Godrej Locks Unveils Spacetek Pro, A 100% Made In India Digital Lock With Smart Features

·         The new Spacetek Pro comes with enhanced features

Godrej Locks, the 125-year-young leading manufacturer of innovative locking solutions, launched Spacetek Pro - a 100% ‘Made in India’ digital lock. Spacetek Pro is the latest hi-tech and aesthetically designed keyless home safety solution that is packed with the most advanced features like 360-degree fingerprint recognition, and auto-locking, to name a few. The dynamic lock is a perfect fit for a modern home, ensuring the best in class home safety. Some of the unique features that have been designed, keeping in mind the smartphone users are privacy mode - which ensures no entry can be made from the outside even with a fingerprint or PIN, adjustable spy code – which lets you add random digits before and/or after the passcode in presence of a stranger, guest pin – one-time pin generated for guests. All this is fit in a sleek design with a body of just 19.2 mm to match the aesthetics of modern homes and commercial establishments. 

Additional features include:

1.       Emergency Battery (Micro USB):

In case the battery is completely drained, an external power bank can be used to provide an emergency power supply to operate the lock

2.       Digital Keypad:

Highly responsive keypad for a seamless experience

3.       Compatibility:

The lock is compatible with remote and video door phone for ease of operation

4.       Autolocking:

Eliminates the hassle of manual door locking

5.       Low battery indication

A beep sound alerts you in advance to replace your batteries

6.       Passage mode:

Once switched on, the Deadbolt function is disabled and only the latch operates

7.       Multi-level volume control:

Adjust volume up to 7 levels with mute function for silent operations

8.       Mechanical override with EXS Technology:

In case of an emergency, the lock can be opened with an EXS mechanical key which is of higher technology compared to others

9.       Anti-corrosive

The improved coating on the latch body for corrosion resistance. Silica gel pouch added to absorb moisture

Millennials today prefer high-tech devices which not only keeps their home safe but also enhances their interior design. This digital lock is not only easy to use, but it also provides the home with a sleek, contemporary style. It is designed to fit the aesthetic of any home, with its sleek and attractive style it is the best fit for any theme, from minimalistic, and classical to an upscale futuristic vibe. Spacetek Pro is a combination of engineering, technology and applications, packed with space-age functions with ease of usage, and a power-house 100% Made in India product. The new electronic mortise lock offers improved home safety as compared to mechanical locks.

The lock is designed to cater to aspiring households who are looking to enhance their home safety along with adding a distinct style quotient to their homes. Spacetek will be available at your local hardware shop and on Amazon.in at INR 47,250.

About Godrej Locks

Godrej Locks is a 125-year-old leading manufacturer of innovative locking devices. Since its inception in 1897 by Ardeshir Godrej, the name ‘Godrej’ has become synonymous with trust, protection and integrity. From the first Anchor branded lock in 1897 to the first ever spring less lock in 1907, to the iconic 'Nav-Tal' in 1954, and to the postmodern biometric locks, Godrej has set every benchmark in the locks industry. Over the years, Godrej Locks and Architectural Hardware & Fittings have changed in form, function and scope of application. But one thing still remains the same – the solid stamp of trust and reliability. Godrej Locks adhere to global quality norms and hold ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 certifications. 

Beyond Locking solutions, the brand also caters to Architectural Fittings, creating innovative, premium, comprehensive hardware solutions. The range which consists of door, furniture and glass fittings has been designed to fit perfectly into today’s hi-tech residential and commercial establishments. Most products caters to needs for safety, privacy, fire & smoke checks and energy saving with ease. These devices meet international quality standards like UL Rating, EN Rating, CE Certification and fire-rated.

The Kitchen Fittings by Godrej Locks & Architectural Fittings and Systems includes SKIDO, i.e. Smart Kitchen Drawers & Organisers - an innovative range of smart kitchen storage solutions, designed in India to meet the unique requirements of the Indian Kitchen. The Godrej Cartini range of knives- showcase cutting-edge design, a fine quality blade and the highest level of durability. These premium kitchen and hobby equipment range are also made in India, to suit home and professional needs. The brand has come a long way in delivering world-class smart locking solutions.

Overall Household Spending Increased For 66% Of Families, Discretionary Spends Highest In Last 5 Months: Axis My India – CSI

·         10166 people surveyed 69% is from rural India while 31% is from urban India

·         Spend on essentials has increased for 48% families and

·         Spends on non-essential spends has increased for 14% families

·         Health-related consumption increased for 38% of families

·         Media consumption and mobility sentiments has increased slightly compared to last month

·         54% report advertisement claims on TV and in newspapers are farfetched

·         FD & RD and Gold are second and third most preferred investment options after insurance

Axis My India, a leading consumer data intelligence company, released its latest findings of the India Consumer Sentiment Index (CSI), a monthly analysis of consumer perception on a wide range of issues. The May Report reveals a consistent improvement in consumption across overall household products, essential products and discretionary products. The survey discloses a minimal increase in the consumption of media and health- related products and a marginal improvement in sentiments associated with mobility. Upon reflecting on the consumers’ online shopping behaviour, the survey revealed that 35% shopped online last year. 19% further stated that quick gratification schemes by Indian food and groceries online apps are convenient and saves time though 77% have not tried it yet.

The May net CSI score, calculated by percentage increase minus percentage decrease in sentiment, was up to +12, from +11 last month and continuing the upwards trends noticed in the last 4 months.

The sentiment analysis delves into five relevant sub-indices – Overall household spending, spending on essential and non-essential items, spending on healthcare, media consumption habits & mobility trends.

This month, Axis My India’s Sentiment survey delved deeper to comprehend consumers’ views about advertisement claims on television and newspapers, most featured brands during IPL, preferred news content and interest in the Russia-Ukraine war- related news. The survey also gauged consumers’ outlook on quick gratification schemes offered and plans on New Year investments.

The survey was carried out via Computer-Aided Telephonic Interviews with a sample size of 10166 people across 30+ states and UTs. 69% belonged to Rural India, while 31% belonged to urban counterparts. In addition, 68% of the respondents were male, while 32% were female. In terms of regional spread, 26% each belonged to Northern and Eastern parts of India, while 31% and 17% belonged to Western and Southern parts of India. In terms of the two majority sample groups, 31% reflect the age group of 26YO to 35YO, while 30% reflect the age group of 36YO to 50YO 

Commenting on the CSI report, Pradeep Gupta, Chairman & MD, Axis My India, said, “The evolved and re-energised consumer community reflects optimism towards increasing expenditure in discretionary spends showcasing their affinity to ‘what they want rather than what they need’. This provides a ray light for brand and marketers to tap towards the shifting priorities of consumers. While brands are striving to capture the instant gratification instincts of consumers there is a need to understand context and content to capture the right eyeballs.  On a holistic level, it is necessary to shake the long-drawn perception of consumers being a homogenous community as every individual has distinct aspirations, seeks different investment plans, and consume varied news. The news industry has grown in the last year or two with the Pandemic, the Russia -Ukraine war or the Sri-Lankan economy crisis but elections & political news remain the most watched content by viewers. Interestingly even with better opportunities abroad 64% Indians would prefer to stay in India and work towards a better living, something we all should be proud of!”

Key findings:

·          Overall household spending has increased for 66% of families which reflects a 4% increase from the last month. The net score which was at +53 last month has increased by +5 to +58 this month.

·          Spending on essentials like personal care & household items has increased for 48% of the families and remains the same as compared to last month. Spends however remain the same for 33% of the families. The net score which was +29 last month has remained the same this month.

·          Spends on non-essential & discretionary products like AC, Car, Refrigerator has increased for 14% of families reflecting an increase of 1% from last month. Spending nevertheless remains the same for 80% of the families reduced by -2. The net score has remained the same at +8 compared to previous month.

·          Consumption of health-related items has increased for 38% of families. Consumption more or less remains the same for 47% of the families, while decreased consumption is witnessed among 15%. The health score which has a negative connotation i.e., the lesser the spends on health items the better the sentiments, has a net score value of -23 this month.

·          Consumption of media has increased for 23% of the families reflecting an increase by 1% from last month. Consumption remains the same for a majority of 52% of families. The overall, net score which was at -1 in the last month is at -2 this month.

·          85% of families said that they are going out the same for short vacations, malls and restaurants. Increased travel is reflected only among 8% of families, an increase by +2 from last month. The overall mobility net score is at 1.

On topics of current national interest:

·        Axis My India further evaluated consumers’ views on advertisement on television and on newspapers. The survey discovered that 54% reason that advertising claims made on these platforms are unbelievable. However, 22% believe otherwise.

·        In an attempt to understand brand visibility and exposure during IPLs, the survey discovered that in the current season 9% of the total respondents have noticed ads by Dream 11 - Indian fantasy sports platform that allows users to play fantasy cricket and 6% have noticed ads by Tata Neu from Tata Digital. Among those who have watched IPL this season, Dream 11 is recalled by 41% & Tata Neu by 30%. At an overall level, 22% have watched IPL & 78% mentioned they have not watched IPL this season.

·        Demystifying consumers’ online behaviour, Axis My India’s survey found out that 35% indulged in online shopping in the last one year. In addition, the survey revealed that 19% views quick gratification schemes by Indian food and groceries apps (such as 10 minutes delivery Zomato, Big-basket / Licious / Dunzo–same day delivery) positively believing it to be ‘convenient and time effective’ but a sizable 77% have not tried it yet.

·        Gauging consumer sentiment on financial investment plans The CSI – Survey revealed that 13% plans to invest in Health insurance / Life Insurance while 4% plans to invest in Fixed Deposits and Recurring Deposits. Furthermore 3% are considering investments in Shares/Mutual Funds while 2% plans to invest in Gold. 78% mentioned that they don’t invest or plan to do it this year.

·        The survey further dug deeper to unravel viewer’s content behaviour. As per the survey a majority of 36% said that they prefer watching news related to elections and political parties while 22% is interested in news related to Russia-Ukraine War. In addition, two secondary preferences involve information related to sports (20%) and entertainment (16%). A majority of 52% further said that they have watched enough of Russia-Ukraine war related news.

·        Finally, the CSI survey revealed that 33% would prefer to migrate in another country in search for better opportunity and lifestyle where as a sizable 64% would prefer to stay in India.

* Health score has a negative connotation i.e., the lesser the spends on health items the better the sentiments.

* The Overall Consumer Sentiment Score is an average of the mentioned sub-indices

About Axis My India:

Axis My India is India’s foremost consumer data intelligence consultancy that has revolutionized the field of election polling in the country, with an accuracy rate of ~93% spread across 28 states and 8 union territories and 2 national elections. The company has a presence in over 737 districts and has touched 85 million Indian households. It counts some of India’s largest corporations, state governments as well as Union Government in its clientele and offers a repertoire of research related services, including consumer insights, product validation, market segmentation, on-ground brand activation, personalized media solutions and micro marketing. The company publishes an annual Consumer Trust Index – spread across 45 consumer and product categories, and 1 million respondents.

For more information: https://www.axismyindia.org/

Epson Introduces New Document Scanner With Built-In Networking Connectivity For Paper-Intensive Businesses

* New Epson WorkForce DS-790WN Color Document Scanner features versatile connectivity and a large touchscreen for easy PC-Free scanning

Epson, a world leader in digital and printing solutions, today announced the launch of its WorkForce DS-790WN Wireless Network Color Document Scanner. Whether in the office or remote, work is becoming more dispersed, increasing the demand for networking technologies, like wireless document scanning solutions, to enhance collaborative productivity in fast-paced business environments. The WorkForce DS-790WN is designed for reliability and ease of use and delivers high-quality scans at fast speeds so businesses can manage documents with confidence. The WorkForce DS-790WN is well-suited to a wide range of segments including government, service bureaus, higher education, banking, and healthcare.

The WorkForce DS-790WN produces high-quality scans at speeds of up to 45ppm/90ipm, has a max daily duty cycle of up to 7,000 sheets, one-pass duplex scanning, and a high-volume 100-page ADF that can take business and ID cards as well as sheets up to 8.5 by 240 inches. It has a 4.3” color LCD touchscreen and built-in LAN and wireless connectivity to easily access multiple scan jobs. Or one can scan to a USB drive, e-mail, network or cloud storage services, such as Dropbox®, Evernote®, and Google Drive™ without the need for a computer. Individual user authentication via the touchscreen or an optional card reader provides access to personal usage records and custom scan settings to ensure hassle-free scanning.

According to Mr. S Prabagaran, Senior General Manager at Epson India “In many organizations, the demand for efficient document management with seamless integration into diverse workflows continues to grow, and the need for network scanners has become extremely prevalent. The WorkForce DS-790WN scanner is ideally suited to meet the needs of such organizations”.

Key Features:

Advanced authentication features: Prevent unauthorised access to the scanner or use of unauthorised features with a range of authentication methods, including ID cards (card reader not included), login credentials or pin codes.

ScanWay - standalone scanning: Route scanned documents directly to the right destination using the 10.9cm colour touchscreen without the need to connect to a PC. Scan directly to network and cloud folders, email addresses, or USB memory stick.

Connectivity: The WorkForce DS-790WN offers a variety of connectivity options, such as USB 3.0, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct and Gigabit ethernet. In addition, it supports multiple platforms, including Windows, Mac OS, iOS, Android, Chromebook and Citrix. Also, can Scan from a phone or tablet using the Epson Smart Panel app.

Reliability: With a 7000 pages-per-day duty cycle and inbuilt sensors for paper jams, double-feeding, and dirt-on-glass detection, all documents are kept safe and scanned to the highest quality.

With seamless compatibility and most existing document management systems, WorkForce DS-790WN contains integrated TWAIN and ISIS® drivers and offers OCR software to effortlessly produce searchable PDFs and customisable Office documents, making it compatible with most existing document management systems. 3 Users can also scan using mobile devices by downloading the Epson Smart Panel® app8 for iOS® or Android™.

Price and Availability:

Priced at Rs.72,999 the Epson WorkForce DS-790WN Network Scanner comes with a 1 year onsite warranty and will be available from authorized Epson dealers.

About Epson

Epson is a global technology leader dedicated to co-creating sustainability and enriching communities by leveraging its efficient, compact, and precision technologies and digital technologies to connect people, things, and information. The company is focused on solving societal issues through innovations in home and office printing, commercial and industrial printing, manufacturing, visual and lifestyle. Epson will become carbon negative and eliminate use of exhaustible underground resources such as oil and metal by 2050.

Led by the Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, the worldwide Epson Group generates annual sales of more than JPY 1 trillion. https://global.epson.com/

About Epson India

Epson India Pvt. Ltd. was incorporated in the year 2000. Epson products address the needs of homes, businesses, and commercial enterprises as those of consumers with specialized needs in India. With a commitment to providing products and services that surpass people’s expectations, Epson India today has an enviable reputation for quality and value. Headquartered in Bangalore, the company markets and supports Epson Inkjet Printers, Inkjet All-in-Ones, Point of Sale Printers, 3LCD Projectors, Scanners, Large Format Printers, Robots and Dot-Matrix Printers. In all of these categories, Epson is either the No. 1 or No. 2 brand in India and growing fast. https://www.epson.co.in/

New UiPath Study Reveals 70 Percent of Indian Office Workers Are Feeling Increased Pressure At Work Due To The Labor Shortage

* 99% of respondents in India believe automating certain tasks can help improve their job performance

According to a new study commissioned by UiPath (NYSE: PATH), a leading enterprise automation software company, 70% of office workers in India are feeling increased pressure at work due to their colleagues resigning in the past year, the highest in any region. UiPath’s 2022 Office Worker Survey also found that monotonous tasks are amplifying employee unhappiness and uncertainty and that employees would welcome new processes and technologies such as automation to allow them to focus on work that matters.

“Automation is one powerful key to unlocking worker productivity. Employees around the world are incredibly burnt out by having to take on more work due to colleagues resigning and various monotonous tasks. In India, seventy-nine percent of respondents reported that they have had to take up to six new tasks or responsibilities outside of their job description due to coworkers resigning,’’ said Anil Bhasin, Managing Director and Vice President, UiPath — India, and South Asia. “Ninety-nine percent feel automating certain tasks can improve their job performance by saving time, increasing productivity, and creating opportunities to focus on more important work. The way we work must change,” he added.

The third annual UiPath survey of global office workers uncovered the impact that the Great Resignation is having on employees’ roles and responsibilities, career trajectories, and overall experience. The assessment found that:

The Great Resignation is an acute business challenge: Around the world, office workers are feeling increased pressure at work because their colleagues are quitting. The pressure is the highest in India with 70% of workers reporting the same. Alarmingly, 74% of Indian and 68% of global respondents reported that they do not know what their responsibilities are anymore, because things at work have changed so much since their coworkers quit.

Labor shortages and mundane work are causing people to quit: 73% of Indian respondents say they are interested or could be swayed into looking for a new job in the next six months. About two in five (41%) say they are currently applying for another job, or have had interviews with another company in the past six months. Local office workers are motivated to seek a new position due to increased pressure on work/life balance (44%), spending too much time on administrative tasks (37%), and lack of employee recognition (28%).

Expanding roles are compounded by monotonous tasks: 96% of Indian respondents say they feel exhausted at the end of a workday at least one day per week. They are frustrated by tasks like research to improve existing products and services (44%), drafting and responding to emails (43%), creating new products and services (38%) and scheduling calls and meetings (37%).

Office workers believe automation is core to improving their job performance and satisfaction: Consistent with UiPath Global Office Worker Surveys in 2021 and 2020, employees feel like much of their workday is eaten up by tasks that can be automated. 73% of Indian employees agree. Respondents believe that automation can improve their job performance, namely by saving time (62%), increasing productivity (61%), and creating opportunities to focus on more important work (59%).

Automation can help fight the Great Resignation: 91% of Indian respondents contend that incorporating automation—including training on automation—could help their organization attract new and retain existing talent. 86% of respondents in India reported that their organizations offer employees access to AI or automated tools. This is the highest in any region polled. Business leaders are already on board, with 85% of those surveyed in the UiPath 2022 Executive Survey agreeing that incorporating automation and automation training into their organization will help them retain employees and attract new talent. 

The 2022 Office Worker Survey polled more than 5,000 office workers across the U.S., U.K., France, Germany, India, Australia, and Singapore and was conducted in February 2022.

About UiPath

UiPath has a vision to deliver the Fully Automated Enterprise™, one where companies use automation to unlock their greatest potential. UiPath offers an end-to-end platform for automation, combining the leading Robotic Process Automation (RPA) solution with a full suite of capabilities that enable every organization to rapidly scale digital business operations.

Jeep India Rolls Out All-New Meridian - Sophisticated And Capable SUV In Its Segment, Booking Open

 

·         Production of the most-anticipated Jeep Meridian has started at the company's Ranjangaon facility.

·         The all new Jeep Meridian is a perfect combination of refinement, sophistication, class-leading performance, and unmatched capabilities

·         The vehicle has undergone rigorous testing and stringent qualification over 10,00,000+ KMs as part of the development and testing process

·         Bookings are now accepted across Jeep dealerships or on www.jeep-india.com with deliveries expected to commence in June.

Jeep India announces the start of production of the all-new Jeep Meridian from its JV manufacturing facility at Ranjangaon. It will bring a sophisticated dimension to the premium 3 row SUV segment while making the Jeep range even more complete. Inspired by the globally popular Grand Cherokee, the Jeep Meridian was co-engineered to bring a global concept to India and has the potential for exports to other right-hand drive markets. Based on the Group’s SW Architecture, the Jeep Meridian stands apart for its striking design, instilling elegance and dynamism as a lifestyle SUV.

Speaking at the start of production of the Jeep Meridian, Roland Bouchara, CEO and Managing Director, Stellantis India said, “The Jeep Meridian is the third new model manufactured in India since 2021 as part of Jeep’s product offensive. A demonstration of the company's commitment to the domestic market, the Jeep Meridian will feature up to 82% localisation and has been specially designed, engineered, and tuned for Indian road conditions keeping in mind the refinement expected by customers in the segment. The duality represented by the all-new Jeep Meridian of Sophistication & Capability, has the potential to distrupt the premium SUV segment.”

According to Nipun J Mahajan, Head of Jeep Brand India, " The Jeep Meridian is an ideal mix of adventure and sophistication that will be evidenced via many segment-first features and its refined abilities both on and off road. The Meridian has been subjected to rigorous testing of over 10,00,000 KMs, to ensure its durability and consistent performance. Those looking for sophistication, performance, and unmatched capability will find the perfect match in the Jeep Meridian."

The Jeep Meridian will be available in two well-equipped trims with top-of-the-line features to ensure occupants' convenience and comfort. Powered by Jeep’s legendary 2.0L Multijet II Turbo Diesel engine mated to a six-speed manual gearbox or the class-leading 9-speed automatic gearbox transmission. To be available in Forward Wheel Drive and All Wheel Drive configurations, the Jeep Meridian will offer best-in-class on-road and off-road capabilities.

The Jeep Meridian seats up to seven occupants in theatre-style ‘stadium’ seating with a spectacular panoramic sunroof. The model’s seats can be folded in eight different ways, allowing the Jeep Meridian to offer one of the largest carriages in the segment. The Meridian boasts of 15+ segment-best features and 60+ active & passive safety systems. Another noteworthy provision is the entirely independent front and rear suspension setup which is fortified with Frequency Selective Damping (FSD) technology. The Jeep Meridian is a blend of refinement, sophistication, class-leading performance, and unrivalled capabilities. The SUV is designed and engineered to deliver a superior drive, a true blue Jeep SUV design elements, the latest technologies, and features that make it the perfect ride for Indian customers.

Bookings now open

The all-new Jeep Meridian will be available for booking starting today, May 2, on the website Jeep India (jeep-india.com) and at Jeep dealership network. The reservation can be made with a down payment of INR 50,000/- with deliveries starting in June. Displays and test drives for the all-new Jeep Meridian will commence from mid of May 2022.

Spice Money And Religare Broking Take The LIC IPO To 10 Crore Rural Households

As India eyes LIC IPO, Spice Money & Religare Broking join hands for a ‘first-of-its-kind' long term partnership to simplify Demat Account Opening facility for rural India, thereby enabling easy access to capital market-linked investment products with the help of 1 million Spice Money Adhikaris

Spice Money, India’s leading rural fintech that is revolutionising the way Bharat banks, today announced that it has partnered with Religare Broking Ltd. (RBL) to enable rural citizens to apply for the mega LIC IPO, a first-of-its-kind investment opportunity. Through this association, Religare Broking and Spice Money aim to provide rural citizens with equitable access to investment opportunities, thus, taking a step further in bridging the rural-urban divide and augmenting financial inclusion. Moreover, this association will allow over 95% of rural pin codes to get access to assisted phygital platforms to invest in capital market-linked opportunities such as equities, mutual funds, commodity, currency and NPS to build wealth for the future. The business partnership will pave the way ahead for a large scale financial inclusion and financial freedom for new-to-market investors in the rural segment.

Religare Broking is currently servicing over 10 Lakh Demat customers through its pan India network of 1100+ branches and business partners across 400+ cities in the country. Spice Money, on the other hand, is a leading rural fintech company with a wide network of over 10 lakh merchants (called Spice Money Adhikaris) serving over 10 crore households in 700+ districts across the hinterlands of India. Thus, investment services partnership between Religare Broking and Spice Money will facilitate rural India to get direct and assisted access to a Demat Account and invest in capital market-linked products.

While India has just recorded “the best IPO year” (2021) in two decades with new-age technology companies leading the way, the percentage of investors from rural parts of the country is extremely low due to the lack of access, awareness and assistance. Spice Money’s most inclusive and trusted community of high growth 1 million Adhikaris, who are looked upon as respected banking representatives, will act as a one-point contact for assisting rural citizens who want to invest in the LIC shares, but do not know where to begin. Spice Money Adhikaris will assist them to open a DEMAT Account and apply for the LIC IPO and invest in other products in the future.

Sanjeev Kumar, Co-Founder & CEO, Spice Money said, “We are thrilled to partner with Religare Broking to take the country’s biggest IPO to the hinterlands of India. At Spice Money, we are on a mission to drive financial inclusion for the country and this partnership will bring forth the opportunity for rural citizens to participate in the mega IPO and other capital market-linked products in the future, through our marketplace platform. Access to the IPO of a brand that commands nation-wide trust, like LIC, will help rural citizens warm up to the phenomenon of investment opportunities they are hitherto unaware of.”

“A majority of rural households have little to no financial literacy and most prefer to park their money in bank deposits and therefore, they have to settle for low-interest rates, while there remains a massive opportunity to grow their wealth by making smart investments in capital markets. Seizing these opportunities will not only help in financial growth of rural citizens, but also help the revitalisation of the rural economy. It will play a key role in the country’s goal of becoming a $5-trillion economy and create an Atmanirbhar Bharat. This partnership shares mutual synergy of making people financially independent. Furthering digital and technological innovation, Spice Money aims to be a one stop platform for all rural financial needs,” Sanjeev added.

On the announcement of partnership, Nitin Aggarwal, CEO, Religare Broking said, “We are delighted to join hands with Spice Money. With LIC IPO on its way, a huge opportunity awaits for new investors and its policyholders. Jointly Religare & Spice Money will play an instrumental role in building a rural India financial inclusion model, combining new age technology with human assistance and bringing Ghar Ghar Demat Account.  With the help of Spice Adhikaris, each investor willing to invest in IPOs can seamlessly open a Demat account on Dynami App and make informed decisions for a range of investment products.”

Gurpreet Sidana, COO, Religare Broking said, “Continuing our promise to offer simplified investment journeys & innovative services, this time we are building a large-scale phygital DIY facility with Spice Money for opening Sabse Sasta Demat Account. For new-to-market customers, including the masses, Religare Broking has recently announced a new offering that provides Zero brokerage on delivery trades, zero brokerage on non-profitable intraday trades and options trading at Rs.5 per lot. Our DIY account opening journey and trading platforms are backed by state of the art new age technology and simplified trading experience. Irrespective of the ticket size or location, an investor can seamlessly and affordably participate in capital market linked opportunities.”

How Can Indian Invest In LIC IPO Via Upstox In Five Easy Steps

* LIC IPO will open for subscription on 4 May 2022 and close on 9 May 2022

* The price band for the issue is fixed at ? 902 - 949 per share

* The public offer aims to raise a total of approximately ? 20,500 crore

Many Indian startups and companies have been impacted by the Russia-Ukraine crisis, in turn  leading to massive volatility in the stock market. IPO plans, too, faced headwinds due to the global situation. However, the much-awaited initial public offering (IPO) of the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) is likely to open on 4 May and close on 9 May 2022. For anchor investors the IPO opens on 2 May 2022. 

The LIC IPO issue size has been reduced to ?20,557 crore, down from an expected ?60,000. Among the main reasons behind cutting down the size of LIC's IPO were the Ukraine-Russia crisis, withdrawal of foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) from the Indian market, and a global  increase in inflation and interest rates.

According to the revised DRHP, SEBI  has approved a 3.5 percent stake sale instead of the 5 percent that was mentioned  in the previous draft. The LIC IPO is expected to contribute a major chunk to the budgeted disinvestment proceeds in the current fiscal year.

Investment platforms like Upstox are offering the option to invest in IPOs through their platform. Upstox is one of India's largest investment platforms, with over 9.5 million customers. It was founded with the goal to make financial investing simple, equitable, and accessible for all Indian investors.

Here Are The 5 Simple Steps To Invest In An IPO Via Upstox:

Step 1: Log in to the Upstox application or website with your credentials.

Step 2: Select the IPO that you want to invest in and fill in your application form for the same.

Step 3: Add up to 3 bids within the available price range.

Step 4: Confirm your application.

Step 5: Accept the UPI mandate and block funds through your mobile UPI app.

Upstox users can also apply for IPOs via WhatsApp. This is a first-of-its kind feature and here is a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Say ‘Hi’ on this WhatsApp number (+91 93212 61102), that deals exclusively with  IPO applications, and click ‘IPO’

Step 2: Confirm your number by selecting ‘Yes, proceed’, or if you wish to change your number click ‘No, change no.’

Step 3: Now verify your number by entering the 6-digit OTP sent to you

Step 4: After verification, you will receive details of the latest IPOs. Select the IPO which you want to pre-apply/apply to from the list

Step 5: Now, to proceed, select ‘Apply now’ and if you wish to see other IPOs select ‘View other IPO’

Step 6: You’ll now be asked to enter the price at which you want to place your bid.

Step 7: Now select how many lots you want to apply for between 1-9 from the list. In case  you wish to select more than 9 lots click on 'more' and mention the maximum number of lots from the given range.

Step 8: You will now get to see a summary of your bid details. To move ahead, select ‘Proceed’ or if you wish to change something select ‘Change bid’

Step 9: Next, you will need to enter your UPI ID

Step 10: Select ‘Accept & proceed’ to submit your IPO application or ‘Decline’ if you change your mind and do not wish to apply for the IPO

Step 11: Once all these steps are completed, you can check  your application status from the WhatsApp chat at any time and from anywhere.

You Can Pre-Apply For LIC IPO on Upstox here -  https://invest.upstox.com/ipo/