Tata Motors Joins Forces With The Government Of Gujarat, To Support Setting Up Of A Vehicle Scrapping Facility In Ahmedabad

Key highlights:

* The new facility will be compliant with the latest scrappage policy of the MoRTH, and vehicle dismantling guidelines of ARAI and Central Pollution Control Board

* The facility will be deployed for both passenger and commercial vehicles

* Scrappage centre will have the capacity of recycling up to 36,000 vehicles a year

Tata Motors, India’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturer, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), as a part of the Investment Promotion Activity, with the Government of Gujarat, through the Ports and Transport Department, to support setting up a Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facility (RVSF) in Ahmedabad, for end-of-life passenger and commercial vehicles. The scrappage centre will have the capacity of recycling up to 36,000 vehicles a year. The MoU was signed at the Investor Summit in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, in presence of Hon'ble Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, Mr. Nitin Gadkari, Hon'ble Chief Minister of Gujarat, Mr. Vijay Rupani, and other delegates from Government of Gujarat and Government of India.

Ports and Transport Department will support in facilitating the necessary approvals as per the rules and regulations of the State Government of Gujarat and the draft vehicle scrappage policy released by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) for setting up of the RVSF. It will address the intent of all stakeholders with benefits such as low import bill for scrap and crude oil, job opportunities for MSMEs, the possibility of upside in new vehicle sales for OEMs, low operation cost for vehicle owners, safer and cleaner vehicles for consumers and a sustainable environment for all. Tata Motors will set up the scrapping centre in association with a partner.

Commenting on the partnership, Mr. Girish Wagh, Executive Director & President – Commercial Vehicle Business Unit, Tata Motors, said, “We are delighted to support this initiative through a partner for the setting up of the scrapping facility (RVSF) in Ahmedabad. It is indeed a historic step for Tata Motors as the company announces its participation in the vehicle scrapping space. Appropriate scrapping of end-of-life vehicles will have sustained benefits for the ecosystem stakeholders and the environment alike. The scrappage policy by the MoRTH is a welcome move and a step in the right direction to promote safer and cleaner vehicles in India, and it is a crucial step in building a circular economy. As a responsible corporate, Tata Motors is committed to a sustainable future and look forward to support this initiative through this association with the Government of Gujarat.”

About Tata Motors

Tata Motors Limited (NYSE: TTM; BSE: 500570 and 570001; NSE: TATAMOTORS and TATAMTRDVR), a USD 35 billion organization, is a leading global automobile manufacturer of cars, utility vehicles, pick-ups, trucks and buses. Part of the USD 113 billion Tata group, Tata Motors is India’s largest and the only OEM offering extensive range of integrated, smart and e-mobility solutions. It has operations in India, the UK, South Korea, Thailand, South Africa, and Indonesia through a strong global network of 103 subsidiaries, 10 associate companies, 3 joint ventures and 2 joint operations as on March 31, 2020.

With a focus on engineering and tech enabled automotive solutions catering to the future of mobility, Tata Motors is India’s market leader in commercial vehicles and amongst the top four in the passenger vehicles market. With ‘Connecting Aspirations’ at the core of its brand promise, the company’s innovation efforts are focused to develop pioneering technologies that are sustainable as well as suited to evolving aspirations of the market and the customers. Tata Motors strives to bring new products that fire the imagination of GenNext customers, fueled by state of the art design and R&D centers located in India, UK, US, Italy and South Korea. Internationally, Tata commercial and passenger vehicles are marketed in countries, spread across Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, South East Asia, South America, Australia, CIS, and Russia.

Chola MS Enhances Their Digital Offerings To Be A Holistic Digi-Smart Insurer!

Cholamandalam MS General Insurance Company, a joint venture between the Murugappa Group and Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Group, Japan, has expanded its digital offerings further to enhance customer satisfaction with the adoption of new digital advancements. 

The company has recently introduced WhatsApp – Bot to their existing features made over the years, to embark on their journey towards becoming a fully digi-smart insurer. Their new feature is aimed at connecting customers easily and to assist their grievances instantly. The company has already introduced a number of digital features such as web-based solutions, QR-based solutions, apps, bots, etc, that include Web Chatbot – Joshu for customers; intelligent OCR for motor and health claims; customer claims portal for health; digilocker integration and many more.  

Speaking on the same, V Suryanarayanan, Managing Director, Chola MS General Insurance, said: “We seek to enhance customer satisfaction with the adoption of digital innovative solutions and initiatives. This is in line with our company’s T3 philosophy which strives to uphold Trust, Transparency and Technology at all times. We are honoured to be recognized with the award `Celent Model of the Year 2021’, under the legacy and ecosystem transformation category. This is an acknowledgment of our efforts towards digital transformation with customer centricity as the primary goal.’ 

Chola MS introduces features with the aim of making innovation happen by adopting and enabling technologies to upgrade customer engagement platforms. All their digital initiatives are designed to deliver a hassle-free customer experience with the aim of providing uninterrupted insurance services virtually.  

About Chola MS: 

Chola MS General Insurance Company Limited is a Joint Venture between the Murugappa Group and Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company Limited, Japan.  

Chola MS offers a wide range of insurance products that include Motor, Health, Property, Accident, Engineering, Liability, Marine, Travel and Crop insurance for individuals and corporates. In FY 2019-20, the company achieved a Gross Written Premium (GWP) of INR 43,982 million. Chola MS currently has 135 branches and over 40,000 intermediaries across the country.  

Chola MS champions a brand philosophy called T3, which stands for Trust, Transparency and Technology. It has also been consistently recognised and awarded by the Government of India, international entities and ratings agencies for its insurance service and delivery innovations. 

Visit www.cholainsurance.com for more information about the company and its products.  

Matrimony Reports A Strong Start To FY22; Billing Growth Of 29 Percent

* Net Profit growth of 36.5% q/q and 47.6% y/y 

Matrimony.com Limited, the leading online matrimony company, announced its unaudited standalone and consolidated financial results for the first quarter ended June 30, 2021, as approved by its board of directors. 

Murugavel Janakiraman, Chairman and Managing Director said, “We have delivered yet another good quarter with strong y/y billing, revenue and profitability growth.  This is a result of keeping our purpose at the core; the mission to create happy marriages, happy families and in turn, building a better Bharat. This purpose is reinforced through continued product innovation to enhance market positioning, customer experience and growth momentum”. 

Key financial highlights for the quarter ended June 30, 2021 

Consolidated 

Billing at Rs 105.2 crores (decline of 1.4% q/q and growth of 29% y/y) 

Revenue at Rs 105.5 crores (growth of 4.3 % q/q and 21.5% y/y) 

Profit After Tax (PAT) at Rs 13.8 crores (growth of 36.5% q/q and 47.6% y/y) 

Matchmaking 

Billing at Rs 104.7 crores (decline of 1.3% q/q and growth of 29% y/y) 

Revenue at Rs 104.9 crores (growth of 4.2% q/q and 21.8% y/y) 

Added 2.2 lakhs paid subscriptions during the quarter (growth of 31.6% y/y) 

Other highlights 

During July 2021, the Company has signed definitive agreements to acquire a 100% stake in Boatman Tech Private Limited, promoters of ShaadiSaga.com, as approved by its Board of Directors. The acquisition will be by way of share purchase from the existing shareholders for an aggregate consideration of Rs 11 crores (subject to adjustments at the time of closing). The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. 

About Matrimony.com limited 

Matrimony.com is India’s leading consumer Internet Company. It is a signature consumer internet conglomerate, managing marquee brands such as BharatMatrimony, CommunityMatrimony and EliteMatrimony. BharatMatrimony is considered the largest and most trusted matrimony brand which has also established a considerable retail presence with over 120 self-owned retail outlets across India.  The Company delivers matchmaking and marriage related services to users in India and the Indian diaspora.  The Company has pioneered several new business models such as WeddingBazaar.com, Mandap.com and CommunityMatrimony.com, a consortium of over 300 community matrimony websites. 

For more details, visit https://www.matrimony.com 

Bengaluru Hosts 2nd Micro Experience Of FinTech Festival India Organised By Constellar Exhibitions

* FinTech Festival India 2021-22 To Host 10 ‘Micro Experience Conferences’ In Eight Cities Followed By Mega Event In New Delhi

* FFI will be the largest government and industry convergence to power national discourse on financial literacy and inclusion

* To host 500+ speakers, 12,000+ delegates over eight months

India’s Silicon Valley, Bengaluru, today hosted the second Micro Experience of FinTech Festival India 2021-2022 for a daylong session on Investment, cyber security, digital payments and Neobanking among others. FinTech Festival India is organised by Constellar Exhibitions (a subsidiary of TEMASEK and Singapore Press Holdings which organizes Singapore FinTech Festival) and supported by NITI Aayog and six central government ministries.

The Bengaluru conference was inaugurated through key note addresses by Dr. E.V. Ramana Reddy, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Department of Electronics Information Technology Biotechnology and Science & Technology, Government of Karnataka and Smt. Meena Nagaraj.C.N , IAS, Director, Directorate of Information Technology & Biotechnology, Government of Karnataka.

Dr. E.V. Ramana Reddy, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Department of Electronics Information Technology Biotechnology and Science & Technology, Government of Karnataka, said, “Indian economy has undergone a radical transformation in the last decade. The confluence of technology and finance or fintech has been at the center of this change. In India one-eighth of the population still remains unbanked which is why holistic financial inclusion has been a key factor driving government support for fintech innovation. The Indian fintech market is currently valued at USD 31 bn and is expected to grow to USD 84 bn by 2025 at a compound growth of 22%.

Karnataka has been the most innovative state in India, ranked no 1 in India Innovation Index in 2019 and 2020. We are the first state in the country to have come out with a sector specific policies in Information Technology, Bio Technology, Startups, AVGC, ESDM, Electric vehicles etc. During the first six months of 2021, Bengaluru has attracted USD 800 mn VC funds in the fintech sector. As the Department of Electronics Information Technology Biotechnology and Science & Technology, Government of Karnataka we are engaging with various countries through our global innovation alliance partnership to collaborate in various sectors, fintech being one of them.”

The conference was also attended by some leading industry speakers such as Dr. Sriram Birudavolu, Chief Executive Officer, Cyber Security Centre of Excellence, Data Security Council of India, Lizzie Chapman, Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder, Zestmoney, Ganesh Rengaswamy, Managing Partner, Quona Capital, Anand Lunia, General Partner, IndiaQuotient, Anubhav Jain, Co-Founder, Rupifi, Anish Achuthan, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Open Financial Technologies, Madhusudan E, Member of Fintech Association for Consumer Empowerment, and Co-Founder & CEO of KreditBee and Sridhar Sidhu, Senior Vice President, Information & Cyber Security Group, Wells Fargo, Balu Ramachandran, Chief Business Officer, Simplamong others.

A white paper on ‘Karnataka – Cyber Powering India’ was also unveiled today in front of the august gathering. Published by Ernst & Young (EY), Knowledge Partner of FFI, the white paper deep-dives into the startup ecosystem of Karnataka and Bengaluru from the perspective of cyber security and cyber tech. According to the whitepaper, for Karnataka to emerge as the leader in the space of cyber tech, the state has to consider the ‘Security by Design’ approach besides ‘Building resilient Supply Chains, Critical Care and FinTech’ and ‘Implementing the recommendations of Cyber Security Vision 2025’.

Baldeep Singh Pahwa, Country Head & General Manager, Constellar Exhibitions, said, “We are delighted to host our second conference in Benagluru and extremely grateful to the Government of Karnataka for providing us with all the required support. After the successful launch of our inaugural session in Hyderabad, the discourse on fintechs and how it can boost financial inclusion was elevated to a different altitude through our daylong session in Bengaluru. True to being the country’s Silicon Valley, the city saw some great and insightful discussions on cyber security, neobanking and digital payments among others. We aim to provide a global center stage to India’s fintech ecosystem through our series of conferences thereby boosting our dream of making India the global hotspot of fintechs and startups.”

Fintech Festival India is the country’s largest FinTech confluence, to be held over the next eight months. It will witness participation from over 500 Indian and global leaders and 12,000+ delegates. FFI will see participation from Brazil, Israel, UK, Russia, Canada, Finland, Japan, Singapore among others.

FinTech Festival India is supported by Government of India’s, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), Ministry of Small & Medium Enterprise (MSME), The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Ministry of Commerce and Industry), Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Limited ( A Government of India Enterprise – Under Ministry of Information & Broadcasting) and Startup India (Department for promotion of Industry and Internal Trade & Invest India) along with Government of Karnataka’s Department of Electronics, IT, Bt and S&T along with Innovate Karnataka & K-tech.

In addition to the government, FFI which aims to unleash the power of FinTech across the country, has also drawn interest from industry including Indian insurance behemoth Life Insurance Corporation (LIC), World Trade Centre Mumbai & Bengaluru, Perfios, Lemon Yellow, Kristal.AI, NeoSOFT Technologies and other.

Fintech Festival India will be conducted in physical and digital format through 10 Micro Experience Conferences in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Delhi, Guwahati, Chennai, Mumbai, Gift City (Ahmedabad) and Pune. The festival will end with a 3-day mega event in New Delhi from March 9 - 11, 2022.

The next Micro Experience will be held in New Delhi on August 27, 2021.

About the Organiser:

SingEx-Sphere Holdings is now Constellar Holdings.

Constellar reflects our vision to become a global leader in the MICE experience space. We are building on our extensive networks cultivated over five decades of experience to bring global markets together for sustainable growth.

With the industry fast becoming a digitally-enabled intellectual property (IP) business, Constellar is ready to take advantage of these opportunities and create a new agile path for growth through reinvention and collaboration.

Constellar Holdings connects a global eco-system of event partners and consumers through a holistic portfolio of intellectual property (IP) in the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) industry.

As Asia's partner of reference for curating the innovative event and venue experiences, Constellar activates impactful networks to bring global markets, businesses and consumers together for sustainable growth. With our expertise and dedication, we are invested in helping you build trusted relationships with stakeholders for the long term and enabling cross-industry collaboration through world-class audience engagement solutions.

Constellar is headquartered in Singapore. Founded in 2021, it brings together decades of experience with an intrepid team of experienced specialists around the world.

This Independence Day, Watch Bollywood's Youth Icon In Action On discovery+ Original 'Mission Frontline With Sara Ali Khan'

After the great success of the first chapter of Mission Frontline with Rana Daggubati, discovery+ launches the most anticipated episode of Mission Frontline with Sara Ali Khan. The special show gives the audiences a glimpse into the lives of the Veerangana force, an all-women commando unit of India whilst shining light upon their inspiring stories of bravery. Sara Ali Khan, is seen in a unique avatar, donning the commando uniform, stepping into the shoes of a Veerangana and performing vigorous drills.

This special show is a dedication to Veerangana Force and is bound to evoke a deep sense of appreciation for these unsung heroes. To tackle grave issues against the women of the country, the Assam Police launched a commando unit in 2012 called the Veerangana Force. This special platoon was raised to check violence against women on the streets of Assam. At the unit, the Veerangana force learns handling weapons in sensitive situations, maintaining control during a domestic riot, and executing hand-to-hand combat. Training with the unit has given these women the strength to move forward and protect other women facing a similar fate.

In the special episode, Sara Ali Khan is seen first-hand experiencing the difficult life of a Veerangana in Assam to see what these female commandos go through as they prepare for duty. Starting with the drill training, the actress is seen learning Krav Maga, an Israeli self-defense form during the practice. Followed by rock climbing, an essential training that prepares soldiers to move through terrains. She is also seen getting familiar with weapons for tactical firing. The last part of the training involves the simulation mission of saving the girls being held hostage in human trafficking racket.

A message for Indian women:

The actress after going through rigorous training with the squad said, “I feel not only commandos, but every single woman should learn these techniques as circumstances don't knock our doors before coming. I think one should always be fit and ready to tackle these situations”.

Experience shooting with Veerangana Force:

Sara Ali Khan said, “As an actor, I have always believed in reinventing myself and try to take up diverse roles and different kinds of physical activity. Training with this unit is one of toughest challenges I have taken up until now. The kind of vigorous drills they go through daily is truly commendable and watching them do it so effortlessly left me startled. I am not a hero, but I did have the honor and privilege of training with a few because they are indeed the true heroes of our country. I salute the women's force. Jai Hind!”

Talking about having Sara train with force, Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta I.P.S, Director General of Police Assam in the show said, “The Veerangana's lead a tough life and undergo vigorous drills on a daily basis, it was great to watch Sara Ali Khan stepping into the shoes of a Veerangana warrior by training with the unit and pushing herself to accomplish the strenuous tasks.”

Mission Frontline with Sara Ali Khan streaming now only on discovery+.

You can view the trailer here - https://youtu.be/c2pTcck08KE

Sara Ali Khan post the trailer on her Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/p/CSgMIE_D8-u/?utm_medium=copy_link

About discovery+ 

‘discovery+’ is an exciting new D2C streaming app, launched to satiate the unmet need of a differentiated product offering premium real-life entertainment. Priced competitively with an introductory offer of INR 399 per annum, the app has been developed and curated specifically for India. discovery+ offers thousands of hours of exclusive content across 40+ genres, including Science, Adventure, Food and Lifestyle, in 8 languages including Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Bengali & Marathi. The premium subscribers have access to a vast selection of never-seen-before Premium Discovery titles, must-watch documentaries, India originals and exclusive acquisitions. Free users of the app have access to all-time favorites from the Discovery library.

Healthy Vision And Proper Eye Care Tips During The Exam Season

By Dr. Vamshidhar, Phaco Refractive Surgeon MaxiVision Eye Hospital

The month of March is generally associated with students across a myriad of age groups who gear themselves to appear for examinations. Due to COVID19 pandemic exams have been postponed to August. In some states the month of August is completely loaded with various semester and competitive exams.Students are busy attending various exams and preparing well for the same.The prolonged use of digital devices, books, reading, and exam pressure leads to fatigue of the most unconsidered yet vital part of our body, the eyes. 

Dr. Vamshidhar, Phaco Refractive Surgeon, Maxivision Super Specialty Eye Hospital, Hyderabad regularly interacts with patients who often complain of stress and strain to their eyes during the pre-exam period. The remedial measures required for maintaining a healthy eye have to be practiced routinely. 

Dr. Vamshidhar, Phaco Refractive Surgeon believes that When it comes to taking proper care of your eyes, there are several things that you should be aware and informed of. Only a few people actually understand the seriousness of the various exercises and steps that should be performed to maintain proper function of the eyes. 

Below are some top eye care remedies to overcome common concerns faced by many:

- Long hours of computer use often lead to eye fatigue. Less blinking of the eyes reduces the lubrication in the eye which in turn makes the yet tired, scratchy, and dry.

Remedy: Maintain a reading distance not less than 25 cms from the eye. Take adequate intervals of rest (5 to 10 minutes) in between reading for long hours. One can also relax the eyes by looking at a distant object 5 meters away.

- Dry eyes due to inadequate rest eyes are also responsible for burning eyes. It is the most common cause of infection and discomfort.

Remedy: To keep the eyes fresh, one should avoid rubbing the eyes. Splashing cold water keeps the eyes fresh and hydrated. Artificial tears or their substitutes like eye drops or lubrication helps in restoring the natural moisture of the eyes.

- Sleep deprivation due to contact lenses is another common problem that is quite dangerous if left on the eye for long hours. This also reduces the supply of oxygen to the eyes. 

Remedy:In such a scenario, one should use eyeglasses and try and alternate between lenses and glasses. Students should wear good quality contact lenses made of silicon hydrogen. It is a new material with improved oxygen mobility, which reduces the risk of discomfort.

According to Statistics  .. 5-10% of school children have strained or fatigued eyes just before start of examinations either due to sleep deprivation or rigorous revision. 

TIPS: 

1. If you are prescribed glasses, it is always advisable to wear them while studying. 

2. If you are using contact lenses, do not wear them beyond 10-12 hours per day. 

3. Avoid watching TV or mobile games. 

4. Practice 20-20-20 rule. After 20minutes of reading close the eyes for 20 seconds, and then look at a far distance of 20 feet. This will reduce strain in your eyes substantially. 

5. Use lubricant eye drops frequently Or as & when necessary.

Common precautions and care to be taken are:

- Maintain good posture while studying. Never lie flat on your back and read.

- The ideal screen positioning is a 45-degree angle between the eyes and the bottom of the screen. 

- While working with reflecting surfaces like computer terminals, use anti-reflection coated glasses, to avoid glare and eyestrain.

- It is prescribed to absolutely avoid read in dimly lit lighting arrangements which will further strain the eyes. As also to avoid reading in a moving motion while on a bus, train, or car.

- It is critical to follow a good diet that supports the changes in routine during exams. Plenty of fruits and vegetables such as carrots, spinach, papaya must be consumed. These foods are rich in beta-carotene which helps in healthy eye vision. Sufficient sleep is also important to ensure good eye health

- Regularly eye examination once a year by your optometrist/ophthalmologist even in the absence of an eye problem should be done.

Maxivision Super specialty chain of eye hospitals also regularly conduct special eye check-up drives for students during exam time. Maxivision also suggests that if there are any symptoms like constant headaches, redness in the eyes, watering eyes, and recurring pain in the eye, parents should immediately take their child to an eye-expert for a comprehensive eye check-up.

ICICI Home Finance Announces Big Freedom Month With On-The-Spot Sanction For Home Loans Without ITR

* Customers from the informal segment of the economy can avail home loans without ITR

* Flat Log in and Processing Fees on Balance Transfer

ICICI Home Finance (ICICI HFC) is launching their ‘Big Freedom Month’ with on-the-spot home loan sanction for Affordable Home Loans on August 13 and 14, 2021. 

Prospective home buyers can visit the ICICI HFC branch and avail free consultation sessions provided by experts. During the ‘Big Freedom Month’, ICICI HFC aims to assist home loan seekers who do not have income tax return proof to buy their dream home. Existing home loan customers can transfer their current home loans to ICICI HFC via Balance Transfer Facility and leverage flat Log-in and Processing fees.

Interested customers who are skilled professionals such as carpenters, plumbers, electricians, tailors, painters, welders, auto mechanics, auto taxi drivers, small vegetable merchants, kirana shop owners and their employees, laptop/computer/RO repair technicians as well as small and medium sized business owners who do not have income tax return documents can avail ICICI HFC on-the-spot home loan sanction by submitting their Pan Card, Aadhar Card and Bank account statements of past six months at the branch. They can also consult with ICICI HFC employees, who will resolve queries related to EMI payments and suggest essential steps to maintain a good credit score. 

Customers can walk-in to their nearest ICICI Home Finance branch located at Yeshwantpur branch, 1st floor No. 165 and 166 Manjunatha Chambers, Shankar Nagar, Main Road, Mahalakshmipuram, Bangalore – 560096.

Mr. Anirudh Kamani, MD & CEO, ICICI Home Finance, “Our on-the-spot sanction for home loans during the Big Freedom Month provides multiple home loan offerings, along with special expert led consultations enabling customers in the informal segment to buy their dream homes. During their visit to our branches, customers can resolve their queries and learn good financial behavior important for becoming a proud home owner. Each of our branches have local representatives, enabling us to offer loans quickly with minimal documentation.”

Home loan seekers can avail a subsidy of upto INR 2.67 lakhs under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), a credit-linked subsidy scheme (CLSS) for Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and Low Income Groups (LIG).

ICICI Home Finance has ensured vaccination of its employees and their dependent family members, as this will help ease their health worries, to create a safe environment at each of the ICICI HFC branches for both customers and partners. ICICI HFC has been observing all protocols as per MHA and MOHFW for the safety of its employees and customers during the COVID-19 period, and has undertaken proactive measures across its 157 branches and sales offices.

About ICICI Home Finance Company Limited

ICICI Home Finance Company Limited (ICICI HFC) is a Housing Finance Company registered with National Housing Bank (NHB) and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ICICI Bank Ltd.

A part of the 65-year-old ICICI Group, the vision of ICICI Home Finance is to make the dream of owning a new home come true, for millions of Indians. The primary business of the Company is to provide a range of home loans and home improvement loans, office premises loans, home equity loans to customers and construction finance to developers. It also offers services related to these loans like home and commercial property search service.

Today, the Company has over 2000 plus employees and 157 standalone branches and sales offices, including 14 zonal offices in the country.

Garware Technical Fibres Net PAT Increases By 80.6% In Q1 FY22

Garware Technical Fibres Ltd. (Formerly Garware-Wall Ropes Ltd.), a leading manufacturer of technical textiles for the Indian and global markets, today announced its unaudited financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2021.

Consolidated: Q1 FY22 Highlights:

• Net Sales increased by 59.5% to Rs. 243.1 Cr in Q1 FY22 as compared to Rs. 152.4 Cr in Q1 FY21

• Profit before tax increased by 83.2% to Rs. 41.3 Cr in Q1 FY22 as compared to Rs. 22.6 Cr in the same quarter last year

• Net profit after tax has increased by 80.6% to Rs. 31.9 Cr in the quarter as against Rs. 17.7 Cr in the corresponding period of FY21.

• EPS for Qi FY22 is at Rs. 15-49 this is a growth of 91.7% over Q1 FY21

Management Comments:

In a statement, Mr. Vayu Garware, CMD,Garware Technical Fibres Ltd. said, "Lockdowns in April and May, 21 due to the resurgence of second wave of Covid-19 across India had an impact on our domestic business. Despite that, domestic business doubled its sales and delivered a good performance over the lower base of previous year. In Q2FY22, we expect an improvement in momentum in the Domestic markets as things are getting back to normal. International Business, which had seen some continuity of business in the first quarter of last year, registered strong double digit revenue growth in this quarter. Our customers' sustained faith in our products and services helped us in the growth momentum.

Of course, our focus continues to be on safety of our team members and their families. Apart from the strict implementation of safety protocols and ensuring Covid-19 appropriate behavior, we have been able to now complete the first round of vaccinations for almost all employees and hope this will help to counteract any future negative surprises from Covid-19.

About Garware Technical Fibres Ltd. (Formerly Garware- Wall Ropes Ltd. l: (BSE: 509557 / NSE:GARFIBRES)

Garware Technical Fibres Ltd. (formerly Garware-Wall Ropes Ltd.), an ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 9001:2015 certified company is a leading player in Technical Textiles specializing in providing customized solutions to its customers worldwide. Globally, the company is known for its applied innovation in the field of sports, fisheries, aquaculture, shipping, agriculture, coated fabrics and geosynthetics. The company's products are manufactured in state-of-art facilities at Wai and Pune and marketed in more than 75 countries.

NPCI Appoints Ms. Noopur Chaturvedi As The New CEO Of NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd.

National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has announced the appointment of Ms. Noopur Chaturvedi as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd. (NBBL). As CEO, Ms. Chaturvedi’s mandate is to work on RBI’s vision to scale up the Bharat Bill Pay platform and make it the most preferred solution for all bill payments. She will work closely with the BBPS ecosystem to grow digital bill payments with superior customer experience.

Ms. Noopur comes with two decades of overall experience in the Banking and Fintech industry. Prior to joining NPCI, she has held leadership positions at PayU (Country Head – SMB) and Airtel Payments Bank (Chief – Corporate Business and Alliances). Ms. Noopur started her BFSI journey with CitiBank and has also worked with ING Vysya Bank, Samsung, and Infosys. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and management from IIM Lucknow.

NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of National Payments Corporation of India. Came into effect from April 1, 2021, NBBL is growing rapidly on account of the ease and accessibility it offers to the customers and the one-stop solution to Billers for low-cost collections. Currently, NBBL offers recurring payment services to customers across several segments, including bill payments for electricity, telecom, DTH, Gas, Education fees, water, and municipal taxes, NETC FASTag recharge, Loan repayments, Insurance, Cable, housing society charges, and others.

About NPCI

National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) was incorporated in 2008 as an umbrella organization for operating retail payments and settlement systems in India. NPCI has created a robust payment and settlement infrastructure in the country. It has changed the way payments are made in India through a bouquet of retail payment products such as RuPay card, Immediate Payment Service (IMPS), Unified Payments Interface (UPI), Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM), BHIM Aadhaar, National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC Fastag) and Bharat BillPay. NPCI also launched UPI 2.0 to offer a more secure and comprehensive services to consumers and merchants. 

NPCI is focused on bringing innovations in the retail payment systems through the use of technology and is relentlessly working to transform India into a digital economy. It is facilitating secure payments solutions with nationwide accessibility at minimal cost in furtherance of India’s aspiration to be a fully digital society.

As The Rains Continue During The Monsoon, So Do Infections

 

By Ms Kanchan Naikawadi, Preventive Healthcare Specialist, Indus Health Plus

While we have a love-hate relationship with monsoons, they do bring along viral & bacterial infections as well due to the change in weather.  But did you know that ‘eyes’ tend to be affected too during these times? Everyone needs to take a certain level of precaution to enjoy the beautiful weather without any health-related worry.  while there is enough awareness about mouth, nose, and hand protection to stay safe from COVID-19, many may be unaware about protection of their eyes

Therefore, here are some of the major and easy precautions to take during monsoon for good eye care

·         Be Hygienic. Always keep face towels, napkins, handkerchiefs, any cloth that you bring near your eyes and your hands clean. Don’t share your personal items like towels, glasses, contact lenses etc. with anyone.

·         Wear a pair of sunglasses or specs whenever you leave your house. They prevent our eyes from making contact with any foreign substance and infectious agents like virus and bacteria.

·         Treat your eyes with a lot of care. Wash your eyes with cold water daily. Don’t rub your eyes harshly after waking up or removing contact lenses as that can permanently damage the cornea.

·         Try to not wear contact lenses during monsoon as they can cause extreme dryness in the eyes and can result in redness and irritation in the eyes. Keep your glasses clean and dry.

·         Avoid the waterlogged areas because they contain a lot of virus, bacteria and fungus that can transfer and cause harm easily.

·         Eat a balanced and healthy diet to keep your bodies healthy and immune system intact to fight any infection.

The kind of infections that generally happens during the season of rains are not just scary but pretty harmful too. The most common infections that can happen to our eyes are:

·         Conjunctivitis or commonly referred to as Eye Flu. It is the irritation or inflammation of the whites of our eyes. It is extremely contagious and spreads through even the littlest of contact. Although the infection goes away in a couple of days it is necessary to keep your eyes covered.

·         Stye is an infection when a red painful lump forms near the edge of the eyelid that may look like a boil or a pimple. Styes are filled with pus and can sometimes form on the inner part of the eyelid too. A Stye will start to disappear on its own in a couple of days but applying warm washcloth regularly will help with the pain and discomfort. Don’t try to pop the boil or it will cause even more complications.

·         Corneal Ulcer is an open sore on the cornea and results in pus discharge, severe pain and blurriness of vision. It is a severe infection that can result in loss of vision and permanent blindness if not treated properly.

It is important to go for comprehensive eye check-up on yearly basis as it enables your eye doctor to observe and evaluate the health and condition of the blood vessels in your retina, which are a good predictor of the health of blood vessels throughout your body.

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited Selects Salesforce To Develop Single View Of Customers, Across All Business Units

Salesforce (NYSE:CRM), the global leader in CRM, today announced that Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) will be leveraging Salesforce to support its aggressive digital transformation strategy. BPCL has deployed Salesforce Sales Cloud and Service Cloud along with business analytics from Tableau CRM, to address an evolving business and consumer environment by digitizing the manufacturing and distribution supply chain to deliver a ‘One BPCL’ digital experience. 

Bharat Petroleum is one of India’s leading oil & gas companies, and a premier integrated energy company in India, with an intrinsic focus on customer centricity. BPCL has initiated “Project Anubhav” with an objective of delivering to its vast retail and commercial customer base of over 90 million individuals, a consistent superior and unified experience across multiple touchpoints. With Project Anubhav, BPCL is adopting key technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), internet of things (IOT) and implementing technology platforms that would cut across business units giving BPCLs teams a unified view of the customers, improve processes with increased automation and at the same time enhance employee safety. Deloitte India, a Salesforce partner, was also instrumental in the collaboration. Working with BPCL, they designed and oversaw the deployment of Salesforce and other processes in alignment with 'One BPCL' vision. 

Comments on the news: 

Arun Singh, Director (Marketing) and Director (Refineries), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, said: “Continuous innovation has always been fundamental to BPCL. Digitalization opens up the possibility of collaborative innovation, allowing teams to connect better with their dealers and customers alike. Salesforce enables increased collaboration between our sales and service functions, providing a single view of our customers to deliver an unmatched and hyper-personalised experience."

Arundhati Bhattacharya, Chairperson & CEO, Salesforce India, said: “We are excited to be on this journey with the Bharat Petroleum Corporation of India. The oil and gas industry has progressed tremendously over the past few years to become a digitally mature industry. We look forward to building a strategic roadmap to help companies such as BPCL, drive a true 360 degree view of customers. enabling them to serve their customers in a truly differentiated way.” 

About Salesforce

Salesforce, the global CRM leader, empowers companies of every size and industry to digitally transform and create a 360° view of their customers. For more information about Salesforce (NYSE: CRM), visit: www.salesforce.com.

Any unreleased services or features referenced in this or other press releases or public statements are not currently available and may not be delivered on time or at all. Customers who purchase Salesforce applications should make their purchase decisions based upon features that are currently available. Salesforce has headquarters in San Francisco, with offices in Europe and Asia, and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "CRM." For more information please visit https://www.salesforce.com, or call 1-800-NO-SOFTWARE.

About BPCL 

A Fortune Global 500 Company, Bharat Petroleum is the second largest Indian Oil Marketing Company and one of the premier integrated energy companies in India, engaged in refining of crude oil and marketing of petroleum products, with a significant presence in the upstream and downstream sectors of the oil and gas industry. The company attained the coveted Maharatna status, joining the elite club of companies having greater operational & financial autonomy.

Whistling Woods International Announces Dates For The August Round Of Entrance Exam For The 2021 Intake

* WWI offers Degree, Post-graduate & Diploma programmes in the areas of Film, Communication & Creative by Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development (RGNIYD) &the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS)  

Whistling Woods International (WWI), Asia’s premier Film, Communication, and Creative Arts institute, has announced the dates for the August round of entrance examinations for its 2021 intake.

WWI is accepting applications from film, media and creative arts aspirants for its full-time degree, post-graduate,and diploma courses for Filmmaking, Acting, Animation & Game Design, Media & Communication, Fashion Design, Music, Visual Communication Design and Event Management. Thelast date to register for the entrance exam is August 15, 2021.Following the registration, entrance exams are scheduled to take place on August 17-19, 2021.

The entrance examinations are for the following programmes: BSc/BA in Filmmaking with specialisations (Cinematography, Direction, Editing, Producing, Production Design, Sound Recording& Design and VFX); MA in Filmmaking with specialisations (Cinematography, Direction, Editing, Producing, Production Design, Sound Recording & Design and VFX);BA in Screenwriting; Integrated BSc+ PG Diploma in Animation with specialisations (2D Animation, 3D Animation, Comic Book Design, Game Design and Previsualisation); Integrated BSc + PG Diploma in Game Design; BA in Acting; BA in Fashion Design; MA in Costume Design; Integrated BA + PG Diploma in Visual Communication Design; BA in Music Production &Composition; BBA in Media & Communication; MBA in Media & Entertainment; BBA in Event Management; MBA in Event Management &Experiential Marketing;Adv. Diploma in Screenwriting; Adv. Diploma in Acting andDiploma in Screenwriting.

WWI offers degree,post-graduate and diploma programmes under an agreement withtwo of India’s leading academic institutes:Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development (RGNIYD), an Institute of National Importance and the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS),Asia's oldest institute for professional social work education. All examinations will be conducted onlineto ensure the safety of applicants.

Rated as one of the top 10film schools in the world by The Hollywood Reporter and awarded the Excellence in Creative & Performing Arts at the 6th FICCI Higher Education Excellence Awards, 2019, WWI has over 2500+ alumni successfully working with various media organisations, film production companies, and fashion houses in India and around the world. Offering an academic curriculum that combines theoretical knowledge with hands-on practical experience, along with state-of-the-art technology and infrastructure facilities and award-winning faculty, WWI produces globally qualified graduates in every field across the media and entertainment industries.

Students can visit www.whistlingwoods.net to fill the admission forms online to undertake the entrance examinations.

About Whistling Woods International

Whistling Woods International (WWI) is Asia’s premier Film, Communication and Creative Arts Institute. Founded by one of India’s leading filmmakers – Subhash Ghai, WWI is one of the largest and best media institutes in the country. ‘The Hollywood Reporter’ has rated Whistling Woods International as one of the Ten Best Film Schools in the world. The institute was also awarded Excellence in Creative & Performing Arts at the 6th FICCI Higher Education Excellence Awards 2019. WWI offers programmes that vary in duration from 1 year to 4 years catering to all major verticals of the Media & Entertainment industry, namely Acting, Cinematography, Direction, Editing, Producing, Production Design, Screenwriting, Sound Recording & Design, Visual Effects, Animation & Game Design, Media Management, Fashion Design, Music Production & Composition, Visual Communication Design and Event Management. All the programmes are accredited by Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development and the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS).

Design The Next Indian Smartphone With Lava’s ‘Design In India’ Season-2

 

* Lava’s Design in India initiative is powered by MediaTek

* Winners to get a cash prize & a pre-placement interview opportunity to join Lava’s design team

Indian mobile handset brand, Lava International Limited, today announced the launch of the second season of its ‘Design in India’ (DII) challenge. Lava’s DII contest invites entries for designing the next Indian smartphone. The contest is open to students and working professionals either presently pursuing or graduated in B.Tech/B.E., Bachelors in Design Program or Masters in Design Program from any institute across India in select specializations. The registrations will be open from 15th August to 25th August 2021.

Talking about the contest, Tejinder Singh, Head – Product, Lava International said, “As the nation focusses on Atmanirbhar Bharat, the telecom industry can play a pivotal role in facilitating this mission. India has a fantastic talent pool waiting to be tapped. Through the ‘Design in India’ challenge, Lava seeks to offer the country’s youth and other talented professionals a platform to showcase their skills for this nation-building process. Therefore, Lava’s call for entries offers them an excellent opportunity to showcase their creative skills by providing fresh perspectives in our endeavour to come up with the best smartphone prototype for the country.”

Registrations will be via Lava’s website, using the team leader’s email ID and mobile number. Students/professionals can participate in a team with a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 3 members. Any plagiarism will result in immediate disqualification of the team.

The contest will be conducted in three rounds – ideation, prototype creation and presentation to the jury. After registering, eligible candidates will receive an email intimation and gain portal access to submit a solution according to predetermined timelines. All submissions will be evaluated by a panel comprising Lava International’s senior leaders. The top 10 teams will then be shortlisted for the Prototype development round.

In Round 2, the top 10 teams will submit functional Smartphone prototypes/plans. The 5 top teams will be shortlisted for Round 3 – the Finale. Teams will be judged on three parameters – creativity, functionality and uniqueness. The final 5 teams will present their ideas to a panel constituting of Lava’s senior leadership. Sanjeev Agarwal, Chief Manufacturing Officer – Lava International will head the judging panel.

At the competition’s culmination, the top three winning teams will receive a pre-placement interview opportunity at Lava. They will also be awarded a cash prize of Rs. 50,000, Rs. 25,000 and Rs. 15,000, respectively.

Sanjeev Agarwal, Chief Manufacturing Officer – Lava International, said “During the past decade, Lava International has been instrumental in making Designing in India its forte. The company has leveraged customer insights in building products with unique propositions for consumers. We believe that India’s tech-savvy youth and its working professionals have more to provide in driving greater design options and prototypes and creating the right products for Indian consumers.”

Lava’s Design in India initiative is powered by MediaTek

Mr. Kuldeep Malik - Director, Corporate Sales, MediaTek India, said "MediaTek is delighted to be associated with Lava for the Design in India initiative. At MediaTek, we believe this is a step towards empowering the entire design community in India and have always supported Make in India initiatives. Our chips are designed keeping in mind the indigenous requirements of our discerning customers, and Lava’s contest is also built along the same lines. We wish Lava every success for a splendid contest and look forward to witnessing innovative designs from talented individuals across the country."

Lava launched the first season of Design in India challenge in July last year which received an overwhelming response from across the country. The contest received more than 12000 entries out of which three teams- Ingenium, Magma and Invincible were declared winners. The company also offered placement to the top two performers- Syamala Dasika from Sir C.R Reddy College of Engineering and Nafih Ahammed from NSS College of Engineering.

To register your team, please visit: https://www.lavamobiles.com/design-in-india-2/

For contest timelines & eligibility criteria, please visit:https://www.lavamobiles.com/terms-and-conditions#terms-and-conditions-design-in-india-2

About Lava International Limited

#ProudlyIndian l Made in India, Made 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 1,65,000 square feet area in Noida. The manufacturing plants have a capacity of manufacturing 40 million phones per annum.

Jaguar Land Rove Inaugurates A New Retailer Showroom At Mount Road, Chennai

* Jaguar Land Rover unveils a new state-of-the-art showroom at Mount Road Chennai

* The facility is spread over two levels covering a total area of 1 350 m2

* It offers a wide range of Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles on display for customers to experience   

Jaguar Land Rover India today announced the opening of a new Retailer showroom in Chennai by VST Grandeur. The impressive state-of-the-art facility is located at the prime location of Anna Salai on Mount Road offering excellent customer convenience.  It is spread over two levels, covering an area of 1 350 m2 with 11 cars on display. This new facility complements the existing JLR showroom & service facility on Poonamallee High Road in offering premium customer experience.

The new showroom allows customers to experience the range of products across the Jaguar and Land Rover portfolio, including approved pre-owned cars and showcases a wide range of Jaguar Land Rover branded accessories and merchandise for its customers. Enabled by the latest digital technologies, the brand new facility enhances customer experience and engagement with the two iconic brands.

Rohit Suri, President & Managing Director, Jaguar Land Rover India Ltd (JLRIL), said, “The well located new showroom will provide convenient access to a world class sales experience for our discerning customers. This facility will further strengthen JLR’s presence in Chennai region and also bolster our partnership with VST Grandeur with whom we have been associated for ten years.”

Customers can even book their cars by visiting the online booking platform at www.findmeacar.in for Jaguar and www.findmeasuv.in for Land Rover.

For more information on Jaguar and Land Rover product range in India, please visit www.jaguar.in and www.landrover.in

Jaguar Product Portfolio in India

The Jaguar range in India includes XE (starting at ₹ 46.64 Lakh), XF (starting at ₹ 55.67 Lakh),   F-PACE (priced at ₹ 69.99 Lakh) I-PACE (starting at ₹ 105.9 Lakh) and F-TYPE (starting at ₹ 97.97 Lakh). All prices mentioned are ex-showroom in India.

Land Rover Product Portfolio in India

The Land Rover range in India includes the Range Rover Evoque ( starting at ₹ 64.12 Lakh), Discovery Sport (starting at ₹ 65.30 Lakh), Range Rover Velar (starting at ₹ 79.87 Lakh),  Defender 90 (starting at ₹ 76.57 Lakh), Defender 110 (starting at ₹ 83.38 Lakh), New Discovery (starting at ₹ 88.06 Lakh), Range Rover Sport (starting at ₹ 91.27 Lakh) and Range Rover (starting at ₹ 210.82 Lakh). All prices mentioned are ex-showroom in India.

Jaguar Land Rover Retailer Network in India

Jaguar Land Rover vehicles are available in India in 24 cities, through 28 authorized outlets in Ahmedabad, Aurangabad, Bengaluru (3), Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai (2), Coimbatore, Delhi, Gurgaon, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Kolkata, Kochi, Karnal, Lucknow, Ludhiana, Mangalore, Mumbai (2) , Noida, Pune, Raipur, Surat and Vijayawada.

Celebrated Composer Salim Merchant To Compose Live Score At WhiteHat Jr’s Virtual Learning Event ‘CreatorSpace: MusIQ’

* Salim Merchant Will Be Joined By Internationally Renowned Art Director Anthony Christov And Budding Artist Jessiah

WhiteHat Jr, leading live one-on-one online learning platform,  is all set to host the latest edition of its open virtual learning event for children and parents titled ‘CreatorSpace: MusIQ’ focused on music and animation. To be held on August 14, 2021, at 7:30 pm IST / 10:00 am EDT, ‘CreatorSpace: MusIQ’ is a unique event where coding, music and animation converge. As a part of the event, renowned music composer Salim Merchant will be composing a live music score to inspire children to learn music and enjoy the experience of creating their own original composition. Internationally renowned art-director and production designer Anthony Christov will provide an insider’s look at the technology used in animation, gaming and music while budding artist Jessiah will give a deeper understanding of music production for the benefit of children and parents.

“Seven notes is all it takes to create magic with music. The melody can have a profound impact on the listener. Learning music can ignite all areas of child development and skills. The idea to create live music with an objective to inspire the young generation to become creators of music excites me,” said celebrated music composer Salim Merchant. “I like live online sessions as they enable thousands of children to interact and absorb which isn't possible in physical settings. I hope kids across the world will join-in and have fun.”

Internationally renowned art director and production designer Anthony Christov said, “We animate to tell stories and communicate emotions in a unique, easy-to-understand way. This imaginative world is powered by tech at the backend. I will try and make it easier for children to understand the process behind animated frames. 

I hope this session will inspire children to learn more about animation."

Budding artist Jessiah added, “Digital technology has democratized music production and has enabled virtually anyone to produce music and publish it on social media. 

During my CreatorSpace session, I plan to share my own story about learning to play multiple instruments, creating cover music, and launching my first single. My session will also touch upon the various stages of music production and will feature a live performance.”

‘CreatorSpace: MusIQ’ is a part of WhiteHat Jr’s flagship virtual interactive learning series titled CreatorSpace which addresses an exciting new topic each month with the help of world renowned experts. Earlier editions of the event have seen students engaging with global STEM leaders in the areas of Math, Coding, Satellites, Space Exploration and Gaming.

The event is fully complimentary for all enthusiastic learners and their parents and registration is open at https://creatorspace.whitehatjr.com 

About WhiteHat Jr

WhiteHat Jr’s mission is to empower kids to become creators versus consumers of technology. The company has channeled students’ natural creativity through an engaging curriculum and personalized, live teacher attention. WhiteHat Jr’s 11,000+ strong teacher workforce conducts thousands of LIVE Coding, Math and Music online classes every day on its proprietary platform.  Cumulatively, the company has conducted more than 8.5 million classes to date.

The CreatorSpace: MusIQ event will feature interesting sessions by:

Salim Merchant: Salim and Sulaiman Merchant are among India's most respected composers, having scored more than 100 films including Kurbaan, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, Fashion, Band Baaja Baaraat, Aaja Nachle, Chak De - India, etc. Salim Merchant has been part of several TV reality shows as celebrity judge including the very popular Indian Idol. In an exciting session, Salim Merchant will be composing a live music score to help children understand the art of music composition.

Anthony Christov: Anthony Christov is an internationally renowned art director and production designer who spent 18 years working on blockbuster animated films for the award-winning Pixar Animation Studios.  He also spent 12 years teaching at the Academy of Arts University in San Francisco. Anthony was the art director for the Oscar winning films WALL-E and Finding Nemo as well as the set designer for Cars and The Incredibles. In what promises to be an unmissable session, Anthony will help children understand the technology behind the animation industry and how many beloved animated characters come to life.

Jessiah: Jessy (Jessiah) is self-producing multi-instrumentalist. An up-and-coming YouTuber, her channel has more than 500K+ views and the channel consists of popular covers and original music. This year she released her first single 'Polaroid' and is now working on a debut album. Jessiah’s session will focus on the framework of producing music and about different musical instruments.

SIDBI Launches “Digital Prayaas” Programme, An App Based Digital Initiative To Reach Out To Livelihood Entrepreneurs

* Onboards BigBasket to offer loans under Digital Prayaas programme 

In order to facilitate loans to aspiring entrepreneur from the bottom of the pyramid, many of whom are new to bank (NTB), Small Industries Development Bank of India, the principal financial institution engaged in the promotion, financing and development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) has launched the programme ”Digital Prayaas” an App based end to end digital lending tool platform resulting in loan sanction accorded by the end of the day.  

Further, to cater to the aspiring youths in the urban area, SIDBI has also tied up with a major aggregator viz., BigBasket, to on board its delivery partners across the country and provide loans at an affordable interest rate for purchase of environment friendly e-Bikes and e-Vans.  

Shri Debasish Panda, IAS and Secretary, Department of Financial Services, while launching the two initiatives, appreciated the role played by SIDBI in meeting the financial requirements of the people at the bottom of the pyramid by offering loans at an affordable rate through its Digital Prayaas programme. He said that SIDBI-BigBasket initiative would create digital footprints which would further facilitate loans to the Borrower’s family members for their own micro enterprises. He also emphasized that SIDBI should enter into such an arrangement with many more partner institutions so as to increase its outreach. 

Shri Sivasubramanian Ramann, IA&AS and Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of SIDBI said, “The App facilitates speedy onboarding of loan applicants in a digital and integrated process which has made the entire programme scalable with better risk management and would further improve customer satisfaction. SIDBI is pleased to have BigBasket as its partner institution under the digital programme to provide loans to its delivery partners for purchase of environment friendly e-vehicles.” 

Speaking on this occasion, Shri Hari Menon, CEO of BigBasket said that they are delighted that SIDBI has chosen BigBasket for this partnership. The initiative to offer loans will have a positive impact on the livelihood of hundreds of our delivery associates and also fulfills its social objectives. 

The Digital Prayaas App is set to digitize the Know-Your-Customer (KYC) process and the process of e-signing and e-stamping of various documents. The onboarding of borrowers including e-KYC and Sanction based on the credit score and analytics based on the algorithms shall get done on an end-to-end basis digitally. The post sanction documentation including e-signing and e-stamping of the documents by the executants shall also be done digitally through the App. 

KreditBee Launches ‘KreditBee Card’ - A New Age Card For New India

* Aims to issue 1 Million cards by end of FY 2022

* An initiative that will assist 500,000 new to credit customers driving healthy credit culture and leading to successful financial inclusion

KreditBee, one of India’s leading digital lending platforms, today entered into the card segment with the launch of ‘KreditBee Card’. The card provides the unserved and underserved banking customers, a quick and secured access to short-term liquidity with multiple repayment options, eliminating the need to avail a separate loan. 

KreditBee has partnered with RuPay and RBL Bank for the launch of this product. KreditBee Card is a credit-line backed prepaid card for the end consumer, where the amount is loaded into the KreditBee card account once the user sends a purchase or drawdown request.

KreditBee intends to offer 1 Million cards by the end of FY22. It offers versatility and flexibility in terms of ticket size and repayment options. The customer can avail credit limit upto ₹ 10,000 that can be repaid within a single billing cycle not going beyond 45 days.

The card-holder can make multiple withdrawals or purchases (within the credit limit) while paying lesser charges (no hidden charges). The virtual card will also assist the new to credit customers, to build their credit score, to be able to then avail financing in future, ushering in a healthy credit culture and financial inclusion at the same time.

Speaking on the new product launch, Madhusudan E, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, KreditBee, said, “Credit card is an aspirational financial instrument. Less than 10% of bank customers in India have a credit card. Traditional banks and NBFCs are very stringent when it comes to issuing cards. We aim to democratize credit in India by issuing KreditBee Card, which works similar to a virtual credit card to anyone who is a responsible borrower, irrespective of their consumer demographic & income group. This is the best way for a new-to-credit customer to build credit history, which will in turn help them avail of bigger loans at a later stage. By the end of FY2022, we aim to issue 1 Million cards to the customers.”

Mr. Kunal Kalawatia, Chief of Products, NPCI said, “We are happy to collaborate with KreditBee and RBL Bank for the launch of virtual ‘KreditBee Card’ on RuPay network. We believe that this credit-line backed prepaid card dedicated to the underbanked population will serve as a catalyst to financial empowerment by making credit facilities accessible to all and drive financial inclusion in the country. This virtual prepaid card will provide a contactless as well as safe availing of credit and shopping experience for all its users. With the launch of this prepaid card, we are hopeful of witnessing increased demand for credit cards in the remote areas which in turn can further boost the penetration of RuPay cards in the country.”

Eligibility criteria for the offering: A Credit-linked Card for both Salaried & Self Employed across India

USPs of KreditBee Card:

•       100% Virtual- An e-card will be generated on the app and can be used for transactions instantly

•       Fast Access- The underwriting process is AI-driven and generates a card immediately

•       Quick Credit Upgrade- Customers can upgrade their credit limit within a single billing cycle

•       Safe & Secure- The card is generated on the KreditBee app & is M-PIN Protected

•       No Hidden Charges- A 100% transparent product with absolutely no irrational fees & charges

Here are simple steps to avail the 'KreditBee Card'

•       Sign in to the KreditBee app >> Click on the ‘KreditBee Card’ section >> Select ‘Check Eligibility’

•       To activate card, click on ‘Activate Card’ on the KreditBee App >> Provide your bank account details & sign the agreement >> Use Card to withdraw cash or make online payments

KreditBee has raised cumulative funds of over USD 200 million. This is inclusive of the recent Series-C funding led by Azim Premji’s Premji Invest, NewQuest Capital Partners, Motilal Oswal Private Equity, Mirae Asset and Alpine, earlier this year. The company at present has a user base of more than 30 Million with over 5 million credit customers. It further plans to diversify its product offering by venturing into digitally-enabled secured loans, home loans and credit lines. This also involves expanding its lending portfolio by introducing financial services like BNPL (Buy-Now-Pay-Later) and Insurance, among others.

About KreditBee

KreditBee is India’s fastest FinTech Loan Platform that offers instant personal loans to salaried and self-employed individuals, where they can avail loans up to ₹2 lakhs as per their requirement. With a strong focus on online tech-based and data-centric KYC, KreditBee envisions solving the financial inclusion gap in the varied demographic segments of the country.

The platform is backed by a Systemically Important NBFC Krazybee Services Private Limited, registered with RBI since May 2017, as well as various debt & platform partners. KreditBee is a brand of Finnovation Tech Solutions Pvt Ltd and is currently a Series-C funded entity with a cumulative fundraise of over USD 200 Million. It is backed by some key VC firms and investment entities like Azim Premji’s Premji Invest, Motilal Oswal Private Equity, TPG-backed NewQuest, South Korea’s Mirae Asset Venture, and US-based Alpine Capital.

Signify Launches EcoLink Air Purifier With UV-C Technology In India

* Expands EcoLink brand to Air Purifier segment, offering dual benefits of purification and disinfection using HEPA filters and UV-C technology

* UV-C has been used for more than 35 years as a fast and effective disinfectant for air, water and surfaces

* In a test set up, EcoLink Air Purifier inactivated 99.99% airborne pathogens[1]

Signify (Euronext: LIGHT), the world leader in lighting, today launched its EcoLink Air Purifier with UV-C technology in India. This air purifier is designed to purify and disinfect air at the same time and is equipped with a HEPA filter and UV-C lamps. While the HEPA filters help purify the air by removing dust, pollen and other particulate matter, the UV-C technology helps to inactivate airborne pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2. UV-C is a well-established method of disinfection, used to prevent the spread of diseases by disinfecting air, water and surfaces. All bacteria and viruses tested to date respond to UV-C disinfection[2].

After expanding the EcoLink portfolio earlier this year by introducing a range of EcoLink fans, the company has now grown its footprint in the electrical goods segment by launching its air purifier in the country.

As per an air quality report released by a Swiss organization, IQAir, 22 of the 30 most polluted cities in the world, including 14 in the top 15, are in India[3]. 

Local sources of pollution such as vehicles, industrial emissions, construction and stubble burning result in high concentrations of PM2.5 (ultrafine particulate matter with diameter less than 2.5 micrometers) in the air. Additionally, indoor air pollutants like dust mites, mold spores, bacteria and viruses can result in a wide variety of adverse health effects such as several diseases, headaches and respiratory disorders. Further compounding this problem is the current pandemic. A recent report in the medical journal Lancet[4] also highlights a consistent and strong evidence that the SARS-CoV-2 virus which causes COVID-19 is also predominantly transported through air.

The EcoLink Air Purifier with UV-C technology provides an effective solution to this problem by offering dual benefits of air purification and disinfection. It follows a two-step process, wherein the air first passes through an H12 HEPA filter, that filters out dust, allergens, spores, pollen, pet dander and other particulate matter. 

Next, the hi-powered UV-C lamps inside the chamber emit UV-C radiation, inactivating all known bacteria, viruses and other microbes giving out pure and healthy air. 

The UV-C lamps are placed inside the HEPA drum which in turn also helps to inactivate microbes and pathogens that maybe trapped in the filter itself.

A single unit can purify a standard size room in just ten minutes[5]. The unit comes with a user-friendly and intuitive one-touch panel displaying fan speed, temperature and air quality index (AQI). It is safe to use, easy to maintain and has automatic indicators for UV-C lamp and HEPA filter replacements. The unit is available in a black or white version and comes in three sizes: small, medium and big, for efficient performance in a variety of room sizes. The UV-C technology used in the purifier has been validated by Boston University to effectively inactivate SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, as well as other bacteria and viruses[6].

Talking about the new launch, Sumit Joshi, CEO and Managing Director, Signify Innovations – South Asia, said, “With growing evidence about the air-borne transmission of COVID-19, we need to pay close attention to the quality of the air we breathe. While air purifiers can eliminate indoor air pollutants, the urgent need of the hour is a device that not only purifies air, but also disinfects it. We have leveraged our 35 years of expertise in UV technology to develop this device that addresses the growing need for air purification and disinfection in a world that is still reeling under the pressure of COVID-19. With this launch, we are reinventing the air purification category by adding a layer of UV-C protection against respiratory infections caused by air-borne viruses and bacteria including SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19.”

Signify has been at the forefront of UV technology for more than 35 years and has a proven track record in developing innovative UV-C disinfection solutions. UV-C breaks down the DNA or RNA of microorganisms including viruses and bacteria, rendering them harmless.

About Signify

Signify (Euronext: LIGHT) is the world leader in lighting for professionals and consumers and lighting for the Internet of Things. Our Philips products, Interact connected lighting systems and data-enabled services, deliver business value and transform life in homes, buildings and public spaces. With 2020 sales of EUR 6.5 billion, we have approximately 39,000 employees and are present in over 70 countries. We unlock the extraordinary potential of light for brighter lives and a better world. We achieved carbon neutrality in 2020, have been in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index since our IPO for four consecutive years and were named Industry Leader in 2017, 2018 and 2019. News from Signify is located at the Newsroom, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. 

Dream Capital To Infuse US$250M In The Indian Start-Up Ecosystem

* Multi-stage investment strategy to nurture the next generation of unicorns

Dream Capital (DreamCap), the Corporate Venture Capital and M&A arm of Dream Sports, today announced a corpus of US$250M to unlock the high growth potential of startups in sports, gaming and fitness-tech industries in India. Over the past one year, DreamCap has already invested in 8 start-ups in India, such as SoStronk, DreamGameStudios, Elevar, FanCode and DreamSetGo.

As the Corporate Venture Capital and M&A arm of Dream Sports, DreamCap will follow a multi-stage investment strategy ranging from US$1M to $100M ticket sizes, with in-depth coverage of the sports, gaming and fitness-tech sectors. Through its selective process, DreamCap is looking to support start-ups with disruptive technology, great products, data insights and the potential to achieve at least US$100M individually in annual revenues within five years. To date, it has assessed over 250 start-ups and invested in 8 companies. Some representative investments include the acquisition of DreamGameStudios (formerly known as Rolocule) - a mobile gaming studio building best-in-class sports games, as well as a minority investment in SoStronk - a B2C Esports platform for all competitive gamers and Elevar - a D2C performance sports footwear and equipment brand. DreamCap is also doing large follow-on rounds in DS incubated businesses like FanCode and DreamSetGo.

While talking about the capital investment strategy, Harsh Jain, CEO & Co-Founder of Dream Sports, said, “Dream Sports has a collective user base of 125 million sports fans, and we recognise the great growth opportunities in sports, gaming and fitness-tech in India. As entrepreneurs ourselves, we are here to back other entrepreneurs through Dream Capital and provide them with access to our 125 million-strong user base and operational support from our expert team of CXOs.”

Added Dev Bajaj, Managing Director, Dream Capital, said, “As a multi-stage CVC, we provide patient capital plus deep tactical insights to startups to increase their probability of success. Our aim is to complement entrepreneurs with our strategy, product, and marketing knowledge that is not typically accessible at an early stage.  

DreamCap is always looking to add talent to its team of entrepreneurs and VC/PE professionals with a passion for sports and gaming.”

Dream Sports is at the intersection of sports, gamification and technology with over 125M users. It has already made an impact in the sports ecosystem fuelled by the growth in digital infrastructure. However, this only scratches the surface of India’s potential, leaving a plethora of white spaces yet to be explored - specifically in the areas of Sports, Gaming and Fitness. A robust demand, a large market of fans, and a complementing pool of talent place India at an advantage to become a global hub for these fast-growing industries and unlock its enormous population’s economic value.

About Dream Sports:

Dream Sports is India’s leading sports technology company with brands such as Dream11, the world’s largest fantasy sports platform, FanCode, a premier digital sports platform that personalizes content and commerce for all sports fans, Dream Capital, a CVC and M&A arm, DreamSetGo, a sports experiences platform, and DreamPay, a payment solutions provider. It has founded the Dream Sports Foundation to help and champion sportspeople and is an active member of the Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports, the nodal body for the Fantasy Sports industry in India. Founded in 2008 by Harsh Jain and Bhavit Sheth, Dream Sports has a mission to ‘Make Sports Better’ and is located in Mumbai. Dream Sports has been consecutively featured in the Top ‘Great Places to Work’ as the only sports tech company since 2018.

Force Motors Registers Sales Growth Of 181% In The April-July Period

 * The company also registered growth of 243% in Exports  

Force Motors Limited registered a sales growth of 172% in the domestic market and 243% in exports during April - July 2021. The company sold (domestic plus exports) 6,486 units in the period April to July 2021 as compared to 2,311 units sold in the first four months of the previous year.  

EBITDA for the quarter ended June 30, 2021 stood at Rs. 51 Cr. as against Rs. (44) Cr. for the quarter ended June 30, 2020, indicating a growth of 214%. 

The company continued to consolidate its leadership position in the Large Vans segment. It witnessed growth on the back of bulk purchases of its Ambulance range made by various state governments, hospitals and service providers to enhance the healthcare infrastructure. The All-new Trax Ambulance was well received and is establishing itself as the “best value for money” patient transport ambulance on account of its rugged build and all terrain capability.   

Speaking on the company’s sales performance, Mr. Prasan Firodia, Managing Director, Force Motors Ltd. said, “The pandemic severely impacted our key segments like tour and travel, staff transport and school bus which have still not revived. We salvaged the situation by quickly responding to the urgent need of strengthening the healthcare infrastructure in the country. Despite restrictions imposed by the lockdown, we ramped up our ambulance production capacity five-fold and executed multiple triple-digit requirements from order to delivery in less than a week. We also initiated actions to acquire a broader consumer base and increase our reach through various digital platforms. These efforts made in the previous quarters have yielded positive results”. 

About Force Motors Limited 

Force Motors was established in 1958 by Shri N. K. Firodia, with the vision to provide affordable commercial transport for the masses by harnessing the best available technology and offering economical, reliable, and efficient products. 

Today, Force Motors is a fully vertically integrated automobile company manufacturing automotive components, aggregates, vehicles, and agricultural tractors. Its ‘Traveller’ and ‘Trax’ vehicle ranges are market leaders in their respective segments. 

Force Motors is the flagship of the company group headed by Dr Abhay Firodia which has 15 manufacturing units across the country and a 12,000-strong workforce. 

Force Motors is the only company in the world that produces engines for both Mercedes and BMW. In March 2018, it entered into a JV with Rolls-Royce Power Systems AG to manufacture in India and supply worldwide their 10/12-cylinder S1600 engines (545 to 1050hp) for power generation and under floor rail applications. 

Michelin 295/ 80R22.5 X® Multi™ Z2 Tyres For Bus Applications Launched In India

Michelin, the world’s leading tyre company announced the launch of MICHELIN 295/ 80R22.5 X® MULTI™ Z2, the latest addition to Michelin’s best-selling range of commercial vehicle tyres in India. Packed with latest revolutionary technologies, this “Made in India” all-position tyre fitment for Regional and Highway bus operations offers market-leading safety features and mileage.  

Gaganjot Singh, President of Michelin Africa, India and Middle East Region said: “In line with our global strategy of Sustainable Mobility, we continue to boost our portfolio in India with products that are fuel efficient, safe and have longer life. MICHELIN 295/80R22.5 X® MULTI™ Z2 meets a complex set of specifications by incorporating Michelin’s latest patented technologies that brings uncompromised safety performance to our targeted customers and to help meet their delivery timing and efficiency. Adoption of this new tyre will help bus fleet owners to increase productivity and improve their business’s total cost of ownership. I am convinced that this new offer from Michelin will stir the bus tyre markets across India with its exceptional high performance and value to fleet customers”  

CUSTOMER BENEFITS OF MICHELIN 295/ 80R22.5 X® MULTI™ Z2 

TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP 

MARKET LEADING TYRE MILEAGE: Self-regenerating tread design reduces wear rate to prolong tread life up to 30%** 

EVEN WEAR: Reinforced tread plies to flatten contact patch and improve uneven wear. 

MULTI-LIFE: Reinforced bead, thanks to Duracoil technology enhances bead endurance for multiple retreadabality 

STRONG SAFETY PROFILE 

SUPERB HANDLING: Self-regenerating tread design for better vehicle control in all driving conditions. 

ALWAYS IN CONTROL: Reinforced tread plies that help reduce the risk of sudden pressure loss for better vehicle control. 

DURABLE: Strengthened bead endurance for reduction in tyre damages linked to repetitive long distance high-speed usage. 

ONTIME PERFORMANCE 

CONTINUOUS MOBILITY: Self-regenerating tread design improves mobility in all weather conditions 

EXTENDED USAGE: Infinicoil technology extends mobility even when punctured 

MORE UPTIME: Stronger bead endurance for reduction in tyre damages linked to continuous usage cycle 

PERFORMANCE AND VERSATILITY, FROM NEW TO THE END OF THE TYRE’S WORKING LIFE 

All X® MULTI™ tyres feature the 3PMSF symbol which indicates better grip performance in all weather conditions. Even when part worn, with just 2mm of remaining tread depth, MICHELIN X® MULTI™ tyres continue to benefit from 3PMSF certification (***). 

Like all Michelin truck and bus tyres, MICHELIN X® MULTI™ tyres can be regrooved and retreaded, thereby contributing to Michelin’s ‘Everything Sustainable’ plan. 

Extended tyre life in-line with circular-economy thinking allows truck operators to reduce both their running costs and their environmental footprint, while still benefiting from the maximum potential of their tyres. 

The new MICHELIN 295/ 80 R22.5 X® MULTI™ Z2, is now available at Michelin’s authorized truck tyre dealers’ outlets across the nation.  

*With Multiple retreads using Michelin Recamic tread bands along with regular alignments and vehicle maintenance as per Michelin User  Manual 

**Based on internal Michelin mileage tests conducted versus same size tyres from a leading international brand in India.  

*** Michelin internal study done by UTAC,in June 2020. Traction-performance test on snow (3PMSF) on aVolvo FH42TB- 2018 equipped with MICHELIN X® MULTI™ X Multi Z2 tyres). Results may vary according to road and weather conditions.