Business Today 13 October 2024

Artificial intelligence (AI), and now more specifically Generative AI, is changing the way the world works. There is hardly any sector that will not be impacted by AI and a furious debate rages in corporate and academic circles about the pros and cons of this major disruption. It is not surprising that academia, in particular B-schools, is also coming to terms with the fact that the AI wave will change everything—from the way classes are conducted to how students must prepare themselves for a new world where corporate boardrooms and shop floors will be guided by AI. Consequently, most B-schools are going back to the drawing board and looking at their curricula to see how they can best prepare their students for this new age where disruption will be the…

A TRACTOR TILLING A FIELD IN MAHARASHTRA SOURCE CMIE ECONOMIC OUTLOOK 576,638 UNITS Total production of tractors till July 2024, compared to 605,689 units a year ago—a drop of 4.8% 7.5 PER CENT YoY fall in tractor sales to 543,548 units in 2024 till July as kharif crop income declined 4.3% in 2023-24 due to El Niño 59,524 UNITS Number of tractors exported in 2024 till July compared to 57,527 units in the corresponding period in 2023…

EXPENSIVE LESSONS IN 2024, THE AVERAGE COURSE FEE AT INDIA’S TOP 10 B-SCHOOLS INCREASED BY NEARLY 12.50%, SURPASSING ₹21 LAKH PAY CHEQUE BLUES THE AVERAGE ANNUAL DOMESTIC SALARY OFFERED TO GRADUATES FROM THE TOP 10 B-SCHOOLS DECREASED FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW IN 2024 WIDENING GAP THE GAP BETWEEN THE AVERAGE SALARY PACKAGES OF GRADUATES FROM GOVERNMENT B-SCHOOLS AND THOSE FROM PRIVATE B-SCHOOLS HAS BEEN INCREASING TOP ZONE STUDENTS FROM INSTITUTES IN THE EAST ZONE ACHIEVED THE HIGHEST ROI AMONG THE TOP 100 B-SCHOOLS IN 2024 THE BOTTOM LINE AMONG THE TOP 100, THE ROI FOR THE BOTTOM 25 B-SCHOOLS INCREASED TO 1.18 IN 2024, UP FROM 0.92 THE PREVIOUS YEAR 1.53 AVERAGE ROI OF GOVERNMENT-RUN B-SCHOOLS IN THE TOP 100 IN 2024; THE FIGURE STOOD AT 1.60 IN…

FROM RAPID DELIVERIES to unbeatable car deals, online shopping platforms and the auto industry are capitalising on the shopping frenzy ahead of the festive season. Quick commerce platforms Zepto and Blinkit are experiencing record-breaking sales, and automakers like Maruti Suzuki and Tata Motors are offering customers heavy discounts. During Raksha Bandhan in August, Blinkit, Zepto, and Swiggy Instamart have reported record-breaking sales, driven by the growing inclination for fast deliveries and heavy discounts. Now, Zepto, Blinkit, and bigbasket also promise to deliver to the customer the latest iPhone 16 within minutes of placing the order. The festive frenzy in quick commerce began during Raksha Bandhan, when Zepto sold four times the rakhis it sold last year. Blinkit took orders from abroad this year and in India, it sold a staggering…

 THE UNION CABINET’S recent decision to extend health coverage under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) to all senior citizens aged 70 and above is set to benefit over 60 million people across India. But experts say that the government must address concerns around re imbursements to ensure that the scheme is a success. The AB PM-JAY currently covers 550 million individuals from 123.4 million families across 33 states and Union Territories and has facilitated 73.7 million hospital admissions, with women comprising 49% of beneficiaries. The scheme has helped cover healthcare costs amounting to more than ₹1 lakh crore. Beneficiaries of the scheme will receive a separate card, and those already enrolled will receive an additional top-up cover of ₹5 lakh per year for their exclusive…

 AMID GLOBAL CONCERNS, India reported its second case of monkeypox (mpox) infection in September. This time it was a 38-year-old man from Kerala’s Malappuram district, who recently returned from Dubai. As India addresses rising mpox cases, new business opportunities are emerging for the country’s pharmaceutical and diagnostics sectors. The WHO has recently called on manufacturers of mpox vaccines and diagnostic tools to submit Expressions of Interest for Emergency Use Listing (EUL) due to the escalating situation. The WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunisation recommends two vaccines: Jynneos from Denmark and ACAM2000 from the US. In India, Adar Poonawalla, CEO of Serum Institute of India (SII), has advanced efforts to develop a vaccine. “Given the global health emergency, SII is working on a vaccine,” says Poonawalla. The Indian Council…