Tech Cluster Like Mysuru Attracting Deep Tech VLSI Offshore Design Centre First Time In India

* The synergy will initiate a Global Entrepreneurship Centre to harbour more than 100 start-ups for innovation and enterprise establishment

* Focus on innovative technologies in the areas of Rural Livelihoods, Healthcare and Education, Energy, Waste Management and Sanitation among others

The Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM) in its endeavour to augment India’s start-up ecosystem and collaborative innovation, today entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering-Science & Technology Entrepreneurs Park (SJCE-STEP) in Mysuru. This MoU highlights KDEM’s prowess in intensifying its drive to build a robust start-up ecosystem while spotlighting skill development, employment generation, and overall development across Karnataka.

Signed today in Mysuru, this MoU will help KDEM and SJCE-STEP to create a symbiosis of investment support, mentorship, start-up incubation, and rural entrepreneurship. KDEM will function as a knowledge bridge between the Government of Karnataka and the industry and will facilitate the setting up of a Global Entrepreneurship Centre in order to accommodate more than 100 start-ups. Together, KDEM and SJCE-STEP will provide unsurpassed facilities for enterprise establishment and innovation.

Speaking on this important development, Shri B V Naidu, Chairman, Karnataka Digital Economy Mission said, “The Karnataka Digital Economy Mission has been unwavering in its commitment to harness the limitless potential of the state’s digital economy in order to transform the lives of the people. This MoU with SJCE-STEP is a stride in this direction and with their expertise, it will surely give us leverage in reinforcing talent building, stimulating entrepreneurship and innovation throughout Karnataka.”

Dr. E.V. Ramana Reddy, Additional Chief Secretary- Department of Electronics, IT-BT & S&T graced the event virtually and said, ”I congratulate KDEM and SJCE-STEP for creating this platform for all of us to connect and boost an innovation ecosystem in the city of Mysuru. Global players like Infosys, Wipro, IBM, L&T, etc have played a vital role in nurturing the talent and providing global exposure to the local ecosystem. We now look forward to PROXLEERA furthering the ecosystem of Mysuru and Karnataka and supporting the initiatives of the Government of Karnataka to keep reaching global heights. With the VLSI design expertise and IT projects in the Digital and Analog domain, Mysuru will learn a lot from the companies. PROXLEERA will also benefit from the rapidly increasing skilled workforce. Karnataka has always been at the forefront in promoting the idea of innovation and a tech-focused ecosystem and we can further accelerate this by supporting the smaller cities and thereby facilitating their transformation into an economic powerhouse.”

Commenting on this partnership, Mr Sanjeev Kumar Gupta, MD & CEO Lahari said, “KDEM and SJEC-STEP will leverage our unique strengths to proliferate the growth of world-class digital ecosystem in the state of Karnataka. Our mission is to go beyond attracting investments, Together, we aim at strengthening the deep tech ecosystem in cluster markets by creating a scale infrastructure and robust skill-poll of global standards. This initiative will play a pivotal role in furthering skill development in the technology space for the youth and boost employment while stimulating talent. Our purpose will be to go above and beyond the purview of this MoU in creating a robust entrepreneur ecosystem.”

Established in 1985, the SJCE Science & Technology Entrepreneurs Park (STEP) has evolved and groomed entrepreneurs while promoting more than 300+ enterprises. Over the years, SJEC-STEP has successfully collaborated with R&D centres, industries, and institutions to leverage skill and knowledge for the rising student community.

Commenting on the MoU and its association with KDEM, Shiv Shankar, CEO, SJCE-STEP said, “On behalf of SJCE-STEP, it gives me immense pleasure to partner with the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission and be a part of their game-changing mission. With KDEM’s reach and our expertise, we are very hopeful of enabling an enriching platform to the ascending start-up environment of Karnataka.”

SJCE-STEP has a wide range of entrepreneurs, mentors, and expertise from all sectors on board along with strong support from industry partners such as ALTAIR, METI, Rang-Sons, Vinays, Design Tech and Ecosystem Partners such as MSME, K-Tech, TiE, DST, CII, MEITY, EDII, CFTRI. SJCE-STEP has impacted over 20,000 people, conducted more than 1,000 training programs, and incubated to establish 150+ enterprises.

About Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM)

With an objective to increase the share of the Digital economy in the state, the Government of Karnataka set up the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM), a Section-8 organization, which acts as a knowledge bridge between the industry and the government. To meet the objectives, KDEM has been working towards the five focus areas, viz. IT Products & Services, BPM & GCC promotion; Innovations & Start-ups; ESDM; Beyond Bengaluru; and Talent Accelerator.

Landmark Moment In India-UAE Trade & Investment Relations: FICCI

* SMEs & Start-ups will benefit from India-UAE CEPA

The signing of the CEPA between India and UAE is a major step towards strengthening the bilateral relations and boosting trade and investment between both countries, as India-UAE commemorate the Golden jubilee of our Diplomatic Relations. The completion and signing of this document happened in record time, even amid a pandemic demonstrating the strong commitment towards strengthening the ties between both countries.

CEPA will lead to opening doors to new opportunities for trade and investments. It may be kept in mind that UAE also acts as a gateway for our industry to get market access to the expanded GCC markets, West Asia, Africa, and even the CIS region.

Commenting at the signing of the agreement, Mr Sanjiv Mehta, President, FICCI said, “We in FICCI applaud the leadership of our two countries in making CEPA a reality in record time, even amid a pandemic. There are many areas which will benefit from this agreement. However, one area of the great mutual interest is innovation and start-ups, led by technology driven processes. We can visualise partnerships in health-tech, edu-tech, fin-tech, Industrial Revolution 4.0 and many more areas. Indian Industry feels such engagements will also help in tapping global opportunities together, particularly in the GCC and African markets.”

With this FTA there will be an immediate boost in people to people contact too. The relationship will transition from traditional to tech-led business and enhance prosperity of our people as a natural consequence.

Capri Global Capital Ltd Receives “Great Place To Work® Certification”

Capri Global Capital Ltd. (CGCL), a diversified NBFC focusing on MSME lending and housing finance has received the “Great Place to Work® Certification”. The distinguished honor reflects the company’s present employee’s and their working experience as well as a testament to CGCL’s commitment to building a diverse and supportive workplace. 

Driving innovative people-centric practices, the company has meticulously invested in its people and workplace culture. The recognition highlights the Company’s sustained focus on fostering a culture of high trust, integrity, growth, and care for the employees. The company has built a strong network of 2800+ employees across 110 branches located in ten States and Union Territories of the country. 

In celebration of the momentous occasion Mr. Rajesh Sharma, Managing Director, Capri Global Capital Ltd said, “We are truly honored for being certified as Great Place to Work by the world's most coveted study of workplace excellence. The certification is a testament to our continual efforts in ensuring people across the level, genders, departments are valued, heard, and empowered. Since inception, we have endeavored to create a workplace of choice and pride, offering equal opportunities and zero discrimination. We will continue our passion for people-first organization and try excelling the bar of better organization.” 

Great Place to Work® is the global authority on workplace culture. The organization has been studying employee experience and people practices across businesses for over three decades. In India, the institute partners with more than 1100 organizations annually across over 22 industries to help them build High-Trust, High-Performance Cultures™ designed to deliver sustained business results. Hundreds of CEOs and CXOs from India Inc. are part of the great place community that is committed to the vision of making India a great place to work FOR ALLTM.    

CGCL addresses the capital needs of MSMEs by offering tailor-made business loans to help them finance their capital and operational expenses. Capri Global Housing Finance Limited, a subsidiary of CGCL, operates in the affordable housing finance space is providing home loans to Lower and Middle-Income families, and is a key contributor to the PM’s vision of “Housing for All” by 2022. 

About Capri Global Capital Limited  

Capri Global Capital Limited (CGCL) is a Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and National Stock Exchange (NSE) and is part of the NIFTY Smallcap 100 Index. The Company operates in two major verticals – MSME Loans and Affordable Housing Finance – through its strong network of 110 branches spread across 11 states & Union Territories and backed by a strong and committed workforce of 2,800+ employees in the country. CGCL addresses the capital needs of MSMEs by offering tailor-made business loans to help them finance their capital and operational expenses. Capri Global Housing Finance Limited, a subsidiary of CGCL, operates in the affordable housing finance space providing home loans to Lower and Middle-Income families and is a key contributor to the PM’s vision of “Housing for All” by 2022.  

Twitter Introduces A New Label To Allow “Good Bots” To Self-Identify Themselves

Today, Twitter has introduced a new feature for automated accounts (also known as “bots”) to self-identify as “good bots” by adding a label () to their Profile - helping people differentiate automated from human-run accounts. Starting today, all automated accounts will have the option to add the new label to their account Profile. The label will give people additional information about the bot, and help them decide which accounts to follow, engage with, and trust.

This update comes as a result of research that found that people wanted more context around the accounts they interact with- the label will help give “good bots” (those that share helpful/relevant information and intend to genuinely improve the Twitter experience) a way to increase their legitimacy and build trust and transparency with their audience.

We’re all looking for ways to cleanse our timelines these days - and there are a whole slew of “good bots” on Twitter that can help us do that. Good bots can help people find useful, entertaining and relevant information every day - from sharing COVID-19 updates, to notifying people of traffic updates, to even helping people find internships. There’s a whole community of developers that are working hard to build bots that are genuinely useful and interesting.

#GoodBots help people stay apprised of useful, entertaining, and relevant information. In the spirit of celebrating good bots, here are a few good bots on Twitter India to note:

@mumbaitraffic

@bloodreqbot

@CovidvaxBLR

@internfinder

@TheGermanBot

90+ My Tuition App To Create 10,000+ Entrepreneurial Opportunities

* Launches ‘90+ Connect’ to create young entrepreneurs for India

90+ My Tuition App, a burgeoning Indian Edtech startup, has pledged to create more than 10,000 young entrepreneurs within the next six months. With the launch of 90+ connect, the company aims to bring revolution by building and supporting the entrepreneurial ecosystem of the Indian edtech space.

The programme is inspired by the Indian government's Startup India initiative, which emphasises on mentoring, supporting, and assisting new businesses. The initiative is being launched with an aim to contribute to the expansion of the entrepreneurial environment in Indian edtech space. The program will focus on shaping young ‘Edupreneurs’ to operate their own strategic business unit. 

Speaking on the launch, Mr. Vingish Vijay, Founder & Vice President of 90+ My Tuition App said, "We at 90+ My Tuition App are pleased to announce 90+ connect for  young professionals who want to start their own entrepreneurial journey. We will assist such dreamers in achieving their goals by providing them with outstanding resources and all other assistance they may need along the way. Speaking from my personal experience, it takes a lot of courage to be an entrepreneur. It's a wonderful opportunity for those young dreamers working in the edtech industry to launch their own businesses."

90+ My Tuition App is an edtech startup started by Vingish Vijay in 2018 with the aim of educating India affordably. The company offers CBSE and 14 state board curriculum tuition at a competitive price. Because of its high-quality, affordable services, the firm was successful in attracting over five lakh subscribers in its first year. Owing to the immense success it received in the country, the company has lately expanded its services to CBSE students in the GCC nations.

To register for 90+ Connect: https://mytuitionapp.com/

About 90+ My Tuition App

90+ My Tuition App is India’s best-in-class Tuition App helping students to achieve exceptional grades through digital visualization in an affordable way. With the start of lean operations in 2018 and the launch of classes in May 2020, the App has touched the lives of more than 5 lakh students within a year. With the vision of “Educating India Affordably”, 90+ My Tuition App provides the most simple and accessible content pedagogy for 14 State Education boards and CBSE board curriculum for 5th to 12th division. With an 86% program completion rate, robust tech platform, outcome-based learning approach, state board and NCERT curriculum, a testament of students with exceptional grades, strong mentorship, 90+ My Tuition App has established its position as a substitute for physical tuitions in the Indian education system. 90+ has recently launched its second premium product 90+ Top Rank for students aspiring for competitive examinations. Its first initiative is coaching for PSC aspiring students in Kerala. The upcoming modules will be for training SSC and Railway aspirants. 

Data And edge – ‘Da-Edge’, To Be A New Phenomenon In The Banking Industry Across Indian Market

 

By Nilesh Gupta, Head of CloudFirst & Edge Services, 3i Infotech 

The digital payment space across the world has witnessed a steady transformation since March 2020. The lockdown period in major countries witnessed significant limitation in spending among consumers with the physical currency and forced them to use digital wallets and online mode of payments. Businesses and consumers including me found alternative payment methods choosing digital over cash payments and safer procurement methods with e-commerce from groceries to luxury items. When more than half of the world went online, so did the growth of data on the edge. To be more precise - intelligent data could empower these digital wallet companies, financial institutions and banks to know more about you and me with the power of Artificial Intelligence and big data built together.  

The digital footprint, that includes all the trail of data consumers leave behind while using the online mode for spending is easily accessible to these companies, with them keeping a close tab on our when, what, how, where etc. Also, with this same data, banks suggest and take informed decisions on our behalf as to where our next investment should be, renew our insurance based on last purchase and if possible, suggest a better premium, offer more discount on our favorite restaurant the next time we visit etc. With respect to banking industry, data and edge are going to be a new phenomenon in the making. If I had the liberty to coin a new word, I would call it ‘Da-edge’ (pronounced as: the-edge). 

In the banking industry, edge services will be an important component for mission-critical infrastructure that will be even more powerful when combined with AI, cloud, and 5G. With Covid-19, customer experience had a new benchmark and it essentially kept technology and business model compete with each other. Though the banking sector is invested heavily in legacy infrastructure for reasons we all know best, yet the industry is known for being an early adopter of next-gen technologies including cloud, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, blockchain and more. Many of the banks are now moving out of their legacy infrastructure to tap the new phenomenon and provide a better customer experience every day. 

With the ability to put infrastructure and applications at the edge, banks can speed up their real-time alerts by processing their data at the edge and creating a genuinely on-demand customer experience. Let’s imagine you are at an offline store buying a shoe, at the payment counter you don’t want to enter your passcode, but instead use the banking app on your smartphone which then becomes your swiping machine and with just your good-looking selfie, the payment is done. This means AI-based real-time video analytics needs to be executed to connect to your bank, make an informed decision to approve the payment based on validation of the selfie (by choice or forced) and account balance to pay the store. The combination of edge computing and cloud will help banks utilize these distributed systems by processing data on the edge location and sending relevant data to the cloud to be processed and saved. 

Imagine the death by legacy infrastructure, which will happen if banks do not move away from propriety and legacy applications that run on hardware which cannot scale to match today’s customer experience and demand. IDC predicts that 80% of banks in India will run trade finance and treasury workloads as SaaS or on PaaS architectures. Banks should look at moving to cloud as an opportunity to upgrade their technology and continue to serve its customers. Cloud and edge technology enable banks to adopt a new paradigm for delivering creative channels, reducing time to market of new offerings, satisfying customer expectations, and complying with country specific regulatory compliance at a cheaper cost. Today, there are better security solutions in place that protect bank’s customer data proactively. Whether the data is in cloud, at the edge or in-transit, SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) based solutions help to provide an end-to-end security solution on cloud with centralized visibility across banking hybrid landscape that provide administrators with better monitoring abilities and management. 

Cloud and edge computing could offer a lot of potential for banking institutions in different ways that have not been fully addressed yet. Many industry experts have already mentioned in the recent past that digital transformation has taken an acceleration and we have achieved many years of transformation in just few months. Cloud computing could produce unprecedented customer experience and will be the first step in the right direction, by enabling new ways of interacting with customers while strengthening their own brand. Speed has become paramount to securing a competitive advantage on cloud within the banking industry to maximize the profits. 

Magicbricks Introduces Its New Campaign- “Property Sahi. Aur Ab Services Sabhi.” With Bollywood Star Ayushmann Khurrana

Partnering with consumers for over 15 years, in their search for a dream house, Magicbricks is now ready to walk hand in hand with consumers through the multiple stages of the consumer journey of making a house a home. Being a leader in the real estate space, Magicbricks further bolsters its position as a full stack real estate service provider through its transformed avatar, marked by a uniquely engaging campaign- “Property Sahi. Aur Ab Services Sabhi” that catches the pulse of Indian consumers.

Featuring its brand ambassador, Ayushmann Khurrana, Magicbricks launched the first of the three TVCs of the new campaign today which also debuts a unique sonic signature as a new brand asset. With this campaign, the brand aims to evolve with the changing needs of Indian consumers by providing a bouquet of 15+ services like expert advice to home loan, legal assistance to consultation on vaastu & décor amongst many others.

Commenting on the launch of the new campaign Mr. Devarshy Ganguly-Head of Marketing, Magicbricks, said, “As a market leader for 15 years, we have had the opportunity to understand the evolving needs of our consumers. This has helped us thoughtfully create a bouquet of services which brings seamless convenience to consumers across the buying journey and beyond. The new campaign celebrates our partnership with consumers, reinstates our messaging and brand purpose- Magicbricks will now be a one stop solution for everything that is needed to transform a house to a dream home.

Further, our association with Ayushmann has grown from strength to strength. He is synonymous with trust and credibility, values that also define Magicbricks.”

Commenting on the association Brand ambassador and Bollywood star Ayushmann Khurrana said, “Buying a house is a milestone in anyone’s life and Magicbricks’ new campaign ‘Property Sahi. Aur Ab Services Sabhi’ is all about converting a house to a home. Magicbricks has truly endeavored to address issues related to property services, and its transition into a full stack service provider will help consumers immensely. It has always been a delight to work with Magicbricks, and I am elated to be a part of this transformational journey for the brand.”

Ankur Suman- Partner & ECD- RK Swamy BBDO, said, “We wanted to present the big transformation in Magicbricks not as a new business objective but as a genuine response to fulfill the changing needs in the new world. The challenge was that the communication shouldn't lose sight of the core, while talking about the new offerings. We are happy we were able to do it in a manner that's very relevant and relatable to all of us as consumers.”

The first film is a manifesto for the brand's new avatar. Opening with a warm and relatable monologue by Ayushmann Khurrana, the film looks back at the 15 years journey of Magicbricks and how it opens doors of new opportunities for homebuyers with an expanded portfolio of services by Magicbricks. Evolving with changing customer requirements, the film is a voice over led film where Brand Ambassador Ayushmann Khurrana takes the viewers through the lives of various households strung together in an engaging montage. The film sets the stage for the brand’s move into the various home-related services in a manner that is hassle-free and best-in-class. In terms of tonality of all the films, it continues to follow a warm, wholesome slice of life approach which over the years has become an identity of all Magicbricks communication.

The campaign has been conceptualized by Ankur Suman and Pragya Bhatnagar from RK Swamy BBDO, Delhi as a set of three TVCs, which reflect evolution of brand with changing aspirations of Indian consumers. With this campaign, Magicbricks has planned a high decibel multi-media national communications outreach of six to eight weeks across media.

About Magicbricks: India's no 1 property site

Magicbricks is India’s No.1 property site. With monthly traffic exceeding 20 million visits and with an active base of over 1.5 million+ property listings, Magicbricks provides the largest platform for buyers and sellers of property to connect with each other in a clear, transparent manner. With this in mind, Magicbricks has innovated several product features, content, and research services, which have helped us build the largest audience pool. 

Cloudnine, India’s Premium Birthing Centre Announces Three New Appointments To Its Board Of Directors

Cloudnine, India’s premium birthing centre in India has announced the appointment of three new independent directors to its board. Ms. Nupur Garg, a leading investor in private equity and venture capital space and founder of WinPE, Ms. Lizzie Chapman, an entrepreneur pioneering Buy Now, Pay Later in India and CEO & Co-Founder of ZestMoney and Mr. Parthasarathy VS, Vice Chairman & Non Executive, Non Independent Director on the board of Allcargo logistics and Independent Director with LIC of India and mentor to several start-ups. These appointments come into effect from January 2022. Following these appointments, the Board will comprise nine (9) directors, three (3) of whom are independent directors, three (3) are Executive Directors and three (3) are Non- Executive Directors.

Speaking at the side-lines of these appointments says Dr R Kishore Kumar, Founder & Executive Director, Cloudnine "We are pleased to welcome Nupur, Lizzie and Parthasarathy as our newly appointed independent directors to Cloudnine’s board. They join Cloudnine at an exciting time as we continue to expand our mission of delivering healthy mothers and happy babies across India and continue to build deeper relationships with customers by fulfilling our purpose of delivering their bundle of joys with our core philosophies of clinical excellence, comprehensive care and celebration. The addition of these 3 experienced members complements our board of directors and their expertise across diverse industries and global businesses with strong oversight will be invaluable to Cloudnine as we grow our business and pursue our mission to offer pregnant mother wellness and not an illness“.

Commenting on the appointment says, Raviganesh Venkataraman, Chief Executive officer & Executive Director, Cloudnine, “We are pleased to welcome the newly appointed independent directors to our board. With their proven leadership across industries and experience, we are confident that Cloudnine will immensely benefit of their expertise and knowledge to the Board as well as executive management experience in innovation, strategic planning, execution, governance, finance, and service.”

About Cloudnine birthing center: Cloudnine, is India’s leading chain of women, childcare, and fertility hospitals headquartered in Bengaluru spread across 16 facilities in Gurgaon, Noida, Chandigarh, Panchkula, Chennai, Mumbai and Pune. Founded by neonatologist Dr.R. Kishore Kumar with his team of three co-founders in 2006, Cloudnine Group of Hospitals is backed by marquee investors – True North, Matrix Partners, Sequoia India. We are committed to setting new standards in healthcare by offering comprehensive maternal, fertility, gynaecological, neonatal and pediatric care. Having celebrated over 100000 births across regions, with a 3000+ strong team, Cloudnine has been the pioneer in this specialty sector with continued effort to add new locations across India while continuing to maintain and excel international standards of care. For more information, visit www.cloudninecare.com or write to info@cloudninecare.com 

Dealing With The Invisible Aftereffects Of Covid-Fatigue

Recuperating post Covid-19 needs to be dealt with as seriously as the actual infection. A recent study found that nearly 69% of patients recovering from Covid-19 reported persistent fatigue.1 Covid-fatigue is a real problem that most people are unable to even identify which eventually delays and impacts full-term recovery. 

The pandemic has heightened the attention we pay to our health. With a disease as infectious and injurious as Covid-19, it is important for us to be aware and informed of immediate as well as long-term health implications. Understanding these implications will enable us to appropriately deal with them to ensure that we are making the right choices and decisions for ourselves and our loved ones. While a negative test result is definitely reason enough to be relieved, it should not be viewed as a green signal for rushing back to our usual way of life.

Common signs and symptoms that linger over time after a viral infection like Covid-19 includes shortness of breath, cough, muscle pain or headache, depression, or anxiety amongst others. However, one of the most common aftereffects is Covid-fatigue - the constant fatigue as well as lack of energy and focus that affects our daily lifestyle.

The food that we consume directly affects the way that we feel and the way our bodies function. A healthy, balanced diet play an important role in our overall health and immune systems. This is as true during an illness as it is in the recovery phase.

One of the key factors to post Covid-19 recovery and managing Covid-fatigue is to allow your body the time and right nourishment to heal and strengthen itself says Jothydev Kesavadev, MBBS and MD, Government Medical College, Trivandrum. Ensuring a healthy, balanced diet comprising the 5 food groups should be your companion through the sickness period and even later in the post recovery stage to help your body successfully fight external infection. As part of your successful post-Covid lifestyle, it is important to monitor and maintain ideal body weight. Post any illness, there is a natural tendency to overeat to try and regain lost energy. This can result in excessive weight gain which comes with its own set of health issues. For those seeking to regain energy and stamina post convalescence, it is advisable to adopt smart, healthy and balanced eating habits complemented by requisite nutritional supplement intake.

Understand the nutrition that your body needs - The role of nutrition in overcoming the effects of Covid-19 is substantial given that overall health starts to weaken as the virus settles into the host’s body. Even after the virus is long gone, the body is still weak. The best way to tackle this problem is to recognise your body’s nutrition requirement and address it with an appropriate, balanced diet or a nutritional supplement. A weak body is also fertile ground for future infections and diseases given that immunity levels are low. Strengthening your body from the inside with the correct nutrition is vital to re-building your immunity shield.

Stay high on hydration - Keeping your body well hydrated is important for many reasons – to regulate body temperature, deliver nutrients to cells, and keep organs functioning properly. Lack of hydration or fluids can, leave you feeling lethargic with difficulty in focusing on cognitive tasks.

Take baby steps – Resist the urge to get back to life as it was before you were detected with Covid-19. Your body has undergone tremendous stress and needs time to work its way back to initial stamina levels – one jumping jack or squat at a time! For those keen resuming exercise routines, phase out your return over a comfortable period. Ease your way back in with small, achievable milestones, re-familiarize yourself with your body and most importantly, listen to what your body has to say.

Covid-fatigue hits everyone differently. For some, it could last a few days and for some, it could linger on for weeks or even months. The solution to overcoming this is simple and rests with you.

1 Mandal S, Barnett J, Brill SE, et al. ‘Long-COVID’: a cross-sectional study of persisting symptoms, biomarker and imaging abnormalities following hospitalisation for COVID-19. Thorax 2020 [Online ahead of print]

General MM Naravane, Chief Of Indian Army Staff To Inaugurate Ahmedabad Design Week By Karnavati University On Feb 26

* Third edition of ADW is themed  on Design and Innovation In Defence and Aerospace; Thought Leaders, Startups, Investors from Defence Design Fraternity to participate. The ADW to kick off on Feb 26, 2022.

The third edition of Ahmedabad Design Week (ADW)– a melting pot of ideas and insights – organised by Karnavati University, based in Uvarsad, Gandhinagar, is all set to kickstart from February 26 at the varsity’s sprawling campus. The Ahmedabad Design Week will be held on 26th, 27th and 28th February, 2022. Karnavati University is a state private university dedicated to excellence in teaching and is focused on interdisciplinary learning. This year’s theme for ADW 3.0 is Design and Innovation in Defense and Aerospace – a topic of strategic importance.

The event will be inaugurated by the Honourable General MM Naravane, Chief of Army Staff, Indian Army; along with Shri Hari Babu Srivastava, Outstanding Scientist and Director General – Technology Management (TM), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), on February 26.

Explaining the rationale behind this year’s theme, Shri Ritesh Hada, President, Karnavati University, said, “ADW 3.0’s themed on Design and Innovation in Defence and Aerospace, is very much in line with Government of India’s mission of achieving Atmanirbharta in defence manufacturing in India.”

“ADW will create a platform for starting a dialogue on the role of design in defence and aerospace, use of emerging technologies and bring together design practitioners, defence sector veterans and innovators to deliberate upon this. This will also be an opportunity to encourage innovators to explore defence sector,” Mr Hada further explained.

ADW is a confluence of design thinkers, thought leaders and practitioners from across the globe and the sole theme of the event is to facilitate discussion, deliberation and identification of scope and the application of design in various domains, fields, and industries.

One of the key highlights of ADW 3.0 will be the final tranche of India’s biggest Defence Startup and Innovation Challenge – the DRDO Defence Innovation Challenge which will be hosted by DRDO in association with Karnavati University. The challenge is aimed at supporting Startups, Micro Small and Medium Entreprises (MSMEs) and innovators to come up with unique solutions and breakthrough technology interventions in National Defence and Aerospace sector. The challenge will encourage participants to create prototypes and enable them to commercialise products and solutions they have developed. The winning teams will be rewarded with prize money and angel funding worth upto Rs 50 crore.

Sharing his thoughts about the event, General MM Naravane, Chief of Army Staff, Indian Army, said, “Designing takes the experience of the past, breaks the mould of the present, and looks to create things anew for the future. Wishing ADW 3.0 all the success in taking forward design and development in defence and aerospace sectors.”

Some of the other eminent speakers who would be part of the event include Lieutenant General KJS Dhillon, Former Director General, Defence Intelligence Agency; Dr Sudhir Mishra, Former Director General, CEO and MD, BrahMos Aerospace; Dr G Satheesh Reddy, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman, DRDO; Major General M Indrabalan, Additional Director General NCC, Bihar and Jharkhand NCC and Prahlad Kakkar, Founder, Genesis Film Production, among others. 

Bank Of Baroda Rolls Out Instant Savings Account Opening Through Tablet Banking For Self Help Groups

* Will result in ease of banking for SHGs and facilitate easier access to credit 

In an industry-first move, Bank of Baroda (Bank), one of India’s leading public sector banks announced that it has introduced instant digital opening of Savings Accounts for Self Help Groups (SHG) through tablets (bob World - Tabit). 

With SHG account opening through bob World - Tabit, the Bank has digitised its SHG on-boarding process, enabling instant account opening and providing a superior and more convenient banking experience to Self Help Groups. This initiative will also facilitate faster credit linkages for SHGs, supporting the Government of India mission [under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM)] and result in ease of banking. 

Key Features of the Instant SHG Savings Account through bob World - Tabit: 

Digitisation of the SHG account opening journey for instant account opening and customer onboarding 

Integrated service request registration during the account opening journey such as Personalised Cheque Book, SMS Alerts etc. 

Enhanced user experience for customers 

Built on the Aadhaar ecosystem 

Shri. Akhil Handa, Chief Digital Officer, Bank of Baroda said, “Bank of Baroda has been consistently working towards providing novel digital offerings to enhance customer experience and facilitate convenient banking facilities. In line with this vision, the launch of the instant SHG Savings Account opening through bob World - Tabit is one more earnest step towards providing easy banking services to SHGs, which shall fuel credit linkages and support the upliftment of rural customers. Going forward, we expect to open around 75% of the total SHG accounts digitally.” 

About Bank of Baroda:  

Founded on 20th July, 1908 by Sir Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III, Bank of Baroda is one of the leading commercial banks in India. At 63.97% stake, it is majorly owned by the Government of India. The Bank serves its global customer base of over 140 million through over 46,000 touchpoints spread across 19 countries in five continents. Through Its state-of-the-art digital banking platforms, it provides all banking products and services in a seamless and hassle-free manner. The recently launched bob World mobile app provides customers with a saving, investing, borrowing and shopping experience, all under one single app. The app also serves non-customers by enabling account opening through video KYC. The Bank’s vision matches its diverse clientele base and instills a sense of trust and security. It is moving well in that direction and bob World is a testimony of its roadmap towards Digital Transformation. 

BSE EBIX And LIC Join Hands For “Distribution Of Insurance” Products

BSE Ebix Insurance Broking Private Limited, a joint venture of BSE and Ebix Singapore Pte Ltd., announced the signing of Insurance Broker Agreement for distribution of Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) products on its state-of-the-art hi-tech platform. Under this agreement, BSE EBIX will offer their clients insurance products offered by LIC such as Life and Health, using its omni-channel digital presence. This partnership of two like-minded organizations aims at offering customer centric solutions backed by technological innovations and best in class services. 

EbixCash, a subsidiary of Ebix, Inc. (NASDAQ: EBIX) is in the process of seeking IRDA approval to transfer its share ownership in BSE EBIX from its parent Ebix Singapore Pte Ltd. to EbixCash Limited. 

Insurance is an important risk mitigating tool which protects the economic interests of individuals and organizations. BSE EBIX aim is to reach out to every citizen of India and provide insurance solutions to serve customers spread across the country, and ensure they are secured and protected. The launch of LIC products by BSE EBIX is a major development from the Company’s perspective since Life insurance is traditionally one of the fastest growing insurance segments in the country. 

Mr. Ashishkumar Chauhan, MD & CEO-BSE, said “At BSE EBIX, our objective is to reach out to every citizen of the country and provide insurance solutions as per their needs. Our partnership with LIC not only aims at providing relevant insurance products but will also provide best-in-class services to their customers through our unique digital initiatives. Further enriching the client experience, BSE EBIX's digital capabilities support servicing and help our clients select relevant policies.” 

BSE EBIX’s strategy is to have an unrivalled ‘Phygital’ pan India reach by combining the physical presence of tens of thousands of PoSPs with an omnichannel digital channel, thereby allowing its PoSPs to have access to extensive real-time quotes from insurance companies and to complete the entire transaction online on behalf of their customers. Through its technology, BSE EBIX empowers PoSPs to deliver best of the Insurance products and provide comfort to the end customers by transacting physically at the speed of digital technology. This presents a huge opportunity for BSE EBIX to build its Life insurance portfolio. 

BSE EBIX had beta launched its operations on February 7, 2020, with the offering of private car and two-wheeler auto insurance. The company aims to revolutionize not only buying of insurance from a consumer perspective but also enable insurers to distribute insurance products in a highly efficient manner, while automating and integrating complex back-end processes seamlessly with front end distribution. Currently, there are seven General Insurance companies in Motor, five Health Insurance Companies for Health Products and three Life Insurance Companies for Life Products on the BSE EBIX platform. Besides, we also issue Policies through offline mode with two more Insurance Companies.  As on date, BSE EBIX has registered over 10,500 Point of Sale Persons (PoSPs) out of which 4,677 are certified and ready to do business through BSE EBIX Portal. 

Upstox Onboards Three Senior Executives To Strengthen Its Leadership Team In Indian Market

* Appoints Harish Narayanan as Chief Growth Officer (CGO), Jayant Chauhan as SVP - Finance and Saurabh Agarwal as VP - New Initiatives

Upstox, one of India's leading investment platforms, today announced the addition of three senior executives to its leadership team. The company has appointed Harish Narayanan as Chief Growth Officer, Saurabh Agarwal as Vice President - New Initiatives, and Jayant Chauhan as Senior Vice President - Finance. With this hiring, Upstox aims to extend operations, as well as move closer to its broader goal of encouraging more equity participation in India.

Ravi Kumar, Co-Founder and CEO, Upstox said, “It gives us great pleasure to welcome Harish, Saurabh, and Jayant to Upstox's leadership team. They bring with them immense experience and expertise.  I'm confident that with them onboard, we will succeed in our endeavor to take Upstox's products and services to the next level and fulfill our drive of encouraging equity participation across the nation.”

Harish Narayanan, Chief Growth Officer at Upstox, will be responsible for driving full funnel business growth, marketing, operational excellence, and strategic collaborations. Prior to joining Upstox, Harish served as the Chief Marketing Officer at Myntra, where he was responsible for all aspects of marketing, including brand, digital, performance, content, social, loyalty, B2B, creative design, and private brand. He was also leading the Brand Solutions and Creative teams as part of his responsibilities at Myntra.

Jayant Chauhan, joining as Senior Vice President - Finance at Upstox, will be overseeing growth and profitability while delivering measurable improvements across multiple performance metrics. Jayant was the SVP - Global Strategic Finance at OYO before joining Upstox. He was a member of the global leadership team and was in charge of strategic finance functions such as capital raising, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, corporate financial planning and analysis, cost structure analysis and optimization, business finance, investor relations, and IPO readiness.

Saurabh Agrawal, Vice President - New Initiatives, will lead the company strategy and new initiatives. He has more than a decade of expertise in the financial and banking services industry, with specialization in the payments ecosystem, stakeholder management, business growth, issue resolution, and programme management. Before joining Upstox, Saurabh worked at Revolut India where he was in charge of capex and opex, product and business development, as well as hiring and license acquisition. He has also held several positions with Deutsche Bank and Paytm in the past.

The current customer base of Upstox is over 9 million. The company has recently revamped its platform, which includes a number of new features and an intuitive design that promises to make investing simple, stable, seamless and secure.

Nielsen And The Trade Desk Unveil New Strategic Data Measurement Partnership For Open Internet In Europe, Asia, Mexico And Canada

* The Trade Desk will contribute data to the Nielsen Identity System to international markets 

Nielsen (NYSE: NLSN) and The Trade Desk (Nasdaq: TTD) today announced a strategic partnership to power identity resolution for open internet measurement in key international markets around the world. The Trade Desk will help fuel Nielsen’s demographic data starting with France, Italy and the United Kingdom. Japan, Australia and Germany will launch on April 1, with plans to launch in other Asian and European markets, in addition to Canada and Mexico, on a regular cadence following the initial releases in 2022. 

Nielsen will integrate demographic data provided by The Trade Desk into the Nielsen ID System to provide more scope and accuracy in Nielsen’s digital ad measurement for the open internet, connecting digital impressions to demographics across millions of devices. Advertisers and publishers can use Nielsen Digital Ad Ratings with more confidence knowing that the solution is aimed towards appropriately assigning and deduplicating audience demographics across mobile and PC platforms when a digital ad is viewed. With this initiative, Nielsen becomes a preferred measurement provider of The Trade Desk and builds on the two companies’ long standing relationship.

“This strategic partnership with The Trade Desk immediately scales Nielsen’s Identity System globally, and showcases our commitment to independent measurement and marketplace interoperability, facilitating an open ecosystem for the media industry, with audiences de-duplicated across multiple platforms,” said Karthik Rao, Chief Operating Officer, Nielsen. "We continue to evolve our technologies and methodologies as we move toward Nielsen ONE and this is a very important milestone for that vision of true cross-platform measurement across all screens, underpinned by a strong digital measurement capability.”

The Trade Desk is committed to working towards accurate and transparent measurement in service of an optimal advertising experience on the open internet. As part of this strategic partnership, The Trade Desk will provide demographic data to Nielsen’s Identity System. In doing so, this will help to advance more robust measurement and reporting across digital media, particularly over-the-page advertising, in key international markets that have most room to benefit.  

“As the world’s largest independent demand-side platform, The Trade Desk is in a prime position to provide the open internet with a standard of measurement that improves data-driven decisioning, advertising performance and transparency,” said Michelle Hulst, Chief Data Officer, The Trade Desk. “We have long believed that it takes all of us to support the digital media ecosystem, especially in the world of measurement, and look forward to advancing the open internet together with Nielsen internationally.”

As part of the Nielsen ID System, the Nielsen ID Graph is calibrated against, and validated by, Nielsen’s people-based panels and truth sets. This deal will further position Nielsen to scale its ID Resolution System globally and truly deliver deduplicated audiences across linear and digital platforms as part of Nielsen ONE, its cross-media measurement solution.  

ABOUT NIELSEN

Nielsen shapes the world’s media and content as a global leader in audience measurement, data and analytics. Through our understanding of people and their behaviors across all channels and platforms, we empower our clients with independent and actionable intelligence so they can connect and engage with their audiences—now and into the future.

An S&P 500 company, Nielsen (NYSE: NLSN) operates around the world in more than 55 countries. Learn more at www.nielsen.com or www.nielsen.com/investors and connect with us on social media.

Jaguar Land Rover Has Announced A Multi-Year Strategic Partnership With NVIDIA

* As part of Jaguar Land Rover’s Reimagine strategy, the partnership will transform the modern luxury experience for customers starting in 2025 

* Software experts from both companies will jointly develop AI-powered autonomous driving and connected services for all future vehicles built on NVIDIA DRIVE  

* Next-generation safety and unique, brand-focused digital services enabled by NVIDIA AI 

Jaguar Land Rover has formed a multi-year strategic partnership with NVIDIA, the leader in artificial intelligence (AI) and computing, to jointly develop and deliver next-generation automated driving systems plus AI-enabled services and experiences for its customers. 

Starting in 2025, all new Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles will be built on the NVIDIA DRIVE™ software-defined platform—delivering a wide spectrum of active safety, automated driving and parking systems as well as driver assistance systems. Inside the vehicle, the system will deliver AI features, including driver and occupant monitoring as well as advanced visualisation of the vehicle’s environment.  

This full-stack solution is based on NVIDIA DRIVE Hyperion™, which features DRIVE Orin™ centralised AV computers; DRIVE AV and DRIVE IX software; safety, security and networking systems; plus, surround sensors. DRIVE Orin is the AI brain of the car and runs the Jaguar Land Rover Operating System, while DRIVE Hyperion is the central nervous system. 

Jaguar Land Rover will also leverage in-house developed data centre solutions with NVIDIA DGX™ for training AI models and DRIVE Sim software built on NVIDIA Omniverse™ for real-time physically accurate simulation. Jaguar Land Rover’s software-defined features and its end-to-end verification and validation architecture will enable the delivery of innovative assisted and automated driving services throughout the life of the vehicle via over-the-air software updates.  

Thierry Bolloré, Jaguar Land Rover Chief Executive Officer, said: “Collaboration and knowledge-sharing with industry leader NVIDIA is essential to realising our Reimagine strategy, setting new benchmarks in quality, technology and sustainability.  

“Jaguar Land Rover will become the creator of the world’s most desirable luxury vehicles and services for the most discerning customers. Our long-term strategic partnership with NVIDIA will unlock a world of potential for our future vehicles as the business continues its transformation into a truly global, digital powerhouse.” 

Jensen Huang, NVIDIA founder and CEO, said: “Next-generation cars will transform automotive into one of the largest and most advanced technology industries. Fleets of software-defined, programmable cars will offer new functionalities and services for the life of the vehicles. We are thrilled to partner with Jaguar Land Rover to reimagine the future of transportation and create the most advanced cars.” 

Jaguar Land Rover aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions across its supply chain, products and operations by 2039.  

Honda H’ness CB350 & CB350RS Now Available At CSD Stores

Celebrating its longstanding commitment as a mobility partner for the CSD beneficiaries, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India today announced the availability of H’ness CB350 & CB350RS at Canteen Store Departments (CSD) across the country.

These middle weight motorcycles from the Honda BigWing product range are introduced for the first time at 35 CSD Depots.

Speaking on this special occasion, Mr. Yadvinder Singh Guleria, Director – Sales & Marketing, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. said, “Honda 2Wheelers India shares a long-term alliance with Indian defence community. We take pride in serving them with our quality products & aftersales service. Celebrating 75th year of independence, we are delighted to make our new BigWing motorcycles - H’ness CB350 & CB350RS at CSD network across India. Availability at CSD approved special price makes it convenient for the defence personnel and CSD beneficiaries to buy their favourite Honda 350cc motorcycle and start their exciting new ride.”

Buying process for CSD beneficiaries

Ensuring convenient and hassle-free buying experience, personnel can log on to https://afd.csdindia.gov.in/ for CSD portal registration, dealer selection and choose their favourite model. Once availability is confirmed by the selected dealer, personnel can upload dealer documents (availability certificate & proforma invoice) and customer documents (canteen card, KYC, payment transfer details etc.) after which the digital copy of Local Supply Order (LSO) is issued.

About Honda BigWing - Honda’s Exclusive Premium Motorcycle Business Vertical

Reaching closer to its premium biking fans, Honda’s premium motorcycle retail format is led by more than 80 BigWing touchpoints across India. While BigWing Topline houses Honda’s complete premium motorcycle range (300-1800cc), Honda BigWing delights mid-size motorcycle fans (300-500cc). Customers can also avail the online booking option on our website www.HondaBigWing.in for a seamless and transparent booking experience.

Microsoft India Announces Winners For The Second Season Of Cloud Champions 11 Program

* Recognizes 11 Cloud Solution Providers and 2 Indirect Providers for accelerating SMB cloud growth

Microsoft India today announced the winners of the second edition of Cloud Champions 11, a unique engagement program that strengthens Microsoft’s commitment to partners in India. In its second year, Microsoft recognized 11 Cloud Solution Providers (CSPs) for accelerating cloud growth for SMB customers between September and December 2021. The program also recognized two Indirect Providers who have a direct relationship with Microsoft to provide customer support, pricing and billing. The program saw participation from nearly 700 partner organizations across 71 cities in India, of which half were from Tier 2 and 3 cities. This reach and inclusion are a testament to the community that has come together with Microsoft, driven by a common goal of growth and engagement.

Open to all Microsoft CSP partners in the country, the program evaluated participants basis their cloud business growth across Microsoft Azure, Modern Work, Security and Business Applications. The program engaged on multiple levels with the partner organizations with trainings, masterclasses, peer learning, fun engagement sessions, sales trainings, and rewards and recognition for the sales teams. Through a voice of partner initiative, Microsoft closely engaged with its partners, and regularly incorporated their feedback to improve program engagement.

Harish Vellat, Country Head - Small, Medium and Corporate Business, Microsoft India said, “With the second season of Cloud Champions 11 program, we recognize our next set of partners who have been at the center of our vision to make more possible for our customers and delivering innovative cloud solutions. These partners have provided a huge support to help us enable the SMB ecosystem in India in their digital transformation journey.”

The winners will receive professional mentoring from business coach Mitali Chopra, and delightful culinary experiences. The sales teams from the winner organizations will be getting access to sales coaching and certifications from Microsoft. With the help of business coaching provided under the program, last year’s winners have established growth practices and unlocked business opportunities. 

More information on the program is available at https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/campaign/cloudchampions11/.

DMI Finance To Provide Seamless Digital Personal Loans To Google Pay Users

DMI Finance Private Limited (“DMI”) today announced the launch of a personal loan product on Google Pay to make reliable credit accessible for pre-qualified users of Google Pay.

This product leverages the dual advantages of Google Pay’s customer experience and the digital loan disbursal process of DMI and will also help bring new-to-credit users into the ambit. Eligible users are pre-qualified using criteria set by DMI Finance and the product offer is made available to them via Google Pay. These users will have their application processed in near real-time with access to the money in their bank accounts.

This launch with Google Pay of an integrated, personal loan journey for its users continues DMI’s focus on building innovative digital financial products in partnership with leading players in the digital finance ecosystem.

The program will disburse up to INR 1 Lakh per loan which would be repayable over a maximum of 36 months. This partnership is being launched over 15K+ pin codes.

Shivashish Chatterjee, Co-founder and Joint MD, DMI Finance, said: “We are excited to make our Personal Loan product available on Google Pay in India. At DMI, we focus on working with truly world-class collaborators to leverage our combined strengths to deliver the best possible digital credit experience to a rapidly growing customer set. Our teams have worked closely together to bring transparent and seamless credit to millions of Google Pay users. We look forward to scaling this new partnership in the years to come and make the promise of financial inclusion a reality for many millions more.”

Sajith Sivanandan, Business Head, Payments and NBU, Google APAC, LatAm, Africa and EMEA, said: “Access to reliable credit is critical to economic revival as we emerge from the difficulties posed by the pandemic. Experiences that can make this available to them within a few taps on their mobile phones will offer incredible convenience. We are very excited to collaborate with DMI Finance to make this possible for Google Pay users, as it brings to life the promise of financial inclusion enabled by technology.”

Garmin Announces Its Latest Premium Smartwatch Series For Outdoor Enthusiasts

* Introduces F?nix® 7 Collection and epix™ for adventure enthusiasts and true explorers

Key Points:

* Industry First: F?nix 7X is the industry’s first smartwatch with built-in flashlight, helps stay safe in the dark

* AMOLED Display: epix delivers sharp and vibrant viewing angles with AMOLED and touch screen display

* Power Sapphire™ Solar Lens: Provides durability and scratch resistance experience during outdoor activities 

* 3X Solar Charging Performance: Enhances the battery life with patented solar panel in f?nix 7X

* Multiband GPS - Multi-frequency capabilities to track most challenging environments

In its bid to celebrate the fearless spirit of adventure seekers and explorers who take on challenges across various fields and to set the essence of their voyage into a new urban rhythm, Garmin India, a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN) today launched the renowned F?nix® 7 Series and the epix™ in India.

The newly launched Garmin F?nix 7 series showcases an array of features like enhanced solar cell efficiency and longer battery life that will provide the customers peace of mind while they engage in various activities. This series also features the first smartwatch in the industry that comes with a built-in flashlight. Additionally, the Garmin epix comes with high-definition vibrant AMOLED touch screen with exceptional battery life along with multi-sport functions.

Speaking on the launch of the new Garmin Outdoor Series, Mr. Ali Rizvi, Director, Garmin India, said, “At Garmin, we have always been committed to technological innovations and come up with exceptional products for our outdoor adventurers. The F?nix 7 Series and epix are an amalgamation of premium and style, specially designed for those who love to venture into the unexplored. The smartwatches are also equipped with multiple outdoor and fitness features that will provide the users valuable insights. We thrive to engineer products that will prove beneficial to our customers and have every minute details at the ease of their wrist. Also, the Fenix 7 Solar charging lens provides hassle free use of the watch for the longer time of period.” 

Unleashing Sense of Adventure with Garmin F?nix 7 series

The Garmin F?nix 7 series comes with a robust suite of rugged features. Highlighting the ultra-tough athletic design and an inbuilt flashlight, the smartwatch supports four levels of brightness along with a red strobe light that displays an SOS signal when activated in critical situations. 

Turning exertion into exhilaration, the outdoor series feature wear-resistant, scratch-resistant and anti-reflective high standard power sapphire as well as highly permeable patented solar panel. Due to the increased surface of the solar panels and the optimization of solar cells' configurations and conductive materials, solar efficiency has been 200% higher than in the previous generation. The Power Manager function has been upgraded, allowing the overall battery life of f?nix 7X to increase by nearly 300% , achieving up to 24 days of battery life under UltraTrac Mode, up to 122 hours in GPS mode with solar charged and up to 37 days in smartwatch mode.

The devise features more than 40 advanced built-in outdoor and indoor sport modes suitable for mountaineering, running, biking, hiking, rowing, skiing, golfing, surfing, indoor climbing and more. It also comes with pre-loaded high-intensity interval training workouts, including AMRAP, EMOM, Tabata, etc.

The Real-Time Stamina feature allows users to adjust their speed and intensity in real time based on their current physical strength. During long-distance races, athletes can activate the Up Ahead feature to set their strategy before the race. By using Garmin Connect, users can also create a route and mark waypoints. Once synced with the smart watch, pre-set checkpoints, water stations, medical stations and other route data will be displayed to the athlete.

Furthermore, the smart device dives into other additional features like XC Ski Dynamics, Surfing features, MTB dynamics, Pace pro technology, Climb-pro feature, performance metric, recovery time advisor and many more.

Navigating Adventure with Garmin EPIX- Built to be EPIC

The Garmin epix™ smartwatch blends outdoor challenges with premium style. It features an AMOLED screen with a high-resolution touch screen and buttons. Besides the scratch-resistant sapphire crystal lens, the watch has more than 40 built-in outdoor and indoor sports modes, supporting over 42,000 golf course maps and 2,200 ski resorts around the world.

Additionally, the smartwatch offers a wide range of health metrics and smart features that help users gauge their performance, such as Real Time Stamina that indicates how much exertion has been applied, Advanced Training metrics, Daily Workout suggestions, and so forth.

It also maintains an exceptional battery life. In smartwatch mode, the battery life remains up-to 16 days and 42 hours in GPS mode and up to 21 days when the Power Manager function is activated. Additionally, the devise offers both touchscreen and physical button usage flexibility so its users have complete control in tough outdoor ventures.

The newly launched F?nix 7 Series and epix are built to US Military MIL-STD-810 specifications, at the same time, supports Multi-GNSS positioning (GPS, GLONASS and Galileo). The new Multi-Band frequency setting greatly increases positioning speed and accuracy in challenging conditions from downtown to the mountaintop.

Both the outdoor smartwatches boast about the inbuilt broadest range of 24/7 health monitoring factors like the Body Battery Energy Monitor, which measures the body's energy throughout the day. The Pulse Ox3 monitors the blood's oxygen saturation in the body, stress tracking, advanced sleep with sleep score, respiration tracking as well as other health monitoring metrics to track users’ fitness goals and progress. Additionally, both watches offer Visual Race Predictor feature that helps an athlete to visualize race prediction estimates in the watch itself with help of graphs for quick understanding of how his/her training is progressing.

Garmin F?nix® 7 Series and epix™ are available in India at the starting price of Rs 67,990/ for f?nix 7 series and ?89,990/ for epix from today.

Cetaphil Reiterates It Cares; Launches Cetaphil PRO Oil Control Range For Acne

* Designed & developed by dermatologists to specifically to cater acne prone skin 

Dermatologist recommended & used by millions worldwide, personal care brand Cetaphil has forayed into the market with its latest product innovation – Cetaphil PRO Oil Control range to provide customized skincare option for acne prone skin at a very affordable price tag. The latest entrant is specially designed for acne prone skin and is proven to control oil, reduce shine on the face that in turn addresses acne concerns.

With the introduction of Cetaphil PRO Oil Control range, the brand aims to offer effective skincare and relaxation at the same time. The all-new range comprises of – Cetaphil PRO Oil Control Foam Wash priced at INR 880 for 236 ml, Cetaphil PRO Oil Purifying Face Mask priced at INR 850 for 85 gm & Cetaphil PRO Oil Control Moisturising Lotion with SPF 30 priced at INR 1250 for 120ml.

Formulated with unique Zinc technology Cetaphil Pro Oil Control Foam Wash gently cleanses and unclogs pores and removes up to 98% of excess oil, without causing dryness and irritation. Cetaphil Pro Oil Control  Moisturising Lotion with SPF 30 on the other hand improves dryness and roughness within one week of use in those with acne prone skin. Clinically proven oil-free lotion delivers lightweight 24-hour hydration, MicroPearl mattifying technology that absorbs surface oil and reduces shine for balanced, healthy-looking skin. It is also formulated with soothing zinc and oleosome technology that uses a lower concentration of sunscreen filters for less irritation with optimum protection.

Introduced for the first time under the Cetaphil product portfolio, Cetaphil PRO Oil Control Purifying Clay Mask is a gentle exfoliator for acne prone skin. It effectively draws out impurities, dirt, and pollutants to deep clean and mattify the skin. Packed with Kaolin and Bentonite, the clay mask is creamy and non-drying that is specifically formulated with shea butter, virgin cucumber and avocado oil to lightly exfoliate and lift away dead skin cells, improving the skin’s tone and texture.

Talking about the range, G. Sathya Narayanan, Managing Director, South Asia, Galderma India Pvt. Ltd elaborates, “Cetaphil has always advocated cleansing, moisturising & protecting the skin as a hygiene practice. The new trio-launch is about reiterating the regime for acne-prone skin. Cetaphil’s Pro Oil Control range will cater to a thriving cohort of skincare aficionados. We are happy that, with this innovation we are able to provide personalized skincare that will suit & provide our customers with effective and gentle skincare formulas keeping the skin healthy. We look forward to launching even more desirable products for all skin-lovers across India.”

Cetaphil today offers a product line that includes face and body moisturizers, cleansers, baby care, sun care and products for common skin issues. Across its different offerings, Cetaphil is committed to providing users with effective and gentle skincare formulas that help strengthen and protect combination and sensitive skin.

All Cetaphil PRO Oil Control products will be available on Nykaa, Amazon & at leading pharmacies 

About Cetaphil:

Cetaphil is a gentle skincare brand that has been recommended by dermatologists for over 74 years and is today used by millions of people with sensitive skin from all around the world. Invented in 1947 by a pioneering pharmacist in Texas, the first product - “Cetaphil Cleansing Lotion “- known today as Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser – continues to be the flagship product. Quickly recognized for its gentle cleansing power, the Cetaphil range of cleansers and other Cetaphil products started to grow. Today Cetaphil is available in more than 70 countries worldwide and offers a wide range of everyday products from cleansers and moisturizers to baby products and solutions for sensitive skin conditions such as pigmentation, acne, and eczema. Specifically formulated to provide effective skincare for a variety of skin types and conditions, Cetaphil has become one of the top skincare brands recommended by dermatologists and other healthcare professionals across the world.

About Galderma:

We are the world’s largest independent global dermatology company, created in 1981 and are now present in over 100 countries with an extensive product portfolio of prescription medicines, aesthetic solutions, and consumer care products. Galderma aims to enhance the quality of people’s lives by focusing on science-based solutions for skin health. Our products help protect, nourish, and enhance, and - when needed - treat, correct and restore skin health. This holistic view of skin health, addressing both healthy and compromised skin, is fundamental to our mission.

Vi Successfully Demonstrates 5G Voice Over NR Capability During 5G Trials In Gandhinagar, Gujarat

* Trial in partnership with Nokia which has deployed its 5G Core and 5G Radio solutions for Vi

India’s leading telecom operator, Vodafone Idea Limited (Vi) has announced that it has successfully demonstrated 5G Voice over New Radio (VoNR) with its technology partner, Nokia, during the ongoing 5G Trials in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Once deployed, the VoNR solution will enable Vi to offer its subscribers high-definition voice experience over 5G, as well as several advanced voice applications and use cases in the future.

Vi Is Conducting 5G Trials On Govt. Allocated 5G Spectrum In Gandhinagar, Gujarat And Pune In Maharashtra

The VoNR trial was done on Nokia’s comprehensive portfolio of solutions including its AirScale 5G RAN, 5G Core and  IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) voice core. Once commercially deployed, the solution can provide superior user experience on a reliable, low latency network, as it uses the 5G network for both voice and data services.

According to Jagbir Singh, CTO, Vodafone Idea Limited, “We are testing technology solutions for offering superior network experience and use cases of relevance to digital enterprises and consumers, during our 5G Trials. Having achieved fastest 5G speeds in the country and demonstration of a wide range of use cases, we have now successfully tested VoNR service which offers the best call quality on 5G networks, using technology solutions from Nokia. I am confident that our relentless pursuit to deliver a superior network for Digital India will help us to continue providing the best in class voice and data services to 5G users in the future.”

Nokia’s VoNR solution is helping service providers offer a plethora of new and exciting voice-based applications like real-time translation and immersive voice for more engaging augmented and virtual reality use cases.

Nokia IMS voice core provides service providers with new revenue streams through innovative applications and use cases where voice plays a crucial role, much-needed operational flexibility and lower network management costs.

Earlier, during its 5G Trials with Nokia in Gandhinagar, Vi recorded speeds in excess of 4 Gbps and showcased unique consumer use cases such as AI based VR streaming, Roller Coaster Gaming, VR 5G Connected Schools and 360 degree VR Content Playback. Vi also used Nokia’s 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) and 5G core to successfully demonstrate secure network slicing use case, as well as trialed the utilisation of 5G in mid-band to provide rural broadband connectivity in Gandhinagar.

EVRE To Set Up Charging Stations At All GoMechanic Workshops

* GoMechanic workshops open doors to EVs across the country

* First phase of EV-charging installations to come-up at workshops in Bangalore and Chennai

* EVRE will install 1,000 EV charging hubs in the next two years.

GoMechanic, a network of tech-enabled car service and spares centres and EVRE, India’s leading EV charging infratech player announced that they have joined hands for enabling EV-readiness of all existing and upcoming GoMechanic workshops across the country. 

This enablement places GoMechanic in a unique position to address the needs of EVs at all its workshops, thus helping it extend its offerings to all types of automobiles under the same roof.  On its part under the partnership, EVRE will conceptualize, design, manufacture, install, operate and maintain the slow and fast charging stations to establish EV-charging hubs for GoMechanic at all its workshops.  

Charging infrastructure has been the key bridge to enable EVs go the extra-mile beyond their intrinsically powered range.  GoMechanic has a wide network of about 800+ workshops across 35 cities that provides 3600 car service solutions such as vehicle maintenance, retrofitting and access to spare parts. Adding EVRE charging stations will make the GoMechanic centres a vital point for customers to get a one-stop solution for all sorts of EV charging and car service requirements under one roof while driving to their destination.

Coming at an opportune time, the partnership will be a progressive contribution in-sync with the government’s recent announcements and vision to establish seamless e-mobility in India and combat range anxiety among EV users.

EVRE offers slow and fast unmanned smart charging facility with single-window access to all the services through EVRE App.  The company has enabled an always connected aggregator with a one-web dashboard that provides features such as telematics for complete real-time monitoring, smart keys-management as well as automated systems for ensuring safety of the vehicles.

Speaking on the partnership, Mr. Suyash Kumar, VP, GoMechanic said, “GoMechanic has always been at the forefront of new technologies, be it our service, spares or entire supply chain offerings. With the movement of the automotive industry towards electric, especially fleets, we have been very aggressive in our approach to prepare us in that direction. In line with our vision, we are glad to partner with EVRE to set up charging hubs and enable adoption while we can provide class leading aftermarket support to the EV owners.”

Commenting on this partnership, Mr. Krishna K Jasti, Co-Founder and CEO of EVRE said, "We are happy to partner with GoMechanic as it moves to cater the fast-growing EV-user base and we will jointly work towards the national goals of clean mobility.  This partnership further brings value for EVRE in line with its goal to cater to e-fleets and focus towards building large-scale EV charging hubs that cater to a large number of EVs at the same time.  Our largest hubs will be able to accommodate 100 EVs.  We are constantly evolving and upgrading our offerings, and well on the path to establish the country’s largest 1000-strong charging hub network in the next two years.”

82% Of Office Workers In India Say They Will Leave Their Jobs If Employees Do Not Provide A Healthy Workplace

* Survey by Honeywell and Wakefield shows that office workers in India are more likely to leave their jobs compared to global counterparts (62%) if their employer does not take steps to create a healthier indoor environment 

In a survey of office workers in India, an overwhelming majority of respondents (82%) say they are willing to leave their job if their employer isn't taking steps to create a healthier indoor environment, compared with just 62% globally, according to a report released today by Honeywell (Nasdaq: HON). “Workplace Air Quality: A Global Concern Emerges” presents the findings of Honeywell’s second annual Healthy Buildings Survey, which recently surveyed 3,000 workers in buildings with 500-plus workers in India, ASEAN, Germany, the Middle East, the United Kingdom and the United States.

With 89% of surveyed office employees in India working within a building at least part time, a substantial majority of those surveyed in India (63%) say they know a lot about their building’s indoor air quality (IAQ), nearly twice the global average of 35%. Further, an overwhelming majority of respondents (86%) say it is very to extremely important to be kept informed of their building’s air quality, a 20-percentage point increase from the global average of 65%.

“Of all regions surveyed, workers in India expressed the highest level of demand that employers keep them informed of building air quality and are willing to leave their jobs over less healthy conditions,” said Ashish Modi, President, Honeywell Building Technologies (HBT), Asia. “In a competitive labor market, demonstrating an effort to create a healthier work environment can be an advantage in attracting and retaining employees. Every rupee invested in upgrading workplace air quality, monitoring indoor air quality data and communicating it to employees is a rupee strategically spent,” he added.

Surveyed workers in India express a high desire to be kept informed, but they may not fully understand all the factors that contribute to IAQ. While over three-quarters (76%) of those surveyed have access to information about their building’s IAQ, nearly as many (73%) are unable to correctly identify all the factors that impact it such as temperature, humidity or CO2, making them the least knowledgeable across all six markets – even though they are the most likely to receive IAQ updates from their employer or building manager.

Nearly all office workers surveyed in India (96%) agree that the quality of air they breathe has a direct impact on their health and well-being, compared with 89% of global respondents. The top health benefits of safe IAQ they mention include:

* Better overall physical health (66%)

* Better overall mental health (65%)

* Fewer allergic responses, resulting in less sneezing and coughing (58%)

* Improved productivity and problem-solving (54%)

* Exposure to fewer airborne contaminants (47%)

Additional findings of note include:

* More than one-third of respondents (34%) say their building’s IAQ is monitored continuously, roughly double the global average of 16%. An additional 28% say their building’s IAQ is monitored often.

* Nearly all (97%) of surveyed office workers in India are more concerned about IAQ with the rise of new COVID-19 variants.

* Just over half (53%) of respondents believe that indoor air is less healthy to breathe than outdoor air (47%). This difference of 6% is the smallest variance of all regions surveyed.

Survey methodology

The Honeywell survey was conducted by Wakefield Research (www.wakefieldresearch.com) among 3,000 workers in buildings of 500-plus workers in six markets – India, ASEAN, Germany, the Middle East, the United Kingdom and the United States of America – between December 17, 2021, and January 11, 2022, using an email invitation and an online form.

Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. The magnitude of the variation is measurable and is affected by the number of interviews and the level of the percentages expressing the results. For the interviews conducted in this particular study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 4.4 percentage points from the result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the sample.

About Honeywell Building Technologies

Honeywell Building Technologies (HBT) is transforming the way every building operates to help improve the quality of life. We are a leading building controls company with operations in more than 75 countries supported by a global channel partner network. Commercial building owners and operators use our hardware, software and analytics to help create safe, efficient and productive facilities. Our solutions and services are used in more than 10 million buildings worldwide.

Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 technology company that delivers industry specific solutions that include aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings and industry; and performance materials globally. Our technologies help aircraft, buildings, manufacturing plants, supply chains, and workers become more connected to make our world smarter, safer, and more sustainable. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywell.com/newsroom.

A23 Announces Shah Rukh Khan As Its New Brand Ambassador

* King Khan, the ‘Baadshah of Bollywood’ and heartthrob of millions will feature in the online gaming brand’s latest ‘Chalo Saath Khele’ campaign

Head Digital Works, India’s premier online skill gaming company, today announced that it has roped in Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan as the Brand Ambassador for its online multi-gaming platform - A23 (www.a23.com). The Baadshah of Bollywood will feature in A23’s ‘Chalo Saath Khele’ campaign along with a first of its kind responsible gaming campaign, which showcases A23’s all new multi-gaming platform which includes various games of skill such as rummy, fantasy sports, carom and pool, with more to come. 

Welcoming Shah Rukh Khan as the brand ambassador of A23, Deepak Gullapalli, Founder & CEO, Head Digital Works, said, “It is a privilege to have the nation's biggest superstar to be associated with A23. We truly believe that Shah Rukh Khan represents what our platform stands for both in terms of our brand and our players ? self-made champions who display a high degree of professionalism and skill in their game. As a global superstar, who has always connected well with all segments of the audience and society, we believe that Shah Rukh will help elevate our brand and win the hearts of millions of Indians who relate to using their skills to win. The Chalo Saath Khele campaign brings to life the narrative of various types of gamers on A23 through the magic of Shah Rukh Khan that promises to enthral fans of King Khan and make A23 a house-hold name in India.”

Hailed as ‘King Khan’, Shah Rukh’s dynamic personality complemented with his intellectual acumen and tact makes him a formidable fit for A23. As part of this campaign, A23 aims to take a stand in the industry to share the message of playing responsibly and indulging in safe online gaming practices for users across all online gaming platforms.

“I am delighted to represent a pioneering brand like A23 and also be a part of India’s first of its kind online gaming campaign that pro-actively initiates the messaging of responsible gaming. A23 has always aimed at providing a premium but inclusive platform for skill gaming enthusiasts. Just like any other form of entertainment, I would urge all online gamers to indulge at their leisure, but responsibly” commented Shah Rukh Khan on his association with A23.

As the pioneers in skill-based gaming in India, A23 has recently built a multi-gaming platform and combined its existing online rummy platform of over 30 million users using state-of-the-art software created on a custom-built architecture. As an industry leader, A23 endeavours to provide its users with a skill-based gaming platform that can be enjoyed purely as a means for entertainment. A23 provides access to a wide range of games including rummy, fantasy sports and others along with an opportunity to invite friends to play on private tables and contests.