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Indian Express
19 minutes ago
- Indian Express
NITI Aayog meet calls for reforms to boost India's R&D ecosystem
Removing bureaucratic and procurement bottlenecks through AI-enabled systems, pre-approved vendor lists, and digitised approvals, and establishing a centralised funding database were among the key recommendations made at the fifth regional consultative meet on 'Ease of Doing Research and Development (R&D)'. The meet, jointly initiated by NITI Aayog and hosted by the Gujarat Council on Science and Technology (GUJCOST), concluded on Wednesday at Science City, Ahmedabad, with a renewed vision to make India a globally competitive hub for research and innovation. The two-day deliberation, held on August 12 and 13 brought together over 110 eminent leaders from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Participants shared insights and actionable recommendations to simplify administrative processes, accelerate translational research, strengthen institutional competitiveness, and enhance access to knowledge resources. Prof Vivek Kumar Singh, Senior Adviser, NITI Aayog, opened the discussions by stressing upon 'the urgent need for structural reforms, agile regulatory systems, and collaborative models to unlock India's R&D potential'. 'Scientific advancement demands not only investments but also an ecosystem that is agile, transparent, and enabling,' he said. Delivering the valedictory address, Dr V K Saraswat, Member (S&T), NITI Aayog, urged stakeholders to transform Indian research institutions into globally benchmarked centres of excellence. He called for 'simplification of compliance procedures, institutional benchmarking, and stronger academia–industry linkages to drive high-impact and self-reliant research'.
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
Here's all you should know about the new Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 4Matic+ Coupe, priced at ₹1.35 lakh
Mercedes-Benz has expanded its AMG line-up in India with the introduction of the CLE 53 4Matic+ Coupe. Priced at ₹ 1.35 crore (ex-showroom), the two-door performance car is now available for bookings, with deliveries set to begin immediately. Although the engine in this coupe is not a V8, it still lets out throaty growls from the exhaust. It propels the AMG CLE 53 Coupe from 0 to 100 kmph in 4.2 seconds (claimed) and has a top speed electronically limited to 250 kmph, which can be raised to 270 kmph with an optional package. The coupe will directly rival the BMW M2 on Indian soil, although the latter can be acquired at a discount when compared to the former. Underneath, the AMG Ride Control suspension combines steel springs with adaptive damping, adjustable in Comfort, Sport, and Sport+ settings. Damping rates for rebound and compression are controlled independently, reacting quickly to road and driving conditions. Standard rear-axle steering allows the rear wheels to turn up to 2.5 degrees opposite to the front wheels at speeds under 100 kmph for tighter manoeuvres, or up to 0.7 degrees in the same direction above that speed to aid stability. Power comes from a 3.0-litre M 256M inline six-cylinder petrol engine equipped with twin turbocharging and an electric additional compressor. Modifications such as revised inlet and outlet channels, new piston rings, optimised injection, and a larger exhaust gas turbocharger have increased boost pressure to 1.5 bar. Output stands at 449 bhp with 560 Nm of torque, rising to 600 Nm for short bursts using overboost. A second-generation Integrated Starter Generator (ISG) is integrated into the gearbox bell housing. Operating as part of a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, it provides 23 bhp and 205 Nm while enabling functions such as regenerative braking, engine-off sailing, and near-instant restarts. The AMG Speedshift TCT 9G automatic transmission supports fast upshifts and multiple downshifts, with rev-matching on gear changes. It works with the fully variable AMG Performance 4Matic+ all-wheel-drive system, which can continuously adjust torque distribution between the front and rear axles. Official WLTP fuel consumption is between 9.3 and 9.7 litres per 100 km, which translates to 10.3 to 10.7 kmpl. Five AMG Dynamic Select drive modes are available: Slippery, Comfort, Sport, Sport+, and Individual. These change throttle response, shift patterns, steering weight, and suspension settings. Manual gear control is possible through steering-mounted paddles using the dedicated M button. The cabin features Artico leather and Microcut microfibre upholstery with AMG-specific graphics and contrast stitching. A 12.3-inch driver display offers multiple layouts, including the AMG Supersport mode, which highlights performance data such as lap times and G-forces.
The Print
an hour ago
- The Print
India, Singapore agree to expand cooperation in key areas
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw held the ISMR with six Singaporean ministers. At the third India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR) here, the two sides are also understood to have deliberated on an ambitious proposal to lay an undersea cable to carry solar energy from India to Singapore that will also provide data connectivity. New Delhi, Aug 13 (PTI) Ahead of Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's planned trip to New Delhi next month, India and Singapore on Wednesday broadly finalised around 10 agreements to boost ties in areas such as advanced technology, connectivity, skilling and digitalisation. The Singaporean delegation was led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong and it comprised National Security and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Digital Development and Information Minister Josephine Teo, Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng and Acting Minister for Transport Jeffrey Siow. After the ISMR, the visiting Singaporean ministers also called on President Droupadi Murmu. Jaishankar described the roundtable as 'productive'. 'The ISMR had a productive interaction with the India Singapore Business Roundtable #ISBR delegation. Synergy between Government and Industry is key to unlocking the next phase of India-Singapore ties,' he said in a post on X. An Indian readout of the roundtable said the two sides reviewed the progress of various bilateral cooperation initiatives under the six pillars of the ISMR — advanced manufacturing, connectivity, digitalisation, healthcare and medicine, skills development and sustainability. 'They deliberated on ways to further deepen bilateral cooperation, particularly under these six pillars, and identified a number of specific initiatives to pursue,' the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. It said India views Singapore as an important partner in its 'Act East' policy. The India-Singapore relations were elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to that country in September last year. 'The unique mechanism of ISMR underscores the robust, multifaceted and forward-looking relationship between India and Singapore,' the MEA said. The inaugural ISMR was held in New Delhi in September 2022 and the second meeting was held in Singapore in August 2024. 'Productive discussions during the 3rd ISMR highlight the mutual commitment of the two countries towards further strengthening bilateral cooperation,' the MEA said. It is learnt that though the two sides firmed up the agreements, they will formally be sealed during Wong's trip to India early next month. Singapore is India's largest trading partner in the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations). It is the leading source of FDI, among the largest sources of external commercial borrowings and foreign portfolio investment. Singapore was India's sixth-largest trading partner in the financial year 2024-25. India's imports from Singapore in 2024-25 were USD 21.2 billion, while the volume of exports to the country was USD 14.4 billion. Over the last 10 years, Singapore's annual investments in India ranged between USD 10 billion and USD 15 billion. On the Singaporean ministerial delegation calling on Murmu, the MEA said the president noted that even in an uncertain global environment, the India-Singapore comprehensive strategic partnership is flourishing. She fondly recalled the state visit of President Tharman Shanmugaratnam earlier this year, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the bilateral relations. 'She said that such regular interactions at the highest levels, including through the ISMR, will provide continued momentum to our multifaceted ties,' the MEA said. The president appreciated Singapore's strong stand against terrorism following the heinous attack in Pahalgam. PTI MPB RC This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
