Tata Motors Bags An Order For Delivering The Biggest EV Fleet In India

* Signs an agreement with BluSmart Electric Mobility for 10,000 XPRES T EVs 

In yet another step towards accelerating the transition to sustainable transportation, Tata Motors, on the occasion of the World Environment Day, signed an agreement with BluSmart Electric Mobility for delivering 10,000 XPRES T EVs to the company. This deployment of 10,000 units makes this the biggest ever EV fleet order in India. With deliveries starting soon, these vehicles are an addition to the 3,500 XPRES T EV order, which was signed by both the companies in October last year, and will be used across the country for commuters, in turn helping minimise the carbon footprint.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Shailesh Chandra, Managing Director, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd., and Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd. said, “Tata Motors is taking active steps towards the rapid electrification of mobility, and it is heartening to see renowned fleet aggregators joining the green mobility wave with us. We are delighted to continue our association with BluSmart Electric Mobility as we deploy 10,000 XPRES-T EVs across the country. Our XPRES-T EV fleet offers an optimal battery size along with a captive fast charging solution and has already set benchmarks in its category. Tata Motors is constantly working towards educating and enhancing the adoption of electric mobility in India and we hope that more people join us in this journey as we mobilize the nation to #EvolveToElectric.”

According to Mr. Anmol Singh Jaggi, CoFounder, BluSmart Electric Mobility, “With our $50M in Series A fundraise, we are supercharged to rapidly expand across Delhi NCR and the metro cities. We are thankful to Tata Motors for charging up our journey to scale up at a fast pace. BluSmart Electric Mobility has covered 50 million clean kms and delivered over 1.6 million zero-emission rides with an elevated customer experience on its platform. We are building a large-scale integrated EV mobility ecosystem in India - from the country's largest fully-electric ride hailing service to the largest network of EV charging super hubs. With the increasing fleet size we are leading India on the path to reliable, sustainable and zero-emissions mobility and also creating more inclusive and economic opportunities for driver partners.”

In July 2021, Tata Motors launched the XPRES brand, exclusively for fleet customers and XPRES-T EV is the first vehicle under this brand. The XPRES-T electric sedan comes with 2 range options – 213km and 165km (ARAI certified range under test conditions). It packs a high energy density battery of 21.5 kWh and 16.5 kWh and can be charged from 0- 80% in 90 mins and 110 mins, respectively, using fast charging or can also be normally charged from any 15 A plug point, which is easily available and convenient. It comes with zero tail-pipe emission, single speed automatic transmission, dual airbags, ABS with EBD as standard across variants. The premium black theme interior with standard automatic climate control and Electric Blue accents across its interior and exterior will give it a differentiated presence from other Tata cars.

Tata Motors has been revolutionizing Indian automotive market with its pioneering efforts and is leading the e-mobility wave in India with a commanding market share of 87% in FY’22 and with over 25000 Tata EVs on road till date in personal and fleet segment. Furthermore, in an effort to make EVs even more accessible to all, Tata Motors is closely working with other Tata Group companies including Tata Power, Tata Chemicals, Tata Auto Components, Tata Motors Finance and Croma, to contribute to the faster adoption of EVs in India through its EV ecosystem called the ‘Tata uniEVerse’.

Karkinos Healthcare Introduces CerviRaksha Against Cervical Cancer

* First WHO approved HPV test in India that diagnoses full range of Human Papilloma Viruses

India accounts for nearly one-third of the global cervical cancer deaths, with women facing a 1.6% cumulative risk of developing cervical cancer and 1% cumulative death risk from cervical cancer[1]. Studies show that 99% of cervical cancers are caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Of the 100 known types of HPV, HPV-16 and HPV-18 account for 70% of cervical cancers globally.

Persistent HPV infection can develop into cervical precancerous lesions and cervical cancer. Of the three types of cervical cancer test methods, HPV testing is the gold-standard. It is the most preferred test by gynecologists, worldwide, owing to its clinically proven data. HPV test offers several advantages including high accuracy, early detection, and its high negative predictive value. The test paves way to better treatment protocols and boosts survival rates.

As a pledge to protect, care, and uphold the women of India, Karkinos Healthcare - a technology driven oncology-focused managed health care platform, has introduced CerviRaksha, a first-of-its-kind clinically validated HPV test, which is pre-qualified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and approved by the Food and Drug Administration, USA (FDA) and was also granted the CE mark meeting European Health Standards.  .

Commenting about the need for gold standard HPV testing methods to eliminate cervical cancer, Dr. R Sankaranarayanan, Director, Preventive Oncology at Karkinos Healthcare, said, “Among all the cancers, Cervical Cancer is completely curable, only if detected early. However, in India, the yearly incidence rate of cervical cancer is 18% and the yearly mortality rate is 11.4%[2], which could be unquestionably brought down to a great extent in the next five years, if only we generate enough awareness about the efficacy rate of HPV Test. Because of its high negative predictive value, once tested, the chances of developing cervical precancerous lesions or cervical cancer in the next five to ten years becomes extremely low.”

The need of the hour is to bring about widespread awareness on cervical cancer prevention, screening, testing, and treatment. “The awareness of the HPV Test in India is pretty low, as it is mainly limited to higher-income groups. Karkinos Healthcare, therefore, is on a mission to democratize cancer care in India and in-sync with this mission, the company has introduced CerviRaksha HPV Test, targeted at all Indian women,” says Sripriya Rao, Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer (Women Wellness) at Karkinos Healthcare.

CerviRaksha has been introduced in partnership with Karkinos’ network hospitals, doctors, and corporates. And for the first time in HPV testing, sample collection at home is made possible to encourage more women to participate in this screening.

The test can be booked very easily through the Karkinos Healthcare website. The applicant can book the test following five very easy steps. A medically trained “CerviRakshak” will perform the sample collection from the comfort of the applicant's home and the applicant will receive test results via email in 7 days from the date of shipping the collected sample.

CerviRaksha HPV test also identifies the high-risk HPV-16 and HPV-18 genotypes individually. This enables the gynecologists to plan the treatment protocols accordingly. There is an inbuilt filtering of false positives and false negatives for additional accuracy.

Priced at ?2499, CerviRaksha ensures early detection of lesions in the cervix caused by HPV.

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYPFZdSF98I&t=2s

About Karkinos Healthcare Pvt. Ltd.:

Karkinos Healthcare is a digital oncology focused, managed health care platform for early detection and diagnosis of common cancers.  The company espouses the use of a distributed cancer care network working with multiple healthcare institutions and professionals in the ecosystem with a view to get cancer care closer to the persons’ home by decoupling the delivery from the knowledge systems of care. For more information, visit https://www.karkinos.in/about-us/.

RapiPay Fintech Opens Regional Office In Mumbai, Plans Massive Hiring

* Will open 15 regional offices in India in next one year as part of expansion into Neo Banking.

* Targets 50% growth in the current Financial Year through all its expansion

RapiPay Fintech Private Ltd, one of the leading fintech companies in India, today announced the opening of its regional office in Mumbai, Maharashtra. This will be the company’s first regional office in Western India, making RapiPay the only player in the assisted payment service category to have offices in all Metros.

Other than Mumbai, the Fintech leader will further expand its footprint with more offices in the west region such as Jaipur, Pune, Nagpur & Ahmedabad soon.

The high potential Western zone in the assisted payment services like AEPS (Aadhaar Enabled Payment Systems), Micro ATM and domestic remittance, is expected to increase RapiPay’s market share in the region by another 10 per cent going ahead. Witnessing the growth and the market’s potential, the company plans to increase its employee count by hiring 500 additional employees in the region. 

The company is doing 1 million daily transactions and has served more than 120 million customers, witnessing a robust growth of 25% MOM in basic banking services like Cash withdrawal and deposit, AEPS, Micro ATMs, POS, Utility payments, Loans and Insurance.

On the occasion of the office opening in Mumbai, Nipun Jain, CEO, RapiPay Fintech Pvt Ltd, said, “The Western region is an important market for us as it contributes to about 25 percent of our total business. We look at further expanding our footprint in this region and with all our expansions we are expecting an overall growth of 50 per cent in Assisted payments services. Our growth story in the B2B segment is unmatched. With the launch of our neo banking super App NYE, we will be the only player in our category to enter the B2C space. These are exciting times for RapiPay and we are confident of our success.”

RapiPay has witnessed 250% growth in AePS and Micro ATM transactions from Apr 2021 to Mar 2022 and 90% growth for the same period for DMT transactions. The lockdown provided an impetus to the growth of AePS & Micro ATMs as mobility was restricted and RapiPay DBOs fulfilled cash withdrawal requirements of the people. Further, AePS and Micro ATMs facilitated millions of customers for cash withdrawals of the benefits they availed under Jan Dhan Yojana, PM-Kissan Samman Nidhi etc. during the pandemic.

Indian Startup LXME Featured In The Official Platinum Jubilee Pageant Commemorative Album

* The pageant marked 70 years of the Queen’s coronation~

* LXME is the only Indian company to be featured in the commemorative album which explores how Her Majesty has provided the country and Commonwealth with a lifetime of Leadership~

Setting an example of leading women empowerment in India, fintech startup LXME has been featured in the Official Platinum Jubilee Pageant Commemorative Album, released in the honour of Elizabeth II, the Queen of the United Kingdom. The prestigious Official Platinum Jubilee Pageant Commemorative Album charts the trials and triumphs of The Queen’s 70-year reign and also features a select number of outstanding individuals and organizations from across the country and the Commonwealth.

The album ‘Platinum Jubilee Pageant Commemorative Album’ was launched on June 5, 2022 as part of the UK’s four-day bank holiday weekend of Jubilee celebrations.

Being one of the Indian entrepreneurs to be invited at the event, financial feminist Priti Rathi Gupta, Founder of LXME, represented the company and stood as a stellar example of woman in leadership building a unique value proposition for women.

Her Majesty the Queen is an icon of female leadership, all over the world. Championing other women in leadership roles, particularly those in historically male dominated industries, is a strong remit behind the initiative.

On the achievement, Priti Rathi Gupta, Founder, LXME said, “We are humbled and immensely honoured to have received this global recognition of all our efforts and tribulations in empowering Indian women. At LXME, it has been our endeavour to simplify finance for Indian women and encourage them to take charge of their finance. This global recognition will enable us to demonstrate the advantages of greater equality, diversity, and inclusion in the financial and investments sector.”

The book, which is the only official book to be published celebrating the Platinum Jubilee Pageant, is produced by publisher St James’s House and written by royal authors Robert Jobson and Katie Nicholl, with contributions by Tom Parker Bowles.

LXME named after the Hindu Goddess of Wealth is a woman-first financial platform focused on reducing the financial gender disparity in India. Founded in mid-2020, LXME simplifies money matters for women by creating and facilitating a community of women to engage in conversations that make them confident about gaining more control of their finances and learn from each other as they progress on their financial journeys. LXME is run by a powerful team of women who’ve made it their life’s mission to create impact beyond measure, led by Priti Rathi Gupta

Priti Rathi Gupta, Founder of LXME, has led and inspired over 100,000 women towards building their financial acumen and financialization of their small savings. An Alumni of Harvard Business School, she had held leadership positions as M. D. of Anand Rathi, one of India’s largest Financial Services Conglomerate, at YPO, and Founder of Ishka films. She is a reputed expert awarded for setting up the Commodities desk, Currency and Forex Advisory business with two decades of experience in the BFSI industry & is now focused on bridging the gap between women & wealth.

About LXME

Founded in mid-2020, LXME is India’s 1st financial platform for women. The start-up aims to inspire a wave of financially fearless women independently managing their money and achieving their dreams. Targeting women across life stages, lifestyles and professions, LXME enables women with the right knowledge and tools to take charge of their personal finances.

Mother Dairy Aims to Turn "Plastic Waste Neutral Company" By FY 2023-24

 

*    Recycled/Co-Processed 8,164 MT of Post-Consumer Used Plastic Waste from June 2018 Till March 2022~

 *     Aims to recycle over 7,000 MT of Post-Consumer Used Plastic Waste in the current fiscal.

*     Mother Dairy started the EPR journey in Maharashtra from June 2018 (100% EPR) and gradually implemented it on a pan India basis.

On the occasion of upcoming World Environment Day 2022, Mother Dairy Fruit & Vegetable Pvt. Ltd. (MDFVPL), country’s leading milk and milk products major, today reiterated its commitment towards a cleaner environment by pledging to become ‘Plastic Waste Neutral Company’ by FY2023-24, which means that the company will collect, recycle/co-process the same amount of plastic waste which is used in its product packaging in a year. In its endeavor to achieve this feat, the Company has also set its sight to recycle/co-process more than 7,000 MT of post-consumer used plastic waste by end of FY2022-23.

Mother Dairy began its plastic waste collection and recycling/co-processing initiative in Maharashtra in FY2018-19 under the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program and scaled up the initiative on a pan-India level for Multi-Layered Plastic Waste (MLP) in FY2019-20, in line with the Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules 2018 as amended. The Company has been closely working with its suppliers and leading Waste Management Agencies (WMA) for implementation of the National EPR framework.

The Company, through its associated partners, has collected and co-processed/recycled around 8,164 MT of post-consumer used plastic waste (5,318 MT of Single Layered Plastic Waste and 2,846 MT of Multi-Layered Plastic Waste) from June 2018 till March 2022.

Elaborating on the initiative, Mr. Manish Bandlish, Managing Director, Mother Dairy Fruit & Vegetable Pvt. Ltd. said, “As a responsible organisation, we reaffirm our stand to a safer and cleaner environment for a better tomorrow. Testament to the fact is our Token Milk (branded loose milk) offering since 1984, which has been helping us to save approx. 7 lakh kgs of plastic coming into the environment every year. In line with our commitment, we have now set our sight towards being a plastic waste neutral organisation by FY2023-24, while contributing towards making our planet safe for the generations to come.”

The Company is also working towards reducing the consumption of plastic by way of offering alternatives to plastic straws used for the consumption of dairy beverages and will soon be available with paper-based straws across its markets of operations.

Mr. Bandlish further added, “Apart from plastics, we are also conscious of efficient usage of key natural resources by bringing them under our performance indicators. Over the years, Mother Dairy has taken varied measures for environment sustainability and conservation of natural resources through initiatives like water conservation, rainwater harvesting, and adoption of renewable energy sources.”

Other initiatives

-  Mother Dairy has been engaging and encouraging its consumers to opt for Token Milk (Automated Milk Vending system) available at the company’s booths in Delhi NCR and this effort has eliminated the generation of around 7 lakh kgs of plastic waste.

-  The Company has replaced all plastic spoons with wooden spoons and eliminated loose straws 3 years back.

The Company under the EPR program, in accordance with the Plastic Waste Management Rules, is already working in around 28 states with its presence, including key regions like Delhi NCR, Maharashtra and others.

About Mother Dairy Fruit & Vegetable Pvt. Ltd. (MDFVPL):

Mother Dairy was commissioned in 1974. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB). It was established under the initiative of ‘Operation Flood’, world's biggest dairy development program launched to make India a milk sufficient nation. Today, Mother Dairy is a leading dairy player which manufactures, markets & sells milk and milk products including cultured products, ice creams, paneer and ghee under the ‘Mother Dairy’ brand. The Company also has a diversified portfolio with products in edible oils under the ‘Dhara’ brand and fresh fruits & vegetables, frozen vegetables & snacks, unpolished pulses, pulps & concentrates, etc. under the ‘Safal’ brand. Mother Dairy through its brands has a national footprint across all major cities in India, offering a delectable range of products to its consumers.

PDS Limited- UK Subsidiary Poetic Brands Inks License Agreement for Forever 21

* Agreement includes manufacturing and distribution in UK and EU regions

PDS Limited (“the Company”, “PDS”) is a design-led sourcing, manufacturing & supply chain platform catering to leading brands and retailers globally with a presence in over 22 countries.

PDS’s UK- based subsidiary, Poetic Brands, has entered into a license agreement with the Authentic Brands Group (ABG) for the Forever 21 brand. As per the agreement, Poetic Brands has been granted the rights for the manufacturing, marketing, and distribution of  Forever 21 in the United Kingdom and European regions, including Germany, France, Spain, and Switzerland amongst others.

Poetic Brands will drive the growth of the brand across categories including womenswear, menswear, kids wear, athleisure, swimwear, and fashion accessories. Forever 21 brand will be distributed through leading full-price retailers and popular e-commerce platforms across UK and EU. Poetic Brands also has the opportunity to create Forever 21 shop-in-shops. With this acquisition, Poetic Brands which currently operates with a ?260cr ($35mn) topline will expand its licensed portfolio to include Forever 21.

Speaking on the announcement, Pallak Seth, Vice-Chairman, PDS Limited said, “We are delighted to work with a leading brand like Forever 21. The brand drives innovation across retail, providing designs, fabrications, and fits for customers at an affordable price. Through our relationship with Forever 21, we will deliver quality products and great style to consumers in the UK and Europe, while opening doors to bring on board the best in class partners in our supply chain.”

Sanjay Jain, Group CEO, PDS Limited added, “Forever 21 over the years has emerged as a much-loved brand that caters to discerning and price-sensitive audience. We are looking forward to building the Forever 21 brand while delivering superior products and services to consumers in the UK and EU. PDS is consciously evaluating its portfolio to expand value-added service and high-margin products and categories. This relationship provides the PDS platform a high growth, fast fashion category.”

In FY22, PDS consolidated revenues crossed US$1 billion. In line with the dividend distribution policy adopted in the financial year 2021, the Company declared a 238% dividend of ?23.85 per share, translating into a 25% EPS payout, subject to the approval of the shareholders.

About PDS Limited: (www.pdsmultinational.com)

PDS Limited (erstwhile PDS Multinational Fashions Limited) operates an integrated design-led platform offering product development, sourcing, virtual manufacturing, and distribution for major brands and retailers worldwide. The Company operates a vast global network covering 50 offices, 22 countries, and over 3,300 employees and 5,800 associates & factory workers worldwide.

The Company is listed on the BSE Ltd. (538730) and the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd (PDSL).

Govt of Tamil Nadu Inaugurates 200 + Public Wi-Fi Hotspots Powered By ACT Fibernet For Citizens of Chennai

* Hotspots deployed across Amma Canteens, Corporation Parks, T-Nagar Smart City, Triplicane, Royapettai, Napier Park/ May Day Park, Ratna Café junction

* 20 Mbps for all guest users for 45 mins at no cost

In its efforts towards accelerating the adoption of digital technologies the state, Government of Tamil Nadu today launched 224 public Wi-Fi hotspots in Chennai in collaboration with ACT Fibernet. The Wi-Fi hotspots were launched in the presence of Shri Udhayanidhi Stalin, Member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly and Youth Secretary, DMK and Mr. Sandeep Gupta, Chief Operating Officer, Atria Convergence Technologies Ltd and other dignitaries, and officials.

Installation of Wi-Fi hotspots across the city is a great way to keep more people connected and give them access to the internet. This launch marks the beginning of the Tamil Nadu Govt.’s vision to establish a large-scale public wi-fi network for its citizens.

Each of the 224 Wi-Fi hotspots are powered by ACT SmartFiber™ Technology, that will ensure superfast and safe internet experiences. This technology enables users with smooth, seamless connectivity for video content, including calling, streaming, and ultra-fast file transfers on ACT’s Gigabit-enabled network at scale. With implementation of the SmartFiber™ technology, ACT Fibernet was also recognised by Ookla, as the fastest and most consistent wired broadband network in Chennai. A study by InMobi in April 2021 has concluded that ACT is the best broadband for streaming in Chennai.

Users will have to login through the ACT Free Wi-Fi portal with their phone number and OTP and use free internet for 45 mins at 20 Mbps speed and 1 GB data limit without any cost. These hotspots are located across the city in Amma Canteens, Corporation Parks, T-Nagar Smart City, Triplicane, Royapettai, Napier Park/ May Day Park and Ratna Café junction for easy access.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri. Udhayanidhi Stalin, Member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly and Youth Secretary, DMK, said, “The Wi-Fi hotspots in Chennai are a step towards establishing the city as a Smart City. I am happy that a great number of people will now be able to enjoy free internet and make good use of it in public spaces. ACT Fibernet has been a trusted industry partner for many years, and I thank them for their support to set-up this Wi-Fi project.”

Mr. Bala Malladi, CEO Atria Convergence Technologies (ACT), said, “ACT Fibernet has always believed in using the internet as a force for good - to help people transform their lives. The free public Wi-Fi will assist in bridging the digital divide, whether for students, professionals, or the general public. It is an honour to be a part of the Government of Tamil Nadu’s prestigious project contribute to the development of Chennai and its citizens.”

Internet penetration is expected to reach new heights in the next few years, due to the government's constant push to achieve a 'Digital India' and making internet affordable for all. Since 2000, ACT Fibernet has been a driving force behind the development of fibre broadband internet in India. It is largest Non-Telco ISP in the country, today.

About ACT Fibernet

ACT Fibernet is one of largest wired ISPs (Internet Service Provider) in India. Headquartered in Bangalore it has operations in 19 cities with 1.8 million customers. ACT Fibernet is known for its cutting-edge technology and high-speed broadband connectivity that the company provides to its customers. In 2019, ACT Fibernet forayed in the consumer category with the launch of its product ACT stream TV 4K. ACT Fibernet was the first broadband service provider to bring 1 Giga speed connectivity in India to the city of Hyderabad in 2017, followed by Bengaluru and Chennai in 2018. ACT Fibernet has been recognized as India’s most Consistent Broadband Network in 2020 by Ookla, Best Brands 2020 in the broadband category by The Economic Times, Best Broadband for Streaming in Hyderabad and Chennai as per research conducted by InMobi in Sept 2020, and No.1 Broadband for Gaming according to The Times of India Report, 2020.

www.actcorp.in