Tag: India

Dastur Energy recognized with the Decarbonization Excellence Partner Award

01st July 2024: Dastur Energy, a leading clean energy technology company, has been named winner of the “Decarbonization Excellence Partner” award by the Governing Council of The Global Refining & Petrochemicals Congress (GRPC 2024) & Organizers of the Downstream India Excellence Awards 2024.

The Award recognizes Dastur Energy’s significant contributions towards enabling industrial-scale clean energy transformation by offering deep expertise across the industrial decarbonization value chain including – renewable energy, clean fuels like hydrogen, production process changes, and carbon capture, utilization & sequestration. Dastur Energy’s team of industrial decarbonization, technoeconomic, regulatory, and project risk experts deliver – a cost-effective strategic approach that is designed to deliver significant business impact while enabling clean energy transition and carbon management.

The Award, held in association with the Global Refining & Petrochemicals Congress (GRPC 2024), recognizes industry leaders and organizations that have demonstrated excellence in thought leadership, management, research, technology, innovation, and overall operations in the Indian downstream Oil & Gas industry.

Atanu Mukherjee, CEO Dastur Energy, expressed his gratitude for the award, stating, “We are honoured to receive this prestigious award which recognizes our commitment to developing innovative solutions that enable the transition to a sustainable future.”

The award was announced and conferred during the ceremony and networking reception held on June 27, 2024, at Hotel Le Meridien, New Delhi, as part of the 5th edition of the Global Refining & Petrochemicals Congress (GRPC 2024).

Dastur Energy, a subsidiary of M. N. Dastur & Co. (P) Ltd., has been successfully delivering industrial-scale clean energy transition and carbon management solutions for companies in the ‘hard to abate’ sectors in North America, the Middle East, and India. In addition, the company has been closely associated as a partner and thought leader enabling pioneering projects funded by governmental entities like – NITI-Aayog, the United States Department of Energy, United States Trade and Development Agency.

5 Co-Living Spaces Revolutionizing Rental Living in India

In the bustling landscape of India’s rental market, a new trend is rapidly gaining traction – co-living spaces that seamlessly blend modern comforts with community living. These innovative spaces are not just about providing a roof over one’s head but creating vibrant communities where like-minded individuals can thrive together. From trendy urban hubs to serene suburban retreats, these top 5 co-living spaces are redefining the way we experience rental living, offering a harmonious blend of convenience, affordability, and social connectivity. Let’s delve into these transformative spaces that are shaping the future of rental living in India.

Nest Away

Aurum PropTech, through its acquisition of NestAway, India’s fastest-growing ‘Managed Home Rental Network,’ is dedicated to providing superior rental solutions through innovative design and technology. At NestAway, we go the extra mile to assist you in discovering and renting your dream home. Our comprehensive services include move-in assistance, home maintenance such as cleaning and repairs, seamless online rent payments, and efficient move-out support. With options ranging from a single bed to an entire house, tailored to fit any budget or home preference, we ensure there’s something just right for everyone!

Hello World

HelloWorld, India’s leading Co-Living platform for students and young working professionals, is powered by Aurum PropTech Ltd., a publicly listed technology firm engaged in creating an Integrated PropTech Ecosystem. HelloWorld has transformed large residential units architecturally into budget-friendly spaces rented on a sharing basis. Our innovative approach ensures the total elimination of brokerage, enabling individuals to procure quality spaces at affordable rates. As a part of Aurum PropTech, we bring a wealth of expertise and a commitment to revolutionizing the rental living experience in India.

Stanza Living

Stanza Living, a brand operated by Dtwelve Spaces Private Limited, offers fully-managed shared living accommodations for students and young professionals. Co-founded by Anindya Dutta and Sandeep Dalmia, the company operates in 23 cities across India, including Delhi, NCR, Bangalore, Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad, Chennai, Coimbatore, Indore, Pune, Baroda, Vijayawada, Dehradun, and Kota, with a total capacity of 70,000 beds. Stanza Living embodies a technology-driven housing concept, providing fully-furnished residences with amenities such as meals, internet, laundry services, housekeeping, security, and community engagement programs.

YourSpace

Your Space is a place where technology meets comfort to create fully-managed shared living accommodations tailored for students and young professionals. Each residence is meticulously furnished and equipped with essential amenities like meals, high-speed internet, laundry services, housekeeping, round-the-clock security, and engaging community programs. “Your Space” is not just a place to stay; it’s a holistic experience designed to foster personal growth, academic success, and lifelong memories.

Housr

Housr, known as the business class of coliving, is India’s top luxury-managed accommodation provider, offering a living experience that is par excellence. Exclusively focused on working professionals and the millennial generation, Housr provides a comfortable, connected and curated way of living where one can enjoy all the modern amenities under one roof and an enriching community experience.

The Maverick Motivator

“One huge step to success begins with a single failure” says Raunaq Kakkar, Serial Entrepreneur, Founder of Lawpreneurz, Found My Teacher and MarriedUp

Raunaq Kakkar,

Mumbai, 7th June 2024: Showcasing the many dimensions of Raunaq Kakkar as the one who turned his failure around into successful ventures. As a game-changer, Raunaq has furthered 250 start-ups across industries such as AI, Education, Agriculture, and Logistics, including diverse sectors to raise their seed capital. Charging on the dynamic momentum, Raunaq now aims towards a 2.0 plan in fostering 2000 founders in the coming year.

TED Talk in 2018 brought Raunaq within the vision of the movers and shakers. In 2022 he was awarded by the Government of Maharashtra and in 2023 he was felicitated in Dubai at the Education 2.0 event.

To help advance businesses abroad, Raunaq’s ‘Found My Teacher’ is a singular platform that coaches’ entrepreneurs in languages that are critical to success and sharpening their comms.  Raunaq has fostered 250 clients in the US, UK, Middle East, and India. With his entrepreneurial skills and astute intellect, he has raised a seed capital of 3 – 5 million USD for them.

Raunaq now aims to help 2000 founders as a fitting acknowledgment to an overwhelming response.

As a Serial Entrepreneur, he now seeks the support to collaborate with global entrepreneurs and expand his business acumen to different horizons. The journey forward is to promote 2000 business owners in the coming year.

Eaton’s Mobile Tech Day Showcases Cutting-Edge Solutions in Bangalore and other cities across Karnataka

Bangalore, INDIA Intelligent power management company Eaton showcased its Mobile Tech Day 2024 in Karnataka earlier this month. The roadshow aimed to exhibit Eaton’s state-of-the-art solutions in electrical, mobility, and aerospace technologies that are set to revolutionize industries. The 40-foot advanced trailer traveled the length and breadth of India, connecting Eaton’s industry experts with customers face-to-face. The trailer was stationed across Hosur, Bangalore, and Hospet in Karnataka.

This exciting journey began in April 2023, with a grand flag-off ceremony in Haryana. This unique initiative has already made its mark—covering 13 states and extending its reach to over 77 cities.

Commenting on Eaton’s portfolio of Electrical solutions, Syed Sajjadh Ali, Managing Director, Electrical Sector, India, Eaton, said, “At Eaton, we recognize the enormous potential that India holds and are eager to explore opportunities to collaborate in the country’s infrastructure and commercial growth. As a leader in electrical products, systems, and services for power quality, distribution, control, and wiring, our electrical business offers technology-driven solutions that address the critical needs of diverse markets such as industrial, utility, commercial, residential, and information technology. This Mobile Tech Day campaign brings an exciting opportunity for Eaton to showcase our industry-leading technology solutions and product offerings to customers and end-users in the region.”

Commenting on Eaton‘s Mobility portfolio, Shailendra Shukla, Managing Director, Mobility Group, India, Eaton, said, “Eaton’s power management & eMobility solutions position us as an ideal partner for leading players and vehicle OEMs in India’s focused segments, enabling their growth and success. We are also the preferred choice for the aftermarket space, and we partner closely with our distributors, resellers, and users for our aftermarket products and solutions. Eaton‘s portfolio includes innovative products and alternative fuel solutions aimed at minimizing carbon footprint and creating a sustainable future. We take pride in the fact that we engineer to meet the specific needs of each segment with industry best practices. By doing so, we help our customers manage power more safely, reliably, and efficiently. Our eMobility business provides a robust portfolio of solutions by combining elements from our Mobility and Electrical businesses.”

The Tech Day highlighted Eaton’s innovative products spanning business sectors – Electrical, Mobility, and Aerospace. Within the exhibit, Eaton’s electrical division boasted diverse solutions tailored to meet individual customer needs. The electrical solutions included a comprehensive suite of medium voltage switchgear solutions. The products from Eaton’s electrical business, caters to a wide range of applications, offering both standardized and customized options to meet specific customer needs. The key solutions featured include medium voltage switchgear: Xiria, RVAC, Low voltage switchgear: ACB, MCB, MCCB, RCD, Fusegear: Bussmann range of HV/LV/EV fuses, Power Quality: 9PX and DXRT (1-ph online UPS), 93PR (3-ph UPS), EV Chargers: 22kW AC charger, and Software Solutions: Brightlayer.

In the mobility technology space, Eaton showcased Clutch Assemblies, Transmission: 9-speed and 4-speed (compatible with EVs), Traction control: MLD NoSpin Differential, and Air management: engine valves and valve actuation.

In Eaton’s aerospace solutions, the highlighted are complete aircraft electrical power solutions: circular and rectangular connectors, back-shells, signal and power contacts, fiber optic solutions, cable assemblies and conduits, power conversion, and hold down and release actuators.

Audi India launches Audi Q3 and Audi Q3 Sportback Bold Edition

Mumbai, May 10, 2024: Audi, the German luxury car manufacturer today announced the launch of the Audi Q3 Bold Edition and Audi Q3 Sportback Bold Edition. The Bold Edition versions get distinctive styling and are designed to captivate Audi enthusiasts with their exclusivity and unique design elements.

audi

Variant Price Ex-showroom
Audi Q3 Bold Edition INR 54,65,000
Audi Q3 Sportback Bold Edition INR 55,71,000

Mr. Balbir Singh Dhillon, Head of Audi India said, “The Audi Q3 and Audi Q3 Sportback are currently our best-selling models and have always been loved by our customers. A perfect blend of luxury, performance and versatility, both these models are now being offered with a Bold Edition – a more exclusive and sportier variant packed with distinctive styling elements. The Bold Editions are designed for those who want to make a unique statement on the road. With limited units available, we are positive that these will be sold out in no time.”

Highlights of Bold Edition: The Black styling package features a striking black design that radiates elegance – this includes a gloss-black grille, black Audi rings in front and rear, black window surrounds, black ORVMs and black roof rails.

Key highlights of Audi Q3 & Q3 Sportback Bold Edition

  • Class-leading performance: 2.0l TFSI engine with the legendary quattro all-wheel drive.
  • Generates 190 hp and 320 Nm of torque
  • 45.72 cm (R18) 5-arm style alloy wheels
  • 45.72 cm (R18) 5-spoke V-style (‘S’ design) alloy wheels*
  • S-line exterior package*
  • LED Headlamps with LED rear combination lamps
  • Panoramic glass sunroof
  • Power adjustable front seats with four-way lumbar support
  • Seat upholstery in leather/leatherette combination
  • Leather-wrapped 3-Spoke multifunction plus steering wheel with paddle shifters
  • Ambient lighting package plus (Multi color)
  • 2-zone climate control system
  • Parking aid plus with rear view camera
  • AudiSmartphone Interface
  • Progressive steering*
  • Six Airbags
  • MMI Navigation Plus with MMI Touch
  • AudiDrive Select
  • AudiVirtual Cockpit Plus
  • Comfort key with gesture-controlled tailgate
  • Audiphone box with wireless charging system
  • AudiSound System (10 speakers, 180 W)
  • AudiGenuine accessories (Optional)
  • Dual tone alloy wheel paint (Optional)

India and Russia are closer than they seem: Indian Vibes in Moscow

Moscow is a multicultural city. It is home to 13 million people, and only about half of them are native Muscovites. The capital attracts residents of smaller Russian cities, as well as immigrants from CIS countries, Middle Asia, Europe, and even India, with its opportunities both for education and career development and for a rich cultural life. The Indian diaspora in Moscow numbers about 15,000 people. Many come to Moscow to get higher education and stay on, finding good jobs in their specialty, doing business, and building families.

India and Russia 2

Indian culture has taken root in modern Moscow

Muscovites are interested in Indian culture and are happy to adopt some of the festivals and traditions. In recent years, there have been numerous festivals of Indian culture in the capital, bright Holi celebrations are organized in parks, and young women often decorate themselves with mehendi. Muscovites who lead an active lifestyle have come to appreciate yoga and various forms of meditation as practices that help to harmonize themselves and fill their lives with joy and inspiration, to find a fulcrum within themselves. However, yoga with a Moscow accent may differ from the Indian tradition. Often Moscow yoga implies the presence of curious attributes, such as brightly colored leggings, a mat decorated with the phases of the moon, the use of incense palo santo. The decor of decent yoga clubs necessarily includes aged statues of Ganesha or Buddha’s head. It is also very desirable after practice to go to a trendy smoothie bar with a friend to chat about the finer things and signs the universe gives us.

Indian cuisine

In Moscow, you can find restaurants of almost every cuisine in the world. Muscovites are great gourmets and enjoy trying different flavors. As a rule, most people do not dine at home. Businessmen and office workers go to cafes and restaurants for lunch and meetings. There are many Japanese, Italian, Vietnamese, Georgian, and Chinese establishments in the city. And, of course, authentic Indian restaurants thrive in the capital, as well as small Indian corners in gastrocenters (former Soviet food markets or streetcar depots rebuilt in a modern style, which now house food outlets popular especially among young people). It is important that the chefs and owners of the establishments are Hindus. Therefore, their knowledge and skill in cooking Indian food can be trusted. In Moscow restaurants of Russian and European cuisine, as a rule, all taste preferences are treated with understanding – there is a choice of vegetarian dishes or you can always ask to exclude animal products from your order.

Spirituality

The most common religion in Russia is Orthodox Christianity. However, in addition to Orthodox churches, Moscow has several Catholic and Protestant churches, synagogues, mosques, and Hindu temples. Many modern Muscovites are atheists, but they study the history of different religions and beliefs with interest. Both Hindi living in Moscow and Muscovites visit the Sikh temple Gurudwara Sahib, as well as the temple of Lord Krishna, where services and lectures are regularly held. By the way, Krishna has many followers in Moscow: even just walking along one of the central streets in good weather, one can meet a group of people in brightly colored clothes and saris dancing and singing Hare Krishna.

Art

If you are interested in classical music, fine arts, and contemporary art, Moscow is ideal for a wide variety of cultural leisure activities. It would take more than one day to visit all the best Moscow museums and galleries; besides, expositions and exhibitions change quite often. Often there are temporary exhibitions related to the Indian tradition. For example, in the main art state museum – Tretyakov Gallery, in addition to the permanent exhibition, which showcases masterpieces of Russian art of the XI – early XX centuries, now (from October 10, 2023 to March 10, 2024) you can visit the exhibition of Nicholas Roerich. It presents vivid landscapes of the famous artist, philosopher, mystic, spiritual teacher, and follower of Agni yoga. Roerich found inspiration for his works both in Russian and Indian culture – he made many trips and expeditions to India, and for the last 18 years of his life the artist worked in Naggar (Himachal Pradesh).

Conclusion

Thus, Indian culture is firmly embedded in the life of modern Moscow. Coming to another continent as a tourist, Hindi can not only get new impressions, see the famous Moscow sights, museums, theaters, parks, and estates, get acquainted with the rhythm of the city, but also be sure that even far from home you can meet something dear to your heart.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this press release is provided by a third party and does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of our organization. We do not endorse or guarantee its accuracy.

India Leads Global Generative AI Adoption: Elastic’s Latest Research Report Reveals

India, April 23, 2024- Elastic® (NYSE: ESTC) (“Elastic”), the company behind Elasticsearch®, today announced the findings from its new study, The Elastic Generative AI Report: One Year On, Identifying the Impact and Challenges of Early Generative AI Implementation Worldwide. The report reveals that India appears to be the furthest ahead in adopting generative AI (GenAI) technologies, with 81% of respondents’ organizations in India already implementing the technology.

“The disruptive potential of GenAI has captured the imaginations and budgets of India’s IT and data leaders, as seen by India’s lead in GenAI adoption,” said Karthik Rajaram, area vice president and general manager, India, Elastic. “However, while the commitment of many organisations to quickly harness the transformative opportunity of GenAI to drive innovation and efficiency is exciting, it’s businesses that adopt search-powered GenAI grounded by business context that will lead and uncover the insights needed to securely innovate, build more efficient businesses, and pioneer new customer experiences.”

Alongside insights into how IT leaders expect to use GenAI to drive customer experience and operational efficiciencies, respondents also highlighted their challenges and concerns about adopting the technology, including siloed data ecosystems that continue to expand in size and complexity, complicating security, visibility, and real-time analysis of data needed for GenAI.

Key Findings

There’s high enthusiasm for GenAI In India across regions and industries, but key concerns amongst India’s decision-makers stifle operationalization strategies

  • 81% of respondents in India indicate their organization is already implementing GenAI, reflecting a commitment to leverage new technologies to drive innovation and gain a competitive advantage in the global market.
  • Despite the enthusiasm for GenAI, organizations in India face notable adoption challenges, particularly concerning data management and security. As many as 99% of respondents expressed concerns about processing and using their data, highlighting the need for organizations to work with GenAI providers who can help safeguard sensitive information.
  • Accessibility and accuracy remain pivotal, with 93% highlighting challenges in search capabilities, reinforcing the need for enhanced data accessibility and analysis tools.

Indian organisations believe that GenAI can make them more productive.

  •  GenAI holds immense promise in augmenting organizational productivity, with 73% of respondents in India affirming that conversational data search capabilities would significantly enhance operational efficiency.
  • As the country is further in its adoption and, therefore, most familiar with the opportunities GenAI affords, their experience underlines how powerful this search function can be.
  • A notable 49% anticipate potential time savings of two or more days per week per employee through streamlined data search functionalities, underscoring GenAI’s transformative impact on workflow efficiency and resource optimization.

India understands the potential and is all set to make significant investments in GenAI in the near future.

  •  The report reveals optimistic investment trends, with 94% of respondents in India anticipating increased budget allocations towards GenAI initiatives within the next 12-24 months.
  • For the next 24-36 months, 93% of respondents in India expect the investment trend to continue and anticipate an increase in the budget allocation.
  • The report was produced in conjunction with independent market research specialist Vanson Bourne and solicited 3,200 IT decision makers and decision influencers across the U.S., Europe, and Asia-Pacific from more than a dozen sectors, including telecommunications, public service, retail, and financial services. In the Asia Pacific and Japan region 1,200 IT decision-makers and influencers were surveyed of which 300 respondents were from India.

Disclaimer: Information in this release is for informational purposes only. While we aim for accuracy, we can’t guarantee completeness or suitability for specific purposes. Reliance on this information is at your own risk.

Samsung to Consolidate Leadership in Mid-Premium Segment with Launch of Galaxy A55 5G, Galaxy A35 in India

Bangalore, India – March 21st, 2024 – Samsung, India’s largest consumer electronics brand, today announced the launch of Galaxy A55 5G and Galaxy A35 5G with awesome innovations. The new A series devices have multiple flagship-like features including Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection, camera features enhanced by AI, and a tamper-resistant security solution, the Samsung Knox Vault, amongst many other new features.

Mr. Ghufran Alam, Senior Director, MX Business, Samsung India unveiling the Galaxy A55 and A35 5G in Bangalore

“Galaxy A series has been the highest-selling smartphone series in India for the last two years, showcasing its immense popularity among India’s MZ consumers. The launch of Galaxy A55 5G & A35 5G reinforces our commitment to make flagship-like innovations accessible to all. Galaxy A55 5G & A35 5G will help us consolidate our leadership in the 5G smartphone segment and the fastest-growing mid-premium (INR 30,000-INR 50,000) segment in the country,” said Ghufran Alam, Senior Director, MX Business, Samsung India

Flagship-like Design and Durability: For the first time, Galaxy A55 5G gets a metal frame and Galaxy A35 5G gets a premium glass back. These phones are available in three trendy colours – Awesome Lilac, Awesome Ice blue and Awesome Navy, and are rated IP67, which means they can withstand up to 30 minutes in 1 meter of fresh water. They are also built to resist dust and sand.

With a 6.6-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED Display and minimized bezels, the 120Hz refresh rate provides extremely smooth performance. These smartphones come with Flagship like durability with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection on the front and back

Flagship-like Camera Innovations: These new A series smartphones come with multiple innovative AI-enhanced camera features to take the user’s content game to the next level. These features include Photo Remaster, Image Clipper, and Object Eraser among many others. Galaxy A55 5G and A35 5G come with a 50 MP Triple camera with Nightography enhanced by AI Image Signal Processing (ISP) which produces stunning low-light images never seen before on A-Series.

Flagship level Security: Samsung Knox Vault Security comes for the first time in A-Series making Flagship level Security accessible to more people. The hardware-based security system offers comprehensive protection against both hardware and software attacks. It can help protect the most critical data on a device, including lock screen credentials, such as PIN codes, passwords, and patterns.

Best ever Performance: The all-new Exynos 1480 processor built on 4nm process technology powers the Galaxy A55 5G while the Galaxy A35 5G has been upgraded to the Exynos 1380 processor built on 5nm process technology. These power-packed phones come with several NPU, GPU, and CPU upgrades along with a 70%+ larger cooling chamber that ensures a smooth output whether you game or multi-task.

All these awesome enhancements coupled with the introduction of the 12GB RAM in Galaxy A55 5G, truly make this device a game changer in this price segment.

Awesome Experiences: Galaxy A55 5G and Galaxy A35 5G buyers will get access to Samsung Wallet, which is a mobile wallet solution that lets you carry your essentials conveniently and securely in your Galaxy device. Add your payment cards, digital ID, travel tickets, and more. These devices also have the hugely popular Voice Focus feature that lets users make and receive calls without worrying about ambient noise.

With Galaxy A55 5G and Galaxy A35 5G, Samsung will provide up to four generations of Android OS upgrades and five years of security updates, optimizing the lifecycle of the devices by keeping them equipped with all the latest Galaxy and Android features.

Memory Variants, Price, Availability and Offers

Product Storage Variant Price*
Galaxy A55 5G 8GB+128GB INR 36999
8GB+256GB INR 39999
12GB+256GB INR 42999
Galaxy A35 5G 8GB+128GB INR 27999
8GB+256GB INR 30999

*All prices inclusive of Bank cashback of INR 3000 on HDFC, OneCard, IDFC First Bank cards along with 6 month No Cost EMI Option.  Alternatively, customers can own the Galaxy A55 5G at just INR 1792 per month and the Galaxy A35 at just INR 1723 per month through Samsung Finance+ and all leading NBFC partners.

Other Offers:

  • Samsung Wallet: Get an Amazon voucher worth INR 250 on the 1st successful Tap & Pay transaction
  • YouTube Premium: 2 Months Free (until April 1, 2025)
  • Microsoft 365: Microsoft 365 Basic + 6 months of Cloud storage (up to 100GB, offer redemption to be done before June 30, 2024)

Galaxy A55 5G and Galaxy A35 5G are available for purchase across Samsung exclusive and partner stores, Samsung.com, and other online platforms.

Centre Drives Efforts for Effective Preschool Teacher Training in NEP 2020 Push

Centre Drives Efforts for Effective Preschool Teacher Training in NEP 2020 Push 1

Nalanda Learning Partners with Rotary to Design Teacher Training Programs for Early Learning, Aligning with National Education Policy Goals

In a move aimed at bolstering the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Centre urged all state governments to incorporate preschool foundational learning into the formal curriculum. This directive, targeting children aged 3 to 6 years, underscores India’s commitment to advancing educational standards nationwide.

Recognizing the significance of foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN), commonly referred to as FLN, India, alongside other nations in the Global South, emphasizes the critical role of early childhood care and education (ECCE) in fostering these essential skills.

Speaking at an event organized by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) commemorating the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Nalanda Learning, a leading preschool education company operating under the brand “Little Laureates,” and the Florida-based Rotary Action Group, Anup Rajput, head of publication at NCERT, Ministry of Education, highlighted the urgency of achieving FLN skills. Rajput emphasized the need to shine a similar spotlight on ECCE to realize FLN goals effectively.

“The NEP 2020 guidelines also direct schools and pre-schools to teach children in a holistic student centred manner through interactive physical and digital assets. Nalanda Learning’s integrated digital platform, incorporating engaging content, live classes, and interactive games, serves as a catalyst for the development of literacy and cognitive skills in early learners. Hence there is an imminent need of skilled teacher training programme for successful implementation of NEP 2020,” said Rajput.

Founder Tamal Mukherjee emphasized the organization’s pivotal role in aligning with NEP 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework, offering comprehensive support to stakeholders in the early childhood education sector.

“Nalanda Learning is playing a key role in the implementation of early child education as guided under NEP 2020 and National Curriculum Framework by educating all the stakeholders and not just preschool owners. It is creating an atmosphere for teachers training, community development, and caregiver development and also helping them with sustainable technology,” Mukherjee said.

Mukherjee underscored the importance of ECCE not only in preparing children for school but also for life, emphasizing its role in shaping cognitive and physical development. With the evolution of teaching methods towards learner-centered classrooms and experiential learning, Nalanda Learning stands out as a crucial resource for preschools seeking guidance in implementing holistic education approaches.

“Rotary International task force is helping Nalanda Learning not only for Indian education system but also globally to educate the stakeholders involved in early child care education as designed by NCERT and Government of India,” Mukherjee said.

“As children already come to school at different levels of understanding, early primary school is always a catch-up game for them without a strong grasp of these basic essentials. Perhaps an even more important element is the development of body and brain that happens during this time and defines IQ and physical prowess for life, thereby making ECCE essential for not just school readiness but also life readiness,” added Mukherjee.

Habitat for Humanity India hosts the 8th edition of India Housing Forum aimed at inclusive growth through housing to empower vulnerable communities

Mumbai: Safe and affordable housing is critical to breaking barriers to a better, healthier and more financially stable lives. To stress on addressing the underlying housing deficit and proposing recommendations for facilitating inclusive growth through innovative housing solutions, Habitat for Humanity India is organising the 8th edition of India Housing Forum on 23rd and 24th November 2021.

Themed around ‘Reshaping Inclusive Growth Through Housing’ the two-day virtual conference will focus on building collaborations to impact affordable housing sector in India and contribute to the Government of India’s vision of ‘Housing for All’. It also aims to recognize and act on the importance of housing as a driver of inclusion, resilience and sustainability in human settlements, and promote leaders and sector players in innovative and high impact housing initiatives through the sharing of best practices.

Some of the main speakers of the India Housing Forum include Shri. Durga Shanker Mishra, Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Dr. Shailesh Agrawal, Executive Director, Building Materials and Technology Promotion Council and Dr. Rajan Samuel, Managing Director of Habitat for Humanity India.

“Since its inception, the India Housing Forum has facilitated multi-stakeholder dialogues and partnerships on a common platform to address the challenges of affordable housing. This year the focus is on how affordable and sustainable housing solutions can bring an inclusive future for vulnerable and low-income families through greener, safer, and more resilient approaches. Housing has the potential to create economic growth and recovery especially in a post pandemic world. Our goal is to continue to make a significant contribution to honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Housing for All vision to address India’s housing deficit,” said Dr Rajan Samuel, Managing Director, Habitat for Humanity India.

The health and economic impacts of the ongoing pandemic has exacerbated the housing crisis and made clear how crucial having safe, secure, and adequate housing is to one’s health, wellbeing, and even survival. India Housing Forum brings together industry leaders, innovators, policy experts, and various stakeholders to inspire a new vision for more inclusive, healthy, and resilient communities through sessions on topics such as Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna, health and housing, role of housing in mitigating the impact of climate change, innovative housing technology, financing affordable housing and the role of CSR (corporate social responsibility) in creating a socio-economic revival post the pandemic.

The role of housing and the construction sector is pivotal for the fast-paced recovery of India’s economy. Better housing conditions improve the coping mechanism of marginalised populations in dealing with socioeconomic shocks and reduce inequalities among them. The importance of housing as a driver of economic growth and sustainability will be one of the central discussions during the Forum.

The India Housing Forum which has been attended by over 1200 participants since its inaugural edition in 2015 is supported by ESAF Small Finance Bank and Habitat for Humanity’s Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter.

The forum will adopt a virtual format due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Register on housingforumindia.org and find out more about the forum.