Next Gen Consulting

Blog

  • 82 Percent Guwahati residents take pride in hosting guests at home, reveals Interio by Godrej’s ‘Moments that Matter’ study

    Guwahati, April 29: Interio by Godrej, a leading furniture brand from the Godrej Enterprises Group, has launched ‘Moments That Matter’ (MTM), a study that delves into how everyday experiences at home and at work shape emotional well-being, connection and comfort for modern Indians consumers. The study finds that everyday routines such as sleep, cooking and quiet personal time are central to how Indians engage with their living spaces today.

    The Moments That Matter (MTM) study highlights how homes in Guwahati are shaped by togetherness and a strong sense of pride. 82% of respondents say that welcoming guests is an important way to showcase their home, reflecting a strong culture of hosting. In addition, both the living and dining room (60%) and bedroom (60%) are seen as key spaces where everyday moments unfold, highlighting how homes support both shared and personal experiences.

    Commenting on the findings, Dr. Dev Narayan Sarkar, Senior Vice President and Head of Consumer Business (B2C), Interio by Godrej, said:

    “The ‘Moments That Matter’ study represents more than a research. It offers a perspective into how Indian consumers envision the future of home and workplace design. In an increasingly fast-paced world, homes and workplaces are no longer just physical spaces, they are sanctuaries of well-being, connection and personal expression. The study reaffirms Interio’s commitment to understanding the evolving relationship between Indians and their living spaces. Our vision is to lead the transformation of how Indians experience their everyday environments, creating furniture that enriches the moments that truly matter for modern Indian consumers.”

    The findings reveal that Indian homes are increasingly perceived as emotional anchors that restore balance and belonging amid the pressures of modern life. Bedrooms emerged as the emotional core of the home, with 90% of respondents associating them with comfort, rejuvenation and rest. 54% respondents associate their most cherished home moments with going to sleep in their own bed, underscoring the deep connection between sleep, familiarity and emotional security.

    The kitchen has evolved from a purely functional space into an emotional one, with 97% of respondents linking cooking, whether alone or with family to mindfulness and bonding. The living and dining rooms continue to serve as the social heart of the home, where mealtimes remain the most joyful ritual of the day, bringing families together through conversation and laughter.

    The study further found that balconies have become urban sanctuaries, with three in four respondents describing them as peaceful escapes that provide calm and perspective in the midst of city life. 53% said that early morning moments on the balcony help them begin the day on a grounded note.

    At the workplace, the study highlights that informal connections such as casual chats, café breaks and shared lunches play a key role in fostering collaboration and belonging. Well-designed spaces and welcoming first-day setups were also seen as essential to creating comfort, motivation and trust among employees.

    Business News For Profit

  • Where the Green Jobs Are: Power Engineering

    Apr 29:

    The energy sector is hungry for new professionals.

    According to research from the IEEE Power & Energy Society, the world will need between 450,000 and 1.5 million more power engineers by 2030 to design, implement and operate new infrastructure.

    But finding work in this sector might require an understanding of three trends driving hiring needs.

    Demand for electricity is booming, driven by population growth, indoor cooling needs, the rise of electric vehicles and the construction of new data centers.

    At the same time, sources of electricity are shifting: more and more new energy comes from renewables or nuclear power. And the energy sector is home to an aging workforce.

    “These factors significantly increase both the number of job opportunities and the qualifications that employers are looking for,” said IEEE Graduate Student Member Danilo Ferreira de Souza.

    Trends Shaping In-Demand Skills

    Here’s how these converging trends are playing out:

    • As economies become more dependent on always-on connectivity, tolerance for outages and inefficiencies drops. This raises the stakes for grid resilience, power quality and advanced monitoring systems, all of which require more specialized expertise.
    • Roles tied to renewable generation, grid integration, energy storage and system flexibility are expanding quickly. These positions increasingly demand hybrid skill sets that combine core electrical engineering with data analysis, control systems and a working understanding of policy and regulation.
    • Large portions of experienced talent in transmission, distribution and grid operations are nearing retirement. That opens the door for early-career professionals, but it also leaves companies scrambling to preserve institutional knowledge and accelerate onboarding for new hires.

    “Talented professionals who can adapt to new and changing situations are highly sought after,” said IEEE Member AbdulHameed Raji, who has worked on projects at the intersection of engineering, sustainability and project management within the energy sector.

    Early Career Pathways

    A typical path usually starts with entry-level positions such as trainee or junior engineer, where the focus is on building a strong technical foundation and understanding how systems operate in practice.

    From there, progression tends to follow a gradual increase in responsibility. Within two to five years, professionals often move into more structured roles depending on their interests. Some may focus on field activities, others on office-based engineering such as simulations, system studies, data analysis or mathematical modeling. There are also paths toward project management and coordination roles.

    But that path isn’t the only way to break into the energy sector. The industry has bread needs in construction and installation, as well as cybersecurity.

    And, as modern energy systems are becoming more digitalized and data-driven, emerging roles require skills in programming and analytics. In practice, that shift is increasingly tied to the use of AI and machine learning tools for tasks like load forecasting, predictive maintenance and grid optimization.

    “One of the clearest gaps today is in roles that require field presence, particularly in transmission and distribution projects, commissioning and field service engineering,” said Ferreira de Souza.

    Don’t Forget the Soft Skills

    Often overlooked in career development is the importance of interpersonal skills like teamwork and communication which can be a deciding factor in long-term success.

    “Ultimately, technical skills may open the door, but soft skills determine how far a professional will go,” Ferreira de Souza said. “Candidates who actively develop interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence and resilience are much better prepared to meet the expectations of modern organizations and to grow into leadership roles.”

     

     

  • Odisha Launches E Bus Service to Boost Clean Mobility and Urban Connectivity

    Bhubaneswar, Apr 29 (BNP): The Government of Odisha has launched a modern electric bus (e-bus) service aimed at transforming urban transportation and promoting environmentally sustainable mobility across the state.

    ଅତ୍ୟାଧୁନିକ ଇ-ବସ ଚଳାଚଳ ଭଳି ପଦକ୍ଷେପ ସହରୀ ପରିବହନ ବ୍ୟବସ୍ଥାରେ ଏକ ବୈପ୍ଳବିକ ପରିବର୍ତ୍ତନ ଆଣିବ। ନାରୀ ଶକ୍ତିର ସହଭାଗିତାରେ ଆରମ୍ଭ ହୋଇଥିବା ଏହି ସେବା ଛାତ୍ରଛାତ୍ରୀ ଓ ଶ୍ରମିକମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ବେଶ୍ ସହାୟକ ହେବ। ପରିବେଶ ଦୃଷ୍ଟିକୋଣରୁ ଏହି ଇ-ବସ୍ ସେବା ବାର୍ଷିକ ପ୍ରାୟ ୩୩୦ ରୁ ୩୯୦ ଟନ୍ କାର୍ବନ ନିର୍ଗମନ ହ୍ରାସ କରିବାରେ ସହାୟକ… pic.twitter.com/VnSLYBSF27

    — CMO Odisha (@CMO_Odisha) April 29, 2026

    The initiative is expected to significantly improve daily commuting for students, workers, and the general public by offering a cleaner, more efficient, and reliable mode of transport. The programme also highlights the growing role of women in public service delivery, reflecting an inclusive approach to development.

    Officials stated that the introduction of e-buses will contribute to reducing pollution levels, with an estimated annual reduction of around 330 to 390 tonnes of carbon emissions. This aligns with the state’s broader focus on green initiatives and sustainable urban planning.

    In addition to the transport rollout, several development projects have been inaugurated and new initiatives announced to strengthen infrastructure and support economic growth in the region. These efforts are expected to enhance connectivity, improve public services, and create new opportunities at the district level.

    The Chief Minister emphasised that the coming decade will be critical for Odisha’s growth, describing it as a period of commitment towards building a prosperous state by 2036. He noted that districts like Kendujhar will play a vital role in achieving this vision through continued development and infrastructure expansion.

    The e-bus initiative is part of a larger strategy to modernise urban infrastructure, reduce environmental impact, and improve the quality of life for citizens.

  • AI Pressure to Keep IT Services Growth Near 3 pc: Kotak Report

    New Delhi, Apr 29 (BNP): India’s IT services sector is likely to witness restrained growth of around 3 per cent as artificial intelligence-led efficiencies continue to put pressure on pricing and margins, according to a Kotak Institutional Equities report.

    The report states that while AI adoption is improving productivity and operational efficiency across IT firms, it is also leading to lower billing rates, creating a deflationary impact on overall revenue growth.

    Mid-tier IT companies are expected to perform relatively better compared to large players, supported by niche capabilities, agile business models, and faster adaptation to new technologies.

    Kotak noted that the global shift toward automation and AI-based solutions is reshaping traditional outsourcing models, making the industry more competitive on pricing.

    However, the report added that AI will remain a long-term growth driver, helping companies improve efficiency even as near-term revenue growth stays moderate.

    Overall, the IT sector is expected to enter a phase of stable but slower growth, with firms focusing on productivity gains and technology-driven transformation.

  • Formula 1 driver Romain Grosjean partners with GPEI to ‘finish the race’ against Polio for World Immunisation Week

    APRIL 29, 2026 – During World Immunisation Week (24-30 April), the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) is launching The Last Square Campaign to raise awareness of the urgent need to end polio, in partnership with Formula 1 driver Romain Grosjean.
     
    Drawing inspiration from the global spectacle of Formula 1 and Grosjean’s personal connection to the disease, The Last Square reimagines the iconic chequered flag, synonymous with the end of a race, by replacing one black square with a single red square. This “Last Square” represents the final 0.1% of polio cases that remain to be eradicated. Reaching this milestone would secure a polio-free future for all children, everywhere.
     
     
    Grosjean brings both a personal and symbolic connection to the campaign. With his father having contracted polio in childhood, the cause holds deep personal meaning for him. As a professional racing driver, Grosjean also embodies perseverance and the drive to reach the finish line – reinforcing the campaign’s central message that no effort should stop when the end is in sight.
    “My dad had polio when he was a kid, so I grew up very familiar with it” says Grosjean.”It’s a preventable disease that still paralyzes children today. And just like in racing, you don’t stop when you’re this close to the finish. That’s why we have to keep going.”
     
    Romain Grosjean is a French-Swiss professional racing driver and former Formula One competitor, where he secured multiple podium finishes across 179 race starts. He currently races in the IndyCar Series and is widely respected for his resilience, including his escape from a dramatic crash at the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix.

  • Indian Golf Legend Vijay Kumar Passes Away at 57

    New Delhi, Apr 29 (BNP): Veteran Indian golfer Vijay Kumar, one of the most accomplished figures in the country’s professional golf circuit, passed away in Lucknow following a heart attack. He was 57.

    Kumar was widely respected for his consistency and dominance in Indian golf, particularly during the late 1990s and early 2000s. He turned professional in 1988 and went on to build a distinguished career spanning more than a decade at the top level.

    Among his notable achievements, he won the Indian Open in 2002 and secured the Order of Merit title four times, making him one of the most successful players in Indian golfing history.

    Known for his disciplined approach and competitive spirit, Vijay Kumar played a key role in shaping the growth of professional golf in India and inspired a generation of emerging golfers.

    His demise has been widely mourned across the sporting community, with tributes highlighting his contribution to Indian golf and his legacy as a champion athlete.

  • Diversions Announced to Ensure Security and Smooth Traffic Movement on April 30

    Bhubaneswar, Apr 29 (BNP): The Commissionerate Police, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack has issued a traffic advisory imposing restrictions on several key routes in the city on April 30, in view of the one-day special session of the 17th Odisha Legislative Assembly.

    The restrictions will be effective from 7 am and are intended to ensure smooth traffic flow and maintain security in and around the Assembly complex and nearby government institutions.

    According to the advisory, vehicles moving from Housing Board Square towards Rabindra Mandap will be diverted at Keshari Talkies Square. Traffic from AG Square towards PMG will be rerouted via Jaydev Bhawan and IG Park Road.

    Similarly, vehicles from the Master Canteen area heading towards PMG will be diverted through alternative routes near Lower PMG. Traffic from 120 Infantry Battalion Square will not be permitted towards Rabindra Mandap and will instead be redirected towards Power House Square.

    Vehicles coming from Lok Bhawan Square towards MLA Colony and Rabindra Mandap will be diverted at 120 Battalion Square towards Sastrinagar Square.

    Emergency services such as ambulances, fire services, and police vehicles will be exempted from these restrictions. Vehicles authorised for entry into the State Assembly, Lok Seva Bhawan, and other government offices in the area will also be allowed passage.

    The police have requested citizens to cooperate with the traffic arrangements and plan their travel accordingly to avoid inconvenience during the session.

     

  • Global Experts Highlight India’s Expanding Role in Technology, Economy and Geopolitics

    New Delhi, Apr (BNP): India is increasingly being recognised as an important force in global stability, economic growth and technological development, global experts said during the “Resilient Futures Summit 2026” held in New Delhi.

    Experts noted that amid rising geopolitical tensions, trade disruptions and global uncertainty, India is emerging as a key economy contributing to balance, resilience and cooperation in the international system.

    Danny Quah, Professor of Economics at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, said the world is currently facing uncertainty due to shifting trade patterns and weakening global trust. He observed that India is being looked upon as a potential stabilising power in this changing global environment and may play an important role in supporting peace and cooperation.

    He added that India’s growing economic and diplomatic presence places it in a position where its decisions could have a meaningful impact on global outcomes.

    Ian Blatchford, Director of the Science Museum in London, highlighted India’s forward-looking approach toward emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence. He said that while many Western countries remain cautious about AI, India is actively building capacity and investing in AI-driven development.

    Blatchford also noted India’s development path, stating that the country is working to balance rapid economic growth with improvements in living standards, even as it manages challenges such as rising energy demand and urban expansion.

    Experts at the summit said India’s combination of technological adoption, economic resilience and policy flexibility is strengthening its global standing and positioning it as a key contributor to future global growth.

     

  • Vested Secures IFSCA Global Access Provider License at GIFT City, adding an Indian regulatory layer to its Global Investing setup

    Mumbai, Apr 29: Vested Finance, a leading global investing platform for Indian investors living in India and globally to access international markets, has received approval as a Global Access Provider (GAP) under the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) at GIFT City.

    The GAP license provides a formal regulatory framework for offering access to overseas financial markets from India’s International Financial Services Centre. It defines how platforms connect investors to global markets, including arrangements with foreign brokers, account structures, transaction flows, and reporting standards.

    Under this framework, entities are required to operate within clearly defined regulatory boundaries covering client onboarding, fund movement, disclosures, and execution.

    GAP entities are also subject to:

    • Minimum net worth and infrastructure requirements
    • Segregation of client funds
    • Defined KYC and AML responsibilities
    • Periodic audits and regulatory reporting

    There is also a clear distinction between entities that directly connect to foreign brokers and those that only act as introducers. GAPs fall in the former category, meaning they are part of the core execution chain and carry direct responsibility for how access is provided.

    For investors, this changes the nature of the setup. 

    The framework requires segregation of client funds, routing of funds through IFSC-based banking channels, and clear disclosure of elements such as custody structures, fees, risks, and the regulatory environment of the foreign market being accessed. 

    For Vested, the license strengthens its presence within GIFT City and places its global investing infrastructure within a domestic regulated framework. The company has been focused on enabling access to global markets, and the GAP structure formalizes that access within an IFSC-led regulatory setup in India.

    On this, Viram Shah, Founder and CEO, Vested Finance, said,

    “GIFT City is beginning to take on a more defined role in how Indian investors across the world connect with global markets. The GAP framework is important because it sets clear expectations on how that access should be structured and delivered.

    For us, this is about bringing what we have already been building into a more formal regulatory environment. Investors today are looking at global markets as a core part of their portfolios, and that shift needs the right infrastructure behind it.

    Operating within this framework allows us to align more closely with regulatory standards while continuing to simplify how investors access global opportunities.”

    At a broader level, this also reflects how global investing is evolving for Indian investors. What was once seen as an add-on is now becoming a more regular part of portfolio construction, especially as investors look beyond domestic markets for diversification and exposure to global sectors that are otherwise unavailable in their local market.

    In that context, having a regulated structure based in India becomes important. It brings more clarity on how access is provided, how funds are handled, and how responsibilities are distributed across entities involved in cross-border investing.

    Business News For Profit

  • Silver Futures Fall to INR 2.36 Lakh/kg Amid Dollar Strength and Oil Price Pressure

    New Delhi, April 29: Silver prices declined in futures trade on Wednesday as investors reduced positions amid a stronger US dollar and rising crude oil prices, which weighed on overall bullion demand.

    On the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), silver futures for May delivery fell by ₹1,137, or 0.48%, to ₹2,36,208 per kilogram, with a trading volume of 2,020 lots.

    The July contract also weakened, dropping by ₹1,964, or 0.81%, to ₹2,40,799 per kilogram, in a business turnover of 6,868 lots.

    Market analysts said pressure on precious metals increased as oil prices remained elevated and currency movements reduced investor appetite for safe-haven assets like silver.