All posts by Rabindra

Bangalore, 30 September 2024: Pearson (FTSE: PSON.L), the world’s learning company, and Niniskillup Training Institutes, a leading provider of training, testing, and placement services, have joined hands to offer Pearson’s BTEC Higher National undergraduate qualifications in Health and Social Care. Pearson BTECs are Vocational Skill Qualification programs, developed and validated in partnership with industry, universities, and professional bodies, offering a diverse range of qualifications, enabling learners a pathway to UK universities.

The Pearson BTEC Higher National undergraduate qualification is widely regarded as equivalent to the first two years of a three-year honours degree in the UK. It provides students with a distinctive learning experience through assessments and assignments rooted in real-world scenarios. These qualifications have achieved significant global success, benefiting over 1.05 million learners across more than 50 countries.

Pearson BTEC courses are available at over 30 partner institutions in India, including universities, colleges, international schools, and private training centres such as Solitaire Business School (Hyderabad), Jetking Institutes (Mumbai), and Buddha Group of Institutes (Karnal), among others.

“India is experiencing a significant shift towards vocational and skill-based education, with a strong focus on developing skills and enhancing employability. Health and social care are critical needs in India today and through our partnership with NiniSkillip, learners will have access to Pearson BTEC programs that will equip them with practical, industry-relevant skills they need to succeed in a competitive job market.” said, Siddharth Parnerkar, Senior Director, Pearson Workforce Skills

On the announcement of the partnership, Vishesh Chandrashekar, CEO, NiniSkillup, “We are thrilled to collaborate with Pearson to bring their esteemed BTEC Higher Nationals Health and Social Care courses to our institution. This partnership underscores our commitment to providing our students with internationally recognized qualifications that meet industry standards and prepare them for successful careers in healthcare and social services.”

Gurugram, 30 September 2024 – As India’s travel landscape continues to evolve, premium experiences are becoming a priority for many travelers. According to MakeMyTrip’s latest How Indians Travel Abroad report, there has been a 10% increase in searches for international business class flights between 2023 and 2024. Traditionally associated with long-haul destinations such as the USA and the UK, the trend is now extending to shorter routes, including destinations like Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Japan, and Saudi Arabia.

To serve this growing trend, MakeMyTrip is bringing together 10 leading international airlines— Air Astana, Air India, Air India Express, Malaysia Airlines, Oman Air, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and Vistara—offering up to 20% discount on business class fares. To make it even more attractive, MakeMyTrip has partnered with ICICI Bank, providing an additional ₹10,000 off for ICICI Bank cardholders. Travelers can take advantage of these fantastic offers from September 27 to October 2, during the dedicated Business Class Fest.

“The Indian traveller is rapidly evolving, seeking the best at every stage of their travel journey. With the launch of initiatives like the Business Class Fest, we aim to make premium experiences both accessible and rewarding,” said, Saujanya Shrivastava, Chief Operating Officer – Flights, Holidays & Gulf at MakeMyTrip. “We are delighted that the travel ecosystem is increasingly looking to us as the preferred platform for premium travellers. We have introduced several new features and initiatives to enhance the travel experience of our customers and will continue to bring more such offerings in the coming months as well.”

This push to boost business class travel builds upon MakeMyTrip’s recent launch of a dedicated Business Class Funnel for international flights. Tailored specifically for business travelers, this feature provides an immersive, intuitive booking experience with high-quality visuals, refined filters, and a user-friendly interface that simplifies the business class booking process, ensuring transparency and convenience.

National, 30th September 2024: NIIT Foundation, together with Ciena, a networking systems, services, and software company, has launched an initiative called the “Digital Empowerment Program through the Digital Transformation Vehicle (DTV)” initiative in Faridabad, Haryana .This program is a mobile education and training program that aims to provide digital literacy and skills to underserved and remote communities, with the goal of narrowing the digital divide.

The initiative features a mobile training facility equipped with 16 computers, internet connectivity, and comprehensive training materials. Certified trainers, including an IT trainer and a mobilizer, who encourages individuals to enrol in the program, travel with the vehicle to provide hands-on support. The program offers customizable courses tailored to community needs, covering digital literacy, financial literacy, and vocational skills.

Since its inception, the program has made significant strides in impacting lives. The DTV has reached 8,667 beneficiaries, while the Hole in the Wall Learning Stations, which are installed in the villages after the DTV departs, have engaged 2,190 individuals. The initiative has successfully installed 12 Hole in the Wall Learning Stations across various locations from August 2023 to March 2024, promoting digital literacy and self-directed learning.

Highlighting the need for such initiatives, Amit Malik, Vice President, Ciena India, said, “In today’s rapidly evolving landscape, it has become increasingly crucial to equip our youth with the skills they need to thrive and navigate the digital landscape safely and effectively. Our collaboration with NIIT Foundation allows us to manifest our commitment to narrowing the digital divide while also encouraging skill development – creating meaningful opportunities for communities far and wide.”

Further highlighting the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders, Charu Kapoor, Country Director at NIIT Foundation, noted, “Leveraging the expertise and resources of the private sector, paired with an NGO’s reach, and understanding of the demographic landscape paves the way for maximising the impact of such initiatives. Our collaborative efforts with Ciena, in this regard, have made substantial strides since its commencement and we aim to continually stride towards effectively prepare the youth for the highly competitive job market in our ever-evolving world.”

Looking ahead, NIIT Foundation and Ciena aim to expand the program’s reach across Faridabad (Haryana) to impact more than 8,500 beneficiaries, introducing new courses aligned with emerging digital trends and exploring further opportunities to empower the youth and allow them to confidently steer through the rapidly digitising world.

September 30, 2024– WelcomHeritage Cheetahgarh Resort & Spa is delighted to announce the launch of its new banqueting offering, set amidst picturesque backdrop of the Aravalli hills in Bera, Rajasthan. This exquisite venue caters to intimate events and small weddings, combining modern elegance with timeless charm – an ideal setting for milestone celebrations.

The newly introduced banquet hall at WelcomHeritage Cheetahgarh Resort & Spa offers an inviting indoor space capable of accommodating up to 70 guests. For guests seeking a more expansive setting, the outdoor garden area that the banquet open into, can host an additional 50 guests, bringing the total capacity to approximately 150. This flexible arrangement provides the perfect canvas for bespoke celebrations, enhanced by the natural beauty and tranquil ambiance of the resort.

“WelcomHeritage Cheetahgarh aims to redefine the standard for luxury destination events in Rajasthan,” said Gulshan Jhurani, Promoter, WelcomHeritage Cheetahgarh Resort & Spa. “Our latest banqueting facilities are a testament to our dedication to crafting memorable experiences, offering guests both grandeur and intimacy in a serene environment.”

The experienced events team is committed to assisting guests in creating unforgettable memories, offering customized services that include event planning, decorative arrangements, and bespoke culinary experiences. The culinary team is poised to provide a diverse range of exquisite dining options, featuring authentic Rajasthani delicacies alongside international cuisine, ensuring every palate is catered to.

In addition to exceptional event spaces, WelcomHeritage Cheetahgarh Resort & Spa is known as a luxurious perspective of unsullied Rajasthan wilderness and immersive Jawai experiences. Spread across 20 pristine acres of wilderness, the resort features world-class amenities across 22 lavish rooms, one and two bedroom chalets, villas, and luxury tents. Some with private temperature-controlled swimming pools with outdoor decks.

For events requiring accommodation beyond the resort’s available rooms, the neighbouring hotel conveniently offers the additional lodging, ensuring that every attendee has a comfortable stay experience.

The resort’s location and curated activities further enhances its appeal, offering guests a unique opportunity to enjoy the cultural richness and natural beauty of the region. Guests can sign up for leopards safaris, birding, guided walks through the vibrant Rabari villages, rock climbing, rock crawling, archery, trekking, or visits to historic temples and forts.

India, September 30, 2024 – Netweb Technologies India Limited, a leading provider of high-end computing solutions, is proud to announce that Intel Corporation has recognized the company with an Intel Partner Award in the category of Outstanding Growth – Data Center & AI Group.

The company has been delivering AI-ready solutions for enterprises focusing on the “AI-First” strategy to provide exceptional capabilities for its customers and improve overall organisation efficiency. The company is also actively pursuing setting up a Private AI lab for universities and research institutions looking to leverage AI’s power to effect transformative changes. Furthermore, Netweb has a complete stack and platform for sovereign AI cloud with its Make in India Servers.

“We are deeply honored to accept this prestigious award from Intel, which stands as a testament to our unwavering dedication to technological innovation and excellence,” said Sanjay Lodha, CMD of Netweb Technologies. “Our strategic partnership with Intel has been instrumental in our journey to deliver cutting-edge solutions that empower our customers to achieve advancements in AI, High-Performance Computing (HPC), storage, data centers, and private cloud infrastructures. This accolade reflects our relentless pursuit of excellence and our commitment to creating transformative solutions that drive efficiency, scalability, and innovation. We will continue to push the boundaries of technology to ensure our customers remain at the forefront of their industries, leveraging the best in AI and data center technologies.”

“We are thrilled to recognize Intel’s Partner Award winners across APJ and India,” said Trevor Vickers, Vice President and General Manager of Intel’s Global Partners and Support. “Our partners have achieved the highest standards in growth, innovation, and market acceleration. Congratulations to Netweb Technologies Limited for your remarkable achievements. We value your collaborative partnership and look forward to continued innovation and success.”

“Congratulations, Netweb Technologies Limited, for your unwavering support, innovative solutions, and excellence in serving customer needs.  We look forward to what we can achieve together. Congratulations to all the winners,” said Santhosh Viswanathan, Managing Director & Vice President of Intel – India Region.

Netweb Technologies India Limited was rewarded for continually applying their expertise in ways that help Intel’s products outshine competitors and win customers.

It has made significant contributions to revenue and increased the number of channel partners reached on behalf of Intel.

To qualify as a winner in this category, organizations must be a member of the Intel Partner Alliance; demonstrate year over year (YoY) growth, as well as an increase in overall partner revenue, number of partners adopted, and/or is well-positioned to increase their expected YoY growth.

Patna, 25 Sept 2024: CII Bihar and Indian Green Building Council Patna, organised the 3rd edition of ‘Bihar Green Conclave’ with theme Greening Residential, Office and Interior Spaces at Hotel Lemon Tree, Patna.

Speaking on the occasion, Nitin Nabin, Minister, Urban Development & Housing Department realised the need of green construction in the state and said, “the state government would encourage the green construction practices being a promoter of the concepts to encourage all the stakeholders from the building industry.” He stressed on two factors which would be instrumental in making government a promoter of green building practices – Scope in converting the existing government projects and mandating the new upcoming projects as green compliant and bringing suitable policies to encourage green construction in the state. He further mentioned on exploring various policies on incentivising green buildings by other states in the country and adopting best suitable policy for Bihar. The minister invited all the relevant parties such as CII-IGBC, CREDAI, IIA to join hands with Urban Development & Housing Department and help in finalising the most suitable policy for the state. He also mentioned few of the existing practices at city and municipal level towards making Bihar a sustainable built state such as segregation of waste, water conservation etc.

Dr. Satyajit Kumar Singh, Chairman, CII Bihar State Council, Director, Ruban Memorial Hospital spoke about sustainability in healthcare facilities. He said, “Introducing green concepts in the healthcare facilities can help address National issues like infection, epidemics, handling of bio-medical waste, water efficiency, energy efficiency, reduction in fossil fuel use for commuting, consumer waste and in general conservation of natural resources. Most importantly, these concepts can enhance patients’ health, recovery and well-being”.

Spearheading the green building movement in India from over two decades, CII-IGBC with the support of all the stakeholders has facilitated India to become one of the top three countries in the world in terms of largest registered green building footprint. As on date, over 14,400 green building projects, amounting to over 12 billion sq. ft. are adopting IGBC green building rating systems.

Sudip Kumar, Chairman, IGBC Patna Chapter and Chairman, LaaCasa Developers said, The need of certifying the project ultimately becomes the end result of the overall efforts put in by many stakeholders in a project, starting with the vision of the developer/project owner, design team, MEP team, HVAC team, the other consultants involved in the projects to the end users which feel satisfying in investing in those projects. Hence the achievement of a green certification for a project becomes an aspiring and encouraging factors for all of them to do better and keep improving the building performance on energy, water, environmental parameters.

Sachin Chandra, Chairman, CREDAI Bihar and MD, Swadha Developers urged the minister to consider and support in bringing a robust policy which could drive the adoption of green building concepts more practically. He further highlighted on various policies by the other state governments in the country.

Gaurav Sah, Vice Chairman, CII Bihar and Director, L V Best Pvt Ltd while speaking on sustainable industrial practices urged to the CII members and other industrial facility owners to envision their green mission and make their factories, manufacturing units, supply chain, warehouses etc as green complaint and contribute to the sustainable development of the state and the country.

Abhishek Sharma, Co Chairman, IGBC Patna Chapter and Principal Architect, PRAYOG concluded the inaugural by highlighting all the deliberations and assured the minister that a team comprised of CII, IGBC, CREDAI, IIA would meet him and his department to brainstorm on the best possible policy framework for the state to consider and further implement.

The conclave was attended by over 90 key stakeholders from the building industry such as developers, architects, engineers, government officials, academicians and other industrial and corporate leaders.

Mumbai, September 28, 2024 – Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal opened up about their intimate wedding, offering a glimpse into the special day at CNN News18 Mumbai Townhall 2024 on Friday.

The couple discussed their decision to keep the ceremony low-key, surrounded only by close friends and family, and Sonakshi shared her uncontainable excitement.

When asked why they didn’t openly discuss their relationship or make public appearances as a couple, Sonakshi had a heartfelt response. “Nazar,” she quipped, hinting at the common belief of warding off negative energy. She went on to explain that being in the limelight as an actress often means that attention can divert from one’s work and legacy. “I feel it’s always better to keep private things private,” Sonakshi said.

“You’re already so much in the limelight; everybody knows everything about you. Something that is so dear to you should be kept for yourself.”

Reflecting on the overwhelming love they received after the wedding, Sonakshi admitted she hadn’t expected such a heartfelt reaction. “Honestly, no,” she said, recalling the days leading up to their big day. “There were so many mixed emotions and different things we were reading online. But we decided to drown out the noise and just focus on each other.” After dating for seven years, both Sonakshi and Zaheer were determined to celebrate their love without worrying about outside opinions. “We said, to hell with the world, and we’re going to celebrate our love,” Sonakshi said.

She described a beautiful shift that occurred once they were finally married. “The day we got married, I don’t know what shifted, but there was only love. Everyone there could see the love between us—our family, our friends. We wanted only the people who genuinely and truly love us to be there. Positive, positive, positive energy. And that’s what happened.”

One of the most touching moments was when Sonakshi’s excitement shone through as she signed the marriage papers. The session’s host fondly recalled how Sonakshi clapped her hands in childlike delight, a moment that clearly radiated her joy. “I was just more expressive,” Sonakshi said with a laugh. “I might have screeched in excitement and then realised, ‘It’s your wedding day!’”

Zaheer shared similar sentiments, explaining how both of them were filled with excitement as the moment finally arrived. “There was a sort of urgency—we just wanted to get married. We wanted to call each other husband and wife,” he said. “It’s been a very long time.”

Sonakshi reflected on how significant the moment was for him personally. “When you ask kids what they want to do, some will say they want to be an actor or a doctor. I used to say, I want to grow up and be married,” she revealed.

For Zaheer, the wedding represented the culmination of something he had dreamed about since childhood, and his excitement matched Sonakshi’s. “When I found the right person, and we were signing those papers, I was just ecstatic.”

Zaheer summed up their emotions perfectly. He said if anyone ever asks whether they should get married, he would show them the video of their wedding and say, “If you don’t feel like this when you’re signing the papers, then don’t get married!”

New Delhi, September 27, 2024: GD Goenka Public School, Vasant Kunj, one of the leading educational institutions in the country, is delighted to announce Delhi NCR’s first electric school bus pilot program in collaboration with VE Commercial Vehicles.

This pioneering endeavour marks a substantial step towards sustainability and reducing carbon footprints in the education sector, making GD Goenka the first school to undertake such an initiative.

”This transformative initiative reflects our commitment to creating a greener future and establishing new sustainability benchmarks in the education landscape. In the coming times, we will continue to embrace innovative measures for environmental stewardship and fostering change agents of the future,” said Mr. Nipun Goenka, Managing Director of GD Goenka Group.

In an effort to convert its entire school bus fleet to 100 percent electric, the school has partnered with VECV to design a suitable operational and financial model. The pilot program will assess the performance of electric buses, student satisfaction, charging cycles, maintenance requirements, and overall efficiency.

The program is set to usher in a new era in school transportation in India, as most electric bus fleets to date have been used only in city bus applications.

”We are pleased to partner with GD Goenka Public school, Vasant Kunj to drive sustainable transportation and ensure a greener tomorrow. The institution has been at the forefront in embracing innovative practices, and we are happy to support them with their sustainability goals,” said, Mr. SS Gill, Chief Commercial Officer, VE Commercial Vehicles.

~Join the Journey to 40 New Cities and International Destinations

Saurabh Luthra’s Romeo Lane, currently established in 11 cities across India, is poised for significant expansion. Plans are underway to extend its presence to an additional 40 cities domestically and to launch international branches. This expansion is driven by Saurabh’s vision to cater to diverse guest experiences throughout the day, transforming Romeo Lane into a preferred destination for family dining at lunch and a vibrant nightlife venue in the evenings. Targeting metropolitan and tier-2 cities in India, Romeo Lane aims to meet the rising demand for exceptional dining and nightlife. Internationally, the brand eyes entry into key cities in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Europe, leveraging its appeal with a blend of Indian and global cuisine and dynamic nightlife offerings.

As part of this expansion, Saurabh Luthra envisions enhancing Romeo Lane’s offerings with new seasonal specialties, innovative organic cocktails, and exclusive dining experiences. Collaborations with local suppliers, event organizers, and technology partners will further bolster Romeo Lane’s growth strategy, ensuring operational excellence and maintaining the highest standards of service.

Saurabh Luthra’s leadership at Romeo Lane epitomizes a commitment to culinary excellence and customer satisfaction. Under his stewardship, Romeo Lane has evolved into a beloved destination renowned for seamlessly integrating fine dining with vibrant nightlife experiences. His strategic vision and hands-on approach have fostered a culture of innovation, ensuring Romeo Lane remains at the forefront of Delhi’s dynamic food scene.

The recent success of Romeo Lane can be attributed to Saurabh Luthra’s relentless pursuit of offering exceptional dining experiences that resonate deeply with patrons. By actively listening to customer feedback and swiftly adapting to market trends, Saurabh Luthra has positioned Romeo Lane not just as a restaurant, but as a cultural hub where each visit promises culinary delight and memorable moments.

For more information on Saurabh Luthra’s leadership and Romeo Lane’s expansion plans, please visit www.romeolane.com.

Mountain View, California – September 27, 2024 – ThoughtSpot, the AI-Powered Analytics Company, today announced that the Company has appointed Ketan Karkhanis as Chief Executive Officer.

Ketan is joining ThoughtSpot from Salesforce, where he has spent over a decade of his career. He most recently served as the Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Salesforce Sales Cloud business, leading one of the company’s largest cloud businesses that generated more than $7 billion last fiscal year. He returned to Salesforce in March 2022 after his time as the COO of Turvo, a supply-chain collaboration platform that was acquired by Lineage Logistics in 2022. Before that, Ketan was the Senior Vice President and General Manager of Salesforce Einstein Analytics, incubating the business from launch to over .

“During this time of accelerated transformation driven by the advent of generative AI, there is no better person to lead ThoughtSpot than Ketan,” said Ajeet Singh, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of ThoughtSpot. “He is a customer-obsessed, employee-focused business leader with a deep experience in analytics and has built and led world-class SaaS businesses of significant scale. The ThoughtSpot Board believes that Ketan is the right leader to help ThoughtSpot capitalize on its foundational innovation and capture the massive market opportunity that lies ahead in AI-powered analytics.”

Singh added, “Over the last six months, ThoughtSpot has made significant progress in accelerating its product roadmap, delivering genAI-driven value to customers that are migrating away from legacy visualization platforms, and centering its focus on durable growth at scale, all setting the table for our next CEO.”

“Ketan has the passion and experience to lead ThoughtSpot in its next chapter,” said Ravi Mhatre, Founder and Managing Director of Lightspeed Venture Partners and the founding investor on ThoughtSpot’s Board of Directors. “This appointment comes at a perfect time for the market as analytics is redefined by genAI, and ensures that ThoughtSpot is best positioned to scale rapidly.”

“ThoughtSpot has built a fundamentally different approach to analytics since its inception, squarely focused on democratizing data and empowering everyone to make data-driven decisions with its AI and search-driven analytics platform,” said Ketan Karkhanis, CEO of ThoughtSpot. “ThoughtSpot has a significant head start in innovation that is required for truly delivering on the expectations that genAI has created, with a proven solution that is delivering value to some of the largest and most complex enterprises in the world. I am extremely honored to have the opportunity to lead the company that finds itself intersecting with the genAI tailwinds at a perfect time, and is in a strong position to capitalize on this market opportunity by bringing unparalleled value to over a thousand customers across the globe.”