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Indian Express
a day ago
- Business
- Indian Express
IIT Madras, SBI Foundation to offer sports scholarship to para-athletes
The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) and SBI Foundation have partnered to launch Para Athlete Sports Scholarship programme. The scholarship programme is aimed at empowering 100 para-athletes across India. The programme seeks to provide selected athlete with a monthly stipend of Rs 40,000 each, supporting their journey toward National and International sporting excellence. Further, scientific training will also be provided under this initiative. Read More | IIT-Madras to offer mentorship, support to students admitted through FACE, ScOpE By combining financial support with scientific training, the scholarship ensures that para-athletes have access to the resources, data, and mentorship they need to compete at the highest level, an IIT Madras statement said. The goal, IIT Madras says, is to create a robust ecosystem of support and inclusivity in Indian sport, while building a strong pipeline for events like the Paralympics and other international events for para athletes. This marks a significant step forward in recognising and nurturing the potential of differently-abled athletes, aligning with both institutions' shared vision of inclusive growth and excellence, it added. The technical assistance for this initiative is being provided by Acrophase, an IIT Madras Center of Excellence for Human Performance under the leadership of Prof. Mohanasankar Sivaprakasam. The programme was formally launched on August 14 in the presence of Sanjay Prakash, Managing Director and CEO, SBI Foundation, and other stakeholders. Lauding the funding support, Professor Ashwin Mahalingam, Dean (Alumni and Corporate Relations), IIT Madras, said, 'At IIT Madras, we deeply value our partnership with SBI Foundation and the opportunities it creates. The Para Athlete Sports Scholarship program is clearly aligned with the values of diversity and inclusion in sports that we have been championing over the years. It levels the playing field for para-athletes by opening up avenues for them to aspire, dream and grow on both the National and International stage.'
The Hindu
22-07-2025
- The Hindu
Sustainable rice production: 10,000 farmers to receive DSR training from IIRR
Nearly 10,000 paddy farmers will soon undergo training in village and campus settings under the 'Promotion of Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) for Sustainable Rice Production' project launched by the Indian Institute of Rice Research (IIRR) with financial support from the SBI Foundation. 'We are conducting this training for farmers to promote mechanised Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) for sustainable rice production and improve farmers' income in the erstwhile Khammam and Nalgonda districts on a pilot basis. As part of this project, funded under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative by SBI Foundation, 500 selected farmers will also receive field-level support, including seed support and pest management,' said Director of ICAR-IIRR, R.M. Sundaram. Two vehicles, 'SBI Kisan Sarathi' and 'SBI Krishi Darshan', were flagged off to support DSR training activities on Monday. While 'Kisan Sarathi' provides free transportation for farmers to attend trainings at ICAR-IIRR and KVKs, 'Krishi Darshan' is a mobile awareness campaign vehicle equipped with audio-visual aids and a dedicated trainer conducting village-level training sessions and offering soil testing kit support. According to the Director of ICAR-IIRR, the IoT-enabled Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) sensors are installed in fields to monitor water levels in real-time and optimise irrigation practices as part of the project. A rainout shelter equipped with automated weather sensors has been established for training and research on DSR production at the ICAR-IIRR Hyderabad campus. SBI Foundation Managing Director, Sanjay Prakash, said that the foundation is committed to promoting sustainable agricultural practices through its CSR initiative. The project was informally launched during the last Yasangi season in these districts, and training will be provided to farmers over a period of another year. IIRR is also developing 12 paddy varieties suitable for the DSR method. What is Direct Seeded Rice? Direct Seeded Rice is a method of rice cultivation where seeds are sown directly in the field without raising a nursery and transplanting seedlings. It can be practiced in two main ways: sowing rice seeds directly in dry soil using a seed drill attached to a tractor before the onset of monsoon, or sprouting rice seeds and broadcasting them manually or using a drum seeder or tractor-mounted seed drills in wet fields. According to a senior scientist, in both methods, seed requirement is only 8-10 kg per acre, nearly 8-10 kg less than traditional transplanting, saving ₹400-₹500 per acre. Additionally, the absence of transplanting reduces dependency on labour, addressing labour shortages and lowering planting costs by ₹4,000-₹5,000 per acre. Since DSR avoids transplanting shock, the crop matures 10 days earlier, providing an opportunity for timely commencement of the second crop.
The Hindu
03-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
IPS appointments in CAPFs continue despite Supreme Court order against the move
Despite a Supreme Court ruling to 'progressively reduce' the deputation of Indian Police Service (IPS) officers in Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), the Union Home Ministry continues to appoint IPS officers to senior posts. Since May 23, 2025, when the Supreme Court ruled that Group A officers of CAPFs are 'Organised Services' for 'all purposes,' at least eight appointments of IPS officers in the rank of Commandant to Inspector Generals in the CAPFs have been made by the Ministry. In the Sanjay Prakash & Others versus Union of India case, the court ruled that the deputation posts of IPS officers in the Senior Administrative Grade (SAG) or up to the rank of Inspector General in CAPFs should be 'progressively reduced over a period of time, say within an outer limit of two years.' The counsel for the petitioners have now written to the Home Ministry, the Department of Personnel and Training (DOPT), and the Director General of all CAPFs that the ongoing appointments are in contempt of the court judgment. In 2021, Group A officers of the CAPFs approached the apex court seeking Non-Functional Financial Upgradation (NFFU), cadre review and restructuring and amendment of recruitment rules to eliminate IPS deputation and allow internal promotions up to SAG. Reduce IPS dominance Presently, 20% posts in the rank of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) and 50% posts in the rank of Inspector General (IG) in CAPFs are reserved for IPS officers. The court's decision would significantly reduce the IPS dominance in CAPFs. Around 13,000 CAPF officers were likely to benefit from the judgment leading to faster promotions. The Home Ministry is the cadre controlling authority for CAPFs and the IPS. The CAPFs comprise the Border Security Force (BSF), the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). Due to a large number of posts being reserved for IPS officers, CAPF officers suffer stagnation in services and on an average an officer who joins as Assistant Commandant (AC) takes 25 years to be promoted as a Commandant, whereas he or she should attain the seniority in 13 years. A CAPF official said that before the judgment, the IPS officers were being appointed to the ranks of DIG and IGPs, but on June 25, the Ministry appointed a 2016 batch IPS officer of Tripura cadre as Commandant, equivalent to Superintendent of Police rank, in the Sashatra Seema Bal (SSB). Though there is a provision in the SSB Act to depute IPS officers to the post of a Commandant, the order was unusual as it is very rare for an SP rank IPS officer to come to CAPF on deputation. As on June 23, there were 69 sanctioned posts for IPS at the rank of IGP in BSF, CRPF, CISF, SSB and ITBP, out of which 56 were occupied. Out of 117 DIG posts for IPS officers, 24 posts were vacant.
The Hindu
19-06-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Initiative to transform science education for primary school students in Raichur
In a major step towards strengthening science education in rural India, Prayoga Institute of Education Research has partnered with the State Bank of India Foundation (SBIF) and SBI Funds Management Private Limited to expand its flagship Kriya programme to 12 government schools in Raichur district. The collaboration, officially launched at Government Model Primary School in Station Bazaar, Raichur, on June 17, is part of SBIF's Integrated Learning Mission (ILM) titled Reimagining Science Education. Block Education Officer, Raichur, Eranna Kosagi, SBI Foundation Managing Director Sanjay Prakash and Prayoga Managing Trustee Vallish Herur were among those present at the launch in Raichur, along with teachers and education officers at both block and cluster levels. Sanjay Prakash stated that the partnership is a significant step towards bridging the educational gap in rural India. 'By providing quality science education and the necessary resources, we are enabling students to experience science in a practical and engaging manner. We believe this initiative will inspire students in Raichur to pursue careers in science,' he said. Vallish Herur added that that Prayoga would, through the Kriya programme, like to provide government school children in Raichur an opportunity to explore science in engaging, hands-on ways. 'Science, when learnt experientially, enables students to build capabilities beyond textbooks. With support from the SBI Foundation and encouragement from local education authorities, we aim to create a brighter future for children in Raichur. The initiative aligns with Prayoga's mission of improving education quality through research-driven practices tailored to the Indian context. Marking its 10th year, the institute continues to focus on strengthening STEM education, especially in underserved regions, through scalable and sustainable programmes,' he said. The organisers said that the Kriya programme, which had already impacted over 11,000 students across 77 schools in Karnataka, focuses on experiential learning in science. It is designed for students from classes 6 to 10, and aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 by emphasising hands-on scientific inquiry and critical thinking.
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
14 acres of Gadag MGRDPR University turn into green oasis
Hubballi: SBI Foundation has developed 14 acres at Mahatma Gandhi Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (MGRDPR) University campus in Nagavi, Gadag. The hilly space, which was filled with bushes, has turned into a green farm with more than 19,000 saplings, thanks to SBI Jan-Van project. Dr Suresh V Nadagoudar, registrar and (acting) vice-chancellor of the varsity, told TOI that the SBI Foundation exclusively selected MGRDPR University from the entire Karnataka to implement the SBI Jan-Van project. "This initiative, launched in collaboration with Sankalpa Rural Development Society (SRDS), is a step toward environmental conservation. This mini forest has become an excellent spot for the leisure of the people of Gadag. It also offers our students a rare opportunity to experience and connect with the environment. With a dedicated water supply, greenery, and cleanliness, a pure and sustainable ecosystem has been created here," he said. The forest has a check dam, open gym, meeting space, borewells and recharge units, trenches, gully plugs, solar lights and benches. A wide variety of trees, including Banyan, Neem, Tamarind, Simarouba, Teak, Tabebuia, Bengali, Indian Ash, Guava, Custard Apple, Jamun, Peepal, Fig, and Honge (Pongamia), have been planted here. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo Sanjay Prakash, managing director, SBI Foundation, Mumbai, said their Jan-Van plantation and 'Gram Saksham' watershed development work in Gadag district have helped in increasing the greenery and improving groundwater levels. The collaborative work from SBI Foundation, Sankalpa, MGRDPRU and the gram panchayats stands as a testament to how collective efforts can bring gradual impact on the ground," he commented. Sikandar Meeranayak, CEO, SRDS, Gadag, said to ensure water supply during the summer and prevent scarcity, 20-25 water tankers are brought in every month to water the plants. "This has resulted in the healthy, well-nourished growth of plants. The open meeting space is available for small gatherings and cultural programmes. Roofing sheets and curtains have been installed around the area. As a preventive measure against borewell depletion in the future, the Twin Ring Recharge Method (a technique for recharging borewells by capturing rainwater and directing it into the ground through a filtration system using cement rings) has been implemented," he said.
