Indian Institute of Technology Mandi is launching a new B.Tech. programme in Engineering Physics from the next academic year (August 2019).

The programme is being offered jointly by School of Basic Sciences (SBS), School of Computing and Electrical Engineering (SCEE) and the School of Engineering (SE) at IIT Mandi. The curriculum of Engineering Physics will introduce students to a wide variety of fields in pure as well as applied Physics.

A Bachelor’s in Engineering Physics will open several career paths in interdisciplinary areas such as Quantum Technology, Photonics, Nano-Electronics and Artificial Intelligence, which are promising to become dominant in the near future.

This course will prepare students to apply Physics to tackle these 21st century challenges. Additionally, this programme will also prepare students to pursue an advanced degree in Physics as well as in Engineering.

The Engineering Physics programme will enhance the cross-functionality and will bridge the gap between pure science and traditional engineering disciplines which so far have been pursued independently. This is necessary because in today’s world, major scientific and technological breakthroughs happen in a multidisciplinary environment where scientists from pure science work along with engineers. It is therefore highly important to inculcate both scientific and technological aspects, and the programme in the Engineering Physics will serve this purpose.

Speaking about the uniqueness of the programme, Dr. Pradeep Kumar, Course Coordinator, School of Basic Sciences, IIT Mandi, said, “21st century belongs to the interdisciplinary areas and Engineering Physics will act as catalyst to bridge the gap between basic science and traditional engineering disciplines to tackle the next generation technological challenges such Quantum technology, Artificial Intelligence”.

The core course will cover basic areas in Physics such as Quantum Mechanics, Condensed Matter Physics, as well as feature basic courses in Mathematics and Engineering. Besides a number of courses in Science and Engineering, courses from other branches like Humanities and Social Sciences will also be available as electives, under this programme. This broad base choice of courses will allow students to explore their areas of interest.

Dr. Pradeep Parameswaran, Dean (Academics), IIT Mandi, said, “IIT Mandi since its inception has believed in challenging rigid disciplinary boundaries, and our course offerings reflect our interdisciplinary outlook. Hence, we feel this Engineering Physics course will appeal to all stakeholders: potential students as well as employers in industry and academia.”

Since the first batch of 97 students joined in July 2009, IIT Mandi has grown to host 1,300 students including 300 PhD, 46 MS research scholars, besides 110 Faculty and 150 staff. It has been ranked No. 20 in the Engineering Institutions Category in the India Rankings 2019 released by National Institutional Ranking Framework, Ministry of Human Resources Development, Govt. of India.  In the Outreach and Inclusivity metric of NIRF, IIT Mandi is 1st among all 23 IITs.

Women Deliver, Girl Effect, and the Government of Canada (Global Affairs Canada), have announced a new research focused on engaging youth as researchers and advocates around youth sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). 

The project will rely on Girl Effect’s award-winning Technology Enabled Girl Ambassadors (TEGA) programme; a mobile-based peer-to-peer research methodology where young women between 17-24 are trained to become fully qualified researchers within their communities.

The multi-country project will take place in India, Malawi, and Rwanda and will engage youth as advisors, researchers, and advocates. The initiative aims to generate insights that will shape the investment case for youth-friendly SRHR interventions, such as modern contraception or gender-based violence counselling. In addition, the results will equip youth with the evidence needed to carry forward their own advocacy efforts.

“If we want youth policies and programs to work, and get bang for our investment buck, we need to involve youth all the way. They are the experts on their own lives, and know what they need. They are the game-changers and the best spokespersons for their sexual and reproductive health and rights,” said Katja Iversen, President/CEO of Women Deliver. “Youth are the key to success, and we need to listen, learn, involve, and take action accordingly.”  

“Our sector needs accurate, fast and authentic data and insights about young people, and the unique challenges they face, in order to design, iterate and evaluate programmes to ensure they’re as effective as possible,” said Jessica Odede, CEO of Girl Effect. “TEGA’s unique approach unlocks conversations that might otherwise be lost or not included when collecting data in traditional ways, and ensures even the hardest to reach voices are included. Better yet, the TEGA programme is a form of employment and empowerment for our young researchers too.”

Multiple data and knowledge gaps remain regarding youth’s sexual and reproductive health. Youth are often not engaged in shaping health services due to systematic barriers and persistent marginalization. Initiatives that engage youth throughout have the potential to better address the needs of communities in a sustainable way. The research, funded by Global Affairs Canada, will equip decision-makers with the information they need to create more inclusive health systems.

Through consultations, youth will shape the primary research question and TEGAs will collect the corresponding data. Further, a Youth Advisory Board on research will facilitate input from Women Deliver Young Leaders—outstanding young advocates for gender equality and the health and rights of girls and women—on the initiative.

“Applying meaningful youth engagement to the research process – including implementation and dissemination – shifts power to young people themselves,” said Sruthi Chandrasekaran, researcher at Ibis Reproductive Health and Women Deliver Young Leader (Class of 2016). 

The initial research findings will be shared at the 25th Anniversary of the International Conference for Population and Development in Nairobi, Kenya.

Working alongside with Global Affairs Canada and Girl Effect, Women Deliver will share this research with key decision-makers and policymakers—advocating for not only youth-vetted improvements to health services—but the consistent engagement of youth in the development of future SRHR programs. In addition, the findings will inform advocacy and accountability efforts from the community level to the national level—which could range from consultations with policymakers to developing guidelines that require youth input on programs intended to serve them. 

As widely anticipated, RBI has once again reduced its key lending rate by 25 basis point. The lending rate now stands at 5.75, and this is the third consecutive rate cut since February 2019. Even though the Indian economy is perceived to be in the grips of a slowdown, the markets are quite bullish on Modi’s return to power with a thumping majority. This may eventually lead to mitigated risks in fiscal deficit – in all likelihood, it is sensing this that the RBI has made this rate cut.

As for the housing sector, this rate cut may send only send out positive notional signals – its real gain can be realised only if banks pass on the benefits to actual homebuyer borrowers. The apex bank will need to ensure that this actually happens at the ground level since there has been little evidence of such transmissions in the recent past.

In the current scenario bereft with rising NPAs and the ongoing NBFC crisis, things look quite bleak at the moment. The reason why most banks are not really able to pass on the benefits of RBI’s rate cuts is that their deposit rates are still very high. This ultimately makes reducing interest rates to borrowers unfeasible.

Nevertheless, this rate cut will only have any really significant impact on the housing market if and when banks reduce their lending rates to homebuyers.

(Author views are personal. He is Chairman of Anarock)

Happy Singh aka Harpreet is one of the most popular singers and rappers of today’s time. The US-based Indian singer is also a talented songwriter and music composer. He has given a new dimension to the way people enjoy Hip-hop and rap music.

Reaching to this heights in his career wasn’t a cakewalk for Happy Singh. But one thing that kept him going on was his dedication and talent to do good music and songs. 

His fans love his Punjabi music that blends perfectly with an American music touch to it. The singer has given several hits like Nakhra, Give It Now, Give It To Me, and Spazz Out. Soon, songs like  Need Me, Sabrina, Dance For Me, Right Now and many others will be out now.

If one takes a look at Happy Singh’s Instagram page, they will get to see his photos and videos with various artists and about his work. From sharing concert pics to rehearsal videos and photos, Happy Singh keeps his fans updated all the time with his work and songs.

Entrepreneurship is the latest trend these days worldwide. Youngsters from all over the world are aspiring to build something of their own and make an impact on the world and their country. Out of the box thinking, a skilful mind and the art to sell your service while providing value to the customers is the key points that every entrepreneur must have. 

There has been a huge dominance of people of the technological field in the entrepreneurship scene in India. “Yash Vardhan Swami” is a fitness and body trainer who took entrepreneurship and fitness industry to a whole new level and gave it a different dimension. Yash Vardhan Swami whos a law graduate fitness trainer has changed the scene of the fitness industry in the country.

Yash Vardhan Swami works with a lot of brands and corporates which are very famous worldwide as a brand ambassador and has celebrity clients like Sumedh Mudalkar, Anna Kler, Shefali Sood. He promotes fitness and a healthy lifestyle and gives seminars nationally and internationally and was also interviewed at BBC Radio Leicester last year. (though it wasn’t aired). Yash has been spreading awareness on health and fitness internationally and for developing the business he has also gives online coaching.

Yash Vardhan with his unique style and use of technology expanding his brand and awareness about fitness and health. In the year 2018, he started a hashtag #40kStepsChallenge a unique way of promoting fitness and daily habits which went viral and hundreds of people around the world followed it and over 150 people got their prize after completing the challenge.

With the use of trends and utilisation of modern resources such as social media, Yash Vardhan Swami has truly used his entrepreneur skills very effectively. Yash with his ideas inspiring the youth and a large number of people for fitness is truly remarkable.  Using his entrepreneur skills and business mind have turned his profession of a fitness trainer and life coach into a more effective and influencing work that changes people live in a much better way.

For the most part, casinos are illegal in India, even though gaming and betting are issues left up to the states to govern. Some festival holidays come with limited gambling permissions, and there are also some states that do allow casinos,  with Goa and its floating gaming venues  being the most notable. In Goa, in fact, there are both onshore venues and docked casino cruises, but only the latter can legally have live tables. Filled with bars, gaming tables, and pretty surroundings, the floating casinos largely attract travellers who are looking for a luxurious night out, and thus contribute to Goa’s standing as one of India’s most popular tourist destinations.

We mention Goa because it’s seen by some as an example of what could be. In this region, the state has wisely decided to permit casino activity in order to bring in even more money than it otherwise would from tourists exploring the area (as well as, undoubtedly, from some locals who simply enjoy gambling). 

Some proponents of an expanded casino industry argue that there could be economic benefits attached to legalising gaming and betting in more states throughout India. For instance, although taxes on casino earnings aren’t nearly as profitable as other forms of taxation, they’re still a potential source of revenue for state governments (if not the national government). At present, many tourists inclined to gamble do so because they can’t where they’re from – and thus, taxes on winnings in these instances go to the states or countries tourists are visiting, rather than the ones they reside in. To look at one example, this has been an incentive for some states in the United States (where gambling is widely prohibited) to loosen their laws. These states don’t want to be losing potential income to other states or countries. 

Governments can also run their own lotteries when betting is legal, and more often than not it’s the state the reaps the benefits of national lotteries. For example, looking again to the U.S. (a fitting comparison given the mix of gambling laws), the government of California made 25 cents for every dollar spent on lottery tickets , and then used that money to boost education spending and avoid budget cuts. Of course, not all governments would necessarily spend this sort of tax revenue in such a useful way, but the potential is certainly for positive results is there.  

Goa can be viewed by proponents as a nice start in this business, and the coast will always attract tourists because of its stunning beauty. Nevertheless, it remains the case that India’s gaming business in no way compares to that of some other major destinations around the world, primarily in Southeast Asia and Europe. Not only are casinos popular and readily accessible in these areas, but some countries – most notably the UK and Ireland – have also enjoyed huge industry boosts by making online casino gaming options available . In some cases, the online games are even accessible beyond national borders, effectively establishing international revenue streams. 

In Southeast Asia, meanwhile, the focus has been more on establishing lavish casino resorts, such as Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa, to name a few. To use the latter as an example, the venue not only has a massive casino, but is also home to six hotels, a water park, and a Universal Studios, among many other attractions. As a tourist hub in the city, Resorts World has effectively integrated gaming into the traveller experience by positioning it alongside so many other popular attractions. And even now there are reports coming out about the potential expansion of the resort – one goal being for the government to bring in more revenue from gaming.  

Of course, there are always potential downsides to opening more casinos as well. Governments show concern for the liability involved, and in some cases don’t want to help spread an activity that some frown upon. However, examples around the world show that if managed properly and closely regulated, casinos in various forms have the potential to boost a state or national economy. It’s for this simple reason that casino expansion is something Indian governing bodies would at least do well to consider in the near future. 

Cabinet Ministers

Ministers of State (Independent Charge)

Ministers of State

 Source – PIB

New Delhi – Narendra Modi who was sworn in as Prime Minister here on Thursday for the second five-year term created history by becoming the first non-Congress premier to head a BJP-led NDA government with its own full majority in the Lok Sabha.  

Mr Modi’s team 2.0 represented a mix of seasoned political leaders, and fresh faces. During the nearly two-hour long ceremony, 58 ministers were administered oath of office and secrecy by President Ram Nath Kovind. The Modi team included 25 Cabinet rank ministers, including the Prime Minister, nine Ministers of State with Independent charge and 24 Ministers of State.

Mr Modi executed a fine balance of young and old as well as took care of different regions and allies of the BJP by accommodating them in his team.   

If BJP President Amit Shah occupied a prominent place in the Union Cabinet taking oath after Rajnath Singh at serial number three, two prominent faces of the outgoing Modi government Maneka Gandhi and Suresh Prabhu did not find place in the Cabinet. Former Foreign Secretary Dr S. Jaishankar who was also India’s Ambassador in Beijing and Washington was included as a Cabinet Minister.

Former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj preferred to stay out of the Cabinet on account of their health conditions.

The grand and star-studded swearing-in ceremony at the sprawling forecourt of the majestic Rashtrapati Bhawan was witnessed by a distinguished gathering of nearly 8,000 guests. Leaders from Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Kyrgz Republic, Mauritius, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Nepal witnessed the ceremony, braving sweltering heat as mercury touched 43 degrees Celsius in the national Capital.

UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, Smajawadi Party (SP) supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, BJP patriarch L K Advani, veteran Murli Manohar Joshi, were seated in the front row. Industrialist Mukesh Ambani, Bollywood stars Kangana Ranawat, Anupam Kher, Shahid Kapoor, Karan Johar, Vivek Oberoi, Jitendra attended the ceremony. Mega star Rajnikanth who has described Mr Modi as a charismatic leader on the lines of Nehru and Indira Gandhi was a special attraction.

Riding on the popularity of Mr. Modi, BJP won a massive mandate by winning 303 seats on its own in the just-concluded elections for the 17^th Lok Sabha and the NDA’s tally went up to 353. In his second term, Mr Modi becomes the 15^th Prime Minister of the world’s largest democracy.

The Cabinet rank ministers included three women – Nirmala Sithraman, Smriti Irani, both ministers in the outgoing Modi government and Harsimrat Kaur Badal of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) who held Food Processing portfolio since 2014. Smriti Irani wrested the prestigious Amethi Lok Sabha seat from Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, demolishing a strong Gandhi family bastion in the heart of U.P.

A key ally of the BJP, Janata Dal (United) of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar decided to stay away from the Union Cabinet. Other allies who were given Cabinet berths included Ram Vilas Paswan of LJP and Arvind Sawant of Shiv Sena. Ramdas Athawale of Republican Party of India (RPI) was given Minister of State rank.

Attired in his sharp churidar-kurta and a light color jacket, Mr Modi arrived at the forecourt just moments before the swearing-in ceremony began and greeted the distinguished gathering. He was greeted by loud cheers and chants of “Modi, Modi’’. Lusty cheers and rounds of claps were also reserved for BJP chief Amit Shah and Smriti Irani who took oath on their turns.  

As the swearing-in ceremony stretched into evening hours and daylight slowly faded away, the colourful lighting of Rashtapati Bhawan and Jaipur Column presented a pleasing and glittering backdrop.

After the conclusion of the ceremony, Mr Modi and his council of ministers posed for photographs with President Mr. Kovind and Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu. Mr Modi was also warmly greeted by the foreign dignitaries and BIMSTEC leaders separately.

Ahead of World No Tobacco Day the World Health Organization is highlighting the damage tobacco causes to lung health: over 40% of all tobacco-related deaths are from lung diseases like cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and tuberculosis. WHO is calling on countries and partners to increase action to protect people from exposure to tobacco.

“Every year, tobacco kills at least 8 million people. Millions more live with lung cancer, tuberculosis, asthma or chronic lung disease caused by tobacco,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “Healthy lungs are essential to living a healthy life. Today – and everyday – you can protect your lungs and those of your friends and family by saying no to tobacco.”

In 2017, tobacco killed 3.3 million users and people exposed to second-hand smoke from lung-related conditions, including:

• 1.5 million people dying from chronic respiratory diseases
• 1.2 million deaths from cancer (tracheal, bronchus and lung)
• 600 000 deaths from respiratory infections and tuberculosis

More than 60 000 children aged under 5 die of lower respiratory infections caused by second-hand smoke. Those who live on into adulthood are more likely to develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) later in life.

What can be done?

WHO is urging countries to fight the tobacco epidemic through full implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) and enforcing effective tobacco control actions, including WHO’s recommended “MPOWER” policy measures, for example by reducing demand for tobacco through taxation, creating smoke-free places and cessation support.

The Organization also encourages parents and community leaders to take steps to safeguard the health of their families and communities by informing them of and protecting them from the harms caused by tobacco.

Exposure to tobacco impacts greatly on the lung health of people around the world, including in the following ways:

Lung cancer: Tobacco smoking is the primary cause for lung cancer, responsible for over two thirds of lung cancer deaths globally. Second-hand smoke exposure at home or in the workplace also increases risk of lung cancer. Quitting smoking can reduce the risk of lung cancer: after 10 years of quitting smoking, risk of lung cancer falls to about half that of a smoker.

Chronic respiratory disease: Tobacco smoking is the leading cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a condition where the build-up of pus-filled mucus in the lungs results in a painful cough and agonizing breathing difficulties. The risk of developing COPD is particularly high among individuals who start smoking at a young age, and those exposed to second-hand smoke, as tobacco smoke significantly slows lung development. Tobacco also exacerbates asthma, which restricts activity and contributes to disability. Early smoking cessation is the most effective treatment for slowing the progression of COPD and improving asthma symptoms.

Across the life-course: Infants exposed in-utero to tobacco smoke toxins, through maternal smoking or maternal exposure to second-hand smoke, frequently experience reduced lung growth and function. Young children exposed to second-hand smoke are at risk of the onset and exacerbation of asthma, pneumonia and bronchitis, and frequent lower respiratory infections. Smokers should ensure they never smoke in the presence of an infant or young child.

Tuberculosis. Tuberculosis (TB) damages the lungs and reduces lung function, which is further exacerbated by tobacco smoking. About one quarter of the world’s population has latent TB, placing them at risk of developing the active disease. People who smoke are twice as likely to fall ill with TB. Active TB, compounded by the damaging lung health effects of tobacco smoking, substantially increases risk of disability and death from respiratory failure. TB sufferers should take immediate steps to quit tobacco to enable their TB treatment regime to be effective.

Air pollution: Tobacco smoke is a dangerous form of indoor air pollution: it contains more than 7 000 chemicals, 69 of which are known to cause cancer. Though smoke may be invisible and odourless, it can linger in the air for up to five hours. 

How tobacco relates to the SDGs: In order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of a one-third reduction in NCD premature mortality by 2030, tobacco control must be a priority for governments and communities worldwide. The world is not on track to meet this target.

Source – WHO

Creative people are making a significant contribution to the design industry and the world at large. There are thousands of graphic designers worldwide, which are doing an excellent job for the internet world by providing classic visualisation for every site and company branding. 

If anyone looking to join designing world then there is one man called Mehdi Abouelmahassine this guy from Agadir Morocco is brilliant in his work, his 3d job, logos, sneakers designer, sports designs you name it he had done it and that to of top personalities. You can see each everyone sending videos messages for his work as an appreciation message for work done. His banners and all are just superb, and when you see his ideas on work done by him is supreme. Many of his works are on gym related which are just mind-blowing. 

Many right clients always appreciate his work, and they too are big names in their industry for an example Mehdi Abouelmahassine has done job Tavi Castro who is a bodybuilder and his all graphics work and design work, you can see his messages too on Mehdi’s Insta account. He is not the one; there are many other celebs who’s designing part handled by Mehdi Abouelmahassine.

Mehdi Abouelmahassine is success full because he works with the trend and also brings new things to his work like colour channel effects, Double exposure, typography as real-life elements, use of robust and bright colours with 3D effects and also one colour 3D effect which is his USP. Artist illustration work and you name all latest things in designing he is master of all. Honestly, he is the jack of everything. 

Designs which are made by Mehdi Abouelmahassine will be responsive and more depth work with semi-flat designs and more touches you can see in his work.

This Agadir Morocco designer is different, and his designs are lots of Buzz in the market, and we will see more and more cool designs from his side for sports and all, and his celeb fan following is going to increase day by day with his experience and work.

One thing is final by looking to his talent we will see Mehdi Abouelmahassine name in the world’s top graphic designer in coming years, and we are eager to see more of his creative work for the sports world. It is going to be interesting what’s new he gives to the GYM and sportswear clients.