Saturday, July 24, 2021

Samsung To Introduce Hygiene Steam Washing Machine, Refrigerators & New Bezel For The Frame 2021 On Amazon Prime Day


●  Attractive offers applicable on select TVs, Refrigerators, Washing Machines and Microwaves; cash back, no cost EMIs starting as low as INR 459 and up to 31% discounts

Samsung, India’s most trusted consumer electronics brand, has announced new launches and exciting offers across its popular consumer durables product range during the Amazon Prime Day sale on July 26 and July 27, 2021.

To address the need for washing machines with high standards of cleaning and hygiene, Samsung is introducing Front Load Washing Machine with Hygiene Steam technology, in 8kg capacity for a bigger family. This washing machine is capable of removing ingrained dirt and 99.9% of bacteria and allergens. Consumers buying this washing machine will get a 10-year warranty on the motor, up to 21% discount, cashback and no cost EMI starting as low as INR 1,750.

During this sale, Samsung will also launch Double Door Frost Free (253L) refrigerator in Luxe Black finish that will lend a classy look to your kitchen. It comes with a digital display that allows you to control the temperature without opening the refrigerator. The new Single Door Direct Cool (198L) refrigerator will be available in beautiful Delight Indigo pattern. Both models come with Digital Inverter Technology that helps save energy while providing powerful, quieter performance. Consumers buying these refrigerators will also get a 10-year warranty on compressor, up to 20% discount, cashback and no cost EMI starting as low as INR 1,492.

To add a more personalized touch to the living space, Samsung is also launching Terracotta colour bezel for its 55-inch lifestyle TV The Frame 2021, which was launched in India recently. The Frame, a TV when it’s on and Art when it’s off, makes your luxury living spaces more distinctive with customizable bezel options. The Frame 2021 is 46% thinner than previous model and allows you to curate your personal art collection from a growing library of over 1,400 pieces of art.

“Home has become the center stage and plays multiple roles be it as a home-office, home-restaurant or for home-entertainment. We have partnered with Amazon to bring to our consumers exciting offers on a wide range of consumer durables, with special discounts and cashback offers. With this portfolio, we are sure to address the evolving needs of our consumers, especially as they are spending more time at home and are looking to upgrade their lifestyle,” said Sandeep Singh Arora, Senior Director, Online Business, Consumer Electronics, Samsung India.

Offer Details

Televisions

With The Frame 2021, you can now buy a Terracotta colour bezel with beveled type pattern for the 55-inch model, bringing a classy and ethnic feel to your living room. It will be available at INR 6,749 and there is a special discount of up to 24% on the bezel for customers who purchase The Frame TV along with the bezel. Additionally, there is a discount of up to 31% on The Frame TV which is available at a starting price of INR 61,990, with no cost EMIs starting at INR 2,583.

Samsung HD Smart TVs are available at a starting price of INR 17,490, with no cost EMIs starting at INR 972, and discounts of up to 16%; Samsung’s Crystal 4K UHD TVs will be available at a starting price of INR 37,990, with discounts of up to 28%. This becomes an ideal upgrade for an exciting in-home entertainment experience.

Washing Machines

The newly launched Front Load Washing Machine with Hygiene Steam technology will be available at a starting price of INR 31,499, with up to 21% discount, cashback and no cost EMI starting as low as INR 1,750.

Enhancing laundry experience at home with the Fully Automatic washing machine range, AI-enabled Ecobubble washing machine will be available at a starting price of INR 30,999, with EMIs starting at INR 1,722, and discounts of up to 20%.

The Front Load Hygiene Steam washing machine in 6kg capacity will be at a starting price of INR 21,999, with EMIs starting at INR 1,833, and discounts of up to 18%.  

The Fully Automatic Top Load Digital Inverter model will be available at a starting of INR 15,999, 25% discount, cashback and EMI starting at INR 1,334.

Refrigerators

Making the offers even cooler for consumers who are looking at affordable options, Samsung is launching two new refrigerators – Single Door Direct Cool Refrigerator (198L) in Delight Indigo pattern and Double Door Frost Free (253L) Refrigerator in Luxe Black finish, for INR 17,900 & INR 24,090, respectively. Consumers buying these refrigerators will get 10-year warranty on compressor, up to 20% discount, cashback and no cost EMI starting as low as 1,492.

Consumers looking to upgrade their kitchen with Samsung Side-by-Side and Convertible French Door Refrigerators are in for a delight as they come at a special starting price of INR 69,990, with EMIs starting as low as INR 3,889 and up to 20% discount.

Microwaves

For the home chef, Samsung’s Baker Series microwaves are the perfect expansion of the kitchen suited for those young millennials who have adopted healthy eating habits and are looking for industry first features such as steaming, grilling and frying, all in one place. The Baker Series Microwaves will be available at a starting price of INR 9,990 with EMIs starting as low as INR 833 and a discount of up to 20%.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.  

Samsung inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies. The company is redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, digital appliances, network systems and memory, system LSI, foundry and LED solutions. 

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Enables Access To Clean Drinking In Rural Areas

 


* Sets-up two water purification units in Kurubarahalli and Kodigehalli villages in Karnataka

* Installed a total of 43 units to cater to the drinking water requirement of villages

* Benefitting over 2,80,000 villagers covering 267 villages across India

Aligned with its mission to support and empower the communities with improved standard of living, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) today inaugurated two community-based water purification units in Kurubarahalli and Kodigehalli villages near Bangalore. With this, Toyota Kirloskar Motor has installed a total of 43 units in and around its manufacturing unit near Bangalore, Karnataka to cater to the drinking water requirement of rural India. 

The inauguration of the newly installed water purification units was graced by Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Former CM, Karnataka, and Former Union Minister Shri. D. V. Sadananda Gowda in presence of TKM company representatives.

The newly set up unit has a 1000 liter per hour capacity along with a 6-stage purification and a real time water monitoring system that will provide data on Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and PH value. In addition, the installed unit is equipped with solar system, power backup and wastewater management mechanism. To ensure proper functioning of the unit, TKM has entered a 15-year maintenance agreement with an agency to ensure sustainability of the initiative.

Speaking on the occasion, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Former CM, Karnataka, and Former Union Minister Shri. D. V. Sadananda Gowda said, “Clean water is essential for good health and a basic necessity for the human survival. One of our primary goals is to provide safe drinking water to all especially the ones dwelling in remote areas. I am happy that corporates like Toyota have been consistently working towards ensuring public health, propagating sanitation, and facilitating access to clean and safe drinking water. I hope that the newly installed water purification units will improve the overall health outcomes of people in the region thus contributing towards creating a healthy society.”

Commenting on the new unit launch, Mr. Sudeep S. Dalvi, Senior Vice President, Director & Chief Communication Officer, Toyota Kirloskar Motor said, “Universal and equitable access to safe drinking water is an issue that affects people of all ages, specifically for those living in rural areas. Our learnings from our previous interventions shows that over 94% of the users have experienced good health following usage of purified water. By expanding the community-based installation of water purification units, we have moved ahead in providing scalable solutions through assessment of immediate requirements of the community. We will continue to implement meaningful initiatives to make a significant difference in the lives of people and communities.”

Starting 2001, CSR has been an integral part of TKM’s philosophy. The voluntary initiatives taken up by TKM and employees focus primarily on scalability and sustainability. The activities revolve around five main thematic areas of Education, Environment, Health & Hygiene, Road Safety and Skill Development, which are aligned on the need of the communities and national priorities. 

Indira IVF Achieves 85000 Successful IVF Pregnancies Ahead Of World IVF Day – A First In India


* A market leader, Indira IVF is the first single specialty IVF chain to attain the milestone

India’s largest infertility treatments chain, Indira IVF, has completed 85,000 successful IVF pregnancies, becoming the first in India to achieve the key milestone. Driven by the grit of its medical experts, embryologists, and technological proficiency, the single specialty chain announces this achievement ahead of World IVF Day, observed on July 25 each year.

A cognisant leader, Indira IVF, has worked tirelessly to dispel the stigma associated with infertility. The organisation has held over 2100 awareness camps in more than 700 cities to normalise discussions on the topic. In India, the onus for the inability to conceive is disproportionately placed on women while research as shown that infertility can be traced to both female and male partners; many even resort to unscientific methods to have a child.

Indira IVF has 96 centres across the country with a major presence in tier II and tier III cities, which provides an accessible solution to infertility, even in the most remote locations. The market leader is focussed on delivering affordable quality treatment to couples that face complications to conceive naturally. Indira IVF’s high success rate and patient centricity has made it a trusted partner for people who aspire to become parents.

Speaking on the milestone, Dr Kshitiz Murdia – CEO & Co-Founder of Indira IVF, said, “It brings us immense happiness to see the positive impact we have been able to deliver to our patients. When we started off, we wanted to change the lens with which infertility is perceived within the society, and we are thrilled that more people are looking at medical solutions for infertility. This milestone is also a testament that even in the face of the pandemic, our patients put their trust in us to ensure their safety during treatment.”

“The occasion of World IVF Day denotes a remarkable date in the history of reproductive technology; the first IVF baby was born on this date 43 years ago in 1978. We have now come a long way. Technological interventions such as the introduction of artificial intelligence and automation into the fold is expected to greatly impact the success of IVF treatments. We are excited to play our little part in this greater cause and assist those who dream of parenthood,” he added.

About Indira IVF

Indira IVF is India’s largest infertility speciality clinics chain with 96 centres across the country, supported by a passionate workforce of over 2,000 people. Indira IVF performs about 30,000+ IVF procedures a year – the highest number in the country.

As a responsible leader, Indira IVF constantly strives to dispel the stigma, taboo, myths, and misinformation associated with infertility. Indira IVF is also committed to developing and grooming talent for fertility treatments. Through the Indira Fertility Academy it collaborates with like-minded organisations and institutions to further this cause. Having perceived the potential of Indira IVF in the sector, TA Associates, a leading global equity firm from the U.S., invested in the organisation in 2019.

Indira IVF was founded in the year 2011 in Udaipur, Rajasthan by Dr Ajay Murdia. 

The Emmy-Award Winning Family – The Casagrandes – Makes Its Indian Debut!


If you are a fan of family dramas, this is for you! The Emmy-award winning family show - The Casagrandes - has made its Indian debut and will air every day at 6 PM only on Nick HD+.

A spinoff of Nickelodeon’s top-rated animated series The Loud House, tells the story of Ronnie Anne, an independent, 11-year-old who explores city life with her big, loving, Mexican American family. In the series, Ronnie Anne will make new friends, build stronger bonds with her relatives, and explore the endless possibilities the city life has to offer.

The Casagrandes has a stellar voice cast spearheaded by Izabella Alvarez, Carlos PenaVega, Sonia Manzano, Carlos Alazraqui, amongst others. Internationally, The Casagrandes has met with solid acclaim, including an Emmy win for Outstanding Main Title for an Animated Program.

Watch what the family fun of this multigenerational Mexican family everyday at 6 PM only on Nick HD+!

Friday, July 23, 2021

Science And Engineering Research Board - DST And GE India To Collaborate For Advanced Technology Research


 ·         Up to INR 20 Crores funding to academic institutes for research across areas of energy, healthcare and aviation over the next five years

·         Propel research with breakthrough innovative ideas with large scale impact and industry-academia collaboration

To build synergy between academic institutes, labs and industries, the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), a Statutory body of Department of Science & Technology, Government of India and GE’s John F Welch Technology Centre (JFWTC), Bengaluru are partnering for research and development in technology across the areas of energy, healthcare and aviation. Undertaken as part of the Fund for Industrial Research Engagement (SERB-FIRE), the overarching aim is to support research and development to solve critical national and global problems across these key industries. The collaboration will further help drive impetus to create a transformative research mind-set to foster novel and impactful research ecosystem in the country. The Program was launched by the SERB in collaboration with GE India on July 23, 2021.

The GE and SERB partnership specifically aim to promote innovation and solve specific challenges in areas that are i) directly of relevance to the industry, ii) Industry-academia collaboration with focus on industry-relevant skill development leading to employability, iii) Research and joint product development by industry and academia.

Speaking on the collaboration, Alok Nanda, Chief Technology Officer, GE South Asia & CEO, GE India Technology Centre said, “GE India Technology center is a core innovation engine for GE; with 6000+ scientists and engineers committed to solving the toughest challenges for India and for the world. This mission drives us forward to build and foster an ecosystem that breeds innovation and provides the right opportunity to create new ideas and technology solutions for the challenges identified. Our partnership with SERB is a part of our consistent and long-term commitment to strengthen the research and innovation capabilities in India to improve the quality of life for our citizens and for people around the world. Academia will play a huge role in this and we are excited to see the possibilities of how some of the best ideas can solve the toughest challenges in our country.”

Professor Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, Department of Science & Technology, said, “Collaborating with industry players has been a crucial part of our objective to address the challenges in the research and innovation space as elaborated in the draft Science, Technology and Innovation Policy 2021. We are eager to partner with GE to create an ecosystem that would propel our growth in research work with national impact. I am sure the co-funding arrangement with GE will bring out some of the best ideas across Energy, Aviation and Healthcare. The fund is a step in the right direction to give a much-needed impetus to building an innovation mindset in the country.”

Prof Sandeep Verma, Secretary, SERB, shared “SERB and GE partnership is another one-of-a-kind initiative to actively contribute towards futuristic problems in science and technology. The major focus towards healthcare, energy and aviation through this collaboration will play a dominant role in putting India in the major technology roadmap. We are looking forwards to this and believe it will open many doors for the eminent scientists in the country and industry to actively contribute towards the S&T sector. I welcome this initiative and look at it with utmost optimism for both SERB and GE.”

First call for proposal shall be opened shortly to invite research proposals from academia and research labs along defined problem statements. The proposals will need to be in one of the following themes: In Healthcare on - Remote monitoring technologies, artificial intelligence and medical devices; in Gas power on --advanced materials and coatings, decarbonization; and Renewable energy – on themes of optimization – simulations and advanced repair solution.

About GE in South Asia

GE has been operating in South Asia since 1902. Today, its 19,000 employees based here work in research, development, product design, manufacturing, project execution and services. Over the decades GE has built deep partnerships with local joint venture partners, customers and suppliers. GE’s partners and customers in India include Government enterprises, large Indian conglomerates as well small and medium sized companies in Aviation, Healthcare and Energy sectors. GE’s people are diverse and dedicated, operating with the highest level of integrity and focus to fulfil GE’s mission and deliver for its customers. For more, visit www.ge.com

About SERB

The Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) is a statutory body established through an Act of Parliament, SERB Act 2008. Supporting basic research in emerging areas of science & engineering are the primary and distinctive mandate of the Board. The main goals of SERB are stimulating the search for new knowledge and encouraging invention, discovery, innovation and development by supporting research competitively and at all levels of our research eco-system. It is extending its collaboration to the industries through new programmes to put India at the global level in the science and engineering domain. 

Sudarshan Pattnaik Joins The Indian Olympic Fan Army; Unveils Sand Art To #Cheer4India


Ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, set to begin this Friday, renowned sand artist Sudarshan Pattnaik, has joined the chorus of voices to cheer for India as part of the Indian Olympic Fan Army, an initiative by MPL Sports Foundation, to give the Indian Olympic team its very own fan group. The award-winning artist, known for his larger-than-life sculptures on a wide range of topics, today unveiled a sand installation that aims to inspire everyone to become fans for our athletes in their pursuit of Olympic glory. This sand art on Puri beach features engraving of the various Olympic disciplines as well as Hon’ble PM Narendra Modi’s rallying cry of #Cheer4India.

More than 31 million fans from top sports teams and clubs in India like Kolkata Knight Riders, FC Goa, Gokulam Kerala FC, Ultimate Table Tennis, Real Kashmir FC, Shillong Lajong FC and Cricket Fauj, have already joined the Indian Olympic Fan Army.

As our largest ever contingent gears up for the Games, the fan movement aims to rally all 1.3 billion Indians to become fans of our Olympic athletes, who have time and again pushed the boundaries of their sport to bring laurels for the country. While ongoing COVID restrictions will keep fans cheering from afar, the Foundation has planned various virtual activities to energise fans and generate fervour for the Games.

Medtronic Launches Percept™ PC – The DBS System With Brainsense Tech For Parkinson, Essential Tremor, Dystonia And Epilepsy Diseases


* Next Generation BrainSense Technology to Capture Patient-Specific Brain Signals for More Personalized, Data-Driven Treatment

India Medtronic Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT), today announced the launch of the Percept™ PC Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) system. The system enabled with BrainSense™ technology is designed to capture brain signals while simultaneously delivering therapeutic stimulation, inside and outside the clinic. Ergonomically designed, the Percept PC device offers enhanced comfort and is indicated for patients with Parkinson’s disease, tremor, dystonia, and epilepsy.

In 2016, it was estimated that 6.1 million people worldwide had Parkinson’s disease. The prevalence in India was estimated to be 10% of the global burden, that is, 5.8 lakhs.1 Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder that eventually causes severe disability due to the increasing severity of treatment‑resistant motor problems and non‑motor symptoms. Overall, movement disorders constitute 3-8% of neurological disorders in India with a crude prevalence rate (CPR) varying from 31 to 45/100,000 above 60 years of age.2

DBS therapy for movement disorders has gained acceptance and widespread clinical use in recent years. DBS is an individualized therapy delivered from a small pacemaker-like device, placed under the skin of the chest or abdomen, to send electrical signals through very thin wires (leads) to a targeted area in the brain related to the symptoms of a neurological disorder.

“Medtronic has always been committed to changing the standard of care and improving patient outcomes. With Percept PC, physicians can now track patient brain signals and correlate these with patient-recorded actions or experiences such as symptoms, side-effects, or medication intake. This allows for more personalized, data-driven neurostimulation treatment. Medtronic is working towards devising meaningful innovations that harness the power of data to improve overall care and efficiency,” said Rahul Arora, head of Neurosciences Therapy, Medtronic India.

In addition to BrainSense technology, the Percept PC DBS system features several leading-edge innovations, including:

The only DBS system eligible for 3T and 1.5T full-body MRI scans, providing patients access to cutting-edge medical imaging.

Smart battery for personalized prediction of remaining battery life providing elevated peace of mind while planning for device replacement.

Improved battery longevity compared to Medtronic’s Activa™ PC neurostimulator (when using similar settings and functionality) in a smaller (reduced volume), ergonomic design for patient comfort.

Low pulse width (duration of the pulse), providing expanded stimulation options.

Enhanced Patient Programmer leveraging a user-friendly, custom-configured Samsung mobile device that allows patients to manage their therapy easily.

Designed to facilitate expanded capabilities in the future via software upgrades – to prepare for what’s next in DBS.

The first Level I randomized controlled trial of Medtronic DBS Therapy for Parkinson’s disease-indicated DBS (subthalamic nucleus target) patients with recent onset of motor complications achieved a 20% statistically significant improvement in time with good mobility and no troublesome dyskinesia (2.1 hours from baseline) compared to 2% (0.2 hours) with best medical therapy (BMT) alone at 24-month follow-up3.

About Medtronic

Medtronic plc (www.medtronic.com), headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is among the world’s largest medical technology, services and solutions companies – alleviating pain, restoring health and extending life for millions of people around the world. Medtronic employs more than 90,000 people worldwide, serving physicians, hospitals, and patients in more than 150 countries. The company is focused on collaborating with stakeholders around the world to take healthcare Further, Together.

Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic's periodic reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.

IT Services Provider Vee Technologies’ Delivery Centre In Philippines


New York-Bengaluru co-headquartered IT services provider Vee Technologies has announced the opening of a new delivery centre in the Philippines to expand its global footprint.

The new delivery centre in Manila, Philippines will add to its existing centres in Pennsylvania, USA and Bengaluru, Chennai and Salem, India.

For Vee Technologies, which services scores of marquee healthcare and insurance providers in the USA, geographic spread enhances access to an equally talented manpower pool besides expanding its technology capabilities.

Mr Chocko Valliappa, CEO, Vee Technologies said, "While eyeing new global markets with potential to fuel future growth our research pointed to the Philippines as an ideal destination.”

We are excited to establish a footprint in the Philippines, a community with abundant talent and robust infrastructure. We hope to evolve our best practices in talent development and technology systems to benefit our customers, Mr Valliappa added.

The work done at Vee Technologies’ development centres is aimed at making the world healthy by delivering technology-enabled solutions to meet emerging needs and advance operational capabilities for businesses.

"This development strengthens our resolve to apply innovative solutions to enhance our capabilities and the way we service our demanding customers," said Patrick O’Malley, President of Vee Technologies.

"As a global leader that services some of the top organizations, we strive to offer cutting-edge process-driven solutions like Population health, Virtual care, Robotics process automation that lead to extraordinary business outcomes for our clients”, O’Malley added.

Vee Technologies’ team work in tandem with hospitals and insurance companies in the USA with the new-age medicare plan that incentivises people to stay healthy. Insurers make money if they don’t have to go to hospitals.

About Vee Technologies

A leading consulting and professional services organization Vee Technologies, a trusted partner to enterprises and organizations globally, works with over 150 US hospitals, including six of the top 20, helping them handle clinical coding and revenue cycle management services.

Client satisfaction achievements have consistently qualified Vee Technologies for the IAOP Global Outsourcing 100 list of the world's top outsourcing service providers and powered the company's growth onto the Inc. 5000 list as one of the fastest growing American companies.

Vee Technologies counts itself among the Best Places to Work in Healthcare by Modern Healthcare, and as an Impact Sourcing Champion by the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals.

Max Bupa Health Insurance Now Rebrands As Niva Bupa Health Insurance Ltd


* Niva Bupa Health Insurance Company Limited (formerly known as Max Bupa Health Insurance Company Limited) to maintain strong growth in the market; Plans to become INR 2,500 crore entity by FY 21-22

* No impact on customers and partners; All changes pertaining to brand transition will be reflected by year-end~

Max Bupa Health Insurance announced todaythat it has rebranded itself as Niva Bupa. Backed by True North and Bupa, the rechristened brand – Niva Bupa will democratize health insurance category by bringing more thrust on customer touch points and introduce host of innovative products and digitally enabled services. Niva Bupa Health Insurance will aim to provide financial assurance as well as healthcare access to its customers by taking forward its legacy of product innovation, customer centricity and digital capability.

Owing to a change in shareholding pattern, with the exit of Max India and entry of Private Equity firm True North, Max Bupa needed to create a new brand identity as part of the transition. The company decided to utilize this as an opportunity to redefine itself. After a rigorous consumertesting and insights, thecompany decided ‘Niva Bupa’ as the new nomenclature for MaxBupa.The decision of the new brand name was based on a survey and in-depth interviews across new age millennials and middle-aged customers who were either existing or first-time buyers of health insurance products. The termNiva is derived from a Sanskrit word that means ‘Sun’ – a symbol of hope, source of energy and positivity. The brand has repositioned itself for health conscious people who believe in building a better tomorrow.

Leveraging the understanding of the Indian market and customers’ varied healthcare needs, Niva Bupa willbuild an intimate brand that simplifies health insurance category for the ease of understanding amongst the audience. It will play an instrumental role in providing access to best-in-class healthcare to millions of people in the country.The company would empower its customers with digitally backed meaningful tools to enablegreater control over their health and well-being.

Talking about the brand’s new identity, Mr. Krishnan Ramachandran, MD and CEO, Niva Bupa said, “We are thrilled to embark on the new and exciting chapter in our growth journey. Following the shareholder transition of Max Bupa from Max India to True North in 2019, we are now ready with our new brand identity as Niva Bupa. The new brand will firmly stand at the intersection of financial services and healthcare to fulfill the needs and aspirations of millions of people in India.  The health insurance industry is poised for a monumental growth, and we will take our new brand identity to our customers with a renewed promise of protection and care. As Niva Bupa, we will look to further strengthen our core brand ethos of customer centricity.”

Mr. Krishnanfurther added, “We have always strived to be a trusted health partner for our customers. Under the new brand Niva Bupa, we will continue to expand our digital and network presence that will allow customers to avail our industry leading products and best-in-class services anytime,anywhere.”

Niva Bupa Health Insurance will continue to maintain strong growth in the market and aims to become anINR 2,500 crore company by FY21-22. The company will bring over 12 million people in India under the ambit of health insurance by FY-25.

Mr. Nimish Agrawal, Senior Vice President & Head Marketing, Niva Bupa said, “Health insurance is no longer looked upon as a financial instrument solely for tax saving purposes. It has repositioned itself as a self-investment product which will take care of all healthcare needs. This warranted a change in our positioning as well.With the new brand identity, we want to unravelthe health insurance space and offer a humanized experience to our customers, especially in terms of guidance, counseling, and support at the moment of truth.

Our name has changed from Max Bupa Health Insurance Company Limited to Niva Bupa Health Insurance Company Limitedeffective 5thJuly, 2021. As next steps, we will closely work with our partners and various stakeholders to complete our brand transition by year-end. It will be reflected in all our customer and partner facing assets henceforth. Our business fundamentals remain unchanged and there will be no impact of this transition on our customers and partners. We are prepared to embrace the change and bring infresh perspectives and a new outlook towards the category.”

About Niva Bupa Health Insurance Company Limited (Formerly known as Max Bupa Health Insurance Company Limited)

Niva Bupa, a leading standalone health insurance player in India, is a joint venture between True North, a leading Indian private equity firm and the Bupa Group, a leading international healthcare company with a legacy of providing specialized healthcare services for over 70 years.

WhiteHat Jr Aims To Create Live 1:1 Music Category; Develops A Custom-Built Music Learning Platform With Live Teachers


Leading EdTech company WhiteHat Jr, known for delivering live online classes in Coding and Math, today announced the commercial launch of its Music curriculum to teach Piano and Guitar online. This follows a highly successful beta phase which was limited to paid WhiteHat Jr students. The company has onboarded 800+ trained music teachers to deliver one-to-one sessions leveraging a custom-built music learning platform.

Making music accessible with a customized platform

Designed from the ground-up, the platform has been built after incorporating feedback from music experts, teachers, students and early adopters. The platform does not simply replicate a physical class but uses interactive music sheets to make it easier for students to learn. It also helps them practice better as the sheets play the underlying music and provide the students with a reference audio. Further, teachers can track progress between classes and share personalized feedback on the practice of their students. The platform includes games that improve students' technical skills like sight-reading, pitch recognition, and rhythm skills. Lastly, it supports engaging audio-visual aids that make it easier to learn complex techniques online.

"At WhiteHat Jr, our singular focus has been to inspire a generation of children to create versus consume. Music fits right at the center of our mission because it ignites all areas of a child's development. Learning to create music can fundamentally transform a child's life," said Karan Bajaj, CEO and Founder, WhiteHat Jr. “We believe Music and the arts are as critical for a child’s development as learning STEM and want every child to have access to the best music teachers in the world through technology.”

“Globally, the music education industry, especially for instruments, is highly fragmented. Parents face multiple issues such as the availability of good tutors, engaging class experiences, and the logistics of supporting an offline class. Many parents also lack conviction about their child's interest in learning music. Our program has been designed to address these challenges and make the music learning journey truly enjoyable and memorable,” said Gautam Patil, Head of Music, WhiteHat Jr.

The company has partnered with musical stalwart Lucky Ali as part of its brand campaign to popularise music offering to students across the country. The ‘create like a child’ campaign focuses on celebrating, honoring and taking inspiration from individuals who have achieved stardom by listening to their inner child to unlock their full potential.

Thursday, July 22, 2021

Leading EV Manufacturer Komaki Opens Its 300th Dealership In India


* As Komaki outlets touch the 300 marks, EV sales touch the sky.

The growth of Komaki in the last quarter has shown a steep upward trajectory. Their yearly growth shows impressive numbers with unit sales jumping four times since the last fiscal year! The adoption of electric vehicles has shown an uptick with the increased consciousness among the people about environmental conservation. As the sales grew, so did the size of the Komaki footprint. After rapid expansion in the last quarter in New Delhi, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan. Komaki has now set foot in Madhya Pradesh as well.

At a time when fuel prices are at an all-time high with the upsurge continuing without any respite for the consumers, Komaki has continued to make strides with steady growth in EV sales. The opening of their 300th dealership in Vidisha city of MP stands testimony to this fact. The previously opened dealership in the national capital was also warmly welcomed with EV sales touching triple digits within a few days of its inauguration.

The newest showroom in MP sprawls lavishly over an area of 2,500 sq. feet and showcases all the futuristic models, consistent with the Komaki name. Consistent with their track record, the new dealership has already witnessed a booking of 250 electric vehicles which is indicative of the migration towards eco-friendly modes of travel. The robust demand has taken the sales tally of Komaki EVs to 21,000 units within the first half of 2021.

The Komaki Electric Vehicle Division has left no stone unturned in offering advanced features on all its models at affordable prices. Smart features seen for the first time on electric two-wheelers continue to attract consumers to its dealerships. Adding another feather to its cap, Komaki opened yet another dealership outlet in God’s own country at Kottayam. It was well received by the people with 70 units booked on the first day itself.

“The people of India are becoming increasingly cognizant of the environmental impact caused by traditional IC engine-powered vehicles. As we strive to deliver the best quality at the best possible cost, the response to our efforts by the people of India is heart-warming. It gives us more reasons to continue making eco-friendly travel accessible and cost-competitive for the masses in alignment with our vision of making India greener and cleaner.”, says Ms. Gunjan Malhotra, Director, Komaki Electric Vehicle Division.

Ducati Launches Multistrada V4 In India; Prices Start At INR 18.99 Lacs


 ·        All new Ducati Multistrada V4 and V4 S launched at INR 18.99 Lacs and INR 23.10 Lacs respectively (Ex-Showroom India); bikes to arrive in showrooms by early next week

·        The Multistrada V4 is the world’s first bike to feature a front and rear radar rider-assistance system

·        The Multistrada V4 comes in Ducati Red while Multistrada V4 S is available in Ducati Red and Aviator Grey color options

·        The Multistrada V4 S will also be available with spoked wheels, straight from the factory, and will arrive in India later this year

Ducati today announced the launch of its much-awaited adventure tourer, the all-new Multistrada V4 and V4 S, priced at INR 18.99 Lacs and INR 23.10 Lacs respectively (Ex-Showroom Pan India). The Multistrada V4 is an all-new motorcycle from the ground up that will headline Ducati's family of adventure Tourer bikes in both capability and technology prowess.

This 4th generation of Multistrada represents the best of Ducati’s technology, performance, and capability. The name also serves a strong purpose, where “multi” stands for “many” so “Multi-Strada” means “many roads”, thus, falling in line with the bike’s sheer ability to dominate all roads with ease, thanks to its new V4 Granturismo engine, integrated safety and balanced chassis. 

Now, with this all-new generation, Ducati has also reimagined this iconic do-it-all machine. The biggest change starts with the heart of the project, its powerful engine called the V4 Granturismo, tuned for all terrain performance, and derived from the highly acclaimed Desmosedici Stradale which does duty on the Panigale V4 and the Streetfighter V4. The all new V4 Granturismo engine guarantees extremely smooth operation at low revs and a linear torque curve as well. So, riders will be able to conquer more technical, and difficult terrains with an engine that delivers more power in an effortless manner giving rider more control, and confidence to rule all roads.

The Multistrada then is a one-of-a-kind motorcycle that not only combines the pleasure of on-asphalt sporty riding, but also gives overall satisfaction and easy off-road handling together with unprecedented comfort on longer journeys and in everyday use.

Mr. Bipul Chandra, Managing Director of Ducati India said, “The wait was long, but I am sure it will be worth for all the Ducatisti that waited patiently for the bike. There’s no other way of saying this but the Multistrada V4 is a state-of-the-art technological marvel, which can take you across the globe with ease. The new Granturismo V4 engine is specifically designed keeping touring and off road riding in mind and it is the heart of this whole project. I am thrilled not just for the Ducatisti but also for this segment as the Multistrada V4 ushers in, with performance, design and technology that will make any enthusiast weak in his/her knees! I look forward to seeing it in India, especially on the roads less taken.”

Engine

Both the Multistrada V4 and V4 S boast of the V4 Granturismo engine, V4 - 90°, counter-rotating crankshaft, Twin Pulse firing order, which puts out 170 Hp at 10, 500 rpm and 125 Nm of torque at 8,750 rpm. This liquid-cooled engine has four valves per cylinder and bore and stroke measurements of 83 and 53.5 mm, respectively. The Multistrada V4 and V4 S gulps in the fuel mix through 46 mm cylindrical-section throttle bodies controlled by an advanced Ride-by-Wire system.

The self-servo wet slipper clutch can now be operated with less on-lever effort thanks to the new hydraulic control system. The Multistrada V4 and V4 S engine has a maintenance interval of 15,000 km, with valve clearance inspection at every 60,000 km, which is the longest main service interval in the industry. This offers the rider peace of mind and faith to conquer long trails without doubts, while also reducing maintenance costs considerably.

The V4 Granturismo engine has been designed for road and off road use and it also exploits, when needed, all the technical benefits that Ducati has developed over years of experience in the world of competition. Among these, the counter-rotating crankshaft, which by working “against” the inertia generated by the wheels, enhances handling, reduces pitching, and consequently improves efficiency and riding pleasure even on the road.

In addition, Ducati engineers also concentrated on the gear ratio, with a short first gear excellent for maneuvering at extremely low speeds, uphill starts even when fully loaded and off-road sections. The sixth gear, as a result is tall and ideal to tackle lengthy motorway travel. Furthermore, the Multistrada V4 also gets rear engine bank deactivation. In doing so, when the bike is stopped at the traffic lights and is in idle with neutral engaged, the rear bank is deactivated (there is no combustion in the cylinders), improving the thermal comfort of the rider and passenger, thanks to the lowering of temperatures.

Design

The V4’s design closely echoes the first iconic Multistrada (mass loaded on the front, extremely sleek rear section and ultra-compact front end) but the new Multistrada V4 goes beyond borders, right where rider, machine and technology create a perfect whole. Clean surfaces, taut lines and contrasting front and rear volumes remain and the hallmark design and functionality are perfectly combined to offer supreme technology. From the front and rear radars to the aerodynamic appendages, from the Perspex screen to the dashboard, from handlebar switchgear to the dedicated compartment on the fuel tank for storing and recharging the smartphone: every single detail has been embodied to give life to one of the most technologically advanced motorcycles ever built.

The all-in-one bike is immediately recognizable as a Multistrada but is a step ahead in terms of engine, technology and design. The bike stands out for its refined silhouette and at the same time it can speak the language of adventure and passion for a long-distance trip. For this reason, a lot of attention was paid during the design phase to achieve a reduced seat height, adjustable, with two positions; 840 mm and 860 mm (810 mm low seat and 875 mm high seat are also available as accessories). This added value is crucial especially in low-speed maneuvers, even when fully loaded, and especially when the new Multistrada V4 can load over 230 kg.

Radar

The Ducati Multistrada V4 is the first production bike in the world to adopt radar technology. Radars are advanced aid systems capable of supporting and making riding more comfortable thanks to the ability to reconstruct the reality surrounding the motorcycle. This technical solution manages two functions: Adaptive Cruise Control and Blind Spot Detection.

It should be underlined that the adaptive intelligent systems are an aid to the vehicle rider’s riding and must always be kept under control or adjusted by the rider. Advanced systems are not autonomous riding systems and therefore do not replace the rider. Always attentive to safety on the road and on the racetrack, Ducati emphasizes that the rider is and remains responsible for riding and must always maintain a prudent behavior appropriate to the various environmental situations.

In India, the radar system will be a standard fitment on the Multistrada V4 S and will not be available on the Multistrada V4.

Adaptive Cruise Control

Front radar is perfectly integrated into the bike, which by means of controlled braking and acceleration automatically adjusts the distance (selectable on four levels) from other vehicles when riding at a speed between 30 and 160 km/h. In particular, the authority of the system in terms of deceleration and acceleration has been limited to ensure that the rider can maintain constant control of the vehicle in any situation. The Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) system can be activated and adjusted using the dedicated buttons located on the left block. Thanks to the DQS up & down, the rider can shift up or down without the ACC deactivating during the acceleration and deceleration phases. ACC system allows for more comfortable riding, especially on long motorway journeys.

Blind Spot Detection

Rear radar technology can detect and report vehicles approaching in the so-called blind spot, namely the area not visible either directly to the rider or through the rear view mirrors. The BSD (Blind Spot Detection) system monitors this situation thanks to the LEDs positioned on the rear-view mirrors. The BSD system also signals the vehicles approaching from behind, at high speed. In both cases, if the user activates the direction indicator expressing the intention to change lanes, the BSD flashes the LED signaling a potentially dangerous condition.

Technology

The Multistrada V4 is fitted with a 5” color TFT display with optimal resolution and perfect readability in any light conditions. The easy-to-read graphics feature a round digital tachometer which displays gear number and further useful information, such as fuel gauge, temperature, and engine temperature while the panels display the levels of the electronic controls and other information.

The Multistrada V4 S features an adjustable 6.5” color TFT unit. Furthermore, on the S version a joystick has been added on the left switchgear, to ensure easy navigation through the new and intuitive menu. Other new features include the Ducati Connect system, which allows, via Bluetooth and wi-fi, the ‘mirroring’ function of the mobile phone app on the dashboard and can be controlled via the joystick. It displays additional information, such as suspension settings and via Sygic GPS navigation app, also provides the navigation system map on the TFT unit itself. In addition, the user can access the Ducati Multimedia System (DMS) via Bluetooth, to manage incoming/outgoing calls and listen to music.

On the electronics front, the Multistrada V4 represents the top of the line in the motorcycle segment, which is true in terms of safety, comfort, performance, and connectivity features. The inertial platform (IMU) manages the operation of Cornering ABS, Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC) with eight setting levels, Cornering Ducati Traction Control (DTC).

Additionally, the Multistrada V4 S gets a full LED Lighting system with Cornering Lights (DCL). Another standard feature on the Multistrada V4 S is the Vehicle Hold Control (VHC), which makes restarts easier, especially on a gradient. On the Multistrada V4 S, the inertial platform also communicates with the semi-active Ducati Skyhook Suspension (DSS) system. Ducati Quick Shift (Up/Down) and Cruise Control is standard on the Multistrada V4 S.

The Multistrada V4 range features the Ducati Safety Pack (DSP), which includes Brembo braking system with Bosch 10.3ME Cornering ABS, adjustable on three levels. Cornering ABS makes use of the Bosch IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) platform, which communicates in real time data concerning lean angles. All this is to optimize front and rear braking power on both wheels even with the bike at considerable lean angles, thus preventing serious injuries.

Suspension and Braking

The Multistrada V4 range comes with 170 mm wheel travel at the front and 180 mm on the rear, a particularly generous suspension system which when combined with the frame layout as well as oil sump shape, guarantees an impressive ground clearance of 220 mm. Where the Multistrada V4 gets a Marzocchi mechanical suspension with adjustable fork with 50 mm diameter stanchions and adjustable monoshock at the rear, the Multistrada V4 S is equipped with semi-active Marzocchi suspension controlled by the Ducati Skyhook Suspension (DSS) Evolution system.

The latter also allows adjustment of the preload and hydraulic brakes in compression and extension of the rear shock absorber. Fine adjustment takes place instantly and is integrated into the Riding Modes or can be personalized via the on-board computer.

The semi-active system interfaces with the sensors to “read” riding style, as well as road surface conditions and continuously adjusts the suspension setting. This means a perfect set-up at whatever conditions, on road and fully loaded as well.

The Multistrada V4 features twin Ø320 mm brake discs at the front, with Brembo M4.32 front calipers while the Multistrada V4 S is equipped with Ø330 mm brake discs, along with Brembo Stylema calipers. Both versions come with 19” wheels (120/70 Pirelli Scorpion Trail tyres) at the front and 17” wheels (170/60 Pirelli Scorpion Trail tyres) at the back, with the Multistrada V4 S getting an option for Spoked Wheels, straight from the factory. The spoked wheels version will come to India later this year.

Priced at INR 18.99 Lacs (Ex-showroom India), the Multistrada V4 is available in Ducati Red with cast wheels. Priced at INR 23.10 Lacs (Ex-showroom India), the Multistrada V4 S is available in Ducati Red with cast wheels. The Aviator Grey color option in Multistrada V4 S with cast wheels is priced at INR 23.30 Lacs (Ex-showroom India). Bookings are now open across all Ducati dealerships in Delhi – NCR, Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Kochi, Kolkata & Chennai and deliveries will begin by next week.

Yamaha Announces Ex-Showroom Price For New Fascino 125 FI Hybrid


India Yamaha Motor (IYM) Pvt. Ltd. today announced the Ex-showroom price for its new Fascino 125 FI Hybrid model in India. The Disc Brake version of the model will be available at a price of Rs. 76,530 (Ex-Showroom Delhi) while the Drum Brake version of the model will be available at Rs. 70,000 (Ex-Showroom Delhi). The model will be available in the market by end of July 2021.

The new Fascino 125 FI Hybrid flaunts a Smart Motor Generator (SMG) System with added functionality that newly adopts the Hybrid System wherein the SMG functions as an electric motor to give a power assist when you accelerate from a stop, reducing the insecurity caused by the wobble during start-outs in tandem riding or during uphill climbs.

The Fascino 125 FI Hybrid, a stylish and fashionable model continues to be powered by a BS-VI compliant, air-cooled, fuel-injected (Fi), 125 cc blue core engine that produces a power output of 8.2 PS @ 6,500rpm and maximum torque of 10.3 N m @ 5,000rpm. Along with this, it also comes equipped with Side Stand Engine Cut off Switch which is a standard and mandatory feature for all Yamaha two wheelers in India.

The Disc Brake version of the model is available in Vivid Red Special, Matt Black Special, Cool Blue Metallic, Dark Matt Blue, Suave Copper, Yellow Cocktail, Cyan Blue, Vivid Red and Metallic Black. On the other hand, the Drum Brake version is available in Vivid Red, Cool Blue Metallic, Yellow Cocktail, Dark Matt Blue, Suave Copper, Cyan Blue, and Metallic Black.

The Disc Brake version is also equipped with Bluetooth enabled Yamaha Motorcycle Connect X app and gets LED Headlights, DRLs, LED Tail Light and Digital Instrumentation.

MPL Sports Foundation Launches Campaign To Rally Indians To Become Fans Of The Indian Olympic Contingent


MPL Sports Foundation, the community arm of Mobile Premier League (MPL), India’s largest esports and skill gaming platform, launched an advertising campaign featuring some of the biggest Indian Olympic stars. This is part of a nationwide fan campaign to rally the 1.3 billion Indians to become fans of the Indian contingent at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics that begin this Friday.

“The Olympics is the world’s biggest sporting stage and truly a sports movement that cuts across all boundaries. The athletes representing us come from the length and breadth of India and we want the entire country to rally behind them as they seek to bring us laurels. We hope this movement galvanises all Indians to become fans of the Indian Olympic team,” said Sai Srinivas, Trustee, MPL Sports Foundation and Co-Founder and CEO, MPL.

As part of this movement, the Foundation will release a campaign called #FanBannJaaoge across mediums like TV, digital and print media. The campaign features a film in multiple languages with some of the stars of the Indian contingent such as PV Sindhu, Wrestler Bajrang Punia, Fencer Bhavani Devi, Shooter Manu Bhaker, and others.

The term #FanBannJaaoge itself encapsulates the idea of this movement, which conveys that these athletes have such inspiring and decorated lives, that every Indian would undoubtedly become their fan and throw their weight behind them as these athletes seek to bring India glory at the Olympics.

MPL Sports Foundation has also put together the Indian Olympic Fan Army, the first ever organised initiative of its kind. Some of the most iconic sports clubs, franchises and organisations across India like Kolkata Knight Riders, Goa FC, Gokulam Kerala FC, Ultimate Table Tennis, Real Kashmir FC, Shillong Lajong FC and Cricket Fauj have joined hands to create a 31 million-strong fan club.

This will be a virtual fan army with the fans expected to cheer for the team, watch the matches and submit their fan moments through photographs, videos, emojis and illustrations.

About MPL Sports Foundation

MPL Sports Foundation is the dedicated community and philanthropy arm of Mobile Premier League (MPL), India’s largest esports platform, to steer all community-based initiatives. The foundation aims to democratise sports and esports by making it accessible, diverse and inclusive, while supporting and strengthening the development of sports, sports-related ecosystem and sporting culture in India.

Hero Motocorp Brings Advanced Technology Edge To Its Scooter Portfolio In India


Aligned to its aggressive growth strategy in the scooter segment, Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters, today launched an advanced, ‘connected’, and feature-rich new Maestro Edge 125.

Close on the heels of the launch of Glamour Xtec on Tuesday, the new Maestro Edge 125 adds to the ever-growing appeal of the successful Maestro brand, offering the ideal combination of style and technology. The new scooter offers a connected and distinctive experience with its enhanced aesthetics, modern technology, and edgy design.

Building on an aggressive stance, the new Maestro Edge 125 offers a high-value and premium experience with the first-in-segment projector LED Headlamp, fully digital speedometer, Bluetooth connectivity with call alerts and turn-by-turn navigation, Hero Connect and new sharper design features.

Available in exciting new colors at Hero MotoCorp customer touch-points across the country, the Maestro Edge 125 is attractively priced at Rs. 72,250/- (Drum variant)*, Rs. 76,500/- (Disc variant)* and Rs. 79,750 (Connected variant)*.

*(Ex-Showroom, Delhi).

Since its inception the Maestro Edge 125 has attracted customers who want the latest in technology and trends. With this upgrade, Hero MotoCorp is further strengthening its association with the youth and tech enthusiasts.

Malo Le Masson, Head of Strategy and Global Product Planning, Hero MotoCorp, said, “The Maestro Edge 125 has been a key player in the 125cc scooter segment. In this latest avatar, we have sharpened its ‘Edge’ further with LED Projector headlamp, Digital Speedometer, Turn-by-Turn Navigation and Bluetooth connectivity. This scooter has it all. These upgrades are part of our overall portfolio push to provide more technology and features to our customers."

Naveen Chauhan, Head of Sales and Aftersales, Hero MotoCorp, said, “We are witnessing an increasing demand for our scooters recently and with the new Maestro Edge 125 we expect this trend to continue. With its first-in-segment features and new design, this scooter will definitely resonate with the youth across the country.”

New Maestro Edge 125

First-in-segment LED Projector Headlamp

The new sleek headlamp boasts of high efficiency, double light intensity, and wider & farther light spread for enhanced visibility on the road.  

Design

The new Maestro Edge 125 is packed with a host of new design elements including the completely new sharp headlamp, sharper front design, new sporty dual tone stripe pattern, masked winkers and new prismatic colors.

Connected Features

The Maestro Edge 125 has a fully digital speedometer with Bluetooth connectivity that offers features like Pairing with Passkey, Turn-by-Turn Navigation with superior display, Miss-call alert, Incoming Call Alert, RTMI (Real-Time Mileage Indication), ECO Indicator, and Low Fuel Indicator.

Additionally, with ‘Hero Connect’ as standard fitment, the Maestro Edge 125 also provides more value and peace of mind to the customers. Hero Connect has eight important features like Topple Alert, Theft Alert, find my parking, track my vehicle, trip analysis and more.

New Colors

The connected variant of Maestro Edge 125 comes in two new prismatic colors - Prismatic Yellow and Prismatic Purple. The Disc variant is available in six colors - Candy Blazing Red, Panther Black. Pearl Silver White, Matt Techno Blue, Prismatic Yellow and Prismatic Purple. The Drum variant is available in four colors - Candy Blazing Red, Panther Black. Pearl Silver White and Matt Techno Blue.

Engine

The Maestro Edge 125 is powered by a 124.6cc BS-VI Compliant Programmed Fuel Injection engine with ‘XSens Technology’ - delivering a power output of 9 BHP @ 7000 RPM and torque-on-demand of 10.4 NM @ 5500 RPM.

Online First Fashion Jewelry Sukkhi Launches New Daily Wear Collection “Scintillare By Sukkhi” For The Bold Women Of Today


* The new collection highlights the modern contemporary jewelry for the women of today ~

The leading new age online-first fashion jewelry brand, Sukkhi has announced the launch of its daily wear collection - “Scintillare”. This new collection celebrates the women of today who prefer modern contemporary jewelry designs and elegant patterns that are chic, youthful, minimal and affordable. “Scintillare” by Sukkhi aims to add that subtle bling that stands out even with formal attire and at social occasions.

Sukkhi’s new collection features designs that are an aesthetic representation of the modern day women. Every piece of jewelry is intricately designed and is versatile, quirky and lightweight that can be worn on multiple occasions. The collection is an exquisite wide range of gold plated, rhodium plated, rose gold plated necklaces, earrings, rings, bracelets and other jewelry. Keeping in mind the modern day consumer demand, Sukkhi has launched over 200 designs this year. The jewelry is affordable with a price range of Rs. 250 that enables women from all walks of life to add to their style statement as well as making it easily accessible and affordable for this audience.

Speaking of the new collection, Bhavesh Navlakha, Founder, Sukkhi says, “As a customer-first brand known for its traditional fashion jewellery, Sukkhi wanted to address that the new age women are looking for affordable and stylish jewelry options that can not only enhance their beauty but also make them feel confident and assured. This collection is inspired by the independent and passionate women who bring their personality to everything they do, including their wardrobe. “Scintillare” by Sukkhi is a classic-meets-contemporary collection that can be re-worn for a host of occasions, from workwear to small gatherings. It is inspired by the women of today and caters to women who are looking for versatile jewelry - both fashionably yet functionally”.

He adds, “We are proud to be a home-grown brand having reached over 60 lacs consumers since inception and we believe in manufacturing within India, which helps us to have complete control over quality and design while ensuring timely delivery. With this ethos, all the designs of this collection are Made in India and Sukkhi plans to develop the production for further designs within India itself. Sukkhi is always committed to fulfilling the customer needs in the future as well”.

The daily wear fashion jewelry comprises a sizable chunk of the overall fashion jewelry category in India. There is an increase in demand from the Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities in India for quality and stylish jewelry that is within their budgets. Sukkhi understands the consumer demand and curates designs that are intricate using high quality allergic free material and versatile to pair with varied silhouettes. Adapting an omni channel presence, Sukkhi is widely available on various ecommerce platforms ensuring a wide reach to the bigger consumer demands.

About Sukkhi:

Sukkhi is a leading new age online- first fashion jewelry brand. Founded in 2012, Sukhhi began with a vision to provide quality and trendy fashion jewelry products. The company makes high-quality products from allergic free material that is beautifully crafted and designed using the latest technology. After starting as an online-only brand, the company launched its own website in October 2016 and has widened its reach to over 125 offline touchpoints across India and over 27 different marketplaces, including international markets like the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and many more. Today, the company is one of the highest selling brands in the fashion jewelry category on Amazon and Flipkart, as well as on most of the e-tailers on which the brand is listed.

ACT Fibernet Pledges 50,000 Vaccines To Fight Against Covid - 19 In Karnataka


* Free Vaccinations camps set-up across different constituencies in the city 12,000 vaccinations completed successfully

Extending support to combat Covid-19, ACT Fibernet, one of India’s largest fiber broadband ISP (Internet Service Provider), pledged 50,000 free vaccines for citizens and has joined hands the Government of Karnataka to drive this campaign.  Launched by ACT Fibernet on July 11, 2021, these camps are set up across different parts of the city. So far, 12,000 vaccinations have already been administered by the company in areas such as RR Nagar, Chamrajpet, Vijaynagar, Bommanahalli, Shanthinagara, Chickpet, Girinagar, KR Pjuram, Shivaji Nagar, Rajaji Nagar and Hebbal. Plans are underway to organise camps in other parts of the city in the following weeks. 

While citizens are adhering to restrictions of movement, there has been an increase in Covid-19 cases and with a third wave predicted to be around the corner, it is imperative to ensure that citizens of the city are vaccinated. ACT Fibernet has extended its support towards this cause and has been relentlessly working with government officials to procure vaccines and ensuring a seamless vaccination camp.

“Every citizen has the right to be vaccinated and stay protected against Covid19.  It is endearing to see that corporates as ACT Fibernet are coming forward to help us reach as many citizens as possible with this vaccination program. We appreciate the donation of 50,000 doses of vaccines and I express my gratitude to them on behalf of the residents. Such initiatives are extremely useful since there is a steady demand for vaccines. We wish ACT Fibernet all the best and encourage people to benefit from this drive.” said Shri. S. Suresh Kumar, Minister for Primary and Secondary Education, Labour and Sakala, Govt of Karnataka.

“We are dedicated to supporting the community and helping fight this life-threatening virus. As we see new variants of Covid-19 emerging, vaccines need to be administered as much as possible to minimise the cases. We thank the Government of Karnataka for giving us this opportunity and supporting our agenda to help people get vaccinated in Bangalore. We hope to see more people coming forward and taking their shots”. said Bala Malladi, Chief Executive Officer, Atria Convergence Technologies Ltd. 

A commitment to securing and supporting the welfare of the community is at the core of CSR initiatives led by ACT Fibernet.

About ACT Fibernet

ACT Fibernet is one of largest wired ISPs (Internet Service Provider) in India. Headquartered in Bangalore it has operations in 19 cities with 1.8 million customers. ACT Fibernet is known for its cutting-edge technology and high-speed broadband connectivity that the company provides to its customers. In 2019, ACT Fibernet forayed in the consumer category with the launch of its product ACT stream TV 4K. ACT Fibernet was the first broadband service provider to bring 1 Giga speed connectivity in India to the city of Hyderabad in 2017, followed by Bengaluru and Chennai in 2018. ACT Fibernet has been recognized as India’s most Consistent Broadband Network in 2020 by Ookla, Best Brands 2020 in the broadband category by The Economic Times, Best Broadband for Streaming in Hyderabad and Chennai as per research conducted by InMobi in Sept 2020, and No.1 Broadband for Gaming according to The Times of India Report, 2020.

New Relic Boosts Presence With Key Appointments Across India


* New executives to support robust demand for market-leading observability

New Relic, Inc. (NYSE: NEWR), the observability company, is delighted to announce the appointment of Vidhur Bhagat as General Manager, Enterprise Business India, alongside several key positions to address the growing needs of existing and potential customers in India.

Bhagat was previously Enterprise Sales Executive for New Relic on the subcontinent, where he was one of the top contributors across the Asia Pacific regions. His new role comes during a rapid period of demand for observability as an increasing number of Indian businesses, from start-ups to established enterprises, choose digital transformation initiatives to scale and grow their business, improve customer experience, and address the impact of the pandemic.

With over nine years of experience as an enterprise and commercial business leader, Bhagat was previously in strategic sales and consulting roles at software and technology organisations, including ZenDesk, MetricStream, and ITC Infotech. 

“We are thrilled to have Vidhur spearhead the Enterprise Business as we continue to expand our footprint and presence in India to support more organisations in their digital transformation journey," said Ben Goodman, senior vice president, sales and general manager for New Relic Asia Pacific and Japan.

Other key additions to the team include Ganesh Narasimhadevara, Purnima Bhatia and Aejaz Patel.

Narasimhadevara joins as principal technical account manager Asia and was previously ZestMoney director of platform engineering. Narasimhadevara brings with him 14 years of experience in DevOps, Information Security and Application Performance Management.

Purnima Bhatia joins as an enterprise account executive, bringing a decade of experience in sales and account management. She was formerly with MongoDB and Qliktech, and holds extensive experience in projects and new acquisitions specifically in database and business applications.

Aejaz Patel also joins as enterprise account executive. Patel is an accomplished sales management professional with extensive experience in selling SaaS applications. Patel previously held roles at Replicon, Lycatel and Accenture.

"The Covid-19 pandemic has increased the momentum for digital transformation in India's major public and private institutions, and this trend is expected to stay. The appointment of new executives supporting our India presence reiterates New Relic's commitment to guiding businesses and organisations to deliver enhanced digital experiences with best-of-breed observability practices to satisfy their customers especially during these challenging times,” Goodman said.

New Relic customers in India include Unacademy, Capillary Technologies and Practo - all have relied on the observability leader to underpin their digital transformation efforts. New Relic also played a significant part in assisting the Government of India in the rollout of the Covid-19 contact tracing app, Aarogya Setu.

Mitron TV To Host Live Session With President Of The Public Health Foundation Of India - Prof DR. K. Srinath Reddy On July 24


Mitron TV, India’s leading homegrown short-format video application, has got on board one of the prominent personalities from the medical fraternity, President of Public Health Foundation of India, Prof. Dr K. Srinath Reddy as part of their #VirusToVaccine campaign. Dr Reddy will be a part of Mitron's #LiveSamvaad on the 24th of July, which features healthcare luminaries every Saturday at 7:00 PM. 

Prof. Dr K. Srinath Reddy was appointed as the First Bernard Lown Visiting Professor of Cardiovascular Health at the Harvard School of Public Health in (2009-13) and presently serves as an Adjunct Professor of Epidemiology at Harvard (2014-2023). He holds advisory positions in several national and international bodies and recently published a book ‘Make Health in India: Reaching A Billion Plus’. Besides, Dr Reddy is the first Indian to be elected to the National Academy of Medicine, USA and was awarded several prestigious international and national doctorates and fellowships. He was President of the World Heart Federation (2013-15). The Padma Bhushan awardee is also an Advisor to the Governments of Odisha, Punjab, Haryana and Andhra Pradesh on Public Health. Additionally, he served as a physician to two Prime Ministers of India.

In the last two months, the short format video app has held several live sessions with prominent medical practitioners such as Dr Arvinder Singh Soin, Chairman, Medanta Liver Institute and Lead Investigator, Indian RCT on Tocilizumab in COVID, Prof. Dr J.A. Jayalal, National President, Indian Medical Association, Prof (Dr) Ashok Seth, President Asia Pacific society of International cardiology & Chairman of Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, Padma Shree Presidential Awardee Prof. Dr Sanjeev Bagai, Ayurveda Ratna Awardee Dr Pratap Chauhan & Orthopedic Specialist Dr Kaushal Kant amongst the others. 

Through the #VirusToVaccine campaign Mitron aims to debunk vaccination myths and rumours about the virus while educating the citizens with accurate information. Considering new variants of the virus are coming into existence, millions of people are still unaware of things like the first step one should undertake when someone has flu, cold and cough, whether a person should get vaccinated after being tested positive, amongst others. Dr Srinath Reddy will also discuss how an individual should respond to the coming months and the expected ‘third wave’. 

The battle against COVID-19 is ongoing across India and the globe. With the help of this campaign, Mitron TV ensures reaching out to as many individuals as possible and help them through the platform. These live sessions are being conducted every Saturday at 7:00 PM on Mitron TV. For any further guidance and support required, users can send their queries to info@mitron.tv.

About Mitron TV:

Launched in April 2020, Mitron is a short-format video app that allows users to create, upload, view, and share one-minute videos. Founded by young entrepreneurs Shivank Agarwal and Anish Khandelwal, the ‘Made in India’ app was launched to support and showcase local talent across categories and to provide short-form entertainment to Indian smartphone users.

In just a few months, the app has crossed 50+ million downloads on the Android Play Store and has 9 billion video views per month. Recently, Mitron raised USD 5 million, in a fund-raising round, led by Nexus Venture Partners, 3one4 Capital and other angel investors like Deep Kalra (MakeMyTrip), Amrish Rau (Pine Labs), Jitendra Gupta (Jupiter Money) and others.

Get High On Entertainment With The All New Lava Z2s Mobile

 


Lava International Ltd, a leading Indian mobile handset company today unveiled the all-new Z2s smartphone for entertainment seekers. Equipped with a huge 6.5 inch HD+ IPS water drop notch display and a 5000 mAh battery, the new Lava smartphone gives a bigger canvas to fulfil the entertainment needs of an individual in the affordable category. Launched at a limited time offer price of Rs 7,099, the smartphone can be currently purchased from e-commerce platforms like Flipkart & Amazon, Lava’s e-store, and 100k+ offline stores spread across the country.

Lava Z2s comes with a Gorilla Glass 3 protection, 2GB DDR4x RAM, 32 GB storage, and is powered by MediaTek Helio octa-core processor.  On the camera front, the smartphone offers AI enabled 8 MP rear camera and a 5MP selfie camera. The phone’s high-quality HD+ IPS display combined with the loud and clear sound of its inbuilt speakers provide an immersive entertainment experience to the users. Lava Z2s sets a new standard for innovation and style by combining sophisticated technologies with long-lasting battery performance which gives an all new-experience to the viewer.

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Tejinder Singh, Head-Product, Lava International said, “The pandemic has forced people to stay indoors due to which people are experiencing an increase in screen time. This has further fuelled the demand for longer battery life, better audio and, a large screen size in budget smartphones. Recognising this need gap, we decided to come up with Z2s so that everyone can access quality entertainment at an affordable price. This android smartphone is a complete package for entertainment seekers and we are confident that it will be well accepted in the market.”

Lava Z2s runs on the latest android 11 Go OS. On the connectivity front, the smartphone features Bluetooth version 5.0, WiFi, dual 4G SIM and OTG support. Additionally, the phone comes with 100 days free screen replacement warranty.


Purchase Links:

·         Amazon- https://www.amazon.in/dp/B098NDT1ST

·         Flipkart- https://www.flipkart.com/lava-z2s-striped-blue-32-gb/p/itm68fc6dde6c46c?pid=MOBG5Y7CTYMJY8FA

·         Lava e-Store- https://www.lavamobiles.com/smartphone/z2s

About Lava International Limited

#ProudlyIndian

We Make in India, We Make for India

Lava International Limited is a leading Indian Mobile Handset Company with operations in 20+ countries. In the international markets the company is growing rapidly and is already among the top players in many of these countries it operates in.

Lava has always been at the forefront of Govt. of India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative. Lava was the first mobile brand to take a lead in support of this important nation building program and had set up a design team in India, becoming the first brand to design phones in the country. With this ‘Design in India’ initiative, Lava is now the only Mobile handset company that makes truly ‘Made In India’ phones with complete control on design and manufacturing within the country.

With the vision to “Empower people to do more, to be more” the company was established in 2009. Lava International Limited is headquartered in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. The company has its manufacturing facilities and a repair factory in an approximately 300,000 square feet area in Noida. The manufacturing plants have a capacity of manufacturing 40 million phones per annum.

Godrej Security Solutions Launches Spotlight – A Secure Range Of Home Cameras; Aims To Capture A Market Share Of 15% By 2022


* The home camera range uses proven and broad cloud infrastructure services and capabilities from Amazon Web Services to provide robust data security for customers.

Godrej & Boyce, the flagship company of the Godrej Group announced today that its business, Godrej Security Solutions, has launched India’s most secure home camera range, the ‘Spotlight’. Designed and manufactured in India, this innovative product offers Indians best-in-class data security, so that a customer’s home and personal data stays private. The Spotlight range of cameras leverage Amazon Web Services (AWS) world-class cloud infrastructure, including on-shore data centres  in India, as well as Internet of Things (IoT), analytics, and security services to provide scalable and easy to use cloud storage options, and secure data transfer between the camera and the cloud.

Aesthetically designed, the Spotlight range is Wi-Fi enabled and is powered by a mobile app, providing extra convenience and making it user-friendly. The app provides smooth streaming and reduces bandwidth consumption. The video captured by the camera is securely streamed via Amazon Kinesis Video Streams, to a customer’s registered mobile device. The feed captured by the cameras is securely stored using AES 256-bit encryption in the AWS (Asia Pacific) Mumbai Region to ensure the solution complies with local data privacy and localization requirements. The camera series is VAPT (vulnerability and penetration attack tested) certified to ensure the data is safeguarded against real world cyber threats.

Spotlight Fixed, part of the Spotlight range of home camera products, allows you to choose a fixed viewing frame and has a flex-neck so customers can choose the required frame. The Spotlight P.T. (Pan-Tilt) allows you to move the camera round to cover a larger area with a tilt of up to 90 degrees and a pan of up to 355 degrees. The camera includes features such as a panoramic 110-degree view of your space, smart motion tracking, real time motion alerts, ultra-clear night vision, hi-fidelity mic support for two-way clear communication, and intuitive one-touch modes. Spotlight also offers video storage plans that ensures critical video is always available on the cloud. It comes with one year warranty. Customers can experience the product virtually on the company’s website before purchasing it. Spotlight starts at INR 4999 and is available on Godrej Security Solution’s shop site, Amazon and Flipkart.

The cloud-based storage offers increased security against tampering, compared to SD cards, which are vulnerable to physical theft. Having the cloud infrastructure based in India significantly reduces the number of data hops from the camera feed to the mobile phone, providing improved connectivity, speed, and reduced data latency. The pan-tilt movement via the mobile app is also quicker due to fewer data hops.

Commenting on the launch, Mehernosh Pithawalla, Vice- President, Godrej Security Solutions, said, “As connected devices are becoming increasingly popular across Indian households, the potential impact of security breaches has also increased. In response to this, we have introduced the Spotlight range of home cameras, that assures easy-to-use surveillance and the ability to constantly stay connected to your loved ones without fearing the possibility of someone spying on your home. Moreover, with proven cloud technology from AWS, we are able to address stringent data security challenges.”

He added, “This need for home security cameras has been further fueled by the pandemic as people are compelled to stay away from their loved ones. In fact, we have seen a 40% uptick in home camera demand due to this need of the hour.”

The pandemic has made consumers realize the increased need for home surveillance not only to protect property but to also secure the safety of their loved ones remotely. According to recent research, The Coccoon Effect by Godrej Security Solutions, 81% respondents worry about the health and wellbeing of their parents or children at home when they leave them alone. With lockdowns across the country and older parents stuck in different cities, home cameras are a non-intrusive way of staying connected to them. Spotlight has been designed with this in mind, by providing family view-share, where family members can access live-feeds, record, and take pictures on three separate devices.

“We are delighted to support Godrej Security Solutions. By using advanced AWS IoT, and security services such as AWS IoT Core, Amazon Kinesis Video Streams, and AWS Key Management Services (KMS), Godrej Security Solutions is optimizing their product for video efficiency, data volume management, and meeting core security and compliance requirements,” said Vaishali Kasture, Head- Enterprise, Mid-Market, and Global Businesses – India and South Asia, AWS, AISPL.

The market for home cameras in India is estimated to be worth Rs 300 Cr and Godrej Security Solutions plans to capture 15% of this market by 2022. To make home security more accessible, the brand has also tied-up with 2000 local retailers/channel partners across major cities and markets.

About Godrej Security Solutions:

Godrej Security Solutions is a division of Godrej & Boyce Mfg. Co. Ltd and part of the USD 4.1 billion Godrej Group. A pioneer and leader in the business, Godrej Security Solutions Division is the largest manufacturer and marketer of Security Solutions in India. It is the largest supplier of security solutions to several prestigious banking, corporate and public institutions. For the first time in the category and the industry, Godrej Security Solutions Division has been awarded the Superbrand status. It has also won the “Most Preferred brand” award in the Home Segment. The Division currently exports its products to over 45 countries including Middle East Asia, South East Asia, Far East Asia, East Africa, the US, Europe and the SAARC Countries.

Manipal Academy Of Higher Education On The Road To Eradicating Drug Abuse


Manipal Academy of Higher Education, an institute of eminence and leading higher education provider in India, has been granted funding for a project titled “Nasha Mukt Udupi Abhiyaan by involving Young Leaders of MAHE” which is a part of the nationwide Government campaign “Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan”. Addressing the audience at a project-related event, Dr. H.S. Ballal Pro Chancellor of MAHE said that “MAHE an Institute of Excellence and Eminence has always striven hard to eradicate drug abuse and drug peddling in its campus. Our vision is to be a leading university dedicated to the pursuit of excellence by fostering disseminating and applying knowledge and instilling ethical and intellectual values to ensure and enrich the future of all the student community

Funded by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, this year-long project was undertaken by MAHE’s Department of Student Affairs led by Dr. Geetha Maiya, with the objective of raising awareness regarding the repercussions of substance abuse particularly amongst the youth, thereby creating a secure conducive atmosphere for learning and development for students in MAHE campus and in the surrounding regions of Udupi. As the principal investigator of the project, Dr. Geetha Maiya has stated that “It is an effort to educate our youth and free our society of the perils of substance abuse. I request the entire student community to help to achieve this objective by involving themselves in all activities organized as a part of the “Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan” project and help to make the entire district Nasha Mukt.

Despite the pandemic situation, MAHE is very determined in its ongoing efforts to have a drug-free campus. The project began with an International Webinar on Tobacco Control to observe World No Tobacco Day 2021, where experts from India, England, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Bangladesh discussed best practices for tobacco control and provided suggestions to strengthen policies. This was followed by a Talk by renowned psychiatrist Dr. PV Bhandary to observe the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2021. MAHE has plans to raise awareness by conducting a series of talks titled Nasha Mukt Udupi Abhiyaan Talk Series, targeting common issues relating to substance abuse. The first talk in the series was delivered by Dr. Rayan Charls Mathias (MAHE Student Counsellor) who addressed the audience on balancing Mental Health and dealing with substance abuse during the pandemic

On 20th July 2021, MAHE organized NMUA Talk Series #2 on “Decoding India’s Drug Laws” by Dr. Vinod C Nayak (Professor & Coordinator for Centre for Clinical & Innovative Forensics, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal).

Simultaneously, MAHE has also organized E-Poster and Slogan Writing competitions open to students across India to raise awareness of this project amongst the students.