GARP Enables Remote Access to SCR and RAI Exams
India, 5th May 2025 — The Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP), a global leader in risk education, has announced the launch of remote online proctoring for its Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR) and Risk and AI (RAI) certificate programs globally. This initiative is designed to significantly expand access to these globally recognized programs, especially for professionals in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities by enabling candidates to take the exams from the comfort of their homes. The first set of remotely proctored exams will be administered in October 2025.
The remote testing option is secured through a secure remote proctoring system, ensuring a consistent and fair exam experience for all candidates. It will allow Indian candidates the flexibility to schedule and take their SCR and RAI exams from a location of their choice, following India Standard Time (IST). Registered candidates will receive all necessary instructions and access details prior to their exam via email.
The initiative comes at a time when interest in GARP’s globally recognized risk education programs is rising sharply, driven by growing awareness of the need to manage risks related to climate change and emerging technologies. In India, GARP has collaborated with educational institutions including XLRI-Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur, Christ University, Bangalore and Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar. It aims to expand to cities such as Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Indore, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Jamshedpur, Kochi, Lucknow, Nagpur, Patna, Raipur, Visakhapatnam, Agra, Kanpur, Mysuru, Mangalore, and Udupi.
These ongoing partnerships allow GARP to share its global expertise and contribute to India’s educational and professional upskilling goals. Between 2021 and 2024, enrolment for the SCR program in India grew at an impressive annual rate of 59.6%, reflecting the rising demand for sustainability knowledge. Since the launch of the RAI program in August 2024, India has rapidly become GARP’s second-largest market for candidate registrations globally. Participation has been particularly strong in metro cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi, Gurgaon, Hyderabad, and Chennai—key hubs for careers in sustainability and AI. The introduction of remote proctoring is set to remove logistical and cost barriers, providing professionals with easier access to these future-focused certifications from anywhere across the country.
“India is a major global economy, and it is growing. As the nation progresses toward its $5 trillion economic goal, the capacity to manage sustainability and AI-driven risks becomes paramount,” said Richard Apostolik, President and CEO of the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP). “By introducing remote proctoring, we are eliminating geographical and logistical barriers to certification, making these critical programs more accessible to professionals in India, allowing them to objectively demonstrate to their global peers that their professional knowledge is on par with anyone in the world.”
The RAI certificate equips candidates with a robust understanding of AI evolution, core AI tools and techniques and their application in real world use cases, AI risks, including algorithmic bias, explainability, transparency, reputational risk, and data and model governance frameworks—skills that are especially vital as India’s AI sector is projected to generate over 2.3 million jobs by 2027, while the available talent pool may only reach 1.2 million, highlighting a knowledge gap and urgent need for upskilling .
Similarly, the SCR certificate—recognized globally as a unique climate risk credential—offers in-depth knowledge of green and sustainable finance markets and instruments, climate science, global policy and governance initiatives, climate models and scenario analysis, transition planning and carbon reporting, and nature risk assessment. With over 80% of India’s population vulnerable to climate-induced disasters and forecasts suggesting climate change could shrink India’s GDP by 25% by 2070 , equipping professionals with these critical skills is more important than ever.
REHAU Lays Groundwork for Expansion in Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh, 5th May 2025: REHAU, a global leader in polymer-based solutions, has taken a significant step towards expanding its manufacturing footprint in India by acquiring 1.05 acres of industrial land in Sri City, Andhra Pradesh. The land, secured through a 99-year lease agreement near the RED Star Polymers plant, marks a strategic investment by REHAU India to support RED Star Polymers in scaling up its manufacturing capacity.
This development comes just months after REHAU‘s acquisition of a 51% stake in RED Star Polymers Pvt. Ltd., a company manufacturing PVC edgebands, reinforcing the company’s commitment to strengthening its market presence in India.
The newly acquired land is strategically located adjacent to RED Star’s operational facility, enabling seamless synergies and long-term scalability. By signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sri City on 25th April 2025, REHAU has underlined its confidence in India’s robust manufacturing ecosystem and its long-term vision to serve both domestic and export markets from this strategic base.
Dr Thomas Troeger, CEO, REHAU Interior Solutions, added, “Our decision to invest further in India reflects our confidence in the country’s long-term market potential. This expansion positions REHAU to meet growing demand while reinforcing our manufacturing excellence.”
Commenting on the expansion, Tushar Verma, Executive Vice President, REHAU India, said, “This land acquisition is a continuation of our commitment to scale manufacturing in India. Sri City’s world-class infrastructure and connectivity make it an ideal location for REHAU’s next phase of growth.”
Mr. Lakshmi Pacha, Vice President, REHAU India, remarked, “This is a great investment by REHAU India that directly supports RED Star Polymers’ growth trajectory. The proximity of the new land to our existing facility will significantly enhance our manufacturing capacity and operational efficiency, helping us meet increasing market demand”.
REHAU has been present in India for over 27 years and has consistently invested in local manufacturing capabilities. With the addition of this land near RED Star’s facility, REHAU is poised to enhance its capacity, workforce, and product portfolio tailored for the Indian market.
Raja Kumari Calls Mumbai Her ‘City of Hope’ on Realme Hip Hop India S2
MUMBAI, India–May 5th, 2025: Amazon MX Player – Amazon’s free video streaming service has dialled up the hip hop fever in their latest episodes. Headed by judges Remo D’Souza and Malaika Arora, the celebration was further livened with the arrival of special guests who each have some major credits to their name in the Hip Hop domain: Bhavesh aka B. Cube, the first Indian internationally acclaimed beatboxer, was unveiled in a high-energy performance; Lash Curry, the energetic MTC Hustle Season 4 winner, introduced his signature style; and B-Girl aka Bar-B, India‘s first female face of breaking, electrified the stage. In an enthralling display of solidarity, all the guests, judges, and contestants joined forces on stage, lending a fun atmosphere to the grand arrival of Grammy-nominated international artist and BMI Pop Award winner, Raja Kumari.
This week, Realme Hip Hop India Season 2 took things up a notch as Remo D’Souza announced a first-of-its-kind celebration—a fusion of Desi and International forms of Hip Hop, bringing together all core elements of Hip Hop: Rap, Beatboxing, DJing, Dance, and Emceeing on one stage. The format shifted to intense battles with no scores—just winners and losers—decided by both judges and contestant votes. Raja Kumari added a powerful rap segment during the opening battle between Rules Breakerz and Lil Pool, with Lil Pool taking the win. Lash Curry joined the stage, and Adnaan bid an emotional farewell due to injury.
Additionally, messages from icons like Sunidhi Chauhan, Dino James, Shah Rule, and Badshah acknowledged the movement being created by the contestants. Subhankar defeated Ranjeet in a DJ-themed face-off and received a special message from krump legends including one of the founding creators of krump dance style – Big Mijo himself. The stage went wild in a celebratory frenzy as Pikachu danced with the contestants! Lamonlang flung down the gauntlet, inviting Aman and Kunal to an intense battle. Rahul Bhagat staged a dramatic comeback, partnering with fan favorite Hitesh for a show-stopping act. Bar B and Rules Breakerz turned up the heat, and Ghazal Alagh stopped by for an impromptu dose of inspiration. Ultimately, Norbu won, beating out the other winners of battles to win a highly prized advantage for next week.
Reflecting on her journey as a rapper, the international music sensation Raja Kumari said, “Hip Hop has always been a place where I felt accepted, a community. Growing up in America, there weren’t many Indians on TV, in Music and then when I heard Timbaland for the first time, he was sampling Indian music, and I felt like, you know what, I belong there; I can be a part of that, and I can keep who I am. So it’s been a long journey, but I always know I will make it in India, and if people knew me in India, then they would know me everywhere in the world. So that was really important to me, and Mumbai has been that city that has given us all that hope. I represent all the way from LA to Bombay; I represent from the East to the West, and I hope this music reaches all over the world. From India to the world!”
With emotions running high and the competition more intense than ever, the battle for supremacy has truly begun. Don’t miss what happens next, as Realme Hip Hop India Season 2 drops new episodes every Thursday, exclusively on Amazon MX Player, available on Amazon’s shopping app, Prime Video, Fire TV, and Connected TVs.
Rishto Se Bandhi Gauri Actress Shivani Gosain on Laughter Day
Shivani speaks about the joy of laughter, saying, “Laughter is truly the best medicine, and on this Laughter Day, I just want to remind everyone to smile a little more and stress a little less. In our busy lives, we often forget how powerful a simple laugh can be. Whether it’s a silly joke, a funny video, or a happy memory, find your reason to laugh today. It lightens the heart, lifts the mood, and brings people closer.”
The Rishto Se Bandhi Gauri Actress also gives us a peek into her fun-filled shooting days, saying, “On the set of Rishto Se Bandhi Gauri, being behind the scenes with the entire team feels like daily laughter therapy! Whether it’s someone pulling a prank, funny bloopers, or just sharing silly jokes, there’s never a dull moment. Even during serious scenes, the minute ‘cut’ is called, someone cracks us up! It’s amazing how laughter becomes our stress-buster, keeping the vibe so positive and full of energy. It doesn’t feel like work; it feels like a joyful family gathering.”