<keyword id="19982504" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="IIT-Bombay" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="IIT Bombay" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="IIT Bombay">IIT Bombay</keyword> has slapped fines up to ₹1.2 lakh on eight students for their roles in the controversial play '<keyword id="22120249" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Raahovan" source="keywords">Raahovan</keyword>,' which was staged during the institute's <keyword id="2047403" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Performing-Arts-Festival" source="Orion">Performing Arts Festival</keyword> (PAF) on March 31. The play, which is supposedly a parody of the <keyword id="19986217" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ramayana" source="keywords">Ramayana</keyword>, stirred the pot by allegedly mocking Hindu beliefs and deities. The performance, presented at the open-air theatre on the IIT Bombay campus during its annual cultural fest, ignited a storm. With character names slightly altered, the play depicted lead characters in unflattering lights—abusing each other and, controversially, featuring the female protagonist lauding the antagonist. This portrayal ruffled feathers among viewers, who took it as a denigration of cultural and religious values, cloaked under a banner of feminism. Complaints quickly followed from students who believed the play undermined their cultural ethos. These grievances prompted a disciplinary committee to convene on May 8. Fast forward to June 4, and the verdict was out: hefty fines and penalties. Graduating students were hit with ₹1.2 lakh fines each—nearly equivalent to a semester's tuition—and stripped of their gymkhana awards. Juniors faced a ₹40,000 fine each and were evicted from hostel privileges. With the deadline set for July 20, 2024, non-compliance promises even stiffer penalties. The controversy gained a digital footprint when the '<keyword id="22120251" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="IIT-B-for-Bharat" source="Orion">IIT B for Bharat</keyword>' group criticised the play on April 8 via social media, branding it a mockery of <keyword id="353792" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lord-Ram" source="Orion">Lord Ram</keyword> and the Ramayana. Their posts, complete with video excerpts from the performance, accused the production of abusing academic liberty to satirise sacred figures. Campus opinion split down the middle. Some hailed the institute's move as justified, while others saw it as a crackdown on creative expression. Some even expressed concern that universities, traditionally seen as havens for free speech, appear to be losing their safe spaces for such expression—even at IITs. The debate around 'Raahovan' underscores a persistent friction between the realms of artistic freedom and religious sensitivity. As IIT Bombay proceeds with its disciplinary measures, the campus community remains polarised, mirroring broader societal debates on how to balance expression and respect for deeply held beliefs. (With inputs from The Economic Times and Times News Network)

Freedom vs faith: IIT Bombay slaps penalties up to ₹1.2 lakh on students over play mocking Ramayana

Some of the reputed <keyword id="6386086" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Indian-Institutes-of-Technology">Indian Institutes of Technology</keyword> (IITs), country’s premier technology institutes, are making changes in the number of seats in some of their courses, while also introducing new or interdisciplinary programmes so that they can follow the government order to plan their courses based on popularity and employability Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/World-renowned-IITs-will-no-longer-just-be-engineering-institutes-They-will-soon-offer-MBBS-courses-too/articleshow/58024496.cms">World renowned IITs will no longer just be engineering institutes! They will soon offer MBBS courses too</a> <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/topic/iit-delhi">IIT-Delhi</a> and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/topic/IIT-Kanpur">IIT-Kanpur</a> have planned to cut down the number of seats in unpopular courses so that popular ones can be given more seats. IIT-K is even planning to stop its nuclear engineering technology programme, since students don’t show much interest in that course. "As the employment opportunities are limited under this programme, we are looking at merging this with mechanical engineering," Manindra Agrawal, deputy director at <keyword id="108320" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="IIT-Kanpur">IIT Kanpur</keyword>, told <a href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/services/education/iits-tweaking-seats-for-programmes-in-line-with-demand/articleshow/58523440.cms">ET</a>. "A call would be taken soon on this." "Another reason for merging this programme with mechanical engineering is the fact that we have not been able to get teaching faculty," he added. The institute is also dropping the number of seats it offers in metallurgical engineering, another non-popular course, so that more popular programmes can seat more students. Talking of IIT-D, it is considering limiting the number of seats it offers for some non-popular streams in its BTech programmes. "The popularity of a programme much depends on the employment prospects," said V Ramgopal Rao, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Employability-of-engineers-exaggerated-but-still-a-concern-says-IIT-directors/articleshow/58474080.cms">director</a> at IIT-D. In <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/An-IIT-Bombay-students-channel-is-becoming-a-rage-on-YouTube-heres-why/articleshow/57495768.cms">IIT-Bombay</a>, however, there is no issue of revision in seats allocation since all the seats get allotted in the joint counselling process. To follow government’s orders, it is considering launching new programmes, having already introduced BSc Economics and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/IIT-engineers-will-be-allowed-entry-into-PhD-to-solve-faculty-crunch/articleshow/53810743.cms">PhD</a> in Centre for Policy Studies from the autumn session of 2017. Like IIT-B, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Building-a-Solar-India-IIT-Madras-develops-microgrid-models-for-green-power-supply-to-light-up-remotest-areas/articleshow/55555764.cms">IIT Madras</a> also has no plans to reduce the number of seats in any course, but is considering introducing new programmes.

IITs fine-tuning seats available for programmes as per popularity

<ul><li>WhatsApp plans to sue individuals and companies that use the messaging platform to send out bulk messages.</li><li>Amazon, Microsoft and other members of the BSA -- the software alliance -- want another round of discussions before India's Personal Security Bill goes to parliament. </li><li>AWS is training students at IIT Kharagpur to write 'smart code'.</li></ul> This Tech Insider’s daily dose of <keyword id="35609" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="tech-news">tech news</keyword> — everything that’s happening in tech that you need to know about today from Business Insider and its partner publications:

Today’s top tech news: WhatsApp won’t tolerate bulk messaging, global tech companies want another shot at the India’s Data Protection Bill and Amazon’s training engineering students to code

<ul><li>The global oil price crashing to a new low has cost Indian fresh graduates their jobs. </li><li>Energy major <keyword id="161205" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Schlumberger">Schlumberger</keyword> revoked the job offers extended to the Indian Institute of Technology (<keyword id="6354859" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="IIt">IIT</keyword>) graduates. </li><li>Two of the selected graduates from IIT Kanpur and Madras have now been offered a similar role — but at a lower salary. </li><li>The oilfield services multinational said that it is adjusting to the ‘sudden reduction in consumer spending’. </li><li>This comes after the company announced its first quarter results for FY21 and said that it expects at least a 15% drop in customer expenditure globally. </li></ul>The global <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/crude-oil-prices-didnt-fall-below-zero-futures-did-and-heres-what-it-means/articleshow/75264639.cms">oil price crashing</a> to a new low has cost Indian graduates their jobs. Impacted by the decline in oil demand due to <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="coronavirus">Coronavirus</keyword> lockdown, energy major Schlumberger revoked job offers extended to the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) graduates. The oilfield services multinational said that it is adjusting to the ‘sudden reduction in consumer spending’. The company had given job offers to candidates at least five IITs. On April 6, Schlumberger told IITs that it will reduce the intake of new campus hires, withdrawing a few internships and job offers. “We will personally communicate our decision to each student who is affected by this decision,” Indian Express <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/education/energy-major-schlumberger-withdraws-job-offers-to-fresh-iit-graduates-6373375/">reported</a> citing the letter by Gautam Reddy, MD, India and Bangladesh at Schlumberger. IIT graduates bagged ‘above-average salary packages’ this placement season According to the report, two students at IIT Delhi and Bombay have lost their jobs at Schlumberger. While two other selected graduates from IIT Kanpur and Madras have now been offered similar roles — but at lower salaries. Given the current situation, it does not help that most of the IIT graduates bagged ‘above-average salary packages’ this placement season. IIT Kharagpur students also bagged a few offers from Schlumberger. “As on date, none of the offers were revoked. That was a generic email. We haven’t heard back from them,” Parag Deshpande, vice-chairperson, CDC at IIT-Kharagpur said. “As of now we have withdrawn the offers. If the business climate changes, we will be the first to reach out to those who have been filtered through the whole recruitment process,” Reddy added. ‘We have to take care of our employees first’ Reddy also <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/education/energy-major-schlumberger-withdraws-job-offers-to-fresh-iit-graduates-6373375/">said</a> that employees across the top management have already taken a pay cut due to the Covid-19 crisis. “We have a longstanding relationship with the IITs. I am from IIT-Bombay. Recruiting from IITs is a continuous process for us. At this point in time, when we are doing business restructuring, it’s just not fair to our current employees. We have to take care of them first. It’s as simple as this.” During the <a href="https://seekingalpha.com/article/4338898-schlumberger-earnings-expected-trouble-may-still-be-afoot">first quarter results for FY21</a> the company said that it expects at least a 15% drop in customer expenditure globally and 40% in North America. It clearly indicates how disruption in supply chain, plant shutdowns and dropping revenues forced companies to rethink placements. Gartner rescinds 11 offers at three IITs With this, Schlumberger joins Gartner, the global research advisory firm to withdraw offers given to new hires. Gartner rescinded nearly 11 offers at IIT Delhi, Madras and Kanpur campuses last month. After that, V Ramgopal Rao, director at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/iit-and-iim-job-offers-are-fast-vanishing-and-a-second-placement-drive-in-july-might-be-underway/articleshow/75003350.cms">appealed to recruiters</a> saying “a few months of delay may be fine. If at all, these students are capable of getting you out of recession faster than you can imagine.” The changed environment left these young minds stranded with no job at hand. The institutes are now figuring out ways to place the students whose offers have been revoked. They are even reaching out to their alumni network to place students in the less-affected sectors. On the other hand, IIT-Kanpur director Abhay Karandikar also <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/jobs/iit-iim-job-offers-placement-season-coronavirus-outbreak-lockdown-6346524/">said</a> that the institute will arrange a dedicated placement drive in July-August for those students who have been affected by the withdrawal of offers. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/crude-oil-prices-didnt-fall-below-zero-futures-did-and-heres-what-it-means/articleshow/75264639.cms">Crude oil prices didn’t fall below zero, futures did – and here’s what it means</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/iit-and-iim-job-offers-are-fast-vanishing-and-a-second-placement-drive-in-july-might-be-underway/articleshow/75003350.cms">IIT and IIM job offers are fast vanishing and a second placement drive in July might be underway</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/tcs-cognizant-capgemini-and-other-top-giants-who-are-not-letting-go-of-their-new-hires/articleshow/75136446.cms">TCS, Cognizant, Capgemini and other top giants who are not letting go of their new hires</a>

Schlumberger revokes IIT job offers, lowers salaries after the massive crude oil price crash

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/53207983.cms" style="width: 800px; height: 600px;" />A masterpiece by an <keyword id="6356755" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="IIT-Madras">IIT Madras</keyword> student has left the top defense research body in the country DRDO completely in awe of him. 
 Master of Science student Santhosh Ravichandran recently created a first-of-its-kind turtle shaped under-water robot named <keyword id="3492839" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Duli">Duli</keyword> in just three months’ time. His version of model has bio-inspired propeller which is similar to the fins of a dolphin. Its unique features include unique hydrodynamics, energy efficiency, and ability to camouflage, and is therefore a better alternative for military applications. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/These-Innovations-by-IITians-Prove-India-Has-got-Some-of-The-Most-Brilliant-Minds/articleshow/51806484.cms">ALSO READ: These Innovations by IITians Prove India Has Got Some of The Most Brilliant Minds</a> 
 
Officials of the DRDO are in talks with the student as well the faculty of IIT Madras, and it wants to test the robot by installing its own sensors on it. Through this the DRDO wants to ascertain whether the robot is ready for military purpose or needs fine tuning. 
 According to Ravichandran, his robot can give 70% energy efficiency due to its bio-inspired flap movement, which is much higher than the 30% energy efficiency that is given by the currently available under-water <keyword id="16719" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="robots">robots</keyword> as they use mechanical thrusters. 
 
Duli can do visual inspection even in the undercurrent of the ocean, claims Santhosh, besides surveying coral reefs without damaging the marine eco-system as it uses a rapid long motion to move. 
 It gathered much praise when a prototype was exhibited earlier this year at Underwater Interventions expo in United States, where even the <keyword id="42696" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="US-Navy">US Navy</keyword> was a participant. 
 
Even as the product is still at a preliminary stage and needs practical testing as per Project Head and Associate Professor Mr Prabhu Rajagopal, all the basic requirements are covered. 
 
An autonomous version is expected to be ready in a few months, and there’s little doubt this spectacular masterpiece will soon be deployed under water and helping our military personnel.

IIT Madras student’s Underwater Robotic
Masterpiece may soon find a place in Indian Naval operations

New Delhi, Mar 4 () Maruti Suzuki India on Wednesday said it has collaborated with IIT Guwahati (IITG), Association for Overseas Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Partnerships (AOTS), Japan and Suzuki Motor Corporation for promotion of technical education and training. The institutional collaboration will facilitate promotion of education and training covering engineering courses and internship programmes in both India and Japan, the company said in a statement. It will also promote research for next generation technologies for benefit of both the countries, it added. An MoU was exchanged among the four parties at IIT Guwahati in the presence of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to India Satoshi Suzuki. Commenting on the collaboration, Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) Managing Director and CEO Kenichi Ayukawa said,"This institutional collaboration will help us prepare students wider technical roles. Internship exposures at global and local levels will make students ready for global and local roles." It is a fine example of academia, industry and students coming together to create new benchmarks in technical education, he added. "I see this collaboration taking technical education to the next level," Ayukawa said. Under the collaboration, an engineering course, primarily related to automobiles, will be conducted by Suzuki Motor Corporation and MSI by providing training to students through lectures. As part of the curriculum Japanese language course will be conducted by AOTS. This course will be provided to students of IITG. AOTS, SMC and MSIL will arrange for faculty to conduct these at IITG, the statement said. Eligible students will be provided an opportunity of being placed for an internship at SMC's facility in Japan as well as at MSIL in India. This programme will help students gain both local and global exposure, it added. These initiatives are authorised by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as Japanese endowed course. Sharing his thoughts on the partnership, Suzuki said, "I hope the synergy among these partners will help create future engineers to lead India's manufacturing sector and to build new bridges of friendship between India and Japan." RKL SHWSHW

Maruti Suzuki, IIT Guwahati, AOTS Japan join hands for promotion of tech education

Getting a degree from one of the most prestigious engineering colleges, and that too without attending classes in the campus, is about to become a reality. Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/IITs-fine-tuning-seats-available-for-programmes-as-per-popularity/articleshow/58530365.cms">IITs fine-tuning seats available for programmes as per popularity</a> <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/IITs-fine-tuning-seats-available-for-programmes-as-per-popularity/articleshow/58530365.cms">IIT Madras</a> is now offering a M. Tech degree through distance learning process, a first of its kind initiative. In the first step, 31 M. Tech students have been recruited for the automobile sector who will not be physically present inside the campus and would rather complete their course from their workplace. The programme is set to be expanded to communication, information security and aerospace sectors as well. Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/World-renowned-IITs-will-no-longer-just-be-engineering-institutes-They-will-soon-offer-MBBS-courses-too/articleshow/58024496.cms">World renowned IITs will no longer just be engineering institutes! They will soon offer MBBS courses too</a> In the recent past, there has been a trend of user-oriented impact programmes, which are custom-made for corporate employees. Under these programmes, corporate companies sponsor the education of fresh graduates and employees. However, till now they are required spend a year in the campus. "The programme we are launching is M. Tech in <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Apple-is-hiring-experts-in-automotive-technology-and-vehicle-design-to-work-in-a-top-secret-research-lab/amp_articleshow/46238406.cms">automotive technology</a> for the industry employees who wish to upgrade their qualification and skills. A part of the curriculum is common to what we teach at <keyword id="6354859" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="IIT">IIT</keyword>, Madras, and a part if it will be tailored to their specific needs," said IIT-M Director <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/topic/Bhaskar-Ramamurthi">Bhaskar Ramamurthi</a>. The new programme would place a coordinator and classroom at the industry location, where evening classes would be conducted by IIT-M faculty till the end of the course.

IIT Madras is offering M. Tech degree through distance learning

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/50792963.cms" />When one of India’s most disruptive innovators sits down for a fireside chat with the biggest maverick the country’s startup ecosystem ever produced, you know it’s got to be cracking. 
 Business Insider sat through the Sachin Bansal-Rahul Yadav session at the <keyword id="3226650" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="IIT-Bombay-Entrepreneurship-Summit-2016">IIT Bombay Entrepreneurship Summit 2016</keyword>, and we liked it. We liked it bad! 
 
Here are the best bits from the session that the heady combo churned out: 
 
IIT Magic 
 
Rahul: I was supposed to collect my degree on this stage. I didn’t do that. 
 
Sachin: IITs are definitely places where you learn the world is much bigger than you thought before you joined. That’s the first thing that hit me. 
 
At IIT you’ll find people pushing themselves on what they’re good at. You always find someone better than yourself. At the end, everybody who’s in IIT comes in after a lot of hard work and perseverance. That helps when you start a company as well. 
 
Rahul: For me it was meeting the best minds at one place. Bad infrastructure in hostels. Very small rooms, and you don’t have place to study. Thirdly, free movies, courts, and lots of activities. That’s IITs minus academics. 
 
Change in Indian Entrepreneurship Ecosystem 
 Sachin: The biggest problem really is that it still takes 45 days to incorporate a company. Those challenges still exist. After quitting our jobs, we launched <keyword id="6354742" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Flipkart">Flipkart</keyword> in 10 weeks. That was practically impossible, given the infrastructure that was available and the time the government takes to react. 
 
The other side has changed drastically. People are seriously considering starting up. These are good people from good colleges and good jobs. 
 
The investor’s side of things has improved a lot since 2007-08. Back then there were a very small number of investors chased by a very large number of entrepreneurs. Today, the equation has changed. High-quality entrepreneurs are getting multiple investors. 
 
Hiring is a big challenge for startups. Many people are now willing to join startups because of the challenge, and because of the significant wealth creation opportunity they see. 
 
Lot of change, really. 
 
Rahul: If you’re starting from college, team is not difficult. You need 5 people from 5 different streams. 
Secondly, you need a base where you all can work. Now it’s a mass story. Back then there were 2-3 startups. Capital is also not a problem. Seniors can put in money. Space can be a problem, that’s all. It’s very easy now. 
 
Sachin the Investor 
 
Sachin: India is at a stage where not a lot of technology transformation has happened in a lot of 
areas, and it is going to happen. Technology is going to transform a lot of things. 
 
Is the entrepreneur going for really big problems to the extent that it’s almost scary when they talk about it? That’s the level I want to look at. Often people go after small problems. That’s also a sign that they’re not confident. 
 
You also need very high quality understanding of the space you’re going to operate in. What I don’t look at is what they’re doing today. That really doesn’t matter. That will undergo so much transformation as things progress further. If you have a great team, and have great understanding, that’s good enough. 
 
As time progresses, execution becomes important as a company, but in the beginning it’s only the team and scaling. 
 
Lessons On Scaling 
 
Rahul: On day 1 we assigned our team. We were all out of college. Product, Tech and Design could scale easily. In areas like marketing, they never had much experienced. I didn’t add HR, Finance or 
 
Admin. I thought they were useless people, and you don’t need them. You have a product, you just sell. That’s not the way. You need these departments as you scale. 
 
Sachin: Change is the only constant. That’s the absolute reality of the situation. People who can change quickly, and are nimble get ahead. 
 
Growth Vs. Profitability 
 
Sachin: It depends on the space. If you’re operating in a hyper-growth market where there’s a lot of headroom to grow, growth has to take the priority. 
 
Even after 8 years, e-commerce is still 1.5% of India’s commerce. Still long way to go. It’s still not a meaningful portion. 
 
What’s hidden from the world is the fact that investors don’t just invest because you’re growing fast. You’ve got to show them you’re a high quality business, have great talent, are able to solve real consumer problems, and can be capital efficient. While you may be burning money in the short term, you need to show them how you’ll become profitable at some point of time. 
 
Housing’s Scaling Fiasco 
 
Rahul: Investors actually wanted to go a little slow. Sometimes it makes sense to grow and lock the market, but it some cases you really need to crack the template and then scale. The mistake we did 
is that if we were making losses in a city, rather than investing on the unit model, we scaled to 10 cities, and started burning money. 
 
On Investors 
 
Rahul: There are individual investors, people who put their personal money, and become advisors. Then there are funds. 
 
The individual investors are a support. They’re always there. My preference has always been taking limited capital from limited people and building the venture. 
 
Sometimes VCs are also confused. Sometimes they say they’ll invest for 5-7 years, and crack the market. Sometimes they see something not working, and get jittery. They start saying, let’s make it profitable. I don’t have so much respect for the fund managers, seriously. 
 
Investors in the US, they know the kind of products they fund. In India, most of the fund managers are not from the tech background. There’s that gap. 
 
Sachin: Not sure about that. There are some right investors. Rahul got all the wrong guys on the board, or something. However, if the investors are not aligned with what you’re planning to do, you’re going to have a very hard time. It’s important to make sure that investors are shareholders. 
 
You need to be very clear to them about your playbook, otherwise they can find somebody else, and you can find somebody else. 
 
Rahul: …but sometimes the power dynamics is not on your side. You need the funds, and you’re in a bad position. So then you get any sort of investors. You have no real option there. You have the bad guys, or shut down the venture altogether. 
 
Sachin: True. Sometimes companies get in positions where they have to get money from investors who don’t really understand their business models. You’re getting into that relationship hoping they’ll get it. Those things generally don’t work out. The founders need to be in-charge. If there are mistakes, it’s got to be their mistakes. They have to own that, and learn from it. 
 
Founder Shares 
 
Rahul: The young generation, if you give them Rs. 1-2 Crores, they’re ready to dilute 20-25% of their company. I see this interest in money. In India people dilute up to 90-95%, unlike the US where the entrepreneur hold 30-35%. Then you have a say. Here after 2-5 years you’ll eventually lose. 
 
Sachin: The primary interest has to be to take care of the business. Entrepreneur, employees and shareholders come later. If the business is successful, they’re all successful. If it isn’t, it doesn’t matter how many shares each has. You have to ensure that the business is well capitalized. 
 
On Competition 
 
Sachin: Competition motivates us. The worst thing that can happen to any company is to not have any competition. Then you really don’t move forward. 
Before this competition we were growing at arounf 40% YoY, after that we were growing at 200% YoY! 
 
On Managing Scrutiny and Speculation 
 
Rahul: So...like….I really don’t read articles about myself. The best thing is to really not care. That’s the best you can do. 
 
Sachin: I completely agree. You often see the media painting extreme pictures. Either super positive or super negative. It’s absolutely important to keep your focus on the right things, and if that means you stop watching news, or reading newspapers that’s completely fine. 
 
Rahul’s B-Plan 
 
Sachin: As I said, I don’t really look at the business plan. 90% of the business plan is going to change in the next 6 months. I met Rahul at one of the Flipkart conferences, and got to know his ideas. 
 
Rahul: I never make any plans. In IIT there was a module where you need to give a presentation. I just dropped that course. 
 
In my last startup also, there were 20 CEOs who wanted to support us. Some wanted the B-Plan. Jo nahi manga usko le liya, baki ko chod diya (I chose those who didn’t want it, and left out the others! 
 
Sachin: I talked to Rahul about the product he’s designing. He’s after a huge problem. At Flipkart, when I give something to the VP, that gets transferred multiple levels down, and by then it’s changed quite a bit. A lot is lost in translation. This is one of the problems. 
 
The least efficient organization in India, except a few pockets of excellence is the government. 
 
On <keyword id="536283" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rahul-Yadav">Rahul Yadav</keyword>’s Fantasy 
 
Sachin: That’s what he does, anyway *laughs*. 
 
Rahul: I think going to the Himalayas. It’s amazing really, the grandeur of Nature. 
 
Will Sachin join Rahul if Flipkart wasn’t there? 
 
Sachin: *Silence* I don’t know whether he’ll hire me! 
 
*Laughs and Hoots Galore* 
 
Indian Startups in Global Turmoil 
 
Sachin: The downward impact does percolate down to investments. In the short term we’re going to face some challenges. From top to bottom, people will become conscious of their investments. In the next 6 months to a year, we can see a little bit of the investment going down. However, just like the good times never last, the bad times don’t either. 
Rahul: Global problems will impact large companies. Students don’t need to worry about the global market. 
 
Sachin: I agree…The smaller players don’t need to worry. They have to create a meaningful product for the consumer, that’s all. The good thing about a downturn is that assets become cheaper, good people are out of jobs, and you can get them onboard. You can capitalize on that. 
 
(Image: Indiatimes)

Exclusive: When Sachin met Rahul

Tune into any bit of news these days, and you’re bound to come across the <keyword id="19978984" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="neet" source="keywords">NEET</keyword> controversy. With allegations of <keyword id="20118897" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bribery" source="keywords">bribery</keyword>, paper leaks and a dozen other crimes making for some murky water ahead for India’s future medical aspirations, there is no wonder the <keyword id="20039944" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="scam" source="keywords">scam</keyword> has been plastered all over the news cycle over the past week. NEET, which stands for National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, is a mandatory test a student must attempt if they wish to pursue <keyword id="21099893" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="medical-courses" source="keywords">medical courses</keyword> in India and abroad. This extremely competitive exam is conducted once a year by the National Testing Agency (<keyword id="19985628" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="NTA" source="keywords">NTA</keyword>) in different locations all over the country, where students can score between -180 and 720 marks. Nearly 24 lakh aspirants participated from 4,750 centres this year. Here’s a list of all major events so far. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="NEET result declared" comment="subhead" text="NEET result declared">NEET result declared</cmsannotation> Less than a month after the exam was conducted on May 5, 2024, the NTA declared the NEET-UG 2024 exam results on its official website. Right from the get-go, things appeared suspicious, considering how the results were announced ten days earlier than their normal date. Many also pointed out how the NTA’s results coincided with the outcome of the 2024 Indian general election, calling it a ploy to distract from the <keyword id="21286400" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="malpractice" source="keywords">malpractice</keyword> at play. Further, many centres had faced several exam disruptions, which could have placed certain students at a disadvantage. As a result, the NTA announced that an appropriate “normalisation” formula would be applied to compensate for these interruptions. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Parents question how 67 candidates achieved full marks" comment="subhead" text="Parents question how 67 candidates achieved full marks">Parents question how 67 candidates achieved full marks</cmsannotation> As per test results, 67 candidates had topped the NEET with a perfect 720 score — something that was unprecedented in NEET-UG history. For context, only two students acquired the All India Rank 1 in 2023, with the highest being 3 toppers in 2021. Further probing revealed that six of these 2024 first-rankers were from a single centre in Haryana, making for some highly unlikely coincidences. In addition, some students had scored 718 and 719 marks, which was pointed out to be mathematically impossible as per NEET’s grading systems. These outcomes, combined with allegations of leaked <keyword id="20263157" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="question-papers" source="keywords">question papers</keyword>, led to public outcry and protests that demanded that the Education Ministry re-conduct the examination. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="NTA provides explanations" comment="subhead" text="NTA provides explanations">NTA provides explanations</cmsannotation> Later on, the NTA clarified that the process of normalisation, alongside easier physics and chemistry sections, might have led to some students acquiring these “impossible” mark sheets. However, many were not satisfied with these explanations and questioned how some students had a much higher rank than their peers with the exact same marks. Further, the NTA admitted there was an “incorrect distribution of papers” at the Haryana centre with six toppers. This led to lost time and thus the normalisation of marks was applied here too. Unsatisfied, many experts demanded a probe into the mechanism behind the grace marks. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Problems with the paper" comment="subhead" text="Problems with the paper">Problems with the paper</cmsannotation> As per The News Minute, 13,000 students flagged a particular question on the paper since it had two correct answers mentioned. Considering that NEET deducts marks for incorrect answers, many resorted to avoiding that question, losing out on crucial marks in the process. Many candidates have demanded that the NTA omit the question in the process of evaluation. In addition, many of the toppers attempted this erroneous question, which many found fishy. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Courts demand answers from NTA" comment="subhead" text="Courts demand answers from NTA">Courts demand answers from NTA</cmsannotation> The NTA was subsequently taken to the Calcutta and Delhi High Courts, where questions were raised on the vast number of toppers this year, in addition to the legitimacy of the grace marks awarded. While the NTA refused to conduct a re-exam for all 25 lakh students who wrote the NEET, committees were formed to investigate the grace marks given to 1,563 candidates, and why certain centres had unusual time lapses during the examination process. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Supreme Court intervenes, orders re-exam for 1563 students awarded grace marks" comment="subhead" text="Supreme Court intervenes, orders re-exam for 1563 students awarded grace marks">Supreme Court intervenes, orders re-exam for 1563 students awarded grace marks</cmsannotation> Calling the grace marks “arbitrary”, a petition was officially filed in the Supreme Court to challenge the NTA’s decision on the compensatory marks. Amidst falling trust in the examination system, the Supreme Court ordered a re-test for the 1,563 students who were given these grace marks at the initial NEET exam. This was to take place on June 23, with the declaration of results within a week. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="NTA withdraws grace marks" comment="subhead" text="NTA withdraws grace marks">NTA withdraws grace marks</cmsannotation> The NEET tells the Supreme Court that it has cancelled all grace marks awarded to 1,563 candidates, leading the number of top rankers to drop to 61. The outcome of the retest will determine whether these students will retain their top rank. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="No corruption at play, says Education Minister" comment="subhead" text="No corruption at play, says Education Minister">No corruption at play, says Education Minister</cmsannotation> Despite many claims of malpractice, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan denies any allegations of corruption. A few days later, however, Pradhan acknowledged there were irregularities at two exam centres. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Anonymous tip leads Bihar police to uncover nationwide fraud" comment="subhead" text="Anonymous tip leads Bihar police to uncover nationwide fraud">Anonymous tip leads Bihar police to uncover nationwide fraud</cmsannotation> Hours before the initial NEET-UG exam in May, Patna police received an anonymous tip-off leading them to find four suspected criminals. These individuals led the police to a meeting place where around 30 candidates had allegedly gathered to memorise leaked questions and answers. A top source from Bihar’s Economic Offenses Unit (EOU) — to whom the investigation was later handed over to — explained that such a practice might be happening nationwide. These papers were found burnt at an individual’s flat, who later confessed to the crime. "Photocopies of the question papers were given to the candidates and they were told to memorise the answers. The duplicate question papers were collected later in the morning and burnt," explained a source to The Times of India. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="‘Solver’ gang in Bihar" comment="subhead" text="‘Solver’ gang in Bihar">‘Solver’ gang in Bihar</cmsannotation> The EOU later found evidence that there might be several gangs involved in the <keyword id="20116086" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="paper-leak" source="keywords">paper leak</keyword>. They speculate that ‘solver’ gangs from Nalanda might have acquired the question paper from Jharkhand, solved it with experts, and then passed it on to the prime accused from Khagaria. In a confession statement, the prime accused admitted that they demanded between Rs 30-32 lakhs from each student, with the intermediate charging around Rs 40 lakh from each aspirant. The EOU makes many dozens more arrests. There are also speculations that these gangs provided proxy candidates to take the tests for the students. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Jharkhand private school leaked the paper" comment="subhead" text="Jharkhand private school leaked the paper">Jharkhand private school leaked the paper</cmsannotation> The Patna police then arrested five Nalanda residents, including key architect Baldev Kumar, who is also associated with the notorious Sanjeev Kumar, alias Lutan Mukhiya gang. These suspects, accused of multiple interstate paper leaks, allegedly received the NEET-UG solved answer sheets in PDF format a day before the exam. The Mukhiya gang procured the papers from a private school in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, as per the police report. "The gang had been plotting this for several months and it was a professor from Hazaribagh who had sent the question papers to Sanjeev using WhatsApp. Later, with the help of medical students from Patna and Ranchi, the paper was solved," explained a top official to ToI. Photocopied versions of the paper were given to around 30 candidates staying at a “safe house” in Patna. The other members of the Mukhiya gang have since confessed to providing duplicate SIM cards, mobile phones and accommodation for the gang members involved in the leak. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Political connections" comment="subhead" text="Political connections"><keyword id="22176947" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="political-connections" source="keywords">Political connections</keyword></cmsannotation> Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav, and also the leader of the opposition in Bihar, has now claimed that Mukhiya’s political links are preventing the arrest of Sanjeev Kumar. "The investigative agencies are not arresting Mukhiya because of his political connections. I will expose his pictures with politicians in the time to come," he told reporters. The RJD has also released a photo of Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary with Amit Anand. In response, another Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha noted that Tejashwi had prior knowledge of the accused. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Blue Dart and SBI involved" comment="subhead" text="Blue Dart and SBI involved">Blue Dart and SBI involved</cmsannotation> As per The Print, the leaks might have been due to oversight from courier company Blue Dart and the State Bank of India. A preliminary probe suggested that both organisations failed to comply with norms during the transport of the question papers. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Godhra centre teachers asked to fill in answer sheets" comment="subhead" text="Godhra centre teachers asked to fill in answer sheets">Godhra centre teachers asked to fill in answer sheets</cmsannotation> According to a report by The Print, dozens of students allegedly paid between 10 lakh and two crores to a coaching institute in Godhra, Gujarat, to receive help from their teachers during the exam. As per the report, the coaching institute, which was in cohorts with the exam centre, would fill in the OMR sheets for the students after the test ended. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Maharashtra teachers detained, possible Delhi connection" comment="subhead" text="Maharashtra teachers detained, possible Delhi connection">Maharashtra teachers detained, possible Delhi connection</cmsannotation> Suspecting involvement in the NEET paper leaks, the Nanded Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) detained two teachers, Sanjay Tukaram Jadhav and Jalil Umar Khan Pathan, as per a Moneycontrol report. In addition to teaching, both individuals run private coaching institutes in Latur. As per reports, the FIR also mentions Delhi-based Gangadhar and Iranna Kongalwar. These new suspects may have helped Jadhav and Pathan contact aspirants ready to pay for the leaked paper. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Only 52% appear for NEET re-exam, toppers unlikely to repeat performance" comment="subhead" text="Only 52% appear for NEET re-exam, toppers unlikely to repeat performance">Only 52% appear for NEET re-exam, toppers unlikely to repeat performance</cmsannotation> After all this controversy, the NEET 2024 re-test was finally conducted for 1563 candidates across four states on June 23. However, only half of these students managed to appear for the exam. The six students who topped with full marks from the aforementioned Haryana centre noted that it is unlikely that they will repeat their perfect performance, considering how the retest was more challenging than the previous iteration. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Government passes law to curb exam malpractices" comment="subhead" text="Government passes law to curb exam malpractices">Government passes law to curb exam malpractices</cmsannotation> The government introduced the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act 2024 in February. It aims to curb malpractices and irregularities in competitive examinations. Under the new law, offenders can see a maximum jail term of 10 years and a fine of up to RS 1 crore. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="NTA Chief removed from office" comment="subhead" text="NTA Chief removed from office">NTA Chief removed from office</cmsannotation> Following the uproar, the Chief of the NTA, Subodh Kumar Singh, was removed from his post and placed on “compulsory wait” in the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). Further, a high-level committee of experts under former ISRO and IIT Kanpur chairman Dr K Radhakrishan has been appointed to ensure smooth, transparent and fair examinations.

Paper leak, massive bribes, political connections: Here's all you need to know about the NEET exam controversy

<ul><li>The coronavirus pandemic has already cast a shadow on business prospects and therefore the economy and employment all around the world. </li><li>Digital skills offer college graduates a better chance of getting hired as well as better salaries. </li><li><keyword id="6354512" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Infosys">Infosys</keyword> offers two assessment programmes — ‘power programmer’ and ‘InfyTQ’ — which evaluates <keyword id="6390508" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="freshers">freshers</keyword> and allows them to compete for a higher starting salary. </li><li>The ‘power programmers’ are hired at twice the slated salary but they go through a tougher test.</li></ul>One of the biggest issues in Indian IT industry is that the starting salaries for engineers have not improved in over a decade— it has gone up from about ₹3.5 lakh per annum a decade ago to about ₹4.5 lakh now. However, Krish Shankar, the Group HR Head of Infosys told Business Insider in an exclusive interview, what the tech major is looking for in campus hires this year — ‘power programmers’. “Some of the skills that I can either learn on Infosys campus with a ₹4.5 lakh salary or I can do something alongside an engineering degree and come on board. If you’re at the base without much of a skill, it is tough,” he said. 
 
 
 <div type="Youtube" id="mw9KB_XNoKE" title="Want To Know What The Group HR Head At Infosys Is Looking for in Hires this season?" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mw9KB_XNoKE/mqdefault.jpg"></div>







 Get twice the starting salary for ‘digital skills’ The ‘power programmers’ are hired at twice the slated salary but they go through a tougher test. “They are hired at almost double the starting salary of other campus hires. If people can pass the test and come as a power programmer then I think that’s fine,” Shankar said. <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none;"><colgroup></colgroup><col /><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;">Skills companies need most in 2020 </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;">Blockchain </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;">Cloud computing </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;">Analytical reasoning </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;">Artificial intelligence </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;">UX Design </td></tr></tbody></table> This is similar to the National Qualifier Test organised by <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/tcs-fresh-hires-can-double-their-salary-if-they-pass-an-internal-test/articleshow/71594366.cms">Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)</a> for freshers and experienced employees to get higher pay packages. The Tata Group company said that the salary of freshers will be twice the slated entry level compensation, if they pass the test. If you don’t have the time on campus… InfyTQ is an elearning platform that brings in students, who are still in the third or final year of their course, to learn and give a test. Once they pass the test, they get an offer. “The InfyTQ is a learning-cum-assessment platform. They learn and pass the test and we shorten the training program and fast track them. Our fast track program training takes place in Mysore. If in the first six months they come in the top 5% or 10%, we accelerate their growth within two years and they can really move on to the next level. So, if people learn fast and perform, then I think the opportunities are phenomenal,” Shankar explained. The tech major shortlists these employees with internal coding tests and hackathons. “Even people who have already joined us, and can pass the test and hackathon, we tend to put them as power programmers,” Shankar added. The programme was initially started for the employees within the company, and later expanded to students across India. The number of <a href="https://infytq.infosys.com/">registrations went up to 300,000</a>, soon after it was introduced. Of the total students who completed the programme, 1,800 were hired — including 400 in specialist roles, which are normally open to students from elite colleges like IIT. Coronavirus is making the age of automation even tougher for job seekers The spread of coronavirus is threatening to bring the global economy to a standstill. In India, it has cast a shadow on potential hiring and that means students will have to try harder to improve the odds of getting a well-paying job. The software giant also has a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/after-tcs-infosys-reportedly-plans-to-double-salaries-for-coding-experts/articleshow/72433074.cms">‘Digital Tag</a>’ initiative, which focuses on incentivising employees who are proficient in any of the 36 skills identified by the company. The company offers special quarterly bonuses to 2,000 skilled employees. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/tcs-fresh-hires-can-double-their-salary-if-they-pass-an-internal-test/articleshow/71594366.cms">TCS fresh hires can double their salary if they pass an internal test</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/coronavirus-has-made-infosys-cautious-on-everything-from-new-hiring-to-new-deals/articleshow/74591432.cms">Coronavirus has made Infosys cautious⁠⁠⁠— here's an exclusive chat with the management</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/top-tcs-exec-venguswamy-ramaswamy-explains-what-companies-are-looking-for-from-campus-hires-this-year/articleshow/73961288.cms">A top TCS exec explains what companies are looking for from campus hires this year</a>

EXCLUSIVE: Infosys Group HR Head explains what he is looking for in campus hires this year

<ul><li>The process of creating election manifestos and guiding public policy has become more formal and a dynamic process.</li><li>An increasing number of youngsters are taking part but not all of them are fully ready for the grind.</li><li>Public policy schools in India should aim to produce practitioners and not just focus on theories.</li><li>To have a successful career in public policy, one must account for many factors ranging from domain expertise and on-ground experience to personality traits.</li></ul>There seems to be a surge in the number of youngsters wanting to participate actively in the big public debates of our time. To cater to the demand, many public policy schools have mushroomed offering degrees and certification programmes. Existing institutions such as IIT Delhi, Ashoka University and Xavier University Bhubaneswar and new ones such as Indian Institute of Democratic Leadership, Rishihood University, Indian School of Democracy have jumped into the space. There has been an exponential growth in the involvement of young graduates and professionals in election campaigns. If war rooms of the 2009 election campaign resembled “petty shops”, those in 2019 were “hypermarkets”. Also what was hitherto an unorganised set-up saw “formalisation” with many election management agencies coming to the fore, employing youngsters in private company-like set-ups. The government is keen to rope in young professionals with interest in public policy Not only that, the first term of Modi can be considered a watershed in offering opportunities to young professionals in government. In the ministries, or through agencies such as NITI Aayog, Invest India, the government opened up spaces for youngsters to play a part in nation-building. Concurrent developments in state governments should also not be forgotten. Apart from election campaigns and government, students wishing to pursue careers in media, think tanks, non-profits, international agencies, social sector consulting firms, communication firms etc. are seeking insights into the policy world. Some people sign up for these courses just to make sense of the conversations on social media. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 But there seems to be general vagueness about the KSAs (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities) demanded for performing these roles. The lack of clarity is quite understandable as there is a great diversity of roles within the policy space. For instance, in political campaigns, the KSAs required for preparation of manifestos are quite different from that for creating media campaigns or on-ground coordination. In the government too, media management is different from policy research or programme management. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 Given this width of the policy spectrum and the fact that generalised knowledge in today’s world available for free, it is imperative to mould public policy institutions as schools of practice. Policy schools should sensitise students to the “arts and crafts” of policy making than teaching the “hard knowledge” of drafting policies. Public policy formation needs domain expertise A fundamental flaw in designing curriculums of policy schools will be to see them as extended economics or political science departments. Recently, Harvard professor Ricardo Hausmann articulated this with quite a flair on the differences between the “science” of economics and “practice” of policy (“Don’t Blame Economics, Blame Public Policy”, Project Syndicate). Public policy programmes should, in many ways, be thought of as generalist finishing schools for students that bring with them domain knowledge and ambition to contribute. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 It is important for policy schools to focus on understanding of Indian political systems and bureaucracy and on how to deliver within those frameworks. Answering a simple question such as, “How to build a ring road around a city?” would necessitate knowing the ecosystem beyond just the technical and financial feasibility studies of the proposed project. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 Train, train ⁠— it never goes in vain Looked that way, it is obvious that most policy jobs are apprenticeships. Like an aspiring Bollywood actor or a carpenter, the skills are learned on the job over a period of time. Internships can provide a much-required orientation to such roles. Also success in such a whimsical field of work, with so many uncontrollable factors, calls for deep and constant self-inquiry. Whether philosophical and psychological resilience could be taught in schools through leadership curses has always been the stuff of debates. But mentoring can definitely help. Find the right fit for you — even if it is through trial and error Students should be guided to figure out their place in the policy world based on their affinities and personality traits. At the risk of stereotyping, someone who can handle sharp elbows can find politics amenable, while some who is happy leading niche causes can find smaller non-profit organisations attractive. Exposure to newsrooms, non-profit fieldwork or think-tanks or communication firms will help students find where they fit best. Above all of these, policy practitioners should understand the society they want to serve better. No amount of training will help if there is no immersive experience of working in a village or with the urban poor for a reasonably long period of time. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 Since policy education itself is a burgeoning field, entrepreneurs will keep fine-tuning offerings. Some schools may endeavour to produce policy wonks, some may focus on soft-skills, while others on field work, etc. A bouquet of programme offerings perhaps might help cater to diversity of demand from students. Basic understanding of working of our politics, government and society will have to compliment strong domain knowledge to be effective in the policy world. Policy schools should coach our compassionate and idealistic youngsters to be psychologically resilient so that they are able to withstand the storms and serve the society over long periods. Banuchandar Nagarajan is a public policy Adviser. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/cognizant-and-capgemini-are-taking-steps-to-reskill-over-60000-employees/articleshow/72154055.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Learn or leave — tech majors are either reskilling employees or slashing jobs</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/upgrad-has-almost-half-of-its-online-learner-base-in-tier-2-and-tier-3-cities/articleshow/72036958.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">This Indian startup gains as students from Tier 2 and 3 cities opt for online digital courses</a>

Election war rooms in India have become “hypermarkets” offering careers in public policy⁠— but just interest is not enough

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/56c591d06e97c61f048b7e41-1376/travis kalanick uber ceo.jpg" alt="Travis Kalanick Uber CEO" data-mce-source="REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui" data-mce-caption="Uber CEO Travis Kalanick speaks to students during an interaction at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) campus in Mumbai, India, January 19, 2016.">REUTERS/Danish SiddiquiUber CEO Travis Kalanick speaks to students during an interaction at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) campus in Mumbai, India, January 19, 2016.</img></div></div></div>"Do not throw kegs off tall buildings" seems like an obvious rule.But maybe not an Uber. In advance of a 2013 company party in Miami, CEO Travis Kalanick felt it necessary to spell it out for employees, along with a whole host of other do's and don'ts. On Thursday, <a href="https://www.recode.net/2017/6/8/15765514/2013-miami-letter-uber-ceo-kalanick-employees-sex-rules-company-celebration">Recode made public an internal email</a> Kalanick sent to his hundreds of employees ahead of the 2013 bash. Reading a lot like what a college fraternity president might send out to his brothers, the email spelled out in sophomoric terms rules not only about drinking and what not to do with kegs but also about sex.Sex with Uber colleagues was definitely in the don't category, Kalanick wrote, unless "you have asked that person for that privilege and they have responded with an emphatic 'YES! I will have sex with you'" and "the two (or more) of you do not work in the same chain of command."Seemingly commiserating with employees about the rule's implications, Kalanick added, "Yes, that means that Travis will be celibate on this trip. #CEOLife #FML."FML is short for f**k my life. He also helpfully noted that puking on the premise would incur a $200 fine. Uber representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the leaked email.The leaked email comes amid a months-long investigation into Uber's workplace culture. The company acknowledged on Tuesday it had <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/uber-fires-eric-alexander-who-allegedly-obtained-medical-records-2017-6">fired over 20 employees as a result</a> of the investigation into sexual harassment and other bad behavior at the company. The spotlight has been on the company's bro culture since Kalanick launched an internal investigation in February after <a href="https://www.susanjfowler.com/blog/2017/2/19/reflecting-on-one-very-strange-year-at-uber" rel="nofollow">a former employee, Susan Fowler, said in a personal blog post</a> that she was sexually harassed and experienced gender bias during her time at the company. The company has been interviewing its employees internally, as well as having Perkins Coie and Holder investigate the company's workplace.You can read Kalanick's full memo to his employees <a href="https://www.recode.net/2017/6/8/15765514/2013-miami-letter-uber-ceo-kalanick-employees-sex-rules-company-celebration">on Recode</a>. <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/aurora-uber-air-elevate-vtol-flying-car-vehicle-2017-4">Uber wants to carry you around in a flying car - here's what it could look like</a></h3> <div> <div> <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script> <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="N1NWJ4YTE6oD5e1hJK_5uz4VFSww7_30" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div> <script> if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; } RunFunctions.push(function() { var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', 'N1NWJ4YTE6oD5e1hJK_5uz4VFSww7_30',{ autoplay: 'false' }); }); </script> <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div> </div> <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script> </div>

Uber's CEO wrote a frat-like letter to employees about how to handle sex, drinking, and kegs at a company party

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/58f10f80cf6d8fcf008b4abf-700/undefined" alt="FILE PHOTO - Uber CEO Travis Kalanick speaks to students during an interaction at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) campus in Mumbai, India, January 19, 2016. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui/File photo" data-mce-source="Thomson Reuters" data-mce-caption="FILE PHOTO - Uber CEO Kalanick speaks to students during an interaction at IIT campus in Mumbai" />Thomson ReutersFILE PHOTO - Uber CEO Kalanick speaks to students during an interaction at IIT campus in Mumbai</div></div></div><ul><li>Travis Kalanick, the co-founder and CEO of Uber, has stepped down as the ride-hailing company's top executive.</li><li>Brand experts welcome the move, saying it's the first step Uber needs to reinvent itself.</li><li>The company and Kalanick's rise and fall offers several lessons for other brands.</li><li>Brands must not deprioritize culture, respond quickly in the face of crisis, appoint the right leaders and cultivate their employees as their key advocates, say experts.</li></ul>A week after Travis Kalanick announced that <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/travis-kalanick-is-taking-time-away-from-uber-2017-6">he would take a leave of absence</a>, the Uber CEO <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/uber-ceo-travis-kalanick-out-2017-6">has gone one step further and stepped down</a> as the ride-hailing company's top executive. The move came under pressure from Uber's top investors, including Fidelity and Benchmark, who asked Kalanick to resign in the wake of numerous scandals that have plagued the company in recent months. Uber has been swept up in a swirl of societal discontent recently - and it's hurt the brand. It's something that branding experts say could've been avoided. Here are the lessons that other companies can learn from Uber -- and Travis Kalanick's -- spectacular rise and fall:<h2>In the face of crisis, respond swiftly</h2>In the age of social media, where everything is instantly amplified, brands cannot afford to sit back and expect crises to fizzle. Controversies can swell way beyond their expectations, and their response needs to be prompt if they want to minimize the damage to their reputations "There are no easy fixes for a company so rocked by scandal," Jeremy Morgan, a partner in Lippincott's organizational engagement practice, <a href="http://fortune.com/2017/03/22/uber-president-resigns-travis-kalanick/">wrote in Fortune.</a> "In today's transparent, social world, token gestures carry little weight."Uber's brand first took a hit when it appeared to try to profit off a taxi strike in New York City back in January. It was a tone-deaf move since the strike was a protest against the Trump administration's first attempt at an immigration ban. Its troubles only intensified when former employee <a href="https://www.susanjfowler.com/blog/2017/2/19/reflecting-on-one-very-strange-year-at-uber">Susan Fowler</a> raised serious allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination at the company in February.While the company stepped up, and eventually released results of an intensive, months long investigation, it came too little, too late. Branding experts said that not only should the company have demonstrated better commitment in dealing with the crisis, but also that Kalanick should have stepped aside long ago."They were extremely slow to react and respond," said Andy Gilman, CEO at crisis communications firm CommCore Consulting Group. "Only now do they seem to be saying that this is serious."<h2>Leadership is key</h2>A company's CEO is not only a company's face, but also the single biggest reflection of corporate character. There is no way to avoid the fact that the way your CEO is viewed will directly impact the way a brand is received, said Ben Ricciardi, CEO of branding agency Times10. That can be a very good thing. Think Tesla, for example. Or bad, as was the case with Uber. "Kalanick was toxic for the brand given his perceived indifference to the problems surrounding the company, which not only eroded public trust but likely impacted internal culture as well," said Susan Cantor, CEO at Red Peak Branding. "His departure is the first step to remedying both."Kalanick's exit may seem like a big blow, but it's not the end of the road for Uber. Plenty of executives have departed during times of crisis, and the companies have done just fine, including Wells Fargo after its phony bank and credit-card account scandal last year, Volkswagen with its emissions cheating scandal in 2015 and even Apple when Steve Jobs first left.If anything, Kalanick's departure is the first step Uber needs to reinvent itself. "Kalanick's presence was symbolic of the apathy and toxicity that has characterized Uber of late, and his resignation is the first step to rehabilitating their brand image," she said.<h2>Make your employees and consumers your advocates </h2>Uber's current troubles stem from the fact that it let its employees and its drivers down. With its laser-focus on products and services, it overlooked the very people that would give it the first line of defense in that hundreds of thousands of brand loyalists could defend its moves, said Times10's Ricciardi. "Your employees are your greatest ambassadors. Or they are not," he said. "When past and current employees reflect negatively on your company's culture or approach, it can, and most likely will, suffer greatly."Uber needs to treat its drivers better, and invest in community-building efforts, said Chris Allieri, founder and principal of the public-relations firm Mulberry &amp; Astor. Perhaps it could take a page from competitor Lyft's playbook, who has embarked on an aggressive campaign to position itself as a socially conscious alternative in a crowded field, and is <a href="http://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/how-lyft-plans-to-accelerate-its-momentum-with-a-new-brand-marketing-vp-and-agency-roster/">ramping up it marketing</a> as well as community engagement efforts. "Uber's example shows that brands need to have ongoing community relations efforts," Allieri said. "Not just market to them and do crisis communications in times of need."<h2>Invest in culture </h2>The Bay Area's tech startup culture, which Uber personified, has long been heralded as a huge plus. But the very brash irreverence that propelled Uber forward at first ended up being responsible for its downfall. Uber lacked a cohesive culture and corporate character, and ultimately, its go-getter, adversarial and combative culture ended up coming back to bite it."In today's day and age, a brand needs to stand for something, and unfortunately there was no rallying cry around Uber," said Mulberry &amp; Astor's Allieri. "Had Uber aligned itself with and had a stronger take on community, environmental or political issues, they might have had a bit more of a halo around them."Culture is more important today than ever before, and consumers expect brands to have causes and reward altruism, added Red Peak's Cantor."Altruistic companies have a higher rate of retention and greater resonance with the audiences," she said. <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/worlds-tallest-mountain-not-mt-everest-2017-6">Mount Everest is not the tallest mountain in the world</a></h3> <div> <div> <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script> <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="Brc2c1NzE66m5PuS1V10kYI_StWBfg4P" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div> <script> if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; } RunFunctions.push(function() { var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', 'Brc2c1NzE66m5PuS1V10kYI_StWBfg4P',{ autoplay: 'false' }); }); </script> <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div> </div> <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script> </div>

You Searched For "IIT fines students" and got 14 results

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Election war rooms in India have become “hypermarkets” offering careers in public policy⁠— but just interest is not enough

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Uber's CEO wrote a frat-like letter to employees about how to handle sex, drinking, and kegs at a company party

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