Category business

Mumbai 29th May 2023: TISS-SVE excitedly welcomes Higher Secondary Education students to engage in Vocational Aptitude System (VAS). Launched in July last year, this standardized psychometric test, developed under the guidance of Defence Institute of Psychological Research (DIPR), DRDO, offers a comprehensive platform to guide students in selecting the most suitable path within the realm of vocational education.

The Skill Education and Counselling Unit administers VAS. As the portal has launched recently, last year, only 91 students were able to participate in the test. However, this year, the unit expects a significant increase in registrations. TISS SVE’s unique programs diverge from conventional offerings, necessitating guidance for students in sector and program selection. Students have the option to take multiple tests to assess their aptitude across 15 diverse sectors. The test can be undertaken prior to enrolling in TISS SVE programs or any other vocational program.

Shivranjani Kulkarni, Senior Manager of the Skill Education and Counselling Unit, emphasized the tendency of students to make career choices influenced by peer pressure, resulting in subsequent regrets. In light of this, she strongly recommends the utilization of VAS for those contemplating vocational education. Additionally, Ms. Kulkarni highlighted the lack of awareness surrounding the equivalence of a Bachelor of Vocational Education to other degree courses like B.A., B.Com, and B.Sc. Graduates of these vocational programs possess opportunities to pursue overseas studies or secure positions in renowned industries.

The test is designed to be user-friendly, offering high reliability and validity. It is administered through a software-enabled system, allowing for both individual and group administration. In VAS, students have the flexibility to select up to three sectors of their interest and take tests specifically related to those sectors. They can re-register to take up tests for additional sectors. Upon completion of the test, students will receive self-explanatory auto-generated reports. Furthermore, they can benefit from personal counseling services based on the results of their tests.

Mumbai,29th May 2023 SOTC Travel,a leading omnichannel travel, and Tourism Company inaugurated its new outlet in Radeon Mall, Ghatkopar(East). The outlet was inaugurated by Mr. Daniel D’Souza, President & Country Head – Holidays, SOTC Travel Limited and Mr. Himanshu Sampat, Associate Vice President – Sales, SOTC Travel. This new addition further increases SOTC’s network strength to ten stores in Mumbai (3 retail and 7 franchise), reiterating the Company’s strategic focus to expand its footprint in the city.

Mumbai features among SOTC’s top 3 key source markets, and the Company’s newly inaugurated outlet, located at a prime location in Ghatkopar,serves as a hub for nearby areas ofVikroli, Powai, Bhandup and Mulund. Ghatkopar is a hub for cosmopolitan travelers and forms a critical source market for SOTC Travel, offering the company a range of valuable segments like Gen Z/new age travelers, millennials, families, couples, Gen S/seniors and business owners.

SOTC Travel’s customer insights from Mumbai and Maharashtra indicate brisk demand of over 30% vs. pre-pandemic. The Company is witnessing high demand for personalized holidays and group tours in the region, and anticipate robust demand for experiential holidays, adventure holidays, domestic cruises, eclectic stays, safaris and biking trips. To cater to the preferences of travelers, SOTC Travel has expanded its portfolio and introduced ‘Customized Holiday Experts’withdestination expertise to help customers plan their memorable holidays as per their preferences, this is in addition to the Company’s highly popular group escorted tours – international and domestic.

Customers from this region are very mindful of their food preferences and hence the Company has introduced a wide range of ‘GurjarVishwadarshan holidays’ – curated tours that offer vegetarian and Gujarati meals.

To boost demand, SOTC Travel has also introduced value driven offers like Buy One Get One Free, Early Bird discounts, complimentary cruise experience on Greece Holidays and cashback offers.

Mr.Daniel D’souza President & Country Head – Holidays, SOTC Travel said, “Mumbai continues to be one of our top 3 source markets at SOTC, and we are witnessingstrong continuum – brisk demand of over 30% vs. pre-pandemic. We are delighted to open our new store in Ghatkopar – this new addition increases our network strength in the city to ten stores, and caters to customers from Vikroli, Powai, Bhandup and Mulund as well. Our new storeis centrally located and a hub for cosmopolitan travelers thus allowing us to target valuable segments of Gen Z/new age travelers, millennials, families, couples, Gen S/seniors and business owners. Our extensive range ofholidays has something for everyone – from customized holidays to luxury and premium holidays, also group escorted tours.
We extend a warm welcome to our customers, and we look forward to plan their next holiday with us.”

Top international and domestic destinations in demand – Europe’s Switzerland, France, Finland, Greece, Austria; Turkiye, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, USA (for visa holding customers), Japan, South Korea, Abu Dhabi, Maldives, Mauritius, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore; also Kashmir, Leh-Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Goa, Andamans, Kerala, North East; Bhutan and Sri Lanka in the Indian subcontinent.

SOTC Travel’s new outlet offers end-to-end travel solutions with an array of services, including: International & Domestic Holidays (Group tours, Personalised Holidays, Cruises, etc.), Value Added Services like Travel Insurance; Visa Services, etc.

Bengaluru, 29th May 2023: The Indian Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA) successfully organized Deftronics 2023, a premier conference showcasing India’s growing prowess in the electronics and semiconductor industry. The event, held on 26 May 2023 at Hilton Bengaluru Embassy Manyata Business Park (Convention Centre), brought together industry leaders, government officials, and young innovators to discuss the nation’s journey towards self-reliance and the transformative power of the Make in India initiative.

Commenting on the event, Mr K Krishnamoorthy, President & CEO IESA said, “We are proud to have hosted Deftronics 2023, a platform that celebrated India’s growing self-reliance and its emerging position as a global leader in the electronics and semiconductor industry. The conference provided a unique opportunity to engage industry leaders, government officials, and young innovators in meaningful discussions on Make in India, innovative technologies, and the future of defense and space. Deftronics 2023 showcased India’s potential and reaffirmed our commitment to nurturing a thriving ecosystem of indigenous electronics manufacturing.”

The conference commenced with a warm welcome from Mr. Anilkumar Muniswamy, Founder CEO of SLN Technologies and Space & Defence CiG Champion IESA. Esteemed guests, including Mr. Sanjeev Gupta CEO of KDEM Bengaluru, Lt. Gen. Raj Shukla, Member UPSC & Retd. Army Commander, Lt. Gen. M.U. Nair, VSM, AVSM, SO-in-C, IHQ of MoD, New Delhi, and Dr. Satheesh Reddy, Scientific Advisor to Hon’ble Raksha Mantri, Government of India, set the tone for the conference with their insightful addresses.

The theme of the conference revolved around the significance of Aatmanirbharta and its intersection with the booming semiconductor industry. Participants engaged in vibrant discussions on new technologies like drones and nanotechnology, exploring their potential applications in defense and space domains. Notable keynote speakers such as Shri Amitesh Kumar Sinha, Joint Secretary (E) of MeitY, Smt. Chandrika Kaushik, DG PC&SI of DRDO, Directorate of Technology Development Fund (DRDO), iDEX from DDP (MoD), HAL and Mr. Tobby Simon, Founder CEO of Synergia Foundation, shared their perspectives besides a host of industry leaders in Semiconductor space on critical electronic components, emerging defense technologies, and space and defense cyber security systems, respectively.

Deftronics 2023 also witnessed the recognition of exemplary individuals and organizations committed to the Make in India initiative. Awards were presented to deserving recipients, promoting the spirit of innovation and highlighting the remarkable contributions made by young leaders. The event provided a platform for students to showcase their inventive ideas, further nurturing their innovative minds. The conference witnessed the presence of leaders who emphasized India’s trajectory towards becoming a global leader in the electronics and semiconductor industry. They underscored the nation’s commitment to creating a sustainable ecosystem and establishing India as a hub for cutting-edge technology.

The Government of Karnataka also showcased its future plans pertaining to the industries discussed during the event, shedding light on the state’s role in fostering innovation and promoting growth. Mr. Sharat Kaul, VP of Strategy at IESA, concluded the conference by extending his heartfelt gratitude to all participants, speakers, and attendees for their invaluable contributions.

“We owe the resounding success of Deftronics 2023 to the collective efforts of industry leaders, government officials, and young innovators who came together to promote self-reliance and the Make in India initiative. The conference’s success was driven by vibrant discussions on emerging technologies, the showcasing of innovative minds, and the recognition of outstanding contributions. Deftronics 2023 truly exemplified the collaborative spirit and commitment to excellence that will propel India towards becoming a global leader in the electronics and semiconductor industry,” said Anurag Awasthi, Vice President of IESA.

Deftronics 2023 served as a testament to the paradigm shift among India’s youth, reflecting their growing interest in the Make in India initiative. The conference successfully fostered dialogue, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing, setting the stage for India’s journey towards self-reliance in the electronics and semiconductor sectors.

Bangalore, 29th May 2023: KRAFTON, Inc’s BATTLEGROUNDS MOBILE INDIA (BGMI), India’s most loved battle royale title is available to preload from today, 27th May for ALL Android users. The game, however will be playable from 29th May onwards only. As for iOS users, the game will be available for download and play from May 29th 2023.

Few users may have received an automatic update from midnight, this is a part of the preload process, and you have nothing to worry.

In anticipation of an overwhelming number of downloads, KRAFTON will stagger the availability and playability of BGMI. This approach ensures players enjoy the game seamlessly without any interruptions. Players can, therefore, jump into the action-packed battles and prove their skills on the battlegrounds from 29th May onwards. The new update will introduce a New Map, In-Game Events and more. On the sidelines of the availability of the game, KRAFTON has also launched a new marketing campaign ‘India Ki Heartbeat’ that showcases the stories of gamers who embody the essence of BGMI as more than just a game, but a profound emotion.

“We are thrilled to announce that BATTLEGROUNDS MOBILE INDIA is now available for preload. We are consistently striving to deliver a smooth gameplay experience to our users and are excited to welcome everyone back,” said Sean Hyunil Sohn, CEO, KRAFTON, Inc. India “We once again, thank the authorities and our users for their continued support as we look forward to elevating the gaming experience for our community in India. See you on the battlegrounds!”

29th May 2023, New Delhi  While Analysts are reviewing various schemes and programs of Govt. of India on completion of nine years of Modi Govt. in center, Analyst 5 Jewels Research (5JR) believes that India Stack which is a product of ‘Digital India’ Program of Govt. of India has potential to become one of the World’s largest digital brand. Various public digital infrastructure platforms like Aadhaar, UPI (United Payments Interface), DigiLocker, ONDC (Open Network for Digital Commerce), Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) are when stacked and integrated together then technically it termed as India Stack.

While ‘Aadhaar’, the national identity program of India, was under formation since year 2009-10, other public digital infrastructure platforms were initiated as part of Digital India program, which was launched in year 2015 by Modi Govt.

While giving his opinion on completion of nine years of P.M. Modi Govt. on 26th May 2023, Chief Analyst of 5 Jewels Research Mr Sumant Parimal said “Digital India Program which was launched under the leadership of P.M. Modi in year 2015 is not only creating various digital infrastructure platforms like UPI, ONDC, DigiLocker for digitally transforming India’s governance and citizen lives, but it is also churning out digital product brand under unified frameworks of India Stack, which has potential to become one of the largest digital brand of the World. Brand value of digital products and digital platforms are directly dependent on factors like uses cases, scalability, usability, adoption, global demand, underneath data volume, algorithms, and innovative IPs (Intellectual Property) along with high level patronages for its wider success. And when we see various public digital infrastructure platforms of India, which together forms India Stack, we find that all these factors and along with many other factors are in favorable conditions for positioning India Stack as one of the World’s largest digital brand”.

“While country is aspiring for achieving $10T+ GDP, making India top three economies of the World in years to come and with already ranked as top five global economy, but in term of consolidated brand valuation of Indian brands, India is still far behind at position nine in global ranking, with an estimated consolidated brand valuation much below half trillion$ mark. With help of Digital India-India Stack and other digital- tech. brands of Indian startups and enterprises, it may be possible for India to get ranked among top three consolidated brand valuation country in par with U.S., China, and Japan. Thus, I see India Stack as one of the strongest emerging Indian brand having potential to become world’s largest digital brand, which I further see as one of the biggest accomplishments of Modi Govt.” Sumant Parimal said.

Point to be noted here that components of Indian Stack like UPI digital payment platform are already in Global demand, and recently countries like Singapore, Bhutan, UAE, Mauritius, Indonesia already expressed their interests for integrating with UPI platform of India.

29th May 2023 Kolkata: iLEAD Films, the production unit of Institute of Leadership, Entrepreneurship and Development (iLEAD), is thrilled to announce the upcoming iLEAD Film Festival from May 26th to May 30th, 2023 at 5 pm onwards every day. The festival will be held at the iLEAD Auditorium, Topsia, Kolkata, offering film enthusiasts a unique opportunity to witness the finest works produced by iLEAD Films so far. The movies will range from showcasing human emotions to exploring the glorious history of our nation.

The Festival Lineup:

iLEAD Films will present an impressive number of thought-provoking films with educative, meaningful and socially significant content. The festival schedule is as follows:

May 26th: “1971-India’s Finest Hour” – A film on India’s spectacular military victory in the 1971 India-Pakistan war that led to the liberation of Bangladesh. Lauded as the ‘must watch film for every Indian’, it showcases the brilliant roles played by all departments of Govt. of India in the most co-ordinated way.

May 27th: “Before You Die” – Kavya is a young girl from Rajasthan who arrives with her father in the beautiful hills of North Bengal. She meets Kuldip, a boy who works at the tea estate of Darjeeling. She gradually finds love in him. However, when she is proposed to by Kuldip, she decides to run away leaving him in a devastated state. But Kuldip decides not to give up. He has to find out why she left. It is a passionate story about love and life.

May 28th: “Kusum Ka Biyaah” – This yet to be released film is based on a true story exemplifying and facts are stranger than fiction – a story that shows the determination of the human spirit to defy all odds and overcome. It is a story of how the poorest of poor coped with Covid pandemic lockdown – a story about the eternal rivalry between the states of Bihar and Jharkhand.

May 29th: “Transfer of Power” – The story of how India achieved independence from 200 years of British dominance. Live the time with authentic footage and content which leads you through the single most remarkable event in history.

May 30th: “INDiRA” – It is a documentary feature film that narrates the story of the lady who led India’s future through extremely rare archived footage. BBC referred to her as the ‘Woman of the Millennium’ and Time Magazine called her as one of the world’s 100 powerful women who defined the last century.

iLEAD Films has continuously demonstrated an unwavering commitment to cinematic excellence. The film festival is a testament to our dedication in producing exceptional storytelling and showcasing diverse narratives that are socially significant. Film enthusiasts, critics, industry professionals, students, parents are all cordially invited to the iLEAD Film Festival from 26th May to 30th May 2023 at 5 pm every day.

New Delhi,29th May 2023 KRAFTON, Inc., the South Korean video game developer has today announced the first Road To Valor: Empires Open Championship with a total prize pool of INR 10 lakhs. Strategy gaming in India has witnessed a surge in emerging talent, and this tournament aims to provide a platform for players to refine their skills and make a mark in the world of Esports.

Speaking on the recent developments, Sean Hyunil Sohn, CEO of KRAFTON, Inc. India, said, “We are thrilled to announce the Road To Valor: Empires Open Championship and the launch of KRAFTON INDIA ESPORTS channels. We believe India has a strong talent pool in strategy gaming, and we hope this tournament provides a platform for all aspiring players in this segment. India has always been an important market for us, and we are committed to nurturing the Esports ecosystem in the country.”

Road To Valor: Empires Open Championship is set to commence in June. Dates and additional details regarding the tournament will be announced soon.

In addition to the tournament announcement, KRAFTON has unveiled dedicated Esports channels as part of its ongoing commitment to fostering the growth of the Esports ecosystem in the country. The KRAFTON INDIA ESPORTS YouTube Channel will serve as a hub for all Esports enthusiasts, offering engaging content, thrilling competitions, and updates on KRAFTON’s Esports events.

.

Pune, 29th May 2023 Gera Developments, pioneers of the real estate business and the award-winning creators of premium residential and commercial projects in Pune, Goa, Bengaluru and California, has announced the appointment of Gulzar Malhotra, as its Chief Executive Officer. For the first time in its 52 years of operations, Gera Developments has hired a professional CEO to successfully drive company’s operations with continued focus on customer centricity. This is a big move considering that the company is at an inflection point of witnessing exponential growth in the Pune realty market and transformational changes within the organisation. Gulzar Malhotra will report to Rohit Gera, Managing Director, Gera Developments.

Commenting on the CEO appointment, Mr. Rohit Gera, Managing Director of Gera Developments, said, “We are excited to welcome Gulzar Malhotra as our first CEO. Mr. Malhotra brings with him a wealth of experience in the real estate industry, having previously held leadership positions in several prestigious companies. Gulzar’s comprehensive understanding of the development value chain, from project feasibility to construction management and sales, real estate advisory & valuation positions him well to steer Gera Development’s to scale greater heights. It is a milestone for any family business when the mantle is handed over to a non-family member to take the business to greater heights. I am confident that his strategic approach, coupled with his ability to motivate and communicate, will contribute significantly to our continued growth and success. I wish him all the best as he embarks on this journey of steering the company to create a sustainable business with sales and profit growth and value for all stakeholders in the coming decade.”

“I am delighted to join Gera Developments which has been at the forefront of driving innovation in the real estate industry for over five decades,” said Mr. Gulzar Malhotra, the company’s newly appointed CEO. “It’s an honor to get an opportunity to lead this exceptional team, which has augmented Mr. Rohit Gera’s vision over the years. I look forward to building upon Gera Developments’ brand philosophy of Let’s Outdo whilst embracing the company’s core value of always putting the customer first. Collectively, we shall continue to innovate, create and deliver quality with a focus on trust and transparency. Over the years, integration of technology across the development value chain, has helped us in redefining real estate industry standards and we shall continue to improvise on the same to create bespoke spaces which enhance our customer’s living experience.”

With over two decades of experience across the entire real estate value chain from concept to delivery, Gulzar Malhotra brings a wealth of knowledge of development, finance, risk management & advisory across asset classes. As a part of the senior management of various national & multinational organizations, he has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills & business acumen. His understanding of real estate & methodical approach to development has aided in devising & implementing efficient organizational systems and processes which have optimized project evaluation, cash flow management, sales & marketing, construction planning and resource management.

India, 29th May 2023— Barracuda Networks Inc. (Barracuda), a trusted partner and leading provider of cloud-enabled security solutions, today published its 2023 spear-phishing trends report, which shows that 53% of Indian organizations studied were victims of spear-phishing in 2022 — and on average, 24% had at least one email account compromised through account takeover.

The report presents propriety spear-phishing data and analysis, drawing on a data set that comprises 50 billion emails across 3.5 million mailboxes, including nearly 30 million spear-phishing emails. The report also features survey findings from Barracuda-commissioned research. The survey, conducted by independent researcher Vanson Bourne, questioned IT professionals from frontline to the most senior roles at 150 Indian companies with 100 to 2,500 employees, across a range of industries.

Overall, the research revealed that cybercriminals continue to barrage organizations with targeted email attacks, and many companies are struggling to keep up. While spear-phishing attacks are low-volume, they are widespread and highly successful compared to other types of email attacks.

Spear phishing is widespread: 53% of Indian organizations analyzed were victims of spear phishing in 2022, and overall, a typical organization received 5 highly personalized spear-phishing emails per day.

These attacks are highly successful: Spear-phishing attacks make up only 0.1% of all e-mail based attacks, according to Barracuda data, but they are responsible for 66% of all breaches.

Organizations are feeling the impact: 63% of Indian respondents that experienced a spear-phishing attack reported machines infected with malware or viruses; 61% reported having stolen login credentials or account takeover; and 56% reported having sensitive data stolen.

Threat detection and response remains a challenge: On average, organizations take nearly 100 hours to identify, respond to, and remediate a post-deliver email threat — India organizations take 67 hours to detect the attack and 53 hours to respond and remediate after the attack is detected.

Remote work is increasing risks: Users at companies with more than a 50% remote workforce report higher levels of suspicious emails — 12 per day on average, compared to 9 per day for those with less than a 50% remote workforce.
Having more remote workers slows detection and response: Companies with more than a 50% remote workforce also reported that it takes longer to both detect and response to email security incidents — 55 hours to detect and 63 hours to response and mitigate, compared to an average of 36 hours and 51 hours respectively for organizations with fewer remote workers.

“Even though spear phishing is low volume, with its targeted and social engineering tactics, the technique leads to a disproportionate number of successful breaches, and the impact of just one successful attack can be devastating,” said Fleming Shi, CTO, Barracuda. “To help stay ahead of these highly effective attacks, businesses must invest in account takeover protection solutions with artificial intelligence capabilities. Such tools will have far greater efficacy than rule-based detection mechanisms. Improved efficacy in detection will help stop spear-phishing with reduced response needed during an attack.”

27th May 2023  After two marvellous days of Knowledge Seminars, and Conclaves by industry experts and creative minds battling it out at the ABBY One Show Awards, the final day of Goafest 2023 is here. We kickstarted the day in the most spectacular way, yet again! Papon, an Indian Playback Singer, assured the crowd was mesmerised by his voice and persona! The crowd swayed from beginning to end as his tunes, lyrics, harmony, and glorious voice captivated them!

We commenced the final day at Goafest with a Knowledge Seminar by Anymind, titled, Seven Principles For The Future Of Creativity led by Nick Law, Global Creative Chairperson – Accenture Song. This session deep-dived into the necessity of establishing and embodying principles as a brand; to this end, Nick stated, “Every company needs to have consistent principles and dynamic practices. Sometimes, our industry sometimes forgets that it needs to be dynamic.”

Nick has crafted a compelling set of principles that ignite a fresh perspective on the future of creativity. His principles act as a guiding light, illuminating the path forward for artists, designers, marketers, and anyone seeking to harness the power of creative potential. Law offered profound insights and a deep understanding of the ever-changing landscape.

The seven principles for the future of creativity, guided by Nick Law, emphasize the importance of embracing creativity, technology, and its collaboration to drive innovation, create meaningful experiences, and deliver effective creative solutions in the evolving digital landscape, ultimately transforming the way brands connect with audiences and shape the future of advertising.

Following this session, we closed the first half of this eventful day with a sumptuous lunch break.

The first half of Day 3 also witnessed two masterclasses; the first one laid emphasis on storytelling, which was presented by Bharat Avalani, the visionary founder and CEO of Connecting the Dots Marketing Consultancy. With the AFAA’s ‘Communicators as Storytellers’ as its focus, the session discussed the art of becoming a business storyteller and the profound role that stories play in shaping brand experiences. As compared to brands, people are naturally interested in people, which is why the masterclass focused on consumer insights, strategy, and brand communication through storytelling.

The second masterclass, Silverpush — Dynamic Video Optimization: Unlocking the Full Potential of Video Advertising by Rahul Joshi, explored Dynamic Video Optimisation, unveiling the immense potential of video advertising and sharing strategies to optimize and leverage its impact for maximum results. A major focus of Rahul’s was to build sustainable technology to make marketers excited about videos and drive conversions from them. In addition, the masterclass discussed how advertisers can boost conversions through videos and create tremendous impact through DVO and storytelling. The session ended with Rahul demonstrating how DVO helps advertisers present their products based on region, language, or user behaviour based on Silverpush’s Himalaya face wash use case.

Stay tuned for Day 3. To know the agenda for Day 3, please log on to: https://www.goafest.com/goafest2023/event-schedule.php