Air India To Save ~15000 Tonnes Of Jet Fuel In 3 Years With TaxiBot Operations At Delhi And Bengaluru Airports

* Move to curb carbon footprint, enhance sustainability

Air India, India’s leading airline and a Star Alliance member, has signed an agreement with KSU Aviation to launch TaxiBot operations at Delhi and Bengaluru airports for its Airbus A320 Family of aircraft.

The strategic partnership is aligned with Air India’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint, as the adoption of TaxiBots envisages a potential saving of ~15,000 tonnes in fuel consumption over three years.

A semi-robotic equipment, the TaxiBot, once attached to the aircraft, acts as an extension of the aircraft’s nose landing gear. It is used to tow aircraft from the airport terminal gate to the taxi-out point and to tow aircraft from the terminal gate after landing (taxi-in phase) without utilising the aircraft’s engines, thus saving jet fuel. The pioneering technology curbs fuel consumption, carbon emissions, noise levels, as well as costs for airlines.

Elaborating on the adoption of TaxiBot, Campbell Wilson, CEO & MD, Air India, said, “As a responsible airline, Air India is constantly looking for ways to improve sustainability and manage our carbon footprint.  The deployment of TaxiBots is one more example of our commitment to reduce emissions and fuel consumption.  This collaboration with KSU will allow us to better assess the capabilities of TaxiBots, and potentially lead to greater deployment across Air India’s subsidiaries and other airports.”

Air India is investing in efficiency measures to adopt sustainability as part of its regular fleet operations — including inducting new aircraft, better procedures and driving operations with deployment of innovative technology. Last year, the Air India group entered a Memorandum of Understanding with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) – Indian Institute of Petroleum to collaborate on the research, development, and deployment of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs).

Dr. Ashwani Khanna, Director, KSU Aviation Pvt. Ltd., said, “We are excited about the formal induction of TaxiBot as part of Air India’s focussed approach to address its carbon footprint. Air India is undergoing a massive transformation and has adopted sustainable practices as an integral part of this journey. We are committed to partner with like-minded organisations like Air India to leverage modern day technology in reducing carbon footprint and accelerate the pursuit of being net zero.”

In October 2019, Air India, in a global first, used a TaxiBot on an Airbus A320 aircraft operating a commercial flight with passengers on board.

About Air India

Founded by the legendary JRD Tata, Air India pioneered India’s aviation sector. Since its first flight on 15 October 1932, Air India has had an extensive domestic network and spread its wings beyond the country to become a major international airline with a network across the USA, Canada, the UK, Europe, Far-East, South-East Asia, Australia, and the Gulf. Air India is a member of Star Alliance, the largest global airline consortium. After 69 years as a Government-owned enterprise, Air India and Air India Express were welcomed back into the Tata Group in January 2022. The present management at Air India is driving the five-year transformation roadmap under the aegis of Vihaan.AI to establish itself as a world-class global airline with an Indian heart. 

About the Tata Group

Founded by Jamsetji Tata in 1868, the Tata Group is a global enterprise, headquartered in India, comprising 30 companies across ten verticals. The Group operates in more than 100 countries across six continents, with a mission ‘To improve the quality of life of the communities we serve globally, through long-term stakeholder value creation based on Leadership with Trust’.

Tata Sons is the principal investment holding company and promoter of Tata companies. Sixty-six percent of the equity share capital of Tata Sons is held by philanthropic trusts, which support education, health, livelihood generation as well as art and culture. In 2021-22, the revenue of Tata companies, taken together, was $128 billion (INR 9.6 trillion). These companies collectively employ more than 935,000 people.

Each Tata company or enterprise operates independently under the guidance and supervision of its own Board of Directors. There are 29 publicly-listed Tata enterprises with a combined market capitalisation of $311 billion (INR 23.6 trillion) as on 31 March 2022. The companies include Tata Consultancy Services, Tata Motors, Tata Steel, Tata Chemicals, Tata Consumer Products, Titan, Tata Capital, Tata Power, Indian Hotels, Tata Communications, Tata Digital and Tata Electronics.

Tata Power Discoms Achieve Top Ranking Among Indian Power Utilities

·         Company’s Mumbai & Western Odisha Discoms rated A+; Delhi & South Odisha Discoms rated A

·         Evaluated on three pillars of Financial Sustainability, Performance Excellence and External Environment

·         Company’s Discoms have a cumulative consumer base of 1.2 Cr and serve a populace of 6 Cr in various parts of India

·         In a short span of two years Odisha Discoms made significant improvements in operational and financial performance

·         Ranking as per Ministry of Power's 11th Annual Integrated Rating & Ranking of Power Distribution Utilities

Tata Power's Distribution Companies (Discoms) have achieved top ranking among national utilities, according to the recently released 11th Annual Integrated Ratings of Power Distribution Utilities released by the Ministry of Power through the Power Finance Corporation. The ratings have taken into account various parameters such as operational and financial performance, regulatory compliance, customer service, and energy efficiency, among others.

Cumulatively, Tata Power Discoms have a registered consumer base of 1.2 crore consumers across Mumbai, Delhi and the state of Odisha serving a populace of 6 crores.

The rating report is prepared by McKinsey & Company and the assessment is based on the accounts of the past three financial years, from 2019-2020 to 2022- 2023.

While Tata Power Mumbai Distribution and TP Western Odisha Distribution have scored 89.7 and 87.2 out of 100 respectively and have A+ grade each, Tata Power Delhi Distribution and TP Southern Odisha Distribution attained a score of 79.0 and 79.3 and received an A grade each.

Speaking on the achievement, Dr. Praveer Sinha CEO & MD, Tata Power "Tata Power is dedicated to changing the country's power distribution landscape. We have created utilities that are efficient, prepared for the future, and focused on the needs of the customers. We are thankful to the Ministry of Power for its recognition of our Discoms' achievements, and we will continue to lead the nation's distribution reforms.”

Tata Power has recently acquired power distribution in Odisha comprising four Discoms in the state catering to northern, southern, central and western regions covering an area of 1,55,707 sq km serving a registered consumer base of 95 lakhs and a populace of 5 crores.

The recognition of Odisha Discoms ratifies the success of Public Private Partnership model in the distribution space. With the acquisition of Odisha power distribution Tata Power has increased its customer base from 25 lakhs to 1.2 crores in the short span of two years.

"Today, Tata Power Discoms are serving a populace of over six crores spread across the country including major cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Bhubaneswar. Our Discoms are delivering excellent service and providing reliable & quality power to consumers and these rankings are testament to their unmatched performance. It is very satisfying to see that that within two years of operations, our Odisha Discoms have also been upgraded in rankings based on improved operational and financial performance.” added Mr. Sanjay Banga, President T&D, Tata Power.

TP Central Odisha Distribution and TP Northern Odisha Distribution (with an upgrade) recognised with a B grade each. The ratings for the Odisha Discoms are based on their reported performance for FY22.

LG Electronics Partners With JioCinema For A Seamless IPL Viewing Experience On LG OLED TVs

* With this partnership, LG Electronics aims to provide unparalleled viewing experience to its LG OLED TV users

LG Electronics, India’s leading consumer durables brand has announced its partnership with JioCinema, the exclusive digital partner for the Indian Premier League (IPL). This partnership aims to enhance the Cricket watching experience of millions of Indian consumers.

LG Electronics has been committed to providing its customers with high-quality entertainment solutions. Jio Cinema, which is streaming the high-octane IPL to all internet network subscribers for free, will now be accessible on LG OLED TVs. This year, IPL will be streamed on JioCinema in 12 different languages across 16 unique feeds including the Insiders feed, Hangout feed, Fantasy feed, and Fanzone feed and users can access this through the JioCinema app on the LG Smart TV.

With LG's advanced display technology and JioCinema's diverse content, viewers can enjoy an immersive experience like never before with 4K streaming and multi-cam presentation, available for LG 4K TV customers this IPL season. To add to the cricket fever, JioCinema has unveiled a battery of superstars in its expert panel. Indian Premier League champions, title-winning mentors, all-time stats leaders and future hall-of-famers like Suresh Raina, Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers, Anil Kumble, Robin Uthappa, RP Singh, Zaheer Khan, Eoin Morgan, Graeme Smith, and Scott Styris headline JioCinema’s star-studded expert panel, bringing fans the most comprehensive, immersive, and in-depth coverage. Users can access JioCinema on the WebOS launcher bar on their LG TV.

"We are delighted to partner with Jio Cinema to bring the best entertainment experience to our customers this IPL season. Our partnership will allow LG OLED TV users to access 4k streaming of the IPL 2023 along with a host of other offerings from JioCinema. This partnership is a testament to our commitment to providing our customers with the best entertainment experience possible. We believe that this collaboration will revolutionize home entertainment in India, and it is a significant step towards providing high-quality entertainment to Indian consumers”, said Mr. Gireesan T Gopi, Business Head, Home Entertainment Division, LG Electronics India.

“Our offerings to consumers are all about elevating their live sports consumption experience on digital,” said Viacom18 Sports Head of Strategy and Partnerships Hursh Shrivastava. “The partnership with LG is a step further to one of our core propositions, which is to make the IPL as accessible as possible to fans. Through our association, fans will have a boundary-side view to top-notch action and features, many of which we are bringing to IPL fans for the first time.”

LG has been revolutionizing the television space by consistently pushing the boundaries of technology and design. LG OLED TVs, have garnered widespread acclaim for their stunning picture quality, deep blacks, and vibrant colors. LG has also been at the forefront of incorporating smart technology into their TVs, making it easier for users to access streaming services and other online content. The collaboration with JioCinema further enhances the viewing experience, providing users with access to high-quality content that they can enjoy on their LG OLED TVs.

About LG Electronics India Pvt Ltd               

LG Electronics India Pvt. Ltd. (LG Electronics), a wholly owned subsidiary of LG Electronics, South Korea was established in January 1997 in India. It is one of the most formidable brands in consumer electronics - Home Entertainment, home appliances*, HVAC, IT hardware. In India, LG Electronics has earned a premium brand positioning and is the acknowledged trendsetter for the industry. LGEIL's manufacturing unit at Greater Noida is one of the most eco-friendly units among all LG manufacturing plants in the world. The second Greenfield facility is located at Ranjangaon; Pune has the capacity to manufacture LED TVs, air conditioners, commercial air conditioning systems, washing machines, refrigerators, and monitors.

*Home Appliances include- Refrigerator, Washing Machine, AC, Water purifier, Microwave, Fan, Dishwasher & Air purifier

Aereo And SJCIT Open The “First Centre Of Excellence” For Drone Education And Remote Pilot Training

~Aereo has partnered with SJC Institute of Technology to open a Centre of Excellence in Chikkaballapura, Karnataka~ 

Aereo (formerly Aarav Unmanned Systems), the leading Indian end-to-end drone solutions startup, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SJC Institute of Technology to open a Centre of Excellence. This institute will serve as a platform where students learn the fundamentals of drones, drone mapping, GIS, data processing, and a certified remote pilot training course. 

The signing ceremony took place at the SJCIT campus in Chikkaballapura, Karnataka. SJCIT is a renowned institution established in 1986. It offers leading UG and PG courses in aerospace, aeronautics, electronics, mechanical, and civil engineering. 

The signing ceremony was followed by a live flight demonstration of Aereo’s survey-grade PPK drone. As a token of gratitude, Aereo also mapped the college campus using its drone. It will create a digital 3D twin and an ultra-high resolution 2D map of the campus. These datasets will aid the development activities of the campus and act as a learning tool for the civil engineering students. 

This institute is the first of its kind for advancing holistic drone education in India alongside fundamental remote pilot training. The Centre of Excellence will provide exposure to students and help them build a career in India’s booming drone industry. The courses will be taught by highly experienced industry experts. 

After signing the MoU, Vipul Singh, Co-founder, and CEO of Aereo said, “This Centre of Excellence will lay the groundwork for drone education in the country. We are extremely grateful to SJCIT for their collaboration and look forward to providing top-notch drone education to the youth of Karnataka. Lack of high-skilled workforce is a primary bottleneck for the Indian drone industry. By imparting holistic drone education along with remote pilot training, we aim to create thousands of new drone-related jobs and pave the way for R&D in indigenous drone technology. It will equip students with real-world experience and skills required to forge a lucrative career in the Indian drone industry.” 

Photo Caption:  Dr. G.T. Raju, principal, SJCIT and Vipul Singh, co-founder and CEO, Aereo, pose for a photo after signing the MoU".

Punjab National Bank Launches New “Toll-Free Number 1800 1800” And Other “Digital Offerings On Its 129th Foundation Day”

* Customers can now also avail digital services such as E-Market place, Instant QR, Metaverse to count a few. 

Punjab National Bank, nation’s leading public sector bank, announced the launch of its new customer care numbers 1800-1800 & 1800-2021 on the occasion of the bank’s 129th Foundation Day. The new easy-to-recall toll-free number aims to provide PNB customers with a seamless and hassle-free experience whenever they reach out to the customer care team. Additionally, the bank introduced other products such as E-Marketplace and Instant QR on  Mobile Banking App PNB One, PABL (Pre-approved business loan), Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), Digital KCC through JanSamarth Portal, Current Account opening through TAB and Video-KYC, PNB eSWAR and PNB Metaverse.  

As a part of the 129th Foundation Day celebrations at the PNB head office, the new offerings were launched by Shri Atul Kumar Goel, MD & CEO and Executive Directors, Shri Vijay Dube, Shri Kalyan Kumar, Shri Binod Kumar and Shri M.Paramasivam in the presence of esteemed customers, senior officials and  PNB employees.  

Speaking on the launch, Shri Atul Kumar Goel, MD & CEO, said, “As we commemorate 128 years of service to the nation, we recommit to the eternal vision of our founder, Punjab Kesari Lala Lajpat Rai to providing our customers with the best possible banking experience. Hence, these new offerings are significant and innovative steps in this direction.”  

The new customer care numbers 1800-1800 & 1800-2021 will be available 24x7 and will offer support in multiple languages. Customers can use this number to get information on their account balance, and past transactions, issue/block debit cards, and avail other key services provided by the bank. They can also register their complaints and queries with the bank's customer care team. 

As a part of the celebration, PNB in collaboration with PNB PRERNA, an association committed to promoting the bank’s CSR efforts, distributed infrastructure support items to governments schools in Delhi. 

Most ATMs, Bus Stands, Government Websites In Goa Not Disabled-Friendly, According To GIM-CII Statewide Audit

~The audit was conducted over a course of 7 months. 

~ The findings are presented to CII-YI for further deliberation by respective Government departments 

A majority of the ATMs in Goa aren’t disabled-friendly, neither are public bus stands or state government’s websites, especially those which deal with public utility services, according to the findings of a seven-month long survey and audit conducted by students of the Goa Institute of Management (GIM) of public utility facilities in the state from a disability perspective.  

The survey and audit is a part of the B-school’s ‘Give Goa’ initiative which has been commissioned by the Confederation of Indian Industry and Young Indians (CII-YI). The study was conducted by the students of GIM mentored by Professors V Padmanabhan, Mantasha Firoz, Arpita Amarnani and Kingshuk Sarkar 

According to the 2011 census, two percent of the population in Goa comprises persons with disabilities, and accessibility still remains a challenge in the various aspects of an individual’s day-to-day life. Therefore, addressing accessibility gaps in the public services sector is crucial to creating a more inclusive society with equal access to basic amenities. 

Explained Prof V. Padmanaban, "The ATM audit covered 100 randomly chosen cash-dispensing kiosks in rural and urban parts of Goa and the findings indicate that faulty error messages or audio cues, lack of Braille-powered ATMs, improper ramp designs and complicated transactions were major issues." The GIM-CII study has recommended that each locality should have at least one fully disabled-friendly ATM.  

Bus stands are crucial for mobility for people without access to private transportation, particularly the elderly or persons with disabilities from low income groups. The audit has revealed that the design and functionality of bus stands should meet the needs of its diverse and less privileged user base. Ten bus stands, including the busiest KTC bus stand in Panaji and the Porvorim Depot were audited. Most bus stands were found lacking in basic accessibility features due to poor construction, lack of communication channels and awareness of disability-related issues.  

The elaborate audit also identified gaps, including lack of funds for training workshops, unfilled reserved seats in Industrial Training Institutes for disabled persons and a lack of awareness among disabled students about career opportunities, leading to such individuals being relegated to back-end roles in the industry. 

Lastly, an accessibility audit of 50 public utility websites owned by the Goa government found that most were not user-friendly for persons with disabilities. Official websites of ‘Fire and Emergencies Services’ and ‘River Navigation' departments reported a score of 3.12 and 3.85 respectively making them the two most unfriendly websites for persons with disabilities.  

The Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) website had a score of 6.13 with complaints with regard to the photo-sensitive content which according to the audit could potentially lead to seizures in individuals prone to epilepsy. The audit has also advocated a rehaul and streamlining of the Goa Police website because of its unfriendly design and cluttered content negatively impacting individuals who are visually impaired and those with cognitive disabilities. 

The audit rated the websites on the parameters of ease of accessibility and quality of information. The study focused on the needs of people with physical or mental disabilities, visual and hearing deficiencies and the audit team identified the importance of incorporating special accessibility-friendly features into the websites.  

According to Vaikunth Dempo, immediate past chair of CII-YI and Director at Dempo Marketing Pvt Ltd, the ‘Give Goa' project was a platform for nation building activities. He says “CII-YI, the youth wing of Confederation of Indian Industries, has been working with GIM for 6-7 years, focusing on nation building, thought and youth leadership. The projects include road safety, climate change, and accessibility of public utilities. These are selected through Young Indian’s mandate. GIM student leaders ideate and generate impactful ideas. Their white papers on the selected projects are taken to the authorities for solutions and campaigns, aiding the public and relevant authorities for betterment of the country.” 

Ajit Parulekar, Director of Goa Institute of Management says that the GIM’s community engagement program aptly named the ‘Give Goa’ project, offers opportunities for holistic learning that complement the institute’s rigorous study programmes.  

“The B-school has always stayed consistent to its mission to nurture young leaders for sustainable business of the future. Ethics, values and corporate governance have been at the core of our pedagogy. The four accessibility projects are a perfect example of guiding the next generation of leaders into national building projects. The projects allow students to put their efforts and ingenuity towards brainstorming and conceptualising solutions for genuine real-world problems and thus giving the state tools to use for the betterment of society,” he says.  

Greening Enterprise Eco System- SIDBI Dedicates Mission 50000 - EV4ECO

* Strategic financial engagement to uptake EV

Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), the country’s Principal financial institution for MSMEs, announced Mission 50K-EV4ECO thereby prioritising EV ecosystem development. This is pilot phase to strengthen the EV ecosystem including uptake for 2-w, 3-w and 4-w through direct and indirect lending. Detailed discussion with stakeholders has revealed that access to adequate finance including competitive rate of interest is a challenge face by MSMEs as also NBFCs, catering to EV ecosystem. On supply side banker perceived these projects as high risk. Similarly, dedicated NBFCs struggle with the high cost of funds which leads to the landed acquisition cost to the ultimate beneficiary being high. Also, there is a need to push the 3 wheelers EV segment. Mission 50K intends to attend to these challenges.

Shri Sivasubramanian Ramann, CMD, SIDBI said “In line with national mission of EV30@30 SIDBI has adopted EV as priority and by launching mission 50K- EV4ECO we intend to promote the entire EV value chain. This pilot shall be followed by scaling up support to eco system from multilaterals support. MSMEs, aggregators and other crucial actors of EV value chain have been facing challenges in convincing financial institutions to lend them. Similarly, the channelising agencies are also facing speed breakers. NBFCs are playing an important role in the enterprise growth strategy of SIDBI. They have shown willingness and ability to reach the bottom of the pyramid businesses, especially in credit deficient geographies, adoption of innovative and nimble credit delivery models and understanding of the local ecosystem. Electric vehicle financing is predominantly being done by small/ unrated NBFCs. These NBFCs have good knowledge of the EV sector. At present, it is not possible for these NBFCs to cater to all MSMEs requiring financing for an electric vehicle for their day-to-day operations or commercial use. We at SIDBI realise the need to give it a developmental push thus giving fillip to the national agenda of Carbon neutral nation”. 

Shri Sudhendu Sinha, Adviser (Infra & e-mobility), NITI Aayog said “India has set an ambitious climate change mitigation target and has committed to low-carbon growth in the energy and transport sectors. The transition to electric vehicles (EVs) is a critical cornerstone for transport sector decarbonization. Electric 2/3 wheelers (e-2/3Ws) offer the greatest potential for EV adoption in India, accounting for 79% of passenger road activity, and are already cost-competitive relative to conventional vehicles. To support India’s commitment to EV30@30, SIDBI taking lead in launching the Mission50K-EV4ECO scheme is a step in right direction. This shall enable access to affordable financing for electric vehicles. We look at SIDBI to prioritize the 3-wheeler segment. I am sure these feet on ground pilots shall enable quick replicability and scalability through multilateral support. With special scheme for NBFCs I am confident that mission shall kindle the appetite of BHARAT i.e rural India to start its EV transition journey. “

Under guidance of NITI Aayog, DFS, MoF and GoI, SIDBIs Mission 50K-EV4ECO intends to unlock the market by providing better financing terms and to understand other solution bouquet needed to address the above issues. This scheme is the precursor to EVOLVE scheme by SIDBI-World Bank. The pilot scheme has two components- Direct lending and Indirect lending. Under direct lending, SIDBI will directly give loans to eligible MSME’s (including aggregators, fleet operators, EV leasing companies) for the purchase of electric vehicles and develop charging infrastructure including battery swapping. The Indirect scheme targeted at NBFCs (including small unrated/ focused /emerging NBFCs actively engaged in EV financing) shall reach out to last mile by inducing access to funds as also reducing landed cost.

For more details, kindly contact nearest SIDBI office or write to us at gcfv@sidbi.in

About SIDBI:

SIDBI is the principal financial institution set up under an Act of Parliament for promotion, financing and development of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector and for coordination of functions of institutions engaged in similar activities. Over the years, SIDBI has been instrumental in taking up various initiatives for the development of the MSME sector through credit and more importantly, credit plus activities.

About NITI Aayog:

The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) was formed via a resolution of the Union Cabinet on 1 January 2015. NITI Aayog is the premier policy ‘Think Tank’ of the Government of India, providing both directional and policy inputs. The Government of India, in keeping with its reform agenda, constituted the NITI Aayog to replace the Planning Commission instituted in 1950. This was done to better serve the needs and aspirations of the people of India. An important evolutionary change from the past, NITI Aayog acts as the quintessential platform of the Government of India to bring States to act together in national interest, and thereby fostering Cooperative Federalism. NITI Aayog also houses ‘National Mission for Transformative Mobility & Battery Storage’ that is driving the E-Mobility all over the country.