‘Jab Tayyar, Tab Tyohaar’ Aurelia Unveils Its Exquisite Festive’23 Collection

Aurelia, leading contemporary ethnic wear brand, is all set to redefine festive fashion with its vibrant Festive Collection’23 with its festive campaign – Jab Tayyar Tab Tyohaar.  Festivities and celebrations are synonyms for Indian-ness and this season Aurelia captures this feeling beautifully. Dressing up is a woman’s prerogative and Indian outfits take dressing up a notch higher. The uniquely curated festive range from Aurelia encapsulates the feeling of dressing up by not just making women feel beautiful but also enjoy the process of dressing up. 

The campaign complements the collection's exuberance with a cheerful video starring the talented OTT star, Shreya Chaudhary. The digital video is based on the insight that women like to dress up and celebrate festivities. It’s an emotion that most women can relate to, where they ensure the outfit is perfectly complimented with the right accessories. Aurelia brings forward this emotion beautifully with its campaign – Jab Tayyar Tab Tyohaar.  The peppy DVC adds to the overall fun and cheer for the festive season and truly communicates celebrations begin with getting ready for the occasion. This season Aurelia offers something for every celebration, a trendy mix for the celebrations from Pujo pandal hopping to Diwali parties as well as the big fat Indian weddings.

Anant Daga, Managing Director - TCNS Clothing Co. Ltd. said, "Aurelia offers a beautiful blend of traditional Indian aesthetics and contemporary silhouettes for our customers. This season the brand has focused on premiumization of occasion-wear while innovating newer styles and silhouettes within the Indian wear space catering to the requirements of festive fashion. The new range is beautifully highlighted in our festive campaign featuring leading OTT star Shreya Chaudhary. The campaign celebrates the feeling of getting ready across occasions”.

Shreya Chaudhary, Indian OTT star says – “I love dressing up in Indian wear and I’m thrilled to be a part of Aurelia’s brand campaign this season. The brand has artistically communicated the beautiful emotion of dressing up for celebrations with their latest festive campaign. The vibrant video, peppy music and stunning collection will definitely add to the celebrations this season.”

Aurelia’s Festive’23 range brings specially curated collection with a wide range of designs and colours for festive wear featuring the Anarkali collection, Aurelia Select, Insta Sarees. The merchandise mix offers styles across festive cotton and premium cotton fabrics. Premium Drape wear is the highlight of the season and is available across various festive occasions – light festive occasions to grand celebrations.

Link for the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3zsMkE0eQA

This festive collection is available on Myntra, Amazon, Flipkart, as well as at Aurelia's exclusive brand outlets located across 150 cities. Customers can also shop the collection online through the brand's official site, https://www.shopforaurelia.com/.

About Aurelia 

Aurelia is a contemporary ethnic wear brand targeted at women looking for great design, fit and quality for their casual and work-wear requirements, occasion wear. Aurelia has (250+) exclusive brand outlets and is present in 1000+ large-format store outlets located across 150 cities. The brand is also available online through its own brand site as well as all leading portals like Myntra, Amazon, Flipkart etc. visit https://www.shopforaurelia.com/ for more information.  

About TCNS 

TCNS is India’s leading women’s branded Apparel Company and is the name behind the evolution of the fashionable contemporary wear brand for women – W. The company is a pioneer in scientific sizing with seven sizes, the introduction of iconic knit churidar and smaller width stoles, making functional fashion available for the everyday woman. The four TCNS Clothing brands – W, Aurelia, Elleven and Wishful – offer a variety of fashion choices, ranging from ethnic to contemporary. W is the first Indian women's brand to have over 350 stores and Aurelia is available through more than 250 stores. The brands are also available through 1,000+ points of sale across 150 cities in India, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh. In addition, the products are available through its own portals as well as market places. 

Nestlé India Sharpens Focus On Millet-Based Offering Expand Its Portfolio Launches Nestlé a+ Masala Millet

Nestlé India is incorporating millets as an ingredient to provide consumers with more diverse food options. In line with the government focus on millets, Nestlé India is creating a differentiated food portfolio across brands that promotes millet as a more sustainable food option, through partnerships and product innovations.  As a part of this initiative, Nestlé India has launched Nestlé a+ Masala Millet that contains bajra and can be eaten as a light meal at any time of the day.

Available in two lip smacking variants, Tangy Tomato and Veggie Masala, Nestlé a+ Masala Millet comes in a multi-serve pack priced at Rs. 175 for 240 gm and a single-serve pack priced at Rs. 30 for 40 gm. The product is high in fibre, with 30% less calories and free from added preservatives. It has been developed under the guidance of IIMR (Indian Institute of Millets Research). Nestlé India has already launched Nestlé CEREGROW Grain Selection with ragi, Nestlé MILO Cocoa Malt with bajra and Nestlé KOKO KRUNCH Millet-Jowar breakfast cereals.

India is one of the largest millet producers in the world, accounting for 20% of global millet production. Nestlé R&D Centre India Private Limited, Manesar (a subsidiary of Nestlé S.A and a part of Nestlé’s global R&D network) signed an MOU with Nutrihub-IIMR with an aim to collaborate in areas such as millet processing, health and nutrition benefits, millet sustainable regenerative agriculture practices and start-up collaborations.  

Commenting on the faster adoption of millets, Mr. Suresh Narayanan, Chairman and Managing Director, Nestlé India said, “Millets have been associated with India’s agricultural heritage and with 2023 identified as the International Year of Millets, it is only appropriate that it is brought to the forefront with increased awareness and suitable products. I am delighted to announce our ambition to incorporate millets into relevant product categories. We have already introduced millets into some of our products and the launch of Nestlé a+ Masala Millet is another step in that direction.”

Dr. (Mrs.) C Tara Satyavathi, Director, IIMR said, ‘’Millets are superfoods and have high nutritional benefits which have been recognised both in India and worldwide. The focus this year will be to raise awareness on millets especially amidst the adverse and changing climatic conditions, while highlighting the opportunities it can create for producers, farmers and consumers. We are very pleased to collaborate with Nestlé India and to be able to offer the benefits of these super grains to a larger audience.’’

Nestlé India's initiatives to promote millets highlight its commitment to promote sustainable and diverse food options while supporting farmers and local communities. As the Company moves forward with its millet-focused strategy, it is poised to significantly impact the food industry and food options for consumers.

TPREL Joins Hands With SSMI For Setting Up Of 28.125 MW AC (39.375 MWp) Captive Solar Plant

·         The plant located at Aachegaon, Maharashtra to generate 61.875 MUs of electricity in a year and would supply power to Sanyo Special Steel Manufacturing India Pvt. Ltd. (“SSMI”) located within the state.

·         Solar energy from this plant to reduce SSMI’s carbon footprint by ~42,534 tons annually to drive sustainable growth.

Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited (“TPREL”),a leading player in the renewable energy sector through its subsidiary TP Alpha Limited (Special Purpose Vehicle –“SPV”) signed a Power Delivery  Agreement (“PDA”) with Sanyo Special Steel Manufacturing India Pvt. Ltd.  for a Captive Solar Plant having capacity of 28.125 MW ( AC) (i.e. 39.375 MWp DC ) which is located in Aachegaon, Dist- Solapur,  Maharashtra, the solar plant is projected to produce an annual electricity  of 61.875 Million Units (“MUs”)  which would meet the energy requirement of steel manufacturing unit of “SSMI”.

The overall capacity of the Aachegaon facility is 120 MWp AC. The project will be commissioned by March 2024 as per the arrangement. This Solar Power will meet “SSMI” green power requirements and contribute towards United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The use of solar energy from this installation will help to reduce SSMI’s carbon footprint by ~42,534 tonnes annually (reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by ~42,534 tonnes annually). This project aligns with “SSMI” long term strategy towards climate change by reducing dependency on fossil fuel-based energy, lower the carbon footprint and manufacture Green Steel.

The project is in line with the objectives of the National Green Energy policy, emphasizing India's commitment to fostering a clean energy ecosystem.

Speaking on the partnership, Mr. Ashish Khanna, CEO of Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited, stated, "Our partnership with Sanyo Special Steel Manufacturing India Pvt. Ltd. reflects our joint dedication to drive sustainable practices in the steel industry. These initiatives yield advantages like cost reduction, lower emissions, enhanced energy security, and alignment with sustainability targets. The government's prioritization of captive power projects, driven by their economic and environmental merits, highlights their significance for various industries.”

Mr. Dilipkumar Pachpande, Managing Director of Sanyo Special Steel Manufacturing India Pvt. Ltd., added. “We are pleased to join hands with TP Alpha Limited (“SPV”) a subsidiary of Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited to secure significant portion of our power requirement through renewable sources which is align with our sustainability vision. This collaboration perfectly describes our commitment towards the clean and green energy solutions, which not only aligns with our goals towards climate change and sustainable development but also significantly benefits the steel manufacturing unit  by reducing CO2 emissions and costs, enhancing sustainability, and contributing to carbon neutral  goals by producing “Green Steel”. We are proud that together we are making a positive impact towards sustainable development. This is a significant step towards our long-term strategy towards sustainable development. We look forward to make the most of this association and fetch maximum benefit for environment as well as for all our stakeholders. 

Earlier, TPREL secured a Letter of Award (LoA) for a 966-MWRTC hybrid project, this marked one of the largest industrial Round-The-Clock (RTC) power purchase agreements within the group captive segment in the country.

With this project’s capacity addition, the total renewables capacity of TPREL reaches 7,815 MW including 3,683 MW projects under various stages of implementation and its operational capacity is 4,132 MW, which includes 3,139 MW solar and 993 MW wind.

NEC’s Latest Smart City Project In Tirupati, India Goes Live

NEC Corporation India, a wholly owned subsidiary of NEC Corporation, has launched the latest Smart City project in Tirupati, India, for Tirupati Smart City Corporation Limited. 

Under this project, NEC India is implementing ICT solutions throughout the city and setting up a City Operations Center (COC) in Tirupati. The ICT solutions, including integrated services and a Unified Command and Control Centre, will facilitate real-time data collection & analysis and two-way communications, which will help to provide more efficient responses to issues related to safety, security, healthcare, the environment, and more. Furthermore, a City Network Infrastructure and On Premises Data Centre will help to implement a more data-backed decision-making mechanism for the operations of the city. 

Responding to the commencement of the project, Aalok Kumar, President and CEO of NEC Corporation India and Corporate Senior Vice President leading NEC's Global Smart City Business, said, “NEC India’s vast experience in setting up Smart Cities in India is a direct result of our 70+ year history in the region, where we have proven our capabilities in leveraging technology-driven solutions to solve a wide range of challenges. This Smart City project from Tirupati Smart City Corporation Limited further validates our expertise in the field and solidifies India’s role in driving NEC Corporation’s Smart City initiatives on a global scale.” 

Commenting on the new project, Smt D. Haritha. I.A.S., Managing Director, Tirupati Smart City Corporation Ltd., said, “Tirupati is home to one of the most sought after pilgrimage destinations in the country, attracting up to 80,000 visitors each day. Managing this kind of footfall while ensuring the highest order of comfort, efficiency, and safety for all is a mission-critical task. Given NEC Corporation’s depth of experience and proof of concept in developing smart cities all over the world, and particularly in India, we are confident that in time, Tirupati will become a destination that extends beyond the realm of pilgrimage, and the elevated experience of visiting the city is sure to encourage visitors to stay longer.”

NEC India will also be deploying its Intelligent Traffic Management System, which will be a crucial element in streamlining traffic, managing congestion during peak hours, and minimising road accidents. NEC India will also be supporting the authorities in Tirupati to deliver Municipal Services through systems across key areas. These include Facial Recognition Systems, Intelligent Video Management Systems, and the integration of feeds from existing and proposed CCTV cameras across the city. NEC India will also be implementing Smart Water Solutions, Environmental Sensors and Public Address Systems to assist in the smooth governance of the city. 

In order to improve the aesthetics of the city, Digital Billboards and Variable Message Sign Boards will be implemented in designated areas. Moreover, as part of enhancing engagement, a City Collaboration Platform will be developed to provide visitors and residents with important local information through a web portal and mobile phones. 

About NEC Corporation India (NEC India):

NEC is a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies and brings more than 124 years of expertise in technological innovation to provide solutions for empowering people, businesses, and society. Headquartered in Japan, NEC started operations in India in the 1950s, accelerating its growth through the expansion of business to global markets. NEC in India expanded its business from telecommunications to public safety, logistics, transportation, retail, finance, unified communication, and IT platforms, serving across governments, businesses as well as individuals. With its Centre of Excellence for analytics platform solutions, big data, biometrics, mobile and retail, NEC in India offers innovative new services and solutions for India and global markets.

For further information, visit: https://in.nec.com/  

Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (HCCB) To Train 25,000 Women In Financial And Digital Literacy

* The company seeks to bridge the gender gap in financial inclusion and the adoption of digital technologies among women in the country.

* The effort aligns with PM Modi’s recent message on fostering inclusivity and driving positive change in the G20 Ministerial Conference on Women Empowerment.

Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (HCCB), one of India's leading FMCG companies, has announced that it will provide financial and digital literacy training to 25,000 women across the country. The company has partnered with the Y4D foundation for this initiative, which will equip women from diverse backgrounds in different locations and bridge the skills gap in financial and technological knowledge.

The financial literacy training will cover fundamental concepts like Banking Basics, Account Opening procedures, Unified Payments Interface (UPI) training, Investment Guidance, Net Banking, and information on various Government Schemes for women such as Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Sukanya Sam Riddhi Yojana Nari Shakti. On the other hand, the digital literacy component will encompass topics such as Mobile Banking, Digital Market Linkage, and Cyber Safety and Security to equip these women with the necessary tools to succeed in the digital era.

The training will be conducted in a classroom-based format in identified locations nationwide. The beneficiaries will be identified and trained in groups based on their interests, needs, and current digital and financial literacy levels. The effort is aimed at promoting a more concentrated and efficient learning experience.

On this initiative, Himanshu Priyadarshi, Chief Public Affairs, Communications & Sustainability Officer, Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages, said, "A key element of the culture at HCCB is to ensure an equitable environment, not only for our employees but also the communities in which we operate. By boosting these women's financial literacy and digital competence, we hope to contribute to the country's economic growth. We believe that the financial and digital inclusion of underserved women is essential to unlock the economic potential of India. This effort also aligns with PM Modi's recent call for women-led development and the importance of technology in fostering inclusivity and driving positive change in his several G20 addresses."

Further elaborating on the project, Gaurav Sharma, Chief People Officer, Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages, said, "At HCCB, people are at the core of what we do, whether it's our employees or the communities in which we operate. For us, empowering women isn't confined to HCCB as an organization but extends far beyond society, thus creating sustainable progress. The training sessions will work as impactful conduits to uplift and equip these 25,000 women with the required digital and financial skills and create a ripple effect of positive change in the larger community. We're glad to play a part in creating a more empowered, inclusive, and resilient society."

Through this endeavour, HCCB aspires to support women, enabling them to take charge of their financial independence and embrace the opportunities the government and digital world offer. HCCB has facilitated several women-led self-help groups countrywide, empowering them to run their enterprises today. HCCB aspires to create more entrepreneurs through this drive.

About HCCB

HCCB was incorporated on 14th February 1997. Since then, HCCB has come a long way in being able to serve 25 lakh retailers, 3,500 distributors, and 6,000 employees. 250,000 farmers grow the agricultural produce that HCCB uses in making its products. The company is headquartered in Bangalore and its operations are spread in 22 states, 3 UTs, and 376 districts in South, West, and Eastern India. Through its 16 factories spread across India, it manufactures and sells 60 different products across 7 categories. Its products include some of India’s most loved beverages - Coca-Cola, Thums Up, Sprite, Minute Maid, Maaza, SmartWater, Kinley, Limca, Fanta, and a lot more.

Ashok Leyland Partners With CSB Bank For Providing Vehicle Finance Facilities

Ashok Leyland, the Indian flagship of the Hinduja Group and country’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturer, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with CSB Bank Ltd. to enter into a strategic vehicle financing partnership for its customers. This MoU will enable both Ashok Leyland and CSB Bank to offer customized financial solutions to them.

Under this partnership, CSB Bank will be able to provide end to end financial solutions to the customers of Ashok Leyland. The Bank will work towards satisfying the customers’ needs through vehicle loans with easy monthly repayment plans best suited for customers. Moreover, the bank will leverage technology for enhancing customer experience.

Commenting on the partnership, Mr. Gopal Mahadevan, CFO & Director Ashok Leyland, said, “With the combined strength of CSB Bank , Ashok Leyland, and  it’s  dealers will now have financing solutions to suit customer needs. At Ashok Leyland, it is our continuous endeavour to enhance the experience of our customers and add more value to them The partnership with CSB Bank will benefit customers with financial products, which are specifically tailored for a hassle-free experience. Through our vast network of dealerships, we will be able to provide the best financial solutions to our wide range of commercial vehicle customers”.

Speaking on the partnership, Mr. Narendra Dixit, Group Head and Head Retail Banking, CSB Bank said, “We are delighted to partner with one of the largest commercial vehicle manufacturers in India, Ashok Leyland. With a pan-India presence, the partnership will offer customized offerings to the customers across India including deep geographies. This partnership will enable the bank to grow its portfolio of assets and extend its reach into previously untapped consumer segments. I am sure our shared dedication will pave the way for continued advancement and triumph of the commercial vehicle sector”.

The collaboration seeks to provide simpler financing options, a seamless customer experience, and timely assistance to customers. The Sales & Marketing teams of CSB Bank and Ashok Leyland will work together to develop joint marketing and financing programs for mutually furthering the volumes of business.

Singaporean Global Online Games Developer And Publisher - Garena Announces Launch Of Free Fire India

* Free Fire India offers a wealth of local content and features developed for Indian players to promote safe, healthy and fun gameplay

* Free Fire India will be supported by Yotta’s cloud hosting infrastructure in India, leveraging Yotta’s industry-leading expertise in storing and protecting Indian user data

* Garena also unveiled the new Free Fire India Championship, as part of its commitment to fostering esports excellence in India under its MOU with the government of Uttar Pradesh

Garena, a Singaporean global online games developer and publisher, today announced the launch of Free Fire India, available for download exclusively in India from September 5. Free Fire India incorporates unique content and features to encourage a safe, healthy and fun gameplay experience.

The announcement was made at a launch event today by Garena’s Co-founder Mr. Gang Ye and Yotta Infrastructure’s (“Yotta”) Co-founder and Chairman Mr. Darshan Hiranandani, in the presence of the High Commissioner of the Republic of Singapore to the Republic of India, HE Simon Wong.

Leveraging Yotta’s local cloud infrastructure to enhance user experience

Yotta, a Hiranandani Group company, will provide the local cloud hosting and storage infrastructure for Free Fire India. As a MeitY-empanelled service provider, Yotta will ensure best-in-class management of personal data of Indian users on local servers and network connectivity services to support Garena’s product offerings in India, including in esports.

Users encouraged to #PlayItRight

Free Fire India will offer features and content specifically developed for Indian users, as well as a range of features designed to promote safe, healthy and fun gameplay. These include a verification system to enable parental supervision, gameplay limitations and ‘take a break’ reminders.

Celebrating Indian sports culture: MS Dhoni as inaugural brand ambassador

Underlining its commitment to celebrating the best of India within the game, Garena also unveiled Indian cricket icon MS Dhoni as the new brand ambassador for Free Fire India. He will be celebrated as the first Indian sportsperson to be featured in-game as a playable character, “Thala”. Dhoni will be joined by other leading sportspersons, such as football captain Sunil Chhetri, badminton champion Saina Nehwal, tennis legend Leander Paes, and Kabbadi champion Rahul Chaudhari.

Launch of Free Fire India Championship

Earlier this year, Garena and Yotta entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Uttar Pradesh to drive the development of esports in India. Today, Garena announced that the flagship Free Fire India Championship (FFIC) will take place later this month. Open to teams across India, the winners will earn the opportunity to represent India at the Free Fire World Series in Thailand this November. More details of FFIC and other esports initiatives dedicated to Free Fire India will be announced over the coming weeks.

Speaking at the event, H.E. Simon Wong, High Commissioner of Singapore to India, said, “Garena's launch of Free Fire India and commitment to localising and developing the esports ecosystem locally is testament to the vibrancy of the mobile games and esports space in India, and to India's potential for global leadership in this area. I look forward to greater partnerships in the digital media, entertainment and esports fields between India and Singapore.”

Mr. Gang Ye, Co-founder of Garena, said, “India is home to very passionate communities of esports enthusiasts and we are excited to be able to support our fans from Bharat with the launch of Free Fire India. We look forward to providing an engaging and highly localised experience for Indian users. We believe our partnership with Yotta will ensure that our users can enjoy the highest quality gameplay experience and benefit from Yotta’s expertise in protecting and securing Indian user data. We are also committed to supporting the development of India’s esports and startup ecosystems. The Free Fire India Esports Championships is our first step in building out our platform of esports events and activities in the coming months to empower Indian esports athletes to succeed globally.”

Mr. Darshan Hiranandani, Co-founder & Chairman, Yotta emphasised the strides made in the data centre sector in India, stating, “Our -partnership with Garena is a strong endorsement of the significant progress in the Indian data centre industry. We are pleased to bring our unique data hosting and cybersecurity expertise for the benefit of Indian users.  This partnership will foster further India-Singapore technology collaboration.”

About Garena:

Garena, a wholly-owned business unit of the Singaporean, publicly-listed Sea Limited, is a leading global online games developer and publisher. Founded and headquartered in Singapore, Garena is run by passionate gamers and has a unique understanding of what gamers want.

Garena champions social and entertainment experiences through games, enabling its communities to engage and interact. Garena is also a leading esports organiser and hosts some of the world’s biggest esports events.

For more information visit: https://www.garena.sg

About Yotta:

Yotta Data Services, a part of the Hiranandani Group of India, is a new-age Digital Transformation service provider offering data center, cloud and a wide range of managed IT, application modernisation, connectivity, and cybersecurity services. Yotta has two hyperscale data center parks in Panvel (Navi Mumbai) and Greater Noida. Yotta's first data center - Yotta NM1 in Panvel– has been acknowledged as APAC's best Data Center by Datacloud Global Awards in 2021. It is the world's 2nd largest Uptime Institute Certified Tier IV facility and the largest in Asia. Yotta Greater Noida DC park launched in Oct 2022, is a mammoth 180 MW campus, the largest one in the whole of North India.

For more information, visit –  https://www.yotta.com

Photo Caption: (Left to Right): Mr. Darshan Hiranandani, Co-founder & Chairman, Yotta, H.E. Simon Wong, High Commissioner of Singapore to India and Mr. Gang Ye, Co-founder of Garena.