All posts by Neel Achary

New Delhi: South Indian Bank has introduced an e-BG (Electronic Bank Guarantee) facility for its customers in partnership with National E-Governance Service Limited (NeSL). It facilitates API-based paperless issue of bank guarantees, eliminating the need for physical documentation and record maintenance. The bank issued its First e-BG favouring a leading Public Sector Unit on 29th April 2023 for an amount of Rs.4.57 crore through NeSL. This is a noteworthy achievement that places the Bank in a select group of banks that have issued eBGs.

South Indian Bank’s customers can avail of the facility and procure e-BGs intended for beneficiaries on boarded on NeSL. The facility replaces the existing manual and paper-based model of issuing Bank Guarantees. Paper-based BGs involve manual intervention for stamping, signing and transferring the physical BGs while e-BGs are stamped electronically, eliminating the need for purchasing of physical stamp paper, printing the documents and physical signatures.

Speaking on the launch Mr. Murali Ramakrishnan, MD & CEO, South Indian Bank, said, “Digitisation is the core enabler for our vision, and it gives us immense pleasure to launch this in association with NeSL on our 94th year of operation. The issuance of e-BG shall reduce turnaround time and contribute towards the ease of doing business for our business customers. There are several benefits for our customers, including faster processing time, convenience, cost-effectiveness, increased security, and improved tracking.”

Mr Debajyoti Ray Chaudhuri, MD & CEO of NeSL said, “NeSL’s eBG has been developed in association with the Indian Banks’ Association in response to the banks’ requirements for a digital product which could make the BG easily available to the beneficiary without the necessity of going through a tedious process of verifying the authenticity of the same. NeSL’s e-BG is paperless and available in a digital form to the beneficiary of an e-BG on registration on the NeSL’s e-BG portal. The process of user registration is simple and one time. NeSL’s eBG takes care of all the life cycle events of the BG in a seamless and digital manner. I congratulate the team at South Indian Bank who worked tirelessly and in tandem with our team to roll out this product.”

The e-BG facility has numerous advantages over the prevailing system of paper BGs

· Considerable reduction in TAT (turnaround time)

· Beneficiary can directly access the BG from the NeSL Portal

· Eliminates the need for physical movement of the BG contract documents

· Generation of contract document in a dematerialised and paperless form

· No physical stamp paper required

· Notification to beneficiary and applicant from NeSL

· Applicant need not present the BG in physical form to the beneficiary

· Eliminates the pitfalls of paper-based process

New Delhi, 03 May 2023: Known for its cool quotient and vibrant designs among the masses, flip flops brand Bahamas launched its new TV campaign for the season. The commercial leverages the fact that most often, people stress and fret over every other thing, leaving little time to enjoy the precious moments of life.

The film opens with superstar Salman Khan picking up a couple of instances out of everyday life, nudging in the fact that indeed, stress has silently pervaded in all walks of life. In his typical quirky style, he urges us not to miss out on small joys while managing the daily stressful situations of life, effortlessly weaving in the colorful product range in a peppy beach setting.

Expressing his joy amidst the campaign, Gaurav Dua, Director (Sales & Marketing) for Relaxo Footwears Ltd. said, “Bahamas is symbolic of the mindset of youth- colourful, peppy, carefree- and every action of the brand is a reflection of the same. Salman Bhai and his stardom fits so well with our brand’s voice because he is known for style, is trendy and someone, that today’s youth vibes with. However, in today’s fast paced lifestyle, people are burdened with some or other stress even at a young age, many a times taking it to heart. Bahamas takes this very cue and uses Salman Khan to smoothly connect the brands’ philosophy with the inner calling of youth”.

Bangalore, 03 May 2023: Godrej & Boyce, the flagship company of the Godrej Group announced that it had appointed marketing veteran Dr. Dev Sarkar to lead the next phase of growth in Godrej Interio’s retail and consumer business.

Godrej Interio, a business of Godrej & Boyce, is India’s leading end-to-end furniture solutions brand that operates in the home and institutional segments.

With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Sarkar served as Director, of Sales and Marketing – Beverages for India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh at PepsiCo prior to joining Godrej & Boyce. He has also worked with several other leading global and national brands.

Commenting on the appointment, Nyrika Holkar, Executive Director, Godrej & Boyce said, “We are excited to have Dev join the team. With his vast knowledge of working with consumer-led brands, we believe Dev can help drive profitable growth in a sustainable manner for Godrej Interio by catering to the evolving needs of retail consumers”.

Swapneel Nagarkar, Business head, Godrej Interio said: “To further expand our customer base in FY24, we will continue to strengthen our customer connect by investing in R&D and engineering capability to provide a range of furniture and furnishing solutions suited to the needs of Indian homeowners.”

With revenues of around Rs 3,000 crore, Godrej Interio is also focused on expanding its global footprint by exporting to specific markets across the world. Aside from its consumer and institutional business, it also has a growing projects business that handles turnkey interior projects for offices and institution. Couple of their recent projects have been for organisations like Mumbai Metro Rail and Cochin Airport.

Mumbai, May 02, 2023 – Mukesh Patel School of Technology Management & Engineering (MPSTME) at NMIMS University, Mumbai, has achieved a remarkable feat by winning 2 Harvard Diplomacy Awards and 4 Social Venture Challenge (SVC) awards at the Harvard WorldMUN 2023 conference in Paris, France, in collaboration with CINUP, Paris (Comité Interuniversitaire des Nations Unies de Paris), the organizers of PIMUN. Known as the “Olympics of MUNs,” the five-day forum was led by faculty advisor Dr. Nikhil Gala, who played a crucial role in mentoring the MPSTME delegation to achieve these outstanding accomplishments.

Jash Damani, B Tech CE 4th Year, and Anuradha Bansal, BTI CE 1st year, received the Harvard Diplomacy Award. Additionally, the SVC winners include ReFlex, founded by Anish Sudhan, a third-year B Tech CSE Cybersecurity student, Siddharth Mundada, a second-year MBA Tech Mechanical student, and Anuradha Bansal, a first-year BTI CS student. ReFlex is a not-for-profit venture that promotes a circular economy and a sustainable environment
by reusing and repurposing flex material used in banners and billboards for underserved communities with active involvement from the youth.

Project Techtile, led by Samyukta Mandampully, a second-year B Tech CSE DS 311 student, aims to provide training in software to visually impaired individuals, helping them attain upward mobility and advocating for greater digital inclusivity. Stride, headed by Yash Mudaliyar, a fourth-year B Tech Data Science student, manufactures artificial limbs using 3D printing technology, producing lightweight, durable, and eco-friendly products that benefit those in need. ASAP India, spearheaded by Shehzeen Khan, a fourth-year B Tech Data Science student, works towards ensuring equitable distribution of healthcare resources to underserved communities, bridging the gap between service providers and affected parties while engaging in ancillary activities to help improve the quality of life in
these communities.

Membership to the MPSTME delegation was granted through a rigorous and multi-round selection process. Students were scrutinized and critically vetted at every point, under the careful supervision of Dr. Nikhil Gala. The first round involved participation in IntraMUN, an in-house MUN organized by MUNSociety MPSTME, attracting over 300 registrants. Only award winners and the best performers were shortlisted for the final rounds, where they underwent intensive training to prepare themselves for the WorldMUN.

Dr. Alka Mahajan, Dean MPSTME NMIMS, stated, “The MPSTME team was the only delegation from India to win at the Olympics of MUN with over 1500+ participants worldwide. The team also received a total funding of $15,000 (~12 lakh Rupees) awarded to the SVC winners. MPSTME has always been at the forefront of innovation, ensuring that our students have a holistic exposure and are nurtured as socially sensitive individuals. Students are encouraged to come up with innovative but practically implementable ideas that can do a world of good to society as a whole. Each project idea is inspired by this very fact and the best practices followed at MPSTME.”

02 May, 2023: Noise, India’s leading connected lifestyle tech brand, today announced the expansion of its round dial smartwatch portfolio with the launch of NoiseFit Force Plus, a rugged smartwatch made especially for thrill-seekers. It comes fitted with a shortcut button that instantly directs you to the sports mode, allowing you to unlock the experience instantly. Resonating with its theme ‘Built for Extremes’, the smartwatch is a rallying call for the ones all set to take up their next big adventurous challenge, making it a perfect choice by completing their rugged look. The new smartwatch is available for grabs at gonoise.com and Flipkart at a starting price of Rs. 3,999, starting today.

Amit Khatri, Co-founder, Noise commented on the launch, “Innovation is the guiding force behind everything we do at Noise, and the new NoiseFit Force Plus is an embodiment of this value. As a forerunner in democratizing industry-leading innovation, our products represent the brand’s commitment to creating a fully-connected experience for new-age users, in all scenarios. Built for extremes, we are certain the new smartwatch will prove to be an ideal choice for users looking for a tech companion in their adventures.”

Equipped with the brand’s advanced calling feature, Tru SyncTM technology, NoiseFit Force Plus comes with a single-chip Bluetooth 5.3 making it easy to use and pair. Its robust battery which lasts up to 7 days on a single charge, allows consumers to keep pressing ahead without any hassle, and the IP67 water and dust resistance feature makes the watch extremely durable. It sports a 1.46” AMOLED display with 466*466 px along with 550 nits brightness. This guarantees an improved visual experience while one is on the move.

The smartwatch comes with a host of productivity and health monitoring features. Not just that, users can choose to call from the dial-pad, access recent calls and save up to 10 contacts on the watch using Noise Buzz, making interaction with the device extremely seamless. The smartwatch comes packed with an array of wellness features under Noise Health SuiteTM that can keep track of all your vitals including heart rate, SpO2, sleep monitor, stress measurement, breath practice, and female cycle tracker. Users can also keep their daily reminders and weather forecast handy, with the help of its inbuilt Productivity Suite. The NoiseFit Force Plus offers over 130+ Sports modes, and 100+ Watch faces and can be paired with NoiseFit App to unlock the next-level productivity game.

The NoiseFit Force Plus is available in the following color options: Jet Black, Mist Grey, and Teal Blue.

Mother’s Day is a special occasion to show your love and appreciation for your mom, and what better way to do that than with the latest tech gadgets? Here are six must-have newly launched affordable tech gadgets that are perfect for spoiling your mom on her special day:

Wireless Earbuds

Wireless earbuds are a great gift for moms who love music or are always on the go. They’re portable, comfortable, and offer a great listening experience without the hassle of wires. One of the most popular affordable options on the market right now is the Anker Soundcore Life P2. They’re sweat and water-resistant, have a long battery life, and offer noise-cancellation technology.

Portable Charger

In today’s world, everyone needs to stay connected, and running out of battery life on your phone can be frustrating. A portable charger is a practical gift that your mom will appreciate, especially if she’s always on the go. One of the most affordable and reliable options on the market is the RAVPower Portable Charger. It offers fast charging, multiple USB ports, and a slim design that can fit easily in a purse or bag.

Fitness Tracker

If your mom is into fitness or looking to start a new healthy lifestyle, a fitness tracker is a perfect gift. The Fitbit Inspire 2 is a newly launched affordable option that offers a range of features such as heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and activity tracking. It also offers personalized guided breathing sessions to help reduce stress.

Smart Speaker

A smart speaker is a great gift for moms who love music, cooking, or just want to stay connected with their favorite news or weather updates. The newly launched Amazon Echo Dot (4th Generation) is an affordable option that offers high-quality sound, Alexa voice assistant, and the ability to connect with other smart home devices.

Smartwatch

Smartwatches have become increasingly popular over the years, and they make a perfect gift for moms who love fitness and technology. The newly launched PLAYFIT SLIM2C is a bluetooth-based CALLING smartwatch with a 1.3″ fashionable and circular dial and a rich IPS display. The complete package of the design boasts of a rich, 500 nits brightness display, an IPS panel providing an all-view angle display visibility, a flat dial surface courtesy of the 2.5D glass which rests on top of the display, and an equally irresistible PLAYtime of 5 days. This sleek innovation incorporates a wide range of technological advancements and features designed to meet the on-the-go lifestyle needs of modern-day consumers.

Video Doorbell

A video doorbell is a practical gift that can provide your mom with an extra layer of security and convenience. The newly launched Wyze Video Doorbell is an affordable option that offers motion detection, two-way audio, and HD video recording. It can be connected to a smartphone app that allows your mom to see and communicate with visitors from anywhere.

In conclusion, these affordable tech gadgets are great options to spoil your mom on Mother’s Day. They’re practical, useful, and offer a range of features that can enhance her daily life. Whether your mom loves music, fitness, or just staying connected, there’s a tech gadget that’s perfect for her.

Kolkata/New Delhi, 02 May 2023: IDCA Tri-Nation ODI for the Deaf 2023 commenced with a powerpack match between India and Bangladesh at the Merlin Club Pavilion Cricket Grounds, Kolkata on April 29th. In this series, teams from Bangladesh, Nepal, and India will compete against each other to lift the coveted trophy and take home the grand prize.

The ODI team of India is led by Sai Akash, who also steered the Chennai Blasters to victory in the recently held IDCA T20 Deaf Premier League 2023. The maiden Deaf ODI to be held in India was inaugurated by a well-known citizen activist, Mr Mudar Patreya.

Speaking on the occasion, Sumit Jain, President Indian Deaf Cricket Association (IDCA) said, “We are elated to welcome teams from Bangladesh & Nepal to India and host them in Kolkata. IDCA will provide these specially-abled players with an opportunity to play in a world-class facility sponsored by the Merlin Group in Kolkata. The specially-abled youths of our neighbouring countries are excited to visit & compete in India.

A series of six matches will be played among the three teams and the two teams with the maximum victories will make it to the finale to be held on Friday, 5th April from 9:30 AM.

Inaugurating the Tri-nation ODI Mr Mudar Patreya said, “If you saw the tri-nation tournament as just another cricket competition you might have missed the significance of what the players had achieved to get to Calcutta (Kolkata). They had prevailed over extensive odds, the primary odds being the handicap of being told that they were handicapped. The next level would be to see these cricketers faring successfully in integrated cricket and hitting the ball out of the park – literally and metaphorically.”

Ms Roma Balwani, CEO of, IDCA said, “We are extremely thankful to Mr. Mudar Patreya, a well-known citizen activist, Guest of Honour for gracing the occasion and motivating the players. We are also grateful to Century Ply for extending their support for this tournament.”

The event is being sponsored & supported by its corporate partners Century Ply, Emami Group, KFC India, Hero MotoCorp, Impact Research and Measurement, Kaizen, Nykaa, Cognito, Trisys, Zenab Zarif & BP Koirala India-Nepal Foundation, Embassy of India, Kathmandu, Nepal. The match is being live-streamed by FanCode & IDCA YouTube channel.

The list of the scheduled matches can be found at IDCA’s Twitter handle: INDIAN DEAF CRICKET ASSOCIATION (IDCA)🇳 (@indian_deaf) / Twitter

Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh, 2 May 2023: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has directed the health department officials that there should not be a single vacancy anywhere in the government hospitals during the review meeting at his camp office in Tadepalli on Monday.

“There should be a regular audit in government hospitals regarding staff vacancies. It should be conducted from village clinics to teaching hospitals. Doctors, nurses, and other staff retiring soon should be identified using the AI and take steps to replace them immediately,” said Chief Minister Jagan.

The Chief Minister also noted that if there is enough staff in the clinic and hospitals, half of the problems can be solved, and the rest on good infrastructure and availability of medicines.

Chief Minister also directed the officials to present the staff details including pending and upcoming vacancies in the department in the next review meetings.

The officials also briefed the Chief Minister on the prevailing Covid-19 situation in the state and said that number of people receiving treatment in hospitals is only 24. Further, a fever survey was conducted across the state, and a small number of people with symptoms were identified, tested, and treated.

Regarding the family doctor program, the officials said that 20,25,903 people benefited between April 6 and 28 after the implementation of the program across the state.

“Through the family doctor, which provides services in 10,032 villages, 4,43,232 people were identified to be suffering from both diabetes and hypertension. 4,86,903 people suffering from hypertension and 2,70,818 from diabetes. 4,649 people suffering from oral cancer, 1761 people from breast cancer, and 7042 people from cervical cancer were screened, and further treatments in nearby hospitals were recommended,” said the officials.

The Chief Minister directed the officials that each village should be notified in advance regarding the doctor’s visit with the help of Asha workers and ANMs. He also asked them to do eye tests regularly and provide glasses to the people.

Regarding the prevention of anemia and malnutrition, the Chief Minister directed the officials to take appropriate measures through village clinics and pay special attention to provide nutritious food to pregnant women.

“Prepare a special curriculum to make Community Health Officers well-trained in their duties. CHOs should be trained at teaching hospitals on basic oral healthcare, ENT problems, CPR, etc. They should be trained to provide immediate treatment for snake bites,” said the Chief Minister.

While reviewing the works of newly constructed medical colleges, hospitals, area hospitals, and CHCs, officials said that additional 2100 MBBS seats would be available in the state. “These are in addition to the existing 2185 medical seats in the state,” said the officials.

Zac Bilyeu to focus on creating initiatives that strategically capture additional growth opportunities.

(St. Louis, Mo., May 2, 2023) AAdvantage Insurance Group recently hired Zac Bilyeu as Business Development Specialist. In this position, he will focus on commercial sales, recruiting and training. Bilyeu’s responsibilities include generating prospects, developing new relationships, handling existing accounts, and maintaining client satisfaction by providing custom insurance plans in the property and casualty marketplace.

Prior to joining the agency, Bilyeu worked for a national voluntary benefits company as a Territory Sales Trainer. He holds his life and health licenses, as well as his Property & Casualty Insurance certifications, in Illinois and Missouri.

Bilyeu earned a Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo. Bilyeu also earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Broadcast Journalism and Public Relations from Western Illinois University in Macomb, Ill. and a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in Edwardsville, Ill.

Founded in 2009, AAdvantage Insurance Group specializes in auto, home, business, transportation, and life insurance. The agency serves clients in 19 states with the majority in Illinois and Missouri. AAdvantage Insurance Group is located at 78 S. Main St. in Glen Carbon, Ill.

“Zac is an excellent resource when it comes to risk management and client retention,” said AAdvantage Insurance Group CEO Josh Kaburick. “We look forward to all he will accomplish for our organization, including the solutions he will create to fully meet our client’s needs.”

AAdvantage Insurance Group is a member of Valley Insurance Agency Alliance (VIAA), a cohesive family of more than 160 independent insurance agencies in Missouri and Illinois. Founded in 2006, VIAA generates more than $600 million in written premium and is the regional founding member for the Strategic Insurance Agency Alliance (SIAA), a $11 billion national alliance.

For more information about AAdvantage Insurance Group, call (618) 692-4440 or visit http://www.aadins.com.

Bangalore, 02 May 2023: Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) registered sales of 14,162 domestic units in the month of April, 2023. The company also exported 1,348 units of The Urban Cruiser Hyryder this month, thus clocking a total of 15, 510 units. While there were no exports in the corresponding period last year, TKM had registered domestic sales of 15,086 units in April 2022. The company undertook a week-long maintenance shutdown from April 24-28, 2023 for the upkeep of machinery and equipment to sustain operational efficiencies, productivity and safety.

TKM posted a healthy domestic growth of 26% in the first four months of Calendar Year 2023, by selling 61,005 units in the same period last year, where 48,278 units were sold, domestically.

With the Made-in-India Urban Cruiser Hyryder, TKM restarted its export operations from the Indian market to South Africa and the Middle East from the month of December 2022. This development strongly embodies the company’s commitment towards ‘Mass electrification’ with ‘Make in India’, not only for the country but also for exports which underpins India’s emergence as a global manufacturing hub for cleaner and greener vehicles. Besides initiating the export of vehicles, Toyota Group has also been exporting e-Drives which is a critical electric powertrain component that is being locally manufactured by Toyota Kirloskar Auto Parts (TKAP) in Bidadi near Bengaluru.

Speaking on sales numbers Mr. Atul Sood, Vice President, Sales and Strategic Marketing said, “TKM is continuing to witness high demand as well as good enquires, and needless to say we are extremely thrilled to see the market responding very positively. This reflects the customer acceptance of our world-class product line-up and advanced clean technology solutions, as we continue to strongly serve our customer base in India. The Toyota Hilux, Innova Hycross and the New Innova Crysta continue their phenomenal run, as the strong demand continues, which indicates customers growing trust in Toyota for their family’s mobility needs. Our SUV segment share also continues to be buoyant owing to the success of the Urban Cruiser Hyryder along with segment leadership of the Fortuner and the Legender, which are consistently leading with over 82% market share in Q1 of CY 2023. The Vellfire and the Camry Hybrid are also steadily contributing to our sales.

Our focus on the “customer first” philosophy also continues to manifest while we prioritize taking care of our customers. Earlier this month, we launched ‘Wheels on Web’ (WOW), an Online Retail Sales platform for the Bangalore region. This new platform offers customers, a seamless virtual experience by enabling them to book, purchase and get delivery of their favorite Toyota models like HyCross (gasoline), Hilux, Legender, Camry, Fortuner, and Innova Crysta (GX) at the comfort of their homes. Through such innovative services, our objective is to provide value-addition to our esteemed customers, to enable a convenient process for the purchase of Toyota vehicles, facilitate end-to-end transactions, including secured online payments for providing a one-stop-shop solution.

As we continue to focus on offering customers a choice of vehicle that fits their lifestyle and needs, we would like to thank our suppliers and dealer partners for working extra hard to meet the robust market demand and preparing to meet the evolving market needs in a dynamic manner.”

Overview of TKM

Overview of TKM 1st Plant:

Overview of TKM 2nd Plant: