WhiteHat Jr Expands Coding Curriculum In Schools With A Physical-Digital Blended Model

* Reaches out to more than 1.25 lakh students in 500 schools across 24 states & union territories under this initiative

* Targets to teach 1 million school students next academic year

WhiteHat Jr, India's leading live one-on-one online learning platform, today announced the launch of a physical-digital blended coding curriculum for school children in the country. The program combines the power of WhiteHat Jr’s online platform with a classroom model, where children can learn and collaborate with their peers.

The edtech company has received a very positive response to the offering, with schools showing massive interest in introducing next-generation coding skills to their students. Leveraging the strong in-bound, WhiteHat Jr has signed up 500 schools across the country, representing more than 1.25 lakh students who will learn coding through the blended curriculum.

The program has been especially developed to support schools in India. It delivers three key features –

Proprietary curriculum - WhiteHat Jr has designed an activity-based structured coding curriculum from Grade 1 -12. The curriculum is scientifically researched & based on age-appropriate learning outcomes.

Physical cum digital access - To maximize the benefits of peer classroom learning, the coding classes will be delivered in the school computer labs in person by a trained teacher using the WhiteHat Jr’s proprietary technology platform. All enrolled students will also have access to WhiteHat Jr’s online resources, including classroom tutorials and projects.

Teacher training program - WhiteHat Jr has developed a new teacher training program to prepare teachers for conducting the coding program in schools. It also has been empanelled by NSDC to build the capacity of coding trainers in the country. To date, 1,000 private school teachers have already been trained and will get certified under this initiative.

“We have to equip our children with 21st-century skills to help reap the demographic dividend in its truest sense. However, the big deterrent is that the majority of children in the country don't have access to computers or broadband. We aim to bridge this critical gap with a unique physical-digital blended model leveraging schools to enable coding access to millions of children across the country,” said Karan Bajaj, Founder & CEO, WhiteHat Jr. "With the positive reception that we have received thus far since the launch of our physical-digital blended model, our vision of teaching Coding to at least 1 million school students in the next academic year is an achievable reality.”

"We are at the helm of a breakthrough with this initiative, to provide Coding education to students that otherwise would not have had the infrastructure to access these future skills," said Nitin Kochhar, Chief Business Officer -  New Channels, WhiteHat Jr. "500+ schools representing 245 cities, from 24 states and union territories across the country, is a testament to the trust that we have gained by leading educational institutions across the country. We have built a strong support infrastructure/ processes and team in place to delight each and every child studying Coding through our school's initiative."

NBHC Makes Foray Into Digital Auctioning / Trading Of Agri-Commodities Via Krishi Setu Web App

* Influences the power of Farming and Digitisation with ease for Farmers, Traders & Processors to buy or sell commodities with Actual Price Discovery ~ 

National Bulk Handling Corporation (NBHC) announced the launch of its electronic application ‘Krishi Setu’, a one-stop solution in post-harvest agri value chain offering seamless user-experience & reduced operational inconveniencies in trade execution, through end-to-end digitized processes.  NBHC has developed this advanced e-marketplace for agri commodities, which is a result of our commitment towards taking ahead the legacy of technology-led innovation with an objective of providing all variants of digitally enabled auctions & trades.  

With a mission to empower the Farmer Community & Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), Krishi Setu is committed to provide knowledge-driven services for building efficiency in Auctioning / Trading of commodities, even with remote access.  It directly links buyers & sellers electronically across the country and facilitates hassle-free transactions, purely through disintermediation. Furthermore by utilising market linkages and connecting market participants viz Farmers, FPOs, Government Agencies, Corporates, Traders and Processors; Krishi Setu enables efficient price mechanism with complete transparency.     

Mr. Ramesh Doraiswami, Managing Director & CEO, NBHC, said, “With internet penetration nearing 50% and the number of mobile connections equivalent to 79% of the population in India, trading in agricultural commodities is poised for a leap to the new digital age marked by ease and mobility. As a company focussed on innovation, NBHC aspires to make Krishi Setu an Amazon-like e-market platform for agri-commodities and further improve the lives of Farmers & FPOs, enabling them to make informed decisions on marketing their produce by providing them market access, transparency and post-harvest value added services.  

Mr. Deepak Kumar Singh, SVP & Business Head, NBHC, said, “Krishi Setu is all set to making a difference to the agri value chain through its progressive amenities which combines farming, automation and digitalisation. This platform offers tailor-made solutions for effective process-driven risk assessment & mitigation, coupled with digital financing option. Through Krishi Setu, we are enlarging our farm gate procurement services from farmers to clientele through disintermediation, by leveraging our tech-enabled operational capabilities. We are committed to empowering farmers by opening a gateway to lucrative deals featured with fair pricing, transparency and zero compromise on the quality”. 

Through NBHC’s pan-India reach, deep industry knowledge and tech-enabled operational capabilities, Krishi Setu provides services for an extensive range of commodities including grains, pulses, cereals, oil seeds and spices across various locations. This revolutionary platform is accessible through Google Play Store, QR code scanning and website.  

Aditya Birla Education Academy Provided Free Training To Over 1 Lakh Educators Across India, During The Pandemic

* In April 2020, Aditya Birla Education Academy began the free training programmes in the form of masterclasses and educator meetups with an aim to support teachers’ skill development

Aditya Birla Education Academy (ABEA), India’s leading professional development institute for teachers announced that it has achieved a milestone in terms of providing free training to over one lakh educators in India. Aditya Birla Education Academy is at the forefront of supporting the teaching community of the country by imparting in them the right skills required to stay abreast of the latest developments and aid their learning through various training programmes.

The novel coronavirus posed an unprecedented disruption in the education system. In response to the crisis, educational establishments began embracing virtual teaching methods and digital avenues to bridge the physical divides. During the initial days, many educators were not accustomed to the required digital tools and teaching methods to conduct virtual classes. This scenario was more of an eye-opener and an opportunity for the teachers to realize the importance of upskilling themselves by undertaking different training programmes.

To support skill development of the educators of the country especially during such dire times, Aditya Birla Education Academy (ABEA) as a part of its community-building initiatives for teachers’ learning has been offering free Masterclasses and Educator Meetup sessions for teachers for the last 15 months. ABEA began this initiative in April 2020 when teachers were grappling with strategies and tools to teach online. Aditya Birla Education Academy takes pride in successfully training over 1,00,000 educators by conducting around 60 free sessions from April 2020 to date.

Commenting on this community-building initiative, Mrs Neerja Birla, Founder, and Chairperson, Aditya Birla Education Trust said, “Last year, as the education sector grappled with the impact of the pandemic, we realised that skill development is an important area of focus. This led us to introduce free training programmes for educators across India. Through this initiative, we aim to fast-track the professional growth of educators and impart new-age skillsets required to conduct classes virtually, staying true to our objective of presenting a platform to educators for upskilling and thereby enhancing their overall quality of teaching.”

Through these monthly free masterclasses and educator meetups, Aditya Birla Education Academy has conducted sessions on diverse subjects such as The Identification and Development of Creative Productive Giftedness, Understanding Gen Z to Optimize the Teaching-learning Process, Developing Global Citizenship, Decoding the Unpredictable in the Future of Schooling, Mentoring and Monitoring Skills for Middle Management, Intrinsic Leadership in Schools, etc. These masterclasses are hour-long sessions led by a subject matter expert. The educator meetups consist of a 30-minute presentation by a skilled professional followed by a 30-minute session of sharing of ideas, insights, and strategies among educators. 

Here are some testimonials from the teachers who attended Masterclasses:

“It was quite an informative session and motivated teachers to keep going on and do their duties, uplift each other during such a challenging situation.”

Archana G Bhat, New Horizon Gurukul

Attended the Masterclass on Work from Home for Teachers in April 2020

“It was a very informative session. All the questions we had this whole time are answered. I got to know many new things and also new words which can improve my vocabulary. I got to know about the new phase of learning. The presentation was amazing and the words spoken were so true and thorough. Thank you so much for this wonderful session.”

Mahek Kaur Soor, Lodha World School

Attended the Masterclass on The New Face of Education in October 2020

“The session was well planned and very much informative. Take away from this session for me is to create and maintain the curiosity in the learners. Thanks a lot for the session!”

Manisha Singh, The Scindia School

Attended the Masterclass on Project-Based Learning in April 2021

The free online training sessions are conducted on a monthly basis after which educators can continue their discussion and communicate, share and learn from one another on Educator Community on Facebook. The details for the August 2021 sessions can be found at:

·Topic: ABEA Masterclass on Framing Higher Order Thinking Skills - MCQs

Date: 2nd August 2021

Registration Link: https://abea.in/workshop/abea-masterclass-on-framing-higher-order-thinking-skills---mcqs

About Aditya Birla Education Academy

Aditya Birla Education Academy is India’s leading professional development institute for teachers. Aditya Birla Education Academy aims to engage educators in the new-age global processes of education and empower them to evolve into the best knowledge-givers they can be, as they nurture young minds and contribute towards shaping the future. Aditya Birla Education Academy is providing a platform for educators to further their professional development through relevant and uniquely structured courses that meet their needs across the spectrum of education.

About Aditya Birla Education Trust

Aditya Birla Education Trust (ABET) is an organisation committed to the cause of education and mental health, with an objective to nurture young minds. Right from establishing the Aditya Birla World Academy, an International School with an Indian soul, to The Aditya Birla Integrated School, which acknowledges the need to cater to children with different learning needs, ABET has always prioritised the importance of a child’s overall development. Further under the aegis of ABET, the Aditya Birla Education Academy provides professional development opportunities for educators, and engages, empowers and equips them to contribute towards shaping the future of young minds. In an endeavour to stamp out stigma surrounding mental health concerns, ABET has established Mpower, a holistic mental health care initiative, which has become the pioneer of mental health awareness in the country. Aditya Birla Education Trust runs under the zealous leadership of its passionate and committed Founder & Chairperson, Mrs. Neerja Birla.

Tata Motors Joins Hands With Common Service Centre Scheme To Widen Its Reach In Rural India

* Ministry of Electronics and IT’s wide network will enable ease in buying of commercial vehicles, under Digital India programme

Tata Motors, India’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturer, announced the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Common Service Centre Scheme (CSC) e-Governance Services India Limited, in a collaborative effort to bring Tata Motors commercial vehicles to rural customers, across India. CSC’s nationwide network and digital services will further strengthen Tata Motors’ reach in rural geographies, including remote areas of the country. The partnership will add impetus to the development of rural India, and remarkably better the last-mile transportation with Tata Motors’ modern and efficient commercial vehicle range.

The partnership is curated on the back of Tata Motors’ core philosophy of nation-building and providing a means of livelihood to the rural population of the country. Through this initiative, Tata Motors and CSC aim to increase accessibility in remote regions and help realise the Government of India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision. 

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Rajesh Kaul, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Commercial Vehicle Business Unit, Tata Motors said, “It is indeed a momentous day for us as we join hands with CSC to make our vehicles more accessible to our fellow citizens in rural geographies. With the onset of the digital age, this partnership with CSC would play a large role in enabling those living in villages with the power of choice, in opting for a business proposition through our range of commercial vehicles. The CSC Village Level Entrepreneur (VLE) network would be instrumental in taking the proposition to the villages in India. It will further fortify Tata Motors’ widest network of sales and service touchpoints and contribute towards the overall development of the rural economy. Tata Motors’ widest range of commercial vehicles, with their efficient drivetrains and rugged build quality, are engineered to provide safe and comfortable transportation in the tough terrain of the Indian countryside. We are confident that this initiative will help in ‘Connecting Aspirations’ of those living in Indian villages.”

Elaborating on the partnership, Managing Director, CSC SPV, Dr. Dinesh Tyagi said, “Mobility is a significant factor in rural areas, especially when it comes to commercial activities. There is an untapped demand for light commercial vehicles by small scale industries, farmers and small businesses. This partnership with Tata Motors will help us reach out to this segment. With an uptake in the economic activity in rural areas and the growth impetus provided by Government's Aatmanirbhar Bharat campaign, commercial vehicles will continue to be in demand for transportation of material and goods. CSC is also working in the area of FPOs and this partnership will help us serve them in providing commercial vehicles.”

About Tata Motors

Tata Motors Limited (NYSE: TTM; BSE: 500570 and 570001; NSE: TATAMOTORS and TATAMTRDVR), a USD 35 billion organization, is a leading global automobile manufacturer of cars, utility vehicles, pick-ups, trucks and buses. Part of the USD 113 billion Tata group, Tata Motors is India’s largest and the only OEM offering extensive range of integrated, smart and e-mobility solutions. It has operations in India, the UK, South Korea, Thailand, South Africa, and Indonesia through a strong global network of 103 subsidiaries, 10 associate companies, 3 joint ventures and 2 joint operations as on March 31, 2020.

With a focus on engineering and tech enabled automotive solutions catering to the future of mobility, Tata Motors is India’s market leader in commercial vehicles and amongst the top four in the passenger vehicles market. With ‘Connecting Aspirations’ at the core of its brand promise, the company’s innovation efforts are focused to develop pioneering technologies that are sustainable as well as suited to evolving aspirations of the market and the customers. Tata Motors strives to bring new products that fire the imagination of GenNext customers, fueled by state of the art design and R&D centers located in India, UK, US, Italy and South Korea. Internationally, Tata commercial and passenger vehicles are marketed in countries, spread across Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, South East Asia, South America, Australia, CIS, and Russia.

Olympic Team Ke Fan Bann Gaye? MPL Sports Foundation Gives You A Chance To Be Part Of Commonwealth Games 2022

The Olympic games may be coming to an end, but the excitement continues. The most ardent supporters will be rewarded with an all-expenses paid trip to catch our athletes in action yet again at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, with help from MPL Sports Foundation, the Principal Partner of the Indian Olympic Association. 

Over the last few weeks, Indian fans have come together in droves virtually, to show their support for Team India at the Olympics. Fans have cheered them on from afar, in ways never seen before, as they broke records and made history. As the Games draw to a close, MPL Sports Foundation wants to inspire fans to continue supporting our athletes, who will be competing next at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, while fostering the energy and enthusiasm seen this year. The Foundation, which is the Principal Partner of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), today announced a hunt for Team India’s Biggest Olympic Fan, giving users a chance to catch our athletes in action at the Commonwealth Games. This is part of a nationwide #FanBannJaaoge movement launched two weeks ago, rallying all 1.3 billion Indians to become ardent fans of our decorated athletes, during the Olympics and beyond. 

Here’s how you can be crowned Team India’s Biggest Olympic Fan: 

Upload a video on MX TakaTak showcasing why you’re Team India’s Biggest Fan with a fan-tastic cheer for the Indian Olympic Team.

Tag @mplsportsfoundation on MX TakaTak and @mplsportsfdn on Twitter. Use the hashtag #FanBannJaaoge

Tag as many friends as possible & increase your chance of becoming the BIGGEST FAN!

The lucky winner will win a chance to attend the Commonwealth Games 2022 at Birmingham, England for four days, with all expenses paid. 

Send in your entries before August 12th. 

MPL Sports Foundation, the community arm of Mobile Premier League (MPL), India’s largest esports and gaming platform, led the charge by creating India’s first ever fan group for our athletes, called the Indian Olympic Fan Army. The army is now over 100 million-strong, which includes fans from MPL’s users and supporters from top sports clubs in India like Kolkata Knight Riders, FC Goa, Ultimate Table Tennis, Gokulam Kerala FC, Shillong Lajong FC. Through this latest initiative, the Foundation aims to engage with all Indians across the length and breadth of India and encourage them to continue to cheer for our athletes, even after the Olympics are long over. 

Sounds exciting? Do not miss your chance to cheer for Team India and win big! 

ixigo Acquires Bus Ticketing AI-Based Technology Platform AbhiBus

* Business assets, intellectual property, team, technology & operations, transfer from AbhiBus to ixigo

Le Travenues Technology Limited, the company that operates the AI based travel app “ixigo” has purchased the business and operations of Hyderabad based bus ticketing and aggregation platform AbhiBus as a going concern on a slump sale basis vide a business transfer agreement, for a mix of cash and ixigo stock as consideration. The Abhibus team led by its founder Sudhakar Reddy Chirra have joined the ixigo team, and all intellectual property, brands, technology and operations are being transferred to ixigo.

The long-haul intercity bus market in India was valued at INR 585 Billion in FY2020. Buses are the most preferred mode of travel for the teeming masses in both urban and rural India, accounting for the largest share of 65% of all transportation used in the country. Resumption of bus services and relaxation of COVID lockdowns have led to swift recovery of bus ticketing volumes and the industry is expected to fully recover in the next 6 months. As per industry reports, AbhiBus was the second largest bus aggregator in India in FY20, selling 26,000 bus tickets per day through its platform. This deal will help the ixigo group to consolidate its presence in Tier 2/3/4 markets by offering a multi-modal transportation experience across trains, flights and buses to its combined user base of nearly 255 million users, as of May 31, 2021.

Aloke Bajpai and Rajnish Kumar, Co-Founders, ixigo said - “ixigo and AbhiBus founders share the passion and focus on the next billion traveler market. AbhiBus has built an innovative and high growth company with deep penetration on the supply side across state road transport companies (SRTCs) & private bus operators and on the demand side, as the dominant bus ticketing brand in several Indian states. By leveraging our combined user base, multi-modal transportation capabilities, tech resources and travel domain expertise we will be able to enhance the experience of millions of  travellers in India every day.”

Sudhakar Reddy Chirra, Founder & CEO, AbhiBus said - “We started AbhiBus with a vision to become India’s most preferred bus booking platform. We are happy that we were able to build a motivated, tightly-knit team and we grew rapidly to become one of the leading bus ticketing players in the country. We are excited to be joining ixigo, whose team and products have created new benchmarks for the travel industry. We remain committed as a team towards our joint vision of serving the underserved market segment of the next billion travelers in the country, for whom trains and buses are the primary modes of transportation.”

AbhiBus, established in 2008 by Sudhakar Reddy Chirra, provides end-to-end software and other value-added solutions such as e-ticketing systems, fleet management solutions, vehicle tracking systems, passenger information systems, logistics management. The company also provides technology solutions to private bus partners and state transport corporations in India. It has also partnered with IRCTC to offer bus tickets to IRCTC users.

This is ixigo’s second acquisition in 2021. In February 2021, ixigo acquired train booking app Confirmtkt.

About ixigo

Launched in 2007, ixigo is an AI-based travel app based in Gurugram, India. Offering train, flight and bus bookings across the ixigo, Confirmtkt and AbhiBus brands, the company applies AI for deal discovery, personalized recommendations, airfare predictions & alerts, train delay information, PNR confirmation predictions and fully-automated customer service. Founded by Aloke Bajpai & Rajnish Kumar, ixigo is backed by affiliates of Sequoia Capital and Elevation Capital among other investors.

MADAME Held Roadshow - Prêt -À- Porter 2.0 Spring/Summer ’22

The Prêt -À- Porter 2.0 Roadshow featuring luxe brands MADAME, CAMLA and MSecret rang up the curtain in Gurugram on 28th July 2021. Capturing the brand ethos and its commitment to timeless style, this Spring/Summer’22 range showcased a wide variety of apparel collection across Women’s and Men’s wear perfect for the summer.

The Spring/Summer ‘‘22 collection is a testament to brand’s creative expression, consisting of everyday wear as well as statement pieces on the go for the chic woman from MADAME, modish man from CAMLA and its loungewear collection from MSecret. Inspired from a soothing colour palette perfect for the breezy spring-summer season, the range includes comfortable silhouettes and breezy fabrics, perfect for tackling warm summers.

The week-long event witnessed the presence of over 300 buyers from across the country including household names like Shopper’s Stop, Central, Lifestyle as well as online stores like Reliance and Ajio- paving the way for future seasonal launches.

Akhil Jain, Executive Director, MADAME commented, “We wished to provide our guests with an extravagant experience through a show that gave them a glimpse of our upcoming Spring-Summer collection. Fashion is constantly changing and evolving, and each season brings with itself new creative arenas waiting to be explored, which was exactly what our Prêt-À- Porter 2.0 presented.”

About Madame

MADAME is a part of Jain Amar Group; the company consists other brands such as CAMLA and MSecret. MADAME Women’s fashion brand of western wear was launched in 1993. It caters to a wide range of apparel, handbags, footwear, and accessories for women. The brand provides fast fashion in-trend merchandise, casual wear, and party wear. In-Line with its global image, currently, MADAME has 150+ exclusive stores in Metros, Tier I & Tier-II cities. Ever since the take-off of its first ever store in 2002, the brand has briskly grown across India and has 150+ exclusive brand outlets across the country. The brand is vended through online markets including Myntra, Ajio, Flipkart and Amazon, and its own online store, Glamly.com.