All posts by Neel Achary

Mumbai, 24 March 2023: CRIF Connect Private Limited, a subsidiary of CRIF S.p.A has received the approval to commence operations as an NBFC Account Aggregator (AA) from the Reserve Bank of India. With CRIF’s legacy, knowledge, and experience, CRIF Connect is uniquely positioned to benefit both consumers and financial institutions.

CRIF Connect is an end-to-end encrypted platform that securely fetches and transfers a consumer’s financial data based on their explicit consent between financial institutions. Thus, making data sharing extremely safe based on RBI-approved guidelines.

Speaking on the announcement, Mr. Wilfred Sigler, Senior Director – CRIF India and South Asia, said “We are pleased to receive the operating license to work as an NBFC Account Aggregator (AA). The Account Aggregator (AA) framework puts the customer at the center of the ecosystem, giving them control of secured and hassle-free data sharing. It is a game-changer for increasing digital adoption, financial inclusion, and providing financial services with higher operational efficiencies.”

CRIF Connect will be available through a web application and a mobile application. Through the CRIF Connect App, users can view all their financial information in one place. They can choose what information to share with the financial institution in real-time and make changes to their consent which they can give, deny, or revoke at any time.

Hyderabad, India – Platform 65, India’s largest toy-train-themed restaurant, has been named the Emerging Food Startup of the Year at the Startup India 2023 Awards. Organized by “Entrepreneur India,” the awards recognize and celebrate innovative startups that are driving change in India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Also, the event gave the winners a chance to connect with other winners from various categories. Platform 65 has been one such success story in India’s largest toy-train-themed restaurant, which is honored by the Entrepreneur India start-up awards, which recognize the drive to change the world of start-ups.

Mr. Sadgun Patha, Managing Director and Founder of Platform 65, accepted the award on behalf of the Platform 65 restaurant. We have received an award under the category of the “Emerging Food Start-up of the Year 2023”. This award is a testament to the hard work of our team and our commitment to providing a unique dining experience for our guests. We are grateful to “Entrepreneur India” for recognizing our efforts, and we look forward to continuing to innovate and grow in the years to come.”

Mr. Sadgun Patha is a young entrepreneur with a strong background in Business Administrative Area. His passion for food and serving unique food started a toy train-themed restaurant with 3 years of managerial experience in execution and corporate operations, Mr. Patha has guided the company toward profitability without sacrificing quality or standards. He is a young and vibrant individual with good hospitality industry experience and an MBA from IPE University.

Platform 65 offers a unique dining experience with a wide variety of offerings from continental, Chinese, North Indian, Andhra, and Telangana cuisines. The restaurant has five centers in Telangana and is designed to take diners on a journey through a railway zone. The restaurant boasts over 6500+ sq. ft of space and can seat more than 200+ people. The tables have mini railway tracks, and each table has a station name such as Nizamabad, Kamareddy, Warangal, Hyderabad, Sangareddy, Vijayawada, Tenali, Guntur, Rajamahendravaram, Trivandrum, Ahmedabad, etc.

With a robust HR model that includes new-age business approaches, Platform 65 is dedicated to revolutionizing India’s restaurant management business. The restaurant is also the only Indian restaurant firm to be awarded the Iconic Concept Award by the Times Group.

Hyderabad/Erode, 24 March 2023: Ansell, a world leader in personal protective equipment, will unveil Phase 1 Go Live of ANSELL KOVAI – Packing & Irradiation Operations in India. This event will be presented by the Ansell senior leadership team: Neil Salmon – Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, John Marsden – Sr. Vice President of Operations, Gerald Koh – VP of Engineering & Mfg. Technology, Dilip Savaikar – VP of Manufacturing Operations, Anton Fernando – Director of Manufacturing Ops, Gobu Devarajan – Director QARA, as well as local government officials, customers, community leaders, and other stakeholders.

The agenda for the event includes:

•  Kovai Plant Project Update
•  Ansell Growth Plans in India
•  A meet & greet with consultants, contractors, and other stakeholders
•  Cultural programs and refreshments
•  Plant tour and giveaways

Ansell Kovai Background

In July 2021, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru M. K. Stalin, and the Industry Minister of the State, Thiru Thangam Thennarasu, laid the foundation stone for this $80M greenfield manufacturing plant investment as part of the Investment Conclave, an event organized by the State Industries Department and Guidance Tamil Nadu Team. As an innovative global leader in hand protection solutions, Ansell is proud to invest in India under the ‘Made in India’ initiative (Atmanirbhar Bharat), and to meet the ongoing demand in India, the world’s fastest-growing Surgical and Life Sciences market, for innovative glove solutions.

Ansell India will be the sole glove manufacturing facility in India with an in-house integrated Gamma Sterilization Unit. This technology ensures the product is fully sterilized.

July 2022 marked a milestone when Ansell’s Kovai manufacturing plant became operational. Ansell Kovai provides Ansell with strategic production capabilities in fast-developing emerging markets like India and strengthens Ansell’s global multi-sourcing strategies, which enables Ansell to maintain the production of essential products, even during market disruptions such as the global pandemic.

Ansell Kovai: Sustainability

With Kovai, Ansell sets a new benchmark for sustainable manufacturing. When the site is fully operational, this facility will mark a glove-industry milestone by operating with zero liquid discharge, meaning that all wastewater is fully recycled and reused in production. In addition, all the Kovai buildings are designed according to criteria established by the Indian Green Building Council in 2001 to support India’s aim to become a global leader in sustainably built environments by 2025. A ‘sustainably built’ environment is designed for longevity, flexibility, adaptability, reuse, and recoverability, and considers future climate risks.

A greenfield project represents an investment in which a new customized operations facility is built from the ground up rather than adapting or adding to an existing facility. The unique construction materials used for the Kovai plant incorporate low-carbon, low-impact, non-toxic and re-purposed materials. Ansell has made a commitment to shift away from fossil-fuel-based energy sources at our plants and utilize renewable energy alternatives. As a result, the new plant design minimizes water and energy use and maximizes renewable energy sources, including sustainably sourced biomass for thermal energy and solar photovoltaic panels, and will emit zero liquid discharge – with up to 80% of wastewater recycled as we move toward our goal of one hundred percent renewable energy use at this site.

Kovai staff will approach 1,800 employees, with most employees hired from the local area plus room for additional future headcount. We are committed to establishing and achieving gender balance targets from the outset throughout all levels of leadership.

Future Growth

While production primarily focuses on manufacturing surgical and life sciences products, this facility is designed with significant future expansion capability to accommodate a wide range of Ansell products, such as our examination glove line, and support our differentiated growth strategy in the coming years.

When completed in 2024, Ansell Kovai will occupy a 70,734 square meter area, encompassing a 43,000 sq. mt. manufacturing plant, compounding facility, dipping hall, post-processing building, warehouse, packaging facility, administrative block, canteen, biomass hot water generators, and an Industrial Gamma Irradiator.

Ahmedabad, 24 March 2023: Man Industries (India) Limited, one of India’s leading Large Diameter API Pipe Manufacturing Companies, has inaugurated its new ERW Line Pipe Plant in Anjar,Gujarat. The Company has also started production at the new plant, thereby widening its product offerings and streamlining production by entering into the manufacturing of ERW pipes which will increase the market share of the Company.

The Company has two state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities with 1 facility located in Anjar, Gujarat, having 2 LSAW Line Pipe units & 2 HSAW Line Pipe units and also for various types of Anti-Corrosion Coating Systems and 1 facility in Pithampur, Madhya Pradesh, having a total installed capacity of over 1 Mn+ MTPA.

On the new plant launch announcement, Dr. R C Mansukhani, Chairman, Man Industries (India) Limited, said, “The new plant launch is a momentous occasion for all of us. With this, we are poised to enhance our product mix and capture increasing industry opportunities. The Indian ERW pipe ket is one of the fastest-growing segments, largely driven by new-age applications in the construction sector. Hence, investing in this project was part of our next stage of growth to serve the hydro-carbon and CGD sector.”

“Our goal and aspiration over the next few years are to increase our revenue on the back of better utilization of existing facilities, better absorption of fixed costs, and addition of new products, thereby improving EBITDA margin from current levels.”, he added.

The Company also recently announced that they received a new export order worth approximately INR 1300 crores for the supply of API High-Grade Large Diameter Pipes along with Coating. With this, the unexecuted Order Book now stands at approximately INR 2000 crores to be executed in six to eight months.

MAN Industries (India) Ltd. showcases a strong mounting of the business environment and the trust that customers have in the company’s state-of-the-art technologies, industry expertise, and execution capabilities. The Company holds an impeccable track record of uninterrupted profitability, dividend, and meeting all its financial commitments in the challenging and growing business environment.

Mumbai, 24 March 2023: Aereo (formerly Aarav Unmanned Systems), the leading Indian end-to-end drone solutions start-up wins the largest drone solutions contract from Coal India Limited (CIL). The open tender process saw participation from multiple bidders wherein Aereo emerged as the lowest (L1) bidder with the highest technical score. The $1 million contract is part of a bigger digital initiative that is being undertaken by Coal India Limited. Aereo will provide advanced analytics through its proprietary web platform and indigenous survey-grade PPK drones to 7 mines in Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL) and South Eastern Coalfields (SECL) under CIL for a tenure of 3 years. This will help improve mining safety, environmental compliance, and overall efficiency of the open-cast mines.

Prior to this landmark project, Aereo was also given a result validation contract from Central Mine Planning and Design Institute (CMPDI), a subsidiary of CIL. Aereo validated the accuracy of photogrammetry data across 50 mining sites and computed results. Based on the favorable outcome of these results and other subsequent efforts made by the CMPDI, an amendment has been made to the Yellow Book of Coal India (Notification No: CIL/C-1/Yellow Book/23/42, Dated: 02.02.2023). According to this amendment, drone-based photogrammetry for volumetric assessment is mandatory on a regular basis. The amendment also lists several SOPs that include the use of PPK drones and DGPS base stations.

Under the new Yellow Book amendment and CIL’s latest contract, Aereo will be the first company to regularly render its drone solutions to India’s largest coal mines. Apart from deploying its survey-grade drones and drone pilots, Aereo will also generate orthomosaics, digital elevation models (DEMs), and deep analytics on its web platform. Additionally, it will participate in a knowledge transfer exercise with CIL through training and guiding the existing survey teams of CIL.

This will be the first-ever drone usage of this scale to be undertaken for mining in India. The contract with CIL marks Aereo’s second biggest success after a long-term engagement with Tata Steel to jointly develop and offer sustainable end-to-end drone solutions that will focus on the efficiency, safety, and productivity of open cast mining operations.

On winning the contract, Vipul Singh, Founder, and CEO, Aereo said, “Aereo is proud and delighted to work with CIL and Accenture on India’s largest mine mapping project to date. This contract marks a significant milestone for Aereo and CIL in terms of technological scalability. It will help shape India’s journey to becoming energy self-sufficient. The advanced analytics delivered in this project will enable large-scale digitization of some of the most important mines of this country. That will pave the way for more efficient, safer, and environmentally conscious mining operations. Using our end-to-end drone solutions stack, we have successfully delivered critical business intelligence to over 500 mines in the past. Aereo has always worked towards creating impactful drone-based solutions. This collaboration is a leap toward the rapid adoption of commercial drone technology in India.”

Every month at this time, you add items to your online shopping cart and debate whether to make the purchase now or wait until payday. Yes, you’re correct; it’s the end of the month, and you anxiously await your salary credit. Thanks to social media and its opportunities, there has never been a better time to pursue a side business. With the rise in popularity of platforms like Moj, creating content for short video platforms has become a very lucrative side business. The beauty of this is that it gives you the freedom to produce content whenever it suits you so you can use it as a side business in addition to your 9 to 5 desk job. It’s a very attractive side gig because of the enormous potential for earnings from brand sponsorships and affiliate marketing. You’ll be surprised to learn that creators earn ​​lakhs annually! Here are some of the most well-known Moj creators and their personal stories to motivate you to take on content creation as a side gig.

Janvi[4] Janvi, who comes from a humble background in Madhya Pradesh, realized she wanted to be a performer at a young age. Janvi was introduced to Moj by her mother, and she soon started posting many acting and dancing videos synced to her favorite Bollywood hits. Her mother was the biggest supporter in her content creation journey, assisting her in shooting and editing videos.

Her cutesy demeanor and attire were ideal for Bollywood dance numbers. This young child frequently sings along to Madhuri Dixit songs because she is such a big fan. One of her many popular videos has to be the retro dance she did to Zeenat Aman’s most well-known song, “Satyam Shivam Sundaram.” Janvi and her mother earn extra money thanks to the virtual gifts that have poured in due to the millions of views her videos have garnered. Janvi proves that talent is valued wherever it is displayed.

Rachit Srivastav The pandemic cost Rachit his job, which brought him to Moj. Since then, he has frequently contributed to the platform, creating acting videos. His lip sync and dialogue delivery videos have achieved enormous success. Rachit’s feed is an entertaining rollercoaster, with everything from acting out dialogue from Akshay Kumar’s “Bachan Pandey” to producing amusing and relatable videos. His talent was soon recognized by the platform, and ‘Moj Buddy’ called him.

(talent manager). This gave him a chance to make money by live-streaming. Rachit currently has 1.5 million followers and utilizes this platform to earn a living.

Gourav Sharma[7] The 21-year-old Delhi native Gourav gained fame quickly for his relatable and humorous
content. Currently, he has over 1.6 million fans. Gourav hit the mark for his viewers with his lip sync comedy videos. Viewers adore his content, whether it’s his videos on #singlelife or his live appearances with Jacqueline Fernandez and Neha Kakkar. He has earned the title of “King of Moj Live Streaming.” He recently won the Navratri campaign and makes about ₹1 lakh in monthly income from brand partnerships and Moj virtual gifts.

Tanu Rana is a homemaker with lofty goals who can make people laugh with her humorous content on Moj. Tanu joined Moj because she wanted to try something new. She excels at producing entertaining and enjoyable content. Tanu is the Moj queen of entertainment, whether dancing to Priyanka Chopra’s “Desi Girl” or lip-syncing to Daler Mehndi’s “Tunak Tunak.”After nearly six months of arduous work toward her dream, she was granted early access to Moj LIVE before it was made available to all users. This gave her the opportunity to stream LIVE and interact with her fans, allowing her to monetize her content. Tanu uses Moj frequently and earns lakhs annually.

Bengaluru, 24 March 2023: One of India’s first and largest media and communication festivals, ‘Article-19’ is back this year and will be held at Manipal Institute of Communication on the 24th and 25th of March, 2023. This two-day event has time and again served as a platform for promoting the very principle behind the said article of the Indian Constitution – Freedom of Speech. Inspiring and invoking the spirit of expression while intermingling ideas, interests, and passion, the fest is an embodiment of what media and communication stand for.

The panel includes Mr. Rohit Gandhi, the Editor-in-chief of Democracy News Live, Founder and former Editor-in-Chief of World is One News (WION); Mr. Viswanath Venkatraman, an alumnus of MIC’s first graduating batch in 1997 and the co-creator of some of the most iconic events for leading Indian & International brands and special feature shows in media groups like Network18; Mr. Shiv Aroor, journalist, author, editor, and anchor at India Today and a renowned defense correspondent who has done conflict reporting from defense zones such as Kashmir, Sri Lanka, and Libya.

“We at MIC started Article-19 with a coherent goal, to harness the power of ethical media, the power of students, and the power of freedom of speech and expression. After hosting more than 20 successful festivals, we strive to ensure that the same spark is alive and we hope to make a bigger and better impact with each passing year” says Dr. Padmarani, Director at Manipal Institute of Communication.

Article – 19 is a platform created by the students for the students. This year’s organizing committee is guided by the faculty coordinator, Ms. Shruthi V Shetty. One can witness a melange of creative media-based events, games, and learning experiences spread across fields like journalism, advertising, film making etc. This includes an extremely insightful workshop called, “Pitch Perfect” by Ms. Ann Kurian, Founder & Creative Director of Talking Tree Media, Bengaluru. The chosen theme for this year is, ‘MIC through Metaverse.’ The Metaverse is anticipated to be the next great revolution in the field of media and internet technology. Thus this year’s Article-19 is very intrinsically woven around it.

Students across Manipal will be testing their bounds of creativity and communication through various competitions like student TEDx Talks and Mad Ads. The 2-day conglomerate will be closing with an award ceremony and a fun fair making it a perfect blend of education and entertainment. Manipal Institute of Communication was established in 1997 by MAHE as a benchmark of holistic education in the burgeoning media industry. Since its inception, MIC has conducted Article-19 for over 20 years making it one of India’s first-ever media festivals. It stands for people’s right to Freedom of Speech and Expression and demonstrates it in an innovative and educative manner each passing year.

Mumbai, March 24, 2023: Mother’s Recipe one of India’s leading food brands known for its expansive product portfolio, has launched a new product category Sharbat for this summer season. The tradition of having sharbat in summer always strikes nostalgia. In Indian households, making sharbat is a family affair, with everyone pitching in to help prepare the drink. Grandmothers are often the ones who pass down their traditional recipes and techniques for making sharbat. In the summer season, tea gets replaced with sharbat while welcoming guests. Sharbats are offered as a thirst quencher to beat the scorching summer heat.

Sharbat is a refreshing drink but also a cultural symbol in India. It is often served to guests as a sign of hospitality and warmth and an essential part of Indian tradition that brings families and communities together. Keeping this in mind and in a bid to strengthen its product portfolio Mother’s Recipe one of India’s leading food brands has recently announced the launch of its new product category range called the Summerwala Sharbat with a new tagline ‘Swad Jo Dilaye Bachhpan ki Yaad.

Mother’s Recipe sharbat has launched five new ranges of refreshing flavors Mango Panna, Rose Sharbat, Jeera Masala, Khus Syrup, and Lemon Ginger. Rose sharbat, made with rose syrup and water, is a classic flavor and is often used as a base for other sharbat flavors. Khus sharbat, made with khus extracts syrup, is a fragrant and cooling drink. Lemon sharbat, made with lemon juice and sugar syrup, is a tangy and refreshing drink. Mango sharbat, made with mango pulp and sugar syrup, is a sweet and fruity drink. With the rising temperature, it is very important to keep our bodies cool and hydrated. Khus, Lemon, Rose, and various ingredients in the sharbat are known to offer various health benefits too such as improving digestion & cooling. The sharbat can be served chilled and can be garnished with mint leaves, and lemon slices, or can be turned into a fancy mocktail or a faluda.

Speaking on the new launch announcement Ms. Sanjana Desai, Executive Director, of Mother’s Recipe said “We at Mother’s Recipe always strive to provide consumers with an enriching experience through our product offerings. We believe in pushing boundaries when it comes to introducing consumers to new products, tastes and experiences and with our Summerwala Sharbat we aim to do the same. In India, the beverage category has witnessed a paradigm shift in consumption patterns, from regular soft drinks to better and healthier options. To address the ever-evolving consumer demand we decided to expand our product portfolio with Sharbat. We are confident that the product will soon emerge as the preferred beverage choice across all age groups”.

Mother’s Recipe Sharbat range is available in a 750ml PET bottle priced at Rs. 180. The bottles are great for reusing, unbreakable, and easy to store in the fridge cabinets. The product will be available across all e-commerce platforms like modern and all retail outlets. The launch of the products is a step forward in having a broader portfolio. Currently, the brand is among the leading FMCG companies with a range that includes a variety of products like pickles, cooking paste, chutney, papad, Ready to eat, and Ready to cook.

New Delhi, 24 March 2023: Fire-Boltt, a homegrown smart wearable brand today announced the launch of its new smartwatch- Legacy. The latest addition to the brand’s LUXE collection, Legacy exudes magnificence with its stainless-steel design, finely textured straps, 2 button pushers, and a rotating crown. Featuring a 1.43″ always-on AMOLED Display, the smartwatch is loaded with some industry-first features like wireless charging, a stock market tracker, and much more. An epitome of perfection, this feature-rich smartwatch comes with 2 varieties of straps-Leather and Stainless Steel. While the leather variant comes in black and brown colors, the stainless-steel variant comes in silver and black color options. Additionally, the users will receive a free silicon strap with the purchase of every Legacy smartwatch. This elegant timepiece will be available for purchase from 25th March on Flipkart, Fireboltt.com, and offline stores at INR 3999 onwards.

With its futuristic design and advanced anti-corrosion property, the all-new Legacy smartwatch is packed with some of the most exciting features like Bluetooth calling, Voice Assistance, IP68 certification for water resistance, and 100+ sports modes. The smartwatch supports wireless charging, and with its big 330 mAh battery, it can continuously run for up to 7 days on a single charge. The watch’s AMOLED display, 466*466 pixels resolution, and a brightness of 600 Nits offer an exceptional viewing experience while its 60 Hz refresh rate ensures that there are no lags. The smartwatch also lets users get real-time stock market updates on their wrists. The users have to simply add their favorite stocks to the app post and the watch will automatically start sending them real-time stock updates.

Commenting on the launch, Aayushi Kishore and Arnav Kishore, Co-Founders of Fire-Boltt, said, “Fire-Boltt firmly believes in providing an elevated user experience through products that are built with compassion, innovation, and uniqueness. The legacy smartwatch is a testament to this belief, as we aim to satisfy our existing users and attract potential smartwatch enthusiasts to join our tribe. We are optimistic that this latest smartwatch from our Luxe edition will leave a lasting impression in the market.”

The smartwatch boasts the brand’s signature health suite that allows real-time heart rate monitoring, sleep monitoring, SpO2 monitoring, menstrual cycle tracking, and activity tracking. Moreover, the smartwatch comes with multiple watch faces to go with your every mood and attire. Some other exciting features of the smartwatch include a world clock, stopwatch, alarm, weather updates, remote music control, remote camera control, find my phone, smart notifications, and sedentary reminders, and much more.

Visa applications from New Delhi nearly touched the pre-pandemic levels in 2022 driven by pent-up demand, the opening of international borders and eased COVID-related protocols. According to VFS Global, the visa application volume from New Delhi reached close to 80% of the 2019 pre-pandemic levels in 2022 and registered a 93% growth when compared to 2021.

This trend of rise in visa application volume from New Delhi is in line with the overall growth registered in India, which was also close to 80% of the pre-pandemic levels in 2022.

“We witnessed unprecedented demand from India in 2022 which led to an extended peak outbound travel season with steady volumes witnessed until December. We are confident that the momentum will further grow and hence it is advisable for applicants to apply for their visas in advance to avoid last-minute surprises,” said Prabuddha Sen, Chief Operating Officer – South Asia, VFS Global.

Another defining trend noticed in travellers’ behaviour was the wider adoption of personalised service which began during the pandemic. Premium optional services such as Visa At Your Doorstep (VAYD) which enables travellers to book the entire visa experience at a location of their choice, witnessed around a 90% year-on-year rise in 2022. VFS Global offers VAYD for 16 client governments in India – Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Switzerland, UK.

“Health considerations continue to be a key determining factor in the new normal. As a result, we see an increasing number of travellers opt of such services that provide a seamless visa experience and prioritise safe travel,” added Sen.

Peak Season Travel Guide

#ApplyinAdvance

It is recommended to apply for visas as early as booking flights and stay. Most countries accept visa applications up to 90 days (3 months) before your date of travel. According to the revised Schengen Visa Code, effective 09th February 2020, you can apply for a Schengen visa up to 6 months before your date of travel. Particularly this year with higher demand and limited appointment slots available, we urge applicants to apply for their visa as early as possible.

#DoNotFallForFraud

Visa applicants are advised to beware of fraudulent entities who charge fees from customers for scheduling appointments or providing any other services using VFS Global’s name or independently. We do not charge any payment for scheduling appointments. For any assistance, feel free to reach out to one of our staff or send an email to communications@vfsglobal.com

Enjoy our optional value-added services for a seamless visa experience such as:

Premium Lounges: Quick, safe, comfortable – get a personalised visa submission experience.
Form-filling assistance: Allow our expert staff to assist you in completing your visa application on phone or at a visa application centre
Courier Service: We deliver your passport and documents. It’s quick, safe, and convenient.
Travel Medical Insurance: Get your mandatory Travel Medical Insurance including Covid-19 coverage from global insurers.