Union Minister of Finance, Nirmala Sitharaman Was Presented With Two Valuable Books By S. Ramann CMD, SIDBI

The Hon’ble Union Minister of Finance, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, heralded for her unwavering commitment to fostering economic growth and stability, was presented today with two insightful books by , Shri Sivasubramanian Ramann, Chairman and Managing Director, SIDBI which showcased pioneering work undertaken by SIDBI. 

The first book, titled Prabhaav is an Impact Study of Fund of Funds, reveals the transformative effects of fund allocation strategies under the Start Up Fund of Funds scheme of the Govt. Through meticulous research and analysis reveals how the scheme has resulted in all-round outcomes due to the catalytic effect of the INR 10,000 crore commitment to about 100 AIFs wherein more than 5 times that amount was collected from the market. This multiplied flow of capital led to innovative solutions, inclusiveness & diversity in startups, deepening the funding ecosystem in the hinterlands of the country, strengthening of governance as well as wealth creation. 40% of the AIFs had first time fund managers and 18% were women led.

The second book is a comprehensive treatise on Cluster Development, which highlights the how SIDBI has been attending to clusters under a Programmatic/Structured Approach adopted. SIDBI has identified the mapping of skill, technology development, credit gap as important issues of policy interventions. The diagnostic mapping looks into segmental, sectoral analysis of the existing enterprises and potential for new enterprises. The diagnostic studies consist of financial & non-financial services gap mapping including primary and secondary data tapping. The book is compilation of such diagnostic mapping of 30 clusters representing variety of Artisanal, Manufacturing and Service sector clusters based on primary and secondary research along with recommendations/action plans for non-financial/financial issues and also suggested/proposed the need for undertaking the below mentioned soft and hard interventions in the clusters.

CMD SIDBI expressed profound gratitude for the Finance Minister's steadfast support and visionary leadership in driving initiatives that empower India's entrepreneurial landscape. The esteemed minister graciously accepted the books, acknowledging their significance in shaping policies and strategies that catalyse India's economic resurgence.

As India charts its course towards a robust and resilient economy, collaborations, and partnerships between key stakeholders such as the finance ministry and institutions like SIDBI are poised to play a pivotal role in realizing the nation's aspirations for inclusive growth and prosperity.

About Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI):

SIDBI is the Principal Financial Institution for Promotion, Financing and Development of the MSME sector. SIDBI has been playing a significant role in developing the financial services for MSME sector through various interventions including Refinance to Banks, Credit Guarantee programs, Development of the MFI sector, Contribution to Venture capital/AIF funds, MSME ratings, promoting digital lending ecosystem, etc. The Bank has proactively been working towards Energy Efficiency (EE) in MSMEs since 2005-06 using support of multilateral institutions like World Bank, ADB, GiZ, FCDO, JICA, AFD, KfW etc. for energy efficient projects. Furthermore, SIDBI has been touching the lives of citizens across various strata of society through its integrated, innovative, and inclusive approach. Be it traditional, domestic small entrepreneurs, bottom-of-the-pyramid entrepreneurs, to high-end knowledge-based entrepreneurs, SIDBI has directly or indirectly impacted the lives of Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) through various credit and developmental measures.

To know more, check out: https://www.sidbi.in  

Samsung To Unveil 2 New Galaxy A Series Smartphones On March 11

Samsung, India’s largest electronics brand, is set to launch two new Galaxy A series smartphones on March 11. The two new smartphones will add to Samsung’s immensely popular Galaxy A series, helping Samsung democratize innovations. The smartphones will come with flagship features, premium design and powerful processors, ensuring a premium experience for the users.

Iconic Design and Durability

The two Galaxy A series smartphones will feature flagship-inspired design, built with premium materials. Both the smartphones will come with IP67 rating for spill resistance and will be protected by a stronger Gorilla Glass compared to last year’s Gorilla Glass 5.

Advanced Nightography

Both the new Galaxy A series smartphones will feature an advanced camera for nightography, which will help consumers shoot sharper images and videos even in extreme low light conditions.

Powerful Processor

The new Galaxy A series smartphones will be equipped with powerful processors and large vapour cooling chambers, ensuring a smooth and seamless usage experience.

Future Safe

The two new Galaxy A series smartphones will ensure top-notch security with Samsung’s defense-grade security platform Knox, which will protect users personal data in real-time. The smartphones will also offer four OS updates and five years of security updates, ensuring that the devices remain up-to-date for a long time. 

CASA BACARDÍ Brings Its Immersive Caribbean Festival To Bengaluru

* The Caribbean-themed CASA BACARDÍ House of Moods festival is coming to Bengaluru this March in an exciting fusion of music, dance, art, fashion, & mixology

Continuing to bring its Caribbean roots to India, BACARDÍ is bringing CASA BACARDÍ House of Moods to Bengaluru at Pebble - ‘The jungle lounge’ on March 9, Saturday. The experience  offers an immersive blend of music, dance, art, fashion, food, and mixology, promising to be the highlight of your weekend. With House of Moods, BACARDÍ creates a dynamic platform for self-expression, bringing a perpetual tropical mood  to Bengaluru's vibrant youth.

Here’s a full list of what you can expect to go down on this Saturday:

Get into the groove to 6 hours of nonstop Caribbean beats: Bring your dancing kicks this Saturday, as the House of Moods brings in an eclectic mix of performers to turn up the jams. The stellar lineup stars a mix of local talent and upcoming performers, including Kampai, Raka Ashok, Mary Ann, Vidur, Master Shifu, APCN (A Party Called Nanda), and DoubleT x Benkii - ensuring the peak musical mood for the night.

From naturally dyed clothing to upcycled apparel ware, glam up your style game at the on-ground fashion pop-ups: Embrace the best in new age fashion with the curated styles of next gen fashion brands Grandma Would Approve & The Santra Project. Featuring upcycled and ethically made couture choices, find your way here to add to your glam quotient in a conscious way.

Express yourself through art at the Screen Printing Workshop: Bring alive your creativity with a t-shirt as your canvas at the Screen Printing Workshop, where you can have fun with a variety of  designs and flaunt them as your own creation!

Discover the fun of making Bacardi cocktails, at the Mixology Workshop:  Get your party mood on & learn how to make your favorite cocktails from BACARDÍ Trade Ambassador, Ishrat Kaur.

Turn up the heat on the dance floor at the Dancehall workshop with Yahvi Chavan:

Add some island style spice to your dance game, at the Dancehall workshop. From the casual hip sway to high energy spins, learn from Yahvi Chavan to pick up some new moves that'll have you owning the dance floor through the night!

Indulge in a delicious mix of scrumptious snacks and drinks: Enjoythe most delicious  & indulgent food and drink pop ups at the House of Moods. Don’t forget to explore the delectable Bacardi cocktails at the pop up bars  - there’s plenty to keep your tastebuds entertained.

From music and dance to food, cocktails and fashion, the CASA BACARDÍ House of Moods is the place to be for your weekend in Bengaluru!

Event Details:

* Date: March 9, 2024

* Time: 5 PM onwards

* Venue: Pebble, the Jungle Lounge | Bengaluru

Get your tickets on Paytm Insider or here, and follow @casabacardiin & @homegrownin on Instagram for more updates.

OPPO Launches F25 Pro: Slimmest IP65 Rated 5G Smartphone With 4K Recording On Both Front & Back Cameras

 * The device goes on sale from March 5, 2024, at the OPPO e-store, on Amazon, Flipkart, and mainline retail outlets.

OPPO India has launched the F25 Pro 5G in two storage variants—retailing at INR 23,999 (128GB) and INR 25,999 (256GB) respectively. This smartphone—available in a new Lava Red colour—features a 64MP rear triple-camera setup with 4K video recording on its front and rear shooters, a 6.7-inch borderless AMOLED display, the octa-core Dimensity 7050 SoC, and a 67W 5000mAh fast-charging battery. It carries an IP65 rating and sports a slim 7.54mm profile while tilting the scales at a mere 177g.

Commenting on the launch, Savio D’Souza, Director of Product Communications at OPPO India, said, “The OPPO F25 Pro 5G packs a punch with premium features like 4K video recording on both the front and rear cameras, a crisp, vivid borderless display, and smart AI technologies for segment-leading photography and efficiency. Add to that its slim, lightweight, durable build, and the F25 Pro 5G becomes the perfect choice for anyone who wants a powerful and stylish upgrade that is #BornToFlaunt.”

Borderless Design in a sleek and stylish frame

The F25 Pro 5G’s 120Hz AMOLED display comes with super-narrow bezels for a 93.4% screen-to-body ratio for an almost borderless viewing experience. Its 10-bit colour technology allows for over 1 billion hues and tones for natural gradients in visuals, while its peak brightness of 1100 nits ensures HDR content with vivid details. 

The screen is protected by Panda Glass, which is doubly reinforced to enhance its durability and scratch resistance, and its body is fabricated out of PC-GF – a polycarbonate resin mixed with glass fibre as a reinforcement material. Its IP65 rating means it comes with the highest level of dust protection and withstands water jets from all directions. So, whether it’s a few splashes by the poolside or droplets of water in the rain, the F25 Pro 5G is built for endurance.

The F25 Pro 5G has also undergone rigorous tests and quality checks to ensure 1,00,000 volume key presses, 2,00,000 power button presses, and 20,000 instances of plugging and unplugging the USB-C cable for long-term reliability.

Besides the Lava Red colour that transitions from rich burgundy colour to deep sunset tones, the F25 5G is also available in Ocean Blue that looks like rippling waves in a clear and tranquil azure colour. 

Powerful Camera Setup with 4K capabilities

The Ultra-Clear Triple Camera on the device comprises a high-resolution 64MP OV64B 1/2” sensor, which provides exceptional clarity and detail in every shot, an 8MP Sony IMX355 112° ultra-wide camera for expansive landscape shots and group photos, as well as a 2MP OV02B10 macro camera that captures intricate details from as close as 4cm away. 

It also sports a 32MP IMX615 camera sensor with a 21mm focal length—housed in a punch-hole display—for detailed selfies, group shots, and high-resolution portraits.

The device brings 4K video recording to both front and rear cameras for razor-sharp clarity. The 4K@30fps video output is detailed in well-lit daytime and static environments, making the F25 Pro 5G ideal for cinematic content, vlogging, and sharing on social media platforms.

AI & Photography

The OPPO F25 Pro 5G introduces AI Smart Image Matting—a segment-first feature—that enables one-tap extraction of subjects from photos and turns them into a transparent PNG that can be inserted into other images for effortless recreation and sharing as memes and photos. The AI can also handle multi-subject recognition within a single photo with precision and efficiency.

The photography AI recognises the race, gender, and age of the subject to provide customised beauty effects, including brightened and smoothened skin, touch-up effects (lips and cheeks) and removal of facial imperfections. It adjusts the brightness in photos based on the environment to prevent overexposure and ensure natural skin tones and makeup colour. 

Photography AI also removes facial imperfections in portraits by the 32MP front camera; it minimises pores for a polished skin effect while algorithms accurately identify and remove blemishes such as spots, acne, and acne marks. 

Face clarity is optimised through OPPO’s AI portrait super-resolution algorithm, based on the aesthetic opinions of a global team of portrait experts. It is automatically activated in medium-lit/dark environments to reduce noise and improve face clarity in portraits. 

The Performance Powerhouse

The OPPO F25 Pro 5G packs the octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 7050 SoC that comprises Arm Cortex-A78 cores clocked up to 2.6GHz for performance and Arm Cortex-A55 for efficiency.

Its Arm Mali-G68 MC4 GPU is optimised to provide smooth everyday gaming experiences and demanding tasks like 4K video recording without compromising battery efficiency.

The smartphone comes in storage capacities of up to 256GB based on the UFS 3.1 standard and 8GB LPDDR4X RAM, expandable up to 16GB through RAM Expansion to handle multiple apps and games without closing background processes prematurely.

All of this is supported by a 5000mAh battery with 67W SUPERVOOCTM Flash Charge that juices the smartphone to 30% with a 10-minute charge, while it reaches 100% in just 48 minutes. The battery is designed for approximately 1600 charge-discharge cycles with OPPO’s proprietary Battery Health Engine, which translates to around four years of use without considerable deterioration.

Smart Experiences Powered by ColorOS 14

The F25 Pro 5G runs on ColorOS 14 based on Android 14. It includes smart AI features, upgraded proprietary technology, and user-friendly tools for enhanced safety and privacy.

LinkBoost: OPPO’s LinkBoost ensures 100% faster transmission and 58.5% stronger reception, which provides a stable signal with minimal downtime. It combines AI network selection and a 360° surround antenna design to facilitate swift reconnection in scenarios such as exiting elevators and travelling in fast-moving vehicles.

Trinity Engine: ColorOS 14’s Trinity Engine optimises computing resources, memory, and storage efficiently with features like ROM Vitalization, RAM Vitalization, and CPU Vitalization. It ensures smooth operation with up to 28 apps running in the background without lag. ColorOS is recognised by third-party organisations such as ISO, ePrivacy, and TrustArc for safety and privacy.

File Dock: The new File Dock on the Smart Sidebar streamlines content-sharing across apps through split-screen, floating windows, or directly from the Dock. Content saved in the File Dock syncs across devices running ColorOS 14, boosting productivity.

Smart Touch: AI-powered Smart Touch allows users to select and organize text, images, and videos from the system and third-party apps effortlessly. Content can be stored in the File Dock or consolidated into a single note with simple gestures.

The OPPO F25 Pro 5G will get three years of OS updates with four years of security updates.

Offers:

Customers can avail the following offers for pre-order of OPPO F25 5G:

- Enjoy up to 10% instant cashback with leading bank cards, including SBI Cards and ICICI Bank.

- Avail of no-cost EMI for up to 9 months.

- Customers have the flexibility to choose their EMI installment and tenure at their convenience.

- Benefit from zero down payment schemes.

- Access low down payment options from top financiers like Bajaj Finserv, TVS Credit, Home Credit, HDB Financial Services, and IDFC First Bank

- Receive 180 days of screen damage protection for added peace of mind.

About OPPO Mobiles India Private Limited 

OPPO is a leading global smart device brand. Since the launch of its first mobile phone - “Smiley Face” - in 2008, OPPO has been in relentless pursuit of the perfect synergy of aesthetic satisfaction and innovative technology. Today, OPPO provides a wide range of smart devices spearheaded by the Find and Reno series. Beyond devices, OPPO provides its users with the ColorOS operating system and internet services like OPPO Cloud and OPPO+. OPPO operates in more than 50 countries and regions with more than 40,000 of OPPO's employees are dedicated to creating a better life for customers around the world.

Home Credit India Launches “Saksham 2024” With SEWA Bharat To Educate 20,000 Marginalised Women & Girls

Project Saksham is a financial literacy initiative aimed to provide women and girls from marginalised section of society, with a foundational understanding of finance so that they can make informed financial decisions.

Saksham 2024 intends to organise 800+ financial literacy workshops to train 20,000 women.

The curriculum of the financial literacy workshop will cover financial topics like budgeting, savings, credit worthiness, investment planning, among others.

Home Credit India (HCIN), a local arm of the leading global consumer finance provider, in collaboration with SEWA Bharat, a non-profit organisation, has launched the next edition of its Financial Literacy programme “Saksham 2024”, under which it will educate 20,000 marginalised women and girls as beneficiaries.

The core objective of the Saksham financial literacy initiative is to provide marginalised women and girls with a foundational understanding of finance so that they may be empowered and equipped to make wise financial decisions. The programme will also enable them to learn about digital payment options and the risks and rewards associated with it.

This year, the aim of Saksham 2024 is to educate 20,000 women (including female students, homemakers, maids, and daily wage earners) through 800+ financial literacy workshops that will be conducted primarily in North (Delhi-NCR, Uttarakhand, Punjab & Rajasthan) and East India (Bihar). The financial literacy programme offered by Saksham will cover subjects like budgeting, savings, credit worthiness, investment planning, among others.

Speaking on initiative, Ashish Tiwari, Chief Marketing Officer, Home Credit India, said, “At Home Credit India, we believe in financial empowerment as the fundamental to societal progress. Saksham, demonstrates our commitment to equipping marginalised women and girls with essential financial skills, enabling them to make informed decisions and navigate the financial landscape with confidence. Strengthening our commitment, we are excited to launch the next edition of our financial literacy initiative - Saksham 2024 in collaboration with SEWA Bharat. Our collaboration is a step towards fostering financial inclusion and accessibility for all."

Speaking on the project implementation, Ankita Upreti Sibal, Project Head & Vice President, SEWA Bharat, said, “In low-income and marginalised communities, women face significant barriers in accessing financial services and managing assets effectively. Through initiatives like Home Credit India's Saksham, our mission is to empower women with the necessary knowledge and skills to navigate financial systems confidently. We firmly believe that our financial literacy workshops will serve as a cornerstone in enabling women to make informed decisions, cultivate savings habits, and explore investment opportunities. By doing so, we aim to foster a future where every woman, regardless of her background, can build a secure financial future, breaking barriers and achieving true economic empowerment.”

Financial Literacy is one of the primary ESG pillars for Home Credit India; and as a responsible consumer lender, the brand has been trying to encourage a responsible borrowing culture in the wider society by fostering financial and digital literacy through its various CSR initiatives. The first edition of Saksham was conducted from July 2022 till March 2023 in partnership with Indian Development Foundation (IDF) to impart financial literacy to marginalised women and girls.

Home Credit India has also engaged with over 3 million people through its in-house ‘Paise Ki Paathshala’ microsite, blogs and social media campaigns. 

Mitsui’s Umezawa Nobuyoshi Joins EKA Mobility As “Chief Strategy Officer”

EKA Mobility, a leading player in the electric mobility sector with Mitsui Co., Ltd. (Japan) & VDL Groep (Netherlands) as equity partners, is delighted to announce the appointment of Mr. Nobuyoshi Umezawa as “Chief Strategy Officer”.

Mr. Umezawa brings extensive experience and knowledge in international business, project management, and investment portfolio management. Mr. Umezawa began his professional career in 1996 with Mitsui & Co. Ltd, where he played a key role in a variety of infrastructure and mobility projects throughout Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Russia, and elsewhere. His primary areas of competence are project management of turnkey EPC contracts, investment in PPP/PFI projects, and project financing.

Throughout his career, Mr. Umezawa has served on the boards of several prominent organizations, including passenger railway operators in the United Kingdom, commercial vehicle leasing companies in Latin America, industrial machinery distributors in the United States, and logistics and finance entities in India, among others.

Dr. Sudhir Mehta, Founder & Chairman, EKA Mobility, said, "We welcome Mr. Umezawa to the EKA Mobility family. With his wealth of experience, strategic insight, and having undertaken various overseas assignments, Mr. Umezawa has garnered invaluable insights and a global perspective that will undoubtedly contribute to the strategic growth and development of EKA Mobility."

Mr. Umezawa Nobuyoshi, EKA Mobility's Chief Strategy Officer, stated, "I am honored to join the dynamic team at EKA Mobility." I am looking forward to using my knowledge to drive strategic initiatives that will advance the company's development both in India and overseas markets. "

About EKA:

EKA, with Mitsui Co., Ltd. (Japan) & VDL Groep (Netherlands) as equity partners, is an automotive & technology company creating a new global CV electric mobility paradigm. EKA’s vision is to lead the world to a sustainable future by creating an ecosystem for Environment Conscious Mobility. With an industry-leading team, cutting-edge technology, modular designs, and lean manufacturing processes, EKA’s mission is to bring reliable and efficient mobility solutions to the masses. EKA’s sharable technologies and low-investment production processes enable the lowest TCO and democratize electric vehicles for mass adaptation.

Bosch’s All New Single Door Refrigerators Hits Indian Market, Offering Maximum Space, Style, And Energy Efficiency

Bosch Single door refrigerators offer unmatched space and flexibility.  The unique features guarantee confidence – not just sure, but '110% sure

The refrigerator’s unique door handle design enhances its overall aesthetic appeal

Features like Easy Access Zone Delicate Crisper Box & its unique Pedestal Box offers more space & flexibility to the consumer 

The Bosch single-door refrigerator promises best-in-class cooling performance with fast ice-making and 2.5x faster bottle cooling

It features the largest vegetable storage capacity of 21 liters ensuring ample storage for fruits and veggies to stay crisp

BSH Home Appliances Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of BSH Hausgeräte GmbH, a global leader in the home appliance industry, announces the launch of a range of Bosch single-door refrigerators designed to cater to the varied storage needs of Indian households. Designed to revolutionize the Indian cooling segment, the new refrigerators are the result of extensive research into evolving consumer needs and preferences. With this launch, BSH Home Appliances further reinforces its commitment to 'Make in India' and 'Make For India' by delivering innovative solutions that enhance user experiences.

Based on a deep understanding of consumer pain points, the range has been meticulously crafted with ergonomic and aesthetic features. It is available in capacities ranging from 187L to 226L, the refrigerators offering generous storage space to accommodate the needs of families of all sizes.  With an array of colors and patterns, refrigerators complement modern kitchen aesthetics. The refrigerators are available across high energy-efficient classes that not only ensures optimal cooling, it also enables consumers to reduce energy consumption and embrace a more sustainable lifestyle.

The refrigerators boast a host of unique consumer centric features, such as a delicate crisper box for soft & leafy vegetables (fragile items), an easy-access zone for daily essentials, unique pedestal box with adjustable bin for better segregation of dry items, Cool Bottle Zone with smart shield technology for faster cooling that can accommodates upto four 1 litre water bottles without compromising door space, catering to the hydration needs of modern households.  Across all capacities, the refrigerators offer 18-hour cooling retention, ensuring food remains fresh even during extended power cuts. The Bosch single-door refrigerator promises best-in-class cooling performance with fast ice-making and 2.5x faster bottle cooling. The refrigerators also come with the largest vegetable storage with a capacity of 21 liters ensuring ample storage for fruits and veggies for larger families. Engineered with German quality standards, the refrigerators are built to last, backed by a 10-year compressor warranty.

Commenting on the launch, Saif Khan, MD & CEO, BSH Home Appliances, said “After thoroughly researching and understanding the real pain points for consumers, we are thrilled to introduce our new range of Bosch Single Door Refrigerators. From tackling space constraints for delicate items to offering ample room for dry goods and extra water bottles in summer, they also keep leafy veggies fresher, curbing food waste. Rooted in 'Make in India,' these refrigerators promise expanded storage, greater flexibility, and unmatched durability, making it a perfect fit for your diverse needs”. 

About BSH Hausgeräte GmbH

BSH Hausgeräte GmbH, with a total turnover of some EUR 15.6 billion and 62,000 employees in 2021, is a global leader in the home appliance industry. The company’s brand portfolio includes eleven well-known appliance brands like Bosch, Siemens, Gaggenau and Neff as well as the ecosystem brand Home Connect and service brands like Kitchen Stories. BSH produces at 39 factories and is represented in some 50 countries. BSH is a company of the Bosch Group.