क्यों इतनी खामोश सी पढ़ गई है तू? क्यूं अंदर ही अंदर खुद से लड़ रही है तू? वक्त ही तो है गुजर जाएगा, सूरज फिर से एक नया आएगा। खुद पर यकीन रख कर आगे बढ़ती जा तू, कभी ना कभी तो रास्ता मिल ही जाएगा।

~ Isha Chawla 🥀

During school days, we read books are our best friends who will never walk away from us. Undoubtedly books are our friends. It provides knowledge in different fields and enhances our wisdom and intelligence. From class one onwards we all read books and many of us continuously read books until our death.  To popularize reading habits this year 23 April 2022 is observed as World Book Day. This is also known as World Book and Copyright Day or International Day of the Book, which is an annual event organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to promote reading, publishing, and copyright

 Each year, on 23 April, celebrations take place all over the world to recognize the scope of books – a link between the past and the future, a bridge between generations and across cultures. On this occasion, UNESCO and the international organizations representing the three major sectors of the book industry – publishers, booksellers, and libraries, select the World Book Capital for a year to maintain, through its own initiatives, the impetus of the Day’s celebrations.  23 April is a symbolic date in world literature as on this date several prominent authors, William Shakespeare, Miguel de Cervantes, and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega all passed away. So this,  the date was a natural choice for UNESCO’s General Conference, held in Paris in 1995, to pay a worldwide tribute to books and authors on this date, encouraging everyone to access books (unesco.org/commemorations/worldbookday).

According to World Reading Habits in 2020, (geediting.com/world-reading-habits-2020), by conducting research studies across the world they have found that coronavirus has changed our reading habits. Some of the highlights of World Reading Habits in 2020 research inter alia are:

         India reads more than any other country, followed by Thailand and China

         Printed books continue to drive more revenue than eBooks or audiobooks. However, physical books sales did dip because of coronavirus (not surprisingly).

         35% of the world read more due to coronavirus.

Also, World Reading Habits in 2020 have given ranks which may be seen as below:

1)        India (10.42   hours spent in reading per person per week)

2)       Thailand (9.24 hours spent in reading per person per week)

3)        China  (8.00 hours spent in reading per person per week)

4)       Philippines (7.36 hours spent in reading per person per week)

5)       Egypt (7.30 hours spent in reading per person per week)

19)   Spain (5.48 hours spent in reading per person per week)

20)   Canada (5.48 hours spent in reading per person per week)

21)  Germany (5.42 hours spent in reading per person per week)

22)  USA (5.42 hours spent in reading per person per week)

It is pertinent to mention that ranks have been given by World Reading Habits in 2020. But interesting points are India, Thailand, China, Philippines, and Egypt are in the first five but so-called developed countries such as Spain, Canada, Germany, and the USA are placed at a comparatively low level. 

On this Day of 23 April, as a senior citizen, I suggest that parents should encourage their children to read more and more books including newspapers. Reading habit is the sine qua non for leading a balanced lifestyle.

Ratan Naval Tata is the Chairman of Tata Sons and Tata Group, and is one of India’s most well-known and respected industrialists. Tata, who is 73 years old, is the chairman of one of the country’s largest conglomerates, which includes approximately 100 companies with a combined revenue of USD 67 billion. Tata Steel, Tata Motors, Tata Teleservices, Tata Power, Tata Consultancy Services, Tata Tea, Tata Chemicals, and The Indian Hotels Company are among his key Tata firms.

Tata was born on December 28, 1937, into one of Mumbai’s wealthiest families. Jamsedji Tata, the Tata group’s founder, was his great grandpa. Tata had a tumultuous life following his parents’ divorce when he was a child. Lady Navajbai, his grandmother, nurtured him in the lap of luxury at Tata Palace. The Tata scion was captivated by America, and he attended Cornell University to study architecture and structural engineering. Later, he attended Harvard University for a management course.

He joined the Tata Group in 1962, and his first position was with the Tata Steel division in Jamshedpur, where he worked with blue-collar workers shoveling stone and operating furnaces. In 1971, he was named Director-in-Charge of the National Radio and Electronics Company Limited (Nelco), and he was successful in bringing the company around.

Tata rose through the ranks of Tata Industries to become Chairman and was a driving force behind a slew of reforms. Tata Consultancy Services went public under his leadership, and Tata Motors was listed on the New York Stock Exchange, giving it greater international strength and prestige. He is recognised with directing the Tata Group’s successful bid for Corus, an Anglo-Dutch steel and aluminium company, as well as the Ford Company’s Jaguar and Land Rover brands.

During his leadership, the company saw the birth of the ‘Indica,’ India’s first fully Indian car. Tata was the designer of the vehicle. Tata’s food division purchased tea company Tetley for GBP 70 million in 2000. The group’s revenues increased nearly 12-fold in 2009-10, totaling USD 67.4 billion. Tata is also a member of the boards of Fiat SpA and Alcoa, as well as the international advisory boards of Mitsubishi Corporation, American International Group, JP Morgan Chase, Rolls Royce, Temasek Holdings, and the Singapore Monetary Authority.

He was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Indian government in the year 2000. Ohio State University awarded him an honorary doctorate in business administration, the Asian Institute of Technology in Bangkok awarded him an honorary doctorate in technology, and the University of Warwick awarded him an honorary doctorate in science. Tata’s personal fortune is around GBP 300 million, and he controls less than 1% of the conglomerate. Charitable trusts own about two-thirds of Tata Group, which helps to fund good causes.

During the 26/11 attacks, Tata offered a magnificent example of charity and leadership. He stood alone outside the Taj hotel, unarmed, and oversaw the actions aimed at assisting the victims. He shown his humanity by paying personal visits to the families of all 80 colleagues murdered or injured. He didn’t leave any stone unturned in his efforts to help the victims, even asking the victims’ families and dependents what they wanted him to do.

Tata has begun making arrangements for his post-retirement life, despite the fact that his retirement is still a year away. He intends to establish an international design centre with international standards and size. He has led the development of a number of groundbreaking designs and products, the most well-known of which is Nano. His concern for the safety of nuclear families commuting on two-wheelers inspired him to create Nano. He was the one who suggested that the little car just have one wiper on the windscreen. Its pricing and maintenance costs were decreased as a result.

He also spearheaded a strategy to deliver affordable and safe drinking water, and aided a group of Pune-based designers in developing Swach, a water filter that costs less than Rs 1,000. This 560-mm water purification device was created over the course of more than three years by Design Directions Private Limited.

Tata, who is a bachelor in real life, values privacy and avoids the limelight. Only CDs, books, and pets keep him company. In an unassuming Tata sedan, the business baron drives himself to work.

Ratan Tata, who stands tall among his peers with a tremendous fortune and global fame, has remarkably never made the Forbes billionaires list.

Despite the fact that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, the global beauty industry has never lost its allure. Along with its steady growth, the industry has amassed a dedicated consumer base that spans decades. What female doesn’t enjoy applying cosmetics? Cosmetics play an important role in all of our lives, from learning makeup tutorials to experimenting with different colours on free days, to adorning ourselves before a wedding or an event, or simply putting on a fast light application before work.

But we’ve come a long way from the days when consumers had to go to a cosmetic store in person. Why should brick-and-mortar stores be the sole option when there are now online cosmetics stores that allow clients to order things at any time and from anywhere.

Despite the fact that the Indian economy has hit unprecedented lows in recent months as a result of the COVID19 pandemic-induced shutdown, a handful of platforms have remained stable.

Nykaa is one of these e-commerce platforms for beauty and wellness products, and it has quickly become the preferred option for all cosmetic aficionados in India. Anyone who has even a passing interest in beauty and wellness products has probably heard of Nykaa at some time in their lives. This is an e-commerce site that specialises in cosmetics and beauty products. This platform, which was founded in 2012, has played a critical part in dispelling the idea that e-commerce and beauty retail do not do well in India.

Nykaa has recently become a household name across the country following the launch of its initial public offering (IPO) and the overwhelming response it received, propelling its founder Falguni Nayar into India’s elite group of self-made billionaire women, with her net worth rising to $6.5 billion following Nykaa’s record listing, according to Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

We will provide you an overview of Nykaa’s platform, its creators, its business model, its funding, its success story, its inception, and its growth through this blog.

Nykaa’s Background

Nykaa is an Indian cosmetics company that specialises in multi-beauty and personal care items. It started off as a solo e-commerce platform before expanding into a variety of retail locations across the country.

For both women and men, the company specialises in providing a broad variety of cosmetics, skincare, haircare, perfumes, bath & body, luxury, and wellness items. The portal, which claims to receive more than 1.5 million visitors per month from across India, permits adequately prepared and priced branded products.Nykaa now has three types of stores: Luxe, On Trend, and Kiosks. Nykaa’s Luxe stores contain more premium and luxury brands such as Estee Lauder, Dior, Huda Beauty, and M.A.C Cosmetics, among others, whereas Nykaa On Trend goods are limited to trending and fashionable names.

Aside from women’s beauty, the Nykaa Man website and app, as well as Nykaa Network, an online community for beauty enthusiasts, offer a variety of grooming products for males. Currently, the organisation is a staunch believer in focusing on the vertical market.

Founders of Nykaa

Falguni Nayar, an MBA graduate from IIM Ahmedabad, began working in investment banking at Kotak Mahindra immediately after graduation. She was promoted to Managing Director of the same bank division in 2005.

She worked for Kotak Mahindra for nearly 18 years, during which time she decided to branch out from banking and try her hand at other fields.

She saw the untapped potential of the online beauty industry. Since there was a scarcity of accessible online brands and things that people could trust and purchase with confidence at the time, she saw an opportunity for Nykaa.

She wanted to change Indian women’s perceptions about personal grooming because she was passionate about makeup and beauty products. Nykaa was founded in 2012 by her with the goal of creating something unique to her.

Nykaa’s Beginnings

Nykaa was founded in 2012, and it all started there. Falguni Nayar was looking for a promising business opportunity in India when she discovered an inconsistency in the beauty items market in India, which wasn’t up to par with the product’s scope in other countries such as France or Japan, despite high demand, owing to a lack of product availability in many places. As a result, she and her husband, Sanjay Nayar, founded Nykaa.

Business Model of Nykaa

Nykaa’s inventory methodology is essentially what distinguishes it from its competitors. The products are obtained through brands and distributors and then sold directly to consumers in this arrangement. This is in contrast to a marketplace model, in which third-party vendors offer the products. Nykaa will be able to keep a tighter grip on its items as a result of this, reducing the chances of forged things making their way onto the platform.

Nykaa’s Recent Growth

As reported by Your Story, recently in the month of July of this year, the platform stated that it’s in-house brand Nykaa Beauty has now penetrated into travel care as well as home necessities.

Nykaa’s platform has come a long way since its inception in 2012, and it currently plays an important part in the advancement of the beauty industry.

Nykaa currently has over 5 million monthly active users, 80 outlets across India, and over 500 brands and 130,000 products available via its website, app, and stores, according to CNBCTV18.

The company’s transformation from an online approach to an omnichannel retail model has been a critical factor in its growth. This transformation has had a significant impact on how the brand is currently perceived by its audience, as well as allowing the brand to reach out to a previously untapped demographic.

According to the Economic Times, the Nykaa Fashion label has recently expanded into the intimate apparel area with its Nykd brand. On October 22, 2021, Nykaa announced the acquisition of Dot & Key Wellness, a domestic skincare platform.

Customers are gravitating toward key categories like personal skin and hair care, according to Nykaa.

Nykaa’s Initial Public Offering

The platform’s initial public offering (IPO) was open for subscription from October 28 to November 1, with a price range of Rs 1,085-1,125 per share. Nykaa’s initial public offering (IPO) was oversubscribed by 81.78 times the 2.64 crore shares available.

Investors reacted positively to Nykaa’s initial public offering (IPO) when it was made available for subscription. The platform was launched on the BSE and NSE on November 10 and entered the 1 lakh crore market capitalization club when its stocks closed at 2,206.70, nearly double the issue price, valuing the beauty firm at about $14 billion.

Nykaa Investments is a company that invests in startups.

Nykaa’s parent firm, FSN E-Commerce Ventures Ltd, said on October 27th 2021 that it had raised roughly Rs 2,396 crore from anchor investors prior to its IPO.

Fidelity Management & Research Company has previously invested an undisclosed amount in the platform in late November 2020.

In early April of 2020, the platform received a new $13 million fundraising round from previous investor Steadview Capital, cementing its status as a unicorn.

Steadview Capital, TPG Growth, and Lighthouse Funds are among the platform’s top investors.

Conclusion

Nykaa has recently launched a number of new items, some of which have celebrity endorsements. In addition, they have included a number of new collections into their personal brand.

The platform has a number of big plans in the works to make a difference in the beauty and fashion business, and it’s been focusing on delivering high-quality items and services to users at reasonable prices. The platform has a lot of promise in terms of developing and gaining a more dominant position in the future.

Emotional Intelligence or Intellectual Intelligence: Which is More Important in the Workplace?

Among all the good qualities that effective leaders bring to the workplace, research has proven that our emotional intelligence is more reliable than our IQ in predicting overall success (EI). EI is described as the ability to perceive and effectively manage our own and others’ personal emotions.

What is the Importance of Emotional Intelligence?

A strong proclivity for emotional intelligence, according to research published in the American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, improves one’s ability to make sound decisions, build and sustain collaborative relationships, deal effectively with stress, and cope to a greater degree with constant change. To wit, it enables an individual not only to perform well in the workplace, but also in accomplishing various other goals and objectives in his or her life.

What are the Benefits of Emotional Intelligence for Managers?

EI is also important for workplace conflict resolution, which entails being able to guide others through uncomfortable circumstances, politely bringing issues to the surface, and establishing solutions that everyone can agree on. Leaders who take the time to comprehend other points of view attempt to find a middle ground in conflicts. You can try to make others feel heard by paying attention to how others respond to one another, which will make them more open to compromise.

What is the Importance of Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace?

Emotional intelligence in the workplace begins with each individual from the inside out.. It entails understanding different parts of your feelings and emotions, as well as devoting time to developing self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills. The online Master of Arts in Leadership (MAL) degree from Ottawa University provides you with the tools to assess and analyse your emotional intelligence levels. You’ll also learn ways for increasing your emotional intelligence at various phases of your career.

The 5 Elements of EI by Goleman

So, how does emotional intelligence play a role in workplace leadership? Emotional intelligence contains five critical parts, according to Daniel Goleman, an American psychologist and author of the breakthrough book “Emotional Intelligence.” When controlled, these elements enable leaders achieve a greater level of emotional intelligence.

Self-Awareness

Emotional intelligence includes the ability to detect and understand one’s own emotions. Being aware of the impact of your behaviours, moods, and emotions on others goes beyond simply acknowledging your emotions. You must be able to monitor your own emotions, recognise different emotional reactions, and accurately name each feeling in order to become self-aware. Self-conscious people are also aware of the connections between their feelings and their actions.

Self-Regulation

The ability to control and manage your emotions, which isn’t to mean that you’re putting your emotions on hold and disguising your genuine feelings. It merely entails waiting for the appropriate moment and location to express them. It’s all about expressing your emotions in a healthy way when it comes to self-regulation. Self-regulators are more adaptable and versatile in their approach to change. They’re also skilled at defusing stressful or challenging situations and managing conflict.

Motivation

In emotional intelligence, intrinsic motivation is also important. People who are emotionally intelligent are motivated by factors other than monetary gain, recognition, or acclaim. Instead, they are driven by a desire to meet their own personal demands and objectives.

Empathy
Empathy – or the ability to comprehend how others are experiencing – is an essential component of emotional intelligence. However, it entails more than merely being able to perceive others’ emotional states. It also includes how you respond to others based on the information you’ve gathered. How do you react when you notice someone is unhappy, depressed, or disheartened? You may show them more care and concern, or you could make an attempt to cheer them up.

Social Skills
Another key part of emotional intelligence is the ability to interact well with people. True emotional knowledge entails more than just thinking about your own and others’ feelings. You must also be able to apply this knowledge in your everyday interactions and conversations. Managers gain from being able to form relationships and connections with their staff in professional situations. Workers gain from being able to form strong bonds with their supervisors and coworkers. Active listening, vocal communication skills, nonverbal communication skills, leadership, and persuasiveness are all important social skills.

Given all of these considerations, it’s easy to see why emotional intelligence is important in the workplace. If this research-based theory piques your interest as a business professional, a graduate degree in leadership might be perfect for you. Ottawa University’s online Master of Arts in Leadership programme is the best, fastest, and most economical in Kansas City. The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) has granted this competitive programme accreditation, indicating the excellent quality of business education provided. Ottawa University and its online programmes have been ranked near the top of the best colleges in Kansas City by U.S. News & World Report.

The suffocating sensation of your heart pounding and sinking, the feeling that there is nothing good around you and that you are continually imprisoned in a circle of negativity. This is something that we have all experienced at some point in our lives. Especially in light of the current situation, where the entire planet is on the verge of collapsing due to a virus, every occurrence sends shivers down the spines of practically everyone. We can’t deny that the current situation is having an impact on our emotional and mental health, but we also can’t give in and lose our spark in these trying times. We must gather our resources and fortify our resolve.

Nobody can tell you that being anxious is abnormal. What isn’t natural is succumbing to it and allowing your anxiety to rule you. You’ll need to gather your thoughts and get a handle on the problem before you can figure out how to cope with it. Anxiety is associated with feelings of despair, pessimism, and agitation, yet there are various ways to overcome it.

Nobody can tell you that being anxious is abnormal. What isn’t natural is succumbing to it and allowing your anxiety to rule you. You’ll need to gather your thoughts and get a handle on the problem before you can figure out how to cope with it. Anxiety is associated with feelings of despair, pessimism, and agitation, yet there are various ways to overcome it.

1. Mindfulness

When you feel like everything around you is spinning out of control and you need some time to step back and reflect on your life. Close your eyes and meditate while sitting calmly in fresh air. Meditation is a state of relaxation in which your body is put on hold and all of your muscles relax. The blood pressure drops, and you can feel your thoughts all the way down to your bones. You don’t need to have a clear mind right now; the thoughts that are bothering you need to be acknowledged, and only then will they be expelled from your system.Take a few deep breaths to relax and feel all of the stress leave your body. Be open to all of the positive energies that are all around you.

Meditation is an excellent approach to reduce stress and quiet a racing mind. It is the simplest method to set aside some time to address and eliminate the things that cause you anxiety.

2. Get some rest

A good sleeping routine is required to equip your body to withstand all of life’s instabilities. As simple as it may appear, only those who suffer from anxiety difficulties understand how tough it is to go asleep when your thoughts are continuously bothering you. Anxiety causes insomnia and prevents people from falling into a deep slumber where they are free of all their worries and thoughts. But, as a last note, if you hit the hay and are able to sleep nonetheless, there is a greater possibility that when you wake up, you will feel relaxed and refreshed.

‘A good night’s sleep is the bridge between despair and hope,’ as the saying goes. So, do the same and try to fall asleep, allowing your body and mind to recover on their own.

3. Communicate with your loved ones.

There is nothing more therapeutic than sitting down with your family, close friends, or loved ones and having a great talk with them about all the serious and random things that come up. You can moan, rant, and express your insecurities and thoughts, and after a while, you’ll find a heavy load of anxiety lifting from your shoulders. It is always recommended to people who are dwelling into the phase of anxiety to have a few people in their life who can be their 3 Am friends and can lend an ear to all the venting sessions to help them calm down.

Having a full-fledged conversation involving various shades of emotions helps in calming the mind as well as lightens the mood to its best.

‘A good night’s sleep is the bridge between despair and hope,’ as the saying goes. So, do the same and try to fall asleep, allowing your body and mind to recover on their own.

4. Treat yourself to a spa day.

It never hurts to indulge yourself. Even if you’re in the midst of a bad mood, a little self-pampering can completely transform your mood. It is not necessary to go all out, but a little something goes a long way. Give yourself a pedicure/manicure, take a hot shower, mask, and wear your favourite dress with subtle make-up to notice how this changes the entire dismal attitude into one of self-love.

‘A good night’s sleep is the bridge between despair and hope,’ as the saying goes. So, do the same and try to fall asleep, allowing your body and mind to recover on their own.

Anxiety is a mental illness, and sitting in a corner and obsessively thinking about it isn’t going to assist you at all. Instead, make an effort to do something that makes you feel wonderful and energised.

5. Relax and let go

This is a skill that we all need to master: letting go. You have no control over your cognitive process, and you never know what will trigger you at any given moment. There are a number of factors that make you anxious, and you have no control over them. The greatest approach to get rid of all these ideas and reflections is to scribble them down on a piece of paper. You must let go of everything that is bothering you on the inside and is affecting your mental well-being. And writing it out on paper and clearing your mind of all the toxicity will help you feel better in every way.

Writing is the best way to express oneself, and using it to liberate yourself from all the thinking thoughts in your head is one of the most effective ways to do so.

These were the five most straightforward methods for dealing with anxiety and overcoming it. Anxiety leads to sadness, and the only way to avoid slipping into this pit is to face your problems head on and deal with them as effectively as possible.

Anyone who notices a loved one showing signs of anxiety disorders needs to be empathic towards them so that they can be guided through the process with the utmost care and concern. If you believe they require professional care, do not hesitate to contact a psychologist or therapist to assist them in maintaining their mental health.

We hope that we were able to shed some light on the various approaches of dealing with anxiety problems. None of us is an expert or a licensed psychologist, so these suggestions are just based on our own personal experiences. They might work for some and might not for others, make sure to leave your comments down below if any of these were useful for you to relax your mind and soul and proved to be therapeutic for you.

Many teenagers’ lives are dominated by social media. According to a 2018 Pew Research Center survey of almost 750 13- to 17-year-olds, 45 percent of them are almost always online, and 97 percent use a social media platform like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, or Snapchat But how does social media use affect teenagers?

The Advantages of Social Media

Teens can use social media to establish online identities, engage with others, and form social networks. These networks can be extremely beneficial to youth, especially those who are socially excluded, have impairments, or suffer from chronic illnesses.

Social media is also used by teenagers for enjoyment and self-expression. Furthermore, the platforms can educate kids on a range of topics, including healthy behaviors, by exposing them to current events, allowing them to interact across geographic barriers, and exposing them to current events. Humorous or distracting social media, as well as social media that gives a genuine connection to peers and a large social network, may even help kids avoid sadness.

Social Media Harms

Social media use can also negatively affect teens, distracting them, disrupting their sleep, and exposing them to bullying, rumor spreading, unrealistic views of other people’s lives and peer pressure.

The risks might be related to how much social media teens use. A 2019 study of more than 6,500 12- to 15-year-olds in the U.S. found that those who spent more than three hours a day using social media might be at heightened risk for mental health problems. Another 2019 study of more than 12,000 13- to 16-year-olds in England found that using social media more than three times a day predicted poor mental health and well-being in teens.

Other research has found a link between excessive social media use and depression or anxiety symptoms. Greater social media use, midnight social media use, and emotional involvement in social media — such as feeling upset when unable to go on — were all connected to poor sleep quality and higher levels of anxiety and despair in a 2016 research of more than 450 teenagers.

The influence of social media may also be determined by how teens utilise it. According to a 2015 study, social comparison and feedback seeking by teenagers on social media and telephones is associated with depressed symptoms. Furthermore, a tiny 2013 study indicated that older teenagers who used social media passively, such as by just looking at other people’s images, had lower life satisfaction. These declines did not affect those who utilised social media to communicate with others or upload their own content.

And, according to a previous study on the impact of social media on undergraduate college students, the longer they used Facebook, the stronger their opinion that others were happier than they were. However, the more time students spent socialising with their peers, the less they felt this way.

Experts believe that kids who post information on social media are at danger of disclosing intimate images or highly personal stories due to their impulsive natures. Teens may be bullied, harassed, or even blackmailed as a result of this. Teens frequently make posts without thinking about the repercussions or privacy issues.

Protecting your Teen

You can take steps to encourage ethical social media use and mitigate some of its negative impacts. Consider the following suggestions:

Set sensible boundaries: Discuss with your teen how to keep social media from interfering with his or her activities, sleep, food, or homework. Encourage teens to follow a sleep ritual that excludes the use of electronic media, and keep cellphones and tablets out of their rooms. Set a good example by adhering to these guidelines.

Keep an eye on your teen’s social media profiles: Let your teen know that you’ll be reviewing his or her social media accounts on a frequent basis. You should try to perform it at least once a week. Make certain you complete the task.

Describe what isn’t acceptable: Encourage your kid not to gossip, spread rumours, bully, or harm someone’s reputation, whether online or off. Discuss what is proper and safe to publish on social media with your teen.

Encourage your pals to interact with you in person: This is especially crucial for teenagers who are prone to social anxiety.

Talk about social media: Discuss your own social media usage. Inquire about your teen’s use of social media and how it makes him or her feel. Remind your adolescent that social media is full of unreasonable expectations.

“Meditation can wipe away the day’s stress, bringing with it inner peace. See how you can easily learn to practice meditation whenever you need it most.”

Mayo Clinic Staff

If stress makes you feel uncomfortable, tense, or worried, try meditation. Even a few minutes of meditation might help you regain your sense of calm and inner serenity.

Meditation is something that everybody can do. It’s easy to accomplish and doesn’t cost a lot of money, and it doesn’t require any special equipment.

And you can meditate anywhere you are: on a walk, on the bus, in line at the doctor’s office, or even in the middle of a tense work meeting.

Understanding Meditation

For thousands of years, people have been meditating. Meditation was created to aid in the comprehension of life’s sacred and mystical powers. Meditation is widely utilised these days for relaxation and stress reduction.

Meditation is a sort of supplementary treatment for the mind and body. Meditation can help you achieve a deep state of relaxation as well as a calm mind.

During meditation, you concentrate your attention and clear your mind of the muddled thoughts that may be bothering you and producing stress. Physical and emotional well-being may be improved as a result of this process.

Benefits of Meditation

Meditation can help you achieve a sense of quiet, peace, and balance, which can improve your emotional well-being as well as your general health.

And the advantages don’t stop when you stop meditating. Meditation can help you stay calmer throughout the day and may even aid in the management of symptoms associated with some medical problems.

Meditation and Emotional Well-Being
When you meditate, you can rid your mind of the information overload that accumulates throughout the day and contributes to stress.

The following are some of the emotional advantages of meditation:

• Taking a fresh look at challenging situations
• Developing stress management skills and increasing self-awareness
• Reducing unpleasant emotions by focusing on the present
• Increasing creativity and imagination
• Increasing tolerance and patience

Meditation and Illness
If you have a medical problem, especially one that is exacerbated by stress, meditation may be beneficial.

Despite the fact that a growing body of scientific evidence supports the health advantages of meditation, other academics say it is still too early to draw judgments about its potential benefits.

In light of this, some study suggests that meditation may aid in the management of symptoms associated with diseases such as:

• Anxiety
• Asthma
• Cancer
• Chronic pain
• Depression
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Sleep problems
• Tension headaches

If you have any of these conditions or other health issues, talk to your health care practitioner about the benefits and drawbacks of meditation. Meditation has been shown to exacerbate symptoms of mental and physical illnesses in certain people. Traditional medical care is not replaced by meditation. However, it can be a good complement to your current treatment.

Types of Meditation

Meditation is a broad phrase that encompasses a variety of approaches to achieving a calm state of mind. Meditation can be found in a wide range of relaxation and meditation techniques. All of them are striving for the same thing: inner serenity.

Meditation can be done in a variety of ways, including:

• Guided Meditation: This type of meditation, also known as guided imagery or visualisation, involves creating mental images of places or circumstances that you find pleasant.
  
  You strive to employ all of your senses, including smells, sights, sounds, and textures. A mentor or teacher may accompany you through this procedure.

• Mantra meditation: To avoid distracting ideas, you silently repeat a calming word, concept, or phrase in this style of meditation.
  
• Mindfulness meditation: Being mindful, or having a greater awareness and acceptance of living in the present moment, is the foundation of this style of meditation.
  
  You increase your conscious awareness by practising mindfulness meditation. During meditation, you concentrate on what you’re feeling, such as the flow of your breath. You can watch your thoughts and emotions but not judge them as they pass.
  
• Qi gong: To restore and sustain balance, this practise typically involves meditation, relaxation, physical activity, and breathing techniques. Traditional Chinese medicine includes qi gong (CHEE-gung).
  
• Tai chi: Tai chi is a Chinese martial art. This is a moderate kind of Chinese martial arts. You do a self-paced set of postures or motions in a calm, graceful manner while practising deep breathing in tai chi (TIE-CHEE).
  
• Transcendental Meditation: It is a type of meditation that focuses on the present moment. Transcendental Meditation is a straightforward, natural practise. You silently repeat a personally allocated mantra, such as a word, sound, or phrase, in a precise way in Transcendental Meditation.

Without the need of attention or effort, this type of meditation may help your body to settle into a state of profound rest and relaxation and your mind to achieve a state of inner peace.

• Yoga: To build a more flexible body and a tranquil mind, you execute a sequence of postures and controlled breathing exercises. You’re urged to focus less on your hectic day and more on the present moment as you go through positions that demand balance and concentration.

Elements of Meditation

Distinct styles of meditation may have different qualities to assist you in your meditation. These may differ depending on who you follow for advice or who is giving a lesson. The following are some of the most common elements of meditation:

• Focused Attention: One of the most crucial aspects of meditation is focusing your attention.
  The ability to focus your attention is what allows your mind to be free of the numerous distractions that bring stress and concern. You can concentrate your attention on a single object, an image, a mantra, or even your breathing.
  
• Relaxed Breathing: Deep, even-paced breathing using the diaphragm muscle to expand your lungs is used in this technique. The goal is to breathe more efficiently by slowing your breathing, taking in more oxygen, and reducing the use of shoulder, neck, and upper chest muscles while breathing.
  
• A quiet setting: If you’re a beginner, practising meditation in a peaceful place with few distractions, such as no television, radio, or telephone, may be easier.
  
  You may be able to meditate anyplace as you gain experience, especially in high-stress situations where it is most beneficial, such as a traffic jam, a tough work meeting, or a long wait at the grocery store.

• A comfortable position: Meditation can be done while sitting, lying down, walking, or in any other position or activity. Simply attempt to relax in order to get the most out of your meditation. During meditation, try to maintain a decent posture.
  
• Open attitude: Allow your thoughts to flow through your head without judging them.

Everyday Ways to Practice Meditation

Don’t let the prospect of meditating “properly” add to your anxiety. You can go to dedicated meditation facilities or group programmes guided by certified instructors if you want to. However, you may easily practise meditation on your own.

And you may make meditation as formal or informal as you want, depending on your preferences and circumstances. Some people make it a habit to meditate every day. They could, for example, meditate for an hour at the start and finish of each day. However, all you truly need is a few minutes of great meditation time.

Here are some methods for practising meditation on your own whenever you want:

• Breathe Deeply: Take a deep breath. Because breathing is a natural function, this approach is suitable for beginners.

Concentrate solely on your breathing. As you inhale and exhale through your nose, focus on feeling and listening. Slowly and deeply inhale. When your mind wanders, gently bring it back to your breathing.

• Examine your entire body: Focus your attention on different parts of your body when practising this technique. Become conscious of your body’s many sensations, including pain, tension, warmth, and relaxation.
  
  Combine body scanning with breathing exercises, imagining yourself inhaling heat or relaxation into and out of various body areas.

• Repeat a manta: You can come up with your own mantra, whether religious or not. The Jesus Prayer in Christianity, the holy name of God in Judaism, and the om mantra in Hinduism, Buddhism, and other Eastern religions are examples of religious mantras.
  
  
• Walk and mediate: A walk combined with meditation is an effective and healthful method to unwind. This strategy can be used anyplace you’re strolling, even in a peaceful forest, on a metropolitan sidewalk, or at the mall.
  
  Slow down your walking pace when using this strategy so you can concentrate on each leg or foot action. Don’t put too much emphasis on a specific location. Lift each foot, move your leg forward, and set your foot on the ground, concentrating on your legs and feet and repeating action phrases like “raising,” “moving,” and “placing” in your head.
  

• Participate in prayer: The most well-known and widely performed form of meditation is prayer. Most faith traditions include both spoken and written prayers.
  
  You can pray in your own words or read other people’s prayers. Examples can be found in the self-help section of your local bookstore. Discuss available resources with your rabbi, priest, pastor, or other spiritual leader.
  
  You can also listen to religious music, spoken words, or any other type of music that relaxes or inspires you. You might want to document your thoughts or talk about them with a friend or spiritual leader.
  

• Concentrate your gratitude and loveConcentrate your gratitude and love: You focus your attention on a sacred picture or entity in this style of meditation, weaving feelings of love, compassion, and gratitude into your thoughts. You can also utilise your imagination or gaze at reproductions of the image if you close your eyes.
  

• Read and reflect: Many people say that reading poems or spiritual texts and taking a few moments to ponder on their significance helps them.
  
  

With each transaction, successful businesses produce value for their customers in the form of satisfaction, as well as for themselves and their shareholders in the form of profit. Companies that provide more value with each sale have a better chance of profiting than those that produce less value. It’s vital to understand your company’s value chain in order to assess how much value it generates.

Here’s an overview of what a value chain is, why it’s important to understand it, and how you can use it to help your business create and keep more value from its sales.

Understanding Value Chain

The phrase “value chain” refers to all of the commercial activities and procedures that go into making a product or providing a service. A value chain can span various stages of a product’s lifecycle, from research and development through sales and all in between. In his book The Competitive Advantage: Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance, Harvard Business School Professor Michael Porter developed the notion.

Taking stock of the processes that make up your company’s value chain will give you a better understanding of what goes into each transaction. Your organisation can be better positioned to share more value with consumers while capturing a larger portion of the value created at each point in the chain by maximising the value created at each point in the chain. Similarly, understanding how your company creates value can help you better appreciate its competitive edge.

Components of Value Chain

All of the activities that make up a firm’s value chain, according to Porter’s concept, can be divided into two groups that contribute to its margin: primary activities and support activities.

Primary activities are those that directly contribute to the development of a product or the delivery of a service, such as:

• Receiving, warehousing, and inventory management of source materials and components are all part of inbound logistics.
• Raw materials and components are turned into a completed product through operations.
• Outbound logistics refers to distribution-related activities such as packaging, sorting, and shipping.
• Marketing and sales activities include promotion, advertising, and pricing strategy, all of which are relevant to the marketing and sale of a product or service.
• Installation, training, quality assurance, repair, and customer service are examples of after-sales services that take place after a sale has been completed.
  

Secondary activities are divided into the following categories to help primary operations become more efficient, hence creating a competitive advantage:

• Procurement refers to the activities involved in obtaining raw materials, components, equipment, and services.
• Product design, market research, and process development are examples of activities associated to technological advancement.
• Employee recruitment, hiring, training, development, retention, and remuneration are all part of human resources management.
• Infrastructure includes activities such as funding and planning that are related to the company’s overhead and management.

What is Value Chain Analysis?

Value chain analysis is a method of assessing each activity in a company’s value chain to determine where improvements might be made.

A value chain analysis forces you to analyse how each step contributes to or detracts from the value of your end product or service. As a result, you may be able to gain a competitive edge, such as:

• Cost savings are achieved by making each operation in the value chain more efficient and thus less costly.
• Product differentiation can be achieved by devoting more time and resources to tasks such as research and development, design, and marketing.

In most cases, improving one of the four secondary activities will help at least one of the primary activities.

How to Conduct Value Chain Analysis

1. Identify Value Chain Activities
   Understanding all of the main and secondary actions that go into the creation of your product or service is the first step in doing a value chain analysis. If your organization sells a variety of items or services, this procedure should be followed for each one.
   
2. Determine the Cost and Value of Activities
   After identifying the major and secondary operations, the next step is to assess the value that each activity brings to the process, as well as the associated expenses.
   
   When considering the value provided by activities, consider how each contributes to the end user’s satisfaction or enjoyment. How does it add value to my company? Is it true that using particular materials to build a product makes it more durable or luxury for the user? Is it more likely that your company will benefit from network effects and more business if you include a given feature?
   
   Similarly, knowing the expenses associated with each step in the process is critical. Depending on your circumstances, you may discover that cutting costs is a simple method to increase the value of each transaction.

3. Identify Opportunities for Competitive Advantage
You may assess your value chain through the lens of whatever competitive advantage you’re seeking to
acquire once you’ve compiled it and understand the cost and value associated with each stage.

If your primary goal is to lower your company’s costs, for example, you should assess each component
of your value chain through the lens of cost reduction. Which steps could be made more productive?
Are there any that don’t add much value and could be outsourced or deleted entirely to save money?

Similarly, if product differentiation is your primary goal, which portions of your value chain provide the
best potential to achieve that goal? Would the added value justify the expenditure of more resources?

You can identify multiple opportunities for your company through value chain analysis, which can be tough to prioritise. It’s usually better to start with the changes that require the least amount of effort yet provide the highest return on investment.

Security services guarantee protecting agents against attacks. During agent’s transportation the code is protected as a usual file. At the host site, the agent is open for modifications and very specific methods must be applied for protection.

A processing or communication service that is provided by a system to give a specific kind of protection to resources, where said resources may reside with said system or reside with other systems, for example, an authentication service or a PKI-based document attribution and authentication service. A security service is a superset of AAA services. Security services typically implement portions of security policies and are implemented via security mechanisms.

Facility Management services are designed and delivered according to the customers need; be it housekeeping services, janitorial support, HVAC repairs or pest control. We have shown significant growth over the past few years to become the 4th largest player in this space with a nationwide presence like few others. The clients are as diverse as our services, ranging from households, businesses and industrial establishments.

Cyber security to companies that provide services via the internet. Such as protecting the account of the company, their customer data, and their infrastructure. The cyber security service is based on the protection of computer data, networks, and identity management of companies.

Cyber security services are a branch of technology that protects the computer hardware, software, data and networks from unauthorized cyber attacks from internal and external sources. It is becoming increasingly more important over time, as we face more and more cyber-attacks from a variety of sources. The primary requirement of a cyber security service is to keep the systems and networks safe from external attacks.

Security Services:

A processing or communication service that enhances the security of the data processing systems and the information transfers of an organization. These services are intended to counter security attacks, and they make use of one or more security mechanisms to provide the service. Following are the five categories of these services:Authentication: The assurance that the communicating entity is the one that it claims to be.

• Peer Entity Authentication: Used in association with a logical connection to provide confidence in the identity of the entities connected.
• Data-Origin Authentication: In a connectionless transfer, provides assurance that the source of received data is as claimed.

Data Confidentiality: Protects data from unauthorized disclosure.

Access Control: The prevention of unauthorized use of a resource (i.e., this service controls who can have access to a resource, under what conditions access can occur, and what those accessing the resource are allowed to do).

Data Integrity: The assurance that data received are exactly as sent by an authorized entity (i.e., contain no modification, insertion, deletion, or replay).

Non-repudiation: Protects against denial by one of the entities involved in a communication of having participated in all or part of the communication.

• Proof of Origin: Proof that the message was sent by the specified party.
• Proof of Delivery: Proof that the message was received by the specified party.

There are different types of security services that service providers give to the firms, organisations, or individuals.

• Technical Security Service. This is the most basic security service you can access. … 
• Event Management Security Service. Anything that comes under an event, comes under this type of security service. … 
• Fire Watch Service. … 
• Personal Protection. … 
• Mobile Patrol Security Service.

Political

With the government encouraging make in India campaigns and promoting atmanirbhar Bharat.
The budget for the year is incorporative of several schemes and initiatives that will help businesses and ecommerce websites operate more easily. schemes such as “Ease of Doing Business 2.0” and “One nation, one registration” programs and “Digital Ecosystem for Skilling and Livelihood” (DESH-Stack) portal which will aid business operations with measures such as:
• Digitization for improved transparency and ease of use
• Interlinking of the ASEEM (Atmanirbhar Skilled Employee-Employer Mapping) Udyam, e-Shram and National Career Service (NCS) portals to create connected databases and improve efficiency

Economic

The amazon effect

The Amazon effect refers to the impact created by the online, eCommerce, or digital marketplace on the traditional brick and mortar business model that is the result of the change in shopping patterns, customer expectations, and the industry’s competitive landscape. As online shopping and eCommerce grow in popularity, it has hurt many traditional businesses that are forced to compete with the online marketplace with only a physical location.
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Amazon has enabled small businesses to reach millions of customers across India by providing an ecosystem for them to use. They have been empowered to offer a superlative customer experience while helping these local sellers increase their product exposure, expert endorsements along with product reviews. It has also created a space that can foster these sellers’ unique products and services. .he world.”

Technological

Amazon is virtually in every industry from food delivery, content streaming, e commerce. It is truly an unrivalled monopoly. Amazon has had several fantastic technological innovations in the last decade.
Fire tv
Fire TV is Amazon’s response to similar products from competitors, such as Apple TV and Roku. The product is gobbling up market share quickly. By mid-2019 it had more than 34 million active users.4 The streaming industry measures market share separately for the box and the stick. In the U.S., Amazon’s Fire TV box had a 28.5% share of the market but 57% of the market for sticks.4Its versatility has garnered rave reviews from industry analysts: A Fire TV box streams live TV and allows users to watch hundreds of queued shows and movies. It is also a popular and well-received gaming device.
Amazon Alexa
While the voice-assisted technology isn’t entirely there yet, Amazon’s voice-responding virtual assistant is helping to propel it forward. With the Amazon Echo, Tap, and Dot, Amazon is getting people accustomed to using this technology—and trying to grab their share of the market (versus competitors like Google and Apple). Amazon’s voice assistant, Alexa, is amazing at doing Amazon things (placing orders, finding music, etc.). And she can hear and respond to voice commands at a normal volume from across a noisy room, which is pretty impressive.

Social

the social impact of e-commerce can be measured by satisfaction and trust.
Social media playing a key role in the dynamic in the website consumer relationship. Eith the nuber of people using the internet increasing day by day. the effect social media has particularly on the millennial and gen z is astonishing. Various social media platforms have a strong impact on lifestyles of people today. Facebook, Quicker, Snapdeal, Amazon, Pinterest, and Instagram greatly affect consumers in their online shopping habits with SEO and SMO, and strategies like pay per click advertising whereby they reach the target audience effectively.
Compared to 39.1% of Millennials, 64.2 percent of Gen Z said they draw purchasing inspiration from Instagram. Ethics, sustainability, and equality are equally important to these younger generations. For example, 41% of Gen Z indicated they’d pay more for sustainable apparel, while 73.9 percent of Millennials believe it’s extremely or somewhat essential for firms to demonstrate their support for diversity and equality.

• Over 75% of people are shopping at least once a month online.
• 45% of millennials admitted they prefer buying online because they can run comparisons on products and prices
• Eight out of 10 millennials never buy anything without first reading a review
• 95.1% of millennials admit to impulse shopping
• 83% of Millennials are not concerned about security while online shopping
• 40% of millennials have used voice search before making a purchase online
• More than 53% of millennials prefer to seek out details online rather than talk to store staff when they are in a shop

Social media is also a big influence on their purchase decisions. In particular, 64.2% of Gen Z noted that they get shopping inspiration from Instagram, compared to 39.1% of Millennials. These younger generations also care a great deal about ethics, sustainability, and equality. For example, 41% of Gen Z said they’d pay more for sustainable fashion, while 73.9% of Millennials think it’s very or fairly important that brands show that they are pro-diversity and pro-equality

Environmental

Recycling

Amazon is committed to reducing our environmental footprint through recycling initiatives in our own operations and partnerships that support the development of recycling infrastructure across the industry.
Carbon footprint
Amazon’s corporate carbon footprint quantifies the total greenhouse gas emissions attributed to our direct and indirect operational activities. We measure our total impact on the climate, map the largest activities contributing to this impact, and develop meaningful carbon reduction strategies to reach net-zero carbon emissions across our business by 2040.
Renewable Energy
As part of our goal to reach net-zero carbon by 2040, Amazon is on a path to powering our operations with 100% renewable energy by 2025—five years ahead of our original target of 2030. In 2020, we became the world’s largest corporate purchaser of renewable energy, reaching 65% renewable energy across our business.
The Climate Pledge
Amazon is committed to building a sustainable business for our customers and the planet. In 2019, Amazon co-founded The Climate Pledge—a commitment to be net-zero carbon across our business by 2040, 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement.

legal

In June 2021 by the Department of Consumer Affairs came up with the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) (Amendment) Rules, 2021, placing some stringent rules on ecommerce websites. Amazon as an ecommerce
Some of the rules are
Use of marketplace entity’s name or brand for advertising or sale of products or services: Marketplaces may not use their name or brand to represent that their offers are from the marketplace itself.
Misuse of a dominating market position: An e-commerce business may not abuse its dominant market position in any market. fallback liability: In the event that a seller on a marketplace platform fails to provide goods or services, resulting in a loss to the customer, the marketplace will be held liable.
Advertising that are deceptive: An e-commerce platform should not allow misleading advertisements. Falsely portraying a product or service, (ii) falsely promising or misleading regarding nature are all examples of deceptive advertising under the Act.

PepsiCo is the largest selling beverage the world over, of course after its arch rival Coca Cola. It accounts for a 37% share of the global beverage market, and therefore they need to understand each and every country’s market in order to stay in line with their PESTLE situations. Pepsico is a big brand, currently holds the 23rd place in the Interbrand report of the World’s Leading Brands. Their advertisements feature major celebrities and athletes like David Beckham, Robbie Williams, Britney Spears, Michael Jackson, Kendall Jenner etc.
Their market reach is also very diverse, as they’re present in almost every country from the US to New Zealand. A probable PESTLE analysis for them is given below:

Political:

Major economies like the United States and Canada are politically stable but in many parts of the world civil unrest in certain markets results in sales dip, product seizure, disrupted supply chain, product damage and hence losses. Most importantly, cross border situations are starkly different therefore Pepsi has to stay in line with all those policies and changes so that they can adapt to all those changes accordingly.
Besides, US government initiatives against sweetened carbonated drinks are a threat that could reduce PepsiCo’s revenues in the upcoming future. Due to new introduction of an American tax called the soda tax, the price of soda rose 3 cents per ounce when adopted by Philadelphia. Although this soda tax originated in 2015 but since Philadelphia’s adoption, Oakland, Seattle (Washington), San Francisco, and Boulder Colorado have also integrated this change. The government is trying to make a point- sugar and obesity is the biggest threat to American youth health today and a stop has to be put to it.

Economic:

As the recent economic downturn has plagued the economy, companies had to restructure their sales and marketing campaigns greatly- so they will have to rethink budget. Also, if profits diminish they may have to undergo downsizing internally and re-think upon how to increase the sales. Economic conditions have the highest influence on a business, regardless of what trade it is in.
Social:
Social factors greatly impact Pepsico, as it’s a non-alcoholic beverage it has to remain in line with the strict and stark differences of cultures the world over. Also, Pepsi has to communicate its image as a global brand so that the people can associate it with themselves as something that connects the world together. People are avoiding sweetened aerated beverages (an average can has 40 sachets of sugar) and obesity is becoming a concern- they have to address these concerns.
Pepsico is running various CSR projects globally for food, water and children well-being.

Technological:

With the advent of the new age in technology, companies have completely integrated themselves with all the recent changes that have taken place. To mention a recent trend that has greatly picked up and something that almost every business is turning toward is Social Media for advertising. The social media explosion has allowed for increasingly interactive engagement with the consumers with real time results so Pepsi has to stay ahead of all the developments that take place with keeping in view how the youth of today utilizes technology for their benefit and how can Pepsi reach them in order to keep on increasing brand recall and brand engagement.
E-commerce delivery can also be looked at. Factory automation is another developmental focus area and technology upgradation could help production.

Legal:

There can be many legal implications upon the beverage industry.
Pepsi is a non-alcoholic beverage and is therefore regulated by the FDA. So, they’re supposed to maintain a firm standard of the laws set out by the FDA with consistency. Also, many different markets across the world have different set of regulations that are either relaxed or are either stringent.
In the early decade of this century, Pepsi was accused of using contaminated water in Indian market, given a lab test that was done upon the water flowing into the Pepsi factory that was located nearby an industrial estate. A massive recall was issued for the products from shelves and then the product was tested costing the company many billions of dollars upon the tests as India is a very major market. Pesticide charges were another legal controversy.

Environmental:

Plastic is adding to environmental strain and so bottling /packaging will have to be thought again.
Over utilization of water resources for manufacturing has created a concern today.

Biotechnology’s history

Beginning with the first agricultural settlements, people have been utilising biological processes to enhance their quality of life for over 10,000 years. Humans began to use microbes’ biological processes to manufacture bread, alcoholic drinks, and cheese, as well as to preserve dairy goods, some 6,000 years ago. However, such processes are not included in today’s definition of biotechnology, which was coined to describe the molecular and cellular technologies that emerged in the 1960s and 1970s. In the mid- to late 1970s, a nascent “biotech” sector emerged, led by Genentech, a pharmaceutical firm founded in 1976 by Robert A. Swanson and Herbert W. Boyer to commercialise Boyer, Paul Berg, and Stanley N. Cohen’s recombinant DNA technology. Genentech, Amgen, Biogen, Cetus, and Genex were among the first businesses to produce genetically altered molecules for medicinal and environmental purposes.

Recombinant DNA technology, often known as genetic engineering, dominated the biotechnology sector for more than a decade. Splicing the gene for a useful protein (typically a human protein) into production cells—such as yeast, bacteria, or mammalian cells in culture—causes the protein to start producing in large quantities. When splicing a cable, there are a few things to keep in mind. . A new creature is produced when a gene is spliced into a producing cell. Biotechnology investors and researchers were first unsure if the courts would enable them to get patents on organisms; after all, patents were not permitted on newly found and recognised creatures in nature. However, in the case of Diamond v. Chakrabarty, the United States Supreme Court decided in 1980 that “a living human-made microbe is patentable subject matter.” This decision resulted in the formation of a slew of new biotechnology companies as well as the industry’s first investment boom. Recombinant insulin was the first genetically engineered product to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 1982. . Since then, hundreds of genetically modified protein therapies, such as recombinant growth hormone, clotting factors, proteins that stimulate the creation of red and white blood cells, interferons, and clot-dissolving agents, have been sold across the world.

In a laboratory, a researcher purifies molecules for the manufacture of therapeutic proteins from biological material.
Alamy/Uwe Moser
Methodologies and tools
The capacity to create naturally occurring therapeutic compounds in bigger amounts than could be obtained from conventional sources such as plasma, animal organs, and human cadavers was the primary success of biotechnology in the early years. Pathogens are less likely to infect recombinant proteins, and allergic responses are less common. Biotechnology experts are now working to identify the underlying biological causes of disease and intervene precisely at that level. As with the first generation of biotech drugs, this might imply creating therapeutic proteins to supplement the body’s own resources or compensate for hereditary inadequacies. (A related procedure is gene therapy, which involves inserting genes encoding a required protein into a patient’s body or cells.)

The biotechnology sector has also increased its research into conventional medications and monoclonal antibodies that can halt disease progression. One of the most important biotechnology approaches to emerge in the final part of the twentieth century was the successful manufacture of monoclonal antibodies. Because of the specificity of monoclonal antibodies and their widespread availability, sensitive tests for a wide range of physiologically essential chemicals have been developed, as well as the capacity to differentiate cells by recognising hitherto identified marker molecules on their surfaces. The study of genes (genomics), the proteins that they encode (proteomics), and the wider biological pathways in which they function allowed for such advancements.

Biotechnology’s applications

Biotechnology offers a wide range of uses, including medicine and agriculture. Biotechnology could be used to merge biological information with computer technology (bioinformatics), or it could be used to investigate the use of microscopic equipment that can enter the human body (nanotechnology), or it could be used to replace dead or defective cells and tissues using stem cell research and cloning techniques. Biotechnology has been useful in refining industrial processes through the discovery and production of biological enzymes that spark chemical reactions (catalysts); in environmental cleanup with enzymes that digest contaminants into harmless chemicals and then die after consuming the available “food supply”; and in agricultural production through genetic engineering. Biotechnology’s agricultural uses have been the most contentious. Some environmentalists and consumer groups have proposed GMO bans or labelling regulations to alert people to the rising prevalence of GMOs in the food chain. GMOs were first introduced into agriculture in the United States in 1993, when the FDA authorised bovine somatotropin (BST), a growth hormone that increases milk output in dairy cows. The FDA authorised the first genetically modified whole product the following year, a tomato with a longer shelf life. Since then, dozens of agricultural GMOs have received regulatory clearance in the United States, Europe, and abroad, including crops that make their own insecticides and crops that resist the application of certain herbicides.
creatures that have been genetically modified
Scientific approaches, such as recombinant DNA technology, are used to create genetically engineered species.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. is a company that publishes encyclopaedias.
GMO foods have been found to be safe by studies conducted by the United Nations, the National Academy of Sciences of the United States, the European Union, the American Medical Association, US regulatory agencies, and other organisations, but sceptics argue that it is still too early to judge the long-term health and ecological effects of such crops. The land area planted in genetically modified crops expanded substantially in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, from 1.7 million hectares (4.2 million acres) in 1996 to 180 million hectares (445 million acres) in 2014. Approximately 90% of maize, cotton, and soybeans cultivated in the United States were genetically modified by 2014–15. The Americas were home to the bulk of genetically modified crops.

Over the five-year period from 1996 to 2000, the revenues of the biotechnology sectors in the United States and Europe almost quadrupled. The development of new products, notably in health care, spurred rapid expansion far into the twenty-first century. The worldwide biotechnology market is expected to be worth $752.88 billion by 2020, with significant growth potential arising in particular from government and industry-led efforts to speed up medication research and product clearance procedures.

What is nanotechnology, and how does it work?

Nanotechnology is a phrase used to describe fields of science and engineering in which phenomena occurring at nanoscale dimensions are used in the design, characterization, manufacture, and application of materials, structures, devices, and systems. Although there are many examples of structures with nanometer dimensions (hereafter referred to as the nanoscale) in the natural world, such as essential molecules in the human body and food components, and although many technologies have inadvertently involved nanoscale structures for many years, it has only been in the last quarter of a century that it has been possible to actively and intentionally modify molecules and structures within this size range. Nanotechnology is distinguished from other fields of technology by its ability to manipulate things at the nanometer scale.
Clearly, nanotechnology in its different manifestations has the potential to have a huge influence on society. In general, it is reasonable to expect that the deployment of nanotechnology will benefit both individuals and organizations. Many of these applications include novel materials that act at the nanoscale, where new phenomena are connected with the extremely large surface area to volume ratios observed at these dimensions, as well as quantum effects that are not seen at larger scales. . Materials in the form of ultra-thin films for catalysis and electronics, two-dimensional nanotubes and nanowires for optical and magnetic systems, and nanoparticles for cosmetics, medicines, and coatings are all examples. The information and communications sector, which includes electronic and optoelectronic fields, food technology, energy technology, and the medical products sector, which includes many different aspects of pharmaceuticals and drug delivery systems, diagnostics, and medical technology, where the terms nanomedicine and bio nanotechnology are already commonplace, are the industrial sectors that are most readily embracing nanotechnology. Nanotechnology goods may potentially present fresh challenges for environmental pollution mitigation. However, just as phenomena occurring at the nanoscale may be quite different from those occurring at larger dimensions and may be exploitable for the benefit of mankind, these newly identified processes and their products may expose the same humans, as well as the environment in general, to new health risks, potentially involving quite different mechanisms of interference with human and environmental species’ physiology. These possibilities might be focused on the destiny of free nanoparticles produced in nanotechnology processes and discharged into the environment, either purposefully or accidently, or supplied directly to persons through the operation of a nanotechnology-based product.
Individuals whose jobs expose them to free nanoparticles on a regular basis should be particularly concerned. The fact that evolution has determined that the human species has developed mechanisms of protection against environmental agents, both living and dead, is central to these health risk concerns. This process is determined by the nature of the agents commonly encountered, with size being a key factor. Exposure to nanoparticles with previously unknown properties may pose a threat to the body’s usual defense mechanisms, such as the immunological and inflammatory systems. It’s also likely that nanotechnology goods will have an environmental impact due to processes of dispersion and persistence of nanoparticles in the environment. Wherever the possibility for a completely new risk is discovered, a detailed examination of the risk’s nature is required, which may subsequently be utilized in risk management processes if necessary. It is commonly acknowledged that the hazards related with nanotechnology should be investigated in this manner. Many international organisations (e.g. Asia Pacific Nanotechnology Forum 2005), European Union governmental bodies (European Commission 2004,), National Institutions, non-governmental organizations (e.g. UN-NGLS 2005), learned institutions and societies, and individuals (e.g. Oberdörster et al 2005, Donaldson and Stone 2003) have published reports on the current state of nanotechnology. The European Council has emphasized the importance of paying close attention to potential risks throughout the life cycle of nanotechnology-based products, and the European Commission has expressed its desire to work on an international level to establish a framework of shared principles for the safe, sustainable, responsible, and socially acceptable use of nanotechnologies.

Scope and Definitions

There are numerous definitions of nanotechnology and nanotechnology products, which are frequently developed for specific reasons. The fundamental scientific principles of nanotechnology have been deemed more significant than the semantics of a definition in this Opinion, thus they are addressed first. The Committee believes that the UK Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineering’s definition of nanoscience and nanotechnology in their 2004 report (Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineering 2004) effectively communicates these notions. This implies that the nanoscale extends from the atomic level (about 0.2 nm) to roughly 100 nm. . Because of the significantly increased ratio of surface area to mass, and also because quantum effects begin to play a role at these dimensions, leading to significant changes in several types of physical property, materials in this range can have significantly different properties than the same substances at larger sizes.
The words used in this Opinion are defined in accordance with the British Standards Institution’s recently released Publicly Available Specification on the Vocabulary for Nanoparticles (BSI 2005), which proposes the following meanings for the key generic terms:
Nanoscale refers to objects with one or more dimensions of 100 nanometers or less. Nanoscience is the study of phenomena and material manipulation at the atomic, molecular, and macromolecular sizes, where characteristics differ dramatically from those at higher scales.

• Nanotechnology is the control of form and size at the nanoscale in the design, characterization, manufacturing, and application of structures, devices, and systems.
• Nanomaterial: a material with one or more exterior dimensions or an interior structure that may have unique properties when compared to a similar material without nanoscale features.

• Nanoparticle: a particle with one or more nanoscale dimensions. (Note: Nanoparticles are assumed to have two or more dimensions at the nanoscale in this paper.)

A nanocomposite is a composite in which at least one of the components has a nanoscale dimension. It’s worth noting that nanoscience and nanotechnology have exploded in popularity in recent years, and the terminology used by the respective fields hasn’t always been consistent. Furthermore, as this report points out, there have been and continue to be significant challenges in precisely measuring nanoscale parameters, making it difficult to have complete confidence in data and conclusions drawn about specific phenomena relating to specific features of nanostructures and nanomaterials. This Opinion recognises the inevitability of the situation and has derived some broad conclusions despite the fact that the literature may include contradictions and errors. While this Opinion adheres to the notion that nanoscale presently has dimensions of up to 100 nm, it recognises that certain publications may have depicted nanoscale as having bigger dimensions than 100 nm. Much of the research on particles, particularly that on aerosols, air pollution, and inhalation toxicity, has classified particles as ultrafine, fine, or conventional. Unless otherwise noted, ‘ultrafine particles’ are presumed to be substantially identical to nanoparticles in this research.

Also, when it comes to nanoparticles, keep in mind that a sample of a substance containing nanoparticles will often comprise a variety of particle sizes rather than being monodisperse This makes determining the characteristics of the nanoscale considerably more challenging, especially when considering dosages for toxicological investigations. In this Opinion, references to studies of particle exposure and toxicity data will be made often, and the particle size specified in the publications will be quoted as single numbers (e.g. 40 nm) or ranges (e.g. 40 – 80 nm), with the understanding that they will be approximations.

Furthermore, nanoparticles will have a tendency to agglomerate in specific settings. It’s reasonable to anticipate an aggregation of nanoparticles, which may have dimensions measured in microns rather than nanometers, to act differently than individual nanoparticles, but there’s no reason to expect the aggregate to behave like a single huge nanoparticle. Similarly, it is likely that nanoparticle behavior will be influenced by their solubility and susceptibility to degradation, and that neither the chemical composition nor particle size will remain constant over time. With the aforementioned definitions and disclaimers in mind, it’s evident that there are two sorts of nanostructures to evaluate in terms of intrinsic qualities and health risks: those where the structure is a free particle and those where the nanostructure is an essential element of a larger item.
Nanocomposites, which are solid materials with one or more dispersed phases present as nanoscale particles, and nanocrystalline solids, which have individual crystals with nanoscale dimensions, belong to the latter group. . This category also includes things that have been given a surface topography with nanoscale characteristics, as well as functional components with crucial nanometer dimensions, typically electrical components. Surface alterations can be achieved for medicinal applications by utilizing nanosized materials in particular coatings (Roszek et al 2005). This Opinion acknowledges the reality of such materials and products, as well as the fact that material properties on the nanoscale can affect interactions with biological systems. Despite the fast advancement of the study of interactions between biological systems and nano topographical characteristics, little is known about the potential for such interactions to cause harmful consequences. The danger would be related to the release during usage or at the end of the product’s life cycle, and would be determined by the strength of the adhesion to the carrier material. There is currently no reason to believe that immobilized nanoparticles represent a greater risk to health or the environment than larger size materials as long as the nanomaterials are fixed on the carrier’s surface.
The former group, which includes free nanoparticles, is the one that causes the most worry in terms of health hazards, and is the focus of the majority of this Opinion. . The term ‘free’ should be qualified since it indicates that the material in question is made up of individual nanoscale particles at some point during its creation or usage. These individual particles may be mixed into a quantity of another material, which may be a gas, a liquid, or a solid, to generate a paste, a gel, or a coating, in the application of the substance. Although their bioavailability will vary depending on the phase in which they are scattered, these particles may nonetheless be termed free This category would include ultrafine aerosols and colloids, as well as cream-based cosmetics and medicinal preparations, and it is with these instances that much of the current research on nanotechnology health implications has been focused. The main focus of this opinion is on the possible dangers connected with the manufacturing and use of items using engineered nanomaterials. Proteins, phospholipids, lipids, and other biological nanostructures are not considered in this context

India is a place where one can visit any area for many purposes such as general tourism, medical tourism, religious tourism, games and sports tourism, educational tourism etc. On 11 January 2022, I had the opportunity to visit a wonderful place located about 80 kilometres away from Hyderabad (from my residence of Suncity, Hyderabad) known as Yadagirigutta in Telangana. I am presenting a few lines about the place based on secondary sources and also later on my observations.
Yadagirigutta is a temple town as the famous Lakshmi Narasimha Temple is situated here. It is situated around 16 kilometres away from the district headquarters Bhuvanagiri and 55 kilometres away from Uppal, a major suburb of Hyderabad and already mentioned around 80 kilometres away from Suncity of Hyderabad. It is pertinent to mention that Hyderabad Regional Ring Road passes through Yadagirigutta (wikipedia.org/wiki/Yadagirigutta). Thousands of people visit the place every day. According to the website, yadadri.telangana.gov.in/tourist-place/yadagirigutta, five thousand to eight thousand people everyday visit for pujas, weddings, other family rituals etc. The number of visitors increases significantly on weekends, holidays and festivals. Further, in the context of its name few points are highlighted from the website, (yadadri.telangana.gov.in), “according to the myths of the Third Age, there was a sage named Yadarshi, who was the son of the great sage Sri Rishyasringa Maharshi and Santa Devi. He meditated inside the cave with the gaze of Sri Anjaneya Swami. Sri Narasimha Swami appeared before him, pleased with his devotion. The Swami himself manifested himself in five different forms as Sri Jwala Narasimha, Sri Gandabherunda, Sri Yogananda, Sri Ugra and Sri Lakshminarasimha after Swami and is therefore worshipped as the Pancharama Narasimha Kshetra. The Sudarshan Chakra is a guide for the devotees towards the temple. In the 15th century, the great king of Vijayanagara, Sri Krishnadevaraya, mentioned in his autobiography about the temple that before going to war he would always visit the temple and pray to the Lord for victory. The town is well connected to the capital and the nearest major towns by the Ghat Road. This temple is very popular in the Telangana region”.

I was highly fascinated to see the beauty of the place as from the top place the view was scenic. I observed with my heart and mind, the beauty of nature as well as its pristine beauty. The Temple Committee meticulously arranged the visit of the people without any chaos, etc. As revealed, every day thousands of people visit the place to have a glimpse of Bhagawan Narshimha.
Here, I wish to suggest a few things to the Government of Telangana. While taking the Prasadam by paying a little amount, many people have to stand under the scorching heat. So, I suggest a spacious area should be selected with fully covered. Also, I observed only one counter was in operation where tokens were issued (payment counter) and another counter where Prasadam was distributed. Here, my suggestion is that there should be two more counters if not more. One (payment counter and Prasadam counter) should be for the senior citizens and another (payment counter and Prasadam counter) should be for ladies. Because when I visited on 11 March 2022 there was no separate counter either for senior citizens or for ladies. Only one as mentioned already was functioning for all.
Anyway, I congratulate the Government of Telangana for developing the area as a sequel many have got the job, both self-employment and wage- employment. Even eight years ago the place was not at all developed from a tourism point of view.
(I, Shankar Chatterjee, offer my gratitude to T. Sanjeeva Reddy, Legal Adviser by profession, Libdom Villa, Bandlaguda Jagir, Hyderabad for inspiring me in carrying out my academic activities)

The invasion of Ukraine by Russia, as well as the flurry of punitive measures put on it by the US and European nations, has the potential to have two effects on India Inc. One, if not passed on, the resulting jump in commodity prices might raise input costs and pressure downstream sector margins.

Two, trade and banking restrictions may limit India’s export-import operations in the targeted region unless workarounds are discovered.

However, according to a CRISIL analysis, a few industries, such as steel and aluminium, may profit from increased prices. Overall, the impact of the continuing battle will differ depending on the industry.

. However, as the geopolitical situation improves, a clearer picture, including the credit quality of affected enterprises, will emerge.

Brent crude prices have soared beyond US$130/barrel, up from US$97/barrel before the Russian incursion. Oil marketing corporations are already losing money without a corresponding increase in retail fuel costs. Chemicals and paints industries that use crude oil-linked derivatives as their principal feedstock are feeling the effects of this. As inventory purchased at reduced prices run out, these industries may face a margin compression that might go far into the first quarter of the following fiscal year.

Other commodities will witness increased cost inflation as well. Steel and aluminium prices, which have recently risen from already high levels (Russia provides nearly 6% of world primary aluminium output), will continue to rise. While this would assist local primary steelmakers and aluminium smelters by increasing realisations, it would have a detrimental impact on the construction, real estate, and car industries.

Natural gas spot prices, which are similarly related to petroleum, may continue to rise. However, the downstream industries would be less affected. The higher pricing can be passed on to urea producers who utilise it as a feedstock. However, if the conflict continues, domestic urea supply might become a problem for the agricultural industry, as about 8% of the demand is met domestically.

City gas operators have favourable cost economics compared to competing fuels, according to the credit rating agency, which might allow them to pass on gas price rises downstream – at least to some extent.

Sanctions tied to trade and banking might affect industries that get critical raw materials like crude sunflower oil and rough diamonds, according to CRISIL. Sunflower oil accounts for over 10% of India’s edible oil consumption, with 90% of it coming from Russia and Ukraine.

An protracted battle might disrupt supply to domestic oil mills, which normally keep 30-45 days’ worth of inventories on hand and have few alternatives for changing their source on short notice.

For diamond polishers, persistent trade interruption can raise the cost of raw diamonds, putting a strain on their profit margins. Alrosa, Russia’s largest diamond miner, produces approximately 30% of the world’s rough diamonds, which saw a 21 percent increase in price in 2021.

The persistent semiconductor shortfall is unlikely to provide relief to the automotive industry. This is due to the fact that Russia and Ukraine supply over 75% of the neon gas required in semiconductor manufacturing operations such as etching circuit patterns into silicon wafers to build chips. A lengthy conflict, as well as sanctions against Russia, would stifle semiconductor output even further. According to the rating agency, import dependency on palladium and platinum, which are used in catalytic converters, and nickel, which is used as a cathode in lithium-ion batteries, is low and so may have only a minor impact on the vehicle sector.

The pharmaceuticals industry may only see a minor impact because its shipments to Russia and Ukraine are now free from sanctions, and Indian drugmakers’ exposure to these regions is modest, accounting for less than 3% of overall exports, according to CRISIL. To be sure, the government and the impacted enterprises are expected to take efforts to mitigate the situation, and CRISIL is keeping a close eye on the situation and will analyse its impact on credit quality on a case-by-case basis.

Consumers could also expect a significant increase in the price of animal protein, such as chicken, dairy products, and seafood. Amul, the world’s largest dairy company, hiked retail milk prices by 4% in all Indian markets on March 1st. “Due to growing energy, packaging, transportation, and cow feeding expenses, this price increase is necessary. As a result, the overall cost of operation and milk production has increased “Amul stated in a press statement. Mother Dairy, a milk brand, has also announced a price increase of Rs 2 effective March 6th.

The ongoing conflicts between Russia and Ukraine are expected to have an influence on local wheat and sunflower oil prices. Both nations produce considerable amounts of wheat, and Ukraine is one of the world’s leading exporters of sunflower seeds. Analysts say that while India is self-sufficient in wheat, it does import some high-quality grain. Furthermore, the drop in Russian and Ukrainian wheat prices on the international market would provide an appealing opportunity for Indian exporters, raising local prices significantly. In the last 8-10 days, the price of sunflower oil has risen by around 5% to 10% on the worldwide market. For customers who have been paying historically high prices for over two years, the Russia-Ukraine conflict has dashed any thoughts of relief from high cooking oil costs.

Chicken prices have risen by 25% since January, and industry insiders predict a further increase of 10% to 50% in March in various regions of the nation owing to a severe feed scarcity.

Tea exports, which are referred to as chai in both Russian and Ukrainian, may also meet difficulties. Russia is one of India’s largest tea buyers, accounting for 18% of the country’s tea exports. Given the importance of the Russian market for Indian tea exports, Given that Iran shipments continue to be plagued by payment troubles, which has resulted in a sharp drop in export volumes, the Russian market is critical for Indian tea exports.

Hostilities between Russia and Ukraine are projected to put pressure on India’s agriculture industry, raising costs and limiting availability of potash, a vital component used in fertiliser production.

Belarus and Russia are now the world’s leading suppliers of potash. India, on the other hand, is a large importer of potash, which is utilised in fertiliser production. Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus account for ten percent to twelve percent of India’s total fertiliser imports. . With already-high prices, the government’s subsidy expenditure, which would be necessary to maintain an acceptable retail price for farmers, will skyrocket.

If Russia and Ukraine do not reach an agreement quickly, there is a risk that the war may spread beyond the area. This would be disastrous for businesses. Regardless of whether the battle continues or ends soon, it is likely to result in soaring inflation, which will affect a variety of industries.

A conflict of interest arises when a party’s interests or loyalties are divided as a result of their obligations to more than one person or organization. A person with a conflict of interest cannot fairly represent both parties’ real or projected conflicting interests.

What Does It Mean to Have a Conflict of Interest?

A person or entity having two relationships contending for the individual’s loyalty is said to be in a conflict of interest. For example, the person may be devoted to both his or her employment and a family company. Each of these companies expects the individual to put the company’s best interests first

As a result, there is a disagreement. Personal and professional conflicts of interest might occur.

What is a Conflict of Interest?

In many different scenarios involving personal allegiance and loyalty to a private employer, government employer, or professional connection, a conflict of interest might arise. A public official whose personal interests conflict with their expected loyalty to the organisation, a person of authority in one company or organisation who conflicts with their interests in another company or organisation, or an attorney who tries to represent both parties in a divorce are all examples of conflicts of interest.

Conflicts of Interest: What They Are and What They Aren’t

There are a variety of activities that might lead to a conflict of interest, including:

Nepotism

Self-dealing

excessive remuneration

In situations of employment, promotion, transfer, or termination, nepotism is the practise of offering favours to family and close friends. It was customary practise in ancient times, and the phrase originates from the word “nephew.” Because the relative may not be the best person for the position, nepotism is regarded a conflict of interest.

Self-dealing is when a corporate fiduciary acts for his or her own personal gain rather than the company’s profit. Using business cash as a personal loan is one example, as is buying company shares based on insider information, which is also an insider trading offence. 3 Setting salary or perks for officials, directors, or trustees in a non-profit organisation can lead to a conflict of interest. Paying an employee in a position of significant power exorbitant salary, for example, serves a private purpose. 4

Workplace conflicts of interest may take many different shapes.

There are business-related issues, such as an employee running a side business that competes with the employer, and personal issues, such as a manager having a romantic involvement with an employee. The latter creates a problem since the manager has the authority to grant the employee increases or promotions, and communications between the two persons concerning the firm may also violate confidentiality agreements.

Conflicts of interest are more likely to occur in organizations that rely on a supply chain. An employee’s acquaintance with a supplier, for example, may allow them to bypass the bidding procedure and secure contracts with little or no competition.

Many organizations have laws and processes in place that prohibit conflicts of interest, such as hiring family in specific circumstances.

After-Employer Conflict of Interest

A conflict of interest can arise even after someone has left a post, despite the fact that many institutions prohibit this type of conflict. Executives and business owners are frequently obliged to sign non-compete agreements to avoid scenarios such as someone obtaining their former company’s client list and immediately competing with them.

Former federal workers in the executive branch are prohibited from testifying on behalf of other individuals or organizations before the federal government. This includes limits on “switching sides” after leaving the government and working for a corporation where the official previously worked.

The Massachusetts conflict of interest statute, like those of other government and commercial institutions, prohibits a person from working for anyone other than the government entity on an issue that they worked for the entity on. Business partners and intimate family members may be subject to these post-employment limitations.

Is it Illegal to Have a Conflict of Interest?

Conflict of interest actions, like other sorts of unlawful or immoral behaviour, pose the possibility of negative repercussions. Conflicts of interest in the public sector are illegal under federal and state law, and they can lead to punishment in certain instances.

Government personnel are prohibited from acting personally and materially in official activities in which they have a financial interest under the federal government’s criminal conflict of interest legislation. This limitation also applies to the spouse, minor child, general partner, and a few others. Conflicts of interest can develop from a variety of sources, including:

Investments and assets

• Liabilities
• Funds for private investment
• Ownership of a business or a farm
• Working for a company
• Working for a legal company or as a consultant
• Work with higher education institutions, as well as associated research, speaking, and writing activities

Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) refers to a variety of methods for resolving disagreements without going to court. Mediation, arbitration, and neutral evaluation are examples of ADR methods. Unlike typical court sessions, these procedures are often more private, less official, and less stressful.

ADR frequently saves money and expedites the settlement process. Parties have a vital role in settling their own conflicts through mediation. This frequently leads to innovative ideas, long-term results, increased satisfaction, and enhanced relationships.
In family law, general civil, and commercial law issues, the New York State Unified Court System provides free or reduced-fee mediation and other ADR services. These services are offered in virtually all of New York State’s 62 counties, as well as numerous courthouses and Community Dispute Resolution Centers.
Arbitration: a neutral person known as a “arbitrator” hears both sides’ arguments and evidence before making a decision. The rules of evidence are typically modified in arbitration, making it less formal than a trial. Parties agree to accept the arbitrator’s judgement as final in binding arbitration, and there is usually no right of appeal. If the parties do not accept the arbitrator’s ruling in nonbinding arbitration, they may request a trial.

Collaborative Law is a problem-solving technique that allows divorcing couples and their lawyers to dissolve marriages and reconstruct families without the stress, delay, and expense of traditional litigation. Three elements underpin collaborative law:

1. A promise not to fight issues in court;
2. an honest, voluntary, quick, and good-faith exchange of pertinent facts without formal discovery; and
3. a commitment to seek solutions that include both parties’ and their children’s greatest objectives. Despite their shared dedication to collaborative law concepts, each lawyer has a professional responsibility to zealously represent his or her own client and is not the counsel for the other party.

Mediation: In mediation, a neutral third party known as a “mediator” assists the parties in attempting to obtain a mutually agreeable resolution of the conflict. The mediator does not make a decision in the case; instead, he or she assists the parties in communicating so that they can try to resolve the conflict on their own. Mediation can be especially beneficial when family members are involved. If one side has a major advantage in power or influence over the other, mediation may not be acceptable. To learn more about mediation, click here.

In order to facilitate settlement, a neutral person with subject-matter experience hears abridged arguments, assesses the strengths and weaknesses of each side’s case, and provides an assessment of potential court outcomes. With the parties’ permission, the neutral evaluator may also give case planning advice and settlement aid.

PC stands for Parenting Coordination, which is a child-centered procedure in which a qualified and experienced mental health or legal expert known as a “parenting coordinator” aids high-conflict parents in carrying out their parenting plan. The parenting coordinator may make decisions within the scope of the court order with the parties’ and the court’s previous consent.
Parent Coordination’s goal is to assist parents in resolving child-related problems in a timely manner while also attempting to create safe, healthy, and meaningful parent-child interactions.

Restorative Justice is a process in which stakeholders identify and address the effects, needs, and duties of an incidence of damage or other conflict, and form an action plan to move forward.

Settlement Conferencing: Before going to trial, a court or a judge’s representative meets with the parties and their lawyers to try to resolve some or all of the points in dispute. The parties’ involvement is restricted, and the emphasis is on limiting the issues at hand.
A court appoints a Special Master to carry out some form of action on its behalf. This might entail managing discovery concerns, conferencing cases, or post-judgment action.

Summary Jury Trials (SJT): In this adversarial dispute resolution method, each party presents their case to the jury in a condensed manner. The jury then offers a recommendation, which is simply advisory unless the parties want a binding ruling. A summary jury trial provides parties a sneak peek at what they could get if the matter goes to trial. SJTs are only accessible in a few states.
Advantage and disadvantages of ADR[
• Suitable for multi-party disputes
• Lower costs, in many cases it’s free when involving consumers
• Likelihood and speed of settlements
• Flexibility of process
• Parties’ control of process
• Parties’ choice of forum
• Practical solutions
• Wider range of issues can be considered
• Shared future interests may be protected
• Confidentiality
• Risk management
• Generally no need for lawyers
• Can be a less confrontational alternative to the court system
However, ADR is less suitable than litigation when there is:
• A need for precedent
• A need for court orders
• A need for interim orders
• A need for evidential rules
• A need for enforcement
• Power imbalance between parties
• Quasi-criminal allegations
• Complexity in the case
• The need for live evidence or analysis of complex evidence
• The need for expert evidence

Being a student of Simandhar education has been a valuable experience and has contributed to my personal growth.

Some reasons which make Simandhar stand out when it comes to CPA/CMA preparation are :

• Faculty: Simandhar has highly qualified top faculties which simplify the concepts for you through real-world examples and make the learning experience fun. The mentorship of Sripal Jain sir gives the right direction to your preparation.
• Mock tests and study material:  Simandhar ensures regular revision of topics and helps brush up your concepts via quizzes, mock tests and up to date study material. 
• Placement assistance: The telegram group of Simandhar education regularly keeps the aspirants posted about the latest job opportunities and provide placement assistance. They have corporate tie-ups with some of the Big Four and fortune 500 companies.
• Personality Development: Besides academics, webinars and sessions from the industry leaders provide valuable insights into the corporate world. They also offer soft skills training through initiatives such as the Toastmasters club, which helps build your overall personality.

I can personally vouch for simandhar education. It is definitely worth the investment for your bright future.

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Typically steel does not corrode easily. Perhaps that was the reason why the civil services won the epithet of the steel frame of India but the recent turmoil in Lakshadweep and the episode in West Bengal tells a different story. The former is linked to the loopholes that exist in the administration itself while the latter exemplifies the influence of politics on administration.
The island which was known till yesterday for its natural beauty and booming tourism industry is now under the limelight for all the wrong reasons. The trending #savelakshadweep is the new slogan aimed at drawing the attention of commoners to the threat posed by the controversial policy changes to the local culture of the island. Lakshadweep administrator Praful Khoda Patel has been accused of ‘imposing saffron agenda and corporate interests’.
The administration is being indicted for destroying people’s livelihood, eliminating their staple food (beef), and closing down dairy farms. These alleged religious colored actions have given rise to widespread opposition from the native inhabitants and civil society. The administrator has been given the powers of the district panchayat compounding the argument that administration is the new Goonda-raj. Health, education, fisheries, animal husbandry and agriculture now fall under the jurisdiction of the administrator. An administrator is an agent of the centre, therefore all fingers are pointing to the union government. The protestors are demanding a recall of the administrator. The Kerala assembly even passed a resolution to this effect.
In the second story, West Bengal chief secretary Alapan Bandopadhyay was suddenly recalled to Delhi. The whole tussle started when Bengal CM and Bandyopadhyay left a meeting being chaired by Prime Minister to review damage and mitigation caused by cyclone Yaas. According to the service rules an officer has to report to the prime minister in such an event. The centre has accused the chief secretary of breaching the service rules. However, CM stated that the rules were abided but the centre is of a different opinion.
These two instances show the Dark side of the Indian administration. Ideally, an officer should maintain political, ideological and religious neutrality and work under democratically elected representatives. When neutrality is compromised then the system fails to work for the common good of the country. The case of Lakshadweep is quintessentially a testament to this fact. The voice raised against the administration not only creates mistrust among people but also taints the name of the entire organisation.
The Supreme Court of India described a civil servant as a person who serves a master that is; the state. There is a difference between the state and the political party governing that state. Failure to see this difference by either of the two, the party in power or the officer, is detrimental to a functional democracy. In West Bengal, an officer is on a tight rope because of the animosity between the parties in power in state and centre.
India is one of the most diverse countries in the world needs a strong steel frame to rely on. The corrosive elements like political biases or unabated political pressure, should be kept far away or it won’t be long when we see the beautiful monument of democracy we built from blood and sweat, crumble to dust.

Central Bord of Secondary Education (CBSE) and Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) have been cancelled.

There will be no Class 12 board exams this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday, ending weeks of anxiety among students and parents over the Covid situation in the country. The decision was taken because of “uncertain conditions” due to COVID-19 and based on feedback from different stakeholders, said his office.

Students should not be forced to appear for exams in such a stressful situation,” a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office The health and safety of our students is of utmost importance and there will be no compromise on this aspect,” said the statement, quoting PM Modi.Both CBSE and CISCE Class 12 exams have been cancelled.

Government of India has decided to cancel the Class XII CBSE Board Exams. After extensive consultations, we have taken a decision that is student-friendly, one that safeguards the health as well as future of our youth,” PM Modi tweeted.

The CBSE will now take steps to compile the results of Class 12 students according to “well-defined objective criteria in a time-bound manner”, the PMO release said. Like last year, students who still want to take the exams will be given a chance when the situation improves, said the government.

The decision was announced shortly after PM Modi’s meeting with key ministers and officials from various related ministries and stakeholders.

COVID-19 has affected the academic calendar and the subject of board exams was causing immense anxiety among students, parents and teachers, which had to be put to an end,” said the PMO statement.

The decision comes two days ahead of a Supreme Court hearing in which the Centre is expected to file its reply on a petition seeking exactly this. The court had posted the hearing to June 3 after the Centre requested time.

At a meeting  on May 23, the CBSE had recommended that the exams be held between July 15 and August 26. It also suggested two options: regular exams in 19 major subjects at notified centers and shorter-duration exams at schools where the students are enrolled

A majority of states had favored holding the exam, Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal had said after that meeting. Mr. Pokhriyal was on Tuesday admitted to AIIMS hospital in Delhi with post covid  complications

The Prime Minister asserted that the decision has been taken in the interest of students and that the anxiety among students, parents and teachers must be put to an end.The CICSE had last week asked its affiliated schools to submit data, including average of marks obtained by Class 12 students in Class 11 and during this session.The board had postponed Class 12 exams which were scheduled from May 4 in light of the devastating second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic

The 12 Board exam cancelled . In the prime Minister “said” to the students safety and security it’s very important for the students.

By : G Gnana Priya dharshini

“There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate’s loot on Treasure Island.”– Walt Disney

How does one increase his/her attention span, knowledge, and emotion quotient at the same time? Well, the answer is only a single word – Reading. The fact that reading is such an essential habit to develop cannot be stressed enough. It is not just a habit but an exercise of the mind. Just as our body requires exercise to function well, our brain also requires exercise to develop better and reading does just that.
Understanding the written words is one way by which our mind grows in its ability. Reading exposes us to new information, new things, new places, and new people too. Reading books provides the luxury of traveling to different places from the comfort of our homes. By reading books, we get to travel places that we won’t be able to see in real life and we get to meet people we won’t be able to meet in real life.
Reading is good for everyone, not only kids but also adults.

Why is reading so important?

Reading takes us to a whole different world of imagination. When we read with a focus in silence, our brain becomes clearer and we are able to connect. This helps us to link things to one and another, structure things, and plan solutions. It helps to increase our attention span and fills us up with great amounts of knowledge. Reading broadens our horizons and helps us improve our communication skills by expanding vocabulary.
Reading is also well known to reduce stress and anxiety. Through reading, we are exposed to think in a new way and explore different angles to view something we have known for a long.

Advantages of Reading

Some of the major benefits that one can derive from reading are

Better vocabulary

When we read, we come across so many new words, so many new phrases which we have never heard of. With children, it not only helps with vocabulary but also with learning how to pronounce these words correctly from the start.

Critical thinking

Developing critical thinking is one of the primary benefits of reading books. For example, if one is reading a piece of fiction say a mystery novel or a thriller novel it forces the reader to think and find their way to the climax. Or if the one reads a book that is non-fiction it makes the reader think whether the author is right or wrong or whether their opinion matches with that of the author.

Improves writing skills

Just as we are influenced by the artists and the influencers who we see on Instagram nowadays; similarly, we are influenced by a well-written book. When we read well-written books, it affects our ability to write better as we observe different styles of writing.

Effective communication skills

Reading plays a vital role in improving communication skills by perfecting our oratory skills. It helps us learn new words and perspectives. It helps us strengthen language and sharpens sentence structure. It provides a better command over the language.

Increases focus and concentration

Today when we all are surrounded by the internet and all our attention is diverted to social media and streaming services like Netflix, our ability to concentrate and focus is compromised one way or the other. When we read, we devote all our attention to the story and we tend to absorb details and the rest of the world just moves away. Reading can be a good break from continuous use of smartphones and interaction with the world through social media.

Reduces stress and Anxiety

Stress and anxiety are known to disturb our mental health. In current times when people are stressed or anxious about not one but multiple things like lifestyle, work, health, peer, etc., books of different genres like romance, science fiction, autobiographies, etc helps as a stress buster and helps us be calm and relaxed. By reading people get the time to take their minds off of work-related tensions.

Conclusion

Reading should be made a non-negotiable habit in one’s life. The benefits of reading are remarkable. Books are our best companions, they just give, give and give. It’s up to us how much knowledge we want to gather.

References
https://harappa.education/harappa-diaries/importance-of-reading

Importance of reading

Firstly St Paul’s college is where I am studying in bangalore north most beautiful campus with such a massive interior and exterior of the building is amazing with all four sides covered with trees,plants and birds there is beautiful ecosystem which inside a village like area that college is beautiful and massive colorful with very big campus which greenery when it comes to winter season it will be so cold chilling weather and rain drops falling along plant which is beautiful in nature fresh air chilling during summer you can experience the beauty of college nature is astonishing during raining the college reflects on water like a mirror the college is best known for media studies mostly we have to actually part of college has a massive studio for film and recording everything will happen in that studio in black and red coloured with apple computers best sounding and editing material and studio voiceless chamber no sound can hear from outside it has two level door lock that no one will get to known whatis happening inside and inside people don’t understand what’s happening outside Pinetop silence no voice can be heard from outside if a flood at all happen no one will get to known what is happening that college name is ST PAUL’S COLLEGE which in bangalore that college main head in Italy Rome city main headquarters that college has many branches in india that st Paul’s college bangalore had three head to run the college in smooth surface firstly has a principal DR.FATHER THOMAS M.J principal of the college very kind hearted person in college Seconly FATHER Arockia swami administrative of college thirdly Xaviour Susan sir coordinator of the college and admissions department is taken take by SPC Nagarjuna and Uma mam in college office and fees,receptionist by Mr. Nisha taking outside visitors visit father or any other from outside Nisha reports to father immediately then Shelly sir our technical expert take care of entire college technical support and media support is done by him neatly cleaner who cleans our college neat and clean day and night next we have three department and one spice department

INTRODUCTION:

Sleep is a vital, often neglected, component of every person’s overall health and well-being. Sleep is important because it enables the body to repair and be fit and ready for another day. Getting adequate rest may also help prevent excess weight gain, heart disease, and increased illness duration.The poet is affected when the wind has brought the rain again as it is now splashing into the house through the broken windows.

CONTENT:

“To Sleep” is a poem by William Wordsworth. Here, the speaker is someone who suffers from insomnia. He lies sleepless all night, wanting to be able to sleep, but he cannot. He imagines a flock of sheep leisurely passing by, one after one.The poet sees all of the above while he lay awake in his bed, unable to sleep. b. The poet is trying to fall sleep by imagining all the different sounds that nature enriches the world with .

THEME:

The poem is about the power of sleep to restore the sleeper. The speaker clearly feels that human beings cannot tolerate too much consciousness and need periods of ‘forgetfulness divine’ when the soul can be protected from the troubling thoughts which lurk beneath the surface of conscious thought. The poet William Wordsworth addressed Sleep as a mother in his poem ‘To Sleep’ because he was suffering from insomnia, he was unable to take the blessing of the morning. In our life mother is like our positive vibes, as well as morning comes in our life as fresh thoughts and joyous health.The poet couldn’t sleep for three nights because sleep was running away from him. … Many of us can identify with Wordsworth’s experience of being sleepless the whole night as they are stressed out by the pressures of life and so they cannot fall asleep until the birds twitter their dawn chorus.In Macbeth, sleep symbolizes clear conscience, peace, and innocence. Sleep is vital when it comes to good health and well-being of characters. Sleep is a significant symbol in the play because it tells us more about the inner state of characters.

SLEEP IMPORTANT:

This sonnet by one of the leading second-generation Romantic poets addresses sleep as a ‘soft embalmer of the still midnight’. Sleep allows us to escape from what A. E. Housman referred to as the sour taste of ‘all I ever did’, when one’s conscience begins to prick us, keeping us awake.

BENEFITS OF SLEEP:

The Benefits of Getting a Full Night’s Sleep. Sleep Can Boost Your Immune System. … Gaining Zzz’s Can Help Prevent Weight Gain. … Sleep Can Strengthen Your Heart. … Better Sleep = Better Mood. … Sleeping Can Increase Productivity. … Lack of Sleep Can Be Dangerous. … Sleep Can Increase Exercise Performance. … Sleep Improves Memory.

CONCLUSION:

However, symbolically the word “sleep” suggests death and darkness. Hence, this line refers to a long journey ahead before the speaker could go to eternal sleep of death, or it simply proposes that the speaker has many responsibilities to fulfill before sleeping or dying.

How ever know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.” –

” I want to be like a caterpillar: eat a lot, sleep for a while, wake up beautiful.” –

“What hath night to do with sleep?” – …

Abbreviation:

Symbols-Moral Themes-Contribution-Conclusion Literary history-Character analysis-Two versions of this epic-Similarities between this epic and the bible-Symbols-Moral Themes-Contribution-Conclusion

History of literature:

The Epic of Gilgamesh () is an ancient Mesopotamian epic poem that is considered the oldest extant noteworthy literature and the second oldest religious document after the Pyramid Texts. Gilgamesh’s literary history begins with five Sumerian poems about Uruk’s king, Bilgamesh (Sumerian for “Gilgamesh”). The “Old Babylonian” form, which originates from the 18th century BCE and is named after its incipit, is the first surviving version of this composite epic. The Standard Babylonian version was afterwards created.

Character Evaluation:

In this epic, the main characters are…

Gilgamesh Enkidu Humbaba shamath Ishtar Gilgamesh Enkidu Humbaba shamath Ishtar Gilgamesh Enkidu


GILGAMESH

Uruk’s King, the most powerful of mankind, two-thirds deity and one-third mortal, and the ideal embodiment of all human virtues. He is a valiant warrior, a just judge, and a visionary builder.

ENKIDU

Gilgamesh’s companion and friend. Enkidu was reared by animals and has a hairy and muscular body. Enkidu resembles Gilgamesh in appearance and is physically comparable to him. He wishes to be Gilgamesh’s adversary, but instead finds himself to be his soul partner. Gilgamesh and Enkidu are punished by the gods, who give Enkidu a lengthy, painful, and ignominious death for murdering the monster Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven.

HUMBABA

The terrifying demon who defends the Cedar Forest, which is off-limits to mortals. He is the epitome of awe-inspiring natural power and danger. Like an exploding volcano, his mouth is fire, he roars like a flood, and he breaths death.

ISHTAR

She is the goddess of love and fertility, as well as war. Ishtar is known as the “Queen of Heaven.” She is a caring mother figure at times and a bitter and vicious mother figure at other times, despite her unpredictability. She is the patroness of Uruk, which has a temple dedicated to her.

THE SHAMHAT

Shamhat works as a prostitute at a temple. She begins the process of bringing Enkidu into civilization by sleeping with him.

There are two variants available.

Two main versions of the epic have been largely reconstructed from the many sources discovered: the Standard Babylonian version, or He who saw the depths, and the Old Babylonian version, or Surpassing all other kings.

Version in Babylonian standard

The opening lines, or incipit, of the Standard Babylonian version differ from the older form. The earlier version begins with the lines “Surpassing all previous kings,” whereas the Standard Babylonian version begins with the lines “He who saw the deep” (“deep” alluding to the mysteries of Gilgamesh’s information brought back from his meeting with Utnapishtim) regarding Ea, the spring of learning.Gilgamesh was taught how to worship the gods, why human beings must die, what qualities make a good monarch, and how to live a decent life. The Babylonian epic contains the account of Utnapishtim, the hero of the flood myth.

Versions from Babylonian times

This version of the epic, known as surpassing all other monarchs in certain pieces, is made up of tablets and fragments from various sources and degrees of preservation. It is mostly incomplete, with several tablets missing and large gaps in those that have been discovered. They are given names based on their current location or the site where they were discovered.

There are some parallels between this epic and the Bible:

As a companion for Gilgamesh, the gods create Enkidu, who runs wild with the animals in the open plains. The Garden of Eden account in Genesis and the myth of Enkidu’s transition from nature to culture and civilization have some striking parallels. In both cases, a woman is blamed for causing a man who had previously eaten and drunk with the animals to become estranged from nature. When Enkidu is rejected by the animal world, Shamhat clothe him and teaches him to drink beer and eat bread, both of which are technological advancements that distinguish humans from animals.

Symbols include:

Religious symbolism abounds in Gilgamesh. Sacrifices, festivals, sex, dream interpretation, and shamanic magic were all part of Mesopotamian religious ceremonies, and they all feature in the storey. The hirsuteness of Enkidu represents the natural, uncivilised state.

Themes of morality:

The Epic of Gilgamesh has a number of moral themes, the most important of which is that love is a motivating force. The inevitability of death and the dangers of engaging with the gods are two more moral themes in this epic. Enkidu and Gilgamesh’s friendship motivates both of them to become better men in different ways.