Government Of Meghalaya Files Criminal Defamation Suit Against Saket Gokhale

Pursuant to the deliberate, derogatory and malicious claims made by Mr. Saket Gokhale in a press release dated 4th December 2022, against the Government of Meghalaya, the Meghalayan Age Limited and State government officials; the Meghalayan Age Limited has filed a criminal defamation suit against the said individual. 

The Meghalayan Age Limited is a State Govt. company under the aegis of the Planning Department and has been incorporated under Section 2 (45) of the Companies Act, 2013. It has been set up specifically for the implementation of Externally Aided Projects, promotion of tourism, organizing tourism-related festivals/events and preservation of heritage in the State of Meghalaya. 

The Meghalayan Age Limited has filed the complaint and sought remedies in the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, East Khasi Hills District, Meghalaya under Section 200 read with section 190 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, seeking prosecution of the accused Mr. Saket Gokhale for the offence of criminal defamation under section 499, punishable under section 500 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, for making false and defamatory statements in the print/electronic media. Further, as per the petition, the statements made by the accused also constitute an offence under Section 505 of the IPC which deals with the offence of public mischief. 

The complaint highlighted that Mr. Gokhale is a habitual offender with little regard for the process of law and has a history of making false and baseless allegations against public personalities and government officials. The Hon’ble Delhi High Court in 2021 had made strong observations against him for making similar defamatory allegations against civil servants. The Hon’ble Delhi High Court had also said that Mr. Gokhale should have carried out preliminary due diligence before making any such statements and that he should have sought clarifications from the person against whom the allegations were made. The complaint further highlighted that the accused was also recently arrested by the Gujarat Police for disseminating fake news in connection with a tragic incident in the State of Gujarat. The complaint also pointed out that a basic attempt to seek clarification from the Meghalayan Age Limited as mandated by the Hon’ble Delhi High Court would have shown that the allegations are baseless without any merit. 

The complaint further highlighted the fact that the false and defamatory allegations against the Meghalayan Age Limited can adversely affect the future prospects of mobilizing projects and Externally Aided Projects from bilateral and multilateral organizations. This would seriously affect the developmental strategy of the State which is to raise additional investments through Externally Aided Projects for the creation of jobs and the promotion of economic opportunities in the State. It must be noted that under any Externally Aided Project being implemented in the northeastern states, the Government of India passes 90% of the funding as grants to the State government. 

The Government of Meghalaya is also considering filing a civil defamation suit against the said individual and other entities for making completely false, frivolous, unjustifiable and scandalous allegations and spreading them through print/electronic/social media, which have caused irreparable loss and damage to the reputation of the Government of Meghalaya and its entities/officials. 

Dentsu Creative Launches A (Mis)Pronouncing Brand Film For iQOO

Dentsu Creative India  has launched a uniquely self-aware brand film for iQOO, one of India’s fastest growing smartphone brands. The film stars Vijay Devarakonda and Janhvi Kapoor where they are taking a dig at iQOO’s eccentric brand problem - no one gets their name right. And this is despite them being India’s no. 1 smartphone brand in terms of user satisfaction. The film showcases BTS moments where they are hilariously struggling to find the correct pronunciation of the brand. The whole concept cements the fact that while the world gets their name wrong, they get one thing right - user satisfaction. 

Based on the contest run by iQOO on their social platforms, it was found that most of the users were mispronouncing the brand name as ikku, eyekyun, IQ, IQ double O, etc.  

The film was created in response to a contest run by iQOO on their social media platforms where they asked users to tell how they pronounce the brand name. Most of them mispronounced it as ikku, eye kyun, IQ, IQ-double-O, ICOOOH and more. 

The film will be promoted across multiple social and digital platforms.  

Link to the brand film: https://youtu.be/aOo_hH_X_z4 

Speaking about the film, Mr. Nipun Marya, CEO, iQOO India, said, “We are excited to launch this brand pronunciation awareness film with the hope that we will build a stronger relationship and instill confidence in our consumers who are at the heart of our business.Through this, we intend to create a sense of community and cheerfulness around this common conundrum and hope that our customers will be able to proudly speak about our products and services with their family and friends.”  

Speaking about the film, Ashit Chakravarty, Managing Partner, Dentsu Creative said, “It is rare for a brand to be honest and bold about how its name is frequently mispronounced. Kudos to the entire IQOO team for being bold and turning what is a unique problem into an opportunity. The idea for us was to always stay true to the story that we are India's no. 1 smartphone brand in terms of user satisfaction, but people just don't seem to get our name right”. 

Speaking about the film, Shray Chawla, Senior Creative Director (Copy), Dentsu Creative said, “It's funny how an internal joke can become a "self-troll" campaign if the brand is bold enough to make fun of itself. I think we found the perfect pairing in Vijay and Jahnvi to bring iQOO's story alive on screen. The story of being India's no. 1 smartphone brand in terms of user satisfaction that often gets mispronounced as IQ, EQ, ikku, IQ-zero-zero, eye-kyun and what not. We realized that everyone has a unique way of saying iQOO and for us a brand this is not really a big problem if we can joke about it”. 

Not just this, iQOO has a surprise for its consumers embedded in the brand film. This brand film will be followed by another film where Vijay and Janhvi will be exclusively presenting and unboxing the upcoming flagship smartphone - iQOO 11, but with a hilarious twist. iQOO 11 is iQOO’s upcoming premium flagship smartphone that has globally been acclaimed for some World’s first powerful and performance-oriented features. The smartphone has already created a lot of hype in the Indian market and is expected to launch in India anytime soon.  

Credits: Dentsu Creative 

Senior Creative Director - Creative: Shray Chawla 

Group Creative Director - Art: Giamaria Fernandes 

Creative Team: Hazel Dalby, Aditya Kumar, Rishabh Kapoor, Anamika Thakur, Naman Khajanchi, Anant Seth 

Art Team: Amey Chodankar, Kaustubh Bhalekar, Harshita Kalra 

Strategy Team: Freya D'Souza, Arihant Chaturvedi 

Client Solutions Team: Prashant Motwani, Ishan Rao, Akash Nihalani, Atharva Tagde, Neharika Puri, Vineesha Lobo, Shrushti Vora 

Associate Vice President - Client Solutions: Upasana Naithani 

Managing Partner: Ashit Chakravarty 

Director (of the film): Nilay Singh 

Producer: Viraj Gawas 

Production House: Crazy Few Films 

Client Team: Nidhi Bhuchar, Sanjay Pratyush, Tripti Goel, Upasana Saluja, Parth Gandhi 

Photocaption: Film stars Vijay Devarakonda and Janhvi Kapoor bring iQOO’s story alive on screen .

Campus-To-Career Conclave : 15 Cities Movement That Aims ToI Improve Staggering 45% Employability Numbers For Freshers!

* World cafe conversations is an unconventional discussion format to foster effective dialogues – an attempt to redefine and provide meaningful careers for 5 lakhs+ students by 2026!

In an attempt to bring stakeholders from Industry and Academia and curate meaningful dialogues to improve employability across the country, VMentor.ai’s EdTech platform YUGMA.ai is organizing a 15-city Campus-to-Career Conclave. It's an exclusive, by invite, forum led by CHROs, Talent Acquisition heads and leading  academicians. In order to capture the voice of the industry and academics and initiate inclusive dialogues in real-time, the company has planned a first-of-its-kind brainstorming session in World Cafe-style brainstorming format of no ppts and pure conversations around future skills, placements, building talent pipeline, and more.

Research indicates that less than 45% of freshers are truly employable leading to a big gap between talent demands in industry and academia’s preparedness to respond. Under the aegis of VMentor.ai, YUGMA.ai is on a mission to provide meaningful careers to 5 lacs students and improve the concerning employability numbers by 2026. This movement will reach 15 cities in the next 3 months (starting from Mumbai on 10th December 2022), to initiate dialogues, build meaningful conversations and lay down action points for all stakeholders.

The conclave is planned across Pune, Chennai, Gurgaon-Noida, Jaipur, Surat, Nasik, Kanpur, Coimbatore, Trichy, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Hubli/ Dharwad, Nagpur, Ahmedabad and Baroda and each of these regions will see representations from more than 100 organisations, Graduate and MBA schools

Speaking on this, Meenu Bhatia, Co-founder of VMentor.ai says “There is an urgent need to address the growing employability challenge that academic institutions are facing today. At the same time, with organisations strengthening their hiring plans across smaller and larger cities alike, we feel the time is apt to bring the two stakeholders together and have them engage in constructive dialogue on how this partnership can be built meaningfully. Our inclusive method of World Café brainstorming will ensure all voices are heard and participants go back with a crisp plan of action to further this agenda.”

About VMentor.ai: VMentor.ai is a mentoring platform formed by a team of industry veterans (CXOs with a combined experience of over 200+ man-years and managing large organisations).

VMentor.ai has 100+ clients from large corporates, start-ups and MSME to support them in accelerating business growth through focussed transformation in the areas of strategy, people, process and technology and through its student platform Yugma.ai 125+ clients from MBA and Engineering colleges.

Vmentor.ai is technology enabled leading mentorship platform with over 250+ senior industry veterans as part of the team.

VMentor.ai includes eminent industry veterans – E.N.Venkat (Partner at Aavishkar impact fund), Sujan Sinha (Ex-CEO and MD at Shriram Finance), Hemant Kaul (EX MD& CEO of Bajaj Allianz), Dr.Srinivas Chunduru (ex CXO at Piramal Group, senior advisor & Board Member at OLA Group companies)  and Meenu Bhatia (HR transformation expert, Ex Godrej and Piramal Group) on its board. For more details on the company, visit: www.vmentor.ai

Miraj Cinemas Enters Bengaluru With Its First Six-Screen Opulent Multiplex At Magadi Main Road

* With a portfolio of 172 screens in 40 cities currently, Miraj Cinemas Bangalore takes the multiplex chain closer to the 200 screens milestone 

India’s fastest-growing multiplex chain, Miraj Cinemas, has opened its first six-screen ultra-luxurious multiplex in the city today. The new multiplex is expected to provide a state-of-the-art cinematic experience coupled with best-in-class gourmet food options. It is located on the first floor of TGN Lotus Elite, above D-Mart, Magadi Main Road, Sunkadakatte, Bangalore North. Mr. V Somanna, Minister of Infrastructure development of Karnataka, Mr. Munirathna, Minister of Horticulture, Government of Karnataka, and Cinema producer, Mr. Somashekahar, Minister of Co-operation of Karnataka, Mr. Manjunath, MLA Dasarahalli constituency, Mr. Priyakrishna, Ex-MLA, Mr. T.G. Narasimha Murthy, MD of TGN Lotus Mall, Mr. Amit Sharma, MD of Miraj Entertainment  Ltd., lit the lamp and cut the ribbon to mark the occasion. Other city luminaries were also present at the grand launch of the first multiplex of Miraj in the city. 

The newly launched multiplex promises to offer an immersive movie-watching experience and has a total seating capacity of 1283 seats, including 1203 ultra-comfortable seats and 80 recliner seats, and a palatial lobby. The perfect place to catch the latest international and Indian blockbusters for cinephiles in elegance! To enhance the cinema viewing experience of its patrons, Miraj Cinemas has installed top-notch Christie RGB Laser CP2320 2K projection systems and 7.1 Digital Dolby sound system in four screens and Dolby Atmos sound in two screens. In addition, the café is fitted with the latest processing equipment and maintains hygiene and sanitation standards around the clock. Along with the live kitchen, the multiplex chain is launching its first independent Beanary Café with various food and beverage options. 

Mr. Amit Sharma, MD of Miraj Entertainment  Ltd., said, “It is indeed a momentous day for us as we open our flagship multiplex in Bengaluru today. Bengaluru is one of the country’s most vivid and progressive cities, and we look forward to being a part of its growth story. With the launch of Beanary Café, which will be open to all regardless if you are there to watch a film or not, and our signature live kitchen Cafe’s Corner, we are confident that the multiplex will be well-received by the people here. It will surely add to this booming city’s already vibrant culture and nightlife scene. Furthermore, setting up the multiplex in Sunkadakatte will attract more footfalls to this area and contribute positively to the city’s growing reputation as a key destination for films and filmmaking. It is a truly world-class facility that will provide an outstanding movie-going experience for our customers.”

After a decade-long journey, with Mr. Sharma’s leadership, Miraj Cinemas has finally opened its first six-screen multiplex cinema in Bengaluru. Karnataka state has been extremely receptive and supportive of the multiplex chain, and it looks forward to serving the movie-going population of the state for many years to come. In addition to its national expansion plans, Miraj has kept up with technological advances that benefit moviegoers in tier two and three cities and their counterparts in major metro cities. As a result, Miraj Cinemas has become India’s fastest-growing multiplex chain, with 172 screens at 57 locations across 14 states and 40 cities. With an intent to create a benchmark for launching 70-75 screens yearly, the company plans to expand to 200 plus screens by FY 2023. It also plans. So keep your eyes peeled for a Miraj Cinemas near you!

Never Stop Challenging: The All-New BMW S 1000 RR Launched

The all-new version of BMW Motorrad’s heavily popular super sport bike – the BMW S 1000 RR - has debuted in India today. Launched as a completely built-up unit, the bike is available for bookings throughout the BMW Motorrad dealer network in India. Deliveries will commence from February 2023 onwards.

In a strong competitive segment, the RR is benchmark, a favourite amongst racing enthusiasts seeking the thrill of speed. Ever since its introduction in 2009, each generation has redefined the rules of play, and this tradition continues with the new RR.

The all-new BMW S 1000 RR surpasses its forerunners thanks to comprehensive updates to the engine, suspension, chassis, aerodynamics, design and assistance systems. Engineering enhancements in multiple spheres have successfully resulted in making the best even better!

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Vikram Pawah, President, BMW Group India said, “The S 1000 RR embodies true BMW Motorrad racing DNA. On the racetrack or on the road, RR means never coming in second place, but always riding ahead. RR riders love the adrenaline of performance and push themselves to the limit. Armed with more engine power, a sharper design, improved aerodynamics and numerous innovations in handling dynamics, the all-new S 1000 RR is revving to go. It will undoubtedly reconfirm its credible pole position as a class winner and inspire riders to never stop challenging.”

The ex-showroom prices are as follows:

The BMW S 1000 RR                                :          INR 20,25,000

The BMW S 1000 RR Pro                         :           INR 22,15,000

The BMW S 1000 RR Pro M Sport            :          INR 24,45,000

*Prices prevailing at the time of invoicing will be applicable. Delivery will be made ex-showroom. Ex-showroom price (inclusive of GST and compensation cess) as applicable but excludes Road Tax, RTO statutory taxes/fees, other local tax / cess levies and insurance. Prices and options are subject to change without prior notice. For further information, please contact your local authorized BMW Motorrad Dealer.

The dynamic design of the new RR is supported by three attractive colour options - Black Storm Metallic, Passion and Light White Uni / M Motorsport (with M Package).

Riders can further customise with two optional packages – Dynamic and M. Dynamic Package lifts the riding experience with Dynamic Damping Control, Riding Modes Pro, Heated Grips and Cruise Control. M Package (available for Pro M Sport variant) uplifts the racing character with special paintwork Light White Uni / M Motorsport, M Carbon Wheels, M Sport Seat, M Brake Calipers Blue, Fuel Filler Cap Black and M Rider Footrest System.

The all-new BMW S 1000 RR.

The 100 percent new design of the RR impresses with its extremely compact layout and super-sporty appeal that creates perfect harmony for the road and racetrack. The front has a completely revamped look with a higher windscreen, side winglets and partitioning of the lower triple clamp. These elements further optimise aerodynamics and help in maintaining the top speed. Newly added M winglets, as on the M RR, generate aerodynamic downforce and thus additional load on front wheel. This brings advantages such as – reducing the bike’s tendency to do a wheelie, increasing cornering stability and faster lap times. The redesigned upper and lower tail sections appear lighter and sportier. New changes at the rear also include the hump cover for pillion seat in ‘monoposto’ look (optional) and a shorter, detachable license plate holder.

The all-new BMW S 1000 RR is fitted with an advanced 4-cylinder water / oil cooled engine with BMW ShiftCam Technology that sets a new benchmark in terms of performance, torque and rideability. The 999cc engine generates 210 hp at 13,750 rpm to deliver supreme level of engine power (3 hp more than the previous model). Despite an increase in peak output, the usable engine speed range is significantly broader and more fulsome - maximum engine speed is 14,600 rpm. The new airbox, as on the M RR, features variable intake funnels that optimise charge change and power generation, especially at high engine speeds.

The 6-speed gearbox allows ease of engagement, no slippage and precise shifts. The race tuned anti-hopping clutch with self-reinforcement reduces engine braking and significantly increases safety - especially during braking manoeuvres with simultaneous downshifts. Gear Shift Assistant Pro enables upshifting without clutch actuation and offers perfect acceleration without interrupting traction. It has improved to implement shift request via a torque model and thus enables shifts in all operating ranges.

The RR is fitted with four modes - Rain, Road, Dynamic and Race. The optional ‘Pro Modes’ offer Race Pro 1, Race Pro 2 and Race Pro 3 setting in addition. For the perfect race starts, riders can activate Launch Control by pressing the start button for more than three seconds during standstill. Pit Lane Limiter enables speed limiting when passing through the pit lane. Hill Start Control Pro facilitates starting on gradients.

The new feature of Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) is the Slide Control function. Thanks to the new steering angle sensor, it allows the rider to select two preset drift angles for the traction control system when accelerating out of bends. Up to the respective leaning angle, the system allows slippage at the rear wheel when accelerating out of a bend, thus enabling rear wheel drift. When the preset steering angle value is reached, system intervenes, reduces slip and stabilises the motorcycle.

The bike’s advanced narrow ‘Flex Frame’ is further improvised. The heart of the chassis is still the aluminium bridge frame which has received several apertures in the side sections optimising flexibility laterally. One-piece rear swinging arm with underslung sections and the rear wheel is easier to remove and install. The suspension strut is now height-adjustable for custom adjustments. The adjustability of the swinging arm pivot point and the height of the rear end is due to the use of the M Chassis Kit.

The new suspension geometry not only improves riding precision, but also increases target accuracy and provides clearer feedback from the front wheel. The bike can be equipped with electronically controlled Dynamic Damping Control (DDC) to adjust damping to Road, Dynamic, Race, For Race Pro 1-3.

M Brakes are offered as standard on the new BMW S 1000 RR. The supremely effective ABS Pro with new Brake Slide Assist and ABS Pro ‘Slick’ setting functions ensure perfect braking. As in the predecessor model, the upside-down fork with a slide tube diameter of 45 mm offers a high degree of brake stability as well as a stable response.

This generation boasts multiple innovations in Coloured TFT Screen and electrical / electronic system. The new instrument cluster has an optimised display of the rev counter. It has a dashed area and a solid red area controlled by the engine control unit. As a new comfort function, the last selected screen appears on start. Moreover, factory setting can be seen in a pie chart with new representation of ABS setting options. The instrument cluster has four screens to suit rider needs. Pure Ride screen provides all necessary information for normal operation on road, while the three Core screen displays - CORE Screen 1, CORE Screen 2 and CORE Screen 3 - are designed for the racetrack. CORE Screen 1 focus is on the round rotational-speed sensor, lean angle sensor, DTC and brake secondary indicator. CORE Screen 2 focus is on the round rotational-speed sensor and lap timer including best lap. CORE Screen 3 focus is on bar rotational-speed sensor with lean angle display and lap timer including best lap.

Standard equipment has been expanded to include the lighter M battery and USB charging socket. Smart wiring harness enables fast removal of the number plate holder.

Raymond Realty Sets A New Benchmark In Real Estate Sector In India

~Completes its maiden project in record period of 24 months ahead of RERA deadline~

Raymond Realty marked a momentous milestone to celebrate the completion of TenX habitat towers, the maiden project of the group’s real estate venture. The first three towers in the project have been completed 24 months ahead of RERA timelines. This aspirational project envisaged to elevate the benchmark of living standards in Thane was launched in 2019 and designed by renowned architect Hafeez Contractor. TenX Habitat are currently the tallest towers in Thane skyline of 42 floors comprising of 10 towers.

A first few buyers were handed over the keys to their exquisite flats by Gautam Hari Singhania, Chairman and Managing Director, Raymond Group, during the event. Speaking on the occasion he commented; “It is a very proud moment for us to have achieved this commendable feat in just three years of our operations that many established players have not been able to do so. Last year in the month of October, we made a commitment to deliver a part of our maiden project TEN X on 10th December 2022 and I am delighted that we lived up to our promise. We have set an industry benchmark by delivering 3 towers, 24 months ahead of RERA deadline and we were able to achieve this despite facing many headwinds like COVID, escalation in raw material prices among many others. Today, we are extremely delighted that Raymond Realty which is our new business has kept its promise to its customers that further enhances our core values of Trust, Quality and Excellence.

The project has been designed on principles of sustainability, modern architecture and contemporary design. Located in the heart of the city at Pokhran Road, the project offers access to social infrastructure such as Singhania Schools, hospital, malls, retail and connectivity with major arterial roads such as the Eastern Express Highway, Ghodbunder Road and Mumbai-Nashik Highway, while also celebrating a new way of living life that lets residents escape from the urban realm.

Harmohan Sahni, CEO, Raymond Realty commented; “Having taken on the onus to deliver a project of this size and scale amidst the backdrop of the pandemic was no easy feat. With a whole new team, labour crunch and the restrictions, we geared up to this challenge to create a landmark project which is first of its kind in the MMR region. At Raymond Realty, we constantly strive to create world class products that set new benchmarks in the industry.”

Last month, Raymond Realty topped the IndexTap Premier League Chart for Thane region. The group’s premiere real estate projects - The Address by GS and TenX Habitat - have bagged the first and the second position in Thane city region with 78 and 124 units sold worth Rs 201 crores and Rs 147 crores, respectively. This achievement stands in line with Raymond Realty showcasing a strong sales growth by three-fold to Rs 245 crores from Rs 81 crores compared with the previous year in the second quarter. The realty segment also reported a quarterly EBITDA margin of 25.8%.

https://www.raymondrealty.in/ten-x-habitat-thane/

About Raymond Limited

Raymond is India’s largest integrated worsted suiting manufacturer that offers end-to-end solutions for fabric and garmenting. Over the years, Raymond has been synonymous with quality, innovation and market leadership. It has some of the leading brands within its portfolio – ‘Raymond Ready to Wear’, ‘Park Avenue’, ‘ColorPlus’, ‘Parx’, ‘Raymond Made to Measure’ and Ethnix by Raymond amongst others. Raymond has one of the largest exclusive retail networks in the country with about 1,375 stores in more than 600 towns. The group has presence in engineering space engaged in precision engineered products with an expansive presence in national as well as international markets. Raymond forayed into realty sector through the launch of its maiden project TenX - an ‘aspirational district’ spread across 14 acres housing ~3,100 residential units and has recently launched a premium residential project – The Address by GS.

Raymond also has presence in FMCG sector through Raymond Consumer Care that offers wide range of products in men’s personal grooming category and personal hygiene. Having enjoyed the patronage of over a billion consumers, Raymond as a brand has been consistently delivering world class quality products to its consumers over the past nine decades. To know more, visit us today at www.raymond.in

About Raymond Realty

The Raymond Group entered the real estate space with Raymond Realty, a venture exclusively spearheaded by Gautam Hari Singhania. The same dedication to quality, minute details and absolute style that is the Group’s legacy, will now take a form in luxurious residential spaces. The fabric of choice this time is brick and mortar. They have woven into residences that offer the man-about-town and his family a complete lifestyle.

With the simple belief that the Indian consumers deserve more than what is being offered; Raymond Realty’s conviction is to Go Beyond all conventions in real estate. Introducing a new standard of living – one which pushes the bar on quality, design, comfort, convenience, technology and service to give today’s home buyer the kind of space they are genuinely proud to own. Built on the principle of ‘Go Beyond’ each project under Raymond Realty aims to re-imagine every expectation you have from your home by going the extra mile. Every home incorporates our virtues of excellence, style and a timeless appeal in creating modern living spaces like never before.

The numbers: Raymond’s real estate business showcased a strong sales growth by 3x to Rs 245 Cr from Rs 81 Cr in previous year in the quarter July-September 2022. The segment reported EBITDA margin of 25.8% for the quarter. Sustained home demand remained resilient with higher liquidity in the market and an increased customer confidence with our fast paced construction and committed delivery timelines. Overall, Ten X Habitat received 120 bookings in Q2FY23 resulting in total 2,186 units booked (~85% of total inventory launched) till September, 2022 with a booking value of Rs 2,210 Cr. The Address by GS premium residential project received 68 bookings resulting in total 349 bookings (~85% of total inventory launched) with a booking value of Rs 834 Cr

To know more, visit us here: https://www.raymondrealty.in/

Gurdeep Singh, CMD NTPC Wins S&P Platts Global CEO Of The Year Award

Mr. Gurdeep Singh, CMD NTPC has been bestowed with the CEO of the Year Award at the 24th Annual Platts Global Energy Awards held in New York for his outstanding contribution to the power sector.

The CEO of the Year demonstrates the ability to sustain their sector amid universal headwinds while undeniably supporting the employees who propel their organization into the future.

Mr. Singh is an alumnus of NIT Kurukshetra and IIM Ahmedabad and has undergone management and leadership training from Harvard and Oxford business schools.

In an illustrious career spanning, more than three and a half decades, he has held leadership positions with several national and multinational companies like PowerGen, CESC, AES, IDFC, GSECL, and DVC.

He is a member of IEA’s High Level advisory group on Coal in the Global Net Zero transition and also a member of the Clean Energy Ministerial H2I advisory group.

An accomplished business leader with expertise in building and managing businesses across the power sector value chain, Mr. Singh is leading NTPC’s transformational journey into a sustainable integrated energy company.

Mr. Singh embraces innovation and a people-centric sustainable approach to business. Under his leadership, NTPC has been consistently ranked as a ‘Best Employer’ internationally and also received awards and recognitions for its community-oriented innovative CSR initiatives and business sustainability.

Energy companies from 26 countries in Europe, Asia, and the Americas have been selected as finalists for the 24th Annual Platts Global Energy Awards.  Often described as "the Oscars of the energy industry," the Platts Global Energy Awards recognize corporate and individual innovation, leadership, and exemplary performance spanning the entire energy and chemicals complex.

Godrej & Boyce Strengthens India’s Goals Towards Energy Conservation With A Focus On Renewable Energy

~To promote Energy Conservation in India, Godrej Electricals & Electronics, a division of Godrej & Boyce has set a 30 per cent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) target for the renewable energy portfolio for the next three years.

~In India, Godrej Electricals & Electronics has electrified almost 16 lakh households spanning 20,000 villages and 56 metropolitan areas.

Godrej & Boyce, the flagship company of the Godrej Group, announced that its business Godrej Electricals & Electronics (E&E) is strengthening India’s energy sector with an emphasis on renewable energy. By 2030, India aims to have 500 GW of non-fossil energy capacity and cover 50% of its energy requirements using renewable energy.  Against this backdrop, the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill was tabled in Lok Sabha to lower India's carbon emissions by increasing the country's demand for renewable energy. Owing to this, Godrej Electricals & Electronics has set a 30% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) target for its renewable energy portfolio over the next three years.

In India, the adoption of renewable energy is expanding swiftly and will fundamentally alter the nation's electricity sector this decade. India's transition to a secure net-zero energy pathway is bolstered by three pillars: energy efficiency, electrification, and renewable energy. With the commitment towards energy efficiency, Godrej Electricals & Electronics is aiming for 50 MW to 100 MW solar projects per year. In the line of electrification, Godrej E&E Division’s Power Infrastructure Unit has commissioned more than 25 substations and 300 km of transmission lines of up to 400kV. The project has electrified around 16 lakh households covering 20,000 villages and 56 urban towns across India, in addition to installing millions of solar panels to generate clean power. Moreover, to encourage renewable energy usage in India, the business is currently working on an 85-megawatt (MW) ground-mounted solar project for a state genco, which includes developing the entire infrastructure for power evacuation.

Commenting on this, Raghavendra Mirji, Senior Vice President & Business Head, Godrej Electricals & Electronics, Godrej & Boyce says, “At Godrej & Boyce, we are committed to reimagining sustainability. Ensuring we have access to reliable, clean energy will help us realize that vision as we significantly aim to reduce our global carbon footprint. The renewable energy portfolio is one of the key development areas that we've identified in our strategic business plan. With a vision to promote Energy conservation in India, we are aiming to contribute to renewable energy and EHV infrastructure required for the Evacuation of Renewable Energy. We hope to expand our reach to smaller towns in India to improve the quality of power transmission for future generations.”

The Energy Conservation Bill has specified new targets for the carbon credit trading scheme and it requires consumers to meet a proportion of their energy needs from non-fossil sources. Godrej & Boyce provides a variety of equipment, materials, solutions, and services to drive efficient energy management throughout the industry value chain. Godrej Electricals & Electronics Division’s business unit MEP has also executed projects that have been awarded certifications for green and sustainable built environments from various authorities, including IGBC, LEED, GRIHA, and WELL. Further, Godrej Construction, another business of Godrej & Boyce, produces construction and recycled concrete materials. The AAC and Recycled Concrete blocks by the business have over 30% lower embodied carbon as compared to regular virgin concrete blocks. Due to their superior insulation properties, the blocks can contribute to lowering the energy requirement of structures to over 5%.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Organizes Science Model Building Activity For Students Of Karnataka Public School, Bangalore

* Volunteers from iCARE - Toyota’s Employee Volunteer Initiative, helped to strengthen the scientific knowledge base of Karnataka Public School students while honing their competitive spirit

* Activity will benefit over 600 students from classes 8th to 10th  

Aligning with its efforts to motivate and inspire employees to be a part of a noble social cause, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM), today, conducted its 25th iCARE activity to build Science Models for the students at Karnataka Public School(KPS). TKM along with the school management, ideated to educate students and inculcate better understanding of science knowledge using innovative science models. This activity will enable students to be better prepared for various science-based competitions at local and national levels, while helping them improve their understanding of concepts and overall science comprehension.

KPS is a part of Karnataka Government’s ambitious plan to establish a model school with best-in-class facilities, comprising of primary, secondary and pre-university education. The volunteers were divided into 5 groups with 20 volunteers each. Approximately 60 students joined the exciting model making activity which involved math puzzles, magnetic tangrams, water pump, water clock, pinhole camera, floating sinking mechanism etc. The models developed will benefit over 600 students from classes 8th – 10th to understand the concepts better.

Commenting on this initiative, Mr. Vikram Gulati, Country Head and Executive Vice President, Toyota Kirloskar Motor said, “At TKM, we are extensively committed towards bringing a positive change in society. We believe that the future of our country is strongly linked with the growth and development of our children. Apart from nourishing young minds, it is imperative that they are empowered with the right knowledge and skills, which will help them develop a positive mindset. Innovative ways to impart education is crucial step to enhance curiosity and we are happy to be a part of this activity which will help the students at Karnataka Public School to not only gain knowledge but also prepare them for science-based competitions and lay a strong foundation for their future education .”

Since its inception in 2017, iCARE has grown tremendously and has had a substantial impact on society touching 59,000 lives so far. Currently, about 1,000 employees are registered with iCARE under which various activities are implemented to further support and make a difference to society while providing an enriching experience to employees. These initiatives are implemented in the domains of education, environment, health and hygiene, road safety, skill development and disaster management in line with TKM’s CSR vision. The platform empowers passionate employees who believe in volunteering for social causes during their free time.

Chaayos Earn Their Stripes At Pepsi Images Food Service Awards 2022

Chaayos was honored with the most admired food service retailer of the year - Technology implementation on Thursday evening at the Pepsi Images Food Service Awards, India’s most authoritative recognitions awards for the food service brands and companies. Apart from this Chaayos also won Most Admired Food Service Retailer of the year: Innovation in Marketing & Promotions, Most Admired Food Service Retailer of the year: QSR & Most Admired Food Service Retailer of the year: Innovation in Production, Processing & Packaging. 

Wow! Chicken, Copper Chimney, INOX and Cafe Coffee Day were among the few brands that were awarded at the Awards. 

Hosted by the ravishing singer and songwriter, Manasi Scott, the Awards night witnessed 2 winners for the award of the most admired market expansion of the year - Burger Singh for 360 degree expansion along with Wow! Momo for store count augmentation. Most admired Food Service Launch of the year was awarded to KARIGARI by chef Harpal Singh Sokhi for the new outlet and Go pizza, HSR Layout, Bengaluru for flagship store. 

With 4 awards, Chaayos took home maximum awards across categories. 

“The food service industry is truly dynamic and inventive. Continuously adapting, tweaking strategies, enriching operations and providing customers with a wholesome experience is a pressing priority in today’s customer-centric business world. The 6th edition of the Pepsi Images Food Service Awards, aims to acknowledge the sheer excellence, constant refinement and efforts displayed by these ingenious brands  in taking the sector to greater heights.” said Nikhil Behl, CEO — Food Business, IMAGES Group.

Collins Aerospace Opens New Engineering And Global Operations Centers In India To Accelerate Innovations In R&D And Manufacturing

* New facilities are key first step of larger Raytheon Technologies investment and growth strategy in India

* Plan is to house more than 5,000 Collins and Raytheon Technologies employees, with additional sites set to open early 2023

As part of a significant investment to expand its engineering, digital technology, and manufacturing operations in India, Collins Aerospace, a unit of Raytheon Technologies Corp., has officially inaugurated its new Global Engineering and Technology Center (GETC) and Collins India Operations Center in Bengaluru. The new sites are part of a long-term growth strategy for Raytheon Technologies in India and globally to maximize collaboration and innovation providing cutting edge solutions for customers and provide additional STEM-based opportunities in the country.

“We’ve been committed to the aerospace industry in India for 25 years now, directly advancing key innovations, R&D and STEM opportunities in the local market for the long term,” said Steve Timm, president of Collins Aerospace, who officially inaugurated the new sites at grand opening events this week. “At Collins, we are on course for planned investments of over $200 million in engineering and manufacturing capabilities and hiring an additional 2,000 highly skilled employees in the Indian aerospace and defense sector over the next 5 years. India is strategic to the global growth and investment strategy of all Raytheon Technologies’ businesses, and the advanced infrastructure and talent pool will help drive the country’s contributions as a global leader in aerospace and defense.”

Approximately 3,000 engineers from three other Collins Aerospace locations in Bengaluru, as well as about 600 personnel from other Raytheon Technologies’ group of companies will be moving into the 413,000 square-foot GETC at Northgate Tech Park to facilitate collaboration across the company’s businesses, with plans to expand its footprint on the 3-acre land next year with new capabilities. Pratt & Whitney’s United Technologies Corporation India Pvt Ltd. (UTCIPL) contract engineering services is also planned to open in early 2023 in the same location.    

“The opening of these new facilities in Bengaluru shows our continued commitment in India, expanding our capabilities and accelerating transformative technologies for a safer, more connected and sustainable world,” said Dr. Mauro Atalla, senior vice president, Engineering & Technology for Collins Aerospace. “The GETC India organization supports Collins’ six strategic business units and is crucial to the continued success of our global businesses.”

Kevin Myers, vice president and head of Enterprise Operations at Collins Aerospace said “The new Collins India Operations Center located at KIADB Aerospace Park spans 26 acres across the Hitech Defense and Aerospace Park and will help Collins bring operational synergy and economies of scale, as well as support future growth opportunities and customer requirements. We will host some 1,700 employees at the new site once it is fully completed in 2026.”

Both new Collins sites have been designed to the latest standards for sustainable construction; GETC has been certified with the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) Platinum Rating with solar power capabilities, zero water discharge facilities and other features. The Collins India Operations Center is Industry 4.0 compliant, and its Building Management System (BMS) is a connected ecosystem which helps monitor and control air, water, temperature, and humidity at critical process points to help maintain product quality with quick issue resolution. The Collins India Operations Center has also received USGBC Silver and IGBC Gold building certification, and the campus is an energy efficient site with best practices followed in line with BEE-India & Global Best Management Practices.

About Collins Aerospace

Collins Aerospace is a leader in technologically advanced and intelligent solutions for the global aerospace and defense industry. Collins Aerospace has the extensive capabilities, comprehensive portfolio and broad expertise to solve customers’ toughest challenges and to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving global market. For more information, visit CollinsAerospace.com.

About Raytheon Technologies

Raytheon Technologies Corporation is an aerospace and defense company that provides advanced systems and services for commercial, military and government customers worldwide. With four industry-leading businesses ? Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, Raytheon Intelligence & Space and Raytheon Missiles & Defense ? the company delivers solutions that push the boundaries in avionics, cybersecurity, directed energy, electric propulsion, hypersonics, and quantum physics. The company, formed in 2020 through the combination of Raytheon Company and the United Technologies Corporation aerospace businesses, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.

Spark Minda Inaugurates 28th Wiring Harness Plant In Chakan, Pune

Minda Corporation Limited (referred to as “Minda Corp” or the “Company”; NSE: MINDACORP, BSE: 538962), the flagship company of Spark Minda inaugurated the state-of-the-art Wiring Harness plant in Chakan, Pune. The new Greenfield facility takes the count of plants across the country to 28. 

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Mr. Ashok Minda, Chairman and Group CEO, said, “Spark Minda has come a long way since the establishment of the group in 1958. Customer centricity has always been at the heart of what we do as we collectively work towards pursuing excellence with the intent of providing the best to our customers. Our evolving technological knowhow coupled with experience in the sector has helped us stay ahead of the curve by providing holistic solutions to befit them.”

“This new-age, state-of-the-art plant facility will lead the change. Focusing on zero-defect products, this plant will reset benchmarking on multiple manufacturing parameters, setting the bar higher.” he added.

The plant is a greenfield facility capable of generating 100% solar power which will further enrich Spark Minda’s focus on sustainability and ESG parameters.

Spread across the 1.90 lakhs square feet, the factory is equipped with advanced machines backed by cutting-edge technology.

The other Wiring Harness plants are located in Pune, Pillaipakkam, Kakkalur, Mysore, Murbad, Greater NOIDA, Pithampur, Haridwar and Vietnam.

About Minda Corporation (BSE:538962; NSE: MINDACORP)

Minda Corporation is one of the leading automotive component manufacturing companies in India with a pan-India presence and significant international footprint. The Company was incorporated in 1985. Minda Corporation is the flagship company of Spark Minda, which was part of the erstwhile Minda Group. The Company has a diversified product portfolio that encompasses Mechatronics; Information and Connected Systems and Plastic and Interior for auto OEMs. These products cater to 2/3 wheelers, passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, off-roaders and after-market. The Company has a diversified customer base including Indian and global original equipment manufacturers and Tier-1 customers.

For assimilating the latest technologies, Minda Corporation has a dedicated R&D facility and collaborations with the pioneers and leaders of the automobile industry. This has provided Minda Corporation with the cutting-edge in product design and technology to meet strict international quality standards.

FADA November’22 Vehicle Retail Data Indicates Highest Sales In The History Of Indian Automobile Industry

* November 2022 clocked highest sales in the history of Indian Automobile Industry with March’20 as an exception when retails were higher due to BS-4 to BS-6 transition.

* On YoY basis, total vehicle retail for the month of November’22 saw a growth of 26%. All the categories closed in green. 2W, 3W, PV, Trac and CV were up by 24%, 80%, 21%, 57% and 33% respectively.

* When compared with November’19, a pre-covid month, total vehicle retail closed in marginal positive territory with an increase of 1.5%. Except 2W, which saw a marginal dip of -0.9%, all the other categories were in green with 3W, PV, Trac and CV growing by 4%, 5%, 61% and 6% respectively.

* Carrying forward from high festive sales, the Great Indian Wedding Season which continues from 14 November to 14 December played its part in increased Auto Retail.

Healthy Auto Retails is also supported by RBIs Consumer Confidence Data which remains to be on recovery path on account of better perceptions on general economic situation, employment, and household income.

* RBI’s continued rate hike and China Lockdown may play spoilsport in near term.

The Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) today released Vehicle Retail Data for November’22.

November’22 Retails

Commenting on how November’22 performed, FADA President, Mr. Manish Raj Singhania said, “November 2022 has clocked highest retails in the history of Indian Automobile Industry with March’20 as an exception when retails were higher due to BS-4 to BS-6 transition.

Auto Retail in November’22 saw an overall growth of 26%. The baton was passed by the positive run of festive sales to the Great Indian Wedding Season (from 14th November to 14th December) where around 32 lakh weddings will be solemnised across the country. All categories were in green with 2W, 3W, PV, Tractor and CV growing by 24%, 80%, 21%, 57% and 33% respectively.

Even when compared to pre-covid month of 2019, overall retails for the second consecutive month closed in green by growing 1.5%. Except 2W, which saw a marginal dip of -0.9%, all the other categories like 3W, PV, Trac and CV grew by 4%, 5%, 61% and 6% respectively.

The 2W segment showed a huge growth of 24% YoY but fell marginally by 0.9%, when compared to Nov’19, a pre-covid year. This segment is slowly turning the tides from negative to positive as the same can be witnessed from retail sales due to the ongoing wedding season.

The 3W segment showed a massive growth of 80% YoY and 4% when compared to 2019, a pre-covid year. The category which was witnessing low demand during covid has now emerged as the highest growing category due to positive sentiments and fear of lockdowns out of mind. Also, electrification in the category continues at its highest pace.

The PV segment showed a growth of 21% YoY and 5% when compared to 2019. Better availability of model mixes from past months, new launches and increase in rural demand continues to keep the segment in healthy condition. Compact SUV and SUV category coupled with higher variant models continues to rule to roost.

The CV witnessed a growth of 33% YoY and 6% compared to 2019. With Government’s continued focus in the infrastructure space and new mining projects, replacement demand continued to pour in along with healthy inter-state passenger movement enabling bus sales.”

Near Term Outlook

The RBI’s latest Consumer Confidence Data suggests that buoyancy among customers is on a recovery path on account of better perceptions on general economic situation, employment, and household income. This along with the ongoing festive season has continued to help in bringing customers to the showrooms as on date.

For Bharat, normally after the harvest starts, farmers get money in hand and this starts the spending cycle. We expect spending for Auto Sales to go up once the harvest comes into the market and farmers start getting money in their hands.

Most of the OEMs are announcing price hikes going forward. To counter this and for the lower end of the pyramid, OEMs have started announcing discounts for slow moving products, lower variants and to clear their year-end stocks. This may help year-end sales to remain healthy.

While the above actions are positive, RBI has yesterday increased the repo-rate by 35 bps (225 bps increase since May’22) and continues to hint at more hikes in future. This increase now brings repo rate to 6.25%, the highest since Feb’19. This will further lead to a higher cost of borrowing apart from the price hikes done by OEMs and may dent the consumer confidence specially in 2W and entry level PV segment. Along with this, the China lockdown may play its part in slowing the supply of semi-conductors. If this happens, it may act as a speed-breaker and add to supply-demand mis-match which was improving since last few months.

Due to the above reasons, FADA remains cautiously optimistic in the near term.

Key Findings from our Online Members Survey

Inventory at the end of November’22

Average inventory for Passenger Vehicles ranges from 35 – 40 days

Average inventory for Two – Wheelers ranges from 30 – 35 days

Liquidity

Good                 33.8%

Neutral              41.8%

Bad                      24.4%

Sentiment

Good                 25.8%

Neutral               46.7%

Bad                      27.6%

Aniket, Father Of A 1-Year-Old Son, Needs An Urgent Stem Cell Donation To Survive

* Aniket is suffering from blood cancer and a stem cell transplant from a matching donor is his only hope now. His cancer relapsed even after 5 rounds of chemotherapy 

* DKMS-BMST has organized a virtual blood stem cell donor registration drive to find a matching donor to save Aniket’s life 

Diagnosed with leukemia, a type of blood cancer, Aniket is urgently waiting to find a matching blood stem cell donor. His only hope for survival is a blood stem cell donation from a person who matches his HLA (human leukocyte antigen) type. Aniket belongs to Karnataka, India, and is currently working in Germany and settled with his wife and a 1-year-old son.  

Spoorthy, Aniket’s wife who is striving hard to save him, says, “Last year we were blessed with a baby boy and were happy. But unfortunately, just after a few months, during a routine check-up, Aniket was diagnosed with blood cancer, turning our happy lives upside down. Every day, he is fighting bravely with a hope in his heart to see his son grow up. We are all desperately hoping for him to find his lifesaver soon.” 

DKMS BMST Foundation India, a non-profit organization dedicated to the fight against blood cancer and blood disorders is coordinating the search for a matching donor for Aniket. To reach out to people across India, DKMS-BMST has launched a virtual drive where one can register online to be a potential lifesaver and save patients like Aniket. Link to register: www.dkms-bmst.org/Aniket 

“Blood cancer accounts for 8% of all new cases of cancer diagnosed in India and is one of the leading causes of death in the country. For patients diagnosed with blood cancer and other blood related life-threatening disorders, a blood stem cell transplant from a matching donor may be their best chance at survival. We encourage more Indians to register as potential stem cell donors and raise hope for patients like Aniket,” says Patrick Paul, CEO, DKMS BMST Foundation India.  

Aniket originally hails from North Karnataka, India, and since a match is more likely when the donor and patient are of the same ethnicity, hopefully more Indians would come forward and register as potential donors.  

What is the registration process? 

People who are interested and fit the eligibility criteria can register at:  dkms-bmst.org/Aniket 

All it takes is five minutes of your time and a simple 3 step process:  

Step 1: Visit the site, fill up an online form and you will receive a DIY swab kit at home.  

Step 2: Once you receive the swab kit, fill out the consent form and take a tissue sample from the inside of your cheeks with 3 cotton swabs provided in the kit.  

Step 3: Send back your swab sample in the pre-paid envelope provided. 

DKMS laboratory will then analyze your tissue type and your details will be available in the global search for blood stem cell donors. If you do come up as a match for a patient, DKMS-BMST will get in touch with you. After a medical check-up, your blood stem cells will be obtained from the bloodstream using a process called Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Collection, which is similar to a blood platelet donation wherein only your stem cells are taken. This is a safe, non-surgical outpatient process. 

About DKMS BMST Foundation India 

A non-profit organization dedicated to the fight against blood cancer and other blood disorders, such as thalassemia and aplastic anemia. Our aim is to improve the situation of patients suffering from blood cancer and other blood disorders in India and throughout the world, by raising awareness about blood stem cell transplantation and registering potential blood stem cell donors. By doing this DKMS-BMST provides patients in need of a blood stem cell transplant with a second chance at life.  

DKMS-BMST is a joint venture of two reputed non-profit organizations: BMST (Bangalore Medical Services Trust) and DKMS, one of the largest international blood stem cell donor centers in the world. For more information, visit dkms-bmst.org 

Simpl Offers Exciting Deals In Its First End Of Season Sale From December 10–18, 2022

* Customers can shop from over 60+ D2C brands and avail exciting discounts and offers

Simpl, India’s foremost 1-tap checkout network, today announced its first-ever End of Season Sale (EOSS) from 10th – 18th December 2022. Customers can shop from best-in-class D2C brands from across eight categories including apparel, beauty & wellness, electronics, food & beverages, home décor, etc.

As 2022 draws to a close, it’s that time of the year when you want to spend time with your loved ones and appreciate all the good things. What better way than shopping for gifts and pampering yourself with great offers and discounts. And to make it easier and convenient, Simpl will also offer its users the flexibility to repay in three instalments with its unique Pay-in 3 option.

“The year-end is the time when people celebrate and usher in a new beginning, especially by giving gifts. Consumers can choose from the best of brands and enjoy a hassle-free shopping experience through our convenient and seamless checkout process and flexible repayment options,” said Nitya Sharma, Co-founder & CEO, Simpl.

Some key brands participating in the Simpl EOSS campaign from Dec 10 - 18 include Suta,  Koskii and Libas in Women’s Apparel; Spykar, Blackberrys, Fourth Dimension Club,  Hamercop, Almowear, Snitch and The Bear House in Men’s Apparel; Hair Originals in  Accessories category; R for Rabbit and karz & dolls in Baby & Kids segment; Petsy in Petcare; Moto Central in Automotive; Kama Ayurveda, Zlade and Lakme Salon in Beauty & Wellness; Boult Audio and Headphone  Zone in Electronics; Blue Tokai Coffee and Happilo in Food & Beverages and Birkenstock in  Fashion Footwear.

Other brands include Ultrahuman in Health and Chumbak in Home Décor segments, Bad People in Sports, and Bagline in the Travel category. Customers can choose from over 60 D2C brands and more while enjoying exciting offers and discounts available on Simpl. In order to ensure seamless shopping, Simpl provides 1-tap checkout, buyer protection, and pay later facility. Easy repayment options are also available making the shopping experience hassle-free and convenient.

About Simpl

Simpl is a 1-tap checkout platform, making payments invisible and money intelligent. Simpl is on a mission to empower merchants to build trusted relationships with customers, one transaction at a time. With more than 26,000 available merchants and millions of approved users pan-India, Simpl envisions creating a frictionless and inclusive digital payments experience for India that empowers and fosters trust between merchants and their customers. 

Simpl is a consumer experience platform providing a full-stack solution for e-commerce conversion. It enables merchants to give customers 1-tap checkout, buyer protection, and a pay-later facility to feel safe and trusted when shopping online. Through Simpl, merchants can provide consumers with an easy, safe, and intuitive user experience.

ClearTrust Launches AskMeera For The Safety Of Indian Citizens

"Open this link and update your KYC or your xxx bank account will be blocked". How many times we all have received such phishing messages on sms and email from unknown numbers! And unknowingly many also mistakenly believe that the links are sent by their respective banks for updation of personal details and click on those only to fall prey to a virus/ cyber-attack / cyber-crime which costs them money or crashing of phone resulting in loss of data. 

Realising the need to prevent these type of phishing messages and to educate the masses ClearTrust has launched Whatsapp ChatBot called AskMeera.

Explaining about the ChatBot, Founders of ClearTrust, AskMeera, Deepankar Biswas and Raja TN said "All you need to do is every time you get a suspicious message that seems like spam, whatsapp the said message to AskMeera ChatBot and you can confirm if it is a genuine message. What goes behind the Chat bot is of course technology that verifies if the message is actually from the sender and alerts you if it is spurious."

"It is a free service launched as a citizen safety initiative with the objective of cleansing the digital ecosystem and reducing the number of phishing attacks in the country," they further explained.

Post COVID-19, technology took over our lives. While it has its own advantages that we enjoy, it's also an opportunity for fraudsters to commit crimes in the strangest way possible. One such way of committing online fraud is through phishing attacks. This largely involves obtaining personal or financial information from users and employing it to commit cybercrimes, harming the digital goodwill of the individual. There have been reports of fraudsters impersonating government department officials, or bank officials, sending unfaithful messages with malware-attached links, and robbing people off their hard-earned money and reputation across the country.

"Being a WhatsApp ChatBot, it does not require any separate installation. A user must simply save the WhatsApp number and use it to interact in case of receiving suspicious message(s). Any form of text message can be easily verified on the platform. All it takes is a series of 4 steps to shield against phishing attacks," the founders concluded. 

How to use AskMeera What's app ChatBot:

Save the WhatsApp number of AskMeera on your device - +91 6361655461

Send a ‘Hi’ to interact

On receiving the reply and selecting the option to verify a message, copy and paste the message you want to verify

An instant replay stating the authenticity of the message would be sent by the ChatBot

Confused if any link attached to the message is safe? AskMeera     

The ChatBot specializes in detecting the fraudulent nature of messages by taking into account multiple factors associated with them. This includes the following:

Messages creating sense a of urgency

" Dear Customer, Your ATM Card Temporarily Has Been BLOCKED. Because Still You Did not Update According NEW Rules if You want to activate Please call US 78XXXXXX91"

Messages which are too good to be true

"Congrats. You can win Rs. 39,50,000 Lottery with the number 9348XXXX77. Download and verify now. TnC Apply http://k5ec.com/e0bu4Oi2ZI"

Impersonal messages 

"Dear you have passed our interview, wage is 8000 Rs/Day. Please contact to discuss detail: http://wa.me/91XXXXXXXXXX SSBO"

Currently available only in English, the platform shall soon be available in other languages. The platform has resolved more than 1 lakh queries as of November 2022. 

*About ClearTrust*

ClearTrust is a SaaS based Cybersecurity Platform. The company specializes in Phishing intelligence, Bot intelligence and Invalid Traffic (IVT) intelligence which are its core solutions. It provides fraud filtering, detection, and blocking services to ad tech companies and online businesses across the globe.

NASSCOM Statement – Government Notification On Work From Home Relaxation In SEZs

As a result of a series of deliberations and Government engagements led by NASSCOM, the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India, in its notification released on 08-12-2022 has further simplified work-from-home rules in SEZs. This is a major step towards enabling ease of doing business and will provide much-needed flexibility for companies operating in SEZs to develop a strong hybrid work model for the future.

Effective immediately, there will be no need to file an application to seek approval for WFH and there is no restriction on the extent of WFH that can be enabled by a unit in the SEZ. If required, units may even operate all of their employees in a hybrid/ remote manner. This facility is available till December 31, 2023.  The only requirement is that the units shall intimate the local Development Commissioner through an email that they are implementing a WFH model.

This has been one of the major asks from NASSCOM and will help the industry to get sufficient time to organically come up with a hybrid model which is sustainable for a longer duration without the burden of compliance.

Murty Trust Announces A Commitment Of INR 75 Million To Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute To Promote Sanskrit, Prakrit Studies

Murty Trust, the family foundation of Mrs. Sudha Murty and Mr. Narayana Murthy, announced a grant of INR 75 million to the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (BORI) to preserve and promote research on rare books and manuscripts in Sanskrit and Prakrit. The grant covers the construction of the Murty Centre of Indic Studies, an 18,000 sqft heritage-style, academic and research building with a 200-seater classroom capacity, a state-of-the art auditorium to conduct lectures, and an audio-visual studio to digitise ancient books and manuscripts. The Bhoomi Pooja for the building was conducted with Mrs. Sudha Murty laying the foundation stone of the building.

Speaking about the new initiative, Mrs. Sudha Murty stated, “BORI is a 105-year-old institution and a key pillar of India’s cultural heritage. It has produced a plethora of intellectual research papers and books. Every professor at BORI is a great scholar. I was mesmerised by the intellectual work of two books, ‘critical addition of Mahabharata’ and ‘Kane’s Dharmashastra’, both of which are very dear to my heart. As times have changed, audience want online classes to learn more about our culture and would like to interact with the staff. Hence, the Murty Trust has decided to support BORI with a new and modern building that will be dedicated to celebrating India’s cultural heritage.”

Mr. Bhupal Patwardhan, Chairman, Executive Board of BORI also spoke about the institution’s plans for the Murty Centre of Indic Studies. “Hon’ble Sudhatai has given funding for academic projects, and now the Institute has approximately 40 scholars working on different subjects from Indian philosophy to Kathak, and from Ayurveda to astronomy. The  upcoming Murty Centre of Indic Studies can accommodate more than 60 scholars. At the same time, the Institute has now entered into education as well. So, the classrooms can accommodate up to 200 students for different courses and as this Murty Centre shall have a studio, we can generate good online content which will be offered on our platform ‘Bharat Vidya’. The Institute has 28,000 manuscripts and old books. To support these books the new building will provide a conservation laboratory. This is going to be a big leap for the Institute and its future. With this facility, the different subjects from Indic culture can be disseminated all over the world. So, we are extremely grateful to the Murty Trust”.

Bhandarkar Institute of Oriental Research (BORI)

The Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (BORI), Pune, founded in 1917, has one of the largest collections of rare books and manuscripts spanning over 1,25,000 books and 28,000 manuscripts in several languages such as Sanskrit and Prakrit. The Institute is partially supported by the Maharashtra Government. It has also received grants from the Government of India and the University Grants Commission for specific research projects. The Institute is credited with producing scholarly projects of world-class excellence like the multi-volume ‘History of Dharmashastra’ and the ‘Critical Edition of the Mahabharat’.

Murty Trust

Murty Trust is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the preservation and celebration of culture, science, and knowledge systems born out of India. The Murty Trust is headed by Mrs. Sudha Murty and Mr. Rohan Murty.

RR Kabel Announces The Winners Of Kabel Stars’ INR 1 Crore Scholarship Program In Bangalore

~ The brand announces 16 winners of the scholarship program from Bangalore ~

RR Kabel, a part of RR Global’s USD 1.25 billion conglomerate and a leading wire and cable manufacturer in India, announced the Kabel Star Scholarship Program winners in Bangalore. Of the 1015 winners across India, 16 were from Bangalore. The winners were felicitated through an awards ceremony conducted in the RR Kabel office in Bangalore. 

Being a key market for the electrical community, the students of Bangalore have performed well. The winner students from the city secured the Kabel Stars scholarship that will enable them to aim for higher studies and take a step towards achieving their goal.

The Kabel Star Scholarship Program is an industry-first initiative for the children of electricians who have passed their 10th-grade exams this year. It is a part of the brand’s vision to endeavor an empowered and educated India. RR Kabel contributes Rs.1 from the sale of each box of the house wires. The same contribution has invested more than ?1 crore towards the higher secondary education of the electrician’s children under this scholarship program. Across India, 1,015 students have been selected and are receiving a scholarship of ?10,000 each.

Talking about the scholarship program that is her brainchild and vision, Mrs. Kirti Kabra, Director, RR Global, said, “I would like to congratulate all the winners of the Kabel Stars scholarship program for achieving this milestone in their lives and taking them a step ahead towards their goals. We at RR Kabel consider electricians an integral part of our community, and our initiatives are dedicated to contributing to this community’s well-being. The Kabel Star Scholarship Program was aimed at doing something beyond business for the electrician fraternity. It is a proud moment for all of us to see that the program was very well received and that the results have also been phenomenal. The 10th-grade exams are a deciding factor in any child’s career. It is a phase in their life where they lay the foundation for the rest of their future, and we wanted to be a crucial part of this journey. It is inspiring to know that some winners have secured 90% and above in their exams. We want every Kabel Star winner to pursue further education and follow a career path they’re passionate about. With such programs, we strive to empower today's youth to become tomorrow's leaders.”

All the winners were overjoyed to receive this scholarship from RR Kabel. It was inspiring to learn about their journey and their plans. The objective of this scholarship program was to help the students choose a career of their choice where they could continue to strive towards achieving their dreams and establish a strong start to their future.

About RR Kabel:

RR Kabel offers the widest range of wires and cables for various residential, commercial, industrial, and infrastructure purposes. RR Kabel is part of RR Global, a USD 1.25 billion conglomerate in the electrical sector with a presence in over 90 countries globally. Spread across multiple business verticals, including wires and cables, the company continues to endeavor to create the best quality products using the latest advances in wire design and engineering. The products are also compliant with the REACH (Registration, Evaluation, and Authorization of Chemical Substances) and RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) directives. The brand has also conducted extensive research and development to ensure its products adhere to global guidelines and standards.

Teachmint Has Empowered Schools From Kashmir To Kanyakumari Within A Year Of The Launch Of The Integrated School Platform

* The company has enabled the digitization of 10,000+ schools across 30+ countries, serving 1.6 crore+ users

Teachmint, a leading education infrastructure provider and creator of the Integrated School Platform, has demonstrated tremendous progress in driving the education digitization movement in India. The company announced that it has digitized schools across the length and breadth of the country, over 70% belonging to Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. This includes states from J&K to Kerala, Gujarat to Manipur.

Its immense growth in just a year is on the back of its flagship product, the Integrated School Platform, launched in late 2021 to enable schools to digitize their operations, help teachers and faculty save time, eliminate errors, increase teaching efficiency, cut operating costs and become future-ready. Since its launch in late 2021, Teachmint has served 10,000+ schools, 1.6 crore+ users and expanded to 30+ countries across South East Asia, Middle East and Africa. Further, the platform has also empowered schools to become NEP 2020-ready with its digital infra offerings, enabling schools to make data powered decisions, monitor teacher and student progress with comprehensive insights and drive real-time engagement with parents.

Commenting on the milestone, Divyansh Bordia, COO & Co-founder of Teachmint, said, “Our vision at Teachmint is to empower schools and educational institutes with our first-of-its-kind Integrated School Platform. In the past 1 year, we have seen exponential adoption of our platform, an indication of the immense acceptance of digitization among school leaders. I strongly believe that tech-integration can help schools unlock their highest potential. With NEP 2020 also putting the spotlight on digitization, we expect more and more schools to adopt technology and start reaping its benefits in the near future.”

Since its inception, Teachmint has been pioneering the education digitization movement by building the digital infrastructure for education. The company believes that SaaS has immense potential to bring in much needed transformations in the education ecosystem and drive better outcomes for all the stakeholders of a school - students, teachers, administrators and parents. As schools have reopened the past year, Teachmint has seen high adoption of its offerings, and the company strives to continue building deeper capabilities to strengthen it.

Focused on enabling schools to seamlessly incorporate NEP 2020 policies, Teachmint also recently signed a partnership with OrangeSlates, a leading educator upskilling platform, to help professional development and upskilling of school teachers across India. With this partnership, various courses are available on Teachmint’s Integrated School Platform for all its school partners, enabling educators to learn, train and upskill conveniently to learn, practice, and revisit topics as needed. Courses include a wide range of topics, such as Making the most of digital tools like Microsoft Word, Managing special education needs, Bringing Experiential Learning to Classrooms, Gamifying Assessments, Interpersonal Skills, and more.

About Teachmint 

Teachmint is an education infrastructure startup and the creator of the Integrated School Platform, an all-in-one school digitization solution. We have enabled millions of educators and thousands of schools to create global, future-ready classrooms with our proprietary technology and school software solutions. Today, Teachmint is available in 20+ Indian and International languages and has served 10,000+ institutions and 1.6+ crore users from 30+ countries through its platform. 

Teachmint’s flagship product, the Integrated School Platform, empowers every stakeholder of the school with a one-stop solution combining admin management capabilities, strengthening teaching-learning infrastructure, driving student engagement and delivering superior digital content. We believe that the right integration of technology can help school leaders unlock the highest potential of their institutes and bring the best out of their teachers, students and even parents.

Teachmint was founded in 2020 by Mihir Gupta, Payoj Jain, Divyansh Bordia and Anshuman Kumar - alumni of IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi with executive experience at OYO, McKinsey, Swiggy and Roposo. Teachmint is backed by leading International and Indian investors such as Rocketship.vc, Lightspeed, Learn Capital, Goodwater Capital, Vulcan Capital, Better Capital, CM Ventures, Epiq Capital and Titan Capital.

Pocket52 Celebrates Its 4-year Anniversary With #ChaarGunaFun All Through December

* Celebrations with a guaranteed rewards pool of INR 6.1 Crores

Pocket52, one of India’s renowned online poker brands, is celebrating its 4-year anniversary with the launch of Pocket52’s ‘Pocket-Friendly Series’ (PFS), which was held from the 1st to the 7th of December. This will be followed by a “Birthday Freeroll” on 13th December 6:00 PM, “Pocket Poker Championship'' (PPC) from 14th to the 22nd of December and 25 Lacs GTD Bracelet on the 18th of December. The brand has also introduced a year-end bash for Poker enthusiasts for the entire month. These Poker series will reward winners with jaw-dropping prizes throughout the month.

Being launched in the festive month of December, all these series will be the highlight of the year for Poker enthusiasts. Players will have a chance to win rewards from a large pool of options like multi-table tournaments, leaderboards, pocket-friendly series, freerolls, live streams, social media contests, and more.

As part of the celebration offers, players will have the option to play all multi-table tournaments with the lowest buy-ins, starting from INR 770/- for a guaranteed prize pool of 2 Lacs and INR 1100/- for a guaranteed prize pool of 10 Lacs. Select players will win bracelets worth 25 Lacs. The grand birthday freeroll is set to be worth 4 Lacs on Tuesday, December 13 at 6 pm. Poker enthusiasts will get a 100% bonus on their first deposit of up to INR 15,000.

The Birthday Bash Poker series held for the month of December will provide players an opportunity to win a share from the grand INR 4.1 Crores Guaranteed Reward.

Commenting on this, Nitesh Salvi, Director, Pocket52 said, “It gives us immense joy to be celebrating the brand’s 4th year anniversary. Our players are the reason for our success and have been our guiding force towards achieving this milestone. As we celebrate with our users, we want to make the most of spreading the thrill and joy of spirited gameplay. Hope our users enjoy the celebrations and I wish them a great festive season.”

About Pocket52:

Pocket52, one of India's renowned Poker App, not only gives you a world-class gaming experience but also connects you with like-minded individuals. Pocket52 is certified by internationally renowned iTech Labs, Australia, to make your gameplay safe, secure, and hassle-free. Pocket52 aims to revolutionize the skill-based online real-money gaming industry in India by providing a feature-rich platform, built with cutting-edge technology, superior customer service, a transparent network, and round-the-clock promotions. The Pocket52 app is available on all devices, including all popular smartphones and tablets (Android & iOS).

Godrej Industries Limited Appoints Rakesh Swami As Group President & Head – Corporate Affairs

Godrej Industries Limited have appointed Rakesh Swami as the Group President & Head, Corporate Affairs with effect from 1st December 2022. Rakesh comes with over 22 years of experience in corporate affairs, public policy, government and regulatory affairs, business advocacy, strategic planning, conflict management, corporate social responsibility, Public Private Partnership (PPP) and general administration.

Prior to joining Godrej, Rakesh was a part of Honeywell where he was heading government relations and was a core member of the India leadership team. He started his career with Reliance Industries and has also worked with Essar, Tata Motors, John Deere and General Electric.

At Godrej, Rakesh will steer the corporate affairs function and will be responsible for leading Godrej group’s public policy and government relations efforts. He will help enable proactive business centric advocacy with all relevant stakeholders.

Speaking on his appointment, he said, “Godrej has a rich legacy and it is truly humbling to be working for a group that has such a strong value system. I feel privileged to join one of India’s largest, oldest and trusted conglomerate that has been serving the nation for 125 years”.

About Godrej Industries Limited 

Godrej Industries Ltd. is part of the Godrej group, one of the leading business groups in India and is in the businesses of Oleochemicals, surfactants, finance & investments and estate management. It has substantial interests in several industries including property development, oil palm plantation, animal feeds and agri-products, poultry, personal care and household care, etc., through its subsidiaries, associate companies and joint ventures.