Author: Editor's Desk

Categories
Business motivation

Indian Electronic Repair Market Capable of Creating Over 5 mn Jobs, Has Potential To Generate $20 Billion Revenue Per Annum: MAIT Report

future jobs
Job (Representational Image) Photo Credits: Picpedia)

New Delhi, April 24: The electronics manufacturing sector in India has the potential to generate over five million direct jobs, a new study has revealed. According to a recent study conducted by MAIT, the electronics repair market in India can help generate over 5 million direct jobs, with a potential to generate revenues of $20 billion per annum. It must be noted that MAIT is the apex body representing the ICT and electronics manufacturing sector in India. It said that the repair and calibration of electronic subassemblies and products is a $100 billion industry worldwide.

A report titled ‘Electronic Hardware Repair Services Outsourcing’ (ERSO) launched at the Electronics and Telecom Manufacturing Summit 2021 (MAIT-ETMS) said that high costs of repairing electronic goods in developed countries like the US and Europe are compelling the corporates to send goods overseas, where such repair services are provided at lower prices due to both skills and cost arbitrage.

The MAIT study also made recommendations to the Centre to streamline and simplify procedures to make India a repair and refurbishment hub for IT and electronic products. Nitin Kunkolienker, President, MAIT was quoted in the IANS report saying that the electronics repair industry has the potential of becoming an emerging sector for employment growth in India. With the right regulatory support from the government of India, the domestic repair service sector in India can experience a tremendous boost. “It will, thereby, generate valuable Forex revenue as well as create employment, especially during these COVID-19 times, which has made millions of Indians job-less,” he added.

The study also highlighted background on the regulatory landscape and emphasised bottlenecks and difficulties being faced day to day by the repair units in India. These include regulatory approvals, import/ export restrictions, investment and Infrastructure cost, lack of skilled workforce and technology, e-waste related constraints, etc. “The initiative to make India an electronics repairs outsourcing hub is the next sunrise sector for the country with the potential to generate over 5 million new direct jobs and attract investment from across the globe,” the report said.

Categories
Powerful Personalities

4 Amazing Unheard Stories That Prove Sachin Tendulkar Is An Extraordinary Being!

4 Amazing Unheard Stories that Prove Sachin Tendulkar is an Extraordinary Being!
4 Amazing Unheard Stories that Prove Sachin Tendulkar is an Extraordinary Being!

No cricketer has ever walked on earth that has captured billions of hearts and minds, not only in his own country but in other countries and continents too. No sportsman has ever captivated the soul and spirit of a nation so strongly that people cried when he was given ‘out’ during a match.

The popularity that can even put Gods in a dilemma, no cricketer has set as many records and broken as many milestones as this ‘Little Master’, who is the living legend of Cricket.

Yes, we are talking about none other than the ‘master blaster- Sachin Tendulkar- a name that can certainly bring a smile to any sports lover. With hundreds of centuries in his bag, smashing every record in the book, Sachin isn’t just a cricketer. He is considered to be the “God of the Cricket”.

However, what makes him different from the rest of the popular players is his calm and composed demeanor.

Despite being adored all across the globe by his die-hard fans, he never let his roaring success get on his head. Sachin is a synonym of modesty, integrity, and humility.

And as he turns 48, today, we bring you stories from his life that will make you scream- “SACHIN…….SACHIN”….once again!

You can watch here:

  1. BORN TO LIFT THE WORLD CUP

Sachin started his cricket career at the young age of 16. It was on November 15, 1989, when he made his debut in international cricket. Though he has many world records under his kitty, his eyes were transfixed on the “World Cup”.

Despite being touted as one of the favorites for the ICC World Cup 2007, India couldn’t lift the trophy in West Indies. It was a terrible blow to hopes and came as a shock to the nation. The loss left Indian players along with the fans disheartened. Sachin Tendulkar was hurt so deeply that he didn’t leave his hotel room for two days and started thinking about retirement.

Later, he received a call from his batting hero Sir Vivian Richards who reassured him that such incidents are part of international cricket and that he should not quit as he has a lot of cricket in him.

That`s when he decided not to call it quits. India buried its demons when India lifted the World Cup trophy after four years in 2011, after defeating Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium.

  1. SACHIN TENDULKAR: THE MAN OF PRINCIPLES

When Sachin received his first “Man of the Match” award in 1990, he was given a champagne bottle. As he was 17 years old at that time, he was not eligible for the consumption of alcohol. Though the star player could have opened the bottle privately at his residence, he rather waited and followed the law.

He opened the bottle, eight years later on his daughter`s first birthday in 1998. He also kept the emptied bottle as a memento.

  1. NEVER ENDORSED TOBACCO OR ALCOHOL PRODUCTS

Where most national and international players had ‘Four Square’ or ‘Wills’ on their bats, Tendulkar decided not to promote brands that are associated with alcohol or tobacco. Sachin Tendulkar`s father has told him to always be a role model as a lot of people follow him.  Despite getting multiple offers in 1990, he never endorsed any alcohol or tobacco products.

  1. REMAINED DOWN-TO-EARTH

During India`s tour of Australia in 2007, Sachin hired an Indian Taxi. After some time, it started raining heavily. The taxi driver gave Sachin his jacket to keep him protected. Sachin was so touched by the generosity of the driver that he decided to do something in return for him.

Later on, he gifted the driver a brand new designer jacket, and one team jersey signed by the players of the Indian cricket team. Along with that he also presented him with match passes.

Sachin Tendulkar is a name that resonates with the game of cricket. He is admired by many great players for his sheer genius on the cricket pitch, and humble nature. He ended his 200-match career in white-ball cricket and has 15,921 runs in his name.

Tendulkar had played 200 Test matches during his illustrious cricket career. No other cricketer has played more than 168 (Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh).

Tendulkar is the first-ever batsman to score a double century in ODI format and bid adieu to international cricket in 2013, leaving billions of his fans with moist eyes, and choked throats.

 

Categories
Business motivation

Feeling Low and Demotivated? Here Are 7 Inspiring Quotes by the Most Influential Women Entrepreneurs That Will Boost Your Confidence

Women Entrepreneurs in India (Photo Credits: Pixabay)

The world is changing and modern times are now witnessing more and more women entrepreneurs taking up different types of businesses and succeeding like never before. Women-led businesses are rising beyond all levels and these females are proving themselves worthy of everything with each passing day. The only thing that keeps them going is- not giving up and not settling for anything less.

We are all facing the COVID-19 pandemic and amid the uncertainties all around, these quotes from these great inspirational ladies will truly cheer you up. Inspirational quotes from successful people can help you reframe negative thoughts during tough times and change your attitude for better things in life.

Here are 7 motivating quotes from the most powerful women in history

  1. “There is nothing like a concrete life plan to weigh you down. Because if you always have one eye on some future goal, you stop paying attention to the job at hand, miss opportunities that might arise, and stay fixedly on one path, even when a better, newer course might have opened up.” ― Indra Nooyi
  2. “We need to accept that we won’t always make the right decisions, that we’ll screw up royally sometimes—understanding that failure is not the opposite of success, it’s part of success.” -Arianna Huffington
  3. “You will be defined not just by what you achieve, but by how you survive.”―Sheryl Sandberg
  4. “I invented my life by taking for granted that everything I did not like would have an opposite, which I would like.” -Coco Chanel
  5. “I don’t believe in failure. It’s not a failure if you enjoyed the process.” -Oprah Winfrey
  6. “If you push through that feeling of being scared, that feeling of taking risk, really amazing things can happen.”- Marissa Mayer
  7. “Growth and comfort do not coexist.” ― Ginni Rometty
  8. “We need to accept that we won’t always make the right decisions, that we’ll screw up royally sometimes – understanding that failure is not the opposite of success, it’s part of success.” ― Arianna Huffington

It has never been easy for women to prove themselves, but they have fought against all odds in the stereotype male-dominated society and made a place for themselves. Females have made important contributions as businesswomen, entrepreneurs, actors, leaders among several other fields.

Categories
News Powerful Personalities

9 Interesting Facts About Sachin You Didn’t Know!

9 Interesting Facts about Sachin Tendulkar

On November 16, 2013, when the batting legend Sachin Tendulkar decided to bid adieu from the game; he is regarded as the ‘God’ of, millions of eyes shed tears of joy and sorrow at the same time.

While Sachin Tendulkar delivered his last speech with choked words and moist eyes; tens of thousands of his fans stood in the Wankhede stadium holding their breaths as the euphoria of catching the last glimpse of their favorite Indian cricketer on his home ground surmounted.

India, where cricket is the religion, and the stadiums scream of the infamous “Sachin….Sachin”, it would be considered a sin to not know this man who has made fans across the globe go breathless with his beautiful strokes, timeless elegance, calm demeanor on the field and his relentless dedication to the game.

Yes, we are talking about Sachin Tendulkar- the God of Cricket. And if you want to watch hand-picked stories that are unseen and unheard of, watch them here:

An unparalleled career that was further glorified with grand records created and broken by the ‘Little Master’ has been an inspiration for many national and international sportspersons who dare to dream.

Bringing some of the most untouched aspects from his life, we are going to tell you 9 interesting facts that we bet you probably did not know:

  1. Sachin Tendulkar is considered to be the best batsman, to date. But did you know that he wanted to become a fast bowler? However, when he went to the MRF Pace Foundation, Australian legend Dennis Lillee asked him to focus on his batting instead.
  2. Sachin Tendulkar bats and bowls from his right hand. But he writes from his left hand. This makes this legend ambidextrous too.
  3. Sachin Tendulkar was dismissed by Australian pacer Brett Lee for a record 14 times. This is the highest by any bowler.
  4. Sachin`s first car was a Maruti-800, and you know what, he still owns it.
  5. In 1987, during Pakistan`s tour of India, Sachin was sent in as a substitute fielder when Abdul Qadir and Javed Miandad went during lunchtime.

Remembering this incident, Sachin writes in his book “Playing it My Way”, “I don’t know whether Imran Khan remembers this or has any idea that I once fielded for his Pakistan team”.

  1. Sachin Tendulkar was the first international batsman who was given out by the third umpire, Jonty Rhodes in 1992 against South Africa.
  2. Tendulkar`s coach Ramakant Achrekar used to give him a Re 1 coin whenever he completed his entire practice session without getting dismissed. To date, this cricket legend has kept the collection of 13 coins with him.
  3. In Manchester, 1990, for his maiden Test ton, Sachin was awarded a bottle of champagne. But as the British rules didn’t allow people under 18 to drink, he waited for 8 year and opened the bottle on his daughter Sara`s first birthday in 1998.
  4. Sachin Tendulkar is the only Indian cricketer who has received the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, Arjuna Award, and Padma Shri by the Indian government.

So what do you think, did you know the God of cricket as well as you thought you did? Let us know in the comment section below.

Categories
MSME

Bank of Maharashtra Aims To Resolve About 25 Stressed MSME Loans Under Pre-Packaged Insolvency Resolution Process

Mumbai, April 24: In a bid to help the stressed micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) sector, the State-owned Bank of Maharashtra is looking out to roll out a plan at resolving 20-25 stressed MSME accounts under the pre-packaged insolvency resolution process. The news was announced by a senior bank official, a report by PTI said. Earlier this month, the government had introduced a pre-packaged insolvency resolution process for stressed MSMEs by amending the insolvency law.

With the coronavirus pandemic, several sectors have taken a major hit. Bank of Maharashtra’s general manager (credit – large and mid-corporate, MSME) Sanjay Rudra said with the outbreak of the COVID-19 crisis, the stress on hospitality, luxury retail, tour operators, lodging and restaurant operators has increased considerably. “I expect around 20-25 stressed MSME accounts to be resolved under the pre-packaged insolvency resolution regime in the coming months,” he said.

Rudra said this during a webinar organised by MVIRDC World Trade Center, Mumbai and All India Association of Industries.

Here’s how to stressed MSME would benefit:

  1. Under a pre-packaged process, main stakeholders such as creditors and shareholders come together to identify a prospective buyer and negotiate a resolution plan before approaching the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).
  2. Rudra said under the pre-packaged insolvency resolution system, the government has given an opportunity for MSMEs to resolve their stress at an early stage while holding control over their business.
  3. “Now, MSMEs should maintain complete transparency in the whole resolution process to regain trust and confidence of lenders,” Rudra said.

Meanwhile, AZB & Partners cofounder Bahram N Vakil said MSME promoters should file for resolution with the NCLT only after having a robust base plan. According to a report by PTI, Vakil said that if the promoters could come out with a resolution plan with a minimum possible haircut for operational creditors and if it is also acceptable to the committee of creditors, then the chances of such plans being challenged in the Swiss challenge auction are less.

 

 

Categories
Technology

Tech Startups To Get Major Boost As India and Singapore Ink Pact To Usher an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

Tech Startups in India (Photo Credits: Pexels)

New Delhi, April 24: India and Singapore have inked a pact to boost the startup ecosystem and encourage start-ups to take advantage of the Singapore-India trade and technology corridor. Under the pact, the Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) and Start-up Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC) of IIT-Kanpur have come together to provide a gateway of opportunities to tech-based start-ups. This would help these startups to usher a circular economy and an entrepreneurial ecosystem.

India is today the third largest start-up ecosystem in the world, with over 45,000 start-ups in various stages. In 2014, only four start-ups in India were in the Unicorn club. According to a report by PTI, the SICCI-SIIC conducted the first in a series of cross-border collaborations on Friday under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed on March 10, 2021.

Here’s how the pact between India and Singapore would help tech start-ups:

  1. The two institutions are collaborating to identify young, indigenous talent to provide them with an array of incubation services.
  2. A joint statement said that this one-of-its-kind association will provide start-ups in Singapore and India a competitive edge in the global market.
  3. With an array of services, both SICCI and SIIC will promote homegrown and international initiatives operating in the technology domain with mentorship and access to capital.
  4. To galvanise their efforts towards promoting indigenous innovation, SICCI-SIIC Launchpad Competition – SICCI-SIIC INNOVATION LAUNCHPAD – held a start-up pitch competition on a virtual platform.
  5. Nine pre-selected contestants – five from Singapore and four from India – pitched their ideas to the judges.

Prof Amitabha Bandyopadhyay, in-charge of Innovation and Incubation at IIT Kanpur, said that LaunchPad 2021 is the first of many upcoming endeavours that marks the beginning of an unseen era in the incubation ecosystem. “SIIC and SICCI have come together to develop a symbiotic relationship to benefit indigenous innovations in our respective countries,” he said.

“As we open our doors for their startups to explore the Indian market, and vice versa, we bring in a plethora of opportunities for all stakeholders. We are delighted to support tech-based businesses that are sustainable, ensure value-addition, and provide local employment opportunities,” he added.

Meanwhile, SICCI Chairman Dr T Chandroo said with SIIC, we plan to provide a well-deserved launchpad to our start-ups and those in India to create well-established global brands that thrive on excellence, innovation, and ingenuity. It was with this expectation that the Prime Minister of India launched the ‘Startup India’ initiative in January 2016.

 

Categories
Powerful Personalities

3 Exclusive Stories of Ajit Doval we bet you didn’t know Before!

3 Exclusive Stories of Ajit Doval

Ajit Doval, the fifth National Security Advisor of India, who is also popularly known as the “James Bond of India” is in the headlines, once again. Twitter campaign #BharatRatnaforAjitDoval to confer the highest civilian award to Mr. Ajit Doval which was initiated by Dr. Vivek Bindra, an internationally acclaimed business motivational coach, Founder, and CEO of Bada Business has garnered support from millions of Indians.

Mr. Ajit Doval has a firm hand in shaping India`s foreign policy and strategic responses to the national and international crisis. And, it will not be an overstatement to call his approach the “Doval doctrine”. Mr. Ajit Doval, who was awarded the Kirti Chakra for his meritorious services, does not hesitate to roll up his sleeves and get into action, whenever our country has faced any challenges.

Here are few interesting stories that earned him the title of “James Bond of India”:

  1. Delayed Pakistan`s Nuclear Test

After India conducted its first successful Nuclear Test in Pokharan on September 7, 1972, under the leadership of then Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Pakistan too wanted to go ahead with their Nuclear Test with the help of China and France.

However, when France realized that Pakistan wants to conduct Nuclear Test, not for a technological purpose, but for nuclear weapons it decided not to support Pakistan. The Pakistani scientist Mr. Abdul Qadeer Khan went to North Korea to ask for help.

The ongoing developments in Pakistan concerning their Nuclear Test grabbed the spotlight across the globe. The Indian Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi formed a committee of RAW and Intelligence Bureau to keep an eye on Pakistan`s ill-intentions.

Mr. Ajit Doval was selected to lead the committee of Intelligence Bureau and was sent to Kahuta- a place in Pakistan, as an undercover agent to collect the information. Khan Research Centre in Kahuta was the nuclear base of Pakistan where all the research associated with the test was taking place.

He spent seven years in Pakistan disguised as a beggar to gather the information. He started tracking every scientist who was visiting the nuclear base, frequently. However, despite all his efforts, he was unable to track and identify the ones who were working on the nuclear project.

He came to know from his own studies that if any person who is works on a nuclear weapon, his body absorbs the radiations. And if he can get the sample of skin, hair, or nail from that person he can find out about the scientists who were working on the nuclear test.

He then disguised as a beggar and started sitting outside the barbershop where all the scientists were going to get a haircut to collect the samples. He used the collected information to build a diplomatic strategy that delayed the Nuclear Test of Pakistan by 15 years.

  1. Helped to End Insurgency in Mizoram without lifting any arms

The stories of Mr. Ajit Doval`s courage are endless. One such story of where he showcased his excellent diplomatic skills is of Mizoram. In 1986, Mizoram was held to ransom by the Mizo National Front army and its leader Laldenga. As a mid-level IB officer in the northeast, Mr. Ajit Doval was appointed to tackle the insurgency.

He infiltrated the underground Mizo National Front, weaned away as many as 6 core commanders from the group, and disintegrated the party, forcing its leader Laldenga to sue for peace. The Mizo Accord of July 1986- post 20 years of insurgency—was the result of Indian hero Doval`s initiative.

  1. United Sikkim with India with his smart approach

Very few people are aware of this story as it hardly gets a mention anywhere. On 16th May 1975 Sikkim officially became a part of India. This might sound like a simple fact based out of history, but the journey was not that easy. When India was struggling to make Sikkim as one of its states, it was Mr. Ajit Doval`s effective and powerful strategy that turned that dream into reality.

The then King of Sikkim married an American girl. However, the girl was working as a CIA agent, and India was frustrated with the decisions that were taken by America. Also, the increasing American dominance over Sikkim was a matter of immediate consideration for India. Hence, Mr. Ajit Doval was once again given the responsibility to get India out of the crisis.

Doval came to Sikkim and started interacting with the locals. He also managed to get the support of one regional leader of the Sikkim National Party. Later, when elections were held by the national assembly, more than 97 percent of the electorate voted for the merger of Sikkim with India.

Ajit Doval is a highly decorated IPS officer of Kerala Cadre. Currently, he is heading the National Security Council of India. He has dealt with the country`s most crucial and complex domestic and international challenges that threatened India`s security and sovereignty.

There are so many interesting and exciting stories related to his life that are still unheard of.

Categories
MSME

Women-Led MSMEs To Get Major Boost As IFC Proposes To Lend Loan Up to $150 Million to Bajaj Finance

Women Entrepreneurs in India (Photo Credits: Pixabay)

Chennai, April 23: In a bid to boost the startup ecosystem in India and help the women-led MSMEs in the country, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) part of the World Bank Group has proposed to loan up to $150 million to Bajaj Finance Ltd.

Under the new initiative, Bajaj Finance will increase its lending to MSME segment to about $600 million. According to details by IFC, the proposed $150 million senior loan for up to five years to Bajaj Finance will enable the company to expand its lending to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) and women-owned MSMEs.

Bajaj Finance, which is headquartered in Pune is part of the Bajaj Group,  which is the third-largest non-banking finance company (NBFC) in India. The firm has $4.9 billion equity base and $22.3 billion asset base as of December 31, 2020, IFC said.

Categories
MSME

Digitalisation To Play Key Role in Growth and Development of MSME Sector in India, Says Nitin Gadkari

Union MSME Minister Nitin Gadkari. (Photo Credit: PIB)
Union MSME Minister Nitin Gadkari. (Photo Credit: PIB)

With an aim to development of small businesses in the country, digitalization across areas like marketing and manufacturing would play a critical role, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Minister Nitin Gadkari said. The Minister also emphasised the need for technologies that can help expand economically viable MSMEs in the rural and tribal areas across the country. He also pointed out that MSMEs account for 30 percent of India’s GDP, 48 percent of the exports and have created 11 crore jobs. The government aims to take this to 40 percent GDP contribution, 60 percent exports, and create 5 crore new jobs.

“Digitalisation in MSMEs is the most important subject…digitalisation is a solution by which we can make our system transparent and time-bound,” he said at an event held by Microsoft. In his address, Gadkari noted that marketing is an important arena for MSMEs and a number of small companies that have started marketing online are seeing excellent results. He added that digitalization can play an important role for the manufacturing sector in enhancing processes, he said, urging the tech sector to collaborate with MSMEs to help them in these processes. He said the most important agenda for the government is development of MSMEs in the rural, agricultural, tribal areas and 115 aspirational districts.

“This area is where GDP contribution is very negligible…So we need to find technology which is useful for making economically viable MSMEs in the village, rural, agricultural and tribal area,” he noted. He added that while these areas have raw materials, a digital system that is result-oriented can be brought in that will create a win-win situation for all.

Categories
Powerful Personalities

9 Lesser Known Facts about Ajit Doval the ‘James Bond of India’ that will make you feel Proud of this Indian Hero!

Ajit Doval - The Real James Bond Of India
Ajit Doval - The Real James Bond Of India

There are many unsung heroes of India that do not get enough credit for their unmatched contribution, extreme dedication, and undeterred determination towards their country. They hustle in the silence, win so many inside battles to keep our country safe from its enemies.

One such Indian hero, who is also popularly known as the “James Bond of India” is Ajit Doval.

Ajit Doval, who is the fifth and the current National Security Advisor (NSA) to the Prime Minister of India, is a retired Indian Police Services (IPS) officer of the Kerala cadre. He is a former Indian intelligence and law enforcement officer.

He is also the youngest police office of India to be awarded the Kirti Chakra Meritorious Service -a gallantry award for military personnel.

Born in Uttarakhand in 1945, Doval began his police career in 1968 as an IPS officer. During his period of service, he was actively involved in the counter-insurgency operations in Mizoram and Punjab.

Though most of us have been fascinated by the magnetic onscreen James Band for all our lives, the “James bond of India” is real and is considered one of the best spies in India`s history.

And, being the best spy is no easy deal. There are so many unheard stories and real-life facts related to his life that will blow your brains.

Watch never-heard-before facts and stories from his life here:

Here are some of the most amazing facts filled with real-life thrill and excitement to give you a dose of adrenaline rush:

  1. Ajit Doval played a crucial role as one of the three negotiators in the release of passengers from the hijacked Indian plane IC-814 in Kandhar in 1999.
  2. He has spent seven years as an undercover operative in Pakistan. During that time he gathered all the confidential information on active militant groups.
  3. Ajit Doval also worked as a secret agent for 12 months. After this brief stint, he worked at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad for six years.
  4. ‘Operation Blue Star’ that was conducted in 1984 to choke the Khalistani insurgency is another instance where Doval showcased his excellence by gathering crucial intelligence for the operation.
  5. In 1990, Ajit Doval went to Kashmir, where he convinced hardcore militants and troops to become anti-insurgents. This way he cleared the way for the J&K elections in 1996.
  6. On June 25, 2014, Doval went on a top-secret mission to Iraq as 46 Indian nurses were trapped in a hospital in Tikrit. He went to Iraq to understand the position on the ground and made high-level connections in the Iraq government to ensure the release of all the Indian nurses who were brought back to India on July 5, 2015.
  7. Indian Surgical strike that took place in September 2016 and the Balakot Airstrike in February 2019 were conducted under the supervision of Ajit Doval.
  8. He also helped to end the Doklam stand-off and took decisive measures to manage the insurgency in the Northeast.
  9. In 2019, he was appointed as National Security Advisor for the next five years and was given a Cabinet rank in the second term of the Narendra Modi-led NDA government.

Today, India`s defense policy is more polished, more pronounced, sharper, swifter, and powerful because of Ajit Doval`s strategic vision.