Archives February 2023

The Indian EdTech startup culture has been thriving in recent years, with many platforms emerging to cater to the diverse needs of the education sector. These have not just been catering to young students but are also bridging the gap for continuous learning and upskilling by providing the youth and avid learners an excellent platform to enhance their knowledge and leverage that for greater and global work opportunities.

Suraasa is one such platform that is leading the way when it comes to teacher education and empowerment. As one of the few EdTech platforms curated specifically for teacher training, Suraasa has made a significant impact on the Indian education ecosystem.

The brand’s approach to teacher education is research-driven and pedagogically sound, which has helped them to enhance and upskill teachers. This, in turn, has contributed to an improved educational platform for students. With their innovative approach, Suraasa has raised $1.2 million in seed funding from various investors, including NB Ventures in the United Arab Emirates, SuperMorpheus in Singapore, Vinners, and SucSEED Innovation in India.

One of the key initiatives by Suraasa was the launch of the International Teachers’ Olympiad 2022, which aligned with the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. This initiative received registrations from over 60,000 teachers from 1800 schools (both government and private schools) across 30+ countries. Moreover, their Teacher Training Programme has also been instrumental in helping teachers secure some of the best jobs in the USA, with packages as high as ₹64 lacs per annum. The success of these initiatives demonstrates the importance of upskilling teachers and the potential for EdTech platforms like Suraasa to make a difference.

Even the Indian Government recognizes the importance of upskilling and has been actively pushing for it. It considers upskilling and re-skilling of the youth to be an imperative step in enhancing their skills and employability and promoting economic growth. Hence, The Union Budget 2023 saw a significant allocation of funds to enhance upskilling resources for the youth. The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship has been allocated ₹3,418.07 crores this year, 20% higher than the previous year. This retaliates that youth empowerment through skilling is one of the priority areas in this year’s budget, which aligns with Suraasa’s mission to enhance teacher education and empowerment.

Speaking about the industry growth and the government’s push towards upskilling, Founder and CEO of Suraasa, Rishabh Khanna shares, “At Suraasa, we believe that empowering Indian teaching talent is key to unlocking the potential in the country. With the growing demand for skilled educators in India and around the world, we are committed to providing innovative and effective teacher education and empowerment programmes. Education is one such field that is welcoming technology and embracing the innovative solutions of the edtech community. Even the government is giving a boost to India’s edtech sector that has grown exponentially over the last three years. We are thrilled to be part of this growing EdTech startup culture. With the government’s support, we’re excited about the potential impact of our upskilling programmes on Indian teaching talent and the technology-driven evolution of the education sector.”

With constant innovation and a drive to mark a global presence, it is encouraging to witness The Indian EdTech startup culture flourish, and platforms like Suraasa, leading the way in transforming the education sector. With their innovative approach to teacher education and upskilling, they have made a significant impact on the quality of education in India and the government’s push for upskilling further emphasizes the importance of initiatives like Suraasa’s and the potential for them to contribute to a brighter future for the youth of India.

New Delhi, 28 February. Prateek Parashar, a student of Poornima University (PU), Jaipur was awarded by the Union Minister of Employment and Labour, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupendra Yadav for preparing the best plan and design of an upgradeable ESIC hospital from 350 to 500 beds. On the occasion of ESIC Foundation Day, Prateek was honored with a cheque of one lakh rupees and a citation as wining the first prize at a grand function organized at Dr. Ambedkar International Center, New Delhi. Based on this design of Prateek, a hospital will be built in Sanand town, in Gujarat State in short while. It is notable that Prateek Parashar is pursuing his Master in Urban Planning from Poornima University (PU), Jaipur.

In this regard entries from all over the country were invited for this design competition organized by the Employees State Insurance Corporation, Government of India. Out of which the plan and design prepared and presented by Prateek Parashar was declared the first winner by the Jury members. Prateek hilighted the concept and salient features of the Plan that this hospital can be upgraded from 350 beds to 500 beds. In this campus three blocks of the hospital building will be constructed. In this plan blocks of OPD; Emergency and Mother Child care & IPD are proposed serving different purposes for segregating the patient’s and visitors with interconnection by bridges at different levels. Hence there will be no unnecessary crowd of patients and their relatives in the single building. In this design, separate spaces have been fixed for green area, buffer space and shops of medicine, other useful shops. Along with this, special attention has been given to other important points including sustainability, natural light, solar energy and rain water harvesting and storage.

It is notable that Prateek’s father Sri Chandra Shekhar Parashar has retired from the post of Additional Chief Town Planner in the Government of Rajasthan and is currently working as ACTP & Coordinator in Nagar Nigam Jaipur Heritage.
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India — 28th February, 2023 – Finland, voted the World’s Happiest Country for the fifth year, is welcoming talented Indians to launch or reestablish their careers in one of the most attractive countries to work in. With its emphasis on work-life balance, support for families, and being home to some of the greenest cities and most innovative companies in the world, Finland is aiming to double work-based migration and triple study-based migration by 2030.

Excellent work-life balance for entrepreneurs and tech professionals alike

Ms. Laura Lindeman, Senior Director, Work in Finland said, “We are happy to welcome talent from India to Finland. Finland offers career opportunities in a myriad of professions like IT, health tech, clean tech, hydrogen and battery industries, manufacturing, hospitality & tourism and health sector.”

She also highlighted the Memorandum of Understanding signed for talent mobility between Business Finland and Confederation of Indian Industry in December 2022. “We see mutual benefits in building strong cooperation between our countries in talent mobility and wish to offer Indian talents opportunities for professional growth in Finland”, she added.

The Head of Talent Boost in India for Business Finland, Gitta Perez said, “We are confident India’s tech professionals and startup entrepreneurs will appreciate how we emphasize equality and diversity in the workplace. We believe that treating everyone with equal worth is a key factor in how our local tech ecosystem has become globally competitive.”

In a recently concluded event in India that highlighted what makes Finland the happiest country in the world to both work and live in, Business Finland saw interest from more than 3000 talent, entrepreneurs and students who want to move to Finland to pursue their career.

According to the latest Finnish Immigration Services statistics, more than 10,000 Indians are living in Finland, many of them working and studying. Just in the last 12 months, over 7500 Indians applied for a resident permit.

Be part of one of the world’s most innovative landscapes

Across its beautifully diverse country, Finland offers career opportunities in world-renowned technology companies such as Microsoft, Nokia, Kone, IQM Finland and Oura. Whether as a successful tech entrepreneur climbing the corporate ladder with some of the biggest technology names in the world, or completing their higher education, Finland is the ideal place for talent from India.

Tuesday, February 28, 2023: On the occasion of World Tailor’s Day, Siyaram’s, one of the leading textile brands in men’s fashion for over four decades, started an initiative to appreciate and give back to the community of thousands of tailors in India. The company is conducting free upskilling workshops and sessions for tailors in different cities, which will help them gain formal training in upgrading their skills for consistency. Tailors are being trained in formal ways of taking measurements, drafting patterns, staying updated on the developments in the fashion industry and the garment trade, and having the know-how to benefit their customers with the change in the processes they are applying in their day-to-day business. Along with this we are providing them international bespoke tailoring tips to be at par with expert tailors.

“Today, the brand Siyaram’s has become synonymous with fine craftsmanship, and all the credit for that goes to our huge family of tailors who create masterpieces using their skills. Our initiative and commitment are not just to provide them with wider opportunities but also to help the profession of tailoring be as respected as any other profession in our society. We are extremely passionate about this and aim to provide world class training to over 50,000 tailors across the country in coming months through online and offline mediums,” said Mr. Ramesh Poddar, CMD, Siyaram Silk Mills Ltd.

In just a span of a few weeks, Siyaram’s has conducted training sessions in 7-8 towns. Over 1500 tailors in these cities have already completed their training. The sessions are highly focused on enriching the craft of tailoring and imparting the skills required, which result in sustaining the tailoring trade and upgrading the lifestyle of the artists involved in the trade.

Mr. Prakash Yadav, a tailor who completed the training sessions, expressed, “This is a huge honour and a much-needed effort for our tailor community. Most of us have never taken any formal training in tailoring and had to take up this work out of no choice and other opportunities. After completing these training sessions, we now know much more about fashion, style consultancy, modern methods of drafting, ways to shorten the process, ways to handle alterations beforehand, customer behaviour, developments in the garmenting trade, and modernization, among other things. I feel much more confident now and ready to bring a boost in my tailoring business.

The overall response has been extremely welcoming, and more and more tailors are waiting to benefit from this initiative. Siyaram’s is now planning to establish an online library and help desk to help tailors whenever they are in trouble with odd sizes and special fabrics, so that their queries could be addressed and they get proper technical support in drafting and handling fabric.

Marble is timeless and one of the most popular options that come to mind when looking for interior decorating ideas. It is commonly used in homes and offices because of its sophisticated look and on some of the most famous monuments in the world. From marble walls and floors to marble wall coverings, kitchen splashbacks, and accent wall panels, they add a chic accent to any space.

There are different types of marble used for different rooms, and the curators at The Quarry Gallery will help you choose the right kind based on your needs. Get that stunning boutique hotel look with marble walls in your bedroom. If you would love a statement wall while letting the rest of your bedroom decor be minimal, try a gorgeous patterned marble wall with Azul Macaubas or Avocado Vert. A polished marble wall creates a soothing effect and transforms your bedroom into a cozy and elegant space.

An accent wall creates a focal highlight point for your living room without having to make any significant changes to your decor. This is where you can add personality and depth to the space by choosing marble that complements or matches your overall color scheme. Different types of marble can give you luxe finishes, from veins, grooves, flutes, and more to further enhance the beauty of your selected marble walls.

Vertical applications like a marble backsplash are an excellent way to showcase the gorgeous veins and swirls of the marble. If you have a kitchen island, a marble countertop will add elegance to the kitchen overall. Regular care and maintenance will ensure that your kitchen marble surfaces stay protected and last long.

Instead of artificial marble tiles, you can select a natural stone like exotic granite or quartzite to add a luxe look to your bathroom and also make it look bright and spacious.

And of course, you can always give an instant luxe effect to any space by incorporating it into objects d’art such as a side table with a marble top, marble vases, and other marble home accessories.

The ways to incorporate marble into your home interior design are many, and no one better than The Quarry to assist you with finding the right cut, finish, and type of marble for your specific needs.

Kolkata, 28th February 2023 BBLUNT, Bollywood’s most preferred salon brand, is all set to make waves with the launch of 3 salons in the city of Kolkata housed in Hungerford Street, Alipore & Janak Road location.

The salons have been meticulously designed with luxurious hair stations, manicure & pedicure stations, beauty cum bridal rooms and hair treatment rooms leaving clients spoilt for choice.

BBLUNT will be accessible to more Kolkata residents with these new openings The high-end beauty and hair services offered by BBLUNT are performed by staff members that are experienced and certified globally. BBLUNT Salon, a one-stop shop for all Hair & beauty requirements, offers a clean, safe atmosphere for all styling and beauty requirements, as well as a friendly, attentive staff that will make your visit to the salon pleasurable and unforgettable.

Spoorthy Shetty, CEO, BBLUNT added, “Kolkata has always been special for us. We launched our first ever franchise salon here in 2020 and with the patronage received, we are now set to launch 3 company owned company operated salons across the city. We’re extremely thrilled to open doors to our loyalists as well as welcome new hair aficionados. At BBLUNT, it is our constant endeavour to provide the best service possible for our guests and expanding our network of salons allows us to reach more clients who have patiently aited for our presence in the city.”

Speaking on the launch occasion, Ghazal Alagh, Co-founder & Chief Innovation Officer, Honasa Consumer Limited,said “We are thrilled with the opening of 3 new salons in Kolkata, bringing their passion for beauty and personalized services to the vibrant city. The salon industry in Kolkata has witnessed a significant growth in recent years, with an increasing number of people opting for specialised salons for grooming and selfcare. The opening of BBLUNT’s three new outlets in the city is a testament to this trend, and we believe it will further contribute to the industry’s growth by providing customers with a diverse range of high-quality services and experiences. BBLUNT’s team of experts is dedicated in providing a unique and luxurious experience that will leave the clients feeling confident and beautiful and it is another step in giving the community an access to the good life.”

In true BBLUNT aesthetics, the space boasts a beautiful design and décor –organic patterns in pink ascents in the salon area, The whole interior is planned, so as to retain maximum space with industrial and rustic ascents.

With the opening of these new outlets, the salon chain has reached a total of 22 outlets in India – seven of which are located in Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Guwahati, and Gurgaon.

Salon locations:
1) BBLUNT @ Hungerford St.
Ground Floor, 9, Hunger Ford St, near Circuit House, Elgin, Kolkata – 700017
T: +91-8422842476 | T:+91-8422842477
2) BBLUNT @ Alipore
Ground Floor, Konark Gardens , 6, Burdwan Road, Alipore, Kolkata – 700027
T: +91-8422842474 | T: +91-8422842475
3) BBLUNT @ Janak Road
Ground Floor 35A, Janak Road, Lake Market, Kalighat , Kolkata – 700029
T: +91-8422842470 | T: +91-8422842478

Mumbai, 28 February 2023: found it (formerly Monster APAC & ME), one of India’s leading talent platforms, today published data on the demand for green jobs in India. India’s commitment to achieving a 500-gigawatt clean energy target by 2030 has led to an 81% annual increase in demand for green jobs in January 2023, with metropolitan cities leading the charge. Investments in the green sector have also proliferated compared to conventional fuel-based projects, enabling the creation of substantial jobs across the sector.

Moreover, a 64% month-on-month (MoM) growth was reflected in green job postings, with industries such as Industrial Products, Heavy machinery, and Waste Management hosting the maximum share in hiring demand. This marks an all-time high for green job postings on the foundit platform with both private and public sector companies integrating ESG practices as a central part of their business operations and transition to clean energy practices.

Commenting on green job trends, Sekhar Garisa, CEO, foundit (previously Monster, APAC & ME), said, “The Green revolution in India has been picking up the pace for the past year, and it is now heartening to see that green growth has been identified as one of the seven key priorities of this year’s Budget. With an allocation of INR 35,000 crores of priority capital investment towards achieving net zero by 2070, the commitment towards addressing climate change and building a sustainable future is evident. India’s solar and wind energy sectors are adding thousands of workers to new projects and will continue to create steady employment opportunities. However, the enormous demand for green roles is quickly outpacing the availability of skilled talent required in these fields. Hence, consistent and intelligent upskilling and development is crucial to create an efficient green workforce in the coming months.”

Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru reflect the enormous potential for green growth

According to foundit’s data, there has been a substantial increase in green job postings across metro cities. Delhi/NCR registered a year-on-year (YoY) growth of 289%, followed by Mumbai at 216% and Bengaluru at 174%. This surge can be attributed to the growing emphasis on creating a green economy in urban India, which has increased the demand for skilled talent in various sectors, including Corporate Services, Software, Education, and Construction. Individuals skilled in corporate social responsibility and sustainability are particularly in high demand. Furthermore, rapid urbanization has necessitated the need for specialized roles in addressing air quality, waste management, land degradation, and clean transport segments, among others.

Demand for Sustainability Managers on the rise

Among job roles, Sustainability Managers (26%) are highest in demand as companies across Construction and Manufacturing consciously try to account for the environmental impact of their activities. Other roles in demand include Environmental Consultants (11%), ESG analysts (17%), Safety Specialists (15%), and Design Engineers (9%). These emerging job are the outcome of the growing number of corporations in India recruiting a skilled workforce trained in climate action to facilitate technological shifts and structured financing mechanisms to finally achieve net-zero emissions.

Demand for Professionals in Auto Industry and Waste Management surged to an all-time high

Environmental Service and Waste Management industries experienced an astounding 1765% annual growth in hiring activity. This surge can be attributed to the growing consciousness among Indian companies to safeguard natural resources and ensure proper waste disposal. Moreover, increased emphasis on addressing the pressing issue of rapid urbanization in India has led to a significant increase in solid waste management initiatives.

The Automobile industry (307%) has also seen rise in demand for green professionals. With active measures being taken to cap transport emissions- such as designing sustainably, making better use of manufacturing resources, and sourcing ethically and responsibly- auto manufacturers are also investing heavily in Electric vehicles (EVs) reduce their environmental impact. Moreover, the EV market is gearing up to downsize vehicle emissions, making it one of the fastest-growing markets in the country.

Additionally, the demand for green professionals is high in Chemicals, Petrochemicals, Plastics, and rubber (220%) industries followed by FMCG (42%) and Construction (30%).

Upskilling remains a key priority as the green job demand outlook holds strong

With the Union Budget 2023 reaffirming India’s stance to combat climate change, it is clear that the green economy is bound to grow even further in the coming years. Considering this growth, newer job roles have also emerged in the last few years as industries tackle sustainability issues with innovative solutions. This brings about the urgent need to create a workforce adept in newer skills, many of which are related to technology. Hence, today’s workforce needs to upskill to meet the rising demand as organizations scout for skilled talent in AI, automation, IoT, and other emerging tech.

With the demand-supply crunch that exists in the market today, an expansive and inclusive curriculum that focuses on climate tech, green entrepreneurship, and sustainability holds the potential to build a productive green economy in India with sectors such as solar energy, electric mobility, and e-waste expected to create the most jobs in the future.

Period for the report

The period considered for the data is January’22 to January’23.

Author Baisakhi Saha presented excerpts from her book ‘Life is Abracadabra’ – 21 Magical Travel Stories on Sunday, February 26th, 2023 at Delhi World Book Fair, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi

Award-winning international speaker, author and globetrotter Baisakhi Saha unveils magical anecdotes from her book, ‘Life is Abracadabra – 21 Magical Stories from My Travels to Make You Look at Life with New Eyes’ to her readers at Authors Corner at Delhi World Book Fair on Sunday, February 26th, 2023, from 1:30pm to 2:30pm at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.

A solo traveller, Baisakhi has been traversing across the latitudes and longitudes of the globe since the tender age of 17 and has created a bond with the mystical ways in which the universe fulfils dreams. From Asia to Europe to Africa to South America to North & Central America she has lived with locals for several years to answer life’s most pertinent questions. In her book ‘Life is Abracadabra’ that was recently published, the author shares her life experiences that aim at strengthening readers’ beliefs in the possibility of achieving the unimaginable.

Addressing herself as an ordinary girl, Saha remarks, “Through my book I intend to open a world of the extraordinary to everyone who wishes to dream big but hesitates. I believe that when we follow our heart and share that intent with the universe, keep faith intact laced with courage, good things happen!”

Through ‘Life is Abracadabra’ the author emphasizes on dynamism of fate as multicultural experiences shape it and create destiny. The book focuses on how coincidences are so because they catch us off guard, but are well planned chapters in one’s life by the universe. It is a self-help handbook to remind its readers to never give up on faith and keep their hope alive. Saha believes that the book has the capability to change perspectives and open people’s mind towards a newer way of perceiving life.

About the Author: BAISAKHI SAHA is an award-winning international speaker, writer, and globetrotter. From being a computing graduate to a marketing executive to a German interpreter, English teacher, Spanish translator to now an author and performer, mysterious coincidences have led her from one place to another, contriving her to live her destiny, to leave a legacy.

She was born in Kolkata but grew up in different states of India, so it felt as if she was always in a new country. Her childhood was, thus, a preparation for what was to come in adulthood. She is multilingual and can speak six languages.

Book brief by Author : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxD9sEa-le8

According to a report by Cushman & Wakefield, in Q4 2022, Pune’s residential sector witnessed a rise of 68% on a q-o-q basis and a 56% growth on an annual basis. With 15,328 unit launches this quarter, Pune records a growth of 56% from 2021, a high for the quarter and the year.

Commenting about the performance, Mr. Ram Naik, Director, of The Guardians Real Estate Advisory said, “Pune has witnessed a decent performance in the fourth quarter in terms of residential sales. The city has seen a considerable number of new launches in the quarter with a reasonable decline in the unsold inventory. These are encouraging developments, which also give an insight into the constant demand for housing in the city. The festive season that falls in Q4, along with the reopening of the offices after the pandemic, has acted as a catalyst to boost property sales & launches in Pune. The affordability factor and the interest rates, which were lower than the pre-pandemic levels, too have provided the much-needed fillip to the home-buying activity in the region.”

Pune had seen a record number of launches with realtors racing ahead to cash in the growth spurt. In the past few years, the city has been witnessing a gradually rising supply of project launches from developers of national repute too.

“With its proximity to the financial capital Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, Pune has flourished as an ideal destination with a pleasant climate and sylvan surroundings. These factors have led the developers of national repute to invest in Pune with their new developments”, added Mr. Naik.

Mumbai, 28 February 2023: Cordelia Cruises, India’s only largest premium cruise line, today announced that they have entered into a strategic partnership with SanKash, the new age travel SAAS platform that aggregates BNPL service providers to offer flexible pay-over-time payment choices. Cordelia Cruises will now be offering sailing options that will allow the guests to sail first and pay later with zero percent interest spread over a period of six months (and upto thirty-six months with interest) and no down payment required, making the overall travel experience a lot easier and fulfilling for many guests to come.

In accordance with this one-of-a-kind partnership, travelers will be able to spread the cost of their travel at the time of booking. This gives customers the option to choose to split the amount over a period of maximum of thirty-six months (with six months of zero percent interest) with the flexibility to choose how and when they wish to pay for their trip. Catering to the dreams of many Indians, this partnership between SanKash and Cordelia Cruises will allow them to explore the beauty that India is and simplify the financial requirements when it comes to exploring wonderful destinations like Sri Lanka, Lakshadweep, Goa, and more.

Commenting on the partnership, Mr. Oneel Verma, COO, of Cordelia Cruises said, “Cruising, despite being a fairly new travel option in India, has created a positive imprint in the travel, tourism and hospitality industry in the past one year. Cordelia Cruises has witnessed an encouraging response and continues to grow. However, it is still considered an aspiration for several from varied socio-economic backgrounds. Having associated with SanKash makes cruising significantly more accessible and approachable for all. Having to pay in 6 easy installments with no interest is a step closer to going on your dream vacation without having to worry about spending a large part of your savings. We are pleased to collaborate with SanKash to make cruising a viable option for many.”

Akash Dahiya, Co-Founder, SanKash added, “We are delighted to partner with Cordelia Cruises, to introduce the concept of ‘Sail Now and Pay Later’ in India. Cruises are seeing a surge in demand of late and India is a major contributor to this growth, globally. Driven by the rise in demand and high disposable incomes, the market has the potential to grow by 10X over the next decade.” In the leisure industry, ‘Cruise Tourism’ is one of the fastest growing and vibrant components worldwide and given India’s beautiful and vast coastline with undisturbed idyllic islands and a great cultural heritage, there is tremendous potential for India, a major cruise destination. The Government’s vision is to make India a significant player in the global cruise market, for both river

and ocean cruises.