Category business

By Dr Sangita Reddy Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Group.

Cervical cancer is a severely overlooked issue for women, leading to high rates of mortality and morbidity. We wholeheartedly embrace this budget and appreciate it. It emphasizes the necessity of cervical cancer vaccination, representing a significant stride in women’s healthcare by the government. Maternal health is of equal importance and must not be overlooked. The budget promotes the vaccination of girls aged 9-14 against cervical cancer for disease prevention. This will surely motivate girls to get vaccinated on time and prevent cervical cancer. Additionally, we plan to raise awareness about cervical cancer vaccination through various campaigns and programs to ensure woman’s well-being. There will surely be a boost in cervical cancer screening and vaccination now which has been lacking earlier due to the lack of awareness. We express our approval of this budget and extend congratulations to the government.

start with this point – Total increase in health outlay, from 23-24 RE (80516) to 24-25BE (90657) is 12.59%; pl ref table below.

Source: Mof- Demand for grants (HFW & health research)

Hyderabad, 2nd February 2024 Navratna mining company, NMDC produced 4.54 million tonnes and sold 4.56 million tonnes of iron ore in January 2024. With an 8% growth in production and 19% uptick in sales from January 2023 volumes, NMDC has achieved its best ever January month sales since inception.

Foraying towards historic volumes this fiscal, the cumulative production and sales stood at 36.32 MnT and 36.49 MnT respectively, up to January 2024. From the corresponding period last year, the cumulative production is 17% higher while the cumulative sales figure climbed by 23%. This also marks the highest-ever cumulative production and sales in company history during ten months.

Congratulating his team on the stellar growth run, Shri Amitava Mukherjee, CMD (Additional Charge) said, “In its standing as the largest iron ore producer of India commanding one-sixth share of the domestic market, NMDC’s sustained growth tells of the booming iron and steel sector. As the Economic Budget for next fiscal continues to lay emphasis on infrastructure development, we are heavily investing to build up our production and evacuation infrastructure, while enhancing our technical and digital strength. NMDC has aligned its targets to meet the escalating demand for iron ore and is headed for milestone production in FY24.”

By Mr. Rahul Ranjan, Director of Mrig Sight Media-

I appreciate the government’s commitment to ‘Reform, Perform, and Transform,’ foreseeing a promising trajectory. The collaborative efforts with states and stakeholders resonate with the essence of startups, emphasizing innovation and growth. The targeted support for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) is particularly commendable, as it provides startups with the necessary financial backing, technological empowerment, and essential training. The streamlined regulatory approach underscores a keen understanding of the pivotal role bureaucracy plays in nurturing entrepreneurship.

The alignment with ‘Panchamrit’ goals and the dedication to ensuring energy security directly addresses challenges faced by startups, showcasing a government attuned to our industry’s needs. The proactive measures to prepare the financial sector for investment needs signal a government actively supporting the intricacies of the startup ecosystem. In conclusion, this forward-looking approach fosters an environment where startups can not only survive but thrive, contributing significantly to both economic growth and innovation in the country.

Hyderabad, 2nd February 2024 …….. The Federation of Telangana Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FTCCI) is to organize a “Conclave on GST and Globalization” on Saturday, 10th February 2024 at Marigold Hotels (Green Park), Greenlands, Begumpet, Hyderabad. It will be a full-day Conclave.

Sri Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister, Department of Finance and Planning, Energy, Government of Telangana & Sri Duddilla Sridhar Babu, Hon’ble Minister for Industries & Commerce, IT, E & C and Legislative Affairs, Government of Telangana were invited as Chief Guests; Dr T K Sreedevi, IAS, Commissioner of Commercial Taxes, Government of Telangana; Sri Sandeep Prakash, IRS, Chief Commissioner of Customs and Central Tax, Hyderabad Zone as Guests of Honour.

The sessions and panel discussions will be handled by CFOs & CEOs of Prominent Organizations from different business sectors.

CEOs, CFOs, Directors, Managers, Budding Entrepreneurs, and other delegates are expected to participate.

GST was implemented in India, as part of the “One Nation One Tax” idea and to increase tax system transparency. GST is a single tax system that many nations throughout the world have embraced. The subsumption of numerous indirect tax levies in the GST in India has helped firms become more globally competitive. This program examines the evolution of this idea following the implementation of GST in the year 2017.

PFB the quote by Mr. Rajesh Gupta, Founder & Director at Recyclekaro on the Post Budget 2024:

“The union budget’s “Panchamrit” targets, as highlighted by the finance minister, aim to support sustainable economic growth with a focus on using resources efficiently. This is expected to boost India’s raw material capacity, especially in the manufacturing of Li-ion batteries. The commitment to strengthen the e-vehicle ecosystem through support for manufacturing and charging infrastructure shows a proactive approach to environmentally-friendly growth. By embracing economic policies for ongoing growth, the government is setting a path for a circular economy, emphasizing environmental responsibility and smart use of resources. This approach not only tackles challenges in the lithium-ion battery industry but also contributes to building a resilient and sustainable future for our nation.”

Satish Reddy Chairman, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Limited

“The interim budget announced by the Finance Minister today envisions an India that is modern, innovative, resilient, with a strong focus on sustainability and empowerment as part of the ‘Viksit Bharat’ vision. Its emphasis on ease of doing business and local manufacturing are welcome. In particular, the Rs. 1 lakh crore R&D allocation for sunrise sectors can potentially act as a catalyst in our innovation journey as the Indian pharma industry aims to reach USD 120-130 billion by 2030. Apart from innovation, there is clear and welcome impetus to green initiatives (such as the new scheme of bio-manufacturing and bio-foundry to transform the current consumptive manufacturing paradigm) as well as empowerment and inclusion (e.g., the cervical cancer vaccine to girls between 9 to 14 years, extension of the Ayushman Bharat scheme to ASHA and anganwadi workers, and women in STEM).”

By Arun Alagappan, President, SICCI

The Union Budget presented by Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, Hon’ble Finance Minister prioritised growth-oriented measures while carefully balancing the fiscal considerations.On behalf of SICCI, we welcome the budget proposals, containing much-needed measures to accelerate growth in infrastructure, blue economy, agriculture& aerospace, defense and green energy sectors.

SICCI would like to commend the government’s commitment to Agriculture. The budget proposal to promote private and public investment in post-harvest activities including aggregation, modern storage, supply chains, primary and secondary processing, marketing, and branding is a step in the right direction. Also, the initiatives of promoting new-age technology products in agriculture such as Nano-DAP will play a pivotal role in bringing down the fertilizer subsidy bills and improving the farm economy.

Rightly highlighting the need for bolstering innovation in the country, the initiatives proposed in the budget for promoting research and innovation & deep technologies in the private sector are welcome. SICCI would also like to welcome the proposal for promoting climate-resilient activities for blue economy 2.0, a scheme for restoration and adaptation measures, and coastal aquaculture and mariculture with an integrated approach and the plan to set up 5 integrated aqua parks. SICCI requests for at least 2 of these parks to be set up in Tamil Nadu, which boasts of the 2nd longest coastline in India.

Infrastructure projects rightly received the needed priority under the PM Gati Shakti program for enabling multi-modal connectivity. The focus on multi-modal logistics is the need of the hour as it will improve logistics efficiency and reduce cost. Also, the PM Awaas Yojana-Grameen would help in expanding the housing program for poor and middle-income groups.

The move to target one crore households for up to 300 units of electricity every month with rooftop solarisation will greatly catalyze the renewable energy transition in India. We would like to welcome the extension of benefits of Ayushman Bharat to all ASHA and Anganwadi workers, the incremental increase of the defense outlay, and the 34 crore Mudra Yojana Loans for Women Entrepreneurs. SICCI believes these initiatives will have a transformational impact on the economy.

On the whole, this budget is growth-oriented focusing on sunrise sectors and social impact, thereby catering to the aspirations of businesses and the common public.

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Akash Pharande, Managing Director – Pharande Spaces

Unfortunately, the interim budget 2024 didn’t directly include any major positive changes for India’s housing industry. While the expectations included industry status, tax benefits, affordable housing boosts, and easing liquidity issues for developers, none of these materialized in the interim budget.

However, there are a few ways we could interpret the situation cautiously optimistically:

– Indirect benefits: The focus on infrastructure spending might indirectly benefit the housing industry by improving connectivity and boosting overall economic activity, potentially leading to increased demand.
– Focus on affordable housing: While lacking specific budget allocations, the government’s recent emphasis on “Housing for All” and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) could translate into concrete measures later.
– Uncertainty avoided: The absence of negative changes may be seen as a positive in an environment where economic headwinds exist.

This is only the interim budget, and the main Union Budget in February will hold more substantial announcements. Even without direct intervention, government policies impacting interest rates, inflation, and economic growth can significantly influence the housing industry.

Akash Pharande is Managing Director – Pharande Spaces, a leading real estate construction and development firm famous for its township projects in West Pune and beyond. Pharande Promoters & Builders, the flagship company of Pharande Spaces and an ISO 9001-2000 certified company, is a pioneer of townships in West Pune.

February 1st, 2024: After having cemented market dominance in the Agri Drone Segment with a staggering 55% share, India’s largest drone start-up Garuda Aerospace now launches Droni. Droni is the company’s first product into the consumer photography and cinematography drone sector which has been dominated by the DJI drones for several years. Currently available on Amazon for purchase in India and across the globe, Droni was also launched on the social handles of investor Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Chennai Super Kings.

“This launch is an exciting one for us. Besides being out first B2C product in the market, it is a product that is cutting-edge, and purposefully designed for convenience and quality. Moreover, it strengthens our partnership with our brand ambassador Mahendra Singh Dhoni and offers consumers an opportunity to own a product that is created in association with him. The product is a game-changing one in the aerial photography and videography market and we are confident that it will empower users to push creative boundaries.” said Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder and CEO, Garuda Aerospace.

Launched as India’s smartest personal drone, Droni is a compact small-sized foldable quadcopter nano drone weighing under 250 gms which can effortlessly fit into ones pocket. The drone is integrated with 11 intelligent flight modes including intelligent follow-me features, circling, fading, soaring, time-lapse, tail flicking, broad and straight forward shooting, etc. It is also integrated with target management, level 7 wind resistance and has intelligent voice somatosensory control making way for one hand control when required. Its three-axis mechanical stabilized pan tilt ensure perfect stable shots.

Droni boasts of a high-quality 48 MP camera with wide angle lens optical flow positioning and delivers an impressive 60 minutes of flight time, thus elevating the overall user experience Despite being feature rich, Droni is easy to use, and has a seamless user interface.

Priced at a MRP of Rs 1,40,000, Garuda Aerospace’s Droni Drone is available at an introductory price of Rs 85,000, exclusively on Amazon. To support the launch of Droni drone is an integrated marketing campaign including an ad film featuring MS Dhoni .

Hyderabad, 01st February, 2024: Buckle up, because TECNO, the global smartphone brand, is taking users on a thrilling ride of innovation in 2024. After kicking off the year with the onboarding of Bollywood superstar Deepika Padukone as the brand ambassador and launching the amazingly entertaining POP 8, they’re ready to dazzle the smartphone scene again with the all-new SPARK 20. Mark the calendars – it hits shelves on February 2^nd at the nearest retail stores and on Amazon!

This made-in-India smartphone is an ultimate all-rounder for those who want it all. Imagine this: massive storage, camera magic that captures every epic moment, and a design that turns heads, all packed into one device at an unbelievably good price. Introducing the SPARK 20 at a special limited-time introductory.

The SPARK 20 boasts a segment-first, jaw-dropping 256GB ROM, giving the space for all precious memories. Furthermore, with the groundbreaking 32MP selfie camera – get ready to create Insta-worthy moments that shine. The mighty octa-core processor fuels this powerhouse so that users can multitask like a pro, lag-free. Moreover, the SPARK 20 comes with a trusty 5000mAh battery to keep users powered up all day long.

There is more to love! The SPARK 20 also boasts DTS Dual Stereo Speakers that produce up to 400% louder sound than other smartphones in the segment. And the entertainment doesn’t end here! The SPARK 20 includes a complimentary OTT Play premium subscription valued at ₹5604, giving users access to 23 must-watch OTT platforms right at their fingertips, making it the ultimate value for money.

Here’s a closer look at why the SPARK 20 is an all-rounder champion:

Segment-Biggest Massive Storage: SPARK 20 has a segment-first massive 256GB storage paired with a cool 8GB+8GB RAM combo, ensuring smooth multitasking and minimizing lag. So now users don’t need to worry before capturing endless photos, videos, and more!

Segment-First 32MP Front Camera: Life’s moments deserve top-notch detail. Enter the SPARK 20’s segment-first 32MP front camera and a whopping 50MP rear camera. Snap ultra-clear selfies and stunning adventure shots. Delivering low-light clarity, this phone shines everywhere.

Style Icon: Design is in TECNO’s DNA, and the SPARK 20 takes it to the next level. This smartphone oozes style and sophistication just like TECNO’s powerhouse brand ambassador Deepika Padukone.

Get ready to embrace the future of smartphones with the all-rounder SPARK 20 – where innovation meets style, performance, and entertainment, all in one device! Head to the nearest retail store on February 2^nd!