Author: Sharad Natani
In a remarkable example of citizen-led change, Reap Benefit’s WhatsApp chatbot is transforming the way young Indians address civic challenges—from potholes to floods and garbage management. Across 18 states, over 1.5 lakh volunteers, affectionately called ‘Solve Ninjas’, are turning everyday observations into real-world action. Turning Frustration into Action When floods hit Punjab this year, 24-year-old social activist Ranveer from Mansa witnessed homes destroyed and families struggling. Equipped with the Reap Benefit chatbot, he documented damaged houses with photos, geotagged locations, and descriptions. Within days, his structured report helped authorities disburse direct compensation to affected families, cutting through bureaucratic delays. “Earlier,…
Eli Lilly and Company has announced a major investment of over USD 1 billion in India over the next several years to enhance contract manufacturing capabilities and improve global access to innovative medicines. This move aligns with India’s Make in India agenda and demonstrates Lilly’s confidence in the country as a key hub for life sciences and healthcare manufacturing. New Manufacturing & Quality Hub in Hyderabad As part of this investment, Lilly will establish a Manufacturing & Quality hub in Hyderabad, offering advanced technical capabilities and oversight for its contract manufacturing network across India. This new facility will support the…
In a groundbreaking advancement for India’s medical technology sector, the clinical team at Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences (MAIDS), New Delhi, successfully performed the country’s first customised Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) implant procedure on four patients. This milestone reflects India’s growing capabilities in indigenous medical device innovation and the synergy between research institutions and clinical expertise. Homegrown Innovation for Affordable Healthcare The TMJ implant was developed indigenously at the ICMR-DHR-MedTech Product Development Acceleration Gateway of India (mPRAGATI) at IIT Delhi, under the guidance of the Medical Device and Diagnostics Mission Secretariat (MDMS). This initiative marks a major step toward reducing…
Vamsi Krishna hails from Upper Mandapalle village in Rajampet mandal, Annamayya district, Andhra Pradesh. Losing his father at a young age, Vamsi became the primary support for his family. Despite financial struggles, he nurtured a passion for sports, particularly boxing, Thai boxing, and karate. Life presented him with additional hardships when the catastrophic 2021 Annamayya floods destroyed his home and all his achievements, including medals and certificates. Beginning of a Sporting Journey Vamsi started training under Coach Anand Achari at the age of seven. Initially focusing on Thai boxing and karate, he earned recognition in several state and national-level tournaments.…
A fresh trade dispute is brewing between Asia’s two largest economies. China has filed a formal complaint at the World Trade Organization (WTO) against India’s electric vehicle (EV) and battery subsidy programs, accusing New Delhi of providing “unfair support” to domestic manufacturers at the cost of Chinese companies. According to a Reuters report, China’s Ministry of Commerce stated it would take “strong measures to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of its domestic industries.” The move marks a significant escalation in trade tensions between the two countries — this time in the fast-growing clean mobility sector. India Responds: ‘We’ll Review…
Putting an end to speculation about the government’s choice of Zoho Mail for official communication, Zoho Corporation’s co-founder and CEO Sridhar Vembu clarified that the company was selected by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) only after an exhaustive multi-stage evaluation and nearly 20 security audits of its codebase, infrastructure, and cybersecurity protocols. “Selection was purely merit-based,” says Vembu Addressing social media debates about alleged favoritism, Vembu emphasized that Zoho’s selection was not politically influenced but the result of a rigorous, transparent, and competitive process. “We went through around 15 to 20 independent audits that covered every aspect of our operations…