Skill Ministry and Tata Launch First Batch of Indian Institute of Skills, Mumbai

* The first batch will include two short-term courses in Factory Automation and Digital (Smart) Manufacturing

* TATA IIS, Mumbai offers 75% scholarship for first 100 students as early bird incentive

With the vision of propelling India to the forefront of skill development and job creation under Skill India Mission and to provide an impetus to Skill India programme through private sector participation, the first batch of trainings at the Tata-Indian Institute of Skills, Mumbai launched at a virtual event today by Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey, Hon’ble Union Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. The institute is a joint initiative between Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India and Tata Indian Institute of Skills. Formal agreement for setting up institute has been signed between MSDE and TATA IIS on 11th November, 2020.

The first batch at TATA-Indian Institute of Skills will commence training with two courses in Factory Automation, with duration ranging from 1 to 4 weeks, depending upon the prequalification profile of the trainee. The institute will also offer scholarships to the first 100 students along with attractive fee options during this initial launch phase.  An early bird scholarship scheme of 75% has also been announced for the first 100 students/trainees.

Speaking at the launch event, Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey, Hon’ble Union Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship said, “With an aim to provide high-quality technical and vocational learning across various sectors, the foundation for state-of-the-art infrastructure was laid last year and today with the launch of its first set of courses at IIS Mumbai, I can proudly say that we are inching closer to achieve the vision of our Honorable Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi of making India the ‘Skill Capital of the World’. Following the footsteps of other prominent centers of education in the country, IIS Mumbai will be instrumental in imparting world-class training to help build a future ready workforce. I extend my gratitude towards the Government of Maharashtra and Tata Group for extending support towards Skill India Mission and I am hopeful that this collaboration will transform the state’s youth from job seekers to job creators.”

The Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Maharashtra, Shri. Nawab Malik also graced the occasion with his presence and ensured maximum support on behalf of the Maharashtra Government in making this initiative a grand success for the country.

The institute envisages partnerships with multiple private organizations who are leaders in their respective fields, two of which are currently in place, with FESTO, a global leader in industrial automation and SMC Corporation, Japan, world’s largest manufacturer of pneumatic components, for trainings. The two courses launched today will focus on Factory Automation, envisaged to be the foundation for future courses and Smart Manufacturing (Industry 4.0) technology and applications, to prepare youth for emerging job roles of the next five years and beyond. The courses will be offered at Tata-IIS interim campus at the National Skills Training Institute (NSTI), Chembur.  The institute’s permanent campus, currently under construction in the campus of National Skill Trainers’ Institute (NSTI), Mumbai and is likely to be operational by 2022; and will have a capacity of over 5,000 trainings per year.

Mr. Girish Krishnamurthy, Director, Tata IIS, said, “This is a key development in India’s journey to provide skilling and job-readiness to its youth. The institute aspires to become a beacon to other institutions of its kind in the years to come.”

The primary goal behind setting up the institute is to create industry-ready workforce as per the evolving demands of the national and global markets. It aspires to be one of the most premier training institutions in the country and will be equipped with world-class vocational training facilities. The institute plans to provide trainings in highly specialized areas such as defense, oil & gas, aerospace, and other emerging businesses to meet industry demands.

Training and learning at Tata-IIS Mumbai will be driven through strong industry connect in both public and private sectors. Equipped with modern training methodologies leveraging digital and augmented learning platforms, the institute will also focus on apprenticeship-embedded courses and offering higher order qualifications in conjunction with other universities.

About Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE)

MSDE was formed on November 9, 2014 by the Government of India to focus on enhancing employability of skills. Since its inception, MSDE has undertaken significant initiatives and reforms in terms of formalizing the policy, framework and standards; launching of new programs and schemes; creating new infrastructure and upgrading the existing institutions; partnering with States; engaging with industries and building societal acceptance and aspirations for skills. The Ministry aims to bridge the gap between demand and supply of skilled manpower to build new skills and innovation not only for existing jobs but also for jobs that are to be created. Till date, more than three crore people have been trained under Skill India. Under its flagship programme, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 2016-2020, the Ministry has trained nearly one crore candidates.

L&T First to the 3D Print a Ground Plus One Building in India

 

L&T Construction, the construction arm of the US $ 21 billion technology, engineering & construction conglomerate, Larsen & Toubro, announced having successfully 3D printed a G+1 (Ground plus one) Building with reinforcement for the first time in India. With the country aggressively pursuing the objective of creating 60 million houses under the Housing for All by 2022 programme, this achievement will certainly give a huge fillip for the mass housing segment.

“3D concrete printing is one of the technology disruptors with the potential to radically redefine construction methodologies and I am extremely happy that by demonstrating our growing expertise in 3D printing, we are well positioned to push the boundaries of automated robotic construction,” said Mr. M V Satish, Whole Time Director & Senior Executive Vice President (Buildings). “3D printing will not only accelerate the pace of construction but also significantly improve build quality,” he added.

L&T has 3D printed a Ground + 1 building of 700 sq. feet built up area at their Kanchipuram facility with a special, in-house developed concrete mix using indigenously available regular construction materials. The building was printed with both vertical reinforcement bar and horizontal distributors using welded mesh that satisfy provisions in the Indian Codes and optimize the cost of construction.  Except for the horizontal slab members, the entire building structure was 3D printed ‘Cast in Situ’ at the job site in an ‘open to sky’ environment within 106 printing hours, using a fully automated 3D printer.

3D printing is a process, in which the material is printed under computer control to build a 3-dimensional product, typically layer by layer. It is predominantly used in manufacturing industries to print rapid prototypes, complex shapes and small batch production using special polymers, metal alloys etc. 3D printing with concrete is still largely work in progress across the globe.

Earlier in November 2019, the team had 3D printed 240 sq. feet 1 BHK, in line with typical EWS building layout, to explore the feasibility of this innovative technology.

Background:

Larsen & Toubro is an Indian multinational engaged in engineering, procurement and construction projects, manufacturing, defence and services with over USD 21 billion in revenue. It operates in over 30 countries worldwide. A strong, customer–focused approach and the constant quest for top-class quality have enabled L&T to attain and sustain leadership in its major lines of business for eight decades.

Highlights:

* L&T Construction has announced successfully 3D printing a G+1 (Ground plus one) Building with reinforcement for the first time in India

* The building is of 700 sq. feet built up area, at their Kanchipuram facility with a special, in-house developed concrete mix using indigenously available regular construction materials

* The building was printed with both vertical reinforcement bar and horizontal distributors using welded mesh

* Except for the horizontal slab members, the entire building structure was 3D printed ‘Cast in Situ’ at the job site in an ‘open to sky’ environment within 106 printing hours, using a fully automated 3D printer

* This achievement will certainly give a huge fillip for the mass housing segment, with the objective of creating 60 million houses under the Housing for All by 2022 programme.

This Christmas Gift Your Loved Ones An Amazing Line Up Of Gadgets

Shots Groove

If you want to go wireless in style this Christmas and new year’s then check out Noise Shots Groove. Featuring a signature bass-heavy sound with a total playtime of 15 hours, an IPX5 water-resistant rating, industry-leading Bluetooth v5.0, voice assistant support, full touch control, and more packed in a light, sleek round case at just Rs. 2499.

ColorFit PRO 2

Noise ColorFit Pro 2 smartwatch makes for one of the best Christmas or new year’s gifts out there for any fitness or lifestyle enthusiast. It features a full touch colour display, 100+ cloud-based & customisable watch faces, 9 health tracking modes, 24/7 heart rate tracking, IP68 waterproof rating and 10 days of battery packed in a super-light watch case that’s available in 3 gorgeous colors.

Price- 2999/-

NoiseFit Fusion

NoiseFit Fusion hybrid smartwatch brings the best of two worlds in one. It’s a full-touch hybrid smartwatch with the features of an analog watch. It comes with a pre-set quick replies, features a 5ATM water-resistant, activity tracker and a 3-day smartwatch battery with 30-day analog battery life. If you are looking for something that adds to your party wardrobe this festive season, then NoiseFit Fusion is the right choice.

Price- 5599/-

Noise Airbuds

In case you’re looking for an half in-ear style TWS with good all-round performance gifting option for your secret santa or the best new year gift for your friend, the Airbuds might be the one for you. It offers excellent calling quality, along with prolonged battery life. The extremely lightweight handsfree earbuds are equipped with IPX4 sweat resistance quality to enjoy any activity without disruption. With a charging time of 1.2hours, the full-touch control earbuds have a 20-hour long playtime for an uninterrupted binge-watching/music. With crystal-clear calling quality, the Airbuds offer noise-free clarity to the users for extended virtual calls.

Price- 2499/-

ColorFit Nav

ColorFit Nav brings the whole package deal for your gifting problems - from a sleek square display with a higher resolution for a visual delight with an upgraded processor and a quick response option for messages. It comes with a built-in GPS and 6-axis sensors, smart notifications, dedicated sports modes, heart rate trackers, handwash and sedentary reminders and a sleep monitor. It also provides a battery backup of 4 days with an IP68 water-resistant rating. Nav is the perfect partner for people who like style and comfort.

Price- 4499/-

Elixir India Super Model Hunt 2020 Held at at the Goldfinch Retreat

A Grand event for Miss, Mr and Mrs Elixir India 2020 supermodel hunt was organised by Elixir World Productions House at Goldfinch Retreat, Devanahalli, Bengaluru on 22nd December which witnessed celebrities like Zoya Afroz, Sufi Khan, Raghu Mukherjee, Shashidhar Kote who crowned the winners of all these categories. Mrs. Pallavi Kaushik and Mr. SarthakChoudhary helped groom the participants for the Fashion Show and made sure they looked amazing and confident on stage. The Honourable Chief guests Mr Ritesh Reddy, Mr. Arun, Mr. Priyank, Ms. Kajal Agrawal and Ms. Khushboo Jain were honoured by the Elixir team.

Generally, Beauty Pageants are conventional in its kind, But Elixir Pageant gave opportunity to candidates irrespective of Height, Weight, Colour and their Profession. Elixir India 2020 also proudly provided a stage to participants who were Divorced, Separated, Single Mothers etc to showcase their talent. The participants were picked from remote corners of India like Roorkee, Amravati, Raichur and others.

Dr.Yashashree Chauhan from Nagpur was crowned as Miss Elixir India 2020, Mr. Sanjay Murthy Gowda from Hassan Magge as Mr Elixir India 2020 and Mrs. Aarti Pandey from Bidar was crowned as Mrs Elixir India 2020. The Winners were also awarded with a Holiday trip to Thailand, An Acting Scholarship, Gift Hampers and Acting and Modelling contracts. We are coming up with our next season very soon, details of which will be updated on our website www.elixirworldproductionshouse.in

About Elixir World Productions House:

Elixir World Productions House (EWPH) was started by six women, who are national pageant winners from different parts of India with a vision to fulfil dreams of people who have potential but don’t have any guidance or a platform to perform. Elixir India 2020 is a National Fashion Pageant from the Elixir World Production House.

Half bunch of women see a dream together and craft it into Elixir World Productions House, with a mission to hold hands of dreamers from small towns and cities who don’t get enough guidance & exposure and walk with them towards their first step to success.

We are one of the country’s most esteemed national pageants, Elixir. We are a team who believes that the joy of being creative is beyond words. We Elixir, are a Bangalore based prestigious production house with its local associates all over the country. We have worked with many of the India’s top agencies and marketers.

DGT - MSDE Inks Pact with Microsoft and Nasscom Foundastion for Digital Skilling to Augment the Employability of Young India

* Nearly 1,20,000 students in around 3000 ITIs pan-India can be benefited by this digitized e-learning module via the Bharatskills portal

* The usage of Bharatskills learning platform has increased multifold from around 90,000 users in March 2020 to more than 16.55 Lakh users having accessed the portal as on date

The Directorate General of Training (DGT) joined hands with Microsoft and NASSCOM Foundation to provide a digital content for ITI students and also future-ready employability skilling program for upskilling and reskilling.  Nearly 1,20,000 students in around 3000 ITIs across India can be benefited by this digitized e-learning module via the Bharatskills portal.

DGT in the last two years, collaborated with many digital industry front liners like IBM India Pvt. Ltd., SAP India, Cisco Systems India Pvt. Ltd., Accenture Solutions and Quest Alliance, Adobe, SSC-NASSCOM etc., to enable the students to become industry ready. The Directorate General of Training (DGT) under the aegis of Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) is responsible for implementing long term institutional training to the nation’s youth through its extensive network of about 15,000 training institutes (ITIs) and 33 National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs).  DGT plays a key role in the execution of vocational training schemes and in making ‘Skill India’ dream become a reality.

Commenting on the initiative, Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey, Hon’ble Union Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship said, “Through the DGT-Microsoft partnership, we are aiming to impact thousands of students by enabling digitization in education and hope it to reach more students and teachers soon.  As the pandemic is compelling fast-track digital transition, these new learning initiatives will empower young learners with technical and market-oriented skills.”

Shri Pravin Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, shared his thoughts on elevating the skilling ecosystem in the country, stating that “Skill Development is constantly being upgraded and modernized in terms of infrastructure, pedagogy, curriculum and technological interventions. We are gradually working our way to upscale the skilling system as per industry expectations and demands. I feel extremely happy to acknowledge the DGT-Microsoft collaboration for the new interventions in felicitating online learning initiatives through digitization in support of students, trainers and self-learners.

DGT has launched an online learning platform called the Bharatskills (https://bharatskills.gov.in) in Oct 2019, a Central Repository for skills providing easy access for the trainees and trainers of the ITI ecosystem, to access updated curriculums and course content of all courses under the Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS), Question Banks, mock/practice papers, learning videos, etc., hence enabling anytime, anywhere learning outside the classrooms. This platform also presents a unique access to a centralized, scalable and a thriving support ecosystem through its industrial partners for the students and teachers who can now learn the newer IR 4.0 skills to meet the demands of the industry.

It is worth mentioning here that during the current COVID-19 pandemic scenario, the usage of Bharatskills learning platform has increased multifold from around 90,000 users in March 2020 to more than 16.55 Lakh users having accessed the portal as on date.

Sharing her views in this regard, Juthika Patankar, Director General (Training) & Additional Secretary , said, “The Directorate General of Training as an organization, is committed to provide quality vocational training through its courses and consequently it is paving its way to provide individualized and standardized learning by adopting new models of learning and skilling. Blended learning is a flexible and adaptable way of engaging the learners, while allowing the trainers to cater to the needs of the students, in a much better way. DGT is absolutely thrilled to partner with Microsoft, the indisputable tech-giant, for its unconditional support in developing comprehensive skills and enhancing the employability of our students as well as the future trainers through its learning modules on futuristic skills.”

Speaking on the occasion, Anant Maheshwari, President, Microsoft India, said, “Empowering the next generation of learners with industry relevant digital skills is critical as we move towards building economic resilience. The last few months have accelerated the need for upskilling and has shown clearly that the future of learning will be supported by technology. Our partnership with DGT and NASSCOM Foundation is built on this foundation of equipping the learners of today with the skills required to thrive in the jobs of tomorrow.”

Ashok Pamidi, CEO, NASSCOM Foundation, said “Blended learning has been a game-changer for all our skill-based programs. With this e-content, we hope to bring this model to the 1.2 lakh ITI students engaged in COPA. Microsoft has been one of our most valuable partners in our journey towards building a digital skills landscape in the country. We thank them for their continuous and unwavering support. We are also extremely proud to collaborate with Directorate General of Training (DGT) to roll out the e-content in 3000 ITIs and NSTIs across India.”

Another testimony to DGT’s relentless efforts is the recent MoU between Directorate General of Training (DGT), Microsoft and NASSCOM Foundation wherein Microsoft has facilitated access to free content available on Microsoft Learn platform for more than 24 Lakh students in the ITI ecosystem, by linking the Global Skilling Initiative (GSI) through the Bharatskills platform. Further, it is supporting the digitization of the entire content of a popular course - ‘Computer Operating and Programming Assistant’ (COPA) through the NASSCOM Foundation and also in conducting faculty development programs to build capacities of the Trainers/Faculties in the NSTIs and ITIs on the newly developed Digitized Blended content and futuristic skills.

The blended content with self-learning digital tutorials and handholding from teachers, is expected to be accessed by more than 1 lakh 20 thousand students pursuing the course across 3000 industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) annually. Hence, this will reduce the number of class-room hours and student-teacher engagement leading to the possibility to train double the existing number of students in COPA course within the same infrastructure. This blended learning mode will help the trainee students to learn basic digital skills at the primary level in a uniform standardized manner and subsequently the advanced level Microsoft Office Technologies including Networking and Cyber Security.

About Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE)

MSDE was formed on November 9, 2014 by the Government of India to focus on enhancing employability of skills. Since its inception, MSDE has undertaken significant initiatives and reforms in terms of formalizing the policy, framework and standards; launching of new programs and schemes; creating new infrastructure and upgrading the existing institutions; partnering with States; engaging with industries and building societal acceptance and aspirations for skills. The Ministry aims to bridge the gap between demand and supply of skilled manpower to build new skills and innovation not only for existing jobs but also for jobs that are to be created. Till date, more than three crore people have been trained under Skill India. Under its flagship programme, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 2016-2020, the Ministry has trained more than 50 lakh candidates so far.

Madame Launches Wonder Woman Inspired Collection in Collaboration with Warner Bros

Madame, India’s leading womenswear brand has collaborated with Warner Bros to launch a Wonder Woman inspired collection with a clothing line curated to be as powerful and confident as the iconic DC Super-Hero. The new Autumn-Winter 2020 collection honors the wonder women of India and offers fans of all ages a way to manifest the Super-Hero’s signature qualities of strength, truth, courage and compassion. The Madame Wonder Woman collection is available in stores across India. The upcoming Warner Bros movie ‘Wonder Woman 1984’ with lead played by Gal Gadot is expected to release across India in the fourth week of December 2020 and promises to be a grand blockbuster to close the year.

Madame has carved a unique niche in the women’s apparel and accessories market and is a leading player in the womenswear segment. On the collaboration with Warner Bros, the legendary American media and entertainment corporation, Akhil Jain, Executive Director at Madame said, “Our signature collection of Wonder Woman inspired sweatshirts and sweaters are highly-styled and wonderfully-inventive and allow fans to tap into their own heroic Wonder Woman inner-spirit. Clothing is an expression of one’s personality, and through this partnership we are truly celebrating every Indian Wonder Woman and her energetic, competitive, and compassionate spirit.”

Mr.Vikram Sharma, Head of Consumer Products, Advertising & Partnerships for Warner Media in India, Southeast Asia & Korea, averred “Wonder Woman is the ultimate icon of female expression and empowerment. Timed with the launch of one of the year’s biggest Hollywood blockbusters, we think shoppers looking to make a statement are going to love this new range from Madame.” 

Explaining the Madame Wonder Woman collection’s inspiring designs, Akhil Jain added, “Madame’s Wonder Woman collection uses a bold color palette to express energy and positivity that is aimed at bringing out the best in women who are rearing to go and ready for anything life has to offer. The collection kindles the modern woman’s soul to embrace her feminine form and expression. This collection is so curated that it will blend it in beautifully with every woman’s personal flair and is affordable yet stylish at the same time”.

The Wonder Woman collection is the highlight of the Autumn/Winter 2020 for Madame. It is an ode to the qualities of the modern woman, her strength, courage, truth, compassion and her sense of sense of style and suave. The collection has a mix of garments, from t-shirts to cozy sweatshirts and warm sweaters for the winter days ahead.  The collection has an international appeal with stylish and inventive outlines and textiles to make the collection diverse and extraordinary.

The Wonder Woman collection is the perfect way to tap into the inner wonder woman that each woman is, a perfect showcase of inner resilience, chirpy spirit, and a must-have for all global Wonder Woman spirited fans. It is a gallant collection for the lively modern woman with a feminine sensibility for fashion, well suited for the maximalist empowered woman. “This collection is one of our most memorable collections. Our collaboration with Warner has been a very exciting one and we have maximized this opportunity using our best strengths to offer the best collection we have churned out in recent times. If there is a Wonder Woman in your life, then this is the ideal gift that will sing paeans to her”, said Akhil Jain. Affordable and but super stylish, this collection is a not-be-missed year end addition to the modern woman’s wardrobe.

ChrysCapital-Backed Infogain Acquires AI & Analytics Pioneer Absolutdata

Infogain, a Silicon Valley-based leader in human-centered digital platform and software engineering services, today announced its acquisition of Absolutdata, a San Francisco Bay Area based AI and Advanced Analytics company serving Global 500 clients. Absolutdata’s award-winning NAVIK AI platform and 300 world-class data scientists will significantly enhance Infogain’s ability to engineer superior business outcomes for its clients through the use of cutting-edge AI and Analytics.

Absolutdata has been a leader in utilizing AI and Advanced Analytics to create scalable business impact for enterprise clients across the globe. Using a combination of its proprietary NAVIK AI platform and AI & Advanced Analytics services, Absolutdata enables its clients to grow faster, increase profitable revenue and develop deeper relationships with their customers. Absolutdata has been widely recognized for its innovation and cutting-edge AI solutions.

Infogain’s CEO Sunil Bhatia said “Infogain’s acquisition of Absolutdata completes our three-pronged acquisitions strategy to help customers' increasing demand for adopting digital platforms by employing strategy and experience, cloud transformation, and advanced analytics and AI services”.  Absolutdata’s AI & advanced analytics solutions will transform how companies gain insights, make decisions, and drive business growth. I am confident in our teams’ abilities to collaborate, innovate and create significant value for our clients.  We welcome Absolutdata’s clients and employees to our growing Infogain family.  The acquisition will increase Infogain’s presence in additional market segments such as CPG, telecom, and pharma.”

Absolutdata’s CEO Anil Kaul, Ph.D, said, “Companies across the globe are increasingly looking towards a combination of Technology and AI/Analytics to drive scalable, sustained & profitable business growth. The COVID-19 pandemic has further accelerated digital transformation across organizations. We are thrilled to be joining the Infogain team as we share a like-minded commitment to driving business success through disruptive technologies. As a unified team and company, we are very well positioned to service our clients’ requirements comprehensively and innovatively, as well as providing tremendous growth opportunities for Absolutdata employees.”

This acquisition, Infogain’s third in 14 months, follows its acquisitions of Houston-based Silicus Technologies and Seattle-based Revel Consulting. Data, analytics and artificial intelligence are strategic focus areas for Infogain and will account for 15% of its revenue post-acquisition.

Infogain’s COO Ayan Mukerji, said, “NAVIK AI represents our first commercially available SaaS platform and is part of our broader strategy of helping our clients leverage digital platforms combined with our transformational service offerings. We aim to double our analytics customer base over the next two years and are confident that this acquisition will help us significantly toward achieving that goal.”  He added, “Infogain in turn will leverage its strategy & experience, data estate and cloud transformation services to expand our footprint across Absolutdata’s customers to help accelerate digital adoption.”

Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati is serving as legal counsel to Infogain in the United States, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co. as legal counsel to Infogain in India, and KPMG as the financial and tax advisor to Infogain.  Ernst & Young is serving as the exclusive selling advisor.

About Infogain

Infogain is a human-centered digital platform and software engineering company based out of Silicon Valley. We engineer business outcomes for Fortune 500 companies and digital natives in the technology, healthcare, insurance, travel, and retail industries using technologies such as cloud, microservices, automation, IoT, and artificial intelligence. We accelerate experience-led transformation in the delivery of digital platforms. Infogain is also a Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) Gold Partner and Azure Expert Managed Services Provider (MSP).

Infogain, a ChrysCapital portfolio company, has offices in California, Washington, Texas, the UK, the UAE and Singapore, with delivery centers in Austin, Kraków, New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, and Bengaluru. To learn more, visit www.infogain.com .