Honorary Doctorate conferred on grassroots innovator Padma Shri Chintakindi Mallesham; industry leaders across sustainability, technology and manufacturing grace the ceremony

Hyderabad, July 4, 2026 — Anurag University celebrated its 3^rd Annual Convocation today, conferring degrees on 2,789 graduates across its schools of engineering, pharmacy, management, sciences and agriculture. The ceremony brought together graduating students, their families, faculty and a distinguished gathering of industry leaders to mark a defining milestone in the students’ academic journey.

The graduating class of 2,789 included 2,193 students from the Bachelor of Technology programme and 44 scholars who were awarded the Doctor of Philosophy. Degrees were also conferred across the Master of Business Administration (155), Master of Computer Applications (90), Bachelor of Pharmacy (88), Bachelor of Business Administration (74), and a range of postgraduate and doctoral programmes in pharmacy, technology, agriculture and management.

The University conferred an Honorary Doctorate on Padma Shri Chintakindi Mallesham, the renowned grassroots innovator whose weaving innovation — born out of personal sacrifice and hardship has transformed the lives of countless weavers and workers in the handloom industry. In recognizing him, the University celebrated a spirit of innovation rooted in empathy, perseverance and service to society.

Addressing the Class of 2026, Dr.Palla Rajeshwar Reddy, Chairman, Anurag University and Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Janagama Constituency  congratulated graduates and emphasized that AI will not take jobs, but those skilled in AI tools will lead the future. He highlighted Anurag’s pioneering role as the first in Telangana to launch B.Tech in Artificial Intelligence (AI) eight years ago, and reaffirmed the University’s commitment to integrating AI across students, curriculum, faculty, and campus. Applauding faculty for Outcome Based Education and parents for their trust, he urged graduates to “Build for the nation, stay rooted and hungry, and define success widely.” The Chairman closed by reminding alumni that excellence is a habit, calling on them to make Telangana and India proud.

The convocation was graced by Chief Guest Mr. Goutham Reddy, Chairman, CII and Executive Director of Re Sustainability Ltd., who addressed the graduating class. Speaking on the relevance of the true engineering spirit in today’s world, Mr. Reddy observed that as Artificial Intelligence disrupts more and more industries, the enduring engineering mindset — the ability to solve real problems with rigour, curiosity and purpose — matters more than ever. He urged graduates to treat AI not as a threat but as a tool, and to anchor their careers in the timeless values of first-principles thinking and continuous learning.

In his address, the Chancellor of Anurag University, Dr. UB Desai, congratulated the graduating class and their families, and reflected on the University’s mission to nurture engineers and professionals who combine technical excellence with responsibility to society. He echoed that the true spirit of engineering — solving problems that matter — remains as relevant as ever in an age being reshaped by AI and encouraged the graduates to carry the values of integrity and innovation into their professional lives.

The ceremony was further distinguished by the presence of senior leaders from across industry who joined as Guests of Honour, including representatives from Mahindra & Mahindra, Dhruva Space, Qualcomm, Cellerite Systems, Aarvee, Deloitte, PwC, PepsiCo, LTIMindtree, Siemens and Karvy Fintech. Their participation underscored the University’s deep and growing engagement with industry and its commitment to preparing graduates for a rapidly evolving workplace.

All the Deans, Heads of the Departments, Directors, Controller of Examinations, Faculty and non-teaching staff were also present on this occasion.

Congratulating the graduates, the University wished them success in their future endeavours and encouraged them to remain lifelong learners and responsible contributors to their communities and to the nation.

Hyderabad: 02^nd July, 2026: GEF India, in association with the Indian Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (IAPEN India) Hyderabad Chapter, hosted a Nutrition Meet on the theme “Nutritional Insights and Everyday Value of Rice Bran Oil“, bringing together nutritionists, dietitians, healthcare professionals and industry experts to discuss the importance of evidence-based nutrition and the role of healthy cooking oils in preventive healthcare. The session was led by renowned Consultant Nutritionist Dr. Matheen Asrar, who shared scientific insights on dietary fats, everyday nutrition and practical approaches to making healthier food choices.

The session focused on the growing burden of non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity, highlighting the importance of preventive nutrition in improving long term health outcomes. Experts emphasised that while cooking oil is a staple ingredient in almost every Indian household, consumers often make decisions based on misconceptions rather than scientific evidence. They stressed the need to shift the conversation from reducing fat intake to choosing the right quality of fats and following balanced dietary practices.

Dr. Matheen explained that fats are essential for brain function, hormone production, cell health and vitamin absorption, and should not be eliminated but balanced through quality and moderation. She highlighted that Rice Bran Oil contains monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats along with bioactives such as oryzanol, tocopherols and tocotrienols, which have been studied for their role in supporting cholesterol management. Its high smoke point also makes it suitable for Indian cooking methods such as deep frying and stir frying. Referring to published evidence, she noted that Rice Bran Oil consumption has been associated with up to a 12% reduction in LDL cholesterol over four weeks, while a meta-analysis of 11 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) involving 572 participants reported reductions in LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol and triglycerides. She added that these benefits are comparable to those of other unsaturated vegetable oils. However, she reiterated that the choice of cooking oil, together with a balanced diet and an active lifestyle, remains key to maintaining good health

Speaking during the session, Dr. Matheen Asrar, RD, PhD, PGDHA, CDE and Consultant Nutritionist, said, “Good nutrition is built on informed choices guided by credible scientific evidence rather than misconceptions or changing dietary trends. As consumers have access to an abundance of nutrition information, it is important to distinguish facts from myths and adopt dietary habits that are practical, balanced and sustainable. Rice Bran Oil is one of the cooking oils with a well-documented nutritional profile and can be included as part of a healthy diet. However, lasting health is shaped by overall dietary patterns, regular physical activity and consistent lifestyle practices rather than any single food or ingredient.”

Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Sujata Stephen, General Secretary, IAPEN Telangana Chapter, said, “Nutrition awareness plays a vital role in improving public health and empowering individuals to make informed dietary choices. At IAPEN Telangana Chapter, we are committed to advancing nutrition education by encouraging knowledge sharing among healthcare professionals and promoting practical dietary guidance for the wider community. Our association with GEF India for this Nutrition Meet provided a valuable platform to discuss preventive nutrition, healthy cooking practices and the nutritional value of Rice Bran Oil. We believe that continued collaboration between healthcare professionals, nutrition experts and responsible industry partners can contribute significantly to promoting healthier lifestyles and supporting long term health and wellbeing.”

Adding to this, Mr. Chetan Pimpalkhute, Marketing Head, Freedom Healthy Cooking Oils, said, “At GEF India, we recognise that consumers today are increasingly seeking practical and reliable nutrition information to support healthier lifestyles. Through this Nutrition Meet, we aimed to simplify the science behind Rice Bran Oil and highlight its everyday nutritional value as part of a balanced diet. Freedom Rice Bran Oil reflects this commitment through its nutritional profile, including a high oryzanol content of more than 10,000 ppm, along with naturally occurring antioxidants such as tocopherols and tocotrienols, making it a practical choice for everyday cooking. By bringing together leading nutrition experts and healthcare professionals, we hope to encourage greater nutrition literacy, inspire healthier cooking practices and empower consumers to make informed food choices with greater confidence.”

The interactive session concluded with experts encouraging consumers to adopt a holistic approach to health through balanced nutrition, regular physical activity and informed cooking oil choices, reiterating that no single food or oil can ensure good health and that long-term wellness depends on consistent lifestyle habits supported by scientific evidence. The Nutrition Meet reflected the shared commitment of GEF India and IAPEN India Hyderabad Chapter to advancing nutrition awareness through credible knowledge-sharing initiatives, bringing together nutrition experts, healthcare professionals and industry leaders to reinforce the importance of evidence-based education in promoting healthier communities and empowering consumers to make informed dietary decisions.

For the quarter ended June, the company produced 15.10 MT, registering a 26% year-on-year increase. Sales stood at 11.75 MT, marking a 2% y-o-y rise. It was the highest-ever first-quarter production and sales since inception and strengthens its position in India’s steel value chain, the largest iron ore producer in the country said.

Bengaluru, 05 June 2025 – Council for Green Revolution, a Hyderabad-based Non-Profit Organisation (NPO), has successfully raised approx. Rs. 69 lakhs on the NSE-SSE platform and has listed on June 4, 2025, on the eve of the globally significant World Environment Day as the 14th project listing on its social stock exchange platform (NSE-SSE). This also represents the listing of the first project working for the environment and climate action.

This project fund raising will support their “Young Youth Leadership Programme” enabling it to plant saplings, establish kitchen gardens and conduct climate education trainings with domain experts with an outreach and benefit to over 45,000 student earth leaders.

The successful fundraise marks a significant milestone for both Council for Green Revolution and the NSE SSE platform as it has attracted over 150 retail donors contributing to the issuance with as small as Rs. 1,000/- This is a testament to the SSE’s potential to unlock large pools of retail investment and democratise philanthropy.

NSE-SSE has recently enabled e-IPO via both ASBA and UPI mechanisms. Following the same, this ceremony also acknowledged and felicitated the efforts and initiatives of one of trading members – Fyers, which has championed this initiative by developing and enabling the UPI mechanism on NSE-SSE, resulting in over 50 organic donations in the current issuance. This will inspire and encourage other trading members to enable the UPI mechanism and donation seamlessly.

Speaking on this momentous occasion and on the impact of the project of Council for Green revolution, Shri Sriram Krishnan, Chief Business Development Officer, NSE elucidated, “In order to contribute to the vision of the Government of India to bring capital markets closer to the masses and to facilitate social inclusion through NSE’s SSE, the exchange platform under the guidance of SEBI has been taking steadfast and concrete steps to this effect. The listing of the Council for Green Revolution is a significant milestone, as it represents the first environment and climate action-focused initiative on the platform, reinforcing our dedication to sustainability and social impact”.

• Air India Ltd. slid to fifth from second in the punctuality ranks, with almost twice as many flight delays in May
• As per the report, only 85% of Air Asia’s flights departed on time in May.
• Vistara Airlines is at fourth position with 89.5% of its flights departed on time.
• 90% of IndiGo’s flights departed on time in May.
• Akasa Air;93% of its flights departed on time, as per the Bloomberg report.

The impact of commuting has a major influence on employee retention. Travel time is now an increasingly important factor, as most job seekers prefer travel time over the company when looking for a new job. In addition, job seekers worldwide have turned down a dream job because they found the travel time too long. A commute time of more than 90 minutes per day to get to work and back home leads workers to look for a new opportunity closer to home. The same is true for the many employers who lose their dream employees based on location and commute time alone. With increased migration to cities and never-ending traffic woes, travel times to the office are expected to increase in the coming years.

Long daily commutes affect workers physically and mentally and contribute to stress, depression, and anxiety. For years, people in India’s major cities have taken long commutes to work, spending nearly 2 to 3 hours on their daily commute – and still do. For years, job platforms have remained stuck in the old traditional approaches and have never thought about how they can help solve one of the biggest problems faced by job seekers. A survey by Ernst and Young shows that nine out of ten workers want flexibility in terms of where they work, and when given the choice, 40% of workers surveyed choose a work location closer to public transportation

For more than a decade we have been hearing about work-life balance and employee wellbeing as one of the most important corporate agendas, but we have seen little action in this area. At a time when well-being and work-life balance are becoming increasingly important, travel time to and from work is becoming a bigger and bigger annoyance for employees. So big, in fact, that it not only leads to unhappy and unproductive employees but even to them leaving your company.

Employers are busy filling their vacancies and have never really looked at how these daily long commutes affect their employees, which in turn is one of the main reasons for low productivity. The other reason for low talent retention is long commutes and burnouts. A shorter commute makes employees happy, and stay longer in the company and thus reduces the cost of recruitment and new hires. As per the data from the Air Quality Index (AQI), daily long commutes also add to pressure on the public infrastructure and add to the ever-increasing pollution affecting the health of employees in metro cities.

In light of the increasing attrition of workers due to work-life balance issues caused by longer commute times, Indian HRTech start-up InRadius has launched a job search platform that enables workers to find their dream jobs in major cities close to their homes, reducing the unproductive long hours they spend commuting to work every day. Currently, the platform is operational in Mumbai (including Mumbai metropolitan areas), Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Delhi NCR, and plans to expand its operations to all major Indian metropolitan cities in the next 9 months.

“Through InRadius, we are committed to revolutionizing the job search experience and empowering individuals to find opportunities closer to their homes. Our goal is to create a positive impact on people’s lives by reducing long commutes and achieving a better work-life balance. We are excited about our ambitious targets and confident in our team’s expertise to make a meaningful difference in the job market,” said Darshan Vyas, Founder & CEO of InRadius.

InRadius aims to reach 1 million registered jobseekers, onboard over 2000 companies, and have 10,000 active jobs on its platform by the end of March 2024. Looking to the future, InRadius has set long-term goals that encompass its vision of transforming the job search landscape and promoting work-life balance. These goals include becoming the first choice for Indians looking for a job close to home, being the preferred talent search platform for start-ups and SMEs, and addressing the problem of long commutes to work globally.

InRadius primarily targets professionals who face long commutes every day, young professionals looking for a job close to home, and companies that value a better work-life balance. InRadius wants to be perceived by its key stakeholders as a company that is revolutionizing the job and talent search and profoundly changing people’s lives by reducing commute times, easing the burden on public infrastructure, and lowering carbon emissions at the same time.

– SURESH RATHOD

-SURESH RATHOD

Covaxin has been derived from a strain of the novel coronavirus isolated by the National Institute of Virology in Pune. Bharat Biotech developed an “inactivated” vaccine at its high-containment facility at Genome Valley in Hyderabad.

“Once the vaccine is injected into a human, it has no potential to infect or replicate, since it is a killed virus. It just serves to the immune system as a dead virus and mounts an antibody response towards the virus,” said the company.

Covaxin underwent pre-clinical testing on animals to see if it is safe. “Results from these studies have been promising and show extensive safety and effective immune responses,” the company earlier said.
The human trials of Covaxin has begun at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna. AIIMS-Patna chose 10 volunteers to start the human trial of Covaxin.

In normal times, vaccine development takes years as research is largely dependent on grants and funds. The widespread impact of the pandemic has spurred governments, pharmaceutical companies and global alliances to fund vaccine research more liberally, thus contributing to a speedy development in a big way.

The types of vaccines also differ, ranging from ones that use an inactivated or dead virus to trigger an immune reaction to non-replicating viral vectors which involves using a different, harmless virus to deliver the pathogens into the body for generating an immune response.

“The 76-year-old man from Kalaburagi who passed away and was a suspected COVID-19 patient has been confirmed for COVID-19. Contact tracing (of family members and others he came in contact with), isolation and other measures, as per protocol, are being carried out,” Mr Sriramulu tweeted.

On March 5, the man went to a private hospital in the district and was admitted the following day with fever and cough. He had other health issues as well, including asthma and hypertension. Three days later he was shifted to a hospital in Hyderabad, where his samples were sent for testing.

At this point, according to the government, the man’s family discharged him before test results and against medical advice. As per instructions of Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner, health officers tried to persuade them to admit the patient to an isolation ward at the Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences.

The family refused and transferred him to another hospital, from where he was treated and discharged. He died while being brought back to the hospital in Kalaburagi.

Six more cases have tested positive in Agra, Uttar Pradesh having contact history with case in Delhi. Required action as per Cluster Management plan has been initiated. Further, an Italian Tourist & his wife have tested positive in Rajasthan. 14 other accompanying tourists in this group and their Indian bus driver tested positive on their return to Delhi. All of them are reported to be stable. A recent positive case has also been reported in Delhi yesterday (having travel history from Italy) and is stable.

The ever increasing magnitude of this outbreak globally calls for a concerted effort by not only health but all sectors of Government. Honourable Prime Minister is personally monitoring the preparedness and response on a regular basis .Government of India has initiated a series of action to prevent entry of the disease and to contain it. I am daily reviewing the situation. A Group of Ministers consisting of Minister of External Affairs, Minister of Civil Aviation and Minister of State for Home Affairs, Minister of State for Shipping and Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare chaired by me have been constituted to monitor the situation.

The Group of Ministers has met four times since its inception on 3rd February, 2020. Cabinet Secretary is taking regular reviews with all related Ministries of Health, Defence, Ministry of External Affairs, Civil Aviation, Home, Textiles, Pharma, Commerce and other officials including with State Chief Secretaries. My own Ministry is constantly reviewing the evolving scenario. Video Conferences are being held with States every other day.

Government of India has also taken several measures to control the risk of novel Corona virus infection spreading to India. Our First Travel Advisory was issued on 17th January 2020 and as situation is evolving, the travel advisories are accordingly getting revised.

Presently it prescribes, All regular (sticker) Visas/e-Visa (including Visa on Arrival for Japan and South Korea) granted to nationals of Italy, Iran, South Korea, Japan and issued on or before 03.03.2020 and who have not yet entered India, stand suspended with immediate effect.

Regular (sticker) visa / e-Visa granted to nationals of Peoples Republic of China, issued on or before 05.02.2020 were suspended earlier. It shall remain in force.

Regular (sticker) visas/e-Visas granted to all foreign nationals who have travelled to Peoples Republic of China, Iran, Italy, South Korea and Japan on or after 01.02.2020, and who have not yet entered India stand suspended with immediate effect.

Diplomats, officials of UN and other International bodies, OCI cardholders and Aircrew from above countries are exempted from such restriction on entry. However, their screening at point of entry is compulsory.

Passengers of all international flights entering into India from any port are required to furnish duly filled self-declaration form (including personal particulars i.e. phone no. and address in India) and travel history, to Health Officials and Immigration officials at all ports.

Indian citizens are advised to refrain from travel to China, Iran, Republic of Korea, Italy & Japan and advised to avoid non-essential travel to other COVID-19 affected countries.