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Industry veteran Manuj Agarwal has made a strategic move, joining India’s largest IP and live event conglomerate, EVA Live as its new Chief Executive Officer. The appointment marks a significant development in the Indian concerts and live events landscape, as Agarwal brings a wealth of experience and leadership to the rapidly expanding company.

Previously at the helm of Percept Live as Chief Executive Officer, Agarwal has a proven two- decade strong track record of success in the music, sport, media and entertainment industry. His career spans prominent roles at industry giants such as Balaji Telefilms, Sahara TV, Zee TV, Marico, and the Walt Disney Group.

In his new role at EVA Live, Agarwal will be instrumental in shaping the company’s future growth trajectory in the live event and concert business. His responsibilities will include expanding the company’s footprint across India, Asia, and the Middle East, while also providing strategic direction to EVA Live’s IP business, managing and leveraging the IP’s currently owned by the company and conceptualizing and fostering the development of new innovative and engaging intellectual properties for the company.

EVA Live founded in 2023 by the ‘IP Man of India’, Deepak Choudhary has established itself as a dominant player in the Indian live event and entertainment industry. Through Eva Live, Deepak aims to build experiences across communities. With a portfolio of successful events like Bollywood Music Project, Social Nation, Windmill Festival, India Games Expo, Edutainment Show, and Big Boys Toys, the company is poised for further expansion into large-scale global tours and concerts.

Deepak Choudhary, Founder & Managing Director, EVA Live states, “A huge welcome to Manuj Agarwal to the EVA Live family. With several existing projects in the pipeline, his experience and knowledge will greatly enhance our existing team to propel and drive our live event business and concert development strategy to the next level.”

Manuj Agarwal, CEO, EVA Live states, “EVA Live is a world-class company with a proven track record of establishing industry-leading intellectual properties that artists and fans love, and I’m thrilled to be joining at a time of immense opportunity and growth.”

Vinod Janardhan, Director, EVA Live states, “Innovation is the heartbeat of EVA Live and Manuj Agarwal’s addition to our team will help challenge the status quo and craft groundbreaking live events and experiences that engage, inspire, and leave a lasting impression. Our vision is to redefine the live events and international concerts landscape. We’re committed to creating unforgettable experiences that connect consumers and brands and drive emotional connections.”

Agarwal’s appointment comes on the heels of EVA Live’s announcement of the India leg of Bryan Adams’ ‘So Happy It Hurts’ World Tour, solidifying the company’s position as a major player in the concerts market.

The coming together of Manuj Agarwal and Deepak Choudhary combined expertise and knowledge is expected to drive significant growth and innovation in the coming years in the media and entertainment landscape.

TIME, the global media organisation based in the USA, officially announced today the winners of its 2024 ‘World’s Greatest Places’ awards, highlighting two of AlUla’s destination offerings as remarkable places to be explored! Vetted by TIME’s editors and correspondents around the world, this exclusive list features 100 extraordinary destinations to explore, stay and visit.

AlUla’s awarded places include:

Dar Tantora The House Hotel – Just opened in May 2024, Dar Tantora The House Hotel is the first property to be established in the historic AlUla Old Town – the ancient mud-brick houses city dating back to more than 800 years old, which was recognised as one of the Best Tourism Villages in 2022 by UNWTO. Nestled within AlUla’s desert oasis, Dar Tantora stands as an emblem of sustainable luxury. With 30 guest rooms thoughtfully restored from historical mud-brick buildings, this eco-lodge offers guests an immersive blend of traditional Bedouin living and upscale comfort.

Sharaan Nature Reserve – Covering almost 600 square miles (1500 Square Kilometers), the beautiful Sharaan Nature Reserve is a treasure trove of natural wonders. Central to it is the restoration of AlUla’s sensitive ecosystem, which in turn allows the reintroduction, preservation and protection of endangered animals such as Arabian wolves, gazelles and large-eared red foxes, along with indigenous flora and fauna. Created with the goal for restoring the natural land and wildlife, Sharaan will serve as a safe rewilding hub for critically endangered Arabian Leopards, currently located at an offsite breeding facility.

To compile the ‘World’s Greatest Places’ list, TIME solicited nominations of places –including hotels, cruises, restaurants, attractions, museums, parks, and more– from its international network of correspondents and contributors, with an eye toward those offering new and exciting experiences. The TIME brand is recognised and respected around the world, and this prestigious accolade remains the ultimate symbol and acknowledgment of excellence within the travel sector. The full list of winners can be found here.

“We are elated by the recognitions awarded to our destination’s offerings by TIME in their renowned World’s Greatest Places,” says Rami AlMoallim, Vice President of Destination Management and Marketing at the Royal Commission for AlUla, “the exceptional sentiments reflect the excellence and dedication of AlUla’s efforts to preserve and promote its unique cultural heritage through comprehensive and sustainable development initiatives rooted in the community.”

Located in the northwest of Saudi Arabia, AlUla is an oasis city renowned for its diverse natural landscape including mountains, desert and unique geological rock formations, along with significant heritage sites. A beacon for sustainable tourism, AlUla’s commitment to purpose-driven revitalisation, is showcased in their newly launched global brand campaign, “Forever Revitalising,” has transformed the destination into a vibrant hub not only for ancient heritage, culture, art and adventure, but also for responsible tourism.

Today, AMD launched a new AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition technical preview, which introduces AMD Fluid Motion Frames 2, our cutting-edge frame generation technology designed to increase frame rates and gameplay smoothness across thousands of games. AFMF 2 is supported on AMD Radeon RX 6000 and 7000 series graphics cards and select AMD Ryzen Processors with Radeon Graphics and adds new optimizations and tunable settings for a better frame generation experience, including:

• AI-optimized Enhancements – AFMF 2 provides significant improvements to frame generation by using AI-optimization when developing the updated algorithm, resulting in improved frame generation smoothness. In addition, to enable more control over how AFMF works with your games, AFMF 2 introduces two new modes where the optimal settings are automatically enabled but advanced users can adjust them to their preferences.
• Performance Improvements – AFMF 2 features a new “Performance” mode that reduces the overhead of AFMF 2 to help make high frame rate gaming experiences more achievable on a wider range of devices. This is especially beneficial when using AFMF 2 with integrated graphics cards and is now the default “Auto” setting on supported AMD Ryzen Processors with Radeon Graphics.
• Lower Latency Frame Generation – experience significant improvements in reducing latency added by frame generation with the latest version of AFMF. These improvements apply across the board when using AFMF 2, no matter the settings mode, resolution, or hardware used.
• Other Updates and Improvements – AFMF 2 now supports borderless fullscreen mode when using AMD Radeon™ RX 7000 and Radeon 700M series graphic cards. Also, AFMF 2 now supports games that use Vulkan and OpenGL, further increasing the already vast number of games that can be used with AFMF. Additionally, we’ve enabled interoperability with AMD Radeon Chill.

Asset-light model for STUs, healthy returns on projects for bus operators to aid adoption

The supply of electric buses (e-buses) in India will surge 75-80% on-year, albeit on a small base, to 6,000-6,500 this fiscal (see chart in annexure), spurred by increasing deployment via tenders awarded under various schemes for procurement by state transport undertakings (STUs) through the gross cost contract (GCC) model.

These schemes include Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid and) Electric Vehicles (FAME) (1 and 2), National Electric Bus Programme (NEBP) under Convergence Energy Service Ltd (CESL) (1 and 2), and PM-eBus Sewa Scheme. Tenders awarded under these schemes had propelled orders for e-buses to 24,0001 at the beginning of this fiscal.

Efforts by the central government to reduce carbon emissions in public transport are driving e-bus adoption. This, along with favourable contracting terms under the GCC model, which has emerged as the preferred route for e-bus purchase by STUs, has supported deployment.

Says Gautam Shahi, Director, CRISIL Ratings “E-bus adoption is truly in a sweet spot because the interests of STUs and bus operators are being taken care of under the GCC model, with optimal distribution of risk among stakeholders. For example, GCC is an asset-light model for STUs with no upfront cost of acquisition as e-buses are financed by bus operators. Bus operators, in turn, don’t carry any passenger traffic risk and get a steady income stream because of assured rentals per km with tariff revisions linked to inflation. Consequently, they generate a healthy internal rate of return of 10-11%2 over the tenure of the concession.”

That said, counterparty risk remains a key variable for operators when bidding for e-bus tenders as STUs with weak credit profiles have resulted in stretched debtor cycles in the past.

To manage this risk, the government has announced a payment security mechanism (PSM) under the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme in August 2023. The government is working on the modalities of setting up a dedicated payment security fund (PSF)3 to secure the receivables of bus operators in case there is a delay in, or failure to make, payment by STUs within the prescribed time as per the concession agreement.

Additionally, for the recently awarded tenders under the PM-eBus Seva Scheme, there is a provision that allows bidders to execute the concession agreement only after the PSM has been notified.

While the surge in e-bus orders will generate economies of scale in production, declining battery costs will lower the purchase price of an e-bus. The benefits of the potential decline in e-bus prices may be passed on to STUs by bus operators, in terms of rentals per km, thus further aiding adoption.

Says Pallavi Singh, Associate Director, CRISIL Ratings, “Existing strong e-bus orderbook, along with the remaining orders of 7800 buses to be awarded under the PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme4 will give a fillip to the sector. Moreover, the government is expected to further augment this scheme, which, will continue to support growth of e-bus sales over this and next fiscal.”

Bangalore, 30^th July 2024: AI & Robotics companies accounted for 21% of Bengaluru’s absorption in Q2 2024, as per Vestian’s quarterly office market report, The Connect Q2 2024. Rapid global advancement of artificial intelligence, combined with a supportive ecosystem, has significantly driven the demand for office space in the city. Overall, IT-ITeS sector, including AI & Robotics, accounted for 69% of the city’s absorption in Q2 2024.

Bengaluru contributed the highest to pan-India absorption with 25% share in Q2 2024, followed by Hyderabad and Mumbai at 20% each. Pune reported the highest quarterly growth, around 307%, in value terms whereas absorption declined by 48% in Chennai during Q2 2024. NCR also witnessed a quarterly decline of 37% during the above-mentioned period. All the cities except Chennai and NCR reported an increase in absorption on quarter and on year.

Absorption:

Note: Data for Grade A Office Space

Source: Vestian Research

 IT-ITeS sector dominated absorption with 38% share in Q2 2024, followed by BFSI and Consulting Services at 12% and 10% respectively. Flex Spaces accounted for 8% of the total absorption during the current quarter.

H1 2024 witnessed absorption of over 30 Mn sq ft, registering an uptick of 18% compared to H1 2023. As the demand for grade-A office spaces is robust across the top seven cities of India, the entire year (2024) is expected to cross the 60 Mn sq ft mark again after peaking in 2023.

Absorption reached 17.04 Mn sq ft in Q2 2024, registering an increase of 27% over the previous quarter and 23% over the same quarter a year earlier. The surge could be attributed to improved global macroeconomic scenario and India’s robust growth amid global geopolitical challenges.

Following a similar trend, new completions also increased by 17% in H1 2024 over H1 2023, reaching 23.2 Mn sq ft. Additionally, Q2 2024 witnessed a quarterly increase of 15% and a yearly rise of 10% in new completions. All the cities except Pune and Bengaluru witnessed an uptick in construction activities during the current quarter compared to the previous quarter. Moreover, Mumbai reported 3.3 Mn sq ft of new completions during Q2 2024, registering the highest quarterly rise of 230%.

Bengaluru dominated new completions with 28% share, closely followed by Mumbai with 27%. Southern cities (Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad) accounted for 57% of the total new completions reported in Q2 2024, however, the share has dropped from 63% a quarter earlier.

New Completions:

Note: Data for Grade A Office Space

Source: Vestian Research

Shrinivas Rao, FRICS, CEO, Vestian said, “Despite global geopolitical challenges, India’s office markets reported robust real estate activities during Q2 2024. The quarter has already set the tone for robust  leasing and construction activities for the current calendar year.”

Mr. Rao further added, “Real estate activities are anticipated to increase further on the back of strengthened demand from IT-ITeS and BFSI sectors. Flex Spaces are also likely to play a pivotal role in the growth of office markets in India.”

Noida, 30th July 2024: Doctors at Fortis Hospital, Noida successfully operated and removed a watermelon sized non-cancerous tumor weighing 2.2 kgs from the uterus of a 49-year-old woman via Robot-aided surgery. The team of doctors led by Dr Anjana Singh, Director & HOD, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Fortis Hospital, Noida conducted the complex surgery, which lasted for 3 hours. The patient was discharged in stable condition two days later.

Upon admission at Fortis Noida the patient complained of severe pain during her menstruation cycle, along with irregular and heavy bleeding for almost 2 years. An ultrasound revealed a large fibroid (tumour) measuring 17-18 cms in size along with other fibroids of 7-8 cm. Such fibroids typically form when the body secretes excessive estrogen, which causes the growth of fibroid tissues. The large mass of tumour had occupied the entire abdominal area, thus making it extremely difficult to operate. Additionally, the patient had undergone two prior C-sections, and her scars were vertical. In such cases, there is always a risk of injury to the vital organs during dissection of the adhesions. Hence, Robot-assisted surgery was adopted to better identify the anatomical structures and minimize the risk of unintended damage to the internal organs.

49-year-old patient with Dr Anjana Singh, Director & HOD, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Fortis Hospital, Noida

Giving details of the case, Dr Anjana Singh, Director & HOD, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Fortis Hospital, Noida said, “The patient had travelled from Aligarh, as there she was advised to undergo traditional open surgery by multiple gynaecologists, which the patient did not want to opt for. That’s when she came to Fortis. In this case, the tumour had grown to the sizeof a watermelon. We had to be extremely careful while operating to save the vital organs, and that’s where robot-assisted surgery provided enhanced precision. The surgery involved very little intraoperative bleeding with no requirement for blood transfusion, owing to high precision. The most challenging part of this surgery was to retrieve such heavy tumour from 8 mms miniature incisions on abdomen used for the robotic arms and camera. We decided to break down the tumour in a bag inside the abdomen followed by removal of small pieces of fibroid from the very small incision. Had the surgery not been performed on time, the fibroid would have grown immensely in size and would have put pressure on surrounding organs such as bowel and bladder, causing intestinal obstruction and urine retention. Bleeding and pain during menstruation cycle would also have increased and excessive bleeding could have made the patient severely anaemic. Such cases are rare as tumours weighing 2.2 kgs are found in only 10-20% cases and in 1% of such cases, a massively growing fibroid can become malignant.”

Mohit Singh, Zonal Director, Fortis Hospital Noida said, “This was a very critical and challenging case considering the size and weight of the tumour, along with two c-section surgeries in the past. Despite the challenges, the surgery was successfully conducted owing to the correct medical assessment and the patient was able to resume her daily routine in just one week of surgery. Clinical expertise and best-in-class care to manage such cases are the hallmarks of Fortis Hospital Noida, and we continuously endeavor to provide highest level of care to save lives and get improved outcomes.”

Chennai, July 30, 2024: The Board of Directors at atData Patterns (India) Limited (NSE: DATAPATTNS | BSE: 543428), a strategic Defense and Aerospace Electronics Systems provider, today approved the limited review financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2024.

 Performance Highlights

INR in Cr.

Q1 (2024 – 2025) Highlights

• Total Revenue for Q1 increased by 15% from Rs. 101 Cr in quarter ended June 30, 2023 to Rs. 116 Cr in quarter ended June 30, 2024.
• Revenue from operations increased by 16% from Rs. 90 Cr in Q1 FY 2024 to Rs. 104 Cr in Q1 FY 2025
• The Company’s Earnings before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortization (Operational EBITDA) increased by 33% from INR 28 Cr for the quarter ended June 30, 2023 to INR 37Cr in the corresponding quarter ended June 30, 2024
• Profit Before Tax (PBT) improved by 25%, from INR 35 Cr for the first quarter of FY23to INR 44Cr in the first quarter of FY25
• Profit After Tax (PAT) increased by 27% from Rs. 26 Cr in Q1 FY 2024 to Rs. 33Cr in Q1 FY 2025.
• Orders book position
  • Orders on hand as on June 30, 2024  – INR 1017.08 Cr
  • Including orders negotiated, pending receipt of formal orders – INR 1,147 Cr
• Order book as on March 31, 2024 was Rs. 1083 Cr and as on June 30, 2023 was Rs. 967 Cr.

Mr. Srinivasagopalan Rangarajan, Chairman &Managing Director, Data Patterns (India) Limited commenting on the company’s performance said,“This has been an encouraging start to the financial year 2025 with revenue growth of 16%, gross margins at 72% and EBITDA margins improved by 465bps at 36%reflecting operational excellence. Our current order book crosses 1100crs with an optimal production and development mix. We anticipate strong and steady order inflow for the full year given the government’s emphasis on ‘Made in India’ defence solutions. We are excited about the opportunities ahead and remain dedicated to driving continued growth and value for our stakeholders.

SILVER SPRING, MD (July 30, 2024) – The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) joins global communities on July 30 to commemorate World Day Against Trafficking in Persons and reinforce eradicating child trafficking. This year’s theme, “Leave No Child Behind in the Fight Against Human Trafficking,” highlights the significant proportion of female trafficking victims globally.

According to the United Nations, more than 1.2 million children are trafficked each year, and minors are twice as likely as adults to endure violence during trafficking. In regions like Sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean, the incidence of child trafficking is disproportionately high, with minors constituting 60 percent of the detected victims.

Photo Credit ADRA Mexico

“Human trafficking is a serious and widespread crime affecting millions of men, women, and children worldwide. ADRA is highly aware of the crucial nature of this crisis, particularly child trafficking, as minors account for a sizable proportion of global victims. ADRA is at the forefront of providing support services and programs to victims, many of whom have been subjected to violence, forced labor, sexual exploitation, and recruited as child soldiers in armed conflicts. ADRA will continue raising awareness, advocating, and promoting action globally to educate and engage communities to protect children and adults from falling victim to trafficking,” declares ADRA International’s Vice President for Humanitarian Affairs, Imad Madanat.

ADRA Child Protection Programs

ADRA spearheads programs in different regions of the world specifically to support children at risk for human trafficking by addressing the root causes like poverty and inequality to reduce children’s vulnerability.

ADRA Bangladesh

ADRA implements a project in Bangladesh to prevent forced child labor. According to UNICEF, three million children in the country are forced to work, and many of them become victims of human trafficking. The young people who live in Bangladesh’s urban slums are the most vulnerable. To address the problem, ADRA established a school in a low-income neighborhood, and the Chalantika Slum Children Development Project (CSCDP), which has been offering high-quality education and social services to prevent malnutrition, since 1972.

Keep Girls Safe in Thailand

ADRA’s Keep Girls Safe (KGS) project in Thailand, collaborates with government agencies, local organizations, and community groups to improve awareness and reduce women and girls’ vulnerability to sexual exploitation and human trafficking. Keep Girls Safe (KGS), which has a shelter for high-risk girls, and offers education scholarships to 100 young women, is marking its 20th year of success. The project also partners with the Chiang Rai Secondary Education Department to train students, high school teachers, and counselors on how to raise awareness and encourage reporting of online exploitation, abuse, and human trafficking.

ADRA and Refugee Children

ADRA works with refugee and displaced children in a variety of settings to ensure their safety and protection, as they are targets of human traffickers. According to UN reports, an increasing number of refugee and migrant children are taking exceedingly dangerous routes, frequently at the behest of smugglers and traffickers, and being sold into slavery or prostitution.

To safeguard children, ADRA runs educational initiatives in many refugee camps around the world. ADRA’s Learning Center in Baalbek, Lebanon, offers education to children who fled the Syrian conflict and connects them and their families to crucial services.

In Mexico, ADRA assists refugee families and children who flee from violence and conflict zones by providing food, shelter, health services, and counseling.

ADRA has also launched extensive response operations to protect refugee children and families who escape the fighting in Ukraine. Several ADRA country offices including Austria, Belgium, Romania, and Slovakia, offer numerous social services, such as food, cash assistance, access to education, shelter, psychosocial support, and protection at border crossings.

Help ADRA create a safer world by joining the battle against human trafficking. Visit https://adra.org/child-protection to discover more about ADRA’s global trafficking prevention efforts, as well as ways to help survivors and protect vulnerable people from this heinous crime.

Secure interviews and more information on this story by contacting Iris Argueta at iris.argueta@adra.org or calling 301-332-3880.

Young FICCI Ladies Organisation (YFLO) and Ministry of Mind, Body, and Soul Honour the Valour and Sacrifice of Indian Air Force Heroes to Commemorate the 25th Kargil Vijay Diwas

New Delhi, July 27, 2024: In a heartfelt event organized by the Young Ficci Ladies Organisation (YFLO) Chairperson, Dr. Payal Kanodia & Ministry of Mind, Body, and Soul, the valour and sacrifice of our Indian Air Force heroes were celebrated to commemorate the 25th Kargil Vijay Diwas. The stellar event held at TER Hall, The Lodhi Hotel, New Delhi and chaired by Dr. Tania Nijhawan, featured inspiring conversations with two distinguished speakers who partook in Kargil War: Archana Kapoor (Retd. Sqn Ldr) and Air Veteran Group Captain Nitin Welde.

The event commenced with a welcome note by Pankhuri Mukim Nandy, who extended a warm welcome to all the esteemed guests and members of YFLO. She highlighted the significance of Kargil Vijay Diwas as a celebration of the indomitable spirit of the Indian Air Force, which played a pivotal role in securing India’s victory in the Kargil War.

Dr. Payal Kanodia, Chairperson of YFLO Delhi and the Ministry of Mind, Body, and Soul, expressed her profound respect and admiration for the heroes of the Indian Air Force in her opening remarks, “As we commemorate Kargil Diwas today, we are reminded of the immense bravery and sacrifice of our armed forces. Honouring the stories of Sqn Ldr Archana Kapoor and Group Captain Nitin Welde reaffirms our commitment to the extraordinary courage and dedication that define our warriors. It is my personal conviction that our security forces and border areas deserve unwavering respect, support, and active participation from each of us. Their valour inspires us to uphold the values of courage, honour, and selflessness.”

Archana Kapoor (Retd. Sqn Ldr) shared a precious takeaway token with the young ladies of YFLO: her personal power mantra, “Just Ask, And in All Probability, You Will Get What You Want”. As one of the first women pilots in the Indian Air Force, she recounted her inspiring journey and experiences during the Kargil War. Her story of perseverance and breaking barriers served as a profound source of inspiration to all present.

Air Veteran Group Captain Nitin Welde, a gallantry award recipient with over 5,000 hours of flying experience, also shared his remarkable experiences. He recounted his operations during the Kargil conflict and his unwavering commitment to duty, which has extended beyond his years of service. His dedication to youth development and nation-building was evident in his passionate address, leaving a lasting impression on the audience.

The event concluded with a special vote of thanks to Archana Kapoor (Retd. Sqn Ldr) and Air Veteran Group Captain Nitin Welde & Group Captain Sumit Malhotra followed by a session of networking and hi-tea, allowing attendees to engage with the esteemed speakers and fellow guests. The YFLO and the Ministry of Mind, Body, and Soul reaffirmed their commitment towards supporting the veterans and their families, ensuring they receive the respect, care, and recognition they deserve. The commemoration of Kargil Vijay Diwas was not just a remembrance but a celebration of the extraordinary feats of India’s brave men and women in uniform.

Hyderabad, July 27, 2024: The HR Committee of the Federation of Telangana Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FTCCI), the 107-year-old Trade and Commerce body on Saturday organised a full-day HR Conclave at Federation House in Red Hills in the city.

The conference with the theme ‘Work, Employment and Industrial Relations’ was inaugurated by the Chief Guest Sri Chandrasekharam, Joint Commissioner of Labour, Govt. of Telangana and Guest of Honour Rajesh Khosla, CEO, AGI, Greenpac.

Addressing the 100-plus gathering, Sri Chandrasekharam, Joint Commissioner of Labour, Govt. of Telangana said things are changing, technology is changing, so also the HR Laws to keep pace with the developments.

The labour departments across the country are gearing up for the implementation of new Labour Codes in India. The four new labour codes proposed are the Code on Social Security 2020, Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code 2020, Industrial Relations Code 2020, and Code on Wages 2019. These were proposed with a motto of ease of doing business. The union government consolidated 29 central labour laws (out of 44 existing central laws) into four labour codes, he said.

The Government has to be the facilitator. We need to ensure a conducive environment. When foreign companies come to invest here, they should not get culture shock. We need to create a friendly environment, he said. The way forward to the future is maximum governance and minimum Government.

While delivering the keynote address, the guest of honour Rajesh Khosla said India is the youngest nation in the world. The mean age of India is 28 years, China 38, USA 40, Europe 45 and Japan 50. This means 70 to 80 crore population of the 140-crore population of our country is in the pipeline of employment. It is a big challenge for HR (Human Resources) to engage these youth.

The global economy is 93 trillion US $. China’s economy is 18 trillion, which constitutes 20 to 22% of the global economy. All the countries across the globe are eyeing to buy products from India as a manufacturing base is shifting to India. Is India prepared in terms of offering the quality of products, and good behaviour? We are buying the best of the best machines and processes. But where are the people to run them? he asked.

India is experiencing a very peculiar situation. On the one hand, we have a lot of unemployed people. Our youth is jobless. On the other hand, companies are crying for employees. The problem lies in the skill gap. It is the job of the HR professionals to train the unemployed youth and make them job-ready, he said.

Another big challenge which will loom large soon Rajesh Khosla said is the dependence of the workforce/labour from UP and Bihar. In the recent union budget, a lot of sops were announced for Bihar. If Bihar grows industrially because of these sops, it will generate employment for local people. And the labourers who were coming to Telangana to work will find employment in their state. This will result in a shortage of the labour force and poses a major challenge for the HR Fraternity.

Speaking of HR challenges, Rajesh Khosla said that manufacturing is shifting to India. HR needs to prepare the workforce for the same as well. The Western population is getting old and Indians are young. The Indian young population has a Western outlook. We must make employment interesting and attractive to them. Otherwise, the cream of the talent will go to the west for greener pastures.

China, after losing many companies’ manufacturing bases, is pumping a lot of money into India to create industrial unrest. It may be a politically sensitive matter, but it is the ground reality…

The African continent can throw a big challenge to India in future. It is a younger continent than India and more laborious than us. They are rich in minerals. The only drawback they have is the ecosystem. This can pose the biggest threat to the Indian economy.

The resources required in a business constitute 4 Ms: – Manpower, Money, Material and Method. Managing these 4 Ms efficiently can give you a competitive advantage. And they are under your fold, Rajesh Khosla told the HR Professionals.

Meela Sanjay, Chairperson of the HR committee of FTCCI in his introductory address said the labour codes have received the approval of both houses of the parliament as well as Hon. President’s assent. The final notification of making these codes effective is something which has been on the anvil for some time now. Now that the elections are over and the new government is in place, the implementation of the labour codes may take centre very soon.

Countries across the globe are competing to get investments, vying with each other to make doing business simpler and easier for investors by way of removing the stringent restrictions on businesses. Employees play a key role in this area.

The full-day conclave had technical sessions such as Industrial Relations Code and Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code by Sri Niranjan Rao; Salient features of EPF Act by Sri J. Srinivas, Asst P.F Commissioner; Code on Wages and Code on Social Security by Sri S.V. Ramachandra Rao, Managing Director, HR Chambers; Highlights of New Indian Criminal Laws 2024 by G.V. Subramanyam, Hon’ble Chairman (Retd.), Industrial Tribunal 1, Hyderabad and HR Technology – AI Impact and HR Analytics by Sri K.J.A. Swarup, General Manager, HR (retd), ITC Ltd.

Ravi Kumar, Senior Vice President while proposing a vote of thanks said that HR must be the first department in any business set-up and should be accorded due credit because it manages people. It is the people who make or mar any organization, he added.