Study Australia Showcase Attracts Students, Education Leaders In Bengaluru

* Recently signed Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AIECTA) opens up new opportunities for students

In a first, the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (the Australian Government’s international trade promotion and investment attraction agency) organised a Study Australia Showcase in partnership with Indian Universities.

The showcase began with REVA University in Bengaluru on 17 February 2023, where officials from the commission highlighted various initiatives introduced by the Australian government to support Indian students aspiring to study in Australia.   

The Showcase will travel next to Coimbatore (20 February) and Visakhapatnam (22 February).

Over 1,000 students from various schools, colleges, and universities in and around Bengaluru attended the roadshow. 13 of Australia’s top Universities showcased their offerings at the roadshow. Australia is home to some of the best Universities in the world - 36 out of its 41 Universities are ranked in the top 1000 of the World in the recently published QS World University Rankings, with seven in the top 100.

Ms Denise Eaton, Australia’s Trade and Investment Commissioner Bengaluru highlighted the new opportunities available to Indian students with the signing of Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) between India and Australia in December last year. Eaton also spoke about too, India’s University Grants Commission (UGC) recently announced draft guidelines for foreign universities to set up branch campuses in India, which is another step towards bringing the Australian education closer to Indian students.

“The Study Australia Showcase is another step that shows the strength of the relationship between Australia and India. We work closely with Indian students to ensure they are making the best decisions when it comes to study in Australia. The Study Australia roadshow provides updated, reliable, and relevant information to students, parents, education counsellors, and heads of institutes,” said Eaton.

The Australian universities that participated at the Bengaluru Showcase were: University of Sydney, University of Queensland, Monash University, University of Technology – Sydney, Macquarie University, University of Tasmania, Griffith University, La Trobe University, Flinders University, James Cook University – Brisbane, Bond University, CQ University, and Melbourne Institute of Technology.

The recently signed Australia – India Economic Cooperation & Trade Agreement (AIECTA) supports international students graduating with a diploma or trade qualification to stay and work in Australia for up to 18 months post study, while bachelor’s and master’s degrees allow students to remain in the country for two and three years, respectively.

A four-year work post-study work right will be accorded to Indian students graduating with doctoral degrees. There is also a special allowance for Indian students who graduate with first-class honours in a bachelor’s degree in STEM or Information and Communications Technology (ICT) fields. Those students will be permitted to stay and work in Australia for up to three years.

A total of 1,000 visas per year will be reserved for Indian students allowing recipients to study or receive training in Australia for up to four months.

From 22 November 2021 (when the Australian Government announced that the border would open to students), more than 70,000 students from India went to Australia in 2022 (back to pre-pandemic numbers).

Australian education is in the top tier of demand globally, due to its high quality, strict accreditation standards, sophisticated support for international students, relevant curriculum and one of highest graduate employability rates, all delivering a better return on investment for the student. Australia has one of the most supportive international education systems in the world. The Australian Strategy for International Education 2021?2030 puts the student experience, student protection, and students’ rights at the centre of attention.

More information about Study Australia and the support for Indian students is available at https://www.studyaustralia.gov.au/india

About The Australian Trade and Investment Commission

The Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) is the Australian Government’s international trade promotion and investment attraction agency. We deliver quality trade and investment services to businesses to grow Australia’s prosperity. We do this by generating and providing market information and insights, promoting Australian capability, and facilitating connections through our extensive global network.

We position Australian education internationally by highlighting the global relevance, practicality, and quality of Australia's education providers, along with their innovation, creativity and focus on the future. 

To discover how we can help you, visit https://www.austrade.gov.au/

PayPal Leadership Volunteers Unveiling The Plaque At “Lake Chikka Thimmasandara In Bengaluru

* PayPal joins Forests by Heartfulness in the plantation drive along the restored lake to enhance biodiversity  

Forests by Heartfulness inaugurated yet another restored lake at Chikka Thimmasandra village in Bangalore suburbs in association with multinational financial technology company PayPal. The event began with a stone laying ceremony and inauguration on by Padma Smt. Saalumarada Timakka – Indian environmentalist as the Chief Guest. Witnessed the presence and participation of Kannada film - Mr. Diganth during the event, employees and leadership from PayPal and Heartfulness representatives and volunteers. The plantation area covers 11.5 acres of land with the aim of creating an ecosystem of endangered, local and indigenous plant species with main objective of attracting migratory birds and local wildlife. The initiative is supported by the Government of Karnataka in terms of granting the necessary approvals and frameworks.  

The Chikka Thimmasandra lake is rainwater fed, however over a period of time, the lake turned shallow owing to formation of sediment and silt. Forests by Heartfulness began its work by first desilting and making bunds on the lake banks in 45 days-time. The water holding capacity has almost doubled by this intervention and we are expecting to see the lake filled up during the rainy season. Several saplings were sourced from Heartfulness nurseries encompassing a variety of species ranging from Limonia acidissima (Wood apple), Aegle marmelos (Stone apple), Ficus racemose (Atti mara), Arjuna terminalia (Matti tree), Ficus religiosa (Peepal tree), Prosopis Cineraria (Shami tree), Artocarpus heterophyllus (Jackfruit), Psidium guajava (Guava), Syzygium cumini (Jamun tree), Gasa gasa (Jamaican jerry) etc and planting along the bund side 

At the stone laying ceremony Smt. Saalumarada Timakka said, “I have always found solace in planting trees. And so, I feel very honoured to inaugurate this beautiful project by Heartfulness. It is also special as it also plants the endangered species. The fact that corporates like PayPal are also coming forward to join plantation drives as this, shows how there is a collective thought on saving plants and saving the planet.” 

This is the third plantation project taken up by Forests by Heartfulness in Bangalore. Last year corporates such as Zscaler and Bosch had joined hands with Heartfulness to create two mini-forests of 5000 saplings each. The program focusses not only on planting but providing after care for 3-years to ensure high level of survivability of saplings.    

Garuda Aerospace And Narayana Health Join Hands To Transport Biomedical Samples Using ‘Sanjeevani’ Drones

Garuda Aerospace, a leading provider of drone technology solutions, today announced a partnership with Narayana Health, one of India's leading healthcare providers, for transporting bio medical samples using drones called ‘Sanjeevani’, the name as suggested by Dr Devi Shetty, Chairman & Executive Director, Narayana Health. The partnership aims to revolutionize the delivery of critical and emergency medical supplies-including samples for diagnosis in times of high traffic and other challenging conditions.

The use of drones in the healthcare industry has proven to be a game changer, saving valuable time and improving patient outcomes. The technology and expertise of Garuda Aerospace in the health sector have been leveraged in recent times, and with this Narayana Health will be able to transport bio medical samples quickly ensuring that patients receive timely diagnoses and treatments. This will also ensure to help the ones in remote and underserved areas too. During the pandemic, Garuda Aerospace used its emergency drones to deliver medicine and vaccinations to hospitals in partnership with Swiggy. The company's White Knight drones delivered essential medicines and vaccinations to Bengaluru hospitals for ISRO in 2021, demonstrating their capability in providing timely and efficient medical delivery.

Speaking on the partnership, Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder and CEO, Garuda Aerospace said, "We are delighted to partner with Narayana Health and bring innovation to India's healthcare sector by using Garuda Aerospace drones. Our aim is to improve access to critical medical supplies and support the delivery of high-quality healthcare to patients in need and in times of emergency. With this partnership, we are confident that we will be able to make a real difference in the lives of patients and communities across India. We are proud to be a part of this exciting journey.”

Dr Devi Shetty, Chairman & Executive Director, Narayana Health, said, "We are committed to delivering the best possible care to our patients. The use of drones to transport bio medical samples is a critical step in achieving that goal. By partnering with Garuda Aerospace, we are able to leverage their expertise to improve the delivery of medical supplies and enhance the quality of care we provide across. In the first phase, drones will be deployed in Bengaluru to transfer bio medical samples from Narayana Health City and HSR Layout on a daily basis. In the next 1 year, our network of 21 hospitals will have these services. "

Honorable PM Narendra Modi Ji simultaneously flagged 100 Kisan drones in 100 villages across India with live tracking, data collection, and processing. Garuda Aerospace has been the preferred drone partner for NDRF since the pandemic. Equipped with 400 drones and over 500 pilots across 84 cities, Garuda Aerospace is equipped to support different emergencies. Former captain of India's national cricket team Mahendra Singh Dhoni unveiled a camera drone called Droni at The Global Drone Expo in Chennai and became the firm’s Brand Ambassador as well.

About Garuda Aerospace

Garuda Aerospace is India’s leading Drone tech startup focused on disrupting two major multi-billion-dollar sectors, Precision Agri Tech and Industry 4.0 upgradation. Garuda Aerospace is asset-light, recession-proof, agnostic, and focuses on eliminating labours in the agricultural field with drones focusing on the design, building, and customization of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Founded in 2015 with a team of 5, Garuda has scaled to 200+ member team having the largest drone fleet in India with over 400 drones and 500 pilots operating in 84 cities. Garuda Aerospace manufactures 30 types of drones and offers 50 types of services. Having served over 750 clients including TATA, Godrej, Adani, Reliance, Swiggy, Flipkart, Delhivery, L&T, Survey of India, SAIL, NTPC, IOCL, Smart cities, Intel, Amazon, Wipro, IISC, MIT Boston, NHAI for various projects, the company recently partnered with global giants such as Lockheed Martin, Cognizant and Elbit Systems. Garuda Aerospace is the first drone company to get DGCA approvals for Type Certification and Remote Pilot Training Organisation. Garuda is on a mission to impact 1 billion lives positively using affordable precision Drone Technology. Mahendra Singh Dhoni has invested in the company and is the Brand Ambassador. (For details, visit www.garudaaerospace.com)  

About Narayana Health:

With all super-speciality tertiary care facilities that the medical world offers, Narayana Health is a one-stop healthcare destination for all. Founded by Dr. Devi Shetty and headquartered in Bengaluru, Narayana Health group is the second largest health care provider in the country in terms of operational bed count. The first facility was established with approximately 225 operational beds in year 2000 at NH Health City in Bengaluru.  The Company today operates a chain of multispecialty tertiary and primary healthcare facilities across a network of 21 hospitals and 4 heart centres in India and single hospital overseas at Cayman Islands with nearly 6145 operational beds across all its centres and potential to reach a capacity of over 6,490 beds (For details, visit www.narayanahealth.org  

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Exchanges MoU With Indian Sugar Mills Association To Promote Ethanol

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) today announced the exchange of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) to create awareness and promote the use of ethanol as a sustainable biofuel in India. The MoU exchange took place in the gracious presence of Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Shri. Yogi Adityanath ji, along with the other key Government officials and dignitaries, at an event that marked the 120 years of establishment of first Sugar Mill* in the state of Uttar Pradesh. From Toyota Kirloskar Motor, Mr. Sudeep S. Dalvi - Senior Vice President & Chief Communication Officer was present during this occasion. At the said event, TKM demonstrated its Flexi-Fuel Strong Hybrid Electric Vehicle along with an experiential drive.

ISMA, the interface between Indian Government and the Sugar Industry in the country is instrumental in production of ethanol and plays an important role, including enabling requisite ethanol fuel availability in the country. Through this MoU, TKM and ISMA aims to accelerate the adoption of ethanol as an indigenous alternate clean fuel, thereby contributing to our nation’s goal to lower its dependence on fossil fuels as well as its carbon footprints.

Being agriculture based and domestically produced fuel-source, higher use of ethanol will increase farmer incomes and create new jobs, thereby boosting the agrarian economy besides reducing the fossil fuel imports. The Government also recently launched second-generation technologies for producing ethanol from agricultural residues like Agriculture waste (parali), which is currently otherwise burnt.

The Government of India has been actively promoting the use of ethanol as a biofuel and has set an ambitious target to achieve 20% ethanol blending in gasoline by 2025. By 2025–2026, it is expected that 86 million barrels of gasoline will be replaced by 20% ethanol, saving India Rs. 30,000 crores in foreign exchange and reducing carbon emissions by 10 million tonnes. These benefits can be enhanced significantly with the advent of Flexi Fuel Vehicle technologies, which can flexibly use higher ethanol blends from 20% to 85%, given the enormous potential of ethanol production that exists beyond capacity for E20 blends.

Commenting on this initiative, Mr. Sudeep S. Dalvi, Senior Vice President & Chief Communication Officer of Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “In our constant endeavor to promote the adoption of sustainable mobility solutions across regions, we at Toyota believe that it is crucial to amplify in-depth understanding about ways and means to combat carbon emissions, beyond providing technologically advanced solutions, while achieving goals of Carbon Neutrality.

Today, we are proud to collaborate with ISMA to popularize the use of ethanol being a clean and sustainable biofuel source, for the automotive industry in India. TKM is continuously studying various advanced powertrains that promote green technologies as well as energy self-reliance. The Flexi-fuel Strong Hybrid Electric Vehicle being an electrified technology combines the best of both the worlds - electrified as well as alternate fuel ethanol pathways. To elaborate, the electrified flexi fuel vehicle has both the flexi-fuel engine and electric powertrain, thereby will enable the demand creation for alternate fuel & electric vehicle parts manufacturing ecosystem. The FFV-SHEV technology enables better fuel efficiency with faster reduction of fossil fuel consumption & CO2 emissions.”

Expressing his thoughts on the MoU exchange, Mr. Aditya Jhunjhunwala, President of Indian Sugar Mills Association, said, “ISMA is delighted to collaborate with Toyota Kirloskar Motor Pvt. Ltd. on this significant initiative. We look forward to working together to enhance the Ethanol awareness and encourage its wider adoption as a fuel in India. Ethanol is a vital part of India's energy mix, and with this joint effort, we are hopeful to contribute better to the larger goal of achieving self-reliance in energy. This will go a long way in contributing to a cleaner, greener environment.”

Towards realising a carbon-neutral mobility society, TKM continues to emphasis the multiple energy pathway approach, wherein different electrified and alternative fuel technologies can provide choice for the customers to select the best low carbon solutions that have the greatest potential to achieve carbon neutrality at speed. In this regard, a Brazil-based study indicates that the ‘Well-to-Wheel’ carbon emission of Flexi-fuel Strong Hybrid Electric Vehicle in Brazil is 29 grams/km, which is the lowest globally.  Thus, promoting the use of ethanol as a substitute clean fuel in India through the adoption of Flexi-Fuel Vehicles and Flexi-Fuel Strong Hybrid Electric Vehicles remains one of the key focus areas to create a cleaner, more sustainable energy landscape in India.

*UP Sugar Industry - Member of Uttar Pradesh Sugar Mills Association/UPSMA and Indian Sugar Mills Association/ISMA).

Manipal Academy of Higher Education Unveils 6th Edition of Entrepreneurship Summit 2023

Key Speakers and Venture Capitalists to Attend MES 2023

The theme of the event is “Let your Innovation be heard."

Manipal Academy of Higher Education's (MAHE) E-Cell MIT  unveiled the sixth edition of  Manipal Entrepreneurship Summit (MES) starting today from 17th to 25th Feb 2023. The theme for this year’s summit  is “Let your Innovation be heard." The aim of the summit is to empower and support student entrepreneurs by providing mentorship, guidance, and a vibrant start-up ecosystem to help turn their ideas into successful ventures.

E-Cell MIT, formed two years ago, has already assisted over 100+ startups in establishing a solid foundation, raising extensive funding, and showcasing their products to the market. The summit will feature events, workshops, webinars, competitions, and other activities to cater to the needs of every student, from people with ideas to students running their ventures, from students looking for motivation to those looking to achieve. The activities spanned out covers everything.

MES 2023 will welcome leading entrepreneurs of India, including Vikas Gupta (Co-Founder & CEO, Creatara), Jyothi Bharadwaj (Founder, Teafit), Abhinav Arora (Co-Founder, Avalon Scenes), Vinod Aravindakshan (CEO and Co-Founder, Careerboat), Arvind Sasikumar (CTO, Quinn), Dhruva Goyal (Co-Founder, BugBase), Anirudh Arun (Co-Founder, Formi), Rishabh Gupta (CEO and Co-Founder, Redwings), and Smitha Rao (Co-Founder, Utthunga). The summit will also feature notable venture capital funds like Campus Fund, 10KSI, and Bharat Innovation Fund to back the startups that create a market potential and are ready to disrupt with their innovation.

Vice Chancellor, Lt Gen (Dr.) M.D. Venkatesh, MAHE, stated, "MAHE has always encouraged its students to think beyond the ordinary and innovate. MES 2023 is an excellent platform to showcase the entrepreneurial spirit of our students and the support provided by the us towards nurturing this spirit."

Dr. H S Ballal, Pro Chancellor, MAHE, added, "We are confident that MES 2023 will continue to inspire and create successful entrepreneurs who will make a difference in the world. We are thrilled to witness how so many young people are stepping up to make a difference and excited to see the startup ideas which will emerge from this summit."

Cdr. Dr. Anil Rana, Director, MIT, Manipal, "MES 2023 is an incredible opportunity for the student community at MAHE to gain knowledge, experience, and connections in the field of entrepreneurship. This summit is a unique platform to inspire and enable young entrepreneurs to take their ideas to the next level and turn them into successful ventures."

This summit is an opportunity for students to connect with like-minded individuals, validate their ideas, and gain knowledge, experience, and connections in the field of entrepreneurship. Through MES, E-Cell MIT aims to create a sustainable and innovative startup ecosystem that nurtures and supports student entrepreneurs.

The flagship event of MES, The Innovation Mela, is a startup expo where 100+ startups and projects put up their stalls to showcase their ideas and products to a highly diverse student crowd, mentors, and investors. It is a perfect platform for Founders to validate their vision and connect with the right mentors and investors that can back them in their journey. The summit will also include other events, such as Pitch Tank and Panel Discussion, accompanied by a Product Management Conclave comprising highly skilled and experienced individuals from top firms like Microsoft and Blue Learn.

Renault India Has Made Significant Inroads In Rural Markets With Customer-Centric Initiatives

* The contribution of rural sales to Renault’s overall sales has gone up from 7% in 2019 to more than 37% in 2022 

* Increased ease of access through expansion of physical network infrastructure, customer engagement initiatives, recruitment of trained local representatives and last mile e-governance  

With an innovative and comprehensive customer-centric efforts, Renault, the leading European brand in the country, has made significant inroads in the rural markets. The rural journey for Renault started in 2019, with the identification of new low-cost formats for showrooms, followed by the expansion of network infrastructure under the “Project Vistaar”. 

Under the ‘Project Vistaar’, Renault through its network, recruited, trained, and deployed close to 500 specialised sales consultants called Resident Dealer Sales Executives (RDSE). These RDSEs ensured a better connect with the customers, enhancing Renault’s reach within the country and creating a strong network in the rural markets. With an aim to make further inroads into the rural market, Renault adopted a customer centric approach with extensive target audience engagement through Grameen Mahotsavs. Organised in 200+ villages so far, these Mahotsavs garnered great response from the customers. To keep the momentum high, Renault adopted a digital format during the last few challenging years, creating the first of its kinds ‘Digital Grameen Mohatsav’. 

Moving closer to the customers in rural areas, Renault became the first passenger car OEM to join hands with the CSC Grameen e-store, in early 2021, ensuring easy access to Renault’s products and services. CSC, as a network of local stores run by a massive network of 4 lakh+ Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) trained by Renault teams, are successfully addressing queries from potential customers, and delivering last mile e-governance services.  

Renault’s partnership with CSC commissioned 400 Renault Booking Centres last year, providing rural customers an opportunity to book their favourite Renault car within their locality with ease and convenience. With this the customers are able to book their Renault car with minimum documentation formalities, by scanning the QR Code available at the nearest Renault Booking Centre, making digital inclusion of rural India a reality 

Further widening its reach, Renault recently engaged with more than 50 villages across the country to develop them as ‘Model Villages’. Renault India has designed and developed a dedicated plan on sustainable development of these villages in partnership with the CSC Grameen eStore. The company has also announced a monetary aid to foster education in rural areas - “Renault Scholarship Programme” under which the students of certain age groups from these villages will be awarded with a scholarship every year basis merit. The objective of the programme is to promote the higher education, further empowering the population in rural areas and build sustainable communities. Local competitions and sports events like ‘Renault Kabaddi’ and ‘Renault Run’ have also been organized in order to offer robust platform to budding athletes at the grassroot level to develop their talents. 

‘Rural Float’ is yet another annual initiative that the company has been undertaking in order to provide a Renault vehicle ownership experience in rural areas, enabling them to touch and feel the cars, next to their neighbourhood. The company has so far engaged with more than 25,000 customers in 500+ towns across 15 States through this initiative. Additionally, a mobile workshop providing door-step service facility - ‘Workshop on Wheels’ (WOW) and ‘Workshop on Wheels-Lite’ helps in facilitating the servicing of Renault vehicles even in the remotest areas. It offers hassle-free car ownership experience to the customers in rural and far-flung locations. 

Together with its product portfolio expansion strategy to drive volumes in India, Renault has substantially increased its reach in India. It has created a strong connect and presence in the rural areas with the introduction of several unique and pioneering initiatives, ensuring that customers’ have an unparalleled association with the Renault brand.  

Bisleri International Unveils Its 2025 Sustainability Goals For Plastic Recycling And Water Conservation

~Aim to collect 12,500MT of plastic from 20 cities across India through Bottles For Change~

~Restore and build 350 Check Dams, providing water security and supporting agriculture~

~Reduce carbon footprint by 10%~

Bisleri International Pvt Ltd, India’s leading mineral water company, has strengthened its sustainability strategy by launching ‘Bisleri Greener Promise.’ The sustainability philosophy focuses on creating a greener future by reinforcing and implementing programs in recycling, water conservation and sustainability.

Under the aegis of this philosophy, Bisleri International has become one of the first consumer goods companies to be plastic-neutral and water positive. It further emphasizes its promise to the sustainable development of the country by announcing bold initiatives under plastic recycling and water conservation.

The company has outlined its vision to connect with 20 major cities to collect and recycle 12,500 tonnes of plastic by 2025 through its Bottles for Change initiative. Additionally, it has also announced restoration or building of 350 dams in Maharashtra and Gujarat to provide water security and enhance crop production. Under the initiative, Project Nayi Umeed, more than 35,000 million liters of water will be harvested, and it will help irrigate more than 23,000 acres of land. The company aims to reduce its carbon footprint by 10% and lower the use of virgin plastic by over 7%.

Furthermore, Bisleri International released its sustainability report defining its progress in environment, social, and governance (ESG) practices. The report has been developed by TERI School of Advanced Studies. It highlights Bisleri International’s efforts in building a circular economy, utilizing resources efficiently, reducing GHG emissions, replenishing water, and recollecting packaging material.

Speaking about the organization’s commitment towards sustainability and Bisleri Greener Promise, Angelo George, CEO, Bisleri International Pvt Ltd, said, “At Bisleri International, we develop solutions that fuel business growth and, at the same time, address environmental challenges. We are in constant pursuit of creating a positive impact, and continue to integrate our business strategy with sustainability goals. Thus, ensuring that we operate purposefully and responsibly. Innovations in packaging will continue to be our focus for the next three years and we aim to be ready for the guidelines on reuse targets stipulated by the Government.”

As part of its commitment to protect the environment and mitigate the effects of irresponsible disposal of used plastic, Bisleri International’s Bottle For Change initiative works towards bringing behavioural change and raising awareness about the importance of post-consumer plastic. Through the programme, Bisleri International has brought a behavioural change amongst 600,000 citizens by organizing sensitization workshops and collection drives. These workshops and drives were conducted at over 3500 housing societies, 680 educational institutions, 790 corporates, and 600 hotels & restaurants across seven cities. The efforts have resulted in collecting and recycling over 4000MT of used plastic.

For Project Nayi Umeed, Bisleri International focuses on building or restoring Check Dams, rainwater harvesting and empowering communities. It provides access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene, benefiting farmers and their families. Through the programme, it has built or restored over 200 Check Dams in Gujarat and Maharashtra. These Check Dams have helped harvest approximately 22Bn litres of water, covering more than 124 villages and benefiting almost 40,000 family members of farmers. Over 13,000 acres of land have been irrigated through the project, turning barren lands into fertile farms. Also, for every litre of water drawn, eight litres of water is replenished from the ground.

“We at TERI School of Advanced Studies believe that resource efficiency and waste management are the keys to smart, sustainable and inclusive development.  We work together internally and externally to maximize shared knowledge and impact. Bisleri International Private Limited has been practicing triple bottom line as an approach.  We are happy to partner with them to develop their first Sustainability report. Hope this aligns all their stakeholders to their work towards sustainable development.” said Dr. Shruti Sharma, Assistant Professor, TERI, SAS

The initiatives and priorities cited in the report are aligned with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Further, Bisleri International aims to set ambitious sustainability goals based on innovative business models. These goals will strengthen Bisleri International’s efforts to tackle climate change, ensure safe and healthy water for all, build behavioural changes and create an effective circular economy for post-use packaging.

Federal Bank Bridges The Physical And The Digital Market Places

·         Its latest 360- degree brand campaign brings alive the ethos of the bank - Digital at the Fore, Human at the Core

Federal Bank today announced the launch of a mint fresh brand campaign, "Rishta Aap Se Hai, Sirf App Se Nahi TM." The campaign brings alive the Bank's work ethic - Digital at the Fore, Human at the Core.

This captures many a day that Customers experience in the Bank. In markets of dominance employees of the Bank are a part of celebrations as well as moments of grief of their clients. There are many instances where Customers have experienced the technological ease of transactions as well as the service with sensitivity at branches. 

The campaign is inspired by real life events and that is transposed on to the communication. The ad has been launched in seven languages – Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam to ensure reach across the country.

The multiple narratives of the campaign are representative of the Bank's robust franchise. On an average a client clocks in above 10 years of relationship, giving the Bank the benefit of a high life-time value of the Customers. And during this phase the Bank will be able to participate in the various life stages of both its retail as well as corporate banking customers. Besides, having one of the lowest attrition rates in the industry, enhances the customer confidence in the Brand.

M V S Murthy, Chief Marketing Officer, Federal Bank said, "Businesses across the globe need the digital chutzpah, or customer experience as it is known. However, increasingly, efficiency in technology needs to be reinforced by go to people, whom you can reach out to at all points in time. The core idea of Rishta Aap Se Hai, Sirf App Se Nahi TM comes from our secret sauce which includes Commitment, Agility, Relationship orientation, Ethics and Sustainability. It is imperative that we need to be ‘Digital At The Fore, Human At The Core’. This campaign is representative of how we conduct ourselves as a team. We have unified our physical and digital spaces with this approach." 

The campaign will be rolled out across a variety of platforms, including television, digital, radio, outdoor and social media. Community events will bring the campaign closer to the branches. 

For more information about the campaign and its "Rishta Aap Se Hai, Sirf App Se Nahi" campaign, please visit https://www.federalbank.co.in/rishta

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mw-a9cHEzLQ

Must Have Books For All Aspiring Indian Entrepreneurs

We are living in a time that is highly unpredictable and the only way to find peace and solace is through books. With entrepreneurship being the buzzword in the last few years, many industry leaders have penned down their entrepreneurial journey.

This year we bring to you the top 5 books on entrepreneurship that you should not miss reading:

Engineered in India: From Dreams to Billion-Dollar Cyient

Authored by BVR Mohan Reddy is the story of a young man who steps out of the precincts of IIT Kanpur in 1974 with a dream in his heart – to become an entrepreneur and contribute to nation-building. Undaunted by the dearth of experience and means to capital in pre-Liberalization India, B.V.R Mohan Reddy’s enterprising spirit takes the long and winding road, never losing sight of his ambition. He gains overseas education on scholarship and dons multiple hats before embarking on his life’s mission at forty.

Published by: Penguin Random House

Available on: Amazon

Leadership with Soul

Mr. André Lacroix, Global CEO reveals his formula for how to make businesses flourish. He shares his outstanding insights, developed over a long and diverse leadership career, to present a people-centric approach guaranteed to change everyone’s outlook on leadership. The book focuses on understanding ways people can inspire global organisations to outperform the competition. It discusses methods on how to create a truly customer-centric organisation and leave a sustainable legacy for future generations. 

The book highlights the 10 leadership principles which are Lead with emotional intelligence, Imagine the journey and paint the picture for all, Energise the organisation to outperform, Customer Intimacy, Reinvent the future, Master Complexity, Embody the strategy at the top, Laser-focussed execution, Ever-better branding glo-cally, and sustainable performance for all.

Published by: Eska Publishing and World Scientific

Available on: Amazon

Doglapan: The Hard Truth About Life and Start-ups

This is the unfettered story of Ashneer Grover-the favourite and misunderstood poster boy of Start-up India. Raw, gut-wrenching in its honesty and completely from the heart, this is storytelling at its finest. A young boy with a ‘refugee’ tag growing up in Delhi’s Malviya Nagar outpaces his circumstances by becoming a rank-holder at the pinnacle of academic excellence in India-IIT Delhi. He goes on to do an MBA from the hallowed halls of IIM Ahmedabad, builds a career as an investment banker at Kotak Investment Banking and AmEx, and is pivotal in the making of two unicorns- Grofers as CFO and BharatPe as co-founder.

Published by: Penguin Random House

Available on: Amazon

Futurepreneurs: 10 Deeptech & AI Startups redefining tech in India

 A constellation of imaging satellites that can detect something as small as gas pipeline leaks. An intelligent customer service voice bot that can mirror your language and accent. A portable breathing device that can save lakhs of infants who die on their way to reaching an ICU. No, we are not talking about Silicon Valley - these are all Made in India startups. When an MIT trained scientist, Varun Aggarwal, and a bestselling startup author, Nistha Tripathi, come together to examine the cool stuff happening in India, a book like this is born.

Published by: Maple Press

Available on: Amazon

Maverick Effect: The Inside Story of India's IT Revolution

In the mid-1970s, a young, twenty-something man living an American dream threw away a lucrative job as a database manager and came back to India. At that time, India had no IT industry to speak of; computers were a novelty, and the nation was trapped in socio-economic backwardness and a labyrinthine License Raj.

Published by: Harper Collins Publishers India

Available on: Amazon

IIITB COMET Foundation Invites Innovators, Entrepreneurs To Build Solutions For 5G

* Shortlisted may get grant upto INR 50 lakh

The IIITB COMET Foundation established by the International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore (IIITB) has announced its first cohort to invite Innovators and Entrepreneurs to build indigenous solutions for development of 5G Infrastructure and Applications.

"COMET 5G Springboard 1.0" – is an initiative to support innovators in the development of 5G infrastructure and next-generation 5G applications that have the power to drive Industry 4.0 era and create the ecosystem of the future.

“The roll out of 5G networks in India is expected to unlock economic opportunities to the tune of US$180 Billion as per NASSCOM. Entrepreneurs can benefit from this trend and envision and create new India specific solutions. The COMET 5G Springboard provides an excellent platform to build innovative solutions in the space of Atma Nirbhar 5G infrastructure as well as applications,” says Dr. Milind Gandhe, CEO, IIITB COMET Foundation.

The program is open for innovators working in the domains of 5G Infra Development, 5G Applications, Deep-tech solutions leveraging communications, AI/ML and AR/VR solutions leveraging 5G etc.

The benefits of signing-up for this program include Industry and Technology relevant Mentorship, Access to 5G R&D Labs, Incubation support from PoC to Prototype to Product and Suitable funding in the form of Grants and Seed Money of up to 50 Lakh INR, informs Dr Gandhe.

Applications can be accessed on the website: https://comet.iiitb.ac.in/start-ups/

Last date to apply is 20th February 2023.

About IIITB and IIITB COMET Foundation:

Established in 1999, IIITB has operated with a vision to contribute significantly to IT for transforming the lives of individuals and society, and efficient conduct of sustainable businesses, social enterprises and governments through continuous innovation in the areas of Computer Science and Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering as well as IT and Society education, research and entrepreneurship. IIITB has a very active set of faculty members in the areas of Networking and Communication as well as other areas of Cyber Physical Systems.   

Under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS), the Department of Science and Technology (DST) has sanctioned the International Institute of Information Technology – Bangalore (IIITB) to set up a Technology Innovation Hub (TIH) in the Advanced Communication Systems area, ‘IIITB COMET Foundation’.

The primary focus of the TIH at IIITB will be on the generation of new knowledge (Intellectual Properties, Patents, Publications, Products, Entrepreneurship, Highly Skilled Manpower Training) through basic and applied research in the areas of Advanced Communication Systems.  The major areas of focus of this TIH is to prepare the next generation of wireless communication by building 5G and beyond mobile base stations using the vendor-neutral RAN, 5G/6G core network technologies, reconfigurable intelligent surface for wireless, UAV/Drone communication, Radar for drone detection and routing, etc.   

ORRA Strengthens Its Retail Footprint, Launches A Massive Store In Koramangala, Bengaluru

ORRA, India’s leading trusted brand for diamond jewellery is expanding its presence in Bengaluru with the launch of the 68th store in Koramangala, Bengaluru. The showroom will house the latest diamond jewellery collections. ORRA’s patented 73-faceted ORRA Crown Star, the brightest diamond in India, will also be exclusively available at the new retail showroom.            

Speaking about the launch, Mr. Dipu Mehta, Managing Director, ORRA, said, “Bengaluru is an important market for us. With this launch, we aim to strengthen our brand presence and craft a lasting shopping experience for our customers. The collection at the store is thoughtfully curated, keeping in mind the overall demand for diamond jewellery and the evolving tastes and choices of our customers."

The showroom which is 6000 sq.ft has been creatively designed with comfortable seating, contemporary interiors and 2 bridal lounges to enhance the customer’s shopping experience. The new showroom has the brand’s defining range of diamond jewellery that includes the ORRA Crown Star Collection, Astra Collection, Desired Collection and Platinum Collection.

ORRA takes superiority in its diamond legacy by constantly providing product innovation and offering a wide range of bridal and contemporary jewellery. With 5 global design centres in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Antwerp, Mumbai, and New York, ORRA carries a legacy of 700-year-old Belgian craftsmanship.

The renowned brand provides its loyal customer base with 100% certified jewellery, which comes with complementary insurance and assured free-of-cost lifetime maintenance. ORRA provides its patrons with lifetime exchange and buyback in addition to a seven-day return policy on the brand’s conflict-free diamonds.

On the launch, the brand is offering its patrons:

25% off on diamond jewellery (for a limited period)

0% interest on EMI facilities

The store is operational at ORRA Fine Jewellery, SITE NO :02, 17TH MAIN,100 FEET ROAD, OPP CANARA BANK, 5TH BLOCK, KORAMANGALA, BENGALURU-560034

About ORRA:

The journey of a million gazes began in 1888 before it metamorphosed into ORRA. From sculpting and manufacturing diamonds to crafting and retailing the finest diamond and gold jewellery, ORRA has come a long way since its inception. Today, ORRA is one of India's finest bridal jewellery retail chains, having spread its glow with 68 Stores across 30 Cities and has consistently been at the forefront of design, leadership and product innovation with 5 global design centres in Antwerp, Hongkong, New York, Tokyo & Mumbai.

Master craftsmen who have inherited the centuries - old legacy of jewellery making, brilliantly cut Belgian diamonds, delicate designs in diamond jewellery, elaborate bridal sets in coloured stones, the 73-facet patented ORRA Crown Star, the one-of-its-kind ORRA store. These are just some of the facets that go into making ORRA - The Finest Diamond Destination. 

For more information, visit – https://www.orra.co.in

Uber Sees Resurgence Of Leisure Travelers As Intercity Trips Rise During Weekends

Uber has released its annual travel index ‘Riding with Intercity’, encapsulating travel trends when it came to long-distance trips. The year gone by saw the highest number of Intercity trips being booked on Saturday, followed by Sunday, signaling a clear resurgence of the ‘#wanderlust’ chasers.

Uber Intercity enables riders to book seamless, on-demand intercity trips at the tap of a button, taking care of people’s travel needs for trips beyond their city. With doorstep pickups, digital payment options and in-app safety measures in place, Uber Intercity offers the same efficient, convenient and safe Uber experience, except for a new use case - travel beyond the city.

Having the option to reserve Intercity trips up to 30 days in advance gives riders the chance to use Uber for planned travel, too, beyond the on-demand rides that riders have traditionally used Uber for.

Uber Intercity is now available across over 2,000 routes in India, including popular leisure and business destinations around cities.

The index highlighted key travel trends, including top tourist destinations, popular off-beat routes, and most sought-after days of the week for ‘heading out’. Mumbaikars, for instance, flocked to retreats and wellness centers in Pune, Lonavala, and Alibaug. Bangaloreans chose to explore the Bannerghatta Biological Park and Nandi Hills. 

Here’s some of the key highlights from the ‘Riding with Intercity’ index:

Top 5 Intercity Weekend Travel Months

(Top 5 months in 2022 with the highest number of Intercity trips booked during weekends, in no set order)

-      April

-      May

-      June

-      October

-      December

Top 3 Days of the Week

(Top 3 days of the week with the highest number of Uber Intercity rides in 2022, in decreasing order)

Saturday

Sunday

Friday

Top Uses For Intercity

(Top uses for Intercity going by number of trips booked in 2022, in decreasing order)

Leisure Travel + Family Visits

Business Travel + Meetings

Visits to Places of Worship

Return trips to schools/colleges

About Uber:

Uber’s mission is to create opportunity through movement. We started in 2010 to solve a simple problem: how do you get access to a ride at the touch of a button? More than 10 billion trips later, we're building products to get people closer to where they want to be. By changing how people, food, and things move through cities, Uber is a platform that opens up the world to new possibilities.

Hexagon India Signs MOU With BEL And BEML For Emerging Opportunities In The Domestic Market

At Aero India 2023, the biennial air show and aviation exhibition held at Yelahanka Air Force Station, Bengaluru, Hexagon India signed MOU with BEL and BEML to collaborate in the field of Defence, Transportation, Smart Cities & Safe Cities, Critical Infrastructure Projects, Smart Agriculture, Disaster Management and Mining. Parties have agreed to jointly capitalize on the emerging opportunities in the domestic market.

On this occasion, Pramod Kaushik, President Hexagon India said, “Hexagon India is collaborating with BEL and BEML and intends to capitalize on the emerging opportunities in the domestic market through joint business development efforts. We look forward to a successful collaboration with them in the fields of Defence, Transportation, Smart Cities & Safe Cities, Critical Infrastructure Projects, Agriculture, Disaster Management and Mining. India has always been a big focus for us and we see a massive potential to contribute to this growth story through our technology. We are the global leader in digital reality solutions, combining sensor, software and autonomous technologies to put data to work.”

About Hexagon:

Hexagon is a global leader in digital reality solutions, combining sensor, software and autonomous technologies. We are putting data to work to boost efficiency, productivity, quality and safety across industrial, manufacturing, infrastructure, public sector, and mobility applications.

Our technologies are shaping production and people related ecosystems to become increasingly connected and autonomous – ensuring a scalable, sustainable future.

Hexagon (Nasdaq Stockholm: HEXA B) has approximately 24,000 employees in 50 countries and net sales of approximately 5.2bn EUR. Learn more at?hexagon.com?and follow us?@HexagonAB.

Hexagon India has more than 2100 employees with offices all over the country across 14 cities. We have also set up two R&D centers in Hyderabad and Pune. We have a strong team of sales, technical development and techno-commercial experts serving our customers.

Godrej Appliances Launches India's First Leak Proof Split Air Conditioner

 ~ Its pioneering Anti-Leak Technology (patent applied), addresses the challenge of ACs leaking water

~ Targets 2x growth over last year in the upcoming summer season, for AC category

Godrej Appliances, business unit of Godrej & Boyce, the flagship company of the Godrej Group, has launched India’s first leak proof split Air Conditioner with Anti-Leak technology and has also filed a patent for it. True to its brand philosophy of ‘Things Made Thoughtfully’, this powerful industry- first, pioneering innovation promises to solve a host of problems being faced by AC consumers today.

Water leaking from an air conditioner inside the home is a common problem faced by several AC users. An estimated 85% AC consumers suffer from this issue at least once in the product's lifetime and consequently, the issue ranks amongst AC’s key concerns. Given that Air Conditioners are amongst the most expensive appliance investments made by customers and have an impact on home aesthetics as well, to have it drip water inside the room is a frustrating experience. People resort to repair services or adopt temporary solutions without really getting a lasting solution. The concern is not limited to aesthetics and embarrassment, but includes other costly repercussions also, like the wall paint or wallpaper getting spoilt needing replacement, safety issues like electrical short circuits if there are plug points underneath and so on. In the long run, damp walls are prone to mold growths, leading to potential health risks such as allergies and respiratory problems, with toddlers or asthmatic patients being even more susceptible.

The all-new Anti-Leak Technology incorporated in Godrej Leak Proof* Split ACs aims to offer a permanent solution to combat the above problems. This AC also offers a host of other relevant technologies and features such as 5-in-1 Convertible Cooling Technology that can be set basis the number of people in the room and help save energy, i-sense technology to match the set temperature for utmost comfort, powerful cooling even at 52°C with lower derating, inverter technology for power saving and ecofriendly R32 refrigerant that has zero ozone depletion and low global warming potential. In addition, it has 100% copper coils, and connecting pipe and anti-corrosive blue fins are fitted for efficiency, durability and resistance to corrosion.

Commenting on the launch of this innovative technology, Kamal Nandi, Business Head and Executive Vice President – Godrej Appliances, part of Godrej & Boyce said, “At Godrej Appliances, we have been working relentlessly to offer innovative solutions with cutting-edge technologies to address any challenges faced by consumers. After multiple trials at our research and design centers, we have perfected the Anti-Leak technology and pioneered India’s first Leak Proof Split AC which promises consumers much-needed relief from the problem of leaking ACs, which has plagued consumers for a long time. Coupled with a robust product portfolio for the upcoming summer season, we expect over 2x growth in AC sales compared to last year.”

Sabyasachi Gupta, Product Group Head- Air Conditioners, Godrej Appliances added, “We are elated to introduce India’s first Leak Proof Split Air Conditioner, that aims to deliver superior prevention of water leakages. A path breaking offering, it promises a much better and trouble-free AC experience for consumers – delivering more durability, unhindered performance, aesthetics, health, and safety. Along with this pioneering proposition, for the upcoming summer season, Godrej Appliances has a lineup of 25+ SKUs covering several advanced technologies and features like 4 Way-Swing, 5-in-1 convertible cooling, UVCool and Nano Coated Anti-Viral filtration technologies, Heavy Duty Cooling, Hot and Cold ACs and Smart IOT enabled ACs.”

Godrej Leak Proof Split ACs comes with 10 years-inverter compressor warranty. It will soon be available at Rs. 48,900/- MRP across stores and popular ecommerce platforms. Consumers can also avail easy finance options on it.

About Godrej Appliances

Godrej Appliances, a business unit of Godrej & Boyce, is one of the leading Home Appliances players in India. Godrej & Boyce was the first Indian Company in 1958 to manufacture refrigerators and since then Godrej Appliances has expanded its portfolio across several categories like Washing Machines, Air Conditioners, Microwave Ovens, futuristic Thermo-electric cooling solutions, Air Coolers, Deep Freezers, highly specialized Medical Refrigerators, UVC Technology-Based Disinfecting devices, Dishwashers, and more recently InsuliCool product range. This portfolio has been powered by the driving philosophy of 'Things Made Thoughtfully.’

Environment protection is a core value at Godrej. Thus, this concept extends from human-centric design to planet-centric design. Both manufacturing units of Godrej Appliances became the first in India to win the coveted Platinum Plus Green Co. certification for their pioneering eco-friendly practices. The brand takes pride in its carefully designed products and environment-friendly technologies. Further to this, it promptly provides the best-in-class, after-sales service through more than 680 service centers and 4500 + SmartBuddy service experts pan-India.

WorldSkills Contest Winners From Toyota Kirloskar Motor - Felicitated By The Government of Karnataka

In a boost to Toyota Kirloskar Motor’s contributions to the “Skill India Mission”, three team members from Toyota Technical Training Institute (TTTI) an institute created by Toyota Kirloskar were today felicitated by the Government of Karnataka for their exemplary achievements at the WorldSkills Competition 2022. At an event held today in Vidhana Soudha, the winners were facilitated by Shri. Dr. Ashwathnarayan C. N., Honourable Minister for Higher Education, Electronics, IT & BT, Science & Technology; Skill Development, Entrepreneurship & Livelihoodin, Government of Karnataka in the presence of Mr. Sudeep Dalvi, Senior Vice President & Chief Communication Officer, Mr. Swapnesh R. Maru, Executive Vice President, Mr. G. Shankara, Vice President and Mr. Hiroki Ando Technical Advisor – Finance & Administration from Toyota Kirloskar Motor.

TTTI symbolises the company’s commitment towards developing world class skilled workforce for the Indian auto Industry, the trio of Mr. Likith Kumar Yemmoddi Prakash, Mr. Karthik Gowda Seehalli Nagaraju and Mr. Akhilesh Narasimhamurthy made the nation proud by bringing home medals from the WorldSkills Competition 2022. Mr. Akhilesh and Mr. Karthik received the bronze medal for Mechatronics Skills in Germany, while Mr. Likith won bronze medal for Prototype Modelling Skills in Switzerland.

Speaking of the team’s achievements, Mr. Sudeep Dalvi, Senior Vice President & Chief Communication Officer said, “We are immensely proud of Likith, Karthik and Akhilesh for their outstanding performance at a coveted platform like the WorldSkills Competition. I ‘am sure that they will be an inspiration for other students. At the same time, I would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the Government of Karnataka and Government of India for promoting and developing young minds through the Skill India Mission. Today’s gesture by Shri. Dr. Ashwathnarayan C. N., Honourable Minister for Higher Education, Electronics, IT & BT, Science & Technology; Skill Development, Entrepreneurship & Livelihoodin of Karnataka reflects the Government’s commitment towards nurturing home-grown talent and providing them with suitable platforms to showcase their talent.

The key to success in a rapidly changing industry like ours is the ability to upskill workforce with the required knowledge and making them globally competitive. With skill enhancement programs at TTTI, our aim is to help students develop critical thinking, technical knowledge, problem solving and team building ability through hands-on learning experiences and global exposures. We strongly believe that such holistic learning and skilling curriculum will fulfil the growing need in India for skilled manpower thus narrowing the existing gap between the demand and supply of a skilled workforce.”

Present at the event, Mr. Swapnesh R. Maru, Executive Vice President said “We are humbled at  the achievement of the winners as their success is a testament to the hard work and dedication of students trained at the TTTI and the quality of technical skills and products we deliver.

Toyota is committed to creating possibilities and programs that deliver a positive impact in the communities where we live and work. Over the last two decades in the State of Karnataka, we have continued to actively promote social interventions by working with various stakeholders and using resources at grass-root level to address critical social needs. We are happy that our skill development institutes like TTTI and TTEP contribute to the social and economic development of our local communities and provide better access to jobs and opportunities.”

Speaking at the event Shri Dr. Ashwathnarayan C. N., Honourable Minister for Higher Education, Electronics, IT & BT, Science & Technology; Skill Development, Entrepreneurship & Livelihoodin said, “We have always believed in the power of youth and the importance of skilling them at an early stage. Keeping this in mind, we are appreciative of the fact that Toyota Kirloskar Motor has always kept this at the forefront, by giving an impetus to skill the youth across Karnataka through initiatives like the Toyota Technical Training Institute. Akhilesh Narasimha Murthy, Likith Kumar, and Karthik Gowda have proven to be a shining example with their exceptional performance at the WorldSkills competition, proving that with dedication and the right guidance, talent from any part of the country can compete and emerge with flying colours at international levels. We commend Toyota Kirloskar Motor for its continuous efforts in imparting exceptional training to young people and hope to have many more such achievers form the State every year”.

Karnataka already has robust skill development programs to train and upskill the state’s available human resource to be able to equip them with better employment opportunities and such robust programs by corporates complement our visions and efforts in the State”

As a part of its commitment towards developing world class skilled workforce for the Indian auto Industry, Toyota in 2007 established the Toyota Technical Training Institute (TTTI) which offers a three-year rigorous full-time training in – Automobile Assembly, Automobile Paint, Automobile Weld and Mechatronics to financially challenged students hailing  from rural hinterlands across Karnataka state. This three-year residential training program is fully paid for by TKM and concentrates on holistic development of the trainees by focusing not only on knowledge and skills but also on body and mind development. TTTI is recognized by National Council of Vocational Training (NCVT), Japan-India Institute for Manufacturing (JIM), Automotive Skill Development Council (ASDC) and Directorate General of Training (DGT).

TKM has undertaken a major expansion of TTTI with capacity going up from 200 to 1,200 students (academic batch-wise). This will be a major boost to the existing skill facility in its Bidadi plant with a focus to scale-up students’ skill levels on advanced technology, by Toyota expert trainers (globally certified).

Over the years TKM has trained over 77,360 employable youths through a variety of skill development initiatives. TKM is currently working on establishing one Industrial Training Institute (ITI) in each district of the 31 districts in Karnataka. TKM continues to train trainees in 53 institutes across 22 Indian states through the Toyota Technical Education Program (TTEP). The primary objective of the TTEP initiative is to enhance the student’s skill sets which will strengthen the talent pool from the grass root level and provide opportunities for youth with special focus on rural areas. In addition, Toyota dealers also support by providing On-Job training to these students. TKM also has collaborations with the governments of Karnataka, Kerala, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Haryana, New Delhi, and Telangana to provide skill development to students and faculty members. TKM's skill outreach has grown over the years, resulting in world-class skill champions.

Photo caption: Shri Dr. Ashwathnarayan C. N., Honourable Minister for Higher Education, Electronics, IT & BT, Science & Technology; Skill Development, Entrepreneurship & Livelihoodin, Mr. Sudeep Dalvi, Senior Vice President & Chief Communication Officer, TKM, Mr. Swapnesh R. Maru, Executive Vice President, TKM & other dignitaries at World Skills Award felicitation.

Hero MotoCorp Launched The New 110cc Scooter –Xoom In Bangalore, Karnataka

* XOOM COMES WITH THE INDUSTRY-FIRST – CORNER BENDING LIGHTS

* SEGMENT FIRST – BIGGER AND WIDER TYRES

* FUTURISTIC DESIGN, ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY, UNMATCHED AGILITY & SUPREME COMFORT

Redefining the scooter category and charting the next phase of its tech-enabled journey in the scooter segment, Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters, today launched the new 110cc scooter –Xoom in Bangalore, Karnataka.

Meticulously designed and developed to appeal to the generation of perceptive customers who seek adventure and excitement in their everyday ride, the Xoom scooter delivers a contemporary design, supreme maneuverability, unmatched agility and extra ordinary performance.

The Hero Xoom embodies a fresh new take in the 110cc category. With an industry-first feature – the Corner Bending Lights,and segment-first features – bigger and wider tyres and zippy acceleration in the 110cc segment, it guarantees an unparalleledmobility experience to the owners.

The Corner BendingLightsTM makes its debut inthe 110cc segment with Hero Xoom, providing enhanced safety for the customers. The Corner Bending Lights illuminates the dark corner areas with an unrivalled bright, clear light when the rider is taking a turn or heading into curves. The rider benefits from the illumination of the corners on the road, thereby ensuring safer riding at night. 

The Xoomcomes with a powerful BS-VI compliant engine that features Hero MotoCorp’s revolutionary i3S technology (Idle Stop-Start System). The new Digital Speedometer with Bluetooth connectivity and Side-Stand Engine-cut-off add to the tech profile of the scooter.

Launched in three variants – Sheet Drum, Cast Drum and Cast Disc, Hero Xoom scooteris available at Hero MotoCorp dealerships across the country at an Introductory price of

INR 73,099 (LX -Sheet Drum), INR 76,299 (VX - Cast Drum) and INR 81,299 (ZX - Cast Drum)

*(Ex-Showroom, Bangalore).

Ranjivjit Singh, Chief Growth Officer (CGO), Hero MotoCorp, said, “Over the years, Hero MotoCorp has introduced iconic brands that have captivated the nation and continue to enjoy a strong consumer connect. With the unmatched style and performance of Hero Xoom, we are turning a new leaf in our journey to redefine the scooter segment. The new Hero XOOM is an outcome of our deep understanding of the needs of young India & our commitment to introduce future-oriented technologies which will help strengthen our scooter portfolio. The ones who are looking for an exciting ride, and are at the forefront of innovation will definitely be drawn to the dynamic character of the Hero Xoom.”

Dr. Arun Jaura, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) said, “The new Hero Xoom reinstates our commitment to drive in the future of mobility. The scooter segment has witnessed an increasing preference for two-wheelers with a sporty character, and Hero Xoom hits the sweet spot with its futuristic structure, engineering play and performance. In addition to bringing the first-in-industry ‘Corner Bending Lights’, the new scooter ups the tech quotient with the revolutionary i3S technology, LED Headlamps & Tail Lamp and Bluetooth connectivity. The Hero Xoom is a strong addition to our attractive and comprehensive portfolio of scooters.”

FUTURISTIC DESIGN WITH ‘ADVANCED LIGHTING’ PACKAGE

The all-new Hero Xoom introduces a radical new futuristic design language. Nimble and agile in traffic, yet supremely robust over tough terrain, its agility opens up a whole new world of riding experience. Extremely sporty, yet mature and comfortable, it is the perfect companion for adventures of daily riding.

The exciting lighting package - including LED Projector Headlamp, LED Tail Lamps, and industry-first “Corner Bending Lights”- provides an unmistakable presence to the scooter. The signature H position head and tail lamps ensure distinct character, uniform illumination and enhanced rider safety. Bigger and Wider Tyres, Diamond Cut Alloy Wheels, Integrated Rear grip add to the distinct character of the scooter.

TECHNOLOGY AT THE CORE

Embodying the culture of innovation at Hero MotoCorp, the all-new Hero Xoomhas been developed with as many as 25+ patent applications.The new scooter brings a host of exciting technologies to the category. The industry-first “Corner Bending Lights” adds to the safety aspect by illuminating the blind spots while turning. Hero Xoom is programmed with ‘XSens Technology’ which helps in improving the performance, durability, safety, reliability and fuel economy.In addition, the full digital speedometer with Bluetooth Connectivity provides call (Caller ID) and SMS updates, and key alerts, such as Low Fuel Indicator, (RTMI), Phone Battery etc. Features such as the Side Stand Engine Cut Off, Boot Light and Mobile Chargerin front glove boxadd to the safety and convenience aspects.

POWER-PACKED PERFORMANCE

The Hero Xoom comes with a 110cc BS-VI compliant engine producing a maximum power output of 8.05 BHP @ 7250 RPM and torque of 8.7 Nm @5750 RPM for a high-performance ride. Delivering the brand promise of performance and comfort, the new Hero Xoomcomes with the i3S patented technology for enhanced convenience and higher fuel efficiency.The scooter provides instantaneous acceleration and power-on-demand at all times.

EYE-CATCHING COLOR THEMES

The Hero Xoom is available infive sporty, striking, and impressive color options. While the Sheet Drum variant is available in Polestar Blue, the Cast Drum variant is available in Polestar Blue, Black &Pearl Silver White. The Cast Disc variant is available in Polestar Blue, Black, Sports Red and Matt AbraxOrange color schemes.

Ministry Of Rural Development And Meesho Sign MoU To Onboard Rural Women As Online Sellers

* Ministry of Rural Development and Meesho sign MoU to onboard rural women as online sellers

The Ministry of Rural Development and Meesho, India’s only true online marketplace, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today to drive digital inclusion of all women registered under State Rural Livelihood Missions (SRLMs) and enable them to sell online. The partnership will give impetus to Meesho’s ongoing efforts to onboard rural women entrepreneurs in various states and enable them to launch and grow their businesses online. Over the last few months, Meesho has tied up with several government-run self-help groups (SHGs), such as Sanjeevini - Karnataka State Rural Livelihood Mission and UMEED - Jammu and Kashmir Rural Livelihoods Mission.

Meesho will now work with the central government to facilitate this digitisation at scale, organising rural women as community institutions, ensuring their financial inclusion and helping them with market access. The Ministry of Rural Development will support Meesho's engagement with state-owned and SRLM-promoted enterprises to bring local artisans, weavers and craft producers into the e-commerce fold.

Giriraj Singh, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, said, “Uplifting rural women across India by unlocking livelihood opportunities for them has been our key objective. Our constant endeavour has been to support the growth and development of rural communities and the collaboration with Meesho will be instrumental in driving financial inclusion for them. Through market insights and training on product cataloging and packaging, women from these self-help groups will be able to leverage the power of technology in making their products visible and accessible to a wider customer base, thereby increasing their earning potential.

With more than 40% of the women population into non-farming, it is our collective responsibility to build capabilities and unlock wider opportunities for them through online selling platforms. We are hopeful to empower 10 crore women financially through this partnership, thereby making them an integral part of India’s vision of becoming a $5 trillion economy.”

Meesho’s continued commitment towards creating a level playing field for the smallest of sellers and its industry-first initiatives like zero commission will encourage women from across the country to embrace internet commerce and allow them to access a wider market.  Aligned with Meesho’s vision to enable 100 million small businesses to succeed online, the move will allow them to become self-employed entrepreneurs and fulfill their aspirations of achieving financial independence.

Sanjeev Barnwal, Co-founder and CTO, Meesho, said, “We are honoured to partner with the Ministry of Rural Development on our mission to democratise internet commerce for everyone. Women entrepreneurship is key to India's vision of becoming a $5 trillion economy and, over the years, Meesho has empowered lakhs of them to succeed in the online world and achieve financial independence. This partnership will amplify our efforts in that direction, unlocking the power of internet commerce for their social and economic growth. We will provide them with all the tools and guidance they need to grow their business online with Meesho.”

Meesho will provide end-to-end support to SHGs, training them on the various facets of running an online business. From guidance on identifying the right products and creating a seller account to uploading catalogues and packaging, Meesho will organise a host of in-person training workshops in several regional languages. Further, Meesho will impart education and training on features like product and pricing recommendations, besides facilitating logistics tie-ups in the respective states.

Photo Caption - Sanjeev Barnwal, Co-founder and CTO, Meesho and the Ministry of Rural Development signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today in Delhi in the presence of Giriraj Singh, the minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj to onboard women registered under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihood Mission and enable them to sell on Meesho.

Blockedge Technologies Inc And Suvik Technologies FZE Inks JV Deal To Accelerate Web3 Adoption

Blockedge Technologies Inc., a leading enterprise blockchain technology platform, and Suvik Technologies FZE, a UAE-based public blockchain technology company, announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding to form a joint venture in Dubai, aimed at creating tools that empower organizations globally migrate to WEB3 technologies.

With the right complementary ingredients to facilitate the movement towards a large-scale secure Web3 adoption, Blockedge brings its infrastructure automation platform, expertise to develop decentralized applications and interoperable blockchain solutions. At the same time, Suvik group brings its proprietary trading system for crypto assets and Plugin - a Decentralized Oracle Platform built on XDC Network.

"Web3 is all about building system-backed trust to facilitate trusted peer-to-peer transactions," said Srinivas Mahankali, Chief Business Officer of Blockedge Technologies Inc. "To accelerate the adoption of Web3 technologies globally, we have come together to leverage each other’s strengths to create the required infrastructure layer to encourage and empower over 1000 organizations in the next three years" he added.

Vinod Khurana, Co-Founder of Plugin Decentralized Oracle on XDC Network and CEO of Suvik Group added, "The creation of the joint venture between Blockedge and Suvik has come at the right time and place and has the potential to add immense value to the blockchain ecosystem. With this venture, we aim to launch decentralized applications across industries, with an initial focus on Agriculture, Healthcare, Supply chain, and E-commerce".

The partnership will be converted into a 55:45 joint venture based in Dubai, specifically focusing on the Middle East, Asia Pacific, and North America.

About Blockedge Technologies Inc.: Blockedge is a blockchain technology platform fully dedicated to accelerating blockchain transformations. Offering a host of products, solutions, and services, Blockedge brings the power of automation for enterprises to build and adopt global scale blockchain networks to transform their businesses. Headquartered in Pleasanton, California, USA, Blockedge has its knowledge center based out of Chennai, India. For more information, please visit: www.blockedge.io.

About Suvik Group: The group is headquartered in United Arab Emirates, a Country which offers ample opportunities of growth in a stable and vibrant economy. In UAE, Suvik provides expertise in Management Consultancy, Business setup, Blockchain Technology solutions, IT & Software service, Distributed Ledger Technology Services & Corporate Advisory Services.

Mahindra Last Mile Mobility And SLA Mobility Sign Distribution Agreement Of Electric 3-Wheelers In Sri Lanka

The Last Mile Mobility (LMM) division of Mahindra and Mahindra Limited, has signed a Distribution Agreement with SLA Mobility (SLAML) for electric 3-wheelers in Sri Lanka. The agreement was signed on January 18, 2023, and will involve distribution, and service support. LMM will export the highly lauded electric Treo range and the Zor Grand. These vehicles, based on the Sri Lankan government’s approval, will be imported into Sri Lanka. LMM is also exploring localisation or CKD operations in Sri Lanka. SLA Mobility is a part of the Sino Lanka Group and is focussed on introducing EVs to Sri Lanka.

Suman Mishra, CEO of Last Mile Mobility, said, “India’s No.1 electric 3-wheeler company, Mahindra, is pleased to carry the message of sustainability as well as EV propagation to our neighbours. Sri Lanka’s ecosystem will vastly gain from the introduction of Mahindra EVs and together with SLA Mobility, we aim to enhance the lives of our customers.”

Bob Kundanmal, Chairman of SLA Mobility, said "We are proud to be partnered with Mahindra and look forward to untap the manufacturing potential of Sri Lanka. We believe that development in the electric mobility industry is essential for Sri Lanka's transportation eco system."

LMM currently exports its products to Nepal and the UK. There are also ongoing talks with few other countries for exports, which will be announced in due course.

About Last Mile Mobility

The Last Mile Mobility (LMM) division of M&M is responsible for the company’s widely acclaimed mix of petrol, CNG, diesel and electric last mile mobility 3- and 4-wheelers – passenger and cargo vehicles. These include the Mahindra Jeeto 4-wheeler, Alfa range of 3-wheelers, and the electric-only Zor Grand and Treo range.

Learn more about LMM on www.mahindralastmilemobility.com / Twitter/LinkedIn (@mahindralmm), and Facebook (@MahindraLastMileMobility).

About Mahindra

Founded in 1945, the Mahindra Group is one of the largest and most admired multinational federation of companies with 260000 employees in over 100 countries. It enjoys a leadership position in farm equipment, utility vehicles, information technology and financial services in India and is the world’s largest tractor company by volume. It has a strong presence in renewable energy, agriculture, logistics, hospitality and real estate. 

The Mahindra Group has a clear focus on leading ESG globally, enabling rural prosperity and enhancing urban living, with a goal to drive positive change in the lives of communities and stakeholders to enable them to Rise.

Learn more about Mahindra on www.mahindra.com / Twitter and Facebook: @MahindraRise/ For updates subscribe to https://www.mahindra.com/news-room

About SLA Mobility

SLA Mobility is a fully owned subsidiary of Sino Lanka Pvt Ltd focusing on introducing electric vehicles in Sri Lanka. The vision of the company is to be the pioneer in electric vehicles in Sri Lanka.

COMEDK- Uni-GAUGE Entrance Exam For UGET 2023 : Application Dates Announced

* Expects over 1,00,000 students to appear for the examination across 400 centers

COMEDK UGET and Uni-GAUGE entrance examinations will be held on  Sunday, 28 May 2023, as a combined examination for admissions to over 150 Engineering colleges and 50+ reputed private and deemed universities, respectively. The entrance exam will be conducted for colleges affiliated with the Karnataka Unaided Private Engineering Colleges Association (KUPECA)  and Uni-GAUGE member universities offering B.E/B.Tech programmes. The exam will be conducted online in over 150 cities across India, with over 400 test centers. This year, it expects over 1,00,000 students to appear for the examination.

Applicants can register at www.comedk.org or  www.unigauge.com. The application process is open online from February 15, 2023 to April 24, 2023. 

For the past 50 years, Karnataka has been a leader in higher education. It is the top choice for those seeking a career in engineering due to its diverse range of colleges, exceptional education, and high job placement rate after graduation. The state's focus on higher education has resulted in the development of a large pool of skilled professionals who are in high demand globally.

This year ComedK has also launched COMED KARES, an initiative that will assist students from participating institutions in becoming job-ready through skill enhancement courses. COMEDKARES has set up eight  Innovation Hubs in Karnataka 4 of which are in Bengaluru and the rest are located at Mysuru, Kalaburagi, Mangalore, Belgaum. Each hub is housed in a 5000 sq-ft state-of-the-art center. The hubs are equipped with high end equipment (Wood routing, Laser cutting, 3D printers, AR-VR equipment, Hand tools, Computer SW, UI –UX tools etc). Programs like Rapid Prototyping, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Internet of Things (IOT) are offered at the Innovation Hubs.  With this initiative, Karnataka has also become the first state to introduce skill-based training to private engineering colleges.

“We are delighted to welcome students from around India to seek admissions to leading Engineering Institutions in Karnataka.” said Dr. Kumar, Executive Secretary at COMEDK. “Over 150 premier colleges accept students through UGET, and we’re proud to provide a fair, inclusive and non-exploitative platform to connect them with young talent.”

Adds Mr P. Muralidhar, CEO, ERA Foundation: “We believe that merit and aptitude should be the only criteria that determine where a student should pursue further studies. Uni-GAUGE has been rigorously designed to meet the highest standards of fairness and objectivity as a testing platform, and we’re proud of our part towards the holistic development of tomorrow’s workforce.”

The entire application and exam process will be online. A detailed process guideline on the online exam and application process has been made available to students on www.comedk.org or www.unigauge.com

Note: www.comedk.org is the only official website of COMEDK. Students, parents are requested to exercise utmost caution and use only the official website for information updates and the application process.

About COMED-K:

COMEDK is an evaluation test that has been initiated by the Associations of Medical, Dental, and Engineering private colleges for merit determination of students who seek admissions to the Member Institution. COMEDK (Consortium of Medical, Engineering, and Dental Colleges of Karnataka) is a fair, effective, non-exploitative, and transparent platform to determine the merit of students. Presently about 150 Engineering colleges, which offer around 20,000 seats, are affiliated to COMEDK and utilize its testing mechanism for effecting admission to UG Engineering Program during the academic year 2023-2024.    www.comedk.org

About Uni-GAUGE:

Uni-GAUGE is an online entrance exam platform for admission to undergraduate programs at leading private and deemed universities across India. Uni-GAUGE is powered by ERA Foundation, a not-for-profit organization. Since inception, ERA Foundation has been continuously working towards the holistic improvement of the education sector and skill development in the higher education sector in India.

Over the last three years, ERA Foundation has been offering a comprehensive aptitude assessment for entrants to professional/ higher education via its platform MARG. MARG is a comprehensive tool-based career counseling program in 6 Indian languages that combines subject knowledge and aptitude to help determine the most suited career for a student. MARG’s system generated reports are self-explanatory and has been designed by psychologists keeping in mind a child’s understanding of career options. ERA is making an effort to promote the program to every Senior secondary school in India.  

This affordable assessment costs only Rs. 1,000/- (Rupees One Thousand) per candidate, and Government institution students can get it free of charge with the support of CSR funds.