PFRDA Organized A Conference On Implementation Of NPS In Central Government

Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) organized a Conference on Implementation of National Pension System (NPS) in Central Government, with the objective of efficient and effective implementation of the scheme. 

The NPS was introduced for Central Government employees (except armed forces) in 2004 and most of the state governments have also adopted it for their employees. Presently, there are 21.89 lakh subscribers from Central Government with Assets under Management (AUM) of Rs 2.39 lakh croresas on 31st July, 2023. 

Dr. Deepak Mohanty, Chairman, PFRDA in his keynote address said that achieving broad pension coverage in an affordable and fiscally sustainable way has remained an aspiring goal worldwide. Open-ended and unfunded pension liabilities can have cascading and costly fiscal implications, including crowding out of other social and developmental expenditures. 

He added that PFRDA is committed to creating awareness among the stakeholders to ensure smooth operations of the scheme and laying a strong foundation for building a pensioned society as envisioned by the Government of India.  He alluded to PFRDA’s digital solutions for NPS subscribers for on-boarding, servicing, direct remit, paperless exit and withdrawals, online Aadhaar e-KYC, partial withdrawals through self-declaration and eNPS for government subscribers. He emphasized on the adoption of digital safety norms by government nodal offices. He released a handbook for government nodal offices on NPS activities. Top 5 government nodal offices were felicitated for effective implementation of NPS in their offices. 

He highlighted that, the option to choose a pension fund and investment pattern has been provided. Also, the employer contribution for the central government employees has been increased to 14% from 10%. He emphasized that if the timelines stipulated under the NPS Rules is adhered by the nodal offices, subscribers’ interest will be better protected. 

Mrs. Mamta Shankar, Whole Time Member (Economics), PFRDA highlighted the valuable efforts of nodal offices right from enrolment of employees till the time of exit/retirement, which comprise generation of PRAN, deduction, and uploading of contributions, exit and annuity related steps.  

She added that the PFRDA in its endeavor to oversee the efficient implementation of NPS at all stages under the regulatory framework of PFRDA conducts review meetings, workshops, seminars and conferences from time to time with central government offices, to ensure old age income security of the NPS subscribers.  

Bank of Baroda Introduces “Video Re-KYC For Individual Resident Customers”

* Customers can complete Re-KYC digitally in just a few minutes in a secure manner without even having to visit their branch 

Bank of Baroda (Bank), one of India’s leading public sector banks, announced the launch of “Video Re-KYC” for eligible Individual Resident Customers. Available in English and Hindi, this is an alternative and more convenient method for customers to complete the periodic updation of KYC (Know Your Customer) digitally. Customers, whose Re-KYC is due, can complete their Video KYC in a few minutes without having to visit the branch. 

To avail the Video KYC facility, customers must be resident individuals, above 18 years of age and must have their Aadhaar number and original PAN Card. In the first stage, customers have to visit the Bank of Baroda website and complete the online Re-KYC application by submitting some basic information online. Once the online application is submitted, the Video KYC call with the bank executive will be conducted. For the Video call, customers will require original PAN Card, a blank white sheet of paper and a blue/black pen. 

Video Re-KYC calls will be undertaken during business hours (10:00AM to 6:00PM) on all working days.  

On successful completion of the video session, the customer details will be updated in the Bank’s records and a confirmation text message will be sent to the customer.  

Periodic updation of KYC (Re-KYC) is a mandatory requirement of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and customers need to immediately update their KYC documents with the bank when KYC update is due. The rollout of the Video Re-KYC facility makes the Re-KYC process much simpler, more convenient and elevates the entire customer experience. Customers of the Bank whose Re-KYC update is pending can now make the most of this facility and complete the process with ease. 

Bank of Baroda introduced Video KYC in the year 2021 to open full-fledged digital savings accounts. The Bank has now extended Video KYC for Re-KYC facility for the convenience of its customers.  

About Bank of Baroda 

Founded on 20th July, 1908 by Sir Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III, Bank of Baroda is one of the leading commercial banks in India. At 63.97% stake, it is majorly owned by the Government of India. The Bank serves its global customer base of ~165 million through over 70,000 touch points spread across 17 countries in five continents. Through Its state-of-the-art digital banking platforms, it provides all banking products and services in a seamless and hassle-free manner. The Bank’s bob World mobile app provides customers with a saving, investing, borrowing, and shopping experience, all under one single app. The app also serves non-customers by enabling account opening through video KYC. The Bank’s vision matches its diverse clientele base and instills a sense of trust and security. It is moving well in that direction and bob World is a testimony of its roadmap towards Digital Transformation. 

Visit us at www.bankofbaroda.in  

Punjab National Bank Launches “Pensioner's Lounge” On World Senior Citizen’s Day

On World Senior Citizen’s Day, Punjab National Bank (PNB), the nation's leading public sector bank, has introduced the "Pensioner’s Lounge", a dedicated space within the branch that serves pensioners and senior citizens with all their banking needs. As the part of the celebration, the bank honoured pensioners for their accomplishments and contributions to the society at its Bhikaji Cama Place branch in Delhi. The inauguration ceremony was held in the presence of Bank’s MD&CEO, Executive Director, CGMs, GMs, Zonal Managers, other bank officials and customers. As an additional gesture of gratitude, the bank also conducted health check-up camps for PNB's pensioners at 121 centres.  

Congratulating all the senior citizens at the World Senior Citizen’s Day, Shri Atul Kumar Goel, MD & CEO, Punjab National Bank, said: “The pensioners, who have contributed greatly to our country’s development, are one of the most valuable customer segments of Punjab National Bank. The Pensioner’s Lounge is a step toward creating a dedicated space within the branch premises for the pensioners and senior citizens where they will get all type of banking services. At present, we have set up 11 Pensioner’s Lounge across Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Shimla, Varanasi. As part of a multipronged strategy, we are also revamping Savings, Investment, Insurance, Healthcare schemes, related to senior citizens and promoting doorstep banking for them. In addition to that we are also leveraging digital initiatives and technology to offer specialised products and services tailored to this niche segment.”  

PNB MD & CEO also unveiled an informative booklet (Spandan) for senior citizens on the occasion wherein details of various schemes of the Bank for the senior citizens and the pensioners are given.   

Uber Rolls Out Group Rides, An All New Way To Share Rides With Friends And Save Money

* Offers opportunity to save up to 30% on each ride by splitting fare with friends

* Share ride,  split fare, save money and reduce cars on roads

Uber today announced the launch of ‘Group Rides’ in India, a new feature that allows sharing of rides with up to 3 friends when headed to a common destination. Group rides offer riders the option to save up to 30% of their fare, depending on the number of friends they split it with.

The feature allows riders to add their friends to their Uber ride by sharing details of the ride through messaging apps. Upon joining the journey, the friends would have the option to add their own pickup locations, which would get updated to the ride. The feature also aims to decongest roads by reducing the need for individual vehicles when groups of friends or colleagues or relatives are headed towards  the same destination.

Commenting on the launch of the new feature, Nitish Bhushan, Director of Central Operations, Uber India, said, “We are always innovating for our customers and looking at ways to make travel more affordable and seamless. With Group Rides we are offering customers the option to save more while they are riding with people they know. Not only do riders save money and arrive at the common destination together, they also do the good deed of reducing vehicles on the road by getting more butts in fewer cars.”

Group Rides ensures the driver’s earnings aren’t impacted negatively, as they would continue to receive the same amount according to the route they take, as they would in an Uber Go or Uber Premier ride.  

How to book a Group Ride trip:

Tap the Group Ride icon in the updated Uber app.

Begin a request for a Group Rides, and review the booking details in the app

Invite friends to join ride by sending them a link to the trip

Allow friends to add their own stops

Wait for the driver-partner

Enjoy the ride

About Uber

Uber's mission is to create opportunity through movement. We started in 2010 to solve a simple problem: how do you get access to a ride at the touch of a button? More than 15 billion trips later, we're building products to get people closer to where they want to be. By changing how people, food, and things move through cities, Uber is a platform that opens up the world to new possibilities.

Luxury fan Retailer Fanzart Opens Its Flagship Showroom In Worli, Mumbai; 114th Showroom In The Country

Pioneers of luxury fans in India, Fanzart opened its flagship showroom in Mumbai, its first company owned showroom in the country’s financial capital. The flagship showroom is located in Atria Mall in Worli South Mumbai and is the 114th showroom of Fanzart in the country.

It is to be recalled that in 2012 Fanzart brought in a revolution of sorts into the luxury fan segment by opening their finest luxury fan showroom in Bengaluru offering a wide range of designs and solutions in fans that were almost unthinkable at that time. The last decade has seen Fanzart galloping in its growth to offer the very latest innovations in the luxury fan segment, starting from incorporating human sensors, blue tooth enabling, fandeliers that double up as also lights, customisable blades, summer winter feature, power saving BLDC motors, to mention a few.

Commending the opening of the flagship showroom, Mr. Anil Lala, Founder and Managing Director said, “It gives us immense pleasure to start our operations in Mumbai through the physical presence of our flagship showroom. The showroom will house some of the most outstanding luxury fans under one roof that mark the highest quality and innovation in the luxury fan segment. We have been seeing a huge demand for luxury fans in India which spurred us to start Fanzart 12 years ago and the demand is only increasing”.

The flagship showroom in Mumbai will have a mindboggling range of designer fans on display, each proving to be a connoisseur’s delight while filling in the current lacuna in the luxury fan segment in the city. The collection will include the latest trends, styles, designs as well as innovations, bringing to the discerning customer the very best the industry has to offer across the globe.

Speaking at the opening,  Mr. Tarun Lala, Co-Founder & Director, Fanzart, stated, “The flagship showroom in South Mumbai marks a new chapter in our operations as Mumbai is not only the financial capital but also the consumer capital, given the quality and design conscious customers the city abodes. We currently have 3 franchised showrooms in Mumbai but are extremely happy to open our company showroom in South Mumbai to address the long felt need for a boutique retail space in fans here.”

“The range we have on offer is literally spellbinding, leaving the customer spoilt for choice. Each fan has a story to tell with its new dimensions, lending itself to conceptualisation as per the differing needs, expectations of each customer. The technological innovation and expansive possibilities in customisation increases the variety of models on offer, expanding the choice.”

Fanzart has presence today in all major metros and mini metro cities across India catering to discerning customers, who have a penchant for Luxury Fans.

For more information log on to: www.fanzartfans.com  

About Fanzart:

Fanzart is a company that specializes in luxury ceiling fans, designer fans, and other ventilation solutions for residential and commercial spaces. Fanzart is known for its unique and stylish ceiling fans that are designed to be not just functional, but also aesthetically appealing and visually striking. Fanzart was founded in 2012 by Anil Lala, and it is headquartered in Bangalore, India. The company's vision is to transform the concept of ceiling fans from being just functional appliances to pieces of art that enhance the interior design of a space. Fanzart's product range includes a variety of designer ceiling fans that are inspired by different themes, styles, and materials, such as wood, metal, and acrylic. With over 114 outlets in India, Fanzart has a presence in several other countries as well, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Singapore, and the United States, and its products are available through a network of authorized dealers and showrooms.

World’s 1st Vendor-Agnostic 5G IoT Aggregator Solution Launched By India’s Amantya Technologies, Cientra Techsolution

* ‘Make in India’ solution for the world to be released by Q3 CY23

* Groundbreaking partnership involving Amantya's advanced 5G Core with Cientra's IoT Access to pave the way for developing standards-based scalable platform targeted at global IoT market

* Solution to help seamless migration of legacy IoTs to 5G IoTs without additional capital expenditure; provide comprehensive Private 5G and IoT Solutions 

Amantya Technologies, a leading product engineering company with expertise in providing advanced 5G wireless solutions, and Cientra Techsolution, an engineering design and product solutions company, announced the launch of the world’s first indigenously developed vendor-agnostic 5G IoT aggregator solution targeted at developing standards-based scalable platform targeted at global IoT market. 

Amantya and Cientra have entered a strategic alliance aimed at unlocking unprecedented opportunities in the rapidly evolving realm of 5G-enabled Internet of Things (IoT). This solution will enable the industry to meet the exponential demand cutting across different industry segments including deployment in railways, agriculture, water management, smart cities, smart mobility, etc. The solution is also expected to provide thrust to Government of India’s aim to build future-ready robust systems that seamlessly connect the length and breadth of the country using technology as the backbone.  

"We are thrilled to embark on this transformative journey with Cientra towards realizing the full potential of 5G-IoT," said Sanjay Bisen, CTO at Amantya Technologies Pvt. Ltd." By leveraging Cientra’s cutting-edge IoT Access technology in conjunction with our robust 5G Core network, we are poised to deliver unparalleled capabilities to our customers and usher in a new era of connectivity and innovation," added Bisen.

Our partnership with Amantya reinforces Cientra’s commitment to driving IoT's evolution in the 5G era. By joining forces, we aim to create a powerful synergy that will enable businesses worldwide to seamlessly leverage 5G-IoT to redefine connectivity and unlock unparalleled opportunities for growth and transformation," said Anil Kempanna, CEO, at Cientra Techsolution Pvt. Ltd.

Amantya and Cientra seek to leverage the power of Amantya’s advanced 5G Core network and Cientra’s IoT Access technology, 5GIG, to transform traditional IoT systems into dynamic and seamlessly integrated 5G-IoT solutions. The alliance will revolutionize 5G network and IoT applications across industries, empowering businesses to integrate conventional IoT devices into the robust 5G network. Recognizing the immense potential of 5G technology, both companies are excited to continue expanding their horizons and exploring a wider domain of use cases across the globe.

Amantya and Cientra share a deep commitment to innovation, and this partnership represents a natural synergy of their complementary expertise and vision. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in the journey towards a connected world where the possibilities of 5G-IoT are boundless.

About Amantya Technologies

Amantya Technologies is leading product engineering and system integration company with proven expertise in next-generation technologies like 5G, IoT, AI ML, edge, and cloud services. The company specializes in building 5G-based solutions for its customers across 5G Labs and Private Networks. It creates positive business outcomes for its clients and helps them stay competitive by leveraging Amantya’s solution accelerators, partner solutions, and deep domain expertise in wireless protocols, integration, testing, and hardware design and development. Amantya works for some of the leading MNOs, ISVs and OEM’s globally and has offices in India (Gurugram, Bangalore and Nagpur) and the USA.

For more information, please visit amantyatech.com 

About Cientra Techsolution Pvt. Ltd.

Cientra is a Bangalore headquartered product engineering services & solutions company. It caters to leading global enterprises across the Consumer, Aviation, Semiconductors, Telecom, Wireless, and Automotive industries. The company has expertise across hardware (VLSI, ASIC, FPGA, SoC) and software (4G, 5G, IoT) engineering, development, and testing domains. It is committed to accelerating the delivery of customized solutions to its clients across the product lifecycle. Cientra has offices in India (Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Noida), the USA, and Germany.

For more information, visit: https://www.cientra.com/

Godrej Locks Revolutionizes Home Safety For Indians With Anti-Pick Technology To Prevent Burglary Attempts

* The new ‘Centaur’ lock features India’s first dual motion technology

The iconic Godrej Locks brand, a business unit of Godrej & Boyce, the flagship company of the Godrej Group, in an unwavering commitment to providing homeowners with cutting-edge safety solutions, has introduced Anti-Pick Technology across its locking solutions to thwart burglary attempts. Understanding the evolving landscape of security threats, Godrej Locks has harnessed the power of technology to create locks that offer unparalleled safety for modern homes.

As technology continues to evolve, the methods employed by criminals to gain unauthorized access to homes also advances.  Recognizing the importance of constantly updating their products to meet the challenges posed by burglars, Godrej Locks has curated a comprehensive range of innovative locking solutions through seamless fusion of expert craftsmanship, precision engineering, and rigorous testing that set new benchmarks for home safety.

India’s first dual motion Centaur lock is a true testament to Godrej Locks' unwavering dedication to safety. The Centaur lock utilizes dual-motion technology, combining horizontal and vertical latching, effectively performing the function of two locks in one. This groundbreaking design ensures double the safety, providing homeowners with enhanced protection and unparalleled peace of mind.

The Centaur lock incorporates EXS+ technology, combined with hybrid bolt motion, ensuring superior safety and crowbar resistance. The lock's deadbolts engage with the receptacle in two steps: the first throw, like a conventional rim lock, and the second throw, projecting the bolts vertically outward like the Vertibolt mechanism, securely anchoring them in place. To provide homeowners with added flexibility, the Centaur lock's easily reversible latch caters to both inside and outside opening doors. Additionally, the latch puller arrest function prevents accidental lockouts, ensuring convenience without compromising safety. Moreover, this lock is available in three attractive finishes - satin nickel, antique brass, and antique copper, complementing the aesthetics of any home while offering unmatched protection.

Shyam Motwani, Business Head at Godrej Locks & Architectural Fittings and Systems, said, “Our latest Centaur lock represents the culmination of extensive research, expert engineering, and meticulous testing. Its Anti-Pick Technology and hybrid bolt motion make it a formidable barrier against break-ins, setting new standards for home safety. With the rise of advanced burglary techniques, homeowners need safety solutions that can withstand even the most sophisticated break-in attempts. We understand the ever-changing landscape of security threats and strives to stay ahead of the curve by introducing advanced locking solutions. With such innovative design, homeowners can experience enhanced protection. Our campaign ‘Go Live Freely’ has been inspired from this sense of safety itself. We try to convey to our consumers that there is a certain freedom of movement, of lifestyle when one is not constantly worried about their home and its safety. That is the assurance we try to convey through each and every innovation.”

Adding on business aspect, Mr. Motwani said, “As a leading force in mechanical and traditional locks with a 33% market share, we have always prioritized design-led innovations and the seamless integration of technology to deliver exceptional safety. The market is evolving and so is Godrej Locks.”

Godrej Locks, a trusted name in the safety solutions industry, is dedicated to continuous innovation, which has solidified its position as the preferred choice for customers through its cutting-edge and advanced locking technology. The brand aims to ensure the safety and peace of mind of its valued customers with its Anti-Pick Technology and cutting-edge features, making it a formidable deterrent against burglary attempts.