Latest news with #Talwar
Time of India
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Repair car in 45 days, consumer panel tells comapny after 5-year delay in servicing
Ghaziabad: Tired of repeated faults appearing in his brand new XUV500, Vipin Talwar approached District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (DCDRC) in May 2022. Now, Talwar's five-year struggle — the vehicle had been purchased in 2020 — came to an end. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now On July 25, over three years later, DCDRC directed passenger vehicle giant Mahindra and Mahindra to get the XUV500, which had been sold to the Ghaziabad resident Talwar, repaired within 45 days. Talwar had purchased the Mahindra and Mahindra vehicle from authorised dealer, Concept Automobiles Private Limited, Greater Noida, in Oct 2020. He had sought a direction to the vehicle manufacturer and the seller to return the entire cost of the vehicle, Rs 13.57 lakh, along with the insurance amount of Rs 49,191 and take back the vehicle. Mahindra and Mahindra, having its registered office in Mumbai, has now also been ordered, by DCDRC chairman, to pay a compensation of Rs 75,000 for the loss suffered by the customer when his vehicle remained out of order. In addition, the vehicle manufacturer was directed to pay Rs 5,000 as the cost of litigation and compensation for the mental agony. If all the directives are not met within the stipulated time, DCDRC — comprising chairperson Praveen Kumar Jain and members Shailja Sachan and RP Singh — ordered the company to pay at the rate of Rs 1,000 for each day of delay. Based on the inspection report furnished by engineers of the company, the commission directed the owner, Talwar to deposit his vehicle at the showroom so that necessary rectifications and repairs could be done within 45 days. "The vehicle company is directed to get the vehicle repaired within 45 days of the order at the premises of the vehicle showroom and extend the warranty by an equal period as long as the vehicle was reported to indicate a fault," the consumer commission ruled. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Appearing before the commission, Talwar said he got the first servicing in Nov 2020 and within three months noticed the 'engine failure' indication bulb glowing in the instrument cluster on Feb 20, 2021. "I immediately approached the authorised service centre, Shiva Auto Cars (India) Pvt Ltd in Ghaziabad, where they returned the vehicle after necessary corrections the next day. However, within hours, the same indicator started glowing and I had to take my vehicle multiple times for rectification but to no avail," he said while putting on record all papers related to servicing and bills. The SUV owner, Talwar said that he left his vehicle from Feb 27 to March 17 (2021) for sensor replacement, as claimed by the service centre, but again the issue remained unresolved. Appearing before the commission, a representative of Mahindra and Mahindra denied charges of deficiency in service and said no problem was found in the vehicle when inspected on Feb 20, 2021. "The customer refused a detailed inspection. Once again, on March 14, April 10 and May 20, the customer was informed about the need for a wiring change, but he took away the vehicle and started insisting on the replacement of the vehicle," the defendant's counsel informed the commission. Hearing the case ex-parte against the service centre in question, the commission said that during the hearing on Feb 14, 2023, defendant number 2, Concept Automobiles, Greater Noida, was directed to conduct an inspection of the vehicle and place its report before the commission. "The report was never produced, so defendant number 1, Mahindra and Mahindra, was directed to deploy two service engineers for inspection of the vehicle on Jan 29 and submit a report," the consumer commission noted.
India Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
From Vijay, Sindoor to Mahadev: India's military operation names and what they mean
Every time India launches a military operation, whether it's a war mission, rescue effort, or counter-terror strike, it is given a special codename. These names are not random. They are chosen with care, often inspired by Indian languages, mythology, nature, or national pride. The goal is not only to maintain secrecy but also to create an emotional, strategic, or symbolic connection. Some names are aggressive (Vijay or Talwar), some protective (Sindoor or Raahat), while others are divine (Mahadev or Meghdoot). These names can unify the forces, signal intent to the world, and remain etched in is a list of India's key military operations since the 1990s, and what their names actually mean.2025 – Operation MahadevMeaning: Named after Lord Shiva, symbolising divine powerAbout: A major anti-terror operation was launched in July 2025 following the deadly Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir. It aimed to eliminate high-value targets behind the attack. 2025 – Operation SindoorMeaning: Red ceremonial powder, symbolising protection and sacred dutyAbout: Launched after the Pahalgam attack in May 2025, this targeted counter-terror operation used precise drone and air strikes on nine terror infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. It avoided hitting military targets and showcased strategic restraint and focus.2022 – Operation GangaMeaning: Sacred river 'Ganga'About: A humanitarian operation to evacuate Indian citizens (mainly students) from Ukraine during the Russian invasion. Around 20,000–25,000 Indians and some foreign nationals were brought home.2017 – Operation All-OutMeaning: Implies total force, no holding backAbout: A coordinated counter-terror operation to neutralise all active militants in Jammu & Kashmir. It involved multiple security agencies and marked a firm zero-tolerance stance against terrorism.2015 – Operation RaahatMeaning: Relief or ComfortAbout: A massive evacuation mission to bring Indian and foreign nationals out of conflict-ridden Yemen. The Indian Navy and Air Force played a key role in safely evacuating thousands.2001–2002 – Operation ParakramMeaning: Courage or ValourAbout: India's major military mobilisation after the Parliament attack. Over 800,000 troops were deployed along the Indo-Pak border as a show of strength. Though it ended without open hostilities, it bolstered India's deterrence posture.1999 – Operation TalwarMeaning: SwordAbout: The Indian Navy's operation during the Kargil conflict involved a strategic blockade of Pakistani ports in the Arabian Sea to cut off logistical support.1999 – Operation Safed SagarMeaning: 'White Ocean'About: The Indian Air Force's aerial campaign in the snowy Kargil sector, supporting ground troops during the Kargil War. Notable for the use of MiG and Mirage jets in high-altitude conditions.1999 – Operation VijayMeaning: Victory About: The codename for India's large-scale military campaign to evict Pakistani infiltrators from the Kargil district of Jammu and Kashmir. Central to the Kargil War's outcome and a symbol of national pride and military operation names, from Vijay to Sindoor to Mahadev, are more than just labels. They are messages of courage, intention, and identity. Whether it's a war victory, a peace mission, or a disaster rescue, the name chosen reflects what India stands for: strength, humanity, strategy, and deep cultural roots.- Ends
Indian Express
5 days ago
- General
- Indian Express
Sector 42 lake stands dry as poor design drains Chandigarh's water planning
Written by Aishani Chauhan and Divyanshi Thakur While Chandigarh projects itself as a model of smart and sustainable planning, the New Lake in Sector 42 tells another story. Built in 2008 for Rs 3 crore to host religious events and collect rainwater for the city's southern sectors, the man-made lake today lies dry for most of the year. With no natural water source and dependent on tube wells that deplete the water table, it has become a symbol of the city's faltering water management. Staff at the site say the lake serves little purpose beyond being filled briefly during festival season. 'Even when it's filled for Chhath Puja, it's emptied soon after the festival,' said Balkar, a worker at the site. Another staffer, Anil, added that internal complaints are met with threats. 'We've told officials about the problems many times. But if word gets out about who complained, they say we'll be fired'. This year, the lake has not been filled even once. Power supply to the area was cut off on June 3 over a pending electricity bill of Rs 2.5 lakh. 'A waste of resources' Environmentalists have questioned the practice of pumping potable groundwater into a structurally inadequate artificial lake. 'It makes no sense to keep pumping drinking water from tube wells into an artificial lake that doesn't serve any real utility,' said Rahul Mahajan, founder of the Organic Sharing Foundation. 'It's not just a waste of taxes — it is a waste of natural resources.' Swadesh Talwar, veteran photo editor, pointed out that a seasonal drain, the N-Choe, flows past the site. 'That rainwater is discharged out of the city, unused, while crores are spent extracting groundwater for a lake meant to be temporary. Residents with houses over 500 square yards must install rainwater harvesting systems,' Talwar said. Talwar also highlighted a fundamental design flaw. 'The bed of the lake has been cemented over, which goes against basic ecological principles. Lake beds must be porous to allow rainwater to percolate and recharge groundwater. Cementing stops that natural seepage and defeats the purpose. No natural lake is ever built that way. It's not just poor planning — it's a way to inflate costs and justify spending,' he explained. Infrastructure overhaul needed A senior technical expert, who requested anonymity, said converting the site into a functioning rainwater harvesting basin would require major redesign. 'You can't just divert stormwater into the lake. Without proper screening, filtration, and stormwater lines that are not connected to sewage, silt and trash will collect, reducing capacity and creating new problems.' Pallav Mukherjee, a former member of the Municipal Corporation's water and sewerage committees, said he had proposed such lakes as stormwater buffers 15 years ago to counter falling groundwater levels. 'Sector 42 was meant to do that. But it is being filled with tube well water, not rainwater, which defeats the whole purpose. On a good rainy day, Chandigarh gets about one litre per square metre for every 10 mm of rainfall. That's a huge amount of water, and we are just letting it run off into drains.' Currently, there is no system to channel runoff from surrounding sectors or roads into the lake. 'This lake is not designed to collect rainwater, and so it doesn't,' said Mahajan. 'Instead, it functions as a yearly ritual site at a massive environmental cost.' Repeated attempts to contact C B Ojha, Chief Engineer with the Chandigarh Administration, for comment went unanswered. (Aishani Chauhan and Divyanshi Thakur are interns with The Indian Express)
NDTV
08-07-2025
- Science
- NDTV
Ciao Shux! Astrophotographers, Amateurs Capture ISS's Flight Over India
New Delhi: As the International Space Station flew over India, astrophotographers and amateurs alike turned their cameras to the skies, possibly mirroring the awe-filled gaze with which Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla must have been looking at his country from the cuppola of the orbital lab. While the football field-sized ISS passed over Delhi-NCR on Monday night, sightings will continue till July 12. Among the earliest glimpses of the ISS's passage over Delhi was captured by renowned astrophotographers Ajay Talwar and his wife Neelam Talwar. As the ISS flew over Delhi at a break-neck speed of 28,000 kilometers per hour, Mr Talwar, armed with his Canon camera and fish eye lens, manoeuvred conditions like cloudy skies to capture over 90 images, which were later stitched together to create one stunning composite image of the orbital lab from the Earth. India joins @ndtv for the Watch Party wave to astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla as he passes over India. This dramatic video is by @ajaytalwar & @TalwarNeelam Join in @Axiom_Space @isro Ciao Shux! Astrophotographers Amateurs Capture ISS's Flight Over India — Pallava Bagla (@pallavabagla) July 8, 2025 "It was a very proud moment for me when I looked up through the monsoon clouds that are prevalent in the National Capital Region. The faint brightness of the International Space Station appeared on the western horizon and steadily grew brighter and brighter as it approached the zenith. My camera was ready and it was continuously capturing this epic moment. I lovingly waved towards the space station while I wondered if Shubhanshu Shukla was looking at India," he told NDTV. Mr Shukla, nicknamed Shux by the Axiom-4 crew and the astronauts on the ISS, is India's first astronaut on the orbital lab. The ISS follows a special trajectory to complete multiple orbits of the Earth in a day. Several apps give its precise location, like NASA's Spot the Station app or the ISS Detector App. As per the Talwars, a stargazing couple that has been photographic celestial bodies for 25 years, patience is key when it comes to astrophotography. Mr Talwar recounted his first tryst with astrophotgraphy. "Although I have lost the slide, I still remember it vividly. I had gone to a place called Neb Sarai on the outskirts of Delhi in 1987 and exposed an entire film for a night. The slide film had 36 frames, but just a couple had stars visible in them," he said. The film was about to be disposed as it was found to not be exposed at all, but one frame shone through - one of a sky full of stars with a very evident Omega Centauri cluster. Mr Talwar stressed the role of patience in getting the perfect frame, a feat few could manage when he began photographing the skies 25 years ago. "In one night, the entire film of 36 frames would not even be complete, so you were forced to go out again a week or month later. Finally, the film would be complete and then you would go and get it developed. So you would get to see the fruits only about a month later and still run the risk of making a mistake," he said. Digital cameras, he said, changed the game. "You can preview your images instantly, make corrections and come back home with at least a few good shots. Even now, with advanced digital cameras, patience is required as you are photographing all night in some cases," he pointed out. The ISS fly over India repeatedly in the next few days and can be sighted streaking across the sky, often visible for as long as five to seven minutes. Here is quick guide to spot the ISS in IST: July 8: 4.59 am to 5.05 am; 7.59 pm to 8.06 pm; 9.38 pm to 9.41 pm July 9: 4.10 am to 4.16 am; 8.48 pm to 8.53 pm July 10: 3.22 am to 3.27 am; 4.58 am to 5.04 am; 7.59 pm to 8.05 pm July 11: 2.34 am to 2.36 am; 4.09 am to 4.15 am July 12: 7.59 pm to 8.03 pm Those who miss the sighting can have another shot between July 24 and August 1. By then, Mr Shukla and the Axion-4 crew will be back on Earth, if all goes per schedule. At NDTV, an active watch party is celebrating the success of 'India's Cosmic Leap' and several photographers have been sending their images. Among them is the capture by Dr Chrisphin Karthick, a scientist at Indian Institute of Astrophysics in Tamil Nadu's Kodaikanal. Another view of the ISS's passage over Delhi was by NDTV video journalist Azam Siddiqui. ISS Spotted over Delhi skies: The International Space Station (ISS), Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's home away from home, was captured on camera at 5:42 am on July 8, 2025, around skies over Delhi's Sainik Farms, using an iPhone 16. Courtesy: @azam24x7 — NDTV (@ndtv) July 8, 2025
Time of India
04-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Silicon Valley's new success is a $2-bn job platform with an Indian origin story
Brendan Foody, Adarsh Hiremath, and Surya Midha were college students when they first created their artificial intelligence (AI) interviewer. Initially, they were using the AI interview as a screening tool for engineers in India and matching those engineers with US startup jobs. Now, their AI interview has screened around half a million candidates, and their AI job marketplace, Mercor, is valued at $2 now works predominantly with some of the largest AI labs and tech companies in the world, including OpenAI and Meta, to screen talent using their AI interview and staff them on short-term contracts. 'Initially, we were just placing tech grads in India with startups run by our contemporaries,' said Virat Talwar, a product manager at Mercor, and its first employee, 'but not long after, we realised that we could generalise the products we had built to a much larger market.'. Products spearheaded by Talwar and the Mercor team have now processed close to 500,000 applicants, placing over 5,000 people around the world in part-time and full-time opportunities.A large amount of the contract work that members of Mercor's talent pool now do revolves around evaluating the capabilities of AI models, and working on projects that help cutting-edge AI researchers. Talent on the platform is global, while they have people from the US, Europe, and Latin America, a large part of the talent pool is based in India. In fact, around half of the company's internal team is based in India. 'The benefit of starting with an Indian talent pool is that we were able to attract and hire some of the best young Indian tech talent internally,' says Talwar, who is based in San Francisco but grew up in Delhi before moving abroad to study at Harvard of the members of the team based in India is Soumi De, the company's Head of Sourcing. She helps support the global sourcing strategy that fuels Mercor's AI marketplace, playing a pivotal role in building the supply engine that matches thousands of candidates to cutting-edge AI opportunities. 'Our goal is simple but ambitious: to deliver the right talent at the right time, every time,' said De. 'We've built an adaptive sourcing system that's designed not just for growth, but for precision and velocity.''Growing up in India and majoring in computer science, I saw how disconnected hiring often is from actual job performance first-hand,' said De. 'Top-tier talent would get overlooked because they didn't 'crack' the process, while others who performed well in interviews didn't always thrive on the job.'Mercor is now focusing on creating a talent experience shaped by a deeply practical approach to sourcing. 'Traditional recruiting needs to adapt. It shouldn't be about jumping through hoops; it should be about capability, clarity, and match. That's what we're building at Mercor.' De believes this shift isn't just progressive, it's inevitable. 'Companies can't afford the inefficiencies of outdated processes anymore. Mercor is ahead of the curve in shaping a modern hiring ecosystem, one where both companies and candidates win.'As the hiring landscape continues to evolve, Mercor's model is proving that a more equitable, performance-based approach isn't just idealistic, it's operationally sound and commercially necessary. Mercor is not just riding the future of work, it's helping build it.
