Archives June 2025

New Delhi, June 10, 2025: Leading law firm, AP & Partners, today announced Moksha Bhat as its Managing Partner. As Managing Partner, Moksha will oversee the law firm’s operations and strategic initiatives, AP & Partners said in a press statement. As a co-founder of the firm, Moksha has previously held leadership positions within the firm.

Moksha Bhat

Commenting on his new role, Moksha Bhat said, “I am grateful to my partners for this opportunity. I look forward to working with my colleagues in this role as we take the firm forward on its growth journey.”

 Anand Prasad, Senior Partner, AP & Partners, said: “Moksha will make an excellent first managing partner for the firm. It was time to move from an informal manner of management to a formal structure, and hence the decision. Moksha knows the firm from the time we set it up and the partnership knows that he will do a great job. Our very best to him.”

Moksha has a broad corporate law practice, focusing on in-bound and out-bound M&A transactions, joint ventures, strategic and financial investments, and private capital investments, said AP& Partners.

He advises a diverse range of clients, including multinational corporations, venture capital and private equity funds, and senior executives across various sectors, including infrastructure, TMT, and energy. Moksha is qualified to practice in India and New York,  AP & Partners said.

Celebrate Father’s Day with a getaway that’s all about making memories together at Four Seasons Resorts Maldives, where adventure and relaxation meet in the heart of the Indian Ocean. Across the two unique island properties- Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa and Landaa Giraavaru, every dad can find something to love.

At Landaa Giraavaru, spend the day exploring the untouched waters of the Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve on a private yacht, snorkelling alongside reef sharks, or simply watching dolphins swim by. A padel match on the island’s exclusive court is a great way to bond over some friendly competition, or dive into meaningful marine projects like manta ray identification or coral restoration, working alongside the resort’s expert marine biologists. It’s the kind of adventure that creates stories worth retelling and memories that last a lifetime.

If the goal is rest and renewal, then the holistic wellness haven, AyurMa, is the perfect place to be. Supported by the four pillars of Ayurveda, Planetary Wellbeing, Yoga Therapy, and Wellness, and led by a multi award-winning team of Ayurvedic Doctors, Naturopaths and Yoga Therapists, AyurMa offers in-depth PraMā wellness screenings and personalised therapies that help dads truly unwind, recharge, and feel cared for.

Over at Kuda Huraa, nature-loving dads can get involved in coral restoration projects, enjoy a calm sunset fishing trip, or spot dolphins together on a family cruise. For dads who are always up for a thrill, the resort offers exhilarating Jet Ski rides across the crystal-clear lagoon and vibrant coral gardens to explore on guided snorkelling or diving excursions. If surfing is his thing, expert Tropicsurf coaches are on hand to take him to some of the Maldives’ best breaks—just a short speedboat ride from shore. This is the same stretch of ocean where the world’s top surfers compete each year at the Surfing Champions Trophy, making it a dream spot for wave-loving dads.

To make the experience even more special with the whole family, Four Seasons Resorts Maldives offers spacious multi-bedroom beachfront villas like the Four-Bedroom Landaa Estate and the Three-Bedroom Kuda Estate. These private sanctuaries offer direct beach access, ocean views, and private infinity pools perfect for barbecues, family breakfasts, or evening swims. With butler service, bespoke touches, and plenty of space, they’re ideal for multi-generational stays with all the comforts of home and more.

With the launch of IndiGo’s direct flights from Bengaluru to Malé, alongside connections from Mumbai, Delhi, and Kerala, escaping to paradise has never been easier for Indian travellers.  This Father’s Day, treat Dad to a well-deserved break at Four Seasons Resorts Maldives, where unforgettable moments await in the heart of the Indian Ocean.

Rajesh Rokde – Chairman, GJC: “The increase in loan availability from 75% to 85% of gold value is a significant development that will empower businesses and individuals relying on gold-backed financing as this is also for loans up to ₹2.5 lakh. This revised loan-to-value ratio enhances liquidity, strengthens financial resilience, and elevates accessibility, particularly for small borrowers. We welcome this progressive move, as it aligns with the evolving needs of the industry and reinforces trust in gold as a stable and reliable asset. The RBI’s swift adoption of industry recommendations highlights its commitment to financial inclusion.”

Avinash Gupta – Vice Chairman, GJC: “The revised gold loan regulations, allowing 85% of gold value for loans up to ₹2.5 lakh, mark a pivotal shift in the industry. This modification provides greater financial flexibility, ensuring improved liquidity and convenience for consumers and small businesses. Such progressive policies reinforce confidence in gold-backed financing and drive economic growth. We acclaim the RBI for its timely response to industry needs, making credit more accessible to those who rely on gold for financial security.”

By-Ashwini Kumar, Senior Vice President and Head Market Data, ICRA Analytics, on the performance of the mutual fund industry in May 2025.

 “Inflows into equity mutual funds declined by 21.66 per cent on a month-on-month basis at Rs 19,013. 12 crore in May 2025, as compared with Rs 24,269.26 crore in April this year. On a year-on-year basis, inflows dropped by nearly 45.2 per cent from Rs 34,697 crore last year as persistent concerns over India-U.S. trade relations following the conclusion of the 90-day pause continued to act as an external headwind. With inflows to the tune of Rs 3214.21 crore, small cap funds continued to garner investor interest witnessing a growth of 17.97 per cent from Rs 2724.67 crore in May 2024. The Reserve Bank of India’s latest move to slash repo rate by 50 basis points is expected to have a positive impact on the market and this is likely to draw retail investor’s interest in mutual funds. The industry AUM has touched Rs 72.20 lakh crore in May 2025 and we expect the industry to breach the Rs 100 lakh crore mark in the next few years.

Delhi, June 10, 2025 – GAIL (India) Limited has achieved a significant milestone in its City Gas Distribution (CGD) network in Ranchi, as it has initiated the offtake of Coal Bed Methane (CBM) from the North Karanpura Coal Bed Methane Block in Jharkhand. This highlights GAIL’s commitment to use more indigenous energy sources to improve energy security at the local level and the Government of India’s commitment towards the use of clean, sustainable and alternative fuels.

The first Low-Carbon Vehicle (LCV), carrying nearly 2,000 Standard Cubic Metres (SCM) of CBM, was flagged off by the GAIL officials, with officials from ONGC, PEL, and IOCL present. This is significant in terms of bringing CBM into the transport sector.

The successful start of CBM offtake is the result of collaborative teamwork among stakeholders such as GAIL, ONGC, PEL and IOCL, and is an example of cross-departmental working for national clean energy objectives.

CBM as a fuel also provides cleaner energy and lowers greenhouse gas emissions, and this growth drives economic growth; in addition to diversifying the energy mix, it also reduces dependence on conventional fossil fuel.

This initiative aligns with the overall objectives of the Government of India to move towards a gas-based economy and to foster sustainability in energy consumption while reducing the carbon footprint.

GAIL’s endeavour to include CBM in its CGD network in Ranchi is an example of the company’s progressive spirit in taking effective steps to provide a cleaner and innovative fuel towards a sustainable energy future for the country.

Mumbai – 10th June, 2025: ITI Asset Management Limited is excited to announce the launch of Diviniti SIF, a new platform focused on the Specialized Investment Fund (SIF) business. Diviniti SIF will offer innovative investment solutions across equity, hybrid, and fixed income categories, designed to address the evolving preferences of investors.

Mr Jatinder Pal Singh, CEO, ITI Mutual Funds “With the launch of ‘Diviniti SIF,’ ITI AMC is making a strategic move into the rapidly evolving Specialized Investment Funds (SIFs) space. We see SIFs as the next frontier in investment solutions—a dynamic middle path between traditional mutual funds and PMS/AIFs, providing the innovation and flexibility required to meet evolving investor needs. As investor expectations rise, SIFs have the potential to redefine how portfolios are constructed and managed.

The name ‘Diviniti SIF’ is inspired by two meaningful concepts: “Divine” – symbolizing higher purpose, integrity and universal wisdom, and “Niti” – a Hindi word that stands for ethical policy, moral governance, and strategic principles.

Together, ‘Diviniti’ captures our dedication to purpose-driven, responsible investing with long-term impact. It reflects our vision of creating a Special Investment Fund that is not only financially robust but also ethically sound and socially responsible.”

Investments in Specialized Investment Fund involves relatively higher risk including potential loss of capital, liquidity risk and market volatility. Please read all investment strategy related documents carefully before making the investment decision.

Noida, 10 June, 2025: GAIL Training Institute (GTI), the premier learning and development arm of GAIL (India) Limited, celebrated its 29th Foundation, with a thought-provoking L&D Conclave held at GTI, Noida. Themed “AI – The Compass to Navigate Turbulent Energy Transition,” the event brought together senior HR leaders and industry experts to explore the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence in navigating the rapidly evolving energy landscape.

Delivering the opening address, Shri Ayush Gupta, Director (HR), GAIL (India) Limited, highlighted the urgent need for organizations to embrace and integrate emerging technologies to remain competitive in a dynamic environment. He emphasized that while innovation is essential, it must be pursued without compromising ethical standards, organizational integrity, or the human element that remains at the core of HR practices.

The centerpiece of the event was a thematic panel discussion moderated by Shri Anish De, Global Head, Energy & Natural Resources, KPMG. The panel featured distinguished HR leaders, including Smt. Rashmi Govil, Director (HR), IOCL; Shri Raj Kumar Dubey, Director (HR), BPCL; Shri Krishna Kumar Singh, Director (Personnel), SAIL; Shri Krishna Kumar Thakur, Director (HR), BHEL; and Shri Ayush Gupta himself. Together, they shared insights on balancing technological advancement with human-centric values, drawing from real-world examples such as the digitalization of employee benefit systems and the implementation of direct benefit transfers to contract laborers—initiatives that have enhanced transparency and operational efficiency across public sector enterprises.

The discussion delved into various facets of technology-driven HR transformation. Topics included the use of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) to streamline internal processes, the application of AI in IOCL’s learning and development framework, the “HP GPT” journey in HR intelligence, and innovative practices from OIL India Ltd. aimed at building an ecosystem for continuous employee learning and growth. Panelists also highlighted signature L&D initiatives that are reshaping talent development and organizational agility in the energy sector.

The conclave concluded on a forward-looking note, reinforcing the belief that technology, particularly AI and Machine Learning, is not only enhancing business outcomes but also empowering human capital. As the energy sector faces significant shifts, such platforms play a vital role in fostering collaboration, sharing best practices, and ensuring a seamless and ethical transition into a tech-enabled future.

Chennai, June 10, 2025 – Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) one of the India’s leading public sector bank today announced the launch of a new online tool, “Locate IOB,” designed to help customers quickly and easily find their nearest branches, ATMs, and offices. This new feature allows customers to access IOB’s new location tool directly at https://locate.iob.in or by clicking on the “Locations” link on the www.iob.in homepage, 

“Locate IOB” offers customers a simple and smart way to access addresses, directions, and IFSC codes for all IOB branches and ATMs — including the nearest ones. It also enables users to call a branch directly from the website.

To make banking easier, IOB has created special mini-websites for each of its banking locations. This initiative is part of the bank’s strategy to enhance services by leveraging its local presence and reflects IOB’s commitment to providing customers with accurate and complete information, which helps build trust.

With more people using mobile phones and the internet across India, and with good quality data readily available, local initiatives like “Locate IOB” are increasingly important. These tools help the bank deliver an excellent customer experience, whether customers visit in person or engage online.

Chandigarh, June 10, 2025: The Power Transmission & Distribution (PT&D) business vertical of Larsen & Toubro has won new grid infrastructure orders in India and abroad.

In India, it has won an order to build 765kV and 400kV transmission line jobs pertaining to the integration of a Renewable Energy Zone in Andhra Pradesh.

In the Middle East, the business has received orders to execute a set of 220kV and 132kV Gas Insulated Substations on turnkey basis. These orders come from leading transmission asset owners and operators in the respective countries.

The new orders mark a key milestone for PT&D in its pursuit of delivering future-ready grid infrastructure to help realise the energy transition and sustainable energy goals of its valued customers.

Chandigarh, 10 June 2025: In observance of World Environment Day 2025, Tata Chemicals Society for Rural Development (TCSRD) organized a large-scale beach cleaning initiative across key coastal locations in the Okhamandal block. Conducted in collaboration with the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) and the Gujarat Environment Management Institute (GEMI), the campaign, aimed to raise awareness and drive action towards “Ending Plastic Pollution Globally”.

The initiative, launched on 22nd May 2025, culminated in a series of impactful beach cleaning drives at Dwarka Beach (Hathi Gate), Shivrajpur Beach, Beyt Dwarka Beach, and Mithapur Beach. The campaign saw enthusiastic participation from local volunteers, employees of Tata Chemicals Ltd, and representatives from Gram Panchayat/Nagar Palika, reflecting a strong community commitment to environmental stewardship.

Over the course of three days, 121 volunteers came together to support environmental conservation efforts through clean-up drives and awareness campaigns. Their activities included collecting and removing plastic and non-biodegradable waste, putting up banners, conducting educational sessions, and encouraging responsible waste management practices. These clean-up drives took place at Hathi Gate in Dwarka (16 volunteers, 40 volunteering hours), Shivrajpur Beach (44 volunteers, 110 hours), Beyt Dwarka Beach (11 volunteers, 16.5 hours), and Mithapur Beach (50 volunteers, 75 hours). In total, the initiative saw a contribution of 241.5 volunteering hours.

Rino Raj, Vice President and Site Head – Mithapur at Tata Chemicals, stated that “On the occasion of World Environment Day 2025, TCSRD reaffirmed its commitment to environmental stewardship through a series of beach cleaning drives conducted at Dwarka, Beyt Dwarka, Shivrajpur, and Mithapur. These activities engaged community members, volunteers, and youth to promote coastal cleanliness and environmental awareness.

 As part of its broader biodiversity conservation efforts, TCSRD continues to implement impactful projects such as My Greening Hour—an ambitious initiative to plant one million trees in three years—alongside large-scale mangrove plantations in West Bengal, Gujarat and other coastal states. The Whale Shark Conservation Project, in collaboration with partners, remains a flagship effort to protect marine biodiversity through community-led conservation.”

The campaign aimed to restore coastal ecosystems, support marine biodiversity, and promote sustainable community practices. Alongside clean-up drives, GPCB and GEMI officials led awareness sessions on water body cleanliness, waste segregation, and eco-friendly habits, supported by informative banners at each site. Beyond plastic removal, the initiative focused on rebuilding our connection with nature and encouraging responsible tourism.