5, May 2025
Productivity SaaS for education is changing: a wake-up call for schools
April 5, 2025: For schools that have relied on productivity SaaS solutions for years, it’s a pivotal moment to reassess long-term needs. With providers like Google ending free unlimited storage in 2022 and Microsoft’s recent updates to their education offerings, institutions face significant challenges, including increased costs and reduced functionality. These developments underscore the importance of adopting systems that provide stability, scalability, and control.
After January 2025, Microsoft rolled out significant changes to its Microsoft 365 Education plans, including retiring the Office 365 A1 Plus plan, reducing storage pools to 100TB per tenant, and restricting some licenses to web-only applications without their counterpart desktop versions, including Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.
These adjustments may push schools toward higher-cost paid plans or force them to reallocate resources to maintain functionality, prompting many to reevaluate their reliance on SaaS solutions. Beyond financial implications, there are also rising concerns over data privacy and compliance. Educational institutions manage high loads of sensitive information such as student records, financial data, and research. This makes them prime targets of cyberattacks, which target nearly 80% of institutions annually (Netwrix, 2024). Furthermore, compliance with regulations such as FERPA and GDPR requires secure, private, and auditable data management practices, which some SaaS solutions may struggle to meet.
Shifting to an on-premise productivity solution offers educational institutions increased control over their data, cost predictability, and storage scalability. Unlike SaaS offerings, prone to subscription price hikes and unpredictable removals to their service features, on-premise solutions can provide a stable framework more suited for long-term needs. Locally stored data also ensures privacy, helping schools meet compliance requirements while protecting sensitive information.
Some on-premise productivity solutions like Synology Office Suite enhance collaboration and communication with tools for secure file storage, granular sharing permissions, real-time document editing and instant messaging, supporting both group projects for students and file management among faculty.
For IT administrators, these solutions simplify management with centralized dashboards, system health monitoring, and auditing tools for compliance. Advanced access controls also enable efficient delegation of tasks across IT teams, ensuring smoother workflows and stronger oversight of digital infrastructure.
While changes from major SaaS providers might disrupt operations in the short term, they also provide an opportunity for educational institutions to reassess the suitability of their current systems. On-premise productivity solutions provide a sustainable pathway to address cost concerns, enhance security, and build a resilient digital foundation for evolving educational needs of educators and students alike.
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- By Neel Achary
5, May 2025
Magical Blends Introduces Summer AM-PM Care Routine
Magical Blends is a Unique Patented Personalised Skincare System with 6 unique serums that caters to every skincare issue and concern. The clinically researched and formulated serums blend magically with the base, making it a quick, simple, and hassle-free skin care routine. Their beginner and summer friendly AM-PM skincare routine is a perfect gift for your mom this Mother’s Day.
The Sun Defence serum is India’s first oil-based sunscreen serum and has ultra effective broad-spectrum UVA & UVB protection, leaving no white cast! It’s perfect to use for AM whether one is indoors or outdoors as it also helps protect against blue rays and radiation from our digital devices.
The Pore Refining Serum is enriched with Tea Tree Oil and Salicylic Acid for healthy, refined and sebum-balanced pores. This serum is perfect for all-over use for keeping acne & sebum under control, and can also be applied topically on active acne overnight for quicker relief. Depending on how oily or acne prone your skin is this serum can be added to both AM and PM routine.
Use the Vit C Brightening Serum in your PM routine for a clear and radiant complexion, resulting in blemish-free skin. It stimulates collagen, enhances skin luminosity, helps even out skin pigmentation, and brightens dark spots. Vitamin C serums are typically advised to be used in the evening, as its exposure to sunlight can inadvertently cause skin oxidation.
The Light Hydrating Gel is a perfect moisturizing base enriched with Aloe Vera and Vitamin E. It is a non-sticky formula with a lightweight texture, is nourishing, gives long-lasting hydration, and provides cooling relief to the skin.
Excuses like lack of time or not understanding the serum layering science should not stop your mom from shining bright anymore! Gift her a perfect one step regimen with Magical Blends this Mother’s Day and get her rolling on her skincare journey…
5, May 2025
FADA Releases Apr’25 Vehicle Retail Data
5th May’25, Mumbai, INDIA: The Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) today released Vehicle Retail Data for Apr’25.
April’25 Retails
Reflecting on April 2025 auto-retail results, FADA President Mr. C S Vigneshwar noted: “The new financial year began on a modest note as overall retails in April managed to grow by 3% YoY. All categories except CV closed in the green, with 2W, 3W, PV and Trac up 2.25%, 24.5%, 1.5% and 7.5% respectively, while CVs declined by 1%. With the tariff war paused, stock markets staged a sharp pullback—alleviating investor concerns—and customers thus leveraged Chaitra Navratri, Akshay Tritiya, Bengali New Year, Baisakhi and Vishu to complete purchases, helping April end on a positive note.
2W retail volumes demonstrated a resilient up-cycle—growing 2.25% YoY and accelerating 11.84% MoM—underscoring a stable demand environment amid mixed headwinds. Dealers reported buoyant enquiry growth in rural areas post-Rabi harvest, driven by strong crop yields, healthy reservoir levels and a favourable monsoon outlook, while wedding-season tailwinds sustained rural offtake. Urban demand remained robust, supported by new-model introductions, although elevated financing costs and OBD2B-linked price adjustments posed isolated bottlenecks.
Despite limited model introductions, the PV segment registered a 1.55% YoY increase alongside a marginal 0.19% MoM decline. This performance reflects a discount-led market and elevated inventories—approximately a 50-day supply—amid cautious consumer sentiment that tempered enquiry-to-sale conversions. Sustained SUV demand underpinned volumes even as entry-level customers remained cautious, underscoring the need for OEMs to recalibrate production and reduce stock levels to mitigate deeper discounts and carrying costs at dealerships. FADA continues to advocate a 21-day inventory norm at dealerships to enhance market responsiveness and cost efficiency.
April’s CV segment faced a 1.05% YoY decline and a 4.44% MoM contraction following OEM-led price increases against stagnant freight rates and fleet utilisation. Dealer feedback highlights that advance purchases in March resulted in elevated carryover stocks, while holiday calendars dampened fresh enquiries and delayed conversions—particularly in the SCV cargo category, where price and product gaps have weighed heavily. Conversely, the bus segment exhibited resilience, underpinned by strong school-transport and staff-mobility demand. Although financing availability remains broadly stable, enhanced support for first-time users will be critical to reignite momentum.”
Near-Term Outlook
May’s agricultural cycle is concluding on a strong note, underpinned by healthy crop prices and robust mandi procurement. The IMD’s forecast of an above-normal southwest monsoon bodes well for rural incomes, farm-sector growth and downstream demand, while a well-distributed rainy season is critical to containing food inflation. At the same time, Kantar’s Rural Barometer and GroupM data signal heightened consumer selectivity in rural India—household spending has outpaced income growth, and inflationary pressures are tempering discretionary purchases. Here, non-essential categories such as 2W is likewise plateauing amid rising living costs. Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank’s recent bond purchases are set to inject surplus liquidity into the banking system, paving the way for lower lending rates and enhanced auto-loan affordability.
Dealer feedback also paints a nuanced picture for May across all segments. In 2W, marriage-season and post-harvest demand should underpin enquiries, yet financiers are tightening customer-level credit criteria—higher CIBIL requirements and down-payment mandates—despite broader banking-system liquidity. Summer heat and school holidays may further suppress showroom visits though IMD predicts that it may not be as bad as last year. PV retails are expected to hold steady but muted, as buyers await new-model roll-outs and contend with elevated financing costs. Commercial vehicles are likely to trade flat, weighed down by a high-base effect, slower e-commerce activity and intensifying competition from electric three-wheelers; targeted OEM incentive schemes and forthcoming infrastructure projects offer some offset. Auto Industry will need to balance these event-driven tailwinds against customer-level liquidity constraints and seasonal softness to sustain momentum.
In aggregate, these dynamics point to a cautiously optimistic outlook—demand will be choppy, but disciplined inventory management, targeted incentives and easing borrowing costs should help the industry navigate the month.
Key Findings from our Online Members Survey
- Liquidity
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- Neutral 52.34%
- Good 23.83%
- Bad 23.83%
- Sentiment
- Neutral 55.08%
- Good 23.83%
- Bad 21.09%
- Expectation from May’25
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- Flat 48.44%
- Growth 37.50%
- De-growth 14.06
5, May 2025
NEET 2025 Sparks Debate Over Difficulty Spike and Set Reduction
National, May 5th 2025: The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) UG 2025, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on Sunday, May 4th, reported a record 22.7 lakh registrations, with aspirants turning up at 5,453 centres spread across 500+ cities.
Conducted in one shift from 2 PM to 5 PM, NEET 2025 was a break from the past. Rather than the usual 24 paper sets, the NTA released only four sets, all four of which had a uniformly more difficult format, setting the bar higher on analytical and application-oriented learning.
Though the Biology section was aligned with the NCERT syllabus, the questions were conceptual, quietly worded, and meant to assess understanding rather than mere recall. The Physics and Chemistry sections were the actual test of mettle, labelled as AIIMS-level by most, filled with multi-step questions, cumbersome calculations, and situation-based reasoning. Many students reported that time management became a hurdle due to the complex nature of the Physics problems, especially in topics like Modern Physics, Electrodynamics, and Thermodynamics.
Nitin Vijay, CEO and Founder of Motion Education said, “NEET 2025 saw a definite change in philosophy, it’s no longer a question of memorizing textbook lines. The paper called for maturity, clarity of thought, and an ability to think like a doctor, right at the entrance gate. According to academic quarters, this peak in the exam is likely a conscious attempt on the part of the NTA to improve the levels of selection, in accordance with the global trend towards competency-based medical education. The aim appears to be to develop better trained, analysis-sufficient medical professionals, adequate for an increasingly changing healthcare scenario. The paper required a profound conceptual understanding and excellent problem-solving skills.”
5, May 2025
Volkswagen India to open pre-bookings for the iconic Golf GTI
Bengaluru , May, 2025: Volkswagen India is proud to announce that pre-bookings for the legendary Volkswagen Golf GTI will commence from the 5th of May 2025. With the latest generation Golf GTI Mk 8.5, Indian enthusiasts will have access to the globally celebrated carline for the very first time through a limited allocation. With its rich motorsport heritage, timeless design language, and exhilarating performance, the Golf GTI is more than just a car – it’s a symbol of dynamic driving, and iconic appeal. The Golf GTI is available as a Fully built unit (FBU) offering customers an opportunity to experience the true GTI DNA in its purest form.
Commenting on the announcement, Mr. Ashish Gupta, Brand Director, Volkswagen India, said, “The Golf GTI is revered as one of the most iconic cars globally, and we are truly proud to offer customers in India the opportunity to own a piece of Volkswagen’s performance legacy. It’s a car that blends everyday usability with turbocharged driving experience – perfect for discerning enthusiasts who appreciate precision engineering designed to deliver thrilling performance. It’s an embodiment of German Engineering at its finest.
Key highlights of the Golf GTI Mk 8.5:
– 265 PS of power and 370 Nm of torque
– 0-100 Km/h in 5.9 seconds
5, May 2025
SawtarLuxeInterior Unveils Bespoke Design Services for Discerning Clients
New Delhi – 05\05\2025 – SawtarLuxeInterior, a leader in high-end interior design, is proud to announce the launch of its Bespoke Interior Design Services, offering clients an exclusive, personalized design experience that elevates their lifestyle through tailor-made living environments.
From concept to completion, Sawtar’s bespoke service is designed for individuals who seek one-of-a-kind interiors that reflect their personality, values, and aesthetic vision. With a focus on fine craftsmanship, premium materials, and artistic expression, every detail is meticulously curated to create interiors that are as unique as the people who live in them.
“True luxury is personal,” says Mr. Udit Bhardwaj, Creative Director of SawtarLuxeInterior. “Our bespoke service is not about trends—it’s about translating a client’s essence into spatial form. We approach each project as a new canvas, where imagination and individuality define the outcome.”
The service includes:
- Personal Design Consultations with lead designers
- Tailor-Made Furnishings & Fixtures crafted by artisans
- Exclusive Material Sourcing including rare marbles, exotic woods, and custom textiles
- Private Atelier Access for real-time collaboration and design previews
- Concierge Project Management ensuring seamless delivery from start to finish
Clients can expect a white-glove experience that merges design innovation with cultural refinement, whether for a city penthouse, countryside estate, luxury yacht, or destination property.
With this launch, SawtarLuxeInterior continues its commitment to redefining modern luxury, one bespoke space at a time.
5, May 2025
Store My Goods Secures Fresh INR 4 Crore from JIIF, Set to Cross One Million Dollar Funding Mark
New Delhi, May 5th —Store My Goods, a tech-enabled storage solutions startup,raises ₹4 crore in a growth funding round led by JITO Incubation and Innovation Foundation (JIIF) and family offices. The latest infusion is part of the company’s ongoing efforts to close a $1 million round, with participation from prominent family offices. The capital will be used to fuel expansion across new geographies, enhance technology infrastructure, and strengthen its leadership team.
Founded in December 2021 by Sudeep Gupta and Swati Gupta, Store My Goods offers on-demand, tech-enabled storage and warehousing services to both individuals and businesses. The company currently operates in five major Indian metros—Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Pune—and has successfully sold over 50,000 months of storage subscription for more than 5,000 customers.
“Store My Goods is addressing a rapidly emerging need in urban India with a tech-driven and scalable approach,” said Jeenendra Bhandari, Chairman, JITO Incubation and Innovation Foundation (JIIF). “We see strong potential in their business model and believe the founding team is well-equipped to lead the evolution of the storage solutions market in India. We are pleased to support their next phase of growth.”
Store My Goods gained early recognition after appearing on Shark Tank India Season 1, which helped build consumer awareness and credibility. However, the current round has been led entirely by JIIF and family offices, signaling strong market validation.
“This round isn’t just about capital—it’s about acceleration,” said Sudeep Gupta, Co-Founder & CEO of Store My Goods. “With the support of our investors, we aim to deepen our footprint in current markets, expand into newer cities, and scale our product and tech offerings to build a robust, customer-first storage ecosystem.”
The startup solves multiple storage challenges across both consumer and business segments. On the consumer side, it caters to people dealing with space constraints—offering storage during home renovations, relocations, or as an extension of their homes for seasonal items and personal belongings. For businesses, it serves as a scalable warehousing alternative—helping startups and SMEs manage inventory, promotional material, or archived documents without long-term lease liabilities.
With rising urban density, changing lifestyles, and increasing e-commerce penetration, India’s storage-as-a-service market is poised for disruption. Store My Goods is betting on this shift, backed by a full-stack tech platform, customer-centric service model, and a growing footprint in key Indian metros.
5, May 2025
Techno India DAMA Hospital Successfully Treats Rare Pancreatic Tumor in Young Bangladeshi National
Kolkata, 5th May, 2025: A young 18-year-old girl from Bangladesh, Mehroon got affected with a risky and never seen before, large tumor in her pancreas. After the preliminary diagnosis of the state of the tumor the Doctors marked the infection as Solid Pseudopapillary Epithelial Neoplasia (SPEN) which has been occupying her almost entire pancreas. Initially she applied for an Indian Medical Visa. But her appeal got rejected every time due to the cross border turbulent phases. In the meantime, she visited many other countries and consulted renowned Cancer Specialists. According to their suggestions, without the removal of her organs, a successful operation of this specific tumor was not possible.
Mehroon was not ready to undergo the removal of her multiple organs as this might affect her physically in the future. She contacted Dr Suddhaswatta Sen, Senior Consultant, GI-HPB Colorectal and Cancer Surgery, Techno India DAMA Hospital. Her clearance of the Medical permit took nearly 8 months which was quite a lengthy duration leading to the aggravation of the tumor in her pancreas. The size of the infection increased to 15/10 cm, thus appearing to be heavy and risky. Techno India DAMA Hospital, took all the imperative measures and stood beside Mehroon from getting the clearance of her Medical Visa to her admission at the hospital for the treatment.
“The Solid Pseudopapillary Epithelial Neoplasia (SPEN) is a very uncommon disease. One in a crore usually suffers from this particular ailment. In the case of Mehroon, the size of the tumor was big, spreading across her head, neck and body. The life risk was high, but she successfully survived after the operation. Despite the high political tension across the two Nations, the citizens of Bangladesh are still hopeful of the healthcare facilities available in India. We treat patients without any discrimination,” said Dr Suddhasattwa Sen, Sr Consultant Chief GI HPB Colorectal and Oncosurgery, Techno India DAMA Hospital.
Dr Sen and his team did the surgery, Spleen and organ Preserving Surgery, without much blood loss, no blood transfusion, her other organs remained intact and the chances of shifting her to the ICU was zero. The experts team successfully removed the tumor from her body. The patient is currently under observation and is responding to the treatment.
5, May 2025
ROADWAYZ Theatre Presents ‘SANDHYA, Tum Kahaan Ho’: A Captivating Play on Alzheimer’s
Hyderabad, 5 May 2025: ROADWAYZ Theatre Group, known for its engaging and impactful performances that both entertain and raise awareness on pressing social issues, is back with its latest production, “SANDHYA, Tum Kahaan Ho”, a thought-provoking play centred around Alzheimer’s disease. Written and directed by Capt. Ahmed SN, this emotionally resonant play promises to leave audiences moved and mindful. The maiden play will be staged on 16th May, 2025 at T-HIVE, eGalleria mall, Hi-Tech City, subsequently, shows will be staged at various venues including dedicated shows for Army Veterans and at Senior Citizen Townships.
In India, forgetfulness in old age is often dismissed as a natural phenomenon as part of aging. Unfortunately, this cultural norm leads to the early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease being overlooked, leaving many elderly individuals to suffer in silence, misunderstood, misdiagnosed and often becoming an emotional and physical burden on their families.
Deeply moved by personal experiences of seeing his fellow Army colleagues struggle with Alzheimer’s, Capt. Ahmed SN decided to act in his style of hosting a play. Drawing from real-life encounters during and after his service in Defence forces, he sought to break the silence around this often-ignored issue. He scripted and directed “SANDHYA, Tum Kahaan Ho”, a poignant yet humorous theatrical piece that skilfully balances laughter with awareness. Through wit and empathy, the play delivers a powerful message educating audiences while keeping them thoroughly engaged.
Blending heartfelt storytelling with engaging performances, the play not only entertains but also raises crucial awareness about the emotional toll Alzheimer’s takes, not just on patients, but on their families who silently endure the trauma. This immersive experience fosters empathy, understanding and community dialogue, urging audiences to recognize the vulnerability of those affected and encouraging society to step forward with compassion and support.
ROADWAYZ Theatre Group, has been masterfully using the stage to entertain while sparking conversations on meaningful social issues. With a unique blend of wit, emotion, and storytelling, ROADWAYZ has built a strong connection with audiences across diverse themes. Their earlier productions have already won hearts and applause: “Baasira Mata Ki Jai” celebrated the art of turning leftover food into delicious recipes, cleverly addressing the issue of food wastage with humour and heart. “Ismat aur Manto ki Chuhalbaaziyaan” brought the timeless banter of literary legends to life, leaving audiences in splits of laughter with its bold and witty narrative. Both plays were met with overwhelming appreciation, with popular demand calling for encore performances, a true testament to ROADWAYZ’s ability to inform, engage, and entertain.
5, May 2025
Rising Star Sharvari Reflects on Her Journey and Joining Forces with Alia Bhatt in Femina’s April Cover Story
Sharvari graces the cover of Femina’s April 2025 issue, embodying the spirit of a true ‘Dadar chi mulgi’ – fierce, grounded, unapologetically authentic, and truly in the spotlight. After the runaway success of Munjya, crossing the ₹100 crore mark, her dance number ‘Taras’ becoming an internet sensation, and her standout performance in Maharaj, Sharvari is one of Bollywood’s most promising new voices. In a candid conversation with Femina, she opens up about her journey – from nearly pursuing civil engineering to hustling behind the scenes as an Assistant Director on films such as Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2, Bajirao Mastani, and Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety. She reflects on the quiet hustle of finding her place as an outsider, the joy of watching things finally fall into place, and her big leap with Alia Bhatt in Alpha, an action-packed thriller that’s rewriting the rules for female-led cinema.
Reflecting on the grit it takes to break into the industry, Sharvari shares, “The toughest part of the journey isn’t just bagging your first film – it’s finding your footing before that, proving to yourself that you belong here.”
Recalling her early stints behind the camera, she fondly adds, “Being an Assistant Director was my way of staying connected to the industry, of learning, of picking up everything I could that would eventually make me a better actor.”
About navigating the pressure of staying relevant, Sharvari avers, “Showcasing different facets of my craft isn’t just about growth – it’s a necessity. Every role, every film has to work for me to sustain myself in this industry.”
Opening up about the kind of characters she’s naturally drawn to and how they resonate with her, she reveals, “Looking back at all the roles I’ve played so far, I realise that each of them has been a woman with agency – strong, driven, and in pursuit of something meaningful. At the end of the day, I, too, am chasing a dream.”
Speaking about Alpha, Yash Raj Films’ groundbreaking female-led spy thriller in which she shares screen space with Alia Bhatt, Sharvari enthuses, “It is one of the first female-led action films, where you have two women taking charge and being absolute badasses. It feels like breaking a glass ceiling, and that’s incredibly exciting. What makes this film special is that it’s not just about the action – it carries a strong message of empowerment. I truly hope it resonates with young women and inspires them to embrace their own strength.”
