MongoDB Launches Academia Program in India To Upskill 500,000 Students

* MongoDB partners with ICT Academy to equip Indian students and educators with the knowledge needed to build modern, AI-powered applications and help close the skills gap in the tech industry

MongoDB, Inc. today announced the launch of the MongoDB for Academia program in India to train more than 500,000 students with the skills required to use MongoDB Atlas—the leading, multi-cloud developer data platform. The MongoDB for Academia program provides training for students, curriculum resources for educators, credits to use MongoDB technology at no cost, and certifications to help individuals enter careers in the tech industry. As part of the launch of MongoDB for Academia in India, MongoDB is partnering with ICT Academy, a not-for-profitn educational initiative of the Government of Tamil Nadu and the Government of India that has a mission to train higher education teachers and students to help close the technology skills gap in India. The partnership will support MongoDB's initiatives to upskill students and train more than 1,000 educators through collaboration with more than 800 educational institutions. To get started with MongoDB for Academia, visit mongodb.com/academia.

Many Indian organizations in the tech industry struggle to find developers with the skills needed to build modern applications and take advantage of new technologies like generative AI that are propelling a wave of innovation and disrupting industries. According to a report from the National Association of Software and Service Companies examining India’s tech industry talent gap, 65 percent of the 800,000 computer science, IT, and math graduates in India did not possess the necessary skills required to enter high-demand tech roles. This gap underscores the need for increased collaboration between industry and academia to provide the real-world training needed to upskill students and educators in India to meet the demands of the country's large and growing tech industry. 

The MongoDB for Academia program helps close this gap by giving educators and students the knowledge and skills needed to use MongoDB Atlas, which integrates all of the data services needed to build modern applications with a unified developer experience. MongoDB Atlas has enabled tens of thousands of organizations and millions of developers globally to accelerate application development by seamlessly handling transactional workloads, app-driven analytics, full-text search, AI-enhanced experiences, high-velocity and volume stream data processing, and more—all while reducing data infrastructure sprawl, cost, and complexity across organizations. MongoDB for Academia will offer educator and student participants in India the following benefits: 

Access to hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of MongoDB Atlas credits and free MongoDB certification that validates developer skills to employers.

Free curriculum resources and training to help educators and students gain the skills they need to build, manage, and deploy modern, business-critical applications.

Access to the MongoDB PhD Fellowship program to support exceptional PhD candidates who want to make significant contributions to the future of computer science or related fields with an award of up to $50,000 and opportunities to conduct computer science research, connect with MongoDB engineers, and attend and present research at MongoDB events.

In partnership with ICT Academy, MongoDB will also conduct a series of joint activities including educator enablement sessions, academia summits, learnathons, technical bootcamps, and other educational programs.

The MongoDB for Academia program is one part of MongoDB's strategy to help enable India's growing developer population. For example, MongoDB University offers a free, on-demand series of courses that have helped hundreds of thousands of participants in India learn high-demand software development and data management skills. MongoDB also provides frequent online and virtual workshops, webinars, and live events in India to give developers the skills they need to build modern applications and enter high-demand jobs in the tech industry.  

"India is bursting with great companies and great ideas. But when I talk to founders and organizational leaders, a few challenges come up again and again,"  said Sachin Chawla, Area Vice President, India at MongoDB. "The biggest challenge is finding and retaining the right developer talent. The second is finding technology that will help leaders simplify and speed up their business. The launch of the MongoDB Academia program and partnership with ICT Academy will help solve these challenges and support the next generation of Indian developers and businesses as they capitalize on the massive opportunity in front of them." 

“As a former academic, and now as an executive, it is truly inspiring to witness the power of academia and the technology industry come together to nurture our developers," said Hari Balachandran, CEO of ICT Academy. "MongoDB’s goal to reach 500,000 students is not just a number, it’s an ambitious testament to the boundless potential that blooms when industry and academia unite to shape the future of India's digital landscape." 

MongoDB Developer Data Platform

MongoDB Atlas is the leading multi-cloud developer data platform that accelerates and simplifies building with data. MongoDB Atlas provides an integrated set of data and application services in a unified environment to enable developer teams to quickly build with the capabilities, performance, and scale modern applications require.

About MongoDB

Headquartered in New York, MongoDB’s mission is to empower innovators to create, transform, and disrupt industries by unleashing the power of software and data. Built by developers, for developers, our developer data platform is a database with an integrated set of related services that allow development teams to address the growing requirements for today’s wide variety of modern applications, all in a unified and consistent user experience. MongoDB has tens of thousands of customers in over 100 countries. The MongoDB database platform has been downloaded hundreds of millions of times since 2007, and there have been millions of builders trained through MongoDB University courses. To learn more, visit mongodb.com.

ACC Drives A Series Of Positive Changes For Social Upliftment Through Its CSR Initiatives In Rajasthan

EDITOR’S SYNOPSIS 

ACC introduced the Assistant Electrician Program to foster skill development among the local youth. 

The CSR transformative programs also included initiatives that addressed crucial issues such as water scarcity and workplace safety. 

Bangalore, 11th September 2023: ACC, the cement and building material company of the diversified Adani Group, is delighted to announce the successful implementation of a range of CSR initiatives with an aim of creating a meaningful impact for the communities around its Lakheri plant in Rajasthan. These initiatives are focused on providing employment opportunities to the youth, extending medical assistance to the local communities, educating the locals around sustainable water conservation methods, and raising awareness about the importance of safe working conditions. 

In its commitment to fostering skill development, the Company introduced the Assistant Electrician Program at the DISHA center for the local youth. This comprehensive program equipped participants with essential electrical skills and knowledge, providing them with a valuable pathway to gainful employment. As a result of their hard work and dedication, the trainees were awarded job offers by companies in Neemrana and Bawal, for a promising future.  

Additionally, the Company demonstrated its dedication to the well-being of its employees, their families, and the local community by organising a free health check-up camp in collaboration with Bhagwan Mahavir Cancer Hospital and Research Center, Jaipur. This camp had a significant impact, with over 100 individuals benefiting from comprehensive health screenings. The active participation demonstrated the importance of such initiatives in promoting a healthier community. During the health check-up camp, attendees received crucial insights from a gynecologist from the hospital, who sensitised them about breast cancer symptoms and available treatments. By raising awareness about early detection and timely intervention, this initiative aimed to empower individuals to take charge of their health and well-being. 

Recognising the pressing water scarcity challenges faced by the residents of Uttarana Village in Rajasthan, ACC has undertaken the Lift Irrigation Project. This transformative project has been designed with the primary objective of providing sustainable drinking water and irrigation solutions to the local community. Once fully implemented, the project is expected to benefit over 500 farmers and significantly expand irrigation coverage, encompassing more than 450 hectares of land with assured water supply. 

In line with its commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of its workforce, ACC launched Project Saksham, an important initiative specifically aimed at raising awareness about safe working conditions among contractual workers. Through this project, contractual workers wholeheartedly pledged to prioritise safety and uphold a high standard of commitment to safety protocols in their day-to-day operations. 

Mr. Ajay Kapur, CEO, Cement Business said, “We firmly believe that progress should be measured by the positive impact it creates in the lives of the communities we serve. Our unwavering dedication towards our community exemplifies this conviction, as we remain resolute in our pursuit of sustainable development and empowerment. These initiatives are an integral part of our journey, and we look forward to fostering a profound and enduring difference, contributing to the upliftment and advancement of our nation.” 

These initiatives reflect ACC’s and Adani Foundation’s profound dedication to making a positive impact in the lives of the communities it serves and envisions a brighter and prosperous future for our nation, fueled by a deep-rooted commitment to empower local communities.

Air India Rolled Out ‘Project Abhinandan To Elevate Airport Experience For Guests

* Specially trained Service Assurance Officers at 16 Indian airports for personalised airport assistance

Air India, India’s leading global carrier, has rolled out ‘Project Abhinandan’ (an expression of greetings in Hindi), aimed at providing personalised and hassle-free on-ground experience to Air India guests at airports.

As part of the project, Air India has deployed specially trained Service Assurance Officers at 16 major Indian airports, who will offer on-ground assistance across airport touchpoints to Air India guests who may require it – at check-in area or lounges, near the boarding gates, during transit, or at the arrival hall.

Air India’s Service Assurance Officers are trained to sense passenger concerns at airports and will be placed at strategic touchpoints to proactively engage with guests, provide support, or troubleshoot any issues. They are also trained to address unforeseen issues such as missed flights, delayed baggage delivery and misconnections at airports, among others.

Rajesh Dogra, Chief Customer Experience & Ground Handling Officer, Air India, said, “Airport experiences can be daunting for many air travellers, despite how frequently one travels. ‘Project Abhinandan’ is our sincere effort to simplify the airport experience for our guests and make a meaningful difference to their overall travel experience, and more broadly, to make them feel at ease and welcomed when they fly with us.”

“Flying is a wonderful experience, and we want our guests to enjoy it in the most seamless ways possible. We are constantly evaluating new ways to enhance that experience in our effort to transform Air India into a truly world-class airline. ‘Project Abhinandan’ service is a step in that direction,” Dogra said.

Air India’s Service Assurance Officers at airports will provide assistance to any Air India guest, regardless of the cabin class one is booked in, requiring airport assistance at Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Calicut, Chennai, Delhi, Goa, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune, Varanasi and Vishakhapatnam.

The Service Assurance Officers are available at the airports in addition to the other Air India and ground handling agencies’ staff. Air India has already recruited and deployed over 100 Service Assurance Officers across airports.

About Air India:

Founded by the legendary JRD Tata, Air India pioneered India’s aviation sector. Since its first flight on October 15, 1932, Air India has built an extensive domestic network with non-stop flights to cities around the world, across the USA, Canada, UK, Europe, Far East, South-East Asia, Australia, and the Gulf. After 69 years as a government-owned enterprise, Air India and Air India Express were welcomed back into the Tata group in January 2022.

Air India is navigating through a major five-year transformation roadmap under the aegis of Vihaan.AI, with an ambition to become a world class airline with an Indian heart. The first phase of this transformation, the taxi phase was recently concluded, and focused on fixing the basics. These included bringing back to service many long grounded aircraft, addition of talent across flying and ground functions, rapid upgradation of technology and strengthening of customer care initiatives amongst others.

A member of Star Alliance, the largest global airline consortium of leading international airlines, Air India offers seamless connectivity and facilities to passengers all over the world.

TECNO Honours Chandrayaan 3; Launches SPARK 10 Pro Moon Explorer, Boasting A Segment With Eco-Leather Design At INR 11,999

·        With 8GB+8GB RAM and 128GB ROM, TECNO Spark 10 Pro Moon Explorer Edition will be available for pre-booking starting September 7, 2023, with the first sale scheduled for September 15, 2023 in your nearby retail outlet

TECNO, the leading technology brand synonymous with innovation and style, is once again breaking new ground in the world of beautifully designed smartphones. The TECNO SPARK 10 Pro Moon Explorer Edition is a testament to the brand’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of design, functionality, and environmental responsibility. Scheduled for pre-booking starting September 7, 2023, and with its first sale on September 15, 2023, this smartphone derives inspiration from India's Moon Mission - Chandrayaan 3, while also prioritizing eco-friendliness with its unique Black & White Leather Design crafted from environmentally friendly eco-silicone leather.

A Fresh Perspective on Design & Functionality

The SPARK Series has always stood out for its captivating design and impressive functionality, and the SPARK 10 Pro Moon Explorer Edition continues this tradition. This smartphone is designed to make a statement with its innovative Black & White Leather Design along with a camera module that resembles the moon's surface, a fitting tribute to Chandrayaan 3. Unlike other dual-shade designs, this phone features a one-piece eco-leather back panel that not only looks stunning but also aligns with our eco-friendly approach.

Unmatched Photography Capabilities

Capture life's moments in unparalleled detail with the SPARK 10 Pro Moon Explorer Edition's ultra-clear camera setup. It boasts a remarkable 32MP AI Selfie Camera with a dual flash for stunning selfies, and a 50MP Dual Camera with an F1.6 Aperture and Dual Flash on the rear for breath-taking photography. Say goodbye to blurry photos and hello to crisp, vibrant images.

Lag-Free Performance

Experience seamless multitasking and gaming with the phone's impressive 8GB + 8GB RAM configuration with memory fusion and a spacious 128GB internal storage. In a market where most competitors offer just 4GB or 6GB RAM at this price point, the SPARK 10 Pro Moon Explorer Edition ensures you have the power you need for lag-free operations.

Product Specifications at a Glance

·        Display & Design: 17.22cm (6.78”) FHD+ Dot-in Display, 90Hz refresh Rate, 270Hz Touch Sampling rate, 580 nits Max. Brightness, Eco-Silicone Leather Triple matrix moon type Camera design.

·        Front Camera: 32MP AI Selfie Camera, Dual Flash.

·        Rear Camera: 50MP Dual Camera, F1.6 Aperture, Dual Flash.

·        Memory: 8GB LPDDR4x + 8GB Mem Fusion RAM, 128GB Internal Storage, Dedicated up to 1TB SD Card Slot.

·        Battery: Li-Polymer 5000mAh Battery, 18W Flash Charger, 50% charge in just 40 Minutes, Up to 27 days long standby.

·        OS: HiOS 12.6 based on Android 13.

·        Processor: Helio G88, Octa-Core – 2.0 GHz CPU, 1GHz Mali G52 GPU, Game Turbo Dual Engine.

·        Connectivity: 4G FDD_LTE, 4G TDD_LTE, Support dual LTE, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 2.4G+5G, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, GNSS, Galileo, Beidou, NFC.

Price and Availability: The TECNO Spark 10 Pro Moon Explorer Edition offers value at an attractive price point of ?11,999. To get your hands on this cutting-edge smartphone, mark your calendars for the pre-booking phase, which commences on September 7, 2023. The official release date is set for September 15, 2023, ensuring that tech enthusiasts and smartphone aficionados can soon experience the perfect blend of innovation and style in their hands. Don't miss out on the opportunity to explore the cosmos of features this phone has to offer.

Commenting on the launch of the Moon explorer SPARK 10 Pro, Arijeet Talapatra, CEO, TECNO Mobile said, "We are excited to introduce the TECNO Spark 10 Pro Moon Explorer Edition, a tribute to innovation and aesthetics. This smartphone embodies TECNO's commitment to pushing the boundaries of design, functionality, and environmental responsibility. With its unique Black & White Leather Design crafted from environmentally friendly eco-silicone leather, it pays homage to India's Moon Mission - Chandrayaan 3, while delivering an exceptional user experience. We believe that the SPARK 10 Pro Moon Explorer Edition will redefine the smartphone market with its innovative design, remarkable camera capabilities, and powerful performance, all at a competitive price of ?11,999.”

Join the SPARK Revolution

The TECNO Spark 10 Pro Moon Explorer Edition is poised to revolutionize the smartphone market with its innovative design, exceptional camera capabilities, and powerful performance - all at an astonishingly affordable price. Be ready to embark on a journey of style, innovation, and eco-consciousness.

About TECNO

TECNO is an innovative technology brand with operations in 70-plus countries and regions across five continents. Since its launch, TECNO has been revolutionizing the digital experience in emerging global markets, relentlessly pushing for the perfect integration of contemporary, aesthetic design with the latest technologies. Today, TECNO has developed into a recognized leader in its target markets, delivering state-of-the-art innovation through a wide range of smartphones, smart wearables, laptops and tablets, HiOS operating systems and smart home products. Guided by its brand essence of “Stop At Nothing”, TECNO is committed to unlocking the best and newest technologies for forward-looking individuals. By creating stylish, intelligent products, TECNO inspires consumers worldwide to never stop pursuing their best selves and best futures.

For more information,  visit TECNO’s official site: https://www.tecno-mobile.in/

Aditya Birla Finance Participates In OCEN To Launch Instant Purchase Order Financing For MSMEs On GeM Sahay

·                 Registered MSMEs can instantly avail credit facilities of up to INR 5 lakhs against their purchase orders.

Aditya Birla Finance Ltd (“ABFL”), the lending subsidiary of Aditya Birla Capital Ltd. (ABCL), announced its participation in Open Credit Enablement Network (OCEN) by launching instant Purchase Order (PO) financing for MSMEs registered on Government e-Marketplace (GeM) Sahay platform. This will be an entirely digital and instant process, where sellers can access working capital finance against their purchase orders, ensuring swift and hassle-free disbursements.

Steps to avail PO financing on GeM Sahay

- Create an account on GeM Sahay using PAN & GSTIN.

- Share GeM POs for financing.

- Select the offer shown by ABFL.

- Verify the loan disbursement bank account.

- Set up virtual account and auto-repayment.

- Digitally sign the loan agreement

- Loan will be credited to the applicants’ account.

With participation in OCEN, ABFL facilitates the growth and development of MSMEs by providing them with seamless access to credit to meet their working capital requirements. OCEN is a decentralized open credit network developed by the non-profit think tank iSPIRT foundation as a digital public infrastructure. It allows the flow of credit between borrowers and lenders under a common set of standards.

Mr. Rakesh Singh, Managing Director, and Chief Executive Officer, Aditya Birla Finance Ltd (ABFL), said, “By facilitating working capital financing on GeM Sahay, we are simplifying the process for MSMEs engaged with government entities to avail instant loan disbursals against their purchase orders. Today, digital public infrastructure is reshaping the way MSMEs get faster access to capital to scale up their businesses. ABFL already has a significant presence in the MSME sector, and through this new credit facility, we will be able to provide superior experience to our existing and new customers."

This strategic move exemplifies ABFL's steadfast commitment to reshaping the PO financing landscape, providing sellers with the financial strength necessary to elevate their businesses and thrive in the dynamic and competitive market. By enabling timely and seamless access to credit, this initiative promises to fuel growth, foster innovation, and unlock the true potential of businesses, reinforcing ABFL's position as a catalyst for success in the ever-evolving financial landscape.

As part of its digital strategy, the Company recently also launched Udyog Plus, an innovative one-stop business platform designed for MSME customers. This new B2B digital platform offers a wide range of solutions for MSMEs, including financing, protection, investments, advisory and value-added services for managing and growing their business. Participation in OCEN is one more step by ABFL in its endeavour to provide access to lending to MSMEs through a seamless and digital process.

Uber Partners With Indian Navy To Offer Mobility & Tech Solutions

Uber, India’s leading ridesharing app has partnered with the Indian Navy to become its exclusive mobility partner to offer transportation solutions for official travel and commute of naval officers, staff, and families across the country. This partnership will deliver reliable, convenient, and safe mobility solutions to the esteemed Indian Navy officers, staff and their families.

Through this partnership, the Indian Navy will seamlessly integrate Uber’s advanced ride-sharing technology via a seamless platform - Uber for Business into the Naval ecosystem. The partnership will help streamline the travel experiences of the Naval workforce, making their travel smoother and the process more efficient. As part of this collaboration, Uber aims to drive effective change management for both official travel and commute and also bring curated enterprise benefits for the Indian Navy.

Speaking at the MoU signing, Abhinav Mittoo, Sr. Country Manager, Uber for Business, Uber India, South Asia & Egypt said, “We are proud to partner with the Indian Navy that has truly embraced digitalization. This partnership signals an important stride towards digitalization as we embrace shared mobility options. Through this MoU, we aim to contribute to the Indian Navy’s larger vision of embracing technology for transformative change.”

CNS Admiral, R Hari Kumar, Indian Navy said, “This partnership originated from a need to find a solution and help officers and their families for their travel requirements, and avail the benefit from the IT revolution and digitization in the country. Uber has revolutionized travel and stands for comfort, reach, and reliability today. This MoU holds great promise and represents a significant milestone in our sustained efforts towards ensuring 'Happy Personnel.' This is a crucial element of the SHIPS FIRST approach, adopted by the Navy, keeping the needs of our operational platforms first - every time and everywhere. In that regard, I am glad to note that the MoU covers not only the men and women in whites but also their dependents. I am also told that the dedicated account for Indian Naval personnel would have additional benefits such as zero cancellation fees, special vehicle category, and premium customer support, amongst many others. We will look to further extend this association to our veterans and sister services and believe that Uber’s large pool of green vehicles will reduce carbon footprint and make travel seamless.”

This collaboration between Uber and the Indian Navy highlights the power of Uber for Business in delivering unique transformative solutions tailored to enterprise needs. Uber’s proven success story in the US, where it partnered with the federal government to offer transportation services, reinforces its expertise in seamlessly integrating rideshare services into daily operations.

About Uber for Business

Uber for Business brings the best of Uber’s innovations and solutions to organizations around the globe with a seamless platform built to help them better support and engage those they employ and serve. With global scale, integrated solutions and exceptional service, Uber for Business empowers organizations to effortlessly streamline business travel, reimagine employee wellbeing, and elevate the customer experience – all while enabling employees to effortlessly leverage the Uber they love and trust in their professional lives. Since launching in 2014, Uber for Business has scaled to 70+ countries and 10,000 cities, and helped 170,000 organizations bring flexibility and efficiency into their operations, while improving employee wellbeing. For more, visit our website.

MobiKwik Launches Lens To Demystify Your Money Across India

MobiKwik, a leading digital banking platform, today launched Lens, an industry-first financial product that will empower users with knowledge of their money and aid in financial wellness.

Lens leverages Account Aggregator framework which helps users share data across financial institutions in a secure and efficient manner. Mobikwik Lens uses advanced technology and data science to make complex financial data, digestible and actionable. Earlier, it was a tedious manual process involving countless spreadsheets and now it is available at one’s fingertips.

Excited about the potential of MobiKwik Lens, Bipin Preet Singh, Co-founder & CEO of MobiKwik, said, “Lens addresses the fundamental aspects of financial wellness – awareness and control over one's money. Our research showed that it’s difficult for individuals to monitor their financial inflows, outflows, and transactions at a granular level. Lens empowers informed decision making, enabling users to make proactive choices about their finances.”

MobiKwik Lens offers a suite of features including but not limited to an overview of one’s net worth with transaction details, smart categorisation of incoming and outgoing money, trends of bank account balance, spends, investments, and repayments. Users can effortlessly download their bank statements, and better understand their upcoming bills and recurring payments and expenses to better budget their monthly spends.

The product comes with an interesting feature called ‘Highlights’ which prompts for user’s attention at the right time. For e.g. there is a refund a user is expecting from an apparel retailer, MobiKwik Lens will highlight that the refund has been credited to the account. Similarly, any unusual deductions like overdraft fees get highlighted immediately. It will tell how expenses are increasing or decreasing over a period of week, month, and year.

“With a commitment to innovation, we will further enhance Lens with new features to not only get financial intelligence across multiple bank accounts but also get a 360-degree view of their money across investments, insurance, and pension funds,” Bipin added.

MobiKwik, recently, became the first fintech in the country to post PAT positive in Q1 of FY23-24 recording 181% growth Y-o-Y.

About MobiKwik

MobiKwik is a digital banking platform that offers a comprehensive suite of financial products for both consumers and merchants. Our products range from payments to digital credit and investments, enabling our users to meet their financial needs seamlessly. Our mission is to empower millions of people with access to affordable and convenient financial services, regardless of location or income level.

Founded in 2009 by Bipin Preet Singh and Upasana Taku, MobiKwik has grown to serve over 140 million registered users across India. With a merchant network of over 4 million, MobiKwik is one of the most trusted and widely used digital banking platforms in India.

We are currently in a new phase of innovation at MobiKwik, as we work towards our goal of building a world-class digital banking platform for Bharat.