Orion Mall Shines on Republic Day with Spectacular Sand Art

When Bangalore celebrates Republic Day as usual, Orion Mall at Brigade Gateway opted to do things a bit differently. The mall organised a one-of-kind sand Sculpture exhibition to celebrate the spirit of the occasion. Featuring works of renowned international artist Sudam Pradhan, the exhibition was held from Jan 24th till 31st. The event received immensely positive reaction from patrons and garnered significant footfalls, especially on Republic Day.

“It gives me great pleasure to say that the event was a glorious success on so many levels. Our patrons as well as casual customers were highly appreciative of the sand art exhibits. On a personal level, I feel that artist Sudam Pradhan did a phenomenal job of capturing the feel and character of Republic Day. Judging from the reaction of our patrons, it was evident that the exhibits evoked a palpable sense of patriotism. Also, as indicated by audience feedback, the mall served as the apt setting for a celebration that aroused such strong feelings of national pride.” opines Vijay Kumar Bhatia, Sr. GM, Orion Malls.

Connecting with You on Behalf of McAfee, the Device to Cloud Cybersecurity Company

Throughout 2019, India witnessed a slew of data breaches that made headlines, ranging from theft of bank account credentials, personally identifiable information, medical data and sensitive enterprise data. On the occasion of International Data Privacy Day observed on 28th January, below is a quote on behalf of Venkat Krishnapur, Vice-President of Engineering and Managing Director, McAfee India, emphasising the importance of being cognizant of one’s private data, and its security in a data driven world.

“The more technology we adopt in our lives, the more our privacy seems to slip away. The irresistible urge to share everything we do on social channels is actively providing an expanse of unnecessary information about our personal lives to everyone out there. Online advertisers and marketers are using “supercookies” to relay information about you and your web browsing habits. While mobile apps implement permission-based models to protect access to personal user data, parallelly, they can bypass these permissions to gain access to sensitive user data without consent.

There’s little doubt that the digital world provides speed, convenience and time-efficiency for a better consumer experience. However, as companies collect more and more customer data and with third parties desperate for the said data, we run the risk of handing over our sensitive personal information to cyber criminals. Data has now become a commodity for organisations that look to monetize it by selling it to advertisers. 

This Data Privacy Day is a stark reminder of the importance of managing our digital footprint, encouraging safe online practices and raising awareness about the need for data privacy. Privacy and security complement each other. People need to  take control of their data by exercising privacy controls on all devices and accounts. As a rule, only download apps from a trustworthy source and only give apps and services the permissions they absolutely need to function. In addition, it is best to avoid using the same password for multiple accounts, because if one account is compromised in a data breach, all accounts using the password are vulnerable. While transparency may seem to be the current fad, users must recognize the potential for data to be misused and limit the amount of information shared on social media. While India’s Personal Data Protection Bill is step in the right direction to empower consumers, the onus lies equally on the users to be aware, informed and vigilant about how their data is being harnessed.”  - Venkat Krishnapur, Vice-President of Engineering and Managing Director, McAfee India.

Naveen Chander, Co-founder, NuTy Asks FM to Accommodate Budgetary Allocations in Three Important Areas for a Healthier India

India’s has a burgeoning young working population with a median age of 28.4, making the needs of nutrition and health through good quality food the most urgent need of the country. While many in urban India are calorifically sufficient, nearly 70% are nutritionally deficient, which causes several long-term health problems and diseases. The availability of a balanced diet for working adults is of utmost importance to individuals, as it is to the nation.

The critical need for India is for affordable, tasty, nutritional, and hygienic food made accessible to working millennials in an easy and convenient manner so they do not have to make compromises on health due to the type of food they consume daily.

At the same time, India’s food wastage is estimated to be around 67,000 million tonnes every year valued at Rs. 92,000 Crores, which can and must be saved with modern food preserving technologies.

We urge the Hon’ble Finance Minister to accommodate budgetary allocations in three important areas for a healthier India; 

(1) Income Tax rebate for three years for companies helping reduce food wastage using modern food preserving technologies like cold-pasteurization High Pressure Processing (HPP) who can give assurance of extended shelf life of ready-to-eat, cooked meals of upto 4 months or more.

(2) Zero GST bracket for food processing companies that source agri-produce directly from farmers, fishermen and poultry farmers, creating farm-to-table access for agri-produce by eliminating the agricultural middleman. 

The Esports Club Partners with Ahmedabad’s First-Ever Comic Con to Create Exclusive Gaming Experience Zone

Highlights

* The gaming zone is a central part of the first-ever Comic Con in Ahmedabad which will be held at the Gujarat University * Convention and Exhibition Centre, Ahmedabad on February 1st and 2nd
* Passes for the event start from INR 599 and are available at www.comicconindia.com

Pop culture lovers in Ahmedabad are in for a treat as the city gets ready to host its inaugural Comic Con. Ahmedabad Comic Con will feature an exclusive gaming zone in partnership with The Esports Club (TEC), an initiative focused on developing India’s esports community – in addition to the complete Comic Con experience which includes creators, performances, experience zones and geekiest shopping from leading brands, creators and artists across India and the world.

Speaking for Comic Con, Ahmedabad, Jatin Varma, Founder, Comic Con India said, “Comic Con is the greatest celebration of pop culture and entertainment not just in India, but the world. At Comic Con India, we offer our fans the best experience possible and given its rapidly growing community, gaming has become a very critical part of the Comic Con experience. We are excited about working with TEC to launch The Esports Club Arena at our first show in Ahmedabad.”

The gaming-focused zone has been designed to create various fun and engaging activities for Comic Con attendees and gaming fans alike. The Esports Club Arena powered by LG Ultragear will feature booths from industry leaders like LG, ZOTAC Gaming, ACT Fibernet and World of Warships, amongst others, offering fans a peek into the latest and greatest gaming equipment and tech. Fans at the event will have an opportunity to play the latest games on the best hardware including premium gaming monitors from LG, showcasing the company’s wide range of products that feature 4K displays and high refresh-rate devices, making them the perfect choice for all types of games and gamers.

Players can also to take part in multiple daily tournaments featuring games like FIFA 20, Tekken 7 and Counter Strike Global Offensive with prizes up to INR 15,000 up for grabs across each title every day. The Esports offering doesn’t stop there as the event will also serve as the finale for TEC’s Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege Tournament with a prize pool of INR 1.5 lakhs up for grabs.

Ishaan Arya, the co-founder of The Esports Club, focused on the importance of building India’s esports communities, saying, “Our aim is to nurture the esports community in India beyond just the top two or three games that most people focus on. This wider scope and audience make a partnership with Comic Con a natural fit for us; An exclusive gaming zone at the event is a testament to the growth of India’s gaming ecosystem.”

Ravi Karthik, Head of Marketing, Atria Convergence Technologies Ltd said, “Gaming is an important segment for us and we’ve been working across the country in our efforts to reach gamers in an engaging way. Now partnering with The Esports Club for online and offline events such as The Esports Club Arena is the next step in this journey as it presents great value in terms of what a gaming event can offer brands ”

Rajeev Girdhar, European Publishing Director for World of Warships and India Operations Lead, said, “We’ve seen great growth in India thanks to our partnership with ACT Fibernet and our foray into Indian esports with The Esports Club. We had significant success at our partnered booth during Comic Con Delhi and now we’re looking at an even more focused audience with The Esports Club Arena at Comic Con Ahmedabad.

 Deepak Gupta, Country Head at Zotac Technology Limited, one of TEC’s partners for this event, sees the growth of such focused programs driving the future of India’s gaming industry. He said, “Gaming is in our DNA, and we are strongly behind any initiative that seeks to build this ecosystem in India. From an outreach standpoint, The Esports Club Arena offers a much bigger platform and opportunity than anything else available in India today.”

TEC partners for the event include

LG Ultragear
Wargaming
ACT Fibernet (service)
ZOTAC Gaming
Games The Shop, India’s leading specialist retailer
In addition to a peek into the latest and greatest in gaming, attendees can expect to get exclusive offers from partners available on ground and online, product walkthroughs, game demos, exclusive tournaments, and even a chance to win some merchandise. Comic Con 2020 will be held in Ahmedabad on February 1 and 2 at GUCEC, Memnagar. Passes start from INR 599 and are available on www.comicconindia.com

About The Esports Club (TEC)

The Esports Club (TEC) is an initiative that is focused on building India’s esports ecosystem through events, communities, and partnerships. TEC works with a wide range of industry-leading companies across verticals to drive its vision of realizing Indian gaming’s immense potential at the professional, semi-professional, and even amateur level. The Esports Club works with leading hardware brands like LG, Lenovo, ZOTAC and service providers like ACT Fibernet to drive esports growth and opportunities across multiple games and genres.

This is the Right Time to Buy a Two-Wheeler in the Indian Market

With the domestic two-wheeler industry all set to transition to the new BS-VI emission norms from April 1, 2020, all the manufacturers are racing against time to liquidate the inventory of their BS-IV vehicles.

Recently many two-wheeler manufacturers have launched BS-VI compliant products and the prices of these products are 12-15% higher than their BS-IV variants. So, for a motorcycle or scooter that costs Rs. 50,000, the price would increase by around Rs. 7000 – 8000, and for a vehicle costing Rs. 100,000 the price would increase by Rs. 12000 – 15000.

Thus, right now, is the most opportune time for customers to buy their motorcycles and scooters and save 12-15% on the purchase cost.

For instance, Hero MotoCorp, the country’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer has already launched two BS-VI compliant motorcycles, including the Splendor iSmart and HF Deluxe.

The HF Deluxe BS-VI is now priced at Rs. 55,925 (ex-showroom Delhi).  So, if a customer purchases a BS-IV version of this motorcycle today, he/ she can save nearly Rs. 10,000 including the ongoing discounts.

Thus, today there is a significant cost-benefit of buying a BS-IV two-wheeler. The sustained benefit will also include a higher resale value for BS-IV two-wheeler later given the higher price range of new BS-VI models.

Manufacturers like Hero MotoCorp are also fast discontinuing the production of BS-IV inventory, thereby making stocks of BS-IV two-wheelers very limited. These two-wheelers are being sold on attractive offers until inventories last.

According to a Hero MotoCorp dealer, “The Company is aggressively replacing all the stocks of BS-IV vehicles with BS-VI vehicles. There is little stock of BS-IV vehicles coming from the Company and we are also exhausting our inventories very quickly. By February, we may not have a lot of BS-IV vehicles left with us.”

Hero MotoCorp is in good stead for a transition of its entire product range to BS-VI emission norms. It has already discontinued over 125 variants of its BS-IV range of motorcycles and is only producing BS-VI scooters. The Company introduced India’s first BS-VI motorcycle, the Splendor iSmart in November last year and launched the HF Deluxe BS-VI within a few weeks after the first introduction. 

Siemens to Acquire C&S Electric for ₹2,100 Crore to Bolster Power Tech

Siemens has signed an agreement to acquire New Delhi-based C&S Electric Ltd, a leading provider of electrical and electronic equipment, for ₹2,100 crore.

The move will strengthen Siemens’ position as a key supplier of low-voltage power distribution and electrical installation technology in one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.

Under the agreement, the German giant will acquire approximately 99 per cent of the equity share capital of C&S Electric Ltd for around ₹2,100 crore (€267 million).

Closing of the acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals.

Siemens envisions the partnership to pave the way for the establishment of a design and manufacturing hub in India, supporting the export of electrification solutions to fast-developing markets around the world.

The acquisition covers the Indian operations of C&S Electric’s low-voltage switchgear components and panels, low and medium voltage power busbars as well as the protection and metering devices businesses.

Other businesses of the company such as medium voltage switchgear and package sub-station, lighting, diesel generating sets, EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) and the Etacom busbars business will be retained by the owners.

C&S Electric has more than 50 years of experience in India and will continue to operate under its own brand name.

The combination of the portfolios of the two companies will enhance Siemens’ position in the business, enabling it to better serve customers requiring electrification in areas including construction, industry, data centres, smart campuses and other city infrastructure.

Republic Day 2020 : 5 Platforms You Can Use To Read And Explore India’s Journey

January 26, 2020 marks the 71st Republic Day of India. On this day, all those years ago, the country adopted its constitution and solidified its stance as an independent republic. While we have come a long way since then and witnessed immense progress on all fronts, it is important to remember the journey that India, it’s brave freedom fighters and leaders made to help us attain freedom and unbridled growth.

But how many of us understand the relevance of this day and truly celebrate it? Most of us just treat it as a holiday that we spend with our friends and family. This republic day, out of respect to our country, let’s focus on celebrating this day as well as the history of India. How can you do this? Check out the following platforms that will allow you to access relevant content in a hassle-free manner.

1. DB Digital

India’s leading digital products startup focused exclusively on building the best news products, DB Digital provides optimized, engaging and authentic content through its apps - Dainik Bhaskar, Divya Bhaskar, and Divya Marathi. You could leverage these apps to get access to local and customized updates about your city’s initiatives and celebrations on the occasion of republic day and become a smart Indian! 

2. Hubhopper

India's largest podcast distribution, creation, and hosting platform Hubhopper has a lot to offer for Republic Day. Some of the podcasts and episodes you must tune into include – The Indian History podcast, Indra Dhanush Republic Day special by MnM Storyteller podcast, five facts from the 1950 Republic Day by Curry Tamil podcast. These will help you refresh your memory while giving you a sense of pride in India’s rich history. Moreover, since these are audio episodes, they are less immersive and can be listened to while you are on the go.

3. Momspresso

Momspresso is India’s largest user-generated content platform for women that enables them to express themselves through text, audio, and video content across ten languages. Momspresso currently has 18,000 bloggers and over 190,000 blogs and vlogs in multiple languages such as English, Hindi, Gujarati, Bengali, Marathi, Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil, Punjabi and Kannada. A lot of this content can help individuals understand the significance of Republic Day and suggest great ways to celebrate this day.

4. Inshorts

A lot of what is happening in the country right now has the power to shape its future. Thus, while knowing its history, it is also important to keep tabs on the day to day developments in India. To stay abreast of the latest news from and about the country, you can check out Inshorts, which is a quick and easy way to increase general knowledge and awareness. The platform offers a quick 60-word summary of the latest news pieces so that you know exactly what’s going on in your country. The platform also has non-intrusive ads which make reading the news pleasant and seamless experience.

5. Editorji

Editorji is another platform that showcases news as well as original content. One can learn a lot about the country’s past achievements and current developments through the authentic content available here. The best part is that the app can be accessed through your phone, tablet or TV so you can read or watch videos from anywhere!