MAM
Spotlight on Indian kids with ‘Nick Dekho Prize Jeeto’
MUMBAI: Kid’s entertainment brand Nickelodeon Asia has not just cooked up impressive desserts for its young viewers in India, but also made provisions for a second helping.
The ‘Nickelodeon Dekho Prize Jeeto’ contest, which kicked off on 8 September, offers kids a chance to win prizes “every 15 minutes of the hour, every hour of the day, every day of the week, for six whole weeks”.
All one has to do is tune in to the Nick Dhin-a-Dhin programming block – between 3: 00 pm and 7.00 pm on weekdays and 9:30 am and 1.30 pm on weekends. Somewhere in the middle of the show, a password will be mentioned. Kids have to spot this ‘password of the day’, call the channel or mail them with it and win prizes. The password would change everyday.
The contest is valid for children below 15 years only. It will be promoted in the 25 cities including Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Rajkot, Surat, Baroda, Indore and Bhopal in West; Delhi, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Kanpur, Jaipur and Varanasi in North; Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Vizag, Thiruvanandapuram, Cochin, Coimbatore and Madurai in South; and Kolkata in East.
Nick has announced a dedicated number for entertaining calls throughout the day. Calls on this number will be considered a local call across all the cities, a company release states.
Prizes range from funky gadgets like Hypnotiser, Turbo N’gine blaster, Bijlee Ball, Aada Paada Cushion, Wonder Wig, Walking Notebook, UFO, Time Machine, Hotwheel cars and Barbie dolls.
Nick Dhin-a-Dhin features popular shows like Spongebob Squarepants, Hey Arnold, Catdog, Rugrats, The Adventure of Jimmy Neutron, Rocket Powers, Speed Racer X, Invader Zim, Fairly Odd Parents, Legends of the Hidden Temple, Figure It Out, Don’t Bluff, Kenan & Kel, The Amanda Show and Say Please.
According to the release, the ‘Nickelodeon Dekho Prize Jeeto’ contest is promoted through on-air promos on Nickelodeon and MTV Networks India, Zee TV, Discovery and Udaya TV. On-ground it is promoted through a mega contact initiative across 420 schools that reach over 400,000 kids and through outdoor hoardings, posters and flyers.
The contest is presented by Himalaya Chyavanprasha in association with Hotwheels, Barbie, Cheetos and Alpenliebe Lollipop.
Kids entering the contest can call at 9622-002-002 or e-mail the ‘password of the day’ along with the particular date to jeeto@nick-india.com. Mails may be sent to Dekho Aur Jeeto, PO Box 7918, Tulsiwadi, Tardeo, Mumbai – 400034.
Digital
Maharashtra partners OpenAI, Sarvam AI to boost state’s tech ecosystem
State to set up dedicated AI department and roll out frontier technology policies
MUMBAI: Maharashtra is set to become a primary hub for artificial intelligence following the 2026–27 Budget announcement. chief minister Devendra Fadnavis confirmed that the state has signed letters of intent with global giant OpenAI and national pioneer Sarvam AI to integrate advanced technology into the state’s economic and administrative framework.
The collaboration with OpenAI and Sarvam AI marks a shift towards adopting cutting-edge generative tools for governance. These partnerships, alongside MoUs with IIT Bombay and BharatGen, are designed to create a robust ecosystem for research and innovation. The move signals the state’s intent to bring together global technology leaders and domestic research institutions to accelerate the development and adoption of artificial intelligence across sectors.
Regarding the strategic intent of these alliances, chief minister Fadnavis stated, “With the objective of making the State’s Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence sector dynamic, letters of intent have been signed with globally and nationally reputed institutions like OpenAI and Sarvam AI to facilitate the Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence sector in the state.”
To manage these high-level partnerships and ensure effective implementation, the government is establishing an independent department of electronics, Information technology, and artificial intelligence. The new department will function with a dedicated commissionerate and specialised technical manpower, enabling faster decision-making, improved coordination, and stronger accountability in executing technology-driven initiatives.
The state also plans to introduce special policies aimed at strengthening its position in emerging technology sectors. These policies will focus on advancing Maharashtra as a global hub for frontier technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, drones, autonomous vehicles, and deep technology.
According to the chief minister, “The state government plans to introduce special policies to develop Maharashtra as a world-class hub for frontier technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, quantum computing, drones, autonomous vehicles and deep technology.”
Artificial intelligence is already being integrated into the state’s governance framework. A collaboration with Microsoft has led to the development of MahaCrimeOS AI, a platform that has reportedly reduced police investigation times by 80 per cent across 23 police stations in Nagpur. The initiative demonstrates how AI-driven tools can significantly enhance law enforcement efficiency and data analysis capabilities.
The government is also working toward building a fully digitised administrative ecosystem. Plans are underway to achieve complete digitisation of land transactions and implement electronic office systems across departments, paving the way for a paperless government. In addition, a pilot project will introduce AI-powered solutions in 75 selected villages to improve infrastructure, governance efficiency, and overall quality of life in rural areas.
To strengthen digital infrastructure and data protection, the state also intends to establish an advanced data centre in Nagpur. This facility will be designed to safeguard sensitive and sovereign information while supporting large-scale digital services and government platforms.
These initiatives form part of Maharashtra’s broader cyber security and digital transformation strategy aligned with the Viksit Maharashtra 2047 vision. By partnering with global and domestic technology leaders such as OpenAI and Sarvam AI, the state aims to build a secure, future-ready digital ecosystem that enhances citizen services, supports innovation, and strengthens India’s position in emerging technologies.
