11, Jul 2025
Pearson Enhances PTE Academic to Strengthen Role in India’s English Testing Landscape
Pearson announces global enhancements to PTE Academic, reinforcing its role in India’s evolving English assessment landscape
India, 11th July, 2025: Pearson , the world’s lifelong learning company, today announced key enhancements to Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic, strengthening its value for Indian students pursuing international education and migration opportunities. These updates reinforce Pearson’s commitment to providing secure, AI-powered English proficiency assessments that reflect the real-world communication skills needed for academic and professional success globally.
Starting in August 2025, PTE Academic will include two new speaking tasks, namely, “Respond to a Situation” and “Summarize a Group Discussion”. These tasks will evaluate test takers’ ability to communicate in real-world academic and professional scenarios. Simultaneously, Pearson is enhancing its AI-driven scoring system to better detect copied or unoriginal responses, ensuring fairer and more accurate assessments for all test takers.
Pearson is also providing updated preparation materials, including scored practice tests, expert-designed courseware, webinars, and instructional videos to support Indian candidates with these changes, while maintaining the test’s core strengths of speed, security, and global recognition.
Prabhul Ravindran, Director of English Language Learning at Pearson India, said:
“The enhancements to PTE Academic are designed to align with the changing needs of today’s learners in India, while ensuring that institutions and governments can continue to rely on it for fair and effective assessment. By introducing real-world speaking tasks and improving scoring safeguards, the test aims to support better preparation while maintaining the trust of decision-makers.”
In line with global expansion, Pearson’s secure test centre network has grown to over 500 locations worldwide, with new centres launched across South East Asia this year to improve access and testing capacity in key cities.
The core strengths of PTE Academic remain unchanged. It continues to be a fully computer-based test, primarily AI-scored, with results typically delivered within 48 hours. PTE is recognised by more than 3,500 institutions globally and accepted by the governments of Australia, Canada, the UK and New Zealand. It remains one of the most trusted English tests among Indian aspirants pursuing international study and work opportunities.
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- By Neel Achary
11, Jul 2025
She Matters 2.0: OFSI and Katradi Empower Marginalized Women Through Arts-Based Leadership
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 11 July 2025: Omega Forum for Social Impact (OFSI), the CSR arm of Omega Healthcare, in association with Katradi, an initiative of Wind Dancers Trust (India), successfully concluded She Matters 2.0, a Radical Immersion Leadership Camp that brought together women from marginalised communities at Mannmuqi Village. Using immersive traditional arts such as storytelling, theatre, dance, and other forms of creative expression as powerful tools for self-discovery, the three-day programme helped participants develop sensitivity towards caste and gender-based barriers, build financial literacy, and reclaim their voices as grassroots leaders.
This year, 50 participants were trained as leaders equipped to initiate conversations and facilitate workshops on gender-based violence, gender stereotypes, reproductive health, and basic financial literacy, including managing income and expenses. Each woman is also prepared to mentor others, ensuring a ripple effect of community-led change. This cohort marks a powerful shift where women who are not just finding their voice, but empowering by example like leading, uplifting, and transforming their communities from within.
Speaking about the initiative, Sunanda Rangarajan, CEO, OFSI said, “True empowerment begins when women rediscover their strength and lead with purpose. She Matters 2.0 reflects our belief that leadership is not reserved for a few, but must be nurtured at the grassroots, especially among women who have long been denied space, voice, and opportunity.By creating immersive experiences rooted in empathy, we’re not just building individual confidence but also investing in sustainable, community-led change that grows stronger with each woman who dares to lead.”
The camp organised storytelling, theatre, and traditional dance as a creative expression of collective empowerment. Through various activities the participants engaged in confronting and dismantling deeply ingrained societal barriers tied to caste, patriarchy, and class. Additionally, the camp served as a platform for participants to come together and confront gender-based violence, break free from stereotypes, embrace the importance of financial independence, and reclaim leadership through shared stories, joy, movement, and deep connection.
Sangeeta Isvaran, Founding Trustee, Katradi, added, “The arts give us the empathy and courage to question generational injustice. In She Matters 2.0, we saw how creativity becomes a tool for truth-telling, connection, and collective healing. These women were not just taught leadership skills but also trained to execute it at grassroot level. Through shared stories, movement, and reflection, they broke silences carried for generations. At Katradi, we believe transformation begins not with answers, but with the freedom to ask difficult questions and that is what this camp gave them.”
Hosted amid the serene paddy fields of Mannmuqi Village, the retreat provided space for reflection and connection. Participants, many of whom had never travelled alone, worn a watch, or spoken publicly were left equipped to mentor peers on gender-based violence, reproductive health, and economic independence, creating a ripple effect of community-led change.
Sujatha Natarajan, Co-promoter of Mannmuqi Village, shared, “The program aligned deeply with our belief in creating spaces that nourish both body and spirit. These women spend their lives caring for others, often without access to rest or reflection. It was a privilege to offer them a space where they could feel safe, seen, and supported. Through quiet surroundings, wholesome food, and shared connection, we hoped to help them reconnect with themselves—and we look forward to continuing to hold space for journeys like these.”
The ‘She Matters 2.0’ camp is a testament to the meaningful collaboration between the Omega Forum for Social Impact (OFSI) and Katradi. OFSI has a long-standing commitment to uplifting underserved communities through integrated healthcare, education, and livelihood development initiatives. Katradi leverages the transformative power of the arts to foster empathy and address critical social issues, including gender-based violence and mental wellness, across over 35 countries.
11, Jul 2025
Kult Introduces ‘Kult Kash’—A Powerful New Loyalty Program
Gurgaon, 11th July 2025 — Kult, one of India’s fastest-growing beauty platforms, has launched Kult Kash, a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that promises to transform the way users shop for beauty and skincare products. With Kult Kash, the brand is introducing an entirely new approach to customer rewards—one that begins even before the first purchase.
Unlike conventional loyalty programs where points are earned only after spending, Kult Kash offers ₹1000 worth of instant credit to every new user at signup. This unique feature gives users a sense of walking into Kult’s store with a full wallet from day one.
Direct, Transparent, and Rewarding Kult Kash is designed to offer simplicity and real value: – One Kult Kash equals one rupee, offering clear and straightforward benefits. – Users can pay up to 20% of their cart value using Kult Kash. – Post-purchase, Kult further rewards shoppers with Kult Kash equivalent to 20% of their cart value.
With this structure, Kult positions Kult Kash not just as a discount mechanism, but as a dependable companion that consistently contributes to users’ beauty shopping.
Seamless Engagement with the Kult Widget
To further elevate user experience and engagement, Kult has launched an innovative home screen widget. By simply adding this widget, users are instantly credited with ₹300 Kult Kash. The widget provides daily beauty and skincare content, and users can earn up to ₹50 Kult Kash every day by interacting with it.
Unlike many apps that rely on frequent push notifications—often leading to user fatigue and uninstalls—Kult’s widget offers a seamless, non-intrusive engagement channel.
A Strategic Move for Growth
Kult Kash is expected to significantly improve user retention while reducing marketing spends. By creating a rewarding ecosystem that keeps users coming back, Kult is positioning itself as a frontrunner in customer-centric innovation in the beauty and skincare industry.
“With Kult Kash, we wanted our users to feel like they’re shopping with a wallet that’s already full,” said Karishma Singh, CEO of Kult. “It’s not just a loyalty program—it’s a simple, rewarding way to make beauty shopping more exciting.”
As Kult continues to expand its offerings, Kult Kash is set to become a key differentiator, setting new benchmarks for customer engagement and loyalty in India’s booming beauty market.
10, Jul 2025
Hyperpigmentation, Who? Nykaa’s Top Picked Serums Are All About Brightening Things Up
Five hard-hitters that fade marks, even tone, and bring back your skin’s bounce
Mumbai, July 2025: Dark spots that just won’t budge? Acne scars overstaying their welcome? Uneven skin tone killing your glow vibe? You’re not imagining it, hyperpigmentation is one of the most stubborn skin concerns. But good news: Nykaa’s lineup of serums is designed to take it head-on, with science-backed actives and skin-loving textures that actually deliver.
Whether you’re looking for a gentle K-beauty formula or a derm-grade vitamin C powerhouse, here are five game-changing serums for your targeted concerns:
1. Anua Niacinamide 10 TXA 4 Serum (Exclusively at Nykaa)
Gentle. Effective. Glass skin, incoming.
One of K-beauty’s best-kept secrets is out and flying off shelves. This lightweight formula pairs 10% niacinamide with 4% tranexamic acid to fade dark spots, calm redness, and lift dullness. The result? Brighter, balanced, and super-smooth skin that glows from within.
2. Uriage Depiderm Anti-Dark Spot Intensive Cream
French pharmacy magic meets pigment control.
If your skin craves hydration and repair while you fade pigmentation, this multitasker delivers. With 20% vitamin C complex, niacinamide, and Uriage’s own Mela Technology, it targets everything from post-acne marks to sun spots and it’s gentle enough for everyday use.
3. Murad Vita-C Glycolic Serum
Brighten. Resurface. Repeat.
This clinical-grade pick combines gold-stabilized vitamin C with glycolic acid for real results you can see (and feel). It exfoliates dead skin cells while supercharging your skin’s radiance. Two weeks in, and your glow-up is very visible.
4. Obagi Professional-C Serum
Luxury skincare that works overtime.
This serum is a must for anyone serious about results. Loaded with potent Vitamin C Serum with L-Ascorbic Acid, it penetrates deeply to reduce pigmentation, even tone, and strengthen skin’s antioxidant defenses, while improving the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Yes, it’s an investment but your skin will thank you.
5. SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Tone Brightening Capsule Serum
Calm skin. Bright tone. Happy you.
Ideal for sensitive skin types, this serum brings together soothing Centella Asiatica, niacinamide, and brightening capsules that seep deep into the skin. It’s feather-light, hydrating, and makes your skin tone look more even with every drop.
Hyperpigmentation doesn’t stand a chance! not when you’ve got the right formulas in your corner. Add one (or two!) to your AM or PM routine and let your skin do the talking.
10, Jul 2025
Swiggy’s Bolt, Subway Team Up for 10-Minute Sub Deliveries
July 10, 2025: Swiggy , India’s pioneering on-demand convenience platform, has announced a strategic partnership between Bolt by Swiggy, its quick food delivery service, and Subway, the globally loved quick-service restaurant brand known for its fresh and customizable subs. Customers across the country can now enjoy Subway’s complete menu, including all signature products like Hot and Cheesy Subs, Sub Cravers value range, Breakfast Specials, delivered in 10 minutes through Swiggy Bolt’s seamless ordering experience. The partnership is live across 125 cities in the country.
The partnership covers majority of Subway outlets across India. With this integration, customers have access to Subway’s popular offerings, ranging from signature subs, salads, wraps to sides and beverages, delivered in 10 minutes. Customers can explore the full range of Subway items by visiting the Bolt-Subway page within the Swiggy app.
Subway features prominently within the Bolt section of the app, with a dedicated Bolt tag inside the menu, allowing customers to easily browse and order their favorites with minimal wait time. With a focus on ready-to-pack and low-preparation-time items, Bolt ensures a hassle-free checkout, real-time tracking, and reliable speed, making it the ideal platform for quick-service partners like Subway. It helps in catering to the consumer’s needs as per their requirement from early morning breakfast to meals, snacks and late night cravings.
Sidharth Bhakoo, Chief Business Officer, Swiggy Food Marketplace, said: “Bolt on Swiggy continues to redefine food delivery with speed and convenience at its core. We are thrilled to welcome Subway to the Bolt family, enabling customers across India to enjoy their favorite subs fresh, delivered to their doorstep in 10 minutes. This collaboration underscores our ongoing efforts to partner with iconic brands and enhance customer experience through innovation and operational excellence.”
Tarun Bhasin, CEO, Culinary Brands, said: “As a QSR brand committed to freshness and taste, the emergence of quick commerce has been both timely and transformative. With Bolt, we’re now able to deliver on our core promise of fresh & delicious subs made just the way customers like it, with the added benefit of speed. This partnership with Swiggy has helped us not only improve delivery timelines but also helped in raising the bar on freshness and customer satisfaction. At Subway, we remain committed to delighting customers with innovative products and exceptional experiences.
Bolt on Swiggy features a diverse mix of fast-moving cuisine types like snacks, burgers, bakery items, ice creams, sweets, breakfast staples, and biryani.
10, Jul 2025
Tufts University’s India Visit Forges New Academic Alliances
Delhi, July 10, 2025: In a significant step towards strengthening Indo-US academic ties, Tufts University, a globally recognized U.S. educational institution, has announced a landmark partnership with Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru. The announcement was made on June 23 during a visit by the Tufts leadership team to India.
Both institutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance global scientific collaboration through this strategic partnership. The MoU was signed in the presence of Mr. Sunil Kumar, the 14th President of Tufts University and a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Prof. Govindan Rangarajan, Director of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc).
President Kumar was joined by Professor Christina Economos, Dean of the Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. Under her leadership, the two institutions have created the Interdisciplinary Centre for Nutrition Science and Medicine (ICNSM). This Centre will be housed at IISc and provide nutrition education and research opportunities to medical students and faculty at both institutions. These efforts will address a wide range of diet-related concerns in India, the U.S., and around the world – including but not limited to anaemia, malnutrition, hypertension, diabetes, and metabolic disorders, among others.
“It is widely recognized that food choices and nutrition play a critical role in preventing, managing, and treating diseases, and continuous research and discovery optimizes care,” added Dean Economos.
The newly signed MoU and the establishment of ICNSM stand as a testament to the shared commitment of Tufts and IISc to advancing knowledge, addressing global challenges collaboratively, and driving constructive societal transformation. ‘’Our work on nutrition is the first of what we envision as a range of possible initiatives that our two institutions hope to pursue together,’’ said President Kumar.
The Tufts delegation also included Dr. Bernard Arulanandam, Professor at the School of Medicine, Vice Provost for Research, Dr. Kyongbum Lee, Dean of the School of Engineering, Dr. Erin Hennessy, Professor at the Friedman School, and Dr. Matt Panzer, Professor at the School of Engineering. Drs. Kumar and Economos engaged in extensive discussions with academic and business leaders in India, sharing valuable insights, bringing diverse perspectives to help shape the future of the global education landscape, and exploring impactful partnerships. The team also engaged with Tufts alumni and parents, strengthening personal connections.
Since its inception, Tufts University has earned a distinctive reputation for promoting interdisciplinary and student-focused learning to nurture visionaries and change agents. The university is committed to global engagement and inclusive research across its campuses.
10, Jul 2025
NETSCOUT, Inspira & Cloud.in Champion AI Skills on World Youth Skills Day
On July 15, 2025, the world marks the 10th anniversary of World Youth Skills Day. This year’s theme, “Youth Empowerment through AI and Digital Skills,” highlights the urgent need to equip young people with future-ready capabilities—from artificial intelligence and cybersecurity to cloud computing and virtual collaboration. In India, where more than 65% of the population is under 35, bridging the skills gap is not just a development priority—it’s a national imperative.
Vinay Sharma, Regional Director, India and SAARC, NETSCOUT
NETSCOUT has a long history of bridging the digital divide and empowering the next generation with Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) skillset development by reaching out to communities that are often underrepresented in technology. As we celebrate World Youth Skills Day, we believe it is crucial to empower our youth with AI and digital skill sets in an increasingly digital world. NETSCOUT supports these efforts because it is the right thing to do and part of our caring culture and pride in being Guardians of the Connected World.
Lalith Sharma, President and Chief Human Resource Officer at Inspira Enterprise
In today’s digital-first world, digital proficiency, especially in AI, is a catalyst for career growth across industries and functions, including cybersecurity. AI literacy goes beyond writing complex algorithms, well into understanding the implications of AI on cybersecurity, the working of AI systems and techniques in building resilient systems, and securing generative AI (GenAI). On this World Youth Skills Day, we are committed to providing skills to teams on navigating the convergence of AI and cybersecurity. AI has significantly redefined cybersecurity and continues to offer immense potential for deeper, more proactive defense capabilities. However, the shortage of skilled security professionals for implementing and managing AI systems is still a challenge and has to be addressed through targeted training programs. Besides, AI-driven security solutions can also help in closing the skills gap with self-service security models. Such advancements are compelling organizations to reevaluate the skills and capabilities they value in the workforce.
Rahul S Kurkure, Founder and Director of Cloud.in
As GenAI and digital technologies become core enablers of innovation, businesses are increasingly turning to Cloud and AI Solution Providers not just for operational support, but for strategic transformation. This evolution calls for a new breed of professionals – cloud-certified talent with deep expertise in AI, automation, and data-driven decision-making. At Cloud.in & Hostin Services, we are proactively addressing this demand by upskilling and reskilling our teams with future-ready digital capabilities. Through initiatives like HostinAcademy.com and Evalix.AI, we’re nurturing talent from the ground up – offering hands-on training and intelligent assessments in cloud and AI technologies. As we commemorate World Youth Skills Day, we reaffirm our belief that the future lies in empowering youth through strong industry-academia collaboration, fostering an AI-literate generation ready to shape the digital economy.”
10, Jul 2025
Staqu’s JARVIS Boosts Retail Experience and Sales for Salt Attire
Gurugram, India, 10th July, 2025: Staqu Technologies, India’s leading AI-powered video analytics company, has announced the successful deployment of its flagship platform JARVIS at Salt Attire, a women’s workwear-focused retail brand. With this strategic collaboration, Salt Attire is using real-time analytics to better understand female shopper behavior, optimize store performance, and drive higher conversion rates.
By deploying JARVIS, Salt Attire now tracks female footfall-to-sales ratios, conversion trends, and customer dwell time across its stores. These insights are enabling the brand to take a data-driven approach to staffing decisions, improve in-store layouts, and ensure prompt customer assistance — resulting in a more seamless and engaging shopping experience.
Atul Rai, Co-founder & CEO, Staqu Technologies, said: “Retail is no longer just about product placement, it’s about precision, timing, and experience. Our partnership with Salt Attire demonstrates the power of AI in decoding customer journeys and optimizing every touchpoint. By leveraging JARVIS, Salt Attire is setting a new benchmark for how tech can personalize retail in niche categories like women’s workwear.”
Salt Attire is also using JARVIS to monitor how quickly staff can assist shoppers after they enter the store and how store design can be adjusted to increase customer engagement and dwell time.
Dipti Tolani, Founder & CEO, Salt Attire, added: “As a customer-first brand, we want every woman walking into our store to have a smooth, efficient, and personalized experience. With JARVIS, we’re able to track what’s working — from how long customers stay to whether they’re getting help when they need it. This level of visibility helps us continuously evolve our in-store journey to better serve the modern working woman.”
With this deployment, Staqu continues to strengthen its position as a partner of choice for forward-thinking retail brands looking to infuse intelligence into every layer of store operations.
10, Jul 2025
1,400 Job Offers, 83% Success Rate: Sunstone Raises the Bar in MBA Placements
New Delhi, 10 July 2025 — Sunstone, one of India’s most prominent higher education services companies, has reached a landmark milestone by securing 1,400+ confirmed job offers for its MBA and PGDM Class of 2024 on 30+ campuses across India. The audited placement report, confirmed by Brickworks Analytics—the same firm that audits top IIMs—highlights Sunstone’s student-centric, results-oriented education philosophy.
Sunstone again redefines management education with a focus on employability at its core. With 578+ recruiters from 24+ industries, including marquee recruiters such as Reliance Retail, PhonePe, Axis Bank, and Aditya Birla, 83% of students who were eligible got placement offers—many beyond entry-level positions. The best offer made was that of ₹26 LPA, with 8+ students securing international offers, marking a change in access to global opportunities for students.
What makes this placement unique is not only the numbers, but also the access to opportunity that it provides for students from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities such as Patna, Guwahati, and Coimbatore. A large number of the Class of 2024 were first-generation postgraduates, demonstrating Sunstone’s role in social mobility and career transformation.
“In a landscape where ROI is increasingly scrutinised, Sunstone offers a 63% better ROI compared to private institutions and provides 7X more recruiter access than many Tier-1 private management colleges,” said Ashish Munjal, Co-founder & CEO of Sunstone. “We are committed to an education model where learning outcomes are directly tied to employability. Our placement results this year are not just numbers—they’re proof that transformation is possible, scalable, and inclusive.”
Beyond placements, Sunstone is oriented towards real-world readiness. Students are certified in industry-specific tools like Google Ads, SEO, and Power BI and get hands-on support through mock interviews, resume building, and mentorship sessions. Initiatives such as the Dream Job Policy, through which students can seek up to 3 more appropriate positions even post-placement, and programs like Launchpad (a startup incubator) and the Global Immersion Program provide exposure and international experience.
With its innovative Sunstone Coins system, students are even incentivised for active engagement in the learning process – redeemable against fee for tuition – making the learning experience not only meaningful but measurable too.
Sunstone’s 2024 placement figures validate its status as a new-age pioneer in employment-focused MBA education – one that is inclusive, practical, and future-focused.
10, Jul 2025
ECE Engineering School (France) and Presidency University (Bengaluru) announce a strategic academic partnership
Mumbai,10th July 2025: ECE Engineering School, a leading French institution renowned for its expertise in technological innovation, has signed a strategic academic partnership with Presidency University, one of Bengaluru’s top-tier private universities. This collaboration is designed to enhance student mobility, foster academic cooperation, and expand international opportunities for both students and faculty.
At the centre of this partnership are semester exchange programmes. They will give five Bachelor students from each institution the opportunity to study abroad and immerse themselves in a new academic and cultural setting every year. Indian students will benefit from ECE’s applied, innovation-oriented curriculum, which is closely connected to research and industry. Meanwhile, ECE students – the first of whom will arrive in Bengaluru this August – will experience Presidency University’s forward-looking academic environment and its diverse educational community.
In addition to semester exchanges, the agreement introduces the development of dual Masters degrees and pathway programmes in key disciplines such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Management, Technology and Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Cybersecurity, and Sustainable Energy.
While Dual Degrees enable students to earn qualifications from both institutions, the Pathway programme lets students from Presidency University to start their Masters studies in India and complete them in France, with academic credit recognition and aligned curricula easing the transition. For Indian students, these options are particularly appealing in the context of France’s favourable post-study work visa policies, which allow up to two years of professional experience in the country after graduation, combined with a high-quality education at a globally competitive cost.
“We are delighted to launch this collaboration with Presidency University,” said Ana Barbaric, Head of International Relations at ECE Engineering School. “International mobility is a core part of the ECE experience. All our students are required to spend at least one semester abroad, and we are proud to welcome students from our global partners to our campuses in France, contributing to a truly international learning environment.”
“This partnership with ECE Engineering School marks an important step in Presidency University’s international strategy,” said Dr. Sivperumal, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Director of International Relations Affairs at Presidency University. “It opens exciting new avenues for our students to experience global best practices in engineering and innovation, while also bringing international peers into our vibrant academic ecosystem. We believe such collaborations equip our students with the global perspective and cross-cultural skills essential for success in today’s interconnected world.”
This collaboration comes at a moment of expanding Indo-French educational ties. While some countries are tightening student visa regulations, France is actively encouraging Indian student mobility. The French government has set a national target of welcoming 30,000 Indian students by 2030. This reflects a shared commitment to academic exchange and mutual growth.
At the same time, India and France are increasingly aligned on global technological issues. Following the recent AI Action Summit co-chaired in Paris by President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the two countries are promoting a “third way” in artificial intelligence. This approach emphasises ethical, inclusive, and transparent development. While private Indo-French AI collaborations are still emerging, academic partnerships like the one between ECE Engineering School and Presidency University Bengaluru help lay the groundwork for a shared innovation ecosystem rooted in the public good.
