Category: TechPulse

TechPulse

upGrad School of Technology Partners with SSAHE to Drive Industry-Linked Innovation on Campus

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

Sri Siddhartha Academy of Higher Education (SSAHE), Karnataka’s Deemed-to-be-University, has announced a strategic collaboration with upGrad School of Technology to embed an industry-aligned School of Technology within the university’s existing engineering programmes. The initiative aims to strengthen academic delivery by integrating application-first learning, research exposure and industry relevance from the very start of a student’s academic journey.

Under the collaboration, upGrad School of Technology, led by CEO Vishwa Mohan and Chief Revenue and Outcome Officer Mehul Khandhedia, will provide academic and curriculum advisory support while enabling deeper industry integration across SSAHE’s engineering framework. The approach includes research exposure, build sprints and continuous specialisations supported by AI-first learning technologies that deliver personalised learning pathways, real-time skill tracking and enhanced academic support.

Building on its experience in job-focused technology education, upGrad School of Technology will strengthen SSAHE’s engineering curriculum with practitioner-led modules in emerging fields such as Quantum Computing, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Robotics and Full Stack Engineering. Students will gain hands-on experience through extensive coding practice, project-based learning and structured industry-linked opportunities designed to foster product thinking and early exposure to real-world tech roles.

The initiative is being driven under the leadership of SSAHE Chancellor and Karnataka Home Minister Dr G. Parameshwara, who described the collaboration as a transformative step for the institution. He said the partnership would bring global education standards and innovation-driven learning to SSAHE campuses, preparing students to lead India’s next wave of technological advancement. Advisor to the Chancellor, Dr Vivek Veeraiah, added that the collaboration would seamlessly integrate industry-driven, application-first learning to ensure graduates are future-ready technologists.

In later phases, students will gain access to prototyping labs, seed-support channels and masterclasses by global founders and CTOs, enabling them to ideate, build and validate ventures within the university’s innovation ecosystem. The initiative promises three key outcomes: opportunities to work with leading global technology companies, structured entrepreneurial pathways with access to funding support, and a comprehensive ecosystem for deep-tech research in India and abroad.

Speaking on the collaboration, Vishwa Mohan and Mehul Khandhedia highlighted the importance of complementing strong academic foundations with real-time, application-focused learning to ensure students graduate as industry-ready contributors. upGrad Founder Ronnie Screwvala added that as India transitions from cost competitiveness to capability leadership, partnerships like this will play a crucial role in shaping the next generation of innovators and job creators.

In its first phase, upGrad School of Technology will focus on university partnerships across South India, with plans to scale the model nationally. The collaboration will be formally inaugurated in Bengaluru on 20 December, bringing together academic and industry leaders to discuss how India’s engineering youth can contribute to the vision of Viksit Bharat.

TechPulse

Maker’s Asylum Positions Goa as a Global Hub for Creative Innovation

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

Goa’s emergence as India’s Creative Capital is being shaped by communities, creators, and technology-led learning spaces that celebrate imagination and innovation. Within this evolving landscape, Maker’s Asylum has emerged as a key contributor, bringing together young innovators, global creators, and hands-on learning experiences that reinforce the state’s ambition to build a future-ready creative economy.

From its makerspace in Moira, Maker’s Asylum has welcomed students, artists, engineers, and young problem-solvers from across India and abroad who come to Goa not just for its natural beauty, but to build, experiment, and create. Over the last four years, more than 828 students from 15 countries, 150 schools, and 50 cities have travelled to the state to engage with its growing maker culture.

In 2025, ten cohorts of the Innovation School brought over 150 teenagers to Goa for immersive learning in robotics, electronics, fabrication, and product development. Their projects ranged from assistive devices and environmental robotics to AI-based sports solutions, reflecting the programme’s focus on real-world problem-solving. Maker’s Asylum also holds the highest number of OSHWA-certified open-source hardware projects in India, highlighting its commitment to accessible, collaborative innovation.

Looking ahead, the Fellowship for 2026 aims to expand this impact by supporting 100 teenagers from underserved communities across India through a six-month hybrid Innovation School journey. Participants will design and build solutions to pressing social and environmental challenges, with Maker’s Asylum inviting CSR collaborators and donors to help expand full and partial scholarships.

This December, Maker’s Asylum’s work is being highlighted at the 10th edition of the Serendipity Arts Festival, where it is hosting an eight-day programme of hands-on workshops, conversations, and maker showcases at Art Park, Panjim. By integrating maker culture into one of India’s leading multidisciplinary festivals, the initiative is bringing Goa’s creativity-driven innovation to a diverse national audience until December 21, 2025.

The celebrations will continue on December 28 with the Make Break Create Festival in Moira, a day-long showcase of Goa’s creative energy featuring working prototypes by young innovators, panel discussions on community and cultural spaces, interactive workshops, a makers flea market, and live music celebrating local talent.

Maker’s Asylum’s efforts align with the vision of the Startup and IT Promotion Cell under the Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications, led by Minister Shri Rohan A. Khaunte. By bringing global perspectives into local communities and encouraging cross-cultural exchange, the organisation demonstrates how Goa’s environment enables experimentation, innovation, and new ideas.

As Goa continues its journey toward becoming the Creative Capital of India, community-driven ecosystems like Maker’s Asylum highlight how culture, technology, and imagination can come together to shape a resilient, future-ready creative economy.

TechPulse

GITDC Launches Hands-On 3D Printing Training for Skill Development

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

To promote hands-on learning and capacity building in emerging technologies, the Goa Information Technology Development Corporation (GITDC), in association with the Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications (DITE&C), has begun trial training sessions in 3D printing technology. The first session was held on November 21, 2025, at the Additive Manufacturing Hub in Altinho, marking an important step towards strengthening technical competencies within the government workforce.

The inaugural session was attended by Shri Kabir Shirgaonkar, Director of DITE&C, Dr Milind Sakhardande, Joint Director of DITE&C, and Shri Subrai Nadkarni, Chief Engineer, GITDC. The training was conducted by Shri Ryan Vaz of Infinyt3D Pvt. Ltd and saw the participation of around twelve GITDC officials. Participants were introduced to the fundamentals of 3D technology through hands-on training in 3D modelling and design, including the use of 3D pens and basic design tools. The session combined presentations with practical demonstrations to help participants understand both theoretical concepts and real-world applications.

Upon completion of the programme, all participants received an Elementary 3D Printing certificate, recognising their foundational training in the technology. Speaking on the initiative, Shri Kabir Shirgaonkar said the programme is a crucial step in preparing government officials for future technological demands. He noted that exposure to advanced tools like 3D printing can help departments explore innovative applications and improve public service delivery.

The skilling initiative is being implemented under the leadership of Shri Rohan Khaunte, Hon’ble Minister for Information Technology, Electronics and Communications. It is designed as a structured three-module training programme comprising beginner, intermediate and advanced levels, covering the full spectrum of 3D printing applications from basic design to advanced prototyping. As part of this effort, a dedicated 3D Printing Bureau is also being established to support design and printing requirements for various government departments.

The next phase of training sessions will be organised for government officials through the Department of ITE&C, subject to participant availability, as GITDC continues its focus on building technical capacity and fostering innovation within the public sector.

TechPulse

iPhone 16 Pro Price Drops Below Rs 70,000 in Flipkart’s End of Season Sale

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

Flipkart’s End of Season Sale, running from December 12 to 21, is offering significant discounts across a range of electronic products, with Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro emerging as one of the standout deals. Through a combination of bank offers and exchange benefits, buyers can purchase the premium smartphone for an effective price below Rs 70,000.

During the sale period, the iPhone 16 Pro with 128GB storage is listed at Rs 1,09,900 on Flipkart. Customers using a Flipkart Axis Bank credit card are eligible for an instant discount of Rs 4,000. In addition, the platform offers an exchange benefit based on the user’s old device, its condition and pincode eligibility, with the maximum exchange value going up to Rs 68,050. When both offers are applied, the effective purchase price drops well below the Rs 70,000 mark.

Although it is not Apple’s newest model, the iPhone 16 Pro remains a compelling option in 2025 thanks to its flagship-grade performance, premium build quality and long-term software support. The device features a titanium frame, textured matte glass back and Ceramic Shield protection on the front, and is available in Black, White, Natural and Desert Titanium finishes.

The smartphone sports a 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with a 120Hz adaptive ProMotion refresh rate, HDR10 and Dolby Vision support, and up to 2,000 nits of peak outdoor brightness. Powering the device is Apple’s A18 Pro chip with a 6-core CPU, 6-core GPU and a 16-core Neural Engine, delivering smooth performance for gaming, photography and everyday tasks. Apple Intelligence features integrated into iOS further enhance productivity and creativity while maintaining a strong focus on on-device privacy.

Camera performance remains one of the iPhone 16 Pro’s key strengths. The device features a quad-camera system comprising a 48MP main sensor with advanced sensor-shift stabilisation, a 48MP ultra-wide camera, a 12MP 5x telephoto lens with tetraprism technology and a 12MP 2x telephoto option. It supports up to 25x digital zoom, 4K Dolby Vision video recording, ProRes recording up to 4K at 120fps, Log video and Spatial Video capture. The 12MP front camera supports 4K video, Night mode and enhanced portrait features.

In terms of connectivity and durability, the iPhone 16 Pro supports 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3 and a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip. It includes a USB-C port with DisplayPort support and offers IP68 water and dust resistance, along with Face ID, Emergency SOS via satellite and Crash Detection. For buyers willing to use exchange and bank offers, Flipkart’s End of Season Sale presents an opportunity to own a high-end iPhone at a significantly reduced price.

TechPulse

Tata Power’s EZ Home Wins Top Honour for AI/ML Innovation at National Power Conference

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

Tata Power’s smart home automation brand, EZ Home, has earned national recognition after being declared the sole winner in the Home Automation category at the AI/ML National Conference organised by the Ministry of Power. Held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, the conference brought together the country’s most promising AI-driven innovations in the power and energy sector. EZ Home stood out among strong contenders including Genus, Schneider Electric, Blaze, and Adani, securing its position as a leading force in India’s smart home ecosystem.

The Ministry’s initiative aims to highlight pioneering AI/ML solutions shaping the future of the power distribution landscape. From 195 applications submitted by DISCOMs, AMISPs, technology innovators, and home automation companies, only 51 solutions were shortlisted for deeper evaluation. EZ Home distinguished itself through its integration of smart home automation with AI-enabled smart meter analytics, demonstrating a consumer-centric approach that enhances convenience, safety, and energy efficiency for households across India.

The EZ Home ecosystem includes a versatile range of Wi-Fi-enabled devices such as smart switches, retrofittable modules, sensors, universal IR controllers, and smart plugs that seamlessly integrate with existing wiring. Through the EZ Home app and compatibility with major voice assistants, users can remotely manage appliances, monitor consumption at device level, automate routines, and receive intelligent insights powered by AI and machine learning. These capabilities allow consumers to better understand their energy use and make informed decisions that optimise consumption, ultimately contributing to long-term grid efficiency.

A distinguished jury featuring members from NPTI, Google India, Microsoft India, Meta India, and SARVAM evaluated the entries. EZ Home’s scalable architecture, intuitive design, and its potential to expand access to smart home technology across India earned high appreciation from the panel.

A Tata Power spokesperson emphasised that this recognition affirms the company’s commitment to building AI-led digital solutions that enhance consumer experiences while supporting India’s transition to intelligent, future-ready energy frameworks. Tata Power was also recognised in the AMISP category at the same conference, adding another milestone to its rapidly growing portfolio of technology-driven innovations.

Tata Power, one of India’s largest integrated power companies, continues to strengthen its role in the nation’s clean energy transition. With a diversified 15.9 GW portfolio spanning renewable and conventional energy, transmission, distribution, trading, storage, and solar manufacturing, the company is steadily progressing toward its Net Zero 2045 mission. Serving around 13 million customers nationwide, Tata Power remains committed to advancing systems that elevate efficiency, sustainability, and digital intelligence across India’s energy ecosystem.