Author: Neel Achary

GD Goenka University launches a new course in Aerospace in collaboration with Redbird Flight Training

Gurugram, September 13th, 2025: GD Goenka University, one of India’s leading institutions for higher education, announced the launch of a unique, first-of-its-kind aviation program under its Center for Aerospace and Energy Studies, in collaboration with Redbird Flight Training, India’s largest and most advanced Flight Training Organization (FTO).

This groundbreaking initiative combines academic degree studies with professional pilot training creating a new pathway for India’s aviation professionals. Unlike conventional programs, students will graduate with both a university degree and a pilot’s license, empowering them to pursue careers not only in India but also across global aviation markets, where upcoming regulations increasingly mandate academic qualifications alongside flight certifications.

The partnership brings together the academic excellence of GD Goenka University, a trusted name in higher education, with the unparalleled infrastructure of Redbird Flight Training, which operates multiple airfields and training facilities across the nation. It is also significant that the program is coordinated by the Center for Aerospace and Energy Studies, the same department that pioneered India’s first Pathway to Pilot Program for Aerospace Engineers in 2023.

Dr. Ugur Guven, Director- Center of Aerospace & Energy Studies, GD Goenka University, said, “This initiative marks a milestone in our vision to build a strong aerospace ecosystem at GD Goenka University. By combining our academic expertise with Redbird’s industry-leading flight training, we are ensuring that our students graduate with both theoretical depth and hands-on skills essential for today’s aerospace industry.”

Mr. Nipun Goenka, Managing Director, GD Goenka Group, added, “The collaboration with Redbird Flight Training is another step towards our commitment to offering world-class, industry-integrated education. The aerospace sector is poised for tremendous growth, and this course will provide our students with a clear edge in pursuing high-value careers in aviation and beyond.”

Capt. Karan Mann, President of Redbird Flight Training, said, “At Redbird, we believe in shaping aviation education that is future-ready and globally competitive. This partnership with GD Goenka University is a step towards nurturing a generation of professionals who will lead India’s aerospace growth story with competence and confidence.”

With this strategic partnership, GD Goenka University and Redbird Flight Training are set to redefine aerospace education in India, shaping the next generation of skilled aviation professionals.

Redevelopment Projects set to transform Mumbai’s Skyline by 2030

Mumbai 13 september 2025:Mumbai’s housing market is on the brink of a major transformation, as ongoing society redevelopment projects are expected to add over 44,277 new homes valued at INR 1,305 billion by 2030, according to a recent report by Knight Frank India.

The study reveals that since 2020, 910 housing societies across the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) limits have signed development agreements, unlocking nearly 327 acres of land for redevelopment. Despite this surge, the city has only begun to tap into its vast potential, with an estimated 1.6 lakh societies over 30 years old still eligible for redevelopment.

The Western Suburbs, stretching from Bandra to Borivali, account for the lion’s share of redevelopment activity with 32,354 units (73% of the total pipeline). This is followed by the Central Suburbs with 10,422 units, Central Mumbai with 1,085 units, and South Mumbai with 416 units. Hotspots such as Borivali, Andheri, and Bandra together contribute nearly 139 acres of redevelopment activity, underscoring their position as the city’s leading transformation corridors. Between 2020 and H1 2025, the Western Suburbs alone accounted for 633 out of 910 society deals, recording 70% of all agreements signed since 2020. Central Suburbs may add another 234 societies, pushing the suburban contribution to almost 96%.

Beyond housing supply, redevelopment also carries major fiscal benefits. The free sale component from society redevelopment is expected to generate approximately Rs 7,830 crore in stamp duty and another Rs 6,525 crore as GST over the next five years.

Data indicates that over 80% of redevelopment deals signed since 2020 involved societies with plot sizes below 0.49 acres—highlighting the dominance of small, compact projects. Yet, larger cluster projects are gradually gaining momentum, hinting at a shift in the city’s redevelopment model.

Welcoming the findings, industry leaders emphasized the economic and social importance of redevelopment:

Mr. Prashant Sharma, President, NAREDCO Maharashtra said, “Redevelopment is the most vital force driving Mumbai’s real estate growth today. With limited greenfield land availability, society redevelopment not only provides safer, modern homes for existing residents but also fuels the city’s housing supply pipeline. The Knight Frank findings highlight how this opportunity, if supported by policy stability, faster approvals, and rational taxation, can be the foundation for Mumbai’s urban transformation. It is imperative that all stakeholders – government, developers, and housing societies – work in sync to ensure timely execution and affordability.”

Mr. Vikas Jain, CEO, Labdhi Lifestyle and President, NAREDCO Maharashtra NextGen said, “Redevelopment is the future of Mumbai’s real estate, and the report captures its economic and social significance well. The younger generation of developers and professionals see this as an opportunity to infuse new ideas, technology, and customer-centric practices into legacy housing clusters. It is also a chance to address the city’s housing shortage in a sustainable way. The focus now should be on collaborative governance and faster project timelines, so that the benefits reach both residents and the broader economy in time.”

Mr. Navin Makhija, Managing Director, The Wadhwa Group said, “Society redevelopment is a win-win for all stakeholders – residents get modern homes with upgraded lifestyle amenities, developers gain access to scarce land parcels, and the state benefits through increased revenues while contributing to the central government’s ‘Housing for All’ initiative. Housing demand continues to remain robust, further fueling growth in the redevelopment sector. Customers also benefit by gaining access to multiple project options as redevelopment unlocks new housing opportunities in their preferred locations.”

A Spokesperson from Chandak Group added, “The sheer scale of society redevelopment in Mumbai points to the city’s unique growth story. With over 44,000 new homes expected by 2030, the transformation is unprecedented. Developers today carry the responsibility of balancing aspiration with execution. We believe redevelopment is not just about buildings but about creating thriving communities with better infrastructure, amenities, and quality of life. A stable policy framework will further accelerate this transition.”

Mr. Dhruman Shah, Promoter, Ariha Group said, “Society redevelopment is no longer just an alternative – it is the primary growth driver for Mumbai’s housing market. The numbers shared reaffirm the enormous potential of this segment. For developers, the opportunity lies in bringing efficiency, transparency, and trust into the process, ensuring that societies feel confident in handing over their most valuable asset. With strong demand, government revenues, and improved infrastructure, redevelopment will continue to be the backbone of Mumbai’s real estate growth story.”

With nearly 160,000 societies aged over 30 years and eligible for redevelopment, the sector’s potential is immense. While Knight Frank projects an optimistic outlook, developers caution that timely execution, transparent practices, and policy support will determine whether this transformation can be delivered at scale.

Day 2 of FSIE Fire & Security India Expo soars with key industry insights for a Surakshit Bharat

New Delhi, 12 September 2025: Day 2 of the FSIE Fire and Security India Expo held at Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in New Delhi witnessed stellar panel discussions on the role of technology for safety infrastructure, collaborative strategies and evolution of security in the fire and security industry in India.

A technical talk ‘Let’s talk smoke’ with esteemed speakers Mr. A V Parab – Deputy Chief Fire Officer – Mumbai Fire Brigade and Dr. D K Shami – Former Fire Advisor, Govt. of India and Advisor Fire Engineering, DLF rounded off well with the talk curated by Mr. Vinod Kapse – Founder, Kapse Consulting Engineers.

A panel discussion titled ‘Drone & Anti-Drone Technologies in Critical Infrastructure Protection’ had Brig. Ajoy Mukherjee, SM**, VSM (Retd.), Principal Advisor Shyam VSL; Lt. Col. Anup Amol Mahajan (Retd) – Business Development Head & Defence Advisor – Enhanasafe India Pvt. Ltd.; Cdr. Bheem Reddy – Vice President Cybersecurity Operations, C3i Hub; Cdr. Kartik Vig (Retd) Director – Security & Risk Consulting, Netrika Consulting India Pvt. Ltd; Wing Commander Dr. Manoj Kumar (Retd), Head of SWARM Drone Program, IAF (Former), Ex-Indian Air Force; Maj. Sadhna Singh – Consultant Niti Aayog as the key panellists in a very thoughtful panel discussion curated by Capt. Ashok Kutty – Head of Strategy, Training & Operational Excellence, Terrier Security Services as the key panellists.

‘Process Safety Incidents in HiGH-Hazard Industry’ was the topic of the second panel discussion of the day curated by Mr. Hirak Dutta – Expert Advisor Technical – Petroleum & Natural Gas Regulatory Board. Esteemed panellists Mr. Mukesh Mohan – Executive Director – IOCL and Mr. Sanjeev Raina – Executive Director, BPCL focussed especially on ‘Learning from major process safety incidents’ and ‘Building process safety competence’ respectively.

On the topic of ‘Fire Safety in Hospitals’ key panellists Mr. Neelesh Shinde – Group Chief Technical Officer & Head – Projects, Jupiter; and Dr. Vivek Desai – Founder and Managing Director, HOSMAC shared their valuable insights in a panel discussion curated by Mr. Manu Malhotra – Founder, IIDC Architects.

The eighth edition of the FSIE Fire & Security India Expo kicked off today in the capital with a three-day power-packed agenda between 11-13 September at Yashobhoomi Convention Centre. The conference brought the who’s who of Fire & Security industry from across India at one platform in very engaging keynote address and panel discussions by industry leaders and experts on innovative strategies to pre-empt industry hazards. The expo witnessed over 10000 industry-specific visitors with 169 participating brands from Fischer, Honda, Honeywell, Panasonic, Isuzu, Bristol, CP Plus and more showcasing their products.

Day 3 will witness additional esteemed panellists who will share their valuable thoughts on ‘Time for Security to Evolve – Future Wants More’; ‘Collaborative Strategies for Integrating Fire& Security Infrastructure in the New Smart Developments’; ‘Building Confidence Through Code – NBC and the Future of Fire Safety’.

The FSIE Fire & Security India Expo has Schneider Electric, Rockwool, KPT Pipes as key sponsors among others.

GETI to Launch PATH Program at Ed Leadership Roundtable, Empowering Grassroots Educators

Lucknow 13 September 2025 – The Global Education & Training Institute (GETI) will announce the launch of the PATH Movement at the upcoming Ed Leadership International Roundtable. PATH is a pioneering framework designed to transform Indian classrooms and empower teachers nationwide—particularly those in grassroots government schools. Hosted by GETI, the Roundtable will bring together teachers, school leaders, and education innovators for a three-day immersive experience, 15–17 September at the World Unity Convention Center, City Montessori School, LDA Colony. The 3-day event is expected to witness over 1000+ educators from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi.

At the heart of this gathering is the launch of PATH, which stands for Purposeful Learning, Active Classrooms, Transformative Outcomes, and Holistic Growth. PATH is designed to help schools and teachers—especially in grassroots government schools—create student-led classrooms that foster confidence, critical thinking, and deeper learning. PATH uses an interdisciplinary approach to cover English, Math, Hindi, and other regional languages, for students from KG to Grade 8.

The series of Roundtable conferences will have discussions on key topics like Why PATH, Why Now; Literacy, The World’s Best Investment; Learning From Alternative Systems; Early Foundations and Lasting Gains; and more. The 3-day event will also include live classroom observations, hands-on training, and collaborative discussions, providing participants with the opportunity to learn directly from educators already implementing PATH. The event will also feature the launch of the Hi PATH App, which provides instant, topic-wise feedback and performance reports; thus enabling students, teachers, and parents to track progress and address gaps in real-time.

“This is not just a conference; it’s a movement,” said Dr. Sunita Gandhi, Founder of GETI. “By bringing together educators from across the country, the Ed Leadership International Roundtable will be a pivotal moment in reimagining teaching and learning at scale. Unlike traditional teacher-led instruction, PATH is student-driven. Children learn in pairs and small groups, building on what they already know. It reduces rote learning and increases engagement, retention, and real understanding.”

Dr. Sunita Gandhi, PhD Cambridge, is an educator, researcher, and innovator with over 30 years of experience in education reform. She is the founder of GETI and Dignity Education Vision International (DEVI), and the Chief Academic Advisor at City Montessori School, world’s largest school, based in Lucknow.

With participation from educators nationwide, the Roundtable reaffirms GETI’s mission to empower India’s teaching community with evidence-based, scalable practices aligned with NEP 2020 and national education reform goals.

GETI is a national hub for teacher training and school transformation, founded by Dr. Sunita Gandhi. It empowers educators through research-backed programs such as ALfA Pedagogy, where students learn by teaching each other, leading to rapid gains in foundational skills.

GETI’s reach spans thousands of schools, including City Montessori School, offering pre-service and in-service teacher training, leadership programs, and fellowships. Its work aligns with NEP 2020 and is supported by research from institutions like Harvard. GETI empowers students and teachers to take control of their learning journeys. 

TiE to Launch 20 New Chapters in Emerging Cities to Fuel India’s Next Wave of Entrepreneurs

Mobilizing India’s Next Wave of a Million Entrepreneurs: TiE to set up 20 new chapters in emerging cities to help drive the mission

Mumbai, 11th September 2025: The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), which has played a pivotal role in creating over $1 trillion in global entrepreneurial wealth, is now turning its focus to India’s Tier-2, Tier-3, and Tier-4 cities as part of its ambitious Mission 1x10x100. TiE currently has 30 Chapters and over 8000 members in India alone.

With the vision of fostering one million entrepreneurs in the next decade, generating over 10 million jobs and contributing more than $100 billion to the global GDP by 2035, TiE is expanding its footprint by launching 20 new potential spoke chapters across India to mentor aspiring founders, connect them with global partners, and provide the training and exposure needed to scale.

“To achieve this, TiE, which currently has 62 chapters globally, plans to increase the number to 100 by the end of this year. Of the 38 new chapters, at least 20 will be in India, across Tier-3 and Tier-4 cities such as Raipur, Rourkela, Madurai, Salem, Amravathi/Vijayawada/Nellore, Bareilly, Gorakhpur, Amritsar, Rohtak, Ranchi, Ludhiana, Jamshedpur, Warangal, Jammu/Srinagar, Goa, Kozhikode, Guwahati, Belgaum, Nasik/Jalgaon, and Rajkot. On the global front, we will also expand into cities like Seoul, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, and Ho Chi Minh City,” said Vijay N Menon, Executive Director, TiE Global.

Murali Bukkapatnam, Chair of TiE Global Board of Trustees 2025, said, “India’s next wave of entrepreneurship will come from its heartlands. Our expansion into Tier-2, Tier-3, and Tier-4 cities ensures that entrepreneurs outside the metros have the same access to mentorship, capital, and global networks. This is about igniting possibilities across Bharat and making entrepreneurship a truly inclusive movement.”

TiE is also partnering with various state governments to align with local startup policies and unlock state-level resources, collaborating with corporates and academic institutions to strengthen innovation pipelines, and engaging with global investors and ecosystem partners to give smaller city entrepreneurs access to international markets.

With India already home to the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem, TiE believes that bold, inclusive initiatives are essential to unlock the entrepreneurial potential of smaller cities. “By strengthening its reach into new geographies, TiE aims to catalyze job creation, foster innovation, and inspire at least 35% of new entrepreneurs to be women, ensuring that the promise of entrepreneurship extends across every corner of the country,” Murali added.

TiE has built a strong legacy of mentoring entrepreneurs and supporting women-led ventures over last 25 years in India. Further, it will host the TiE Global Summit in Jaipur later this year, bringing in the global community. The summit will showcase India’s vibrant startup ecosystem, opportunities from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, and TiE’s commitment to empowering the next wave of entrepreneurship across the country.