Latest news with #OPJindalGlobalUniversity
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Bengaluru Sustainability Conclave: OP Jindal report urges all universities to lead climate action
BENGALURU: Amid growing concerns over rising global temperatures, social inequalities, and economic instability, there is an urgent need for collective action on sustainability, according to OP Jindal Global University's Sustainable Development Report 2025. The report was released by Governor Thawaarchand Gehlot at the Bengaluru Sustainability Conclave here on Tuesday. It called upon universities to take a leading role in addressing climate challenges and outlines the university's progress in sustainability research, education and operations, in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The report author, Prof Padmanabha Ramanujam, highlighted the role of higher education in sustainability leadership.
India Gazette
6 days ago
- Health
- India Gazette
Bengaluru: Karnataka Governor calls for collective action on environmental protection at Sustainability Summit
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], June 3 (ANI): Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, emphasising the urgent need for environmental protection amidst growing concerns over pollution and dwindling natural resources said, 'We must awaken a renewed consciousness--rooted in love and respect for nature, simplicity in lifestyle, and reverence for forests.' Addressing the Bangalore Sustainability Summit on Tuesday, themed 'Advancing Sustainable Development Goals: Enhancing the Impact of Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships through Knowledge Sharing and Collaboration', jointly organised by O P Jindal Global University and RV University. 'The recent challenges, especially the oxygen crisis, have underlined the critical importance of protecting our environment. Sustainable development is deeply embedded in our national ethos and governance philosophy,' the Governor said. He highlighted that India has been committed to sustainable progress through landmark initiatives, including Make in India, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, National Rural Drinking Water Programme, National Health Mission (Urban & Rural), Digital India, Deendayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojana, Kaushal Bharat, and the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana. 'States play a pivotal role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and several state-level schemes are contributing meaningfully to this national vision,' he added. Praising Bengaluru as a hub of innovation and technological advancement, the Governor noted that the city also grapples with challenges such as rapid urbanisation, climate change, and pressure on natural resources. 'It is encouraging to see this summit focus on the power of knowledge sharing and cross-sector collaboration to tackle these challenges and drive impact.' He lauded the efforts of Indian universities in promoting sustainable practices and preserving local biodiversity. 'Institutions across the country are becoming custodians of environmental responsibility, reflecting the true spirit of World Environment Day.' Acknowledging the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Governor Gehlot cited national campaigns such as Clean Air, Save Water, Save Energy, Grow More Plants, and Green Cities as instrumental in spreading environmental awareness among citizens. He also commended the University for its commitment to sustainability. 'Since its inception in 2009, the university has consistently demonstrated its dedication to the SDGs. Its recent Gold Medal in the Times Higher Education Online Learning Rankings 2024 and top rank in the Ministry of Education's Clean Campus Ranking are testaments to its environmental leadership and the critical role of youth in nation-building.' Concluding his address, Governor Gehlot made a heartfelt appeal, 'We must collectively embrace our responsibility to safeguard the environment. Only through unified action can we ensure a clean, healthy planet for future generations. (ANI)
Mint
20-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
Global Investing for Indians: Secure Your Future & Fund Foreign Education
In an age where borders are porous but portfolios remain parochial,Mint Horizons came to Delhi with a bold proposition: it's time Indian investors stopped thinking domestically and started planning globally. If you want Mint Horizons to come to your city, register here. The evening began with Neil Borate, Deputy Editor at Mint, setting the tone by framing global investing as more than just a financial decision — it's a mindset shift. "We're no longer living in an economy isolated from global trends. Whether it's higher education, market volatility, or technological innovation — every decision has a cross-border implication," he said. From navigating market risk to funding international education, the Delhi edition brought together a diverse group of experts: Dhirendra Kumar , Founder & CEO of Value Research , Founder & CEO of Value Research Piyush Gupta , Co-founder & CTO of Zinc Money , Co-founder & CTO of Zinc Money Elizabeth Roche , Associate Professor at OP Jindal Global University , Associate Professor at OP Jindal Global University Ambassador Dr. Mohan Kumar , Former Indian Ambassador to France , Former Indian Ambassador to France Ajay Srivastava, Founder of Global Trade Research Initiative Kicking off the keynote was Dhirendra Kumar, who reflected on how Indian investors — and his own portfolio — have evolved. Kumar shared that nearly 25% of his total assets are now globally allocated, predominantly in Nasdaq 100 and FANG+ ETFs. 'I've always invested in what I understand — and I understand technology,' he said. His decades-long conviction in the U.S. tech ecosystem has paid off, delivering returns far superior to his Indian mutual fund holdings. Mint Money Editor Neil Borate with Dhirendra Kumar, CEO of Value Research But despite his strong advocacy for global diversification, Kumar cautioned against immediate enthusiasm. Many international ETFs available to Indians today, like FANG+ and Nasdaq 100, trade at a 10–25% premium to their NAV, making them inefficient entry points. You can watch Kumar's segment and others in the video below, Piyush Gupta, Co-founder & CTO of Zinc Money, presented an alternative, make global investing systematic and aligned with life goals — especially children's foreign education. Gupta explained that higher education abroad is no longer a distant aspiration. With over 1 million Indian students studying overseas, the need tosave, invest, and even borrow in USD has become urgent. Zinc Money — a Gift City-based fintech — helps Indian parents do just that. Using their regulatory licenses (RIA, broker-dealer, PSP), they offer goal-based portfolios, dollar wallets, and even international education loans — all within a SEBI-equivalent framework. Their flagship innovation: aGlobal Target Savings ETF (2031–34) that mimics the lifecycle of an education goal. The ETF starts with higher equity exposure and gradually de-risks toward debt as the education date nears — with no dividend payouts and tax efficiency due to in-ETF rebalancing. 'We're not just enabling investing,' Gupta said, 'we're building a structure around purpose.' The event concluded with a power-packed geopolitical panel moderated by Elizabeth Roche, featuring Ambassador Dr. Mohan Kumar and Ajay Srivastava. Dr. Kumar warned that global trade, once built on multilateral trust and WTO rules, is now shifting towards reciprocal, strategic deals driven by tariff wars and geopolitics. 'President Trump's trade policies have brought a wrecking ball to the WTO,' he said. 'But if India acts decisively, this crisis could be our 1991 moment — a chance to reform and plug into disrupted supply chains.' Srivastava added a reality check. 'Last time the U.S. imposed tariffs on China, it ended up importing even more — just rerouted via Mexico and Vietnam. China's exports rose by $1 trillion. So this strategy doesn't work. But everyone's adjusting to Trump anyway.' The panel also examinedIndia's recent FTAs with the UK and EU, noting improvements in market access (for textiles, seafood, and whisky), but warned that without deep reform in areas like agriculture, manufacturing, and disinvestment, India risks missing the boat — again. From Kumar's personal portfolio strategy to Zinc's education-linked investing, and finally to the macro lens of geopolitics, the message was clear:global investing is no longer a luxury — it's an essential tool for risk management and future planning. As Neil Borate closed the session, he reminded the audience that discipline, not complexity, drives returns. And in today's world, thinking beyond borders might just be the simplest step toward financial resilience.
News18
19-05-2025
- Business
- News18
Why Is China Trying To Revive World War II-Era Airbase Near India-Bangladesh Border?
Last Updated: Chinese presence in the Lalmonirhat airbase in Bangladesh, close to the Siliguri Corridor connecting India's northeast, could increase New Delhi's strategic vulnerability Chinese officials reportedly visiting a World War II-era airbase in Bangladesh near the Siliguri corridor has been drawing attention. The Lalmonirhat airfield is just 12-15 km away from the India border, and is controlled by the Bangladesh Air Force. The airbase has remained inactive for decades, and lies only 135 km away from the Siliguri Corridor also known as the 'Chicken's Neck', connecting Northeast to the rest of the country. Although the purpose of Chinese presence so close to this passage is unclear, but the development could increase India's strategic vulnerability. What Is The Legacy Of Lalmonirhat Airbase? Built as a military base in 1931 by the British government, Lalmonirhat airbase was used by allied forces during the World War II as a forward airbase for its operations on the eastern front. After Partition, Pakistan briefly reopened it in 1958 for civilian use. Since then, it has been largely abandoned, despite its sprawling 1,166 acres and facilities including a 4-km runway and large tarmac. During the tenure of Sheikh Hasina government in 2019, a plot in the base was given to Bangladesh Aerospace and Aviation University there, which is now operational under the Bangladesh Air Force. More recently, the interim administration led by Mohammed Yunus has proposed reviving Lalmonirhat and five other British-era airports to boost the economy. The other airports include Ishwardi, Thakurgaon, Shamshernagar, Comilla, and Bogra. He brought the matter during his visit to China last month, when he made the controversial remarks saying that Bangladesh is the only guardian of the ocean for the entire region including the northeast of India. The security of Chicken's Neck Corridor, which is just 22 km wide and connects eight Northeastern states to the mainland, is vital due to potential Chinese involvement in developing the airbase. This could enable Chinese to keep an eye on Indian military movements or gather intelligence near the Siliguri Corridor, said Sriparna Pathak, China Studies professor at OP Jindal Global University, as reported by The Times of India. Thus, any threat to the corridor could have a destabilising effect on India's access to its North-eastern region, which includes Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya and Sikkim. China's Growing Military & Economic Interests In Bangladesh China is not just trying to establish footprint in Bangladesh militarily, but also through economic projects. Reports suggest that Chinese companies are building factories and a solar power plant near Rangpur, planning a satellite city. As per a Dhaka-based journalist, who refuses to reveal his name, told TOI that these factories are operated almost entirely by Chinese personnel, with not much involvement from local workers. Besides, China remains a key supplier of military equipment to Bangladesh. Deepening defence ties between Dhaka and Beijing under the current regime has been a major concern for India as a neighbour. Kalpit Mankikar, a fellow of China-Taiwan Studies at the Observer Research Foundation, stated to TOI, 'One thing is China has definite plans for that region. All this while those plans may have been dormant because [deposed Bangladesh PM] Sheikh Hasina was more accommodative towards India's interests. Now, with the regime change and Mohammed Yunus' open offer that Bangladesh can serve as a fountainhead against India, China would definitely be tempted to take up the offer [the airport project]." He added, 'We don't know yet what are China's plans for the project. But this could be used to monitor civilian and military movement to Northeast from the rest of India and vice versa." How Pakistan Is Involved Reports suggest that the work on the airport is likely to start in October, and China will engage a Pakistani company as the sub-contractor for the work. Before Chinese officials visited Lalmonirhat, a Pakistani military-intelligence delegation inspected some border areas of Bangladesh. Indian agencies are watching whether the air base would be used for civilian purposes, training or to deploy military aircraft. 'We need to see if Bangladesh will allow other countries like China and Pakistan to use it. Bangladesh has the right to develop air fields for their security reasons, but that should not be used against India," defence officials said, as per the Assam Tribune report. Historically, the Pakistani spy agency, ISI, had close links with armed separatist groups in India's Northeast, many operating from Bangladesh until a crackdown launched by the Awami League government in 2009. Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get Latest Updates on Movies, Breaking News On India, World, Live Cricket Scores, And Stock Market Updates. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : chinese military india-bangladesh border Muhammad Yunus News18 Explains Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: May 19, 2025, 16:04 IST News explainers Why Is China Trying To Revive World War II-Era Airbase Near India-Bangladesh Border?
India Today
07-05-2025
- Health
- India Today
Over 34,000 Indians died in two decades due to extreme temperatures
A new study by researchers from OP Jindal Global University has found that extreme weather, both scorching heat and biting cold, has led to the deaths of more than 34,000 people in India over nearly two decades. The study researchers have urged the government to take stronger steps to protect people, especially those most vulnerable to such temperature extremes. The research, published in the journal Temperature, looked at data from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) and the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), covering the years 2001 to 2019. During this time, 19,693 people died due to heatstroke, while 15,197 lost their lives due to exposure to cold. The analysis showed that certain states reported more deaths than others. Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab recorded the highest number of deaths due to heatstroke. From 2001 to 2019, 19,693 people died due to heatstroke, while 15,197 lost their lives due to exposure to cold. (Photo: PTI) For cold exposure, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Bihar were the most affected. The study also found that working-age men were more likely to die from heatstroke, likely due to their jobs that require long hours outdoors. This points to the need for better work protections, and safety measures during extreme weather. Researchers used statistical methods like panel regression and spline regression to observe how temperature and deaths are linked in 24 Indian states between 2001 and 2014. The results showed that deaths increased sharply when temperatures moved beyond normal ranges, both in hot summers and cold winters. Mortality due to heatstroke and exposure to cold in India between 2001 and 2019. (Photo: Authors' computation based on NCRB data) According to the researchers, most studies on how extreme temperatures affect health come from high-income countries. India, with its diverse climate and large population, faces unique challenges that haven't been studied enough until now. The authors of the study are now calling for improvements in India's welfare and public health systems. They said the country needs to invest in better housing, cooling and heating infrastructure, and safety nets for people who work outdoors or live in poor conditions. "Findings point toward the need to identify hotspots for heat and cold exposure deaths and to implement a framework for designing sustainable policies that can enable resilience among populations," the authors wrote. As India continues to deal with rising temperatures and harsh winters, the researchers stressed that policy action is needed to prevent these avoidable deaths in the future.
