Archive: December 27, 2022

Jaipur Literature Festival 2023 to Feature a Range of Discussions on Geopolitics

During its much-awaited 16th edition, to be held from 19th-23rd January at Hotel Clarks Amer, Jaipur the iconic Jaipur Literature Festival will explore and unravel a range of themes at panels curated with meticulous detail. The scale of programming remains as grand as ever. The ‘greatest’ literary show on Earth will feature relevant and pressing issues of the day, geopolitics being a key highlight.

Showcasing a stellar line-up of speakers, the Festival will host a session on India’s relations with China which has seen numerous highs and lows, featuring journalist and commentator Manoj Joshi; India’s former foreign secretary & Ambassador to China, Vijay Gokhale; and former foreign secretary Shyam Saran, in conversation with journalist and foreign policy expert, Suhasini Haidar. During the session, Joshi will discuss the rising tensions at the unresolved LAC, and what that means for the region. At another session, Saran will be in conversation with the UN Resident Coordinator for India, Shombi Sharp; writer Tshering Tashi; Ambassador of the European Union to India and Bhutan, Ugo Astuto; former IFS officer and ambassador, Lakshmi Puri; and author Avaya Shukla to discuss the climate crisis. During the session, this expert panel will critically examine the way forward post COP27 and the fundamental questions of accountability across and regardless of borders while bringing in sustainable development, climate progress, climate justice, and the path ahead.

At the Festival, Saran will be also seen at a session featuring former IFS officer and ambassador Lakshmi Puri; and academic and environmentalist Jason Scorse, in conversation with former diplomat and ambassador Navdeep Suri. At a session titled ‘Governing the Depth: The Politics of the Ocean’, this group of geopolitical experts will overview the existing deep-sea governance arrangements, addressing the logistical challenges inherent in monitoring resource exploitation, and the need to protect one of Earth’s last true frontiers.

China and India have for centuries been the two greatest economic powers of the world, and in the 21st century, their joint superpower status is likely to return. But while their histories and civilizations have traditionally been closely intertwined, today they are almost strangers to each other, their relations enmeshed by misunderstandings and military tensions. Three of India’s most distinguished observers of China – academic Tansen Sen; former Governor of Arunachal Pradesh JJ Singh and former foreign secretary of India Shyam Saran – will deep dive into the past and look at the future with historian and Festival Co-director William Dalrymple.

A session titled ‘The Great Game of Tech Morality’, featuring academic and writer Toby Walsh and tech entrepreneur and writer, Anirudh Suri, in conversation with journalist Praveen Swami will focus on Suri’s recent book, The Great Tech Game: Shaping Geopolitics and the Destiny of Nations, which explores the era of ‘digital colonialism’ and technology’s role in shaping our values and the trajectory of the modern era.

Pic Credit: edelman.com

Fairwork India Ratings 2022 Report examines the working conditions of gig workers on digital labour platforms

Bengaluru, India, December 27, 2022 – The Fairwork India Team, spearheaded by the Centre for IT and Public Policy (CITAPP), International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore (IIIT-B), in association with Oxford University, presents the Fairwork India Ratings 2022: Labour Standards in the Platform Economy report. This report examines the work conditions of platform workers on digital labour platforms in India. It evaluates 12 platforms offering location-based services in sectors such as domestic and personal care, logistics, food delivery, e-pharmacy, and transportation, in India.

This year, the report is structured around the theme of flexibility, which is often portrayed as a crucial dimension and benefit of platform work. “The promise of the flexibility of the digital platform economy raises as many questions about livelihoods as it offers opportunities. We hope the Fairwork report provides the basis for an interpretation of flexibility that allows for not merely the adaptability that platforms seek, but also the income and social security that workers lack”, said Professors Balaji Parthasarathy and Janaki Srinivasan, the Principal Investigators of the team, along with researchers Mounika Neerukonda, Amruta Mahuli, Bilahari M, Damni Kain and Pradyumna Taduri in India.

Fairwork assessed platforms against five principles: Fair Pay, Fair Conditions, Fair Contracts, Fair Management, and Fair Representation. Each principle is broken down into two points: a first point and a second point that can only be awarded if the first point has been fulfilled. Every platform receives a score out of 10. Platforms are only awarded a point when they can sufficiently demonstrate or commit to the implementation of the principle. Through a combination of desk research and worker interviews conducted in Bangalore, Delhi, and Kochi, and, where possible, from the evidence provided by the platforms, the Fairwork India Ratings 2022 scores 12 platforms, including Amazon Flex, BigBasket, Dunzo, Flipkart, Ola, PharmEasy, Porter, Swiggy, Uber, Urban Company, Zepto, and Zomato. This year, no platform scored more than seven out of the maximum of ten points, and none scored all the first points across the five principles. Key findings by principle are below

1.  There are two highlights to this year’s findings. Firstly, the same three platforms that scored the first point for Fair Pay last year scored a point this year too. No other platform publicly committed or provided sufficient evidence, to ensure that workers earn at least the hourly local minimum wage after work-related costs. Even with workers and worker groups repeatedly emphasizing the importance of a stable income for platform workers, platforms have been reluctant to publicly commit to, and operationalize a minimum wage policy. Secondly, while workers have engaged in various forms of collective action to voice their concerns in the platform economy, platforms have been uncompromisingly unwilling to recognize or negotiate with any collective body representing workers.

2. This year, bigbasket, Flipkart, and Urban Company implemented and operationalized policies to ensure that all workers on these platforms earn at least the hourly local minimum wage after factoring in work-related costs. No platform made the second point which requires platforms to commit or provide sufficient evidence that workers earn at least the local living wage after work-related costs.

3. bigbasket, Flipkart, Swiggy, Urban Company, and Zomato were awarded the first point under Fair Conditions for simplifying their insurance claims processes and for having operational emergency helplines on the platform interface. Only bigbasket, Swiggy, and Urban Company were awarded the second point for implementing a loss-of-pay policy that provides workers with a financial safety net during medical illnesses.

4. Seven out of twelve platforms were awarded the first point for Fair Contracts. bigbasket, Flipkart, Swiggy, Porter, Urban Company, Zepto, and Zomato were awarded this point for ensuring the accessibility of their contracts and implementing a notice period before changes are made. Additionally, Flipkart, Swiggy, Urban Company, Zepto, and Zomato, have modified their contracts to reduce the asymmetry in liabilities and have added a clause for dispute resolution between workers and platforms, and hence met the second point under Fair Contracts.

5. bigbasket, Flipkart, Swiggy, Urban Company, and Zomato were awarded the first point for Fair Management for having a grievance redressal process with the option to connect with a human representative of the platform. There was sufficient evidence only from Urban Company to meet the second point for the principle. It instituted regular, external audits to check for biases in its work allocation systems, in addition to adopting policies against the discrimination of its platform workers.

6. Representation through a collective body or trade union is a vital dimension of fairness at work. It is disconcerting that despite the rise in platform worker collectivization across the country, like last year, there was insufficient evidence from any platform to show willingness to recognize a collective body of workers. Consequently, no platform could be awarded a point for this principle.

Hiring optimism across India’s manufacturing industries emerges stouter than previous quarter – states TeamLease

Mumbai, 27th December 2022: TeamLease, one of India’s leading employment services offering a range of HR solutions, has launched its “Employment Outlook Report” for Q4 (January to March 2023) for the manufacturing sector. The report finds that 60% of employers in the manufacturing segment aim to recruit and expand their resource pool in this period. The positive higher hiring sentiment is attributed to large-scale enterprises (69%), followed by medium (44%) and small (39%) businesses. The overall intent to hire for both the manufacturing and services sectors combined has grown from 65% in Q3 to 68% in Q4.

Analyzing the geographical trends in an in-depth manner, the report finds that as before, the intent to hire is greater in metro and Tier 1 cities (94%) as compared to Tier 2 cities (73%), Tier 3 (43%), and the rural sector (23%). The cities with the highest intent to hire are Mumbai (97%), Bengaluru (94%), Chennai (89%), Delhi (84%), and Pune (73%). From a sector perspective, Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals (98%), Fast Moving Consumer Goods (86%), Electric Vehicle & Infrastructure sector (71%), Agricultural & Agrochemical (69%), Manufacturing, and Engineering & Infrastructure (65%) are the sectors with the sturdiest hiring intent.

Sharing insights about the report’s findings, Dr. Mahesh Bhatt, Chief Business Officer, TeamLease Services, said, “The global employment rate has increased considerably post the last Covid-19 wave and is poised to grow stronger in the coming quarters. With domestic demand increasing, despite stringent external conditions, the manufacturing industry is projected to witness all-encompassing growth. Moreover, the government’s agenda to drive ‘Make in India’ and the introduction of reforms to boost domestic manufacturing will enable India to become a more attractive destination for investments, thereby impacting employment positively.”

“Regardless of global economic challenges, India recorded a GDP of 8.7% GDP in FY 2021-22 and is projected to record a 6.2% GDP growth in 2023. Manpower is going to be a crucial element to achieve this growth vision, especially in the manufacturing sector. Hiring intent for Q4 has increased by 3% and will continue to surge in the coming quarters as well. Production Linked Incentive schemes which have been introduced, along with financial impetus for the manufacturing segment that the budget is likely to address will promote employment optimism”, Balasubramanian A, Vice President and Business Head – Consumer and Healthcare, TeamLease Services added.

The Employment Outlook Report (January to March 2023) for the manufacturing industry accentuates the industry as an ideal sector for job aspirants. Employers are most enthusiastic about recruiting at the junior level (60%), entry-level (55%), followed by mid-level (27%), and senior level (24%). The job profiles with the highest projected hiring intent consist of Sales (98%), Marketing (86%), Information Technology (86%), Engineering (78%), and Blue Collar (75%) jobs.

Further, according to the report attrition appears to be more balanced in the sector. Apart from Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals which have shown a double-digit attrition rate of 15.67% from 14.71 % during the Jul-Sep 2022-23 period, the Manufacturing industry has single-digit attrition rates.

The TeamLease Employment Outlook Report is a forward-looking tool for Business & HR heads, Senior Management, and Policy-makers as well as employees and freshers to understand the hiring sentiment. It has surveyed 301 manufacturing companies across 14 cities and 09 manufacturing industries in India. The Intent to hire indicator is specifically tailored to capture both moderate and significant changes in hiring sentiment within companies. By comparing the previous quarter’s environment to the current quarter, the metric allows us to accurately gauge the current quarter’s environment.

Pic Credit: Adfactors PR

Year-end quote: Digital Payments; Fintech; BNPL | Cashfree Payments

“India is in a strong position to become the global leader in fintech innovation, with a thriving ecosystem of startups and established companies driving innovative financial solutions. A robust tech stack, combined with the Jan Dhan Yojana and the surge of UPI, has opened doors to endless opportunities to spur innovative offerings and services in Fintech. 

Here are a few trends that can drive this progress in 2023: 

• Offline digital payments gain traction: 

The introduction of offline digital payments such as UPI 123pay will increase person-to-merchant (P2M) and peer-to-peer (P2P) transactions via payment apps. This will exponentially increase the financial awareness for users even from the remotest regions, making them a new customer segment for businesses. 

• Increase in cross-border payments:

Homegrown payment solutions will gain further acceptance in foreign markets, increasing cross-border transactions. NPCI’s efforts in expanding UPI in markets such as Europe, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Switzerland will act as a growth catalyst. Recent initiatives, such as allowing Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) to directly make payments for their bills using Bharat Bill Pay System (BBPS), will accelerate this process. 

• Increased adoption of BNPL: 

In 2023, we will witness an increased collaboration between banks, NBFCs, and payment networks, giving access to credit to a largely underserved market and creating a new customer base. Segments offering BNPL will go beyond electronics, mobiles, and groceries, extending to essentials, healthcare, online education, insurance, and travel. 

Banking as a Service (BaaS) has emerged to be a powerful avenue to boost the reach of financial services. We are witnessing a rising focus on convenient banking and the utilization of tech-led innovation. Considering the efforts will increase in 2023, we will undoubtedly move closer to the aspiration of hassle-free bank account shifting, just like changing mobile phone service providers. It goes without saying that we are entering an exciting phase wherein fintech and digital payments will become force multipliers in India’s financial inclusion endeavour.” 

pic source: Adfactors PR 

Housing Sales in Top 7 Cities Scale New Peak in 2022, Breach Previous high of 2014 – ANAROCK

Mumbai, 27 December 2022: Despite the gradual hike in property prices and home loan interest rates in 2022, it has been a fantastic year for residential real estate. Latest ANAROCK Research indicates that housing sales in the top 7 cities have created a new peak in 2022, breaching the previous high of 2014. Approx. 3,64,900 units were sold in 2022 against 2,36,500 units in 2021 across the top 7 cities – rising by 54% on Y-o-Y. The last peak was seen in 2014 when 3.43 lakh units were sold across the top 7 cities.

In terms of cities, MMR witnessed the highest sales of approx. 1,09,700 units in 2022, followed by NCR with approx. 63,700 units. The two realty hotspots are together once again the leading residential markets.

Meanwhile, new launches across the top 7 cities saw a 51% annual rise – from 2,36,700 units in 2021 to nearly 3,57,600 new units in 2022. MMR and Hyderabad witnessed maximum new launches in 2022, together comprising nearly 54% share of the total new launches in the year.

Anuj Puri, Chairman – of ANAROCK Group, says, “2022 has been a phenomenal year for residential real estate despite all headwinds including rising property prices, interest rate hikes and all geopolitical tensions, etc. Housing sales in the top 7 cities breached the previous highs of 2014 while new launches in comparison remained restricted.”

“While it was widely anticipated that the rise in property costs and interest rates towards the second half of 2022 would have a cascading impact on the residential sales, Q4 2022 remained quite robust with as many as 92,160 units sold in the period,” says Puri. “Interestingly, NCR became the shining star in 2022 which deliberately restricted new supply in the year to approx. 22,350 units but witnessed robust housing sales of 63,700 units.”

“Further, as we march into a new year, we anticipate the current sales momentum in the housing sector to continue in the first quarter of 2023. The appetite for homeownership has remained undeterred, with maximum sales being driven by the end-users. However, various risks loom large around the residential segment. A lot will depend on how the home loan interest rates pan out over the next year.”

Puri goes on to state that in 2023, we may see new launches remain well under control across most top cities. Ready-to-move-in will continue to top buyer demand but the demand for new launches will also gain momentum. This is large because the new supply in the market is and will continue to be dominated by the large and listed developers in the new year. There is a sense of confidence among the buyers for these developers and hence they will continue to perform well and see significant sales, just as they did in 2022.

Housing Sales Overview City-wise

Residential sales stood at approx. 3,64,900 units in 2022 against 2,36,500 units in 2021 across the top 7 cities – rising yearly by 54%. NCR, MMR, Bengaluru, Pune, and Hyderabad together accounted for 90% of the sales in the quarter.

MMR recorded the highest sales in 2022 across the top 7 cities. With nearly 1,09,800 units sold in 2022, the city witnessed an annual increase of 44%.
NCR recorded sales of approx. 63,800 units in 2022, a significant increase of 59% over the last year.
Pune recorded sales of around 57,200 units in 2022, an increase of 59% over 2021.
Approx. 49,500 units were sold in Bengaluru in 2022, an annual increase of 50%.
Hyderabad recorded sales of approx. 47,500 units in 2022, a massive yearly increase of 87% over 2021.
Kolkata recorded sales of approx. 21,200 units in 2022, an annual increase of 62% from the previous year.
Approx. 16,100 units were sold in Chennai in 2022, a yearly jump of 29% over 2021.
New Launches Overview City-wise

The top 7 cities recorded new launches of around 3,57,600 units in 2022 as opposed to 2,36,700 units in 2021, an annual increase of 51% over the previous year. Key cities contributing to 2022 new unit launches included MMR, Hyderabad, Pune, and Bengaluru, altogether accounting for 86% of the total addition.

MMR witnessed the highest new unit launches of 1,24,650 units in 2022 among the top 7 cities. Over 68% of the new supply was added in INR 40 Lakh to INR 2.5 Cr budget segment.
Hyderabad added a new supply of approx. 68,000 units in 2022 compared to 51,500 units in 2021 – a healthy increase of 32%.
Pune added approx. 64,300 units in 2022, a significant annual increase of 61% over the previous year. Over 74% of the new supply was added in the INR 40 Lakh – INR 1.5 Cr budget segment.
Bengaluru added approx. 49,200 units in 2022, a yearly increase of 61%. Approx. 72% new supply was added in the INR 40 Lakh – INR 1.5 Cr budget segment.
NCR’s new launches in 2022 recorded a decrease of 20% from the previous year with approx. 25,350 units launched this year.
Chennai added approx. 10,000 units in 2022, an annual decrease of 19% over the previous year.
Kolkata added approx. 16,100 units in 2022, an annual increase of 17% over 2021. Approx. 72% new supply was added in the sub-INR 80 Lakh budget segment.

Pic Credit: ANAROCK Property Consultants

Central bank digital currencies: The Innovative Future of Money in India

In the budget of 2022-23, we saw new ventures when the union government announced that we would have our digital rupee.

India is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, and we need technology-driven innovations to keep up. Now, being digital, it is likely to be easier, faster, and cheaper because the Central bank digital Currency has now come into existence in India too.

What is CBDC

– It is Digital Rupee (eRe), the Same as physical cash in electronic form.

– The e-Rupee will not earn any interest when in a wallet, the same as the case of cash. And can be converted to other forms of money, anytime, like bank deposits or other investments.

The RBI has launched CBDC for retail customers and merchants, after a month of e-rupee transactions in the wholesale segment. The denominations of the digital rupee are same as that of currently circulated paper currency and coins. The intermediaries distributing the physical currency are banks but for e-Rupee, it is only the participating banks who will be issuing it through a digital wallet stored in the mobile phone of the user. The e-Rupee can be used for both transactions – Person To Person (P2P) and Person To Merchant (P2M), it can also be used for merchant transactions using QR codes.

CBDC’s Presence

The pilot project of CBDC launch is covering four cities: Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Bhubaneswar, and four banks. The customers and merchants, from these select cities, in a Closed User Group (CUG), will be able to use the digital rupee (e₹-R), or e-rupee. The controlled launch of the digital currency is managed by: the State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, Yes Bank, and IDFC First Bank. And in the second phase, four more banks, viz., Bank of Baroda, Union Bank of India, HDFC Bank, and Kotak Mahindra Bank will be added in this pilot, extending to Ahmedabad, Gangtok, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Indore, Kochi, Lucknow, Patna, and Shimla. The learning from the first two launches will be added and adapted in the scope with gradual expansion to include more banks, users, and locations as needed.

Goals of Central Bank Digital Currency

The primary goal of CBDCs is to offer financial security, privacy, transferability, simplicity, and accessibility to companies and consumers.

CBDCs may also cut the cost of cross-border transactions, lessen the expense of maintaining a complicated financial system, and offer more affordable choices to those who move money in other ways.

A CBDC also gives a nation’s central bank the tools it needs to carry out monetary policies that promote stability, restrain economic development, and affect inflation. The value of cryptocurrencies fluctuates continuously, and they are volatile.

RBI’s CBDC Vs Crypto and UPI

The main differentiator between CBDC and cryptocurrency is – the CBDC is backed by a central bank (or a sovereign nation), while the cryptocurrency is private money and is not backed by any sovereign entity.

The payment settlement happens instantaneously for all 3, i.e. – CBDC and UPI, as well as Cryptocurrency.

 CBDCs – The Challenges

The risk of data privacy is inherent with any digital product and hence with CBDC too. And as the nature is financial, CBDC is vulnerable to cyber frauds and attacks. So the risk of financial loss or instability is also associated with it.

While cash has a fundamental feature of anonymity. It leaves no trace of transaction and perhaps it is one reason why it is favorable too. Albeit convenience of e-Rupee, the CBDC being digital will have its traces of transaction.

In a nutshell, technology has its pros and cons. CBDC will strengthen the FinTech ecosystem. It will add trust, security, and convenience to digital retail transactions. And will support the lending tech and its collections too in a big way.

pic source: BloomingdalePR

Year End Statement By Dr. Nidhi Pundhir, Vice President, Global CSR, HCL Foundation

The world is going through a transformational phase in which individuals, governments, and corporations are re-evaluating their responsibilities and actions towards people and the planet. Honoring its commitment towards holistic and integrated development of communities, HCL Foundation, the corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm of HCLTech that completed a decade of impact and stewardship, proactively collaborated with the national and local governments, NGO partners, and communities to meet the needs on the ground. It is reflected in the activities that have been undertaken, which are now more focused and purpose-led. Not just companies but citizens too are increasingly aware of how the brands they are associated with are performing on the CSR front or working towards social good and the environment. This commitment will only increase further in 2023 resulting in increased transparency and accountability in CSR activities. It will also lead to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives becoming more embedded in the corporate psyche.

Pillars of focus in 2023 should be:

a. With the recent rise in COVID-19 cases across the world, it has become more important than ever to learn from the experiences of the past two years and implement them to tide over the evolving health scenario. We’ve made good progress, but rural areas will need continuous support to sustain it.

b. Education will remain an important focal point, especially in the post-COVID-19 scenario. The need to bridge the gap with children who lost precious time has become even more paramount. With the increased adoption of technology, getting children educated through support to schools and communities will help in universalizing free and compulsory elementary education for all.

c. As the climate crisis accelerates, technology-powered solutions will maximize efficiency in the race to become net zero. We need to act responsibly to ensure that a sustainable impact is created through our actions and initiatives.

d. Water crisis has emerged as a serious challenge to us. A multi-dimensional approach involving all stakeholders such as the government, corporations, and local communities is required to improve groundwater management, with support from the affected communities, so that this precious natural resource remains available for future generations.

An all-hands-on-the-deck approach will help CSR programs make a lasting impact. While the government has provided the framework, it is important to foster partnerships between public and private bodies to carry forward those. Moreover, local communities will become important not only as recipients of various program benefits but as partners that will ensure sustainable implementations. We will also see more employees volunteering for CSR programs as they envisage a greater role for themselves as citizens.

MIT xPRO launches programs with Simplilearn in Executive Leadership Principles and Machine Learning for Business, Engineering, And Science

Mumbai, December 27, 2022: MIT xPRO has announced two new upskilling programs in Executive Leadership Principles and Machine Learning for Business, Engineering, and Science. Delivered through the digital skills training platform Simplilearn, these programs leverage MIT xPRO’s thought leadership in engineering and management developed over years of research, teaching, and practice as well as Simplilearn’s dynamic, interactive, digital learning platform.

The Executive Leadership Principles program is designed to enable learners to understand an array of organizational and leadership aspects. Some of the focus areas include organizational strategies and capabilities, applying influence, negotiation, conflict resolution, change management, problem-solving, navigating culture and networks, as well as discovering and implementing leadership strengths. This Executive Program offers masterclasses taught by MIT faculty and instructors, assessments, case studies, and tools. It is best suited for early and mid-career professionals looking to advance their leadership and capabilities while on the job. Through this program, learners can benefit from an executive certificate of completion from MIT xPRO, 5 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) from MIT xPRO, the scope to connect with an international community of professionals, as well as an opportunity to work on real-world projects. Eligibility criteria require learners to have a graduate degree; they could be working professionals with technical or non-technical backgrounds.

The Machine Learning for Business, Engineering, and Science program is designed to demystify machine learning through computational engineering principles and applications. It provides the opportunity to learn from MIT faculty while connecting with an international community of professionals and working on projects based on real-world examples. Learners will gain the skills to apply their knowledge to various aspects of work using simulations, assessments, case studies, and tools. Learners get a chance to earn a Professional Certificate of completion and 10 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) from MIT xPRO. The program is best suited for professionals with bachelor’s degrees in engineering, business, or physical science who are interested in knowing about the application of Machine Learning across various domains.

Mr. Anand Narayanan, Chief Product Officer, of Simplilearn, said, “The need to upskill remains consistent and relevant for professionals across the board. In the dynamic workplace of today, it is imperative for professionals to be able to effectively complete tasks and solve problems strategically. Ensuring to map skills and constantly upgrading oneself to match industry requirements will ensure consistent professional growth. We are pleased to work with MIT xPRO to offer these programs in new-age skills enabling employees to upskill and achieve high-quality results in their workspace.”

Announcing the launch, MIT xPRO says, “Students and professionals today are keen to regularly upskill and up their game when it comes to strengthening their careers. There is a need to stay abreast with industry developments and be open and agile to change. In this regard, we are pleased to work with Simplilearn to curate programs that are sure to provide in-depth and comprehensive knowledge, relevant to the dynamic industry shifts. We are confident that they will assist learners in achieving their career objectives.”

Pic Credit: Adfactors PR

5 Apps for last-minute bucket list plans for New Year's weekend

Blink and it’s New Year’s Eve already! It is one of those nights which one may have been planning for at least a month but never seems to have settled for anything right. Nevertheless, it’s celebration time already and it is pretty obvious to get caught up in myriad chores. Worry not because these apps have got your back for all the last-minute plans this New Year’s weekend.
1. Swiggy
The leading food ordering and delivery platform in India are there to satiate midnight cravings with multiple cuisine options that are delivered at lightning fasts speeds. The interesting part – there’s no minimum order value and the food delivery can be tracked live on its way home. So, open up the Swiggy app on the phone and order happiness right at the doorstep.

2. Bigbasket
Gone are the days when anyone would wade through traffic jams, pay for parking, stand in long queues, and carry heavy bags – all for grocery shopping. This New Year’s Eve, choose BigBasket which has over 18,000 products and over 1000 brands in its catalog. This brand ensures that one gets delivered the best quality fruits and vegetables, rice and dals, beverages, personal care products, meats, spices, and seasoning at the lowest prices.
3. mPokket
Got New Year party plans and suddenly you are out of budget? Many of us have been through this situation without any handy solution. Well, mPokket is there to give instant personal loans to students and salaried professionals. With low-interest rates, mPokket offers quick availability of cash without any long-term EMI commitments. It is easy to get quick loans up to ₹30,000 deposited right into the bank account, with no paperwork required at all.

4. Trip Advisor

For all the last-minute travel plans, Trip Advisor is all set to assist in discovering new places to stay, eat and explore. It has already more than 1 billion reviews and opinions of nearly 8 million businesses and is trusted across the globe to find deals on accommodations, book experiences, and reserve tables at delicious restaurants. So, catch up with your tribe and let Trip Advisor plan the itinerary this New Year.

5. Zoomcar

Zoomcar, the car rental service, has enabled driving convenience for travelers around the country. Even self-driving cars can be booked online or on a smartphone within seconds. Zoomcar offers the flexibility of choosing from various packages, depending on whether the vehicle is needed for a longer time or a longer distance. The vehicles have all-India permits, and the brand provides multiple parking sites across the country. So, no more worries about petrol mileage, fuel costs, insurance, and car breakdowns this New Year!