Archives October 2023

BPTP Group, a prominent real estate developer in the NCR region, is all set to usher in joy and prosperity during the Navratras with its exclusive offerings. Dubbed “Mega Ratri – Mega Offers, Mega Deals, and Mega Happiness,” these extraordinary incentives are available from the 15th to the 24th of October, aligning with the auspicious time for real estate investments. Additionally, buyers stand a chance to win enticing ‘Mega gifts’ upon making on-the-spot bookings for their preferred projects.

These enticing opportunities encompass a diverse array of projects, spanning plotted developments, independent floors, apartments, and villas located in various regions. These projects are strategically situated in key areas of Gurugram and Faridabad, including Sector 80 Faridabad, Sector 70A Gurugram, Sector 37D Gurugram, and more, offering prospective homeowners the prospect of embracing a life characterized by comfort and convenience.

“Navratra represents a period of celebration and fresh beginnings, and BPTP Group is thrilled to contribute to this jubilant atmosphere with our Mega Ratri offers. Our goal is to assist buyers in discovering their dream homes while partaking in the spirit of Navratra. Our offerings are designed to facilitate our buyers in securing their homes at attractive prices, all the while standing a chance to receive exciting rewards for on-the-spot bookings. Our projects are meticulously crafted to offer not just a residence but a lifestyle that extends beyond the four walls of one’s home. We eagerly anticipate welcoming new members into the BPTP family,” emphasized Mr. Rohit Mohan, Senior Vice President of BPTP Group.

Mastercard and Bizom today announced a collaboration to extend a holistic digital supply chain financing solution to over75 lakh micro retailers and 2 lakh distributors of the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industry. Small retailers and distributors in India face several challenges including supply chain disruptions, inventory management, payment issues, limited technical skills and lack of access to capital, that impacts their business operations and growth prospects.

According to recent reports, out of over 64 million MSMEs in India, only 14 percent have access to formal credit. The partnership between Mastercard and Bizom will aim to address this gap and help retailers to grow their businesses.

Bizom will work with its vast network of over 75 lakh retailers and 2 lakh distributors operating in the CPG industry to automate route-to-market operations, with its best-in-class SaaS offerings. Mastercard will enable the adoption of digital payments for micro retailers and connect them to lending partners for easy access to credit. Mastercard will also bring its expertise in payments and provide retailers on the Bizom network withvirtual card application that will facilitate frictionless payments and easy reconciliation.

Vikas Varma, Chief Operating Officer, South Asia, Mastercard,said,“Rapid evolution of the retail sector has necessitated digital adoption by small businesses to derive benefits like operational efficiency and business growth. With this collaboration between Mastercard and Bizom,micro retailers and distributors will embark on a journey of digitization that helps them get online, get paid and get access to capital.”

He added, “No one organization can solve for the existing credit gap alone. So, it is imperative that we build ecosystem partnerships to bridge this gap. Through this partnership, Mastercard plans to bring together various stakeholders in the industry ecosystem from both the demand and supply side on a common platform to support small businesses.”

Sharing his optimism on the partnership, Lalit Bhise, CEO of Bizom,said,“We are excited to pave the way for the millions of MSME businesses like retailers, distributors, wholesalers and small manufacturers in Bizom’s network to gain access to formal digital financial products. Through this partnership with Mastercard, Bizom’s digital trade credit service will extend instant financial support to these small entrepreneurs, helping them grow faster.”

Mastercard announced a global commitment to bring a total of one billion people and 50 million micro and small businesses, including 25 million female entrepreneurs into the digital economy by 2025. Mastercard continually works with partners and merchants across the country to drive acceptance and till date, Mastercard has been able to drive acceptance at over 13 million merchant locations in India.

# Reinforcing Leadership in Organic Admissions

Delhi , 16th Oct , 2023 —

CTPL, a leading innovator in the education industry, is thrilled to announce its latest achievement: securing the preferred partnership rights for the esteemed VGU Jaipur in both traditional and online programs. This strategic collaboration underscores CTPL’s unwavering commitment to reshaping the landscape of Student Acquisition & Branding in the digital age.

With a track record of successfully facilitating over 20,000 student acquisitions in the current academic year and a remarkable total of 50,000 student acquisitions over the past four years for partner universities in both offline and online modes, CTPL has positioned itself as a true pioneer in the field.

“We are excited to embark on this transformative journey with VGU Jaipur,” stated Bikash Sahoo, CEO at CTPL. “This preferred partnership emphasizes our dedication to streamlining and enhancing the student acquisition and branding experience for both students and institutions.”
CTPL’s technology platform for student acquisition and engagement is designed with user-friendliness, intuitiveness, and a seamless applicant experience in mind. The platform offers real-time status updates, secure document uploads, and a responsive support team to guide students through the process with confidence and ease.

“As the CEO of VGU, I proudly affirm our partnership with CTPL. With over 4 cycles of successful collaboration, they’ve demonstrated an unwavering commitment to understanding the education market, adapting to industry trends, utilizing cutting-edge technology, and, crucially, taking full ownership of the admissions process. Together, we’re poised for continued excellence and innovation in education”, says Er. Onkar Bagaria, CEO and Trustee of VGU, Jaipur.

Beyond the advanced technology platform, CTPL’s core strength lies in its proficiency in harnessing data-driven strategies to optimize the student acquisition and branding funnel. This approach has consistently delivered outstanding results, yielding high conversion rates for partner universities. Through substantial process enhancements focused on efficiency and outcomes, CTPL has improved lead conversion ratios, increased retention rates among counselling teams, and streamlined workflows, cementing CTPL’s position as an industry trailblazer in student acquisition and branding 14+ Universities across 10 States in the country.

New Delhi, October 2023 – White Lotus Connect Private Limited, headquartered in New Delhi, has unveiled its revolutionary fintech aggregation platform, CreditKart. This sophisticated algorithm-based technology solution is poised to significantly enhance access to credit cards, loans, and an array of essential financial products for the benefit of Indian consumers.

CreditKart represents a pioneering advancement in the financial services industry, delivering a state-of-the-art digital platform designed to empower individuals across India with a myriad of credit options, impartial financial guidance, and cutting-edge technological solutions.

Akshit Chhabra, the Director of White Lotus Connect Private Limited, has expressed his enthusiasm for the debut of CreditKart, stating, “We are delighted to introduce the fintech aggregator platform, CreditKart. This platform augments our overarching distribution strategy, bolstering our service delivery with new-age, tech-enabled agility. With our robust digital foundation, we are steadfast in our commitment to extending our market reach and establishing a significant presence in underserved markets.”

CreditKart’s ambitious mission is to provide an extensive range of financial instruments, encompassing credit cards, personal loans, overdraft facilities, savings accounts, insurance, and more. By offering such diversity and facilitating an intuitive comparison process, the platform empowers consumers to make informed financial decisions, ensuring they select the optimal products tailored to their specific needs.

This digital platform not only underscores White Lotus Connect Private Limited’s dedication to advancing financial inclusion but also underscores its commitment to improving access to credit and a wide spectrum of financial services for the populace of India. With the noble objective of extending the advantages of CreditKart to more than a million Indian citizens by the conclusion of 2027,
White Lotus Connect Private Limited has taken a significant step towards promoting financial literacy and empowering individuals to seize control of their financial destinies.

The introduction of CreditKart is poised to significantly transform the Indian fintech landscape, offering individuals a powerful platform to make well-informed financial decisions and gain access to credit cards, loans, and various financial products with unparalleled ease. This ground-breaking approach is certain to elevate financial literacy and equip individuals to take charge of their financial futures more effectively and efficiently.

The 4th Edition of Start O Vation organised by Indian Chamber of Commerce with Invest India

16th October 2023, New Delhi: In a move that would augment innovation and funding in the deep-tech industry, the government will soon table a Cabinet note on the ‘draft national deep-tech policy’.

The Prime Minister’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC) has recommended the creation of a National Consortium and a Working Group that will propose a comprehensive policy framework to address the needs and strengthen the Indian deep tech startup ecosystem.

Chaired by the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, the apex-level National Consortium represents a broad spectrum of stakeholders. At the ‘Start-o-Vation’ event organised by Indian Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Sood said, “Start-ups in particular have room for growth, but it’s crucial for them to be truly innovative, paving the way for groundbreaking developments over the next few years. I want to highlight the National Deep Tech Startup Policy, a product of extensive stakeholder consultation, which builds upon the existing national startup policy. The aim is to fine-tune the startup policy to cater to the unique needs of deep tech ventures. We are moving a Cabinet note to this effect in consonance with DPIIT.”

Under the overall guidance of the National Consortium, steered by the Expert Working Group, a draft version of the National Deep Tech Startup Policy (NDTSP) has been developed through an extensive multi-stakeholder consultative process involving startups, incubation centres, industry associations, academic institutions and relevant government agencies.

Deep tech ventures require deeper insights into funding, long-term sustainability, and other critical aspects. Through these policy interventions, we hope to bolster the deep tech startup ecosystem. Currently, there are approximately 11,000 such startups in sectors like space and quantum technology, and even telecommunications, he emphasised.

Speaking at the ‘Start-O-vation’ Summit, Nikhil Kanodia, Chairman of Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), commended the ICC for its enthusiastic efforts to foster and promote StartUp India, Make in India, and Atmanirbhar Bharat. The summit aims to bring together startup innovators, venture capitalists, high-net-worth individuals, industry leaders, and policymakers to exchange ideas and discover tomorrow’s unicorns.

“We welcome the government putting a dedicated focus on deep tech startups and committing significant time and resources to the cause. We are sure this policy will take the Indian deep tech startup ecosystem to the global scale,” Mr Kanodia said.

Among the steps proposed is the setting up of a dedicated ‘deep tech capital guidance’ fund in which the government, private limited partners and foreign investors anchor certain commitments to a new fund or an existing fund in the form of fund of fund (FoF) structure. The draft policy has identified 10 sub-sectors within deep tech including robotics, computer vision, nanotechnology and artificial intelligence.

The policy recommended providing for certain fiscal incentives such as tax rebates to attract domestic general partners and limited partners from the investor community, if they allocate a certain percentage of their corpus to deep tech startups.

This year’s Start-O-Vation Summit, in collaboration with Invest India, the national investment promotion agency, promises a fusion of policymakers, entrepreneurs, and investors, all working towards boosting the Indian startup ecosystem.

The summit has played a pivotal role in connecting aspiring entrepreneurs with industry experts since its inception in 2015, providing them with a platform to showcase their skills, ideas, and potential contributions to India’s economy through startup pitching events.

The theme of this year’s summit is based on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2015 speech: “I see startups, technology, and innovation as exciting and effective instruments for India’s transformation.” In line with the current entrepreneurial landscape, the focus is shifting towards technology and product innovation, with the government’s Startup India initiative nurturing entrepreneurship, spurring innovation, and creating employment opportunities.

Start-O-Vation brought together more than 200 attendees, including founders, venture capitalists, state government representatives, financial institutions and policymakers. The event featured a series of panel discussions with esteemed speakers from various fields, including Padmashri Ajai Chowdari, Co-Founder, HCL; Bhawna Agarwal, Country Head, HPE and serial entrepreneur Mukesh Bansal.

The summit hosted panel discussions and startup pitching events, making it a dynamic platform for collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and the recognition of promising startups. The government’s support for startups is discussed, including the government e-marketplace (GeM), which allows startups to sell products to the government. Aastha Gruber also mentions programs where startups can collaborate with various ministries to address specific challenges.

Indonesia,16th October 2023 A weekend full of complications resulted in a disappointing double DNF for the Repsol Honda Team as Marc Marquez and Joan Mir fell while challenging for the top ten.

The Indonesian Grand Prix at Mandalika turned into a grueling affair as a third of the grid suffered falls and experienced issues. Both Repsol Honda Team riders would be unfortunate victims of the former, Marc Marquez the first to fall on lap seven and Joan Mir coming off a few laps later on lap 12. Neither rider sustained any injuries in their falls.

Marc Marquez had been running a comfortable pace inside the top ten when he fell from eighth.

Before coming off, Joan Mir looked set to author a strong comeback having charged from 19th on the grid to as high as 11th. Battling with Nakagami for top Honda honours, Mir was able to lap consistently as he made impressive forward gains. His pace looked strong enough to challenge the top six.

There’s not long to wait for a chance of redemption, the entire paddock heading directly to Australia for Round 16 at the iconic Phillip Island Circuit.

Marc Marquez (DNF)

“The weekend started in a good way but then day by day, it became more complicated. Today in the race I kept calm, I was losing a little bit of ground, but I was not panicking. The aim was to finish the race and I was riding with this in mind. Unfortunately, at one point in Turn 13 I lost the front and I couldn’t save it. A tricky crash to understand but we start thinking about Australia.”

Joan Mir (DNF)

“Look, I crashed so obviously the result is a disaster, but I could see some potential today. I made a good start but I got caught up with Morbidelli a bit. Then I was recovering and I had a good pace in the 1’31s, catching the group with Miller and these guys. The only guy doing better times in front was Martin so we really have to focus on this – it’s a positive point. I am happy for this, but obviously not happy to fall. Now we get to go straight to Phillip Island, a track I really like so hopefully we can have some more pace there and keep improving.”

Indonesian Grand Prix Results

  MotoGP 2023 Sunday, October 15^th 2023

 Rider standings

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Mumbai: 16th October 2023: The Body Shop, the original ethical beauty brand, introduces its festive campaign ‘Spark a Change’ to mark the beginning of Diwali and the launch of its collection of change-making gifts in-store and on-line.

From vegan beauty treats to indulgent body care, The Body Shop has gifts to delight everyone this Diwali – and every budget. And these gifts do more than simply bring joy to the recipients, they help spark a change in the lives of those who help craft them too, thanks to the brand’s unique Community Fair Trade1 program.

The ‘Spark a Change’ campaign is complemented by an inspiring film featuring the renowned Indian actor, Shefali Shah (2023 Emmy Awards Nominee), as she explores The Body Shop store in search of ethical gifts for her loved ones. The film beautifully captures the skilled women of Teddy Exports2, The Body Shop’s long-standing Community Fair Trade partner based in India. These talented artisans handcraft recycled cotton gift bags, specially commissioned by The Body Shop India for this festive season. In their own way, the women of Teddy Exports, along with Shefali Shah, help ignite change and spread joy, perfectly aligning with The Body Shop’s core value of driving positive change in the world.

Harmeet Singh, VP of Marketing E-commerce & Product, Asia South, The Body Shop, said ‘Every single gift from The Body Shop is enriched with ingredients or packaging from our Community Fair Trade partners. So, with each purchase, customers not only acquire a present but also support communities worldwide, especially in India, thanks to these pouches expertly handcrafted by the artisans at Teddy Exports. This festive season, they have the power to help spark positive change in the lives of many’.

Customers will be able to choose from a fantastic array of festive gifts filled with wonders such as Treats Shea Duo at 595 INR, Beauty bag nourishing (avocado) at 1545 INR and also Lather Slather British Rose at 4695 INR. For those seeking a more personal touch, there is the option to handpick one of Teddy Export’s vibrant pouches. These can be filled to the brim with nature-inspired treats such as best-selling British Rose Shower Gel or the alluring new Full Flowers Eau de Parfum. The power to create the perfect changemaking gift is now in their hands!

Hyderabad,16th October 2023 Cure Foundation and Apollo Cancer Centres; are hosting the 8th Biennial Cybercity Cancer Crusaders Golf Championship, a fund raiser and Cancer awareness initiative on 25th and 26th November 2023 at Hyderabad Golf Club. Tollywood Diva Krithi Shetty along with Dr P Vijay Anand Reddy, Founder, of Cure Foundation and Director, Apollo Cancer Hospital, Hyderabad; launched the Championship by putting the golf ball, at the Hyderabad Golf Club, Golconda, today. The Golf Championship will create awareness about cancer in society through extensive participation from ace golfers, outstanding sportspersons, celebrity figures and opinion leaders.

The Cancer Crusaders Golf Championship will have over 300 golfers participating in 3 sessions spanning over 2 days of November 25th and 26th, at Hyderabad Golf Club. The format of the game is Stableford with 100% Handicap.

Krithi Shetty speaking on the occasion said, as a child I aspired to be a doctor, someone like Dr Vijay Anand Reddy, because he is not only giving back to the society as a doctor, but is going out of the way to support the little kids, that is something which is great as a human one can do to another human needing help, that way he is the true super hero. The doctors and frontline healthcare workers are the real heroes and heroines because they selflessly provide service to patients. We witnessed this even during Covid, while we were protecting ourselves by sitting at home, they risked their lives and gave us life, which is what I wanted to do as a kid by being a doctor. It warms my heart by seeing your dedicated work Dr Vijay Anand Reddy, it inspires me so much, please continue doing this, inspiring everyone, spreading awareness about cancer, and curing these little kids. The greatest gift Dr Vijay Anand aspires is the smile on the face of the kid who got treated, there can be no better gift than that. I want more and more people to come forward to support this cause, it doesn’t matter how much you give, it’s all about the love with which you give, that’s the power in your hands to save lives. We fantasize about superheroes, presuming they are being powerful and have magic, so do we, we have the power to save lives, change lives, what are we waiting for, lets contribute our bit to help the society.

Cure Foundation has been involved since its inception in taking care of tiny tots diagnosed of cancer and providing them care, free of cost. More than 1500 kids got benefited from Cure Foundation. The biennial Cancer Crusaders Golf Championship helps raise funds, through which the Cure Foundation provides succor to such kids, who couldn’t otherwise afford cancer care. The Foundation was also instrumental in raising awareness about cancer prevention among the masses through various programs and screenings. 85% to 90% child cancers can be cured, it is our duty to help these underprivileged children to get rid of dreadful disease like cancer, says Dr P Vijay Anand Reddy.

A unique theme-based International Men’s Day Celebrations, ANANTH, will be hosted, on Sunday 26th November 2023 evening at Novotel HICC, Hyderabad. Prizes will be distributed to the winners in various categories at the 8th Biennial Cybercity Cancer Crusaders Golf Championship, on the occasion.

This custom-designed event, lasting about an hour, celebrates the endless men’s spirit. A fun, yet unique environment where celebrities get to interact among themselves and with the audience and golfers, says Dr P Vijay Anand Reddy.

Vandith Reddy, Hon. Secretary, HGA; Venu Vinod, Managing Director, Cybercity Builders & Developers Pvt. Ltd.; Suresh Reddy, Managing Director, Pride Honda; Prithvi Anand, Director of Sales & Marketing, HICC & Novotel; graced the occasion.

Last six Editions of ‘Cancer Crusaders Golf Championship’

The first six editions of the Cancer Crusaders Invitation Cup organized biennially from 2010, were a runaway success. Former Indian cricket skipper Kapil Dev Nikhanj; Actor Nagarjuna; Star Tennis player Sania Mirza; Former All England Champion Pullela Gopichand; Cine Actresses Richa Gangopadhyay, Priyamani, Samantha; Pooja Hegde, Tamannaah Bhatia, Ritika Mohan Singh, Catherine Tresa, Ms Hebah Patel, Ms Daksha; Smt. K. Kavitha, Ms D.K. Aruna, Ms. Katherine Dhanani, Smt. Tejdeep Kaur Menon; Dr Sangita Reddy, Ms Shobana Kamineni, Mrs Shilpa Reddy and more brought tremendous recognition to the tournament by participating along with the golf enthusiasts.

Kolkata, 16th October 2023: The name ‘Bhowanipur 75 Palli’ is at present regarded as an emerging star amongst the leading theme pujas of south Kolkata. With each passing year, Bhowanipur 75 Palli has reached a milestone. Normally famous for its themed pandals in South Kolkata, this renowned Durga Puja pandal has maintained its tradition for 59 years. The organizers are steadfast in their belief in Sabkeiyana this time which was inaugurated today virtually by Smt. MAMATA BANERJEE, Chief Minister of West Bengal.

Speaking to the media, Sri. Bablu Singh, Working President Bhowanipur 75 Palli and Social Worker said, “Tradition doesn’t sprout overnight; its roots run deep. So, in the pre-golden jubilee year, Bhowanipur 75 Palli continues to have faith in Sabekiyana. This time, for the decoration of the pandal at Bhowanipur 75 Palli is using a variety of mountain fruits, including betel leaves and mangoes, have been chosen. These fruits are processed and used for decoration in a traditional manner. The touch of Sabekiyana is also evident in the idol of the goddess, sculpted by artist Prashant Pal.”

In the eagerness to have a grand Durga Puja, Bhowanipur 75 Palli has not forgotten its social responsibilities; they have always been in the forefront of social events and also to eradicate social evils. A part of the donation and subscription that they collect in the Durga Puja is utilized in social works around the year. They have been associated with the local bodies in all forms and shapes for any mass-oriented awareness activity. Some of these include – Complimentary health checkups & assistance for the local habitats around the year; an Awareness program run all through the year regarding socio-economic hazards; Organizing Blood, Body, and Eye Donation camps; Distribution of new sarees and clothes during the Durga Puja to the under-privileged ones; Giving educational kits and books to the children below poverty line; Giving blankets to needy during the winter season and many such CSR activities for welfare of the society.

Bengaluru, 16th October 2023: Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited (“KMBL”/ “Kotak”) today reported that their customers have lapped up offers on their Khushi Ka Season (KKS) program with great enthusiasm. This season, KMBL has offers during Flipkart’s The Big Billion Day sale, one of the most awaited e-commerce sales LIVE across the Flipkart Group including Myntra Big Fashion Festival, one of the biggest online fashion sale; as well as ClearTrip, one of India’s fastest-growing online travel technology companies that also has great deals during The Big Billion Days.

The offers are available for Kotak Credit Card as well as Debit Card customers with an option to pay on EMI.

Frederick Dsouza, Business Head – Credit Cards, Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd said, “Kotak is delighted to offer customers a range of offers and discounts this festive season. With attractive offers on Flipkart, Myntra, Cleartrip, MakeMyTrip and Zomato etc. we hope to make this year’s shopping extravaganza even more special for customers. We are already seeing this in our Y-o-Y spend growth which has roughly doubled.”

Some of the popular offers:

Kotak Credit Card EMI offers with cashback up to Rs 26,000

Customers can avail Kotak Credit Card EMI offers with cashback up to Rs 26,000 on brands such as LG, Samsung, Sony, Haier, Lenovo, Whirlpool, Vivo, Yatra, Oppo, and Wakefit.

• Offer Dates – Up to 30th Nov 2023

KMBL offers on Flipkart – Save up to Rs 30,250

• 10% Instant Discount with Kotak Bank Credit and Debit Cards
• Save up to Rs 4,750 with Credit Card (EMI or Non-EMI Transactions)
• Save up to Rs 2,250 with Debit Card (Non-EMI Transactions)
• Save up to Rs 4,750 with Debit Card (EMI Transactions)
• Get additional instant discount of up to Rs 9,250 with Kotak Bank Credit Cards (Non-EMI & EMI transactions)
• Get additional instant discount of up to Rs 9,250 with Kotak Bank Debit Card (EMI transaction only)
• Offer Dates – 7th (Early access to Flipkart VIP & Plus Customers) to 15th Oct 2023

Offers on Myntra

• 10% instant discount up to Rs 1200 on minimum order value of Rs 3,500 on Kotak Credit & Debit Cards
• 15% (7.5% +7.5%) instant discount up to Rs 750 on every transaction on Myntra Kotak Credit Card
• Offer Dates – 6th Oct to 19th Oct 2023

Offer on Cleartrip – Save up to 35%

• Offer Dates – Up to 15th Oct 2023

For the full list of attractive offers, click here: https://www.kotak.com/en/offers.html

Elevating the bar for customer experience, Kotak Mahindra Bank has introduced an array of innovative offerings and also refined its existing products. One notable value proposition is ActivMoney, which offers an impressive Fixed Deposit (FD)-like interest rate of up to 7%* p.a., at the same time providing the flexibility to access funds at the customer’s convenience. The bank has partnered with world-renowned artists in the realm of entertainment, curating exclusive experiences that promise to be truly unforgettable. Another testament to customer delight, The Big Billion Day offer is set to enhance and deepen customer engagement.