Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited’s Technical Paper On ‘Reliability Improvement Journey’ Was Presented At Quality Symposium

Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (Tata Power-DDL), a leading power utility supplying electricity to a populace of 7 million in North Delhi, presented its technical paper on ‘Reliability Improvement Journey’ at the first-ever Quality Symposium, organised by the Indian Society for Quality (ISQ) at RV College of Engineering, Bengaluru. The Quality Symposium by ISQ primarily focused on ‘Driving excellence through quality management’ presented by worldwide Academicians and Practitioners. Out of the two papers presented during the symposium, one got recognized as the Third Best Technical Paper.

The high-standard research paper on ‘Reliability Improvement Journey’ presented by Tata Power-DDL was among the top 34 papers selected by the ISQ. The discom has been consistently translating its customer needs into opportunities for business improvements through its Total Quality Management (TQM) approach. Additionally, Tata Power-DDL has adopted sustainable technology solutions to improve its operational performance and aims at further enhancing its experience.

The event was graced by the presence of Dr. K.N. Subramanya (Principal- RV College of Engineering), Dr. Pankaj Kumar (Chief Total Quality Management & Corporate Quality Assurance, Tata Steel- Jamshedpur), Mr. Kunal Pareek  (Head of Department- Business Excellence &Total Quality  Management), Mr. Prabhakar Shettigar (Executive Director - ISQ), Mr. N. Ramanathan (Quality Guru), Dr. A.K. Chakraborty (Professor-ISI) and Prof. N.S. Narahari (Professor-RV College of Engineering).

The discom has been remarkable in business excellence by ensuring customer satisfaction and adding better stakeholder value.

PUMA Unveils Special Race Day Tee With Mary Kom For Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon

Sportswear brand, PUMA will be celebrating the success and dedication of runners at Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon with specially designed tees for the race day.

Star boxer and PUMA athlete MC Mary Kom launched the PUMA Race Day Tee which will be given to all registered runners, including men and women, for the showpiece event, to be held on October 16.

Considered as one of India’s largest sporting philanthropy platforms, the half marathon has inspired and impacted millions of lives. This year, in order to motivate the runners, all the registered participants will be given ‘yellow’ tees.

And, further, PUMA will also give ‘blue’ coloured tees to the first 500 men and women runners, who will successfully complete the race.  

Commenting on the occasion, PUMA athlete Mary Kom said the tees are designed to make the runners comfortable during the race.

“It makes me proud to unveil the PUMA Race Day Tee for the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon. The high-performance jersey is comfortable and will effectively support the runners during the race. I see a lot of positive change towards sports and fitness, especially running as a trend. It is wonderful to see PUMA rallying for sports and fitness culture across disciplines such as boxing, cricket, table tennis, hockey and running. I wish the runners of Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon all the best. Enjoy this race with passion and fun,” Mary Kom said.

Besides close association with star India cricketer Virat Kohli, KL Rahul and IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore, PUMA has been supporting many athletes in their journeys, across different sporting disciplines.

Project SANAM, A Student Team From MIT-MAHE Wins The 2nd Runner-Up Prize In DVCon India Hackathon 2022

* The problem statement of the hackathon was to Accelerate AI algorithms on an FPGA

* The students were awarded with certificates, plaques and a cash prize of 30,000/-

Project SANAM, student team from Manipal Institute of Technology, MAHE, has won the 2nd runner up prize in the DVCon India 2022 Hackathon. The team comprising of   Tushar Upadhyay, Yellur Vishal Rao and Ayush Kumar of MIT, participated in the event which was held online in September and the results were declared recently.  The students were awarded with certificates, plaques and a cash prize of 30,000/- for their efforts.

The problem statement of the hackathon was to Accelerate AI algorithms on an FPGA. It was conducted in two stages. In stage 1 of the hackathon, the MIT team created a Hand gesture recognition model, which used a region-of-interest detection algorithm and a CNN to classify gestures on the HaGRID Dataset. In addition to that, they had to research and document the techniques used to accelerate an AI model on an FPGA.

In the second stage, the team was provided with three days to accelerate a pre-trained object detection model and deploy it on the cloud-hosted FPGA accelerator. The model's acceleration was successfully done by using the Vitis AI tool flow. The final model was deployed on the Amazon Web Services (AWS) EC2 F1 server instance (Amazon EC2 F1 instances use FPGAs to deliver custom hardware accelerations). 

Speaking about the achievement of Project SANAM Cdr. (Dr.) Anil Rana, Director, Manipal Institute of Technology, MAHE said, "We are extremely proud and delighted for team Project SANAM’s accomplishment. The hackathon consisted of participants from reputed technology institutes from across the country. With their win, the students from MIT have kept the Manipal flag flying high at such a competitive forum. We congratulate them with all our hearts and wish them all the luck for such future events as well”

Brookfield Properties Plants Over 3000 Trees Under The ‘Forest of Hope’ Initiative

* The campaign was implemented in Bengaluru and Delhi NCR via a strategic partnership with SankalpTaru Foundation

Brookfield Properties, a leading global developer and operator of high-quality real estate assets, planted over 3000 trees under their ‘Forest of Hope’ initiative in Bengaluru and Delhi-NCR. The initiative witnessed an overwhelming response from the employees and tenants. This initiative was carried out in partnership with SankalpTaru Foundation, one of India’s prominent IT-enabled NGOs working pan India on afforestation and reforestation programs, to address climate change, reduce pollution, recharge groundwater, offset carbon footprint and enhance biodiversity.

The drive was executed on September 23 and 30 in Bengaluru and Delhi NCR respectively. More than 700 trees were planted in the North University region in Bengaluru which was followed by a coaching session for teachers and students to help them tackle environmental challenges. Under this initiative, the focus was on planting rapidly disappearing tree species like Mahogany, Badam, Teak, Honne etc. Likewise, at Tawdu in Haryana – Delhi NCR, the primary objective was to conserve Aravallis and the area's natural environment. More than 2300 Peepal, Shisham, Neem, Gulmohar, Amrud and Amla trees were planted among others. This will result in recharging the natural groundwater propelling a significant carbon offset and biodiversity restoration in one of the world's oldest hills.

These 3000+ trees will provide more than 2700 tonnes of oxygen and sequester approximately 1500 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in their lifetime. Moreover, these native trees will increase the green footprint across six acres benefiting both the flora and fauna in these regions while enhancing the biodiversity index. Each tree was photographed and geotagged with a QR code. The initiative has a unique tracking mechanism, with the aid of which one can locate the tree planted by themselves from anywhere in the world through an app by SankalpTaru

Expressing his views, Mr. Alok Aggarwal, MD & CEO, Brookfield Properties said, “With an aim to create a greener future for the planet, we are extremely pleased with our “Forest of Hope” initiative which planted over 3000 trees in India. A simple act such as planting a tree and inspiring others to do the same can make a huge difference in tackling climate change in the long run. As a socially responsible organization, Brookfield Properties ensures 30% of green cover, integrating biophilia into the design process and plan for native trees, water bodies and seasonal plants across our assets. Excellence in our Environmental, Social and Governance goals is at the core of our business and this initiative reinforces our commitment to build a better world for people, business and the community. Our partnership with an organization like SankalpTaru for this initiative is a step in that direction.”

Adding to it, Mr. Apurva Bhandari, Founder SankalpTaru Foundation said, “The most critical issue for the present and future generations is the increasing environmental concern. Our foundation has successfully planted 3.5M+ trees since its inception. I believe, through ‘Forest of Hope’ our partnership with Brookfield Properties will change the landscape of our communities in expanding the green territories for the better.”

The 'Forest of Hope' is a result of Brookfield Properties' 'Trees of Hope' campaign, which was rolled out in 2021. The company held an exhibition of ‘Trees of Hope’ across seven marquee campuses in five cities from December 15, 2021 – January 10, 2022, with installations made from recycled wood and discarded flex. Brookfield Properties promised to plant a tree for every photograph that was uploaded on social media with the “Trees of Hope’, sparking a movement that led to the ‘Forest of Hope’ initiative.

About Brookfield Properties:

Brookfield Properties is a leading global developer and operator of high-quality real estate assets. The company is active in nearly all real estate sectors, including office, retail, multifamily, hospitality and logistics, operating more than 800 properties and over 390 million sq. ft. of real estate in gateway markets on behalf of Brookfield Asset Management, one of the largest asset managers in the world. With a focus on sustainability, a commitment to excellence and the drive for relentless innovation in the planning, development and management of buildings and their surroundings, Brookfield Properties is reimagining real estate from the ground up.

In India, Brookfield Properties manages over 50 million sq. ft. of high-quality assets across 8 key gateway cities of which 38.3 million sq. ft. is already operational. Some of the marquee assets in its portfolio include Candor TechSpace in Gurugram, Noida and Kolkata; Worldmark in Delhi and Gurugram; Downtown Powai and Equinox in Mumbai; Ecoworld and Ecospace in Bengaluru and CoWrks, a leading co-working and flexi office business across India. 

India’s Leading HRTech Startup HROne Raises $4 Million In Series A Round From Insitor Partners & Prudent Investment Managers

HROne, India's Leading HRTech SaaS Startup, has raised $4 million in a Series A round led by Insitor Partners and participation from Prudent Investment Managers. Mumbai-based investment bank Radix Capital Advisors acted as exclusive financial advisors to the company. 

Founded in 2016 by Karan Jain, HROne is on a mission to use HRTech to improve the quality of professional lives of employees and help them accomplish more at their workplaces. HROne is a cloud-based HR automation platform that helps companies eliminate mundane and repetitive HR tasks. By automating 80+ processes, HROne has simplified HR operations and driven a top-notch user experience for HRs and employees. 

In the HRTech market, low product adoption and poor user experience leave most organizations dissatisfied with their investments. To overcome this challenge, HROne has built a collaborative interface InboxForHRTM , that enables HRs close 125+ unique tasks in less than three clicks. The startup has seen a tremendous upsurge in product adoption and user experience with this innovation. Karan and the team are bullish on delivering more innovations to meet the emerging needs of digital workplaces. 

Powered by its strong HR domain expertise and digital technologies capabilities, the startup has established a firm footing in the HRTech market. The company has successfully bootstrapped its way since inception and has scaled its revenues to 8x in a mere span of three years, catering to 900+ customers. With the fundraising, HROne will focus on building a comprehensive platform that becomes the go-to solution for every possible HR need in the modern-day workplace. Further, the company will use the funds to drive expansion into newer and existing markets. With this inflow, the company intends to 10x its revenue growth in the next three years. 

Talking about the funding, Karan Jain reflects, "We are excited and supercharged with this series A funding from Insitor Partners and Prudent Investment Managers. These are exciting times for HR digital transformation globally. We aim to use this capital to grow our product capabilities, expand into newer markets, invest in our talent pool and drive a superior customer experience. We are in the hyper-growth phase in the Indian HRTech market, and we will expand into international markets in the near future. Grateful to our funding partners for recognizing the potential and backing our intent." Karan further affirms, "We thank our customers and employees who have believed in our vision and supported us in crucial times."

“HROne is leveraging technology to drive a transformational impact on the formalization of the Indian blue-collar economy. HROne, a comprehensive cloud-based HR automation platform, improves the well-being, loyalty, and productivity of the workforce in the most capital-efficient, scalable, and sustainable way while helping organizations in their productivity and efficiency improvements. Karan and his team combine world-class product capabilities with a unique understanding of HR practices in India to provide a compelling value proposition to its clients. We are incredibly excited to partner with the team to solve for inefficiencies in the livelihood space", said Nicholas Lazos of Insitor Partners, an impact investment firm. 

"Companies need to make HR processes and systems less cumbersome and easy so that they can implement their organizational policies. We think HROne, with its unique interface, will help companies achieve this. Moreover, the scalability demonstrated by HROne over the last couple of years clearly indicates that it empowers companies to create a better HR environment. We were very impressed by the engagement of the HROne platform across 900+ customers. Further, it opens multiple future monetization possibilities like embedded finance, integration with insure-techs and workplace commerce players, and much more.", said Prashasta Seth of, Prudent Investment Managers

Muvi Foundation Wins 2022 Tech Cares Award From TrustRadius

* Muvi is being recognized for its Corporate Social Responsibility Program - Muvi Foundation with a 2022 Tech Cares Award from TrustRadius

TrustRadius, the most trusted research and review platform, has recognized Muvi’s CSR initiative - Muvi Foundation with the 2022 Tech Cares Award. This third-annual award celebrates companies that have gone above and beyond to provide impactful corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs for their employees and surrounding communities. 

Muvi Foundation was established on the three key pillars of Uplifting Society, Empowering Communities, and Inspiring Generations. Where each Pillar encapsulates the company and its founder’s ethos on giving back to society. 

The foundation has undertaken several notable projects over the last 1 year including 

Organized a Blood Donation Camp along with the Bhubaneswar–Cuttack Police Commissionerate and Red Cross Society Blood Bank at SCB Medical, Cuttack, at Muvi’s India Development Center premises situated in Bhubaneswar, on the Eastern coast of the Indian Subcontinent. 

Installation of the complete solar panel set up in an old age home situated in urban neighborhood of the city

Established Food Distribution at Camps set up for refugees and migrating workers during COVID-19 India Lockdown 

Muvi Foundation has also made active donations to India’s Prime Minister Relief Fund including a contributory donation of INR 1 Lac during the corona epidemic to help the nation in its fight against COVID. 

“Muvi is deeply committed to serving marginalized communities by contributing to the inclusive growth and their social development across geographies. With substantial investments to date, Muvi Foundation has created some of the most influential CSR footprints in Odisha, on the East Coast of India, and has impacted several lives with multiple interventions across nearby urban and rural areas. We thank Trust Radius for this recognition and are deeply honored by this gesture. It is a big source of encouragement for us to double down on our efforts to continue transforming communities and build an equitable and sustainable society,” said Anshuman Das, Founder, and CEO, Muvi LLC

He further added “This award is the result of dedicated teamwork across our organization - from our management team to our CSR Committee, to all of our employees who have willingly participated and contributed to each and every initiative the foundation has led. I can clearly state that this has been achieved with a constant focus on our company ethos –  Upliftment of Society, Empowering Communities  and Inspiring Generations.”

Muvi LLC has earned a 2022 Tech Cares award for demonstrating a strong commitment to corporate social responsibility,” said Megan Headley, VP of Research at TrustRadius. “As a part of their ‘10% Mantra’, Muvi donates 10% of their profits to the Muvi Foundation every year. The foundation seeks to give back to marginalized communities and has recently undertaken projects such as blood drives and installing solar panels on retirement homes.”

“We work tirelessly to foster a positive workplace culture that supports a diverse group of remote and in-office employees at TrustRadius. Tech leaders throughout the industry are embracing similar corporate social responsibility initiatives, and we’re excited to give them the recognition they deserve with a Tech Cares Award,” said TrustRadius Founder and CEO Vinay Bhagat. “We believe corporate social responsibility will continue to become more important each year for employees, customers, and stakeholders.”

To be accepted for the TrustRadius Tech Cares Award, each nominated organization had to be a B2B technology company that demonstrated impactful CSR initiatives in one of the following categories; volunteerism, diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, charitable donations, and fundraising, support for in-office and remote employees, or environmental sustainability initiatives. Everyone was welcome to nominate an organization for this award, including those who work for or with the company. All nominations were thoroughly vetted by the TrustRadius research team, and the supporting proof was provided by the nominated.  

To learn more about Muvi Foundation’s nomination, visit the TrustRadius Tech Cares  Announcement Page

To learn more about Muvi, please visit us at https://www.muvi.com or contact Muvi at marketing@muvi.com. 

About Muvi:

Muvi LLC is a New-York headquartered, prominent product-based SaaS company. The company provides a cloud-hosted streaming platform and end-to-end solutions for video/audio content owners, broadcasters, TV networks, and content aggregators to launch their own-branded, multi-screen, multi-format OTT streaming services such as Netflix, Prime Video, Spotify, Deezer, etc. that can offer both Live & On-Demand content and be delivered across Web, Mobile, and TV instantly.

The company has gained international recognition in the audio/video streaming space and is trusted by 5000+ customers in over 50 countries across territories including North America, Europe, Latin America, Middle East, Africa, Australia, and Asia.

NSDC And Podar Eduspace Collaborate To Empower India’s Youth With Their Upskilling Program

* The partnership is expected to benefit candidates through their WorkEx Bootcamp Program and the 21st Century Digital Skills Bootcamp Program

In an effort to equip India’s youth with relevant skills of the 21st century and increase employment opportunities through upskilling programs, the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), working under the aegis of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), has announced its partnership with Podar Eduspace — a fast-growing education technology organization focused on student programs ranging from research, volunteering, and skill development to contribute to India’s growth story.

As part of the collaboration, Podar Eduspace will be empanelled as a skilling partner for NSDC and will provide its WorkEx Bootcamp program and 21st century Digital Skills Bootcamp program to bridge the gap between industry and education in colleges, increase employment, and help in upskilling candidates across India, mainly in corporates and universities. The partnership agreement was signed by Mr. Sanjeeva Singh, Executive Vice President, CSR & Skill Development Financing, NSDC, and Mr. Vedant Podar, CEO, Podar Eduspace.

Through Podar Eduspace’s upskilling program, the WorkEx Bootcamp, which focuses on providing 21st century relevant skills, their students can have access to a 4-module program which includes tracks in collaboration with Harvard Business School Online and Podar Enterprises. The courses will focus on industry-level skills like Data Analytics, Business Strategy and Data Science, Cryptocurrency, and Metaverse. The candidates will also get access to guaranteed virtual research internships to apply their learning and pick up industry-relevant skills.

The course is a 4-certificate programme which will be co-branded by NSDC and Podar Eduspace.

Lauding the partnership, Mr. Sanjeeva Singh, Executive Vice President, CSR & Skill Development Financing, NSDC said that new-ages skill and practical knowledge have become indispensable, especially as India braces for Industrial Revolution 4.0. To ensure that India becomes a USD 5 trillion economy and a global powerhouse, all the stakeholders need to come together to create an environment which will skill, reskill and upskill India’s youth for the jobs of the future. He also said that with NSDC joining hands with Podar Eduspace, the focus will shift towards training students in advanced skills and transform them into pillars on which the edifice of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat will rest. 

Commenting on the collaboration, Mr. Vedant Podar, CEO, Podar Eduspace added that amid the current geopolitical churn, the demand for digital skills is highly needed for tech-enabled jobs across all the platforms. Through the partnership, they aspire to impact livesacross India and create positive change which will boost our nation’s economic growth, and contribute to the cause of India becoming the skill capital of the world. To keep up with the growing economy, Podar Eduspace is deeply invested in upskilling youngsters in India so that they can shoulder the demand of the volatile domestic as well as the global markets. This partnership is a vital strong step in that direction and will play a pivotal part in equipping students with skills that they will need to succeed in this digital economy.  

About National Skill Development Corporation

National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), a nodal skill development agency, working under the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India, is a unique Public Private Partnership (PPP) that aims to catalyse the creation of a large and quality vocational training ecosystem in India. Since inception in 2010, NSDC has trained over 3 crore people through its collaboration with 600+ training partners and over 10,000 training centres spread across 600+ districts in the country. NSDC has established 37 Sector Skill Councils (SSCs) and implements the Government’s flagship skill development schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), among others. NSDC also funds enterprises, companies and organisations that provide skill training. The organisation enables private-sector capacity building in skill development by offering concessional loans, other innovative financial products, and strategic partnerships.

About Podar Eduspace

Podar Eduspace is the educational pillar of Podar Enterprise focusing on student programmes ranging from research, volunteering, skill development & advisory to educational institutes. It also marks as a foray into EdTech and leverages the online medium to reach people in India, and worldwide. Their offerings seek to equip students with practical knowledge and valuable skills to combat the challenges of the 21st century.

The WorkEx Bootcamp (launched by Podar Eduspace) is a programme that integrates Harvard Business School Online, and Podar Enterprise courses to inculcate interdisciplinary skills to boost employability and knowledge.

Go EV With The All-New Tiago.ev; Bookings Open From Oct 10, 12 Noon Onwards

Tata Motors, India’s leading automobile manufacturer today announced booking details for its newest entrant in its EV family, the Tiago.ev, which has been launched at a special introductory price, starting from INR 8.49 Lakh (All India – Ex-showroom), for the first 10,000 customers, of which 2000 will be reserved for the current owners of Nexon EV and Tigor EV.

Booking details:

Bookings for Tiago.ev will open on 10th October at 12:00 noon. 

Booking can be done with an amount of INR 21,000, at any authorised Tata Motors dealership or on www.Tiago.ev.tatamotors.com

The Tiago.ev will be on display across leading malls across major cities in October 2022

Customer test drives will be available from late December 2022, onwards.

Deliveries of the Tiago.ev will commence from January 2023 onwards.

The time, date along with the variant and colour chosen, shall determine the delivery date of the vehicle.

Production of 24kWh battery pack variants been prioritized based on customer insights to match customer expectations at the time of delivery

Commenting on the bookings announcement, Mr. Vivek Srivatsa, Head, Marketing, Sales and Service Strategy, Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd. Said, “The Tiago.ev is a fun electric trendsetter, a segment first disruptor which offers premium, safety and technology features, eco-friendly footprint, spirited performance, all made even more desirable with the added advantage of a low cost of ownership. It will be the first in its segment to offer best-in-class connected features as standard across all trims, that are usually offered in more premium cars. The Tiago.ev has received a phenomenal response from our customers. Most of the queries have been on the 24kWh battery pack variant, and we have prioritised its production to meet the customer requirement.

“Furthermore, with an aim to make our Evs more accessible, with this launch, we are entering 80 new cities, expanding our network to more than 165 cities. It is indeed an exciting new option for customers, this festive season.”

Based on the high-voltage state of the art, Ziptron technology, the Tiago.ev stands strong on 5 key pillars – Performance, Technology, Reliability, Charging and Comfort. It offers a digital drive, an ultimate customized driving experience with multi-mode regen, and two drive modes – City & Sport. The carline is offered in multiple combinations of IP67 rated battery packs (water and dust resistant) and charging options including a 24kWh battery pack, delivering a Modified Indian Driving Cycle (MIDC) range of 315km for longer daily driving needs and a 19.2kWh battery pack for short and frequent trips, delivering an estimated MIDC range of 250km.

Additionally, Tata Motors is offering 4 different charging solutions to charge the Tiago.ev:

·       A 15A plug point for hassle free – anywhere anytime- charging

A standard 3.3kW AC charger

A 7.2kW AC home fast charger which can add 35kms range with just 30min of charging. It also aids full charging of the vehicle (from 10% - 100%) in 3 hr 36 mins

DC fast charging which can add 110kms of range with just 30mins of charging and can charge 10%- 80% in just 57 mins

The Tiago.ev is equipped with a category first telematics feature, which is offered as standard across all trims. It also offers upto 45 connected car features and comes with premium interiors. It’s plush look and feel is enhanced by features like leatherette seats, contrast roof, fully automatic climate control, projector auto head lamps, rain sensing wipers and cruise control. Based on the GNCAP 4 star rated Tiago, the Tiago.ev will be the safest electric hatch on the road and is available in five colour options – Teal Blue, Daytona Grey, Pristine White, Midnight Plum and Tropical Mist, for the customers to choose from.

To know more about the Tiago.ev, customers can visit Tiagoev.tatamotors.com or visit nearest dealership.

Adidas Unveils The Al Rihla World Cup Pack Celebrating The FIFA World Cup 2022

·         Featuring updated looks for three of adidas’ most iconic boot franchises, the Al Rihla World Cup Pack shares the same vibrant design as the Al Rihla Official Match Ball

·         Al Rihla translates as “the journey” in Arabic, representing the commitment and determination shown by each national team to reach the biggest football stage on world football

·         The Al Rihla World Cup Pack will be available from 11th October

Adidas reveals the Al Rihla World Cup Pack,celebrating the FIFA World Cup 2022™ with updated designs for three of its most legendary boot franchise’s latest innovations: X Speedportal, Predator Edge, and Copa Sense.

Featuring the latest innovations from each franchise, the three boots showcase a consistent design approach first seen as part of the Al Rihla Official Match Ball of the FIFA World Cup 2022™ group stages (revealed in March 2022),

Al Rihla translates as “the journey” in Arabic, representing the commitment and determination shown by each national team to reach the tournament. The colors and design of both the Al Rihla Official Match Ball and now the boots within the Al Rihla World Cup Pack reflect the speed of the modern game, and are inspired by the architecture, iconic boats, and the flag of Qatar.

The dynamic generative designs were created to support players who strive to be the best version of themselves, offering one starting line by uniting the nations, teams, players and fans who each create impossible moments in the game.

“For this special tournament and the biggest stage in sport, we wanted to capture the essence of speed and movement in reflection of the pace at which the modern game is played. With players showcasing what some see as impossible movement, we imagined the future of fast with the Al Rihla World Cup boot pack, bringing it to life with the same vibrant iridescence as the Al Rihla Official Match Ball to encapsulate the magic on the pitch at the FIFA World Cup 2022™ and beyond”, said Franziska Loeffelmann, Design Director - Football Graphics & Hardwear, adidas.

The Al Rihla World Cup Pack features:

Al Rihla X Speedportal

Every detail of X Speedportal - the latest innovation from adidas’s X speed boot franchise - has been designed for the fastest players whilst remaining supremely comfortable, helping them unlock speed in all dimensions. adidas’s updated SPEEDFRAME technology, stability system, and SPEEDSKIN 2.0 designed for unreal acceleration and the grip to get moving in any direction.

Al Rihla Predator Edge

Predator Edge introduces for the first time ZONE SKIN – a breakthrough innovation supporting swerve, spin and grip, whilst its new FACET FRAME on the sole of the boot delivers stability and dynamic traction to support powerful movement on the pitch. The frame also features a weighted forefoot piece that redistributes weight toward the front of the boot, optimizing power transfer when striking the ball.

Al Rihla Copa Sense

Designed from the inside out using anatomical insights on the human foot, COPA SENSE features adidas design innovations, SENSEPODS, TOUCHPODS and SOFTSTUDS to deliver an enhanced feel and optimum touch for the wearer.

The adidas Al Rihla World Cup Pack will drop on October 11 and will be available via adidas.com/football-shoes and adidas retail stores.

Prices vary for each model and will be available on adidas.com

Celebrate India With Fabindia This Festive Season With Largest Diwali Collection of Traditional Indian Ethnic-Wear

* Shared Values . Sustained Impact . 62 years of Celebrating India

Celebrate the festival of lights with our largest Diwali collection of traditional Indian ethnic-wear, home décor and giftables. From festive kurtas to traditional sarees, handcrafted jewellery and accessories to our newly curated fabgift edition, fabessentials skincare to organic foods, let Fabindia be your one stop shop this festive season. Visit our stores or discover the fun at fabindia.com

This festive season come celebrate craft and traditions for generations of India with Fabindia’s  festive collection. Beautifully designed to commemorate the rich heritage and techniques of India; this range revives age-old weaving techniques, block printing, hand embroidery, colour and craft to create those special festive ensembles. At Fabindia, take your pick from a wide range of fabrics in silk, silk blends, tussars, cottons in every style imaginable for everyone in the family. Not to miss this season is our Kurta is Festive collection. Rich hues, intricate embroideries, bold prints and sustainable fits adds to our belief in this silhouette that Kurta is Craft, Kurta is Classic, Kurta is Celebration. Bespoke Kurtas for Men will be your go to this season towards personalisation. Pick your fabric, colour, style and get it made specially for you.

fabSARI is a collection of hand-crafted luxury in benarasi, chanderi, kanjeevaram, ikat, tussar weaves. Celebration of colour and craft, these statement saris will be your go to for this festive season and quality crafted to be able to pass them on to the next generation. Thoughtfully designed, made by our artisans just for you. The colours are inspired by the spirit of India; rich reds to blazing blues, emerald greens to golden yellows, dazzling oranges to perfect pinks, vibrant violets to creamy ivory.

To elevate your festive style, the Fabindia collection also offers a wide range of dupattas, jewellery, bags, clutches and footwear to match.

Fabgift is our newest category curation for this season. Handcrafted with style and function, gifting made easy for you. Elegantly designed gift boxes with home décor products by fabHOME and skincare by fabessentials.

Speaking about the festive collections, Dipali Patwa, Group Head of Brand, Digital & Community said , “These gorgeous hand-crafted collections have been specially created by our design teams using traditional techniques and rich Indian craftsmanship. From soulful fits to skilfully crafted gifts, let no family member be left behind this Diwali! We are excited for you to join our fabfamily rewards program and become part of community to enjoy special perks, early previews, giveaways, events and much more.”

fabHOME is launching several beautiful collections for all your festive soirees. Chitra and Yutika consisting tea, dinner and serve-ware collections in bone china and recycled glass accents to Dhaani and Patra kitchen, dinner and serve-ware collections in hand-crafted brass. Sarina bedding collection is elegantly crafted from hand blocked printed Ajrakh to Tarini table essentials made from sustainable cement bags procured from scrap shops, cleaned and processed to give a fabulous makeover by  our artisans. And guess what, fabHOME is coming to Bangalore with its largest home floor experience. More on that coming soon.

NTPC And GE Gas Power Sign MoU For Demonstrating Hydrogen Co-Firing In Gas Turbines To Further Decarbonize Power Generation

* In a first-of-its-kind MoU with NTPC in India, GE Gas Power and NTPC will collaborate to demonstrate feasibility for carbon intensity reduction at NTPC’s Kawas gas power plant in Gujarat

* The 645 megawatt (MW) gas power plant is powered by four GE 9E gas turbines

* NTPC and GE to explore hydrogen co-firing blended with natural gas in GE’s 9E gas turbine installed at the power plant

In its efforts to adopt advanced powering technology to decarbonize power generation in India, NTPC Ltd., the country’s largest power generating utility, and GE Gas Power signed today a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to demonstrate the feasibility for hydrogen (H2) co-firing blended with natural gas in GE’s 9E gas turbines installed at NTPC’s Kawas combined-cycle gas power plant in Gujarat. Under this significant collaboration, the two companies will jointly explore the pathways to reduce CO2 emissions from Kawas gas power plant and further implementation at scale across NTPC’s installed units in India.

NTPC’s Kawas gas power plant is powered by four GE 9E gas turbines operating in a combined-cycle mode and has an installed capacity of 645 megawatt (MW). Further, GE’s advance E- Class gas turbine portfolio currently has the capability to operate on blends of natural gas and hydrogen, up to 100 % hydrogen. This capability varies depending on the type of combustion system installed in the gas turbine. For fuels with over 5% hydrogen by volume, gas turbine accessories need to be evaluated and possibly modified to reliably deliver the fuel to the combustors.

In this first-of-its-kind MoU with NTPC in India, GE Gas Power will evaluate the possible modifications to the gas turbine unit and auxiliaries required for blending of H2 with natural gas. Thereafter, a pilot project for 5% Co-firing of hydrogen may be implemented at the Kawas gas power plant in a safe environment based on the feasibility report. NTPC shall provide H2 required for the project.

“NTPC, with a large fleet of power generation facilities delivering more than 70 GW across India, has been at the forefront when it comes to piloting new hydrogen-related initiatives. NTPC is committed to playing a key role in India’s energy transition journey as the country marches ahead to achieve net-zero target and climate goals. In parallel, it’s crucial to invest and effectively utilize the proven technology that can generate electricity, which is affordable, accessible and reliable. This MoU is among the steps we are taking in the direction to meet the objectives under the National Hydrogen Mission. As our collaboration with GE grows deeper, we are more focused to use advanced technology and leverage our gas power assets with higher percentage of zero-carbon fuels such as H2, as the availability of the fuel becomes viable.” said, Ujjwal Kanti Bhattacharya, Director (Projects), NTPC Ltd.

“India’s power landscape is strengthened by the emerging technologies that are at various stages of development and industrial competitiveness. Hydrogen has a significant potential to play a complementary role along with other low-to-zero carbon fuels in generating electricity at scale. We applaud NTPC’s leadership, commitment and investment in hydrogen that can further set new industry benchmarks in terms of discovering low-cost hydrogen industry going forward and achieving energy self-reliance.” said Deepesh Nanda, CEO, GE Gas Power South Asia.

About GE Gas Power:

GE Gas Power is a world leader in natural gas power technology, services, and solutions. Through relentless innovation and continuous collaboration with our customers, we are providing more advanced, cleaner and efficient power that people depend on today and building the energy technologies of the future. With the world’s largest installed base of gas turbines and more than 670 million operating hours across GE’s installed fleet, we offer advanced technology and a level of experience that’s unmatched in the industry to build, operate, and maintain leading gas power plants. For more information, please visit www.ge.com/power/gas and follow GE’s gas power businesses on Twitter @GE_Power and on LinkedIn at GE Power.

GE Gas Power is part of GE Vernova, a dynamic accelerator comprised of our Power, Renewable Energy, Digital and Energy Financial Services businesses, focused on supporting customers’ transformations during the global energy transition.

ABFRL’s e-Commerce Brand JAYPORE Unveils “Utsav” Its Festive Collection

* Fashion models showcased the festive collection in the store 

* Eminent personalities such as Shobha De, Ira Dubey, Amrita Raichand, Laila Lamba graced the fashion event 

JAYPORE, one of India’s leading destination brands for all things Craft and Artisanal recently showcased ‘Utsav’, its festive collection at their Turner Road, Bandra store. The fashion models were seen showcasing the festive collection in the store. Avantika Kilachand, the Creative Director of Hello! India Magazine hosted renowned personalities like Shobha De, Ira Dubey, Bhavna Somaaya, Surily Goel, Amrita Kilachand, Mallika Singhania, Pooja Advani, Manjeet Kripalani, Anandita De, Priya Gaekwar, Kedhar Gawde, Laila Lamba and Anjali Patel Mehta at the store. 

Jaypore’s `Utsav’ collection is a treasure trove of elevated separates made for transitioning effortlessly into the celebratory season. Luxuriant weaves like Chanderi and tissue Chanderi contemporary mixed fabrics like viscose linen and breathable textiles like cotton adorned with the heritage craft of ajrakh block prints, form the base of these pieces. For the festive home, the `Utsav’ collection carries delicate porcelain table- and serve-ware adorned with Maharashtra’s heritage Paithani weave’s motifs, rustic-style ceramics for easy entertaining and floral-print stoneware that makes memorable gifts. The festive launch at JAYPORE witnessed exiting initiatives at the event that set the tone for the festivities to follow. Aside from the best in fashion, the launch event offered activities such as block printing activity and a whole lot of surprises. Ideal for the upcoming festivities.  The ‘Utsav’ collection from JAYPORE perfectly complements the festive mood with their signature heavy embellishments, stunning embroiders and rich Indian colors and promotes the numerous Indian crafts. From Abr, Lamya, Parinaaz, Advika, Kairavi to Nargis, Kyari in women’s apparel to craft inspired home décor collections that include  Charuta, Sambhalah, Pujya, Uriela, JAYPORE’s new festive collection is  an alluring addition to one’s home.  

Speaking on the launch, Rashmi Shukla - Business Head – JAYPORE, Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited says, “Inspirations for the Utsav Collection are drawn from eclectic sources like Victorian craft of pressing flowers to commemorate special occasions and the complex, Mughal floral motifs, French vineyards, the iconic Kerala Kasavu saree and the iridescent dragonfly to storied ikat weaving traded on the ancient Silk Road. Our festive collection is a blend of traditional and contemporary fashion. Each piece is one-of-its-kind, with elaborate motifs and exquisite artistic details that will elevate any traditional or contemporary look and is ideal for the festive season. JAYPORE strives to preserve, promote, and sustain exclusive Indian handicrafts, that are nurtured through traditions and heritage. We have worked closely with the artisans to give this collection a contemporary rendition Our sole endeavor is to offer our customers the latest fashion trends and we are anticipating this collection will be a humongous success among all our customers as we genuinely strive to bring the rich heritage of India’s handicrafts and handlooms while providing livelihood to artisans who are fundamental in keeping the crafts alive.” 

About JAYPORE 

JAYPORE is one of India’s leading destination brand for all things Craft and Artisanal across exquisite apparel, jewellery and home products. India has a rich heritage of handmade crafts and traditional  products. JAYPORE as a brand is committed to design, source and retail authentic Indian products suited for a modern lifestyle. The brand sources from more than 70 craft clusters and curates it on its beautiful website jaypore.com, and three stores in Delhi and Bangalore. In a very short time, the business has earned high respect amongst the craft vendor community for showcasing products in all its glory and amongst connoisseur customers for making craft accessible. The brand runs an eponymous brand called JAYPORE and also aggregates other artisanal-based brands on its portal. JAYPORE ships worldwide and has a global audience. At the heart of everything JAYPORE does is the commitment to offering sustainable products that elevates everyday life. 

PGDM Admissions Open At Goa Institute of Management For The Batch of 2023-25'

 

* 540 students from the prominent management school's incoming class of 2023–25 will begin their educational journeys with it through its numerous programs. 

Goa Institute of Management has announced the opening of admissions for their two-year residential PGDM Programs. The institute currently offers 540 seats for 4-full time residential Post Graduate Diploma in Management programs in Core Management, Healthcare Analytics, Big Data Analytics, and Banking, Insurance & Financial Services. Candidates are chosen based on their performance in competitive exams such as the XAT, CAT, GMAT, or CMAT. Personal interviews, work experience, and previous academic records are all considered in the final round.  

Dr. Ajit Parulekar, Director of GIM said, "A two-year program at GIM allows you to broaden your knowledge through a competency-based curriculum that also emphasizes sustainability and responsible management. Our students and graduates play a vital role as part of the larger social fabric as responsible leaders who are resilient, empowered, and innovative. We attract some of the best students in India who are to be guided by leading academic faculties and hired by some of the most sought-after employers. We look forward to welcoming the new batch of 2023." 

Applications are to be accepted in stages, with the deadline for submitting applications for the ‘first mover advantage’ round being 15th November 2022. Early applicants will receive an advantage of a lower application fee. Two more rounds will be held in December before the final call for applications in early January 2023. 

Dr. Hanish Rajpal, Admissions Chair, said, "We encourage academic toppers from a select group of institutes to apply for our ELITE round in addition to the regular admissions rounds. Candidates with outstanding achievements in academics, sports, co-curricular activities, or work-life get chosen for the Achievers round. The qualifiers for the aforementioned rounds will be directly transferred to the final round of admissions.  With an increase in applicants each year, we are constantly improving our technology to ensure a smooth transition from one application phase to the next. The application process is entirely online and based on a paperless platform. The overall admission experience will delight applicants." 

Goa Institute of Management (GIM) is a premier business school in Sanquelim, Goa, dedicated to transforming and improving management education. The late Fr. Romuald D'Souza founded GIM in 1993 and was named one of the world's top four pioneering B-Schools in the Positive Impact Rating 2021. GIM was also titled ‘Sustainability Institute of the Year – Highly Commended’ at International Green Gown Awards 2022. The institute currently offers full-time and part-time PGDM programs. According to NIRF rankings (Govt. of India), it was recently ranked 36th among India's top B-Schools.  

To apply for PGDM programs at GIM, candidates can apply at www.gim.ac.in. The last date to apply for the first mover round is 15th November. 

Barbeque Nation Launches ‘Big Appetite, Bigger Hearts’ Campaign

* Kicks off A Month- Long ‘Fiesta of Sharing’ in association with DAAN UTSAV

Barbeque Nation today announced the launch of the Big Appetite, Bigger Hearts’ campaign as part of its association with ‘DAAN UTSAV’. This initiative will see Barbeque Nation serving meals to 40000 underprivileged children across all its restaurants in India, UAE, Malaysia, and Oman. Over the next month, each of the 200 restaurants of Barbeque Nation will serve 200 meals to children. Barbeque Nation has tied up with various non- profit organizations across India and abroad for the cause. Guests Dining at Barbeque Nation during this period will also be welcome to make their contributions for the cause and join in the campaign.

On the occasion, Mr. Rahul Agarwal, CEO, Barbeque Nation Hospitality Limited, commented, “We are delighted to associate with DAAN UTSAV. The Big Appetite, Bigger Hearts campaign is a month long activity, that will run across our network of restaurants which is expected to cross 200 restaurants by November. Through this campaign, we would like to reciprocate the love & support received from our patrons since 2006 by giving back to the community by serving the less privileged. We are confident that guests visiting Barbeque Nation will also join hands in the mega philanthropic campaign by sharing towards this cause.”

Mr Sujit Mahapartra, a Volunteer of Daan Utsav, said “Giving food is a popular way of giving daan. We are excited about Barbeque Nation’s kind gesture as they look to cross the milestone of 200 restaurants. Such an experience at such a size & scale has seldom been offered to children. This idea of spreading kindness through providing food is a tremendous act of generosity by Barbeque Nation”.

About Daan Utsav: Over 6 million people in India participate in the festival by performing various acts of kindness. Daan Utsav was launched in 200 and it is celebrated every year from October 2nd to October 8th.  People from all walks of life right from auto rickshaw drivers to CEOs, and school children to artists contribute their time, money, resources, and/or skills for the Utsav.  Over 2,000 activities are being held in over 100 cities and towns, as well as hundreds of villages.

About Barbeque Nation: Barbeque Nation is a pioneer in India to promote ‘DIY’ (do-it-yourself) cuisine with the concept of the live on-the-table grill since its first store in Mumbai in 2006. Barbeque Nation was founded with a simple vision – offering a complete dining experience to customers at attractive prices. The philosophy extended to all aspects of service and caused the chain to expand rapidly. Over the last 15+ years, Barbeque Nation has expanded to over 84 cities with over 200 restaurants in India and abroad. During this period, the brand has innovated by setting up interactive live counters, introducing multiple Kulfi varieties, and by launching a unique delivery product portfolio of ‘Barbeque-in-a-Box’.

PhonePe Completed Three Significant Steps In Domicile From Singapore To India

-          All subsidiaries have already migrated from Singapore to India

-          Employees’ ESOP plan moved from PhonePe Singapore to PhonePe India

-          IndusOS also moved from PhonePe Singapore to PhonePe India

PhonePe, India’s leading FinTech platform, today announced that it has completed three significant steps in moving its domicile to India. These steps include:

Firstly, over the past year, PhonePe has moved all businesses and subsidiaries of PhonePe Singapore to PhonePe Pvt Ltd - India directly. This includes its Insurance Broking Services and Wealth Broking businesses.

Secondly, PhonePe’s board recently approved the creation of a new ESOP plan and the migration of 3000+ PhonePe Group employees’ existing ESOPs by issuing new ESOPs under PhonePe India’s new plan.

Finally, under the newly liberalized automatic ODI rules, PhonePe has also moved the ownership of recently acquired IndusOS Appstore (OSLabs Pte Ltd) from Singapore to India.

Following these actions, all PhonePe Group businesses and entities are now wholly owned by and consolidated under PhonePe Pvt Ltd - India.

About PhonePe:

PhonePe was founded in December 2015, and has emerged as India’s largest payments app, enabling digital inclusion for consumers and merchants alike. With over 400 million registered users, one in four Indians are now on PhonePe. The company has also successfully digitized 32 million offline merchants spread across Tier 2,3,4 and beyond, covering 99% pin codes in the country. PhonePe forayed into financial services in 2017, providing users with a safe and convenient option to invest in 24-karat gold, and has recently also launched silver on its platform. Since then, PhonePe has introduced several Mutual Funds and Insurance products like tax-saving funds, liquid funds, international travel insurance, life insurance, COVID-19 insurance amongst others. Using PhonePe, users can also send and receive money, recharge mobile, DTH, pay at stores and make all their utility payments. PhonePe was recently recognized as the Most Trusted Brand for Digital Payments as per the Brand Trust Report 2022 by Trust Research Advisory (TRA).

Agro-Biz Startup Greenikk Floats India’s First End-To-End Supply Chain For Bananas

 

* Initiative aims to boost banana exports, farmers to get higher returns

A Kerala-based agro business startup has launched a pioneering venture to build India’s first full-stack supply chain connecting banana cultivators, traders and exporters on a single platform, tapping into the country’s surging exports of the nutrient-rich fruit with the potential for a strong global brand for its value added products.

Greenikk, a startup co-founded by young techies Fariq Naushad and Previn Jacob, will seamlessly connect banana farmers, dealers, wholesalers, and B2B buyers in the country, the world’s largest banana producer. 

Greenikk has built Enablement Centres (EC) in the major banana producing agri-belts, in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. These ECs provide the farmers with required supports such as finance, seeds, crop advisory, insurance coverage, agri inputs, including weather tips, and market connect, covering the entire gamut of production and marketing both inside the country and outside. Similar ECs are planned in other south Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and further scaling across the whole of India.

Also, the platform, an innovative and promising initiative, will help farmers convert stems of the post-harvest banana plants into natural fibre and re-purpose the other leftovers as manure or poultry feed.

Noting that almost 20 crore post-harvest plant stems are being burnt or wasted every year, the Greenikk promoters said their aim is to ensure supplementary income for farmers through value addition of the wasted materials, besides helping curb air pollution.

“While venturing into this uncharted territory, the question that we often confronted was what made us to choose bananas, of all fruits available in the country. Having worked closely with some banana farmers, dealers, and buyers, we realised that it has the maximum potential among the fruits grown in India, if linked to a strong and reliable value chain that would scale up exports,” said Fariq and Previn, who were earlier promoters of an East Africa-based IT software startup.

India accounts for around 25 per cent of the world’s banana production, and the country’s exports of this fruit have grown eight-fold in the last nine years.  

The National Research Centre for Banana (NRCB) has reported that India produced 32.6 million tons of bananas in 2020 with a land area of 9.6 lakh hectares under cultivation.  There are more than 10 million stakeholders too. The domestic market size is pegged at around $18 billion.

“Though countries like USA and the UK have just one-third of India’s production, they own most of the popular global brands of value-added banana products. India, with a huge capacity for banana exports, is yet to capture the huge global market for banana-based snacks, health and nutrient supplements. What we are looking at is to place Indian banana on a strong supply chain with global reach, which will ultimately benefit our farmers” the Greenikk founders pointed out.

“The shortcomings in the country’s agro system have prevented the realisation of the enormous export potential of bananas. We have launched this technology-driven platform to remove the inefficiencies in the banana value chain besides addressing the problems of various stakeholders,” they said. 

Fariq and Previn, driven by the passion to promote green and clean agro-based products that would replace plastic, successfully came up with the idea of a sustainable alternative to plastic and paper straws – papaya straws made out of waste petioles. This product won them an award at the TATA Social Enterprise Challenge in January 2020, on becoming the first team from Kerala to reach the finals of the challenge.

During the pandemic-induced lockdown, they launched a truck store (Farmy) that delivered fruits and vegetables, directly sourced from farms, at the doorsteps of apartments and various housing societies in the city.  

UST Broadens Commitment to Education of Meritorious Students In India Through Vidyadhan Scholarships

* UST-Vidyadhan scholarships doubles sponsorship budget, expands to more states

* UST has so far sponsored 306 students through Vidyadhan

Taking a giant step forward in its commitment to transform lives through education, digital transformations solutions company UST has doubled its sponsorship budget to Vidyadhan Program, to cover additional students from four new states - Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Maharashtra, besides Kerala. A memorandum of understanding has been signed between UST and Vidyadhan in this regard to double the sponsorship budget.

Vidyadhan is a Shibulal Family Philanthropic initiative under the aegis of Sarojini Damodaran Foundation, set up by Kumari Shibulal and S D Shibulal. The UST - Vidyadhan partnership started in 2018 with scholarship support for 100 engineering students from Kerala and has grown in strength year after year. UST has so far sponsored 306 students under Vidyadhan. Among the 102 UST-supported students who have graduated, 61 percent have found employment in various companies and institutions, 10 percent have chosen higher studies, and 15 percent are preparing for competitive exams.

The road ahead for Vidyadhan has been well charted, with more corporate sponsorships and more states being added under its purview. Hon’ble Governor Of Kerala, Arif Mohammed Khan, will inaugurate a one-day event, “Partnerships For Social Impact” on October 8, 2022, Saturday, at Hotel O by Tamara in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.  The one-day event will have the participation of Vidyadhan stakeholders and beneficiaries sharing their thoughts on the prestigious program.

Post-pandemic, the challenges faced by the Pan-India Vidyadhan scholarship programme made it envisage modifying operations and seek renewed commitments from partners. It is in this context UST, who has been partnering with the programme for the past four years, decided to step up its involvement and further enhance its commitment to the programme.

According to Alexander Varghese, Chief Operating Officer, UST, “The UST-Vidyadhan journey rides on the commitment towards transforming lives through education. We had been partnering with Vidyadhan since year 2018, offering financial scholarship support to engineering students from Kerala. The numbers have grown over the years. This apart, the UST CSR team has been offering mentoring and training to selected students too. The partnership will now be strengthened and more students from different parts of India will be provided with the opportunity to continue their studies in a hassle-free manner.”

Kumari Shibulal, Managing Trustee, Sarojini Damodaran Foundation stated, “Vidyadhan is not just a program, but an idea that every individual can make a difference. It's the responsibility of every citizen, corporate and social sector organization to create opportunities for the youth from economically backward families.   It is a journey that is best traversed together, and in UST we have found a dependable and like-minded partner who stepped up its commitment post pandemic.”

Vidyadhan follows a rigorous selection process including test, interviews and home visits to pick meritorious students hailing from financially backward families right after their 10th grade.  A unique aspect of Vidyadhan scholarships is that the entire sponsorship money goes to the students chosen.

UST has also been contributing in non-financial ways to the Vidyadhan program, through its participation in the selection processes, mentoring and training. One such successful initiative has been the Chrysalis Program, an Employability Soft Skill Training provided by UST for final-year degree students.

S D Shibulal, Trustee, Sarojini Damodaran Foundation stated, “As we scaled Vidyadhan, now present in 14 states, we realized that it is important to bring in partnerships. These partnerships are not only about sponsorships, they are also about mentorship and creating opportunities for employment. Notably, the students who were mentored and sponsored by UST are getting 3 times the scholarship amount as their first year’s salary, thereby also pulling their respective families out of the poverty trap.”

Pushing forward the new MoU, UST and Vidyadhan will also chart out a detailed plan for soft skills training for students so that such training is extended to more and more students.

About UST

For more than 22 years, UST has worked side by side with the world's best companies to make a real impact through transformation. Powered by technology, inspired by people, and led by our purpose, we partner with our clients from design to operation. Through our nimble approach, we identify their core challenges, and craft disruptive solutions that bring their vision to life. With deep domain expertise and a future-proof philosophy, we embed innovation and agility into our clients' organizations—delivering measurable value and lasting change across industries, and around the world. Together, with over 30,000 employees in 30+ countries, we build for boundless impact—touching billions of lives in the process. Visit us at www.UST.com

About Vidyadhan:

Vidyadhan is a Shibulal Family Philanthropic Initiative  under the aegis of Sarojini Damodaran Foundation, set up by Kumari Shibulal and S D Shibulal in 1999. Vidyadhan provides funding, mentoring and life skill training to meritorious students from disadvantaged background to pursue higher education. Currently 5000 students are enrolled in the program from 14 states in India.In addition, Vidyadhan has helped 2200 students complete their higher education and become productive citizens so far. . Alumni comprise 150 doctors, 618 engineers, 250+ students in professional courses (Nursing, Pharma, Agriculture,.)Our technology platform provides an easy and transparent way for all stakeholders to engage with the process and connect on an ongoing basis. The program is designed as a “pay it forward” model where beneficiaries are committed to sponsoring future students in need once they themselves become self-reliant. Through this, we expect the program to be self-sustaining. Vidyadhan was set up in 1999 and opened to public sponsorship in 2015 through the “Each One Teach One” initiative to scale Vidyadhan by inviting more corporates and individuals to partner with us. Since then, several sponsors across India have helped us provide scholarships with zero administrative cost to them, making it a unique and transparent model. Visit us at www.vidyadhan.org

78% Consumers Plan To Shop From Retail Stores Near Home This Festive Season: Axis My India October CSI Survey

* 14% would prefer shopping through E-commerce sites

* 43% are buying smaller packs of their monthly groceries

* Overall household spending has increased for 58% people

·         10,058 people surveyed; 67% are from rural India while 33% are from urban India

·        Overall household spending has increased for 58%, net score down by -4

·        Consumption of essentials products increased for 44%, net score down by -3

·        Consumption of discretionary products increased by 2%, net score up by +1

·        Consumption of health-related items has increased for 37%, up by 1%

·        Increase in media consumption remains the same as last two months, at 19%

·        Mobility has increased for 6% of the families, and remains the same for 85%

·        Sentiment to spend more than last year’s festive season up by 1% point, now at 21%

·        44% plans to spend on apparels this festive season

·        14% plans to shop from E-commerce sites this festive season

·        81% said that shopping for family will contribute as a ‘major’ expense this festive season.

Axis My India, a leading consumer data intelligence company, released its latest findings of the India Consumer Sentiment Index (CSI), a monthly analysis of consumer perception on a wide range of issues. The October report reveals that sentiments have improved across 1 out of 5 relevant sub-indices i.e., spends across discretionary products. Prompting discretionary spends, 44% plans to buy apparel during Dusshera/Diwali while 8% each plan to buy white good and mobile phone and 8% plan to buy either a 2-wheeler or 4-wheeler. The survey further highlights that 81% believe that shopping for family will be the ‘major expense’ during the festivities

The October net CSI score, calculated by percentage increase minus percentage decrease in sentiment, is at +8, from +10 last month reflecting a decrease by 2 points.

The sentiment analysis delves into five relevant sub-indices – Overall household spending, spending on essential and non-essential items, spending on healthcare, media consumption habits & mobility trends.

The survey was carried out via Computer-Aided Telephonic Interviews with a sample size of 10058 people across 32 states and UTs. 67% belonged to rural India, while 37% belonged to urban counterparts. In terms of regional spread, 24% belong to the Northern parts while 23% belong to the Eastern parts of India. Moreover 28% and 25% belonged to Western and Southern parts of India respectively. 61% of the respondents were male, while 39% were female. In terms of the two majority sample groups, 34% reflect the age group of 36YO to 50YO, while 30% reflect the age group of 26YO to 35YO.

Commenting on the CSI report, Pradeep Gupta, Chairman & MD, Axis My India, said “Increase in discretionary spends across households demarcates the continuity of festive sentiments. From visiting physical stores to scanning through online sites, consumers are not only investing on household products but are also splurging for themselves and their families. However, one can witness the spending capacity to be conscious as the expenses are mostly on low budget items such as clothes as compared to heavy ticket items such as vehicles or properties. Cash though continues to be the king, digital modes of payment like UPI & debit/credit card usage is also growing rapidly.”

Key findings:

·        Overall household spending has increased for 58% of families which reflects a decrease by 3% points from last month. The net score which was +53 last month has decreased by -4 to +49 this month

·        Spends on essentials like personal care & household items has increased for 44% of the families which is a decrease by 2% points from last month. The net score which was at +29 last month has decreased by -3 to +26 this month

·        Spends on non-essential & discretionary products like AC, Car, and Refrigerator has increased for 9% of families which reflects an increase by 2% points from last month. The net score which was at +2 last month has improved to +3 this month. This marks heightened consumer sentiment towards the festivities.

·        Health and fitness continue to remain important for consumers amidst the festive season wherein expenses towards health-related items have increased for 37% of the families. The health score which has a negative connotation i.e., the lesser the spends on health items the better the sentiments, has a net score value of -22, net score increase by +1, as compared to last month.

·        Consumption of media remains the same as the last two month at 19%. The overall, net score, which was at -1 last month, is at -3 this same.

·        Mobility has increased for 6% of the families, which reflects a decrease by 1% point from last month. The overall mobility net indicator score which was at 0%, last month, has reported -3 this month.

On topics of current national interest:

·        According to Axis My India Consumer Sentiment Index Survey, 21% of consumers plan to spend more this festive season as compared to last year. This sentiment has improved by 1% point from last month.

·        81% said that shopping for family will contribute as a ‘major’ expense this festive season. 7% aid that their major expenses will be parked towards investments.

·        In an attempt to understand the key areas where consumers are expected to spend this Diwali/Dusshera, the survey discovered that 44% plans to spend on apparels, while 8% each plan to spend on Mobile phones and white goods (such as AC, Washing Machine, Refrigerators).

·        In terms of big-ticket items, purse strings are still tight as only 6% of consumers plan to spend on jewellery, 5% plans to spend on 2-wheeler, 3% plans to spend on four-wheeler and 1% to spend on tractor/commercial vehicle. Also, only 2% plan to spend on home/plot/or a commercial property.

·        The survey further revealed that a majority of 78% plans to shop from local physical retail stores near their home and 14% plans to shop from E-commerce sites like Amazon/Flipkart this festive season.

·        As compared to pre-Covid times 43% are buying smaller packs/sizes of their monthly groceries

About Axis My India:

Axis My India is India’s foremost consumer data intelligence consultancy that has revolutionized the field of election polling in the country, with an accuracy rate of ~93% spread across 28 states and 8 union territories and 2 national elections. The company has a presence in over 737 districts and has touched 85 million Indian households. It counts some of India’s largest corporations, state governments as well as Union Government in its clientele and offers a repertoire of research related services, including consumer insights, product validation, market segmentation, on-ground brand activation, personalized media solutions and micro marketing. The company publishes an annual Consumer Trust Index – spread across 45 consumer and product categories, and 1 million respondents.

For more information: https://www.axismyindia.org/

Medtronic LABS Launches Ear-Screening Initiative For Uber Drivers In Indian Market

* Preventive healthcare initiative to focus on potential hearing loss in drivers due to prolonged exposure to high noise

Medtronic LABS, an independent entity supported by Medtronic (NYSE: MDT), today announced the launch of an ear-screening initiative for drivers on the Uber platform across India. The testing will be conducted under Shruti, a flagship program of Medtronic LABS in India that has emerged as the country’s largest outreach program in the domain of ear care. 

According to the annual CPCB report (Central Pollution Control Board), almost 80% of the noise monitoring stations under the National Ambient Noise Monitoring Network (NANMN) reported higher than permissible limits of noise1. Further, industry reports have established that traffic and specifically honking are some of the leading contributors to the noise levels in various cities in India2. Given the prolonged exposure of drivers to such noise levels, they are particularly at risk of noise induced hearing loss, which is one of the most common workplace disorders among drivers. Such hearing loss can detrimentally impact an individual's quality of life and employment. Noise exposure is also a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders.3

The ear screenings will help assess the adverse impact of prolonged exposure to traffic noise for drivers, and identify cases that need further medical attention. By addressing an often ignored health concern, this initiative will increase awareness about noise induced hearing loss and will aim to bring corrective measures to impact drivers’ lives. 

Dr A K Agarwal, President- Society for Sound Hearing 2030, Ex-Dean and Prof. of Excellence, Dept of ENT, MAMC said, “Early intervention can play a significant role in minimizing negative consequences of hearing loss. Community based solutions that combine tele-otology and tele-audiology can aid in timely intervention, especially for at-risk populations such as the drivers. This is indeed a groundbreaking partnership between Shruti and Uber. More such organizations should come together to spread the need for ear care.”

The screening will be conducted using an innovative ear screening kit called the ENTraview which is a custom designed smart otoscope designed by Medtronic LABS. The kit has been specifically built for field usage and the initial screening takes less than 2 minutes. A telemedicine application on the device enables one to capture and transmit patient ID, symptoms, images of the ear and preliminary diagnosis to a cloud server which can then be accessed by a clinician. Those who might need additional assessment for hearing loss are further assessed using additional applications. For those who might need clinical intervention, Medtronic LABS shall provide possible treatment pathways as may be applicable.  

Medtronic LABS is an innovator in the global health space that pioneers tech-enabled community health solutions for the underserved segment of the population. 

Kaustubh Bhatnagar, Chief Operating Officer, Medtronic LABS said, “Hearing loss is an invisible disability and ear care in general is often ignored. Shruti has been a pathbreaking initiative that has created an enabling ecosystem across the ear care continuum. From innovative field screening tools, cloud infrastructure to treatment pathways- Shruti has been instrumental in taking ear care to the communities and has screened upwards of 10 lakh people and more. We are excited to partner with Uber to offer this comprehensive ear care program to their driver partners.” 

Over the years, Uber has launched several initiatives to improve the health and well being of drivers on its platform. These include free online doctor consultations and up to 20% discounts on medicines. Uber’s insurance partners also provide on-trip accident insurance drivers.

Shiva Shailendran, Director - Operations, India and South Asia, Uber said, “Drivers are at the heart of what we do at Uber. We’ve continually focused on the safety and well-being of driver partners and their families. Our partnership with Medtronic is another step to address an often overlooked health concern and improve their experience with Uber. We believe that this initiative will help raise awareness  and bring meaningful change  in drivers’ lives.”

Medtronic LABS will roll out this initiative one city at a time starting with Bangalore followed by Hyderabad and Pune before scaling to other cities. The screening program will be conducted at various strategic locations in each city to ensure that the maximum number of driver partners benefit from this initiative. 

About Medtronic LABS

Medtronic LABS is an independent entity supported by Medtronic (NYSE: MDT). Medtronic LABS is the only health systems innovator that develops community-based, tech-enabled solutions for underserved patients, families, and communities across the world. We partner with governments, private sector entities and development sector organizations to strengthen health systems.  By bridging hyper-local services with cutting-edge technology, we provide sustainable and localized healthcare solutions that produce measurable patient outcomes for all.

About Uber 

Uber's mission is to create opportunity through movement. We started in 2010 to solve a simple problem: how do you get access to a ride at the touch of a button? More than 15 billion trips later, we're building products to get people closer to where they want to be. By changing how people, food, and things move through cities, Uber is a platform that opens up the world to new possibilities.

MYRE Capital Closes Commercial Property of INR 70 Crores With Massive Demand In Bengaluru

* MYRE’s Vaishnavi Tech Park Opportunity 1 & 2, saw demand from investors hailing from  11 countries and 18 cities

* This is the second Bengaluru property to be oversubscribed, by 30%+, indicating an increased interest in CRE

* This opportunity witnessed ~26% of the aggregate interest stemming from NRIs

* The investor profile consisted of senior employees and CXO’s at firms such as Goldman Sachs, Deloitte, Amazon, Intel etc.

* MYRE Capital crosses AUM of INR 200 crores; aims to cross INR 350Cr by end of FY22

MYRE Capital, India’s first Neo-Realty investment platform has successfully closed the second offering in Vaishnavi Tech Park (VTP), Bengaluru. Post witnessing a huge demand with 38% oversubscription to the last offering in VTP, MYRE Capital launched another property in the same building and closed the opportunity with equal enthusiasm and demand from investors. The property was oversubscribed yet again by 30%.

Bengaluru being the IT/ITES capital of the world, has witnessed continued increasing demand from MNCs and has been able to sustain market growth whilst keeping vacancies in single digits. Vaishnavi Tech Park (VTP) is located strategically at the intersection of Outer Ring Road (ORR) and Sarjapur Micro Market. ORR is the largest IT hub of Bangalore whilst the Sarjapur Micro Market has a 0% vacancy rate. These micro markets are home to some of the most prominent MNC tenants, including - LinkedIn, Deloitte, Microsoft, Accenture, HCL, Tata, Wipro. Due to the favourable micro markets, investors have shown 100% commitment as MYRE Capital has been able to bring to the table a rare off market opportunity. Bengaluru has always been one of the top cities for commercial real estate investments as per MYRE Capital’s Neo Realty Survey.

Speaking on the development, Mr. Aryaman Vir, Founder & CEO, MYRE Capital said “At MYRE Capital we strive to bring the best available real estate investment opportunities for our investors. We value the trust that our investors have instilled in us and we are overwhelmed with the response received for the both the opportunities in VTP. With the closure of this property, we have reached an AUM of INR 200 crore and we target to reach INR 350 crore by the end of the fiscal year. It has been a phenomenal year so far for MYRE Capital as we are also in works to launch India’s First Neo-Realty alternative investment fund to cater to this ever-rising demand for Grade-A assets in commercial real estate. Apart from this, we have also garnered investor interest to invest in overseas CRE opportunities. We are in talks with an international platform to bring a variety of global selection of curated real estate investment opportunities for Indian investors.”

The entire VTP building has been designed for IGBC platinum rating and has been leased to Smartworks, the market leader in managed leasing solutions, for a total tenure of nine years. Managed leasing comes with an additional layer of rental security and stability with minimal vacancy risk. This is because the operator is liable to pay the rental agreed upon irrespective of sub-tenant occupancy as per contract.

This asset offered by MYRE Capital is pre-leased and managed so investors can look to earn stable monthly rental income and long-term capital appreciation. The assets are spread across NCR, Mumbai, Pune, and Bangalore. Since inception, MYRE has maintained a 100% occupancy rate across its portfolio and has 35,000+ users on its platform.

About MYRE Capital:

MYRE Capital, a venture by Morphogenesis, is a tech-enabled NEO-Realty fractional ownership platform that provides easy access, transparency, and liquidity to a curated selection of rent-yielding commercial real estate assets. Each asset is shortlisted based on stringent criteria involving predictive analytics across 150+ data points, 25 years of industry expertise, and our proprietary technology solutions. The company was founded by Mr. Aryaman Vir with his expertise in technology, finance, and real estate.

MYRE Capital provides real estate owners and developers a reliable source of stable finance whilst providing potential investors and stakeholders with end-to-end investment management and execution thus enabling them to redevelop trust in this asset class and reposition the Indian real estate market on a global platform.       

SonicWall Backs Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Places Emphasis On Empowering People

* This year’s theme — ‘See Yourself in Cyber’ — demonstrates that while cybersecurity may seem like a complex subject, ultimately, it’s really all about people

SonicWall announced today its global commitment to support Cybersecurity Awareness Month this October with an added emphasis on the ‘people’ component of cybersecurity. This intiative helps provide information and resources to educate Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) partners and the public, and ensure all individuals and organizations make smart decisions whether on the job, at home or at school.

“We’ve all come to understand that sound protection includes people as the most important pillar of a sound cybersecurity strategy,” said SonicWall Executive Vice President and CMO Geoff Blaine. “An organization cannot be secure until the entire workforce is engaged in reducing cyber risks. Each member of the group has the power to harm or to help, since each one has access to information, systems, handles sensitive data, and makes decisions every day that could maintain, erode or strengthen the human “attack surface” of the organization.”

“Placing emphasis on the people in security awareness is a critical first step in what often feels like an extraordinary task of guarding any organization,” said Debasish Mukherjee, Vice President, Regional Sales APJ at SonicWall Inc. “Employees must do their part to remain vigilant and educated against threats that are rapidly growing in volume and sophistication. October’s awareness efforts present an opportunity for the IT industry to update users on the latest tactics cybercriminals are leveraging and share essential best practices for staying safe online.”

Individuals, employees and consumers alike need to take basic steps to protect online information and privacy, while vendors and suppliers can take ownership by putting strong cybersecurity guidelines in place at work to help prevent cyberattacks and incidents. There continues to be a global need for skilled, diverse workers with technical skills to meet the cyber challenges of today and tomorrow.

Four Steps to Keep Safe Online

Since 2004, the President of the United States and Congress have declared October to be Cybersecurity Awareness Month, helping individuals protect themselves online as threats to technology and confidential data become more commonplace.

This intiative is co-led by the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This year’s theme of ‘See Yourself in Cyber’ is the idea that cybersecurity comes down to us all as individuals. Throughout October, CISA and NCSA will highlight key action steps that everyone should take to help stay more digitally safe:

Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Use Strong Passwords

Recognize and Report Phishing

Update Your Software (i.e., maintain strick patching policies)

“Moving the needle on cybersecurity awareness requires a collective approach,” said Lisa Plaggemier, NCA’s executive director. “Businesses, nonprofits, and governments all have a role to play in helping to up-level preparedness for cyber threats.”

For additional information about Cybersecurity Awareness Month, visit StaySafeOnline.org or read more on the SonicWall blog.

About SonicWall

SonicWall delivers Boundless Cybersecurity for the hyper-distributed era in a work reality where everyone is remote, mobile and unsecure. SonicWall safeguards organizations mobilizing for their new business normal with seamless protection that stops the most evasive cyberattacks across boundless exposure points and increasingly remote, mobile and cloud-enabled workforces. By knowing the unknown, providing real-time visibility and enabling breakthrough economics, SonicWall closes the cybersecurity business gap for enterprises, governments and SMBs worldwide. For more information, visit www.sonicwall.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

About Cybersecurity Awareness Month

Cybersecurity Awareness Month is designed to engage and educate public- and private-sector partners through events and initiatives with the goal of raising awareness about cybersecurity to increase the resiliency of the nation in the event of a cyber incident. Since the Presidential proclamation establishing Cybersecurity Awareness Month in 2004, the initiative has been formally recognized by Congress, federal, state and local governments and leaders from industry and academia. This united effort is necessary to maintain a cyberspace that is safer and more resilient and remains a source of tremendous opportunity and growth for years to come. For more information, visit staysafeonline.org/cybersecurity-awareness-month/.