All posts by Neel Achary

Experience the vibrant streets of North India and embark on a flavorful journey through the region’s culinary treasures at DoubleTree by Hilton Goa – Panaji’s North Indian Sunday Brunch on March 5th, 2023 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Savor a delectable spread of authentic dishes, prepared with the perfect blend of spices to tantalize your taste buds. From fiery curries to fragrant live stations and flavorful chaat counters, indulge in the best of North Indian cuisine with delights such as Soya Palak, Peshawari Paneer Handi, Bharwan Simla Mirch, Bhune, Kathal ki Sabzi, Dal Pakhtooni, Murgh Awadhi Korma, Gosht ki Galouti, Rajma ki Galouti, Sheermal, and more.

Don’t miss this culinary extravaganza! Reserve your table now and experience the enchanting flavors of North India right here in Goa.

Reservations / Details: 09607975314 or 0831 2491900

When: Sunday, 26th February
Time: 1 pm – 4 pm
Venue: Comida, DoubleTree by Hilton Goa – Panaji
Price: INR 2,800++ per person (alcoholic brunch)
INR 1800 ++ per person (non-alcoholic brunch)
INR 1800++ per child (6yrs – 12yrs)

3rd March 2023 Comedy Central – the one-stop solution for all your English comedy shows, is here with a brand-new programming line-up for the month of March. Keeping the theme ‘Happiness Buffet – New Comedies, Served Fresh’ at its heart, the channel is bringing hilariously captivating shows for the celebration of Happiness Day. So, gear up for a month full of hilarity, interesting stories, and much more, only on Comedy Central!

Let’s take a peek into the stellar line-up for March 2023 on Comedy Central

Atypical

With the element of comedy at its very heart, Atypical is one such show that raises a sensitive issue like autism and tries to create awareness about the same. This is the story of an 18-year-old Sam Gardner who deals with autism. He decides to give romance and love a shot and sets out to find the perfect girl for himself. The show then takes us around his life, including his family and friends. Watch Atypical from 7th March, Monday to Friday at 10 pm.

Parks and Recreation

Created by Greg Daniels and Michael Schur, this mockumentary is a story that revolves around the life of a mid-level bureaucrat, Leslie Knope. The show is a work of fiction that portrays the issues and challenges that Leslie Knope faces in the Parks and Recreation Department in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana. Watch this enticing story exclusively for the first time in India on Comedy Central from 14th March, Monday to Friday at 9 pm.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

One of the funniest and most watched shows is here on Comedy Central to celebrate Happiness Day, and it’s here for you to binge throughout the entire day! This show, which is based on a police procedural comedy, is here to take viewers on a comedic journey like never before. Watch all seasons of Brooklyn Nine-Nine on the 18th, 19th, and 20th of March as a daylong binge-watch.

Tune into Comedy Central and be a part of the entertaining journey of exceptional shows all through the month of March

March 3rd, 2023, Bangalore, India: Quest Global, one of the world’s fastest-growing engineering services firms, today announced it has been Great Place To Work® Certified™ in India. It is the second time that the organization has earned this recognition. The organization last received this recognition in January 2022.

Quest Global fared well on the five critical dimensions of Trust Index™ – credibility, respect, fairness, pride, and camaraderie. The company remains committed to promoting and sustaining a High-Trust, High-Performance Culture, and guiding the firm towards strengthening its aim to be a centenary organization. The successful participation and vote of confidence in the assessment held across the organization by Great Place To Work anonymously helped Quest Global benchmark the people practices in India.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Colleen Doherty, Chief People Officer, Quest Global, said, “It truly is a proud feeling to be Great Place To Work Certified. The excitement is more this year as our extraordinary people once again ensured the Certification stays with us second time in a row. It says a lot about the culture we have fostered for over 25 years and continue to nurture. Our culture unites us on our journey. It is deeply rooted in everything we do and shines brightest in our behaviours, attitudes, and values.”

She elaborated, “We believe our inclusive work environment is one we each contribute to and can be proud of. We remain committed to prioritizing every employee’s health, safety, and well-being. This esteemed title is an important step towards acknowledging our efforts to embrace diversity and inclusivity in the ever-changing workplace culture.”

Great Place To Work Certification™ is the gold standard that organizations around the globe aspire to accomplish. The recognition is a testament to the organization’s consistent efforts to build and sustain a High-Trust, High-Performance Culture.

Great Place To Work is the global authority on workplace culture. In India, the institute partners with more than 1,400 organizations across 22+ industries annually to help them build a High-Trust, High-Performance Culture designed to deliver sustained business results. The institute’s research shows great workplaces are characterized by outstanding leadership, consistent employee experience, and sustainable financial performance. These organizations can deliver the same experience to all of their employees irrespective of their role, gender, tenure, or level.

Mumbai, 03 March 2023: Mumbai-based PR company Afigitis PR, part of Assured Advertising & Media Private Ltd. has announced that it has won the PR mandate of Tata Institute of Social Sciences – School of Vocational Education (TISS – SVE), a pioneer in vocational education in India.

The spokesperson for Afigitis PR will be Dheeraj Mishra, a seasoned PR professional, while Priyanka Pandey, Assistant Manager, Industry Connects, CSR and Projects, School of Vocational Education, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, will represent TISS – SVE.

Under the agreement, Afigitis PR will manage the public relations and communication needs of TISS – SVE, which has been at the forefront of providing vocational education and training to students across the country. With a focus on bridging the skill gap in various sectors, TISS – SVE offers a range of courses and programmes that are designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in their chosen fields.

Dheeraj Mishra said: “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with TISS – SVE, a prestigious institution that has been making a significant contribution to the field of vocational education in India. We look forward to helping them strengthen their brand and achieve their communication goals in an effective and purpose-driven manner.”

Priyanka Pandey added: “We are delighted to partner with Afigitis PR, and we are confident that their expertise and experience will help us reach a wider audience and communicate the value of our vocational education programs to stakeholders.”

The world is all set to celebrate International Women’s Day on the 8th of March and so is Vh1. India’s favourite pop music channel is gearing up to celebrate this day with their specially curated playlist, Vh1 Boss Lady. This playlist will feature some exceptionally talented female singers such as Nicki Minaj, Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, Camilla Cabello, Selena Gomez, and others who have dazzled the international music platform/rostrum with their talent. So, get ready for all the fun on the occasion of International Women’s Day with Vh1 Boss Lady, exclusively on Vh1, on 8th March, 12 PM, and 6 PM.

Let’s look at the different genres and artists that you can experience on Vh1 Boss Lady, this International Women’s Day!

Hip Hop

Get ready to witness the energetic rhythm of hip hop music with the leading ladies of the industry. American rapper Nicki Minaj, extremely gorgeous Cardi B, and the supremely talented rap goddess of India, Dee MC will all feature in the hip hop segment of Vh1 Boss Lady. Get ready to groove to their music throughout the day and make your Women’s Day special only with Vh1.

K-Pop
Keeping in mind the growing popularity of K-pop music, Vh1 is all set to bring the best of the same for its viewers. The K-pop section of Vh1 Boss Lady will include some energetic music by the three most popular K-pop female bands, BLACKPINK, TWICE, and (G)I-DLE. Just make sure to celebrate this day with your gal pals on your cozy comfortable couches as you listen to your favorites.

Legends
Talking about Vh1 Boss Lady, how can one forget about the legends of the industry? Artists like singer, songwriter, actor, and dancer, Beyoncé alongside Taylor Swift who is known for artistic reinventions, and Adele who is popular for her melodious voice will be featured in Vh1 Boss Lady. Well, don’t forget to brace yourselves as GOATs from the music world grace the playlist with their iconic music.

Pop
Vh1 is all decked up to celebrate the ladies from the pop genre who have entertained the world with the magic of their musical beats. Megastars such as Camilla Cabello, Selena Gomez, and Miley Cyrus will all entertain you with some of their chart-topping hits. So be ready to shake it off to some great beats with your friends only with Vh1 Boss Lady.

Latinas
What is better than chilling in your room listening to some groovy music in Vh1’s exclusive playlist Vh1 Boss Lady? To celebrate this day, songs by the popular Colombian singer and songwriter Shakira, the leading vocalist from Spain, Rosalía, and the gorgeous American singer and actress Becky G will be on the playlist. Tune in to Vh1 and get the party started with all these great ladies and groove on their beats.

Tune into Vh1 on 8th March, 12 pm and 6 pm, and be a part of the musical conclave of Vh1 Boss Lady

Bengaluru, India, March 3, 2023 – HID, a worldwide leader in trusted identity and physical security solutions, today announced its inaugural State of the Security Industry Report, which gathered responses from 2,700 partners, end users, and security and IT personnel across a range of titles and organization sizes representing over 11 industries.

Commenting on the survey, Prabhuraj Patil, Commercial Director, Physical Access Control Solutions, South Asia, HID said, “We are grateful for the opportunity to share insights with the security community as part of this year’s State of Security Industry Report. Mapping our industry’s dynamic trends helps provide a deeper understanding of customer needs and challenges. We are confident that our report will help security teams adapt faster and better capitalize on innovative solutions.”

By looking at what’s driving the next innovations and the technology that supports them, the security industry is empowered to create more value for its organizations and its people. Conducted in quarter 4 of 2022, the survey reveals five common threads, as follows:

• Nearly 90% of respondents acknowledge sustainability as an important issue End users are increasingly demanding that suppliers provide footprint transparency in terms of their operations, product sourcing and research and development practices, with 87% of respondents stating that sustainability ranks as “important to extremely important.” Mirroring this trend, 76% said they have seen the importance of sustainability increasing for their customers.To support this growing demand, security teams are leveraging the cloud and the Internet of Things, even more, to optimize processes and reduce resources. Additionally, new products and solutions are being strategically developed to address sensible energy usage, waste reduction and resource optimization.
• Most organizations still need to fully embrace identity “as-a-service” (IDaaS) to support hybrid work The majority of survey respondents—81% of them—stated they are offering a hybrid work model. As an example, 67% of respondents state that multifactor authentication and passwordless authentication are most important to adapting to hybrid and remote work, while 48% point to the importance of mobile and digital IDs.Interestingly, the survey also reveals almost half of the organizations aren’t quite ready to implement a comprehensive IDaas strategy.
• Digital IDs and mobile authentication to propel many more mobile access deployments Identification and authentication are more commonly completed via mobile devices, including smartphones and wearables. The growing popularity of digital wallets from major players such as Google, Apple and Amazon is a key driver of this trend. And expanded capabilities allow smartphone users, for example, to add keys, IDs and digital documents directly in the wallet app. These include, but are not limited to, drivers’ licenses in eight states, verifiable COVID-19 vaccination information, employee badges, student IDs and hotel room keys. Commercial real estate companies (40%) are outpacing other verticals as large commercial real estate firms are leveraging mobile access as part of their larger tenant experience apps, according to the HID survey.
• Nearly 60% of respondents see the benefit of contactless biometrics Biometric technologies represent a major break from more conventional means of access control. Using biometrics as an additional authenticating factor (e.g., biometric scans to verify an individual’s physical identity) can help organizations eliminate unauthorized access and fraud. The importance of this trend is exemplified in the survey data, which shows that 59% of respondents are currently using, planning to implement, or at least testing biometric technologies in the near future.
• Supply chain issues continue to be a concerning factor, but optimism begin to emerge According to the survey, 74% of respondents say they were impacted by supply chain issues in 2022, although 50% are optimistic that conditions will improve in 2023. Most affected are commercial real estate companies, with 78% citing supply chain problems as their main concern. More than two-thirds of organizations with fewer than 1,000 employees indicate that they were highly impacted by supply chain issues in 2022, but they are also the most optimistic that these issues will resolve in 2023.

By better understanding the aforementioned topics, security professionals will be better prepared to adapt faster, deliver exceptional digital plus physical experiences, and capitalize on breakthrough innovations in solutions and services. Read the survey in its entirety here.

Stay Connected with HID

Mumbai, March 3, 2023: Lord’s Mark Industries, one of the most prominent diversified business groups, was named “The Best Conglomerate for 2023’’ by the Prestigious Brands Award BARC, a research-based consultancy organisation in Asia. The award is a testament to the company’s commitment to excellence in all aspects of its operations across verticals such as defence manufacturing, healthcare and diagnostics, insurance, automotive, renewable energy, wellness, and others.

Expressing a sense of pride after receiving the award, Mr. Manav Teli, Director, Lord’s Mark Industries said, “We are truly privileged and extremely proud to receive this award. The award is a testimony to our consistent efforts at bringing quality and diversified products to the market. We have been successful in catering to many sectors of society. It is an honour to be recognised as one of the fastest-growing business conglomerates through quality products, an innovative approach, and the trust of our stakeholders. Creating value for our stakeholders has always been our agenda, and now that we have diversified, it will unlock the potential even more.’’

The conglomerate currently has four companies: Brahamastra Defense Techno Products Limited, LordsMed, Lord’s Mark Insurance Broking Limited, and Lords Automative Private Limited, with verticals in renewable energy products and paper. Lord’s Mark Industries will continue to innovate and grow while maintaining the highest standards of quality and excellence. Growth through diversification has been the cornerstone of success at Lord’s.

New Delhi, India | March 03, 2023: Yatra Online Limited (“Yatra”), India’s leading corporate travel services provider and one of India’s leading online travel companies, has announced their partnership with Delhi Capitals for the much-awaited maiden edition of the Women’s Premier League (‘WPL’). Delhi Capitals, a franchise team co-owned by India’s eminent business groups JSW and GMR Group, is regarded as one of the world’s leading sports franchises. With women cricket taking center stage in the country, this partnership will celebrate and empower women in sports.

The T20 cricket tournament for Women organized by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is being looked at as a game-changer in women sports. Women’s cricket and players have long wished for the WPL, which will now be a reality within a week. With all eyes on the tournament, it will rapidly become a platform to inspire younger talent from different parts of the country to realise their full potential and have a presence and voice at the world stage right from the hinterlands.

Commenting on the partnership, Dhruv Shringi, Whole-time Director and Chief Executive Officer, Yatra Online Limited said, “At Yatra, we have always been ahead of the curve and we believe in supporting platforms that reflect the same vision. As a leading corporate travel services provider and one of India’s leading online travel companies, we are extremely proud to partner with Delhi Capitals, Women’s Premier League. Indian women are making significant strides in sports today and inspiring the entire country. We are happy to be a part of this journey of Delhi Capitals players as they make a historic  debut in this format in the coming days. We are sure that WPL will garner eyeballs and win the hearts of millions of cricket fans across the country and globe ”

Dhiraj Malhotra, CEO, Delhi Capitals on the announcement said, “It’s our privilege and honour to have Yatra Online Limited on board as our official partner for the Women’s Premier League 2023. Yatra.com is synonymous with travelling far and high, and we are certain that the leading online travel company will play a huge role in the growth of Delhi Capitals as a brand.”

The initial season of the WPL begins on March 4^th 2023 and will be broadcast in India on the Sports18 TV channel and the Jio Cinema app. Overall, the Yatra Online Limited and Delhi Capitals partnership is a win-win for both parties, as it allows them to leverage their respective strengths and capabilities. This partnership has the potential to drive value for both Yatra and the Delhi Capitals, while also providing a great experience for cricket fans across the country.

March 03, 2023, New Delhi – La Trobe University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor John Dewar AO, is in New Delhi this week with Australian Education Minister, The Hon. Jason Clare MP, to cement strategically important partnerships with universities, research centres, and industry partners in India.

Official agreements signed at ceremonies over the three-day visit will strengthen global research and industry collaborations and create new international learning opportunities for staff and students at La Trobe, and its partner organisations in India.

Professor Dewar will meet with representatives from some of India’s leading educational and research institutions, including the Bangalore Bioinnovation Centre, Lady Shri Ram College and Jindal Global Law School. Professor Dewar said he was excited that these newly established partnerships with leading research and teaching institutions and industries would further deepen La Trobe’s already established relationship with India.

“We have a long and proud history of close ties with many of India’s leading research, educational and cultural institutions, and deeply value the contribution they make to our campuses and communities,”

Professor Dewar said. “Whether offering Shah Rukh Khan scholarships for aspiring female researchers, partnering with the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, or graduating thousands of students with Indian heritage who now
hold senior positions across the globe, our partnerships in India are critical to our success as a university.”
Professor Dewar said the ceremonial signings during his trip to India would reap many benefits for staff,
students and communities in both countries.

“As a global University, we are always seeking new ways to foster and enhance international collaborations that not only benefit our own students and staff, but create new and exciting opportunities for those institutions with whom we build partnerships,” Professor Dewar said. “This is exactly what these exciting agreements signed today will do, and I very much look forward to us working productively with these four institutions over the coming years, as well as with our many other valued partners in India.”

La Trobe took part in the following signing ceremonies on 2 March, 2023, in New Delhi: Bangalore Bioinnovation Centre – Signing of Memorandum of Understanding Bangalore Bioinnovation Centre (BBC) is the largest Biotech start-up hub in India – a state-of-the-art translational research and entrepreneurship centre catering to all the needs of start-ups in life science. With investment from the Victorian Government, La Trobe will open a new Bio Innovation Hub and Digital Innovation Hub in 2023, connecting researchers and early-stage companies within this ecosystem to build 2 / 2 their product development pipeline both in Australia and in India. This new collaboration between La Trobe and BBC will create a pipeline of innovations as start-ups. BBC has a very strong mandate to create global linkages to facilitate the scale up for its start-ups and to provide soft landing pads for foreign start-ups.
Lady Shri Ram College – Signing of Letter of Support and renewal of Student Mobility Agreement This Letter of Support extends a long-standing arrangement between Lady Shri Ram College (LSR) and La Trobe for LSR Students Mobility as well as staff exchange to undertake professional development activities at La Trobe each year. This arrangement supports LSR’s mission to “empower women to assume leadership roles in a globalised, rapidly changing, technology-based nation and world”, and sits alongside a student mobility agreement that has seen an exchange of about 60 students between the two institutions since 2011. Since its inception in 1995, the La Trobe-LSR partnership has gone from strength to strength and has led to cultural exchanges, and activities supported by the New Colombo Plan. Lady Shri Ram College for Women is committed to extending horizons, creating new metaphors that will highlight all that is special and of virtue in India, while nurturing multiculturalism.

Jindal Global Law School – Signing of Articulation Agreement Juris Doctor

This agreement will enable undergraduate law graduates from Jindal Global Law School to complete years two and three of the Juris Doctor at La Trobe University. JGLS, as a highly regarded law school in India, fosters curriculum, research, and collaborations of the highest standards, and with a global perspective, through a faculty drawn from, and educated throughout, the world. This agreement will give JGLS undergraduate law graduates the opportunity to study abroad and attain a graduate law degree from La Trobe Law School, one of Australia’s most progressive law schools. It is envisaged that this collaboration will lead to cross-institutional research projects, workshops and seminars.

For enquiries about La Trobe University, please visit: www.Latrobe.edu.au/international

Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Kashipur is participating in the 31 st edition of the New Delhi World Book Fair (NDWBF) began on February 25 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. The literary event, which is scheduled to go on till March 5, has been organised by the National Book Trust (NBT) in collaboration with the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO).

As usual, there’s something for everybody across nearly 2,000 stalls, where over a thousand publishers from 40-plus nations are exhibiting their wares. These events have become a meeting place for not only book lovers but also those who are involved in the teaching and education sphere.

IIM Kashipur has set-up its stall at Hall No. 4 (FF) at the NEP Pavilion of the mega fair, for the nine day long-event. People from all walks of life are thronging up at IIM Stall to learn about the key offerings by the Institute including its flagship MBA and MBA (Analytics) programmes. The institute is also exhibiting its strength and success in start-ups and innovation in teaching by organizing panel discussions and seminars at the NEP Event Corner set-up by the organizers.

IIM Kashipur team organized a Panel Discussion on ‘Emerging Trends in Startup Ecosystem’ on 28 Feb o discuss about the innovative practices adopted by startups prospective investor and recent trend in this field. Mr. Sameer Rastogi, Managing Partner of India Juris; Mr. Praveen Sinha, Managing Director, Pin Cap; Mr. S. Mustafa, Founder Corporate Venture Hub; Mr. Varun Kumar, IKAYU Foods; Mr. Rajiv Sikka, Ex CEO of Indian Oil-Adani Gas Pvt Ltd; and Dr. Sneha Dohar, Asst Professor, G.B. Pant University were key panellists of the program. The discussion
was moderated by Prof. Kunal of IIM Kashipur.

Praveen Sinha, MD, PinCap highlighted that entrepreneurs should adopt “Cockroach Strategy” which is focused on perseverance and persuasion. Now a days investors are looking for the same while evaluating a start-up for funding. Another fact highlighted in the panel discussion were “purpose or passion”. The one flaw associated with passion is possibility of uncontrolled strategy followed by promoter which may happen to be suicidal.

Prof. Kunal, Principal Investigator, Start-up India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) highlighted advantage of being incubated at IIM Kashipur which provides seed fund, mentorship, physical space (if required) along with support for next round of funding by established VCs, Angel Investors and Companies with dedicated fund.

The team also organized a Seminar on ‘Changing Face of Executive Education’ moderated by Prof. Kunal Ganguli of the Institute, on 02 March, 2023. The discussion was centered around the significant transition taking place in executive education to suit the strategic needs of the industry and business. IIM Kashipur will organize another Panel discussion on ‘Innovation in Teaching Management: Emerging Role of Book’ on 05 March 2023.

The physical edition of NDWBF is being held after two years after the outbreak of the coronavirus. NDWBF was first held in 1972 after it was inaugurated by the then-President of India VV Giri. Its success inspired the launch of book fairs in several other parts of the country. Today, it’s one of the biggest literary events in the world with a total footfall of over two million people and the most sought-after literary event in the modern era.