Latest news with #IITKharagpur
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Meet ‘Panchayat' star Jitendra Kumar: Left IIT for acting, now charges Rs 70,000 per episode, owns luxury cars and has a net worth of Rs 7 crore
Jitendra Kumar , who is loved for his performance in the OTT series 'Panchayat', has an inspiring story that proves following one's heart truly pays off. Born in a small village in Rajasthan, Jitendra always dreamt big. Even as a child, he loved mimicking stars like Shah Rukh Khan , Nana Patekar, and Amitabh Bachchan . But life initially pushed him on a very different path. Jitendra's father, wanting a secure future for his son, sent him to Kota to prepare for the IIT entrance exams. With hard work and focus, Jitendra cracked the tough JEE exam and secured admission for Civil Engineering at IIT Kharagpur. It seemed like the beginning of a stable, successful engineering career. The IITian who chose acting over engineering During his time at IIT, the 'Kota Factory' actor discovered his real passion—acting. He joined the 'Hindi Technology Dramatic Society' at IIT Kharagpur, where he explored theatre and stage performances. It was here that he met Biswapati Sarkar, who would later become the creative director at TVF. This chance meeting changed the course of Jitendra's life. After graduating, the 'Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan' actor still took up a well-paying job at an MNC, following the usual route for an IITian. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Accounting Automation Software Might Help You To Earn More Accounting Automation Software | Search ads Undo However, it didn't take him long to realise that his true calling lay elsewhere. Despite the security of a high-paying engineering job, he decided to take the risk, quit his corporate life, and fully pursue acting. The show that changed everything Jitendra first gained massive popularity with 'Pitchers'. This series gave him recognition and opened the door to many more opportunities. After that, he was seen in popular shows like 'Kota Factory', where he perfectly portrayed the character of Jeetu Bhaiya, winning hearts all over the country. His biggest success, however, came with 'Panchayat'. This simple yet heartwarming series about rural India struck a chord with audiences. Jitendra's performance as Abhishek Tripathi, the engineering graduate reluctantly working as a panchayat secretary in Phulera, made him a household name. According to reports from Business Standard, Jitendra earned Rs 5.6 lakh for the entire third season of 'Panchayat'. He is the highest-paid actor on the show, taking home Rs 70,000 per episode. His net worth and stunning car collection All of Jitendra's hard work and risks have brought him not just fame but also impressive financial success. As per reports by Zee News and ABP Live, Jitendra Kumar's estimated net worth is around Rs 7 crore. His taste for luxury is clear from his car collection, which is just as dazzling as his career. According to the Financial Express, his garage includes, Mercedes Benz GLS 350D worth Rs 88.18 lakh, a Mercedes Benz E-Class worth Rs 82.10 lakh, Toyota Fortuner worth Rs 48.43 lakh and Mini Countryman worth Rs 42 lakh When you look at Jitendra's journey, it's clear that sometimes taking a risk and following your heart leads to the most rewarding outcome. And today, with his success in shows like 'Panchayat', his rising net worth, luxury cars, and millions of fans, it is evident he made the right choice.
Entrepreneur
3 days ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Innovodigm, AuraML, Sthyr Energy Secure Early-Stage Funding for Growth
The below Indian startups have announced their latest funding rounds. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. IAN Leads INR 5.5 Cr Funding in Med-tech Innovodigm Kolkata-based med-tech startup Innovodigm has raised INR 5.5 crore in a seed funding round led by the IAN Group, which contributed INR 4.5 crore, with the remainder from PadUp Ventures. The funds will be deployed toward process optimization, infrastructure scaling, and team expansion in preparation for third-party preclinical validation and upcoming clinical trials. Founded in 2020 by Jhimli Manna and Ayan Chatterjee, Innovodigm is a deep-tech spin-off from IIT Kharagpur's Microelectronics and MEMS Lab, and is developing India's first Microneedle Array Patch (MAP) — a skin-dissolvable, painless, and waste-free vaccine delivery system. "Our MAP platform reflects India's ability to lead in affordable, scalable vaccine delivery," said Dr Manna, CEO, adding that the IAN support will help take the technology from lab to field. Padmaja Ruparel, Co-founder, IAN Group, said, "Innovodigm has the potential to fundamentally alter the vaccine distribution landscape, particularly in areas where cold-chain logistics and access are significant obstacles. The microneedle platform, in our opinion, has the potential to enable last-mile vaccination and lessen the worldwide medical waste load." The platform has earned top honors at the Nano Electronics Showcase 2025 and G20 Summit. With clinical trials set for next year, Innovodigm plans to adapt its patch for vaccines like measles, hepatitis, flu, and COVID-19, targeting underserved regions globally. Turbostart Leads USD 1 Mn Round in Robotics Deeptech Startup AuraML Deeptech startup AuraML has raised USD 1 million in a pre-seed funding round led by Turbostart, with participation from DeVC, GSF Accelerator, Indian Angel Network (IAN), and other investors. The funds will be used to accelerate product development, expand operations in the US, and support enterprise pilots in warehouse automation, industrial robotics, and next-gen autonomous systems. Founded by Ayush Sharma, AuraML is building AuraSIM, a generative simulation platform that enables robotics companies to train, test, and deploy systems more efficiently by transforming simple text prompts into sensor-rich, physically accurate 3D environments. It simulates LiDAR, radar, thermal, and optical data, supporting scalable and industry-ready AI training. "AuraML aims to accelerate innovation in Robotics and Physical AI by giving engineers powerful simulation tools," said Sharma. "We're proud to build foundational GenAI research from India and invite global talent to join us in this mission." AuraSIM bridges the traditional "sim-to-real" gap, offering cloud-based, scalable, and cost-effective testing for autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and forklifts. AuraML claims its tech can reduce prototyping time from six months to one week, significantly cutting costs and development barriers in robotics. Speciale Invest Leads USD 1 Mn Round in Sthyr Energy Sthyr Energy, a Chennai-based deeptech startup, has raised USD 1 million in a seed funding round led by Speciale Invest, with participation from Antares Ventures. The funds will be used to advance R&D, pilot projects, and scale production of its innovative zinc-air battery systems, the company announced. "We're excited to partner with Speciale Invest and Antares Ventures to take our technology from lab to grid," said Gunjan Kapadia, Co-founder and CEO. "Our batteries aim to provide energy security in a net-zero world—storing summer's solar energy for winter and delivering over 100 hours of backup power." Founded in 2024 by Gunjan Kapadia, Akhil Kongara, and Muhammed Hamdan, Sthyr Energy is building mechanically rechargeable 200 kWh Zinc-Air battery systems and 10 kW zinc regeneration units designed for seasonal storage and fossil-free power backups. The technology stems from five years of research at IIT Madras. Sthyr's patented system uses non-flammable, water-based electrolytes for enhanced safety, and decouples energy and power components for modular, scalable deployments. Target customers include grid operators, renewable energy providers, and remote communities reliant on diesel. By delivering low-cost, safe, and sustainable energy storage, Sthyr aims to become a key enabler in the global transition to clean energy.
Time of India
4 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Students need humane touch: IIT-Kgp director
1 2 3 Kolkata: There is a need to enhance connectivity with students so that their issues and challenges are detected early and bring back the culture of fulfillness on the campus, said Suman Chakraborty, the newly appointed director of IIT Kharagpur, after taking charge on Monday. He felt that enforcement of attendance should not turn out to be a punishment. "It can be kept in a subtle way to strike a balance between too much freedom and excessive strictness," he added. According to Chakraborty, a combination of technology and human touch is essential to avoid a crisis in the long run. "A student who is distressed is supposedly using a chatbot. There are ways one can be alerted about the situation. But this student may have approached the situation in a different way if he or she lived with parents. There is a need for humane touch and this cannot be replicated through mechanised intervention. But students, who are vulnerable, need motherly affection and empathy and this can happen if students and professors interact outside classrooms," Chakraborty said, adding that "mental health is still a stigma in our society". by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Birla Evara 3 and 4 BHK from ₹ 1.75 Crore* Birla Estates Learn More Undo IIT-Khargapur had taken an informed decision to reform its attendance policy to ease academic load. Faculty members were also told not to de-register students on attendance issues. "As a teacher, I have never given much importance to attendance. It should not be a binding force for enforced learning. But as an administrator, compulsory attendance is an extension of our Indian way of upbringing. There is nothing wrong in it. But I feel that if a student can perform well without attending classes, he should not be penalised. I am against any punitive actions because it demotivates people. On the other hand, if a student is not attending classes and is performing badly, we need to find the root cause of the problem. De-registering a student will not bring any positive outcome." He said students needed to be nurtured with legacy values and they should take part in engagement programmes, involving science and technology. "This skill and value-based learning will help them enhance professional, life skills," he said.
News18
5 days ago
- Business
- News18
IIT Delhi Climbs To 123rd Spot In QS World Rankings 2026, Bombay Slips To 129
Last Updated: Besides Delhi and Bombay, IIT Madras, IIT Kanpur, and IIT Kharagpur have also found their place in the 2026 QS World University Rankings In a significant leap on the global academic stage, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi has climbed 27 spots to secure the 123rd position in the QS World University Rankings 2026. This marks a major improvement from last year's 150th rank and positions IIT Delhi as India's highest-ranked institute in this prestigious list. Meanwhile, IIT Bombay, long considered the country's flagship engineering institution, slipped 11 places to 129th. Despite the drop, it remains the second-best ranked Indian institution globally. The QS World University Rankings, published annually by global higher education analytics firm Quacquarelli Symonds, assess universities based on a variety of performance indicators including academic reputation, faculty-student ratio, research impact, international student diversity, and graduate employability. More IITs Make Their Mark Globally Besides Delhi and Bombay, IIT Madras, IIT Kanpur, and IIT Kharagpur have also found their place in the 2026 QS World University Rankings, further cementing India's reputation in technical education and research. These institutes have scored particularly well in parameters like research output, employer reputation, and international collaborations, reflecting a broader trend of the country's elite engineering institutions gaining credibility on the world stage. Higher education experts suggest that with sustained improvements in research infrastructure, global academic partnerships, and industry linkage, IITs are now inching closer to breaking into the top 100. First Published: June 17, 2025, 20:43 IST
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Grit sowed, IIT reaped: Rural Punjab cracks JEE-nius code
Bathinda: Two students from underprivileged rural families in Punjab have cracked one of India's most competitive entrance examinations, securing spots at top engineering colleges through a corporate-backed free coaching programme. Arjanveer Singh, the son of a labourer from Sarainaga village in Muktsar district, has secured admission to IIT Kharagpur in mining engineering. Prabhjot Kaur, who worked in Bathinda's paddy fields to fund her studies, cleared JEE Advanced and is now in counselling for a top engineering seat. Both students were supported by the HPCL-Mittal Energy Limited (HMEL) and Centre for Social Responsibility and Leadership (CSRL) under the National Super 100 Programme — a CSR initiative providing 11 months of free residential coaching in Delhi for meritorious students from low-income families. Prabhjot, who scored 93% in Class XII, aspired to become a pilot but nearly abandoned her dream due to financial hardship. "Super 100 gave me hope. They paid for everything — coaching, accommodation, and food. I cleared JEE Mains and then Advanced. Now I hope to enter aviation engineering," she said. Arjanveer, who studied at Bathinda Meritorious School and scored 95%, couldn't afford the ₹1,500 fee for JEE Advanced or any formal coaching. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Wels: Hansaton sucht 250 Testhörer vor 1972 geboren Hansaton Jetzt anmelden Undo "The Super 100 programme changed my life. I'm now the first from my village to reach an IIT. It's a proud moment for my entire community," he said. The initiative has shown consistent results. In the year 2023-24 batch, Khushi from Bathinda secured civil engineering at IIT Guwahati, while Pawandeep, Sahil Kumar, and Harpreet Singh gained admission to NITs in mechanical engineering and AI (artificial intelligence). In the current 2024-25 batch, alongside Arjanveer and Prabhjot, Sukhdeep Kaur is also in the counselling process. Looking ahead, eight new students from Bathinda have been selected for the 2025-26 cohort and will begin coaching in Delhi soon. The programme reflects how targeted educational support can transform talent into opportunity — even from the humblest of origins. Caption: Labourer's son Arjanveer will go from a govt school to IIT Kharagpur, while Prabhjot has risen from paddy fields to cracking JEE Advanced MSID:: 122023349 413 |
