NCW & EDII To Organise 100 Entrepreneurship Awareness Programmes (EAPs) For Potential Women Entrepreneurs Across India

The National Commission for Women (NCW) in collaboration with the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII) has announced the launch of 100 Entrepreneurship Awareness Programmes (EAPs) for potential women entrepreneurs across the country. The first EAP out of the 100 to be organized across the country, was launched in Ujjain on Friday, by Chief Guest, Shri Mangubhai Patel, Hon’ble Governor of Madhya Pradesh and Guest of Honour, Dr. Munjpara Mahendrabhai, Hon’ble Minister of State, Ministry of Women and Child Development, GoI, in the presence of dignitaries including Smt. Rekha Sharma, Chairperson, NCW; Dr. Sunil Shukla, Director General, EDII; and Smt. Meenakshi Negi, Member Secretary, NCW.

The aim of the one-day EAP is to orient participating women to the benefits of adopting entrepreneurship as a career, learn the finer skills and overcome social, economic, and familial barriers to becoming entrepreneurs. The EAPs are aimed at developing entrepreneurial skills among women so that they could gain knowledge, skills and motivation to build their own businesses.

Speaking about the EAP, the Hon’ble Governor of MP, Shri Mangubhai Patel, said, “India is moving ahead with the vision of 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas'. Development under women-led leadership is coming up big way and is getting accepted and recognised. Women associated with the Self Help Groups are moving forward significantly. They are showing the confidence of speaking about their success, their enterprises and their future plans. Women have progressed phenomenally under the initiatives implemented by the country under the leadership of Hon'ble Prime Minister of the country. Rural areas have especially progressed with subsidy to women to set up enterprises. Under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, training and development opportunities have opened up for women. I congratulate National Commission for Women and Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India for this extraordinary initiative towards women empowerment through entrepreneurship.”

Emphasizing on the need for a conducive environment for women entrepreneurs, Dr. Munjpara, said, “We have been working towards taking forward India's women-led development agenda by accelerating women's leadership and empowerment in public as well as private sector. Women who are the backbone of our society play a pivotal role in shaping our future. Empowering them is not only our moral responsibility but also a necessary condition for sustainable development. This collaboration between National Commission for Women and Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India will help build capacity of women entrepreneurs and also sensitize relevant stakeholders.”

Smt. Rekha Sharma said, “Women although are a critical part of society, still lag behind when it comes to economic empowerment and independence. Women need to be encouraged to become economically empowered. India has a conducive ecosystem to support women entrepreneurship. Given this, women are getting motivated to set up their MSMEs. Women entrepreneurs extend job opportunities to other women, and that is the need of the hour. Women need to speak about their success, network and step forth. I am sure with the support of Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), all of this will be possible. If institutions like EDII handhold us in our endeavour, we will sure succeed.”

Speaking about the collaboration, Dr Sunil Shukla, said, “Over the last ten years, India has noticeably progressed and that has been possible only because the women populace of the country has been encouraged to become financially independent. I am happy to announce that NCW and EDII have collaborated to promote women entrepreneurship. This will strengthen the country immensely.”

About Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII)

The Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), Ahmedabad was set up in 1983 as an autonomous and not-for-profit Institute with support of apex financial institutions - the IDBI Bank Ltd., IFCI Ltd., ICICI Bank Ltd. and State Bank of India (SBI). The Government of Gujarat pledged twenty-three acres of land on which stands the majestic and sprawling EDII Campus. EDII has been recognized as the CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Govt. of India. The Institute has also been listed as the Institute of National Importance by the Education Department, Govt. of Gujarat. For more information visit: www.ediindia.org

About National Commission for Women

About National Commission for Women The National Commission for Women (NCW) was set up as statutory body in January 1992 under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990 (Act No.20 of 1990 of Govt. of India) to review the Constitutional and legal safeguards for women; recommend remedial legislative measures, facilitate redress of grievances and advise the Government on all policy matters affecting women. The mission of NCW is to strive towards enabling women to achieve equality and equal participation in all spheres of life by securing her due rights and entitlements through suitable policy formulation, legislative measures, effective enforcement of laws, implementation of schemes/policies and devising strategies for solution of specific problems/situations arising out of discrimination and atrocities against women.

Tanishq Re-Launched Its Two Stores In Bangalore At Malleshwaram And Yelahanka

~Experience bigger and better Tanishq stores at Malleshwaram & Yelahanka~

Tanishq, India’s largest jewellery retail brand from the house of Tata re-launched its two stores in Bangalore at Malleshwaram and Yelahanka. Both the stores were inaugurated by Mr. Ashok Sonthalia, CFO, Titan Company Limited & Mr. Vijesh Rajan, Head Retail, Tanishq, Titan Company Limited. Following the inauguration, Tanishq is offering free gold coin on every purchase. The offer is valid from 2nd June to 4th June 2023.

These large format stores span across a total area of 19,500 sq. ft., which caters to a wide range of signature Tanishq designs across vibrant colour stones, dazzling gold, shining diamonds, exquisite polki, and precious kundan jewellery. The store features Tanishq’s exclusive collections such as Alekhya inspired by Indian art forms along with the stunning diamond collection Colour Me Joy- The Carnival Edit; an uplifting line of jewellery collection inspired by the symphony of colours set in the spirit of stones. One of the special zones caters to wedding customers and is exclusively equipped with stunning jewellery pieces from Rivaah- a dedicated wedding jewellery sub-brand of Tanishq. Rivaah is designed keeping in line with the sensibility of Indian women from across the country and has evolved as a one stop destination for wedding shopping. Additionally, the store features a wide range of plain and studded jewellery designs from Mia by Tanishq with unique inspiration and excellent craftsmanship.

Speaking about the offer, Mr. Ashok Sonthalia, CFO, Titan Company Limited & Mr. Vijesh Rajan, Head Retail, Tanishq, Titan Company Limited said, “We are pleased to announce the re-launch of our two of the biggest stores in Bangalore today. These spacious outlets have been redesigned with the aim of bringing a larger and more contemporary Tanishq experience to the people of Karnataka. Through these revitalized stores, our goal is to provide a distinctive and exceptional jewellery shopping journey, complete with a world-class retail atmosphere and personalized customer interactions, all while offering high–quality products. The remodelled stores are now bigger and better, showcasing over 5000 exquisite designs, catering to a diverse range of customer preferences."

The re-launched stores are located at below addresses respectively: -

Malleshwaram: Tanishq Showroom, 11 Sampige Road, Between, 1st and 2nd Cross, Malleshwaram, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560003

Yelahanka: Tanishq Showroom, No. 1312/C, Suggappa Layout, Opp. RMZ Galleria Mall, B.B. Road, Next to Pai International, Yelahanka, Bangalore-560064.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Partners Bajaj Finance Limited To Enhance Retail Financing Options

* Offers 100% On-road funding including Extended Warranty & Accessories

* Strengthens TKM’s focus of reaching customers across the country

Aimed at further elevating customer experience, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Bajaj Finance Limited (BFL), Ltd., part of Bajaj Finserv Ltd., one of India’s leading and diversified financial services groups, to provide enhanced retail finance options that are specially designed to make the process of purchasing a Toyota vehicle more convenient and accessible to customers.

Bajaj Finance is a technology driven NBFC, offering a comprehensive suite of financial solutions and focused on enhancing customer experience digitally. The partnership with Bajaj Finance  will provide customers with convenient and attractive financing options ultimately enhancing the overall ownership experience. BFL has also announced that it will commence its new 4-Wheeler Finance business from June 1, 2023, across 89 key locations in India as part of Phase 1. These locations cover approximately 70% of the overall auto industry sales.

Key highlights of the partnership:

Higher affordability and enhanced Flexibility with Flexi loan proposition. This will allow customers to opt for higher models or variants, with eight years funding along with lower EMI for the first two years. Customers will also have the flexibility to part pay the loan amount and drawdown money as per convenience.,

Upto 100% On road funding including Extended Warranty and Accessories

Competitive Interest Rates starting at 8.65% per annum.

Digital straight through  loan disbursement process aimed at improving convenience for customers thus enabling them to purchase their favorite Toyota vehicles, with utmost ease.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Atul Sood - Vice President, Sales and Strategic Marketing, Toyota Kirloskar Motor said, "We are thrilled to partner with Bajaj Finance Limited to enhance retail financing options for our valued customers. True to Toyota’s brand ethos of “customer-first” approach, we continuously strive to provide convenience and exceptional ownership experience, and this collaboration is a testament to that commitment. By joining hands with BFL, we aim to reach a wider customer base, especially across Tier II and Tier III markets, boost retail sales. Together, we wish to ramp-up the retail financing landscape in the Indian Auto Industry and make the experience of owning a Toyota vehicle more accessible and rewarding for our customers."

Elaborating on the tie-up, Mr. Siddhartha Bhatt, Chief Business Officer, Auto Finance, Bajaj Finance Limited, said "Our partnership with Toyota Kirloskar Motor opens up exciting opportunities to provide enhanced retail finance solutions to customers looking for their favourite Toyota models. This also marks our foray into new four-wheeler financing business, and we are honoured to launch services with a renowned and trusted brand like Toyota. Our digital-first approach, customized solutions and straight through processeswill help us enrich customer experience. Together with Toyota Kirloskar Motor, we look forward to serving  customers across the country and delivering superior experience.

Over the years, TKM has strived to improve customer experience throughout the purchase & ownership cycle by implementing timely and relevant schemes such as easy financing options. In addition to the latest tie-up and a plethora of in-house financing solutions through Toyota Financial Services (TFS), Toyota over the years has also launched several other tailor-made services with several other financing institutes to offer customers choices and convenience of financial solutions to meet their diverse needs. The offers go beyond purchase of just new vehicles to cover used cars as well as service packages thus creating overall positive buying and ownership experience of Toyota cars.

ICICI Bank Commits A Contribution Of Rs 1,200 Crore To Tata Memorial Centre

·         This is the single largest contribution by any organisation to TMC

·         The money will be utilised to set up three new state-of-the-art blocks at TMC hospitals in Maharashtra, Punjab and Andhra Pradesh

·         The fund will also equip the new buildings with state-of-the-art medical facilities

·         Will double the capacity of patients to get advanced oncology treatment

ICICI Bank has announced a commitment to contribute Rs 1,200 crore towards Tata Memorial Centre (TMC), a premier institution that runs cancer treatment and research centres across the country.

ICICI Bank will donate the money from its CSR funds to set up three new buildings spanning over a combined area of 7.5 lakh square feet and equip them with state-of-the-art machines at TMC’s centres at Navi Mumbai in Maharashtra, Mullanpur in Punjab and Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.

With the largest contribution from any institution to TMC, ICICI Foundation for Inclusive Growth (ICICI Foundation), the CSR arm of ICICI Bank, will implement the initiative, which is likely to be completed by 2027.

With modern equipment and specialised multidisciplinary teams, these new centres of excellence in oncology treatment will provide advanced and evidence based therapies to nearly 25,000 new patients a year, doubling the present capacity and  providing a significant boost to the country’s cancer treatment infrastructure.

ICICI Foundation has signed an agreement with TMC to express this commitment. Mr. Sanjay Datta, President, ICICI Foundation and Dr. R. A. Badwe, Director, Tata Memorial Centre signed the agreement in the presence of Mr. Girish Chandra Chaturvedi, Chairman, ICICI Bank and Mr. Sandeep Batra, Executive Director, ICICI Bank. 

Mr. Chaturvedi also inaugurated the ICICI MRI Facility today at Tata Memorial Hospital at Parel in Mumbai in the presence of Dr. Badwe and Mr. Batra. This facility is equipped with an advanced MRI machine supported by ICICI Foundation.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Girish Chandra Chaturvedi, Chairman, ICICI Bank, said: “ICICI Bank has a long-standing legacy of being in service of the nation. In line with this philosophy, ICICI Foundation has been working continuously to improve the well-being of citizens through its various initiatives in the areas of environmental conservation, skill development for sustainable livelihood, affordable healthcare and community development projects. Over the years, ICICI Foundation has planted over 2.6 million trees across the country, created capacity of harvesting 17.1 billion litres annually of rainwater at 5000 rural schools and watershed structures, implemented rooftop solar panel for rural schools, benefitted more than 2.9 million lives through skilling initiatives, with more than half being women. It has also benefitted over 6.5 million individuals through its social initiatives and over 1.5 million lives through its healthcare initiatives. Overall, ICICI Foundation has positively impacted more than 10.9 million beneficiaries through its various initiatives.

Today, we are committing Rs 1,200 crore for building three new blocks at TMC’s centres at Navi Mumbai, Mullanpur and Visakhapatnam by 2027. As part of our commitment towards promoting healthcare, this initiative will enhance comprehensive cancer care services in different regions of our country by providing patients access to advanced and latest cancer therapies. These new buildings will also service as regional referral centres and mitigate the need for patients to travel long distance to visit Tata Memorial Hospital at Parel in Mumbai.”

Adding on the occasion, Dr. R. A. Badwe, Director, Tata Memorial Centre, said, “We are extremely grateful to ICICI Foundation for embarking on one of the largest CSR initiatives to improve cancer care across the country. The infrastructure which is being added at the three hospitals of Tata Memorial Centre at Navi Mumbai, Visakhapatnam and Mullanpur will provide timely and high quality treatment to people in the region at highly subsidised costs.  It is critical that advanced cancer care is delivered closer to home so that more people from the region benefit from accessing such therapies.

The radiation therapy block at ACTREC, Navi Mumbai will play a vital role in not only providing timely radiotherapy to a large  number of patients, but will also be delivered with the most advanced techniques, both of which  are critical for a successful outcome. Childhood and adult blood cancers are highly curable but require very intense therapies. The ICICI centres being established at Visakhapatnam and Mullanpur are dedicated children and blood cancer centres and will provide state-of-the-art multidisciplinary care. These centres will soon become regional hubs offering advanced therapies such as bone marrow transplant and cellular therapies to patients from the region.”

The salient features of ICICI Bank’s commitment are:

ICICI Foundation will set up an ‘ICICI Radiation Oncology Block’ at TMC’s Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research & Education in Cancer (ACTREC) at Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra. This block will be equipped with state-of-the-art radiology facilities including CT scanner and MRT, new facility for outdoor patients, laboratories and radiotherapy facility for in-patients. All these together under one roof will help reduce waiting time significantly for investigations and hence enhance the quality of treatment.

ICICI Foundation will set up two ‘ICICI Paediatric and Haematological Oncology Block’ at TMC’s Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre at Mullanpur in Punjab and Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. These centres will provide an array of advanced equipment and therapies, which are required to treat paediatric and haematological cancer. The facilities will include intense chemotherapy, bone marrow transplantation, radiation therapy and newer immunotherapies like CAR-T cell, which are available only at super specialised centres. For the convenience of in-patient care, the centres will also have dedicated beds, day care units, ICUs, MRI and CT – PET Scan facility as well as laboratories for advanced testing including genetics, which are critical for treating paediatric and haematological cancers. These centres will also become regional referral centres in the entire southern and northern parts of the country.

About ICICI Bank: ICICI Bank Ltd (BSE: ICICIBANK, NSE: ICICIBANK and NYSE:IBN) is a leading private sector bank in India. The Bank’s total assets stood at ? 15,84,207 crore at March 31, 2023.

About ICICI Foundation: ICICI Bank set up ICICI Foundation for Inclusive Growth in 2008 to enhance and expand its social development efforts. ICICI Foundation operates in the areas of environment protection, livelihood and skill development for the underprivileged, affordable healthcare, and financial inclusion across the country. Through its various initiatives, ICICI Foundation has positively impacted the lives of over 10.9 million beneficiaries as on March 31, 2023.

For news and updates, visit www.icicibank.com and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ICICIBank

OMRON Healthcare To Launch Operations In March 2025, At Origins By Mahindra In Chennai

Mahindra Industrial Park Chennai Limited (MIPCL), a joint venture between Mahindra World City Developers Limited and Sumitomo Corporation of Japan, today announced that OMRON Healthcare, one of the world’s leading manufacturer and distributor of blood pressure monitor and cardiovascular disease prevention and management Services will be launching operations in March 2025 by manufacturing the blood pressure monitorsin India, at Origins by Mahindra, Chennai.  

Rajaram Pai, Chief Business Officer – Industrial, Mahindra Lifespace Developers Limited, said, “We are delighted to welcome OMRON Healthcare to Origins by Mahindra, Chennai. This is a testament to the compelling value proposition that our industrial cluster offers as a preferred manufacturing destination. At Origins, we provide ready plug-and-play infrastructure enabling businesses to scale and go to market faster. Moreover, we are driven by our commitment to foster efficient, sustainable ecosystems that not only create employment opportunities but also attract significant investments for making-in-India.” 

The OMRON Healthcare factory will be built over 6.02 acres and will be manufacturing blood pressure monitors and supplying them mainly to the domestic market.   

Origins by Mahindra, Chennai is an industrial cluster on the NH16 Chennai – Bangalore Industrial Corridor near Ponneri, North Chennai. Currently it is home to 9+ global companies including Mitsubishi Electric, Yanmar, NISSEI, USUI, TJR, Autogrip, Masano, Track design and Ashirvad Pipes in the first phase of the project, spanning 307 acres. Businesses at Origins Chennai benefit from clear land titles, in-house operations and maintenance teams, dedicated security services and other amenities. From the perspectives of ease of access and connectivity, Origins Chennai is strategically located on the Golden Quadrilateral, has seamless access to ports at Chennai, Ennore and Kattupalli, and is in proximity to the Kavaraipettai and Ponneri railway stations. Origins by Mahindra, Chennai is one of the three Japanese Industrial townships in Tamil Nadu and the first industrial cluster in the state of Tamil Nadu to be awarded the IGBC Green Cities' 'Platinum' rating.

About Mahindra Lifespace Developers Ltd.

Established in 1994, Mahindra Lifespace Developers Ltd. (‘Mahindra Lifespaces’) brings the Mahindra Group’s philosophy of ‘Rise’ to India’s real estate and infrastructure industry through thriving residential communities and enabling business ecosystems.  The Company’s development footprint spans 33.55 million sq. ft. of completed, ongoing and forthcoming residential projects across seven Indian cities; and over 5000 acres of ongoing and forthcoming projects under development / management at its integrated developments / industrial clusters across four locations.

Mahindra Lifespaces’ development portfolio comprises premium residential projects; value homes under the ‘Mahindra Happinest®’ brand; and integrated cities and industrial clusters under the ‘Mahindra World City’ and ‘Origins by Mahindra’ brands respectively.  The Company leverages innovation, thoughtful design, and a deep commitment to sustainability to craft quality life and business growth.

The first real estate company in India to have committed to the global Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), all Mahindra Lifespaces’ projects are certified environment friendly. With a 100% Green portfolio since 2014, the Company is working towards carbon neutrality by 2040 and actively supports research on green buildings tailored to climatic conditions in India.  Mahindra Lifespaces® is the recipient of over 80 awards for its projects and ESG initiatives.

Learn more about Mahindra Lifespaces® at  www.mahindralifespaces.com

About Mahindra Group

Founded in 1945, the Mahindra Group is one of the largest and most admired multinational federation of companies with 260,000 employees in over 100 countries. It enjoys a leadership positioning 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

o9 Solutions Plants 11,487 Trees In Maharashtra; Overachieves Targets For Its o9 Walks’ Initiative

o9 Solutions, a leading enterprise AI software platform provider for transforming planning and decision-making, today announced the results of o9 Walks 2023, one of o9’s flagship social impact initiatives that is aligned to organization’s commitment and progress toward its promoting fitness and environmental sustainability.

o9’s target this year was a total goal of 500 Million steps which meant a 58% increase from the previous edition. As per last year, for every 50,000 steps collected during the initiative, o9 Solutions’ committed to planting one tree.

This year, o9 Walks has amassed 574 million steps. This has led to the planting of 11,487 trees.

Last year, participants of o9 walks made a significant contribution by planting 6,317 trees on the fringes of the Simlipal National Park in the eastern Indian state of Odisha to protect and enlarge the only habitat in the world for melanistic tigers. This year, o9 Walks raised funds for the Trees for Water program in collaboration with Tree-Nation.org to plant 11,487 trees in the Maharashtra state of India, suffering from severe droughts due to seasonal water scarcity. The trees planted by o9 Walks will protect against soil erosion and make it more permeable, thus improving groundwater availability for local communities in the region.

The success of o9 Walks can be attributed to the support and collaboration of over 3,000 participants from 48 countries including o9 Solutions’ employees, their families, friends, and o9’s customers and partners who took part in the challenge. This international community rallied together, exemplifying the power of unity and achieving a shared goal.

"o9 Walks embodies our fundamental principles and commitment to creating a meaningful impact on a global scale. This initiative resonates with our core values as we strive to make a positive difference in both lives and the environment. As a company that empowers enterprises to optimize resource utilization and minimize their carbon footprint, we recognize the urgent importance of conserving our ecosystem, especially in the face of increasingly evident climate change impacts worldwide" expressed Igor Rikalo, President and COO of o9 Solutions.

Looking ahead, o9 Solutions is committed to making future editions of o9 Walks even more remarkable. The company anticipates the next edition of o9 Walks, scheduled for 2024, and encourage all fitness enthusiasts and environmental advocates to mark their calendars and join the company on this remarkable journey.

About o9 Solutions, Inc.

o9 Solutions is a leading AI-powered platform for integrated business planning and decision-making for the enterprise. Whether it is driving demand, aligning demand and supply, or optimizing commercial initiatives, any planning process can be made faster and smarter with o9’s AI-powered digital solutions. Bringing together technology innovations—such as graph-based enterprise modeling, big data analytics, advanced algorithms for scenario planning, collaborative portals, easy-to-use interfaces and cloud-based delivery—into one platform. For more information, visit www.o9solutions.com.

Honda Cars India Registers “4,660 Units Of Domestic Sales In May 2023”

Honda Cars India Ltd. (HCIL), leading manufacturer of premium cars in India, registered monthly domestic sales of 4,660 units in May 2023. The export numbers for HCIL stood at 587 units in May’23.  

Sharing thoughts on the sales performance, Mr. Yuichi Murata, Director, Marketing and Sales, Honda Cars India Ltd said, “Our sales for the month of May’23 was in line with our plan. The Amaze and City continued to perform well and get strong customer preference. Along with this, we are gearing up for the world premiere of our upcoming new SUV model Honda Elevate. The new Honda SUV is garnering a lot of attention in the market from the customers across our network and platforms. We are confident that it will be well received by the consumers.” 

The company had registered 8,188 units in domestic sales and exported 1,997 units in May’ 22.    

Vitesco Technologies And onsemi Sign SiC “Long-Term Supply Agreement And Agree To Invest In SiC Technology Capacity Expansion”

* Vitesco Technologies is securing silicon carbide (SiC) supply capacity worth $1.9 billion (€1.75 billion), to enable the enormous growth in electrification 

* Vitesco Technologies is gaining access to this key semiconductor technology by providing an investment in production capacity of $250 million (€230 million) to onsemi  

* In addition to investing in production capacity, the two companies will collaborate to further optimize the traction inverter system   

Vitesco Technologies and onsemi announced a 10-year long-term supply agreement worth $1.9 billion (€1.75 billion) for silicon carbide (SiC) products to enable Vitesco Technologies’ ramp in electrification technologies. Vitesco Technologies, a leading international manufacturer of modern drive technologies and electrification solutions, is providing an investment of $250 million (€230 million) to onsemi for new equipment for SiC boule growth, wafer production and epitaxy to secure access to SiC capacity. The equipment will be used to produce SiC wafers to support Vitesco Technologies’ growing SiC demand. In parallel, onsemi, a leader in intelligent power and sensing technologies, will continue to invest substantially into end-to-end SiC supply chain.  

In addition, Vitesco Technologies and onsemi will collaborate on optimized customer solutions for Vitesco Technologies. onsemi’s highly efficient EliteSiC MOSFETs will be used by Vitesco Technologies to execute the recent orders as well as future projects for traction inverters and electric vehicle drives.  

“Energy-efficient silicon carbide power semiconductors are at the beginning of a big surge in demand. That is why it is imperative for us to get access to the complete SiC value chain together with onsemi. With this investment we have a secure supply of a key technology over the next ten years and beyond,” said Andreas Wolf, CEO of Vitesco Technologies. 

Hassane El-Khoury, president and CEO of onsemi, commented: “This collaboration will enable Vitesco Technologies to address their customers’ demand for longer range and higher performance in electric vehicles. onsemi provides superior performance and quality, supply assurance, and manufacturing at scale of SiC technologies based on decades of experience in manufacturing power semiconductor products in high volume automotive applications.” 

SiC semiconductors are a pivotal technology for electrification enabling highly efficient power electronics leading to reduced charging times and longer range for electric cars. Especially at high voltage levels such as 800 V, SiC inverters are more efficient than silicon models. Since 800 V is the prerequisite for fast and thus convenient high-voltage charging, SiC devices are at the beginning of a worldwide boom. 

PFRDA Unveils Handbook Of National Pension System Statistics (2023)

Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) released its first annual publication of “Handbook of National pension System Statistics 2023” (HNPSS).  

This publication, the first edition in the series, disseminates time series data on National Pension System and APY relating to all three phases of subscriber journey in the NPS system, namely: registration, accumulation, and at the time of exit in the NPS architecture in one publication. The current edition of the HPNSS contains 28 statistical tables covering time series and annual data on various parameters such as scheme-wise number of subscribers and their demographic profile, asset under management, contributions, withdrawals, grievance resolutions, net asset values (NAVs) for the period 2008-09 to 2022-23.  

Lightstorm Unveils Polarin – A Game-Changing NaaS Platform Enabling Scalable And Agile Cloud Interconnectivity For Enterprises

* Polarin by Lightstorm allows enterprises to quickly scale in a hybrid and multi-cloud world while ensuring 100% uptime, low latency, and availability

* Businesses can use Polarin by Lightstorm to manage interconnections with agility, and provision a network across clouds and datacenters within minutes 

* This disruptive solution will lead to wider adoption of multi-cloud by making it easier for enterprises to easily access and build a network for the cloud

Lightstorm proudly announces the launch of Polarin, a ground-breaking self-serve Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) platform. Polarin by Lightstorm empowers enterprises to manage network interconnections effortlessly and cost-effectively across hybrid and multi-cloud infrastructure, internet exchanges, CDN service providers, and a myriad of SaaS applications like O365, all within a secure private network.

Designed to cater to cloud-native, forward-thinking enterprises, Polarin's revolutionary network fabric offers a diverse range of connectivity solutions, granting unparalleled control and visibility over network design, deployment, and scaling in the dynamic realm of hybrid and multi-cloud networks. As a self-service platform, Polarin by Lightstorm caters to the ever-evolving needs of modern businesses, ensuring they can deliver enhanced customer experiences without the need to overhaul their network or cloud architecture.

"Our launch of Polarin by Lightstorm underscores our unwavering commitment to develop products and solutions that truly empower businesses to leverage cutting-edge technologies for accelerated growth. In today's rapidly evolving landscape, enterprises seek a transparent, secure, and agile solution to effectively manage their increasingly complex cloud networks. Traditional network solutions are ill-equipped for the cloud era and fail to address the evolving needs of businesses. Polarin by Lightstorm is built on the bedrock of transparency, agility, and scalability, allowing businesses to accelerate their hybrid and multi-cloud journey," shares Amajit Gupta, Group CEO & MD, Lightstorm

Gone are the days of cumbersome provisioning processes and rigid legacy networks that stifle enterprise growth. Polarin, built with a customer-centric approach, orchestrates the entire customer lifecycle through APIs, seamlessly integrating with various technology partners. This empowers businesses with not only cost-effective network management, but also customized solutions tailored to their unique requirements. By simplifying network management and enhancing operational efficiency, Polarin enables significant cost savings for businesses.

“Our goal with Polarin is to drive growth for burgeoning businesses across regions. This disruptive NaaS solution can enable companies to not only manage varied cloud infrastructure with ease, but also mould the same to their bespoke needs. A robust solution that offers 100% uptime and low latency, Polarin by Lightstorm gives businesses all the tools they need to flourish. With Polarin, enterprises can now embrace a future where scalable and agile cloud interconnectivity becomes a reality,” says Lalit S Chowdhary, CTIO, Lightstorm.

It is time to say goodbye to limitations and embrace a network solution that propels your business toward unparalleled growth and success.

About Polarin by Lightstorm

Polarin™ is an interconnection network platform offering from Lightstorm that enables seamless connectivity between data centers, hybrid and multi-cloud environments, internet exchanges, and SaaS applications like Microsoft Office 365. With Polarin™, organizations can effortlessly scale their networks while ensuring high availability, low latency and 100% uptime, delivering a transformative customer experience. Experience unparalleled performance and agility with Polarin™, and empower your digital infrastructure for the future.

About Lightstorm

Lightstorm is building infrastructure for hyperscale networking in South Asia and Southeast Asia to accelerate the region's growth and spur innovation in the digital economy. It is building a first-of-its-kind utility-grade resilient fiber network, SmartNet, in several countries in the region. A trusted partner of several Fortune 500 companies, Lightstorm is creating a robust foundation of digital infrastructure to create new sources of value and differentiation for businesses.

For more information, visit https://www.lightstorm.net/. You can also connect with Lightstorm’s experts on LinkedIn.  

RBL Bank Introduces ACE Fixed Deposit, Offering Upto 8.50% Interest Rate

·         Tenure options ranging from 12 months to 240 months

·         Deposit value of Rs. 50 Lakh to less than Rs. 2 Crore

RBL Bank, one of India’s leading private sector bank in India – today announced the launch of its new Fixed Deposit – ACE. In a significant move to enhance customer offerings and reward long-term commitment, the Bank is offering 20 bps higher rate of interest, over and above the regular callable deposits (Fixed Deposit which allows premature withdrawal), with senior citizens and super senior citizens getting 50 bps and 75 bps higher interest rate respectively.

With a minimum deposit value of Rs 50 Lakh and a maximum deposit value of less than Rs 2 Crore, customers can choose a tenure ranging from 12 to 240 months and enjoy the benefits on maturity, allowing them to align their investment strategy with long-term financial goals. The product is available to both resident and non-resident Indians, allowing a wider audience to benefit from this exclusive offering.

Deepak Gaddhyan, Branch & Business Banking Head, RBL Bank, said, “Traditionally, a higher interest proposition is offered for non-callable deposits with a value of Rs. 2 Crore and above. However, at RBL Bank we believe in empowering our customers and wanted to extend this offering to a wider range of client segments.  This innovative product offers a higher interest rate compared to regular Fixed Deposit, enabling customers to benefit from the power of compounding to meet their financial aspirations.”

Tata Motors Launches The Upgraded Nexon EV MAX XZ+ LUX

* Made feature rich with a Larger 26.03 cm (10.25 inch) Infotainment Screen, TFT High Resolution HD Display, 180+ voice commands, HD Rear View Camera and Wireless Android Auto & Apple Carplay

Tata Motors today launched the upgraded Nexon EV MAX XZ+ LUX at a starting price of INR 18.79 Lakh (ex-showroom, All India for the 3.3 kW AC charger). Enhanced with a superior and high tech feature upgrade, this top of the line variant of the MAX boasts of a 26.03 cm (10.25 inch) Touchscreen Infotainment system by HARMAN, high resolution (1920X720) High Definition (HD) display with slick response, Android Auto™ & Apple Carplay™ over WiFi, High Definition Rear View Camera, Heightened audio performance with sharp notes & extended Bass performance, Voice assistant in 6 languages, 180+ voice commands in six languages (English, Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi), along with a new User Interface (UI), and will be available for bookings starting today.

Having sold more 45,000 units and covering approximately 800 million kilometers on the back of the reliable Ziptron technology, the Nexon EV is India’s #1 electric vehicle and currently holds 26 records including the Fastest EV to complete the Kashmir to Kanyakumari, 4000km in under 4 days. It has been the forerunner in Tata Motors’ electrification drive and has successfully cemented its place as the best-selling EV in India. The growing demand for electric vehicles has also prompted Tata Motors to extend its touchpoints far and wide. With a current network of more than 270 dealers covering 188 cities and an electrified line up of feature rich products, Tata Motors stands strong to further India’s electrification journey by providing enhanced experiences to EV buyers, offering intuitive technology at their fingertips.

Over 1,000 Future Leaders Of Indian Agriculture And Agribusiness To Be Honored By Indian Agribusiness Leaders

The Future of Agriculture Leaders in India (FALI), an initiative supported by leading agribusiness entities – Godrej Agrovet Ltd., UPL, Jain Irrigation, StarAgri, Rallis etc. –to make agriculture attractive for the next generation today kickstarted its 9th Annual Convention at Jalgaon’s Jain Hills. Bringing together over 1,000 school children and grooming them into the future leaders of Indian agriculture and agribusiness, the convention which is hosted by Jain Irrigation will be held over two days. These standard 8 and 9 students from 155 government-aided rural schools in Maharashtra and Gujarat are the winners of business plan and tech innovation contests in their schools. The convention marks the culmination of a highly effective programme.

Having empowered over 13,000 students, the goal of FALI and the programme is to make agriculture attractive to the next generation. As part of the programme, rural students participate in interactive classroom sessions and practicums.  They have regular field visits, webinars and FALI Innovation films to expose them to innovations in agriculture and agro-enterprise; and they compete in business plan and innovation contests, with the winners getting to go to the annual FALI Convention. 

The Association for Future Agriculture Leaders of India is a Section 8 company. Its directors are: Nadir Godrej, Chairman & MD of Godrej Industries Ltd and Chairman, Godrej Agrovet Ltd.; Rajju Shroff, Chairman of UPL; Anil Jain, Deputy Chair and CEO of Jain Irrigation which hosts the annual FALI Conventions; and Nancy Barry, President of NBA Enterprise Solutions to Poverty. The major CSR contributors to FALI are Godrej Agrovet Ltd, UPL, Jain Irrigation, StarAgri, Rallis and Omnivore, with several other leading agribusinesses and banks likely to join in supporting FALI this fiscal year. 

Nadir Godrej, Chairman & MD of Godrej Industries Ltd and Chairman, Godrej Agrovet Ltd., who led the Working Group which created FALI and served as the Founding Chair, says: “Last year, when Godrej Agrovet Ltd. pioneered the FALI alumni internships, our managers were deeply impressed with the knowledge, maturity and passion of alumni who had just completed 12 standard, most exceeding performance of university students who have been interns at our company. We would be interested in hiring most of these interns when they complete their higher education.” 

Over 95% of past students and their parents say that FALI already has transformed their attitudes toward agriculture as a career.  They now see modern agriculture and agro-enterprise as an attractive future and they say that FALI has given them the tools that they need to succeed.   Most students pursue higher education, mainly in agriculture, science and engineering, while continuing to influence practices on their family farms.

Rajju Shroff, who chaired the FALI 8 Convention, says, “I am deeply impressed with the knowledge of FALI students, the quality of their business plans and their passion for modern agriculture.  With FALI growing by 25% a year, we will have over 250,000 alumni by 2031.  These graduates will transform Indian agriculture.”

With over 33,000 alumni, this organisation has built internship, scholarship and venture funding programs for alumni which most companies that support the core FALI program fund directly.  This encourages FALI students at critical points in their young lives to reinforce their knowledge of and commitment to agriculture and agro-enterprise. 

Anil Jain, CEO of Jain Irrigation, says, “We are thrilled to be hosting once again the annual FALI Convention.  It is truly rewarding to provide through FALI a unique opportunity to these young leaders to build their passion and commitment to transforming Indian agriculture and agro-enterprise. Our father went from a small village to build Jain Irrigation, and these students can do the same or more.” 

iDesign.Market Secures $200,000 In Pre-Seed Funding For Proptech SaaS Platform

iDesign.Market, a Software as a Service (SaaS) startup catering to Interior and Construction Companies, has successfully raised $200,000 in a pre-seed funding round. The investment comes from prominent entities such as Jaipur Rugs, and a consortium of angel investors to a captable that already includes PropTech experts such as Brigade REAP. The capital infusion will be utilized to bolster the company's technological infrastructure, expand the talent pool, and fuel its overall growth trajectory.

Established in 2022 by Ashish Dhingra and Sunil Bhakuni, iDesign.Market offers a user-friendly workflow management platform designed to facilitate team collaboration and streamline business operations for Interior and Construction Companies.

"Ashish and Sunil bring a formidable combination of domain and technology expertise to the table. They have demonstrated a very early solution market fit reflecting their ability to offer straightforward and efficient solutions to an industry known for its complexity and disorganization. With digital transformation on the rise we firmly believe that iDesign.Market will play a pivotal role in transforming the interior and construction ecosystem in India and internationally." said Yogesh Chaudhary, Director at Jaipur Rugs.

“This is a well-earned validation for iDesign.Market that is addressing some long-standing inefficiencies and technology gaps in the Interior and Construction industry. The ecosystem is going through a significant transition from an unorganized fragmented market to rapid digital adoption which will grow manifold in years to come,” Nirupa Shankar, director, Brigade REAP. Brigade REAP is the acceleration and investment arm of the real estate developer Brigade Group that focuses on start-ups in the PropTech and ClimateTech space.

iDesign.Market's enterprise version of the SaaS platform has already garnered significant adoption among leading Design & Construction companies, including Magppie Kitchens, Essentia Environments, and Alsorg India. The company reports a steady monthly growth rate of 25 percent in user acquisition, according to its official statement.

Air India Digitalizes Its Feedback Mechanism To Boost Customer Participation In Its New Initiatives

Air India said that its new, digitalised customer feedback mechanism has received over 140,000 responses in three months, as it continues to enhance its consumer experience across the board. The Net Promoter Score (NPS)-based customer feedback mechanism was adopted in March 2023.  

With this digital initiative, Air India has established a comprehensive system to draw customer participation in its ongoing transformation, which enables it to enhance customer experience based on their active feedback.   

“The ‘new’ Air India is all about the positive changes that our customers around the world would like to see in their favourite airline, and NPS helps us to move forward in that direction to deliver long-term and sustained improvements. We are overwhelmed by the huge participation from our customers, which shows the trust and love they have for Air India. This brings new energy to our ongoing transformation programme, Vihaan.AI, and we are delighted to have our customers on board with us in these exciting times,” said Rajesh Dogra, Chief Customer Experience & Ground Handling Officer, Air India. 

Air India’s new NPS adoption marks a significant shift from paper-based feedback system to an advanced digitalized interface, reinforcing its commitment to embrace technology to create customer delight. The platform identifies key parameters that influence customer satisfaction at every touchpoint, whether on ground, on board, or post-flight experiences, effectively capturing customers’ sentiments. 

Air India remains committed to achieving excellence in its products and services, and the customer will remain at the centre of all new initiatives.  

About Air India: 

Founded by the legendary JRD Tata, Air India pioneered India’s aviation sector. Since its first flight on October 15, 1932, Air India has built an extensive domestic network and also connects with non-stop flights to cities around the world, across USA, Canada, UK, Europe, Far-East, South-East Asia, Australia, and the Gulf. After 69 years as a government-owned enterprise, Air India and Air India Express were welcomed back into the Tata group in January 2022. 

Air India is navigating through a major five-year transformation roadmap under the aegis of Vihaan.AI, with an ambition to become a world-class airline with an Indian heart. The first phase of this transformation, the taxi phase was recently concluded, and focused on fixing the basics. These included bringing back to service many long grounded aircraft, addition of talent across flying and ground functions, rapid upgradation of technology and strengthening of customer care initiatives amongst others. 

Member of Star Alliance, the largest global airline consortium of leading international airlines, Air India offers seamless connectivity and facilities to passengers all over the world. 

It has committed over USD 400MM to completely refit the interiors of all wide-body aircraft and has also planned an investment of over USD 200MM in digital and technology. In January 2023, as part of its transformation efforts, Air India placed the industry’s largest ever order of 470 aircraft across Boeing and Airbus and these will start joining its fleet from later this year. With its enhanced fleet, network and improved on-time performance, the airline is revamping its customer proposition. 

About the Tata Group:  

Founded by Jamsetji Tata in 1868, the Tata Group is a global enterprise, headquartered in India, comprising 30 companies across ten verticals. The Group operates in more than 100 countries across six continents, with a mission 'To improve the quality of life of the communities we serve globally, through long-term stakeholder value creation based on Leadership with Trust’.  

Tata Sons is the principal investment holding company and promoter of Tata companies. Sixty-six percent of the equity share capital of Tata Sons is held by philanthropic trusts, which support education, health, livelihood generation and art and culture. In 2021-22, the revenue of Tata companies, taken together, was $128 billion (INR 9.6 trillion). These companies collectively employ over 935,000 people.  

Each Tata company or enterprise operates independently under the guidance and supervision of its own Board of Directors. There are 29 publicly-listed Tata enterprises with a combined market capitalisation of $311 billion (INR 23.6 trillion) as on March 31, 2022.  

Companies include Tata Consultancy Services, Tata Motors, Tata Steel, Tata Chemicals, Tata Consumer Products, Titan, Tata Capital, Tata Power, Indian Hotels, Tata Communications, Tata Digital, and Tata Electronics.    

IKIO Lighting Limited’s Initial Public Offering To Open On June 06, 2023, Sets Price Band At Rs 270 to Rs 285 Per Equity Share

·         Price Band of ?270 – ?285 per equity share bearing face value of  ? 10 each (“Equity Shares”

 ·         Bid/Offer Opening Date – Tuesday, June 06, 2023 and Bid/Offer Closing Date – Thursday, June 08, 2023

·         Minimum Bid Lot is 52 Equity Shares and in multiples of 52 Equity Shares thereafter.

·         The Floor Price is 27 times the face value of the Equity Share and the Cap Price is 28.5 times the face value of the Equity Share.

IKIO Lighting Limited, a manufacturer of Light Emitting Diode (LED) Lighting in India, has fixed the price band at ?270 to ?285 per Equity Share (of face value ?10 each) for its maiden public offer. The initial public offering (“IPO” or “Offer”) of the Company will open on Tuesday, June 06, 2023, for subscription and closes on Thursday, June 08, 2023. Investors can bid for a minimum of 52 Equity Shares and in multiples of 52 Equity Shares thereafter.

The Offer with a face value of ? 10 per equity share consists of a fresh issue of equity shares worth up to ? 350 crore and an offer-for-sale (OFS) of up to 9,000,000 equity shares by existing shareholders.

The Company is primarily an Original Design Manufacturer (ODM) and designs, develops, manufactures and supplies products to customers who then further distribute these products under their own brands. They also work with their customers to develop, manufacture and supply products that are designed by their customers. Products are categorized as LED lighting, refrigeration lights, ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) piping and other products. Equipment and systems produced by the Company are used in various industries, including residential, industrial and commercial lighting.

The largest customer of IKIO Lightning is Signify Innovations India Limited (formerly known as Philips Electronics India Limited) which, in Fiscal 2022, had a 50% market share in India’s functional decorative lighting category (including LED spotlights, LED downlights and cove lights) and a 10% market share in India’s true-blue decorative lighting segment (including chandeliers, wall lights, pendants, outdoor lights) according to F & S Report. The Company also has a diversified customer base across industry sectors and geographies which includes Western Refrigeration Private Limited, Panasonic Life Solutions India Private Limited and Novateur Electrical & Digital Systems Private Limited.

IKIO Lighting Limited’s revenue from operations on a proforma consolidated basis grew 55.47% from ? 213.45 crore in Fiscal 2021 to ? 331.84 crore in Fiscal 2022 and profit after tax has increased 75.37% from ? 28.81 crore in Fiscal 2021 to ? 50.52 crore in Fiscal 2022. The Company, on a Proforma Consolidated basis for Fiscal 2022, has a return on net worth (RoNW) of 46.40% as against some of its listed peers on a consolidated basis such as Dixon Technologies (19.08%), Amber Enterprises (6.30%), Syrma SGS Technology (10.29%) and Elin Electronics (12.93%).

For the nine months ended December 31, 2022, on a proforma consolidated basis, the company’s revenue from operations stood at ? 328.63 crore and profit after tax stood at ? 51.35 crore.

The Offer is being made through the Book Building Process, wherein not more than 50% of the Offer shall be available for allocation to Qualified Institutional Buyers, not less than 15% of the Offer shall be available for allocation to Non-Institutional Bidders and not less than 35% of the Offer shall be available for allocation to Retail Individual Bidders.

Motilal Oswal Investment Advisors Limited is the sole book running lead manager and KFin Technologies Limited is the registrar to the offer. The equity shares are proposed to be listed on the Main Board of BSE and NSE.

Sony Launches BRAVIA X82L Series For Stunning Picture With Immersive Sound

Highlights

1.       Experience remarkable picture quality with X1 4K HDR Picture Processor

2.       The new X82L series with TRILUMINOS™ Pro display reproduces life like color experience 

3.       Experience the thrills of cinema with Dolby Vision™ and Dolby Atmos™

4.       Enjoy the immersive sound experience with the all new Acoustic Multi-Audio and X-Balanced Speaker in X82L series

5.       X82L series offers smart user experience with Google TV which offers endless entertainment through 10,000+ Apps & games along with 700,000+ Movies and TV series. It also works seamlessly with Apple AirPlay2  and HomeKit

6.       With the Handsfree voice search feature, you can interact with the TV to play your favorite shows and movies.

7.       X82L series now comes with BRAVIA CORE, to enjoy the largest collection of IMAX enhanced movies, Dolby Atmos content with highest quality Pure Stream™ 80mbps

8.       X82L comes with the feature for PS5 that transforms your gaming experience with Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Mode. Its HDMI 2.1 compatibility supports gaming with Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM)

9.       With X82L, Game Menu feature allows you easily access gaming status, settings, and gaming assist functions all in one place

10.   Explore an array of fun new TV experiences with BRAVIA CAM including gesture controls, ambient optimization and Google meet etc.

11.   Experience supreme pictures and sound in every environment with Ambient optimization, Light sensor, and Acoustic auto calibration technology

12.   X82L series is designed to perform in the toughest conditions with the X-Protection PRO

13.   With flush surface design, slim T-shaped wedged stand and sleek smart remote with six hot keys, X82L seamlessly blends with your living room

14.   Designed with the environment in mind

Sony India today announced the launch of BRAVIA X82L television series with gorgeous picture quality and amazing sound. The new X82L series takes vision and sound to the next level and offers world of entertainment with Google TV, brought to life in beautiful color by the picture and sound technology.

1.   Experience remarkable picture quality with X1 4K HDR Picture Processor

Description automatically generatedSony’s new television series available in 139 cm (55), 164 cm (65) and 189 cm (75) screen sizes. The newly launches series encompasses X1 4K HDR picture processor which delivers an immersive viewing experience with Object-based HDR remaster. The color in individual objects on-screen is analyzed and the contrast adjusted, unlike most televisions where contrast is only adjusted along one black-to-white contrast curve. Because objects are remastered individually, this TV can reproduce greater depth, textures and more realistic pictures.

2.  The new X82L series with TRILUMINOS™ Pro display reproduces life like color experience

The X82L series comes with a wide color gamut and unique TRILUMINOS PRO™ algorithm, which can detect color from saturation, hue, and brightness to reproduce natural shades in every detail. You'll enjoy colors that are closer to those seen in the real world. 

3.       Experience the thrills of the cinema with Dolby Vision™ and Dolby Atmos™

Logos of Dolby Vision® and Dolby Atmos®The new BRAVIA X82L lineup powered with Dolby Vision™ is an HDR solution that creates an immersive, engaging cinematic experience in your home bringing scenes to life with striking highlights, deeper darks and vibrant colors. With Dolby Atmos, sound from the new BRAVIA X82L 4K televisions come from above as well as from the sides so you can hear objects moving overhead with more realism for a truly multi-dimensional experience. 

4.  Enjoy the immersive sound experience with X-Balanced Speaker and Acoustic Multi-Audio in X82L series

X-balanced speaker feature is designed in X82L series to complement the sound quality and slimness of the televisions with its unique new shape, the drives movies and music with clear sound. The Acoustic Multi-Audio technology includes sound positioning tweeters at the back of the television that enables sound to follow the action for a truly immersive experience.

5.    X82L series offers smart user experience with Google TV which offers endless entertainment through 10,000+ Apps & games along with 700,000+ Movies and TV series. It also works seamlessly with Apple AirPlay2  and HomeKit

With new BRAVIA X82L series, download 10,000+apps, see 700,000+ movies and TV episodes, plus live TV, all in one place. Google TV brings everyone’s favourite content from across apps and subscriptions and organizes them. Searching is easy- just ask Google. Try saying, “Hey Google, find action movies” to search across apps. Customers can easily find something to watch with personalized recommendations by bookmarking the shows and movies by adding a watchlist from phone and then later watch it on TV. Users can even add to their watchlist from their phone or laptop with Google Search and find everything in one place. BRAVIA X82L supports Apple Home Kit and AirPlay that seamlessly integrates Apple devices like iPads and iPhones with the TV for effortless content streaming.

6.   With Handsfree voice search feature, you can interact with the TV to play your favorite shows and movies

With Voice Search, there’s no more complicated navigation or tiresome typing, you can find your favorite content faster than ever using the power of your voice, no remote required. The built-in microphones on the television will allow viewers to have a truly hands-free experience. Viewers can simply talk to the TV using the Google Assistant to find what they want quickly, or to play TV shows, movies, and more without using the remote.

7.   X82L series now comes with BRAVIA CORE, to enjoy the largest collection of IMAX enhanced movies, Dolby Atmos content with highest quality Pure Stream™ 80mbps

The BRAVIA Core app is a pre-loaded movie service that allows for redemption of 5 credits both for current releases and classic blockbusters films with unlimited streaming of top movies in 12 months. It gives you access to a large library of Sony Picture’s movies available to stream in near 4K Blu-ray technology. With BRAVIA X82L experience Pure Stream™, the highest streaming picture quality and access the largest collection of IMAX® Enhanced movies with Dolby Atmos everything you watch is delivered with stunning visuals and expressive sound quality. With the BRAVIA CORE Calibrated mode, your movie will automatically adjust to the optimal picture settings to create a truly exceptional at-home movie viewing experience.

8.       X82L comes with the feature for PS5 that transforms your gaming experience with Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Mode. Its HDMI 2.1 compatibility supports gaming with Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM)

Split screen of a driving game with a yellow car going round a track in the snow. Showing Game Mode OFF on top and Game Mode ON on the bottomTwo screens showing Auto Genre Picture Mode on and off with PS5 console between themWith Auto Low Latency Mode in HDMI 2.1, the X82L recognizes when a console is connected and powered on and automatically switches to low latency mode. One can enjoy smoother, more responsive game play, which is vital for fast-moving, high-intensity games. With Auto HDR Tone Mapping the HDR settings will be optimized instantly during your PS5™ console’s initial setup. Your PS5™ automatically recognizes individual BRAVIA TV models and selects the best HDR setting for your TV accordingly. So even in high contrast scenes, you will see the crucial details and colors in the brightest and darkest parts of the screen. The TV will automatically switch into Game mode to minimize input lag and make the action more responsive. When watching movies on PlayStation5® consoles, it switches back to standard mode to focus on picture processing for more expressive scenes.

9.      With X82L, Game Menu feature allows you easily access gaming status, settings and gaming assist functions all in one place

The X82L series include an easy-to-use Game Menu where gamers can customise their settings to their preferences, such as turning on or off VRR or Motion Blur Reduction with quick access. The Game Menu also allows users to increase the brightness in dark areas to easily spot objects and opponents with the black equalizer and can easily take aim on their opponents with six types of crosshairs. You can also customize the size of the screen with the screen size feature to concentrate gaming with a smaller, focused screen.

10.   Explore an array of fun new TV experiences with BRAVIA CAM including gesture controls, ambient optimization and Google meet etc.

Connect your BRAVIA TV with BRAVIA CAM ( sold separately) for an awesome immersive viewing experience. BRAVIA CAM recognizes where you are in the room and how far you are from the TV, then adjusts sound and picture settings so they are perfect. You can also enjoy an array of fun new TV experiences with BRAVIA CAM including gesture controls, you can also catch up with your friends and family on the big screen via google meet feature. Detecting the distance between you and your TV, BRAVIA CAM adjusts TV brightness, so you can always enjoy perfect picture quality, no matter where you are in the room. A light and color sensor in the TV optimizes pictures to light conditions for the best possible viewing experience.

11.   Experience supreme pictures and sound in every environment with Ambient optimization, Light sensor, and Acoustic auto calibration technology

The X82L comes loaded with ambient optimization technology with light sensor which automatically adjusts the picture brightness to room conditions, boosting brightness in light rooms and reducing it in dark ones so you get the perfect view. The acoustic auto calibration technology detects your position and optimizes sound, so that you can enjoy the same sound quality as if you are sitting right in front of the TV. Sound can change depending on your room environment. Curtains, for example, absorb sound while objects in front of the TV can disturb the passage of sound, compromising the quality of what you hear. This TV detects objects and reproduces sound that is enhanced and optimized to your room.

12.   X82L series is designed to perform in the toughest conditions with the XR protection PRO

X-Protection PRO logosNew BRAVIA X82L series televisions are built with the new and improved X-Protection PRO technology which is made to last. Not only are they equipped with superior dust and humidity protection as they also pass the highest standards of Sony's lightning tests, meaning your TV is safeguarded from lightning strikes and power surges. Keep enjoying seamless entertainment with a TV that lasts longer.

13.   With flush surface design, slim T-shaped wedged stand and sleek smart remote with six hot keys, X82L seamlessly blends with your living room

The unique flush surface design of X82L gives the TV a clean, contemporary look and does not hamper you  viewing experience. A sleek and seamless stand designed to perfectly match the TV and harmonize with your room and decor. All your connected devices can be controlled with the smart remote. Designed with a flush surface featuring lower buttons and a special polyurethane coating, the remote is easy to wipe and keep clean. All buttons are specially coated with antibacterial material. The remote has six hot keys (BRAVIA CORE, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+Hotstar, Sony LIV and YouTube) with press of a button you can access your favorite video on demand services and bring shows and movies into your living room in seconds.

14.   Designed with the environment in mind

The growing demand for ever larger TV screens comes with greater resource and energy use. Sony’s sustainability commitments are realizing efficiency gains from product development right through to watching TV. Keeping its commitment to decreasing plastic usage through its Road to Zero initiative. To reduce environmental impact, Sony is working on multiple aspects of the product life cycle, such as reduction of virgin plastic use, improvement of transportation efficiency, and reviewing energy consumption during use. Additionally, the new Eco Dashboard included on all 2023 models allows users to easily customize energy saving preferences and settings.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Becomes The Official Vehicle Partner Of Supercross Racing League In India

* (Toyota’s Iconic Hilux To Support The First-Ever Dirt Bike Racing League In India)

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) is proud to announce its association as the official vehicle partner for the upcoming Indian Supercross Racing League, world’s first-of-its-kind franchise-based supercross racing league, in the country. The Supercross is a variant of motocross that involves off-road motorcycle racing on a constructed dirt track consisting of steep jumps and obstacles. This league will feature renowned riders from both India as well as global motorsport arena, promising to deliver phenomenal dirt bike racing of international calibre. For this year, a three-round season is being planned to be held across different cities in India. The Toyota Hilux being equipped with the 4x4 drive capabilities is a perfect partner, like none other, to support supercross league towards creating extraordinary experiences for the viewers and serve the needs of teams and officials during the league.

Being the official vehicle partner of the event, the iconic Toyota Hilux will provide on-ground operational support to Indian Supercross Racing League in conducting dirt bike race. The Hilux known for its true 4x4 capabilities will facilitate the transport of motocross dirt bikes into the event venues as well as usage by teams and officials during the event. This Supercross Racing League involves different customised dirt bikes, covering Indian as well as renowned international brands. The legendary Hilux will be showcased at four strategic locations across the event areas, including the pit area, the centre of the stadium and the podium/stage.

Globally, Toyota has a strong history in motorsports, dates back more than 60 years, associating and competing in various prominent motorsport events such as the World Rally Championship, Dakar Rally, World Endurance Championship and so forth. Toyota's motorsport divisions namely Toyota Racing Development (TRD) and Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) have a legacy in racing that has led to expanded knowledge and the development of ever-better cars over the years. Toyota strongly believes that ‘everyone has a racer inside and being part of the team means playing a role in building something greater and making history together’.

To elaborate, the first TGR activity, namely the ‘5 Continents Drive’ was held in India in 2019. Furthermore, in the year 2020, the GR Supra GT Cup e-motorsport was announced in India, indulging avid gamers and motorsport-lovers in the digital realm, bringing in a lot of fun-drive and thrill.

Speaking on the partnership, Mr. Atul Sood, Vice President of Sales and Strategic Marketing - Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, "We are thrilled to associate as the official vehicle partner for the world’s first-of-its-kind franchise-based Indian Supercross Racing League. The remarkable dirt bike racing event provides us a unique opportunity to extend necessary support towards the movement of specialised dirt bikes with Toyota Hilux, which is renowned for its off-roading capabilities. In addition, we will be showcasing the unmatched performance of Hilux via a special act during this league. Needless to mention, our association with motorsports globally has been longstanding, and we are excited to support the Indian Supercross Racing League in India, to conduct their dirt bike race.

As Toyota’s product offering, Hilux aims to fulfil the needs of customers seeking an awesome lifestyle utility vehicle that is best suited, not only for off-roading adventure drives on tough terrains, but also for everyday city use. Furthermore, this versatile vehicle is perfectly suited for multi-purpose usages that can cater to new emerging business customers be it campervan, farming, defence, mining, construction, rescue van, etc.”, he added.

Given the rising trend of discerning millennials, leaning towards owning 4x4 SUVs, the Toyota Hilux has received good customer response by gaining enormous appreciation for its great styling and driving comfort. In addition to variety of remarkable features coupled with a robust engine, the Hilux also offers exceptional endurance, low maintenance cost, and great practicality for a variety of usage purposes. Toyota Hilux will continue to set new standards by creating new experiences and enhance the lifestyle of the customers to ‘Live a Fuller Life’.

Sharing his views about the official vehicle partnership with Toyota, Mr. Eeshan Lokhande, Co-founder of Indian Supercross Racing League, said, “We are delighted to have Toyota Kirloskar Motor on board as our official vehicle partner for the Indian Supercross Racing League. Toyota’s Hilux with its rugged capabilities and reliability is a perfect accompaniment for our racing event to enable the movement of our dirt bikes to the race arena. We are confident of delivering a world-class racing experience to our audience and racers. We look forward to a successful partnership and an exhilarating season ahead."

Recently, in India, Toyota announced their foray into 4X4 X-pedition, designed to connect with the 4x4 enthusiast and provide opportunities to unleash the true potential of their 4x4 SUVs. The first zonal drive took place in Southern region of India covering Bangalore-Hassan-Sakleshpur, creating an unforgettable journey for the 4x4 community. In this direction, TKM’s association with Supercross League is an integral part of Toyota's enhanced motorsport activities in India.

Jaguar Land Rover Unveiled Its New Corporate Identity As It Accelerates Modern Luxury Vision

* Jaguar Land Rover Unveils New Corporate Identity As It Evolves To JLR

* New JLR identity embodies elegance, modernity and the company’s forward-thinking essence

* As announced, Range Rover, Defender, Discovery and Jaguar brands to be amplified under House of Brands approach

* Land Rover heritage mark to remain integral and will be visible on our vehicles, online platforms and retail sites

* New JLR identity is next step in Reimagine strategy and reflects company’s modern luxury ambition

Jaguar Land Rover has unveiled its new corporate identity today, as part of its move to a House of Brands organisation.

The new brand identity aspires to remove ambiguity and bring to the fore the unique DNA of each of JLR’s brands - Range Rover, Defender, Discovery and Jaguar – as well as accelerate the delivery of the company’s vision to be Proud Creators of Modern Luxury.

Commenting on the new identity, JLR CEO Adrian Mardell, said: “Today is an exciting day as we unveil a new identity for our company as part of our House of Brands approach. I’m confident this perfectly illustrates JLR’s ambition in the modern luxury space.” 

JLR’s Chief Creative Officer, Professor Gerry McGovern OBE, said: “This is the next chapter of our Reimagine journey to become a truly modern luxury business. The new JLR identity will bring clarity to our clients and act as a unifier for our four distinct British brands.”

The creative process behind the new identity focused on elegance, modernity and a forward-thinking essence to exhibit the direction and ambition of the company. The descending j aspires to add elegance, while the lighter weight of the emblem illustrates the step change to refinement and modernity.

JLR reaffirmed today that the Land Rover brand will remain a key part of the company’s DNA. Land Rover continues as a world-renowned and important heritage mark, remaining on vehicles, websites, social media and retail sites, underpinning the world-class Range Rover, Defender and Discovery brands.

Ather Announces The 450S, A New Variant Based On Its Bestselling 450 Platform

* Starting at INR 129,999 the 450S will offer a superior riding experience and performance compared to 125cc petrol scooters available today

* Bookings to start from July onwards

* Announces new prices for the 450X product line under the now revised FAME-II framework

Ather Energy, India’s leading electric scooter manufacturer, today announced the 450S, a new variant that will bring much desired performance-centric EV mobility to more commuters in the country. The 450S will be powered by a 3 kWh battery pack and is expected to have an IDC (Indian Driving Conditions) range of 115 km and a top speed of 90 km/h.

The new 450S will continue to offer the segment’s best technology and performance, that Ather is known for amongst the scooter enthusiasts. With a starting price of INR 129,999 (exclusive of state subsidy), the 450S is within the reach of Indian commuters, who are now buying 125-cc performance ICE scooters but are keen to switch to much smarter and better performing Ather scooters.

Tarun Mehta, Co-Founder & CEO, Ather Energy, said, “The 450 platform has been immensely successful for us, and we wanted to make it available to a wider set of buyers. The 450S will be our new entry-level variant for those looking to enter the electric segment but are seeking the quality and assurance that Ather scooters provide. Within the category, the 450S will break new grounds and will offer first-of-its-kind tech features in the performance scooter segment, raising the bar in terms of riding pleasure and safety while still delivering on performance”

Ather Experience Centres across the country will start accepting bookings for the new 450S from July onwards, and customers can express interest on Ather’s website to register - https://atherenergy.com/450S .

Following the FAME II subsidy revision applicable from today, Ather has revised the prices of its scooters effective today. The FAME II subsidy, one of the important levers that accelerated EV adoption in India, is revised to INR 10,000 per kWh with a maximum cap of 15% of the ex-factory price.

“The FAME II revision has resulted in a subsidy reduction of around INR 32,000. However, Ather is absorbing a huge chunk of this price impact for its customers with a view to quicken EV adoption in the country. Starting today, our best selling scooter - 450X with Pro Pack* will be available at INR 165,000 (ex-showroom Bangalore), which is just marginally higher than prices in March 2023. We have tried to contain the prices as much as possible in the interest of our customers and have registered the lowest price hike in the industry post the FAME II subsidy reduction. The enormous price absorption, coupled with offering 700W home fast charger and Ather Grid™ access up to 3 kW, adds immense value to the customers paying an incremental price post the subsidy revision” said Ravneet S. Phokela - Chief Business Officer, Ather Energy.

Starting today, the Ather 450X will be available at INR 145,000 (ex-showroom Bangalore) and INR 165,000 for the 450X with Pro Pack* (ex-showroom Bangalore).

Ex-showroom prices inclusive of FAME II & State Subsidy.   

NueGo Receives Prestigious “Asia Book of Records” And “India Book of Records” Citations

* NueGo has received these admired certifications for launching the first ever all-woman electric intercity bus 

NueGo, India’s leading premium electric bus brand by GreenCell Mobility was honored with the prestigious “Asia Book of Records and India Book of Records” certifications and citations for the successful launch of First Ever All-Woman Electric Intercity Bus. The adjudicators of Asia Book of Records and India Book of Records presented and handed over the citations and medals to Mr. Devndra Chawla, CEO & MD, GreenCell Mobility. This attempt is all about the first electric intercity bus driven and taken care by an all-woman staff. The attempt falls under the ‘Human Story’ category of Asia Book of Records.  

NueGo took a step towards bringing electric vehicles and women's empowerment together by doing the world's first ever all-woman electric intercity bus ride between Delhi and Agra on 16th May 2023.  The bus was driven by a woman coach captain, hosted by a woman coach host, and carried only women passengers. This revolutionary journey was flagged off by Mr. Devndra Chawla, CEO & MD of GreenCell Mobility, with an aim to break barriers, shatter stereotypes, and celebrate the incredible strength and resilience of women. 

The launch of the first ever all-women electric intercity bus by NueGo marks a significant milestone in the mass mobility sector. This pioneering initiative aims to empower women and foster gender equality, while also providing a safe and comfortable travel experience for female passengers. 

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Devndra Chawla, CEO & MD, GreenCell Mobility said, “We are immensely proud to have received this recognition from the Asia Book of Records and India Book of Records for our all-women intercity bus initiative. This achievement reinforces our mission to create a more inclusive and sustainable transportation ecosystem. At NueGo, we believe that innovation and gender equality go hand in hand, and we are committed to driving positive change through in the mass mobility ecosystem.” 

NueGo is a game-changer in the Indian travel industry, providing a new and safe way to travel with its premium electric AC coach service. With its focus on safety, comfort, and eco-friendliness, the brand aims to provide passengers with an unparalleled travel experience. Being a customer centric brand, NueGo buses go through 25 stringent safety checks including mechanical and electrical inspections. These electric buses can run up to 250 kilometers in a single charge, with the air conditioners on, in traffic conditions. NueGo buses are fitted with innovative technology and offer end to end convenience for inter-city travelers with focus on Safety, Punctuality, and seamless customer experience. 

About NueGo: NueGo is the flagship inter-city pan Indian electric mobility coach brand of GreenCell Mobility. NueGo has a service planned roll out across 30 cities wherein 350 state of art buses will redefine the mass transport sector by developing green routes offering world class travel experience for Indian customers. As a trailblazer for sustainable traffic, NueGo is the first pan Indian electric coach brand offering end to end journey experience for travellers. A customer centric brand, NueGo buses are a climate-friendly alternative offering holistic travel solutions through customer assist services like lounges, feature rich mobile app, exhaustive bouquet of VAS services, building towards a seamless travel experience. While NueGo handles technology development, network planning, operations control, marketing and sales, quality management and continuous product expansion, trusted NueGo-partners maintain the daily route operations.  

About GreenCell Mobility Pvt. Ltd: 

GreenCell Express Private Limited (GreenCell Mobility), based in Mumbai, has achieved a remarkable feat by being recognized in both the Asia Book of Records and India Book of Records for launching India's First Ever All-Woman Electric Intercity Bus. The Company has been set up to become a leading pan-India shared electric mobility player by leveraging proven global experience, developments in e-mobility technology, and the Government of India’s strong push for electrification of transportation in India. 

Greencell Mobility has been promoted by Eversource Capital, India’s leading climate impact investor.  

Eversource Capital is an equal joint venture between Everstone Group (www.everstonegroup.com), one of Asia’s premier investment manager with assets in excess of US$7 billion across private equity, sustainability and climate impact, logistics, digital and venture capital; and Lightsource bp, a global leader in development and management of solar energy projects.