The Heartfulness Institute Announces Winners Of Its Essay Competition To Inspire Value-Based Thinking In Students

 * Mr. Kamlesh Patel (Daaji), Guide of Heartfulness along with Upasana Kamineni, Vice-Chairperson Apollo Hospitals, Abhinav Bindra, Former Olympian, Pullela Gopichand, Chief National Badminton Coach and Manasi Joshi Indian Para-Badminton Player inspire students to become the leaders of tomorrow. 

The Heartfulness Education Trust announced the winners of its 28th edition of the “Heartfulness Essay Event’ launched in September 2020. Through a virtual event on the auspicious occasion of Basant Panchami, 40 national winners and around 280 state winners were announced by Mr. Kamlesh Patel (Daaji), Guide of Heartfulness along with Upasana Kamineni, Vice-Chairperson Apollo Hospitals,, Pullela Gopichand, Chief National Badminton Coach, Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy, Abhinav Bindra, Founder and CEO, Abhinav Futuristics Private Limited, and Former Olympian; and Manasi Joshi Indian para-badminton player, the current World Champion and a changemaker. The leaders inspired the students by sharing their real-life stories at the ceremony. 

Each year the Heartfulness Education Trust, part of Shri Ram Chandra Mission (SRCM) in collaboration with the UNIC - United Nations Information Centre for India and Bhutan, hosts the event to inspire youth to inculcate value-based learning as part of their life. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, the continuity of the essay event was preserved by the participation of more than 30,000 students from approximately 5,000 institutions across the country to write on ‘Thought pollution - root cause of all ills’ and ‘Poverty is not just a lack of money’ in English and ten regional languages. 

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Kamlesh Patel (Daaji), Guide of Heartfulness said, “We live in an environment that is overloaded with information. We have lost the art of contemplation, reflection and discussion that has tremendously impacted the psyche of our younger generation. The essay event is an enabler to instil these virtues in the youth of today, to motivate them to lead a life based on values. Heartfulness is preserving traditional, sustainable and effective learning methods, to fuel young minds with wisdom so that they can shape better communities tomorrow.” 

Ms. Upasana Kamineni, Founder URLife.co.in, and Vice-Chairperson CSR, Apollo Hospitals Group, said, “It is inspiring to see the continued interest and commitment by young minds and academic institutes to be part of this 28-year-old movement that encourages value-based way of life. Reflection and contemplation are crucial facets not just for a better society but also for one's well-being. I congratulate each one of you and wish you all the best.” 

Mr. Abhinav Bindra, Founder and CEO, Abhinav Futuristics Private Limited, and Former Olympian said, “Initiatives that sharpen the minds of young minds is the need of the hour. It is imperative for us to create better opportunities for our youth to shine in all fields. The competition is one such platform where millions of students are getting an opportunity to showcase their talent.”  

“The foundation for excellence whether in sport or in life is always built on the values. We have been able to create several world class badminton players at the academy because of stringent focus on disciplining the mind and the body. Youngsters of today need the guidance on how to bring about this discipline in their thinking process to strive towards their goals”, said Mr. Pullela Gopichand, Chief National Badminton Coach, Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy. 

Manasi Joshi, Indian Para-Badminton Player said, “challenges in life can be overcome when we are able to connect to the strength within. The early years of our life play a very vital part in how we maximise our inherent potential. Being able to connect to the strength requires constant introspection and this ability needs to be shaped as early as possible. I am glad that the Heartfulness Institute is doing its bit to create that inspiration for millions of youths across the country in the form of this ongoing event.”   

The annual ‘Heartfulness Essay Event’ is a unique competition. It was initiated in 1992 with a vision to introduce value-based thinking through reflection, discussion, and contemplation, for shaping young minds and the leaders of tomorrow. The contest allows ample time for the participants to delve into the topic by discussing it with their peers, teachers, and others. Participants attempt to contemplate and reflect on the topic to shape the essay from their personal experience. 

Placement Consultancies, Domestic Help Services And Paying Guests Topped Online Searches In January

* Delhi, Chennai and Bangalore are the top 3 cities leading the online searches

A study undertaken by Sulekha.com, India’s leading AI-driven tech platform for expert services has unveiled interesting trends and insights about the service categories that have seen an increase in January 2021.

This study is based on visits and searches by nearly 3,00,000+ users across top 8 cities that landed on Sulekha in January 2021.

Key findings of the study:

* The Top 3 service categories that have seen a spike in online searches include Placement Consultancies, Domestic Help Services and Paying Guests.

* The top 5 cities that are leading in online searches across service categories include: Chennai Delhi and Bangalore followed by Hyderabad and Mumbai.

* In Chennai, the top 3 services that are leading include: Paying Guests, Domestic Help Services and Placement Consultancies. These services have grown by 20% since December 2020.

* In Delhi, the top 3 services that are leading include: Domestic Help Services, Placement Consultancies and Job Training. These services have grown by 21% since December 2020.

* In Bangalore, the top 3 services that are leading include: Placement Consultancies, Domestic Help Services and Paying Guests. These services have grown by 19% since December 2020.

* In Hyderabad, the top 3 services that are leading include: Domestic Help Services, Vehicle Rentals, and Placement Consultancies. These services have grown by 15% since December 2020.

* In Mumbai, the top 3 services that are leading include: Placement Consultancies, Vehicle Rentals and Job Training. These services have grown by 25% since December 2020.

* In Pune, the top 3 services that are leading include: Paying Guests, Placement Consultancies and Job Training. These services have grown by 18% since December 2020.

* In Kolkata, the top 3 services that are leading include: Job Training, Domestic Help Services and Vehicle Rentals. These services have grown by 15% since December 2020.

* In Ahmedabad, the top 3 services that are leading include: Job Training, Domestic Help Services and Placement Consultancies. These services have grown by 16% since December 2020.

Satya Prabhakar, Founder & CEO, Sulekha.com, said, “It’s interesting to note the increase in online searches for services like Paying Guest stays and Domestic Help Services. Last year, due to the pandemic, people were extremely sceptical to allow domestic help and paying guests into their houses. But with the decline in COVID cases, these services seem to slowly get back on track.”

An Impressive 135 Students From Aakash Institute Qualify The Indian Olympiad Qualifier In Mathematics (IOQM) Exam

* Previously known as Pre-Regional Mathematical Olympiad (PRMO) and Regional Mathematical Olympiad (RMO), the National Olympiad Programme in Maths has changed the name of PRMO/RMO to IOQM for the year 2020-21. 

* This year’s results see a significant increase in the number of students from Aakash Institute clearing the exam, from 90 selections in 2019 to 135 in 2021 

* The qualified students will now compete nationally in the stage 2 of the Olympiad, the Indian National Mathematic Olympiad (INMO). 

An impressive 135 students from Aakash Institute, the national leader in test preparatory services, have cleared the prestigious Indian Olympiad Qualifier in Mathematics (IOQM) Exam. The assessment was jointly conducted by the Mathematics Teachers Association of India (MTAI), Indian Association of Physics Teachers (IAPT) and Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (Tata Institute of Fundamental Research) – HBCSE (TIFR). 

The qualified students will now compete nationally in the stage 2 of the Olympiad known as the Indian National Mathematic Olympiad (INMO). 

The number of students clearing the IOQM exam from Aakash Institute has increased consistently year on year, with this year seeing 15 students from Class 9th clearing the exam, 42 from Class 10th, 61 from Class 11th and 17 from Class 12th. In 2019, 90 students from Aakash Institute had cleared the exam, 115 in 2020 and 135 in the recently declared result. 

Congratulating the students on the impressive results, Mr Aakash Chaudhry, Managing Director, Aakash Educational Services Limited (AESL) said: “We are very proud of our students who have made exemplary results even in this tough situation. We would like to congratulate all our students who have cleared the IOQM exam 2021. This is a huge step towards achieving their JEE dreams. We would also like to thank the parents for extending their support. The credit goes to the hard work put in by our students and faculties as well as the quality test preparation imparted at the institute. I wish them all the best for the next round.” 

Previously known as Pre-Regional Mathematical Olympiad (PRMO) and Regional Mathematical Olympiad (RMO), the National Olympiad Programme in Maths has changed the name of PRMO/RMO to IOQM for the year 2020-21. There are certain modifications made in the examination pattern and also the number of stages has been reduced to 5 which were earlier 6.   

The student undergoes some theoretical and experimental sessions and only 35-40 students from all over India compete against each other to Qualify for International Mathematical Olympiad Training Camp (IMOTC). The camp provides the orientation at all levels of theoretical, experimental, and observational (for astronomy) tasks to students. Emphasis is laid on developing conceptual foundations and problem-solving skills.  

Moving forward, only 4-6 students who qualify for Pre Departure Camp undergo some rigorous training programme at HBCSE for which special laboratories have been developed. To help the students, resource persons from different institutions across the country are invited to the training camps. 

The last stage which is International culminates with the participation of the Indian students (4-6) in the International Mathematical Olympiad. The students are accompanied by 2-4 teachers or mentors. 

Aakash Institute aims to help students in their quest to achieve academic success. It has a centralized in-house process for curriculum and content development and faculty training and monitoring, led by its National Academic Team. Over the years, students from Aakash have proven selection track record in various Medical & Engineering Entrance Exams, Competitive and Olympiads. 

About Aakash Educational Services Limited (AESL) 

Aakash Educational Services Limited (AESL) provides comprehensive test preparatory services for students preparing for Medical and Engineering Entrance Examinations, School/Board Exams and Competitive Exams such as NTSE, KVPY, and Olympiads. AESL believes that the “Aakash” brand is associated with quality coaching and a proven student selection track record in various Medical and Engineering Entrance Examinations, Scholarship exams & Olympiads. 

With over 33 years of operational experience in the test preparatory industry, the company has a large number of selections in Medical & Engineering Entrance Exams and several Class 9th and 10th level Scholarship exams/Olympiads, a pan India network of 215+ Aakash Centers (including franchisee), and a student count of more than 250,000. 

The Aakash group also owns the famous K-12 EdTech brand, Meritnation.com as well. 

Vi Launches Premium Video On Demand (PVOD) Service On Vi Movies & TV App, In Association With Hungama

 

* The offering is for both Prepaid & Postpaid Vi customers looking for premium films, and available at very lucrative rates as compared to other digital platforms

Leading telecom brand, Vi today announced the launch of its Pay Per View service model, clubbed with deals from Hungama Digital Media Entertainment. This is a first-of-its-kind offering by a telco in India’s exploding Premium Video On Demand (PVOD) market.

This will enable Vi customers to get access to 380+ movie titles including one of the most talked about film in 2020 by the master film maker Christopher Nolan - “Tenet,” in four languages – Hindi, English, Tamil and Telugu.

The PVOD market in India is very premature but promising, as Indian audience continues to be price conscious and choosy. The PVOD models are changing in the new post pandemic era as consumers are looking at alternative options of entertainment in the comfort of their homes.

Vi Movies & TV Pay per view model is a natural extension of our entertainment offerings. The current offerings allow users to watch content at no extra cost as per their recharge or post-paid plans. Pay per view launch is furthering the agenda to empower users to pay for the content that they want to watch, in a language they want to watch.

Commenting on the partnership, Avneesh Khosla, CMO, Vi said, “Vi continues to drive the agenda to partner with top content providers to delight our customers with new propositions and cost effective offerings. With the opening of the economy and entertainment business, new content consumption models are emerging that allow users to watch single content for a specific price. Our innovative and partnership led content strategy has helped us adopt a telco-first approach for content monetisation in this hugely untapped market. We look forward to working with like-minded partners like Hungama Digital, to grow this segment.”

Speaking on the partnership, Siddhartha Roy, COO, Hungama Digital Media said, “Through our partnerships with international studios, Hungama Play offers its users the opportunity to watch the latest Hollywood blockbusters within a few weeks of their theatrical release, in a pay per view model. The integration of Hungama Play's transactional service with Vi Movies and TV will allow their users to explore and consume an extensive library of the latest Hollywood titles, giving them access to global entertainment on their phones. We have had a long and fruitful relationship with Vi and are certain that the latest association will expand the scope of on-demand services that can be offered to Vi users.”

The partnership between Vi and Hungama is designed with the objective of bolstering growth of digital ecosystem in India, and will allow Vi customers to access premium Hollywood movies. Some of the titles which will be showcased and will be available for Vi customers, as a part of this initiative are - Tenet, Joker, Birds of Prey, SCOOB, Aquaman, to name a few.

Tenet will now be available to Vi customers at an attractive price point of INR 120 along with the best of more 2020 movies, while other movies will be available at INR 60.  This is the best pricing in the market for Hungama movies. Users can rent a film title and watch it within a window of 48 Hours from the comfort of their home. They also have the option to Chromecast the film and watch it on a large screen. 

About Vi Movies & TV 

The Vi Movies & TV app previously known as Vodafone Play, Idea Movies & TV has undergone a name change. It is a one-stop entertainment destination to enjoy live TV Shows, latest movies and original content. It gives access to over 9500+ movies, in 13 different languages, 300+ live TV channels along with a huge catalogue of original web series and International TV Shows across all genres.

About Vodafone Idea Limited

Vodafone Idea Limited is an Aditya Birla Group and Vodafone Group partnership. It is India’s leading telecom service provider. The Company provides pan India Voice and Data services across 2G, 3G and 4G platform. With the large spectrum portfolio to support the growing demand for data and voice, the company is committed to deliver delightful customer experiences and contribute towards creating a truly ‘Digital India’ by enabling millions of citizens to connect and build a better tomorrow. The Company is developing infrastructure to introduce newer and smarter technologies, making both retail and enterprise customers future ready with innovative offerings, conveniently accessible through an ecosystem of digital channels as well as extensive on-ground presence. The Company is listed on National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) in India.

upGrad Puts India On The Global Edtech Map With Learners Joining From 50+ Countries

* Edtech major witnesses a massive surge in interest from neighbouring countries such as Bangladesh, Nepal, and Afghanistan 

upGrad, India’s largest higher edtech company, added yet another milestone in the last quarter by adding a large number of paid learners from different geographies making higher education truly a borderless phenomenon. According to the data received from Q3 (October-November-December 2020), the number of paid international learners rose to 400+ across 50+ countries with the largest chunk coming from the Middle East, followed by the United States of America, Southeast Asia, and Europe. This move is aligned with Government’s aim to make India a knowledge superpower and upGrad’s vision to make India the teaching capital of the world.

The Middle East stands as the largest contributor of international learners with major traction coming from Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Israel, and Bahrain. Interestingly, according to those visiting upGrad website looking for courses in the last quarter Q3 (OND), interest from Bangladesh and Afghanistan grew by more than 100% respectively, followed by Nepal at more than 70%.

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Highlighting the successful market penetration of upGrad in the global online education sphere, Arjun Mohan, CEO - India, upGrad, commented, "It is an exhilarating feeling to witness such a growth rate in Q3. These positive statistics validate the reach of upGrad not just in the domestic edtech sector but at an international scale too. It is just going to be an upward slope from hereon as we embark on achieving newer heights of success and put Indian edtech on the global map and make India the teaching capital of the world, with upGrad leading the movement from the front."

The programs that are seeing higher traction amongst international upGrad learners are Global MBAs with Liverpool Business School & Deakin Business School and programs in the Data vertical which includes PG Diploma & Master’s in Data Science, Machine Learning & Business Analytics, followed by the others.

upGrad has been expanding its global presence by leaps and bounds. It had recently announced forming the four-member board comprising of distinguished leaders for its UK operations and will soon be announcing the appointment of the leadership team for its US operation, offers for which have already been rolled out, as confirmed by the upGrad officials.

About upGrad

upGrad is an India’s higher edtech leader, offering 100+ courses in Data, Technology, Management, Arts, etc., in collaboration with universities like Deakin Business School (Australia), Duke CE (US), LJMU (UK), IIT Madras (India), etc. upGrad is India's #1 startup (LinkedIn’s Top Startups 2020) and is amongst GSV Global EdTech 50 List.

Signify Adds Extra Layer Of Safety With Launch Of Signify UV-C Disinfection Services In India

Signify (Euronext: LIGHT), the world leader in lighting, has combined its expertise in UV-C lighting with its proficiency in professional services to launch its UV-C disinfection services in India. UV-C lighting is a chemical, residue and absorption free method that can be used to disinfect air, water and surfaces. All bacteria and viruses tested to date respond to UV-C radiation[i]. The effectiveness of Signify’s UV-C light sources to inactivating SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, has been validated by Boston University[ii].

Building on 35 years of experience in UV-C lighting technology and strong application expertise, Signify is now offering UV-C disinfection lighting services for organizations looking to re-open their workplaces.

For its UV-C disinfection services, the company has designed a customized service package wherein a team of highly trained professionals first study the site carefully to understand the requirements, followed by the disinfection process using specially designed UV-C products and a scientific methodology to determine the unique dosage needed for that site. After the disinfection is complete, the team also provides a site assessment report and a stick-on certificate.

Cushman & Wakefield has deployed Signify’s UV-C disinfection services for their office in the city of Gurugram, India. “The team was very professional and carried out the service after taking proper precautions dressed up in PPE Suits. The dosage deployed at different locations using a UV meter creates a sense of confidence that the area is disinfected properly. We would surely recommend Signify’s service for periodic disinfection” said Rahul Tripathi, Workplace Resources Gurugram, Cushman & Wakefield.

Microgravity is developing a world class entertainment hub and gaming arena with state-of-the-art free-roaming technology for multiplayer virtual reality games, which includes world class simulators, virtual reality bays, classic video gaming docks and a golf experience using cutting edge projection and simulation technology. The first flagship store will be launched in February in Gurgaon and will use Signify’s UV-C disinfection services for daily disinfection. Rahul Bhattacharya, Co-Founder and MD at Microgravity Ventures said, “As part of our multi-disinfection strategy, we are proud to partner with an innovative and world-class company like Signify, to provide a fun, safe and immersive environment for all our customers and employees.”

“It is extremely important for an employer to ensure the safety of its employees returning to office in the current pandemic. We have leveraged our expertise in UV-C lighting and our extensive experience in providing ISO 9001 certified services to offer our UV-C disinfection lighting services that offer a safe and proven solution for disinfection” said Sumit Joshi, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Signify Innovations India Limited. 

UV-C breaks down the DNA and/or RNA of micro-organisms, including viruses and bacteria, rendering them harmless. Signify’s UV-C lamps emit a radiation peak at 254 nm which is near the germicidal efficiency peak and therefore ideal for disinfecting air, surfaces, objects and water.

UV-C light should always be used by professionals in accordance with the safety requirements and instructions to avoid humans and animals from being exposed to it since it can damage their skin and eyes.

OLX Group Appoints Gautam Thakar As New Global CEO OLX Autos

* India-based Thakar to lead global OLX Autos business unit of Prosus-owned classifieds leader OLX Group – shaping the future of how people buy and sell cars across four continents

Prosus-owned OLX Group, a global leader in classifieds marketplaces, today announced the appointment of Gautam Thakar as global CEO of OLX Autos effective March 15, 2021. Thakar will lead a worldwide organisation with a workforce of more than 4,000 employees across Asia, Africa, Latam, and the United States. 

OLX Autos is shaping the future of car trade by bringing peace-of-mind to car buyers and sellers in one of life’s biggest transactions, addressing a $100Bn car market opportunity in countries where it operates. OLX Autos runs online digital trading platforms in addition to more than 500 inspection centres across the Americas, Asia and Africa, each year inspecting 300,000 vehicles and enabling 130,000 vehicle transactions.

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Description automatically generatedMost recently, Thakar was CEO of Star Sports in India which was acquired by the Walt Disney Company. Prior to that Thakar was in the United States for over a decade and brings deep leadership experience in pioneering digital marketplaces as former global CEO of Shopping.com and LivingSocial (acquired by Groupon). Thakar was a part of the founding management team of baazee.com which pioneered ecommerce in India before being acquired by eBay in 2005. 

Martin Scheepbouwer, CEO, OLX Group, said, “I’m extremely pleased to welcome Gautam as Global CEO of OLX Autos. He brings a unique set of capabilities to this exciting opportunity including an exceptional general management track record, strong customer orientation, deep marketplace experience, and a rich experience leading and inspiring teams on a global footprint. We will all benefit from his wealth of knowledge and experience as we bring convenience and trust to the way people buy and sell cars.”

Commenting on his appointment, Gautam Thakar said, “I am delighted with the opportunity and responsibility to lead the impressive global OLX Autos team. I’ve long watched the bold and ambitious approach taken by Naspers and Prosus as they’ve built great companies in so many exciting markets, including India. OLX Group's commitment to this business is unparalleled and I am inspired to join the team to build the world's most trusted platform for buying and selling cars.”  

Thakar brings a strong consumer focus from his early days of his career as a brand manager at P&G in Asia and a stint leading international marketing for eBay marketplaces. He has lived and worked in India, Philippines and the US and managed country teams across 15+ markets throughout his career. He will remain based in India in his new global role, and starts March 15, 2021.

About OLX Group and Prosus:

OLX Group operates the fastest-growing network of trading platforms globally. Serving 300 million people every month in 30+ countries around the world, OLX Group helps people buy and sell cars, find housing, get jobs, buy and sell household goods, and much more. With more than 20 well-loved local brands including Avito, OLX, Otomoto, letgo, and Property24, its solutions are built to be safe, smart, and convenient for its customers. 

OLX Group is powered by a team of 10,000+ people around the world, who are unified in their ambition to shape the future of trade to unlock the hidden value in everything. For more information, visit www.olxgroup.com.

OLX Group is the online classifieds business of Prosus, a global consumer internet group and one of the largest technology investors in the world. Prosus has a primary listing on Euronext Amsterdam (AEX:PRX) and secondary listings on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (XJSE:PRX) and a2X Markets (PRX.AJ), and is majority-owned by Naspers. For more information on Prosus and its companies and investments.