BIRAC Announces 25th Call for Proposal under BIG Scheme Last date to apply - 30th November, 2025 05:30 PM

Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), a Section 8 ‘Not-for-Profit Company’ of Government of India, has been set up as DBT’s interface agency, to serve as a single window for emerging biotech companies.

The scheme enables Startups to pursue a promising technology idea, and establish and validate proof of concept (POC) for the idea.

Click here to view Guidelines  

Click here to register for BIG Scheme

Springer Nature: Submit Your Book Idea

Research aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) holds powerful potential to shape policy, inform practice, and drive real-world change. By publishing your work as an open access (OA) book with Springer Nature, you can significantly amplify its reach and impact. On average, our OA books and chapters receive 10 times more downloads, 2.4 times more citations, and 10 times more online mentions than their non-OA counterparts. Make your insights accessible—globally and immediately—to those who can turn them into action. 

Submit your book idea

A book can bridge disciplines and sectors with comprehensive analysis that reflects the interconnected multidisciplinary nature of SDG challenges. Whether your book idea is fully developed or just beginning to take shape, we welcome your proposal. Submit it without obligation, and a publishing editor will reach out to explore next steps.

Source: https://www.springernature.com/gp/authors/publish-a-book

Report on Reading Inspiration Day - 2025

 

The Learning and Information Resource Centre of St. Francis Institute of Technology celebrated Reading Inspiration Day on 15th October 2025 in remembrance of Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, our beloved former President and visionary scientist, fondly known as The Missile Man of India. The event aimed to honor Dr. Kalam’s inspiring legacy by spreading the light of knowledge and the joy of reading among students and faculty members.

Overview of Activities

The celebration was organized over four days, featuring a variety of engaging and educational activities designed to promote reading habits and creativity:

In-House Book Exhibition (13th October 2025): The event commenced with an exhibition showcasing a diverse collection of books available in  English and Marathi languages. Students were encouraged to explore new titles and genres, fostering curiosity and a love for reading.

Digital Library Treasure Hunt (14th October 2025): Participants enthusiastically took part in an interactive treasure hunt within the digital library system, aimed at creating an awareness on the seamless access to a treasure trove of information on e books, e journals from Knimbus M Library portal and a plethora of books in Indian languages from AICTE E KUMBH.

Best Library User Award (2024–2025) (15th October 2025): To recognize dedication and consistent engagement with library resources, the “Best Library User Award” was presented to the most active readers of the academic year 2024-2025. Congratulations to Dr. Sunil R. Pansare (HOD, Department of Mechanical Engineering), Mohsin Dalvi (Department of Mechanical Engineering), Varsha Thandasarry (Department of Electrical Engineering), Dhammapal Gaikwad (Department of Mechanical Engineering), Owais Shaikh, Student at Department of Information Technology at SFIT, RAJAN Zagade Student at Department of Electrical Engineering), Om Kate, Student at Department of Electronics and Telecommunications.

Old Book Sale (16th October 2025): The celebration concluded with a sale of old books at nominal prices, encouraging participants to take home books and continue nurturing the joy of reading.

The celebration of Reading Inspiration Day successfully honored Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam’s vision of a knowledgeable and enlightened society. The series of activities encouraged students to read, learn, and lead towards a brighter tomorrow. The event not only paid tribute to a great leader but also reinforced the institute’s commitment to promoting lifelong learning and intellectual growth among its members.

Knowledge Connect (27): NIELIT's International Conference on Communication, Electronics and Digital Technologies (NICEDT-2026)

More details: https://nicedt.org/

The accepted paper will be published with Springer, subject to compliance with Springer’s standards and quality checks. The remaining papers will be published in the International Journal of Digital Technologies (IJDT).

 

Knowledge Connect (26): Call for Book Chapters in AI in Speech and Language Processing by Springer

 

Books. Brains. Brilliance – Honouring SFIT’s Best Library Users on Reading Inspiration Day

Every once in a while, a reader is born who doesn’t just flip pages—they build bridges to new worlds, new ideas, and new dreams. At St. Francis Institute Of Technology (SFIT), we believe in celebrating these readers.hashtag

On October 15, 2025, celebrated as hashtag#ReadingInspirationDay in hashtag#Maharashtra, we honoured the hashtag#BestLibraryUsers of the Academic Year 2024–2025—readers whose love for books lit up our library, minds, and campus corridors.
Congratulations to Dr. Sunil R. Pansare (HOD, Department of Mechanical Engineering), Mohsin Dalvi (Department of Mechanical Engineering), Varsha Thandasarry (Department of Electrical Engineering), Dhammapal Gaikwad (Department of Mechanical Engineering), Owais Shaikh, Student at Department of Information Technology at SFIT, RAJAN Zagade Student at Department of Electrical Engineering), Om Kate, Student at Department of Electronics and Telecommunications

Why October 15?
It’s no ordinary day—it’s the birth anniversary of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the Missile Man of India, a scientist, a visionary, and above all—a passionate advocate of reading. He once said, “Learning gives creativity, creativity leads to thinking, thinking provides knowledge, and knowledge makes you great.”

Adding to this legacy, our own Director, Bro. Shantilal Kujur, is a voracious reader himself, regularly visiting book exhibitions to discover new ideas and inspire our students. His passion fuels the culture of reading at our Institute and reminds us all that leaders are readers.

🏆 Awarded by our Director, these library members stood out for:

• Deep and consistent reading habits (beyond just exam prep!)
• Borrowing and exploring diverse books—fiction, non-fiction, journals, research papers
• Sharing recommendations, participating in activities, and inspiring others

📖 Why Reading Still Rules

• It stimulates your brain like no screen can
• It nurtures focus, creativity, and empathy
• It aligns beautifully with #NEP2020, which encourages curiosity-driven, learner-led education

💡Inspired by Indian Reading Icons
Let’s not forget homegrown heroes who swear by the power of books:
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam – a daily reader and youth motivator
Sudha Murty – who makes stories feel like warm cups of chai
Amish Tripathi – who redefined mythology for modern readers
Chetan Bhagat – who brought books to every Indian college student’s backpack
Narendra Modi – who champions reading through ‘hashtag#ParikshaPeCharcha’

So here’s to every reader who ever got “lost” in a book—and came out wiser, kinder, and more curious.
📚💫 Keep turning the pages. Because readers today are the leaders tomorrow.

hashtag#ReadingInspirationDay hashtag#SFITLibrary hashtag#ReadToLead hashtag#KalamInspires hashtag#NEP2020 hashtag#SFITReaders hashtag#BookLove

SFIT Receives Certificate of Appreciation from National Digital Library of India (NDLI)

We are proud to share a moment of honor and celebration for St. Francis Institute of Technology (SFIT), Borivali West, Mumbai. The NDLI Club of SFIT has been awarded a prestigious Certificate of Appreciation by the National Digital Library of India (NDLI) — a project under the Ministry of Education and led by the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur (IIT Kharagpur).
This recognition highlights the SFIT NDLI Club’s outstanding performance and unwavering dedication in promoting digital learning and knowledge dissemination through the NDLI platform.

Empowering Learners Through 17 Dynamic Activities

In the academic year, the SFIT NDLI Club successfully conducted 17 impactful activities engaging over 700 participants. These activities were designed not just to educate, but also to inspire curiosity and foster a culture of active learning among students.

Some of the notable initiatives included:

• Aptitude Quizzes to enhance critical thinking and problem-solving skills

• National Space Day Celebrations, exploring India's space achievements

• IPMV (Image Processing and Machine Vision) to introduce ExTC students to basic concepts

• Sessions on Plagiarism Awareness, guiding students on originality and academic integrity

Each activity was carefully curated to utilize the vast resources of NDLI while also addressing key areas of academic and personal development.