Chandigarh, April 14

Former Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition, Bhupinder Singh Hooda has termed the new Gazette notification issued by the Central Government regarding the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) as completely anti-Haryana.
Speaking to reporters, he stated that when Haryana was carved out of Punjab, specific rules for the Board were formally established. These rules included several provisions designed to safeguard Haryana’s interests.

For instance, it was stipulated that the member in charge of Irrigation on the Board would be from Haryana, the member in charge of Power would be from Punjab, and the Chairman would not be from Himachal Pradesh. However, the new decision now states that a member from any state may occupy any of these positions. This raises apprehensions that Haryana’s rights are being trifled with, a concern underscored by the fact that this has happened in the past as well.

Hooda remarked that while the BJP government is failing to secure the SYL water for Haryana on one hand, Haryana’s interests regarding both the Bhakra water allocation and employment opportunities within the Management Board are being consistently ignored on the other.
“What is most unfortunate is that the state’s BJP government remains completely silent on this matter. Even when Haryana’s quota for recruitment within the BBMB was abolished, the state government failed to register any objection,” he pointed out.
Responding to a question regarding the SYL issue, the Leader of the Opposition noted that the Supreme Court had delivered a verdict in Haryana’s favor several years ago. “For several years now, BJP governments have been in power at both the state level in Haryana and at the Centre. Despite this, neither government is making any effort to ensure that Haryana receives its rightful share of water. This constitutes a betrayal of the people of Haryana,” he added.

Reacting to the lack of procurement in the mandis (grain markets), Hooda said the government has ensnared farmers in a web of online portals and restrictive conditions. “Farmers are required to first register on a portal to sell their produce, however, during the peak procurement season, the portal invariably crashes,” he said.

“Subsequently, a ‘gate pass’ is required, a document that cannot be generated precisely because the initial registration process remains incomplete. Even if, after days of arduous struggle, this task is finally accomplished, farmers are subsequently subjected to a myriad of conditions such as biometric verification, tractor registration numbers, background checks, and the requirement for guarantors,” he said.
“In essence, the government has established an entire mechanism designed to deprive farmers of the Minimum Support Price (MSP). The government’s intent appears to be geared more towards perpetrating scams than towards actual procurement, after all, the government committed fraud during the paddy procurement last season, followed by the potato procurement, and now, similar conspiracies are becoming apparent in the procurement of wheat and mustard as well,” he added.

Chandigarh: PGIMER Chandigarh has achieved a significant global milestone with the introduction of a first-in-the-world technique for precise management of chronic musculoskeletal pain using Fluorine-18 Sodium Fluoride (¹⁸F-NaF) PET-CT guided steroid injections.

Lauding the pathbreaking innovation, *Prof. Vivek Lal, Director, PGIMER, stated, *“This pioneering advancement reflects PGIMER’s continued commitment to patient-centric innovation and clinical excellence. By integrating cutting-edge functional imaging with targeted therapy, this technique has the potential to transform chronic pain management globally while remaining accessible and affordable for patients.”

Announced during a media conference by the Department of Nuclear Medicine in collaboration with the *Department of Orthopaedics, **Dr. Anish Bhattacharya, Professor & Head, Department of Nuclear Medicine, elaborating on the breakthrough, stated, *“Unlike conventional imaging, NaF PET-CT identifies metabolically active disease sites, enabling us to precisely locate the true pain generator. This ensures that treatment is directed exactly where it is needed, significantly improving outcomes.”

The multidisciplinary team behind this innovation includes Dr. Anish Bhattacharya (Professor & Head, Nuclear Medicine), Dr. Sarvdeep Singh Dhatt (Professor, Orthopaedics), Dr. Babita Ghai (Professor, Anaesthesia & Intensive Care), Dr. Rajender Kumar (Additional Professor, Nuclear Medicine), Dr. Vishal Kumar (Additional Professor, Orthopaedics), Dr. Harmandeep Singh (Additional Professor, Nuclear Medicine), and Dr. Raza Abbas Mahdi (Senior Resident, Nuclear Medicine), working collaboratively to advance precision pain therapy.

*Dr. Sarvdeep Singh Dhatt, Professor, Department of Orthopaedics, while sharing the scope of the treatment, stated, *“This novel approach addresses a long-standing challenge in pain management—accurately identifying the exact source of pain. Chronic conditions such as lumbar facet joint arthropathy, sacroiliitis, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis, and coccydynia often remain inadequately treated due to limitations of conventional imaging modalities.”

*Dr. Vishal Kumar, Department of Orthopaedics, PGIMER, speaking about the genesis of the technique, said, *“It all began with a debate that, despite having the best expertise, we were not doing enough for our patients. That introspection led to the development of this novel approach.”

*Dr. Rajender Kumar, Additional Professor, Department of Nuclear Medicine, detailed, *“The technique involves identifying the active pain-generating site using NaF PET-CT, followed by highly targeted steroid injection under real-time PET-CT guidance, further enhanced by robotic assistance for unmatched precision.”

Clinical outcomes from PGIMER demonstrate that nearly *84% of patients experienced significant pain relief at three months, a marked improvement over conventional approaches. Importantly, the procedure has been found to be safe, with no major complications reported, added *Dr. Rajender Kumar.

In a notable step towards affordability, the procedure costs approximately *₹1,000, with consumables around *₹500*, making it accessible to a large number of patients. Appointments are currently available within *1–2 weeks of referral.

This innovation marks a paradigm shift towards precision-guided, personalized pain therapy, offering renewed hope to patients suffering from chronic musculoskeletal pain who have not responded to conventional treatments.

The innovation is backed by robust clinical evidence published in the European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (2026; 53:1279–1288) titled “Efficacy and safety of [18F]NaF PET/CT guided intraarticular block for lumbar facet joint and sacroiliac joint arthropathy: a single-arm phase 2 trial.”

The study reported that the primary endpoint of ≥50% pain reduction was achieved in 84% of patients, with significant improvements in disability and functional scores, and no major adverse effects—underscoring the safety and effectiveness of this novel technique.

CHANDIGARH, APRIL 11, 2026: Underlining that more than 50% Startups today are being registered in Tier 2 and Tier 3 Cities, the former Union Information & Broadcasting Minister Anurag Singh Thakur on Saturday said that Startups are the concrete barometer of trust rapsoed by our investors and business community in the Narendra Modi government’s policies.

Former Union Cabinet Minister Mr. Anurag Singh Thakur, while addressing the TiECon Chandigarh 2026 organized by TiE Chandigarh, urged India’s startup founders, entrepreneurs, and young business leaders to take advantage of the unprecedented opportunities created by the transformative laws and policy reforms of the Modi government over the past decade.

“India has moved beyond being a nation with emerging potential to becoming a nation that has realized its full potential, and now is the time to achieve global leadership, ” Thakur said, adding that today India is the world’s fourth-largest economy with a GDP of $4.18 trillion.

“The country has over 212,000 DPIIT-recognized startups and more than 120 unicorns, making it the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world, Thakur added.

We as the World’s 4th largest economy are ready to take that leap of faith today to tell the world about our capabilities in domains of IT, Innovation and Artificial Intelligence to make a global impact,” Thakur said while adding that steps including Startup India, Standup India, Insolvency Code reforms, Ease of doing Business have been producing multiplier impact on capital and revenue generation.

Later during a one-on-one free wheeling talk with Tie Chandigarh President Puneet Verma, the 5-time MP from Hamirpur admitted hat he loved playing Cricket more and he was never interested in coming into politics.

“I was just giving my best to the challenge of constructing a world class stadium at Dharamshala, the by-product of which led to my entry into active politics,” Thakur added.

I loved cricket and I was doing good as a cricketer while playing for Punjab when due to my father’s health concerns, I had to give up my cricketing dream,” the former Union Information & Broadcasting Minister said further.

The legal cases slapped on me during my struggle to help build Dharamshala Cricket Stadium opened another channel for me and I happened to join active politics, Thakur quipped urging youngsters to never feel let down and always think of drawing out a positive from adversity.

“Today the Stadium at Dharamshala is ranked as the most picturesque location by millions of cricket fans and visitors. The hard work out in by all of us has not only been recognised in the country but it has also brought a good name for the nation globally also,” Thakur said while remembering all the negative criticism which came his way during his struggle for the Stadium construction.

Replying to a question, Thakur a former BCCI President quipped that at times even people who are millionaire wish to see IPL by getting match passes.

“The truest fan for me is one who  owns to the Stadium by buying tickets from his hard earned money and it is my duty to ensure that he is accorded the best fan experience, Thakur said to cheers from the audience.

Hosted annually in the City Beautiful, TiE Chandigarh has rightfully garnered its place in the calendar as the region’s largest entrepreneurial conclave and the most awaited IT event of the year where top business leaders, established investors, budding entrepreneurs, policy framers along with all those related with the IT and allied sectors alike converge. The event held each year witnesses enthusiastic participation from the leaders of the IT Industry from across the length and breadth of the country.

CHANDIGARH, APRIL 11: Stating that ups and downs in business are like changing weather patterns, the 1500-Crore strong Gujarat based Gopal Snacks Managing Director Bipin Bhai Hadvani said that a business leaders must cope with failure in the same manner one adapts to change in seasons.

Hadvani was sharing his life journey here during a discussion on the topic ‘Dreams to Dominance: Building a Rs. 1500 Cr brand from scratch’ at TiECON Chandigarh 2026.

We started Gopal Snacks with zero capital but resiliently kept building customers through quality products and service, Hadvani said underpinning that there is no substitute for quality of your product.

Hailing from Rajkot region of Gujarat, Hadvani said he is the youngest of three brothers and their father had initially asked him no to move to the City as their home bound business of making namkeen had taken off after many hiccups.

“I was given Rs. 4500 by my father with which i with my cousin moved to the City and started making namkeen. Yes, we faced several difficulties initially but i survived because of my hard work and resilience to succeed,” Hadvani said further.

Reflecting on his long business cycle, Hadvani, an established payer in snacks business today urged new and budding investors to trust their abilities and intuition and keep working hard to succeed.

The session was moderated by Managing Partner Y J Trivedi & Company Jatin Trivedi.

Ropar:

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar today inaugurated E-Summit’26, its annual entrepreneurship and innovation summit, themed “Pioneering The Impossible.” The two-day event, organized by the E-Cell IIT Ropar in association with the Technology Business Incubator Foundation (TBIF), brings together students, startups, investors, and industry leaders on the IIT Ropar campus on April 11 and 12, 2026.

The inauguration ceremony was graced by Shri Rajesh Kumar Pathak, Secretary, Technology Development Board (TDB), Government of India, as Chief Guest, and Dr. Rajeev Gautam, President, HORIBA India, as Guest of Honour. Prof. Rajeev Ahuja, Director, IIT Ropar, presided over the ceremony.

IIT Ropar: A Growing Hub of Deep-Tech Innovation-

Speaking at the inauguration, Prof. Rajeev Ahuja said that IIT Ropar has firmly established itself as a hub of deep-tech entrepreneurship. He noted that more than 450 startups have been incubated from the institute, reflecting the growing confidence of young innovators in the ecosystem built here. He urged students and researchers to grow through innovation and research rather than following conventional paths, and praised the Government of India’s sustained efforts to build a robust startup culture in the country through initiatives like Startup India.

“Our young entrepreneurs are solving real problems with real technology. The energy at this summit reflects exactly the kind of pioneering spirit that IIT Ropar stands for,” Prof. Ahuja said.

Chief Guest Explains the R&D and Innovation Fund for Startups-

Shri Rajesh Kumar Pathak, in his address, spoke about the Research and Development and Innovation Fund established by the Government of India, explaining in practical terms how early-stage startups can enrol for grants and access financial support through this fund. He highlighted that the Technology Development Board, a statutory body under the Department of Science and Technology, provides financial assistance to Indian enterprises attempting to develop or commercialize indigenous technology.

Shri Pathak praised the students and volunteers who put together E-Summit’26. “Events like these are not just celebrations of ideas. They are the starting points of India’s next generation of technology enterprises,” he said.

Guest of Honour Stresses on Conduct and Attitude in Industry-

Dr. Rajeev Gautam, President of HORIBA India, one of Japan’s leading precision instrument and measurement technology companies, drew from his extensive industry experience to offer practical advice to students. He emphasized that technical skills alone do not define a successful career; good conduct, a positive attitude, and the ability to work in diverse teams are equally, if not more, important when navigating the industry. His address was well received by the audience of students and faculty.

A Packed Programme Across Two Days-

Beyond the inauguration, the summit features a wide range of activities designed to offer both learning and exposure. Day 1 saw the launch of the Startup Expo, Book Fair, and Internship Fair, running simultaneously through the day, offering students direct access to emerging companies and career opportunities. Competitive events including Pitch 120, IPL Auction House, Beyond Transformers Hackathon, and the GTM Strategy session provided platforms for startups and student teams to present ideas and win recognition.

Chandigarh: Chandigarh Mayor Saurabh Joshi and seven other prominent personalities were honored with The Global Shravan Award 2025 by the Maat-Pita Godham Trust during the 15th Mat-Pita Pujan Diwas on Friday. The awards were given in the India, Chandigarh, Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, and Maharashtra categories.

CHANDIGARH, APRIL 11: Echoing that the Artificail Intelligence (AI) has demicratised access to information knowledge and daty analytics, Women Business Leaders here on Saturday underscored the need for optimum leveraging of AI tools by established and emerging businesses to lead and grow in a sustainable fashion.

Views were expressed by the group of successful women entrepreneurs including Director Jindal IVF Chandigarh Dr. Umesh Nandani Jindal, Founder XLSCLOUT & TT Consultants Komal Sharma Talwar, Director Apex Hospitals Sheenu Jhawar here during a panel discussion held on the second day of the TiECON Chandigarh 2026.

The discussion was moderated by DEAN R & D CGC Landran Neha Sharma.

Sharing her insights during the discussion, Founder XLSCLOUT & TT Consultants Komal Sharma Talwar said that digitalisation of makets has flattened the world from the perspective of access to customers. Every investor can now dare to approach and target customers from global markets, which was not possible in traditional businesses times.

“With advent of AI, the equity of access to knowledge and data has transformed bussienss models where there are no intermediaries. Everyone must integrate AI into their businesses to grow and grow,” she added.

Listing out the scope of changes happening in the Industries with AI introduction, Director Apex Hospitals Sheenu Jhawar said that is so much happening in IT and AI across the globe that it was difficult to keep track of at times.

“Technology today is not sector specific and unimpeded access to knowledge economy has incremental benefits for all businesses. Though the challenge is to how to leverage AI tools for specific business models,” Jhawar further noted.

Taking part in the discussion, Director Jindal IVF Chandigarh Dr. Umesh Nandani Jindal said that implementation of AI on healthcare is evolving fast and I hope that the relationship would turn out to be one of companionship for enhanced service delivery.

On being asked to respond about challenges being faced by businesses and society with inexorable entry of AI into our lives, the panel listed ethics, safety and security of data of clients, expenditure involved in developing AI solutions as major challenge ls going ahead.

“Though there are challenges but i am a firm believer that with time society would navigate to using AI more for its incredible uses than in proportion to the several pitfalls being witnessed at present as a result of AI intervention in our day to day existence,” Founder XLSCLOUT & TT Consultants Komal Sharma Talwar underlined.

Hosted annually in the City Beautiful, TiE Chandigarh has rightfully garnered its place in the calendar as the region’s largest entrepreneurial conclave and the most awaited IT event of the year where top business leaders, established investors, budding entrepreneurs, policy framers along with all those related with the IT and allied sectors alike converge. The event held each year witnesses enthusiastic participation from the leaders of the IT Industry from across the length and breadth of the country.

CHANDIGARH, APRIL 10: The Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Friday exhorted business leaders, innovators and Start up owners to come forward and fully utilise Haryana’s attractive policies and incentives and contribute towards overall prosperity of our nation.

“Haryana is the land of unlimited opportunities and aspirations where state administration is fully committed to extend fulsome support to all budding investors and entrepreneurs to succeed, the Chief Minister said here while delivering his key note address on the first day of the TiECON Chandigarh 2026 being held in the City Baurftiful.

Lauding TiECON Chandigarh for providing an enabling atmosphere for budding investors through incubation and mentoring, the Chief Minister stated that today Haryana is the 7th state in the country with more than 9500 Startups registered with DPIIT.

“Out of 117 Unicorns in the country, 19 are registered in Haryana, the Chief Minister said highlighting the state’s rising share in the nation’s IT and ITES capabilities.

The Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji’s vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047 is our inspiration and Haryana is actively contribuging towards that mission, the Chief Minister further said.

Listing out various policy based incentives for Startups, the Chief Ministet also said that there are 2 Artificail Intelligence (AI) centres are coming up in the state to further push the IT and digital infeatructure architecture across the state.

“The need today is to keep pace with the rapid changes in the IT Sector across the global and our youngsters are fully capable to transform India’s potential into a grand success, the Chief Minister added.

Earlier, the Chief Minister handed over award cheques given by TiE in Collaboration with Chandigarh Angels Network to 4 companies worth 7.5 crores. Gamma Opengig Work Private Limited got Rs. 2 Crores , Dreamaerospace Technologies was awarded Rs.1 crore , Delectable Gourmet Private Limited  got Rs. 3.5 Crores, and Ariro Private Limited received  Rs. 1 Crore.  Also on the occassion 14 STPI awards and 7 TiE Chandigarh Ecosystem Catalyst awards were felicitated by the Chief Minister Haryana Nayab Singh Saini .

A landmark event which brings the best minds in innovation, entrepreneurship, technology, & investment at one platform, TiECON Chandigarh 2026 offers a promising line-up of thought leaders, speakers, high-impact networking, and deep-dive discussions on AI-driven business growth.

Hosted annually in the City Beautiful, TiE Chandigarh has rightfully garnered its place in the calendar as the region’s largest entrepreneurial conclave and the most awaited IT event of the year where established investors, budding entrepreneurs and those related with the IT and allied sectors alike converge. The event held last year had also witnessed enthusiastic participation from the leaders of the IT industry from across the country.

Earlier in his welcome address, President TiE Chandigarh Chapter Puneet Verma expressed gratitude towards the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Haryana Nayab Singh Saini for being gracious in accepting the invite.

“It is a great partnership of TiE with the Haryana Government and the synergy will produce desired results in service of our state and county,” Puneet Verma added.