BOB Financial And IRCTC Launches “Co-Branded RuPay Contactless Credit Card”

* Card to offer maximum savings to frequent railway travellers and multiple benefits in shopping for categories ranging from groceries to fuel 

* The Loyalty Number printed on the card can be linked with the IRCTC login ID to redeem reward points on IRCTC Website as well as Mobile App 

BOB Financial Solutions Limited (BFSL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of Baroda (BoB) and Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd (IRCTC) have come together to launch the “IRCTC BoB RuPay Contactless Credit Card”. The card is specially curated to offer maximum savings to frequent railway travellers. Users of this card will also get multiple benefits for shopping across other categories ranging from groceries to fuel. Cardholders can also use this card to transact at international merchants and ATMs through the JCB network.  

Cardholders of IRCTC BoB RuPay Contactless Credit Card will be able to earn up to 40 reward points (per INR 100 spent) on 1AC, 2AC, 3AC, CC, or EC bookings made through the IRCTC website or mobile app. The card also offers a 1% transaction fee waiver for the customers on all their train ticket bookings. Customers making a single purchase worth INR 1,000 or more within 45 days of card issuance will get 1,000 bonus reward points. 

The co-branded credit card will offer 4 reward points (per INR 100 spent) on grocery and departmental stores and 2 reward points on other categories. Cardholders will be entitled to 4 complimentary visits per year at partner railway lounges. The card will also offer 1% fuel surcharge waiver across all petrol pumps in India. 

The cardholders will be able to redeem the accrued reward points on the IRCTC website and mobile app, after linking their Loyalty Number (printed on the co-branded credit card) with their IRCTC login ID. 

Speaking at the occasion, Ms. Rajni Hasija, CMD, IRCTC said, "IRCTC is extremely pleased and honored to partner with BOB Financial, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of Baroda – the third largest bank of India in presenting the new co-branded contactless credit card on RuPay platform in collaboration with NPCI. IRCTC has rich experience in offering its customers with such co-branded cards and has a tie-up with another public sector bank to offer its loyalty program to its customers. The recent collaboration with BOB Financial in launching IRCTC BoB RuPay Contactless Credit Card is another landmark step towards promotion of the indigenous RuPay payment platform and realizing the vision of Digital India of Hon’ble Prime Minister of India. IRCTC is happy to be instrumental in the fulfillment of this vision and we look forward to the resounding success of this card amongst our customers. The value proposition on this card presents a great potential as well as opportunity to be utilized among the vast customer base of IRCTC through its e-ticketing website www.irctc.co.in  and Mobile App ‘IRCTC Rail Connect.” 

Talking about the launch, Mr. Shailendra Singh, MD & CEO, BFSL said, “We are honored to partner IRCTC for the co-branded credit card, in partnership with NPCI. The card will offer uninterrupted payment convenience and benefits to customers for rail travel as well as all other shopping needs. We also expect the co-branded card to act as a catalyst for further adoption of digital payments in deeper geographies, helped by the presence of both the railway network as well as BoB branches.” 

Speaking at the launch, Ms. Praveena Rai, COO, NPCI said, “We are delighted for RuPay's Contactless Credit card launch by BOB Financial in partnership with IRCTC. This card will enable customers to save on their railway journey and to earn reward points on spending in other categories. With RuPay, we aim to offer customised value propositions backed by cutting-edge technology to provide a rewarding experience to millions of customers. We are confident that this launch is a step ahead to make RuPay the preferred credit card for India.” 

About BOB Financial Solutions Limited  

BOB Financial Solutions Limited was established in the year 1994. It is a Non-Banking Financial Company, wholly owned by Bank of Baroda. The Company’s primary business is in credit cards with its key differentiator being simple, easy-to-understand products that are fairly priced and efficiently serviced. A pioneer in the space of credit cards, BOB Financial offers an array of products catering to all segments of customers. It is leveraging state-of-the-art technology to provide unique payment solutions to its customers. 

For more information, visit www.bobfinancial.com 

Tata Motors Celebrates India’s #1 SUV Brand Across Indian Market

* Launches special Kaziranga edition of its SUVs, inspired by India’s rich flora and fauna

Celebrating its leadership position in the SUV segment, Tata Motors, India’s leading automotive brand, today, introduced the ‘Untamed Kaziranga Edition of SUVs’, inspired by India’s rich geographical and biological diversity while also paying homage to India’s great national parks. This iconic, one-of-a-kind special edition of SUVs will include India’s first and safest sub compact SUV – the Punch, India’s first GNCAP 5star rated car – the Nexon, the company’s premium SUV with the Land Rover DNA – the Harrier and its flagship 7 seater SUV – the Safari. With bookings commencing today, the Kaziranga edition will be available only on their respective top trims, across all Tata Motors authorised dealerships.

Speaking at this occasion, Mr. Rajan Amba, Vice President, Sales, Marketing and Customer Care, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd. said, “The shift towards SUVs is a global trend and it is the same for India. We have been riding on this trend with our New Forever range of SUVs, widely appreciated by our patrons. In the midst of the current industry scenario coupled with the myriad of options available in the market place, we are happy to have emerged as the #1 SUV brand, and would like to thank all our customers for trusting the brand. To take this success story forward, we are delighted to introduce the Untamed Kaziranga Edition of SUVs inspired by the rich biodiversity our country has to offer. With the symbol of Kaziranga-The Great Indian One horned Rhino, known worldwide for their agility and power, this range reinforces the “Go-Anywhere” DNA of our true SUVs.  Adding to the above, in line with the New Forever brand promise, we are diversifying our SUV portfolio for our customers and we hope that this introduction will further cement our position as the leaders in this segment.”

Tata Motors has also recently announced its plan to auction the Punch Kaziranga Edition to the IPL fans and has decided to donate all proceeds from the winning bid towards the efforts on Conservation of Wildlife in Kaziranga.

Defining character of the Kaziranga Range:

This new range introduction comes with a series of interesting additions to enhance the overall design of the cars. All models come with a Grassland Beige Exterior Body Color with a dual tone roof in Piano Black finish. The Earthy Beige Leatherette upholstery and Tropical wood Dashboard along with the several Earthy beige coloured inserts in the interiors make the cars more thematic, elevating the interiors with an exclusive feel. Furthermore, the embossed outlined torso of two rhinoceroses facing each other on the front headrests (also in 2nd Row in Safari) and the addition of a new Satin Black Rhino Mascot on the front fender, emphasizes the go – anywhere attitude of Tata Motors’ true SUVs while also resonating with the solid toughness of the mascot.

About the Untamed Kaziranga Range:

Tata Punch Kaziranga Edition

India’s first and safest sub-compact SUV – the Tata Punch gets an interesting addition of elements with the all New Earthy Beige Leatherette Upholstery, Piano Black door trim, Earthy beige tri-Arrow finish dashboard mid pad, Granite Black Roof rails, Piano Black Humanity Line front grille and Jet Black 16" Alloy wheels. This Kaziranga edition will be available in the top persona Creative MT, Creative MT-iRA, Creative AMT and Creative AMT-iRA.

Tata Nexon Kaziranga Edition

The Nexon in its newest incarnation witnesses the addition of ventilated seats for the driver and co-driver. The thoughtful addition of an air-purifier makes its cabin feel comfortable and safe. To provide more ease to the driver, a new electro-chromatic IRVM has been introduced in this version. Additionally, the Nexon Kaziranga will also come equipped with Dual tone Earthy Beige Leatherette Upholstery, Piano Black door trims, Tropical Wood finish dashboard mid – pad, Granite Black Body Claddings and roof rails, Piano Black Humanity Line front grille and Jet Black 16" Alloy wheels. The Nexon Kaziranga edition will be available in two trims – Petrol & Diesel Powertrains, Nexon XZ+ (P) and Nexon XZA+ (P)

Tata Harrier Kaziranga Edition

Tata Motors’ premium SUV – the Harrier will now sport an enhanced appeal with the addition of ventilated seats for the driver and co-driver. The thoughtful addition of an air-purifier makes its cabin feel comfortable and safe. It will also come with a host of new connected car technologies, (iRA Connected Car Technology, Remote Commands, Location based services, Over the Air Updates, Live vehicle Diagnostics and Gamification) along with Apple Car Play and Android Auto over WiFi. With Dual tone Earthy Beige Leatherette Seats and Door trims, Tropical Wood finish dashboard mid – pad, Granite Black Body Claddings, Granite black front grille with Piano Black Inserts and Jet Black 17" Alloy wheels, the Harrier, in the Kaziranga edition, will be available in two trims – Harrier XZ+ and Harrier XZA+

Tata Safari Kaziranga Edition

Tata Motors’ flagship SUV – The Safari is one of the most feature rich vehicle in its segment. In addition to the available features in its top trim like the Ventilated Seats in 1st & 2nd Row”, Wireless Charger, Apple CarPlay / Android Auto over Wi-Fi, Air Purifier, iRA, The Safari Kaziranga will sport Dual tone Earthy Beige Leatherette Seats and Door trims, Tropical Wood finish dashboard mid – pad, Granite Black Body Claddings, Granite black front grille & Roof rails with Piano Black inserts and Jet Black 18" Alloy wheels. This edition in the Safari will be available in 4 trims - XZ+ 7S, XZA+ 7S, XZ+ 6S, XZA+ 6S.

To know more about offers and car buying options, call your nearest dealership or visit https://cars.tatamotors.com/

Sify Data Centers To Invest In Over 200 MW Of Green Power

* Announces partnership with Vibrant Energy, a portfolio company indirectly invested in by Macquarie’s Green Investment Group (“GIG”) and operating on a standalone basis

Sify Technologies Limited (NASDAQ: SIFY) (“Sify”), India’s leading digital ICT solutions provider, today announced a major commitment to renewable energy for its growing data center portfolio in India. The company recently concluded power purchase agreements (PPAs) with Vibrant Energy Holdings (“Vibrant”), a majority owned subsidiary of Blue Leaf Energy Asia Pte. Ltd. (“Blueleaf Energy”) which is a portfolio company of Macquarie’s GIG. The PPAs are for total 231MW of solar and wind energy capacity to power Sify’s latest hyperscale data centers, of which 67MW solar PPA had been signed in March 2021 and recently commissioned.

This partnership is the first step in a clear roadmap for the company to minimize its dependence on fossil fuels to power its fast-growing data center business, dramatically reducing its carbon footprint. By simultaneously investing in both solar and wind energy, Sify will soon be able to deliver most of the power required for its flagship data centers in Mumbai from renewable sources and intends to continue increasing renewable penetration across its nationwide footprint.

Raju Vegesna, Chairman, Sify said, “There is an intensifying narrative about adopting green energy. We decided to lead by action, as we always have done in the ICT space.  With the constantly expanding need for world-class data center facilities to meet the burgeoning data-centric transformation of Indian businesses, we believe that investing in clean energy sources to fuel this transformation is a social imperative.  Sify is proud to be doing its part to help our customers become a part of this clean energy future”.

M P Vijay Kumar, CFO, Sify, said, “As an early adopter of ESG guidelines, Sify has constantly pushed the envelope in the Data Center space. This shift to renewables will deliver clear economic advantages, but it is also about proving the viability of adopting green energy solutions at an industrial scale.”

Oliver Lewis, Chairman of Vibrant Energy and Executive Director of GIG said: “We are very excited by Vibrant’s continued growth in capacity to provide green energy solutions to businesses in India, supporting India’s decarbonization. The partnership with Sify Technologies marks a new milestone on Vibrant’s journey of providing green energy and tailored solutions to meet the growing business demand.”

Srini Viswanathan, CEO, Vibrant Energy, said: “Vibrant is honored to partner with Sify in their journey to build sustainable data center solutions in the Indian market. Vibrant is looking forward to continuing to work with Sify to support them in their 100% renewable energy goals.”

About Sify Technologies

A Fortune India 500 company, Sify Technologies is India’s most comprehensive ICT service & solution provider. With Cloud at the core of our solutions portfolio, Sify is focussed on the changing ICT requirements of the emerging Digital economy and the resultant demands from large, mid and small-sized businesses. Sify’s infrastructure comprising state-of-the-art Data Centers, the largest MPLS network, partnership with global technology majors and deep expertise in business transformation solutions modelled on the cloud, make it the first choice of start-ups, SMEs and even large Enterprises on the verge of a revamp. More than 10000 businesses across multiple verticals have taken advantage of our unassailable trinity of Data Centers, Networks and Security services and conduct their business seamlessly from more than 1600 cities in India. Internationally, Sify has presence across North America, the United Kingdom and Singapore. Sify, www.sify.com, Sify Technologies limited, www.sifytechnologies.com, Sify Infint Spaces Limited and Sify Digital Services Limited are registered trademarks of Sify Technologies Limited.

About Vibrant Energy

Vibrant Energy’s mission is to lead the transition of corporate & industrial (C&I) customers to a more sustainable, resilient, and low-cost energy future. The platform has been delivering on this mission through its extensive project portfolio which currently contains 66MW of operational solar PV projects and an active development pipeline of over 400MW across India. Vibrant Energy a is a majority-owned subsidiary of Blueleaf Energy. Blueleaf Energy is a portfolio company owned by Macquarie’s Green Investment Group, operating on a standalone basis.

About Blueleaf Energy

Blueleaf Energy’s mission is to develop, deliver and operate safe, high quality, ethical renewable energy projects, enabling a greener energy mix and lower power bills. Blueleaf Energy specialises in commercial and industrial (C&I), utility scale solar, wind and energy storage solutions across the Asia-Pacific region. 

Blueleaf Energy is developing a pipeline of projects in excess of 6GW, in addition to the historical track record of building 2GW of capacity globally, including over 500MW in the Asia Pacific region. Blueleaf Energy is a portfolio company owned by Macquarie’s Green Investment Group (GIG), operating on a standalone basis.

About Macquarie’s Green Investment Group

Macquarie’s Green Investment Group (GIG) is a specialist in green infrastructure principal investment, project development and delivery, green impact advisory and the management of portfolio assets. Its track record, expertise and capability make it a global leader in green investment and development, dedicated to accelerating the green transition. In April 2022, GIG will operate as part of Macquarie Asset Management (MAM). This move will bring together market leading expertise across the energy transition spectrum and connect GIG with the capital of the world’s largest investors to accelerate the green transition and deliver a net zero future.

New IBM Cybersecurity Hub To Help Asia Pacific Organizations Build Cyber Resiliency

* IBM Security Command Center in India represents significant investment in security incident response and training for organizations across APAC

* Asia was #1 most-targeted region for cyberattacks in 2021, according to IBM Security X-Force Threat Intelligence Index, released today

* New Security Operations Center (SOC) part of IBM global network for helping clients around the world respond to cyber-attacks

IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced a multi-million dollar investment in its resources to help businesses prepare for and manage the growing threat of cyberattacks to organizations across the Asia Pacific (APAC) region. The centerpiece of this investment is the new IBM Security Command Center, the first of its kind in the region, for training cybersecurity response techniques through highly realistic, simulated cyberattack – designed to prepare everyone from C-Suite through technical staff. The investment also includes a new Security Operation Center (SOC) which is part of IBM’s vast network of existing global SOCs - providing 24X7 security response services to clients around the world.

According to new IBM global analysis released today, Asia is now the #1 most targeted region for cyberattacks – representing 26% of attacks analysed in 2021.[1] The data reveals a significant regional shift compared to the past decade of the report, where North America and Europe have historically ranked as most-targeted. This trend signals a growing need for security investments amongst Asian organizations, particularly those in financial services and manufacturing, which were the most-targeted industries in the region. The new IBM cybersecurity centers will help address the most pressing need of the hour for organizations of all types, to accelerate their security strategies and align business priorities with a security-first approach.

Located at IBM offices at Embassy Golf Links in Bengaluru, India, the new facilities represent a strategic hub for IBM cybersecurity activities in the region, which also include IBM Managed Security Services, access to IBM’s team of incident response experts, as well as IBM Consulting, IBM Research, IBM India Software Labs, and IBM Garage, a collaborative approach designed to fast-track innovation and drive meaningful, lasting transformation for clients.

The new facilities were inaugurated in presence of The new facilities were inaugurated in presence of Shri. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology and Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

Speaking at the virtual launch, Shri. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology and Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship said, "As India becomes the largest connected democracy in the world, our PM’s vision is that cyberspace will not just become a place for innovation, growth and opportunity, it will also become a place where the future standards and future technologies for securing the cyberspace evolve, mature and proliferate. I believe the Cybersecurity Hub launched by IBM today will go a long way in creating an ecosystem of not just awareness but also capabilities and talent in creating a safe cyberspace. I congratulate team IBM and look forward to a stronger partnership between the Government of India, our agencies, and IBM going forward with a common objective of realizing the Digital India mission and making sure that the Indian cyberspace becomes and remains safe and trusted."

Commenting on the launch, Sandip Patel, Managing Director, IBM India said, "One of the biggest challenges impacting the success of the exponentially growing digital economy and that of countries across the world is cybersecurity. Cybersecurity is a global challenge threatening enterprises more vigorously than ever before. We have an opportunity to respond and act now. We need cutting-edge technology and coming together of the entire ecosystem to address this threat and the launch of the IBM Cybersecurity Hub is, in fact, a response to this challenge. It will empower clients to respond to incidents with greater speed, effectiveness, and transparency."

"Preparing for a cyberattack is like fire-drill training. Everyone from executives through to contractors need to understand their own role in an emergency and reinforce the crucial response steps through practice,” said Chris Hockings, IBM Security CTO for Asia Pacific. “The new IBM Security Command Center is the first in Asia Pacific enabled to train the entire business in the art of response to a cyberattack event, further enhanced by the real-time experience of our security experts based in the adjoining global Security Operations Center. With Asia Pacific's enormous growth, diversity, and role in global supply chain, these capabilities can be a real game changer for helping customers face growing threats in the region."

Capabilities of the IBM Security Command Center

The highly realistic, immersive training simulations offered in the new IBM Security Command Center in Bengaluru leverage industry-leading audio and visual effects as well as live malware, ransomware and other real-world hacker tools. IBM designed the simulations after emergency and disaster response training models, in consultation with dozens of experts from different industries including emergency medical responders, active duty military officers and its incident response experts. The IBM Security Command Center in Bengaluru can deliver customized experiences and workshops - including virtually - that are tailored to organizations’ unique security requirements and objectives, leveraging the IBM Cyber Range Design consulting team.

Some examples of the types of trainings available include:

Ox Response Challenge: Designed for the executive team to immerse a wide variety of stakeholders in a realistic "fusion team" environment in which players must figure out how to respond to a cyberattack as a team, across dimensions such as technical, legal and public relations. 

Operation Red Escape: Giving participants the opportunity to flip roles, it puts them in the ‘seat’ of a real-world attacker as an elite member of a growing adversarial group and develop a cloud-based attack on a major corporation. This non-technical interactive scenario allows business leaders to see first-hand how adversaries carry-out common cyberattacks on organizations with real adversarial tools and techniques.

Cyber Wargame: In this hands-on scenario, participants uncover a cyber-attack lead by a cybercrime gang targeting a fictitious corporation. The Cyber Wargame tests the organization’s incident response process, communication and problem solving by positioning technical and business teams in the middle of a cyber security incident to see how they would work together to resolve it.

Expanding IBM’s Global Security Operation Center (SOC) Network

Adjacent to the new cyber range facility, IBM’s new Security Operations Center (SOC) will provide Managed Security Services (MSS) to clients across the globe. With capacity for 600 security response operators, it is the second IBM SOC in Bengaluru, with the other SOC continuing to specifically serve regional Indian clients. The new SOC is part of IBM’s vast global network of SOCs, which serve more than 2,000 clients around the world - managing more than 2 million endpoints and 150 billion potential security events per day. IBM’s global SOC network now includes 9 locations such as Atlanta (U.S.,) Australia, Costa Rica, Japan, Poland, Saudi Arabia and more. It offers MSS investigation experts to assist with on-the-ground response, dedicated security experts with strong vertical expertise, personalized advisory services combined with a holistic approach to secure hybrid cloud environments. IBM’s SOC model leverages AI, machine learning and automation, bringing together human expertise and advanced technologies to help respond with speed, efficiency and transparency.

2022 IBM Security X-Force Threat Intelligence Index Highlights

The 2022 IBM Security X-Force Threat Intelligence Index announced today unveiled the following insights regarding the threat landscape in Asia:

Financial services and manufacturing were the top attacked industries in Asia, representing nearly 60% of attacks studied.

Japan, Australia and India were the most-attacked countries in the region.

Top Attack Types: Server access attacks (20%) and ransomware (11%), Data theft (10%) were the top attack types observed in Asia.

Initial Infection Methods: Vulnerability exploitation and phishing tied for the top infection vector at Asian organizations in 2021, each representing 43% of attacks observed in the region.

Ransomware groups: REvil made up 33% of ransomware attacks analyzed, and Bitlocker, Nefilim, MedusaLocker and RagnarLocker were significant players as well

 To view the full results, visit: http://ibm.biz/xforcethreatindex

The Lakshmi Mittal And Family South Asia Institute, Harvard University Partners With FLAME University To Launch Project Pre-Texts

 

* A project to implement and evaluate pedagogical intervention in schools

FLAME University's Centre for Knowledge Alternatives announces a research project on 'Enhancing Reading and Learning Outcomes through Pre-Text Method in Schools', in collaboration with The Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute, Harvard University. FLAME faculty members Prof. Yugank Goyal, Associate Professor of Public Policy, and Founding Director, Centre for Knowledge Alternatives at FLAME University, and Prof. Shivakumar Jolad, Associate Professor of Public Policy at FLAME University, will work with Prof. Doris Sommer, Ira Jewell Williams, Jr., Professor of Romance Languages and Literatures and of African and African American Studies, Harvard University, for this project.

Harvard University’s Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute has partnered with FLAME University in India for this project, along with the Cultural Agents Initiative in the US. Pre-Texts is a pedagogical intervention that uses art and performance to enhance reading interests and outcomes amongst students. It has been implemented in Latin America and Africa, where kids are being empowered with a newfound interest in reading and learning. The project will employ Pre-Texts in pilot schools in Pune (first time in India). The first part will be to train the teachers in this method, and then enable them to adopt it in their classrooms. Through several baseline and endline surveys, the project aims to evaluate the degree, level of improvements in learning outcomes in the schools. The study will also examine how has the intervention influenced a child’s cognitive capacities, their willingness to be proactive, engage in co-curricular pursuits, and explore an ecosystem that expands their curiosity. Scholars hope that in line with the evidence from other parts of the world, Pre-Text will encourage children to learn about themselves and the world, and be more attracted to read.

Prof. Yugank Goyal, Associate Professor of Public Policy, and Founding Director, Centre for Knowledge Alternatives at FLAME University says, “There are two most interesting parts of this exploration, namely, the joy of infusing creativity in a classroom that has taken a backseat in the rote learning environment in our schools, as well as the potential it contains in scaling up, because every trained teacher becomes a trainer for another teacher.”

Prof. Doris Sommer, Ira Jewell Williams, Jr., Professor of Romance Languages and Literatures and of African and African American Studies, Harvard University says, “We have experienced what neuroscience has been trying to teach educators for over a decade: that pleasure is a driving force for learning. Therefore, socio-emotional development goes hand in hand with cognitive advances. Favoring one over the other, as often happens, limits development and can trigger depression.”

To read more about the project: https://mittalsouthasiainstitute.harvard.edu/enhancing-reading-and-learning-outcomes-in-indian-schools/

About FLAME University:

FLAME University is the pioneer of liberal education in India, delivering the country's premier interdisciplinary education experience. It is driven to being one of India's most respected and reputed centres of learning - the premier destination of choice for higher education in the nation for learners and teachers, to push the design and nature of studies and to create a societal up-gradation phenomenon, particularly in the fields of liberal education and leadership. FLAME has been set up with an idealistic vision and a social commitment to contribute to society nobly. With more than 120 quality full-time faculty members, the university offers an unparalleled educational experience. The student-teacher ratio is 11:1, unmatched at the higher education level in India. Spread on 60 acres of green expanse with aesthetically designed infrastructure, and the campus currently consists of five schools: FLAME School of Liberal Education, FLAME School of Business, FLAME School of Communication, FLAME School of Computing and Data Sciences and FLAME School of Design, Art & Performance. FLAME University has been established as a state private university vide the FLAME University Act 2014 (Maharashtra Act No. II of 2015) of the Government of Maharashtra. It is recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) under Section 2(f), and degrees awarded by the University are recognized under Section 22 of the UGC Act, 1956

50% Of India Leaders Feel Unsure About The Future Of Work: PwC

The survey highlights the need to put ‘people and culture first’ to build relevant, sustainable workplaces

•         50% of India leaders agree there is a need to plan for multiple possible futures around the workplace and workforce but cost pressure and the fear of setting a precedent holds them back from taking action.

•         48 % of India leaders agree it is very important to identify the potential risks associated with replacing human work with technology but are reluctant to create a culture of transparency.  

•         54% of India leaders realise the importance of identifying the skills needed to keep pace with the changing times. However they are reluctant to take action due to competing priorities.

India leaders increasingly agree that the workplace – which in the past was for the people – has now evolved into a workspace of the people and that the future will entail further reimagining of the workforce and work model. Aligning individual goals to organisational purpose has now become all the more critical with the pivotal role it plays in driving organisational growth in a hybrid world. Despite this realisation, cost pressures, competing investments or priorities, lack of systems and data, and organisational culture are the biggest inhibitors faced by India leaders in creating a more fit for future workplace. This is according to PwC India’s People and culture first: Transformation journey in the future of work report. It also reveals that the future of work involves tapping into talent virtually in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities on the one hand, and leveraging the gig economy on the other.

The report further highlights the six no-regrets moves* identified by India leaders to prepare for the future of work and also presents the six imperatives** identified by PwC India to eliminate the blockers to workforce challenges and to future-proof organisations.

Chaitali Mukherjee, Partner and Leader, People & Organisation and HR Transformation, PwC India said: “Earlier workforce challenges centred around broader areas of organisational design and capabilities woven in with organisational culture. But with the changing nature of the workplace, the challenges seem to be more employee driven, both globally and locally. At this juncture, it is important for all organisations across the world to prioritise leadership capabilities in order to orchestrate changes and move the needle in business.

Over the past two years, the pandemic has compelled leaders to question their choices on many aspects affecting their organisations, right from people to culture to technology. They have realised, as our report indicates, that along with strategic organisational intent and system optimisation, they also need to proactively act on workforce initiatives, build capability in a well-considered way, and, among other things, work towards making their culture more resilient in order to be future ready.”

The imperatives mentioned above highlight the need to focus on the following three critical questions to action the six no-regrets moves that place people and culture first in the journey of transformation; answers to these questions will pave the way for the future of work:

1.       Culture promotes innovation. Innovation drives growth: Are we valuing capability and culture to drive organisational performance and productivity?

2.       Identifying relevant skill sets and upskilling will enable organisations to stay ahead of the curve. Are we readying ourselves for the ‘Skills Age’?

3.    Cost pressures and competing investments/priorities are common issues for most organisations. Are we holding ourselves accountable for prioritising the right investment decisions?

“All of this entails a change in leadership perspective – now is the time for leaders to undergo a mindset change and understand that employees should not be fitted into a single frame or viewed through a homogeneous lens,” Chaitali added.

Karnavati University’s Ahmedabad Design Week (ADW) 3.0 To Kick Start On February 26

* Third edition of ADW To Be Held on Theme of Design and Innovation In Defence and AeroSpace; Thought Leaders, Startups, Investors from Defence Design Fraternity to participate

The third edition of the prestigious Ahmedabad Design Week (ADW) 3.0 – a melting pot of ideas and insights – organised by Karnavati University, based in Uvarsad, Gandhinagar, is all set to Kickstart from February 26 at the varsity’s sprawling campus. The Ahmedabad Design Week will be held on 26th, 27th and 28th February, 2022. Karnavati University is a state private university dedicated to excellence in teaching and is focused on interdisciplinary learning.

Started as India Design Confluence (IDC) in 2018 and later re-branded, ADW is a confluence of designers, thinkers, academicians, researchers, industry captains and entrepreneurs from across the globe. ADW, a design research & dialogue initiative by Karnavati University is largely an academic event. Even during the pandemic, the thought-provoking, poignant dialogues on design continued, but in the digital format

This year’s theme for ADW 3.0 is Design and Innovation in Defence and Aerospace – a topic of strategic importance. The event will be inaugurated by the Honourable General MM Naravane, Chief of Army Staff, Indian Army; along with Shri Hari Babu Srivastava, Outstanding Scientist and Director General – Technology Management (TM), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), on February 26.

Explaining the rationale behind this year’s theme, Shri Ritesh Hada, President, Karnavati University, said, “ADW 3.0’s themed on Design and Innovation in Defence and Aerospace, is very much in line with Government of India’s mission of achieving Atmanirbharta in defence manufacturing in India.”

“ADW will create a platform for starting a dialogue on the role of design in defence and aerospace, use of emerging technologies and bring together design practitioners, defence sector veterans and innovators to deliberate upon this. This will also be an opportunity to encourage innovators to explore defence sector,” Mr Hada further explained.

ADW is a confluence of design thinkers, thought leaders and practitioners from across the globe and the sole theme of the event is to facilitate discussion, deliberation and identification of scope and the application of design in various domains, fields, and industries.

The previous editions of ADW involved a series of thought-provoking discussions, deliberations, speaker sessions and workshops around the theme of World Design 2025; Design in India and Toying with Design.

Stalwarts from the design fraternity including Dr R Shivaraman, co-founder, Big Bang Boom Solutions; Prahlad Kakkar, Founder, Genesis Film Production, among others; Shiladitya Bora, Filmmaker and Founder of Platoon One Films; Manish Bhatt, Director – Scarecrow M&C Saatchi; Kedar Nimkar, Vice President – Design, Jupiter; Kshitiz Anand, Associate Vice President – Design, Paytm; Maxima Basu, Fashion Designer, Actress and Director, Assistant Director of Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionnaire; among others, will be present at ADW 3.0 for a host of speaker sessions, workshops and discussions.

Some of the guest speakers who would address the speaker sessions of the event include a series of defence sector experts namely Lieutenant General KJS Dhillon, Former Director General, Defence Intelligence Agency; Dr Sudhir Mishra, Former Director General, CEO and MD, BrahMos Aerospace; Dr G Satheesh Reddy, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman, DRDO; Major General M Indrabalan, Additional Director General NCC, Bihar and Jharkhand NCC, among others.