The WorldGrad, the world’s smartest way to study overseas, has launched its third Study Hub in Patiala, Punjab. This initiative is a part of the UniSmarter program which is offered in collaboration with international education provider Navitas. This program allows students to study the first term of their overseas program from India. The other two Study Hubs are already present in Mohali and Amristar.

The Study Hub provides students with physical and digital infrastructure to attend classes. WorldGrad will be expanding and creating new centers across tier 2-3 cities of India depending on the study needs of the students.

The UniSmarter program is designed so that the students can start their bachelor’s degree from home and then progress to on-campus study in Australia, the UK, or the UAE for the second term onwards. UniSmarter-approved Study Hubs will serve as high-quality, conducive learning environments that will foster international education within the country.

The WorldGrad is an education provider and academic partner to globally ranked universities, dedicated to making high-quality overseas education more accessible to students. The UniSmarter Study Hub in Patiala is spread across three floors and has laboratories, lecture halls, a library, and a student lounge. It also includes study advice and guidance, access to educational resources, support with applications, and assistance with visas.

Since its launch, the program has had a 97% visa success rate overall. Students completing The UniSmarter program have the option to progress to various degrees in the sectors of Business and IT at top institutions like Sydney Institute of Business & Technology leading to Western Sydney University, La Trobe College leading to LaTrobe University, Australia, Deakin College leading to Deakin University, Australia and more; Edge Hill University, International College Portsmouth leading to the University of Portsmouth, Brunel Pathway College leading to Brunel University London (UK); Murdoch University (UAE).

Sharing his thoughts on this collaboration, The WorldGrad’s Co-founder, Abhinav Mital, says, “The goal of The WorldGrad is to increase access to higher education abroad for everyone, and with the resounding success of our programs, students are being nurtured for the bright future that awaits them.”

“The WorldGrad has paved the way for a brighter tomorrow and we are eager to establish Study Hubs throughout India. In a world that is ever-changing and constantly evolving, with hearts full of passion and determination, The WorldGrad and its partners are changing lives, one student at a time.”

“Unismarter Study Hubs marks a new chapter in the lives of students who are striving to build a better image with Australian, UK, and UAE universities. It is a haven of hope and opportunity for those who seek to demonstrate their genuine and unwavering commitment to their academic pursuits. The Study Hub is ready to guide students on the path to academic success and to help them realize their full potential. It is a place where dreams are nurtured, and the future is shaped.”, said Gurjeet Singh Ahluwalia, Head of Patiala, Punjab Study Center.

The admission criteria are based on the specific requirements of the student’s chosen progression college. The eligibility starts at a minimum of 50% in grade XII and an IELTS score of 5.5.

The mission of The WorldGrad, for UniSmarter, through Navitas, is to make overseas higher education accessible to all students. The positive outcomes of the programs cater to genuine high-quality students, which has garnered satisfaction from university partners and allows us to expand UniSmarter Study Hubs to other parts of India, starting from Gujarat, and Hyderabad.

Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking is growing its Asia Pacific business through select activities in India, in line with the bank’s ambitions to diversify its expertise and geographical presence to the benefit of its clients.

One of the world’s fastest-growing major economies, India has substantial growth potential over the next decade owing to its demographics, urbanization, digitization, plans for infrastructure development, and need to expand its energy capacity to cater to its growth requirements.

Natixis CIB’s strengths and deep knowledge in sectors including energy transition and natural resources, telecoms, and infrastructure, among others, coupled with its financing and advisory abilities, place the bank well to advise Indian corporates on their strategic journeys.

In line with this, Natixis CIB is pleased to announce the appointment of Amit Tanna as Head of Coverage, in India. Based in Hong Kong, Amit reports to Francis Ansvananda, Head of Coverage, South East Asia.

In this newly created role, Amit will drive Natixis CIB’s India client strategy, with a focus on originating event-driven transactions with select Indian corporate clients who are leaders in Natixis CIB’s core areas of focus: renewables, digital infrastructure, tech, and healthcare, as well as with Financial Sponsors and Multinational Corporations.

Amit joins Natixis CIB’s robust Asia Pacific coverage team, which delivers a comprehensive suite of advisory services and solutions to clients, across capital markets, structured financing, and hedging and investment solutions.

Amit brings more than two decades of experience to the role. He joined Natixis CIB from Standard Chartered Bank in Hong Kong, where he held a number of strategic financing and corporate finance roles since 2009 and was most recently the Regional Head of Leveraged and Acquisition Finance. Prior to Standard Chartered Hong Kong, Amit was the Head of Origination and Client Coverage for Bank Permata in Indonesia. Amit has also worked with Standard Chartered, GE Capital, Credit Agricole, and ING Bank in India, in various Corporate Finance and Client Coverage roles.

Commenting, Francis Ansvananda said: “We are delighted to welcome Amit to our Coverage team. He brings a wealth of invaluable experience and knowledge to this role, that will allow him to further develop our franchise and continue strengthening our market presence. His appointment underscores Natixis CIB’s ongoing commitment to providing bespoke and differentiated advice in selected and diversified areas of expertise, supporting the strategic development and growth of its clients’ respective businesses. We look forward to growing our business with him.”

New Delhi India: March 30, 2023: Synegra EMS Ltd, a leading electronics manufacturing service provider and a subsidiary of SmartLink Holdings Ltd participated in Indian Telecom Exhibition 2023. The two-day event was held at Taj Palace, New Delhi which witnessed a gathering of digital innovators, international businesses, telecom, and broadcasting players, as well as leaders from IT, internet, IoT, & Embedded Technology industries.

TEPC hosted the 17th edition of ‘India Telecom 2023’ – an Exclusive International Business Expo under the Champion Sector Scheme of the Department of Telecommunications, Government of India. The event’s main objective was to provide opportunities for Indian telecom stakeholders to meet prospective overseas buyers.

At Indian Telecom Exhibition 2023, SYNEGRA EMS showcased its electronics manufacturing services and home brand DIGISOL Make-In-India Networking Products such as Wi-Fi Routers, Access Points, POE Switches, Fiber Cables, and other Passive Products. The company is committed to establishing a benchmark for Quality in Electronics Manufacturing Services.

Talking about the exhibition, Prakash Bhat, General Manager Manufacturing, SYNEGRA EMS Ltd said, “We are delighted to be a part of The Indian Telecom Exhibition 2023 which witnesses a huge number of diversified visitors from PAN India and overseas every year. The platform provided us an opportunity to showcase our competitiveness in manufacturing for any brand in India. Besides manufacturing networking products, we also do contract manufacturing for motherboards, EV chargers, Medical Equipment Parts, etc.”

SYNEGRA under SMARTLINK has over three decades of experience in manufacturing electronic products for the IT, networking, and telecom industries. The Company is 100% owned by SMARTLINK capable of manufacturing all kinds of products from Routers, Switches, Wi-Fi, FTTH, and also other products like EV charges, etc for export as well as domestic EMS jobs

30 March 2023, Mumbai: Entropic, a leading AI-powered Integrated Market Research Company, has announced today that the Patent Office of the Government of India has awarded the company a patent for its ‘Multimodal Emotion AI Technologies.’ Entropic is the only company with a multimodal Emotion AI patent (number 419058), putting it at the forefront of the world’s most advanced AI companies.

Entropic, World’s first Multimodal Emotion AI technology, specializes in building Technologies to understand Behavior at large. It uses machine learning and Neural net algorithms to analyze and interpret Face Expression (Facial Coding), Eye Movement (Eye tracking), and Voice tonality (Voice AI) to understand customer behavior in its most fundamental way. Multimodal Emotion AI is used in consumer research to understand better how people feel about products, services, and brands. The application of Multimodal Emotion AI in consumer research includes advertising research, user experience testing, and shopper research, using its products Affect Lab and Affect UX. Its product “Decode” analyses Consumer Research Interviews/ FGDs to decipher meaningful conversational summaries along with behavioral insights.

The master patent entails ‘Multimodal Emotion AI Technologies’, with claims covering facial coding and eye tracking technologies. Facial coding and eye tracking are advanced AI technologies that analyze facial expressions and muscle movements from video feeds to derive attention, engagement, and emotion levels; eye tracking analyzes pupil movement to understand where the user is looking on a mobile or desktop screen.

Speaking on the patent achievement, Ranjan Kumar, founder & CEO of Entropic, said, “The grant of this patent is a testimony to the team’s tireless effort and unparalleled dedication, and it speaks to the company’s competency in pioneering and testing the frontiers of AI technologies. We are ecstatic to bring this revolutionary Multimodal Emotion AI technology to market.

We look forward to empowering brands with disruptive AI forces with the purpose to deliver consumer-centric marketing and product experiences. “Traditionally, the science of consumer research relied on stated responses (surveys and focus group discussions) to understand consumer preferences. While this answers 5% of consumer nuance, 95% of consumers’ subconscious and emotional choices remain in the black box. Tech like facial coding, eye tracking, & voice AI will provide brands with answers to this 95% of questions, helping them better understand their consumers and deliver experiences that resonate at a deeper level.” He further added.

Entropik’s ability to provide accurate, efficient, and impartial consumer insights, has become the preferred solution for global retail brands. With its recent advancements and breakthroughs in Multimodal Emotion AI technology, the company has emerged as a leader in the industry and earned recognition for the same.

New Delhi / Dehradun 30 March 2023: Log huts built under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme in the Tehri district of Uttarakhand state were awarded as runner-up in the category of Best Log Huts at Chintan Shivir organized at Ashok Hotel, New Delhi. The state was honored by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India in lieu of the best practices and good works adopted under the Swadesh Darshan scheme.

Representatives of different states are participating in this two-day Chintan Shivir. State Tourism Minister Shri Satpal Maharaj from Uttarakhand attended the Chintan Shivir. During this, he was honored by Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Honorable Minister of State for Tourism, Government of India.

On this occasion, Tourism Minister Mr. Satpal Maharaj said, “The honor bestowed upon Uttarakhand is a reflection of the good work we have done. Recently, the state has been recognized as a pioneer in the field of adventure, responsible, and sustainable tourism. These recognitions motivate us to improve significantly. The Swadesh Darshan Yojana 2.0 is developing the tourism infrastructure at Adi Kailash in Pithoragarh, Om Parvat, Munsyari, and Chuka in Champawat. While places like Katarmal, Jageshwar, Baijnath Devidhura, etc. are being developed as heritage circuits.

He said, “Being honoured in the Best Log Huts category is something to be proud of. To make the state the best log hut destination, 20 log huts have been built at Sirai in Tehri under the Swadesh Darshan scheme, at a cost of 11 crores 30 lakh . Log huts would prove to be a milestone for tourism in the modern era. A log hut is not just environment friendly, it also acts as an insulator, providing tourists with a cool environment in summer and a warm environment in winter”.

Indian supply chain brands are increasingly incorporating sustainable practices to cater to the growing demand for eco-friendly products. As per a survey, 57% of consumers are willing to pay a premium for genuine green and healthy products. These initiatives primarily include using renewable energy sources, implementing efficient route planning, reducing wastage and emissions, and ensuring ethical labor practices.

With the government’s focus on sustainability and the introduction of new policies and regulations, it is expected that more supply chain brands will adopt eco-friendly practices to remain competitive and meet evolving consumer expectations. Listed below are 4 such brands, walking the path to sustainability:

1.  ShakeDeal: ShakeDeal is a platform focused on supply chain and B2B commerce, aimed at making procurement easier for SMEs and enterprises. With a sustainable vision, the company is aiming at entering markets that can provide sustainable solutions. ShakeDeal caters to multiple sectors like MRO, office supplies, raw materials, and more, and envisions supporting eco-friendly sectors, further strengthening a sustainable supply chain.
2.  GoCoop: This online marketplace connects artisans and weavers with customers, thereby promoting sustainable and eco-friendly fashion, with the vision to create and support sustainable livelihoods for India’s 10 million weavers and artisan community. GoCoop works towards providing a direct link between artisans and customers, eliminating intermediaries and promoting fair trade practices.
3.  Ninjacart: Ninjacart is a fresh produce supply chain company that focuses on reducing food wastage by optimizing supply chain processes. With the use of technology, the brand connects farmers with retailers, thereby reducing the time taken to transport fresh produce and minimizing wastage.
4.  Ecolibrium Energy: Ecolibrium Energy is a brand that provides energy management solutions to businesses, helping them optimize their energy consumption and reduce their carbon footprint. With the use of data analytics and IoT to provide real-time insights into energy usage, Ecolibrium Energy is helping businesses make informed decisions to reduce their energy consumption.

Bengaluru,30th March: The country’s fastest growing staffing and recruitment firm, CIEL HR Services has released its latest report ‘Employment Trends Today in EPC Sector in India – Feb 2023’, forecasting a promising employment outlook after a slight decline towards the fag end of 2022. With a combination of serious headwinds like inflation and economic slowdown, hiring activity has dropped slightly in Q4 (OND ’22) after a steady period between May to September in the previous year.

However, due to the positive sentiments around the 2023 Budget, the sector witnesses an increase in hiring reflecting overall stability, especially with its consistency in employing top-level management and an increased lookout for freshers.

Another interesting find from CIEL’s report is that, among all no-tech sectors, the EPC sector takes the lead (11%) with regards to the most sought-after role of Software Development (2,367 jobs) as compared to sectors like FMCG (3%), Pharma (2%) and Banking (10%). With a futuristic vision of leveraging emerging technologies, employers in the sector are on a hiring spree for jobs like Software Engineers, Full Stack Developers, Java Developers, Cybersecurity Specialists, and Integration Specialists. Further, ‘Software Developer’ remains the highest paid: 39% of the jobs are in a salary of INR 10 lacs and above.

Our survey suggests, Bengaluru (19%) remains to be the hottest hub for hiring software specialists, followed closely by Delhi/NCR (18%). Other metropolises like Mumbai, Pune, and Chennai along with the country’s capital and IT capital contribute to more than 70% of the total job postings.

Mr. Aditya Narayan Mishra, Managing Director & CEO of CIEL HR Services, expresses his opinion on the findings; “From CIEL’s study, we observe that the EPC sector can leverage the recent IT hiring cool-off and use the available tech talent to digitize their processes, thereby improve efficiency and enhance customer experience. With the government’s focus on accelerating infrastructure development, this industry is poised to grow at a faster pace and has the potential to create new jobs faster than ever before. Moreover, the sector needs to adopt policies that promote women’s participation and thus expand the talent pool available to serve the sector. ”

Other Key Findings:

Highest Median Tenure in the country

•  EPC performs better than its peers in retaining talent, with a median tenure of 5 years vis-a-vis FMCG at 4.1 years, MSME at 3.6 years, and ITES at 3.3 years.16% Women’s Participation in the Workforce
•  The sector continues to show overwhelming participation of men in its workforce. While gender diversity has increased, women’s participation continues to remain low at 16%.

CIEL HR Services has collated this report by studying 52 leading Indian EPC companies employing 80,000+ employees. The analysis included 21,865 jobs posted on job portals in January 2023.

New Delhi, March 30, 2023: DBS Bank India has announced an innovative investment solution, ‘digiPortfolio’, on its digibank platform. digiPortfolio uses both technology and human expertise to create a set of investment options curated by Morningstar that match the risk preferences of different investors. The platform is an easy, one-stop solution for users to invest money with ready-made baskets of mutual funds. DBS Bank India is one of the first banks in India to offer this type of digital solution.

DBS Bank aims to redefine the customer experience and make it more seamless by using data, AI, and advanced technologies. The offering includes different types of investment options, such as domestic equity, debt, and money market instruments, to ensure there are diverse portfolios to cater to different risk profiles of investors. The digiPortfolio platform is run by Quantifeed and is automated, making it easy to use.

Prashant Joshi, Managing Director & Head – Consumer Banking Group, DBS Bank India, said, “India has witnessed increased participation of domestic retail investors in the burgeoning capital markets during the past two years. However, the complex nature of mutual fund products and the risks involved have kept many prospective investors at bay. Through this differentiated offering, our aim is to simplify the process and bridge the knowledge gap, while helping to balance growth and safety while making investment decisions. It is our endeavor that through digiPortfolio, many of our customers will be more confident about participating in the Indian capital markets.”

Dhaval Kapadia, Director – Portfolio Specialist, Morningstar, said, “Asset Allocation, i.e., the allocation of various assets such as equity and debt in an investor’s portfolio, is known to be a key driver of investment performance in terms of risk and reward over the long term. The digiPortfolio begins with Morningstar’s ground-breaking research on long-term asset allocation. This approach considers various asset classes to build diversified mutual funds-based portfolios of domestic equities and fixed-income offerings. These portfolios are designed to be an investment, aligned to your risk appetite and investment horizon, helping you achieve your financial goals.”

The investment options on the digiPortfolio platform are chosen and made up of mutual funds carefully selected by Morningstar, which relies on more than 37 years of industry research. The portfolios are regularly adjusted to ensure they stay strong even when the market is volatile and give the best possible returns.

digiPortfolio provides instant access to investors with two plans starting at a minimum investment of ₹10,000 and ₹50,000. These plans include features such as portfolio construction, monitoring, and rebalancing services, powered by Morningstar. The Bank uses technology to make things faster, cheaper, and more efficient for investors. There are no extra charges, like sales or transaction fees. Investors can invest for as long as they want, choosing what suits them based on their goals, risk preferences, and investment duration.

Ross Milward, Chief Technology Officer & Co-Founder of Quantifeed, said, “We are delighted to continue our relationship with DBS Bank and support their latest launch in India. Quantifeed continues to see first-hand how well business and technology can come together, guided by a clear sense of delivering on customer experience. We are convinced that digiPortfolio will continue to revolutionize the digital wealth landscape and bring customers a delightful and personalised investing experience.”

DBS Bank India has a strong commitment to delivering superior solutions to its customers that make banking intelligent, intuitive, and effortless, frequently partnering with industry leaders in the ecosystem. In 2022, the bank collaborated with Bajaj Finance Limited to launch the ‘Bajaj Finserv DBS Bank SuperCard,’ a Visa-powered credit card designed to simplify customers’ wallets by eliminating the need for multiple cards.

Risk disclaimers:

• DBS Bank India Limited, an AMFI registered Mutual Fund Distributor, provides this DIY platform to facilitate digiPortfolio investments. This offering shall not be construed as financial or investment advice
• Mutual Fund investments are subject to market risks, read all scheme-related documents carefully before investing
• Model portfolios are curated by MorningstarTM based on general risk levels and are not on personalized suggestions. Prior to investing, we recommend you consult your financial advisor to evaluate the product offering’s suitability as per your requirements
• DBS Bank India Limited – AMFI registered Mutual Fund Distributor (ARN-155319)
• Exit charges may apply for early redemption/switch cases, and, are not applicable for ELSS funds

Mumbai –,30th March 2023: In the recent times, UPI has emerged as preferred mode of digital payment by offering a free, fast, secure, and seamless experience. Traditionally, the most preferred method of UPI transactions is linking the Bank account in any UPI-enabled app for making payments which contributes over 99.9% of total UPI transactions. These Bank account-to-account transactions continue to remain free for Customers and Merchants.

Recent regulatory guidelines, Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPI Wallets) have been permitted to be part of the interoperable UPI ecosystem. In view of this NPCI has now permitted the PPI wallets to be part of an interoperable UPI ecosystem. The interchange charges introduced are only applicable for the PPI merchant transactions and there is no charge to customers, and it is further clarified that there are no charges for the bank account to bank account-based UPI payments (i.e. normal UPI payments).

With this addition to UPI, the Customers will have the choice of using any bank account, RuPay Credit card, and prepaid wallet on UPI-enabled apps.

Suba Group of Hotels, a master franchisee of Choice Hotels India has marked another milestone in Uttrakhand with the launch of ‘Comfort Inn Silver Arch’ in Mussoorie. Conveniently located near the entry of the Picture Palace side of Mall Road in Mussoorie, the property can be accessed easily by road, rail, and by air via Dehradun airport. Some of the prominent tourist destinations including Malls, Kempty Falls, LalTibba, Company Garden, Gun Hill, George Everest House, Cloud End, Bhatta Falls, and Camelback Road are located in close proximity to the hotel.

Announcing the opening, Mansur Mehta, Managing Director, Suba Group of Hotels, said, “We are delighted to launch Comfort Inn Silver Arch in the picturesque hills of Mussoorie. Popularly referred to as the queen of hills, Mussoorie is a major tourist destination frequented by a huge number of visitors from across the country. With the launch of our new property, we will tap the growing potential of tourist inflow in the region. The hotel perfectly epitomizes the Suba Hotel group’s core values of offering immaculate service and unparalleled hospitality”.

“We are pleased to expand our footprints in North India with the launch of Comfort Inn Silver Arch in Mussoorie. This full-service hotel with all contemporary elements is ideal for leisure tourists, flexible independent travelers (FIT), and group travelers. It is our endeavor to continue to penetrate our reach across popular destinations across the country.” said, Mubeen Mehta, CEO, of Suba Group of Hotels.

The Comfort Inn Silver Arch features 27 Rooms and 4 Bamboo Cottages and can accommodate around 80-100 guests. All rooms are Air Conditioned and are equipped with LED TVs with Cable, Free WIFI Access, Limited Hours Room Service, Tea Coffee Kettle in each room, Hair Dryer, 24X7 Hot & Cold Running Water, Safe Locker, Mini-Fridge, Complimentary water, Telephone, etc. The facilities at the hotel include 24-hour room service, a travel desk, car parking, and laundry services.

Guests can enjoy a magnificent culinary journey at The Cafe situated on the Ground floor of the hotel which also has an outdoor seating area. It is a multi-cuisine outlet serving Buffet breakfast and a-la-carte lunch/dinner. To make guests feel pampered, the restaurant’s team members carefully select the fresh ingredients for the food and cook it with a lot of love and attention.

“Each of our properties boasts luxurious rooms with a host of banqueting and F&B facilities. Suba Hotels serves modern travelers by providing a distinctive stay experience, outstanding quality services, and exceptional facilities at competitive pricing. The company has footprints in all major metros, including tier 1 and tier 2 cities. All of their facilities provide elegant and large rooms, exciting locations for holding weddings, events, and exhibitions, and a fantastic dining experience at iconic restaurants”, said Chandrakant Shetty, COO, Suba Group of Hotels.