Hari Shankar Singhania School of Business (HSB), a pioneering, technology-driven business school at JK Lakshmipat University, Jaipur, has appointed, Prof. Archana Shukla, as its new Director, effective August 1, 2025. She succeeds Prof. Gregory Dunn.

An IIT Kanpur alumna with a PhD in Psychology, Prof. Shukla is an eminent academic with over three decades of experience in teaching, research, and academic leadership, specialising in organisational behaviour and knowledge management.

Prof. Archana Shukla, Director, Hari Shankar Singhania School of Business (HSB)

At HSB, Prof. Shukla will lead the flagship two‒year UGC‒accredited residential MBA programme with specialisation tracks in digital product management, artificial intelligence and business analytics, and entrepreneurship and organisational foresight.

Warmly welcoming the appointment of Prof. Shukla, Shri B.H. Singhania, Chancellor, JK Lakshmipat University, said, “Her appointment as the Director of our premier business school will advance HSB’s mission of blending academic rigour with real-world relevance. Her remarkable track record at IIM Lucknow and her expertise in organisational behaviour will be instrumental in nurturing global business leaders who are ready to shape tomorrow’s enterprises.”

Prof. Shukla served for six years as Director of IIM Lucknow, and previously as Dean of the IIM Lucknow Noida Campus for over three years. She was the first chairperson of Dr. Ishwar Dayal Chair for futuristic Issues in the Behavioral Sciences (2015-2017). Her work spans designing and delivering management development programmes on leadership, strategic thinking, team building, and managerial effectiveness, as well as culture building, coaching, and assessment centres for organisations including KPMG, Mahindra & Mahindra, Samsung, Reckitt Benckiser, Johnson & Johnson, and the GMR Group.

Commenting on her appointment, Prof. Archana Shukla said, “I am honoured to join HSB at this pivotal phase. The institution’s vision is perfectly aligned with the demands of a rapidly evolving global business landscape. I look forward to working with faculty, students, and industry mentors to elevate HSB’s impact internationally.”

Founded in 2024 in memory of visionary industrialist and philanthropist Mr.Hari Shankar Singhania, Founding Chancellor of JK Lakshmipat University and former President of JK Organisation, HSB is committed to developing leaders who can navigate rapid technological change and global disruptions with agility and foresight.

About JK Lakshmipat University
Hari Shankar Singhania School of Business (HSB) has been launched by the $4Bn JK Organisation in Oct ’23 under the aegis of JK Lakshmipat University (JKLU). JKLU is a 12 year old private University, approved by UGC and accredited by NAAC, with a 30 acres campus in Jaipur. It has approx. 1000 students on campus across its UG Programmes in Computer Sciences, Design and Business.

Vels Institute of Science, Technology and Advanced Studies (VISTAS), recognised as one of the best deemed university in Chennai, hosted a grand Freshers’ Inauguration Ceremony 2025 at its vibrant campus.The event attracted an impressive attendees of 12,863, including students and their parents, marking the beginning of an exciting and transformative academic journey at Vels University.

Vels University Hosts Grand Freshers’ Inauguration 2025 with famous Media Personality R. Rangaraj Pandey as Chief Guest

The ceremony was presided over by Mr. R. Rangaraj Pandey, a renowned television journalist and media personality celebrated for his engaging communication and thought provoking insights. The event was also graced by Vels University Founder Chancellor Dr. Ishari K. Ganesh, Vice President Dr. Preethaa Ganesh, and other senior academicians from the Vels Group of Institutions.

In his keynote address, Mr. Pandey encouraged students to embrace accountability, adaptability, and commitment as core values for success. He urged them to improve their communication skills, overcome fear, wake up early, remain curious, and develop both general knowledge and time management abilities. His address set a motivating tone for students entering higher education at one of the best deemed university in Chennai.

Welcoming the new students, Dr. Ishari K. Ganesh, Founder Chancellor of Vels University, highlighted the importance of utilising VISTAS’ state-of-the-art facilities and balancing academics with sports, cultural activities, and extracurricular engagement. He also advised students to steer clear of negative influences and bad habits, underscoring the value of discipline and focus in higher education.

Dr. Preethaa Ganesh, Vice President of the Vels Group of Institutions, reinforced VISTAS’ dedication to holistic education that blends academics with career ready training. She spoke about industry-relevant programs, active student clubs, and extensive placement assistance that prepare graduates for global job markets. She reminded the students that freedom comes with responsibility, urged them not to follow the crowd blindly, and encouraged daily learning habits. Addressing parents, she stressed the importance of continuous involvement in their child’s university life.

The day concluded with a warm and inclusive lunch hosted by the university for both students and parents, reflecting VISTAS’ welcoming spirit and commitment to community building.

About VELS University
Vels Institute of Science, Technology and Advanced Studies (VISTAS), Chennai, is a proud member of the prestigious Vels Group of Institutions and was conferred University status by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India. Supported by the VAELS Trust, the university is committed to transforming individuals into versatile professionals and responsible citizens by nurturing the right blend of Knowledge, Skills, and Attitude (KSA) and instilling a passion for contributing to national development.

Established as a Deemed-to-be University in 2008, VISTAS offers over 100+ undergraduate, postgraduate, and Ph.D. programs across diverse disciplines, including Medicine, Engineering, Nursing, Allied Health Sciences, Pharmacy, Commerce, Law, Mass Communication, Maritime Studies, Education, Physiotherapy, Computer Science, Basic Sciences, and Life Sciences. All programs are recognized by UGC, AICTE, NMC, INC, PCI, BCI, DGS, and NCTE.

With a vibrant academic community of over 18,000 students and more than 1000 experienced faculty members, VISTAS has been accredited by NAAC with an A++ grade, offers 11 NBA-accredited programs, holds UGC 12(B) status, and is ranked in the 101-150 band in the NIRF 2024 Rankings. The School of Pharmaceutical Sciences is notably ranked 47th nationwide. Vels University is known for its strong placement records and industry relevant curriculum.

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What makes a company cross continents to stake its future on a market where it has never sold a single vehicle For VinFast, an ambitious Vietnamese automaker, the pull came from India’s promise: a vast population, rising incomes, and a government leaning hard into electric mobility. That promise has now been translated into steel beams, assembly lines, and a plan to put the brand in front of millions of potential drivers.

VinFast is working to make the infrastructure, the service, and the consumer experience strong enough to carry its brand for years to come

In August 2025, VinFast opened its first Indian manufacturing plant in Tamil Nadu. The facility is set to turn out 50,000 electric vehicles a year, with the option to triple production if demand rises. The ribbon-cutting came only weeks after pre-bookings began for the VF 6 and VF 7, two premium electric SUVs first shown at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo earlier this year.

Before deliveries start, the company has been staging its models in malls and other high-traffic public spaces across several cities. Shoppers stop, take photos, and ask questions. The aim is clear: let people witness the cars firthand before they commit. The entry plan unfolds in steps. First, spark curiosity. Then collect early reservations. Finally, reinforce the brand with an ecosystem, which include a factory, that signals a long-term presence.

India’s electric vehicle (EV) market is still small enough that a new entrant can help shape its image. VinFast wants to build recognition before the competition intensifies. The company is betting that early visibility will lead to steady sales once production ramps up.

Why India Now
Urban areas are growing quickly. Government incentives are making EVs more affordable. Rising incomes are putting higher-end models within reach. Younger drivers, often more open to digital features, make up a large share of the population.

For a manufacturer, India’s size is its own lure. Even a modest share of the market can mean tens of thousands of units sold each year. The competition remains in its early stages, so the focus is not on pulling buyers from rivals but on bringing first-time EV owners into the fold.

The Tamil Nadu plant offers more than domestic supply. It gives the company a base for exports to South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. This widens its reach and allows it to serve multiple markets from a single hub.

The Playbook
The plan rests on three main parts. First, local manufacturing. Building in India cuts costs, meets domestic content rules, and allows for quicker response to changes in demand.

Second, market positioning. The VF 6 and VF 7 aim to combine aspirational design with prices that remain competitive against both electric and combustion-engine models. By year’s end, VinFast expects to have 35 showrooms open in 27 cities, placing its products within reach of much of India’s urban population.

Third, the ecosystem. The company is forging partnerships for charging capabilities, maintenance networks, and battery recycling. It is also stressing after-sales care, a key point for buyers new to EV ownership.

Showroom openings have drawn steady interest. Pre-bookings require only a small deposit, which lowers the barrier for potential buyers to express interest. Dealers say they are watching to see how many early reservations convert to completed sales.

For VinFast, India is not an isolated experiment. The company used a similar approach in Vietnam, building visibility, local production, and support services in parallel, which helped it become the best-selling brand in its home market. It is now applying that playbook in the Philippines and Indonesia, with India representing its largest expansion so far. If the approach gains traction here, it could guide future entries into other emerging economies where EV adoption is still in its early stages.

The next phase is about deepening the support network. That means more charging stations in major cities, training local technicians for EV maintenance, and building recycling systems for batteries. It also means making after-sales care smooth enough that first-time EV owners feel confident from day one.

For now, the lines in Tamil Nadu keep moving, and new showrooms keep welcoming visitors. In betting on India, VinFast is working to make the infrastructure, the service, and the consumer experience strong enough to carry its brand for years to come.

The 11^th edition of India’s foremost annual affiliate marketing conference — the India Affiliate Summit — is all set to return in a significantly larger avatar as CLICK 2025, covering all the sub-sectors under the broad umbrella of performance marketing. Organised by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), CLICK 2025 will be held on August 20-21 at Andaz, New Delhi. The conference will bring together the movers and shakers of India’s performance and growth marketing landscape, showcasing the industry’s transition from traditional affiliate models to an integrated, ROI-driven ecosystem.

India Affiliate Summit (IAS) rebrands as CLICK 2025, to be held between 20th & 21st August in New Delhi

This year’s summit will feature keynotes, masterclasses, panel discussions, and networking sessions, focusing on developments across affiliate marketing, e-commerce, D2C, programmatic advertising, influencer and creator-led commerce, AI-driven personalisation, retail media, and cross-border engagements. Industry experts will share insights into how marketers are adopting new technologies, forming strategic partnerships, and building data-led funnels to improve business outcomes.

Among the major speakers at CLICK 2025 are Lee-Ann Johnstone – Founder, Affiverse; Urmesh Chandra – Digital Marketing Head, PolicyBazaar; Rajiv Dubey – Vice President – Marketing, Dabur India; Sidharth Shakdher – CMO & Business Head, Paytm; Vikram Singh – Digital Marketing Head, ITC Hotels; Anchit Chandra – Digital Marketing Head & CRM, Muthoot Fincorp ONE; Dennis Yu – CEO, Blitz Metrics; Parul Bhargava – CEO, vCommission; Srikanth Bureddy – Co-founder, Valueleaf; Sanjay Sindhwani – CEO, Indian Express Digital.

For brands and advertisers, CLICK 2025 will offer a strategic platform to discover new-age acquisition models, improve ROAS, and identify the right technology and agency partners. For publishers, creators, tech platforms and affiliate networks, the summit will provide opportunities to showcase innovations, engage in high-value conversations, and build collaborative ventures. A knowledge book titled,Scaling D2C Success with Affiliate Marketing, will be launched at the summit.

The partners and exhibitors for CLICK 2025 are vCommission, Valueleaf, Singhtek, Apptrove by Trackier, Confluencr, MGID, Affise, GrabOn and Offer18. The conference is also supported by ONDC.

To register for CLICK 2025, or for more information, please visit clicksummit.in.

About Internet and Mobile Association of India
The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) is a not-for-profit industry body with more than 600 members, including Indian and multinational corporations, as well as start-ups. IAMAI has been instrumental in shaping India’s digital economy. IAMAI advocates free and fair competition, and progressive and enabling laws for businesses as well as for consumers. The overarching objective of IAMAI is to ensure the progress of the internet and the digital economy. Its major areas of activities are public policy and advocacy, business to business conferences, research, promotion of start-ups and promotion of consumer trust and safety.

Wonderful Pistachios, the world’s largest grower and processor of pistachios and distributor of California Pistachios, proudly participated as an exhibitor, partner and speaker at the Indian Healthy Snacking Summit (IHSS) 2025, held in Delhi under the theme “The Future of Snacking, One Bite at a Time.” The summit brought together leading voices and innovative minds from the food ecosystem, including startups, industry leaders, and health and wellness experts to explore the future of India’s evolving snacking culture.

Shail Pancholi, Spokesperson for California Pistachios

Representing Wonderful Pistachios, Shail Pancholi, spokesperson for California Pistachios in India, delivered a powerful presentation that tracked the brand’s global journey in transforming pistachios from a humble commodity into a modern-day, high-protein snack. He shared how Wonderful Pistachios became the #1 snack nut brand in the U.S., driven by a sharp focus on health, taste, and innovation.

Pancholi drew compelling parallels between global snacking trends and India’s rapidly evolving consumer behaviour. “Indian consumers are increasingly looking for snacks that are not only delicious but also functional and protein-smart,” he stated, spotlighting pistachios as a balanced snacking source-containing all nine essential amino acids-and comparing them to other plant-based proteins like tofu, lentils, and chickpeas in protein quality (as presented in the comparative index from the presentation). Pancholi also spoke about the brand’s targeted digital and out-of-home campaign in India last year, which helped establish pistachios as a go-to snack among urban health-conscious consumers.

The summit also witnessed the launch of Farmleys Healthy Snacking Report 2025, which revealed that “Health has emerged as a key driver in snacking decisions, with 72% of respondents actively seeking snacks that offer functional benefits such as improved energy, enhanced mood, and higher protein content.” California Pistachios tie into this trend as a smart snack that provides six grams of protein per 28g serving, as well as giving consumers energy to power their day.

Other notable speakers at IHSS included Revant Himatsingka (Food Pharmacist), Ambrish Jha (CEO, SatyaG), Sanjay Jakhar (IIMR), Amish Srivastava (SVP, Bigbasket), and representatives from Shark Tank India-each offering insights into the future of food and functional snacking.

As India continues to embrace purposeful, health-driven snacking, Wonderful Pistachios remains committed to leading the charge by offering a snack that doesn’t force consumers to choose between taste and nutrition.

For more information about California Pistachios, visit www.californiapistachios.com.

California Pistachios

California Pistachios are grown and distributed by The Wonderful Company, the worlds largest vertically integrated pistachio processor and marketer located in Californias Central Valley. California Pistachios are Non-GMO, providing a smart, healthy choice for consumers around the world. Sun-ripened in the moderate Mediterranean climate of California, these distinctively green nuts pack taste and contain antioxidants and over 30 different nutrients. California Pistachios in India are available under leading brands and private labels at retail outlets, grocery stores, and online platforms.

Musician, composer, and lyricist Aryan Shuklla has recently dropped a new track ‘Kalyoog – The Age of Darkness‘. It’s the first chapter in his visionary ‘Symphony of Elements‘ album – a cinematic and musical journey built around the five primal forces of the universe: Space, Fire, Earth, Water and Air.

Poster of KALYOOG – The Age Of Darkness

Entirely AI-generated, Kalyoog is set in an original sci-fi universe inspired by epic franchises like the Marvel Universe, blending breath taking futuristic visuals with a thought-provoking narrative on the battle between man and machine. Based on the Space element, the video takes audiences into a dark yet spectacular world where humanity faces the rise of powerful, intelligent machines.

KALYOOG – The Age Of Darkness

Aryan’s next release, ‘Shola’, will continue the saga, exploring the fierce and consuming nature of the Fire element. The series will unfold like an interconnected cinematic universe, with each song acting as a chapter in the larger man vs. machine epic.

Kalyoog – The Age Of Darkness -Aryan Shuklla

Watch ‘Kalyoog – The Age of Darkness’ –

www.youtube.com/watchv=xRsmZ9104o0

Aryan Shuklla shares, “The Symphony of Elements album is my way of showing that music can be more than sound – it can be a universe. Each element inspires a unique story and mood. Kalyoog is Space, Shola will be Fire, and the journey will continue until all five elements unite.”

With over a decade in the Indian music industry and acclaimed releases on T-Series and Zee Music, Aryan Shuklla has consistently pushed creative boundaries. Now based in Dubai and running his own technology company, he merges cutting-edge innovation with musical storytelling – making Kalyoog a pioneering work where AI is not just a tool, but a co-creator.

Aryan Shuklla is an Indian composer, singer, and lyricist with over 10 years in the music industry. He has collaborated with leading labels such as T-Series and Zee Music, and in his career has shared the screen with Bollywood actress Daisy Shah. His work has also earned recognition from Bollywood superstar Salman Khan, who praised and acknowledged one of Aryan’s earlier songs on his social media handle. Now based in Dubai, Aryan runs his own technology company and continues to revolutionize music through AI-driven storytelling.

Follow Aryan Shuklla – www.instagram.com/aryanshuklla.

Hari Shankar Singhania School of Business (HSB), a pioneering, technology-driven business school at JK Lakshmipat University, Jaipur, has appointed former IIM Lucknow Director, Prof. Archana Shukla, as its new Director. She took charge on August 1, 2025, succeeding Prof. Gregory Dunn.

Prof. Archana Shukla has been appointed as the Director of Hari Shankar Singhania School of Business (HSB) at JK Lakshmipat University, Jaipur

An IIT Kanpur alumna with a PhD in Psychology, Prof. Shukla is an eminent academic specialising in organisational behaviour and knowledge management. She brings to the new role more than three decades of experience in teaching, research and academic leadership.

Prof. Shukla served for six years as Director of IIM Lucknow, and prior to this, she had also served as the Dean of the IIM Lucknow Noida Campus for more than 3 years. She was the first chairperson of Dr. Ishwar Dayal Chair for futuristic Issues in the Behavioral Sciences for the period of 2015 – 2017. She has designed and delivered Management Development Programmes (MDPs) on leadership, strategic thinking, team building, and managerial effectiveness, along with process consulting in culture building, coaching, mentoring, and assessment centres for organisations such as KPMG, Mahindra & Mahindra, Samsung, Reckitt Benckiser, Johnson & Johnson, and the GMR Group, among others.

At HSB, Prof. Shukla will lead the flagship two-year UGC-accredited residential MBA programme with specialisation tracks in digital product management, artificial intelligence and business analytics, and entrepreneurship and organisational foresight.

Warmly welcoming the appointment of Prof. Shukla, Shri B.H. Singhania, Chancellor, JK Lakshmipat University, said, “Her appointment as the Director of our premier business school will advance HSB’s mission of blending academic rigour with real-world relevance. Her remarkable track record at IIM Lucknow and her expertise in organisational behaviour will be instrumental in nurturing global business leaders who are ready to shape tomorrow’s enterprises.”

HSB, founded in 2024 on the JKLU campus, is already making strides in nurturing leaders who can successfully steer organisations in the face of rapid technological advancements and global disruptions.

Commenting on her appointment, Prof. Archana Shukla said, “I am honoured to join HSB at this pivotal phase. The institution’s vision is perfectly aligned with the demands of a rapidly evolving global business landscape. I look forward to working with faculty, students, and industry mentors to elevate HSB’s impact internationally.”

HSB was established in memory of Hari Shankar Singhania, a visionary industrialist and philanthropist who was the Founding Chancellor of JK Lakshmipat University and Former President of JK Organisation.