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The audience gained insights on how non-dogmatic ideas contribute to a pluralistic understanding of inquiry into truth, paving the way for new perspectives in philosophical discourse at a lecture by Professor Jonardon Ganeri delivered at Ahmedabad University on February 9, 2024.

Jonardon Ganeri, Bimal K. Matilal Distinguished Professor of Philosophy from the University of Toronto, is a philosopher known to construct new positions in the philosophy of mind, metaphysics, and epistemology by drawing on various philosophical traditions. In his talk, Professor Ganeri shared insights into Jaina philosophers from classical India, particularly focusing on their unique approach to epistemology.

He discussed their distinction between epistemic principles (pramāṇa) and epistemic standpoints (nayas), emphasising the importance of adopting non-dogmatic stances to pursue truth. Professor Ganeri demonstrated how these ideas contribute to a pluralistic understanding of inquiry into truth, paving the way for new perspectives in philosophical discourse.

The University’s School of Arts and Sciences organised the event and is part of the Rasila and Chandrakant Kadia Endowed Visiting Professorship instituted to bring a top global scholar to the University. The professorship helps build deep capabilities in India by advancing knowledge from various domains and helping prepare the next generation of leaders from Ahmedabad. “Professor Jonardan Ganeri is a deep thinker. He demonstrates a scholastic aspect, a scholastic impetus that the University stands for.

His involvement with the University community has helped faculty and students think about research, develop research interests, and explore more ideas on how to do research and what kind of research to undertake, especially in terms of methodology, topics, and related things”, marked Shishir Saxena, Assistant Professor at Ahmedabad University. The event concluded with a “Kahat Kabir” concert by Vipul Rikhi, a writer, singer, poet, storyteller, and translator. Known for his immersion in the oral traditions of Kabir and other mystic poets, Rikhi brought to life Kabir’s timeless poetry through his performances

Today marks a major milestone for Škoda Auto India as it approaches a new era in India with its all-new compact SUV. Announced in February and following a recent teaser of its design, the vehicle has been named through an imaginative nationwide campaign. Reflecting the choice of thousands of people, Škoda Auto India’s new SUV will be called the Kylaq, embodying a unique connection with its future drivers.

Speaking at the name unveil, Petr Janeba, Brand Director, Škoda Auto India, said: “Our new compact SUV Kylaq is for the people of India. We wanted them to be part of every milestone of our biggest-ever launch in the country. The ‘Name Your Škoda’ campaign aimed at inculcating a sense of pride and belonging among participants and potential customers. The results are humbling with over 200,000 entries. It reinforces our legacy in India and showcases the great affinity people have towards brand Škoda. The naming process of a car is important for us. And this upcoming all-new compact SUV represents the ultimate milestone within the fastest growing and biggest segment in India. With the Kylaq, people, customers and fans have themselves named our newest family member, which is developed jointly by the teams in India and Europe, and will be locally manufactured.”

Named by the people

The Name Your Škoda campaign, rolled out in February 2024, enabled the involvement and engagement of users, customers and the Fans of Škoda in picking the name for the all-new compact SUV that is to make its India and world debut in 2025. Through ‘Name Your Škoda’, participants suggested names for the compact SUV that begins with the letter ‘K’ and ends with the letter ‘Q’ with one or two syllables, in line with Škoda’s tradition of naming their ICE SUVs. The campaign resulted in over 200,000 entries with over 24,000 unique names.

In the next phase, participants cast their vote for the choice among 15 shortlisted names. Basis the number of votes, from the 15 shortlisted names, 10 names were announced by Škoda Auto India. From the list, the winning name, which received the most votes and met all legal compliance criteria, was chosen for the all-new compact SUV. Kylaq is derived from the Sanskrit word for crystal, reflecting both the vehicle’s pristine qualities and inspiration from Mt. Kailash.

Voters are the winners

The winner of this naming contest will be the first owner of the Škoda Kylaq when it hits roads in 2025, lending them the unique opportunity of owning a car they named. Another 10 winners will visit Škoda Auto in Prague with a tour of the Škoda Museum and of the city. Winners will be announced at 2pm today across Škoda Auto India’s social media channels.  

The Kylaq

The all-new compact SUV, now christened Kylaq, positioned as the ‘SUV for you’, is Škoda Auto India’s first ever foray into the compact SUV segment. This SUV is based on the MQB-A0-IN platform, the same as the one of the Kushaq SUV and the Slavia sedan. The MQB-A0-IN was specifically developed for India by teams in India and the Czech Republic with an eye on versatility, safety, dynamics while focussing on localisation, low maintenance costs and a hassle-free ownership experience.

What to expect

The all-new compact SUV will be the company’s first implementation of the Modern Solid design language in India. It will also have a high ground clearance and space around the wheel for tackling uneven road surfaces lending the car that SUV character. The design will retain the typical Škoda SUV language in and add details like refined and precise DRL light signatures. The upcoming SUV will also feature a hexagon pattern on the side and rear of the car. The compact SUV is currently undergoing rigorous testing across India and the company is preparing for production with local supplier ramp-ups. Based on a larger car platform, the compact SUV will have the ‘big car’ feel within a compact footprint.

The naming tradition

It is a tradition going back to the company’s first ever full-fledged 7-seater luxury 4×4, the Kodiaq, in 2017. The name reflects the qualities of both, the Kodiak bear and the Kodiak Archipelago to the south of Alaska, USA that it inhabits. The nomenclature is a reflection of the beauty, grandeur and toughness of both the bear and the terrain it calls home. The Škoda Kushaq takes this legacy forward as its name is derived from the Sanskrit word for Emperor. And the all-new compact SUV, the Škoda Kylaq that will make its world debut in India in 2025, takes the nomenclature voted by the people, while following Škoda’s SUV family naming tradition.

The India fleet

The Kushaq SUV debuted in India and the world in July 2021 and the Slavia sedan in March 2022. Since then, these two India-developed cars have taken Škoda Auto India to witness its biggest year in sales and take the shortest time to achieve the landmark of over 100,000 cars sold. The Škoda Kylaq will be the third all-new, India-specific product developed by Škoda Auto India.

PVNA Group appoints Piyush Lilaramani to lead Brand and Corporate Communications across its companies

PVNA Group, one of India’s leading auto component manufacturers, has appointed Piyush Lilaramani as Head of Communications. In this role, he will lead the Group’s brand, corporate communications, public relations, digital engagement, and internal communications across all PVNA companies, including Padmini VNA Mechatronics, Padmini E-Drive, and PV Clean Mobility Technologies.

With more than 14 years of experience, Piyush has worked with some of the world’s most respected automotive brands including Suzuki, Toyota, Ferrari, Maserati, Bajaj Auto, Volvo Cars, and JCB across both brand and agency roles.

His expertise spans strategic communications, reputation management, and building global brand narratives. Ms. Viveka Bhandari, COO, PVNA Group, said: “We are pleased to welcome Piyush to the PVNA team. His strong record of building impactful brand strategies and leading communications for world-class companies will be an asset as we pursue our mission to shape the future of mobility with innovation and sustainability.” Piyush Lilaramani, on his appointment, said, “It is an honor to be part of PVNA Group’s vision to redefine mobility with innovation and sustainability.

I look forward to strengthening the brand’s voice and building meaningful engagement with stakeholders in India and across the globe.”

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Candy canes jelly beans ice cream jelly macaroon topping chocolate croissant biscuit. Chupa chups marshmallow oat cake croissant bonbon. Biscuit macaroon halvah soufflé marzipan. Macaroon icing oat cake sesame snaps carrot cake jelly-o.

 

Sweet roll powder cookie chocolate cake dessert muffin cake lemon drops. Soufflé halvah fruitcake sweet roll muffin. Wafer danish cupcake jelly cookie. Jelly-o marshmallow oat cake brownie.

Caramels muffin chupa chups. Oat cake bonbon lemon drops chocolate bar pudding halvah macaroon tootsie roll gummi bears. Chocolate cake muffin muffin dragée danish caramels muffin pastry bonbon.

Kia India, the country’s leading mass-premium carmaker, has been awarded the prestigious ‘Great Place to Work’ certification for the period of February 2025 – February 2026. This certification underscores Kia India’s unwavering commitment to building a trust-based, inclusive, and high-performance workplace culture where employees feel valued, empowered, and inspired.

With over 92% employee participation from corporate, regional, and plant offices across the country, this achievement highlights Kia India’s employee-friendly policies, which prioritize the all-round professional development of its workforce.

On the occasion, Mr. Gwanggu Lee, Managing Director & CEO of Kia India, remarked, “Being recognized as a Great Place to Work is a proud milestone for all of us at Kia India. Our dedication to fostering a customer-centric, people-focused, and collaborative ‘One Team’ culture is at the heart of everything we do. This certification is a testament to our ongoing journey. We remain committed to listening to our people, learning from their insights, and investing in their growth, making Kia India an even more inspiring place to work. As we continue to redefine mobility, we are steadfast in our mission to cultivate a workplace that nurtures innovation and growth.”

The certification process followed the rigorous Great Place to Work® model, evaluating workplace culture across five key dimensions: Credibility, Respect, Fairness, Pride, and Camaraderie. Kia India excelled in all these areas, reinforcing its commitment to employee engagement, well-being, and a culture of excellence. Notably, Kia India stands out as one of the few automobile manufacturers in the country to receive this prestigious recognition.

Key Concerns Raised by ICAI: –

Assessment of Component Auditor Competence: International ISA 600 requires the group auditor to assess the professional competence of component auditors for companies within the same group. In foreign jurisdictions, the auditors come with different qualifications and audit is not mandatory for all companies under the law and hence they have the concept of Group and component auditor. In India, all companies have to be mandatorily audited by a chartered accountants under the Companies Act, 2013. Since all chartered accountants are members of the ICAI, this ensures uniform standard of qualification and professional competence. Given this uniformity, ICAI believes it is neither possible nor desirable for the group auditor to assess or exercise control over the decisions of a component auditor who is equally qualified.

Under the existing SA-600, the Group Auditor already has the power to specify to what extent he relied on component auditor reporting and can seek further clarification or justification from the component auditor, if required.

Relevance to Indian Context: International ISA 600 defines a component auditor to be an auditor who performs audit work related to a component for purposes of the group audit. A component auditor is part of the engagement team for group audit. This definition is not relevant to the Indian context. The unique regulatory architecture and professional environment in India necessitates a careful consideration of domestic needs and circumstances before transplanting overseas standards. Further, there are apprehensions in the minds of small and medium CA firms who are generally entrusted with audit work of the subsidiary companies that the Group auditor in the guise of overseeing of quality of their work and under the pretext of ensuring uniform quality may persuade the managements to replace the small audit firms of subsidiary companies with that of his own firms leading to concentration of the audit work in the hands of few firms. This would make the survival of the small firms difficult. In India, there are large number of small CA firms compared to foreign jurisdictions.

Consolidated Financial Statements: The existing legal framework in India mandates the preparation of consolidated financial statements for holding and subsidiary companies. The responsibility for these consolidated financial statements does not lie with the key management personnel and Boards of Directors of the holding company but with the Boards and key management personnel of the respective subsidiary companies. If that be the case, it would be unfair and unjust to fasten the liability on the group auditor alone ignoring the managements of the holding company. As per the existing SA-700 (Revised), the respective Boards of Directors of the companies included in the Group are responsible for maintenance of adequate accounting records as per law. The proposed revision in SA 600 do not adequately address the issues arising out of the Group and component auditors and their inter-se relationship and responsibilities.

Further complicating this scenario is the fact that different sectoral and multiple regulators in India, such as SEBI, RBI, IRDA, and CAG, have varying norms, eligibility criteria, and procedures for appointing statutory auditors and determining their responsibilities under the respective enactments. This creates an unusual situation for the group auditor, to judge the competency of component auditors across various sectors governed by distinct and separate regulatory frameworks and statutory disclosure requirements.

ICAI’s Position:

The ICAI Council, in its meeting held on September 17, 2024, expressed its view that while the current SA 600 has been effective and has stood the test of time, there is room for further review and strengthening to better serve public interest. The Council has tasked the Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (AASB) with this review and start the process of reviewing the standard for exposure as has been the practice in ICAI.

Unfortunately, while this issue was still being discussed in the aforesaid meeting of the Council, NFRA has come out with an Exposure Draft of SA 600 for revision inviting public comments on the same day which has come as a surprise to the Institute. As per the practice established and followed for many years, for revision of any standard, the Council of the Institute sets up a Group which after thoroughly examining all issues involved releases an Exposure Draft of the standard for public comments. After considering the public comments and making necessary changes wherever appropriate, the AASB submits its Report to the Council. After due deliberations, the Council forwards its recommendations on the standards to NFRA. This process could not be complied with in the existing case as NFRA has already issued the Exposure Draft for public comments even when the Council was discussing this matter for review.

Therefore, ICAI calls for a pause in the revision process to allow for a comprehensive review and discussion with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that any changes are in the best interest of the profession and public.

In the realm of Ayurveda, the therapeutic benefits of flowers have its best kept secret. Only experts seem to know that apart from its fragrance, flowers can have remarkable effects on the skin and complexion. These delicate blooms, imbued with antioxidants, moisturizing compounds, and a myriad of beneficial properties, hold the key to unlocking radiant and healthy skin. Flowers play a significant role in Ayurvedic skincare, offering a holistic and natural way to rejuvenate and safeguard the skin, from their moisturizing abilities when immersed in coconut oil to their antioxidant properties and healing potential.

Here are some therapeutic benefits the flowers in Ayurvedic Skincare can offer your skin:

• Moisturizing Benefits: Keeping the skin adequately moisturized is crucial for maintaining its health. Flowers serve as an excellent source of natural moisture. Ayurveda highlights certain flowers, such as Hibiscus, lotus, jasmine, magnolia, and rose, for their exceptional moisturizing abilities. Flowers such as the Palash flower also have the dual power of soothing and moisturizing, which can even also work to pacify irritated skin.

• Powerful Antioxidants: Flowers possess ample amount of antioxidants that play a vital role in protecting the skin against damage caused by harmful free radicals. Free radicals can accelerate the aging process and contribute to various skin concerns. Sunflowers, for instance, are known to contain Linoleic acid that helps maintain the skin barrier and aids its ability to retain moisture.

• Astringent Qualities: For a texture-free and toned up skin, flowers can be your biggest ally. Many flowers possess astringent properties that help reduce the signs of ageing. Rose is particularly well-regarded in Ayurveda for their astringent qualities. The Shankupushpam and marigold flower, also help smoothen the skin and therefore also prevent signs of aging.

• Healing Abilities: By harnessing the healing power of flowers, Ayurvedic skincare incorporates its soothing properties that regenerate damaged skin cells. Roses, lotus, and calendula are especially known for their ability to promote skin healing and minimize the appearance of scars.

Incorporating flowers into your Ayurvedic skincare routine can unlock a treasure trove of therapeutic benefits. By using products such as the Chandrika Pushpaveda, with the power of 10 flowers soaked in pure coconut oil, you can give your skin the care it needs using the wisdom of Ayurveda to promote healthy, and nourished skin. It’s time to now embrace the beauty and power of flowers to unlock the secrets of soft, supple skin in harmony with nature.

Ramaiah Memorial Hospital, one of the leading multi-superspecialty quaternary care hospitals in Karnataka, commemorated World Parkinson’s Awareness Month today by organizing the TULIPS & SPARKS – THE SOLIDARITY WALK at Ramaiah Campus with the participation of 50+ PD warriors, their brave heart caregivers, physicians and other hospital staff. The Solidarity Walk aimed to raise awareness about Parkinson’s disorder that afflicts more than 7 million Indians as per a Lancet Study. The short yet effective 250-metre walk was followed by a sumptuous breakfast and insightful health talks by Neurologist, Neurosurgeon, Physiotherapist, Speech & Swallow Therapist and a trained PD nurse.   These health talks focused on the different aspects of managing Parkinson’s disease. The event was thoughtfully themed using tulips and sparks, the two symbols that describe the two aspects of the disorder – living with hope while experiencing a sudden jolt in the brain.      

Tulips and Sparks – The Solidarity Walk at Ramaiah Memorial Hospital celebrated the indomitable spirit of our PD warriors despite the challenges that they face in their everyday life. Through this Solidarity Walk, a continuation of last year’s Tulips & Sparks annual event, Ramaiah Memorial Hospital hoped to raise the much-needed awareness regarding Parkinson’s disease including identification of the symptoms at its early onset as well as bringing forth the various therapeutic ways through which the disorder can be managed effectively and efficiently.

Ravi Nair/INT.ravinairEdit Profile

At Ramaiah Memorial Hospital, the Movement Disorder Clinic functions under the specialty of Neurology and is fully equipped with movement disorders specialists, consultants, skillfully trained therapists, rehab specialists who all work together to provide specific guidance and customized care according to the individual needs. Parkinson’s, if managed better, can help a PD warrior lead a fulfilling good quality of life.

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व्यापारियों का व्हाट्सएप ऐप के माध्यम से व्यापार बढ़ाने के लिए मलाड में संपन्न हुआ सेमिनार.

कॉन्फडेरेशन ऑफ ऑल इंडिया ट्रेडर्स (कैट) महाराष्ट्र प्रदेश के महामंत्री एवं अखिल भारतीय खाद्य तेल व्यापारी महासंघ के राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष शंकर ठक्कर ने बताया कैट जोकि भारत के व्यापारियों का सबसे बड़ा संगठन है।

जो कि देश भर के 8 करोड़ व्यापारियों का प्रतिनिधित्व करता है द्वारा भारत के व्यापारिक समुदाय के लिए विशेष रूप से छोटे और मध्यम उद्यमों को आज के आधुनिक दौर की डिजिटल व्यापार की तकनीकों एवं भुगतान के माध्यमों के बारे में अवगत कराने के लिए व्हाट्सएप ऐप के साथ मलाड के दफ्तरी रोड स्थित कोशिश हाल में कैट और मलाड ईस्ट संगठन के संयुक्त आयोजन में किया गया सेमिनार संपन्न हुआ। 

इस सेमिनार में मुंबई एवं अन्य जगहों से बड़ी तादाद में व्यापारी जिनमें खासकर महिला व्यापारी भी उपस्थित रहे।

कार्यक्रम की शुरू में ऑल इंडिया जेम्स एंड ज्वेलरी फेडरेशन के राष्ट्रीय महामंत्री नितिन केडिया ने सभी का स्वागत किया और विशेष रूप से प्रवीण खंडेलवाल एवं प्रकाश वैध ने इस कार्यक्रम में उपस्थित रहकर मार्गदर्शन के लिए पधारने के लिए उनका धन्यवाद ज्ञापित किया और कैट द्वारा किए जा रहे कार्यो की प्रशंसा करते हुए सभी को कैट के साथ जुड़ने के लिए विनती की।

कैट – महाराष्ट्र प्रदेश के महामंत्री ने अपने वक्तव्य में कहा हम लगातार व्यापारियों के प्रश्नों पर सरकार और प्रशासन के साथ संवाद बनाए रखते और कई प्रश्नों को हल करवाया है।व्यापारियों को जहां पर भी जरूरत हो हमें बेझिझक संपर्क कर सकते हैं।

उन्होंने प्रवीण खंडेलवाल जी का मुंबई के व्यापारियों के लिए लगातार प्रयास कर कर व्यापारियों को आधुनिक तकनीक से व्यापार करने के लिए प्रेरित कर रहे हैं जिससे परंपरागत व्यापारियों को व्यापार से हाथ धोना ना पड़े उनका धन्यवाद ज्ञापित किया ।

मलाड व्यापारी संगठन के आनंद अल्हाट ने कहा मलाड के व्यापारियों की चिंता करते हुए यहां पर सेमिनार आयोजित करने के लिए कैट के सभी पदाधिकारी का धन्यवाद किया एवं आगे इससे भी ज्यादा संख्या में व्यापारियों को एकत्रित कर सेमिनार करने की विनती की।

कैट के राष्ट्रीय महामंत्री प्रवीण खंडेलवाल ने कहा अब हमें पुराने तौर-तरीकों के साथ आज की युवा पीढ़ी जोकि डिजिटल और ऑनलाइन का सबसे ज्यादा इस्तेमाल कर रही है इन ग्राहकों को आकर्षित करने के लिए उनकी जरूरतों के मुताबिक बनना होगा.

इसलिए हमने व्हाट्सएप के माध्यम से यह प्रयास शुरू किया है। इसके साथ ही हमने अपना पोर्टल ई भारत मार्ट भी शुरू किया है जिस पर बिना किसी कमीशन के व्यापार कर सकते हैं इसका भी व्यापारी लाभ लें। उन्होंने महिलाओं को भी व्यापार में आगे आने के लिए कहा।

छोटे व्यवसाय और व्यापारी भारतीय अर्थव्यवस्था में एक महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका निभाते हैं और ये व्यवसाय और व्यापारियों का भारत के सकल घरेलू उत्पाद का महत्वपूर्ण योगदान हैं।

और करोड़ों लोगों को रोजगार देते हैं, जो अर्थव्यवस्था में किसी भी अन्य क्षेत्र से बहुत आगे हैं। यह एसएमई क्षेत्र एक महत्वपूर्ण जनसमूह है जिसे उपभोक्ता जुड़ाव और आउटरीच के डिजिटल तरीकों को अपनाने और सीखने की जरूरत है। 

हम इस क्षेत्र को आजीविका उत्पन्न करने और व्हाट्सएप जैसे डिजिटल टूल का उपयोग करके आर्थिक रूप से स्वतंत्र होने के लिए समर्थन करते हैं और बिना किसी लागत, निवेश और व्हाट्सएप सक्षम एसएमबी ऐप का उपयोग करके अपने व्यवसायों को बनाए रखने में मदद करना चाहते हैं।

देश भर के व्यापारी व्हाट्सएप के साथ मिलकर काम करें ताकि व्यापारिक समुदाय को सशक्त बनाने के लिए कार्यक्रम आयोजित किए जा सकें और उन्हें व्हाट्सएप पर अपना डिजिटल इंटरफेस खोलकर डिजिटल अपनाने के लिए प्रोत्साहित किया जा सके।

व्हाट्सएप के प्रियंका जैन ने कहा व्हाट्सएप ने 1 वर्ष में न 3000 सामुदायिक नेताओं को ,10 लाख छोटे व्यवसायों c और तीन वर्षों में 50 लाख छोटे व्यवसायों को प्रशिक्षित करने का लक्ष्य रखा है

नीरव बारोट ने इस सेमिनार नहीं आए हुए सभी को धन्यवाद देकर कहा हम समस्थानिक स्तर पर भी व्यापारियों के लिए लॉजिस्टिक एवं ऐप बनाकर हमें सुविधा उपलब्ध करनी है जिसमें हम कैट के साथ मिलकर काम करेंगे।

इस कार्यक्रम कैट के नॉर्थ ईस्ट संयोजक प्रकाश वेद, कैट दिल्ली के खारी कैट महाराष्ट्र के उपाध्यक्ष सुरेश ठक्कर, संगठन मंत्री अमरसि कारिया मलाड ईस्ट व्यापारी संगठन के जीतू भाई खखर, ललित ठक्कर, बोरीवली के किशोर जोशी एवं अन्य संगठनों के पदाधिकारी एवं व्यापारी बड़ी संख्या में उपस्थित रहे।