Interviewed by: Sirish Turlapati, Senior Correspondent, Higher Education Plus

Nikhil Chandwani is an author of 14 Books, Co-Founder of NYK Daily and Founder – Writers’ Rescue Centre. He is Times of India’s ‘Times Writer of the Year 2022’. He is the world’s most followed long form writer on Instagram.

Can you tell us more about your professional journey and career milestones?

My professional journey was divided in two phases. I was a loner in the first phase and subject to trolling, bullying and isolation. In my second phase (that I am in right now), I am surrounded by good people, and I’ve gained my confidence. I am turning 29 this year, and I’ve written 14 books, I run two firms with a decent turnover, I am getting married in December this year in Hyderabad, and I am incredibly lucky to have a family of 1million+ on Instagram.

What mistakes do you think amateur authors and novices make and how do you think they can avoid them?

Authors feel writing a book is enough. They don’t focus on sales. They don’t learn the art of marketing. The subtle art of marketing is something that must be learned by everyone. Like back in the day, the life skills included cooking, swimming and self-defense, now the life skills include learning how to market a product and handling sales. New writers must learn this art when they’re young or else they’ll be left with a masterpiece without anyone around to read it.

What were some of the major challenges you faced as an educator and how did you manage to overcome them?

I educate people in the field of history, politics and similar topics on Instagram. The biggest challenge how to creatively share content on the platform. Initially, I wrote swipe and read articles where people can swipe next and read 1000 words pieces on my Instagram. I had around 1.5-2 million readers every month. However, once I started making reels to educate people, around 60 million+ watched the content monthly. So, I just made a few purchases and now planning to start digital podcast to find a bigger reach.

Can you tell us more about your creative process when it comes to writing books? For instance, how do you pick a topic and how do you deal with writer’s block?

Research, patience and confidence are three ingredients needed. Plus, learning about the market, adapting to the dynamics of post COVID world (people are not going to book stores and buying things online) is also needed.

What future projects are you working on?

I am finishing my 1 year PGP at IIM Nagpur. Once that is done, I am planning to start an eco-friendly venture, a brainchild of my fiancée and business partner Arushi Sana. Arushi and I run a news platform NYK Daily at the moment that has around 23 employees, and we are planning to expand this venture by adding a few more dimensions to it.

The post “The subtle art of marketing is something that must be learned by everyone.” appeared first on Higher Education Plus.

The Digital revolution is one of the major paradigm shifts in the history of mankind. It is netted so densely that the whole world is like a global village. The Internet revolution started as a communication platform for the military, but who knew we could have reached this far. Today, the internet is used for operating heavy machinery to driving cars, for mere communication to a million-dollar meeting, for calling groceries to study, our lives are revolving around it. This uprising changed our lives 360 degrees. Societies are reconsidering their norms, our economic model depends on it, and knowingly or, unknowingly we all are addicted to it.

Usenet was the first social networking platform launched in 1979 and, since then, the industry is soaring heights and breaking records with a market size of 3.6Bn USD and more than 5 billion users. In 2008 the launch of Facebook marked the start of a new digital era that took internet communication to the next level. Today, if Facebook is a country, it will cross the population of china by a substantial amount.

Social media is driving the lifestyle of students by enabling them to share information, talk to people with similar interests, and communicate with Industry professionals, thus hooking every aspect of their lives and making its use irresistible. Teachers are interacting with the students engagingly, sharing information has become easy and, with the global interaction, they are adapting to the latest trends and different teaching styles to help their students learn through better and fun methods. The prevailing gap between parents and children is reducing with the help of social media. Parents are taking a step forward to adapt to Generation Z culture, to keep them safe and secure in the alien culture.

Every coin has two sides, so does social networking. It is a vast ocean with all kinds of information, making it a source of wrong influence. Users are bombarded with relevant and irrelevant information all the time, which pollutes their minds and reduces their ability to make decisions. Most of the parents are worried about their children and their online activity. Rising scams of romantic phishing, violence, and propaganda have backed their fears. Social media is inducing the concept of an ideal lifestyle through opinion leaders which gives self-worth issues to most of its users often resulting in anxiety and depression. It is consuming most of our lives hence, making us unable to control it.

In 2020, the whole world came to a halt when the pandemic struck us, the internet was utilized in different ways, across the globe. People used it for sharing information, communication, and learning, due to the non-availability of traditional methods. The retail industry is taken over by E-commerce, Classrooms are replaced by Virtual classrooms, thus making digital, the only way ahead. Even though sooner or later we will be free from the Virus, but some of these practices will leave a lasting impact on our lives. In line with the changing times, it’s time to change our social networking to a more goal-oriented network which will help us in learning, being mentally fit, and safe online.

Inkclick, an online Students Network and e-learning marketplace will help students to learn and interact amongst each other, Industry Professionals and, with their mentors, therefore making it an all-rounder platform like today’s generation. It will help students to expand their knowledge and make a change in their lives by learning from renowned mentors from various genres. Founders Hailing from an Educators family have paid special attention on solving the teacher’s plight of being underpaid or content plagiarism, by maximizing their earning and making them entrepreneurs in their field of expertise.

Education is not a privilege it is every individual’s right, hence the brand endeavours to offer courses at a cheaper rate so it can be consumed by the masses.

The Inkclick way of learning is full of knowledge and fun. We consider that every child is different and shares something special, our aim is to support them in their journey to success by offering academic and vocational courses, taught through live classes, broadcasts, group classes, and one on one depending upon the student’s preference. Along with this, Inkclick offers a Free to use networking platform that will be used by students, mentors, and parents with separate login options making it a platform for all three. The inkclick way focuses on mental well-being and online safety hence, making it a safe platform for children. Parents can monitor their child’s online activity and interact with their mentors which can help them to scale the growth and keep a check on his/her safety.

The post Importance of Social networking for students, mentors, and Parents appeared first on Higher Education Plus.

In this article we will discuss sure-shot strategy to master SSC CHSL GK section, this section can fetch you high marks in very less time (5-7 minutes). SSC CHSL (Combined Higher Secondary Level) is conducted by Staff selection commission every year for recruitment in various Ministries, Departments and Organizations of India.

Candidate require a minimum educational qualification of 10+2 Pass to appear for this exam.

The exam consists of three stages i.e. Computer Based Examination (Tier-I), Descriptive Paper (Tier-II) and Skill Test/ Typing Test (Tier-III).

In this article we will discuss the strategy to master Part 1 i.e. General Awareness. This part is like make it or break it. If you master this part, you can end up scoring very good in the overall Tier -I

 What to study in SSC CHSL GK Section ?

Questions in SSC CHSL GK section is mostly designed to test the candidate’s general awareness of the environment around him and its application to society.

• Current events with focus on general everyday awareness
• Static information/ facts pertaining to India and its neighbouring countries
• History, Culture, Geography, Economics
• Computer Basics & Basic Science (Physics, Chemistry & Biology)
• Static Facts in accordance with current event

Let’s see how to go about these above mentioned points in detail in order to master SSC CHSL GK.

Current events with focus on everyday general awareness

• Religiously reading newspaper like the Hindu/ Indian Express and making note of news items related to national and international importance those have some application to society.
• Making note of current events related to everyday observation the basic knowledge that may be expected of an educated person.

Static information/facts pertaining to India and its neighbouring countries

• In order to master this section along with current events the candidate should focus on all the factual things like National Game, National Emblem, National Animal , etc. of our neighbouring countries.
• In exam they can ask some static facts related to our Neighbouring countries.
• For Example: If India had some tie up with Bangladesh, they could ask Some fact/superlatives related to Bangladesh as well.

History, Culture, Geography, Economics, Polity

• These topics are very crucial from every exam point of view which has a majority of GK in it.
• Reading NCERTs thoroughly from Class 6-12 plays a major role in mastering this portion.
• You can make your own notes from NCERTs related to important points.
• For Example: Freedom struggle in Modern History, Basic Economics terms and Interior of Earth , Articles and schedules of constitution in Polity to name few.

Computer Basics & Basic Science (Physics, Chemistry & Biology)

• This portion for SSC CHSL GK can be mostly mastered by practising previous year SSC GK papers, as the questions are most often repetitive in this portion
• Some topics like Concepts, definitions, physics phenomenon, Useful Chemical substances, chemistry in everyday life, Human body, Diseases, Plant systems, Nutrition Animal and Plants in Physics, Chemistry and Biology should be studied thoroughly.

Static Facts in accordance with current events

• This is something new type that has been introduced in SSC CHSL GK section.
• If something was in the news recently, For Example this news

 Vinesh Phogat, Manika Batra, Mariyappan Thangavelu, Rani Rampal and Rohit Sharma have been conferred with the country’s highest sporting honour – Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, 2020.

What can be asked in SSC CHSL GK from this news?

• Mariyappan Thangavelu is related to which sports?
• Prize Money of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna
• Who was conferred with First Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award?
• How many individuals will be conferred with Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award ,2020?

So, in order to master this one should have all basic knowledge related to Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award both in current and static aspect.

• In tests knowledge of Static GK like national parks, World’s highest, fastest, biggest, lowest etc., currencies and capitals, sports awards and terminology, Awards (National and International).

So, In order to score 40+ in SSC CHSL GK the one should follow above methodology. The above strategy can be helpful for all the exams conducted by SSC, i.e.

• CGL (Combined Graduate Level)
• MTS (Multi-Tasking Staff)
• Stenographer (Grade C and Grade D)
• SI in Delhi Police, CAPF and ASI in CISF
• Constable (GD) Examination
• CPO (Central Police Organization)

In GK, practise is the key the more you practise questions after following above concepts, you can attempt 20+ questions. When it comes to practise, previous year questions can be a go to thing.

The post SSC CHSL GK Section – How to Master it with Genius Tips appeared first on Higher Education Plus.

What encouraged you to explore in this sector?

Education and healthcare are the two sectors that are one of the most significant pillars of the genuine growth of any country. I have been always moved by the pecuniary condition of most citizens in the country, where a large section of people cannot afford a decent healthcare treatment. More so in my earlier days I have seen that people skip medicines because of high expenses that it entails, which in turn delays the healing process. All these have triggered me to think seriously if I can do anything for them and work towards providing a true high quality medicine at affordable price to people at large. Hence, I started working in this sector.

What challenges did you face in implementation of the enterprise?

Indian market is completely brand centric, clinicians write brand names and this has been the practice since ages. To change buying pattern and behaviour of consumer, along with, convincing the prospective retailers to buy in the concept of generic medicine, is a huge challenge. We know that any first mover of which ever industry it may be, faces challenges, but truly that’s the zeal that we have and that’s the grit that we hold. And in spite of all these challenges we are establishing ourselves pan-India at a very fast pace with an aim to bring a change in the industry, simultaneously transforming the way people would buy and consume medicines in years ahead.

Is expansion on the cards?

Surely expansion is on the cards and happening at a fast pace, we are clocking on an average of one store every 48 Hours in the country. Till now we have signed up 154 retail generic stores on the franchise model in the last 270 days and have 302 stores been signed to be operational very soon.

What is the scope of jobs in the healthcare sector in tier 2 and 3 cities?

The healthcare industry in India is expected to grow exponentially and reach about $370 billion US Dollars by 2022 owing to heavy incidence of lifestyle ailments in the country, and flourishing of jobs have already started showing in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities and towns. I feel the following below would be the key opportunities:

–              Virtual Hospital Manager:  Cost of doctors are very high in the cities and there is where the VHM will play a crucial role. We have already seen the rise of virtual hospitals globally. In India we have talented doctors, nurses, radiographers etc. who can support the VHM’s for Indian cities

–              Health Call Center: Getting optimum cost resource is becoming challenging in today’s world. We have seen already this growing in Mysore, Coimbatore, Chandigarh, Coimbatore, in many more T2/T3 cities

–              Radiology and Telemedicine: This is one field which we have already seen growing exponentially in Tier 2 and 3 cities, where our Indian radiographers and doctors are providing even Artificial ICU globally.

The post A Step towards Providing Inexpensive Medical Help for All: Arushi Jain appeared first on Higher Education Plus.

What encouraged you to launch Shiftkarado?

The Indian relocation industry is divided into organized and unorganized sectors where the latter has always been quite dominating. Forming a considerably larger portion of the industry, these unorganized players are unable to deliver the customers a quality experience, which is a major roadblock for achieving a remarkable growth of the industry. The founders of ShiftKarado concluded that there is one thing that can help in curbing the existing challenges of the relocation industry, that is, the right implementation and use of technology in relocation operations.

Also, it was incepted with a purpose to change people’s perception towards relocation industry.  Due to its fragmented nature, it is not even properly considered an industry by many, which ShiftKarado aims to change.  Using the latest technological innovations available, ShiftKarado sets an example to the other industry players how to achieve peak efficiency and deliver cost-effective services to the customers and contribute to the overall growth of the relocation industry.

What strategies do you think led to such early success?

Addressing the needs of the market in most competent and well-suited manner is the foremost essential required to ensure success. It’s not important to have a wide product or service range to serve the customers, but what quality and usefulness of product or service you offer and to what extent it resolves the issues faced by customers is what needs to be prioritized.

And, this is possible only through in-depth research and analysis of the current market. Before stepping into the market, the businesses should do their complete homework and accordingly design their products and services for the target groups. Recently ShiftKarado also obtains 5 crore funding from Star WorldWide Group.

Any plans for expansion is on the cards now?

As of now, we are focused on expanding our reach and business all across the nation, though we already have a strong foothold in various metro cities. But, we want to tap on the potential markets of all semi-metro cities and facilitate nationwide mobility and relocation.

ShiftKarado targets to achieve Rs 50 crore turnover in FY 2020-21. The company is registering a remarkable growth at a steady rate of 20% on M-o-M basis. The company is working on hiring skilled professionals, bringing innovation to its work processes, and expanding its reach in other cities in the country to achieve its target of Rs. 50 crore.

The post Our target is to achieve Rs 50 crore turnover in FY 2020-21: S Mittal appeared first on Higher Education Plus.

Could you tell us what an aspiring founder should keep in mind? 

Entrepreneurs are driven by the urge to solve problems. They should solve problems they believe in – solving your own problems is a lot easier than understanding someone else’s problems. If the problem you’re solving is meaningful, everyone will join you in your mission. Entrepreneurship is a very difficult path full of rejections and turmoils. Everything that can go wrong, goes wrong. Hence, persistence and belief in a better future is very important. A person with a weak resolve probably won’t make it.

What are the main challenges you faced in your corporate journey till now?

Finding talent is the most difficult thing. Startups and companies are built by great teams. It’s very difficult to identify hungry people. Usually people seem a particular way in initial interactions and are very different when they start working. It takes a few years to get stability and build a good team. Hiring is usually the most challenging part of building a start-up.

How do you think knowledge sharing apps can help students both in rural and urban India?

India is a very young and aspirational nation. We want to keep learning and growing so we can get better jobs and hence a better life. Education is the best way to achieve these dreams. While urban India is a little more privileged with ease of access to quality institutes & experts, rural India faces challenges of teaching talent.

We believe that the internet will be commonplace and will help solve for access to the best talent. Education and knowledge is important not just for students but even for adults to upskill and improve their prospects. Knowledge sharing apps will have a repository of gyaan than most physical books and coaching classes can’t parallel – thanks to the power of the internet.

The internet penetration is expected to touch about 750 million people in the next 24 months. Almost 600 million of these will be non-English speaking people. Language diversity is the biggest challenge that the country faces. Experts only teach in English whereas 90% of India doesn’t speak English. Knowledge sharing in vernacular languages is the solution.

Vokal enables the best minds in India to share knowledge with people in their local languages. This helps bridge the knowledge gap and create access for those who didn’t have it. Providing access to knowledge and education paves the way for a country that’s prepared to do meaningful jobs, earn a livelihood and enjoy a better lifestyle. The internet enables a much better way to share all this knowledge with everyone. We want to be an important force that creates this future for India.

What are the main hurdles in the sector of e-learning?

Access to the best teaching talent.

After Taxi for Sure what encouraged you to begin with Vokal?

My TaxiForSure journey seemed abrupt. We ran the company for just 3.5 years before we were made an acquisition offer. I wanted to continue doing something of impact. All the Internet companies were catering to the same 100 million English speaking, largely urban population. I wanted to do something at a larger scale and thought of the challenges. I also observed how people who didn’t know English used very few Internet products and used existing products very differently. I saw an opportunity to cater to this audience that didn’t know English.

We experimented with multiple products before we realized that vernacular India had a lot of questions and were seeking credible answers. We realized that there’s hardly any knowledge in vernacular languages on the Internet. This was the beginning of Vokal as a knowledge sharing & learning platform. A platform like ours can change the way India learns and exchanges knowledge.

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