Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

New Delhi [India], August 12 (ANI): <keyword id="19953789" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="IIT-Madras" source="keywords">IIT Madras</keyword> has been ranked the <keyword id="19925221" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="best" source="keywords">best</keyword> <keyword id="22759867" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="higher-educational-institution" source="keywords">higher educational institution</keyword> in <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="keywords">India</keyword> followed by IISc Bengaluru and IIT Bombay in an overall category in the ranking conducted by the National Board of Accreditation (NBA) and National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF). The announcement was made on Monday by the Ministry of Education at an event at the Bharat Mandapam in the national capital that was presided by Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Indian Institute of Technology Madras was ranked first in the <keyword id="22759868" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="NIRF-rankings" source="keywords">NIRF rankings</keyword> 2024 and it is the 6th time that it has bagged the top spot in NIRF ranking. IIT-Madras has also been ranked as the best engineering college for the past nine years. In the management category, IIM-Ahmedabad and Bangalore and Calcutta are among the top five. Indian Institute of Science (Bengaluru) ranked as the best university in the country followed by Jawaharlal Nehru University Delhi and Jamia Millia Islamia. Delhi University's Hindu College ranked as the best college in the country followed by Miranda House College and St. Stephen's College. The Chennai-based institute retained the No 1 position in categories "overall and engineering" The NIRF rankings lists was released for 13 different categories, including universities, colleges, research institutions, engineering, management, pharmacy, medical, dental, law, architecture and planning, agriculture and allied sectors, and innovation. The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) has been accepted by the MoE and launched by Honourable Minister for Education on 29th September 2015. This framework outlines a methodology to rank institutions across the country/ The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) has been accepted by the MoE and launched by Honourable Minister for Education on September 29, 2015. This framework outlines a methodology to rank institutions across the country. This year, as many as higher 10885 education institutions participated in the NIRF.(ANI)

IIT Madras ranked best higher educational institution in India

In an astonishing breakthrough, scientists in India have <keyword id="23249685" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="genetically-engineered-bacteria" source="keywords">genetically engineered bacteria</keyword> capable of performing <keyword id="23249686" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mathematical-operations" source="keywords">mathematical operations</keyword>. Researchers from the <keyword id="23249687" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Saha-Institute-of-Nuclear-Physics" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics">Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics</keyword> (SINP) in Kolkata have demonstrated that clusters of bacterial cells can add, subtract, and even identify prime numbers between 0 and 9. This accomplishment marks a crucial step toward the development of biocomputers—computational devices made from <keyword id="23206086" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="living-cells" source="keywords">living cells</keyword> that could revolutionise how we think about computing in the future. <h2>A history of <keyword id="23249688" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="biological-computing" source="keywords">biological computing</keyword> </h2>The concept of using living cells for computation is not entirely new. Over the past two decades, researchers worldwide have explored the potential of biological systems to perform computational tasks. The first major breakthroughs came in the early 2000s when scientists developed synthetic biology techniques to engineer cells with logic gates—the fundamental components of digital computers. These biological logic gates allowed simple operations such as "AND," "OR," and "NOT," mimicking the operations seen in silicon-based processors. Following this, scientists advanced by using various microbes, such as <keyword id="22608696" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="E-coli" source="keywords">E. coli</keyword> and yeast, to perform basic mathematical operations like addition and subtraction. Researchers were able to construct networks of genes and proteins within the cells, programming them to respond to specific chemical inputs. While these early studies were promising, the computational tasks performed by cells were relatively simple and far from rivalling the capabilities of modern microprocessors. However, SINP's latest research takes a significant step forward by using a more sophisticated approach. The integration of artificial neural network concepts with genetic engineering enabled these bacterial cells to solve more complex and abstract problems, such as identifying prime numbers — tasks traditionally considered the domain of human brains or advanced computers. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="103532224" title="Scientist engineered bacteria to generate electricity from wastewater" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> <h2>Turning <keyword id="6376020" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bacteria" source="Orion">bacteria</keyword> into living machines </h2>The research team modified the E. coli genomes, incorporating 14 distinct genetic circuits, to create different bacterial types. These bacteria can be combined and arranged in liquid environments to execute various computational functions. In one set of experiments, the scientists were able to get them to add, subtract, and solve ten different computational problems, including determining prime numbers between 0 and 9. The bacteria's ability to answer yes-or-no questions, like "Is 4 a prime number?" or "Is 7 a prime number?" was particularly astonishing. When the bacteria were questioned chemically, they responded by secreting proteins that indicated their answers — green for "yes" and red for "no." This development underscores their capacity to function as living computers. The implications of this research are immense, not only for computational science but also for fundamental biology. “Mammalian cells make decisions all the time, and we currently have very little understanding of this decision-making process,” said Mohit Kumar Jolly, assistant professor at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. This study offers fresh insights into biological decision-making and could open new avenues for understanding how living organisms process information. As scientists continue to explore the computational power of living cells, the possibilities are endless. Bacteria, once considered simple organisms, may well hold the key to the future of computing. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="110909568" title="A living computer? This AI made from interconnected &amp;quot;mini-brains&amp;quot; requires a million times less power than ChatGPT!" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>

Did you know that genetically engineered bacteria can do math?

Defence Research and Development Organisation (<keyword id="19948662" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="DRDO" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="DRDO" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="DRDO">DRDO</keyword>) will collaborate with <keyword id="19906424" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Institute-of-Technology" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Indian Institute of Technology" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Indian Institute of Technology">Indian Institute of Technology</keyword> (<keyword id="19906425" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="iit" source="keywords">IIT</keyword>) Bhubaneswar for artificial intelligence (AI) driven surveillance and other projects, officials said. A meeting was held between DRDO and <keyword id="19971391" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="IIT-Bhubaneswar" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="IIT Bhubaneswar" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="IIT Bhubaneswar">IIT Bhubaneswar</keyword> officials here on Tuesday. Binay Das, director general (DG) of Electronics and Communication Systems (ECS) cluster, DRDO, and many senior scientists and officials of both institutions were present in the meeting. During the meeting, nine sanctioned projects of the ECS Cluster of DRDO were handed over to IIT Bhubaneswar while another 7 projects are in process to be sanctioned with Rs 18 crore funding. IIT Bhubaneswar will work on the sanctioned projects, which would be beneficial in electronics warfare, <keyword id="21571619" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AI-driven-surveillance" source="keywords">AI-driven surveillance</keyword>, power systems, radar systems etc, officials said. S R Samantaray, head of the School of Electrical sciences of IIT said the collaboration of IIT Bhubaneswar and DRDO will contribute to the emerging research and development need of defence applications, creating a platform for 'Atma Nirbhar Bharat'. This form of collaboration will enhance the sustainability of defence research programmes and will be part of the eco-system for nation building, he said. Speaking on the occasion, Binay Das advised researchers and faculty members associated with various DRDO-sanctioned projects to work systematically with proper review and risk management systems to complete the projects in time and come up with unique solutions. He said that DRDO is going through a transformation from technology chasers to become technology enablers and trendsetters. "The goal is now to move beyond attaining self-reliance to setting standards for the Indian armed forces, for others across the globe, to emulate. In this context, this collaboration, and the further opportunity to set up a Centre of Excellence at IIT Bhubaneswar would prove crucial," he added. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/webstories/aadhar-housing-finance-ipo-price-band-to-risk-factors-all-you-need-to-know/slidelist/109919298.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/webstories/aadhar-housing-finance-ipo-price-band-to-risk-factors-all-you-need-to-know/slidelist/109919298.cms" target="_blank">Aadhar Housing Finance IPO – Price band to risk factors, all you need to know</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/webstories/top-selling-cars-in-india-in-april-2024-tata-punch-continues-to-dominate/slidelist/109909744.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/webstories/top-selling-cars-in-india-in-april-2024-tata-punch-continues-to-dominate/slidelist/109909744.cms" target="_blank">Top-selling cars in India in April 2024 – Tata Punch continues to dominate</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/worldwide-tablet-shipments-grow-in-q1-2024-after-two-years-of-decline/articleshow/109876390.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/worldwide-tablet-shipments-grow-in-q1-2024-after-two-years-of-decline/articleshow/109876390.cms" target="_blank">Worldwide tablet shipments grow in Q1 2024 after two years of decline</a>

DRDO to collaborate with IIT Bhubaneswar for AI-driven surveillance, other projects

<keyword id="6356166" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="airbus" source="Orion">Airbus</keyword> has tied up with the <keyword id="75850" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="indian-institute-of-science" source="Orion">Indian Institute of Science</keyword> (<keyword id="41780" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="iisc" source="Orion">IISc</keyword>) in Bengaluru to expand access to aerospace education and research in the country, an official said on Friday. An MoU was signed in the presence of institute representatives and senior Airbus management at Aero <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword> 2023, a biennial air show and aviation exhibition held here. The partnership will help foster relevant skills and develop a leading pipeline of the talented workforce that will power the future of the aerospace sector in India. Under this agreement, both Airbus and IISc will collaborate to develop curriculum, training, and modules and promote research and innovation on topics such as sustainability, engineering, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and big data, that are relevant to the aerospace sector. It will also give students an opportunity to engage with Airbus experts who will mentor them on their research projects and help them apply their learnings to address future challenges in the aerospace sector. "The Indian aerospace sector is on a growth trajectory. This is further broadening the scope for talented professionals in the country who have the right skills to meet future needs. The partnership with IISc will foster potential synergies in the aeronautical sector that will help develop the next generation of aerospace professionals in the country," said <keyword id="16400426" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="suraj-chettri" source="Orion">Suraj Chettri</keyword>, Director, Human Resources, Airbus India and South Asia. Both entities will develop online training programmes for students that are in line with Airbus' current and future needs. This will entail matching IISc capabilities with Airbus' traditional competencies to meet new emerging priorities. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/32-mobile-subscribers-dont-have-coverage-despite-paying-for-4g-5g-localcircles/articleshow/98009788.cms">32% mobile subscribers don't have coverage despite paying for 4G, 5G: LocalCircles</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/entertainment/news/as-pathaan-tickets-sell-for-rs-110-srk-says-phir-dekhni-padegi/articleshow/98009806.cms">As 'Pathaan' tickets sell for Rs 110, SRK says 'phir dekhni padegi'</a>

Airbus, IISc join hands on aerospace education & research

A newly-developed air filter supported by special grants from <keyword id="1707932" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Science-and-Engineering-Research-Board" source="Orion">Science and Engineering Research Board</keyword> (SERB) can deactivate the germs, '<keyword id="2215621" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="self-cleaning" source="Orion">self-cleaning</keyword>' them out of the system, using ingredients commonly found in green tea. A research team led by Suryasarathi Bose and Kaushik Chatterjee at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, developed <keyword id="15812341" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="germ-destroying-air-filters" source="Orion">germ-destroying air filters</keyword> that can inactivate germs using ingredients like polyphenols and polycationic polymers commonly found in green tea. These 'green' ingredients rupture the microbes through site-specific binding. Impure air might make our life shorter to the extent that Indians lose 5-10 years of their lives because of air-borne contaminants leading to respiratory diseases, adversely affecting physical health as well as mental health, according to a report by University of Chicago. The research was supported by special grants from SERB during the challenging Covid-19 pandemic and SERB-Technology Translation Awards (SERB-TETRA) funds and a patent has been filed on this. Over continuous usage, the existing air filters become a breeding ground for captured germs. The growth of these germs clog the pores of the filter, reducing the life of the filters. Resuspension of these germs can infect people in the vicinity. The novel anti-microbial air filters were tested at the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories and were found to deactivate SARS-CoV-2 (delta variant) with an efficiency of 99.24 per cent. This technology was transferred to AiRTH, a startup that is replacing the existing germ-growing air filters with germ-destroying air filters for commercialisation, said the Ministry of Science and Technology on Saturday. As this innovation holds promise to develop antimicrobial filters that can prevent endemics caused by air-borne pathogens, a patent was granted in 2022. These novel antimicrobial filters in our ACs, central ducts and air purifiers can play a crucial role in our fight against air pollution and mitigate the spread of air-borne pathogens like coronaviruses. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sustainability/news/new-zealands-air-contains-over-3-million-plastic-bottles-worth-of-microplastics-study/articleshow/96280077.cms" style="">New Zealand's air contains over 3 million plastic bottles worth of microplastics: study</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/dysons-futuristic-air-purifying-noise-canceling-headphones-are-ready-to-hit-the-market-from-january-2023/articleshow/96081759.cms" style="">Dyson’s futuristic air-purifying, noise-canceling headphones are ready to hit the market from January 2023</a>

IISc research team develops germ-destroying air filters

Neutralising antibody responses against the SARS-COV-2 virus and its variants of concern (VoC) are higher among <keyword id="9617748" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="covishield" source="Orion">Covishield</keyword> recipients than those who took the indigenously made <keyword id="9485939" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="covaxin" source="Orion">Covaxin</keyword>, according to a multi-centre study. The yet-to-be peer-reviewed study, posted on the preprint server MedRxiv on Friday, also found that when compared to the pre-vaccination baseline, both vaccines elicited statistically significant antibody levels in both seronegative individuals and seropositive or those who had recovered from COVID-19 infection. Between June 2021 and January 2022, the researchers enrolled 691 participants in the 18-45 age group across four sites in urban and rural Bengaluru and <keyword id="2094" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="pune" source="Orion">Pune</keyword>. Participants received either two doses of Covaxin at 28 days apart or two doses of Covishield at three months apart. The <keyword id="1609796" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="omicron" source="Orion">Omicron</keyword> wave in early 2022 overlapped with the second dose of vaccine in two sites and with both doses in one site. Participants were sampled at six timepoints for antibody analyses and at four timepoints for cellular analyses. When compared to pre-vaccination baseline, both vaccines elicited statistically significant antibody levels in both seronegative and seropositive individuals, the researchers found. Covishield elicited immune responses of higher magnitude and breadth than Covaxin in both seronegative individuals and seropositive individuals, across cohorts representing the pre-vaccination immune history of the majority of the vaccinated Indian population. Immunologist Vineeta Bal noted that in young adult population there is a difference in the response to COVID vaccines, if individuals are already infected with SARS-CoV-2 and recovered (seropositives) versus not infected. "In seronegatives, two doses of Covishield lead to higher magnitude of antibody levels in higher proportion of vaccine recipients as compared to Covaxin recipients," Bal, from <keyword id="101852" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="indian-institute-of-science-education-and-research" source="Orion">Indian Institute of Science Education and Research</keyword> (IISER), Pune and one of the study authors, told PTI. "In terms of waning of immune response with time also Covishield vaccinated individuals retain antibodies in their blood for longer period in larger proportion of individuals,” she said. The study does not directly look for or document protection from COVID-19 in the recipients. "Levels of neutralising antibodies as well as T cell responses, according to different investigators, are indirect indicators of protection,” Bal said. "The interim results so far show that Covishield vaccination induces robust neutralising antibodies against the original SARS-CoV2; Covaxin also does it but somewhat less efficiently,” she added. "Against later variants of the virus such as Delta and Omicron, especially Omicron, neutralising antibodies triggered by Covishield are not as effective, however, they appear marginally better than in Covaxin recipients," Bal added. Prior studies comparing Covishield and Covaxin were limited to addressing only antibody responses and in particular in the health care worker population who were immunised prior to the Delta wave. There is, however, limited data on cellular immune responses elicited by these vaccines and no direct head to-head comparisons or stratification by pre-vaccination serostatus. Vaccination following exposure to the Delta or Omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2 is likely to affect the quality, quantity and duration of immune responses. For determining future COVID-19 vaccination policy when pan-coronavirus or sarbecovirus vaccines become available, it becomes important to take into account pre-vaccination immune history of the majority of the vaccinated Indian population. "Some unpublished work from other investigators in India seems to suggest that heterologous boosting i.e. Covaxin in Covishield recipients and vice versa works better than homologous boosting," Bal added.

Covishield immune responses against Covid variants higher than Covaxin: Study

Researchers at the <keyword id="75850" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="indian-institute-of-science" source="Orion">Indian Institute of Science</keyword> (<keyword id="41780" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="iisc" source="Orion">IISc</keyword>) have joined hands with <keyword id="4676314" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="aiims-rishikesh" source="Orion">AIIMS Rishikesh</keyword> to create an algorithm that can help decipher brain scans and identify the occurrence and type of <keyword id="6366028" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="epilepsy" source="Orion">epilepsy</keyword>. The development has the potential to do away with the current practice of manual evaluation of Electroencephalogram (EEG) which can be often tedious and sometimes lead to errors. Epilepsy is a neurological condition where the brain emits sudden bursts of electrical signals in a short amount of time, resulting in seizures, fits and sometimes even death. Based on the point of origin of the brain's erratic signals, epilepsy is classified as either focal or generalised epilepsy. Focal epilepsy occurs when the erratic signals are confined to a specific region in the brain. If the signals are at random locations, then it is termed as generalised epilepsy, an IISc statement said. "The research aims to differentiate EEG of normal subjects from epileptic EEGs. Additionally, the developed algorithm attempts to identify the types of seizures. Our work is to help the neurologists make an efficient and quick automated screening and diagnosis," says Hardik J. Pandya, Assistant Professor at the <keyword id="8990790" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="department-of-electronic-systems-engineering" source="Orion">Department of Electronic Systems Engineering</keyword> (DESE) and the corresponding author of the study published in Biomedical Signal Processing and Control. During the course of their study, the team noted a novel algorithm that can sift through EEG data and identify signatures of epilepsy from the electrical signal patterns. After initial training, the algorithm was able to detect whether a human subject could have epilepsy or not -- based on these patterns in their respective analyses -- with a high degree of accuracy, the researchers say. To develop and train the algorithm, the researchers first examined EEG data from 88 human subjects acquired at AIIMS Rishikesh. Each subject underwent a 45-minute EEG test, divided into two parts: an initial 10-minute test when the subject was awake, which included photic stimulation and hyperventilation, followed by a 35-minute sleep period when the subject was asked to sleep. Next, the team analysed this data and classified different wave patterns into sharp signals, spikes and slow waves. Spikes are patterns where a signal rises and falls within a very short duration of time (70 milliseconds), while sharps are those with rises and falls spread over a slightly longer duration (250 milliseconds) and slow waves have a much longer duration (400 milliseconds). An epileptic subject shows a different set of patterns compared to a healthy individual. The researchers developed an algorithm to calculate the total number of sharp waves -- the Cumulative Sharp Count -- and use this as a parameter to detect if the subject is epileptic or not (a higher value indicates a greater chance that the subject is epileptic). The algorithm also calculates the sum of areas under the spikes and sharp curves to distinguish between focal and generalised epilepsy (a greater value indicates generalised epilepsy as opposed to focal epilepsy, which has a lower value). The researchers add that the study shows a way to identify absence seizures (those that involve a brief, sudden lapse of consciousness), using a Cumulative Spike-Wave Count; in some cases, these absence seizures are critical and can be fatal. The team then ran their algorithm on a new set of EEG data from subjects for whom the classification (whether they had epilepsy, and if so, what type of epilepsy they had) was already known to the doctors. This blind validation study successfully classified the subjects accurately in nearly 91 per cent of the cases. "We hope to refine this further by testing on more data to consider more variabilities of human EEGs until we reach the point where this becomes completely translational and robust," says Rathin K. Joshi, a PhD student in DESE and first author of the study. IISc said that a patent has been filed for the work and the algorithm is being tested for its reliability by physicians at AIIMS Rishikesh. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/overlapping-symptoms-of-dengue-covid-19-confusing-in-many-cases-say-doctors/articleshow/94598975.cms">Overlapping symptoms of dengue, Covid-19 confusing in many cases, say doctors</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/sterlite-technologies-launches-optical-solution-for-5g-rollout/articleshow/94598884.cms">Sterlite Technologies launches optical solution for 5G rollout</a>

IISC joins hands with AIIMS Rishikesh to develop algorithm that can read brain scans to detect epilepsy

A sixth-grade social science textbook that I read described India as a piece of fabric, with countless threads coloured in a myriad of majestic shades, woven together. This metaphor holds exceptionally well when put into the context of our <keyword id="22706215" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="handloom-industry" source="keywords">handloom industry</keyword>. India has a rich history of handlooms and weaving cultures. The culture of handlooms is so intricately woven into Indian culture, that there are whole towns dedicated to the same: <keyword id="248532" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chanderi" source="Orion">Chanderi</keyword> in Madhya Pradesh to Pochampally in Telangana and a dozen more! Unfortunately, the handloom industry in India is dying. The struggle is multi-faceted, ranging from a declining workforce to fierce competition from <keyword id="20496028" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="power-looms" source="keywords">power looms</keyword>. Hence, five years ago, August 7 was proclaimed <keyword id="22677698" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-Handloom-Day" source="keywords">National Handloom Day</keyword> in response to this crisis and to heighten public awareness. This date holds special historical significance, commemorating the initiation of the Swadeshi Movement in 1905—a pivotal act of defiance against British colonial rule. <h2>When did this industry come into existence?</h2>According to archaeological findings, the origins of handloom in the Indian subcontinent may be traced back to the Indus Valley Civilization. The Mughal Empire was known to support and patronise <keyword id="20258864" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="weavers" source="keywords">weavers</keyword>. The support from the royal patrons resulted in the invention of new textiles such as ‘Mulmul’ and ‘Banarasi Brocade’ among others. This era witnessed a heightened worldwide demand for Indian textiles. In the 17th century, India produced 25% of the world’s textiles, with Bengal accounting for more than 50% of textiles and 80% of silks imported by the Dutch from Asia. <h2>What led to the decline of the <keyword id="19934660" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Indian-handloom" source="keywords">Indian handloom</keyword>?</h2>The East India Company's entry fuelled the industry's initial decline, which started in the 1830s. The weavers were obliged to sell only to the British, and that too at exceedingly cheap prices, virtually putting them out of business. On the other hand, Indian cloth was taxed excessively to promote machine-made British clothing. The Industrial Revolution in Britain strengthened their indigenous textile industry, giving rise to new markets for cheaper textiles. In India, the collapse of the Mughal aristocracies meant no access to royal patronage. As a result, textiles like Khadi and muslin had little demand in the market. Circling back to the present, the industry is facing both similar and new challenges. Fabrics made on power looms are cheaper and faster to produce, in comparison to handloom fabrics. The industry is largely unorganised, and the wages are shockingly low. 67% of <keyword id="22706216" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="handloom-workers" source="keywords">handloom workers</keyword> are earning less than the minimum wage every month. Faced with economic challenges, the older artisans are thus forced to encourage the newer generation to choose an alternative career path. This migration of the workforce from a traditional sector is evident from the fall in the number of weavers less than 35 years of age- from 26.13 lakh in 2009-10 to 16.07 lakh in 2019-20. The majority of weavers do not have access to banking facilities, let alone institutional credit. Furthermore, if one manages to accumulate credit, there is a mismatch between the supply and demand forces due to the lack of awareness about handwoven textiles in the current generation. <h2>Initiatives for revival</h2>The cultural significance of the Indian handloom isn’t just limited to its beauty and extravagance, but it extends to our independence struggle as well. The Swadeshi movement immortalised the charkha and advocated for the use of indigenous goods. Following independence, the Indian government took many measures to revive the handloom industry. In 1953, India’s Parliament approved the Khadi and Other Handloom Industries Development Act. In 1955, the All India Handloom Fabrics Marketing Cooperative Society was formed to promote the sale of fabrics produced by handloom cooperatives across India. The National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP) aimed to provide financial assistance for marketing and production. The Handloom Weavers’ Comprehensive Welfare Scheme offers health and life insurance to weavers, to ensure social security. The organisation commenced a fortnight-long exhibition, “VIRAASAT” dedicated to celebrating the 10th National Handloom Day began at Handloom Haat in Janpath, New Delhi on Saturday, 3rd August 2024, and will conclude on 16th August 2024. The Handloom Mark scheme was introduced to authenticate handloom products, thus enabling weavers to gain better market access and ensuring that consumers get genuine products. Moreover, the India Trade Portal also mentions that the GOI plans to provide financial assistance of Rs. 30 crore to at least 10,000 handlooms. Various state governments also regularly conduct handloom expos and fairs, providing platforms for weavers to showcase and sell their products directly to consumers. <h2>Contemporary Brands and their love for Indian handloom</h2>Modern, popular designers such as <keyword id="8264" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sabyasachi" source="Orion">Sabyasachi</keyword> and <keyword id="21493890" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ritu-kumar" source="keywords">Ritu Kumar</keyword> are known to work closely with weavers and have been doing their part by bringing worldwide attention to the handloom industries. Recently, <keyword id="1472101" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ajrakh" source="Orion">Ajrakh</keyword> was brought into the limelight when Alia Bhatt wore a custom Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla Ajrakh saree to Joy Awards in Riyadh. However, it’s not just the fashion moguls who are working towards the revival of this industry. Contemporary indie brands are partnering with local weavers, and creating awareness about their work. The emergence of such indie brands and their association with local artisans is beneficial for both entities. For instance, Joskai Studio derives its name from ‘Joskai’, a woven piece of cloth worn as a part of the traditional costume of the Tiwa community of Assam. They work with artisans in northeast India, specifically from the weaving village of Saualkuchi in Assam. Rouka by Sreejith Jeevan is a Kerala-based brand that works strictly with weavers from Kerala, specifically Chendamangalam and Kuthampally. <h2>Employment and Exports</h2>According to the Indian Trade Portal, the Indian handloom sector is the country’s second-largest employer after agriculture in rural areas. The Handloom Census 2019-20 mentions that the industry employs about 35,22,512 workers across the country, with women forming 77.29% of the workforce. India is the second largest exporter of handloom products in the world, with exports valued at $ 353.9 million in 2017- 18, as per EXIM bank's working papers. The major handloom export centres are Karur, Panipat, Varanasi and Kannur where handloom products like bed linen, table linen, toilet linen, floor coverings, and embroidered textile materials and curtains etc. are produced for export markets. During April 2021-February 2022, India exported handloom products worth 1693 crore, as per Indian Trade Portal. Indian silk scarves also form a sizable chunk of total handloom exports, in addition to home textiles like carpets, rugs and mats, which constitute over 13.6% of India’s total handloom exports. <h2>The Path Forward</h2>The mere existence of organisations and allocation of funds isn’t enough to sustain the legacy of India’s rich handloom industry. Big corporations working with local weavers ensure employment but don't protect them from exploitation and meagre wages, leaving them vulnerable. The people in power ought to come up with strategies that ensure the trickle-down effect of the schemes and funds. The new generation of buyers has a greater purchasing power than the one before them. Marketing focused on bringing Indian handloom practices into the limelight can do wonders in this case.

Fabric of a nation: Sustaining India's handloom legacy in modern times

With the <keyword id="20613906" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="economic-survey" source="keywords">Economic Survey</keyword> flagging a rise in <keyword id="19956983" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="mental-health" source="keywords">mental health</keyword> issues among <keyword id="19916609" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indians" source="keywords">Indians</keyword> calling for a <keyword id="20740266" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="paradigm-shift" source="keywords">paradigm shift</keyword> on how to address the problem, experts on Monday said it is an unaddressed health crisis in India. They called for increasing accessibility to mental health resources, raising <keyword id="19927137" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="awareness" source="keywords">awareness</keyword>, reducing <keyword id="20448786" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="stigma" source="keywords">stigma</keyword> and developing robust support systems to tackle the issue while also highlighting the need to find comprehensive solutions to contributing factors such as work pressure and societal expectations, among others. "Mental health problems are an unaddressed health crisis in India. Nearly 20 per cent of people live with mental health problems in India. Depression and anxiety are common causes of disability. There is a treatment gap of more than 80 per cent," Achal Bhagat, Senior Consultant Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, Delhi, said. The indirect economic cost of loss of livelihoods due to mental health is significantly high as it is not only for the person living with mental health problems but also due to the loss of livelihoods for the caregivers, he added. Expressing similar views, Shambhavi Jaiman, Consultant Psychiatrist at Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram, said the impact on productivity is substantial, reflecting the broader implications for societal well-being and economic stability. "The contributing factors - work pressure, societal expectations, financial worries, and insufficient support systems - create a complex web of stressors that require comprehensive solutions," she added. Jaiman said addressing mental health issues involves increasing accessibility to mental health resources, raising awareness, reducing stigma and developing robust support systems. "Creating a supportive environment where mental health is prioritised is essential for fostering a healthier, more productive society," she said. Sameer Malhotra, Senior Director and Head Dept of Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, pointed out that factors such as growing consumerism, excessive competition, shrinking social and family support networks, increased pace of life and growing distress, timeline pressures, lesser time for self and family are driving rise in mental health problems globally. "Disturbed mindset influences concentration, productivity at work and economics as well," he added. The Economic Survey 2023-24 flagged a rise in mental health issues among Indians, calling for a paradigm shift towards a bottom-up, whole-of-community approach to address the problem. Although it noted that India is creating positive momentum in policy development by recognising mental health as a fundamental aspect of overall well-being, the survey said, "While most of the policy design is in place, proper implementation can accelerate the improvement on the ground. That said, there remain certain gaps in the existing programmes which need to be addressed to maximise their effectiveness". The fundamental issue of the lack of awareness about mental health and the stigma surrounding it can render any sincerely crafted programme unfeasible, it added. "Hence, there is a need to bring about a paradigm shift and utilise a bottom-up, whole-of-community approach in addressing the topic of mental health. Breaking the stigma starts with taking cognisance of the natural human tendency to accept physical ailments and seeking treatment for the same while being in denial about mental health issues," the survey said. To an extent, the denial is an outcome of fear about social attitudes and social acceptance after one 'comes out' with mental health issues, it said. "For public health officials, tackling mental health requires acknowledging and addressing this fundamental reluctance. Arguably, mental health issues drag down productivity more widely in the ecosystem than individuals' physical health issues. Hence, paying attention to mental health issues in society is both a health and an economic imperative," the document noted.

Mental health problem an unaddressed health crisis in India: experts after Economic Survey findings

While sunsets on Mars are uniquely moody, <keyword id="6360409" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="nasa" source="Orion">NASA</keyword>'s <keyword id="69295" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="curiosity" source="Orion">Curiosity</keyword> rover has captured a stunning image of a martian sunset, featuring light rays that illuminated a bank of clouds as the sun set over the horizon. These 'sun rays' are also known as crepuscular rays, from the Latin word for 'twilight'. It was the first time sun rays have been so clearly viewed on Mars. Curiosity, which was built by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and managed by Caltech in Pasadena, California, on February 2 captured the scene during the rover's newest twilight cloud survey, which builds on its 2021 observations of noctilucent, or night-shining, clouds. While most Martian clouds hover no more than 37 miles (60 kilometres) above the ground and are composed of water ice, the clouds in the latest images appear to be at a higher altitude, where it's especially cold. That suggests these clouds are made of carbon dioxide ice or dry ice. On Earth, clouds provide scientists with complex but crucial information for understanding the weather. By looking at when and where clouds form, scientists can learn more about the Martian atmosphere's composition and temperatures, and the winds within it. The 2021 cloud survey included more imaging by Curiosity's black-and-white navigation cameras, providing a detailed look at a cloud's structure as it moves. But the recent survey, which began in January and will wrap up in mid-March, relies more often on the rover's colour Mast Camera, or Mastcam, which helps scientists see how cloud particles grow over time. In addition to the image of sun rays, Curiosity captured a set of colourful clouds shaped like a feather on Jan. 27. When illuminated by sunlight, certain types of clouds can create a rainbowlike display called iridescence. "Where we see iridescence, it means a cloud's particle sizes are identical to their neighbours in each part of the cloud," said <keyword id="5761402" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="mark-lemmon" source="Orion">Mark Lemmon</keyword>, an atmospheric scientist with the <keyword id="2552836" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="space-science-institute" source="Orion">Space Science Institute</keyword> in Boulder, Colorado. "By looking at colour transitions, we're seeing particle size changing across the cloud. That tells us about the way the cloud is evolving and how its particles are changing size over time." Curiosity captured both the sun rays and iridescent clouds as panoramas, each of which was stitched together from 28 images sent to Earth. The images have been processed to emphasize the highlights. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/entertainment/news/imdb-shares-top-rated-indian-films-nominated-for-oscars/slidelist/98470341.cms">Two-decade-old Lagaan outscores RRR amongst Oscar-nominated Indian movies on IMDb</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/evs-will-increase-indias-dependence-on-china-for-raw-materials-battery-production-gtri-report/articleshow/98470819.cms">EVs will increase India's dependence on China for raw materials, battery production: GTRI report</a>

You Searched For "Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore" and got 10 results

IIT Madras ranked best higher educational institution in India

ANI

Did you know that genetically engineered bacteria can do math?

BI India Bureau

DRDO to collaborate with IIT Bhubaneswar for AI-driven surveillance, other projects

PTI

Airbus, IISc join hands on aerospace education & research

IANS

IISc research team develops germ-destroying air filters

IANS

Covishield immune responses against Covid variants higher than Covaxin: Study

PTI

IISC joins hands with AIIMS Rishikesh to develop algorithm that can read brain scans to detect epilepsy

IANS

Fabric of a nation: Sustaining India's handloom legacy in modern times

Prerna Tyagi

Mental health problem an unaddressed health crisis in India: experts after Economic Survey findings

PTI

NASA's Curiosity rover captures first 'Sun Rays' on Mars

ANI

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides