Ageas Federal Life Insurance Partners With PhonePe” Tie Up To Increase Life Insurance Penetration In India

* 1st of it’s kind partnership to offer Instant Term insurance on a digital platform – PhonePe

* The partnership will ensuring swift, seamless and hassle-free policy purchase across India

Ageas Federal Life Insurance, one of India's leading private life insurers, has announced their partnership with PhonePe to provide Instant Term insurance to its vast customer base. This pioneering collaboration marks a significant milestone, as Ageas Federal Life Insurance becomes the first insurer in the industry to offer Instant term insurance through the PhonePe platform. This initiative is poised to enhance insurance penetration across India, particularly in Tier 2, 3, and 4 cities, by leveraging PhonePe's extensive reach of 20 crore monthly active users.

Through this partnership, PhonePe users aged 18-45 can easily access the 'Ageas Federal Life Insurance Group Term Plan' via the app, enjoying a seamless digital application process with no medical tests or extensive paperwork. Users can choose a sum assured ranging from Rs. 5 lakh to Rs. 25 lakh and opt for either monthly or yearly premium payments, starting at just Rs. 5,000 annually. This collaboration is rooted in a shared vision of leadership and innovation, bringing insurance solutions to millions of underserved customers and reinforcing both brands' commitment to making financial protection accessible to all.

Speaking on the partnership, Sachin Gupta - Business Head - Digital & D2C, Ageas Federal Life Insurance, said, “We at Ageas Federal Life Insurance are extremely excited about our partnership with Phone Pe. Not only does it help us realize our commitment to make insurance accessible to all, but the digitization of the process will also ease the customer journey. The end-to-end process of purchasing a policy, from application to issuance, can be completed swiftly and seamlessly, with policies issued instantly. Through this partnership with PhonePe, we are confident of creating a robust distribution channel for digitally savvy customers and securing a fearless future for all."

The goal of this collaboration is to streamline the insurance purchasing process and give customers a transparent and hassle-free process at the tips of their fingers.

Nilesh Agarwal - Head of Insurance, PhonePe said “We are delighted to partner with Ageas Federal Life Insurance as we continue our journey to provide market-leading customized products with exceptional service and customer experience. We believe there are complementary synergies between our work ethos and offerings, and this partnership will enable us to offer needs-based life insurance solutions seamlessly to our customers. Ageas Federal Life Insurance Group Term Life insurance plan will be fully integrated into the PhonePe platform. This association benefits PhonePe significantly as we now offer group term life insurance for the first time.”

Orientation Program At MSAP, MAHE, Manipal, Held On July 26, 2024

The Orientation Program held at Manipal School of Architecture and Planning (MSAP), MAHE, Manipal, on July 26th 2024, was a resounding success. The institute warmly welcomed the newly enrolled students. The event aimed to acquaint students with the institution's culture, values, and academic offerings, laying a strong foundation for their educational journey.

Dr. Nandineni Rama Devi, Director of MSAP, delivered a heartfelt welcome address. Dr. Narayana Sabhahit, Pro Vice Chancellor - Technology & Science, MAHE, Manipal was the Chief Guest and Ar. Siddharth Sankar, Partner at Sankar & Associates, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, an alumnus of MSAP was the Guest of Honour for the event. They shared their experiences motivating the new students towards pursuit of excellence

Dr. Geetha Maiya, Director of Student Affairs, and Col. Vinod Bhasker, Chief Warden of MIT Hostels, assured the students of a strong support system and comfortable hostel facilities, ensuring their experience at MSAP feels like a "home away from home.

Dr. Pradeep Kini, Joint Director, MSAP,  Prof. Sanghamitra Roy, Associate Director, Academics and Examination, MSAP, Dr. Veena Rao, Head of the Department of Design, MSAP acknowledged the faculty's support and the student’s coordination, who contributed to the seamless functioning of the event. Prof. Sonali Walimbe extended sincere appreciation to all individuals who wholeheartedly contributed to the success of the program.

The event was attended by parents, students, faculty, and student volunteers. It set a positive and exciting tone for the incoming students to start their academic journey  at MSAP with determination and vigour.

54% Surveyed Parents Often Feel That They Don’t Have Instant Answers For Kids’ uestions, Amazon Alexa Study

Children are inherently curious and parents are always trying to find accurate answers that satiate their curiosity. This was apparent in a recent study commissioned by Amazon Alexa and conducted by Kantar among 750+ parents across six cities in June 2024. The survey reveals that about 54% of surveyed parents often feel that they don’t have instant answers for kids’ questions. It further indicates that 52% respondents instantly search and answer accurately if they don’t know the answer. What’s interesting to note is that 44% surveyed parents admitted to making up answers on the spot.

Only 3% surveyed parents ignore the question or change the topic to stop the kid from asking questions

“How to make a car?”, “How big is the universe?”, “How does an aeroplane fly?”, and “How do fish breathe under water?”, etc. are some of the curious questions asked by kids. About 60% of surveyed parents indicated that they often find themselves stumped when kids ask seemingly easy questions such as, “What season comes between winter and summer?”, “Why do parents have to work?”, and “Why do we wash vegetables?”, among others. Some parents even tend to deflect answers to their partner, with 37% of the survey pool admitting to asking their kids to go to the other parent with their questions.

Kids ask more questions when watching TV

The study further elaborates on children’s curiosity triggers; wherein 63% parents have revealed that their kids become more curious and ask questions when watching TV. Traveling (57%), studying (56%), outdoor activities (55%), watching content on handheld devices (52%), and listening to conversations amongst adults (50%) are the other five activities that ignite curiosity amongst kids. Moreover, food, animals, nature, general knowledge, holidays, technology, and movies emerged as some of the top topics that kids enquire about.

Technology has helped transform the way parents access and transfer information to their kids

The survey further states that more than 80% of parents often use technology to find information that can help them answers their kids’ questions. Technologies like voice AI services, including Alexa (available in devices like Echo smart speakers), can prove to be of great assistance in parenting as it can help parents find information or answers to their kids’ questions, helping their children in freely satiating their curiosity with ready responses.  So, when kids are feeling curious, parents can take Alexa’s help by asking any number of questions across a wide range of topics, from science to history and beyond.

“From asking spontaneous questions to those that are more knowledge-based or unconventional for their age, kids are inherently curious and constantly on the hunt for answers about the world around them. It’s crucial for parents to respond to their questions in ways that are informative, simple to understand, constructive, and age-appropriate,” said Dilip R.S., Country Manager for Alexa, Amazon India. “Today, across the world, families with young kids ask Alexa 25 million questions per month – a testimony to Alexa becoming an information and learning hub for parents. Our focus remains on continuing to improve how families with young kids experience Alexa by packing it with relevant skills that can help them learn new things each day while also having fun.”

Parents encourage their kids to ask more questions

More than 90% of parents agree that they encourage their kids to asking more questions to help them continually grow and learn about new things. Nearly 92% of parents agree that they learn new things in this process of responding to their kids’ questions.

Deepender Rana, Executive Managing Director – South Asia, Insights Division, Kantar said “Kids these days are more curious than ever and parents always try their best to satiate their curiosity. While watching TV drives curiosity amongst kids and often leads to them asking more questions about the things they see and hear –majority of surveyed parents prefer screen-free learning for their kids. And this is where voice-first search, whether done by parents or by kids in their presence, proves to be a great screen-free solution to find answers and learn about the world.”

With numerous voice-first engaging experiences for kids on Alexa smart speakers like Echo Pop and Echo Dot, parents can engage their children with curiosity-driven content, with trust and safety at the forefront.

About Kantar

Kantar is the world’s leading marketing data and analytics business and an indispensable brand partner to the world’s top companies, including 96 of the world’s 100 biggest advertisers. We combine the most meaningful attitudinal and behavioural data with deep expertise and technology platforms to track how people think and act. We help clients develop the marketing strategies that shape their future and deliver sustainable growth. For more information, visit www.kantar.com  

About Amazon

Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Amazon strives to be Earth’s Most Customer-Centric Company, Earth’s Best Employer, and Earth’s Safest Place to Work. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalised recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the things pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit www.aboutamazon.in and follow @AmazonNews_IN.

The 13th Edition of Bengaluru INDIA NANO 2024" Concludes With Unprecedented Success

Key Highlights:

* The 13th Bengaluru INDIA NANO 2024 event celebrated emerging talent and leading innovators through awards such as the Bengaluru INDIA NANO Innovation Award,  

* Karnataka DST Nanoscience Fellowships, Nanotech Quiz Award, Poster Awards, Exhibitor Awards and NanoSparX Awards.

* The conference featured 81 distinguished speakers across 41 sessions, exploring a broad range of topics from cutting-edge research to practical industry applications in nanotechnology. Over 200 young attendees participated in the pre-conference tutorials.

 * This year’s event attracted 1,018 delegates and participation from 11 countries, including Korea, Morocco, USA, UK, France, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Russia, Japan, and Poland.

* The exhibition hall hosted 49 exhibitors, comprising 21 startups and 28 industry and institutes.

* At the Valedictory, Dr. Devi Shetty, Founder of Narayana Hrudayalaya, delivered an insightful “Vision Talk”.

* The 14th edition of Bengaluru INDIA NANO has been announced for July 2026.

The 13th edition of Bengaluru INDIA NANO 2024, organized by the Department of Science & Technology, Government of Karnataka, Karnataka Science & Technology Promotion Society (KSTePS), and Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) held at The Lalit, concluded today with resounding success. Themed "Nanotechnology for Sustainability: Climate, Energy, and Healthcare," the summit served as a stage for a diverse array of participants, including researchers, scientists, academicians, industry leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and students. Notable personalities, including Balajee Sowrirajan, Managing Director of Samsung Semiconductor India Research; Dr. Debashish Bhattacharjee, Vice President, Technology & R&D, Tata Steel Limited; Dr. Suraj Rengarajan, CTO, Applied Materials India, addressed the attendees besides several key dignitaries.

The event featured 81 speakers across 41 sessions, 1018 delegates, 11 countries, 49 exhibitors, and 200 posters. The exhibition had a footfall of 3,000+ visitors. Global Innovation Partner Countries like USA, Germany, and the Netherlands curated exclusive sessions in the GIA track. The last two days witnessed more than 150 B2B Meetings exchanges through partnering tool- InterlinX, virtually and physically. The exhibition hall showcased 49 exhibitors which included 21 Startups and

28 exhibitors from the Industry and Institutes. Some of the key exhibitors included Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS Pilani), Huber Process Control Systems India, Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Park Systems India and Middle East, Pennsylvania Trade & Investment Office – India, Ray Nano Science and Research Centre LLP, SASTRA Deemed University, Semix Indian Institute of Technology (IIT-B) and VTU.

Speaking at the Valedictory, Shri N.S. Boseraju, Hon’ble Minister of Science & Technology and Minor Irrigation, Government of Karnataka, stated, “Over the past three days, we have delved into the transformative potential of nanotechnology, a field poised to revolutionize industries and improve lives. I am pleased that Karnataka and Bangalore have been central to these discussions, reflecting our commitment to advancing science and technology. Our government is dedicated to fostering innovation, as seen in our support for both nanotechnology and emerging fields like quantum technology. We are investing in science centers across Karnataka and constructing a state-of-the-art facility in Bangalore to promote scientific inquiry and curiosity. These efforts are aimed at addressing critical global challenges such as climate change, food security, and water security. As we move forward, let us harness these technologies to drive sustainable development and ensure that scientific advancements serve humanity with compassion and responsibility.”

On the closing day, the opening plenary session were conducted by Dr. T. Pradeep, Professor at IIT Madras, and Prof. S. Sampath, Professor and Chair of the Department of Inorganic and Physical Chemistry at IISc Bangalore, who delivered a captivating session on "Can Water Microdroplets Make Soil?" Following this, Balajee Sowrirajan, Managing Director of Samsung Semiconductor India Research, and Prof. S. Sampath, Professor and Chair, Dept. of Inorganic and Physical Chemistry | IISc Bangalore gave a compelling and insightful plenary talk on "AI in Semiconductors."

The conference focused on key topics such as "Nano in Climate," presented by Dr. Praveen Kumar Vemula, Faculty, DBT-INSTEM, India; Prof. Neetu Singh, Professor & Head, Center for Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, India; Dr. Suraj Rengarajan, CTO, Applied Materials, India; Dr. Dinesh Rangappa, Professor & Chairperson, Department of Applied Sciences (Nanotechnology), VTU, India. "Nano in Healthcare," presented by Prof. Suddhasatwa Basu, FIPI Chair Professor, IIT Delhi, and former Director, IMMT, IIT Delhi, India; Prof. Vinu R, Professor, IIT Madras, India; Dr. Pushplata Singh, Senior Fellow and Associate Director, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), India; Dr. Suman Basu, Section Head - Battery Pack (AVP), Reliance Industries Limited, India; Dr. Sudhir Dapurkar, Lead Scientist, Tata Chemicals, Innovation Centre, India; Capt. Purushothama Bhat, General Manager, Head of Flight Test & Operations, Tata Advanced Systems Limited, India; K Krishna Moorthy, President and CEO, IESA, India. "Nano in Energy," presented by Shri Puneet Mehrotra, Director, Nano Science and Technology Consortium, India; Dr. Debashish Bhattacharjee, Vice President, Technology & R&D, Tata Steel Limited, India; Dr. Tharamani C N, Professor, IIT Ropar, India; Prof. Sagar Mitra, Professor, IIT Bombay, India.

Speaking at the Valedictory of 13th Bengaluru INDIA NANO event at the Lalit, Dr. Devi Shetty, Founder, Narayana Hrudayalaya Pvt. Ltd, said, “I firmly believe that India will be the first country in the world to dissociate healthcare quality from wealth, demonstrating that every citizen can access top-tier healthcare regardless of financial status. This transformation is not a distant dream, it is set to happen in the next five to ten years, propelled by rapid advancements in healthcare technology and the dedication of brilliant innovators. At Narayana Hrudayalaya, we have been pioneering this journey for over 20 years, culminating in the creation of a groundbreaking digital platform called Athma. This platform is revolutionizing healthcare delivery by enabling seamless patient registration, remote monitoring by intensivists, and early detection of critical conditions like cardiac arrests through AI-driven analysis. Our vision is for every hospital to adopt such digital technology, dramatically reducing medical errors and improving patient outcomes.

Moreover, the recent steps by the Insurance Regulatory Authority to allow hospitals to become health insurance providers will have a profound impact. This alignment of interests between hospitals and patients will drive the healthcare industry forward. Our aim is to provide health insurance coverage to the 100 million middle-income families in India, ensuring they are protected against catastrophic illnesses with affordable premiums. The future of our country will not be a mere extension of the present; it will be shaped by the dreams and efforts of all of you. Together, we can build a healthcare system that is equitable, efficient, and innovative.”

The Bengaluru INDIA NANO Innovation Award 2024 was bestowed upon the JNCASR-CeNS-SGRI Team for their breakthrough Smart Glass Technology, accompanied by a trophy, a certificate, and a cash award of Rs. 1,00,000.

The Karnataka DST Nanoscience Fellowships were awarded to five scientists: Ms. Sumita Mukherjee from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Berhampur; Ms. Soumi Mondal from the New Chemistry Unit, JNCASR, Bengaluru; Dr. Kenneth Lobo from the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences, Bangalore; Ms. Manisha Bungla from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi; and Mr. Sourav Rudra from the Chemistry and Physics of Materials Unit, JNCASR, Bengaluru. Each recipient received a certificate and a cash prize of Rs. 50,000.

The Nanotech Quiz, a national-level competition, aims to promote awareness about the fascinating world of nanotechnology among students, especially at the grassroots level, ensuring they stay informed about the latest advancements in the field. 437 students from 22 States and 2 Union Territories participated in the Zonal Rounds of Nanotech Quiz. The first-ever physical grand finale of Nano Quiz was conducted this year, and Mr. Animesh - Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra from the East Zone emerged as the National Winner, earning a cash prize of Rs. 50,000. The 1st Runner-up and 2nd Runner-up were awarded Rs. 40,000 and Rs. 30,000, respectively.

In the Nano SparX Startup Pitch, a total of 18 startups from across the country participated in the competition. Out of these, five finalists—Neer Shakti Systems Pvt. Ltd, Pradaan Innovation Labs LLP, Vimano, Trinano Technologies Pvt. Ltd, and Shilps Sciences—showcased their groundbreaking ideas. After a rigorous evaluation, Vimano and Neer Shakti Systems Pvt. Ltd startups were selected as winners for their outstanding pitches, demonstrating their potential to make significant contributions to nanotechnology winning Rs 50,000 cash prize each.

The Best Poster Awards, a highlight of Bengaluru India Nano, showcased innovative research from over 200 young researchers. With participation from 35 cities, 19 states, 3 entries from abroad, and 70 institutions—including 145 posters from Bengaluru—the event was a vibrant platform for emerging talent. The top 15 posters were honored with a cash prize of Rs. 20,000 and a certificate. Notable institutions among the winners included the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela; IIT Roorkee; Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru; ICAR-National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources; Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences; Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research; and the Institute of Nano Science and Technology.

At the Valedictory, several exhibitors were recognized for their exceptional showcase. The Exhibitor Awards featured various categories, with Park Systems winning in the Interactive & Best Managed category. Indian Oil Corporation Limited was honored for its Content & Information, while the Ray Nano Science & Research Centre received the award for Innovative Display.

The 13th edition of Bengaluru INDIA NANO has not only showcased the latest advancements in nanotechnology but has also fostered collaboration and innovation among the brightest minds in the field. The event's success highlights its importance as a global platform for knowledge exchange and networking, paving the way for future breakthroughs in sustainability, climate, energy, and healthcare.

Britannia’s Consolidated Sales For The Year Grew 4% While Net Profits (Before Exceptional Items) Grew 14.5%

Britannia’s Consolidated Sales for the Quarter ended 30th June 2024 stands at Rs 4,130 Crores, growing 4.0% over last year and Net Profit (Before Exceptional Items) stands at Rs 524 Crores, growing at 14.5%.

Commenting on the performance, Mr. Varun Berry, Vice Chairman & Managing Director, said: “We come out of a challenging financial year that witnessed consumption slowdown, particularly in Rural India. Our performance this quarter reflects the agile approach to a dynamic market environment and diligent market practices. We delivered a modest revenue growth of 4% during the quarter, driven by high single-digit volume growth, and improved operating margins over last year. Our market share progressed well as an outcome of sustained investments in Brands, Product excellence, and Innovation.

We continue to make positive strides in Rural as we expand distribution footprint and enhance product offerings to align with regional preferences, and well positioned to benefit from the consumption growth in Rural. As a result, rural market share grew at a faster clip than Urban. We are actively leveraging the rapidly growing Modern Trade and E-commerce channels, both growing handsomely compared to previous year. Additionally, we introduced the Pure Magic Stars and Golmaal variant during the quarter, which have contributed to heightened consumer excitement and strengthened our brand franchisee.

On Cost & Profitability front, we remain vigilant of the commodity price fluctuations & evolving geopolitical landscape. Our Cost Efficiency Program continues to yield operational savings, ensuring robust operating margins. We are committed to investing in capability enhancement and brand development while maintaining price competitiveness with the clear objective of driving market share and sustaining profits. We reaffirm our commitment to our ESG framework of People, Growth, Governance and Resources and shall continue to focus on our initiatives to build a Sustainable and Profitable business.”

BMW Motorrad India Introduces New Style Passion For BMW G 310 RR

BMW Motorrad India has announced the launch of the new style ‘Passion’ for the BMW G 310 RR. This new style features an attractive Racing Blue Metallic paintwork, giving the motorcycle a particularly feisty look. The motorcycle is also available in style ‘Sport’ which is on offer currently.

The BMW G 310 RR in style ‘Passion’ can be booked across all BMW Motorrad dealerships, from today onwards.

The BMW G 310 RR is a true road racing sports bike. It’s performance, agility, precision and raring-to-go flair reveals racing attitude. The BMW G 310 RR is the sportiest and most desirable sports bike in the sub-500 class. The motorcycle clearly showcases its S 1000 RR heritage. It proudly inherits the original road racing genes that have fascinated sports bike enthusiasts with unlimited adrenaline rush on tarmac. With the combination of a stunning superbike design and modern technology, it is the ultimate riding machine – your best companion on racetracks and city roads alike.

Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) Welcomes Third Batch of Pioneering Biotherapeutics Students With Orientation Program

The Manipal Centre for Biotherapeutics Research (MCBR) at Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) launched its three-day orientation program for the third batch of M.Sc. (by Research) in Biotherapeutics students. This program is part of the first-of-its-kind biotherapeutics course in India.

Lt Gen (Dr.) M.D. Venkatesh, Vice Chancellor of MAHE, Manipal, officially inaugurated the event by lighting the ceremonial lamp. In his address, he congratulated the students for selecting a pioneering course that will equip them with essential skills to develop therapeutic products, thus contributing to improved healthcare management.

The course has attracted about 15 students from diverse regions across India. It offers a robust four-semester (two-year) curriculum that combines theoretical and practical training in the first semester, followed by mini research projects in the second semester, and culminates in a major industry or academic internship project during the third and fourth semesters.

Prof. (Dr.) Raviraja N. Seetharam, Coordinator of MCBR, welcomed attendees and provided a brief overview of the program. MCBR is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and an internationally trained faculty to guide students. The center has also established collaborations with 20 industry partners, enhancing training and placement opportunities for students.

Dr. S.V. Kirthanashri, Associate Professor and Co-coordinator, introduced the chief guest, while Dr. Raghavendra Upadhya, Assistant Professor and Course Coordinator, offered the vote of thanks. The inauguration was followed by a series of talks and facility tours designed to inspire and orient the new students. Ms. Abigail Rego, Dr. TMA Pai Research Scholar, served as the event's anchor.

The orientation program marks the beginning of an exciting academic journey for the students, who are poised to make significant contributions to the field of biotherapeutics. With MAHE’s commitment to excellence and innovation, this program is set to produce the next generation of leaders in therapeutic research and development.