Latest news with #IIT-Bombay
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
SC allows felling of trees for road project near Aarey
Protection of environment is important, but development activities cannot be ignored, the Supreme Court said on Tuesday as it allowed the Bombay Municipal Corporation's (BMC) tree authority to fell 95 trees for a road construction project in Mumbai's Film City located near the Aarey forest belt. Chief Justice of India (CJI) Bhushan R Gavai-led bench, however, warned that 'no trees shall be actually felled without permission of this court'. SC allows felling of trees for road project near Aarey The top court bench, also comprising justice K Vinod Chandran, was hearing a BMC plea that sought nod to fell 95 trees for the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road (GMLR) project in the Film City region, located close to the Aarey forest belt. The BMC filed the plea keeping in mind the January 10 order of the top court that prohibited its tree authority from felling any more trees in Mumbai's Aarey colony without its permission. Hearing the matter on Tuesday, the court underscored the need for protection of the environment, but stressed that sustainable development was equally necessary. 'No doubt protection of environment is important, at the same time necessity for carrying out development activities cannot be ignored... If a country has to progress, development of infrastructure is also necessary. Unless proper infrastructure is put in place, country cannot progress,' it said. While the bench allowed felling of trees in this case, it added: 'In carrying out the development least damage should be caused to the environment... We are inclined to permit the Tree Authority to proceed further with the request of the project proponent. We clarify that no trees shall be actually felled without permission of this court.' The authority, represented by senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, said some 1,000 trees are to be cut as part of the road project, and initially only 95 have to be felled. When the bench asked whether any expert agency had examined the need for this exercise, Rohatgi cited an IIT-Bombay report. The bench then asked the BMC to file the report by August 8 alongside an afforestation plan. The matter has now been posted for August 12. The BMC's plea was opposed by activists, represented by senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, who flagged that nearly 4,000 trees have been chopped in Aarey forests without any plans for afforestation yet. The court then said, 'In a city like Mumbai, there will be 10 projects going on simultaneously. But can we object to the underpass road being constructed?' CJI Gavai, who is from Maharashtra, also cited the example of Atal Setu, saying that the project involved felling of several trees but has indeed made travelling across Mumbai easier and faster. 'We are all for protecting the environment but sustainable development is also necessary. We have to be also concerned about the millions of citizens who will benefit from this,' the bench remarked.
The Hindu
19-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Hindu
Seek support
I am doing and would like to do Transportation Design. Which colleges are good for this in India and abroad? Also will scholarships be available? Rohit Dear Rohit, Some of the top colleges for Transportation Design in India are the Industrial Design Centre (IDC) and IIT-Bombay, Mumbai; National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad; MIT Institute of Design (MITID), Pune; World University of Design (WUD), Sonipat; Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science (HITS), Chennai; and Strate School of Design, Bengaluru. Abroad, colleges to consider include Royal College of Art (RCA), London, and Coventry University, Coventry, the U.K.; Umeå Institute of Design (UID), Umeå University, Sweden; Istituto Europeo di Design (IED), Torino, and Scuola Politecnica di Design (SPD), Milan, Italy; ArtCenter College of Design, Pasadena, and College for Creative Studies (CCS), Detroit, the U.S.; and Pforzheim University, Pforzheim, Germany. Scholarships depend on the college, academic merit, and portfolio. In India, many design institutes offer scholarships based on merit and the student's financial situation. Industry-sponsored scholarships (Tata Trusts, Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarships, Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme, Erasmus Mundus Scholarships) also offer financial assistance. Check specific admission criteria and websites for such opportunities. I have a 9.2 CGPA in Electronics and Instrumentation but campus placements don't seem to be happening. How can I find a job? Or should I do a Master's? Ramesh Dear Ramesh, Don't get discouraged. Your academic record is strong and, with a focused, proactive job search strategy, you will find a suitable opportunity. Get on online job portals like LinkedIn, Indeed, and Freshersworld. Visit websites of companies that you are interested in and look for roles across Automation and Control Systems (e.g., Siemens, ABB, Schneider Electric, Emerson), Process Industries (Reliance, ONGC, BPCL), Power Generation (NTPC, BHEL), Manufacturing, Semiconductor and Electronics Manufacturing, Healthcare Instrumentation, Research and Development (ISRO, DRDO, CSIR labs), and Public Sector Undertakings. Keep an eye on their recruitment notifications. Network and build a professional connection with alumni, industry professionals, and recruiters to learn about leads. Attend industry events. Ensure that your resume emphasises relevant technical skills for the role/s that you apply for by highlighting your projects and internship experience. Consider off-campus placements, job fairs and recruitment drives. A Master's depends on your career goals and circumstances. An will help you specialise in a niche area within your domain and enhance your job prospects for certain research-oriented roles thereby leading to a higher earning potential. If you enjoy R&D, you can consider a Ph.D. later. Consider taking the GATE, as it will open doors to programmes in top institutes as well as recruitment in some PSUs. I am a first-year Geography Honours student and want to take the UPSC exams. But between commuting to college and coursework, I am not able to prepare. Sometimes I feel I will not clear the UPSC, that I am just wasting my parents' money, and should just go back home. Please help. Nisha Dear Nisha, You seem overwhelmed between the demands of your coursework and your ambition. The first year is about adjusting to a new academic environment, exploring your subject, and building a strong foundational understanding. You are NOT wasting your parents' money. Your course will help you build a strong foundation and critical thinking skills, which are valuable whether you clear the UPSC in your first attempt or not. UPSC is a marathon, not a sprint. You need sustained and strategic preparation over time. Be true and honest to yourself. How much time does commuting, coursework and other activities? What are your energy levels after college? What is your preparation plan for the UPSC? Are you working on a structured plan or just feeling guilty about not studying enough? A sustainable strategy might help! Prioritise your degree and do well in it. Slowly integrate the UPSC preparation by breaking it down into small, manageable steps into your existing routine. Read the newspaper for at least half an hour every day and focus on understanding current events and their socio-economic and political context. Try to read relevant NCERT textbooks for History, Geography, Polity, Economics. Even a few pages a day will help. Start thinking about potential optional subjects for the UPSC exam. Create a realistic schedule beyond your college commitments and identify small pockets of time for UPSC-related activities. Be realistic about what you can achieve. Try to listen to podcasts or audiobooks related to current affairs or your subjects during your commute. Get enough sleep, eating healthy, and take short breaks lest you burn out. Explore the possibility of a study group where you can connect and study together. Study during free periods at college. Seek support when you feel overwhelmed and communicate these feelings to your parents, mentors, teachers. Discuss your concerns with faculty advisors who may be able to guide you in managing your time. Finally, don't compare your progress with that of others. Everyone's journey is different. I graduated in Agriculture (2024), but don't have the means to start a business. What opportunities do I have? Vijayalakshmi Dear Vijayalakshmi, Many state and central government departments of agriculture recruit graduates for Agricultural Officer or Extension Officer roles. Look for notifications for exams like the Indian Forest Service (IFS). The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and its various research institutes across India hire scientists and research assistants. Check their websites for vacancies. Public and private sector banks often have Agricultural Development Officer (ADO) positions. Companies like National Fertilizers Limited (NFL) Food Corporation of India (FCI), State Seed Corporations, and others recruit agriculture graduates for various roles. The private sector also has possibilities across agri-input, food processing, retail and agri-business, microfinance and other companies. Update your resume and register on job portals like LinkedIn, Indeed, and specialised agricultural job sites. Connect with industry professionals on LinkedIn or talk to your professors about your job search. Consider an internship with a company or organisation in your field of interest to gain experience and build connections.
Time of India
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Suspended for media byte, IIT-B pupil to be reinstated
Mumbai: IIT-Bombay must reinstate a Ph D student who had been suspended in April this year for 'giving unauthorised interviews to the media'. Bombay high court has said this in an order passed on July 15. The court said that the suspension will cease to have effect from July 25 and the period of suspension undergone will not have any bearing on the record of the petitioner. An official from the institute said they would follow the court's order. The student, Akshay Sawant, from department of humanities and social sciences, was suspended for eight months based on a report of the institute's fact-finding committee and disciplinary action committee. He moved court seeking quashing of the suspension order, stating that the charges levelled were unfounded and misplaced and the action taken against him was based on 'false, unreasonable and arbitrary charges'. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai In an article published in a newspaper in February, Sawant was quoted as saying, 'Every festival is celebrated on our campus. There are several Hindu festivals and most of them including Holi, Diwali, Ganesh Chaturthi, are celebrated with much fervour. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo The allegations are baseless and merely an attempt to target the department's liberal environment'. The statement was made in the context of the allegations of favouritism against the institute by third parties. The student got a call regarding 'unauthorised interviews given to the media'. The student said in the petition that he did not give consent for the quote to the mediaperson, which he had also submitted before the fact-finding committee. The student received an order on Apr 28, suspending him till Dec 31, 2025, with immediate effect. Even after writing to the institute appealing against the order, there was no response, forcing the student to move court. Disposing of the petition, the court mentioned that the order was passed in the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case so that the academic career of the petitioner should not be jeopardised. The order said he had made the statements in the article in an individual capacity. Ambedkar Periyar Phule Study Circle, a student collective, on Friday said in a statement they were celebrating "victory for students' rights and a pushback against casteist and authoritarian tendencies of the IIT- Bombay administration…"
Indian Express
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Over giving quote to media': Bombay HC revokes suspension issued by IIT, reinstates research student
The Bombay High Court has ordered that the suspension of an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Bombay research scholar, issued on April 28 for allegedly giving a quote to the media, will cease to be effective from July 25, reinstating him as research student. Akshay M Sawant, a PhD student in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at the IIT Bombay and a member of the Ambedkar Periyar Phule Study Circle (APPSC), an informal student collective active on campus, was suspended in April this year following allegations that he gave an 'unauthorised' statement to a news outlet in February regarding his department's initiative to make arrangements for Ramadan. Sawant moved the Bombay High Court against the suspension order issued by the institute which stated that he is suspended until December 31, 2025, an action taken as per the recommendations by the disciplinary action committee. Sawant's plea stated that he had addressed a detailed written communication to the IIT-Bombay explaining how charges levelled against him were unfounded but the Institute's Fact-Finding and Disciplinary Action Committees failed to consider the same. Aarguing that the suspension would have a 'severe and adverse impact' on his academic and career prospects, the petition, sought from the court that the 'arbitrary' April 28 suspension order be quashed and set aside and the Institute be directed to revoke the suspension and restore his entitlements as a student with effect from April 28. On July 15, the petitioner gave an undertaking to the high court that he would abide by all institute Rules and Regulations, including the Interim Guidelines for students of November 2023 related to holding of events at IIT-Bombay. 'In view of the above undertakings, the suspension will cease to have effect from 25th July 2025,' the HC noted. Hearing his plea on July 15 against the suspension, a division bench of Justices Makarand S Karnik and Nitin R Borkar stated that 'the period of suspension undergone by him will not be treated as stigmatic or have a bearing on the record of the petitioner'. The order was made available on Friday. This came after senior advocate Mihir Desai and advocate Lara Jesani for the petitioner submitted that he was willing to put it on record with the IIT-Bombay that he did not make the statements referred to the article in question as an authorised representative of the institute, but the same were made in his individual capacity. Disposing of the plea, the bench further clarified that the order was passed 'in the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case so that the academic career of the petitioner should not be jeopardised'. There is no response from the IIT-Bombay administration on the matter. The APPSC on Friday issued a statement in solidarity. 'This case is not an isolated incident. It reflects a broader, systemic pattern of targeted actions against student community in general and particularly more harsh towards those who engage in critical discourse around student rights, institutional accountability, and the rights of SCs, STs, OBCs, minorities, workers' right inside campus and other marginalised communities to build moral pressure on the administration. It is in this context that we must view the administration's increasingly repressive measures, including the Interim Guidelines on Holding Events at IIT Bombay,' read the statement, demanding withdrawal of the guidelines. The guidelines issued in November 2023 made it mandatory that public events organised by the faculty should be approved by the head of the academic unit, while for events organised by students, official permission is needed from the administration. It also announced that an approval from an 'external speaker review committee' will be mandatory to invite an outside speaker to the institute. The guidelines included a stern warning that disciplinary action will be taken against anyone, including students, who violate defamation rules or indulge in any form of indiscipline.
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Govt to invite private investors for IIT-B solar power centre
Mumbai: The high-efficiency, low-cost Silicon-Perovskite Tandem solar cells developed at IIT-Bombay is a game-changer for the country's solar energy future, said union minister Pralhad Joshi during his visit to the institute on Monday. While the ministry for new and renewable energy (MNRE) has so far provided Rs 200 crore to IIT-Bombay's National Centre for Photovoltaic Research and Education (NCPRE) for research and development in solar cells, power electronics and batteries, among other things, the govt now plans to rope in private investors to scale the technology commercially. Researchers at the IIT-Bombay-incubated start-up, Advanced Renewable Tandem-Photovoltaics India (ART-PV India), in a major breakthrough, have developed the Silicon-Perovskite solar cells with a power conversion efficiency of almost 30%, surpassing the usual 22-23% achieved in conventional solar photovoltaic cells. "This is a national milestone and one of the highest performance levels ever achieved in India and needs commercial production," the minister said during a media interaction. The technology has been patented and published in a journal, and there is optimism about scaling it up for commercial use, he added. The new solar cell follows a four-terminal configuration, where the perovskite and silicon layers are stacked non-monolithically, allowing the independent optimisation of each sub-cell. The top-layer of perovskite absorbs the high-energy sunlight, and the rest is absorbed by the silicon layer, helping in increased efficiency of the cell. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai Prof Dinesh Kabra from IIT-Bombay, co-founder and director of ART-PV, said that the NCPRE was set up in 2010 and since then the union govt has provided grants in three phases totalling up to Rs 200 crore. Kabra said that the meeting on Tuesday was centered around scaling the technology through public-private partnerships and that the team is keen on using indigenous equipment, that are manufactured locally, in their laboratories. The ART-PV is planning the commercial roll out by Dec 2027. The MNRE is also supporting ART-PV India with a grant of Rs 83 crore for establishing a state-of-the-art pilot manufacturing facility on the Powai campus, in line with the commitment to nurturing domestic intellectual property, and ensuring Indian innovation reaches global markets. The ministry will continue to provide policy and financial support to ensure India's renewable energy sector thrives on innovation and self-reliance, said Joshi. He urged the ART-PV team to commercially demonstrate the fact that these solar cells are not only scalable but also profitable. He mentioned the need for policy decisions to encourage private sector involvement and faster commercialisation of such technologies.
