EDITORS PICK : TOP STORIES
BUSINESS
Budget 2021: incentives for the industry and tax payers?
Everyone is expectantly looking forward to this year’s budget, which can provide the much needed fillip to take the country towards positive GDP growth rates.
Budget 2021 expectations: ‘Industry Status’ for the Real Estate sector
With the Union Budget 2021-2022 round the corner everyone wants to know what Nirmala Sitharaman has to announce in her third consecutive Budget.
Paytm Payments Bank has the best tech for UPI payments: NPCI report
Paytm Payments Bank continues to be India’s most successful payment bank and a comprehensive platform of funding sources. Besides 100 million UPI handles, there are 350 million wallets, 220 million saved cards and 60 million bank accounts on the platform.
Parliamentary Standing Committee recommends Franchise Protection Act for Automobile Dealers
Franchise laws will actually level the playing field between large automakers and local dealers. Currently, almost all auto dealerships are privately owned proprietorship or family-owned businesses.
PayPoint launches e-gold to penetrate rural India
E-gold is a simple, convenient and secure way to invest in physical gold. The investors can buy and accumulate pure gold in fractional quantities anytime and anywhere. Each gram bought by an investor is backed by actual physical gold.
EDUCATION
Abhishek Maheshwari to be CEO of Aakash Educational Services Limited (AESL)
An Electrical Engineering graduate from IIT Delhi and MBA from Columbia Business School, New York Abhishek Maheshwari will be responsible for the Classroom, Hybrid, and Distance Learning business of Aakash Educational Services Limited (AESL)
Post-COVID Learning Framework for India
It may still be early to say if and when online education will totally or partially replace the traditional classroom system. But the day is not far when online or off-campus learning will gain back door entry and add to or replace campus-based education-- sooner or later
BYJU’S acquires WhiteHat Jr to add coding as a new skill
BYJU’S has witnessed phenomenal growth. The app creates personalized learning programs for individual students based on their proficiency levels and capabilities which help them learn at their own pace and style.
Aakash Institute announces revised dates for ‘ANTHE 2020’ Scholarship Exam
ANTHE test is known as the countrywide talent hunt across several states & Union Territories. Being one of the largest private-sector pan-India exams, ANTHE gives deserving students an opportunity to earn up to 100% scholarship and helps them take the first step in their endeavour to become doctors and IITians.
IITs and the IIMs: neither the best nor ideal
IITs and IIMs setup with the help of Americans in the 60s are not the best intuitions of learning that we can create. The elite that they are creating is much too imperfect and incapable of leading the society. Were the IITs and IIMs created for producing elite management cadres for the American market? Surely something is wrong, more so when, most IIT and IIM graduates are moving into marketing and not in the manufacturing sector for which they trained.
LIFESTYLE
Why is female breast so attractive?
The shape and size of the breast play an important role in how the society views women. This might be the reason why most women in their 40’s or 50’s opt for cosmetic or plastic surgery to reconstruct, enhance, trim or drastically reduce the size of their breasts.
Extramarital affairs in the workplace
Shared goals and the smallest spark between co-workers may end up in infidelity and extramarital affairs without even realizing it. Even otherwise there may be a multitude of factors working behind the scenes that push the two people towards a more intimate, adulterous relationship.
Are microwave radiations harmful?
An advantage of microwave cooking is that the energy heats only the food, not the whole oven compartment. In fact, foods cooked in a microwave oven retain most of their vitamins and minerals, because microwave ovens can cook more quickly and without adding water.
How to resolve conflicts in relationships?
Each conflict should be resolved with caution and thoughtfulness. To resolve any conflict, a person has to keep in mind the personality of those who are involved, benefits of the fight and the level of investment both have to maintain the relationship.
Formula for happy marriage
Don't marry until you know your partner well and have a number of shared experiences. The lesson to learn is - never get married expecting to be able to change your partner.
ENVIRONMENT & WILDLIFE
CRIME
‘Prostitution is not a criminal offence; seducing a person or running a brothel is’:...
There is no provision under the law which makes prostitution per se a criminal offence or punishes a person because she indulges in prostitution
Bihar DGP quits IPS to join politics
Gupteshwar Pandey’s political ambitions are hardly a surprise as he also applied for VRS to contest as a BJP nominee in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections but rejoined IPS nine months after his wish to contest elections did not fructify.
FBI is probing 1000s of cases of spying, espionage or IP thefts prompted by...
A number of Chinese nationals have penetrated the US government, corporate houses and campuses allegedly to steal intellectual property and trade secrets
Leopard in the bag – the lucrative trade of leopard skin and body parts
Illegitimate trading in wildlife is an illegal offence under the wildlife protection act and if convicted it can lead to imprisoned for up to 10 years. Illegitimate trading in wildlife is an illegal offence under the wildlife protection act and if convicted it can lead to imprisoned for up to 10 years. Possessing a wildlife item; even as a part of ancestral /family inheritance without a license is a crime.
Chinese scientist stole US secrets worth billions but paid for his ‘stupidity’
Call it a quirk of fate or otherwise-- his ‘stupid mistake’ cost him dearly and he was arrested for the crime, days before he was planning to fly out to China
TRAVEL
Top 12 most romantic honeymoon destinations in the World
Greece, Maldives, Thailand, Hawaii, Italy or South Africa-- selecting the ideal honeymoon destination -- is one of the most crucial decision that a newlywed couple has to take. From beautiful sun-kissed beaches to ski trips in snowcapped mountains, fairy-tale theme parks, jungle safaris and far-flung exotic locations -- several options have to be considered while selecting the most romantic, luxurious, hot and sexy destination in the world.
Indians are the highest spending globetrotters
Shopping is the main preoccupation for Indians abroad. Indians just love shopping. Nearly half the people from India travel only to for shopping overseas. Almost 73% buy branded duty-free goods. According to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Indians spend over $5.52 billion while traveling abroad. Part of the reason behind it is that the credit cards issued by Indian banks are valid internationally.
World’s Best Hotel Brand
Oberoi Hotels & Resorts has been voted World's Best Hotel Brand. The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur has been voted the World's Best Hotel Overall.
Travel companies aren’t capitalizing on social media business opportunities
Travel companies that are not taking advantage of the business opportunities presented by digital platforms
Urban tourists going rural
"Rural tourism is one aspect of experiential tourism as it gives people a chance to do something on a holiday - be it farming, petting animals, eating fresh fruits and vegetables or just running around in farms and villages," Pinheiro said, adding that Grassroutes operates in three Maharashtra villages.
ENTERTAINMENT
TV: The New Guardian
It is estimated that 75 per cent of everything on TV, both programming and commercials, is created by approximately 100 large corporations whose only intention is to maximize their profits for their shareholders in whatever ways are legal.
From bullock carts to racing cars – India’s first exhibition on changing modes of...
Transportation and cinema go a long way back. India’s first comprehensive transport museum brings alive the history and evolution of transport in India through a rich and diverse collection of vehicles and associated memorabilia.
T-series launches devotional music album ‘Shankar’
The lyrics are by Ajay Alwar and the music is by Soumyajit Roy who along with Devendra are part of Alwar Boys. The music is by Soumyajit Roy while the dance on the video is filmed by Devendra and is a Devotional Trance.
ShemarooMe Box Office to foray into the OTT spectrum with “My Client’s Wife”
“My Client’s Wife” is just the beginning as ShemarooMe Box Office - over-the-top (OTT) video streaming App - has drawn up big plans to turn every home into a personal cinema and blaze the trail with many more interesting surprises
INDINEWS to be FC Goa club title Sponsor for ISL football 2020-21
Co-owned by Jaydev Mody, Akshay Tandon and Virat Kohli, FC Goa is a professional football club and the current Indian Super League (ISL) titleholder. Nicknamed Gaurs -- FC Goa has been one of the most consistent teams in the ISL - reaching 3 semi-finals and 2 finals in 6 seasons.
INTERVIEWS
REAL ESTATE
Budget 2021 expectations: ‘Industry Status’ for the Real Estate sector
With the Union Budget 2021-2022 round the corner everyone wants to know what Nirmala Sitharaman has to announce in her third consecutive Budget.
Pune’s real estate market – at the cusp of revival
Regardless of whether one is looking to buy a first or second home in Pune, the basic success fundamentals remain the same. One should go for locations which are close to primary workplace areas which have a good saturation of office complexes, if one can afford. Other important aspects to focus on are the availability of good social and civic infrastructure like schools, hospitals, shopping, etc., and presence of public transport.
How education influences Pune’s property market?
A lesser-known fact is that Pune's real estate market is a direct beneficiary of its highly developed educational environment. People in Pune are willing to invest considerably in their children's education, and this includes a willingness to pay more for a home located close to a good school or college.
Smart cities risk curtailing potential by prioritizing technology over people
smart city initiatives can succeed only if governments are open to experimentation and willing to invest time and resources in learning from missteps,
Cost of a flat should be fixed on completion
The best way to ensure the protection of Home Buyers is to abolish the practice of raising money before possession of a Project.
CORPORATE DOSSIER
Paytm Payments Bank has the best tech for UPI payments: NPCI report
Paytm Payments Bank continues to be India’s most successful payment bank and a comprehensive platform of funding sources. Besides 100 million UPI handles, there are 350 million wallets, 220 million saved cards and 60 million bank accounts on the platform.
Reliance announces speedy vehicle insurance claims
India is one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing auto insurance markets, relies largely on traditional ways to renew policies and process repair claims. Inspectors have to physically look over vehicles and assess damages. This leads to a delay in the inspection and keeps the vehicles and policyholders off-road for long.
Parliamentary Standing Committee recommends Franchise Protection Act for Automobile Dealers
Franchise laws will actually level the playing field between large automakers and local dealers. Currently, almost all auto dealerships are privately owned proprietorship or family-owned businesses.
Neuberg Diagnostics plans to expand its reach in North and East
India’s fourth-largest diagnostics lab Neuberg Diagnostics already has a presence in Delhi NCR and Chandigarh. Currently, it is conducting Covid-19 tests at its 10 ICMR approved labs in the country.
SBI General Insurance partners with IntrCity RailYatri to provide domestic travel insurance to bus...
SBI General Insurance, has partnered with IntrCity RailYatri to provide Domestic Travel Insurance to customers opting to travel through IntrCity RailYatri. This partnership will enable the domestic bus travellers to avail complimentary travel cover worth Rs. 5 Lacs along with the travel ticket.
PRODUCT LAUNCH
Milagrow is launching the world’s 1st Robotic Vacuum Cleaner
Milagrow, India’s No.1 service robots’ brand, has announced the launch of three new robots – Milagrow iMap Max, Milagrow iMap 10.0 and Milagrow Seagull which can be used for both commercial and domestic purposes.
Funskool introduces new range of toys made in India
Funskool has introduced 10 new products designed and manufactured in India -- understanding the needs of the Indian children. The core philosophy behind this effort is to entertain, encourage and educate Indian kids about basic topics like seasons and their surroundings.
New revolution in the plastics waste recycling technology
Michelin Group and the Canadian firm Pyrowave join forces to accelerate time-to-market for an innovative plastic waste recycling technology
Saurav Ganguly to be brand-ambassador of Livinguard’s safety gear
Livinguard technology has been proven to destroy 99.9% bacteria and viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, that causes COVID-19. Furthermore, they are reusable and washable up to 6 months, effectively replacing 210 single-use masks.
Virtual visiting cards: Google search introducing people cards
The people’s card could prove to be a blessing in disguise for millions of influencers, entrepreneurs, self-employed individuals, freelancers, or anyone who wants to be discovered