PNB Invests Rs 10.00 Crores For Acquiring 5.97% Stake Of ONDC In Its First Tranche

Open Network for Digital Commerce’ (ONDC) is an initiative of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, under the Government of India, to promote open networks for all aspects of the exchange of goods and services over digital networks. ONDC is based on open-source methodology, using open specifications and open network protocols, independent of any specific platform.   

ONDC was incorporated on December 30, 2021, with an early investment from the Quality Council of India (QCI) and Protean eGov Technologies Limited. ONDC is expected to digitize the entire value chain, standardize operations, promote inclusion of suppliers, derive efficiencies in logistics, and enhance value for consumers for almost all types of businesses.  

In the current platform-centric digital commerce model, buyers and sellers must use the same platform/application to do a business transaction. With ONDC’s network-centric model, buyers will be able to access all services currently provided by various sellers on different platforms, on a common network, thus making the network interoperable.   

In its meeting earlier, the Board of Punjab National Bank (PNB) had approved investing in ONDC with an equity participation of 9.5%. Accordingly, the Bank has invested Rs 10.00 Crores for acquiring a 5.97% stake of ONDC in its first tranche, as per the directives of its board. 

Ricoh Asia Pacific Announces The Appointment Of Minosha India Limited As Their “Strategic Partner” iIn India

* Ricoh Asia Pacific Pte Ltd. (“Ricoh”) announced a Strategic Partnership with Minosha India Limited, India. 

Under this alliance, Minosha India Limited will be authorized to cater to the Indian market with Ricoh’s Office Equipment and Digital Services. This partnership will not only help Ricoh expand its reach in India, but it will also help Minosha India Limited to strengthen its promise to provide best-in-class products and services to its customers.  

“We are very delighted to be onboarded as a Ricoh partner. Ricoh is known for its innovative products and solutions and this collaboration will leverage Minosha’s service capabilities and strong pan-India network to deliver best in class solutions. Both alliance partners will contribute to India’s digital growth story” says Mr. Atul Thakker, Managing Director, Minosha India Limited. 

“India is one of the key markets in the region and it is imperative for Ricoh to have partners that can reach out to customers in the country. Our partnership with Minosha will help customers discover and navigate digital transformation, allowing them to create greater value for their business in the process,” said Mr. Tomo Ota, Director, Ricoh Asia Pacific.  

About Minosha India Limited 

Minosha India Limited was established in 1995 and operates through a robust pan-India network of 7 offices and over 300 business partners. Headquartered in New Delhi, Minosha offers a comprehensive range of printing products, document management and workflow solutions to its customers across the country for digital transformation and optimised performance of their businesses. 

With its rich legacy of 27 years, Minosha India Limited has enabled various governing bodies to bring digital transformation in the field of Education, Healthcare, E-Governance and Citizen Centric initiatives. Minosha India Limited partnered with TCIL for successful implementation of ‘Rural Information and Communication Technology’ project in rural post offices across the country and continues to manage the project. 

For further information, please visit - https://www.minosha.in/ 

About Ricoh 

Ricoh is empowering digital workplaces using innovative technologies and services that enable individuals to work smarter from anywhere.  

With cultivated knowledge and organisational capabilities nurtured over its 85-year history, Ricoh is a leading provider of digital services and information management and print and imaging solutions designed to support digital transformation and optimise business performance. 

Headquartered in Tokyo, Ricoh Group has major operations throughout the world and its products and services now reach customers in approximately 200 countries and regions. In the financial year ended March 2021, Ricoh Group had worldwide sales of 1,682 billion yen (approx. 15.1 billion USD). 

For further information, please visit www.ricoh.com 

InsuranceDekho Ropes In “Farhan Akhtar- As A Brand Ambassador” Launches New Ad Campaign

* Launches a new ad campaign around the ‘Sukoon’ or peace of mind theme 

* With the tagline Bharosa Kar Ke Dekho, the Campaign will go live on 26th March’22 coinciding with the IPL 

InsuranceDekho, one of India’s leading Insurtech players, has roped in Farhan Akhtar as its brand ambassador and will be seen in their upcoming ad campaign – Sukoon. The campaign captures the delicate emotion behind ensuring the security and well-being of one’s family.  

With the tagline Bharosa Kar Ke Dekho, the campaign will go live on 26th March 2022 coinciding with the IPL Season 2022 launch, and will run on various channels, OTT, digital and surrounding mediums. It aims to build awareness around the InsuranceDekho brand and how with health insurance plans, people can breathe a sigh of relief even in the toughest times.  

Farhan Akhtar is admired by fans for his agile personality which can be seen in his performance across diverse roles he takes on as a director, actor, singer, and writer. His personality complements the InsuranceDekho brand as just one platform takes care of one’s all insurance needs; Farhan makes a great fit with InsuranceDekho 

Commenting on the association and campaign launch Ankit Agrawal, CEO and co-founder of InsuranceDekho said,” We are thrilled to be associated with Farhan. We at InsuranceDekho, believe that Sukoon does not come from materialistic things like having a swanky car or owning a big house but from seeing the people in one’s house at peace. It comes from watching one’s family share little moments of laughter, from seeing them full of life, from knowing that their health is secured. These tiny activities make way for the idea that Sukoon is in knowing your family is happy and healthy. And that even when times get tough, this feeling is taken care of by your health insurance partner.” 

Vishal Shekhar, Director said, “When we got the brief from InsuranceDekho, we dabbled with a few themes centered on the security and wellbeing of one’s family. The theme that we all related to on a deeper level, was Sukoon. This underrated, beautiful feeling of relief. We realized that ultimately, the one thing that fills a person with the feeling of Sukoon is the knowledge that their loved ones are healthy and happy.” 

Weaving these warm visuals with the soft words, InsuranceDekho nurtures the feeling of ‘Sukoon’ and offers Health Insurance plans best suited to your need as a tool to get closer to it.  InsuranceDekho has always believed in building impactful avenues for brand connect and this collaboration is in tandem with the brand’s underlying philosophy. 

Motherhood Hospitals Organises “Star Of Nursing” Awards To Honour Nursing Staff For Remarkable Achievements

Motherhood Hospitals organised the “Star of Nursing” awards on 25th March 2022. The awards were conducted to honour the nursing staff of the hospital and recognise their outstanding efforts in the field of healthcare services. The winners of the evening were Esha Roselyn, Rani M and Soni Kurian in the nursing category. The winners in the Nursing In-charge category were Bindya MC, Christy Henry & Pushpa R.

Dr. Rehan Sayeed, founder of Motherhood Hospitals, was the chief guest for the award ceremony. The event was also attended by Mr Vishal Bali, Executive Chairman, Asia Healthcare Holdings and Mr Vijayarathna Venkatraman, CEO, Motherhood Hospitals.

Around 250 Nurses from 11 branches of Motherhood Hospitals were evaluated for a period of six months based on both their clinical and non-clinical capabilities.  A scorecard prepared by their reporting managers on a monthly basis and at the end of six months the topper from every unit progressed to the final round.

The finalists were chosen for two categories of awards i.e. Staff nurses and Nurse in charge. Each category had 11 finalists who were further evaluated by an internal and external panel. Their clinical acumen was judged by Ms. Latha Nonis- Head of Nursing Department, Fortis Hospital, Bangalore, Ms. Abanti Gopan, Principal Assesor, National Accreditation board for hospitals and Ms Ms. Shilpa Narayan , coach & Mentor.

Mr Vijayarathna Venkatraman, CEO Motherhood Hospitals said “The importance of nursing in maternal and child health cannot be stressed enough. Pregnancy, labour, and delivery are stressful situations which require critical and quick thinking. Add to that the anxiety and fear of infections during the pandemic, the situation for the healthcare sector was indeed looking grave.

But our nursing staff rose to the challenges and provided our doctors and patients all the support needed. They helped not only with the clinical aspects but also provided the emotional support required by expectant mothers through conversations. They helped the parents feel secure while bringing new life into the world in such trying times. We are privileged to be awarding our nurses this evening for their dedication and efforts. I congratulate the winners and the finalists and wish them all the very best for their future.”

About Motherhood Hospitals:

Motherhood Women & Children’s Hospital network is India’s leading single-specialty chain with 14 hospitals across 8 cities. The network has more than 1000 specialist doctors associated with it who provide clinical services in Gynaecology, Obstetrics, IVF, Neonatology, and Paediatrics. More than 25000 healthy babies have been born in the Motherhood network and 5000 babies have graduated hail & hearty from the 150 specialized Neonatal Intensive Care beds (NICU) of the network. Each hospital has a state of art Operating rooms to provide Minimally Invasive Laparoscopic Gynaecology surgeries. All the hospitals of the network follow NABH quality and safety accreditation standards. In addition, every hospital is supported by a full spectrum of Radiology services for women & children. More than 10000 women and children visit our OPD services each month. Our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit stands as India’s best and known as a referral centre for handling most complex preterm births. 24x7 Emergency services are provided at each hospital. Motherhood is the proud recipient of “FICCI Healthcare Excellence Award for Best Patient Safety Care 2019”.

Queen of Sarees Kankatala Collaborates With Designer Mahitha Prasad To Bring Bespoke Kanchipuram Lehengas This Wedding Season

Legacy brand Kankatala Sarees collaborates with Leading Bridal Designer Mahitha Prasad to bring a unique edition of Bespoke Kanchipuram Lehengas this wedding season. The edition features one-of-a-kind Kanchipuram Lehenga Choli and Dupatta sets created with craftsmanship for Modern Indian Bride. Each Kanchipuram Silk is handpicked by Kankatala family and is designed by Mahitha Prasad making it a dream come true.  

The collection brings with it a limited edition of 20 unique designs and handloom combinations that amalgamate unique Handlooms with Kanchipuram Silk to create an artistic expression. Some Lehengas Choli Sets carry pieces of Maharashtra’s Paithani with Kanchipuram whereas some bring elements of Banarasi Silk. 

The edition will be exhibited in Jayanagar, Bengaluru outlet of Kankatala from 1st April to 3rd April. Queens of Kankatala can not only buy the designs that are already created but also share their vision of their wedding lehenga and Team Mahitha Prasad will create the design with Authentic Handlooms of Kankatala.   

Kankatala has represented the age-old weaving techniques from more than 50 weaving clusters of India for more than 78 years & 3 generations. Known for pioneering trends since 1942, Kankatala has been evolving as per the trends and tastes of their Queens of Kankatala in India and around the world. Mahitha Prasad on the other hand has been known for impeccable designs and has been creating bespoke blouses and wedding wear for her brides since 2016. The collaboration of the two unique entities where Kankatala brings unique handpicked handlooms and Mahitha Prasad brings bespoke designs is extraordinary for the bride-to-be this season. 

The collection is showcased for our Queens of Kankatala EXCLUSIVELY at 11th Main Rd, near Cosmopolitan Club, 4th T Block East, KV Layout, Jayanagar, Bengaluru.

Also available online at: www.kankatala.com

BMW To Increase Prices Across India Effective From April 1, 2022

BMW India has announced a price increase of up to 3.5% across the BMW model range effective 01 April 2022.

The price increase will be brought into effect to adjust the material and logistics costs, impact of current geo-political situation and exchange rates.

The range of locally produced cars include the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, BMW 3 Series, BMW 3 Series Gran Limousine, BMW M 340i, BMW 5 Series, BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo, BMW 7 Series, BMW X1, BMW X3, BMW X4, BMW X5, BMW X7 and MINI Countryman.

BMW dealerships also display BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe, BMW X6, BMW Z4, BMW M2 Competition, BMW M5 Competition, BMW M8 Coupe, BMW X3 M, BMW X5 M and BMW iX which are available in the country as completely built-up units (CBU).

BMW India is a 100% subsidiary of the BMW Group and is headquartered in Gurugram (National Capital Region). Till date, BMW Group has invested over INR 5.2 billion (€ 72 million) in BMW India. The wide range of activities in India include a manufacturing plant in Chennai, a parts warehouse in Pune, a training centre in Gurugram NCR and development of a dealer organisation across metropolitan centres of the country. Currently, BMW Group India has over 80 touchpoints in the Indian market. The total number of employees at BMW Group India is 650.

Lomotif Celebrates With Movie Buffs Ahead Of The Biggest Event in Hollywood

* New Lomotif campaign creates peer-to-peer nominations trend ahead of awards season: How to figure this trend out and make it your own 

With the biggest award night in Hollywood being a few days away, Lomotif’s new awards-themed in-app campaign titled ‘The Award Goes To’ has created a new trend that is making every movie fan’s dream come true with a brilliant twist.

The short video sharing app has a special treat in store as it gives users the chance to nominate their loved ones, friends and family for fun awards, with the fanfare that comes along with the prestigious event in the world of film. Lomotif’s ‘The Award Goes To’ campaign runs till April 8th 2022 under the hashtag #TheAwardGoesTo. This presents Lomotif’s community of everyday creators with a chance to celebrate their friends and loved ones with ‘nomination’ video clips and filters for “Entertainer of the Year”, “Most Popular Comic”, “Drama Queen”, and “Most Musical” amongst many others.

All creators have to do is get on to Lomotif’s #TheAwardGoesTo discovery page. From there, they can explore a featured clips library to spark creativity for their own content. Users can tap onto the wealth of content shared by its global online community, Lomotif-created video clips and music from award-filming films by Universal Music Group. From creating personal video clips, to remixing clips shared via the app’s global community of users, users can nominate those in their lives who deserve an award - quirky categories such as Drama Queen, Entertainer of the Year, Most Popular Comic, have appeared as part of this trend, and Lomotif users are encouraged to create as they wish.

Speaking about the campaign, Paul Yang, CEO of Lomotif, said, “Enhancing our user experience and engaging creators through campaigns that are light-hearted and personalised has been our utmost priority as an app. With one of the most popular global award ceremonies being just a few days away, I am happy that Lomotif is providing a platform for creators to freely express themselves through short-form video, while celebrating key moments in pop culture.”

He further added, “Campaigns like these will help Lomotif users find inspiration in the everyday, and playfully engage their creative side.”

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Recognized For Best Water Management Practices With ‘TERI Water Sustainability Awards’

* Awarded under the ‘Water Users in Industrial Sector’ category

* Sustainable development is integral to the brand's approach on Resource Management and Environmental Protection

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) was recently awarded with the TERI Water Sustainability Awards 2022, in collaboration with IWA and UNDP, India, under the ‘Water Users in Industrial Sector’ category. This award is a testament to TKM’s relentless efforts in setting-up benchmark practices in becoming “Water Positive Company”. Extremely coveted, the Water Sustainability Awards recognize excellence in new approaches, technologies, and other forms of innovation in the water sector as a means of achieving the Sustainable Development Goal 6.

Over the years, TKM has consciously adopted sustainable business practices and transforming from a carmaker to a mobility company. Keeping with our principle of ‘Respect for the Planet’, Toyota globally announced the ‘Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050’ (TEC 2050) in October 2015 comprising of six environment challenges.  We at Toyota are committed to achieve Carbon Neutrality by 2050 & moving towards realizing ‘Net Carbon Zero in Manufacturing Operations’ by 2035. Our key goal is to achieve net zero carbon (CO2) emission throughout the entire lifecycle of our products that goes well beyond vehicles, addressing our entire value-chain, including manufacturing activities.

Further, we have adopted a holistic approach, and are actively engaged in various sustainable initiatives that covers shift to renewable energy, promoting a recycling-based society, reduction in water consumption and various nature conservation activities, thus reinforcing our commitment to build a better, smarter, more sustainable future, creating a net positive impact on the planet and society. Under Toyota’s global environmental six thematic challenges, one of the challenges is dedicated towards ‘minimising and optimizing water usage.’

Expressing his delight about the conferred recognition, Mr. Raju B. Ketkale, Executive Vice President of Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “For us at Toyota, environment is of prime importance and all our initiatives are designed to bring down the environmental impacts and achieve our ultimate goal of ‘Living in Harmony with Nature.’ Through our various efforts, we hope to make a positive impact on the environment and the community around us. The increasing population and dependence on industrial products are causing a water crisis and since water is a shared resource, we all have a responsibility to use it consciously and conserve it.

It is an honour receiving this award and we are extremely grateful to the jury of TERI for giving us a platform and recognizing our water conservation initiatives. This has further motivated us to go forward with more energy towards conservation of the most important resource of nature, Water.”

Striving towards the water sustainability goal, TKM has adopted various novel initiatives at the manufacturing site in Bidadi, Karnataka. To reduce freshwater consumption, TKM is enhancing water efficiency through innovative kaizen and have installed a state-of-the-art RO and MBR wastewater treatment technologies, by which 60% of such wastewater is being recycled for manufacturing processes. TKM has also built 51,000 m3 capacity of Rainwater Harvesting Ponds, which are used for manufacturing and non-manufacturing applications. With these initiatives, TKM has drastically reduced freshwater consumption by 90% in the production processes. Needless to mention, the average groundwater level at TKM increased from 90ft (2014) to 45ft (2021). Further, TKM continues to share the best practices on water usage reduction across their value-chain including supplier and dealer partners to make a real difference.

Furthermore, on signature days like World Environment Day and World Water Day, TKM with its enhanced efforts continues to create awareness amongst its stakeholders on water scenario & conservation methods through eco-webinars and experience sharing by environmental experts.

TKM has also established an outdoor experiential environment learning centre– ECOZONE which has 17 environment learning themes, interlinked to create awareness on Climate Change, Energy, Water, Waste, and Biodiversity. Till date, more than 19,600 school students have been trained at this centre, which includes a detailed module on Water Conservation. The training is aimed to create eco champions and ushering in behavioural change in the young minds to protect our nature and its valuable resources.

Towards contributing to the betterment of community, TKM recently rejuvenated a lake in the vicinity of Abbanakuppe, Bidadi (Ramnagara District, Karnataka), to benefit six surrounding villages. Further, TKM has also installed 43 water purification units across 267 villages, benefitting more than 280,000 people.

Toyota's interventions are driven by community involvement, ownership and awareness, the seeds of which are planted in our holistic engagement model. With the support of all the stakeholders and business partners, TKM intends to build a future society in ‘Harmony with Nature.’

India’s Most Popular Short Video App, Chingari Launches Exclusive NFTs iIn Partnership With Fashion TV

·       Chingari, powered by GARI, its native token to launch 100 NFTs in collaboration with Fashion TV

·       Chingari powered by GARI forays into Metaverse in association with Fashion TV

India’s most popular and fastest-growing short video app, Chingari has announced an exclusive partnership with Fashion TV (FTV), the world’s leading fashion and lifestyle broadcasting television channel. Globally, this is the first time that Fashion TV is collaborating with a short video app, Chingari, powered by GARI for exclusive content.

The partnership will allow Chingari, powered by GARI to exclusively play the Fashion TV content on its app. Moreover, Chingari’s native token, GARI, and Fashion TV have also launched 100 Non-fungible Tokens (NFTs).  The event showcased exclusive GARI Panda NFTs and Fashion TV NFTs in a 75-piece fashion show designed by Madiha Abaida of Extremely.

The tribe of cute Pandas will unlock tremendous value for Panda holders inside the Chingari-Verse. Holders of these NFTs will have exclusive benefits including access to ‘invite-only’ parties and fashion events hosted by Fashion TV including Fashion Metaverse, a once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet and greet Bollywood A-listers, and a privilege to be a part of an exclusive Panda NFT global community.

Chingari’s deep dive into Metaverse

Chingari has also announced its entry into Metaverse, Fashion Metaverse in association with Fashion TV. The space will organize fashion shows to which the NFTs holders will get exclusive access. 

Speaking on the partnership, Mr Sumit Ghosh, CEO, and Co-Founder, Chingari app said, “We are extremely happy to announce the partnership of Chingari, powered by GARI and Fashion TV. The partnership will be mutually beneficial for both the brands with Chingari getting exclusive rights to play Fashion TV content on its platform. Further, the all exclusive 100 GARI Panda NFTs and Fashion TV NFTs, GARI Panda NFTs will turn out to be a goldrush for the artists and celebrities across the globe.”

Michel Adam Lisowski, President of FTV added, “The partnership aligns with our vision to make accessible our premium content from the fashion industry’s most successful designers, models, photographers to everyone. The Fashion TV- GARI Panda NFTs is another exciting offer to the community wherein the early adopters could churn out crazy payouts.”

About Chingari:

Chingari, powered by GARI is India’s fastest-growing short-video app launched in 2018. Since then, the home-grown app has emerged as the one-stop destination for entertaining, engaging videos across diverse categories such as dancing, singing, transformation, innovative skills, etc. Chingari’s eclectic platform entertains 130M+ users across India, and witnesses videos in 15+ languages. It has over 50 lakh Daily Average Users (DAU) and more than 3.5 crores Monthly Average Users (MAU).

About GARI Social Tokens:

GARI is the native token of the Chingari app. It enables short-form video creators to monetize their content on the blockchain with the GARI token. It acts as an in-app currency and a governance token. It has over 270,000 active wallet users and is amongst the top 3 projects on the Solana blockchain.

About Fashion TV

Broadcasting from Paris, France since 1997 and is distributed all over the world on over 50 satellites, cable, and IP networks. FashionTV is available on SD, HD UHD, and on Facebook, Instagram, youtube, Apple TV, Samsung TV, Rakuten TV. In addition, FTV+ is a full OTT service featuring stories on top models, fashion and luxury lifestyles.

For more info pls visit: www.fashiontv.com

Is Mumbai-Based Startup - ShortGun - India's Answer To Meta?

The best way to predict the future is to create it' said Peter Drucker and it is this quote that Mumbai-based serial entrepreneur Jeet Chandan lives by. Jeet is the founder of a Startup Investment & Consulting Firm 'Entremax' which helps startups to build digital brands and also gives opportunities for venture funding. Apart from these two the other ventures this young entrepreneur has are Bizdateup - a business networking platform, Internkhoj - an intern hiring platform, and Vipani - a paper trading simulator.

Jeet has been working on the final stages of his next venture 'ShortGun', with cofounder Vidhit Mehta. ShortGun is a platform that will lay the groundwork for a path to the metaverse. The platform is all set to begin commercial operations from May 2022. Commenting on the occasion Mr. Chandan said "We are excited to present a one-of-a-kind platform that may revolutionize the way users transact with cryptocurrency. Vidhit, me, and the entire team have worked very hard towards it. We would be launching our token, Shortcoin, which will be used to conduct all transactions on our site. The buyer will purchase a low-cost NFT and will be able to access the platform - which will feature various levels of interactive gaming and learning experiences. The more the users play the more tokens they earn. But this is not it - the best part is that these tokens could be redeemed and we will make an announcement soon about the details."

Ever since Facebook Inc renamed itself to Meta, 'metaverse’ has become a buzzword across the globe and has caught the fascination of many bigwigs. The world is fast warming up to the idea of a virtual world representing the real world. It is a seamless combination of the physical and the virtual world and uses technologies like artificial intelligence, virtual reality, augmented reality, 3D imaging, and blockchain among others. "There is no doubt that Metaverse is the future. Early adopters to the technology have already made huge money and are case studies now. We believe education and convenience will bring forward more people to try and use digital currency and assets. It is all about perception. If people get an option to shop for regular stuff like fashion, food, and other consumables they would be more than willing to come forth and be a part of the metaverse. I strongly believe that people will like the varied advantages and offers that we have designed as a platform" said an excited Jeet Chandan as he signed off for the moment.

Manipal College of Health Professions, Conducts One-Day Workshop On Physiotherapy Update On Chronic Pain Management

It was held as part of the pre-conference workshop of Mangalore Physiocon 2022

Bengaluru, March 25th, 2022: The Department of Physiotherapy, Manipal College of Health Professions (MCHP), Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal in association with the South Canara Physiotherapy Teachers Association conducted a one-day workshop on Physiotherapy update on chronic pain management as part of the pre-conference workshop of Mangalore Physiocon 2022. The workshop was conducted at Sharada hall, MCHP and had participation from 90 delegates from within and outside MAHE.

The workshop was inaugurated by the Pro Vice Chancellor (Health Sciences, MAHE) Dr. Venkatraya M Prabhu in the presence of the Dean of MCHP Dr.Arun G Maiya, Guest of Honour Dr.Ifthikar Ali, Dr. John Solomon the head of the Department of Physiotherapy and Ms. Kavitha Vishal, the organizing secretary of the workshop.

During the workshop the dignitaries stressed on the importance of physiotherapy. Dr. M V Prabhu emphasized the significance of such academic gatherings and the role of physiotherapists in chronic pain management. Dr John Solomon provided an overview of the workshop and mentioned that Chronic pain will be a thrust area of research and academics of the department for the next three years. Dr. Iftikar Ali, the guest of honour thanked MAHE for its association with the Mangalore Physiocon since more than a decade

Speaking about the workshop Dr. Arun G Maiya, Dean of Manipal College of Health Professions (MCHP) said “Physiotherapists play a crucial role in the management of chronic pain. It is an extremely challenging profession that requires constant knowledge and skill updation. Workshops like these provide an opportunity for students and faculty alike to interact with reputed professionals in the field and give them immense learning opportunities”

Resource persons of the workshop were Dr Ramakrishnan Mani, senior lecturer, University of Otago, New Zealand, Dr. Divya Adhia, Research Fellow, Dunedin School of Medicine, New Zealand, Dr Ranganath G, associate professor, GITAM School of Physiotherapy, Andhra Pradesh, Kavitha Vishal, assistant professor, department of Physiotherapy, MCHP, Manipal, Dr Devanandh R, consultant physiotherapist, Tumormo Physiotherapy Centre, Chennai, Anupama Prabhu, assistant professor, department of Physiotherapy MCHP, Manipal, Y V Raghava N, PhD student, McMaster University, Canada. 

New York Court Of Appeals Declares Fantasy Sports Legal, To Be Regulated As Game Of Skill, Not Gambling

* New York Court of Appeals on Tuesday highlighted fantasy sports payouts as legal while reaffirming that award prizes to participants are skill-based; hence does not fall under gambling

In a landmark judgement, the New York Court of Appeals ruled in favour of Fantasy Sports platforms. The verdict highlighted that FS leagues which award prizes to participants are skill-based and do not fall under the state’s anti-gambling laws. The New York Court found that interactive fantasy sports contests “are neither games of chance, nor bets or wagers on sporting events” but “independent contests of skill over which the participants exert influence.” Success in fantasy contests “is relative, measured only by the quantity and quality of skill exercised” by other participants, the court established.

The verdict remains along the lines of a similar ruling in 2021 by the Supreme Court of India, reaffirming several Indian HC verdicts that established fantasy sports, as approved by the Charter of Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports (FIFS), as a game of skill. The Hon’ble Supreme Court had recognised that participants must have a certain level of expertise and knowledge of sports to win in Fantasy Sports.

Several states in India have taken a positive step towards identifying fantasy sports as skill based, while mitigating comparisons made with gambling. Fantasy Sports has been given protection under Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution of India by multiple judgements by various Indian courts including the apex court. The latest verdict by the New York High Court has further strengthened the definition of online gaming and clearly distinguishes it from gambling.

Commenting on the decision by the New York Court of Appeals, Mr. Anwar Shirpurwala, CEO - Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports (FIFS) said, “The verdict by the New York Court of Appeals accepting fantasy sports as a contest measured only by the quantity and quality of skill exercised is important for India as it further recognises fantasy sports as a ‘Game of Skill. NITI Aayog - the apex policy think tank of the Government of India had recognised fantasy sports as a sunshine sector with potential to boost the country’s sports economy and came out with a set of comprehensive draft guidelines. We are of the firm view that the New York Court of Appeals judgement will further help promote legal certainty and undoubtedly boost the growth of the fantasy sports industry worldwide.”

Globally, Fantasy Sports has emerged as the chosen mode of engagement with sports. According to a recent report by Deloitte, the industry is estimated to contribute INR 16,000cr revenue to the exchequer in the next three financial years. The industry has also attracted over INR 10,000cr in FDI so far and is estimated to attract another INR 15,000cr in the next three years, leading the Fantasy Sports sector to become a significant contributor to the growth of the economy.

Fashion Goes Phygital At India Fashion Forum 2022 At The Leela Ambience, Gurugram

* Big Ideas & Bigger Fashion Plans Highlighted at India Fashion Forum 2022

Following an engaging, interactive, and cognitively charged session on Day 1 of the 21st edition of India Fashion Forum, the forum took forward another spectacular line-up of guest speakers from the fashion industry on Day 2 on 24th March 2022 at The Leela Ambience, Gurugram

The second day began with a prelude by Puneet Dudeja, Director-Business Development, South Asia, WGSN, who presented the audience with insights on big ideas for fashion through a futuristic lens. “The phygital world is here to stay and the time to get on it is now,” he stated and proceeded to provide a four-action plan on how to prepare for the future of fashion and stay ahead of the game.

The first panel discussion of Day 2 was centred around building a profitable fashion retail business, with greater emphasis on customer experience. This highly knowledgeable and interactive discussion was moderated by Ayushmaan Kapoor, Co-Founder, Xeno, and attended by panelists Akhil Srivastava, Managing Director, Parafait India; Jaimin Gupta, Managing Director, Stitched Textiles Pvt. Ltd. (Barcelona Brand); Rohiet Singh, COO, PVH Arvind Fashion Pvt. Ltd.; Shishir Gupta, Director and Founder, Kalki/Kalkifashion.com; and Sorav Arora, Business Head- B&M, Ecom & LFR, Pepe Jeans. The discussion touched upon topics such as lifting the taboo around the lingerie segment, a wish list to follow Nike’s footsteps, reliance on the word of mouth, and more. Focussing on the importance of customisation, Sorav Arora, said, “There is no quick fix to customisation. Data is BIG and one must read up on it and know their customers to do it justice.”

The second panel discussion for the day was moderated by Ranjan Sharma, CIO, Head of SCM, Captive E-commerce business and QA, Bestseller India, and had insights from Anil Menon, Head of IT, LuLu Group India; Anuj George, Head of Business, Zilingo Factory; Sanchit Govil, Co-Founder, Lal10; Pankaj Sachdeva, E-commerce Head & Marketplace, Crocs; Simarjit Singh Suri, Head New Products Development, Reliance Retail limited; and Jay Prakash Shukla, CEO, 1indiafamilymart. An open and informative dialogue followed throwing light on building a future-ready brand through digital transformation across the supply chain, with Simarjit Singh Suri reminding all to be mindful of the impact that their decisions can have on the supply-demand chain.

The topic of discussion for the next panel was: how creating a profitable online-offline business through store-based omnichannel retail can be a hard balance to crack. The discussion was moderated by Swarndeep Singh, MD, LOGIC ERP, and attended by Apoorv Sen, Chief Brand & Marketing Officer, Iconic Fashion; Kuntal Malia, Co-Founder, StyleNook; Lavanya Nalli, Vice Chairman, Nalli Group; Lokesh Chopra, Head Sales & BD, Alcis Sports Pvt Ltd.; Manish Vig, Retail Head, VIP Industries Ltd.; Suman Chowdhury, Co-Founder & COO, Clovia; Queenie Singh, CEO, Jewels by Queenie; and Rohit Dogra, Business Head, V-Bazaar Retail Pvt. Ltd.

Following a foresight-filled session, the first half of the day was wrapped up with a mind-boggling keynote speech by Ganesh Subramanian, Founder & CEO, Stylumia. His words touched upon the looming environmental crisis and the significant role played by the fashion industry. Inspired by his wife, who has been leading a wasteless lifestyle for some years now, Subramanian highlighted the impact of fashion industry on the climate and the green and sustainable measures to be taken to reduce the damage. The session definitely left the audience with thought-provoking suggestions and action plans for the future.

About India Fashion Forum: Launched in the year 2000, India Fashion Forum (IFF) is India’s largest fashion retail intelligence event. Every year, a powerful blend of conference sessions, workshops and master classes, zoned exhibitions and industry awards mark IFF’s confluence of the biggest consumer trends, market intelligence and retail innovation in the business of fashion in India. This edition of IFF Conference will offer unparalleled insights from international and Indian industry experts, academics, global fashion research majors and analysts through a world-class mix of keynote addresses, panel discussions, CEOs Roundtables, presentations, knowledge series sessions and workshops. Four themed exhibition platforms — Fashion Sourcing, L Cube, Asia Shop, India Brand Show — will highlight the most market-ahead fashion ingredients, design innovation, technology, retail strategies and solutions to a mega congregation of leaders from the business of fashion in India and elsewhere.

Vi Introduces Vi MiFi – A High Speed Connectivity Solution For The Entire Family

 

* The superfast internet device - Vi MiFi, can simultaneously connect up to 10 WiFi-enabled devices anytime, anywhere

Vi, India’s leading telecom brand, has launched Vi MiFi for its customers on Vi Family Plans and Individual Postpaid Plans. Vi MiFi is a pocket-sized 4G router that delivers reliable, high speed and secure connectivity for multiple devices, while also being ideal for individuals wanting to stay connected on the go. Vi MiFi supports superfast speeds of up to 150 Mbps and enables users to securely connect up to 10 WiFi-enabled devices such as mobiles, smart TVs, laptops, tablets, CCTVs, smart speakers and more.

Consumers are now, more than ever, accessing internet for varied purposes and across multiple devices. As these devices proliferate, so does the need for seamless digital connectivity at all times. With high speed and secure internet access, Vi MiFi is a valuable proposition for consumers; be it for “work from anywhere” or consuming content or attending online classes.

Sleek and lightweight, Vi MiFi comes with an inbuilt 2700 mAh rechargeable battery that can provide uninterrupted connectivity for up to 5 hours on a single charge.

Priced at Rs 2,000 (including taxes), Users can purchase this MiFi device as an add-on connection with Vi family postpaid MIFI_Device2plan. This makes it a unique proposition for families who can add not just members but also MiFi within Vi family plans and enjoy the convenience of a single bill for all numbers. Vi MiFi is also available with individual postpaid plans starting Rs. 399.

Vi MiFi is available at select Vi stores across 60 cities in all major markets.

For more details on Vi MiFi, visit www.myvi.in/vi-mifi

Leading Proptech Firm Strata Signs Up As Official Partners For Mumbai Indians

* Strata Launches An Exclusive Loyalty Program For All Its Investors'

Strata, India’s leading tech-enabled commercial real estate (CRE) investment platform, has signed up as the partners to five-time champion Mumbai Indians for the 15th edition of the country’s leading T20 league scheduled between 26th March and 29th May 2022.

As the country’s leading proptech firm, Strata’s collaboration with one of the most iconic teams of the most loved sport festival in the country, came in as a natural choice to build the right visibility and traction for the brand as it forays into its next growth phase. The immense popularity of the most successful and followed team in the T20 league, will aid in offering a major boost to Strata’s objective of targeting a diverse portfolio of customers.

Additionally, to further strengthen relationship and to establish long-term bonds with its investors, Strata has announced the launch of ‘Strata Loyalty Program’. The unique program has been structured to reward and thank its loyal investors who can access a combination of rewards and tiers during their investment journey.

The Strata Loyalty Program entails four tiers basis the investment amount and can be availed by all its investors. ‘Bronze’ tier for investments of up to INR 1 Crores Net AUM, ‘Silver’ tier for investments equal to or above INR 1 Crores & up to INR 3 Crores Net AUM, Gold tier for investment equal to or above INR 3 Crores & up to INR 5 Crores Net AUM and ‘Platinum’ tier for investment equal to or above INR 5 Crores Net AUM. The program would help investors access a wide variety of benefits including reduced management fees, exclusive access to selected properties, personalized tax services and many more depending on the tiers.

On the occasion, Ankit Shah, Head of Marketing, Strata, said “We are extremely thrilled to associate with Mumbai Indians, the most successful and popular team in one of the world’s leading T20 leagues.. Championing five titles so far, they have undoubtedly been the most consistent and resilient team. Their pursuit for consistent excellence bears a significant resemblance with the kind of returns our investors enjoy on Strata’s platform that offers CRE (Commercial Real Estate) as an asset class – stable, consistent and low-risk and which is what brings us together. Strata too is the category leader offering CRE investing and through its customer centric approach, efficient processes and strategic investments has created a distinct brand loyalty among its investors. The collaboration will enable us to combine the synergies of both brands while driving greater brand awareness among a diverse set of audiences.”

Mumbai Indians Spokesperson said, “We are pleased to associate with Strata for the upcoming season. We welcome them on-board Mumbai Indians’ brand family and look forward to a successful campaign with them.”

Strata, the pioneer to offer fractional ownership investing in commercial real estate in India, serves over 1500 investors and 20000 users across the globe. The company recently crossed the significant threshold of 500 crores in Assets under Management (AUM) with assets across Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana and Rajasthan. Through its tech-enabled platform, it empowers retail investors to invest in commercial properties of their choice whilst offering excellent and consistent yields. Strata envisions to be the largest alternative investment platform in the country for retail investors by enabling them to invest in CRE assets—by democratizing assets and offering it on an easy-to-use online platform.

Key benefits under ‘Strata Loyalty Program’:

Bronze:

·         1.00% management fee on all Investments;

·         Instant Call Feature with the assigned Investment Manager;

·         Investor dashboard and all basic benefits as per the terms of Strata Platform and Investment documents.

Silver:

·         0.90% management fee on all Investments;

·         All other Benefits of Bronze to continue;

·         48 hours early access to new asset listings.

Gold:

·         0.80% management fee on all Investments;

·         All other Benefits of Silver to continue;

·         Performance fee of 15% shall apply instead of 20%;

·         Exclusive access to select assets;

·         Access to Expert Corner - Compliance/ Legal Information about various investments and topic consultations with our experts who can provide this advice upon request.

Platinum:

·         0.70% management fee on all Investments;

·         All other Benefits of Gold to continue;

·         Performance fee of 10% shall apply instead of 20%;

·         Personalised Tax Services

About Strata Property Management

Strata is a tech-enabled commercial real estate investment platform that allows investors to own and sell units of pre-leased, Grade-A commercial properties such as office spaces, warehouses, industrial assets, etc. It is funded by marquee investors, Kotak Investment Advisors, Gruhas Proptech, Elevation Capital, Mayfield India, and others. Sourcing Commercial Real Estate and offering it on an easy-to-use online platform, Strata aims to democratize CRE, making it accessible for a much larger investor base.

With its data-driven asset selection and a single-window platform to invest in assets across the country Strata brings in transparency, and ease of liquidity to CRE investments. Investors earn superior rental yields and can liquidate the investments whenever required. In a year’s time Strata has funded multiple assets amounting to an AUM of over 500 crore while also managing 80-90 Crores in asset management.

About Mumbai Indians

Mumbai Indians is owned by Reliance Industries Ltd through its 100% subsidiary IndiaWin Sports, and competes in the Indian Premier League having its home ground at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Over the last decade, Mumbai Indians has emerged as the most consistent cricket franchise maintaining its Number Uno position with seven titles, which includes a record 5 trophies in IPL and two Champions League T20 titles.

The franchise commands immense brand value in the sporting world, with stakeholders trust, brand investment, fan engagement and performance. Brand Finance, a global brand valuation agency has recently accorded AA+ brand strength rating to Mumbai Indians. Mumbai Indians has the reputation of a global sporting club with its far worldwide reach through digital presence, having over 30 million fans engaged digitally across the globe. Follow us on www.mumbaiindians.com

IIE Signs MoU With MoRD To Enhance The Impact Of Start-Up Village Entrepreneurship Programme

In line with the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE) under the aegis of Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), to promote entrepreneurship at a local level amongst the rural youth.

Under the agreement, the Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP), the sub scheme of the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM), with the core objective of promoting employment opportunities in rural India, particularly developing self-employment avenues for unemployed rural people.

By developing a sustainable model for Village Entrepreneurship Promotion, the programme aims to enable the rural poor (from the SHG ecosystem) to start their own businesses. This will be accomplished through the use of integrated ICT techniques and tools for training, capacity building, business advisory services, and the provision of loans from banks, SHGs, and federations.

Dr. Lalit Sharma, Director of IIE, and Shri Raghvendra Pratap Singh, Director of MoRD, signed the MoU in the presence of Shri Rajesh Aggarwal, Secretary, MSDE, Ms. Anuradha Vemuri, Joint Secretary, MSDE, and Shri Charanjit Singh, Joint Secretary MoRD.

The Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), Guwahati, Assam, will act as a National Resource Organisation (NRO) for the Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP) and will provide support to the State Rural Livelihoods Mission (SRLM) for the scheme's successful implementation. The NRO is expected to play a two-fold role in the SVEP's implementation, i.e.  Implementation Role, which will include direct SVEP implementation in the blocks as implementing partners with the States, and Programme Scale-Up Role, in which IIE will be responsible for scaling up the scheme based on the blocks' experience with the SVEP and their prior experience with entrepreneurship development programmes.

The main objective of Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP) is to develop local resources by training a pool of village level Cadre of Community Resource Persons-Enterprise Promotion (CRP-EP) and build the capacity of the NRLM and SHG federations to monitor, direct the work of the CRPEPs. The programme will also help the rural entrepreneurs to access finance for starting their enterprises from the NRLM SHGs and federations, the banking systems including the MUDRA.

Commenting on the MoU, Mr. Rajesh Aggarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, said, "The Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP) being implemented by the IIE is a great way to empower the youth of rural India with the relevant skill sets and promote entrepreneurship at local level. With the experience that IIE has, we will ensure strong implementation mechanism and handholding support to State Rural Livelihoods Missions (SRLMs) implementing Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP). We are certain that this will further boost the employment opportunities in rural India with a step in the direction of Atmanirbhar Bharat and as our Hon’ble Prime Minister states, Start-ups will be the backbone of the New India of our dreams.”

With the MoU in place, the MoRD will inform all states/UTs about IIE's empanelment as an NRO under the SVEP to help accelerate growth. In addition, IIE will work closely with SRLMs to serve as the SVEP's National Resource Organisation. IIE and the respective SRLM will be in charge of allocating SVEP blocks for implementation. Additionally, because MoRD will not be involved in the allocation of SVEP blocks to NRO for programme implementation, a separate MoU should be signed between NRO and SRLM for SVEP implementation.

The Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), Guwahati, Assam, established in 1993, is an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship. The institute's main goal is to provide training, research, and consulting services in small and micro enterprises (SMEs), with a special emphasis on entrepreneurship development.

About Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE) 

The Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE) was established in the year 1993 in Guwahati by the erstwhile Ministry of Industry (now the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises), Government of India as an autonomous National Institute to undertake training, research and consultancy activities in small and micro enterprises focusing on entrepreneurship development.

About Ministry of Rural Development( MoRD)

The Ministry of Rural Development, a branch of the Government of India, is entrusted with the task of accelerating the sustainable and inclusive growth of rural India through livelihoods opportunities, social safety net and developing infrastructure.. Being the nodal Ministry for most of the development and welfare activities in the rural areas of India, the Ministry of Rural Development plays a pivotal role in the overall development strategy of the country. The vision and mission of the Ministry is sustainable and inclusive growth of rural India through a multipronged strategy for eradication of poverty by increasing livelihoods opportunities, providing social safety net and developing infrastructure for growth. This is expected to improve quality of life in rural India and to correct the developmental imbalances, aiming in the process, to reach out to most disadvantaged sections of the society.

Capco India Announces Major Recruitment Initiative To SupportI Its Global Financial Services Clients

* Global management and technology consultancy 

* plans to hire over 500 consultants across its Indian locations 

Capco, the global management and technology consultancy, has announced it is undertaking a major recruitment drive in India to meet rising demand for its services from locally-based global financial services institutions. 

As these clients continue to focus on optimising customer experiences, operating models and internal automation, Capco is looking to fill over 500 roles in the coming months in a broad range of specialist areas across consulting, data, digital and technology. The roles are variously based in Bangalore, Pune, Mumbai, Gurgaon, Hyderabad, and Chennai. 

Drawing on the deep domain knowledge and wide financial markets experience within Capco’s global business, Capco India provides a broad range of business and technology transformation services solutions to premier financial services clients around the world. It currently employs some 1,400 consultants and financial services specialists across its locations – almost 20% of Capco’s global workforce. Key services within Capco India’s offering include business change services, Finance Risk and Compliance (FRC), digital engineering and innovation, data & analytics, technology delivery and project management office (PMO) services for large global transformation programs. 

Hiri Kowshika, Managing Partner and Head of Capco India, said: “This current initiative to expand our pool of talent and expertise is the latest phase in our ongoing and significant investment in India, which already saw us recruit 500 new colleagues in 2021. Capco India is a critical part of Capco’s business and provides support globally to many of the world’s leading financial institutions. We act as the bridge between business and technology organizations to support our clients’ strategies around the technology-driven digital transformation, business process change, new ways of working – and, ultimately, the ongoing reshaping and recalibration of the wider financial services industry.  

“We look to do things differently at Capco, and that includes championing an empowering and entrepreneurial ‘Be Yourself at Work’ culture that puts a premium on respect, diversity and creativity. We are committed to supporting our employees in growing their skills and careers though our learning and development programmes and mentoring schemes. We also look to lead by example around issues such as sustainability and corporate social responsibility, and in India we have a particularly active employee-led CSR programme that is focused on making a real difference and adding value to the lives of individuals, businesses, and communities. ” 

Details of open roles at Capco India can be found at www.capco.com/Careers 

About Capco, A Wipro Company 

Capco is a global technology and management consultancy specializing in driving digital transformation in the financial services industry. With a growing client portfolio comprising of over 100 global organizations, Capco operates at the intersection of business and technology by combining innovative thinking with unrivalled industry knowledge to fast-track digital initiatives for banking and payments, capital markets, wealth and asset management, insurance, and the energy sector. Capco’s cutting-edge ingenuity is brought to life through its Innovation Labs, and award-winning BYAW culture and diverse talent. To learn more, visit www.capco.com or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn Instagram, and Xing. 

JK Tyre Sets Another Industry Benchmark, Introduces ‘Puncture Guard Tyre’ In Indian Market

* Brings advanced tyre technology to India ensuring more safety and comfort to customers 

Revolutionizing India’s tyre market, the pioneer of Radial technology and leading tyre manufacturer, JK Tyre & Industries Ltd., has launched India’s first Puncture Guard Tyres for four-wheelers.

Driven by the technological expertise of producing high performance tyres suited for Indian conditions, JK Tyre, aims to revolutionize the industry with Puncture Guard Tyres for new generation cars available in market.

The Puncture Guard tyre technology, with specially engineered self-healing elastomer inner coat, applied inside the tyres through an automated process, heals the punctures. Tyres with this technology can self-repair the multiple punctures in the tread area, due to nails or other sharp objects up to 6.0 mm diameter instantly.  Puncture Guard tyre offers hassle free ride throughout the life of the tyre without air loss.

Commenting on the occasion, Dr. Raghupati Singhania, Chairman & Managing Director said, “JK Tyre has always been a front-runner when it comes to innovation-led technological development. With the introduction of Smart tyre technology in 2020 and now the Puncture Guard Tyre technology, we have yet again delivered on our commitment to provide advanced mobility solutions to our customers. This technology offers high level of safety and convenience to vehicle owners. The Puncture Guard tyre technology was part of the concept tyres unveiled at the Auto Expo 2020 and in line with JK Tyre’s initiative to foray into breakthrough innovations this year.”

To ensure safe rides, the advanced Puncture Guard tyre has been tested across all Indian on-road, as well as off-road conditions. The tyres are secure, unique and designed for optimal performance, drastically improving road safety while mitigating any potential accidents

JK Tyre & Industries Limited

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

A global force, JK Tyre is present in 105 countries with over 180 Global distributors.  The Company has 12 globally benchmarked ‘sustainable’ manufacturing facilities - 9 in India and 3 in Mexico – that collectively produce around 35 million tyres annually. The Company also has a strong network of over 4000 dealers and 600+ dedicated Brand shops called as Truck Wheels, Steel Wheels and Xpress Wheels.

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

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

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

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

A Leading Payments Service Provider - Atom; Rebranded As NTT DATA Payment Services India Ltd

* NTT DATA, a top-10 global IT Services provider, currently operates payment companies in Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and India

* NTT DATA acquired majority stake in the Indian Payment Company, Atom Technologies in 2019 and now renames it to NTT DATA Payment Services India Ltd.

* Post-acquisition, the company recorded a continuous remarkable growth.

Atom Technologies Ltd, an end-to-end payment service provider, today announced that it will now operate as NTT DATA Payment Services India Ltd. The brand aids merchants in India to provide a seamless payment experience to customers, both online and offline. The rebranding is part of NTT DATA’s global growth initiative in the payment solutions space within the Indian and Asian markets.

NTT DATA is a part of the $112 billion NTT Group, that is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan where it is a market leader in IT and Business Services. NTT DATA Payment Services India (erstwhile Atom) will be able to leverage NTT DATA’s global reputation across all their businesses and impact their sales initiatives with the merchants. NTT DATA Payment Services India will also be able to access global financial networks of NTT group companies and their partners in each region, while harnessing cutting-edge technologies.

The newly rebranded entity will be led by Chief Executive Officer Dewang Neralla from its Mumbai headquarters. The company clocked Rs 122 crore as turnover in FY 2020-21, and it has surpassed the number by more than 100% in the current financial year.

Commenting on the announcement, Dewang Neralla, Chief Executive Officer, NTT DATA Payment Services India Ltd, said, “The rebranding is a step keeping our growth prospects in mind. As a company, we have always focused on becoming leaders at the segments we operate in. With the resources and strategic might of our parent company, we will now be able to penetrate deeper into our existing markets, while broadening our global reach and innovative solutions.”

Takeo Ueno, Whole-Time Director, NTT DATA Payment Services India Ltd. said, “As one of the leading IT Services providers globally, NTT DATA has the technical expertise that will help us innovate our solutions to become more cutting-edge. As a growth enabler, we have well-established plans for the constantly evolving Indian market.”

As NTT DATA Payment Services India Ltd., the company will be able to leverage additional resources to strengthen their foray into new segments in addition to current segments in the education, healthcare and brokerage sector, and markets in the future. The company will also continue to build innovative systems to streamline in-store and in-mall experience for consumers.

NTT DATA Corporation holds about 60% stake in Atom Technologies. The top-10 global business and IT Services provider has more than 1.3 lakh professionals in over 50 countries.

About NTT DATA Payment Services India Ltd.

NTT DATA Payment Services India Ltd., formerly known as Atom Technologies Ltd., is an end-to-end payment service provider offering a myriad range of payment solutions through online and offline platforms via point of sale, payment gateway, Interactive Voice Response (IVR) and mobile applications. The company offers a host of digital payment solutions tailor-made to cater to the needs of its merchants such as point of sale, online payment gateway, mobile applications, wallets, BNPL, IVR, QR codes and white-labelled solutions. Being a veteran in the payments industry, the company services more than 6 million+ merchants, and has processed more than 100 million transactions, worth INR 800+ billion, annually. Visit us at www.nttdatapay.com

About NTT DATA

NTT DATA – a part of NTT Group – is a trusted global innovator of IT and business services headquartered in Tokyo. We help clients transform through consulting, industry solutions, business process services, IT modernization and managed services. NTT DATA enables clients, as well as society, to move confidently into the digital future. We are committed to our clients' long-term success and combine global reach with local client attention to serve them in over 50 countries. Visit us at nttdata.com.

SBI Card Inks Partnership With Nature’s Basket To Launch India’s Leading International Gourmet Card

* Nature’s Basket SBI Card’ will be the first-of-its-kind credit card to offer unique benefits around international gourmet and lifestyle spends

* The card will be an important addition to SBI Card’s already robust premium portfolio

SBI Card, India’s largest pure-play credit card issuer, has inked partnership with Nature’s Basket, India’s leading premium grocery store brand, to launch “Nature’s Basket SBI Card”. Thoughtfully crafted to cater to the fast-evolving gourmet taste of premium consumers, the first-of-its-kind ‘Nature’s Basket SBI Card’ will address their unique lifestyle related spend needs, including grocery and gourmet. The card will be introduced in two variants – ‘Nature’s Basket SBI Card’ and ‘Nature’s Basket SBI Card Elite’ to enable cardholders to derive maximum value from their spends at Nature’s Basket stores along with other key spend categories such as international travel, dining, and entertainment. Nature’s Basket SBI Card will be available to customers by around first fortnight of April 2022. 

‘Nature’s Basket SBI Card’ variants will allow cardholders to earn up to 20 Reward Points on every Rs 100 spent at Nature’s Basket stores and up to 10 Reward Points on every Rs 100 spent on dining, movies, and international travel. Importantly, the cardholders will be able to enjoy unparalleled benefits such as complimentary Bookmyshow movie tickets, Taj gift vouchers, Nature’s Basket welcome gift vouchers, and access to higher tiers of Nature’s Basket loyalty program, among others. 

With the changing lifestyle preferences and increasing disposable income, consumers are seeking premium products and experiences. At SBI Card, premium cards portfolio contributes a significant share in overall spends, which is an indication of consumers’ increasing affinity towards premium lifestyle.  

According to Mr. Rama Mohan Rao Amara, MD & CEO, SBI Card, “India’s premium consumer segment continues to offer a strong potential for growth. Over the years, we have built a robust premium products portfolio and Nature’s Basket SBI Card, with its exclusive benefits and privileges for consumers, will help to further strengthen it. We are delighted to partner with Nature’s Basket which has been instrumental in crafting the gourmet food story in India and has millions of loyal consumers. Through this card, we hope to provide them with an exceptionally premium experience.” 

Speaking about the initiative, Mr. Devendra Chawla, MD & CEO, Spencer’s Retail & Nature’s Basket said, “As a leading international gourmet and premium grocery brand in the country, we consistently strive to bring more value & delight to our esteemed customers. Launch of Nature’s Basket SBI Card that rewards customers on their varied purchases is a key step in the direction. We are very thrilled to be partnering with SBI Card to launch this co-branded card that will provide numerous benefits to our valued customers and deepen our relationship with them.” 

Nature’s Basket SBI Card Elite will offer complimentary Bookmyshow movie tickets worth Rs 6,000 every year. Both the variants will come with compelling spends-based milestone benefits. Through Nature’s Basket SBI Card Elite, cardholders will be able to avail Taj gift vouchers of worth Rs 10,000 upon achieving annual spends of Rs 6 lakh and annual fee reversal at Rs 10 lakh spends milestone during membership year. On the other hand, Nature’s Basket SBI Card users will get gift vouchers of premium brands worth Rs 3,000 upon achieving Rs 3 lakh annual spends and will become eligible for annual fee reversal upon reaching annual spends milestone of Rs 2 lakh.  

Aimed at elevating the premium experience of customers, Nature’s Basket SBI Card Elite goes a step further and will offer customers exclusive privileges like exclusive check-out counters at Nature’s Basket stores and concierge assistance to address customers’ requirements around flower delivery, gift delivery and online doctor consultation. The cardholders will also be able to use the card to avail complimentary access to airport lounges while travelling domestically and internationally. Nature’s Basket SBI Card Elite will offer 8 complimentary visits per year to domestic lounges and 6 complimentary visits per year to international Priority Pass lounges. Nature’s Basket SBI Card customers will be able to avail 4 complimentary visits per year to domestic lounges. 

The annual membership fee of Nature’s Basket SBI Card and its Elite version will be Rs 1499 and Rs 4,999 respectively. It will be launched on Visa platform.   

Key Highlights of Nature’s Basket SBI Card Elite 

Reward Points: 

20 Reward Points on every Rs 100 spent at Nature’s Basket stores (online and offline). 

10 Reward Points on every Rs 100 spent on dining, entertainment, and international travel. 

2 Reward Points on every Rs 100 spent on all other categories. 

Complimentary Bookmyshow tickets: 

Complimentary movie tickets worth Rs 6000 every year (Limited to Rs 250 per ticket for 2 tickets per month). 

Milestone benefits: 

Taj gift vouchers worth Rs 10,000 on achieving annual spends millstone of Rs 6 lakh during the respective card membership year. 

Annual fee waiver upon achieving annual spends milestone of Rs 10 lakh during the respective card membership year. 

Welcome Benefits:  

Direct access to Connoisseur tier of Nature’s Basket loyalty program. 

Nature’s Basket gift vouchers worth Rs. 4999. 

Travel benefits:  

08 complimentary visits per year (max 2 per qtr.) to domestic lounges. 

06 complimentary visits per year (max 2 per qtr.) to international Priority Pass lounges. 

Premium privileges: 

Exclusive check-out counters at Nature’s Basket stores. 

Free invitation to special events – culinary classes and wine cheese pairing. 

Concierge service - Dedicated assistance on Flower Delivery, Gift Delivery, Online Doctor Consultation. 

Fuel Surcharge Waiver: Up to Rs 100 per month  

Key Highlights of Nature’s Basket SBI Card 

Reward Points: 

10 Reward Points on every Rs 100 spent at Nature’s Basket stores (online and offline). 

5 Reward Points on every Rs 100 spent on dining, entertainment, and international travel. 

1 Reward Points on every Rs 100 spent on all other categories. 

Milestone benefits: 

Gift vouchers of premium brands worth Rs 3000 on achieving annual spends millstone of Rs 3 lakh during the respective card membership year. 

Annual fee waiver upon achieving annual spends milestone of Rs 2 lakh during the respective card membership year. 

Welcome Benefits:  

Direct access to Epicure tier of Nature’s Basket loyalty program. 

Nature’s Basket gift vouchers worth Rs. 1499. 

Travel benefits:  4 complimentary visits per year (max 1 per qtr.) to domestic lounges. 

Fuel Surcharge Waiver: Up to Rs 100 per month.  

About SBI Card 

SBI Cards and Payment Services Limited is a non-banking financial company that offers extensive credit card portfolio to individual cardholders and corporate clients which includes lifestyle, rewards, travel & fuel, and banking partnerships cards along with corporate cards covering all major cardholders’ segments in terms of income profile and lifestyle. The brand has a wide base of over 13 million cards in force as of Q3 FY22. It has diversified customer acquisition network that enables to engage prospective customers across multiple channels. SBI Card is a technology driven company. 

Aegon Life Appoints Srinidhi Shama Rao As Chief Strategy Officer To Drive Exponential Growth

* Elevates key talent to lead strategic business units and scale business through 100 distribution partners in 2022. 

Aegon Life, Digital India’s life insurance company, announced the appointment- of Srinidhi Shama Rao as Chief Strategy Officer to drive its digital-only strategy and achieve exponential growth. Srinidhi will be reporting to Satishwar Balakrishnan, MD & CEO, Aegon Life, and shall oversee Analytics, Alliances, Marketing, Sales, and Product Innovation. Srinidhi’s appointment enhances the strategic, operational, and business build-out capabilities for the tech-first organization. 

The move is part of a sweeping changes at the Life Insurer to drive exponential growth and scale to 100 digital distribution partners in 2022. Srinidhi brings deep experience in digital transformation and implementing data-driven strategies from multiple industries and geographies. Over the last decade, he has been helping Fortune500 companies make better decisions using Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Behavioral Economics, Design Thinking, Game Theory, Systems Thinking, and other tools. 

Satishwar Balakrishnan, MD & CEO, Aegon Life, commented on the appointment, “We are excited to bring Srinidhi aboard. He will be instrumental in boosting our planning, strategy, and data capabilities so we can revolutionize how life insurance is sold. And he will play a pivotal role in helping us achieve our vision of making every Indian household financially secure. His experience with analytics and AI-driven business strategies will drive business growth.” 

Speaking on his appointment, Srinidhi added, “The Customer prefers digital as their primary channel, so it’s exciting to lead Strategy at a company where operations are not run by people but by technology, and an underwriter is not a person but an algorithm. Aegon Life is transforming the way life insurance is distributed and sold. With our next-gen Tech Stack, AI Stack and Agility Stack, we aim to make purchasing an insurance policy as easy as ordering food online; and integrating with a new distribution partner a matter of minutes rather than months” 

Alongside Srinidhi’s appointment, there have been several elevations of key personnel to accelerate this growth. The team has been organized around customer segments instead of products. Devichand Lunawat, Mayank Ravi and V Vineeth Kumar, who were handling key portfolios have been elevated to lead cross-functional teams that cater to these customer segments holistically.  

In addition to the org changes, Aegon Life has been taking many initiatives to attract tech and analytics talent. It has announced a work-from-anywhere policy that would make it attractive for superior talent located across cities. The agile methodology and goal setting is not restricted to tech teams but followed across the organization. Speaking of the shift, Sunita Rath, Chief People Officer (CPO) at Aegon Life said “our aim is to break functional barriers that exist in traditional companies, create a cross-functional team of thought leaders and designers who can scale business through superior design and best-in-class technology. Our vision is to make every household in India financially secure, and that is a gigantic goal that can be achieved only through technology” 

About Aegon Life: 

Aegon Life is India’s first and only fully digital life insurance company, advancing the country’s digital insurance ecosystem and closing the gaps between industry, technology, and people.  It’s innovative experiences and solutions offer greater transparency, accessibility, and ease of use, helping financially secure every Indian household. 

https://www.aegonlife.com/     

Airtel Showcases Exciting Future Of Immersive Video Entertainment On 5G In Indian Market

* Recreates in-stadia experience of Kapil Dev’s legendary 175 run innings from the 1983 Cricket World Cup, that was missing till now, with immersive video technology over its 5G network 

* Demonstrates India’s first LIVE 5G powered hologram, as Kapil Dev’s virtual avatar interacts with fans in real-time from a remote location   

Bharti Airtel (“Airtel”), India’s premier communications solutions provider, today showcased 5G’s high-speed, low latency capabilities to transform the future of video entertainment and take the user experience to the next level. 

Using cutting edge immersive video technologies over its high speed 5G test network, Airtel recreated the in-stadia experience of Kapil Dev’s famous 175 not out vs Zimbabwe, during the 1983 Cricket World Cup. A special 175 Replayed video, in 4K mode, brought to key moments from the match to life, which had no video footage due to a strike by TV technicians.

With speeds of over 1 Gbps and latency of under 20 ms, more than 50 concurrent users enjoyed a highly personalized 4K video experience of the match on 5G smartphones, with real-time access to multiple camera angles, 360-degree in-stadia view, shot analysis and stats.

The session was made even more exciting with India’s first 5G powered hologram interaction with Kapil Dev. The Airtel 5G powered virtual avatar of the legendary cricketer appeared on the stage, to interact with the fans in real-time and walk them through the key moments of his innings.     

Randeep Sekhon, CTO, Bharti Airtel: “The gigabit speeds and millisecond latency of 5G will transform the way we consume entertainment. With today’s demonstration, we have only scratched the surface of the infinite possibilities of 5G and highly personalized immersive experiences in the digital world. With 5G based holograms, we will be able to transport virtual avatars to any location and this will be a game changer for meetings and conferences, LIVE news and will have so many other use cases. Airtel is fully prepared for 5G in this emerging digital world and is building a solid pipeline of innovative use cases for India. We also take this opportunity to thank the Department of Telecom for giving us the trial spectrum, to validate our technology and use cases.” 

Describing his experience, Kapil Dev added: “I am simply amazed by the power of 5G technology and seeing my digital avatar interact with my fans as if I am actually there. Thank you Airtel for this wonderful effort and bringing to life one of the most important innings of my career.” 

Airtel conducted the demonstration at its Network Experience Center in Manesar (Gurugram) using Ericsson 5G Radio in NSA and SA modes over 3500 MHz band test spectrum allotted by the Department of Telecom, Government of India. 

Airtel is spearheading 5G in India. Earlier this year Airtel demonstrated India’s first 5G experience over a live 4G network. It also demonstrated India’s first rural 5G trial as well as the first cloud gaming experience on 5G. As part of #5GforBusiness, Airtel has joined forces with leading global consulting and technology companies and brands to test 5G based solutions.

About Airtel

Headquartered in India, Airtel is a global communications solutions provider with over 480 Mn customers in 16 countries across South Asia and Africa. The company ranks amongst the top three mobile operators globally and its networks cover over two billion people. Airtel is India’s largest integrated communications solutions provider and the second largest mobile operator in Africa. Airtel’s retail portfolio includes high speed 4G/4.5G mobile broadband, Airtel Xstream Fiber that promises speeds up to 1 Gbps with convergence across linear and on-demand entertainment, streaming services spanning music and video, digital payments and financial services. For enterprise customers, Airtel offers a gamut of solutions that includes secure connectivity, cloud and data centre services, cyber security, IoT, Ad Tech and cloud based communication. For more details visit www.airtel.com

India Fashion Forum 2022 In Its 21st Edition Brings A Glorifying Future Of Fashion

IMAGES Group, the largest retail intelligence organisation in South Asia and Middle East, commenced its 21st edition of India Fashion Forum, India’s largest fashion retail intelligence event, on 23rd March 2022, at The Leela Ambience, Gurugram. The forum witnessed a discerning panel discussion moderated by Navin Joshua, Founder/Director, GreenHonchos, on progress and building an effective CX strategy in the fashion retail business.

The panel was followed by IMAGES Retail Technology Icons sponsored by GreenHonchos, which is the first-ever initiative from the IMAGES Group to recognise the transformational achievements of India’s most powerful Innovators, game-changers and leaders of digital.

The day went on with noteworthy and thought provoking words by Atul Shivnani, Head of Ecommerce and Digital, The Body Shop, Agnes Raja George, Founder and MD, Pipin Fashions and Retail Pvt Ltd (Demoza - Bottom Wear), Bidyut Bhanjdeo, Head - S&D, LFS and Ecommerce, Raymond, Rajnish Gupta, Vice President and Head- India and Subcontinent, Zebra, Saikat Mitra, Vice President - Creative Director, Van Heusen, Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd, Shifali Singh, Head - Ecommerce, Retail Merchandise and International Expansion, BIBA India, Surbhi Shridhar, Retail Sustainability Lead, Accenture, and Navin Joshua, Founder/Director, GreenHonchos.

Making the most of India’s largest fashion retail event, Ninad Umargekar, Chief Marketing Officer, J G Hosiery, took the opportunity to unveil ‘India’s Perfect Tee’ by Sporto. With assertion of the perfect length, smart collar, unparalleled sturdiness and durability, Mr. Umargekar promised that the product lives up to all of its claims. The forum had a collection of fashion retailers with their products on display. Sporto’s Perfect Tee was also showcased in 15 different colour ways for the audiences to see for themselves.

In a town hall like never before, the India Fashion Forum brought together an incredible panel of developers and retailers in the industry for a dynamic discussion which touched on how to drive customers to the malls, enhancing their omnichannel experience, and adding to the brick and mortar experience. The town hall was beautifully conducted by Pankaj Renjhen, COO & Jt. MD, ANAROCK Retail. The panellists were Abhishek Raj, COO, Lacoste India/Sports & Leisure Apparel Ltd, Ashish Awal, National Sales Manager, Pepe Jeans, Deepak Yadav, Head – BD, Shoppers Stop Ltd, Lokesh Chopra, Head Sales & BD, Alcis Sports Pvt Ltd, Manik Dhodi, Director Real Estate, adidas Group India, Nitin Bansal, Head BD, Miniso, Preeti Chopra, National Head BD – Retail, Raymond, Ramesh Sadhu, CEO, Liberty Retail Revolutions, Sumit Ghildiyal, Head Retail Business Development & NSO (Max), Landmark Group, Sumit S Suneja, Head BD & Franchise, Bestseller India, Vivek Shrivastava, Head Of Retail Business Development, Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail, Aman Trehan, ED, Trehan IRIS, Arjun Gehlot, Director, Ambience Group, Harsh Bansal, Director, Vegas Mall & Unity Group, Pushpa Bector, Executive Director, DLF Shopping Malls, Shibu Philips, Business Head-Malls, Lulu International Shopping Malls, Uddav Poddar, MD & Group CEO, Bhumika Group, and Yogeshwar Sharma, CEO & ED, Select Infrastructure.

About India Fashion Forum: Launched in the year 2000, India Fashion Forum (IFF) is India’s largest fashion retail intelligence event. Every year, a powerful blend of conference sessions, workshops and master classes, zoned exhibitions and industry awards mark IFF’s confluence of the biggest consumer trends, market intelligence and retail innovation in the business of fashion in India. This edition of IFF Conference will offer unparalleled insights from international and Indian industry experts, academics, global fashion research majors and analysts through a world-class mix of keynote addresses, panel discussions, CEOs Roundtables, presentations, knowledge series sessions and workshops. Four themed exhibition platforms — Fashion Sourcing, L Cube, Asia Shop, India Brand Show — will highlight the most market-ahead fashion ingredients, design innovation, technology, retail strategies and solutions to a mega congregation of leaders from the business of fashion in India and elsewhere.