Daksh Gupta, an Indian origin CEO, recently ignited a controversy when he claimed that Burning Man was no longer part of the culture of young technologists today, and in artificial intelligence (AI) in particular. His 9-9-6 approach has gone viral on social media, attracting mixed comments as employees and company owners see it from their shoes. Burning Man, initially a symbol of radical creativity and tech counterculture, is regarded by many younger AI workers today as out of sync with their strict professional and personal routines.

Who is Daksh Gupta? What Did He Say?

Indian-origin CEO of AI startup Greptile, Daksh Gupta, said that since he relocated to San Francisco in 2023, Burning Man has not fit into the existing tech culture. He characterised the culture of young technologists and AI employees as extremely disciplined and concentrated: no alcohol, no drugs, 9-9-6 [9am to 9pm, 6 days a week], bench press, run long distances, get married, monitor sleep, eat steak and eggs. This intense work ethic is the opposite to the original atmosphere at Burning Man of partying and freedom of self-expression.

Why is the 9-9-6 Approach Going Viral? 

The 9-9-6 approach by Daksh Gupta has become viral due to its sharp contrast of current discussion of work-life balance and loosened workplace culture in most sectors. The fact that his AI startup anticipates its staff members to work 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., 6 days per week, no drinking or drugs, has elicited heated discussion on social media. The openness with which Gupta discusses the culture of his company that values high stress, no-tolerance to bad work, and long working hours, throws light on the ugly truth about some start-ups in their struggle to survive.

The hard demands are shocking to many as the culture is called toxic or contemporary slavery. There are others who admire the honesty of Gupta and respect the fact that he wants to be forthright with job seekers regarding what working at Greptile would mean. This excessive work ethic will attract a small segment of young professionals who work best when under pressure, and are prepared to commit themselves to the growth of their startup.

Gupta clarified that this rigid work routine is a short lived grind in the hardest period of the startup which is like reaching escape velocity in order to grow a business. Although he is being threatened with death and there is an online backlash to the issue, he also stated the overwhelming number of job applications that came in as interested people are attracted by this straightforward no-nonsense working atmosphere.

Gupta’s 9-9-6 approach is viral because it mirrors the prevailing tensions in tech culture between the desire to innovate quickly and the reality that the well-being of employees must not be overlooked. It poses significant questions regarding the future of work within high-growth AI firms and whether this high-demand practise could be sustained without burnout. The logic of Gupta represents a change in cultural values and ultimately in the culture of Silicon Valley and beyond.

Why Did Daksh Gupta Call Out Burning Man?

Since 1990, Burning Man has been an annual gathering in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada, where tech innovators, artists and entrepreneurs have converged to relax, experiment and innovate. The festival shaped big tech over the years, including Tesla SolarCity and Google culture. However, nowadays, as an increased number of young tech employees have adjusted to a much more routine work-fitness-wellness regimen, the number of Burning Man attendees among this cohort has been decreasing.

According to industry insiders and venture capitalists, most young founders and investors are forgoing Burning Man to work long hours and compete in competitive markets. Others also mentioned the extreme prices of attending and that no longer does the original essence of the festival hit home with them.

However, to the rest of the world, Burning Man continues to be a representation of creativity and experimentation that is embracing new technology such as artificial intelligence-powered art installations and green energy initiatives. However, the intergenerational digital divide between longtime Silicon Valley workers and young AI workers shows that tech lifestyles are changing fast.

This viral controversial approach of 9-9-6 emphasises the evolving nature of tech culture in 2025 and that even a legendary event such as Burning Man will have to evolve to fit the new generation’s values and priorities.

The big question that all job seekers, employees, and HR aspirants are asking now is “Will the HR job still exist in the coming years?”  The answer is simple: Indian HR jobs are evolving but they are not going anywhere. Indeed, as the workplace progressively turns out to be multifaceted, digital, and staff-centred, HR turns out to be more important.

Top Trends Shaping the HR World

1. AI and Automation: Technology Instead of HR?

In large organizations such as IBM, AI currently attends to up to 94 percent of regular HR requests, and it can automate routine activities such as resume evaluation, payroll, onboarding, and schedules, thereby also speeding up and improving accuracy in performing the task.

Nevertheless, there is nothing like the human touch. The HR field is transforming into work that requires empathy, strategic vision, and problem-solving skills, such as employee relations, leadership development, inclusiveness and wellbeing.

AI is not a substitute. They require intelligent HR to deploy, utilize and optimize those technology tools so that there is fairness, and there are ethical practices.

2. Expanding Industries Require HR More than Before

Areas such as IT, start-ups, healthcare, financial, ecommerce, and retail are hot markets and they all require robust HR departments to oversee the process of hiring, engagement, compliance, and culture development.

The job market in India is on track with an estimated growth of 9 % in the year 2025 in HR roles, especially in the tier 2/ 3 cities.

3. Emerging New HR Career Opportunities

Some of the next-gen HR roles are People Scientist, Diversity Manager, HR Data Analyst, Employee Experience Specialist, Chief AI Officer- which demonstrates the evolution of niche and tech-focused career paths in HR.

Required skills: Data analytics, DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion), people management, digital transformation, and crisis management.

4. Status and Salaries of HR 

The average salary of HR managers in India has risen to between 7 lakh to 14 lakh in a year and the number is much higher in cases involving leadership positions. Indeed, CHRO (Chief HR Officer) compensation has risen five times as quickly as CEO compensation in the last twenty years.

The role of human resource management has become a strategic activity: Whether it is recruiting talent or advancing employee well-being, human resource management is core to the success of businesses and more Indian companies are turning to employee retention, skills, and building diverse teams.

Quick Facts: Future of HR Jobs

Future HR workforce will be required to change: According to experts, within the next three years, approximately 40 per cent of the workforce will ask something new because of AI but the role of HR will be to assist and advise the transition.

As routine HR tasks become automated, there will only be an increase in the need of skilled, creative human resource professionals and new HR positions. HR will always be critical in defining the workplace of the future as long as businesses recognize the importance of their people.

Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIM-K) has issued a much-awaited  notification of Common Admission Test (CAT) 2025, sparking preparations in the nation to appear in this most popular MBA entrance examination. Find here all the information about CAT 2025- its important dates, eligibility, the process of registration and required documents, and of course, the latest updates.

CAT 2025 Important Dates

• Release Date of Notification: July 27, 2025
• Registration Start Date: 01 August 2025
• Deadline: September 13, 2025
• Availability of Admit Card: November 5, 2025
• Exam Date: November 30, 2025
• Expected result: January 2026, first week

Registration Fee

Eligibility Criteria 

• Education qualification: a bachelors degree in any field from a recognised university.
• Minimum Marks: 50% (General), 45% (SC/ST/PwD).
• Final Year Students: Need to prove they are eligible at time of admission.
• Professional Degrees: The holders of CA, CS, ICWA degrees can apply.
• No Age Bar: There is no age bar or maximum limit of attempts of CAT exam. 

The Registration Process of CAT 2025

• Visit iimcat.ac.in 
• Click on New Registration
• Enter your email, phone number, personal information, check contact info
• Fill out application form by putting in academic and personal info, attach files
• Complete fees payment through either crediit/debit card, net banking or UPI
• Click on Submit Form and download the completed form.

Required Documents

• Marksheet of Class 10 and Class 12 in Scanned copies
• Graduation Marksheet or the latest results (in case of final year students)
• Photo ID 
• Passport-size photograph
• Category certificate (SC/ST/PwD/OBC as the case may be)
• Work experience (if applicable)
• Certificate of institution (final year candidates)

Exam Day and Admit Card

1. The admit card will be available on the official portal for downloading between November 5 and November 30, 2025.
2. Get the admit card printed and bring it to the exam hall. 
3. CAT 2025 will be held in 3 shifts at 170+ test centers across India. 
4. The test comprises multiple-choice questions and non-MCQ within 3 sections that are VARC, DILR, and Quantitative Ability.

Why take CAT 2025? 

A good CAT score is the key to 21 IIMs and more than 1,300 B-schools in India. CAT is the most important test in the country since it is used by the institutes such as FMS, MDI, SPJIMR and IMT in the admissions of MBA programs. 

Quick Tips

• Register as early as you can so you do not run into technical problems at the last minute.
• Post legible and precise files. 
• Final submission of details should be verified twice. 
• Study the sample papers and mock tests on the latest pattern to prepare the exam.

In conclusion, CAT 2025 has emerged as the primary gateway of any aspirant in India wishing to earn an MBA degree at one of the prestigious Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and more than 1,300 business schools located in the country. Quality management education, good faculty members and high salaries in job placements present themselves as opportunities which can be availed by enrolling in CAT 2025.

An effective CAT score will change your career and help you grab a space in the high-end institutes which will sketch a great future ahead in business and leadership. To every graduate who wants to grow, be recognized, and with a good career orientation, then CAT 2025 is the beginning of your management dreams. This is the time to pursue MBA and bag a better salary. 

To verify the eligibility, important dates and application instructions, refer to the official CAT web site: iimcat.ac.in. If you are taking CAT 2025, begin your CAT preparation with the apt information and attention! 

With increasing use of technology in the financial world, management students are at crossroads, remaining in the old recipe of finance or exploding into the new world of financial engineering. The solution lies obvious- B.Tech in Finance will be your ticket to a secure tomorrow. To succeed in the competitive job market of 2026, this is your ideal degree. Here are the 5 reasons why B.Tech aspirants should opt for this degree. 

1. Future-proof Career

The financial industry is not as it once was. Fintech through blockchain, artificial intelligence, and digital payments is changing the rules. Experts in the industry predict that by 2026, the fintech landscape in India is set to explode exponentially, and those well versed in both finance and technology are in high demand. This B.Tech in Finance provides you with that very kind of hybrid expertise, making you stand out in working in digital banking, investment technology, and blockchain projects.

2. Open the Door to High-Wage High-Value Employment

The days when finance was merely number crunching are gone. Finance professionals today are strategists, wizards of data, and innovators. As quantitative analysts, fintech product managers, or risk assessors, who use AI insights, B.Tech Finance graduates earn enviable pay packages beginning at 4 lakhs per year, or more, and scale fast. These positions present more fulfilling careers and more responsibility to the aspirants possessing management skills.

3. A Curriculum that Prepares for the Future 

The best B.Tech Finance courses include practical experience with live financial cases, internships in major banks and fintech companies as well as practical projects on the latest advanced analytics platforms. This will guarantee that you are graduating not only with theory but in a package of skills employers are looking to hire including financial modeling, risk analytics, and fintech innovation. Such practical preparation is all one needs to have a better career in an AI-driven era. 

4. Global Passport for career across the globe

Finance is universally disbursed and so are the B.Tech graduate opportunities. Multinational corporations are shelling out at financial technology and sustainable finance, as well, so your expertise can take you as far as Mumbai to New York, London to Singapore. This is your passport in case you have had international exposure aspirations and cross-border projects in mind. On top of that, you have the flexibility to transition to more things such as blockchain consulting or ESG finance management, and your life in the field of finance is limitless.

5. Forefront of Business Innovation

Those who know how to blend technology know-how with management expertise stand a chance of better things in the future. The B.Tech in Finance graduates are well-positioned to spearhead automation, AI-based regulatory compliance, and new-age banking models such as embedded finance. In the new world where ESG factors and digital currencies will no longer be an option but a necessity, your capacity to be a force behind innovation will render you indispensable.

In short, choosing a B.Tech in Finance in 2026 means stepping into a role where technology empowers finance, and innovation drives growth. This degree can also provide clarity of purpose to management students who would like to see relevance, profits, and influence in their lives.  So, stop being skeptical about pursuing a course in finance, and take the first  step  towards a fulfilling career with GMCAT (Global Management Common Aptitude Test).