Ministry of Earth Sciences Hosts National Media Interaction on 'Mission Mausam' The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) held a national-level media interaction on the ambitious Mission Mausam at Prithvi Bhavan, New Delhi. The session was led by Dr. M Ravichandran, Secretary of MoES, alongside Dr. Mritunjay Mohapatra, Director General of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), and Dr. V.S. Prasad, Head of the National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF). Approved by the Union Cabinet on September 11, 2024, with a budget of ₹2,000 crores over two years, Mission Mausam aims to transform India into a "Weather-Ready" and "Climate-Smart" nation. The mission focuses on advancing the country's weather and climate observation, modeling, and forecasting capabilities, to provide more accurate and timely services. Key Objectives of Mission Mausam: Develop Cutting-Edge Technologies: Introduce next-generation radars, satellites with advanced instr...
The Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI), a leading institution under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), has taken a significant step forward in advancing footwear design and development in India by aligning itself with global standards. In a strategic move, FDDI signed four separate Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with prominent academic institutions: Tamil Nadu Physical and Sports University, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Woxsen University, and Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT). The signing took place during a ceremony at Udyog Bhawan, marking a new era of collaboration in research, education, and innovation.
In his welcome address, FDDI Managing Director Dr. Sumeet Jarangal emphasized that this pioneering initiative, centered on collaborative research, will greatly benefit stakeholders, including students, faculty, entrepreneurs, and industry professionals, especially within the footwear and leather sectors. Dr. Jarangal highlighted how these partnerships aim to enhance skills through joint courses, training programs, and research projects. He explained how the MoUs align with FDDI’s core vision to boost research and development, foster innovation, and promote knowledge exchange across its multiple centers of excellence.
Dr. Jarangal also outlined key objectives of the collaboration, such as the exchange of faculty and students, joint research projects, and product development across FDDI’s campuses in Rohtak, Noida, Jodhpur, Chennai, Hyderabad, Patna, and Kolkata. He stressed that this initiative is a crucial step toward developing top-notch infrastructure for India’s footwear and leather industries, enabling them to meet international quality standards. However, he underscored the importance of transforming these MoUs into real, impactful projects that will accelerate growth and innovation within the sector.
He further noted the need to provide state-of-the-art facilities and cutting-edge knowledge to drive the industry forward. According to Dr. Jarangal, this groundbreaking partnership with four leading academic institutions marks a significant leap toward achieving those goals, ensuring that the collaboration not only enhances academic standards but also brings tangible benefits to the footwear and leather industries.
During the event, Director of the Center of Excellence (CoE) Dr. Madhusudan Pal gave a presentation highlighting the practical steps being taken to ensure that these MoUs deliver results. These include organizing campus visits, fostering public-private partnerships, and creating internship programs with universities like Woxsen University. Dr. Pal also underscored the importance of intellectual property protection, prototype development, and commercialization of innovative products, reiterating the commitment to industry-relevant innovations alongside academic collaboration.
Prominent attendees included FDDI Secretary Col. Pankaj Kumar Sinha and academic representatives such as Dr. Sivakumar R from VIT, Dr. P. Rajnikumar from Tamil Nadu Physical and Sports University, Dr. Adity Saxena from Woxsen University, and Prof. Bauri Raula from KIIT. The event brought together experts from across India, all united by a common goal to drive innovation, education, and product development within the footwear and leather industries.
The ceremony concluded with the official signing and exchange of MoUs, symbolizing a strong commitment to research, innovation, and academic excellence. These partnerships are set to create a dynamic platform for mutual growth, advancing not only the academic landscape but also contributing to India’s broader goals of fostering an innovation-driven economy.
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