MAM
Viral CLAT ad sparks outrage amid NEET controversy, says ‘Think Beyond NEET, IIT-JEE’
Mumbai: The controversy surrounding NEET has taken an unexpected turn with a viral advertisement igniting further outrage among students. Alleged irregularities in the NEET exam results have reached a boiling point, with students nationwide protesting and demanding the complete cancellation of the exam and a thorough investigation into the reported discrepancies.
A newspaper advertisement for the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) has gone viral on social media platform X. The ad’s message, perceived by many as insensitive, reads: “Disappointed with NEET results? Think beyond NEET, IIT-JEE. Think CLAT! 5-year law from NLU’s.” Accompanying the shared ad, a user said, “Capitalism is peaking. Last time a shaving blade company tried to capitalise on young topper’s looks.”
The controversy began on 4 June when the National Testing Agency (NTA) released the NEET results. Following the announcement, numerous students reported discrepancies in their scores, leading to widespread calls for the cancellation of the NEET UG 2024 exam. Many medical aspirants, dissatisfied with their results, have demanded an investigation into the alleged irregularities.
The demand for a probe into the NEET results is gaining momentum. Students believe that only a thorough investigation can address their concerns and restore faith in the examination process. However, the authorities have yet to respond to the students’ demands, leaving them anxious and frustrated.
The viral ad, while highlighting alternative paths, serves as a stark reminder of the uncertain future many medical aspirants now face. For some, this could mean giving up on their lifelong dream of becoming a doctor. The students await a response from the authorities, hoping for a resolution to this controversy.
Brands
Acko CMO Ashish Mishra to exit in July
The digital insurer’s marketing chief, who helped build the brand over nearly five years, is heading for the exit.
Ashish Mishra is stepping down as chief marketing officer of Acko, with his departure confirmed for July. He remains in the role for now, and an official announcement from the company is expected shortly.
Mishra joined the digital insurance start-up in August 2020, making him one of the longer-serving marketing chiefs in India’s fintech and insurtech space. Over nearly five years, he played a central role in building Acko’s brand presence in the country’s fiercely competitive digital insurance market. More recently, he was closely associated with Acko Life’s Unmixed brand philosophy, a proposition built around pure protection products stripped of the investment components that have long complicated traditional insurance offerings in India.
Before Acko, Mishra spent over a decade at HSBC in a series of marketing leadership roles spanning the Middle East, including regional marketing manager for credit cards and advance propositions, brand and media manager, and marketing manager for retail banking. Earlier in his career, he worked on the agency side, serving as senior brand service manager at Lowe Lintas and as executive for brand communications at DDB Mudra Group.
His exit leaves Acko with a sizeable gap to fill at a time when the brand is pushing deeper into life insurance and doubling down on its direct-to-consumer positioning. Whoever takes the seat next will inherit a brand that Mishra spent five years building from the ground up. That is not nothing.
