SILICA Winds Up 2022 On A Cheerful Note: Design Quest 2022 Receives A Heartwarming Response

SILICA's annual Design Quest event ended on a high note this year, with a successful run in both Mumbai and Pune with over 3000+ students and parents visiting and taking benefits from the event. The event, which aimed to encourage and educate design students and enthusiasts, featured a variety of sub-events, including a panel discussion with design experts, a guidance seminar, a student design exhibition featuring works by SILICA's 2024 design students, and a design school fair showcasing top design colleges in India.

The student design exhibition, held exclusively in Pune, drew in a large crowd and provided a visual feast for visitors. The exhibition showcased the design works of over 400 students and served as a source of encouragement for the participating students. The events also included a valuable guidance seminar, covering topics such as exam preparation, interview tips, and portfolio building, to help students succeed in their design careers.

The panel discussions, featuring deans and top authorities from top design schools and colleges, architects, and designers, were a highlight of the event. The Q&A portion of the panel discussion provided valuable information to attendees about design careers, placements, exam preparation, and more. The panelists, who were all leaders in their respective fields, were able to offer a wealth of knowledge and experience to attendees.

The design school fair was another major draw, offering attendees the opportunity to explore their college options and receive one-on-one counseling. Choosing the right college can be a daunting task, but the design school fair made it easier for students to make an informed decision. With representatives from top design schools in attendance, attendees were able to get a better understanding of their options and find the college that best suited their needs and goals.

Overall, Design Quest 2022 was a great success and brought valuable insights and guidance to attendees. SILICA received a record number of inquiries following the event, further demonstrating its success. This was the 12th consecutive year for SILICA's Design Quest, and the positive response from attendees only serves to solidify its reputation as a premier event in the design industry.

About SILICA

SILICA Institute is India’s leading design coaching institute and is engaged in providing high quality coaching for entrance exams of NID, NIFT, CEED, NATA and architecture CET at graduate and post graduate level. Over the years, SILICA Institute has trained over 20,000 students for design courses. The premier design coaching institute has built several partnerships to further its mission of spreading awareness about design education in India and abroad. SILICA prepares young aspirants for entrance exams in to Design, Fashion, Architecture, Art & International Design Schools. SILICA has also initiated a new program for art integration in schools called SILICA Junior in line with the NEP 2020. 

Renault KWID Has Emerged As A True Game Changer For Renault In India With 4,25,000+ Happy Customers

Renault, the number one European brand in India, won the 2023 best pre-owned small hatchback car of the year award for Renault KWID by OLX Autos, India’s leading player in the pre-owned automobile segment in collaboration with Autocar India, a leading automotive publication. 

According to Sudhir Malhotra, Vice President - Sales & Marketing, Renault India, “This award is a testimony to Renault KWID’s popularity not only among the new car buyers but also among the customers looking to buy a pre-owned car. Renault KWID has proved its mettle in the most competitive entry level car segment, thanks to its affordability as well as great value offerings, its attractive SUV inspired design and innovative modern features. It is a true game changer for us and an important contributor to our growth in the country. We are extremely grateful for the trust that our customers have bestowed in the brand and would like to thank jury for recognising Renault KWID as the Best Pre-owned Budget car.”  

Built on the pillars of attractiveness, innovation, and affordability, KWID has been a true game-changing product for Renault in India with more than 4,25,000 happy customers. Renault KWID has redefined the entry segment in India led by its contemporary SUV-inspired design language offering high ground clearance, best-in-class features and an economical cost of ownership, which is enabled by its high localisation levels, which also makes it a strong ‘Make in India’ testament. The first-in-class 8inch touchscreen MediaNAV Evolution takes infotainment to the next level with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Video Playback and Voice Recognition – which helps the driver control everything hands-free, fast and easy. The Silver Streak LED DRLs create a striking impression and enhances the SUV style quotient of the car.  

Offering enhanced passenger comfort, it features first-in-class reverse parking camera with guidelines that helps to park even in the tightest spots along with Electrically Adjustable ORVM. In terms of performance, the KWID 0.8L boasts best fuel efficiency of 22.25 KM/L in 0.8L segment, as per the ARAI Testing Certification. Renault KWID has a cost of maintenance as low as just 35 paise/km and comes with a comprehensive manufacturer warranty for 2 year / 50,000 km (whichever is earlier) with an extension option upto 5 years and an Easy-Care package to take care of maintenance needs, enabling customers to enjoy an unparalleled brand ownership experience and peace of mind. 

Renault KWID is compliant with all the current safety requirements for the Indian market and even goes beyond to protect both passengers and pedestrians. It includes several active and passive safety features like dual front Airbags, ABS and EBD, Seat Belt Reminder, Overspeed Alert, Reverse Parking Sensors and Driver side Pyro & Pre-tensioner with Load Limiter which are standard across all variants. It also comes equipped with Seat belt Pyrotech and load limiter as a standard feature. 

The Renault KWID strongly resonates with the ideology of the ‘Make in India’ program, which advocates making globally competent products for India and the world by co-opting Indian expertise and skill. The car has seen strong recognition among customers and industry experts, winning 33 awards by several media platforms. Available in both 0.8L and 1.0L SCe powertrains with Manual and AMT options, Renault KWID has been instrumental in the growth of the Renault brand across the country.  

ABOUT RENAULT  

Renault India Pvt. Ltd. is a fully owned subsidiary of Renault S.A.S. France. Renault India cars are manufactured in the manufacturing facility located in Oragadam, Chennai, with a capacity of 480,000 units per annum. Renault India also has a widespread presence of close to 500 sales and 530 service touchpoints, which include 250+ Workshop on Wheels locations across the country, with benchmark sales and service quality. 

TECNO PHANTOM X2 Launched In India With The World’s First 4nm MediaTek Dimensity 9000 5G Chipset

·         TECNO PHANTOM X2’s pre-booking begins today. Lucky 300 pre-booking customers will receive a free upgrade to PHANTOM X3 (T&C apply) 

·         TECNO PHANTOM X2 becomes the first and only smartphone in India to offer Dimensity 9000 5G Chipset in the sub 40K segment

TECNO, an innovative technology brand with operations in over 70 global markets, today launched PHANTOM X2 in India, which marks its entry into the premium smartphone category. Last month, the global launch of the PHANTOM X2 series with the theme ‘Beyond the Extraordinary’ took place in Dubai, UAE. Priced at INR 39,999, TECNO PHANTOM X2 will be available on both Amazon as well as offline retail touchpoints.  Pre-booking of the new PHANTOM smartphone starts today, 2nd Jan and will be on sale from 09 January 2023. Lucky 100 pre-booking orders on Amazon and 200 on retail touchpoints will receive a free upgrade to PHANTOM X3 when the phone is slated to launch in India.

PHANTOM X2 is crafted for the zillennials who are keen to possess a smartphone that compounds aesthetically appealing designs with top-notch technology, supreme user experience and faster processing. The smartphone comes in two splendid colours - Stardust Grey and Moonlight Silver. The smartphone was recently awarded the globally revered LOOP Design Award, which is a prestigious Architecture and Interior Design award.

The new PHANTOM X2 Series is a state-of-the-art premium smartphone series that brings TECNO’s latest technological breakthroughs to fruition. The premium smartphone pioneers the amalgamation of advanced technology and uniquely crafted design by introducing unprecedented features to the country. TECNO PHANTOM X2 brings the highly progressive and best-in class double curved AMOLED and a segment-leading 64MP RGBW(G+P) OIS rear camera for a polished photography escapade.

Sharing details about the newly launched Phantom X2, Arijeet Talapatra, CEO, TECNO MOBILE India, said, “As the demand for premium experiences grow, even we grow. We continue to challenge the status quo of the industry, with the aim of redefining the high-end experience in an ambitious yet accessible way. TECNO PHANTOM X2 is powered by the outstanding MediaTek Dimensity 9000 5G chipset, which is built on 4nm fabrication and runs at 3.05GHz. The smartphone sets new benchmarks in terms of power, performance, and energy efficiency. The MediaTek Dimensity 9000 processor also has a host of innovations in camera and graphics to help make the PHANTOM X2 a superior gaming and multitasking smartphone with immersive experiences for TECNO customers.”

Key USPs of TECNO PHANTOM X2

·         The world’s first 4nm Dimensity 9000 Processor

Dimensity 9000 means superior 5G speeds and next-gen multitasking ranging from brilliant gaming technology, professional-grade imaging and videography to advanced AI and computing architecture. 4nm super-power efficient Dimensity 9000 has all the features, speeds and feeds to satisfy the most discerning tech enthusiast. D9000 has the world’s first ultra-Core Arm Cortex-X2 at 3.05GHz for immediate responsiveness in any app. Its HyperEngine 5.0 gaming technologies ensure users smooth gameplay without suffering connection drops, FPS jitter, input misses or gameplay hiccups. With 3GPP Release-16 standard 5G Modem technology, 3CC Carrier Aggregation (300MHz), 11 5G bands and Dual Sim Dual active multimode for interruption-free connectivity and other enhancements that give users a more personalized connected experience based on their usage patterns.

·         Segment-leading extraordinary 64MP RGBW(G+P) OIS Ultra Clear Night Camera

Experience exemplary low light photography with Phantom X2 by the extraordinary 64MP RGBW+ (G+P) sensor, which allows 200% more light to the sensor for bright photos. Optical image stabilization ensures stable photos/videos even with shaking hands. Wide P3 colour Gamut, 3D-Lut and 7th Gen IMAGIQ 790 ISP produce brilliant photos on each click. Redefines the video shoot expertise with Super Hybrid Image Stabilization, Dual Video, Video Filters, Video HDR, Video Bokeh, 4K Time-lapse, 960FPS Slow Motion and more. Its 32MP HDR Selfie Camera outperforms in every selfie with many user-attractive modes.

·         Extraordinary curved AMOLED display for truly brilliant vision

6.8” FHD+ Flexible AMOLED with 8+2bit display produces numerous accurate colours and with P3 wide colour gamut, it provides vivid viewing experiences. 120Hz Refresh rate and 360Hz Touch Sampling rate provide a buttery smooth experience. Certified by TUV SUD A rating for 36-month display fluency to maintain the smoothness for three years as it was on day one. This beautiful beast is protected by segment-leading Corning Gorilla Glass Victus for unparalleled safety.

·         Extraordinary Uni-body Double Curved Symmetric Design

Phantom X2 has the best-in class 3.5D Moon Crater Inspired Design for a slimmer Camera module. The design follows the dazzling stained glass process for a super-premium look and has AF Nano coating with CNC Metal middle frame for a sleek and intriguing look. Its 71° ergonomic golden grip angle design makes it easy to hold for longer durations.

·         Segment best 5160mAh High Capacity battery for mammoth usage

Phantom X2 provides an exceptional power backup of 25 days of standby time and 23 hours of video playback time. Charge rapidly with the in-box 45W Charger of Phantom X2 and in approximately 20 minutes of charging time one has a 50% battery charge.

About TECNO

TECNO is an innovative technology brand with operations in over 70 countries and regions across five continents. Since its launch, TECNO has been revolutionizing the digital experience in emerging global markets, relentlessly pushing for the perfect integration of contemporary, aesthetic design with the latest technologies. Today, TECNO has developed into a recognized leader in its target markets, delivering state-of-the-art innovation through a wide range of smartphones, smart wearables, laptops and tablets, HiOS operating systems and smart home products. Guided by its brand essence of “Stop At Nothing”, TECNO is committed to unlocking the best and newest technologies for forward-looking individuals. By creating stylish, intelligent products, TECNO inspires consumers worldwide to never stop pursuing their best selves and their best futures. For more information, visit TECNO’s official site: www.tecno-mobile.com; https://www.tecno-mobile.in/.

About PHANTOM

PHANTOM is a premium technology sub-brand of TECNO. Born in response to the growing global demand for high-end smart products, PHANTOM creates premium, stylish, bold devices that stand at the vanguard of innovation. As a pioneering international technology brand, PHANTOM empowers consumers to become pioneers and creators, enhances business and entertainment, and encourages new ways of thinking and doing with a spirit of modern individuality. Infused with the brand’s signature flare, PHANTOM’s products are a source of inspiration for its audiences to be the leaders of change, to seek the extraordinary in their everyday lives and to elevate every experience to an unforgettable moment. To learn more about PHANTOM, visit www.mobile-phantom.com.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Clocks Highest Calendar Year Wholesales In The Last 10 Years

* Sells 160,357 units in CY 2022 thereby registering a growth of 23% when compared CY wholesales in 2021

TKM today announced its total wholesales for the calendar year (CY) 2022 at 160,357 units, thereby making it the highest wholesales in the last 10 years. For reference, TKM had sold a total of 130,768 units in CY 2021, thereby registering a growth of 23% in CY 2022. The best ever wholesales earlier clocked by TKM, was in the year 2012 with a total of 172,241 units. During the month of December 2022, TKM sold 10,421 units when compared to 10,834 units sold in December 2021.

Mr. Atul Sood, Associate Vice President, Sales and Strategic Marketing, TKM said, “The year 2022 has been tremendous for TKM, both in terms of new product launches as well as sales performance. We introduced milestone models like the Urban Cruiser Hyryder & the Innova Hycross and both the models have been very well appreciated by our customers, attracting huge traction in terms of demand and we are trying our best to meet customer requirements accordingly. Some of our other launches earlier this year, like the new Glanza, is also doing extremely well. TKM’s flagship models like the Fortuner, Legender, Camry & the Vellfire, continue to excel in their respective segments.

As we usher in the New Year, we are excited about our participation at the Auto Expo 2023 and are looking forward to creating a lot more buzz around Toyota’s sustainable offerings in the mass electrification space as well as alternate fuel technology, contributing to our ultimate goal of carbon neutrality. We wish and hope that the new year brings in as much excitement for our customers as it has brought us at TKM with such a wonderful overall performance this past year”, he concluded.

AG&P Pratham Conducts Level - III Off Site Moc Drill At Hebbal, Mysore

AG&P Pratham, one of the leading player in the Indian City Gas Distribution (CGD) industry,  organised a Level – III Off-site Mock Drill today at Hebbal, Mysuru. The drill was successfully executed with joint efforts from AG&P Pratham Team, Mysuru District Administration Authorities, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Department of Factories, Boilers , Industrial Safety & Health, Fire & Emergency Services Department, Police Department, RTO Department, Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC) Team, , Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited Mysore (CESCOM) Department, Mysore City Corporation (MCC) , Mutual AID Partners viz., Automotive Axle, BEML, Rane Madras, J.K.Tyres.

Following Senior Officials presided and witnessed the mock drill,

Dr. Rajendra .K.V, I.A.S, Hon’ble Deputy Commissioner & District Magistrate, Mysuru

Shri. B.S. Manjunathswamy, K.A.S, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mysuru

Shri. R.K. Parthasarathy , Joint Director of Factories, Department of Factories, Boilers, Industrial Safety and Health, Mysuru

Shri. M.S. Mahadev , Deputy Director of Factories, Division 1 , Mysuru

Shri. Bheemangowda Patil, RTO, Mysuru.

Shri. Ganeshan , Senior Environment Officer, Karnataka Pollution Control Board, Mysuru

Shri. Ganga Naik, District Fire Officer, Fire & Emergency Services Department

Mock Drill scenario:

The unloading Pump Discharge Line of the LNG Tanker got damaged after an LNG tanker collided with an existing electric pole and a pipeline construction machinery. Total 19 people sustained injuries at the site. The incident lead to leakage of LNG and formation of a vapour cloud with an impact radius of 65 meters.

In response to this, the site supervisor called the project in-charge and informed them about the incident. Simultaneously, people at the site started rescuing the injured people to a safe place away from the incident area for medical aid to prevent further injuries and causalities.

Available staff of AG&P Pratham rushed to the incident site . After the assessment of the situation, they called  the  control room and Health, Safety, Security & Environment (HSSE) department to get help from mutual aid partner for medical and fire service support. Chief Incident Controller (CIC) was informed of external help as there was the possibility of fire if the gas gets a source of ignition which may lead to loss of life and property and called for immediate medical emergency action.

Chief Incident Controller (CIC) immediately rushed to the incident spot, after assessing the situation, called for the following support:

Fire & Emergency Service Department

Police and RTO

District Administration Authorities & District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA)

Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited

UPHC and Ambulance for medical emergency

City Municipal Corporation (MCC) , Mysuru .

On the directions of the District Authorities, NDRF team reached the incident site and started evacuating people residing within the 65 meters radius from the incident spot. Awareness through various means were made to the nearby public, requesting them not to go towards the incident spot. All the departments like CESCOM, Fire Department, UPHC team, District Administration, Police and RTO department and MCC acted swiftly and controlled the situation within the stipulated time.

Mr Arun Nayak, Regional Head, Mysuru, Mandya and Chamarajanagar, said, “Mock drills help evaluate and assess the situation beforehand and ensure preparedness to take any precautionary measure in a similar scenario. AG&P Pratham always strives for the utmost safety of all the staff and public involved and such mock drills help us achieve just that. We will conduct more such drills in other regions of our operation in the near future.”

The drill ended with a formal de-briefing session where the best practices, learning and insights of the mock drill were discussed. The drill witnessed the systematic and coordinated working of all the partners involved and helped minimise the response time for key check points.

About AG&P Pratham

AG&P Pratham is 100% Foreign Direct Investment Company comprising marque shareholders i.e. United States Based I-Squared Capital, Osaka Gas, Japan, Japanese Overseas Investment Corporation and AG&P Global. It has authorizations to develop CGD networks in 12 Geographical Areas covering 35 districts across 8% of India and 64 million people in the states of Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. In these 35 districts, AG&P Pratham is developing and operating CNG stations for vehicles, piped natural gas to homes, industries and commercial establishments.  AG&P Pratham through its India-wide CGD network, plans to cover more than 278,000 square kilometres and will have over 1,500 CNG stations and more than 17,000 inch-km of steel pipelines. AG&P Pratham has recently won the India 2022 ‘Energy Company of the Year’ at ‘The Economic Times Energy Leadership Awards’.

AG&P Pratham is presently operating CNG Stations in the districts of Andhra Pradesh: Anantapur, Kadapa, Chittoor, Sri Sathya Sai, Sri Balaji, Annamayya and Nellore Districts; Karnataka: Kolar, Mysuru, Mandya, Chamrajnagar, Hassan, Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu, Bagalkot, Koppal, Raichur, Kalaburagi, Vijayapura, Shivamogga, Uttara Kannada and Haveri; Tamilnadu: Kanchipuram, Chengalpet, South East Chennai, Vellore, Ranipet, Tirupattur and Ramanathapuram; Kerala: Alappuzha, Kollam, and Thiruvananthapuram; Rajasthan: Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Barmer.

Intimation Of Closing Date For Acquisition Of Ford India’s Sanand Plant By Tata Motors

Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Limited (“TPEML”), a subsidiary of Tata Motors Limited (“TML”), and Ford India Private Limited (“FIPL” and together with TPEML, “Parties”) had executed a Unit Transfer Agreement on August 7, 2022 for acquisition of FIPL’s manufacturing plant situated at Sanand, Gujarat, which inter-alia includes: (i) entire land & buildings; (ii) Vehicle Manufacturing Plant along with machinery and equipment situated therein; and (iii) transfer of all eligible employees of FIPL’s vehicle manufacturing operations at Sanand, for a total consideration, exclusive of taxes, of Rs 725.7 Cr (Seven Hundred Twenty Five Crores and Seventy Lakhs) (“Transaction”).

Pursuant to the fulfilment of the necessary condition precedents for the transaction, including receipt of relevant government approvals, the Parties have decided to proceed towards completion of the Transaction on 10th January 2023.

Tata Motors Passenger & Electric Vehicles business has delivered market beating growth over the last few years and has strong plans to sustain this momentum, with its robust pipeline of future ready “New Forever” products and proactive investments in electric vehicles. With existing capacities near saturation, this acquisition will unlock an additional state-of-the-art manufacturing capacity of 300,000 units per annum which is scalable to 420,000 units per annum.

As part of the transaction, all eligible employees of FIPL’s vehicle manufacturing plant have been offered employment with TPEML on terms, conditions and benefits of service similar to those that are currently availed by them. TPEML would like to take this opportunity to extend a warm welcome to all the eligible FIPL employees who have accepted its offer of employment and who shall become TPEML employees with effect from 10th January 2023.

About Tata Motors

Part of the USD 128 billion Tata group, Tata Motors Limited (NYSE: TTM; BSE: 500570 and 570001; NSE: TATAMOTORS and TATAMTRDVR), a USD 37 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, Tata Motors’ vehicles are marketed in Africa, Middle East, South & South East Asia, Australia, South America, Russia and other CIS countries. As of March 31, 2022, Tata Motors’ operations include 86 consolidated subsidiaries, two joint operations, four joint ventures and 10 equity-accounted associates, including their subsidiaries, in respect of which the company exercises significant influence.

Singatalur Drip Farmers Felicitated For Getting Higher Yields

Ten farmers of Singatalur Lift Irrigation and Drip Irrigation Package -1 (10080 Ha) were felicitated for outstanding performance in crop production by Karnataka Neeravari Nigama Limited officials in the event that was organized by Netafim India and Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Limited JV. The farmers from Dambal, Kalkeri, Harogeri, and Hirevaddatti villages have obtained higher yields using drip irrigation technology during the Kharif season of 2021-22. The event was organised at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Hulkoti, Gadag. The felicitation program witnessed the participation of eminent guests Shri. Ramesh H, Assistant Executive Engineer, Sub Division 1 of Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Limited, Govt. of Karnataka, and Shri. Er. Basavaraja Bandivaddar, Professor, WALMI, Dharwad. Mr. Girish Deshpande, Sr. Manager Projects Management, Netafim India, Mr. Umesha M C, Sr. Manager - Agronomy, Netafim India, Mr. Parimalarangan, Project Manager – Singataluru 1 project, Netafim India, and Mr. Sanjay Shirgurkar, CGM, Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Limited participated for the felicitation ceremony.

During the ceremony Shri. Ramesh H, Assistant Executive Engineer of Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Limited, Govt. of Karnataka, stressed that “farmers should cooperate with irrigation projects and boost their crop yield through scientifically proven drip irrigation. Each farmer’s success will encourage other farmers in the neighborhood to adopt drip technology, thus helping the farmer community with their financial growth and making the project successful.

Addressing the farmers and audience at large during the felicitation ceremony, Shri. Er. Basavaraja Bandivaddar, Professor, WALMI, Dharwad, said,” Drip irrigation is very beneficial as it offers higher yield and income with less water.” Encouraging farmers to adopt drip irrigation, he emphasized that “the strengthening of water user cooperative societies and the cooperation of farmers is critical for successful projects. With this project, farmers can protect their crops through drip irrigation in case of lack of timely rain for the growing crops “.

Singataluru Lift Irrigation Project endeavors to bring the entire farming community together through Community Drip Irrigation Project – to establish systematic and sustainable irrigation practices. The ongoing phase 1 of the project plans to bring 10,080 hectares of agricultural land and thousands of farmers from 12 village under drip irrigation to offer maximum crop yield. The drip system is provided by Karnataka Neeravari Nigama Limited. Netafim India is extensively providing agronomy services to educate the farmers on sustainable agriculture practices.