Archives November 2024

As the digital landscape continues to expand, so does the sophistication of cyber threats. With organizations increasingly adopting cloud-based services and remote work models, the need for robust cybersecurity solutions has never been more critical. This is where leading cybersecurity brands step in, leveraging cutting-edge threat detection technologies to keep sensitive data and systems secure. In this listicle, we highlight the top 5 cybersecurity brands that are at the forefront of innovation, offering advanced solutions designed to protect businesses against evolving cyber risks and malicious activities.

Noventiq

Noventiq (Noventiq Holdings PLC) is a leading global solutions and services provider in digital transformation and cybersecurity, headquartered in London. The company enables, facilitates, and accelerates digital transformation for its customers’ businesses, connecting organizations across a comprehensive range of industries with best-in-class IT (Information Technology) vendors, alongside its own services and proprietary solutions.

The company’s rapid growth is underpinned by its three-dimensional strategy to expand its market penetration, product portfolio, and sales channels. This is supported by an active approach to M&A, positioning Noventiq to capitalize on the industry’s ongoing consolidation. With around 6,400 employees globally, Noventiq operates in approximately 60 countries with significant growth potential in multiple regions including Latin America, EMEA, and APAC – with a notable presence in India

CrowdStrike

CrowdStrike is a leading provider of cloud workload and endpoint protection, renowned for its Falcon platform. Falcon is a cloud-native solution that uses AI-driven threat intelligence to deliver real-time threat detection, malware protection, and rapid incident response. Its lightweight design allows for seamless scalability, making it ideal for businesses growing their cloud infrastructure. CrowdStrike’s focus on preventing breaches rather than reacting to them sets it apart, offering extensive security analytics to preempt potential threats. In terms of compliance, CrowdStrike helps businesses meet regulatory requirements such as HIPAA, SOC 2, and PCI DSS through its advanced monitoring and auditing capabilities, ensuring both security and compliance are maintained.

Microsoft Azure Security Center

Microsoft Azure Security Center is an integrated cloud security solution specifically designed for organizations using the Azure platform. This security suite provides centralized management and visibility over Azure resources, allowing businesses to detect and respond to potential threats in real-time. Azure Security Center offers features like threat intelligence, advanced analytics, and automated security recommendations, enabling organizations to strengthen their security posture. The platform also simplifies compliance by offering built-in tools to assess adherence to standards such as ISO 27001, SOC, and GDPR. Its tight integration with Azure resources ensures seamless protection and efficient policy enforcement, making it a preferred choice for enterprises using Microsoft’s cloud infrastructure.

Fortinet

Fortinet’s FortiGate Cloud platform is a leading solution for securing cloud environments, providing advanced firewall protection, secure VPN access, and threat intelligence tailored for cloud-native applications. Known for its multi-layered defense system, Fortinet delivers high-performance security for businesses of all sizes. Its broad suite of features includes secure access to cloud services, intrusion prevention, and real-time monitoring for threat detection. Fortinet is also highly effective at helping organizations maintain compliance with industry standards like GDPR, HIPAA, and SOX, thanks to its automated auditing and reporting capabilities. By offering both security and compliance tools within a single platform, Fortinet enables businesses to manage their cloud security and regulatory responsibilities with ease.

IBM Security

IBM Security offers a comprehensive suite of tools for cloud security and compliance through its IBM Cloud Pak for Security platform. This integrated solution is designed to secure multi-cloud and hybrid environments, providing features such as threat intelligence sharing, identity management, data encryption, and security orchestration. IBM’s platform uses AI and machine learning to enhance threat detection and response, making it a formidable choice for businesses looking to stay ahead of evolving cyber threats. IBM Cloud Pak also simplifies compliance management by offering real-time reporting and auditing tools to meet regulatory frameworks like GDPR, CCPA, and NIST. IBM’s ability to combine advanced security with compliance management makes it a trusted choice for enterprises with complex cloud infrastructures.

In today’s fast-paced digital world, having a reliable cybersecurity partner is crucial for safeguarding valuable assets and ensuring business continuity. The brands featured in this list are pushing the envelope with their innovative threat detection technologies, providing businesses with the necessary tools to stay ahead of cybercriminals. By adopting these state-of-the-art solutions, organizations can enhance their defense strategies, minimize vulnerabilities, and confidently navigate the complexities of the modern threat landscape.

Ahmedabad, November 30, 2024  – The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) has been officially recognized as Awarding Body and Assessing Body (Dual Category) by the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET), Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Government of India. This recognition empowers IN-SPACe to award NCVET certificates to trainees completing NCVET-approved qualifications developed by IN-SPACe.  This marks a significant milestone in advancing skill development in the space sector.

The recognition allows IN-SPACe to deliver specialized training programs across critical areas of space technology, including but not limited to:

• Essentials of Satellite Manufacturing
• Space Technology in Agriculture
• Mission Design and Avionics Development for Launch Vehicles
• Orbital Mechanics, Attitude Dynamics, and Navigation
• Advances in Propulsion Systems for Space Missions
• Space Data Products and Services

Dr. Vinod Kumar, Director, Promotion Directorate, IN-SPACe, represented the organization during the agreement’s execution. Speaking on this achievement he said, “This recognition is a critical step in building a skilled talent base for India’s growing space sector. By aligning our training initiatives with the demands of the space industry, we will empower learners with the knowledge and hands-on expertise needed to support the nation’s ambitions in today’s competitive global space scenario”.

November 2024: Building on the success of inaugural collaboration, Tanishq’s exclusive wedding sub-brand, Rivaah unveils its latest collection in partnership with celebrated designer Tarun Tahiliani: ‘2nd edition of Rivaah x Tarun Tahiliani.’ This new collection is crafted to resonate with the modern Indian bride or the ‘Sutradhar’ — who is crafting new narratives by blending traditional values with modern take. Complementing the bride, the collection is inspired by fusing the rich heritage of Indian traditions with contemporary sophistication. The designs that not only cater to evolving preferences but also celebrate the timeless beauty and uniqueness of progressive Indian bride.

Tanishq’s intricate workmanship combined with Tarun Tahiliani’s artistry brings alive this year’s collection that blends heritage with modernity. It features intricate gold workmanship inspired by two themes Phoolchadar, symbolizing beauty, prosperity, and auspicious beginnings, as well as the Drape Story, which represents femininity and cultural richness. The beautiful Floral motives that transition from buds to full blooms, and drapes from Tarun Tahiliani’s ensembles, reimagined in fluid scalloped patterns. The result is a stunning collection that combines contemporary silhouettes with traditional artistry, offering modern brides’ timeless elegance for every wedding occasion.

These jewellery pieces capture the delicate beauty of a bride’s journey with an elevated sense of elegance, where each piece reflects the individuality of the modern day sutradhar bride. With an array of options to choose, this exquisite collection is a fusion of artful mastery and timeless design, skilfully crafted in glass kundan and gold. A true homage to Indian weddings, it embodies the unwavering spirit of a modern Indian bride who is confident yet grounded and rooted in her traditions, balancing comfort with style. Each piece is created to enhance every occasion, from the grand celebrations to all wedding functions like haldi, mehndi, sangeet, cocktail, and beyond—perfectly complementing the wedding itself. With influences from Tarun Tahiliani’s celebrated embroideries, the collection offers a luxurious yet elegant choice for brides seeking exclusivity and cultural depth. Spanning over 80 designs—featuring chokers, gulubands, harams, and pendant, haathphool, rings, maang tikkas and many more to explore—this collection provides a breath-taking array to complete any bridal look.

Speaking on the launch of ‘2^nd edition of Rivaah x Tarun Tahiliani,’ Ms. Revathi Kant, Chief Design Officer, Titan Company Limited, said, “Building on the success of our initial collaboration, we’re delighted to introduce the 2nd edition of Rivaah X Tarun Tahiliani wedding collection, crafted for the modern Indian bride. This collection draws deeply from Tarun Tahiliani’s signature embroideries, fusing timeless beauty with a contemporary flair. Every piece of this collection is meticulous, owing to our unique Karigari that translates embroidery into an ornament. The collection is a testimony of our efforts to elevate a bride’s special day by adorning her with pieces unique to her progressive yet rooted personality. November and december traditionally marking a peak wedding season for Rivaah, and this year hosting twice the number of wedding dates compared to last, we’re excited to further establish Rivaah as the go-to jeweller for Indian weddings and functions. Our diverse designs reinforce Rivaah’s commitment to being at the forefront of India’s wedding jewellery market.”

Tarun Tahiliani added, “The 2^nd edition of my collection with Tanishq ‘Rivaah’ is designed for the discerning modern bride, blending timeless sophistication with a distinctly India Modern aesthetic. This year, we have focussed the collection more on gold and techniques of intrinsic value. draws inspiration from the Tarun Tahiliani archival embroideries. This gold jewellery collection blends tradition with modern aesthetics, emphasizing exquisite craftsmanship that captures our design essence. Guided by two of our core design pillars—The Iconic Drape, showcasing elegant layers; Phool Chaadar, highlighting intricate floral motifs—the jewellery reflects a seamless translation of fabric artistry into gold. Wear it with colour, wear it with plains, wear it any which way and celebrate life.”

New Delhi, November 30, 2024: realme, the most popular smartphone brand among Indian youth, today unveiled the much anticipated realme GT 7 Pro with India’s First Snapdragon 8 Elite Flagship chipset.

Each generation of GT is designed with the motto “Born to Exceed”, striving to deliver unrivaled performance and push the boundaries of what’s possible. The realme GT 7 Pro is a groundbreaking device that boasts several industry firsts. It is the first in India to feature the Snapdragon 8 Elite Flagship chipset, setting new standards for performance and stands out with an impressive Antutu score of 3 million*. For photography enthusiasts, the realme GT 7 Pro comes with Sony IMX882 periscope camera and introduces the industry’s first AI Underwater Photography mode, enabling users to capture stunning images beneath the surface.

Furthermore, it features the industry leading RealWorld Eco² Display, co-developed with Samsung Display, which offers an unparalleled visual experience. With its industry-leading performance and groundbreaking features, including Dolby Vision for a breathtaking visual experience, the realme GT 7 Pro pushes the boundaries of what a flagship smartphone can achieve. The Dolby Vision feature enables users to capture and watch stunning videos with dazzling array of colors, sharper contrast, and richer details.

Commenting on the launch, a realme spokesperson said, “We are thrilled to introduce the latest addition to our renowned GT series – the realme GT 7 Pro. The realme GT series has always been about pushing boundaries and setting new standards, and the GT 7 Pro truly explores the unexplored. This innovative smartphone is India’s first 8 Elite Flagship, powered by the advanced Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset that brings the best performance in the segment. We’re excited to bring this exceptional technology to our customers, reaffirming our commitment to exceed expectations and redefine boundaries in the premium smartphone industry.”

Commenting on the launch, Saurabh Arora, Business Head, Mobile, Compute and XR, Qualcomm India said, “We are thrilled to collaborate with realme on the launch of their smartphone powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite mobile platform.  This collaboration highlights our shared commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation and delivering unparalleled performance and user experiences. The Snapdragon 8 Elite mobile platform is designed to set new standards in speed, efficiency, and connectivity, empowering realme to offer their customers a truly flagship experience.”

 Commenting on this, Ranjit Babu, Director, Consumer Electronics, Amazon India, “We continue to offer one of the widest selection to our pan-India customers, along with enabling the convenience of various affordability options, making them seamlessly upgrade to the latest and most innovative smartphones across top brands. Today’s launch is a testament to this commitment, and we are proud to engage with realme to introduce the GT 7 Pro, which is powered by Qualcomm’s advanced Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. This launch reaffirms our dedication to delivering exceptional value to our customers seeking robust performance and stylish design at an attractive price, in partnership with brands, sellers.”

The realme GT 7 Pro is India’s first 8 Elite Flagship, powered by the revolutionary Snapdragon 8 Elite mobile platform with a benchmark score of 3 million on Antutu. The GT 7 Pro also introduces NEXT AI, an advanced artificial intelligence system that transforms simple sketches into detailed images using the innovative “AI Sketch to Image” feature. Moreover, the realme GT 7 Pro enhances your photography experience with its AI Motion Deblur technology, which uses intelligent algorithms to reduce blur in moving or still shots, ensuring every photo you capture is sharp and clear. The smartphone sports an AI Ultra-Clear Snap Camera with Flash Snap Mode and AI Zoom Ultra Clarity, including the Industry’s First Underwater Photography mode. The display is a RealWorld Eco² Display, co-developed with Samsung Display, offering 120% DCI-P3 color gamut and a peak brightness of 6500 nits. It comes with the segment’s best 5800mAh Battery and 120W SUPERVOOC charging combination, providing long-lasting battery life. The realme UI 6.0 offers a fluid design and effortless AI experience.

Chandigarh, November 30th: Gillco Group, one of the leading real estate companies in North India, celebrated its “Founders Day” with great enthusiasm. The event began with prayers and was attended by prominent figures in the real estate industry, alongside employees and loyal customers. Known for its unparalleled contributions to the region, Gillco Group has successfully settled approximately 5,000 families in Mohali and Greater Mohali, developing and delivering projects spanning over
21 million square feet.

The group is currently developing multiple real estate projects including residential, commercial and industrial offerings, catering to a diverse audience in North India. Gillco Group has also forayed into the education sector with Gillco International School – a K-12 CBSE affiliated school, ranked No.1 by Education World in Punjab. Gillco has made an earnest endeavour to give back to society through its numerous CSR initiatives, contributing significantly towards servicing the community in a holistic way.

On this momentous occasion, the management outlined its vision for 2025, emphasizing plans to launch luxury residential and industrial projects. The company was recently recognized with the prestigious “Great Places to Work” award for 2024, further solidifying its reputation as a top tier employer.

“We are truly blessed at Gillco. I believe it is our unwavering resolve to offer the very best in real estate that laid the foundation of this company in 2001. The satisfaction of having more than 5,000 families at Gillco is immensely rewarding. It is a testament to the hard work of our team, which has successfully delivered 15 projects while ensuring the happiness of our patrons. We look forward to achieving new milestones in 2025,” shared Mr. Ranjeet Singh Gill, Founder of Gillco Group.

With 15 delivered projects and over 500 acres of development under its belt, Gillco Group is renowned for its clear-title land banks and commitment to quality. The group has played a pivotal role in shaping Greater Mohali, often referred to as “the people who built New Mohali City.”

“As a company, we strive to evolve with the times. The coming year is particularly exciting for us, with two upcoming projects designed to offer a truly ‘celebrated lifestyle,’ along with an innovative industrial estate that will provide a unique value proposition to both customers and investors. We are collaborating with the best global brands to create and deliver real estate solutions that add value in every way possible,” said Mr. Tejpreet Singh Gill, Managing Director of Gillco Group.

Looking ahead, Gillco Group is set to expand into new territories and will be launching four new projects in the upcoming year, including luxury housing developments and an industrial estate. These initiatives reflect the Group’s commitment to innovation and sustainability, aiming to redefine urban living.

As the housing boom continues around Mohali, Gillco Group leads the charge, meeting the growing demand for luxury and sustainable housing. With a focus on innovation, customer satisfaction, and sustainability, the Group remains steadfast in shaping Mohali into a premier urban hub while expanding its footprint across North India.

Mumbai / Kolkata, 30th November’24: Medica Superspecialty Hospital, a part of Manipal Hospital group, conducted a comprehensive workshop on Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) for the doctors from all units of Manipal Hospitals, Kolkata. Insightful discussions followed by Q&A sessions covered different topics, such as Polysomnography and PAP Therapy, Management of OSA – Identifying the Phenotypes, The Perspective of Anaesthesia in the Management of OSA, Impact of Bariatric Surgery on OSA, Paediatric OSA and many more.

The workshop was initiated by Dr. Souvik Roy Choudhury, Senior Consultant, ENT & Sleep Apnea, Medica Superspecialty Hospital and Dr. Shaswati Sengupta Datta, Senior Consultant, ENT & Sleep Apnea, Medica Superspecialty Hospital and highlighted the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to effectively manage and treat OSA. With a focus on collaboration between specialties such as ENT, Pulmonology, Bariatric, Neurology, and Cardiology, the session aimed to equip healthcare professionals with the latest insights and strategies for tackling this complex sleep disorder.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea is characterized by recurrent episodes of partial or complete obstruction of the upper airway during sleep and has enormous implications for overall health. The workshop covered diagnostic advancements, treatment modalities, and case studies to enhance the clinical acumen of participating doctors.

While discussing the topic of OSA, Dr. Souvik Roy Chowdhury said, “Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a very common condition, prevailing in around 1 billion people worldwide. According to WHO’s data and a recently published data by AIIMS, New Delhi – 11% of Indian suffer from OSA, which is about 104 million, and almost 47 million Indians have moderate to severe OSA The risk factors include obesity more commonly. Other prevalent diseases are hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and anxiety. Engaging in physical activity at least three times a week may help lower the risk. Snoring is indeed a hallmark symptom, reported in up to 94% of patients. If left untreated, OSA can lead to severe complications, including heart, kidney, and metabolic issues. It also contributes to motor vehicle accidents, diminished productivity, and a significantly reduced quality of life.”

Dr. Shaswati Sengupta Datta explained, “There are many misconceptions regarding OSA. For example, people believe OSA is commonly found in males, but that is not necessarily the case. According to a Forbes report released last year, though we can witness 100 male OSA patients, we also get 50-60 average female patients. Women with obesity, polycystic ovarian syndrome, postmenopausal women and pregnancy are more prone to develop OSA. It is also quite common in children, even preschoolers and they usually present with hyperactivity, attention deficit, mood swings, poor school performance, growth failure etc. Most cases of OSA are undiagnosed and thus require increased awareness, because early detection and personalized treatment is the key to success. The treatment for OSA depends on the severity of the condition. Lifestyle modifications, such as abstinence from alcohol, smoking, sleep deprivation, or sleeping on the side, usually treat mild conditions-especially for obese patients. Moderate to severe cases are usually treated with nasal CPAP therapy. While medications aren’t often the go-to option, certain stimulants can prove helpful for excessive daytime sleepiness. Surgery has also a pivotal role in treatment of OSA, especially in children. A significant number of adults get benefits of surgery too, when selected judiciously. She further added, “This workshop was conducted to ensure that doctors from other departments also remain updated on the latest techniques in managing OSA. This calls for a holistic approach to treatment, with collaboration across various medical specialties to provide comprehensive care for patients.”

 Dr. Ranjan Kumar Das, Advisor, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Medica Superspecialty Hospital, stated, “Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a multifaceted health concern that demands a multidisciplinary approach for effective management. This workshop is a step forward in enhancing awareness and equipping healthcare professionals with advanced diagnostic and treatment techniques. The need to provide personalized care to our patients and address the often-overlooked impact of OSA on overall health. Timely diagnosis and intervention are critical, as untreated OSA can lead to severe health complications, including cardiovascular and metabolic disorders.”

Dr. Ayanabh Debgupta, Regional Chief Operating Officer, Manipal Hospitals (East), said, “Awareness about Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is often limited or misunderstood, with many in India mistakenly associating snoring with “restful” sleep. Most people remain unaware of the severity of this condition and so the cases remain under the surface, undiagnosed predominantly. Our ENT department has taken this commendable initiative to organize this workshop so that people are aware and come forward without brushing this under the carpet. The early onset of symptoms require reporting to clinicians and this may help the patient from future complications.”

Transitioning to sustainable and clean energy sources is pivotal in the global battle against climate change. Green hydrogen, with its cross-industry applications, including transportation, will play a crucial role in the global energy landscape. The IIT Bombay and HSBC India Green Hydrogen programme, aimed at accelerating the development and deployment of green hydrogen technologies, saw a large number of innovative project proposals received from 6 IITs, the National Institute of Technology and Indian Institute of Science, Education and Research. Out of these, six projects have been shortlisted for incubation at IIT Bombay, through a stringent process by a Steering committee comprising industry experts and senior faculty from the institute.

These breakthrough technologies and solutions presented by researchers, scientists, and students from institutions across India address key challenges in green hydrogen production, storage, transportation, and utilization. They range from developing indigenous hydrogen storage systems that will help reduce significant carbon emissions from commercial vehicles to cost effective and sustainable hydrogen generators and alternative burners which will improve air quality that has been an alarming issue in most metros in India. These solutions will be incubated at the IIT incubation centre, nurtured, and refined for commercial readiness by the end of the programme period and comprehensively supported to build scale and enhance reach.

Commenting on the initiative, Hitendra Dave, CEO, HSBC India, said, “We believe that Green hydrogen is a necessary lever to achieve a low carbon economy. Our partnership with IIT Bombay reflects this belief and is also in line with our global commitment to sustainability. It is overwhelming to see the great response to this programme and the innovative ideas that we have received.  We look forward to working with IIT Bombay to nurture these six innovations to make Green Hydrogen a cost-effective, scalable, and sustainable proposition.”

Prof. Shireesh Kedare, Director, IIT Bombay, said, “IIT Bombay is honoured to join forces with HSBC India in a transformative endeavour to drive India toward energy independence by setting up a thriving green hydrogen economy. This collaboration underscores our firm commitment to supporting the Indian government’s visionary National Green Hydrogen Mission which positions green hydrogen not just as a sustainable fuel, but as a cornerstone of the country’s future energy landscape. By driving groundbreaking research with wide-ranging applications—from transportation to industrial energy—this partnership is set to catalyze a cleaner, self-reliant India, and elevate our role as a leader in the global green energy movement.”

Unveiled by Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Smt Nirmala Sitharaman in 2023, this 3-year project aims to develop innovative projects to position green hydrogen as a strategic alternative fuel that has application across industries and create a strong green hydrogen economy to help India achieve energy independence and support the government’s mission to provide policy support for a global green hydrogen transition.

Green Hydrogen not only helps the environment but is also economically viable, creates employment in new green sectors and enhances energy security by diversifying energy sources. The Indian government has committed to promoting green hydrogen under its National Green Hydrogen Mission, highlighting its potential as a future fuel alternative. It envisions developing a green hydrogen production capacity of at least 5 million metric tonnes per year by 2030. This ambitious goal is set to bolster the country’s renewable energy capacity by approximately 125 GW, contributing significantly to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions and the realisation of India’s net-zero vision.

An outline of the 6 shortlisted projects is as follows:

Project 1 – Utilise earth-abundant materials to make hydrogen production both sustainable and cost-effective. The knowledge gained from this study will help create a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.

Project 2 – Develop a prototype hydrogen generator that can produce 5 litres of hydrogen per minute, with an energy efficiency of over 80%, and reduce production costs by around 30%

Project 3 – Develop a locally designed multi-stack alkaline electrolyzer aimed at producing green hydrogen in a cost-effective manner. The outcome will contribute to lowering the cost of green hydrogen, making it a more viable and sustainable alternative for various industrial and energy applications.

Project 4 – Develop completely indigenous hydrogen storage systems across India. This creates an opportunity for the automobile industry to increase the number of hydrogen-powered vehicles in both light and heavy-duty segments of the Indian transport sector. It will also help reduce the significant carbon emissions from commercial vehicles, contributing to a cleaner environment.

Project 5 – Develop a burner that offers a viable and sustainable alternative to traditional combustion processes, which will improve air quality, benefit public health, and help reduce the carbon footprint.

Project 6 – Create a tool that provides precise guidance on safely blending of hydrogen with natural gas for secure transportation. This will help reduce reliance on carbon-based fossil fuels.

HSBC India and Sustainability

HSBC India’s strategy to support sustainable economic growth, focuses on Community Investment (CSR interventions), Sustainable Operations, Sustainable Finance and Sustainability Risk.

The strategy is delivered through a combination of programmes, collaboration, and partnerships. We believe it requires a concerted effort between business, governments and other stakeholders on policies and programmes to support transition to a more sustainable future.

HSBC Bank India

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited in India offers a full range of banking and financial services through 26 branches across 14 cities.

HSBC is one of India’s leading financial services groups, with around 42,000 employees in its banking, investment banking and capital markets, asset management, insurance, software development and global resourcing operations in the country. It is a leading custodian in India. The Bank is at the forefront in arranging deals for Indian companies investing overseas and foreign investments into the country.

Mumbai, November 30, 2024: ICICI Prudential Life Insurance has introduced IPRU Edge, a cutting-edge ‘Advisor Stack’ that has driven a 37% increase in agent productivity in H1-FY2025, enabling advisors to enhance their earnings while delivering a seamless customer experience.

The stack empowers over 2 lakh agents to efficiently manage operations, grow their business, and provide superior customer service. With 61% of the Company’s top-tier advisors actively using the platform, IPRU Edge has emerged as a critical tool in enhancing advisor efficiency and enabling business growth.

Mr. Srinivas Balasubramanian, Chief of Product and Marketing at ICICI Prudential Life Insurance, said, “The Advisor Stack equips our advisors with the tools they need to focus on revenue-generating tasks, enhance productivity, and offer a hassle-free customer experience. We are delighted to share that advisors using IPRU Edge have demonstrated a 49% YoY growth in contributions to the retail weighted received premium.”

He added, “We are also the first life insurer in India to offer same-day commission payouts, with 98.1% of eligible agents benefiting from this feature in H1-FY2025. This has strengthened our commitment to becoming the most distributor-friendly life insurer.”

Streamlining Customer Service and Operations
The stack integrates OCR technology and real-time KYC authentication, enabling advisors to provide a paperless buying journey, enhancing efficiency and customer satisfaction. It also allows advisors to:

• Access leads and demand-generation tools, including social media content sharing.
• Manage new business logins with end-to-end tracking.
• Provide on-the-go customer service, including policy documents, tax statements, and payment links.
• View business performance, earnings, and rewards.

Mr. Srinivas concluded, “With a focus on enhancing advisor capacity, simplifying processes, and improving persistency ratios, IPRU Edge underscores our commitment to leveraging technology to empower our advisors and strengthen our customer-first approach.”

Patna: Shri Manoj Mittal, Chairman and Managing Director, Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) met Shri Amrit Lal Meena, IAS, the Chief Secretary of Bihar, to apprise him of SIDBI’s ongoing work in the State to enhance the reach of its credit and credit-plus services and its support to State’s MSMEs with capex and working capital support.

During the meeting, Shri Mittal assured the Chief Secretary of SIDBI’s unwavering commitment towards the MSME sector of Bihar, to make it a driver of economic growth, employment generation, and innovation in the State.

While appreciating SIDBI’s work in Bihar, Shri Meena suggested the scale-up of SIDBI’s ongoing financing model to provide curated financial services and products to Cluster Level Federations (CLFs) of Jeevika; collaboration with different state government departments and deepening of SIDBI’s credit and developmental footprints in Bihar.

Mumbai, November 2024: Sayaji Hotels Group, one of India’s most recognized hospitality brands, is set to expand its footprint with a significant focus on the luxury and leisure segment. Building on its strong presence in Central India, the group has outlined plans for a major expansion into all key regions, including the North, South, East and West of the country. With a goal of adding 12,000 keys across 113 cities, Sayaji Hotels aims to cater to the growing demand for high-quality hospitality services in both urban and leisure markets.

The expansion plans will be strategically focused on Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, which are expected to lead the charge in Sayaji Hotels’ growth, accounting for 8,700 new keys. These properties will cater to a mix of business and leisure travelers, combining Sayaji’s renowned food and beverage expertise with world-class service standards.

“Our expansion reflects our commitment to providing high-quality, accessible hospitality across the country. We see tremendous potential in emerging markets, especially in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, where infrastructure growth and increased connectivity are driving demand for upscale accommodations”, Mr. Raoof Razak Dhanani, Managing Director, of Sayaji Hotels Limited. “We aim to bring a blend of luxury and leisure that appeals to both domestic and international travelers, ensuring a unique and memorable experience at every Sayaji property.”

Sayaji Hotels’ strategic growth model incorporates a mix of management contracts, revenue-sharing models, and traditional lease agreements to maximize flexibility and market responsiveness. The group is also focused on bolstering its presence in the luxury segment, particularly through the development of resort properties in scenic destinations like Udaipur, as well as wildlife and pilgrim tourism hotspots.

This expansion will see Sayaji not only grow its operational properties but also continue to build its brand reputation across the country by aligning itself with the latest industry trends. The group is well positioned to tap into the increasing demand for online bookings and expects a notable rise in revenue over the next few years.