Bank in the pocket....

Banking industry is taking convenience to a whole new level.

Technology fads are fast shaping and replacing the traditional banking model. The foot-falls in branches have decreased tremendously and still heading for a downfall.
It's about time RBI would remodel it's norms on branch licensing and divert it's regulatory focus more towards other channels like mobile and Internet technologies.
Mobile technologies are providing their customers efficient Options like e-wallets(google to release in July) with near field technology. All you need to do is wave your phone on a swipe terminal and your transaction is processed. Alternatively,Square Inc has also introduced card readers through which customers with blackberry or iPhone can authorise credit card transactions.
With the advent of cloud computing, we save up on actual server space and virtualisation helps conserve resources. One of the interesting applications of Cloud which targets audiences at the base of the consumption pyramid is MX Share by MoVirtu technology.
With so much technology revolution, we are safely doing away with the concept of RMs, tellers, queuing at the branches, etc. Now you have your Bank in your pocket..

Coupling - The Chemical Equation

Coupling

Human behavior is one of the most interesting subjects for scrutiny.

With the new “addition” to my life, I am exploring finer aspects of couple psyche by drawing parallels to stuff familiar to me.

How often have you heard “ Nice couple, great chemistry”? ..Here’s an correlation of chemistry with relations :-)
Draw parallels between Human Reactions and Chemical Reactions and you’ll be amused at the familiarity they both have.

Organic chemistry describes Coupling as a reaction :-) Well it sure is ! The effects of which drill down slow on humans but on hydrocarbons it is quicker with metal catalysts.

As for us humans, coupling has many triggers – attraction, peer pressure, parents(yeah, they can drive us into coupling as well – does arrange marriage ring a bell?? ), boredom( for some..why not eh? ) , etc

Some of the chemical equations are queerly and if you may perceive it in a way, then humorously similar to the equations between couples…


Just a disclaimer, the events described are purely coincidental and bear no resemblance to any couple living or dead.. (trust me!)


Spontaneous reaction can proceed without being driven by an outside source of energy

What it means for us : Remember those days where you and better half are so freakin bored with monotony that you pick up a fight just to spice things up ? (Denial ? Well ..ask yourself you may have done it sub-consciously once in while ..Umm, are you smiling?? )

Acid based reactions: Acids are donors and base acceptors resulting in alkaline /neutral elements

What it means for us : Only 1 among the couple is on fire. The other one realizes the sensitivity of the situation and keeps mum..Some things are better left unsaid, aint it.. ? :-)

Catalysis : Reaction does not proceed directly but through a third substance - catalyst.

What it means for us : Entry in-laws, ex-girl, handsomer-couple..whoof..so many external factors can trigger as catalysts…Beware these lead to quick and irreversible reactions, even in chemistry.

Nuclear reactions : Reactions where a nucleus splits into smaller parts and results in radioactive decay , gives nuclear power enough to make a nuclear explosion!!

What it means for us : These are weapons of mass destruction, brain-splitting conversations which results in worthless conclusions and brain-drain..And ample waste of energy..

Nuclear chain reaction : Nuclear fission, neutron splits and triggers an event of reactions

What it means for us : Husband talks ..Wife snaps back, Husbands snaps back too.. …yeah ..Chain reaction..

Most chemical reactions are reversible.. ..Ahem such is not the case with human reactions. So be careful of which reaction you trigger, have fun, keep laughing and dont bother much...

Made in China

A lot has been said about the Chinese economy. China's economic policies and reforms are shaping the growth of their nation.

Being a part of the outsourced IT / ITES service operations in India, I am obviously concerned about our industry's future from a global perspective. India is currently Asia's front-runner in IT outsourced projects. Earnings from IT/BPO sector have helped leverage India's growth story over the past few years. This can be attributed to the reasonable pricing of skilled and educated labor force in India.

However, China continues to strengthen its hold on IT/ITES outsourced markets. If we were to relate the politics of a nation to its economy, I can safely say that the Communist Chinese culture ensures strong implementation of it’s strategies and policies. If the growth of an industry in the nation is to be analyzed, it would only be justified with a sector-wise analysis done on the Nation’s economy as a whole. As we know , a broader perspective defines a good analysis ..


So let's consider , a comparative study of the economies, China leads India in terms of Infrastructure, Import/Exports,FDIs and Private investments. They have opened their markets to globalization in the 1980s, much before India.
World Bank reports 6.4% growth in GDP for India as compared to China with a growth of 8.7% which is not too sustainable.
China has announced economic policies and reforms on infrastructure growth and tax breaks, Beijing has reported a huge credit growth in 2009-2010. The credit growth contributed 30% more to GDP with a reported drop in contribution of exports to 16%.
China's exports contribute 35% to the GDP compared to India's contribution of about 24%.The contribution to India's GDP is more from domestic consumption compared to only 35% in China.This gives India a more consistent and reliable future in growth.

On the flipside for China, the policies have induced a price property bubble. India is not experiencing the same degree of fallout on combating recession.
India also leads in terms of capital markets with Asia’s largest stock exchange.
Where India, currently leads in company management, the so called “Cheapest provider of grey matter”, China is soon building its educated workforce for the GenEx professionals.
China is empowering their youth with education. Some of their planned initiatives include hiring English speaking teachers, admitting more students to foreign universities.

If India needs to keep up the pace with China, it needs to reinforce Planning Commission’s education policies like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan , District Primary Education,and more such schemes churned out by MHRD. Councils like AICTE,NAAC have improved the quality of education offered across the country.
Though we lack in technology, agricultural tools and infrastructure, the grey matter in India is far superior than other emerging nations. Though we may congratulate ourselves on that, we still need to play more on our strengths than honing the weaker sectors of the Nation.


So would the emerging IT /skilled professionals be “Made in China? “ ..awaits an answer.