Archives May 2025

New Delhi, May 17, 2025: Drishti Judiciary, an initiative of the reputed Drishti IAS, is pleased to announce the launch of two new educational batches aimed at aspiring law professionals. With a strong legacy in competitive exam preparation, Drishti Judiciary continues to expand its footprint and commitment to quality legal education.

Starting May 22, Drishti Judiciary will commence a comprehensive batch for Judiciary Services Examination aspirants at its Indore centre. The program is designed for law graduates aiming for various State Judicial Services, offering a robust curriculum led by expert faculty, structured study material, regular assessments, and personalized mentorship.

To cater to school students and early law aspirants, a dedicated CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) preparation batch will launch on May 27 at the Lucknow centre. The course offers intensive subject-wise coverage, concept clarity sessions, doubt resolution, and performance tracking—ensuring students are well-prepared for entry into top National Law Universities.

“At Drishti Judiciary, our mission is to democratize access to quality legal education. With our new batches, we aim to provide aspiring legal professionals with the guidance, tools, and environment needed to excel—whether in judicial services or national-level law entrance exams like CLAT,” said a Rabmeet Kaur, Chief Academic Officer, Drishti IAS.

The launch marks another milestone in Drishti Judiciary’s pan-India expansion strategy, focused on empowering law aspirants through academic excellence, accessibility, and a student-centric approach.

Mumbai / Chennai, 17^th May 2025: In a significant stride towards combating climate change, Professor Indrajit Shown from the Chemistry Department at Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science (HITS), Chennai, has developed a photocatalytic system that transforms harmful carbon dioxide (CO2) into valuable renewable fuels using sunlight. This research, published in the prestigious journal Nano Energy, marks a major advancement in green chemistry and aligns with multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Professor Indrajit Shown, in collaboration with Dr. Li-Chyong Chen’s team from National Taiwan University, engineered a novel ZnS/ZnIn2S4 (ZIS) heterostructure photocatalyst. This innovative material utilizes solar energy to efficiently convert CO2 into hydrocarbons, notably acetaldehyde (C2H4O), a crucial step towards sustainable fuel production. The team successfully created a single-pot hydrothermally synthesized ZnS/ZIS composite, which introduced a novel strain-induced direct Z-scheme mechanism, significantly enhancing the photocatalytic efficiency.

Professor Indrajit Shown said: “Our goal is not just scientific discovery, but real-world solutions to combat climate change. This research represents a critical step in converting CO₂—a major greenhouse gas—into valuable resources. This research is the culmination of a robust collaborative effort between HITS and National Taiwan University, demonstrating the power of international cooperation in tackling global challenges. The team’s collective expertise in nanomaterials, energy conversion, and catalysis has culminated in the development of a highly effective and practical photocatalytic system.”

This advanced ZnS/ZIS composite has demonstrated a quantum efficiency 200 times higher than conventional ZnS-based methods, significantly improving the process of CO₂ reduction. Unlike previous approaches, the system selectively produces acetaldehyde using visible light, a crucial advancement in green fuel technology. Stringent isotope-labeled ¹³CO₂ testing confirmed that the hydrocarbons generated originated directly from CO₂ photoreduction, eliminating contamination concerns. This research directly contributes to SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

Col. (Hon) Dr. S.N. Sridhara, Vice Chancellor of Hindustan Institute of Technology & Science remarked: “This groundbreaking research by Professor Indrajit Shown and his team provides innovative solutions for a sustainable future. By harnessing solar energy to convert CO2 into useful fuels, this development not only advances scientific knowledge but also provides a tangible pathway to addressing one of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. This achievement highlights our institution’s role in driving scientific progress and the potential of nanotechnology in clean energy solutions. We are confident that such innovations will pave the way for a greener and more sustainable future”

The research team is now exploring AI-driven approaches to discover even more efficient photocatalysts, promising further breakthroughs in this critical field. With such innovations, HITS continues to cement its position as a leader in sustainable technology research, proving that today’s environmental challenges can become tomorrow’s solutions.

NMIMS (Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies), one of India’s top-ranked universities, is inviting final applications for its undergraduate programs for the academic year 2025. Students who have recently completed their Class 12 exams and are exploring career options in Engineering, Law, Commerce, Pharmacy, Management, or Analytics can apply through the university’s dedicated entrance exams.

The NPAT, NCET, NLAT, and MST entrance exam registration closes on May 26, 2025.

The NMIMS NPAT (National Test for Programs After Twelfth) is the entrance exam for admissions to undergraduate programs in Commerce, Economics, Liberal Arts, Branding & Advertising, International Studies, and Marketing. These programs are offered across Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Bengaluru, Indore, Hyderabad, and Chandigarh campuses.

Programs in Liberal Arts, Branding & Advertising, International Studies, and Management are available exclusively at the Mumbai campus.

The NCET (NMIMS Common Entrance Test) is the gateway to Pharmacy and Engineering programs at NMIMS. The five-year dual degree B Pharm + MBA (Pharma Tech) program offered in Mumbai, Hyderabad and Shirpur, combines pharmaceutical sciences with essential business management fundamentals. The School of Technology Management and Engineering offers B.Tech and MBA Tech degrees with specialisations in AI, Cybersecurity, Mechatronics, Mechanical, Civil, and Computer Engineering.

Placement outcomes for Engineering and Pharmacy graduates have been strong. Engineering students have received packages up to ₹30 LPA, with an average of ₹11 LPA, and are placed at companies such as EY, Deloitte, KPMG, PWC, and Goldman Sachs. Pharmacy students have received offers up to ₹21 LPA, with an average package of ₹10 LPA, from companies such as Sun Pharma, Zydus Life, Merck, Cipla, and Glenmark.

The MST (Mathematics and Statistics Test) is the entrance exam for students interested in careers in data science, statistics, and analytics. It is the gateway to programs offered by the Nilkamal School of Mathematics, Applied Statistics & Analytics (NSOMASA), Mumbai. Graduates have been placed at companies such as Amazon, KPMG, Unilever, HDFC, and CRISIL, with top offers up to ₹22 LPA and average packages at ₹19 LPA.

The NLAT (NMIMS Law Aptitude Test) is for admissions to the School of Law. The school offers a five-year integrated Law and Management program, covering core subjects such as Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Contract Law, and business subjects like Finance and Management. Graduates have been placed at leading firms such as Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, Khaitan & Co, Trilegal, and HDFC Bank, with average packages at ₹10 LPA and top offers at ₹19 LPA.

How to Apply

To register for the NMIMS entrance exams (NPAT, NCET, MST, NLAT), follow these steps:

1. Visit the official NMIMS application portal: https://apply.nmims.edu/
2. Fill out the application form with the required details.
3. Verify your email ID and mobile number.
4. Log in again using your registered email ID and password.
5. Select your entrance exam (NPAT, CET, LAT, MST), preferred school(s), program(s), and campus(es). You may apply to multiple programs and exams.
6. Pay the registration fee.
7. Schedule your exam based on your preferred date and centre. Please note: Slots are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Mumbai, 17th May, 2025 : In alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, IIM Sambalpur has launched its two cutting-edge new undergraduate programmes: “Bachelor of Science in Management and Public Policy” and “Bachelor of Science in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence”. Anchored in the core values of Integrity and Innovation, the programmes provide strong roots in data analysis, critical reasoning, and evidence-based decision-making. The cross-functional courses are designed to develop responsible leaders who can address intricate societal and industrial challenges with innovation, compassion, and a global perspective.

The Bachelor of Science in Management and Public Policy programme is designed to meet national managerial aspirations in terms of Sustainability, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance), and community-led development. This programme aims to equip a new generation of change-makers to close the gap between policy and practice at the grassroots level.

The Bachelor of Science in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence is focused towards developing India’s digital capability and global competitiveness. The programme, co-designed with industry leaders builds future ready skill set among young students and encourages the use of ethical AI, reaffirming the institution’s pledge to innovation with integrity.

The event also witnessed a roundtable discussion with the theme: “Global Capability Centres (GCCs) as Engines of Innovation for Global Enterprises. Bramhanand Jha, PMP, Vice President, National eGovernance Division under MeitY, Ministry of Electronics & IT, Government of India graced the occasion as the chief guest. While Lt. Col. Piyush Shukla, Director (JEE), National Testing Agency (NTA) and Rajesh Kumar, Director (CUET), National Testing Agency (NTA) were present as the keynote speakers, who came together to discuss the evolving role of GCCs as crucial hubs driving innovation and global digital transformation and contributed valuable insights on the future of global enterprises and the strategic role of GCCs.

Chief Guest, Bramhanand Jha, PMP, Vice President, National eGovernance Division under MeitY, Ministry of Electronics & IT, GOI, said, “India’s Global Capability Centres (GCCs) are no longer low-cost arbitrage centres; they are becoming strategic innovation hubs for value for global business. With the economy shifting towards a digital-first economy, GCCs are leading the way in developing agile, technology-enabled, and future-proof organizations. Academic institutions like IIM Sambalpur, with vision-oriented programmes in Data Science, AI, and Public Policy, are developing the talent and mindset to drive this change. At MeitY, we are committed to developing an ecosystem in which the academia, industry, and governance collaborate to drive sustainable innovation, transformation, and digital leadership.”

Addressing the gathering, Prof. Mahadeo Jaiswal, Director, IIM Sambalpur , said, “It is a great pride that we have successfully launched Bachelor of Science (B.S) four-year fully residential programme. This is a pioneering step towards building future-ready leaders of tomorrow. In line with India’s National Education Policy, (NEP 2020) our vision is to create responsible leaders with entrepreneurial mindset. These undergraduate programmes have a flexible structure that allows students to gain a certificate after one year, a diploma after two years, a degree after three years, and an honors degree after successfully completing four years, with multiple entry and exit points. As an institution of national importance, we are committed to offering future-oriented, Interdisciplinary education that blends academic rigor with societal relevance. We also aim to cultivate graduates who are not only career-ready but also change maker capable of navigating and influencing complex socio-economic landscape with clarity, compassion and courage, I warmly welcome aspiring young minds to be part of this transformative journey.”

Keynote speaker, Lt. Col. Piyush Shukla, Director (JEE), National Testing Agency (NTA), said, “India’s education evaluation system is changing to discover and develop talent that can succeed in fast-paced, innovation-driven setups like Global Capability Centres. It is encouraging to witness institutions like IIM Sambalpur launch innovative undergraduate programmes that blend analytical rigour with policy and technology expertise. Our vision at NTA is to develop a strong and inclusive testing system in tune with the national vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and ready students for global leadership and innovation.”

Keynote speaker, Rajesh Kumar, Director (CUET), National Testing Agency (NTA) said, “With the launch of CUET, we have made a big leap towards democratizing access to quality higher education in India. As top institutions such as IIM Sambalpur introduce specialized undergraduate programmes in Data Science, AI, and Public Policy, it becomes even more important that talent from all parts of the country gets an equal chance to be part of the innovation economy. Global Capability Centres are shaping the future of work, and through an equitable, transparent, and standardized testing environment, NTA is dedicated to helping drive this transformation by empowering the next generation of globally capable professionals.”

The event was followed by two panel discussions on the topic “Transforming Operations through GCCs: The Digital Shift from Cost Efficiency to Strategic Value.” An esteemed group of speakers participated, including Dr. Praveen K. Choudhary (PhD), Global Operations Director; Bikas Kr. Singh, VP at SAP; Alouk Kumar, Founder and CEO of Inductus Group; Puneet Panchal, Senior VP and Head of Insurance at Cube Highways; CA S. Santhanakrishnan, Founder Partner of M/s.PKF Sridhar & Santhanam LLP Chartered Accountants; Sudhir Dasamantharao, COO of FourthSquare; and Souryakanta Das, Adjunct Professor at IIM Sambalpur. The second session, titled “Aligning Talent Upskilling with Policy Innovation for Sustainable GCC Growth,” featured Rajdeep Sahrawat, Executive Director at Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India LLP; Aakash Varma, Knowledge Expert at McKinsey & Company; Emmy Anita Gilbert, SAVP and Business Partner at EXL; Rajesh Ranjan, Head of Government Affairs at Google India; Rohin Kapoor, Partner in Management Consulting at BDO in India; and Chandraprakash Jain, VP of HR at TP.

It is to be noted that IIM Sambalpur is the first IIM to offer admissions to its B.S. in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence programme through IIT JEE Main, and to its B.S. in Management and Public Policy programme through CUET, both national-level entrance exams conducted by the National Testing Agency. It is to be noted that admissions for the B.S. programmes will begin in June 2025. Classes for the first batch will commence from September 2025.

After making waves on the first day of the 77th Cannes Film Festival in a stunning crystal Barbie gown adorned with sculptural geometric ruffles, a look that swiftly placed her among the best-dressed and most-photographed celebrities, Farhana Bodi returns to the red carpet with a powerful statement, both poetic and fashion-forward.

Her second appearance is anchored in artistry and emotion, wearing a couture creation titled “Les fleurs que je n’ai pas reçues” — “The Flowers I Didn’t Receive.”

“This dress has a dramatic impact on me,” says Farhana. “It’s about the ache of not receiving what you long for, and instead, having the courage to create it yourself. Whether it’s love, opportunity, or recognition… the message is simple: create your own flowers, and make them magic.”

Handmade floral appliqués bloom across a sheer tulle corset, cascading into a sculpted silk crepe silhouette. The gown concludes in an elegant flourish of three life-shaped leaves, symbolizing renewal, growth, and the regenerative power of self-belief. She completed the look with crystallized green earrings that added a bold pop of color and sophistication. Her hair was styled in a classic sleek bun, bringing a refined finish to the ensemble and allowing her confident presence to take center stage

While her first look celebrated high-octane glamour, this second moment is more introspective, but no less striking. It is a celebration of inner resilience and the transformative beauty of turning longing into art. With her latest appearance, Farhana Bodi cements her place not just as a fashion icon on the global stage, but as a woman who tells stories through style, and who continues to redefine what it means to be seen.

The company has been steadfast in reviving India’s timeless Art Traditions, Empowering Communities and Preserving Heritage Through Traditional Arts, Culture, and Skill Development

Hindustan Zinc Limited , a Vedanta Group company and the world’s largest integrated zinc producer, reaffirms its commitment to preserving India’s rich artistic legacy while empowering communities through inclusive and sustainable development initiatives. Rooted in the belief that art and culture are powerful vehicles for social change, Hindustan Zinc has consistently invested in the revival of timeless Indian art forms—from Ajrakh block printing and tribal Gavri dance, to the resonant beats of the Pakhavaj. These initiatives are part of a broader vision to blend cultural preservation with livelihood generation, enabling communities to thrive while keeping heritage alive.

Leveraging Artisan Networks

In partnership with artisan networks and NGOs, Hindustan Zinc has established a block printing unit in Ajmer, employing 18 women who have been trained by skilled experts in traditional techniques. The company has also launched an Ajrakh printing initiative to further promote heritage textile art. Both these efforts contribute to Hindustan Zinc’s homegrown clothing brand, Upaya, which celebrates traditional craftsmanship while enabling sustainable livelihoods, reflecting on our commitment to preserving India’s cultural heritage and empowering rural women with skills, income, and pride in their craft.

 “Bringing our traditional art to life with my own hands fills me with pride. Being part of this initiative has not only taught me a skill but also helped me stand on my own feet.” says Sharmila, a trainee from Sakhi block printing unit.

 This fusion of art and economic empowerment not only preserves India’s creative traditions but also uplifts rural communities with dignified, sustainable livelihoods.

Preserving and Promoting Performing Arts

Hindustan Zinc also continues to promote performing arts through large-scale events like the Vedanta Udaipur World Music Festival—a vibrant convergence of Indian and international musicians across genres including folk, classical, rock, and fusion. The festival not only amplifies Rajasthan’s cultural identity but also revives forgotten instruments and fading musical traditions.

Initiatives like Srajan – The Spark elevate Indian art and culture on global platforms, while Smritiyaan, a tribute to tabla maestro Pandit Chatur Lal, helps preserve India’s classical music heritage for future generations.

In 2025, Hindustan Zinc hosted Sakhi Utsav across Zawar, Rampura Agucha, Chanderiya, Dariba, and Pantnagar—celebrating the strength of over 7,000 women through performances by Self-Help Groups (SHGs), wellness sessions, sports activities, financial literacy camps, and nukkad nataks (street plays).

Addressing Societal Issues through Nukkad Natak & Village Roadshows

The ongoing Uthori campaign, launched in 2021, has reached over 11,000 students in 180 schools, addressing critical social issues such as menstrual hygiene, domestic violence, and child marriage through interactive performances and storytelling.

With over 2,000 SHGs active across 200 villages, the Sakhi initiative has empowered more than 25,000 rural and tribal women, promoting leadership, entrepreneurship, and financial independence.

These initiatives are part of Hindustan Zinc’s holistic social impact framework, which spans education, healthcare, nutrition, water, sanitation, skill development, sports, and culture. With the conviction that individual empowerment leads to community transformation, Hindustan Zinc has impacted over 2 million lives across nearly 4,000 villages.

Hindustan Zinc Limited, a Vedanta Group company, is the world’s largest integrated zinc producer and is amongst the top 5 silver producers globally. The company supplies to more than 40 countries and holds a market share of about 77% of the primary zinc market in India. Hindustan Zinc has been recognized as the world’s most sustainable company in the metals and mining category for the second consecutive year by the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2024, reflecting its operational excellence, innovation, and leading ESG practices. The company also launched EcoZen, Asia’s first low carbon ‘green’ zinc brand. Produced using renewable energy, EcoZen has a carbon footprint of less than 1 tonne of carbon equivalent per tonne of zinc produced, about 75% lower than the global average. Hindustan Zinc is also a certified 2.41 times Water-Positive company and is committed to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050 or sooner. Transforming the lives of 2.3 million people through its focused social welfare initiatives, Hindustan Zinc is among the Top 10 CSR companies in India. As an energy transition metals company, Hindustan Zinc is pivotal in providing critical metals essential for a sustainable future.

South Indian Bank declared net profit of Rs. 1302.88 Cr for the FY 24-25 registering a growth of 21.75% compared to Rs.1070.08 Cr in FY 23-24.

While declaring the results Mr. P R Seshadri, MD & CEO stated that, the Bank achieved its highest ever performance in the following areas:

• Highest ever business of Rs. 1,95,104.12 Cr in the history of the Bank
• Highest ever net profit of Rs. 1,302.88 Cr in the history of the Bank
• Highest ever operating profit of Rs. 2,270.08 Cr in the history of the Bank
• Highest ever other income of Rs. 1,813.43 Cr in the history of the Bank
• Highest ever net interest income of Rs. 3,485.64 Cr in the history of the Bank
• Highest ever Provision Coverage Ratio (including write off) of 85.03%
• Highest Return on Assets of 1.05% in the last 20 years
• Highest Return on Equity of 12.90% in the last 11 years
• Reduced Net NPA of less than 1%.

Key Highlights

• Operating profit of the year increased by 21.55% from Rs. 1,867.67 Cr in FY 24 to Rs. 2,270.08 Cr in FY 25
• GNPA is down by 130 bps from 4.50% to 3.20 % on Y-o-Y basis
• NNPA decreased by 54 bps from 1.46% to 0.92% on Y-o-Y basis
• PCR including write off increased by 593 bps from 79.10% to 85.03% Y-o-Y basis
• PCR excl. write off increased by 310 bps from 68.66% to 71.77% Y-o-Y basis
• The Board of Directors had recommended 40% dividend subject to approval of the Share Holders in AGM

Deposits

• Retail Deposit grew by Rs 7,007 Cr from Rs 97,743 Crore to Rs 1,04,749.60 Cr Y-o-Y showing an increase of 7.17% on Y-o-Y basis
• NRI Deposit grew by Rs 1,906 Cr from Rs 29,697 Cr to Rs 31,603 Cr Y-o-Y showing an increase of 6.42% on Y-o-Y basis
• Savings Bank grew by 4.06% Y-o-Y from Rs 26,618 Cr to Rs 27,699.31 Cr

Advances

• Gross advances grew by Rs 7,153 Cr from Rs. 80,426 Cr to Rs 87,578.52 Cr showing an increase of 8.89% on Y-o-Y basis
• Corporate Segment grew by Rs 4,114 Cr from Rs. 32,084 Cr to Rs. 36,198 Cr showing an increase of 12.82% on Y-o-Y basis, in well rated borrower accounts
• Share of A and above rated accounts in large corporate segments stood at 99.70%
• Gold Loan portfolio grew by Rs 1,469 Cr from Rs 15,513 Cr to Rs 16,982 Cr showing an increase of 9.47% on Y-o-Y basis
• Housing Loan grew by Rs. 2,794 Cr from Rs. 5,083 Cr to 7,877 Cr registering a growth of 54.97%
• Vehicle Loan grew by 24.32% Y-o-Y from Rs. 1,599 Cr to Rs. 1,987

Mr. P R Seshadri, MD & CEO of the Bank, stated that, “While announcing the financial results, I am pleased to share that our strategy continues to center around sustained profitability, superior asset quality, a resilient loan book, and a robust retail liability portfolio. We are sharpening our organizational structure and leveraging digital technology to effectively achieve our business objectives.

During the reporting period, the Bank witnessed consistent growth across all targeted segments, with a sharp focus on acquiring quality assets in verticals such as Corporate Lending, Auto Loans, Housing Loans, and Gold Loans.

Aligned with our strategic intent of ‘Profitability through Quality Credit Growth’, we have successfully on-boarded new advances with low-risk profiles, ensuring a well-balanced and healthy credit portfolio.”

The Bank’s financial results include the financial results of its wholly owned subsidiary SIBOSL

Major Awards and Accolades won by the Bank in FY25

South Indian Bank has once again secured five remarkable awards at the IBA Banking Technology Awards this year.

The awards include:

1. Best Tech Talent & Organisation (Winner)
2. Best Financial Inclusion (Runner up)
3. Best Digital Sales, Payments & Engagement (Special Mention)
4. Best IT Risk Management (Special Mention)
5. Best Fintech & DPI Adoption (Special Mention)

Securing these awards consistently underscores the Bank’s commitment to advancing in banking technology and highlights the digital prowess developed by South Indian Bank.

Bhubaneswar, 16th May 2025: The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) launched an international academy at the Skill Development Institute (SDI), Bhubaneswar, campus today with an aim to empower the youth of Odisha and neighbouring states with skills for international career opportunities.

The NSDC International Academy, which will train the youth in skills that are in demand globally, in global languages, was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Governor of Odisha, Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati. This is the first NSDC International Academy in Bhubaneswar.

The Governor also flagged off the ‘Skill on Wheel’ mobile training unit, designed to take skill development to the doorsteps of youth in rural and remote regions.

The NSDC International Academy has been started by NSDC, in collaboration with the SDI to prepare the Indian youth for global employment opportunities through comprehensive foreign language training and pre-departure support. Through this initiative, NSDC and SDI Bhubaneswar aspire to equip youth with the competencies required to succeed in overseas job markets.

The ‘Skill on Wheel’ is a state-of-the-art mobile training unit designed to deliver doorstep skilling to students across Odisha. This initiative is another innovative step to democratize access to skill training, bringing modern infrastructure and industry-aligned programs directly to the doorsteps of learners across the state.

Speaking on the occasion, the Governor, Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati, commended the role of Skill India Mission and NSDC in empowering youth and praised the achievements of SDI. He said, “This world-class campus, developed with an investment of Rs. 500 crore over 47 acres at the foothills of the historic Barunei Hill, stands as a model for skill training excellence. With multiple Centres of Excellence and strong industry collaboration, SDI Bhubaneswar has already emerged as a finishing school for Engineering, Polytechnic, and ITI graduates.”

“I hope SDI Bhubaneswar will continue to rise as a Skill Academy of National stature and bring greater pride to our state, Odisha,” he added.

Hon’ble Minister of State for Industries, Skill Development and Technical Education, Government of Odisha, Shri Sampad Chandra Swain praised the initiative and reaffirmed the Odisha Government’s commitment to building the state as the Skill Hub of Purva Bharat. He referred to SDI Bhubaneswar as the “Bati Ghara” (lighthouse) for the youth of Odisha as well as Eastern India.

The launch event also witnessed the presence of Shri Bhupendra Singh Poonia, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Skill Development & Technical Education Department; Shri Ranjan Bhowmick, CEO of SDI Bhubaneswar, and Shri Rajesh Kumar Tripathy, COO of SDI Bhubaneswar; Smt Rasmi Govil, Director (HR), Indian Oil Corporation; along with senior officials from NSDC and other dignitaries from the skilling ecosystem.

NSDC International Academy is operational in other key regions including Pune, Amritsar, Bhatinda, and Greater Noida as well.

India—May 16, 2025— You’re likely aware of the huge appetite organizations of all sizes have to leverage AI technology to rethink their business and deliver intelligent, data-driven outcomes faster. Recent research shows that 64% of enterprises are investing in AI in 2025, and 63% are accelerating cloud migration plans. The correlation between these is important for you: migrating your mission-critical applications and data to build a trusted foundation is what transforms good AI into great AI.

This increasing need to move to the cloud doesn’t change the fact that migrating and modernizing workloads remains one of the most tedious (but critical) projects for your enterprise to undertake. At AWS, we’ve spent nearly two decades leading enterprise migration and modernization, helping tens of thousands of customers like you transform their businesses. Despite that, 75% of enterprise workloads remain on premises, with 70% of Fortune 500 companies still running on software written over two decades ago. And traditional migration and modernization projects often stretch to 18 months or more, creating a bottleneck in your path to AI innovation. In 2024, we asked ourselves: What if we could combine our 19 years of migration expertise with the latest advancements in AI to eliminate bottlenecks and accelerate transformation projects from years to months or even weeks? The result is AWS Transform, a revolutionary service that uses agentic AI to accelerate and simplify the migration and modernization of your infrastructure, applications, and code.

Introducing AWS Transform: The Future of Your Enterprise Modernization

AWS Transform (previewed as Amazon Q Developer transformation capabilities at re:Invent 2024) uses specialized AI agents to remove the heavy lifting and automate complex migration and modernization tasks for your VMware, mainframe, and .NET workloads, delivering completed transformation projects up to 4x faster. This new agentic AI service uses AWS advancements in foundational models, LLMs, machine learning, graph neural networks, automated reasoning, and AI infrastructure to deliver an entirely new migration and modernization experience for you. And the results from our preview speak for themselves:

• AWS Transform agent for .NET can modernize Windows-based .NET applications to Linux up to four times faster than traditional methods and realize up to 40% savings in licensing costs.
• AWS Transform agent for mainframe can decompose monolithic z/OS COBOL applications into components that can be run in the cloud in minutes instead of months.
• AWS Transform agent for VMware can automate the conversion of on-premises VMware network configurations to AWS equivalents up to 80 times faster than manual approaches.

AWS Transform uses a chat experience that acts as a knowledgeable transformation assistant, helping you specify objectives, share project context, assess business plans and cost savings, review and adapt transformation plans, review and approve code and infrastructure suggestions and more. AWS Transform also brings together your cross-functional teams in a unified web experience where you can review tasks, track progress, and collaborate throughout the project keeping you in control of transformation plans for your most complex legacy applications including:

Modernizing Windows-based .NET Applications to reduce costs by up to 40%

The AWS Transform agent for .NET accelerates your .NET Framework application porting from Windows to Linux, reducing operating costs by up to 40%. This cost savings is achieved by reducing your Windows Server licensing costs, version upgrades, maintenance, and end-of-support challenges, while also shrinking transformation costs across analysis, planning and refactoring. Using the .NET agent, you can chat using natural language to share transformation objectives and project context, and have AWS Transform analyze dependencies, apply domain expertise from past modernization journeys to develop customized modernization plans, and autonomously transform code, execute unit tests, generate transformation summary, and validate Linux-readiness.

AWS Transform enhances performance and scalability of your applications by transforming .NET Framework application code to cross-platform .NET which is Linux ready, and porting private packages, automating unit test execution, and providing explainable transformation decisions. This new agent enables you to transform hundreds of applications in parallel with consistent results through a unified web experience, streamlining collaboration across your teams and empowering you to efficiently tackle large-scale modernization projects.

“By using AWS Transform for .NET to port one of our .NET Framework applications to .NET Core 8, we reduced 70% of the modernization effort, with 100% success. As we continue our modernization process for the entire core application, we estimate a total development time and effort reduction of up to 80%. The next steps include incorporating one of our major backend applications into the transformation effort from Windows to Linux, deploying it on Amazon ECS and AWS Fargate as microservices.” – Enrique Zazueta, Grupo Tress Internacional (GTI), Director of Software Development

Accelerating Mainframe Modernization from Years to Months

You can now streamline your entire modernization process with the AWS Transform agent for mainframe, accelerating timelines by up to 50% while reducing risk and complexity. Through the chat interface, you can define high-level modernization goals and negotiate your job plan. When you’re ready, AWS Transform processes your mainframe applications written in COBOL, JCL (Job Control Language) and those relying on CICS (Customer Information Control System) transaction manager, BMS (Basic Mapping Support) screens, DB2 databases, and VSAM (Virtual Storage Access Method) data files.

You’ll benefit from advanced code analysis that rapidly identifies dependencies and missing files, reducing downstream project delays. Using Graph Neural Networks, you can decompose your monolithic applications into manageable modules, enabling targeted modernization approaches while preserving your critical business logic. Throughout the project, AWS Transform acts as your AI assistant, learning from your progress and answering questions about your programs based on generated technical documentation.

When you’re refactoring applications, you can convert your COBOL, JCL, and DB2 to Java and Postgres, leveraging state machines and state transition graphs for enhanced accuracy. For reimagining your applications, you’ll get comprehensive technical documentation, business rules, and logical flows extracted from millions of lines of your code. With intelligent orchestration of AI agents, you can modernize your mainframe applications in the cloud with greater speed, simplicity, and confidence while preserving your institutional knowledge through detailed documentation.

“By leveraging AWS Transform’s AI agent functionality, we were able to significantly streamline the process that would typically require experienced engineers to accurately interpret, document, and verify the relationships between programs and the logic of business codes. For instance, in the analysis of complex components—a task that would normally take approximately one month—we confirmed that the same process could be completed within just about one week. This represents a major step forward in enhancing both efficiency and productivity.” – Hitoshi Okayama, General Manager, Broker Dealers System Service Department, Nomura Research Institute, Ltd.

Reducing VMware Modernization Planning from Weeks to Minutes

You can avoid rising VMware licensing fees while optimizing your infrastructure and reducing operational overhead with the AWS Transform agent for VMware. The chat interface guides you to add connectors to your on-premises VMware environments or upload your asset inventories from third-party tools. After you specify your goals, the agent automates tasks such as application discovery, dependency mapping, migration planning, network conversion, server migration, and EC2 instance optimization. You’ll have the ability to review, approve, and edit artifacts through a human-in-the-loop mechanism.

Using Graph Neural Networks, you can analyze your network traffic and communication patterns to identify dependencies and automatically generate optimal migration wave plans. You can convert your complex network configurations to AWS equivalents, including VPCs, subnets, security groups, and transit gateways, while addressing your network migration challenges through enhanced capabilities like isolated VPCs and flexible Hub-and-Spoke configurations. With AWS Transform for VMware, traditional network configuration tasks that typically take two weeks can be completed in one hour, and migration wave planning that usually requires weeks of analysis can be completed in 15 minutes.

“At SourceFuse, we’re excited about the transformational potential of AWS Transform for VMware. By automating critical steps like dependency mapping, network translation, and wave planning, we’ve seen execution times improve by up to 90%, while reducing manual effort by 80%. This capability empowers us to deliver faster, lower-risk migrations, helping our customers achieve cloud readiness sooner and build a scalable, future-proof foundation on AWS.” Rajiv Lokare, Head of DevOps, SourceFuse

Ready to start your transformation?

We are excited about the significant shifts we’ve been able to drive by applying agentic AI to reducing transformation complexity and accelerating timelines. This is the just beginning of our journey of rethinking the migration and modernization of your most critical workloads and we look forward to helping you use AWS Transform to start yours. Reach out to your AWS team or one of our AWS Migration and Modernization Competency partners today to leverage our Migration Acceleration Program (MAP) and Experience-Based Acceleration (EBA) programs to plan your transformation. Or dive into AWS Transform on your own to experience the power of agentic AI and intelligent automation for unprecedented speed, scale and performance as you migrate and modernize to AWS and embrace AI to drive innovation for your business.

Mumbai, 16^th May 2025 – Mashrise, the leading digital marketing solutions provider, is proud to announce its appointment as the official monetization partner for the Digital and Offline Monetization Mandate for RailYatri, a flagship brand of Stelling Technologies Pvt. Ltd., which also operates IntrCity SmartBus, one of India’s most advanced intercity bus networks.

Through this partnership, Mashrise will be responsible for building and executing end-to-end monetization strategies across IntrCity/RailYatri’s digital platforms and offline travel assets. This includes branded content, performance-driven advertising solutions, in-app integrations, transit media, and on-ground activations within the expansive RailYatri and IntrCity SmartBus network.

Mrityunjay Kumar, Co-Founder, Mashrise, shared, “We are excited to partner with IntrCity & RailYatri, who has been instrumental in modernizing the travel experience in India. With this mandate, our goal is to create innovative, high-impact monetization solutions that not only unlock new revenue channels but also enhance the commuter experience for millions of users across digital and physical platforms.”

Dinesh Rathi, Founding Member, RailYatri & IntrCity, states, “We take pride in deep integrating with brands and provide them custom crafted solutions that are both digital and on-ground—making the travel experience more exciting for customers. Our partnership with Mashrise, given their strong foothold in the fast evolving media and advertising world, will further elevate the Brand Solutions we offer. Together, we aim to boost brand impact and find fresh, engaging ways to connect with travelers—whether it’s through smart tech, frictionless commerce, or fun interactions during the journey. Our deep tech and data driven approach enables us to deliver campaigns at scale with the highest ROI”

With a strong presence across rail and intercity road travel, RailYatri has grown to become one of India’s most widely used travel platforms, offering real-time train and bus information, ticketing services, and personalized commuter experiences. Coupled with IntrCity SmartBus, a tech-enabled bus service with premium features like sanitized coaches, onboard washrooms, and AI-based fleet management, further strengthens the brand’s nationwide footprint.

This partnership represents a significant milestone for RailYatri as it plans to scale new heights in the Indian market, while Mashrise takes charge of crafting captivating campaigns for brands that resonate with modern consumers.