University of Texas (Dallas) confers the Lifetime Achievement Award to distinguished alumni Naveen Jindal
He is the second person to receive the award after Nobel Laureate Aziz Sancar
New Delhi. Chairman of Jindal Steel & Power, Mr. Naveen Jindal has been honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award by the University of Texas (Dallas) for his accomplishments in industry, politics, and education. An Alumni of UT Dallas 1992 batch, Mr. Jindal received the award in a ceremony held by the university on the 25th of March 2023. Mr. Naveen Jindal is the second person to receive the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from the University of Texas, Dallas after Nobel Laureate Aziz Sancar.
As a student at UT Dallas, Mr. Jindal served as both Student Government Vice President and President and earned the Student Leader of the Year Award. He was recognized with the University’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2010.
To celebrate the enormous success of the most distinguished alumni, the University of Texas at Dallas honoured him by rechristening their School of Management as the Naveen Jindal School of Management in 2011.
This award is the highest honour that UT Dallas bestows on alumni, to recognize a graduate whose extraordinary contributions have bettered society, transformed UT Dallas, and inspired others to reach new heights of excellence. About JSP: JSP is an industrial powerhouse with a dominant presence in the steel, mining, and infrastructure sectors. With an investment of 12 billion USD across the globe, the company is continuously scaling its capacity utilization and efficiencies to capture opportunities for building a self-reliant India.
MNRE conducts ‘Green Hydrogen Accelerating Net-Zero Pathways’ with active participation by International Research Organizations, Industry and regulatory bodies
Policy mechanisms, a common protocol for hydrogen certification and regulatory frameworks along with collaborations between countries, could accelerate a green hydrogen ecosystem, says B. S. Bhalla, Secretary, MNRE (Ministry of New and Renewable Energy)
New Delhi, On the side-lines of the second Energy Transition Working Group meeting, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) hosted the side event “Green Hydrogen – Advancing Net-Zero Pathways.” Green hydrogen is anticipated to play a crucial role in decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors and achieving G20 nations’ net- zero goals. The side event, conducted in partnership with Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) and International Solar Alliance (ISA) with World Resources Institute India (WRI India) as a knowledge partner, saw active participation by international research organizations, industry participants, regulatory bodies and other key stakeholders. The discussions were centred around policy, regulatory, and financial frameworks to accelerate the deployment of green hydrogen and promote cooperation amongst G20 nations. The event also featured an exhibition where India’s first H2 Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) truck was displayed. Speaking at the inaugural session in his keynote address Bhupinder Singh Bhalla, Secretary, MNRE, said, “Creating policy mechanisms and regulatory frameworks along with establishing collaborations between countries, could accelerate a green hydrogen ecosystem. Developing consensus on a common framework for hydrogen certification would be extremely critical to enable global hydrogen trade. Achieving this will be of paramount importance as part of G20 deliberations and discussions.” Giving a global perspective on green hydrogen Gauri Singh – Deputy Director General, IRENA, said “At present about 100 MTs of hydrogen is produced globally, and 98% of that comes from fossil fuels. The world’s current power consumption, 21,000 TWh, must be generated six times over to switch to a “green hydrogen economy.”
Madhav Pai, Interim CEO & Program Executive Director – of Sustainable Cities & Transport, WRI India said, “Green hydrogen is poised to play a vital role in the cross- sectoral decarbonisation of hard-to-abate sectors and is, therefore, a crucial element for a sustainable, low-carbon future. There exist unique prospects for the world’s leading economies to engage in cooperative and collaborative efforts critical for addressing economic and technical challenges and building a resilient global hydrogen value chain.” The growing efforts to diversify and advance the fuel basket will not only result in environmental benefits but would also be accompanied by energy security and reduced import dependency.
To meet clean energy transition objectives, G20 nations will require the adoption of multi- pronged strategies which should include renewable energy, green hydrogen, and its derivatives. Substantive and coordinated global efforts are required to position green hydrogen as a key lever for energy transition, especially for hard-to-abate industrial sectors, long haul and heavy transport (including aviation and shipping), and other potential applications including heating and energy storage.
More than 40,000 Amrit Sarovar dedicated to the country – a significant achievement by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India
New Delhi, In the 75th year of Independence, as a part of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’, the Prime Minister has launched Mission Amrit Sarovar on 24th April 2022 with the target to construct/ rejuvenate at least 75 Amrit Sarovars in each district across the country and to overcome the water crisis in rural areas of the country. A target of construction of 50,000 Amrit Sarovars was set to be completed by 15th August, 2023. Within a short span of 11 months, so far, more than 40,000 Amrit Sarovars have been constructed, which constitutes 80% of the total target.
‘Jan Bhagidari’ has been the core of this Mission and involves people’s participation at all levels. So far 54088 user groups have been formed for each Amrit Sarovar. These user groups are fully involved during the entire process of development of Amrit Sarovar viz feasibility assessment, execution and its utilisation. States/UTs are leveraging the participation of freedom fighters, eldest members of the panchayat, family members of freedom fighters and martyrs, Padma Awardees, etc. for the purposes like laying the foundation stone of the designated Amrit Sarovar sites, flag hoisting on important dates like 26th January and 15th August. So far, 1784 freedom fighters, 18,173 eldest members of the panchayat, 448 family members of freedom fighters, 684 family members of martyrs and 56 Padma Awardees have participated in the Mission. More significantly, Mission Amrit Sarovar is boosting the rural livelihood as the completed Sarovars have been identified for different activities such as irrigation, fisheries, Duckery, cultivation of water chestnut and animal husbandry, etc. As of now, 66% of user groups are engaged in Agriculture, 21% in fisheries, 6% are involved in water chestnut & lotus cultivation and 7 % of groups are involved in Animal husbandry. These activities are being carried out by different user groups which are linked to each Amrit Sarovar.
‘Whole of Government’ approach is the soul of this Mission, wherein six Central Ministries, namely the Ministry of Rural Development together with the Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, are operational in convergence with technical organizations, namely Bhaskaracharya National Institute of Space Applications and Geo- Informatics (BISAG-N), and all the States/UTs Governments. The highlight of this convergence is that the Ministry of Railway and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways are using the excavated soil/silt for infrastructure projects in the vicinity of the demarcated Amrit Sarovar sites. Public and CSR Bodies are playing a significant role by contributing to the construction/ rejuvenation of several Amrit Sarovars across the country. Mission Amrit Sarovar also aims for qualitative implementation and development of Amrit Sarovar as a hub of local community activities and convergence with different Ministries for Amrit Sarovar Works.
Communication Ministers’ Conclave concludes with a vision to enable digital transformation and inspire innovation in telecommunicationsNew Delhi, A Communication Ministers’ Conclave was held in New Delhi, with the theme of ‘Enabling Innovation in Telecommunications to Ensure Digital Transformation of the Society’. During the conclave, Minister of Railways, Communications and Electronics & Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw and Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary General, ITU unveiled Coffee Table Book ‘ITU@India’ as well as launched the UN Wayfinder navigational mobile App. The App has been developed by C-DOT, to enable users to find their way in various blocks and floors of UN buildings in Geneva. The event brought together Communication
Ministers and senior Government officials from across the South Asia region, as well as representatives of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The discussions converged on the latest developments in the field of telecommunications, with a focus on emerging technologies, regulatory issues, and the role of governments in driving innovation and growth. They also addressed the challenges faced by the telecommunication sector. The discussions emphasised the need for sustained investment in broadband infrastructure, development of education and digital skills as well as the importance of collaboration between governments, the industry and society in creating an enabling environment for digital innovation.
The Conclave concluded with a commitment to promote a more inclusive and sustainable digital future and to collaborate on a range of issues, including 5G, cybersecurity, and the use of digital technologies for social and economic development. Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw also inaugurated the 17th India Telecom 2023 in the gracious presence of the Minister of State for Communications Shri Devusinh Chauhan. Telecom Equipment & Services Export Promotion Council (TEPC) is organising India Telecom, an exclusive international business expo. The main objective of the event was to provide opportunities for startups, MSMEs and Indian telecom stakeholders to meet prospective overseas buyers. Additionally, the Indian innovators were also felicitated on the occasion. These included innovators of the 5G Hackathon, the Advance Optical Communication Testbed Project, the 5G O-RAN Project and the Digital Communication Innovation Square.
India can achieve clean energy independence by 2047: US study
New Delhi, India can achieve its vision of energy independence by 2047, according to a new study by the US Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab). Examining India’s three most energy-intensive sectors — power, transport and industry, the study, titled Pathways to Atmanirbhar Bharat, which translates to “self-reliant India”, determined that achieving energy independence will generate significant economic, environmental, and energy benefits. This includes $2.5 trillion in consumer savings through 2047, reducing fossil fuel import expenditure by 90 per cent or $240 billion per year by 2047, enhancing India’s industrial competitiveness globally, and enabling India’s net-zero commitment ahead of schedule. India is the third largest energy consumer in the world and its energy demand will quadruple in the coming decades, thanks to rapid economic growth. Currently, it must import 90 per cent of the oil, 80 per cent of the industrial coal, and 40 per cent of the natural gas it consumes. Price and supply volatility in the global energy markets, as witnessed in recent years, strain India’s foreign exchange reserves, resulting in economy-wide inflation. “The case for clean energy has never been stronger. India has achieved the world’s lowest renewable energy prices and has found some of the world’s largest lithium reserves,” said Nikit Abhyankar, Berkeley Lab scientist and the lead author of the study. “This can propel India towards cost-effective energy independence in a way that is economically and environmentally advantageous.”
The study shows that India’s energy independence pathway would involve the power sector installing more than 500 GW of non-fossil electricity generation capacity by 2030, a goal already announced by the government, followed by an 80 per cent clean grid by 2040 and 90 per cent by 2047. Nearly 100 per cent of new vehicle sales could be electric by 2035. Heavy industrial production could shift primarily to green hydrogen and electrification: 90 per cent of iron and steel, 90 per cent of cement, and 100 per cent of fertilizers by 2047. Most of the lithium needed (estimated 2 million tons by 2040) for manufacturing new electric vehicles and grid-scale battery storage systems could be produced domestically using newly discovered reserves. In addition, the Indian industry must transition to clean technologies such as EVs and green steel manufacturing. India is one of the world’s largest auto and steel exporters, with their largest markets in EU countries committed to carbon neutrality and a potential carbon border adjustment tariff. “India’s energy infrastructure requires a $3 trillion investment in the coming decades, and our study finds that prioritising new energy The study shows that India’s energy independence pathway would involve the power sector installing more than 500 GW of non-fossil electricity generation capacity by 2030, a goal already announced by the government, followed by an 80 per cent clean grid by 2040 and 90 per cent by 2047. Nearly 100 per cent of new vehicle sales could be electric by 2035. Heavy industrial production could shift primarily to green hydrogen and electrification: 90 per cent of iron and steel, 90 per cent of cement, and 100 per cent of fertilizers by 2047. Most of the lithium needed (estimated 2 million tons by 2040) for manufacturing new electric vehicles and grid-scale battery storage systems could be produced domestically using newly discovered reserves. In addition, the Indian industry must transition to clean technologies such as EVs and green steel manufacturing. India is one of the world’s largest auto and steel exporters, with their largest markets in EU countries committed to carbon neutrality and a potential carbon border adjustment tariff. “assets that are cost-effective and clean is crucial for long-term financial sustainability,” said Amol Phadke, Berkeley Lab scientist and a co-author. “India can leverage the existing policy framework it has laid out to expand the clean energy deployment.” The study finds that India has a unique advantage to leapfrog to a clean energy future since the bulk of its energy infrastructure has yet to be built.India’s growing energy demand offers a significant runway of 15 years for the existing fossil energy assets to transition to clean energy. This transition will be important to do in concert with the most affected communities, ensuring an equitable transition for the country’s workforce. This energy transition would require significant policy support, including deployment mandates for clean technologies, financial and policy support for emerging technologies such as green hydrogen, and investment in domestic manufacturing capacity. “We find that India will embark on an ambitious energy transition in the coming decades,” said Priyanka Mohanty, a co-author and researcher at Berkeley Lab. energy infrastructure requires a $3 trillion investment in the coming decades, and our study finds that prioritising new energy.
India at G20 showcases its strength in research, and innovation
Amritsar, Highlighting India’s opportunity to establish itself as a leader in research and innovation, India’s G20 Presidency took centre stage at Khalsa College here in Punjab where IIT Ropar under the Union Ministry of Education hosted a seminar on ‘Strengthening research and promoting innovation through richer collaboration’. The event brought together delegates from the G20 Education Working Group to discuss the future of work and innovation, with a focus on building bridges across nations for equitable development.
Rajeev Ahuja, Director, IIT Ropar, welcomed the participants and highlighted India’s opportunity to establish itself as a leader in research and innovation globally. Union Higher Education Secretary K. Sanjay Murthy also attended the event. Govind Rangarajan, the Director, of IISC, shared enlightening thoughts on the interdependency of domains and interdisciplinary action for solving problems. He also highlighted India’s frugal innovations, which have the potential to solve problems of the developed world, and the need to acknowledge and use grassroots innovation. B.S. Murty, Director, IIT Hyderabad, stressed the need for synergy between government, academia and industry to find solutions to pressing world problems. He highlighted that the National Education Policy 2020 has brought in path-breaking reforms and various programmes are helping promote cross-institutional collaboration in the country.
The first panel titled ‘Research in emerging and disruptive technologies, Industry — 4.0’ moderated by Anil Gupta and chaired by Rajeev Ahuja brought together panellists from Australia, France, India and the UK who shared pertinent insights on the role of various stakeholders to promote research on the emerging innovations, their impact on education systems and society in general.
The second panel on ‘Research in sustainable development goals’ chaired by Shalini Bharat with panellists representing China, Oman, South Africa, the UAE and Unicef laid importance on enhancing the capacities of universities being the core of research. One of the panellists, Alison Dell, Assistant Secretary, of the Australian government’s Department of Education, discussed the national collaborative infrastructure scheme in her country, and what her government has been doing in moving towards applied research.
She emphasised the importance of international collaboration in research and innovation, highlighting the successful partnerships between Australian and Indian institutions in the past.
She expressed hope that such collaborations would continue to thrive and contribute to the sustainable development of both nations.
The seminar focused on bridging the gap between government, academia and industry linkages for designing solutions for addressing global challenges. There is a need for bringing multidisciplinary to education.
NLC India Limited to Produce M-Sand from Overburden – Focus on Sustainable Mining & Creation of ‘Wealth from Waste’
New Delhi, NLC India Limited (NLCIL), the Navratna- Government of India enterprise is all set to start production of ‘M- Sand’ from Overburden, the core material used in civil construction. This initiative is based on promoting sustainable practices under the mentorship of the Ministry of Coal to maximise the utilization of natural resources and minimise the impact on the river Eco System. During Opencast Mining, the Overburden sandstone is removed as waste to extract Lignite and the overburden is kept in dumps. NLCIL and IIT Chennai made an extensive study for the conversion of overburden sandstone into IS 383: 2016 M-sand and found it suitable for construction. NLCIL will produce about 2.62 Lakh Cubic Meters of M-Sand from Overburden annually under Build-Own-Operate (BOO) business model from Lignite Mine-IA. In this regard, the Contract is awarded on 31.03.2023 for establishing M-Sand Plant. NLCIL plans to establish similar plants at Lignite Mine-I and Lignite Mine-II. Necessary statutory clearances have been obtained from Central Government. This project is the first of its kind in the Lignite Mining Industry.
ONGC contributes Rs 100 crores to the PM CARES Fund to strengthen the nation’s fight against COVID-19 and H3N2 virus
New Delhi Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC), India’s Energy Maharatna contributed Rs 100 crores to the Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES Fund) on 31 March 2023. This contribution will facilitate the government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the healthcare infrastructure, specifically for fighting COVID-19 and the H3N2 influenza virus.
Earlier, ONGC contributed Rs 300 crore to the PM CARES Fund in April 2020 during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and also contributed another Rs 70 crore to this fund in Financial Year (FY) 2021-22 for maintaining the medic equipment purchased by Oil Public Sector Enterprises (PSEs) during the two waves of the pandemic.
As a socially responsible organization, ONGC supports the government’s efforts to ensure the health and safety of all its stakeholders, including communities. This contribution will help provide much-needed resources to amplify the government’s efforts in healthcare. The contribution to the PM CARES Fund is a part of ONGC’s ongoing efforts to support society and the nation in these difficult times. The company remains committed to its core values of social responsibility, sustainability, and excellence in all its operations.
REC was Felicitated with Green Ribbon Champions Award for Commitment to Environmental Sustainability
Gurugram REC Ltd has been felicitated by Network18 with the ‘Green Ribbon Champions’ award as a testament to its commitment to Environmental Sustainability. Minister of Power and New & Renewable Energy R.K Singh presented the award to Vivek Kumar Dewangan, CMD, REC Limited during an event organized in New Delhi. The award was conferred to prominent Indian enterprises which contributed significantly to the cause of creating a green planet. REC Ltd has been recognized for its remarkable contributions to developing a sustainable future for the country. It has been at the forefront of driving sustainability projects all over India. To reduce carbon footprints, encourage green energy production, and ensure a sustainable and reliable power supply.
REC has aided various projects such as the installation of a one MWp Solar Photo Voltaic System on the rooftop of the Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU) campus, the installation of 245 KW off-grid solar power plant and solar-based LED lights at 13 campus buildings of Odisha’s Sambalpur University, installation of 500 Solar Street Lighting systems of 12 Watts with Remote Monitoring System (RMS) in Himachal Pradesh and 1650 LED based Solar Street Lights in Maharashtra, etc. REC is emerging as one of the largest lenders of Renewable Energy projects and financing e-mobility infrastructure, manufacturing of solar cells & modules, hybrid renewables, pollution control equipment projects, etc. As a leader in the power sector, REC has been harnessing green energy &is determined to reduce its carbon footprint. To ensure a greener and cleaner tomorrow, 100% of the energy needs of its Corporate Office are being met by the Solar Rooftop Pergola that results in a yearly carbon reduction of 1186 MTs, equivalent to 19,617 tree seedlings grown for ten years. REC’s office building is run by an integrated 100% wastewater management system through rainwater harvesting, allowing 10 million litres of rainwater to be collected annually.
REC has also undertaken activities on generating awareness of Swachhta, like the installation of dustbins in public places, weeding out of old records, digitization of documents, and organizing competitions on cleanliness, under the Swachhta Action Plan in all regional offices across the country. REC is committed to integrating sustainability in all aspects of its operations.
Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais presides over raj celebrations at Raj Bhavan
Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais presided over a workshop on ‘Yoga at Workplace’ organised on the occasion of World Health Day at Raj Bhavan Mumbai on Friday (7 April). The workshop was conducted by Ravi Dixit, Joint Director of Kaivalyadhama Yoga Institute.
Noted Cardiac Surgeon Dr Sameer Pagad of Bombay Hospital gave a lecture cum demonstration on ‘Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Technique’ (CPR) on the occasion. Speaking on the occasion, the Governor said it is better to work for preventive healthcare rather than spend on the treatment of diseases later. He said preventive healthcare, especially the practice of yoga can save us from various ailments and lifestyle diseases. Emphasising the importance of positive thinking for stress-free living, the Governor applauded the initiative of ‘Yoga at Workspace’ to manage stress and improve efficiency. The Governor joined his officers and staff in performing yoga on the occasion.
Cardiologist Dr Sameer Pagad said 70 per cent of Cardiac arrests occur at home or away from the Hospital. He said a simple CPR technique performed by any person available next to the patient can help us save a precious life. In this connection, he stressed the need to train students in schools and colleges in the CPR technique. The programme was attended by Dr Dinesh Panjwani, Trustee, Kaivalyadham and officers and staff of Raj Bhavan.
