A two day event, took place over the 21st and 22nd of January 2013, the festival was open to participation and involvement from colleges from all over Ahmedabad/ adjoining areas.

IBS bagged the title sponsorship of this event whereas Associate sponsors were Radio Mirchi, Endeavour & Epoch.

Lucky Draw by IBS: Simple Tech Quiz was organized towards the end of the first day of the event, where announcement of winning brand new mobile phones was made.
Over 164 students participated in the lucky draw.
Two lucky winners were announced at the end of day and Regional Manager IBS Marketing, Mr. Harshal Bhagwat handed over 2 mobile phones to the lucky winners.

I went through an amazing experience this Sunday. It was a ride to Darewadi on Satara Road with a group of Germans who completed their journey of 10,000 kms on Bicycles. They started their journey from Germany in April 2012 and completed their final leg of 10,000 kms in Pune last week. They have travelled all the way from Europe via Iran and Pakistan to India. Darewadi is 30 kms away from Pune. The to and fro distance to be covered on bicycle was 60 kms.

We began our cycle ride at 7.00 am on Sunday, 14^th October 2012. We were 20 of us including the cyclists from Germany. The journey began from Rajaram Bridge on Sinhagad Road.

It was early morning. Two of my fellow cyclists chatted with me for a while and left me behind. I was a little disappointed and thought they could have waited for me, could have gone a bit slow. I felt as if I should leave this journey at once. But then I looked behind and said, ah, there are people behind me. Great Deal! Let me push the pedal hard.

We reached the bridge connecting a valley after taking a turn from Sinhagad Road. The journey started becoming interesting. A bus full of children waved at us which was so motivating, I was glad I did not mind others going ahead of me at the start. I realized I was so foolish, it was not about going first; it was about finishing the journey.

Thanks to the mountains, Sun rays were not reaching us yet. And guess what, Maoushmi, the only girl of the elite group of four German Cyclists, meets up with me on her Bicycle who was on her way to complete final few Kilometers to make it a 10,000 kms mark. I chat with her for a while and push the pedal harder. She tells me a few experiences of her journey in Alps and Iran. It further boosts my morale.

Now we are in the great tunnel connecting us to Shinde Wadi on Satara Road. I have travelled through this tunnel umpteen number of times in the Car, closed windows and AC on. Never felt the real thrill of the Tunnel all this time. I entered the tunnel and felt as though there is so much darkness ahead. Life brings you surprises all the time to make it interesting and entertaining. The cars were rapidly moving past me and all cyclists were pushed to the wall to form a queue automatically. We followed each other without any competition or complex. It was not cyclist against cyclist any more but it was cyclist against automobiles.

The tunnel was unending. It was full of carbon emission and felt I might die due to suffocation. I was remembering if I did anything right to be remembered by others if it was my last breath. And here ended the tunnel. All of us relieved with fresh air and bright sunlight. So the good hours were back. We headed to Satara Road with rejuvenated enthusiasm and double the speed. All of us reach our next halt to receive water bottles which was like nectar to us and Peanut bars. Then I have a greater surprise. I am told now we are leaving the smooth highway which we travelled all along and taking a turn inside which is a village road. I try to find the road. There are more pits than the road. I take a deep breath and say “Oh my, charge up lady, you have a tough task ahead”. We begin our journey on a single lane so called village road. The people are coming from the opposite side and I hear a German saying Kshama Kara in Marathi, a synonym to Sorry. He says, to me, he finds the traffic of India amazing. Slightly embarrassed I say yes it is crazy. He then says, I go mad in Germany when people do not decide whether they want to go or not. Instead here in India, everyone wants to go and wants to go very fast. I laugh but in the heart of heart salute him for his positive attitude.

Then we reach the steep Ghats. This is deadly. Most of us are not able to cycle now. We hold our bicycles and keep pushing. We reach the peak and then with a slight slope and one turn we enter Village Darewadi. Villagers welcome us with drums and all the pomp up but more warmth. After spending two hours with them we descend our journey back home. Total 30 kms.  On bicycle. 30 more for the return journey.

I am amazed at the descend of the same Ghats which I hated so much while climbing. I am almost flying now. I am at the top of the world. But I do apply brakes and try to remember the hardships I had to keep my feet grounded.

Same journey back home. However, feel so relaxed and triumphant. I feel proud of completing this cycle rally. It does not matter to me now, whether I am first or last. For that matter I am actually pedaling very slowly because, I do not want to give up now. I have the backup van right behind. It is tempting me to decide against pedaling. But I gather all my courage and pedal though the peaks, tunnels and amazing slopes.  Afternoon sun is burning us now. But it is a journey back home hence nothing matters. And here I complete my final mile with accomplished feeling, light heart, heavy legs and numb arms.

Life is also a long cycle rally. It is more important to finish it than secure first place. There will be scary tunnels, bumpy rides and difficult ghats. But there will be easy slopes too. There will be people who will go ahead of you, but there will be more who will be close behind. It is more important to look at it positively and thank the almighty for whatever he offered. Sunshine or Darkness. Sunshine for a reason to smile and Darkness to wipe your tears without letting others know.

Contributed by Dr. Ashwini Sowani (Faculty & Placement Coordinator IBS Pune)

Hi there,

How you plan and spend your time, is key to your test preparation.

In some inevitable situations – you may find yourself in a stage – when you are a few days away from test date. Things may get on your nerves in such situation.

Here is how to tackle it?

1. If you have trouble staying alert when you study. Then take a power nap.

2. If you are getting less sleep than normal – do not coffee, or energy drinks. Instead go for Banana or Apple. It will give you energy and do not make you jittery.

3. Try to get a friend – who has already prepared – to help you. It will be a win-win for both of you. Your friend will be able to revise and retain – and you will get needed info in a fraction of time.

You can quiz each other and answer each other’s questions as you go along. Some people find this a distraction, so see if it works for you.

4. Try simple exercise – like running up and down stairs. It gets your blood flowing, and makes your mind work better.

5. Take frequent, short breaks. Breaks help you stay alert, and they can also prevent burnout. Take a 10 minute break for every 50 minutes of work.

6. Drink plenty of water. It helps you to think and most importantly it hydrates you. Remember that caffeine is a diuretic. If you have been downing coffee in order to study for your test, you need to re-hydrate yourself.

Good luck.
IBS Admissions Team

“We secure our friends not by accepting favors but by doing them. –Thucydides (471 BC – 400BC)

Hi there,

Hope your preparation for IBSAT 2013 is on course.

Studying at times can get boring.

Here are some ideas to make it interesting and fun.

1. Study area: Make sure you study area has good lighting and and is cozy. Make sure you have a clean desk. An uninviting study area can make you distracted and lower your productivity.

2. Be organized: Make sure you almost everything you need (like pen, paper, calculator, bottle/glass or water..) – as you sit down to study. Getting up every time to find and get a small time will make you less productive and focused.

3. Stay motivated: Think about what it will mean for you if you do well in your studies. How will it make you feel? If you keep the end result in mind it will help you stay motivated.

Also check out inspiring books and quotes. Take a printout of your favorite one – and paste/pin it somewhere you can see it while you’re studying.

4. Get a friend along: Studying with a friend can also make things fun. Having a friend over can mean you can share notes and tips. These tips can lead to better scores especially if you and your friend motivate each other.

Having a friend to prepare with can be an added motivation or it could be distracting, remember to choose your approach based on your personal learning style.

If you have any friends who have MBA aspirations and have not applied to IBSAT 2013, ask them to apply here –> www.ibsindia.org/apply

Preparing and coming to take test with a good friend can make things a bit easier 🙂

Good luck!
IBS Admissions Team

“We must use time as a tool, not as a crutch. – John F. Kennedy (1917 – 1963)

Hi there,

Hope you are on track with your test preps.

IBSAT, that you have registered for, is a computer based test (CBT) – so are many other tests.

As with any form of test, you need to practice well.

Here is how to do it,

1. Use scratch paper: As the MCQs (multiple choice questions) are going to be presented on a screen, you may not be able to see all the information onscreen at one time. Having a scratch paper will allow you to jot down details, formulas, etc. while you look at other areas of the screen. This is going to save you a lot of up and down scrolling.

2. Take mock test: Mock tests help you become familiar with the test interface. Take as many mock tests as you can before the actual test. By doing it – you will learn to focus on questions/test instead of the format of the test.

3. Practice with an alarm clock: Some MCQ tests have an actual clock on screen that counts down. This can cause some serious anxiety if you’ve never taken a test with a clock in your face all the time. Try a few practice runs using a clock or watch.

4. Know the Rules Up: Don’t be complacent about the format. Take the few minutes to find out the scoring system and any details you can about the multiple choice question format, and how the computer handles it. It’s one less thing to worry about on test day.

Good luck, IBS Admissions Team

Hi there,

Hope you are doing great.

This is for those who recently registered for IBSAT (IBS Aptitude Test).

Writing to confirm that registration process and subsequent communication has been smooth for you.

If we can help in any way, please feel free to ask.

Please get in touch in one of following ways,

• Reply back to this email with your query – or
• Call toll free 1800-200-6969 (you can call using your cell phone or any other phone) – or
• Chat with us at http://www.ibsindia.org/chat_with_us.html

Committed to make IBSAT a smooth experience for you.

To share feedback or if you need any help related to your application – feel free to write to online@ibsindia.org

Good luck!

IBS Admissions Team

The road to success is not easy to navigate, but with drudgery, drive and passion.
E-Cell @ IBS K conceptualized the Entrepreneurship Quiz. One of the famous quotes by Peter Drucker says “Knowledge has to be improved, challenged, and increased constantly, or it vanishes”. Though quiz competitions are often viewed as the pursuit of trivial knowledge, they encourage students to achieve academic excellence and increase their awareness of the business environment around them. A must for budding MBAs.

The event was held on the 07^th of September 2012.  The Members at E-Cell worked tenuously for the Judgement day & marketed the event with full vigour. The E-Cell members under the overall guidance of Dr. Subir Sen gained consensus about the various rounds to be conducted and designed the entire format of the game and made the stage ready for the participants. The competition was open to both Juniors and Seniors.

Dr. Subir Sen was the quiz master and he conducted the quiz show with great aplomb. With the onset of the 1^st round which was the Elimination round there was exuberance participation and fierce competition, it was also deceiving as to who would proceed further. Only one team from the batch of 2014 (Juniors) reached the Stage rounds and this team dominated all the other teams throughout the completion. The Stage rounds comprised of: Who Am I, Slogan Wagon, Corporate Stamp, and Name The Chain.

The Rapid Fire round changed the fortunes for the winning team; they scored 40 points in that round to tally their scores with the team of Class of 2014.To decide upon the winner a tie breaker round was conducted and Garima Gupta and Sreejoyee Mukherjee of Class of 2013 were declared as winners while Supratik Ghosh and Kunal Mehta of Class of 2014 edged to the Runners Up. The Winning team and the Runners up team got Trophy’s and cash prize worth Rs.2500 and Rs.1500 respectively.

Global consumer confidence dipped in the second quarter from the previous three months, according to a published survey which also showed that Indonesians have overtaken Indians as the most upbeat consumers.

Consumer confidence fell across major emerging economies China, India and Brazil in the second quarter, according to the survey by global information.

A worsening Euro Zone Crisis, sluggish U.S. jobs growth and slowing growth in China and India combined to dent consumer confidence globally in the 2nd Quarter 2012 with concern over the economic outlook and job security the biggest concerns.

53% of Global respondents were optimistic about their personal finances, but that was down 2 Percentage Points from the first quarter. Asia-Pacific respondents reported the biggest decline in favorable financial perceptions, declining four points to 59%.

The Global Consumer Confidence Index dipped 3 points in the 2nd Quarter to close at 91. A reading below 100 signals consumer is pessimistic about the overall outlook.

There was however no increase in the number of consumers who said they were in recession, which stayed at 57%.

“Things are not necessarily getting worse for the average consumer, they just aren’t getting better. That number, however, could change depending particularly on how the situation in Europe evolves,” said Venkatesh Bala, Chief Economist at The Cambridge Group.

The survey was conducted between May 4th and 21st (2012) and covered more than 28,000 consumers polled on the Internet across 56 Global Markets.

U.S. Consumer Confidence fell by 5 points to 87 in the 2nd Quarter 2012, one of the biggest decreases globally.

INDONESIA RACES AHEAD
Indonesia’s shift to top spot in the survey was a further sign that the country, with its big domestic economy and an expanding middle class, is weathering the global slowdown better than some other emerging markets.

“In Indonesia, consumer optimism has been evident all year fuelled by investment rating upgrades from Moody’s and Fitch,” said Catherine Eddy, Managing Director, Publishing House, Indonesia.

“The market is very buoyant among consumers and investors right now and with a population of 240 million, Indonesia is possibly the next big bastion after China and India.”

In Egypt, which elected a new president last month in its first free elections, consumer sentiment leapt 6 points, pushing Egyptians into the top 10 most optimistic consumers globally.

Hungarians, beset by a weakening economy and uncertainty about whether the government will secure an IMF aid deal, remained the most pessimistic consumers for a fourth straight quarter, their score dipping from the first quarter.

Confidence in Italy, which has been forced to announce new austerity measures to tackle its high debt, also dipped and was the third-lowest globally.

Euro zone peers France and Greece, which both held elections in the 2nd Quarter, saw big rises in consumer confidence but both still ranked in the bottom 10 globally, as did Spain and Portugal. Japan and South Korea have also seen persistently weak confidence in recent quarters and stayed in the bottom 10 rankings.

Global Consumer Confidence Index in the 2nd Quarter, 2012 (Change from Q1, 2012 survey in brackets):

Global Consumer Confidence Average : 91 (-3)

United States : 87 (-5)
Germany : 88 (-2)
United Kingdom : 75 (-2)

By Manas Patra,  IBS Bangalore (Class of 2000). Manas is based in Shanghai, China. You can reach out to him at pmanas1@rediffmail.com