Archives December 2025

Kottayam, Dec 06: KFON has achieved a major milestone in Kottayam, crossing 10,000 internet connections. The service continues to gain strong traction across homes, offices, and commercial establishments in the region.

KFON has delivered 7,730 household connections, along with connectivity for 473 BPL families and more than 1,800 government institutions, including the Collectorate. By offering high-speed internet at highly affordable rates, KFON continues to gain strong acceptance among the public.

The network footprint in the district has expanded to 2,295.3 km of optical fibre cable. Commercial services are delivered through an extensive partner network, comprising 380 Local Network Operators working across the district.

Navi Mumbai, Dec 6: ITM Business School is set to conduct its upcoming MBA iConnect Scholarship Entrance Test (iSET) to be held on 16th December, 2025. The university has confirmed that the test will be held at its Kharghar campus along with multiple regional centres across India to ensure maximum accessibility for aspirants. The Application Deadline for Scholarship is 10th December, 2025.

The MBA iConnect Scholarship Entrance Test continues its legacy of offering merit-based scholarships of up to 100% on the first-year tuition fee, making high-quality management education more accessible to academically strong and motivated students. The test evaluates applicants on analytical ability, verbal reasoning, and business aptitude, identifying high-potential candidates for the prestigious MBA iConnect program.

“Our goal has always been to make high-quality management education accessible to deserving students across the country,” said Dr. Lakshmi Mohan, Director, Business School and ProVC, ITM Skills University. “With the December iSET cycle and the opportunity for scholarships of up to 100% on first-year tuition fees, we aim to empower talented aspirants from every region to pursue their MBA dreams without financial constraints.”

The MBA iConnect program, known for its immersive industry-integrated curriculum and strong placement outcomes with highest package shooting to 21 LPA for current batch, remains one of the most sought-after postgraduate management programs, and iSET serves as a key gateway for students aiming to join the 2026 academic cohort

ZF Commercial Vehicle Control Systems India Limited Secures an ADAS Business Nomination from an Indian E-Mobility CV OEM

Chennai, Dec 06:  ZF Commercial Vehicle Control Systems India Limited (CVCS) has secured business nomination from a leading E-Mobility CV OEM in India to develop and calibrate an Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) suite tailored to the upcoming Indian safety regulation (GSR 184e).

This ZF solution is market-ready for India and is certified by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) for full compliance with the upcoming Indian safety regulation (GSR 184e).

Developed for scalability, the solution supports SAE Level 2 automation and is designed to enable higher automation levels for global applications, while addressing the unique and current challenges of Indian road conditions.

This business nomination includes key ADAS components and systems designed for coaches, heavy-duty trucks, and tractor-trailers, ensuring robust performance across diverse commercial vehicle platforms.

Akash Passey, Chairman (Non-Executive Director), ZF Commercial Vehicle Control Systems India Limited added that

“ZF Group’s commitment to safety and sustainability is seen in its products designed to address the ADAS regulatory framework in India. Our solutions are compliant and have also been proven under real-world conditions. As the country moves towards increasing automation and enhanced safety standards, we are ready with future-ready technologies that address the expectations of our OEM partners.”

Paramjit Singh Chadha, Managing Director, ZF Commercial Vehicle Control Systems India Limited stated that

“At ZF CVCS, our ADAS solutions are designed to enhance safety, reduce fatigue and support better decision-making. By ensuring that advanced safety systems more accessible and intuitive, we are helping drivers drive with greater confidence and comfort. This nomination reinforces our commitment to inclusive innovation and safer roads for everyone.”

Key Highlights of ZF’s ADAS Systems

• Proven Performance: Validated over 300,000 km on Indian roads and 65,000km in collaboration with customers, ensuring reliability in real-world conditions.
• Regulatory Compliance: Fully compliant with Indian homologation standards, including
  • AIS-162 – Advanced Emergency Braking Systems (AEBS)
  • AIS-184 – Driver Drowsiness and Attention Warning Systems (DDAW)
  • AIS-186 – Blind Spot Information System for the Detection of Bicycles (BSIS)
  • AIS-187 – Moving Off Information System for the Detection of Pedestrians and Cyclists (MOIS)
  • AIS-188 – Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS)
• Feature-Rich Suite: This ADAS solution, equipped with ZF’s OnGuardMAX and short-range radar technology, offers a comprehensive set of 16 advanced features, including AEB, BSIS, DDAW, LDWS, MOIS.

Bringing together global expertise and local validation, ZF delivers ADAS solutions that meet stringent regulations and future automation needs. With its globally proven reliability, inclusive design and a commitment to safer roads, ZF is driving India toward smarter, safer and sustainable transportation – Redefining India’s Mobility.

Mumbai, Dec 06: This December, West1, Aqua and Dusk come alive with festive cheer as they unveil a series of Christmas celebrations designed for families, friends and holiday lovers. From themed feasts to live entertainment, the season promises something for everyone  with two major highlights on 25th December 2025.

     Breakfast with Santa at Aqua 25th December

The most awaited family event of the season! Join us poolside at Aqua for a heartwarming Breakfast with Santa, highlighting a curated festive menu, seasonal décor and soothing live music. Kids can meet Santa, enjoy the cheerful ambience and start Christmas morning in the most magical way.

   Christmas Day Brunch at West1 25th December

Continue the celebrations with the Christmas Cheer Brunch at West1, including:

• Appetiser from the kitchen
• Unlimited soft drinks & mocktails
• Live counters & live music
• Kids’ activities
• Christmas-themed décor and thoughtfully styled table setting

For those who wish to elevate their experience, the Bubbly Christmas Cheer Brunch offers sparkling wines, spirits and cocktails at INR 2799++ per person.

    Festive Add-ons Throughout the Hotel

Guests can also enjoy:

• Christmas Eve feasts at West1 and Aqua
• Live bands, resident DJs & singalongs
• Special Christmas-themed cocktail & mocktail menus
• Seasonal décor and activities across venues

Each space has been thoughtfully decorated to bring alive the warmth and wonder of Christmas.

A December to Celebrate Together

With delightful menus, festive entertainment and thoughtfully curated experiences, West1, Aqua and Dusk invite guests to come together and make this Christmas season truly memorable.

Chandigarh, Dec 06: TVS Motor Company  a leading global automaker in the two and three wheeler segment is hosting the fifth edition of its flagship motorcycling festival – TVS MotoSoul  drawing over 8,000 riders from around the world to celebrate the joy of riding. This vibrant gathering showcases new motorcycles, custom builds, and immersive experiences that capture the essence of motorcycling culture.

In its fifth year, MotoSoul is witnessing significant participation from enthusiasts across the globe reinforcing its standing in the industry as one of the most eagerly awaited automotive events. Key highlights this year include the debut of the TVS Ronin Agonda, anniversary edition of the TVS Apache RTX to commemorate two decades of the TVS Apache nameplate, two custom masterpieces – TVS Ronin Kensai and TVS Apache RR310 Speedline – crafted with Smoked Garage, and the exclusive Art of Protection limited-edition helmet series for festival visitors.

Inaugurating the 5^th edition of Motosoul, Sudarshan Venu, Chairman, TVS Motor Company, said,

“TVS Motosoul is a festival that stands for individuality, custom culture and youth expression, celebrating our shared passion for motorcycling. This year’s Motosoul is particularly special as it coincides with the 20^th year celebration of TVS Apache. We are proud to celebrate the incredible journey of TVS Apache, with 6.5 million happy customers across 90+ countries, and our thriving global communities AOG and Cult that unite TVS Apache and TVS Ronin riders worldwide. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the entire global riding community and our customers for their tremendous support and wish everyone a memorable two days at Motosoul 5.0.”

On the first of the two day festival, TVSM unveiled the new TVS Ronin Agonda along with two custom masterpieces – TVS Ronin Kensai and TVS Apache RR310 Speedline. The new TVS Ronin Agonda is priced at INR 1,30,990 (ex showroom, across India).

The company has also showcased the TVS Apache RTX Anniversary Edition, commemorating 20 years of TVS Apache’s racing heritage. A limited edition helmet series, ‘Art of Protection’, crafted exclusively for the Motosoul community has been introduced.

Day 1 of TVS MotoSoul 5.0 came alive with high-adrenaline spectacles like the RiderSphere and the freestyle aerial mastery of the FMX showcase, setting the tone for an action-packed festival. Beyond these marquee acts, the day has delivered an immersive blend of performance, culture, and community engagement. Riders have been testing their skill across formats, including the Gymkhana challenges, Dirt Track and Flat Track arenas, and the Adventure Arena. Participatns have been queing up at the Moto Cross fit sessions, Balance Beam and Barrel Push challenges, and the dynamic stunt arena.

There are several other showcases and announcements planned for day 2 of the festival.

Reflecting on the opening day, Vimal Sumbly, Head Business – Premium , TVS Motor Company, said,

“Motosoul continues to be the stage where the spirit of motorcycling comes alive through its immersive experiences, curated design, and its community. With the new TVS Ronin Agonda, our custom creations, and the special TVS Apache RTX anniversary edition, we are showcasing how TVSM brands are evolving with purpose and creativity. This edition celebrates a more progressive and expressive motorcycling culture, and it is inspiring to see the passion of our riders grow stronger each year.”

Introducing the TVS Ronin Agonda: A Fresh Design Expression

Inspired by the custom-culture design ethos that has shaped the brand story of TVS Ronin, TVSM has launched the first-in-line limited-edition ‘Ronin Agonda’, drawing its calm yet confident aesthetic direction from Goa’s iconic Agonda Beach. The motorcycle features a white-led colour palette with retro five-stripe graphics, reflecting Ronin’s growing embrace of authentic modern-retro design. With its expressive yet minimal visual identity, the Agonda variant reflects the evolving design philosophy of the TVS Ronin lineup, rooted in individuality, craft and rider centric expression.

TVS Apache RTX Anniversary Edition: Celebrating 20 Years of the Brand Legacy

Marking a significant milestone, the Company has introduced the TVS Apache RTX Anniversary Edition. The special edition features an exclusive black and champagne gold anniversary livery, complemented by limited-edition badging and a commemorative 20-year crest that reflects two decades of performance-led innovation. Since its debut in 2005, the TVS Apache series has embodied the brand’s signature Track-to-Road philosophy, bringing race-bred technology from TVS Racing to riders across the world. This anniversary edition is a tribute to a legacy defined by race performance, precision and an ever-growing community of TVS Apache riders who continue to fuel the brand’s passion for performance.

Custom Masterpieces: TVS Ronin Kensai and TVS Apache RR310 Speedline

Two striking custom builds crafted in collaboration with Smoked Garage (Indonesia), have been the show stoppers on Day 1.

TVS Ronin Kensai, the fourth in the Samurai inspired lineage after Musashi, Ryoma and Mizuno, brings a dual soul personality, shifting between a cafe racer stance and a muscular bobber. It features masculine geometry, a floating industrial seat, upright exhaust, fully adjustable air suspension, ambient lighting accents and a performance oriented wheel setup supported by a CNC machined triple T for improved agility and control.

TVS Apache RR310 ‘Speedline’ reimagines the platform through the philosophy of continuous, uninterrupted speed. Engineered around maximum cornering and downforce, it features slick tyres, a bespoke swingarm developed from the ground up, complete fiber composite bodywork for weight reduction and dynamic response, also a straight out performance exhaust for unrestrained airflow. With its retro inspired silhouette and racing led engineering, TVS Apache RR310 ‘Speedline’ bridges the brand’s heritage with modern performance craft.

Art of Protection: Exclusive Helmet Series

Strengthening its design footprint beyond motorcycles, TVS Motor Company introduced ‘Art of Protection’, a limited edition helmet series crafted exclusively for TVS MotoSoul visitors. The collection combines functional protection with artistic identity, offering crafted helmets that reflect the TVS Ronin design philosophy. Available only at the festival, the series is a new step in expanding the TVS Ronin ecosystem into expressive, design led rider gear.

Day 1 of TVS MotoSoul 5.0 offered an array of interactive zones such as  moto art booths, graffiti walls, gaming stations, live mixology counters and tattoo spaces. Freestyle rap sessions added to the cultural buzz, while installations such as the TVS Racing Avatar and Motion Wheelie created engaging moments throughout the venue.

The RiderSphere and the freestyle aerial mastery of the FMX showcase, set the tone for an action-packed festival. Riders tested their skills across multiple formats, including Gymkhana challenges, Dirt Track and Flat Track arenas, and the Adventure Arena. They also participated in Moto Cross fit sessions, Balance Beam and Barrel Push challenges, along with dynamic stunt showcases that drew significant crowd interest.

As the evening progressed, the festival atmosphere shifted into high energy entertainment, with electrifying performances by Badshah and DJ Akbar Sami. Their sets transformed the venue into a high voltage celebration of music, movement and the shared spirit of the motorcycling community, bringing Day 1 of MotoSoul 5.0 to a vibrant close.

India, Dec 6: Udhyam Vyapaar today announced a significant milestone its intervention, The Istri Project, has enabled Istri Vendors across India to achieve a cumulative income uplift of INR 100 crore as of September 2025.

The Istri Project transforms the age-old ironing industry by helping the street side ironing vendors switch from coal to LPG based iron boxes at subsidised rates. With this innovation, ironing vendors are able to reduce fuel costs by nearly half, and increase productivity by up to 2 hours a day. This allows them to serve more customers and earn extra income. Switching from coal to LPG also helps them to move to a cleaner fuel, reducing impact on not just their health but also on the environment.

Over the last 4 years, Udhyam Vyapaar has scaled ‘The Istri Project’ from 1 city to 5 cities, enabling over 8,000 ironing vendors to make the switch to LPG iron boxes. Ironing vendors supported by the initiative have seen an average income uplift of 25%, alongside the elimination of over 6,000 tons of CO₂ emissions yearly.

Krishnan Ranganathan, Co-Founder, Udhyam Learning Foundation says, 

“At Udhyam, we believe that nano-entrepreneurs are a significant pillar of India’s economic fabric, who can improve the lives of a large part of the population, when provided with the right support. Crossing the ₹100 crore milestone with The Istri Project is a proud moment not just for us, but for the thousands of ironing vendors who chose to embrace change. It also demonstrates how localized livelihood solutions can create national-scale impact, improving incomes, health, and environmental outcomes at the same time.”

Cyril Joseph, Program Head, The Istri Project, Udhyam Vyapaar says, 

“This milestone belongs to the thousands of ironing vendors who trusted us, made the switch from coal to LPG, and reimagined what their businesses could achieve. The Istri Project started with a simple idea, to help vendors save fuel costs and improve their productivity. Now it has grown into a movement with measurable impact on their livelihoods and the environment.”

With this INR100 crore milestone, Udhyam Vyapaar is now energised about further scaling this up and empowering ironing vendors across the nation. Udhyam aims to make India coal iron box free in the next decade and calls out to like-minded partners, across social impact organisations, philanthropic organisations, CSRs and Government to join hands to make this vision come true.

Tenneco Clean Air India Limited (“Tenneco India”) (BSE/NSE: TENNIND), a leading Tier-1 automotive component manufacturer supplying Clean Air, Powertrain and Advanced Ride Technologies (ART) solutions to major OEMs, today announced its financial results for Q2 and H1 FY2026. 

Arvind Chandrasekharan, Whole-Time Director and CEO, Tenneco India, said:

“Tenneco India has delivered a strong and strategically meaningful quarter. Our Q2 and H1 FY2026 VAR” performance clearly reflects above-market growth, supported by deeper engagement across customer programs. During the quarter, we secured important new awards in both Clean Air and ART, including strategic entry into a new whitespace opportunity with a leading Japanese OEM in Clean Air and increased market share for a well-known Indian OEM in ART. These wins further strengthen our medium-term growth visibility and reinforce the progress of our localization and technology strategy. 

He further added: “Industry tailwinds in regulation, premiumization and exports continue to create attractive opportunities, and we are well positioned to capture them. Our expanding order pipeline, improving export traction and the disciplined execution mindset embedded in The Tenneco Way give us strong confidence in sustaining market outperformance and long-term value creation.”

Key Highlights Q2 & H1 FY2026: 

• VAR growth of 8.9% in Q2 and 8.2% in H1, reflecting above-market performance supported by higher volumes and healthy export traction. 
• Advanced Ride Technologies (ART) delivered strong double-digit growth (15.4% in Q2; 13.8% in H1) driven by premiumization, exports and higher program penetration.
• Clean Air & Powertrain Solutions recorded steady growth of 3.0% in Q2 and 3.2% in H1, supported by stable domestic volumes.
• EBITDA margins (VAR) remained industry-leading at 18.8% in Q2 and 19.2% in H1, driven primarily by higher margins on export volumes and supported by operational efficiencies and disciplined cost management.
• PAT(VAR) increased 9.9% YoY in Q2 and 10.9% YoY in H1, driven by higher one-time interest income related to the entity restructuring.

VAR (Value Added Revenue) is used as the primary performance metric as it excludes pass-through substrate costs from revenue from operations and better reflects the underlying operating performance, margins, and comparability across periods. Source: SIAM. 

• Incremental Lifetime order book expanded to INR 98,400 million, including INR 17,600 million from export programs, strengthening multi-year revenue visibility.
• Strategic program awards secured across Clean Air and ART domestic and exports.
• IPO oversubscribed 61.8x, demonstrating strong institutional and retail investor confidence.

Strategic Business Wins:

Tenneco India announced significant incremental business bookings for the upcoming product cycle, along with key strategic wins across its core verticals.

The incremental lifetime order book value amounts to INR 98,400 millions (INR 17,600 millions of this is through exports), which is over and above existing INR 43,801 millions VAR in FY2025. These bookings represent lifetime VAR potential from awarded programs which are yet to start production and materially enhance the company’s revenue visibility over the next 5-6 years approximately.

The company achieved a major win in Clean Air Systems with a leading Japanese passenger vehicle OEM in India. This marks Tenneco’s entry into previously untapped Clean Air white space for the OEM, supported by the company’s technology depth, localization, engineering capability and strong OEM relationships.

The company also achieved a major win in ART with a well-known Indian OEM, reinforcing its position as the number-1 shock absorber manufacturer in the Indian passenger vehicle market.

IPO Performance (November 2025):

Tenneco India’s IPO saw strong investor demand, with total subscription of 61.8 times, including:

• Retail: 5.4x

• Qualified Institutional Buyers: 174.8x

• Non-Institutional Investors: 42.8x

The market response reflects strong confidence in Tenneco’s technology, growth roadmap and execution capability.

Swiggy India’s leading on-demand convenience platform, today announced the launch of its Low Cal category, a curated collection designed to help consumers with wholesome yet light eating options. The launch reinforces Swiggy’s commitment to offering healthier food choices to consumers. The Low Cal category is live across India’s top 10 cities including Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Pune, Hyderabad, and Chennai. It features 2.2 lakh dishes under 500 kcal, and spans a range of offerings including soups, salads, lighter Indian meals, breakfast options, snacks, starters, and even low-calorie desserts and shakes.

Especially curated for today’s health-conscious consumers, the Low Cal category will cater to individuals who prefer a health-focused diet or those who are on a weight-loss journey and seek smarter everyday food choices. The offering is crafted to make mindful eating both accessible and enjoyable, without sacrificing on flavour or variety. With a simple search for “Low Cal”, users can instantly discover dishes organised by calorie buckets of 0–300, 300–400, and 400–500 kcal and explore targeted subcategories like High Protein Low Cal Meals, No Added Sugar Low Cal Items, High Fibre Low Cal Dishes, and No Fry Low Cal Options.

Speaking on the launch, Deepak Maloo, Vice President Food Strategy, Customer Experience & New Initiatives, Swiggy said

“The Low Cal category is the next milestone in our commitment to offer better-for-you choices to health-conscious consumers  Our decision to introduce Low Cal was driven directly by consumer feedback following the successful launch of our High Protein options, who sought a combination of high protein and low cal items. Within the Low Cal category, we also offer wholesome meal options that are high on satiety: higher on protein and fiber content, ensuring a satisfying meal that keeps you feeling full for longer. This launch is perfectly timed to enable our users to focus on light and mindful eating right before indulging in the year-end binge.”

This launch is part of Swiggy’s ongoing effort to strengthen its health-forward offerings as customers increasingly prioritise nutrition and wellness. In July, Swiggy launched the High Protein category, and more recently, expanded it with new High Protein subcategories to cater to diverse fitness and nutrition goals. The  High Protein category is now available across 160+ cities. Users can choose from over 1 million High Protein dish options across a network of 1.4 lakh restaurants. Recently, Swiggy rolled out the No Added Sugar category, further broadening our range of mindful choices. Consumers can choose from more than 2.5 lakh food items and over 62,700 restaurants listed under No Added Sugar category. Till date, close to 6.5 million users have adopted either the High Protein or No Added Sugar offering.

By continuing to develop nutrition-focused categories, Swiggy aims to support India’s shift toward a more balanced lifestyle and empowering users to make better food decisions whether they are celebrating, maintaining daily routines, or starting new health journeys. As consumer expectations evolve, the platform remains committed to delivering choice, convenience, and healthier options at scale.

Mumbai, Dec 06: SVC Co-operative Bank Ltd. (SVC Bank, formerly known as The Shamrao Vithal Co-operative Bank Ltd.), one of India’s leading multi-state scheduled banks with a legacy of 118 years, has further strengthened its digital banking ecosystem with the introduction of several new features in its mobile and internet banking platforms. These enhancements are intended to enable smoother, user friendly and more seamless and secure digital banking transactions for customers.

Amongst the array of new features, some of the key additions include Biometric Login, Face recognition (for Apple devices) which enables secure and password-free access using users fingerprint or facial recognition. This feature facilitates faster access, eliminating the need to remember complex passwords while ensuring enhanced protection against unauthorized access.

The Self-Onboarding facility allows both new and existing customers to instantly register for mobile and internet banking, anytime and anywhere. This 24×7 functionality ensures a quick, paperless start to digital banking suite, saving valuable time and effort.

To simplify payments, the Pay to Contacts feature enables users to transfer funds directly using mobile numbers of SVC bank NetBanking registered customers stored in the users contact list removing the need to recall or input account details. The result is faster, error-free transactions with greater convenience for users on the move.

With the Reserve & Schedule Funds feature, customers can plan reserve funds and automate future dated transactions, ensuring timely important payments and help better financial discipline. This feature offers peace of mind by allowing users to set aside or schedule funds for payment in advance, minimizing the risk of missed due dates for important payments.

Additionally, the Manage Nominee facility empowers customers to digitally add or update nominees without visiting a branch. This not only simplifies future claim processes but also reinforces SVC Bank’s commitment to safeguarding the financial interests of its customers and their families.

Speaking at the launch, Mr. Durgesh Chandavarkar, Chairman, SVC Bank, said, 

“As a co-operative institution, our focus has always been to empower our customers. These digital upgrades reflect our commitment to bringing modern convenience and dependable security to every customer we serve.”

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Ravinder Singh, Managing Director, SVC Co-operative Bank Ltd., said:

“At SVC Bank, our co-operative ethos has always guided us to innovate with purpose and inclusivity. These new digital features are a step forward in making banking simpler, safer, and more accessible for every member of our community. By blending technology with the trust that defines the co-operative movement, we continue to strengthen our promise of empowering customers through meaningful and responsible innovation.”

With these additions, SVC Bank continues to strengthen its position as one of India’s leading multi-state co-operative banks, offering a perfect blend of traditional trust and modern digital convenience.