Indian Glove Industry Awaits Implementation Of Quality Control Order

* Incidents of regulatory violations and illegal dumping on the rise due to absence of formal notification

* QCO uploaded with World Trade Organization (WTO) on 22-02-2025

* Industry continues to face huge losses and struggle for survival

Indian Glove manufacturers are calling for the prompt implementation of the Medical and Surgical Gloves (Quality Control) Order (QCO), which has now been in the public domain for 60 days following its submission to the World Trade Organization (WTO) under the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Agreement. The QCO, introduced by the Department of Pharmaceuticals under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, mandates Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification for all medical and surgical gloves—both imported and domestically manufactured.

While the industry welcomes and appreciates the government's decisive step toward protecting public health and supporting the domestic glove manufacturing sector, stakeholders are increasingly concerned over delays in enforcement. 

Manmohan Gulati, Secretary of the Indian Rubber Glove Manufacturers Association (IRGMA) said, “The 60-day WTO consultation period, which allows member countries and stakeholders to provide feedback, has now concluded. However, in the absence of formal notification, incidents of regulatory violations and illegal dumping of substandard gloves have continued to rise.”

K. Anindith Reddy, Managing Director of Enliva – Wadi Surgicals, stated that, “The formal implementation of the QCO will be a breakthrough for domestic manufacturers which have been struggling to compete against the influx of low quality, non-compliant gloves. With the notification of QCO, manufacturing, storing and sale of non-BIS certified gloves will be prohibited. The timely implementation of the QCO is critical not only to curb the influx of low-quality imports but also to strengthen India's Make in India initiative by ensuring fair competition and promoting high-quality domestic production.”

The QCO is poised to address a major loophole exploited through the import of illegal, substandard gloves by mandating strict compliance with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and ISI certification on all gloves, both imported and domestically manufactured. Industry estimates that the new QCO will directly impact the average annual import of ?450–500 crore worth of such illegal products, thereby ensuring only safe, certified gloves enter the Indian market. The industry, while supportive of the regulation, is keenly awaiting the final notification and enforcement mechanism. The Indian Glove manufacturing industry urges for a timely implementation of the QCO to protect public health from the risks posed by poor-quality medical gloves.

LinkedIn Launches AI-Powered Job Search To Help Professionals Look For New Roles In Their Own Words

Two-thirds (61%) of professionals in Bengaluru say they’re open to new opportunities but don’t know what job titles or industries to search for, according to new research by LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network. The top three ways Bengaluru define professional progress today are (#1) learning something new, (#2) taking the next step with confidence, and (#3) finding a role that truly fits. While the desire for purposeful growth is clear, finding the right opportunity remains a challenge.

LinkedIn has introduced a new AI-powered job search experience to help job seekers find relevant roles that align with what matters most to them. Available for Premium subscribers, the tool uses generative AI to understand a job seeker’s intent, skills, and goals, even if they don’t know the exact title or keyword, so they can discover opportunities in their own words. At a time when 80% of professionals in India are seeking better tools to assess fit and potential, AI-powered job search is designed to make job discovery more relevant, helping them make career moves with greater confidence.

Premium subscribers will get added benefits, including scenario-based role play like interview prep and My Career Journey — a personalised learning plan to help them build in-demand skills on LinkedIn Learning. They’ll also be able to view Hiring Insights, showing how active a hirer is, how quickly they respond, and whether they’re reviewing applications, offering more visibility into the hiring process.

India Sr. Managing Editor and LinkedIn Career Expert Nirajita Banerjee shares tips to help young professionals stand out from the crowd:

“Be strategic in your applications: Work smarter, not harder when it comes to job hunting. Almost five in 10 (49%) people say they’re applying to more jobs than ever, but hearing back less* and hirers are also finding the process increasingly challenging. Instead of mass applying, get strategic. LinkedIn’s job match helps you zero in on roles that actually suit your skills and helps you quickly understand how your qualifications match any job postings in seconds.

Get comfortable with AI: The technology is becoming increasingly integrated into all aspects of work, and the more you understand it, the more you can use it to your advantage in your career growth. Whether it’s brushing up on prompt writing or diving into a free course, such as Job Hunting for College Grads, How to Boost Your Productivity with AI Tools, and The Step-by-Step Guide to Rock Your Job Interview, available until June 30. A little know-how could majorly pay off later.  

Make adaptability your new BFF: As AI becomes integrated, companies are looking for people who keep up with new tech and still bring the human touch (spoiler: people skills are in, according to this year’s Skills on the Rise).

Build your network: Don’t be afraid to start growing your network by connecting with alumni, new colleagues and friends. Building your connections and engaging with posts on LinkedIn from time to time can help foster stronger relationships, keep you on people’s radar and open doors to opportunities such as job referrals and even the inside track on job openings.

Embrace the journey: The path to success is not always a straight line and it might take a while before you find what’s right for you – and that’s ok. Say yes to the random networking event, volunteer for the side projects and grab a flat white with someone outside of your team. Professionals entering the workforce today are on track to hold nearly 2x as many jobs over their careers compared to 15 years ago, so take your time, explore and trust the process.”

About LinkedIn

LinkedIn connects the world’s professionals to make them more productive and successful and transforms the way companies hire, learn, market, and sell. Our vision is to create economic opportunity for every member of the global workforce through the ongoing development of the world’s first Economic Graph. LinkedIn has 1 billion members and offices around the globe. www.linkedin.com / mobile.linkedin.com

Sify Announces Pay-Per-Use Colocation Pricing At All NVIDIA-Certified AI-Ready Hyperscale Data Center Campuses Across India

Sify Technologies Limited (NASDAQ: SIFY), India’s leading Digital ICT solutions provider announced the launch of its unique Pay-per-use model to support the burgeoning requirements for AI Cloud Services. 

This follows the recent expansion of Sify’s portfolio of DGX-Ready Data Centers, certified for up to 130 KW/rack capacity under NVIDIA’s DGX-Ready Data Center program – Sify’s latest hyperscale data centers in Chennai and Noida have now been certified by NVIDIA, joining Sify’s Navi Mumbai data center which was certified in 2024.  Sify will offer this innovative, colocation pricing program at all three of these campus locations.

The hourly pricing model is inclusive of hosting, power and infrastructure costs.

By pricing its services on an hourly basis, Sify is removing the entry-cost barrier and fixed-cost infrastructure risk, enabling its GPU Cloud partners to set up and respond quickly to the growing AI market.  Sify’s converged ICT ecosystem will also offer an extensive array of services like Global connectivity, White Glove IT infrastructure and Managed Services. Initially, Sify will support the NVIDIA H100, H200, B200, GB200 NVL72, and GB300 NVL72 platforms, including liquid-cooled variants.

Speaking on this market disruption, Sharad Agarwal, CEO, Sify Infinit Spaces Limited, the data center subsidiary of Sify Technologies Limited, said “By investing ahead in state-of-the-art infrastructure, Sify already has the most extensive footprint of NVIDIA-certified data centers and a network connectivity with the lowest latency to hyperscale clouds. Now, by introducing colocation pricing on an hourly basis, we aim to make it much faster and easier to deploy these platforms in India to support on-demand applications.  Sify’s colocation partners can bring the latest NVIDIA GPUs to India, while Sify will manage all of the local infrastructure to support this dynamic and rapidly evolving market.”

“India is rapidly emerging as a pivotal player in the global AI race, with its deep talent pool, cost advantages, and rapidly advancing digital infrastructure. Sify’s pay-per-use colocation model, built on NVIDIA-certified platforms, is a timely innovation that removes traditional barriers to AI adoption. By enabling global enterprises to tap into India’s AI capabilities through scalable, high-performance infrastructure, Sify is well positioned to support domestic innovation and position India as a global hub for AI workloads and transformation”, quoted Rajiv Ranjan, Associate Research Director, IDC Asia Pacific.

About Sify Technologies

A multiple times award winner of the Golden Peacock from the Institute of Directors for Corporate Governance, 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 Digital services and conduct their business seamlessly from more than 1700 cities in India. Internationally, Sify has presence across North America, the United Kingdom and Singapore. Sify, www.sify.com, Sify Technologies and www.sifytechnologies.com are registered trademarks of Sify Technologies Limited.

New Research Reveals Marketing Leaders See Strong Potential In gTLDs Despite Knowledge Gap

* Global survey finds 92% of marketers recognize opportunities delivered by generic top-level domains, but cost and awareness barriers remain ahead of 2026 application window

A new global survey from the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) reveals that 52% of marketing leaders believe generic top-level domains (gTLDs – the three characters or more that come after the dot in a URL) have strong potential for enhancing brand presence online; however, a knowledge gap is preventing many brands from taking advantage of the opportunities that a gTLD can bring.

The research surveyed over 2,000 marketing leaders across eight countries (Brazil, China, India, Mexico, Nigeria, South Africa, U.K., and U.S.) with the purpose of creating a picture of the evolving digital marketing landscape and understanding the levels of awareness around gTLDs. It comes as ICANN prepares to open the next application window for new gTLDs in April 2026 – the New gTLD Program: Next Round – the first opportunity in more than a decade for organizations to apply to operate their own gTLD.

Top-level domains are the letters found at the end of an Internet address (with gTLDs including .ceo, .charity, .menu, and .paris). Brands can apply to run their own gTLD as a way to indicate the purpose of their organization or to clearly mark a website as being related to their brand. The research shows that increasing brand awareness and visibility is the top priority for marketing leaders (54%) and that over half believe that gTLDs have strong potential for enhancing brand presence online. However, the research also shows that almost a third (32%) of marketing leaders surveyed are unfamiliar with gTLDs, which suggests that operating a new gTLD may be a strategic opportunity that many organizations are currently overlooking.

Key findings from the research include:

After defining a gTLD, 92% of marketing leaders responded that they could see the potential benefits to gTLDs, with enhanced brand differentiation (46%), improved customer trust (45%), better control over online presence (44%), and improved SEO (44%) topping the list.

19% of marketing leaders work for organizations that have previously applied for a gTLD.

Cost concerns (31%), knowledge gaps (27%), and insufficient resources (24%) were identified as the main barriers to application.

The research revealed notable regional variations, with Nigerian (74%) and Indian (61%) marketing leaders showing the strongest belief in gTLDs' potential for branding and online presence. In contrast, marketers in China expressed more mixed views, with 50% seeing strong potential but 49% considering gTLDs an unnecessary investment with unclear Return On Investment.

The findings come at a time when marketing leaders are facing significant challenges in standing out from competitors (53%), attracting and engaging the right audience (52%), and keeping pace with digital trends (47%).

A new gTLD can be an innovative tool for commerce and communication. They allow businesses in specific countries, sectors, or niche markets to create an exclusive, descriptive, and memorable label on the Internet. An entity operating a gTLD can provide its users and customers with an extra measure of confidence in its security and legitimacy online. This can be valuable in today's environment, where users often don't know whether they can trust the source on the Internet.

Theresa Swinehart, SVP, Global Domains & Strategy said: "The New gTLD Program: Next Round presents an opportunity for businesses, communities, governments, and others to apply to operate their own secure space online, tailored to fit their organization, community, culture, language, and customer interests. Now is also the moment for brands to consider applying for a gTLD, and this research tells us there is still a lack of awareness. ICANN can help provide information and raise awareness of the Next Round and the opportunity it presents for global communities, organizations, and businesses, including brands."

To help address the knowledge gap, ICANN is developing resources to help organizations understand the application process and potential opportunities for gTLDs ahead of the 2026 application window. ICANN also offers the Applicant Support Program (ASP), which provides financial and non-financial assistance to eligible applicants.

The full report, "Understanding the gTLD Opportunity for Brands," is available at https://newgtldprogram.icann.org/sites/default/files/documents/understanding-gtld-opportunity-brands-20may25-en.pdf.

About ICANN

ICANN's mission is to help ensure a stable, secure, and unified global Internet. To reach another person on the Internet, you need to type an address – a name or a number – into your computer or other device. That address must be unique so computers know where to find each other. ICANN helps coordinate and support these unique identifiers across the world. ICANN was formed in 1998 as a nonprofit public benefit corporation with a community of participants from all over the world.

About the survey

This research was carried out by Focaldata on behalf of ICANN, with fieldwork conducted in March 2025. 2,000 marketing decision makers were surveyed, including Marketing Managers/Directors, CMOs, Heads of Marketing and other marketing-related roles. The research gathered a global perspective, including marketing decision makers across Brazil (161), China (165), India (350), Mexico (170), Nigeria (351), South Africa (156), U.K. (364), and U.S. (353).

WhatsApp Launches ‘Not Even WhatsApp’ Global Privacy Campaign

Today WhatsApp is launching ‘Not Even WhatsApp’, a global campaign to remind over 3 billion monthly users around the world how no one, not even WhatsApp, can see or hear your personal messages. “Not Even WhatsApp” is WhatsApp’s biggest marketing campaign to date and is a bold statement on privacy at a truly global scale. 

The campaign kicks off today with a brand manifesto TV spot directed by Achowe, from Chalk and Cheese Films and was shot across locations in Delhi including around the banks of the Yamuna river, and Chandni Chowk. Viewers are taken inside WhatsApp's point-of-view - on the other side of your phone screen - where no one, not even WhatsApp, can see your messages. 

The TV spot brings the WhatsApp privacy promise to life by centering on the idea that even the most ordinary messages - voice notes to your mom, new looks in your selfies, long gossip sessions with friends, or late-night confessions - are deeply personal. Thanks to end-to-end encryption, they’re completely private too. 

End-to-end encryption keeps your personal messages and calls between you and the person you're communicating with. No one outside of the chat, not even WhatsApp, can read, listen to, or share them

The 60 second spot also features some of the most iconic local names in entertainment today, with Aamir Khan the voice in India in Hindi and English. You can watch the film here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vhVVngXNE0

Vivian Odior, Head of WhatsApp Marketing, comments: "WhatsApp is the next best thing to an in-person conversation. This campaign brings to life our privacy promise that no one, not even WhatsApp can see or hear your personal messages in the most emotional and relatable way - all centered in the everyday moments we are all so familiar with.” 

“Not Even WhatsApp” global privacy campaign will include a series of activations over the coming months in India, US, UK, Brazil and Mexico. It will run across TV, online video, digital, (D)OOH, audio and WhatsApp. In India the campaign will go live across 16 Indian states, including Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka, among others. 

The campaign is hot on the heels of the latest addition to WhatsApp’s multiple layers of privacy, "Advanced Chat Privacy." This new setting, available in both chats and groups, helps prevent others from taking content outside of WhatsApp for when you may want extra privacy. 

Advanced Chat Privacy builds on other useful tools that WhatsApp provides including Privacy Checkup that allows you to access step-by-step guidance to help strengthen the security of your account and customize your privacy settings all in one place. 

You can watch the film here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vhVVngXNE0

Discovery Channel To Premiere Documentary On Coca-Cola India’s ‘Maidaan Saaf’ Campaign At Kumbh Mela

Coca-Cola India’s landmark ‘Maidaan Saaf’ campaign, which helped reimagine waste management and recycling at one of the world’s biggest events, the Maha Kumbh 2025, is set to be featured in an upcoming documentary premiering on Discovery Channel on 19th May 2025 at 7PM and discovery+ on 20th May 2025. Filmed on location at the Kumbh Mela grounds in Prayagraj, the documentary captures Coca-Cola India’s on-ground efforts to transform one of the largest events in the world into a cleaner, safer, and more inclusive space by leveraging technology, partnerships, and purpose.

“Maidaan Saaf reflects our commitment to translating intent into impact,” said Devyani RL Rana, Vice President – Public Affairs, Communications, and Sustainability for Coca-Cola India and Southwest Asia. “As we work towards our goals of designing more recyclable packaging, increasing the use of recycled materials, and supporting collection at scale, initiatives like Maidaan Saaf help raise awareness about how this is coming to life in deeply local and culturally resonant ways. The Maha Kumbh offered a unique opportunity to showcase how responsible design, and collective action can create meaningful change, anchored in community, collaboration, and care for the environment.”

“We believe in the power of storytelling to inspire change” said, Tanaz Mehta, Head of Advertising Revenues, South Asia, Warner Bros. Discovery. “The Maidaan Saaf campaign is a compelling testament to what can be achieved when cultural legacy, community participation, and modern sustainability practices come together. This documentary shines a light on the collective will that helped make one of the world’s largest gatherings more environmentally responsible.” 

The documentary features Akanksha Rana, IAS Officer on Special Duty at Maha Kumbh 2025, who played a critical role in managing on-ground sanitation efforts. “Every day, nearly 1 to 2 crore people used to visit the Kumbh, generating over 500 to 600 metric tonnes of waste. In such dense crowds, where road access is limited and deploying machinery becomes difficult, maintaining sanitation is a major challenge. It is encouraging to see private companies like Coca-Cola India come forward and support such a massive event. Their contributions toward promoting responsible behavioural change, and the reuse of materials have significantly helped make this Kumbh more sustainable.”

From deploying Reverse Vending Machines and using recycled PET materials in public utilities to engaging local communities in waste segregation and raising awareness on recycling, Maidaan Saaf showcases how public-private partnerships can enable large-scale behavioral change.

Coca-Cola’s extensive engagement at the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 was also spotlighted in the company’s recent earnings report, which recognized the event as a significant brand activation milestone. The report detailed the deployment of hundreds of refreshment zones, approximately 1,400 mobile stations, and a world-record-long 100-door cooler wall, culminating in over 180 million servings during the festival. This acknowledgment underscores the company’s commitment to integrating cultural relevance with community engagement on a global scale.

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Launches All-New “X-ADV”

 

* ‘Bookings Open’

Taking a bold leap in the premium two-wheeler space, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) today launched the All-New "X-ADV". Blending the rugged spirit of an adventure motorcycle with the practicality of a maxi-scooter, the "X-ADV" carves out a unique niche of its own. Bookings for the X-ADV are now open at Honda’s BigWing dealerships across India and its customer deliveries are slated to begin from June 2025 onwards. The All-New Honda X-ADV has been priced at Rs. 11.90 lakh, ex-showroom Gurugram (Haryana).

Announcing the launch, Mr. Tsutsumu Otani, Managing Director, President & CEO, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, said, “At Honda, we constantly challenge conventions to redefine the motorcycling experience. The X-ADV is a statement of innovation and design evolution – a machine that breaks boundaries between adventure and urban mobility. With its unique styling, versatile performance, and advanced technologies, the X-ADV is built for those who seek new experiences on two wheels. We are confident that it will attract a new segment of premium motorcycle enthusiasts in India.”

Commenting on this announcement, Mr. Yogesh Mathur, Director, Sales and Marketing, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, said, “The launch of the X-ADV marks yet another milestone in our BigWing journey as we continue to expand our premium motorcycle portfolio. With a perfect blend of adventure capability and city-friendly dynamics, the X-ADV will help you take a ride on the wild side. Whether it’s weekday commutes or weekend escapes, this crossover machine offers unmatched practicality and performance, promising to deliver on all fronts. We look forward to welcoming riders to explore this unique experience at our BigWing dealerships.”

All-New Honda X-ADV: Take a Ride on the Wild Side

The All-New Honda X-ADV redefines design with its futuristic crossover styling that seamlessly blends the ruggedness of an adventure tourer with the sleekness of an urban commuter. It showcases a premium frontal signature with dual LED headlights that exude a sharp, modern look. Integrated within are high-visibility daytime running lights (DRLs) that also subtly house the turn indicators, maintaining a clean yet purposeful front profile.

The X-ADV’s design is not only striking but also practical. The seat has been carefully reshaped for easier ground reach, while thicker urethane padding enhances long-distance comfort. Underneath the seat lies a spacious 22-litre storage compartment, ideal for storing a helmet or daily essentials, and it even houses a USB Type-C charging port for added convenience. Riders can choose from a bold palette of colour options that complement its rugged personality: Pearl Glare White and Graphite Black – each adding a unique character to the X-ADV’s dynamic design.

Designed with modern-day explorers in mind, the X-ADV comes equipped with a 5-inch full-colour TFT display, offering crisp visuals and a host of customizable information. It features Honda RoadSync app connectivity, enabling riders to receive call and SMS alerts, access turn-by-turn navigation, and control music and voice commands – all seamlessly managed on the go.

The X-ADV is built on a tough tubular steel frame, engineered to withstand a variety of road conditions with ease. The front is equipped with 41mm USD (Upside Down) forks, while the rear houses a spring preload adjustable monoshock for superior ride comfort. Riding on 17-inch front and 15-inch rear wire-spoke wheels, the X-ADV is designed for both tarmac and trails. The braking setup includes dual radial mount four-piston calipers 296mm discs up front and a single piston caliper 240mm disc at the rear, offering strong stopping power, complemented by dual-channel ABS.

At the heart of the Honda X-ADV lies a 745cc liquid-cooled SOHC 8-valve parallel-twin engine, tuned to deliver strong low to mid-range performance – ideal for city cruising as well as adventure touring. It produces 43.1 kW of power at 6,750 RPM and 69 Nm of maximum torque at 4,750 RPM, offering smooth and responsive acceleration across all terrains. Completing the powertrain is Honda’s acclaimed Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT), which delivers seamless gear shifts.

Throttle response is managed by ride-by-wire technology, offering four default riding modes – Standard, Sport, Rain, and Gravel - each adjusting power delivery, engine braking, and traction control according to the rider’s needs. Moreover, there is a User mode that allows for B-spoke customization, empowering riders to tailor their experience. The X-ADV also comes with Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) for optimal traction in varying road conditions and it gets cruise control as well.

All-New X-ADV: Price and Availability

The All-New Honda X-ADV has been priced at Rs. 11.90 lakh (ex-showroom Gurugram, Haryana). It will be available exclusively through BigWing dealerships across India. With its unmatched crossover appeal, the X-ADV is set to create a new benchmark in India’s premium two-wheeler landscape. Bookings are now open with deliveries commencing from June 2025 onwards. One can also book them online via Honda BigWing India’s official website (www.HondaBigWing.in).