Ghadi detergent launches first of its kind #BachaavMeinHiSamajhdaariHai awareness campaign in India

Bengaluru, 28th December 2020 : To encourage health and safety amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, RSPL Group, manufacturers, and marketers of Ghadi – India’s no. 1 detergent powder unveiled its all-new #BachaavMeinHiSamajhdaariHai campaign. Ghadi detergent is India’s first brand to create awareness through its packaging.

India’s first awareness initiative via packaging aims to reach more than 10 crore Indian households. They will be reminded of always wearing a face mask and to be more responsible and committed to public safety.

The awareness initiative will be showcased on the Ghadi detergent packet wherein the actual logo is covered with a printed mask. In addition to the messaging on the pack, Ghadi detergent is also activating a huge network of distribution channels, simultaneously asking their retail partners to join the movement to spread the message.

Ghadi has supported this initiative with a digital film that shows a small girl in a shop making her dad realise that the best way to show you care is by wearing a mask – just like the exhibit on Ghadi pack. The film also shows the importance of washing face masks regularly.

Speaking on this occasion, Mr Rahul Gyanchandani, Joint Managing Director of RSPL Group said “These are challenging times for each one of us. During this tough period, we need to stay and fight this challenge together. Everyone should take care of our near and dear ones and do our bit for the society. Under this initiative, we are also distributing one million masks. Ghadi detergent reaches millions of homes across India and we decided to do our bit to spread this important message.”

Nakul Sharma, VP and ECD, ADK Fortune said, “For us, this initiative is not limited to just a message. Thus, we wanted to put a mast on the Ghadi itself and reach it to every household. So, we dressed Ghadi with a mask to take this idea to the common people, as Ghadi reached millions of the households in India. This mask message film has already notched 65 million views during the initial few days only, which is very encouraging and is proof that this campaign is having an emotional impact and accelerating change.”



About Ghadi Detergent:

Ghadi Detergent is manufactured by RSPL, a Kanpur based approx Rs 7,000 crore diversified conglomerate in India. The detergent brand was founded by Shri Muralidhar Gyanchandani and Shri Bimal Kumar Gyanchandani in 1987. The vision of the brand is to give superior brand experience and value for consumers’ money. The tagline “Pehle Istemaal Kare Phir Vishwaas Kare” (First use then believe) is on the tongues of millions. Ghadi detergent is India’s number one detergent.

FGII adopts an innovative approach to drive literacy amongst underprivileged children

Bengaluru, 23rd December 2020 : Future Generali India Insurance Company Limited (FGII) has teamed up with ‘Room to Read’ an NGO that helps underprivileged children to improve literacy and inculcate the habit of reading. Through this partnership, the company plans to set up libraries and donate books to underprivileged children from the society.

As a part of its responsibility towards community development, FGII will use its uniquely designed annual report to raise funds for the NGO backed schools. One can contribute to this cause by ordering this book on Amazon.in and Flipkart.com. The amount contributed by an individual shall be directly contributed to the NGO partner. In addition, Future Generali India Insurance vows to match the amount ‘Rupee for a Rupee’ thus doubling the impact of the initiative. .

Anup Rau, MD & CEO, Future Generali India Insurance said, “FGII is known for its innovative products and empathetic approach. We wanted to thank our people who have stepped up during these difficult times and delivered excellent results on various fronts. Their dedication and hard work deserve a superhero status, and this report is in a way, a gesture of our gratitude. It is also special and close to our hearts for the cause that it embraces. We are hopeful that in a small way, we would be able to add value to the lives of these children.”

Amazon link: Future Generali Annual Report 19-20: A World of Captain FG

About Future Generali India Insurance Company Limited

Future Generali India Insurance Company Limited is a joint venture between Future Group – the game changers in Retail Trade in India and Generali – a 189yearsold global insurance group featuring among the world’s 60 largest companies*. The Company was incorporated in September 2007 with the objective of providing retail, commercial, personal and rural insurance solutions to individuals and corporates to help them manage and mitigate risks.

Future Generali India has been aptly benefitting from the global Insurance expertise in diverse classes of products of Generali Group and the Indian retail game-changer Future Group. Having firmly established its credentials in this segment and effectively leveraging on the skill set of both its JV partners, Future Generali India has evolved to become a Total Insurance Solutions Company.


*As per Fortune Global 500 Ranking (2017)

*Future Generali India Insuranceiscertified ‘Great Place to Work’ (December2019-November 2020)

About Generali Group :

Generali is an independent, Italian insurance Group, with a strong international presence. Established in 1831, it is one of the largest global insurance providers present in over 60 countries with total premium income exceeding €68 billion in 2017. With nearly 71,000 employees in the world and 57 million customers, the Group has a leading position in Western Europe and an increasingly significant presence in Central and Eastern Europe as well as in Asia.

“World of Christmas at Phoenix Marketcity "- The Tree of Jubilation

 

Bengaluru, 22nd December 2020: With Christmas round the corner, it’s that time of the year again when Santa visits us and fills our homes with happiness and goodies. Yes, Its Christmas time! Phoenix Marketcity Bengaluru is all set to take Christmas celebrations to a whole new level this year with its mesmerising Christmas décor to spread the festive cheer! Be fascinated by the shimmering display of lights adorning this gigantic Christmas tree with an inimitable European design! The larger than life magnificent “Christmas tree” is making people go ‘woooow’ in amazement, also creating a wonderful photo opportunity for people to take memorable selfies. The mall is exquisitely lit, with Christmas jingles and sounds of hope filling the air. Festive offers, gifts, laughter, and happy people complete the picture.



The tree is beautifully decorated with lit motifs, Christmas greens and baubles. Witness this beautifully laid out Christmas surprise all December at the mall and explore a wide variety of trees, baubles and festive trinkets at our Christmas pop ups, with exciting products curated from across the world. Get clicked and post your Christmas selfies to spread the magic of Christmas!



Shoppers will be spoilt for choice as ‘World of Christmas’ at Phoenix Marketcity this year promises to be bigger and better than ever before with trending accessories, cute artifacts, home decor products and other exciting festive merchandise. This Festive Season gets more rewarding with INR 1cr worth prizes to be won on shopping, It is pouring deals at Phoenix Marketcity where customers can stand a chance to win grand prizes like Car, Bike and much more. That’s not all, Santa will be welcoming every visitor at Phoenix Marketcity to spread the festive spirit by handing out presents to little ones

 

Mr. Gajendra Singh Rathore, Senior Centre Director at Phoenix Marketcity Bengaluru said “We are delighted to wish all our customers a Merry Christmas and a very happy new year. Christmas at Phoenix has always been a special affair, we always try to do something unique and different every year to surprise our customers and have outdone what we did last year by setting up a magnificent ‘World of Christmas’ décor. That’s not all, we are also setting up a European themed Christmas market that will showcase Christmas products from all over the world which will be on sale so it is a great time to take home some Christmas goodies. We have gone one step further to ensure our customers are safe at the mall with our SOPs in place. We invite you to be a part of “World of Christmas at Phoenix Marketcity and experience the magic of Christmas!






The Highlights:



World of Christmas Bazaar:

The Christmas flea market boasts of everything from chocolates to home décor, and red-nosed reindeer. There’s everything you can imagine here, from Christmas trees, Santa Claus toys, sparkling baubles and beautiful tinsels to snowflakes and icicles, artistic Christmas balls, handmade décor, stockings, wooden birds, home décor lights and tons more.

‘World of Christmas at Phoenix Marketcity’ is a world marked by the sparkle and magic of the season in every single aspect. So be sure you don’t miss out on the most happening and lively Christmas celebration in Bengaluru this year!

Christmas Carols and Gifting Santa:

Acclaimed artists sing carols, while a generous Santa hands out gifts to lucky visitors spreading joy and smiles.

Step in Out Food Festival on 12th December

Phoenix Marketcity truly understands the privilege of meeting friends, eating at favourite restaurants & indulging in some entertainment. The Step in Out Food Festival is one of a kind experience packaged with all the favourite restaurants that comes with contactless dining, safety protocols, entertainment and a whole lot more! Get ready for a day full of scrumptious food, groovy music, entertainment and lots more on the 12th of December at Phoenix Marketcity to indulge in gluttony , extravagant experiences with great music , pop ups by city's best restaurants and their Instagram able dishes at the day long food festival!

Shop and Win: EOSS in the 3rd & 4th week of December






About Phoenix Marketcity Bengaluru : Classified as a “Larger Lifestyle Engagement Destination”, Phoenix Marketcity Bengaluru offers visitors, an array of unforgettable experiences. With its truly international look and feel, tastefully done interiors and the best of food, fashion, and entertainment from the world over, Phoenix remains ‘The’ destination for the premium discerning customers of the city as well expats. With over 300 stores, representing an exhaustive mix of International, National and Regional premium brands, the mall offers the most comprehensive and compelling lifestyle shopping experience in Bangalore. More than just a Mall, Phoenix Marketcity, Bengaluru is in fact a veritable melting pot of fascinating cultures, beautiful clothing and high-end couture. It is a city within a city, an urban space where retail, entertainment and leisure offerings co-exist.

RELIANCE GENERAL INSURANCE EMPOWERS CUSTOMERS WITH A RAPID VEHICLE “CLAIMS SOLUTION POWERED BY MICROSOFT AZURE AI”

Bengaluru, 22^nd December 2020: Reliance General Insurance (RGI), a 100% subsidiary of Reliance Capital, has brought in speed and acceleration to its vehicle claim process by introducing ‘RAPID’ equipped with image analytics powered by Microsoft Azure Cognitive Services and Azure Machine Learning capabilities. This end-to-end solution has helped RGI provide a much faster and seamless customer experience while making vehicle claims.

India, which is one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing auto insurance markets, relies largely on traditional ways to renew policies and process repair claims, which usually required inspectors to physically look over vehicles and assess damages. This leads to a delay in the process of inspection, resulting in keeping the cars and policy holders off the road for longer. To mitigate this challenge, Reliance General Insurance collaborated with Celebal Technologies, a Microsoft partner, to create the new AI solution, which allows customers to buy or renew policies anytime, anywhere.



The new age technology uses Artificial Intelligence to identify damage from the vehicle image feeds and procures the correct assessment which gets instantly delivered to consumers. In this process, right from the accident spot, the insured can access Reliance Selfi app to intimate the claim, upload the photos and documents to get the claim registered. Once the claim is generated, the AI tool starts processing and almost instantly generates a provisional repair work order for the customer. It also gives an option to the customer to opt for on-the-spot settlement which can be credited in customers' account immediately.



RAPID brings down the process of claims intimation to claims settlement period, to complete in less than an hour, from an otherwise time-consuming and hassled process that took an average period of 10 to 12 days.



Talking about this initiative, Mr. Rakesh Jain, CEO, Reliance General Insurance Company Limited commented, “Introducing this AI-based solution, makes the entire vehicle claims process completely superfast and hassle-free for our customers. This technology brings the much-needed acceleration to more than 60% of claims we receive for our passenger vehicles which have just peripheral damages. With the use of RAPID, a significant decrease in the claim processing time is achieved, which will result in an enhanced customer service experience. This initiative connects well with our Brand Philosophy Tech + Heart, offering tech solutions with human touch.”



Venkat Krishnan, Executive Director, Commercial Partners, Microsoft India, said, “Microsoft’s goal is to amplify human ingenuity by making the benefits of AI accessible and valuable to everyone. We are pleased to collaborate with Reliance General Insurance to bring the power of Artificial Intelligence and its transformative impact to reimagine the experience for their customers. We thank our partner Celebal Technologies for creating the solution, which makes the both the renewal and claims processes agile and more efficient, in a secure and scalable manner.”



About Reliance General Insurance

www.reliancegeneral.co.in

Reliance General Insurance, a part of Reliance Capital, is one of the leading general insurance companies of India. The Company offers a well-rounded and comprehensive bouquet of products including Motor Insurance, Health Insurance, Travel Insurance, and Home Insurance, and offers customized solutions to meet the protection needs of each customer. Reliance General Insurance has a wide network of more than 40,000 intermediaries across 136 branch offices across India for offering its products and services to retail, corporates and SME clients.

www.facebook/RelianceGenIn @RelianceGenIn

HCL Foundation and The Society for Community Health Awareness, Research and Action hand over “medical equipment to support Government of Karnataka”

 

HCL Foundation (HCLF), the CSR arm of HCL Technologies Ltd with its Bangalore-based NGO partner The Society for Community Health Awareness, Research and Action (SOCHARA) handed over 11 High-Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC) machines essential for COVID-19 treatment to Government of Karnataka, at the Hon’ble Minister for Health & Family Welfare’s Office, Bengaluru, Karnataka.


HCLF’s support is aimed at complementing the State’s efforts to increase and enhance COVID-19 care facilities. HCL Foundation and SOCHARA teams’ hand over the medical equipment to Dr. Sudhakar, Hon’ble Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of Karnataka.


As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to grapple the world, HCL, through all its entities, has significantly ramped up its efforts to mitigate this humanitarian crisis. United in the fight against the virus, HCL Corporation, HCL Technologies, HCL Foundation and all HCL entities are working with urgency, moving swiftly across geographies, to reach populations most at risk.


With a skilled workforce and a dedicated on-ground team, HCL Foundation’s COVID response strategy encompasses the three pillars of RELIEF, RESTORATION, AND BUILD-BACK. Committed to collaborating with stakeholders across the spectrum, its endeavors scale wide and drill deep. Supporting government action in Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, HCL is establishing and scaling innovative digital solutions, setting up integrated control centers and help lines. Through its wide network of NGO partners, HCL Foundation is reaching out to the most vulnerable populations, ensuring access to relevant information and essentials such as food, dry ration, masks, and sanitizers.


SOCHARA has promoted a people-centered paradigm for health and development, envisioned through a community health approach to public health problems since its inception in 1991. SOCHARA continues to participate and strengthen health movements in India and around the world, supporting and engaging with people, communities, professional bodies and governments for equitable health and development, towards the goal of ‘Health for All’.


Ms Nidhi Pundhir, Director HCL Foundation said, “While the world faces unprecedented challenges in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, our support is aimed at complementing the State’s efforts to increase and enhance COVID-19 care facilities in these difficult times. At HCL, we consider it our duty to take whatever steps we can to strengthen our response to the pandemic while ensuring the safety of everyone. We have therefore, contributed 11 HFNC machines which are essential to manage critical cases of COVID-19 to the Health Commissioner and Health department of Government of Karnataka in association with our NGO partner SOCHARA.”


Mr. Guru Moorthy, Secretary Coordinator - SOCHARA, said, “SOCHARA supported by HCL-Foundation supported 1,000 families with dry rations, 150 sanitation workers with dry ration and hygiene kits, and provided hygiene kits to Primary Health Centers and police stations in response to COVID-19 pandemic. In continuation of our support to strengthen public health system, SOCHARA supported by HCL Foundation procured 11 HFNC machines which are essential to manage critical cases of COVID-19.”

SBI Card and BPCL launch “BPCL SBI Card OCTANE”

Bengaluru, 15th December 2020 : SBI Card, India’s largest pure play credit card issuer, and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd, a Maharatna Company and the second largest petroleum company in India announced the launch of the “BPCL SBI Card OCTANE”. The card has been designed to offer maximum savings to the well-heeled consumer segment which spends a significant amount on fuel. The BPCL SBI Card OCTANE brings 25X Reward Points (RPs) on spends for BPCL fuel and MAK Lubricants, Bharatgas (LPG) spends (Website and app only) and BPCL’s In & Out convenience store spends. 

BPCL SBI Card OCTANE offer, which translates to a whopping 7.25% value back (including 1% surcharge waiver) on fuel and lubricant spends at BPCL fuel stations and an unbeatable 6.25% value back on Bharatgas spends (Website and app only) also bundles in accelerated savings on other regular spends categories, including, Departmental Store & Grocery, Dining and Movies. BPCL SBI Card OCTANE customers will benefit from BPCL`s extensive network, enjoying savings on fuel and lubricants at 17000+ Bharat Petroleum fuel stations, across the country. Additionally, there will be no minimum transaction threshold for fuel spends, enabling customers to save with every transaction. An altogether Pure for Sure experience at BPCL fuel stations!

Sharing his perspective, Mr. Dinesh Khara, Chairman, SBI said, “Launch of this BPCL SBI Card OCTANE bolsters partnership of SBI Card with BPCL. The card will bring consumers the highest savings proposition on fuel in the industry, thus making it a preferred choice in the segment. This launch will surely aid and bolster digital payments growth in India.”

The BPCL SBI Card OCTANE combines best in class rewards points on fuel spends with value back on various regular spends categories, thus addressing overall spending needs of cardholders. BPCL SBI Card OCTANE will provide 10X RP on Dining, Movies, Grocery & Departmental Store Spends. BPCL SBI Card OCTANE cardholders can enjoy exclusive benefits such as complimentary domestic airport lounge access. The card offers milestone benefits worth INR 2000 on annual spends of INR 300,000, in the form of e-gift vouchers. The card also comes with a complimentary fraud liability cover of INR 100,000.

Talking about the launch of the new co-brand card, Mr. Ashwini Kumar Tewari, MD & CEO, SBI Card said, “BPCL SBI Card OCTANE further strengthens our robust co-branded card portfolio and will propel our partnership with BPCL. This launch is in line with our continued endeavor to offer our customers the best-in-class products with superior value. In addition to the savings on fuel and lubricants across Bharat Petroleum`s vast network across India, the card will also offer accelerated reward points on major spend categories, such as, Departmental Store & Grocery, Movies and Dining and Bharat Gas spends (Website and App only), making it a holistic, primary card for our customers.”



Mr. K Padmakar, Chairman & Managing Director, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd said, “We are extremely happy to introduce the BPCL SBI Card Octane which offers best in the category benefits to our customers on purchase of fuel and lubricants across our 17000+ Retail Outlets and on online Bharatgas LPG payments. Our partnership with SBI Card ensures that we continuously endeavor to provide value to our customers through innovative products and offerings. The BPCL SBI Card OCTANE is one of our contributions towards digitally empowering society.”



Speaking about the launch of the new co-brand card, Mr. Arun Kr. Singh, Director (Marketing) Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd said, “BPCL has been at the forefront of the digital revolution in the country and the BPCL SBI Card OCTANE symbolizes BPCL’s steadfast commitment to offer vastly differentiated and best in class value through its digital offerings to all segments of the fueling consumers in the country. BPCL SBI Card OCTANE is packed with an empowering value proposition across its retail fuels, Bharatgas and Lubricants portfolio giving our valued customers a hugely rewarding cashless fueling experience.”



The card brings value from the point of enrolment itself, offering 6000 bonus points worth INR 1500 on payment of joining fee. BPCL SBI Card OCTANE also offers annual membership fee reversal on annual spends of INR 200,000 or more on in the previous year. The card launched on Visa Signature platform comes at an annual membership fee of INR 1499/-.



Highlights of BPCL SBI Credit Card OCTANE:



The BPCL SBI Card OCTANE offers many distinct benefits and rewards to cardholders, including:
Welcome Benefit: 6,000 Reward Points worth INR 1,500 upon payment of joining fees.
Reward Points:
25X Reward Points on every INR 100 spent at BPCL Fuel, Lubricants, and Bharat Gas (Website & App only) (Limited to Max 2500 Reward Points per billing cycle).
10X Reward Points on every INR 100 spent at Dining, Movies, Grocery and Departmental Stores.
1 Reward Point on remaining spends (except Non BPCL fuel and Mobile wallet upload).
Milestone Benefit: E-Gift Voucher worth INR 2,000 on annual spends of INR 300,000.
4 Complimentary Domestic Airport Lounge Access in India (Max 1 visit per quarter).
Annual fee reversal on annual spends of INR 200,000.
1% Fuel Surcharge waiver at BPCL petrol pumps.
Complimentary Fraud Liability cover of INR 100,000.



About SBI Card

SBI Cards and Payment Services Limited (formerly known as SBI Cards and Payment Services Private Limited) (“SBI Card”) is a non-banking financial company that offers extensive credit card portfolio to individual cardholders and corporate clients which includes lifestyle, rewards, travel & fuel and banking partnerships cards along with corporate cards covering all major cardholders’ segments in terms of income profile and lifestyle. Presently, the brand has a wide customer base of over 10 million. It has diversified customer acquisition network that enables to engage prospective customers across multiple channels. SBI Card is a technology driven company.

P.S. The brand name of the company is ‘SBI Card’ and it is registered in the name of ‘SBI Cards and Payment Services Limited’. The company is trading under the entity name ‘SBICARD’ on stock exchanges.

About BPCL

Bharat Petroleum is India’s second largest retailer with a nationwide robust marketing and distribution network comprising of more than 17,000 Retail Outlets, 6,600 LPG distributorships, 733 Lubes distributorships, 123 POL storage locations, 52 LPG Bottling Plants, 58 Aviation Service Stations, 3 Lube blending plants and 4 cross-country pipelines.

During the year 2019-20, BPCL’s Gross Revenue from Operations stood at Rs.3,27,581 Crores, Net Profit at Rs. 2,683 Crores, Market Sales were 43.10 MMT and Market Share amongst Public Sector Oil Companies was the second highest at 24.5%. The products have a wide range of applications in industrial, transport, power and agriculture sectors. Bharat Petroleum has also formed 24 joint venture companies covering refining, city gas distribution, renewable energy, pipelines, gas, into-plane servicing, airports, payment banks etc. to cater to the diverse requirements of its customers.

NBHC ProComm Laboratory secures Integrated “NABL Accreditation”

Bengaluru, 14th December 2020 : NBHC ProComm, a division of National Bulk Handling Corporation (NBHC), India's leading provider of integrated post-harvest value chain services, is announcing the Accreditation of its Laboratory at Vashi, New Mumbai under the Integrated Assessment Scheme of NABL covering FSSAI (Food Safety Authority of India), APEDA (Agricultural & Processed Foods Authority of India) & IOPEPC (Indian Oilseed and Produce Export Promotion Council). This Accreditation of ProComm Laboratory spans over 13 Food Categories with 9 Authorised Signatories & 13 Approved Samplers.



ProComm has already been accredited with ISO 17025 (NABL), ISO 22000 & ISO 9001 and approved by GAFTA for Quality Testing of Agri-commodities. This New Accreditation marks NBHC’s foray into the Third Party Inspection & Testing Services Business. With its wide reach covering over 1100 locations, rich experience of agri-commodities & strong relationships with over 2000 customers across India; NBHC expects to widen the access of India’s farm community to Value-added Food Processing and Agricultural Exports through its ProComm Service Offerings.



NBHC ProComm provides specialized type of Testing and Sampling to Manufacturers, Importers, Exporters, Retailers and HORECA Industry across the country; to meet their requirements for safety, superiority and reliability. It has advanced industry-wide review criteria which are effectively implemented through continuous training to its employees & robust governance processes. NBHC ProComm Quality System and its Digitally-enabled Processes commit best-in-class, agile & on-time quality inspection & testing services to its customers.



Mr. Ramesh Doraiswami, Managing Director& CEO, NBHC, said, “NBHC is admired as one of the most professional organizations in the post-harvest supply chain for agri-commodities. ProComm is poised to be a significant enabler to India’s farm community, as it seeks value-added food processing & export opportunities to meet enhanced customer standards. ProComm will help NBHC consolidate its leadership position in the post-harvest agricultural value chain with a wider portfolio of offerings to customers through its Audit, Assessment, Testing & Inspection Services; leveraging its synergies with other divisions of NBHC”.



Mr. Ajit Lagoo, Business Head & VP, NBHC, said, “The Inspection & Testing Services Market is expected to grow significantly, especially because of the Make in India Campaign and Government’s key initiative towards Agri Exports along with India’s Approach towards integrating more with the global market and regulatory / customer standards. It is vital for NBHC ProComm to realize that these services will resolve core problems like overuse, low-value testing, improper use of high-cost testing, rejections at importing country ports and supplier confusion over best test choice. One of our core values is Service Excellence marked by accuracy, agility and safety. We believe that these services will assist key growth sectors like export, retail, commodities, trade, healthcare, foods to name a few. We are optimistic about our 3rd Party Inspection & Testing Services to provide Total Quality Assurance to our Customers.”





About NBHC ProComm:

ProComm, A division of NBHC is an Exclusive Technical Service entailing Quality Testing, Grading & Inspection of a wide range of commodities. ProComm holds deep industry-leading commitment to deliver globally benchmarked solutions and are specialists in Offering Complete Commodity & Food Profiling (farm-to-fork), Comprehensive & Customized Inspection, Spot Testing and Lab Testing. ProComm Labs have produced innovative breakthroughs in its services and have been accredited by NABL, FSSAI recognized, APEDA and IOPEPC approved and GAFTA certified. NBHC ProComm is ISO 9001: 2015 certified for Quality Management System and ISO 22000: 2017 certified company for Food Safety Management System.



ProComm has achieved the milestone of 300,000+ test reports per annum. With 45+ Brick & Mortar labs, 200 + mobile labs, 5 NABL Accredited Labs and 23 offices in 19 States, ProComm is always close to its customers that includes leading Corporate Houses, Public Sector Organizations, including a wide gamut of Medium and Small-Scale Enterprises.



Website: https://www.nbhcprocomm.com/



About NBHC:

National Bulk Handling Corporation Pvt. Ltd. (NBHC) is the leading integrated service provider in the agri-ecosystem in India, offering inter alia warehousing services, collateral management services, procurement & supply chain management service and other allied services such as quality assaying and certification, pest management and audit, surveillance & control. Led by its impressive track record spanning over a decade, advantages of a strong and experienced management and the positive impetus derived from its ownership - the private equity major True North, NBHC is on its path to emerge as a key player in comprehensive collateral and total commodity management solutions.

SBI General Insurance partners with Mahindra Insurance Brokers Ltd for “insurance penetration in rural” India

This association will enable the company to provide health insurance cover to a significant number of people in tier 2 & 3 markets; and generate employment



Bengaluru, 11th December 2020 : SBI General Insurance announced a strategic partnership with Mahindra Insurance Brokers Ltd. (MIBL) through its Sajhedaari programme, to increase insurance penetration in tier 2 & 3 cities. This association marks a significant milestone for SBI General in realising its vision of becoming the most trusted general insurer for a transforming India.



SBI General is also associated with MIBL for the new car, commercial vehicle, tractors and used cars and provide vehicle Insurance with several add-ons the customers. In the digital space also SBI General has partnered with PAYBIMA, a digital platform by Mahindra Insurance Broker for providing affordable insurance solutions.



PC Kandpal, MD & CEO, SBI General Insurance said, “The pandemic has brought to fore a large part of our population that does not have health insurance to finance their medical expenditures. The most pressing requirement at this moment for us is to ensure that the ‘missing middle’ is tapped and insured.

Hence, this tie-up is an important enabler in our strategy to meet the insurance needs of our customers in Tier 2 & 3 cities. We are sure that our association will play out well in promoting health insurance awareness; and making certain that more people get health cover.”



Dr. Jaideep Devare, ‎Managing Director, ‎Mahindra Insurance Brokers Ltd. said, “We are excited to collaborate with SBI General Insurance under our Sajhedaari program, a socially inclusive initiative designed to identify, train and certify Point of Sales Persons (POSPs) for insurance distribution, while enabling deeper insurance penetration in the country. We are confident that through our collective efforts, we will empower people with knowledge about and access to health policies, which are sadly neglected due to lack of awareness and accessibility, especially in the under-served and under-penetrated rural areas of our country.”





About SBI General Insurance Company Limited: With the strong parentage of SBI, we, at SBI General Insurance, are committed to carry forward the legacy of trust and security; and to become the first choice for every Indian’s general insurance needs. Ever since our establishment in 2009, from 17 branches in 2011, we have expanded our presence to around 123 branches pan-India.

We follow a robust multi-distribution model encompassing Bancassurance, Agency, Broking and Retail Direct Channels. Today, our distribution family includes over 22,900 IRDAI certified advisors including the State Bank Group employees, and over 12,000 Agents to make insurance easily available even in the remote areas of the country.

On the distribution network front, we have strong distribution partners adding up our reach to every nook and corner of India, with SBI’s over 22000 branch network, other financial and digital partners. Our current geographical exposure covers 125+ cities pan-India with a presence of another 350+ locations through satellite resources.

We currently serve three key customer segments viz. - Retail Segment (catering to Individual & Families), Corporate Segment (catering mid to large size companies) and SME Segment; and are future-ready to serve the growing needs of Indians with new age-processes and services at affordable prices.

SBI General Insurance closed the financial year 2019-20 with a Gross Written Premium of Rs. 6840 cr at a YoY growth of 45%.

MIT-WPU’s School of Engineering Updates its curriculum to bridge Industry-Academia gap

MIT-WPU’s School of Engineering Updates its curriculum to bridge Industry-Academia gap

Ties up with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and introduces Four New Industry-Relevant Courses




Bengaluru, 11th December 2020 : The Indian education system is frequently challenged by an obsolete curriculum that is theoretical in nature and lacks the practical element of providing skills and competencies that are important to an ever-evolving industry. In order to ensure that the curriculum is continuously updated and applicable to the industry, MIT-WPU’s Faculty of Engineering and Technology has restructured its engineering curriculum by incorporating industry-relevant courses and enabling students to choose a minor in Computer Engineering along with their BTech specialisation.

The Faculty of Engineering and Technology at MIT-WPU and CIAP believe that for India to be at the forefront of cutting-edge technology and research, it requires an evolved Industry-Academia interface. They are leading in a truly collaborative approach, which enables learning through an industrial, academic and research alliance, through its extensive industry network, state-of-the-art laboratories and centres of excellence within the campus. With this, students get opportunities to learn actual industry practices through projects and lectures instead of just theoretical learning.

Suggestions received from industries through Centre for Industry Academia Partnerships (CIAP) at the university were also considered to address the curriculum gaps. Elaborating further on this, Mr Pravin V Patil, CEO – CIAP, MIT World Peace University, said, “CIAP’s mandate is to bridge the gap between skill/exposure/academic understanding of students and his/her employability. We help bridge the gap between Industry and Academia and also build long-term partnerships with industries that can provide a win-win for both the industry and its students.”

Introduction of Four New Industry-Relevant Courses in B.Tech

MIT-WPU’s Faculty of Engineering and Technology has also undergone academic restructuring in line with the New Education Policy 2020 for incorporating skills required as per the market needs and to minimize the overlapping of courses across all the B.Tech programs. The university has identified four specific courses, which will be added to all the engineering curricula, after an intensive initiative to further update the B.Tech program and align it with the current industry demands. These four courses are as follows:

1. Linux based Python Laboratory (1 Credit): This lab course is to be offered in the second year of the BTech program. At the end of this course, students will be able to use Python for problem solving.



2. Basic IoT Laboratory (2 Credits): The course is to be offered in the second year of the BTech program. The course will be based on a few common lab assignments and a small discipline-specific project. This will allow students to concentrate on discipline-specific applications and also help the Schools in percolating the concepts and applications for other courses as well as in projects.



3. Data Science for Engineers (2 + 1 Credits): This course is to be offered in the third year of the BTech program. The course would be a combination of theory and lab practice.



4. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) (2 + 1 Credits): This course is to be offered in the third year of BTech program. The course would be a combination of theory and lab practice. After learning the course, students should be able to apply the AI and ML skills in their domain and projects.

Driving Industry-Academia Collaborations: In partnership with TCS

Further, to address the growing need of engineering talent with skills in digital technology, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), in partnership with MIT-WPU, has designed a curriculum for a 4-year undergraduate program on Computer Science called Computer Science and Business Systems (CSBS), which will run under the School of Computer Engineering and Technology.

Some of the salient features of this course are as follows:
The course curriculum is designed by TCS
TCS will conduct training sessions for the faculty members about the conduction of all courses before the commencement of each trimester. The sessions will be conducted by leading academicians and TCS senior executives.
TCS may offer internships to selected students based on their performance of assessment tests
Expert lectures will be conducted by TCS senior executives for some subjects
TCS will do periodic progress assessment of the students for some papers

This curriculum aims to ensure that the students graduating from this program not only know the core topics of Computer Science but also develop an equal appreciation of humanities, management sciences and human values. The students are also exposed to emerging topics such as, Analytics, Machine Learning, Cloud Computing, Internet of Things, etc. to make them industry-ready at the end of four years of study.



Market-Ready Students: Opting for a Minor in Computer Engineering

Apart from the introduction of these new courses to inculcate further industry-relevant skillsets through their BTech programs, the MIT-WPU Faculty of Engineering and Technology is also introducing the option to opt for a minor in Computer Engineering along with pursuing their major in their chosen BTech specialization. This will further bridge the gap between industry and academia and eligible students will gain an edge over their peers and will graduate with expertise in two different disciplines.

Speaking on this remarkable change in the curriculum, Prof Dr Prasad D Khandekar, Dean, Faculty of Engineering & Technology, MIT World Peace University, said, “In order to impart more knowledge and expose our students towards evolving skills for future applications, we are offering the minor in Computer Engineering (CE) at the BTech level. All interested and eligible students of all the BTech programs and specializations can opt for this minor in CE, excluding the students admitted in CE of course. The students can take up the minor after the successful completion of their first year, subject to fulfilling the eligibility criteria.”

MIT World Peace University is currently accepting online admissions applications to its industry-acclaimed BTech programs. 

Please note that the BTech admission at MIT Pune, Kothrud (MIT-WPU) is done via separate application process and NOT through DTE CAP rounds. The last date to apply for this program is 6th December, 2020.

BTech Program for Diploma Students

The MIT-WPU Faculty of Engineering & Technology also offers a 3-year BTech program for Diploma students, who wish to upgrade themselves and get their BTech degree from an acclaimed university. A unique BTech Lateral Entry (Direct Second Year) program at MIT-WPU gives the opportunity to Diploma students to benefit from world-class learning opportunities and enter the BTech program offered at MIT-WPU from the second year.

A diploma graduate can now apply for any engineering specialization irrespective of their branch. For example, a mechanical diploma holder can apply for a computer engineering specialization through this 3-year BTech Lateral Entry (Direct Second Year) program at MIT-WPU. This program is also offered in all the mainstream engineering specializations and they can also get a minor in Computer Engineering, as is applicable in a regular BTech program at MIT-WPU. The university is currently accepting online applications for the admissions of year 2020.

Admissions to BTech Lateral Entry (Direct Second Year) program are currently open: https://apply.mitwpu.edu.in/bts/application.php

Please note that the BTech admission at MIT Pune, Kothrud (MIT-WPU) is done via separate application process and NOT through DTE CAP rounds. The last date to apply for this program is 6th December, 2020.

Scholarships for Engineering Students

Dr Vishwanath Karad MIT World Peace University always encourages pursuit of academic excellence and rewards meritorious students with scholarships. Scholarships of 10% to 100% of tuition fees to the first year of BTech students are awarded on the basis of JEE mains and MHTCET entrance marks.

Scholarships to Direct Second Year BTech students are also awarded on the basis of their diploma percentage. Scholarships from 25% to 75% of tuition fees are awarded to Direct Second Year BTech students. Polymer, Petroleum, Chemical, Civil and Electrical Engineering students can get the highest scholarships in the Direct Second Year BTech program.

MIT World Peace University is currently accepting online admissions applications to its industry-acclaimed BTech programs. To apply for 2020, click here.

Please note that the BTech admission at MIT Pune, Kothrud (MIT-WPU) is done via separate application process and NOT through DTE CAP rounds. The last date to apply for this program is 6th December 2020.

Saft reinforces its position in India with the launch of Saft Urja brand

 

• Saft Urja, Urja meaning energy in Sanskrit is the new name replacing Amco Saft and shows the spirit of Saft and its commitment to India.
• In 2021, Saft India will increase its production capacity by 20%, enhance its work force at its design office and launch new industrial battery products for India region.

Bengaluru, 11th December 2020 : Saft is launching the Saft Urja brand as the new name for its products manufactured and sold from its subsidiary in India. Adding to its existing product portfolio, Saft India is further gearing up to introduce new products for maintenance-free industrial applications and off-grid solar applications, showing its commitment to sustainability through innovative approaches and reliable renewable energy.

Franck Cecchi, Executive Vice President for Saft’s Industrial Standby business, says: “India is strategically important and exciting for Saft. We have a strong presence here and we’ve built up a solid brand awareness over the past 14 years now. India benefits from a high potential fast-growing battery market, with average annual estimate growth of 9% in the coming five years.”

Arindam Majumdar, Chief Executive Officer of Saft India adds: “We are confident for the future. Urja means energy in Sanskrit, so by branding our products under the name of Saft Urja, we are reflecting the spirit of the country and showing Saft’s positive energy.”

To leverage on the “Make in India” program driven by the Indian Government, Saft India is extending the production capacity by 20% at its factory in Bangalore. The site follows the quality standards and procedures established across all Saft’s plants throughout the globe. Those standards provide high reliability and efficient operation for the Indian market.

Saft India is a trusted manufacturer of nickel technology battery systems for industrial power backup, utilities, oil and gas, railways and metro operators in India. Many of those batteries operate in difficult and demanding conditions, for example, at subzero temperatures in the Himalayas (Leh Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir), in hot climates of the Thar and Kutch deserts and in hot and humid conditions of the western and eastern coasts.

About Saft   

Saft specializes in advanced technology battery solutions for industry, from the design and development to the production, customization and service provision. For 100 years, Saft’s longer-lasting batteries and systems have provided critical safety applications, back-up power and propulsion for our customers. Our innovative, safe and reliable technology delivers high performance on land, at sea, in the air and in space. Saft is powering industry and smarter cities, while providing critical back-up functionality in remote and harsh environments from the Arctic Circle to the Sahara Desert. Saft is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Total, a leading international oil and gas company and a major player in renewables and electricity. 

We energize the world.  www.saftbatteries.com 

       

PayPoint launches “e-gold for the under-served rural families”

• Individuals can start investing in 22 Carat e-Gold for as low as Rs. 500, without opening a Demat account
• Tech-unsavvy customers can easily invest in e-Gold with guided assistance from retail or Kirana stores associated with PayPoint India.

Bengaluru, 9th December 2020 : While there are multiple ways to purchase gold, one that has become increasingly popular in urban India is e-Gold or Digital Gold. However, in the rural market, the demand for e-Gold remains sluggish due to low digital literacy and awareness.



In light of these gaps, PayPoint has launched an “e-Gold facility” on its platform – a network of more than 48,000 last-mile physical stores - to make the investment process simpler and safer for rural families. The initiative is for tech-unsavvy customers to conveniently buy and sell e-gold with guided assistance from PayPoint store staff. Individuals can invest in 22-Carat gold for as low as Rs. 500.



E-gold enables the purchase of non-physical or digital gold in small quantities, that too, without opening a Demat account. Hence, customers can avoid the downsides of buying physical gold – such as identifying physical gold's legitimacy & purity, high-ticket size, safekeeping, storage problems and others.



On the other hand, once an individual buys e-Gold from nearby retail or Kirana stores associated with PayPoint, an equivalent amount of physical gold is purchased and stored in government-approved secured vaults on behalf of the customer. Additionally, Axis bank is the trustee of these vaults. These are the measures put in place to safeguard the interests of the customers.



Commenting on the development, Ketan Doshi, Managing Director of PayPoint India, said, "The cost of owning physical gold in the form of bars, coins or jewelry is high, as gold is trading at around 5,100 per gram currently. Thus, we aim to take the concept of e-Gold to the last-mile with small denomination investment, thereby encourage lower-income households to opt for regular micro-savings.



"In today's unprecedented times, when COVID-19 is ravaging the world, the need for security has come to the fore. With e-Gold SIPs, individuals can gradually build their assets even with limited income and achieve a degree of financial security in the challenging times", he added.



During a pilot run with some retailers, PayPoint witnessed strong adoption from the customers opting for daily, weekly and monthly investments. Such a response has reinforced PayPoint's commitment to take financial products to the last mile.



PayPoint facilitates transparent pricing by allocating or redeeming investments at real-time bullion rates. With outstanding features of flexibility in buying, high liquidity, long-term horizon and safety, investment in e-Gold is indeed one of the best investment avenues for the customers at the bottom of the pyramid.





About PayPoint India Network Pvt. Ltd.

PayPoint is a technology-enabled Distribution network of Financial Services. The company's digitally connected network of 48000+ offline stores offers various Financial services like Banking (PMJDY accounts), micro ATM services, Wallets (Paypointz), Remittances, Bill payments, insurance, Merchant QR, and many more. Apart from Financial services, PayPoint also offers consumer services to the underserved like Travel booking, Recharges, Amazon assisted shopping, Gift Cards, etc. through its strong network of retail stores spread across the country. The company's retailer-driven assisted model helps customers make an informed decision for availing services from their trained partners and its digital platform.

PayPoint offers a bouquet of services through its plug-and-play platform. More than 100 Services providers are plugged into the company's system and interact with them on a real-time basis catering to more than 4 million customers month on month. The primary objective is to bridge the financial inclusion gap between developed urban India and under-served rural India.

For more information, please visit: paypointindia.com

Harvard University Announces Fund from Vijay Shekhar Sharma for Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute

Bengaluru, 7th December 2020 : Harvard University is delighted to announce a new gift from India’s Vijay Shekhar Sharma, which will support the activities and research performed by the Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute (LMSAI). With this gift, every year two bright and promising students from India would receive a scholarship to pursue their research at Harvard and work towards transforming the lives of millions in India and abroad.


By enabling scholars from South Asia to work in a cross-disciplinary fashion with faculty, researchers, and students across Harvard on critical questions and issues related to the region, Sharma’s gift will significantly enhance the goals of the Institute to deepen the teaching and research on significant cultural and global issues related to South Asia.

“Recent months have confirmed that the most pressing societal challenges are global in nature,” said University Provost Alan Garber. “We are deeply grateful to Vijay Shekhar Sharma. Through his generosity, he has affirmed our shared commitment to advancing cross-disciplinary research and learning in our interconnected world. His vision for a more collaborative future has never been timelier. We are proud to partner with him.”

“Further expanding Harvard’s work and partnerships in India is a major priority for the University,” said Vice Provost for International Affairs Mark Elliott. “This fund, which will provide leading South Asian scholars in all fields with new opportunities to pursue their research at Harvard, will bring benefits to them and their home institutions as well as to the Harvard community. In this way, this new program will do much to strengthen and broaden the kinds of academic connections we depend upon to help deepen our engagement with South Asian partners and to advance our academic mission globally,” he continued.

Vijay Shekhar Sharma is the Founder CEO of India's largest payments company, Paytm. He has played a critical role in developing the mobile payments and digital age financial services ecosystem in India. A strong believer in the power of technology to uplift underserved, Sharma founded Paytm in August 2010. Paytm counts Alibaba, Ant Group, Softbank and Berkshire Hathaway as its shareholders. He has a bachelor's degree in electronics and communications from the Delhi College of Engineering.

"I believe that good education can change an individual's life in the most profound ways. My father, who was a teacher, believed that the world can be positively changed through education. His teachings are my inspiration to make this contribution to Harvard University. Harvard’s integrity, diversity, and commitment to excellence are exemplary. I hope this gift will help future leaders attain the global vision that would help in transforming the lives of millions for the better in India and beyond,” said Vijay Shekhar Sharma.

Sharma has seen firsthand the transformational powers of education. Inspired by the work of his father, he has helped students in their pursuit of a promising future through his support for several foundations that assist the educational pursuits of thousands of students. Additionally, Sharma has been named the UN Environment's “Patron for Clean Air,” where he helps to drive greater environmental action and awareness, and advocates for the goals of UN Environment's global “BreatheLife” campaign.

Tarun Khanna, Director of the Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute and Jorge Paulo Lemann Professor at the Harvard Business School, highlighted the importance of creating a robust platform for knowledge-sharing, connecting those who may not otherwise have had the chance to interact. “We continue to increase the number of interdisciplinary programs and fellowships offered at the Mittal Institute, welcoming scholars of South Asia to share their research and partner with Harvard’s faculty and students. Thanks to Vijay’s generosity, we move closer to a critical mass of diverse perspectives and ideas at the Institute that deepen the world’s understanding of South Asia, from all disciplines and angles,” he said.

Each year, the Mittal Institute supports the research endeavors of numerous scholars from South Asia, providing them with opportunities to interact with Harvard’s faculty, students, and larger community for knowledge-sharing and the potential formation of new research partnerships. “This gift from Vijay will make it possible for young scholars of South Asia — who may have limited access to resources, but are highly talented — to have the opportunity to engage with the intellectual community at Harvard in ways that would make a lasting impact on their personal and professional development,” said Meena Hewett, Executive Director of the Mittal Institute.

With this generous gift, the Mittal Institute will continue to build its hub of scholars across all disciplines to further enrich the understanding of South Asia both in Cambridge and abroad.

JALAN KALROCK CONSORTIUM ANNOUNCES “REVIVAL OF JET AIRWAYS”

Bengaluru, 7th December 2020 : Consortium led by Mr. Murari Lal Jalan and Kalrock Capital, has announced the revival of India's premier airline – Jet Airways as a full-service carrier. The Jet 2.0 program is aimed at reviving the past glory of Jet Airways, with a fresh set of processes and systems to ensure greater efficiency and productivity across all routes. As per the resolution plan, Jet Airways intends to operate all of its historic domestic slots in India and restart international operations. If everything goes as per plan and the Consortium receives the NCLT and regulatory approvals on time, Jet Airways would be back in the skies by the Summer of 2021.



The Consortium's vision is to regain the lost ground, set new benchmarks for the airline industry with the tag of being the best corporate full-service airline operating on domestic and international routes. The Jet 2.0 hubs will remain Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru like before. The revival plan proposes to support Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities by creating sub-hubs in such cities. This would boost the economy in these cities, help Jet Airways stand back on its feet fast, and support the overall vision of the Indian Government to promote aviation business through Tier 2/ Tier 3 Cities in India.



In addition, the Consortium's vision for Jet 2.0 includes plan to increase cargo services to include dedicated freighter service, a market currently underserved by any Indian carrier. Given India’s position as a leading centre for global vaccine manufacture, cargo services have never been more required.



The Consortium had evaluated the option of starting a new airline but some of the inherent strengths of Jet Airways like the optimal flight slots, brand value and reputation for best-in-class inflight service and safety, giving Jet 2.0 an edge over others, were too tempting to resist. The Consortium decided that it would be advantageous to re-energise and start Jet Airways on a clean slate with an established brand.



Commenting on the revival of the airline, Mr. Manoj Narender Madnani, Board Member of Jalan Kalrock Consortium said, “Jet Airways has been a brand with a glorious history of over 25 years, and it is the vision of the Consortium to put Jet Airways back in the skies at the earliest opportunity. We aim to re-energise the brand by infusing energy, warmth, and vibrancy into it while making it bigger and better. Over the years, the brand has created loyal customers and we wish to bring in freshness by adding value – an Indian brand with a global outlook, warm yet professional which symbolises the New India, Young India. With the revival of Jet Airways, it will restore the confidence among the Jet customers to fly again and experience its world class facilities.”



Jet Airways is a well-known household aviation brand in India and the oldest private airline with an operating history spanning more than 25 years. The aviation sector was deeply hit by COVID-19, but that helped the sector as it underwent substantial correction and created that opportune time for the Consortium members to enter the sector. The Consortium's biggest strength is human capital, and it is putting together the best of aviation professionals with Global experience for running and managing the operations of Jet 2.0.

Global Streaming Service Starz Launches Premium Direct to Consumer OTT App ‘Lionsgate Play’ in India

 



Bengaluru, 2nd December 2020 : Starz, one of the leading premium global streaming platforms, has launched its independent direct to consumer OTT app ‘Lionsgate Play’ in India, the company announced today at a virtual press conference in the presence of Mr. Jeffrey A. Hirsch, President and Chief Executive Officer, Starz and Mr. Rohit Jain, Managing Director, Lionsgate South Asia. Building on its reputation for disruption, Lionsgate Play is committed to innovation in its content, technology, pricing, and accessibility by making premium Hollywood content available in multiple Indian languages.

The service has launched with a new price point in India, making the app available as part of two subscription models, INR 699 for a year and INR 99 per month, attractive price points that give Indian consumers the opportunity to enjoy the best of global entertainment affordably and at their convenience. In India the app will be available to download across a broad array of platforms and devices including Google Play store, Apple app store and Amazon firestick.

Starz first launched internationally with its Starzplay international premium streaming platform in 2018. This month it will expand its global footprint into 55 countries throughout Europe, Latin America, Canada, Japan and India, scaling to become one of the most widely distributed and fastest growing premium OTT services worldwide while entertaining millions of users with bold and curated content.

The platform anticipates continued strong growth in the Indian OTT ecosystem and is capitalizing on this opportunity by bringing a host of new, provocative, and edgy movies and web series to India with the launch of direct to consumer video streaming service Lionsgate Play.

The Lionsgate Play app features a broad portfolio of content ranging from the best of original feature film and television dramas, romances, comedies, thrillers and action favourites and premieres, bringing world cinema and television series directly to Indian audiences.

New content available at launch includes:

- The Anna Kendrick starrer Love Life, a fresh take on a romantic comedy anthology series about the journey from first love to lasting love.

- No Man’s Land a Syrian civil war series that resonates with relatable themes like first love, fear of loss and family sacrifice set against the backdrop of war; and

- The Goes Wrong Show, a laugh out loud comedy series with each episode having a different theme, including a period romance, spy thriller, a Deep South melodrama, and a Christmas fable.



The streaming giant will also premiere movies such as the Jennifer Lopez starrer Hustlers, Gerald Butler’s action thriller Angel Has Fallen, the fantasy thriller Hellboy, and the action comedy The Gentlemen, starring Matthew McConaughey, Colin Farrell and Hugh Grant, just to name a few, with something for every audience.

Commenting on the launch Mr. Jeffrey A. Hirsch, President and Chief Executive Officer, Starz said, “India has always been a key market for us. The large and diverse population, increased data usage in urban and rural markets, and adoption of OTT across all demographics created an exciting opportunity for us to launch Lionsgate Play. We’re confident that our unique, exclusive and exceptionally curated content will generate a great response from Indian audiences.”

Mr. Rohit Jain, Managing Director, Lionsgate South Asia, added, “We are thrilled to launch the much-awaited Lionsgate Play app in India. We want to provide the finest, never seen before content that will captivate our audiences with bespoke entertainment drawing on the most exciting current releases and our premium library.”

“We will also be launching Indian originals in the coming months, featuring untold edgy urban stories from some of the best creative minds in the Indian film industry” continued Mr. Jain. “And we will continue our Lionsgate Play journey by adding to our deep roster of premium content through partnerships with exciting millennial stars like Kriti Sanon, Tiger Shroff and Sanjana Sanghi increasing the breadth and scope of entertainment for our subscribers.”

 

Airtel Bengaluru runs the “first virtual marathon in the city”

 

 

Bengaluru 29^th November 2020 : Airtel Delhi Half Marathon (ADHM), since its inception, has held India’s flag high; representing its sporting spirit and generosity. On Sunday, 29^th November 2020, the world’s most prestigious half marathon, showcased the resurgence of the sporting India to the world from the streets of Bengaluru.From across the globe, runners joined via the exclusive Airtel Delhi Half Marathon Mobile App. 

  

This ADHM is special for Team Airtel Karnataka as the team ran together for a cause. The employees raised funds towards the education of girl child through India Cares and Bharti Foundation.   

  

The organizing team followed all the highest levels of safety-standards, to ensure a safe race for all the runners. About 100 team members participated in the 21k run which started from the Airtel office on Bannerghatta road with a roundabout near Bannerghatta park which culminated at the office.    

  

ADHM is one such platform that helps us connect with individuals who wish to bring about a change by combining their passion for running and their will to make a difference. The Foundation has been working in the space of education for underprivileged children through the Satya Bharti Schools, aiming to bring up confident, caring and contributing citizens of the future.       

  

C. Surendran, CEO – Bharti Airtel, Karnataka says, Participating in a run in namma Bengaluru with the warmth and hospitality of the citizens, the run was memorable. I was excited to run with my Team from Airtel. It’s a never done before sporting event.  To witness Bangaloreans on the race track amidst all the challenges in these hard times was thrilling. 

 

 

BR Shetty’s Controversy Ridden Jog Fall Project Scrapped by Karnataka Cabinet

Bengaluru, September 5, 2020: 

In a big announcement, the Karnataka state cabinet scrapped an agreement with BR Shetty Ventures to develop Jog Falls, on the plea that
there was no progress in the project. Owned by Dubai-based businessman BR Shetty,
the agreement had been signed in 2016 at a cost of Rs 450 crore. This comes soon
after debt-stricken BR Shetty, founder of Dubai based NMC healthcare has been
alleged to have misrepresented his shareholdings in the company and is definitely a
reflection of Shetty fast losing his credibility in the eyes of Indian government.
The agreement had been in the eye of the storm ever since the Cabinet gave its nod to
the project. With no financial commitment on the part of the state government, the state
Cabinet decided to allow Shetty’s firm to invest on its own and facilitate tourist flow to
the falls. While Shetty’s firm agreed to all the terms and conditions set by the state
government such as getting the necessary clearances and not setting up a resort
around it, what really whipped a controversy was the fact that despite promising such a
huge investment, the businessman really did not ask for anything else in return.

Punjab National Bank “salutes Teachers on the Teacher’s Day”

 

 

Bengaluru, 5^th September 2020 : Teachers’ Day is about celebrating the vital role of teachers in crafting young minds, guiding, nurturing, and shaping a progressive future. The objective is also to express gratitude, respect, and appreciation through recognition of the efforts of these architects of the nation. Punjab National Bank, India’s second largest bank today awardedteachers nationwide for their exemplary and distinguished services in the field of education.  

 

PNB officials across the country invited teachers, principals and retired teachers from the government schools, universities, and various educational institutions. In an initiative to honor their role and contribution, PNB’s senior officials across 13000 branches felicitated teachers with shawls and teaching materials like whiteboards and stationery items. The gesture aimed to acknowledge them for improving the quality of education and instilling integrity, imparting knowledge, and discipline in young minds.  

 

Teachers are also one of the warrior groups of Covid-19. As a responsible bank, PNB continuous to encourage and support, to those who are instrumental and dedicated to social and societal reforms.  

 

Below are the details of the activity:  

1. Felicitation of Vice chancellor, Ranchi University on auspicious occasion of Teacher's Day by Circle Head, Ranchi North, Sri Rati Kant Tripathi & Chief Manager, Sri Sanjay Kumar. (photo 1) 
2. Felicitation of a retired Headmaster of Nimpur ME School Jagatpur Cuttack by CH Cuttack Sri Bhanja & LK Mishra Head of GBB & CAC ZO Bhubaneswar at Bo-CDABIDANASI Cuttack (photo 2) 
3. PNB senior officials of Srinagar zone felicitating teachers (photo 3) 
4. PNB senior officials of Odisha, Baleshwar felicitating teachers (photo 4) 
5. PNB senior officials of Bhopal felicitating teachers (photo 5) 
6. PNB senior officials of Delhi felicitating teachers (Photo 6) 
7. PNB officials felicitating college director and senior teachers of SGSITS College Indore (Photo 7) 
8. PNB senior officials of Guwahati felicitating teachers (Photo 8) 

 

Website: https://www.pnbindia.in/