Tata Motors Commences Bookings For Its Flagship SUV - The All-New Safari At INR 30,000 From Today

Tata Motors, India’s leading automotive brand, announced that it will open bookings of the all-new Safari starting today. Customers can book this new premium SUV at a refundable amount of INR 30,000 on https://cars.tatamotors.com/suv/safari or visit the nearest Tata Motors Authorized Dealership and be on the priority delivery list. The vehicles are now on display and available for test drives across the company’s dealer network. Furthermore, price announcement and deliveries of the all-new Safari will begin on 22nd February, 2021.

According to Mr. Shailesh Chandra, President, Passenger Vehicles Business Unit, Tata Motors, ‘The new Safari has received a great response especially with respect to its premium design and outstanding comfort in all 3 rows of seats during the preview drives by our media friends. We are gearing up in full power to launch our iconic brand in this new avatar. Starting today, Safari is available for display, test drive and bookings across our network. We are confident that the Safari will instill a feeling of power, prestige and excitement to our customers.”

Creating a storm in the SUV market, the all-new Safari is ready to re-energize this segment with a host of class defining features, such as:

·   Outstanding Exteriors: The Safari’s unique and domineering stance has been enhanced in the new avatar and key areas like the elegant grille, the unmistakable stepped roof and the imposing tailgate have been given ultra - premium finishes. Sculpted impeccably with an uncompromised strong stance, imposing wheel arches and sharp R18 diamond cut alloys give it a robust look. Careful accenting of chrome gives the new Safari a jewel-like appearance.

·   Inviting Premium Interiors: The interiors of the new Safari have been crafted with exquisite deft to convey a classy, comfortable feel via diligently curated choice of features and the intriguing addition of superlative details. This vehicle will come with plush Benecke Kaliko Oyster White interiors paired with Ash Wood dashboard, best-in-segment panoramic sunroof, captain seats and spacious 3rd row seating.

·    Exhilarating Performance: The Safari will come with 170 PS Kryotec Diesel Engine equipped with a 6 Speed Automatic/ Manual Transmission

·    State-of-the-art Infotainment: 9 JBL speakers accompanied by an 8.8” floating island infotainment system

·    Superior ‘In-touch’ interfaces:

o    iRA connected car technology

o    Electronic parking brake with auto hold

o    Boss Mode

The new Safari comes packed with features across trim levels making each variant desirable in its own way. The base XE variant offers dual airbags, all disc brakes, electronic stability program along with hill hold control and roll over mitigation, making it a well-rounded package for all. The sought after Multi Drive Modes & touchscreen music system starts from XM variant onwards.

In addition to the above, the XT variant offers iRA connectivity, R18 alloy wheels, fully automatic climate control and the widest panoramic sunroof in the segment.

Furthermore, the top of the line XZ variant offers xenon HID projector headlamps, terrain response modes, six airbags, electronic parking brakes with auto hold, 8.8” touchscreen infotainment with 9 JBL speakers and a subwoofer, powered driver seat and diamond cut 18” alloy wheels along with the panoramic sunroof, which offers a view like never before from all three rows.

The new Safari further builds on the legacy of prestige and outstanding performance by combining Tata Motors’ Impact 2.0 design language with the proven capability of OMEGARC, an architecture derived from the renowned D8 platform from Land Rover. It has evolved to satisfy the new age SUV customers, who demand arresting design, unparalleled versatility, plush and comfortable interiors, outstanding performance for a modern, multifaceted lifestyle.

Birlasoft Q3 PAT At ₹ 964 Million; Up 39.4% QoQ During 2020-21

* EBITDA at 16.4%, up 34.4% YoY; $ Revenue, up 3.3% QoQ

Birlasoft [BSE: 532400, NSE: BSOFT], a part of the USD 2.4 billion diversified CK Birla Group, reported its unaudited consolidated financial results for the third quarter ended December 31, 2020.

Dharmender Kapoor, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Birlasoft, said, “Birlasoft has delivered a strong financial performance in Q3 FY’21 and has hit the 15% EBITDA margins, earlier than planned. With a clear focused strategy on customer centricity and aligning our sales and delivery in key accounts, we have been able to show a ~20% YoY growth in our top accounts. With the markets showing a steady improvement, our strategic investments in our digital transformation and cloud strategies are starting to pay off with new deal wins. Recognition for our brand from industry analysts and other esteemed forums reinstate our belief that we are heading in the right direction.”

Other Highlights

·  Signed deals of TCV $ 109 M during the quarter

·  Active Client Count at 295, down 86 YoY and down 15 QoQ

o  $ 5 M customer at 21; up by 6, YoY

o  $ 10 M customer at 9; up by 3 YoY

·   Cash & equivalents at $ 138.3 M (₹ 10,108 M), vs $124.3 M in Q2; up $14 M QoQ

·   DSO of 57 days, down by 8 days YoY and 1-day QoQ

·   Birlasoft has switched to the New Tax regime in Q3 for FY 21

o   Effective Tax Rate (ETR) improved 250 bps QoQ

·   Manpower strength of 10,399 as at 31st December 2020 versus 10,010 in Q2’FY21

o  Added 389 professionals QoQ

o  Attrition at 10.9% in Q3’ FY21 versus to 20.3% in Q3’FY20 & 11.4% in Q2’FY21

Deal Wins for the Quarter

·  Selected by a leading US Medical Technology Company for Optimizing its Program Management Centre.

·  Won a Managed Services deal from US Auto Major.

·  Chosen by a US Healthcare major for providing Master Data Management services using Data-as-a-service (DaaS) model.

·  Selected by a Medical equipment major to implement SAP Hybris which would help enhance its customer experience and support global customer and dealer interface portal.

·  Selected by a Global Auto Major to upgrade, implement and support the Oracle R12 stack.

·  Chosen by a leading Global Business Process Services Company deal for implementation of Enhanced Technical Information Management System and integration of warranty system.

·  Selected by a Depositary Major for Application Modernization Services.

·  Awarded by a Global Rating agency deal for Enterprise Risk Solution and Analytics services.

Business Highlights & Recognition

* Birlasoft was recognized as India's Most Admired & Valuable Power Brand Company for the year 2020, at the India Leadership Conclave & Awards 2020.

* Birlasoft named one of the Booming 15 (Global Market) in the 4Q20 Global ISG Index™. Birlasoft has been featured in the Global ISG Index for three times, this fiscal year.

* Birlasoft teams up with Esker, a worldwide leader in AI-driven process automation solutions and pioneer in cloud computing, to offer Esker's comprehensive suite of Procure-to-Pay (P2P) and Order-to-Cash (O2C) automation solutions to enterprises globally.

* Birlasoft and Incorta have entered into a partnership to help organizations transform voluminous data into actionable insights with high speed and accuracy. The partnership enables access to data from across organizations and a streamlined ERP journey for faster, smarter and more valuable business insights

* Birlasoft and Namaste Credit have partnered to help bank and non-bank lenders digitally transform their operations with AI-driven solutions that automate onboarding, underwriting and risk monitoring

* Birlasoft receives SABERA 2020 Award for its community-benefiting Initiative - Project Shodhan. Project Shodhan was set up in 2017 with the aim of achieving zero crop residue burning in the villages of Indian states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. In four years, the initiative has covered 61 villages and 53,000 acres of agricultural land in these "wheat bowl states". This is the third time in a row that Project Shodhan has been acknowledged and appreciated by the SABERA jury members.

About Birlasoft 

Enterprise to the Power of DigitalTM

Birlasoft combines the power of domain, enterprise and digital technologies to reimagine business processes for customers and their ecosystem. Its consultative and design thinking approach makes societies more productive by helping customers run businesses. As part of the multibillion dollar diversified The CK Birla Group, Birlasoft, with its 10,000+ professionals, is committed to continuing its 158-year heritage of building sustainable communities.

Embark On An Odyssey Of A Lifetime: BMW Motorrad Safari 2021 Edition Commences In India

* 50+ hand-picked safari routes for a refined experience exclusively designed for BMW Motorrad owners

* Finest routes, tailored experiences and a chance to create unique and inspiring moments along the way.

* #BMWMotorradSafari #MakeLifeARide #BMWMotorradIndia

BMW Motorrad India has kick-started its unique riding experience – BMW Motorrad Safari 2021 in India. Bringing out the essence of true exclusivity, the Motorrad Safari is designed only for BMW motorcycle owners in India and will offer the ultimate riding escapades on two wheels. 50+ curated riding experiences will be organized across the country offering participants a complete sense of exploration and adventure, with each ride exploring different destinations across the country.

The series started with the BMW Motorrad Dessert Safari from 29-31 January 2021 exploring the trails of the great Indian Thar dessert from Jaipur to Bikaner.  Participants got the most out of this safari with enhancing their riding skills and the confidence that comes with such proven rider safari formats. The safari also included a training session from BMW Motorrad International Instructors Academy (IIA) certified trainer on fundamental techniques of off-road riding and to improve overall riding skills.

Mr. Vikram Pawah, President, BMW Group India said, “At BMW Motorrad, we are passionate about helping BMW Motorrad owners to Make Life a Ride. Owning a BMW Motorrad bike opens a world of experiences for our customers to explore one’s passion for travelling, discovering new terrains and enjoying a sense of freedom. Our aim is to continuously grow the BMW Motorrad community and riding culture here in India and the BMW Motorrad Safari will create outstanding moments, stories and journeys for everyone who is a part of it.”

BMW Motorrad Safari is a tour-based concept for the adventure enthusiast. It not only promises loads of fun but is also helps participants learn new riding skills. It celebrates the freedom of riding and exploring new places along with like-minded individuals.  A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the ultimate terrains, the hairpin bends, and even the long winding highways. The Safari’s will operate for 2 to 5 days as a point-to-point tour.  Riders will be expected to go at their own pace. Plus, they will also receive invaluable insights along the route. A fully equipped crew with service and medical support will ensure a hassle-free riding experience.

Highlights of the BMW Motorrad Safari 2021 –

· Ride with an exclusive group of BMW Motorrad riders led by an expert trainer and tour manager

· Each ride is open to every BMW Motorrad owner from anywhere in the country

· Pillions are welcome on BMW Motorrad Safari’s

Inclusions of the BMW Motorrad Safari 2021 -

· Finest route covering fantastic roads

· Daily rider briefings

· Rider Welcome Pack (Including official BMW Motorrad merchandise)

· BMW Motorrad support crew (luggage, technical, medical, tire support)

· BMW Motorrad roadside assistance sweep vehicle

· BMW off-road training (in select rides)

· 4-5-star accommodation with all meals (Breakfast, lunch & dinner)

· Free pre-safari motorcycle inspection

Registration for the BMW Motorrad Safari can be made by contacting your nearest BMW Motorrad dealership.

The following regulations apply-

·  The rides are open exclusively for BMW Motorcycle owners.

·  Participants are required to hold a valid driver’s license (at the time of the event).

·  The bike has to be in good technical condition. The organizers are entitled to exclude vehicles that are not fit for the ride.

·  All riders must be equipped with suitable rider gear.

Pine Labs Introduces AllTap App To Empower Small Merchants

 Pine Labs, a leading merchant commerce platform in Asia, today launched AllTap, a feature-rich app that can significantly accelerate digital payments adoption in India. Pine Labs AllTap is a revolutionary new app for small merchants to immediately start accepting digital payments on their NFC-enabled smartphone without the need of any additional hardware. The ‘tap and pay’ feature within the app is secure and is certified by PCI Security Standards Council (PCI SSC), RuPay, Visa, Mastercard and Amex.

While the ongoing pandemic propelled the adoption of digital payments in India, a large and critical segment of small entrepreneurs are still untouched by digitization. Pine Labs AllTap addresses this key segment especially small merchants, home entrepreneurs, street vendors, hawkers, cab drivers, and others who are not ready to invest in a traditional point-of-sale (PoS) terminal to accept digital payments.

Commenting on the launch, B. Amrish Rau, CEO, Pine Labs said, “We heard from small merchants, taxi drivers, self-employed individuals, tuition-givers, and several other solopreneurs, who wanted a simple digital payments acceptance solution. We are proud to unveil AllTap in response to their needs. AllTap comes with a cutting-edge contactless payments technology and requires no additional hardware for merchants to start accepting digital payments. Their NFC-enabled smartphone is now a payments acceptance device. Pine Labs AllTap has tremendous potential to bridge the digital divide not only in India but also in other markets. We are excited to introduce this pioneering app in the market today.”

Sanjeev Kumar, CTO, Pine Labs said, “With AllTap, we are offering merchants a robust PCI SSC-compliant Contactless Payments on COTS (CPoC) solution. This ensures all tap and pay transactions are fully secure. Our PCI SSC-CPoC listing underwent an extensive audit and certification from PCI SSC and leading networks Visa, RuPay, Mastercard, and Amex.”

Using the Pine Labs AllTap, merchants can convert their NFC-enabled smartphone into a payment acceptance device in minutes and avail a host of additional features such as converting a transaction into Pay Later EMIs to increase sales. AllTap is powered by Pine Labs’ robust payment infrastructure which is already trusted by over 150,000 merchants. 

Pine Labs AllTap addresses several pain points of small merchants. Merchant can now switch to contactless digital payment, accept digital payments acceptance during door-step delivery, reduce the checkout time delays through quick tap-and-go payments.

The app requires little documentation for the digital onboarding of merchants, making it a quick to download and use solution. Pine Labs AllTap app is available on Google Play Store and can be downloaded from here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pinelabs.epos

About Pine Labs

One of Asia’s leading merchant commerce platforms, Pine Labs serves prominent large, mid-sized and small merchants across Asia and the Middle East. The company’s unique cloud-based platform enables it to offer a wide range of payment acceptance and merchant commerce solutions including enterprise automation solutions such as inventory management and customer relationship management. Its stored value platform includes issuing, processing, and distributing digital gift cards for corporate customers around the world. Incorporated in Singapore, Pine Labs’ key investors include Actis Capital, Mastercard, PayPal, Sequoia India, and Temasek. 

My legs Were Shivering When I First Went On Stage: Rajkummar Rao

There are many young talents across the country and then there are some “Wonder Kids”. Shrinika Purohit, a 10—year-old Odissi dancer from Bengaluru, is one such young talent who is making India proud with her skill and passion for dance. So much so that Bollywood actor Rajkummar Rao, who happened to meet her in the upcoming episode of the show Young Genius, was amazed to hear her on-stage stories. The wonder kid who hails from Odisha, has been conferred the Odisha Samman.

When the host of the show Anand Narasimhan asked Shrinika Purohit about her passion for dance, Shrinika was quick enough to engage everyone with her phenomenal stories. Shrinika said, “I used to run on the stage after my mother’s performances. I feel free on the stage and never get nervous. I love the stage and feel it’s my playground. I was just 3-years-old when the Gurujan of Odissi named me a Wonder Kid.”

Rajkummar Rao, who is an extremely popular Bollywood actor and is known for his dancing prowess, was stunned with her story and mentioned that he was frightened when he first went on stage! Rajkummar Rao said, “There was a dance performance in our school and the senior girls were performing. I had to just sit on the stage as Lord Ram. I was just sitting and literally had to do nothing else but my legs were still shivering. I was nervous constantly thinking when will this performance get over. I was very scared as everyone was watching me.”

Catch Shrinika Purohit and Rajkummar Rao engaging in an exciting chat in the fourth episode of BYJU’s Young Genius on 6th February, 2021 (Saturday) and repeat telecast on 7th February on News18 Network!

PNB Reports Net Profit At Rs. 506 Cr, Gross Global Business At Rs.18,09,587 Cr & Global NIM Improved To 3.09 % In Q3FY21

 

KEY HIGHLIGHTS 

Global Business of the Bank at Rs. 18,09,587 Crore as on Dec’20 against Rs. 17,90,640 in Dec’19 with a Y-o-Y growth of 1.1%.  

· Global Deposit of the Bank at Rs. 10,82,156 Crore as on Dec’20 against Rs. 10,74,157 in Dec’19 with a Y-o-Y growth of 0.7 %.  

· Domestic CASA Share improved by 277 bps on Y-o-Y basis to 44.66 % in Dec’20. CASA Deposits grew by 6.4 % on Y-o-Y basis to Rs. 4,70,282 Crore in Dec’20.  

· Savings Deposit grew by 8.4 % on Y-o-Y basis to Rs. 3,99,418 Crore as on Dec’20.  

· Gross Global Credit was at Rs. 7,27,432 Crore as on Dec’20 against Rs. 7,16,483 Crore in Dec’19 with a Y-o-Y growth of 1.5 %.  

· Housing loan grew by 6.5 % on Y-o-Y basis to Rs. 83071 Crore in Dec’20.  

· CRAR as per Basel III increased to 13.88 % in Dec’20 from 12.84 % in Sept’20.  

· Operating Profit grew by 13.9 % on Y-o-Y basis to Rs. 6391 Crore in Q3 FY’21.  

· Net Profit for the quarter is at Rs. 506 Crore as on Dec'20 as against Rs 621 crore as on Sept’20.  

· Global NIM increased to 3.09 % in Q3FY21 against 2.49% in Q3FY20.  

· Cost to Income Ratio improved QoQ to 43.38% in Q3FY21 from 47.87% in Q2FY21. 

· Global Cost of Deposits declined to 4.23% in Q3FY21 from 4.48% in Q2FY21.  

· GNPA ratio at 12.99 % in Dec’20 declined by 44 bps from 13.43 % in Sep’20.  

· NNPA ratio at 4.03 % in Dec’20 declined by 72 bps from 4.75 % in Sep’20.  

· Provision Coverage Ratio (PCR) including TWO improved by 216 bps to 85.16 % as on Dec’20 from 83.00 % as on Sep’20. 

Business Performance in Key Parameters (as on 31.12.2020)  

❖ Domestic Deposits stood at Rs. 10,52,844 Crore as at the end of Dec’20 as against Rs. 10,55,306 Crore in Dec’19. 

❖ Domestic Advances stood at Rs. 7,04,979 Crore as at the end of Dec’20 as against Rs. 7,00,164 Crore in Dec’19.  

❖ Domestic Business stood at Rs. 17,57,823 Crore as at the end of Dec’20 as against Rs. 17,55,470 Crore in Dec’19.  

❖ Savings Deposit stood at Rs. 3,99,418 Crore as on Dec’20 and Current Deposit was at Rs 70,864 crore. 

Priority Sector  

❖ Mandated Credit under National Goal achieved by the Bank in all parameters i.e. Priority Sector 40%, Agriculture 18%, Credit to Small and Marginal Farmers 8% and Credit to Weaker Section 10%.  

❖ Achievement under Priority sector Credit is 42.4% at Rs. 2,84,122 Crore as on Dec’20.  

❖ Achievement under Agriculture is 18.59% at Rs. 1,24,549 Crore as on Dec’20.  

❖ Credit to Small and Marginal farmers target is 8.01% at Rs. 53,623 Crore as on Dec’20.  

❖ Achievement under Credit to Weaker Sections is 11.04% at Rs. 73,933 Crore as on Dec’20. 

Profitability 

❖ Net Interest Income grew YoY by 28.0% to Rs 8,313 crore during Q3FY21 and by 22.4% to Rs 23,539 crore during 9M FY ‘21. 

❖ Total Income stood at Rs 23,299 crore during Q3FY21 and at Rs 71,030 crore during 9M FY ‘21.  

❖ Total Expenditure declined by 10.9% to Rs 16,908 crore during Q3FY21 and by 5.0% to Rs 53,684 crore during 9M’21. 

❖ Operating Profit grew by 7.5% on Y-o-Y basis to Rs. 17,346 Crore in 9M’21. 

Efficiency Ratios  

❖ Global Yield on Advances was at 7.72% in Q3FY21 against 7.88% in Q3FY20.  

❖ Global Cost of Deposits declined to 4.23% in Q3FY21 from 5.19% in Q3FY20 and 4.48% in Q2FY21. 

Asset Quality  

❖ Gross Non Performing Assets (GNPA) has declined to Rs. 94479 Crore as on Dec’20 from Rs. 96314 Crore as on Sep’20.  

❖ Net Non Performing Assets (NNPA) has declined to Rs. 26598 Crore as on Dec’20 from Rs. 30920 Crore as on Sep’20.  

❖ Provision Coverage Ratio (PCR) excluding TWO improved to 71.85% as on Dec’20 from 67.90% as on Sep’20 and 58.25% on Dec’19. Credit Cost stood at 2.05% in Dec’20. 

Distribution Network  

❖ 10925 branches (1967 Metro, 2294 Urban, 2742 Semi-Urban & 3922 Rural). 2 Overseas branches at Hong Kong and Dubai.  

· 13914 ATMs.  

· 12346 BCs 

Capital Adequacy  

❖ CRAR as on December, 2020 improved to 13.88%. Out of which, Tier-I CRAR is 10.90%, CET-I is 10.12% and Tier-II CRAR is 2.98% as on Dec’20.  

· Bank has raised Rs. 3,000 Crore Capital through Tier-II Bonds during Q3 FY 21.  

· Bank has raised Capital through AT 1 bonds of Rs. 495 crore in Jan’ 2021. 

Digitalization  

❖ Mobile Banking users crossed 96 lakh and Internet Banking users crossed 250 Lakh. UPI transactions increased YoY by 23% to 70.18 Crore.  

❖ POS installed increased YoY by 31% to 1,09,266. 

❖ Bharat/BHIM QR Code installed increased to 4,53,859. 

Financial Inclusion  

❖ Amount mobilized under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana stood as below: Particulars As on 31.12.2020 Accounts opened under PMJDY (No. in Lakh) 394 Amount mobilized (Average Balance – Amt in Rs.) 4021  

❖ Enrollment under PMJJBY, PMSBY & APY:- (No. in Lakh) JANSURAKSHA SCHEME ENROLLMENT UP TO DEC’20 Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) 33.1 Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) 147.8 Atal Pension Yojana (APY) 13.9 

Amalgamation Update  

Integration of all major applications/systems like CBS, ATM switch, Internet Banking, Mobile Banking has been successfully completed.  

❖ 174 surround applications have been made live.  

❖ Payment system integration of NEFT/RTGS, IMPS, UPI, NACH/ECS, BHIM has been completed.  

❖ Best fit digital solutions of PNB, e-OBC and e-UNI rolled out to all bank customers upon migration: Internet Banking (Retail & Corporate), PNB One, UPI, PIHU, M- Passbook, Tab Banking. 

New Initiatives Undertaken  

❖ Gram Sampark Abhiyan – (Launched on 2nd October 2020): 11 Lakh customers contacted in around 30000 camps with increased Credit sanctions, digital on-boarding and Enrolment for Social Security.  

❖ Launch of Digital Lending Solution-PNB LenS: Bank has /customized IT based Loan Management System i.e. PNB LenS (The Lending Solution) to speed up and maintain consistency in underwriting standards in loan processing and sanctioning of credit proposals.  

❖ To accelerate the growth of forex business, Bank launched Trade Finance Redefined Portal. Fx-Retail portal is also being popularized for direct access to Interbank market. ❖ Fintech Initiative: PNB joins hands with IIT Kanpur to set up Fintech Innovation Centre to conduct research and develop technological solutions for addressing the challenges & explore opportunities in BFSI gamut. 

Awards and Accolades  

❖ ET-BFSI Excellence Awards 2020- Most Innovative Public Sector Bank of the Year. ❖ IBA Banking Technology Award 2020 – Winner of the Most Innovative Project Using Technology - PNBOne  

❖ DSCI Excellence Award 2020 under the Category “Security Leader of the Year Banking”  

❖ IBA Banking Technology Awards 2020 - Runner Up in Best Use of Data and Analytics for Business Outcome in Large Bank Category 

Social Media Presence of the Bank:  

(No. of Followers) ❖Facebook: 9,85,945 (https://www.facebook.com/pnbindia/) ❖Twitter: 1,77,946 (https://twitter.com/pnbindia)  

❖LinkedIn: 67,292(https://in.linkedin.com/company/pnbindia)  

❖Instagram: 57,399 (https://www.instagram.com/pnbindia/)  

❖Youtube: 47,993 (https://www.youtube.com/pnbindia) 

Kansai Nerolac Paints Announces The Launch Of Nerolac Excel “Multi Surface Protection Sheets”

Kansai Nerolac Paints Ltd. (KNPL), one of the leading paint companies in India is proud to present its latest groundbreaking innovation, the Nerolac Excel “Multi Surface Protection Sheets”. Nerolac has consistently worked towards innovations and promoting transformation and environmental sensitivity through its product portfolio and customer awareness campaigns.  

The Nerolac Excel ‘Multi Surface Protection Sheets’ are truly unique. With benefits ranging across anti-bacterial, anti-viral properties to odour and humidity control, these sheets can be used on a variety of surfaces inside homes such as wardrobes, study tables, shoe racks, doorknobs, milk baskets, staircases, dustbins and more. These sheets are available in two convenient sizes and price points including A4 (MRP Rs 800/-) and A2 (MRP Rs 2000/-) on the Nerolac brand store on Amazon & paint selling outlets.  

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Anuj Jain, Executive Director, Kansai Nerolac Paints Ltd. said, “Consumers are increasingly looking for solutions that can improve quality of life at home. Occurrence of odour, humidity and germs cause many household problems related to health & hygiene. Most of the solutions available in the market provide temporary relief and prove to be a drain on household budgets. Nerolac Excel “Multi Surface Protection Sheets” are designed to offer solutions for a variety of household issues and are a convenient way to improve health & hygiene of our homes for a longer period. We are confident that Indian households will appreciate this innovation and try it.” 

The Nerolac Excel “Multi Surface Protection Sheets” is yet another offering by Nerolac in its attempt to offer its consumers a healthy and germ-free environment. The company remains committed to its purpose of building environments for a healthy and beautiful future. 

About Kansai Nerolac Paints Limited: 

With a rich heritage of 100 years in the paint industry, Kansai Nerolac Paints is one of the largest paint companies in India and the leader in industrial segment. A wholly owned subsidiary of Kansai Paint Co. Ltd., Japan, which is among the Top 10 companies worldwide, Kansai Nerolac manufactures a diversified range of products ranging from decorative paint coatings for homes, offices, hospitals, and hotels to sophisticated industrial coatings for industries. Kansai Nerolac has established itself as a leader in product innovation with its initiatives including no added lead, low VOC and HD finishes with brands like Excel. Its product portfolio and customer awareness campaigns promote environmental sensitivity. www.nerolac.com 

Spectacles 3 From Snapchat: The Perfect Gift For Your Partner

 

Valentine's Day is around the corner and we are sure you want to indulge your partner with something they will love!  You know they love all things tech and wouldn’t mind being gifted something unique, what's more, it will help you two capture some fun memories together.  What is this gift? Snap's Spectacles 3, the company's latest AR glasses. These smart glasses come with two cameras on board so you can u take 3D photos or videos hands-free and on the move, as well as applying Snap's 3D lenses making the content you capture completely unique. As one of the most innovative wearable gadgets, we are sure that this will be an interesting accessory to have during your fun getaways, and if you want to relive them, they also come with a 3D viewer, so you can jump back into memories from your own perspective We have shared more information for you below.

About Spectacles 3

Features: Spectacles 3 are equipped with two HD cameras to capture Snaps in 3D and transform them with 3D Effects, inspiring creativity like never before.

Snaps captured using Spectacles 3 seamlessly transfer in HD to Memories within Snapchat to add new lighting, landscapes, and other magical effects to an entire scene with a swipe. Snaps can also export to Camera Roll as circular, horizontal, square and virtual reality formats for saving, editing, sharing, and reliving, anywhere.

Design: Spectacles 3 feature a strong, lightweight steel frame with circular lenses and adjustable acetate tips.

Spectacles 3 come in two colour options:

● Carbon: a classic, monochromatic black with a semi-matte finish and high-gloss details.

● Mineral: a tone inspired by cosmetic hues with a hint-of-gold frame.

Functionality: Tap either button for video (up to 60 seconds continuously) or press and hold for a still. Spectacles 3 supplements high-definition videos with high-fidelity audio from a 4-microphone array. LED indicator lights notify people when recording, and users will see a light as well.

Accessories: Spectacles 3 charge on-the-go in their included Charging Case, which can store up to four charges. The full-grain leather case folds flat when not in use and comes equipped with a standard certified USB-C charging cable.

Also included is a 3D viewer to relive memories and bring Snaps to life.

Available on: Flipkart, Price: 29,999.

Deputy Chairman, State Planning Board Launched Eye Screening Camp For Villagers Of Nodekoppalu In Mandya District

* Essilor Vision Foundation India and FICCI FLO partnership program as part of Village Adoption and Empowerment Project “HOSA LOKA”

As part of this joint initiative FICCI FLO and Essilor Vision Foundation Joined Hands to provide free eye screening and spectacles to villagers. Around 800 villagers will benefit from this initiative.

In alignment with FLO National objectives and under the leadership of FLO Bangalore Chapter Chairperson Mrs. Jyotika Kapoor, FLO Bangalore has kicked off the Village Adoption and Empowerment Project, aptly named “Hosa Loka”. It means “New World” in Kannada.  Through this projects FLO Bangalore chapter will work closely with 2 villages in Karnataka to bring significant impact through Economic improvement, Skilling and Education. We will enable community building, self-reliance through the Power of the Collective and in collaboration with committed organizations and individuals. 

Good eye sight is very important for overall social economic development of the society. This kind of initiatives for villagers is highly appreciated.  Farmers, artisans, home makers and children living in this village will get opportunity to get the eye tested and get needful correction at no cost, said                    Mr B J Puttaswamy, Deputy Chairman, State Planning Board, Government of Karnataka.

FICCI (Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry) Ladies organization (FLO) is a Pan India entity under the umbrella of FICCI.  Across India, presently FLO has 17 Chapters with over 8000 women as members who are professionals, entrepreneurs or in leadership roles in businesses across sectors. FLO Bangalore chapter is one of the large chapters with over 750 members.  FLO is an active stakeholder in women empowerment, entrepreneurship and community initiatives. FLO Bangalore chapter has always been a environmentally conscious organization and has engaged in many initiatives and projects to promote green and sustainable living by involving a wide section of the communities starting with students and young adults.  

About Essilor Vision Foundation (EVF) India:

Essilor Vision Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Essilor International, the world’s leading ophthalmic optics company. In order to help address the global issue of uncorrected poor vision that affects over 2.5 billion people around the world, Essilor Vision Foundation promotes access to good vision through free screenings and the provision of corrective glasses to communities in need.https://india.essilorvisionfoundation.org/

Studds Inaugurates First Exclusive Brand Outlet In Delhi; Enhances The Retail Footprints In India

Studds Accessories Limited, the world’s largest two-wheeler helmet manufacturer (in terms of volumes sold in a year), inaugurated all new state-of-the-art, Exclusive Brand Outlet (EBO) in Karol Bagh, Delhi. This increases the retail footprints of EBO by STUDDS in the country with an aim to further strengthen such touchpoints to around 20 across the country in FY’21.

Mr. Sidhartha Bhushan Khurana, Managing Director, STUDDS Accessories Ltd inaugurated the outlet at a grand ceremony in the city.

Located in main Faiz road, Karol Bagh, New Delhi the exclusive brand will feature products from the company’s two flagship brands - STUDDS & SMK HELMETS. Aimed at offering superior value products, customers can now access a wide range of premium helmets and two-wheeler accessories, including, side boxes, top boxes, biking gloves, helmet locks, rain suits, biking goggles etc.

Indigenously designed to offer unparalleled in-store experience this store acts as a one-stop-shop for the riding community and purchase from a wide range of new-age helmets with advanced head protection technology. The other exclusive brand outlets are already operational at Rohtak, Kochi, Bengaluru, Vijayawada, and Mumbai.

Talking about the outlets, Mr. Sidhartha Bhushan Khurana, Managing Director, STUDDS Accessories Ltd., said,” Entering the capital has been on our cards for a very long time, and we are confident to offer a variety of innovative products in our portfolio with the exclusive new store in Delhi. The city itself is one of the main financial hubs, making it an aspirational point of location. With an objective to transform the riding experience, we are thrilled to strengthen our network with the first launch of 2021.  

With an aim to promote road safety amongst the riders in the county, STUDDS being the world’s largest two-wheeler helmet manufacturer is inclined with the Government’s rules and regulations. We also plan to add an advanced range of headgears and accessories in due course of time.” he further added.

The new outlet will feature an extensive range of products from STUDDS and SMK, thereby, presenting an exciting and contemporary portfolio to customers. SMK is a premium brand which was conceptualized in Europe and is popular among biking community for its comfort, style and value-added features.

In line with its phased expansion strategy, STUDDS plans to open several exclusive outlets across the country. With rising demands for two-wheeler accessories, the company is aiming to double its manufacturing capacity in helmets and motorcycle accessories in the coming years.

About STUDDS Accessories Ltd.

STUDDS ACCESSORIES LIMITED is the world’s largest manufacturer of two-wheeler helmets. The company has two flagship brands STUDDS & SMK HELMETS. It has a wide range of helmets and motorcycle accessories, which keeps evolving every year with new technology, design and graphics. The brand believes that their focus on safety, quality and style makes them a lifestyle choice for their customers, and positions STUDDS and SMK as aspirational brands. STUDDS is marketed and sold in 21 countries across the globe, while SMK is present in 23 countries, including Europe, Asia and Latin America.

IBM Study: Regulation, Tech Infrastructure And Managing An ‘Anywhere’ Workforce Emerge As Top Challenges Until 2023 For Indian CEOs

A new IBM (NYSE: IBM) Institute for Business Value (IBV) study revealed that the majority of CEOs surveyed in India see technological factors, market factors and regulatory concerns among the most important external forces that will affect their business in the next few years, following the massive disruptions of 2020. Global CEOs of outperforming organizations – those who were in the top 20 percent for revenue growth of those surveyed – are prioritizing talent, technology and partnerships to position their companies for success post-COVID-19 pandemic.

Across the board, surveyed CEOs in India said IoT, Cloud, AI/Machine Learning, robotic process automation and advanced analytics were the top technologies that they believe can deliver benefits for their business. This aligns to the fact that many global surveyed CEOs also placed the CIO and CTO in their post-pandemic inner circle of most crucial C-Suite members.

Commenting on the survey insights, Sandip Patel, Managing Director, IBM India/South Asia said, “We are living in an all-pervasive digital world - and enterprises must transform with speed to remain relevant and win. This study validates the success factor that CEOs across the world will continue to imbibe in their businesses & workforce – that of co-creation and co-innovation, led by stronger partner ecosystems. And holding all this together - the ‘Sutradhar’ - is the power of exponential technologies like hybrid cloud, AI, Internet of Things & others underpinned by enterprise-grade security.”

In addition, this year, regulation leapfrogged to second spot, cited as an external force that will affect business in the next few years by over half the CEOs globally; 50 percent of Indian CEOs agreed. This unquestionably reflects a rising assertiveness by governments around privacy, data, trade and—amplified by COVID-19—health.

Growing Importance of Partnerships

Outperforming company CEOs are also more focused on partnerships, according to the IBV study. In India, 55 percent of outperforming CEOs surveyed said partnerships have become more important for driving business performance while only about half as many underperformers said the same. Based on the results of this study, IBM’s thesis is that outperforming company CEOs are narrowing their focus to what they do best and relying on partners and ecosystems for access to broader ideas and innovation opportunities.

In addition, IBM notes that as many leaders increasingly see how their organizations can help address interconnected global issues like climate change, ecosystems may be able to play a pivotal role in driving lasting change. 

Empowering Employees in the Hybrid Workplace

IBM’s annual study found the majority of CEOs surveyed reported empowering a remote workforce was their top priority during 2020. Half of outperforming company CEOs surveyed globally and 35 percent in India said managing a remote “anywhere” workforce is a top leadership challenge over the next few years. In addition, 41 percent of company CEOs in India report they plan to prioritize employee well-being even if it affects near-term profitability, reflecting that many surveyed leaders are heavily focused on their people in this moment.

IBM recommends that leaders consider carefully the longer-term challenge of a hybrid work environment, which can include things like providing employees with digital, cloud-enabled tools for collaboration, preventing employee burnout or sustaining company culture with focus on diversity and inclusion.

The IBV study includes recommendations from IBM for how leaders can seize this moment to reset and focus on what may be essential for success: choosing flexible and scalable technology platforms like an open hybrid cloud, investing in the holistic well-being of their people, and partnering to win with an open innovation approach.

Methodology

The “Find your essential” study polled 3,000 CEOs across 26 industries and nearly 50 countries including India (111 CEOs). It was conducted in cooperation with Oxford Economics and benchmarked against more than 20 years of IBM’s annual CEO surveys. The full IBV study is available at https://ibm.co/c-suite-study-ceo

About IBM Institute for Business Value 

The IBM Institute for Business Value (IBV) delivers trusted business insights from our position at the intersection of technology and business, combining expertise from industry thinkers, leading academics, and subject matter experts with global research and performance data. The IBV thought leadership portfolio includes research deep dives, benchmarking and performance comparisons, and data visualizations that support business decision making across regions, industries and technologies. 

Godrej Interio Launches ‘The Two Sides Of Online Teaching’ Whitepaper

Godrej Interio, India’s leading furniture solutions brand, announced today the release of its exclusive whitepaper: The two sides of online teaching. The pandemic has forced education online. To study the developments in online education, its pros and cons, and the implication of the developments on the lifestyle of teachers working from home, the Workspace & Ergonomic Research Cell at Godrej Interio conducted a nation-wide study. The study comprised the inputs from over 300 teachers working in different private, government, and semi-aided education institutions. 

As educators work in a more controlled and safer environment from home, not only do they save commute time but get an opportunity to spend more time with their family. Teachers enjoy the opportunity to up their digital literacy and make optimum use of resources along with having better control over their virtual class.

However, online teaching also has its share of challenges. The research revealed 39.3% of teachers have received formal technical training, whereas 21.4% have not; nearly 39.3% are self-taught.

A formal work setup plays a crucial role in setting up a positive environment for any professional. 31% of teachers do not have a dedicated workroom; they share the space with family members. In the current scenario, there is a requirement for a separate working area. The study revealed 63% of people use tables and chairs for teaching online. A dining table chair and desk, used by 25.4%; a bed, used by 22%, and a sofa, used by 25%. As many as 16% of teachers work sitting on the floor. These numbers suggest that teachers do not have a dedicated workspace. 

72% of teachers face body pain issues while working from home. 19% reported that they sit bending forward while working on the bed without any back support. 14% said they sit cross-legged on the floor without proper back support. Both these postures frequently account for back pain and knee pain.

Sameer Joshi, Associate Vice President, Marketing (B2B), Godrej Interio, said, “This pandemic has made teachers change the approach toward teaching. Virtual teaching has been a part of our lives for longer than we anticipated. As the education system evolves across borders and education media, the responsibilities of teachers also keep growing. Online teaching comes with significant advantages as well as disadvantages. While technology, zero commute time, and safety work in teachers’ favour, factors like excessive gadget usage, irregular or no breaks, and social isolation affect them physically, emotionally, and psychologically. Basis these insights, it is imperative to establish a routine and learn step by step to ace online teaching. To ensure teachers’ wellbeing while working from home, we at Godrej Interio recommend the Teach from Home Webinar. Apart from this, we developed a guide for recommending solutions through which teachers can adopt a smoother routine to guard their health and virtual lessons.”

Considering the current situation, online learning has helped teachers in these dire times with benefits ranging- from being able to teach students through a screen to easily sharing notes with them. Not only does this transformation ensure teachers’ and students’ safety but also keeps the process of learning going. The option of teaching online has proved to be a blessing for the education system in some significant ways. 

The whitepaper also shared the following set of remedies that can help teacher’s ace online teaching :

Keep it simple Online teaching usually begins with a whole group walk-through, followed by an endless stream of questions by students. A distinct drawback of distance learning is that teachers and students are no longer in the same space to discuss queries together. Instead, the vast majority of learning time will undoubtedly be dominated by assignments that involve a high degree of self-direction. 

Learn step by step Teaching and learning go hand in hand. While teachers take lessons, they can seek their students’ help to get a better grip on the technology. Using friendly mobile communication applications, educators can conduct classes or be in touch with their students at any time. Additionally, reviewing assignments regularly will help them track students’ progress. 

Establish a routine-Having a well-defined routine will help teachers stay focused and be efficient at work. Scheduling working hours and breaks in advance will prevent them from feeling exhausted. Additionally, teachers need to classify their work based on the highest and lowest priority. 

Work in a formal set up with the right infrastructure - Setting up a formal work desk or working in a quiet corner of the house will distance teachers from any distractions. Taking steps like asking family members not to disturb them or turning off TV and music systems can prove to be beneficial. 

Stay physically active- Practicing easy workout routines every day can benefit our body considerably. Not only does it ensure overall fitness, but it also works on our cognitive ability, energy level, and helps manage stress. In the current scenario, for teachers, functional exercises are essential to work all their muscles adequately. They should practice suitable and easy exercises to stay physically active.

Gain knowledge on how to sit right- The educational institutes around the country educate their staff about ergonomics and train them on how to sit in the right posture since an awkward posture can result in MSDs. Our study shows that due to long working hours, 33% of teachers now experience immense pain in different parts of the body. 

Stay socially connected- Distance learning has deprived teachers of their daily interactions in which they engaged with students and had casual conversations with colleagues. So, alongside a focus on lessons, teachers need to stay connected with peers through mediums like emails, video calls, phone calls, and text messages. 

Stay connected with nature- Adding biophilic elements to the working environment can better teachers’ mood, enhance their creativity and cognitive skills. Research suggests that elements such as natural light, dynamic colours, and plants have a positive impact on a person’s health and wellbeing. Daylight has been linked to improved academic performance in students. Additionally, multisensory, and enriched environments not only engage one’s senses but also beneficially impact cognitive, motor, and social skills.

While children are waiting to get back to the schools, this spell of online learning will leave principals and teachers richer in terms of insights into what constitutes quality education and their attentiveness to deliver it. The challenges of quality online learning will be over sooner due to the inherent transparency of the medium. However, the real challenge is to manage the health of teachers while teaching online.

Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited To Manufacture 737 Vertical Fin Structures

* New production line to manufacture complex vertical fin structures in India

* Will enable skill development and employment opportunities in high technology manufacturing in Telangana

* Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited (TBAL) manufactures aero-structures for Boeing’s Apache helicopters, including fuselages, secondary structures, and vertical spar boxes in Telangana

Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced the addition of a new production line at its joint venture, the Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited (TBAL) in Hyderabad, Telangana, to manufacture complex vertical fin structures for the 737 family of airplanes. The expansion marks a significant milestone for the joint venture.

“This is a noteworthy step in the growth of India’s aerospace and defence manufacturing,” said K. T. Rama Rao, Telangana Municipal Administration and Industries Minister. “Telangana is an established hotbed for India’s defence and aerospace industry supported by a robust ecosystem, including a large pool of skilled and industry-ready work-force. I congratulate Boeing and Tata for this milestone,” he added.

“Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited is an example of Boeing’s commitment towards co-development of integrated systems in aerospace and defence in India, for the world, and a reflection of the country’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative,” said Salil Gupte, president, Boeing India. “Skilled talent, robust infrastructure, ease of doing business, and a highly responsive government administration make Telangana an ideal destination,” he added.

Sukaran Singh, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), said, "The expansion of our aerostructure manufacturing capabilities with the new production line to deliver complex vertical fins for the 737s is another landmark in our collaboration with Boeing. He further added, “This new production line for complex vertical fin structures is another testament for TASL’s commitment towards making India self-reliant in defence manufacturing.”

The vertical fin is a complex structural part and the new production line will utilize cutting-edge robotics and automation in manufacturing. The expansion will create additional employment opportunities and enable skill development as well. Spread over 14,000 square meters, the state-of-the-art facility has been producing aero-structures for Boeing’s AH-64 Apache helicopter, including fuselages, secondary structures, and vertical spar boxes for customers worldwide.

About Boeing India

Boeing is the world's largest aerospace company and leading provider of commercial airplanes, defense, space and security systems, and global services. As a top U.S. exporter, the company supports commercial and government customers in more than 150 countries and leverages the talents of a global supplier base. Building on a legacy of aerospace leadership, Boeing continues to lead in technology and innovation, deliver for its customers and invest in its people and future growth.

Boeing’s advanced aircraft and services focus plays an important role in mission-readiness for the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy. Boeing is focused on delivering value to Indian customers with advanced technologies and remains committed to creating sustainable value in the Indian aerospace sector – developing local suppliers, and shaping academic and research collaborations with Indian institutions. Boeing has strengthened its supply chain with 250 local companies in India and a joint venture to manufacture fuselages for Apache helicopters. Annual sourcing from India stands at $1 billion. Boeing currently employs 3,000 people in India, and more than 7,000 people work with its supply chain partners. Boeing serves communities and citizenship programs to inspire change and make an impact on more than 300,000 lives in India. For more information, visit www.boeing.co.in.

About Tata Advanced Systems Limited

Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Sons, is the strategic Aerospace and Defence arm of the TATA Group. TASL is both an operating & a holding company. TASL group is fast emerging as a key Defence and Aerospace player in India with established capabilities and demonstrated deliveries in the following areas such as Missile Systems and sub-systems, Radar Systems and sub-systems, Command & Control Systems, Aerospace & Aero-Structures, Unmanned Aerial Systems, Optronic Systems, Homeland Security Solutions.

RB India And Grofers Join Hands To Launch ‘Deliver Safe Program’

RB (Reckitt Benckiser), a leading global consumer health and hygiene company, in partnership with Grofers, one of India’s leading online grocery retailers, announced the launch of ‘Deliver Safe Program’. RB India, in its collaboration with Grofers, has developed processes and protocols to meet the highest standards of cleaning and disinfection making it a first for the Indian e-commerce industry.

The ‘Deliver Safe Programme’ is built on 3 pillars: Products, Partnership and Protocols. RB will equip the Grofers team with its iconic brands - Dettol, Lizol and Harpic which have been tested by internationally accredited external laboratories and are proven to effectively kill more than 99.9% germs.

Speaking about the program, Mr. Narasimhan Eswar, Senior Vice President, RB Hygiene, South Asia, said, “At RB, we exist to protect, heal and nurture in the relentless pursuit of a cleaner and healthier world. Our collaboration with Grofers will help ensure a safer & hygienic platform for our online shoppers in these trying times. Our world class disinfectant products are proven to help break the chain of infection.

Commenting on the partnership, Albinder Dhindsa, CEO and Co-founder, Grofers, said, “We at Grofers are committed to building a life-long relationship with our customers, and for that, we are working on every possible measure to ensure their safety. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, safety and hygiene have become key consideration drivers for our customers. While we have already implemented multiple safety measures across operations, with our partnership with Reckitt Benckiser, we are now going a step further to ensure that every part of Grofers experience is safe for our customers and our team members. Our partnership with these iconic brands in hygiene (i.e, Dettol, Lizol & Harpic) will only dial up the confidence of our customers & help them shop with a lot of confidence & a sense of security.”

As part of the initiative, RB India will equip the Grofers team with Dettol Hand Sanitizers, Dettol Disinfectant Spray, Lizol Disinfectant Surface Cleaner and Harpic Toilet Cleaner. Grofers will be sending out app notifications, e mailers, social media messages in addition to a Grofers in-app communication about the program to reassure the consumers about the hygiene protocols followed. Customers will also receive leaflets with their delivery, in sealed and hygienic bags, documenting the safety and hygiene processes undertaken.

ABOUT RB:

RB (Reckitt Benckiser) is driven by its purpose to protect, heal and nurture in a relentless pursuit of a cleaner, healthier world. Our fight is to make access to the highest-quality hygiene, wellness and nourishment a right, not a privilege, for everyone.

RB is proud to have a stable of trusted household brands found in households in more than 190 countries. These include Enfamil, Nutramigen, Nurofen, Strepsils, Gaviscon, Mucinex, Durex, Scholl, Clearasil, Lysol, Dettol, Veet, Harpic, Cillit Bang, Mortein, Finish, Vanish, Calgon, Woolite, Air Wick and more.  20 million RB products a day are bought by consumers globally.

RB’s passion to put consumers and people first, to seek out new opportunities, to strive for excellence in all that we do, and to build shared success with all our partners, while doing the right thing, always is what guides the work of our 40,000+ diverse and talented colleagues worldwide.

About Grofers:

Grofers is one of India’s leading online grocery platform which is making quality products affordable & easily accessible for the Indian consumers. It uses its in-house technology platform to manage a network of over 12,000 partner stores that enable the company to run a fast and lean supply chain - from manufacturers straight to consumers. Grofers utilizes its efficient supply chain to deliver quality products to consumers every single day. A majority of these products are sourced from over 800 small and medium manufacturing enterprises across the country.

Celebrate The Valentine Month Watching These Romantic Movies, For Free Only On Amazon Prime Video Mobile Edition!

 

February brings with it the season of love and romance and reminds us of how much we appreciate our loved ones. Amazon Prime Video’s Mobile Edition has an array of romantic movies to rekindle the magic of love and leave you overflowing with emotions.

Here is a list of a few romantic movies for your at-home date nights –

1) Sufiyum Sujatayum – This romantic drama film will leave all you romance fanatics overwhelmed with its immaculate music and splendid performances. The film is written and directed by Naranipuzha Shanavas and produced by Vijay Babu under his banner, Friday Film House starring Jayasurya, Aditi Rao Hydari, Dev Mohan, and Siddique in the leading roles. This musical love story revolves around Sujata who has to give up on her love and marry a NRI from Dubai out of family pressure. 10 years later, she gets a call and things change. Does Sujata get her love back? Immerse yourself in this romantic drama to unfold her love story.

2) CU Soon - This 2020 Indian Malayalam-language computer screen love story is written and directed by Mahesh Narayanan. The film is set in computer screen and stars Fahadh Faasil, Roshan Mathew and Darshana Rajendran, with Saiju Kurup, Amalda Liz and Maala Parvathi in supporting roles. The plot circles around Jimmy who meets Anu on an online dating website and decides to marry her. Jimmy’s mother entrusts his cousin Kevin to get details about Anu. Now its Kevin’s turn to search for his cousin’s fiancée who vanished without a trace, only to discover dark, shocking secrets about her. You’re truly in for some mystery here.

3) Middle Class Melodies – Lighten your mood and tune into this emotionally engaging dramedy , directed by debutante Vinod Anantoju, who wrote it with Janardhan Pasumarthi starring Anand Devarakonda and Varsha Bollamma as leads. The story is about a young man who moves to a nearby city to pursue his dream of owning a hotel. Besides being relatable and entertaining, it will also leave you with a great amount of verve and emotional heft.

4) Bheemasena Nalamaharaja – The film is a perfectly cooked, delicious tale of love and family. It’s the perfect movie to lighten the mood and de-stress. It was directed by Karthik Saragur and produced by Pushkara Mallikarjunaiah, Rakshit Shetty, and Hemanth M. Rao featuring Aravinnd Iyer and Arohi Narayan in the lead roles along with Priyanka, Aadya, and Achyut Kumar. The movie circles around a cook on a flavoursome journey of love, loss and friendship. When tragedy sizzles through is life, it is to see If he can save the dish and toss a sweet ending. If you’re in the mood for a pinch of love, a dollop of happiness with a scoop of togetherness then this film will be your best bet.

5) Coolie No 1 – Gear up for a laughter riot before watching this romantic comedy directed by David Dhawan and Produced by Vashu Bhagnani starring Varun Dhawan , Sara Ali khan and Paresh Rawal in a supporting role. The film revolves around a pandit taking revenge from a rich businessman by getting his daughter married to Raja, a coolie posing as a millionaire. One lie leads to another and things start to go out of hand. Timing of dialogue delivery and synchronisation of so many different characters in one frame makes it a must watch!

What is Amazon Prime Video Mobile Edition? 

In collaboration with Airtel, Amazon Prime Video has launched an exclusive offering Prime Video Mobile Edition Plan with introductory prices at just Rs.89. It is a single-user mobile-only plan, exclusively launched in India that allows Airtel users to stream Amazon Prime video in SD quality along with a free trial period of 1 month.

How can you stream your favorite shows and movies for Free?

As part of the Prime Video Mobile Edition launch in India, all Airtel customers on bundled pre-paid packs can avail a 30-day free trial by simply signing up to Amazon from the Airtel Thanks app using their mobile number. This way audiences can access their favorite shows for free for one month with no extra cost.

ThoughtWorks To Digitally Transform Central America’s Construction Sector Through Corporación AG Partnership

ThoughtWorks, a global software consultancy, and Corporación AG, a Guatemala City-based steel producer, announced a partnership that will prioritize expanding AG's value and experience through digital enablement. This plan will be executed by ThoughtWorks' various digital capabilities, working in collaboration with ThoughtWorkers across North America, Ecuador and Brazil, and will allow AG to define a digital transformation roadmap and establish data platforms to not only service their clients, but also create a new and innovative way of doing business.

The implementation of ThoughtWorks' Digital Fluency Model will allow AG's executives to articulate their digital transformation aspirations and refocus business and technology investments to reduce risk and accelerate value creation. As new patterns of customer demand emerge, the model will help AG to continue to meet its unique business goals and navigate disruption.

"We knew that our future growth should evolve and adapt to the use of technology to be more efficient and more focused on our customer's needs and success," says AG CEO Rodrigo Gabriel. "After reading ThoughtWorks' manual on achieving digital transformation, EDGE: Value-Driven Digital Transformation, I was immediately inspired by their offerings and that is why we will be working together in this digital transformation journey."

"From the beginning, our team was impressed with AG's ambitious commitment to technology and their vision for growth within the construction industry in Central America," says ThoughtWorks North America CEO, Chris Murphy. "By leveraging technology, data, and agile operating models, we are confident that we can help them achieve their goals and further distinguish AG as an essential business partner to its customers."

About AG

AG is the leading company in manufacturing and distribution of products derived from steel in Guatemala and Central America, with more than 67 years of experience. AG's team is committed to offering integrated and innovative solutions with quality products, while offering socially responsible services to its clientele. Since 1953, AG has adopted a culture of excellence and responsibility.

About ThoughtWorks 

We are a software consultancy and community of passionate purpose-led individuals, 7000+ people strong across 48 offices in 17 countries. Over our 25+ year history, we have helped our clients solve complex business problems where technology is the differentiator. When the only constant is change, we prepare you for the unpredictable.

Garware Polyester Consolidated Q3 PBT At ₹64.29 Cr, Registers 277% Growth In Q3, FY21

 

Garware Polyester Ltd. (GPL), the flagship company of the Garware Group and a leading player in specialty Polyester Films in India declared its results for the quarter ending December 31, 2020 on February 04th,2020.

Highlights for Standalone Q3 FY’21 (October-December’20)

Revenue at ₹259.36 Cr (vs ₹197.94 Cr in Q3 FY’20) up by 31% on Q-o-Q basis

Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation, & Amortization (EBITDA) for the Quarter stood at ₹62.21 cr (vs ₹26.16 Cr in Q3 FY’20) reflecting 24.4% EBITDA margin

Net Profit for the period after tax at ₹34.45 Cr (vs ₹10.87 Cr in Q3 FY’20) on Q-o-Q basis

Earning per share (EPS) at ₹14.83, up by216.9% over the corresponding quarter in FY 2019-20

The Company has recorded Consolidated Revenues of Rs.287.31 crore for Q3FY21 as against Rs.205.23 crore for Q3FY20 and Rs. 710.65 crore for 9MFY21 as against Rs. 713.79 crore for 9MFY20. The Consolidated Profit Before Tax was Rs. 64.29 crore for Q3FY21 as against Rs. 17.04 crore for Q3FY20 and Rs. 143.47 crore for 9MFY21 as against Rs. 98.85 crore for 9MFY20 up by 45.1%. The Consolidated Profit After Tax was Rs. 42.78 crore for Q3FY21 as against Rs.11.37 crore for Q3FY20 and Rs. 94.15 crore for 9MFY21 as against Rs. 64.95 crore for 9MFY20. The Q3FY21 earnings concall is scheduled on 05th Feb. 2021 at 03:00 pm.

Commenting on the results, Mr. S.B. Garware, Chairman and Managing Director, GPL, said, “PAT has increased by 217% QoQ underscoring our focus on world-class execution and operational excellence and satisfied with our robust third quarter performance. As a responsible Hi-Tech performance film manufacturing company, we seek to deliver long-term economic value to our stakeholders. Emphasis towards specialty products has fueled additional growth in the margins which has resulted in PBDT Margin reaching 22.75% in quarter 3 FY21. We continue our focus on growth & see a strong and secure future for the organization given this growth approach.”

About Garware Polyester Limited

Garware Polyester Ltd. (BOM: 500655) is the flagship company of the Garware Group co-promoted by the Chairman and Managing Director Mr. S.B. Garware in the year 1957 along with the Founder-Chairman Late Padmabhushan Dr. Bhalchandra Garware. The company makes Specialty Performance Polyester Films in India and has its State-of-the-Art manufacturing facilities at Aurangabad in Maharashtra, India. GPL is the pioneer and one of the largest exporter of Polyester Films in India and the winner of top exporters’ awards for continuous 33 years from PLEXCOUNCIL.

Garware Polyester Ltd.’s (GPL) manufacturing facility in Aurangabad is vertically integrated, from manufacture of polyester chips to the finished product of polyester films with four independent manufacturing lines and a business that spans the globe.  Polyester Films are used for variety of end-applications such as PET Shrink films for Label application, Low Oligomer PET films for insulation of hermetically sealed compressors motors, Electric motor insulation and cable insulation, sequin application films, TV and LCD screen application, Packaging applications etc. Garware Polyester Ltd is also the market Leader and India’s only manufacturer of Sun Control window films for Building, safety, and auto applications. The company has facilities for manufacturing various coated products and co-extruded products for a specialty application, apart from its capacity to design the recipe for raw material of PET films to suit the end application of the product.  The company has also developed surface-protection films designed to deliver the highest level of protection and impact resistance which has applications in many sectors.  

NSDC & CBSE Launch First Edition Of ‘JuniorSkills Championship’ To Encourage Vocational Education At School-Level

* Students can register at https://worldskillsindia.co.in/JuniorSkills2021

* Open to CBSE students from class VI to XII

* Competition will reach nearly 21,000 CBSE-affiliated schools across India

* The prizes include cash rewards, certificates, tech-aid tools, and more.  Top 21 students will get an opportunity to travel to WorldSkills International

With an objective to enhance integration of technical and vocational education (TVET) at the school-level, National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), in collaboration with Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), today announced the launch of the first edition of JuniorSkills Championship 2021. The championship shares the values and objectives of the Skill India Mission, emphasizing technical and vocational skill training and capacity building for creating a productive and self-reliant workforce as a part of nation building.

Leveraging its experience and expertise of leading India’s participation at WorldSkills International competitions since 2011, NSDC, through this initiative, aims to create wider awareness about the importance of skill development amongst the youth of the country at an early age. The championship, to be held virtually this year, will provide students an opportunity to identify their talent and interests and make informed career choices in a rapidly changing world. The registration for JuniorSkills will be open till 19th February 2021. 

The championship will be promoted through nearly 21,000+ CBSE-affiliated schools across India. Targeted at students studying in standard 6th to 12th across the country, the JuniorSkills Championship 2021 will provide a platform for talented children of India to showcase their skills. At the same time, it will create a pipeline for the forthcoming WorldSkills Competitions and will connect education with industry-related skills. Further, the championship will also assimilate international standards and assessment norms, build capacity of teachers as per WorldSkills standards, create role models among students and make skills aspirational for youth. The championship will have myriad activities planned over the course of the next two months including skill competitions for schools, career counselling webinars, digital seminars and panel discussions, online boot camps and roundtable conference of academicians and corporates leading to the final national competition to be held in April 2021.

Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship lauded the initiative and asserted that the introduction of skill training at school level will certainly play a pivotal role in providing lifelong learning opportunities to the children and enhance their prospects of sustainable livelihood in future. Under the Skill India Mission, we have reinforced our efforts towards integrating skills at an early age in line with the National Education Policy 2020. As we continue the journey of making India the ‘Skill Capital of the World’, now is the time to commence initiatives from schools, to build the right knowledge, awareness and skill sets from the foundational years. 

National Skill Development Corporation emphasized that the JuniorSkills Championship will make the   children aware of the power of vocational education and its positive impact on career in the long run. The championship will contribute towards making skills truly aspirational for youth.

Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) shared that the board aims to make skills and vocational training an integral part of the education.  Our collaboration with NSDC to launch JuniorSkills Championship is aimed at creating a platform that will expose children to limitless career opportunities via skill development.  It will encourage students to discover their inherent capabilities and shape their careers from an early age. At the same time, it will help us empower teachers to integrate skill development at school level to train an agile workforce for jobs in future.

JuniorSkills Championship 2021 has got support from private partners such as ICICI Bank as an event partner, Qrencia – a technology partner and Pearl Academy, which is to function as an academic skill partner. Other skill partners include the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), Smalt & Beryl, D-Link, the Small Industry Development Bank of India (SIDBI), the Skill Council for Green Jobs (SCGJ), the Delhi School of Photography (DSP), and Holosuit. Jagran Josh and Amar Ujala have also come on board as media partners, and i-Skill Junior as an outreach partner.

The championship has been envisioned in accordance with the latest National Education Policy 2020 wherein the emphasis has been laid upon the integration of vocational courses in schools. CBSE will play an important role in promoting and setting benchmarks for the skill competitions among schools affiliated with it.

The championship will be conducted at four levels - Screening, Qualifying, Semi-Final and Final. Amidst current COVID situation, the first three levels of championship will be organised online, and the finale is proposed to be conducted on-ground in Delhi.  The competition levels will further be classified in three groups:

Group                                   Class

Group 1                                6th to 8th

Group 2                                9th and 10th

Group 3                                11th and 12th

JK Tyre & Industries Receives Certification For Its Initiative Zero Waste To Landfill

* First in the industry to receive this certification

* Five manufacturing locations of JK Tyre were recognized with the certification by The British Standards Institution (BSI)

Indian tyre industry major & the market leader in Truck Bus Radial segment, JK Tyre & Industries Ltd., has achieved certification for its initiative - Zero Waste to Landfill by The British Standards Institution. Being at the forefront of sustainable growth, this initiative is an extension to achieve and demonstrate JK Tyre’s Environmentally Sustainable Goals and Go green Initiatives in Tyre Sector.

Under this initiative, the aim is to stop the disposal of waste to landfills or to incineration without energy recovery – it is either totally eliminated at source or recycled off-site. Except for medical and sanitary wastes, all other waste streams must be recycled to meet the concept of zero waste to landfill.

Mr. Anil Makkar, Manufacturing Director, JK Tyre & Industries said, “We at JK Tyre have always strived to achieve the quality benchmark for all our industry-leading manufacturing practices as it is our commitment to give back to the environment, we operate in. We are proud of the JKTIL top team to coin the slogan – Zero Waste to landfill and we hope to receive multiple recognitions towards our continued efforts in the development of the society and sustainable development.”

JKTIL has developed a robust Integrated Waste Management plan for all types of wastes – such as rubber compounds, scrap green tyres, cut flaps, trimmings, used tyres, etc. in a controlled and transparent way. It also developed an Audit system for contracts of Recyclers. The IWMP also includes used oil, e-waste, etc. in its five plant locations.

Under this journey, JKTIL engaged with the British Standards Institution for verification of its system as per ISO 14051 and verified that the waste generated is not going to landfill in any way. Generation, collection, segregation, storage, treatment, and disposal in the different processes were also calculated and traceability of waste was also confirmed from the vendors who were taking the scrap.

The British Standards Institution (BSI), has audited 5 manufacturing locations in Rajasthan, Chennai, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttrakhand. During the course it confirmed that no waste, either solid or liquid was disposed to landfill and recommended JKTIL all 5 manufacturing locations as a ZERO WASTE TO LANDFILL PLANTS

JK Tyre is a responsible corporate and giving back to the community is central to the culture of the Company. JK Tyre is not only driven by the need to make the world a better place through the manufacturing of a safer and technologically advanced product, but also by widening its prosperity circle.

JK Tyre & Industries Limited

The flagship company of JK Organisation, JK Tyre & Industries Ltd is amongst the top 25 manufacturers in the world. Pioneers of radial technology, the Company produced the first radial tyre in 1977 and is currently the market leader in Truck Bus Radial segment. The Company provides end-to-end solutions across segments of passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, farming, Off-the-Road and two & three-wheelers.

A global force, JK Tyre is present in 105 countries with over 180 Global distributors.  The Company has 12 globally benchmarked ‘sustainable’ manufacturing facilities - 9 in India and 3 in Mexico – that collectively produce around 35 million tyres annually. The Company also has a strong network of over 4000 dealers and 550+ dedicated Brand shops called as Steel Wheels and Xpress Wheels.

JK Tyre’s unwavering commitment towards innovation is reflected through its state-of-the-art global research and technology centre – the Raghupati Singhania Centre of Excellence - in Mysore, which houses some of the world’s finest technologies and techniques.

JK Tyre launched India’s first ever ‘Smart Tyre’ technology-and introduced Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) which monitors the tyre’s vital statistics, including pressure and temperature. The company recently rolled out its 20 millionth Truck/Bus Radial tyre becoming the first and the only Indian company to achieve this milestone.

It is the only Indian tyre manufacturer to be included in the list of Superbrands India in 2019 for the seventh consecutive year. JK Tyre has been conferred the Sword of Honour for Safety across its plants by the British Safety Council,UK. The company entered the Limca Book of Records with the country’s largest off-the-road tyre - VEM 04.

JK Tyre is also synonymous with motorsport in the country. For over three decades, the Company has relentlessly worked towards shaping India’s positioning as the motorsport hub of Asia, developing the right infrastructure for the sport and promoting young talent in the arena.

New Fortuner & Legender Receive Over 5,000 Bookings Across India

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) today announced that it has received over 5,000 bookings for the powerful new Fortuner and the exclusive Legender since their launch in India. Following the huge customer response, TKM has started deliveries of the new Fortuner and Legender to dealer partners across the country.

The Fortuner continues to dominate the SUV segment with over 53 percent segment share that is likely to increase further with the launch of the Legender, which has been drawing immense customer response with its bold styling and advanced features. The overwhelming customer response is also a testament to the rapidly growing preference for SUVs in India, enabling the Fortuner to strengthen its leadership position in the highly competitive segment.

Sharing his views on reaching the milestone, Mr. Naveen Soni, Senior Vice President, TKM, said, “We are humbled and touched by the continued faith of our loyal customers in brand Toyota. The sheer number of enquiries and bookings for both the Fortuner and Legender reiterate our belief in the customer-first approach. Both the SUVs were created purely based on customer feedback thus helping us garner a good response.

We are working hard to ensure the quickest possible delivery time so that our customers can experience India’s most admired SUV at the earliest. The New Year has begun on a very strong note for us and we are geared up to continue to delight our customers with ever-better products and our renowned after-sales service of global standards in 2021 as well.”

Well recognized for its powerful performance, bold design and strong identity, the Fortuner has achieved a cult status in the SUV segment ever since its launch in 2009. Sought-after for both off-roading and city driving, the Fortuner unbeatable performance and great riding comfort has made it the undisputed choice among SUV owners in the country. The SUV has witnessed sales of more than 1,70,000 units till date and continues to dominate the segment with its undisputed leadership.

Customers looking to buy the new Fortuner and exclusive new Legender can simply book their SUV online https://www.toyotabharat.com/online-booking/ or visit their nearest Toyota dealership.

Boeing, Air Works Announce Strategic Collaboration For Maintenance Support Of Key Defence Platforms

* Collaboration in Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul of P-8I, IAF VIP transport fleet

* First strategic collaboration under the newly launched Boeing India Repair Development and Sustainment (BIRDS) Hub

Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced strategic agreements with Air Works for the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of two key Boeing defence platforms in India, the P-8I operated by the Indian Navy (IN) and the VIP transport fleet operated by the Indian Air Force (IAF).

Boeing India’s strategic collaboration with Air Works is an important first step under its recently launched initiative, the Boeing India Repair Development and Sustainment (BIRDS) hub, which is an in-country network and alliance of suppliers led by Boeing in India that envisions a competitive MRO ecosystem for engineering, maintenance, skilling, repair and sustainment services of defence and commercial aircraft. The hub aims to grow capabilities in India in the areas of heavy maintenance, component repairs, training and skilling of IAF and IN maintainers.

“This strategic agreement with Air Works positions us to generate significant value for our defence customers locally by delivering faster turnaround, exceptional operational capability and mission readiness on Boeing aircraft. This is an important step in our commitment to the government of India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat vision of developing India as an MRO hub,” said Surendra Ahuja, managing director, Boeing Defence India.

An important aspect of the hub is training programs to increase skilled manpower by developing sub-tier suppliers and medium, small and micro enterprises (MSMEs) to build high quality MRO capabilities in India.

“The strategic collaboration with Boeing transforms our existing relationship into a new, enriched avatar. In this new decade, the growing international recognition and enhanced dimensions of our collaboration are testament to our demonstrated expertise in the defence and aerospace domain. We are proud to be the first Indian company to partner Boeing as part of its Boeing India Repair Development and Sustainment (BIRDS) hub initiative and we remain excited, committed and privileged to have been chosen to work with them on such prestigious and critical projects that build as well as test India’s indigenous MRO capabilities,” said D Anand Bhaskar, MD & CEO, Air Works.

About Air Works Group

Established in 1951, Air Works Group is India’s biggest and highly diversified independent MRO with the largest pan-India network presence across 27 cities. It is the preferred MRO partner to global aviation OEMs, aircraft owners/ operators (including Fixed Wing & Rotary Wing), lessors, airlines and the Indian Defence Services, offering a host of services including MRO and heavy checks, Line maintenance, Cabin and Interior refurbishment, Exterior finishing and painting, Avionics upgrades, integrations and retrofits, End-of-lease/ redelivery checks, Maintenance training (CAR 147), and Asset Management services to domestic and international clients. Specialized set of services for Avionics, Component repairs and Asset Management services are offered via the Group’s partner companies – SA Air Works and Acumen Aviation.

Air Works undertakes base maintenance for ATR 42/72, A320 and B737 fleet of aircraft from its EASA and DGCA-certified facilities at Mumbai, Delhi, Hosur and Kochi, supported by duly certified in-house shops for related tasks. The Company also undertakes modification and assembly of rotary-wing aircraft and is an Authorized Service Centre (ASC) for Bell and Leonardo helicopters.

Air Works enjoy an impeccable reputation in the industry for proven capabilities, outstanding workmanship, quality, and an exceptional safety orientation. The Company takes immense pride in its 70 Year aviation legacy and a culture that accords paramount importance to customers, which has allowed it to successfully deliver several India-first and industry-first projects. For more details, visit: https://www.airworks.aero

About Boeing India

Boeing is the world's largest aerospace company and leading provider of commercial airplanes, defense, space and security systems, and global services. As a top U.S. exporter, the company supports commercial and government customers in more than 150 countries and leverages the talents of a global supplier base. Building on a legacy of aerospace leadership, Boeing continues to lead in technology and innovation, deliver for its customers and invest in its people and future growth.

Boeing’s advanced aircraft and services focus plays an important role in mission-readiness for the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy. Boeing is focused on delivering value to Indian customers with advanced technologies and remains committed to creating sustainable value in the Indian aerospace sector – developing local suppliers, and shaping academic and research collaborations with Indian institutions. Boeing has strengthened its supply chain with 250 local companies in India and a joint venture to manufacture fuselages for Apache helicopters. Annual sourcing from India stands at $1 billion. Boeing currently employs 3,000 people in India, and more than 7,000 people work with its supply chain partners. Boeing serves communities and citizenship programs to inspire change and make an impact on more than 300,000 lives in India. For more information, visit www.boeing.co.in.