Latest news with #CentreforDevelopmentofAdvancedComputing
The Hindu
3 days ago
- The Hindu
Training programme held on cyber security
GITAM Deemed to be University and Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) on Monday (June 2) jointly organised a faculty development programme (FDP) on cyber security here. The six-day FDP features expert-led sessions, workshops and discussions on emerging cybersecurity trends, including topics such as IoT security and vulnerability exploitation. C-DAC Centre head C.H.A.S. Murthy and cyber security expert Sarat Chandra Babu attended as resource persons and emphasised the urgent need for educational institutions to lead the charge in cyber security preparedness and human resource development. The experts briefed about current vulnerabilities, AI-driven cyber threats and the growing importance of securing digital infrastructures. GITAM School of Computer Science and Engineering dean S. Arun Kumar and GITAM School of Technology director K. Nagendra Prasad spoke.
Indian Express
23-05-2025
- General
- Indian Express
‘Varun Mitra': Pune residents do their bit to aid govt agencies get local rainfall data for flood management, research
An act of curiosity by an individual led to a network of enthusiasts to measure rainfall in their locality under `Varun Mitra'. This has now catapulted into a movement that is being used as a resource to manage flood situations, conduct research activity, and plan basic infrastructure development in a bid to mitigate the problems due to rain, primarily in Pune city. Forty-seven enthusiasts are part of the `Varun Mitra' network, that includes housewives, students, doctors, professors, engineers, and IT professionals. Every member measures the rainfall in their locality through a standard manual rain gauge and the collected data is shared with various government organisations and agencies for their respective use. Those availing the rainfall data include the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC), the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), and the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). 'I used to follow the Advanced Centre for Water Resource Development and Management (ACWADAM) and attend lectures by experts. I realised they were struggling for the rainfall data required for research. I was also curious about the rainfall in my locality, so I decided to make a manual rain gauge and installed it on my terrace to measure rainfall in my locality in Bavdhan,' said civil engineer Abhijit Gandhi. He said this two-month rainfall data was then matched with groundwater data collected by ACWADAM, and it turned out to be correlating and useful for research. 'I, along with ACWADAM, decided to involve enthusiasts. So, during the Covid-19 lockdown, I appealed on social media to citizens to participate in the initiative and got a good response. ACWADAM supplied standard manual gauge and I made a video on how to use the equipment which were sent to participants,' said Gandhi, adding the number has been increasing since then, with 30 after the appeal during Covid. Currently, there are 47 participants measuring localised rainfall every day, and 38 of them are in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. The remaining are in other parts of Maharashtra, such as Bhor, Tasgaon in Sangli, Hatkangale in Kolhapur, Dapoli in Konkan, Sambhajinagar, and Nashik. Incidentally, the data collected by 'Varun Mitra' has been correlating with the groundwater level in the city. 'The rainfall data matched with changing groundwater level readings. This has helped ACWADAM in mapping aquifers in the city. The localised rainfall data also helped us in various groundwater recharging projects undertaken by ACWADAM in the city,' said Himanshu Kulkarni of ACWADAM, co-founder of the NGO working in the groundwater sector in urban and rural areas. The ACWADAM procured standard rainwater gauges worth Rs 3,000 each and provided them to the volunteers of 'Varun Mitra'. Gandhi said it is the sincere volunteers of the team which works on every monsoon that it has become a successful initiative and is applauded. 'Sunita Khare, a cancer patient, of Mahatma Society, even during her treatment days, continued to collect and send rainfall data from her area every day. This dedication of volunteers has made the initiative a success,' he said. Gandhi collects the 8.30 am data every day from Varun Mitra and compiles it. 'The IMD officials have also praised our initiative, and the Indian Meteorological Society felicitated us and gave certificates for our work. 'This is the first-of-its-kind rainfall measurement initiative with public participation, which has been going on for the past four years,' he added. 'CDAC also started taking our data from last year for their research work. The NDRF subscribes to our data for its use. Similarly, the Pune Municipal Corporation and PCMC have started taking data,' said Gandhi, adding that the timely data from Varun Mitra is useful for the disaster management team to issue alerts in advance to localities living in low-lying areas where the water flows. PMC Disaster Management Officer Ganesh Sonune said Varun Mitra is very handy for us in initiating relief and rescue operations during heavy rainfall. 'The IMD has few rain measuring machines in the city, but the rainfall varies in different areas. The localised data, which is only with Varun Mitra, is used for disaster management and in the long run will help in the construction of a stormwater drainage facility in the city with a larger size where the trend is of heavy rainfall and a normal size in areas with less rainfall,' he said. Gandhi said those in cities don't need the rainfall data except to analyse the possible traffic situation, but the localised data is very useful in rural areas. 'The IMD has limitations in installing rainfall measuring equipment. The farmers or their children use standard manual rain gauge in their farms then they can get measure of rain and pattern to decide on their crop and produce,' he said adding the Varun Mitra is not merely collecting localised rainfall data but also discussing the kind of clouds in their area to make rough predictions of the kind of rainfall in their area. Ajay Jadhav is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, Pune. He writes on Infrastructure, Politics, Civic issues, Sustainable Development and related stuff. He is a trekker and a sports enthusiast. Ajay has written research articles on the Conservancy staff that created a nationwide impact in framing policy to improve the condition of workers handling waste. Ajay has been consistently writing on politics and infrastructure. He brought to light the lack of basic infrastructure of school and hospital in the hometown of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde even as two private helipads were developed by the leader who mostly commutes from Mumbai to Satara in helicopter. Ajay has been reporting on sustainable development initiatives that protects the environment while ensuring infrastructure development. ... Read More
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
How this 78-year-old created India's first supercomputer despite blocks from the US and Europe
Image credits: X/@OnlyNakedTruth While the West may be technologically ahead of the rest of the world, India has never been far behind. We have either learned and used existing technologies or created new ones. Supercomputers, which are exceptionally powerful computers designed to perform complex calculations and process large amounts of data at high speeds, were invented in America in the 1960s when Seymour Cray, the father of supercomputing, designed a series of computers at Control Data Corporation (CDC). The technology had spread far and wide in the developed countries in the following years. However, in the 1980s, when India asked for access to supercomputers, we were denied by the US and Europe with claims such as India would use the technology for missiles and it was not 'ready' for supercomputers as it was a developing nation. Without the supercomputers, the satellites would be blindfolded, and we would not be able to progress in technology. Image credits: X/@sreejithsoji The solution for the problem came in the form of Vijay Pandurang Bhatkar, a scientist who took charge of making India's own supercomputer that was faster, cheaper and its own. In 1990, Bhatkar, appointed by the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, created a team of scientists, engineers and coders in Pune who were tasked with creating a supercomputer, a device that functioned like 256 brains working as one. The process went on for three years with zero foreign help in a lab in the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing , which was set up in 1988. In 1991, India debuted PARAM 8000 , a supercomputer that cost a fraction of the USA's Cray supercomputer and was equipped with 64 CPUs, used Inmos T800 transputers and had distributed memory MIMD architecture with a reconfigurable interconnection network. It predicted cyclones, cracked cancer data, decoded black holes and more. Its efficiency was so high that the USA had to slash back the prices of Cray to ensure sales, and it was so in demand that it was being exported to Germany, the UK and Russia. Image credits: X/@knowlajay Bhatkar, the mind behind the achievement, who is currently the Chancellor of Nalanda University, was awarded the Padma Shri & Padma Bhushan and the Maharashtra Bhushan Award. Now, the Indian government is working towards doing better in the field of supercomputing by initiating a 4,500-crore National Supercomputing Mission . This mission targets the installation of more than 70 high-performance computing facilities in India.
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Business Standard
15-05-2025
- Health
- Business Standard
CGHS got a digital makeover: How it helps beneficiaries in health care
The Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) has launched a new Health Management Information System (HMIS) to improve digital services for its beneficiaries. According to the statement issued by CGHS, the new HMIS replaces a two-decade-old system and was developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC). Key Features of the New HMIS Notable features of HMIS include: PAN-based unique identification: Beneficiaries above 18 years are now required to link their Permanent Account Number (PAN) with their CGHS ID, ensuring accurate identification and reducing duplication. Integrated Payment System: The manual payment process via the Bharat Kosh portal has been discontinued. All contributions must now be made through the official CGHS portal, with payments auto-verified to minimise errors and refund issues. Real-time tracking: Beneficiaries can monitor the status of their applications and services in real-time, enhancing transparency and reducing delays. Mobile application: A new 'myCGHS' mobile app is out, allowing users to access services, track applications, and receive updates on the go According to the CGHS to facilitate the transition to the new system: All CGHS Wellness Centres were closed to the public on April 26, 2025, to prepare for the system upgrade. The previous CGHS websites ( and have been deactivated. All services are now accessible through the unified portal: Beneficiaries are required to reset their passwords upon first login to the new system Applications pending payment as of April 27, 2025, have lapsed. Fresh applications must be submitted through the new portal Support and assistance To ensure a smooth transition Master trainers have been deployed across CGHS offices and Wellness Centres to assist beneficiaries. User manuals and helpdesk facilities are available on the CGHS website and the 'myCGHS' app.
Nikkei Asia
14-05-2025
- Business
- Nikkei Asia
Japan's Renesas forms India tie-up to support startups in chip push
TOKYO -- Renesas Electronics has signed an agreement with an Indian government-affiliated scientific organization to provide semiconductor design and development software to startups and educational institutions, the Japanese chipmaker announced Wednesday. The company signed two memorandums of understanding with the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing, which falls under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
