PUNE: A grand inauguration ceremony of the “Vishwa Mangal Marathi Foundation” was held in an enthusiastic atmosphere on 1st May 2026 at the Fruitwale Dharamshala Auditorium in Alandi. The event witnessed a large turnout of entrepreneurs and distinguished citizens from various parts of Maharashtra, as well as from India and abroad. The ceremony was graced by the presence of Hon’ble MLA Shri Subhash Bapu Deshmukh (Solapur), renowned speaker and senior orator Shri Vivekji Ghalasasi, along with several eminent dignitaries from across the state. Specifically attending from overseas as chief guests were globally reputed entrepreneur Shri Sanjay Vayal (Eshved Biotech Pvt. Ltd.), Dr. Uday Bhosale (Scientist, London), and Shri Appasaheb Kondhare (Gold Businessman, Dubai).

The programme began with a grand Maha Pooja at the Samadhi of Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj in Alandi. The temple committee felicitated the dignitaries present. Thereafter, in the presence of Warkaris, a traditional Dindi procession was taken out from the Mauli temple to the auditorium. Following this, the main event commenced at the auditorium. The dignitaries performed the ceremonial lamp lighting, and the logo and website of the “Vishwa Mangal Marathi Foundation” were officially unveiled. This moment created a wave of excitement and enthusiasm among the attendees.

In his inaugural address, Hon’ble MLA Shri Subhash Bapu Deshmukh explained the inspiration behind establishing the foundation. He stated that the “Vishwa Mangal Marathi Foundation” will work towards providing a global platform for the Marathi language, Marathi culture, Marathi schools, and Marathi businesses. Elaborating on the concepts of “Local to Global” and “Global to Local,” he urged everyone to actively participate in the foundation’s initiatives. While delivering his blessings and शुभ संदेश, Shri Vivekji Ghalasasi referred to Hon’ble MLA Subhash Bapu Deshmukh as a “goal-driven leader” and praised his inspiring 28-year journey from “Lokmangal to Vishwamangal.” He appealed to the people to strengthen Maharashtra by preserving the Marathi language, values, family traditions, and the culture of supporting one another.

An entrepreneurship panel discussion was subsequently organized, featuring dignitaries and entrepreneurs who had travelled from abroad. The session focused on the various opportunities available globally for emerging entrepreneurs in Maharashtra and guided business growth and expansion strategies.

During the ceremony, cyclists from Pandharpur’s Cycles Club, who undertook a special cycling journey from Pandharpur to Alandi carrying the social message of the “Vishwa Mangal Marathi Foundation,” were warmly welcomed and felicitated. Their initiative received appreciation from all sections of society. A special highlight of the event was the socially impactful Bharud performance titled “Burgund,” presented by young Bharud artist Krushnai Ulekar. The performance effectively showcased the foundation’s work approach and its social initiatives in an engaging manner.

Additionally, entrepreneurs who responded to the foundation’s appeal by adopting Zilla Parishad schools from various villages across Maharashtra were felicitated at the hands of the dignitaries. The first local committee of the “Vishwa Mangal Marathi Foundation” was also formally established in Alandi, and its committee members were honoured on the occasion. The programme concluded in a devotional atmosphere with the singing of “Pasaydan.” The attendees expressed confidence that the “Vishwa Mangal Marathi Foundation” will play a significant role in promoting the Marathi language, culture, and social development on a larger scale.

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From the moment an applicant accepts their offer to the University, they will be nurtured and supported via the unique Career Advantage programme.

Indian applicants who successfully secure a place at Southampton will benefit from tailored opportunities, including access to a new university careers team in India, and dedicated support to build and develop entrepreneurial skills.

Career Advantage has been designed to nurture Indian students before they begin their studies in the UK, help them develop their employability when they are in Southampton, and provide ongoing support for up to five years after graduation.

As the first global top 100 university with a campus in India, students will also benefit from the University of Southampton’s strong reputation with employers in India and networks linked to the Delhi campus.

The University of Southampton has also introduced essential AI training for all students. This major initiative reflects the University’s commitment to preparing students for a future in which artificial intelligence will transform many aspects of work, research, and society.

Kieron Broadhead, Deputy Vice-President (Operations) at the University of Southampton, said: “Southampton is about so much more than just gaining a prestigious degree from a world top 100 university. Professional development is now at the heart of every stage of your journey with us, thanks to our unique Career Advantage employability programme for our Indian students. Career Advantage will help our students develop the skills, experience, networks, and confidence needed to stand out, gain the competitive edge, and kickstart their successful careers.”

Career Advantage opens with a series of online sessions exclusively for offer holders featuring industry leaders, University of Southampton experts and alumni, giving students early insight while helping them start to develop an international network.

Once in Southampton, students will join the University’s award-winning Successful Futures pathway, designed to help undergraduates recognise and strengthen the skills they need for the future. They will also be able to gain practical experience through mentoring, skills-based volunteering, intensive job coaching, webinars, and exclusive paid internships.

The experience they build in the UK is intended to create wider international opportunities and prepare them to contribute to India’s rapidly changing employment market. Graduates will then receive tailored support from a dedicated careers consultant in India for up to five years after they complete their studies, including intensive job coaching and access to India-specific alumni networks.

Director of Global Admissions, Recruitment and Marketing, Amanda Procter, added: “We have a long-standing and valued relationship with India and celebrated the successful opening of the University of Southampton Delhi last year. Our University not only benefits from world-class research and teaching resources but also focuses on career development, nurturing students who are ready to make an impact in India’s fast-moving job market. Career Advantage now provides those students from India who want to experience the chance to study in the UK with a unique opportunity to build their employability skills. Through our long-term educational and research partnerships in the country, we aim to cultivate a new generation of students with global vision, creativity, and social responsibility. From this year, all our students will also complete a course covering AI skills, ethics, and creativity, helping them go beyond basic understanding to use AI tools effectively and responsibly.”

For more on Career Advantage India: Career Advantage India | University of Southampton

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INDIA: Nihilent, a global consulting and technology services company, is strengthening its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts through focused initiatives in education, healthcare, and inclusion across underserved communities in India. Guided by its philosophy of human-centric progress, the company is addressing critical gaps through technology, infrastructure, and partnerships.

In the education sector, Nihilent has transformed access to digital learning at the Bhatkya Vimukta Jati Shikshan Sanstha (BVJSS) residential school in Pune. The company established a fully equipped computer laboratory with internet connectivity and introduced a structured digital literacy curriculum. This initiative is enabling students from nomadic and economically vulnerable communities to build essential digital skills for a technology-driven future.

Nihilent has also improved living conditions at the BVJSS campus by creating modern sanitation facilities and supporting ongoing needs such as nutrition and medical supplies. These efforts have enhanced hygiene standards, reduced health risks, and improved the overall well-being of residential students.

Commenting on the initiatives, L.C. Singh, Founder & Executive Chairman, Nihilent Ltd., said, “At Nihilent, our approach to social responsibility is deeply rooted in our belief in human-centric progress. We see technology not just as a business tool, but as a powerful enabler of dignity, opportunity, and inclusion. Through our efforts in education and healthcare, we aim to touch lives in meaningful ways by helping children learn, grow, and thrive, regardless of their circumstances. Our commitment is to create lasting impact by empowering communities and ensuring that no child is left behind. Every initiative we undertake is guided by empathy and a deep understanding of real community needs. We remain committed to building a more equitable future where access to opportunity is not defined by one’s background.”

In healthcare, Nihilent is supporting pediatric cardiac care through its partnership with Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Hospitals in Navi Mumbai and Yavatmal. The company has contributed advanced medical equipment, including anesthesia machines and ICU monitoring systems, strengthening the hospitals’ ability to deliver safe surgical care.

Nihilent is also supporting life-saving pediatric cardiac surgeries for children with congenital heart disease, helping families from economically disadvantaged backgrounds access world-class treatment at no cost.

Further strengthening its focus on inclusion, Nihilent has partnered with the Ayodhya Charitable Trust, a school for hearing-impaired children. Through digital hearing aids, specialized educators, and computer training support, the initiative is improving communication, increasing classroom participation, and enhancing learning outcomes.

These initiatives reflect Nihilent’s belief that real progress begins with access to learning, healthcare, and opportunity. The company remains committed to creating meaningful and lasting impact where it matters most.

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NEW DELHI: BLS International, a trusted global tech-enabled services partner for governments and diplomatic missions, has announced the successful launch of an AI-powered VoiceBot for the Spain–Ireland visa mission to provide 24/7 assistance to applicants. Following its successful deployment at IVAC Canada last year, the VoiceBot service is now being launched for the Spain mission in Ireland, with plans for a subsequent global rollout.

The AI-powered VoiceBot is designed to operate 24/7, providing real-time, human-like interaction and delivering instant, accurate responses to customer queries. This significantly reduces wait times, eliminates dependency on traditional queue systems, and ensures consistent information round-the-clock. It addresses a wide spectrum of visa-related enquiries, from basic FAQs to detailed guidance on documentation and consular services. Furthermore, the VoiceBot will support 15+ languages such as Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, French, Chinese, and Russian, enabling seamless engagement with customers across Europe, the US, Canada, South America, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, China, the RCIS region, and India, with language availability aligned to regional requirements and customer needs.

Shikhar Aggarwal, Joint Managing Director at BLS International, said, “We are pleased to announce the launch of our AI-powered VoiceBot service, designed to enhance customer experience while establishing new standards for operational excellence. This launch represents a pivotal milestone in our digital transformation strategy, demonstrating our commitment to embedding AI and advanced technologies across our operations. As we continue to scale intelligent solutions, this VoiceBot underscores our strategic focus on delivering seamless, customer-centric innovations that drive sustainable value and define the future of our customer engagement.”

Built on a robust Machine Learning platform (Azure ML Python SDK v2) and integrated seamlessly with legacy systems through multiple API connections, the VoiceBot represents a significant leap in digital infrastructure modernization. It leverages real-time sentiment analysis and emotional intelligence to assess customer needs, showcasing how Indian innovation is setting new benchmarks in AI applications.

Commenting on the VoiceBot launch, Nitin Mishra, Vice President – Global Contact Centres, BLS International, said, “Implementing the VoiceBot has been a testament to our cross-functional capabilities and technical readiness. From architecting the AI framework to ensuring seamless integration with our existing systems, our teams have built a scalable, secure solution that can handle high volumes while maintaining service quality. This deployment establishes a replicable model for rolling out AI-powered solutions across our business, accelerating our time-to-market for future innovations.

This launch is part of BLS International’s comprehensive digital transformation strategy, centered on intelligent automation and innovation-led service delivery. Our roadmap encompasses a suite of AI-powered solutions designed to transform customer interactions at scale. Following the VoiceBot deployment, the company in the coming phases will introduce ChatBots and Email Bots across all countries to expand automated assistance channels, and will focus on AI-driven Quality Management systems to ensure consistent service excellence. Our strategy focuses on creating an integrated ecosystem of AI-driven tools that enhance service quality, operational efficiency, and customer satisfaction across our global operations.“

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Support for creating 5 university townships near industrial corridors, viability gap funding for establishing girl’s hostel in every district to increase the percentage of girls in higher education, and the formation of a new high-power committee to align education with job market demands and to assess the impact of AI are some of the announcements that can impact the education sector in the coming years.

Some other significant announcements for the education sector include the formation of the much-needed Education-to-Employment and Entrepreneurship Committee. The budget also supports training 1 lakh allied health professionals over five years, focusing on various areas, including important yet neglected segments like applied psychology and behavioral health. Happy to see some attention for education and skill development.

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Postgraduate Diploma Programs Offered

1. Postgraduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education
2. Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Assessments
3. Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching Children with Learning Disabilities

Program Overview

The one-year part-time Postgraduate Diploma programs combine theory and practical learning and are offered in a hybrid format, with both online and on-campus sessions. The programs are designed to support high-quality professional development for teachers and education professionals working in the regular school system. The flexible program structure allows working professionals to learn while continuing with their work. 

Who Should Apply

• The Postgraduate Diploma programs are designed for working professionals in the field of education.
• School teachers and teacher-educators
• Special educators
• School functionaries
• Professionals working with Government bodies, Private institutions, /NGO’s engaged with the school system

Applicants should have a minimum of two years of relevant work experience.

Key Features

• One-year, part-time Postgraduate Diploma program offered in a hybrid format
• The program includes online classes and on-campus sessions at the Bengaluru campus
• Each Postgraduate Diploma program comprises four certificate programs, each of 12 weeks’ duration
• Flexibility to enroll in either the full Diploma program or individual Certificate programs

Ankur Madan, Director, School of Education, Azim Premji University, said, “These Post Graduate Programs provide teachers and education functionaries with knowledge, skills, and perspectives in key areas such as Early Childhood Education, Learning Disabilities, and Assessments. The courses are designed to enable practicing professionals to apply their learning in their everyday interactions with children and colleagues, while also encouraging them to critically engage with and find answers to questions that emerge from their own practice.”

To apply for this program and for more details on program content, eligibility, and fees, please visit our website https://azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/pg-diplomas-and-certificates/education

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NEW DELHI: Google today announced a suite of new collaborations and funding commitments to bolster India’s AI ecosystem at its “Lab to Impact” dialogue, an event supported by the India AI Impact Summit 2026. Attended by Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister of Education, the dialogue highlighted Google’s research-driven approach to supporting Digital Public Infrastructure and empowering the research, developer, and startup ecosystem to solve national challenges and meet large-scale social needs.

Minister of Education, Government of India, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan stated: “India is approaching artificial intelligence as a strategic national capability, not as a short-term technology trend. The four AI Centres of Excellence have been conceived as a coordinated national research mission, advancing foundational research, responsible AI, and applied solutions that serve public purpose, and contributing to our larger aspiration of Viksit Bharat 2047. Building a globally competitive AI ecosystem requires not only public investment, but also strong institutional leadership and long-term partnerships with industry. This effort is supported by Google and Google.org through their USD 8 million contribution to the AI Centres of Excellence and a USD 2 million founding contribution to the Indic Language Technologies Research Hub at IIT Bombay.”

Speaking at the event, Dr Manish Gupta, Senior Research Director, Google DeepMind, stated: “AI is humanity’s most profound and powerful force for progress, and at Google, we see its global evolution driven by three pivotal shifts – its ability to accelerate scientific discovery, its advances augmenting human capability, and India’s unique embrace of AI’s potential. From foundational research to ecosystem deployment to scaled impact, our full-stack approach is equipping the country to lead a global AI-powered future, with innovations from India’s labs benefiting billions across the world.”

Integrating AI into India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for healthcare

Google announced funding of $400,000 to support new collaborations that will leverage MedGemma to build India’s Health Foundation Models. These models aim to improve the efficiency of healthcare providers and improve patient outcomes across India. As a first step, Ajna Lens will work with experts from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to build models that will support India-specific use cases in Dermatology and OPD Triaging. The resulting models will contribute to India’s Digital Public Infrastructure, and their outcomes will be made accessible to the ecosystem.

Additionally, researchers, AI experts, and clinicians from IISc will explore using AI models for broader clinical applications. 

Google is also working with the National Health Authority (NHA) to deploy its advanced AI to convert millions of fragmented, unstructured medical records (such as doctors’ clinical and progress notes) into the international, machine-readable FHIR standard. This shift is expected to help patients understand their medical information better, reduce documentation burden on patients and hospitals, and inform better data-driven policy decisions for India’s public healthcare strategy.

Google is also working with NHA to bring over 400,000 NHA-registered health facilities, including hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic labs, on Google Maps and Search, allowing people to easily find and navigate to their nearest health centers with the most updated official information.

Strengthening India’s AI research ecosystem and the government’s vision of India’s AI leadership

Google has consistently supported India’s scientists and researchers in fostering the country’s innovation. Over the last five years, Google has supported nearly 1,000 years of PhD-level research work across more than 25 leading research institutions, including premier institutes. The global PhD Fellowship program has supported 166 Indian PhD students to date. This year’s recipients from India are leading inspiring foundational and applied research, spanning computer vision foundational models to models supporting mental disorders.

To further support India’s research ecosystem, Google.org, the philanthropic arm of Google, is announcing funding support totaling $8 million for four AI Centres of Excellence established by the Government of India, aligning with the vision to “Make AI in India and Make AI work for India. This funding will support research at the Centers of Excellence:

• TANUH at IISc Bangalore will focus on developing scalable AI solutions for the effective treatment of non-communicable diseases.
• Airawat Research Foundation, IIT Kanpur, will focus on pioneering research on AI to transform urban governance.
• AI Centre of Excellence for Education, IIT Madra,s will focus on developing solutions to enhance learning and teaching outcomes.
• ANNAM.AI at IIT Ropar will focus on developing data-driven solutions for agriculture and farmer welfare.

To continue advancing its commitment to Inclusive AI, Google is announcing a $2 million founding contribution to establish the new Indic Language Technologies Research Hub at IIT Bombay. This hub is set up in memory of Professor Pushpak Bhattacharyya, a pioneer in Indic language technologies and a Visiting Researcher at Google DeepMind. It will aim to ensure that global AI advancements serve India’s linguistic diversity.

Equipping developers with our open models to power indigenous AI

Indian startups have shown enthusiasm for the benchmark-leading Indic capabilities of Google’s foundational AI models. Startups Gnani.AI and CoRover.AI have been leveraging Gemma to build Voice AI models and e-governance–focused models serving Indic language solutions.

Google is providing $50,000 of funding to each of these startups to support their efforts to include more of the Indian diaspora in AI. Additionally, Google is giving a $50,000 grant to IIT-Bombay as it uses Gemma to process Indic language health governance and policy documents to establish a novel ‘India-Centric Trait Database’ containing information on diseases, phenotypes, and genetic conditions relevant to the Indian population.

To increase access to its foundational open models, Google has uploaded all 22 Gemma models onto AIKosh, the India AI Mission’s open data and model platform. This action is intended to help the Indian developer community develop indigenous models that elevate the Make-in-India ambition.

Empowering India’s changemakers to deploy AI for India’s pressing challenges

Google remains inspired by the commitment of Indian innovators and changemakers to solve for India and will continue supporting the ecosystem as it develops AI-powered solutions on the foundational layer of the nation’s AI ambition.

Utilizing Google’s Open Health Stack, a collection of open-source tools for next-generation digital health solutions, the Indian nonprofit Khushi Baby has successfully conducted over 35 million tuberculosis screenings in Rajasthan this year using a TB Active Case Finding (ACF) screening module. Integration with the Open Health Stack ensured the solution’s compliance with international standards, the Indian government’s digital health mission, and the national effort for tuberculosis elimination.

Third-party research has indicated that AI-powered digital tools could enhance the labor productivity of India’s over one million ASHA frontline workers, enabling them to deliver an additional 98 million visits to rural patients each year. Furthermore, research estimates that AI-assisted screening tools could save the Indian public roughly ₹390 billion ($4.7 billion) yearly, which is approximately 12% of India’s total out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure.

Google is providing $2.5 million in Google.org funding to support Wadhwani AI in piloting HealthVaani, an LLM-based conversational AI assistant. Launched in partnership with the Ministries of Health and Family Welfare and Women and Child Development, HealthVaani supports ASHA and Anganwadi workers. This multimodal and multilingual solution uses Gemini 2.5-Flash for translations, answer generation, and moderation, while the advanced Gemini Embedding Model handles response retrieval.

Google is also providing $2 million in Google.org funding to Wadhwani AI to help develop and deploy Garuda, a new Indian language model for agriculture. Garuda will power AgriVaani, a multilingual, AI-driven smartphone application that will offer India’s farmers and agri-workers precise, contextually relevant advice on crop and livestock management, pest detection, and climate-smart practices.

Ensuring AI’s long-term impact is powered sustainably

Google is committed to ensuring the scaled impact of AI is responsible and sustainable, demonstrated by a partnership with ReNew Energy to support a new 150 megawatt (MW) solar project in Rajasthan, India. Under a long-term agreement, Google will receive environmental attribute certificates (EACs) and allocate them to its value chain emissions. Concurrently, Google will engage with key suppliers to boost clean energy adoption. This initiative addresses the supply chain’s energy footprint and demonstrates a clear pathway for organizations to credibly tackle emissions across the AI value chain.

This partnership builds on Google’s prior collaborations with Adani Group and Clean Max, which added 186 MW of wind and solar power to India’s grid, and contributes to India’s 2030 goal of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based electricity.

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NEW DELHI: As part of the 3rd Australia–India Education and Skills Council (AIESC) Meeting in New Delhi, India and Australia convened a substantive bilateral dialogue to advance cooperation in skills development, workforce mobility, and the rapidly growing sports economy. The bilateral meeting was co-chaired by Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship & Minister of State for Education, and Hon. Andrew Giles MP, Minister for Skills & Training, Commonwealth of Australia.

The deliberations acknowledged the strong upward trajectory in India–Australia relations and reinforced the need to translate this momentum into well-structured pathways for the movement of skilled professionals. Both sides agreed to accelerate the operationalisation of the Mutual Recognition of Qualifications (MRQ) mechanism and to co-design bridge courses that align competencies and facilitate seamless mobility. Particular emphasis was laid on preparing skilled workers for global standards in advanced construction, given Australia’s infrastructure expansion ahead of major sporting events.

A key element of the discussions revolved around the strategic opportunities emerging from India’s bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games and Australia’s hosting of the 2032 Brisbane Olympics and Paralympics. The sports and physical wellness sector was collectively recognised as a sunrise industry with significant employment prospects and potential to contribute nearly 2% to India’s GDP. Australia’s global leadership in sports management, sports technology was identified as a complementary strength to India’s expanding sports manufacturing and gig-economy landscape.

Further collaboration was proposed between India’s skilling institutions — including ITIs and National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) — and Australia’s TAFE network, with joint work expected in areas spanning mining, digital and IT skills, hospitality, green jobs, renewable energy, and logistics.

Shri Jayant Chaudhary also underlined India’s commitment to future-oriented skills under the Skilling for AI Readiness (SOAR) initiative, along with the importance of joint ethical frameworks and standards for digital adoption. The ministers agreed that responsible and high-quality workforce mobility must guide bilateral cooperation going forward.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Jayant Chaudhary stated, “India and Australia are natural partners in shaping the global workforce of the future. By strengthening pathways, aligning standards, and leveraging each other’s sectoral strengths, we can enable youth to access global opportunities while supporting dynamic industry needs in both our economies. I also propose that we establish an annual India-Australia Skills Meet, held alternately in India and Australia. This platform can drive harmonisation and equivalence in selected skills, deepen institutional partnerships, and keep our training ecosystems aligned with industry needs in both countries.”

“Australia is one of India’s most important partners in this space. We also explored new avenues in sports-related skilling ahead of major global events, including joint training, curriculum development, and industry partnerships,” he further added.

Hon. Andrew Giles MP remarked that Australia deeply values its partnership with India, and as our nations prepare for major sporting and economic milestones, skills cooperation will play a vital role in ensuring shared prosperity and measurable impact for our people.

The meeting witnessed participation from senior officials of MSDE, the Directorate General of Training, NCVET, NSDC, and representatives from the Australian Department of Education and its Skills and Training agencies.

The bilateral session concluded with a shared resolve to maintain high-level engagement and fast-track collaborative models that enhance training quality, strengthen global mobility, and contribute to building future-ready skill ecosystems in both countries.

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The Corporate Dinner held on November 29 in Pune enabled rich conversations and meaningful industry–student networking.  Chain Act’25 is designed to bring a dynamic blend of learning, interaction, and industry exposure through its strong focus on student engagement in presentations, where participants will showcase their ideas, insights, and strategic thinking. Adding to this, Chain Act’25 hosted interactive workshops aligned with the latest real-world trends shaping the global supply chain and operations industry, bringing diverse expert panels and minds in one frame. With the theme “SMART Supply Chain,” the event aims to highlight the future of intelligent, tech-driven supply chain systems, making Chain Act’25 a powerful platform for innovation, learning, and industry-academia collaboration.

The event witnessed active participation from 350+ attendees, 60 delegates, and 40+ across global companies, Indian and international MNCs across diverse industries, including logistics, manufacturing, FMCG, consulting, automotive, and technology. Keynote speakers Joyjeet Bose, CEO & Senior Industry Leader, and Divya Seethapathy, Director – Global Supply Chain, opened the dialogue with forward-looking perspectives on the rise of intelligent and resilient supply chain ecosystems.

Reflecting on the future of the industry, Sundareswaran Sivaramakrishnan, COO – Director of Operations from Kinetic Green, emphasized, “Supply chain is the art of delivering the right product at the right cost, at the right time and place. And through this journey, students are shaped into leaders who communicate with clarity, collaborate with purpose, and execute with precision, preparing them to lead with impact in the real world.” Sharing his perspective on global operations, Mr. Subodh Nagarsekar, Vice President Procurement & Supply Chain from Rentokil Initial, added, “Supply chain is in everything, the bridge that connects suppliers to customers, turning ideas into delivery. Students come with enthusiasm and strong theoretical knowledge, but they need real industry exposure to transform understanding into expertise. When they interact with industry leaders, they gain practical insight and true qualification in the supply chain. And through these conversations, both the institute and students benefit, learning directly from the people who drive the industry forward.”

Chain Act 2025 featured speakers and top leaders from distinguished corporate backgrounds and influential positions, including Subodh Nagarsekar from Rentokil Initial; Sandeep Chatterjee from INFOLOB; Sundareswaran Sivaramakrishnan from Kinetic Green; Ms. Ashu Gupta from Koye Pharma; Venkateswara Rao from APAR Industries; Avinash Gupta from Solar Industries India Ltd.; Joyjeet Bose from JB Newgen Enterprises Private Limited; Sandeep Bhargava from Sandeepika Consulting; Mahesh Gupta from DS Group; Nitu Singh from BVC Logistics; Sachin Garg from Kimberly-Clark; Pranay Moon from RKFoodland; Milind Gupta from Satya Retail; Mr. Sarvesh K. from Givaudan; Shammi Dua from Kearney; Ashwini Kumar Tripathi from 20Cube Logistics; Divya Seethapathy from Schneider Electric; Jyotirmay Halder from Balmer Lawrie; Vishal Khaitan from Somchem; Pratyush Kadam from Evonik India Pvt. Ltd.; Milind Shinde from Avvashya CCI (Allcargo); Dr. Arun Giri from Calderys India; Pravin Rajput from Kaya Limited; Rakesh Ranjan Srivastava from Cummins Inc.; Shyam Ozarkar from Fuji Electric India, and Priyanka Shivan from Clariant IGL Specialty Chemicals Pvt. Ltd.

The event’s Media Sponsors were Outlook and CargoConnect, along with All Waters, Shri Balu Manjre, Rakesh Rawat, Santlal Paswan (Furniture), Amul, Balaji, Trupti Enterprises, Om Sai Enterprises, Matoshree, Sandhya Enterprises, Bhawani Enterprises, Shree Sai Decoraters, Halady Catering Services, ECRS Cabs, Black Orange, Rtek, RETC, Balaji Marble and Tiles, and Vaishnavi Air cool as our sponsors, whose support played a key role in making HR Share 2025 a grand success.

The conversations at Chain Act 2025 revolved around building SMART and future-ready supply chains through a series of thought-provoking sub-themes. Leaders emphasized value creation in the supply chain through integrated procurement, highlighting how strategic supplier partnerships and data-driven decision-making can unlock efficiency and cost advantage. The discussions explored multi-modal strategy design for shared success, enabling seamless transport flow and reduced logistical bottlenecks. Agile replenishment and inventory optimization were identified as critical to ensuring the right stock at the right time, minimizing disruptions, and enhancing service levels. Speakers also examined how the shift from tariff-based frameworks to modern tax structures is shaping resilience across global networks. With technology transforming operations, experts stressed the need for tech-driven supply chains to advance process excellence and ensure business continuity. The event reinforced that true value creation lies in operational excellence powered by collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.

ISB&M continues to nurture leaders who are well-equipped to meet the ever-evolving demands of the global industry. With a robust alumni network of over 12,000+ professionals spread across 46+ countries, ISB&M graduates hold key positions in leading multinational corporations across sectors such as consulting, IT, BFSI, FMCG, media, and manufacturing. This strong and dynamic community of achievers stands as a testament to the institution’s legacy of excellence and transformative learning. Through its holistic pedagogy, corporate-driven curriculum, and continuous industry engagement, ISB&M ensures that students are not only academically proficient but also industry-ready, agile, and innovative in addressing real-world business challenges. Events like the Chain Act 2025 further exemplify ISB&M’s commitment to bridging academia and industry, creating a vibrant ecosystem where knowledge meets opportunity and leadership meets purpose.

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• Introduces Project Management Specialization for Engineering and Management Students
• Offers over 50 hours of blended learning, combining classroom instruction with online modules to build industry-ready skills
• Aligns with the Government of India’s Skill India Mission and supports the National Education Policy (NEP) through industry-integrated, experiential learning

PUNE: Philips announced a strategic academic collaboration with Indira University, Pune, and MIT Art, Design & Technology University, Pune, to introduce a comprehensive Project Management specialization within their undergraduate engineering and first-year MBA curriculum. The launch took place across both campuses.

This initiative addresses a critical gap in technical education, where only a very limited number of institutions currently offer Project Management specializations, despite steadily growing demand for skilled project management interns and early-career professionals.

Through this partnership, Philips aims to strengthen the education-to-industry pipeline by integrating practical, leadership-oriented, and future-ready project management competencies aligned with widely recognized industry best practices. The initiative reinforces Philips’ commitment to nurturing talent with depth, applied learning, accountability, and behavioral excellence, all of which are essential attributes for successful project managers.

The program will initially be implemented across the two partner universities, with plans to expand to additional institutions soon. The specialization includes 50 hours of classroom and online training, delivered jointly by university faculty trained in project management and supported by Philips experts. Philips will also share course content with the universities, enabling trained faculty to deliver the program effectively within their existing academic structure. To enhance industry exposure, Philips Project Managers will conduct quarterly guest lectures at both campuses.

The initiative aligns closely with the Skill India Mission and supports the National Education Policy (NEP 2020), both of which emphasize strong industry–academia collaboration and the integration of experiential, skills-based learning into higher education. By equipping engineering and management students with industry-ready project management skills, the collaboration enhances their employability and prepares them for the evolving needs of the future workforce.

The specialization is expected to significantly improve internship and job prospects for students, not only within Philips but across organizations and industries. As project management is a critical competency applicable across departments and domains, graduates will be well-positioned to pursue a broad spectrum of roles in engineering, product development, operations, technology, and other project-driven environments.

Rohit Sathe, Head, Healthcare Innovation Center, Philips, said, “At Philips, we believe in empowering the next generation of professionals with the skills needed to lead complex and impactful projects in India’s rapidly evolving innovation landscape. Our collaboration with Indira University and MIT Art, Design & Technology University brings industry-grade project management learning directly to students, enabling them to build confidence, leadership, and real-world readiness from early in their academic journey.”

Commenting on the partnership, Dr. Anagha Joshi, Vice-Chancellor – Indira University, Pune, said, “We are delighted to collaborate with Philips on this transformative initiative. Integrating industry-aligned project management skills into our curriculum will significantly enhance our students’ readiness for real-world challenges and open new pathways for their professional growth.”

Dr. Magesh Karad, Executive President, MIT Art, Design & Technology University, Pune, added, “We are proud to leap into global excellence. This partnership marks a major step forward in strengthening industry-academia synergy. The introduction of a structured project management specialization will equip our students with highly sought-after competencies and prepare them to excel in dynamic and complex project environments.”

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