Tag: #india

EduConnect

ICAR-CCARI Goa Bags ‘Best Institution Other Than School & College’ Award at 6th National Water Awards 2024

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

The ICAR–Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute (CCARI), Goa, has achieved national recognition by bagging the prestigious ‘Best Institution Other Than School & College’ award at the 6th National Water Awards 2024. The award, announced by the Department of Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD & GR) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, acknowledges the institute’s remarkable efforts in advancing water management, conservation, and sustainable agricultural practices in India’s coastal regions.

A total of 46 winners, including joint winners, have been selected across ten categories for the 2024 awards, which include Best State, Best District, Best Village Panchayat, Best Urban Local Body, Best School or College, Best Industry, Best Water User Association, Best Institution (other than school or college), Best Civil Society, and Best Individual for excellence in the water sector. Maharashtra was declared the Best State, followed by Gujarat and Haryana in second and third positions respectively.

The award ceremony is scheduled to be held on 18th November 2025 at 11:30 a.m. at Plenary Hall, Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, will grace the occasion as Chief Guest, alongside Minister of State for the Ministry of Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Chaudhary, Secretary of DoWR, RD & GR V.L. Kantha Rao, Secretary of Drinking Water and Sanitation Ashok K.K. Meena, and other senior officials.

Union Minister of Jal Shakti, C.R. Patil, highlighted that the National Water Awards reflect the government’s commitment to recognizing and promoting water conservation efforts nationwide. The awards are part of a broader initiative under the Ministry of Jal Shakti to build a sustainable and water-secure future for India under the guidance of the Prime Minister.

Introduced in 2018, the National Water Awards aim to create public awareness about the importance of water and motivate individuals and organizations to adopt best practices in water management. The awards were not conferred in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but they resumed thereafter with renewed focus on sustainable water practices. For the 2024 edition, launched on 23rd October 2024 via the Rashtriya Puraskar Portal of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the department received 751 applications. These were meticulously scrutinized and evaluated by a jury committee, followed by on-ground verification by the Central Water Commission (CWC) and Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), leading to the final selection of 46 awardees.

The recognition of ICAR–CCARI Goa underscores the institute’s long-standing contributions to coastal agriculture and water sustainability. The National Water Awards continue to serve as a powerful platform to encourage innovation, collaboration, and community engagement in water conservation efforts across India — strengthening the nation’s journey towards a ‘Jal Samridh Bharat’.

Human Interest

Goa Weekend Rescues: Drishti Marine Lifesavers Save 12, Aid Monkey-Attack Victim at Dudhsagar

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

Over the weekend, Drishti Marine lifesavers demonstrated exceptional courage and efficiency, rescuing twelve individuals from potentially life-threatening situations across Goa’s beaches and providing urgent first aid to a tourist injured at Dudhsagar waterfalls.

At Dudhsagar waterfalls, a 28-year-old man from Hyderabad suffered injuries after being attacked by a monkey, which caused him to fall and cut his left hand. Lifesavers promptly administered first aid and handed him over to his companion. Elsewhere, a 32-year-old tourist from Andhra Pradesh was rescued from drowning after jumping into water without a lifejacket, with lifesaver Babu Gavli rushing in with a rescue tube to bring him safely ashore.

On Sinquerim beach, three members of a family from Gujarat were swept by a large wave, prompting lifesaver Anand Rawool, assisted by Divakar Desai, Santosh Linda, Jimdar Karai, and Mangesh Gawas, to coordinate a successful rescue using a rescue tube. A similar rescue was carried out at Candolim beach when a 30-year-old man from Bengaluru was caught in a rip current 70 meters offshore. Lifesaver Roshan K., with support from Nanda Sawant on a jet ski, brought him safely to shore.

On Calangute beach, a group of four children faced panic after two went missing while playing. Lifesaver Suraj Sawant alerted supervisor Vinod Gaonkar, who immediately launched a search operation using the patrol vehicle. The missing children were soon found on another stretch of the beach and reunited safely with their group.

Baga beach saw lifesavers Biliyam Surim and Jitendra Giri rescue a 56-year-old man from Kerala caught in a rip current. Similarly, at Vagator beach, two minor boys aged 14 and 15 were rescued from a rip current by lifesavers Yashwant Kurle and Sachin Naik. Lifesavers also attended to a 12-year-old boy who accidentally swallowed water while playing, ensuring his transfer to a medical facility via ambulance.

Miramar beach witnessed the successful tracing of a missing child by lifesaver Ramesh Bhomkar, who reunited the distressed child with their parents using the tower’s loudspeaker for coordination. At Benaulim beach, lifesaver Siddhesh Gaonkar rescued a 29-year-old woman from Bengaluru who drifted 50 meters offshore while using a bodyboard.

Palolem beach incidents included the rescue of a 70-year-old tourist from South Korea by lifesaver Kalpesh Pagi and a 38-year-old man from Pune by lifesavers Jeeva Gaonkar and Nilesh Velip. At Agonda beach, a 76-year-old man from the UK was rescued from a rip current by lifesaver Bhikesh Velip, with assistance from Nilesh Galankar on a jet ski.

Through swift coordination, vigilance, and expert lifesaving skills, Drishti Marine teams ensured the safety of tourists and locals alike, showcasing professionalism and dedication in every rescue operation across Goa over the weekend.

Fit & Fabulous

Blenders Pride Fashion Tour 2025: Redefining Fashion’s Next Move

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

Blenders Pride Fashion Tour, India’s most definitive voice in fashion, returns in 2025 with an edition that promises to be unlike any other. With the theme ‘Fashion’s Next Move,’ the tour is set to merge creativity, culture, and innovation on a stage that is truly ‘The One and Only.’ In a world where trends are fleeting, this edition takes fashion boldly forward, reimagining what it means to lead and define the future of style.

The journey begins in Gurugram with ‘The Futureverse of Fashion,’ where designers Falguni and Shane Peacock, accompanied by Shahid Kapoor and Tamannaah Bhatia, unlock a visionary fashion experience. Here, the runway transforms into an immersive spectacle, blending technology and couture to reshape the dimensions of fashion and redefine how it is experienced.

The tour then moves to Jaipur with ‘High Octane Couture,’ featuring designers Abhishek Patni and Namrata Joshipura. This chapter draws inspiration from the speed, precision, and power of motorsports, translating them into an exhilarating fashion narrative. With the panache of Harnaaz Sandhu, Miss Universe 2021, and the energy of rapper Raftaar, the Jaipur edition promises glamour at full throttle, pushing fashion into uncharted territory.

The grand finale in Kolkata brings ‘Breaking the Moulds of Fashion Craft,’ with the iconic Anamika Khanna returning to the stage alongside Ishaan Khatter. This segment highlights the sublime artistry of Indian craftsmanship while bridging it with contemporary design vision, offering audiences not just fashion to admire but craft to revere.

Debasree Dasgupta, CMO of Pernod Ricard India, emphasizes that Blenders Pride Fashion Tour continues to set benchmarks in shaping the evolution of Indian fashion and style. With this year’s theme, the tour is poised to lead a bold narrative that inspires the next generation and invites them into a world where creativity, culture, and innovation converge. Sunil Sethi, Chairman of FDCI, echoes the excitement, highlighting that this collaboration amplifies the commitment to shaping the future of fashion in India, bringing together diverse perspectives that celebrate creativity and culture.

Blenders Pride Fashion Tour 2025 promises an unforgettable journey across India, where fashion transcends the runway, becomes an experience, and sets the tone for what’s next in global style.

Events in Goa

MRAI Sustainable Steel Conference 2025 Opens in Goa with a Strong Call for Green Transition in India’s Steel Sector

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

Goa, November 9, 2025 — The MRAI Sustainable Steel Conference 2025 (MSSC 2025), organised by the Material Recycling Association of India (MRAI), opened today at ITC Grand Goa, marking the state’s first major ferrous-focused steel and recycling conference. Supported by the Ministry of Steel, Government of India, and the National Institute of Secondary Steel Technology (NISST), the two-day event drew over 300 delegates, including steelmakers, recyclers, policymakers, and sustainability experts from across India.

The conference, themed “Green Steel and Sustainable Growth,” aims to accelerate India’s transition toward low-carbon steelmaking, aligning with the government’s roadmap for 300 million tonnes of sustainable steel production by 2030. The inauguration began with the traditional lamp lighting, followed by a welcome address by Mr. Zain Nathani, Vice President, MRAI, who emphasized that the discussions held at MSSC 2025 would define the next decade of India’s steel industry, particularly in the domains of standards, sustainability, and innovation.

Mr. Keyur Shah, Managing Director, Mono Steel (India) Ltd. and MRAI Board Director, noted that this marks Goa’s first ferrous conference by MRAI and highlighted the association’s evolution from 45 members to over 1,800. He also discussed significant policy wins such as zero import duty on ferrous scrap, simplified PCI procedures, and India’s vehicle scrappage policy under NITI Aayog, while announcing plans for green circular recycling parks and skill development programs.

Mr. Yogesh Mandhani, President of the All India Induction Furnace Association (AIIFA), reaffirmed the industry’s commitment to sustainability, citing that 17 companies have already received Green Steel Certificates from NISST. He stressed that collaboration between the industry and government will be crucial in ensuring affordable, sustainable steel production.

MRAI President Mr. Sanjay Mehta lauded the Ministry of Steel’s proactive engagement, noting that MRAI now operates across 11 recycling verticals in partnership with NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Environment. He also announced plans for upcoming vertical-specific conferences across India, covering both ferrous and non-ferrous sectors.

Addressing the conference, Shri Parmjeet Singh, Director of NISST, outlined India’s Green Steel Taxonomy, introduced in December 2024, which provides the framework for classifying low-carbon steel. He highlighted that 47% of India’s 200 million tonnes of steel capacity comes from the secondary sector and 38% of this production uses ferrous scrap — underscoring recycling’s pivotal role in sustainability.

In a virtual address, Shri V. K. Tripathi, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Steel, noted that India, now the world’s second-largest steel producer with 152 million tonnes of crude steel output, must focus on producing steel sustainably. He outlined the ministry’s strategy of short-term energy efficiency, medium-term hydrogen and carbon capture, and long-term net-zero steelmaking by 2070.

The inaugural day featured technical sessions on BIS standards and the evolving green steel market. BIS Director Shri Dwaipayan Bhadra emphasized the organisation’s collaborative and research-driven approach to standards, while a second session moderated by Mr. Abhijit Kulkarni of EY–Parthenon explored green steel procurement, financing, and policy frameworks.

Panellists from CII, RMI India Foundation, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, and Metalogic PMS discussed the importance of supportive policies and concessional financing to enable MSMEs to join the green transition. The day concluded with a networking dinner, fostering collaboration among government officials, industry leaders, and sustainability experts against Goa’s coastal backdrop.

The MRAI Sustainable Steel Conference 2025 continues on November 10, featuring discussions on carbon credits, recycling technology, and policy roadmaps for India’s sustainable industrial future.

Sports

Raahul V S Becomes India’s 91st Chess Grandmaster After Winning ASEAN Individual Championship

Tanisha Cardozo

India’s chess fraternity is celebrating a new milestone as Raahul V S becomes the nation’s 91st Grandmaster, following his outstanding victory at the ASEAN Individual Championship. Raahul clinched the title with a round to spare, showcasing remarkable skill, strategy, and composure throughout the tournament. His achievement marks another shining chapter in Bharat’s rapidly growing chess legacy.

Raahul’s journey to the Grandmaster title has been one of consistent dedication, discipline, and passion for the game. Over the years, he has demonstrated exceptional promise in national and international tournaments, steadily building his reputation as one of India’s brightest young chess talents. His victory at the ASEAN Championship not only earned him the coveted GM title but also reaffirmed India’s position as one of the world’s strongest chess nations.

Becoming a Grandmaster is a defining milestone for any chess player, representing mastery over one of the most intellectually demanding sports. Raahul’s success adds to India’s remarkable tally of chess achievements, following a golden era that has seen the rise of young prodigies continuing the legacy started by legends such as Viswanathan Anand.

The achievement is being celebrated across the Indian chess community, with fans and peers hailing Raahul’s performance as an inspiration to aspiring players across the country. His success story reflects the power of perseverance, mentorship, and India’s growing investment in nurturing chess at the grassroots level.

As the 91st Grandmaster of Bharat, Raahul V S embodies the nation’s rising dominance in the world of chess — a game that continues to capture the imagination of millions. With his latest triumph, he joins an elite league of minds who have carried India’s intellectual tradition onto the global stage.

Heartiest congratulations to Grandmaster Raahul V S — may this be just the beginning of a long and victorious journey ahead, inspiring generations of young players to make Bharat proud.