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Chandigarh, Punjab

Fostering Innovation for a Self-Reliant and Sustainable India: CHASCON 2024 starts at PU

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Chandigarh:

Chandigarh Science Congress (CHASCON) 2024 started at Panjab University (PU), Chandigarh, today. The conference begin with an inaugural ceremony, followed by keynote addresses from Prof. Ashutosh Sharma, President, Indian National Science Academy (INSA), and Ms. Shweta Khurana, Senior Director, Asia-Pacific and Japan, Global Government Affairs.

The theme of the three day Congress is “Indigenous Technologies for Viksit Bharat”. As many as 1200 academicians, scientists and researchers from various institutions and industrial houses from Chandigarh region and various other parts are participating in the conclave to exchange ideas, foster collaborations, and inspire the next generation of scientists. The Congress would conclude on November 8.

An exhibition of research activities of various institutes of Chandigarh region and departments of PU also started at the Law Auditorium ground. “Breaking the Shell and Soaring High: Startup Journeys”, a book captivating exploration into the world of entrepreneurship, showcasing the inspiring stories of eight startups that have emerged from the entrepreneurial hub of Panjab University, was also released at the inaugural ceremony.

PU Vice Chancellor Prof. Renu Vig emphasised that technology is continuously evolving, improving the quality of our lives and offering better products with enhanced features across almost every field. This evolution presents a challenge and an opportunity, especially for young people like the students, who will work on the technologies of the future.

Addressing the students, researchers and faculty members, INSA President Prof. Ashutosh Sharma, who was the chief guest, emphasised on the need for people-centred technology and sustainability in development. He highlighted the significance of the recent geospatial policy in India that removes restrictions on surveying and mapping, potentially unlocking tremendous economic growth, as seen with initiatives like the “Swamitva” scheme, aimed at providing ownership certificates for land in rural areas.

Prof. Sharma outlined key technological priorities, including AI, IoT, and Large Language models, as essential for a self-reliant India (Viksit Bharat). He also discussed the need for disruptive innovation in India’s educational system, stating that true development requires a societal mindset that prioritises India-centric research. He said that while technology is important, society must focus on self-respect, confidence, and a critical understanding of its own strengths and weaknesses. These “three cultural pillars” — confidence, self-respect, and introspection — are crucial for fostering innovation and excellence in India’s scientific landscape. He challenged the notion that increased funding alone could drive success. Excellence in fields like theoretical sciences and mathematics, which require minimal infrastructure, remains under-realised in India due to cultural rather than financial limitations, he added.

In her address, Senior Director of Intel Corporation Ms. Shweta Khurana discussed how indigenous technologies, especially in AI, are crucial to our mission at Intel: to improve the lives of people around the globe through technology that meets their needs effectively and provides practical solutions. AI can be a force for progress, prosperity, and resilience in India, she added.

Motivating the students, Ms. Khurana said that the students as future scientists have the opportunity to lead this AI revolution. Imagine transforming India into a nation not only consuming AI but also pioneering new knowledge in AI. This impact can be profound, not only by innovating but by leading change responsibly, ethically, and sustainably, as we bridge ancient sciences with modern breakthroughs, she added.

Ms Khurana also connected the AI-enabled era mean with Viksit Bharat. Innovation goes beyond tools and technologies; it’s about creating tailored solutions for our unique challenges. It can foster local communities, create employment, and strengthen India’s global position in AI. Imagine AI-powered solutions that help farmers analyse soil health and maximise crop yields at a fraction of the cost. Frugal AI can enable such advancements, making technology accessible, affordable, and available for those who might otherwise be left out of the digital revolution, she further added.

Prof. Y. K. Rawal, Coordinator of the conference highlighted the origin and significance of CHASCON in bringing together distinguished scientists, innovators, and young researchers. The Inaugural function ended with the vote of thanks by Prof Sonal Singhal, Co-Coordinator, CHASCON-2024.

Chandigarh, Punjab

SUGARCANE CRUSHING IN PUNJAB TO BEGIN FROM NOVEMBER 25

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Chandigarh, November 6

          The Punjab Government has announced that sugarcane crushing in the state will begin from November 25, 2024 onwards.

          This decision was made during a meeting of the State Sugarcane Control Board, chaired by Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian at his office, on Wednesday.

Khudian said that Punjab has witnessed a 5% increase in the area under sugarcane crop. This year, sugarcane crop has been cultivated on 1 lakh hectares area, which is up from around 95,000 hectares previous year. There are 15 sugar mills in Punjab, comprising nine cooperative and six private mills, which are expected to crush around 700 lakh quintals of sugarcane. The state is projected to produce 62 lakh quintals of sugar this season, he added.

          The Agriculture Minister directed the concerned officials to ensure that all arrangements are in place before the commencement of crushing operations, while emphasising that farmers should not face any inconvenience in selling their produce and timely payments should also be made to them.

Chandigarh, Punjab

PUNJAB POLICE BUSTS TRANS-BORDER NARCOTIC SMUGGLING RACKET; THREE HELD WITH 1KG ICE, 1KG HEROIN

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CHANDIGARH/AMRITSAR, November 6

          Striking a big blow to the gangster-narco nexus, Amritsar Commissionerate Police has busted a trans-border narcotic smuggling racket with the arrest of three drug smugglers and recovered 1kg Ice (Methamphetamine) and 1kg Heroin from their possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav here on Wednesday.

          Those arrested have been identified as Karandeep Singh (22), a resident of village Bhakna Kala in Amritsar, Jeewan Singh (19) and Manjinder Singh (21), both resident of Chohla Sahib in Tarn Taran. Police teams have also impounded their car Toyota Etios in which they were travelling.

          DGP Gaurav Yadav said that preliminary investigations have revealed that arrested accused Karandeep had been living in Dubai and Moscow in Russia before returning back to Punjab after six years.

          After returning to Punjab, accused Karandeep has established contacts with the Pak-based drug smugglers using various social media apps and started smuggling narcotics from across the border to further supply them in Amritsar and neighbouring districts, he said, while adding that drones were being used by Pak-based smugglers to influx narcotics into the territory of the state.

          The DGP said the the probe has also found that the accused Karandeep was also in touch with foreign-based Gangster Gurdev alias Jaisal. An FIR under NDPS Act registered at Police Station Airport Amristar and Investigations ongoing to establish backward and forward linkages, he added.

          Pertinently, Gurdev Jaisel is a key operative of Canada-based terrorists Lakhbir alias Landa and Satbir Singh alias Satta, who were behind the Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) attack at Police Station Sarhali and numerous plots to commit targeted killings in Punjab.

          Sharing operation details while addressing a press conference, Commissioner of Police (CP) Amritsar Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said that acting swiftly on a secret input, police teams from CIA Staff-1 under the supervision of DCP Investigation Harpreet Singh Mander laid a naka near Puli Sua at Ajnala road in Amritsar and arrested trio accused persons after recovering drug consignments from their vehicle.

          The CP said that further investigations are going on. More arrests and recoveries are expected in coming days, he added.

          A case FIR no 44 dated 05.11.2024 has been registered under sections 21C,22C and 23 of the NDPS Act at Police Station Airport Amritsar.

Chandigarh

PGI Chandigarh makes history with three successful cervical spine disc replacements in one week

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Chandigarh: PGIMER Chandigarh has achieved a significant milestone in healthcare by successfully performing three cervical spine disc replacements in the span of just one week. The surgeries, conducted by Dr. Vishal Kumar, Additional Professor of Orthopedics, have brought relief to patients suffering from Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy.

The patients, including a 57-year-old female and two male patients aged 49 and 54, were experiencing difficulty in walking, decreased hand grip, and neck pain radiating to their upper limbs. Following the surgeries, all patients reported improved pain and are on the path to recovery.

The procedures, which involve the replacement of cervical discs to restore normal function and flexibility of the spine, have been made possible through government health care schemes like Ayushman Bharat. The patients, hailing from diverse backgrounds, have expressed their gratitude for the care and empathy received at PGIMER Chandigarh.

Dr Vivek Lal, Director, PGIMER  extended his congratulations to the surgeons for their exceptional work and praised Dr. Vishal for his innovative approach to spine surgery. Dr Lal said, “The team’s dedication and expertise have resulted in improved outcomes for patients suffering from Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy. Their commitment to providing high-quality healthcare services and pushing the boundaries of medical innovation have been instrumental in bringing relief and restoring mobility to those in need”.

 “The achievements of Dr. Vishal and his team truly exemplify excellence in healthcare”, said Dr Lal

Dr. Vishal Kumar, known for his expertise in spine surgery and innovative approaches, has been instrumental in the successful outcomes of these surgeries. His contributions to the field of spine surgery have been recognized with many national awards and patents for his inventions. Dr Vishal has more than ten patents, copyrights, inventions and description of surgical approaches and procedures to his credit till date.

Chandigarh, Punjab

By recognizing their inner strength, young students can fly in amber: Raj Lali Gill

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Mohali: There is no problem that cannot be solved. Hard times and tough situations make a person stronger. There is no need to go to anyone to make yourself strong, but you need to recognize your inner strength. Only by recognizing their inner strength, young students can fly in the sky and fulfill their every dream. These views were expressed by Raj Lali Gill Chairperson Punjab State Commission for Women, who was present as the chief guest on the last day of the ongoing Youth Festival at Doaba Group of Colleges while motivating the students. At this time, he also made the students aware about drugs, difficulties faced by students in foreign countries and difficulties of live in relationship. Along with this, this regional youth fair, which has been going on for three consecutive days, ended with colorful memories. On the third day of the program, Punjabi University Patiala Dean Dr. Narinder Kaur Multani and Educationist Dr. Gunamala Suri attended as special guests. More than 1500 students from 65 colleges participated in this three-day regional youth fair. Mata Gujri College Fatehgarh Sahib won the overall championship trophy by beating other colleges in this regional youth fair of the session 2024-25 by Punjabi University Patiala.

The guests who came earlier were welcomed by Director Principal Dr. Minu Jaitley. On the third day, all the teams were given an opportunity to present their art effectively. In this festival, various programs like classical dance, mime, skit, giddha, debate, poetic recitation, declamation etc. were organized as per the schedule. The most attractive offering of the last day was the vulture. The main objective of organizing this festival was to know the hidden talent of the students. Dr. Narinder Kaur Multani and educationist Dr. Gunmala Suri, who were present as special guests on this occasion, talked about the rich culture of Punjab and appreciated the energy of the youth in their speech. They also congratulated Doaba Group of Colleges for completing 25 years of Silver Jubilee. During this regional youth fair which lasted for three consecutive days, DGC Chairman S. M.S. Bath, Managing Vice Chairman of DGC. SS Sangha, Executive Vice Chairman Manjit Singh, Dean Student Welfare Maninderpal Kaur Gill, DGC. All the Director-Principals and Principals of various colleges and other staff members were present and contributed to the successful completion of this program.

Chandigarh, Haryana, Punjab

Inter School Basketball: Sardar Bhagwant Singh Memorial Basketball Trophy-2024 to be held on November 6-13

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Chandigarh, October 28

This year’s Sardar Bhagwant Singh Memorial Basketball Trophy, a landmark event as it celebrates the 10th season of the tournament, will be held on November 6 to 13, 2024 at Indoor Basketball Court, GMADA, Sports complex, Sector 78, Mohali. Players from top schools of tricity will compete among themselves to lift the prestigious trophy.  

A significant milestone in the sporting calendar of the tricity region, this tournament over the decade has built a reputation for nurturing young basketball talents, fostering school spirit, and promoting healthy competition among the best schools in the area.

Sharing details with media persons here today at Chandigarh Press Club, Vikramjeet Singh Mamik, Administrator, Vivek High School, said: “The tournament will provide a platform for young athletes to shine across three age groups: U-12 Boys and Girls; U-14 Boys and Girls, and U-17 Boys and Girls, thus ensuring that students of different age groups get a chance to compete in their respective divisions, with equal opportunities for both boys and girls.”

The tournament will be held from November 6 to November 13, 2024 at Indoor Basketball Court, GMADA, Sports complex, Sector 78, Mohali. As many as 50 schools have been invited to compete.  Matches will run throughout the day, showcasing sporting talent from multiple schools across the region. Each day, spectators can expect 12 to 14 matches, featuring fast-paced and intense basketball action.

Mr. Mamik further informed: “To commemorate a decade of success, we have introduced cash prizes for the top three teams in each category for the very first time. A total prize pool of Rs 2,70,000 will be awarded, making it one of the most rewarding school-level sports events in the region. This enhancement is aimed at recognizing the hard work and dedication of the students and coaches who contribute to the competitive spirit of the game.”

Dr. Amar Jyoti Chawla, Principal, Vivek High School, Mohali, averred that the milestone celebration will also acknowledge the role of this tournament in elevating basketball’s profile among schools and encouraging more young athletes to pursue the sport at both recreational and competitive levels.

Notable basketball players who have played in the tournament and achieved great heights in their careers include Sahaij Pratap Singh Sekhon, who played in the Asian Cup recently. Apart from Sekhon, in men’s, two more players have shined – Jashan Bahra and Ansh Rawat both became national players. What’s more, in the women’s category, Tarushi Bahl and Anamika Sachdeva also  became national players. Many more such players have used the tournament’s exposure to grow their basketball careers.

Dr. Chawla added, “Reputed schools from the tricity region will participate in the tournament, continuing the tradition of involving the best talent from schools in Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula.”

Jayata Chopra, Cultural Coordinator, Vivek High School, Mohali, said: “This year’s tournament promises to be an unforgettable experience for both players and spectators, with healthy competition, exciting prizes, and a celebration of a decade of basketball excellence in the region.”

Talking about the tournament format, Vishal Sharma, Head, Sports Department, Vivek High School, Mohali, said the tournament will follow an elimination or knock-out format. This system ensures that every game carries high stakes, with each team having only one chance to advance to the next round. Teams must perform at their optimum level to survive and make it to the final stages of the tournament, making every match a thrilling contest, he said.

Sharma said that the most anticipated part of the tournament—the quarterfinals, semi-finals, and finals—will take place during the final three days of the tournament. These decisive matches will determine the champions and bring the tournament to a thrilling conclusion, he said.

As many as 24 schools have already registered and for those who want to participate, registration is on. The interested schools can contact Vivek High School, Mohali for the same.

List of participating teams till date (Registration is still going on)

St. Peters Senior Secondary School, Sector 37 B, Chandigarh;St. Anee’s Convent School, Sector 32 C, Chandigarh; Saupin’s School, Sector 32 A, Chandigarh; Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, Sector 26, Chandigarh; St. Joseph’s Sr. Sec. School, Sector 44 D, Chandigarh; Delhi Public School, Sector 40 C, Chandigarh; St. Soldiers School, Sector 16, Panchkula; Shishu Niketan Public School, Sector 43, Chandigarh; K V High Grounds, Chandigarh; Police Public School, Jagatpura, Mohali;Learning Paths School, Sector 67, Mohali; Manav Mangal Smart School, Phase 10, Mohali; Smart Wonders School, Sector 71, Mohali; Shemrock School, Sector 69, Mohali; Yadavindra Public School, Sector 51, Mohali; Shivalik Public School, Phase 6, Mohali; Shishu Niketan Public School, Sector 66, Mohali; Amity International School, Sector 79, Mohali; Manav Rachna International School, Sector 82 A, Mohali; Saupin’s School, Sector 70, Mohali; Mind Tree School, Kharar; Delhi Public School, Mohali; Vivek High School, Sector 38, Chandigarh and Vivek High School, Mohali.

Chandigarh

Brain stroke emerging new epidemic worldwide: Dr Vineet Saggar

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Chandigarh: “Stroke is emerging as the new epidemic worldwide with 1.5 to 2 million new stroke cases being reported across the globe every year. The reason for increased incidence in India, which accounts for 60 % of all stroke patients globally is lack of awareness about the disease per se and the methods of prevention,” said Dr Vineet Saggar, Senior Neurosurgeon, Livasa Hospital, Mohali.

Addressing a press conference, Dr Saggar, said that stroke remains a silent epidemic despite it being responsible for more deaths annually than those caused by AIDS, TB and malaria.

Dr Pradeep Sharma, Neurologist, said that now with a new mechanical thrombectomy technique the stroke patients can be treated in selected cases till 24 hours. In this technique the clot is either aspirated or taken out of the brain with the help of a stent without opening the brain.

Dr Jaspreet Randhawa, Neurosurgeon said,” Recently the American Stroke Association has also modified its guidelines and has recommended mechanical thrombectomy treatment for stroke patients. Thus, it is very important to be aware of the hospitals which can offer these treatments. Merely reaching the hospitals is not enough, one needs to reach a stroke ready hospital,”

Dr Swati Garg, Neurologist said, “In Indian cities including metro cities, only 3% of the eligible stroke patients receive thromboembolic drugs to remove clotting as they are brought to hospital on time. The rest are paralyzed as they are brought in late to super specialty hospitals and cannot be administered clot buster drugs,”

Thus, the stroke patient needs to rush to a hospital with comprehensive stroke care, a multidisciplinary team of emergency physicians, neurologists, interventional neuro-radiologists, neurosurgeons, anesthetists and critical care physicians, Dr Jaslovleen Kaur, neurologist, maintained.

Tips to prevent brain strokes:

1. Maintain blood pressure

2. Maintain optimum weight

3. Exercise more

4. Drink alcohol in moderation

5. Take a baby aspirin

6. Maintain diabetes

7. Quit smoking

8. Be Aware about stroke

9. Maintain healthy BMI and hips to waist ratio

Chandigarh

Haryana Governor and CM unveil coffee table book ‘Haryana Raj Bhavan – Ek Drishti’

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Chandigarh: Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatraya and Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Friday jointly unveiled the coffee table book titled ‘Haryana Raj Bhavan – Ek Drishti’ at a ceremony held at the Raj Bhavan.  Dattatraya highlighted the significance of the book, stating that this publication serves as a lasting testament to the values, heritage, and traditions that Haryana stands for, connecting our citizens with the state’s administrative and cultural legacy. Saini praised the Coffee Table book as an important achievement that encapsulates the spirit of Haryana’s rich cultural ethos and the Raj Bhavan’s pivotal role in governance. This commemorative book captures the architectural grandeur of the Haryana Raj Bhavan, cultural events of the state and important programmes attended and addressed by Dattatraya.

Chandigarh

Haryana Chief Secretary Dr. TVSN Prasad chairs the 21st meeting of the Standing Committee of the Northern Zonal Council

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Chandigarh, October 25: Haryana Chief Secretary Dr. TVSN Prasad chaired the 21st meeting of the Standing Committee of the Northern Zonal Council today at Hotel Lalit, Chandigarh. The meeting was attended by Sh. K. Moses Chalai, Secretary of the Inter State Council Secretariat (ISCS), Chief Secretary of Himachal Pradesh Sh. Prabodh Saxena, Chief Secretary of Rajasthan Sh. Sudhansh Pant, Chief Secretary of Punjab Sh. KAP Sinha, and senior officers from the participating States, Union Territories (UTs), and the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Participating states included Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Himachal Pradesh, along with the UTs of Ladakh, Chandigarh, Delhi, and Jammu and Kashmir.

Various important matters discussed in the meeting of NZC held under the chairmanship of Union Home Minister  Sh Amit Shah at Amritsar last year were also discussed in the meeting.

Councils facilitate discussions on a wide range of issues, fostering mutual understanding and cooperation

In his welcome address, Dr. Prasad highlighted the importance of Zonal Councils in promoting cooperative federalism, which empowers states and enhances coordination between the Centre and the states within the policy framework. He said that these councils facilitate discussions on a wide range of issues, fostering mutual understanding and cooperation.

The Chief Secretary emphasized that the Zonal Council meetings enable a coordinated approach to address critical social and economic development issues. This collaborative environment aids in resolving pending matters amicably between the Centre and the states, as well as among the participating states, and allows them to share and adopt best practices.

Dr. Prasad  invited participants to explore Rakhigarhi and to visit the holy land of Kurukshetra

Dr. Prasad also expressed pride in Haryana’s rich cultural heritage, inviting participants to explore Rakhigarhi in district Hisar, the site of one of the oldest civilizations, and to visit the holy land of Kurukshetra, where Lord Krishna delivered the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita.

Speedy investigation of cases of rape and sexual offences  against women and children

The meeting also stressed upon the need of speedy investigation of cases of rape and sexual offences  against women and children. The Government in 2018 approved the Criminal Law ( Amendment ) Act 2018 prescribing stringent provisions for sexual offences including award of death penalty in the rape of a girl below the age of 12 years of age. In order to ensure compliance to the two months timeline for completion of investigation under the the Criminal Law ( Amendment ) Act 2018, advisories are being issued to all the States, UTs along with compliance reports urging them for hundred percent compliance in order for the effective implementation of the Act, the measures to strengthen investigation and prosecution machinery will instill a sense of security amongst women.

Several important inter-state issues discussed

Several inter state issues were also discussed in the meeting including need for neighbouring states to shift to cleaner fuels such as piped natural gas in their industries, complete ban on manufacturing, storage, sale ( including delivery through online marketing platforms) and bursting of all kinds of crackers in NCR , vehicular pollution control : BS VI vehicles registration and electric vehicle promotion and discourage entry of non-destined truck into Delhi.

A total of 69 issues were discussed in the 21st meeting of the Standing Committee of Northern Zonal  Council. Out of these several issues have been identified as important topics at the national level, these are being regularly discussed and monitored in the meetings of various zonal councils. These included Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana , effective implementation of Direct Benefit Transfer for Social Security Schemes, addressing malnutrition among girl children through Poshan Abhiyan, dropout rate of school children, Sahakar-se-Samriddhi, good practices of States and UTs,  improving banking services in rural areas, speedy investigation of  cases regarding rape and sexual offences against women and children and setting up of fast track court for such cases.

States/UT shared best practices

During the meeting, the participating states and UTs gave presentations on the good practices adopted by them. From Rajasthan, Special Secretary Planning Anupama Jorwal  gave presentation on Smart shift from paper to pixel and Rajasthan Jan Aadhar Yojna, from Chandigarh SP Head Quarter Chandigarh Ketan Bansal on Implementation of New Criminal Laws, from Haryana Additional Chief Secretary Raja Shekhar Vundru on AHD Department ,  Dr Saket Kumar on Energy Department and Amneet P Kumar on WCD Haryana.

From Himachal Pradesh Secretary Ashish Singhmar gave presentation on Child Protection Schemes and Director Fisheries Vivek Chandel on Trout Fish Farming in Cages, a new step towards blue revolution, from Ladakh Sajad Mufti on India’s first dark sky reserve ‘Hanle’ and from Punjab Ajoy Sharma gave presentation on Door Step Service Delivery, Barnala Pahunch and Future Tycoons.

In his closing remarks Chief Secretary Dr. TVSN Prasad praised the innovative practices shared by the states, emphasizing that the meeting served as an excellent platform for collaboration and the exchange of ideas.

Vote of thanx was presented by Special  Secretary Monitoring and Coordination Dr Priyanka Soni .

Chandigarh

Expanding Credit by Empowering MSMEs is Essential: Rajat Chopra

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Chandigarh: The MSME credit access in India is only 14%, whereas it stands at 72% in the U.S. and between 40-50% in other countries. Hence, expanding credit by empowering MSMEs is crucial. This was stated by Rajat Chopra, Founder and CEO of BankersKlub, during a press conference here today.

He provided insights into the innovative FinTech platform, BankersKlub, explaining how they are working to bring a transformation in the financial advisory field with the help of experienced bankers.

He shared plans to expand into northern Indian states and central regions like Chandigarh, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir, with the leadership of the organization’s first co-partner, Rajiv Puri, a seasoned banking expert and former Executive Director of the Central Bank of India. BankersKlub is strengthening its regional efforts with a goal of engaging more than 1,000 bankers in these regions. Under its expansion plans, the organization has opened a new branch office in Chandigarh, located in Sector 17. The operations for this region will be run from this office. Through the assistance of qualified former bankers, the company will offer numerous strategic corporate financial advisory services and solutions to small businesses, MSMEs, and startups.

Rajiv Puri brings deep experience in the banking sector, having held significant positions in PNB and Central Bank. He will now contribute his expertise to BankersKlub. Born in Punjab, Puri has a strong local network and deep understanding of northern India’s market. He will drive growth in markets like Chandigarh, Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal.

The new office in Chandigarh will strengthen the growing network in northern India, ensuring smooth operations. With Rajiv Puri’s leadership and broad network, we are now well-positioned in this emerging business hub and will directly engage with local corporates, MSMEs, and the startup ecosystem.

Rajiv Puri, Director and Co-Partner at BankersKlub, expressed his excitement at being part of BankersKlub’s mission to bridge the gap between experienced banking professionals and growing businesses in India. He stated that with the Chandigarh office, they will be able to provide customized financial advisory services and strengthen their ties with industries in northern India. Leveraging decades of banking experience, they will help businesses seize growth opportunities, improve their financial standing, and face financial challenges more effectively. As a co-partner, Puri is eager to advance this mission and contribute to BankersKlub’s expansion across the country.

Rajat Chopra emphasized that capital availability for enterprises can only be provided by expanding into Tier-II and Tier-III cities, where there is a lack of awareness about funding opportunities, transaction flow, and available financial facilities. At BankersKlub, the aim is to act as a catalyst in bridging the gap between capital providers and those in need of capital in smaller cities.

BankersKlub offers services in debt and equity fundraising, debt restructuring, international expansion, NPA resolution, mergers and acquisitions, MSME advisory, regulatory compliance, and more. It contributes not only to financing but also to the broader economic development in the region. The platform’s goal of reutilizing human capital aligns with the “Make in India” initiative, aiming to boost GDP through the expertise of Indian advisors for corporates in both domestic and international markets.

The startup plans to engage over 1,000 bankers on its platform by March 2025, incorporating retired bankers from across India. The platform is rapidly expanding and is establishing its presence in key business centers, offering its services to MSMEs and the corporate ecosystem.