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Delhi Govt to Digitally Map and Assess Infrastructure, Safety of 1,000+ Schools

/ Education Community

In a major push towards data-driven infrastructure planning, the Delhi government is set to launch a comprehensive project to digitally profile over 1,000 government schools across the city. The initiative will evaluate infrastructure quality, safety standards, and structural stability using advanced technologies such as drone mapping, 360-degree imaging, and AI-based analytics. According to an official document, the project will cover 1,086 schools spread across 799 buildings, each of which will receive a detailed digital profile capturing information on facilities, assets, and their current condition. The initiative aims to centralize all infrastructure-related information, making it easier for the government to identify gaps, prioritize repairs, and plan future upgrades effectively. The selected implementing agency will deploy high-resolution drone surveys and on-site 360° documentation, with real-time data uploading through a web-based application. This application will feature GPS tagging, automated analytical reporting, data validation, and role-based access controls. The system will benchmark infrastructure against standards set by bodies like the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). Officials said the platform will not only streamline maintenance and planning but also enhance safety preparedness. The survey will assess various school assets—classrooms, furniture, electrical fittings, toilets, laboratories, and sports facilities—categorizing them as “good,” “minor repair,” “major repair,” or “replacement needed.” Additionally, the agency will evaluate the structural stability of all school buildings through both visual inspections and non-destructive testing methods, such as rebound hammer and ultrasonic pulse velocity tests, under expert supervision. Reports of schools identified as structurally weak or in need of major repairs will be reviewed by technical experts from premier institutions like IITs and NITs, ensuring credible and science-backed recommendations for repair, retrofitting, or demolition if required. Once completed, the initiative will create a first-of-its-kind comprehensive digital inventory of Delhi’s school infrastructure—enabling better policy formulation, timely interventions, and the creation of safer, more resilient learning environments for students. Source: PTI

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Govt Forms Panel to Probe Coaching Dependency and Fairness of Entrance Exams

/ Education Community

The Ministry of Education has constituted a nine-member committee to investigate the growing dependence of students on coaching centres, the phenomenon of ‘dummy schools,’ and the integrity and fairness of competitive entrance exams like JEE and NEET, officials confirmed. Chaired by Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi, the committee will delve into systemic shortcomings within the school education framework that push students towards coaching hubs. The panel will examine the limited emphasis on critical thinking, analytical reasoning, innovation, and conceptual understanding in traditional schooling — factors that fuel rote learning and, in turn, coaching culture. One major concern to be addressed is the rise of ‘dummy schools’ — institutions where students enroll merely for board exam eligibility while devoting their full attention to intensive coaching. These setups allow aspirants to bypass classroom learning altogether, focusing solely on entrance exam preparation. Many also exploit state domicile criteria through such enrollments to gain regional admission advantages, such as eligibility for the Delhi state quota in medical colleges. “The committee will study how dummy schools undermine formal education and promote exclusive dependence on coaching. It will recommend ways to address this growing issue,” a senior ministry official said. The panel will also scrutinize the current model of entrance exams to assess their fairness and relevance in the context of mainstream schooling. It will investigate whether the absence of formative assessments and a weak focus on concept clarity in school systems are inadvertently supporting the proliferation of coaching institutes. Another key focus area is the imbalance between the rising demand for quality higher education and the limited seats available in top institutions — a gap that often drives students toward costly and stressful coaching environments. The panel’s mandate also includes evaluating students’ and parents’ awareness of diverse career opportunities beyond elite engineering and medical colleges. It aims to assess the status of career counselling mechanisms in schools and recommend strategies to enhance career guidance systems nationwide. Alongside Vineet Joshi, the committee comprises the CBSE chairperson, joint secretaries from the school and higher education ministries, representatives from IIT Madras, IIT Kanpur, NIT Trichy, NCERT, and principals from Kendriya Vidyalaya, Navodaya Vidyalaya, and a private school. This initiative follows increasing concerns over the coaching industry’s practices, including rising student suicides, fire hazards, inadequate infrastructure, and questionable teaching methods. The government hopes the panel’s findings will lead to more balanced, student-centric reforms in education and examination systems. Source: PTI

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THRIVE 2025: Transforming the Thar Ecoregion through Startups, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Development

/ Press Release

Jodhpur, India | 19-21 March 2025 The Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur (IIT Jodhpur), in collaboration with the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) and the International Society for Energy, Environment, and Sustainability (ISEES), proudly announces THRIVE 2025, an international conference dedicated to fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainability for transforming the Thar ecoregion. About THRIVE 2025 THRIVE 2025 aims to unite startups, entrepreneurs, industry experts, policymakers, and academia on one dynamic platform to drive innovation, enhance collaboration, and develop actionable solutions for sustainable development. The event will facilitate thought leadership and transformative discussions, paving the way for strategic partnerships to tackle critical environmental and economic challenges. Conference Themes THRIVE 2025 will spotlight diverse thematic areas crucial for advancing sustainability and entrepreneurial excellence, including: Science & Technology for Sustainable Business Sustainability of Emerging Technologies Startups & Investors Meet S&T for Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Government-Industry Collaborations Waste Management & Treatment Climate Change Adaptation & Mitigation Desert Water Treatment & Management Sustainable Agriculture in Arid Regions Green Energy Solutions Cultural Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Textile Industry Sustainability Key Highlights The conference expects over 150 distinguished participants, including eminent scientists, industry leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and CEOs of leading startups. Key highlights of the event include: 10 Plenary Talks by India’s most distinguished scientists. 50+ Keynote Talks by renowned scientists, policymakers, and industry leaders. Panel Discussion on the conference theme, led by Ashutosh Sharma, President of INSA, and Prof. Avinash Agarwal, Director of IIT Jodhpur. THRIVE 2025 is set to redefine sustainable innovation and entrepreneurship, making an enduring impact on the Thar ecoregion and beyond. Disclaimer: This report is generated from PR/ PRO services. ‘ArdorComm Media’ holds no responsibility for its content.

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IIT Madras Centre For Innovation showcase 60 Tech Innovations built by 1,000 students during Open House 2025

/ Press Release

Standout prototypes include ‘S.A.M.V.I.D’, an AI-powered humanoid designed to assist visitors at India’s first Constitution Museum & ‘Supersyringe’, a volume-gated syringe that ensures precise anaesthesia dosage & ‘Drone Swarm’, a coordinated fleet of drones CHENNAI, 15th March 2025: Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) Centre for Innovation (CFI) students showcased 60 cutting-edge tech innovations built by nearly 1,000 students across 26 teams during CFI Open House 2025 held in the campus today (15th March 2025). One of India’s largest student-run innovation lab, CFI houses 14 clubs spanning diverse technological domains alongside eight competition teams that actively compete in National and International events. Conducted annually, CFI Open House features products completely designed and built by students. This event offers a unique platform for the projects to gain visibility and attract further support from the Industry and Alumni. Open House 2025 witnessed many standout exhibits including: ‘S.A.M.V.I.D’, an AI-powered humanoid designed to assist visitors at India’s first Constitution Museum at OP Jindal Global University in Sonipat, Haryana ‘Supersyringe’, a volume-gated syringe that ensures precise anaesthesia dosage ‘Drone Swarm’, a coordinated fleet of drones designed for payload lifting and delivery Calling upon the Industry and Alumni community to help take these innovations to the market, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said, “CFI is central to IITM’s ‘I&E stack’ and has fostered a culture of building among our student community. A vast majority of our undergraduates and a growing number of graduate students participate in CFI and allied activities. I am glad to note that this year has seen stellar performances by CFI teams in reputed National and International competitions while also showcasing some exceptional innovations and enriching our IP base.” Prof. V. Kamakoti added, “I note with joy and pride that a number of CFI students are also taking entrepreneurship seriously with teams reaching out to the pre-incubator Nirmaan. This year also marked the first time that a former CFI student head (Mr. Sarthak Saurav) founding and joining his own startup (Matterize) immediately upon graduation. I congratulate the teams, student executives, the faculty mentors and support staff for putting on such a wonderful show and encourage them to continue and contribute more strongly to mission ‘Startup Shatam’.” Further, Prof. Sathyanarayana N Gummadi, Dean (Students), IIT Madras, said, “CFI is a beacon of innovation and creativity. This year, we had over 60 projects involving 1,000 students to showcase their innovations in the Open House. Interestingly, this year we filed 15 patents based on the innovations and we are probably looking for three potential startups. I strongly believe that this year, the CFI team is moving in the right path of protecting more intellectual property and converting ideas to a product. In this direction, IIT Madras will soon achieve the target of Startup Shatam.” HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR On the software and AI front, projects like ‘Blink’, an audio-based VR game enhancing accessibility for visually impaired users and ‘AI Rahaman’, a multi-track fusion music generator blending different genres, pushed the boundaries of immersive technology. ‘Axify’, an advanced image processing tool that optimizes file sizes while maintaining quality and ‘QuanCrypt’, a post-quantum cryptography library ensuring future-proof security, showcased innovations in computational efficiency and cybersecurity. Meanwhile, ‘TradeCraft’, an AI-driven predictive trading platform, allowed users to simulate stock, futures, and options trading in a risk-free environment, making financial markets more accessible. Team Raftar, the Formula Student EV race car team, clinched first place in ‘Overall Statics’ at Formula Bharat 2025, securing top honours in Engineering Design, Cost and Manufacturing, and Best Battery Pack. Team iGEM earned a Gold Medal at the prestigious International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) Competition, reinforcing its excellence in synthetic biology. Team Avishkar is developing a sub-scale passenger cabin and pioneering booster-cruiser technology for Hyperloop while replacing steel tubes with cost-effective concrete tubes to make infrastructure more scalable. Their test track enables real-world validation of aerodynamics, levitation, propulsion, and safety systems, driving the future of sustainable high-speed transportation in India. These victories mark another milestone in CFI’s legacy of technological innovation and global impact. “A PLATFORM FOR INNOVATORS” Congratulating the students, Prof. Prabhu Rajagopal, Advisor (Innovation and Entrepreneurship), CFI-IIT Madras, said, “The CFI Open House is the annual power-packed showcase of projects conducted by all the teams working within the umbrella of our Innovation Hub. Today, we have eight competition teams and 14 club teams dedicated to various cutting-edge themes including areas such as 3D printing, artificial intelligence, robotics, biotechnology and socially relevant innovations, and also competition teams including Hyperloop, formula racing and sounding rockets. I am very happy to report that last year our sounding rocket team was placed first in Asia at the Spaceport America 2024 and several of our competition teams have done very well in international arenas. This year we are very excited to showcase the new innovations at the Open House in a completely new venue. Also this year saw a number of teams from CFI embarking on an entrepreneurial journey, with Matterize (AI for 3D printing), Automagri (farm automation) among the first such to incubate their startups immediately upon graduation, while Nirmaan pre-incubated teams like Pravahan (shipping), CGG (drone logistics) and waterfly (mass transportation) are pushing the limits of innovation. I look forward to welcoming a new batch of students inspired by experiencing these innovations to the ‘InnoSphere’ of IIT Madras.” Sharing the student experience on working in such a massive event, Mr. Madhavnambi R V, Student Executive Head, Centre For Innovation (CFI) – IIT Madras, said, “Over the years, CFI has grown tremendously, transforming into a resourceful hub for anyone with a vision. With diverse clubs and competition teams covering multiple domains, it provides a platform for innovators of all backgrounds to pursue their ideas. This year, we have undertaken over 60 projects, and we are excited to display them to the world through Open House. CFI looks forward to welcoming professionals, researchers, and technology enthusiasts to Open House, where their insights and feedback will inspire our creators to refine and elevate their ideas. At

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