process. In its order dated May 26, 2025, it further directed that action be taken under various sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against those blocking the supply of water and electricity and the access road of the tribals. The fight for ownership of the land between the institution and the tribals dates back to 2007. In Jan this year, IIT-B, referring to a Bombay High Court order of Jan 2, 2025, stated the tribals were in unauthorised and illegal occupation of land (Survey No. 22 and CTS No. 67) and asserted IIT-B was the landowner. The notice warned the tribals of forcible eviction as per law for failure to vacate. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai The tribals, in turn, sent a legal notice to the institution claiming they have been in continuous possession of the land since the British era. Two years ago, the village Sarpanch, Meena Raote, filed a complaint with the Commission that in 2007, following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between IIT-B and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), the tribals were declared as encroachers and were being forcibly evicted. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Resmed AirSense 11 with flat 20% off ResMed Buy Now Undo Raote said the property card bears her grandfather's name, but there are no basic facilities. She further said that based on a 2013 biometric survey, the tribal families are being declared encroachers. The Commission in 2023 directed the Mumbai suburban collector to submit a report. In its report, the collector pointed out that 10,000 square metres of IIT-B land were acquired for the widening of the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road. A 2010 survey by NGO SPARC recorded 137 slum dwellers, of which 97 accepted rehabilitation while others, including certain tribal families, refused. The Commission held a hearing in May this year and ordered a stay on the eviction of the tribals. In another development, the Kurla Tehsildar directed the BMC not to block the access road to Bhangshila Pada."The human habitation at Bhangshila Tribal Pada is an old one, and for their basic needs, access to an ambulance, gas cylinder for domestic use, and transport of other daily essentials is necessary. Hence, it is not proper to block their access. Therefore, they be granted permission to go to and fro by your security," reads the letter. The panel has asked IIT-B to submit docucments showing its land ownership.
Time of India
22-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Croc seen in Powai lake, right behind IIT-B hostel
Mumbai: A local nature lover and Save Powai Lake activist recently spotted and photographed a crocodile at the lakeside, behind hostel 17 of the IIT-Bombay campus. The green activists have once again urged the civic body to fully clean Powai Lake to safeguard the biodiversity at this water body. Photographer Ramesh Kamble, with his Instagram handle posted a video of the crocodile observed behind the IIT-B hostel, which has created considerable interest among activists. NatConnect Foundation, which, along with local resident groups, is running a campaign to clean up and conserve the wetland, called for a census of the crocodiles in the lake. "There were supposed to be 18 crocodiles present in the lake as per a study done a few years ago, but a fresh crocodile count should be done now," NatConnect director B N Kumar said. Environmentalist D Stalin noted, "Besides water pollution at Powai lake, it is observed that the basking and nesting sites of crocodiles here are severely disturbed due to human activities. A new 5-star hotel building has been constructed near the lake, while IIT has also installed metal grills to stop crocscoming into their campus. I have earlier mentioned this to BMC."
Time of India
16-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Bombay still the king of IITs, draws 9 out of top 10 JEE rankers, 73 of 100
Representative image (ANI) MUMBAI: IIT-B is once again the top JEE (A) rankers' first choice. Nine of the top 10 and 73 of the top 100 rankers have chosen it despite other IITs making attempts to woo them, including flying a number of them and their parents in for a campus visit. All top 10 rankers chose IIT-B in 2024. Rank 9 this year is headed for MIT. "This year, IIT-Madras invited the top 200 all-India rankers with their parents to their campus and paid for their airfares so that they could explore its academic programmes and experience the institute firsthand as part of its admission outreach," said a top ranker, who reached out to his mentor, Pankaj Birla at Allen Coaching, and asked whether he ought to rethink his only option: IIT-B's Computer Science. "It told us all that there are many options that might be considered better than IIT-B's Computer Science. " IIT-Delhi wasn't far behind. For the first time, its office of academic outreach and new initiatives, under the 'Experience IIT-D' programme, also held open house events in Mumbai and Bengaluru for JEE (A) qualifiers to help them understand academic, research, extra- and co-curricular activities and the campus life of the institute. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Switch to UnionBank Rewards Card UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo But when it came to decision time, IIT-B once again, as it has for a decade and a half-emerged as the clear favourite. Of the top 500 JEE rankers, 179 chose it, IIT-Delhi 109 and IIT-Madras just 69. Part of any IIT's pull, said alumni, is peer-driven and it's no different for IIT-B. "If everybody's going to IIT-B every year, then next year too, people want to go to it. They think if smart people did this last year, there must be a reason for it. So, the momentum has sort of slowly built on itself," said IIT-B alumnus Vishal Misra, vice dean of computing and AI at Columbia Engineering. IIT-Kharagpur and IIT-Kanpur are textbook examples of this. About 40 years ago, IIT-Kharagpur, the oldest, was the most coveted campus as its alumni scaled corporate heights and built on its legacy. In 20 years, IIT-Kanpur knocked it off the top post. "During my time, Kanpur used to be the most sought after IIT. Top rankers used to go there. In our final year, the discussion points used to be about admission and scholarship to some US university," said Misra, vice dean of computing and AI at Columbia Engineering. The popularity of its campus environment and the powerful networking possibilities it offers contributed to the overwhelming shift to IIT-B. "About 10-12 years ago, when I was visiting it, the discussion in the fourth year was not about who gets the call from where. The whole mindset has changed from going abroad to doing your own thing, being an entrepreneur in India," said Misra. He said while IIT-Kanpur has great teachers, it doesn't offer the same environment as IIT-B "as it is in Kanpur". "Being in Mumbai helps a lot."
Time of India
15-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
IIT-M flies in top rankers, but IIT-B still a fave
1 2 Mumbai: IIT-B is once again top JEE (A) rankers' first choice. Nine of the top 10 and 73 of the top 100 rankers have chosen it despite other IITs making attempts to woo them, including flying a number of them and their parents in for a campus visit. All top 10 rankers chose IIT-B in 2024. Rank 9 this year is headed for MIT. "This year, IIT-Madras invited the top 200 all-India rankers with their parents to their campus and paid for their airfares so that they could explore its academic programmes and experience the institute firsthand as part of its admission outreach," said a top ranker, who reached out to his mentor, Pankaj Birla at Allen Coaching, and asked whether he ought to rethink his only option: IIT-B's Computer Science. "IIT-Madras told us all that there are many options that might be considered better than IIT-B's Computer Science. " IIT-Delhi wasn't far behind. For the first time, its office of academic outreach and new initiatives, under the 'Experience IIT-D' programme, also held open house events in Mumbai and Bengaluru for JEE (A) qualifiers to help them understand academic, research, extra- and co-curricular activities and the campus life of the institute. But when it came to decision time, IIT-B once again—as it has for a decade and a half—emerged as the clear favourite. Of the top 500 JEE rankers, 179 chose it, IIT-Delhi 109 and IIT-Madras just 69. Part of any IIT's pull, said alumni, is peer-driven and it's no different for IIT-B. "If everybody's going to IIT-B every year, then next year too, people want to go to it. They think if smart people did this last year, there must be a reason for it. So, the momentum has sort of slowly built on itself," said IIT-B alumnus Vishal Misra, vice dean of computing and AI at Columbia Engineering. IIT-Kharagpur and IIT-Kanpur are textbook examples of this. About 40 years ago, IIT-Kharagpur, the oldest, was the most coveted campus as its alumni scaled corporate heights and built on its legacy. In 20 years, IIT-Kanpur knocked it off the top post. "During my time, Kanpur used to be the most sought after IIT. Top rankers used to go there. In our final year, the discussion points used to be about admission and scholarship to some US university," said Misra, vice dean of computing and AI at Columbia Engineering. The popularity of its campus environment and the powerful networking possibilities it offers contributed to the overwhelming shift to IIT-B. "About 10-12 years ago, when I was visiting it, the discussion in the fourth year was not about who gets the call from where. The whole mindset has changed from going abroad to doing your own thing, being an entrepreneur in India," said Misra. He said while IIT-Kanpur has great teachers, it doesn't offer the same environment as IIT-B "as it is in Kanpur". "Being in Mumbai helps a lot."
