Man behind India's Akash missile system on ‘Op Sindoor', what Army wanted & the challenges ahead
Join us for an exclusive interview with Dr. Prahlada Ramarao, the visionary scientist behind India's Akash missile defence system. Discover how Dr. Ramarao, mentored by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, led a team of over 1,000 scientists to create this groundbreaking technology. Hear about the challenges, breakthroughs, and the Akash system's crucial role in strengthening India's security. This is a rare insight into the dedication, innovation, and leadership that made Akash possible. Don't miss this inspiring conversation - like, share, and subscribe for more stories of Indian scientific excellence!
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Time of India
28 minutes ago
- Time of India
TiHAN-IITH moots industry consortium for autonomous navigation, offers tech and test infra
Mumbai/New Delhi: As India embarks on a mission to lead in autonomous mobility by 2047, the NMICPS Technology Innovation Hub on Autonomous Navigation (TiHAN) at IIT Hyderabad is leading the charge with a woman engineer at the helm--Dr. P Rajalakshmi, who is the Project Director at the Dept. of Electrical Engineering, IIT Hyderabad. TiHAN-IITH is working to strengthen industry collaboration, while also positioning itself as the country's first dedicated autonomous vehicle testbed . Born in 2022 and funded by the Government of India through the Department of Science Technology, the initiative aims to provide access to advanced infrastructure, data, and collaborative opportunities for validating autonomous technologies in Indian driving conditions. 'We have developed a complete in-house autonomous driving stack. This proprietary system entirely designed, tested, and validated by the institute, includes multi-sensor fusion, perception algorithms, path planning, and control systems, representing a fully integrated end-to-end solution,' Dr Rajalakshmi told ETAuto. This stack, which is TiHAN's intellectual property, has been field-tested through an autonomous campus shuttle, which is equipped with core autonomous features including Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC). It can detect obstacles, maintain safe following distances, and respond dynamically to its environment. ETAuto has learned that a proposal has been submitted to TiHAN's advisory board to introduce a negotiable membership model for OEMs, suppliers and industry partners, with an indicative fee of around ₹1 crore for a three-year term. This membership would grant access to the autonomous testbeds, data sets, and research collaborations. Capability and strength The autonomous shuttle currently deployed at IIT Hyderabad has reached Technology Readiness Level 9 (TRL-9), indicating it has been successfully tested, validated, and deployed in a real-world environment. Operating daily on campus, the shuttle carries 45–50 passengers without a driver. This places the technology just one step away from TRL-10, the stage at which solutions are industrialised and ready for mass production. While the current deployment focuses on low-speed autonomous shuttles, TiHAN's technology stack is adaptable to higher-speed vehicles as well. The institute emphasises that sensor fusion, perception, path planning, and control algorithms are all tailored based on vehicle type and intended speed. Dr Rajalakshmi asserted that the team has the technical competence to develop end-to-end autonomous vehicle solutions, adaptable across various use cases and driving conditions. At CES 2025 in Las Vegas, USA, the team showcased its innovations and also signed an MoU with Tier-1 supplier Sona Comstar. Autonomous technology in India Expressing confidence in autonomous technology becoming mainstream in India, Dr. Rajalakshmi emphasised its relevance in areas where road safety is a critical concern. 'Human error remains the leading cause of road accidents. Even achieving Level 2 autonomy, with advanced driver assistance, can make a significant impact on safety,' she noted. However, she sees Level 4 and 5 autonomous technologies (where no driver intervention is required) as more viable for off-road use cases such as agriculture, mining, and port operations, rather than public roadways. She added that fully autonomous vehicles must also be connected and capable of vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication. Once this integrated ecosystem matures, India has the potential to emerge as a global leader in next-generation mobility solutions. Future of mobility Beyond ground mobility, TiHAN is actively developing heavy-payload autonomous drones and electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles (eVTOLs) with a focus on real-world use cases such as air ambulances, emergency evacuations, and cargo transport in remote or high-altitude terrains. 'These drones are designed to carry not just individuals, but also substantial cargo loads, making them suitable for sectors like fisheries, disaster response, and military logistics, particularly in areas where traditional road transport faces limitations,' she said. The two working prototypes include a 60 kg payload autonomous drone, capable of transporting a nominal passenger, which has undergone over a year of successful testing at 100–150 meters above ground level. Another is a cargo drone with a 150 kg payload capacity, currently undergoing autonomous trials within the 600-acre IIT Hyderabad campus, covering flight distances of 3 to 3.5 km. With innovation at its core and a clear goal in sight, TiHAN's initiative, guided by a woman, seeks to accelerate India's efforts into the future of autonomous mobility.
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
CSIR UGC NET June Session 2025: Last day to register today at csirnet.nta.ac
CSIR UGC NET June Session 2025: The National Testing Agency (NTA) will close the registration for the CSIR UGC NET June session 2025 today. Students who haven't registered yet can do so by the end of the day (11:59 PM). Eligible candidates can now apply online for the Joint CSIR-UGC NET June 2025 exam at the official website – examination is scheduled to be conducted from July 26, and will go on till 28, 2025. To qualify for the CSIR UGC NET examination in June 2025, candidates must fulfil the criteria stated in the official notification. Regarding academic qualifications, applicants must hold the necessary credentials outlined in the CSIR UGC notification. Candidates can follow these steps to complete the online application: Step 1: Visit the official website at Step 3: A new window will open. Register yourself using a valid email ID and mobile number. Step 4: Fill out the application form with the required academic and personal details. Step 5: Upload the necessary documents and pay the applicable fee. Step 6: Submit the form and download the confirmation page. Keep a copy of it for future reference. Once the application is over, students can pay the fees till June 24. They will be able to correct the details on the application form between June 25 to June 26, 2025 (till 11:59 pm). Last year in the December session, 2,38,451 candidates registered for the test, out of which 1,74,785 candidates appeared. The exam covers five subjects, namely, Chemical Sciences, Earth Sciences (which includes Atmospheric, Ocean, and Planetary Sciences), Life Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, and Physical Sciences. The CSIR UGC NET is a national-level examination that assesses the eligibility of Indian candidates for academic and research positions in higher education institutions. This exam qualifies candidates for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), appointments as Assistant Professors, and admission to Ph.D. programs at universities and colleges across India. It serves as a crucial gateway for individuals pursuing careers in teaching or research.
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
Nearly shut down in 2021, Pune ZP school among 4 shortlisted from India for World's Best School Prize 2025
A Zilla Parishad (ZP) school in Pune district's Jalindarnagar village has been shortlisted among global finalists for the World's Best School Prize 2025 in the category of Community Collaboration in education. Three other Indian schools – one each from Karnataka, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh – have also been shortlisted under various categories for the award organised by UK-based international education platform T4 Education. The ZP school in Pune's Khed taluka was on the brink of closure in 2021 with just three to four students on its rolls. The school has since undergone a major transformation under the leadership of President's award-winning teacher Dattatray Ware, who was transferred here the same year. Today, it serves 120 students in classes 1 to 8, supported by just two full-time teachers, and stands as an example of how community engagement can redefine effective school education with limited resources. Talking about this journey, Ware said, 'The real change began when the villagers came forward. Many even donated their land to expand school infrastructure. We are running a skill-based education programme in 22 trades with help from villagers, many of whom are working professionals in varied sectors and volunteer as educators for classes related to their trade.' 'This is a ZP school run by the government but our motto is to not wait until the government provides. The school, with help from villagers, is proactive in obtaining facilities or creating the resources required for our students.' The school has established academic partnerships with institutions like Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) and Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), introducing students to the science and technology sector. Exposure to foreign languages and advanced mathematics skills are also part of the curriculum. Among the school's innovative approaches is the 'Vishay Mitra' (subject friend) initiative. This is a peer-learning model, where senior students mentor juniors, helping clarify doubts in a comfortable, student-led setting. 'Sometimes children hesitate to ask questions to teachers or in front of the entire class. With small group settings led by a friend from a senior class, they open up easily,' Ware explained. The World's Best School Prize is an initiative launched in response to the COVID-19 crisis, and aims to spotlight schools that are creating meaningful changes in classrooms and on the outside. Voting to choose the best schools will take place till July 9 and this year's winners will be announced in October.
