Wednesday, 18 January 2023

5-day Winter Carnival Begins In Manali

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu flagged off the parade of tableaux by mahila mandals, various departments and institutions from the Circuit House towards the Mall Road to mark the beginning of the 11th National Level Winter Carnival at Manali today. Around 25 cultural troupes from across the country including Gujarat, Jammu, Punjab and Rajasthan and about 188 mahila mandals from the valley are participating in the carnival which will continue up to January 6.

The CM earlier offered prayers at the temple of Mata Hadimba. He inaugurated the cultural programme at Manu Rangshala by lighting the lamp.

The Winter Queen competition will be the key attraction in the carnival. According to the carnival committee, this time Winter Queen 2023, Voice of Carnival, folk dance, film dance, fashion show, fancy dress, street dance, street play, classic dance, talent show, traditional dress competitions will be the other features enhancing the appeal of the carnival.

Mahila Mandal’s “maha natti” and mahila mandal’s fashion show will be held on the Mall road on January 3 and 5. The winners of the various events will be awarded on the last day of the carnival on January 6.

The CM said the state government was committed to protecting the clean environment of the state and, therefore, has decided to encourage use of electric vehicles. He said that better charging infrastructure would be created in the state so that people can opt for electric vehicles.

Sukhu said the state government was committed to ensure welfare of needy children, especially orphans, destitute women and senior citizens. He said after visiting Girl Child Care Institute in Tutikandi in Shimla, he felt a lot more was needed to be done for the destitute children. He said the government had decided to provide a festival grant of Rs 500 to the inmates of child care institutions, Nari Seva Sadan, Shakti Sadan and old age homes to celebrate the festivals.

He said the government had decided to set up CM’s Sukhashray Sahayata Kosh with an outlay of Rs 101 crore so that the facility of higher education can be provided to needy children and destitute women.

Other Project announcements

Enhancement in ‘Protsahan Rashi’ of mahila mandals from the existing Rs 10k to Rs 20k

Construction of Manali bypass to ensure smooth flow of vehicles

Wayside facilities for tourists at Solang Nallah

Charging infrastructure will be built to encourage use of for electric vehicles (EVs)

Dobhi, Peej will be developed for paragliding

10 Best Inverters With Battery For Homes In India

Our Top Picks

Best Overall - Luminous Inverter & Battery Combo Icon 1100 Inverter and 150 Ah - LM18075 Battery

Luminous offers the best overall inverter and battery combo in India. It has a sine-wave output and provides a peak load capacity of 756W. The battery has Tubular plate construction, which helps in durability and efficiency. It also has excellent charge acceptance capability and backup.

Best Budget - Luminous Zolt1100 With RC25000 Battery + Trolley

An excellent budget-friendly inverter with a battery for homes. The combo top ranks for affordability. The battery is built with low antimony alloy for durability even with minimum maintenance. The inverter with battery price of this budget-friendly option is only Rs 26,850 on Amazon.

Best Solar Inverter - Luminous Solar Solution: NXG+ 1100 Hybrid Inverter, LPT12150H 150Ah tall tubular solar inverter battery, Polycrystalline 165 watts solar panel

Luminous has brought a Pure Sine Wave solar hybrid Inverter with Intelligent Solar Optimization Technique (ISOT). The cell technology delivers maximum power generation even in low-light conditions. This water-resistant solar inverter comes with a 150 Ah Tall Tubular battery.

10 Best Inverters with batteries in India

1. Luminous Inverter & Battery: iCon 1100 Pure Sine Wave Inverter, LM18075 150 Ah Tall Tubular Battery - Check Amazon Offer

Icon 1100 Pure Sine Wave inverter has a VA rating of 900VA with a peak load of 756W. It offers an output voltage of 220V. The product is equipped with a fast charging feature, and the battery needs minimum maintenance. Tubular plate construction and durability add an extra edge to the product.

Dimensions: 76.5 x 50 x 24.6 cm

Features:

Stylish matt black panels

Faster recharge

Minimum maintenance

What do we like?

Six water level indicators of battery

Fantastic backup

The long service life of the battery

What do we not like?

Overall ratings and user feedback

4.3 out of 5

Most users liked battery backup and advanced features

Why is the product among the best?

The battery offers overcharge tolerance

Contemporary design

Advanced features

2. Luminous Inverter and Battery: Zolt 1100 Sine Wave Inverter, RC 25000 200 Ah Tall Tubular Battery with Trolley - Check Amazon Offer

Luminous Zolt 1100 Inverter offers a capacity of 900 VA/12V with extra safety protection through AC MCB input. The maximum load it carries is 756 watts. The RC 25000 Battery provides a rated capacity of 27oC: 200 Ah. The low-maintenance battery also has six water level indicators.

Dimensions: 60 x 32 x 70 cm

Features:

The inverter supports Flat Plate, Tubular, and SMF

Long service life

Fast recharge

What do we like?

Safety alarm and bypass switch of the inverter

Battery with overcharge tolerance

What do we not like?

Trolley quality is not as expected

Overall ratings and user feedback

4.3 out of 5

Most people liked the overall performance at an affordable price

Why is the product among the best?

Long-lasting battery

Best affordable choice

3. Luminous Solar Solution: NXG+ 1100 Hybrid Inverter, LPTT 12150H 150Ah Tall Tubular Solar Inverter Battery, Polycrystalline 165 Watts Solar Panel

NXG+ 1100 Solar Hybrid Inverter offers Pure Sine Wave output and Intelligent Solar Optimization Technique (ISOT). Its fast charging feature with ECO and UPS modes makes it a stylish choice. The Solar inverter Tall Tubular battery 150 Ah has great backup and needs deficient maintenance with its nominal voltage of 12V, and durable build-up is worth a mention. The 165 W Polycrystalline Module is efficient enough to perform in low light. It comes with PID resistance technology and Ethyl Vinyl Acetate encapsulation with multi-layers.

Dimensions: 149 x 67 x 50 cm

Features:

Fast charging through i-charge technology

In-built safety

Tubular technology

What do we like?

Waterproof, corrosion and torsion-resistant body of 165 W Polycrystalline Module

High-temperature performance of the battery

Impressive backup

What do we not like?

Service issues after buying

Overall ratings and user feedback

3.8 out of 5

Most users liked overall performance and backup

Why is the product among the best?

Advanced ISOT

Pure Sine Wave output of inverter

Long life of the battery

4. Luminous ECO WATT NEO 700 Square Wave Inverter with Red Charge 15000 120Ah Recyclable Tubular Battery

Luminous present the Eco Watt+ 650 inverter with RC 15000 120AH Tall Tubular battery. The product ensures a long battery life and excellent backup time. Appliances with Sine Wave output work well with this inverter and battery combo. It offers a capacity of 600 VA and maximum power consumption of 504 watts. The 600 KW battery with six water level indicators is durable too.

Dimensions: 100 x 44 x 20 cm

Features:

Backup time at 75% 3hr 30mins

Sine Wave Output

Long battery life

What do we like?

Fast charging

Affordable price

High-capacity of battery

What do we not like?

Overall ratings and user feedback

4.2 out of 5

Most users love the product’s performance for sustaining during long power cuts.

Why is the product among the best?

ECO mode

Durable built-up

5. Genus Inverter with Battery Combo - Challenger 1100 Home Inverter & Invomax GTT170 Tall Tubular Battery

Genus offers Challenger 1100 inverter with Sure Sine Wave Technology. It has a 150 AH Tall Tubular battery with a C20 Rating, fast charging, and a low-voltage charging feature. Moreover, the input voltage of 110 Volts (AC) and affluent DSP-based technology are worth a mention.

Dimensions: 23.1 x 13.2 x 26.9 cm

Features:

Dual display

Four charging modes

Long service period

What do we like?

Auto Sense Intelligent Control

LCD/LED display

What do we not like?

Battery backup is not as expected

Overall ratings and user feedback

4.3 out of 5

Most people appreciated the overall performance

Why is the product among the best?

Revolutionary Battery Revival Mode

Durable body

6. Livguard Inverter and Battery Combo LGS1600PV - 1500VA Sine Wave Inverter, PT 2066TT - 200Ah Tall Tubular Battery

Livguard offers Pure Sinewave Output and artificial intelligent charging in the product. The 200 AH Tall Tubular battery capacity claims to run almost all essential appliances like refrigerators, LED TVs, and laptops, along with lights and fans. The low-maintenance battery comes with an inverter that optimizes battery life for longevity.

Dimensions: 78 x 52.3 x 55.6 cm

Features:

Artificial Intelligence Charging

Supports all battery

Sine Wave Output

What do we like?

The battery offers a superior plate grid design

What do we not like?

Overall ratings and user feedback

4.5 out of 5

Why is the product among the best?

7. Luminous Inverter & Battery: Icon 1100 Pure Sine Wave Inverter, RC 25000 200 Ah Tall Tubular Battery

This Luminous inverter with a VA rating of 900VA and peak Load capacity of 756W offers an output voltage of 220V. And the Red Charge LM 25000 200 Ah Tall Tubular low maintenance battery has fast charging and overcharge tolerance features. The Pure Sine Wave offers safety for sensitive appliances.

Dimensions: 76.5 x 50 x 24.6 cm

Features:

Long service life

Safe for children

Low maintenance

What do we like?

Excellent backup

No loose wire hangs outside the body

What do we not like?

Overall ratings and user feedback

4.3 out of 5

Most users liked the contemporary design and overall quality.

Why is the product among the best?

Six water level indicators

Overall performance

8. Luminous Inverter & Battery: Eco Volt Neo 1550 Sine Wave Inverter, Red Charge RC 25000 200Ah Tall Tubular Battery

Eco Volt Neo 1550 Inverter with Sine Wave output comes with ECO and UPS modes. The input voltage range it offers is 85-290V. The capacity mentioned is 1400VA. The battery’s nominal voltage is 12V, and the rated capacity at 27oC: 200 Ah. And the Red Charge RC 25000 200Ah Tall Tubular Battery provides long-lasting backup.

Dimensions: 90 x 85 x 90 cm

Features:

Sine-wave output

Fast charge

Deep discharge and overload protection

What do we like?

The inverter supports all battery types

ABCC technology enabled

What do we not like?

Price is not affordable for all

Overall ratings and user feedback

4.5 out of 5

Most users liked the product for backup

Why is the product among the best?

Low-maintenance battery

Advanced technology

9. Luminous Inverter and Battery: Power X 2250 Pure Sine Wave Inverter, RC 18000ST 150 Ah Short Tubular Inverter Battery

Luminous here offers Pure Sine Wave output and a capacity of 2 KVA/24V in the inverter. The combo comes with an RC 18000ST 150 Ah Short Tubular Inverter Battery. The nominal voltage is 12V, and the rated capacity is 27oC: 150 Ah. The product offers 1600 Watts with a battery capacity of 150 Ah.

Dimensions: 45 x 25 x 45 cm

Features:

Pure sine wave

Factory charged makes it ready to use

Supports all battery types

What do we like?

Offers 32 Bit DSP processor

ECO and UPS modes enabled

Fast charging feature

What do we not like?

Overall ratings and user feedback

4.1 out of 5

Most users appreciated the battery backup and durability

Why is the product among the best?

Low-maintenance battery

Inverter with LCD for clarity

10. Luminous Eco Volt+ 850 Pure Sine Wave Inverter with Red Charge RC18000 ST 150 Ah Short Tubular Battery

Luminous presents Eco Volt 850 with RC 18000 ST 150 AH Tall Tubular battery. And it offers extended battery backup with a fast charging feature. The inverter has Pure Sine Wave, a capacity of 700VA, and offers rated power of 588 watts. The battery protects from overload, deep discharge, and short circuits.

Dimensions: 50.5 x 22 x 30.8 cm

Features:

Fast charge

UPS supports Flat Plate, Tubular, VRLA, and SMF

Overload and short-circuit protection

What do we like?

Long battery life

Durable product

What do we not like?

Overall ratings and user feedback

4.1 out of 5

Most users considered it a value-for-money product

Why is the product among the best?

Sine-wave output for the safety of domestic appliances

Impressive overall features

How do we rate the best inverter in India?

Specifications and key features

Our experts review major specifications like wattage, battery capacity (like 120 AH), wave types like Sine Wave or Tall Tubular battery, water level indicators, and so on. Genuine information helps the customer to find the most suitable product easily. And also we check features like fast charging, LCD, ISOT, discharge, overcharge tolerance, etc.

Maintenance cost

Maintenance cost is one of the most important factors to check before buying inverters and batteries. The inverters we have top-rated come with rechargeable and low-maintenance batteries.

Product quality and durability

We consider checking the build-up quality, like outer body materials, and the battery’s longevity and inverters for enlisting suitable products.

Overall customer experience

Customer ratings and experience are the easiest way to understand the quality of the product. So, we examine customer reviews thoroughly. And we also check the inverter with battery price. The products with positive reviews, like good battery life, backup time, contemporary design, and so on, are on our best ten list.

Types of batteries

Tubular batteries

Tubular batteries contain tubular plates that are durable and abrasion-resistant. The longevity of such low-maintenance batteries is way better than competitors. So, Tubular batteries are the most popular among all.

Lead-acid batteries

Such rechargeable batteries need to be updated but still efficiently supply good backup. These are high-maintenance batteries.

Maintenance-free batteries

Such batteries are a one-step-ahead version of lead-acid batteries. The electrolyte in the battery runs water-free, unlike the lead-acid ones.

Tips on how to take care of an inverter battery to increase its life

Use regularly

If your area has no power cut, use the battery regularly. And discharge and recharge it timely for extended longevity.

Keep it moisture-free

Avoiding exposure to moisture helps to increase battery life. Keep the battery in a ventilated and clean area, free from moisture.

Check water level

Checking the water level at least once in two months is mandatory. And it does not matter how frequently or less you use it. Also, always use distilled water for the best performance.

Do not overuse

Providing overload to the inverter battery decreases the life span. Constant overload can lead to severe damage to the inverter battery. Running appliances that are not compatible with the product can damage it permanently.

Replace the battery on time

Replacing the old battery on time is an essential practice for ceaseless assured performance. And you will also notice improved battery health after maintaining it properly as instructed.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How much battery capacity is suitable for a home inverter?

An inverter with 800VA is good enough to meet domestic requirements.

2. How many hours does a 220 AH inverter battery last?

A 220 AH inverter battery provides backup for almost 3 hours at full load if in good condition. But the capacity of the battery plays a significant role here. And the performance depends on that as well.

3. Best Inverter battery brands

Best inverter battery brands in India are Luminous, Genus and Livguard.

Conclusion:

Check battery type, wave technology, backup, design, dimensions, affordability, solar features, etc. Our expert tip is to never compromise the quality for the price. Happy shopping!

“This article is part of sponsored content programme.”

EC To Announce Poll Dates For Nagaland, Meghalaya And Tripura Legislative Assemblies Today

New Delhi: The Election Commission of India will announce the poll schedule for the Legislative Assemblies of three North Eastern states — Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya — today at 2:30 pm. The term of assemblies of Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Tripura is ending on March 12, March 15, and March 22, respectively.

Earlier, the poll panel said that it would visit the three states to review preparedness ahead of the elections.

The three states would be the first to undergo polls this year likely in February-March, reported PTI.

While Tripura has a BJP government, in Nagaland, the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party is in power. National People’s Party, the only party from the Northeast to have national party recognition, runs the government in Meghalaya.

EC Announces Poll Dates For Nagaland, Meghalaya And Tripura | Check Full Schedule Tripura Legislative Assembly Elections

A four-cornered fight is expected between BJP, Congress, Left, and Trinamool Congress in Tripura where the BJP has changed the CM face to beat anti-incumbency. In 2018, the saffron party won 35 seats and unseated the 20-year incumbent CM, Manik Sarkar of CPI(M).

20 out of 60 seats were dominated by tribals in the last assembly elections held in the state. In the 2018 Tripura legislative assembly election, BJP won 33 seats, the IPFT won 4 seats, the CPI(M) won 15 seats, and the Congress won 1 seat.

Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Elections

In Meghalaya, Congress emerged as the largest party in the 2018 assembly election with 21 seats but BJP teamed up with the National People's Party to form the government, with Conrad Sangma as the Chief Minister.

In the 2018 Meghalaya assembly elections, the Congress won 21 seats, the National People's Party won 19 seats, United Democratic Party won 6 seats, the People's Democratic Front won 4 seats, Independents got 3 seats, BJP and Hill State People's Democratic Party won 2 seats each, and one seat each went to Nationalist Congress Party and Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement.

Nagaland Legislative Assembly Elections

Nagaland is likely to see demand for a separate state 'Frontier Nagaland' by tribal groups as a central issue in the polls where Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP)-BJP alliance is in power. In 2018, NPF emerged as the single largest party but the NDPP-BJP alliance formed a government with support from other parties.

In the 2018 Nagaland legislative assembly elections, Naga Peoples Front won 26 seats, Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party won 18 seats, Bharatiya Janata Party won 12 seats, the National People’s Party won 2 seats, JD-U won 1 seat and 1 seat went to the Independent.

Tuesday, 17 January 2023

Wanted To Create Own Legacy

Nothing Shares How The Company Got Its Unusual Name

Currently, Nothing India has more than 250 service points across the country. ( Image: Getty )London-based consumer tech venture Nothing received a good response in the country and cemented its position in the India smartphone market with the launch of its first smartphone, the Nothing Phone (1) last year. With a 15 per cent market share, Nothing captured the fourth spot in the India smartphone market in the July to September quarter (Q3) of 2022 in the affordable premium segment (which included devices in Rs 35,000-Rs 45,000 the price segment).Also read: Apple Acknowledges This Display Issue In iPhone 14 Pro, Says Fix Rolling Out SoonThe top four spots in the affordable premium price segments were captured by popular smartphone OEMs OnePlus, Samsung and Vivo, followed by Nothing, data from Counterpoint Research showed.Also read: Twitter Opens Verification For Organisations. Here’s What It Means

Also read: Samsung Galaxy S23 Series To OnePlus 11: Top Smartphones Expected To Launch In February 2023“As you may already know, Nothing bought Essential, the company behind the Essential Phone-1. Carl Pei said that the team really liked that name, but that they wanted to create their own legacy, hence use a brand new name. This is when the company came up with this brand name,” Sharma explained.Asked if the company has faced any challenges or benefits, given its name, Sharma replied: “We are proud of the Nothing brand as it (the name) evokes a lot of interest about our company. It is extremely positive.”In terms of overall online sales in the July-September (2022) quarter, the Nothing Phone (1) was the second-most-sold smartphone and it became the top-selling device on e-commerce site Flipkart in the same period, Counterpoint Research data showed.Founded by Chinese-Swedish entrepreneur and former co-founder of OnePlus Carl Pei, Nothing aims to set up a few exclusive stores in the country in 2023.“We have very strong relationship with Flipkart as a partner and we have also expanded our relationship with Myntra. …And as we move forward this year, we also going to be looking at perhaps some exclusive stores also so that we can learn and understand where community can come, as part of the learning process as well as they can get a first-hand experience of our products,” Sharma said.As the company enters its third year of operations, it is also working towards enhancing its customer service network in India. Currently, Nothing India has more than 250 service points across the country. The consumer tech brand also has 1,000 outlets footprint for the brick-and-mortar stores.“There was a lot of hype that was created before the launch of the Nothing Phone (1). Overall, the sales volume after the launch was good, according to us,” said Shilpi Jain, Research Analyst at Counterpoint Research.Meanwhile, Nothing has started rolling out Android 13-based second beta update for the Nothing Phone (1), which means the Nothing OS 1.5 beta 2 for beta testers has been made available. Those who have enrolled in Nothing’s beta programme can download the update by going to the Settings app and download the OTA update which is 127MB in size.Apple Announces MacBook Pro And Mac mini With M2 Pro And M2 Max Processors In Surprise LaunchSamsung Launches 200MP Camera Sensor Ahead Of The Launch Of Galaxy S23 UltraIndia May Produce 50 Per Cent Of All iPhones By 2027: ReportApple Tipped To Launch New MacBook Pro Today: All You Need To KnowApple Acknowledges This Display Issue In iPhone 14 Pro, Says Fix Rolling Out SoonDelhi Wakes Up To Another Cold, Hazy Morning. Trains, Flights Delayed Due To Low Visibility25 Years Of TMC: How Fight Against BJP Reshaped Mamata Banerjee’s Politics And What’s Next For PartyBreaking News LIVE Updates: CM Yogi Announces Rs 5 Lakh Assistance To Kin Of Victims Killed In Nepal Aircraft CrashBill Introduced In US To Terminate Pakistan’s Designation As Major Non-NATO AllyTeam Of Retired Couples On World Tour Reaches Guwahati, Plans To Travel Across South Asia

source

Budget 2023: Increase Allocation, Funding In Research To Boost Higher Education

The higher education sector in India is at a crossroads. Notably, the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP), consolidation of different higher education regulators to a single Higher Education Commission, Common University Entrance Test, and entry of foreign universities are expected to transform higher education and catapult India to the top of the league.

The Budget allocation for 2022-23 for education was Rs 1,04,278 crore. Though this was an increase of 11.8 per cent over that of 2021-22, the share of education in the total social sector allocation had actually come down from 50.79 per cent in 2021-22 to 47.22 per cent in 2022-23.

The government spending on education in most of the developed countries such as the US, Australia, New Zealand, Denmark etc is upwards of 6 per cent of their GDP. Given India’s size and population, even 6 per cent spend will be inadequate. In fact, way back in 1968, the National Policy on Education (NPE) recommended that the government should spend 6 per cent of the GDP on education, which was reiterated by the NPEs in 1986 and 1992 and subsequently by the NEP 2020. However, over the past 50 years, the spending on education has been hovering at just around 3 per cent of the GDP, which is quite disappointing. The allocation for higher education in the Budget is around 39 per cent of the overall allocation for education and this is just Rs 40,828 crore. One of the key objectives of NEP 2020 is to increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) to 50 per cent by 2030 from the present 27.5 per cent. Considering the target of doubling of GER over the next eight years, the investment towards higher education by the government has been quite dismal. The allocation towards higher education must be at least doubled to Rs 80,000 crore. Two key initiatives of higher education proposed by the 2022-23 Budget are Digital University and DESH stack e-portal for skilling. Both are yet to see the light of day, though an announcement about National Digital University has been made in early January. If we need to reach the twin goal of establishing ourselves as an education powerhouse and GER of 50 per cent, investments need to be channelled in two key areas

Higher funding for research

One, there should be a special focus and funding to create high quality research intensive universities. The investment can be channelled into strengthening the research of specific existing public universities through funding towards infrastructure and intellectual capital. These Universities can be encouraged to bring back foreign educated Indian academics working abroad. The foreign trained academics in turn will bring in their valuable collaborative academic network which in turn can enhance the quality of research.

Also today, research grants by the government are available only to a select few elite institutions - public institutions or accredited private institutions. But the opportunity and the need for research that can alter life and livelihood is deeply felt across the country, specifically in semi-urban and rural areas. Hence, the forthcoming Union Budget can provide for research grants to all institutions that are approved by the states/ central government. This way research culture can percolate much deeper.

Focus on skilling, Incentivise institutes to run programmes

The second focus area remains ‘skilling’.  We are almost seeing the demographic dividend which India supposedly had from 2005 onwards, slipping away without any great impact on the economy. The peak opportunity of demographic dividend will be reached in 2031 and subsequently, will start declining. If we have to seize the opportunity, it is essential that the government invests in skilling. To ensure skilling happens at scale, the government can incentivise Universities and Higher Education Institutions (including private) that run vocational programmes, specifically B Voc programmes by subsidising the programmes or partially reimbursing the cost directly to the students. The public expenditure on higher education is too low and the pace of reforms is too slow. Education and health are two areas that yield long-term benefits for the economy.

Over the past two years, it was observed that there is a clear intent of the government towards improving education. What is required now is matching action on the ground with adequate investments so that India can grow beyond IITs and IIMs and can truly arrive at the global education stage. Dr. Sugant R is the Dean of School of Management and School of Economics & Commerce, CMR University, Bengaluru.

Monday, 16 January 2023

Impress Bae With These Impressive Kissing Techniques

What’s the formula for the perfect kiss? While everyone has their own kissing style, you’ve probably developed a routine with your partner where you kiss them the exact same way whenever you see each other. However, kissing in a new way is a fantastic way to spice up your relationship and can even contribute towards foreplay in the bedroom. Here are the best kissing techniques to try with anyone from a crush to a long-term partner.

1. Teasing kiss

What’s better than teasing bae? First, you’ll do it verbally. When talking to your partner about how much you love them, get so close that your lips brush up against theirs when you’re talking. Speak in a low and seductive whisper. They’ll automatically go in for the kiss, but don’t let them — your job is to pull away and tease in a coy way, building that tension so that when the kiss finally does occur, that sensation is more explosive than fireworks.

2. Triangle kiss

This starts with you giving your partner a sensual kiss on the lips. Then, kiss his cheek. After this, kiss the side of his neck, and then go back to his lips, forming a triangle. Giving kisses all over the face and neck area can be a truly passionate experience, and by the time you circle back to those lips a second time, you’ll be irresistible to your partner. Don’t rush this one — it’s all about going slow. While innocent enough to do around people, there are certainly steamier places that this can go.

3. Light nibbles

Nibbling and biting are great ways to drive any man or woman crazy. Don’t bite down hard — you don’t want to draw blood! Instead, as you pull away from the kiss, give their lower lip a little nibble or even a slightly stronger love bite if he’s into that sort of thing. Also known as the one-lip kiss, you can focus on just one lip in a slow and gentle move that can end up being super romantic. Ears are also a popular nibbling location since they’re very sensitive and are a common erogenous zone for many.

4. Slight sucking.

Hickeys are so early 2000s. They’re also supremely awkward to explain at work or school and you might need to wear a turtleneck or scarf for a few days. Still, sucking on bae’s neck is totally fine — just don’t treat your mouth like a vacuum and suck as hard as possible, as this will inevitably leave a mark. Instead, do it lightly or for a short duration if you’re doing it more intensely. Sucking on his bottom lip is also a big turn-on, and sucking his fingers can really take things to the next level and escalate things more quickly.

5. Ticklish kisses

If you haven’t heard of ticklish kisses, they’re a must-try! A ticklish kiss involves tickling your partner’s lip using the tip of your tongue. You can also start to massage and caress their lips if you’re ready to move beyond a tickling sensation. That light touch will send goosebumps down their spines and also gives a single that you’re down to French kiss. Use this move right at the beginning of your make-out session and it’ll linger in their mind for days.

6. Non-kisses

Of course, kisses don’t have to be frisky and extra sensual all the time. There are many different ways to kiss, and your partner is probably already obsessed with your lips and kissing you, regardless of the technique used. You can even do Eskimo kisses, which require rubbing the tips of your noses together, or a butterfly kiss, which involves batting eyelashes against the other person’s skin. However, if you are trying to spice up a slightly predictable routine, this versatile range of techniques is the best way to do so.