MAM
Manmohan’s ex-advisor, scribe Baru joins FICCI
NEW DELHI: Sanjaya Baru, former official spokesman and media advisor to the former prime minister Manmohan Singh, will take over as the secretary-general of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) from 1 September 2017.
This follows the completion of the five-year term of Dr A Didar Singh who had joined FICCI after his retirement as secretary in the government.
A former journalist, Baru – who was attached to PMO from 2004 to 2008 – is a political commentator and policy analyst, currently serving as director for geo-economics and strategy at the International Institute of Strategic Studies in Singapore.
FICCI president Pankaj Patel said: “Dr Singh, nearing completion of five years as the secretary-general of FICCI, has been for some time been looking for a relatively lighter role within the organisation and in view of this, the FICCI Committee has decided to appoint Baru.”
FICCI has completed 90 years of its glorious existence growing from strength to strength. With Dr. Singh’s personal efforts, FICCI has shaped up extremely well during the last five years and has been extremely resilient in dealing with domestic and global challenges as well as supporting Indian industry in capitalizing on new emerging opportunities,” Patel added.
Patel said Dr. Singh would now be holding the position of the principal advisor to FICCI president from 1 September.
Earlier, he had served as associate editor at The Economic Times and The Times of India, and then as the chief editor of Business Standard. His father B P R Vithal served as the finance and planning secretary during Manmohan Singh’s stint as the secretary of finance in the early nineties.
In April 2014, his memoir The Accidental Prime Minister, about his time at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) alleged that the prime minister was completely subservient to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who wielded significant influence in the running of the Singh administration, including the PMO itself. The book had sparked off a controversy, with the PMO officially denouncing it as “fiction”. Baru, however, has said he set out to show an empathetic portrait of the prime minister.
MAM
G-Shock launches GA-2100CM series with camouflage design
New sand and grey variants priced at Rs 10,995 each in India.
MUMBAI: Time just got a little more tactical and a lot more stylish. G-Shock has unveiled the GA-2100CM series, a fresh update to its popular GA-2100 line, bringing a camouflage twist to one of its most recognisable silhouettes. For the first time in the 2100 series, the watches feature G-Shock’s original camouflage pattern, subtly embedding the brand’s signature ‘G’ motif into the design. The move signals a shift towards more design-led storytelling, blending rugged functionality with fashion-forward detailing.
The new series introduces two colour variants sand (GA-2100CM-5A) and grey (GA-2100CM-8A) extending the model’s appeal across both streetwear and outdoor-inspired aesthetics. Built around the brand’s signature octagonal bezel and hybrid analogue-digital display, the watches retain a clean, modern look while adding layered visual depth.
Under the hood, the GA-2100CM continues to lean on performance. It features the Carbon Core Guard structure for durability, while maintaining a slim, lightweight profile suited for everyday wear. Functional elements include world time across 31 time zones, a 1/100-second stopwatch, countdown timer, LED light and 200-metre water resistance.
In line with evolving material choices, select components use bio-based resin, pointing to a gradual shift towards more sustainable design without compromising on toughness.
Priced at Rs 10,995, the GA-2100CM series is available across Casio India stores and online platforms.
As watch brands continue to balance utility with identity, G-Shock’s latest drop makes its intent clear, durability may be the legacy, but design is the new frontier.
