Zee MPCG’s Education Excellence Conclave 2023 Brings To Light The Evolutionary Phase Of The Education Sector In India

In its endeavor to bring to light how education plays a significant role in fulfilling one’s career goals, Zee Madhya Pradesh Chhattisgarh, one of the leading and most-trusted Hindi News Channels of ZMCL, successfully hosted the Education Excellence Conclave 2023 today. Prominent dignitaries - Indar Singh Parmar (Minister of School Education, Govt. of MP) and Vishwas Kailash Sarang (Minister of Medical Education, Govt. of MP) attended this grand ceremony and appreciated the channel for creating a platform that acknowledges the hard work put in by educationists across different states of India.

In-depth panel discussions on the latest developments in the education sector included topics like ‘Roadmap of the education system’, ‘Opportunities and challenges’ and ‘New Education Policy’. Insights shared during the discussions were an eye-opener for the attendees of this summit, which included participation from professors, students, and subject matter experts in the education sector.

Zee MPCG Education Excellence Conclave 2023 also further celebrated the achievements of CBSE Board and UPSC toppers of the state. It also felicitated a few renowned Institutes, colleges and universities who have been inspiring the young generation to move ahead in their respective fields.

Highlighting the relevance of the conclave, Mohit Sinha, Editor, of Zee MPCG said, “The evolutionary phase of Education 4.0 is here! And so is the demand for skills from different fields. Zee Madhya Pradesh Chhattisgarh’s Education Excellence Conclave 2023 aims to create a platform where industry experts have the freedom to share their insights on what lies ahead for the future generation in terms of career growth.”

Speaking on the success of Zee MPCG Education Excellence Conclave 2023, Mr. Abhay Ojha, CEO, Zee Media Corporation Limited, said, “We, at Zee feel privileged to be able to create a public forum in each of the states, that acknowledges the efforts put in by educators and educational institutions.

They are the true heroes of the society who are doing a great job by imparting quality education and paving the way to a successful journey for students.”

The special partners for Zee MPCG Education Excellence Conclave 2023 were SAGE University, Mansarovar Global University, Rabindranath Tagore University, and R.D. Memorial Group of Institutes. LNCT Vidhyapeeth-Indore, Sardar Patel University, IES University-Bhopal and The IVY Global School were the associate partners.

Zee Media Corporation Ltd, one of India's leading media companies, has a strong presence in the news and regional genres, with 16 news channels in seven different languages, reaching more than 528+ million viewers through its linear and digital properties.

Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Simplifies Claims Process For Policyholders Affected By Recent Train Accident In Odisha

·        Process has been simplified to settle claims with minimal documentation

·        Claims will be settled in the quickest possible time as it will be attended with highest priority

Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance, one of the leading private life insurance provider, stands in solidarity with the individuals impacted by the tragic train accident in Odisha. In response to this unfortunate incident, the company has implemented special provisions to address the needs of its policyholders affected by this disaster.

Understanding the immense challenges faced by the affected policyholders during this difficult time, Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance has undertaken a dedicated initiative to prioritize the processing of death and disability claims for its customers impacted due to this incident. With utmost urgency, an expeditious process has been established to swiftly settle these policy claims.

Speaking on this incident, Rajesh Krishnan, Chief Operations Officer, Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance said, ‘’We are a responsible insurance provider and Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance empathizes with the pain and loss experienced by the victims and their loved ones. We stand committed to standing by their side and ensuring the fulfillment of their rightful claims. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected, and we remain dedicated to extending our support during this challenging time.”

To simplify the process, Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance has listed bare minimum documents that nominees, legal heirs or policyholders need to submit to process their claims through one of the below mentioned convenient modes:

·         Call the company’s toll free number 18002097272

·         Visit one of the nearest branches among the 510 + branches across the country

·         Email at claimsscanning@bajajallianz.co.in

The company is also making efforts to obtain the list of deceased from the concerned Authorities and will take extra efforts to reach out to the impacted families proactively.

About Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance

Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance is one of India’s leading and fastest growing private life insurers. The company is a partnership between two powerful and successful entities in their own right – Bajaj Finserv Limited, one of India’s most diversified non-banking financial institution and Allianz SE, one of the world’s leading asset manager and insurer. The Company commenced its journey in 2001, and today delivers its promise of Life. Goals. DONE through innovative value-packed insurance products that are backed by a robust tech and digital eco-system. Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance continues its journey of transformation through its products and tech-enabled state-of-the-art services to enhance customer delight.

Bajaj Allianz Life now serves over 2.82 crore individual customers and many more through its Group plans. The Company has a large distribution network of 511 branches, over 1,25,912 agents (as on 31 March 2023), comprehensive set of trusted partners and its proprietary sales channels (online and offline). Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance manages Assets Under Management to the tune of over Rs. 90,584 crore (as on 31 March 2023) with the Claims Settlement Ratio at 99.04%~ (as on 31 March 2023), and a Solvency Ratio of 516% as on 31 March 2023.

Platform 65 Bengaluru Celebrates Its 1st Anniversary Day With Orphans

Platform 65, a renowned dining destination in Bengaluru, celebrated its 1st Anniversary Day today with orphans. The restaurant rolled out a series of exciting offers, events, and initiatives to mark this special occasion and express gratitude to its customers.

The restaurant contributed a portion of its proceeds from the Anniversary Day by distributing free food served to Om ashram old-age home in Hulimavu as the part of CSR Activity, aiming to make a positive impact on the lives of those in need.

As part of the anniversary celebrations, Platform 65 introduced a Premium Anniversary Special Membership Card to all customers. This card can be used in any of the branches of the restaurant. All who attended the Anniversary Day celebrations were treated to a free dessert by Platform 65. Furthermore, customers dining in with the Anniversary Special Membership Card were given a 15% discount on their total bill, making it an irresistible offer for food enthusiasts.

On this occasion, Ms. Hima Bindhu- Executive Director of Platform 65 Bangalore, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "We are delighted to celebrate the second anniversary of Platform 65 Bangalore. It has been an incredible journey, and we are grateful for the love and support we have received from our customers. This milestone is a testament to our commitment to providing exceptional dining experiences and culinary excellence."

Speaking about the celebrations, Sadgun Patha, Founder and Managing Director, Platform 65, said, "At Platform 65, we believe in giving back to the community that has been instrumental in our success. Our restaurant has prepared an exclusive Anniversary Special Menu, filled with culinary delights that are sure to please every palate. The menu, which features an array of delectable dishes, has been carefully crafted by the talented chefs at Platform 65. Guests can expect an unforgettable dining experience with innovative flavours and exquisite presentations.”

The restaurant exemplified its commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of those in need. The introduction of the Premium Anniversary Special Membership Card and the delightful free dessert treat showcased Platform 65's dedication to providing exceptional experiences for its customers.

NEC Corporation India, GLA University And Edulateral Foundation Sign MoU To Enable Learning For Students In AI And Analytics

* Enables GLA University to foster an environment of experiential and hands-on learning for students

* Launch of  Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) (Honors) Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) program with a Specialization in Artificial Intelligence (Al) and Analytics aimed at preparing students for the future by enabling them with the right set of skills and knowledge of AI, Machine Learning (ML) and Analytics

NEC Corporation India (NEC India), a wholly owned subsidiary of NEC Corporation, GLA University and Edulateral Foundation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a vision to empower students with a solid understanding of emerging technologies. The MoU was signed by Mr Deepak Jha, GM, NEC Corporation India, Mr Ashok Kumar Singh, Registrar, GLA University, Mathura, and Dr. Pradeep Gnanapragasam, Executive Director, Edulateral Foundation. 

As an outcome of this collaboration with NEC India, the Department of Computer Engineering and Applications, GLA University, will be launching the B.Tech (Honors) CSE program with a Specialization in Al and Analytics. Additionally, NEC India will be offering its vector engine system alongside course certificates and an education program focused on ML, analytics and high-performance computing to help students develop the right set of skills and gain valuable exposure through hands-on training. Further, Edulateral Foundation, a non-profit organization centered around creating educational networks to promote employability and entrepreneurship among students, will be offering its expertise in providing infrastructure support and training to set up an NEC India certified laboratory as a Centre of Excellence.

Talking about the collaboration, Mr. Deepak Jha, General Manager & Head of Artificial Intelligence Platform, NEC India, said, “NEC India is determined to help make India a powerhouse of tech talent. Today, as we move closer to achieving the vision of ‘Digital India’, there is an urgent need to bolster the education sector with the prowess of AI and Data Analytics. By synergizing our expertise and leveraging the potential of AI and Data Analytics, the talent pool of GLA University will be equipped with the experiential knowledge of the most cutting-edge technologies in the sphere of AI and Analytics. This collaborative initiative is a significant stride towards fortifying the education sector with digital transformation and preparing aspiring tech professionals to future proof their careers and solve real-world challenges through cutting edge technologies.”

Mr. Ashok Kumar Singh, Registrar, GLA University, said, “We are thrilled to enter into this partnership with NEC India, a globally recognised leader in the realm of AI, ICT and other emerging technologies. With the increasing demand of AI and analytics solutions across industries, we are certain that the newly devised B.Tech (Honors) CSE program with a Specialization in Al and Analytics will provide invaluable exposure to the pupils and  inspire young tech professionals to create world-class applications and become better prepared for the ever evolving landscape of the technology industry.”

NEC India is committed to nurturing talent and poised to shape the future of India's tech industry. This is supported by the company’s history of driving innovation and R&D in India by continuously strengthening its research wing and establishing promising industry–academic partnerships with leading academic institutions across the country.

About NEC Corporation India (NEC India)

NEC is a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies and brings more than 123 years of expertise in technological innovation to provide solutions for empowering people, businesses, and society. Headquartered in Japan, NEC started operations in India in the 1950s, accelerating its growth through the expansion of business to global markets. NEC in India expanded its business from telecommunications to public safety, logistics, transportation, retail, finance, unified communication, and IT platforms, serving across governments, businesses as well as individuals. With its Centre of Excellence for analytics platform solutions, big data, biometrics, mobile and retail, NEC in India offers innovative new services and solutions for India and global markets. 

For further information, visit: https://in.nec.com/ 

GCPL’s Board Approves Nomination of Shalini Puchalapalli, MD & Country Head For Google Customer Solutions As Independent Director

Godrej Consumer Products Limited (GCPL)  announced that its Board of Directors has approved the nomination of Shalini Puchalapalli as Independent Director, effective November 14, 2023. Narendra Ambwani, Independent Director, will retire in November 2023, after serving for 12 years on the GCPL Board.

Shalini’s appointment will enable GCPL to leverage her significant expertise in digital and technology to guide GCPL’s growth strategy. She will be the sixth woman director on the GCPL board, taking the representation of women directors to 50% when she joins the Board.

Commenting on this announcement, Nisaba Godrej, Executive Chairperson, GCPL, said: “We are delighted  that Shalini Puchalapalli has been nominated to join the GCPL Board of Directors. Shalini’s leadership and deep expertise in both FMCG and technology will be very helpful in guiding our transformational journey.

I am especially proud that when she joins we will have 50% women representation on the Board; an important step in our commitment to ensuring equitable gender representation at the most senior levels of leadership at GCPL.”

Shalini is Managing Director and Country Head for Google Customer Solutions, where she is building the digital ecosystem for India. Her previous roles include Category Director with Amazon India and CEO for Lehar Foods Business for PepsiCo. Shalini did her bachelors in engineering from IIT, Madras, Personnel Management from XLRI, and MBA from INSEAD.

Shalini has been honoured as a  ‘Young Global Leader’ by the World Economic Forum. She has also been awarded the ’40 under 40 Influential Leaders Award’ by Economic Times and Spencer Stuart in 2014 and recognised as one of the ‘Women Leaders to Watch in 2015’.

Shalini Puchalapalli expressed her pleasure at being nominated to the GCPL Board, saying: “I am excited and inspired by GCPL’s purpose of bringing the goodness of health and beauty to consumers in emerging markets; the strong track record of shareholder value creation and continued commitment to inclusive, sustainable growth. I look forward to partnering the GCPL team to achieve their ambitious aspirations.”

Godrej Consumer Products Limited

Godrej Consumer Products is a leading emerging markets company. As part of the over 125-year young Godrej Group, we are fortunate to have a proud legacy built on the strong values of trust, integrity and respect for others. At the same time, we are growing fast and have exciting, ambitious aspirations.

Today, our Group enjoys the patronage of 1.2 billion consumers globally, across different businesses. We are inspired by our purpose of bringing the goodness of health and beauty to consumers in emerging markets.

We rank among the largest Household Insecticide and Hair Care players in emerging markets. We are the leader in serving the Hair Care needs of women of African descent, the number one player in Hair Colour in India and Sub-Saharan Africa, and among the leading players in Latin America.

But for us, it is very important that besides our strong financial performance and innovative, much-loved products, we remain a good company. Approximately 23% of the promoter holding in the Godrej Group is held in trusts that invest in the environment, health, and education. We are also bringing together our passion and purpose to make a difference through our Good & Green approach to build a more inclusive and greener world.

At the heart of it all, is our talented team. We take much pride in fostering an inspiring workplace with an agile and high-performance culture. We are also deeply committed to recognising and valuing diversity across our teams.

www.godrejcp.com

From Spices To Wellness: How An Indian Diet Supports Healthy Ageing

Given our fast-paced lifestyles, it's difficult to eat healthy. The surge in preference for convenience foods and packaged eatables plus the stress and environmental pollution makes people more prone to health issues. This is where clean eating and fresh foods become important.

If we follow a healthy Indian diet along with exercise routines, we may become fitter versions of ourselves. While we cannot control the environmental contaminants to which we are exposed, adopting a healthier diet is certainly doable. As an increased number of people realize this, Dr. Irfan Shaikh, Head, Medical & Scientific Affairs at Abbott’s Nutrition business focuses on hearty and healthier foods that form a balanced diet and some steps you can take to age healthy.

1.       Start Out Young: As teens grow, three essential systems in their bodies change: muscle mass along with long bones, hormonal maturity and blood, and immunity. To ensure these areas grow properly, you need the right nutrients.

Bone development: Most people think of adequate proteins and calcium when they think of bone development, but vitamin D, magnesium, phosphorus, vitamin K, collagen and essential fatty acids are also necessary for bone health and turnover. Consumption of these nutrients can help reduce bone fracture risk for teens. Fish[i]/egg[ii]/chickpea[iii] curry, mixed vegetable sabzi, dal[iv] tadka and even some chutneys like flaxseed[v] chutney is rich in these nutrients.

Blood: Iron, vitamin B-12 and folate are essential for the formation of healthy red blood cells. Without adequate iron, teens are unable to produce the red blood cells they need to carry oxygen throughout the body. Preparations made from spinach[vi], [vii] like palak paneer, palak rice palak dal, lentil[viii] soups, methi[ix] paratha, and beetroot[x] poriyal are some dishes that are rich in these nutrients.

Hormonal maturity: Balanced diet, adequate proteins, high fibers, stress-free life, regular exercise, weight control and sound sleep are critical for a successful transition of the hormonal foundation during the early years.

2.      Preventative Care in the 30s and 40s:  People in their 30s and 40s should focus on preventive care, particularly when it comes to their hearts.

Cholesterol: To lower cholesterol, eat plenty of vegetables, fruit, whole grains, protein-rich meals (particularly fish and seafood), legumes (such as beans and lentils), nuts and seeds, and so on.

Stress: Career, income, and family responsibilities create several possibilities to experience stress. Regular exercise and coping abilities to handle stressful situations are crucial to protect your health and mind. Some of the best ways to cope with stress are exercising, yoga, journaling and meditation.

Blood Pressure: Many people are unaware that they have high blood pressure because it has no symptoms, and the only way of finding out is to get examined. Reducing your sodium and chai or caffeine intake is vital to controlling high blood pressure, additionally, it is important to stay active and lose fat around the waistline.

3.      The Importance of Prioritizing: As we age, what we eat can impact our health, so it's important to put some thought into what we eat and drink. Some key ingredients for future healthy ageing are:

Protein is essential at every age, whether you want to build muscle, retain strength or recuperate from surgery. One can find protein in meats, beans, dairy products, fish, nuts, seeds, and cottage cheese and can serve these in the form of various curry preparations.

Fibre-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains can help with lowering cholesterol and managing body weight simply by keeping you full. Chana[xi] masala, baingan[xii] bharta and oats[xiii] upma are some ways in which you can add fiber to your meal.

Calcium, As we age, our bones lose some of their calcium and mass, heightening the risk of fractures and weaker bones. Consuming milk, dahi, and cheese is a good source of calcium uptake. Ragi[xiv] dosa, til[xv] chutney and paneer[xvi] masala are some Indian dishes which are high in protein due to their ingredients.

Vitamin D is important for healthy bones and is the only one that can be synthesized when the skin is exposed to sunlight. It can be found in fatty fish, eggs, and vitamin D-fortified dairy products.

Nutritional supplements: A regular, balanced diet is crucial to meet daily nutritional requirements and also build stronger muscles as you age. However, while we recognize that muscles matter and eat accordingly, some nutritional gaps may exist. To fill these gaps, one can include a balanced nutrition supplement like Ensure HMB which is a science-based nutritional supplement formulated with 32 vital nutrients and a special ingredient – HMB or ?-hydroxy-?-methyl butyrate – that helps counteract muscle loss and restore strength and energy.

Every person passes many milestones throughout life and health should stay top-of-mind every step of the way. By embracing your cultural dishes which are prepared through locally and organically sourced foods, you can stay healthy as you age.

Verizon 2023 Data Breach Investigations Report: Frequency And Cost Of Social Engineering Attacks Skyrocket

* Human error continues to play a significant role in breaches across all industries

What you need to know:

Cost per ransomware incident doubled over the past two years, with ransomware accounting for one out of every four breaches.

Pretexting (Business Email Compromise) has more than doubled since the previous year.

The human element is involved in 3 out of 4 breaches.

Analysis of the Log4j incident illustrates the scale of the incident and the effectiveness of the coordinated response.

Verizon Business today released the results of its 16th annual Data Breach Investigations Report (2023 DBIR), which analyzed 16,312 security incidents and 5,199 breaches. Chief among its findings is the soaring cost of ransomware – malicious software (malware) that encrypts an organization’s data and then extorts large sums of money to restore access.

The median cost per ransomware incident doubled over the past two years, with 95% of ransomware incidents that experienced a loss costing between $1 million and $2.25 million. This rise in cost coincides with a dramatic rise in frequency. Last year, the number of ransomware attacks was greater than the previous five years combined. That prevalence held steady this year: Representing almost a quarter of all breaches (24%), ransomware remains one of the top cyberattack methods.

The human element still makes up the overwhelming majority of incidents, and is a factor in 74% of total breaches, even as enterprises continue to safeguard critical infrastructure and increase training on cybersecurity protocols. One of the most common ways to exploit human nature is social engineering, which refers to manipulating an organization's sensitive information through tactics like phishing, in which a hacker convinces the user into clicking on a malicious link or attachment.

“Senior leadership represents a growing cybersecurity threat for many organizations,” said Chris Novak, Managing Director of Cybersecurity Consulting at Verizon Business. “Not only do they possess an organization’s most sensitive information, they are often among the least protected, as many organizations make security protocol exceptions for them. With the growth and increasing sophistication of social engineering, organizations must enhance the protection of their senior leadership now to avoid expensive system intrusions.”

Like ransomware, social engineering is a lucrative tactic for cybercriminals, especially given the rise of those techniques being used to impersonate enterprise employees for financial gain, an attack known as Business Email Compromise (BEC). The median amount stolen in BECs has increased over the last couple of years to $50,000 USD, based on Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) data, which might have contributed to pretexting nearly doubling this past year. With the growth of BEC, enterprises with distributed workforces face a challenge that takes on greater importance: creating and strictly enforcing human-centric security best practices. 

"Globally, cyber threat actors continue their relentless efforts to acquire sensitive consumer and business data. The revenue generated from that information is staggering, and it's not lost on business leaders, as it is front and center at the board level," said Craig Robinson, Research Vice President at IDC. "Verizon's Data Breach Investigations Report provides deep insights into the topics that are critical to the cybersecurity industry and has become a source of truth for the business community."

In addition to the increase in social engineering, other key findings in the 2023 DBIR include: 

While espionage garners substantial media attention, owing to the current geopolitical climate, only 3% of threat actors were motivated by espionage. The other 97% were motivated by financial gain. 

32% of yearly Log4j vulnerability scanning occurred in the first 30 days after its release, demonstrating threat actors’ velocity when escalating from a proof of concept to mass exploitation.

External actors leveraged a variety of different techniques to gain entry to an organization, such as using stolen credentials (49%), phishing (12%) and exploiting vulnerabilities (5%).

One of the ways that enterprises can help safeguard their critical infrastructure is through the adoption and adherence of industry leading protocols and practices. Verizon recently became the first nationwide telecom provider to become a participant of Mutually Agreed Norms for Routing Security (MANRS): a global initiative that provides crucial fixes to reduce the most common routing threats that can be exploited by attackers. Participation in MANRS demonstrates Verizon’s commitment to implementing industry best fixes to common routing threats and best practices geared at helping to prevent cyber incidents for customers on the network. 

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) was formed on June 30, 2000 and is one of the world’s leading providers of technology and communications services. Headquartered in New York City and with a presence around the world, Verizon generated revenues of $136.8 billion in 2022. The company offers data, video and voice services and solutions on its award-winning networks and platforms, delivering on customers’ demand for mobility, reliable network connectivity, security and control.