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<keyword id="1714585" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Aparna-Kumar">Aparna Kumar</keyword>, who holds the <a href="https://www.newsnation.in/india-news/aparna-kumar-becomes-first-female-ips-officer-itbp-to-reach-south-pole-indo-tibetan-border-police-dig-article-211936.html" data-type="tilCustomLink">record</a> of scaling 211 mountaineering expeditions across the globe, is now set to explore the North Pole this month. In fact, Kumar, who was the first woman IPS officer to reach the South Pole, is now targeting an attempt to scale Mount Denali, North America, in July this year. Traversing the snow path, Kumar unveiled her South Pole feat at the 13 January hoisting the national and Indo Tibetian Border Police (ITBP) flag. Since its inception, the ITBP is a Central Armed police force that ensures securing icy borders. Here’s a peek into her journey: 
	<div type="Slideshow" msid="68687985" hostid="261" title="This Indian cop has been on a record 211 mountaineering expeditions globally — and she is now setting off for the North Pole" firstImageMsid="68687986" slideCount="5"></div>

This Indian cop has been on a record 211 mountaineering expeditions globally — and she is now setting off for the North Pole

<ul><li>Even after the record growth witnessed by streaming services in India, the question remains whether these platforms can retain the massive lockdown gains </li><li>With streaming services under pressure to provide new content frequently and producers trying to not lose money in films, web premiers might be another new normal. </li><li>Moreover, a KPMG report suggested that OTT platforms should look at gaming as an extension to their ecosystem offerings. </li></ul>Streaming services are the only bright spot for the millions who are isolating at home during lockdown. With ample leisure time and fewer options, usage of streaming platforms surged. Most of the 35 streaming giants in India — <keyword id="3960758" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Amazon-Prime-Videos">Amazon Prime Videos</keyword>, <keyword id="6245082" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="ZEE5">Zee5</keyword>. Voot, Hungama, AltBalaji, MX Player — witnessed a record growth fueled by quarantine. The Big Boost During the lockdown, there was a 265% increase in OTT traffic since February last week — in spite of the drop from HD to SD, according to Internet Exchange operator DE-CIX. The five services that gained the most are Amazon Prime Videos, Netflix, Youtube, Zee5 and Hotstar. Disney+ — which was launched soon after India locked itself down —<a href="https://techcrunch.com/2020/04/08/disney-has-more-than-50m-subscribers/"> added 8 million users </a>within a week. Whereas, Netflix India — which was earlier losing to the homegrown market — too <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/exclusive-app-tracking-data-for-netflix-reveals-the-countries-where-usage-spiked-in-march-and-suggests-strong-viewership-heading-into-q1-earnings/articleshow/75162782.cms">saw at least an 8% growth in Q1FY20 driven</a> by its cheapest mobile online plan at ₹199. Zee5, a homegrown OTT platform, saw 36% growth during the lockdown. Whereas its foreign arm, <keyword id="7124509" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="ZEE5-Global">Zee5 Global</keyword> saw a 60% surge in users across the world including the Middle East and Canada. Alt Balaji, yet another homegrown platform, saw a 60% growth in its subscription. <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none; width: 468pt; table-layout: fixed;"></colgroup></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">OTT services </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Change in viewership due to Covid-19 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Netflix India </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">+8% in Q1 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Zee5 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">+36% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Hungama Play </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">+20% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Eros Now </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">+70-100% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">MX Player</td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">130% surge on engagement </td></tr></tbody></table> A short-term spike or a long-term gain A<a href="https://rollingstoneindia.com/how-the-coronavirus-is-impacting-audio-and-video-streaming-in-india/"> Nielsen report</a> predicted that lockdown can trigger a 60% rise in content consumption in India. Even after the record growth witnessed by streaming services in India, the question remains whether these platforms can retain the massive gains post lockdown. Hence, when Netflix recently said it added a record 15.8 million paid subscribers globally, it also added that it is treating it as “<a href="https://techcrunch.com/2020/04/21/neflix-q1-earnings/">a short-term spike” and the growth will gradually decline. </a> A KPMG report, however, believes that OTTs are likely to see continued accelerated growth. "While the same levels of consumption may not be achieved once we overcome this pandemic, there is definitely a new and higher normal that is likely to be established when it comes to time spent on OTT platforms," Girish Menon, Partner and Head, Media and Entertainment, KPMG in India told Business Insider. Moreover, Menon believes consumers are likely to develop a habit of consuming video online during lockdown which would later drive subscription growth. However, According to Karan Bedi, MX Player, OTT platforms might witness some immediate dip post lockdown, but the overall base and average time spent would continue the rise. With shooting of new TV series being delayed and movie theatres closed, services with large, legacy libraries and fresh content, have an inherent advantage. “A new normal has been witnessed as consumers adapt to the evolving situation of the pandemic. We feel this pattern will stay as it is in the post-COVID-19 era as well and perhaps there will be some incremental change in the overall user growth,” Aparna Acharekar, programming head of ZEE5 India. Ferzad Palia, who heads Voot Select in India too thinks the same. Rohit Paranjpe who heads SugarBox Networks believes new content will continue to enthuse people. The pressure on OTT services to release new content more frequently may also go up. Also, OTT players too should not be happy just retaining users and will have to engage them more. Apart from films, KPMG in a report suggested OTT platforms look at gaming as an extension to ecosystem offerings. “OTT will look to bring their consumer’s value in other areas: from aggregating other third party content providers who are not competing with them to promoting and pushing other adjacent services, like fitness and food delivery apps, and education platforms,” said Lior Friedman, VP - global partnerships and strategy at Amdocs Media. Directly onto OTT platforms With streaming services under pressure to provide new content frequently and producers trying to not lose money in films products, web premiers might be a new normal. Lakshmi Bomb featuring Akshay Kumar might release on Disney+Hotstar. MUBI is premiering Pablo Larrain’s film ‘Ema’ in India, UK and Ireland on May 2. Whereas, Zee5 is also considering premiering movies directly on its platform in the near future. AB Anni CD will be yet another film to be released directly on Amazon Prime Videos. Akshay Bardapur, the producer of the movie that stars Amitabh Bachchan said, “We didn’t want to keep audiences from watching two megastars. Also, it made sense to recover losses by selling content to the OTT.” But big-budget movies are preferring to hold back. Recently, the makers of Ranvir Singh starrer movie ‘83 said they will release the film in theatres first even <a href="https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/ranveer-singhs-83-to-not-release-on-ott-platforms-makers-aim-for-theatrical-release/articleshow/75401861.cms">if they had to wait for six or nine months. </a> “While producers of movies that have a reasonable budget may experiment with releasing movies directly on OTT platforms or opt for a pay-per-view model, bigger films are unlikely to be released until later this year or next year,” says Neeraj Roy, founder and CEO of Hungama Digital Media. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/entertainment/news/cinema-halls-may-not-open-in-india-until-june-end/articleshow/75407053.cms">Cinema halls may not open in India until June end</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/entertainment/news/lockdown-watchlist-want-to-binge-watch-a-show-that-lasts-a-week-try-these-long-running-shows-on-netflix-amazon-prime-disney-hotstar-and-others/articleshow/75173116.cms">Lockdown Watchlist: Want to binge-watch a show that lasts a week? Try these long-running shows on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+ Hotstar and others</a>

Streaming platforms who are on a new high — are hosting web premiers and might even expand to gaming

●Themed ‘Innovation for All’, the event focused on amplifying impact through revolutionary technologies ●Villgro announced total funding to the tune of INR 4 crore through iPitch. Winners included BeAble Health, Kritsnam, Cultyvate, along with several other social impact startups ●30+ pertinent panel discussions around social innovations in agritech, medtech, cleantech &amp; employability were hosted by 100+ industry experts December 07, 2019: Villgro, India's oldest and foremost social enterprise incubator, successfully wrapped up its Unconvention 2019 conference on 7th December 2019. As always, the event was a high-decibel confluence of leading social entrepreneurs, CSR professionals, investors, policymakers, and academia. Aimed at understanding the crucial nature of constant innovation to power the next phase of social entrepreneurship, Uncovention’s 10th edition was indubitably a resounding success. <a name="m_-6531833679794319461_m_6042435902640344815__gjdgxs"></a>Day 1 of Unconvention started with a power-packed mentor meet – a workshop with former, current and potential Villgro mentor who discussed the importance and challenges of mentorship, specifically in the social sector. This was followed by several round-table discussions around the conference theme – Innovation for All: Amplifying impact potential for philanthropic capital. These discussions were aimed at donors looking at diversifying their impact portfolio. The opening address, describing the prolific 20-year journey of Villgro, was then presented by R. Ramaraj (Senior Advisor, Elevar Equity &amp; Board Member, Villgro); NK Chaudhary (Chairman &amp; Managing Director, Jaipur Rugs), then hosted a fireside chat covering the importance of low cost innovation to create large-scale impact. This was followed by a discussion on making innovations accessible to next billion, comprising Sharad Sharma of iSPIRT, Bindu Ananth of Dvara Trust, and others, moderated by PR Ganapathy (Regional Director India, Stanford Seed). The event then gave way to the most sought-after part of Unconvention. The winners of iPitch, Villgro’s investment discovery platform were announced. This year, backed by donors like Hindustan Unilever Foundation (HUF), and iPitch investment partners like Menterra, Upaya Social Ventures, Beyond Capital Fund, the total investments worth 4 crore were offered to early-stage start-ups such as Kritsnam Technologies, Oscillo Machines, Lal10, Flexmotiv and more. Arunabha Ghosh (CEO, Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW)) &amp; Paul Basil (CEO, Villgro) then launched the multi-million dollar 'Powering Livelihoods' initiative by Villgro &amp; CEEW. The next set of sessions included the much needed masterclass on “Data Protection Law” by Unconvention’s Legal Compliance Partner GameChanger Law Advisors. Shobini Mukerji (Executive Director, J-PAL), Shama Karkal (CEO, Swasti Health Catalyst), and Aparajita Agrawal (Former Co-founder &amp; Director, Sankalp Forum) covered diverse topics. These included access to capital for social sector start-ups, creating awareness and market access, and innovative financing models. The day wrapped up with a networking session dubbed as ‘Investor Speed Dating’ which entailed one-on-one conversations with industry-leading investors. Day 2 of Unconvention commenced with a closed door session with select medtech entrepreneurs and Dr. <keyword id="172787" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Devi-Shetty">Devi Shetty</keyword> (Chairman and Founder, Narayana Health), followed by his keynote address. He highlighted the key learnings from his 20-year journey with Narayana Health. He was introduced by Dr. Paul Salins (Managing Director and VP, Narayana Health and Mazumdar Shah Cancer Centre). This was followed by another round of investor speed dating and a masterclass on Being Compliance Ready by Unconvention’s Financial Compliance Partner SpiceRoute Business. The day was dedicated to sector-specific sessions, focusing primarily on Education, Energy, Agriculture and Health. Commenting on the state of renewable energy in India, Arunabha Ghosh, CEO, CEEW, said, India alone has more than $50bn worth market for clean energy solutions for rural livelihoods. Powering Livelihoods, a joint initiative between CEEW and Villgro, aims to trigger the transformation of India's rural economy by scaling up the deployment of clean energy-powered livelihood solutions. By marrying CEEW's deep expertise in evidence generation and sectoral engagement with Villgro's years of experience in growing businesses, the initiative provides significant capital, capacity building, and ecosystem support to enterprises to scale up these solutions. Furthermore, there was an enlightening session on Energy and Cleantech addressed by some of the eminent personalities in the industry such as Tanya Kothari of Shell Foundation, Svati Bhogle of Sustaintech India Pvt Ltd. and Col. Manish Ahuja of PREFPL. The topics that were discussed in the session included leveraging energy innovations as a growth catalyst for India’s micro enterprises, entrepreneurship in times of climate change and future of clean mobility. The discussion around the education &amp; employability sector focused on Leveraging the gig economy for impact and Collaborating for tech for good. The speakers included Avishek Gupta of Caspain, Aparna Dua of Asha Impact, Rahil Rangwala of MSDF, Kevin D'souza of <keyword id="790242" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="WhatsApp">WhatsApp</keyword> and Nataraj S. Kuntagod, Accenture, among many others. For the health sector, the chosen topics of discussion were Ayushman Bharat and Digital Health and procurement policies that can revolutionize the sector. The speakers included Varun Jhaveri of Ayushman Bharat, Kiran Anandampillai, National Health Authority, Garima Sahai, <keyword id="170241" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Medtronic">Medtronic</keyword> Labs, among many others. Dr. Devi Shetty, Chairman and Founder, Narayana Health, advised the medtech entrepreneurs to have breakfast, lunch and dinner in the hospital with clinicians. It is said often but still not enough - you need to immerse yourself into the clinical workflow. Shaping the future of water footprint in agriculture and innovations in agri-supply chains to solve for agricultural losses were the topics covered in the discussion pertaining to the agriculture domain. The speakers included Reshma Anand Shivakumar of ITC, Rasika of Soulfull, <keyword id="80658" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Anil-Kumar">Anil Kumar</keyword> of Samunnati Finance, Hemendra Mathur of Bharat Innovation Fund, among 20+ others. As the event comes to its culmination, Paul Basil, Founder and CEO, Villgro, said, “Having successfully wrapped up the 10th edition of Unconvention, we cannot help but reflect upon this gratifying journey. We have come a long way and have empowered innumerable early-stage start-ups with seed funding and best-in-class mentoring, strategy-creating, GTM support, follow-on fundraising support. I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who has joined us on this journey and all those who are present here today. Thank you for your unwavering support that has allowed us to catalyse multiple generations of social entrepreneurs and create an ecosystem of unbridled growth for all aspiring entrepreneurs. Together, we have – and will continue to – change the world!” (Business Insider India is a digital media partner in the event)

With large-scale investments, insightful discussions and all-round innovation, Villgro wraps up Unconvention 2019

The upcoming <keyword id="23311823" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Executive-Council-meeting" source="keywords">executive council meeting</keyword> of the <keyword id="19896477" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Indian-Olympic-Association" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Indian Olympic Association" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Indian Olympic Association">Indian Olympic Association</keyword> (<keyword id="19934453" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="IOA" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="IOA" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="IOA">IOA</keyword>) is poised to be a contentious gathering as various contentious issues are added to the agenda. One of the primary topics of discussion will be the alleged "threatening letters" issued by the IOA president, <keyword id="20284696" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="PT-Usha" source="keywords">PT Usha</keyword>, to council members. This meeting is taking place amidst escalating tensions between Usha and IOA treasurer <keyword id="21208123" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sahdev-Yadav" source="keywords">Sahdev Yadav</keyword>. On Tuesday, Yadav announced his intention to pursue legal action against Usha, claiming that she defamed him following her issuance of a show cause notice related to a complaint questioning his eligibility for the treasurer position. The agenda for the meeting has expanded to include 14 points, prominently featuring discussions around the "illegal and threatening letters issued by the President to the members of the Executive Committee from time to time." Additionally, the council plans to explore the scope of the president's powers under the IOA Constitution and will consider whether to report the president's conduct to the IOA <keyword id="23311824" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ethics-Commission" source="keywords">Ethics Commission</keyword>. A joint communication regarding the meeting was issued by 12 council members, including senior vice president <keyword id="21151445" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ajay-Patel" source="keywords">Ajay Patel</keyword>, vice-presidents Rajalaxmi Singh Deo and Gagan Narang—an Olympic medallist — along with former wrestler and council member Yogeshwar Dutt. Notably, members who refrained from signing this communication include boxer M.C. Mary Kom and table tennis player A. Sharath Kamal, both of whom are part of the IOA athletes' commission. <h2>Focus on recent <keyword id="19933819" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Olympics" source="keywords">Olympics</keyword> and financial concerns</h2>The meeting will also address significant matters related to the recent Paris Olympics. Key topics will include an examination of sponsorship agreements and "additional expenditures" incurred during the event, such as the costs associated with the president's room upgrades, which are alleged to have been covered by the IOA. Furthermore, the council will discuss the accreditation process, including the distribution of accreditation cards and various passes and invites issued during the Olympics. Another important point of discussion will be the selection process for the <keyword id="23311825" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sportsperson-of-Outstanding-Merit" source="keywords">Sportsperson of Outstanding Merit</keyword> (SOM) from November 2022 and the implications for their participation in the IOA elections for elected positions. The athletes' commission previously designated eight SOMs, including Usha, Yogeshwar Dutt, MM Somaya (hockey), Rohit Rajpal (tennis), Akhil Kumar (boxing), Shuma Sirur (shooting), Aparna Popat (badminton), and Dola Banerjee (archery). As the meeting approaches, the air is thick with anticipation regarding how these issues will unfold and the potential implications for the IOA's governance and integrity. (With inputs from PTI)

Indian Olympic Association to soon hold council meeting to address PT Usha’s “threatening letters”, accreditation card controversy and more

If there’s one thing both a productive team member and an underperformer hates in the corporate world, it’s being micromanaged. Now, imagine a workplace where the boss isn’t calling all the shots. Instead, everyone has a voice, and innovation flows freely. The recent <keyword id="23191970" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="corporate-trend" source="keywords">corporate trend</keyword> of "<keyword id="21771460" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Unbossing" source="keywords">Unbossing</keyword>" promises to do just that, empowering employees by eliminating the heavy hands of hierarchy. Sounds too good to be true? Well, globally, not just the new-age start-ups, but dozens of major corporations have embraced this trend and trimmed their <keyword id="21771459" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="middle-management" source="keywords">middle management</keyword>. <h2>Managers managing managers — no more! </h2> In January last year, <keyword id="19911549" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Meta" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Meta" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Meta">Meta</keyword> CEO <keyword id="19952202" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mark-zuckerberg" source="keywords">Mark Zuckerberg</keyword> made headlines for declaring 2023 as the “year of efficiency” and saying that he doesn’t want a management structure that's just “managers managing managers”. The same month, it was also reported by Command Line that Meta's chief product officer Chris Cox, had shared a post on the company's communication platform, Workplace, highlighting the necessity to "flatten" the organisation's structure. What followed was reports of Meta slashing middle management roles. Gradually, other companies like Shopify, Bayer, and Cisco began making headlines for showing the exit door to some of their middle managers. Loosely, unbossing is essentially cutting down the middle management roles. It cuts significant costs for the company and the new-age workforce also endorses the trend as efficient in enabling faster decision-making and innovation. However, critics argue this trend also limits the extent of mentorship that the younger generation receives while entering the workforce, which often remains an intangible value if your boss turns out to be a good mentor. Therefore, for some, it’s not about firing the middle management, but just another leadership philosophy on how leaders (and ‘bosses’) should conduct themselves. This approach advocates bosses working along with the team as a part rather than shouting instructions from the top. Whatever one’s understanding, this trend of “Unbossing” appears to be taking corporate America by storm in 2023, as evidenced by hundreds of media reports highlighting the same. Overall, most agree that the trend is restructuring organisational hierarchy to enable direct communication between employees and leaders. Cut to 2024, this trend is still prevalent and making headlines. A Bloomberg report recently said that Georges Elhedery, the incoming CEO of HSBC Holdings, might also consider plans to streamline the company's operations by reducing layers of middle management. But what’s the scenario in India? Are <keyword id="20142903" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-companies" source="keywords">Indian companies</keyword> ready to ditch the old-school approach and adopt this new way of working? Let’s dive in and see what the experts have to say! <h2>Layoffs to impact senior professionals: Naukri.com survey </h2> A survey by job portal Naukri.com early last year had suggested that recruiters in India expect a decline in layoffs during the first half of 2023. The survey, which included responses from 1,400 recruiters and consultants across ten industries, revealed that only 4 percent of participants anticipated layoffs to be the main focus of hiring activities within their organisations. However, the survey also highlighted that information technology roles and senior professionals were likely to be the most affected by hiring adjustments. About 20 percent of recruiters predicted that layoffs would predominantly impact senior professionals, while freshers are expected to face the least disruption from these hiring corrections. Interestingly the survey came around the same time when the Unbossing trend had begun picking up pace abroad. Advertisement <h2>Layoffs at Wipro, Amazon and Collegedunia </h2> In January this year, Wipro India was in the limelight for laying off hundreds of its mid-level executives. The company reportedly culled many jobs as part of its strategy to improve margins. An ET report citing two sources familiar with the situation had said that the leading Indian IT firm reduced mid-level roles at its onsite locations. "Notices began being issued earlier this month, and hundreds of mid-level executives onsite are being let go," one source revealed. Another source added, "They have costly resources onsite in Capco, and although growth is returning, it's not sufficient. Aparna Iyer, Wipro's chief financial officer, has been tasked with delivering better margins this quarter." Then in May, Amazon also decided to reduce layers of middle management within its customer service divisions as part of an organisational restructuring, a Fortune report had said. The cuts impacted over 100 customer service managers in Level 5 and Level 6 middle management roles, both in call centres and virtual positions, primarily based in the U.S. and India. Not just large tech companies, startups too seem to be adapting the unbossing trend in India. Last month, educational portal Collegedunia confirmed that around 100 employees from its Study Abroad department had been given the pink slip. A report in CNBC-TV18 had said that additional job cuts were happening across other departments as part of a broader reorganisation. The restructuring, as per the report, was aimed at automating many tasks to reduce costs. Interestingly, despite the layoffs, Collegedunia had posted 13 job openings on LinkedIn for various roles in different locations, primarily entry-level positions requiring up to two years of experience. "While Collegedunia is laying off several employees, it is also hiring fresh talent, allowing them to keep staffing levels up but at a lower cost," one employee told CNBC-TV18 at the time. Another source confirmed that while Collegedunia had been actively recruiting for some months, it has also been letting go of employees, including senior staff members with 7-8 years of experience at the company. <h2>What do experts say? </h2> Mr. Sumit Kumar, Chief Strategy Officer at TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship, told Business Insider India, “From the perspective of HR leaders and CEOs, the strategic culling of middle management is viewed as a means to streamline operations, reduce overhead, and foster a culture of autonomy and innovation.” He also noted that even though employees can “exercise greater ownership and agility in decision-making” through this approach, there are also significant downsides. “The erosion of middle management creates a vacuum in leadership development, mentorship, and the retention of institutional knowledge, potentially leading to disengagement, a weakened talent pipeline, and misalignment with organisational objectives,” Kumar noted. Talking specifically about the Indian scenario, he said, “Implementing this trend in India would be a strategic move, positioning organisations to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving business environment. However, to fully capitalise on this approach, developing a more robust talent pipeline that integrates the ability to multitask at all levels is imperative. In today's landscape, leadership demands thinkers, strategic visionaries, and individuals who can execute with precision. We need to cultivate a new breed of leaders who are both thinkers and doers, capable of navigating complex challenges while driving innovation and growth. By building versatile, agile leaders through targeted talent development programs, Indian organisations can ensure they are well-prepared to thrive in a decentralised, high-performance environment.” RP Yadav, Chairman and Managing Director of Genius Consultants Limited, told ET recently that the Unbossing approach simplifies hierarchies and encourages open communication between frontline employees and senior management. He had added that the concept of “the oldest in the room is always the wisest of all” is no longer applicable. Meanwhile, Aditya Narayan Mishra, MD and CEO of CIEL HR Services told ET that the unbossing trend is predominantly seen in tech companies, creative roles, and startups, where swift decision-making and the unrestricted exchange of ideas are crucial. For example, the tech sector often thrives with flattened hierarchies that support rapid innovation and agility, while creative industries such as advertising and media use unbossing to cultivate a more collaborative and idea-focused environment. Thus, the unbossing trend is gaining traction beyond global companies and is finding its way into Indian organisations as well. While this approach can streamline operations, reduce costs, and enhance agility, experts caution that it also brings challenges, such as gaps in leadership development and the loss of institutional knowledge. To fully harness the benefits of unbossing, Indian companies must focus on cultivating agile leaders who can navigate complex challenges and drive growth. By building a strong talent pipeline and fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration, Indian organisations can position themselves to thrive in a more decentralised and dynamic business environment. Do you have insights or personal experience to s hare on layoffs, workplace trends, or career changes? Contact us at businessinsider@timesinternet.in.

What’s with all “Unbossing” talks? Are Indian companies also embracing this global trend?

<div type="image" title="Companies are embracing the unbossing trend" msid="113256383" hostid="261" sizebytes="1440779"></div> If there’s one thing both a productive team member and an underperformer hates in the corporate world, it’s being micromanaged. Now, imagine a workplace where the boss isn’t calling all the shots. Instead, everyone has a voice, and innovation flows freely. The recent corporate trend of "Unbossing" promises to do just that, empowering employees by eliminating the heavy hands of hierarchy. Sounds too good to be true? Well, globally, not just the new-age start-ups, but dozens of major corporations have embraced this trend and trimmed their middle management. <h2>Managers managing managers — no more!</h2>In January last year, <keyword id="399907" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="META" source="Orion">Meta</keyword> CEO Mark Zuckerberg made headlines for declaring 2023 as the “year of efficiency” and saying that he doesn’t want a management structure that's just “managers managing managers”. <div type="image" title="Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg" agency="ANI" msid="113256403" hostid="261"></div> The same month, it was also reported by Command Line that Meta's chief product officer Chris Cox, had shared a post on the company's communication platform, Workplace, highlighting the necessity to "flatten" the organisation's structure. What followed was reports of Meta slashing middle management roles. Gradually, other companies like Shopify, Bayer, and Cisco began making headlines for showing the exit door to some of their middle managers. Loosely, unbossing is essentially cutting down the middle management roles. It cuts significant costs for the company and the new-age workforce also endorses the trend as efficient in enabling faster decision-making and innovation. However, critics argue this trend also limits the extent of mentorship that the younger generation receives while entering the workforce, which often remains an intangible value if your boss turns out to be a good mentor. Therefore, for some, it’s not about firing the middle management, but just another leadership philosophy on how leaders (and ‘bosses’) should conduct themselves. This approach advocates bosses working along with the team as a part rather than shouting instructions from the top. Whatever one’s understanding, this trend of “Unbossing” appears to be taking corporate America by storm in 2023, as evidenced by hundreds of media reports highlighting the same. Overall, most agree that the trend is restructuring organisational hierarchy to enable direct communication between employees and leaders. Cut to 2024, this trend is still prevalent and making headlines. A Bloomberg report recently said that Georges Elhedery, the incoming CEO of HSBC Holdings, might also consider plans to streamline the company's operations by reducing layers of middle management. But what’s the scenario in India? Are Indian companies ready to ditch the old-school approach and adopt this new way of working? Let’s dive in and see what the experts have to say! <h2>Layoffs to impact senior professionals: Naukri.com survey</h2>A survey by job portal Naukri.com early last year had suggested that recruiters in India expect a decline in layoffs during the first half of 2023. The survey, which included responses from 1,400 recruiters and consultants across ten industries, revealed that only 4 percent of participants anticipated layoffs to be the main focus of hiring activities within their organisations. However, the survey also highlighted that information technology roles and senior professionals were likely to be the most affected by hiring adjustments. About 20 percent of recruiters predicted that layoffs would predominantly impact senior professionals, while freshers are expected to face the least disruption from these hiring corrections. Interestingly the survey came around the same time when the Unbossing trend had begun picking up pace abroad. <h2>Layoffs at Wipro, <keyword id="18635" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="amazon" source="Orion">Amazon</keyword> and Collegedunia</h2>In January this year, Wipro India was in the limelight for laying off hundreds of its mid-level executives. The company reportedly culled many jobs as part of its strategy to improve margins. An ET report citing two sources familiar with the situation had said that the leading Indian IT firm reduced mid-level roles at its onsite locations. "Notices began being issued earlier this month, and hundreds of mid-level executives onsite are being let go," one source revealed. Another source added, "They have costly resources onsite in Capco, and although growth is returning, it's not sufficient. Aparna Iyer, Wipro's chief financial officer, has been tasked with delivering better margins this quarter." <div type="image" title="Amazon decided to lay-off middle managers in May" msid="113256170" hostid="261"></div>Then in May, Amazon also decided to reduce layers of middle management within its customer service divisions as part of an organisational restructuring, a Fortune report had said. The cuts impacted over 100 customer service managers in Level 5 and Level 6 middle management roles, both in call centres and virtual positions, primarily based in the U.S. and India. Not just large tech companies, startups too seem to be adapting the <keyword id="23125775" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="unbossing-trend-in-India" source="Orion">unbossing trend in India</keyword>. Last month, educational portal Collegedunia confirmed that around 100 employees from its Study Abroad department had been given the pink slip. A report in CNBC-TV18 had said that additional job cuts were happening across other departments as part of a broader reorganisation. The restructuring, as per the report, was aimed at automating many tasks to reduce costs. Interestingly, despite the layoffs, Collegedunia had posted 13 job openings on LinkedIn for various roles in different locations, primarily entry-level positions requiring up to two years of experience. "While Collegedunia is laying off several employees, it is also hiring fresh talent, allowing them to keep staffing levels up but at a lower cost," one employee told CNBC-TV18 at the time. Another source confirmed that while Collegedunia had been actively recruiting for some months, it has also been letting go of employees, including senior staff members with 7-8 years of experience at the company. <h2>What do experts say?</h2> <div type="image" title="Experts&amp;#39; opinion on unbossing trend" msid="113256250" hostid="261"></div>Mr. Sumit Kumar, Chief Strategy Officer at TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship, told Business Insider India, “From the perspective of HR leaders and CEOs, the strategic culling of middle management is viewed as a means to streamline operations, reduce overhead, and foster a culture of autonomy and innovation.” He also noted that even though employees can “exercise greater ownership and agility in decision-making” through this approach, there are also significant downsides. “The erosion of middle management creates a vacuum in leadership development, mentorship, and the retention of institutional knowledge, potentially leading to disengagement, a weakened talent pipeline, and misalignment with organisational objectives,” Kumar noted. Talking specifically about the Indian scenario, he said, “Implementing this trend in India would be a strategic move, positioning organisations to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving business environment. However, to fully capitalise on this approach, developing a more robust talent pipeline that integrates the ability to multitask at all levels is imperative. In today's landscape, leadership demands thinkers, strategic visionaries, and individuals who can execute with precision. We need to cultivate a new breed of leaders who are both thinkers and doers, capable of navigating complex challenges while driving innovation and growth. By building versatile, agile leaders through targeted talent development programs, Indian organisations can ensure they are well-prepared to thrive in a decentralised, high-performance environment.” RP Yadav, Chairman and Managing Director of Genius Consultants Limited, told ET recently that the Unbossing approach simplifies hierarchies and encourages open communication between frontline employees and senior management. He had added that the concept of “the oldest in the room is always the wisest of all” is no longer applicable. Meanwhile, Aditya Narayan Mishra, MD and CEO of CIEL HR Services told ET that the unbossing trend is predominantly seen in tech companies, creative roles, and startups, where swift decision-making and the unrestricted exchange of ideas are crucial. For example, the tech sector often thrives with flattened hierarchies that support rapid innovation and agility, while creative industries such as advertising and media use unbossing to cultivate a more collaborative and idea-focused environment. Thus, the unbossing trend is gaining traction beyond global companies and is finding its way into Indian organisations as well. While this approach can streamline operations, reduce costs, and enhance agility, experts caution that it also brings challenges, such as gaps in leadership development and the loss of institutional knowledge. To fully harness the benefits of unbossing, Indian companies must focus on cultivating agile leaders who can navigate complex challenges and drive growth. By building a strong talent pipeline and fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration, Indian organisations can position themselves to thrive in a more decentralised and dynamic business environment. Do you have insights or personal experience to s hare on layoffs, <keyword id="34447" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="workplace-trends" source="Orion">workplace trends</keyword>, or career changes? Contact us at businessinsider@timesinternet.in.

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Streaming service <keyword id="2189512" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="prime-video" source="Orion">Prime Video</keyword> on Monday announced that the Tamil version of its "<keyword id="2028715" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="modern-love" source="Orion">Modern Love</keyword>" anthology series will premiere on May 18. This is the third Indian adaptation of "Modern Love", the internationally acclaimed Original anthology helmed by John Carney, following "Modern Love Mumbai" (Hindi) and "Modern Love Hyderabad" (Tamil). "<keyword id="13784653" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="modern-love-chennai" source="Orion">Modern Love Chennai</keyword>" brings together six brilliant creators of Indian cinema Bharathiraja, Balaji Sakthivel, Rajumurugan, Krishnakumar Ramakumar, Akshay Sundher, and Thiagarajan Kumararaja. According to the makers, the upcoming six-episode anthology presents "a bouquet of compelling and unique love stories set in the city of Chennai that explore relationships, push boundaries, and open minds". After the successful launch of "Modern Love Mumbai" and "Modern Love Hyderabad", Aparna Purohit, head of India Originals, Prime Video, said the streamer is excited to bring the third Indian edition of the well-acclaimed international franchise, "Modern Love", to the service. "At Prime Video, we are constantly working towards bringing locally rooted stories that have a universal appeal. 'Modern Love Chennai' celebrates and explores love in all its beauty, joy, and glory, hand-in-hand with the intricacies and complexities that go with the emotion. It has been wonderful collaborating with Thiagarajan Kumararaja and all the other wonderful directors to tell these heart-warming stories that explore the city's culture and nuances," Purohit said in a statement. Kumararaja, creator of the series and writer-director of one of the episodes "Ninaivo Oru Paravai", said "Modern Love Chennai" was an interesting challenge since love stories were never his cup of tea. "It has been a pleasure to partner with Prime Video to bring the latest Indian edition to the viewers. With these stories, we have explored and celebrated the old-world charm of the city, which remains rooted in a distinct blend of tradition and modernity. All the stories in this anthology take us through the journey of exploring the very complicated, and yet very simple, emotion-love-in all its eclectic forms," he added. "Ninaivo Oru Paravai", directed by Kumararaja, features Wamiqa and PB, and has music composed by veteran director Ilaiyaraaja. Ilaiyaraaja has also scored for "Margazhi", directed by Akshay Sundher, and Bharathiraja's "Paravai Kootil Vaazhum Maangal". Rajumurugan has directed "Lalagunda Bommaigal", an episode that has music composed by Sean Roldan, and features Sri Gouri Priya, Vasudevan Murali, and Vasundhara. Director Balaji Sakthivel's chapter is titled "Imaigal", starring Ashok Selvan and T.J. Bhanu, with music composed by <keyword id="40350" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="yuvan-shankar-raja" source="Orion">Yuvan Shankar Raja</keyword>. "Kaadhal Enbadhu Kannula Heart Irukkura Emoji" is directed by Krishnakumar Ramakumar and has a score composed by G.V. Prakash Kumar. It features Ritu Varma, Samyuktha Viswanathan, Pawan Alex, and Aniiruth Kanakarajan. "Margazhi" features Sanjula Sarathi, Chu Khoy Sheng, and Srikrishna Dayal, and "Paravai Kootil Vaazhum Maangal" stars Kishore, Ramya Nambessan, and <keyword id="36303" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="vijayalakshmi" source="Orion">Vijayalakshmi</keyword>. "Modern Love Chennai" is produced under the banner of Tyler Durden and Kino Fist. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/canada-to-deport-700-indian-students-as-visa-documents-found-to-be-fake/articleshow/100069195.cms">Canada to deport 700 Indian students as visa documents found to be fake</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/education/news/tamil-nadu-class-12-results-declared-state-records-94-03-pass-per-cent-kanyakumari-tops-list/articleshow/100067497.cms">Tamil Nadu Class 12 results declared: State records 94.03 pass per cent, Kanyakumari tops list</a>

Prime Video sets May 18 premiere for 'Modern Love Chennai'

<ul><li><keyword id="366712" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tarun-katial" source="Orion">Tarun Katial</keyword> is currently working on the first-of-its-kind women-only social media platform Eve World.</li><li>There is an additional layer of blockchain technology added to the platform, which will allow the users to get rewarded for each action.</li><li>The platform will be launched in India, Middle East and Indonesia first, and then in other countries.</li></ul>Indian media executive and business professional Tarun Katial — who has previously led <keyword id="6245082" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="zee5" source="Orion">Zee5</keyword> and <keyword id="82551" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="big-fm" source="Orion">Big FM</keyword> as founder chief executive — is now on a journey to make social media safer for women with his latest offering Eve World. Katial has been working on the concept of Eve World, with Aparna Acharekar and Rajneel Kumar, since 2020 after he had an up-close experience of the harassment women face on the internet and traditional social media networks. “My wife [media veteran Monisha Singh Katial] is a really accomplished media person and she started getting trolled on WhatsApp, somebody got her number from somewhere. Me and another friend of mine recommended that we should go to the police station. Now the reason she gave me was that ‘even if I report, what real action would be taken even if they find the person?” he added. Forty six-year-old Tarun Katial has been in the media and entertainment industry for over two decades. He has retained top executive positions in brands like <keyword id="17943" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="star-india" source="Orion">Star India</keyword>, Sony Entertainment and Reliance Broadcast Network. Eve World became a reality in June 2021 as a first-of-its-kind women-only platform that aims to empower women to express their opinion, create content and form communities without worrying about the consequences. According to the National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson Rekha Sharma, cases of online harassment grew nearly five fold in 2020. “While earlier, we would record 300 complaints of online harassment, this shot up to 1,500 post the COVID-19 pandmeic,” she<a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/after-covid-cases-of-online-harassment-spiked-by-5-times-7137386/"> said</a> in January 2021. In the USA, four in ten women admitted to have faced online harassment, according to a <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2021/01/13/the-state-of-online-harassment/">report </a>published by Pew Research Center in January this year. However, it does raise questions whether creating a separate space for women would further isolate them from the general public. Commenting on the same, Katial highlighted that this is why they went with the tagline “We can’t change the world for you, but we can create a better one for you.” Pritam Baruah, Dean of School of Law at BML Munjal University, told Business Insider, “In the larger context, however, isolation will not be the lens through which they will be viewed. There is the freedom to form exclusive groups in the marketplace of platforms and each will serve its purpose and constituency." Eve World is trying to build more than just social media Eve World will use this capital to launch the platform in the January-March quarter of 2022. The company aims to launch worldwide, including countries like the US and UK, where female participation in the digital arena is higher. But it will start off with countries like India, Middle East and Indonesia, where the population is larger and the company believes that it can add some value by giving women their space. On the face of it, Eve World has been built on a creator partnership, something like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, where the people on the platform are running the show. But there is an additional layer of blockchain technology added to the platform, which will allow Eve World’s users to get rewarded for each action on the platform. The reward can either be virtual tokens or points and can be used for a range of use cases — including consulting doctors and mental health professionals on the platform, shopping or even to buy non-fungible tokens (NFTs) at a discount on the platform. It will generate revenue by charging micro-entrepreneurs to promote their businesses. Eve World will set up a two-way authentication to ensure only women are using the platform. Katial claimed that 70% of its workforce at Eve World are going to be women as they understand these issues much better. The company has already raised capital from Singapore-based Jungle Ventures, one of the largest independent early and growth stage venture capital firms in Southeast Asia. The details of these transactions are undisclosed. “What used to happen on the street till a decade ago, in urban India, has now moved to the internet, under the garb of anonymity… Women were losing their freedom to express themselves because of the kinds of gender bias, the kind of trolling, the kind of abuse that they are facing...Women on the internet face much more [consequences] than any man would on the same comment that gets posted,” Katial said. SEE ALSO <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/zoho-freshworks-and-top-indian-saas-companies-have-given-500-entrepreneurs-to-the-indian-startup-ecosystem/articleshow/88145310.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Zoho, Freshworks and top Indian SaaS companies have given 500 entrepreneurs to the Indian startup ecosystem</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/investment/news/humanoid-robot-sophia-is-entering-the-metaverse-with-intelligent-nfts/articleshow/88156738.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Humanoid robot Sophia is entering the metaverse with ‘intelligent’ NFTs</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/policy/news/here-is-what-to-expect-from-the-rbi-monetary-policy-today/slidelist/88150941.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Six charts explain what the market expects from the RBI’s monetary policy review</a>

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<keyword id="6366186" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Nimrat-Kaur">Nimrat Kaur</keyword>, who was last seen in Akshay Kumar starrer Airlift, and <keyword id="2491596" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Tahir-Raj-Bhasin">Tahir Raj Bhasin</keyword>, who made his debut with YRF’s Mardaani, came together for a short film for Yash Raj banner’s youth-centric arm YFilms. The movie, called <keyword id="3276952" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="the-road-trip">The Road Trip</keyword>, is the first instalment of a series of short films that has been aptly titled “Love Shots”. 
 
The two star as a married couple, Nikhil and Archie, who are seen arguing after their car has slipped into a dig while en route Pune. While deciding whether the accident happened because of Archie not paying enough attention to the GPS, or Nikhil’s loud Drum n Bass music, the conversation shifts to their mutual friends who had crushes on them that they always knew about. 
 
While it looks like any other couple engaged in a sweet banter, the reality is something else, which comes to light only when we see an ambulance approaching them, instead of what should have been just another tow truck to get them out of the mess. 
 
While we don’t want to spill all the beans, here is the movie, so that you can watch for yourself what a well-kept suspense looks like. 
 
 
 
The short film has been directed by Ankur Tewari, written by Aparna Nadig &amp; Ashish Patil, while the music comes from Anurag Shanker and Arfaaz Kagalwala.

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