Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will inaugurate the Indian Air Force Heritage Centre in Chandigarh tomorrow. He will also lay the foundation stone for Centre for Cyber Ops and Security.
The Heritage Centre will comprise of artifacts, simulators and interactive boards, to highlight the various facets of operations in the Indian Air Force.
It will showcase the important role played by Air Force for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief besides its combat capabilities.
It will also house various vintage aircraft. The Heritage Centre will go a long way in motivating and inspiring the youth of this city in making a career in the Indian Air Force.

Chandigarh Design Festival concluded with an awe-inspiring Day 2 at Chitkara International School, Sec 25 Chandigarh, which saw some of the brightest minds from the design industry coming together to discuss the future of design in India and the world. The second day of the festival, organised in academic partnership with Chitkara Design School, was a testament to the power of design and how it is shaping our world in innovative ways. Dr. Madhu Chitkara, Pro-Chancellor, Chitkara University said she was hopeful that the Festival will open up global avenues for not just Chandigarh but all of North India. “The tenets of design are no longer confined to merely the aesthetics of objects or their functional purposes; it has become a driving force in shaping the future of our society… By bringing together experts from all fields of design, we can create a collaborative environment that encourages experimentation, innovation, and creativity”, she noted.
The keynote address delivered by David Kusuma, President of World Design Organisation, on ‘Designing a New Era: India’s Impact on the Global Design Landscape’ emphasized the need for India to lead the way in design and how design can be used as a tool for social change.
Azmina Poddar, MD at Accenture, moderated a panel on ‘Putting Life Centricity and Sustainability at the heart of your choices’. Poddar emphasized the need for designers to create sustainable solutions that are centered around people’s needs.
The panel discussion on ‘Designing a Bold Future: Opportunities and Innovations in India’s Design Landscape’ was moderated by Ramneek Majithia and featured David Kusuma, Azmina Poddar, and Sachendra Yadav, a Cloud UX Solutions Specialist at Google. The panel discussed the importance of innovation and how design can be used to create new opportunities in India’s rapidly evolving design landscape.
Fashion designer Masaba Gupta was the biggest star presence, delivering an insightful session in interview by Sanyukta Shrestha on ‘Fashion Forward: Charting the Course for India’s Fashion Design Industry on a Global Stage’. While Gupta is the Founder-Owner of House of Masaba, a luxury fashion brand known for its fusion of traditional Indian textiles with modern silhouettes and designs, Shrestha is a Nepalese-born British fashion designer known for her sustainable and ethical bridal wear. In this talk, Gupta shared her insights on how India’s fashion industry can gain a foothold on the global stage and how designers can use their creativity to push boundaries and break stereotypes.
Sudhir Sharma, Founder and CEO of Indi Design, delivered a talk on ‘Design, Tech, and Culture: Future of Indian Design’. Sharma discussed the need for designers to embrace technology and how Indian culture can be used as a source of inspiration in design.
The second panel discussion of the day, ‘The Design Revolution: How Technology and Innovation are Shaping the Future of Design’, was moderated by Manpal Setia and featured Gagan Sahni, Head of Design at Absolute, Kireet Khurana, Indian Animator and Filmmaker, Sudhir Sharma, and Gopal Meena, Vice President – Strategy Initiatives, Chitkara Design School. The panel discussed how technology is changing the way we design and how innovation can be used to create new solutions to old problems.
The festival ended with a felicitation of Robin Aggarwal from TiE and Lalit Kala Akademi by David Kusuma, and a vote of thanks by Festival Director, Ankur Malhotra. The two-day Chandigarh Design Festival 2023 organised in academic partnership with Chitkara Design School was a resounding success, showcasing the power of design and how it can be used to create a better future for us all.
‘I came mainly to hear Masaba Gupta, she’s such a girl boss, but it turned out there was so much more to experience than just glamour today, I did not expect this at all!’, said one of the young attendees. ‘Who knew fashion was more than just beautiful models in beautiful clothes walking on the ramp’, commented the mother of one of the students at Chitkara Design School, ‘The Festival helped me understand better why my child chose to pursue this field, and the immense scope that lies ahead for him’.

Chandigarh Building strategic partnership, Chitkara University, Punjab, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Tafe Motors and Tractors Limited (TMTL).
The MoU was signed in the presence of Dr. Madhu Chitkara, Pro-Chancellor, Chitkara University; Nikhil Sinha, associate vice-president, TMTL, and the chief guest for the occasion; and Piyush Garg, vice-president, Chitkara University Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development (CEED).
Under the agreement, TMTL will provide CSR funding investment to Chitkara University ,which will encourage innovative technology startups and agritech startups that will benefit the society and the country. Another key initiative of this MoU is that TMTL will encourage IT startup by providing logistics, funding support and a 3D printing machine design space.
Students of Chitkara University will also get opportunity for internships and career opportunities in TMTL and benefit from their resources.
On the occasion, Madhu Chitkara, pro-chancellor, Chitkara University, said, “We, at Chitkara University, believe in providing our staff and students the perfect environment and opportunities to hone their skills and engage in ideas with each other. With such collaborations, we are able to bring inquisitive minds under one roof that motivate our students who are the passport to the future.”
Nikhil Sinha, associate vice-president, TMTL, said, “Tafe Motors has a strong presence in the retail, agro, telecom, and industrial segments, with more than 18 years of service. Hence, the MoU will serve as a comprehensive partnership for industry-academia collaboration, for the promotion of innovation, startups, and research with a special focus on CSR.”

The Readers Club and Institution’s Innovation Council of Goswami Ganesh Dutta Sanatan Dharma College, Chandigarh, organized an online workshop today on “Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) & Patents and Design Filing” in association with Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Intellectual Property Management (RGNIIPM), Government of India, Nagpur (Under National Intellectual Property Awareness Mission (NIPAM)). Sh Kumar Raju, Assistant Controller, Patents and Designs, Indian Patent Office (IPO) was the resource person for the workshop.

Addressing the need for innovation and the importance of awareness regarding patent filing in the present circumstance, Dr. Ajay Sharma, Principal of the college, stated that workshops such as this are the need of the hour and help equip students with real-world knowledge which remains quintessential to their success as independent and innovative youngsters of an emerging India. He welcomed Sh Kumar Raju and thanked him for sparing his valuable time to contribute to the National Intellectual Property Awareness Mission.

Sh Kumar Raju, Assistant Controller, Patents and Designs, Indian Patent Office (IPO), Mumbai/RGNIIPM Nagpur shared an enlightening and interactive presentation. Highlighting the key aspects of IPR and the processes involved in patent filing, Sh Raju, incorporated practical anecdotes from his vast experience in the field of patent examination and offered a lucid understanding of the entire process. The students were encouraged by the thorough yet accessible workshop and responded by participating in an interactive and inquisitive manner. Sh Rishi, Head, Information Technology (NIPAM) ensured the smooth conduct of the session. A question and answer session was held towards the end of the workshop wherein students enquired regarding various facets of IPR as well as patent designing and filing. Dr. Agrim Verma from the Department of Commerce and Management moderated the session and ensured smooth proceedings of the session. Over 210 students and faculty from a myriad of disciplines attended the workshop. Dr. Gurpreet Singh, Head Librarian offered the vote of thanks.

Post the holy ceremony, Satnam Singh Sandhu, Chairman, CGC Landran and Rashpal Singh Dhaliwal, President, CGC Landran addressed the students and faculty members. They congratulated and lauded them for their efforts which saw CGC Landran getting NBA accreditation for its engineering courses as well as being ranked 139th Pan India, among the Top Engineering Institutions in NIRF Ranking 2022, an improvement of eight points from the NIRF Ranking of last year. They encouraged them to keep up their dedication towards reinforcing CGC Landran’s stellar legacy of 21 years. As we embark on another promising academic year let us strive towards setting and achieving higher goals which would include working towards making CGC feature in the league of top hundred education institutions in the country next year, they added.

Students from 15-plus Indian states including, Manipur Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Punjab, Chandigarh, Jammu & Kashmir, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and others, will begin their studies at CGC Landran under the new academic session 2022. Reinforcing CGC Landran’s credibility as a technical education institution par excellence, the fresh batch of students drawn from across the country are pursuing courses in Engineering, Management, Pharmacy, Biotechnology, Hotel Management, among others.

The MOU was signed in the presence of Chandigarh Group of Colleges Campus Director Dr. P.N. Hrisheekesha, , Mr. Rajeev R. Mishra Director-Principal Chandigarh College of Hotel Management, Landran and Edu Brain Overseas Director Mr Som Sharma and Supria Rai, Asst Director Edu Brain Overseas among others.

Chandigarh Group of Colleges, has signed an MoU with Edu Brain Overseas for international internship programmes and overseas placement opportunities for its students.

Edu Brain Overseas UAE will help students of the university during the application process, help them with paper work and timely submission of documents and offer career counselling.

Mr Som Sharma said Edu Brain Overseas and Chandigarh Group of Colleges will aim to provide the best suited paid international internship programmes and overseas placement opportunities to university students in France, UAE, Germany and US.

Edu Brain Overseas provides besr paid international internship programmes in Dubai, Singapore, France, Australia and New Zealand. It assists young professionals to acquire personal and professional skills, helps to obtain global standard training, build up a global network, and develops industry-related skills like time management, effective communication, learning of new language, culture, and adapting to the office environment.

Chandigarh : SVKMs Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), School of Commerce, announced the commencement of admissions for Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) (3 years) and Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) Hons (3 years), for the Chandigarh Campus.

The courses are uniquely structured to provide professional education and training to students in every aspect related to the management discipline. The industry-focused curriculum leads to the advancement of learning and promotes excellence in business administration. The program nurtures the students for continuous improvement to ensure their holistic development. To be eligible, candidates should have passed the 12th grade or equivalent exam from a recognised board, with a minimum aggregate marks of 60%. The students have to appear for NPAT Examinations, further to which, depending on the merit score and the preference of the students for campuses, the final allotment will be extended.

Brigadier (Dr) M Srinivasan (Retired) (Director, Chandigarh Campus), said, “NMIMS today stands as one of the leading universities for BBA and B.Com in India. Inheriting the rich legacy, we endeavor to become one of the region’s premier institutes of higher learning known for its excellence in campus life, infrastructure, teaching, and research. To set the pace, we look forward to focus on the four building blocks of the University. Firstly, Knowledge creation, which is relevant and applied, helping Society to know the unknowns, demonstrate leadership, and meeting expectations in knowledge creation. Secondly, to reinforce the teaching and learning through the “Assurance of Learning” System. Third, an undertaking to make NMIMS the most preferred institution of learning. Lastly, facilitate the aspirations of stakeholders. It is time to move forward with a new resolve to become a globally admired University, as envisaged. We aim to nurture our students with the best in-class faculty, infrastructure and facilities to help them stay ahead of the curve and prosper.”

Adding on to the announcement, Ms Harpreet Gill (Assistant Professor, School of Commerce, Chandigarh Campus), said, “NMIMS School of Commerce is on a journey to raising educational standards and enhancing teaching methods. We extensively collaborate with industries and organisations in order to formulate training programs of mutual interest for the benefit of the students. We also associate the University with Councils, Academic Bodies of administrative education and corporate bodies in relation to the courses, curriculum development and advancement along with the upgradation in the course content to ensure that a student is well equipped with all the knowledge and skills required to become directly employable. On the course completion, students understand the meaning of feedback, self-evaluation and regulatory mechanism and to apply it in all aspects.”

To promote holistic education, the university entails a state-of-the-art infrastructure, to support and propel students’ career paths. They are further empowered to develop criteria and tools for the collection of information based on the design and evaluation methodology, provoking skills for reasoning and innovation. Additionally, the courses included mandatory internships in all years and a final research project which helps students to conceptualize and incubate an idea into a business plan. Moreover, NMIMS School of Commerce also facilitates collaborations with various institutes and/or organisations in India and abroad that have similar missions and vision, which facilitate exchange programs for higher exposure and growth of the students.

As per the latest All India Survey on Higher Education, released in academic year 2019-20, the percentage of women in engineering and technology in the country is less than 30%. Announcing its vision in the run up to UN’s International Day of Women and Girls in Science, Plaksha University said that they aim to increase the enrolment of women in the institution to 50% by academic year 2027 through a twofold strategy. First by ensuring that no deserving women candidate is denied admission because of the lack of financial resources. Second by ensuring that the admission process is holistic and not solely dependent on standardized entrance exams or academic preparation – the well-known pre-college barriers that skew the gender ratio in engineering and STEM.

Taking forward its mission of giving full and equal access to and participation of women in science and technology the A Lalitha Fund is dedicated to women who want to pursue higher education in STEM fields.

The University leads the inclusion of girls and women in science, with almost one-third of the first UG cohort and more than one-fourth of the postgraduate (Technology Leaders Program) cohort consisting of women students. This has been possible due to scholarships offered by Bharti Foundation, Axis Bank, V Mart, Mphasis and contribution of individual donors and corporations.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Rudra Pratap, the Founding Vice Chancellor of Plaksha University (former Deputy Director of Indian Institute of Science) said, “India is a STEM powerhouse and as a provider of tech education we are committed to increasing women enrollment by 50 percent by the academic year 2027. With the new National Education Policy, India is at the cusp of a revolution in higher education. The policy aims to increase enrolment of women in technology and engineering, which is currently less than 30%. At Plaksha, we aim to encourage and support women to step up and enlighten the world through their diverse perspectives, understanding and solutions to solve grand challenges.”

The first undergraduate cohort at Plaksha includes students from 41 Indian cities, towns, and villages. They are pursuing cutting-edge and contemporary B.Tech degrees offered by the University. 29% of the selected students are from the northern India, followed by 23% from the south and 19% from the west, making the university culturally versatile and rich learning ground.

Chandigarh: Chitkara University, Punjab, has secured the 2nd rank in the prestigious Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements 2021 (ARIIA 2021) released by the Ministry of Education, Government of India in the University & Deemed University (Self Finance / Private) category across India.

ARIIA is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Education (MoE), Government of India, and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) to systematically rank all major higher educational institutions (HEIs) in India on indicators related to Innovation, start-up and Entrepreneurship Development amongst students and faculty. This year 1438 institutions (including all IITs, NITs, IISc, etc.) participated as compared to 674 Higher Education Institutes during the 2nd edition of ARIIA (ARIIA-2021) last year.

It evaluates institutions on parameters such as – academic courses offered by the institute on innovation, IPR and start-up; activities to promote and support innovation & start-up in the campus; pre-incubation and incubation infrastructures & facilities available in campus; successful innovation and start-ups emerged from campus; investment, collaboration and partnerships with ecosystem enablers; research outputs; publications and intellectual properties generated; and technology transfer and commercialization efforts.

On the occasion, Dr. Ashok K Chitkara, Chancellor, Chitkara University said, “It is the hard-work of our students, staff and faculty that resulted in securing this achievement. Chitkara University’s Research and Innovation Network (CURIN) encourages our students to become innovative leaders and contribute to nation-building by developing indigenous solutions. Moreover, the university has a well-defined research promotion policy which has resulted in the development of state-of-the-art advanced facilities.”

Dr. Madhu Chitkara, Pro-Chancellor of Chitkara University, while congratulating the students, said, “This milestone is an outcome of Chitkara University’s relentless focus on fostering innovation, and encouraging students to solve real-world problems. It speaks volumes of our innovative teaching methodology, academic prowess and proactive industry collaborations.”

Dr. Archana Mantri, Vice Chancellor, Chitkara University said, “We are delighted to share CURIN has multi-disciplinary advanced facilities supported by research funding from government agencies such as DST, DRDO, etc. to the tune of 37.24 crore. The research scholars and faculties are provided seed money for undertaking research and filing patents. Various dynamic collaborations have been established through the internationally-funded research projects, international conferences and cultural immersion across the campus.”

Chitkara University has also been awarded the rating of A+ by the prestigious National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), which places it among the 5% of higher education institutions (HEIs) in India to be granted such a coveted grade. It achieved high rankings in the NIRF Rankings 2021 under various categories including Engineering, Pharmacy, Management, Overall, Research etc and had bagged a spectacular ranking of 601-650 in the QS World University Rankings: Asia 2022, placing Chitkara University among the Top 100 institutes of the country.