Author: Ram Kumar

Dr Rangachary Kommanduri awarded grant under MeitY EiR Program

Ram Kumar 0 Comment Research Spotlight

Dr Rangachary Kommanduri, Visiting Assistant Professor, Data Science, SIAS, has been awarded a grant under the MeitY Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EiR) Program for his proposal, ‘Transforming Campus Safety with AI-Powered Anomaly Detection Solutions.’ The program, which supports early-stage entrepreneurs in developing innovative technology solutions, is supported by Gyan Circle Ventures (CIEDI) at IIIT Sri City and funded under the TIDE 2.0 initiative by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). The project focuses on developing an AI-powered surveillance system to detect abnormal activities on campus, such as intrusions, unattended objects, and potential security threats like physical altercations. The system will provide real-time alerts, enhancing campus safety through swift intervention.

IFMR GSB Hosts Conference on Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience in Agriculture

Ram Kumar 0 Comment News

IFMR Graduate School of Business (GSB), Krea University, in partnership with the Institute for New Economic Thinking (INET) and the Young Scholars Initiative (YSI), hosted an international conference on Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience in Agriculture: Strategies for Sustainable Development in South Asia. Held from March 17 to 18, 2025, at the Krea University campus, the event brought together leading scholars, researchers, and policymakers to address the challenges of climate change and its impact on agriculture.

The conference opened with an inaugural lecture by Professor K Narayanan, Professor and Head, Economics, IIT Bombay on Understanding the Linkages Between Climate Change and Economic Development: Lessons from India. His address set the stage for in-depth discussions on climate resilience and sustainable agricultural practices.

A key highlight was the plenary session on Climate Change, Food Security, and Gender, led by Professor Sridevi G, University of Hyderabad, which explored the disproportionate impact of climate change on marginalised communities and the need for inclusive policy interventions.

The panel discussion on Agriculture and Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience in South Asia featured expert insights from Dr Chandra Sekhar Bahinipati, Associate Professor and Head, HSS, IIT Tirupati and Professor Madhuri Saripalle, Professor, Economics and Chairperson, MBA Programme, IFMR GSB. The session examined innovative strategies for sustainable agriculture, drawing on case studies from across South Asia.

Adding to the discourse, Sharon Buteau, Executive Director, LEAD at Krea University delivered a special lecture on Sustainable Livelihoods and Gender, highlighting the role of community-driven initiatives in strengthening climate resilience.

The conference concluded with a valedictory session by Professor Barbara Harriss-White, Senior Research Fellow, School of Interdisciplinary Area Studies; Professor Emeritus of Development Studies; Emeritus Fellow of Wolfson College, on Agriculture and Climate Change. Her address underscored the need for interdisciplinary research and collaborative policymaking to tackle climate-induced agricultural vulnerabilities.

By fostering critical discussions on sustainable agriculture and climate resilience, the conference reinforced IFMR GSB’s commitment to research-driven solutions and policy innovation in sustainable development.

Photo Courtesy – Media Lab

IFMR GSB Students Undertake Live Project to Explore Hedge Fund Strategies

Ram Kumar 0 Comment Student Spotlight

A group of students from the MBA cohort of 2024-26, IFMR GSB is undertaking a Live Project on pairs trading strategies, a technique widely used by hedge funds. They are exploring various approaches, including statistical, technical, and fundamental analysis. This Live Project is being offered by Paterson Securities Pvt Ltd under the mentorship of Balachandran Venkataraman, a Student Mentor specialising in Derivatives, Risk Management, and Analytics, as well as a Business and Management Consultant.

With a track record of mentoring over 1,000 MBA students, Balachandran has consistently nurtured industry-ready professionals. Through this project, students are applying theoretical concepts to develop and backtest practical strategies.Impressively, their performance in technical analysis has earned them another Live Project on derivatives and market risk management, starting in mid-April.

The participating students are Ritam Sen, Swastik Rao, Viraj Patil, Prathamesh Tavhare, Rishi Raj, Kumar Eklavya, Sanchay Nagar, Kunal Sen, and Harsh Vardhan Mishra.

Dr Chirag Dhara delivers a talk at Jawaharlal Nehru University

Ram Kumar 0 Comment Faculty & Staff Spotlight

Dr Chirag Dhara, Assistant Professor, Environmental Studies, SIAS, delivered a talk at the Centre for Economic Studies and Planning (CESP), Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi, on 18 March 2025. The talk, titled “Inequality and Climate Destabilisation,” was part of the CESP Seminar Series 2025.

Abstract
How would the world have warmed if each country’s lifestyle had been globally adopted? Our analysis reveals that universalising the lifestyles of most industrialised countries would have warmed the planet by over 1.5°C by 2002. Thus, the current (relative) climate stability is owed to the modest lifestyles of the global majority. Many consequences follow.

Dr Joya John selected to attend Balzan Colloquium at Harvard University

Ram Kumar 0 Comment Faculty & Staff Spotlight

Dr Joya John, Assistant Professor, Literature, SIAS, has been selected to attend the Balzan Colloquium at the Institute of World Literature, Harvard University, from 30 June to 24 July 2025. The three-week colloquium brings together participants from five regions of the world: Africa, Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and South/Southeast Asia. Each year, the colloquium focuses on a specific topic with implications for world literature. In 2025, the theme will be ‘Literature and Environmental Crisis’. Participants will meet weekly to share and discuss their work on the topic and will be invited to submit their essays for a special issue of the Journal of World Literature, scheduled for publication in the fall of the following year.

Dr Chirag Dhara pens an op-ed in The Hindu

Ram Kumar 0 Comment Faculty & Staff Spotlight

Dr Chirag Dhara, Assistant Professor, Environmental Studies, SIAS, along with Dr Soumyajit Bhar, has penned an op-ed in The Hindu titled The dangerous illusion cast by development rankings. The authors articulate a new vision of sustainable development, discussing how the United Nations Development Program has shaped countries’ perceptions of progress for decades. They argue that its conception of development is outdated and incompatible with advances in sustainability science. The piece proposes a new framework for development in the 21st century.

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Dr Swayam Sampurna Panigrahi delivers guest lecture on Sustainable Manufacturing and Operations at Tshwane University of Technology

Ram Kumar 0 Comment Faculty & Staff Spotlight

Dr Swayam Sampurna Panigrahi, Assistant Professor, Operations and Area Chair – Operations, IFMR GSB, delivered a guest lecture on Supply Chain Sustainability on 13 March 2025 in a research seminar on ‘Sustainable Manufacturing and Operations: Bridging Academic Insights and Industry Practices,’ organised by the Department of Operations Management, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa. The lecture was delivered online.

HR Conclave 2025

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The National Human Resource Development Network (NHRDN) Student Chapter at IFMR GSB, Krea University, hosted the HR Conclave 2025 on 8 March 2025. The event brought together thought leaders, industry experts, and aspiring professionals to engage in insightful discussions about the evolving landscape of human resources and leadership.

Keynote Address by Professor T V Rao – The Father of HRD in India

The event commenced with a compelling keynote address by Professor T V Rao, Founder President of NHRDN, on the theme of “Effective People.” He encouraged participants to recognise their strengths and use them for the betterment of society. Proffesor Rao classified individuals into three categories:

  • Doers – Those who diligently follow instructions, adhere to schedules, and accomplish assigned tasks.
  • Achievers – Professionals who push beyond expectations, take on challenges, and create a meaningful impact.
  • Visionaries – Changemakers who address strategic challenges, drive innovation, and contribute significantly to societal transformation.

His inspiring words urged attendees to aspire towards becoming visionaries, leveraging their unique talents to bring about positive change.

Fireside Chat: “Past, Present, and Future of HR”

A dynamic fireside chat followed, featuring distinguished HR professionals who shared their experiences, career-defining moments, and insights into the future of HR. The panellists and key takeaways from their discussion included:

  • Mr Anil Santhapuri (Head – Academy for Management and Leadership Excellence, TVS Motor Company) emphasised the holistic approach to Learning and Development, stating that organisations must focus on developing employees’ physical, mental, and spiritual well-being to ensure sustainable growth.
  • Ms Jayanthi Vaidyanathan (Vice President and Head of Human Resources, PayPal India) highlighted the importance of HR functions that transcend policies and processes. She stressed that care and compassion should be core cultural values, ensuring both physical and mental safety for employees.
  • Ms Megha Das (Manager – Employer Branding,  Internal Communications, and Leadership Engagement at Sony Pictures Networks India) underscored the significance of passion in career success. She noted that effective communication is central to people management and workplace engagement. 
  • Mr Rajagopal S (Tata Electronics Hosur) shared his perspective on resilience, stating that embracing failure is a crucial step towards achieving long-term success.

A Platform for Learning and Networking

HR Conclave 2025 provided students and professionals with a unique opportunity to learn from industry experts, exchange ideas, and gain valuable insights into the ever-evolving HR landscape. The event was a resounding success, reinforcing IFMR GSB’s commitment to fostering meaningful industry-academic collaboration.

Photo Courtesy: Media Lab, Krea University and Shutterbugs – Photography Club at IFMR GSB

SIAS Students Sparsh Makharia, Vatsalya Betala, and Aarav Akali secure second place in EMPOWER Hackathon at IIM Ahmedabad

Ram Kumar 0 Comment Student Spotlight

SIAS students Sparsh Makharia, Vatsalya Betala, and Aarav Akali (Cohort 2022-26) secured 2nd place at the prestigious EMPOWER Hackathon, an inter-college competition hosted by IIM Ahmedabad’s Social Innovation Club (IDEOS), Ashoka University’s Social Impact Club (Anitya), and the CS Society of Ashoka University.

The EMPOWER Hackathon: Tech for Social Good brought together students from across India to develop innovative, technology-driven solutions addressing pressing social challenges. Competing against 162 participants, the team showcased exceptional problem-solving, technical expertise, and entrepreneurial thinking, delivering a solution that stood out among the top contenders.

Their project, PlantGuard, is an offline hardware-integrated AI system for real-time plant disease detection. It leverages three AI models to analyse plant health and provides farmers with instant feedback, helping them take timely preventive measures. The Hackathon involved an online round, and a final in-person pitch and prototype demonstration at IIM Ahmedabad, concluding in a podium finish for the team.

This achievement was made possible with the support of Krea University’s Cyber Club, which provided essential hardware components and assisted with transportation to IIM Ahmedabad, ensuring the team could participate and present their solution at the final round.

Krea University