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Huge economic and social benefits are presented by the new era of digitalization, but it also affects the form and scope of cyber risks and generates new vulnerabilities that threat actors might take advantage of. Leading international corporations and government agencies are being targeted nowadays. By 2025, the number of supply chain threats is predicted to rise by threefold from 2021 to affect 45% of businesses worldwide. It takes a data-centric approach to keep up with innovation, data accessibility, compliance monitoring, and data loss protection for organizations to safeguard their data. Data loss prevention (DLP) is crucial for preserving the privacy of a company’s most valuable resource. This technique enables data owners and security teams to advocate data loss prevention (DLP) with certainty within their organization.

Here are the top 5 IT companies providing cutting-edge technologies that businesses should be aware of in 2023:

Arete – Transforming the way businesses and government manage cyber risk through proven incident response, tech-enabled managed services, and powerful data insights. Working on the front lines of thousands of ransomware attacks and some of the largest nation-state attacks, their team combines hundreds of investigative, technical, and cyber risk management practitioners with best-in-class data and software engineers. They bring a relentless passion for innovation and a commitment to stopping cybercrime bring that same passion to positively impact the collective defense of businesses, governments, and infrastructure from cyber criminals and give back to the communities they serve.

Quick Heal – It is a global cybersecurity solutions provider. Its products are designed to manage IT security better across a wide range of platforms and devices. Its solutions can be tailored to fit the needs of consumers, small companies, governmental organizations, and corporate houses. The brand has spent 27 years concentrating its R&D on computer and network security solutions. Its current array of powerful machine learning-enabled solutions for cloud-based security thwarts threats, attacks, and malicious traffic before they happen.

Forescout – Delivers automated cybersecurity across the digital terrain. It is the only platform that provides complete coverage of the digital terrain by discovering, assessing and governing compliance of every connected device. Aimed at empowering their customers to achieve continuous alignment of security frameworks with their digital realities, across all asset types – IT, IoT, OT and IoMT, the company is on a non-stop journey, managing cyber risk through automation and data-powered insights.

Barracuda – It has been working towards making the world a safer place by delivering access to cloud-first, enterprise-grade security solutions that are easy to buy, deploy, and use. It protects email, networks, data, and applications with innovative solutions that grow and adapt to our customer’s journey. More than 200,000 organizations worldwide trust Barracuda, the company claims.

Noventiq – It is a global solutions and services provider in digital transformation and cybersecurity, which has been headquartered and listed in London. The company enables, facilitates and accelerates digital transformation for its customers’ businesses, connecting 75,000+ organizations from all sectors with hundreds of best-in-class IT vendors alongside its own services and solutions.

Bengaluru, India, February 20, 2023. Technology company, Continental hosted a delegation comprising German members of parliament, in Bengaluru. The German delegation was received and welcomed by senior Continental India leadership, showcasing India as a growing market and innovation hub with a strong engineering talent pool for the global technology company. The delegation was organized by the India Office of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung.

The delegation from Germany comprised
Mr. Thorsten Frei is a Member of Parliament, a lawyer, and the first Chief Whip of the CDU/CSU Parliamentary Group. From 2018 – 2021, he served as the Deputy Chairman of the CDU/CSU in the fields of Domestic and Judicial policy.

Dr. Hendrik Hoppenstedt, a Member of Parliament, is the former Minister of State for Bureaucracy Reduction and Federal-State Relations at the Federal Chancellery. He is a lawyer and Vice Chief Whip of the CDU/CSU Parliamentary Group. Since 2021, he has been serving as a Member of the Council of Elders and in the Conciliation Committee between the German Parliament and the Federal Council.

Mr. Stefan Müller, a Member of Parliament, and a banking specialist are the Vice Chief Whip of the CDU/CSU Parliamentary Group. Also since 2018, he has been a member of the parliamentary executive of the CSU state group.

Mr. Patrick Schnieder, Member of Parliament, is a lawyer and MP of the CDU who currently serves as a Chief Whip of the Parliamentary Group ‘Belgium-Luxembourg’ since 2022. From 2011 until 2018, Mr. Schnieder served as the General Secretary of the CDU in the Rhineland- Palatinate.

What: World Premiere of the dance shows, ‘Om-Mani-Padme-Hum’ and ‘Svarupa & Vyakta’ by Stefano Fardelli.

Where: Kolkata Centre for Creativity, 777. Anandapur, E.M.Bypass, Kolkata – 700107

When: Saturday, 25th February 2023 & Sunday, 26th February 2023 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

What to expect: This forthcoming weekend the people of the City of Joy are going to witness an outstanding World Premiere of the globally recognized dance shows, ‘Om-Mani-Padme-Hum’ and ‘Svarupa-Vyakta’ by Stefano Fardelli.

Both Om-Mani-Padme-Hum’ and ‘Svarupa & Vyakta’ are acclaimed works by the celebrated dancer, choreographer, and teacher, Stefano Fardelli. Through ‘Om Mani Padme Hum’ the artist is going to portray the history and rituals of the Tibetan Buddhists of the Yellow Hat Order with a particular connection to Shaolin monks. In this particular performance, the audience is going to view Umberto Gesi (Italy), Tejaswini Loundo (India), Marco Hernandez (Mexico), and Jesus Rea (Bolivia) on stage.

On the other hand, ‘Svarupa-Vyakta’ is an award-winning work by Stefano Fardelli. The dance will be presented before the viewers after the premiere of ‘Om Mani Padme Hum’. ‘Svarupa & Vyakta’ is influenced by Stefano’s visit to Varanasi whose vibrant culture and wonderful ambiance have made a lasting impression. The artist is going to highlight the same concept in this upcoming on-stage performance. ‘Svarupa-Vyakta’ will present the artists Marco Hernandez (Mexico) and Jesus Rea (Bolivia) illustrating before the audience.

The Crowne Plaza Pune City Centre, an IHG hotel is delighted to announce the appointment of Subhajit Sadhukhan as the new Executive Chef.

With a meritorious experience of over 22 years, Subhajit has worked with renowned hospitality brands across the country including Hindustan International, Pride Hotel, Oakwood Worldwide, Hyatt Regency Kolkata, and Quality inn Golden Park. In his last assignment, Subhajit was associated with Hotel Hindusthan International as the executive chef. His strong foundation and seasoned experience in culinary operations as well as avant-garde gastronomy make him the perfect fit to spearhead the diverse food & beverage offerings at Crowne Plaza Pune City Centre.

Subhajit’s culinary expertise ranges from specialization in European, and Asian to North Indian cuisines. He is a master of curating exclusive food festivals and ensuring the highest standards of quality while keeping the food cost under the budget.

Subhajit has earned many accolades to his merit, including the award as a best team member from Times for Pre-opening for OGCC. He is also been awarded by HHI “Best Cost saver of the year 2015”.

When he is not strategizing or experimenting in his kitchen, Subhajit likes to take time off to work for the betterment of underprivileged children.

Mumbai/ New Delhi, February 20, 2023: A new survey has been conducted by aral Credit, a fin-tech platform that makes getting a personal loan easy and quick, to understand the key behavioral drivers which are driving the Personal Loan product in India. The Personal Loan product offers access to timely funds for an eligible individual to meet short-term fund requirements without inquiring into the end use of the loan proceeds. This survey conducted with 512 respondents aims to provide insights into the factors that drive the growth of personal loan disbursals in India.

The survey results indicate that personal loans have witnessed a 46% growth in Originations (by value) from FY-2021 to FY-2022. According to the survey, 67% of respondents in India have taken a personal loan at some point in their lives to meet their fund requirements. The survey also revealed that 36% of respondents took a loan for home purchases or renovations, while 9% took personal loans for travel and vacation.

The interest rate remains the most critical factor for borrowers in choosing a loan provider, with 63% of respondents indicating that their decision to take a personal loan would be based on the charged interest rate. Additionally, 77% of respondents preferred to take personal loans from banks, while 14% preferred non-banking
financial institutions.

Milind Satpute, Director of Saral Credit said, “The Personal Loans market in India is experiencing a red-hot growth rate, and yet, until now, little has been done to truly understand customer behavior in this segment, which banks and NBFCs have traditionally dominated. That’s why the findings from the Personal Survey of 2023 are
so important. This survey squarely addresses the key questions everyone in the industry should ask: Why do customers take personal loans? What are the most important factors they consider when choosing a loan? Which channels do they prefer? At Saral Credit, we believe that the answers to these questions are crucial to unlocking the full potential of the Personal Loans market, and we’re excited to share the insights we’ve gained.”

The Personal Survey of 2023 sheds light on the increasing importance of creditworthiness in financial fitness, as individuals with a credit score regularly review their score and report. The survey also reveals that the majority of respondents are from the middle-class segment, with 91% of graduates and 78% of individuals earning above Rs 30,000.

Participation from both men and women is a good sign of inclusiveness and women’s independence. While loan amount, repayment period, and convenience are essential factors for borrowers, 30% of respondents find the Personal Loans process time-consuming, and 20% find it complicated. Another 16% of respondents
were unable to connect with the right provider.

According to the survey findings, the personal loans sector in India is experiencing significant growth, and borrowers are exhibiting a growing appreciation for the role of creditworthiness in obtaining such loans. Furthermore, the survey results indicate that the majority of respondents still prefer to get personal loans from banks, with the
the interest rate being the primary consideration in selecting a lender.

20th February 2023: Samvardhana Motherson Automotive Systems Group BV (SMRPBV) a 100 % subsidiary of Samvardhana Motherson International Limited (SAMIL) has entered into an agreement to acquire 100% stake in SAS Autosystemtechnik GmbH (Germany) (“SAS”) from Faurecia, a company of the FORVIA Group (an entity listed on Paris stock exchange).

“SAS” is a leading global provider of assembly and logistics services for the automotive industry. This strong market position is founded on deep technical expertise. It has strong customer relationships with leading European and American OEMs, some of which span almost 3 decades. The company’s gross revenues were ~Euro 4.4 Bn on a principal basis with net revenues (IFRS) of Euro 896 million for the year ended December 31st, 2022, with almost half of it contributed by EV programs. The orders in hand already secured are of over ~3 Bn Euro in cumulative Net Revenues over the next 3 years. It has more than 5,000 employees in over 24 manufacturing locations in Europe, Asia, and America.

The transaction will be another step in further enhancing Motherson’s integration in the global automotive supply chain and increasing its customer proximity. With its strong capabilities in assembly, automation and logistics, “SAS” is well-positioned to benefit from the secular trend of outsourcing of module assembly by OEMs to trusted suppliers.

The enterprise value of the business is Euro 540 million and the transaction will be funded by a mix of debt and internal accruals The transaction remains subject to information or consultation with employee representatives. Completion of the envisaged transaction will be subject to customary regulatory approvals and would be expected by Q2 FY24 (July-Sept 23).

Commenting on the deal, Mr. Vivek Chaand Sehgal, Chairman, Motherson said,

“We have always added new products and technologies to closely serve our customers in a more cohesive way. The acquisition of SAS is an important step in this direction. By adding complementing capabilities which SAS brings, we will be able to further enhance our tier 0.5 position with our customers. With this acquisition, we will be even more diversified in our customer base and products. This acquisition will transform Motherson Group to be a leading assembler of cockpit modules globally, with a special focus on EV models. We look forward to welcoming over 5,000 new members into the Motherson family”.

Kolkata, 20th February 2023: The Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) organised an interactive session called Vision East- Green Initiatives led Growth & Employment. The session witnessed valuable insights on the central government’s initiatives for a greener economy from Mr. Bhupender Yadav, Hon’ble Minister, Ministry of Labour and Employment and Environment, Forests & Climate Change, Govt. of India, Mr. Mehul Mohanka, President, ICC and Managing Director & Group CEO, Tega Industries Ltd, and Dr. Rajeev Singh, Director General, ICC, and Mr. Sudhir A. Merchant Director, M/s Encore Natural Polymer Pvt Ltd.

Commenting on the initiative by the central government towards strengthening the economy, Chief Guest, Hon’ble Minister, Ministry of Labour and Employment and Environment, Forests & Climate Change, Govt. of India, Mr. Bhupender Yadav, said, “India, in the post-Covid era has become the fastest growing economy, attaining 30.6 percent of the GDP growth, which is still a challenging concept for many other countries. The Indian economy has strengthened due to the ease of doing business and the rapid growth of the unorganised sector and MSMEs. According to last year’s government initiative, 39,000 unnecessary compliances were removed, along with several legislative reforms. The Union Budget 2023 promotes a technology- and knowledge driven economy. The budget is based on the seven principles, which emphasise inclusive development, reaching the last line, youth power, the financial sector, infrastructural investment, unleashing the potential, and green growth. The development model implemented under our honourable Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi’s visionary leadership has been an exemplary development model. This model reflects the vision of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikash, and Sabka Prayas, which is why this green initiative and new innovations have been taken into account. The government is working on our culture and various spectrums for our country at the same time, such as the new Vishwakarma Kaushal Yojna, contributing for strengthening women’s self-help groups and creating a single district for product promotion. These are several unique ideas introduced by the government that will help the country fulfil its necessary requirements in the development spectrum.”

Speaking about the session, the Director General, of ICC, Dr. Rajeev Singh, said,” Our honourable chief guest has been working to solve relevant environmental issues by taking full authority, starting from the ground level. The green initiative as discussed in the budget has shown us a clear path to work on reducing carbon emissions and climate change that would eventually lead to sustainable development for our country.”

Commenting on the theme of the session, President, ICC and MD & Group CEO Tega Industries Ltd, Mr Mehul Mohanka, said, “As we all know, the effects of climate change are no longer a prediction of the future but today’s reality, as we have been affected by droughts, frequent cyclones, and prolonged heat waves, among others. Climate change has been a major topic of discussion and action not only in our country but throughout the G20 summit. The budget prioritised energy transition and climate action. To that end, India has taken some noteworthy initiatives. Green growth was recorded as one of the Saptarshi which reflects the government’s commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2030 and aligned climate growth.”

While delivering the Vote of Thanks, Director, M/s Encore Natural Polymer Pvt Ltd, Mr. Sudhir A. Merchant, said, “I would like to appreciate the government’s initiative to go green as this would have a meaningful impact on the growth of our country across the world. We all must give our inputs to make this initiative successful.”

Goa, 20th February 2023: DoubleTree Hilton Goa – Panaji is pleased to announce Tapajit Bhattacharjee as the new F&B Manager. In his new role, Tapajit brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise from his yesteryear experiences both in India and abroad.

Having risen the ranks from being a restaurant server to leading a team, Tapajit has engaged with numerous hospitality brands in his rewarding career. In his last assignment, he was overseeing of a heritage property offering bespoke hospitality. Having worked in Goa in the past, he is well aware of the market dynamics of this populace state, which is renowned for its concept restaurants and bars. Double Tree by Hilton Goa, Panaji is well poised to offer Tapajit a rewarding career with its diverse restaurants and banquet ensemble.

Mr. Amar Deo Singh, Head Advisory, Angel One Ltd 

The income tax slabs and deductions in the Union Budget are often followed with curiosity and excitement by most employed individuals around the country. An individual’s tax planning depends heavily on the concessions and deductions offered by the government through regulations of the Income Tax Act 1961. With the FM’s announcement of making the new tax regime the default option from AY 2024-25, taxpayers must be well-acquainted with the salient features of the new regulations.

Changes in Basic Exemption Limits and Surcharges

Under the new regime, the basic tax exemption limit has exceeded Rs. 2.5 lakhs to Rs. 3 lakhs. In addition, a tax rebate has been introduced for income up to Rs. 7 lakhs (annually). The standard deduction of Rs. 50000 has also been extended in the new regime.

The highest surcharge rate of 37% has been reduced to 25%, which impacts taxpayers having an income of more than Rs. 5 crores. The implication is that the effective tax rate shall decrease to 39% from 42.74%.

Exemptions and deductions disallowed under the New Regime

However, a few tax planning tools that have been conventionally used to reduce tax liability under the old regime are no longer included in the new regulations. These tools include standard deduction under Section 80TTA/80TTB, Leave Travel Concession, House Rent Allowance, Children’s Education Allowance, Special Allowances under section 10(14) of the Act, and most importantly, Chapter VI-A deduction (Section 80C, 80D, 80E and so on, except Section 80CCD (2) and Section 80JJAA).

In addition, interest on housing loans on the self-occupied or vacant property (Section 24) and any deductions on facilities and perquisites have been discontinued under the new regime.

Additional Exemptions and Deductions Available

A few additional exemptions and deductions were introduced under the new regime, which were not available in the older regulations. It includes transport allowance for specially-abled individuals, conveyance allowance, compensation on the cost of travel during transfer or tours, employer’s contribution to NPS account (Section 80CCD(2)), additional employee cost (Section 80JJA), and standard deduction (of Rs. 50000 discussed before).

Furthermore, the budget also introduced deductions under Section 57(iia) as expenses towards family pension income. The new regime also has made arrangements for deductions under Agniveer Corpus Fund under Section 80CCH(2).

Comparison between the two regimes

The two regimes differ, depending on the tax planning tools a taxpayer uses to choose between the two alternatives. It is critical to consider the total taxable income and whether the taxpayer has deductions under Section 80C, 80D, HRA exemptions/housing loan, where one would prefer the older regime. On the other hand, if the taxpayer does not have such investments and still wishes to reduce the tax liability, the new tax regime can be chosen as the maximum amount not chargeable to tax is higher than the old regime.

By choosing the new tax regime, the individual would find investments in traditional insurance policies or pension plans less attractive as the tax benefits would no longer be available. On the other hand, it would be possible to be self-reliant in terms of using savings and making investment decisions on one’s end.

Summing up

A taxpayer must consider the expected income, investments, housing loans, and other deductions at the start of the financial year. Based on the assessments, either of the two regimes can be chosen. The new tax regime works well for individuals who do not want to invest money in low-yielding options such as life insurance and pension schemes. Taxpayers who manage their investments well through the stock market or other alternative investments can still reduce their total tax liability by choosing the new tax regime.

The Celebrity Cricket League 2023 is Reloaded had a scintillating performance by Telugu Warriors who won a keenly contested match with Kerala Strikers and won by 64 runs in Match 3. Telugu Warriors dominated the game right from start. Telugu Warriors scored 148 runs for the loss of 2 wickets in their 1st innings, chasing which, Kerala Strikers scored 98 runs for 5 wickets conceding a lead of 50 runs. Telugu Warriors in their second innings scored 119 runs for 4 wickets setting a target of 170 runs, chasing which Kerala Strikers fell short by 64 runs. The game was entertaining and showcased some amazing performances from both teams.

Match 3: Kerala Strikers Vs Telugu Warriors

Toss: Kerala Strikers won the toss and elected to Field

Tollywood Superstar Venkatesh was present at the game to cheer the Telugu Warriors along with the team and other actresses and influencers adding to the Glamour.

Highlights:

1st Innings Telugu Warriors: Telugu Warriors scored 148 Runs for 2 wickets in the allotted 10 Overs

Captain Akhil Akkineni top scored with 85 Runs in 45 balls with 9 sixes and 5 boundaries, along with his opening partner Prince adding 45 runs for 131 runs opening partnership.

In reply:

1st Innings Kerala Strikers: Kerala Strikers scored 98 Runs for 5 wickets in the allotted 10 Overs conceding a lead of 50 Runs to Telugu Warriors. Wicket Keeper, Rajeev Pillai top scored with 38 runs. Prince from Telugu Warriors was the standout bowler claiming 4 wickets for 18 runs in the allotted 2 overs.

In the 2nd Innings

2nd Innings Telugu Warriors: Telugu Warriors scored 119 Runs for 4 wickets in the allotted 10 Overs setting a Target of 170 runs to win for Kerala Strikers. Captain Akhil top scored with 65 runs from 19 balls.

In reply: Requiring 170 Runs to win

2nd Innings Karnataka Strikers: Karnataka Strikers played a fighting inning scoring 105 runs for 6 wickets in their allotted 10 overs. Rajeev Pillai top scored with 38 runs. Thaman from Telugu Warriors took 3 wickets for 12 runs in his allotted 2 overs.

Result: Winners: Telugu Warriors beat Karnataka Strikers by 64 runs.

Man of the match: Akhil Akkineni (Telugu Warriors).

The league has Parle as the Title Sponsor for CCL 2023 and A23 – a skill-based gaming platform- as this season’s Presenting Sponsor.

According to Mr. Vishnu Vardhan Induri, Founder & Managing Director of Celebrity Cricket League, “We are delighted to bring back the Reimagined, Refreshed, and Reloaded edition of Celebrity Cricket League 2023. This season offers More Cricket, More Celebrities, and More Fun for the visitors with the new format of a T20 with 2 innings of 10 overs per team. We are excited at the response to the first 2 games and look forward to more excitement in the rest of the games.”

Actor-producer Riteish Deshmukh is leading Mumbai Heroes, Punjab De Sher captain is actor Sonu Sood, Bhojpuri Dabanggs has actor Manoj Tiwari as their captain, actor Jisshu Sengupta is leading Bengal Tigers, Karnataka Bulldozers will be led by actor Kiccha Sudeep, Telugu Warriors is headed by actor Akhil Akkineni, Kerala Strikers has actor Kunchacko Boban as their captain and actor Aarya is captain of Chennai Rhinos.

The matches will be telecasted live and exclusively across the ZEE TV network on 6 different channels.

All 19 Games of CCL are to be telecasted on Zee Anmol Cinema, 4 League Matches of the home team, and 2 Semis + 1 Final in their respective Regional language Commentary. Matches of Mumbai Heroes will be telecasted on & Pictures Hindi, PTC Punjab will telecast matches of Punjab De Sher, Zee Cinemalu, Zee Thirai, Zee Pichar, Zee Biskope, Zee Bangla will telecast matches of Telugu Warriors, Chennai Rhinos, Karnataka Bulldozers, Bhojpuri Dabanggs, Bengal Tigers and matches of Kerala Strikers will be telecasted on Flowers TV.

CCL 2023 is all set to thrill cricket and movie fans alike in its new season – Reimagined, Refreshing, and Reloaded!

Fasten your seatbelts for more Fun!!

To plan your next 4 weekends refer to the match schedule enclosed herewith. The next matches are at Jaipur on the 25th & 26th of February 2023.