Varanasi Calls For Global Innovators To Enhance Crowd Flow Management As Part Of $9M Sustainable Cities Challenge

*      The city of Varanasi invites pioneering innovators from around the world to develop crowd management solutions for its ancient spiritual center of Kashi, as part of the Sustainable Cities Challenge.

*      Varanasi is one of only three host cities chosen, and selected innovators will have access to a share of $3m funding.

The initiative aims to demonstrate and test user-centered solutions that can improve safety and accessibility in Varanasi’s old city of Kashi for pilgrims, tourists and vulnerable groups.

*      Companies offering solutions that integrate elements of artificial intelligence, urban design, data analytics, behavioral and crowd science, and more are invited to apply by September 5, 2024.

*      Varanasi’s Innovating Crowd Flow Challenge has been designed by the city of Varanasi alongside Toyota Mobility Foundation, supported by Challenge Works and World Resources Institute.

As part of the Toyota Mobility Foundation’s $9m Sustainable Cities Challenge, Varanasi has launched a global call for innovators to find data-driven solutions to make the city safer for the millions of people who visit every year for pilgrimage. The Varanasi Challenge is looking for solutions that will allow the city to better manage the growing influx of annual visitors, while making the city more accessible for tourists and local residents, particularly older people and people with disabilities. 

Located on the banks of the Ganges River in northern India, Varanasi is widely known as the “spiritual capital” of the nation. The old city of Kashi within Varanasi is one of India’s most important pilgrimage sites, with millions of people visiting every year for religious and cultural reasons. The inflow of tourists, however, when coupled with the city’s narrow, winding lanes and dense urban fabric, raises potential questions around safety and overcrowding. Previous reports have suggested that Varanasi attracted around 70 million visitors, which reiterates the need to enhance the city’s safety and accessibility, especially as most tourists are middle-aged and elderly people.

As part of the Sustainable Cities Challenge, Varanasi is inviting innovators from around the world to develop innovative crowd management solutions that make it easier to accommodate its visitors and make the city safer and more accessible for both residents and visitors alike. 

Leveraging technology, data analytics, urban design, behavioral psychology, and crowd science, can provide insights into crowd dynamics and flow, enabling better crowd management and reduced congestion.

In addition to a share of $3 million of implementation grant funding, participants in the challenge will gain exclusive insights into the workings of this historic city and a real-world understanding of user-centered design.

Shri. Akshat Verma IAS, Municipal Commissioner, Varanasi Municipal Corporation, said:

“We are very excited to be involved in the Sustainable Cities Challenge. Millions of people visit Varanasi every year for religious, spiritual and touristic activities alike. Our leadership is committed to make Kashi safer and more accessible for all. We look forward to working with emerging innovators from around the world and hope that this challenge will help us identify technologies and the solutions that will benefit citizens, pilgrims and tourists of Varanasi. Kashi, one of the oldest surviving cities in the world, has various opportunities for it to be at the forefront of innovation in participatory and holistic development.”

Pras Ganesh, Executive Program Director, Toyota Mobility Foundation, said:

“We are truly looking forward to working with Varanasi on their City Challenge and seeing how innovators from around the world can deliver mobility solutions in this historic and holy city. As Toyota Mobility Foundation, we work under the three principles of innovation, partnership and leaving a sustainable legacy, and believe that this project has the potential to develop innovative but human centric crowd management solutions that can also be applied to other cities facing similar issues.”

Kathy Nothstine, Director of Cities and Societies at Challenge Works, said:

“As an important site of pilgrimage, the population of Varanasi grows exponentially throughout the year as people come to visit. This presents challenges for the city. The Sustainable Cities Challenge is a global call for innovative solutions and means that visionaries from across the world can work to develop solutions to these challenges.”

Pawan Mulukutla, Executive Director of Integrated Transport, Clean Air & Hydrogen, Sustainable Cities and Transport, WRI India said:

In 2022, Varanasi's floating population was estimated to be 35 times of its local population. By strategic interventions and effective crowd management measures, the thriving heritage city of Varanasi can become a torchbearer of sustainable mobility for other tourist destinations globally. The Sustainable Cities Challenge fosters technology-driven innovative solutions aimed at transforming the public spaces and streets of the city. The Challenge seeks innovative mobility solutions that can be tested, adapted and scaled to suit local contexts, while advancing low-carbon mobility across geographies.”

Mr Vikram Gulati, Country Head and Executive Vice President for Corporate Affairs and Governance, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said:

"Towards the realization of our mission of generating “Mass happiness”, we at Toyota are constantly working towards creating Mobility for All by adopting sustainable, practical, and innovative solutions. The Varanasi Innovating Crowd Flow Challenge exemplifies this commitment that aspires to the creation of a city that is more accessible, safe, and inclusive in-line with the real local mobility needs. We are truly excited about this project, as it promises to scientifically and systematically streamline the unique mobility needs of the magnificent city of Varanasi.”

Varanasi is one of three cities to host challenges, alongside Detroit, USA and Venice, Italy. Over 150 cities from 46 countries around the world entered the challenge after the call to cities was first launched in June 2023.

Applications for the Varanasi Challenge are open from today until the 5th of September. Up to ten semi-finalists will be selected in November 2024 and receive a grant of $50,000 each. Companies will have the opportunity to directly engage with city leaders, end users, and beneficiaries to customize their solutions and demonstrate them on-ground in the city.

In May 2025, up to five finalists will be granted $130,000 each to test their solutions in a larger area of the city over an extended period to assess their impact and further customize their solutions. In March 2026, up to three winners will be selected to share final implementation funding of $1.5 million to further scale their solutions in the city.

The deadline for entries to the Varanasi Challenge is Thursday 5 September 2024. To find out more, visit the Sustainable Cities Challenge website.

Detroit, Michigan, USA

Launched May 29, 2024 - Once known as the ‘Motor City,’ Detroit is looking to become a ‘Mobility City,’ seeking innovators who can help the city deploy clean and cost-effective mobility solutions as part of its transition.

The challenge is focused on Eastern Market, the nation's largest food production and distribution center, where a growing residential and commercial presence means that the city wants to explore solutions that tackle congestion and pollution caused by freight, to improve the health and wellbeing of the surrounding community.

Venice, Veneto, Italy

Launched June 11, 2024 - Venice is often pictured solely as a historic city, famous for its intricate network of canals. In reality, most of the population lives and works in the mainland suburbs such as Mestre, Maghera, and other motorized islands, which serve as a crucial transportation hub connecting Venice to the mainland and beyond.

With a mobility landscape that is truly multi-modal, including land and water transport, the city has invested significantly in sustainable mobility infrastructure and services. In the Venice City Challenge, the city seeks innovative solutions that shift behavior, encouraging an increased use and adoption of existing sustainable transport modes.

Angel One Celebrates 25th Place In Great Place To Work® Top 100 Best Companies 2024

*         Makes significant leap in rankings over recent years, showcasing commitment to employee experience and inclusive workplace culture

Angel One Limited, one of India's leading Fintech players, has achieved a remarkable milestone by securing the 25th place among the Top 100 Best Workplaces in India, as recognized by the Great Place to Work® Institute. This ranking marks a significant progression for the company, advancing from its previous positions of 92nd in 2022 and 52nd in 2023.

Mr. Subhash Menon, Group Chief Human Resources Officer, Angel One Limited, commented, ”We are incredibly proud to achieve the 25th position in the Great Place to Work® India 2024 rankings. This accomplishment reflects our relentless dedication to creating a workplace where every employee is valued and empowered. At Angel One, our North Star is to become the leading fintech brand, empowering a billion lives by leveraging data and technology. We prioritize fostering an inclusive culture that promotes growth, collaboration and trust. Embracing bold moves, we relentlessly drive forward, challenging conventions and pushing boundaries to create an innovative and transformative future. This recognition inspires us to continue striving for excellence in enhancing employee experience and sustaining a positive work environment."

Mr. Dinesh Thakkar, Chairman and Managing Director, Angel One Limited, added, "Being conferred with the 25th rank in Best Workplaces in India is not only an honour, but also a reflection of our core values in action. At Angel One, we believe that our success as a fintech leader is intrinsically linked to the growth and well-being of our people. This achievement fuels our commitment to fostering an environment where talent flourishes and innovation thrives, ultimately benefiting our customers and stakeholders."

The company's improvement in the rankings reflects its focus on enhancing employee experience and fostering an inclusive culture. Angel One has implemented several key initiatives contributing to this achievement:

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) Initiatives:

·         Jombay 1000 Women Leaders Program: Supporting women in leadership roles

·         UNPAUSE: A return-to-work program for women resuming careers in tech

·         Anonymous hiring: Removing bias to ensure fair opportunities

·         LGBTQ+ hiring: Promoting inclusive recruitment practices

Employee Benefits:

·         Flexible work arrangements balancing in-person collaboration and remote work

·         Angel Care+: Comprehensive benefits covering mental well-being, fertility support and gender re-affirmation

·         Profit sharing model: LTI, STI and PLI tied to company success

·         Learning Wallet: Financial support for external certifications

CSR Initiatives:

·       Empowering underprivileged youth and communities in multiple states through skilling,

digital literacy and financial literacy programs

·       Over 14,500 beneficiaries impacted through literacy training programs

·       More than 11,000+ youth placed in formal sector employment

·       Partnerships with 6 credible, not – for – profits organizations making the youth

financially independent to improve their skills and create employment opportunities

Notable Great Place to Work Recognitions:

·       Great Place to Work certified for 8 years in a row

·       Listed thrice among India’s top 100 Best Companies to Work for in India, in a row

·       Listed thrice among India’s Best Companies to Work for in Fintech, in a row

·       Listed 5 times among India’s Best Companies to Work for in BFSI

·       Listed among India’s top 100 Best Workplaces for Women and Millennials

·       Listed among India’s Best Workplaces for Building a Culture of Innovation for All

Angel One continues to invest in its workforce through various programs, including flexible work policies and career development initiatives. These efforts reflect our dedication to fostering a supportive and dynamic work environment. We look forward to continuing this journey, ensuring our employees thrive and succeed.

About Angel One Limited:

Angel One Limited, (NSE: ANGELONE, BSE: 543235) is the largest listed retail stock broking house in India, in terms of active clients on NSE. Angel One is a technology-led financial services company, providing broking and advisory services, margin funding and distribution of third-party financial products to its clients. The broking and allied services are offered through online and digital platforms to clients acquired directly and through assisted business.

Angel One Limited extensively uses Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Data Science to create a superior digital experience. The company has built a host of digital properties like Angel One Mobile App, ‘ARQ Prime’ a rule-based recommendation engine, ‘SmartAPI’ a free-to-integrate API platform, ‘Smart Money’ an investor education platform for over 23 million clients.

Delta Exchange Launches Operations In India With Crypto Futures And Options Trading

Delta Exchange, a globally leading digital asset derivatives exchange, has announced the official launch of its Indian platform today. Founded by seasoned entrepreneurs, Pankaj Balani, Jitender Tokas and Saurabh Goyal, the company is proud to present a crypto derivatives platform that is fully compliant and is registered with the Financial Intelligence Unit—India, a regulatory requirement for crypto exchanges.

With this launch, Delta Exchange has become India’s first and only platform to offer Options trading on Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH) and more crypto assets. Among the other prime features of Delta Exchange, the platform allows seamless and instant INR deposit and withdrawals. This allows traders to operate on the derivatives exchange without the need of holding stablecoins or any other crypto coins. With a heavy focus on compliance and safety of its users, Delta Exchange India does not accept cryptocurrency deposits or withdrawals thereby eliminating any risks associated with crypto custody.

Backed by major investors such as CoinFund, Sandeep Nailwal’s family office, Aave, Kyber Network, SinoGlobal Capital etc., Delta Exchange is setting a new standard in the Indian market by offering a secure experience to Indian traders allowing them to trade in INR. With a Series-A funding and over 100,000 Indian users already onboarded on the beta-version of the Indian platform, Delta Exchange is one of the fastest growing Crypto derivatives exchanges in the region with the daily trading volume already hitting $300 million at its peak within just 2 months of its beta launch.

Globally, Delta Exchange has been operational for over six years, facilitating seamless crypto trading by introducing many innovative derivatives products such as Options with daily expiry, Altcoin Options, Interest Rate Swaps, etc. With a monthly transaction volume of $17B, the company has been witnessing a YoY growth of ~160%. 

On the launch, Pankaj Balani, Co - Founder & CEO, Delta Exchange said, "Our launch in India marks a significant milestone in our mission to bring a secure, compliant and trader-centric platform for Futures & Options (F&O) traders in the country. Delta Exchange’s unique platform focuses on select crypto derivatives, thus eliminating the need to park crypto assets for trading, allowing users to trade with confidence. This approach ensures that both seasoned traders and newcomers can explore the opportunities in crypto derivatives within a secure and compliant environment. Additionally, it allows traders to deal in INR only, making the process smooth and transparent.”

The company’s mission is not only to provide a comprehensive trading experience but also to ensure deep liquidity. The company works with market makers to provide rich order-books unlike other crypto companies who showcase the order-books of foreign exchanges and lack depth. As part of its Options offering, Delta Exchange offers daily, weekly and monthly expiries for Bitcoin & Ethereum’s Options contracts, thus allowing more opportunities for traders in the market.

Now, with its official launch in India, a nation known for its pioneering grassroots adoption in the crypto sphere (as highlighted by the Global Crypto Adoption Index) as well as a strong derivatives market in traditional finance, Delta Exchange is poised for strong growth.

At Delta Exchange, user-centricity is paramount. The platform offers lowest fee on trading of crypto futures and options for Indians ensuring customers retain more of their profits with every trade with very low margin required to get started compared to traditional markets. Moreover, Delta Exchange prioritizes data privacy, employing enterprise-grade security measures and manual withdrawal processes to safeguard users' funds. Additionally, the platform enhances security and trust by completely avoiding the custody of users' crypto assets and the company is also compliant with India’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU-India) guidelines. With 24X7 customer support, Delta Exchange stands as the top destination for Indian F&O traders seeking a secure and rewarding crypto derivatives trading experience.

About the company:

Founded in 2018, Delta Exchange is a digital asset derivatives exchange backed by marquee investors. Delta Exchange offers Futures, Perpetuals, and Options trading across Bitcoin, Ethereum and leading Altcoins. The company's mission is to accelerate the advancement of the crypto financial system by building a highly-liquid and trusted derivatives trading platform developed to serve both retail and institutional traders. Delta Exchange provides access to an institutional-grade trading platform built for the digital asset markets. Whether traders are seeking high-speed execution, comprehensive market analysis tools, or robust risk management features, Delta Exchange delivers a seamless trading experience tailored to meet the diverse needs of today's F&O traders.

Visit: https://india.delta.exchange/

Almost 60% of MSMEs Plan To Digitize Business Processes By 2025, Reveals Vi Business ReadyforNext MSME Growth Insights Study

·         On the World MSME Day, Vi Business publishes findings from India’s largest MSME study - MSME Growth Insights Vol 2.0 2024, covering 1.6 lakh respondents across 16 industries

·         Launches enhanced Digital Assessment Tool for MSMEs, both in English and Hindi

Key Highlights of the Study:

·         Sectoral Insights: The top three sectors that emerged as most digitally matured are IT-ITES, Fi­nancial services and Transportation. While these lead in digital maturity, sectors like Retail and Construction are also making significant strides.

·         Budget Allocation: 43% of MSMEs plan to increase their overall digitalisation budget by 2025. Sectors with lower Digital Maturity Index (DMI) are particularly inclined to increase their investments reflecting a growing commitment towards digital transformation.

·         Involvement of Senior Leadership or CEOs results in more comprehensive Digital transformation: Success rates of Digitalization were higher when championed by the Senior Leadership and CEOs.

·         Despite challenges like knowledge gaps and financial constraints, MSMEs are increasingly using technologies like cloud computing, IoT, and advanced workspace tools to boost productivity, collaboration, & market reach. Study revealed 40% of MSMEs from IT & ITeS, Retail and Construction have adopted IoT Solutions in Business.

·         During the pandemic, while MSMEs prioritized digitalizing their workspaces, in 2024, the focus has moved on to engaging with their customers digitally. The study recommends MSMEs to focus on digital security, and digitally engaging with both customers (customer service) and prospects (customer engagement), indicating emerging need to focus on digital strategies to meet evolving customer expectations.

·         Digitalization has a direct positive correlation with the turnover. Further, as the firm size increases, the variation in digital maturity level narrows indicating that medium to large firms have embraced digitalization and there is scattered digital adoption among micro and small firms.

·         Growing need of data security and data privacy solutions: 43% of MSMEs are currently using device security technologies, data and device protection. Furthermore, MSMEs with turnover of less than ?10 Crore are using public cloud while those in higher turnover bracket of ?10 to 100 Crore use private cloud, indicating the need for greater data security and privacy with the increase turnover of MSME.

For the detailed study, please click here: https://www.myvi.in/content/dam/vodafoneideadigital/business/msme/ribbonBanner/MSME-Growth_Insight_Study_Vol_2024.pdf

Medium, Small, and Micro Enterprises (MSMEs) are the backbone of India’s economy, currently contributing ~30% to the country’s GDP. There are several studies that suggest MSMEs will boost their GDP contribution to 35-40% by 2027. Hence, it is crucial for MSMEs to adopt digital transformation to unleash their growth potential and play a pivotal role in making India a Viksit Bharat (a developed economy) by 2047.  Recognizing the need for digital adoption, GoI has introduced several key initiatives and policies such as Make in India, Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Udyam Portal, Udyami Mitra and others to enhance productivity, streamline operations, and boost the overall competitiveness of the MSME sector.

As a steadfast partner to the GoI’s growth agenda, Vi Business, the enterprise arm of Vi, a leading telecom operator, has released a nationwide study – ‘Vi Business ReadyForNext MSME Growth Insights Study (Volume 2.0 2024)’, on World MSME Day. This comprehensive study delves into the digital maturity of MSMEs across 16 sectors namely, IT & ITes, Financial Services, Transportation, Construction, Retail, Agriculture, Media & Entertainment, Manufacturing, and others and how they are leveraging digitization and technology.

In addition to this, Vi Business has launched enhanced Digital Assessment Tool, both in English and Hindi as an extension of their dedicated MSME program, #ReadyForNext. The assessment focuses on three key pillars: Digital Customer, Digital Workspace, and Digital Business. Based on responses, the tool provides user specific report stating the digital maturity scores of business, benchmarked against the industry with relevant digital product recommendations. Click here to access the tool online:  https://www.myvi.in/business/enterprise-segments/smb/msme-readyfornext

Commenting on the study, Arvind Nevatia, Chief Enterprise Business Officer at Vodafone Idea, said: "At Vi Business, we recognize the crucial role that MSMEs play in India’s growth agenda and their significant contribution to the economy. Our extensive MSME study, highlights the encouraging progress being made by small businesses in India as well as the challenges that remain in their digital transformation. Moreover, the findings of the study, arguably India’s largest MSME based digital assessment study, provide effective and useful insights on the way forward for such organizations. Vi Business is a steadfast partner to drive forward India’s digital economy and help MSMEs accelerate their growth potential.’’

Report Methodology

Vi Business ReadyForNext MSME Growth Insights Study Vol 2.0’ is based on the survey of 1.6 lacs MSMEs in India across 16 industries, namely IT & ITeS, Construction, Transportation, Media & Entertainment, Mining, Retail, Financial Sectors, Agriculture, Professional Services, Education, Tourism & Hospitality, Healthcare etc. The MSMEs were categorized by sector, operating locations, and company size to highlight variations in digital proficiency. Questions were provided for different industries, with IT and Telecom receiving more technical queries due to their higher technological reliance, while Agriculture and Manufacturing faced questions suited to their slower adoption rates and resource constraints. MSMEs were further classified based on turnovers ranging from less than 10 crore to 250 crore.

About Vodafone Idea Limited

Vodafone Idea Limited is an Aditya Birla Group and Vodafone Group partnership. It is amongst India’s leading telecom service provider. The company provides pan India Voice and Data services across 2G, 3G and 4G platforms. Company holds large spectrum portfolio including mid band 5G spectrum in 17 circles and mmWave 5G spectrum in 16 circles. To support the growing demand for data and voice, the company is committed to deliver delightful customer experiences and contribute towards creating a truly ‘Digital India’ by enabling millions of citizens to connect and build a better tomorrow. The company is developing infrastructure to introduce newer and smarter technologies, making both retail and enterprise customers future ready with innovative offerings, conveniently accessible through an ecosystem of digital channels as well as extensive on-ground presence. The company’s equity share are listed on National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the BSE in India. The company offers products and services to its customers in India under the TM Brand name “Vi”.  For more information, please visit: www.MyVi.in

Turkish Airlines Named "Most Sustainable Flag Carrier Airline" In World Finance’s Sustainability Awards 2024

Turkish Airlines, the national flag carrier of Türkiye, continues to set an example in the aviation sector with its pioneering sustainability initiatives. Once again, Turkish Airlines has been honored with the “Most Sustainable Flag Carrier Airline” award by World Finance, marking the prestigious recognition for the third consecutive year.

Amid the significant challenges posed by the climate crisis to the aviation industry, Turkish Airlines stands out with its voluntary carbon offset platform CO2mission, use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), sustainable in-flight products, waste management practices, and the sustainable travel experience it offers to its passengers.

Commenting on the award, Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and Executive Committee, Prof. Ahmet Bolat, said: “Receiving the Most Sustainable Flag Carrier Airline award for the third-year running is a testament to our dedication to sustainability and environmental stewardship. Turkish Airlines has set a strategic goal to become one of the world's top 3 airlines in terms of digitalization. In line with our commitment to becoming a Carbon-Neutral Airline by 2050, we incorporated the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) into our climate change mitigation plans in 2022, and we further expanded our use of SAF to new routes in 2023. We will continue to add new routes to our SAF-powered network and pursue our commitment to sustainable practices throughout our operations.”

Since 2008, Turkish Airlines has conducted over 100 operational optimization projects to reduce its carbon footprint. In 2023, the airline achieved significant successes in fuel savings and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The World Finance Sustainability Awards are recognized as a significant reference by global finance and business circles and are awarded to organizations that showcase best practices in the environmental, economic, and social dimensions of sustainability. Since 2008, World Finance has aimed to identify the best institutions in various sectors based on evaluations by expert jury members.

About Turkish Airlines:

Established in 1933 with a fleet of five aircraft, Star Alliance member Turkish Airlines has a fleet of 458 (passenger and cargo) aircraft flying to 347 worldwide destinations as 294 international and 53 domestics in 130 countries. More information about Turkish Airlines can be found on its official website www.turkishairlines.com or its social media accounts on Facebook, X, Youtube, Linkedin and Instagram. 

About Star Alliance:

The Star Alliance network was established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance, based on a customer value proposition of global reach, worldwide recognition, and seamless service. Since inception, it has offered the largest and most comprehensive airline network, with a focus on improving customer experience across the Alliance journey. The member airlines are: Aegean Airlines, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Avianca, Brussels Airlines, Copa Airlines, Croatia Airlines, EGYPTAIR, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, SWISS, TAP Air Portugal, THAI, Turkish Airlines, and United. Overall, the Star Alliance network currently offers more than 10,000 daily flights to almost 1,200 airports in 184 countries. Further connecting flights are offered by Star Alliance Connecting Partners Juneyao Airlines and THAI Smile Airways. 

Bisk Farm Googly Launches New TVC with Hrithik Roshan; Echoes The Brand Slogan ‘Taste With A Twist’ In This Quirky Ad

* Expands Its Portfolio with reintroduction of Rs. 10 Pack

Bisk Farm, one of India’s leading biscuit & bakery brands from the house of SAJ Food has launched a new TVC Campaign with Hrithik Roshan, the brand ambassador for its Googly range of biscuits. Keeping up with the Brand slogan ‘Googly- Taste with a Twist’, the TVC revolves around a fun banter between the husband and wife. 

The key differentiator of Googly range of biscuits is it promises an unthinkable twist in the taste. That’s why, Googly is a category disruptor in the biscuit segment offering a distinct taste with a perfect blend of sweet & salt, available in a mix of unique flavours and variants.

The TVC shows Hrithik Roshan engaging in a friendly banter with his wife, invoking jealousy in her. Staying true to its core for Googly biscuits, Hrithik’s tongue-in-cheek response to his wife’s question on why he doesn’t love her as much as their neighbour loves his spouse, brings about a hilarious twist in the conversation. 

Bisk Farm Googly- Hrithik Roshan- Taste With A Twist 2

With a sharp focus to create awareness of the product amongst mass audience base, the TVC is being launched in 7 different languages- Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Telugu, Odiya, Kannada, and Assamese.

Link to the Hindi TVC: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8oLQHeuzAz/?igsh=YmFjOGNqZjg2NG5v

Further to this TVC, Bisk Farm also re-introduced a Chhota Pack of Googly Biscuits at an affordable price of Rs. 10, thus making the product available in five different price points. With this, Googly biscuits will be now be available in across price range from Rs. 5 to Rs. 35.

In order to create awareness of the Chhota Pack, Bisk Farm also launched another TVC with Hrithik Roshan.

Link to the TVC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWue0Ere0xE

Vijay Singh- MD, SAJ Food Products - Low ResCommenting on the campaign, Mr. Vijay Singh, Managing Director, SAJ Food, said "We are thrilled to launch our new TVC campaign for the Googly range of biscuits with our brand ambassador, Hrithik Roshan. The campaign perfectly encapsulates the fun and unexpected twist that Googly biscuits bring to the table, just like Hrithik's playful banter in the ad. With this launch in seven different languages and the re-introduction of our new Chhota Pack at just Rs. 10, we are committed to making Googly biscuits accessible to a wider audience."

Credit List for the TVC:

Film Director : Abhishek Burman | Producer : Karim Morani & Shaza Morani (Morani Media Works)

Script – Ravinder Siwach, Godzilla

ABOUT SAJ Food Products

SAJ Food Products Pvt Ltd, headquartered in Kolkata is one of India’s leading FMCG Companies. Founded in 2000, SAJ Food has attained the position of becoming India’s fourth-largest biscuit and bakery manufacturing company with a presence across 23 states in India. Currently, SAJ operates with six state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities spread across three states – Maharashtra (Nagpur), Karnataka (Bengaluru) and West Bengal (Siliguri, Uluberia, Dhulagarh).

Bisk Farm, the flagship brand of the company is one of India’s most loved biscuit & confectionery brands known for its delectable Biscuits, Cookies, Cakes, Wafers and Rusks.

Indiaah is the brand for its Namkeen and Sweets category. It has products like Bhujia, Moong Dal, Chana Dal, Chira, Masala Mixture and Rasgulla, Gulab Jamun, Soan Papdi etc.

Ongo Enables ATM Cash Withdrawals On Its PPI Platform; Enhances Reimbursement Experience Of Corporate Users

* Facilitates Direct Cash Withdrawals From Ongo prepaid Card Across 2.6Lakh+ ATMs On NPCI Network

*  Ongo, the digital payments platform of AGS Transact Technologies (BSE: 543451 & NSE: AGSTRA), one of the largest integrated omni-channel payment solutions providers in India, today announced the launch of ATM cash withdrawals facility on its prepaid payment instrument (PPI) platform. Ongo will provide versatility and seamless accessibility to funds across all 2.6lakh+ ATMs on NPCI network through cash withdrawals. Ongo prepaid cards are open-loop RuPay cards designed to offer enhanced convenience to cardholders. Through this initiative, Ongo aims to enrich the reimbursement experience of corporate users. The Company will earn revenue in the form of service fee for this facility.

Ongo PPI users can enjoy instant access to funds in their Ongo wallet, both digitally and at ATMs, ensuring a streamlined and secure transaction experience. In India, where many professionals maintain secondary bank accounts to safeguard their primary bank account details from potential frauds during small value transactions, Ongo Prepaid cards offer a compelling solution. It eliminates the need to expose any bank account information during transactions and funds are deducted directly from the Ongo prepaid wallet.

Vinayak Goyal, Managing Director, India Transact Services Limited (Ongo) and Executive Director, AGS Transact Technologies Limited, "At Ongo, we recognise the pulse of modern India, and therefore the need to offer a blend of digital and cash payment options. We're thrilled to introduce the ATM cash withdrawal feature for our Ongo PPI users, adding a new dimension of convenience. This will simplify financial transactions by seamlessly integrating digital and cash transactions. We're confident that Ongo PPI's unique value proposition, along with the convenience to make easy payments across retail, fuel, and transit sectors and now ATM withdrawals, will strike a chord with modern-day corporate employees."

Ongo users with full KYC can load up to INR 2,00,000 in their Ongo Prepaid Payment Instrument (PPI), of which Rs 50,000 can be cash-based top-ups. Further, Cash withdrawals at ATMs are capped at INR 2,000 per transaction, and up to INR 10,000 in a month, as specified in the RBI guidelines for non-bank PPIs.

Ongo is a non-bank Prepaid Payment Instrument (PPI). Recently, Ongo launched open-loop cobranded Rupay prepaid cards enabled with NCMC for customers of a leading conglomerate. Also, it is pilot testing open-loop contactless fuelling solution for a leading OMC on the Ongo app, available on iOS and Playstore.

About AGS Transact Technologies Limited (AGSTTL)

Established in 2002, AGS Transact Technologies Limited (BSE: 543451| NSE: AGSTRA) is one of the largest integrated omni-channel payment solutions providers in India in terms of providing digital and cash-based solutions to banks and corporate clients. AGS Transact provides customised products and services comprising ATM and CRM outsourcing, cash management and digital payment solutions including merchant solutions, transaction processing services and mobile wallets. The company operates in three broad business segments, namely, Payment Solutions; Banking Automation Solutions; and Other Automation Solutions.

Ongo is a fast-growing omnichannel digital payment platform by AGS Transact Technologies, which offers convenient payment solutions. Launched in 2015, Ongo offers merchant Acquiring and Prepaid Issuance services. Furthermore, Ongo is a non-bank prepaid payment instrument and offers dedicated open-loop Prepaid solutions for consumers in segments.

AGS Transact Technologies serves diverse industries such as banking, retail, petroleum, toll and transit, cash management and fintech in India and other select countries in Asia. As of March 31, 2024, the company has deployed 248,585 payment terminals and was one of the largest deployers of PoS terminals at petroleum retail outlets in India, having rolled out 41,756 terminals at various petroleum retail outlets.

For more information, please visit www.agsindia.com