Latest news with #AdityaPrabhu
News18
28-07-2025
- Business
- News18
Maharashtra Mantralaya Goes Digital: No More Queues With Aadhaar-Based DigiPravesh From August 1
With DigiPravesh, the entire process becomes digital: visitors can pre-register, schedule appointments online, and use a QR code or Aadhaar-based facial recognition for entry. In a significant move towards digital governance, Maharashtra's administrative headquarters, Mantralaya, will completely switch to a smart, Aadhaar-based entry system named DigiPravesh from August 1. This upgrade – developed by Mumbai-based tech firm Secutech Automation – aims to eliminate the long-standing chaos at Mantralaya's gates, where visitors often had to wait for hours just to get an entry pass. With DigiPravesh, the entire process becomes digital: visitors can pre-register, schedule appointments online, and use a QR code or Aadhaar-based facial recognition for entry. The transformation is expected to bring down average wait times from nearly three hours to less than three minutes. Once registered through the DigiPravesh app or website, repeat visitors won't need to fill out forms again, making the experience more efficient and citizen-friendly. Security and transparency are central to the DigiPravesh system. The facial recognition feature verifies identity instantly, while real-time monitoring, automated digital logs, and instant alerts create a secure environment for both visitors and staff. The system is designed to work seamlessly with Aadhaar, ensuring that access remains tightly controlled and traceable. For a building like Mantralaya – visited by thousands daily including citizens, contractors, and government officials – such upgrades are not just about ease, but also about safety and accountability. Secutech Automation, the company behind this solution, has over two decades of experience in smart infrastructure and has previously worked with various public institutions across India. CEO Aditya Prabhu said the idea behind DigiPravesh was to 'solve real-world challenges in public building access by combining security with simplicity." First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
CBS News
15-05-2025
- Science
- CBS News
U of M students' bug trap invention keeps Japanese beetles out of gardens
U of M students create a way of dealing with an invasive insect U of M students create a way of dealing with an invasive insect U of M students create a way of dealing with an invasive insect Some University of Minnesota students have come up with a creative solution for a pesky problem. "Every year these Japanese beetles would come and completely eat away at our plum trees," said Aditya Prabhu. "My mom would drag me and my brother outside and pick them by hand." Prabhu knew there had to be a better way to deal with the invasive insects. And he found his solution in an entrepreneur class at the University of Minnesota. It challenged Prabhu and classmate Mohamed Hammadelniel to think outside the box. So, they created a trap that could stop the bugs dead in their tracks, while also being environmentally-friendly. "The pheromone is fairly simple. It's a little cone inside the trap," said Prabhu. That pheromone attracts Japanese beetles to the trap's mesh, which is coated in a low dose insecticide. It's not a threat to humans, animals, or pollinators, but it is to beetles. "When beetles land on it, it takes them about 30 seconds to be killed by the insecticide," said Prabhu. During a test run at two Minnesota vineyards, hundreds of beetles filled the traps and they were nearly bursting at the seams. It's been such a success that Prabhu, Hammadelniel and their friend James won the Minnesota Cup competition, and took home $25,000 to move the invention forward. "I don't think I expected it to be something that after a year, was still so meaningful to all three of us," said Hammadelniel. The goal now is to take their invention a step further. They're hoping these plant traps become a common site in gardens across the state. "It's going to be absolutely cool to see this in stores," said Prabhu. "I hope we can reach as many people and as many beetles as possible," said Hammadelniel. "That's really the goal. If we can continue to inspire students to innovate in college, as well as solving a real problem, I'd feel really at peace." Prabhu says the official name is the Alure beetle trap, Alure LLC. Their next step is to do more research this summer and then get Environmental Protection Agency registration, which would give them the rights to manufacture, market and sell the trap.
