Air India Augments Customer Contact With New Centres Globally

* Partners with Concentrix and iEnergizer to provide 24/7 assistance for customers with dedicated desks for premium and frequent flyers

Air India, India’s leading global airline, has deployed five new contact centres, offering round-the-clock assistance to its customers worldwide

It has partnered with Concentrix, a California-headquartered customer engagement firm, to manage premium services from centres in Mumbai, Cairo, and Kuala Lumpur. The airline has also signed up iEnergizer, to operate contact centres in Noida and Bengaluru, focusing on domestic inquiries.

Air India has recently introduced a premium desk exclusively tailored for its premium Frequent Flyer members, as well as business and first-class guests. The dedicated service offers personalised assistance, further enhancing the overall travel experience for these esteemed segments of passengers. Investing in developing best-in-class technology infrastructure, including a new tech stack, the airline aims to streamline customer support operations and enhance efficiency.

"Our customers are at the core of our operations. The enhancement and expansion of the contact centres is a testimony to Air India's commitment to providing comprehensive support to our customers and is a step towards building Air India into a world-class global airline," Rajesh Dogra, Chief Customer Experience Officer, Air India, said during the launch of the Mumbai centre.

Air India has implemented a comprehensive back-office insourcing strategy to manage emails, social media, and chat support internally to effectively assist our valued customers. A 24/7 grievance management desk promptly addresses all customer queries, escalations and provides round-the-clock support. A robust quality and training governance framework has also been established to ensure that the employees adhere to best-in-class standards and enhance their skills.

Recently Air India launched its redesigned website and airline industry’s first Generative AI chatbot- AI.g. The chatbot provides seamless accessibility on the website as well as on WhatsApp opening a new guest support channel, helping travellers to ask questions across 1300+ travel-related topics.

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 with non-stop flights to cities around the world, across the 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. A 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.

Celebrate The Vibrant IPL Season At Platform65 For Food & Drinks

As the fever of IPL is in the air, Platform 65, India’s largest train-themed restaurant is all set with a vibrant spot for IPL fans for this IPL season. Cricket enthusiasts can now come together and catch the live action of IPL streaming live at all 11 branches of Platform 65 on big screens. Platform 65 makes sure that fans have a memorable live cricket experience supporting their favourite team in a lively atmosphere with friends, families and lots of food & drinks.

Platform 65 Restaurants are transforming into the ultimate destination for fans to enjoy the thrill of the game while indulging in a range of delicious food options with a diverse menu featuring special starters main courses, and exotic beverages. To add to the excitement, there is a special 1+1 offer on Mocktails and Tower Mocktails, ensuring that every visit is a refreshing experience. With mouth-watering special starters Classic Mushroom, Allam Kodi Wings, Telangana Kodi Vepudu etc. would go as a perfect combo with refreshing beverages during the match.

Adding to this excitement Sadgun Patha, Managing Director and Founder of Platform 65, said, "We are excited to create a vibrant spot for cricket fans to come together and enjoy the IPL matches. We aim to provide a lively atmosphere, delicious food, and great offers to make the IPL season even more enjoyable for our guests."

Venkatesh Gopisetty, Vice President at Platform 65, “Whether you're a cricket enthusiast or simply looking for a fun outing with friends and family, Platform 65 Restaurants are the place to be this IPL season. Join us at any of our 11 branches to cheer for your favourite team and savour the taste of victory with our exciting offerings”.

Platform 65 Restaurant is India's largest toy train-themed restaurant, offering a unique dining experience with a delightful toy train running through the restaurant. With 11 branches in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, Platform 65 is committed to creating memorable moments for its patrons, combining good food with a playful atmosphere.

Justdial Reports A Surge In Demand For Water Services, Bengaluru And Hyderabad Top The Charts

-          A 101% and 56% surge in water tanker-related searches in Bengaluru and Hyderabad, respectively.

-          Significant rise in searches for water-related services in Pune (31%), Mumbai (11%), Ahmedabad (7%), Chennai (6%), Delhi (3%), and Kolkata (3%)

-          The most sought-after categories included water tank dealers, drinking water tanker suppliers, water tank repairs & services, and water tank cleaning services

As the world grapples with the ongoing climate crisis, Justdial, India's no.1 Hyper-local business search engine, unveils alarming consumer trends, shedding light on the exacerbating water scarcity issue in urban areas across the country. The nation's struggle with this issue stems from a severe mismatch between its limited water resources and a rapidly growing population. The findings from the latest Justdial Consumer Trends Report underscore the pressing need for immediate action to address the looming water crisis.

A report by Niti Aayog predicts a bleak future, stating that 20 major Indian cities are on the brink of severe water scarcity, with an estimated 40% decline in freshwater availability by 2030. The recent El Nino phenomenon has further compounded the issue, leaving a significant portion of the country reeling under severe drought conditions. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has also issued warnings of a hotter and drier summer this year, attributing it to the El Niño effect.

The Justdial Consumer Trends Report reveals startling statistics, indicating a substantial surge in water-related searches in key urban areas. Bengaluru and Hyderabad experienced a 101% and 56% increase, respectively, in consumer queries related to water resources, suggesting that these two major metropolises are severely impacted by water scarcity. In other major cities like Pune (31%), Mumbai (11%), Ahmedabad (7%), Chennai (6%), Delhi (3%), and Kolkata (3%), there is a significant rise in searches for water-related services as well.

Among the most searched categories on the Justdial platform were water tank dealers, drinking water tanker suppliers, water tank repairs & services, and water tank cleaning services, reflecting the growing concern among consumers regarding water availability and quality.

As Justdial data suggests, water tanker businesses with a digital presence saw a surge in demand during the past quarter. This highlights the growing importance of online visibility for such vendors. By embracing the digital landscape, traditional water tanker suppliers can tap into a wider customer base and streamline their operations. This not only benefits their business but also ensures residents have easier access to this essential service, particularly during periods of water scarcity.

The ramifications of inadequate water supply extend far beyond mere inconvenience. It poses a direct threat to societal stability and economic prosperity. Rapid urbanisation, climate change, and inadequate infrastructure have exacerbated water shortages in cities nationwide. The repercussions include heightened public health risks due to waterborne diseases and strain on healthcare systems.

To address these challenges, the government has initiated policy-led interventions for effective water management at the village or district level, as per the Niti Aayog report. The success story of the ‘Drink from Tap Mission’ in Puri city (Odisha) presents a viable model that can be exemplified as a replicable model. This mission's core features include the Right to Water policy, relaxed house connection norms, and reduced non-revenue water through 100% metering and volumetric metering. Additionally, leveraging information technology with smart metering facilitates data capture for informed decision-making by water management authorities.

By understanding these consumer trends, policymakers, businesses, and individuals can work collaboratively to devise solutions for water conservation and ensure a sustainable future. Justdial remains committed to raising awareness about critical issues and continues to support initiatives aimed at fostering positive societal change and sustainable development.

About Just Dial Limited

Just Dial Limited provides local search related services to users in India through multiple platforms such as Desktop/PC website (https://www.justdial.com), mobile site (https://t.justdial.com), mobile apps (Android & iOS), over the telephone (Voice, pan India number 88888-88888) and text (SMS). Justdial’s latest version of JD App, is an All-in-One App, replete with features like Map-aided Search, Live TV, Videos, Stock quotes, etc. to make the life of the consumer infinitely smoother & more engaging.

The Company has recently launched its B2B marketplace platform, JD Mart. JD Mart platform, available at https://www.jdmart.com and via apps on Play Store and App Store, is aimed at enabling millions of India’s manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, retailers to become internet-ready in post-COVID era, get new customers and sell their products online. The platform offers digital product catalogues to businesses and aims at digitalising India’s businesses, especially MSMEs, across categories. Buyers can discover quality vendors offering a wide selection of products to choose from, spread across millions of categories to suit all B2B needs.

Justdial has also initiated transaction-oriented services for its users. These services aim at making several day-to-day tasks conveniently actionable and accessible to users from one App. With this step, Justdial is transitioning from being purely a provider of local search and related information to being a direct/ indirect enabler of such transactions. Justdial has also recently launched an end-to-end business management solution for SMEs, through which it intends to transition thousands of SMEs to efficiently run business online and have their adequate online presence via their own website, mobile site. Apart from this, Justdial has also launched JD Pay, a unique solution for quick digital payments for its users and vendors.

NLSIU Announces JSW Grant For Comprehensive Redevelopment Of New Academic Block On Campus

The National Law School of India University announces a grant from the JSW Group for a comprehensive redevelopment and expansion of the University’s core Academic Block & Precinct, as well as the establishment of the ‘JSW Centre on the Future of Law’.

This grant will support the redevelopment of the New Academic Block (NAB), located in the southern part of the NLSIU campus at Nagarabhavi, Bengaluru. The two-storeyed NAB was originally built in 2014 and accommodates lecture theatres, seminar rooms, office spaces and meeting rooms. The JSW grant will help add four floors and redevelop the available two floors to provide flexible and technologically advanced learning and office spaces, along with collaborative research spaces for faculty, students, and researchers. This building will be named as the ‘JSW Academic Block’ and be seamlessly integrated with the surrounding precinct including the recently redeveloped Shri Narayan Rao Melgiri Memorial National Law Library to create the new academic hub of the University.

The grant will also support a new research centre on campus: ‘JSW Centre for the Future of Law’. This Centre will anchor academic and policy research and curricular interventions that explore the effects of new technologies on the future of the legal system, the legal profession and legal education. The Centre will develop new and appropriate models of legal regulation and incubate new technologies that facilitate legal system reform and access to justice. Under the leadership of a Centre Director, the Centre will host doctoral and postdoctoral researchers who will engage with multiple stakeholders including governments, domestic and international regulators, academia, civil society and private sector entities.

“This generous grant, the largest in the University’s history, enables the successful implementation of the next phase of the NLSIU Inclusion and Expansion Plan 2021-25. Under this Strategic Plan, the University aims to expand student intake by nearly 350% to facilitate greater opportunity for all while creating a socially inclusive student body. We are grateful for JSW’s support and commitment towards the growth of NLSIU by developing world class infrastructural facilities for future generations of law students, and fostering new and useful legal research that responds to the technological transformations of our time,” said NLSIU Vice Chancellor, Prof. (Dr.) Sudhir Krishnaswamy.

Mrs. Sangita Jindal, Chairperson of JSW Foundation, said: “The JSW contribution of revamping the new academic block is going to help to significantly improve teaching quality, infrastructure and access to resources for students and faculty on campus. The legal profession plays a key role in the development and progress of our country since it’s a just society which creates opportunities for growth and distributive justice. As such, education in law plays a key role in shaping the discourse, lawful behaviour and development of norms for a justice loving peaceful society and nation. In the long term, the contribution will significantly impact the lives of graduating students. JSW’s aim is not just to support the skilling of professionals but to facilitate the empowerment of leaders who are committed to serving our country with dedication and excellence."

Commenting on the JSW Group’s partnership with NLS, Mr. Parth Jindal, MD of JSW Cement & JSW Paints, stated “Over the years, JSW Group has been dedicated to promoting education in various forms. The contribution to the Future of Law Centre at NLS enables us to support a critical aspect of dealing with how the law needs to adapt and cope with technological changes. It enables NLS the opportunity to leapfrog and be a leader in these new areas. The advent of new technology in AI, such as large language models, is already revolutionizing the legal field. Technology powered tools are transforming contract analysis and litigation support, making legal processes more efficient. The Future of Law Centre at NLS will be at the forefront of exploring these innovations, developing curriculum and research initiatives that address the ethical, legal, and societal implications of technology in law, ensuring that future legal professionals are well-prepared to utilize and regulate these technologies responsibly.”

About the Architects

In November 2023, the University along with the JSW Group selected ‘Hundredhands’, through a rigorous architectural competition, as the architect for the development of this precinct. Hundredhands is an internationally recognised design studio based in Bangalore. Over the last 20 years, the studio has developed a reputation for carefully considered work which is sensitive to context and celebrates craft. The studio’s portfolio includes masterplans, institutional buildings, housing, hospitality projects and residential and corporate interiors. For the New Academic Block, Hundredhands will be collaborating with A Threshold, a studio based in Bangalore. Their work is predicated on careful observation and their deep understanding of indigenous building traditions. The studio’s on-going work includes residential, institutional and hospitality projects.

Mr. Ashwini Saxena, CEO, JSW Foundation said: “Through a strong field presence, the Foundation operates across 33 districts in 14 Indian States with priority on communities around JSW’s plant & port locations. JSW Foundation also reaches out to communities beyond these locations to contribute towards India’s social development in a meaningful way. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Foundation supported various communities & families by providing food and healthcare facilities across all these locations. JSW Foundation’s holistic life-cycle based interventions have positively impacted more than a million underprivileged people across India.”

About JSW Foundation: JSW Foundation is the social development arm of JSW Group, one of India’s leading business houses. It has a long track record and a rich legacy of empowering rural communities to enrich their lives since the last three decades. The Foundation’s focus areas are Education, Health & Nutrition, Skill Development, Rural BPO, Environment & Water, Sports and Art & Heritage.  The Foundation operates two multi-specialty hospitals in Karnataka & Maharashtra with outpatient potential of 100,000 annually. Its educational interventions have positively impacted more than 140,000 under-privileged children in rural locations while its Agriculture, Women SHG & Rural BPO initiatives have created new livelihood sources for more than 16,000 farmers and 10,000 rural women. The Foundation has provided access to sanitation by constructing more than 7500 toilets in rural villages. It has also helped more than 200,000 needy individuals access Government welfare schemes. The foundation has trained over 23000 youth on various skills that lead to their employment or entrepreneurship. 1400 self-help groups with around 16000 rural women are providing access to credit to the poor. JSW Foundation's work in Art & Heritage is focussed on restoring India’s monuments such as Chandramouleshwara Temple in Hampi, Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue in Mumbai among others. These restorations have been recognized globally and won prestigious international awards.

About JSW Group: The US$ 23 billion JSW Group is ranked among India's leading business houses. JSW's innovative and sustainable presence in various sectors including Steel, Energy, Infrastructure, Cement, Paints, Ecommerce, Venture Capital and Sports is helping the Group play an important role in driving India’s economic growth. The Group strives for excellence by leveraging its strengths & capabilities including a successful track-record of executing large capital-intensive & technically complex projects, differentiated product-mix, state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities and greater focus on pursuing sustainable growth. With a culturally diverse workforce spread across India, USA, Europe and Africa, JSW Group directly employs nearly 40,000 people. It also has a strong social development focus aimed at empowering local communities residing around its Plant & Port locations. JSW Group is known to create value for all its stakeholders by combining its growth roadmap, superior execution capabilities and a relentless drive to be #BetterEveryday.

About NLSIU: NLSIU was the first National Law University established in India in 1987 to be a pioneer in legal education. The premier law school was set up with a mission to pioneer legal education reforms, and to anchor the transformation of the Indian legal system through research and policy interventions. Over the last three decades, the University has been an innovative leader in legal education and research in India. It has been ranked First among Law Universities in every significant ranking including the National Institute Ranking Framework (NIRF) which has consistently ranked NLS as the top law school for the last six years.

In 2021, the University developed the ‘NLSIU Inclusion and Expansion Plan 2021-25’ which integrates three key strategies: Student Inclusion & Expansion, Faculty & Research, and Finance & Infrastructure. Under this plan, we have already expanded intake across our academic programmes from 190 students per annum (AY 2020-21) to 560 students per annum (AY 2023-24), while accommodating students from diverse backgrounds from across the country. In the last three Academic Years, we have recruited 68 highly accomplished faculty across disciplines from the top universities and have intensified our efforts toward increasing research output. Our physical infrastructure has grown to accommodate the expansion of the University including new classrooms, improved hostels and residential amenities, and a reimagined and redeveloped academic library that is among the best in the country. The University has also adopted and is currently implementing a comprehensive digital transformation of all academic, administrative and residential processes.

o9 Reports 36 Percent Annual Recurring Revenue Growth In 2024

* o9 Continues to Deliver Increased Client Value With Its Cutting-Edge, AI-Powered Platform

o9, a leading enterprise AI software platform provider for transforming planning and decision-making, today reported that its annual recurring revenue (ARR) in Q1’24 grew 36% year-over-year. o9 also signed a multitude of new clients in diverse industries and solidified its relationship with existing clients by extending the scope of projects and adding more value.

During the quarter, o9 successfully implemented its AI-powered Digital Brain platform at multiple global clients across a wide range of industry sectors, including automotive, process manufacturing, telecommunications, fashion, retail, and industrial wood processing, to help them optimize their planning and decision-making capabilities. o9 also announced substantial advancements to its Digital Brain platform by incorporating a rich set of Generative AI (GenAI) powered capabilities into its core Enterprise Knowledge Graph (EKG) models.

o9 continued to grow its global headcount to nearly 2,800 in Q1’24. The Company expanded its global footprint by opening new offices in Shanghai, and expanding its presence in Bangalore, India.

During the quarter, o9 participated in the 54th annual Davos World Economic Forum 2024 in Davos, Switzerland, where it hosted an exclusive executive panel. The panel facilitated discussions on pivotal issues facing the global supply chains in the post-COVID-19 era, emphasizing the imperative of digitalization in mitigating challenges such as component shortages. Moreover, o9 joined the World Economic Forum’s Innovator Communities, which unites private companies valued at more than $1 billion.

In March, the Company successfully organized its annual client event, aim10x digital 2024, to transform supply chain and commercial planning. With over 10,000 registrations, supply chain, procurement, revenue management, IT, and sustainability professionals tuned in to learn best practices and insights from leaders and executives driving growth and innovation. In 2024, o9 will host 12 aim10x in-person events globally, providing excellent networking and learning opportunities. Register here to join an aim10x On Tour event in a city near you.

Chakri Gottemukkala, Co-founder and CEO of o9, said, “o9 is committed to delivering unparalleled value to our customers by transforming their business planning and decision-making capabilities. Our unwavering dedication to customer success drives continuous innovation and enhances our future-proof platform, enabling our clients to achieve their strategic objectives and drive sustainable growth. This quarter’s success highlights the tangible value of the o9 platform, underscoring our mission to provide the world’s most value-generating enterprise planning platform.”

Other notable highlights in Q1’24 include:

o9 to support M&S with the digital transformation and upgrade of its clothing & home planning systems

o9 partners with Skechers to digitally transform the company’s retail planning processes

o9 partners with Natura and Avon in Brazil to offer digital commercial planning solutions

o9’s co-founder and CEO Chakri Gottemukkala has become a member of the WSJ’s CEO Council and has been highlighted as one of the World’s Most Influential Decision-makers

o9 and Resilinc partner to provide joint clients with greater visibility into their multi-tier supply network

o9 was named a Food Logistics 2023 Top Software & Tech Award Recipient for its innovative Supplier Collaboration solution

The Company ranked No. 78 on Inc. Magazine’s List of the Southwest Region’s fastest-growing private companies

Three o9ers were recognized as 2024 Pros to Know Winners by Supply & Demand Chain Executive

o9 announced its full suite of Revenue Growth Management solutions

o9 and AWS expanded their collaboration

o9 submitted and validated its Science-Based Emissions Reduction Targets

o9 announced Make a Difference (MAD) as the recipient of its inaugural Digital Tomorrow Grant

PVR Launches 14-Screen Megaplex At The Phoenix Mall of Asia In Bengaluru

The cinema chain operator announced the opening of 14 screen megaplex at Phoenix Mall of Asia in the city of Bengaluru.

The 14-screen Megaplex located in the largest and one of the most premium malls in Bengaluru features three premium formats MX4D, ScreenX, and Insignia. PVR INOX also introduces the first MX4D, the immersive 4D movie experience and ScreenX, 270-degree cinema viewing in South India.

* The new cinema will augment PVR INOX foothold in Bengaluru with 172 screens in 26 cinemas and in Karnataka with 219 screens in 37 cinemas. The company consolidated its presence in South India to a total of 572 screens in 100 properties.

Ajay Bijli, managing director of PVR INOX, said, The Southern region is a critical market for us with a steady supply of regional content and passionate consumer demand. We have received an overwhelming response for all our premium screen formats nationwide, prompting us to unveil our largest cinema in South with 14 screens including 3 superlative cinema formats MX4D, Screen X and Insignia. It has been PVR INOXs strategy to make cinemas more experiential and this Megaplex at Phoenix Mall of Asia perfectly aligns with our vision.

Meanwhile, the company informed about the opening of 9 screen multiplex in the city of Kochi, Kerala located at Forum Mall. The cinema is equipped with state of the art 4K Laser Projectors, Dolby Atmos sound and Real D 3D technology.

With this launch, PVR INOX has augmented its presence in the city of Kochi with 22 screens across 3 properties and consolidated its foothold in Kerala with 42 screens in 6 properties and 558 screens across 99 properties in South.

Ajay Bijli, MD added, We are delighted to launch the first P[XL] screen in Kerala as we look forward to presenting a superlative movie going experience to our patrons. We are thrilled to announce the opening of our third multiplex in Kochi and the 6th in Kerala which is the result of the evolving demand from audiences that keeps us assertive for bringing innovative global standards of cinematic experience to every part of the country.

With these launches, PVR INOX now operates the largest multiplex network with 1,741 screens across 361 properties in 113 cities (India and Sri Lanka).

PVR INOX is engaged in the business of movie exhibition & production and operates largest cinema circuit across India. The company earns revenue from sale of movie tickets, in-cinema advertisements/product displays and sale of food and beverages and restaurant business.

The company reported 20.5% YoY decline in consolidated net profit to Rs 12.80 crore in Q3 FY24. Revenue from operations jumped 64.5% YoY to Rs 1,545.90 crore in the quarter ended 31 December 2023.

PhonePe Partners With eSewa & Hotel Association of Nepal Pokhara For UPI Push At The Fewa New Year Festival

-       PhonePe will run extensive on-ground merchant activations as a part of the popular New Year festival.

PhonePe today announced that it has partnered with e-Sewa and the Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN) Pokhara to popularize UPI on the Fonepay Network, as a part of the Fewa New Year Festival which will be held from April 11-14th. The New Year festival is not only  popular among citizens all over Nepal but also very popular among Indian tourists who visit the country and enjoy the festivities. With food stalls serving traditional Nepali cuisine as well as international dishes, live music performances by local and international artists, cultural performances, including traditional Nepali dances and music and art exhibitions and workshops, the iconic event, offers a unique opportunity to experience the best of Nepalese culture and local culinary delights.

This year, in line with its vision of popularizing Digital payments via UPI, PhonePe will spearhead several activities during the Fewa New Year Festival. PhonePe will run on-ground activation aimed at raising awareness about digital payments among local merchants while demonstrating the convenience of digital payments for customers. With prominent on-ground and digital branding, kiosks showing how to use digital payments, and other interactive activities PhonePe along with eSewa and HAN Pokhara will showcase the ease of UPI payments. Over 3,000 merchants will be part of the festival with over 100,000 visitors expected.   

Speaking on the partnership, Ritesh Pai, CEO International Payments, PhonePe, said, "We are excited to partner with eSewa and the Hoteliers Association of Nepal to help popularize   UPI as a part of the popular Fewa New Year Festival. Nepal attracts many Indian visitors annually who come to experience the music, food, and culture of this beautiful place. Our focus will be on creating merchant education and awareness to ensure the uptick of UPI on the Fonepay Network in Nepal. This partnership will revolutionize Nepal's digital landscape, ensuring PhonePe customers can effortlessly conduct transactions at their convenience, regardless of location.’’

Mr. Jagdish Khadka, CEO, eSewa said "Partnering with PhonePe and the Hotel Association of Nepal for the Fewa New Year Festival is an exciting opportunity for eSewa to further promote digital payments in Nepal. As the country's leading digital wallet, we are committed to enhancing the digital payment ecosystem and providing convenient solutions for both merchants and consumers. With Indian visitors being a major visitor for Nepal, this move aligns well to cater the needs of visitors and enhance their overall experience. Through this collaboration, we aim to showcase the benefits of using UPI and Fonepay network and empower merchants to embrace digital transactions, ultimately contributing to the growth of Nepal's digital economy. Additionally, we believe such collaboration will foster greater financial inclusion and accessibility."

Mr. Laxman Subedi, President HAN Pokhara Chapter said,

“In the joyous spirit of Nepali New Year 2081, 19th Fewa New Year Festival aims to attract 300,000 visitors. Pokhara’s hotels, supported by the Hotel Association of Nepal, offer discounts of up to 20% to ensure comfortable stay for tourists travelling to Pokhara. Embracing our values of Tourism, Culture, and Food, Pokhara stands out as a beacon of Nepal’s tourism appeal. Together, let’s reveal the beauty of our region, preserve our cultural heritage, welcome visitors from far and wide, and breathe new life into our hospitality sector.”

Mr. Diwas Sapkota, CEO, Fonepay said, “It brings us a great pleasure to witness the strategic partnership with PhonePe India, eSewa Nepal, and the Hoteliers Association of Nepal to promote the integration of UPI capabilities onto the Fonepay Network. The New Year Festival serves as an ideal venue to highlight the impact of this collaboration. With its massive turnout, the festival brings people to the heart of Nepal's cultural and economic center, offering everyone the chance to witness and experience the advancements in payment technology.”

About PhonePe Group:

PhonePe Group is India’s leading fintech company. Its flagship product, the PhonePe digital payments app, was launched in Aug 2016. In just 7 years, the company has scaled rapidly to become India’s leading consumer payments app with 520+ million registered users and a digital payments acceptance network of 38 million merchants. PhonePe also processes 230+ million daily transactions with an annualized Total Payment Value (TPV) of USD 1.5+ Trillion.

On the back of its leadership in digital payments, PhonePe Group has expanded into financial services (Insurance, Lending, Wealth) as well as new consumer tech businesses (Pincode - hyperlocal e-commerce and Indus App Store - India's first localized App Store). PhonePe Group is an India headquartered technology company with a portfolio of businesses aligned with the company's vision to offer every Indian an equal opportunity to accelerate their progress by unlocking the flow of money and access to services.

About eSewa:

Established in 2009 AD, eSewa Pvt. Ltd is Nepal’s first and leading online Payment Service Provider (PSP). eSewa has been at the forefront of fostering financial inclusion and creating a digital economy. eSewa has become a household name today for making online payments. eSewa is striving to build an inclusive ecosystem to make our economy cashless. For this, the company has onboarded more than 8 Million customers, 220K agents, 350K Merchants, 49 Banks and Financial Institutions (BFIs), 5K listed services across various verticals including Mobile top-up, Utility bills payments, Domestic and International airlines. Education, Online shopping, Food and Hospitality, ISP payment, Health, Government payments, Insurance, Stockbroker payments and more. With a commitment to serve all segments of society, eSewa caters to over 8 Million customers through our user-friendly mobile application. eSewa are driving the transformation towards a more inclusive, accessible, and technologically empowered financial landscape in Nepal.

About Hotel Association of Nepal Pokhara Chapter:

As the leading representative organization in the vibrant hospitality sector of Pokhara, the Hotel Association Pokhara plays a crucial role in shaping the tourism landscape of this picturesque city. With a rich history, Hotel Association Pokhara serves as the voice of Pokhara's hoteliers, safeguarding their interests and fostering unity among its members.

In Pokhara, Hotel Association Pokhara represents numerous hotels, resorts, and guesthouses, each contributing to the city's reputation as a premier tourist destination. Moreover, Hotel Association Pokhara serves as a platform for networking and collaboration among hoteliers, facilitating the exchange of ideas and best practices. By advocating for the concerns of its members and providing them with current industry information and resources, Hotel Association Pokhara empowers Pokhara's hospitality sector to thrive amidst changing trends and challenges.

About FonePay:

Fonepay is a Payment System Operator facilitating inter-bank person-to-person (P2P) and person-to merchant (P2M) transactions through its interoperable network and mobile platforms. Fonepay is regulated by Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) and is the first mobile payment network to be licensed by NRB as Payment System Operator (PSO). Fonepay, a subsidiary of the F1Soft Group has been making active efforts to contribute towards a cashless economy by enabling fast, secure, and reliable digital cashless payment services to bank and wallet customers as well as businesses. The company is focused on bringing innovations to the mobile payment network through the usage of technology to achieve greater efficiency in operations and widen the reach of payment systems.

Tata Passenger Electric Mobility And Shell Partner To Deliver Superior EV Charging Experiences Across India

Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd. (TPEM), known for pioneering India's electric vehicle (EV) revolution, has signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding with Shell India Markets Private Limited (SIMPL) to collaborate in establishing public charging stations across India. The collaboration will leverage Shell's widespread fuel station network and TPEM's insights from over 1.4 lakh Tata EVs on Indian roads to set up chargers at locations frequently visited by Tata EV owners. Additionally, both companies will work towards delivering superior charging experiences.

To improve the experience of EV owners across India, this agreement between TPEM and Shell India Markets Private Limited (SIMPL) aims to explore synergies between the two companies to encourage more people to adopt electric vehicles in the country. The two companies are also exploring introducing convenient payment systems and loyalty programs, which will add significant value to TPEM’s customers.

TPEM is the market leader of EVs in India, commanding a market share of 71% in electric passenger vehicles with four products in its portfolio. TPEM has led the rise of the EV ecosystem in the country by introducing its first EV-exclusive store in Gurugram to working with various charge point operators to grow India’s charging infrastructure.

Shell EV Recharge locations provide reliable and ultra-fast charging, with a 98%-99% charger uptime. These locations also offer convenient retail, including fresh food and beverage options. All these factors help enhance the overall customer experience and provide added value and convenience.

Commenting on this partnership, Balaje Rajan, Chief Strategy Officer, Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd. and Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd. said, “As a part of our endeavour towards an open collaboration to advance India’s EV ecosystem, we are excited to partner with Shell. Through this partnership, we aim to grow the existing charging infrastructure, which is crucial for mainstream adoption of EVs in the country, particularly as the customer base continues to expand. By combining TPEM's deep understanding of EV usage with Shell's unparalleled customer experience, this strategic alliance will certainly bring a marked change in India’s charging behaviour, in turn driving up the EV adoption in the country.”

Commenting on this partnership, Sanjay Varkey, Director, Shell India Markets Private Limited, said, “Shell is committed to define the EV charging experience by offering integrated solutions that prioritize convenience, safety, and sustainability. Our dedication to using 100% certified renewable sources combined with our ultra-fast and reliable chargers ensures that our customers enjoy a sustainable, hassle free and efficient charging experience. Our strategic partnership with Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd aims to promote the widespread adoption of electric vehicles in the country by leveraging digital integration and customer-centric initiatives.”

Case studies from across the world show that ubiquitous and convenient charging infrastructure is a prerequisite for driving EV adoption and that growth in charging infrastructure results in exponential growth in EV adoption. This collaboration between two leading companies in this space is expected to help catapult India’s EV growth to its next phase. 

MAHE And Indian Council of Medical Research Jointly Inaugurate Aerial Healthcare Delivery System Utilizing Drones For Sample Transportation

* Today the first sample was sent from Dr. T. M. A. Pi Rotary Hospital, Karkala to Kasturba Hospital, Manipal.

Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) have joined forces to inaugurate the Deployment of a Robust Need based aerial healthcare delivery system (DRONE). The program aims to utilize drones for transporting Oncopathological Samples between Peripheral and Tertiary Care Hospitals in Karnataka.

The primary objective of this initiative is to assess the feasibility of transferring materials, such as frozen section samples, from remote locations to peripheral hospitals using aerial means. This endeavor is expected to enhance the healthcare system by enabling surgeons to perform procedures requiring such investigations in rural areas.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, have been gaining popularity across various industries, including healthcare. In India, the lack of intraoperative sample transportation from rural areas presents a significant challenge. The DRONE project seeks to explore the feasibility, utility, and cost-effectiveness of utilizing drones for this purpose. By leveraging drone technology, samples can be transported swiftly, providing immediate access to advanced diagnostics like Frozen section during surgical procedures. If successful, this research could revolutionize healthcare delivery by establishing connections between remote hospitals and laboratory facilities, thereby facilitating complex surgeries for patients in geographically inaccessible regions.

The inauguration ceremony was graced by esteemed dignitaries including Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Secretary, Dept. of Health Research, Govt. of India and Director General, ICMR, and Dr. Atul Goel, Director General of Health Services, DGHS, MoHFW, who served as chief guests. Dr. Sanghmitra Pati, Additional Director General (ADG), ICMR and Director, ICMR-RMRC, Bhubaneshwar, Ms. Anu Nagar, Joint Secretary, Dept. of Health Research, Govt. of India, Dr. Kamini Walia, Scientist G & Head, Division of DDR, ICMR-Hq, New Delhi, Lt. Gen (Dr) M D Venkatesh, Vice Chancellor, Dr. Sharath K Rao, Pro Vice Chancellor (Health Sciences) MAHE, Manipal, were among the distinguished guests.

Dr. Rajiv Bahl, in inaugurating the project, lauded the initiative's innovative approach to healthcare delivery, highlighting its potential to revolutionize sample transportation and diagnostic services, particularly in underserved rural areas.

During the event, Dr. Kamini Walia highlighted the significance of the project, emphasizing its potential impact on healthcare accessibility.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Anu Nagar emphasized the transformative potential of the DRONE project, stating that it represents a significant step towards bridging healthcare gaps and ensuring equitable access to medical services across Karnataka.

Dr. Sanghmitra Pati underscored the importance of collaborative research efforts in addressing healthcare challenges, expressing optimism about the project's ability to enhance diagnostic capabilities and improve patient outcomes.

Dr. Atul Goel emphasized the importance of the project in addressing healthcare disparities and enhancing medical services in rural areas.

Lt Gen (Dr) Venkatesh congratulated the ICMR for spearheading this pioneering initiative, emphasizing the importance of leveraging technology to address healthcare disparities and improve healthcare access for all communities.

In his presidential address, Dr. H.S. Ballal appreciated ICMR's collaborative spirit behind this drone project and emphasized the importance of innovation in healthcare. MAHE Manipal has always been at the forefront in such innovation,” The event commenced with a welcome note by Dr. Sunil Aggarwal, Scientist and Program Officer, ICMR. Dr. Kirthinath Ballala, Chief Medical Officer at Dr. TMA Pai Rotary Hospital, Karkala, extended his heartfelt gratitude to all attendees and contributors for their unwavering support and dedication to the DRONE project.

Dr Narayan Sabhahith, Pro chancellor (Techinology and Scinece), Dr Giridhar Kini, Registrar of MAHE Manipal,   Dr. Padmaraj Hegde, Dean-KMC, Dr. Anand Venugopal, COO-Teaching Hospital, MAHE, Manipal, Dr Arun Mayya Dean, Manipal College of Health Profession, Dr. Avinash Shetty, Medical Superintendent, Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, Dr Kuldeep Nigam from ICMR also attended the event.

Samsung's 'Solve For Tomorrow' Programme introduces Two Separate Tracks Catering To Different Age Groups

* Environment Champion’, the winning team of Youth Track to receive INR 50 Lakh grant for incubation whilst ‘Community Champion’, the winning team of School Track to receive INR 25 Lakh grant for prototype advancement

* Collaborative efforts with FITT IIT-Delhi, support from Ministry of Electronics & IT and the United

* Nations in India underline the programme's commitment to fostering innovation and addressing societal challenges with a global perspective

Samsung, India’s largest consumer electronics brand, has announced the third edition of its flagship CSR initiative - 'Solve for Tomorrow', in strategic collaboration with the Foundation for Innovation & Technology Transfer (FITT), IIT Delhi, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, and the United Nations in India. With Solve for Tomorrow, Samsung aims to usher in a culture of innovative thinking and problem solving amongst the country’s youth.

Solve for Tomorrow 2024 was inaugurated by Mr. JB Park, President & CEO, Samsung Southwest Asia, Dr. Sandip Chatterjee, Sr. Director and Scientist ‘G’, Ministry of Electronics & IT, and Mr. Shombi Sharp, United Nations Resident Coordinator in India, in the presence of other dignitaries.

The CSR programme recognizes the power of innovative solutions and their ability to transform lives, makes a strong social impact, and strengthens Samsung’s vision of #TogetherforTomorrow #EnablingPeople.

This year, the 'Solve for Tomorrow' programme introduces two distinct tracks – School Track and Youth Track, each dedicated to championing a specific theme and targeted towards different age groups. Both the tracks will run simultaneously, ensuring equal opportunity and a level playing field for all students.

The School Track, is tailored for students aged 14-17, focusing on the theme “community and inclusion”. The track underscores the importance of uplifting underprivileged groups, improving accessibility to health & social inclusion for all through social innovations and hence 'Solving for India'.

The Youth Track on the other hand, targets individuals aged 18-22, with a focus on the theme “environment and sustainability”. The track seeks innovative ideas for reducing carbon footprint, protecting the environment & promoting sustainability and hence 'Solving for the World'.

Mr. JB Park, President & CEO, Samsung Southwest Asia, said, "At Samsung, we strive to inspire and shape the future through innovative ideas and transformative technologies. Our mission revolves around fostering the next generation of innovators and catalysts for social change. Solve for Tomorrow is truly shaping up as a platform for India’s youth to come up with meaningful innovations that can improve the lives of people.

In the first two editions, we have seen this CSR initiative have a positive impact on our next generation, who scaled greater heights, embarking on their social entrepreneurship journey. In its third edition, with the introduction of two separate tracks, we aim to solve simultaneously for India and for the world. More importantly, with this flagship CSR programme, we want to play our part in strengthening the innovation ecosystem in the country.”

Dr. Sandip Chatterjee, Senior Director and Scientist ‘G’, The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) said, “Environment and sustainable development are amongst the priority agenda of Government of India.  It is an opportune moment to combine technology with the human capabilities for accelerating economic growth.  Indian youth, having innovative mind and skills, cares deeply for the environment.  Using radical innovations, various global grassroots issues and challenges could be addressed.  Programmes like ‘Solve for Tomorrow’ are a testament to realise the vision of the Government of India, by harnessing the power of youth.”

Prof. Rangan Banerjee, Director, IIT Delhi said, "We are honoured to continue our partnership with Samsung as their key partner in the 'Solve for Tomorrow' programme. This collaboration underscores the commitment to fostering innovation and empowering young minds to drive positive change in the society.”

Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator in India, said, “I am delighted to participate in the third edition of the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow programme, an exciting initiative which encourages and promotes youth-led innovation to solve challenges related to the Sustainable Development Goals. The UN system in India works with and supports initiatives by the private sector that promote the ambitions and leadership of young people, like The Solve for Tomorrow programme. With the greatest youth generation in history, ever, India has more young minds bringing their energy & solutions than ever before! This means that Indian solutions will also be global solutions.”

Samsung Solve for Tomorrow at a Glance

Who can participate: 14-17 year-olds in School Track – individually or in teams of up to 5 members can submit their ideas in the “Community & Inclusion” theme and 18-22 year-olds in Youth Track –individually or in teams of up to 5 members can submit their ideas in the “Environment & Sustainability” theme

Application themes:

“Community & Inclusion”, under School Track, caters to empowering underprivileged groups by improving accessibility to health, improving learning methods and access to education, and ensuring social inclusion for all

“Environment & Sustainability”, under Youth Track, will focus on environment protection, reducing carbon footprints and promoting sustainability

What will they get: Hands-on training from various industry experts including Samsung, MeitY, IIT-Delhi, and technical support from United Nations in India. In addition, participants will get exclusive mentoring and coaching to build their ideas into prototype, an opportunity to attend a curated innovation walk with focussed interactions with Samsung leaders, and milestone-based grants for prototype development and enhancement

School Track: Semi-finalists 10 teams will get INR 20,000 grant for prototype development & Samsung Galaxy Tabs. Finalists 5 teams will get INR 1 Lakh Grant each for prototype enhancement & Samsung Galaxy Watches

Youth Track: Semi-finalists 10 teams will get INR 20,000 grant for prototype development & Samsung Galaxy Laptops. Finalists 5 teams will get INR 1 Lakh grant each for prototype enhancement & Samsung Z Flip Smartphones

What do winners get:

School Track: The Winning Team will be declared as the “Community Champion” of Solve for Tomorrow 2024 and will receive a seed grant of INR 25 Lakh for prototype advancement. The Schools of the winning teams will also receive Samsung Products to boost educational offerings, encouraging a problem-solving mindset.

Youth Track: The Winning Team will be declared as the “Environment Champion” of Solve for Tomorrow 2024 and will receive a grant of INR 50 Lakh for incubation at IIT-Delhi. The colleges of the winning teams also receive Samsung products to boost their educational offerings, encouraging social entrepreneurship.

Where can they apply: www.samsung.com/in/solvefortomorrow

From when: Starting April 09, 2024

Till when: 5 PM IST on May 31, 2024

Programme Details

School Track: Solving for India

In the school track, the students are invited to form teams of up to five members and submit their innovative ideas under the 'Community & Innovation' theme. The programme will progress through four stages: application window, regional rounds, innovation walk, and grand finale.

During the application window, participating teams will receive digital certificates of acknowledgment. The first shortlist will comprise of regional shortlists where 50 teams will be selected. In the subsequent regional rounds, these 50 teams will pitch their ideas to a Jury. From here, 10 semi-finalists teams will advance to the innovation walk, where they will attend workshops at Samsung's Research & Development centres and regional headquarters, followed by a National Pitch Event, where these 10 semi-finalists will pitch their ideas to a jury at IIT Delhi. As a reward, each team will receive a grant of INR 20,000 for prototype development and the latest Samsung Galaxy Tablets. Selected from the National Pitch Event, 5 finalist teams will undergo one-on-one training and pitch their solutions to a grand jury, with each team receiving a grant of INR 1 Lakh for prototype enhancement besides the latest Galaxy Watch for all participants. The winning team at the Grand Finale will be declared as the “Community Champion” of Solve for Tomorrow 2024 and will receive a seed grant of INR 25 lakh for prototype advancement and exciting Samsung Galaxy products for their school.

Youth Track: Solving for the World

In the Youth track, the aspirants will form teams of up to five members and submit their innovative ideas under the theme of "Environment & Sustainability”. The first shortlist will comprise of regional shortlists where 50 teams will be selected. In the subsequent regional rounds, these 50 teams will pitch their ideas to a Jury. From here, 10 semi-finalists teams will advance to the innovation walk, where they will attend workshops at Samsung's Research & Development centres and regional headquarters, followed by a National Pitch Event, where these 10 semi-finalists will pitch their ideas to a jury at IIT Delhi. As a reward, each team will receive a grant of INR 20,000 for prototype development and the latest Samsung Galaxy Laptops. Selected from the National Pitch Event, 5 finalist teams will undergo one-on-one training and pitch their solutions to a grand jury, with each team receiving a grant of INR 1 Lakh for prototype enhancement besides the latest Galaxy Z Flip smartphone for all participants. The winning team at the Grand Finale will be declared as the “Environment Champion” of Solve for Tomorrow 2024 and will receive a grant of INR 50 lakh for incubation and exciting Samsung Galaxy products for their college.

The two tracks do not compete against each other and each track will have separate curated training, mentoring and immersive learning opportunities as per the themes and the age groups.

In addition to the main competition, participants will have the opportunity to compete for prestigious accolades such as the 'Social Media Champion Award' and the 'Goodwill Award'. The 'Social Media Champion Award' includes a prize of INR 50000 for social media champions in each track which will be announced at the innovation walk. The 'Goodwill Award' will felicitate the title winner with a prize of INR 1 Lakh for the audience choice idea in each track, which will be announced at the Grand Finale.

To find out more and register for the competition in India, visit www.samsung.com/in/solvefortomorrow. Application entry closes at 5 pm on May 31, 2024.

First launched in the US in 2010, Solve for Tomorrow is currently operational in 63 countries globally and has seen over 2.3 million young people participate worldwide.

Samsung Electronics’ global CSR vision of ‘Together for Tomorrow! Enabling People’ is committed to providing education to young people around the world to empower the leaders of tomorrow. Read more stories on Samsung Electronics’ CSR efforts on our CSR webpage http://csr.samsung.com

Tata Motors Group Global wholesales At 3,77,432 In Q4 FY24

The Tata Motors Group global wholesales in Q4 FY24, including Jaguar Land Rover** were at 3,77,432 nos., higher by 8%, as compared to Q4 FY23.

Global wholesales of all Tata Motors’ commercial vehicles and Tata Daewoo range in Q4 FY24 were at 1,11,591 nos., lower by 6%, over Q4 FY23. 

Global wholesales of Tata Motors passenger vehicles* in Q4 FY24 were at 1,55,651 nos., higher by 15% as compared to Q4 FY23. 

Global wholesales for Jaguar Land Rover** were 1,10,190 vehicles, higher by 16%. Jaguar wholesales for the quarter were 13,528 vehicles, while Land Rover wholesales for the quarter were 96,662 vehicles.

*Tata Motors passenger vehicles includes sales of electric vehicles.

**JLR number does not include CJLR volumes (CJLR – It is a JV between JLR and Chery Automobiles and is an unconsolidated subsidiary for JLR).

FICCI Celebrates 97th Foundation Day, Felicitates First 33 Past Presidents 1927-1959

* Chamber Pays Tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat, Reaffirms Commitment to Inclusive Growth

* FICCI’s second NECM for 2023-24 and Foundation Day celebration concludes in Mumbai

The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), India's apex and oldest business chamber, celebrated its 97th Foundation Day on 7 April by paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat, New Delhi. The event commemorated the historic address delivered by the Father of the Nation at FICCI's 4th AGM on this day in 1931. The celebrations continued in Mumbai, where FICCI felicitated the descendants of 33 of its past presidents from the years 1927 to 1959.

The grand celebrations in New Delhi and Mumbai reflect FICCI's glorious past and set the stage for a promising future as the Chamber moves closer to its centenary in 2027. The Chamber's journey has been illuminated by its illustrious presidents, whose visionary leadership shaped India's business landscape.

Addressing the felicitation ceremony in Mumbai, Dr Anish Shah, President, FICCI said, “FICCI Foundation Day is an inspiring tribute to our visionary leaders. It is an honour to felicitate the Presidents from 1927 to 1959 and commemorate their pivotal role in India's economic rise. As we stride towards FICCI’s centenary in 2027, let's uphold their governance values and advance towards a progressive future."

On occasion, Mr Harsh Pati Singhania, Past President of FICCI, said, "FICCI’s history is closely linked with India's struggle for independence, followed by the path of industrialisation and subsequent liberalisation that has culminated in India emerging as a significant player in the global economy."

Mr KV Kamath, Chairperson, National Bank of Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID), in a conversation with FICCI President Dr Shah, noted, "Typically, we look at only the young people being the driver of the demographic dividend, but I will add that it will also be the older people who will drive the demographic dividend because they are going to skill/upskill themselves."

Concurrently, FICCI organised its second National Executive Committee Meeting (NECM) for 2023-24, attended by over 125 industry members. The meeting focused on four key pillars. President Dr Shah encouraged attendees to share transformative ideas for accelerating India's development and urged sector committee chairs to align industry action with government priorities while incorporating the viewpoints of MSME sector leaders.

Mr SK Pathak, Secretary General of FICCI, also spoke on occasion.

As India progresses to become the world's third-largest economy, FICCI reaffirms its commitment to the nation's inclusive growth and global integration. The focus for 2024 and beyond rests on four key pillars: championing indigenous manufacturing and innovation through 'Make in India', empowering farmers and boosting agricultural productivity, fostering women's entrepreneurship and leadership, and promoting sustainability and green growth.

List of FICCI Past Presidents (1927 – 1959) felicitated in Mumbai:

Dinshaw M Petit -1927

Sir Purshotamdas Thakurdas - 1928

GD Birla -1929

Sir Shri Ram - 1930

M Jamal Mohammed Sahib - 1931

Walchand Hirachand – 1932

Nalini Ranjan Sarker - 1933

Kasturbhai Lalbhai - 1934

Sir Padampat Singhania - 1935

D P Khaitan - 1936

Sir Rahimtoola M Chinoy – 1937

Jamshed NR Mehta - 1938

Dewan Bahadur C S Ratnasabapathi Mudaliar -1939

Amrit Lal Ojha – 1940

Sir Chunilal B Mehta - 1941

Gaganvihari L Mehta - 1942

Dr. Rajah Sir Muthiah Chettiar of Chettinad - 1943

J C Setalvad - 1944

Sir Badridas Goenka – 1945

Gurusharan Lall - 1946

MA Master - 1947

Lalji Mehrotra - 1948

K D Jalan – 1949

Tulsidas Kilachand - 1950

C M Kothari - 1951

Shanti Prasad Jain - 1952

Sir R G Saraiya - 1953

B M Birla - 1954

Shantilal Mangaldas - 1955

Lakshmipat Singhania - 1956

Babubhai M Chinai – 1957

Sir BP Singh Roy - 1958

Madanmohan R Ruia -1959

Wipro's Thierry Delaporte Resigns, Srini Pallia Takes Over With Immediate Effect

BUY

TARGET PRICE (Rs) : 500

Wipro has appointed Srini Pallia as the CEO and MD with effect from 7-Apr-24 for five years after Thierry Delaporte tendered his resignation to pursue his passions outside the workplace. Srini has been with Wipro for over three decades and most recently served as the CEO for Americas 1 (~31% of revenue), where he oversaw diverse industry sectors, established their vision, and implemented growth strategies. The appointment of Srini, a Wipro veteran, will confirm a smooth transition and sustain current growth strategies with only some tweaking to ensure better execution. Srini will find him in action from day 1 as the company is facing its own challenges in addition to broader industry headwinds like muted demand, weak discretionary spending, Gen AI disruptions, uncertain macros, and uncertainties linked with election year in key markets. We retain our estimates and await more clarity on leadership transition and any tweaking in growth strategies. We maintain ADD with a TP of Rs500 at 19x its Mar-26E EPS. 

Thierry Delaporte resigns, Wipro appoints Srini Pallia as CEO and MD

Wipro has appointed Srini Pallia as the CEO and MD, with effect from 7-Apr-24 for five years. He succeeds Thierry Delaporte, who, after spearheading a significant transformation at Wipro for almost four years, is stepping down to pursue passions outside the workplace. Thierry joined Wipro in Jul-20 and resigned about a year before his term completion. Thierry will continue until the end of May-24, working closely with Srini and Rishad Premji to ensure a smooth transition. Srini has been with Wipro for over three decades and most recently served as the CEO for Americas 1 (contributed ~31% to Q3FY24 revenue). He will be based in New Jersey and report to Rishad Premji.

Top-level exits partly reflect limited success; execution improvement key to narrow down growth differential

Wipro has seen steady churn at the top level (8 CEOs) since the turn of the century, the highest among India-based IT services firms. These include Vivek Paul, Azim Premji, Girish Paranjpe and Suresh Vaswani (joint CEOs), TK Kurien, Abidali Neemuchwala, Thierry Delaporte, and now Srinivas Pallia. Wipro has underperformed its peers for a long time on account of poor execution, leadership churn, portfolio challenges, and mediocre M&A record. Wipro has done significant restructuring under Thierry’s leadership to simplify organizational structure, drive decision-making agility with empowered GAEs, strengthen relations with partner ecosystems, and augment capabilities with some bold M&As like Capco. Wipro has been seeing an influx of talent from various countries and companies along with the departure of long-standing Wipro veterans, which may have led to some cultural differences and a sense of disconnect within the organization. Srini is likely to garner better acceptance internally and take swift actions to arrest churn at senior levels and re-energise employee morale. We believe strong execution will address growth underperformance issues and Srini is likely to garner the required support from the rest of leadership team, founders, and the board to ensure swift corrective actions.

Brief about Srini Pallia

Srini joined Wipro in 1992 and has held many leadership positions, including President of Wipro’s Consumer Business Unit and Global Head of Business Application Services. Most recently, he served as the CEO for Americas 1. In this role, Srini led a wide range of industry sectors and was responsible for establishing their vision, as well as shaping and implementing growth strategies. Srini holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering and a master’s degree in management studies from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. He graduated from Harvard Business School’s leading Global Businesses Executive Program and the Advanced Leadership Program at McGill Executive Institute.

BMW India Launches Summer Service Campaign Across Indian Market

BMW India has announced the launch of BMW Summer Service campaign across its dealer network. This special initiative will be held across India and will ensure complete car readiness for the summer season.

Mr. Vikram Pawah, President, BMW Group India said, “At BMW, our aspiration is to ensure a relaxing ride, offering maximum comfort and peace of mind at all times. Proactive Care is our new service promise. ‘Sheer Driving Pleasure’ is guaranteed when you own a BMW. Regular service through preventive checks of vehicles ensures smooth functioning and performance of a BMW. This special service campaign is designed to identify and address all technical service issues, for a hassle-free drive during the harsh Indian summer season. With a dedicated team of trained technicians, specialised workshop technologies and original BMW Parts, we ensure you can enjoy relaxing journeys.”

BMW Summer Service camp is conceptualized to offer customers useful information and tips on effective vehicle management, on-time maintenance and overall understanding of BMW vehicles. The program provides customers with a complementary vehicle check and get basic Condition-Based Service performed on their cars ensuring that their beloved BMW is in top condition. The service is conducted by certified BMW technical experts. Customers can book prior appointments for car servicing at the workshop. Customers will also be able to check and update their personal details to receive special promotions and offers from their dealer.

Following are the Complimentary Services that will be carried under the BMW Summer Campaign:

- Free General Checkup

- AC Filter Check

- Air Filter Check

- Tyre Condition Check

- Up to 10% off on AC Fumigation

- Complimentary Battery Check

- Upto 25% off on labour on any AC related repair

- Upto 10% off on any VAS

BMW India regularly conducts periodic service campaigns across the country to ensure that a BMW is always ready. Cars older than 5 years would get a special discount under the “BMW Joy Rewards” campaigns. Assured engine oil service is also available at just INR 9,999.Details of the offer and other vehicle checks would be available at the service camps.

Tata Tea Chakra Gold Hosts Grand Finale of Suvarna Avakasham Contest With Rashmika Mandanna

~ Engages with Tata Tea Chakra Gold fans in Hyderabad over a cup of tea ~

Tata Tea Chakra Gold, the second largest tea brand in South India, celebrated for its rich taste in every sip, today concluded the highly anticipated Suvarna Avakasham Contest, a 90-day contest across Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka, in the presence of brand ambassador Rashmika Mandanna.

The "Suvarna Avakasham" initiative, which translates to “Golden Opportunity” in English, was more than just a celebration of tea; it encapsulated a celebration of moments, flavors, and the sheer joy of unexpected rewards. Consumers could engage in the contest by purchasing any offer pack of Tata Tea Chakra Gold and sharing the unique code found in the pack by giving a missed call or scanning the QR code on the pack, ensuring a hassle-free experience.

The culmination of the Suvarna Avakasham contest brought together 25 excited winners, accompanied by their guests to meet the actor who often reminisces her journey. The event by Tata Tea Chakra Gold provided the winners with a memorable opportunity to engage personally with Rashmika Mandanna, infusing an extra touch of glamour into their remarkable experience. Apart from the captivating meet and greet session with Rashmika, Tata Tea Chakra Gold also presented 500 lucky winners with exquisite gold coins as well.

At the heart of this memorable event was the spirit of Tata Tea Chakra Gold, serving as the enabler in making the meet and greet session with Rashmika Mandanna possible. As the chosen beverage of discerning tea lovers, Tata Tea Chakra Gold added warmth and connection to the gathering, fostering genuine interactions and cherished moments over cups of tea.

Reflecting on the success of the event, Mr. Puneet Das, President - Packaged Beverages, India & South Asia, Tata Consumer Products, shared, “Tata Tea Chakra Gold has continuously endeavored to delight consumers by addressing their evolving needs through innovation. We are thrilled to have Rashmika Mandanna join us today. Rashmika’s journey, from ordinary beginnings to becoming an iconic figure in the entertainment industry, perfectly mirrors the values of perseverance, authenticity, and quality that Tata Tea Chakra Gold embodies. Collaborating with Rashmika for the Survana Avakasham initiative amplified our brand's connection with the consumers. We believe this association will further deepen our connection with consumers, inspiring them to make choices that lead to a fulfilling life, much like Rashmika and the winners of our Suvarna Avakasham contest have done.”

Rashmika Mandanna, the brand ambassador for Tata Tea Chakra Gold, shared her excitement about the collaboration, stating, " I am a big tea fan. I feel my day hasn’t started till I enjoy my cup of Tata Tea Chakra Gold and it doesn’t get better than sharing a cup with my fans. Much like the remarkable winners of the Suvarna Avakasham contest, whose journey mirrors the values exemplified by Tata Tea Chakra Gold, I believe that authenticity, hard work, and the pursuit of excellence pave the path to success. Meeting my fans today has been an absolute delight, as their infectious excitement and unwavering support reaffirm the importance of staying true to oneself. I extend my heartfelt thanks to Tata Tea Chakra Gold for facilitating this memorable experience. As my choices have led to my success, I hope they inspire and guide you on your journey as well.”

Tata Tea Chakra Gold remains dedicated to its legacy of offering tea enthusiasts premium quality blends and creating moments of celebration through initiatives like the Suvarna Avakasham contest.

Flipkart Expands Its Footprint In Travel Offerings; Launches Bus Bookings On Its App

* With an availability of 10 lakh bus connections, Flipkart will operate 25,000+ routes across India

Flipkart, India's homegrown digital commerce ecosystem has announced the launch of bus services on its App. In collaboration with multiple state transport corporations and private aggregators,  Flipkart will offer customers the choice of choosing from  10 lakh bus connections with connectivity to 25,000+ routes across India. This is in addition to the flight and hotel booking services that have been available under the Flipkart Travel banner.

This launch is a step towards Flipkart’s plan to meet the evolving travellers’ needs in the segment. With immense synergy between the existing customer base of Flipkart and bus travelers in general, the company’s proposition to enable affordable travel will be a game changer in the competitive landscape. Redemption of Supercoins for Bus bookings is a unique value-added element that is available on Flipkart for new and existing customers.

Key features of the bus booking service on Flipkart include access to great deals, no convenience fees or hidden charges, offers through supercoins redemption up to INR 50 and a 24/7 voice helpline. As part of the launch offer, customers can enjoy a flat 15% off along with a 5% additional discount on SuperCoins for every bus booking made until 15 April 2024.

Speaking on this new development, Ajay Veer Yadav, Senior Vice President, Flipkart, said, “The addition of buses to Flipkart's wide array of services marks a significant milestone in our journey towards becoming the ultimate destination for all consumer needs including travel. With Flipkart’s strong presence in tier-2 and tier-3 markets, this move has enabled us to provide customers with a convenient and reliable solution for their inter-city travel needs. As a commitment to our customers, we will continue to serve them with value-added facilities, simplifying their travel experiences in the future.”

Flipkart Flights and Hotels have steadily been growing since its launch in 2019. With an extremely positive outlook for travel at an overall industry level, Flipkart will continue to provide value to consumers across the board.

About the Flipkart Group

The Flipkart Group is one of India’s leading digital commerce entities and includes group companies Flipkart, Myntra, Flipkart Wholesale, Flipkart Health+, and Cleartrip.

Established in 2007, Flipkart has enabled millions of sellers, merchants, and small businesses to participate in India's digital commerce revolution. With a registered user base of more than 500 million, Flipkart's marketplace offers over 150 million products across 80+ categories. Today, there are over 1.4 million sellers on the platform, including Shopsy sellers. With a focus on empowering and delighting every Indian by delivering value through technology and innovation, Flipkart has created thousands of jobs in the ecosystem while empowering generations of entrepreneurs and MSMEs. Flipkart has pioneered services such as Cash on Delivery, No Cost EMI, Easy Returns, and UPI. These customer-centric innovations focus on enhancing digital payment offerings for all customers while making online shopping more accessible and affordable for millions of Indians.

CredAble Achieves A Milestone Aggregate Throughput of USD 8 Billion Across Its Working Capital Finance Platforms

~ CredAble's annual aggregate throughput has grown by 128% in the last financial year

~ Aims to grow 2x by the end of FY25

~ Accelerated the average invoice period by 73 days and managed over 2.5 million invoices across its platforms

CredAble, India’s largest working capital tech platform, announced a record-breaking milestone aggregate throughput worth USD 8 billion for the financial year 2023–24. The company maintains an industry-leading average invoice period accelerated by 73 days, with over 2.5 million invoices processed on its platforms.

CredAble's licensed software serves over 125 large corporates, offering an end-to-end supply chain financing platform with multi-bank integrations. They also have long-standing relationships with key financial institutions globally. CredAble has implemented fully digital supply chain financing solutions for leading private banks in India. Further, its end-to-end digital underwriting system has been instrumental in streamlining the MSME lending process, significantly improving the unsecured business loans program for India's leading financial institutions.

Recently, the company secured partnerships with major banks across the MENA and APAC regions. By adopting CredAble’s advanced product stacks, the banks can unlock benefits including streamlined digitisation of onboarding, multi-faceted underwriting, and LMS processes.

Commenting on this milestone, Mr. Nirav Choksi, Co-founder and CEO of CredAble, said, “Presently, CredAble stands among the world's most trusted entities in the working capital financing space, delivering technology-enabled solutions. We've also partnered with global banks to implement end-to-end LOS and LMS platforms and to digitise their operations with our full-stack supply chain financing suite.”

Mr. Ram Kewalramani, Co-founder and MD at CredAble, said, “This milestone strengthens our commitment to pushing boundaries and shaping the future of working capital financing. Backed by our expanding team of industry specialists and global delivery frameworks, we aim to double our growth by the end of FY25.”

The company's operational framework is structured around distinct business verticals, each catering to specific needs, including licensed software tailored to support enterprises, suppliers, dealers, banks, and financial institutions. CredAble is set to release its low-code/no-code platforms, empowering global financial institutions with pre-built financial modules and integrations, ensuring unmatched deployment time for new banking products. Beyond financing, the company accelerates automation, leveraging existing integrations with leading ERP providers.

About CredAble:

Established in March 2017 by Nirav Choksi and Ram Kewalramani, CredAble is India's largest working capital technology platform enabling more than USD 8 billion annually in working capital for India Inc. which includes large, mid, emerging corporates, MSMEs, and financial institutions. CredAble’s platform hosts over 125 corporate customers, over 3,00,000 small business borrowers, and over 35 large financial institutions and banks. By leveraging technology built in-house, expertise in big data analytics, trade finance, and partnerships with capital providers, CredAble leads the working capital space while witnessing over 500% year-on-year growth.

Backed by well-known investors such as Oaks Asset Management, Plutus Wealth Management LLP, and Axis Bank Limited, the company was granted an NBFC (BBB Stable) license by RBI in 2019 and offers post-invoice discounting and other working capital finance products. Apart from catering to the financial needs of the SME segment, the company offers financial services through its platform products to customers such as Large Corporates, Mid-Market and Emerging Corporates, and Financial Institutions.

CredAble was recently awarded with the company of the year for best multi-cloud adoption along with best digital platform at the Bharat Fintech Summit 2024. Furthermore, it got recognised with Product Innovation of the year at SME Finance Forum 2023. CredAble also won the fintech startup of the year 2022 at The Asset Triple A Digital Awards 2022 followed by “The Best Banking Tech of the Year” at the Asia Fintech Award 2022 for building a tech stack that is robust & agile which has transformed the working capital landscape in the country.

Highly Anticipated Book "Get Kids To Play" Releases; Aims To Inspire A Cultural Shift Towards Prioritizing Play For Children Worldwide

~Authors Saumil Majmudar & Vijay Krishnamurthy provide Comprehensive Toolkit for Fostering Vibrant Play Environments for Children in schools, homes and communities ~

In a world where technology often competes for children's attention, Saumil Majmudar, Co-founder, CEO & MD of Sportz Village and Vijay Krishnamurthy, a Sports Research Scholar and an Executive Coach have released their highly anticipated book titled “Get Kids To Play – An EduSports Toolkit for Parents & Schools Leaders". This insightful work delves into the crucial aspects of encouraging and enhancing children's play experiences, offering actionable strategies for parents, schools, and communities.

“Get Kids To Play” strategically targets two key decision-making groups – parents and school leaders. Combining research-backed strategies with practical solutions into a comprehensive toolkit, the authors empower these stakeholders to influence various factors affecting the quantity and quality of play, while also primarily overcoming barriers to play for children. With a focus on inclusivity and tailored experiences, the book aims to revolutionize the way we approach holistic child development through play.  

Saumil Majmudar, shares his thoughts on the book's release and its relevance, "In an era dominated by screens and sedentary lifestyles, it's imperative to prioritize children's play. Our EduSports program, as the name suggests, has been serving as an amalgamation of ‘education’ and ‘sport’ for school children. “Get Kids To Play” is written leaning on our two decades of experience and learning, aiming to offer practical guidance to parents, educators, and community leaders to create vibrant play environments that nurture children's physical, social, and emotional well-being."

“As a Sports Researcher, my motivation for writing “Get Kids To Play” book comes from the scarcity of resources available at the community level for parents and school leaders. Plenty of literature is available about athletes and coaches at the elite level. However, the culture of playing a sport begins while the child is studying in school during their formative years, and that’s where the journey begins for kids, parents, and school leaders. “Get Kids To Play” is a toolkit that hopes to solve the challenges at the grassroots level.”, quoted Vijay Krishnamurthy.

Rahul Dravid, ex-Indian cricketer, and Indian Cricket Coach, in his foreword to the book mentions, “I am glad that “Get Kids To Play” book has been written to explore how parents, schools and communities can get kids to play more. Such collaborative effort can benefit each of us individually and all of us as a nation.”

Rukmini Banerji, CEO, Pratham Foundation also expressed her views, “Get Kids To Play” is a call-to-action for parents and schoolteachers. The book is simultaneously inspiring and useful, providing rationale, research, and recipes for strengthening the journey of children through play.”

"Get Kids To Play" covers a wide range of topics, including the benefits of play, the role of technology, creating safe play spaces, and integrating play into the school curriculum. The authors offer practical tips, case studies, and success stories to inspire readers and facilitate meaningful change in their communities.

This book is now available in leading bookstores across India and online at Notionpress.com, Amazon and Flipkart. Parents, educators, and community leaders are encouraged to explore "Get Kids To Play" to gain valuable insights and tools for fostering engaging play experiences for children.

About Sportz Village:

Sportz Village is the world’s largest youth sports platform that is trying to make the world a better place with an aim to get 100 million children to play sports. Established in 2003, Sportz Village’s philosophy is pillared on improving the health and ?tness of children and getting everyone to experience the magic of sports. EduSports by Sportz Village is India’s No.1 sports education program being implemented in over 1,500 schools across 250 locations impacting 7,00,000 children. The organization believes in making sport an integral part of the education of a child and is working towards developing a healthier and fitter generation by using a Structured Sports and Physical Education (P.E) curriculum. The curriculum has been developed based on NASPE (National Association for Sports and Physical Education, USA) standards.

https://www.sportzvillage.com/