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Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
From clean water to clean energy: Industry leaders mark World Environment Day with climate action plans
New Delhi: On the occasion of World Environment Day , leaders across sectors—from hospitality and clean energy to industrial explosives and electric mobility—reiterated their commitment to sustainable growth , underlining initiatives ranging from zero water waste to nitrate-free explosives and circular technology in renewables. Amaan R Kidwai, Area Manager Luxury Hotels (North) & General Manager, ITC Maurya said, 'Continuous efforts in the areas of water conservation and efficiency have put ITC Hotels in a league of its own. As an endorsement of ITC Hotels' credo of 'Responsible Luxury', we have commissioned numerous initiatives across our hotels. Every drop of water is vital the future, and recycling is a responsibility we must uphold to ensure a sustainable future.' He added that ITC Mughal in Agra was the first hotel globally to receive LEED® Zero Water certification. 'ITC Rajputana, Jaipur, is the third hotel in the world to receive the LEED® Zero Water certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. Further strengthening ITC Hotels' commitment to sustainable practices, SunyaAqua — which processes and bottles international-quality drinking water across our hotels, including ITC Grand Bharat, Gurugram — significantly reduces carbon footprint by eliminating the need for transportation and by replacing Single-Use Plastic (SUP) items with eco-friendly alternatives, thereby mitigating the use of Single-Use Plastic.' Kidwai noted that the company is 'striving towards a greener future' with initiatives such as LEED® Zero Water certification and stage-by-stage process improvements. In the industrial explosives segment, Shubham Choudhari, Chief Technology Officer, SBL Energy Ltd, said, 'Sustainability is fast becoming the foundation of industrial decision-making, and the explosives sector is no exception. Electronic detonators, designed for precision blasting, are reducing over-break, ground vibration, and dust generation, making operations safer and more environmentally conscious.' He added, 'Nitrate-free explosives, such as hydrogen peroxide emulsion formulations, are emerging as viable alternatives that help cut carbon emissions and eliminate nitrate contamination. At SBL Energy, we believe this is the direction the industry must move in.' From the wind and solar sector, Praveen Kakulte, CEO, POWERCON Group said, 'The Renewable Energy business which fundamentally appears to be clean, also has a huge room for enhancing sustainability measures. Disposal of fibre reinforced plastics used for wind turbine rotor blades, spinners and nacelle, upon completion of its useful life are posing a challenge.' He added, 'Disposal of Solar PV panels is the biggest challenge that humans are witnessing. Putting the said pollutant to an alternate use is a secondary solution when one surrenders the competency to innovate. Sustainability isn't just a goal, but it's our moral responsibility.' D.V. Manjunatha, Founder & Managing Director, Emmvee said, 'This World Environment Day, as the global focus turns toward land restoration and building resilience against desertification and drought, we are reminded that clean energy is not just about reducing emissions; it's about restoring balance.' He added, 'At Emmvee, our commitment to solar innovation is rooted in the belief that renewable energy can empower communities, revive degraded landscapes, and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.' Akshit Bansal, Founder & CEO, Statiq emphasised EV adoption as a pathway to clean air. 'On World Environment Day, we express our vision of an India where people choose electric vehicles confidently, without having to compromise on convenience or sustainability.' Bansal added, 'Our commitment is to make EV charging as seamless and accessible as refuelling a traditional vehicle, ensuring that sustainability and convenience go hand in hand.' He said Statiq aims to power India's EV journey with 'state-of-the-art, reliable charging infrastructure'. Industry voices across sectors echoed the urgency of adapting technology, policy, and innovation in unison to deliver sustainable outcomes aligned with climate goals.
New Indian Express
01-06-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
All-weather condition: DGCA says will begin new training module for pilots
NEW DELHI: To ensure enhanced safety for flyers and meet the expected demand for pilots in the future, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has decided to give the green light to an internationally recognised pilot training programme. The process of introducing Multi-Crew Pilot Licence (MPL) training with advanced flight simulators is under way. Speaking to this newspaper, the DGCA director general Faiz Ahmed Kidwai said, 'MPL, recognised by the International Civil Aviation Organisation, differs from the traditional Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) Training based on single pilot operations. This will focus on the development of pilot competencies required to operate in multi-crew environments right from the start. It will integrate theory and simulator training to ensure that pilots are better prepared for the commercial aviation industry.' The hours spent on the flight simulators would be added to the required flying hours of the pilots, he added. Loss of control in flight is reported as the leading cause of fatal accidents in airlines. 'In MPL, entry-level first officers will benefit through a specially-designed programme that imparts lessons on managing and mitigation of airline-specific operations and threats that have been collated over decades,' Kidwai said. There are over 38 simulators presently in India and a good number would be purchased for use in MPL, he added. The booming Indian aviation sector will need over 1,700 new pilots annually. 'MPL training will ensure fewer training disruptions that are caused in the traditional method due to bad flying weather and shortage of instructors,' the official said, adding that the new module would also result in a reduced reliance on foreign pilots. By switching to modern simulators, it reduces the exposure of students to the risks of serious and often fatal accidents that happen during the primary flight training phase in the traditional system, he added. Another major benefit is that because of reduced hours spent on the aircraft in MPL training, more cadets would be able to train at Flying Training Organisations, he said.
Business Recorder
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Kidwai explains criticality of country's N-capability
ISLAMABAD: Former DG National Command Authority (NCA), Lt General Khalid Ahmed Kidwai (retd) has highlighted that the four-day conflict, lasting only 87 hours, was a profound test of both conventional and nuclear deterrence, as well as the integration of modern technologies in warfare. Lt Gen Kidwai has stated this while speaking at a seminar hosted by ISSI seminar on 'The Future of Deterrence and Emerging Challenges' in connection with Youm-e-Takbeer here on Wednesday. He underscored the emergence of a 'new normal' in South Asia's strategic environment following the recent intense escalation-cum-retaliation mini war between India and Pakistan. The Pakistan Air Force (PAF)'s decisive performance, leveraging advanced Chinese-technology and using integrated multi-domain tactics, has established Pakistan as the dominant air power in South Asia. Gen Kidwai further said this shift validates Pakistan's conventional deterrence as an effective complement to its robust nuclear arsenal. He outlined the key tenets of the 'new normal': Air superiority has shifted decisively to Pakistan, with the Pakistan Air Force now the dominant air power in South Asia; Pakistan's battle-tested conventional deterrent, especially its Air Force, has assumed a leading role in regional deterrence; Pakistan's credible nuclear deterrence will continue to constrain and limit India's political and operational choices, thereby maintaining strategic stability; any Indian aggression will be met with a 'notch-up response' as Field Marshal Asim Munir has promised, a 'Quid Pro Quo Plus', as Pakistan's retaliation will always be a calibrated and escalated response; India's pattern of seeking ceasefires following Pakistan's intense retaliation has become an established norm; and international diplomatic interventions will persist in managing crises to prevent escalation beyond defined limits. Additionally, former DG NCA asserts that Pakistan reserves the right to reciprocate any terror attack with conventional responses against pre-determined adversaries, reflecting a reciprocal logic to India's declared doctrines. While commemorating the 27th anniversary of Pakistan's nuclear tests, Lt. Gen. Kidwai reaffirmed that Pakistan's nuclear capability remains the cornerstone of its national security, ensuring strategic stability and restoring balance in South Asia. He emphasized that the defining feature of the new strategic reality is the reversal of air superiority in the region. He further outlined that Pakistan's nuclear weapons program had continued to serve as a robust deterrent and the guarantor of peace and stability in South Asia. Over the last six years, India's Hindutva-driven BJP government had twice tested nuclear-armed Pakistan's political will, strategic resolve, and military capability first by striking mainland Pakistan in February 2019, and again in Azad Kashmir in May 2025. On both occasions, India emerged second best. These confrontations reaffirmed the credibility of Pakistan's deterrent posture both conventional and nuclear and demonstrated that any Indian aggression would be met with a stronger-than-proportional response. He concluded by stressing Pakistan's steadfast resolve to safeguard its sovereignty and regional peace in an environment shaped by emerging threats and technological advancements, marking a strategic shift that firmly favours Pakistan's security interests in South Asia. He also underlined that India and Pakistan should seize the opening provided by President Trump's diplomatic initiative by taking the path of dialogue and addressing the conflicts plaguing South Asia. In his remarks DG ISSI Ambassador as part of the commemoration of Youm-e-Takbeer, the Arms Control and Sohail Mahmood emphasized the enduring significance of Youm-e-Takbeer as a landmark in South Asia's strategic history. He recalled Pakistan's decisive response to India's nuclear provocations in 1998, which reestablished deterrence and restored strategic balance in the region. He noted that Pakistan's nuclear journey was not a choice but a necessity driven by existential security imperatives. He highlighted Pakistan's responsible conduct as a nuclear state over the past 27 years, and stressed five key elements of national policy: a credible and operationalized deterrent; an impeccable nuclear safety and security regime; a growing record of peaceful nuclear applications; responsible international conduct; and consistent nuclear diplomacy to combat discrimination and misperception. He cautioned that the regional security environment is increasingly volatile due to disruptive technologies, and India's destabilizing posture, including MIRVs, sea-based deterrents, and counterforce strategies. He also referred to India's post-Pahalgam misadventure, and lauded Pakistan's calibrated response, while warning about New Delhi's strategic recklessness, driven by Hindutva ideology and electoral calculation. He reaffirmed that Pakistan's Full Spectrum Deterrence under Credible Minimum Deterrence ensures that no space exists for aggression below the nuclear threshold. He concluded by reiterating that deterrence is not about fear it is about stability, responsibility, and peace through strength and emphasized that Pakistan remains fully committed to its strategic posture, with clarity, restraint, and resolve to safeguard its sovereignty and regional stability. Amb Zamir Akram discussed 'Emerging Challenges and Regional Deterrence,' emphasizing the transformation of South Asia's strategic landscape post-nuclearisation. He highlighted India's increasingly aggressive posture, including false flag operations and hybrid warfare tactics involving proxies like the BLA. He analysed Pakistan's calibrated and robust military response, particularly following India's 2025 misadventure, which resulted in the downing of several Indian aircraft and exposed the vulnerability of its advanced air defence systems. He emphasized that while nuclear deterrence prevents full-scale war, India's coercive strategies continue to undermine strategic stability in the region. He concluded that India's strategic autonomy has weakened, while Pakistan's resilience and strategic partnership with China remain critical for regional stability. Air Commodore Khalid Banuri delivered an insightful discussion on 'Emerging Technologies and the Changing Nature of Warfare.' He examined the evolving role of Artificial Intelligence, cyber and electronic warfare, hypersonic systems, and space-based capabilities, highlighting their implications for speed, precision, and asymmetry in conflict. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
The Hindu
28-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Utilisation of oncology procedures under AB-ArK see over a six-fold rise in last six years
Utilisation of oncology procedures under the Ayushman Bharat Arogya Karnataka (AB-ArK) has seen over a six-fold rise in the last six years. From 9,328 pre-authorisations approved under the flagship health scheme in 2018-2019, the number has shot up to 60,301 in 2024-2025, according to data from the Health Department. Karnataka has a high cancer burden with around one lakh new cases reported every year. The State has an estimated cancer prevalence of around 2.35 lakh cases, according to the Population Based Cancer Registry at the State-run Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology in Bengaluru. The cumulative risk for developing cancer in their lifetime is one in seven for men and one in six for women in Karnataka, according to doctors.. The State is providing tertiary care for oncology procedures under the health scheme and a total of 109 hospitals, including 96 private hospitals, are empanelled under Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust (SAST), the nodal agency that is implementing AB-ArK. As many as eight government medical colleges and 22 private medical colleges are also empanelled for oncology specialty under SAST. However, empanelled hospitals for oncology are present only in 21 districts and people from Bidar, Yadgiri, Vijayanagara Koppal, Chitradurga, Chickballapura, Ramanagara, Kodagu, Chamarajanagar and Chikkamagaluru have to travel to other districts for cancer treatment. Pre-authorisations A total of 2.61 lakh pre-authorisations have been approved under the scheme for an amount of ₹1,301.92 crore from 2018-2019 when the scheme was launched. In 2024-2025, a total of 60,301 pre-authorisations for an amount of ₹271.72 crore have been expended under the scheme. Among the procedures covered under the scheme, 56% are medical oncology procedures (chemotherapy), 25% are radiation oncology procedures and 19% surgical oncology cases, according to data. Apart from Kidwai, Mysuru Medical College and Research Institute, VTSM Peripheral Cancer Centre in Kalaburgi, Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences in Hubballi and Vijaynagar Institute of Medical Sciences in Ballari are the top five public health facilities with highest utilisation of oncology procedures. Since 2022-2023, in the category of government hospitals, Kidwai institute has done the highest procedures under the scheme (51,418). Among private empanelled hospitals, Bharat Hospital and Institute of Oncology in Mysuru has done the highest procedures at 6,204, according to data. Female cancers high in Bengaluru In Bengaluru, of the estimated 15,603 cases registered annually, 8,723 are female cancers. Of the 6,880 male cancers reported, lung cancer continues to be the most predominant site (9.7% of the total male cancers). Lung cancer is followed by cancers of the prostate (6.9%), stomach (6.5%), and mouth (6.4%). Among females, breast cancer is the most common constituting 31.5% of the total female cancers followed by cancer of the cervix (9.1%), ovary (6.4%), mouth (4.3%), and corpus uteri (4.2%), according to data.
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Business Standard
27-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Arts, commerce students may soon be eligible for pilot training: DGCA
Students from arts and commerce backgrounds may soon be able to train as commercial pilots, following a proposal by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to end the longstanding science-only eligibility rule for pilot training. Currently, Indian regulations require students to have studied physics and maths in Class 12 to qualify for Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) training. If the new rule is approved, students from all streams who have passed Class 12 would be able to pursue pilot training—subject to medical and other eligibility tests. 'The DGCA recommendation has been sent to the aviation ministry. Once they finalise it, this ministry will send it to the law ministry to notify the change. When that happens, the change will come into effect,' a senior official told The Times of India. India's unique science requirement Until the mid-1990s, even Class 10 pass students could train to be pilots. Officials noted that India is the only country that still requires science subjects for CPL training. They argue that this requirement is outdated, as basic physics and maths are already taught in earlier school years. Many arts and commerce students have had to reappear for Class 12 with physics and maths through open schools to qualify for CPL training. Flying schools see reforms on the horizon With more students expected to take up pilot training, the DGCA has started working to improve flying schools across India. Many aspiring pilots currently go abroad for CPL training due to long training durations and inadequate safety and teaching standards in Indian flying schools. DGCA chief Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, on May 16, ordered all flying schools to create and maintain detailed websites with updated information about training hours, aircraft and instructor numbers, examiners, ground school and simulator availability. This move aims to bring more transparency and help students make informed choices. Kidwai said this would make flying schools 'more competitive, safer, and student-friendly.' Pilot job challenges remain Flying schools warn that while the new eligibility proposal is promising, other issues must be addressed to make pilot training smoother. Becoming a pilot in India is still challenging, with many students taking on large loans. Senior pilots caution future aviators: 'Even after the expensive CPL training and endorsement, getting a job can take a long time. Families must factor in the financial burden and the time lag before employment. The reality is not as rosy as it seems for wannabe pilots,' they said, as quoted by The Times of India.
