In response to the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) call for financial inclusion - defined here as the ”delivery of banking services at an affordable cost to sections of disadvantaged and low-income groups” - several banks launched “no frills” bank accounts, or “nil or low balance account[s] with charges that make [them] accessible to vast sections of the [...]

The Progressive Automotive X Prize certainly seems to believe that market-based philanthropy can stimulate innovation on a global scale through handsome monetary packages – in this case, $10 million.  The goal, announced recently at the New York International Auto Show, is an impressive one – The newly renamed Progressive Automotive X PRIZE is an international competition [...]

In order to better put my previous post on the Great Indian Developer Conference in context of this blog, I read earlier a post today by Giulio Quaggiotto on PSD Blog about the possible arrival of Development 2.0 — the utilization of web 2.0 and other new technologies to improve fundraising, community interaction and overall [...]

Water from Narmada to travel to the parched lands of Rajasthan. In related news, one Mangalore institution of learning has taken an innovative approach to enlist the use of rainwater to make sure that they have supply even in drier months. Would you like some genes with that? Case to allow genetically modified brinjal moves [...]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YchLdAwuxqQ] The Social Edge Blog interviews ED Joe Madiath of Gram Vikas, about his vision for 2017. He speaks of creating a world rooted in human dignity.

In response to my previous post on the role of academic institutions in building entrepreneurs, Rachit pointed me out the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership at BITS Pilani (yes, we do read your comments!) The Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership (CEL) at BITS Pilani, was set up for that very purpose, to create entrepreneurial leaders and have [...]

Vinay just blogged about Jooce, a start-up in France that was featured in Businessweek recently. The idea behind the start-up is that, in providing access to PCs to adults and children in the developing world – its not about making more PC available but to maximize the number of people who can use a give [...]

How long does it take to discuss a deal involving nuclear technology? Apparently for US President Bush and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee just a little longer than an episode of Khanna Khazana. Protests against Utkal Alumina International Limited’s attempt to open a new plant show no signs of abating any time soon. In a [...]

This looks like to be a very exciting event, and while it is too late to attend in person, Skoll has hired the help of livebloggers for the entirety of the conference. Go here for live updates. ThinkChange India will be following closely via the same feeds and will be providing periodic updates over what [...]

In an unusual initiative, Pratham has begun a targeted effort to educate the children of construction workers in Pune. Pratham enlists the help of specially trained teachers that go to the construction sites themselves or even teach on the nearby crowded streets (From OneWorld South Asia). Every day, between 3 to 7 pm, groups of [...]