Archives January 2025

Bengaluru 22nd Jan 2025 : The Grand National Finals of the much-awaited SIP Arithmetic Genius Contest 2024 was held in Chennai, on Sunday, 19th January 2025. The 9th edition of this contest, conducted by SIP Academy India, witnessed participation from over 750,000 children across 1,500 schools in 23 states. The multi-tiered competition aims to strengthen the mathematical foundation of children in Classes 1 to 5 while nurturing a healthy competitive spirit.

The contest progresses through four rounds: School Round, City Round, State Round, and the Grand National Finals. Out of 2,33,000 students in Round 2 and 37,000 participants in the State Finals, 300 students have qualified for the National Finals, and they participated in the National Finals held in Chennai.

The winners from each class crowned at “Arithmetic Genius 2024”, with attractive prizes. Amogha Varsha R M, Class 3 student from Vidya Sanskar International Public School, Bharathnagar, won the Performer Award at Grand National Finals of SIP Arithmetic Genius Contest 2024 held in Chennai recently.

Mr. Dinesh Victor, Managing Director of SIP Academy India Pvt. Ltd., expressed his excitement: “We are delighted to offer young children an opportunity to build a solid foundation in mathematics and earn recognition at an early age. The overwhelming participation from students across the country is a testament to their enthusiasm and the growing importance of arithmetic skills in shaping their future.”

He also highlighted that SIP Academy India has trained over 1 million children across its 1,000+ centres in 350 cities across 24 states. The academy’s programs aim to equip children with essential life skills to help them face challenges with confidence.

Mumbai, 22nd January 2025: Third Wave Coffee, a coffee-first QSR brand, has appointed Akshat Arora as its new Marketing Director. With over a decade of experience in marketing and brand strategy, Akshat brings a proven track record of driving growth, strengthening brand equity and creating meaningful consumer connections. His addition to the leadership team is poised to drive innovation, enhance customer engagement, and accelerate the brand’s growth in India’s dynamic specialty coffee sector.

In his new role, Akshat will spearhead initiatives to enhance brand resonance, expand digital outreach, build consumer engagement through offline and online channels and strengthen the brand’s competitive edge in an increasingly dynamic market. His appointment comes at an exciting juncture as Third Wave Coffee celebrates the milestone of opening its 125th cafe and continues its expansion across India, reinforcing its leadership in the specialty coffee sector.

Sharing his views on how this appointment strengthens the brand’s leadership team, Rajat Luthra, CEO, Third Wave Coffee, said, “We are delighted to welcome Akshat to the Third Wave Coffee family. His extensive experience and innovative approach to business strategies makes him an invaluable addition to our team. Given the opportune stage the brand is at, we look forward to partnering with him as we embark on the next phase of our journey. We are confident that Akshat’s leadership will elevate our marketing strategies and deepen our connection with coffee enthusiasts nationwide.”

Akshat Arora, Marketing Director, Third Wave Coffee, added, “Third Wave Coffee has already defined India’s coffee culture with its specialty coffee offerings and customer-first approach. I am excited to join this remarkable journey and contribute to the brand’s next phase of growth. My focus would be on creating a deeper preference for the brand and driving brand love as we continue to innovate and grow. Together with the team, I am committed to strengthening the brand’s legacy of transforming how India experiences coffee”.

Before joining Third Wave Coffee, Akshat had contributed to the growth of several other renowned brands like Tim Hortons, Bisleri and Jaguar Land Rover. With more than 14 years of experience he has successfully navigated competitive markets across various sectors. With over 125 outlets across 10 cities and plans to grow further, Third Wave Coffee remains committed to leading India’s specialty coffee market by prioritizing quality, consistency, and community engagement.

Mumbai, January 22, 2025: In celebration of India’s 76th Republic Day, Siddha Sejal Group, one of India’s leading real estate developers has announced an exclusive offer for homebuyers at their premium project, Siddha Sky at Sion NX. Aptly titled “Freedom from EMI”, this offer is designed to make homeownership more accessible and stress-free to potential homebuyers.

Under the Builder Subvention Plan (25:75), buyers can book their dream home by paying just 25% upfront, with the remaining 75% to be paid at the time of OC. This limited-time offer allows buyers to ease their financial burden, providing them with the freedom to invest without the immediate pressure of EMIs.

Speaking about the Republic Day offer, Mr. Samyak Jain, Director, of Siddha Group said, “Republic Day symbolizes freedom and a fresh start. We are committed to crafting exceptional living experiences while ensuring financial flexibility for our buyers. The ‘Freedom from EMI’ offer is a step in that direction, empowering homebuyers to own their dream home at Siddha Sky, Sion NX, without worrying about immediate financial strain. With its prime location, superior amenities, and unique payment plan, Siddha Sky represents the perfect combination of value and convenience for modern homebuyers.”

Siddha Sky at Sion NX is a landmark development, offering premium residences designed for comfort and luxury. Strategically located with excellent connectivity and world-class amenities, the project has garnered significant interest among discerning homebuyers.

This exclusive offer is valid for a limited period and select units, and Siddha Sejal Group encourages prospective homebuyers to seize this opportunity and celebrate freedom from EMIs by investing in a home that exhibits value for its customers.

Bangalore, 21st January, 2025 – KISNA Diamond and Gold Jewellery, one of India’s leading jewellery retail chains, today, gave away 100 Maruti Celerio cars to lucky customers, spread across the country. The cars were handed over to winners simultaneously at 11 cities, as part of the grand conclusion of #Abki_Baar_Aapke_Liye campaign.. Over 51,219 people participated in this engaging initiative, making it one of the most significant campaigns in KISNA’s history as well as the industry.

The campaign, which went live on September 1, 2024, and concluded on January 18, 2025, offered participants the chance to win a car through a purchase of diamond, platinum, or solitaire jewellery worth ₹20,000 or more, or gold jewellery worth ₹50,000 or more. Customers had the option to participate in a lucky draw and win a Maruti Suzuki Celerio. This is a testament to KISNA’s dedication to creating unforgettable moments for its patrons.

As part of the campaign’s grand finale, KISNA selected 104 winners from across India. North India saw maximum participation with 20,795 participating customers, followed by other regions. The winners received the keys to their cars at special events curated for the same, across states, including Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu among others.

Mr. Ghanshyam Dholakia, Founder & Managing Director of Hari Krishna Group, stated, “The overwhelming participation from jewellery buyers in the #Abki_Baar_Aapke_Liye campaign, is a testament to the trust and affection our customers have for KISNA. This campaign celebrates the spirit of sharing joy and rewarding our loyal patrons with the opportunity to win something truly extraordinary.”

Mr. Parag Shah, Director of KISNA Diamond & Gold Jewellery, further emphasized, “This campaign underscores our commitment to connecting with every Indian household. The excitement and engagement seen during this period reflect the deep bond KISNA shares with its customers, blending tradition, modernity, and trust in every piece of jewellery we offer.”

The winners were informed through tele-calls on the same day as the delivery of the vehicles to maximise excitement and make it memorable. KISNA’s regional presence has also made it possible to reward participants from remote areas as well, offering everyone a fair chance to be a part of this grand celebration.

Get ready for an intense and thrilling experience with GOAT, where action, drama, and powerful moments come together in true ‘Cinema’ style. This Republic Day, Zee Cinema brings to you the World Television Premiere of The Greatest Of All Time on Sunday, 26th January at noon & 8 PM. Starring the powerhouse performer Thalapathy Vijay and the versatile Prabhu Deva, this high-energy entertainer is packed with gripping twists, unforgettable scenes, and a mission to save the nation!

A tale of rivalry and greatness, the film masterfully blends family sentiment, patriotism, action, emotion, humor, and Vijay’s trademark charm! Packed with unexpected twists and director Venkat Prabhu’s signature tributes, we see Vijay delivering a powerhouse performance as the ultimate hero and Prabhu Deva adding his signature style, making every scene memorable. This film isn’t just a story, it’s an experience, and when it comes to facing any challenge related to the nation, G.O.A.T. is always ready!

Prabhu Deva said, “Being part of this film was such an adrenaline rush. It’s a movie that pushes boundaries. It’s got explosive action but also moments that make you think. I’m excited for the Zee Cinema audience to see what happens next.”

Director Venkat Prabhu said, “GOAT is everything I love about filmmaking – massive action, a gripping storyline, visuals, and some of my favorite actors. Vijay, once again, brings something different to the table. This is not just about good versus bad; it’s about how far you’ll go when everything’s on the line. With the energy and talent Vijay and Prabhu Deva bring, I can’t wait for the audiences of Zee Cinema to see what unfolds.”

Prashanth Thiagarajan shared, “Being part of The Greatest Of All Time has been an amazing journey, and I’m excited for audiences across India to experience it on Zee Cinema. This film is a high-octane, action-packed mass entertainer, and I am sure the audience will enjoy the experience during its World Television Premiere!”

When a man’s past comes back, he is forced to return to a life he wanted to leave behind. After years of successful operations, an elite agent suddenly retires, choosing a quiet, ordinary life. However, when a past mission comes back to haunt him, he reunites with his team to prevent a catastrophic disaster for the nation. As destinies intertwine, alliances are tested, and the true meaning of greatness unfolds.

This Republic Day don’t miss the World Television Premiere of The Greatest Of All Time (G.O.A.T) on Sunday, 26th January at 12 PM & 8 PM, only on Zee Cinema!

Hyderabad, January 22, 2025: Zuno General Insurance, formerly known as Edelweiss General Insurance, a new-age digital insurer, has launched a unique road safety awareness initiative, ‘The Talking Zebra’ to educate motorists and pedestrians about the importance of following traffic rules in an engaging and memorable way.

This initiative, spanning from 16th Jan to 25th Janis part of Zuno General Insurance’s commitment to promoteresponsible driving habits for safer roads and aligns with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways’ (MoRTH) declaration of January as Road Safety Month.Through the Talking Zebra Campaign, Zuno aims to amplify the national focus on reducing road accidents and fostering a culture of responsible road usage.

The Talking Zebra campaign is an innovative one-of-a-kind initiative that features a witty and interactive Zebra that is brought to life at traffic signals. As part of the campaign, a promoter dressed as a zebra—the very embodiment of zebra crossings—will interact with people at busy traffic signals. in six major cities – Mumbai, Goa, Kolkata, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru. The mascot will interact with drivers and pedestrians, using wit, and humor to make road safety a topic everyone wants to talk about and a real concern. The Talking Zebra will remind everyone to “Keep your cool, follow traffic rules” while promoting essential practices like respecting zebra crossings, stopping at red lights, and avoiding jaywalking.

Shanai Ghosh, MD & CEO, Zuno General Insurance said, “Road safety is a critical and shared responsibility, and atZunowe are committed to launching initiatives that create lasting, positive change. The Talking Zebra campaign is our unique way of blending education with entertainment to encourage positive behavior on the streets, both for the driving community and pedestrians.We have also gone a step beyond awareness by using rewards to influence behavioural change with our telematics-based Pay-How-You-Drive (PHYD), that incentivises good driving behaviour with discounts on the car insurance premium.By participating in PHYD, drivers will be encouraged to adopt safer practices, ultimately contributing to safer roads, fewer accidents, and reduced fatalities across India.”

Every year, India sees a high number of pedestrian accidents, often caused by reckless drivers who ignore traffic rules and zebra crossings. Kolkata too witnessed around 15% increase in accidents in the last five years, pedestrian safety remains a major concern due to factors such as heavy traffic, non-compliance with traffic regulations, and inadequate enforcement of safety measures like zebra crossings. The “India Status Report on Road Safety 2024,” by the TRIP Centre at IIT Delhi, highlights India’s slow progress in reducing road accident fatalities. Despite advances in other sectors, road traffic injuries remain a major public health issue, and most states are unlikely to meet the UN’s goal of halving traffic deaths by 2030. Comparing India to road safety leaders like Sweden, the report shows that while in 1990, an Indian was 40% more likely to die in a road accident, by 2021 this figure had risen to 600%.

The Annual Report on Road Accidents in India available till (2022) recorded 4,61,312 crashes marginally low by 1% in the last five years, leading to 1,68,491 fatalities and 4,43,366 injuries. On an average, India experiences 53 crashes and 92 deaths per hour. According to global data, India witnesses the highest number of road accidents in the world.

Ketan Mankikar, Head & VP Marketing &Communications, Zuno General Insurance said, “The Talking Zebra is more than just a campaign; it’s a conversation starter, it’s a movement to inspire everyone to follow traffic rules and make roads safer. By using wit and humor, we aim to make safety more relatable, memorable, and ultimately, impactful. With a sense of humour and originality, “The Talking Zebra” hopes to leave an impression on drivers that will lead to behavioural change.As a brand that stands for being easy, breezy, and surely, we are excited to bring this concept to life and see how it sparks a positive change on the roads.”

The campaign addresses pedestrian safety issues by introducing innovative and creative concepts that apply to both drivers and walkers.

To maximise the campaign’s reach and impact, Zuno General Insurance has partnered with popular radio channel Red FM, allowing ‘The Talking Zebra’s’ voice to amplify the message across airwaves. Zuno General Insurance has also taken the campaign to the public encouraging them to join the movement on social media with hashtags #TalkingZebra, #RespectTheStripes, and #StayCoolFollowRules.

India, 21st January 2025: Noise, India’s leading smartwatch and connected lifestyle brand, elevates its flagship lineup with the launch of the Noise ColorFit Pro 6 Series – featuring Noise ColorFit Pro 6 Max and Noise ColorFit Pro 6. The new series redefines the smartwatch experience with an exceptional fusion of next-gen AI-driven innovation and exquisite craftsmanship. Designed to cater to the evolving needs of the consumers, the ColorFit Pro 6 series integrates style, personalized fitness, and cutting-edge technology for everyday life. The ColorFit Pro 6 series delivers “Intelligence on your Wrist” through its AI-Powered Personalization – AI Watch Faces that adapt dynamically to the style and environment and an AI Companion that provides personalized wellness insights, the series is a perfect blend of functionality, durability, and elegance. Featuring advanced health monitoring and next-gen insights for tailored health metrics and recommendations, the ColorFit Pro 6 Series is designed for modern professionals and fitness enthusiasts who demand precision, performance, and style.

Powered by the robust EN2 processor and Nebula UI 2.0, the ColorFit Pro 6 series brings futuristic and purposeful design together, simplifying and empowering daily life. With its sleek Always-On Display (AoD) and advanced AI capabilities, the smartwatch adapts to one’s unique lifestyle, providing an elevated experience.

Key Features:

AI Companion: Your personal fitness companion analyzes activity data and turns it into intelligence advice alongside sharing sleep insights

Intelligent Notifications and Gestures: Gesture controls enhance usability with quick interactions such as tapping to take photos, shaking to reject calls, and covering the watch to mute

Safety & Privacy : Notifications, along with Emergency SOS and password protection, improve both safety and usability

Equipped with BT v5.3, the series ensures a stable and hassle-free connection for both Android and iOS users, enhancing call quality and connectivity. With an impressive battery life of up to 7 days, the smartwatches deliver uninterrupted health and performance tracking. Powered by the Noise Health Suite™, the smartwatches offer precise heart rate monitoring, SpO2 tracking, stress management, and various sports modes, ensuring comprehensive performance for both fitness and wellness. The series is a testament to Noise’s unwavering commitment to enhancing consumers’ lifestyles through the perfect integration of technology and design.

Amit Khatri, Co-Founder of Noise, commented on the launch, “We are thrilled to unveil the sixth generation of our flagship smartwatch range, the ColorFit Pro 6 Series. The overwhelming interest this launch has garnered reflects not only our relentless commitment to innovation but also the enduring trust and love of our consumers. Designed with precision and powered by AI-driven personalization, the ColorFit Pro 6 Series reflects our vision of delivering meaningful reinvention year after year, elevating the user experience to new heights.”

The Noise ColorFit Pro 6 Max extends a premium stainless steel design, making it both robust and elegant. The 1.96-inch AMOLED display and a screen resolution of 410x502px delivers stunning visuals with sharp clarity. Its built-in GPS enables precise outdoor activity tracking, making it perfect for adventurers and fitness enthusiasts. It also comes in multiple strap options, including Metal, Magnetic, Leather, and Silicone, and 5 ATM water resistance to complement your style or activity. One can manage calls directly from your wrist with crystal-clear quality, saving up to 10 contacts and accessing recent call logs.

The Noise ColorFit Pro 6 put forth a focus towards a refined crown and finish details with a 1.85-inch AMOLED display and 390×450 px resolution. Its AI Companion delivers personalized health insights tailored to individual lifestyles, empowering users to take control of their wellness journey. It too sports versatile strap options like Braided, Magnetic, Mesh, and Silicone, and comes with IP68 water resistance. Engineered with consumers’ needs in mind, both the models share a common foundation of excellence.

The Noise ColorFit Pro Series has consistently set benchmarks in its segment, evolving with time to meet the needs of modern consumers. With each iteration, the series has redefined expectations by blending sophisticated design, advanced technology, and exceptional functionality. As a flagship offering, it exemplifies Noise’s commitment to superior craftsmanship and quality innovation, positioning the brand as a leader in delivering intelligent and high-performance wearables. The new ColorFit Pro 6 Series carries this legacy forward, raising the bar for what smartwatches can achieve.

India is gearing up to celebrate its 76th Republic Day on January 26. As the nation prepares to honor this significant milestone, Haier India is thrilled to announce exclusive Republic Day discounts on its wide range of consumer durables, including refrigerators, air conditioners, LED TVs, washing machines, robot vacuum cleaners, microwave ovens, and more.

In recognition of India’s Republic Day celebrations, Haier India is offering a variety of exciting deals, including the unique “Pay Rs 1 and Take Haier Home” initiative, ensuring that Haier products are within reach for everyone across the country. Additionally, a generous 25% instant discount on all Haier products across categories is available, making it the perfect time to upgrade your home and living spaces with high-quality consumer durables.

Haier India is also offering an easy and convenient fixed EMI option starting at Rs 994, flexible payment plans of up to 36 months, and an extended warranty for added assurance. These offers enable customers to enjoy the benefits of Haier appliances with ease, enhancing their daily lives with superior products and services.

National, 21 January 2025: Cambridge University Press is one of the key publishers in the Government of India’s groundbreaking One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) initiative, a transformative effort aimed at boosting academic and research excellence across the country. Cambridge will be expanding access to its vast repository of journals, enabling India’s academic community to leverage high-quality research and peer-reviewed articles.

Spearheaded by the Government of India, ONOS is a landmark effort to ensure access to quality scholarly research journals across the nation. As one of the 30 global publishers participating in this initiative, Cambridge will provide access to 430 journals across Science, Technology & Medicine and Humanities & Social Sciences.

ONOS provides seamless access to high-quality academic and research content to over 1.77 crore users across 6,380 government-funded institutions in India. This move comes at a critical juncture in India’s progress towards its vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and Cambridge is committed to supporting India’s vision of democratising knowledge and giving rise to a robust research ecosystem.

On her recent visit to India, Mandy Hill, Managing Director of Academic Publishing at Cambridge University Press, engaged with stakeholders to discuss various initiatives, including ONOS and how to advance global learning and research through broader access to academic resources. “The ONOS initiative directly supports Cambridge’s mission of furthering the advancement of learning, knowledge and research worldwide. We believe broader access fuels greater research impact, and ONOS allows us to put this principle into practice. We hope to build an inclusive ecosystem that promotes knowledge sharing and innovation through collaboration with local institutions. We applaud the Indian government’s commitment to encourage the country’s researchers and learners through this initiative,” she added.

Cambridge will have a clear focus on India’s ONOS initiative facilitating equal access to high-researched peer-reviewed journals, advancement of Indian research by way of discounted publication fees, and alignment with the National Education Policy 2020 for building a holistic research ecosystem. Cambridge aims to empower Indian scholars by providing access to its journals, supporting educational advancement, and enhancing output, ultimately amplifying the country’s standing in research globally.

“ONOS is a game-changer for India’s higher education landscape,” said Arun Rajamani, Managing Director of Cambridge University Press & Assessment, South Asia. “We’re proud be part of this endeavour, empowering the next generation of researchers and unlocking India’s potential for groundbreaking discoveries. This association with the Government of India enables us to share the wealth of knowledge that Cambridge has cultivated over decades.”

Through ONOS, Indian universities will get access to select esteemed journals by Cambridge including Journal of Fluid Mechanics, Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Acta Numerica, British Journal of Psychiatry, Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, European Psychiatry, Epidemiology & Infection, Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, amongst others.

To maximise the impact of its participation under ONOS, Cambridge is planning a series of activities, across the country, tailored specifically to support the academic and research community. These include a series of publishing workshops designed to enhance scholarly communication, guidance on author services to facilitate publishing and building a researcher community. By integrating these diverse activities, Cambridge aims to create a robust ecosystem for knowledge-sharing and academic growth across India.

New Delhi, 21st January 2024: Godrej Design Lab, part of the Godrej Enterprises Group, in collaboration with the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) and Integrative Design Solutions (IDS), has unveiled the ‘Building a Climate-Conscious India: Scalable Solutions for a Low-Carbon Built Environment’ report at Conscious Collective 2024. The report provides a comprehensive roadmap to decarbonize India’s building sector, a critical contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, and serves as a guide for architects, designers, developers, and policymakers to scale proven solutions.

Speaking about the trends report, Nyrika Holkar, Executive Director, Godrej Enterprises Group, said, “The built environment and cities are pivotal to India’s net-zero ambitions. With 40% of India’s buildings yet to be constructed over the next 20 years, decisive action by the building sector today can set the nation firmly on a net-zero trajectory. The report offers a comprehensive framework for convergence across the built environment, providing tailored recommendations for stakeholders. By prioritizing behavioural change, fostering collaboration, and driving innovation, it equips policymakers, industry leaders, and consumers with the tools to enable large-scale adoption and realize a sustainable, net-zero future”.

The built environment accounts for 37% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with cities contributing 70%. The report projects that strategic interventions could enable an 81% reduction in carbon emissions from India’s building sector by 2050. It emphasizes the need for scalable solutions across four critical areas: urban planning, material and design innovation, building-level energy efficiency, and consumer-driven initiatives.

Dr Arunabha Ghosh, Founder-CEO of CEEW, stated, “Decarbonizing India’s built environment hinges on collaboration among policymakers, businesses, and consumers to align on cost-efficient solutions, skills development, and individual action. As time runs out, the emphasis must shift from isolated pilot successes to models that deliver impact at scale. Achieving this requires the right mix of cost-efficiency, skills development, and alignment with consumer preferences. Encouragingly, the market is showing readiness to embrace low-carbon interventions. The next step is to empower key actors and unlock the levers that will transform this opportunity into a win for both business and the climate.”

The report offers actionable steps, including implementing performance-based green building codes, streamlining compliance, and adopting innovative tools like gamification and blockchain-based energy trading. With successful case studies like Telangana’s Cool Roof Programme, Krushi Bhawan in Odisha, and blockchain-enabled Power Ledger projects are highlighted in the report alongside global best practices, such as Medellin’s Green Corridors, which reduced local temperatures by 2°C. These examples demonstrate the potential for widespread impact through innovative strategies.

Aligned with Godrej Enterprises Group’s commitment to creating a Good and Green India, the report reinforces the company’s dedication to empowering consumers, reducing emissions, and conserving biodiversity for a sustainable future.