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Small-town youth wows Bill Gates, turns college project into multi-crore startup

What began as a college project born out of personal tragedy has grown into a ₹4.3 crore agritech venture that’s transforming farming across India—and even caught the attention of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.

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Aurangabad, India — What began as a college project born out of personal tragedy has grown into a ₹4.3 crore agritech venture that’s transforming farming across India—and even caught the attention of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.

Yogesh Gawande, a young engineer from a village near Aurangabad, Maharashtra, is the founder of Niyo FarmTech, a startup that designs and manufactures solar-powered pesticide sprayers. His innovation has empowered over 12,000 farmers across 14 Indian states, with over 5,000 units sold and 100+ jobs created.

But Yogesh’s journey didn’t start with startup dreams or venture capital—it began with pain and purpose.

“Back in 2014–15, my elder brother had to be hospitalised due to pesticide poisoning,” Yogesh recalls. “It was terrifying. My family depended on farming, like so many others in our village. That moment changed everything for me.”

Motivated by his father’s plea—“You’re studying engineering, do something for us”—Yogesh set out to solve a real problem. He began designing a safer, more efficient pesticide spraying system for small and marginal farmers. What started as a final-year engineering project soon evolved into a mission.

After years of research, field trials, and relentless effort, Niyo FarmTech was born. The startup’s flagship product is a solar-powered, battery-operated sprayer that eliminates the need for manual pumping and minimizes farmers’ exposure to harmful chemicals.

The innovation gained widespread acclaim and recently made international headlines when Bill Gates personally tested the sprayer during his visit to India. Impressed by the impact and ingenuity, Gates shared Yogesh’s story on social media, sparking interest from global development and sustainability circles.

“Technology that solves grassroots problems—that’s the kind of innovation that deserves the world’s attention,” Gates noted.

Today, Yogesh continues to work from his hometown, staying true to his roots while expanding his vision. “This is just the beginning,” he says. “There are millions of farmers who still need help. We’re building for them.”

Veer Rana

Veer Rana is a seasoned news anchor covering national affairs, politics, economy, regional issues, science, and health. Known for his sharp analysis and clear reporting, he brings credibility and insight to India’s top stories.

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Bangladesh army chief’s warning makes Mohammad Yunus go back on Rakhine corridor

The proposal for a humanitarian Rakhine corridor raised alarm in Bangladesh, with growing concern that the corridor would compromise national sovereignty and was influenced by US strategic interests.

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🇧🇩 Bangladesh Army Blocks Rakhine Corridor Plan, Yunus Govt Backtracks

🟥 A proposed “humanitarian corridor” from Chattogram to Myanmar’s Rakhine State has been shelved after a stern warning from Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman, who branded it a “bloody corridor” threatening national sovereignty.

🗣️ Key Developments:

  • Interim govt under Muhammad Yunus initially supported the UN-backed plan.

  • Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain had unilaterally announced support — sparking a political storm.

  • Critics saw it as a Western-backed move to retain power and check China.

🔒 Army Chief Intervenes:

“The Bangladesh Army will never be involved in any activity that is harmful to sovereignty,” said General Zaman, demanding elections and consensus on sensitive issues.

👥 Backlash:

  • Strong opposition from BNP and Left parties, calling it “unilateral and illegal.”

  • Fears that the aid route could double as a covert military/intelligence channel.

🛑 Current Status:

  • National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman confirmed no formal agreement was made.

  • Bangladesh will not pursue the corridor plan — only consider limited UN aid facilitation near the border.

⚠️ Comes amid renewed violence in Rakhine and surging Rohingya displacement, intensifying pressure on Bangladesh’s security and foreign policy stance.

Nivaan Joshi

Nivaan Joshi is a sharp, professional AI anchor known for his passion for sports and adventure. With a confident presence and a flair for storytelling, he brings high-energy coverage of extreme sports and outdoor exploits to life.

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Supreme Court grills Rajasthan govt over student suicides: Why are they dying only in Kota?

The Supreme Court referred to a March 24 verdict which took note of recurring cases of student suicides in higher educational institutions and formed a national task force to address the mental health concerns of students and prevent such incidents.

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⚖️ Supreme Court to Rajasthan Govt: Why Are Students Dying Only in Kota?

🟥 In a sharp rebuke on Friday, the Supreme Court pulled up the Rajasthan government over the alarming surge in student suicides in Kota, India’s coaching hub.
📍 14 student suicides have been reported in Kota alone in 2025 so far.

🧠 “What Are You Doing as a State?” — SC Questions

Justice JB Pardiwala grilled the state’s counsel:

“Why are these children dying by suicide and only in Kota? Have you not given it a thought as a state?”

🔍 The court was hearing a case involving the May 4 suicide of a 22-year-old IIT Kharagpur student, and a NEET aspirant in Kota, raising national concern over student mental health and institutional negligence.

⚠️ FIR Delays & Lax Investigations

  • The court criticized a 4-day delay in filing the FIR for the IIT Kharagpur case.

  • “Don’t take these things lightly. These are very serious,” the bench said.

🧑‍⚖️ Key Takeaways:

  • SC reminded the authorities of its March 24 verdict, which ordered a national task force for student mental health.

  • Warned police it could have taken contempt action for negligence.

  • Ordered that investigations be conducted expeditiously and responsibly.

Veer Rana

Veer Rana is a seasoned news anchor covering national affairs, politics, economy, regional issues, science, and health. Known for his sharp analysis and clear reporting, he brings credibility and insight to India’s top stories.

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What was the 1991 India-Pakistan military pact that BJP’s Nishikant Dubey shared to attack Congress? Details

The BJP’s comments came after Rahul Gandhi had questioned Jaishankar’s handling of Operation Sindoor, specifically alleging that forewarning Pakistan led to the loss of an Indian aircraft.

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🇮🇳🤝🇵🇰 What Was the 1991 India-Pakistan Military Pact?
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey reignited a political row by citing a 1991 military transparency agreement to target Congress for its criticism of EAM S. Jaishankar over Operation Sindoor.

🔍 Key Facts About the 1991 Pact:

📆 Signed: April 6, 1991
📍 Location: New Delhi
🔖 Title: Agreement on Advance Notice of Military Exercises, Manoeuvres and Troop Movements

🛡️ Main Provisions:

  • Advance Notification: India & Pakistan must inform each other ahead of major troop movements and military drills near the border.

  • Notification Mechanism: All info to be shared via diplomatic channels within a fixed timeline.

  • Border Proximity Limits: Large-scale activities barred near the border to avoid misinterpretation as aggression.

  • Non-threatening Direction: No military exercises to be aimed or postured towards the opposing nation.

🧩 Part of a Larger Peace Framework:

This agreement was among several Confidence Building Measures (CBMs), alongside:

  • 1991 Agreement on Airspace Violations

  • 1992 Pact Against Nuclear Attacks

🔥 Political Context:

Dubey alleged Congress-backed the deal when the Chandrashekhar govt was in power.
Congress hit back, saying it had withdrawn support by Feb 1991 and elections had already been declared.

Veer Rana

Veer Rana is a seasoned news anchor covering national affairs, politics, economy, regional issues, science, and health. Known for his sharp analysis and clear reporting, he brings credibility and insight to India’s top stories.

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