Business Today - Aditya Birla group Acumen gets underway

Media Release, October 20

New Delhi

The north zone leg of Business Today – Aditya Birla Group ACUMEN 2005 in association with Tata Consultancy Services gets underway at the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade in Delhi on 21st and 22nd of October 2005.

A first-of-its-kind annual event, Acumen, brings together the best talent from the country’s finest B-schools. This is the ultimate challenge of wits, strategy and reflex. This is where one sees minds battle, strategies drawn and leaders evolve. This is where the audience is also an integral part of the action - with lots of prizes to be won. Harsha Bhogle is the host of this year’s Acumen for all the regional rounds and the national finals as well. The regional rounds will be held in the months of October - November followed by finals at New Delhi in December 2005.

This year over 100 business schools will participate in a nail biting competition. The north zone regional round will have the likes of Shriram College of Commerce, Delhi, Aligarh Muslim College, Aligarh, IMT, Ghaziabad, IILM, Delhi, IMI, Delhi, JIMS, Delhi, and many other participants

ACUMEN is a unique path breaking initiative started by Business Today in 2002. It is the only national Business School Challenge. Presented by Business Today and Aditya Birla Group in association with Tata Consultancy Services this year. It comprises of two events; Debate and the Quiz competition including a quiz competition for the B-School alumni also.

"One of the key objectives of Acumen is to recognize and honor the sharpest minds from the leading B Schools by providing them a national platform to compete and excel" said Pavan Varshnei, Publishing Director, Business Today.

Says Dr. Santrupt Misra, Director - Human Resources, Aditya Birla Group, "We are committed to encouraging the sharpest young minds that will make India a stronger global player. Acumen provides Aditya Birla Group with another opportunity to build tomorrow's global leaders today."

Day 1 on October 21st, 2005 of the west zone round will have the preliminaries of the Debate and quiz competition for participating B-Schools followed by Debate quarterfinals.

Day 2 on October 22nd will be a real action day with clash of the titans and will witness the semifinal and final rounds of debate and quiz Plus the B School Alumni Quiz.

For more details,

please log on to www.btacumen.com

For further information, please contact

Jayashree (9899672767)

TBWAINDIAPR

26142292