Category business

Bengaluru, India, 26 April 2023 – Akamai Technologies (NASDAQ: AKAM), the cloud company that powers and protects life online, today introduced new cloud computing capabilities for streaming video. The capabilities are designed to help OTT operators deliver higher quality and more personalized video experiences to viewers. They can also help operators realize lower, more predictable operational costs and improve efforts to monetize content. Additionally, Akamai announced enhancements to its support of the Common Media Client Data (CMCD) specification and highlighted the latest members of its Qualified Computing Partner program.

Cloud power, scale

OTT services today operate the types of complex applications and demanding workloads that Akamai cloud computing services are ideally suited to handle. Built on Akamai Connected Cloud, the massively distributed edge and cloud platform for cloud computing, content delivery, and security, developers can use Akamai cloud computing services to build, run, and secure applications and workloads that are best suited to where and how their viewers connect. For viewers, that means low-latency, high-performing experiences; for OTT operators, it means global scalability with lower-cost and predictable pricing.

“Whether you’re building the app or paying the invoices from cloud providers, Akamai cloud computing services are uniquely capable to help cover the gamut of development, cost control, and viewer experience,” said Jon Alexander, Vice President, Product Management, Akamai. “We’re giving OTT operators a host of powerful new cloud computing functions, scaling them across our global platform, and backing them with Akamai content delivery and security services.”

In addition, Akamai is adding new use cases to its EdgeWorkers serverless computing capabilities that address needs around content personalization, rights management and security for streaming video. The use cases support DASH and HLS streaming protocols:

Manifest and Playlist Manipulation: Decrease storage requirements and costs for operators while providing improved viewing experiences for end users by using EdgeWorkers to dynamically personalize manifest file elements such as bitrate ordering, resolution filtering, and subtitles at the edge, closer to viewers.
Program Replacement: Deploy faster, more flexible pre-delivery content stitching for both live and on-demand video. Operators can insert content pre-, mid-, and post-roll into video streams based on criteria such as geolocation and time of day to satisfy requirements such as rights restrictions or local ratings.
Watermarking: Better track and mitigate live and on-demand video piracy with A/B content watermarking that is compliant with the new DASH Industry Forum (DASH-IF) specification support for any watermarking technique, encoder, and CDN.

Performance improvements, more insight

To help OTT operators improve the viewing experience and obtain additional visibility into video performance, Akamai is enhancing its support for the CMCD specification. Created by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), the specification enables device-based media players to send playback information to Akamai and other CDNs. Akamai is using CMCD to intelligently pre-fetch content, which can improve video start-up time and reduce buffering.

With CMCD support, OTT operators can also benefit from more consistent, reliable metrics on viewer quality of experience. The CDN receives meaningful client-side data and affords the low-latency, high-volume processing power to generate logs that can be delivered to third-party analytics tools for reporting and analysis.

Partner workflow solutions

Akamai is also highlighting the members of its Qualified Computing Partner program that provide solution-based services for media workflows. The services are interoperable with Akamai Connected Cloud and are available through partners that have completed a thorough qualification process.

• Ateme: Ateme provides video compression and delivery solutions helping tier-one content providers, service providers, and streaming platforms to boost their viewership and engagement.
• Capella Systems: Capella Systems offers software-based VOD transcoding, live encoding, and packaging solutions that can be installed on-premise, in the cloud, or as a hybrid solution.
• HarperDB: HarperDB’s distributed application platform simplifies development and data management at scale, reducing complexity and latency, and improving the economics of modern computing.
• Hydrolix: Hydrolix can power observability for Akamai customers with built-in dashboards and allows for real-time data ingestion at any scale, lightning-fast query performance, and extensive data retention at a fraction of the cost of other services and platforms.
• LiveKit: LiveKit is an open-source developer stack designed for real-time video and audio communication, making it easy to build applications for interactive live streaming, conferencing, collaboration or robotics — backed by the reliability and scalability of the Akamai Connected Cloud.
• LiveSwitch: LiveSwitch provides critical video infrastructure that powers the most engaging and interactive real-time communications and entertainment experiences on the web.
• Macrometa: The Macrometa Global Data Network enables new dynamic, real-time services, such as intent-based content search, tailored recommendations, and impactful cohort mapping for Direct Ad Insertions (DAI) and Server Side Ad Inclusion (SSAI).
• Scalstrm: The Scalstrm media platform offers the ability to pick and match features including continuous live recordings, real-time ad-insertion/replacement, content repackaging, and adaptations into different streams for different device types.
• Unified Streaming: Unified Streaming, which provides solutions for complex streaming challenges, is collaborating with Akamai to help allow for quicker deployment of virtual channels, including FAST channels, among many other solutions.

New Delhi, April 26, 2023: Henlo, the D2C brand of Supertails.com, a full-stack tech-enabled pet-care startup, launched a new campaign – #KnockKnockItsHenlo, that’s sure to make tails wag! The heartwarming digital campaign showcases the brand’s commitment to bringing joy to the homes of pet lovers in a quirky and emotional way. The star of the show is the adorable dog delivery boy “Milo” and the campaign perfectly encapsulates the brand’s mission of delivering high-quality pet care products with a furry twist.

In this campaign, Milo embarks on a mission to bring joy to dogs and their loving pet parents across the city. Pet parents received a unique surprise as he stood at the doorstep with their latest order. Milo encouraged the wagging tails of pets to the wide-eyed astonishment of pet parents through his visit as Henlo’s unique delivery method created a “positive” impact on pet lovers across the city.

The co-founders of Supertails.com, Varun Sadana, Aman Tekriwal, and Vineet Khanna, on the launch of their new campaign, said, “The idea behind #KnockKnockItsHenlo campaign was simple, we wanted to bring a smile to the faces of our customers, and their reactions in the video said it all. Through Henlo, our mission has always been to hunt for ways to make nutrition so effective that our pets live their happiest, healthiest, and longest lives. “At Supertails, we will continue to focus on our consumers’ experiences and enable the needs of the ever-growing pet parenting community.”

Henlo’s quirky delivery method and emotional impact are the perfect embodiment of Supertails’ commitment to holistic pet care in India. From pet food and supplies to specialized and trustworthy veterinary care and behavior training, Supertails is the one-stop shop for all your pet care needs. And with the Henlo dog delivery boy, “Milo,” they’re delivering the services in the most heartwarming way possible.

April 26, 2023, New Delhi- Canada-based global education company M Square Media (MSM) has named Raghwa Gopal as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective April 2023.

Gopal takes the reins from Sanjay Laul, who founded MSM in 2012 as a first-generation entrepreneur who created a unique, risk-free, transparent model to bridge higher education institutions closer to their target students in India, Africa, and elsewhere in the world. Laul will remain an advisor to MSM.

Gopal draws from extensive business experience and joins MSM from the British Columbia government agency Innovate BC, where he was president and CEO, helping companies start and scale to fuel technology development, commercialization, and adoption in the Canadian province.

A former CEO of Accelerate Okanagan (AO) and a driving force in the development of its technology sector with a CA$1.6 billion economic contribution, Gopal is a graduate of New Zealand’s Central Institute of Technology in information technology, Australia’s Collier MacMillan School, and the University of the South Pacific.

In addition to being a serial entrepreneur, Gopal is also extensively involved in higher education. He is a former lecturer of business at UBC Okanagan and computer science at the School of Arts and Sciences as well as entrepreneur-in-residence at Okanagan College School of Business. He sat on multiple boards including the University of British Columbia, India Canada Innovation Council, Women’s Enterprise Centre, and the Province of B.C.’s Emerging Economy Task Force.

“It is our pleasure to have Raghwa, a technology leader and seasoned entrepreneur, helm MSM at such an exciting time of growth and global expansion,” said MSM Founder Sanjay Laul. “The depth and breadth of his experience bodes well for the organization as student mobility increases in the years and decades to come, and in our work toward making education accessible to all across diverse lines of business and collaboration with HEIs, agents, and students worldwide.”

Of his appointment as CEO of the 750-strong organization present in 20 countries around the globe, Gopal said: “Leading a tech-driven education company makes utmost sense to me, having been raised in a very poor family and persevering to build tech companies and business ecosystems that help pluck people out of unemployment and poverty.”

“I’m optimistic about how MSM will serve more aspiring international students worldwide, bridge them closer to their dream campuses, and facilitate key partnerships with schools, government, and entire communities for a brighter future for all,” Gopal added.

MSM offers sustainable recruitment and internationalization solutions through in-country offices, the AI-powered ed-tech platform MSM Unify, pathways & public-private partnerships, and a full suite of global education solutions. MSM currently serves over 1,200 partner institutions in the US, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, and has helped more than 135,000 students worldwide since its inception in 2012.

India, April 26, 2023- Zypp Electric, India’s largest tech-enabled EV-as-a-service platform has announced its association with Zomato for deploying 1 lakh e-scooters by 2024. As part of the association, Zypp will also provide delivery partners to Zomatofor the last-mile deliveries in various cities in India.

Zypp Electric has made significant strides in sustainable transportation by deploying over 13,000 electric vehicles on the roads. Zypp aims to significantly reduce carbon emissions by up to 35 Million+ kg and targets to achieve more than 1 Crore deliveries through its electric vehicles by 2024. This association is part of a larger plan of Zomato to go completely electric by 2030 as part of its commitment to “The Climate Group’s EV100” initiative. With over 50 major clients, Zypp is transforming the delivery and ride-sharing industry with its sustainable and efficient tech-enabled
EV solutions.

Commenting about the association, Mohit Sardana, COO, of Food Delivery at Zomato said, “We are excited to associate with Zypp Electric to take another step towards our goal of going completely electric by 2030. This association will enable us to significantly reduce carbon emissions and bring more sustainable last-mile delivery options to our customers. We look forward to working together to create more efficient and environment friendly deliveries.”

Commenting on the partnership, Tushar Mehta, COO & Co-founder, Zypp Electric said, “The association between Zypp and Zomato represents an enormous opportunity to revolutionise the  food ordering and delivery industry and transform the way food is delivered. Food delivery is all on 2- wheelers and is mostly running on petrol and at the same time wanting to shift to EVs to save costs.

By leveraging our EV Fleet Management technology and innovative partner solutions, we aim to create a more efficient, sustainable, and customer-centric delivery experience that will set a new standard in the industry. Through this association, we aim to drive growth and expansion into multiple markets. Our approach will empower gig workers and provide them with exciting earning opportunities, while also ensuring environmentally responsible and socially conscious operations for customers like Zomato.”

Zypp is currently serving Zomato, Swiggy, BigBasket, Amazon, Flipkart, Zepto, Blinkit, and many more with EV solutions as well as delivery partners. Their Internet of Things-enabled electric scooters is perfect for last-mile logistics, offering in-house build fleet management technology and features to drive utilization. Its commitment to sustainability has resulted in a positive impact on the environment, as they strive to create a cleaner, greener future for all.

In a day how much data is generated? The number may be unfathomable for a common man, but reports estimate that every day more than 2.5 quintillion bytes of data are being generated. With this amount of data being generated, data management becomes tricky. Irrespective of the infrastructure and best solutions and platforms available organizations, DCs and cloud service providers cannot use traditional data management tools. This is why experts today recommend combining data management with AI to ensure that every data generated is treated rightly.

Today artificial intelligence has captured every path we walk on enhancing our experience and providing better outcomes. It is the same reason why data management needs the support of AI which automates a huge portion of the process that usually involved manual work. By using AI in data management businesses can analyze and process large amounts of data quickly and accurately.

By a typical definition, data management is practices, architectural techniques, and tools for achieving consistent access to and delivery of data across the spectrum. Data management helps migrate workloads and applications across infrastructures to Cloud or a Virtual environment with minimal or no downtime for increased business agility. Provides end-to-end Heterogeneous Business Continuity & DR Solutions helping achieve RTO, RPO and retention SLAs’ in on-premise, private or hybrid cloud. Aides business intelligence solutions with best-in-class visual analytics and ease of use capability helping customers transform data into actionable insights. Finally, provides a complete end-to-end enterprise management framework from network to applications to the web and now IOT with a single pane of glass for management. The inclusion of artificial intelligence only enhances these deliverables.

How can AI help data management specifically?
There are predominantly three categories in which AI can enhance the functioning of data management tools:
Data Integration: Data integration is the core of data management. It is the process of combining data from multiple sources and consolidating the data for operational and analytical uses. Now with artificial intelligence (AI), organizations can more efficiently analyze large sets of information and share their analyses across their business. AI in data integration allows organizations to proactively respond to issues related to their data quality rather than reacting in an ad-hoc, unstructured manner.

Data Classification: This involves obtaining, extracting and structuring data from various sources and endpoints. The unstructured data is a loss to the organization, which is why classification is necessary. It can help organizations classify data at scale using automation. The major aspect to have a successful data classification is to ensure the organization has outlined a data classification process that fits its business needs. Companies can know their current position regarding the risk of the data they manage, allowing proactive management and security.
Data Security: AI-driven security tools are capable of reducing the risks and even managing many of the threats to data security. The quick and precise analysis of data by AI helps organizations in having a real-time picture of the vulnerabilities. Using AI organizations can triage security alerts and formulate an understanding of which threat is important and needs immediate attention.

As data is being generated at great speed and number, AI is the most useful tool to have. The data generated in an unstructured form needs the support of AI to be useful to the concerned teams. With data management using AI in making the process provide near-perfect results companies can utilize the data sets customized to their needs. AI and data are the future of development for every vertical and data management is the facilitator to achieving the target.

Mumbai, April 26, 2023: Billion Careers, a subsidiary of Quess Corp and the leading digital job platform for blue-collar job seekers, has today released their data insights based on recruiter job postings on Qjobs, their digital hiring platform, reflecting the hiring trends for blue-collar workers in India. Qjobs caters to the aspirations of over 55 lakh job seekers who look forward to building their careers through hyper-local job discoveries that best match their skills. According to the report, the requirement for security services blue-collar jobs has tripled over the past year and has also shown a 219% increase on a year-on-year (YoY) basis (Mar ’22 vs Mar ’23).

The report also indicates a positive trend in the overall job vacancies for the blue-collar workforce in India, with the total number of job openings rising from 53,38,456 in March 2022 to 57,11,154 in March 2023. This suggests that the job market is improving steadily over a longer period, with some short-term fluctuations due to global uncertainties. Various Govt. initiatives, rapid urbanization, infrastructure development, the growing middle class, and the rise of e-commerce are estimated to create more job opportunities in the coming months.

Commenting on the job trends, Amit Nigam, CEO, Billion Careers said, “Despite the changing economic climate, there is an increasing demand for blue-collar workers, especially in the HR/admin and security service job roles. This surge reflects a growing need for skilled professionals who can manage various aspects of the workplace. This trend is expected to continue in the coming years, with more companies realizing the importance of investing in talent management and securing the workspace to improve their overall business performance. Furthermore, India’s investments in infrastructure development, including the construction of highways, airports, and ports, are expected to generate a plethora of blue-collar job opportunities in the transportation, logistics, and construction sectors. Together, these factors paint a positive outlook for the future of the blue-collar workforce in India.”

Security services and HR job roles on the rise in the blue-collar workforce

The remarkable surge in the rise of security services in the blue-collar workforce indicates the importance of maintaining a safe and secure work environment. The companies are now seeking to hire security guards who are approachable, friendly, and possess a knack for conflict resolution in the workplace. The job roles of event supervisors and on-ground security staff also come under this category, requiring them to have a different perspective on people management. The report further highlights that the admin and human resource job categories witnessed a rise of 61.75% YoY, demonstrating strong demand for HR professionals across various industries.

The counter sales and retail job category observed a healthy growth of 33.17% YoY, reflecting the steady growth of the retail industry. This is likely due to factors such as increased demand for goods and services and overall economic growth. The field sales job category showed a substantial increase of 24.70% YoY and the business development job category also observed an increase of 20.59% YoY.

Delhi outperforms other cities and showcases a gradual positive hiring growth of 54% YoY

Delhi saw the highest YoY increase of 54%, making it the top geography for the blue-collar workforce. The surge in demand is due to the growing e-commerce and delivery industry and the increasing investment in the logistics and warehousing sector in the region. While Mumbai saw a negligible increase due to the city’s stable and diversified job market.

Freshers outshine their experienced counterparts and constitute over 82.84% of the blue-collar workforce

Between March 2022 and March 2023, around 82.84% of blue-collar hires had 0 to 3 years of work experience, while those with 7 or more years of experience accounted for only 0.15% of hires. This trend of hiring freshers continues as companies recognize their ability to bring a fresh perspective, creativity, and innovation to organizations. Furthermore, some employers hire freshers as a long-term investment towards their future workforce, as having tech-savvy individuals in an increasingly automated world is advantageous.

Female labour force participation in India’s blue-collar industry remains low

Despite efforts towards gender equality, men continue to dominate the blue-collar industry in India, with a staggering 84.26% share of the workforce in March 2023. This is in contrast to women, who make up only 15.74% of the workforce due to several factors, including unequal opportunities for skill development and career advancement. The government and companies should take measures to promote women’s participation in non-traditional jobs, ensure equal pay for their work, and implement policies to guarantee a secure and welcoming work atmosphere for them.

New Delhi: 26 April 2023,

The Chief guest for this event was – Ms. Taslima Nasrin, an internationally acclaimed writer, The other guests of honor were Ms. Amrita Bera-Author, Lt. Col. Ravinderjit Randhawa, the first married woman officer commissioned in the army, Sh. Vivek Mishra, renowned Hindi writer, Mr. Shailendra Bhatnagar, Ex-Managing Editor of CNBC awaaz & CNBC Bajar.

The book explains about the author’s life experiences as an entrepreneur in the health, Management, Trading & Construction sectors, both in India & Gulf continents. for more than 30 years.

Dr. Anil Sureen is a physician (MD, Medicine), ICF-Coach/Mentor & Licensed NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) Trainer his passion is to support Entrepreneur, CEOs, & Executive & any Individuals with high-stress levels in their workplace & personal life so he enjoys life and his success.

Whether you are a business executive, a government official, or a social entrepreneur, this book will provide you with the tools and strategies you need to lead effectively.

This book will help you to: –

1. Improve your leadership skills and develop a leadership attitude & mindset.
2. Develop a critical thinking ability that will enhance your decision-making, negotiation and motivating ability as a leader.
3. Develop a mindset of Discipline yet having flexibility for change & growth at the right time.
4. Develop an exit strategy at the proper time & plan for it well in advance with proper vision.
5. Create your legacy by creating a positive culture & developing leaders as succession plan.
6. Grow holistically by developing a global perception of your vision.

Bengaluru, April 26, 2023: Leading ed-tech platform Great Learning has released the global edition of its ‘Upskilling Trends Report 2023’, following the publishing of the Indian edition. The latest edition dives into worldwide trends influencing people’s upskilling choices in 2023, particularly in four key markets (based on maximum demand for upskilling courses found in these regions) – the United States of America, Latin America, South-East Asia, and Middle East Asia. The report sheds light on the latest trends around the intent to upskill, motivation factors driving people to upskill, hurdles preventing others from upskilling, the impact of offices opening up on upskilling etc. The trends are derived from a combination of Great Learning’s own learner behaviour as well as a dipstick amongst a sample of working professionals across the globe.

More professionals in India consider upskilling important to future-proof careers than their global counterparts.

In India, 85% professionals consider upskilling important to future-proof their careers, whereas globally, on an average, only 76% professionals consider upskilling to be as important.

84% South-East Asian professionals and 76% professionals from Latin

America give importance to upskilling when it comes to future-proofing their careers. In contrast, only 64% and 66% of professionals from more developed regions like the US and the Middle East, respectively, consider upskilling important for the future-proofing their careers.

83% of Indian professionals plan to upskill in 2023 vs 74% of professionals globally.

Following the pattern, 83% of professionals in India are planning to upskill this year, while only 47% of professionals plan to upskill in the US despite it being a mature market. In regions like the Middle East, South East Asia, and LATAM, the percentage of professionals who plan to upskill in 2023 is 79%, 77%, and 80%, respectively.

71% of Indian professionals are confident of retaining their jobs vs 59% of professionals globally.

In stark contrast to the optimism shared by India’s workforce, professionals in the considered international markets were less confident about their job security through 2023 given the uncertain macroeconomic conditions. While 71% of professionals in India are confident about keeping their jobs in 2023, the global average is 59%. LATAM has the lowest proportion of professionals globally (44%) confident of retaining their jobs this year. 59% of professionals in the US are confident about holding on to their jobs while this figure is 60% in South-East Asia and 50% in the Middle East.

Career growth within the same organisation and personal interest are cited as top reasons to upskill.

Career growth within the same organisation is the top factor motivating professionals to upskill in the US, LATAM, South East Asia, India and Middle East. Personal interest is the next most popular reason for professionals in these regions. This is followed by acquiring a new job. When asked about the impact of offices opening in their plans to upskill, 59 % of professionals across the globe feel that it will impact their decision to upskill. Only 39% of professionals in the US feel it will impact their decision whereas 67% in India and South East Asia, 60 % in LATAM and 57 % in the Middle East feel offices opening up will impact their decision to upskill.

Office work keeps professionals in India, South East Asia and LATAM away from upskilling, whereas family commitment is the most significant hurdle for professionals in the US and the Middle East.

‘Busy with family’ and ‘Affordability’ were the top challenges cited by professionals who want to upskill in the United States, whereas ‘Affordability’ and ‘Busy with office work’ were the top hindrances for professionals in South East Asia. Professionals in the Middle East find it challenging to upskill because of family commitments. Most professionals in LATAM and India find it difficult to upskill because of being ‘busy with office work’. ‘Affordability’ and ‘Office Work’ are the biggest hindrances to upskilling for women in South East Asia whereas family commitments and household work kept women in other regions from upskilling.

Talking about the report, Arjun Nair, Co-Founder of Great Learning, said, “With the current economic climate and the fact that traditional roles are slowly being supplanted by new, sophisticated jobs, there is a sense of apprehension among professionals wanting to compete at the highest level. The Global Upskilling Trends 2023 report will hopefully shed light on the ways to thrive in this context with insights on upskilling intent, motivation to upskill, currently in-demand skills and more. With 74% professionals planning to upskill globally, the demand is already strong, and we believe that it will only grow from here on.”

India, 26 April 2023: Rajdhani Foods, known for its flagship product Rajdhani Besan, collaborated with the Institute of Bakery and Culinary Arts (IBCA) to organize “Rasoi ke Dhurandhar”, a culinary competition in Vikash Puri, New Delhi. The two-round competition sponsored by Rajdhani Foods brought together ordinary people with an extraordinary passion for cooking and gave them a platform to challenge themselves and showcase their talent in front of a panel of seven culinary maestros, like MasterChef finalist Kamadeep Kaur.

The competition commenced around 9.30 am, wherein the registered participants presented their unique signature savory dishes cooked at home in front of the jury, which comprised seven renowned chefs from all over the country who judged on the basis of execution, preparation, presentation, and, of course, taste. The final round was a live cooking round where the participants had to prepare a main course dish using “Rajdhani Besan” as the key ingredient alongside a rice dish under the guidance and feedback of the culinary gurus.

Mr. Chetan Jain, Director of Rajdhani Foods, expressed, “ Rajdhani Foods is extremely pleased to become a part of such an emulous yet ambitious competition. We also feel honored that our flagship product was used so creatively and skillfully by each participant. This was yet another reminder of the significance of such competitions in inspiring budding.” He further added, “Each participant was a winner in their own right.”

“In the heat of the moment, several contestants exceeded their own limits to present unconventional dishes with a simple ingredient like Rajdhani Besan”, said Ms. Kamaldep Kaur, the MasterChef India 2023 finalist. She further said, “Many of the signature dishes of the participants were spellbinding and left all the judges in complete awe of the participant’s ability to use everyday ingredients with such novelty and fluency to produce delectable dishes. They sure didn’t make it easy for us to make a decision.”

The winner of Rajdhani Besan’s Rasoi ke Dhurandhar competition received a huge cash prize of Rs 5,100, while the first runner-up and second runner-up received cash prizes of Rs 3100 and 2100, respectively. Overall, the event was a huge success, which allowed cooking artists to step out of their comfort zones to keep their passion for cooking art alive. Rajdhani Besan is a trusted and high-quality product by Rajdhani Foods, that has been a household name in India for five decades, alongside Rajdhani’s high-quality goods like sattu and chana dal. Recently, the company forayed into the Healthy Breakfast Cereals and Snacking Segment with chemical-free cornflakes, choco flakes, oats, makhana, sabudana, and roasted chana as offerings.

Mulshi, Pune: Under the ISRO’s Space Tutor Program, Kalam Mashelkar Space and Innovation Lab were inaugurated at Heritage International School in Mulshi near Pune by Padma Vibhushan Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar, a renowned scientist and former Director-General of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR). This is the second space lab in India and the first in Maharashtra. The lab will host various programs on new and emerging technologies such as space lab rocket science, satellite applications, drones, robotics, virtual reality, 3D printing, aircraft, and more.

The initiative was taken by Dr. Pratik Mungekar, Vice-Chancellor, and Scientist, who established the lab to create a platform for students to learn about space and emerging technologies. The lab was established with the perspective of ISRO’s Space Tutor Program, under the Leadership & guidance of Govind Yadav, founder of Vyomica Space Academy.

The Kalam Mashelkar Space and Innovation Lab boasts of scale models of ISRO space launch vehicles such as SLV 3, ASLV, PSLV, GSLV D1, GSLV MK III, and SSLV, along with Chandrayaan 1, Mangalyaan 1 satellite models. The lab has two telescopes installed, through which students will get an opportunity to study various phenomena happening in space. Robot kits, light following kits, Bluetooth control robots, quadcopter drones, and other advanced technologies can also be seen in the laboratory.

During the inauguration, students of the school gave in-depth information about the various technologies in the laboratory and shared detailed information about the various events happening in space. Dr Mashelkar had a heartwarming conversation with the children about the creation of many dignitaries of India. Senior Scientist (ISRO) T. N. Suresh Kumar addressed the students and advised them to go abroad for higher education but do work and service in our own country.

The evening session included a demonstration of remote piloting of small radio-controlled aircraft like Pushpak Yana, Garuda Vimana, Gagan Vimana, and drones developed by Vyomika Space Academy.

School Founder Krishnaji Bhilare, Director Kunal Bhilare, Secretary Sangeeta Bhilare, Administrative Manager of the School, Yashawini Bhilare, Dr. Pratik Mungekar, Principal Renu Patil, Dr. PK Rajput, Retired Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Ravindra Rasal, Education Officer K D Bhujbal, and students and teachers of the school were present during the inauguration.

The Kalam Mashelkar Space and Innovation Lab at Heritage International School, Mulshi, Pune, is a step towards encouraging students in rural areas to explore new and emerging technologies and develop an interest in space sciences.