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Gurugram, February 25, 2024 – Shri Ram Global School, Sector 70, witnessed a momentous occasion today with the grand inauguration ceremony graced by the presence of the Honorable Governor of Haryana, Shri Bandaru Dattatreya Ji. The event marked official opening of the school and was celebrated with great enthusiasm by the school community. High Commissioner, Uganda to India, H.E. Prof. Joice Kikafunda’s graced the inaugural event as Guest.

The ceremony featured a vibrant cultural program showcasing the talents of the school’s students. The program included traditional dances, music performances, and skits, all of which received warm applause from the audience.

Following the program, there was an annual get-together organized for the school community, providing an opportunity for students, parents, and teachers to interact and celebrate the special occasion.

The ceremony commenced with a traditional welcome, followed by an address by the school director, Smt. Abha Kumar, In her speech, Smt. Kumar expressed her gratitude to the Governor for his presence and highlighted the school’s commitment to providing quality education to students in Gurugram and nearby regions. “We are honored to have Shri Bandaru Dattatreya Ji inaugurate our school. His presence is a testament to the importance of education and inspires us to strive for excellence in everything we do.”

She further stated, “Today, we are pleased to join hands with the Sri Ram Global School which will be ICSE K-12 School. The Sri Ram Group has a legacy of Sri Ram College of Commerce and Lady Sri Ram, two of the finest institutes of India. We thrive to promote excellence through determination and hard work. The school will have state-of-the-art facilities with a temperature-controlled swimming pool, squash court, indoor badminton court, and cricket pitch. The ambitious target will help students to grow holistically.”

Shri Bandaru Dattatreya, Hon’ble Governor, Haryana, in his address, lauded the initiative of Shri Ram Global School and emphasized the crucial role of education in shaping the future of the nation. He said, “I truly appreciate the cultural program by the students. Education is the foundation of a strong and prosperous society. And Hindi language plays a pivotal role in our development as it is our mother tongue. Though we understand the importance of English but we shall also strive to learn Hindi as Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has made Hindi a crucial aspect of our New Education Policy.”

He further stated, “The education we impart today in our children will be etched for long in managing our relationship and family. It impacts our lives. I am confident that Shri Ram Global School will provide its students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in life.”

Shri Jitender Seghal, Chairman, Shri Ram Global School, Sector 70, Gurgaon, said, “We are committed to providing our students with a holistic education that nurtures their intellectual, social, and emotional development. We believe that every child has the potential to excel, and we are here to support them on their journey.”

Shri Jitender Seghal, Chairman, Shri Ram Global School proposed the Vote of Thanks. The inauguration of Shri Ram Global School marks a significant milestone in the educational landscape of Gurgaon. The students enacted Ramayan on this occasion. With the blessings of the Governor and the dedication of its team, the school is poised to make a valuable contribution to the future of its students and the community.

Bangalore, Feb 24: Vizzhy CEO, Dr. Vishnuvardhan, has announced the establishment of the world’s first Multiomics Lab in Bangalore, marking a significant leap in healthcare innovation. The announcement came during the soft launch event of the Vizzhy Multiomics platform, showcasing a pioneering approach to understanding and treating metabolic disorders.

In his address, Dr. Vishnuvardhan highlighted the transformative potential of multiomics technology in deciphering the complexities of metabolic diseases. By integrating cutting-edge advancements and collaborations with esteemed institutions like the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), Vizzhy aims to revolutionize healthcare delivery.

The Vizzhy Multiomics platform promises a paradigm shift in healthcare management, offering precise insights into individual metabolic profiles. Utilizing state-of-the-art equipment and Health AI technology, the lab will empower physicians to identify root causes and provide tailored recommendations for patients.

Moreover, the integration of AI-driven solutions, including digital signatures, will enhance medical decision-making and streamline health record management. Through the “Vizzhy GPT” platform, users can access comprehensive health summaries in multiple languages, facilitating informed healthcare interventions.

The initiative has garnered praise from UIUC, with President Timothy Laurence Killeen commending Vizzhy’s commitment to advancing healthcare through multiomics. Prof. Narendra Ahuja also lauded the potential of this groundbreaking technology in shaping the future of medicine.

The presence of a distinguished delegation from UIUC underscores the global significance of Vizzhy’s initiative, heralding a new era of healthcare innovation.

24th February 2024, India – Bihar Start-up Fund Trust, Department of Industries, Government of Bihar, and SIDBI entered an MOU today in Patna to administer the `50 Crore Bihar Startup Scale-up Financing Fund (BSSFF). Department of Industries, Government of Bihar, Shri Pankaj Dixit, IAS, Director Industries, and Shri Arijit Dutt, General Manager, representing SIDBI formally signed the agreement. This strategic initiative is aimed at transforming the state into a startup hub, creating a conducive environment for startups to flourish economically while focussing on innovation to solve complex problems of the Indian economy and society.

Bihar Start-Up Fund Trust (“BSFT”) is a nodal agency constituted by the Department of Industries, Government of Bihar for implementation of the Bihar Start-Up Policy of the Government of Bihar. The Policy aims to foster entrepreneurship and promote innovation by creating an ecosystem that is conducive for the growth of start-ups in the state. Under the Policy, the Government of Bihar has set up the Bihar Start-Up Fund Trust with an initial Corpus of ` 500 Crores. Out of this fund, the Bihar Startup Scale-up Financing Fund (BSSFF) has been established with an initial corpus of `50 Crores for scale-up funding support to startups. The Fund, to be managed by SIDBI, shall be in the form of a Fund of Funds. In this model, the fund shall not invest directly into start-up companies, instead, it shall contribute to the corpus of SEBI-registered Alternative Investment Funds, which in turn shall invest in startups.

Since, its formation in 1990, when the risk capital and VC ecosystem for innovative enterprises and startups was nearly non-existent in the country, SIDBI has been impacting the lives of citizens across various strata of the society through its integrated, innovative, and inclusive approach. Over the last 3 decades, SIDBI has taken several pioneering steps to support the building up of a startup ecosystem including support out of its own balance sheet. SIDBI supported the setting up of several schemes on its own before emerging as a key partner of the Government of India and several State Governments for managing their vision in Startup space through Fund of Funds interventions. Apart from FFS, it also manages the ASPIRE Fund of Funds of the Ministry of MSME with a focus on Agro and Rural enterprises, and state focussed Fund of Funds for Uttar Pradesh & Odisha and now Bihar.

Hyderabad, February 23, 2024: Global pharma major Lupin Limited (Lupin) today announced its debut in the esteemed S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook 2024, underscoring its dedication to corporate sustainability. With a notable Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA) score of 69/100, Lupin joins the ranks of leading companies recognized for their exemplary environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices.

The S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook 2024, a benchmark for corporate sustainability performance, evaluated over 9400 companies worldwide, with only 739 earning inclusion. Lupin’s exceptional performance places it within the top 95 percentile for the pharmaceutical sector, showcasing its unwavering commitment to sustainable business practices.

Commenting on this achievement, Ramesh Swaminathan, Executive Director, Global CFO and Head – Corporate Affairs, Lupin said, “Lupin’s inclusion in the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook 2024 underscores our firm commitment to advancing sustainable practices within the pharmaceutical industry. This recognition reaffirms our dedication to creating long-term value for all stakeholders while fostering a healthier, more sustainable future for generations to come.”

Lupin remains steadfast in its mission to prioritize sustainability, drive positive change, and make a meaningful difference in the world.

February 23, 2024; Mumbai, India:

Market Research Society of India (MRSI) instituted the Golden Key Awards in 2019 to recognize the contribution of insights for the growth of India’s market research and insights industry. Among the many categories, MRSI each year also recognises the industry’s veterans for their significant contribution. MRSI’s Golden Key Awards 2023 honoured Partha Rakshit and Pranesh Mishra, two of India’s most notable personalities from across the research and insights industry for the Lifetime Achievement Award.

One of India’s most respected market research professionals, Partha Rakshit has over five decades of experience. He currently serves on the Board of the NorthPoint Centre of Learning, wherein he guides their Marketing Research, Media and Analytics programs. Rakshit last served as the Managing Director South Asia at Nielsen, from where he retired in 2010.

Among his many achievements, Rakshit was a key member in the committee that worked on formulating and establishing SEC variables in India. He served as MRSI’s President from 1992-94. He was a founding member of the National Readership Survey Council. He served as a Member of the Board of Governors of the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) during 1996 to 2016 and its President from 2013-2014. Rakshit was recognized for a new method for election forecasts in India which enabled the adoption of much lower sample sizes. Rakshit holds a Master’s degree in Management from the Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai.

Pranesh Mishra, the second awardee, is the Chairman and Managing Director at global marketing analytics and insight consulting company Brandscapes Worldwide which he founded in 2008. His 40 plus years’ experience covers strategic leadership roles in marketing, brand development, advertising, and consumer insights across several consumer products and services.

Prior to Brandscapes Worldwide, Mishra was associated with Lowe & Partners, MashreqBank, Pathfinders, among other organizations. Moreover, he led brand and communications strategy development for Fortune 500 brands including Unilever, Visa, Coca-Cola, Johnson & Johnson, and HSBC. A Physics graduate from Delhi University and an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, Mishra is a passionate student of human insights.

The Market Research Society of India extend their gratitude to both Partha Rakshit and Pranesh Mishra for their valuable contribution to the Indian and global research and insights sector.

Paris, February 23, 2024

• Finalization of a shared investment plan for the construction of a first end-of-life tire recycling plant in Uddevalla, Sweden.

• The project will be based on Enviro’s unique pyrolysis technology with the ability to extract raw materials from multi-component products.

• The joint venture has secured a series of multi-year contracts for the supply of used tires and the upcycling of recovered carbon black and pyrolysis oil. This first plant will have capacity to recycle approx. 35,000 tons of used tires annually and to create up to 40 green jobs in the local community.

This joint venture announces the final investment decision for the construction of its first used tire recycling plant. Antin and Enviro entered into the joint venture in March of 2023 to build a series of plants in chosen European geographies.

Antin is a majority shareholder of the JV, Michelin a minority shareholder and Enviro has an option to become a significant minority shareholder.

The first factory, based in Uddevalla, Sweden, has obtained all the necessary environmental and building permits and authorizations. Construction has already begun, and the plant is expected to be operational during 2025.

With an initial aim to process approx. 35,000 tons of used tires annually, the plant should create up to 40 green jobs in the local community during its first phase.

Multi-year supply contracts

In addition to obtaining financing for the construction of the industrial plant, the joint venture signed a series of multi-year contracts regarding the supply of end-of-life-cycle tires as well as recovered carbon black and pyrolysis oil.

In this context, Michelin continues its approach of proactively supporting the development of used tire recycling ecosystems and is committed to collaborating on the future developments of this joint venture. As an example, Michelin has signed a multi-year supply agreement regarding carbon black and pyrolysis oil.

One million tons

As previously announced, the joint venture plans on building factories throughout Europe targeting a total annual recycling capacity of one million tons of used tires. Once the Uddevalla plant begins operating, the joint venture will undertake the construction of additional factories in other European countries in order to ensure a rapid rollout of this technology. Antin and Enviro have already agreed to a financing plan for the construction of these factories.

The volume of tires that reach the end of their life cycle and are then discarded has continued to rise, now annually amounting to 3.5 million tons within Europe alone. This joint venture was established to develop used tire recycling throughout Europe, producing sustainable raw materials. Foremost among these materials produced are recovered carbon black and oils that may then be used in the manufacturing tires and in the petrochemical industry. By replacing virgin carbon black with the joint venture’s recovered material, it is possible to reduce the emissions arising from the use of conventional carbon black by more than 90%.

“Michelin has strongly supported the creation of this joint venture between Enviro and Antin. The undertaking began in 2020 when Michelin became a shareholder in Enviro to support the maturation of this technology. Today, we are moving on to a new step with the finalization of the investment for the construction of this first factory in Sweden. The launch of this ambitious industrial program, which is expected to be developed on a European scale, perfectly echoes the strategic objectives of the Michelin Group to reach 100% renewable and recycled materials by 2050, reducing the overall environmental impact of its tires,” states Maude Portigliatti, High-tech Materials Business Director – Member of the Michelin Group Executive Committee.

Delhi, brace yourselves for an uproarious night of laughter! The legendary Russell Peters brings his world-famous “Act Your Age” Tour to your city on February 28th, courtesy of Zomato Live. Get ready to laugh your head off as his razor-sharp wit and laugh-out-loud humor take center stage. From Chicago to New York, Dubai to Canada, the tour has captivated audiences across 23 countries and left laughter echoing in every corner of the world.

Now, it’s Delhi’s turn to experience the comedic genius of Russell Peters live! Don’t miss your chance to witness this side-splitting rollercoaster ride of relatable humor that will leave you yearning for more.

Join us at this special, as Russell shares his unique take on parenting, marriage, cancel culture, ageing, Gen Z, anxiety, and much more. PS, if you didn’t already know, he too is a desi at heart! Watch out for the nuances that will definitely hit home! With the tickets selling like hotcakes, don’t let procrastination hold you back from THE comedy extravaganza of the season. So, hurry! Grab your tickets now and get ready to laugh till you drop with Russell Peters’ ‘Act Your Age’ Tour – Delhi edition! See you there!

When: February 28, 2024; 5:30 PM onwards

Where: Yashobhoomi (India International Convention & Expo Centre), Dwarka

Pune, February 23, 2024: Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Company, one of India’s leading private life insurers, continues to enhance its business parameters through its transformative journey. The 9MFY2024 results showcase its outstanding performance vis-à-vis the other private players in the Indian life insurance industry.

Individual Rated New Business (IRNB) of the Company for 9MFY2024 grew by 24% as compared to the corresponding period last year. This was nearly three times the growth showcased by industry average. Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance three year (FY 2020 to FY 2023) of Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) 39% in Individual Rated New Business (IRNB) further reaffirms the strong growth path of the private life insurer. The Company’s GWP stood at INR 14,860 Crores for 9M FY24, on the back of strong growth in individual business and renewal premium received, as compared to INR 13,028 Crores over the same period last year.

Strong focus on enhancing renewal payment processes through initiatives such as driving auto-payment registration, digital payments, etc. have led to consistent persistency across most cohorts. As of 31st December, 2023 persistency stood at 83% for 13th month, 65% for 37th month and 51% for 61st month. The Company also registered a strong growth in renewal premium of 31% in 9M FY24; supported by various initiatives to improve persistency. Additionally New Business Value (NBV) grew by 9% from INR 535 Crores for 9M FY23 to INR 581 Crores for 9M FY24 due to strong IRNB Growth and focus on a diverse product mix.

Key Business Highlights of Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance for 9MFY2024

· PAT (Profits after tax) for 9M FY24 is at INR 457 Crores as compared to INR 364 Crores in 9M FY23, recording a 26% growth

· Registered a strong growth of 31% in renewal premium

· Registered the highest growth in the Number of Policies (NOP) among top 10 private life insurance companies with 4.92 lakh policies being written in this period

· Assets under Management crossed the Rupees One Lakh Crore milestone in this period and stood at INR 1,04,737 crores as of December 31, 2023

· Achieved 24% growth in Individual Rated New Business with INR 3,996 crores in 9M FY24 vis-à-vis INR 3,222 crores in 9M FY23

· The Company’s Solvency Ratio stands at an impressive 446% the end of December, 2023 underlining its strong financial stability and ability to meet its obligations

· As on 31st December 2023, the Company covered over 4.30 crore lives

· The Company has an extensive distribution network comprising of 511 branches, over 1,42,000 agents, and 82 institutional partners

Bajaj Allianz Life prioritizes customer-centricity, emphasizing fast issuances, diverse product offerings backed by cutting-edge technology. Customers have responded positively to the existing product bouquet and new introductions, including Bajaj Allianz Life Ace (Par), Bajaj Allianz Life Magnum Fortune Plus (ULIP), Bajaj Allianz Life Assured Wealth Goal (Non-Par), Bajaj Allianz Life Guaranteed Pension Goal (Annuity), Bajaj Allianz Life – Flexi Income Goal (PAR), and Bajaj Allianz Life Future Wealth Gain. The company’s dedication to innovation is evident in the substantial growth of its product suite and distribution network during FY24.

Bangalore, February 23, 2024: The International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore (IIIT-B) successfully hosted the 17th edition of the Innovations in Software Engineering Conference (ISEC 2024) from 22nd to 24th of February. Formerly known as the India Software Engineering Conference, ISEC is the flagship annual conference of iSOFT, the India chapter of ACM SIGSOFT, under the esteemed umbrella of ACM India.

Prof. Debabrata Das, Director of IIIT-Bangalore, speaking about ISEC 2024, said, “ISEC 2024 has once again showcased the remarkable strides being made in software engineering (SE). To host ISEC is a matter of pride for IIIT-Bangalore. The participation of SE scholars during the conference has shown a great potential to lead to future collaborations and recruitments in the area of software engineering. The primary objective of any research conference is exchange of niche technical knowledge, networking and community building. It is time IIIT-B asserted its position as an important institution which could be a meeting hub for SE researchers and a seat of many great projects in SE and help Indian community to remain as one of the super power in software research and development. I think hosting ISEC is a strong step in that direction.”

Software engineering has always been a hotbed of many hard problems of computer science. These emerged from the challenges of various software development activities like requirement analysis, design, coding, and testing. These problems had been addressed by software engineering researchers using classical computer science techniques for several decades with great success.

As General Chair of ISEC 2024, Prof. Sujit Chakrabarti of IIIT-Bangalore emphasised the significance of ISEC 2024 within the current context. Prof. Sujit stated, “Now, with the emergence of much-talked-about technologies like language models, generative AI, and ML, researchers are trying to address classical SE problems using these emerging methods. Further, software engineering techniques have upped their game to meet the challenges posed by the emerging applications of computing, be it cloud, IoT, ML, LLMs, or cybersecurity. Considering this trend, ISEC 2024 saw a fair spread of these ideas in the papers, workshops, tutorials, talks, panel discussions, and poster presentations. There was a balanced representation from academia and industry, in applied as well as fundamental topics, from faculty members and PhD students.”

Prof. K. V. Raghavan (IISc) and Dr. Raveendra Medicherla (TCS Research) served as the organising co-chairs of ISEC 2024. The conference featured an illustrious lineup of invited speakers who graced the event with their expertise and insights. Prof. Abhik Roychoudhury from the National University of Singapore, Dr. Akash Lal from Microsoft Research and Dr. Alessandra Gorla, from the IMDEA Software Institute, delivered keynote talks.

The success of ISEC 2024 marks IIIT-B’s commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration in software engineering. As the conference drew to a close, participants departed with fresh insights, renewed inspiration, and strengthened connections, poised to drive future advancements in the ever-evolving landscape of software engineering.

Bengaluru, 23 February, 2024: Upskilling cloud platform Nuvepro Technologies has collaborated with Kamaraj College of Engineering & Technology (KCET) to give students hands-on learning experience in the field of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Through this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Nuvepro will also be providing an “AI/ML 5 in a box” solution in collaboration with Intel and AWS.

The training modules have been designed to prepare students for future career roles and to make them Gen AI ready. As part of the comprehensive training program, Nuvepro, in partnership with AWS, will provide faculty and students with training and certification programs in AI and ML on the AWS platform. These training sessions will go beyond practice lab setups and will be in the form of structured training sessions to empower trainers and lecturers.

The unique AI/ML 5 in 1 Box, which is a joint venture between Nuvepro, Intel, and AWS. This will entail curricular support, faculty development, virtual labs amalgamation of Nuvepro’s cloud expertise, AWS’s content, and Intel’s technological prowess. This solid educational framework will be a win-win for both faculty and students at KCET.

Dr. A. Meenakshi, Professor and Head of the Department, Department of CSE, Kamaraj College of Engineering and Technology (Autonomous) said, “Our strategic alliance with Nuvepro signifies a profound commitment to academic excellence. We envision this partnership as a transformative force, where students not only gain cloud management expertise but also acquire invaluable real-world experiences, preparing our students to navigate and excel in the dynamic landscape of AI and ML.” The MoU will also help students secure internships and work-based learning opportunities in real-world cloud management projects.

As part of this MoU, KCET gains access to Nuvepro’s cloud management tools and technologies. This will allow the institution to develop and implement advanced cloud solutions tailored to specific client needs.

Nuvepro’s CEO, Mr. Giridhar L.V., said, “The Department of Computer Science and Engineering at KCET has already taken proactive steps by conducting Faculty Development Programmes and Student Peer Enablement Programmes, ensuring a smooth integration of Nuvepro’s cloud offerings into their academic framework. This partnership exemplifies Nuvepro’s commitment to fostering education, innovation, and industry collaboration, further solidifying its position as a leader in cloud management services.’’