Latest news with #Chakravarthy
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Composite Backwardness Index of BCs to be gauged on a scale of Zero to 126
In what could be a paradigm shift in India's approach to social justice, the outcome of the caste survey of the Telangana government is focussing on the backwardness of castes on a scale of 'Zero to 126' independent of their population size. The 11-member Expert Working Group headed by former Supreme Court Justice B. Sudarshan Reddy set up by the government to analyse and interpret data from the caste survey, has come up with a new concept — Composite Backwardness Index (CBI) — to scientifically quantify the backwardness of castes. The foundation of the report is the huge data compiled from over 3.5 crore residents of Telangana responding to 74 questions covering aspects ranging from education and income to housing, landholding, and experiences of discrimination. 'This is a data revolution,' argues Praveen Chakravarthy, Member Convenor of the Expert Committee consisting of social scientists, economists, statisticians and those who understand the soul of Telangana. 'Earlier, it was assumed that larger the population of a social group meant that group was more backward. But now, focus is on, how backward is a caste in real, measurable terms?' he told The Hindu in an interaction. Mr. Chakravarthy, who is one of the architects of the CBI, says it is a first-of-its-kind metric designed and used in the world to objectively evaluate social and economic disparities. Evaluating Telangana's most exhaustive caste-related survey in India's history was a big task, he said, recalling that the landmark Mandal Commission survey conducted in the 1980s covered only 50 lakh people with 11 questions. To identify true indicators of backwardness the committee performed statistical significance tests across the responses shortlisting 42 indicators across nine categories, including education, living conditions, land ownership, income, access to technology, and social discrimination. Respondents answered questions such as: 'Do you face discrimination in temples?'; 'Do your children attend English-medium schools?'; 'Do you own a vehicle, smartphone, or live in a pucca house?' and 'Do you borrow from moneylenders?' each of which fed into a scoring model. Mr. Chakravarthy explained that each caste was ranked on a scale from 0 to 126 points, with the higher the score, the greater the level of backwardness. The data was analysed through quartile distribution, placing every caste into one of four buckets based on their aggregate scores. The report, expected to be submitted to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, in two weeks, will provide rankings for all the 245 surveyed castes. Mr. Chakravarthy feels the government should release the data in an aggregated form for public use, while protecting individual privacy. Independent researchers should use Artificial Intelligence tools to extract deeper insights to build upon the findings. 'Let people challenge it statistically and academically. It's open data self-reported by the people of Telangana,' says Mr. Chakravarthy. The report aims to disentangle caste-based backwardness from general poverty. Poverty is universal. But caste-based poverty is historical, he points out. Can the CBI model be replicated in the caste census that the Government of India announced recently? The model remains effective despite the disparities among BCs given the unique social structure in the respective States. Mr. Chakravarthy summarises that just like the GDP for economic growth or the Sensex for the stock market, the CBI can be a scientific index for social equity.
Mint
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Mint
Masterclass: The professor behind the engines of India's flying future
Chennai: On an October evening in 2016, a professor from IIT Madras came across a talk by Tony Seba, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur. In the video, Seba showed two remarkable pictures. The first one was from 1900—an Easter Parade in New York City's Fifth Avenue. In the middle of the street, crowded with horse-drawn carriages, was a car. One could barely see it. He next showed a picture from the same parade 13 years later. 'Where is the horse?" Seba asked. Fifth Avenue, now crowded with cars, just had one horse carriage. Seba went on to make a few predictions. All cars will become electrified; by 2020, the cost of an electric car will be about the same as that of an internal combustion engine (ICE)-powered car; by 2030, everybody will start using electric cars and we will enter the era of driverless vehicles. 'I finished watching the video and wondered what am I doing here building the world's largest combustion centre," Satyanarayanan Chakravarthy, the professor, says. Back then, Chakravarthy was working on establishing the National Centre for Combustion Research and Development at IIT Madras. That video encounter would eventually spark an incredible journey for the professor, from academia to entrepreneurship. It planted the first seed of what seemed an almost improbable idea nine years ago—building air taxis in India. Rockets and satellites This writer took a 36 km journey with Chakravarthy, from the IIT Madras campus in Chennai, where he resides, to the institute's satellite campus, in Thaiyur. It is 8:15 am on a hot Monday morning. Dressed in a white shirt with red checkered lines, the professor pops open his steel tiffin box for breakfast in the car, an everyday ritual. He scoops a spoonful of boiled chickpeas, and then pauses mid-bite, to recollect what happened after he heard Seba's talk. That night, he spent time with a colleague, walking the lush green campus of IIT Madras, telling him that they had to build electric planes. If cars can become electric, it's only a matter of time before planes do, he reasoned. The question in his mind was time. Could electric planes become a reality before he retires in 2034? 'I had a good 18 years ahead. I could pretend that it's not going to happen and continue to work in combustion. But I decided I can't be living in denial for about 18 years. Instead, I should actually jump on the bandwagon and be the driver of change," Chakravarthy says. The ePlane Co. was incorporated two years later, with a grand vision—to alleviate global traffic congestion. Founded by the professor and incubated in IIT Madras, the company is now testing a cargo plane for metro cities. The air taxi is in the engineering phase with regulatory audits expected to begin this fiscal year. That's not the only company Chakravarthy started. He collaborated, advised or co-founded a handful of other deep-tech businesses—AgniKul Cosmos, Aerostrovilos Energy, GalaxEye, TuTr Hyperloop, and X2Fuels. Agnikul Cosmos is building small rockets that can launch satellites into space quickly and at a low cost; Aerostrovilos is developing compact micro gas turbines, which are small, jet engine-like machines that generate electricity; GalaxEye is building satellites for earth observation; TuTr Hyperloop is aiming to develop an ultra high-speed ground transportation system while X2Fuels is working on turning waste into clean fuel and chemicals, helping reduce pollution. If these companies become successful businesses, going ahead, they could shape the future of space, transport, farming, and energy. Social guy Growing up in Chennai, professor Chakravarthy taught himself to play the violin. He also loved to sketch in his spare time. After school, Chakravarthy did not get admission into an IIT right away; he enrolled himself in a private engineering college in Chennai. His extroverted nature pulled him into college life—taking on internships, leading initiatives, and even running the hostel magazine during elections. Wherever he got involved, his energy and leadership stood out. 'I am a very social guy. My room was the place where all the guys who did not pay attention in class congregated," he remembers. He then prepared for the joint entrance examination, one of India's most competitive tests for admission to top engineering institutions, with more seriousness. In 1987, he managed to secure the 835th rank. Aerospace studies, at IIT Madras, was on the menu. 'I was not interested in coding and computers. I wanted to do stuff with my hands and build things. That is the reason why I picked aerospace over chemical, metallurgy or other options," Chakravarthy says. After his bachelors in aerospace engineering, he went on to pursue higher studies at the Georgia Institute of Technology in the US. Following a postdoctoral stint, he returned to join IIT Madras as a professor in 1997. Mr Cool With half a dozen companies to advise now, the professor is a busy man. He spends two hours advising startups he's involved with; three hours teaching at IIT Madras, and the rest of his time leading The ePlane Co. as both its chief executive officer and the chief technology officer. But that's not all—Chakravarthy is a much sought after speaker and does the rounds of tech conferences. He never loses his cool, despite wearing many hats, his colleagues vouch. 'We have around 20 teams, from preliminary design to detailed design, and he (Chakravarthy) has to check and advise each one of them," Rajasekar Vijayakumar, head of manufacturing at The ePlane Co., says. 'But, he maintains his cool throughout the day." The professor mostly joins deeptech startups at their formative stage, helping shape their technical designs, making the necessary connections, and at times, even funding them. Nonetheless, he is not involved in the daily operations of most of these companies. For instance, Chakravarthy played a crucial role in mentoring Srinath Ravichandran and Moin SPM, co-founders of Agnikul. The duo approached him through multiple contacts in the summer of 2017 and sought guidance on building rockets. 'His extensive network within the Isro community helped us connect with some of our very important advisors. Another thing is that when you are a young company, you need validation about what you are building and the professor's help in the initial months was critical," Ravichandran tells this writer. 'He is the person who suggested that we should make single piece rocket engines. He is also the person who pushed us to reach a point where the entire rocket engine is 3D printed," he adds. In May last year, Agnikul test-launched its 3D printed semi-cryogenic rocket, a feat that received a congratulatory message from the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. 'All startups have their own founders and I do not step on their toes. They expect me to only be an advisor," Chakravarthy says. Uber in the sky The realization of what it can become was a magical moment for Vinod Shankar, founder at venture capital firm Java Capital and an early investor in The ePlane Co. Shankar, who has a farmhouse near Mysuru, noted with excitement that when the ePlane taxis happen, the hope in the family is that they can go from Bengaluru to the farm in 15-20 minutes. 'Why do you need to live in Bengaluru then? It's an urban revolution as you don't need to live in dense cities," he says. Before that magical moment can happen, the company has to solve hard engineering problems. Technically, it is building what is known as an electric-powered compact aircraft or eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing). These planes can take off and land vertically, like a helicopter and don't need a long runway. Unlike helicopters, the three-seater aircraft (which would include the pilot's) has wings that give a lift when it moves forward and reduces the energy needed to stay in the air. Drones or helicopters, in comparison, rely only on rotors. The aircraft would look like a cross between a drone and a small plane. The company is currently building its first prototype, with test flights scheduled for August. This will be followed by additional prototypes, each refined and flight-tested as part of the certification process. It aims to commercialize the air taxis by 2027. While the commute via air taxis would cut short time, they might, in fact, become cheaper than Uber one day, claims the professor. The company has been mapping distance and costs comparing it with the cab aggregator. 'Uber had a model by which they used existing cars. But we don't have existing assets in our case. So, it will take a couple of years for me to ramp up to the level, but the point is, it's doable," Chakravarthy says. Initially, commercialization could begin with the aircraft operating as air ambulance. The ePlane Co. has raised about $21.5 million so far. Apart from Java Capital, investors include Speciale Invest and 3one4 Capital. The fascinating thing is that Chakravarthy is an aerospace guy—propulsion and combustion were his specialties, says Sonal Saldanha, vice president at 3one4 Capital. 'He was at the centre for combustion research. Electric vehicles need to be anything but combustible. I say this as a joke, but the point is that he was willing to take major calls on his career trajectory based on where he saw an opportunity, regardless of where he's spent time building an identity," Saldanha adds. Investors say the professor is savvy when it comes to raising money—an essential skill when it comes to building deep tech companies that can mop up huge capital. 'Fundraising is one of the toughest things that founders have to face, but he's naturally equipped and has been doing a great job at this for a long time now," Saldanha says. Further fund raise for the The ePlane Co. would test the professor—according to investors in the know, air taxis would require humongous capital for it to become a reality. Of the six companies he is part of, AgniKul Cosmos has raised the most thus far, going by data from Tracxn—$42 million. Jargons for outsiders None of the startups the professor advises, or is a co-founder at, have generated revenue at this point. GalaxEye could start generating revenue from next year, he says, while The ePlane Co. and AgniKul Cosmos could start making money towards the end of next year. The ePlane Co., meanwhile, is beginning to clock some 'very small revenue" with the drones a subsidiary of the company builds. Chakravarthy, meanwhile, remains an academic at heart even when he steps outside the classroom and into the fast-paced world of startups. He says he doesn't get enamoured by equity, valuation and exits. They are just jargons to be used for the outside world. What drives him, personally, is the daily grind—16-hour days but one step at a time. His only pause is a couple of quiet hours on Sunday, when he unwinds. Shankar of Java Capital points out that he has not come across anyone from academics who is as energetic as Chakravarthy. 'If anybody can do this in India, it's only Satya. Nobody is going to take that level of risk," he says.
India Today
08-05-2025
- Sport
- India Today
BCCI punishes KKR's Varun Chakravarthy for IPL code of conduct breach vs CSK
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) spinner Varun Chakravarthy has been fined 25% of his match fee and received one demerit point for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct during his team's clash with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Eden Gardens on Wednesday. While the IPL governing body did not elaborate on the specific incident, the breach was classified as a Level 1 offense under Article 2.5 of the Code of Conduct. The article pertains to actions, gestures, or language directed at a dismissed batter that could provoke an aggressive reaction. Chakravarthy gestured to Dewald Brevis to leave the field after dismissing him-an act that led to the sanction. "Varun Chakravarthy admitted to the Level 1 offense under Article 2.5 and accepted the Match Referee's sanction," read an IPL statement. As per the rules, the match referee's decision for Level 1 breaches is final and binding. Chakravarthy had returned excellent figures of 2 for 18 in four overs, dismissing a dangerous Brevis, who had powered CSK's chase with a rapid 52 off 25 balls. The breakthrough moment offered KKR a glimmer of hope, but their defence of 179 fell short in the end. The loss marked a significant setback for the two-time champions, who now find themselves sixth on the points table with 11 points from 12 matches. With only two league games left, KKR must win both - against Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 10 and Royal Challengers Bengaluru on May 17 - to stay in playoff contention. Even that may not be enough, as they will need favourable results elsewhere. However, a relatively healthy net run rate of +0.193 could be a key differentiator if multiple teams finish on similar points. Stay updated on IPL 2025 with India Today! Get match schedules, team squads, live score, and the latest IPL points table for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Plus, keep track of the top contenders for the IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap. Don't miss a moment!
News18
05-05-2025
- Sport
- News18
Varun Chakravarthy Gives Huge Update On Andre Russell's IPL Future: 'He Plans To...'
Last Updated: Amidst doubts over his ageing state, Andre Russell smashed the Rajasthan Royals in a match-winning knock. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) allrounder Andre Russell plans to extend his IPL career by 'six more years', revealed teammate and the team's lead Indian spinner Varun Chakravarthy on Sunday, May 4. As the three-time champions surpassed the Rajasthan Royals in their latest league game, Chakravarthy interacted with the media and revealed his conversation with Russell, where the West Indies giant spoke of his future in the league. If he's to be believed, Russell, aged 37, may have age constraints in his KKR journey, but the Caribbean allrounder's hunger and desire for success are not dying anytime soon. 'As far as I've spoken to him and interacted with him, he still wants to play another two or three cycles of the IPL – which is easily six more years," Chakravarthy said. 'He looks fine and fit. It doesn't matter how old you are, as long as you're contributing to the team. That's the mindset. In franchise cricket, no one's going to question that." Chakravarthy's remarks came after Russell played a handsome role in KKR's thrilling win over the Royals. He smashed 57 not out off just 25 deliveries to take KKR to 206/4 in their 20 overs, which the home side defended by 1 run at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Russell entered the season with question marks raised on his future, considering the three-year cycle would end with him clocking 40, and couldn't hit the ground running in the first few weeks. However, in the match Russell also quashed the theories and criticism of his spin game by hammering Royals' mystery-spinner Maheesh Theekshana. Chakravarthy noted how Russell smartly played spin earlier in the innings before producing the Theekshana assault at the death. 'That's not true – it's not like he can't hit spin. He can hammer spin; we've all seen it before. Even in net practice, he smashes it. But today, he chose a different approach, and that was very smart of him. I could see that, and I can tell you it's part of his development," Chakravarthy said. Russell's knock helped KKR win and bounce back in the tournament, where they are now placed sixth with 5 wins from 11 games. KKR needs to continue on a resurgent trail and secure victories in all their remaining matches to have a chance of reaching the playoffs. Ajinkya Rahane's men next play Chennai Super Kings on May 7. First Published: May 05, 2025, 16:56 IST
NDTV
05-05-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
Andre Russell Looking At Retirement After IPL 2025? KKR Teammate Massive Revelation: "He Still..."
Under-fire Jamaican star Andre Russell on Sunday silenced critics with a match-winning knock and his teammate Varun Chakravarthy revealed that the veteran all-rounder is keen to continue playing in the IPL for "easily six more years." Russell, who turned 37 recently, had come under scrutiny for his patchy form this season after being retained by the defending champions for Rs 12 crore in a three-year deal ahead of the mega auction. With just 72 runs from seven innings at an average of 10.28, including four single-digit scores, questions were beginning to be raised about his place in the side. However, on Sunday, the Jamaican turned back the clock with a blazing unbeaten 57 off 25 balls, powering KKR to 206/4 in a must-win clash at Eden Gardens. The hosts went on to edge out Rajasthan Royals by a solitary run in a thrilling finish to keep their playoff hopes alive. "As far as I have spoken to him and interacted with him, he still wants to play another 2-3 cycles of IPL which is easily six more years," Chakravarthy said of Russell in the post-match media interaction. One cycle refers to three seasons between mega auctions, meaning Russell is aiming to stay with KKR well into his 40s if form and fitness permit. "He looks fine and fit. It doesn't matter how old you are. If you are able to contribute to the team, that's enough. In franchise cricket, they are not going to question you," said Chakravarthy. Russell, promoted up the order, initially struggled against spin, scoring just 2 off his first 9 deliveries, as Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga kept things tight. But Chakravarthy dismissed the notion that Russell is a limited batter who only thrives against pace. "I feel it was his choice. He made that choice not to attack the spinners. But that's not the truth, as in he can't hit spin. He can hammer spin. We have seen it before and even in the nets when we practice, he can hammer that. But he took a different approach today -- that was very smart on him and congratulations to him." Chakravarthy, who played a crucial role in the win with two wickets in an over to break Rajasthan Royals' momentum and returned figures of 2/32, also revealed that he has been working on a new seam-up delivery—something he used to good effect in the Powerplay against India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal. "I started working on it just before the Champions Trophy so that I can bring something new because I end up bowling the Powerplay, so the ball is more newer and can swing," he explained. "So I just thought I can bowl one or two balls that can swing in and out. So that was the thought behind it," added Chakravarthy who was India's leading wicket-taker with nine scalps in their victorious Champions Trophy campaign earlier in March. With five wins from 11 games, KKR now must win all three of their remaining matches to stand a chance of making the playoffs. Chakravarthy said the team has adopted a knockout mindset. "We have to win all the matches so it becomes knockouts for us. We have the mindset that we have to win five knockout matches -- every game is a knockout game, we have to bring our A-game here. Good that we have got a win." "Such wins will give us momentum and self-belief that we can pull off tight matches, and this is exactly what we needed at this time. So, from here, I am hopeful that we can pull off the next three matches. We have done it before. So, no excuses from us."
