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The Maharashtra government has declared a day of mourning on Thursday (October 10) to honour the late <keyword id="19981455" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ratan-Tata" source="keywords">Ratan Tata</keyword>, a towering figure in Indian industry, who passed away on Wednesday night at the age of 86. Tata, celebrated for leading the <keyword id="19924335" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tata-Group" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Tata Group" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Tata Group">Tata Group</keyword> to international acclaim, died at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai following a brief illness. In the early hours of Thursday morning, his remains were transported from the hospital to his Colaba residence, accompanied by a police escort. Several prominent figures, including Maharashtra Chief Minister <keyword id="19913631" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Eknath-Shinde" source="keywords">Eknath Shinde</keyword>, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar, and industrialist Mukesh Ambani, visited the hospital upon learning of his passing. The Maharashtra Chief Minister’s Office confirmed that, as a mark of respect, the state flag would be flown at half-mast on Thursday, and all entertainment activities would be paused for the day. The public will have the opportunity to pay their respects to Ratan Tata at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in south Mumbai, where his body will lie in state from 10 am to 3:30 pm. Tata’s final rites are scheduled to be performed later on Thursday in Worli. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced late Wednesday night that Ratan Tata will be accorded a state funeral. In a post on X, CM Shinde described Tata as a “unique blend of morality and entrepreneurship” and hailed him as a living legend who successfully led the Tata Group, a conglomerate with a 150-year legacy. “Ratan ji Tata’s mortal remains will be accorded a state funeral,” Shinde said as per a PTI report. Praising Tata’s legacy, Shinde said that the industrialist will remain a source of inspiration for future generations of entrepreneurs. He also recalled Tata’s unwavering strength during the 26/11 terror attacks, when the Tata Group’s Taj Hotel in Colaba was one of the primary targets of the 2008 tragedy. “His resoluteness during the 26/11 terror attack will always be remembered,” the Chief Minister added. Tata, born on 28 December 1937 in Mumbai, was the driving force behind the growth of the Tata Group from 1991 until his retirement in 2012. He was also known for his philanthropy, serving as Chairman of the <keyword id="20869864" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ratan-Tata-Trust" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Ratan Tata Trust" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Ratan Tata Trust">Ratan Tata Trust</keyword> and Dorabji Tata Trust, two of India’s largest private-sector philanthropic organisations. In 2008, he was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan, the country’s second-highest civilian award. (With PTI inputs)

Ratan Tata to be accorded state funeral, Maharashtra declares day of mourning to honour Tata Group chairman

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (<keyword id="41780" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="iisc" source="Orion">IISc</keyword>) have developed a brain-inspired analog computing platform capable of storing and processing <keyword id="6355729" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="data" source="Orion">data</keyword> in an astonishing 16,500 conductance states within a molecular film. Published on September 11 in the journal Nature, this breakthrough represents a huge step forward over traditional digital computers in which data storage and processing are limited to just two states, the IISc s<keyword id="6355999" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ai" source="Orion">ai</keyword>d. In a press release, the institute said that such a platform could potentially bring complex AI tasks, like training Large Language Models (LLMs), to personal devices like laptops and smartphones, thus taking us closer to democratising the development of AI tools. These developments are currently restricted to resource-heavy data centres, due to a lack of energy-efficient hardware. With silicon electronics nearing saturation, designing brain-inspired accelerators that can work alongside silicon chips to deliver faster, more efficient AI is also becoming crucial. "Neuromorphic computing has had its fair share of unsolved challenges for over a decade," explained <keyword id="23122611" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sreetosh-goswami" source="keywords">Sreetosh Goswami</keyword>, Assistant Professor at the Centre for Nano Science and Engineering (CeNSE), IISc, who led the research team. "With this discovery, we have almost nailed the perfect system - a rare feat," he said. According to IISc, the fundamental operation underlying most AI algorithms is quite basic - matrix multiplication, a concept taught in high school maths. But in digital computers, these calculations hog a lot of energy. The platform developed by the IISc team drastically cuts down both the time and energy involved, making these calculations a lot faster and easier. The molecular system at the heart of the platform was designed by <keyword id="23122609" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sreebrata-goswami" source="keywords">Sreebrata Goswami</keyword>, Visiting Professor at CeNSE. As molecules and ions wiggle and move within a material film, they create countless unique memory states, many of which have been inaccessible so far. Most digital devices are only able to access two states (high and low conductance), without being able to tap into the infinite number of intermediate states possible. By using precisely timed voltage pulses, the IISc team found a way to effectively trace a much larger number of molecular movements, and map each of these to a distinct electrical signal, forming an extensive "molecular diary" of different states. "This project brought together the precision of electrical engineering with the creativity of chemistry, letting us control molecular kinetics very precisely inside an electronic circuit powered by nanosecond voltage pulses," explained Goswami. "Tapping into these tiny molecular changes allowed the team to create a highly precise and efficient neuromorphic accelerator, which can store and process data within the same location, similar to the human brain. Such accelerators can be seamlessly integrated with silicon circuits to boost their performance and energy efficiency," the IISc said. IISc researchers said the key challenge that the team faced was characterising the various conductance states, which proved impossible using existing equipment. The team designed a custom circuit board that could measure voltages as tiny as a millionth of a volt, to pinpoint these individual states with unprecedented accuracy. It also turned this scientific discovery into a technological feat. The team was able to recreate NASA's iconic "Pillars of Creation" image from the James Webb Space Telescope data - originally created by a <keyword id="6537818" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="supercomputer" source="Orion">supercomputer</keyword> - using just a tabletop computer. They were also able to do this at a fraction of the time and energy that traditional computers would need. Using their AI accelerator, the team recreated NASA's iconic "Pillars of Creation" image from the James Webb Space Telescope data on a tabletop computer - achieving this in a fraction of the time and energy required by traditional systems, it said. The team includes several students and research fellows at IISc. They also collaborated with Stanley Williams, Professor at Texas A&amp;M University and Damien Thompson, Professor at the University of Limerick, it added. The researchers believe that this breakthrough could be one of India's biggest leaps in AI hardware, putting the country on the map of global technology innovation. Navakanta Bhat, Professor at CeNSE and an expert in silicon electronics led the circuit and system design in this project. "What stands out is how we have transformed complex physics and chemistry understanding into groundbreaking technology for AI hardware," Goswami explained. "In the context of the India Semiconductor Mission, this development could be a game-changer, revolutionising industrial, consumer and strategic applications. The national importance of such research cannot be overstated," he said. With support from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, the IISc team is now focused on developing a fully indigenous integrated neuromorphic chip. "This is a completely home-grown effort, from materials to circuits and systems," he emphasised. "We are well on our way to translating this technology into a system-on-a-chip," he added.

IISc scientists develop brain-inspired analog computing platform capable of storing, processing data

<keyword id="19915124" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ISRO" source="keywords">ISRO</keyword> has targeted to <keyword id="19997100" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="launch" source="keywords">launch</keyword> the first mission of the ambitious <keyword id="19945102" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Gaganyaan" source="keywords">Gaganyaan</keyword> project by December, a top official said here on Friday. Currently, some of the rocket hardware for the human <keyword id="41531" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="space" source="Orion">space</keyword> programme has reached the <keyword id="20021373" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Satish-Dhawan-Space-Centre" source="keywords">Satish Dhawan Space Centre</keyword> here and the integration of the crew module was going on at the <keyword id="20054184" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Vikram-Sarabhai-Space-Centre" source="keywords">Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre</keyword>, Trivandrum, ISRO Chairman <keyword id="19929547" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="s-somanath" source="keywords">S Somanath</keyword> said. "Today, we are working on the first mission of the Gaganyaan called G1. The first unmanned mission. The status today is the rocket, the S200 stage, the L1, C32 stage are all at Satish Dhawan Space Centre," he said. He said the Crew Module integration was going on at VSSC Trivandrum while Crew Escape hardware was also ready. "So, we have to complete with full wiring and testing should be done. Our target is by November the whole system will reach here, possibly by December launch will happen," he said, responding to a query. Somanath was talking to reporters after successfully launching the third and final developmental flight of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle that placed the Earth Observation Satellite into orbit earlier in the day. The success of the third and final developmental flight would pave the way for launch of commercial missions using the smallest vehicle by ISRO's commercial arm <keyword id="20038721" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="NewSpace-India-Ltd" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="NewSpace India Ltd" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="NewSpace India Ltd">NewSpace India Ltd</keyword> (NSIL). Today's successful mission of <keyword id="21471593" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="SSLV" source="keywords">SSLV</keyword> allows industry to forge a partnership with ISRO for placing satellites into Low Earth Orbit. Besides, it would also allow a company to gain knowledge on rockets, launch vehicles, and satellites in the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle missions. To a query about the requirement for industries to partner with the ISRO for taking up commercial launch of SSLV missions, Somanath said a day-long meeting was recently held with the industry. "I am hoping that the first technology transfer will happen in India between ISRO and industry. The Request for Interest (RFI) was released and as a single (entity) or as consortia, a company can show interest on the technology transfer (from ISRO) and what were the expectations from ISRO and how to qualify for such missions," he said. From the interactions held with the industry it emerged there was a huge amount of interest for them to learn about space, he added. "We told them it will be a huge challenge for anyone to learn rocketry from scratch. It is not just transferring technology, we are transferring the knowledge on how things are done (at ISRO). It is not the drawings alone, it is the knowledge behind those drawings we transfer to industry," according to Somanath, also the Secretary, Department of Space. Through the industry partnerships, ISRO would teach them on how to build a rocket, he said and added that the industry should qualify as per the criteria put forth by ISRO. The company should possess manufacturing capabilities, manufacturing facilities and financial strengths of a company would be assessed, he said. "We will add weightage and marks based on the performance of the company and based on that the companies will be shortlisted and a contract would be given to them after the companies which have to pay a technology transfer fee," he said. Some of the unique features of SSLVs are -- it provides low-cost access to Space, offers low turn-around time and flexibility in accommodating multiple satellites, 'launch on demand' feasibility and SSLV missions demand minimal launch infrastructure.

ISRO targets first Gaganyaan mission launch by December: Chairman

A study has revealed that when <keyword id="19987344" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="chatbots" source="keywords">chatbots</keyword> were tested for their <keyword id="22653636" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="political-inclination" source="keywords">political inclination</keyword>, most of them revealed a left-of-center stance. However, when the chatbots, including <keyword id="15681942" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ChatGpt" source="Orion">ChatGPT</keyword> and Gemini, were tested after being "taught" a certain political inclination -- left, right, or centre -- they produced responses in alignment with their "training," or "fine tuning," David Rozado, a researcher from Otago Polytechnic, New Zealand, found. This shows that chatbots can be "steered" towards desired locations on the <keyword id="1363169" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="political-spectrum" source="Orion">political spectrum</keyword>, using modest amounts of politically aligned data, the author said in the study published in the journal PLoS ONE. Chatbots are <keyword id="22654058" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="AI-based-large-language-models" source="Orion">AI-based large language models</keyword> (LLMs), which are trained on massive amounts of textual data and are, therefore, capable of responding to requests framed in the natural language (prompts). Multiple studies have analysed the political orientation of chatbots available in the public domain and found them to occupy varied locations on the political spectrum. In this study, Rozado looked at the potential to "teach" as well as reduce political bias in these conversational LLMs. On 24 different open- and closed-source chatbots, the author performed political orientation tests such as the <keyword id="22654057" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="political-compass-test" source="keywords">Political Compass Test</keyword> and Eysenck's Political Test. Along with ChatGPT and Gemini, Anthropic's Claude, Twitter's Grok, Llama 2, among others, were also tested. He found that most of these chatbots generated "left-of-centre" responses, as adjudged by the majority of the political tests. Further, using published text, Rozado also induced a political bias by fine-tuning <keyword id="21404737" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="GPT-3-5" source="keywords">GPT-3.5</keyword>, a type of machine learning algorithm developed to adapt LLMs to specific tasks. Thus, a "<keyword id="22654056" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="leftwinggpt" source="keywords">LeftWingGPT</keyword>" was created, training the model on snippets of text from publications such as The Atlantic, The New Yorker, and from books written by authors with similar political persuasions. Likewise, for creating "<keyword id="22654055" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rightwinggpt" source="keywords">RightWingGPT</keyword>," Rozado used text from publications such as The American Conservative and books by similarly aligned writers. Finally, "DepolarizingGPT" was created by training GPT-3.5 using content from the Institute for Cultural Evolution, a US-based think tank, and the book Developmental Politics, written by the institute's president, Steve McIntosh. "As a result of the political alignment fine-tuning, RightWingGPT has gravitated towards right-leaning regions of the political landscape in the four tests. A (similar) effect is observed for LeftWingGPT. "DepolarizingGPT is on average closer to political neutrality and away from the poles of the political spectrum," the author wrote. He, however, clarified that the results were not evidence that the inherent political preferences of the chatbots are "deliberately instilled" by the organisations creating them.

Most chatbots inherently 'left-leaning,' but have capacity to 'learn' bias, study finds

Chipmaker <keyword id="20004922" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AMD" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="AMD" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="AMD">AMD</keyword> is poised to power the surging demand for <keyword id="21517898" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AI-compute" source="keywords">AI compute</keyword> with its wide range of product portfolio, the company's Chief <keyword id="19901571" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="technology" source="keywords">Technology</keyword> Officer Mark Papermaster said on Friday. AI compute refers to processing of data using artificial intelligence or machine learning algorithms. Marking 55 years of AMD (Advanced Micro Devices), Papermaster in a blog post looked back on five years of growth and innovations at the company, while also looking ahead to the next five years. He said the future of technology will be born from open ecosystems and deep industry partnerships that drive true innovation. "We're in a unique position to power increased demand for AI compute based on our broad portfolio of compute engines, deep relationships with customers across a diverse set of markets, and open software capabilities. We have a strong foundation of <keyword id="20053383" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="data-centre" source="keywords">data centre</keyword> products and customer collaboration across cloud and enterprise, and leadership products for AI PCs," he wrote. He said AMD has shifted from unique product silos to a modular IP portfolio, connected by a single AI software stack for easy deployment, and called it a 'holistic design approach'. "We need to speed our development by using more AI applications in our internal workflows to boost our productivity...We look forward to discovering new methods to optimise efficiency and experiment with new technologies that have potential," he said, adding that AI is poised to become more ubiquitous and consequential than the advent of the Internet. Papermaster further said that AMD will make some 'exciting' announcements at Computex (Taipei), an annual computer exhibition set to be held in June this year. Looking back, he said, "We made the call over a decade ago to leverage our strength and heritage in high-performance computing and invest for the future. Those bets have paid off as all our markets now demand the utmost in compute efficiency (performance per Watt of energy expended), and AI enablement. "...Our growth hasn't come overnight. AMD technology powers the daily lives of billions of people around the world, and in the last five years we've expanded the number of markets we serve." He said that the IT corporation has steadily increased investments in research and development for the past five years to be in line with the growing demand for compute performance and efficiency. "...Our research and development investment has nearly quadrupled, from USD 1.5 billion in 2019, to USD 5.9 billion in 2023, and we plan to continue to invest in developing groundbreaking technologies that show early promise," he said. He added that since 2019, AMD and the <keyword id="20149900" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="semiconductor-industry" source="keywords">semiconductor industry</keyword> have grown tremendously. "Global sales of semiconductors grew from USD 412.3 billion in 2019 to USD 574.1 billion in 2022, and are estimated to grow to USD 1 trillion by 2030," he said, adding that AMD is positioned to service the insatiable demand for more computing capacity. He said the company's headcount has more than doubled in the past five years. "Xilinx was the largest semiconductor acquisition when completed in 2022 adding incredible talent, leadership IP, and market expansion to adaptive compute markets with deep customer relationships," he said. Earlier this month, AMD posted its revenue at USD 5.47 billion (about Rs 45.6 crore) for the first quarter of 2024, up 2 per cent against the year-ago period. "AMD started the year strong, delivering record quarterly data centre segment revenue," AMD's EVP, CFO and Treasurer Jean Hu had said. "In addition, we drove solid gross margin expansion. Moving forward, we are well positioned to continue driving revenue growth and margin improvement while investing in the large AI opportunities ahead." 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AMD set to fuel growing demand for AI compute, says CTO

Mumbai, <keyword id="21027898" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="indian-real-estate-investment-trust" source="keywords">Indian Real Estate Investment Trust</keyword> (REIT) industry on Wednesday pitched for the entities to get access to direct bank lending and classification as equities. At present, such vehicles can issue bonds or borrow from non-bank lenders or mutual funds, but are prohibited to borrow from banks, said the <keyword id="21027897" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="indian-reits-association" source="keywords">Indian REITs Association</keyword> (IRA), a newly formed umbrella body for the five-year-old sector, which comprises four listed entities. The body's Chairman and Embassy REIT's Chief Executive <keyword id="21027895" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="arvind-maiya" source="keywords">Arvind Maiya</keyword> told reporters it is in touch with the RBI (<keyword id="19899810" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="reserve-bank-of-india" source="keywords">Reserve Bank of India</keyword>) for allowing banks to lend to such vehicles. The real estate industry is asset-heavy and needs funds regularly to buy assets for which it should be allowed to borrow directly from banks, he added. Typically, banks have access to deposits which brings down the cost of funds, and hence, the cost of borrowing can become softer for a borrowing entity. <keyword id="21027894" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="alok-aggarwal" source="keywords">Alok Aggarwal</keyword>, the Managing Director and Chief Executive of Brookfield India Real Estate Trust, said, at present REITs are classified as a "hybrid" instrument which creates confusion in the minds of the investors. <keyword id="21027896" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="maiya" source="keywords">Maiya</keyword> said classification as equities will lead to passive money coming into REITs as the instrument gets included in indices. Other geographies like Singapore, which has inspired the Indian REIT regulations, as well as the US, treat the instrument as equity, he said, stressing that all the features of the instrument are similar to equity. An industry participant said the tax advantages which it gets courtesy of the hybrid status will continue even if it is classified as equity, while another hoped that it can also get gains from a taxation front courtesy of the Long Term Capital Gains (LTCG) which is applicable for equity. The IRA said there are lots of opportunities for the REITs sector to grow in the country, both from a supply side, where the demand for real estate is bound to keep growing and also on the demand for such instruments as Indians look for newer asset classes. <keyword id="20375329" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ramesh-nair" source="keywords">Ramesh Nair</keyword>, the Chief Executive of Mindspace REIT, said the <keyword id="20069427" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="global-capability-centres" source="keywords">Global Capability Centres</keyword> (GCCs) of multinationals alone present a very handsome opportunity for the REITS story in the country. Citing the experience in the US, industry executives said there will be dedicated REITs for specific aspects like warehousing and residential properties. When asked about the lack of demand in the residential space till now -- three Indian REITs are in commercial space while the fourth is in retail -- an industry executive said the yields are very low at 2-3 per cent which prevents REITs' play. Nair said the sector wants to reach out to mutual funds' lobby grouping Amfi to learn and partner with them, given that the REIT's current priority is also to create awareness among the investors.

Real estate investment trust pitch for direct bank lending, classification as equity

Prime Minister <keyword id="19895781" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="narendra-modi" source="keywords">Narendra Modi</keyword> took to social media platform on Thursday to describe his recent visit to the Union Territory of <keyword id="20039270" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="lakshadweep" source="keywords">Lakshadweep</keyword>, and shared several pictures including an "exhilarating experience" in which he attempted snorkelling. https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1742831481775632552 In a series of posts on X, the PM shared pictures of the scenic beauty of the islands and said "For those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them, Lakshadweep has to be on your list." He also thanked the people of the islands for their hospitality. "Recently, I had the opportunity to be among the people of Lakshadweep. I am still in awe of the stunning beauty of its islands and the incredible warmth of its people. I had the opportunity to interact with people in Agatti, Bangaram and Kavaratti. I thank the people of the islands for their hospitality. Here are some glimpses, including aerial glimpses from Lakshadweep...During my stay, I also tried snorkelling - what an exhilarating experience it was! For those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them, Lakshadweep has to be on your list," <keyword id="2238662" type="General" weightage="60" keywordseo="pm-modi" source="Orion">PM Modi</keyword> said. Sharing a photograph of him seated on a beach, the PM said, "And those early morning walks along the pristine beaches were also moments of pure bliss." "In addition to the scenic beauty, Lakshadweep's tranquillity is also mesmerising," the Prime Minister posted. "It gave me an opportunity to reflect on how to work even harder for the welfare of 140 crore Indians," PM Modi captioned one of his posts. The PM said that Lakshadweep is not just a group of islands; it is a timeless legacy of traditions and a testament to the spirit of its people. "My visit has been an enriching journey of learning and growing," PM Modi said. He also said that the focus of his government is to uplift lives through enhanced development. "Our focus in Lakshadweep is to uplift lives through enhanced development. In addition to creating futuristic infrastructure, it is also about creating opportunities for better healthcare, faster internet and drinking water, while protecting as well celebrating the vibrant local culture. The projects that were inaugurated reflect this spirit," the PM said. The PM also shared photos taken during his interaction with the beneficiaries of various government schemes. "Had excellent interactions with the beneficiaries of various government schemes. It's inspiring to see firsthand how these initiatives are fostering better health, self-reliance, women's empowerment, improved agricultural practices and more. The life journeys I heard were truly moving," he said. The PM laid the foundation stone of development projects worth over Rs 1,150 crore in Agatti on Tuesday. The PM inaugurated the Kochi-Lakshadweep Islands Submarine Optical Fiber Connection (KLI - SOFC) project in a move to resolve the challenge of slow internet speed in the Union Territory. He also inaugurated the Low-Temperature Thermal Desalination (LTTD) plant at Kadmat, which will produce 1.5 lakh litres of clean drinking water every day, and the Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) in all households of Agatti and Minicoy islands. Other projects that were dedicated to the nation include the solar power plant at Kavaratti, which is the first-ever battery-backed solar power project of Lakshadweep. The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of the renovation of the Health Care facility in Kalpeni and the construction of five model Anganwadi Centres (Nand Ghars) in the five islands of Androth, Chetlat, Kadmat, Agatti and Minicoy.

PM Modi goes snorkelling in Lakshadweep, recalls "enriching journey of learning and growing"

<keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword> is a prime example of successfully growing a domestic pharmaceutical industry capable of meeting global supply needs, a top <keyword id="56000" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="UNICEF" source="Orion">UNICEF</keyword> official said. India can share its expertise and learnings from the model it used to foster the pharmaceutical industry with countries and regions trying to build capacities including how to incentivise the private sector, ensure regulatory and quality assurance systems in place and develop a globally competitive industry, Tara L Prasad, Senior Manager, <keyword id="17626198" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="centre-for-health-emergency-strategy" source="Orion">Centre for Health Emergency Strategy</keyword> and Partnerships at UNICEF, said. She is here to attend the third G20 Health Working Group meeting that is being held from June 4 to 6. "Further, India can share lessons on how to create an enabling environment, including investments in human and physical capital, as well as its learnings in moving beyond generic industry to expanding research and development innovator industry," Prasad said. The G20 more broadly can call upon its industry to ensure manufacturers include licensing and technology transfer for essential and emergency health supplies to different regions to ensure equitable access. On the key lessons learnt from the <keyword id="8764262" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="covid" source="Orion">COVID</keyword>-19 pandemic that can guide how G20 countries and the global health community collectively strengthen coordination for access to medical countermeasures, Prasad said Covid was unprecedented in its global scale, the novelty of the virus and the wide socio-economic repercussions and ripple effects it created. Looking at Covid, some key lessons are that equity needs to be considered from the start and across the value chain. And, secondly, low-and middle-income country stakeholders need to be involved from the onset to ensure access partnerships take into account the context and needs of the countries they aim to support, she said. "Thirdly, vaccines alone are not enough. We need a toolkit with many interventions including tests, treatments, personal protective equipment and ancillary supplies," she said. "Related to that, efforts need to be multi-sectoral considering the cascading effect of a health emergency - water, sanitation, hygiene and infection prevention control measures are equally important," Prasad stated. Manufacturing of medical countermeasures needs to be geographically diversified to ensure resilience against global shocks, reduced lead times during an outbreak, and increase overall regional and global health security. "We need more investments in research and development for priority pathogens including those with limited market size and limited R and D investments and to create more incentives for industry to engage and increase risk-sharing between public and private sectors," Prasad said. Strengthening health systems needs to be an integral part of preparedness, including strengthening primary health care systems at the community level, she said, adding this will ensure systems are better prepared to deliver novel medical countermeasures (MCMs) when they become available. "Community engagement is essential to reduce hesitancy and increase trust and uptake in MCMs," she stated. On critical components of the global MCM coordination, she said, "We have the opportunity to ensure the world emerges from the Covid pandemic stronger than before." The Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator - ACT-A - partnership is "an example of what is possible if we work together. Building on the collaboration and lessons learnt from ACT-A we are now in a position to reinvigorate efforts to ensure more equitable global health outcomes," she said. "We cannot let 'peacetime' between pandemics and largescale health emergencies result in complacency. For the next pandemic, the world will need a diversified vaccine and product portfolio, expanded production spread across the world, and stronger and more resilient health systems," she said. Equity needs to be at the heart of access to medical countermeasures, and the emphasis of global collaboration needs to prioritise reaching the vulnerable, the hardest to reach and the most underserved, including women and children, she said. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/kochi-startup-that-connects-farmers-consumers-selected-for-uns-accelerator-programme/articleshow/100792335.cms">Kochi startup that connects farmers &amp; consumers selected for UN's Accelerator Programme</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/pan-india-drug-trafficking-cartel-using-cryptocurrency-through-dark-net-busted/articleshow/100790847.cms">Pan-India drug trafficking cartel using cryptocurrency through dark net busted</a>

India a prime example of successfully growing domestic pharma industry: UNICEF official

<ul><li>Finance Minister <keyword id="129243" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nirmala-sitharaman" source="Orion">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> today presented the <keyword id="12743893" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="budget-2023" source="Orion">Budget 2023</keyword> in the parliament.</li><li>The minister has announced that the government is setting up three centers of excellence in <keyword id="107950" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="artificial-intelligence" source="Orion">artificial intelligence</keyword>.</li><li>The centers will be set up in prominent educational institutions.</li></ul>Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today presented the Budget 2023 in the parliament. As part of the budget, the minister announced that the government is setting up three centers of excellence in artificial intelligence (AI) in the country as part of the government’s “Make AI for India” and “Make AI work for India” initiatives. The centers will be set up in prominent educational institutions in the country and will see collaboration between these institutions and leading industries in the country. The main goal of these centers will be to research and develop practical AI applications in agriculture, health, and sustainable cities. "Three centers of excellence for Artificial Intelligence will be set up in top educational institutions. Leading industry players will partner in conducting interdisciplinary research, develop cutting-edge applications and scalable problem solutions in the areas of Agriculture, Health, and sustainable cities,” said Nirmala Sitharaman, Finance Minister in the parliament. “This will galvanize an effective AI ecosystem and nurture quality human resources in the field,” the minister added. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Significance of these centres" comment="subhead" text="Significance of these centres">Significance of these centres</cmsannotation> Artificial intelligence has become one of the most important skills. The government’s push to set up these centers will ensure that students are well-versed in technology, ensuring that the country is future-ready. Experts and industry leaders have hailed the move, saying it will boost the economy and India’s growth. “Innovative digital technologies like AI, and <keyword id="294572" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="machine-learning" source="Orion">Machine Learning</keyword> is a big step towards promoting financial inclusion in India, enabling industries across sectors to become accessible to a wider section of population. This will result in boosting service delivery and enable various sections of society to actively participate in financial ecosystems,” said Rajsri Rengan, Head of Banking and Payments, India and Philippines, FIS. According to Rengan, these centers will also help improve the financial ecosystem as improved AI and machine learning applications will help promote financial inclusion and make services accessible to more people in the country. “The Government continues to focus on the use of technology in order to bring in Minimum Government and Maximum Governance. The announcement to set up three centers of excellence for artificial intelligence to enable 'Make AI for India' and 'Make AI work for India' will further help India in its growth trajectory with able use of technology, said Gunjan Prabhakaran, partner and leader, Indirect Tax, BDO India. Companies like Google and Microsoft have been focusing on AI and machine learning for a long time now. Google’s India Research Lab has been using AI and machine learning to improve healthcare services, public health, wildlife conservation, prevention of diseases, and more. In addition to setting up centers of excellence for AI, the government has also announced that it is setting up 100 labs in engineering institutions to develop applications using 5G services. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/budget-2023-24-nirmala-sitharaman-speech-highlights-and-updates/articleshow/97512649.cms">Budget 2023-24 highlights: No income tax for those who earn below ₹7 lakh per year</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/adani-enterprises-britannia-reliance-industries-among-stocks-in-focus/articleshow/97510050.cms">Sensex, Nifty50 trade higher ahead of Union Budget 2023: Adani Enterprises, Britannia, Reliance Industries among stocks in focus</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/after-iphones-apple-reportedly-starts-manufacturing-components-for-airpods-in-india/articleshow/97515033.cms">After iPhones, Apple reportedly starts manufacturing components for AirPods in India</a>

Budget 2023 gives a boost to artificial intelligence – government to set up three centers of excellence

<ul><li>Debt collection has always been an obstacle-ridden course for most organisations. </li><li>The steep rise in <keyword id="9171740" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="consumer-debt" source="Orion">consumer debt</keyword> and a hoard of laws and regulations governing the process have made it even more challenging. </li><li>In this context, we talk about some best practices to enhance the <keyword id="7165297" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="debt-recovery-process" source="Orion">debt recovery process</keyword>.</li></ul>Debt collection is one of the most challenging tasks for businesses and organisations. They must not only effectively collect outstanding debts but also navigate a virtual minefield of regulations and compliance issues that can be difficult to understand. For example, <a href="https://www.infosysbpm.com/offerings/industries/financial-services/documents/automating-financial-spreads.pdf">financial services</a> providers, by law,must adhere to the stringent rules set by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) when handling classified personal information. Those dealing with online payments or credit card transactions have additional requirements under the data security standards drawn by ombudsmen, which dictate how calls containing personal financial data should be monitored, recorded, transmitted, and stored. Failure to comply with these laws can lead to hefty fines from government regulators like CFPB, not to mention reputational damage. It’s crucial that organisations take extra care while ensuring compliance with relevant laws and adherence to proper procedures when dealing with sensitive consumer information to deliver the best results. The current economic climate poses many challenges for organisations, particularly in terms of debt collection. With the rise of consumer debt and tightening credit standards, companies are increasingly finding it difficult to collect overdue payments. Organisations that implement an effective debt collection approach will boost revenue and significantly ensure their company's financial stability and growth. Let’s explore some of the best strategies for improving <keyword id="413045" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="debt-recovery" source="Orion">debt recovery</keyword> through efficient and ethical debt collection practices using an efficient call centre solution, that will help businesses recover what's rightfully theirs while maintaining a positive relationship with their customers. Communication efficiency through the omnichannel approach In today's fast-paced digital world, businesses need to adopt an omnichannel approach to communication to stay relevant and competitive. This means providing customers with a seamless experience across multiple channels such as email, social media, chatbots, phone calls, and even in-person interactions. However, choosing the right mix of communication options can be challenging for businesses as each channel has its own strengths and weaknesses depending on the type of message being conveyed or the target audience being addressed. For instance, the younger generation may prefer texting or messaging while the older may still prefer phone calls or emails. Addressing this challenge effectively requires understanding customer preferences and behaviours through artificial intelligence and feedback mechanisms such as surveys or user testing. It also involves developing personalised content tailored to specific channels while maintaining consistency across all touchpoints. Targeting customers based on various factors, including location, age group, or gender and creating personalised preferences like the right message at the right time through the right channel, has long been the holy grail of marketing. A firm’s technological capabilities, data, and resource availability play a vital role in achieving this and by implementing this approach, businesses can successfully enhance customer satisfaction levels resulting in increased loyalty and revenue growth over time. Automated dialling systems <a href="https://www.infosysbpm.com/offerings/functions/accounts-payable-on-cloud/insights/documents/accounts-payable-automation-insights-for-2023.pdf">Automated</a> dialers help agents quickly reach out to customers to collect past-due amounts more effectively than manual methods allow. This technology also facilitates faster follow-up with delinquent accounts so businesses can stay ahead of their collections efforts without having to sacrifice additional resources or personnel time. Payment plans Offering payment plans helps make collecting from consumers easier because they have the option of paying off their balance over time, instead of all at once. This helps consumers who may be struggling financially. It’s important that both the customer and the business understand at the outset what is expected throughout the duration of an agreed payment plan and are aware of any fees associated with it (if applicable). Offering payment plans helps make collecting from consumers easier while providing them with the financial assistance that they need during difficult times. However, it is necessary to establish clear communication beforehand to ensure successful repayment by consumers and protect both parties involved in the transaction process. Credit reporting Reporting negative information about consumers who fail to pay debts owed is another way businesses protect themselves against future losses while simultaneously incentivising individuals to make timely payments. This improves the overall cash flow operations and reduces delinquencies across broader portfolio base(s). Accurate documentation is essential for any business, especially in the highly regulated world of debt collection. The best debt collection call centres are equipped with cutting-edge technology that makes comprehensive record-keeping simple yet effective enough to establish accuracy at every stage of the process – from initial contact toresolution (if necessary). This includes features such as automatic logging of incoming calls; automated recording capabilities; detailed reporting functions; customisable templates for creating standard documents like letters and emails; secure storage options so everything remains organised and accessible over time, etc. All these features help streamline communication between collectors and customers while also providing real-time data about how well a team is performing overall for each account/case they work for on a day-to-day basis. Apart from utilising these strategies, organisations can adopt other best practices such as providing helpful reminders before overdue notices go out and offering online portals where people can manage account balances securely via a web browser. This enables them to be well-positioned in the competitive marketplace and capitalise on all opportunities. Centralised Data Management Systems with Analytics As businesses continue to struggle with the challenges of a volatile economy, it is more important than ever that they maximise their revenue recovery process. By centralising customer information in a single repository, debt collection teams can be better positioned to automate and personalise this process. Centralising customer information in a single repository can be a game-changer for debt collection teams. The benefits of such an approach are numerous: not only does it reduce operational costs associated with collections staff manually searching through multiple databases for account information; but also reduces time spent on resolving conflicts between customers and creditors due to incorrect or outdated data being used by the collection staff. When all customer data is stored in one place – including payment history – organisations can easily identify which customers may need extra attention during the collection process as well as those who may be eligible for special payment plans or discounts based on their past performance records. Additionally, deploying Machine Learning and <a href="https://www.infosysbpm.com/offerings/business-transformation-services/insights/documents/linear-algebra-in-ai.pdf">Artificial intelligence</a> enables companies to track customer behaviour over time, so they can better anticipate future needs. This ultimately results in improved efficiencies. As businesses continue to scale and grow, they need to find ways that allow them to maximise their ROI while excelling at their service delivery. Fortunately, there are a variety of techniques available today that can help businesses achieve this goal. When these techniques are combined into an integrated strategy, the potential opportunities become even more powerful. Disclaimer: This article is authored by Sourav Ghosh, Senior Industry Principal, Infosys BPM and Rajanna AP, Senior Lead Analyst, Infosys BPM. The opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Business Insider India.

Debt recovery best practices: Lessons learned from successful business experiences

<ul><li><keyword id="10362411" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="veranda-learning" source="Orion">Veranda Learning</keyword> has acquired test prep-institute T.I.M.E for a consideration of ₹287 crore.</li><li>This is <keyword id="12160510" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Veranda" source="Orion">Veranda</keyword>’s first acquisition since it went public last month.</li><li>T.I.M.E operates through 188 centres including franchisees spread across 98 cities in India and runs 222 preschools.</li></ul>Edtech company Veranda Learning Solutions has ventured deeper into the test prep and preschool segment with the acquisition of Hyderabad-based test prep-institute T.I.M.E (Advanced Educational Activities Private Limited) for a consideration of ₹287 crore. This is Veranda’s first acquisition since it went public last month at a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/veranda-learning-solutions-beats-gmp-and-lists-at-20-premium/articleshow/90771284.cms">premium of 20%</a>. Veranda’s share price has increased nearly 54% since its listing. The latest acquisition marked the company’s entry into the business administration (MBA), National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) test-prep as well as the preschool segment. “This 100% acquisition will be in a phased manner with 80% of the outstanding capital along with management control in phase 1, followed by the purchase of the remaining 20% at the end of two years,” Veranda said in a statement. Founded in 2018 by Suresh Kalpathi, Veranda offers online and offline coaching services for career-defining courses such as UPSC, chartered accountancy, banking, and government exams to students, graduates, professionals, and corporate employees. The company provides services through four subsidiaries — Veranda Race, Veranda CA, Veranda IAS, and Edureka, which is the customer-facing brand of Brain4ce Education Solutions. It reported a loss of over ₹8 crore in fiscal year 2021. “Our experience and strengths combined with the background of technology and franchising business of the promoters of Veranda will surely create superior value to large segments of the student community. Outstanding reputation of each Course offering from this group will complement each other,” Pramod Kumar, founder and director of T.I.M.E, said in a statement. T.I.M.E — founded by Manek Daruvala, Viswanath Pillutla and Kumar — operates through 188 centres including franchisees spread across 98 cities in India. The company claims to have trained over 22 lakh students since its inception in 1992, with a run rate of almost 1.1 lakh students annually. The Company also has a chain of pre-schools under the T.I.M.E. Kids brand operates through 222 pre-schools in 56 cities. SEE ALSO <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/retail/news/the-future-of-future-and-three-probable-scenarios/articleshow/91090136.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">The future of Future and three probable scenarios </a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/bank-of-india-lemon-tree-eveready-industries-among-stocks-to-watch-out-for-on-april-26/slidelist/91088389.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Bank of India, Lemon Tree, Eveready Industries among stocks to watch out for on April 26</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/twitter-ceo-parag-agrawal-will-reportedly-get-42-million-if-he-is-terminated-after-elon-musk-acquires-the-company/articleshow/91089581.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal will reportedly get $42 million if he is terminated after Elon Musk acquires the company</a>

Veranda Learning forays into preschool segment, goes deeper into test prep

The UpSkill <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword> Summit 2022, hosted by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/great-learning/">Great Learning</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/business-insider-india/">Business Insider India</a>, witnessed leading industry experts and thought leaders sharing insights on the need for upskilling India Inc. The discussions on how to decisively win the battle of building high-quality talent for the tech-transformed world took centre stage at this event. Given the demands of the ever-evolving digital era, UpSkill India Summit 2022 reinforced the commitment of enterprise leaders, CHROs, and L&amp;D Heads from top IT/ITES, BFSI, and retail companies keen on evolving and enhancing their strategies for new-age skills. <h3 style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:16pt;margin-bottom:4pt;">Bridging Talent Supply-Demand Gaps</h3>While the workforce in India is massive to cater to global demands, supply-demand gaps and skills-parity in the workforce act as a challenge to the various industries. In his keynote address, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanjeevsinghss/">Sanjeev Singh</a>, Chief Operating Officer, Wipro, suggested that educational institutions, governments, and industries should reimagine the curriculum to better suit the current age. He emphasised the need for a laser focus on emerging opportunities in different sectors and training the workforce accordingly. He further added that as opposed to a traditional degree program, short courses or certifications benefit some people better and provide more value than longer-term degrees. <div type="image" title="Sanjeev Singh, COO at Wipro" msid="93326342" hostid="261"></div> <div type="ExtQuote" text="The only way you create a larger pool of talent is by absorbing people. And the only people available to be absorbed are those who are not part of the pool." auname="Sanjeev Singh, Chief Operating Officer, Wipro at UpSkill India Summit 2022"></div> It is also crucial that companies tap into the unexposed talent pool in rural areas and make the IT sector more inclusive to accommodate those who may face language barriers. In the thought-provoking panel discussions, speakers from prominent organisations examined several ideas, strategies, and opportunities for upskilling. Business Insider India's Ashwin Raghunath moderated the first panel discussion, "Upskilling India for Transformation,” featuring <ul><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/rituparna-dasgupta-she-her-3b172011/">Rituparna Dasgupta</a>, Talent &amp; Development Leader, Intuit </li><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/nidhi-pant-5517964/">Nidhi Pant</a>, Senior Associate Director, Capability Development, KPMG India </li><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/vinutha-rao-a48a5b4/">Vinutha Rao</a>, SVP &amp; Head, Talent Acquisition &amp; Talent Development, Digital Business, HCL Technologies </li><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/srilatakolachana/">Srilata Kolachana</a>, Director, Learning and Development, APAC SBU, CGI </li><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohanlakhamraju/">Mohan Lakhamraju</a>, CEO, <keyword id="6559242" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="great-learning" source="Orion">Great Learning</keyword> </li></ul> The discussion sought to highlight the strategic aspects of upskilling - by examining its current state in India’s enterprises and identifying the bottlenecks that industries faced in rolling out successful upskilling initiatives. One of the key takeaways from this discussion was the need for businesses to adopt agility in their approach and be aware of the changing face of technology and market demands. EdTech companies like Great Learning invest heavily in R&amp;D and innovation for their platforms. Technology augments the teaching process and helps efficiently track critical metrics to deliver the best outcomes. <div type="ExtQuote" text="[Investments are] going into R&amp;D, innovation, and building technology and analytics, building how to measure, monitor, derive insights from the learning process, how to track learner behaviour, and how to augment and engage learners better at scale so that the burden of doing all of this is not one instructor." auname="Mohan Lakhamraju, CEO, Great Learning at UpSkill India Summit 2022"></div> Mohan noted that there was a “behaviour change” in the ecosystem where upskilling is now being used as a retention mechanism in enterprises to retain talent and reduce attrition. He added that we are in a golden period, and while transformation is underway, Covid has accelerated the pace of adoption, investment, and innovation. And even as we adapt to the transformation in this space, two themes that need to be addressed here, according to Nidhi Pant, are context (the rationale behind the upskilling exercise) and secondly, curating the right experience for the learner to bring about the best impact and returns from the process. “The learning experience is something that we really need to catch up on if we are not doing enough,” she added. Speaking of how enterprises can work with educational institutions to build capabilities, <keyword id="14629270" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="srilata-kolachana" source="Orion">Srilata Kolachana</keyword> said, “We have CSR initiatives where we work with schools, and it is a great way to build talent. But how about our think tank working with those engineering students for these NGO projects? If we are doing these kinds of linkages, then, without too much investment, we are building capability. Because we are giving mentoring support, and we are giving capability-building effort. We are putting that in place. So I think we have to look at the entire value chain holistically. I don't believe that it is some kind of blame game -- that they are not coping up or we are not there. I believe that we also have to do a lot to build that capability.” One of the crucial areas that Inuit’s <keyword id="6878443" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="rituparna-dasgupta" source="Orion">Rituparna Dasgupta</keyword> highlighted was finding the balance between hiring externally versus focusing on retaining talent and training them, which would be a far more cost-effective method. She further explained that Inuit has a strong partnership with academia to help bridge the gap, and that rests on three pillars — connection with the company, the impact of work, and helping them upskill within the organization. HCL’s <keyword id="14629268" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="vinutha-rao" source="Orion">Vinutha Rao</keyword> seconded that thought, that while the importance of academia versus vocational courses is widely debated, academia is crucial since it builds the foundation. Still, it is more important to shape the ‘curiosity mindset.’ She added, “If you can give a foundation training which builds a continuous learning attitude and curiosity mindset, I guess we got it right, and that’s what will take us in the next decade.” The other key theme highlighted by the panellists was the importance of ensuring reach and expanding the availability of upskilling initiatives. This was followed by the second panel discussion, "Enterprise Upskilling: Doing it Right," featuring: <ul><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/thirumala-arohi-mamunooru/">Thirumala Arohi Mamunooru</a>, SVP &amp; Head, Education, Training &amp; Assessment, Infosys </li><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/anuragseth3009/">Anurag Seth</a>, Former VP &amp; Head, Talent Transformation, Wipro </li><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/arvind-kumar-09112b3/">Arvind Kumar</a>, AVP &amp; Head, Talent Development Digital Business, HCL Technologies </li><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/bharaniram-bhaskarbhatta-b814228/">Bharaniram Bhaskarbhatta</a>, Senior Program Manager, ACES &amp; Training, RBS, Amazon</li></ul>This discussion was moderated by<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritesh-malhotra-5312881b/"> Ritesh Malhotra,</a> Head of Enterprise, Great Learning. Ritesh sought to understand the deployment and implementation challenges that enterprises faced. From boardroom concerns regarding upskilling to ensuring the adoption of strategic upskilling initiatives, the panel shed light on the roll-out issues that learning and development leaders need to address while planning their upskilling routines. Furthermore, he mentioned how Great Learning is working with these challenges by providing a platform that connects enterprises with ready-to-hire talent. He explained, "We’re building two new models, Hire Train, Deploy, and what we can do with universities at an early stage. Superset is essentially India’s largest hiring automation platform. Between GL and Superset, we have millions of learners on the platform. We’ve [added] thousands of colleges, and Superset last year rolled out around lakhs of offers just through the platform. <div type="ExtQuote" text="Whatever you could do going to colleges, visiting them, and making offers…now you can do that remotely. We have the colleges, we have the students, and we have the ability for you to choose them remotely. All sorts of assessments can be run -- you can interview them remotely and make them offers remotely. So the end-to-end lifecycle of us just training has expanded to hiring as well." auname="Ritesh Malhotra, Head, Enterprise, Great Learning"></div> Thirumala Mamunooru spoke about how Infosys has integrated ed-tech into the business’ DNA. His business is now identifying skills and recalibrating them frequently, giving them a clear understanding of skills relevant today and what might be required in the future. Also, by understanding the needs and motivations of the learner, they were able to optimise their upskilling initiatives. Bharaniram Bhaskarbhatta of Amazon highlighted the challenge they faced when looking for the right service provider for upskilling employees, since most of them either provided a trainer to deliver on the needs or provided content but lacked a combination of both, which was a huge deterrent for them. “If I would go to a service provider, then I would want the entire thing to be given to me. Otherwise, if I have to put that entire effort again, it doesn't make sense for me to go to the service provider.” HCL’s Arvind Kumar emphasised that talent development should not be an isolated element but must be in line with the business. Arvind also gave the audience insights on the company’s internal skills-mapping methodology that they use to gauge talent, which helped them chart the individual’s upskilling course. Wipro’s Anurag Seth shared insights on the ‘buy vs build’ dilemma when it comes to talent management. He noted that enterprises that choose to ‘buy’ upskilling packages might not be able to access all the skills that they consider critical, thus drawing upon the need to ‘unbundle’ the skills packages. This would enable the enterprises to deeply customise the programs to best suit their business needs. “Because the way their programs are structured and professors are structured, I know that in discussion with Great Learning, a lot of these things are changing, and they are amenable in some of the programs we've done with you (sic), but I think that has to fundamentally change.” As Enterprise India transforms to adopt the digital paradigm to stay in step with evolving technology, finding skilled manpower to foster and innovate remains a challenge. The UpSkill India Summit 2022 highlighted the challenges in this domain and strategies that enterprise learning &amp; development leaders could adopt to fast-track their upskilling initiatives.

India Inc leaders share insights on how businesses can bridge the gap and upskill to transform the workplace

<keyword id="6357073" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="itc" source="Orion">ITC</keyword> on Wednesday posted an 11.7 per cent rise in consolidated net profit during Q4FY22, at Rs 4,196 crore, as against Rs 3,755 crore recorded in the year ago period. On quarter on quarter basis, the profit rose 3.4 per cent. The company's earnings beats estimates of several market analysts. Besides, consolidated revenue rose 15.3 per cent on year to Rs 17,754 crore as compared to Rs 15,404 crore a year-ago. On a <keyword id="903746" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="qoq" source="Orion">QoQ</keyword> basis, however, the revenue declined 3.3 per cent. The better performance was pushed by healthy growth across its business of cigarettes, FMCG, hotels, and paperboards. Robust broad-based recovery in cigarettes business was witnessed despite disruptions due to the third wave and volumes too surpassed pre-pandemic levels. For entire fiscal FY22, the consolidated profit after tax grew 15.8 per cent to Rs 15,243 crore year on year, and consolidated revenues jumped 22.7 per cent to Rs 65,205 crore. After a challenging FY2020-21, and despite repeated disruptions this year, the business progressively recovered on the back of improved mobility and easing of restrictions, surpassing pre-pandemic levels in the latter half of the year. ITC effectively leveraged institutional strengths, digital technologies and learnings from previous waves to respond with agility across all nodes of operations. The company recommended a final dividend of Rs 6.25 per share for FY22, which will be paid between July 22-26, 2022. This is in addition to the interim dividend of Rs 5.25 per share declared earlier this year. The company said it remains focused on building purpose-led brands powered by agile innovation and anchored on larger consumer needs. The businesses continue to increasingly leverage 'Sixth Sense', the <keyword id="13972477" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="marketing-command-centre" source="Orion">Marketing Command Centre</keyword> and <keyword id="1397742" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="consumer-data" source="Orion">Consumer Data</keyword> Hub - an AI powered hyper-personalised platform backed by a robust partner ecosystem for content and data - to gain insights on market trends and consumer behaviour, and synthesise the same to craft contextual and hyper-personalised brand communication and product development, it added. In order to effectively leverage new routes-to-markets and meet the assortment needs of emerging channels, the company executed over 110 new product launches across target markets. The robust innovation platforms of the Company's Life Sciences and Technology Centre (LSTC) were instrumental in accelerating speed to market. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/personal-finance/news/ways-to-save-more-money-after-your-monthly-expenses/articleshow/91650065.cms">Ways to save more money after your monthly expenses</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/investment/news/top-9-types-of-nfts-heres-the-complete-list/slidelist/91643024.cms">Crypto 101 – Understanding the different types of NFTs</a>

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Ratan Tata to be accorded state funeral, Maharashtra declares day of mourning to honour Tata Group chairman

BI India Bureau

IISc scientists develop brain-inspired analog computing platform capable of storing, processing data

PTI

ISRO targets first Gaganyaan mission launch by December: Chairman

PTI

Most chatbots inherently 'left-leaning,' but have capacity to 'learn' bias, study finds

PTI

AMD set to fuel growing demand for AI compute, says CTO

PTI

Real estate investment trust pitch for direct bank lending, classification as equity

PTI

PM Modi goes snorkelling in Lakshadweep, recalls "enriching journey of learning and growing"

ANI

India a prime example of successfully growing domestic pharma industry: UNICEF official

PTI

Budget 2023 gives a boost to artificial intelligence – government to set up three centers of excellence

Sourabh Jain

Debt recovery best practices: Lessons learned from successful business experiences

Rajanna

Sourav

Veranda Learning forays into preschool segment, goes deeper into test prep

Kritti Bhalla

India Inc leaders share insights on how businesses can bridge the gap and upskill to transform the workplace

Insider Studios

A 'healthy' growth in cigarettes vertical helped ITC beat earnings estimates

IANS

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