Odisha Student Union Elections: Nomination Process Ends Across Colleges, Universities

Bhubaneswar, Oct 10 (UDN): The nomination process for student union elections across colleges and universities under Odisha’s Higher Education Department concluded on Thursday, marking a key step towards the conduct of student polls across the state.

 Representational Image 

The state government has put in place a monitoring mechanism to ensure that the election process proceeds smoothly, transparently and in an orderly manner, according to an official statement.

The Higher Education Department has been closely tracking developments at educational institutions through a state-level control room operating under the direct supervision of Commissioner-cum-Secretary Aravind Agrawal.

The control room has been established to monitor election-related activities, coordinate oversight and facilitate the smooth conduct of student union elections across the state.

With the nomination phase now complete, attention is turning to the subsequent stages of the electoral process at participating institutions. The department’s monitoring arrangements are aimed at ensuring transparency and maintaining orderly procedures throughout the elections.

Student union elections play an important role in campus life, providing students with an opportunity to elect representatives who can raise their concerns and advocate for their interests within their respective institutions.

The Higher Education Department’s continued oversight is intended to support a fair and well-coordinated electoral process across colleges and universities in Odisha.

Durga Puja 2026: Rourkela Pandals to Showcase Jagannath’s Suna Besha and Dantewada’s Rani Mahal

Rourkela, Oct 10 (UDN): Preparations for Durga Puja are gathering momentum across Rourkela, with artisans and puja committees working against the clock to create spectacular pandals for this year’s celebrations. Among the major attractions, Sector 7 will feature an entrance inspired by Lord Jagannath’s Suna Besha, while Sector 9 is set to recreate the architectural grandeur of Dantewada’s Rani Mahal.

 Representational Image

The two installations are expected to draw devotees and visitors with their distinctive designs, elaborate craftsmanship and impressive dimensions, adding to the festive atmosphere in Odisha’s Steel City.

Sector 7 to Present a Grand Tribute to Lord Jagannath’s Suna Besha

The Sector 7 Durga Puja committee is preparing an elaborate entrance structure inspired by Lord Jagannath’s Suna Besha, the revered golden attire of the deity. The design aims to bring the splendour of this iconic religious tradition to the city’s Durga Puja celebrations.

Measuring approximately 45 feet in height and 120 feet in width, the structure is expected to make a striking impression on visitors. Organisers plan to use around 4,000 bamboo poles, 300 cubic feet of timber and more than 1,000 pieces of cloth to bring the ambitious design to life.

More than 15 artisans are engaged in the construction, working long hours to complete the intricate structure before the festivities begin.

Beyond the main attraction, the committee is also planning a meena bazaar to offer visitors an additional festive experience. Devotees will be able to seek the blessings of Goddess Durga while exploring the surrounding attractions.

Sector 9 to Recreate the Heritage of Dantewada’s Rani Mahal

At Sector 9, the Durga Puja committee is preparing a grand entrance inspired by Dantewada’s Rani Mahal, bringing a distinctive architectural theme to its 35th year of celebrations.

The proposed structure will stand 80 feet tall and span 90 feet in width. Its construction involves approximately 300 bamboo poles, 600 cubic feet of timber and more than 1,500 metres of cloth.

Over 20 artisans are working on the installation, carefully shaping the materials to recreate the grandeur of the chosen design. The scale of the project is expected to make the entrance a prominent attraction during the celebrations.

Meanwhile, the clay idol of Goddess Durga is nearing completion, marking another important milestone in the committee’s preparations.

Artisans Race Against Time Ahead of the Festivities

With Durga Puja approaching, workers at both Sector 7 and Sector 9 are focused on completing their projects within the stipulated time. From assembling the large bamboo frameworks to adding decorative elements and finishing the idols, every stage requires careful planning and coordinated effort.

The contrasting themes promise to give visitors two distinctive experiences: the spiritual splendour of Lord Jagannath’s golden attire at Sector 7 and the architectural magnificence of Rani Mahal at Sector 9.

As the final preparations continue, Rourkela is gearing up for a vibrant celebration, with the two pandals poised to become notable highlights of the city’s Durga Puja festivities.

Canara HSBC Life Insurance Reports Healthy H1 FY27 Results: Embedded Value Reaches ₹7,622 Crore, Operating RoEV at 19.8%; Traditional Products Drive VNB Growth

New Business Premium stood at ₹1,984 crore, registering year-on-year growth of 16.1%

Individual weighted premium income (WPI) of ₹1,117 crore, with year-on-year growth of 14.5%

Value of New Business (VNB) stood at ₹266 crore, with year-on-year growth of 24% and new business margin of 21.3%

Protection business grew 44% year-on-year, with share of protection at 10.5%

Credit Life continues strong trajectory, year-on-year growth at 35%

NEW DELHI, Oct. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Board of Directors of Canara HSBC Life Insurance Company Limited (BSE: 544583) (NSE: CANHLIFE) approved and adopted the unaudited financial results for the half year ended September 30, 2026.

During H1 FY27, Canara HSBC Life Insurance delivered a resilient performance amid a dynamic operating environment. The Company reported healthy growth in Individual WPI and APE while continuing to strengthen the quality of its business through improved customer penetration, healthy renewal collections, and sustained persistency.

During the period, it further expanded its protection offering through the launch of Promise2Secure, designed to provide flexible financial security solutions for evolving family needs. The Company was also recognized among India’s Best Workplaces for Women 2026 – Top 50 by Great Place To Work® India, reflecting its continued commitment to fostering an inclusive and high-trust workplace.

Performance Highlights (H1 FY27)

• Individual Weighted Premium Income (WPI): ₹1,117 crore; year-on-year (YoY) growth of 14.5%
• New Business Premium Income: ₹1,984 crore; YoY growth of 16.1%
• Total APE: ₹1,250 crore; YoY growth of 14.4%
• VNB: ₹266 crore; YoY growth of 24%; VNB margin of 21.3%
• Total Premium Income: ₹4,742 crore; YoY growth of 17.3%
• Protection APE: ₹131 crore; YoY growth of 44%; share of total APE of 10.5%
• Assets Under Management (AUM): ₹50,200 crore as at September 30, 2026; YoY growth of 14%
• Embedded Value (EV): ₹7,622 crore as at September 30, 2026; operating RoEV of 19.8% on a rolling 12-month basis
• Profit After Tax (PAT): ₹71.2 crore; YoY growth of 10.8%
• Persistency Ratios: 13th month at 85.6%; 61st month at 54.6%
• Solvency Ratio: 180% as at September 30, 2026
• Product Mix (on APE basis): ULIP 41%; Non-Par Savings 24.6%; Par 9.9%; Non-Par Protection 10.5%; Annuity 13.7%

MD & CEO’s Statement

Anuj Mathur, MD & CEO, Canara HSBC Life Insurance, said, “H1 FY27 reflected the resilience of traditional segments’ demand, enabling us to deliver healthy growth while further strengthening the quality of our business. Our protection portfolio continued to gain traction, growing by 44% and accounting for 10.5% of total APE, while strong renewal trends underscored the strength of our customer franchise.

We reported a Value of New Business of ₹266 crore, up 24% year-on-year, with a VNB margin of 21.3%, reflecting our focus on disciplined execution and profitable growth. We also continued to see sustained momentum in credit life and annuity streams, reinforcing our strategy of building a balanced and diversified portfolio aligned to customers’ protection, savings and retirement needs.

We view the proposed regulatory reforms as a positive step towards enhancing transparency, customer outcomes and the long-term sustainability of the insurance sector. As the industry evolves, we remain committed to leveraging our strong distribution franchise and customer-focused approach to create enduring value for customers and stakeholders.”

Financial Metrics

Other Key Ratios

Definitions and abbreviations

• Individual weighted premium income (“WPI”): Individual WPI is defined as sum of individual non single new business premium and 10% of individual single new business premium during the relevant Fiscal/ period.
• Annualized premium equivalent (“APE”): APE is calculated by summing the annualized first-year premiums of regular premium policies and 10% of the single premiums during the relevant Fiscal/ period.
• Renewal business premium: Renewal business premium includes life insurance premiums falling due in the years subsequent to the first year of the policy during the relevant Fiscal / period.
• Total Premium: The total of all premiums received in a year — including first year, single and renewal premiums for both individual and group policies.
• Asset under management (“AUM”): AUM represents the total carrying value of assets managed by the life insurance company as on the date of reporting.
• Persistency ratio: Persistency ratio is defined as the ratio of premium received from policies remaining in force to all policies issued, prior to the date of measurement. It is the percentage of premium pertaining to policies that have not discontinued paying premiums or surrendered.
• Profit after tax: Profit after tax is the total of income less expenses after deducting tax expense for the relevant Fiscal/ period attributable to Shareholders as reported in the annual report/ financial statements for the relevant Fiscal/ period.
• New Business Premium: Insurance premium that is due in the first policy year of a life insurance contract or a single lump sum payment from the policyholder
• Embedded value (“EV”): EV is the sum of the Adjusted Net Worth and present value of future profits from all the policies in-force of a life insurance company as at the date of reporting
• Value of new business (“VNB”): VNB is the present value of expected future earnings from new policies written during a specified period / fiscal and it reflects the additional value to shareholders expected to be generated through the activity of writing new policies during a specified period / fiscal.
• Solvency Ratio: Solvency Ratio means ratio of the amount of available solvency margin to the amount of required solvency margin as specified in form-KT-3 of IRDAI Actuarial Report and Abstracts for Life Insurance Business Regulations and IRDAI Actuarial, Finance and Investment Functions of Insurers Regulations as on the date of reporting
• VNB margin: VNB margin is the ratio of VNB to APE for a specified Fiscal/ period and is a measure of the expected profitability of new business during a specified period
• Expense ratio: Expense ratio includes all expenses in the nature of operating expenses of life insurance business including commission, remuneration/ brokerage, rewards to the insurance agents and intermediaries which are charged to revenue account divided by total premium during the specified time Fiscal/ period.
• Operating return on EV (“Operating RoEV”) Ratio: Operating RoEV Ratio is defined as the annualized ratio of embedded value operating profit (“EVOP”) for any given Fiscal/ period to the EV at the beginning of that Fiscal/ period. For the above purposes, EVOP is defined as measure of the increase in the EV during any given period, excluding the impact on EV due to external factors like changes in economic variables and shareholder-related actions like capital injection or dividend pay-outs.

About Canara HSBC Life Insurance

Incorporated in 2007, Canara HSBC Life Insurance Company Limited is a joint venture promoted by Canara Bank (36.5 per cent) and HSBC Insurance (Asia Pacific) Holdings Limited (25.5 per cent). Punjab National Bank is also a shareholder of the Company, holding 13% as an investor. As a bancassurance-led insurance company with its corporate office at Gurugram, Haryana and 107 branch offices as of September 30, 2026, pan India, Canara HSBC Life brings together the trust and market knowledge of public and private banks.

For more than 18 years now, Canara HSBC Life Insurance has sold insurance products to customers through multiple channels and a well-diversified network of Canara Bank, HSBC Bank and its other bancassurance partners located in multiple Tier 1, 2 and 3 cities across the country. Canara HSBC Life Insurance has a vast portfolio of life insurance solutions and offers various products across individual and group spaces comprising of life, term plans, retirement solutions, credit life and employee benefit segments through partner banks and digital channels.

With an aim to provide simpler insurance and faster claim process, Canara HSBC Life Insurance intends to keep the promises of their customers alive with their “Promises Ka Partner” philosophy.

Disclaimer

Except for the historical information contained herein, statements in this release which contain words or phrases such as ‘will’, ‘expected to’, etc., and similar expressions or variations of such expressions may constitute ‘forward-looking statements’. These forward-looking statements involve several risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, opportunities and growth potential to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the actual growth in demand for insurance and other financial products and services in the countries that we operate or where a material number of our customers reside, our ability to successfully implement our strategy, including our use of the Internet and other technology, our exploration of merger and acquisition opportunities, our ability to integrate mergers or acquisitions into our operations and manage the risks associated with such acquisitions to achieve our strategic and financial objectives, our growth and expansion in domestic and overseas markets, technological changes, our ability to market new products, the outcome of any legal, tax or regulatory proceedings in India and in other jurisdictions we are or become a party to, the future impact of new accounting standards, our ability to implement our dividend policy, the impact of changes in insurance regulations and other regulatory changes in India and other jurisdictions on us. Canara HSBC Life Insurance Company Limited undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date thereof. This release does not constitute an offer of securities.

For further press queries email us on prateek.sharma@canarahsbclife.in 

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GAC Goes Deeper in Europe — the “New Chapter” to Be Unveiled at the 2026 Paris Motor Show

PARIS, Oct. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The 91st Paris Motor Show will be held from October 12 to 18 at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, France. At this year’s show, GAC will be at Hall 5.1 with its new brand, new products and new services, systematically presenting cutting-edge technologies such as its energy ecosystem and smart green mobility. The star models of its three portfolios — HYPTEC, GAC Motor and AION — will also be on full display, together presenting GAC’s “New Chapter” of deeper roots in Europe across the full value chain, and accelerating its strategic expansion in the European market.

Based on deep insight into the European market, the all-new AION UT Cross — a crossover tailor-made for European mobility needs — will make its debut at the Paris Motor Show. In addition to the new car, GAC will also unveil its in-depth localization strategy for Europe and officially launch its global service brand, responding comprehensively to European market needs from products to services.

On the day, Bosch, ZF, Michelin, Valeo and other world-class partners that have worked with GAC for many years will visit the GAC booth, working together to build a localized supply chain in Europe. At the same time, GAC’s dealer partners from across its European network will also be present, offering on-site visitors expert product guidance and attentive advice.

In addition, GAC will hold the “GAC × Chelsea global partnership signing ceremony,” officially announcing a strategic partnership with Chelsea Football Club. GAC will use football as a bridge to craft brand experiences tailored to the local market and foster a closer emotional connection with European customers.

In Europe, GAC does not simply export products — it truly integrates locally and creates value for local customers. GAC has always been practicing “in Europe, for Europe,” truly putting down roots in Europe and serving Europe.

On October 12, we warmly invite you to join us in Hall 5.1 at the 2026 Paris Motor Show to witness GAC’s “New Chapter” of deeper roots in Europe.

For further information about GAC, please visit: https://www.gacgroup.com/en or follow us on social media.

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HackerOne Report Highlights Challenges of ‘Exposure Debt’: NYSE Content Update

NYSE issues a pre-market daily advisory direct from the trading floor.

NEW YORK, Oct. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) provides a daily pre-market update directly from the NYSE Trading Floor. Access today’s NYSE Pre-market update for market insights before trading begins. 

Ashley Mastronardi delivers the pre-market update on October 9th

• HackerOne released its 10^th annual Security Research Report this week.
  • The report found that the backlog of validated, unresolved vulnerabilities grew by 131% in two years.
  • ‘Exposure Debt’ is at the focus of the report, which HackerOne defines as the growing gap between what organizations find and what they can fix.
  • CEO Kara Sprague will join NYSE Live to dive deeper into the findings and discuss the impact of AI across cybersecurity.
• Zeta Global held its Zeta Live ’26 event in New York City on Thursday.
  • Zeta Global (NYSE: ZETA) announced that it teamed up with Fireworks to develop the Athena Inference Model.
  • CEO David Steinberg spoke to the heightened enthusiasm for Zeta Global’s work and the evolution of Athena in an interview that will air on NYSE Live.
• The major averages will look to bounce back as investors monitor the AI trade.
  • A revenue report from OpenAI impacted market activity on Thursday.
  • Elevated Treasury yields and oil prices continue to drive economic sentiment.

Opening Bell

FDNY rings the Opening Bell to mark Fire Prevention Week

Closing Bell

NorthStar Earth & Space (NYSE American: NSTR) marks a new chapter in its mission

For market insights, IPO activity, and today’s opening bell, download the NYSE TV App and check out the NYSE YouTube: TV.NYSE.com and YouTube.com/@NYSEofficial

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KONE Inaugurates India’s First Digital Experience Centre in Pune to Advance Digital Innovation

New Centre showcases how AI, connectivity, data and digital solutions are transforming customer experiences and enabling smarter, more connected buildings

PUNE, India, Oct. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — KONE, a global leader in the elevator and escalator industry, today inaugurated India’s first KONE Digital Experience Centre (DEC) in Pune, marking an important milestone in its digital transformation journey and commitment to creating exceptional customer experiences through technology, data and innovation. The Centre was jointly inaugurated by Jussi Herlin, Executive Vice Chair, KONE; Philippe Delorme, President and CEO, KONE along with Nandan Nilekani, Co-founder and Chairman of the Board, Infosys.

The KONE Digital Experience Centre is an immersive customer environment where customers can see, experience and engage with digital capabilities shaping the future of People Flow™ and smart buildings. It brings together KONE’s business, technology and engineering expertise to demonstrate how digitalization, connectivity, AI and data-driven insights can create value across the building lifecycle.

Built around the customer journey, the Centre brings together interactive experiences spanning design and configuration, product experiences and digital interfaces, customer lifecycle visibility and real-time service insights. Customers can explore how digital technologies can support better decision-making, more transparency and proactive service management across different stages of a building’s lifecycle.

At the heart of the experience, KONE Studio enables customers to explore and configure elevator solutions digitally, while MyKONE provides visibility across projects, equipment and services throughout the customer lifecycle. E-Link offers real-time visibility into equipment status and operations, supporting proactive management, and a customer centric Service Dashboard brings together key service and operational insights to give customers a consolidated view of equipment performance. Together, these experiences demonstrate how digital solutions can create a more connected and responsive customer experience, from design to decision-making.

Philippe Delorme, President and CEO, KONE Corporation, said:

“It is great to see the Digital Experience Centre come to life in India. Being the first of its kind in the elevator and escalator industry in the country, the Centre gives our customers an opportunity to experience how digitalization, connectivity and AI are shaping the future of People Flow. India is an important market for KONE, and this Centre brings innovation closer to our customers.”

Amit Gossain, Managing Director, KONE India, said:

“Today’s inauguration of KONE’s Digital Experience Centre in India marks an important milestone in our digital transformation journey and our commitment to creating exceptional customer experiences through technology, data and innovation. The Centre gives customers a first-hand view of how digital technologies can create value across the building lifecycle. We are very pleased to have Jussi Herlin, Philippe Delorme and Nandan Nilekani with us today as we mark this important milestone for KONE. As buildings become increasingly connected, we are focused on using data, AI and digital innovation to make them more responsive, efficient and sustainable.”

The Digital Experience Centre brings KONE’s digital vision to life, giving customers a first-hand view of how technology, data and AI are shaping the future of connected buildings and People Flow™.

About KONE

At KONE, our purpose is to shape the future of cities. As a global leader in the elevator and escalator industry, we move two billion people every day, making their journeys safe, convenient, and reliable with smart and sustainable People Flow™. In 2025, KONE had annual sales of EUR 11.2 billion, and at the end of the year over 60,000 employees in close to 70 countries. KONE class B shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd. in Finland.

www.kone.com

About KONE India

KONE has been present in India since 1984 and today serves customers across the country through 50⁺ branches and 6000⁺ employees. Headquartered in Chennai, KONE India provides sustainable People Flow™ solutions for India’s rapidly growing cities. Its manufacturing unit in Sriperumbudur produces elevators for India and neighboring markets, while its training centres and global technology and engineering centres in Chennai and Pune support high-quality, safe and innovative solutions.

For more information, please visit www.kone.in.

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Chandigarh University Hosts National Incubator & Capital Summit and ISBACON 2026, Bringing 400 Incubators, 80 Investors & 100 Startups Together to Strengthen India’s Startup Ecosystem

Chandigarh University Launches C-Hub – Incubator of Incubators as National Consortium to Take Indian Startups from Ideas to Market

CHANDIGARH, India, Oct. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Aimed at strengthening access to early-stage investment for startups by connecting India’s incubation institutions with investors, industry and policymakers, Chandigarh University brought together more than 400 incubator institutions from more than 20 States and Union Territories, over 100 startups, 80 investors and more than 60 government, policy and industry delegates on a single platform at Incubator & Capital Summit 2026 and ISBACON 2026.

Hosted by Chandigarh University Technology Business Incubator (CU-TBI) in collaboration with the Indian Science and Technology Entrepreneurs Parks and Business Incubators’ Association (ISBA), the four-day mega summit brought together incubators, founders, investors, policymakers, industry leaders and academic institutions to expand collaboration around investment, co-incubation, research and industry partnerships, while connecting startups with mentors, capital, technology and market opportunities and enabling incubators to share cohorts, expertise and infrastructure for wider startup growth across India.

To create a national platform for scaling startup innovation across India, Chandigarh University launched the Central Innovation & Incubation Hub (C-Hub) as an ‘Incubator of Incubators’ Consortium, inaugurated by Gaurav Gautam, Minister of State, Youth Empowerment & Entrepreneurship, Sports, Law & Legislative, Haryana along with Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and Chancellor Chandigarh University Satnam Singh Sandhu. The Hub will connect incubators and startup support institutions to facilitate shared cohorts, mentors, infrastructure and investor partnerships, while enabling startups to access wider incubation support, early-stage capital, industry connections and market opportunities across India.

Among the prominent personalities who participated in the summit were Rikant Pitte, Founder & CEO EaseMyTrip, Yoav Fekete, Innovation Attaché at Embassy of Israel, Prasad Menon, President, ISBA CEO, Centre for Incubation and Business Acceleration (CIBA), Raghavendra, Joint Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Shashank Randev, Founder, 247VC among others.

Speaking on the occasion, Gaurav Gautam, Minister of State, Youth Empowerment & Entrepreneurship, Sports, Law & Legislative, Haryana, said, “Indian youth have the responsibility of realizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ and make the nation lead the world across every sector, from startups and digital technology to incubators and new unicorns. India’s youth should not fear failure and keep striving to move forward. One day, your startup idea will serve the nation, benefit India and bring success. India’s youth should dream big as the nation is fully prepared today to give wings to their ideas.”

“Thanks to the talent of India’s youth and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of providing them with new platforms, things have changed in the country after 2014. India is now creating its own technology and we are moving beyond merely importing goods to excelling across every sector. Before 2014, we hardly ever heard terms like ‘Digital India’ or ‘startups’, mobile penetration was minimal and more than half of this country’s population was previously unconnected to the formal economy. Now though DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) funds reach the accounts of people living in areas without internet access and UPI is being used by the common man. All this transformation is driven by India’s youth who are envisioning how to advance technology, champion new ideas and scale up startups. They are figuring out how to collaborate with incubators and engage with new investors, this is the spirit of India’s youth,” the minister added.

Member of Parliament and Chandigarh University Chancellor Satnam Singh Sandhu, said, “The vision and resolve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a ‘Viksit Bharat’ is coming true. India’s startup ecosystem and entrepreneurs will play the most significant part in transforming our country into a developed nation by 2047. India’s growing startup ecosystem, with around 2.25 lakh startups and over 125 unicorns, reflects the country’s entrepreneurial potential. However, the focus must now shift from increasing numbers to ensuring the quality, sustainability and global competitiveness of startups. Profitability is essential for the long-term sustainability of any venture. At the same time, strong leadership skills are equally important for both entrepreneurs and professionals to drive innovation and growth. Indian startups must focus on developing quality products and solutions that can compete globally and contribute meaningfully to the nation’s journey towards becoming a developed country by 2047.”

Yoav Fekete, Innovation Attaché at Embassy of Israel, said, “As Punjab’s agricultural strengths provide foundation for creation of valuable new material, bio-based eco-responsible packaging can be made from agricultural residue. It can not only add income for farmers but also provide an alternative to single-use plastics packaging. Our long-standing agricultural cooperation offers the foundation for an Indian-Israeli partnership to develop new opportunities after the harvest. Indian and Israeli researchers, entrepreneurs, and industrial partners should come together to co-develop such technology for locally available agricultural residues in North India and creating packaging for Indian businesses. This is an environmental and business opportunity. A reliable market for agricultural residue can create additional source of income for farmers and opportunities for local enterprises.”

“The world is standing at the crossroads today where AI can deepen the divide between the poor and the rich and those who own the tools and those who are only bound for them. But AI is also providing extraordinary possibilities in health, agriculture, education, manufacturing, and in how we care for our planet. Researchers have the responsibility of choosing what to build, founders need to choose what to sell, and investors choosing what to fund,” he added.

Prasad Menon, President, ISBA, said, “It’s early days for incubator movement in India. But given the diversity of India, it’s not just about numbers of incubators in the country, but it’s also about whether we have managed to reach and penetrate incubators across different states of India across different regions. I’m very proud to say that ISBA represents incubators from all across India and we attempt to ensure that all the voices, whether it is big or small, are heard. With all the development that India has seen over the years, startups can’t have a growth unless the ecosystem also grows. The number of incubators in India may not have grown proportionally with startup ecosystem, but incubators play major role in putting the startups in the front. When it comes to incubation, there’s nothing like one size fits all and diversity of our country needs diversity of incubator ecosystem.”

The summit brought together technology business incubators, Atal Incubation Centres, university innovation heads, IPR leaders, startup support institutions, investors, policymakers and corporate representatives from across the country. The summit was designed to facilitate collaboration between institutions that support startups at different stages, enable founders to access early-stage capital, create opportunities for co-incubation and corporate partnerships and develop stronger national innovation networks beyond the major startup centres.

The C-HUB is designed to bring niche incubators and venture-support activities together through shared programmes, investor relations, partnerships and a common technology and data platform. Alongside C-Hub, the University announced a co-incubation framework under which partner incubators can work with CU-TBI through shared cohorts, mentors and infrastructure. Joint cohorts with venture capital firms were also announced, creating a structured channel through which participating funds can engage with CU-incubated ventures.

Chandigarh University also signed MoUs with 100 leading incubators across India to establish joint cohorts and co-incubation programmes, enabling greater collaboration, shared expertise and resources to support startup growth and scale ventures nationwide.

The summit featured focused discussions on entrepreneurship, networked incubation, deep-tech and startup financing. Rikant Pittie, Co-founder, EaseMyTrip, shared his journey from bootstrapping to public markets, while Raghavendra, Joint Secretary, DPIIT; Dr. Basant Garg, IAS, Administrative Secretary, Industries & Commerce and IT, Government of Punjab; Atul Kumar, Director, Data Security Council of India and P. J. Singh, CMD, Tynor Orthotics and Vice President, CII, discussed how policy, industry and regional hubs can strengthen startup outcomes. Dr. Panneerselvam Madanagopal, CEO, MeitY Startup Hub; Dr. K. Suresh Kumar, Executive Director, PSG-STEP and Dr. Praveen Roy, Scientist ‘G’ and Head, TTI Division, DST, explored deep-tech capabilities for incubators, while Dr. Dhananjay K. Tiwary, Managing Director, BIRAC; Jai Shah, Principal Investment Officer, NEEV Fund, SBI Ventures and Vipul Patel, Partner – Seed Investing, IIMA Ventures, discussed stronger financing pathways for startups and incubators. The Microsoft UNNATI AI 2.0 Roadshow brought together representatives from Microsoft, FITT-IIT Delhi, iHub, India Accelerator and TiE Delhi for discussions around AI and the startup ecosystem. The summit’s four-day programme further includes the Startup Expo, incubator exchange, masterclasses, policy roundtables, investor meetings, Demo Day and industry engagement, providing multiple opportunities for startups and incubation institutions to move from introductions to concrete collaborations.

Chandigarh University Maps 51 National Centres of Excellence for Collaboration

CU-TBI has mapped 51 Centres of Excellence across India as potential collaborators, comprising 35 academic, 14 government, one industry-academia and one non-profit research institute. Hosted at institutions including IISc, IITs, IIM Ahmedabad, STPI, NIELIT, ICMR and CSIR, these centres span quantum technology, AI, robotics, chip design, healthcare, materials, defence and financial markets, opening avenues for research, technology collaboration and stronger support for innovation-driven startups.

About Chandigarh University

Chandigarh University is a NAAC A+ Grade University and QS World Ranked University. This autonomous educational institution is approved by UGC and is located near Chandigarh in the state of Punjab. It is the youngest university in India and the only private university in Punjab to be honoured with A+ Grade by NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council). CU offers more than 109 UG and PG programs in the field of engineering, management, pharmacy, law, architecture, journalism, animation, hotel management, commerce, and others. It has been awarded as The University with Best Placements by WCRC.

Website address: https://www.cuchd.in/

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