Mandi (The Hawk):&nbsp;Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, and Durham University in the United Kingdom, have developed suction monitoring setup for soil cyclic triaxial testing to investigate the impact of climate change on railway embankments.The findings of this study were published in the ASCE Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, USA, published by the American Society of Civil Engineers. The study was conducted by Dr. Ashutosh Kumar, Assistant Professor, School of Engineering, IIT Mandi, and co-authored by Dr. Arash Azizi, Assistant Professor, University of Portsmouth, UK and Prof. David Geoffrey Toll, Department of Engineering, Durham University, UK.The main component of railway infrastructure is the trackbed, which is supported by earthworks. This is mainly used to support the track infrastructure and carry the load imparted by the moving traffic. The present design protocols only consider the load developed due to the moving train thereby ignoring the real case scenario of changing the natural state of the soil due to ingress and egress of water. Oftentimes, soil used in earthworks is compacted and remains unsaturated during its lifetime. Seasonal variations in terms of precipitation and drought are capable of altering the amount of water present within this compacted soil mass which can alter the strength of the embankment. Highlighting his work, Dr. Ashutosh Kumar, Assistant Professor, School of Engineering, IIT Mandi, said, “To address the challenge of providing sustainable and resilient transportation infrastructure under the changing climatic conditions, IIT Mandi is working closely with Durham University UK. We all now understand the reality of climate change which is causing intense rainfall. Compacted soil is susceptible to deteriorate under the changing climatic conditions due to changes in the water holding capacity of the soil causing a hysteretic loss in the soil strength. In addition, the repeated train loading can exacerbate the deterioration process that would ultimately cause premature track degradation and resulting failure.Understanding the coupled impact of train and environmental loading is essential to design and maintain the railway embankment against changing climatic conditions. Therefore, this study developed a setup within a cyclic triaxial apparatus to monitor changes in soil suction and deformation brought&nbsp;&nbsp;by traffic-induced cyclic loading and environmental loading, which can be used to assess climate risk at the design stage of railway embankments.”The soil sample used in the study was taken from a 650-km heavy haul South African coal line that connects around 40 mines to the Richards Bay Coal Terminal in South Africa.Explaining the research work, Dr. Ashutosh Kumar, said, "The research is unique in its kind as it would now allow understanding of the coupled impact of cyclic traffic-induced loading and environmental loading on the long-term performance of unsaturated soil present within the railway embankments. The setup uses a high-capacity tensiometer developed at Durham University to measure suction and on-sample displacement transducers to measure deformation within the soil under the coupled environmental and traffic loading.Further, Dr, Ashutosh Kumar, mentioned, “We have adopted three testing protocols. First, under the condition of train loading, we allowed the water from the soil to drain freely when the soil voids were filled completely with water as a result of intense rainfall. We then conducted a test under constant water conditions replicating constant weather conditions under the given traffic conditions. We followed this by replicating the condition of the train loading under the ongoing event of rainfall. This information was used to identify the potential deterioration of soil strength due to wetting and drying cycles. The deformation in the soil was associated with water infiltration leading to a reduction in suction and hydraulic history.”The results obtained indicate that deformation and reduction in soil strength are due to the combined impact of cyclic and environmental loading. The hydraulic history of soil has a predominant impact on its ability to undergo deformation. The suction monitoring setup can test the soil sample that has undergone the seasonal variation either in the laboratory environment or field conditions.&nbsp;This would help to develop strategies to mitigate climate risk at the design stage of railway embankments, leading to more sustainable construction. The novelty of this research was to gain knowledge of changes in the soil suction and deformation of soil under the impact of cyclic loading together with hydraulic loading imposed by the environment.”

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, and Durham University in the United Kingdom, have developed suction monitoring setup for soil cyclic triaxial testing to investigate the impact of climate change on railway embankments.

IIT Mandi Researchers Work Towards Understanding The Impact Of Climate Change On Railway Embankments

Agra: Indian Railways has issued a notice to the priest of Chamunda Devi temple at a platform of Rajamandi Railway Station saying that it is illegally built and if it is not removed, the railway station will have to be closed in view of safety of passengers.Anand Swarup, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of Agra issued a notice stating, "If the illegal construction of 72 square meters temple (located at Rajamandi Railway Station) is not removed from the platform, then railway station can be closed in view of safety of passengers."The DRM said that the temple of Goddess Chamunda Devi is illegally built on platform number 1 at Rajamandi Railway Station."The temple of Chamunda Devi is situated at some part of Rajamandi Railway Station at platform number 1. Whose area is 1716 square meters, in which the temple building is built in 600 square meters. Its area of 72 square meters has been constructed on platform number one, which violates the schedule of dimensions of the railway, and is inappropriate from the point of view of security. The encroachment of 72 meters is to be vacated on priority. Due to this illegal construction, passengers face difficulty in getting on and off when the trains stop at the platform and it is not good in view of the security of the passengers," the notice reads. DMR in a notice further said that the railway has also received complaints from people in this regard."The biggest hurdle is regarding the speed of the trains. He informed that Rs 6 crore is being spent on improving the speed of trains on the Agra-Delhi route. The speed of the train is reduced to 30 km per hour due to the temple. Rajamandi station has to be expanded to increase the speed of trains. Encroachment is a barrier to this technically necessary expansion," the notice further reads.He further said that the notices have also been given to other unauthorized religious places like mosques, and this notice has been given giving priority to the convenience and safety of the passengers. "If there is any obstacle in the implementation of this decision, then in view of the safety of the passengers, the railway administration will be forced to consider closing the Raja Mandi station for passenger use," the notice further reads.Speaking to media persons, Anand Swarup said that the temple built at Rajamandi Railway Station is illegally constructed on railway land."The temple built at the station is built on the land of railway, but the temple committee is saying that the temple is very old. The temple will have to be removed from the station because the speed of the train coming from the Delhi side is very fast. We have invested a lot of money in our new project and the temple hampering it as it is built on the platform. If we have any problem in removing the temple, then we will have to consider closing the station for passengers," he added.However, the people associated with the temple are opposing the railway proceedings. There is also resentment among the devotees and Hindu organizations about displacing the temple.Virendra, the Mahant of the temple said, "We have received the notice for removal of the temple. The temple, which is 250 years old, was built before the railway line was laid. This railway line was laid during British rule. Earlier when the railway station was expanded, the temple existed at that time, why didn't they remove the temple? The temple is the centre of faith of thousands of people."&nbsp;—ANI

 Indian Railways has issued a notice to the priest of Chamunda Devi temple at a platform of Rajamandi Railway Station saying that it is illegally built and if it is not removed, the railway station will have to be closed in view of safety of passengers. Anand Swarup, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of Agra issued a notice stating, "If the illegal construction of 72 square meters temple (located at Rajamandi Railway Station) is not removed from the platform, then railway station can be closed in view of safety of passengers."

Railways Issues Notice To Priest For Removal Of 'Illegally Built' Temple At Rajamandi Station

 Indian Railways has issued a notice to the priest of Chamunda Devi temple at a platform of Rajamandi Railway Station saying that it is illegally built and if it is not removed, the railway station will have to be closed in view of safety of passengers.
Anand Swarup, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of Agra issued a notice stating, "If the illegal construction of 72 square meters temple (located at Rajamandi Railway Station) is not removed from the platform, then railway station can be closed in view of safety of passengers."





New Delhi (The Hawk): The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, addressed Sanatan Mandir Cultural Centre (SMCC), Markham, Ontario, Canada on the occasion of inauguration of Sardar Patel’s Statue there via a video message. At the outset, the Prime Minister conveyed his greetings on Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav and Gujarat Day. He noted that he has felt the positive impact of Sanatan Mandir Cultural Centre during his visits to Canada. He remembered the affection and love of Indian origin people during his 2015 visit, in particular. “This statue of Sardar Patel in Sanatan Mandir will not only strengthen our cultural values but will also become a symbol of the relationship between the two countries”, the Prime Minister said. Elaborating on the depth of Indian ethos and values in the diaspora, the Prime Minister said that Indians might live anywhere in the world for any number of generations but their Indianness and loyalty towards India never diminishes. Indians, the Prime Minister said, work with full dedication and integrity for the county of their domicile and carry their democratic values and sense of duty with them. This is because “India is not only a nation but also an idea, it is also a culture. India is that higher level thought- which talks of 'VasudhaivKutumbakam'. India does not dream of its own upliftment at the cost of the detriment of others.” The Prime Minister said that the Sanatan Mandir in Canada or any other country enriches the values of that country also. When Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav is celebrated in Canada, that is a celebration of shared democratic values. “I believe, this celebration of the Amrit Mahotsav of India's independence will give an opportunity to the people of Canada to understand India more closely”, he added. Calling the location and statue of Sardar Patel there a broad picture of New India, the Prime Minister said that the freedom fighters dreamt of an India that would be modern and progressive and, also, deeply connected with its thinking, philosophy and its roots. That is why, said the Prime Minister, in newly Independent India, Sardar Patel restored the Somnath temple to commemorate the legacy of thousands of years. “Today, during the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, we are rededicating ourselves to the pledge of creating a New India of Sardar Patel’s dream and ‘Statue of Unity’ is a major inspiration in that”, the Prime Minister emphasized. Replica of ‘Statue of Unity’ in Sanatan Mandir Cultural Centre means that India’s Amrit pledges are not confined to boundaries of India. This pledge is spreading globally connecting the world, he said. The Prime Minister reiterated global dimension of the Amrit pledges and said when we talk of Aatmnirbhar Bharat, we talk of opening new possibilities of progress of the world. Similarly, in Yoga’s propagation, a feeling of everyone being disease-free is inherent. In issues like sustainable development and climate change, India is representing entire humanity. “Our hard work is not just for us. Welfare of entire humanity is linked with India’s progress”, The Prime Minister emphasized and concluded by calling for an enhanced role of Indian diaspora in taking this message forward.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, addressed Sanatan Mandir Cultural Centre (SMCC), Markham, Ontario, Canada on the occasion of inauguration of Sardar Patel’s Statue there via a video message.

PM’s address to Sanatan Mandir Cultural Centre, Ontario, Canada

Mandi: Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi on Thursday said they have developed wireless powering and communication technology that can aid futuristic Internet of Things (IoT) applications remotely.The new tech can help remotely power, in addition to IoT devices, applications such as battery-free wireless cameras, wireless monitors, sensors, skin-attachable sensing platforms, contact lenses, machine-to-machine communication, and human-to-machine interactions, the institute said.The IoT is a collection of objects ("things") that can exchange data with each other through the Internet. IoT devices range from ordinary household appliances in a "smart" home to sophisticated industrial and scientific tools.These smart things are equipped with sensors, chips, and software that must be powered and stay in communication with other devices at all times.Simplistic power sources such as batteries may be unsuitable for such applications because of the constancy of power required, and because some of these "things" may be embedded or hidden, which makes changing batteries difficult.There is, thus, a worldwide research in combining remote communication technology with remote powering options.The IIT Mandi team performed research on two such powering options - radio frequency energy harvesting (RF-EH) and backscatter communication."We have developed a cooperative model, in which, backscatter communication and RF-EH devices act together to optimally allocate the resources such as time and antenna weights," said Shivam Gujral, from the varsity's School of Computing and Electrical Engineering, in a statement.In RF-EH, energy is transmitted by a dedicated transmitter to the IoT device through radio waves, the same kind of waves that are used in mobile phones for communication.In backscatter communication, as before, power is transmitted via radio waves, but with/without the need for a dedicated transmitter.Instead, RF signals available in the vicinity, such as WiFi, cell phone signals, etc, are harnessed through reflection and backscatter to power the IoT objects."We used a dedicated power transmitter for the two devices, in which the backscatter device transferred information through a monostatic configuration and the RFEH device through the HTT protocol," said Dr. Siddhartha Sarma, Assistant Professor, IIT Mandi.The findings of this study were published in the Wireless Networks.Researchers now plan to implement the joint radiofrequency energy harvesting-backscatter communication system in real-time to analyse system performance. This would include working on the hardware aspects of the two complementary technologies, they noted.—IANS

 Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi on Thursday said they have developed wireless powering and communication technology that can aid futuristic Internet of Things (IoT) applications remotely.

IIT Mandi team develops wireless tech to remotely power IoT applications

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has written a letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik seeking his intervention to halt the controversial Jagannath temple heritage corridor project till the case is pending in the Orissa High Court. In his letter to the Chief Minister, INTACH's state convenor A.B. Tripathy said that a PIL has been filed in the Orissa High Court pertaining to violation of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act (AMASR Act), as pointed out by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).He stated that the ASI has not given permission for the proposed construction of various facilities within the prohibited area. "Amid this row that has taken on political hue, the devotees of Lord Jagannath are left feeling confused and hurt," said Tripathy. "Since the High Court is hearing the case and if work is stopped in the interim period, it will make no difference to the execution of the project," he added.On May 9, the ASI told the Court that "no valid permission has been given for the Shree Mandira Parikrama Project". The ASI also highlighted that there is every possibility that the construction agency, Odisha Bridge &amp; Construction Corporation (OBCC), might have destroyed some archaeological remains of the heritage site.The court has asked the Odisha government to file an affidavit in response to the affidavit by ASI on or before June 20. The next hearing of the case is scheduled for June 22.—IANS

 The Odisha chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has written a letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik seeking his intervention to halt the controversial Jagannath temple heritage corridor project till the case is pending in the Orissa High Court.

Halt Jagannath temple project till disposal of case in HC: INTACH to Patnaik

Varanasi: It was in 1991 - a year before the Babri Masjid demolition took place -- that a group of priests in Varanasi field a petition in the court, seeking permission to worship on the Gyanvapi mosque premises. Thirty years later in 2021, the Allahabad High Court stayed proceedings in the Kashi Vishwanath Mandir-Gyanvapi Masjid case in a Varanasi court, suspending a controversial archaeological survey of the premises to determine whether a Hindu temple was partially razed to build the 17th-century mosque.The current controversy was ignited when five Hindu women knocked the doors of the court last year, seeking to worship the Shringar Gauri and other idols within the Gyanvapi mosque complex. Last month, a Varanasi court ordered a video survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex after the petition. The report of the survey was initially ordered to be submitted by May 10. However, a delay was caused after the order was challenged by Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board and the mosque committee. The Gyanvapi mosque survey was concluded on May 16. The Hindu side in the matter has claimed that a 'Shivling' was found inside a reservoir on the mosque complex during the survey. The Muslim side, however, dismissed the claim and said it was only a 'fountain'.The Kashi Vishwanath Temple-Gyanvapi Mosque dispute was raised by the BJP, the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the RSS during the campaign for the construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya along with the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah Masjid in Mathura. They claimed that all the three mosques were built after demolishing Hindu temples. The controversy has taken an expected turn as both the sides -- Hindus and Muslims -- have firmed up their stand. UP Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya has said that the survey had lifted the veil on the truth. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), on the other hand, termed the court order for videography as a 'clear violation of The Places of Worship Act, 1991 that seeks to maintain the status quo of 1947 on all places of worship. The Act has been in force since July 11, 1991. Section 4 (1) of the Act states: "The religious character of a place of worship existing on the 15th day of August, 1947 shall continue to be the same as it existed on that day." The Act in Section 4 (2) goes on to state that if any suit, appeal or other proceedings concerning the conversion of the religious traits of any place of worship, existing on August 15, 1947, is pending before any court, tribunal or other authority, the same shall abate. It further stipulates that no fresh proceedings on such matters shall be initiated. Section 3 of the Act prohibits conversion of a religious place in any manner, even to cater to a particular section of the religion. "No person shall convert any place of worship of any religious denomination or any section thereof into a place of worship of a different section of the same religious denomination or of a different religious denomination or any section thereof," it reads. The mosque committee's plea argued that the fresh suits filed in 2021 citing the "right to worship" were "barred by The Places of Worship Act, 1991", and were an attempt to revive the dispute which had been put to rest by the law.The Act, however, exempts the Ayodhya issue. Section 5 of the Act states that its provisions shall not apply to the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case. "Nothing contained in this Act shall apply to the place or place of worship commonly known as Ram Janma Bhumi-Babri Masjid situated in Ayodhya in the state of Uttar Pradesh and to any suit, appeal or other proceeding relating to the said place or place of worship," it says. While delivering the Ayodhya verdict in 2019, the Supreme Court bench headed by the erstwhile Chief Justice of India, Ranjan Gogoi, had said: "In providing a guarantee for the preservation of the religious character of places of public worship as they existed on August 15, 1947 and against the conversion of places of public worship, the Parliament determined that independence from colonial rule furnishes a constitutional basis for healing the injustices of the past by providing the confidence to every religious community that their places of worship will be preserved and that their character will not be altered."BJP leader and lawyer Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay had challenged The Places of Worship Act, 1991, in the Supreme Court last year. He said that the law was a contravention of the principle of secularism as laid down by the Constitution of India. "The Centre has barred remedies against illegal encroachment on places of worship and pilgrimages and now Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, Sikhs cannot file a suit or approach a high court under Article 226. Therefore, they won't be able to restore their places of worship and pilgrimage including temple endowments in the spirit of Articles 25-26 and the illegal barbarian acts of invaders will continue in perpetuity," Upadhyay's petition read.The petition pertained to a legal battle before a trial court over "reclaiming the birthplace of Lord Krishna in Mathura", which was directly affected by the restrictions under the 1991 Act.Another petition, filed by Vishwa Bhadra Pujari Purohit Mahasangh challenging the validity of the Act, is also pending before the Supreme Court. Several petitions have been filed before the Supreme Court, Allahabad High Court and Varanasi court alleging that the mosque was built by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb by demolishing the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in the 16th century. The petitioners of 1991 had said that the mosque was built on the orders of Aurangzeb by demolishing a part of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple during his reign in the 16th century. A Varanasi-based lawyer, Vijay Shankar Rastogi, had filed a petition in the lower court claiming illegality in the construction of the Gyanvapi mosque and sought an archaeological survey of the mosque. This came in December 2019 after the Supreme Court verdict in the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi title dispute. The Varanasi court in April 2021 directed the ASI to carry out the survey and submit its report. However, the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board and the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee that runs the Gyanvapi mosque contested the petition by Rastogi and also opposed the Varanasi court's order for survey of the mosque.The matter then reached the Allahabad High Court and post hearing all the parties involved, it ordered an interim stay on the direction to the ASI for conducting the survey. The high court in its order said that as per the Places of Worship Act, 1991, the law prohibits any change in the religious character of a place of worship from as it existed on August 15, 1947. In March 2021, a Supreme Court bench headed by then Chief Justice S.A. Bobde agreed to examine the validity of the Places of Worship Act. A fresh petition was filed by five women seeking permission to perform daily worship of Hindu deities whose idols are located on the outer wall of Gyanvapi mosque and the court appointed a committee to conduct a survey and videography of the basements of the Gyanvapi-Gauri Shringar complex. The survey was stalled amid objections by the mosque committee, which claimed that the advocate commissioner appointed by the court did not have the mandate to film inside the premises. The committee completed its survey and videography of two basements in the Gyanvapi-Gauri Shringar complex after the exercise resumed on May 14 amid tight security arrangements. The political implications of the ongoing Gyanvapi controversy, meanwhile, are too strong to be ignored. After the Ram Janmabhoomi temple issue, the Hindu outfits have found another issue to whip up Hindu passions ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. "After we ensured a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya, we owe it to the people to liberate Lord Shiva in Kashi Vishwanath Dham from the Gyanvapi mosque and then the Krishna Janmabhoomi from the Eidgah in Mathura. This is our commitment to the people," said a BJP leader on condition of anonymity. The BJP's strategists are well aware of the fact that the opposition cannot take a one-sided stand on the issue since that would deprive them of the majority Hindu support.—IANS

It was in 1991 - a year before the Babri Masjid demolition took place -- that a group of priests in Varanasi field a petition in the court, seeking permission to worship on the Gyanvapi mosque premises.

Gyanvapi masjid row: How it has played out since 1991

Mandi (The Hawk): Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)&nbsp;with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), the nodal agency under the Ministry of Skill Development &amp; Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India, to introduce initiatives that will enable effective digital course delivery to the youth, expanding the reach of quality learning and skilling, along with immersive hands-on learning opportunities.The MoU was signed by Prof. Laxmidhar Behera, Director, IIT Mandi and Ved Mani Tiwari, Chief Operating Officer and Officiating CEO, NSDC in New Delhi on 19th May 2022.The collaboration aims to introduce digital courses in emerging technologies such as data science, big data analytics, amongst others. NSDC along with IIT Mandi will design and conceptualize the program in line with the training requirements of students and the market, setting up Centres of Excellence (CoE) to help develop an entrepreneurial spirit and culture among Indian youth towards realizing the larger vision of Atmanirbhar India, as well as capacity building of teachers, trainers, and grassroots leaders. New models of training methodology will be jointly created to make cutting-edge learning opportunities more accessible, leading to enhanced employability.&nbsp;&nbsp;NSDC will oversee the on-ground implementation of the overall training program and mobilize the candidates who are keen to avail the training courses being offered by IIT Mandi.Prof. Laxmidhar Behera, Director, IIT Mandi said, “I am happy to share that IIT Mandi has embarked on a long-term journey, in collaboration with NSDC, to impart high-end skills to the underprivileged youth and working professionals, among others. A joint initiative to set up a unique facility for immersive hands-on experience is being planned in the IIT Mandi campus that will promote skills in emerging technologies along with entrepreneurship.”Commenting on the strategic partnership, Ved Mani Tiwari, Chief Operating Officer and Officiating CEO, NSDC said, “As we surge to a future of technology-powered growth, we have an immense opportunity to build a high-quality skilled workforce for the rest of the world. The COVID-19 pandemic has also accelerated the need to develop new-age skills while strengthening mechanisms for traditional job roles. Therefore, it is imperative for educational institutes and the industry to come together to enable a holistic ecosystem where India’s youth have access to the resources and mentored routes to the right opportunities. Our partnership with IIT Mandi is an important step to take forward the commitment of keeping India’s young minds relevant in the current business environment. IIT Mandi has established itself as a leading institute in science and technology education and the dynamic curriculum that will be designed and conceptualized under the program, will prepare India’s talent for the digital future.”As a premier institute, IIT Mandi will facilitate the design and delivery of digital learning modules for the targeted candidate profiles. The institute will be involved in quality implementation of live classes. through a robust framework. The institute will also contribute towards capacity building of grassroot leaders, including teachers in the field of education and skilling in the country.&nbsp;

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), the nodal agency under the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India, to introduce initiatives that will enable effective digital course delivery to the youth, expanding the reach of quality learning and skilling, along with immersive hands-on learning opportunities.

IIT Mandi Partners With NSDC To Expand The Potential Of India’s Youth In Emerging Digital Technologies 

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Mandi have developed state-of-art solutions in telecommunications technologies. The recent development of cooperative spectrum sensors enhances the reusability of radiofrequency spectrum to meet the growing demands of data communication in the future wireless communication applications.

IIT Mandi researchers develop technology to overcome spectrum shortages in future wireless communication applications

Ayodhya: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said Ram Mandir in Ayodhya will be the national temple of India. He laid the foundation stone for the construction of Ram Temple's 'Garbha Griha' or the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, and placed the first carved stone."Ram Mandir will be the national temple of India. People have been waiting for this day for a long time. Ram Mandir will be a symbol of India's unity," he told ANI. "The construction work of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya was started by Prime Minister Narendra Modi almost two years ago. The work is successfully proceeding and we are fortunate that the ritual of keeping the stones in the Garbhagriha has been initiated today," added Adityanath.The Chief Minister arrived in the town early this morning to participate in the ceremony. Seers and saints from across the country were invited for the occasion. Later today, CM Yogi also inaugurated Shri Ramlala Sadan, a Dravidian-style temple, at the site.Earlier, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath offered prayers at Hanuman Garhi temple in Ayodhya.According to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which is in charge of the construction of the temple, the sanctum sanctorum is expected to be completed by December 2023.The construction of the temple of Lord Ram in Ayodhya is going on at a fast pace. On August 5, 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the construction of the Ram temple and since then the construction work of the temple is going on.The five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi (now retired) had on November 9, 2019, unanimously delivered its verdict that the land in Ayodhya where Babri Masjid once stood, belongs to Ram Lalla. —ANI

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said Ram Mandir in Ayodhya will be the national temple of India.  He laid the foundation stone for the construction of Ram Temple's 'Garbha Griha' or the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, and placed the first carved stone.

Ram Mandir In Ayodhya Will Be National Temple Of India: Yogi Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said Ram Mandir in Ayodhya will be the national temple of India.

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Mandi have developed a process to achieve crack-free Tungsten Disulphide (WS2) monolayer by investigating the role of the growth substrate, thermal stress and defects. 

IIT Mandi researchers team achieves crack-free WS2 monolayer for large scale Flexible Electronic applications

New Delhi: Protests erupted outside the Jama Masjid after Friday prayers with hundreds of people demanding the arrest of suspended Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Nupur Sharma for her controversial remarks on Prophet Mohammed, the police said. A large crowd of people could be seen gathering on the steps of the famous mosque, some carrying placards and shouting slogans against Sharma. A senior police officer said that while some of the demonstrators left the site after some time, others continued to protest. The protest was carried out peacefully and lasted for 10-15 minutes.The Delhi police has registered an FIR against 31 people, including AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and controversial priest Yati Narsinghanand, and filed a separate case against former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma for allegedly spreading hate and hurting religious sentiments.The two FIRs were registered on Wednesday after a social media analysis, they had said.Former Delhi BJP media unit head Naveen Kumar Jindal, who was expelled from the party over his alleged remarks against Prophet Mohammed, and journalist Saba Naqvi have also been named in the FIR.—PTI

Protests erupted outside the Jama Masjid after Friday prayers with hundreds of people demanding the arrest of suspended Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Nupur Sharma for her controversial remarks on Prophet Mohammed, the police said.

Muslims protest outside Delhi's Jama Masjid demanding Nupur Sharma's arrest

New Delhi (The Hawk) : “Saare Jahaan se Aachaa, Digital India Hamara. The world too has now come to realise India’s entrepreneurial power and many countries have evinced interest for collaborations with our home-grown startups and unicorns,” he said while addressing the Plenary session of the StartUps Conference&nbsp;at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar, where the Digital India Week celebrations were kickstarted yesterday.Minister of Electronics &amp; IT, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw and several other dignitaries were present at the event.Several Founders/Co founders of startups &amp; Unicorns, including women, were also present on the dais. Many of these entrepreneurs including Ghazal Alagh, founder Mama earth,&nbsp;Varun Khaitan, Co founder, Urban Company, Rohan verma, CEO MapmyIndia, Srinath Ramakrishnan, Co founder, Zeitwerk, Anil Sharma, TCS, Head corporate incubation, Sonia Swaroop Choksi, Co founder &amp; CEO, shared their experiences about how they have been able to reap benefits of the digital solutions that the Digital India programme has brought in.Referring to his recent UK visit, Mr Chandrasekhar said he had met UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and several other Ministers of his cabinet, along with a delegation of Indian 50 startups and unicorns and discussed avenues for collaborations and partnerships.&nbsp;“Our success and capabilities range from the India Stack, UPI, Internet Consumer Tech, Electronics and Semiconductors, Web 3.0, Industry 4.0, AI, and High Performance Computing. These capabilities of leadership and entrepreneurship are increasingly defining New India,” he said.Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had on Monday evening inaugurated the Digital India Week 2022, whose theme is ‘Catalyzing New India’s Techade’ in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. During the programme, he also launched&nbsp;several Digital India initiatives, namely,&nbsp;India Stack: indiastack.global,&nbsp;MyScheme: Service Discovery Platform,&nbsp;MeriPehchaan: National Single Sign On (NSSO),&nbsp;Digital India Bhashini: Bhasha Daan, Digital India GENESIS&nbsp;and&nbsp;unveiled an&nbsp;eBook ‘Catalyzing New India’s Techade’. The first cohort of 30 institutions supported under the&nbsp;Chips to Startup (C2S) Programme&nbsp;was also announced.Shri Modi also visited the Digital Mela that showcased over 200 stalls on digital solutions and emerging technologies. Around 1,500 beneficiaries of Digital India initiatives from across the country participated in the event. Some of the beneficiaries got the opportunity to interact and share their experiences with the Prime Minister.

Minister of State for Electronics & IT, Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar today said that the Government’s Digital India initiatives have brought in a seismic transformation in the economic landscape of the country, by creating more opportunities and putting the youth in the driver’s seat of the Indian digital economy.

“Saare Jahaan se Aachaa, Digital India Hamara”, says Minister of State Rajeev Chandrasekhar  Startups and unicorns are the new drivers of India’s digital economy  Digital India is ‘Catalyzing New India’s Techade’

Colombo: At least 10 persons, including a woman, were injured on Tuesday when a scuffle took place inside Araliyagaha Mandir, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's official residence, occupied by Sri Lankan protesters since Saturday, the media reported on Tuesday.At least 10 persons were admitted to the National Hospital in Colombo after the confrontation between protesters who have currently been staying inside the prime minister's official residence, the Colombo Post news portal reported.Protesters demanding the resignation of President Gotabya Rajapaksa as well as of the prime minister on Friday occupied the President's House, the President's secretariat, and the prime minister's official residence Temple Trees.The sites have been opened for public thronging the residences since Saturday to find out as to what lies behind the most protected places in the country. According to the Colombo Post, many valuable and ancient items, including a large stock of gifts and souvenirs, have reportedly been stolen from the sites that have served as the official residences of governors and presidents for decades.Videos of people taking away rare artefacts have been doing rounds of social media.The prime minister's media unit in a complaint to the Kollupitiya police station said equipment from the media section of his official residence Temple Trees have been stolen.Two laptops, a video camera, and other camera equipment have been stolen from the media department, Colombo Page portal quoted the prime minister's media division as saying.Wickramasinghe did not move to Temple Trees after becoming the prime minister and only a part of his media unit was established in a building in the premises, Lankadeepa reported.The prime minister's media unit said the equipment was missing since the protesters entered the Temple Trees building.Earlier, anti-government protesters on Saturday night set on fire Wickremesinghe's private residence at Cambridge Place, inflicting extensive damage to the property.Reacting publicly for the first time after the arson attack on Saturday, Wickremesinghe on Monday said only people with a "Hitler-like mindset" torch buildings.“My only house was set on fire. I had 2,500 books in my library, my only asset. There were over 200-year-old valuable paintings. All of them destroyed," he said.The incident came hours after Wickremesinghe offered to resign to make way for an all-party government.The arson attack took place after hundreds of anti-government protesters stormed into the President's residence in central Colombo's high-security Fort area after breaking the barricades, as they demanded his resignation over the island nation's worst economic crisis in recent memory.Sri Lanka, a country of 22 million people, is under the grip of an unprecedented economic turmoil, the worst in seven decades, crippled by an acute shortage of foreign exchange that has left it struggling to pay for essential imports of fuel, and other essentials.The country, with an acute foreign currency crisis that resulted in foreign debt default, had announced in April that it is suspending nearly $7 billion foreign debt repayment due for this year out of about $25 billion due through 2026. Sri Lanka's total foreign debt stands at $51 billion. —PTI

At least 10 persons, including a woman, were injured on Tuesday when a scuffle took place inside Araliyagaha Mandir, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's official residence, occupied by Sri Lankan protesters since Saturday, the media reported on Tuesday.

Protesters Clash Inside Lankan PM's House, 10 Hurt

Almora (The Hawk):&nbsp;Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that Jageshwar Dham of Lord Shiva has its own distinct name in the whole country. The state government is going to develop this Dham under Manas Mandir Mala Yojana. He said that the state is on the path of continuous development under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi and will make its mark among the best states of the country in the 25th year of its establishment. He said that under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, schemes worth Rs 1.25 lakh crore have been approved for the state in the last five years. On Saturday, CM Dhami inaugurated the famous Shravani Mela by reaching Jageshwar Dham. Earlier, the CM prayed for the happiness, prosperity of the people of the state. In the public meeting organized on this occasion, he said that his government is working on the mantra of resolution without choice. He enumerated the achievements of many schemes like Ayushman Yojana, Atal Awas Yojana, Ujjwala Yojana, Mudra Yojana.&nbsp;Government is also formulating schemes in the public interest, with the implementation of the new education policy in the state, massive changes would be seen in the education system of the state he added . Uttarakhand will be the first state to implement Uniform Civil Code and for&nbsp;that&nbsp;5-member committee has started work. Dhami said that with the implementation of this law, twenty to fifty percent of the cases will end, which will give relief to the people. During this, a total of Rs 1235.4 lakh schemes were laid and inaugurated at Jageshwar legislative assembly including the inauguration of schemes worth Rs 77.31 lakh and the foundation stone laying of schemes worth Rs 1158.09 lakh.District In-charge Minister and Medical, Health and Education Minister Dhan Singh Rawat said that 100 percent teachers would be deployed in the district in the coming one month. He said that for the first time adequate deployment of doctors has been made in the district. On this occasion, Jageshwar MLA Mohan Singh Mehra, Kapkot MLA Suresh Gadia, former MLA Kailash Sharma, former District Panchayat President Parvati Mehra,&nbsp;Mandal President Prakash Bhatt and all the office bearers were present.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that Jageshwar Dham of Lord Shiva has its own distinct name in the whole country.

Jageshwar Dham Will Be Developed Through Uttarakhand Manas Mandir Mala Yojana: Pushkar Singh Dhami

Mandi (The Hawk): Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Mandi used AI-enhanced Operation Research (OR) tools to select wastewater management methods that meet the socio-economic needs specific to places and environments.&nbsp;
The findings of the research have been published in the Journal of Cleaner Production. The paper has been authored by Dr. Atul Dhar, Associate Professor, School of Engineering and Dr Satvasheel Powar, Assistant Professor, School of Engineering, IIT Mandi, along with their research scholar Mr Shubham Dutt Attri and Ms Shweta Singh.
Explaining the research, Dr Satvasheel Powar, IIT Mandi, said, “While the choice of water treatment methods for a particular society was based on human intuition in the past, such an approach is no longer valid given the magnitude of the activity, the range of techniques available, the complexity of socio-economic fabric of today’s society, and several conflicting criteria that must be considered.”
The researcher derived inspiration from the concept of “Appropriate Technology (AT)”, a term introduced by British economist E. F. Schumacher, that posits that any choice must be consistent with the cultural, social, economic, and political institutions of the society. To choose the AT for waste water management, researchers employed tools that combine Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Operations Research (OR) concepts to help with the decision-making process.
Further, Dr Satvasheel Powar, explained, “We have used a set of methods called Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM), that combines alternative decisions with quantitative and qualitative results in compact solutions.” The team has used MSDM methods equipped with AI features of fuzzy logic to handle the uncertainties and “vagaries” of the decision-making process.
The researchers first shortlisted available technologies based on availability and primary studies. The technologies spanned both traditional and novel industrial technologies such as Activated Sludge Process (ASP), Membrane Bioreactor (MBR), Moving Bed Biofilm Reactors (MBBR), Fluidized Aerobic Bed (FAB) Reactors, Sequential Batch Reactor (SBR), and Biopipe.&nbsp;
The researchers then identified sustainability criteria and their indicators. Seventeen criteria were selected from the areas of environmental sustainability, economic affordability, social acceptability and functional aspects. Then, the significance of the criteria was decided by experts in the field. This was followed by the creation of a decision matrix, and application of fuzzy-logic MCDM algorithms such as F-SWARA, F-MOORA, and F-TOPSIS, to obtain the ranking of the various techniques according to sustainability criteria. The decisions made by these methods were validated through analysis.&nbsp;
Speaking about their research, Dr. Atul Dhar, IIT Mandi, said, “Given a specific set of sustainability criteria and their significance, Biopipe, MBR and SBR were ranked as most sustainable options by MOORA and TOPSIS, which was validated by data analysis. Our research showed that SWARA-MOORA methodology is reliable and straightforward, and fuzzification further improves the stability of the results.”
While the study was conducted to select the most environment friendly wastewater treatment technology, it can also be applied to any multi-criteria selection problem that could be as minor as deciding on a consumer product to large scale decisions such as investments and socio-cultural policies. This combination of techniques is also useful from a policy standpoint, as it incorporates input from both technology and people, and consider sentiments when making decisions.

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Mandi used AI-enhanced Operation Research (OR) tools to select wastewater management methods that meet the socio-economic needs specific to places and environments. 

IIT Mandi Team Uses AI-Enhanced Operation Research Algorithms To Select Appropriate Wastewater Management Method

Mandi (The Hawk): Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Mandi have used natural polymer based smart nanoparticles to treat colorectal cancer. These nanoparticles release the drug in response to stimuli that are specific to cancer site only.
The findings of the research have been published in the Journal Carbohydrate Polymers. The research has been led by Dr. Garima Agrawal, Assistant Professor, School of Basic Sciences, and co-authored by her students Dr. Ankur Sood and Ms. Aastha Gupta from IIT Mandi and Prof. Neal Silverman along with his team from the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States of America. The research was funded by the Science and Engineering Research Board, Government of India along with IIT Mandi.
Colorectal cancer is a devastating disease leading to increased mortality worldwide and it also causes a heavy financial burden on the healthcare system globally. It is the third most common cancer in men and the second most common in women worldwide. It accounts for 8% of all cancer deaths making it the fourth most common cause of death due to cancer in the world.
Explaining the research, Dr. Garima Agrawal, said, “One of the driving interests among the material science and healthcare community performing interdisciplinary work is the development of biodegradable nanoparticles from renewable resources and designing them in such a way that they can release the drug in response to stimuli which are specific to cancer site only.” Further, Dr. Agrawal, mentioned, “The designed system should be capable of supporting drugs having different solubility in water. In this regard, the simplest approach that we followed for developing biodegradable nanoparticles is using chitosan, which is a naturally derived polymer, in combination with disulfide chemistry.”
IIT Mandi researchers have developed redox responsive chitosan/stearic acid nanoparticles (CSSA NPs) as drug carriers for both curcumin (hydrophobic; a component from turmeric that is used daily in food) and doxorubicin (hydrophilic) drugs delivery targeting colorectal cancer. This approach of combining anticancer drugs having a different mode of anticancer action allows to develop the systems for cancer therapy with enhanced efficacy.
Talking about the uniqueness of their research, Ms Aastha Gupta, research scholar, IIT Mandi, said, “We have synthesized nanoparticles based on disulfide (-S-S-) crosslinking chemistry via air oxidation of thiolated chitosan and thiolated stearic acid, thus avoiding the use of any external crosslinking agent. We have tried five different combinations of thiolated polymers to select the combination best suitable for obtaining stable and uniform nanoparticles. The presence of disulfide bonds allows the degradation of these smart nanoparticles at the tumour site owing to higher glutathione amounts in cancer cells.”
The researchers at IIT Mandi have developed biodegradable nanoparticles from renewable resources, thus reducing the dependency on petroleum-based polymers. These smart nanoparticles are stable under physiological conditions and degrade at tumor sites in the presence of redox stimuli of cancer cells. These nanoparticles can be used to successfully load and release both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs having a different anticancer mechanism which can help to improve the treatment efficiency.
Researchers have also investigated cancer cell killing efficiency through in vitro studies, and the colon targeting ability of the designed system through in vivo biodistribution experiments on c57bl/6j mice.
The research team further plans to perform biological studies to gain deeper insight into the potential of the developed system for colorectal cancer treatment.

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Mandi have used natural polymer based smart nanoparticles to treat colorectal cancer. These nanoparticles release the drug in response to stimuli that are specific to cancer site only.

IIT Mandi Researchers Use Natural Polymer Based Smart Nanoparticles To Treat Colorectal Cancer

Mandi (The Hawk): Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Mandi in collaboration with the University of Cincinnati, USA, has developed an efficient method to study the internal structure and functions of an important component of living cells. The researchers have used metal nanoclusters in a method called Structured Illumination Microscopy to observe the nanodimensional features and functions of lysosomes and their interactions with another important cell organelle, mitochondria.
The results of this work have been published in the prestigious journal – American Chemical Society Materials Letters, in a paper co-authored by Prof. Chayan K. Nandi, School of Basic Sciences, IIT Mandi and his research scholar Mr. Aditya Yadav from IIT Mandi, along with Dr. Kangqiang Qiu, Dr. Zhiqi Tian, Dr. Ziyuan Guo, Dr. Donglu Shi, and Dr. Jiajie Diao from the University of Cincinnati. USA.
A lysosome is an essential component of living cells. It is involved in various cell processes and interacts with other cell components like the mitochondria. Lysosomes destroy invading viruses and bacteria. If the cell is damaged beyond repair, lysosomes can help it self-destruct, thereby earning the moniker “suicide bag”. Lysosomal dysfunction can cause a wide range of diseases including neurodegenerative disorders, immune system disorders, cancer, etc. Therefore, the analysis and tracking of lysosomes structure and function can help predict risks for certain diseases and also guide the development of new pharmaceuticals for those diseases.
While explaining the need to develop new methods to see into these tiny structures, Prof. Chayan K. Nandi, IIT Mandi, said, “Lysosomes are about a micron in size, i.e., a thousandth of a millimetre, with its internal structure in the order of 200 nanometres (one thousandth of a micron). The regular microscope cannot pick up the details of structures of this size.”
IIT Mandi researchers have used a technique called Structured Illumination Microscopy (SIM) to discern the internal structures of lysosomes. SIM is based on the excitation of the sample with a structured pattern of light and the detection of the interference patterns by Near infrared spectroscopy. While SIM is not a new technique in itself, the novelty of this inter-institutional work is in the use of metal nanoclusters instead of lysosomal dyes that are usually used for this analytical technique, thereby improving the technique significantly.
The normal dyes that are used for lysosomal detection by SIM are sensitive to the acidity of the medium, and are also photobleached with time. The researchers have used tiny clusters of noble metals such as gold and silver, one hundred thousand times smaller than the width of a single human hair (nanoclusters), instead of lysosomal dyes to study the internal structure of this organelle by SIM.
While explaining the research, Mr Aditya Yadav, Research Scholar, IIT Mandi, said, “We modified these nanoclusters with a biocompatible protein called bovine serum albumin and used them to track the dynamics of the lysosomes in brain organoid. In particular, we studied the process by which lysosomes recycle damaged mitochondria inside cells.”
The protein-coated metal nanoclusters could be used to track lysosome activity for an extended period of time (more than 12 days), which provided ample opportunity to study the dynamics of fission, fusion, and kiss-and-run processes associated with the interactions between the ribosomes and mitochondria. Furthermore, as expected, these nanoclusters did not have any photo-bleaching problems, and also were not influenced by the acidity of the medium, unlike organic dyes used for the purpose. Since these nanoclusters were small enough to enter the cells and even enter the sub cellular structures such as the lysosome, it can be used to understand the functioning of these vital substructures of the cells.

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Mandi  in collaboration with the University of Cincinnati, USA, has developed an efficient method to study the internal structure and functions of an important component of living cells.  

IIT Mandi Team Develops An Efficient Method To Study The Internal Structure And Functions Of The Substructures Of Living Cells

Mandi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will kick off the BJP's campaign on Saturday with an aim to woo the youths for the 68-member Himachal Pradesh Assembly by addressing nearly one lakh youth in Mandi, also known as 'Chhoti Kashi'. He will be addressing the Yuva Vijay Sankalp rally, the first of the three rallies planned ahead of the poll announcement, in Mandi, the district with 10 Assembly segments, the state's second highest, with an expected gathering of over one lakh people below the age of 40. After Mandi, Modi is likely to address public meetings in Bilaspur and Chamba town at later dates. BJP leaders Amit Shah and J.P. Nadda will also visit the state separately. BJP state unit chief Suresh Kashyap said the visit of the Prime Minister to Mandi is a matter of pride for the people. "Narendra Modi's affection towards the people of Himachal is amazing and the people of Himachal also love him very much. Modi-ji has door-to-door contact and a deep relation with Himachal," Kashyap told IANS. He said the youth rally organised by the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha would be a grand success and a large number of workers are coming to listen to Modi. "More than 1 lakh youths are going to participate in the rally that will infuse new energy in the BJP. Twenty youths from every booth of Himachal Pradesh will participate in this rally. Elated over Modi's visit, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, who is personally monitoring arrangements relating to the Yuva Vijay Sankalp rally, said the Prime Minister's visit shows his benevolence towards the state and its people. He said the Prime Minister has sanctioned a Bulk Drug Pharma Park for the state even before his visit to the state. "This is a befitting reply to those who alleged that the Prime Minister has given nothing to the state," he told IANS. Thakur, under whose leadership the party will go to the polls, said a special assistance of Rs 800 crore was provided by the Prime Minister to the state, besides sanctioning developmental projects worth over Rs 10,000 crore for the state. He said Opposition leaders were perturbed by the decision of the state government to organize 75 events to thank the people of the state for their contributions over these years to make Himachal Pradesh as one of the frontrunner states in the country in development. He said the slogan of the BJP government regarding changing the tradition is also not going well with the Congress leaders. "This tradition (of retaining the helm for another consecutive term) has changed throughout the country and now it is the turn of Himachal Pradesh to do so," an optimistic Thakur told IANS. Normally in every public meeting, Thakur, who is currently on an inauguration spree by travelling to every nook and corner of the state, is missing no opportunity to remind the public about Modi's special bond and love for the people of the state where he spent a few years as the in-charge of the state's affairs in the late 90s. Getting nostalgic by speaking often in the local dialect, even Prime Minister Modi in his public addresses became vocal about his emotional bond and connection with the state that he says has had a very positive impact in shaping and giving direction to his life. Modi last visited the state on May 31 to address beneficiaries of the Central government's schemes to mark the eighth anniversary of his government from the historic Ridge -- once the promenade of the British colonial rulers when Shimla was their summer capital. Earlier, he addressed a rally in Mandi on December 27, 2021, to mark the fourth anniversary of the state government. Senior Cabinet Minister Suresh Bhardwaj told IANS that in the last five years there is a double-engine government in the state and at the Centre and the speed of development and the implementation of schemes has gained momentum. "Himachal proposes projects and the Centre approves the funds. Recently, the Centre approved a bulk drug park for Himachal, a major achievement for a small state. There are several projects and schemes that Himachal has benefitted from. If I talk about urban development, Shimla and Dharamsala have benefitted from the Smart City Mission while AMRUT-I and AMRUT-II are there for other cities." Despite the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) striving hard to make inroads ahead of the polls, the political scenario in Himachal Pradesh seems so far largely bipolar -- a tug-of-war between the two conventional archrivals -- the Congress and the saffron party. Himachal Pradesh was traditionally dominated by the Congress and saw its first non-Congress Chief Minister, Shanta Kumar, in 1977, when the Janata Party came to power. The BJP had won a majority in the 2017 Assembly polls with 44 seats in the 68-member Assembly.&nbsp;
—IANS

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will kick off the BJP's campaign on Saturday with an aim to woo the youths for the 68-member Himachal Pradesh Assembly by addressing nearly one lakh youth in Mandi, also known as 'Chhoti Kashi'.

 PM Modi to kick off BJP's campaign for Himachal Assembly polls

New Delhi: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi and National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) have introduced a Certificate and an Advanced Certificate programme in the fast growing domain of Data Science and Machine Learning.
The certificate programme will be completed over a period of six months and the advanced certificate programme will be covered in nine months and is scheduled to start in the first week of November, 2022.
The courses will be run through live-streaming sessions conducted by the faculty members of Mandi. Interested candidates will be selected on the basis of an eligibility test which will be held on October 15 and 16. On completion of the course, programme certificate will be issued by IIT Mandi and NSDC collectively. More details about the same can be obtained from the website of IIT Mandi.
Describing the new courses, Prof Tushar Jain, Head, Centre for Continuing Education (CCE) said : "The global demand for data science and machine learning experts is growing rapidly. The certificate programmes being launched by IIT Mandi are designed in such a way to provide skills in demand by industries all over the world," adding, "In this era of skill development initiated by other IITs, we have adopted a new model, where students or working professionals will be given a unique opportunity to learn cutting-edge concepts in Data Science and Machine Learning like our B.Tech students. It will be highly beneficial for the students enrolled in these programmes to upgrade their skills as per the increasing demands of the industries."
The programme will involve live online sessions from IIT Mandi's faculty members and industry experts and will provide learners with expertise in machine learning, in building a strong foundation in data science and in data-driven decision making with Python. Learners of the course can further build their careers as data analysts, data scientists, business analysts, business intelligence professionals and consultants.
According to IIT Mandi, there is a growing demand for trained professionals who can collect, process and study large data sets and reveal underlying trends and other insights in the industry. As a result, the study of Data Science as a discipline has become essential to meet the growing needs and challenges of future. This online certification course taught by IIT Mandi professors aims to teach learners all fundamental and advanced skills in tools and technologies used in the fields of Data Science, Machine Learning, Deep Learning and Image Processing. -- IANS

 Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi and National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) have introduced a Certificate and an Advanced Certificate programme in the fast growing domain of Data Science and Machine Learning.

'Data Science' And 'Machine Learning' At IIT Mandi

Mandi (The Hawk): The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi has devised a method to evaluate the earthquake resistance of structures in the Himalayan region.
The approach is straightforward and enables decision-makers to prioritise any strengthening and repair work needed to increase the structure's resistance to earthquakes.
The Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering has published the study's findings. Sandip Kumar Saha, an assistant professor in the school of civil and environmental engineering at IIT Mandi, is the principal investigator and co-author of the study with Yati Aggarwal.
The continuing collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates makes the Himalayas one of the most earthquake-prone places in the world.
Periodic earthquakes have caused tremendous damage to these areas in terms of both human life and property loss.
More than 1,350 people died and at least 100,000 were injured in the Great Kashmir Earthquake of 2005, which also destroyed tens of thousands of homes and other structures and left millions of people homeless.
Although earthquakes cannot be avoided, damage can be reduced by designing structures such as buildings and other infrastructures to resist seismic activity.
Assessing the current vulnerabilities and strengths of existing structures is the first step in making sure they are earthquake-safe.
Conducting a thorough assessment of each building's seismic susceptibility is neither practical nor affordable.
Buildings are frequently subjected to Rapid Visual Screening (RVS) in order to examine building vulnerabilities on a broad scale.
To determine whether a structure is safe to occupy or needs immediate engineering work to improve seismic safety, RVS employs visual information.
Due to some characteristics that are specific to the buildings in this region, existing RVS methodologies, which are based on data from various nations, are not particularly suitable to the India Himalayan region.
For instance, there are several non-engineered constructions in the Himalayan region (as well as most of India).
Due to inadequate planning by the stakeholders and a lack of understanding among the local construction workers, there is also an unorganised distribution and growth of infrastructure. Therefore, it is imperative to utilise a region-specific RVS guideline that takes into account elements like local building methods, typology, etc.
"We have developed an effective method to screen reinforced concrete (RC) buildings in the Indian Himalayan region so that repair work may be prioritised according to the condition of the buildings and the risk from impending earthquakes can be minimised," Saha said in a statement describing the research.
Researchers have gathered a lot of information about the different kinds of buildings found in the Mandi region, as well as the typical characteristics of these buildings that are related to their earthquake vulnerability.
In order to create standards for determining the number of stories in mountainous buildings for their RVS, a numerical research was also conducted. Further, a better RVS approach was suggested based on the vulnerable traits found in buildings.
The single-page RVS form used in the approach created for screening buildings is easy to complete and doesn't require significant technical knowledge. It considers the many characteristics of vulnerability that are particular to the buildings in the case study area.
Buildings are given a seismic vulnerability score using calculations based on these observations, which separates the weaker structures from the stronger ones and facilitates improved maintenance and repair decision-making.
The calculations are made in a way that minimises the likelihood of human subjectivity or prejudice in the assessment of a building.
We have shown that the proposed method is effective for separating reinforced concrete buildings in hilly locations according to the damage that they are projected to undergo in the case of an earthquake, the researcher Aggarwal said when discussing the advantages of the study.
In addition to the Himalayan region's general earthquake risk, it is necessary and crucial to analyse the buildings there since a major earthquake is imminent due to the "seismic gap" of the last two centuries.
(Inputs from Agencies)

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi has devised a method to evaluate the earthquake resistance of structures in the Himalayan region. The approach is straightforward and enables decision-makers to prioritise any strengthening and repair work needed to increase the structure's resistance to earthquakes.

IIT Mandi creates a technique to evaluate earthquake-prone buildings in the Himalayas

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi has devised a method to evaluate the earthquake resistance of structures in the Himalayan region.
The approach is straightforward and enables decision-makers to prioritise any strengthening and repair work needed to increase the structure's resistance to earthquakes.

The Hawk

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IIT Mandi Researchers Work Towards Understanding The Impact Of Climate Change On Railway Embankments

Rishab

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IIT Mandi Researchers Work Towards Understanding The Impact Of Climate Change On Railway Embankments

Rishab

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