APRIL 4, 2025: On Day 1 of Startup Mahakumbh, as visitors entered the pavilion, they were awestruck by Moonrider’s electric tractor and Sarla Aviation’s flying taxi. Alongside that, the Mobility Pavilion unveiled game changing solutions, discussions and intentions for the future of mobility in India.

The day commenced with a fireside chat, Driven to Progress: The Importance of Mobility for Viksit Bharat. Moderated by Kunal Khattar, Partner, AdvantEdge Founders, it featured Vineet Aggarwal, Managing Director, Transport Corporation of India, who offered interesting insights on logistics and its importance in solving everything from last-mile delivery to intercity logistics.

Speaking about the opportunities for Indian companies to build capabilities from a global logistics point of view, Vineet Aggarwal explained, “If Indian companies have to expand, first, you develop your market here. You push the market here, grow the market here, and then start looking overseas based on how your clients are looking at it.”

An engaging panel discussion was also held, titled Viksit Bharat: Driving Investments to Accelerate Electrification across Auto, Logistics and Shared Mobility. This session was attended by Chirantan Patnaik, Director, British International Investment (BII), Aishwarya Kacchal, Senior Consultant, World Bank, Sanjay Sharma, Chief General Manager of Head Startup, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Arpit Agarwal, Investment Partner, Bloom, and Sandeep Agarwal, Founder, Droom. It was moderated by Kunal Khattar, Partner, AdvantEdge Founders.

During the discussion, insights were offered on the rapid evolution of the mobility and logistics landscapes in India, highlighting major trends like multimodal transport, digitization, and alternative fuel adoption. Chirantan Patnaik highlighted the $350M+ investments in India’s EV logistics sector, emphasizing climate impact and income upliftment for gig workers. Meanwhile, Sandeep Agarwal flagged residual value uncertainty and financing hurdles for used EVs. He also stressed the need for standardized battery health data and predicted online dominance in used EV sales.

When asked how India’s EV transition compares globally, speaking at the panel, Aishwarya Kacchal said, “India dominates 2W/3Ws (80% global share with China) and leads in e-buses (~9,000 deployed). Policy ambition (30% EVs by 2030) and innovation stand out. Gaps: commercial vehicles and battery recycling. DFIs enable bankability – e.g., payment security mechanisms for e-buses.”

The panelists also identified high capital costs, fragmented financing, and supply-chain gaps as critical barriers, and called for passenger EV startups, tractor electrification, and circular economy solutions to unlock India’s $206B EV market by 2030.

A key highlight of the day was a panel on Powering the Future: The Importance of Integrated Manufacturing and Policy Incentives in EV Innovation. This panel was attended by Parminder Singh, Head, Design & Manufacturing, Media & Entertainment, India & SAARC at Autodesk, Wybren van der Vaart, Co-founder & CEO, BRIGHTBLU, Shri Ishtiyaque Ahmed, Program Director, NITI AAYOG, Rajesh Gaonkar, Founder & CEO, Sarla Aviation, Anoop Srikantaswamy, Founder, Moonrider. The panel was moderated by Swapna Gupta, Partner, Avaana Capital.

Shri Ishtiyaque Ahmed emphasized the government’s commitment to EV adoption. “There is urgency of the climate action. The temperatures are rising and there are extreme weather conditions. There is a significant responsibility on India with regard to reduction of the greenhouse gas emission also now when it comes to the transport sector. Transport sector contributes around 14% of the total carbon emission. As far as government of India’s vision is concerned, we have already committed that we would be net zero by 2070. As far as EV penetration is concerned, we are planning around 30% of the EV penetration by 2030. If you look at the figures of 2025 we have sold around 2 million EV units in the country. So EVs are very, very important.”

April 4, 2025: The Indian Public School (TIPS), one of the leading schools in the country which is part of globally renowned education network Globeducate Group, hosted the sixth edition of the South Indian Model United Nations (SIMUN) in Coimbatore, a three-day conference from March 31 to April 2, 2025. Centred on the theme of ‘Navigating a Changing World’, this year’s conference was the largest such MUN ever held in South India. The event brought together 1,135 delegates from 35+ schools around the country, engaged in thought-provoking debates and a true demonstration of student-led diplomacy.

The event was inaugurated with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by Dr. S. Pandian IRS, Commissioner of Income Tax, Mr. Jairam Balakrishnan, CEO, Globeducate India, Mr. Sivasankaran S., Director, Globeducate India, and Dr. Sonali Geed, Chief Academic Officer, TIPS, signifying a commitment to fostering leadership, diplomacy, and global awareness among students.

Over the three days, students participated in discussions across 34 international committees, including G20, UNESCO, UNHRC, WHO, UNSC, NATO, and WHC. Through debates, moderated caucuses, and diplomatic negotiations, students explored solutions to contemporary global issues.

Beyond committee sessions, delegates had the opportunity to refine their analytical and leadership skills under the guidance of an esteemed executive board and subject matter experts. An interactive session with Ms. Padmashree Balaram, TEDx Speaker and Mentor at NSRCEL, IIM Bangalore, provided valuable insights into climate action and sustainability, encouraging students to think critically about global environmental challenges.

Reflecting on the event’s success, Jairam Balakrishnan, CEO of Globeducate India, stated, “SIMUN serves as a dynamic platform where students develop skills essential for leadership in an interconnected world. By participating in this conference, they not only strengthen their ability to think critically and collaborate across cultures, but also gain practical experience in diplomacy and problem-solving skills that are essential for success in higher education and beyond. We are glad to see the kind of participation that this edition of SIMUN received, making it one of the largest ever such student congregations in the country.”

Witnessing the students’ participation in the SIMUN with enthusiasm, Dr. S. Pandian, IRS, Commissioner of Income Tax, added, “Students form an intrinsic part of strong societies and it is critical to inculcate critical thinking in them through avenues such as this MUN. It is heartening to see so many students take part with passion and showcase their knowledge.”

SIMUN 2025 extended beyond traditional debates, incorporating team-building and social engagement activities to create a well-rounded learning experience. Social Night provided a platform for students to interact beyond formal discussions, fostering camaraderie and cross-cultural exchange. The SIMUN Spotlight allowed students to showcase their talents, reinforcing the event’s emphasis on creativity and collaboration.

The event concluded with an awards ceremony symbolising the ’ethos of excellence’, recognizing outstanding delegates across multiple categories, including Best Delegate, Honourable Mention, Best Speaker, Best Leadership Initiative, and Diplomatic Distinction.

India – Taboola, a global leader in delivering performance at scale for advertisers,  today announced a new report based on a survey conducted with Qualtrics, a leading company in experience management working with nearly 20,000 organizations worldwide. 

Performance advertising on social media is rapidly growing—industry forecasts predict that social media ad spend will reach $239 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $273 billion in 2026. However, new research found that despite social media’s dominance in performance advertising, nearly 75% of performance marketers have noticed diminishing returns from their social media ad investments.

Additional key insights from The Pulse of Performance Advertising: Diminishing Returns include:

• Most of these performance marketers indicated that diminishing returns impact over 30% of their spend.

• Marketers focused on performance face diminishing returns on social media due to audience saturation, rising costs, and ad fatigue.

• Over 80% of performance marketers use multiple tactics to combat diminishing returns, with more than half expanding into additional digital channels beyond social media ads.

“While social media accounts for a large portion of performance advertising budgets, many marketers have hit a barrier in the form of diminishing returns,” said Adam Singolda, CEO of Taboola. “More spend just isn’t translating into better results. The findings in this report point to difficulty in sustaining performance over time, with marketers seeking solutions that can help them overcome that barrier.”

The Pulse of Performance Advertising: Diminishing Returns is based on a survey of more than 300 advertisers, from brands and agencies in the US.  

April 4, 2025 – Interest in business education is surging as recent graduates, career changers, and entrepreneurs seek to sharpen their skills and stay competitive in an AI-driven world.  It is in this backdrop that the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), a non-profit organization leveraging its wide and long-standing connections with leading business schools, today announced the global launch of Advancery, an innovative platform designed to guide candidates through their business education journey, with future expansions in development.

Business school candidates and professionals recognize the need to adapt—whether to accelerate career growth, pivot industries, or build businesses that anticipate evolving market demands—yet many struggle to navigate the overwhelming array of options and make informed decisions. As business schools evolve to meet the demands of the modern workplace with a wide range of programs on offer to support professional career advancement—from MBA, master’s, online programs, certificates to one-off courses, it can be hard for people to identify the best program to meet their career goals. This is where Advancery comes in. The new tool delivers a holistic, personalized approach that connects career ambitions, program selection, and application strategy in a unified experience.

“Choosing the right business school can be one of the most consequential decisions in one’s lifetime, and Advancery aims to make it informed and effortless for all the candidates out there contemplating taking the next step,” said Adam Witwer, chief product officer of GMAC. “With over 70 years of expertise in data science and offering solutions to connect talent with the right business schools for them, we’re excited to introduce Advancery—a powerful, user-friendly tool that empowers business school candidates to easily identify, plan, and achieve their educational and career goals.”

To be ready for the business education of tomorrow, GMAC is committed to continuously evolving to meet the needs of candidates, with new resources to better serve them. As the authoritative source for global business education data, GMAC’s Advancery platform offers:

• Verified Program Data – Up-to-date, AI-validated insights from business schools worldwide.
• Real Conversations, Real Insights – Analysis of millions of online discussions from applicants, students, and alumni on program types, formats, length, and return on investment.
• Personalized Skills Assessment – Step-by-step guidance to help candidates identify key competencies and match with programs aligned to their career goals.
• Advanced Search and Comparison – Ability to explore programs based on location, cost, scholarships, online vs. in-person formats, and time commitment, then compare them side by side.
• Streamlined Application Management – A smart, all-in-one platform that transforms the application process into an organized, step-by-step journey, keeping candidates on track with built-in tools and deadlines.

“This tool is kind of perfect. I don’t have to maintain an Excel sheet or another document to just go through the schools I’m targeting or what each one is looking for,” said Siddhant D., an early adopter of the tool.

“There is no doubt that the global pipeline for higher education is changing, with millions of business-minded students and professionals looking to upskill, reskill, or change careers,” said Joy Jones, CEO of GMAC. “As GMAC and the global business school community adapt to meet the growing demand for quality education in today’s skills-driven economy, we believe Advancery will help candidates maximize success in their educational and career trajectories.”

04th April, 2025: Bank of Baroda (BoB), one of India’s leading public sector banks, has announced a strategic realignment of its zonal structure with the creation of 3 new zones that will help the Bank drive sustainable business growth, enhance customer service and improve operational efficiencies. Effective 1st April, 2025, the Bank has established the following new zones:

• Surat Zone (earlier part of Baroda Zone)
• Varanasi Zone (earlier part of Lucknow Zone)
• Jodhpur Zone (earlier part of Jaipur Zone)

The 3 zones were virtually inaugurated by Shri Debadatta Chand, Managing Director & CEO, Bank of Baroda, along with the Bank’s Executive Directors.

With the formation of 3 new zones, the Bank now has a total of 25 zones. This move is part of the Bank’s aspiration to create a more agile organisation that ensures better control through decentralisation, faster growth and reinforces the Bank’s ability to serve customers better.

Shri Debadatta Chand, Managing Director & CEO, Bank of Baroda said, “We are pleased to announce the launch of 3 new zones. The objective is to have more compact zones – this will ensure more effective control and administration, provide a superior banking experience to our customers as well as enable the Bank to grow faster. The new zonal structure will also foster the growth & development of our employees.”

 04 April 2025: From shifting weather patterns that threaten food production to rising sea levels increasing the risk of catastrophic flooding, climate change’s impacts are global in scope and unprecedented in scale. A comprehensive study by Primus Partners titled “The Cost of Climate Change: Young Voices in a Warming World” has highlighted significant findings on the effects of climate change on the mental health of young adults aged 15-24.

 Key Findings of the Study:

• Mental Health Impact on Youth: Anxiety and stress are the most prevalent climate-induced mental health issues, affecting 26% of respondents in this age group. Of the 46% who reported experiencing mental health issues owing to climatic changes, only 33% are aware of available support services
• Economic Implications: Climate-induced mental health challenges in the 15-24 age group could lead to a potential annual financial loss of approximately USD 13.7 billion, equating to 0.35% of India’s current GDP. This loss is part of a broader 6% GDP reduction associated with health complications
• Global Context and Public Health Concerns: According to the WHO, climate change could contribute to an additional 250,000 deaths annually between 2030 and 2050 due to extreme weather events’ impact on mortality and morbidity. A 2020 Royal College of Psychiatrists study found that 60% of child and adolescent psychiatrists in the UK’s NHS had seen a patient distressed about environmental and ecological issues
• Awareness Levels: 56% of respondents aged 15-18 and 60% of those aged 19-24 express significant awareness of climate change’s mental health implications, with 39% and 44%, respectively, feeling its significant impact on their mental well-being

 The Road Ahead:

Dr. Naveen Kumar, Head of Community Psychiatry, NIMHANS, emphasized, “Policies need to integrate mental health support with climate resilience strategies, particularly for children and adolescents. This could involve integrating climate-change education in school curricula, developing targeted psychosocial support services, and ensuring that disaster response mechanisms are child-sensitive.“

 As a strategic response, the study recommends:

• Developing a national policy integrating climate-related mental health strategies into the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP)
• Specialized training for school counselors on climate change-induced psychological stress and establishing effective referral mechanisms
• Strengthening outreach for mental health services by enhancing Tele-MANAS and increasing awareness through government-led campaigns involving Community Health Officers (CHOs), Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), and Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs)

Prof. Dr. Sanjay Zodpey, President of PHFI, stated, “Through a multidisciplinary lens, this document delves into the scientific, psychological, and policy dimensions of climate-induced mental health challenges.”

Nilaya Varma, Co-Founder & CEO, Primus Partners, highlighted, “This study will lay the foundation for further research in this field and serve as a guiding framework for policy development to address the growing crisis of climate change and its impact on mental health. The findings highlight the urgent need for integrating mental health considerations into climate policies, ensuring that young people, who are among the most affected, have access to adequate support mechanisms. By strengthening outreach, enhancing awareness, and embedding climate resilience into public health strategies, we can take proactive steps toward mitigating the long-term socio-economic consequences of climate-induced mental health challenges.”

Vivek Tandon, VP, Health Practice, Primus Partners, further informed that “the study shreds light on the disproportionate effect of climate change on gender, with more females reporting its impact than men. This paves the path for further research on this from a gender lens.”