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  • Hugging Face Brings Open-Source AI Tools to ESCP Classrooms, Extending Access to 11,000 Learners

    The initiative enables students, faculty, and staff across ESCP’s six European campuses to use Hugging Face resources for teaching, research, and startup development.

    Hugging Face, the global community for open-source machine learning, has partnered with ESCP Business School to integrate its tools into the academic environment of one of Europe’s leading higher education institutions.
    Through this initiative, more than 11,000 students, faculty, and staff across ESCP’s six campuses in Paris, Berlin, London, Madrid, Turin, and Warsaw will have access to Hugging Face’s growing library of models and datasets. The integration is designed to strengthen classroom teaching, academic research, and entrepreneurial ventures emerging from ESCP’s startup ecosystem.

    The collaboration is expected to serve as a practical bridge between the academic and technology worlds. Students will gain hands-on exposure to tools that are widely used across the global AI industry, while faculty can draw on the resources for both research and applied case studies.

    ESCP leadership has framed the initiative as a step toward preparing graduates for an era in which data science and machine learning literacy will be as critical as financial or managerial skills. Hugging Face, for its part, sees the partnership as aligned with its mission to make open-source AI accessible and beneficial to diverse communities worldwide.

    By embedding Hugging Face’s resources into the academic fabric of ESCP, the initiative signals a broader shift: AI education is no longer confined to technical universities but is becoming integral to business and management learning as well.

    At Prittle Prattle News, we honor your dedication and inventiveness led by showcasing you in a positive light. Under the direction of Editor-in-Chief Smruti Bhalerao, our platform is committed to disseminating powerful narratives that raise awareness and motivate change. For more important stories, follow us on LinkedInInstagram, and YouTube.

  • Why board directors need legal retainers after training

    Niranjan Gidwani argues that annual retainer partnerships with ethical legal firms can help directors and CXOs manage rising governance risks, avoid liabilities, and focus on strategic oversight

    In today’s business environment, the responsibilities of independent directors and CXOs extend far beyond quarterly reviews and strategy discussions. As Niranjan Gidwani, industry veteran and former CEO of Eros Digital, points out, directors are now personally accountable for decisions that fall under an expanding web of compliance, governance and shareholder scrutiny.
    While director training programmes and certifications have grown in recent years, Gidwani suggests that education alone is no longer enough. He highlights the growing case for annual legal retainer ships structured arrangements where boards and senior leaders partner with reputable law firms to provide continuous oversight, preventive advice and crisis management.

    “Training gives directors awareness of duties. But when facing complex disputes, regulatory filings, or whistle-blower cases, directors cannot rely solely on memory or intent. A standing retainer with an ethical legal partner ensures timely access to expert counsel and reduces the risk of personal liability,” Gidwani notes.
    He adds that such retainerships help directors focus on strategy while delegating the interpretation of evolving statutes to professionals. For listed companies, this could mean fewer surprises in regulatory inspections. For startups, it could protect founders-turned-directors from avoidable litigation.

    The argument also comes at a time when Indian courts are increasingly holding directors accountable for lapses ranging from ESG disclosures to cybersecurity oversight. With SEBI, RBI and other regulators tightening compliance frameworks, Gidwani says a retainer is no longer a luxury but a governance necessity.

    For companies, the value goes beyond risk mitigation. Properly structured retainers also build credibility with investors, demonstrating that the board is proactive in protecting shareholder interests. “It signals that directors want to focus on creating value while ensuring checks and balances are in place,” he adds. He also adds ” Maybe such services are available already, but not marketed well and no one seems to have taken prime space in this area. Like chartered accounts do for their clients, there should be firms handling the entire file of a director once he or she gets on board. All documentation submissions, meeting deadlines etc”.
    Analysts in the corporate governance space agree that the idea of board-level retainerships is still under-discussed in India but may soon become standard practice, especially as director liabilities expand under new laws.
    At Prittle Prattle News, we honor your dedication and inventiveness led by showcasing you in a positive light. Under the direction of Editor-in-Chief Smruti Bhalerao, our platform is committed to disseminating powerful narratives that raise awareness and motivate change. For more important stories, follow us on LinkedInInstagram, and YouTube.
  • Indian modernists and new voices come together in Soulmate, curated by Renu Khera at Bikaner House

    Galerie Nifa’s upcoming New Delhi exhibition, running September 7–10, spans painting, sculpture and mixed media, weaving modern masters with contemporary and Warli traditions under Khera’s curatorial vision

    The Indian art world will see a rare dialogue across generations next week when Galerie Nifa opens Soulmate at Bikaner House. The exhibition, curated by Renu Khera, combines works from legendary modernists, recognised contemporary figures, and emerging artists, positioning art as both cultural anchor and personal companion.
    The exhibition includes contributions from names long associated with the modern movementM.F. Husain, S.H. Raza, Ram Kumar, B. Prabha, A. Ramachandran, Krishen Khanna, Manu Parekh, Shanti Dave and G.R. Iranna. Alongside these, the show also brings forward younger and mid-career artists whose work reflects contemporary concerns in form, media and subject.

    A special focus is reserved for Balu Jivya Mashe, son of the late Padma Shri awardee Jivya Soma Mashe, who introduced Warli art to the global stage. Balu Mashe’s canvases extend the family legacy, using rural life and spirituality to reassert the relevance of tribal traditions in present-day visual culture.

    Khera describes the exhibition as deeply personal, shaped over years of collecting and curating. The selection spans paintings, sculptures and mixed media works, creating conversations between modernism and tradition, urban experimentation and indigenous practice.

    The exhibition will run from September 7 to 10, 2025, with parallel programmes including guided tours by Khera, artist talks and interactive workshops, reflecting Galerie Nifa’s effort to make art accessible to a wider public.
  • Hyderabad’s first TEER heart procedure with indigenously developed MyClip device restores 70-year-old patient’s health

    Performed at Gleneagles Hospital by Dr. Sai Sudhakar, the minimally invasive repair marks the first use of Meril Life Sciences’ Made-in-India valve clip system in Telugu states, offering a cost-effective alternative to imported devices

    In a breakthrough moment for cardiac care in the Telugu states, a 70-year-old patient has successfully undergone a Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair (TEER) procedure at Gleneagles Hospital, Hyderabad, using an indigenously developed heart valve clip called MyClip.
    The procedure, led by Dr. Sai Sudhakar, Senior Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, marks the first time the MyClip system has been used in Hyderabad and Telangana. Developed by Meril Life Sciences, MyClip is designed to repair leaking mitral valves without the need for open-heart surgery.

    Doctors explained that the patient had been suffering from severe mitral regurgitation, a condition in which the heart’s mitral valve does not close properly, causing blood to leak backward. Traditional surgery was considered too risky due to age and other health complications, making TEER the preferred option.
    By deploying MyClip through a minimally invasive catheter-based technique, the medical team was able to repair the valve and restore normal blood flow. The patient recovered without complications and was discharged within days, according to hospital officials.

    The TEER technique itself has been in use globally for more than a decade, but until recently it relied on expensive imported devices. With MyClip, India now has its own cost-effective, Made-in-India alternative, which experts say could make advanced cardiac interventions accessible to a wider population.
    Speaking about the case, Dr. Sai Sudhakar said the procedure represents a significant advance for patients in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. He added that having an indigenous option not only reduces costs but also demonstrates the maturity of India’s medical device ecosystem.

    Industry observers noted that the MyClip procedure in Hyderabad highlights the growing role of Indian-made medical technologies in reducing dependency on imports and making advanced healthcare more affordable.
    At Prittle Prattle News, we honor your dedication and inventiveness led by showcasing you in a positive light. Under the direction of Editor-in-Chief Smruti Bhalerao, our platform is committed to disseminating powerful narratives that raise awareness and motivate change. For more important stories, follow us on LinkedInInstagram, and YouTube.

  • India’s push for greener pharmaceuticals gains momentum with Granules India and NIPER Mohali research centre

    Dr. Chigurupati Centre of Excellence will advance eco-friendly drug development, green technology IP, and training of future scientists, combining Granules India’s industry expertise with NIPER Mohali’s academic leadership.

    India’s effort to build a sustainable pharmaceutical ecosystem has received a significant boost with the establishment of the Dr. Chigurupati Centre of Excellence at NIPER Mohali, created in partnership with Granules India.
    The facility is dedicated to advancing green pharmaceutical research, with a focus on developing eco-friendly drug manufacturing methods, building intellectual property around green technologies, and equipping future scientists with skills in sustainable drug design.

    The centre is named after Dr. Krishna Prasad Chigurupati, Chairman and Managing Director of Granules India, in recognition of his contributions to the pharmaceutical sector and his advocacy for sustainable practices. The academic direction will be led by Dr. Arvind K. Bansal, with overall guidance from Prof. Dulal Panda, Director of NIPER Mohali.
    Executives from Granules India said the initiative reflects the company’s vision of aligning business growth with environmental responsibility. They added that the collaboration with NIPER brings together the strengths of industry and academia to address global calls for greener healthcare supply chains.

    For NIPER Mohali, the centre is an opportunity to strengthen its research ecosystem and provide students with direct exposure to challenges at the intersection of science, business, and sustainability. Faculty members highlighted that such collaborations can help Indian scientists lead the way in eco-friendly pharmaceuticals, at a time when global regulators are pushing for lower carbon footprints across drug lifecycles.

    Observers in the pharmaceutical sector noted that partnerships like this are vital as India aims to maintain its position as the “pharmacy of the world” while also meeting sustainability benchmarks set by global markets. By fostering innovation in green chemistry and drug design, the centre is expected to play a role in shaping the next generation of pharmaceutical practices.

    At Prittle Prattle News, we honor your dedication and inventiveness led by showcasing you in a positive light. Under the direction of Editor-in-Chief Smruti Bhalerao, our platform is committed to disseminating powerful narratives that raise awareness and motivate change. For more important stories, follow us on LinkedInInstagram, and YouTube.

  • VESIT students break new ground with chip design selected for Semicon India 2025

    The Mumbai-based institute’s work, built under the Chips to Startup programme and fabricated at SCL Mohali, became part of India’s semiconductor showcase in Bengaluru attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi

    Student engineers from Vivekanand Education Society’s Institute of Technology (VESIT) have entered uncharted territory for a private college in Maharashtra. Their indigenously designed integrated circuit was among the projects featured at Semicon India 2025, the country’s flagship platform for semiconductor self-reliance.
    The chip, a Programmable Gate Array Integrated Circuit (PGA IC), was developed under the Government of India’s Chips to Startup (C2S) programme and fabricated at the Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL), Mohali, using 180 nm CMOS technology. It is one of the first designs from a private autonomous institute in the state to move from classroom research into national-level demonstration.

    Faculty members at VESIT said the project was carried out by a student team working under the mentorship of the electronics department. The design, they explained, is aimed at bridging the gap between theoretical learning and practical semiconductor development, a gap that is often only filled at IITs or public research institutions.
    The Bengaluru event, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighted India’s ambition to grow its domestic chip ecosystem and reduce import dependence. For VESIT, inclusion in the showcase marks recognition that private colleges can contribute directly to this mission.

    The institute, affiliated with the University of Mumbai but operating as an autonomous entity, described the opportunity as proof of what student-led innovation can achieve when supported by national programmes like C2S.
    Observers in the semiconductor community said the appearance of VESIT at Semicon India signals a widening of the base of talent contributing to chip design in India a field where the country has strength in design talent but limited fabrication success.

    As the global race for semiconductor independence intensifies, the recognition of a student-built chip from Mumbai is being seen as both symbolic and practical: symbolic because it widens India’s innovation base, practical because it encourages more private institutes to enter the domain.
    At Prittle Prattle News, we honor your dedication and inventiveness led by showcasing you in a positive light. Under the direction of Editor-in-Chief Smruti Bhalerao, our platform is committed to disseminating powerful narratives that raise awareness and motivate change. For more important stories, follow us on LinkedInInstagram, and YouTube.
  • Coromandel scales up farm retail with 1000 Gromor outlets, adds new store in Maharashtra

    The company says its agri-retail network now reaches 3 million farmers, with the latest Apla Gromor outlet at Kashti village in Ahilyanagar serving 25 villages with inputs, advisory and digital tools

    Coromandel International, the agriculture solutions company of the Murugappa Group, has taken its organised retail network for farmers past the 1,000-store mark with the opening of a new Apla Gromor outlet in Kashti village, Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra.
    The store will cater to around 25 neighbouring villages, offering a combination of crop inputs, soil health services, agri-advisory, credit access, and digital farming solutions. With this addition, Coromandel said its Gromor network now serves about 3 million farmers across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Maharashtra.

    The Apla Gromor chain was first launched in 2007 as one of India’s earliest attempts at organised agri-retail. Over time, the format has expanded from providing seeds, fertilisers and crop protection products to delivering a full-service model that includes soil testing, information on best practices, and digital tools for precision farming.
    Speaking at the launch, Arun Alagappan, Executive Chairman of Coromandel International, said the milestone reflects the company’s long-term commitment to supporting rural communities. He noted that Coromandel plans to double the size of the network in the next two years as part of its strategy to expand farmer services and strengthen rural ecosystems.

    The company added that Gromor outlets have also become important for introducing sustainable farming practices, such as integrated pest management and balanced crop nutrition, to smaller farmers who often lack access to formal agronomic guidance.

    Analysts see Coromandel’s push as part of a broader trend of corporates investing in rural retail to improve supply chains and provide farmers with reliable access to products and advice. With state-run co-operatives and unorganised dealers still dominating the market, organised players like Coromandel are positioning themselves as trusted one-stop shops.
    At Prittle Prattle News, we honor your dedication and inventiveness led by showcasing you in a positive light. Under the direction of Editor-in-Chief Smruti Bhalerao, our platform is committed to disseminating powerful narratives that raise awareness and motivate change. For more important stories, follow us on LinkedInInstagram, and YouTube.
  • Vintage sarees reimagined as couture: Swa Signature Style launches in Bengaluru

    At The Bangalore Room, Co-Founders Rekha B S and Pooja Sahai unveiled organic lehengas, hand-embroidered bridal wear and accessories under a sustainable fashion ethos

    A new chapter in India’s sustainable fashion movement opened this week as Swa Signature Style made its Bengaluru debut. The label, co-founded by Dr. Rekha B S and Pooja Sahai, is carving its identity by turning vintage sarees and heritage fabrics into couture pieces for a modern audience.
    At the launch event held at The Bangalore Room, the brand presented its first collection. On display were organic lehengas, reinvented ensembles from repurposed sarees, hand-embroidered bridal wear, and artisanal accessories including jewellery, belts and bags. Each piece emphasised craftsmanship rooted in Indian traditions while responding to the growing demand for eco-conscious design.

    The highlight of the evening was a bridal lehenga built from geometric weave handloom fabric, a khadi blouse, and a cotton dupatta all finished with detailed embroidery and motifs that paid homage to Gujarat’s textile heritage. Co-Founder Dr. Rekha B S described the ensemble as “a fresh take on classic motifs, grounded in heritage yet styled for contemporary brides.”
    For Pooja Sahai, the event was an opportunity to position Swa as part of a wider sustainability movement. She emphasised the label’s philosophy: “Every design is an attempt to extend the life of fabric, and to give cultural textiles a new purpose on global runways.”

    The event also included the unveiling of the Swa Signature Style logo, a bold navy design that the founders said reflects confidence and continuity. A panel discussion on styling for professionals rounded out the evening, signalling that the brand intends to appeal to a wide spectrum of consumers from brides to working women seeking sustainable style.
    With Bengaluru as its starting point, Swa Signature Style has announced plans to build a footprint in other metros, positioning itself in a niche that connects luxury couture, heritage textiles, and conscious fashion.

    At Prittle Prattle News, we honor your dedication and inventiveness led by showcasing you in a positive light. Under the direction of Editor-in-Chief Smruti Bhalerao, our platform is committed to disseminating powerful narratives that raise awareness and motivate change. For more important stories, follow us on LinkedInInstagram, and YouTube.

  • AbhiBus adds seven SRTC integrations and now covers 17 state services across India

    The ixigo Group platform has onboarded ASTC, SBSTC, TSRTC, PRTC, KSRTC, SNT and UTC, joining GSRTC, BSRTC, RSRTC, HRTC, UPSRTC, JKSRTC, APSRTC, KTCL and WBTC for nationwide public bus booking; COO Rohit Sharma said the move expands reliable, affordable options for travellers

    Online bus booking platform AbhiBus, part of the ixigo Group, has announced a significant expansion of its public transport network. With the integration of seven new State Road Transport Corporations (SRTCs), the platform now provides access to 17 state services across India.
    The newly added SRTCs are the Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC), South Bengal State Transport Corporation (SBSTC), Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC), Punjab Road Transport Corporation (PRTC), Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), Sikkim Nationalised Transport (SNT) and the Uttarakhand Transport Corporation (UTC).

    These services join an already extensive network of existing partners including Gujarat (GSRTC), Bihar (BSRTC), Rajasthan (RSRTC), Himachal Pradesh (HRTC), Uttar Pradesh (UPSRTC), Jammu & Kashmir (JKSRTC), Andhra Pradesh (APSRTC), Kadamba Transport Corporation, Goa (KTCL) and the West Bengal Transport Corporation (WBTC).
    With the expansion, travellers can now book intercity and interstate routes across nearly all regions of the country on AbhiBus, as well as on its group platforms ixigo and ConfirmTkt. The platform said this integration makes it easier for passengers to compare schedules, access dependable timetables and book affordable fares.

    Rohit Sharma, COO of AbhiBus, said the wider SRTC coverage reflects the company’s mission to make public bus travel more reliable and accessible. “Our goal is to ensure travellers across India have a single, trusted platform to book government-operated buses with the same ease and transparency they expect from private operators,” he noted.
    Industry analysts view this as part of a larger push by aggregators to bring India’s vast public bus ecosystem online. While private bus operators have long been listed on booking apps, the inclusion of multiple SRTCs helps formalise the state-run network for digital-first users.

    For passengers, the benefit lies in one-stop access. Routes from Assam to Sikkim, Telangana to Kerala, or Punjab to Uttarakhand can now be searched and booked in the same way as private buses. For the SRTCs, the tie-up offers broader distribution and a chance to reach millions of users who already book through ixigo’s travel apps.
    The move positions AbhiBus as one of the few platforms with near-national coverage of state-run bus services, a key differentiator in India’s competitive mobility market.
    At Prittle Prattle News, we honor your dedication and inventiveness led by showcasing you in a positive light. Under the direction of Editor-in-Chief Smruti Bhalerao, our platform is committed to disseminating powerful narratives that raise awareness and motivate change. For more important stories, follow us on LinkedInInstagram, and YouTube.