Nokia 3.4 Goes On Sale In India, Available Across Retail And E-Commerce Platforms

 

● The all-rounder with Google Podcasts, offers a serious performance upgrade: triple rear camera with AI imaging, bigger punch-hole display, performance.

● The Nokia 3.4 is available at a recommended best buy price of INR 11,999

HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, announced that the Nokia 3.4 is available in India starting today in Fjord, Dusk and Charcoal colour options, in a RAM/ROM variant of 4GB/64GB at a recommended best buy price of INR 11,999, across leading retail outlets and online channels in India, including Nokia.com/com, Amazon.in and Flipkart.

Additionally, Nokia 3.4 customers on Jio would be entitled to benefits worth INR 4,000. The benefits include instant cashback of INR 2,000 on the prepaid recharge of INR 349 plan and INR 2,000 worth vouchers from partners. This offer is applicable to new as well as existing Jio subscribers. This offer is available for all purchases made on Nokia.com/phones.

Powered by the new Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 460 processor, the Nokia 3.4 offers a strong performance upgrade at a more accessible price point. It has an impressive 6.39” (16.23 cm) HD+ screen and it is the first in the Nokia 3-series with a punch-hole display that gives you extra screen real estate along with triple rear camera, an ultra-wide lens and AI imaging. It is powered by the signature two-day battery life and comes with the guarantee of three years of monthly security updates and two years of software upgrades.

With the integrated Google Podcasts, you can listen to your favorite shows, explore recommendations just for you, browse popular podcasts in comedy, news, business, and more.

Sanmeet Singh, Vice President, HMD Global India:

“We are really excited to bring the much-awaited Nokia 3.4 to India. It is an all-rounder smartphone that provides excellent performance, power and usage experience, all combined in a package that looks stylish as well. With Google Podcasts integration, the Nokia 3.4 can enable you to explore new types of content, topics and even try your hands at making a podcast of your own – the freedom to do more, personally and professionally. Given the vast growth potential around podcasts in the country, our communication around the phone is also geared to share how Google podcasts can bring ‘new to you’. “

Gabe Bender, Product Lead, Google Podcasts

“Podcasting in India has exploded in recent years as users all over the world have increasingly turned to audio to stay informed and entertained. We’re excited to partner with Nokia phones to enable all Nokia 3.4 smartphone users to easily listen to their favorite shows and discover new ones on Google Podcasts.”

Tough and Built to Last

The Nokia 3.4 has a robust build quality, thanks to the rigorous testing[1] process that all Nokia devices undergo. The fully recyclable die-cast metal chassis and seamless durable structure of Nokia 3.4 gives it the premium feel that everyone expects from a Nokia smartphone. It also features a 3D nano-textured rear cover that provides a secure grip to your hands while holding the device.

More Power, better performance and uncompromised security

The signature two-day[2] battery life and AI-assisted Adaptive Battery technology enables smarter app usage and optimizes power consumption basis your usage pattern. The new Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 460 Mobile Platform brings with it a 70% performance upgrade compared to the previous generation.[3]

Being part of the Android One programme, the Nokia 3.4 delivers a pure software experience with a streamlined interface and no bloatware. You can enjoy what Android 10 has to offer and rely on three years of monthly security updates and two years of software upgrades, which means you’ll get more out of your phone, for longer. It is ready for Android 11 and beyond.

Superior Camera for high quality photos

Get the perfect shot with Nokia 3.4’s triple camera AI imaging. Snap like a pro with Portrait mode’s artistic background blur effects and with Night mode’s powerful image fusion and exposure stacking to capture every detail. Plus, you’ll get everything in the shot with the 5MP ultra-wide camera.

Plus, the Nokia 3.4 can help you and your family set healthy habits. With the Family Link app, this smartphone will help you guide your kids as they learn, play and explore, by letting you set limits for content, screen time and allowing you to view app activity to keep them safe and balanced.

Airtel Appoints Neeraj Jha As Head Of Corporate Communications And Corporate Affairs

Bharti Airtel (“Airtel”), India’s premier communications solutions provider, has appointed Neeraj Jha as Head of Corporate Communications and Corporate Affairs. 

Neeraj Jha will report to Gopal Vittal – MD & CEO (India & South Asia), Bharti Airtel Ltd. and will be responsible for leading Airtel’s brand advocacy, reputation and communication efforts. In addition, he will provide oversight and support to the other Bharti Group entities.   

Neeraj Jha brings with him over 24 years of experience across journalism and industry. Prior to joining Airtel, he was Head of Corporate Communications and Company Spokesperson at HDFC Bank. During his 14 years tenure at the Bank, he leveraged elements like the business and digital capabilities of the Bank, its management depth and human face to build a strong image and leadership position for the Bank. 

“We are pleased to have Neeraj on board to spearhead Airtel’s corporate reputation mandate. I am confident his rich experience will add immense value to Airtel.” said Gopal Vittal.  

On his appointment, Neeraj Jha had this to say, “I firmly believe I’ve joined a culture, an ethos that’s committed to the cause of connecting the nation, its people, households and businesses. From healthcare to education to entertainment, it brings this and much more today to the lives of millions of people making them better, easier and more productive. Airtel is an iconic brand that generations in the New India have grown up looking up to. I'm humbled and honoured to be part of it.” 

Neeraj can be reached at neeraj.jha@airtel.com. 

About Bharti Airtel 

Headquartered in India, Airtel is a global telecommunications company with operations in 18 countries across South Asia and Africa. The company ranks amongst the top three mobile operators globally and its mobile network covers a population of over two billion people. Airtel is India’s largest integrated telecom provider and the second largest mobile operator in Africa. At the end of December 2020, Airtel had approx. 458 million customers across its operations. Airtel’s portfolio includes high speed 4G/4.5G mobile broadband, Airtel Xstream Fiber that promises speeds up to 1Gbps, converged digital TV solutions through the Airtel Xstream 4K Hybrid Box, digital payments through Airtel Payments Bank as well as an integrated suite of services across connectivity, collaboration, cloud and security that serves over one million businesses. Airtel’s OTT services include Airtel Thanks app for self-care, Airtel Xstream app for video, Wynk Music for entertainment and Airtel BlueJeans for video conferencing. In addition, Airtel has forged strategic partnerships with hundreds of companies across the world to enable the Airtel platform to deliver an array of consumer and enterprise services.  

Chicago Pneumatic India Launches Permanent Magnet Motor Compressors From 10-100 HP Range, Titled As CPMV & CPVS PM

* New products are CPMV & CPVS PM range screw compressors with Permanent magnet motor compressors

Chicago Pneumatic a part of Atlas Copco group in India, today launched two new product variations in their Permanent Magnet motor compressors– CPMV and CPVS range. Equipped with a proven energy saving technology of permanent magnet motors, the products offer an increased reliability, maintenance free operation and energy savings upto 45%.

The key industry segments such as General Engineering, Manufacturing, Grain sorter, Pharmaceutical, Steel & where pneumatic and screw compressor applications come into play will benefit from these compressed air solutions. The new products with highly engineered innovation are intended towards enhancing customers’ productivity, reducing energy consumption, and offering higher uptime and reliability. The products are available across the country to fulfil the demand of customers even in shorter duration through the distributors.

Andy Prabhakar, General Manager - Brand Portfolio at Atlas Copco, said, “At Chicago Pneumatic, we are proud to be able to cater to the customer with solutions created only with durable parts, ensuring efficiency of products & services, backed by timely maintenance offerings. The new range of CPMV series screw air compressors for extensive usage in various industries, is a result of Chicago Pneumatic continued commitment to offer products to the customers that are simple enough to be user-friendly, reliable, and efficient. Our commitment has always been to ensure that the products and parts are easily available and serviceable, no matter in which part of the country your business is.” 

As a part of their existing portfolio, the company also offers a Prominent range of screw compressors, oil free air compressors, CNG compressors, air treatment solutions, piping solutions and everything required for a complete compressed air system, refrigerant dryers, line filters, air receivers and piping solutions.

Chicago Pneumatic: The Chicago Pneumatic company was founded in 1901 when innovator John W. Duntley patented the first single-valve pneumatic hammer. In the same year, steel magnate Charles M. Schwab invested heavily in the company, giving it a flying start and opportunities for further expansion. Since then, we have enjoyed many decades of collaboration with customers and business partners, based on technology and trust.

To mark our proud legacy and shape our inspiring future, an updated visual identity is being launched along-side of many celebratory activities planned during the year.

Atlas Copco (India) Ltd.: Started operations in 1960, and has over 15 offices across India, the registered office being at Pune. Atlas Copco (India) Ltd. had over 2 000 employees and revenues of INR 3000 CR as on 31st March 2020.

Deendayal Port Trust To Sign MoUs Of Rs. 3,823.70 Crores At Maritime India Summit 2021

Deendayal Port Trust (DPT), one of the major port trusts in India will sign 15 MoUs of Rs. 3,823.70 crores at “Maritime India Summit 2021”scheduled to happen on 2nd to 4th March 2021.

These MoUs will be majorly signed between DPT and IOCL, EMAMI, and AEGIS Power Supply. MoU will also be signed with Timber Association to develop furniture park and Coast Guard Jetty. Apart from these DPT will also sign MoUs for the greenery of the port area and construction as well.

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways is also in process of finalizing more than 44 MoUs to be signed in conjunction with the summit. These MoUs will be signed with different coastal states and stakeholders of the sector. The MoPSW is looking forward to closing over 400 MoUs during the Maritime India Summit 2021.

These MoUs are focused on attracting investment, skilling, and generating employment in the sector. The signing of these MoUs will help in streamlining the process of ship maneuvering resulting in more business to the ports and economic stability to the sector and its stakeholders.

The MIS 2021 will provide a unique platform that will have a physical and virtual presence of prominent shipping and transport ministers/ dignitaries from across the world. Maritime States of India will participate in the Summit through dedicated sessions. The Summit will also include an exclusive CEOs’ forum and various thematic/ breakout sessions. 

Great Lakes Institute Of Management Hosts Narayana Murthy As Part Of Its ‘Distinguished Thought Leadership Series’

* The Padma Vibhushan awardee sheds light on key topics like entrepreneurship, state of Indian I.T sector, role of luck among others~ 

Padma Vibhushan Mr. Narayana Murthy, Founder, Infosys graced Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai in a virtual fire-chat session organized by the institute. Mr. Murthy addressed a strong audience of 750+ participants and shared his insights based on the experience and observations over the years. 

During the session, Mr. Narayana Murthy touched upon some key topics. He started off with his definition of an entrepreneur and explained that entrepreneurs come with bright and powerful ideas.  His latest venture is all about unleashing the power of young Indian minds. He highlighted few qualities than an individual should possess to become an entrepreneur. Some of these qualities include competency, leadership, learnability and a sound value system. He further elaborated and said that an entrepreneur should transform the power of ideas into job and wealth creation. He then touched upon the topic of whether the Indian I.T companies have moved up in the value chain system? He said that, Indian companies have been doing work that is of high value for their customers and are now focusing on higher per capita productivity. But the sector still remains as reactive problem solvers which needs to change and a more proactive approach is the need of the hour.  

He then spoke about the role of using luck to one’s advantage. Hard work plays a key role in shaping your career. He said, ‘’Chance favours the prepared mind’’. When you fail as an individual, it is important to introspect your failure, analyse, decide on the next step and then act accordingly. He then spoke about how entrepreneurs can handle multiple roles in their initial stages of entrepreneurship. He was quick to add that his philosophy of choosing a team is to pick bright youngsters, review constantly and give them an opportunity to grow. He also emphasized on developing checklists and have constant dialogue with the team which can help and improve upon what you are doing at that point of time. High learnability, discipline and hard work are keys to enhance productivity. Mr Murthy also said that, he personally prefers learnability over experience for skills.  

He next addressed the concern wherein I.T. sector pays higher remunerations than some other sectors and we are losing great talent in the sectors. He addressed the companies from different sectors and said, they need to sit down and ensure that the workplace provides a learning experience. Companies should visit campuses and sell jobs to students and provide better compensation. He added that, students nowadays prefer careers where there is learning involved. Also, curriculum in colleges need to keep pace with the industry demand and in-company training programs should be a key area of investment for the companies to groom talent. He then stressed upon the New Education Policy and rued the lack of constant research and innovation in Indian educational institutions. He mentioned that the New Education Policy (NEP) is certainly going to improve the quality of education. He called for a change in the mind-set of the society and said that the focus should be upon instilling curiosity, problem solving, open-mindedness, respect other’s opinions and not afraid of learning among the youngsters. He said that there is a need to embrace these traits in our cultures and then change will follow.  

Speaking during the event, Dr. Suresh Ramanathan, Dean, Great Lakes Institute of Management, said “We are honoured to have the magnanimous presence of Mr. Narayana Murthy. His wisdom, knowledge, experience and vision is unparalleled and today’s event was a chance for our students to pick on his thoughts and learn from the man himself. His idea of originality, problem-solving, creativity, importance of values and sense of balance can truly go a long way in shaping our society and empower the youth of tomorrow. I also want to thank our esteemed audience who were part of this momentous occasion and we will continue to invite leaders who can be a source of inspiration for our students and other generations.” 

PGI.S, The Premier Global PUBG PC Esports Festival Hosted By Krafton Kicks Off In South Korea

* The LAN/offline hybrid event offers a prize pot of $3.5 million USD and will be broadcasted in over 17 languages, including Hindi 

KRAFTON, Inc., responsible for entertainment properties such as PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS (PUBG), launched PUBG Global Invitational.S(PGI.S) - a global LAN/online hybrid tournament where the world’s top PUBG PC esports teams will compete for a share of a $3.5 million USD prize pot. 

The event runs till March 28th , with 32 rosters from eight different regions participating in weekly showdowns with prize money increasing as the competition progresses. The tournament is primarily held offline at Studio Paradise in Incheon, South Korea, however due to the current COVID-19 situation, some of the teams will compete online from their home regions. 

Based on Rank Decision matches which took place from February 5-7, the highest ranked 16 teams participated in Weekly Survival matches on February 8 to battle it out for a place in the Weekly Grand Finals. Once a team wins a Weekly Survival match, they progress to the Weekly Grand Finals immediately - with their place taken by the next highest ranked team from Rank Decision Matches. The four top ranked teams at the Weekly Finals will take home a share of the prize pot. This process continues over eight weeks, with a one-week break in the middle for an additional PUBG esports tournament.  

The share of prize money offered in each weekly event will grow as the tournament progresses, and the team that secures the most earnings by the end of the event will be crowned champions. A full run-down of the PGI.S format and rules can be found here.

PGI.S schedule: 

Week 1 Weekly Survival Matches: Monday 8 February, Tuesday 9 February and Wednesday 10 February, starting from 15:30 IST.  

After the opening week, weekly Survival Matches will take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 15:30 IST. 

Weekly Finals Matches: To take place every Saturday and Sunday throughout the event from 15:30 IST. 

Survival Tournament: March 5-7, a specialty tournament within PGI.S.

All matches will be broadcasted globally on various platforms in over 17 languages. For our passionate PUBG fans in India, KRAFTON has partnered with NODWIN Gaming to offer Hindi broadcasts via local streamers - Gamingpro Ocean, NODWIN Gaming, PAiN FyXs, Sparky Gaming and Ansh TY.

Cognizant Hosts Sixth Edition Of ‘Cognizant Health Challenge’ In The Midst Of Work-From-Home

* Over 18000 employees and their families take part in the fully-virtual eight-week challenge focused on ‘Wellness at Home’ 

Cognizant recently hosted the 2020 edition of the Cognizant Health Challenge, the company’s annual fitness initiative for its employees and their families. As the company’s employees continue to work from home, the eight-week challenge organized in partnership with HealthifyMe, India’s largest wellness app, was entirely virtual this year. More than 18,000 employees and 1,000 employee families across India participated in the challenge focused on “How to keep fit while being at home”.

As part of the challenge, 30 live webinars, including six on nutrition, eight exercise and workout sessions, and 11 mental health sessions were organized. Six 'Fun Friday' sessions saw celebrity guests such as tennis stars Somdev Devvarman, Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan and Purav Raja and comedians Praveen Kumar and Jagan Krishnan, speak about physical and mental health and their own fitness regimens.

In view of the pandemic, the accent was on innovative indoor exercises such as yoga and indoor aerobics that can be done with minimal or no equipment. Employees collectively logged in over 1.70 lakh surya namaskar sessions, over 30,000 high-knee marching sessions, and about 10,000 skipping sessions. Disruptions to routines and social engagements caused by the pandemic have led to increased stress and anxiety. The health challenge therefore laid special emphasis on mental health and wellbeing. The challenge also included special workshops focused on parenting and emotional wellness for expectant mothers.

Participants clocked in over 880 million steps covering over 6.75 lakh kilometers and burning a total of 843 lakh calories, resulting in a cumulative weight loss of over 4,500 kilograms. Employees used the HealthifyMe app to maintain an online food diary. Nearly 15 lakh food logs were recorded and over 11 lakh glasses of water were consumed by participants. Over 600 prizes including Apple Watches, Fitbits, BTWIN bicycles and Nutribullets were awarded to challenge winners and weekly lucky draw winners. 

“The wellbeing of our employees, which is our top priority even during normal times, has become a lot more critical as we navigate the challenges thrown up by the pandemic,” said Rajesh Nambiar, Chairman and Managing Director for India at Cognizant. “By continuing the tradition of Cognizant Health Challenge despite the changed circumstances, we have been able to not only help our employees and their families stay healthy, but also create vital moments of togetherness and camaraderie during these times of remote working and social distancing.”

The Cognizant Health Challenge is part of a whole host of employee engagement and wellness initiatives at Cognizant that span physical, mental and emotional wellness and allied topics such as financial management, parenting, relationship counselling and much more. With work from home becoming the norm, Cognizant was quick to adapt to a virtual model that includes self-paced courses, a dedicated Employee Assistance Program, and webinars to offer continued support for employees and their families as they get through the challenges brought on by the pandemic.

Participant Quotes

“The COVID-19 pandemic has redefined lives in many ways, especially for working professionals.  The stress of the situation has taken a huge toll on physical and mental health of employees. Managing life and work and creating a balance needs discipline and motivation. When I think of the Cognizant Health Challenge, I am reminded of a quote I once read: ‘Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments.’  The challenge drives all of us to be more disciplined with our health and work towards healthy lifestyle changes in exercise, diet, sleep and mental wellbeing. The challenge also pushes us and our teams beyond comfort zones, with a singular focus on long-term health.”

Ganesh Kalyanaraman, Senior Vice President, Cognizant

“I have been an active participant in the Cognizant Health Challenge since its inception. Over the years, the challenge has helped me acquire the discipline needed to achieve work-life balance and improve health and wellness parameters such as nutrition, hydration, exercise and sleep.  The challenge has something for everyone—from beginners who want to take their first steps towards a healthier lifestyle to seasoned marathon runners like myself. I have seen my colleagues acquire long-term, sustainable health solutions after participating in the challenge. And doing it is as a team multiplies the fun; your friends are there to encourage you all the way!”

V M Chinni Krishnan, Vice President, Cognizant

Placement Consultancies, Domestic Help Services And Paying Guests Topped Online Searches In January

A study undertaken by Sulekha.com, India’s leading AI-driven tech platform for expert services has unveiled interesting trends and insights about the service categories that have seen an increase in January 2021.

This study is based on visits and searches by nearly 3,00,000+ users across top 8 cities that landed on Sulekha in January 2021.

Key findings of the study:

* The Top 3 service categories that have seen a spike in online searches include Placement Consultancies, Domestic Help Services and Paying Guests.

* The top 5 cities that are leading in online searches across service categories include: Chennai Delhi and Bangalore followed by Hyderabad and Mumbai.

* In Chennai, the top 3 services that are leading include: Paying Guests, Domestic Help Services and Placement Consultancies. These services have grown by 20% since December 2020.

* In Delhi, the top 3 services that are leading include: Domestic Help Services, Placement Consultancies and Job Training. These services have grown by 21% since December 2020.

* In Bangalore, the top 3 services that are leading include: Placement Consultancies, Domestic Help Services and Paying Guests. These services have grown by 19% since December 2020.

* In Hyderabad, the top 3 services that are leading include: Domestic Help Services, Vehicle Rentals, and Placement Consultancies. These services have grown by 15% since December 2020.

* In Mumbai, the top 3 services that are leading include: Placement Consultancies, Vehicle Rentals and Job Training. These services have grown by 25% since December 2020.

* In Pune, the top 3 services that are leading include: Paying Guests, Placement Consultancies and Job Training. These services have grown by 18% since December 2020.

* In Kolkata, the top 3 services that are leading include: Job Training, Domestic Help Services and Vehicle Rentals. These services have grown by 15% since December 2020.

* In Ahmedabad, the top 3 services that are leading include: Job Training, Domestic Help Services and Placement Consultancies. These services have grown by 16% since December 2020.

Satya Prabhakar, Founder & CEO, Sulekha.com, said, “It’s interesting to note the increase in online searches for services like Paying Guest stays and Domestic Help Services. Last year, due to the pandemic, people were extremely sceptical to allow domestic help and paying guests into their houses. But with the decline in COVID cases, these services seem to slowly get back on track.”

ELMS Sports Foundation Set To Initiate Second Edition Of High-Performance Leadership Program

* Last date for accepting applications is March 1, 2021

After having successfully upskilled the country’s top sports administrators and stakeholders through the inaugural batch of India’s first-ever High-Performance Leadership Program, ELMS Sports Foundation, with the Abhinav Bindra Foundation as Knowledge Partner and with the expert guidance of one of the leading sports education institutions in the world Loughborough University, announced the start of the second batch of the online program from March 20, 2021.

The first cohort of the program included Olympians Aparna Popat, Shiva Keshavan and Neha Aggarwal alongside other international athletes, representatives of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and state governments, elite sports clubs as well as NGOs associated with athlete management. This one-of-a-kind program is now open for everyone who fits its eligibility criteria.

“We have received a tremendously positive response during the induction of the first batch and I’m extremely happy to announce the second batch. Along with Abhinav Bindra Foundation and Loughborough University, we have successfully created a pool of High-Performance leaders who have developed the ability to not only contribute to the growth of the Indian sports ecosystem but also lead and created meaningful engagement and an environment for sports and sportspersons to thrive. I hope many more sports administrators can benefit from this curriculum and accelerate the growth of Indian sports,” ELMS Sports Foundation co-promoter Vita Dani said.

"High Performance Sport has seen a resurgence over the years owing to the potential of our athletes, guidance of our coaches and also due to the know-how of our sports leaders and administrators. These leaders and administrators not only create an athlete-centric approach but also execute plans with perfection. After the success of the first cohort of the High-Performance Leadership Programme, we are delighted to invite applications for the second batch, as we take concrete steps in taking Indian sport to greater heights in a sustainable manner. Come join us on this journey," India’s only Olympics gold medallist Abhinav Bindra added while urging interested candidates.

The ongoing pandemic has helped us witness and understand the importance of being skilled and innovative. While live sport has taken a hit and is making a slow recovery, High-Performance leaders will play a crucial role in the growth of the sporting ecosystem with their innovation, efficiency, and unique skill-set. Having Abhinav Bindra Foundation as the Knowledge Partner, ELMS Sports Foundation’s High-Performance Leadership Program has been developed with an active collaboration from Loughborough University and many other national and international experts to upgrade knowledge, skills and abilities of sports administrators and train them to become process and result-oriented simultaneously in order to achieve sustainable growth.

Registrations are now open for this seven-month online certificate program with the last date to apply being March 1, 2021. Candidates can submit their application on bit.ly/HPLP2Form. The fees for the program is INR 40000 + GST (one-time) while INR 35000 + GST for candidates who are sponsored by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, State Sports Departments or government bodies like SAI, SAG, NIS, etc. as well as any of the national sports federations.

To know more visit, http://www.highperformanceleadershipindia.com or read the brochure here: http://bit.ly/HPLP2_Brochure

Apply now: bit.ly/HPLP2Form

Message ELMS on WhatsApp: https://wa.me/message/K6D6ZDMAYN6FC1          

Uttarakhand Tourism Ministry Encourages Tourism Through Discovery’s New Title Explore Uttarakhand

* The two-part special film introduces hidden gems of Uttarakhand – from places of thrilling adventure sports to yoga retreats that heal mind and the body

* The films on Adventure Tourism, and Health and Wellness Tourism will be aired on Discovery Channel on 20th February 2021 at 7 PM and 21st February respectively

Discovery Channel, the leading real-life entertainment channel from India in collaboration with Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board (UTDB) is all set to present a sublime new original two-part film titled ‘Explore Uttarakhand’. Providing audiences the chance to engage through stunning visuals of Uttarakhand, the film is all set to premiere on 20th February and 21st February on Discovery Channel, and explores spiritual yoga destinations and adrenaline packed adventure sports that go on in the snow filled mountains of the state.

Through this two-part film, viewers will get to witness the scenic Uttarakhand and familiarize themselves with its adventure sports and treasure of yoga and wellness. The film documents adventure activities in Uttarakhand that are some of the most challenging in the entire Indian subcontinent, attracting adrenaline seeking sport professionals and enthusiasts from all around the globe. Along with that, the ancient science of Yoga which was found by Indian sages thousands of years ago actually traces its beginning to Uttarakhand.

Speaking about the film Satpal Maharaaz, Minister of Tourism, Uttarakhand said, “Uttarakhand is a beautiful state which holds the privilege of being in the path of the mighty Himalayan Ranges that consist of some of nature's most extreme and unpredictable patterns. There are many famous shrines and places here like our Chardham, Hemkund Sahib, Haridwar and Rishikesh and others that have attracted tourists from all over the world. Uttarakhand which has also become preferred film destination in past years is also attracting tourists from all around the globe. Through Explore Uttarakhand on Discovery Channel, we humbly welcome you to this divinely blissful and fabulous state of ours.” he added.

Secretary Tourism Mr. Dilip Jawalkar said, “Uttarakhand is a heavenly destination when it comes to offering various adventure activities to tourists. From last few years we are constantly working to develop infrastructure to promote adventure and wellness tourism in Uttarakhand. The documentary film “Explore Uttarakhand’’ made by the Discovery Channel will play an important role to reach national and international audience.”

“We, at Discovery, believe in bringing factual stories to our audiences that not only entertain them but leave them with an enriching experience and a better understanding of the world. The two-part documentary is a visually stunning film that captures the tremendous beauty of the state of Uttarakhand and the Himalayan Ranges. We are delighted to join hands with the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board to bring to the fore hidden gems from the destination, aiming to inspire people to experience the mesmerizing beauty and versatility the state has to offer.” said Megha Tata, Managing Director- South Asia, Discovery Communications India.

Watch visually stunning film Explore Uttarakhand on 20th and 21st February only on Discovery Channel India

About Discovery India:

Discovery Communications India, country’s leading real life entertainment player, is dedicated to satisfying curiosity, engaging and entertaining viewers with high-quality content through its portfolio of 14 channels including Discovery Channel, Discovery HD, Animal Planet, Animal Planet HD, TLC, TLC HD, Investigation Discovery, Investigation Discovery HD, Discovery Science, Discovery Turbo, Discovery Kids, DTamil and sports channels Eurosport and Eurosport HD.  The company recently launched India’s first aggregated real-life entertainment streaming app Discovery Plus. Available on Android, iOS and on the desktop / mobile web and Fire TV, the app offers more than 40,000 hours of content, across 40+ genres including Science, Adventure, Food and Lifestyle, in the language of your choice. 

Kioxia And Western Digital Announce 6th-Generation 3D Flash Memory

* Innovations in Scaling and CMOS Placement Deliver the Companies’ Highest Density and Most Advanced 3D Flash Memory Technology to Date

Kioxia Corporation and Western Digital Corp. (NASDAQ: WDC), today announced that the companies have developed their sixth-generation, 162-layer 3D flash memory technology. Marking the next milestone in the companies’ 20-year joint-venture partnership, this is the companies’ highest density and most advanced 3D flash memory technology to date, utilizing a wide range of technology and manufacturing innovations.

“Through our strong partnership that has spanned two decades, Kioxia and Western Digital have successfully created unrivaled capabilities in manufacturing and R&D,” said Masaki Momodomi, Chief Technology Officer, Kioxia. “Together, we produce over 30 percent1 of the world’s flash memory bits and are steadfast in our mission to provide exceptional capacity, performance and reliability at a compelling cost. We each deliver this value proposition across a range of data-centric applications from personal electronics to data centers as well as emerging applications enabled by 5G networks, artificial intelligence and autonomous systems.”

Beyond Vertical Scaling – New Architecture Leverages New Innovations

“As Moore’s Law reaches its physical limits across the semiconductor industry, there’s one place where Moore’s Law continues its relevancy — that’s in flash,” said Dr. Siva Sivaram, President of Technology & Strategy, Western Digital. “To continue these advances and meet the world’s growing data demands, a new approach to 3D flash memory scaling is critical. With this new generation, Kioxia and Western Digital are introducing innovations in vertical as well as lateral scaling to achieve greater capacity in a smaller die with fewer layers. This innovation ultimately delivers the performance, reliability and cost that customers need.”

This sixth-generation 3D flash memory features advanced architecture beyond conventional eight-stagger memory hole array and achieves up to 10 percent greater lateral cell array density compared to the fifth-generation technology. This lateral scaling advancement, in combination with 162 layers of stacked vertical memory, enables a 40 percent reduction in die size compared to the 112-layer stacking technology, optimizing cost.

The Kioxia and Western Digital teams also applied Circuit Under Array CMOS placement and four-plane operation, which together deliver nearly 2.4 times improvement in program performance and 10 percent improvement in read latency compared to the previous generation. I/O performance also improves by 66 percent, enabling the next-generation interface to support the ever-increasing need for faster transfer rates.

Overall, the new 3D flash memory technology reduces the cost per bit, as well as increases the manufactured bits per wafer by 70 percent, compared with the previous generation. Kioxia and Western Digital continue to drive innovation to ensure continued scaling to meet the needs of customers and their diverse applications.

The companies detailed the related innovations in a joint presentation at the ISSCC 2021 show earlier today.

About Kioxia

Kioxia is a world leader in memory solutions, dedicated to the development, production and sale of flash memory and solid-state drives (SSDs). In April 2017, its predecessor Toshiba Memory was spun off from Toshiba Corporation, the company that invented NAND flash memory in 1987. Kioxia is committed to uplifting the world with memory by offering products, services and systems that create choice for customers and memory-based value for society. Kioxia's innovative 3D flash memory technology, BiCS FLASH™, is shaping the future of storage in high-density applications, including advanced smartphones, PCs, SSDs, automotive and data centers.

About Western Digital

Western Digital creates environments for data to thrive. As a leader in data infrastructure, the company is driving the innovation needed to help customers capture, preserve, access and transform an ever-increasing diversity of data. Everywhere data lives, from advanced data centers to mobile sensors to personal devices, our industry-leading solutions deliver the possibilities of data. Our data-centric solutions are comprised of the Western Digital®, G-Technology™, SanDisk®, and WD® brands.

Aditya Birla Education Academy, Johns Hopkins collaborates For Talented Youth To Bring Online Programs For Advanced Learners

Aditya Birla Education Academy (ABEA), India’s leading professional development institute, has collaborated with the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) to offer scholarships for CTY’s Online Programs for advanced learners in India. Both ABEA and CTY aim to identify and support the needs of bright young learners in India through these online programs at reduced rates up to August 2021. Through this cooperation with CTY, Aditya Birla Education Academy is providing a 5% scholarship on tuition fees and reduction in the application fees up to August 2021. This scholarship can be availed by only first 50 advanced learners who apply to ABEA. Students in grades 2 through 12 can qualify through participation in the CTY Talent Search and demonstrating high ability in either quantitative or spatial reasoning (for math and science courses) or verbal reasoning (for humanities and writing courses).

CTY offers more than 200 challenging, engaging, and fun virtual courses, which are conducted by expert instructors who specialize in teaching advanced concepts to bright students. Courses are available in real-time, independent, and student-driven, collaborative formats. One can understand in detail about CTY courses in computer science, critical reading, engineering, history, mathematics, science, social science, world languages, and writing by attending a virtual information session or by visiting CTY's website.

Mrs. Neerja Birla, Founder, and Chairperson, Aditya Birla Education Trust, said, “We, at Aditya Birla Education Academy, are dedicated to offer unique, rigorous and relevant courses to learners in the country who are looking to upskill themselves in this dynamic environment. In this endeavour, we are happy to extend our cooperation with the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth with a special scholarship to fulfil the learning needs of bright young minds in India to enrol in CTY’s Online Programs for advanced learners. I am confident that students will find tremendous value in these enriching courses.”

Mr. Samuel Robfogel, Senior Director for International Initiatives at CTY, said “CTY is committed to providing students with high ability around the globe with the optimal level of challenge to help them develop their academic talents. We are pleased to cooperate with Aditya Birla Education Trust to advance this work in India.”

About Aditya Birla Education Academy

Aditya Birla Education Academy (ABEA) is India’s leading professional development institute for teachers. ABEA aims to engage educators in the new-age global processes of education and empower them to evolve into the best knowledge-givers they can be, as they nurture young minds and contribute towards shaping the future. ABEA also facilitates unique and innovative courses for students, in order to impart new-age skills that are on par with the best in the world.

About Aditya Birla Education Trust

Aditya Birla Education Trust (ABET) is an organisation committed to the cause of education and mental health, with an objective to nurture young minds. Right from establishing the Aditya Birla World Academy, an International School with an Indian soul, to The Aditya Birla Integrated School, which acknowledges the need to cater to children with different learning needs, ABET has always prioritised the importance of a child’s overall development. Further under the aegis of ABET, the Aditya Birla Education Academy provides professional development opportunities for educators, and engages, empowers and equips them to contribute towards shaping the future of young minds. In an endeavour to stamp out stigma surrounding mental health concerns, ABET has established Mpower, a holistic mental health care initiative, which has become the pioneer of mental health awareness in the country. Aditya Birla Education Trust runs under the zealous leadership of its passionate and committed Founder & Chairperson, Mrs. Neerja Birla.

About Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth

A world leader in gifted education since 1979, Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) is a nonprofit dedicated to identifying and developing the talents of academically advanced pre-university students around the world. CTY serves bright learners and their families through research, advocacy, and counseling, as well as its signature gifted and talented summer, online, international, and family programs.

Amazon Prime Video Announces Shahid Kapoor's Digital Debut In New Raj & Dk Series

* Created, Written and Directed by Raj and DK, this is Raj and DK’s next collaboration with the streaming service, after their spectacularly successful series, The Family Man

Amazon Prime offers incredible value with unlimited streaming of the latest and exclusive movies, TV shows, stand-up comedy, Amazon Originals, ad-free music through Amazon Prime Music, free fast delivery on India’s largest selection of products, early access to top deals, unlimited reading with Prime Reading and mobile gaming content with Prime Gaming, all available only for ₹129 a month. Customers can also watch latest shows and more by subscribing to Prime Video Mobile Edition. Prime Video Mobile Edition is a single-user, mobile-only plan currently available for Airtel Pre-Paid customers

Amazon Prime Video today announced to have commenced production on an upcoming yet-to-be-titled Amazon Original Series featuring Shahid Kapoor in the lead. The quirky drama thriller is created by Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK, and will mark the digital debut of actor Shahid Kapoor. Filled with Raj and DK’s trademark dark and wry humour, the series will mark the director duo’s new collaboration with Amazon Prime Video following spectacular success of The Family Man which is streaming on Amazon Prime Video in over 240 countries and territories. The show is co-written by Sita R Menon, Suman Kumar and Hussain Dalal.

“At Amazon Prime Video, we take pride in being home to some of the best talent and storytellers from India and across the world,” said Vijay Subramaniam, Director and Head, Content, Amazon Prime Video, India “Shahid Kapoor is an incredibly gifted actor and we are excited to have him join the Prime Video family with a brand new exciting collaboration with Raj and DK. This is a fresh and unique combination that we’re confident will be a hit with our customers!”

Talking about his digital debut, Shahid Kapoor said, “I have been keen to collaborate with Raj and DK for a while. My favourite Indian show on Amazon Prime Video is The Family Man. I couldn’t think of anyone better for my digital debut than them. Amazon Prime Video is a fabulous service and it’s a privilege to work with them. I loved the story idea when I first heard it and since then it has been an exciting ride so far! Can’t wait to share this series with the audience.”

“For us the objective is always to challenge ourselves to do better with every film or series we do.” said the creator duo Raj and DK. “This is our favourite script and has truly been a labour of love. We found a perfect match in Shahid! He was always our first choice for this series. We hit it off immediately, and have been on the same page from the first time we spoke. Shahid is an exciting actor to watch and work with! The intensity he brings to his roles is amazing. Our long-standing relationship with Amazon Prime Video makes us feel more responsible towards every series we do with them. They have been fantastic partners. And we can't wait to create this series!”

There will soon be an announcement on the surprise cast featured in the series.

The new series will join the thousands of TV shows and movies in the Prime Video catalog. These include Indian films Soorarai Pottru, V, CU Soon, Nishabhdam, Halal Love Story, Middle Class Melodies, Maara, Bheemasena Nalamaharaja, Mane No. 13, Penguin, Law, Sufiyum Sujatayum, Ponmagal Vandhal, French Biriyani, Gulabo Sitabo, Shakuntala Devi, Coolie No. 1, Durgamati, Chhalaang, among others along with Indian-produced Amazon Original series like Bandish Bandits, Tandav, Breathe: Into The Shadows, Paatal Lok, The Forgotten Army – Azaadi Ke Liye, Four More Shots Please S1 and 2, The Family Man, Mirzapur S1 and S2, Inside Edge S1, and S2, and Made In Heaven and the award-winning and critically acclaimed global Amazon Original series like Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan, The Boys, Hunters, Fleabag, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. All this is available at no extra cost for Amazon Prime members. The service includes titles in Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Punjabi, and Bengali.

Prime members will be able to watch the new series anywhere and anytime on the Prime Video app for smart TVs, mobile devices, Fire TV, Fire TV stick, Fire tablets, Apple TV, etc. In the Prime Video app, Prime members can download episodes on their mobile devices and tablets and watch anywhere offline at no additional cost.

Customers can also watch the new series by subscribing to Prime Video Mobile Edition. Prime Video Mobile Edition is a single-user mobile-only plan. All Airtel customers on pre-paid bundled packs get 30-day free trial of Prime Video Mobile Edition. Subsequently, customers can activate Mobile Edition through recharge bundles starting at an introductory offer of ₹ 89.

Prime Video is available in India to Prime members for just ₹999 annually, or ₹129 monthly. New customers can find out more at www.amazon.in/ prime and subscribe to a free 30-day trial.

Building With CO₂-Based Material, Technology Now Becomes Possible

 

Up to 20 percent CO₂ instead of oil in rigid polyurethane foam

Innovative rigid foam for insulation boards

Materials show enhanced sustainability in initial tests

More sustainable, CO₂-based materials for the construction sector - in the future, this could become reality. Since 2016, Covestro has been working with research and development partners as part of the "DreamResource" joint project (FKZ 033RC002) funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) to research new, more environmentally friendly polyols with the potential to be used, for example, in the form of rigid polyurethane foam in insulation for the construction sector. An initial prototype of an insulation board has now been developed together with the project partner puren gmbh, which contains the novel polyols based on conventional ethylene oxides and CO₂. This marks a decisive further development of Covestro's CO₂ technology for a particularly important part of the climate-relevant construction industry.

"Buildings are responsible for a large share of global energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. This makes it all the more important for us at Covestro to contribute to the Circular Economy and make insulation even more sustainable and efficient in the future. Our goal is to end the use of fossil fuels and make our production processes more sustainable," says Sucheta Govil, Chief Commercial Officer at Covestro.

Using innovative CO₂ technology, Covestro already produces the CO₂-based precursor cardyon®, which is utilized in the manufacture of mattresses, sports flooring, textile fibers and components for vehicle interiors.

New, promising approach thanks to CO₂ technology

Covestro has now succeeded in combining the petroleum derivative ethylene oxide with CO₂ in a chemical reaction to produce first polyols and finally rigid polyurethane foam. Up to 20 percent of petroleum-based raw materials are expected to be replaced by this process in the future. "With the development of these materials, we are endowing the greenhouse gas CO₂ with a new use with versatile applications," says Dr. Christoph Gürtler, Head of Catalysis and Technology at Covestro.

Together with Covestro's industrial partners puren gmbh, BYK-Chemie GmbH and PSS Polymer Standard Service GmbH, it proved possible not only to investigate a wide range of applications but also to develop new analytical methods for the CO₂-based materials. With RWTH Aachen University and the Technical University of Berlin, the ecological and economic potential of this expanded CO₂ technology was investigated along with the in-depth characterization of the novel materials. "The results of DreamResource very clearly demonstrate the diverse opportunities that arise from the use of CO₂ as a basic building block for polyols to produce a wide variety of polyurethane types. The interaction between industry and science plays an essential role in this innovative field," says Dennis Krämer, project manager for national and international research projects for CO₂ utilization at DECHEMA e.V.

Versatile and sustainable insulation

"This renewed expansion of the product range yields enormous leeway," continues Gürtler. Thanks to the promising combination of ethylene oxide and CO₂, surface-active substances can also be produced through this new route in addition to CO₂-based rigid polyurethane foam, which can be used in insulating boards for buildings, for example.

Lake Constance-based puren gmbh is one of the pioneers of rigid polyurethane foam technology and investigated the use of CO₂ polyols in the rigid foam segment in this research project.

Following more than three years of joint research in the collaborative project, over 400 kilogram of the CO₂-based polyol was successfully delivered to puren for further processing. "These initial rigid foam insulation boards made with a CO₂-based rigid foam polyol conform to standards and are already comparable with the market standard in terms of their key technical specifications. During further cooperation, we plan to manufacture additional prototypes and to enhance the properties with the aim of taking a giant step closer to the use of CO₂ as an alternative raw material in rigid foam insulation boards and ensuring rapid final development to market readiness," says puren Managing Director Dr. Andreas Huther. Thanks to this successful collaboration, CO₂ can now be used as an alternative raw material in the rigid foam sector. This will make building insulations even more sustainable and will further reduce the dependence on fossil raw materials.

Bengaluru Based Rishi Shiv Prasanna With IQ level Of 180 Recognized As Young Genius!

As a child, many of us are curious and have lots of questions about many things, but Rishi Shiv Prasanna surprises everyone with his knowledge. The 6-year-old from Bengaluru has an insatiable thirst for knowledge and is a genius in the true sense. Rishi has been certified to have an IQ level of 180. and has been admitted to the Mensa High IQ Society. He is arguably amongst the youngest Certified Android application developers (has developed 3 apps  that are listed in Google play store-”IQ Test App” for kids,  “Countries of the world” and CHB which is COVID Help for Bangaloreans) and has even authored a book.

Rishi Shiv Prasanna’s extraordinary talent will now be recognized in Young Genius, a show that celebrates child prodigies. Rishi met former Indian Hockey player, Padma Shri awardee Sardar Singh and impressed him with his knowledge. Sardar Singh, who has made over 350 international appearances for India and became the youngest Hockey captain was awestruck when he met Rishi.   

Rishi started exhibiting his brilliance at a very young age. Rishi’s mother, Recheshwari S. says, “At the age of 3, Rishi started narrating about the Solar System, the Universe, planets, shapes and numbers. We were surprised to see his knowledge.” In fact, India Book of Records issued him a Certificate of Appreciation in 2019 at the age of 5 for his IQ.

Rishi developed an interest in space, science, technology and computer science at the age of 4. Rishi Shiv Prassana said, “At the age of 5, I learnt coding and now I have developed many user-friendly apps. I want to become a scientist who helps protect Mother Earth.”

Watch Rishi Shiv P with Sardar Singh in an exciting chat in the sixth episode of Byju’s Young Genius on 20th February 2021 (Saturday) and repeat telecast on 21st February on News18 Network!

Snapbizz Publishes State Of Kirana Retail 2020 Report In Indian Market

 

* Report shows how Kirana stores adapted to the situation and transformed their approach to daily selling

SnapBizz, India’s only vertical platform exclusively for the FMCG Industry fulfilling last mile connectivity with Kirana stores has released a new report outlining the transformation that Kirana stores from across India have gone through to fulfil the changing requirements of their consumers while facing a pandemic.

According to the new report, the majority of Kirana stores have created some system where customers can order via the internet or through an app, in an attempt to safeguard themselves from losing their customers to e-commerce platforms. The study also shows how in 2020 there was an increase in spends per bill reflecting more items in a bill, price rises and switching to more expensive items due to supply shortage and migration of new shoppers with different shopping habits from modern trade to Kirana stores.  

The study analysed over 2 million consumer bills recorded in the SnapBizz network of Kirana stores spread across 10 cities which include Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad. SnapBizz is backed by marquee VCs such as Jungle Ventures, Taurus, Blume Ventures and strategic investors such as Nielsen, Qualcomm, AUO and Mr. Ratan Tata.

Prem Kumar, Founder & CEO adds “The consumer retail segment has witnessed rapid growth in terms of digitization of MSMEs in 2020. This was fuelled by the current COVID-19 era which brought in new opportunities in the retail sector specially for Kiranas. As a result, over a million Kiranas have gone digital in recent months and their stores have gone online by accepting online payments, ordering supplies online, managing inventory, etc. The technology cover now enables them to leverage their strengths like proximity, personal touch, and flexibility further to acquire new customers effortlessly.”

The report gives an in-depth analysis into food and non-food categories and a clear analysis on the effects of COVID and lockdowns on FMCG selling pattern, availability and pricing.

Highlights of the Study-

The staples categories witnessed a surge in baskets and spends by 20% even though the store presence had a marginal increase in 2020 vs. 2019; possibly due to more people working from home and eating out was limited for the greater part of the year. 

Most of the retailers (more than 90%) were not supported by distributors in terms of larger credit lines or longer credit periods; Adding to the working capital problem, more than 50% retailers had difficulty in collecting from customers. However, overall, the credit bills have remained stable in 2020 compared to the previous year.

Home deliveries increased and 75% stores are working towards going online

80% of Kirana stores saw an increase in customers

Banking sector has become very involved in the Kirana Eco-system

Sales were more consumption driven rather than price except for Dals & Pulses. It was observed that during lockdown and till Oct’20, the shopper spends increased significantly, however declined and went to pre-COVID-19 levels post that.

Overall, the consumer spends increased and this was primarily from the larger outlets than the smaller ones.

The consumer spends on categories like Snack Foods, Biscuits and Noodles also increased by 25% in 2020 and the same trend was noted except for Biscuits where the spends dropped in Nov '20.

Digital payments were on the rise in 2020, more through payment apps, and a lesser rise through credit / debit cards which require more KYC formalities.

There was a spike of 50% in the share of spends in the food category in March but now it is coming back close to pre-COVID-19 levels even though it is still 18% higher than pre-lockdown days.

The Kirana stores continue to leverage online ordering apps to cater to the current consumers. The number of consumers that ordered from grocery stores via SnapOrder mobile app increased by 5x as compared to Pre-COVID-19 levels.

SnapBizz is currently working closely with FMCG brands, distributors, wholesalers, e-commerce players (B2B/B2C), financial service players, consulting companies and Kirana stores to help bridge the information gap and find solutions based on the results of these reports. This analysis also helps Kirana stores better deal with their consumer requirements.

About SnapBizz

Headquartered in Bengaluru, SnapBizz provides new age solutions to convert the neighbourhood Kirana stores into smart stores and enable them to leverage their current strengths to gain competitive edge and increase store profitability.

SnapBizz provides Kirana stores with easy-to-use solutions to manage and optimize store operations with products such as Snapbilling (touch-based billing solution), SnapOrder (online B2C app), SnapSupply (FMCG distributor app) and SnapPulse (retail analytics solution).

With a presence in 7 major cities in India, they are today the only vertical platform exclusively for the FMCG Industry fulfilling last mile connectivity with Kirana stores its consumers and other stakeholders in the FMCG ecosystem. The stakeholders include FMCG brands, distributors, wholesalers, E-commerce players (B2B/B2C), advertising agencies, logistic players, and financial service players.

The company presently has a network of 10000+ Kirana stores who collectively do a business (GMV) of approx. of $1 Billion/year. Given its increasing relevance in the space due to the current circumstances, SnapBizz is on a fast-track mode to build a network of 150,000 stores across 42 cities and becoming a $ 15 billion platform.

Vodafone Idea Foundation Scholarships 2021 Now Open Across India

* All Teachers and Students from across the country can apply under ‘Learning with Vodafone Idea’ programme

* Rs. 1 lakh Cash scholarship for Teachers; Rs. 20,000 for Students

* 200 Teachers and 2500 Students were granted scholarships in 2020

Vodafone Idea Foundation - the CSR arm of Vi, has invited applications from Teachers and Students for the ‘Learning with Vodafone Idea Scholarship’ programme for the year 2021-22.

The Vi CSR initiative aims to bridge the social and fiscal divide that teachers and students face in terms of availability and accessibility to the necessary resources to help them excel.

Launched in 2020 these scholarships entitle teachers as well as students to access Direct Beneficiary Transfer (DBT) covering a list of permissible expenses. The scholarships are merit based for teachers and merit-cum-means based for the students. The selection process is entirely online, overseen by an independent jury, including eminent educators, representatives of civil society organizations.

Vodafone Idea Foundation is offering Rs. 1 Lakh cash Scholarship to Teachers and Rs. 20,000 to Students to help them avail necessary resources for quality education.

Launching the Scholarship this year, P. Balaji, Chief Regulatory & Corporate Affairs Officer, Vodafone Idea Limited said “Vi is committed to leverage our technology expertise and network to create social impact. Providing access to education is one of the fundamental ways of improving employability, thereby reducing poverty in the country. We strongly believe that no student or teacher should be held back from achieving their true potential due to financial constraints.”

Eligibility Criteria:

Full time teachers from government/government-aided schools or low income private schools with 3+ years of experience can apply for the scholarship. They must be teaching standards 8 and above and possess credentials in the form of recognized academic awards, papers, teaching-learning innovations and content creation, to be eligible.

Students from government/government-aided schools from 6th to 12th class with recognized academic or extra-curricular achievements can apply for the Vi CSR Scholarship.

Scholarship winners can use the money to procure IT equipment (laptop, printer) and pay for course fees, educational books, magazines, school tuition fees, amongst other school related essentials.

To know more and to apply, please visit: www.learningwithvodafoneidea.in/vi-scholarships

Quotes from Beneficiaries of ‘Learning with Vodafone Idea Scholarship’ 2020

Kalpana Rajauriya, one of one winners last year said “Students often find books boring and we as teachers have to constantly find new ways to keep them engaged. I always wanted to create content for students myself since it will be more relevant. However, doing it on a mobile phone was always cumbersome. Upon receiving the Vodafone Idea Teachers’ Scholarship, I have now purchased a laptop and recently created my first content and shared it with my students. Especially during the pandemic with the help of the laptop I could easily conduct classes and show my students a variety of content. The scholarship will inspire me to work harder for my students.”

Shmruti Prashant Patro, a student scholarship winner from Maharashtra said, “This year we could not go to the school and suddenly we were told to study from home. Our teacher was taking classes on mobile phones, but my parents could not provide me a phone and I had to borrow it sometimes from neighbours which was causing delay and many times I had to miss my class since the phone was not available. On receiving the Vodafone Idea Students’ Scholarship, one of the first things I purchased was a mobile phone, which I am now using to attend all classes and also use the internet as the teacher tells us. My school fee for the last few month was also pending, which I have paid using the scholarship.”

Vodafone Idea’s CSR has transformative programmes in the domain of Education, Agriculture, Women Empowerment and Technology.

About Vodafone Idea Limited

Vodafone Idea Limited is an Aditya Birla Group and Vodafone Group partnership. It is India’s leading telecom service provider. The Company provides pan India Voice and Data services across 2G, 3G and 4G platform. With the large spectrum portfolio to support the growing demand for data and voice, the company is committed to deliver delightful customer experiences and contribute towards creating a truly ‘Digital India’ by enabling millions of citizens to connect and build a better tomorrow. The Company is developing infrastructure to introduce newer and smarter technologies, making both retail and enterprise customers future ready with innovative offerings, conveniently accessible through an ecosystem of digital channels as well as extensive on-ground presence. The Company is listed on National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) in India.

The company offers products and services to its customers in India under the TM Brand name “Vi”.

Ookla® - the global leader in broadband testing and web-based network diagnostic applications, has verified Vi, based on analysis of Speedtest Intelligence® data as the fastest 4G network pan-India in Oct to Dec ’20.

Twitter - @VodaIdea_NEWS

Logo And Theme Launch For The 15th Global Conclave Of PRCI Communication 2021 - 2030, Mapping The Mega Trends

 

The Public Relations Council of India, PRCI, launched the logo and theme for its 15th Global Conclave scheduled for May 28 and 29, 2021, in Goa, at Hotel Woodlands, recently. 

Mr. M.B.Jayaram, Chief Emeritus and Chief Mentor said, "We have been witnessing a major change in PR and Communication in the last few years. But the pandemic triggered off a change that was gradual to the fast lane. Out of necessity is born a new era of invention and innovation, the theme, 'Communication 2021 - 2030, Mapping the Mega Trend' is intended to tap into shaping the trends of our times."

The logo represents the theme of the 15th Global Conclave very aptly. Mr.R.T Kumar, Director and Logo conceptualizer, PRCI said, "Whether it is education, medical consultancy, shopping, customer relations, news and even eating out, all now at your fingertips. The fingertip is a prominent tool to communicate. The conclave logo shows how our lives and all that we do revolves around this one finger. The colour chosen is a stylish corporate grey since the focus of the conclave will be on PR and Communications."

The logo and theme was unveiled by Dr. K.R Venugopal, Vice Chancellor, Bangalore University. The launch was moderated by Nikhil Kumar, a multifaceted global music and media professional in the presence of Mr. M.B.Jayaram, Chief Emeritus and Chief Mentor, PRCI, Mr. Srineevasamurthy, Chairman, Governing Council, Dr. T Vinaykumar, National President, PRCI, Mr.US Kutty, Secretary General, Governing Council, Mr.R.T Kumar, Director and Logo conceptualizer, Dr.Latha T.S , State Head, PRCI, Karnataka and others.

Syska Accessories Launches Innovative Syska P2024J Power Bank On Flipkart Flash Sale

* The Flipkart Flash Sale will be live on 19th February from 12pm to 12am

• Syska Power bank is a Made in India product with premium metal body finishing

• 20,000mAh 18Watt quick charge power delivery Power Bank for fast charging requirements

• 2 way Input-Output fast charging technology for enhanced performance

• 12 layer advanced chip protection to avoid malfunctions

• Dual Input Ports – Micro USB and Type-C for easy charging options

Syska Accessories, a leading brand in the mobile accessories segment, offering innovative and unique products today announced the launch of the Syska P2024J Power Bank which will be exclusively available for purchase on Flipkart. The power bank is an ideal option for charging all sets of smart devices and smart phones. Syska mobile accessories offer a wide range of top quality products such as wireless speakers, wireless headsets, wireless earphones, car chargers, and others.

Syska P2024J zoom charging power bank consists of a steady capacity of 20,000mAh. Syska has manufactured this power bank with superior technology offering a prodigious charging experience. With the spike in work from home accessories, Syska has been striving to offer consumers innovative products that help make work-life more comfortable and seamless. The power bank charges multiple smart devices simultaneously with a uniform fast charging speed and offers a safe current supply through its 12-layer chip protection.

Commenting on the launch of the P2024J power bank, Mr. Gurumukh Uttamchandani, Executive Director, Syska Group said, “At Syska, we have always conducted an in-depth market research to gauge the requirements of our large consumer base. As a company, our aim is to meet the necessities of our customers by offering best products which are examined for quality and reliability and are equipped with the latest technology. The latest Syska P2024J Power Bank has been manufactured in India for consumers who are on the lookout for a compact power bank with an uninterrupted power flow that presents a smooth charging experience. This charger is the complete solution for everyone out there.”

Syska P2024J Power Bank is priced at Rs. 2499/- but will be available at a very interesting introductory price of Rs. 1,099/- only on 19th February 2021 from 12pm to 12am during the Flipkart flash sale across three colors Midnight Blue, Blazing Red and Pearl Black. The Syska P2024J Power Bank comes with a 6 months warranty against any manufacturing defects. The warranty will be effective from the date of purchase of the product. A fast charging Type-C cable is given as an additional accessory in the same box for better performance and the product is compatible with multiple devices.

WhiteHat Jr Expands Product Bouquet By Launching The ‘Create with Math’ Curriculum

* Marks milestone in the journey of establishing the largest online live learning platform offering multiple subjects to benefit students around the world

WhiteHat Jr, the leading EdTech company that made inroads in multiple international markets by teaching Coding to students through its live online format, has expanded its offerings by launching the ‘Create with Math’ curriculum. This foray marks the first of multiple new subjects that the company is targeting to launch over the next few months. Currently, WhiteHat Jr’s 11,000 strong women-only teacher workforce from India, conducts more than 40,000+ 1:1 LIVE online classes every day on its proprietary platform.

Highlighting the importance of the launch, Karan Bajaj, WhiteHat Jr Founder and CEO, said,   “At WhiteHat Jr, our core philosophy has always been to empower the next generation to become creators rather than consumers by channelizing their natural creativity with an engaging curriculum and personalized live 1:1 teacher attention. The launch of ‘Create with Math’, executed with a unique tech-enabled curriculum, is a logical next step as we scale up our platform to make each child fall in love with learning. Aligned with our vision to establish the world’s largest live learning platform, we are working towards launching multiple subjects to fully enable kids’ to fulfill their creative destinies.”

The curriculum aims to empower children to be Math confident for life by making even the most Math anxious students fall in love with the subject. Anchored on US Common Core Math Standards, which is among the most rigorous global standards, the ‘Create with Math’ curriculum will cater to children from class I to VIII in India and across the world progressively. The launch follows a detailed test phase across hundreds of classes that received exceptional feedback from students, parents and teachers.

“We have carefully designed the ‘Create with Math’ curriculum to help children understand the 'why' behind Math and use it confidently to solve real-world problems around them. We have designed the learning experience to be like a playground - where the child interacts and builds with Math. We emphasize visual learning, build concept mastery, and deep application skills through our in-class and post-class activities," said WhiteHat Jr's Chief Learning Officer Balaji Ramanujam. "What's truly meaningful about our program is that we consciously build a mathematical mindset - inspiring children to 'learn to learn,' accept mistakes as part of the learning process, develop grit and creativity, and work collaboratively to solve problems."

The curriculum is brought to life by a specialized batch of highly trained and qualified all-women teacher workforce who have undergone extensive training on being math certified.

About WhiteHat Jr

WhiteHat Jr. has been launched with a singular mission of enabling kids to become creators versus consumers of technology. Kids learn logic, structure, sequence and algorithmic thinking to generate creative outcomes like animations and apps.

To date, we have taught more than 175k students across the globe, including countries such as India, the USA, UK, Australia and New Zealand. Our 11,000 strong women-only teacher workforce conducts more than 40,000+ 1:1 LIVE online classes every day on our proprietary platform.

Legrand Launches “Myrius Next Gen” Steps Into A New Range Of Wiring Across Indian Market

Legrand India, a global leader in electrical and digital building infrastructure today launched its  new range of wiring device ‘Myrius Next Gen’,  the premium product assortment. Myrius Next Gen is expected to build a value and  strengthen Legrand’s presence in the premium segment with its modern technology. The product range is targeted at the residential and commercial segment with also a focus on architects , builders, electricians, consultants, contractors, developers, system integrators and  retailers. 

This collection is very unique as the Legrand team has developed specially curated Motif collection plates inspired by our Indian culture and heritage. One of the examples; Dark Fade plates are inspired by the dense, impenetrable jungles of South West India cocoons the mysterious spicery of pepper. Taking after the sprawling pepper plantations in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, Dark Fade adds zing to any mundane interior. IMD technology has been used here, which is a breakthrough as it’s the first in this category. With this technology it adds to the finesse and durability of the products and also goes with the latest style of home décor.  

This new range of products have been developed  using the intelligence of IoT which includes wireless technology, controlling it remotely (even when away from home), voice control, app control, can monitor electricity usage & get alerts. With this the brand promises its customers savings, safety, convenience, and control, additionally, for comfort and peace of mind. Legrand’s IoT enabled Home/ Away Wireless Master Switch lets its users switch on or off multiple things like all lights, shutters or  sockets by just pressing one switch at home or by tapping the app on your phone, even when you are not home. All the products in this range are designed in such a way that it is retrofittable, now the customers don’t need to worry about changing the electrical infrastructure.  

Mr. Tony Berland, CEO & Managing Director, Legrand India said, “ Due to the pandemic, 2020 was a difficult year for the entire world and Indian electrical brands were no different. But despite such tough conditions we decided to launch a whole new range of wiring device which  focuses on designeering & technology for our customers. New products development has been an integral part of our growth engine & we plan to stick to that philosophy.  We are extremely proud  to add a new range to our premium product assortment with the new brand – Myrius Next Gen.”  

Mr. Sameer Saxena, Director- Marketing, Legrand India said, “Legrand strongly believes that customers are at the heart of the Innovation. Keeping in mind that customers are our priority we decided to launch Myrius Next Gen. Feedback from our  customers helped us a lot to anticipate the trends and their future expectation. The idea behind this range of products was to assure comfort to our customers with the latest IOT technology. To ensure that all our customers have unique experience and choices, we specially designed our motif collection truly inspired by our Indian heritage and rich culture.” 

The brand has been conceptualised and inspired  by its customers health and hygiene being a priority, especially during the times of COVID. Powered by the silver ion’s, Legrand has created anti-bacterial feature which inhibits the growth of bacteria on frequently touched  switches and plates.  

Legrand is world’s leading electrical and digital building solution provider company with global turnover of 5.5 billion Euros. The company enjoys leadership in premium wiring devices as well as MCB in the Indian market. Its products are widely used in residential, commercial, industrial and hospitality industry.  Legrand India takes a further leap with its Smart connected Home offerings. Through its entry in the IoT space it takes a further leap from the brand in its Smart Connected.

About Legrand Group in India: 

A global specialist in the electrical & digital building infrastructure, Legrand is a Euro 5.5* billion (470.2864 cr) group based in   Limoges, France. The group has manufacturing facilities   in   90 countries   and   its products   are   sold   in   over   180   countries.   Globally, Legrand is a leader   in wiring    devices    and    cable management with a global market share of  over  20%  and  14% respectively. Legrand also enjoys leadership positions in at least one of its major business areas in a  number  of  countries  including  France,  Italy, Russia, Brazil, Mexico, China, and of course India. 

Legrand India offers a wide range of products in the categories of  Energy distribution, Wiring devices, Home    Automation,    Structured    Cabling,    Lighting    Management    Solutions,    Cable Management    and Industrial application products. It is an undisputed leader in MCBs, RCDs and DBs and a strong No. 2 in wiring devices Apart from this, the company also holds a leading position in Home Automation, MCCBs and Cable management systems. 

The company’s geographical reach, across market segments, caters to new requirements of customers with smart solutions that make Legrand a multipolar group.  And this multipolar nature, and the global philosophy of Listen, Design, Make and Support has enabled it to provide innovative and smart solutions. Legrand’s products are amongst the top in the market and have undisputable brand equity. 

Legrand products and services comply with the three criteria of simplicity – simplicity of use, simplicity of installation and simplicity of distribution - which enables the company to quickly penetrate new markets. With an employee base of over 1000 in India, the company is fast emerging   as   a   leader   in   its   core business by extending products and services that suit every segment in the local market. 

Headquartered in Mumbai, Legrand operates across India through 26 offices, 600 stockiest, 11500 retail outlets with three state-of-the-art manufacturing units, seven training centers and two R&D center. Technological innovations, simple   and   rapid   product   combinations   to   form communicating systems, clever installation ideas etc. are the focus of the R&D team at Legrand. 

WinZO Sponsorships India’s First Ever XO Space; To Boost Esports Penetration In "Bharat Supporting 12+ Languages"

WinZO, India’s largest vernacular social gaming platform, is the official sponsor of XO Space. XO Space is India’s first ever Gaming House that is being hosted by its parent company Esports XO.  

The gaming house will feature India’s 40 biggest and most followed Freefire Youtubers and streamers with a combined subscriber base of 75 million+. Pro Freefire Gamers such as ProNation and Dev Alone will be participating in this 11-month long competition which will be live streamed on WinZO and YouTube. The content will be hosted on the vernacular app, WinZO, in multiple languages to propel the reach to the deeper parts of Bharat. Within a week of launch, this event is projected to garner 1 Billion+ eyeballs, alone over YouTube.  XO Space is also witnessing participation from Indian Sub-continent and countries such as  Bangladesh, Nepal and other South East Asian countries. While this is an opportunity to build further on the streaming ecosystem, the winning  team of the XO space will be rewarded with a Cash prize worth Rs.11 lacs.   

Post PUBG ban and cancellation of offline eSports globally due to COVID 19 pandemic, XO Space is a boost to the  pursuit of Indian gaming talent to rise to international fame. 

In an unprecedented move, over the last 3 months, WinZO has partnered with 100,000 ByteDance influencers (Helo and TikTok)  from tier II and smaller cities/towns who were affected by the shutdown of the operations of TikTok post government ban over the Chinese apps. WinZO has deployed resources to upskill these influencers through extensive and structured training programs on gaming content creation and streaming technologies. The Vernacular focused Gaming and Streaming platform is not only distributing culturally relevant regional content but also democratising content making at a massive scale. This is a positive step in the support of PM Modi’s Atmanibhar Campaign.  

One such beneficiary of WinZO’s upskilling program is Pro Freefire Player and streamer Mr. Lokesh Raj, popularly known as “Lokesh Gamer”. Lokesh started with WinZO at a very nascent stage with 200k subscribers and today enjoys 7.5M+ subscribers on his official YouTube channel. Mr. Raj said “WinZO played a pivotal role in upgrading my skills. Their training on regional content creation and streaming tech helped me create industry standard content to engage my users effectively and has resulted in swift growth. I leverage significantly from the traffic that can from WinZO to my channel,  growing my channel from sub 200K to above 7MM follower base within 12 months. ” 

WinZO also developed a cutting edge tool; WinZO Developer Console (console.winzogames.com) to democratize game publishing for the game developers who can access the ready market of 30M+ registered user base of WinZO and effectively monetize their games. WinZO’s user base consists of transacting users who reportedly make 1 billion+ microtransactions per month on the platform. This effective monetization model allows developers to earn 100X more revenues than their play store and apple store IAP and Ad based revenues. 

Mr. Ranjan Shrestha, of Bhoos Entertainment, who runs a ten-membered game studio and was one of the beneficiaries of WinZO’s developer’s fund-I of $1.5 million corpus said: “We had multiple games which were not doing so well on play store and other stores in terms of revenue generation. However, after the partnership and integration of those games on WinZO, we have received huge traction from the same games, thanks to the specialization of WinZO in promotion and marketing. Algorithms to push the content to the relevant audience helped drive the engagement further. We have seen 100x more returns than any other sources and we do not need to worry about the monetization and distribution at all. Our sole focus is to build high-quality games.” 

As an extension of its Game Developer-I fund, WinZO also recently announced the Game Developer Fund-II with a corpus of $5 Million with the vision to support and nurture the game development,ESports, Streaming. So far, it has received 1000+ submissions on the Game Developer Console against the announced fund. WinZO has also opened its offices for these developers to collaborate & build together with the team. 

Earlier in September 2020, WinZO announced its Series-B funding of $18 Million led by global interactive entertainment fund Makers Fund based in Singapore, New York-based Courtside Venture, and Steve Pagliuca, the Co-Chairman of Bain Capital and investor in Epic Games - developers of massively popular game, Fortnite. 

About WinZO: 

WinZO is the largest vernacular social gaming platform in India, launched in early 2018. The company partners with third party game studios to host their games on their Android app, creating a Netflix-like experience for users, who can enjoy multiplayer gaming formats with their friends or strangers online in a localized and personalized fashion. The platform is available in 12 languages with over 30+ million registered users. Clocking over 1 billion micro-transactions per month, WinZO offers 70+ games across various multiplayer formats. This vernacular social gaming platform focuses on building a community of gamers and game influencers in Tier 2 – Tier 5 cities of India. WinZO is designed to deliver strong positive unit economics in the Indian gaming ecosystem, which experiences one of the highest engagements globally, through a unique micro-transaction led model. 

WinZO was founded by Paavan Nanda, a second time entrepreneur, and Saumya Singh Rathore. It boasts a team of 60 members. Some of the major investors backing WinZO are - Makers Fund, Courtside, Kalaari Capital. WinZO is also backed by Stephan Pagliuca - Co-Chairman of Bain Capital and Co-owner of the popular NBA Basketball team, Boston Celtics.