Aditya Birla Health Insurance Unveils 'Activ One' Across Indian Market

 ~ A Simplified & Comprehensive Health Insurance Solution that gives 100% Health and 100% Health Insurance   ~

Aditya Birla Health Insurance Co. Limited (“ABHICL”), the health insurance arm of Aditya Birla Capital, India’s leading, well-diversified financial services provider, announced the launch of ‘Activ One,’ a simplified and comprehensive health insurance plan that empowers its policyholders with tailor-made solutions to meet not just their health insurance needs but also enables them to be the healthiest version of themselves.

Key Features 

100% HealthReturnsTM: Enables policyholders to earn back their entire premium by leading an active and healthy lifestyle. Funds earned as HealthReturns™ can be used for payment of renewal premium and other non-medical expenses, out-patient expenses etc. 

Claim Protect: With this feature, policyholders get covered for all listed non-medical expenses related to hospitalization. This includes expenses incurred for face masks, cotton, gloves, oxygen cylinders, etc.

No Sub-Limits: No capping on room rent, ICU charges, listed modern treatments like robotic surgeries, oral chemotherapy, etc. and more, up to Sum Insured, empowering our policyholders to make healthcare decisions based on their needs, not on arbitrary limitations.

Super Reload: This feature gives unlimited refill up to base sum insured during a policy year, so that the policyholder does not run out of their health insurance cover.

Super Credit: Policyholders get to combat medical inflation as their Sum Insured increases by up to six times, by the 6th year of their policy, irrespective of claims, at no extra premium payments.

Loaded with industry leading features such as 100% HealthReturnsTM, Claim Protect, No Sub-Limits, Super Reload and Super Credit, Activ One is ABHICL’s most comprehensive product yet, offering customers a one-stop-solution for their health assurance and their health insurance needs

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Mayank Bathwal, CEO, Aditya Birla Health Insurance, said, "Activ One is a result of us being good at listening to our stakeholders - our customers, advisors, distributors and partners. Based on their inputs and insights, we developed Activ One, that addresses the needs of every consumer - across their different health or life stages, and at stages of battling chronic ailments. With seven variants built into one product, we are offering the Power of One, to all. At ABHI, our vision has always been to incentivize wellness, encouraging policyholders to embrace a healthier lifestyle and holistic well-being. Through Activ One, we want to ensure that our policyholders experience a simplified and comprehensive healthcare solution that is personalised, rewarding and worry-free.”

Activ One stands out with its wide-ranging set of built-in features, including coverage for in-patient hospitalization and pre- and post-hospitalization expenses extending up to 90 and 180 days. For the first time Aditya Birla Health will offer coverage live-in partners (same or opposite sex) under the policy. This apart, the policy has chronic care cover which provides Day 1 cover (zero waiting period) to people with seven chronic conditions such as Asthma, High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol, Diabetes, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Obesity and Coronary Artery Disease (PTCA done prior to 1 year).

Reinforcing ABHICL’s commitment to well-being, Activ One includes the HealthReturnsTM feature, which enables policyholders to earn back their entire premium (up to 100% HealthReturns) which can be accrued on the basis of Healthy Heart Score™, the fitness assessment result and the number of Active Dayz™ recorded on a monthly basis. A customer can earn “Active Dayz™ by undertaking any prescribed fitness activities like, walking 10,000 steps, or undertaking regular exercise, yoga sessions etc. Funds earned as HealthReturns™ can be used for payment of renewal premium and other non-medical expenses, out-patient expenses etc.

With no capping on maximum age of entry, Activ One includes an optional coverage for durable equipment, second medical opinion, personal accidents, critical illnesses, and a cancer booster as well.

Bank of Baroda Raises Rs 5000 Crore Through The Issuance of Infrastructure And Affordable Housing Bonds

Bank of Baroda (Bank), one of India’s leading public sector banks, announced that it has raised Rs. 5,000 crore on 30th November, 2023 through the issuance of Long-Term Bonds for financing Infrastructure and Affordable Housing. The Bank received total bids of Rs. 10,350 crore against the total issue size of Rs. 5,000 crore (Base issue of Rs. 1000 crore and Greenshoe option of Rs. 4000 crore). The Bank accepted bids for Rs. 5,000 crore at a coupon of 7.68% p.a.  

These bonds are Senior, Unsecured, Listed, Rated, Taxable Bonds, having a fixed maturity of 10 years from the date of allotment. 

The allotment of these bonds took place on 1st December, 2023. 

The bonds are rated AAA with a Stable outlook by CRISIL and India Ratings.  

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 and through its various digital banking platforms, which provide all banking products and services in a seamless and hassle-free manner. The Bank’s vision matches the aspirations of its diverse clientele base and seeks to instil a sense of trust and security in all their dealings with the Bank. 

Visit us at www.bankofbaroda.in  

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/bankofbaroda/ 

Twitter https://twitter.com/bankofbaroda 

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/officialbankofbaroda/ 

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdf14FHPLt7omkE9CmyrVHA  

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/bankofbaroda/ 

Honda Cars India Registers 24% Domestic Sales Growth With 8,730 Units In November 2023

* Exports clocked 335% growth in November 2023 

Honda Cars India Ltd. (HCIL), leading manufacturer of premium cars in India registered monthly domestic sales of 8,730 units witnessing a growth of 24% over the same month last year. The export numbers for HCIL during Nov’23 were 3,161 units with a growth of over 335% growth. The company had registered 7,051 in domestic sales and exported 726 units in November’22.   

Sharing thoughts on the November’23 sales performance, Mr. Yuichi Murata, Director, Marketing and Sales, Honda Cars India Ltd said, “Our product line-up saw a good surge in demand throughout the festive period. Our new SUV Honda Elevate has been well received by the market with very high customer consideration. We are confident to carry forward this growth momentum for the rest of the year.”  

About Honda Cars India Ltd. 

Honda Cars India Ltd. (HCIL), a leading manufacturer of premium cars in India, was established in December 1995 with a commitment to provide Honda’s passenger car models and technologies, to the Indian customers. HCIL’s corporate office is based in Greater Noida, UP and its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility is located at Tapukara, District. Alwar, Rajasthan.  

Honda’s models are strongly associated with advanced design and technology, apart from their established qualities of durability, reliability, safety, and fuel-efficiency. The company has a strong sales and distribution network spread across the country.  

Besides the new car business, Honda offers one stop solution for buying and selling pre-owned cars through its business function Honda Auto Terrace. The Honda Certified Pre-owned cars come with an assurance of quality and peace of mind that caters to the diverse and burgeoning needs of pre-owned car buyers across the country. 

Bengaluru Tech Summit 2023 Concludes With Unprecedented Success

Key Highlights: 

* Government of Karnataka unveiled a revised policy for Biotechnology and a new Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR) policy 

* An MoU was signed between the US-India Business Council (USIBC) and the Department of Electronics, IT, Bt, Government of Karnataka on Innovation & Technology to identify and address common challenges, facilitate collaboration and promote Karnataka as an attractive investment destination for American companies  

* An MoU signed between Opportunities New Brunswick (ONB) and the Association of Biotechnology LED Enterprises (ABLE) aims to facilitate technology-based foreign direct investments, fostering global competitiveness between Canada and India 

* An MoU was announced between Swissnex in India and Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS) to align India & Switzerland in 3 focus areas viz; Health, Sustainability and Digital Transformation  

* STPI in collaboration with the Government of Karnataka supported by HPEIPL sets up a Center of Excellence (CoE-EA) in Efficiency Augmentation at Jayanagar, Bengaluru, to leverage the emerging Industry 4.0 technologies 

* Uber launched global flagship electric vehicle service Uber Green, offering residents convenient access to eco-friendly rides through their app 

* STPI IT Export Awards 2023 Announced: IT Ratna of Karnataka was awarded to Infosys Ltd. and Intel Technologies Pvt. Ltd. 

* The 24th edition of the TCS Rural IT Quiz received 5.5 lakhs registrations and  participation from over 28 States and 5 UTs 

* The 16th edition of the BioQuiz received 923 registrations and participation from 28 States & UTs 

* At the summit, Government of Karnataka announced support for C-CAMP in launching Phase II of two major biotech innovation programs  

Bengaluru Tech Summit 2023 introduces 'Investor Startup Connect' for UAE investors, a first-of-its-kind initiative aiding startups in their growth journey  

BTS 2023 proudly adopts the '#GreenBTS' initiative, achieving zero waste to landfill, reducing plastic use by 95% YoY, and setting new sustainability standards with partners 'EcoMorphosys.' 

The three-day Bengaluru Tech Summit 2023, held at the Bangalore Palace, concluded today with resounding success, breaking new ground in the realm of technology and innovation. Themed "Breaking Boundaries: Innovations from India, Impact for the World," the summit served as a global gathering for visionaries, industry leaders, and tech enthusiasts. Notable figures, including Dr. R.A. Mashelkar and Nobel Laureate Dr. H. Robert Horvitz, addressed the attendees among the 4773 delegates and key dignitaries present. The overwhelming response saw enthusiastic participation from diverse backgrounds, including tech professionals, entrepreneurs, government officials, and students. 

The Bengaluru Tech Summit 2023 has been a global standout, with participants from 45 countries, 83 sessions, and insights from 401 speakers. The event featured 553 exhibitors and 258 startups across various fields, facilitating connections through 427 physical B2B meetings and 1981 virtual connect sessions. With a strong attendance of 8606 business professionals and 18,592 registered Business Visitors, the summit also recorded an impressive 50,000 Expo Footfalls. Noteworthy contributions came from countries like Australia, Denmark, South Korea, and Japan in the GIA Expo, as well as major academic institutions like Amity University and industry leaders like Infosys, Biocon, Microsoft Startup, and more. The summit, with its Lab2Market Pavilion and various other pavilions, emerged as a vibrant hub for global innovation and collaboration. 

Throughout the summit, groundbreaking technologies, solutions and policies were unveiled, promising to reshape industries and societies. Renowned innovators, scientists, and tech evangelists from around the world actively participated, emphasizing the transformative potential of technological advancements. The Global Innovation Alliances (GIA) track featured 20 countries including Australia, Finland, Netherlands, South Korea, Israel, Austria, France, UK, Japan, Sweden, Germany, Denmark, Poland, Lithuania, Switzerland, Thailand, Ireland, Spain, Belgium, Bulgaria and witnessed the participation of ambassadors from SIX countries - Australia, Finland, Germany, UK, Netherlands and Lithuania.  

Summary of the Three-Day Bengaluru Tech Summit 2023: 

At the Bengaluru Tech Summit, the Government of Karnataka unveiled a revised policy for Biotechnology and a new Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR) policy to drive economic development in these sectors. The Biotechnology Policy aims for exponential growth, building on Karnataka's status as the 'Biotechnology Capital of India.' The AVGC-XR policy seeks to leverage the state's IT and BPM strengths to establish global leadership, emphasizing talent development, job creation, exports, and sustainability.  

During the GIA track's opening session at the India-US Tech Conclave, a significant MoU was signed between the US-India Business Council (USIBC) and the Government of Karnataka's Department of Electronics, IT, Bt. Shri Priyank Kharge, Hon'ble Minister for IT & Bt and RD&PR, Govt. of Karnataka, highlighted the collaboration's importance in fostering a vibrant economic partnership and addressing common challenges.  

An MoU was signed between Opportunities New Brunswick (ONB) and the Association of Biotechnology LED Enterprises (ABLE) to gear towards fostering technology and technology-based foreign direct investment, boost global competitiveness for companies in both regions. This collaboration is poised to advance biotechnology in both countries and foster mutually beneficial collaborations. 

On Day 1 there was an interesting Fireside Chat between Infosys Founder Shri N.M Narayana Murthy, moderated by Zerodha CEO Nikhil Kamath, discussing the theme "Legend, Legacy, and Leadership." Shri N.M Narayana Murthy portrayed Bengaluru as a diverse innovation hub, emphasizing the transition from socialism to compassionate capitalism. Advocating for ethical business practices, he called for simplified regulations, increased foreign investment, and highlighted the importance of infrastructure and education. Murthy expressed confidence in India surpassing China's GDP through innovation, urging unified efforts for a prosperous future. 

On Day 2, a lively fireside chat on "Basic Research to High-Impact Innovation," by Dr. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and Nobel Laureate Dr. H. Robert Horvitz explore

India's investment focus in scientific research. Dr. Mazumdar-Shaw advocated for government support in fundamental research, while Dr. Horvitz emphasized the importance of a balanced research portfolio. He highlighted the transformative impact of research on patient recovery and stressed the need for an open-minded, opportunistic career approach. The dialogue underscored the necessity of diverse research investments, governmental backing for fundamental research, and the value of adaptability in shaping a fulfilling professional trajectory. 

The Department of Electronics, IT, Bt, and S&T, Government of Karnataka unveiled 37 ground-breaking products and solutions developed by startups during the 26th edition of the Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS) 2023. The second edition of Startup Product Launch was held at the Startup Innovation Zone over the 2nd and 3rd day of the summit. This initiative reflects the state's commitment to fostering innovation across a diverse spectrum of industries. 

Uber unveiled its global flagship electric vehicle service, Uber Green, offering residents convenient access to eco-friendly rides through their app that was launched by Shri Priyank Kharge, Hon’ble Minister of IT, Bt, RD&PR, and Uber India President Prabhjeet Singh during the Bengaluru Tech Summit.  

The national finals of the 24th edition of  'TCS Rural IT Quiz’ were open to students in classes 8 to 12 across India. The winners of this program, Udit Pratap Singh from BSP Senior Secondary School, Bhilai Chhattisgarh claimed the first place, while Vignesh Nauso Shetye from Dr. K.B. Hedgewar Vidyamandir, Bicholim, Goa and Amrut Uppar from The Forbes Academy, Gokak Karnataka were the runners-up.  

The Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS) and the Department of Agriculture, Government of Karnataka, have officially announced a strategic partnership with the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) during the formal launch of Phase II for two flagship innovation programs. One program is dedicated to the agriculture domain, while the other focuses on startup acceleration to scale up the rapidly growing biotech startup community in the state. 

For the first time in BTS 2023, there was a UAE Investor session for startups named, ‘Investor Startup Connect’ to further assist the startups in their growth journey. Around 20+ Startups pitched in front of VCs from Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The startups were from various sectors like Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Augmented Reality, Med Tech, FinTech and 3D Printing. 

The three-day Bengaluru Tech Summit 2023 witnessed a pivotal moment with the third edition of the India-USA Tech Conclave, serving as a platform for meaningful dialogue and collaboration between the two nations. This conclave focused on fostering future innovations and exchanging ideas, with sessions delving into key areas like Commercial Space, e-Commerce, Supply Chain and logistics, Healthtech, AVGC, and more. 

One of the summit's highlights was the Chandrayaan 3 ISRO-Industry Pavilion, a symbol of India's prowess in space exploration. The pavilion not only showcased ISRO's achievements but also highlighted the crucial contributions of SMEs, startups, and private industries to the Chandrayaan-3 Mission. A 1:1 scale model of Chandrayaan 3 Lander and an immersive AR/VR experience in a geodesic dome provided visitors with an enriching learning experience about lunar missions and space science. 

Another significant stride was the Green BTS initiative, demonstrating the summit's commitment to achieving Net Zero in the upcoming years. This ambitious goal involves integrating eco-conscious practices, including sustainable procurement and the establishment of a Sustainability Advisory, emphasizing key pillars such as carbon, water, energy, waste, food, and experience. This year BTS goes green with the tagline '#Green BTS,' achieving zero waste to landfill, cutting plastic use by 95% YoY, and setting new sustainability standards with partners 'EcoMorphosys,' segregating 6400 kgs of waste, evaluating a carbon footprint of 0.65 kgs per capita, assessing a water footprint at 3.4 litres per capita, and generating 90 kgs of biogas from food waste. The summit 2023 thus not only showcased technological advancements but also underscored its pioneering commitment to sustainability, making it a first-of-its-kind event in India. 

As the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2023 concludes, the echoes of innovation and collaboration are sure to resonate far beyond the event. The insights shared, partnerships forged, and technologies showcased have laid the foundation for a future where India continues to be at the forefront of global technological advancements. With the BTS 2023 chapter concluding, the dates of 27th & 28th edition that is to be held in 2024 and 2025 were also announced as 19-21 November.  

About organisers of Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS) 

BTS is organized by the Department of Electronics, IT, BT and S&T, Government of Karnataka, and co-hosted by Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) and driven by members of Karnataka’s Vision Groups on IT, Biotechnology, and Start-Ups. BTS is the only event in India that has brought together leading cross-sectoral industry organizations like NASSCOM, IESA, ABAI, ABLE, TiE, and USIBC on a common platform.  The Event is curated by MM Activ Sci-Tech Communications. 

For more details visit www.bengalurutechsummit.com 

Photo Caption: Games24x7 partnered with the Government of Karnataka to launch 'GameTech Accelerate - The Future of Gaming' at Bengaluru Tech Summit 2023.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Enhances Quality Educational Infrastructure At Government Kannada Model Primary School In Ramanagara

In line with its commitment to bolster education in rural areas, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) today announced the handing over of newly built classrooms at Government Kannada Model Primary School, Ramanagara. This initiative is in line with its efforts to provide modern school infrastructure at grassroot level and support the growing educational needs.

The inauguration and handing over ceremony of these classrooms was graced by Dr. Avinash Menon Rajendran, IAS -Deputy Commissioner & District Magistrate, Ramanagara District, Mr. Basavaraje Gowda, Deputy Director Public Instruction Admin - Education Department and Mr. Roshan R, Deputy General Manager, EA State, CSR & BIA, TKM.

The Government Kannada Model Primary School in Ramanagara, constructed by TKM with a capacity for 600  students was handed over in FY 2021-22. The school has seen a significant increase in admissions from about 400 to over 700 students in 2023. To meet the growing demand and infrastructural requirements, TKM constructed additional classrooms in the existing facility, expanding the school's capacity to accommodate more students increasing the total school capacity to about 720.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Avinash Menon Rajendran, IAS - Deputy Commissioner & District Magistrate, Ramanagara District said, “Enhancing educational infrastructure in the most remote areas, not only lays the foundation for a brighter future but also guarantees that students have access to all the necessary facilities for a favorable learning environment. Toyota's efforts in constructing and handing over these newly build classrooms symbolizes a shared pledge to impart knowledge to our children. We appreciate Toyota Kirloskar Motor's proactive contribution in enriching the educational landscape of Ramanagara, by creating a transformative educational experience for our students of Karnataka.”

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Vikram Gulati, Country Head and Executive Vice President, Toyota Kirloskar Motor said, “At TKM, we recognize that education is a mainstay for community development and as a responsible corporate entity, we view it as our duty to contribute to the advancement of the rural education system, recognizing its pivotal role in the overall development of the state and the  nation. Our journey in Ramanagara is based on a collaborative approach, and we are honored to play a role in enhancing the educational facilities to provide a conducive learning environment at the Government Kannada Model Primary School. As we look ahead, TKM remains committed to creating sustainable, positive changes that resonate beyond the classrooms, contributing to the overall growth and development of the community we serve.”

Since 2001, CSR has been an integral part of TKM's philosophy, focusing on scalability and sustainability across five main themes: Education, Environment, Hygiene, Health, Road Safety, and Skill Development. This initiative aligns with TKM's broader commitment to support education in rural areas thus making sustained progress in the community.

The company through multiple efforts has provided a safe and conducive learning environment, by focusing on early childhood care by strengthening capacity building to deliver quality education with the support of “Anganwadis”, promoting inclusive education for special needs children and building modern school infrastructure in rural areas of Karnataka. These sustained efforts in the education area have positively impacted over 12,222 students in the last financial year and in total of 1,32,980 students since inception of the program.

International Conference On Millets, Organic And Natural Farming At Art of Living On Dec 9, 10 & 11

Millet Expo and International Conference on Millets, Organic and Natural Farming will be jointly organised by SRI SRI NAISARGIK AND UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES,GKVK, BANGALORE from 9-11, December 2023 in Art of Living Bangalore to commemorate the International Year of Millets. 

"Cultivation and usage of millets is important from the sustainable point of view. Millets can be cultivated on marginal lands and are climate resilient. Further , they have low glycemic index which makes them preferred grains for people suffering from diabetes and cardiovascular disrases," says Dr Khadar Vali, Millet Man of India. 

Emphasizing on the nutrition aspect of Millets, Dr Khadar says that millets are rich in nutrients, minerals,  and vitamins, crude fibre. The big advantage with millets is they are Gluten free. Millets  are easy to store for longer duration if they are not dehusked. They are mostly resistant to pest and diseases. In nutshell they are eco-friendly grains help just to meet the nutrition of human beings but also the grass acts as a very good fodder for  cattle and grains for birds which inturn help in controlling certain pests as th hese birds eat away the larvae certain pests. These crops since they belong to grass family are good soil binders this good for soil conservation.

SRi SRi NAiSARGiK: aims to create a sustainable, equitable, and environmentally-friendly system that supports small-scale farmers, local entrepreneurs, and communities while providing consumers with high-quality, ethically-sourced products .

Bank of India Increases Fixed Deposit Rates For Various Tenor

Bank of India, one of the leading public sector banks in India, has increased rates of its fixed deposits for its customers & general public (for Rs 2 Crs & above to less than Rs.10 Crs) in maturity of “46 days to up to 1 Year” with effect from 1st Dec, 2023.

Bank has increased its fixed deposit rates for shorter period i.e. “46 days to 90 days” tenure to 5.25%, for “91 days to 179 days” tenure to 6.00%, for “180 days to 210 days” tenure to 6.25%, for “211 days to less than 1 Year” tenure to 6.50% and for “1 Year” tenure to 7.25% p.a. The present rate of interest offered by the Bank is competitive, offering a very attractive return for investment from HNIs, Small & Mid Corporates, NRIs & Professionally Self Employed etc.  

With effect from 1st Nov, 23, bank had already increased rate of all deposits for amount of “Less than Rs.2 Crs” for 2 Year tenure. Here, Bank is offering its highest rate of interest up to 7.90% for super senior citizen, 7.75% for senior citizen and 7.25% for others for 2 Year Term. The revised interest rates are applicable for domestic, NRO and NRE Rupee Term deposits.