Vyapti NTPC SCHOOL OF BUSINESS Volume 6 Issue 8

Independence Day Celebration at NTPC School of BusinessNTPC School of Business (NSB) celebrated the 80th Independence Day of India with patriotic fervour and enthusiasm at the NSB premises. The celebration brought together faculty members, staff, students, and their family members to commemorate the nation’s journey of freedom and progress. The Independence Day celebrations began with the hoisting of the National Flag, followed by an inspiring address by Dr. R. Gopichandran, Director, NSB, who reflected on the significance of the occasion and emphasised the role and responsibility of every citizen in contributing to nation-building. The celebration fostered a warm sense of togetherness and camaraderie among the NSB community. The enthusiastic participation of faculty members, staff, students, and their family members made the occasion truly memorable.

NSB Conducted Capacity Building Programme on Policy and Regulatory Aspects of Electricity Distribution for DISCOMs OfficialsNTPC School of Business (NSB) inaugurated a Capacity Building Programme on Policy and Regulatory Aspects of Electricity Distribution for officials of Distribution Companies (DISCOMs) under Part-B of the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), Ministry of Power, Government of India, on 18 August 2026. The project was successfully secured through Open Competitive Bidding and is led by Dr Brijesh Bhatt. Under the project, NSB has been empanelled to conduct programmes in two key areas: Policy and Regulatory Aspects of Electricity Distribution and Financial Aspects of Electricity Distribution, aimed at strengthening the knowledge and capabilities of officials from Distribution Companies (DISCOMs) and State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (SERCs). The project envisages the conduct of 20 programmes, with an outreach target of approximately 500 officials from DISCOMs and SERCs. Through this project, NSB continues to contribute to professional development and capacity building in the power sector. The Second batch of the program is also set to commence.

NSB Conducted Capacity Building Programme on Policy and Regulatory Aspects of Electricity Distribution for DISCOMs OfficialsThe inaugural session of Capacity Building Programme on Policy and Regulatory Aspects of Electricity Distribution brought together officials from various DISCOMs for an engaging learning and knowledge-sharing programme. The session commenced with a welcome address and introduction to the programme by Dr. Brijesh Bhatt, Faculty, NSB. This was followed by an address by Dr. R. Gopichandran, Officiating Director, NSB who emphasized the importance of capacity building in strengthening the electricity distribution sector. Participants from various DISCOMs were subsequently introduced. The inaugural session was graced by Shri Ashok Rathore, CGM, RDSS, who addressed the participants and highlighted the importance of strengthening the capabilities of DISCOM officials to effectively address emerging challenges in the electricity distribution sector. This was followed by a keynote address by Shri A. K. Pandey, CGM (Commercial), NTPC Ltd., who shared valuable insights on the commercial and operational aspects of electricity distribution. Ms. Rachana Singh Bhal, ED (PMI), NTPC Ltd. and Chairperson, Governance Committee, NSB, also addressed the gathering and emphasised the importance of continuous learning and capacity enhancement for effective sectoral transformation. The occasion was further enriched by the presence of Shri Sanjay Kumar, DGM, HRD, RDSS, and Shri Raja Ramesh, Manager, HRD, RDSS, whose participation added significance to the inaugural programme. The session concluded with the way forward and vote of thanks by Dr. A.P. Dash, Professor, NSB, marking the successful commencement of the capacity-building initiative.

Ms. Rachna Singh Bhal, Chairperson, Governance Committee, NTPC School of Business (NSB), Noida, Interaction with Newly Joined PGDM (Executive) StudentsMs. Rachna Singh Bhal, Chairperson, Governance Committee, NTPC School of Business (NSB), Noida, and Executive Director, Strategic HR & Talent MGMT, PMI, NTPC, recently interacted with the newly joined students of the PGDM (Executive), Batch 10. Dr. Abhinav Jindal, Senior Faculty at PMI, also joined the interaction and shared valuable perspectives with the students. Students actively participated in the interaction and expressed their enthusiasm about beginning their academic journey at NSB. Addressing the students, Ms. Bhal welcomed them to NSB and reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to creating a stimulating and enriching learning environment. She emphasised that the programme would provide students with opportunities to enhance their managerial capabilities, broaden their perspectives, and develop competencies relevant to contemporary industry requirements. The interaction also provided an engaging platform for students to share their expectations, aspirations, professional goals, and motivations for joining the programme. During her visit to NSB, Ms Bhal also inaugurated the newly developed computer lab at NSB. Overall, the interaction focused on the importance of continuous learning, professional development, and the ability to adapt to the evolving demands of the business environment.

Dr. Sandeep Kumar, Assistant Professor at the NTPC School of Business (NSB), Noida, delivered an invited expert session at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Institute of Technology (NIT) Hamirpur, on 18 August 2026 in online mode. The session was delivered as part of the 5-day short-term course “Synthesis and Characterization Nanomaterials” held from 17th to 21st August, 2026. During the expert session, Dr. Kumar discussed Si–Ge material growth for photodetector applications in the Near-Infrared (NIR) region. He also shared insights into perovskite solar cells fabricated on steel substrates, highlighting their potential for niche applications in building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) and lightweight solar energy systems. The session provided students, researchers, faculty members, and professionals with valuable insights into emerging materials and technologies at the intersection of semiconductors, optoelectronics, and renewable energy.Dr. Sandeep Kumar, NSB Faculty, Invited Expert Session at NIT Hamirpur

NSB Faculty, Dr Shiv Ratan Agrawal, conducts MDP Session on “Qualitative Data Analysis Using Zero-Coding Platform” at Amity University, GurugramProf. Shiv Ratan Agrawal, faculty member at NTPC School of Business (NSB), Noida, conducted a Management Development Programme (MDP) session on “Qualitative Data Analysis Using Zero-Coding Platform” at Amity University, Gurugram, on 21 August 2026. The session provided an opportunity to share contemporary approaches to qualitative research and introduce participants to technology-enabled tools for simplifying the process of qualitative data analysis. The session focused on the application of a zero-coding platform for analysing qualitative data in a systematic, efficient, and user-friendly manner. Prof. Shiv provided participants with practical insights into the process of organising, analysing, and interpreting qualitative data, with emphasis on how digital tools can support researchers in deriving meaningful insights without extensive programming or coding expertise. The programme was highly interactive, with participants actively engaging in discussions, raising questions, and sharing their research experiences. The session facilitated meaningful academic exchange and highlighted the growing relevance of technology in contemporary research practices.

NSB Faculty PublicationRai, A. (2026). “Unveiling Critical Success Factors of Flexible Work Arrangements: Insights from the Indian Context”, published in Flexible Working Arrangements - Bala & Singhal, edited by Shashi Bala and Puja Singhal, Taylor & Francis. , in press Dr Alka RaiThis study aims to identify and analyse the Critical Success Factors (CSFs) influencing the effective execution of Flexible Work Arrangements (FWAs) in Indian contexts. Adopting a qualitative research design, the study draws insights from twenty stakeholders through semi-structured interviews with HR managers, line managers, practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and employees from diverse sectors, including information technology, education, consulting, and public sector enterprises, to ensure broad contextual representation. Thematic analysis is employed to extract underlying themes and patterns from the qualitative data. The findings reveal both structural (such as leadership endorsement, strategic alignment, governance frameworks, technological readiness) and behavioural enablers (like managerial capability, employee adaptability, organisation culture) to collectively determine the success of FWAs. While existing research on Flexible Work Arrangements (FWAs) has primarily focused on their outcomes, such as well-being, work–life balance, organisational commitment, and employee engagement, this study shifts the focus to the drivers of successful FWA implementation and proposes a novel framework comprising structural and behavioural drivers. Thus, the study offers a comprehensive framework providing a practical foundation for organisations implementing FWAs, and contributes theoretically by integrating multiple organisational and behavioural perspectives to institutionalise flexibility as a strategic and sustainable work model.