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JioHotstar Hires Senior Leaders from Google, Flipkart, CRED and Amazon Pay to Accelerate AI-Led Streaming

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JioHotstar has significantly bolstered its leadership team by onboarding senior executives from some of the world’s leading consumer internet and technology companies, as it sharpens its focus on AI-driven, personalised streaming experiences. The latest hires strengthen the platform’s capabilities across product, engineering, data, discovery, marketing intelligence and monetisation, signalling JioHotstar’s next phase of growth. The newly appointed leaders bring experience from organisations such as Google, Flipkart, Amazon Pay, CRED, Razorpay, Myntra, ShareChat and Cleartrip, adding depth to JioHotstar’s technology and consumer experience stack. Among the key appointments, Shrinivas SG joins to head Discovery and Personalisation. Formerly with Flipkart, he brings extensive experience in building large-scale search and discovery systems, including GenAI-powered conversational commerce with a strong focus on vernacular, voice and video-led discovery. Naveen Prashanth, who joins from Google, will lead Consumer Marketing. At Google, he oversaw marketing for YouTube Shorts, Creators and Artists in India, driving brand growth and monetisation. He has also worked with McKinsey & Company, advising FMCG and B2C firms on growth and transformation strategies. On the engineering front, Abhishek Sharan brings over 15 years of experience building high-traffic consumer platforms. Having held leadership roles at Flipkart and Myntra, he has worked across search, recommendations, advertising systems, applications, and trust and safety. Most recently, he served as Head of Engineering at SuperMoney and will now lead Viewer Experience Engineering at JioHotstar. Strengthening advertising and monetisation technology, Abhishek Varshney joins from CRED, where he spent nearly five years developing products across payments, ordering and financial engineering. His earlier stints include roles at Razorpay and Flipkart. Further reinforcing its product and engineering leadership, Chandramauli Singh (from ShareChat) and Nishant Paliwal (from Cleartrip) bring expertise in recommendation systems, scalable platform architectures and user engagement frameworks. JioHotstar has also appointed Chandru as Senior Vice President – Product Management, where he will lead subscriptions and new initiatives. With over 13 years of experience, Chandru previously spent more than a decade at Amazon Pay, playing a key role in building large-scale consumer and payments platforms. An alumnus of IIM Bangalore, he has also worked at Mu Sigma. The company’s push towards intelligent, data-led streaming is further supported by earlier hires such as David Zakkam, who leads analytics and data strategy, and Emmy Award-winning technologist Stephen Bugaj, appointed Senior Vice President – GenAI Content & Technology. With this expanded leadership bench, JioHotstar aims to accelerate its transformation into a responsive, AI-powered and insight-driven streaming platform, enhancing content discovery, engagement and monetisation as it scales to meet evolving consumer expectations.

JioHotstar Hires Senior Leaders from Google, Flipkart, CRED and Amazon Pay to Accelerate AI-Led Streaming Read More »

IIT Jodhpur Signs MoU with SLIET Longowal to Promote Direct PhD Admissions and Academic Collaboration

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Jodhpur, February 10, 2026: The Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur (IIT Jodhpur) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering and Technology (SLIET), Longowal, to strengthen academic cooperation, promote research collaboration, and create new pathways for meritorious students towards advanced research. The MoU was formally signed by Prof. Avinash Kumar Agarwal, Director, IIT Jodhpur, and Prof. Mani Kant Paswan, Director, SLIET Longowal at Longowal, Punjab. Under this MoU, meritorious B.Tech students of SLIET Longowal will be eligible for direct admission to PhD programmes at IIT Jodhpur. Students securing a CGPA of 8.0 or above and ranking among the top 10 in their respective batches after the seventh semester may be offered direct PhD admission without the requirement of appearing for GATE or a written examination, subject to an interview process. The agreement also provides provisions for early PhD admission, enabling eligible SLIET students to apply after their fifth semester, with opportunities to undertake project work, internships, or research activities at IIT Jodhpur. Additionally, students from SLIET will be eligible for paid summer internship opportunities under IIT Jodhpur’s SURAJ (Summer Undergraduate Research at Jodhpur) programme. The MoU encourages joint research proposals, faculty collaboration, and academic exchanges between the two institutions in areas of mutual interest. Students admitted under the early PhD programme will be provided hostel accommodation at the IIT Jodhpur campus and will be allowed to participate in research, project, and internship activities during summer and winter terms. Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Avinash Kumar Agarwal emphasized that the collaboration reflects IIT Jodhpur’s commitment to nurturing research talent and strengthening inter-institutional academic ecosystems. Prof. Mani Kant Paswan highlighted that the partnership would open new avenues for SLIET students to pursue advanced research and benefit from exposure to a premier research-intensive institute. The MoU will come into effect from the date of signing and will remain valid unless terminated mutually. The agreement marks an important step towards fostering academic excellence, research innovation, and long-term collaboration between IIT Jodhpur and SLIET Longowal. (Disclaimer: This report is generated from PRO services. ‘ArdorComm Media’ holds no responsibility for its content.)

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India Announces $175 Million Special Economic Package for Seychelles, Strengthens Strategic Partnership

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India has announced a $175 million Special Economic Package for Seychelles, marking a significant step in deepening bilateral cooperation between the two Indian Ocean neighbours. Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the announcement during a joint press briefing with Seychelles President Dr Patrick Herminie in New Delhi. The economic package will support priority sectors including social housing, e-mobility, vocational training, healthcare, defence cooperation and maritime security. In addition, India and Seychelles signed seven Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) spanning areas such as health, meteorology, electronics and information technology, and good governance. A key agreement focuses on technical and scientific collaboration between the India Meteorological Department and the Seychelles Meteorological Authority, aimed at strengthening weather forecasting and climate resilience. Another MoU enables the training of Seychellois civil servants in India, while a digital transformation pact will allow Seychelles to leverage India’s experience in building efficient and inclusive digital governance systems. Prime Minister Modi expressed that India and Seychelles share a relationship rooted in history, trust and a common vision for the future. He noted that Seychelles holds a vital place in India’s Vision MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions), particularly as a trusted maritime partner in the Indian Ocean. Emphasising health cooperation, he said India remains a dependable partner through the supply of affordable medicines, medical tourism and the development of healthcare infrastructure. President Herminie said his visit reflects the long-standing friendship and mutual respect between the two countries. He added that both nations share a clear roadmap for cooperation over the next five years, with maritime security and regional stability at the core of their partnership. He also welcomed the MoU on sharing proven digital solutions to accelerate Seychelles’ digital transformation. This is President Herminie’s first official visit to India since assuming office in October last year and coincides with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations. During his visit, he is also scheduled to meet President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan. Source: Newsonair

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​​Zydus secures USFDA orphan drug tag for sickle cell therapy Desidustat

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Zydus Lifesciences has received Orphan Drug Designation from the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) for Desidustat, its novel oral therapy being developed for the treatment of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), the company said on Friday. The USFDA grants orphan status to medicines intended to treat rare conditions affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the United States, with the aim of encouraging research and development in areas of high unmet medical need. Commenting on the development, Zydus Lifesciences Managing Director Sharvil Patel said the designation highlights the critical need for new treatment options for patients with sickle cell disease. He added that the company believes Desidustat has the potential to address gaps in current therapies, which remain limited. Zydus also said it has successfully completed a Phase II, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, multi-centre proof-of-concept study to assess the efficacy and safety of Desidustat in patients with SCD. The clinical data from the study is expected to be published in a peer-reviewed medical journal. The orphan drug status makes Desidustat eligible for several regulatory incentives, including tax credits for clinical trials, exemption from certain USFDA user fees, and the possibility of seven years of market exclusivity in the US following regulatory approval. Source: PTI

​​Zydus secures USFDA orphan drug tag for sickle cell therapy Desidustat Read More »

Cognizant plans to hire up to 25,000 fresh graduates in 2026

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IT services firm Cognizant announced plans to recruit around 24,000–25,000 freshers in 2026, marking a sharp ramp-up in entry-level hiring as part of its strategy to strengthen the “bottom of the pyramid” workforce. The proposed intake represents a nearly 20 per cent increase compared with 2025, when the company hired close to 20,000 graduates. Speaking during the company’s Q4 2025 earnings call, Cognizant CEO Ravi Kumar S said the company is reshaping its talent pyramid by pushing high-value technology expertise down to early-career employees with the support of artificial intelligence. Kumar highlighted the growing non-linearity between revenue and headcount, noting that Cognizant is deliberately decoupling growth in revenues from workforce expansion. In 2025, the company’s revenues rose 6.4 per cent in constant currency terms, while headcount grew by just 4 per cent, leading to a 5 per cent rise in revenue per employee. He said the company is increasingly hiring school and college graduates, with each year seeing a higher intake than the previous one. The objective, Kumar explained, is to enable entry-level employees with advanced capabilities early in their careers, helping build a broader talent pyramid and driving efficiency at scale. Out of the 20,000 graduates recruited in 2025, Cognizant said about 16,000 are already deployed on client projects, while the remaining 4,000 are undergoing training. CFO Jatin Dalal said the company plans to scale this number by around 20 per cent in 2026, targeting an intake of up to 25,000 freshers. The company also pointed to a shift in its hiring approach, moving away from a linear model to a graded recruitment framework. This includes a premium hiring track called “Tech Wizards” for candidates from the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), alongside other categories such as power programmers and software engineers. Kumar said Cognizant now places greater emphasis on “learnability” rather than years of experience, arguing that younger graduates adapt faster in a rapidly evolving technology environment and require less unlearning of legacy software practices. Responding to concerns around AI-driven job losses, Kumar said while technology may eliminate outdated roles, it creates far more opportunities by modernising legacy systems and reducing technical debt across enterprises. Cognizant reported an 18.7 per cent year-on-year rise in net income to USD 648 million for the December quarter. Revenue for Q4 2025 stood at USD 5,333 million, up 4.9 per cent from USD 5,082 million in the same period last year. The company’s total workforce as of December 31, 2025, was 351,600, up by 14,800 employees compared with a year earlier. Source: PTI  

Cognizant plans to hire up to 25,000 fresh graduates in 2026 Read More »

ArdorComm Education Leadership Summit & Awards 2026 held in Guwahati, Assam on 6th February 2026

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The ArdorComm – Education Leadership Summit & Awards 2026, held on 6th February 2026 in Guwahati, Assam, emerged as a powerful confluence of ideas, inspiration and action, spotlighting the North East as a fast-evolving education and skills hub of India. Centred on the theme “Future-Ready Northeast: Building Skills, Mindsets for a Smarter Tomorrow”, the summit brought together senior education leaders, policymakers, academicians, EdTech innovators and industry experts from across the region and beyond. Organised by ArdorComm Media Group, the flagship summit reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to fostering dialogue, collaboration and recognition across India’s education ecosystem—this time with a sharp focus on the immense potential and progress of the North Eastern states. Showcasing the Northeast’s Education Transformation The summit highlighted how Northeast India is undergoing a quiet but powerful transformation in education, driven by improved literacy rates, enhanced digital infrastructure, policy-led reforms and growing private participation. Discussions underscored the region’s journey from access-led education to outcome-oriented, future-ready learning models. Speakers extensively explored the opportunities unlocked by NEP 2020, particularly its emphasis on regional languages, multidisciplinary learning, skill integration and alignment with local economic and employment needs. The role of education in nurturing entrepreneurship, employability and innovation within the region was a recurring theme across sessions. With growing investments in universities, private unaided schools, vocational training centres and EdTech-enabled classrooms, the Northeast is increasingly positioning itself as a model region for inclusive and tech-driven education. Support from Esteemed Government Leaders The ArdorComm – Education Leadership Summit & Awards 2026 – Guwahati received strong encouragement and goodwill from distinguished leaders of the Government of Assam, underscoring the importance of collaborative efforts in advancing education, skills and youth development in the region. Smti. Nandita Garlosa, Hon’ble Minister of Sports & Youth Welfare, Government of Assam, extended her warm wishes to the summit, appreciating initiatives that focus on empowering youth through education, skill development and holistic growth. Dr. Ranoj Pegu, Hon’ble Minister of Education, Welfare of Plain Tribe & Backward Classes, Government of Assam, conveyed his best wishes for the event and acknowledged the role of such platforms in strengthening education systems, promoting inclusivity and aligning learning with the aspirations of the future workforce. Shri Prasanta Phukan, Hon’ble Minister for Power, Skill, Employment & Entrepreneurship, Medical Education & Research, Government of Assam, also shared his warm regards for the summit, recognising the significance of industry–academia collaboration in building a skilled, employable and future-ready talent pool for the state and the region. Their encouragement and goodwill added immense value to the summit and reaffirmed the collective commitment towards nurturing a future-ready Northeast through education, skills and innovation. Industry Leaders and Keynote Speakers The summit opened with an impactful Inaugural Session on “Future-Ready Northeast: Building Skills & Mindsets for a Better Tomorrow”, setting the tone for a day of forward-looking discussions. Kumar Chandan Anand, Founder, CEO & Group Editor, ArdorComm Media Group, delivered the Welcome Address, highlighting ArdorComm’s commitment to fostering collaborative platforms that drive inclusive, future-ready education. The Guest of Honour, Shri R. C. Jain, IAS (Retd.), Chairman, Assam State School Education Board (ASSEB), Government of Assam, shared insights on strengthening school education and aligning learning outcomes with the vision of NEP 2020. The session was further enriched by Maj. Gen. B. D. Wadhwa, AVSM, Pro Chancellor (Emeritus), IILM University, Greater Noida, who emphasised leadership and values-based education, and Aaditya Razdan, Senior Enterprise Director, Coursera, who spoke on the growing role of digital platforms and industry-aligned learning in building future-ready skills for the Northeast. Panel 1, titled “NEP and Tech Advantage for KG to PG: Building a Future-Ready Generation”, brought together education leaders from school and higher education to discuss how NEP 2020 and technology can collectively transform learning across the entire academic continuum. Moderated by Sandip Sen, Principal, SERS Public School, Guwahati, the panel featured Cdr. (Dr.) Gurdaman Sharma, Vice Chancellor, SRM University, Gangtok; Prof. (Dr.) Ginlianlal Buhril, Vice Chancellor, ICFAI University, Mizoram; Dr. Nitai Pradhan, Principal, Good Shepherd’s Home English Medium High School, Nagaon; and Mohan Raghavan, Director, Mind Matters Educational Group, Guwahati. The discussion highlighted curriculum flexibility, experiential learning, digital integration and teacher preparedness as critical enablers for nurturing future-ready skills and mindsets from early childhood education to higher education. Panel 2, titled “Digital Pathways to Lifelong Learning: Balancing Innovation, Inclusion & Ethics”, focused on how digital transformation can enable continuous learning while remaining equitable and responsible. Moderated by Gariasi Dutta, Chairperson, The down town Group Schools, Guwahati, the panel featured Diwan Siraj Munir, Executive Director & CEO, Sublime Academy, Barpeta; Dr. Durlav Sarkar, Founder & Director, Gurukul Group of Educational Wing, Mangaldai; Mallika Das Singh, Founder & Director, Lakshya International School, Tezpur; and Anuraag Saraf, Founder & Director, Mind Matters Educational Group, Guwahati. The discussion emphasised ethical use of technology, inclusive digital access, blended learning models and the importance of fostering critical thinking and digital citizenship across all stages of education. Panel 3, titled “Bridging Education and Employability: Skills for the 21st Century Workforce”, brought the spotlight on aligning academic frameworks with evolving industry demands and employability outcomes. Moderated by Prof. Himanshu Panchal, Vice Chancellor, EdTech Skills University, Tinsukia, the panel featured Kuldip Sarma, Co-Founder & Pro-Chancellor, Medhavi Skills University, Singtam; Manik Kathuria, Regional Account Director, Coursera; Maj. Gen. B. D. Wadhwa, AVSM, Pro Chancellor (Emeritus), IILM University, Greater Noida; Prof. (Dr.) K. V. S. Sarma, Vice Chancellor, National Law University and Judicial Academy, Guwahati; Dr. Bibhas Deb, Vice Chancellor, Maharaja Bir Bikram University, Agartala; Prof. (Dr.) Ajeya Jha, Vice Chancellor, Arunachal University of Studies, Namsai; and Dr. Debmalya Bhattacharya, Pro Vice Chancellor, MIT University of Meghalaya. The discussion underscored the importance of industry-aligned curricula, experiential learning, micro-credentials, leadership development and strong academia–industry partnerships in preparing a future-ready workforce for the Northeast and beyond. Panel 4, titled “Reimagining Higher Education in the Digital Era: Transformation, Trends & Pathways”, explored how universities are navigating digital disruption while rethinking academic delivery, governance and student engagement. Moderated by Prof. (Dr.) Prakash Divakaran, Vice Chancellor, Himalayan University, Itanagar, the panel featured Subrato Ganguly, Senior Manager

ArdorComm Education Leadership Summit & Awards 2026 held in Guwahati, Assam on 6th February 2026 Read More »

Noida Film City to Host World’s Largest Integrated Content Creators’ Incubation Ecosystem

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Noida Film City is poised to emerge as a global hub for the creator economy with plans to establish the world’s largest integrated Content Creators’ Incubation and Lab Ecosystem. Announced in line with the vision articulated in the Union Budget 2026, the initiative underscores India’s ambition to lead the next wave of global creative innovation. Filmmaker Boney Kapoor said the proposed ecosystem will be a first-of-its-kind platform designed not just for learning, but for enabling creators to build sustainable careers. The initiative aims to support creators in developing original intellectual properties (IPs), launching scalable creative ventures, and accessing global markets. Conceived as a comprehensive incubation-to-production framework, it will cater to the full creative spectrum—from feature films and OTT productions to new-age digital formats such as vertical storytelling and short-form episodic content. Located within the Bayview Bhutani Film City in Noida, the ecosystem will bring together a diverse community of creators, including filmmakers, digital influencers, gamers, musicians, podcasters, and storytellers. By housing multiple creative disciplines under one roof, the project is expected to drive collaboration, accelerate innovation, and enable creators to monetize content across international platforms. The Film City will be equipped with cutting-edge studios, advanced technology infrastructure, structured incubation labs, and mentorship programmes led by industry veterans and cinematic icons. With thoughtfully designed and visually distinctive production spaces, it is set to become a landmark destination for global content creation. The initiative aligns with the government’s Make in India and Viksit Bharat vision, while opening new avenues for employment, economic growth, and global visibility for India’s rapidly expanding creator community. Source: Economic Times

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Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Announces Key Leadership Appointments; Ritesh Pratap Singh Named CHRO

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Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (HCCB) has announced a set of senior leadership appointments as part of its push to strengthen execution across critical business functions, including supply chain, commercial operations, people, and transformation. The company has named Avinash Kant Kumar as Head of Integrated Supply Chain, Vinay Nair as Chief Commercial Officer, Ritesh Pratap Singh as Chief Human Resources Officer, Sunaina Dhanuka as Head of Strategy, and Girish Sivaraman as Vice-President, Commercial Transformation. Commenting on the leadership changes, HCCB CEO Hemant Rupani said the appointments underline the company’s focus on building robust execution capabilities and deepening organisational strength to support its next phase of growth. Avinash Kant Kumar will oversee end-to-end supply chain operations, with an emphasis on resilience, efficiency, and scalability. He brings over 30 years of experience across supply chain, procurement, and operations, and joins HCCB from Jubilant Foodworks, where he served as President. His earlier stints include leadership roles at McCain Foods, Reliance Retail, Al Foah, and Procter & Gamble. Vinay Nair, appointed Chief Commercial Officer, will lead the company’s commercial strategy and drive growth across channels and markets. With 25 years of experience in the Coca-Cola system, he has played a key role in building partnerships and expanding market presence. Ritesh Pratap Singh, the new Chief Human Resources Officer, will head HCCB’s people and culture agenda, focusing on leadership development, organisational capability, and fostering a high-performance culture. He joins from Tata Projects and has previously held senior HR roles at Tata Trusts and IHCL (Taj Hotels). Sunaina Dhanuka has been elevated to Head of Strategy, alongside her current role as Chief of Staff to the CEO. She will lead the company’s growth and transformation initiatives. Her career spans multiple roles within the Coca-Cola system across ASEAN and South Pacific regions, as well as experience with global organisations such as Unilever, Macquarie, Morgan Stanley, and Arthur Andersen. Girish Sivaraman, appointed Vice-President, Commercial Transformation, will drive HCCB’s commercial transformation efforts, focusing on go-to-market excellence, sales effectiveness, and capability building. He brings extensive experience across India and international markets, having worked with companies including Mondelez International, Pepsi, Varun Beverages, Britannia, and Vodafone. HCCB works closely with over 2.5 lakh farmers and operates 14 manufacturing plants across India, with a strong footprint in the southern and western regions of the country. Source: Economic Times

Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Announces Key Leadership Appointments; Ritesh Pratap Singh Named CHRO Read More »

Oracle Clarifies OpenAI Ties as AI Spending Sparks Layoff Speculation

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Oracle has issued a public statement addressing speculation around its partnership with OpenAI after analyst reports suggested that the company’s heavy push into artificial intelligence infrastructure could trigger significant job cuts. In a post on its official X handle, Oracle said that a widely cited Nvidia–OpenAI investment proposal had “no impact whatsoever” on its financial relationship with OpenAI. The company added that it remains “highly confident” in OpenAI’s ability to secure funding and honour its long-term commitments. The clarification came amid growing market chatter that Oracle may reduce its workforce by as many as 30,000 employees to help finance its expanding AI ambitions. The response followed a volatile period for firms linked to OpenAI. The Wall Street Journal reported that a proposed $100 billion investment by Nvidia into OpenAI never materialised and had stalled at an early stage. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang later confirmed that discussions held last year were non-binding and did not progress into a formal deal. Despite Oracle’s reassurance, investor sentiment remained cautious. Shares of the software giant dropped nearly 3% to $160.06 shortly after the statement, reflecting concerns over the scale of Oracle’s exposure to the costly AI infrastructure build-out. Analysts have highlighted leverage as a growing pressure point. TD Cowen said Oracle is evaluating potential workforce reductions of between 20,000 and 30,000 roles, a move that could free up an estimated $8 billion to $10 billion in annual cash flow. The firm estimates Oracle’s long-term capital expenditure commitments linked to OpenAI — including massive data centre projects and advanced chip purchases — could reach roughly $156 billion. Oracle’s balance sheet has already expanded sharply. Analysts note the company has taken on around $58 billion in new debt in recent months to fund data centre campuses across the US, pushing total debt beyond the $100 billion mark. Since its peak in September 2025, Oracle’s market capitalisation has declined steeply, wiping out hundreds of billions of dollars in value. The strain is not limited to Oracle alone. According to Reuters, OpenAI has been exploring alternatives to Nvidia’s inference chips, holding discussions with AMD, Cerebras and Groq as it looks to lower costs and diversify its computing supply. While Oracle has not officially announced any job cuts, analysts say the situation highlights the enormous capital demands of the AI race and the growing challenge companies face in balancing long-term infrastructure investments with short-term financial discipline. With competition in AI infrastructure accelerating, investors are expected to closely watch how Oracle manages its spending, funding strategy and workforce decisions in the coming months.

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Pariksha Pe Charcha 2026: 9th Edition Scheduled for February 6

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The ninth edition of Pariksha Pe Charcha (PPC), Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s flagship interaction with students, is set to take place on February 6 at 10 am. Organised by the Ministry of Education, the annual programme focuses on promoting stress-free examinations and addressing concerns of students, parents and teachers ahead of the exam season. Continuing with the revamped format introduced last year, PPC 2026 will feature the Prime Minister engaging with students across multiple locations, moving away from the earlier tradition of hosting the event solely at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi. In the previous edition, students from Devmogra, Coimbatore, Raipur and Guwahati interacted with PM Modi at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg. The programme is open to students from Class 6 onwards, along with teachers and parents. The event will be broadcast live on DD National, DD News, DD India, major private television channels and All India Radio. Viewers can also watch the live stream on digital platforms including the PMO, Ministry of Education, Doordarshan and MyGov portals, as well as on YouTube (MoE), Facebook Live and Swayam Prabha channels. Launched in 2018, Pariksha Pe Charcha is held every year at the start of the examination cycle, coinciding with board and competitive exams. While CBSE board examinations typically begin in mid-February, national-level entrance tests such as JEE Main are scheduled for April. Interest in PPC 2026 has been substantial. According to official figures, registrations include over 4.19 crore students, nearly 24.85 lakh teachers and more than 6.15 lakh parents, taking total participation well beyond previous editions. The initiative forms a key part of the government’s Exam Warriors campaign, which aims to reduce exam-related stress and help students develop effective coping mechanisms. Participants receive acknowledgements, and selected winners are invited to take part in future programmes. Source: Indian Express  

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