Over 25,000 ex-Maoists now our shareholders: Lloyds MD Lloyds Metals and Energy Ltd’s managing director, Balasubramanian Prabhakaran, revealed at a startup conclave in Nagpur that more than 25,000 former Naxal cadres have been integrated into the company as shareholders. Speaking at the event held at VNIT, Prabhakaran emphasized the initiative as a step toward transforming former rebels into equal stakeholders rather than employees. He described the effort as creating an ecosystem where these individuals could participate in economic activities and hold equity. The former Naxals are now involved in various functions within the company, including marketing, logistics, supply chain management, production, and manufacturing. Prabhakaran highlighted that tribal women previously associated with left-wing extremism (LWE) are being trained to operate logistics trucks, earning between Rs50,000 and Rs60,000 monthly. Skills training is also being provided to men and women, enabling them to pursue trades and eventually start their own businesses. In addition to economic integration, Prabhakaran mentioned initiatives to improve educational opportunities for tribal children. Some students have been sent to Australia to study artificial intelligence, underscoring the company’s focus on long-term development. He also called on entrepreneurs to look beyond traditional urban centers, urging startups to consider Gadchiroli as a hub for innovation and investment. Prabhakaran noted that Gadchiroli has significant potential in mining, manufacturing, agriculture, and allied sectors, with over Rs1 lakh crore in investments already pitched for the district.#nagpur #vnit #lloyds_metals_and_energy_ltd #balasubramanian_prabhakaran #naxal_cadres
VNIT Researchers Develop Technology to Achieve Up to 95% Coal Recovery A groundbreaking technology developed by researchers at Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), Nagpur, has the potential to revolutionize coal extraction by significantly increasing recovery rates from the current 60–65% to as high as 95%. This innovation addresses a critical challenge in underground mining, particularly in areas where surface structures such as railways, highways, buildings, forests, and other sensitive sites limit traditional extraction methods. The technology, developed by AK Agarwal, associate professor, and Anupam Anant Kher, assistant professor, in the department of mining engineering at VNIT, has already been patented. The core of the technology lies in its application of the bord-and-pillar mining system, a conventional method where coal is extracted in a grid-like pattern of openings (bords) while leaving behind coal pillars to support the mine’s roof. These pillars, often left untouched due to safety concerns or structural limitations, contain substantial coal reserves that are typically difficult or unsafe to recover. The VNIT solution combines mechanized pillar extraction with simultaneous backfilling of the voids created during mining. A continuous miner, a highly mechanized underground machine, is central to this process. Unlike conventional methods, which rely on slower, less efficient extraction techniques, the continuous miner allows for faster coal retrieval. However, the speed of such machines poses a challenge for traditional sand stowing, a method used to fill underground voids with sand after coal extraction. The VNIT technology overcomes this by dividing coal pillars into smaller sections and extracting them in a predetermined sequence using the continuous miner.#vnit #ak_agarwal #anupam_anant_kher #vaidehi_dakwale #gaurav_tiwari
Time For India To Become Global Innovation Leader, Says Trivedi Rajya Sabha member Sudhanshu Trivedi addressed students at VNIT's AXIS festival, emphasizing India's need to transition from adopting technology to leading global innovation. He highlighted the country's digital payment system, stating it has surpassed the combined transaction volumes of the United States and China. Trivedi noted that India now accounts for 49% of global digital transactions, a figure that exceeds the combined totals of the U.S. and China. He cited the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) as a key achievement, explaining that it overtook Visa to become the world’s largest digital payment system in 2024. Trivedi pointed to international examples of India’s growing influence, such as Japan’s Prime Minister making a digital payment in a Delhi market and French President Emmanuel Macron using UPI at a roadside tea stall in Jaipur. He remarked that nations once considered advanced in technology are now surprised by India’s rapid digital transformation. The MP also attributed this progress to a significant decline in data costs, noting that 1 GB of data cost over Rs300 per month a decade ago, compared to Rs28 per month today. Trivedi emphasized the role of India’s national portal in expanding access to global research, stating that over 6,300 institutions now have access to international journals. In 2025 alone, more than 11 crore papers were downloaded through this platform. Looking ahead, he outlined government initiatives, including a Rs30,000 crore allocation for artificial intelligence and Rs6,000 crore for quantum technologies. National missions in green hydrogen and renewable energy were also highlighted as critical areas for future investment.#rajya_sabha #unified_payments_interface #sudhanshu_trivedi #vnit #axis_festival
Vidarbha’s First Gen Z-Themed Post Office Unveiled at VNIT Nagpur: Vidarbha’s first Gen Z-themed post office was officially inaugurated on Thursday at the VRCE post office, located within the premises of Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT) in Nagpur. This marks a significant shift in postal services, introducing a modern, tech-driven model tailored to the preferences of younger generations. The revamped facility, part of Maharashtra Postal Circle’s Next Generation (N-GEN) initiative, aims to blend traditional postal functions with digital innovation, creating an interactive space that appeals to students and young professionals. The VNIT post office is the third such upgraded facility in Maharashtra and the first in the Vidarbha region to adopt a Gen Z-centric approach. Designed to align with the lifestyle and expectations of the younger demographic, the post office integrates smart technology, seamless digital interfaces, and a range of amenities to enhance user experience. Officials emphasized that the initiative seeks to familiarize students with postal services while making the space relevant to their daily lives. Beyond conventional postal transactions, the facility offers a campus-friendly environment where students can access services in a relaxed setting. Added features include free Wi-Fi, a small library, carrom and chess boards, and a coffee vending machine. These recreational elements are intended to encourage engagement and make the post office a hub for both practical and social interaction. Postal officials highlighted that the combination of services and leisure activities is expected to increase footfall and foster a deeper connection with postal and financial offerings.#vidarbha #vnit #vrce_post_office #n_gen #sachin_jagdale
