US-India Strategic Partnership Forum to Honor Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra & Adobe Chairman Shantanu Narayen

The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) announced their third Annual Leadership Summit, titled “US-India Week: Navigating New Challenges”, which will convene virtually this year from August 31- September 3. The week-long program will include a range of strategic discussions between USISPF’s board members that includes which include 21 Fortune 500 CEOsand senior government officials from both countries.

At the summit, USISPF will honour Chairman of Mahindra group, Anand Mahindra and Shantanu Narayen, Chairman & CEO of Adobewith the 2020 Leadership Awards, awarded each year for exemplary vision towards promoting U.S.-India bilateral ties.

Congratulating the awardees, John Chambers, Chairman of the USISPF Board, said, “We are delighted to confer the 2020 Leadership Awards to two business leaders who have displayed tremendous leadership and ambition in strengthening the U.S.-India bilateral economic partnership, especially at a time when the global economy is faced with uncertainties and businesses are forced to pivot from their core capabilities. As a global centre of manufacturing excellence with presence in the United States, the Mahindra Group is a shining example of a true win-win opportunity for our bilateral ties with positive impact in the lives of the American people and across the American economic engine. Chambers further added, “Shantanu’s pioneering work in digital technologies, leveraging support to communities, and deep impact on start-ups have been of tremendous value to governments, civil society, and the overall bilateral relationship. I cannot think of a more consummate candidate for this award.”

Mr. Anand Mahindra, Chairman, Mahindra Group said, “I accept this award on behalf of the entire Mahindra Group. At this challenging & transformational time for the world, such a recognition only reminds us that companies must contribute much more towards building a better world.  Mahindra remains deeply committed to the US market which is integral to its future growth and prosperity. Overall, I expect the relationship between India and the US to get even stronger over time with both countries being natural allies given our shared values and mutual economic interests.”

Mr. Shantanu Narayen, Chairman, President,and CEO of Adobe said, “I am honoured to accept the Leadership Award from the USISPF. USISPF’s mission to accelerate the strategic partnership between the US and India brings together two global leaders with the power to create compounding benefits for the global economy. Now more than ever, uniting the strengths, innovations and talents of the world is critical to building bridges and driving economic prosperity.”

Alongside US Vice President Mike Pence, high-ranking U.S. and Indian government officials participating at the leadership summit include: Dr. S. Jaishankar, India’s Minister of External Affairs; Piyush Goyal, India’s Minister of Commerce & Industry; Kenneth I. Juster, U.S. Ambassador to India to the United States, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, Ambassador of India to the United States; Amitabh Kant, CEO, Niti Aayog; Adam Boehler, CEO, U.S. International Development Finance Corporation; Dr. Indu Bhushan, CEO, Ayushman Bharat; Neil Chatterjee, Chairman, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; Dr. R.A. Mashelkar, Chairman, National Innovation Foundation, and former senior officials from both countries. The summit will highlight areas of bilateral cooperation: trade and investment relations; strategic energy ties; India’s position in global supply chains, collaboration in fintech, healthcare, and technology; building a fair tax regime to attract FDIs, among others.

About the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF):

The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) is committed to creating the most powerful partnership between the United States and India. As the only independent not-for-profit institution dedicated to strengthening the U.S.-India partnership in Washington, D.C. and in New Delhi, USISPF is the trusted partner for businesses, non-profit organizations, the diaspora, and the governments of India and the United States.

MyGate Receives Accolades from the Karnataka State Police for the KSP Clear e-Pass System

Karnataka State Police today honoured MyGate, the country's leading player in the community management space, for their contribution towards the efforts of the state police department during the lockdown. MyGate had, on a pro-bono basis, provided their technical expertise to build and manage the KSP Clear Pass, which issued over 2 lakh e-passes to Bengaluru citizens during Phase 1 & 2 of the lockdown.

Shri. Praveen Sood, Director General of Police, Karnataka, along with Shri. Pratap Reddy, Additional Director General of Police, Karnataka,  acknowledged MyGate's efforts by handing over a certificate of appreciation to Mr. Vijay Arisetty, Co-founder & CEO, MyGate and Mr. Shreyans Daga, Co-founder & CTO, MyGate.

“Our gratitude to Team MyGate for providing citizens (through Karnataka State Police), a user-friendly epass system during COVID-19 lockdown. An exemplary Public Private Partnership,”  said  Shri. Praveen Sood, Director General of Police, Karnataka.

About MyGate- Founded in 2016, MyGate is the largest security and community management app in the country, simplifying urban living of over two million homes in 10,000+ housing societies. It was ranked #4 on YourStory’s list of India’s Most Disruptive Start-ups in December 2019 and one of India’s coolest start-ups by Business Today in 2019. MyGate was founded by Vijay Arisetty, an ex- IAF pilot (Shaurya Chakra awardee), Abhishek K, former VP at Goldman Sachs, and Shreyans Daga, former project head at Oracle and Digit.

From left to Right - Mr. Shreyans Daga, Co-founder & CTO, MyGate, Mr. Vijay Arisetty, Co-founder & CEO, MyGate, Shri. Praveen Sood, Director General of Police, Karnataka and Shri. Pratap Reddy, Additional Director General of Police, Karnataka.

Dalmia Bharat Group Pays a Musical Tribute to Covid Warriors with Kailash Kher & Ricky Kej

 

* Jazbaa – e – Bharat, an online concert on 14th August, dedicated to celebrate the undying spirit of our Covid warriors

In its endeavor to celebrate the courage, commitment and unfathomable spirit of our Covid warriors, Dalmia Bharat Group is organizing Jazbaa-e-Bharat – an online musical extravaganza featuring Padma Shri. Kailash Kher and Grammy Award winner Ricky Kej, on 14th August, 2020 at 6:15 pm.

Speaking on this occasion, Mr. Mahendra Singhi, MD and CEO, Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Ltd. said, “We are honoured to have Padma Shri Kailash Kher and Grammy Award winner Ricky Kej at Jazbaa – e – Bharat, a musical concert aimed at honouring our nation’s resilience in the fight against this pandemic.

Words fall short in describing the unwavering dedication of our COVID warriors. Their commitment is inspiring and we salute their tireless efforts and undying spirit. We also take this opportunity to celebrate our global commitment towards sustainability and our operational performance.”

Padma Shri, Kailash Kher said “In the last few months, the world has adopted new ways of living and thinking. There has been a significant change in our priorities which we now call the ‘New Normal’. Individuals and corporates have come together to shoulder responsibility and help each other during these testing times. One such organisation is Dalmia Bharat Group that has worked continuously during this pandemic to support the citizens of our country. Through this musical salutation named after our frontline warriors called Jazbaa- e -Bharat, we aim to give a tribute to those unsung heroes who are fighting the pandemic across the country.”

Commenting on Jazbaa – e - Bharat, Grammy Award winner Ricky Kej said, “It gives me immense pleasure to be a part of this virtual musical concert organized by Dalmia Bharat Group. Their vision for a sustainable future is in sync with my beliefs about the environment. Together, we believe that we owe it to our children to leave behind a better planet than what we inherited. I have always believed in the healing power of rhythms to bring solace, motivation and guidance for people towards a greater good. Music has the power to inspire us to be sustainably conscious and live in harmony with nature.“

Jazbaa-e -Bharat will be a musical extravaganza in its truest sense as it will also host the evergreen Shri. Udit Narayan whose soulful voice rings of nostalgia. He will be joined by his son Aditya Narayan who started his musical career at a very young age and managed to win the hearts of everyone. They will be accompanied by the prominent multi-lingual singer, Benny Dayal who has always managed to make the audience groove to his lively tunes and the ever melodious Jonita Gandhi who has become an instant favorite of her audience in a short span of time.

The link to this musical salutation of our Covid warriors will be available on all social media platforms. Click on the link: https://www.dblconcert.com/ to join the event.

About Dalmia Bharat Group

Dalmia Bharat Group (www.dalmiabharat.com) is a leading Indian conglomerate with a strong presence in Cement, Sugar and Refractories. The Group has a turnover of over 12,000 crore. Dalmia Bharat commenced operations in 1939 and has played a defining role in India's manufacturing sector. The group has significant market presence in each of its sectors of operation. Its cement business has grown exponentially since 2006 in terms of capacity and production and the company is a leader in the specialty cements space. Dalmia Cement is the only cement company in the world to have the lowest carbon footprint.  In sugar, the group is a prominent generic player catering to most of the leading businesses in India. The Group also caters to an enduring and growing customer base in the refractories business and has forayed into sustainable power/energy.

Hyundai Organizes ‘Lamp On Challenge’ – A Unique Social Media Contest from July 16-31, 2020

Summary 

* Digital contest to encourage customers to promote car maintenance and safety

* Driven through HMIL Social Media Networking Handles

* Contest winners to be gratified with exciting rewards

Hyundai Motor India Ltd., country’s first smart mobility solutions provider and largest exporter since inception has organized a unique contest- ‘Lamp On Challenge’ on their social media handles for customers. The contest is aimed at educating customers about the importance of brake lights and its key role to prevent accidents. The contest commenced on 16th July and will go on till 31st July, 2020. 

Commenting on this novel contest, Mr. Tarun Garg, Director – Sales, Marketing & Service, said, “As a responsible and caring brand, Hyundai has been at the forefront of spreading awareness about the importance of car maintenance and safety to educate and encourage behavioral change in the masses.  Endeavors such as these are pertinent to create a large impact by sensitizing people on similar issues. The ‘Lamp On Challenge’ is a digital contest aimed at being a true eye-opener for the masses”.

The contest entails a three-step process that Hyundai customers need to follow, wherein a picture has to be taken showing a car rear with brake lamps ON, while covering the number plate with a finger heart. This picture has to be posted on their personal social media accounts by tagging @HyundaiIndia along with two friends using both #Hyundai and #LampOn_India. Lucky 100 entries qualifying the above criteria will be gratified with exciting prizes.

Customers can avail Hyundai service facilities via 360 Digital & Contact-less Service. From online service booking through Hyundai Care App, Vehicle status update via WhatsApp, Pick and Drop from home/office and online payment facility, a touch free service experience is ensured for the customers, wherever they are and whenever they want to. With its strong network of 1310 workshops, Hyundai has always been at the forefront in providing the best ownership experience to their customers. Hyundai has been ranked No.1 by JD Power in Customer Service Index (CSI) study for 3 years in a row.

GIIS Campuses Win Multiple Awards at MQH Best Practices Competition in India

Global Indian International School, a chain of international schools headquartered in Singapore, won a number of awards recently at the MQH Best Practices Competition organised by IMC Ramkrishna Bajaj National Quality Award (RBNQA) Trust, taking the total tally of awards won by the school to 154.

GIIS, which has 21 campuses across 7 countries - India, Japan, UAE, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, is acclaimed for its award-winning educational pedagogy and best practices in education that fosters holistic development among students. The institution has received 154 awards till date and has been recognised by coveted national and international organisations including Asia Pacific Quality Organisation, Institute of Directors, Enterprise Singapore, and Indian Merchants Chamber among many others.

The school has a dedicated Global Centre for Excellence in Education (GCEE) team that is committed to establish the highest standards in education excellence and carve the path to achieve awards and recognition for GIIS across countries.

In the recently held MQH Best Practices Competition organised by IMC Ramkrishna Bajaj National Quality Award (RBNQA) Trust, eight GIIS campuses won awards. The competition was held virtually from 23rd to 26th June during which students and faculty from various campuses presented on different topics and won accolades for their ideas and presentation skills.

The participating GIIS teams were from - Kuala Lumpur, Bangalore (Whitefield), Abu Dhabi, Singapore (Punggol SMART Campus), Singapore (East Coast), Ahmedabad, Tokyo, Pune (Balewadi).

GIIS Abu Dhabi swept the Winner Trophy for their presentation on Heartfulness Intervention. GIIS SMART Campus was the First Runner Up for presenting on #SMART-TECH-ULARS, followed by GIIS Tokyo and GIIS Ahmedabad as the Second Runner-up. GIIS Ahmedabad’s topic was Building Responsible Green Citizens while GIIS Tokyo on The Unival Tree.

Students spoke confidently on their topics and presented information with the help of statistics and data to explain their point of view. Post every presentation, the panel of judges, comprising eminent personalities from various fields, asked questions from the students and the rating was done on were shared during the sessions and along with that are of relevance in today’s times and also of possible solutions to control the situation.

The competition was participated by over 40 organisations from various categories like Service, Health, Education and Manufacturing.

Apart from the above-mentioned eight GIIS campuses, Mahatma Gandhi Global Indian Eklavya School (MGGIES) Tilakwada which is run by GSF participated in NGO category also participated in the competition and won first runner-up for their presentation on Amrut Sandesh.

About Global Indian International School

Winner of 150 international awards, Global Indian International School (GIIS) is a global network of premier international schools with more than 15,000 students across 21 campuses in Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Thailand, UAE, Vietnam and India. Founded in 2002, GIIS offers a range of International and Indian curricula for Kindergarten to Grade 12 students. These include the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), Cambridge IGCSE, IB Primary Years Programme, Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the Global Montessori Plus programme. 

GIIS’ mission is to nurture young minds into global leaders and innovators of tomorrow through skills-based approach to education which believes in academic and extracurricular excellence. This approach, called the Nine GEMS methodology, balances excellence in academics with sports, performing arts, entrepreneurship and character development. GIIS is a member of the Global Schools Foundation (GSF) which has been recognised worldwide for high standards of governance and established academic criteria. 

Ananya Panday in Awe of Project Runway Season 18, Streaming Exclusively on Discovery Plus

Bravo’s Emmy-winning competition series “Project Runway” returns for another season of high stakes and fierce fashions, this time exclusively on Discovery Plus, the exciting new D2C streaming app from Discovery India, from 1st July 2020. Bollywood star Ananya Panday, used this opportunity to binge on one of her favourite shows, Project Runway’s latest Season and she has been enjoying the experience a lot.

Excited about the latest season, Ananya Panday said she hasn’t missed a single season of Project Runway till date, “I am a big Project Runway fan! It is still one of the most exciting fashion-related shows I’ve ever seen. The moment the latest season dropped on Discovery Plus, I binge-watched it immediately. It is commendable how the contestants can create magic out of just a piece of fabric and sometimes, not even that. You know the iconic quote from the show - As you know in fashion, one day you're in. And the next day, you're out...it’s so apt. The most difficult part of the show is how these guys have to bring their best fashionable foot forward for every challenge and it is so inspiring,”

Talking about the show and her favourite judge, Ananya said, "I love the way Nina Garcia provides constructive criticism every single time to the contestants to help them grow. And while, of course, I do miss Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn, I think Karlie Kloss is doing a great job. Season 18 turned out to be just as awesome as I expected it to be.”

She added, “My favourite challenge this season was the one where they had to create victory outfits for real-life 2020 Olympic and Paralympic athletes. Only with real talent and eye for detail, one would be able to come up with something so fabulous that is going to be worn by achievers and real stars of sports!”

Catch Project Runway streaming exclusively on Discovery Plus from 1st July, 2020.

Coders Turn COVID-19 Fighters at TechGig Code Gladiators 2020 Coding Contest

Hackathons

* TechGig Code Gladiators has 15,617+ registrations at two hackathons focussed on limiting COVID-19 pandemic impact

* Guinness book record holder event, Code Gladiators is hosting its seventh edition this year with more than 2lakh+ registrations 

* Code Gladiators 2020 is hosting five hackathons in total, all focussed on new-age technologies like Machine Learning, RPA, Cloud 

Will a computer programme ease the COVID-19 crisis? Going by the heaps of ideas suggested at TechGig Code Gladiators 2020, the answer could very well be - a ‘yes’. 

With the world gripped in the COVID-19 crisis for more than 100 days now, it’s the right time for the coders to join hands with the frontline health staff and pharma researchers to keep the indomitable Coronavirus at bay. 

TechGig Code Gladiators 2020 has recorded more than 15,617+ registrations in two hackathons focussed on finding tech-based solutions to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic. They are IBM- 2020 Call for Code Global Challenge and Microsoft HackOnAzure. Microsoft HackOnAzure is solely focussed on finding COVID-19 solutions, while IBM- 2020 Call for Code Global Challenge has two tracks – COVID-19 & Climate Change. The other hackathons at Code Gladiators 2020 include UiPath RPA Hackathon, Automated Multi-Label Classification by Times Internet and the Open Coding Round where the participants can submit codes in any of the 50 programming languages offered.

Participation is free at https://www.techgig.com/codegladiators 

Code Gladiators - the Guinness world record holder programming event - is hosting its seventh edition this year. Code Gladiators 2020 edition kicked off on March 23, 2020, and has recorded 2,35,375+ registrations till now. This edition is particularly interesting because the COVID-19 lockdown has forced most professionals to work from home, giving them more time to participate in this globally acclaimed hackathon.  

TechGig surveyed to understand the participants’ experience at the present hackathon, where more than 68% coders affirmed that they could concentrate well on the hackathons owing to the lockdown. About 62% of participants also said that they were excited about the event’s upcoming online mega grand finale since this is the first time that the event will conclude with a virtual finale. 

 

Elaborating on the Code Gladiators 2020 hackathons, Sanjay Goyal, Business Head, TimesJobs and TechGig said, “Every year TechGig Code Gladiators resolves to find solutions to the real-world business problems posed by the participating IT companies. This year, we found an opportunity amid the despair. Presently when most countries are battling the COVID-19 outbreak, Code Gladiators presents a unique opportunity to coders to find a tech-based solution to limit the virus impact. The other hackathons at the contest are equally interesting where coders are challenged to solve complex business problems using a trending technology such as RPA (Robotic Process Automation).”

Citing some of the solutions as ‘very promising’, Sanjay Goyal added that TechGig’s team and the entire IT industry is keenly waiting for some of these solutions to take shape. The first round of registrations at Code Gladiators 2020 is presently on and will conclude on June 22, 2020.

Gender inclusivity awards announced: NASSCOM

NASSCOM, the premier trade body and the chamber of commerce of IT software and services, today announced the winners of 'gender inclusivity' awards instituted by the organization.
The awards, which recognize outstanding practices to promote gender empowerment and women leadership development, were declared at the 3rd Annual IT Women Leadership Summit opened here on Wednesday.

It would be presented at the gala award nite being organized as part of the summit tonight. The 'gender inclusivity' awards recognize the efforts made by the company through policies, procedures and systems to foster inclusivity and innovative programs that are targeted at strengthening gender inclusivity at the work place.

Infosys Technologies walked away with the award for excellence in gender inclusivity from the IT Services and Product Companies sector, while IBM India Pvt ltd bagged the award for the most innovative projects in gender inclusivity.

Among the BPO sector IBM Daksh Business Process Services emerged winner whereas Ajuba solutions and ADP private limited walked away with the laurels in the best emerging company sector.

The award criteria includes five parameter namely business rationale, senior leadership support, communication, accountability and measurable results. "These awards recognize companies who are doing outstanding work enabling inclusivity and we hope that other companies will emulate the best practices," said Som Mittal, president, NASSCOM, while addressing the media.