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Business Standard
21-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Beyond clicks and scrolls: Digital financial education for Viksit Bharat
In this age of digital transformation, the proliferation of apps, online courses, and gamified learning tools has brought financial education to our fingertips. But the question remains: are we truly learning, or merely consuming content in a digital haze? Traditionally, financial education in India was sporadic and limited—confined to formal schooling or isolated workshops. However, the economic shocks of the global financial crisis and, more recently, the Covid-19 pandemic revealed a glaring need: widespread, scalable financial literacy for every Indian, regardless of age or income. This urgency accelerated the move toward digital financial education. Digital tools now play a crucial role in disseminating financial knowledge. Online courses, mobile applications, and gamified learning experiences provide users with flexible, self-paced education. Platforms such as Coursera and edX offer courses from top universities, while mobile apps like Mint and YNAB (You Need a Budget) help individuals manage their personal finances interactively. These resources have broadened access to financial education, reaching audiences that traditional methods often failed to engage. Indian institutions followed suit—Sebi launched its investor education app Saa₹thi, while the RBI's Financial Literacy Week focused on themes like digital banking and cyber safety. Digital tools undeniably have improved outreach. They break socio-economic and geographical barriers, enabling underserved communities to access financial knowledge. The variety of formats—videos, podcasts, quizzes, simulations—caters to different learning styles. Many mobile apps now integrate behavioural nudges and progress tracking to keep users engaged. This represents a significant shift from the one-size-fits-all model of traditional financial education to a more focused, target-oriented learning style. Yet this democratization of financial information comes with caveats. The sheer volume of online information risks overwhelming users. People often skim through content without internalizing or applying it. The spread of misinformation—especially through social media influencers, biased advisers, or non-verified blogs—compounds the problem. Add to this the digital divide: rural populations, elderly citizens, and economically disadvantaged groups either lack reliable internet access or digital confidence. The financial education materials available online require re-orientation with an emphasis on the targeted groups' needs. Generic modules often fail to consider individual financial circumstances—something only personalized guidance or human intervention can address. As behavioural economists point out, cognitive biases like procrastination, overconfidence, and loss aversion can limit the impact of even the best online tools if not designed with user behaviour in mind. Importantly, digital literacy without adequate awareness of fraud prevention and grievance redress mechanisms can lead to devastating outcomes. While India has witnessed an exponential rise in UPI and digital payment adoption—with around 172 billion transactions in 2024, marking a 46% increase from 117.64 billion in 2023—this surge has also been accompanied by an alarming rise in scams, phishing attacks, and payment frauds. Victims often lack knowledge about where and how to report such incidents or even recognize that they've been defrauded. Without a robust understanding of safe digital practices and redress pathways—like the RBI's Digital Ombudsman or the Cyber Crime Portal—users remain largely vulnerable and under-confident, especially in semi-urban and rural areas where digital trust is still forming. Despite several initiatives already in place, India still struggles with translating the availability of digital financial literacy into active public engagement. Regulators and academic institutions like SEBI, NCFE, and NISM have developed accessible e-learning platforms and certification programs—such as the Saa₹thi app, NCFE's targeted modules, and NISM's Investor Awareness Web Modules. These offer structured, credible, and even gamified financial education, covering topics like mutual funds, stock markets, savings, and fraud prevention. Yet, awareness of these resources remains alarmingly low. Even among digitally literate individuals, the uptake is limited—either due to lack of trust, interest, or simply the overwhelming nature of financial jargon. For large sections of the population, especially in semi-urban and rural areas, these platforms remain out of reach due to digital exclusion, language barriers, or lack of localized relevance. The gap between resource availability and user participation reveals that creating content is not enough; we must also create demand, trust, and usability, apart from access. Several countries offer strong examples of how digital financial literacy can be structured, integrated, and sustained. In the United Kingdom, the government-backed Money and Pensions Service (MaPS), along with its MoneyHelper platform, provides a centralized digital hub offering free and impartial financial guidance. It brings together budgeting tools, scam awareness content, and debt advice in one place, while also collaborating with schools to incorporate financial capability into curriculum-based learning. The result is a comprehensive, life-stage approach to financial literacy, supported by both digital access and offline reinforcement. Similarly, Australia has developed an inclusive model through the Moneysmart platform, operated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). This portal offers financial education tailored to specific age groups and life stages—from schoolchildren to retirees. Its resources include interactive calculators, goal-based planners, and fraud alert systems—all designed in simple, accessible language. The emphasis is on clarity, safety, and user engagement, with financial decision-making contextualized through real-life scenarios. India can draw valuable lessons from these global models. A unified, government-backed platform—consolidating digital learning resources, grievance redressal portals, helplines, and verified financial tools—can serve as a trusted source amid the current flood of unregulated content. Embedding financial education within formal schooling and higher education, especially using regional languages and culturally relevant examples, can build early awareness and long-term habits. It is equally important that the content reflects real-time risks—updating users on evolving scams, digital payment innovations, and policy shifts. Finally, encouraging deeper collaboration between fintech firms, educators, and regulators can ensure that digital platforms are not just technologically advanced, but also behaviourally intelligent—equipped with built-in nudges, fraud warnings, and default safety mechanisms. To make digital financial education truly effective, we need to move from passive consumption to active engagement. Hybrid models—blending digital tools with in-person mentorship, community coaching, or AI-driven personalization—can bridge this gap. Schools, colleges, fintech firms, and regulators must co-create programs that combine real-world simulations with culturally relevant case studies and feedback mechanisms. Financial literacy should not be an occasional campaign or an app feature—it must be an ongoing, evolving journey. Digital tools are powerful, but only when paired with critical thinking, trust in verified knowledge, and the ability to act on it. If we want citizens to make informed economic decisions, we must ensure that our approach to promoting financial education is not just limited to making it accessible, but also authentic, actionable, and inclusive—with grievance redress and fraud awareness forming its core. For broad-based financial sector participation, we need to move beyond clicks and scrolls, develop true understanding and nuances of financial markets, and help in building a sound and meaningful digital economy. As India envisions a Viksit Bharat—a developed and self-reliant nation by 2047—financial empowerment through digitalized financial education is central to that goal.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
21-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Beyond clicks: Rethinking digital financial education for 'Viksit Bharat'
In this age of digital transformation, the proliferation of apps, online courses, and gamified learning tools has brought financial education to our fingertips. But the question remains: are we truly learning, or merely consuming content in a digital haze? Traditionally, financial education in India was sporadic and limited — confined to formal schooling or isolated workshops. However, the economic shocks of the global financial crisis and, more recently, the Covid-19 pandemic, revealed a glaring need: widespread, scalable financial literacy for every Indian, regardless of age or income. This urgency accelerated the move toward digital financial education. Digital tools now play a crucial role in disseminating financial knowledge. Online courses, mobile applications, and gamified learning experiences provide users with flexible, self-paced education. Platforms such as Coursera and edX offer courses from top universities, while mobile apps like Mint and YNAB (You Need a Budget) help individuals manage their personal finances interactively. These resources have broadened access to financial education, reaching audiences that traditional methods often failed to engage. Indian institutions followed suit — Sebi launched its investor education app Saa₹thi, while the RBI's Financial Literacy Week focused on themes like digital banking and cyber safety. Digital tools undeniably have improved outreach. They break socio-economic and geographical barriers, enabling underserved communities to access financial knowledge. The variety of formats — videos, podcasts, quizzes, simulations — caters to different learning styles. Many mobile apps now integrate behavioral nudges and progress tracking to keep users engaged. This represents a significant shift from the one-size-fits-all model of traditional financial education to a more focused target-oriented learning style. Yet this democratisation of financial information comes with caveats. The sheer volume of online information risks overwhelming users. People often skim through content without internalizing or applying it. The spread of misinformation — especially through social media influencers, biased advisors or non-verified blogs — compounds the problem. Add to this, the digital divide: rural populace, elderly citizens, and economically disadvantaged groups either lack reliable internet access or digital confidence. The financial education materials available online requires re-orientation with emphasis on the targeted groups' needs. Generic modules often fail to consider individual financial circumstances — something only personalised guidance or human intervention can address. As behavioral economists point out, cognitive biases like procrastination, overconfidence, and loss aversion can limit the impact of even the best online tools if not designed with user behavior in mind. Importantly, digital literacy without adequate awareness of fraud prevention and grievance redress mechanisms can lead to devastating outcomes. While India has witnessed an exponential rise in UPI and digital payment adoption — with around 172 billion transactions in 2024, marking a 46 per cent increase from 117.64 billion in 2023 — this surge has also been accompanied by an alarming rise in scams, phishing attacks, and payment frauds. Victims often lack knowledge about where and how to report such incidents or even recognize that they've been defrauded. Without a robust understanding of safe digital practices and redress pathways—like the RBI's Digital Ombudsman or the Cyber Crime Portal, users remain largely vulnerable and under confident, especially in semi-urban and rural areas where digital trust is still forming. Despite several initiatives already in place, India still struggles with translating the availability of digital financial literacy into active public engagement. Regulators and academic institutions like SEBI, NCFE and NISM have developed accessible e-learning platforms and certification programs—such as the Saa₹thi app, NCFE's targeted modules and the NISM's Investor Awareness Web Modules. These offer structured, credible, and even gamified financial education, covering topics like mutual funds, stock markets, savings, and fraud prevention. Yet, awareness of these resources remains alarmingly low. Even among digitally literate individuals, the uptake is limited—either due to lack of trust, interest, or simply the overwhelming nature of financial jargons. For large sections of the population, especially in semi-urban and rural areas, these platforms remain out of reach due to digital exclusion, language barriers, or lack of localised relevance. The gap between resource availability and user participation reveals that creating content is not enough; we must also create demand, trust, and usability, apart from access. Several countries offer strong examples of how digital financial literacy can be structured, integrated, and sustained. In the United Kingdom, the government-backed Money and Pensions Service (MaPS), along with its MoneyHelper platform, provides a centralized digital hub offering free and impartial financial guidance. It brings together budgeting tools, scam awareness content, and debt advice in one place, while also collaborating with schools to incorporate financial capability into curriculum-based learning. The result is a comprehensive, life-stage approach to financial literacy, supported by both digital access and offline reinforcement. Similarly, Australia has developed an inclusive model through the Moneysmart platform, operated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). This portal offers financial education tailored to specific age groups and life stages — from schoolchildren to retirees. Its resources include interactive calculators, goal-based planners, and fraud alert systems — all designed in simple, accessible language. The emphasis is on clarity, safety, and user engagement, with financial decision-making contextualized through real-life scenarios. India can draw valuable lessons from these global models. A unified, government-backed platform — consolidating digital learning resources, grievance redressal portals, helplines, and verified financial tools — can serve as a trusted source amid the current flood of unregulated content. Embedding financial education within formal schooling and higher education, especially using regional languages and culturally relevant examples, can build early awareness and long-term habits. It is equally important that the content reflects real-time risks — updating users on evolving scams, digital payment innovations, and policy shifts. Finally, encouraging deeper collaboration between fintech firms, educators, and regulators can ensure that digital platforms are not just technologically advanced, but also behaviorally intelligent — equipped with built-in nudges, fraud warnings, and default safety mechanisms. To make digital financial education truly effective, we need to move from passive consumption to active engagement. Hybrid models — blending digital tools with in-person mentorship, community coaching, or AI-driven personalisation — can bridge this gap. Schools, colleges, fintech firms, and regulators must co-create programs that combine real-world simulations with culturally relevant case studies and feedback mechanisms. Financial literacy should not be an occasional campaign or an app feature — it must be an ongoing, evolving journey. Digital tools are powerful, but only when paired with critical thinking, trust in verified knowledge, and the ability to act on it. If we want citizens to make informed economic decisions, we must ensure that our approach to promote financial education is not just limited to making it accessible, but also authentic, actionable, and inclusive — with grievance redress and fraud awareness forming its core. For broad basing financial sector participation, we need to move beyond clicks and scrolls, develop true understanding and nuances of financial markets which will help in building a sound and meaningful digital economy. As India envisions a Viksit Bharat — a developed and self-reliant nation by 2047 — financial empowerment through digitalised financial education is central to that goal.
Time of India
19-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Why learning data science skills could be your best career upgrade in 2025
In today's interconnected world, every click, call, and transaction generates reams of data. The ability to interpret these numbers is rapidly becoming a universal career superpower. No matter your field or geography, understanding and using data is shaping opportunities in ways never seen before. Boardrooms, classrooms, and communities everywhere are recognising: data literacy is essential. Leading global surveys confirm a growing demand from employers for professionals who can analyse, visualise, and communicate data. Whether you work in technology, healthcare, business, education, or the nonprofit sector, data-savvy professionals are in high demand. Why is there a buzz around data science? Digital Transformation : Organisations in every industry are digitising, creating vast amounts of data. AI Integration : Artificial intelligence is becoming embedded in everything from logistics to entertainment. Better Decision-Making: Data fluency enables smarter, faster, and more transparent decisions. Global Trends: A recent research called the Gallup Math Matters Study 2025 shows that the majority of managers worldwide now consider data science skills crucial for their teams. What employers want The days of relying solely on gut instinct or spreadsheets are fading. Today's hiring managers are looking for: Data cleaning and analysis capabilities Understanding of financial math Numeracy and statistical thinking Basic programming in languages like Python or R These skills aren't limited to the tech industry. Departments in marketing, HR, finance, and even operations want team members who can uncover the stories and solutions hidden in numbers. What this means for professionals and students Regardless of your current role or academic background, data literacy can be a game changer. Educational programs and certifications in data science, analytics, and machine learning are more accessible than ever. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Gold Is Surging in 2025 — Smart Traders Are Already In IC Markets Learn More Undo The best part? You don't need to be a math expert. Modern courses make data science approachable, they teach with relatable examples, like social media algorithms, sports stats, or apps for tracking spending. Starting your data journey Building data skills is now more accessible than ever. Beginners can explore online platforms like Coursera, edX, Khan Academy, or Google's Data Analytics Certificate for structured courses. Upskilling bootcamps and university programs, from IITs to global institutes, also cater to both students and working professionals. Free tutorials on YouTube, GitHub, and community forums offer practical guidance. Start with Excel for basic data handling, move to Python or R for deeper analysis, and brush up on statistics via short videos or podcasts. Platforms like Kaggle allow users to test their skills through real-world data challenges with no prior experience needed. Math may have seemed intimidating back in school, but the basics of data science are increasingly accessible—and valuable. The power to decode and harness data benefits every country, industry, and career stage. TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here . Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
Time of India
18-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Fresh Degrees, Smarter Moves: How AI Is Powering the Career Launchpad for New Grads
Live Events The bottom line? Now, the landscape of new graduates entering the workforce is a bit dynamic. With Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a game changer, young professionals must integrate and learn AI so as not to get left behind. Unlike the anxiety-driven headlines painting AI as a grim reaper of entry level jobs, the reality is far from it. AI is here not to steal jobs but to transform it. For new grads, this means an unprecedented opportunity to tap into tools that give them a competitive edge, streamline the job hunt, and even help them land roles previously inaccessible without years of like Zety Kickresume and Enhancv can help these young professionals to kick start their job hunting. These tools can help them to curate professional resumes, and portfolios that can help them tailor to specific job roles, no more one generic one size fits all CVs. These platforms scan job descriptions and align them with your resume, ensuring keywords and phrasing align with what recruiters and bots alike are scanning for. For someone fresh out of college, this level of sophistication was once locked behind paid consultants or HR professionals; now, it's a few clicks AI doesn't stop just at resume building, platforms like Coursera, Udemy and edX are integrated with AI to personalize learning journeys. If you're a journalism major aiming to pivot into digital marketing, AI-powered course recommendations can create a fast-track learning path curated to your career goals. What's more, these platforms now use natural language processing and computer vision to assess project work, simulate real-world scenarios, and provide detailed feedback—something traditional classrooms rarely manage to deliver at AI like ChatGPT, Claude, or Jasper AI can act as your personal career coach. Moreover, Platforms like Toptal, Upwork , and Fiverr use AI to match freelancers with tasks suited to their skill set and even provide analytics to improve profile let's not ignore the growing trend of companies incorporating AI in hiring process. From big companies like IBM to Unilever, business are using AI to assess candidates' important to acknowledge that AI is not a magic wand—it doesn't replace hustle, curiosity, or the need for foundational knowledge. But it absolutely enhances efficiency, personalization, and strategic decision-making. In a world where human attention is finite and competition stiff, AI acts as a catalyst—amplifying visibility, sharpening messaging, and accelerating skill smartest move a young professional can make today isn't just applying to more jobs—it's leveraging AI to apply smarter. Embracing this digital evolution doesn't dilute your human value; it amplifies it. In an age where employers value innovation, initiative, and agility, being AI-savvy is no longer a bonus—it's baseline.
Forbes
10-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
5 Ways To Turn AI Anxiety Into A Big Salary Boost
With the right strategies, you can turn AI anxiety into a well-deserved salary increase. Worried that artificial intelligence could take over your job? AI anxiety isn't just hype. A recent edX survey reveals that nearly half of workers believe artificial intelligence poses a threat to their jobs. While this technology creates uncertainty, it also opens new doors. Employees who respond to AI anxiety by embracing change and developing new skills find these efforts lead to better job security and a higher salary. In fact, the latest PwC Global AI Jobs Barometer shows that workers with AI skills command a 56% wage premium, up from 25% last year. Recognizing that AI anxiety is widespread is the first step toward channeling it into constructive energy. The five strategies below show how you can transform AI apprehension into a real salary boost. 1. Reframe AI Anxiety Into Opportunity AI anxiety differs from pure fear because it carries productive concern. While fear paralyzes, anxiety can actually motivate action when you channel it correctly. Start with a simple exercise: Write down your top three AI worries, then flip each one into a "How can I..." question. This mental shift moves you from victim to problem-solver. Worry statement: "What if AI automates my job out of existence?" Flip the script: "How can I use AI to automate the repetitive parts of my job so I can focus on higher-value work that AI can't do?" Worry statement: "I'll never be able to keep up with all these new AI tools." Flip the script: "How can I pick one or two AI tools to master this quarter, so I stay ahead of the curve without feeling overwhelmed?" Worry statement: "AI will make my current skills obsolete." Flip the script: "How can I combine my unique experience with AI capabilities to create a skill set that's even more valuable?" This reframing exercise transforms anxiety from a paralyzing force into fuel for growth. 2. Audit Your Daily Activities For AI Leverage Points Before you can leverage AI effectively, you need to understand where it can make the biggest impact in your current role. Start by listing five to 10 recurring tasks that drain your time or energy: • Manual data entry: updating spreadsheets, CRM systems, or project logs • Scheduling meetings: finding mutual availability, sending invites, and managing calendar conflicts • Email management: sorting, prioritizing, and responding to routine messages • Report compilation: repetitive data gathering and formatting for weekly or monthly status updates • Presentation preparation: updating similar templates with new data or creating decks with standard formats Once you've identified these tasks, evaluate which could be partly or fully automated. Create a simple "AI Opportunity Map" that ranks each task by potential time savings and implementation difficulty. This visual tool helps you prioritize where to focus your initial efforts for maximum impact. 3. Upskill with Purpose Random AI learning leads to random results. Strategic upskilling aligned with your audit creates measurable value. Select one or two tools that directly address your highest-priority automation opportunities. If your audit revealed email management as a major time drain, focus on mastering AI-powered email tools and prompt engineering for automated responses. Set SMART micro-goals that are time-boxed and outcome-focused. Instead of "learn AI," commit to "reduce weekly report preparation time by 50% using AI summarization tools within four weeks." This specificity creates accountability and measurable progress. Implement spaced-practice "AI sprints" rather than marathon learning sessions. Schedule two to three focused 20-30 minute sessions per week, each targeting a specific mini-goal. This approach leverages research showing that distributed practice leads to better long-term retention than cramming. Tap into free resources like Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, and YouTube tutorials. Both OpenAI and Anthropic offer comprehensive documentation and free AI courses. The key is consistent, focused practice rather than consuming endless content without application. 4. Implement, Track, And Quantify Your AI Gains Learning without implementation creates no value. Run weekly AI experiments on one task at a time, treating each as a mini-pilot program with clear success metrics. Before implementing any AI solution, establish baseline measurements. If you're automating report generation, track how long the current process takes, how many errors typically occur, and what resources are required. Document these metrics carefully, because they become the foundation for demonstrating your value. Record post-AI metrics using the same criteria as your baseline. Track hours saved, error-rate reduction, faster turnaround times and improved quality measures. The PwC report shows that industries most exposed to AI achieve three times higher growth in revenue per employee, demonstrating the measurable impact of AI adoption. Keep a simple "AI Impact Log" using a spreadsheet or slide deck to visualize your gains. Include before-and-after comparisons, specific tools used and quantified benefits. This documentation becomes crucial evidence when negotiating salary increases or seeking new opportunities. Share your experiments and results with colleagues and supervisors. This transparency builds trust while positioning you as an AI leader within your organization. 5. Package Your Wins And Negotiate Your Raise Documentation without communication won't advance your career. Transform your AI Impact Log into a compelling narrative that demonstrates your increased value to the organization. Craft a concise "AI Impact Summary" that highlights key metrics and real outcomes. Focus on business impact rather than technical details. Instead of explaining how you configured a particular AI tool, emphasize that you reduced report preparation time by 60% while improving accuracy by 25%. Share your wins proactively through team updates, one-on-one meetings and performance reviews. Don't wait for annual reviews to showcase your AI-enhanced capabilities. Regular communication keeps your contributions visible and top-of-mind for decision-makers. Propose the next AI initiative to demonstrate leadership and forward-thinking. Suggest piloting a team-wide automation project or training colleagues on tools you've mastered. This positions you as an AI champion rather than just a user, increasing your strategic value to the organization. When negotiating compensation, anchor your request with market benchmarks for AI-enabled roles. Research comparable positions in your industry and location to establish realistic but ambitious targets. Present your case as an investment in continued AI innovation rather than just recognition for past achievements. Outline how additional compensation will enable you to pursue advanced AI training or lead larger automation initiatives. Remember that salary negotiations extend beyond base pay. Consider requesting professional development budgets for AI training, conference attendance or certification programs. These investments compound your value while demonstrating commitment to continued growth. AI anxiety is a natural response to technological change, but it doesn't have to define your career path. The edX survey found that while 62% of workers are considering upskilling due to AI advancements, only 4% are currently pursuing AI-related education. By taking action now, you position yourself among the early adopters who capture the greatest benefits from this historic shift. Not only will you future-proof your skills and increase your value, but you'll also be ready to negotiate a well-deserved salary bump as AI expertise grows in demand.
