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Education start-ups in India seem to be the hottest targets right now, going by the kind of <keyword id="6357455" type="EVENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="Funding">funding</keyword> they are attracting from local and global investors. A couple of days ago, Delhi-based start-up <keyword id="1974964" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Avanti-Learning-Centres">Avanti Learning Centres</keyword> raised an undisclosed amount in <keyword id="948731" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="seed-funding">seed funding</keyword> from <keyword id="1894311" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Pearson-Affordable-Learning-Fund">Pearson Affordable Learning Fund</keyword> (<keyword id="1954796" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="PALF">PALF</keyword>). Two more <keyword id="6365770" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="angel-investors">angel investors</keyword> also took part in the round. Avanti will use the <keyword id="1974977" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Seed-round">seed round</keyword> to develop an <keyword id="1974975" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Online-offline-learning">online-offline learning</keyword> &amp; monitoring system, create more <keyword id="755302" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="educational-content">educational content</keyword> and build new <keyword id="68244" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Learning-centres">learning centres</keyword>. Currently, the <keyword id="1044076" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="education-start-up">education start-up</keyword> operates stand-alone and in-school centres in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kanpur, Roorkee and Puducherry, besides helping the <keyword id="3216" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="students">students</keyword> in three Tibetan schools in Uttarakhand and Karnataka. 
 
This is the second investment in India that Pearson has made through PALF, and the third overall since the fund was launched in July 2012. 
 In November this year, <keyword id="1954793" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Global-education-leader">Global education leader</keyword> Pearson’s inaugural <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/These-2-Peer-selected-Start-upsShared-150K-Investment-To-Boost-Low-cost-Education/articleshow/26512179.cms">edupreneur programme</a>, jointly launched by PALF and US-based investor Village Capital, came to a close with <keyword id="1954794" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Experifun">Experifun</keyword> and <keyword id="1467859" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Sudiksha-Knowledge-Solutions">Sudiksha Knowledge Solutions</keyword> walking off with a seed funding of $75,000 each. The <keyword id="6362476" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="investments">investments</keyword> will enable the start-ups to further develop their low-cost education ventures and assist underprivileged school children. 
 Pearson launched PALF in July 2012 with a capital of $15 million. Investments are made into private companies that offer <keyword id="1974987" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Affordable-educational-services">affordable educational services</keyword> and schooling in Asia, <keyword id="12925" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="80" keywordseo="Africa">Africa</keyword> and Latin America. 
 Set up as a <keyword id="456748" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="non-profit">non-profit</keyword> in March 2010 by <keyword id="258061" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Akshay-Saxena">Akshay Saxena</keyword> and <keyword id="1974967" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Krishna-Ramkumar">Krishna Ramkumar</keyword>, Avanti Learning Centres supports students from low-income families (those with a family income of $5,000 per annum or below) and prepares them for <keyword id="1974989" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="College-entrance-exams">college entrance exams</keyword>, especially the highly competitive engineering and medical entrance tests. Students can study up to 18 hours a week at a centre and need to pay only $20 per month. Costs are kept low as a large network of volunteers and partners, including universities, public schools, policy makers and private sector businesses, help with teaching and administration. 
 Instead of traditional lectures, Avanti follows a comprehensive programme including <keyword id="1951606" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="book-learning">book learning</keyword>, <keyword id="144248" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="Videos">videos</keyword>, <keyword id="1974990" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Peer-learning">peer learning</keyword> (developed by Dr <keyword id="1974994" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Eric-Mazur">Eric Mazur</keyword>, the company’s chief academic advisor and a physics professor at <keyword id="53675" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="harvard">Harvard</keyword>), <keyword id="956032" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Self-study">self study</keyword> &amp; <keyword id="969316" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="group-work">group work</keyword>, <keyword id="1974991" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Recorded-lectures">recorded lectures</keyword>, <keyword id="140811" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="mentoring">mentoring</keyword> and doubt-solving. Students are enrolled after a highly selective two-stage process. 
 “It was the commitment from Akshay and Krishna to focus on improving the <keyword id="1974995" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Education-of-low-income-communities">education of low-income communities</keyword>, combined with an <keyword id="1974993" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Innovative-learning-model">innovative learning model</keyword>, which was the most attractive aspect of the <keyword id="718769" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="investment-opportunity">investment opportunity</keyword>,” said PALF executive director, <keyword id="1974962" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Katelyn-Donnelly">Katelyn Donnelly</keyword>. 
 “Avanti is particularly exciting because it is a non-traditional pedagogy with very strong initial results. Our investment allows us to partner with a mission-led company to bridge a crucial gap between secondary and <keyword id="6375224" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="higher-education">higher education</keyword> for low-income learners. PALF is enthused to support the Avanti team to successfully grow across India, and we look forward to working with them to deliver on their long-term vision,” she added. 
 Commenting on the funding, Saxena said, “Once we decided that a <keyword id="1975001" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="For-profit">for-profit</keyword> model was the best way to reach scale, we knew we would need expert strategic insight and advice. We are incredibly excited to be working with the Pearson Affordable Learning Fund as they bring unrivalled education expertise to the table that can help us achieve our long-term objectives. We look forward to building upon the relationship with Pearson as we improve outcomes for low-income learners in the years to come.” 
 
Recent fundraising by education start-ups 
uFaber: Mumbai-based <keyword id="1975002" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="uFaber-Edutech">uFaber Edutech</keyword> (http://www.ufaber.com/), which runs an <keyword id="1975003" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Online-education-marketplace">online education marketplace</keyword> for <keyword id="1975006" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Professional-skill-development">professional skill development</keyword>, hobbies, crafts, academics and vocational training, got Rs 37 lakh from <keyword id="1975007" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ah-Seeders">Ah! Seeders</keyword>, the seed funding network of <keyword id="1975008" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Club-Ah">Club Ah!</keyword> It is the network’s maiden investment in India after its launch in the country. Ah! Seeders puts its money into very early stage companies and typically invests in the range of Rs 25-50 lakh. 
 
<keyword id="1573710" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Meritnation">Meritnation</keyword>: Delhi-based <keyword id="1962741" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Applect-Learning-Systems">Applect Learning Systems</keyword>, which runs the online education and assessment site Meritnation.com (http://www.meritnation.com/), secured Rs 10 crore from <keyword id="80004" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Info-Edge">Info Edge</keyword> (India) Ltd, the biggest consumer Internet company in India by market value. With this fresh round, Info Edge has put in a total of Rs 71.5 crore and holds around 55.81% stake in Applect (on a fully diluted and converted basis). 
 
<keyword id="900714" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="InOpen-Technologies">InOpen Technologies</keyword>: Mumbai-based InOpen Technologies (http://inopen.in/), a start-up developing educational content and <keyword id="1975016" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Teachers-training-solutions">teacher’s training solutions</keyword>, received an undisclosed sum in Series A from <keyword id="1975017" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Japanese-education-firm">Japanese education firm</keyword> Benesse Holdings, Inc. In August 2011, the company raised $500,000 in seed funding from <keyword id="1975018" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ventureast-Tenet-Fund-II">Ventureast Tenet Fund II</keyword>. 
 
MangoSense: The Pune-based edutainment start-up (http://mangosense.com/) got an undisclosed amount from <keyword id="164924" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mumbai-Angels">Mumbai Angels</keyword>. Its products include <keyword id="1975022" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="MangoReader">MangoReader</keyword>, <keyword id="1975023" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="MangoReach">MangoReach</keyword> and <keyword id="1975025" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="MangoSocial">MangoSocial</keyword>, through which users can create a fun and social environment for reading books and sharing them with friends. 
 
<keyword id="1975033" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="K2-Learning">K2 Learning</keyword>: Bangalore-based hybrid (online-offline) start-up K2 (http://k2learning.in/) secured Rs 8 crore in angel funding from <keyword id="244269" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Radheshyam-Agarwal">Radheshyam Agarwal</keyword>, founder and director of <keyword id="1975034" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Calcutta-Tube-India">Calcutta Tube India</keyword>. The start-up specialises in <keyword id="1975035" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Commerce-content">commerce content</keyword> and plans to set up <keyword id="1974968" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Tab-Labs">Tab Labs</keyword> in more than 100 <keyword id="37181" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="colleges">colleges</keyword> that will get special tablets with <keyword id="1975036" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Pre-loaded-commerce-data">pre-loaded commerce data</keyword>. 
 
<keyword id="1309724" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Simplilearn">Simplilearn</keyword>: Bangalore-based <keyword id="1974963" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Simplilearn-Solutions">Simplilearn Solutions</keyword> (www.Simplilearn.com), a company offering <keyword id="1309739" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="professional-certification-courses">professional certification courses</keyword> online, secured $10 million in <keyword id="1095983" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Series-B-funding">Series B funding</keyword> from <keyword id="309606" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Helion-Venture-Partners">Helion Venture Partners</keyword> and existing investor <keyword id="1397792" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Kalaari-Capital">Kalaari Capital</keyword>.

Another Education Start-up From India Gets Seed
Round From Pearson Affordable Learning Fund

<ul><li>The fresh funding will be used to scale the platform, and to continue investing in its product and technology. </li><li>It also aims to expand its presence in tier 2 and 3 cities as majority of its customers are from there. </li><li>The company currently has over 15 lakh users and aims to serve over 10 million patients by 2025.</li></ul><keyword id="4808760" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BeatO" source="Orion">BeatO</keyword>, a comprehensive digital care platform for controlling and reversing <keyword id="6359018" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Diabetes" source="Orion">diabetes</keyword>, announced on Wednesday, that it raised $33 million in a <keyword id="8026337" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="series-B-round" source="Orion">series B round</keyword> of funding led by <keyword id="12026515" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lightrock" source="Orion">Lightrock</keyword> with participation from HealthQuad, <keyword id="6354742" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Flipkart" source="Orion">Flipkart</keyword> and existing investors. The fresh funding will be used in scaling the platform, continuing to invest in its product and technology, and strengthening the reach of its evidence-based care programmes, the company said in a statement. The platform also aims to expand its presence in tier 2 and 3 cities as majority of its customers are from there. “Unlike developed markets, most expenses for a person with diabetes in India are out of their own pocket, and there are hardly any insurance products that even cover them for hospitalization,” the company said. “With our digital first solution, BeatO is well positioned to lay the new standards of how care will be delivered in the future to millions of Indians. We are pleased to have a fantastic set of partners joining us on the journey who deeply resonate with our vision and bring solid capabilities to help us achieve our goal,” said Gautam Chopra, co-founder &amp; CEO – BeatO. The company currently has over 15 lakh users and aims to serve over 10 million patients by 2025. Started by Gautam Chopra, Yash Sehgal and Kunal Kinalekar, the digital app-based platform provides comprehensive diabetes care programmes to prevent, control and reverse diabetes under the guidance of experts. India is said to be the ‘diabetic capital’ as it has the second most number of diabetic patients in the country after China. “Reportedly, India can surpass China to become the diabetes capital of the world, with more than 200 million Indians at risk from diabetes,” the company said. To ensure affordability and access to specialist care, the company has also started to forge strategic partnerships with major ecosystem players from the insurance and pharmaceutical sectors to drive large-scale impact across the country. “Through this investment in BeatO, Flipkart ventures is committed to supporting a business that is building next-generation innovations and evolving the digital health ecosystem. BeatO, with its holistic, differentiated and affordable digital care solution, is well placed to address the rising diabetes epidemic in India,” said Ravi Iyer, senior vice president and head - corporate development, Flipkart. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/icici-venture-funds-invests-360-crore-in-houseware-brand-cello-world/articleshow/95552460.cms">ICICI Venture Funds invests ₹360 crore in houseware brand Cello World</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/indian-edtech-firm-simplilearn-raises-45-million-from-gsv-ventures-others/articleshow/95551473.cms">Indian edtech firm Simplilearn raises $45 million from GSV Ventures, others</a>

Diabetes care platform BeatO raises $33 million in a series B funding round

<ul><li>With consumer interest at the core of the consortium, the <keyword id="1464841" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="edtech" source="Orion">EdTech</keyword> companies have committed to observe and adhere to a common ‘Code of Conduct.’</li><li>It would establish a Two-tier Grievance Redressal Mechanism to ensure that the positive impact of the industry reaches every deserving consumer while protecting their interests and promoting their rights.</li></ul> Leading EdTech companies under the aegis of <keyword id="128625" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Internet-and-Mobile-Association-of-India" source="Orion">Internet and Mobile Association of India</keyword> (<keyword id="149966" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="IAMAI" source="Orion">IAMAI</keyword>) today announced the formation of the India <keyword id="12934640" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="EdTech-Consortium" source="Orion">EdTech Consortium</keyword> (IEC). Aligned with the Government’s recent advisory, the IEC will ensure that every learner shall have access to quality and affordable education, which not only improves their academic performance but also makes them future-ready. With consumer interest at the core of the consortium, the EdTech companies have committed to observe and adhere to a common ‘Code of Conduct’ and establish a Two-tier Grievance Redressal Mechanism to ensure that the positive impact of the industry reaches every deserving consumer while protecting their interests and promoting their rights. Several EdTech entities have joined the IEC such as such as Byju’s, Careers 360,Classplus, Doubtnut, Great Learning, Harappa, Times Edutech &amp; Events Ltd, Scaler, Simplilearn, Toppr, Unacademy, upGrad, UNext Learning, Vedantu &amp; WhiteHat Jr. The move to set up IEC comes at a time when Indian EdTech players are creating immense value for the global audience. The disruptions led by the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns compelled both parents and educational institutions to implement tech-enabled learning solutions, thereby accelerating the growth of the EdTech sector. Indian EdTech operators have been solving for accessibility and affordability through quality courses from best teachers, instructors and faculty members, to ensure that students across all age groups are benefiting from the innovation in the education sector. This has elevated India’s position on the global map as an education hub. The overall Indian EdTech ecosystem impacts over 500M+ school students, college students and working professionals across India. At this scale, it is critical that the ecosystem follows a framework that will protect the rights of our learners and all EdTech companies are committed to this. Subho Ray, President, Internet and Mobile Association of India, said: “IAMAI and members of the India EdTech Consortium (IEC) are deeply committed to ensuring ethical standards to protect learners on online educational platforms. IEC seeks to empower the learners by not just helping them make informed decisions but by also having their grievances redressed timely. The formation of this self-regulatory body is an important step towards protecting learners as more and more students, teachers and stakeholders are becoming a part of the online education ecosystem.” Commenting on the formation of the IEC, Divya Gokulnath, Co- founder of Byju’s said, “We are completely aligned with the Government's principles on safeguarding consumer interests and welcome the creation of guidelines that help students reach their learning goals in a manner that makes them future ready and conceptually strong. We have always believed that the student should be at the center of the education system and as educators we must do everything possible to create the right set of processes and methods to empower and enhance their learning." Vamsi Krishna, Co-Founder &amp; CEO, Vedantu, said, “The Indian EdTech sector has grown considerably over the last two years with funding and consolidations strengthening the ecosystem. However, while business growth is critical, so is consumer protection since this will allow students and parents to make more informed decisions about the future. Therefore, as part of the newly institutionalized IEC, we will build a sounder and more ethical ecosystem for students so that we can ensure their safety and mitigate any risks they may encounter in their journey to be future-ready.” Mayank Kumar, Co-Founder &amp; MD upGrad and Co-Chairperson, IAMAI EdTech Committee, said, “We are honored to be a part of the IEC at a time when the EdTech sector is accelerating its growth momentum. The last two years have witnessed the rise of online education as a connecting bridge to access flexible and quality education for students as well as working professionals. With the sole purpose of improving the delivery of education services, it is now crucial for us to foster and sustain stakeholder trust by safeguarding their interest as a practice. This initiative will go a long way in strengthening the EdTech sector and establishing India as the Teaching capital of the world.” In the recent past, the education sector has undergone significant transformation and EdTech has supplemented in driving new-age academic excellence. Having created a significant impact by offering quality and affordable education services, EdTech entities have also improved learnability &amp; employability for users to address the evolving needs of the job market. The adaptive learning solutions have ensured that learners are not merely ‘knowledge receivers’ but ‘knowledge creators’ as well. The sector has also created large number of employment opportunities. However, as the sector and end users grow at a fast pace, it is critical to establish a standard code of conduct for all Indian EdTech entities to adhere to and ensure that ‘learners’ remain at the core of all the business practices.

IAMAI establishes India EdTech Consortium to uphold Code of Conduct by  EdTech Platforms

<ul><li>The pandemic has made consumers painfully sensitive about the importance of health and immunity. </li><li>Kantar's report says that there's a more focused approach to individual health requirements, an increasing appreciation of the traditional diets and a growing interest in the functional benefits of our familiar kitchen ingredients are triggering conscious food choices.</li></ul>The last year has shown our immense capacity for adjustments and unhesitant flexibility in learning to coexist with the virus. From holding back spends to returning to shopping malls and airports with gusto, Indian consumers have adapted to the ebbs and tides of the pandemic. Preparing for exigencies went hand in hand with recalibrating needs and striving to build a fuller life. We are living in strange times and are yet to get completely accustomed to the new way of living. Nevertheless, there is a continuous effort to do more and be more with the spirit of ‘Carpe Diem’ whenever possible. Along with the conscious focus on care and safety, there is a constant lookout for pockets of enjoyment and social joy. Locked in their homes and under restrictions, Indian consumers have also had a year of epiphany. They have realised the value of self-care, mindful living and are now seeking a more sustainable lifestyle. Some old habits have been replaced entirely, others adjusted, and the changes are here to stay. Our 2022 Annual Trends are borne out of the insights we generate at Kantar, based on our conversations with consumers across the country, and help guide you through a period of recovery and innovation. Kantar brings you 10 themes that define how consumers are preparing themselves for 2022. <ol><li>Going small to live big</li></ol>In earlier times, the big city fuelled dreams and aspirations of the youth and beckoned with the promise to ‘make it big’. The same city now seems stifling with matchbox homes, chaotic traffic, hectic schedules and cluttered living. The urban trapped millennials have been looking for breathers in their busy corporate lifestyles, often finding respite in trips along unchartered tracks. The lockdown and the opportunity of working from home has allowed them to consider an alternate to the city humdrum. As companies chose remote working as ‘business as usual’, the service sector employees chose to move ‘back home’ to smaller towns. What might have started as a prudent decision to save high rent expenses eventually seems to have translated into a more longer-term lifestyle adjustment. There is a conscious effort to recalibrate needs and wants as *59% believe that the pandemic helped them be more appreciative of what they already have. Many are stepping away from the tiring race to success and charting their own path for professional fulfilment, often trading off a heavier pay cheque for a fuller life. Much of the infrastructural development in India has been metro centric. The current trend offers a unique opportunity to reimagine our cities, our infrastructure, and mobility. Brands, on the other hand need to reinforce supply chains to avoid losing customers due to last mile connectivity gaps. (*Source: NICS 2021) 2. Seeking assurance in ‘ghar jaisa’ khana The pandemic has made consumers painfully sensitive about the importance of health and immunity. A more focused approach to individual health requirements, an increasing appreciation of the traditional diets and a growing interest in the functional benefits of our familiar kitchen ingredients are triggering conscious food choices. Consumers are seeking comfort in familiarity, especially in the times of turbulence. They are more mindful of what they eat and are willing to make an effort to table fresher meals, *72% prefer fresh home cooked food than the packaged with the fear of preservatives. If the meals are not from their own kitchen, they would prefer it from someone else’s to be assured of the hygiene and quality of ingredients, thus making home chefs a rage. ‘Bahar ka khana’ is not yet worry-free as *44% do not feel safe ordering food online these days. At the same time there is a growing awareness about mindful eating rituals such as slow eating, appreciation of what’s on the plate and a deeper consciousness of the emotional connect with food. With increasing importance to freshly cooked meals, consumers would be open to kitchen solutions in terms of ingredients or appliances that make ‘home-made’ easier. Additionally, the affinity towards ‘home like food’ will also guide what the food industry will offer in terms of offerings on restaurant menus. (*Source: NICS 2021) 3. Proactive upskilling According to the World Economic Forum, while the rapid evolution of machines in the workplace will displace 75 million jobs by 2022, it will also create 133 million new roles. As companies have been on their accelerated journey of digital transformation, the moot question has been whether the Indian workforce is ready for this change. Constant learning has become an imperative for workers to adapt to changing times and stay relevant. Through this volatility, upskilling has become the new insurance cover in the job market, ensuring stability in an unpredictable workplace disrupted by technology. Proactive self-learning through online courses has become the new norm for working professionals trying to stay employable as well as students gearing up to join the work force. *65% of learners upskilled to strengthen career prospects and *33% of learners were senior-level professionals. As both freshers and experienced employees become more conscious of the skill gap and lean in to bridge it, enrolments into online courses continue to exponentially grow. Proactive and consistent training and development led by employers will be increasingly critical, not only to keep the workforce equipped for the changing workplace, but also to ensure that employees are engaged and invested in the evolving business imperatives of the organisation. (*Source: Simplilearn’s State of Upskilling in 2021) 4. Exercising autonomy through gig work The Indian freelance job market gained rapid acceleration with the pandemic induced job instability. However, what started as a necessity, is now a carefully considered choice for many. The comfort of flexible work schedules, coupled with an apathy for the corporate workstyle has been holding freelancers from going back to full-time employment. On the other hand, the Great Resignation of the west is showing signs in India too. ***62% of India’s workforce has the intention of switching jobs this year, compared to an average of ***41% globally. Most gig workers value the potential for higher earnings and flexible timings in their choice of work and are happy to trade off a steady income and job stability in the bargain. Women looking for employment after a sabbatical have found freelancing to be the much-needed bridge to join back the workforce. The nature of freelance work has also evolved and gig working is not limited to factory or support function jobs. **70% of the Indian freelancers on their platform were working in core management functions. With 15 million freelancers, India is already the second largest gig market in the world. In the long term, the Indian gig economy has the potential to service up to *90 million jobs in India’s non-farm economy. India Inc. should make the most of this opportunity to absorb diverse work force and let them contribute professionally while taking care of their personal comfort. (*Source: BSG Report; Unlocking the Potential of the Gig Economy in India 2021 **Source: Flexingit Survey, 2021 ***Source: Microsoft’s 2021 Work Trend Index) 5. Shrinking personal space with remote work Working from home had started with the promise of more comfort with workdays without travel and meetings without formals. Very soon this advantage was turned on its head as lines between work and personal life started blurring. Work expected you to be always on call and home assumed you were never away. Though remote work was expected to improve employee productivity, there is mounting evidence of increased burnout. **1 in 3 professionals in India feel burnt out due to increased workload and unmanageable stress. Professionals are seeking their personal space that has been squeezed between the responsibilities of home and work and they are looking forward to coming back to their workplace. *57% feel that commuting to their place of work would be a welcome relief after months of working from home. Corporate India has already taken cognizance of this situation and there have been measures to ease life in these times for employees. While focus has been on making work from home more convenient through virtual workplaces, organisations will also need to start rethinking their entire work models, culture, and values to ensure better mental health amongst the workforce. Employees are also learning to draw a line between personal and professional while operating from the same physical space. *Source: NICS 2021 **Source: Future of Work Perception Study by LinkedIn, 2021) 6. Yearning to get away from home Tired of being cooped up in their homes with social distancing norms, travel restrictions, people have been aching to step out of their homes. With the easing of mobility restrictions, restaurants are witnessing rising footfalls as Indian consumers making frequent visits to their favourite restaurants. Not only are consumers keen to experience a refreshing restaurant ambience rather than ordering in, the average order values have increased by *20%. Work from home restrictive lifestyles have also allowed some more disposable income which consumers are glad to spend outdoors as evident in luxury dining increasing by as much as *120%. Lockdown fatigue had resulted in strong pent-up demand which is fuelling unique trends of ‘getting away from home’. Travellers have started to rekindle their travel plans through weekend getaways and similar convenient means to escape from the challenging life of work-from-home stifling schedules. Considering the renewed emphasis on personal control over cleanliness and hygiene, travelers are looking for nearby locations for road trips. Staycations are also an emerging trend where people are checking into at luxurious hotels to rejuvenate themselves with a pampered weekend. With varying rules of social distancing as we witness new waves of the pandemic, consumers will learn to switch on and switch off their social lives but would always yearn to step out. As consumers continue to seek respite from house arrest yet again, by planning for getaways, dropping into restaurants for a meal or even choosing to work from coffee shops, the reassurance of sanitation and hygiene-related measures such us fully vaccinated staff would ensure that they keep coming back. (*Source: Report by Dineout) 7. Instagram is the new store Fuelled by India’s fast growing smartphone penetration and inexpensive data, social media access and engagement has been steadily growing. As the pandemic further accelerated the growth of the e-commerce, social commerce has emerged as a favoured means of online shopping. Making a purchase on social media has brought back the element of the shopping experience that shoppers miss in the online store environment. Discussions, direct messaging and video sharing features make social commerce closer to shopping in person. Consequently, social chatter is fast becoming an active driver of brand choice; while advertising manages to influence *38% towards a brand, *41% tend to be swayed by comments or reviews posted on social media. Riding on social word-of-mouth, today there are social commerce shoppers, account for **53% of total online shoppers in India. Stepping ahead of dynamic customer engagement, social commerce has proved to be an effective and affordable channel for smaller businesses. This channel has also presented a cost-effective alternative for larger businesses and brands reeling under the pressure of mounting <a href="https://www.ey.com/en_in/consulting/customer-engagement">customer acquisition</a> costs and struggling to protect these precious customers from competitors wooing them endlessly with deep discounts. *Source: NICS 2021 **Source: Report by WATConsult, Isobar) 8. Beauty goes beyond skin deep The pandemic brought hand hygiene to the forefront where consumers reacted out of fear without having the time or opportunity to make well thought through choices. The scenario however is vastly different today with consumers making well researched choices in personal care and are realising its significance of self-care more than ever. With virtual workplaces and limited social engagement, there is no mad rush to show up looking one’s best and people are moving towards a more sustainable self-care practice grounded in nature, health and wellness. There is an increasing positive disposition towards slowing down through daily self-care rituals. A stark contrast to the fast-paced world of the beauty industry that sells us quick fixes, cover ups and immediate results. Consumers have become extremely conscious about taking care of their bodies, and not just for the purpose of looking good. Fewer people are insisting on stepping out of home with make up (*30% vs. *49% last year) and declining interest towards cosmetic surgeries (*17% vs. *48% last year). The millennials especially have become acutely conscious of the long-term benefits of personal care regimes. What started as an obsession for sanitisers and hand-washes, has now gradually moved towards conscious choices of personal care, personal hygiene and wellness products. Brands need to be cognizant of shift in consumer choices towards personal care and grooming and cater to this growing affinity towards sustained self-care through their product solutions as well as communication of benefits.’ (*Source: NICS 2021) 9. True inclusion finding a voice among the youth Consumers are being drawn towards brands that embrace diversity and advocate causes that support social equity. The generation Z, being at the forefront of this movement, are evaluating brands with a conscientious looking glass. These globally connected consumers are constantly absorbing information and influences to make brand choices. They deeply value freedom of expression and the openness to accept different kinds of people and bluntly call out brands for stereotyping or alluding to any kind of discrimination. This generation is also taking active steps to make a change around them *36% of Indian Gen Z educated themselves on diversity and inclusion matters and *37% tried to educate and change the views of those around them. *22% of Gen Zs have boycotted a company because they didn’t agree to its views or actions. There have been examples of inclusive marketing countering stereotypes to create a vision that consumers can resonate with and embrace. There has been a shift in advertising campaigns featuring stories of real people told with a sensitivity that has found favour with consumers. Brands looking to engage this generation will need to extend their efforts beyond mere lip service. Just dressing brand communication with diverse imagery will not be enough. To stay relevant, brands need to embed diversity in their organisational culture as well as in their product development endeavours. (*Source: Deloitte 2021 Millennial and Gen Z study) 10. Collective consciousness towards sustainability The pandemic has been a wake-up call; consumers are now acutely aware of the cumulative damage caused to the environment by human carelessness and are eager to ‘make good.’ *76% pay lot of attention to environmental and societal issue in the news. Increasing awareness and heightened consciousness have paved the way for more mindful living where consumers are seeking to coexist with nature and the environment. *77% are prepared to invest time and money to support companies that do good and while shopping *64% consumers factor in sustainability atleast once in a while. Sustainable actions that people are most willing to take today like reducing food waste, saving energy are those that have been part of the Indian ethos for generations. Yet, there are gaps between intentions and actions as most shoppers buying on autopilot are focused on saving money rather than the planet. Further, they don’t often have enough information about how sustainable products are different and the impact they make on our environment. Brands can fuel these actions by increasing awareness about the use of green energy in their production process, making it easier to recycle, incentivizing consumers and making it convenient for them to buy sustainable products. (*Source: Kantar Sustainability Foundational Report 21)

10 themes that define how consumers are preparing themselves for 2022 as per Kantar

In today’s evolving world, it is crucial to stay up-to-date about latest industry developments and trends. Skills that were crucial for a role five years ago are obsolete today. In the intervening period, skill set requirements have developed and evolved. With businesses increasingly relying on the latest technologies and adopting innovative solutions, professionals who keep re-skilling themselves move ahead in their careers. 
 
With 2016 a week away, Simplilearn has identified a list of must-have tech skills for professionals that will gain momentum in 2016 
 
<keyword id="1574956" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="coding">Coding</keyword>: 
Coding is an important tech skill to possess in the Information Age. Whether it’s very rudimentary understanding of HTML or in-depth knowledge of application development such as Java; having skills in coding is better than having none at all. 
 
Big Data: With the arrival of the <keyword id="970768" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="internet-of-things">Internet of Things</keyword> and the mounds of data being collected, understanding the science behind big data has become essential. Knowing how to handle the data and what to do with it is important. Right from apps to refrigerators, everything would be bound in an IoT-enabled ecosystem, and attaining skills in the Big Data domain can come in handy. 
 
Cloud computing: 
More and more organizations are adopting cloud-based solutions, and it’s quickly becoming the new norm. Thus, possessing skills in cloud computing will give candidates the upper hand. 
 
Data visualization: 
Data is being produced at an astonishingly high-rate on mobile applications and websites. Presenting this data in visual form so as to deliver actionable insights is a skill that is going to be in high demand for the foreseeable future. 
 
Digital Marketing 
Digital marketing seems to be one of the most sought after skills in 2015 and promises to offer exceptional career growth in 2016 as well. With the affordability factor and its wide reach, Digital marketing has been consistently gaining momentum across all the verticals. The benefit of applying digital marketing is the transparency it provides through instant and measurable outcomes for businesses and individuals. 
 
Web Development: 
It is vital to possess the ability to develop for the web and work with technologies such as PHP, AJAX, HTML5, Python, CSS, and Java. 
 
Mobile Development: 
With over 200 billion mobile app downloads expected by 2017, the revenue from apps is expected to rise to over $64 billion by 2017. As a result, the need for skilled mobile specialists who can optimize websites for mobile-viewing and develop mobile applications has seen a steep rise. 
 
In addition to the most sought after tech skills for 2016, professional certifications are set to dominate the professional learning landscape. Some of the recommended tech certifications are TOGAF- certified Enterprise Architects will remain among the highest-paid professionals in industry, making over $124,000 on average compared to their non-certified peers. 
 
Scrum Master: According to payscale.com, a CSM® professional has a median salary of $112,000 a year. Also, a Certified ScrumMaster® earns 3% more than a ScrumMaster. 
 
CISSP: IT professionals with the CISSP certification tend to earn $21,000 more compared to IT professionals without CISSP certification. 
 
PMP: According to PMI, Project Management is among the top skillsets in demand by organizations across the globe. It is estimated that one-fifth of the world’s total GDP-which is nearly 12 trillion-is spent on projects. This creates a huge demand for knowledgeable and skilled project managers. The median salary for a PMP is $109,405. 
 
Salesforce Developer: The Salesforce Developer earns an average pay of $99,000. 
 
ITIL: According to Indeed.com, the average salary of an ITIL® certified professional is $95,000. 
 
Data Scientist: The median salary for a data scientist is about $95,000 per annum. 
 
Digital Marketing Certification: The certification is a stamp of approval for domain knowledge in the field of online marketing. This enhances the job prospects of individuals enabling them to gain entry in various Fortune 500 and Ecommerce companies like Amazon and Ebay. A survey conducted on Moz.org reported that the global average salary of online marketers is $65,766 and entry-level salaries start at around $35,000. The average salary for online marketers in the United States is $86,253. 
 
CEH: According to Payscale.com, a Certified Ethical Hacker draws an average annual salary of $68,314. 
 
The Bottom Line 
 
Technology seems to be a change agent for transforming various aspects of life. Learning continuously will be the most effective medium of gaining knowledge. 
 
Corporates appreciate employees who are willing to learn and lead the way ahead. Gone are those days where professionals stay with an organization for more than a decade. Even in one company, one cannot expect to stay on with the same skill sets for more than a couple of years. Improvisation has been the buzz word amongst corporates. Today’s world seem to value knowledge over experience. Certification is the only desired way to gather knowledge and prove ones efficiency. 
 
(The article has been contributed by <a href="http://www.simplilearn.com/">www.simplilearn.com</a>) 
 
 (Image: Indiatimes)

Want to bag your dream job in 2016? These are must-have tech skills

The recent disquiet in the IT Services industry over employee retrenchment has brought into sharp focus the need for constant employee reskilling/upskilling. The Simplilearn Customer Insight Survey illustrated the fact that a negligible percentage IT workers in the age group of 35-55 saw a career increment this last year. Also, the fact that a majority of the layoffs were middle management jobs only goes to show the increasing skill gaps despite companies’ growing budgets being allotted to developing skill sets in this fast evolving industry. This scenario isn’t restricted to the technology industry alone – most services industries (more so than say manufacturing or agriculture) will vouch for the impact that new technologies and changing trends have on their businesses. 
 
Some, like Lynda Gratton, professor of management practice at London Business School<a href="#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title="">[1]</a>, who leads the Future of Work consortium, argue that the role of middle management is fast disappearing. <a href="#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title="">[2]</a>She reckons that technology is rapidly replacing middle managers with its ability to monitor performance closely, provide instant feedback, and even create reports and presentations. Add in this mix the emergence of Gen Y in the workforce, who see no value in reporting to someone who simply keeps track of what they do, and we have a situation that promises to unravel further with time. And this is giving global CEOs sleepless nights. 
 
According to The Conference Board CEO Challenge 2015, Human capital<a href="#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" title="">[3]</a> was the foremost challenge listed with provision of training to upskill workforce being intricately linked to improving productivity and building a performance culture. Of the 1095 CEO’s polled across the globe, a majority of them put human capital challenges ahead of other areas like innovation, customer relationships, operational excellence and global political &amp; economic risk. 
 
In this context, how do employees respond? Building a successful career today depends on constantly adding value to the job and staying relevant to the company’s growth objectives. Especially in a sector like information technology, where today’s technologies are redundant tomorrow, it is imperative for employees to constantly upgrade key skills to stay ahead of the disruption curve. Defining a career pathway and growing successfully in one’s desired career line requires an openness and willingness to learn and being in constant touch with changing industry trends or be caught in a situation where automation catches up. 
 
Companies do invest in training and development of their employees. It’s the quality and applicability of that training beyond the immediate project that one is working on that is often questioned by outsiders. The other moot point is whether the training imparted by companies to their staff relevant to make them future ready or merely to help them deliver on the current project they are deployed in. One can safely conclude that it becomes imperative for individuals to look out for their own interests and future proof their careers. 
 
Even if one discounts redundancies in the workforce due to the onset of automation and technology, other challenges like stagnation and boredom are bound to get to people after pursuing the same pursuing the same domain for years on end. One of the easiest and safest ways to achieve constant career progression and avoid mid-career crisis is by upskilling. 
 
Online certification courses offer the perfect solution of universally accepted certification for skill set recognition, the choice of selecting courses according to industry trends and demand and the option of completing the course at one’s convenience overcoming busy schedules. 
 
Some of the key advantages of online trainings are elaborated below: 
 
Freedom of scheduling one’s own class: Online courses provide flexibility towards professionals for scheduling their own classes in a particular time that is suitable for the individual. Students can study and work when they are at their convenience, during any time of the day. Course materials are always accessible online, so there’s no need to visit a library. All of these aspects makes online learning a good option for students who need to balance their work and family commitments and at the same time overcome mid-career blues. 
 
Comfortable and relaxed learning environment: Students can take up the course in their own comfort zone. The hassle of attending a physical class and be presentable amongst other students can be avoided. Lectures and other materials are electronically sent to the student for their own consumption. Students can prepare themselves and appear for exam at their own convenience. 
 
Quick feedbacks and Exam scores: All the gradation happens on an instant basis and the feedbacks, scope of improvements are also provided real time. Most online courses come with a simple-to-use interface complete with e-mail, discussion boards, assignment page and profile pages for other students, video tutorials, and news updates. Receiving feedback from a professor is also extremely easy as most of the online courses are equipped with chat sessions with respective mentors. 
 
Savings in time and money: By eliminating travel expenses, registration costs, consultant fees, and other expenses associated with seminars and on-site meetings one can afford to save a lot of time and money. Scheduling and implementing online learning is much less time-consuming than planning and implementing physical classes. 
 
Provides real time simulation environment: Post completing each module, students are encouraged to take part in a real life scenario and come up with a solution. The final grades depends on the solution provided to the scenario. Individuals are allowed to consult with their mentors before starting the simulation. 
 
Currently, companies providing online professional certification courses also provides access to live projects and simulation tests to the participants so that they get adapted to the current job requirements. 
 
To sum up, online certification courses have come as a boon to many of professionals hard-pressed for time and who want to overcome their mid-career crisis by keeping themselves updated. 
 
(About the author: This article has been contributed by Mr. Krishna Kumar, Founder and CEO of Simplilearn.com) 

	 
	
	
		<a href="#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title="">[1]</a> http://www.hrmagazine.co.uk/hro/news/1018927/hr-skills-futuring-role-middle-manager-dead-leading-academic#sthash.CW5Yzynv.dpuf
	
		<a href="#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title="">[2]</a> http://lyndagrattonfutureofwork.typepad.com/lynda-gratton-future-of-work/2011/01/did-management-really-end-.html
	
		<a href="#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" title="">[3]</a> http://employeeengagement.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/2015-CEO-Challenge-Conference-Board-Report1.pdf 
		 
		(Image: India Times)

How to answer Indian IT sector’s retrenchment problem

The New Year is on its way, but why put off resolution-making until then? To help you learn new skills to get ahead in your career right now, we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 career skills of 2017 – what every employer is looking for – along with courses you can take to learn and get certified in them. 
 
10. Java Development 
 Java recently celebrated its 21st anniversary, but the programming language is as hot as ever. <keyword id="51916" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Cnbc">CNBC</keyword>.com found that skilled Java developers are more likely to be scouted by recruiters than others; this is because Java is still the primary language for video games, mobile apps, and web programs. The median salary of Java developers is high, at Rs 391,796 in India and $ 72,760 in the United States. Training on Java, Java EE and <keyword id="201468" type="TECHNOLOGY" weightage="20" keywordseo="SOA">SOA</keyword> is all you need to prove that you have what it takes to be a professional developer. 
 
9. Mobile development 
 Building apps for a mobile audience with varying levels of internet access is the biggest challenge facing tech companies right now. Apps need to be calibrated for different mobile operating systems, which is why the demand for certified <keyword id="6355645" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="android">Android</keyword> and <keyword id="75489" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="IOS">iOS</keyword> mobile app developers are at an all-time high. The median salary of Mobile Developers is Rs 366,408 in India and $ 80,343 in the U.S. 
 
8. Statistical Analysis 
 ‘Data Scientist’ was recently named the sexiest job of the 21st century by the <keyword id="86058" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Harvard-Business-Review">Harvard Business Review</keyword>. This is reflected in <keyword id="411003" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="PayScale">Payscale</keyword>.com’s salary figures – Data Scientists earn $92,000 on average in the US and Rs 611,529 in India – and backed up by <keyword id="28120" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Linkedin">LinkedIn</keyword>’s survey, which found that the statistical analysis of data was one of the top skills that recruiters are looking for. 
 7. Data <keyword id="6355267" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="mining">Mining</keyword> 
 In the past, Data Mining was all about plowing through reams of data and coming up with simple analyses. These days, Data Mining is an integral part of the Machine Learning technology behind <keyword id="107950" type="TECHNOLOGY" weightage="20" keywordseo="artificial-intelligence">Artificial Intelligence</keyword> like <keyword id="6355629" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Google">Google</keyword>’s AlphaGo and <keyword id="10875" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="IBM">IBM</keyword>’s <keyword id="6411673" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Watson">Watson</keyword>. Effective Data Mining is the first and most crucial part of developing automation and prediction software. The average salary for a Data Mining Analyst is $60,402 per year in the US and Rs 412,600 in India. 
 
6. Web architecture and development 
 
Web architecture and development have been around a lot longer than most other skills on this list, but they’re still in demand, according to LinkedIn. The median salary of a web developer is $57,662 in the US and Rs 259,155 in India. 
 
5. Storage systems and management 
 
In today’s world, the efficient management of information, storage systems, and networks is as crucial to a company’s success as its front-end operations. This is once again reflected in Payscale.com figures; senior storage engineers earn as much as $104,000 per year on average in the US and Rs 484,414 In India. 
 4. <keyword id="374952" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Seo">SEO</keyword> and SEM 
 Digital skills add to your resume even if you don’t work in the tech industry; Linkedin lists both Search Engine Optimization and Search Engine Marketing as top skills to have. Knowing how <keyword id="283781" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="PPC">PPC</keyword> advertising, email marketing, and programmatic buying work will give you a career boost, in whichever industry you’re in. <keyword id="2643131" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="DIGITAL-MARKETERS">Digital Marketers</keyword> in the U.S earn an average salary of $62,352 in the US and Rs 409,607 in India. 
 
3. Network information security 
 
Malicious cyber hacking has been a big part of the news cycle in 2016, so it probably won’t come as a surprise that information security skills are in high demand. Aspiring cybersecurity professionals need to have a range of technical credentials before they can be accepted into the industry; the CompTIA Security+ SYO-401 Certification is a great certification for a beginner in this field. The average pay for a Network Security Engineer is Rs 400,583 per year in India and $86,116 in the US 
 2. <keyword id="4045735" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="data-presentation">Data Presentation</keyword> 
 
We are living in a world with more data than ever before, and it’s important for everyone, not just Data Scientists, to understand what the data is saying. This is why Data Presentation makes LinkedIn’s list of top skills. If you know how to present easy-to-understand data visualizations to key investors and stakeholders, your career is made. The average salary for data presentation professionals is Rs 344,038 the US and $56,634 in India 
 
1. Cloud and distributed computing 
 Cloud and distributed computing is the highest-paid skill on the survey. According to Payscale.com, a certified Cloud Solution Architect earns $115,000 on average in the US and Rs 1,577,312 in India. With Google, Amazon, and <keyword id="10387" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Microsoft">Microsoft</keyword> all on the lookout for professionals with Cloud training, it only makes sense that this skill comes out on top. 
 
 (The article has been contributed by www.simplilearn.com )

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