All posts tagged: Expert

Academics slam Priyanka Gandhi’s ‘gaumutra expert’ jibe aimed at IIT Madras director

Academics slam Priyanka Gandhi’s ‘gaumutra expert’ jibe aimed at IIT Madras director

Published by Parlour News

V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras in Chennai. File | Photo Credit: B. Jothi Ramalingam A collective of 215 concerned citizens, scholars, and intellectuals, including Vice Chancellors of leading universities as well as directors of the Indian Institutes of Management and Technology (IIMs and IITs), issued an open letter to Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday, condemning her political mockery directed at IIT Madras director V. Kamakoti.  The letter criticised her jibe in the Lok Sabha on July 28, reportedly referring to Prof. Kamakoti as a “gaumutra expert”, during a discussion on The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026. Signatories to the letter argued that such characterisations bypass substantive debate in favour of dismissive political caricatures, threatening the foundational principles of scientific temper enshrined in the Indian Constitution. ‘Top tech brain’ The open letter highlighted Prof. Kamakoti’s credentials, stating that he holds M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Computer Science and Engineering from IIT Madras and has authored over 150 research papers and headed more than 50 Research and Development (R&D) projects. …

Priyanka Gandhi’s ‘gaumutra expert’ jibe draws ire of over 200 academicians: ‘Mockery not a substitute’ | India News

Priyanka Gandhi’s ‘gaumutra expert’ jibe draws ire of over 200 academicians: ‘Mockery not a substitute’ | India News

Published by Parlour News

3 min readNew DelhiJul 30, 2026 08:44 PM IST Two days after Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra tore into the government in Parliament over the police action against students during the NEET paper leak protests, more than 200 academicians have written her a letter, objecting to her “gaumutra expert” remark, allegedly against IIT Madras Director VK Kamakoti. Responding to Vadra’s remarks, the academicians said mockery is not a substitute for reasoned engagement. Who is VK Kamakoti Kamakoti, a Padma awardee, is a member of the six-member task force on exam reforms constituted by the Centre after the NEET paper leak row. What was in letter written to Priyanka Gandhi The academicians, including vice-chancellors and former vice-chancellors, said dismissing a scholar through a label rather than engaging with the substance of his views risks undermining the very scientific temper the Constitution calls upon every citizen to develop. “We write to express our disappointment over your reported remark describing IIT Madras Director Professor V Kamakoti as a ‘gaumutra expert’. Whether intended as sarcasm or political rhetoric, such …

Tamil Nadu government forms Expert Advisory Committee to monitor, assess El Niño weather phenomenon

Tamil Nadu government forms Expert Advisory Committee to monitor, assess El Niño weather phenomenon

Published by Parlour News

Deep cracks seen at Kallaperambur Lake in Thanjavur as the dry waterbody awaits rainfall. Representational image | Photo Credit: R. Vengadesh The Tamil Nadu government has formed an Expert Advisory Committee to monitor and assess the potential impact of a possible strong El Niño weather phenomenon this year and advise the government on preparedness and mitigation measures. A Government Order issued to this effect by the Revenue and Disaster Management Department on July 28, 2026 said the Expert Advisory Committee has been constituted to assess the potential impact of the El Niño weather phenomenon on a scientific basis and recommend appropriate precautionary and disaster mitigation measures. Functions The committee will monitor rainfall and drought conditions, identify vulnerable areas, and advise the Tamil Nadu Disaster Risk Reduction Agency on early warning systems. It will also advise the government on drought and flood mitigation measures in vulnerable areas to ensure adequate preparedness. The Expert Advisory Committee will function during 2026-27 and 2027-28. It will be chaired by the Additional Chief Secretary and Commissioner of Revenue Administration. Its …

Sonali Bendre’s beauty routine after cancer gets expert verdict

Sonali Bendre’s beauty routine after cancer gets expert verdict

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4 min readNew DelhiJul 29, 2026 11:00 AM IST Actor Sonali Bendre recently shared that she has made changes in her skincare routine post-cancer treatment. “Earlier, the skincare routine was, ‘Don’t do anything. Just wash your face and don’t do anything when you are not working. Now, I think I need to look after it a bit, especially after my cancer treatment. The skin has become overly sensitive to the sun. So, I need to use sunscreen, do the oil massage and moisturise. Part of ageing, I suppose,” the Raakh actor told Tweak India. DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine. Adding that a “few beauty hacks” are sacrosanct, the actor continued: “There is a litre full of water, and then there is a little bit of light black coffee with cloves. I don’t know if these are beauty hacks or not, but they seem to work for me.” She also spoke about using a “lot of …

‘Gaumutra expert’: Priyanka Gandhi questions inclusion of IIT Madras director in PM’s exam reforms panel, BJP hits back

‘Gaumutra expert’: Priyanka Gandhi questions inclusion of IIT Madras director in PM’s exam reforms panel, BJP hits back

Published by Parlour News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s task force on exam reforms became the centre of a political row in Parliament on Tuesday after Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi questioned the inclusion of IIT Madras Director V Kamakoti, calling him a “gaumutra expert” (cow urine expert). BJP MP Anurag Thakur hit back at the Congress leader over her remarks. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and BJP MP Anurag Thakur in Lok Sabha on Tuesday (PTI Photos) “In this new committee, there is one ex-IB chief, one IT company owner, and one gaumutra expert,” she said. Responding to her remarks, Thakur said he was saddened by the comments targeting one of India’s foremost scientists and accused Priyanka of putting on an innocent face while trying to cover up the alleged wrongdoings of previous Congress governments. “I will answer Priyanka ji after this. The way she makes an innocent face, misleads people, smiles subtly, and even asks the Speaker to smile, she does this while speaking on serious issues. She tries to cover up the wrongdoings and failures of her own …

Five-member expert team inspects proposed sewage treatment plant sites

Five-member expert team inspects proposed sewage treatment plant sites

Published by Parlour News

The comprehensive sewage treatment project proposed under the Integrated Urban Regeneration and Water Transport System (IURWTS) in Kochi is expected to receive a fillip following a recent visit by a team of experts appointed by the Central government. The team visited the sites of the proposed sewage treatment plants (STPs) and the underground sewerage pipeline network a few days ago. The team is learnt to have observed that all the city’s canals were highly polluted, with blackish water and an obnoxious odour, a Kerala Water Authority (KWA) source said. “The living conditions are highly challenging because of the current level of pollution. We urgently need to renovate and clean the canals. Unless we provide an underground sewerage pipeline to manage the sewage generated by households and commercial establishments, we cannot clean the canals,” the official said. The five-member team also visited some of the polluted canals and localities in the city that lacked proper sewage management systems. “For instance, some households in Panampilly Nagar lack proper sewage management systems. While most households have septic tanks, …

‘My mom thinks…’: Tejasswi Prakash on live-in relationships; expert weighs in | Feelings News

‘My mom thinks…’: Tejasswi Prakash on live-in relationships; expert weighs in | Feelings News

Published by Parlour News

4 min readNew DelhiJul 6, 2026 11:00 PM IST Relationships often evolve through different stages, and many couples today are taking more time to understand compatibility before making long-term commitments. Questions around living together before marriage, family involvement in relationship decisions, and readiness for marriage continue to generate varied opinions across households. For some families, living together before marriage may be viewed as a practical way to better understand each other, while for others, it may challenge traditional expectations around commitment and family values. During a recent conversation, Tejasswi Prakash and Karan Kundrra spoke about the progression of their relationship and the role family played in it. Recalling the early stages of their bond, Tejasswi said, “When he said that he likes me, I really felt like he seemed really honest. I took my time to really test him. I just wanted to make sure that he really means what he is saying, and he proved it every time.” Speaking about her family’s perspective, she added, “She wanted to make sure he was comfortable. My …

Maharashtra govt to set up expert panel for AI smart glasses SOPs, says minister

Maharashtra govt to set up expert panel for AI smart glasses SOPs, says minister

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The Maharashtra government will constitute an expert committee to formulate standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the use of AI-powered smart glasses that have recently entered the market, minister of state for home Yogesh Kadam said on Tuesday. Kadam said the government will also train security agencies and enforcement officials to deal with the emerging challenges posed by AI-powered smart wearables. (Representative Image/iStock) It will send the recommendations to the central government with a request to make relevant changes in concerned rules and policies as legislators have raised concerns over its misuse. It will also train security agencies and law enforcement personnel to regulate and respond to the use of such devices in public spaces, government offices and other sensitive locations, citing concerns over public safety and national security. The announcement was made by Kadam in the state assembly on Tuesday in response to concerns raised by legislators over the implications of AI-enabled smart glasses for privacy, women’s safety, and state and national security. The issue was raised by NCP MLA Sana Malik, who represents the …

NH-66: expert panel proposes structural changes

NH-66: expert panel proposes structural changes

Published by Parlour News

The safety audit was ordered in the wake of the Mylakkad overbridge collapse | Photo Credit: th-online Administrator The safety audit conducted by IIT experts and geotechnical agencies along NH-66 in the wake of the Mylakkad overbridge collapse has recommended replacing or extending vulnerable Reinforced Earth (RE) overbridges with pillar-supported structures at three critical locations. Following the collapse, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had initiated a comprehensive safety audit of similar earth-filled structures across the stretch. “This step follows an assurance given in the Lok Sabha by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, who promised to evaluate public demands for replacing RE overbridges with pillar-supported structures,” said N.K. Premachandran, MP. To ensure a rigorous technical evaluation, eight specialised geotechnical agencies were appointed to inspect the soil stability and ground surfaces of all RE overbridges along NH-66. The investigation was being closely supervised by a high-level committee comprising a professor and an associate professor from IIT Delhi, alongside the Head of the Civil Engineering department at IIT Palakkad. After detailed field assessments, the …

‘Already married’: Aamir Khan on relationship with Gauri Spratt; expert on emotional commitment | Feelings News

‘Already married’: Aamir Khan on relationship with Gauri Spratt; expert on emotional commitment | Feelings News

Published by Parlour News

4 min readNew DelhiJun 27, 2026 12:00 AM IST Aamir Khan has always maintained a guarded approach to his personal life, but in a previous interview with Screen, the 60-year-old actor opened up about his relationship with Gauri Spratt and his views on marriage.  Aamir confirmed that he and Gauri are in a serious, committed partnership, and that he considers himself emotionally married to her, even if it hasn’t been formalised legally yet. “Well, Gauri and I are really serious about each other, and we are in a very committed space. And we are, you know, we are partners. We are together,” Aamir said.  When asked about the possibility of marriage, he added, “Marriage is something. I mean, in my heart, I’m already married to her. So whether we formalise it or not is something that I will decide as we go along.”  DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to.  The actor had publicly acknowledged his relationship with Gauri on his 60th birthday in March. Despite …