MSDE Recognises INS Shivaji As The Centre Of Excellence In Marine Engineering

With an aim to motivate military organisations and recognise their efforts towards skill and technology development, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) recognised INS Shivaji as the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in the field of Marine Engineering (ME) on 22nd March 2022. The recognition was given to INS Shivaji after a thorough examination of the infrastructure and facilities available, as well as the training provided to improve the skills of Indian Navy personnel, friendly foreign navies, and the entire eco-system. The recognition certificate was presented by the Honorable Secretary MSDE, Shri Rajesh Aggarwal, IAS to CMDE Arvind Rawal, Commanding Officer, INS Shivaji. The certification took place at the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Shram Shakti Bhawan, New Delhi.

INS Shivaji is an Indian naval station in Lonavala, Maharashtra. It houses the Naval College of Engineering, which educates and trains Indian Navy and Coast Guard officials. The organisation was commissioned as HMIS Shivaji on February 15, 1945. INS Shivaji's Centre of Excellence (Marine Engineering) was established in 2014 with a broad mandate that included the induction of niche technologies for naval applications, quality research in collaboration with R&D and academic institutes of high reputation. The larger goal here was to improve the skills of the personnel across the Indian Navy, Friendly Foreign Navies, and the entire ecosystem.

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has designated a Centre of Excellence (CoE) as a body that provides leadership, best practices, research, support, training of trainers, and skill training for a specific sector or sectors. The Centre of Excellence in the skilling ecosystem is envisioned as a one-stop resource centre established/working in partnership with industry to raise training standards, boost productivity, address emerging skill gaps, and align training and research with industry needs.

MSDE's designation of INS Shivaji as a Centre of Excellence is the first of its kind for any military organisation, and it reflects the INS Shivaji's continued commitment to skill and technology development. The award will solidify INS Shivaji's position as a preferred training institution for high-quality R&D collaborations with industry and prestigious academic institutions both within and outside India.

About Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE)

MSDE was formed on 9th November 2014, by the Government of India to focus on enhancing employability of skills. Since its inception, MSDE has undertaken significant initiatives and reforms in terms of formalizing the policy, framework, and standards; launching of new programs and schemes; creating new infrastructure and upgrading the existing institutions; partnering with States; engaging with industries and building societal acceptance and aspirations for skills. The Ministry aims to bridge the gap between demand and supply of skilled manpower to build new skills and innovation not only for existing jobs but also for jobs that are to be created. Till date, more than three crore people have been trained under Skill India.

Bank Of Baroda Partners With Reserve Bank Innovation Hub To Boost Financial Inclusion Of Women Using Technology

* RBIH launches Swanari TechSprint - a programme aimed at developing digital solutions to bridge the gender gap

Bank of Baroda, one of India’s leading public sector banks, announced today that it is partnering the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of India, to promote financial inclusion of women in India. RBIH has launched a programme on Gender & Finance named "Swanari" that seeks to combine technology with a greater focus on women to help women achieve financial security and independence. To that end, RBIH is launching the inaugural edition of Swanari TechSprint, which Bank of Baroda is supporting as a scale-up partner, to create digital solutions to close the gender gap.

TechSprints are problem-solving sessions that promote innovation and collaboration to create technology-driven solutions to complex problems. The core objective of the Swanari TechSprint is to improve financial inclusion of women in India using technology and will serve as a platform to encourage women-led start-ups and women in tech to create and produce smart, creative and sustainable solutions for underserved women from low and middle income backgrounds and women-owned enterprises in India. The Swanari TechSprint will be held from April 18 to April 22, 2022.

Shri Vikramaditya Singh Khichi, Executive Director, Bank of Baroda said, “Using technology to provide solutions to the country’s critical problems is a powerful idea. Bank of Baroda is proud to extend support to RBIH’s Swanari TechSprint initiative to help bridge the gender divide in India. A collaborative approach, centered on innovation will ensure the best outcomes for women, accelerating financial inclusion and boosting the economic empowerment of women in the country.”

The Swanari (???-????) TechSprint will bring together fintechs, financial service providers, innovators and subject matter experts to collaborate, ideate and find solutions to specific problems and code prototype solutions in real-time.

There are seven problem statements that have been identified and two event tracks are available for participation. One track will focus on creating a minimum viable product (MVP) with enough usable features to be tested by and validated by users. The second track will focus on solving problems and designing prototypes in collaboration with others. Registrations are open at www.swanaritechsprint.in. 

RBIH has also released a whitepaper titled “Gender and Finance in India” supporting the Swanari TechSprint, which is available at www.swanaritechsprint.in.

About Bank of Baroda:

Founded on 20th July, 1908 by Sir Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III, Bank of Baroda is one of the leading commercial banks in India. At 63.97% stake, it is majorly owned by the Government of India. The Bank serves its global customer base of over 150 million through over 46,000 touchpoints spread across 18 countries in five continents. Through Its state-of-the-art digital banking platforms, it provides all banking products and services in a seamless and hassle-free manner. The recently launched bob World mobile app provides customers with a saving, investing, borrowing and shopping experience, all under one single app. The app also serves non-customers by enabling account opening through video KYC. The Bank’s vision matches its diverse clientele base and instills a sense of trust and security. It is moving well in that direction and bob World is a testimony of its roadmap towards Digital Transformation.

SIDBI’s “Prayaas” Programme Benefitting Entrepreneurs At Bottom Of The Pyramid

Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) through its Prayaas Programme, in partnership with financial and non-financial intermediaries provides financial assistance upto `5 lakh at an affordable rate to the entrepreneurs at Bottom of the Pyramid.  Till date, an amount of `276 crore plus has been disbursed under the scheme to benefit more than 18000 small entrepreneurs who are at sustenance level and aspire to reach an enterprise level. 

Shri Kshethra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project BC Trust” (SKDRDP), a charitable trust, operating in the States of Karnataka and Kerela has partnered with SIDBI for taking the Prayaas Initiative forward.  

Shri V Satya Venkata Rao, Deputy Managing Director, during his visit to SKDRDP at Dharmasthala met Honorable Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade, President, SKDRDP along with other officials and assessed the overall performance and impact of the Prayaas Scheme. It was very encouraging to note that this partnership has benefitted 3500 plus micro entrepreneurs and aims to bring many more in its fold in coming years to meet the financing gap in this space. 

Shri Rao, DMD, SIDBI said that Prayaas is an “Impact Program” of the Bank launched with the objective to improve livelihood opportunities for the borrowers at a low-cost capital and the Bank would continuously work in this direction. 

Mother’s Recipe Reveals Secret Of “Husband ko saas ke samne nachane ki recipe” In Its New TVC Campaign ‘Life ko Spicy banao’

A little excitement is required to break the monotony of our everyday life. Food is something that can elevate your mood and create happiness instantly. Keeping this perspective in mind Mother’s Recipe, one of India's leading FMCG brands has launched a new TVC for its Desi Szechwan with No added MSG under its subcategory ‘Recipe’. Through this ad film, the brand aims to convey how consumers can bring spice not only to their food but also add spice to their life by using Recipes’ Desi Szechwan.  

The newly launched second TVC is an extension of the campaign ‘Life ko spicy banao’. Life without fun, adventure, and excitement is bound to get boring. The TVC portrays a funny & light-hearted narrative, wherein the wife demonstrates ‘how to’ – husband ko saas ke saamne nachane ki recipe. The brand illustrates a creative allowing homemakers to try out different fusion combinations. The campaign intends to connect with today's youth by creating smaller memorable moments. The best bit of Recipe’s Desi Szechwan is that it does not contain MSG and is prepared using the highest quality ingredients.  

The Campaign Video:  

Husband ko saas ke saamne nachane ki Recipe While parents and children resume school & work their time spent at home has been reduced, the campaign captures daily relatable occasions when the family connects over dinner time. The TVC depicts a regular meal-time scenario, where the wife is shown cooking simple aloo ki sabzi (potato dish), and the husband is busy video chatting with his mother. The husband sulks upon his mother asking him what food has been prepared, the wife hears the conversation and decides to add Recipe’s Desi Szechwan which completely gives the dish a relishing twist. The TVC campaign presents funny yet everyday situational communication, keeping one glued to the creative throughout and bringing a smile on one’s face in the end.  

Campaign Video link: https://youtu.be/aQ4bzOlc61g   

Commenting on the latest TVC launch Ms. Sanjana Desai, Executive Director, Mother’s Recipe, said “Our latest campaign ‘Life ko spicy banao’ spotlights occasions where Recipe’s Desi Szechwan can turn otherwise mundane moments into much more memorable ones by bringing in a delicious twist. We love to experiment, push ourselves and reach out to the audience in a different way. Through our new TVC, we want to connect with the youth and resonate as a brand, which is different, genuine yet exciting”. 

The latest TVC will be shown on all social media platforms, it would also appear in Google display advertisements and, social media, on-the-ground activations, as well as OOH and offline campaigns.  

Triton Communication Creative team added, “The campaign focuses on how we can bring in excitement to our mundane lives create memories. We are elated and privileged to be a part of the team. As life has become more fast-paced and most of us are being pressed for time, Mother’s Recipe products become a savior. Through the campaign, our purpose was to highlight the exciting flavors of Recipe’s Desi Szechwan which can add a twist to both food and life”. 

Tata Motors To Increase Prices Of Commercial Vehicles From April 1

Tata Motors, India’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturer, has announced an impending price hike of its commercial vehicle range. An increase in price in the range of 2-2.5%, will come into effect from 1st April 2022 across the range, depending upon individual model and variant.

The increase in the prices of commodities such as steel, aluminium and other precious metals, in addition to higher costs of other raw materials, has incited this price hike of commercial vehicles. While the company has initiated actions to absorb a significant portion of the increased costs, at various levels of manufacturing, the steep rise in overall input costs makes it imperative to pass on some residual proportion via a minimized price hike.

About Tata Motors

Part of the USD 109 billion Tata group, Tata Motors Limited (NYSE: TTM; BSE: 500570 and 570001; NSE: TATAMOTORS and TATAMTRDVR), a USD 34 billion organization, is a leading global automobile manufacturer of cars, utility vehicles, pick-ups, trucks and buses, offering extensive range of integrated, smart and e-mobility solutions. With ‘Connecting Aspirations’ at the core of its brand promise, Tata Motors is India’s market leader in commercial vehicles and amongst the top three in the passenger vehicles market.

Tata Motors strives to bring new products that fire the imagination of GenNext customers, fueled by state of the art design and R&D centers located in India, UK, US, Italy and South Korea. With a focus on engineering and tech enabled automotive solutions catering to the future of mobility, the company’s innovation efforts are focused to develop pioneering technologies that are sustainable as well as suited to evolving aspirations of the market and the customers. The company is pioneering India's Electric Vehicle (EV) transition and driving the shift towards sustainable mobility solutions by preparing a tailor-made product strategy, leveraging the synergy between the Group companies and playing an active role liasoning with the Government in developing the policy framework

With operations in India, the UK, South Korea, Thailand, South Africa, and Indonesia, supported by a strong global network of 103 subsidiaries, 9 associate companies, 4 joint ventures and 2 joint operations as on March 31, 2021, Tata Motors’ commercial and passenger vehicles are marketed in countries, spread across Africa, Middle East, South & South East Asia, Australia, South America, Russia and other CIS countries.

World Water Day 2022: Top Shows To Watch On Sony BBC Earth

Water is an essential part of life and conserving this resource is important to maintain the right ecological balance. However, globally, water crisis is a huge concern. According to the UN statistics, there are about 2.2 billion people who do not have access to safe drinking water. Hence to raise awareness on this pressing issue, World Water Day is celebrated every year on 22nd March.

Celebrate the day with Sony BBC Earth by watching the top 5 shows commemorating the importance of water.

Frozen Planet - Embark on the trip of a lifetime, as the BBC's acclaimed Natural History Unit takes you on a spectacular polar expedition into a breathtaking landscape most of us will never experience. Ambitious and epic in scale, this landmark series is the ultimate portrait of the great wildernesses of the Arctic and Antarctic before they change forever. Narrated by world renowned naturalist Sir David Attenborough, Frozen Planet captures groundbreaking imagery as camera teams go deep under the ice into a magical world of giants, and much more.

Indian Ocean with Simon Reeve - Starting his journey in South Africa, Simon travels around the coast of the Indian Ocean, heading up the east coast of Africa, around India and back down the western coast of Indonesia to SW Australia. The extraordinary adventure takes Simon to 16 countries, as he braves the horrors of front-line conflict in Mogadishu in Somalia, perhaps the most dangerous place on the planet, and visits the beautiful Maldives, Mauritius and the Seychelles.

Earth’s Great Rivers - Experience the ultimate river voyage down three of the world’s most epic rivers – the Amazon, the Nile and the Mississippi. Watch the astonishing wildlife and breathtaking landscapes of these legendary waterways right from their source. The latest technology, previously unfilmed locations and drone footage reveal their true character in a way not seen before. Timelapse cameras enable a Mississippi barge to zoom hundreds of miles downriver in seconds. This series brings these rivers to the screen in all their surprising and fantastic glory.

Hunters of the South Seas - 70% of the planet is covered by water. Now Will Millard, Britain’s brightest young explorer, is setting out to meet the cultures and communities that have adapted best to life afloat.

Simon Reeve’s Sacred Rivers - History, adventure and travelogue combine as Simon Reeve explores three of the world's major rivers: the Nile, Yangtze and Ganges. Through the stories of the people who live alongside these great waterways, he uncovers their vast influence, and reveals how they unite, and divide, some of the most extraordinary parts of the world. Full of wonder and breathtaking, magisterial landscapes, Simon Reeve’s Sacred Rivers is a potent mix of revelation and hands-on adventure - a riot of colour, extraordinary spectacle and unexpected encounters.

Blue Planet II - This bold cinematic experience takes viewers on a magical adventure across the greatest, yet least known, parts of our planet - our oceans. Since Blue Planet aired in 2001, our understanding of life beneath the waves has completely changed. Travelling from the icy polar seas to the vibrant blues of the coral atolls, this series brings forth astonishing new discoveries. Inspiring awe and wonder, Blue Planet II reveals surprising places, charismatic characters and extraordinary behaviors.

Fix My Curls Introduces Singer Palak Muchhal As Its Brand Ambassador

Fix My Curls, an Indian wavy and curly hair care brand dedicated to helping people embrace their natural hair texture, has recently signed playback singer Palak Muchhal as its brand ambassador. The move comes as Fix My Curls looks to strengthen its connection with the youth and shift the narrative towards embracing curly hair instead of using chemical-laden alternatives. With a wide range of revolutionary products catering to various needs of everyone with curly and wavy hair, the brand aims to create an inclusive space for self-acceptance and love. The talented singer will be promoting various products under the Fix My Curls umbrella.

Known for her melodious voice and lustrous curly mane, Palak Muchhal has carved a niche for herself in the Indian music industry. The youth-centric icon has a slew of awards and accomplishments to her name and has amassed a major fan base on her social media channels. Besides being a part of major national and international concerts, she runs a charitable organisation for the underprivileged.

Link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=my8CtatmPEw

Commenting on the association, Anshita Mehrotra, Founder, of Fix My Curls said: “I am extremely delighted to have Palak on board as the face of the brand. I love her authenticity and keenness to embrace her curls. While I was growing up, there was an absolute lack of representation in the media for people with curly hair, more so in India. Despite over 60% of the world population donning wavy or curly hair, there has always been a genuine lack of products tailored to cater to this segment. With Fix My Curls I wanted to create an inclusive brand and thereby foster a supportive community of women and men who embrace their natural hair texture, and realise just how gorgeous their hair is. We are sure that our association with Palak will help more people connect with the brand and embrace their natural curls with all hearts.”

On this partnership with Fix My Curls, Palak Muchhal said: “This association is very close to my heart. The narrative to tame curly hair in an effort to attain a certain standard of beauty is highly constricting and stereotyped. The notion that beauty is definitive is harmful to a person’s self-esteem and should be shunned altogether. I vouch for beauty in all forms, and I am especially proud of my curly hair. I am big on flaunting it in my social media posts and carry it with pride. Being extremely conscious of the products I use, Fix My Curls approach to toxin-free styling of curls resonated with me. The products help define my curls and add volume to my mane. The little girl inside me who grew up with zero representation of curly hair in the media is really excited, and I look forward to an exciting journey ahead.”

About Fix My Curls:

Established in 2019, Fix My Curls is an Indian wavy and curly hair care brand dedicated to helping people embrace their natural hair texture. The company aims to create an inclusive space for self-acceptance and love. Embrace your natural hair like never before with products made specifically for dry, frizzy and damaged hair. All the products are free from sulphates, silicones, parabens and other harsh chemicals. Created to Cleanse, Condition and Hydrate while effectively eliminating the scalp of dandruff, itchiness, redness.