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Chandigarh

Five-Day Workshop on Participatory Action Research Concludes in Chandigarh

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Chandigarh:

The five-day Transdisciplinary Workshop on Participatory Action Research (PAR), held from 5 to 9 October 2026 at Hotel Parkview, Sector 24B, Chandigarh, concluded yesterday, bringing together researchers, public health practitioners and experts to promote community-led, participatory and action-oriented approaches to public health research.

Organised by the Health Equity Action Learnings (HEAL) Foundation, with academic support from the Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, PGIMER Chandigarh, and the Institute of Public Health (IPH), Bengaluru, the workshop was funded by the Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

The workshop featured expert sessions, practical exercises, case studies and a community field visit, covering participatory research methods, community engagement, research ethics, power dynamics and translating community perspectives into policy and practice. Case studies from PRAXIS and Ekjut, Jharkhand, highlighted people-led research with marginalised communities and participatory approaches to improving maternal and newborn health.

The workshop brought together faculty and facilitators Dr. Rajesh Kumar, Dr. Manmeet Kaur, Dr. PVM Lakshmi, Dr. Tanya Seshadri, Dr. Tom Thomas, Dr. Dheeraj, Dr. Prasanta Tripathy, Dr. Sachin Barbde, Dr. Vikas Kumar and Dr. Vineeth Rajagopal , representing expertise across public health, participatory research and community-based interventions. Dr. Ashoo Grover, Scientist G and Head, Division of Delivery Research, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi, led a session on research proposal development and funding opportunities on the concluding day.

The workshop concluded with group discussions, participant reflections and a closing ceremony. It emphasised the importance of equitable partnerships among communities, researchers and health systems to generate evidence that informs policies, strengthens programmes and drives meaningful public health action.

Chandigarh, Haryana, Punjab

WWICS to hold mega immigration seminars across Punjab and Chandigarh on October 10-11

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Chandigarh, October 8, 2026: Canada is emerging as an attractive destination for prospective immigrants, with growing opportunities beyond the country’s major metropolitan centres and increasing focus on regional labour-market requirements, said Lt Col BS Sandhu (Retd.), Chairman & Managing Director, WWICS Group, at a press conference here today.

Lt Col Sandhu informed that to provide prospective immigrants with a clearer understanding of the evolving global immigration landscape, WWICS will organise mega immigration seminars on October 10 in Amritsar at Hotel Best Western Merrion from 11 am to 1 pm; in Jalandhar at Ramada by Wyndham from 3 pm to 5 pm; and in Ludhiana at Hotel Park Plaza from 5 pm to 8 pm. In Chandigarh, the seminar will be held on October 11 from 11 am to 3 pm at Hotel Aroma.

Lt Col Sandhu added, “Canada is emerging as an attractive immigration destination amid renewed focus on regional opportunities.”

“Canada offers a very different proposition beyond its major metropolitan centres. Provinces such as Saskatchewan have vast land resources, a relatively small population and genuine requirements for skilled workers. This makes regional Canada an important opportunity for prospective immigrants who meet the eligibility requirements,” Sandhu said.

He said that after a period of moderation, interest in immigration to Canada and other major destinations was beginning to pick up. He added that the government led by PM Mark Carney was continuing to position immigration around Canada’s economic and labour-market requirements.

“Immigration opportunities continue to exist for well-qualified and well-prepared applicants. It is just that applicants must prioritise eligibility and compliance,” Sandhu said.

Lt Col Sandhu said the seminars being planned would cover immigration and resettlement opportunities across Canada, Australia, the USA, the UK, Europe and New Zealand, with a focus on eligibility, application processes, documentation, timelines and changing immigration policies. The sessions will cater to skilled professionals, businesspersons, investors and students.

Amit Khanna, Vice President, WWICS Group, who was also present at the press conference, said that immigration was increasingly becoming skill-driven and selective across major destinations.

“Immigration today is no longer about simply choosing a country and applying. It is about understanding where an applicant genuinely qualifies, assessing the requirements and following the most appropriate lawful pathway. Our approach is clear: Eligibility First, Application Second,” he said.

Khanna said Canada continued to offer opportunities in areas including healthcare and social services, STEM, skilled trades, education and transport, besides pathways linked to French-language proficiency and other specialised skills.

Khanna while talking about immigration in countries other than Canada said that Australia’s skilled migration programme continued to provide opportunities for eligible professionals, while New Zealand had introduced changes to its Skilled Migrant Category. The USA continued to have investment-based immigration options such as EB-5 for qualifying investors, while the UK had moved towards a more selective skilled-worker system.

“An immigration application should begin with a realistic assessment of an applicant’s profile rather than with a promise of a particular outcome. The right advice can help applicants avoid unnecessary delays, costs and risks,” said Col Sandhu in conclusion.

It is noteworthy that WWICS, founded in Toronto, Canada, on October 23, 1993, has completed more than three decades in the immigration sector and has assisted over five lakh families in pursuing opportunities in Canada, Australia and other destinations.

Chandigarh, Haryana, Punjab

Aakash Education Services Limited launches Aakash INVICTUS – Engineering 2.0

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Chandigarh, October 8, 2026: Aakash Education Services Limited (AESL), one of India’s leading test-preparation providers, has announced the launch of Aakash INVICTUS – Engineering 2.0, strengthening its engineering preparation ecosystem with a performance-driven academic architecture designed to create a structured pathway for students preparing for JEE Main, JEE Advanced, BITSAT and State CETs.

Speaking on the launch, Mr Chandra Sekhar Reddy Garisa, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Aakash Educational Services Limited (AESL), said: “Aakash INVICTUS – Engineering 2.0 has been built by our best teachers, the people with decades of experience in producing top ranks year after year. They rebuilt our curriculum, rewrote our books, and redesigned our testing mechanism from the ground up. We first ran the programme at select centres, and the results in JEE 2026 have been remarkable. Today, we are bringing Aakash INVICTUS to every student at every Aakash branch in India, starting with our existing students. We believe this system will help our students achieve their best possible ranks in JEE Advanced, JEE Main, BITSAT and state engineering exams, and we are confident that JEE 2027 and 2028 will be the best results in the history of Aakash.”

A 360-degree preparation experience, Aakash INVICTUS – Engineering 2.0 brings together six key pillars across the student’s academic journey. The unique aspects of INVICTUS include an Outcome-Focused Academic Approach, where every class, practice session and revision cycle is aligned to improving performance in competitive examinations; a Rank-Proven Faculty Team with extensive experience in preparing students for JEE and other engineering entrance examinations; Scientifically Designed & Research-Backed Study Material, rewritten by the academic team using learning science and detailed research into examination patterns to take students from fundamental concepts to advanced problems; Intelligent Testing & Deep Analysis, with a redesigned testing mechanism focused on the frequency, depth and rigour of assessments and providing students with a clear understanding of their strengths and learning gaps; a Transparent Growth Map that enables students and parents to track progress and understand the pathway towards their academic goals; and Mentorship & an Ecosystem Beyond the Classroom, encompassing JoSAA counselling guidance, doubt support and personalised academic guidance to help students stay on track throughout their preparation.

As part of the national launch, Aakash INVICTUS also introduces four focused batches — Ace, Achiever, Accelerator and Apex. Each batch is designed as an equally strong pathway, shaped around different learning styles and student aspirations, with the common objective of helping every student realise their maximum potential in a structured and stress-free manner.

The rollout covers all Aakash branches across India and begins immediately. Existing Aakash students will be the first to transition to the INVICTUS system, followed by new students joining the organisation. Branches will also conduct orientation sessions for students and parents to provide a detailed understanding of the programme and its academic framework.

Chandigarh

Chandigarh Police Step Up Anti-Drug Drive; SSP Visits Sector 52

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Today, Ms. Kanwardeep Kaur, IPS, W/SSP/UT, Chandigarh, visited Sector 52 of PS-36 and led the door-to-door awareness campaign, interacting directly with residents and checking drive under “Drug Free India”along with the police team, Sh. Dheeraj Kumar, SDPO/South-West, Insp. Chiranji Lal SHO/PS-36

During the drive, houses of persons involved in drug peddling and those previously booked in cases under NDPS Act in the area Sector-52 of PS-36 were checked and verified. The houses were thoroughly searched and antecedents of such persons were verified.

The public was also made aware of the Chandigarh following Police Helpline Number and encouraged to share information regarding drug-related activities with the police.

Anti-Drug Helpline Number 8283040100

Anti-Drug Helpline Landline 0172-2677037

MANAS Helpline: 1933**

Chandigarh Police appealed to citizens to remain vigilant and promptly inform the police about any information related to drug peddling, consumption or other drug-related activities through the designated helpline. The identity of the informer will be kept confidential.

Proper directions were given to such persons not to indulge in such activities in future and to maintain good conduct. They were also warned of strict legal action if found involved again in drug peddling activities. The drive was conducted with the aim to make the area drug free and to create a sense of security among the public.

Chandigarh

Gigantic Rangoli Created under the ‘Seva Ke Rang, Rashtra Ke Sang’ Initiative

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Chandigarh, October 7

Under the initiative ‘Seva Ke Rang, Rashtra Ke Sang’ being held to mark 25 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s public service journey, the Chandigarh BJP under its aegis, created a giant 90 feet by 90 feet rangoli showcasing India’s development journey, cultural heritage and various welfare schemes at Tiranga park in Sec 17, Chandigarh. Senior BJP leader Sanjay Tandon was the Convenor of the programme, while Ramesh Sahod served as the Co-Convenor. The rangoli, was created under the stewardship of Chandigarh BJP President – Jatinder Pal Malhotra.

Sanjay Tandon said that 25 years ago, Narendra Modi began his public service journey as the Chief Minister of Gujarat. After serving Gujarat as Chief Minister for around 12 years, he has been serving the country for nearly 12 years. He said that during these years, several development and welfare initiatives have been taken forward in Gujarat as well as across the country.

He said the giant rangoli, featured symbols associated with Chandigarh’s identity along with a portrait of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Chandigarh’s Open Hand, the dancing form of Nataraja and the wheel of the Konark Temple. Around 40 schemes of the Central Government, along with the culture of Punjab and Haryana, were also depicted in the rangoli.

Tandon said the programme was aimed at informing people about the development initiatives and welfare schemes undertaken in Gujarat and across the country during the last 25 years under PM Modi. Tandon said the country was moving forward on the path of development and that achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 would require the participation of every citizen. He said everyone must work together with a spirit of service and dedication to take the country forward.

During the programme, Sanjay Tandon along with Chandigarh BJP President – Jatinder Pal Malhotra, Mayor Saurabh Joshi & other dignitaries took the ‘Viksit Bharat’ Sankalp, reaffirming their commitment towards building a developed and self-reliant India. This was followed by a ‘Seva Jyoti Yatra’, led by Malhotra & Tandon. The participants walked conveying the message of the country’s progress, the spirit of service and the collective commitment towards the vision of a developed India by 2047.

A prominent dignitary present was Inderjit Singh Sidhu, former DIG of Punjab Police and a Padma Shri awardee recognised for his contribution to cleanliness and sanitation. Notably, apart from Senior BJP leader Sanjay Tandon; Jatinder Pal Malhotra, President, Chandigarh BJP & Mayor Saurabh Joshi many other leaders like Pradesh Mahila Morcha President Sonam Verma were present. Many district presidents, 100’s of other BJP leaders and workers also participated. Former Indian cricketer Reetinder Singh Sodhi too was a prominent personality who took part in the proceedings.

Visual artist Abhishek Rathi has designed the Rangoli around the central theme of India’s cultural heritage, spiritual strength and its journey towards development and progress.

Inspired by the Konark Sun Temple wheel, the design uses its spokes to symbolise government schemes driving national development. Nataraja represents energy and movement, the Kamal (lotus) signifies renewal, and Goddess Chandi Devi’s eyes with a jet symbolise Operation Sindoor. The Shivling represents spiritual strength, while Chandigarh’s iconic open hand, Punjab’s Phulkari and Haryana’s Sanjhi reflect regional identity and cultural diversity.

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Kumari Selja objects to detention of Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi during INDIA bloc protest.

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The Sirsa MP, Former Union Cabinet Minister, General Secretary of All India Congress Committee and Congress Working Committee (CWC) Member Kumari Selja strongly objected to the detention of Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other Opposition leaders during the INDIA bloc protest in New Delhi. On October 6, Opposition leaders were marching from the Parliament area towards the Election Commission and demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. After the protest continued for several hours, police detained Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and several other leaders, who were later released.

Kumari Selja said political parties, civil society, the media and constitutional institutions all have their respective responsibilities in a democracy. She said the right to put forward one’s views through peaceful and democratic means is an important part of the democratic system. She said public confidence in the impartiality and credibility of the Election Commission is paramount and that Congress would continue its democratic struggle over the demand for the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner. She also said the judiciary and media must maintain their independence, impartiality and credibility while fulfilling their constitutional and institutional role in protecting democratic values and citizens’ rights. Kumari Selja said the struggle was not limited to any one individual or political party but concerned maintaining public confidence in democratic institutions. Opposition to the government and a change of power must also remain within the framework of the Constitution and democratic processes.

She said Congress and the INDIA bloc would present their views among the people against the policies of the BJP government and continue their struggle for political change through democratic means. She said whether it is the government or Opposition, the Election Commission, judiciary, media or civil society, everyone has a responsibility to ensure that the country’s democratic system and the credibility of its institutions remain strong.

:-The Government must speed up paddy procurement and lifting in mandis:-Kumari Selja

Kumari Selja, raising the issues faced by paddy-producing farmers, said procurement, lifting and storage arrangements must be ensured at the same pace as the increase in arrivals at mandis. Amid paddy lying in the open and the possibility of changing weather conditions, it was natural for farmers’ concerns to increase. She said it was the responsibility of the government and procurement agencies to ensure that farmers did not have to wait unnecessarily to sell their produce and that their crop was purchased according to the prescribed process.

She said timely lifting of procured paddy, adequate gunny bags and storage arrangements must be ensured, along with timely payment to farmers. The administration should resolve on the spot the practical problems being faced by farmers, commission agents and labourers in the mandis. Kumari Selja said arrangements during the procurement season should be such that farmers do not have to remain troubled in mandis for several days after bringing their hard-earned produce.

Chandigarh

Administrator Kataria calls for empowered Mayors, strong ULBs and citizen-centric urban governance

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Chandigarh, October 5:- The Governor of Punjab and Administrator, U.T. Chandigarh, Sh. Gulab Chand Kataria, today attended the 118th All-India Mayors Council in Chandigarh and called for strengthening urban local bodies with adequate powers, resources, technology and administrative capacity, along with effective coordination between elected representatives and officials. He said strong mayors, empowered municipal bodies and active citizens are essential for building clean, green, safe, inclusive and self-reliant cities and contributing to a developed India.

The meeting brought together mayors from across the country to share experiences and discuss common urban challenges. Shri Kataria said the Council’s strength lies in collective discussion and exchange of best practices, enabling mayors to learn from one another and adapt successful models to local requirements. He noted that cities face common challenges relating to sanitation, water, sewerage, traffic, waste management, pollution, green spaces, housing, healthcare, welfare of the urban poor and digital services.

Recalling the Council’s role, Sh. Kataria noted that the All-India Mayors Council was established in 1962 to strengthen urban administration and provide a common platform for mayors. He also stressed that public authority must be exercised in the public interest, with Municipal Corporations and Local Bodies functioning with morality, compassion and humanity while remaining within the law. He said mayors must remain connected with citizens, listen to their concerns and work for their welfare, while humanitarian circumstances should also be considered alongside legal and regulatory aspects when dealing with violations.

Highlighting Chandigarh’s development since its foundation in 1952, the Administrator said the city has emerged as an important example of planned urban development, with continued efforts in civic amenities, cleanliness, water management and environmental protection. He highlighted its achievements in e-mobility and energy conservation, including recognition as the Best Union Territory for electric vehicles and Most EV-Ready City, first position in the National Energy Conservation Awards 2025, and becoming the first city to achieve 100 per cent solar coverage of all government buildings.

Sh. Kataria also highlighted Chandigarh’s second position in the Super Swachh League, Daddu Majra waste-management project and Compressed Bio-Gas Plant, along with large-scale rehabilitation and affordable housing that made the city India’s first slum-free city. He said sustained plantation and public participation, along with administrative efforts, have increased the city’s green cover to 51 per cent, and urged citizens to nurture and protect the trees they plant.

Ms. Renu Bala Gupta, Chairperson, All-India Mayors Council, shared her experiences and views on the functioning of Mayors across the country and appreciated Chandigarh as one of the most beautiful and well-planned cities in India. She said the deliberations of the Conference were aimed at strengthening the role and responsibilities of Mayors, including enhancing their powers and ensuring a uniform tenure. She emphasised the need for full and effective implementation of the 74th Constitutional Amendment, while acknowledging that municipalities across India operate under diverse geographical and administrative conditions, resulting in variations in civic service delivery. She advocated uniformity in the tenure, roles, responsibilities, powers and selection process of Mayors across the country. She further informed that the All-India Mayors Council regularly organises training and orientation programmes for Mayors and would continue to conduct such seminars and knowledge-sharing initiatives in the future.

Sh. Naveen Jain, Member of Rajya Sabha and Regional Head of AIMC, strongly advocated a uniform five-year tenure for Mayors across the country, along with clearly defined and uniform roles, responsibilities and powers. He emphasised that the provisions of the 74th Constitutional Amendment should be implemented in letter and spirit to empower urban local bodies and strengthen the institution of Mayors as an important pillar of urban governance.

Shri Ashutosh Varshney, General Secretary, All-India Mayors Council, highlighted the remarkable growth of the organisation, stating that the Council, which began with just seven Mayors, has now expanded to 266 Mayors across India. He advocated extending pensionary benefits to Mayors on the lines of Members of Parliament and Members of Legislative Assemblies, recognising their contribution to urban governance. He also informed that the All-India Mayors Council organises four meetings every year at different locations across the country, providing a platform for Mayors to exchange experiences, share best practices and deliberate upon issues concerning urban development.

Mayor of Chandigarh Sh. Saurabh Joshi highlighted the wide variations in the tenure, powers and selection process of Mayors across different States in the country. He pointed out that the tenure of Mayors varies from one year, two years and two-and-a-half years to five years in different States. He emphasised the need for a uniform and transparent system for the selection of Mayors across India, noting that while Mayors are directly elected by citizens in some States, in others they are elected by elected Councillors. He stressed that greater uniformity in the institutional framework, tenure, powers and responsibilities of Mayors would further strengthen urban local governance and enable them to effectively address the growing needs of cities.

Presenting the vote of thanks, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation Chandigarh, Shri Amit Kumar, IAS, expressed his gratitude to the Chief Guest, distinguished guests, Mayors and delegates for their participation and valuable contributions to the Conference. He highlighted Chandigarh’s achievements in scientific waste management and informed that the Municipal Corporation has achieved 100 per cent processing capacity for municipal solid waste. He further stated that Chandigarh has been selected under the Pragati Shahar-50 initiative on the basis of its performance in sanitation and development parameters, reflecting the city’s continued progress towards sustainable and citizen-centric urban development.

The Commissioner also highlighted the strict action being taken by the Chandigarh Administration against offenders under the Nasha Mukt Abhiyaan, in accordance with the directions of the Administrator, including action against properties of persons involved in such activities. He said such coordinated efforts demonstrate the Administration’s commitment towards creating a safe, healthy and responsible urban environment for citizens.

The Mayors later visited various projects and best practices of Municipal Corporation Chandigarh including ICCC, Rose Garden, Capitol Complex, Air Museum, Rock Garden and Sukhna Lake etc. and appreciated the initiatives and best practices taken by the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh. They also planted saplings of flowering plants at Ros Garden near Under Pass.

Other Dignitoris and Mayors were present including Smt. Kirron Kher, Former Member Parliament, UT, Chandigarh,

Sh. Manoj Gupta, Secretary for All India Council for Mayors (AICM)

Shri.Naveen Jain, Ex mayor of Agra,Member of Rajya Sabha, UP and Regional Head, AIMC,

Shri. Ashutosh Varshney, Ex-Mayor of Aligarh & Ex. Chairman of AICM, UP

Mrs. Renu Bala Gupta, Mayor of Karnal, HR

DR. Manglesh Srivastav, Mayor of Gorakhpur, UP

Shri.Mrigen Sarania, Mayor of Guwahati, Assam

Shri. Pushyamitra Bhargav, Mayor of Indore, MP

Mrs. Mayaben Dharmendrabhai Mavani, Mayor of Surat, Gujrat

Mrs. Inderjit Kaur, Mayor of Ludhiana, Punjab

Mrs. Meenal Choubey, Mayor of Raipur, Chhattisgarh

Mrs. Pooja Vidani, Mayor of Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh

Mrs. Tshering Palden Bhutia, Mayor of Gangtok, Sikkim

Mrs. Neeta Rajendra Thakre, Mayor of Nagpur, Maharashtra

Shri. G.Udhaya Kumar, Mayor of Avadi, Tamilnadu

Mr. Rajeev Jain, Mayor of Sonipat, HR

Mrs. Rooprani Sangramsinh Nikam, Mayor of Kolhapur, Maharashtra

Shri. Nandlal Devgan, Mayor of Birgaon, Chhattisgarh

Mrs. Parveen Batra Joshi, Mayor of Faridabad, HR

Shri. Vinod Aggarwal, Mayor of Moradabad, UP

Shri.Shambhu Passwan, Mayor of Rishikesh, UK

Mrs Anita Aggarwal, Mayor of Roorkee, UK

Shri.Yogesh Kumar Tamrakar, Mayor of Satna, MP

Mr. V.V Rajesh, Mayor of Thirunvanthapuram, Kerala

Mrs. Nirmala Sahu, Mayor of Muzaffarpur, Bihar

Shri. Shyam Lal Bansal, Mayor of Panchkula, HR

Sh. Surinder Chauhan, Mayor of Shimla, HP

Shri. Sarabjeet Singh Samana, Mayor of Mohali, PB

Shri. Mukesh Tatwal, Mayor of Ujjain, MP

Shri. Hasanpreet Bhardwaj, Mayor of Barnala, PB

Mrs. Pooja Wadhwa, Mayor of Abohar, PB

Mrs. Suman Thakur, Mayor of Mandi, HP

Mrs. Sita Sahu, Mayor of Patna,BH

Mrs. Akshita Saini, Mayor of Ambala, HR.

Chandigarh

PGIMER hosts one-day Research Methodology Bootcamp for young medical professionals

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Chandigarh: The Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, PGIMER, held a *one-day Research Methodology Bootcamp at Lecture Theatre 3, Nehru Hospital, as part of the 22nd NZ-ISACON 2026* . The programme ran from 9 am to 5 pm for undergraduate and postgraduate students and residents, taking a vague idea to a publishable paper in a single day.
Delegates were split into five groups a week earlier, and each received a crude research idea. During the workshop, the groups turned these ideas into complete protocols covering the question, design, criteria, statistical test and sample size. Each presented its protocol in six minutes, then wrote a 300-word structured abstract with six keywords. Groups also peer-reviewed each other’s work and received faculty feedback. Pre- and post-workshop MCQ tests measured learning gain.

Sessions covered framing a research question, interpreting SD, standard error and confidence intervals, bias, sample size, ethics and CTRI registration, data visualisation, reporting guidelines, plagiarism and salami-slicing, and converting a thesis into a manuscript. Faculty came from PGIMER, AIIMS New Delhi and RML Hospital, New Delhi.

 *Prof. Kajal Jain* , Head of the Department and Organising Chairperson, said: “Good research habits begin early. By taking students from an idea to a protocol and an abstract in one day, we hope to give them the confidence to start and complete their own studies.”
 *Prof. Madhuri S Kurdi,* Editor-in-Chief, Indian Journal of Anaesthesia, said: “A thesis shows you did the work, but a paper makes others care. I am delighted to see young medical professionals learning to write and review with rigour, and the journal looks forward to their contributions.”

Chandigarh

PGIMER Conducts Hands-on Workshop on Life-Saving Trauma Skills during 22nd Annual Zonal Conference NZISACON

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Chandigarh: Under the aegis of the *National Programme for Prevention & Management of Trauma and Burn Injuries (NPPMT&BI), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India,* the faculty of Trauma Anaesthesia Subspecialty, Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, PGIMER, Chandigarh, successfully conducted a hands-on, skill-based workshop titled “Immediate Trauma Life Support (ITLS) Workshop”, focused on life-saving skills in the trauma bay.

The workshop aimed at training young doctors in time-critical interventions that can save lives in the golden hour of trauma.
Speaking on the occasion, *Prof. (Dr.) Kajal Jain,* Head, Department of Anaesthesia and Course Coordinator, DM in Trauma Anaesthesia and Acute Care, apprised the participants about recent changes in the algorithmic approach to life-saving interventions. She stressed the urgent need to create high-powered, multidisciplinary teams to ensure rapid response and better outcomes in trauma care.
The highlight of the workshop was live master demonstrations on vet models for securing rapid intravenous access and chest tube placement, conducted by *Dr. Suman Arora, Dr. Shubhajeet Talukdar, Dr. Amarjyoti Hazarika and Dr. Nidhi Bhatia.* The demonstrations provided participants with invaluable hands-on training in crucial trauma procedures.

The scientific sessions elucidated the importance of two critical pillars of trauma resuscitation—controlling exsanguinating haemorrhage to save lives and prompt relief of airway obstruction to ensure adequate oxygenation.
 *The workshop witnessed enthusiastic participation from delegates across specialties, including General Surgery, Oral Health Sciences and recently joined Anaesthesia residents, who were provided hands-on training by expert faculty.
The workshop was highly appreciated by all participants for its practical approach and relevance to emergency trauma care.

Chandigarh, Punjab

Aagman Bhatia an Entrepreneur With Roots in Mohali Develops Oora.ai – An  AI-Based Property Research Platform 

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Mohali, October 4, 2026: What if the first step in buying a property was not calling a broker, but asking AI to research the property for you? That is the vision behind Oora.ai , a path breaking AI offering created by 24-year old Mohali based entrepreneur Aagman Bhatia. Unveiled under the banner of Dooritt- a unique AI & VR powered real estate platform, Oora.ai  is positioned as an AI-powered marketplace and research platform for real estate.

According to Aagman Bhatia, Co-founder and Chief Product Officer (CPO) of Dooritt, “Oora.ai  aims to replace a prospective property buyer’s first call to a broker. Our vision is that customers should research first and then approach brokers or builders. Oora.ai  can bring together fragmented property information and help buyers ask the right questions before making a major investment. In the next two to three years, we believe AI-based property research can become a normal first step before buying or investing in real estate.”

Oora.ai  showcases  information on properties, builders, amenities, RERA details, unit availability and project parameters, while also offering project reports and builder ratings.

Aagman Bhatia added, “We see an opportunity to change real-estate from a broker first to a research-first industry. Brokers and sales teams will continue to have an important role in transactions, but customers will increasingly want to understand the facts, compare opportunities and do their initial research through AI before making that first call.”

Aagman revealed that Oora.ai  is also being developed to help commercial property buyers assess the potential of a location for their business. An entrepreneur looking to buy a shop for a restaurant, for example, could go beyond checking availability and ask whether the location has the potential to support the business.

“Commercial real estate requires a different kind of intelligence because the question is not merely whether a property is available, but whether the location can support the intended business,” Aagman said.

“We are working towards making AI capable of helping customers evaluate these factors before they commit significant capital,” Aagman added.

Oora.ai  has recorded significant user activity in recent months. Dooritt said its platforms received 2 lakh visitors in September, reflecting growing interest in technology-led property research.

“We at Dooritt are also developing Business to Business(B2B) and Business to Government(B2G) intelligence platforms for builders and governments. These platforms are intended to use AI and data to identify emerging real-estate and infrastructure requirements. These are planned for launch this month.”

Reflecting on the versatility of Oora.ai, KS Bhatia, CEO, Dooritt, said that Dooritt is currently witnessing around 7,000 visitors daily, with at least 2,000 customers every day directly accessing Oora.ai  through the Dooritt website.

“These customers are not just visiting Oora.ai, they are actively using the platform to verify builders, study project details and understand the property before making a buying decision,” revealed KS Bhatia, who personally takes care of Dooritt.

“We are seeing a significant shift in how customers research properties. Oora.ai  is becoming an important part of that journey by providing customers with detailed information before they commit their money,” he said.

According to Bhatia, at the beginning of October, Dooritt, a Punjab grown start-up also signed approximately Rs 1,500 crore worth of exclusive property inventory from Noida alone, further strengthening its presence in India’s real-estate market.

“The future of real estate will not only be about selling properties. It will be about giving customers the right information before they buy,” he said.