Who owns copyright of Satyajit Ray’s film – screenplay writer, or producer?

Pradeep Rana May 30, 2023

An interesting controversy arose last week on film Nayak by legendry filmmaker Satyajit Ray as to when publisher Harper Collins was asked by Ray’s son and Society for Satyajit Ray to bring out a novel based on the screenplay, the producer protested saying had no right. Family of film producer R D Bansal went to […]Continue Reading

Google investing $1 million in IIT’s “Responsible” AI project

Pradeep Rana May 26, 2023

Search engine giant Google is investing a sum of US$ 1 million to India’s first “responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) centre being set up by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras. With this, the world’s most popular search engine and possibly biggest user of AI in optimising its search results becomes the first platinum consortium […]Continue Reading

India-UK pledge Net Zero emissions innovation, raise hopes

Pradeep Rana April 30, 2023

To the delight of climate worriers, high profile visit of Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of Science & Technology, to the UK culminated in both countries vowing to jointly create India-UK Net Zero innovation centre amid calls for enhanced cooperation between the two countries. What is this newfangled term “net zero”? According to the United Nations: […]Continue Reading

Investment in solar energy sector – making hay while sun shines

Pradeep Rana April 29, 2023

Award of Mini Ratna to SECI underscores India’s commitment to replace pollution-causing fossil fuel with alternate, clean energy sources as world races against time to tame, if not stop, the climate change. Solar Energy Corporation of India, or SECI in short, is committed to achieving the target of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel based capacity […]Continue Reading

IIT-incubated start-up gets funds for ushering robotics, AI in manufacturing sector

Pradeep Rana April 28, 2023

In a major boost to start-up ecosystem in the manufacturing sector in India, Government has approved Rs. 4.12 crore funding to an IIT Kanpur incubated start-up for developing machine vision and robotics systems for automation in the manufacturing industry. Technology Development Board (TDG) and Department of Science and Technology (DST) of Ministry Science and Technology […]Continue Reading

Can India meet TB eradication target of 2025? Most likely

Pradeep Rana March 31, 2023

Last Friday, Prime Minster Narendra Modi officially rolled out “TB-Mukt Panchayat Initiative” – a shorter tuberculosis preventive treatment and family-centric care model for redemption from thousands year old disease that refuses to let its grip go off the humanity. One of the still-elusive, most obstinate, longest surviving bacteria (mycobacterium tuberculosis) that has maintained its lineage […]Continue Reading

On-boarding non-English people on vernacular Internet: win-win for digital economy

Pradeep Rana March 30, 2023

Figure out this. In a vastly English language dominated internet, the inclusion of non-English users on the internet can add up to 1 billion people. India alone has 500 million plus population that speaks regional languages and it potentially add a big value to digital economy. Such deliberation came about on the Universal Acceptance day […]Continue Reading

India as priority partner in US semiconductor push

Pradeep Rana March 27, 2023

The bonhomie on display during visit of US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo on the festive occasion of Holi, the festival of colours in India, appeared to be an auspicious start to one of the most significant critical technology pact between the US and India – an MoU on Semiconductor Supply Chain and Innovation Partnership within […]Continue Reading

Putting the best foot forward: India’s cultural push in run-up to G20

Pradeep Rana February 27, 2023

NEW DELHI If the culture is the best form of diplomacy, India is on a winning spree. Last week various events organized by the Government for the First Culture Working Group under India’s G20 chairmanship – from Adi Food Festival at Major Dhyan Chand  Stadium grounds in New Delhi to Khujuraho Dance Festival in Madhya […]Continue Reading

Hydrogen tech collaboration with Fraunhofer Germany can speed up India’s clean energy transition

Pradeep Rana February 26, 2023

NEW DELHI The letter of intent signed India and Germany  on hydrogen and clean energy tech has a potential of fast-tracking clean energy transition goals in India. The Head, Energy Technologies Cell, Department of Science and Technology DST, Dr. Anita Gupta, and Director, Division Hydrogen Technologies, Fraunhofer ISE, Prof. Christopher Hebling, today signed the LoI […]Continue Reading

Can homeopathy help people suffering from cancer?

Pradeep Rana February 25, 2023

Greatly, that is what homeopaths think. The homeopathic treatment protocols have shown to contribute to reduce or stop cancers, reduce the side effects of cancer treatments and help them to live longer and with a higher quality of life. Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, accounting for an estimated 9.9 million deaths […]Continue Reading

Post-Covid recovery, surge in domestic demand to drive growth in 2023-24: Economic Survey

Pradeep Rana January 31, 2023

The Economic Survey released today ahead of Budget Session underscores economy staging a broad based recovery across sectors in the year 2023-34, building on a robust domestic demand and pick up in capital investment. India to witness GDP growth of 6.0 per cent to 6.8 per cent in 2023-24, depending on the trajectory of economic […]Continue Reading

All weather roads, alternate routes in Ladakh, Arunachal boost defences at LAC

Pradeep Rana January 31, 2023

Army chief’s recent address to media put to rest many speculations about India’s preparedness on China front, the state of infrastructure at LAC (Line of Control). Are our troops as well equipped and have facilities as good as those on the China side. Short answer is no, not yet. However, the detailed portrayal of what […]Continue Reading

IIT Madras takes lead in holding G20 Seminar on Digital Technology in Education

Pradeep Rana January 29, 2023

Ahead of a big ticket event of India taking over Presidency of G20 later this year, the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) is going to organise a G20 Seminar on ‘Role of Digital Technology in Education’ at its Research Park on 31 January 2023. The first of its kind seminar is intended to […]Continue Reading

India’s semiconductor push is never too late

Pradeep Rana December 31, 2022

Union government’s decision to put chip fabrication at the centrestage of electronics push into the areas of strategic importance has been the high point for the Ministry of Electronics and IT in the year that goes by.  War in Ukraine had awakened the world strategists to the importance of weapon systems and the role that […]Continue Reading