Archives February 2024

WION Anchor Rahesha Sehgal recently dropped a major hint on her LinkedIn page, revealing exciting details about the India Fashion Awards 2024. This year’s theme, “Fashion for Good,” promises a fresh perspective on sustainable fashion. Rahesha’s teaser post via LinkedIn hints at a line-up of unsung heroes in the fashion industry, including artisans like Mubin Khatri, whose dedication to crafts like Ajrakh spans over 18 years.

In collaboration with WION, the India Fashion Awards will spotlight narratives that redefine the fashion landscape, shedding light on the intricate artistry and rich heritage behind sustainable fashion in India. With clues sparking anticipation via the LinkedIn post, the industry is excited for what promises to be a ground-breaking event. Stay tuned for more updates on this exclusive peek into the world of fashion with a purpose. #FashionForGood

This sneak peek promises to be just the beginning of an exhilarating journey into the heart of fashion innovation.

National 15th February 2024: SolarSquare, a leader in residential solar solutions in India with more than 10,000 residential rooftop solar power plants across the country, has announced its strategic acquisition of PV Diagnostics (PVD), a company renowned for its expertise in the utility-scale solar power sector. This acquisition marks a significant step in SolarSquare’s mission to enhance the quality of residential solar installations across the country. This transition will involve leveraging PVD’s expertise in best quality module sourcing, diagnostics and technology stack to ensure best quality and long-lasting residential solar installations.

PV Diagnostics brings to the table an impressive industry experience of 8 GW, having worked with leading renewable developers like Tata Power, Adani, Renew Power, and many others. The founders of PV Diagnostics include solar industry veteran Mr. Prakash Suratkar and Pranav Maheshwari, Atul Kumar Jain, and Ayush Mahajan, all three of whom are alumni of IIT Bombay. The team’s expertise extends to advising multiple private equities in significant solar portfolio acquisitions across the country.

This integration of utility-scale proficiency with SolarSquare’s innovative residential solar solutions promises to set new benchmarks in the quality and performance of home solar installations.

PV Diagnostics will maintain its commitment to the utility-scale solar market, continuing to offer its existing services post-acquisition.

Mr. Prakash Suratkar, CEO of PV Diagnostics, shared his thoughts on the acquisition: “Joining forces with SolarSquare is not just a strategic decision but also a move inspired by the quality mindset of SolarSquare’s founders. Their dedication to excellence and consumer-centric approach resonated deeply with us at PVD. This inspiration has been a driving force in our decision to unite with SolarSquare, and we are excited to bring our utility-scale expertise to the residential solar market.”

Shreya Mishra, CEO of SolarSquare, expressed her vision for the collaboration: “The acquisition of PV Diagnostics is a pivotal move towards our goal of building top-tier, consumer-centric solar solutions. PVD’s experience in ensuring the highest quality standards in large-scale solar projects will be very useful in elevating our residential offerings. Together, we aim to redefine the solar landscape in India.”

February 15, 2024: The Shapoorji Pallonji Group, one of India’s leading business houses, announces the successful completion of the first Hindu temple in the Middle East. The BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi was inaugurated in person on 14^th February 2024 by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, in a grand ceremony. This significant accomplishment marks a historic milestone in fostering cultural and religious unity, and in strengthening bilateral relations between India and the UAE.

An architectural marvel, the Mandir towers over the sandy landscape of the UAE. It is nestled in 27 acres of desert land, in the outskirts of Abu Dhabi – thanks to the generous donation of land by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

The Mandir is open to all faiths and is an initiative of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha (the institution behind several Swaminarayan temples across India and the world). It is a testament to India’s culture, and to its ancient skills in architecture and sculpture. It has been built in strict accordance with age-old Indian texts and derives its inspiration from a lotus motif. It has 7 spires, which represent the 7 Emirates of the UAE.

“Our dream of building a Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi has now become a reality. Shapoorji Pallonji has played a pivotal role in partnering with us to create this lotus in the desert. We extend our gratitude to Shapoorji Pallonji for bringing to life our vision of this spiritual oasis for global harmony,” said Pranav Desai, Director of BAPS.

“We, at Shapoorji Pallonji, are deeply honoured to have had the opportunity to work with BAPS and create this incredible monument that brings together art, harmony and faith. Apart from being a celebration of cultural diversity, this is a testament to our engineering expertise” said Shapoorji P Mistry, Chairman, Shapoorji Pallonji Group.

In this project, Shapoorji Pallonji successfully integrated modern technology such as security, lighting systems and air-conditioning with the traditional requirements of ancient Indian architecture.

The temple complex has 7 ancillary buildings, to cater to 15,000+ visitors daily. It has distinctive water features, which represent three major rivers – Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati. The main temple is constructed on a raft foundation using UAE’s largest single pour of unreinforced fly-ash concrete. Instead of iron and steel reinforcements, bamboo sticks and glass fibre were used.

The temple façade is built on this foundation, using 40,000 cubic meters of marble from Italy and 1,80,000 cubic meters of pink sandstone from Rajasthan. Thousands of artisans and volunteers intricately carved the stones in Rajasthan, for BAPS. These were then put together in Abu Dhabi like a giant jig-saw puzzle.

The Shapoorji Pallonji Group, which is 159 years old, has built several landmarks across the world. It has been present in the Middle East for close to 50 years, beginning with the Sultan’s Palace in Muscat, in 1975. Some of its recent marquee projects in India are Bharat Mandapam and Kartavya Path in New Delhi, Port Blair Airport, and Atal Tunnel in Himachal Pradesh.

New Delhi, 15th Feb 2024: Qudify, a QR-based horizontal SaaS platform, is catalysing the rapid digitalization and decarbonization of Indian enterprises by providing innovative solutions. With its cutting-edge technology, along with Meeting Room Booking Management and Visitor Management, Qudify addresses the growing demand of Indian firms for affordable, asset-light, new-age, easy-to-use, cloud-based software solutions.

The average carbon footprint of a single office paper during its lifecycle is around 4.64g CO2 equivalent per sheet. Eliminating paper in many routine tasks, such as visitor entries, meeting room scheduling, and complaint management, across 1.48 million Indian enterprises can reduce a substantial carbon footprint, contributing to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future.

“We are passionate about building asset-light software solutions to enable a sustainable future of work through technology while enhancing operational efficiency,” said Akshat Tripathi, Co-Founder of Qudify. “We feel proud to have enabled Carbon footprint reduction of 50Kg+ Co2eq since our launch, and we look forward to maximizing this number in the coming days.”

Qudify’s software suite eliminates the usage of any hardware except a smartphone (which everybody owns nowadays). It digitizes the below-mentioned manual, paper-based tasks still common in Indian offices today :

● Visitor check-in, check-outs & respective approvals & verifications

● Internal meeting room booking or scheduling

● Internal or external complaint management

By optimizing these critical yet often inefficient areas of office administration, Qudify optimizes productivity and minimizes the environmental impact of day-to-day workplace operations. Companies looking to establish and achieve sustainability goals while staying compliant can implement Qudify solutions to cut paper usage, decrease waste, and shrink their carbon footprint.

National, 15th February 2024: The 7th edition of The Artisan Jewellery Design Awards, hosted by the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) and powered by GIA, challenged designers to tap uncharted territory by integrating unusual materials and cherished objects into their jewellery designs, to infuse their pieces with a unique identity.

Actress and style icon Sonam Kapoor graced GJEPC’s 7th edition of Artisan Jewellery Design Awards in Mumbai and presented awards to winners. Sonam Kapoor graced the stage with an aura of elegance and charisma along Mr. Vipul Shah (Chairman, GJEPC); Mr. Kirit Bhansali (Vice Chairman, GJEPC); Mr. Sriram Natarajan (Managing Director, GIA India); Mr. Milan Chokshi (Convener, Promotions & Marketing, GJEPC); Mr. Sabyasachi Ray (Executive Director, GJEPC) bestowed the coveted awards upon 6 Artisan winners.

This year the theme for the Artisan Jewellery Desing Award were two unconventional themes – ‘Objet Trouvé’ (Found Objects) and ‘Unusual Materials’.

The concept of ‘Objet Trouvé’ centred around crafting jewellery pieces that capture the essence of treasured objects from the past within a contemporary context. While the second theme, ‘Unusual Materials’ encouraged designers to create a dialogue between the familiar and the unexpected by combining contrasting materials with at least 50% precious materials.

Actress & style icon Sonam Kapoor said, “I am proud to be a part of the jewellery industry, which showcases India’s excellence in design and craftsmanship to the world. The Artisan Awards is a great initiative by the GJEPC to nurture and celebrate young talent, who are pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation. I believe that jewellery is not just an accessory, but an art form that expresses one’s personality and style. I admire the Indian designers who create stunning pieces that blend tradition & modernity, and inspire women to experiment with different forms and colours. For me, the artistic value of a jewellery piece is more than the material value, and that is what makes it truly precious.”

Vipul Shah, Chairman, GJEPC, notes, “The Artisan Jewellery Design Awards, now in its 7th edition, stands as a beacon for creative expression in the jewellery design realm. It offers a coveted platform for talented individuals to unleash their creativity and showcase their innovative designs. Each year, this competition brings forth exclusive, never-seen-before masterpieces that underscore the boundless innovation within our industry. This this competition, our aim is to redefine the landscape of jewellery design and elevate India as a premier design centre. Aligned with the government’s Make in India campaign, The Artisan Awards reinforces GJEPC’s dedication positioning India as a leader in design innovation.”

Milan Chokshi, Convener, Promotions & Marketing, GJEPC, said, “Fine jewellery is the foremost amongst all art forms, revered for not only its craft and material value, but also its emotional and aesthetic resonance. It transcends mere material worth, personifying a labour of love for the designer and artisan who infuse it with life through their skilled craftsmanship. There is an ever growing group of discerning customers that are now increasingly looking at jewellery more as an art form, rather than ornamental. The entries in this edition of The Artisan have been particularly inspiring, and we at the Council, are confident that passing the baton to future designers will drive Indian jewellery design to new heights.”

This jewellery design contest ignited a spark a wave of creativity, prompting nearly 600 participants from India and abroad to push the envelope, and create a new design grammar. The outcome surpassed expectations, breathtaking creations that challenged convention.

The list of winners

UNUSUAL MATERIALS: Winner – Cufflinks designed by Aparna Kesarkar and manufactured by Laxmi Dia Jewel Pvt. Ltd.; First Runner-up – Bracelet designed by Ahalya Vijayakumar and manufactured by VBJ; Second Runner-up – Earrings designed by Dipali Ghadigaonkar and manufactured by KP Sanghvi Jewels Pvt. Ltd.

OBJET TROUVÉ: Winner – Earrings designed by Yamini Devasree and manufactured by VBJ; First Runner-up – Hairstick designed by Rashmi Kaushik and manufactured by Kiran Jewels; Second Runner-up – Earrings designed by Vijay Indulkar and Manufactured by Walking Tree Venture Pvt. Ltd.

The entries underwent thorough scrutiny by a distinguished jury comprising Alice Cicolini, a renowned UK jewellery designer; Biren Vaidya, Managing Director of The Rose Group; Payal Singhal, Fashion Designer; Apoorva Deshingkar, Senior Director of Education and Market Development at GIA India; and Toktam Shekarriz, a jewellery designer based in Dubai.

The technical jury included Devinder Layal, Jewellery Artiste and Educationist; Meenal Choksi, Head of Design, Moksh Fine Unseen Jewellery; Sushama Kalzunkar Sawant, PD & Merchandising Head, Diagold Creation; Janki Choksi, Founder, Janki Choksi Designs; Gunjan Sapra, COO & Head of Department, Jewellery Designs, International Institute of Gemology, and a GIA Instructor, to honour the best and most talented jewellery designers.

During this illustrious event, GJEPC also honoured industry stalwarts whose remarkable contributions have made a lasting impact on both the domestic and global fronts. The nominations were evaluated by a distinguished three-member jury comprising Arundhati De, jewellery expert and bespoke jewellery shopping consultant; Devinder Layal and Sushma Kalzunkar Sawant.

Farah Khan, renowned jewellery designer, was honoured with the Design Excellence Award, while Rahul Jhaveri, Creative Head and Co-founder of Studio Renn, was bestowed with the prestigious Global Indian Jewellery Designer award.

Intergem Exports (YS18) was chosen as the proud recipient of the Manufacturing Excellence Award, underscoring its commitment to quality and innovation, while Birdhichand Ghanshyamdas Jewellers was acclaimed with the Retail Excellence Award for its exceptional standards and customer service.

Here’s the verdict of the jury for The Artisan finalists:

Sriram Natarajan, Managing Director, GIA India: GIA India is pleased to support The Artisan Awards – a platform that fosters a space where creativity in jewellery design thrives. Embracing the themes of ‘Unusual Materials’ and ‘Objet Trouve,’ this initiative by the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) aligns with our commitment to pushing artistic boundaries. Our continued support reflects the shared values of celebrating creative expression and advancing jewellery designing arts on a global scale.

Biren Vaidya, Managing Director, The Rose Group, said, “Judging the Artisan Awards has been a riveting experience, witnessing the evolution of creativity in our field over the last four decades and observing how the participants have conceptualised the story from ideas to designs, crafting them into jewels using innovation, skill, and craftsmanship.

Alice Cicolini, Avant-garde UK jewellery designer, said, “The freedom afforded to India’s young designers through these themes is commendable. Having worked in India for nearly two decades, I can attest that it stands as one of the most extraordinary nations for jewellery production, boasting incredible craftsmanship. It is refreshing to see young jewellery designers break free from traditional constraints, allowing their imaginations to take flight—an approach actively encouraged by institutions like GJEPC.”

Fashion Designer Payal Singhal said, “The Artisan Awards highlight a remarkable standard. The ability to work with challenging materials and produce versatile, aesthetically pleasing, and finely crafted jewellery is a testament to the high level of expertise present in our country. As for elevating jewellery into wearable art, initiatives like The Artisan play a crucial role. Supporting and motivating young designers and jewellery brands to embrace this perspective will contribute to the evolution of jewellery as a form of artistic expression rather than merely a complement to attire or a symbol of status.”

The two-day art festival was held on February 12th-13th, 2024, at Ice Factory, Ballard Estate, Mumbai, and drew a diverse audience including curators, art gallery owners, patrons, art school students and faculty members, socialites, celebrities, connoisseurs, architects, painters, sculptors, and jewellery designers.

15th February 2024: CarePal Money, a leading healthcare lending marketplace, has forged a strategic partnership with Apollo Hospitals Group, India’s largest vertically integrated healthcare provider. This alliance is poised to transform healthcare financing, granting patients the opportunity to avail loans with 0% EMI for a duration of up to 18 months.

CarePal Money is a specialized medical lending marketplace that provides financial support to patients and their families. CarePal Money’s unique advantage is the ability to disburse medical loans for both critical and non-critical treatments with ticket sizes up to INR 15 lacs and tenure of up to 36 months. CarePal Money believes this advantage stems from its marketplace-based, multi-lender approach which ensures higher approval rates, benefiting more patients in need.

With this: An innovative financial offering, CarePal Money offers 0% interest EMI loans and shall be accessible at all Apollo Hospitals, through the assistance of CarePal employees stationed within the hospital.

Expressing his excitement about the partnership, Piyush Jain, Co-Founder and CEO, CarePal Group stated, “As CarePal Money embarks on this partnership with Apollo Hospitals Group, we are driven by the unwavering commitment to redefine healthcare financing. By combining our expertise in medical lending with the unparalleled healthcare services of Apollo Hospitals, we aim to usher in a new era of accessibility, where financial barriers no longer impede individuals from receiving the best medical care they deserve in both critical and elective areas. With CarePal Money, we aim to disburse over INR 1,000 crores in medical loans in the next decade through our lending partners.”

Krishnan Akhileswaran, group CFO, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise said, “We are pleased to partner with CarePal to further strengthen our mission to ensure accessible and affordable high-quality healthcare for all. Easing the financial burden on our patients and their families has always been a priority for us, especially in the context of India where health insurance penetration is still very low. We are committed to ensure that we are at the forefront of innovative solutions, through partnerships and collaborations, that improve the health eco-system and prioritizes patient well-being.”

India currently has a health insurance penetration rate of 37%, with about 500 million middle class people lacking any health insurance coverage leading to high out of pocket expenses. Patients with low or no insurance coverage are compelled to resort to loans at exorbitantly high interest rates to fund their medical expenses. CarePal Money aims to mitigate this challenge by providing low-cost healthcare loans, thereby alleviating the burden of high interest rates from patients.

This groundbreaking partnership between CarePal Money and Apollo Hospitals Group marks a significant milestone in the healthcare financing landscape, promising enhanced accessibility to healthcare services for patients.

Thursday, 15th February 2024 – South Asia’s leading gaming and esports media company, NODWIN Gaming, in partnership with global esports entertainment company, BLAST celebrates the successful culmination of the region’s first legends-led Counter-Strike tournament, ‘The Draft’. After an electrifying Super Six LAN final phase and a riveting BO5 grand final encounter against KennyS’ True Rippers Esports, Marcos Gaming, under the leadership of Counter-Strike icon Richard ‘shox’ Papillon, clinched a heart-stopping 3-2 victory, securing their place as the inaugural champions of ‘The Draft’.

Held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and powered by energy drink partners Red Bull, the Super Six LAN final phase of ‘The Draft’ featured 6 of the best Counter-Strike teams from India and Pakistan, with India’s True Rippers Esports and Marcos Gaming emerging as the grand finalists. Richard ‘shox’ Papillon of team Liquid, G2, Team Vitality fame, boasting a remarkable career tally of over a dozen global CS tournaments including 1 Major led Marcos Gaming across the finish line. Shox was also named the tournament MVP with 302 kills, 187 deaths, and an impressive ADR of 103 across 5 Super Six LAN phase matches.

Speaking on the recently concluded tournament, Gautam Virk Co-Founder and CEO of NODWIN Gaming said, “We’re thrilled by the overwhelming success of ‘The Draft’ and the extraordinary display of Counter-Strike talent witnessed throughout the event. It’s been an exhilarating journey, witnessing the unwavering passion and dedication of gamers from the region. ‘The Draft’ embodies our unwavering commitment to not only elevate the esports ecosystem but also to nurture talent and cultivate a dynamic gaming community. The collaboration between NODWIN Gaming and BLAST has been a beacon of opportunity, providing emerging CS stars from the region with a platform to shine. Our heartiest congratulations to Marcos Gaming for their historic triumph as the inaugural champions of ‘The Draft’.

We extend our deepest gratitude to our esteemed partners at BLAST, the participating teams, esteemed legends, and everyone who contributed to making this event a resounding success. Additionally, our heartfelt appreciation goes out to our passionate community whose steadfast support fuels our drive for excellence. As we conclude this remarkable chapter, we look forward to continuing our mission of pushing the boundaries of esports and creating more platforms for players to realize their full potential.”

Faye Marlborough, Director of Brand at BLAST, said: “The inaugural ‘The Draft’ has been a huge success and just goes to show the ever-growing passion and talent currently available in the South East Asia esports region. The event highlights the need for more opportunities for these underserved gaming regions and ‘The Draft’ provided exactly that with Counter-Strike legends joining them on a global platform where we saw the very best from each region – the skill, passion and dedication on display was incredible.”

Speaking on ‘The Draft’, Counter Strike legend and MVP of the tournament, Richard ‘shox’ Papillon said, “CS isn’t as well known in this region as it is in Europe or North America but being here to lend a hand feels really good. Sharing the passion for the game is key because, without that spotlight, it’s tough for players to progress. I’m just glad to be part of that journey. Every kid deserves a shot at making their dreams come true, no matter where they’re from. And I’m looking forward to meeting some fans, I hope there are some fans in the teams here that we can meet and interact with. It’s not often they get the chance to meet us, so being in this smaller intimate setting gives us a chance to connect – different people, different cultures, and different countries. It’s what makes this whole experience so special.”

The tournament started with 64 teams each from India and Pakistan vying for a spot in the group stages to join the 4 invited teams in the India group stage and 1 invited team in the Pakistan group stage. From the group stages True Rippers Esports, Marcos Gaming, and Gods Reign represented India at the Super Six LAN phase while Pakistan was represented by Pak Boyz, Team Wah Wah, and Com Mid. Counter-Strike legends Adam ‘Friberg’ Friberg, Ladislav ‘GuardiaN’ Kovacs, Richard ‘shox’ Papillon, Olof ‘olofmeister’ Gustafsson, Christopher ‘GeT_RiGhT’ Alesund, and Kenny ‘kennyS’ Schrub were drafted in to lead and mentor the teams, further elevating the tournament’s intensity and prestige.

‘The Draft’ stands as a testament to the joint commitment of NODWIN Gaming and BLAST to enable the Counter-Strike ecosystem in the region and provide a platform for emerging CS talents to showcase their esports prowess on the world stage while playing alongside some of the brightest and legendary names to have ever played the game.

The collaboration between South Asia’s leading esports and gaming media company NODWIN Gaming and global esports giant BLAST underscores a collective initiative to enhance and elevate the overall esports landscape within South Asia.

Bangalore, 15th February 2024: MMTC-PAMP, India’s only London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) Good Delivery gold & silver refinery, announces an exciting Lock & Key Campaign, a unique initiative tailored to add memorable experiences for its valued consumers. As part of the initiative, MMTC-PAMP is all set to distribute 35,000 keys across Bengaluru through newspaper insertions. Each key unlocks the potential for lucky winners to take home the purest 99.99+% Gold or Silver products. This strategic marketing initiative aims to engage with communities and reinforce MMTC-PAMP as the preferred destination for premium precious metals; striving to enhance customer engagement and satisfaction in a unique and fun manner.

The Lock & Key challenge unfolds with an intriguing twist as 35,000 keys are being strategically distributed through newspaper insertions. Lucky readers who discovers a key in their newspaper, will visit their exclusive store a.k.a PVC (Purity Verification Centre) in Cauvery Bhavan, Ambedkar Veedhi, Bengaluru, Karnataka to unlock specially designed locks. The lucky winners who successfully open these locks will be rewarded with MMTC-PAMP’s exquisite gold or silver products, adding an element of excitement and anticipation to the campaign. The Lock & Key campaign aligns with MMTC-PAMP’s strategy of fostering unique customer engagement, rewarding customers trust and building lasting connections.

Mr Vikas Singh, Managing Director and CEO at MMTC-PAMP, expressed enthusiasm about the campaign, stating, “At MMTC-PAMP, we thrive on curating unforgettable experiences for our customers who have always trusted us for their Gold and silver needs. Our Lock & Key initiative is not merely a campaign; it is a testament to our commitment to innovation and unique customer engagement. MMTC-PAMP stores, recognized as destination stores for 99.99+% purest gold and silver purchasing, have long been synonymous with offering unique and distinctively crafted products in the purest gold and silver. With the introduction of the Lock & Key campaign, we’ve elevated our commitment a step further, infusing an element of fun and excitement into the shopping experience for our discerning customers.”

“As we invite participants to unlock the possibilities with MMTC-PAMP, we are confident that this campaign will be a memorable chapter in our journey, adding a new dimension to how our customers perceive and interact with our brand. We believe that this initiative will strengthen our position as industry leaders, not just in terms of product quality but also in delivering unparalleled experiences”, Mr Singh added.

MMTC-PAMP, known for its commitment to providing high-quality, culturally diverse products to consumers, hosted this event at its one-stop shop for any gold & silver needs. To ensure the product’s authenticity, each MMTC-PAMP product carries a unique number and comes packaged in a certified signed by an Assayer. Each gold and silver product bought from MMTC-PAMP offers a positive weight & purity balance, which guarantees that every coin or bar you buy weighs more than the listed weight, ensuring customers get the highest value for their investment.

All products come with MMTC-PAMP’s stamp of authenticity deliver on the promise of 99.99+% purity and are crafted to the highest standards using the latest Swiss technology. There is a wide variety of purest gold and silver products to choose from this season and one can purchase them from MMTC-PAMP’s exclusive stores, leading jeweller partners, online marketplaces like Amazon and Flipkart or directly from MMTC-PAMP’s website, shop.mmtcpamp.com.

 Hyderabad, 15 February 2024: Yet again India’s largest Iron Ore Producer, NMDC delivered a strong financial and physical performance in Q3 FY24. Surpassing its previous record, the mining major registered 45% and 64% increase in turnover and PBT (after exceptional expenditure) respectively over CPLY in the third quarter.

Setting new benchmarks with its exceptional performance, NMDC recorded its highest ever production and sales volume with 12.22 MT and selling 11.39 MT in the third quarter of FY24, marking a growth of 15% and 19% in production and sales respectively over corresponding period last year.

NMDC’s turnover and PBT (after exceptional expenditure) for Q3 FY24 is Rs. 5,410 crore and Rs.2,000 crore, with an increase of 45% in turnover and 64% in PBT over CPLY. While the Profit After Tax (PAT) for Q3 FY24 increased by 68% to Rs.1,492 crores.

The most common myths among Indian tourists about the Russian capital, Moscow were revealed in a recent survey. Intourist, a company with 95 years of background in the inbound tourism market in Russia, conducted a survey among tourists from India who visited Moscow, asking them about their primary expectations for Moscow and the difference from their actual experience. The poll results were used to form a list of popular myths about Moscow, most of which were successfully debunked in the process.

“When a tourist arrives in Moscow, the first thing that comes to a foreigner’s mind is probably the Red Square, all covered in snow (and maybe a layer of red caviar on a giant piece of bread, thanks to the latest Slavic girl trend). Although it is a pretty memorable image, there’s so much more that the Russian capital can give to its visitors”, commented Aleksandr Musikhin, the General Director of Intourist and inbound tourism committee head of the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR).

Myth #1: Moscow is cold

Reality: There are four seasons, and the summer is very warm

There are four distinct seasons to fit any taste beginning April. Moscow spring is probably the loveliest of them all with its fresh air, blossoming trees and cafeteria terraces opening all over the city. Summer in the city is usually hot, with a great choice of refreshing activities: you can visit an open pool like Chaika or Luzhniki, explore any of the renovated parks with a glass of lemonade, or even spend a day at the beach of Serebryany Bor. Sure, winters in Moscow are cold, but thanks to well-adjusted heating systems both in the buildings and public transport, freezing isn’t really an option.

Myth #2: Moscow is too Soviet

Reality: Moscow’s architecture is a beautiful eclectic mixture of nearly a thousand years of history

If you take some time to look around the city, a couple of beautiful landmarks from different times will appear just around the corner. Besides Soviet architecture, there are buildings dated with XII-XIX centuries along the ‘bas-reliefs’ from the art nouveau period and shining skyscrapers of the Moscow-City cluster — all for your aesthetic pleasure.

Myth #3: Moscow is one of the most expensive cities in the world.

Reality: There are options for a trip with any budget

According to the EIU rating of 2021, Moscow didn’t even make the top 100 of the annual rich cities list. There are lots of accommodation options, eateries and shopping establishments to fit your desires and financial possibilities: from Stoleshnikov Lane with its boutiques to vast malls such as Europolis or Atrium, where the clothing stores are open side by side with fast-food restaurants, beauty salons, cinemas, playgrounds etc.

Myth #4: There is no decent food in Moscow, except for borscht and pelmeni.

Reality: Moscow is full of the high-quality restaurants with Russian and world cuisines

Setting aside the fact that there’s more to the traditional Russian cuisine than you would first expect, Moscow can offer a hungry tourist a wide range of food options: there are halal and kosher, vegetarian and vegan, European and Asian restaurants all over the city. A homesick Indian tourist can also easily find an authentic eating place serving a ‘Thali’ or a ‘Dosa’ or other Indian vegetarian options.

Myth #5: People in Moscow are mean and unfriendly.

Reality: Moscovites a warm-hearted and helpful

There is a strong stereotype that pictures Russians as people who never smile. Thankfully, any public place in Moscow will prove it wrong in mere seconds. Big city people may not be keen on showing emotions to strangers, yet it usually takes a short dialogue for a change of heart, and most of the people passing by will gladly show you the directions or give a helpful tip if asked.

Myth #6: Moscow is unsafe.

Reality: Crime rate in Moscow is lower than in many European tourist cities.

Moscow is an extremely hi-tech city. Last year, Moscow became the leader among BRICS cities in terms of technological and spatial development. Moscow’s high technological progress also means a high level of development of security systems. Moscow has a “smart city” system – outdoor CCTV cameras and a face recognition system on the streets and in the subway. According to some estimates, the crime rate in Moscow is lower than in many European tourist cities. Being in Moscow you don’t have to worry about your safety.

Myth #7: Nobody speaks English in Moscow.

Reality: Young generation of Moscovites speaks English fluently

Travelling nowadays is a popular hobby among millennials and Gen Z, so the majority of young Moscow residents speak fluent English. Foreign languages are taught in schools and universities, with the addition of online courses and countless apps for personal studies that help to maintain speaking skills — so be sure that you will find help when needed. And if you are not much of a people person, all navigation in Moscow public transport is dubbed in English, so you won’t even have to ask for help since the tourist infrastructure is well-developed.