WorklifeIndia

Algorithms drive most industries today, from medicine to manufacturing, finance and even the legal profession. Everyone uses code that makes their work – and lives – easier.

It’s a lucrative career option, especially here in India, and tech-savvy kids are getting into coding in increasingly large numbers. Children as young as 5 to 7 years old are learning to write code, and even build apps. In India, the new national education policy has also tried to give a big push to coding at junior school level, calling it a “skill of the future”.

But is there a hidden cost to be paid by starting coding so early? Is there an ideal age when young people can start learning to code? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss whether children should learn to code at a young age.

Presenter: Devina Gupta

Air quality continues to be severe in Delhi, the world’s most polluted national capital. The air turns especially toxic in the winter months because of unfavourable weather conditions, and farmers in neighbouring states burning crop stubble add to the problem. It gets particularly bad after Diwali, the festival of lights, when people burst firecrackers, which adds to the toxic haze covering the city.

But other factors also play a key role. Vehicular and industrial emissions and dust make the levels of PM2.5 - tiny particles that can clog people's lungs - far higher than the World Health Organization's (WHO) safety guidelines.

To escape the pollution, many people are now choosing to relocate, either permanently or for a few months, even if it means leaving behind family and friends or taking a hit on professional growth.

Should the government take stricter action against pollution? What’s it like to leave behind a well-established life for a place with cleaner air? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss how many are choosing to escape Delhi’s toxic air.

Presenter: Devina Gupta

Contributors: Saurabh Bhasin, advocate; Anu Anand, freelance journalist; Srinivas Ganesh, advertising professional

Despite progress in women’s representation as politicians in many parts of the world, there are deep-seated biases that they need to conquer on a daily basis. Only 24 countries have women serving as heads of State or government, according to a recent study by the United Nations; it also says that, at the current rate, gender equality in the highest positions of power cannot be attained for another 130 years.

India ranks better than the US and the UK in terms of political empowerment of women, according to a World Economic Forum report released last year. But of the country’s 28 states, only one has a woman chief minister.

How can there be better representation of women from grassroots to the highest roles in Indian politics? Would mandatory reservations for women in legislative bodies help?

In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss how more women can join politics in India.

Presenter: Devina Gupta

Contributors: Supriya Shrinate, national spokesperson, Indian National Congress; Dipsita Dhar, student activist, Communist Party of India; Shaina NC, spokesperson, Bharatiya Janata Party

The beleaguered tourism sector in India is showing initial signs of revival. The country’s peak travel season is just kicking off and, with the government easing restrictions on air travel, many holiday destinations are once again crowded. Foreign tourists could also be allowed in soon, after being kept away for more than a year-and-a-half.

But will this lead to complacency and trigger another wave of Covid infections? How will domestic and international tourists, and the industry, cope with new safety checks and guidelines? And is the industry expecting a rush of foreign tourists, or is it already too late for this season?

In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss how to revive tourism in post-pandemic India.

Presenter: Devina Gupta

Contributors: Deep Kalra, founder and group executive chairman, MakeMyTrip; William Boulter, chief commercial officer, IndiGo; Savi & Vid, founders, Bruised Passports, travel influencers

India gets 70% of its energy from coal, but has very ambitious plans to get 40% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030.

But there is also a growing demand for energy. While coal is the cheapest source of electricity, what about the long-term gains of using wind, hydro, and solar energy? And how challenging is it for India to commit to net zero emissions?

In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss the benefits, risks and challenges that India faces in its transition to renewable energy.

Presenter: Devina Gupta

Contributors: Dr Ajay Mathur, director general, International Solar Alliance; Namrata Mukherjee, deputy chief of party, USAID SAREP, RTI International; Sumant Sinha, Chairman & CEO, ReNew Power

The global space industry is expected to be worth about $1 trillion by 2040. India hopes to tap into this increasingly lucrative market, but the country presently holds only about 2% of the world’s space economy. To change that, it is now encouraging private players to drive innovation in space technology.

Will the recent opening up of this sector help meet its space goals? How can space tech startups bring in solutions to resolve ground problems? And will Indian space tourism be a reality in the coming years?

In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss how Indian businesses can get ahead in the space race.

Presenter: Devina Gupta

Contributors: Rahul Vatts, Director, OneWeb India; Chirag Doshi, MD & CEO, Walchandnagar Industries; Pawan Chandana, Founder & CEO, Skyroot Aerospace

Job applications can be tricky. Most parts of the process are tedious, requiring sharp focus and attention to detail. Catching a recruiter’s eye is not easy, and a growing number of firms are now using artificial intelligence in the initial screening and hiring of candidates.

What is the secret to getting invited for an interview? What about applying for senior leadership positions? And how creative can you get in the age of video resumes and social media hiring?

In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss the do’s and don’ts that make or break a CV.

Presenter: Devina Gupta

Contributors: Harlina Sodhi, entrepreneur, HR professional and leadership coach; Ankit Vengurlekar, India managing editor, LinkedIn News; Rajat Rai Handa, environmental consultant; Rupak Agrawal, CEO, EvueMe Selection Robot; Rajneesh Singh, managing partner, SimplyHR Solutions

More than 18 months have passed since Covid-19 was officially declared a pandemic. Hundreds of millions of people have lived through lockdowns, adapting to the new ways of working. Millions lost their jobs, many others had to take pay cuts.

How has it impacted the way you get paid? Do you think you are paid adequately for the amount of work that you deliver? If not, then you need to ask for more. But how do you do that? Is there a right way of speaking with your manager about how much you are worth? What are the best ways to negotiate your wages? What are the common mistakes employees make when asking for a raise?

In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss the best ways to ask for a pay rise.

Presenter: Devina Gupta

Contributors: Sue Ann Vaz, head of value added services and marketing, ABC Consultants; Ankur Warikoo, personal finance influencer; Aishwarya Srivastava, digital marketing professional; Pushkin Shailen, global operations leader, consultant; Smriti George, communications and digital content consultant

Humour, fashion, music or memes: social media stars have a big influence on today’s digital audience, and India, with more than 500 million people using social media platforms, is a buzzing base for all things trending.

But is there a method to the frenzy of new content being created and consumed by the hour? What are the pressures of dealing with internet fame? And how do brands collaborate with trending stars of the internet world to monetize their fame?

In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we find out how to trend on social media.

Presenter: Devina Gupta

Contributors: Yohani Diloka de Silva, singer, songwriter; Bhuvan Bam, digital star, BB Ki Vines; Yashraj Mukhate, music producer, YouTuber; Neha Puri, CEO, co-founder, Vavo Digital

Traditional canvas paintings on easels or walls dominate the popular perception about how art is created and consumed. But technology is revolutionising the way we perceive art.

Digital tools are letting artists bring still pictures to life, and blockchain technology is letting them sell their artworks as a non-fungible-token (NFT), which creates a unique digital certificate of authentic ownership. The trend has become so lucrative that a digital-only artwork fetched $69mn at Christie’s auction house earlier this year.

But is this a bubble in the making or is NFT art here to stay? Can digital art help younger artists monetize their work easily?

In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss the future of digital art.

Presenter: Devina Gupta

Contributors: Aparajita Jain, co-director, Nature Morte Art, and founder, Terrain.art; Ishita Banerjee, artist, creator, Soul Curry Art; Amrita Sethi, NFT artist