Author: Team

What Did Indians Ask Alexa in 2023? Cricket, Celebrities, and Trending Topics Lead the Way

Whether it’s information about the next cricket match, an interesting piece of trivia about popular public figures, or the status of the stock market, Indians were keen to know about some of the hottest trends and topics in 2024–and Alexa was there to help. Revealed today are ‘Alexa’s Most Asked Questions’ that users in India asked Alexa last year.

 Cricket fans in India took Alexa’s help to stay abreast of matches by asking questions like “Alexa, when does the cricket match start?” and “Alexa, आज के match का score बताओ”. Virat Kohli was among the most inquired personalities on Alexa through the year, with Indian users asking Alexa for his net worth, height, age, and spouse details. Ravindra Jadeja and Rohit Sharma are the other cricketers most inquired about by Alexa users.

 Bollywood stars and YouTubers also piqued a lot of curiosity, with Alexa users keen to learn more about them with questions like “Alexa, how tall is Kriti Sanon?” and “Alexa, what is the net worth of Mr. Beast?”.

Users also turned to Alexa for general queries in their day-to-day lives such as, “Alexa,आज का राशिफल बताओ and “Alexa,एकादशी कब है?”. They also brushed up on their general knowledge with “Alexa, what is the population of earth?” and “Alexa, how far away is the sun from earth?” appearing among popularly asked questions by users.

Alexa continued to be a trusted DJ in households across India, catering to requests for music across artists and genres, ranging from devotional tracks to Bollywood hits and beyond. Artists like Arijit Singh, Pritam, Jubin Nautiyal, Diljit Dosanjh, Taylor Swift, and Badshah were most popularly played via Alexa and Amazon Music. Songs like Abrar’s Entry – Jamal Kudu (Harshavardhan Rameshwar & Choir), Naacho Naacho (Vishal Mishra & Rahul Sipligunj), Illuminati (Dabzee) and Akhiyaan Gulaab (Mitraaz) were among the most popularly played songs from movies. Shree Hanuman Chalisa (Hariharan), Gayatri Mantra (Anuradha & Kavita Paudwal), Jai Ganesh Deva (Anuradha Paudwal), Ram Ayenge (Swati Mishra), Ram Siya Ram (Sachet Tandon & Parampara Tandon) were among the most popular devotional tracks Alexa customers played through Amazon Music.

In the kitchen, customers took Alexa’s help to cook up a storm, helping with recipes and cooking inspiration–Chai, Chilli Paneer, and Patiala Chicken were among the most-asked-for recipes last year.

THT Grants 2024: The Habitats Trust Unveils Recipients for Conservation Efforts

New Delhi, 17th December 2024: The Habitats Trust (THT), has announced the recipients of its THT Grants 2024. These grants, totalling Rs. 2 crores, support innovative and scalable conservation initiatives across India. The Habitats Trust, is focused on addressing some of the most pressing developmental challenges arising from biodiversity loss, the climate crisis and global water scarcity. It is committed to undertake pioneering work that goes beyond sustainability and offers regenerative models to secure our future.

2024 marks 7th year of The Habitats Trust Grants and this year they are announcing a total of five recipients across the two categories of its annual grants: one THT Conservation Grant and four THT Action Grants.

Mrs. Roshni Nadar Malhotra, Founder & Trustee of The Habitats Trust, remarked, “The announcement of THT Grants is a celebration of the remarkable work being done by conservationists who are addressing some of the most urgent environmental challenges facing our country. Through these grants, we hope to amplify the impact of these organisations and individuals who are on the frontlines of conservation. From securing fragile ecosystems to protecting lesser-known species, these projects are at the heart of regenerating India’s biodiversity, ensuring a sustainable future for both nature and communities.”

Rushikesh Chavan, Head of The Habitats Trust, highlighted the importance of the grants, stating, “The THT Grants represent our vision to conserve and drive meaningful, long-term change for lesser-known species and critical habitats. By investing in innovative, scalable projects, we partner with organisations and individuals who are creating solutions to protect and restore India’s biodiversity.”

Grant Categories and Recipients

THT Conservation Grant: This grant supports large-scale, long-term projects that address challenges in critical habitats.

• Indian Institute of Science (IISc): The 2024 recipient of the THT Conservation Grant is a collaboration between Dr. Umesh Srinivasan and Dr. Anubhab Khan from the Indian Institute of Science, along with Millo Tasser and the Singchung Village Council. Their three-year project, based in Arunachal Pradesh, focuses on conserving the Bugun Liocichla in the Singchung Bugun Village Community Reserve. This critically endangered bird is a “point endemic” species, found only in a single locality in Arunachal Pradesh, with just 14 to 20 known individuals. The project aims to assess the effective population size and genomics of the Bugun Liocichla. Additionally, it will explore the feasibility of translocating individuals to create reserve populations and model demographic parameters to inform targeted conservation initiatives, ensuring the long-term survival of this rare species.

 THT Action Grant: This grant supports two-year projects focused on urgent, on-the-ground conservation efforts. In 2024, four recipients were selected for the THT Action Grant, comprising two individuals and two organisations:

• Divya Panicker: A cetacean and bioacoustics expert, Divya Panicker’s project will survey the endangered blue whales in the Lakshadweep Archipelago. Using a multi-year passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) system, the project aims to determine the acoustic occurrence and seasonality of blue whales in the region and share the data with local authorities for effective conservation management.
•  Malyasri Bhattacharya: Continuing her doctoral work in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, Malyasri Bhattacharya’s project aims to safeguard critically endangered vulture habitats through community-led ecotourism. The project focuses on conserving White-rumped Vultures and migratory birds in the Kangra landscape by involving local communities, building capacity, and fostering stewardship among Gaddi and Gujjar herders. The initiative seeks to promote ecotourism and ensure the protection of nesting sites.
•  Durgapur Wildlife Information and Nature Guide Society: Based in West Bengal, this organisation’s community-driven conservation project focuses on Indian grey wolves in human-dominated landscapes. Through species monitoring, prey base assessment, and mitigation measures to manage human-animal interactions, the project aims to create a model for co-existence and long-term conservation of this vital species.
•  Veditum India Foundation: Operating in Madhya Pradesh, the Veditum India Foundation is working to protect riparian habitats. The project emphasizes improving environmental governance, promoting citizen participation, and enhancing river protection against the impacts of sand mining. The initiative’s outputs will help secure habitats for gharials, Gangetic dolphins, mahseer, Indian skimmers, and red-crowned roof turtles.

 In addition to these grants, The Habitats Trust also supports organisations and individuals through its monthly THT Seeds Grant, which offers up to Rs. 3 lakhs for short-term projects. The Seeds Grant is designed to tackle issues related to lesser-known species or habitats and to pilot projects in relatively unexplored landscapes or data-deficient species.

Selection Process

The THT Grants 2024 recipients were chosen through a rigorous four-stage selection process. This year, The Habitats Trust received 155 applications from diverse landscapes across India, including the Lakshadweep Islands, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, West Bengal, Kerala, Arunachal Pradesh, and Maharashtra. The applications were evaluated based on relevance, scalability, sustainability, and expected impact. A panel of distinguished experts assessed the shortlisted projects, selecting nine finalists. The final selection was made by a jury comprising:

•  Bahar Dutt: Wildlife biologist and environmental journalist known for her advocacy on wildlife protection and sustainable development
•  Brian Heath: Founder and CEO of the Mara Conservancy, Kenya, with over 20 years of experience in wildlife conservation
• Dr. M. K. Ranjitsinh: Renowned wildlife expert and architect of India’s Wild Life (Protection) Act of 1972
• Roshni Nadar Malhotra: Chairperson of HCLTech and Founder & Trustee of The Habitats Trust, leading innovative conservation efforts across India

Killekars Celebrate Heritage with Kalpataru’s Support at Mud Fort Making Competition in Thane

Thane, Maharashtra – December 17, 2024: Kalpataru, a prominent real estate developer, in collaboration with Killekars, proudly hosts the Award Ceremony for the ‘2024 Heritage Awareness through Mud Fort Making Competition’ at Korum Mall in Thane. This event honors the creativity and commitment of participants who contribute to preserving Maharashtra’s cultural heritage.

The Heritage Awareness program, held on October 27, 2024, successfully engaged students from local schools under Kalpataru’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative. The project aims to promote heritage awareness and engage students to foster environmental responsibility. In the competition, students showcased their talent by creating miniature versions of historic forts with traditional mud techniques, reviving an age-old tradition in Maharashtra that has faded in the modern digital era. The Project was also aligned to the Thane Smart City initiative that served dual purpose of engaging housing societies and nurturing environmental consciousness, cleanliness, and efficient waste management within communities. Online competitions & contests were run for one month that included Smart Society Contest, Essay, Drawing, Rangoli, and Photography for the larger society to participate.

This initiative engaged more than 100 students from 9 schools across Thane and Mumbai, several housing societies & individuals, creating awareness around Heritage preservation & conservation, while disseminating information on cleanliness, and effective waste management.

Expressing her enthusiasm, Anagha Poojari, CSR Head at Kalpataru Limited, said, “The participation in this event was remarkable. We are excited to honor the commitment of all those who participated in the initiative to reignite interest in Maharashtra’s vibrant heritage and raise awareness about protecting our monuments for future generations.”

The event highlighted environmental responsibility by emphasizing waste management, cleanliness, and sustainability. Engaging children and community in creative activities motivated participants to embrace sustainable practices and foster a sense of environmental awareness.

The award ceremony highlights the significance of environmental responsibility and sustainable practices, while reflecting Kalpataru’s dedication to community involvement and cultural preservation. This effort embodies Kalpataru’s belief in giving back to the community while honouring traditions, creating opportunities for individuals to unite and celebrate in a meaningful way.

Amity University, Punjab Boosts Campus Sports Facilities with Gallant Sports Collaboration

Delhi, December 2024 – Gallant Sports, a leading name in sports infrastructure development, has successfully completed a state-of-the-art sports complex for Amity University Punjab. Located on the university’s 40-acre campus near Chandigarh International Airport, the facility reflects the institution’s commitment to integrating sports with education to promote overall student development.

The sports complex spans 62,533 square feet and is among the largest of its kind for a private university in Punjab. It includes a hockey ground with FIH-approved turf, a futsal ground with FIFA-approved turf, multiple cricket pitches, a tennis court with ITF-approved turf, and an acrylic basketball court. Designed to meet international standards, these facilities aim to provide students with an excellent platform for athletic growth.

Nasir Ali, CEO of Gallant Sports, remarked, “This project is a testament to the shared vision between Gallant Sports and Amity University Punjab to create world-class spaces that nurture talent and inspire excellence. We are proud to contribute to a facility that supports both academic and athletic pursuits.”

Gallant Sports is committed to delivering high-quality sports infrastructure that empowers institutions to promote athletic talent, innovation, and sustainability. The company is dedicated to meeting global standards while addressing challenges such as balancing cost and quality, adhering to international specifications, and incorporating eco-friendly practices.

The collaboration with Amity University Punjab highlights the university’s focus on fostering well-rounded development through sports. This sports complex represents a significant step in encouraging a culture of athletic achievement and community engagement, setting new standards for sports infrastructure in the region.

Milestone Achievement: HCG Manavata Cancer Centre Performs 3 Simultaneous Stem Cell Transplants

Nashik, Dec 17: In a ground-breaking medical success, HCG Manavata Cancer Centre (HCGMCC) marked a significant milestone by successfully performing three complex stem cell transplants simultaneously. For the first time, three patients, a female aged 52 years and two males aged 37 and 33 years were admitted on October 28, 2024, and discharged together on December 1, 2024, all with smiles on their faces. The first female patient, diagnosed with multiple myeloma and chronic kidney disease, underwent a critical autologous stem cell transplant. The Second patient diagnosed with relapsed/refractory Hodgkin Lymphoma underwent successful autologous Stem Cell Transplant and the third patient, battling high-risk leukaemia, underwent a complex half-match allogeneic transplant.

The transplant for all three patients was successfully conducted by Dr Priyatesh Dwivedi, Hemato-oncology and BMT Specialist, along with his dedicated team. This accomplishment adds another milestone for HCG Manavata Cancer Centre, which now boasts a remarkable record of 26 successful transplants within just 24 months.

“An autologous stem cell transplant involves harvesting a patient’s own stem cells and re-infusing them after intensive chemotherapy or radiation. For our first patient, this procedure was particularly complex due to significantly elevated creatinine levels, increasing the risk of acute kidney injury. However, with meticulous planning and the application of Modified Protocols, we successfully overcame these challenges, achieving a positive outcome,” says Dr Priyatesh Dwivedi.

The second transplant was complicated because of poor stem cell yield after the first stem cell harvest. Typically, at least two million stem cells are required for stem cell transplant but, only 0.86 million stem cells could be harvested. After the first stem cell collection, predicting poor stem cell yield during the second stem cell harvest, Dr Priyatesh Dwivedi used a novel modified chemo mobilisation procedure instead of going for a second stem cell harvest. With this chemo mobilisation procedure, adequate stem cell were harvested and successful transplant was done.

“Our second patient, a relapsed or refractory lymphoma case with chronic hepatitis B, encountered significant challenges during the initial stem cell mobilization, which failed to yield sufficient Stem cells for transplantation. Through a specialized chemo-mobilization procedure, we successfully collected the adequate stem cells. Similarly, the third patient presented a high-risk leukaemia case with heightened dangers of graft rejection and graft-versus-host disease and underwent successful half match transplant. Despite these complexities, we successfully performed these transplants with the team’s expertise and determination,” adds Dr Dwivedi.

“The achievement reflects our commitment to providing advanced medical care with precision and compassion. Successfully completing three transplants, including a critical half-match procedure, is a testament to the skill and dedication of our multidisciplinary team,” concludes Dr Raj Nagarkar, MD & Chief of Surgical Oncology & Robotic Services, HCG Manavata Cancer Centre (HCGMCC).