All posts by Neel Achary

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.

Mumbai, 24 March 2023: Galaxy Surfactants, the leading manufacturer of performance surfactants and specialty care ingredients used in the Home and Personal Care industry, is participating in In-cosmetics Global, between March 28th to 30th in Barcelona, Spain. Galaxy Surfactants will be displaying their latest solid format product offerings and providing valuable insights into the properties and applications of these products at the exhibition. The event will facilitate a dialogue between leaders in personal care and home care industries to enable business and spur future innovation.

The company will be present at the sustainability corner, innovation zone, and sensory bar at the event, showcasing its innovative solutions. The Sustainability Corner will feature the company’s waterless sustainable solid format, Galseer® Tresscon, which is a shampoo bar base that helps reduce water consumption. At the Innovation Zone, visitors can learn about GalguardTM LipoG, a high-quality hair care active that provides excellent protection from dandruff. The Sensory Bar will showcase a unique format based on Galsoft TiLS (G) which is a green, oil-soluble surfactant system.

Commenting on the participation in the event, Mr. K Natarajan, the Executive Director & Chief Operating Officer at Galaxy Surfactants said, “We are looking forward to participating in the In-cosmetics Global event that provides us with the opportunity to meet our existing customers and tap into a new customer base who come here from across the world. Galaxy Surfactants will not only showcase their innovative products at the exhibition but also highlight our commitment to providing high-quality and sustainable ingredients that meet the evolving needs of our customers and the market. We look forward to engaging with the international personal care community, sharing our expertise, and learning about the latest science and trends in ingredient innovation.”

The In-cosmetic Global event will offer crucial insights into scientific advances, emerging trends, and regulations through their unrivaled educational programs. The In-cosmetic Group connects 1,800+ suppliers of ingredients, fragrances, lab equipment, testing, and regulatory solutions with 40,000+ cosmetic industry professionals.

Dr. V Keshavan  Senior Consultant Pulmonologist,  Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad.

World TB Day, falling on March 24th each year is organized to increase awareness among the general public that Tuberculosis continues to be a significant public health problem in much of the world today.

It commemorates the day in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced in Berlin that he had discovered the cause of tuberculosis, the TB bacillus. At that time, TB was rampant in Europe and the Americas, causing the death of one in every seven individuals.

The Stop TB Partnership, an entity of the United Nations and The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced the theme for this year’s World TB Day: “Yes! We Can End TB”.

Even in recent times, TB continues to be a public health scourge globally. In 2021, an estimated 10.6 million people fell ill with TB around the world. This was an increase of 4.5% as compared to 2020. Eight countries accounted for two-thirds of the total global burden of the disease, with India accounting for more than a quarter of the global burden. The other seven countries (in decreasing order of prevalence) are China, Indonesia, Philippines, Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh and South Africa. To put things in perspective: India has less than 20 percent of the world’s population but has more than 25 percent of the total TB patients in the world. Worldwide, India has the highest burden of Drug Resistant TB also.

The ‘National TB Prevalence’ survey (2019- 2021) in India, conducted by the Union government is a three-year survey that was the first of its kind nationwide in the last 55 years and is only the second national survey aimed at determining the actual disease burden of tuberculosis in the country.

The survey revealed that the prevalence of tuberculosis among Indians aged above 15 years is 312 cases per 1 lakh population, as compared to the global average of 134 cases per 1 lakh population. Delhi, with 747 cases per 1 lakh population, has the highest prevalence of TB. Gujarat has the lowest prevalence with 137 cases per 1 lakh population. The survey has estimated the National Prevalence to Notification Ratio as 2.84. (this means that for every case that is notified, the actual prevalence of cases in the community is 2.84). The study has also estimated that in over 60% of cases, the patients did not seek medical care for their symptoms, the most common reasons for this being that either the symptoms were ignored by the patients, the symptoms were not recognized by the patients as being indicative of an underlying disease or due to financial constraints in seeking medical care.

John Bunyan once referred to “Consumption” as the “Captain of the Men of Death” and indeed, for many years, and in many parts of the world, TB was the leading infectious cause of death. In 2021, there were an estimated 1.3 million deaths due to TB globally, with over 400,000 deaths occurring in India.

India has had a National TB Program (NTP) since 1962. Since then, it has been reorganized twice: first into the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP) in 1997 and then into the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP) in 2020.

TB control efforts initially got organized with the National TB program (NTP) primarily focusing on BCG vaccinations as a preventive measure.

In order to strengthen the NTP, the Government decided to give a new thrust to TB control activities, with assistance from international agencies, and the emphasis was shifted to a treatment-based strategy. The Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP), adopted the internationally recommended Directly Observed Treatment Short course (DOTS) strategy, as the most systematic and cost-effective approach for the Indian scenario.

Under DOTS, political and administrative commitment were some of its core strategies, to ensure the provision of organized and comprehensive TB control services. The adoption of smear microscopy for reliable and early diagnosis was introduced in general health services. The supply chain of drugs was also strengthened to provide an assured supply of drugs to meet the requirements.

Large-scale implementation of the RNTCP began in late 1998 and subsequently, India achieved country-wide coverage under RNTCP in 2006.

This was followed up with RNTCP Phase II, from 2006 onwards. The second phase aimed at at least 70% case detection rate of new smear-positive cases as well as a cure rate of at least 85%, in order to achieve the TB- related targets set by the United Nations among the “Millenium Development Goals”. In terms of the treatment of patients, RNTCP was recognized as the largest and fastest-expanding TB control program in the world.

Consolidating the advancements in RNTCP, it was renamed as the NTEP and this change came into effect from 1 January 2020.

“Ni-Kshay” (Ni- End, Kshay- TB), a web-based patient management system for TB control has been another notable achievement and has enabled the capture and transfer of individual patient data from the remotest health institutions of the country.

The President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu launched the “Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan” on September 9, 2022. According to the United Nations “Sustainable Development Goals”, all nations have set the goal of eradicating TB by the year 2030. But the Government of India has set the target of eradicating TB by the year 2025 and efforts are being made at every level to fulfill this resolution. The “Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan” has been envisioned to bring together all stakeholders to support those on TB treatment and accelerate the country’s progress towards TB elimination. Under this program, any individual, NGO, cooperative society or corporate organization can take the pledge to help persons with TB and can join as “Ni-Kshay Mitra”. “Ni-Akshay 2.0” is a digital platform for community support of patients with TB. There is also a dedicated “Ni-Kshay” helpline for this purpose: 1800-11-6666.

Krones today published its 2022 Annual Report. Its title is “Solutions beyond tomorrow”, the company’s new target picture. For the first time, the company has integrated its non-financial statement into the Annual Report as part of the group management report. The non-financial statement contains all important qualitative and quantitative non-financial information on material sustainability topics. By combining its financial and non-financial reporting, Krones underscores the importance it attaches to sustainability in all business decisions. This is also reflected in the company’s “Solutions beyond tomorrow” target picture. With a strategic focus on sustainability, digitalization and service quality, Krones intends to continue its profitable growth in the future. The company presented new record figures for 2022.

Revenue topped the €4 billion mark for the first time, rising from €3,634.5 million to €4,209.3 million, an increase of 15.8% on the previous year. Krones thus exceeded the upgraded growth target of 10% to 12% published in October 2022 (original target 5% to 8%).

Customer demand for Krones’ products and services was very strong in 2022. Order intake rose by 34.0% year on year, from €4,316.2 million to €5,782.8 million. The order backlog also grew strongly. At the end of 2022, Krones’ order backlog totaled €3,466.4 million. The order backlog was thus 83.1% up on the previous year (€1,893.0 million).

Profitability improved under difficult conditions

Thanks to the company’s great flexibility and wide-ranging measures to increase efficiency, Krones was able to improve profitability in 2022 despite rising material and freight costs and resource shortages. This was also partly due to Krones’ price increases, which enabled the company to largely offset the higher costs. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) went up 19.4% year on year, from €312.6 million to €373.3 million. It should be noted that EBITDA in the previous year was positively impacted by one-off effects totaling €17 million. The EBITDA margin improved to 8.9% (previous year: 8.1% excluding one-off effects). As forecast, Krones reached the upper end of the EBITDA margin target of 8% to 9% for 2022.

Earnings before taxes (EBT) rose by 36.5%, from €177.3 million in the previous year to €242.1 million. The EBT margin consequently improved to 5.8% (the previous year: 4.4% excluding one-off effects). On the bottom line, Krones generated a consolidated net income of €187.1 million in 2022, an increase of 32.3% (previous year: €141.4 million). This corresponds to earnings per share of €5.92 (previous year: €4.47).

All three segments contributed to the improvement in earnings

In the Filling and Packaging Technology segment – the largest segment by far – revenue climbed in 2022 by 14.8% year on year to €3,497.3 million. Despite rising material prices and resource shortages, EBITDA increased by 17.5% to €332.7 million. The EBITDA margin rose to 9.5% (previous year: 8.7% excluding one-off effects).

Revenue in the Process Technology segment increased by 23.9% to €367.5 million in 2022. EBITDA went up from €18.6 million in the previous year to €20.4 million. The improved segment earnings reflect the strategic measures implemented by Krones. In 2021, the brewery business was spun off into a separate company and processes were streamlined for project-based business. The EBITDA margin remained almost stable at 5.5% in 2022 (previous year: 6.3%).

Intralogistics has been Krones’ third segment since the beginning of 2022. Its activities were previously part of Process Technology. The new segment’s revenue developed well in 2022, growing by 17.9% to €344.5 million. EBITDA increased by 87% to €20.2 million. The EBITDA margin thus improved to 5.9% (previous year: 3.7%).

Exceptionally high free cash flow leads to a significant increase in net cash

The high order intake and the resulting advance payments from customers had a significant influence on the company’s free cash flow in 2022. The free cash flow reached the exceptionally high level of €371.0 million (previous year: €203.3 million). Krones significantly improved the working capital to revenue ratio to 19.0% (previous year: 24.8%). The decrease in average working capital and the higher earnings before interest and taxes had a positive impact on return on capital employed (ROCE). Krones significantly increased ROCE in 2022 to 14.1% (previous year: 10.0%), thus exceeding the target of 10% to 12%.

Krones continues to have a very robust financial and capital structure. The company’s net cash (cash and cash equivalents less bank debt) amounted to €669.5 million at the end of 2022, €291.2 million more than in the previous year. The equity ratio was 38.3% (previous year: 39.8%).

With the above figures, Krones has confirmed the preliminary figures published on 23 February 2023.

Krones to increase the dividend for 2022 by 25% to €1.75 per share

Krones’ long-term dividend policy is to distribute 25% to 30% of consolidated net income to shareholders. At the Annual General Meeting on 23 May 2023, the Executive Board and Supervisory Board will propose a dividend of €1.75 per share for the successful 2022 financial year. This represents a 25% increase in the dividend compared to the previous year (€1.40 per share) and is equivalent to 29.6% of consolidated net income.

Krones forecasts further revenue and earnings growth for 2023

Krones started the 2023 financial year with an extremely large order backlog. At the same time, various uncertainties mean that the business environment remains challenging for Krones. These include geopolitical risks in Europe and other parts of the world, and also high inflation and interest rates in many countries. Material shortages and problems in global supply chains remain a source of uncertainty. However, Krones expects that the situation on the procurement markets relevant to the company may ease slightly in the second half of 2023. Based on the prevailing macroeconomic outlook and the current expected development of the markets relevant to Krones, the company expects consolidated revenue growth of 8% to 11% in 2023.

With increasing revenue and continued implementation of the cost optimization measures, Krones aims to improve profitability again this year compared to 2022. Thanks to the company’s innovative solutions and good project work with customers, Krones succeeded in implementing price increases in 2022. The higher prices will enable the company to offset future cost increases. At the group level, Krones is forecasting an EBITDA margin of 9% to 10% for 2023.

For the third performance target, ROCE, the company expects an increase this year to between 15% and 17%.

Mumbai, March 24, 2023: HDFC Bank today announced the launch of Regalia Gold Credit Card—a super-premium credit card with unparalleled features and benefits—in its Regalia range of credit cards. The card is packed with Best-in-Class Travel and Lifestyle benefits, allowing customers to redeem rewards for global travel and on a collection of premium brands via the exclusive Regalia Gold catalogue. It also offers cardholders complimentary airport lounge access globally, and premium milestone benefits.

Regalia Gold is HDFC Bank’s latest foray into the ‘Super Premium Category’. The credit card will be available to high-income individuals and is designed exclusively to cater to the needs and requirements of travellers and lifestyle enthusiasts.

“It is our endeavour to serve almost every customer segment. After a hiatus, travel and lifestyle segments are both looking robust in terms of growth. Tourism numbers remain strong. Lifestyle spends are increasing. A credit card tailor-made for travel and lifestyle needs, we believe will serve the needs of a wide customer base. Regalia Gold provides a one stop solution with a host of exclusive offers and benefits as well as access to global travel facilitators, airport lounges, and curated benefits on lifestyle brands,” said Mr. Parag Rao, Group Head – Payments, Consumer Finance, Digital Banking and Information Technology.

With the all-new Regalia Gold Credit Card, you get:

Best-in-class redemption program:

•  Let’s you redeem rewards on global flights + hotel stays + airmiles and on a collection of premium brands via the exclusive Regalia Gold catalogue

Privileged Travel Experience:

•  Club Vistara Silver Tier Membership & MMT Black Elite Membership
•  Global Airport Lounge Access and Priority Pass Membership
•  Complimentary Airport Cab Vouchers*

Rewarding Everyday Indulgences:

•  5X Rewards on Myntra, Nykaa, M&S, Reliance Digitalo 4 Reward Points per Rs.150 on retail spends*

Luxurious Milestone Benefits:

• Upto 2 Flight Ticket vouchers every year on annual spending milestones
• Marriott vouchers and more on quarterly spending milestones

HDFC Bank, India’s largest private bank, is the leading player in the payment ecosystem in the country with over 1.65 crore credit cards and, an overall cumulative card base of over 6 crores, including credit, debit, and prepaid cards; addressing the need of different market segments.

Zell Education has been announced as the recipient of the “Company of the Year 2022” award by Business Connect. This prestigious recognition highlights Zell Education’s Admirable growth, exceptional performance, and contribution to the Finance & Accounts industry in education. The award reflects the company’s commitment to excellence and dedication toward achieving its goals.

“We’re absolutely delighted to receive this award recognizing our outstanding growth in the EdTech sector for finance and accounting. It’s a reflection of the hard work and dedication of our team, who are committed to delivering cutting-edge solutions that help our clients succeed.”, said Anant Bengani, co-founder & Executive director, Zell Education.

“We would like to thank our students, faculty, partners, and clients for their trust and support, which have enabled us to achieve this feat,” added Partham Barot, Co-Founder & CEO of Zell Education. “We are glad to be part of a community that values education and is committed to our goal of creating innovative educational solutions that have a positive impact on society.”

Zell Education’s award-winning products are available on its website, and the company continues to expand its
offerings to meet the growing demands of the EdTech industry.

Bengaluru, 24 March 2023 VST Tillers Tractors Ltd (VST), one of India’s leading farm equipment manufacturers, announced that it had crossed a production milestone of 500,000 power tillers from its state-of-the-art manufacturing plant at Malur – Bengaluru in Karnataka. The milestone is a testimony to the customer’s confidence in the VST power tillers. The VST power Tillers has very high customer loyalty and trust, built around the value of being authentic and powerful.

Speaking on the milestone, Antony Cherukara, CEO, of VST Tillers Tractors Ltd. said “We are thankful to all our associates & Suppliers for their timely support toward the development of these user-friendly SMART equipment for our valuable farmers. VST has always thrived to achieve manufacturing excellence which reflects our commitment and spirit of accepting no limits. This achievement will be a stepping stone to many more accolades for us in times to come”.

Currently, the overall power tiller industry in India is around 60,000 units and it is expected to grow to 100,000 units by the year 2025. VST is the leader in the segment and holds a market share of over 65% in the country. VST is focusing on small farm mechanization and has introduced a wide range of smart farm machines for small and marginal farmers. The company has introduced the electric start power tiller in the 16 HP & 9 HP category, a range of power weeders, which start from 3.5 hp to 8 hp, a range of brush cutters, and multi-crop reaper, for the segment.

VST’s state-of-the-art Malur Plant has recently won the IMexI award for monstrating operational excellence based on continuous improvement. For over 55 years VST Tillers Tractors Ltd has been developing tillers and tractors that allow for multi-functional use in the domestic and international markets. VST smart farm machines are suitable for all stages of farming and are apt for applications like puddling, inter-cultivation, bund formation, earthing up & de-weeding, and it is best suited for crops like Sugarcane, Paddy, Cotton, Vegetables, Horticulture Turmeric, Ginger etc.