NATIONAL

Digital Delhi conclave 2025 concludes with insightful discussions on digital public infrastructure and sustainability

Digital Delhi conclave 2025 concludes with insightful discussions on digital public infrastructure and sustainability

Admin February 26, 2025 0

New Delhi, Feb 26: The Digital Delhi Conclave 2025 (DDC '25), hosted by IIIT-Delhi, concluded with engaging discussions on the role of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in fostering sustainability, inclusivity, and governance. The event brought together leading experts, policymakers, academicians, and students to explore the intersection of technology and public welfare.

Over the past five years, the conclave has emerged as a significant platform for deliberations on how digital innovations can drive Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This year s theme focused on the evolving role of private entities in delivering public functions within the DPI ecosystem.

In his welcome address, Director of IIIT-Delhi Prof. Ranjan Bose emphasized the transformative impact of DPI on everyday life, citing examples such as digital payments for street vendors and seamless air travel through Digi Yatra.

He underscored the importance of cross-sector collaboration to address socio-economic disparities while tackling privacy and inclusivity concerns.

One of the most anticipated sessions was a panel discussion titled Privacy A Public Concern? , moderated by Naresh Aditya Madhav, Data Protection Officer at Concentrix Corp. The session delved into India s evolving data protection framework and privacy challenges.

Prof. Sambuddho from IIIT-Delhi analyzed the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, highlighting vulnerabilities associated with Aadhaar and the general disregard for privacy in India.

Lawyer and digital policy researcher Smriti Parsheera raised concerns about the commodification of health data and potential risks linked to schemes like Ayushman Bharat. Dr. Deepak Prince of IIIT-Delhi framed privacy as a moral issue, advocating for a balance between transparency and protection to safeguard citizens rights.

Another engaging session focused on the public nature of DPI and its future implications. Moderated by Dr. Manohar Kumar of IIIT-Delhi, the discussion challenged traditional definitions of "public" within DPI. Kriti Mittal, Associate Director at eGovernments Foundation, urged stakeholders to rethink digital infrastructure s role in serving society.

Prof. Balaji Parthasarathy of IIIT Bangalore questioned DPI for whom? , arguing that DPI must ensure equitable access and benefits. Prof. Shishir K Jha of IIT Bombay stressed the need to treat data as a public good, advocating for policy frameworks that empower data-driven decision-making.

A dedicated workshop on gender-responsive digital infrastructure, led by Sharon Buteau, Executive Director at LEAD, Krea University, highlighted the gender gap in digital adoption.

She introduced the concept of gender intentionality , arguing that neutrality is insufficient and digital frameworks must actively incorporate gender considerations.

Buteau revealed a striking statistic while 350 million people use UPI, only 30% are women. She outlined six key areas requiring attention to build a Gender-Responsive DPI: Affordability, Accessibility, Digital Literacy, Relevance, Safety & Security, and Social Norms.

The workshop provided actionable insights on making digital services more inclusive, particularly for marginalized communities.

The conclave concluded with a fireside chat on GST digitization, featuring retired IRS officer M. V. Vasudevan in conversation with Dr. Anuj Grover of IIIT-Delhi. Vasudevan shared his experiences in digitizing GST, emphasizing the importance of defining clear business specifications at the outset of large-scale digital projects.

He discussed challenges such as managing redundancies, ensuring data security, and optimizing user experience. His insights underscored how robust digital infrastructure can enhance governance efficiency.

Popular post
Class 10th results soon after appointment of new Chairman: JKBOSE

'Results likely to get delayed in absence of Chairman' Jammu, Jan 7: The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) on Wednesday said the result of the class 10th examinations will be declared soon after the appointment of the Chairman of the Board. The statement comes amid the uncertainty about the declaration of the results by JKBOSE. In an official handout issued here, JKBOSE has advised students not to pay heed to fake links and websites announcing declaration of class 10 results. "Result of class 10th will be declared within few days soon after the appointment of new Chairman," the statement reads. The JKBOSE has stated that the results of annual examination of class 10 of Kashmir valley and winter zone areas of Jammu Division are almost ready. "But its approval by Result Declaration Committee headed by BOSE Chairman is a pre- requisite before its declaration. In absence of the Chairman the results are likely to get a little delayed," it reads. The JKBOSE officials have advised the students to wait for the formal declaration on the official website of the Board- www.jkbose.nic.in. "Students should not get misled by scamesters and fake narratives circulated by some mischievous elements, whose sole aim is to create confusion in the innocent student community," the statement reads.

Sopore scientist gains global recognition for black hole research

Suhail Khan Baramulla, Jan 6: A young aerospace engineer from Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district is proving that dedication and ambition can propel one to global heights. Munaf-ul-Raquib who holds a B.Tech in Aerospace Engineering, has gained international recognition for his research on black holes and cosmology. Munaf-ul-Raquib revealed that his paper on the thermodynamics of black holes was recently published in the International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR). “About a year ago, I conducted research on the gravity of black holes and cosmology, which has now been published in IJSR,” he said. He said that since his research was published in the international journal, he has been receiving opportunities from various countries to participate in research dialogues. Raquib added that in the coming months he is scheduled to participate in international conferences in Paris on April 16 and later in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The Sopore aerospace engineer noted that he is also participating in various conferences across different countries. Speaking about his research, Munaf-ul-Raquib addressed a fundamental paradox in astrophysics: how black holes can appear to violate thermodynamic laws, particularly concerning entropy.“If we observe a black hole, it seems to contradict thermodynamic principles,” he said. Using the frameworks of Anti-de Sitter space (AdS) and Conformal Field Theory (CFT), Raqeeb’s research proposes a theoretical model that reconciles black hole mechanics with thermodynamics. “In this paper, I have explained how a black hole can function without violating thermodynamic laws,” he said. He described the achievement as both personal and symbolic. “It is a proud moment for me to represent my state, especially Sopore, on an international platform,” he said. Raqeeb shared that Astrophysics was his childhood dream, and his grandfather encouraged me immensely. "After my grandfather passed away during the Covid-19 pandemic, my parents continued to champion my aspirations. My parents left no stone unturned in helping me pursue my dreams,” he said. He said that his academic path included taking the JEE and later the AME CET entrance exams, through which he secured a seat in aerospace engineering at the Nasik Research Centre. “My parents not only supported me morally but also created an environment where I could pursue my dreams freely,” he said. He emphasized the role of family in nurturing talent. “Just as my parents supported me, it is the responsibility of all parents to help their children follow their dreams.” “Young people should avoid wrong practices. They must dream of a beautiful tomorrow but work hard today to make their parents proud,” he further added.

KU makes biometric attendance mandatory for students in private colleges

Srinagar, Jan 8: The University of Kashmir (KU) has made the biometric attendance mandatory for the students of its affiliated colleges from Academic session 2026-27. The development comes in wake of the complaints about the thin attendance of the students in various private B.Ed colleges affiliated with the Kashmir University. A circular in this regard  has been issued by the Assistant Registrar Dean Colleges Development Council (DCDC) of the University. "All the Chairpersons and Principals of private affiliated colleges of the University of Kashmir are hereby informed that biometric attendance for all the enrolled students and staff has been made mandatory from the year 2026-27," the KU circular reads. The Principals of all the affiliated colleges have been directed to install biometric attendance machines in their respective institutions on or before the commencement of the Academic year 2026-27 under intimation to the Dean College Development Council of the University. "The college shall also ensure proper upkeep, maintenance, and systematic preservation of all biometric attendance records for future reference and verification," it reads. The Colleges have been directed to comply with this directive "without fail." The move comes in wake of the inspections conducted last year by the DCDC of KU in various B.Ed colleges where most of the students were found absent. An official said that there were complaints about the poor attendance of the students in B.Ed colleges. "The students do not attend their B.Ed classes regularly which defeats the purpose of the course," the official said. Earlier, DCDC of KU earlier barred the B.Ed students to appear in teh semester exams for falling short of attendance. The decision was taken in wake of the surprise inspection conducted by Dean College Development Council (DCDC) in various B.Ed colleges of Kashmir in June-July month of 2025 and several students were found absent from the classes. Following this, the students were directed to attend supplementary classes to complete the recommended attendance for appearing in their exams. Also, the exam of these students was deferred by few months.

Uri–Baramulla road landslides temporary, will stop after excavation: DC Baramulla

Baramulla, Jan 9: Deputy Commissioner Baramulla on Thursday said that the situation caused by the landslides on Ur-Baramulla was temporary and would be resolved once the excavation process of the road is completed. The statement comes amid the concerns over recurring landslides on the Uri–Baramulla road due to ongoing road widening project being executed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). Talking to Kashmir Square, Deputy Commissioner Baramulla Minga Sherpa said that such issues are common during the construction of hill roads and should not be viewed as an unusual development. “There is no major issue. Whenever a hill road is constructed or widened, such problems are recurrent,” he said. He further said that the slopes usually take time to stabilise after excavation. "The excavation process affects the natural stability of the hillside and it generally takes one to two years for slopes to fully stabilise," he said. Minga Sherpa said several slope stabilisation measures are already in place to minimise risks. “Grouting has been done and protective walling has also been constructed at several points,” DC Baramulla told Kashmir Square. He further said that around 200 metres of excavation work is still pending on the stretch and the remaining cutting work is expected to be completed within a month. “Once the excavation is finished, the BRO and concerned agencies will carry out full-fledged slope stabilisation measures. After that, such incidents will not occur again,” he said. Over the past few weeks, the Uri–Baramulla road, a vital link connecting the border town of Uri with Baramulla district witnessed intermittent traffic disruptions due to landslides triggered by excavation work, raising safety concerns among commuters. The Baramulla–Uri National Highway remained closed on Thursday after another landslide struck the stretch - the third such incident reported in the last 20 days, causing severe inconvenience to commuters. A fresh landslide hit the highway on Thursday afternoon, forcing authorities to immediately halt traffic movement on the route as a precautionary measure. It was the third such incident in just 20 days on the Baramulla–Uri National Highway, following two earlier slides that also triggered full traffic halts and diversions through alternate routes. Only emergency vehicles were allowed to pass, while all routine traffic was stopped to avoid any untoward incident. An official said the road clearance operations were launched soon after the incident, with personnel and machinery mobilised to remove debris and stabilise the affected area. "The highway was made motorable again from the evening hours," he said. The closure of the main Baramulla–Uri National Highway compelled authorities to divert vehicles through the dilapidated Khadniyar–Gantamulla road.

DSEK pulls up officers with additional DDO powers for overstepping administrative powers

Srinagar, Jan 8: The Director of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) has pulled up the officers vested with the powers of Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs) as their additional assignment, for indulging in administrative works, beyond their domain. As per the order issued by the Director School Education Kashmir Naseer Ahmad Wani, the officers having additional DDO powers, have been reprimanded for going beyond their role of duties. "It has come to the notice of the DSEK that many officers of the department vested with DDOs powers are affecting transfers and doing administrative works having no authority to do so," the order reads. As per the order, all these DDOs holding charge in additional capacity have been asked to utilise the powers for the purpose of drawing and disbursing salary and other financial matters within the limits of the authority. "The officers shall not exercise any administrative powers particularly with respect to the transfer of staff," it reads. The DSEK has warned of disciplinary action in case of violation of the order by any officers. "Any deviation from the instant order shall be viewed seriously and invite disciplinary action," it reads.

National

View more
ISRO's PSLV-C62 makes 1st launch of 2026 with EOS-N1 satellite

New Delhi, Jan 12: The Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) on Monday made the first launch of 2026 with the EOS-N1 Earth observation satellite aboard its PSLV-C62 rocket.  The EOS-N1, also called the Anwesha, took off on the 64th flight of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) at 10:17 am IST from the First Launch Pad (FLP) at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. "Liftoff! PSLV-C62 launches the EOS-N1 Mission from SDSC-SHAR, Sriharikota," ISRO shared in a post on the social media platform X. The launch aims to enhance India’s remote sensing capabilities across agriculture, urban mapping, and environmental monitoring. The mission, which carries 15 co-passenger satellites, is planned for injection into Sun Synchronous Orbit. “The PSLV-C62 mission will also demonstrate KID or Kestrel Initial Technology Demonstrator from a Spanish startup, which is a small-scale prototype of a re-entry vehicle being developed by the startup,” the Indian space agency shared before launch. The KID capsule is planned for a re-entry trajectory, according to ISRO. The KID will be the last co-passenger to be injected, after which it is slated to re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere towards splashdown in the South Pacific Ocean. The PSLV-C62 / EOS-N1 Mission is the 9th dedicated commercial mission undertaken by NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of ISRO. The launch is the fifth to use the PSLV-DL variant with two solid strap-on motors. PSLV has completed 63 flights, including notable missions like Chandrayaan-1, Mars Orbiter Mission, Aditya-L1, and Astrosat Mission. In 2017, PSLV set a world record by launching 104 satellites in a single mission. ISRO undertook the 101st launch endeavour with PSLV-C61 mission, in May, to deploy the 1,696 kg EOS-09 Earth Observation Satellite into a 505 km Sun-Synchronous Polar Orbit. While the initial stages of the flight performed as expected, a technical anomaly in the rocket's third stage prevented the mission from reaching its intended orbit. (IANS)

Editor January 12, 2026 0

NHRC flags 'lack of transparency' in Railway Board’s reply on halal food issue, seeks fresh report

Viksit Bharat dialogue ideas key to Aatmanirbhar, inclusive growth across India: Satish Sharma

BGS Bloomfield Bengaluru celebrates Annual Day 2026**

GoI to resume talks with Ladakh leaders

Srinagar, Jan 8: The Union Home Ministry is set to convene a meeting of the high-powered committee it constituted to deliberate on issues of Ladakh. In an official communication, the MHA has informed Ladakh’s Chief Secretary that the next meeting of the high-powered committee-comprising representatives of the Union Home Ministry, the Ladakh administration, and leaders of Ladakh-will be convened in the last part of January. The Chief Secretary of Ladakh has been asked to consult the members of the high-powered committee regarding their convenient dates and inform the MHA accordingly. The MHA has decided to hold the meeting at a time when leaders of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA)-the two conglomerates spearheading the agitation for statehood and constitutional safeguards for the region-have expressed resentment over the inordinate delay in convening the panel’s meeting. Talks between Ladakh’s leadership and the Government of India were last held on October 22, 2025, in New Delhi. The Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) had submitted a 29-page draft proposal to the Ministry of Home Affairs, seeking statehood, Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh, and amnesty for people arrested after the September 24 protests. Apart from four deaths, nearly 100 others including police and paramilitary personnel were injured on September 24 when protesters went on a rampage, vandalising buildings and setting a BJP office and a police vehicle on fire. The clashes erupted over demands for statehood and constitutional safeguards on the 15th day of a hunger strike led by activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been booked under the NSA and lodged in Jodhpur jail. (KNO)

Editor January 8, 2026 0

Life not just about earning money or personal pursuits: IAF Chief

ECI holds CEOs’ conference ahead of IICDEM 2026

Centre invites suggestions from public on new Pesticides Bill

Airtel expands entertainment offers, launch Cartoon network Classics

KS News DeskSrinagar, Dec 29: Bharti Airtel, one of Indias leading telecommunications service providers, today announced the launch of the Airtel Cartoon Network Classics an exclusive value-added service available on Airtel Digital TV in collaboration with Warner Bros. Discovery.The new channel brings together some of the most iconic animated franchises from Cartoon Network, creating a dedicated destination for timeless storytelling and family-friendly entertainment.Airtel Cartoon Network Classics brings back a beloved lineup of timeless favorites such as Tom and Jerry, The Flintstones, Looney Tunes, Scooby Doo, Johnny Bravo and several other classics.Curated for audiences who grew up with these much loved and timeless shows, the channel will also allow families to introduce new generations to the animated stories that became part of the cultural zeitgeist of the 90s and 2000s while continuing to resonate today.Commenting on the launch, Pushpinder Singh Gujral, DTH-Business Head, Airtel said, Airtel Cartoon Network Classics adds a unique entertainment layer to our portfolio and offers customers a chance to reconnect with iconic stories and characters that are loved even today. We are pleased to make this channel available to all our DTH & IPTV users and look forward to bringing more such experiences to our customers.Priced at Rs 59 per month and available on Channel 445 in both English and Hindi language, the ad-free channel can be accessed across both connected set-top boxes such as Xstream and IPTV, as well as non-connected HD and SD boxes, enabling uninterrupted viewing without the need for any additional equipment.Talking about the collaboration, Arjun Nohwar, Managing Director, South Asia, Warner Bros. Discovery said, Cartoon Network Classics celebrates the enduring legacy of characters and stories that have entertained audiences worldwide for generations. At Warner Bros. Discovery, our focus is on keeping these stories accessible and relevant for todays audiences. Through our collaboration with Airtel, we are pleased to bring these iconic favourites to Indian screens in a new and accessible format, enabling fans to reconnect with cherished childhood memories while introducing a new generation to the original cartoons that helped shape global pop culture.The collaboration with Warner Bros. Discovery adds to Airtel's increasing array of value-added entertainment services, underscoring its commitment to providing high-quality, distinctive, and family-friendly content. By introducing Cartoon Network Classics as an exclusive offering, Airtel is expanding its content leadership and deepening interaction with viewers of all ages.Customers can activate Airtel Cartoon Network Classics through set-top box, missed call, through the Airtel Thanks app.With multiple easy-to-use options, subscribers can begin enjoying their favorite classic cartoons within seconds, without any complex steps or waiting times.

Admin December 30, 2025 0

Exercise DESERT CYCLONE II progresses with intensive joint urban operations training at Al-Hamra

Indian Army extends assistance to Sri Lanka inder Operation Sagar Bandhu

Maharashtra Farmer Sells Kidney After Loan of Rs 1 Lakh Ballooned to Rs 74 Lakh; Lenders Taken into Custody

0 Comments