Archives September 2023

Leading provider of hotel reservation software, BidInn Hospitality, is pleased to announce a significant expansion of its offerings. The business just added a startling 2,500 more hotels to its app, giving tourists around the world even more options and choices. The goal of BidInn Hospitality has always been to provide users with a simple and comfortable hotel booking process. With the addition of these 2,500 hotels, tourists can now choose from an even greater variety of lodging options, from five-star resorts to affordable inns, making sure there is something for every kind of traveler.

Rupsi Singh, the founder of BidInn Hospitality, said, “We are happy to give our users an even greater selection of hotel options to pick from. This growth is a crucial step toward realizing our aim, which has always been to make travel convenient and pleasurable for everyone.

Chennai, September  2023: 3332 VST Power Tillers were distributed by the Agricultural Engineering Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu to small and marginal farmers across the state at a subsidized rate.

VST Power Tillers are the most affordable and efficient farm equipment suited for small and marginal farmers in India. These machines can be used for bund formation, inter-cultivation, earthing up, & de-weeding, and puddling. It is a multi-crop specialist best suited for ginger, turmeric, sugarcane, vegetable crops, cotton, red gram, and horticulture crops.

The power tiller delivery event was organized across the state with the aim of bolstering agricultural productivity, easing the challenges faced by farmers, and increasing small farm mechanization in the state. The delivery of power tillers was inaugurated by the Honourable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru. Mr. M.K. Stalin in Chennai. Ministers, MPs, MLAs, and local body representatives participated in the mega-delivery event across Tamil Nadu. The Farmers selected for this program are from the beneficiary villages of the ‘Kalaignarin All Village Integrated Farm Development Scheme (KAVIADP).’

VST Tillers Tractors Limited was established in the year 1967 by the VST Group of companies. With a legacy of more than 55 years, VST continues to drive farm mechanization and empowerment of Indian farmers. The organization is the largest Indian manufacturer of Tillers, and 4WD Compact Tractors, and amongst the leading producers of the other category of Tractors, Engines, Transmission, Power Reaper, and Precision Components. VST also exports products to European, Asian, and African markets.

New Delhi, 25th September 2023 TheTimesofIndia.com has announced the second part of its “Right to Excellence” series which celebrates the spirit of perseverance, genius, and innovation across diverse fields. Titled “Tech Summit 2023”, the event will take place on Sep 25 at Eros Hotel, New Delhi.

The Tech Summit will bring together tech leaders, industry experts, and policymakers who will engage in thought-provoking discussions aimed at exploring how India can further consolidate its rapidly expanding influence in the technology sector. The summit will feature keynote addresses and panel discussions on topics such as innovation through 5G, tech in auto, navigating the business landscape, paving the path to a digitized India, future of gaming industry, and many more.

Helmed by Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, as the Chief Guest, the summit will also feature Pankaj Doval, National Editor – The Times Of India; Abhishek Singh, CEO, Digital India; Anku Jain, MD, MediaTek, India; CP Gurnani, MD & CEO, Tech Mahindra; Lt. Gen. Dr. S. P. Kochhar, Director General, COAI; Manoranjan Mohapatra, CEO, Comniva; Muralikrishnan B, President, Xiaomi India; Rajesh Gupta, Director & Country Manager, Micron Technology; Rohan Verma, CEO, MapMyIndia; Saumya Singh Rathore, Co-founder, Winzo Games; and Tarun Garg, COO, Hyundai Motor India.

“As part of the Right to Excellence series, the Tech Summit represents a significant milestone in our journey to inspire and ignite innovation in technology,” said Prasad Sanyal, Business Head of TimesofIndia.com. “The event will bring together the brightest minds in the tech world, shedding light on pressing issues and decoding the future of technology’s impact on human lives.”

Greater Noida 25th September 2023 The positive progress in India continued as Marc Marquez sent the crowd into a frenzy on his way to third in the Sprint Race while Joan Mir took positives from his strong start at the Buddh International Circuit.

Afternoon rain saw delays hit the Indian Grand Prix, the MotoGP riders getting an extra ‘Wet Session’ to try the new circuit in the changeable conditions. A handful of further delays meant that the Sprint Race would start with every rider on slick tyres as the Indian sun began to set overhead.

As drama unfolded at the front and the back of the field, Marc Marquez and Joan Mir stayed clear at the front and immediately found themselves in podium contention. Swapping positions across the opening laps, the pair kept Bagnaia in second in their sights. Pushing harder with each lap, Marquez soon found himself comfortably in third until Brad Binder appeared in the dying stages of the race. Setting a 1’45.257 on the last lap of the race, the #93’s quickest lap, showed the intensity with which Marquez rode to clinch third. The result sees him return to the podium for the first time since the opening race of the year in Portugal.

Joan Mir’s strong form in India continued as a perfectly timed lap in Q2 saw the double World Champion earn his best qualifying result of the year with fifth. Starting one spot ahead of his Repsol Honda Team teammate, Mir launched well and tussled with Marquez early on. A mistake after a few laps saw the #36 drop down to ninth. As he attempted to rally, Mir suffered a harmless fall at Turn 3 – ending his race. Although unable to take the flag, Mir and his side of the Repsol Honda Team garage are buoyed by the start of the race and will be looking to replicate it on Sunday.

Temperatures are predicted to be similarly intense on Sunday, but everyone is hoping the rain will stay away so the local fans can experience the unrestricted thrill of a MotoGP Grand Prix. Lights are scheduled to go out at 15:30 Local Time on Sunday, September 24.

Marc Marquez (3rd)

“A really important and of course good feeling day. I was there with the group, pushing and able to ride in a really good way. I had to take a lot of risks, especially at the end to defend and I set my fastest lap of the race on the last lap. But I was able to be consistent and ride well which is the main point and take away. Doing it again tomorrow will be more difficult, but we need to enjoy this moment and get another boost of motivation from it. I want to say a big thank you to the Repsol Honda Team and HRC for their continued efforts.”

Joan Mir (DNF)

“I think overall we had a really solid Saturday, we earned our best grid position of the year and continued to be able to run at the front. We started the race well and in those opening laps it was all going well and I was feeling really good on the bike. Unfortunately, I made a mistake and then crashed soon after, this is obviously a shame because it would have been fantastic to bring home a result for the team. Still we were able to show more of our potential and we will try to finish the job we started today in the main race on Sunday.”

Indian GP – Sprint Race

Bengaluru, 25th September 2023 – India’s leading bike taxi platform Rapido has launched its ‘Drop Location Feature’ nationwide to empower its captains and provide a seamless last-mile connectivity to its riders. With this new feature, the captains can access the drop location of riders before accepting a ride enabling them to make a well-informed decision in accepting a ride request. It will lead to less cancellations and ensuring a smoother, more reliable ride sharing for both riders and Captains.

Expressing his views on the new feature, Pavan Guntupalli, Co-Founder of Rapido, said, “At Rapido, we are committed to providing a reliable and convenient transportation solution for millions of people across India. Our new ‘Drop Location Feature’ aligns perfectly with this vision. By empowering our captains with vital information, we are ensuring that our riders enjoy a seamless and dependable ride every time they choose Rapido.”

For passengers, the benefits are clear. With captains having access to drop locations in advance, the chances of ride cancellations due to misunderstandings or inconvenience are significantly minimized. Passengers can have confidence that once a ride is accepted, it’s more likely to be completed smoothly. Rapido’s ‘Drop Location Feature’ streamlines the entire process, making it hassle-free for passengers. They do not need to worry about captains canceling rides at the last minute anymore, leading to a more predictable and convenient commute. Additionally, passengers can now relax knowing that captains are well-informed about their intended destination. This knowledge empowers captains to plan routes more efficiently, ultimately ensuring that passengers reach their destinations with ease. However, the ‘Drop Location Feature’ will not in any way compromise the privacy of Rapido customers; their information will remain secure and safe.

The ‘Drop Location Feature’ marks a significant step forward in Rapido’s ongoing efforts to prioritize user experience and safety. With this feature, captains can assess factors such as distance, traffic conditions, and time constraints before accepting a ride, ensuring that they are fully prepared to provide an exceptional service.

Kolkata, 25th September 2023: National Award Winning Film maker Gaurang Jalan represented as a member of the International Jury for Cinema and Theatre from India to Cairo for Film Festival. There are Jury members from countries like the USA, Greece, Egypt, Jordan, China, Palestine, Poland, South Africa other than India. Gaurang Jalan was conferred with the coveted National Award by the President of India for his latest film Avijatrik (The Wanderlust of Apu) for best Bengali Film, in September 2022. This film won 27 National & International awards in all.

The 7th Awladna International Forum for Arts of the Gifted which is under the auspices of H.E. President Abdel Fattah El- Sisi, President of the Arab republic of Egypt, in association with Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Social Solidarity, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Tourism& Antiquities, National Council for Women etc is having its annual Film Festival from 22nd to 29th September, 2023 in Cairo, Egypt. This Festival is in integration with the Afro-Chinese Arts and Folklore Festival, under the slogan of “What a wonderful world!” 41 Countries are participating in this unique International Festival of Arts, Music & Films.

Speaking to the media, Mr. Gaurang Jalan, National Award Winner & Film maker said, “It is a matter of great honor to be selected as a member of the International Jury for Films, on behalf of India. Representing our country makes one feel extremely proud. 41 countries have sent their films to this special festival for the Gifted, which is under the aegis of the Ministry of Culture, Government of Egypt. There are 4 films from India. Indians and Indian films, cuisine are loved by Egyptians. I remember during my last visit to Cairo in 2015, with Mr Amitabh Bachchan, who was here for the Nile festival, people went simply crazy to get a glimpse of him. Amongst the new era stars they love Shah Rukh Khan. Indian & Egyptian culture have a lot of similarities, being ancient civilizations.”

As Producer of movies, he has been associated with Gaurang Films which has produced Award winning films– Feature, Documentary & Short – in multiple Indian languages (Hindi, English, Bengali, Assamese, Oriya & Bhojpuri).Our film “Safed Haathi”(White Elephant) is the recipient of the ‘Golden Lotus’(from President of India), for being the Best Children’s Film, “Aaj Ka Robinhood” (Return of Robinhood) received ‘Special Mention’ by the Unicef Jury in Berlin Children Film Festival, “Anokha Moti”(Magic Pearl) participated in 22 International Festivals & was widely appreciated. In recent times, we have also embarked on making films in DV format & short films. Notable amongst them was “Aami”(l AM) which won the best film and best documentary at the Kids for Kids Festival at Athens, Greece, besides having been screened at Chicago and was also invited to “The Oprah Winfrey Show”! Other productions include “Fish for Thought”,” Last Lines”, “Who am I”, “Flickering Angels” and “The Men Who Saved Killapara” to name a few. In all Gaurang Films has made more than 15 Children films.

This International Cinema and Arts Festival, aims for supporting the Gifted and creating a cultural and artistic platform that expresses their creativity, talents, arts, to enhance the process of their societal integration at the local and international levels. Such atmosphere is attained by opening artistic outlets for children from different countries of the world in the fields of cinema and children’s arts, in order to build a cultural bridge that connects different international cultures and works on exchanging creative experiences in order to encourage children and their families to develop skills and awareness about children related issues worldwide. The other Jury from India is Priya Ramasubban.

The films selected from India in Cairo Festival 2023 are:

1. Salaam Venky (Hindi) – Directed by Revathy Asha

2. Montur Montoh (Assamese) – Directed by Ramen Borah

3. DHH (Hindi/Gujarati) – Directed by Manish Saini

4. Giddh -The Scavenger (Hindi) – Directed by Manish Saini

Indore,25th September 2023 CoinDCX, India’s first Unicorn crypto exchange, hosted Namaste Web3 in Indore, a flagship Web3 education initiative that helps spread awareness and education about Web3- the future of Internet. Indore native Sumit Gupta, Co-founder of CoinDCX has been one of the driving forces to support the Web3 ecosystem in India.

The Indore chapter of Namaste Web3 was on the theme “Are you prepared to ride the Web3 wave?”. The event was graced by the presence of Shri P Narahari, Secretary and Commissioner, Department of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) Industries, Government of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Pushyamitra Bhargav, Mayor, Nagar Nigam Indore, and Sumit Gupta, Cofounder, CoinDCX. More than 250 people attended, including notable persons from Indore, Web3 and emerging tech entrepreneurs, developers, and enthusiasts.

India, a nation teeming with innovation and vibrant entrepreneurial spirit, is making waves in the Web3 space. With more than 450 active startups, a formidable talent pool of 75,000 developers, and a growing list of unicorns, India is poised for a remarkable transformation. The country boasts a whopping 11% of the global Web3 talent and the industry has the potential to infuse an additional $1.1 trillion into India’s GDP. In this context, hosting Namaste Web3 in Indore takes on special significance, given the city’s impressive roster of Web3 entrepreneurs, developers, and professionals.

Sumit Gupta, Co-founder of CoinDCX, who has deep roots in Indore, shared a heartfelt message during the event, saying, “Having grown up in Indore, I understand the city’s spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation. It’s a place that has shaped my entrepreneurship journey. As someone who has benefited from this city, I believe in the importance of giving back. Education plays a pivotal role in ensuring that our community is well-equipped with the latest knowledge and developments. To this end, we have initiated several programs, including Namaste Web3. I am proud to witness young entrepreneurs from my hometown city gearing up to become the next generation of Web3 pioneers. I am confident the city holds the potential to evolve into the ‘Web3 Silicon Valley’.”

Delivering a keynote at the event, Shri P Narahari, Secretary and Commissioner, Department of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) Industries said, “Indore, a city known for its entrepreneurial spirit and burgeoning talent pool, is quickly emerging as a prominent hub within the Emerging Tech and Web3 startup ecosystem. With a growing community of budding entrepreneurs and tech-savvy talents, Indore possesses the essential ingredients to become a global Web3 powerhouse. The Government of Madhya Pradesh is committed to nurture the talent and empower our youth with the necessary supportive ecosystem. Towards this, we have initiated a series of initiatives, offer access to resources and support in terms of infrastructure and incentives”.

Shri Pushyamitra Bhargav, Mayor of Nagar Nigam Indore, expressed, “It fills me with immense pride to witness our young entrepreneurs and tech enthusiasts gearing up to chart the course of technological evolution. As the Mayor of Indore, I am wholeheartedly dedicated to nurturing and empowering our city’s youth, positioning Indore as a genuine epicenter of innovation and excellence within the domains of Emerging Tech and Web3. Education serves as the cornerstone of building a robust and vibrant community, and events like Namaste Web3 play a critical role in supporting and nurturing this ecosystem. They provide a valuable platform for our matured talent to learn, network, and excel, further propelling our city into the forefront of technological advancement.”

The Namaste Web3 Indore chapter celebrated the remarkable contributions of entrepreneurs and founders from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities to India’s thriving startup ecosystem. It highlighted the rise of ‘New India,’ driven by the boundless aspirations, impressive skills, and unwavering commitment of the millennial workforce.

The fireside chat on ‘Entrepreneurship in the Web3 Era’ by Mr. Sumit Gupta, Co-founder & CEO of CoinDCX, explored key aspects of entrepreneurship in the evolving digital landscape. There was a panel discussion on ‘Web3 and Entrepreneurship,’ featuring distinguished speakers such as Mr. Dilip Chenoy, Chairman, Bharat Web3 Association; Koushik Bhargav Muthe, Co-founder & CTO, Zoth; Dr. Ravi Chamria, Co-founder CEO, Zeeve Inc.

The event ended with a panel discussion on ‘The Tokenization of Real World Assets(RWA)’. The panel comprised of notable speakers from the industry such as Mr.Rohit Khandelwal, Co-founder, Coin Gabbar, Ashish Anand, Co-founder & CEO, Bru.Finance & Founder Whrrl, Ravikant Agarwal, Director of Growth, Polygon, Aritra Sarkhel, Director & Founding Team, ANQ, Pranav Maheshwari, Sr. Solutions Architect at Edge & Node and Pranav Pagaria, Vice-President, Finance Strategy & Tax, CoinDCX.

Mumbai – A 44 year young office going lady from South Mumbai ( Archana sawant ) name changed was suffering from changes in her body slowly over a period of 6 to 8 years like increasing weight, thickening of skin , tightness of ring in finger, enlargement of hands and feet , enlargement of nose and tongue, Increasing body hairs irregularities in her menstrual cycle. Considering these she visited her Gynecologist who suggested she get Sonography of abdomen and pelvis which suggested PCOD. It’s an ovarian disorder which is common. But her disease was not improving and she slowly went into depression and also started isolating herself from social gatherings just because of her looks. One fine day she visited ENT doctors for her ear wax removal who suggested she consult Neurosurgeon. Doctor who treated this patient Dr. Amit Aiwale, Neurosurgeon from Solaris Hospital which specializes in Brain & Spine treatment said,” We immediately recognized her suffering from Acromegaly which is a hormonal disorder caused by excessive secretion of Growth hormone in adults. She underwent an MRI and detailed Hormonal evaluation. MRI suggested pituitary macroadenoma of approx. 1.5 x 2 cm size. And her IGF 1 levels were increased. After Endocrinologist evaluation and fitness, we suggested Endoscopic trans nasal pituitary macroadenoma excision surgery which is highly advanced technology available at Solaris Hospital where computer assistant i.e. Navigation guided surgery is also possible. Patient underwent surgery, recovered well in 5 days and was discharged within a week. Patient was so happy that the surgery was literally scar less and she couldn’t believe that brain tumor surgery is done with no scar on her body. Patient started feeling a glow on her face and felt her skin becoming smooth. The body hairs also reduced over the next 2- 3 months and she regained her menses regularly.”

Patient is so thankful that this surgery changed her life and she started going to social gatherings and became more independent in her life. We need to spread awareness about pituitary macroadenoma and surgical advances in brain surgery. The results are excellent in expert’s hands. With the advanced technology in diagnosis and surgery and the skills of neurosurgeons, the success and survival rates of pituitary tumor surgery have improved very significantly in the last decade, added by Dr. Amit Aiwale, Neurosurgeon from Solaris Hospital. Thane.

Bengaluru, 25th September 2023: Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) commenced the third leg of its thrilling ‘Great 4X4 Expedition’ today in the northern region of India. In May 2023, TKM marking its inaugural 4X4 Expedition started in Southern Region of India (Sakleshpur-Hasssan of Karnataka State), followed by the second drive held recently in West Region at Lonavala. Needless to mention, the recently concluded South and West based ‘Great 4×4 Expedition by Toyota’ were filled with unlimited excitement and adventure. Participants were treated to specially curated drives and the joy of breath-taking green landscape views. This initiative has been designed to unite and engage with motoring enthusiasts from all corners of the country – the regions of North, South, East, and West, thereby ensuring nationwide participation. Building on the success of the previous expeditions in the southern and western regions, TKM flagged-off its third 4X4 Expedition in the north region starting at Hoshiarpur, as a testament to Toyota’s commitment to provide exhilarating experience to 4×4 SUV community, fuelling their passion for adventure, and promoting ‘Mass Happiness and Mobility for All.’

The expedition features a convoy of remarkable 4-wheel drive SUVs, such as the iconic Hilux, the legendary LC300, the popular Fortuner and the Hyryder AWD (All Wheel Drive) and including the owners of SUVs from other brands as well, thereby fuelling their spirit of thrilling and adventurous 4X4 drive.

Starting from Gaj Retreat of Hoshiarpur in the northern region, the experiential drive will take participants through the challenging terrains, showcasing the exceptional capabilities of the 4X4 vehicles. As a unique element of this extraordinary expedition, TKM has thoughtfully curated a 4WD trail featuring natural obstacles like articulation, side inclines, rambler sections, deep ditches, slushy terrain, and rocky beds at Kikar. These carefully designed tracks promise an unmatched off-roading adventure, showcasing the versatility of the 4X4 vehicles. It goes without saying that Toyota places the utmost importance on customer safety and to ensure this, comprehensive safety measures have been meticulously put in place, wherein all the participants will be closely guided by the experienced 4X4 professionals throughout the entire expedition.

In addition to the thrilling adventure, participants will engage in a meaningful eco-activity, making a positive impact on the environment in line with Toyota’s commitment towards sustainability and carbon neutrality goals. Each of the participating 4×4 enthusiast will also plant saplings at one of the identified locations during the expedition, which will be their contribution to enrich the biodiversity in the surrounding areas of Kikar, Hoshiarpur.

Commenting on the third edition of ‘Great 4×4 Expedition by Toyota’, Mr. Atul Sood, Vice President – Sales and Strategic Marketing, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “We believe that the ‘Great 4X4 Expedition’ isn’t just about conquering terrains; it’s about conquering hearts and inspiring a sense of adventure in everyone. With each of these 4X4 expeditions, we strive to connect people with their passion for 4X4 SUVs, foster unity and providing a joyful experience of indulging in 4X4 adventures. With this initiative, our aim is to ignite the spark of thrill in the hearts of participants, regardless of the 4X4 vehicle brands they own. It is a testament to our commitment, to not only provide delightful 4X4 experiences, but also to promote inclusivity and the spirit of exploration.

 As we navigate through the 4X4 Expedition, we are reminded of our responsibility to leave a positive impact in the places we visit. Through the ‘Great 4X4 Expedition by Toyota,’ we aim to inspire individuals to not only explore their passion for motorsports but also to build lasting connections, strengthen their culture of contributing to greener, more sustainable world through tree plantation activity.”

 Stay tuned for the next ‘Great 4X4 Expedition by Toyota’, being planned in the eastern region of India in the coming month.

Overview of TKM

Overview of TKM 1st Plant:

Overview of TKM 2nd Plant:

New Delhi, 25th September 2023 The Digital Lenders Association of India (DLAI) and the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) recently announced that they have formally signed an MoU to propel the growth of the fintech sector in the country. Mr. Sivasubramanian Ramann, CMD SIDBI, also released DLAI’s latest version of the Industry Code of Conduct (CoC) document at the UnConclave 2023 organized by DLAI in Goa on September 23, 2023. The event was attended by the top 100 executives of the Indian fintech industry.

The new version of CoC is structured around the RBI’s Digital Lending Guidelines and takes into account important aspects such as Responsible Lending, Transparency, Fair Debt Collection Practices, Data Privacy and Security, Compliance with Regulatory Framework etc.

Speaking at the occasion, Mr. Ramann, said “High growth in Indian Fintech sector has been driven by best in class Public Digital Infrastructure (PDI) and matured policy support from regulator. It’s for the industry to leverage the Digital lending guidelines of RBI to develop responsible lending practices and the code of conduct prepared by DLAI is an important first step in this direction. We are happy to work with the Industry on other important aspects like standard protocols, customer protection, grievance redressal, etc. to facilitate faster adoption of digital lending. As a part of its business strategy SIDBI is using digital technology and partnerships to directly reach out micro enterprises. SIDBI will explore offering its credit products through the DLAI members.”

The MOU with SIDBI, is to establish a framework for collaboration between DLAI, the members of DLAI and SIDBI. Some of the key highlights of the MoU are as follows:

1. Collaborations to Boost Digital Adoption: Collaborating with SIDBI to develop standard protocols to expedite the adoption of digital lending partnerships including alliances between Banks and Lending Service Providers (LSPs), Co-lending collaborations, developing model partnership agreements, etc.
2. Enhancing Public Good Interventions: SIDBI to consider support to DLAI to recommend significant public good interventions in areas such as client protection, customer Grievance redressal mechanism, financial literacy, research and publications, etc.
3. Direct Lending Collaborations: SIDBI will explore partnerships for its “Prayaas” Scheme for informal enterprises, co-lending, GST Sahay, Express loan, green financing, etc and other direct credit schemes SIDBI.
4. Providing Liquidity for DLAI members: SIDBI shall provide resource support to eligible DLAI member NBFCs and also explore Assignment and Securitization transactions.

Speaking at the MoU announcement, Mr. Jatinder Handoo, CEO, DLAI, shared, “SIDBI is the apex Institution for development of MSME sector in the country. This partnership signifies an important step in India’s fintech journey for enhancing their role in financing to MSME sector. Both organizations are committed to leveraging our combined expertise and resources to pit the sector on high growth trajectory with responsible lending with innovation enbedded therein.”