Archives June 2023

Chennai, 19th June, 2023:KarurVysya Bank today inaugurated its 800th Branch at New No. 60 / Old No. 45, First Avenue, F Block, Anna Nagar East, Chennai – 600 102. The Branch and ATM were inaugurated by Sri Gopal Srinivasan, Chairman & MD, TVS Capital Funds (P) Limited in the presence of Sri B Ramesh Babu, MD & CEO of the Bank.

The Bank also inaugurated its first Digital Banking Unit (DBU) at 3A, AavinIllam, PasumponMuthuramalingamSalai, Nandanam, Chennai – 600 035. The DBU was inaugurated by Dr. S. Vineeth, IAS, Managing Director, Aavin. The Branch works entirely in digital mode. Customers can open their savings accounts, complete e-KYC, get their welcome kit with a debit card and apply for retail loans. The customers can also undertake other transactions like opening term deposits, transferring funds, etc. The branch will also have an e-lobby with ATM, CDM and passbook printer.

Sri B Ramesh Babu, MD &CEO, of Karur Vysya Bank said “We are delighted to inaugurate our 800th branch and other new branches today, which will provide our customers improved access and proximity to the bank’s services. The Digital Banking Unit is yet another initiative that will not only enhance customer experience but will also be environment friendly which is a core focus area of the bank’s CSR& ESG initiatives.”

The Bank also inaugurated new branches at 8 other centers; 6 in Tamil Nadu viz., Vilathikulam, Madambakkam, Parangipettai, Pudukottai North, Kachirapalayam, Veeraganur, Gadwal in Telangana and Sattenapalle in Andhra Pradesh.

New Delhi, 19th June 2023:- The International Health, Sports, and Fitness Festival (IHFF), Asia’s biggest event in the fitness world concluded in grand style on June 18 at New Delhi’s Pragati Maidan. The high points of the three-day mega festival were the Steadfast Nutrition Pro Show in Association with Sheru Classic- Asia’s biggest bodybuilding event, and the Sheru Classic Pro Qualifiers- among India’s biggest bodybuilding championships, presented by Steadfast Nutrition, the country’s fastest-growing sports and wellness nutrition brand. The pro show, a milestone event for Indian bodybuilding and the second-ever in India gave its four winners a direct entry into the Mr Olympia USA- the world’s most prestigious bodybuilding tournament; the Sheru Classic Pro League Qualifiers is a stepping stone for amateur bodybuilders to enter the pro or professional circuit, enabling them to earn prize money and win endorsements. 600 athletes from India and abroad converged at Pragati Maidan for the tournaments, which has given a big boost to the sport of bodybuilding in India, providing Indian athletes with a global stage to showcase their prowess.

“By sponsoring these events, Steadfast Nutrition wants to reach closer to its goal of making India the world’s sports capital by 2050. This is the second time that a pro show is being organised in India. The Steadfast Nutrition Pro show in association with Sheru Classic has made competing in the Mr Olympia easy- four winners will get a direct entry to the world’s ultimate bodybuilding tournament. We’re determined to give an opportunity to more sports to thrive in the country and make bodybuilding legitimate and mainstream. Currently, only cricket, football, and hockey dominate the discourse around sports- bodybuilding is neglected even though it is becoming increasingly popular among the youth. By sponsoring the pro show and the Sheru Classic Pro Qualifiers, we want to give our talented youth opportunities to compete professionally at the national and international level,” says Aman Puri.

In attendance at the event were several celebrities from the fitness and TV industry, including legendary American bodybuilder Flex Wheeler, bodybuilding icon Kai Greene, iconic American coach and pro bodybuilder Dennis James Vlad, Cuban-American bodybuilder Sergio Jr, son of legendary bodybuilder Sergio Oliva, social media sensation Just Sul, singer Sukbir, and Rannvijay Singha, a popular face on television.

The pre-judging and pro-show finals took place on the last day. Only pro card holders (professional athletes) were eligible to compete in the pro show. The winners vied for the trophy in four categories: Men’s Physique, Men’s Classic Physique, Women’s Bikini, and 212 Bodybuilding. Andrei Melnikov from Russia won in the Men’s 212 category, Vahid Badpei from Iran won in the Men’s Classic Physique segment, Bhuwan Chauhan from India won the Men’s Physique segment, while Thailand’s Jil Meret Schmitz won the Women’s Bikini segment.

Athletes faced off for nine pro cards in the Sheru Classic in eight categories: 212 bodybuilding, Men’s Physique, Men’s Classic Physique, Men’s Bodybuilding, Women’s Bikini, Women’s Figure, Women’s Fitness, and Women’s Wellness. The championships were open to athletes worldwide- 70% of Indian athletes and 30% of international athletes participated.

Sunmeet Singh Gill and Parmeshwar Sharma from India won the pro card in the Men’s Classic Physique category, Arsand Basheer Mohd Hama from Iraq won the pro card in Men’s Bodybuilding, Reeta Devi from India won the pro card in the Women’s Wellness category, Doaaf Alah from Iraq won in the Women’s Physique category, Jahanara Islam from India won the pro card in the Women’s Figure category, Dunaescaia Ekaterina won in the Women’s Bikini category.

Besides the Steadfast Nutrition Pro Show in association with Sheru Classic and the Sheru Classic Pro Qualifiers, four other championships that took place at the IHFF included the MMA (Mixed martial arts), kickboxing, arm wrestling, and powerlifting tournaments.

Professional Athletes, fitness Influencers, international brands, and distributors have converged at Pragati Maidan for the IHFF 2023. Over 1000 brands showcased their products at the IHFF, giving a fillip to India’s fitness industry. Over 1.5 lakh spectators thronged the festival across three days.

The Sheru Classic Pro Qualifiers and the Amateur Olympia (which will be held later in the year), sponsored by Steadfast Nutrition are the only championships in India that allow bodybuilding athletes to win pro cards by the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB), which oversees bodybuilding championships across the world.

Steadfast Nutrition has swiftly carved a niche in the sports nutrition industry since it burst onto the scene in 2017. The brand prides itself on its organ-friendly supplements, which have propelled several athletes to medal-winning performances in national and international events, including the Olympics, and enabled numerous people to take proactive measures to improve their health.

New Delhi, 20th June 2023: Westside and Project I Am Enough together hosted a groundbreaking fashion show, MIRЯOR, at an exquisite property, Taj Vivanta, Dwarka. With an inclusive modeling consortium, MIRЯOR demonstrated bodies of all kinds on the runway for the very first time. The aim was to break conventional beauty standards and redefine the notion of perfection, empowering everyone to embrace their differences.

The event featured a wonderful showcase of 20th June 2023ashion and style that started with captivating musical performances and spectacular dance performances that a20th June 2023dded a layer of artistic expression to the evening. The atmosphere was electric as the DJ afterparty took center stage, ensuring a memorable night of celebration.

The overwhelming response to MIRЯOR exceeded all expectations and created a moment to cherish. The show was nothing short of a statement in the Indian fashion industry. The event served as a catalyst for change, encouraging society to embrace diversity and redefine traditional beauty standards.

Speaking on the event, the Head of Customer & Beauty at Westside, Mr Umashan Naidoo said, “We are honored to have partnered with the inspiring NGO, Project I Am Enough, and Taj Hotels, for MIRЯOR. This collaboration allowed us to exhibit the power of inclusivity and redefine beauty standards in the fashion industry. Together, we were able to create a platform that celebrates diversity, empowers individuals, and encourages self-acceptance. We are proud to be part of this initiative that reminds everyone that they are truly enough.”

Siya Tayal, founder of Project I Am Enough echoed this sentiment, stating, “It has been an incredible journey to bring together a diverse body-positive modeling group, challenging societal norms and celebrating the beauty of every individual. Through Project I Am Enough, we strive to empower and inspire people to embrace their uniqueness and foster inclusivity in the fashion industry. MIRЯOR has been a remarkable milestone in our mission, and we are grateful for the support of Westside and Taj Hotels in amplifying our cause. I am thrilled to witness the immense success of MIRЯOR, India’s first inclusive runway show, in partnership with Westside and Taj Hotels.”

The success of MIRЯOR has paved the way for future inclusive fashion shows in India, marking a significant step towards a more expansive and accepting industry. This landmark event serves as a reminder that everyone is enough and that beauty exists in every body.

Gurugram, 19th June 2023: Kamdhenu Paints, a brand of Kamdhenu Group and leading manufacturer of high-quality paints and emulsions, announced a business growth strategy to achieve four-fold revenue growth by the end of FY2028. The announcement was made at its first post-demerger and the biggest ever channel partner’s meet -‘Kamdhenu Sensational Bollywood Night (KSBN 2) 2023’. KSBN is an annual awards program that aims to appreciate and encourage healthy competition among dealers. More than 800 dealers with their families from across the country attended the event.

As part of the growth strategy, the company is planning to enhance its market share in the South and West region of the country by expanding its product portfolio with the launch of new and innovative products. The company will further tap the deep markets in the North and East regions by increasing its dealers and distribution network. The key objective is to increase market share from unorganized players, and tapinto tier 2 and tier 3 cities.

With the aforesaid expansion plan, the company is looking a fourfold growth in revenue to Rs.1000 crores by the end of FY28. Last financial year 2023, the company has closed the revenue at Rs.251 crores.

Commenting of the business expansion plan,Mr. Satish Kumar Agarwal, Chairman and Managing Director, Kamdhenu Group said, “After a strategic review of the current businessoperations commensurate with the revenue growth that we have achieved till date, we have set and ambitious target of achieving a 4X revenue growth by the end of FY 2028. We have strong presence in the North and East part of the country and we will strengthen it further. We have accessed the potential for deeper penetration in the South and West regions and a concerted marketing initiative across the country is already under execution. Our aim is to increase the current 4,000+ dealer network across the country to 8,000+ and achieve a revenue of Rs.1000crores by the end of FY 2028. We are confident that our strong relationship with our dealer network across the country will help us achieve our target.”

The channel partners meet was graced by many well-renowned Bollywood celebrities such as Padma Shri Sonu Nigam, Rajkumar Rao, Jacqueline Fernandez, Rakulpreet Singh, Rahul Vaidya, ManushiChillar, and many more. Globally renowned dance groups Dance Smith and MJ5 also performed and amused the attendees with their performances.

Speaking on the channel partner’s meet Mr. Saurabh Agarwal, Managing Director, Kamdhenu Paints said, “Kamdhenu values each of its channel partners as an integral member of the Kamdhenu family. They have played a pivotal role in establishing Kamdhenu as a renowned household brand. Events like Kamdhenu Sensational Bollywood Night not only allows us to express gratitude for their unwavering support but also enables us to gain a deeper understanding of their requirements and identify the most effective ways to support and collaborate with them. In synergy with our channel partners, we aim to create a strong brand image as well as brand recall across the country.”

New Delhi, 19th June 2023: SDPPL, India’s leading player in the polymer industry, is proud to announce that the government has granted it the biggest recycling certificate in India under the PWM rules of 2016. With this accreditation, SD Polymer firmly establishes itself as the largest approved recycler of plastic waste in India, allowing it to greatly increase its production capacity and contribute to a more sustainable future by creating a circular implementation of plastic waste in the economy through various OEM’s programs such as Bumper to Bumper drive where SDPPL is collaborating with various Automobile waste generators and car dismantling unit for dedicated part wise collection of used/end of life plastic parts, segregating them through the advanced tracking system, recycling them with the latest technology and manufacturing recycled compounds that can substitute 100% virgin polymer compounds in Automotive and white goods industry.

Since a long time ago, SD Polymer has been committed to promoting sustainability, but its efforts have been constrained because the required license was not available. But now that this license has been granted, SD Polymer can carry out recycling operations in a planned and effective way, in line with their dedication to environmental responsibility.

With a staggering 3,67,000 tonnes of annual capacity and the recently acquired recycling certification, SD Polymer can now claim to be the largest single certificate holder for plastic recycling in India. The accreditation confirms SD Polymer’s leadership position in the sector and serves as a testament to its dedication to environmental stewardship.

SD Polymer has chosen Grownet to serve as a recycling certificate aggregator as part of its sustainability initiatives. By streamlining processes and increasing productivity, this strategic partnership will further strengthen SD Polymer’s goal of promoting a circular economy through responsible plastic waste management.

The most advanced Polymer RND lab in the area is located at the SD Polymer Faridabad plant, which is now fully operational. With a daily processing capacity of 1250 tonnes of plastic recycling, the cutting-edge unit demonstrates SD Polymer’s significant ability to handle plastic waste and turn it into useful resources.

Sensitizing the general public to the value of plastic recycling is one of the main goals of SD Polymer’s EPR certification. The general public is a significant producer of plastic waste and is essential to promoting proper disposal techniques. In order to create a cleaner and greener environment for everyone, SD Polymer aims to inspire individuals and communities to responsibly dispose of their plastic waste.

Additionally, SD Polymer will be able to produce value-added goods through plastic recycling thanks to its expanded production capabilities. To maximize resource efficiency and lessen the environmental impact associated with plastic consumption, SD Polymer converts plastic waste into high-quality materials.

“We are thrilled to have received our EPR certification,” says Mr. Dhanish Goyal, spokesperson of SD Polymers. “We are now the largest producers in India with this license, a testament to our unwavering commitment to sustainable practices and environmental responsibility.” He also added, “The increased production capacity of SD Polymer puts us in a good position to influence change and significantly advance the circular economy.” The business is excited to work with partners, communities, and stakeholders to jointly create a greener future.

Hyderabad,20th June 2023 Planet Fashion, part of Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail (ABFRL), unveiled its new retail identity at its 2394 Sqft. store located on City Center in Hyderabad. The brand has 164 stores across India and offers the latest international fashion selections at affordable prices.

Planet Fashion’s new retail identity is complemented by product and packaging innovation to attract new-age consumers across categories by improving their customer experience. The distinct brand identity makes the brand easily recognizable and unique.

The flagship store located at City Center in Hyderabad offers an immersive shopping experience and is an extension of the brand’s most recent retail identity. The store houses an extensive product including casuals, denims, and seasonal clothing. formal shirts and trousers, suits and blazers from portfolio from Louis Philippe, Van Heusen, Allen Solly, Simon Carter.

Ms Farida Kaliyadan, COO, of Louis Philippe and Planet Fashion, said, “We are pleased to delight our customers with the new retail identity experience launched at our Hyderabad store. As Planet Fashion expands rapidly, we are focused on delivering value to our customers with superior craftsmanship, extensive product portfolio and an unparalleled retail experience.”

Planet Fashion’s new retail identity has a new logo, in white, grey and copper colours, giving the store a modern yet sophisticated shopping experience. Fixtures are designed to display a wide range of lifestyle looks, and the abstract mannequin is displayed to effortlessly illustrate brand stories and images.

Planet Fashion has 164 stores in 143 cities in India and offers premium brands under one roof, such as Louis Philippe, Van Heusen, Allen Solly, Simon Carter, Reebok & American Eagle.

Gujarat,20th June 2023 India’s leading manufacturer of Wires and Cables and one of the fastest-growing FMEG companies Polycab India Ltd. announced the launch of the Polycab Junior Experts Scholarship Programme. This initiative aimed at empowering the children of electricians in the state of Gujarat. The Polycab Junior Experts program offers scholarships worth INR 10 Lakhs to deserving students who are currently enrolled in recognized educational institutions in Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board and Central Board of Secondary Education in India.

To qualify for the scholarship, applicants must be studying in the 10th or 12th grade. Successful candidates in the 10th grade will receive a scholarship award of INR 11,000, while those in the 12th grade will be granted a scholarship award of INR 20,000. These scholarships are intended to assist students in pursuing their educational goals Interested students must give a missed call on 9665445152 to participate. The last day to send in the application is June 30, 2023.

Mr Nilesh Malani, Chief Marketing Officer, Polycab India said “We recognize that electricians are the backbone of our electrical ecosystem and an integral part of Polycab’s business. We deeply value their contributions and are committed to their welfare. The scholarship program is an attempt to enable a better future for the children of electricians and empower their dreams and aspirations. Quality education is a right of every individual, and we are humbled that as a company we can give these children an opportunity to shape their future.”

Polycab India has consistently demonstrated its unwavering support for the electrician community, and now it takes a step further with the introduction of the Polycab Junior Experts Programme. Understanding the significance of their role in the electrical industry, Polycab has actively provided assistance and resources to empower electricians. Through various initiatives such as training programs, workshops, and technical guidance, Polycab India has equipped electricians with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in their profession. Polycab has also launched the Polycab Experts Program, empowering electricians with a rewarding platform to grow their businesses and earn attractive rewards.

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“Taal aur Tarang: A Symphony of Instrument Makers” is a documentary film which was an Award Winner in the Documentary Film category at the January 2023 Session of Golden Fern Film Festival held in Darjeeling.

The film was conceptualized and created solely by the students of the Journalism and Mass Communication Program at Navrachana University. It was directed, shot, and edited by Pranshu Shah, Chaitali Dixit conducted the interviews and wrote the script. Juhi Singh handled the appointments and schedules. Palak Shrivastava and Sharnav Garge assisted during the shoots and helped research the subject.

“Taal Aur Tarang” is a documentary on the community of musical instrument makers of Vadodara city. For over 150 years the families of these instrument makers have passed on the art of instrument making from one generation to the other. India gained freedom from the British and monarchy dissolved into democracy, but the legacy of these craftsmen still goes on. This documentary was a humble attempt to document their past, shed light on their present, understanding the future of these families. The film primarily covers three families of instrument makers – the Tanjorakar’s, the Duggar’s and the Mistry’s among other.

In the age of technology and machinery, where almost every aspect of our lives in some or the other way is commodified, these instrument makers prove that the human touch is irreplaceable. They bring an instrument to life, they offer it a soul, and they are creators of sound. Unfortunately, there is little accessible documentation available about their rich history. Through this documentary, the students have managed to create a lasting digital document that acts as a testament of their invaluable contribution to the musical heritage of the city.

New Delhi, 20th June 2023- Check Point® Software Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: CHKP), a leading provider of cybersecurity solutions globally, has published its Global Threat Index for May 2023. Research revealed FormBook an Infostealer targeting the Windows OS which was first detected in 2016 had a 10.77% impact on India. The malware is also marketed as Malware as a Service (MaaS) in underground hacking forums for its strong evasion techniques and relatively low price. FormBook harvests credentials from various web browsers, collects screenshots, monitors and logs keystrokes, and can download and execute files according to orders from its C&C. The threat index revealed Healthcare followed by Communications, Manufacturing, and Finance/ Banking became the most attacked industries in India.

Globally, researchers reported on a new version of shellcode-based downloader GuLoader, which was the fourth most prevalent malware last month. With fully encrypted payloads and anti-analysis techniques, the latest form can be stored undetected in well-known public cloud services, including Google Drive. Meanwhile, Qbot and Anubis took first place on their respective lists, and Education/Research remained the most exploited industry.

The GuLoader malware, widely used by cybercriminals to bypass antivirus detection, has undergone significant changes. The latest iteration employs a sophisticated technique of replacing code in a legitimate process, facilitating its evasion from process monitoring security tools. The payloads are fully encrypted and stored undetected in renowned public cloud services, including Google Drive. This unique blend of encryption, raw binary format, and separation from the loader makes the payloads invisible to antivirus programs, posing a significant threat to users and businesses worldwide.

Last month also saw both Qbot and Anubis taking first place on their respective lists. Despite efforts to slow down malware distribution by blocking macros in Office files, Qbot operators have been quick to adapt their distribution and delivery. It has recently been seen abusing a dynamic link library (DLL) hijacking flaw in the Windows 10 WordPad program to infect computers.

“Public tools and services are increasingly being exploited by cybercriminals to deliver and store malware campaigns. The trustworthiness of a source no longer guarantees complete security,” said Maya Horowitz, VP Research at Check Point Software. “This highlights the urgent need for education on identifying suspicious activities. We strongly advise against disclosing personal information or downloading attachments unless the authenticity and benign nature of the request have been confirmed. Additionally, it’s crucial to have advanced security solutions like Check Point Horizon XDR/XPR in place, which can effectively identify if an allegedly benign behavior is actually malicious, providing an extra layer of protection against sophisticated threats.”

The Education/Research sector continues to be the most targeted industry, according to Check Point’s Index. The report also revealed that the “Web Servers Malicious URL Directory Traversal” vulnerability is the most exploited, impacting 49% of organizations globally. This is closely followed by “Apache Log4j Remote Code Execution” and “HTTP Headers Remote Code Execution” vulnerabilities, affecting 45% and 44% of organizations worldwide, respectively.

Top malware families

*The arrows relate to the change in rank compared to the previous month.

Qbot was the most prevalent malware last month with an impact of 6% worldwide organizations, followed by Formbook with a global impact of 5% and AgentTesla with a global impact of 3%.

1. ↑ Qbot –Qbot AKA Qakbot is a multipurpose malware that first appeared in 2008. It was designed to steal a user’s credentials, record keystrokes, steal cookies from browsers, spy on banking activities, and deploy additional malware. Often distributed via spam email, Qbot employs several anti-VM, anti-debugging, and anti-sandbox techniques to hinder analysis and evade detection. Commencing in 2022, it emerged as one of the most prevalent Trojans.
2. ↑ Formbook – Formbook is an Infostealer targeting the Windows OS and was first detected in 2016. It is marketed as Malware as a Service (MaaS) in underground hacking forums for its strong evasion techniques and relatively low price. FormBook harvests credentials from various web browsers, collects screenshots, monitors and logs keystrokes, and can download and execute files according to orders from its C&C.
3. ↓ AgentTesla – AgentTesla is an advanced RAT functioning as a keylogger and information stealer, which is capable of monitoring and collecting the victim’s keyboard input, system keyboard, taking screenshots, and exfiltrating credentials to a variety of software installed on a victim’s machine (including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and the Microsoft Outlook email client).

Top Attacked Industries Globally

Last month, Education/Research remained in first place as the most exploited industry globally, followed by Government/Military and Healthcare.

1. Education/Research
   Government/Military
   Healthcare

Top exploited vulnerabilities

Last month, “Web Servers Malicious URL Directory Traversal” was the most exploited vulnerability, impacting 49% of organizations globally, followed by “Apache Log4j Remote Code Execution” impacting 45% of organizations worldwide. “HTTP Headers Remote Code Execution” was the third most used vulnerability, with a global impact of 44%.

1. ↔ Web Servers Malicious URL Directory Traversal – There exists a directory traversal vulnerability on different web servers. The vulnerability is due to an input validation error in a web server that does not properly sanitize the URI for the directory traversal patterns. Successful exploitation allows unauthenticated remote attackers to disclose or access arbitrary files on the vulnerable server.
2. ↔ Apache Log4j Remote Code Execution (CVE-2021-44228) – A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Apache Log4j. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on the affected system.
3. ↔ HTTP Headers Remote Code Execution (CVE-2020-10826, CVE-2020-10827, CVE-2020-10828, CVE-2020-13756) – HTTP headers let the client and the server pass additional information with an HTTP request. A remote attacker may use a vulnerable HTTP Header to run arbitrary code on the victim machine.

Top Mobile Malwares

Last month Anubis rose to first place as the most prevalent Mobile malware, followed by AhMyth and Hiddad.

1. Anubis – Anubis is a banking Trojan malware designed for Android mobile phones. Since it was initially detected, it has gained additional functions including Remote Access Trojan (RAT) functionality, keylogger, audio recording capabilities and various ransomware features. It has been detected on hundreds of different applications available in the Google Store.
2. AhMyth – AhMyth is a Remote Access Trojan (RAT) discovered in 2017. It is distributed through Android apps that can be found on app stores and various websites. When a user installs one of these infected apps, the malware can collect sensitive information from the device and perform actions such as keylogging, taking screenshots, sending SMS messages, and activating the camera, which usually used to steal sensitive information.
3. Hiddad – Hiddad is an Android malware which repackages legitimate apps and then releases them to a third-party store. Its main function is to display ads, but it can also gain access to key security details built into the OS.

Check Point’s Global Threat Impact Index and its ThreatCloud Map is powered by Check Point’s ThreatCloud AI: the brain behind Check Point’s security. ThreatCloud AI provides real-time threat intelligence derived from hundreds of millions of sensors worldwide, over networks, endpoints and mobiles. The intelligence is enriched with 40+ AI and Machine Learning technologies that identify and block emerging threats,and exclusive research data from Check Point Research, the intelligence and research arm of Check Point Software Technologies.

PAN India,20th June 2023: Next Education, a leading technology-driven company revolutionizing the K-12 education sector in India, has collaborated with Nikon Youth & Kids Program, a renowned initiative dedicated to nurturing photography skills in children. This association exemplifies Next Education’s ongoing commitment to delivering holistic, innovative, and experiential learning opportunities for students worldwide.

With its Next Learning Platform, Next Education has established a formidable presence in the K-12 education sector, providing a comprehensive digital learning tool that encompasses interactive content and engaging learning activities. This collaboration with Nikon Youth & Kids Program further solidifies Next Education’s mission to promote creativity, critical thinking, and practical skills among students.

By integrating the Nikon Youth & Kids Program into its curriculum offerings, Next Education expands the horizons of learning for students, introducing them to the captivating world of photography at an early age. This hands-on approach to education not only cultivates artistic and technical skills but also encourages observation, creativity, and self-expression, which are invaluable in all facets of learning and life.

Arpit Dugar, Head of Business Development, Middle East, Next Education, said, “We believe in empowering students with hands-on experience and developing in-demand skillsets. This partnership aligns perfectly with our vision of fostering creativity, critical thinking, and practical skills among young learners. By integrating photography into our curriculum solutions, we aim to provide a comprehensive education that equips students for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.”

Arya Chitra, Head of Nikon Youth & Kids Program, said, “We are pleased to announce our collaboration with Next Education in our joint effort to foster young talent and empower them through the art of photography. Through this partnership, we aim to inspire young learners to observe, create, and express themselves in new and exciting ways. By integrating photography into Next Education’s curriculum solutions, we will unlock the potential of thousands of young photographers, enabling them to explore their artistic abilities and develop valuable life skills.”

The collaboration serves as a testament to Next Education’s dedication to staying abreast of the ever-evolving educational landscape. By recognizing photography as a vital skill in the digital age, Next Education ensures that its offerings are proficient in using modern tools and technologies, equipping learners for future career paths and personal pursuits.

Furthermore, educators will benefit immensely from this partnership, as it presents a new avenue to engage students and enhance their learning experience. The integration with the Nikon Youth & Kids Program offers exciting opportunities for project-based learning, where students can apply their photography skills across various subjects, fostering interactivity and enjoyment in the learning process.