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Unacademy’s fourth round of layoffs saw 12% of the workforce let go

In a fourth round of layoffs, the EdTech unicorn Unacademy has cut 12% of its workforce. Softbank is the platform’s backer. It provides test preparation services. According to reports, Unacademy co-founder Gaurav Munjal informed the staff via an internal memo that the most recent round of layoffs was necessary in order to make the company profitable. A severance payment equivalent to the notice period and an additional month’s pay will be given to the laid-off employees. If they have worked for the company for a minimum of a year, they will additionally get an accelerated vesting of a year. Relevel, an ed-tech platform run by Unacademy, lay off 20% of its staff in January of this year. Those who persisted at the time were to be moved to other Unacademy Group departments. At the time, the company was concentrating more on testing new products as well as a new app called NextLevel. The Bengaluru-based Unacademy let go 350 employees in November of last year after realising that, despite significant cost cuts and managing redundancies, it had not been able to run as a lean organisation or help speed up to the desired level. About 600 employees were asked to leave in April 2022, and another 150 were urged to do the same in June 2022.

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BHU unveils new scheme for international PhD scholars

admin / Education Community

A new initiative to support international research scholars is introduced by Banaras Hindu University (BHU). The scheme aims to support international PhD scholars who do not have access to other fellowships financially while also facilitating and fostering excellence in research. International scholars will receive a credit incentive of Rs 40,000 under the new scheme. This credit may be used to cover user fees for BHU equipment used for research. A further credit of Rs 30,000 would be given if the research scholar is the first author in a Q1 or Q2 journal. For international PhD students at BHU who do not already have a fellowship, the programme established under the IoE initiative of the Government of India will provide financial assistance of Rs 8,000 per month. A contingency similar to the BHU-UGC non-NET Fellowship will also be given to them. Similar to the research incentive provided to BHU-Not NET Fellowship, international scholars who publish papers in Q1 or Q2 journals are entitled to receive an additional one-time incentive of Rs. 84,000. There are currently 57 such students who will receive benefits from the monthly fellowship scheme.

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Odisha government would provide free molecular tests for cancer treatment

admin / Health & Wellness Community

An official with the Odisha government said on Thursday that the state will soon provide free molecular tests for cancer treatment. Samples will be taken from a few state-run hospitals, examined at inDNA’s private laboratory, and then reports will be given back to the hospitals. He indicated that soon the facility in the institutions would begin. “Under the Nidan programme, the state government will cover all expenses. “Odisha State Medical Corporation Limited (OSMCL) issued an open tender, and the laboratory was chosen through that,” he stated. A tumor’s molecular analysis enables a more thorough understanding of its biology and treatment planning. For a number of hospitals and medical colleges in the state, OSMCL and inDNA have signed an agreement.

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Air India might raise salaries for employees by 8% to 10%

admin / Human Resource Community

It’s expected that Air India would announce an increase in employee compensation. The anticipated raises are most likely to range between 8% and 10% and will affect a variety of workers, including pilots and cabin crew. This action is being taken as industry competitiveness is rising. Also, the initial set of pay raises might start to take effect in the coming months, starting with pilots. Also, there will be salary adjustments for other officers and cabin crew. Additionally, it is anticipated that this action will create parity between Indian and foreign pilots. According to reports, there is a boom in demand for aviation services, which has caused airlines to anticipate growth and raised the need for pilots and cabin crew. Airlines have raised pay as a result of the industry’s pilot scarcity in an effort to keep talent on board and prevent them from defecting to rival organisations. In addition, the airlines are worried about the competition and are working to keep their qualified personnel. Further complicating matters for Indian airlines are the alluring recruitment prospects provided by Middle Eastern airlines. In the upcoming 24 months, Indian airlines are expected to purchase between 1500 and 1700 aircraft, according to a report by aviation consultancy firm CAPA. According to the report, Indian airlines now fly more than 700 commercial aircraft and have ambitions to buy over 1000 more.

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Centre exempts customs duties for imported medicines and food used to treat rare diseases

admin / Health & Wellness Community

The National Policy for Rare Diseases 2021 outlines all of the rare diseases that are eligible for full exemption from basic customs duty by the central government, which has issued a general exemption notification. This exemption covers all imported food and medications for particular medical uses as well as those that are imported for personal use. The individual importer must present a certificate from the District Medical Officer/Civil Surgeon of the district, the Central or State Director of Health Services, in order to qualify for this exemption. A basic customs duty of 10% is often applied to drugs and medicines, with a concessional rate of 5% or nil applied to specific categories of life-saving medications and vaccinations. The government has received several requests for customs duty relief for drugs and treatments used to treat various rare diseases, despite the fact that certain drugs for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy or spinal muscular atrophy have previously received exemptions. The expensive medications or specialised meals needed to treat these conditions must be imported. According to estimates, the annual cost of treating some rare diseases for a child weighing 10 kg can range from 10 lakh to 1 crore, with treatment being lifelong and drug dose and price rising with age and weight. This exemption will save a lot of money while giving the patients the much-needed relief. Pembrolizumab (Keytruda), which is used to treat a number of cancers, has also been completely exempted from basic customs duty by the government.

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TRAI releases drive test report after assessing telecom network quality in 20 locations across India

admin / Media Entertainment & Art Community

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), working with the telecom service providers, carried out drive tests at 20 locations and their surrounding areas across the nation on Monday to evaluate the network quality offered by cellular mobile telephone service providers for voice and data services. The drive tests were carried out to assess all regional telecom service providers’ networks’ key performance indicators (KPIs). Coverage, Call Setup Success Rate (CSSR), Drop Call Rate, Block Call Rate, Handover Success Rate, and Rx Quality are the key performance indicators for voice services. The ministry listed the following KPIs for data services: Download and Upload Throughputs, Web Browsing Delay, Video Streaming Delay, and Latency. The areas covered in drive tests were Madurai, Eluru, Karimnagar, Mangalore, Amravati, Bhilwara, Rewari, Bhatinda, Ujjain, Varanasi, Maheshwar, Tengnoupal, Teliamura, Darjeeling-Kalimpong and national highways (110 & 717A), Assam & Arunachal Pradesh and National Highway (27, 127, 715, 15 & 13), Rohtak-Rewari Highway, Ajmer-Bhilwara HW, Ujjain to Sendhwa HW, Varanasi-Lucknow HW and Bhopal-Sagar HW in the quarter ending December. The full report is accessible on the TRAI website at www.analytics.trai.gov.in.

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Disney begins its first phase of layoffs

admin / Human Resource Community

One of the biggest media and entertainment companies worldwide, Disney, is about to start a challenging road of cost-cutting and restructuring. The COVID-19 pandemic and its subsequent economic repercussions have had an influence on the company, along with many others in the sector. Because of this, Disney CEO Robert Iger announced in February that the company would be cutting 7,000 jobs in order to save billions of dollars. Three rounds of job cuts are anticipated, with the first round of notifications taking place this week. The areas most impacted by the layoffs will be the media and distribution segment, ESPN, and the parks and resorts division, according to CNBC. Although it was difficult to make the choice to let go of so many people, the company believes that doing so will enable it to develop a more streamlined and productive business strategy. As Disney continues to develop the structures and operations that will help it succeed in the future, Iger’s email emphasised that there would be challenges ahead for those who stay with the firm. In this challenging time, he did, however, also ask for patience and cooperation. A larger trend in the media sector is reflected in the cost-cutting initiatives being taken by Disney. In order to cut costs and stay viable, legacy media giants like Warner Bros. Discovery have also had to reduce their employees. It is hoped that by taking these steps, companies like Disney would be able to deal with the economic downturn and come out stronger on the other side.

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7 Important Things to Do Before the Financial Year Ends

admin / Article/Stories

The end of the financial year is fast approaching, and it’s important to take stock of your financial situation before the year ends. Here are some things you should consider doing before the financial year ends to ensure that your finances are in order and to maximize your financial opportunities: Review your investments: Take a close look at your investment portfolio and review the performance of your investments. Consider whether you need to make any changes to your portfolio or rebalance your investments to reduce risk and maximize returns. Contribute to your retirement accounts: If you have a 401(k) or an IRA, consider contributing the maximum amount allowed by law. This will not only help you save for retirement but also reduce your taxable income. Take advantage of tax deductions and credits: Make sure that you take advantage of all the tax deductions and credits available to you. This could include deductions for charitable donations, medical expenses, and education expenses. Review your insurance policies: Review your insurance policies, including your life insurance, health insurance, and homeowner’s insurance. Consider whether you need to make any changes to your coverage to ensure that you are adequately protected. Create a budget: Creating a budget can help you get a better handle on your finances and ensure that you are living within your means. Take some time to review your spending habits and identify areas where you can cut back. Pay down debt: If you have outstanding debt, consider paying it down before the end of the financial year. This will not only reduce your debt burden but also improve your credit score. Plan for the future: Finally, take some time to plan for the future. Consider your long-term financial goals and take steps to achieve them, such as creating a savings plan or investing in a new business venture. In conclusion, the end of the financial year is an important time to review your financial situation and take steps to ensure that your finances are in order. By following these tips, you can maximize your financial opportunities and set yourself up for long-term financial success.

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IIT Kharagpur’s iVAR Lab and iXRLabs collaborate to examine the potential of VR in higher education

admin / Education Community

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur has joined hands with a Gurugram-based ed-tech startup iXRLabs. To see experience of students with VR, aspirants can check the official website — ivarlab.iitkgp.ac.in. As part of this partnership, iVAR lab will share students’ experiences with virtual reality modules created by iXRLabs in areas like civil, mechanical, electrical, and chemical. Experts are hoping that this collaboration will promote research and innovation in the field of virtual reality for educational purposes. The two organisations hope that their collaboration will significantly improve students’ educational experiences. The modules in these programmes will cover a wide range of industrial settings, including machineries, plant tours, and experiments, such as a jet engine, thermal power plant, and universal testing machine. Also, the iVAR lab will provide inputs in the writing and development of a research paper/white paper based on the pilot project. According to Dr. Kaushal Kumar Bhagat of the iVAR Lab at IIT Kharagpur, “the collaboration will facilitate and foster the research and innovation on the applications of virtual reality in education and training, which will pave the way for a new era of immersive learning experiences that can transform the way students acquire knowledge and skills.”

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The Benefits and Challenges of Health Tech in Modern Healthcare

admin / Blogs

Health technology, or health tech, refers to the use of technology to improve health outcomes, increase efficiency, and reduce costs in the healthcare industry. Health tech encompasses a wide range of technologies, including medical devices, telemedicine, health information technology, and wearable devices. The use of health tech has the potential to revolutionize the healthcare industry and improve the lives of millions of people worldwide. The Benefits of Health Tech One of the major benefits of health tech is improved patient outcomes. With the use of telemedicine, patients can receive medical care remotely, which can reduce the risk of infection, improve access to care, and save time and money. Telemedicine can also improve patient outcomes by allowing doctors to monitor patients in real-time, making it easier to identify and address potential health problems before they become more serious. Another benefit of health tech is increased efficiency. With the use of electronic health records (EHRs), healthcare providers can easily access patient information, reducing the need for manual record-keeping and improving the accuracy of patient data. EHRs can also be used to track patient progress and monitor the effectiveness of treatments, making it easier to identify the most effective treatment options and improve patient outcomes. Health tech can also reduce costs in the healthcare industry. With the use of telemedicine and other remote technologies, healthcare providers can reduce the need for expensive in-person appointments and hospitalizations. Additionally, health tech can help to identify potential health problems earlier, which can reduce the need for costly treatments and surgeries down the line. Types of Health Tech There are many different types of health tech, each with its own unique benefits and applications. Here are some of the most common types of health tech: Telemedicine: Telemedicine refers to the use of technology to provide medical care remotely. Telemedicine can be used for a wide range of medical services, including consultations, check-ups, and follow-up appointments. Telemedicine can be especially useful for patients who live in rural or remote areas, or who have difficulty traveling to medical appointments. Wearable Devices: Wearable devices, such as fitness trackers and smartwatches, are becoming increasingly popular. These devices can track a wide range of health metrics, including heart rate, activity level, and sleep quality. Wearable devices can be used to monitor health over time, identify potential health problems, and motivate patients to make healthy choices. Health Information Technology: Health information technology, or HIT, refers to the use of technology to manage and share patient information. HIT includes electronic health records (EHRs), which allow healthcare providers to easily access patient information and track patient progress. HIT can also be used to share patient information securely between different healthcare providers, improving communication and coordination of care. Medical Devices: Medical devices, such as pacemakers and insulin pumps, have been used for decades to improve health outcomes for patients with chronic conditions. Advances in medical device technology have led to the development of new devices that are more effective and easier to use than ever before. Challenges in Health Tech While health tech has the potential to revolutionize the healthcare industry, there are also some challenges that must be addressed. One of the main challenges is the cost of implementing new technologies. Health tech can be expensive to develop and implement, and healthcare providers may not have the resources to invest in new technologies. Another challenge is ensuring the security and privacy of patient information. With the use of electronic health records and other health information technologies, it is important to ensure that patient information is protected from unauthorized access or disclosure. Finally, there is a need for greater standardization and interoperability in health tech. With so many different types of health tech available, it can be difficult to ensure that different technologies can work together seamlessly. Standardization and interoperability are essential for the success of health tech in healthcare. With so many different types of technologies available, it is important to ensure that they can work together seamlessly. Standardization refers to the development of common technical standards for health tech, while interoperability refers to the ability of different technologies to communicate and exchange data. Achieving standardization and interoperability can be a challenge, as different technologies may have different standards and protocols. However, efforts are underway to develop common standards and protocols that can be used across different technologies. The development of these standards and protocols will help to ensure that different technologies can work together seamlessly, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare delivery. Conclusion Health tech has the potential to revolutionize the healthcare industry, improving patient outcomes, increasing efficiency, and reducing costs. With the use of technologies such as telemedicine, wearable devices, health information technology, and medical devices, healthcare providers can deliver more personalized and effective care to patients. However, there are also challenges that must be addressed, including the cost of implementing new technologies, ensuring the security and privacy of patient information, and achieving standardization and interoperability. Addressing these challenges will be essential for the success of health tech in healthcare. As the healthcare industry continues to evolve, health tech will become an increasingly important part of healthcare delivery. By embracing new technologies and addressing the challenges of implementation, healthcare providers can improve patient outcomes and deliver more efficient and effective care to patients. The author, Pratik Ghosh is associated with ArdorComm MediaTop of Form

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