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Netflix Inks Multi-Year Content Partnership with Yash Raj Films Amid Streaming Competition

Amidst the escalating competition in the streaming industry, Netflix has inked a multi-year creative partnership agreement with the renowned movie production company, Yash Raj Films (YRF). This collaboration will encompass the joint development of both movies and series. The maiden project emerging from this partnership is “The Railway Men,” a four-part thriller series starring R. Madhavan, Kay Kay Menon, Divyendu Sharma, and Babil Khan. Additionally, the second project in the works is a film titled “Maharaj,” as stated in an official announcement. Monika Shergill, the VP of Content at Netflix India, expressed their enthusiasm for catering to diverse audiences by delivering relatable and beloved series and films. Yash Raj Films, being eminent creators in Indian cinema, have left an indelible mark with iconic works like “Kabhi Kabhie” and “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge” to more recent titles like “War” and “Pathaan.” Shergill emphasized the potential of this collaboration to captivate global audiences with top-notch content. This announcement coincides with reports suggesting that Netflix is contemplating a shift in its content strategy, leaning towards blockbuster films to allure new subscribers and retain its existing user base. Notably, Indian films such as “RRR” and “Gangubai Kathiawadi” have garnered significant attention on the platform, underscoring their popularity among viewers. Indian films also frequently secure spots on Netflix’s global top 10 weekly lists for non-English content. In the competitive Indian OTT market, where it contends with rivals like JioCinema, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+Hotstar, Netflix is striving to establish a prominent presence. Recently, Netflix formed a strategic partnership with Jio, bundling prepaid tariff plans with subscriptions to the US-based streaming service, marking a unique venture in India. Furthermore, Netflix has taken measures to curb password sharing in India as part of its efforts to boost revenue in the latter half of 2023. In a letter addressed to shareholders earlier this year, the company announced its intention to extend the password sharing ban to nearly all remaining countries. In a separate communication to Indian subscribers, Netflix clarified that a single account would be restricted to a single household.

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Indian Cabinet Approves Rs 9,589 Crore FDI in Suven Pharmaceuticals by Cyprus-Based Firm

The Cabinet has given its nod for a foreign investment of approximately Rs 9,589 crore in Suven Pharmaceuticals by Berhyanda Ltd, a company based in Cyprus. This approval pertains to the acquisition of up to 76.1% of Suven Pharmaceuticals’ shares by Berhyanda through the transfer of shares from existing promoter shareholders and public shareholders via a mandatory open offer. The total foreign investment could potentially rise to 90.1% in Suven Pharmaceuticals. Various regulatory bodies, including SEBI, RBI, and CCI, have assessed the proposal, and it has now received Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approval. The decision is contingent upon compliance with all relevant rules and regulations. Over the past five years (from 2018-19 to 2022-23), the pharmaceutical sector has attracted a total of Rs 43,713 crore in foreign direct investment (FDI). Notably, the sector experienced a significant 58% growth in FDI in the previous fiscal year.

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Indian Government Launches Skill India Digital: Transforming Skill Development, Education, and Employment Landscape

The Indian government, under the leadership of Union Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan, unveiled Skill India Digital (SID), a digital platform with the goal of revolutionizing the education, skill development, employment, and entrepreneurship landscape in India. SID serves as the digital public infrastructure (DPI) for India’s skill development, education, employment, and entrepreneurship ecosystem, aiming to make skill enhancement more innovative, accessible, and personalized, particularly focusing on digital technology and industry 4.0 skills. Its primary objectives are to facilitate the hiring of skilled talent, support lifelong learning, and promote career advancement. Furthermore, SID will serve as a comprehensive information hub for all government initiatives related to skill development and entrepreneurship. Minister Pradhan expressed that the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has established an open-source platform to cater to the diverse skilling needs of India’s population. Skill India Digital represents a significant step towards leveraging India’s demographic advantage and positioning the country as a global skills hub. This digital initiative is set to revolutionize the learning and skill development landscape, making skilling accessible to everyone, anytime and anywhere. SID offers support in multiple Indian languages and ensures secure access through Aadhaar-based eKYC verification to ensure genuine participation. The platform adopts a mobile-first approach, enabling uninterrupted learning on handheld devices. One of its standout features is the use of Digitally Verified Credentials, which allows users to present their qualifications, experiences, and certifications in a digital format with built-in authenticity. Through personalized QR codes, potential employers and partners can easily access a candidate’s portfolio, showcasing their skills, qualifications, experiences, and accomplishments. The platform is designed to encompass all training programs initiated by both central and state governments, as well as various departments. This centralized hub for skill development initiatives aims to provide learners with improved accessibility, personalized learning experiences, streamlined verification processes, and enhanced career guidance. Ultimately, Skill India Digital seeks to empower individuals to acquire relevant skills, stay updated with industry trends, and contribute effectively to the country’s workforce development.

Indian Government Launches Skill India Digital: Transforming Skill Development, Education, and Employment Landscape Read More »

Top 12 Reasons to Attend the ArdorComm ELSA Summit in Bengaluru on 22nd Sept 2023

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In today’s fast-evolving world, the importance of education and skills development cannot be overstated. And if you’re passionate about shaping the future of education in India, there’s an event you don’t want to miss: the ArdorComm ‘New Normal – Education Leadership Summit & Awards 2023’, taking place in Bengaluru, Karnataka, on September 22nd, 2023. Here are the top 12 reasons why you should attend this groundbreaking summit: Redefine the Future of Education: This summit isn’t just another event; it’s a platform where ideas and innovations converge to reshape the future of education and skills development in India. It’s your chance to be part of a transformational journey that can impact millions of lives. Nationally Recognized Event: ArdorComm Media Group has a well-established reputation for its commitment to educational excellence. By attending, you align yourself with a nationally recognized event that values quality education. Bengaluru, the Ideal Venue: Bengaluru’s reputation as the ‘Silicon Valley of India’ speaks for itself. As the backdrop for this summit, it provides the perfect setting to explore the synergy between education and technology in a city known for its innovation and forward-thinking. Unprecedented Networking: Connect with key players in the education field, including educators, policymakers, innovators, and industry experts. These connections can open doors to collaborations and opportunities you might not find elsewhere. Educational Excellence: Learn from thought leaders who have dedicated themselves to advancing education in India. Their insights and experiences can inspire and guide your own contributions to the field. Discussion on Key Topics: Engage in discussions that matter. Topics like curriculum rethinking, the role of technology in school education, and skill development in higher education are vital to the future of education. Skill Development Emphasis: In a rapidly changing job landscape, skill development is crucial. Explore how education can be a catalyst for skill acquisition and a multidisciplinary approach, ensuring graduates are job-ready. The ‘PHYGITAL’ Mode: Discover how the ‘PHYGITAL’ mode of learning, blending physical and digital elements, is shaping higher education. It’s not just about imparting knowledge but also about fostering entrepreneurship and employability. Embracing New Technologies: Get a first-hand look at how technologies like AI, ML, and IoT are revolutionizing higher education. Stay ahead of the curve by understanding how these advancements can benefit educators and students alike. Impressive Speaker Lineup: With over 50 speakers, including government dignitaries, industry leaders, and education experts, you’ll have access to a wealth of knowledge and expertise. Broad Audience: The diverse audience, comprising schools, higher education institutions, EdTech startups, and corporate representatives, ensures a wide range of perspectives and opportunities for collaboration. Celebrating Excellence: The ArdorComm Education Leadership Awards 2023 stand as a beacon of recognition and celebration. These awards honour individuals, educational institutions, EdTech enterprises, and pioneering start-ups that have made outstanding contributions to education in India. By attending, you join in celebrating these remarkable achievements and gain inspiration to contribute to the educational landscape. Final words: By attending the ArdorComm ‘New Normal – Education Leadership Summit & Awards 2023,’ you not only gain knowledge and network with industry leaders but also celebrate those who have gone above and beyond to elevate the quality and impact of education in India. Don’t miss this opportunity to be a part of the educational revolution and celebrate excellence in education. Join us in Bengaluru on September 22nd, 2023, and let’s collectively shape the future of education in India. To register and learn more about this exciting event, visit the official website: ArdorComm ELSA Summit. Be a part of the change and celebrate excellence in education! Also read: https://ardorcomm-media.com/ardorcomm-new-normal-education-leadership-summit-awards-2023-to-be-held-at-bengaluru-karnataka-on-22nd-september-2023-elsabengaluru-elsakarnataka/

Top 12 Reasons to Attend the ArdorComm ELSA Summit in Bengaluru on 22nd Sept 2023 Read More »

JioCinema to Live Stream India-Australia ODI Series for Free, Viacom18 Secures Exclusive Media Rights

Reliance-owned JioCinema is set to make its debut in broadcasting Indian cricket team’s home matches by offering free streaming of India’s 3-match ODI series against Australia. This marks the first international series in JioCinema’s rights cycle. The streaming platform will provide coverage of the matches in 11 languages and has enlisted a panel of cricket experts, including Suresh Raina, Kedar Jadhav, Aakash Chopra, Amit Mishra, Hanuma Vihari, Kiran More, Anirudha Srikanth, Sarandeep Singh, and others. Viacom18, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries, secured exclusive media rights for both international and domestic matches organized by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for a total of Rs 5,963 crore over the next five years, spanning from September 2023 to March 2028. Viacom18 secured these rights with a winning bid of Rs 67.8 crore per match, surpassing Sony Pictures Networks India, while Disney Star did not participate in the auction. Anil Jayaraj, CEO of Viacom18 – Sports, emphasized that the India-Australia ODI series would provide viewers with a glimpse of Indian cricket’s new home. He stated that their aim was to transform the way sports are consumed and deliver BCCI events at an unprecedented scale, combining digital and linear/offline TV platforms. Viacom18 had secured broadcasting rights for all Indian cricket teams’ home matches, including both men’s and women’s teams, for both digital and television platforms. The series will be broadcast live on various regional channels, including Colors Tamil, Colors Bangla Cinema, Colors Kannada Cinema, Colors Cineplex Superhits, Sports18 – 1 SD, and Sports18 – 1 HD, catering to viewers in different languages. The upcoming ODI series is crucial for both India and Australia as they seek to build momentum ahead of the 50-over World Cup scheduled for October 2023 in India. Australia, known for its strong cricket team, views this series as an opportunity to acclimatize to Indian conditions before the World Cup. JioCinema will stream the matches in 4K quality and in multiple languages, including English, Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, Bhojpuri, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam. Fans can also participate in the “Jeeto Dhan Dhana Dhan” fan engagement contest, where they can make predictions and win exciting prizes, including premium hatchback cars. This contest was first introduced during the 2023 TATA IPL and garnered significant popularity.

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Government Building Digital Public Infrastructure for Future Job Skills: MoS IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar

The Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, announced the government’s commitment to digital skilling, emphasizing the development of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to prepare young Indians for future tech-oriented jobs. Speaking at the Skill India Digital event, where the government launched the Skill India Digital portal to benefit all citizens, especially those aged 15 and above, the minister highlighted the global recognition of DPIs during the G20 Summit and their application in digital skilling for India’s youth. Chandrasekhar stated, “This DPI aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Skill India and Digital India, addressing the growing importance of digital skills in a post-Covid world. Its purpose extends to nurturing both entrepreneurship and employment opportunities.” During the event, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, along with Chandrasekhar, unveiled Skill India Digital, an advanced digital platform designed to consolidate various skilling initiatives. In a recent statement, Chandrasekhar highlighted India’s impressive technological advancements, which gained international attention during the G20 Summit. India’s DPI, much like the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and Aadhaar, has disrupted conventional norms and showcased the country’s digital transformation efforts. He remarked, “Today, the world is recognizing India’s remarkable achievements in technology, utilizing Digital Public Infrastructure to revolutionize governance and enhance citizens’ lives.” The G20 leaders have pledged to adopt, construct, and maintain a Global Digital Public Infrastructure, emphasizing the importance of fostering a secure and robust global digital economy and ecosystem.

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Chargebee Announces 10% Workforce Reduction Due to Market Shifts

Chargebee, attributing market changes as the primary driver, has decided to lay off approximately 10% of its global workforce. This workforce reduction is expected to impact around 100 to 120 employees across various departments within the company. Chargebee now aims to focus on its upcoming phase of more streamlined expansion, which entails restructuring and concentrating on specific key objectives. Furthermore, in light of ongoing technological advancements and market dynamics in the industry, Chargebee will place greater emphasis on enhancing its customers’ experience and refining its core products. The company is committed to providing severance packages to departing employees and will adhere to labor laws applicable in their respective countries. This move follows a previous round of staff cuts at Chargebee in November 2022 when the company cited economic challenges, resulting in the separation of approximately 142 employees, equivalent to roughly 10% of its workforce at that time. Established in 2011 by Krish Subramanian, Rajaraman Santhanam, Saravanan KP, and Thiyagarajan T, Chargebee is a revenue management platform that streamlines revenue operations for SaaS businesses. As a unicorn company, Chargebee serves a client base of over 4,000 companies, including notable names such as Okta, Freshworks, and Calendly. In its most recent funding round, the company successfully secured $250 million, led by the US-based hedge fund Tiger Global and Peak XV Partners (formerly known as Sequoia Capital India). To date, Chargebee has raised nearly half a billion dollars in funding through multiple financing rounds.

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IIT Kanpur and ICICI Bank Forge Partnership to Boost Startup Innovation in India

In a significant development, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with ICICI Bank to extend comprehensive support to startups. This strategic collaboration is aimed at fostering collaborative initiatives between IIT Kanpur and ICICI Bank, with the primary goal of empowering startups and innovators at the Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC) at IIT Kanpur by equipping them with essential tools and knowledge. The official announcement hails this partnership as a pivotal step forward in advancing India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, underscoring the critical role of partnerships in driving economic growth and nurturing innovation. Both IIT Kanpur and ICICI Bank are deeply committed to providing comprehensive assistance to early-stage ventures, underscoring their dedication to nurturing India’s vibrant startup community. This collaboration will primarily focus on supporting incubatees by enhancing their understanding of foreign trade policies. It will involve organizing workshops and seminars to enable students to effectively engage in international markets. Additionally, the two institutions will work together to host events for startups, thus creating a more expansive ecosystem for innovation and entrepreneurship that extends beyond financial services. ICICI Bank will also play a pivotal role in simplifying the complexities associated with pre and post-transaction compliance, ensuring that innovators, incubatees, and students at IIT Kanpur have a seamless experience when interacting with Private Equity (PE) and Venture Capital (VC) support. This includes streamlining the verification and submission of regulatory documents through digital channels, making the process more accessible and enhancing access to vital financial resources for emerging entrepreneurs within the IIT Kanpur ecosystem.

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Indian Scientists Pioneer Innovative Nanoparticles for Detecting and Destroying Cancer Cells

Indian scientists from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have achieved a major breakthrough in cancer research with a novel approach for both detecting and eliminating cancer cells. Their innovation involves the creation of hybrid nanoparticles made from a combination of gold and copper sulphide. These nanoparticles have the unique ability to eradicate cancer cells by generating heat when exposed to light and also facilitate their identification through sound waves. These hybrid nanoparticles possess three key properties: photothermal capabilities, oxidative stress induction, and photoacoustic characteristics. When these particles come into contact with light, they absorb it and produce heat, effectively destroying cancer cells. Furthermore, they generate harmful singlet oxygen atoms that contribute to the cancer cell’s demise. In addition to their therapeutic potential, these nanoparticles also have diagnostic applications. They can absorb light and produce ultrasound waves, making it possible to detect cancer cells with high precision. This diagnostic capability could enhance the accuracy of cancer diagnosis because sound waves scatter less than light when passing through tissues, providing clearer images and more precise measurements of oxygen levels in tumors. One notable aspect of this innovation is its ability to overcome a limitation of previously developed nanoparticles: their size. Through a unique reduction technique, the IISc researchers managed to deposit tiny gold seeds onto the surface of copper sulphide, resulting in hybrid nanoparticles measuring less than 8 nm. These minuscule particles have the potential to navigate through tissues effectively, reach tumors, and exit the human body naturally without accumulating. These nanoparticles have undergone testing in laboratory settings using lung and cervical cancer cell lines. The next phase for the IISc team is to translate these promising results into clinical development, marking a significant advancement in the battle against cancer.

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NITI Aayog’s Special Campaign 2.0: Clearing Pending Matters and Boosting Cleanliness

NITI Aayog has launched Special Campaign 2.0 to address pending matters and promote cleanliness. This initiative, inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of a clean India, began in October 2021 and has continued into 2022 and 2023. Special Campaign 2.0, which runs from November 2022 to August 2023, aims to ensure the prompt resolution of public grievances, references from Members of Parliament, state governments, inter-ministerial consultations, and parliamentary assurances by ministries and departments. The campaign is led by NITI Aayog, along with its associated offices, including the Development Monitoring & Evaluation Office (DMEO) and Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) in NITI Bhawan, as well as the National Institute of Labour Economics Research and Development (NILERD) in Narela, New Delhi. It focuses on addressing public grievances, parliamentary assurances, PMO references, and emphasizes record management, cleanliness both indoors and outdoors, and the disposal of office scrap to create more space within NITI Aayog. During this campaign, significant progress has been made in resolving public grievances, parliamentary assurances, and PMO references. Additionally, a substantial number of files have been reviewed and cleared, freeing up valuable space, and generating revenue through the disposal of office scrap. Over 75% of the designated physical files have been reviewed, and approximately 95% of public grievances and appeals have been addressed. Moreover, redundant scrap materials and obsolete items have been identified for disposal.

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