Archives May 2025

Mumbai, 5^th May, 2025: Bank of Baroda (Bank), one of India’s leading public sector banks, has announced a reduction in its Home Loan interest rates. The Bank’s home loan rates now start from 8.00%* p.a. (earlier 8.40% p.a.). The rates are applicable on fresh home loans and home improvement loans. The rate is applicable on loans of Rs 15 lakh and above and is linked to a borrower’s credit score. The Bank had already passed on the Repo rate reduction benefits to its existing borrowers with loans linked to Repo rate.

Further, the Bank is offering a concession of 0.05% p.a. for women borrowers and 0.10% p.a. for borrowers below 40 years of age, on ready properties, shifting of home loans, etc.

Shri Sanjay Mudaliar, Executive Director, Bank of Baroda said, “Bank of Baroda’s new reduced home loan rates will further make home ownership more affordable. We are also offering special concessions for specific important segments. These revised rates reinforce Bank’s commitment to offer competitive credit solutions to aspiring homeowners, further strengthening its position as a preferred housing finance partner.”

The Bank’s Home Loan Balance Transfer scheme offers an excellent opportunity for borrowers of other banks and NBFCs to seamlessly shift their home loans to Bank of Baroda with minimum documentation & quick processing, thus enabling them to take advantage of reduced interest rates.

Key features of Bank of Baroda Home Loans

• Interest rates starting at 8.00%* p.a.
• Concession of 0.05% p.a. for women borrowers, 0.10% p.a. for borrowers aged below 40 years and 0.10% p.a. for Takeover/Balance Transfer cases, fully completed properties and Government projects, subject to the Bank’s minimum ROI guideline in such cases.
• Takeover of home loans with minimum documentation.
• Digital Home Loans with quick approval in few steps.

Magical Blends is a Unique Patented Personalised Skincare System with 6 unique serums that caters to every skincare issue and concern. The clinically researched and formulated serums blend magically with the base, making it a quick, simple, and hassle-free skin care routine. Their beginner and summer friendly AM-PM skincare routine is a perfect gift for your mom this Mother’s Day.

The Sun Defence serum is India’s first oil-based sunscreen serum and has ultra effective broad-spectrum UVA & UVB protection, leaving no white cast! It’s perfect to use for AM whether one is indoors or outdoors as it also helps protect against blue rays and radiation from our digital devices.

The Pore Refining Serum is enriched with Tea Tree Oil and Salicylic Acid for healthy, refined and sebum-balanced pores. This serum is perfect for all-over use for keeping acne & sebum under control, and can also be applied topically on active acne overnight for quicker relief. Depending on how oily or acne prone your skin is this serum can be added to both AM and PM routine.

Use the Vit C Brightening Serum in your PM routine for a clear and radiant complexion, resulting in blemish-free skin. It stimulates collagen, enhances skin luminosity, helps even out skin pigmentation, and brightens dark spots. Vitamin C serums are typically advised to be used in the evening, as its exposure to sunlight can inadvertently cause skin oxidation.

The Light Hydrating Gel is a perfect moisturizing base enriched with Aloe Vera and Vitamin E. It is a non-sticky formula with a lightweight texture, is nourishing, gives long-lasting hydration, and provides cooling relief to the skin.

Excuses like lack of time or not understanding the serum layering science should not stop your mom from shining bright anymore! Gift her a perfect one step regimen with Magical Blends this Mother’s Day and get her rolling on her skincare journey…

5^th May’25, Mumbai, INDIA: The Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) today released Vehicle Retail Data for Apr’25.

 April’25 Retails

Reflecting on April 2025 auto-retail results, FADA President Mr. C S Vigneshwar noted: “The new financial year began on a modest note as overall retails in April managed to grow by 3% YoY. All categories except CV closed in the green, with 2W, 3W, PV and Trac up 2.25%, 24.5%, 1.5% and 7.5% respectively, while CVs declined by 1%. With the tariff war paused, stock markets staged a sharp pullback—alleviating investor concerns—and customers thus leveraged Chaitra Navratri, Akshay Tritiya, Bengali New Year, Baisakhi and Vishu to complete purchases, helping April end on a positive note.

2W retail volumes demonstrated a resilient up-cycle—growing 2.25% YoY and accelerating 11.84% MoM—underscoring a stable demand environment amid mixed headwinds. Dealers reported buoyant enquiry growth in rural areas post-Rabi harvest, driven by strong crop yields, healthy reservoir levels and a favourable monsoon outlook, while wedding-season tailwinds sustained rural offtake. Urban demand remained robust, supported by new-model introductions, although elevated financing costs and OBD2B-linked price adjustments posed isolated bottlenecks.

Despite limited model introductions, the PV segment registered a 1.55% YoY increase alongside a marginal 0.19% MoM decline. This performance reflects a discount-led market and elevated inventories—approximately a 50-day supply—amid cautious consumer sentiment that tempered enquiry-to-sale conversions. Sustained SUV demand underpinned volumes even as entry-level customers remained cautious, underscoring the need for OEMs to recalibrate production and reduce stock levels to mitigate deeper discounts and carrying costs at dealerships. FADA continues to advocate a 21-day inventory norm at dealerships to enhance market responsiveness and cost efficiency.

April’s CV segment faced a 1.05% YoY decline and a 4.44% MoM contraction following OEM-led price increases against stagnant freight rates and fleet utilisation. Dealer feedback highlights that advance purchases in March resulted in elevated carryover stocks, while holiday calendars dampened fresh enquiries and delayed conversions—particularly in the SCV cargo category, where price and product gaps have weighed heavily. Conversely, the bus segment exhibited resilience, underpinned by strong school-transport and staff-mobility demand. Although financing availability remains broadly stable, enhanced support for first-time users will be critical to reignite momentum.”

 Near-Term Outlook

May’s agricultural cycle is concluding on a strong note, underpinned by healthy crop prices and robust mandi procurement. The IMD’s forecast of an above-normal southwest monsoon bodes well for rural incomes, farm-sector growth and downstream demand, while a well-distributed rainy season is critical to containing food inflation. At the same time, Kantar’s Rural Barometer and GroupM data signal heightened consumer selectivity in rural India—household spending has outpaced income growth, and inflationary pressures are tempering discretionary purchases. Here, non-essential categories such as 2W is likewise plateauing amid rising living costs. Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank’s recent bond purchases are set to inject surplus liquidity into the banking system, paving the way for lower lending rates and enhanced auto-loan affordability.

Dealer feedback also paints a nuanced picture for May across all segments. In 2W, marriage-season and post-harvest demand should underpin enquiries, yet financiers are tightening customer-level credit criteria—higher CIBIL requirements and down-payment mandates—despite broader banking-system liquidity. Summer heat and school holidays may further suppress showroom visits though IMD predicts that it may not be as bad as last year. PV retails are expected to hold steady but muted, as buyers await new-model roll-outs and contend with elevated financing costs. Commercial vehicles are likely to trade flat, weighed down by a high-base effect, slower e-commerce activity and intensifying competition from electric three-wheelers; targeted OEM incentive schemes and forthcoming infrastructure projects offer some offset. Auto Industry will need to balance these event-driven tailwinds against customer-level liquidity constraints and seasonal softness to sustain momentum.

In aggregate, these dynamics point to a cautiously optimistic outlook—demand will be choppy, but disciplined inventory management, targeted incentives and easing borrowing costs should help the industry navigate the month.

Key Findings from our Online Members Survey

• Liquidity

• • Neutral              52.34%
  • Good                  23.83%
  • Bad                     23.83%

• Sentiment
  • Neutral              55.08%
  • Good                  23.83%
  • Bad                     21.09%

• Expectation from May’25

• • Flat                     48.44%
  • Growth               37.50%
  • De-growth         14.06

Consolidated revenue increased by 14.3% YoY, driven by healthy volume growth in the replacement and OEM segment. International demand was impacted due to global macro-economic conditions while elevated input cost continued to impact margins as gross margin and EBITDA margin declined by 483bps YoY/174bps YoY respectively. Reported PAT remained flat, impacted by EPR related expenses. In comparison to previous year the performance remains weak, however, sequentially the performance seems to have stabilized because of recovery in OEM demand and flattish input cost.

The management remains bullish on long-term tyre demand in India, supported by infrastructure investments and EV adoption. CEAT is capitalizing on premiumization trends with high-end product launches and plans to maintain ~20-25% market share in the EV OEM segment. Despite near-term softness in urban demand, rural markets and the commercial vehicle segment offer optimism. Challenges persist in international business, particularly in Latin America and North America, although Europe, Middle East, and Southeast Asia continue to be stable growth contributors. We project revenue/EBITDA/PAT to grow at 16%/23%/29% CAGR over FY25-27E. We maintain our ‘Hold’ rating with a revised target price of Rs3,240 (previous Rs2,700), valuing it at 16x on its Mar’27E EPS.

§     Robust realization leads to strong topline growth: Q4FY25 revenue was at Rs34.2bn against PLe/BBGe of Rs32.2bn/Rs33.4bn, driven by double-digit volume expansion in OEM segment and high single digit growth in the replacement segment. PAT was reported at Rs 0.9bn (PLe: Rs 1.1bn; BBGe: Rs 1.2bn), lower than the expectations owing to expenses related to EPR provisions.

§     Sequential recovery in margin: Gross profit was Rs 12.8bn (PLe: Rs 12.3bn) while EBITDA was Rs 3.9bn (PLe: Rs 3.6bn; BBGe Rs3.6bn).  High input cost as compared to same period last year impacted its gross margin/EBITDA margin, however, sequentially the company reported 101bps improvement in EBITDA margin owing to stable RM cost sequentially and price hikes taken during previous quarters.

§     Gradual recovery in profitability: The management expects raw material prices to remain stable during Q1FY26 while Q2FY26 is expected to see favorable improvement in RM prices which shall aid in sustaining and improving margin going forward. Additionally, it aims to expand its product offering in higher-rim-sized vehicles which shall result in better realization and better profitability.

Hyderabad/Delhi NCR, 5^th May 2025 | Industry leaders highlighted that India’s education system must aim to be among the best in the world by creating a research-based and interdisciplinary academic environment during the Bharat Higher Education Summit (BHES) 2025 hosted by Mahindra University’s Internal Quality Assurance Cell and organised by the Confederation of Indian Private Universities (CIPU).

Delivering the inaugural address, Prof. (Dr.) T. G. Sitharam, Chairman of All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), said, “With the rapid technological disruption and shifting global dynamics, our higher education institutions bear the profound responsibility of shaping visionary leaders. NEP 2020 provides a transformative roadmap, guiding us to shift from rote learning to critical thinking and from silos to multidisciplinary integration. Private universities will play a crucial role in achieving a 50% Gross Enrolment Ratio by 2035.”

The summit, themed ‘Building Next Generation Leaders in Higher Education,‘ united over 150 Vice Chancellors and academic leaders from across the nation.

Anand Mahindra, Chancellor of Mahindra University, (through a message that was delivered by Prof. (Dr.) Medury during his address) said, “Bharat Higher Education Summit 2025 is a significant milestone in our collective journey towards shaping the future for our coming generations. Together, we must pave the way for India to continue thriving in the global knowledge economy and also lead the charge with our innovative and cutting-edge ideas. This summit has sparked vital discussions and strengthened partnerships across academia, industry leaders, and policymakers, underscoring its importance in our shared mission to transform India’s higher education ecosystem. The way forward is clear; we must nurture curious minds to drive growth and foster global thinkers, trailblazers and fearless leaders.”

Throughout the summit, panellists and keynote speakers stressed the necessity of aligning higher education with global standards while also embracing indigenous knowledge systems, digital innovation, and experiential learning.

Welcoming the attendees, Prof. (Dr.) Yajulu Medury, Chairperson, Southern India Regional Council, CIPU and Vice Chancellor of Mahindra University, said, “BHES 2025 is a collaborative movement to build institutions of excellence through bold leadership, technology integration, and sustainable innovation. Mahindra University is honoured to convene this crucial dialogue on building globally competent and socially conscious future leaders.”

 In a presidential address, Dr. Rahul Karad, Chief Patron, CIPU and Executive President, MIT-World Peace University, Pune, said, “In a vibrant democracy, co-creation is fundamental — it begins with people coming together to shape collective progress. As private universities continue to emerge and contribute significantly to the educational landscape, there is a clear need for a unified platform like Confederation of Indian Private Universities (CIPU). Such a body can champion the interests of private institutions, address shared challenges, and ensure that research, quality, innovation, and inclusivity remain at the heart of higher education in India.”

During the two-day event, industry experts highlighted the significance of student exchange programmes and the need for institutions to work together to enhance credibility and recognition on national and global platforms.

During his keynote address, Prof. (Dr.) Anil Sahasrabudhe, Chairman of the Executive Committee, NAAC, and Chairman of NBA, emphasised how institutional innovation and integrity need to be at the heart of accreditation.

A series of panel discussions explored topics like Public-Private Partnership in Research Capacity Building, Leadership Skills for Digital Age, Fostering Entrepreneurial Mindset in academia and Leadership in Research and Innovation. Eminent speakers from Virginia Tech, IIM Tiruchirappalli, TIFR, ISRO-UoP, BITS Pilani, NICMAR University, Symbiosis IBM Hyderabad, and Sri Sri University enriched the summit with global perspectives.

The summit concluded with a vote of thanks by Prof. (Dr.) G.K. Shirude, Honorary Vice President, CIPU. During the event, academicians reiterated the need to sustain the momentum initiated through collaborative action and continued dialogue.

National, May 5th 2025: The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) UG 2025, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on Sunday, May 4th, reported a record 22.7 lakh registrations, with aspirants turning up at 5,453 centres spread across 500+ cities.

Conducted in one shift from 2 PM to 5 PM, NEET 2025 was a break from the past. Rather than the usual 24 paper sets, the NTA released only four sets, all four of which had a uniformly more difficult format, setting the bar higher on analytical and application-oriented learning.

Though the Biology section was aligned with the NCERT syllabus, the questions were conceptual, quietly worded, and meant to assess understanding rather than mere recall. The Physics and Chemistry sections were the actual test of mettle, labelled as AIIMS-level by most, filled with multi-step questions, cumbersome calculations, and situation-based reasoning. Many students reported that time management became a hurdle due to the complex nature of the Physics problems, especially in topics like Modern Physics, Electrodynamics, and Thermodynamics.

Nitin Vijay, CEO and Founder of Motion Education said, “NEET 2025 saw a definite change in philosophy, it’s no longer a question of memorizing textbook lines. The paper called for maturity, clarity of thought, and an ability to think like a doctor, right at the entrance gate. According to academic quarters, this peak in the exam is likely a conscious attempt on the part of the NTA to improve the levels of selection, in accordance with the global trend towards competency-based medical education. The aim appears to be to develop better trained, analysis-sufficient medical professionals, adequate for an increasingly changing healthcare scenario. The paper required a profound conceptual understanding and excellent problem-solving skills.”

Bengaluru , May, 2025: Volkswagen India is proud to announce that pre-bookings for the legendary Volkswagen Golf GTI will commence from the 5th of May 2025. With the latest generation Golf GTI Mk 8.5, Indian enthusiasts will have access to the globally celebrated carline for the very first time through a limited allocation. With its rich motorsport heritage, timeless design language, and exhilarating performance, the Golf GTI is more than just a car – it’s a symbol of dynamic driving, and iconic appeal. The Golf GTI is available as a Fully built unit (FBU) offering customers an opportunity to experience the true GTI DNA in its purest form.

Commenting on the announcement, Mr. Ashish Gupta, Brand Director, Volkswagen India, said, “The Golf GTI is revered as one of the most iconic cars globally, and we are truly proud to offer customers in India the opportunity to own a piece of Volkswagen’s performance legacy. It’s a car that blends everyday usability with turbocharged driving experience – perfect for discerning enthusiasts who appreciate precision engineering designed to deliver thrilling performance. It’s an embodiment of German Engineering at its finest.

Key highlights of the Golf GTI Mk 8.5:

– 265 PS of power and 370 Nm of torque

– 0-100 Km/h in 5.9 seconds

Udaipur, 05^th May 2025: Hindustan Zinc Limited , India’s only and the world’s largest integrated zinc producer, sees early breakthrough in the research of next-generation zinc-based battery technologies. The research targets delivering higher energy efficiency, improved safety and longer operational life. The company is pioneering emerging zinc battery technology to support the ongoing clean energy transition.

Zinc has emerged as a powerful alternative to lithium owing to its abundance, stability and cost effectiveness. While the lithium market continues to face supply constraints and rising costs, zinc-based systems present a more economical, and geopolitically secure pathway for India’s energy ambitions. Zinc-based batteries are increasingly recognized for their superior safety (non-flammable), long cycle life, wide temperature operability, and recyclability. They deliver dependable backup power for 3 to 72 hours, utilize non-hazardous raw materials and have a greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint nearly six times lower than conventional technologies. The proven use of zinc-based materials in high-demand sectors such as aerospace, marine, renewable energy, data centers, 5G network and mission-critical infrastructure further reinforces their reliability and adaptability.

Towards this end, Hindustan Zinc has collaborated with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras and the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bengaluru to develop sustainable energy storage solutions. Early-stage research findings indicate potential for significant technological advancements and future commercial scalability. The world is witnessing a rapid evolution in the battery industry and zinc-based batteries have the potential to transform the sustainable energy storage solutions market.

Under the MoU signed with JNCASR in August 2024, Hindustan Zinc is advancing the development of Zinc-Ion batteries. Commenting on the development Prof. Prem Senguttuvan, said, “The team is focusing on novel zinc anode formulations, coupled with advanced electrolytes. We have made noteworthy progress in electrode/electrolyte interface engineering, which is very encouraging”.

Complementing this, a second collaboration with IIT Madras, formalized in October 2024, is targeting the design of a 1 kWh rechargeable Zinc-Air battery module using a 6/12-cell stack. The project, led by Professor Aravind Kumar Chandiran from the Department of Chemical Engineering, prioritizes rechargeability, structural integrity, interface durability and overall battery longevity. Speaking on the development, Prof. Chandiran, highlighted, “These batteries are an emerging solution for electric vehicles, grid-scale energy storage and consumer electronics”.

According to a recent BloombergNEF report, the global energy storage market is projected to expand at a 21% CAGR, reaching 442 GWh by 2030. Hindustan Zinc’s ongoing innovation efforts are well-aligned to meet this growing demand while enhancing India’s energy independence.

Commenting on the development, Mr. Arun Misra, CEO – Hindustan Zinc Limited, said “The battery segment is primed for innovation as the world shifts towards long-lasting and environmentally friendly energy sources. We at Hindustan Zinc, are poised to play a key role in supporting this transition through the production of critical metals like zinc. Our collaborations with two of India’s premier research institutes reflect our commitment to advancing cutting-edge innovations that can redefine the future of energy storage. Batteries have the potential to accelerate this shift through energy storage and we aim to drive responsible innovation and long-term impact across the value chain.”

Hindustan Zinc is leveraging its metallurgical expertise and advanced electrowinning capabilities to drive innovation. The company is also utilizing proficiency with critical materials including commercial-grade electrodes and performance additives to advance the battery revolution. Hindustan Zinc is playing a catalytic role in scaling these technologies for industrial-scale production. The company has also signed a MoU with a leading US-based battery manufacturer AEsir Technologies for cutting-edge nickel-zinc battery technology. By providing technical inputs, specialized commercial alloys and industry linkages, Hindustan Zinc is fast-tracking the journey from laboratory success to real-world deployment.

Hindustan Zinc Limited, a Vedanta Group company, is the world’s largest integrated zinc producer and the third-largest silver producer. The company supplies to more than 40 countries and holds a market share of about 75% of the primary zinc market in India. Hindustan Zinc has been recognized as the world’s most sustainable company in the metals and mining category for the second consecutive year by the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2024. The company also launched EcoZen Asia’s first low carbon ‘green’ zinc brand, produced using renewable energy. As a world leader in the metals and mining industry, Hindustan Zinc is pivotal in providing critical metals essential for the global energy transition for a sustainable future.

The Second Edition of PHDCCI’s ‘Expression: A Contemporary Indian Art Show’, a three day  exhibition held from April 30 to May 2, 2025 at PHD House, New Delhi, concluded on a high note with the presence of Padma Vibhushan Dr. Sonal Mansingh Renowned Classical Dancer and Member of Parliament, one of India’s most celebrated classical dancers.

Bollywood actor Yashpal Sharma inaugurated the show and emphasized on the importance of originality and inner talent.

Dr. Mansingh, while appreciating the initiative, spoke about the power of classical arts to transcend barriers and connect with the audience on a deeper level. She lauded PHDCCI for creating a space that not only promotes visual arts but also celebrates the broader spectrum of Indian culture and heritage.

Anuradha Goel, Chairperson, PHD Family Welfare Foundation discussed that this platform is our commitment to artists and the larger creative community. It’s about empowering them, supporting their journeys, and making sure that art continues to thrive and inspire. She added, with the resounding success of the Second Edition of ‘Expression’, the Chamber aims to amplify its role in promoting the art industry and bringing creativity closer to the mainstream conversation.

Ms. Devika Sahani, International Affairs Committee (Asia Pacific), PHDCCI discussed when art crosses borders through exhibitions, festivals, collaborations, or digital sharing—it builds empathy within the global community. Art creates a common ground where artists from different nations can recognize each other’s humanity as well as share cultural values, traditions, and histories in a vivid, emotional way.

PHDCCI by organizing this contemporary art show, aimed to strengthen International ties by fostering a dialogue between artists by showcasing their paintings on different aspects of socio-cultural fabric of the country to the world, added Ms. Sahani.

Stalwarts like Prof. (Dr.) Ramesh C. Gaur, Dean (Administration), Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA) and Prof. P. Srinivas Kumar, Director, School of Engineering and Technology (SOET), IGNOU also lent their voices in support of nurturing artistic expression.

During the ‘Expression’ Art Show, the audience was treated to a captivating performance of Bharatanatyam classical dance by the talented disciples of Nritya Kaustabha Cultural Dance Society, founded by the late Padma Vibhushan Dr. Yamini Krishnamurthy.

The second edition brought together over 9 talented artists from across India, showcasing their works through paintings and sculptures. This year’s show drew appreciation not only for its diverse curation but also for the conversations it sparked around the evolving role of creativity in society.