writingonblog uncensored: IAF ties up with IIT Madras to build indigenous se...

writingonblog uncensored: IAF ties up with IIT Madras to build indigenous se...: Chennai: India’s push to reduce dependence on imported defence electronics has taken a step forward, with the Indian Air Force’s software ar...

IAF ties up with IIT Madras to build indigenous secure airborne communications

Chennai:
India’s push to reduce dependence on imported defence electronics has taken a step forward, with the Indian Air Force’s software arm entering into a partnership with academia to develop secure digital communications for airborne platforms.

The Software Development Institute (SDI) of the Indian Air Force has signed a memorandum of understanding with Indian Institute of Technology Madras to jointly design and develop an indigenous digital secure communication system for airborne applications, officials said on Monday.

The project aims to build high-performance, encrypted networking systems capable of operating reliably in dynamic and hostile airborne environments — a capability increasingly central to modern, network-centric warfare. By developing the technology domestically, the IAF hopes to cut reliance on imported communication systems and gain greater control over mission-critical software and encryption protocols.

The agreement was signed in Chennai by Air Vice Marshal R Guruhari, Commandant of SDI, Prof V Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, and Dr M J Shankar Raman, chief executive of Pravartak Technologies Foundation, the institute’s technology innovation hub.

According to a release, the collaboration will focus on advanced algorithms for secure networking and encryption, enabling fast and resilient data exchange between airborne platforms. Such systems are essential for real-time situational awareness, coordinated operations and secure command-and-control in contested environments.

The work will draw on SDI’s operational and systems expertise and IIT Madras’ research strengths in communication technologies and cybersecurity. Areas under development include advanced encryption protocols, resilience against electronic and cyber threats, scalability across multiple airborne nodes, and compatibility with existing defence systems.

The project is expected to result in deployable prototypes that could be adapted for multiple aircraft and unmanned platforms over time, officials said, though no timeline was disclosed.

For IIT Madras, the partnership adds to a growing portfolio of defence-linked research spanning aerospace systems, artificial intelligence and advanced materials. For the government, it aligns with its broader push to indigenise defence procurement and build a domestic ecosystem around critical technologies.

Tamil Nadu launches CSR matchmaking portal and AI-led land-use data platform

 

Chennai

Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udayanidhi Stalin on Monday unveiled two digital platforms aimed at aligning private capital with government priorities and embedding data more deeply into long-term planning, signalling a push towards technology-driven development governance.

Udayanidhi Stalin, who is also ex-officio vice-chairman of the State Planning Commission, launched the Tamil Nadu Corporate Social Responsibility (TNCSR) web portal—branded Mission Inaippagam—and the TiNAI–Tamil Nadu Land Use Information System (TNLUIS) at the Secretariat.

The CSR portal, announced in the 2024–25 Budget, has been developed by the State Planning Commission with support from the United Nations Development Programme. Designed as a matchmaking interface, it seeks to align corporate social responsibility spending with the state’s development priorities by bringing government departments, companies and civil society organisations onto a single digital platform.

Officials said the objective is to move CSR activity away from fragmented, stand-alone projects towards coordinated interventions that are easier to plan, execute and monitor. By mapping CSR proposals against government-identified needs, the platform aims to improve targeting, reduce duplication and enable the sharing of best practices and innovation across sectors.

According to data from the Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs, nearly 80–85 per cent of CSR spending in Tamil Nadu is concentrated in Chennai and Coimbatore. A senior official in the planning department said the state was keen to ensure more equitable geographic distribution of funds and prevent CSR allocations from being confined to a narrow set of sectors. The portal will function as an advisory and awareness platform, guiding companies on Sustainable Development Goals while creating space for smaller departments and underserved regions. Tamil Nadu currently ranks fifth nationally in CSR spending, reflecting its large industrial base.

The second platform, TNLUIS, marks a parallel push to strengthen evidence-based policymaking in land and resource management. Funded at ₹1.5 crore under the Tamil Nadu Innovation Initiative, the portal has been developed by the Tamil Nadu Land Use Research Board, drawing on over five decades of land-use research and datasets from multiple government departments and institutions.

The system integrates geospatial technology with artificial intelligence-driven analytics, offering more than 50 analytical tools across nine thematic areas, including heat stress, urban expansion patterns, groundwater and surface-water availability, soil degradation and future land-use projections.

Describing it as a significant step towards data-led governance, a planning department official said TiNAI functions as an advanced digital-twin platform that integrates sectoral GIS datasets with an AI interface. The system is expected to support evidence-based policymaking across urban planning, climate resilience, water management and infrastructure development, while also aiding academic research and long-term planning.

J Jeyaranjan, Executive Vice-Chairman of the State Planning Commission; Pradeep Yadav, Additional Chief Secretary to the Deputy Chief Minister; Sajjansingh R Chavan, Secretary to Government, Planning and Development Department; and Sudha Ramen, Member Secretary (FAC) of the State Planning Commission, were present at the launch.

writingonblog uncensored: StartupTN opens applications for TN Space Tech Fund

writingonblog uncensored: StartupTN opens applications for TN Space Tech Fund: CHENNAI: StartupTN, the state's nodal agency for startups and innovation, has opened applications for the Tamil Nadu Space Tech Fund (...

StartupTN opens applications for TN Space Tech Fund

CHENNAI:
StartupTN, the state's nodal agency for startups and innovation, has opened applications for the Tamil Nadu Space Tech Fund (TNSTF), a ₹10-crore programme for 2025–26 structured as a 1:1 matching equity fund for early-stage space-technology ventures.

Under the scheme, eligible startups must first secure confirmed third-party investment — from angel investors, venture capital firms, institutional partners or corporates — which the fund will then match rupee for rupee, subject to a cap of ₹50 lakh per company. The design mirrors a growing policy preference for using public money to de-risk private investment rather than replace it.

Funding will be deployed as equity and released in tranches linked to clearly defined milestones. An expert committee will evaluate applications and recommend firms for support, with disbursements contingent on verification and compliance with scheme guidelines.

The fund targets startups operating across a wide spectrum of space-tech domains, including satellite systems, launch and propulsion technologies, ground infrastructure, space data analytics, robotics and artificial intelligence-led applications. The objective is to strengthen research and development pipelines, enable technology validation and help push market-ready solutions towards commercial deployment.

Applicant startups must be registered in Tamil Nadu and recognised by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade. They must be engaged in developing or improving products, processes or technologies with clear commercial potential in the space-tech segment.

The fund can be used for activities such as prototype development, product engineering, testing and technology validation — provided these efforts are demonstrably linked to eventual market entry, a release stated.

To avoid misuse, the scheme excludes entities formed through the splitting or reconstruction of existing businesses, as well as subsidiaries, joint ventures or associates of other companies. Indian subsidiaries of foreign or multinational firms are also ineligible. Applicants must have no outstanding government dues and should not have been blacklisted by any public authority.

Applications are being accepted online through StartupTN’s portal, with detailed guidelines and eligibility conditions available on its website. Queries related to the scheme can be addressed to spacetech@startuptn.in

writingonblog uncensored: Tamil Nadu launches CSR matchmaking portal and AI-...

writingonblog uncensored: Tamil Nadu launches CSR matchmaking portal and AI-...: Chennai Tamil Nadu on Monday unveiled two digital platforms aimed at aligning private capital with government priorities and embedding data ...

Tamil Nadu launches CSR matchmaking portal and AI-led land-use data platform

Chennai

Tamil Nadu on Monday unveiled two digital platforms aimed at aligning private capital with government priorities and embedding data more deeply into long-term planning, signalling a push towards technology-driven development governance.

Udayanidhi Stalin, who is also ex-officio vice-chairman of the State Planning Commission, launched the Tamil Nadu Corporate Social Responsibility (TNCSR) web portal—branded Mission Inaippagam—and the TiNAI–Tamil Nadu Land Use Information System (TNLUIS) at the Secretariat.

The CSR portal, announced in the 2024–25 Budget, has been developed by the State Planning Commission with support from the United Nations Development Programme. Designed as a matchmaking interface, it seeks to align corporate social responsibility spending with the state’s development priorities by bringing government departments, companies and civil society organisations onto a single digital platform.

Officials said the objective is to move CSR activity away from fragmented, stand-alone projects towards coordinated interventions that are easier to plan, execute and monitor. By mapping CSR proposals against government-identified needs, the platform aims to improve targeting, reduce duplication and enable the sharing of best practices and innovation across sectors.

According to data from the Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs, nearly 80–85 per cent of CSR spending in Tamil Nadu is concentrated in Chennai and Coimbatore. A senior official in the planning department said the state was keen to ensure more equitable geographic distribution of funds and prevent CSR allocations from being confined to a narrow set of sectors. The portal will function as an advisory and awareness platform, guiding companies on Sustainable Development Goals while creating space for smaller departments and underserved regions. Tamil Nadu currently ranks fifth nationally in CSR spending, reflecting its large industrial base.

The second platform, TNLUIS, marks a parallel push to strengthen evidence-based policymaking in land and resource management. Funded at ₹1.5 crore under the Tamil Nadu Innovation Initiative, the portal has been developed by the Tamil Nadu Land Use Research Board, drawing on over five decades of land-use research and datasets from multiple government departments and institutions.

The system integrates geospatial technology with artificial intelligence-driven analytics, offering more than 50 analytical tools across nine thematic areas, including heat stress, urban expansion patterns, groundwater and surface-water availability, soil degradation and future land-use projections.

Describing it as a significant step towards data-led governance, a planning department official said TiNAI functions as an advanced digital-twin platform that integrates sectoral GIS datasets with an AI interface. The system is expected to support evidence-based policymaking across urban planning, climate resilience, water management and infrastructure development, while also aiding academic research and long-term planning.

J Jeyaranjan, Executive Vice-Chairman of the State Planning Commission; Pradeep Yadav, Additional Chief Secretary to the Deputy Chief Minister; Sajjansingh R Chavan, Secretary to Government, Planning and Development Department; and Sudha Ramen, Member Secretary (FAC) of the State Planning Commission, were present at the launch.

writingonblog uncensored: HD Hyundai bets on Tamil Nadu with plans for mega ...

writingonblog uncensored: HD Hyundai bets on Tamil Nadu with plans for mega ...:  CHENNAI: South Tamil Nadu is set to figure prominently in India’s shipbuilding ambitions after HD Hyundai, one of the world’s largest shipb...

HD Hyundai bets on Tamil Nadu with plans for mega shipbuilding cluster in Thoothukudi

 CHENNAI:
South Tamil Nadu is set to figure prominently in India’s shipbuilding ambitions after HD Hyundai, one of the world’s largest shipbuilders, chose Tamil Nadu as the site for a proposed mega shipyard, marking a major endorsement of the State’s industrial and maritime strategy.

The South Korean group’s decision to locate the new shipbuilding cluster in Thoothukudi reflects what the Tamil Nadu government describes as a convergence of policy clarity, coastal infrastructure and execution speed. The agreement was signed in the presence of Chief Minister M K Stalin, Industries Minister T R B Rajaa and senior executives from HD Korea Shipbuilding and Offshore Engineering.

For Tamil Nadu, the project bolsters a long-running effort to position itself as a hub for high-value maritime manufacturing, at a time when India is seeking to expand domestic shipbuilding capacity and reduce reliance on imports.

“This decision reflects the confidence global industry leaders place in Tamil Nadu’s vision, stability and economic strength,” the office of Industries Minister T R B Rajaa said, adding that the State had identified viable coastal sites early and backed them with infrastructure, talent and incentives.

Thoothukudi’s selection was shaped by a mix of geography and economics. The deep-water port, favourable climatic conditions and existing industrial base provide what officials describe as a clear pathway for a world-class shipyard, supported by planned investments in port and logistics infrastructure. The district has also emerged as a focal point for southern Tamil Nadu’s industrial push, spanning energy, ports and manufacturing.

From HD Hyundai’s perspective, the move is part of a broader global strategy. Speaking at the event, Hannae Choi, Senior Vice President in charge of global shipbuilding at HD Hyundai Group, said the India project marked “the beginning of a shared dream” for the shipbuilding industries of India and Korea.

“This year, HD Hyundai delivered a cumulative total of 5,000 vessels since our founding — a milestone rarely matched in global shipbuilding,” Choi said, noting that the company already operates shipyards in Vietnam, the Philippines and Saudi Arabia. “And now we are here in India — a nation full of energy and talent, with limitless potential.”

After visiting Thoothukudi, Choi said he could “clearly imagine a mega shipyard being built here”, citing the location’s strategic advantages and skilled workforce. The vision, he added, would be realised together with the Governments of India and Tamil Nadu, aligning with India’s long-term Amrit Kaal 2047 goals.

Within the group, the collaboration has been termed the “SMITH Project” — Shipbuilding Make in India Together with Hyundai. “But standing here in Tamil Nadu,” Choi said, “it is time to say: Shipbuilding Make in Tamil Nadu with Hyundai.”

Beyond the headline investment, the State government is emphasising the sector’s wider economic impact. Shipbuilding has one of the highest employment multipliers in manufacturing, often estimated at around 6.4 times, meaning one direct job can support nearly six ancillary jobs across services, logistics and component manufacturing. Around 60–65 per cent of value addition in shipbuilding typically comes from ancillary and supplier industries.

Tamil Nadu has been moving early to capitalise on this potential, treating shipyard development as a strategic lever to revive coastal economies, build technical skills and attract long-term investment. Officials say incentives, modern infrastructure and coordinated clearances were key factors in securing HD Hyundai’s interest.

The State is also preparing to roll out a dedicated Tamil Nadu Maritime Manufacturing Policy, aimed at providing a clearer framework for investors and accelerating project execution along its coastline. Policymakers see shipbuilding as complementary to the State’s broader ambitions in ports, renewable energy and heavy engineering.

“Incentives, modern infrastructure and focused policy have created an environment where global companies can grow with confidence,” the minister’s office said. “That is why HD Hyundai has chosen Tamil Nadu as its preferred partner.”

For Thoothukudi and the wider southern districts, the proposed shipyard signals more than a single industrial project. It positions the region within global shipbuilding supply chains — and underscores how State-level policy competition is shaping the next phase of India’s manufacturing growth.

Tamil Nadu tops national energy-efficiency index with strong industrial gains

 

CHENNAI:
Tamil Nadu has emerged as India’s top performer in industrial energy efficiency, according to the latest State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI) 2024, consolidating its position as a frontrunner in energy-sector reforms.

The state scored 55.3% in the SEEI’s Group 1 category — the highest in the country — reflecting steady improvements in industrial processes, regulatory implementation and support programmes for energy-intensive sectors. The report marks the latest in a series of national assessments that have placed Tamil Nadu among India’s most advanced states since Chief Minister M K Stalin took office in 2021, a release stated.

Neighbouring Andhra Pradesh recorded the sharpest year-on-year improvement with a 27.5% gain, topping the Group 2 category. Chhattisgarh (up 28.8%), Odisha (23.1%), Madhya Pradesh (16.5%) and Tripura (10.9%) also posted notable progress.

Tamil Nadu’s leadership is attributed to a combination of early policy adoption, targeted schemes and strong uptake of green-building norms. The state is among the top three in India for the number of certified green buildings and has pushed energy-efficiency interventions in the construction sector more aggressively than most peers.

A key driver has been the PEACE programme, under which the state invested ₹2.6 crore in 2023–24 to support MSMEs through awareness campaigns, training modules and subsidies for energy audits — a critical step for smaller enterprises seeking to cut power bills and modernise operations.

The SEEI report also highlights the growing momentum of energy-conservation initiatives nationwide. Twenty-five states received energy-efficiency awards this year, with Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Odisha securing the largest number of recognitions, followed by Gujarat.

writingonblog uncensored: Chennai Metro shuts Wimco Nagar parking as water l...

writingonblog uncensored: Chennai Metro shuts Wimco Nagar parking as water l...:   CHENNAI: Chennai Metro Rail Ltd (CMRL) on Wednesday temporarily closed the four-wheeler parking facility at Wimco Nagar station after wa...

writingonblog uncensored: CMRL seeks bidders for major commercial hub at Wim...

writingonblog uncensored: CMRL seeks bidders for major commercial hub at Wim...: CHENNAI: Chennai Metro Rail Ltd has launched a tender to license nearly 100,000 sq ft of commercial space at its Wimco Nagar depot station...

CMRL seeks bidders for major commercial hub at Wimco Nagar depot

CHENNAI:
Chennai Metro Rail Ltd has launched a tender to license nearly 100,000 sq ft of commercial space at its Wimco Nagar depot station, marking one of the largest real-estate offerings within the metro network in North Chennai.

The planned development is pitched as a “future-ready” commercial precinct, with CMRL positioning the site for a mix of retail, offices, supermarkets, logistics operations, food courts, fitness centres, coaching institutes, entertainment uses and Research and Development facilities. Licensees will be permitted to either occupy the space themselves or sublet it.

The depot, located on the Blue Line linking the airport, Central and northern industrial corridors, sits amid dense residential and industrial clusters such as Tiruvottiyur, Ennore and Wimco Nagar—an area CMRL argues offers strong catchment potential.

Chennai Metro shuts Wimco Nagar parking as water levels rise

 

CHENNAI:
Chennai Metro Rail Ltd (CMRL) on Wednesday temporarily closed the four-wheeler parking facility at Wimco Nagar station after water levels in the area began to rise and advised commuters to remove their vehicles at once.

The operator said the closure was a precautionary move as parts of North Chennai continued to face localised stagnation following overnight rain. The parking area will be reopened once conditions improve and the water drains out, a CMRL release said.

Chennai Metro urged passengers to follow station-level advisories as the situation is being closely monitored