National
Haryana Secures 7th Place in India’s Startup Ecosystem, Fueled by Women Entrepreneurs Driving Innovation
Notably, a strong trend is the high representation of women entrepreneurs, with more than 45 percent of startups in Haryana led by women. This was emphasized during a review meeting of the State Startup Ecosystem and Incubator Schemes, chaired by Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi. The substantial share of women-led startups reflects Haryana’s commitment to inclusive development and gender equality in the realm of innovation.
Haryana’s role in India’s unicorn narrative is also significant. Out of 117 unicorns in the country, 19 originate from Haryana, highlighting the state’s favorable business climate, access to skilled talent, and increasing appeal to investors. Together, these strengths position Haryana as a key driver of innovation-led economic growth in India.
To support startups at various stages, the state has developed a robust incubation framework, establishing over 25 incubators across government and private universities. Additionally, there are more than 10 private-sector and 10 government-supported incubators in operation, providing mentorship, networking opportunities, and infrastructural support. Numerous institutions have also shown interest in establishing new incubation centers, further bolstering support for early ventures.
“Our vision is to cultivate a self-sustaining ecosystem where innovation thrives from grassroots to global stages,” stated Chief Secretary Rastogi. “By enhancing our incubators, we’re not just financing startups – we’re building the groundwork for the next generation of global enterprises from Haryana,” he added.
Commissioner and Secretary of Industries and Commerce Amit Kumar Agrawal announced plans to introduce a new series of schemes under the Haryana State Startup Policy 2022. These initiatives aim to provide comprehensive financial and infrastructural support to government-owned, government-supported, and private incubators.
Key highlights include a capital subsidy covering 50 percent of capital expenditure (up to ₹2 crore for government institutions and ₹1 crore for private ones); financial assistance of up to ₹4 crore for the development of new Startup Warehouses or Innovation Campuses; recurring operational support of ₹1 crore per year for three years; funding for mobile application development centers with similar support structures; and lease rent reimbursement of 50 percent (up to ₹5 lakh per year for three years).
To stimulate innovation in academia, the government will provide up to ₹50 lakh for establishing incubation centers in government universities and ₹20 lakh annually for five years to cover recurring expenses. The scheme guidelines for incubators were approved during the meeting. These strategic initiatives are expected to significantly boost Haryana’s reputation as a startup hub, nurturing a conducive environment for future entrepreneurs.
The meeting was attended by various senior officials, including Additional Chief Secretary of the Environment, Forests & Wildlife Department, Anand Mohan Sharan; Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Arun Kumar Gupta; Director General of Industries & Commerce, Dusmanta Kumar Behera; and Chief Technology Officer, Nitin Bansal.
National
MBBS Student Alleges She Was Drugged, Raped by Friend in Delhi Hotel
New Delhi: An 18-year-old MBBS student has accused a 20-year-old male friend of drugging and sexually assaulting her at a hotel in Delhi’s Adarsh Nagar area. The alleged incident took place on September 9, police officials said.
According to the complaint, the accused, who is also a medical student, invited the woman to “Hotel Apple” on the pretext of spending time together. Once there, he allegedly gave her a drink laced with drugs and then raped her.
The survivor told police that the accused recorded obscene videos and took pictures during the assault. He later threatened to make the content viral if she reported the incident.
The woman, a native of Jind in Haryana, is currently staying at the hostel of Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College in Rohini, Delhi.
Based on her complaint, police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. A search is underway to locate and arrest the accused, officials added.
In a separate case earlier this month, a school manager in Uttar Pradesh was arrested for allegedly raping a Class 8 student. In February, a tuition teacher in Delhi’s CR Park area was accused of repeatedly raping a 15-year-old student over three years and threatening her with blackmail.
National
8 Patients Dead In Jaipur Hospital Fire
Jaipur: Eight patients died after a fire broke out at the trauma centre of the state-run Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur late Sunday night.
Officials said the blaze started in the storage area of the Neuro ICU, possibly due to a short circuit. There were 11 patients in the ICU at the time. Smoke quickly spread, causing panic among patients and staff.
Hospital workers and attendants tried to rescue patients, even moving them out on their beds. Firefighters controlled the blaze in about two hours.
Families of the victims alleged that hospital staff ignored early warnings about smoke and fled during the fire.
Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and other ministers visited the hospital to review the situation and assured a detailed probe into the incident.
National
75-Year-Old Man Marries 35-Year-Old, Dies Before Honeymoon
Uttar Pradesh: A 75-year-old man who remarried in search of companionship died barely hours after his wedding, sparking shock and speculation in his village.
The deceased, identified as Sangruram, a resident of Kuchhmuchh village in Jaunpur district, had been living alone after losing his first wife a year ago. With no children, he supported himself through farming. Despite advice from relatives against remarriage, Sangruram wed 35-year-old Manbhavati, a resident of Jalalpur area, on Monday, September 29.
The marriage was first registered in court, followed by traditional rituals at a local temple. According to Manbhavati, the couple spent most of the wedding night conversing, as Sangruram assured her that she would take responsibility for the household while he would “take care of the children.”
However, by the next morning, his health deteriorated suddenly. He was rushed to hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
The unexpected death has triggered varied reactions in the village. While some residents believe it to be a natural occurrence given his age, others have expressed suspicion about the circumstances.
Relatives, including nephews residing in Delhi, have halted funeral rites until their arrival. They have also raised questions about whether a police inquiry or post-mortem examination will be conducted before the cremation.
Authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding further investigation.
