Knowledge Chamber of Commerce & Industry with support of Ministry Of MSME hosts MSME CONVENTION 2024 in Ahmedabad

Knowledge Chamber of Commerce & Industry with the support of the Ministry Of MSME, has organized MSME CONVENTION 2024 celebrating its 6th Annual Foundation Day in Ahmedabad.

MSME CONVENTION 2024 in Ahmedabad (2)

Various government dignitaries from the MSME Department, Mr. TK Solanki Asst Director MSME DI, GovtOf India, SDBI, SBI, and others along with KCCI Chairman Mr. Durgesh Agarwal, KCCI Hon Secretary General Mr Bharat Patel were present during the convention. In this convention there were International Delegates like Mr. Alexandar Evtuk from Russia CSCP, Mr. Mehul Raval, Russia CSCP;  Mr. Steve Hickling, British Deputy High Commission; Mr. Evizal Abdul Kadir UIR, Indonesia; and Mr. Kyu Nam Kim, KOTRA South Korea.

In this convention, KCCI has signed an agreement to take Indian Delegation to Russia between the 20th to 25th October 2024 and exchange dialect and business opportunities for Indian Business with Russia.

MSME CONVENTION 2024 in Ahmedabad (2)

The MSME CONVENTION 2024 had  500 plus participants and 25+ Exhibitors were present in the convention. In the evening there was a themed fashion Show on sustainable fashion. Bollywood legendary actress Ms Bhagyashree Dasani was invited to felicitate awards and grace the evening while sustainable clothing was being showcased by gorgeous models and students from Anant National University. More than 30 awards were presented to recognize businesses for doing phenomenal work in their respective sectors.

A Red Circle Hosts Fourth Annual Back2School with Books

Registered children will receive a free backpack and school supplies.

Back2School

(St. Louis, Mo., July 25, 2024) A Red Circle, a nonprofit dedicated to the advancement of racial equity in North St. Louis, is hosting its fourth annual Back2School with Books on Saturday, Aug. 3 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will take place at the North County Community Nexus located at 9300 Lewis and Clark Blvd. in Ferguson, Mo. Registration, which is free and open to the public, is required for children to receive a complimentary backpack and school materials while supplies last.

Children attending the event will select a free book from EyeSeeMe African American Children’s Bookstore. The online bookstore specializes in promoting positive images and stories about African American culture and history.

The event includes free ice cream from The Scoops Truck, live music by Lady J Huston, and a variety of community organizations providing information and resources to help families get ready for the upcoming school year. Back2School with Books is sponsored by BJC HealthCare and First Bank.

Founded in 2017, A Red Circle creates economic and community betterment solutions through education, employment, and empowerment. A Red Circle has four Missouri locations – Healthy Flavor Community Garden in Riverview, North County Agricultural Education Center in Pine Lawn, The Creative Spot in Ferguson, and North County Community Nexus in Bellefontaine Neighbors – to best serve the community and improve wellness opportunities for its citizens who experience healthy food access disparities in the region.

Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-red-circles-4th-annual-back2school-with-books-tickets-945143949997?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl.

For more information, call (314) 328-2286 or visit www.aredcircle.org.

Xsolla Appoints Cathleen Nilson as Chief Financial Officer

Xsolla Appoints Cathleen Nilson as Chief Financial Officer

LOS ANGELES—JULY 25, 2024— Xsolla, a global video game commerce company, ​ announced today the appointment of Cathleen Nilson as the company’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Cathleen joins Xsolla during significant growth and momentum for the company. She has over a decade of Finance executive experience at iconic brands in technology and gaming industries such as Samsung and Turing. Her expertise includes corporate finance, strategic financial planning, operations, and spearheading strategies during both hyper efficient growth and blitzscaling stages. ​

Most recently, Cathleen was Chief Financial Officer at global SaaS AI company Kami Vision. She has also served on various non-profit and enterprise Advisory Boards as Finance Chair for over a decade.

Cathleen has been recognized for her exceptional value-creation capability in Corporate Finance. In 2023, she was named a finalist for Women CFOs of the Year by Finance Executive International. In 2021, the National Diversity Council recognized her as a Top 100 Diverse Leader in Tech for her exceptional leadership qualities and organizational impact.

“Cathleen Nilson’s appointment as CFO marks a significant milestone for Xsolla,” said Shurick Agapitov, Founder and CEO of Xsolla. “Her extensive experience and proven track record in driving financial growth and operational excellence align perfectly with our mission to support developers and publishers worldwide in achieving their goals. We are confident that Cathleen will play a pivotal role in our continued expansion and innovation in the gaming industry.”

Of her appointment, Cathleen said, “I am thrilled to join such a dynamic and forward-thinking company. Xsolla’s commitment to empowering game developers and publishers is truly inspiring. ​ I look forward to working with the leadership team to further build on the company’s ongoing success and growth to advance the company’s mission to innovate and increase access across the gaming ecosystem. “

Amazon Prime Day 2024 is the Biggest ever Prime Day event in India

Bengaluru, July 25, 2024: Amazon India announced that Prime Day 2024 was the biggest Prime Day shopping event ever, with record sales and more items sold during the two-day event than any previous Prime Day event. Not just that, the 8th Prime Day witnessed the highest number of Prime members who ever shopped during any Prime Day. 24% more Prime members in India shopped vs Prime Day 2023, making it the highest ever Prime member engagement during the event. Prime Day 2024 also witnessed the highest ever Prime membership signups in the two and half weeks leading up to Prime Day.

Akshay Sahi, Head of Amazon Prime, Delivery and Returns Experiences, India and Emerging Markets said, “We would like to thank our sellers, brands and bank partners for helping us deliver the biggest ever Prime Day in India. Prime members purchased more items than any previous Prime Day shopping event, and we recorded the highest number of same day deliveries. We love helping our customers save big, and Prime Day is the ultimate celebration of value, fast deliveries, great deals, new launches and blockbuster entertainment that the Prime membership provides.”

Prime members shopped from thousands of new products launched by over 450+ top Indian & global brands such as Intel, Samsung, OnePlus, Honor, iQOO, Bajaj, Agaro, Ecovacs, Crompton, Sony, Mokobara, ITC, Fossil, Puma, Motorola, and Boat to name a few and 3,200+ new product launches from small and medium Indian businesses like Behoma, Dream of Glory, Orika Spices and others. Prime members from across India shopped for cross category products like shoes, clothes, smart phones, top load washing machines, pet foods, groceries, etc. Interestingly, 2 out of 3 Prime members shopped from non-metro cities.

This Prime Day interesting customer trends and consumption patterns emerged across categories. Over 70% of the demand for Smartphones came from Tier 2 & 3 cities, Apple iPads saw 23x growth in sales and Samsung Galaxy Tabs saw a surge of 17x in sales vs previous Prime Day. Home Entertainment witnessed 26% growth in sales vs last Prime Day as members enjoyed shopping from brands such as Sony, Samsung, Xiaomi, TCL & LG. In Amazon Fresh, Muesli, Eggs, Seeds & Dry Fruits emerged as the top breakfast choices for India with a 1.6x growth YoY vs last Prime Day. Customers couldn’t get enough of Beauty offers on Prime Day deals, with makeup and skincare brands spiking upto 3X YoY, led by brands like Sugar Cosmetics, Lakme and Maybelline. Quirky colors, multi-functional travel luggage bags saw a 10X growth from D2C brands and across like Mokobara, Nasher Miles, Safari and American Tourister etc. Laptops, headphones, speakers and computer accessories saw up to 20% growth in sales compared to Prime Day 2023. New launches in smartphones witnessed great traction among customers with iQOO Z9 Lite 5G, Samsung Galaxy M35 5G and OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite 5G emerging as top selling new launches.

Prime Day 2024 was a resounding success for small and medium businesses (SMBs) across India. The number of SMBs receiving a sale during Prime Day 2024 reached an all-time high across all editions, with over 30% increase compared to last year. More than 65% of SMBs receiving a sale during Prime Day 2024 were from tier 2-3 cities and beyond. small and medium businesses, including women entrepreneurs, weavers, and artisans, sold over 1,600 units per minute during the event.

Vineet Gehani, Sr. Director – PC Category, HP India Sales Pvt Ltd. says, “We are extremely happy to have been associated with Amazon’s Prime Day this year. The success of the event was a testament to our growing partnership with Amazon.”

Nipun Marya, Chief Executive Officer – iQOO says “We are humbled with the tremendous success of our iQOO smartphones during the Amazon Prime Day 2024 sales. Our products have consistently received high ratings on the platform, which is a testament to our commitment to provide high performance smartphones. Our latest offering, iQOO Z9 Lite 5G, received an overwhelming response, becoming the No.1 best-selling smartphone* across price segments during Prime Day 2024. Amazon has been an essential partner of our journey since our inception in India, and our partnership has continually grown stronger over the years to serve customers pan-India” (*by sales volume)

Sangeet Agarwal- Co founder of Mokobara said “This marks our second year launching products on Amazon Prime Day, and the response has been nothing short of extraordinary! We’ve seen a remarkable 10x increase in overall sales vs BAU justifying the prime customer only promotions offered. Prime Day has undoubtedly been instrumental in our growth strategy, and we’re excited to build on this success and continue delivering exceptional experiences to our customers in the future.”

Highlights from Prime Day 2024

Shopping

Growth for Premium Smartphones (>INR 30,000) continues with more affordability options available for customers such as No Cost EMI & Amazon Pay Later. iPhone 13, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra 5G and OnePlus 12R were among the top 3 premium smartphones customers bought this Prime Day’24
Consumers on Amazon Fresh continued to show their love for summer fruits like mangoes (2.8x YoY) and melons (2x YoY). A growth of 1.6x was also observed in tropical and exotic fruits primarily driven by 20x growth in Thai Guava and 3.6x growth in Avocados (over last year).
Amazon Fresh consumers also showed higher adoption of healthier choices resulting in a YoY growth of 3x and 1.5x respectively in Mineral supplements and Sports supplements (Protein powders).
Customers loved shopping from our vast collection of smart watches and premium watches, witnessing up to 9X spike, especially from smartwatch brands like Titan Smart, Fastrack Smart & premium brands like Seiko, Boss, Michael Kors.
Apparels saw 5X increase in the D2C selection across brands like Fablestreet, Pant Project, & Circus, KETCH, The Indian Garage & Co. and Snitch
Our premium sports shoes category featuring brands like New Balance, Saucony and Under Armour witnessed 3X spike.
5 units of luxury perfumes were sold every minute with brands in fragrances spiked up to 4X YoY, with customers loving our offers on Calvin Klein, Davidoff, Guess and more.
Prime members shopped from top brands such as LG, Samsung, IFB, Bosch, and Haier and upgraded to premium appliances through affordability options of NCEMI, Bank discounts and exchange offers
We saw customers choosing products with higher capacities and premiumization with the latest features. For example, we sold 2X Side by Side Refrigerators and 9X High-capacity Front loads Washing Machines compared to PD23
There is a growing customer interest in products catering for children’s learning development and safety. Strong growth witnessed in premium Toys category with Lego spiking 13X vs Prime Day 2023, premium electric ride-ons spiking 25X vs Prime Day 2023
Haircare portfolio saw a 6X spike led by customer’s favorite Dyson Airwrap (12X spike) underscoring a rising need for high quality at home styling devices and growing willingness to invest in premium products.
It’s a good trend to see children’s reading interest on a rise. Fiction, non-fiction & children boxsets spiked 5X vs last Prime Day, driven by the most loved Harry Potter bookset and deals on notable new launches like Sudha Murty’s Gopi diaries, Amar Chitra Katha story books & more.
We saw Indian parents increasing inclination in premium baby care products growing +80% YoY. Baby lotions grew by +54% vs LY, while massage oils grew by +72% vs LY, reflecting a rising preference for traditional care practices blended with modern convenience
Prime members enjoyed big savings on Fire TV Stick making it the second-most purchased product across Amazon.in this Prime Day.
Prime members continued to make their lives easier with Alexa. Echo Pop and Echo Dot (5th Gen) were purchased 23x and 4x versus last year, respectively.
Customers also showcased increased awareness towards hygiene & personal care wherein men’s grooming category grew by 2.3x and feminine hygiene grew by 1.7x
Overall consumer electronics and personal computing category saw 13% growth in sales compared to Prime Day 2023. During Prime Day, Intel Core Ultra powered Laptops saw an 18X growth in sales vs last Prime Day
Apple iPads saw 23x growth in sales and Samsung Galaxy Tabs saw a surge of 17x in sales
Within cameras, action camera grew by +70% vs last Prime Day
We also 37% growth in stationery products sold over last year’s Prime Day
This Prime Day, Home, Kitchen and Outdoors categories grew 45%+ vs last Prime Day. A strong growth was seen across all key business units like Kitchenware, Home Appliances, Electric vehicles, Home Décor, Sports, Outdoors and Furniture.
The strong growth in air fryers (1.65x) led by Agaro and Philips, and water purifiers (1.7x) led by Urban Company and Eureka Forbes, indicates a heightened consumer focus on healthier living and cooking.
Similarly, a 1.5x YoY spike in treadmill sales, 2x growth in cycles, and 1.4x growth in badminton racket purchases point to customers’ growing commitment to a healthy and active lifestyle.
Demand for convenient and efficient appliances is on a rise. The robust growth in robotic vacuums (2.75x) led by Dreame and Ecovacs, and in water heaters (1.35x) from Crompton, Bajaj, and V-Guard, underscores a rising need for appliances that simplify and automate household chores.
Growing demand for two-wheelers online was seen.10x YoY growth in electric vehicles with 1.3 electric scooters (across Chetak, Vida, Green, etc.) sold every 2 minutes; launch of petrol motorcycles and scooters from Bajaj Auto and Hero MotoCorp across 20 cities and a wide range of smart car accessories (105-162% YoY) indicates rising consumer interest in two-wheeler and car-related products.
India seems to be gearing up to get fitter every day and with style! Premium sports shoes category featuring brands like New Balance, Saucony and Under Armour witnessed 3X spike vs last Prime Day. Within handbags, trending handbags from D2C brands like Zouk, Miraggio witnessed 2X spike vs last Prime Day.
SMB

More than 65% of small and medium businesses receiving a sale during Prime Day 2024 were from tier 2 & 3 cities and beyond.
The Launchpad program, designed to support emerging brands and startups, saw over 440 unique businesses receiving a sale this Prime Day.
Over 75,000 Local Shops sellers participated in Prime Day 2024, offering more than 12 million unique products to customers across the country.
This Prime Day, Local Shops sellers on Amazon.in significantly expanded their two-wheeler offerings. They launched a wide range of petrol motorcycles across various brands, leading to nearly 2,000 two-wheeler units sold by offline retailers within the two days of the event.
Amazon Pay

Prime Day 2024 spends on Amazon Pay ICICI bank credit card was 50% higher than Prime Day 2023
Prime members booked over 50 million kms of domestic & international flights during this Prime Day
Prime members booked hotels and homestays across 2,000+ destinations during this Prime Day
Entertainment & More

In the month leading up to Prime Day 2024, Prime Video premiered 15 series and movies across 5 languages with overwhelming response across the length and breadth of the country. Customers from 4,665 towns and cities tuned in to watch Prime Video’s Prime Day line-up.
The highly anticipated Mirzapur Season 3, a Prime Day 2024 release, became the most watched show ever on Prime Video in India. The new season featured in the Top 10 Trending lists on Prime Video in over 85 countries and territories worldwide on the launch weekend itself!
Prime Video continued to make global entertainment more accessible for Indian customers with international Prime Day titles receiving viewership from over 98% of India’s pin codes.
With viewers from over 200 countries and territories watching Indian titles that released as part of Prime Day, Prime Video continued to be the global showcase for Indian stories.
Prime members listened to music in over 100+ languages during Prime Day on Amazon Music. The most streamed song by Prime members was Akhiyaan Gulaab (From “Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya”). The playlists most listened to by Prime members were 50 Most Played (India & Hindi), Ultimate Love Songs (Hindi) & Desi Vibes. Amazon Music launched exclusive Artist videos for Prime customers which included Artist Diaries featuring Jonita Gandhi, Armaan Malik, Devi Sri Prasad and Vishal Mishra where Jonita Gandhi’s Artist Diaries quickly became the most watched video on Amazon Music. 4 exclusive Podcasts were also launched first on Amazon Music (Cyrus Says, Be A Man Yaar Season 2, Insta Love Season 2 & Darawani Daastanien) & Prime members streamed podcasts in Hindi, English and many more languages, where the most streamed podcasts were The Stories of Mahabharata and Desi Crime.
Every day made better with Prime

Amazon Prime is designed to make your life better every single day as it provides the best of shopping, savings, and entertainment in one single membership. In India, members get free unlimited Same-Day delivery on 10 Lakhs products, and Next-Day delivery across 40 Lakhs products on Amazon.in, access to exclusive deals, early access to shopping events, exclusive access to Prime Day; and unlimited access to award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime Video, unlimited ad-free access to millions of songs in 20+ languages, 15+ million podcast episodes with Amazon Music, a free rotating selection of more than 3,000 books, magazines and comics with Prime Reading, access to monthly free in-game benefits with Prime Gaming. Prime members also earn unlimited 5% cashback on all purchases on Amazon.in using the Amazon Pay ICICI Bank credit card. Go to www.amazon.in/prime to learn more about Prime.

Child Care Aware of Missouri Hosts Walk Fundraiser

The fifth annual “2000 Steps To Make A Difference” walk will benefit the nonprofit’s programs.

2000 Steps Flyer - 5

(St. Louis, Mo., July 23, 2024) Child Care Aware of Missouri (CCAMO) will host its fifth annual “2000 Steps To Make A Difference” walk on Saturday, Sept. 21. The event will take place at Millennium Park located at 2 Barnes West Dr. in Creve Coeur, Mo., with registration starting at 9 a.m. and the walk beginning at 9:30 a.m. Proceeds from the fundraiser will support CCAMO’s statewide programs aimed at enhancing early care and education of children during their crucial first 2,000 days of life.

The walk will follow a 0.6-mile paved trail and features family-friendly activities including yard games, emergency vehicles for children to explore, an online silent auction, and snacks. Attendees will also have access to the park’s newly updated splash pad and playground.

Child Care Aware of Missouri Hosts Walk Fundraiser

Founded in 1999, Child Care Aware of Missouri is a statewide nonprofit that focuses on a comprehensive early childhood education experience through impactful programs and partnerships. The organization’s services include workforce development, child care business supports, advocacy and policy work, and its new Child Care Keeps Missouri Working, a regional campaign offering concierge solutions to businesses undergoing employee recruitment and retention challenges due to the overwhelming shortage of quality child care options.

Tickets are $25 per adult, $15 per child 12 and under and $10 per person for virtual participation. Register for the fundraiser at https://child-care-aware-of-missouri.networkforgood.com/events/72126-two-thousand-steps-to-make-a-difference-walk-2024. For more information about Child Care Aware of Missouri, call (314) 535-1458 or visit www.mochildcareaware.org.

One Point One Solutions to acquire a 100% stake in a well-established BPO company in Latin America

ONE POINT ONE SOLUTIONS (NSE:ONEPOINT), a leading provider of IT and BPO services, has executed a non-binding term sheet to acquire a 100% stake in a well-established BPO company in Latin America. The target company is a prominent provider of Contact Center Services in Latin America, serving clients primarily from North America.

This strategic acquisition will help One Point One Solutions to enhance its capabilities in the Contact Center Services sector, expand its global presence, and combine expertise to create strong synergies within the IT industry. The acquisition aligns with the One Point One Solutions growth strategy and will enable the company to offer a wider range of services to its clients worldwide.

“We believe that this move will significantly strengthen our position in the Contact Center Services market and provide us with a strong foothold in the fast-growing Latin American region,” said Akshay Chhabra, Founder and CEO of One Point One Solutions. “By combining the expertise and resources of our companies, we will be able to offer enhanced services to our clients globally and create new opportunities for growth. This transaction will be a key milestone in our expansion strategy as it will align with our vision to become a leading global provider of IT and BPO services.”

byteXL’s Goa AI Symposium Highlights Need for Curriculum Modernisation and Upskilling in Engineering Education

Mumbai / Panaji, 20th July 2024: Artificial intelligence (AI) is not the disruptive behemoth it was initially perceived as and has the potential to fill in gaps in existing curricula and help practically upskill and keep updated the hundreds of engineers churned out of technical educational campuses in India, according to leaders in the education and technology space, edu-tech sector venture capitalists, skilling experts and talent acquisition (TA) specialists, who attended AiGENDA, a symposium on ‘AI in Education’ held at a coastal resort in North Goa on Saturday.

ByteXL, a Hyderabad-based edu-tech firm, that organised the symposium, also launched ‘Nimbus,’ a self-hosted cloud-based coding environment. The platform quickly sets up workspaces, allowing students to start coding with templates in Visual Studio Code.

byteXL's Goa AI Symposium Highlights Need for Curriculum Modernisation and Upskilling in Engineering Education

Karun Tadepalli, co-founder and CEO of byteXL, urged at the symposium that India’s higher education classrooms urgently need modernisation.

“The numbers are shocking. There are 4,351 engineering colleges and 1,182 universities in India, enrolling 1.1 million computer science engineering (CSE) students each year. However, there’s reportedly a 16-year gap between their skillset and market requirements. Furthermore, only 1 lakh out of 1.5 million engineering students that graduate each year in India are employable,” said Karun Tadepalli, who, along with his brother Sricharan, founded byteXL in 2019.

He also said that currently, there are almost “8 to 10 million jobs that are going vacant” because of a lack of adequate AI skills. “There’s a lot more opportunities and we’re talking about 20-30 million jobs in the future. AI is going to create more jobs, but at the same time, it is going to expect to have a lot more skills,” he said.

Sampath P, partner at Bengaluru-based Kalaari Capital, which has invested in around 120 tech startups, noted that technology assessments are outdated, particularly in AI, where constant evolution requires staying updated. He emphasised the need to enhance tech evaluation systems and use AI to identify learning gaps based on data.

“The real opportunity lies in staying on top of technology and solving global problems, and we’re beginning to see this in India. We should continue this effort, as it allows those in the education system to help students realise their potential. The numbers (of engineers annually passing out) are staggering, presenting both a responsibility and an opportunity for us,” Sampath said. Earlier this month, byteXL secured $5.9 million in a Series A funding round, which was led by Kalaari Capital, along with the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation.

Speaking at the event, Sumit Premi, Director of Talent Acquisition at Flipkart, suggested that having an updated skill-sets could soon become more or as important than a formal degree in tech recruitment. “So far, we are programmed to hire people with a qualification or a degree. However, the industry is open to hiring based on how skilled they are, not on how educated they are. Recently, a start-up came to us and said they will train individuals while we at Flipkart will hire them. The discussion revolved around skills, a degree wasn’t even mentioned,” he said.

Dr. Shitala Prasad, Professor at the Indian Institute of Technology, Goa, said that while coding is critical to the current scenario, in the near future, things might evolve. “I believe that the whole market of coding will change. More creative ideas will be there to code or do similar jobs,” he said.

Dr. Malineni Perumallu, chairman, Malineni Lakshmaiah Women’s Engineering College, also put the spotlight on states with high literacy like Goa and Kerala, which he said had a strikingly high 28 percent unemployment rate. “This disparity points towards the large gap that exists between academics and industry,” he said, adding that while the existing focus was on training students, in reality, it is the faculty “that needs more training.”.

“The honest truth is that faculty is grappling with the advancement of new technology,” he said.

“Increasing excitement and engagements levels of the students is going to be crucial in higher education in the coming years. AI will be playing a pivotal role in that. AI can help us have a personalised approach to individual students,” said Divyanshu Patel, president of Parul University. “Similarly, AI will also have a role in playing assistant to the teacher. The teacher on the other hand can be a resource on things AI can’t find. AI will not replace human intelligence,” he added.

IIHMR University Bids Farewell to 334 Graduates at the Annual Convocation

IIHMR University shared, “I offer my heartiest congratulations to the graduating students. It is a great pleasure

Jaipur, 20th July 2024: IIHMR University, a leading health management research university in India, on July 20thsuccessfully wrapped up its Annual Convocation, at the pristine campus in Jaipur, Rajasthan. The momentous occasion marked a milestone event in the lives of 334 students who were conferred with their well-deserved degrees.

With eyes glued to the stage, the students eagerly waited to be presented with their much-awaited degrees by the Chief Guest Ms. Swati Dalal, Managing Director, Abbott India Ltd., and the Guest of Honour Dr. Mahnaz Vahedi, Scientist, Research Capacity Strengthening TDR, the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland. The flagship event was also graced by Shri Sudarshan Jain, Chairperson, IIHMR University and Dr. PR Sodani, President, IIHMR University.

The landmark ceremony witnessed felicitation of degrees to the graduating cohorts of Ph.D., and MBA programs in Hospital & Health Management, Pharmaceutical Management, and Development Management. A total of 8 students from Ph.D., 208 students from MBA (Hospital & Health Management), 105 from MBA (Pharmaceutical Management), and 13 students from MBA (Development Management) were honoured with degrees.

Delivering the welcome address, and highlighting the university’s achievements Dr. PR Sodani, President, IIHMR University shared, “I offer my heartiest congratulations to the graduating students. It is a great pleasure for IIHMR to recognize you hard work. We are also proud to announce that IIHMR has completed 40 years of its existence. At the university, we firmly believe in the principle of growing together.  Hence, our university has consistently extended help and expertise to ensure the well-being of our community by collaborating with government and international entities at various levels. During 2023-24 we have also established the School of Digital Health in accordance with the current and future market requirements. Hence, I’m confident that IIHMR University will transform healthcare ecosystem both nationally and internationally.I advise the future leaders present here to uphold the values of integrity, compassion, and excellence.”

Inspiring students with her words of wisdom, Ms. Swati Dalal, Managing Director, Abbott India Ltd. shared, “This esteemed institution has a very rich legacy of excellence in health management and research. I congratulate all of you on your graduation. Take pride in your achievement for they not only represent your personal growth but also your commitment to shaping the future of healthcare in India. As you step into the professional world remember that the knowledge that you’ve gathered here will be the solid foundation for you to make a meaningful impact in the healthcare industry. You represent the most tech-savvy generation who can seamlessly integrate technology in into your life and you will truly harness this power and further improve healthcare.”

Addressing the degree holders, Dr. Mahnaz Vahedi, Scientist, Research Capacity Strengthening TDR, the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland said, “It is an incredible honour to stand in front of such exceptional performers. I congratulate you for your countless hours of dedication and hard-work. You all have navigated the challenges in your journey and today you stand victorious.” She further advised the students, “Embrace life-long learning to remain relevant in the ever-changing market. Take leadership roles with responsibility. And most importantly, be kind and humble. The problems of tomorrow require innovation and creativity. Lastly, remember that the relationships you build will be integral to your success.”

Expressing delight, Shri Sudarshan Jain, Chairperson, IIHMR University shared, “It is indeed a pleasure to be here today. You are fortunate that you are coming out to the real world in India from a leading institute in healthcare and you are going to make a difference. It is going to be the most exciting field as far as this century is concerned. Healthcare industry will be challenging. And two important qualities needed will be growth mind-set and learning ability. I wish you great luck.”

Post-culmination of two-fruitful years, IIHMR University celebrated 8 top achievers with the prestigious “Shri V.P. Agarwal” gold and silver medals.  The gold medals were received by Himanshi Pandey (Hospital Management), Archita Srivastava (Health Management), Pande Tansushree Abhay (Pharmaceutical Management), and Krishna Rathore (Development Management).  Silver medals were handed over to Shwetangi Kumar Jhakhmola (Hospital Management), Kanika Mathur (Health Management), Shriyani Roy (Pharmaceutical Management), and Bambale Anand Ratan (Development Management).

IIHMR University has showcased exceptional performance in the placement season this year with the highest package offered being 35.62 LPA, and the average package being 8 LPA. Despite rocky market conditions, the university has accomplished 90% placement in multiple roles across diverse organizations both nationally and internationally at noteworthy packages. Remarkably, the total number of recruiters has gone up to 60+, showcasing IIHMR University’s strong industry networks and the commitment to provide an environment of academic excellence.

10 Consumer Tech Brands for Tech-Savvy Travelers in India

IZI blends cutting-edge technology with affordability, transforming everyday experiences into extraordinary adventures. From drones to action cameras, IZI has something special for every dreamer and explorer.

As India’s premier tech destination, IZI is revolutionizing the market with high-quality, affordable products. The company’s selection meets global standards, making IZI the go-to brand for adventurers and creatives.

For tech-savvy travelers in India, these 10 consumer tech brands offer a wide range of innovative and reliable products tailored to meet the needs of modern explorers:

DJI
Known for its high-quality drones and handheld gimbals, DJI is a go-to brand for travelers looking to capture stunning aerial footage and stabilized videos.

GoPro
Specializes in rugged, waterproof action cameras that are perfect for adventure travelers who need durable and versatile recording equipment.

Sony
Offers a range of high-quality cameras, noise-canceling headphones, and portable speakers, making it a top choice for travelers who value top-notch audio and visual experiences.

Canon
Provides reliable cameras and lenses for capturing high-quality travel photos and videos, ideal for photography enthusiasts.

IZI
Offers a range of top-tier camera drones with obstacle avoidance, waterproof 5K action cameras, India’s first wireless detachable camera gimbal, and dual-channel noise-canceling wireless microphones, making IZI the go-to choice for adventure travelers who need durable and versatile content creation equipment with superior performance.

Sennheiser
Sennheiser offers premium headphones and audio equipment, providing travelers with excellent sound quality and noise cancellation for a comfortable travel experience.

Garmin
Specializes in GPS navigation devices, smartwatches, and fitness trackers, which are essential for travelers who enjoy outdoor adventures and need reliable navigation tools.

Instax (Fujifilm)
Instax cameras from Fujifilm offer instant photography solutions, allowing travelers to capture and print memories on the spot, making it a fun and creative travel companion.

Insta360
Provides versatile 360-degree cameras and action cameras, enabling users to capture a full range of perspectives and moments. Ideal for those looking to document their experiences from multiple angles.

Bose
Renowned for its noise-canceling headphones and portable speakers, offering superior sound quality and comfort for travelers.

As the demand for advanced technology and innovative solutions continues to rise among tech-savvy travelers, the prominence of these top consumer tech brands becomes increasingly evident. With their commitment to delivering cutting-edge products that enhance travel experiences, these brands are well-positioned to capture the growing market of modern explorers. However, challenges such as rapidly evolving technology and competitive pressures remain. Nevertheless, with strategic innovation and a focus on consumer needs, these brands are set to drive significant advancements in travel technology, offering both enhanced convenience and unparalleled adventure in the years to come.

The Silent Guardian: How Transvaginal Sonography Saves High-Risk Pregnancies from Preterm Labor

A 31-year-old woman visited Wockhardt Hospitals, Mumbai Central presented with primary infertility of seven years due to polycystic ovaries and her husband’s oligoasthenozoospermia (OATS). Under Dr RanaChoudhary, Consultant Obstetrician, Gynecologist&Fertility Specialist, the patient conceived via in-vitro fertilization (IVF), and all embryos were frozen. In a subsequent cycle, she underwent frozen embryo transfer (FET) and conceived a singleton. Her antenatal course was uneventful, but at 26 weeks, she reported heaviness and discomfort in the lower abdomen and vulva. Examination revealed a 26-week-sized uterus with no uterine contractions and a fetal heart rate of 140 beats per minute. A transvaginalsonography (TVS) revealed a short cervix (2.3 cm) with a closed internal Os.

Given her symptoms, she was started on vaginal progesterone suppositories and advised bed rest. A repeat TVS after 10 days showed no change in cervical length. Monitoring continued biweekly, and at 30.2 weeks, her cervical length reduced to 1.32 cm. She was admitted, and given head-low bed positioning, complete bed rest, intravenous antibiotics, and oral probiotics. An emergency cervical cerclage was performed under spinal anesthesia using the modified Shirodkar technique. Post-surgery, she was discharged after two days with a recommendation for rest.

Subsequent sonography showed maintained cervical length with the cerclage in place. At around 35-36 weeks, cervical funnelling was observed. The cerclage stitch was removed at 37 weeks, leading to spontaneous labor and the delivery of a healthy male baby with an Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity and Respiration (APGAR) score of 9/10. The postpartum period was uneventful.

Cervical incompetence, a leading cause of late miscarriages and preterm labor, is often diagnosed retrospectively after multiple poor obstetric outcomes. Symptoms may include mild abdominal cramping, backache, pelvic pressure, or vaginal discharge. High-risk women, particularly those with prior second-trimester losses or cervical surgeries, benefit from routine TVS for early diagnosis and management.

Previously, cervical incompetence was assessed through methods like hysterosalpingography and dilator assessments, which are now obsolete. Today, TVS is the gold standard for diagnosing cervical incompetence. A cervical length of 25mm or less on TVS, with or without funneling, indicates incompetence. Immediate management can prevent preterm delivery and improve neonatal outcomes.

Conservative methods like bed rest and progesterone supplementation have limited efficacy. Surgical interventions, such as McDonald’s and modified Shirodkarcerclage, are more effective. McDonald cerclage involves placing multiple sutures high in the cervix, while Shirodkarcerclage places the stitch close to the internal os after mucosal dissection. In emergencies, Trendelenburg positioning and a Foley catheter may help. Transabdominalcerclage is reserved for severe cases with prior failures, requiring laparotomy for suture removal or fetal delivery.

Early identification and management of cervical incompetence, particularly in high-risk women, are crucial. Routine TVS during anomaly scans and attention to symptoms like lower abdominal heaviness and vaginal discharge can prevent preterm deliveries and improve neonatal morbidity and mortality.