ANNOUNCEMENTS
CUET PG 2023: Candidates will be able to check the changes, addition of courses, universities at the official website — cuet.nta.nic.in.
CUET PG 2023: The National Testing Agency (NTA) Thursday released a corrigendum for the Common University Entrance Test (CUET-PG) 2023 examination. Candidates will be able to check the changes at the official website — cuet.nta.nic.in.
According to this corrigendum, the English and Foreign Languages University will accept CUET PG score as an eligibility criteria for its postgraduate programmes. “The English and Foreign Languages University had earlier withdrawn from CUET (PG)-2023 at the last moment due to which the name of the University is not reflected in the list of participating Universities. However, the courses offered by the University are visible in the bunching list. Now the University has again joined CUET (PG)-2023 and the candidates can apply for the same,” the official notice stated.
In addition to this, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Shri Vishwakarma Skill University, Parul University (Vadodra), Netaji Subhas University of Technology (Dwarka, New Delhi), SRM University Delhi, Gyani Inder Singh Institute of Professional Studies affiliated with Veer Madho Singh Bhandari Uttarakhand Technical University (Dehradun), University of Science & Technology (Meghalaya), TERI School of Advanced Studies, Quantum University, Jaypee Institute of Information Technology (Noida), Sharda University, among others will also take CUET PG score now.
The University of Jammu, Pondicherry University, Dr Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya Sagar, Tripura University, Somaiya Vidyavihar University, Dr B.R. Ambedkar University Delhi, and many others have added a few courses to their list of CUET PG courses.
There are also a few corrections made in the list, which were caused due to typographical error.
Meanwhile, the UGC Chief, M Jagadesh Kumar, has assured students that the exam schedule will soon be released as it is still a work in progress. “In a few days, we will announce the date sheet of CUET-PG. NTA is working on it.
[https://cuet.samarth.ac.in,”]https://cuet.samarth.ac.in,” he tweeted.
Read MoreNEW DELHI: Pitching for collective efforts to deal with critical issues of climate change and pollution, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the environment is not just a global cause, but also personal as well as collective responsibility for every individual, and environment conservation is a commitment and not compulsion for India.
"Human empowerment is impossible without a better environment and the way forward is through collectiveness rather than selectiveness," said Modi in his written message to the TERI's annual World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) which was jointly inaugurated here by Guyana vice president Bharrat Jagdeo, COP28 president designate Sultan Al Jaber of UAE, and India's environment minister Bhupender Yadav.
Underlining India's efforts to deal with the global challenges through long-term roadmap for sustainable and environment friendly lifestyle, the Prime Minister said, "Our initiatives to adopt a healthier, cleaner lifestyle include upgrading infrastructure to encourage electric mobility, increased use of biofuel for transportation, leverage hydrogen as a fuel, convert waste to wealth and water treatment plants to ensure clean rivers.
"We are striving to meet an increased portion of our demand for electricity from renewable and alternative sources of energy. Through latest technology and innovation, we are devising solutions to diverse urban challenges, particularly pollution and cleanliness."
The inaugural day of the three-day Summit saw the participants make a clarion call to keep the 1.5 degree Celsius goal alive without compromising on the principles of equity and justice at forums such as the G20 and the UN climate conferences (COPs). They also emphasized on the need to provide financial support to developing countries for facing those challenges, and looked to India for taking up leadership roles in resolving various issues during its G20 presidency.
Pointing out that it is impossible for many developing countries to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) without financing, the vice president of Guyana said, "The small countries not only need climate finance, they need a reform of the global financial system to achieve sustainable development."
Underlining the criticality of balance in the discourse on sustainable development in order to find lasting solutions, he said, "We need to reduce the production of fossil fuels, we need carbon capture, utilization and storage, and we need a mass transit into renewable energy. It is the combined action on all three fronts that will deliver lasting solutions. But often the debate is between the extremes, and sometimes it clouds the search for solutions. Balance is crucial."
In his opening address, India's environment minister noted that combating climate change, biodiversity loss and land degradation transcend political considerations and is a shared global challenge. “India is contributing significantly to be a part of the solution,” he said while noting how living in harmony with nature has been traditionally in Indian ethos and the same has been reflected by the mantra LiFE or 'Lifestyle for Environment' coined by Prime Minister Modi.
The COP28 president designate, Al Jaber, who received the distinguished alumni award from TERI School of Advanced Studies on the occasion, noted that the goal of keeping 1.5 degree Celsius alive is just non-negotiable. "It is also clear we cannot continue business-as-usual. We need a true, comprehensive paradigm shift in our approach to mitigation, adaptation, finance, and loss and damage,”he said.
Recognizing the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for guiding India on its path to a sustainable future, Al Jaber said, "This great country is well on its way to becoming the third largest economy in the world. And this makes it one of the largest consumers of energy.
As such, India’s sustainable development is critical, not just for India, but for the whole world."
The first day of the Summit saw different proceedings on its theme - ‘Mainstreaming Sustainable Development and Climate Resilience for Collective Action’. India's G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant also participated in one of the key sessions where he highlighted different points around Mission LiFE, climate finance, circular economy and the need to decarbonise hard to abate sectors through green hydrogen.
Read MoreBisleri International Pvt. Ltd., India's leading mineral water company, has strengthened its sustainability strategy by launching 'Bisleri Greener Promise.' The sustainability philosophy focuses on creating a greener future by reinforcing and implementing programs in recycling, water conservation and sustainability.
Under the aegis of this philosophy, the company has become one of the first consumer goods companies to be plastic-neutral and water positive. It further emphasizes its promise to the sustainable development of the country by announcing bold initiatives under plastic recycling and water conservation.
The company has outlined its vision to connect with 20 major cities to collect and recycle 12,500 tonnes of plastic by 2025, through its Bottles for Change initiative. Additionally, it has also announced restoration or building of 350 dams in Maharashtra and Gujarat to provide water security and enhance crop production. Under the initiative, Project Nayi Umeed, more than 35,000 million litres of water will be harvested, and it will help irrigate more than 23,000 acres of land. The company aims to reduce its carbon footprint by 10% and lower the use of virgin plastic by over 7%.
Furthermore, the company released its sustainability report defining its progress in environment, social, and governance (ESG) practices. The report has been developed by TERI School of Advanced Studies. It highlights the company's efforts in building a circular economy, utilising resources efficiently, reducing GHG emissions, replenishing water, and recollecting packaging material.
Angelo George, CEO, Bisleri International Pvt. Ltd., said, "At Bisleri International, we develop solutions that fuel business growth and, at the same time, address environmental challenges. We are in constant pursuit of creating a positive impact, and continue to integrate our business strategy with sustainability goals. Thus, ensuring that we operate purposefully and responsibly. Innovations in packaging will continue to be our focus for the next three years and we aim to be ready for the guidelines on reuse targets stipulated by Government."
As part of its commitment to protect the environment and mitigate the effects of irresponsible disposal of used plastic, Bisleri International's Bottle For Change initiative works towards bringing behavioural change and raising awareness about the importance of post-consumer plastic. Through the programme, Bisleri International has brought a behavioural change amongst 600,000 citizens by organising sensitisation workshops and collection drives. These workshops and drives were conducted at over 3500 housing societies, 680 educational institutions, 790 corporates, and 600 hotels & restaurants across seven cities. The efforts have resulted in collecting and recycling over 4000MT of used plastic.
For Project Nayi Umeed, the company focuses on building or restoring Check Dams, rainwater harvesting and empowering communities. It provides access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene, benefiting farmers and their families. Through the programme, it has built or restored over 200 Check Dams in Gujarat and Maharashtra. These Check Dams have helped harvest approximately 22 billion litres of water, covering more than 124 villages and benefiting almost 40,000 family members of farmers. Over 13,000 acres of land have been irrigated through the project, turning barren lands into fertile farms. Also, for every litre of water drawn, eight litres of water is replenished from the ground.
Dr Shruti Sharma, assistant professor, TERI, SAS, said, “We at TERI School of Advanced Studies believe that resource efficiency and waste management are the keys to smart, sustainable and inclusive development. We work together internally and externally to maximize shared knowledge and impact. Bisleri International Private Limited has been practicing triple bottom line as an approach. We are happy to partner with them to develop their first Sustainability report. Hope this aligns all their stakeholders to their work towards sustainable development.”
Read MoreDate | News Title | Source |
31-March-2023 | More universities to consider ... | The Indian Express (Online) |
22-February-2023 | WSDS: PM Modi pitches for coll... | The Times of India |
20-February-2023 | Bisleri International unveils ... | FnBNews. Com (Online) |
15-February-2023 | Cabral urges Goa students to m... | The Times of India (Online) |
05-February-2023 | Two MoUs inked to boost green ... | The Times of India (Online) |
21-December-2022 | IPCA Center for Waste Managem... | Etvbharat |
17-November-2022 | Making oceans critical to clim... | Investing.com (Online-IANS World News) |
16-November-2022 | TERI Policy Brief launched at ... | ANI News (Online) |
15-November-2022 | TERI SAS partners with Cisco N... | Financial Express (Online) |
16-October-2022 | Right Time to Start up on ESG... | The Economic Times; Page No. 04 |
“The next 1,000 unicorns won’t be search engines or social media companies, they’ll be sustainable, scalable innovators — startups that help the world decarbonise and make the energy transition affordable for all consumers,” Larry Fink, chairman and CEO of US-based multinational investment management corporation BlackRock said in his annual letter to CEOs in January this year.
While companies in the developed economies have been focusing more on environment, social, and corporate governance (ESG), for their Indian counterparts it’s for long been an exercise-driven largely by the pressure from investors and the need to maintain their brand image.
As per US-based management consulting firm Boston Consulting Group’s Report on Readiness of Indian Industries towards Climate Change Guidelines of COP26, which was published in April this year, organisations were adopting sustainable business practices for select reasons including brand image, growth, and pressure from investors and stakeholders such as rating agencies, customers, employees and so on.
“About 51% of the organisations ranked pressure from stakeholders as one of their top reasons to invest in sustainability initiatives, especially those focusing on ESG- based considerations,” it said.
Experts point out that around 25 countries have made ESG disclosures mandatory and that number is only going to grow in the coming years. In India, the top 1,000 listed companies (by market capitalisation) have to mandatorily file Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report (BRSR) from the current financial year.
Reporting ESG performance by large companies is likely to have a trickle-down effect on the entire business ecosystem.
And startups, too, are feeling the heat.
Sanjeev Kumar Singhal, chairman, the Sustainability Reporting Standards Board, set up by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), points out that ESG has become imperative to the success of any business.
“BRSR or ESG parameters would become the norm of the day for all businesses. A high score on ESG norms will give an added advantage to startups and they will be able to attract better talent and funds,” he says.
To be sure, private-equity (PE) investors regularly undertake pre and post- investment checks on ESG performance in startups.
Satish Ramchandani, co-founder, Updapt, an ESG-tech firm that otters ESG as a SaaS-based solution, points out that several of its clients are startups. “There is no escape from ESG. The venture capital (VC) community in India, too, is catching up” he says.
BRSR is likely to become mandatory for all listed companies in the near future and is a key action point for India to reach the net-zero goal by 2070. “Startups, too, would be part of this ecosystem when they want to get listed on stock exchanges or to be supply-chain partners with corporates that are either large or listed,” adds Ramchandani.
Rajesh K, chief quality and sustainability officer at direct-to-consumer meat brand Licious believes that while investors have started to look at companies through the ESG lens, it is more an assessment of the business to ensure the long-term sustainability and resilience to uncertainties and risks arising due to various aspects of ESG.
“We are living in a world where climate action and sustainability issues are imminent and all stakeholders expect businesses to be responsible in carrying out the business objectives considering needs of our future generations.” he savs.
N Chandrasekhar, founder, Jivoule Biofuels, a Hyderabad-based biodiesel production startup, points out that already there is a perceptible change in the attitude of investors towards ESG performance in investee companies. “Investors are very particular on ESG progress, especially after investment”.
Investors demand transparency, right metrics reporting, and the measurement of impact-generated, among other things. “No greenwashing practices are tolerated,” he adds.
However, most challenges faced by startups in meeting ESG parameters arise from the lack of awareness of their ESG impact, say experts.
Chandrasekhar adds that resource constraints add to their challenges in meeting ESG performance expectations.
Just as how investors help startups bring in corporate governance, they also help set standards (both internally and externally) to ESG reporting, which automatically orients startups in that direction. However, startup founders point out that ESG compliance is expensive and funds diverted for the same would add to financial burden.
“It needs prior planning and is a part of the culture,” says Tarun Jami, founder of climate-tech startup Green Jams.
The ESG myth
Most startups operate on the philosophy of‘hyper-growth’, which means they dedicate all their resources to acquiring customers. In most cases, this means sacrificing early profits to control market share and make super-normal profits in the future.
“Hence, some startups treat ESG as an additional cost. However, it is a misconception,” says Sandeep Kumar Mohanty, partner, ESG Strategy and Net- Zero at global consulting firm PwC.
Mohanty points out that ESG is not about investing money and time to manage compliance. “It is more about changing our mindset and how we do business.”
Experts point out that ESG-focused startups have stood out of late. They have attracted investors at a better capital cost and accelerated sales while optimising the use of resources. They also continue to attract young talent.
Mainstreaming ESG
VCs could play a key role in mainstreaming ESG in the Indian startup ecosystem. In Europe and the US, the VC community has been ahead of the curve in terms of sensitising startups about ESG issues.
“However we don’t find enough conversations of this kind happening in India,” says Timothy Hendrix, general partner at San Francisco-based early-stage VC firm Agility Ventures, adding that investors have been telling large companies to invest in ESG to bring more transparency and accountability in their business.
“We are now asking the businesses at the startup stage to do so from the beginning so that they can be both — have a growth mindset and be sustainable at the same time,” says Hendrix.
Jami, meanwhile, points out that considering how most VCs were predominantly tech investors, it takes a lot of grit to come out of their comfort zones to relearn, recalculate and re-evaluate their investment theses based on ESG parameters. It is now time for the founders to bite the bullet.
Startups can begin their sustainability journey in a small way, says Ramchandani…
"BRSR or ESG parameters would become the norm of the day for all businesses. A high score on ESG norms will give an added advantage to startuJ2S and they will be able to attract better talent and funds.
— Sanjeev Kumar Singhal, Chairman, Sustainability Reporting Standards Board
VCs on the boards of startups are in a good position to influence their thought process to achieve growth in a sustainable manner. However, for any ESG-focussed startup to attract the attention of VCs, they have to meet the acid test of financial viability, says Viney Sawhney, a professor at the Harvard University. Sawhney and Hendrix were recently in India to conduct a workshop on VC and ESG investing for startups, along with New Delhi-based Teri School of Advanced Studies.
Sawhney’s observations were that the failure risk of ESG-related ventures is low. However, most startup founders in India are still weaned towards retail, SaaS, and e-commerce ventures which have high failure rates. As a result, the pipeline for ESG ventures is not enough. “There is a lack of high-quality deal flow in ESG,” he adds.
However, given the agriculture and climate-related issues faced in India, there is a huge opportunity for ESG ventures to deliver an internal rate of return (IRR) in the range of 15% to 20%. That level of IRR is necessary for VCs to get interested in such ventures. To deliver such levels of IRR, the projects have to be well thought through, funded, and executed, he says.
Sawhney is of the view that lack of awareness among entrepreneurs is one of the key reasons for the dearth of high-quality ESG ventures in India. “In the US, when someone wants to start up, they first join a course to get a better understanding of the business ecosystem and the do’s and don’ts that they should be mindful of. In India, there are hardly any courses that give entrepreneurs such in-depth knowledge,” he adds.
The government, too, needs to play a significant role in propagating ESG practices among the startup ecosystem, says Sawhney.
“If India wants to mainstream ESG, startups and VCs have to play a key role,” he concludes.
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