Pepsico has made India its launch pad for biscuits, but competition will be tough.

A smart cookie?

Business Standard

The university will operate at a global level and offer courses in medicine, engineering, architecture, law and management.

India&#39;s first global varsity to be set up in Rajasthan

When Katrina Kaif danced to A R Rahman&rsquo;s tune at the closing ceremony of the Indian Premier League II in South Africa, her glittering earrings were hard to miss. She sported Nakshatra &ndash; the diamond jewellery brand she endorses for the Rs 3,500 crore Gitanjali Gems.

Nakshatra's 'Goddess of Luck'

The University Grants Commission (UGC) is facing heavy weather of late. Be its role over the status of deemed universities or appointment of vice chancellors for the 15 new Central Universities, the regulatory body has come in for criticism. In a chat with LESLIE D&rsquo;MONTE and KIRTIKA SUNEJA, UGC Chairman Sukhdeo Thorat explains his stand on a host of issues while outlining UGC&rsquo;s vision for higher education.

&#39;We do need an over-arching regulatory body with a national perspective&#39;

Every marketing person knows this. Creative is what comes out of a &nbsp;&lsquo;Creative&rsquo; Department, where creative people sit, feet-on-table, chair tilted at a gravity and common sense defying angle, waiting for a brain flash, after which &lsquo;The Idea&rsquo; arrives, accompanied by the resonant thunder of creativity.

Creative Vs inventive

As in other industries, animation too is now witnessing a slowdown due to lack of funds, amid the global meltdown. However, the industry seems to be looking out for polished or highly-productive animators. But a key factor restricting the growth of animation and gaming in India is the scarcity of skilled professionals.

Animation schools mould students to beat recession

The Institute of Management Technology (IMT) plans to open its third campus in Ghaziabad by the end of this year to cater to the needs of working professionals by offering them distance learning modules.

IMT to open a third campus

With annual sales of 4.8 million packs in over 100 countries, McDonald&rsquo;s Chicken McNugget is a billion dollar brand. Arvind Singhal, director - marketing (West and South), McDonald&rsquo;s India, spoke to Sapna Agarwal on the product&rsquo;s India launch just a fortnight ago.

'McNugget has run out of stock within a week'

    For the last 20 years, this chain of stores has been having the highest sales per square feet of any retail outlet in the world. Its founder institutionalised the removal of momentum barriers by instituting the Cut the Crap Committee. Name it.

The Strategist Quiz (#102)

    Down-aging, egronomics, cashing out, the vigilante consumer are four of the 10 trends identified for the 1990s by a famous marketing expert. Identify the marketing futurist and the book in which this was published.

Answers to last week's quiz (#101)

Biocon, Bangalore-based biotechnology firm, and the Indian School of Business (ISB) have launched the Biocon Cell for Innovation Management (BCIM), aimed at promoting innovation in business. The cell, to be established under the aegis of the Centre for Leadership, Innovation and Change (CLIC) at the ISB will help organisations find answers to questions such as the gaps in a company&rsquo;s ability to innovate, assessing the required understanding to manage and mitigate risks associated with innovation, and how to produce high value, strategic innovation at a low cost.

Biocon ties up with ISB to set up innovation cell

Even as critics write off Shopper's Stop, the retailer has its counter moves in place.

Bag and baggage

Amitabh Kant, former joint secretary in the ministry of tourism, has come up with his account of the making of Brand India in his recently-released book, Branding India &mdash; An Incredible Story. Kant is regarded as ministry of tourism&rsquo;s point man who steered the Incredible India campaign. He also led, as secretary of tourism in Kerala, the &ldquo;God&rsquo;s Own Country&rdquo; campaign that drew much acclaim.

'Position India as an upmarket destination'

Star TV's hoping to make it big in regional markets.

Rising Star

How hotels are saving crores by making cuts that customers can barely notice.

Invisible hand

The setting is very playful with a fit Mahendra Singh Dhoni asking an even fitter Bipasha Basu out on a date. She agrees, only if he can beat her in a race. The next morning, the two set out to race. Basu creates hurdles for Dhoni by distracting people on the way. Thus, when he finally makes it to the finish line, she&rsquo;s already waiting for him, but is willing to give him a second chance.

Have fun while you run

When CyberMedia India Chairman Pradeep Gupta decided to diversify into business process outsourcing for editing, graphics and design services in 2006, little did he know that it will contribute 50 per cent to his turnover in three years. In 2008-09, Gupta expects revenue of $15 million (Rs 70 crore) each from the print business as well as the media services business which includes BPO and research services.

CyberMedia India: BPO bet pays off

Fast food chain McDonald&rsquo;s has a new entry on its Indian menu &mdash; Chicken McNuggets. Launched last month, this breaded chicken meatball snack is not new to McDonald&rsquo;s customers the world over &mdash; it was introduced in 1983 and is sold in over 100 countries.

McDonald&#39;s: Nuggets roll out

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The top 10 business bestsellers

The US spends about $2 trillion (Rs 9,423,500 crore) annually on private healthcare.

KIT: Healthcare expenditure

Despite the economic slowdown, students are still being lured by the IT sector for its MNC culture, opportunities to work with technically sound professionals and cutting edge technology, and growth opportunities. This is furthered by the fact that many of the top companies with huge turnovers hail from the IT sector.

Page 708 - News