8, Jan 2024
ONGC Jeetega to Bharat Jeetega
Mumbai | 08 January 2024
ONGC announces the successful commencement of “First Oil” from the deep-water KG-DWN-98/2 Block, situated off the coast of Bay of Bengal. This 98/2 project is likely to increase ONGC’s total Oil and Gas production by 11 percent and 15 percent respectively.
Valiantly combating various technological and Covid-related challenges, ONGC had successfully executed Phase 1 of the project in March 2020, achieving the commencement of gas production from U field of the KG-DWN-98/2 Block in record time of 10 months.
With commencement of this First Oil on 7 January 2024, ONGC is nearing completion of Phase 2, culminating into commencement of oil production from the ‘M’ field of KG-DWN-98/2.
The development of this field faced unique technical challenges due to the waxy nature of the crude. To overcome those, ONGC employed innovative Pipe in Pipe technology, a first-of-its-kind initiative in India. While some subsea hardware involved in this development has been sourced internationally to meet specific requirements, the majority of fabrication works were carried out at Modular Fabrication Facility at Kattupalli which highlights ONGC’s commitment to promote ‘Make in India’, contributing towards a self-reliant energy sector in India.
The flagship project is on track with Final phase of project with the balance oil & gas fields of the block scheduled to be put on production by mid 2024. Peak production of field is expected to be 45,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) and over 10 MMSCMD of gas, which will contribute significantly towards the vision of Hon’ble PM of an energy Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
Issued by:
ONGC Ltd
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- By Rabindra
8, Jan 2024
Geeta Phogat Inaugurates 5th Edition of Ekal Run organized by FTS Yuva
Kolkata, 8th January, 2024: FTS Yuva, the youth wing of Friends of Tribals Society organized its annual flagship event Ekal Run at Godrej Waterside, Kolkata today wherein 5000+ participants ran for their chosen category of timed run – 21km, 10km, 5km and non-timed /fun run of 3km at this Marathon. People of all age groups participated in the run.
The Ekal Run was inaugurated by: Geeta Phogat, Wrestler and was attended by: Neel Bhattacharya, Actor; Rahul Dev Bose, Actor; Debadrita Basu, Actress; Soumojeet Adak, Director; A K Arya, DIG BSF; Surjeet Singh Guleria, Dy. Inspector General (G), HQ SDR (EC), BSF; CA. Ranjeet Kumar Agarwal, Vice President of ICAI & many other eminent personalities.
Speaking to the media, Mr. Gaurav Bagla, President FTS Yuva, Kolkata Chapter said, “We were overwhelmed to have Geeta Phogat with us at the 5th Edition of Ekal Run. Running is the greatest metaphor for life because you get out of it what you put into it. So, this makes Ekal Run even more arousing to the residents of the City of Joy, especially with the motivating initiative of educating rural children. The marathoners were given T-shirts, Goodie bags, Food boxes & winners as well as runners-up were felicitated with medals and mementos.”
Key Members:
FTS Yuva Board Members – Anirudh Modi Mentor; Niraj Harodia – National Coordinator; Gaurav Bagla, President; Rishabh Saraogi, Vice President; Vikash Poddar, Vice President; Abhay Kejriwal, Vice President; Vinay Chugh, Advisor; Raunak Fatesaria, Secretary; Rohit Bucha, Jt. Secretary; Rishav Gadia, Treasurer,; Rachit Chowdhary, Jt. Treasurer; Mayank Saraogi, Head Donation & Fund Raising; Ankit Deewan, Head Membership, Yogesh Choudhury, PRO and Vaibhav Pandya & Manish Dhariwal, Board Member.
8, Jan 2024
CMAI partners London-based body VCMI to help stakeholders with the norms of carbon credits
New Delhi: Homegrown Carbon Markets Association of India (CMAI) has partnered with global body Voluntary Carbon Market Integrity Initiative (VCMI) to help stakeholders with the norms of carbon credits which is a developing market in India.
The agreement with London-headquartered VCMI aims to guide industry players from the registration process for projects involved in generation of carbon credits, monitoring of projects to trading of the carbon credits generated in a transparent manner, CMAI said in a statement.
The partnership will seeks promoting an enabling environment for high-integrity voluntary carbon market (VCMs) that attract private investment aligned with national and sub-national climate and socioeconomic policy priorities, the statement said.
As part of the agreement, CMAI and VCMI will facilitate the stakeholders in scaling up carbon finance activities across priority sectors in India.
Mark Kenber, Executive Director, VCMI said “Through this partnership we aim to support high integrity VCM growth across the country, accelerate climate action…and equitable development.”
Manish Dabkara, President, CMAI said the partnership signifies a pivotal moment for India’s carbon market, contributing to the creation of a resilient and trustworthy marketplace and the global climate action movement.
“By connecting local communities, policymakers, and buyers, we aim to enhance the integrity and resilience of India’s carbon market. Together with VCMI, we are eager to foster high-integrity voluntary carbon markets that align with India’s climate and socio-economic priorities, driving positive environmental change and equitable development,” Dabkara said.
VCMI is an international non-profit organization which works to enable high-integrity voluntary carbon markets (VCMs). The organization is aligned with the goals of the Paris Agreement.
CMAI is a strategic alliance of industry experts who work towards carbon offset solutions. It offers services like policy research and advocacy, innovative interventions, capacity building, community initiatives, partnerships among others
8, Jan 2024
JK Tyre-backed Indian rally driver Fabid Ahmer set for first international outing at Qatar International Rally
Bengaluru, 8th January, 2024 – Multiple INRC winner, Kerala-based Fabid Ahmer is set to become the first Indian rally driver to compete in the Qatar International Rally, a round of the prestigious FIA Middle East Rally Championship, as he lines up for his maiden international outing next month.
Supported by JK Tyre Motorsport, which has played a pivotal role in grooming India’s future motorsport stars, Fabid and his co-driver Milen George, will drive a Subaru Impreza 4WD Rally car prepared by Dubai’s Toolbox Autoworks.
The Qatar International Rally marks the start of the Middle East Rally Championship. The event, set to be held from Feb 1-3, 2024, will feature some of the finest up-and-coming rally stars from around the world. The rally, in a revised three-day format, will be conducted in 13 timed special stages traversing through 622.49 km. Last year, the rally had 23 international teams participating from over 13 countries driving top-class cars such as Volkswagen Polo GTI, Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo, Ford Fiesta R5 etc. making it an adrenaline driven event.
Despite this being his first time competing internationally, Fabid heads into the event determined to make his mark and showcase not just his exceptional driving skills, but also put the prowess of Indian rally drivers on the world map.
Fabid said, “It’s a dream come true to represent India in the Middle East Rally Championship. I am honoured to carry the hopes of my country and make history as the first Indian driver in this renowned championship. With the unwavering support of JK Tyre, I am confident in my abilities to navigate the challenges that come my way and compete at the highest level.”
Fabid, a driver hails from the Palakkad-region with a proven track record, has earned his international debut, thanks to wins at numerous rallies and championships domestically over the last eight years, including consistent wins in the Indian National Rally Championship, the pinnacle of Indian rallying.
In addition to JK Tyre, Fabid will also be supported by off-road club ‘Dudes of Dunes’, who will serve as his hospitality partner.
8, Jan 2024
BWH Hotels now focussed on enhancing the presence of World Hotels in India
BWH Hotels, a prominent global player in the hospitality industry recognized for its unwavering dedication to exceptional service and unparalleled guest experiences, is thrilled to announce a strategic move that marks a significant milestone in its journey. Harnessing the power of Sorrel Hospitality, the master franchisee for the region, BWH Hotels is set to expand its footprint in the vibrant South Asian market, with a focused initiative to strengthen the presence of World Hotels in India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.
Enabled by BWH Hotels’ landmark acquisition of World Hotels in the year 2019, this strategic move reaffirms BWH Hotel’s steadfast commitment to providing luxury accommodation and elevated guest satisfaction across diverse destinations within the South Asian region.
“With a dedicated focus on enhancing the presence of World Hotels in India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, we are committed to elevating the standards of luxury accommodation and guest satisfaction. This move, fueled by the landmark acquisition of World Hotels in 2019, underscores BWH Hotels’ unwavering dedication to delivering exceptional service and creating unparalleled guest experiences throughout the diverse landscapes of South Asia.” said – Larry Cuculic, President and Chief Executive Officer, BWH Hotels
“I am delighted to announce a strategic leap that signifies a remarkable chapter in our journey. Partnering with Sorrel Hospitality, our esteemed master franchisee, we are poised to extend our influence in the dynamic South Asian market”- Ron Pohl, President of International Operations and of World Hotels
“We are thrilled to embark on this exciting journey of expansion of World Hotels in India, Bangladesh & Sri Lanka. These countries hold immense potential in the luxury hospitality sector and this strategic move is a testament to our dedication to enhancing the presence of World Hotels in this region.” said Atul Jain, COO- India, Bangladesh & Sri Lanka, BWH Hotels.
As BWH Hotels embarks on this exciting new chapter, it invites guests, partners, and stakeholders to join in the anticipation of a transformative era in hospitality. With a legacy built on trust, innovation, and a commitment to excellence, BWH Hotels is set to elevate the bar of luxury hospitality and create lasting memories and unforgettable experiences for guests across India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.
8, Jan 2024
THE BUBBLES OF MEMORY His Excellency Governor of Bihar Sri. Rajendra Arlekar
Bangalore 8, 2024: His Excellency Governor of Bihar Sri. Rajendra Arlekar launches THE BUBBLES OF MEMORY penned down by former secretary, Goa Legislature and retired secretary & Karnataka Legislative assembly secretariat Sri. TN Dhruva Kumar. Chief Guest Sri. Basavaraj Horatti – chairman Karnataka legislative council, Sri Vivek subba Reddy, president – Advocates Association and Sri. CS Shadakshari – president – NGO’s Association were present at the time of book release.
This book titled was released by the governor of Bihar, in the presence of a galaxy of leaders talking to August gathering governor of Bihar in his presidential address said this book is most wanted for every legislature student to understand the life of Karnataka legislature. He praised Mr. Dhruva Kumar for having captured the most historic incidents of Karnataka assembly in his own style where real pictures will be reflected. Mr. Dhruva’s effort pending the parliamentary incidents is noteworthy.This book will definitely mark a new chapter in the Karnataka legislature.
Sri. Dhruva Kumar says “my Main inspiration to write this book was untold suffering during my tenure as additional secretary in Karnataka legislature and my ricketiest legislative experience which I had in Goa assembly secretariat …In order to reflect the transparency of my official life I have written it.
This book reflects the finest incidence of parliamentary importance and excellent reference to debating standards as well. The Author had vivid experience with all politicians of Goa and Karnataka.
Author has also recorded some of the important and enriching incidents that have happened in the Karnataka legislature…he has further mentioned the highest standard of debates in those days in a comparative analysis of present-day debates.
8, Jan 2024
Samsung Opens Pre-Reserve for the Next Galaxy Smartphone in India
Bengaluru, India – Jan 8, 2024: Samsung, India’s largest consumer electronics brand, announced the pre-reserve of its next flagship Galaxy smartphone, which will be unveiled later this month. Pre-reserved customers will be eligible for early access and special offers on purchasing the new Galaxy devices.
Customers can pre-reserve the flagship Galaxy devices by paying a token amount of INR 2000 on Samsung.com, Samsung Exclusive stores, Amazon.in and leading retail outlets across India. Consumers who pre-reserve will get benefit worth INR 5000.
Since the introduction of the first Galaxy flagship, Samsung has been continuously enhancing and innovating the flagship experience for consumers. With the next generation of the flagship, offering enhanced devices based on years of rigorous R&D and investment, Samsung aims to further drive the latest era of Galaxy innovation and consolidate its position as the industry leader.
Samsung will unveil its next generation of flagship devices at Galaxy Unpacked on January 17 in San Jose, California.
8, Jan 2024
Celebrating Success, Creativity, and Social Impact: CASnival 2024 Takes Center Stage
Hyderabad, January 8th, 2024 – Oakridge International School, Gachibowli, welcomed the new year with zeal and enthusiasm as they successfully concluded the 7th edition of CASnival, an event that epitomizes Creative, Action, and Service (CAS) in student activities. The event attracted 2500+ attendees, making it a remarkable chapter in Oakridge Gachibowli’s commitment to nurturing creativity, talent, and entrepreneurship among its students.
The event was graced by the presence of the esteemed Chief Guest, Ms. Suma Kanakala, a renowned Indian actress, television presenter, and producer. Joining her were Mr. Roshan Kanakala and Manasa Chaudhary emerging talent in the film industry.
The CASnival, a unique blend of education and social impact, serves as a platform for students to set up their own stalls, becoming young entrepreneurs and showcasing their products to a diverse audience. Furthermore, the event takes a philanthropic turn, with proceeds being donated to support education, healthcare, and other noble causes, reflecting Oakridge’s dedication to social responsibility.
Roshan Kanakala said “From being the troublemaker of the school to being the chief guest of CASnival 2024. Life’s been a full circle. Honored and overwhelmed! This event holds a special place in my heart, and witnessing the creativity and enthusiasm of these young minds is truly inspiring.”
Suma Kamala quoted “it’s a very proud feeling to be here with my son here at CASnival today, I’m so proud of all the children working towards a better tomorrow, I really hope this initiative continues and we continue to make the world a better place”
The carnival, organized by a team of dedicated student volunteers from Oakridge, showcased a blend of creativity, talent, and entrepreneurship, promising an unforgettable experience for all attendees. Since its inception in 2016, CASnival has become one of Oakridge Gachibowli’s flagship events, fostering the development of future businessmen and entrepreneurs dedicated to shaping a better world.
Principal Dipika Rao expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “CASnival is an annual showcase of student initiatives towards supporting the community. This event is a testament to the creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit that Oakridge Gachibowli instills in its students. I am proud of the hard work and dedication shown by our students and young entrepreneurs in organizing this carnival.”
This year’s CASnival supported medical expenses for orphans (SDG 3), Government School initiatives (SDG 4), and Climate Action (SDG 13). Oakridge has proudly donated to NGOs such as Druvansh, Sarah Covenant Home, Extra Mile, and SAHI, underscoring its commitment to making a positive impact on the community.
The CASnival 2024 was also attended by Mr. Christopher Short (MD Nord Anglia Education), and Dr. Chinnababu along with Dr. Prameela, further adding to the grandeur of the event.
The impact of CASnival extends beyond its participants, influencing the broader global community as it fosters the spirit of change in all of its participants.
8, Jan 2024
First at Manipal Hospital Baner: 55-Year-Old Brain Dead Gives New Lease of Life to Four
Pune, January 8, 2024: The family of 55-year-old Sunil Nigade Ji from Satara, who was declared brain dead at Manipal Hospital, took the brave decision of donating his organs on Friday. The patient suffered a brain aneurysmal bleed at a local hospital in Satara, where he was put on a ventilator to maintain oxygenation. For further treatment was brought to Manipal Hospital, Baner, on January 3rd. Despite the best efforts of doctors, his condition continued to deteriorate, and he was declared brain dead on January 5th, 2024.
The medical team of critical care department & Transplant Coordinator Ms. Reshma Kulawade counselled the family about organ donation. After receiving consent from the family, the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) was immediately informed. The officials from NOTTO quickly allotted the organs as per their waiting list. One kidney was allocated to a patient at Manipal Hospital, Baner, and the other was sent to DY Patil Hospital, Pune. The liver was sent to Shayadri Hospital, Hadapsar, and the heart was sent at MGM Hospital, Chennai. A Green corridor was created on January 6th, 2024 with support of Pune traffic police to transfer the heart.
Dr. Amit Dhakoji, Head of Neurosciences, Manipal Hospital, Baner, said, “We continued the mechanical ventilation and medical management to prevent an increase in brain swelling and seizures. On further evaluation, it was revealed that he is suffering from subarachnoid haemorrhage (Grade 4). Despite intensive treatment under the care of the neurosurgery and critical care teams, he could not recover and was declared brain dead on January 5th, 2024.”
Dr. Bhushan Nagarkar, Consultant and Head of Critical Care, Manipal Hospital, Baner, said, ‘The team worked closely with the patient’s family, providing them with the required information and support so that they could make an informed decision. The family agreed to donate heart, liver and both the kidneys of their patient. The heart, liver, and kidneys were retrieved by the Expert team of doctors and transported for a successful transplantation. The family saved the lives of four patients in critical condition and gave them a new lease of life.”
Dr. Anand Dharaskar, Consultant: Uro-surgeon & Transplant Specialist and his team performed the kidney transplantation for one at Manipal Hospital, Baner, Pune. Dr. Tarun Jeloka, Consultant Nephrologist & Head Renal Sciences & team supported the team during the entire procedure.
Dr. Sonal Dixit, Regional Head- Medical Service, Manipal Hospital, Baner, said, “The family’s decision to donate organs made a difference in the lives of others. The legacy of the donor will live on through the lives he has saved. Donating one’s organs is a gift of life; it is an opportunity to give someone else a second chance in life. We strongly encourage everyone to think about organ donation and to register as an organ donor. We can save lives if we work together.”
There is a wide gap between patients who need transplants and the organs that are available in India. 1.8 lakh people suffer from renal failure every year; however, only 15,000 renal transplants are done. An estimated 25,000 to 30,000 liver transplants are needed annually in India, but only about 2000 are performed. Similarly, of several thousand people who suffer from heart failure, only 200 get a heart transplant.
The noble act of organ donation highlights the pressing need for organ donations in India, as there is a significant disparity between patients awaiting transplants and the availability of organs. Increasing awareness and participation in organ donation can bridge this gap and offer hope to countless lives in need.
8, Jan 2024
Swecha AI Chandamama Kathalu
Hyderabad, 8th January 20204: Swecha released “AI Chandamama Kathalu”, the first-of-its-kind AI built for storytelling. Shobu Yarlagadda, Founder, Arka media works; graced the event as the chief guest and launched it to the public. Guest of Honor Ram Miriyala, Singer, composer; and Prof Gaurav Raina, IITM, Former Chairman, MPFI; Kiran Chandra, Founder, Swecha; Chaitanya Chokkareddy, Co-Founder & CTO, Ozonetel; Ramadevi Lanka, Director, Emerging Tech, Govt of Telangana; Prof K S Rajan, Registrar, IIITH; Kiran Kumar, Intel fellow & GM; Sasikant Vallepalli, Director, Tana Foundation; & Nagarjun Malladi, Vice President, Tech Mahindra; was present on the occasion.
The goal is to bring back the moral and ethical values embedded in “Chandamama Kathalu” using a new and creative AI approach. Thousands took part in this initiative, to contribute their time and effort, charting a path towards Telugu AI.
We are seeing the growth of AI, especially, that of Large Language Models (LLMs), such as, ChatGPT. These LLMs are trained on large amount (trillions of words) of raw text, typically, scraped from web. Consequently, they end up requiring immense amount of compute power and special hardware (GPUs) to learn patterns, so that they can produce coherent text. For instance, It takes nearly 6 crore rupees (700,000 dollars), just to run ChatGPT daily.
For AI to be accessible to every farmer, every rural teacher and every shopkeeper, AI should be developed for Indian Languages. Pondering on the this problem of creating AI in Indian Languages, Chaitanya (CPO & Co-Founder, Ozonetel), Kiran Chandra (Founder, Swecha) and Professor Gaurav Raina (Professor IIT Madras), got together in a breakfast conversation, and formulated an idea to build an AI solution for stories. To build a story oriented AI language model, we don’t need a large language model, which is very resource intensive; a small language model (SLM) should be adequate.
To develop an AI vision for India, we do not need a one-size-fits-all approach, rather, we need to build AI for specific needs of India, and, in this case, the model has to be built with storytelling in mind. For this model, Chandamama Kathalu was chosen as the source for data, these short stories, which are beloved by all Telugu speaking people are the perfect choice, as they instilled moral values for generations and developing an AI version of Chandamama would bring back these stories in a new form.
The stories available in scanned PDFs had to be digitised first. Normally, this would have taken months, but, though the contributions of Swecha community, in a little over 4 hours, more than 10,000 students and faculty across 30 engineering colleges helped proofread the digitally scanned and converted Telugu text from the old magazines. A total of 40,000 stories have been converted during this sprint. This dataset has been released for the public and is available on the internet for anyone to download and / or improve upon. This part of the effort was led by Kiran Chandra, who looked back at his earlier efforts – “This whole effort reminds me of the effort we put 20 years ago in creating the first Telugu Operating System, creating the font and the glossary. This seems a logical step in our journey towards democratizing technology and we shall continue to take up more work in this space.”
Once the data was collected, the next step was to train the AI model on these stories, so that it can then create new stories. Chaitanya led this effort, which required technology expertise and no dearth of burning midnight oil. After close to a month of intense effort, the project is now launched to the public. Chaitanya stresses that ‘this is only the beginning. The team is working on not just improving this, but also has ambitious plans for Telugu AI models.” Further elaborating on the importance of this effort, Chaitanya said “The success of the Chandamama Kathalu datathon proved that a volunteer driven effort for creating high quality datasets is possible.” These datasets, being open, can now ignite research in universities and startups. So we have a flywheel for AI for India. Swecha, Professor Gaurav Raina, from IIT Madras, and companies like Ozonetel/Alpes are showing that such a flywheel is possible. The core focus is to create a truly open AI ecosystem that serves the needs of India.
Stories of India, in Indian languages, for all Indians As the next step, Professor Gaurav Raina encouraged us to build this into something far bigger; into an Indian AI based language model, which can cater for stories of India, across all Indian languages.
Professor Gaurav Raina, commenting on the opportunity, said “Storytelling is central to our beliefs, and our values, and while it’s great to start with Telugu, the team has to help tell the stories across all Indian languages.”
Further, Professor Gaurav Raina adds, “I am really excited to work towards an Indian, storytelling AI based language framework. Let’s hope that the joy of chandamama stories also eventually finds an international audience.”
Our partnership with Professor Gaurav Raina will help us engage with researchers and students at IIT Madras to take this idea to a national level.
Y Kiran Chandra, Founder, Swecha Telangana.
