President Droupadi Murmu supports the SOAR initiative as Jayant Chaudhary and multiple MPs complete formal AI certification.
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From Certification to Nomination: How ‘Skill the Nation’ Took Shape Inside Government Circles
The ‘Skill the Nation’ challenge took shape within government circles this week as senior leadership participation moved beyond endorsement into direct learning and peer nomination. The sequence began with the Hon’ble President of India, Droupadi Murmu, extending support to the SOAR AI learning programme, followed by ministers, Members of Parliament, and students completing formal certification.
A visible shift occurred as Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, completed the SOAR ‘AI to be Aware’ module himself. Following certification, he nominated three individuals to continue the learning chain: Nara Lokesh, Minister for Information Technology, Electronics and Communications, Government of Andhra Pradesh; Gaurav Dwivedi, Chief Executive Officer of Prasar Bharati; and Nitin Narang, President of the All India Chess Federation.
The initiative has also seen participation from the legislative branch. Fifteen Members of Parliament across the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have completed the SOAR module, signalling cross-party engagement with AI literacy at a time when technology policy and governance increasingly intersect.
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From short-form content to feature films, TMKOC’s animation strategy takes shape
Neela Mediatech brings Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah to feature-length 3D animation as founder Asit Kumarr Modi and CEO Harjeet Chhabra outline the franchise’s next digital phase
After building a sizeable digital footprint through short-form animation, rhymes, and mobile-first content, Neela Mediatech is extending the Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah universe into feature-length 3D animation. The move signals a shift from snackable digital formats to long-form storytelling designed for sustained viewing on open platforms.
The company has announced the release of two feature-length animated films based on Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, both scheduled to premiere on YouTube. The first title, Gokuldham to Galacto, is set to release on December 31, followed by The Big Fat Alien Wedding on January 26. Both films will be available in six Indian languages-Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam-allowing the franchise to address regional audiences beyond its traditional television base.This marks Neela Mediatech’s entry into feature-length 3D animation, building on the traction achieved by its animated rhymes and children’s content. The company has spent the last three years structuring TMKOC as a multi-format digital property, spanning gaming, gamified education, and short-form animation. The new films represent a deliberate step toward longer narrative formats that encourage repeat viewing and platform-led discovery.
According to Asit Kumarr Modi, Founder of Neela Mediatech, animation offers a way to carry the core emotional intent of the original television show into a generation that increasingly consumes content on digital platforms. He noted that TMKOC was conceived as a family-oriented property rooted in community and everyday humour, and that animation allows those values to be preserved while adapting to changing viewing habits.While the films introduce new narrative settings, the storytelling remains anchored in familiar characters and relational dynamics. Each title functions as a standalone viewing experience while also contributing to a broader animation pipeline that the company is developing around the franchise.
From an operational perspective, the decision to release the films on YouTube reflects a focus on scale and accessibility rather than platform exclusivity. Harjeet Chhabra, CEO of Neela Mediatech, said the company views digital platforms as enablers of steady, long-term growth rather than one-time release windows. He highlighted that animation provides creative flexibility to reinterpret characters, experiment with humour, and gradually expand the audience base across age groups.The move also aligns with broader shifts in how legacy television IPs are being repositioned for digital consumption. By investing in feature-length animation, Neela Mediatech is attempting to extend the life cycle of TMKOC beyond episodic television, creating content that can travel across languages, regions, and viewing contexts without reliance on broadcast schedules.
With animation now positioned as a dedicated vertical alongside gaming and learning-led platforms, Neela Mediatech is continuing to structure TMKOC as an IP-driven digital business. The two films serve as an early indicator of how the company plans to balance familiarity with format evolution as it builds the next phase of the franchise’s digital presence.At Prittle Prattle News, we honor your dedication and inventiveness led by showcasing you in a positive light. Under the direction of Editor-in-Chief Smruti Bhalerao, our platform is committed to disseminating powerful narratives that raise awareness and motivate change. For more important stories, follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.
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What changed before the price was announced tells the real Seltos story
Kia India prices the all-new Seltos from ₹10.99 lakh as CEO Gwanggu Lee details the platform, safety, and scale decisions behind the second-generation model
Long before the price of the second-generation Seltos was made public, the direction Kia India had taken with the model was already evident in the engineering and product decisions beneath it. The all-new Kia India Seltos arrives at a starting price of ₹10.99 lakh, but its positioning has been shaped less by a number and more by a sequence of choices around platform, safety architecture, cabin scale, and technology depth.
The latest iteration of the Seltos is built on Kia’s global K3 platform, making its India debut with this model. The shift to a new platform is central to the car’s identity, allowing changes in proportions, structural rigidity, and ride refinement that would not have been possible through incremental updates. At 4,460 mm in length with a wheelbase of 2,690 mm, the new Seltos carries a visibly larger footprint, translating directly into improved cabin space and a more planted stance on the road.Speaking at the price announcement, Gwanggu Lee, Managing Director and CEO of Kia India, framed the new Seltos as a product shaped by long-term intent rather than short-term competition. He noted that the objective was to raise standards across space, safety, and technology while maintaining a value proposition that Indian buyers associate with the nameplate. The second-generation model, he said, reflects a broader effort to reinforce customer confidence and regain momentum in a segment that has grown increasingly crowded.
Safety has been one of the most deliberate focus areas in the development of the new Seltos. The vehicle comes with a 24-feature standard safety package, including six airbags, ABS, and hill-start assist, supported by Level 2 ADAS offering 21 autonomous features. These systems are integrated into the vehicle architecture rather than positioned as optional enhancements, underlining Kia’s attempt to normalise advanced driver assistance within the mid-SUV category.Inside the cabin, the emphasis shifts to digital integration and everyday usability. A 75.18 cm panoramic display panel dominates the dashboard, combining instrumentation and infotainment into a single visual plane. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are offered alongside a premium Bose audio system, while features such as proximity-based smart key access and powered driver seating reflect an effort to blend convenience with perceived sophistication. The design approach remains restrained, favouring layout clarity over ornamentation.
Powertrain choices remain broad, with petrol and diesel options spanning multiple transmission formats. The lineup includes the Smartstream G1.5 petrol, the G1.5 T-GDI petrol, and a 1.5-litre CRDi diesel engine, paired with manual, intelligent manual, IVT, DCT, and automatic transmissions. This range allows the Seltos to cater to varied driving preferences without pushing buyers into a narrow specification band.Manufacturing for the new Seltos has already commenced at Kia’s Anantapur facility, allowing the company to align pricing with a planned production ramp-up rather than speculative demand. The price announcement signals readiness for scale, supported by a nationwide network of 821 touchpoints across 369 cities. This reach remains one of Kia India’s structural advantages, enabling the brand to serve both metro and emerging markets with comparable access to sales and service.
Beyond the product itself, the ownership ecosystem continues to be positioned as part of the offering. Digital tools such as the MyKia app, extended warranty options, and long-term roadside assistance packages form part of the broader pitch, reinforcing predictability over novelty. The focus appears to be on reducing friction across the ownership cycle rather than relying on one-time feature appeal.In a segment where updates often arrive as cosmetic refreshes, the second-generation Kia Seltos distinguishes itself through the sequence of decisions that preceded its pricing. Platform migration, safety standardisation, and dimensional expansion came first. The number followed. That order may explain why the Seltos enters its next phase not as an incremental upgrade, but as a product shaped around fundamentals that Kia believes will matter over the long term.
At Prittle Prattle News, we honor your dedication and inventiveness led by showcasing you in a positive light. Under the direction of Editor-in-Chief Smruti Bhalerao, our platform is committed to disseminating powerful narratives that raise awareness and motivate change. For more important stories, follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.
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Why passing the UK ACCA in 2026 will depend more on structure than effort
Dr Kamal Chhabra, Founder and CEO of KC GlobEd, outlines how syllabus clarity, time planning, and exam technique shape outcomes across ACCA levels
Passing the UK ACCA examinations in 2026 is unlikely to be decided by the number of hours a student studies. Instead, it will be shaped by how clearly candidates understand the structure of the qualification, how deliberately they plan their preparation, and how effectively they apply exam technique across different levels of the syllabus.
According to Dr Kamal Chhabra, Founder and CEO of KC GlobEd, the most consistent shift he observed among ACCA aspirants in recent years has been the growing gap between effort and outcome. While many students commit long study hours, fewer invest enough time in understanding how the ACCA exams are designed to test application, judgement, and prioritisation rather than memory.The ACCA qualification is structured across three progressive levels: Applied Knowledge, Applied Skills, and Strategic Professional. Each level tests a different dimension of professional readiness. Early papers focus on conceptual grounding, but as candidates move forward, the exams increasingly evaluate decision making, scenario analysis, and commercial awareness. Dr Chhabra notes that candidates who treat all levels with the same preparation mindset often struggle to adapt as expectations change.
In 2025, a recurring pattern among unsuccessful candidates was a lack of syllabus mapping. Many students approached preparation subject by subject without fully understanding how topics are weighted, how questions are framed, or how marks are distributed within each paper. This often resulted in disproportionate effort spent on low-impact areas, while higher-weighted sections received limited attention. For 2026, such misalignment is likely to be costlier, as exams continue to emphasise integration of concepts rather than isolated topic recall.Time planning has emerged as another defining factor. Candidates who plan preparation only around exam dates tend to compress learning, revision, and practice into the final weeks. Dr Chhabra emphasises that effective preparation requires separating these phases early on. Concept building, question practice, and revision need distinct timelines, with regular checkpoints to assess readiness. Without this structure, even well-prepared students struggle to perform under exam conditions.
Equally critical is familiarity with exam technique. ACCA papers reward clarity, relevance, and professional presentation. Many answers fail not because the candidate lacks knowledge, but because responses do not directly address what the question demands. In scenario-based papers, markers look for applied reasoning, not textbook definitions. Candidates who practise only content consumption without timed question attempts often discover too late that they are unable to structure answers within the allotted time.Mock tests and self-assessment play a central role in bridging this gap. Dr Chhabra points out that candidates who regularly attempt mocks under exam conditions develop an instinct for pacing, prioritisation, and answer framing. These skills cannot be developed through passive study. Reviewing mock performance, identifying weak areas, and revisiting concepts with intent helps convert effort into measurable improvement.
Another shift observed during the year was the growing importance of maintaining consistency over intensity. Students who followed realistic study schedules, balanced preparation with rest, and avoided burnout tended to perform more reliably than those who relied on last-minute surges. Mental clarity and confidence, especially during professional-level papers, often determine how well candidates interpret complex scenarios and manage pressure.As the 2026 exam cycle approaches, Dr Chhabra believes that candidates who succeed will be those who treat preparation as a structured process rather than an endurance test. Understanding how the ACCA evaluates competence, planning study phases deliberately, and practising application-driven questions consistently will matter far more than sheer volume of study hours.
The difference between passing and falling short, he notes, increasingly lies in preparation discipline. In a qualification designed to reflect real-world professional judgement, structure has become the decisive advantage.At Prittle Prattle News, we honor your dedication and inventiveness led by showcasing you in a positive light. Under the direction of Editor-in-Chief Smruti Bhalerao, our platform is committed to disseminating powerful narratives that raise awareness and motivate change. For more important stories, follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.
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When December behaved unlike the rest of the year, Kia India took notice
Senior Vice President Atul Sood reflects on how 369 cities and 821 touchpoints changed the equation
When December behaved unlike the rest of the year, Kia India paused to examine what had changed beneath the surface. After a calendar year marked by steady but measured movement, the final month delivered a sharp departure from the prevailing trend, forcing a closer look at how demand, distribution, and execution aligned at precisely the right moment.
The carmaker closed Calendar Year 2025 with wholesale volumes of 280,286 units, a 15 percent increase over the previous year. While that growth reflected consistency across most months, December stood apart. Wholesale dispatches for the month reached 18,659 units, more than double the volumes recorded in December 2024. The divergence was significant enough to reframe how the year would ultimately be read, not as a linear climb, but as a year where structure and readiness mattered more than pace.According to Atul Sood, Senior Vice President Sales and Marketing, the December outcome was less about a sudden surge in demand and more about alignment across multiple levers. Product mix optimisation, calibrated trim strategies across high-volume models, and an expanded retail and service footprint converged at a time when consumer sentiment showed visible improvement. The result was a month that behaved differently from the rest of the calendar.
Much of that stability during the year came from familiar nameplates. The compact SUV Kia Sonet crossed the 100,000-unit sales mark for the second consecutive year, providing a dependable base in a highly competitive segment. Alongside it, the Kia Seltos and the Kia Carens continued to contribute steadily, helping smooth volatility even when monthly demand patterns fluctuated. Newer additions such as the Carens Clavis and Carens Clavis EV added incremental momentum, while premium offerings like the Carnival Limousine and EV6 catered to a narrower but consistent buyer cohort.What amplified December’s impact, however, was the scale of Kia India’s distribution network by the end of the year. The company expanded its presence to 369 cities with 821 touchpoints, a reach that fundamentally altered how demand translated into wholesales. Wider geographic coverage meant that improved sentiment was not confined to a handful of urban centres, but could be converted into volumes across multiple markets simultaneously.
This distribution depth allowed the company to respond faster and more evenly as buying intent firmed up. Rather than relying on aggressive incentives or short-term pushes, Kia’s December performance reflected the payoff from having sales, service, and logistics infrastructure already in place. The network expansion was not built for a single month, but December became the clearest demonstration of its value.Looking ahead, the company expects this structural base to play a central role in 2026. The recently introduced new Seltos is positioned to carry forward momentum in the SUV category, supported by the consistent performance of Sonet and Carens variants. The focus, Sood indicated, remains on value-led offerings and strengthening the ownership experience rather than chasing volume spikes in isolation.
In that sense, December did more than lift the year-end numbers. It offered a glimpse into how preparation, reach, and portfolio balance can reshape outcomes when conditions align. For Kia India, the clearest signal of 2025 arrived not in the middle of the year, but at its very end.At Prittle Prattle News, we honor your dedication and inventiveness led by showcasing you in a positive light. Under the direction of Editor-in-Chief Smruti Bhalerao, our platform is committed to disseminating powerful narratives that raise awareness and motivate change. For more important stories, follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.
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Jindal IVF, Lissun, MedScore, EVeium, Zelio and Oakter trace the operational shifts that defined 2025
Mannuri Vamshi Krishna, Dr Sheetal Jindal, Dr Preeti Singh, Shishir Gupta, Sameer Moidin, Kunal Arya and Amjad Raza Khan share year-end perspectives on healthcare, mobility, mental health, IoT and digital finance
As 2025 draws to a close, the year stands out less for headline-grabbing disruption and more for the quieter operational shifts that reshaped how Indian companies build, scale, and sustain their businesses. Across healthcare, mental wellness, electric mobility, IoT, and digital finance, founders point to a common undercurrent: systems mattered more than speed, and discipline mattered more than noise.
For MedScore, the past year marked a fundamental change in how India’s healthcare supply chain approaches financial decision-making. According to Mannuri Vamshi Krishna, Founder and CEO, 2025 was when intuition-led credit practices gave way to real-time financial intelligence. Working closely with pharmaceutical distributors and retailers, MedScore observed how delayed payments and informal lending had long constrained access to essential medicines, particularly in non-metro markets. By introducing structured credit scoring and digital financial identities, the company saw stability in cash flows emerge as a critical foundation for stability in healthcare delivery itself. Looking ahead to 2026, MedScore plans to deepen ERP integrations and expand its scoring infrastructure to bring credit discipline further into India’s B2B pharma ecosystem.In fertility care, Jindal IVF reflected a year shaped by growing patient confidence and steady clinical performance. Dr Sheetal Jindal, Senior Consultant and Medical Director, noted that 2025 saw a noticeable shift toward more informed decision-making among couples seeking fertility treatment. Increased demand for advanced diagnostics and consistent outcomes across IVF and IUI cycles pushed the centre to strengthen laboratory efficiency and treatment planning, while maintaining a clear focus on ethical and transparent care. The continued inflow of families travelling from across North India, she said, reinforced the importance of dependable results and clear communication as the basis for sustainable growth.
The year also saw mental health care move steadily toward more structured and preventive models. At Lissun, Dr Preeti Singh, Chief Medical Officer, observed rising demand for early-stage interventions, particularly for children and young adults. Challenges such as anxiety, developmental delays, burnout, and parenting stress became more visible, alongside greater involvement from families and caregivers in the therapeutic process. Technology-enabled tools played a growing role in extending care beyond clinic walls, but Dr Singh emphasised that empathy, clinical judgment, and sustained human connection remained central to effective outcomes. As 2026 approaches, Lissun expects greater focus on personalised care pathways and hybrid models that blend digital and in-person support.In consumer technology and smart home adoption, Oakter described 2025 as a year of consolidation and proof. Shishir Gupta, Co-founder and CEO, said Indian households increasingly chose practical, durable, India-designed smart devices that simplified everyday living. The company crossed one million B2C customers since inception, added 145,000 new customers during the year, and recorded 55 percent year-on-year revenue growth while remaining profitable without external investment. Strong demand across online platforms is now driving preparations for wider category expansion, deeper retail presence, and a more focused direct-to-consumer strategy in the year ahead.
Electric mobility continued its steady advance, particularly beyond metro markets. For EVeium Smart Mobility, 2025 was defined by deeper localisation and tighter control over manufacturing and quality. Sameer Moidin, Founder and CEO, pointed to rising demand for durable, high-utility electric two-wheelers in Tier II and Tier III regions, prompting investments in battery and motor capabilities, supplier expansion, and stronger dealer partnerships. These efforts, he said, helped build trust across the customer and service network, setting the stage for scalable growth in 2026.At Zelio E-Mobility, the year carried additional significance with the company’s SME IPO and BSE listing in September 2025. Kunal Arya, Co-founder and Managing Director, described the listing as a defining milestone that reinforced market confidence. A 77 percent increase in H1 FY26 revenue, alongside new launches and portfolio upgrades across low- and high-speed electric two-wheelers, underlined the company’s focus on innovation and scale as it transitions into its next phase as a listed EV brand.
Digital finance and cryptocurrency infrastructure also underwent recalibration. At Cashaa, Amjad Raza Khan, Co-founder and CEO, reflected on the company’s evolution toward sovereign finance. In 2025, Cashaa laid the groundwork for its Deobank model by developing compliant, non-custodial wallets and AI-powered Earn and Borrow products designed around over-collateralisation and regulatory discipline. With more than 130 global payment corridors activated and progress toward Visa card integration, the company views 2026 as a year when innovation and compliance converge to reshape how capital moves across borders.Taken together, these reflections reveal a year where Indian companies across sectors prioritised operational clarity, trust, and resilience over rapid expansion alone. Whether in healthcare credit, fertility treatment, mental wellness, mobility, or financial infrastructure, 2025 marked a shift toward building foundations that can sustain growth over the long term. As these leaders look to 2026, the emphasis is clear: systems first, scale next.
At Prittle Prattle News, we honor your dedication and inventiveness led by showcasing you in a positive light. Under the direction of Editor-in-Chief Smruti Bhalerao, our platform is committed to disseminating powerful narratives that raise awareness and motivate change. For more important stories, follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.