Xceed: Third Generation Of The BMW X1 Cars Launched In Bangalore

* Sporty and exceptional all-rounder in a new avatar.

* Larger, completely new, rugged design with the typical bold ‘X’ character.

* Cutting-edge digital tech: BMW Curved Display with BMW ConnectedDrive, Digital Key Plus and My BMW App.

* Exceptional luxury and comfort: Sports Seats, Instrument Panel Luxury, Harmon Kardon System, BMW Live Cockpit Plus with Intelligent Personal Assistant.

* Segment first features: Adaptive LED Headlights with High Beam Assistant, Comfort Access, Active Seats, Reversing Assistant.

* Sheer Driving Pleasure of powerful yet efficient BMW engines.

*  #X1 #Xceed #BMW #SheerDrivingPleasure

BMW India has launched the all-new BMW X1 sports activity vehicle (SAV) in the country today in both petrol and diesel variants. Locally produced at BMW Group Plant Chennai, the car is available for bookings at BMW dealership network and through Shop.bmw.in. Deliveries for BMW X1 sDrive18d M Sport (diesel) will commence from March onwards and for the BMW X1 sDrive18i xLine (petrol) from June.

With its robust appearance and functional versatility, the all-new BMW X1 embodies both the freedom in day-to-day city driving as well as the fun of sheer driving pleasure. The interior’s progressive design and sophisticated ambience and the much broader selection of standard equipment compared to the outgoing model, serve to underline its deeply embedded premium character.

Mr. Vikram Pawah, President, BMW Group India said, “The BMW X1 remains a best-seller in its segment thanks to a supreme combination of comfort and luxury. It is a natural match for individuals who dare to chase their dreams and challenge the norms, those who break convention and exceed through everything. The all-new BMW X1 makes a statement in its class with its powerful build and distinct muscular design. The interior is impressively modern and digital, marked by advanced connectivity and superb ease of use. All this, while still being the most agile luxury Sports Activity Vehicle, is bound to take the X1’s success to higher levels.”

The attractive introductory ex-showroom prices for a limited number of units are –

The all-new BMW X1 sDrive18i xLine (petrol)                  :                       INR 45,90,000

The all-new BMW X1 sDrive18d M Sport (diesel)             :                       INR 47,90,000

Price prevailing at the time of invoicing will be applicable. Ex-showroom prices inclusive of GST (incl. compensation cess) as applicable but exclude Road Tax, Tax Collected at Source (TCS), RTO statutory taxes/fees, other local tax cess levies and insurance. Price / options are subject to change without prior notice. For further information, contact an authorised BMW dealer. 

BMW X1 is available in Alpine White non-metallic paint and Space Silver, Phytonic Blue, Black Sapphire and M Portimao Blue (M Sport exclusive) metallic paintworks. The choice of upholstery includes Sensatec Perforated Mocha and Sensatec Perforated Oyster.

The third generation all-new BMW X1 luxury SAV has a host of new features, many of which are either best-in-class or a segment-first. Among the new highlights are - Adaptive LED Headlights with High Beam Assistant, BMW Live Cockpit Plus with BMW Curved Display, My BMW App with Remote Functions, Digital Key Plus with Comfort Access, Parking and Reversing Assistant, Active Seats, Instrument Panel Luxury, Harmon Kardon audio system and a lot more.

Service Inclusive and Service Inclusive Plus are optionally available for all BMW cars and provide complete peace of mind and freedom to enjoy unlimited driving pleasure. These service packages cover Condition Based Service (CBS) and maintenance work. They begin from 3 years / 40,000 kilometres and can be extended up to 10 years / 2,00,000 kilometres, starting at an attractive pricing of INR 1.31 per kilometre for the all-new BMW X1. The optional BMW Repair Inclusive extends warranty benefits from third year of operation to maximum fifth year, after the completion of the standard two-year warranty period.

Thanks to BMW India Financial Services, customized and flexible financial solutions are designed as per individual requirements. Customers of the all-new BMW X1 can enjoy complete peace of mind with the most comprehensive financial plan in the segment being offered by BMW 360? Finance Plan. It includes attractive monthly instalments starting from INR 49,999/-, assured buy-back option up to five years and flexible term-end opportunities among other benefits.

The all-new BMW X1.

The all-new BMW X1 debuts with bigger proportions than the predecessor, looking more powerful and expressive. The monolithic design, surface lines and classy exterior display its SAV identity more clearly than ever. The upright front end has a much greater presence with slim LED headlights and a large, almost square BMW kidney grille. Segment best Adaptive LED headlights with high beam assistant and rear LED taillights are available as standard now. Almost square wheel arch contours and a long roofline are the distinguishing features of the dynamically stretched silhouette. The flat roof rails serve as a striking design element and can be used as multifunctional mounts. When viewed from rear, the slim tailgate window, horizontal lines and 3D taillights produce the wide, typical ‘X’ SAV stance. The all-new X1 sports 18-inch light-alloy wheels in star-spoke style for the xLine and double-spoke style for M Sport.

The interior takes a big leap forward, now featuring an even higher level of luxury and digitalisation. The first element to catch attention is the new digital BMW Curved Display which is harmoniously unified into the cockpit area. The typical BMW driver-orientation, clear reduced design along with an interplay of eye-catching graphics, modern colours and futuristic textures create an immersive visual appearance. The new Instrument Panel Luxury in Sensatec elevates the interior’s aesthetics. Decorative strips including ambient lighting in instrument panel and front doors as well as accent trim strips in Pearl Chrome enhance the premium character of the cabin. The seemingly floating armrest with storage also integrates the control cluster. Harman Kardon Surround Sound system with 12 loudspeakers (in M Sport) offers magnificent sound quality, even at low volumes. 

Standard Sport Seats in both variants provide the perfect seating position to take on the road, having a great range of adjustment with reclining function in rear and superior ergonomics for long-distance comfort. The BMW M Sport variant has an even higher degree of individual comfort with unique in the segment Active Seats for both driver and front passenger. These have multiple massage programs with variable intensities and speeds that help in reducing stress over long distances. In M Sport, even the rear seat passengers have the freedom of increasing the legroom by mechanically adjusting the seats forward or backward by up to 130 mm.

The all-new BMW X1 welcomes passengers in style with Welcome Light Staging. Ambient Lighting with six dimmable light designs creates an atmosphere for every mood while Automatic 2 zone A/C maintains the perfect temperature. Adding to the sense of space is the large glass sunroof. The big 476 litre luggage compartment can be enlarged to 1,527 litres with the useful functionality of the optional 40:20:40 split backrest. At the same time, comfort access contactless operation of the boot lid provides greater flexibility for loading / unloading. The wireless charging tray available in both variants provides NFC interface to charge via the “Qi” charging standard.

BMW X1 sDrive 18d M Sport is powered by a 1,995 cc four-cylinder diesel engine which produces 148 hp and 360 Nm of maximum torque. The car sprints from 0 to 100 km/hr in 8.9 seconds. The average fuel consumption is 20.37 km/ltr as measured by Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) for Indian market specifications.

BMW X1 sDrive 18i xLine is powered by 1,499 cc three-cylinder petrol engine which produces 134 hp and 230 Nm of maximum torque. The car sprints from 0 to 100 km/hr in 9.2 seconds. The average fuel consumption is 16.3 km/ltr as measured by ARAI for Indian market specifications.

The seven-speed steptronic dual-clutch transmission in both variants performs smooth almost imperceptible gearshifts. Paddle shifters in M Sport variant enable extremely rapid manual gear changes and with Sport Boost mode all the powertrain and chassis settings are primed to maximise sporting responses. At any time, in any gear, the transmission collaborates perfectly with the engine, enabling it to develop its full power and efficiency.

BMW ConnectedDrive technology breaks the innovation barrier and turns the car into an interconnected digital device. It includes BMW ID, MyBMW App with Remote Services, Digital Key Plus, Intelligent Emergency Call, Teleservices among others.

BMW Live Cockpit Plus includes the BMW Curved Display with a 10.25-inch digital information display behind the steering wheel and a 10.7-inch Control Display. The latest BMW iDrive with Operating System 8 offers all the possibilities for interaction with the vehicle. Occupants can operate numerous car functions simply by speaking to their BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant. Wireless smartphone integration provides access to numerous functions and apps. Regular Remote Software Upgrades ensure that the car is always up to date. The vertical smartphone holder with indirect illumination is integrated into the centre console and provides inductive Wireless Charging and an NFC interface. Updated Navigation is now with real-time traffic information.

My BMW App functions remotely to keep an eye on the current vehicle status at all times. BMW Digital Key Plus with Comfort Access sets a new standard in convenience for customers by turning their smartphone and smartwatch into a vehicle key, in addition to the NFC cards provided. It enables customers to automatically open, close and start the vehicle. A stylish welcome scenario commences with orchestrated lighting effect including a light carpet. Customers can share the digital key with up to 5 users.

BMW Efficient Dynamics includes features such as reduced aerodynamic drag, Auto Start-Stop, Electronic Power Steering and My Modes in Driving Experience Control.

The driver enjoys effective assistance in parking manoeuvres that increases comfort and safety. Standard equipment includes functions like Active Park Distance Control with sensors at front and rear, Rear View Camera including Panorama rear view, Parking Assistant, Reversing Assistant and Attentiveness Assistant. Reversing Assistant remembers the last 50 meters covered and automatically reverses the car along exactly the same route. Attentiveness Assistant monitors potential hazards, supporting drivers to react in time.

BMW Safety technologies includes extensive Driver Assistance Systems with Lane Departure Warning, Dynamic Cruise Control with Braking Function, Automatic Emergency Braking and Pedestrian Protection. Other standard safety features are six airbags, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Brake Assist, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) including Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), Cornering Brake Control (CBC), electric parking brake with auto hold, side-impact protection, electronic vehicle immobilizer and crash sensors, Tubeless Tyres with Tyre Pressure Indicator, ISOFIX child seat mounting and integrated emergency spare wheel.

Government Policies Should Continue To Accelerate Rapid Consumer Adoption Of Green Technologies: TKM

“Based on last year’s progressive Budget and various Government interventions, the auto industry witnessed a healthy growth. In the upcoming Union Budget, given the macro-economic scenario, our expectation is that the Government would continue to retain growth orientation. Further, continued economic reforms and infrastructure upgradation along with special thrust for the rural economy as well as keeping a check on rising interest rates would be important for sustaining good demand. 

The Government has also been pushing for greater self-reliance while directing the future growth towards greener and more environment friendly technologies. For this, multiple green technology pathways are being encouraged to achieve national goals of fossil fuel and carbon emission reductions. This includes incentives provided under various PLIs, policy support extended for electric mobility, alternate fuels like Ethanol and Bio-CNG as well as the recent announcement of the ambitious hydrogen mission. We are hopeful that keeping in line with this, the policy initiatives will continue in order to accelerate rapid consumer adoption of green technologies while we, at TKM, would continue to support the Government’s efforts towards shifting the economy and transportation sector towards a greener future that is less dependent on fossil fuels.

On a mid-long term perspective, we also hope that the Government would continue in its efforts to invest towards upgradation of health infrastructure, improving quality of education and towards upskilling which will strengthen the ecosystem to keep pace with the rapid technological transition.”

Vi Rs.99 Pack To Drive Digital India Growth Across India

·         At just Rs. 99, Vi enables the large Bottom of pyramid users across the country, to stay connected and participate in Digital India growth 

·         Vi is the only pan-India, high speed data network to offer entry level recharge at Rs. 99 for consumers

·         Users in <<mention circle>> get Full Talktime and 200 MB Data with 28 Days validity

In line with its strategy to get closer to bottom of pyramid users driving Digital India growth, leading telecom operator, Vi is offering entry level recharge at just Rs. 99 for users across the country. Vi is the only pan-India, high speed data network which is offering essential mobile connectivity with both voice and data services to consumers at this price point.

Enabling bottom of pyramid users in <<mention circle>> to stay connected, Vi’s 99 RC offers full talktime and 200 MB data with a validity period of 28 days. 

According to Siddhartha Jain, Cluster Business Head- Karnataka, AP& Telangana, Vodafone Idea, “Catering to the affordability of consumers, Vi continues to take measures to offer the best in class mobile services at most attractive price points. We invite mobile users and non-users to join the high speed Vi network at just Rs. 99 and continue enjoying the benefits of mobile connectivity in the digital era. This will not just drive inclusivity but also enable more users to enter the digital bandwagon.”

Vi has also opened new format Vi Shops to service prepaid rural consumers in the market. It offers a wide bouquet of curated offerings for Bharat Youth in areas such as Jobs & Skilling, Govt. Exam preparation, English language skills amongst others.

About Vodafone Idea Limited:

Vodafone Idea Limited is an Aditya Birla Group and Vodafone Group partnership. It is amongst India’s leading telecom service provider. The company provides pan India Voice and Data services across 2G, 3G and 4G platforms. Company holds large spectrum portfolio including mid band 5G spectrum in 17 circles and mmWave 5G spectrum in 16 circles. To support the growing demand for data and voice, the company is committed to deliver delightful customer experiences and contribute towards creating a truly ‘Digital India’ by enabling millions of citizens to connect and build a better tomorrow. The company is developing infrastructure to introduce newer and smarter technologies, making both retail and enterprise customers future ready with innovative offerings, conveniently accessible through an ecosystem of digital channels as well as extensive on-ground presence. The company’s equity share are listed on National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the BSE in India.

The company offers products and services to its customers in India under the TM Brand name “Vi”. 

For more information, visit: www.MyVi.in

Mutual Fund industry announces T+2 redemption payment cycle for equity schemes

* Move In-Line With T+1 Settlement Cycle Of Equity Markets, To Benefit Mutual Fund Investors

From today, Indian equity markets move to T+1 settlement cycle for all stocks, shortening the settlement cycle by a day and making availability of funds a day sooner than at present. To pass on this benefit to mutual fund investors, it has been decided all Asset Management Companies (AMCs) will move to T+2 redemption payment cycle for equity schemes, and implement this  uniformly with effect from February 1, 2023,  (i.e., for all transactions received before cut off timing on Feb. 1, 2023 and processed at closing NAV for February 1 2023)  after allowing a couple of days for the settlement cycle /process to stabilise.

Mr. A Balasubramanian, MD & CEO Aditya Birla Mutual Fund and Chairman, AMFI commented that “T+1 settlement cycle for Indian equity markets is a global first. As an industry, we want to pass on the benefit to our mutual fund investors and hence we are proactively adopting a T+2 redemption payment cycle for equity funds”

Mr. NS Venkatesh, Chief Executive, AMFI added that “AMFI and its member AMCs always keep investor interest at the forefront. Since the day SEBI announced the phased movement of equity markets to T+1 settlement cycle, the industry has been preparing to shorten the redemption payment cycle and we are happy to announce the shift to T+2 redemption payment cycle effective February 1, 2023 onwards.”

About AMFI: 

AMFI was incorporated on August 22, 1995, as a non-profit organisation. As of now, all the 44 asset management companies that are registered with SEBI, are its members. 

The Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) is dedicated to developing the Indian Mutual Fund Industry on professional, healthy and ethical lines and to enhance and maintain standards in all areas with a view to protecting and promoting the interests of mutual funds and their unit holders. 

AMFI, the association of SEBI registered mutual funds in India of all the registered Asset Management Companies, was incorporated on August 22, 1995, as a non-profit organisation.  

Aditya Birla Health Insurance Unveils Its New Brand Campaign “KyaPeecheChhodaHai”

Features real customers as brand ambassadors

Talks about real-life stories on how individuals have transformed their lives and managed their health by walking 10,000 steps and thereby leaving behind unhealthy habits

·         Promotes the concept of “Health Assurance not just Health Insurance”

Aditya Birla Health Insurance Company Ltd. (ABHICL), the health insurance joint venture of Aditya Birla Capital Ltd. (ABCL), holding company for the financial services business of Aditya Birla Group, one of the largest diversified conglomerates in India, today unveiled its latest brand campaign, “KyaPeecheChhodaHai”, to promote the role of health insurance in changing lives of people by empowering them to lead healthier lives.

“KyaPeecheChhodaHai” campaign, encapsulates the importance of how positive health behaviour such as walking 10,000 steps daily can help an individual leave health concerns behind.

The uniqueness of this campaign is that it celebrates real ABHICL customers who have successfully managed to change their lifestyle by inculcating the simple habit of walking 10,000 steps regularly and have left behind health related issues.

These customers from across the walks of life, who are at the heart of the TVC and the digital campaign, narrate their stories about how walking 10,000 steps have helped them do away with concerns like mental stress and weight issues, diseases like diabetes, asthma etc. The essence of the campaign is to spread awareness on the importance of following a disciplined health regime and how ABHI is an active partner in this transformation.

Speaking on this campaign, Mr Mayank Bathwal, CEO, of Aditya Birla Health Insurance, said, “At ABHI, our primary focus is to help our customers with cutting-edge innovative health-first insurance solutions which not only protect them from medical uncertainties but nudge them to live a health-focussed life. We take immense pride in having pioneered this model of health insurance that transcends the boundaries of an indemnity based model by focusing on proactive health-care for our customers.”

“It is heartening to see our customers as brand ambassadors in our recently launched KyaPeecheChhodaHai campaign. For health insurance companies, customer trust is paramount, and to see our customers endorsing us, gives us immense satisfaction. The customers featured in the film belong to different walks of life, however, one thing that unites them is the initiative to bring a change in their lives by walking every day and managing their health proactively. We hope the films will encourage people to prioritise their health by engaging in simple yet effective physical activities such as walking 10,000 steps daily,” Mr Bathwal added.

Since its inception in 2015, incentivized wellness has been the primary focus for Aditya Birla Health Insurance and its offerings are based on its philosophy of “Empowering people to lead healthier lives”.

One of the unique proposition of ABHICL has been the concept of HealthReturns™, which incentivises policyholders for staying fit and adopting healthy lifestyle. This concept enables a policyholder to earn

up to 100% of their premium as HealthReturns™, which can be accrued on the basis of Healthy Heart Score™, the fitness assessment result and the number of Active Dayz™ recorded on a monthly basis.

A customer can earn “Active Dayz™ by undertaking any prescribed fitness activities like, walking 10,000 steps, or undertaking regular exercise, yoga sessions etc. Funds earned as HealthReturns™ can be used for payment of renewal premium and other non-medical expenses, out-patient expenses etc.

All the customers featured in the campaign were the beneficiaries of 100% HealthReturns™ as they successfully achieved their yearly fitness goals.

Watch the launch video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?

India Achieves Complete Transition To T+1 Settlement Cycle In Equity Markets

* It will mark as an important day in the history of Indian capital markets. All trades from this day executed in any securities in the equity segment will be settled on T+1 basis.

The journey to shortening of settlement cycle began on September 7, 2021, when Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) permitted stock exchanges to introduce T+1 settlement cycle from January 01, 2022, on any of the securities available in the equity segment. All the Market Infrastructure Institutions (Stock Exchanges, Clearing Corporations and Depositories) jointly finalized the roadmap for the implementation of T+1 settlement cycle in a phased manner.

The first batch of securities transitioned to T+1 Settlement on February 25, 2022, and thereafter, every month a batch of around 500 securities transitioned to T+1 Settlement. From January 27, 2023, all securities i.e., equity shares including SME shares, exchange traded funds (ETFs), Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs), Sovereign Gold Bond (SGB), Government Bonds and Corporate Bonds trading in the equity segment will now be settled only on T+1 basis.

The achievement is significant considering National Stock Exchanges of India’s (NSE) size and scale of operations in the equity segment. NSE ranks 4th in calendar year 2021 globally in equity segment based on number of trades executed in electronic order book as per statistics maintained by World Federation of Exchanges (WFE).

NSE witnessed transactions by more than 2.7 crores investors (unique PANs) in equity segment in financial year 2022 and the number has already surpassed 2.3 crores in this financial year as well. In value terms, there is a healthy mix of participation across investor categories with individual investors accounting for about 36%, followed by proprietary desks with 27%, Foreign Institutional Investors with 15% and Domestic Institutional investors accounting for 11%.

Globally most stock exchanges in developed as well as emerging markets follow the T+2 settlement system.

Shri Ashishkumar Chauhan, MD & CEO, NSE said: “It’s a great achievement for the Indian Capital Market. The achievement would not have been possible without the continuous guidance provided by Securities and Exchange Board of India and painstaking effort taken by all Market Infrastructure Intermediaries particularly the Clearing Corporations, trading members, clearing members, custodians, and all other stakeholders in re-engineering the processes and crunching timelines to adapt to shorten the settlement cycle.

The shortening of settlement cycle to T+1 will bring in significant capital efficiencies to the investors and improve risk mitigation for the entire industry.”

About National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE):

National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) is the world’s largest derivatives exchange by trading volume (contracts) as per the statistics maintained by Futures Industry Association (FIA) for calendar year 2021. NSE is ranked 4th in the world in the cash equities by number of trades as per the statistics maintained by the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE) for calendar year 2021. NSE was the first exchange in India to implement electronic or screen-based trading. It began operations in 1994 and is ranked as the largest stock exchange in India in terms of total and average daily turnover for equity shares every year since 1995, based on SEBI data. NSE has a fully integrated business model comprising exchange listings, trading services, clearing and settlement services, indices, market data feeds, technology solutions and financial education offerings. NSE also oversees compliance by trading, clearing members and listed companies with the rules and regulations of SEBI and the exchange. NSE is a pioneer in technology and ensures the reliability and performance of its systems through a culture of innovation and investment in technology.

For more information, visit: www.nseindia.com

Indian Machine Tool Manufacturers’ Association (IMTMA) Honors Their Founding Father Sir Dhanjishah Bomanji Cooper At “IMTEX 2023”

Indian Machine Tool Manufacturers' Association (IMTMA) which is the apex industry body for the machine tool sector in India is hosting the 20th edition of IMTEX. IMTEX is South and Southeast Asia’s largest exhibition on machine tool and manufacturing technologies. At this event, Sir Dhanjishah Bomanji Cooper, founding father of IMTMA was felicitated at Bangalore for his magnificent contribution to the creation of the association. He is the grandfather of Mr. Farrokh N. Cooper Chairman & Managing Director Cooper Corporation Pvt.  As a part of 75 years of the association’s journey, they have launched a special coffee table book and produced a short film where they showcased the invaluable contribution of Sir Dhanjishah Bomanji Cooper. The book and film were released during the IMTEX event.  

Sir Dhanjishah Bomanji Cooper was an Industrialist, Politician and the Prime Minister of Bombay Presidency. In the pre-independence period, he strived hard for the cause of social and industrial development in rural Western Maharashtra. He started the first iron plough manufacturing in the Year 1922 at Satara and was President of Satara Municipality from 1923 to 1932. In 1934 the first diesel engine was manufactured, laying the foundation of the automobile era and he became a pioneer of diesel engine manufacturing. He was the recipient of Knights of Garter-the most senior and oldest British order of Chivalry. 

On facilitating Sir Dhanjishah Bomanji Cooper, Mr. Farrokh N. Cooper, Chairman & Managing Director Cooper Corporation Pvt. Limited said “My family and I are grateful to IMTMA for remembering and honouring the founder Sir. Dhanjishah Bomanji Cooper in such a dignified and auspicious way at IMTEX this year. This only goes to show the high level of integrity, ethics, and principles with which IMTMA is being run today. My grandfather Sir. Dhanjishah Bomanji Cooper was the first entrepreneur in our family. I am very elated and humbled that IMTMA is honouring and giving recognition to my grandfather for the role he played in laying the foundation of the association. This year we at Copper Corporation are celebrating the completion of 100 glorious years of our legacy which is built on trust and reliability and I am grateful to my grandfather as he was the pivotal force behind the success of the business. We wish IMTMA great success in their commitment to serve industry and the country”. 

Indian Machine Tool Manufacturers' Association (IMTMA) formed in 1946 is the industry body for the machine tool sector in India. Comprising large-, medium- and small-scale units, the membership of IMTMA includes manufacturers in the entire range of metal working machine tools, accessories and other ancillary equipment for machine tools, cutting tools and tooling systems along with trading companies. IMTMA has played a leading role in the development of the machine tool industry, which is the backbone of industrial growth in India. The association supports the machine tool industry of India in increasing its competitiveness, technology, productivity and quality for overall advancement and growth. The association has actively supported initiatives for the advancement of the metalworking manufacturing industry in India.   

Renault India Celebrates “Republic Day” With Special Initiatives

* Launches Republic Day Celebration Service Camp from January 27th – 29th across all Renault service facilities in India 

* Celebrating the spirit of patriotism, the Indian ‘Tricolour’ logo – Saffron, White and Green has been integrated in all the TV commercials 

Commemorating the 74th year of the foundation of the Indian Constitution, Renault, the leading European brand in India announced the commencement of a nationwide “Republic Day Celebration Camp” for its customers. As part of the national celebration, a three day long ‘Service Camp’ would be conducted from Jan 27th to Jan 29th at all Renault service facilities across India.  

Aimed at providing trouble free experience and optimal performance of Renault cars, the Renault Republic Day Camp will offer Renault owners a free car check-up as per the guidelines stipulated by Renault India enabling a detailed examination of all key functions of the car, with trained and well-qualified service technicians dedicated to providing the care and expert attention needed for the cars. Such periodical checks ensure necessary actions for enhanced performance of the car and provide customers a rewarding ownership experience with the brand. 

In addition to a wide range of services including free car top wash and comprehensive car checkup, the Renault Republic Day Camp will offer exclusive benefits to the customers like discount on Parts & Accessories and Road-Side Assistance. The customers can avail a host of exciting offers including 10% discount on select Parts & Accessories, 20% discount on Labour Charges & Value-Added Services and 10% discount on Road-Side Assistance (RSA). Interesting customer engagement activities like painting, drawing & quiz competitions for kids along with activities like free health checkup camps, customer education programs will also be organized at the specific workshops, making it a delightful experience for customers to cherish for long.   

Celebrating the spirit of patriotism, Renault has also integrated the Indian ‘Tricolour’ logo – Saffron, White and Green in all its TV commercials. This ‘Tricolour’ logo as part of the TV commercials reinforces Renault’s commitment to the ‘Make of India, made for India’ vision. The TV commercials with the Tri-colour logo will be aired on 26th January on all major national and regional channels throughout the country. It will also be featured on all Renault India's social media platforms. 

Renault has undertaken many first-of-its-kind after-sales and customer centric initiatives to offer a seamless brand ownership experience to its customers. These include – Renault SECURE, Renault ASSURED, Renault ASSIST, Renault EASY CARE, Workshop on Wheels (WoW), MY Renault App and regular customer service camps. In a decade of its presence in India, Renault has made significant progress which includes a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, a world-class technology centre, logistics and design centre in India. This strong foundation backed by its unique product strategy and pioneering customer satisfaction initiatives have been instrumental for Renault’s successful journey in India. 

Tata Motors Increases Prices Across Its Passenger Vehicles, Effective Feb 1st, 2023

Tata Motors, India’s leading vehicle manufacturer has announced a price increase across its ICE portfolio of the passenger vehicles. The company has been absorbing a significant portion of the increased costs on account of regulatory changes & rise in overall input costs and is hence passing on some portion through this hike.

Effective Feb 1st, 2023, the weighted average increase will be 1.2%, depending on the variant and model.  

Tata Chemicals, Rallis Wins Silver And Plaque At ICAI Sustainability Reporting Awards 2021-22

Tata Chemicals has been conferred with the Silver award and Rallis India has bagged Plaque at the recently held ICAI Sustainability Reporting Awards 2021-22. This award recognizes the efforts of companies toward envisioning and implementing strategies to help achieve United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2030.

This award is an endeavour to benchmark global best practices to recognize and reward excellence in sustainability reporting. Sustainability practices are at the core of business operations at Tata Chemicals and its subsidiary companies. Over the years these companies have built their intellectual and financial capabilities to integrate sustainability considerations into business decisions and key work processes and to create value, mitigating future risks while maximising opportunities.

Talking about the award Mr Nandakumar Tirumalai, CFO Tata Chemicals said, “At Tata Chemicals and its subsidiary companies we have prepared ourselves for this new era by adopting sustainability initiatives across all our operations across geographies. We are focused on getting measurable outputs on the sustainability front and improving our reporting standards to our stakeholders. Our ambition of cutting carbon footprints by 30% by 2030, leveraging green chemistry for our sustainability goals, Rallis India getting re-certified as a ‘Responsible Care’ company by the Indian Chemicals Council is a reflection of our commitment towards sustainability. We are grateful to get this recognition.”

In 2022, Tata Chemicals commissioned UK’s first at-scale Carbon Capture and Utilisation facility (CCU) that reduces carbon intensity and provides a sustainable in-house source of critical input. Successfully operationalised in FY22, the CCU facility captures food and pharmaceutical grade CO2 for consumption in the Sodium Bicarbonate plant. The principles of 'reduce and reuse' govern Rallis's waste and water management efforts. All manufacturing units are 'zero liquid discharge' ones. Treated water is recycled back into the manufacturing process. Also, waste from the processes is converted into valuable by-products. These are a few initiatives by Tata Chemicals and its subsidiaries for environmental protection.

ICAI Sustainability Reporting Awards for the year 2021-22 is conferred to companies to honour businesses for implementing efficient and innovative sustainable business practices. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is a statutory body established under the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949 for regulating the profession of Chartered Accountants in India. Sustainability Reporting Standards Board (SRSB) has been constituted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) in February 2020, with the mission to formulate comprehensive, globally comparable, and understandable standards for measuring and disclosing non- financial information about an entity’s progress towards United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2030.

About Tata Chemicals Ltd. 

A part of the US$ 128 billion Tata Group, Tata Chemicals Limited, is a leading supplier of choice to Glass, Detergent, industrial and chemical sectors. The company has a strong position in the crop protection business through its subsidiary company Rallis India Ltd. Tata Chemicals has world-class R&D facilities in Pune and Bangalore.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Commences Bookings For The New Innova Crysta Across India

·       The iconic Innova has been a leader in the MPV segment since its first-generation model was introduced in India in 2005, having sold close to one million units till date.

·       The prestigious  New Innova Crysta with a brand-new tough and rugged front fascia will now be available in four grades of Diesel Manual Transmission

Zx (7 Seater)

Vx (7/8 Seater)

Gx (7/8 Seater)

G (7/8 Seater)

·       Powered by 2.4L Diesel Engine with a 5 speed Manual Transmission with Eco and power drive modes.

·       Safety features include  7 SRS Airbags, Front and Rear Parking Sensors, Vehicle Stability Control and Hill-Start Assist Control, Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution ( EBD) and Brake Assist (BA), 3-point Seatbelt and Headrest for improved safety.

·       Enhanced passenger comfort with Rear Auto AC with Digital Display, 8-Way Power Adjust Driver Seat, Smart Entry System, Seat Back Table, TFT MID with detailed Drive Information, Leather Seat Color Options( Black & Camel Tan), Ambient illumination and One Touch Tumble Second Row Seats.

·       Smart Playcast 8’’touchscreen audio with Android Auto/Apple Carplay is available for a richer multimedia experience.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) today announced opening of bookings for its New Innova Crysta.  Since its introduction in 2005, the vehicle has become a household name in the Indian market, having gained appreciation for its reliability, comfort, safety, luxury, and power. The New Innova Crysta now comes with an enhanced front fascia that has been designed keeping in mind the specific preferences for a rugged and robust appearance, thereby meeting the requirements of Indian families, Businessmen, Corporates and Fleet owners.

The opening of bookings for the New Innova Crysta closely follows the recently launched Innova HyCross (available in Gasoline and Strong Hybrid Electric powertrains) which has received an overwhelming response, being a vehicle for every occasion owing to its glamour quotient, advanced technology, comfort along with safety and thrill to drive,  is aptly suited for travelling solo or with family.

The commencement of bookings for the New Innova Crysta following the Innova HyCross launch is a testament towards Toyota’s multi technology approach to customers and caters to those who prefer to have a diesel powertrain.

Commenting on the announcement, Mr Atul Sood, Vice President, Sales and Strategic Marketing, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “The iconic Innova’s journey in India has been dotted with milestones since its launch in 2005. Apart from being an undisputed segment leader, this vehicle, in all its avatars has been immensely appreciated across the country and has cemented the Quality, Durability and Reliability attributes of Toyota in the Indian market. As we open the bookings for the New Innova Crysta Diesel today, we would like to share with our customers that their favourite MPV is now available in four grades. This vehicle is a perfect choice for customers preferring a rugged and practical vehicle, well known for its unparalleled comfort and safety.

With both, the New Innova Crysta and Innova Hycross, now available for booking, across dealers and online, we are happy to say that our customers, who have aspired for their favorite Innova have a choice of multiple powertrains to enjoy their drive. “

Starting today The New Innova  Crysta  bookings are open for Rs 50,000. Customers can now book at the dealer outlets as well as online on www.toyotabharat.com. the New Innova Crysta is available in four grades G, GX, VX & ZX and in five colors – White Pearl Crystal Shine, Superwhite, Silver, Attitude Black and Avant Garde Bronze.

Hitachi Terminal Solutions Inaugurates Its Global CRM Manufacturing Facility In Bengaluru

* The company plans to employ more than 400 people in the future

Hitachi Terminal Solutions India, today announced that it is set to expand its manufacturing presence in India to complement the Government of India’s Make in India mission, through a first-of-its-kind Cash Recycling Machines (CRM) manufacturing facility in Bengaluru. This CRM manufacturing facility will be one of the largest facilities for Hitachi worldwide and is another step towards an expansive vision to build and strengthen a full-fledged Hitachi Campus in India, helping India to become self-reliant, and making it the Global supply hub for the world.

Spread over 1,08,000 square feet, this state-of-the-art manufacturing facility will enable the company to triple its current production capacity of 1,000 CRMs per month. The company also plans to employ more than 400 people in the future.

Hitachi’s facility is a testament to the central government’s vision of transforming India as a manufacturing hub for rest of the world. The core engine of the CRMs (Cash Modules) are localised and will now be completely assembled in India with high level of automation in this new facility, and also reaching a significant status of Make in India. Hitachi is the global leader in cash recycling and automation technology and has been pioneering this technology in India.

Yoshihiro Nakatani, Managing Director, Hitachi Terminal Solutions India Private Limited said, “Our estimate indicates that more than 1.1 million cash recycling machines* have the capacity to be installed globally by 2024. Owning to this, we have built a state-of-the art facility, with an aim to offer highly secure, lowest carbon footprint and technologically advanced CRMs to our customers. Hitachi Terminal Solutions India has delivered high-end cash recycling machines that meet the needs of customers in a timely manner. Hitachi Terminal Solutions India will continue its efforts for expanding its business ecosystem and developing solutions in India, to further augment the export of our products from India and thus contribute to the development of the Indian economy.”

Bharat Kaushal, Managing Director, Hitachi India said, “India continues to remain the melting pot of innovation and growth in Asia. Our presence through around 28 group companies in India, have registered progressive growth in the past and continue to do so in a more robust manner. India has the capacity and capability to grow as the next manufacturing hub, as evident by the current Government’s efforts to build high-end infrastructure, even in the hinterlands of India. Hitachi through its varied business presence has multiple manufacturing facilities across the length and breadth of India covering Energy, Automotive, Urban Mobility including Railways, Industrial UPS etc.”

With seamless connectivity to major highways, airports and skilled talent pool, the factory has been strategically located in Bengaluru and is the perfect choice for this investment for the company. Hitachi Terminal Solutions India is bringing its global best practices and advanced manufacturing technologies in this facility, thus enabling the company to augment the plant’s capacity to address potential changes in future demand.

* As per in-house research data

About Hitachi Terminal Solutions India

Hitachi Terminal Solutions India is a subsidiary of Hitachi Channel Solutions, Japan, a global leader in Cash Recycling Machines. Manufacturing in India started in 2016 and gradually the production increased to meet the growing domestic market requirements for both the public and private sectors as well as to limited international markets. The objective was to cater to requirements of the domestic sector specially while accelerating Make in India initiative.  The policy of this facility is ‘By Indian people, with Indian material, for Indian market’ and also the adoption of the best Japanese practices and technologies.

Mahindra Celebrates 74th Republic Day With The Launch Of #DeshKiAawaz Campaign

Mahindra & Mahindra's Farm Equipment Sector, part of the Mahindra Group and the world's largest tractor manufacturer by volume, today commemorated India's 74th Republic Day with a digital film called #DeshKiAawaz, recreating the national song Vande Mataram, as a special tribute to the country’s farmers.

An  immersive digital film, #DeshKiAawaz is a recreation of Vande Mataram, with sounds and sights from India’s farming ecosystem. The film captures sounds of Mahindra tractors in various applications through exhaust notes and engine sounds, including that of Mahindra’s popular tractor and farm machinery range. The film also showcases the diversity of farming across India and captures sights that celebrates the daily life of a farmer.

On India’s 74th Republic Day, Mahindra will also organise various customer engagement initiatives across dealerships and aim to create a record of the largest gathering of farmers singing India’s national anthem at the same time.

Hemant Sikka, President, Farm Equipment Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd said, “Farmers are an integral part of our country’s ecosystem, who over the decades, have worked relentlessly to serve our country. Our purpose at Mahindra is to Transform Farming & Enrich Lives and with the #DeshKiAawaz campaign we have created something unique to celebrate India’s 74th Republic Day across Mahindra’s dealerships with our farmers. #DeshKiAawaz is our tribute to the farmers of the nation on this special day.”

You can watch the #DeshkiAawaz video by clicking the link provided below:

Link:

https://youtu.be/SxRfk3SptQU

Tata Steel Recognised As Global Diversity Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Lighthouse 2023 By World Economic Forum

~ The only Indian company to feature in the global list of eight companies ~

~ Recognised for advancing intersectional gender diversity for employees and students through inclusive work policies and recruiting processes, upskilling and sponsorship ~

Tata Steel has been recognised as Global Diversity Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Lighthouse 2023 by World Economic Forum (WEF). The Company’s efforts towards improving gender diversity at the workplace have been chosen as one of the eight case studies and have been featured in the Global Parity Alliance: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Lighthouses 2023 report published to coincide with the World Economic Forum 2023 held in Davos, Switzerland between 16 and 20 January. The insights report builds on the work of the Global Parity Alliance – a cross-industry group committed to advancing DEI around the world – and the associated DEI Lighthouse Programme launched to identify proven, effective DEI initiatives from companies across industries and geographies, organised by WEF’s centre for the New Economy and Society in collaboration with McKinsey and Company.   -

T. V. Narendran, CEO & MD, Tata Steel, said: “Developing and nurturing a diverse workforce in the manufacturing sector, particularly in the metals & mining sector, is filled with some unique set of challenges including the cultural and social barriers that we face here. What we have accomplished in terms of diversity in workforce is an outcome of a whole range of systemic initiatives implemented through very effective programmes and solutions. It is also important to acknowledge the role played by our employees and especially the union members who enthusiastically participated and contributed immensely to this ongoing journey. We are both proud and encouraged for being chosen as a success case and for being featured in the Lighthouse Report. We hope the Lighthouses and their stories will inspire employers across the globe to shape the future of workplace.”

The ‘Lighthouse Report’ while highlighting the approach and impact of Tata Steel’s efforts in improving diversity and inclusion (D&I) in the company said: “Tata Steel’s case for change centered around the conviction that in order to achieve their aspiration – to be the most valuable steel organisation in the world with a “future ready” and “pioneering” workforce – they needed to invest in culture as a key enabler. Tata Steel’s leaders identified DEI as a central pillar of that culture because of the importance of diversity and inclusion in fueling innovation.”

The report while acknowledging the particular challenges faced by Tata Steel because it is operating in the mining and manufacturing sector known for being a largely male-dominated workforce, commended the Company’s impact-driven approach to bringing more women and LGBTQIA+ members into its workforce. The launch of the ‘25 by 25’ programme in 2019 aspires to have 25% diverse workforce in Tata Steel by 2025.

Schwing Stetter India Unveils The 25th Year - Silver Jubilee Celebration Logo And Tagline

* “The company will be announcing several outreach campaigns, industry-academia engagements, and partner activities throughout the year to celebrate the accomplishment.”

Schwing Stetter India - the country’s leading concreting and construction equipment manufacturers, unveiled today - its Silver jubilee  logo and tagline to celebrate the milestone of turning 25 years in India in 2023. The company will be engaged in a series of activities to celebrate the accomplishment with customers, business partners, employees and student communities throughout this year.

The unveiling of the 25th year silver jubilee logo took place at its corporate headquarters and works at Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, in the presence of the company’s employees and partners. V.G. Sakthikumar, Managing Director of Schwing Stetter India, presided over the gathering and revealed the anniversary logo and tagline – “25 Years of Passion and Innovation”.

Speaking at the event, Mr. V.G. Sakthikumar, Managing Director of Schwing Stetter India, said: "I am delighted to release the logo. This is not just a celebration of 25 years, but going forward, we are rededicating ourselves for the next 25 years. We incorporated every aspect of our vision and values in the logo, and we are focused on becoming the number one global brand in innovation, manufacturing and technology of construction and mining equipment. And aim to be the most trusted brand for customers, by offering best in class solutions with sustainable value creation”

"Throughout our 25-year history in India, Schwing Stetter has held to its commitment to its employees. This year, the company aims to further nurture the talent of the employees and transform them as responsible leaders. The company's mission is to set themselves as a benchmark for global best Environmental, Social and Governance practices." he added. 

The company will continue to work towards building momentum into its next chapter and create sustained growth and profitability to all stakeholders by launching new products, and increasing the manufacturing talent ecosystem in India.

About Schwing Stetter India Private Limited:

Incorporated in June 1998, and commencing its manufacturing operations in 1999, Schwing Stetter India is a 100% subsidiary of Schwing GmbH, a 1.30 billion USD German concreting machinery manufacturer and a part of the XCMG group. Schwing Stetter is a pioneer in manufacturing equipment for concrete preparation, placement, transportation, and recycling. Schwing Stetter (India) Private Limited manufactures concrete batching plants, concrete placing booms, concrete pumps, concrete truck mixers for transporting readymade concrete to construction sites, concrete truck mixers with concrete pumps, and concrete recycling plants, plastering pumps, self-loading mixers, and sludge pumps.

Schwing Stetter (India) sells and services equipment like concrete pavers, aerial working platforms, all-terrain cranes, cold milling machines, crawler cranes, excavators, horizontal directional drilling, motor grader, rotary drilling rig, tower crane, truck cranes, and wheel loader are our various newer range of equipment that has been launched recently from GOMACO and XCMG. We cater to the requirement of infrastructure developers and act as an OEM supplier to various cement companies that offer ready-mix concrete. Schwing Stetter has its manufacturing units in 12 countries including Germany, Austria, USA, Brazil, Russia, Ostrava, UK, and India supported by sales and service centers in France, Netherlands, Austria, and Sweden as well as representations in more than 150 countries worldwide. Contact us on: https://www.schwingstetterindia.com/  

PhonePe CEO Sameer Nigam & CTO Rahul Chari Discuss The Company’s Recent Fund Raise, Redomicile And Future Plans

-       In a live session titled ‘Making it Big in India’ Sameer talks about startups aspiring to move back to India

-       Rahul speaks about new initiatives to scale up the PhonePe business

PhonePe, one of India’s largest fintech platforms, today held a live session featuring Sameer Nigam, Co-Founder & CEO, PhonePe and Rahul Chari, Co-Founder & CTO to address questions around the recent news around PhonePe’s recent $350Mn fundraise led by General Atlantic, the company’s redomicile from Singapore to India and future plans for India’s most valued fintech company.

To kickstart the session Sameer spoke about PhonePe’s domicile change and the reason for the move. He said ‘’I think for the mission PhonePe is on - which is solving for at-scale financial inclusion and digitization - the move to India was right. India is where we started and where we are focused on, and I think we will be here for the next couple of decades. And to that end, for various reasons like being a highly regulated entity and wanting to eventually list here, the change of domicile to India for PhonePe as a business and as a company is the right answer.’’

Talking about the challenges faced in moving domicile, Sameer said, “If you want to move to India as a domicile, we have to do a fresh market valuation and pay tax on the delta. Our investors have paid almost Rs.8000 crores in taxes just to allow us to come back to India. Another challenge was to convince several thousand employees that they're ESOPs are back to zero vesting at a one year cliff, because the law in India says if you migrate, you still have to start with a new one-year cliff. It's very hard for startups, particularly early stage startups, to convince employees that they’re ESOP vesting status reverts back to zero.” Sameer also spoke about the need for more progressive Indian laws that allow startups to move back to India, given how rewarding having a relationship with customers in the local ecosystem is.”

Touching upon the recent spinoff from Flipkart, he said, ‘’When we started talking about the domicile shift for PhonePe, obviously we had to align not just our board and our direct shareholders, but Flipkart being the majority shareholder, their board and their investors as well. It is a big investment of time, money and effort. And when we started having discussions on a  long-term view, it became clearer that these two companies are on very, very different tracks strategically as well as market wise. So it made more sense to separate the two entities. This also gives us the opportunity to be able to get in other investors who may have their investment strategies more aligned to the kind of business that we're in, which is fintech & payments.”

Addressing the excitement around the recent fundraise and the $12Bn valuation, making PhonePe a decacorn and India’s leading Fintech company, Sameer said, “General Atlantic, is a really good blue chip global investor that has a long view on companies, which gives us the flexibility to be able to actually do at-scale investments in new sectors like insurance, lending, broking or ONDC. They understand what we're trying to do really well as they are tracking the ecosystem. So I think it was just easy alignment at several levels, obviously excited to have them anchor the round.’’

Expressing excitement about PhonePe’s future strategy, Rahul said, “We want to play a very important role in fulfilling the ambition of  taking digital payments in India to a billion transactions a day, from close to half a billion, with NPCI, RBI and the entire Fintech ecosystem. We want to actually help scale payments with a whole bunch of new initiatives that are coming on UPI. We will be looking at launching new products and offerings be it lending on the merchant side, lending on the consumer side, a lot of new open API initiatives like account aggregator and ONDC. I think India is just going to explode on the digital front and with the kind of patient capital backing us, we'd love to actually play a small and move it over time.”

Watch the full conversation here: https://youtu.be/NLJ4O6TAF5A

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 43.5 crore (435+ Million) registered users, one in four Indians are now on PhonePe. The company has also successfully digitized ~3.5 crore (~35 million) offline merchants spread across Tier 2,3,4 and beyond, covering 99% pin codes in the country. PhonePe is also the leader in Bharat Bill Pay System (BBPS), processing over 45% of the transactions on the BBPS platform. PhonePe forayed into financial services in 2017, providing users with safe and convenient investing options on its platform. Since then, the company has introduced several Mutual Funds and Insurance products that offer every Indian an equal opportunity to unlock the flow of money and access to services. PhonePe was recently recognized as the Most Trusted Brand for Digital Payments as per the Brand Trust Report 2022 by Trust Research Advisory (TRA).

Equitas Small Finance Bank Opens 7 New Branches In One Day And Lives To Its Power Of 7 Mantra

* Including the 7 new branches, now Equitas Small Finance Bank has a total of 800+ branches PAN-India.

* Equitas Small Finance Bank continues the ‘Power of 7’ with the 7 new branches and offers physical as well as digital solutions

Equitas Small Finance Bank Limited, one of the leading SFBs, is opening 7 new branches in different parts of the country. Operations of all 7 branches begin ahead of Republic Day. This time, the Chennai-headquartered bank is spreading its roots in Northern and Western India, including Southern India.

In the Southern region, the bank is opening a branch in Palakkad, Calicut and Cochin. Whereas, in the Northern region, citizens will benefit from the seamless banking experience of new branches of Equitas in towns like Hisar, Panchkula and Hoshiarpur. While North and South India get new branches, Equitas Small Finance Bank also opens a branch in the Andheri region of Mumbai District to serve more customers in the Western part of India.

Elated on the grand opening, Mr. Murali Vaidyanathan, Senior President and Country Head, Equitas Small Finance Bank, said, “We are delighted to announce the openings of 7 branches across India covering the Northern, Southern and Western regions of India. We are confident that our strong product proposition along with power of 7 will cater to the needs of our customers across these 7 branches too. We cater across age band from kids to senior citizen through our differentiated offerings. Besides, we serve our customers through our branches and digital proposition.  As we expand our footprints across India, we continue to contribute towards the progress and beyond banking initiatives. In fact, we are proud to be a diverse bank that is connected to the roots and spreads across India through fully equipped branches and digital interface. We look forward to your patronage and support across all locations to create a new era of capital growth along with social capital growth too.”

After the opening of these branches, Equitas Small Finance Bank will have a total of 800+ branches across India. One can locate branch and details via: https://locate.equitasbank.com/ with the launch of these 7 branches across the country, we bring more science to the art of relationship management with 7 reasons to bank with Equitas Small Finance Bank:

1.      Earn and save more with 7% better interest and assured returns in your savings.

2.      Save more with no maintenance charges

3.      Free fund transfers online anytime, anywhere

4.      Open savings account instantly with video KYC and go paperless

5.      Exciting offers and discounts with a variety of debit cards that matches the lifestyle

6.      17,000+ Bankers across 800+ banking outlets including ATMs that caters to 35+ lakhs customers.

7.      Addressing the heart and mind of the consumers through our #BeyondBanking initiatives.

About Equitas Small Finance Bank Limited [ESFB]

Equitas Small Finance Bank is one of the largest small finance banks in India. As a new-age bank, we offer a bouquet of products and services tailored to meet the needs of our customers – individuals with limited access to formal financing channels, as well as affluent and mass-affluent, Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and corporates. Our firmly-entrenched strategy focuses on providing credit to the unbanked and underbanked micro and small entrepreneurs, developing products to address the growing aspirations at the ‘bottom of the pyramid’, fueled by granular deposits and ‘value for money’,

LTIMindtree Partners With Duck Creek And Microsoft To Build A Cloud Migration Solution For Insurers

LTIMindtree [NSE: LTIM, BSE: 540005], a global technology consulting and digital solutions company, today announced that it has partnered with Duck Creek Technologies (NASDAQ: DCT), the intelligent solutions provider defining the future of property and casualty (P&C) insurance, and Microsoft to build a solution that will enable insurers to migrate their on-premises core systems to the cloud in a quick and efficient manner. 

The solution brings together LTIMindtree’s core modernization expertise, migration tools, and accelerators, Duck Creek’s industry-leading software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform ‘Duck Creek OnDemand’, and Microsoft’s comprehensive and secure Azure cloud platform. It will help insurers gain competitive advantage by delivering superior customer experience, innovation, cost-efficiency, and revenue growth. LTIMindtree’s comprehensive end-to-end cloud migration framework and remediation bots empower insurers to fully harness the agility and power of Duck Creek OnDemand to achieve predictable outcomes and transform their businesses.

“Insurers of all sizes are increasingly looking to tap into SaaS-based core systems to boost their ability to launch new products, reach new customers, and provide differentiated experiences” said Mukund Rao, Chief Business Officer for Banking, Financial Services and Insurance at LTIMindtree. “Our solution will help them take a holistic approach to ‘core-to-experience’ transformation for thriving in the marketplace of the future.”

“As customer demands and digital technologies evolve, insurers must drive continuous product innovation, accelerated speed-to-market, higher responsiveness, and personalized omnichannel experiences to stay relevant and resilient,” said Rohit Bedi, Chief Revenue Officer at Duck Creek Technologies. “This solution will make it faster and easier for insurers to achieve their strategic goals by realizing future-ready, cloud-based core systems.”

“Amid a fast-changing insurance landscape, it is imperative for insurers to thrive on disruption and convergence by empowering intelligent insurance,” said Kim Vogel, GM Insurance Sales for Microsoft Corp. “By combining capabilities of Microsoft, Duck Creek, and LTIMindtree, this solution will enable new ways for insurers to boost agility, delight customers, drive new business models, enhance partner collaboration, and achieve better business outcomes. It will help insurers leapfrog operational challenges and complexities to deliver higher availability, scalability, security, and resiliency of their core systems.”

About LTIMindtree

LTIMindtree is a global technology consulting and digital solutions company that enables enterprises across industries to reimagine business models, accelerate innovation, and maximize growth by harnessing digital technologies. As a digital transformation partner to more than 700 clients, LTIMindtree brings extensive domain and technology expertise to help drive superior competitive differentiation, customer experiences, and business outcomes in a converging world. Powered by nearly 90,000 talented and entrepreneurial professionals across more than 30 countries, LTIMindtree — a Larsen & Toubro Group company — combines the industry-acclaimed strengths of erstwhile Larsen and Toubro Infotech and Mindtree in solving the most complex business challenges and delivering transformation at scale. For more information, visit www.ltimindtree.com.

About Duck Creek Technologies

Duck Creek Technologies (NASDAQ: DCT) is the intelligent solutions provider defining the future of the property and casualty (P&C) and general insurance industry. We are the platform upon which modern insurance systems are built, enabling the industry to capitalize on the power of the cloud to run agile, intelligent, and evergreen operations. Authenticity, purpose, and transparency are core to Duck Creek, and we believe insurance should be there for individuals and businesses when, where, and how they need it most. Our market-leading solutions are available on a standalone basis or as a full suite, and all are available via Duck Creek OnDemand. Visit www.duckcreek.com to learn more. Follow Duck Creek on our social channels for the latest information – LinkedIn and Twitter.

TVS Credit Grows Their Assets Under Management To Rs.19,541 Cr End Of Q3 FY23

TVS Credit Services Limited, one of India’s leading NBFCs, published its unaudited financial results for the quarter ended and nine months ended Dec 31, 2022. The NBFC reported a net profit after tax of Rs.278 Cr for the nine months ended Dec 31, 2022. The Company’s AUM registered a Y-o-Y growth of 53% as of Dec’22 compared to Dec’21.

Q3 FY23 Results Summary:

·         AUM stood at Rs.19,541 Cr as of Dec’22, a 53% growth over Dec’21

·         Total Income was Rs.2,925 Cr for the nine months ended Dec’22, a rise of 47% as compared to the corresponding period of previous year

·         Net profit after tax for the nine months ended Dec’22 was Rs.278 Cr as compared to Rs.58 Cr for the corresponding period of previous year

Commenting on the performance, Mr. Ashish Sapra, CEO, said, “In Q3 FY23, our business has witnessed a growth in loan disbursements owing to strong momentum across products. This fiscal we have added over 2 million customers till date, bringing our total customer base to nearly 10 million. We will continue to provide enhanced customer experience and expand our footprint in newer markets.”

About TVS Credit Services Limited:

TVS Credit Services Limited is a leading Non-Banking Financial Company registered with the RBI. With over 31,000 touchpoints across India, the Company aims to empower Indians to dream bigger and fulfil their aspirations. Being the number one financier for TVS Motor Limited and one of the leading tractor financiers, TVS Credit has a fast-growing footprint in Used Car Loans, Consumer Durable Loans, Used Commercial Vehicle Loans, and Unsecured Loans segment. Powered by robust new-age technologies and data analytics, the Company has served nearly 10 million happy customers with the help of its 17,000+ employees.

Croma Celebrates Its Constitution Of Joy Campaign With Wall Of Unity AR-Powered Artwork!

~ Croma for the first time has conceptualized and is excited to introduce a unique AR-powered Wall of Unity ~

~ An innovative artwork that uses the latest technology to enhance and transform how users see and experience visual content through AR~

~ When the artwork is viewed through this filter, the user can spot hidden Indian flags which have the coupon codes that can be redeemed at stores~

In honor of India's Republic Day, Croma, India’s first and trusted omni channel electronics retailer from the Tata Group proudly announces its campaign ‘Constitution of Joy’ for its Republic Day Sale, which begins on January 19 and will run till January 29,2023. Through its Constitution of Joy campaign, Croma aims to go above and beyond the call of duty to deliver great service, make a difference in the lives of others and improve customer experiences, much as the constitution was written to improve India and protect people's rights.

Croma for the first time has conceptualized and is excited to introduce a unique AR-powered Wall of Unity in Delhi at the DLF Mall, Gurgaon in Sikanderpur, Rajkot at the Crystal Mall, Chennai at Alandur Metro Station, Mumbai at Ghatkopar Metro Station, and Kochi at the Center Square. An innovative artwork that uses the latest technology to enhance and transform how users see and experience visual content. The artwork displayed at the mentioned locations will have a QR code present, which when scanned through the user’s camera will redirect the user to the Wall of Unity by Croma filter. When the artwork is viewed through this filter, the user can spot hidden Indian flags which have the coupon codes that can be redeemed at stores. The filters are easy to use and can be accessed when the QR code present with the artwork is scanned. This is just the beginning of many exciting technological developments at Croma.

Go and grab this amazing opportunity to claim your additional discounts with coupon codes from January 25 to 27 at various famous spots in these cities.

As a responsible brand, Croma makes every effort to give its customers happy moments. In order to significantly impact the creation of a positive and joyful atmosphere in someone's life, the brand is going the extra mile to make its customers happy.

About Croma-Infiniti Retail Ltd.

Launched in 2006, Croma is India’s first and trusted Omni-channel electronics retailer from the Tata Group. Croma is the first one-of-its kind large format specialist retail store that caters to all multi-brand digital gadgets and home electronic needs in India. Bringing alive the promise of a ‘Brighter Every Day’ for its customers, Croma offers its customers a world-class ambience and omnichannel customer experience to shop both in-store and online at www.croma.com.

With over 16,000 products across 550+ brands through 300+ stores across over 100+ major cities of India, Croma is a brand of Infiniti Retail Ltd., which is a part of the Tata Group.

Piramal Foundation Signs Memorandum Of Understanding (MoU) With EngenderHealth

* MoU to help strengthen sexual and reproductive health and rights, and gender equality, in tribal communities

 Piramal Foundation, under Piramal Swasthya Management and Research Institute (PSMRI), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with EngenderHealth to strengthen and advance sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and gender equality, in tribal communities, through technical collaboration.

The MoU was signed by Dr. Swati Piramal, Vice Chairperson, Piramal Group and Chairperson, PSMRI, and Ms. Sekai P. Chikowero, Vice President, Programs of EngenderHealth. Dr. Ajay Khera, India Country Representative, EngenderHealth, and Mr. Ashwin Deshmukh, Senior Vice President, PSMRI, were present during the occasion along with their team members.

The MoU is a form of mutual commitment in complementing each other`s work in tribal communities and function in the perspectives of terms of impactful, gender-transformative, youth-friendly and socially inclusive programs, creating various products for policy and program advocacy.

Speaking at the occasion of signing the MoU, Dr. Piramal said, “On-ground humanistic approaches have always helped collaborative programs and the results of engaging in meaningful work are visible across social advocacy spaces. Our collaboration with EngenderHealth will further strengthen sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender equality, youth and social inclusion in tribal communities. The association is in sync with our core value of doing well and doing good for the society and the country.”

Ms. Chikowero echoed the feelings expressed by Dr. Piramal and said, “To better understand the needs of each tribal community, we must engage with and learn from community members. Through this partnership, we will collaborate with PSMRI and tribal communities as part of our commitment to advancing gender equality.”

The MoU aims at EngenderHealth providing support to PSMRI as a technical and knowledge partner in its journey to ensure sexual and reproductive health and rights, and gender equality, in the tribal communities it works with. As a knowledge partner, EngenderHealth will collaborate with PSMRI on a range of issues on sexual and reproductive health and rights, and gender equality.

PSMRI is a philanthropic arm of the Piramal Group and one of the largest not-for-profit organizations in India working in primary public healthcare with a focus on maternal, child and adolescent health, and non-communicable diseases. EngenderHealth, in line with its mission and vision, is pleased to support PSMRI. The support is given in an effort to strengthen sexual and reproductive health and rights, and gender equality, youth and social inclusion in the tribal health programs.

About Piramal Foundation

Piramal Foundation’s vision is to transform health, education, water, and social sector ecosystems through partnerships, high-impact solutions, and thought leadership. Aligned to the Sustainable Development Goals, it partners with the Central Government and State Governments, international and national organizations, and academia to help improve delivery of government services in line with its values of “Doing well and Doing good”.

By focusing on the most underserved groups within India, strengthening the ability of states to deploy impactful initiatives, and engaging youth in nation building efforts, the Foundation has touched the lives of 100+ million Indians in the last 15 years.

About EngenderHealth

EngenderHealth envisions a gender-equal world where all people achieve their sexual and reproductive health and rights. To achieve this vision, EngenderHealth implements high-quality, gender-equitable programs that advance sexual and reproductive health and rights. All of our work is guided by five core values—reflection: we question, challenge, learn, and adapt; inclusion: we are committed to equality, justice, and leaving no one behind; integrity: we are principled and honest, and we walk our talk; respect: we value the wisdom and agency of our collaborators, and appreciate our differences; and transformation: we seek bold ideas and opportunities to innovate for progress.

Revolutionizing Eye Care In India: Innovations And Advances To Look Out For In 2023

By: Dr. Satyaprasad Balki – MS (F.C.A.S)  Cataract, Cornea, Refractive Surgeon – MaxiVision Eye Hospital, Hyderabad

The field of eye care is constantly evolving, with new innovations and advances arising from the intersection of science and technology. In the coming year, 2023, there are several noteworthy developments to look out for.

Retinal Imaging: Portable devices have replaced traditional machines in retinal imaging, making the process more affordable and accessible. These devices allow for high-resolution images of the retina to be taken with a simple mobile phone attachment, making it possible to conduct retinal imaging even in eye camps.

Visual Field Testing: The Humphreys visual field test, used for early diagnosis of glaucoma, has been made more convenient with the integration of virtual reality technology. The test is now performed using a VR headset with pre-programmed diagnostic criteria and results are available on a mobile device.

Cataract and Retina Surgery: 3D glasses are no longer just for movies, they are also being used in cataract and retina surgeries. The latest advances in technology are slowly replacing the need for a microscope during surgery, allowing surgeons to use 3D glasses and a high-resolution TV to perform procedures with better image quality.

Overall, these advancements in eye care not only improve the diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities of the field but also makes it more accessible to a wider population. The marriage of technology and science will continue to play a major role in the development of new and innovative eye care solutions in the coming years .

ZEE Bihar Jharkhand Hosts ‘The Brands Of Bihar Jharkhand’ To Salute The ‘Never Give Up’ Spirit Of Iconic Brands Across India

* The channel recognized brands of the region that have attained ICONIC status over the years

Zee Bihar Jharkhand, one of the leading Hindi news channels of Zee Media Corporation Limited, hosted ‘The Iconic Brands of Bihar Jharkhand’, felicitating the achievements of iconic brands of the region that converted every challenging situation into an opportunity for growth and expansion in their respective areas of innovation, expertise and emerging businesses. This initiative was further appreciated by the trade community as well as the public.

The on-ground event was held in Ranchi, highlighting the relevance of how ‘Never give up’ attitude can enable brands/ entrepreneurs to attain ‘iconic’ success, breaking all barriers of language, community, geographies etc. To name a few, some of the iconic brand awardees are as follows: TufconXT, Vaastu Vihar, State Bank Of India, Satyamev Group, Law Prep Tutorial, Shree Baidyanath Ayurved Pvt Ltd, Ashirwaad Engicon Group, Hari Lal Ventures Pvt Ltd, Edurise India, Goal Bio Oil, Elegant Steel, S.K Mandal Group Of Institutions and Panorama Group were awarded for excellence in their respective sectors.

‘The Iconic Brands of Bihar Jharkhand’ was graced by Chief Guest - Shri Mithilesh Kumar Thakur, Minister, Drinking Water & Sanitation Department, Government of Jharkhand, Actresses- Neha Dhupia & Akshara Singh and several other dignitaries.

Shri Mithilesh Kumar Thakur, Minister, Drinking Water & Sanitation Department, Government of Jharkhand, congratulated the Zee Bihar Jharkhand team for supporting the vision and appreciating the efforts of go-getters of the region. He also emphasized on how such platforms can encourage many more brands to step forward toward the development of the economy.

Speaking on the success of ‘The Iconic Brands of Bihar Jharkhand’, Zee Bihar Jharkhand Editor Rajkamal Choudhary, said “We are honored to host the ‘The Iconic Brands of Bihar Jharkhand’ and be a part of the success journey of brands who have attained Iconic status over the years. These visionaries have done exceptionally well in their respective fields. The Zee Bihar Jharkhand team has been consistently encouraging brands and stakeholders to expand and explore new horizons for the future by providing national recognition.”

This event was powered by TufconXT and The State Bank of India and Vastu Vihar was the banking partner and special partner respectively.

About Zee Media corporation limited

About Zee Media Corporation Ltd: ZMCL is one of India's leading media and entertainment companies with a strong presence in the news and regional entertainment genres with 13 news channels in 7 different languages, touching more than 528+ Million viewers through its linear and digital properties like Zeenews.com, dnaindia.com, india.com and others.