Dalmia Cement Wins Prestigious “CII CAP 2.0° Award” For Pioneering Climate Action Initiatives In India

* Company bags award for second consecutive year and becomes only leading player in cement sector to receive coveted prize 

Reinforcing its nationwide commitment towards sustainability, Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Limited (DCBL), India’s fourth largest cement manufacturer and a subsidiary of Dalmia Bharat Limited, has won the prestigious ‘Oriented’ honour at the 3rd edition of the Climate Action Programme (CAP 2.0°) Awards by India’s reputed industry trade association, the Confederation of Indian Industry’s (CII).  

Bagging the award for the second time, DCBL has become the only organisation to receive the coveted prize that celebrates pioneers in Climate Action in the nation’s cement sector. The CII-ITC Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Development, in association with DSM, initiated the CAP 2.0° in 2018 to help companies prepare scenario analysis, implement Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) recommendations, and calculate internal carbon pricing.  

Commenting on the win, Dr. Arvind Bodhankar, Executive Director & CRO, DCBL said “At Dalmia Bharat, we are paving the way for a sustainable future by surpassing global benchmarks and introducing innovative climate action endeavours. All our efforts are aligned with our corporate vision of being a leader in building materials and evoking pride in all stakeholders through customer-centricity, innovation and sustainability. We take pride in receiving this accolade from CII and look forward to mitigating climate change through our consistently innovative sustainable practices.” 

Some of the key efforts solidifying Dalmia Bharat’s sustainability drive include promoting and incorporating the philosophy of ‘Waste to Prosperity’ to move from a grey to green reality. The company has been engaging with waste generators, policymakers, civil society and its employees to maximize waste utilization in its cement plants. Nearly 18% of the heat provided in its cement kilns is attributable to Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) and industrial wastes including non-recyclable plastic, pharma, etc. 

With a total installed capacity of 37 MnT, Dalmia Bharat is the first cement group committed to becoming carbon-negative by 2040. The organisation serves as a climate catalyst for the global cement industry with a carbon footprint of 467 kg CO2/ton of cement (Q2, FY 23).  

Today, nearly 40% of the total raw materials consumed by Dalmia Cement are industrial wastes (the highest globally at this scale within the cement sector) and 80% of its product portfolio is blended cement. The company is India’s largest manufacturer of Portland Slag Cement which is the lowest carbon footprint cement available in the country. The company plans on becoming a 100% blended cement producer with an investment of over 6,000 crores in a couple of years. 

About Dalmia Bharat: 

Founded in 1939, Dalmia Bharat Limited (DBL) (BSE/NSE Symbol: DALBHARAT) is one of India’s pioneering cement companies headquartered in New Delhi. With a growing capacity, currently pegged at 37.0 MnT, Dalmia Bharat Limited is the fourth-largest cement manufacturing company in India by installed capacity. Spread across 10 states and 14 manufacturing units, the Company is a category leader in super-specialty cement used for oil well, railway sleepers and airstrips and is the country’s largest producer of Portland Slag Cement (PSC).  Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Limited, a subsidiary of Dalmia Bharat Limited, prides itself at having one of the lowest carbon footprints globally in the cement world. It is the first cement company to commit to RE100, EP100 & EV100 (first triple joiner) – showing real business leadership in the clean energy transition by taking a joined-up approach. Visit us at https://www.dalmiacement.com/.  

Goa Institute of Management’s “Make-The-Case” Initiative Chosen As Good Practice By UN Office of South-South Cooperation

“Make-The-Case”, an initiative by Centre for Social Sensitivity and Action (CSSA) at the Goa Institute of Management has been chosen as good practice by the United Nations Office of South-South Cooperation and has been included in the compendium entitled ‘Good Practices in South-South and Triangular Cooperation for Sustainable Development – Volume 4’.  

In 2020, the ‘Make the Case’ competition was introduced. It was developed and put into action by the Goa Institute of Management's Center for Social Sensitivity and Action (CSSA), Commitments Accelerator for Plastic Pollution (CAPP), Ocean Recovery Alliance (ORA), and Indian Plastic Institute (IPI). The competition's goal was to raise awareness of plastic waste in India and to encourage discussion on its solutions. The objective was to persuade young people to become interested in issues of sustainable development and to make them green crusaders of their respective institutes. 

Dr. Ajit Parulekar, Director of GIM shares, “I am very happy to note that the collaborative effort of CSSA has been recognized by UNOSSC as evidence-based good practice for SDG 12. The volume released showcased over 130 development solutions that have demonstrated cross-boundary cooperation and knowledge transfer between countries of the global South and which are highly adaptable to local economic and social conditions.  I am pleased to know that from India, we are probably the first Business School who have been recognised for our effort by a UN entity”.  

The ‘Good Practices in South-South and Triangular Cooperation for Sustainable Development publication series documents the incredible work that is currently happening in the global South. Two seasons of the Make-The-Case competition have been held so far. Instead of concentrating on completely fresh start-up concepts, the competition in Season 1 (2020) focused on programmes and innovations that have already been implemented and have the potential to be scaled. In total, 165 teams signed up for this contest. Moving this initiative to a national platform, students from across the country had the opportunity to participate in season 2. 

CSSA Chairperson Professor Divya Singhal communicated that “Make the Case competition was launched in 2020.  The objective of the competition was to generate awareness about and discuss ways to tackle plastic waste in India. The aim was to nudge youth to take an interest in issues related to sustainable development and make them the green crusaders in their respective institutions”. 

The competition is distinctive because it involves knowledge creation, knowledge transmission, and action. The competition's lessons have successfully demonstrated that plastic waste significantly affects public health. 

More Motoring Pleasure, Lower Emissions: Vitesco Technologies’ Hybrid Concept Adds “e-Power And New Driving Functions To Motorcycles”

*Next development stage to be presented at EICMA 2022  

* Additional 48-volt electric drive significantly boosts performance, agility, and safety 

* Electric start-up without clutch actuation and electric reversing enabled 

* Up to 75 percent CO2 savings in current WMTC 

* Vitesco Technologies is presenting its two-wheel innovations in Hall 13, Booth C57 

Vitesco Technologies, a leading international supplier of advanced powertrain technologies and solutions for e-mobility, is advancing the hybridization of motorcycles: at EICMA 2022 (November 10-13, press and trade visitor days on November 8/9), the company will present the next development stage of a hybrid motorcycle with an additional electric drive that significantly reduces CO2 emissions. And that’s not all: this development stage increases motoring pleasure and enables new driving functions for greater comfort and safety. These include fully electric start-up without clutch actuation and an electric reverse gear. The concept is designed for motorcycles with a displacement of over 125cc and comprises a 48-volt electric motor, an automated manual gearbox and, as the “control center”, a Powertrain Domain Control Unit (PDCU), the so-called Master Controller. 

Vitesco Technologies presented the first development stage of the hybrid concept at EICMA last year. “For medium-sized and large motorcycles with combustion engines, we expect that future exhaust emission limits can only be met by using hybridization in combination with an automated manual transmission. With this aim in mind, our development focus was initially entirely on reducing CO2,” says Torsten Bellon, head of the 2-Wheeler & Powersports product line at Vitesco Technologies. “Over the past twelve months, we have adapted the technology, which originated in the passenger car segment, to meet the specific requirements of motorcycles, developing many additional functions that are only possible with an electrified powertrain. During our development work, it became increasingly clear that our hybrid concept opens up completely new possibilities for making motorcycling more dynamic, more comfortable and safer. We exploited these options and are now in a position to support manufacturers with an easy-to-implement, low-cost and highly effective system.” 

Powerful, efficient and cost-effective 

The electric engine of the hybrid concept is a standard belt-driven starter generator from the passenger car sector, where Vitesco Technologies has been using 48-volt hybridization since 2016. The Master Controller, also from the passenger car segment, is responsible for the control strategy, which is particularly demanding in hybrid systems. It controls the 48-volt engine, communicates with the M4C engine control unit of the combustion engine and decides when to switch to electric drive, when to drive “conventionally” and when to use a combination of both drive types. The automated Smart Transmission is equipped with a centrifugal clutch and an intelligent actuator. While driving, the Master Controller can change gears independently without clutch actuation at the best time for economic fuel consumption. 

The 12 kW electric motor and a removable 1.5 kWh battery enable the concept to travel a distance of up to 30 kilometers and at a speed of up to 60 kilometers per hour in pure electric mode. The combustion engine in the hybrid concept has an output of 32 kW and a top speed of 160 kilometers per hour. In this configuration and in combination with the current WMTC (World Motorcycle Test Cycle) the hybrid concept reduces the motorbike’s CO2 emissions by up to 75 percent. The system increases the overall weight by only approx. 20 kilograms. At 170 kilograms, the concept is lighter than a fully electric motorcycle with a similar performance – and is also considerably cheaper. Unlike in the passenger car sector, where hybridization can be significantly more expensive, Vitesco Technologies’ motorcycle system can already be integrated at an additional average system cost of less than 1,000 euros. 

Automotive technologies and profound understanding of motorcycles  

In the development of motorcycle solutions, Vitesco Technologies has the significant advantage of access to in-house automotive products. However, it is the company’s two decades of expertise in two-wheel vehicles that enables Vitesco Technologies to optimally adapt these technologies and components for use in motorcycles. This know-how is required, among other things, to develop the algorithms, which cannot be adopted directly from the passenger car sector. 

“Our development teams know exactly what counts when riding a motorcycle and always have the various different user groups in mind,” says Christophe Genin, head of the hybrid concept project. “For example, for novice riders who have switched to a motorcycle, the biggest challenge is operating the clutch. This was one of the things that motivated us to develop the electric start-up function. This means that when travelling at a speed of up to 20 kilometers per hour, clutch operation and the risk of stalling are no longer an issue, increasing both comfort and safety, especially in stop-and-go traffic.” Electric starting is enabled by the electric motor and the smart transmission. “But like all the new functions of our hybrid motorcycle, developing the corresponding control strategy for the Master Controller was the key aspect here,” says Genin. 

Impressive e-boost, easy maneuvering and more 

Opening the grip also delivers a real aha effect. For one thing, the drive responds more agilely thanks to the instantly available e-power. Secondly, the electric motor provides impressive power delivery, especially in the lower engine speed range: Thanks to the additional e-boost, the torque reached here is up to 60 Nm (maximum torque without e-assist: 37 Nm at 7,000 rpm). This means that the medium-sized hybrid motorcycle (displacement: 401 cc) can generate more punch than a conventional bike with a 1000 cc engine. And thanks to the powerful electric drive, the thrust is available not just for a few seconds, but over minutes.  

The hybrid-concept also sets new standards in maneuvering. In addition to purely electric start-up, the electric drive also allows the vehicle to be driven in reverse. This convenient function is extremely helpful, especially in tight or downhill parking spaces. The hybrid concept also offers a number of other advantages. For example, the electric motor can compensate for the short torque interruption that occurs during gear changes to keep the wheel torque as constant as possible when shifting up and down. The generator function of the electric motor, used to charge the battery, can be used as an additional engine brake so that the mechanical rear brake is only needed if the motorcyclist needs to decelerate sharply. In addition, the hybrid concept’s energy management can be linked to the navigation system to ensure that the battery is fully charged, for instance before entering a city or before a long hill climb (so-called predictive ride function). A hybrid motorcycle also offers great flexibility in route planning: At around 260 kilometers, the Vitesco Technologies concept has a greater range than comparable electric motorcycles – and can be swiftly refueled at any gas station. 

Volvo Car India Starts Delivery of India’s First Locally Assembled Full-Electric Luxury SUV – XC40 Recharge

* First XC40 Recharge gets delivered in Gujarat

* Around 100 more cars expected to be delivered before year-end 

* The XC40 Recharge is only sold online directly by the company 

Volvo Car India has commenced the delivery of its full electric XC40 Recharge in the country. The first car was delivered today in Gujarat by Mr. Jyoti Malhotra, Managing Director, Volvo Car India. Volvo XC40 Recharge is India’s first Locally Assembled Luxury Electric SUV. The company is assembling the cars in their facility based at Bangalore, Karnataka.

“It is indeed a milestone for all of us at Volvo to have the first of the India assembled pure electric XC40 Recharge luxury SUV delivered.  This delivery is historic as this not only marks the beginning of our journey towards becoming an all-electric car company by 2030 but also will be the first car which is being delivered under our ambitious Online Direct Sales model. The response to the XC40 Recharge has been really encouraging with 150 car orders received online within 2 hours of opening bookings. I am delighted to announce that we already have close to 500 advance orders with us, and we will be delivering around 100 of them before the year-end. Rest of the customers will get their cars during the next year.” said Mr. Jyoti Malhotra - Managing Director, Volvo Car India.

The XC40 Recharge was launched on July 26th this year at Rs 55.90 lakh ex-showroom with a hassle-free ownership package. Volvo’s first electric SUV garnered an overwhelming response from luxury car buyers in India, with the business registering online bookings of 150 cars within a few hours of starting bookings on July 27th. The XC40 Recharge has a phenomenal range of upto 418 kilometres* on a single charge as per WLTP. This feature has increased consumer confidence and addressed common misconceptions regarding EV range.

All XC40 Recharge owners will also get 2 year membership of the exclusive Tre Kronor program. Tre Kronor membership offers benefits and services designed exclusively for Volvo XC40 Recharge car owners, keeping their satisfaction and comfort in mind.

By 2030, the company wants to offer exclusively purely electric vehicles and phase out all vehicles with internal combustion engines, including hybrids. This is aligned with the Company's worldwide climate plan, which aims to minimize the life cycle carbon footprint per car through tangible action on a consistent basis.

Volvo Cars in India

Swedish luxury car Company Volvo established its presence in India in 2007 and has since then, worked intensively to market the Swedish brand in the country. Volvo Cars currently markets products through 25 dealerships in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Coimbatore, Delhi NCR – South Delhi, West Delhi, Gurgaon, Hyderabad, Indore, Raipur, Jaipur, Kochi, Kozhikode, Kolkata, Lucknow, Ludhiana, West Mumbai, South Mumbai, Pune, Raipur, Surat, Vishakhapatnam and Vijayawada..

Bollywood Star To Be Recognised With Top University Honour

The award-winning Indian singer and composer Shankar Mahadevan, described as one of the greatest Bollywood vocalists alive, is to receive an honorary doctorate from Birmingham City University (BCU) for his outstanding contribution to music and the arts. 

Speaking at a trade mission event in Mumbai, West Midlands Mayor Andy Street made the announcement on behalf of the University, before the globally acclaimed playback singer and member of the celebrated Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy song writing trio in Mumbai was formally invited to receive the University’s highest honour at a ceremony in 2023. 

The announcement follows a BCU India and West Midlands India Partnership-organised visit by Mr Mahadevan to BCU’s £400m campus featuring state-of-the-art creative industry facilities and schools, including Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (RBC). 

The Bollywood star toured RBC with fellow Indian musicians including Zakir Hussain earlier this year, meeting with students, staff and partners, and committing to exploring links and opportunities between the Bangalore-based Shankar Mahadevan Academy and the Conservatoire. 

Shankar Mahadevan said: “This is truly a special moment for me. It’s something new and take some time for me to digest this feeling. When I started my career, never did I expect that one day I would be awarded a doctorate for music.

“I am looking forward to some amazing music being created between Indian musicians whom I represent and musicians from the West Midlands. We’ve heard musicians from the Conservatoire perform especially for us at our visit and it was just outstanding – I saw a beautiful collaboration that will happen.”

An accomplished engineer-turned-musician, Shankar Mahadevan’s melodious singing and compositions have captivated audiences in India and around the world for over three decades. His repertoire encompasses Indipop, film, folk and spiritual music as well as Indian classical music, jazz and world music.  

The musician has performed at prestigious music festivals around the world and was invited to the United Nations Assembly, where he represented India twice. At home, Shankar had the unique honour of performing at the Rashtrapati Bhawan for former Presidents of India, the late Dr. APJ Kalam and the late Pranab Mukherjee. 

At the Mumbai trade mission event, BCU Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Julian Beer, via video link, formally invited the music industry figure to receive the award at a ceremony in 2023. 

Professor Beer said: “I am delighted to have extended the invitation for Shankar to come over to Birmingham in the New Year to receive his Honorary Doctorate in person.

“We have had the pleasure of him visiting our Royal Birmingham Conservatoire previously, and we look forward to his return so we can build on our relationship with him and strengthen our already strong ties with India further.”     

The honorary doctorate announcement underlines BCU’s commitment both to their strategic partnership work in India as well, reflecting a recent call to urge policymakers to place greater emphasis on the value of the Creative Arts in higher education and recognise the role universities play in strengthening the sector’s growth and innovation. 

BCU leaders have also called on industry and government to commit to increasing diversity in the arts and media industries to ensure equality and true representation, and a need to drive forwards the STEAM agenda – bringing together the Arts with STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) disciplines. 

The West Midlands trade mission, led by Mayor Andy Street, seeks to cement existing economic ties between India’s sub-regions and the West Midlands. Senior representatives are exploring potential partnerships in areas including emerging digital technologies, low carbon mobility and data-driven healthcare, with the common objective of creating more prosperous communities in both the UK and in India. 

Andy Street said: “Given the strength of the Indian diaspora in our region, it’s wonderful to celebrate the ‘living bridge’ between India and the West Midlands by honouring Shankar Mahadevan - a titan of film and music. I hope it will encourage greater cultural and educational collaboration in the months and years ahead.”

Birmingham City University will confer an honorary doctorate on Shankar Mahadevan at a ceremony in 2023, and the singer and composer will lead on several collaborative projects at the University’s Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and STEAMhouse creative hubs.

Swedish Higher Education And Research Delegation To Visit Three Indian Cities

Students from across India who are looking to study abroad will have an excellent opportunity to explore their options for studying in Sweden during the visit of a Swedish higher education and research delegation in India, a series of ‘Study in Sweden’ fairs to be held in India from 23-25 November 2022.

The fairs will present Indian students, especially undergraduates, with various prospects for pursuing advanced studies in Sweden. Students will have a chance to get first-hand information from representatives of leading Swedish universities, e.g., KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Jönköping University, about the programmes they can attend. Students can avail of a free counselling session and receive information regarding scholarships, visa opportunities and student life in Sweden.

The consecutive education fairs are being organised by the Embassy of Sweden in India, the Office of Science and Innovation in New Delhi, in collaboration with and the Nordic Centre India. The Swedish Alumni Network India will also participate and enable prospective students’ engagement with Swedish alumni in India.

The delegates will also meet with premier Indian research institutes such as the Indian Institute of Science Bengaluru, Indian Institute of Technology Madras and University of Hyderabad to explore research collaboration and institutional partnerships.

Welcoming the upcoming education fairs, Mr. Jan Thesleff, Ambassador of Sweden to India, said, “At a time when international collaboration is more important than ever, the Swedish higher education and research delegation will create exchange opportunities for students and researchers from Sweden and India, and foster innovations that benefit both nations.”

Sweden allures thousands of international students every year and is truly a welcoming destination. Sweden holds a rich and proud history of academic excellence. Despite its comparatively small population, Sweden is a home to a number of the world’s best universities. The complete Swedish higher education system is ranked at second position in the world, and it holds the first position in relation to GDP. Most of the Swedish universities are ranked by the Times Higher Education and the Academic Ranking of World Universities as being among the world’s top education providers.

“At Blekinge Institute of Technology we deeply value our strong relationship with India and recognise the nation’s vital importance to Sweden’s higher education and research sector,” said Deputy Vice Chancellor Andreas Larsson.

The interest for studying in Sweden is global, with students coming from over 117 countries, with the biggest representation of students from Finland, India and China. When asked why they chose to study in Sweden, a majority of the over 10000 international students surveyed by the Swedish Institute, pointed out the country’s lifestyle and the open, progressive values. The focus on equal rights, LGBTQ-rights and sustainability are as important as excellent education at an affordable cost. Over the last few years, Sweden as a study destination has become more and more appealing to young people all over the world, being a safe and modern country with a unique work-life balance, as unique as the lack of hierarchy and sense of equality, which is often reflected in classrooms.

“KTH has deep and longstanding connections with Indian institutions and scholars. Our researchers collaborate with colleagues in India on projects across various sectors. There are opportunities to further expand these collaborations, working with Indian partners to address global challenges such as green transition and digital transformation,” said Rajeev Thottappillil, Director of India Relations at KTH Royal Institute of Technology.

Sweden offers over 1000-degree programmes in English. Some of the most popular subjects are Engineering and IT, Life Sciences and Business. Sweden also has a strong reputation in Design and areas such as International Relations and Human Rights. The Swedish Government offers scholarships and financial grants to some international students to take up their higher education in Sweden. After graduating international students can stay for an extra six months to look for employment in Sweden. After obtaining a job the graduate can apply for a work permit.

Sweden’s higher education and research ties to India are already strong. Since 2018, Sweden and India have a Joint Innovation Partnership for a sustainable future. A total of 44 projects have been funded since the signing of the partnership, and 13 more will be funded this year.

Study in Sweden fairs –

 ·         23 Nov – Hotel Taj Yeshwantpur, Bengaluru – 14.00-16.00

·         24 Nov – Hotel Trident, Chennai – 13.00-15.00

·         25 Nov – Hotel Le Meridien, Hyderabad – 13.00-15.00

CoinSwitch Appoints Shiva Tadikonda As New Chief Compliance Officer

* Shiva Kumar Tadikonda Joins CoinSwitch With Over 35 Years of Experience Across leading international and Indian banks, including DBS Bank India Ltd and ICICI Bank.

CoinSwitch, India's largest Crypto investing company, has appointed Shiva Tadikonda as the Chief Compliance officer. The appointment is in line with the company's continued efforts to strengthen its legal and compliance structures to create a compliant wealth-tech platform.

Tadikonda brings over 35 years of expertise in Compliance, Banking, Credit Analysis, Commercial Banking, Credit Risk, and Management Information Systems (MIS). Before this, he was the Senior Vice President at DBS Bank Limited, a Singapore-headquartered multinational banking, and financial services organization.

"CoinSwitch is committed to building a compliant investing ecosystem that investors and regulators can trust. Shiva's experience across large regulated financial institutions will strengthen our contribution towards shaping a progressive regulatory framework for Virtual Digital Assets (VDAs) and ensure ethics and compliance as we evolve into a preferred wealth tech destination," said Ashish Singhal, Co-founder and CEO, CoinSwitch.

"I am delighted to join CoinSwitch and contribute to our mission to make money equal for all. As VDAs continue to gain popularity, regulations will have to keep pace as this cutting-edge technology finds new dimensions to help innovators and investors to participate meaningfully," said Shiva Tadikonda, Chief Compliance Officer, CoinSwitch.

The CoinSwitch leadership team is composed of people with a variety of backgrounds spanning technology, Crypto, and financial services - in established and startup environments. Earlier this year, the company announced the appointment of former WhatsApp India executive Ashish Chandra as the General Counsel, former Myntra executive Ramesh Bafna as the Chief Financial Officer, and former MakeMyTrip executive Venkatesh R as the Policy Head.

Founded in 2017 by Ashish Singhal, Govind Soni, and Vimal Sagar Tiwari, and backed by blue-chip investors including Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), Tiger Global, Sequoia Capital, Ribbit Capital, Paradigm, and Coinbase Ventures, CoinSwitch is evolving into a wealth-tech destination for every Indian.