Category news

New Delhi, 7 February 2024: University of Essex, UK-based and ranked 18th in the UK for Economics by QS World University Rankings 2023 is excited to announce its first-ever Graduation Day ceremony for its students in India, offering a memorable experience to graduates and their families in the region. The prestigious ceremony will be held in New Delhi on Sunday 18 February 2024. This momentous occasion coincides with the university’s celebration of its 60th anniversary, which signifies six decades of scholarly distinction, ground-breaking advancements, and worldwide influence.

The ceremony aims to create an inclusive and culturally enriching experience for graduates, celebrating their academic accomplishments within the vibrant tapestry of Indian traditions. The celebration in India underscores the University’s dedication to providing a global education experience and fostering strong connections with its diverse student body.

Professor Anthony Forster, Vice-Chancellor, University of Essex said, “As we mark the 60th anniversary of the University of Essex, we are thrilled to be hosting our first Graduation Day in India to celebrate our impact, champion our alumni and highlight the positive change our community creates around the world.

This momentous occasion reflects our commitment to providing a truly global education experience and recognizing the outstanding achievements of our Indian graduates on an international stage.

The ceremony in India is a celebration of academic success and also a testament to the diverse and inclusive community that is at the heart of our university. We are immensely proud of our Indian graduates and growing alumni community and look forward to watching their continued success.”

The ceremony will feature special speeches to recognize outstanding achievements, contributions, and resilience demonstrated by the graduating class. Prominent alumni and distinguished guest speakers will be present to inspire and impart wisdom to the graduating class. Furthermore, the ceremony will be graced with four outstanding Essex graduates from India who will be honoured with Vice-Chancellor Awards.

The Graduation is open to all recent graduates plus soon-to-graduate students and alumni. It is designed to be a special opportunity for alumni to graduate in their home country with friends and family by their side while also celebrating everything they have achieved since completing their studies at Essex.

Bangalore, February 7, 2024: Tata Digital Private Limited, a subsidiary of Tata Sons Private Limited, is pleased to announce appointment of Mr. Naveen Tahilyani as new Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director for the Company.

Mr. Naveen Tahilyani is currently the CEO and Managing Director of Tata AIA Life Insurance Company Limited. He comes with a strong understanding of Indian consumer landscape and an extensive experience in the financial services sector. He has a proven track record of driving innovation, fostering collaboration, and achieving operational excellence.

Naveen has a Bachelor of Technology degree in Electronics and Communication from IIT Madras and a Postgraduate diploma in Business Management from Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.

Naveen succeeds Mr. Pratik Pal who has served Tata Digital with dedication since its inception. Under Pratik’s leadership, Tata Digital achieved significant milestones including launch of the Tata Neu app, and the foundation he helped to lay will continue to shape the company’s future success.

Given Pratik’s background and strong contribution to Tata Digital, he will continue in Tata Digital to ensure continuity and contribute with his wealth of experience to the organization.

Mr. N. Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Tata Sons, said: “Pratik has been successfully leading the Company since its inception and led Tata Group’s foray into digital commerce. I would like to thank Pratik for his significant contribution to Tata Digital.”

He further added “I am delighted to welcome Naveen to Tata Digital. Naveen brings in strong understanding of consumer domain and a very successful track record of leadership. I wish Naveen success in his new role.”

Naveen will take up new role effective February 19, 2024.

The women’s wing of FICCI, Ficci Ladies Organization Ahmedabad, conducts a two-day delegation of 55 women, program designed,curated and led by the Chairperson Aditi Parekh to New Delhi on February 7th and 8th, 2024.

FLO Ahmedabad Committee has orchestrated a meaningful retreat to New Delhi, emphasizing empowerment, collaboration, and dialogue among its members. Activities likely encompassed discussions on women’s leadership, networking opportunities, and engagements with influential figures to advance the goals of the organization. The retreat aimed to provide a platform for shared insights, fostering unity and promoting women’s initiatives.

“Growing up in the national capital of Delhi amidst a bureaucratic & political environment, chose to empower & educate women through her lens for an enriching experience. According to Aditi Parekh, Chairperson of FLO Ahmedabad, “This initiative mirrors FLO’s steadfast dedication to broaden the horizon for women, explore opportunities with unlimited possibilities & beyond boundaries.

The delegation entails a visit to the old & new Parliament, an engaging conversation with a prominent, high ranking govt. official, a heritage walk led by Chandrasekhar Tampi, an exclusive session and exchange with notable figures, an afternoon with Chanel India head & Sanjay Garg from Raw Mango, and an enticing melodious sundowner at Olive Bar & Kitchen featuring the talented Vidya Shah taking the members back to the Mirza-Ghalib era.

7th Feb 2024, New Delhi: The Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC) applauds the visionary Budget 2024, presented by the Honourable mic course for Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, under the esteemed leadership of our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji. This budget sets a dynaViksit Bharat, focusing on pivotal growth factors—Capability, Empowerment, Infrastructure, Anusandhan, and Social Justice.

SEPC commends the government’s commitment to strengthening service sectors, including tourism, energy, healthcare, logistics, and aviation. This step will help in further strengthening the India services sector. The emphasis on state-centric tourism models and financial support through interest-free loans for state branding initiatives is anticipated to boost domestic and foreign tourist footfall significantly.

In a revolutionary step, the budget uniquely addressed the aspirations of Amrit Peedhi, recognising the pivotal role of the youth in our nation’s prosperity. Initiatives such as Fund of Funds, Startup India, and Start-Up Credit Guarantee Schemes play a crucial role in nurturing India’s thriving Start-Up ecosystem.

“We are in support of the budget and look forward to working with the government to realise these goals. Srimati Nirmala Sitharaman, the Honourable Union Finance Minister, outlined a comprehensive plan for the dynamic future of Viksit Bharat, emphasising capabilities, empowering citizens, and bolstering key service sectors which do the need of the hour. The initiatives supporting Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to grow globally resonate well within the services sector”, shared Karan Rathore, Chairman SEPC.

“In the past few years we have been actively working to globally promote the various services sectors of India. Business meets, exhibitions, FTAs etc, have been instrumental in helping India services get a seat at the global table. We are glad that the budget also outlined measures to enhance FDI inflow, ongoing negotiations of Bilateral Investment Treaties, and streamlined customs procedures for international trade. This reflects positive strides toward India’s development as a global player”, shared Dr Abhay Sinha, Director General, SEPC.

SEPC commends and supports the government’s focus on technology across sectors and increased allocation for infrastructure development with a technological approach are welcomed gestures.

They look forward to the transformative impact of this budget on the services sector, ushering in a new era of growth and opportunities for Viksit Bharat.

Ahmedabad, 7 February 2024: Popular business reality show Shark Tank featured founders from Gujarat, Adil Qadri, founder of Adil Qadri – House of Premium Fragrances and Ananya Maloo, Co-Founder of Nuutjob will meet dozens of startup founders from the state to share strategies around brand development, scalability, and marketing insights at D2C Unlocked in Ahmedabad, organised by Checkout Network Simpl. Titled ‘Aapnu Amdavad’, the event will witness a panel discussion followed by a networking event where startups can engage with the Shark Tank featured founders and other panelists and gain rich insights about their entrepreneurial journey.

The two founders will also share their experiences from the popular business reality show Shark Tank and how startups can aspire to participate in such events to boost their brand. While Adil Qadri secured a Rs 1 crore investment from Sugar Cosmetics CEO Vineeta Singh, Nuutjob co-founder Ananya Maloo, a male intimate hygiene and grooming brand, raised a total of Rs 25 lakhs from Lenskart founder Piyush Bansal, Emcure Pharmaceuticals Executive Director Namita Thapar and Boat founder Aman Gupta.

Joining them will be Jigar Patel, Co-Founder and CEO of Brillare Science, and Tanisha Lakhani, Founder, and CEO of Protouch. The panel will delve into topics such as innovative marketing strategies, overcoming challenges in product development, and the evolving trends shaping the D2C sector.

Commenting on the development, Nitya Sharma, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Simpl, said, “It is important for startups to network with fellow founders to learn from each other’s experiences and fast track their growth journey. Adil and Ananya have successfully built their brands and taken them to the national stage. Their experiences will be valuable for D2C founders from the state and we are happy to organise our popular D2C Unlocked for the second time in Gujarat. We are seeing immense excitement for the event and are looking to connect with as many founders from the state as possible to widen our community.

Gujarat is one of the fastest-growing startup ecosystems in the country and has assisted more than 12,900 startups and supported more than 180 incubators across the state with financial support of more than Rs 210 core. It has also established more than 100 Patent Information centers in various academic institutions and more than 900 patents have been filed with support from State Government.

 Mumbai | 07 February 2024

 On the occasion of India Energy Week 2024, ONGC signed a Cooperation Agreement with TotalEnergies to carry out methane emissions detection and measurement campaigns using TotalEnergies’ pioneer AUSEA (Airborne Ultralight Spectrometer for Environmental Applications) technology.

 The Cooperation Agreement was signed by Country Chair of TotalEnergies in India Dr. Sangkaran Ratnam, and ONGC Director (Exploration) Sushma Rawat on 6 February 2024.

 ONGC has been inviting international technology partners to help reduce its methane emissions in India by 2030, while TotalEnergies has decided to share its AUSEA technology in an effort to pivot the whole industry towards zero methane emissions by 2030. Both companies are party to the Oil and Gas Decarbonization Charter (OGDC), global industry initiative launched at COP28. ONGC joins a growing list of national companies who have signed cooperation agreements with TotalEnergies for the use of AUSEA including Petrobras in Brazil, SOCAR in Azerbaijan, Sonangol in Angola and NNPCL in Nigeria.

One-of-a-kind technology by TotalEnergies, the AUSEA gas analyzer is mounted on a drone, and was developed by TotalEnergies and its R&D partners. Consisting of a dual sensor capable of detecting methane and carbon dioxide emissions, AUSEA identifies their source at the same time. This technology marks a step change in methane emissions detection and measurement compared to traditional techniques. By allowing access to hard-to-reach emission points, on all types of industrial facilities, both offshore and offshore, AUSEA is reputed as one of the most accurate technologies in the industry.

 “Our industry’s priority in the fight against climate change is to slash methane emissions from operations. Aiming for zero methane emissions by 2030 is our collective ambition as signatories of the OGDC at COP28. We are pleased to collaborate and make our AUSEA technology available to ONGC, in India, to detect, measure and eventually reduce methane emissions on their own assets”, said the Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies Patrick Pouyanné.

 Commenting on the pact, ONGC Chairman and CEO Arun Kumar Singh said “In line with our collective ambitions as signatories of the OGDC at COP28, ONGC is scouting for new technologies to reduce its methane emissions by 50 % by 2027 and by 80% in 2030 compared to 2020. The introduction of the AUSEA technology will further strengthen our efforts to achieve zero methane emissions by 2038.”

 TotalEnergies, a pioneer in slashing down methane emissions. After halving its methane emissions from its operated sites between 2010 and 2020, TotalEnergies set ambitious targets to step up its efforts and reduce methane emissions by a further 50% by 2025 – with the ambition to reach this target a year early, in 2024 – and by 80% in 2030, compared to 2020.

 TotalEnergies is also committed to promoting the United Nations Oil and Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP 2.0) framework with other national and international oil companies. The Company has now held the OGMP Gold standard status for the three years in a row.

Kolkata, 7 Feb.: Birla Corporation Limited reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 109 crore for the December quarter, up 87% sequentially, as the Company managed to ramp up sales and scale back operating expenses. The Company’s EBITDA for the December quarter at Rs 395 crore and cash profit at Rs 298 crore represent a year-on-year growth of 160% and 359%, respectively.

 Total cost per ton of cement production for the December quarter at Rs 4,375 represents a decline of 8% year-on-year and 3% sequentially. With several internal cost optimization measures starting to deliver results, Birla Corporation is now among the most efficient cement manufacturers in the country in terms of production cost. The Company’s operating profit margin from cement for the December quarter was 17% and for the nine-month period, 13%.

  In the March quarter of the last fiscal year, Birla Corporation had launched Project Shikhar, a multi-pronged drive to improve operating efficiency and optimize costs. It has led to various nuts-and-bolts tweaking, and so far resulted in savings of at least Rs 55 per ton in cement production cost for the quarter.

 The Company’s consolidated revenue for the quarter at Rs 2,328 crore represents a 15% growth over last year, as cement dispatches from Mukutban were steadily scaled up and sales of premium products expanded in key markets.

 Mukutban continued its scaling-up journey on track and clocked positive EBITDA through each month of the December quarter. This significantly boosted the Company’s profitability. Beating projections, Mukutban crossed the 200,000-ton mark in sales and dispatches in January 2024 (earlier expected to be achieved in March 2024).

 Commenting on the Company’s performance, the Chairman, Mr Harsh V. Lodha, said: “The results are a reflection of our focus on improving operating efficiency in all parameters. We are firmly focused on reducing costs, improving capacity utilization and realization through a balanced brand portfolio, with equal emphasis on premium and value segments, geo-mix and go-to-market supply chain optimization, and accelerated ramp-up of Mukutban. Having established a strong base across North India, the Company is now ready for the next phase of its journey to become a 30- million-ton player by 2030. At the same time, the Company remains committed to Sustainable Development Goals of increasing share of renewable energy. We have one of the highest share of green and blended cement, which accounts for more than 80% of our cement sales.”

 Cement sales by volume at 4.2 million tons were up 13.2% year-on-year. The Company achieved a capacity utilization of 85% for the quarter compared to 74% a year earlier and 83% in the September quarter.

*for Cement Division only

 The Company has been following a balanced portfolio strategy with equal thrust on the premium and value segments. The share of premium brands now stands at 52%, with almost equal volume of both value and premium brands, and increased 7% year-on-year. The price positioning of Perfect Plus has been systematically improved, to be at par or above the mother brands of leading players. The Company operates at dual price points in the value segment with its heritage brands, Samrat Advance, Samrat and Chetak. Its super premium offering of waterproofing cement Rakshak is steadily gaining share in the niche super-premium category.

 The cement industry witnessed a turnaround from the beginning of 2023 as fuel prices started to climb down following a sharp spike owing to the Russia-Ukraine war.

 Now, into the fourth straight quarter of recovery, Birla Corporation’s power and fuel cost per ton of cement production fell 25.3% from Rs 1,552 in the same period last year to Rs 1,158 in the quarter ended December. It represents a sequential decline of 8.6% from Rs 1,267 in the September quarter, which was achieved through optimum fuel mix, apart from decline in fuel prices.

 Thanks to falling coal prices, the Company stepped up generation from its captive thermal plants at integrated units. The Company’s own thermal  plants supplied 60% of the power consumed by the integrated units compared to 12% in the same period last year. Power generated from Waste Heat Recovery System was up 1% year-on-year. Renewables accounted for 23% of the power consumed by Birla Corporation in the December quarter—almost the same as last year.

 The Cement Division’s raw materials cost per ton for the December quarter was at Rs 557 against Rs 593 in the same period last year, down 6%. Sequentially, it came down 10% from Rs 620 per ton in the September quarter.

 With the implementation of the Integrated Logistics Management System and geo-mix optimization, freight and forwarding costs per ton for the December quarter could be contained at Rs 1,317—almost the same as last year—but increased marginally from Rs 1,228 in the September quarter despite levying of busy season surcharge during the quarter.

 Despite strong demand, cement manufacturers struggled to raise prices. Prices raised in September-October had to be partially rolled back later in the quarter. Sales and realization were impacted by unseasonal heavy rainfall in November in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra. Operations were also disrupted by Assembly elections in November in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

 Outlook:

Demand remained subdued through January and the spurt usually seen in the fourth quarter was largely missing, due to extreme winter and fog across North India. As a result, prices have remained soft and dipped a bit in the last few days.

 Although volumes are expected to pick up in the coming days, the announcement of general elections and the imposition of the Model Code of Conduct may impact demand. Therefore, the Company is taking a cautious view of the fourth quarter.

 Though fuel prices have remained stable, it is feared that the escalating conflict in West Asia and Red Sea could lead to increase in pet coke prices due to higher freight cost.

 Jute Division:

Jute had a difficult quarter due to poor demand for value added goods, both in the domestic and overseas markets. The division reported a cash profit of Rs 1.38 crore in the December quarter against Rs 7.04 crore a year ago. However, the demand and pricing scenario are improving and it is expected that performance in the March quarter is going to be significantly better.

 Birla Corporation Limited is the flagship Company of the MP Birla Group. Incorporated as Birla Jute Manufacturing Company Limited in 1919, it was given shape by Syt MP Birla. The Company has interest in cement and jute goods. Its Birla Jute Mills is the first jute mill started by an Indian entrepreneur. The Company and its subsidiary, RCCPL Pvt Ltd, have 11 cement plants in eight locations across the country, with an annual installed capacity of 20 million tons. The Company produces an array of cement products, under the MP Birla Cement brand, suited to different climatic conditions as well as consumer segments. It also sells construction chemicals and wall putty.

India, 7th February 2024: Prepare yourself for a laughter-packed journey as stand-up comedian Sahil Shah brings his brand-new solo comedy special “Broken” to audiences across India, delivering quick-witted wordplay and observational comedy that will leave you in splits.

Sahil is tired of feeling tired. He doesn’t fit into Gen Z or Gen Y and calls himself ‘Gen Ex-Hausted’ now, and this is what his upcoming standup sets are all about. People who are just done with life. So, join him for an hour of storytelling, unfiltered comedy, silly puns, nonsensical jokes, improvisation, props and the most bizarre thoughts of what exhausted people sound like. Sahil’s multi-city tour kicks off with Pune on February 10th and will make its way to Goa, Chennai, Delhi, Gurugram, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai and wrapping up with Hyderabad. Hurry, and grab your tickets at Paytm and Paytm Insider as they will disappear faster than his punchlines!

Pun master Sahil has a knack for finding humour in the ordinary. In “Broken”, catch him celebrating life’s imperfections, turning an exhausted mind’s struggles into relatable and funny one-liners. Through this show, he looks back at all the true yet hilarious incidents that have led him to this place in his life. His comedy rightly hits the sweet spot between silly and relatable, making it hard for you not to roll with laughter at his exceptional comedic timing.

Varun Khare, Business Head, Paytm Insider, said, “We are happy to host Sahil Shah’s ‘Broken’ India Tour- an ultimate laughter riot. Being a comic for all ages, we truly believe he will leave you in splits with a refreshing blend of inane wordplay, observational comedy, and signature witty expressions. We are eager to kick off this laughter-packed journey where Sahil celebrates the quirks of life by making hilarious digs on the amusing imperfections of being ‘gen-exhausted’. “

Sahil is one of India’s most promising young talents on the comedy circuit who has performed over 900 shows spanning the length and breadth of the country and even abroad like New York, London, Singapore and Dubai. He rose to fame as one of the founding members of the prestigious East India Comedy troupe and is a regular at the Comedy Store. With a childishly crazy sense of humour, the Mumbai-based comedian amusingly lets his inner ‘problem child’ out and has that innate ability to spread joy – which is one thing that the world seriously needs the most right now. His YouTube show, which goes by the name ‘The Ad Show’, has more than a million views!

So, book your spots and laugh away with Sahil as he realizes that he’s far from being whole; he’s clearly very “Broken”!

India Tour Schedule

· Hippie @ Heart Balewadi High Street, Pune – February 10

· LVC Comedy & Music Cafe, Goa – February 11

· Medai – The Stage, Chennai – February 18 – Medai

· Laughter Nation – Hauz Khas Village, Delhi – February 24

· Bailey’s Diner, Gurugram – February 25

· Baroda Productivity Council, Vadodara – March 2

· Prayogshala, Ahmedabad – March 3

· Fandom at Gilly’s Redefined, Bengaluru – March 9

· Sophia Bhabha Auditorium, Mumbai – March 10

· Mindspace Social, Hyderabad – March 24

Mumbai, 7th Feb 2024: Amazon miniTV, Amazon’s free streaming service, has been making waves with its engaging content library. The streaming service offers a wide range of content – from romance to thrillers to inspirational dramas – to meet the streaming requirements of its discerning audiences. Recently, Amazon miniTV released the much-anticipated entrepreneurial drama series Hustlers: Jugaad Ka Khel. With an impressive rating of 8.3 on IMDB, this captivating series follows the life of Sanjay Sharma (played by Vishal Vashishtha), who hails from a small village near Kota and is constantly triggered by comparison and competition at home. The black sheep of his middle-class family, always referred to as “Manoj ka chota bhai”, he makes it to IIE Bombay, which marks a stepping stone in his journey. Through determination and hard work, Sanjay rises to the top and establishes his name in the competitive start-up industry, earning widespread recognition in his hometown.

Sharing tidbits about the entrepreneurial drama series, actor Vishal Vashishtha reveals he wasn’t originally offered the lead role of Sanjay Sharma. He shared, “Although I was roped in for Hustlers, I wasn’t originally going to play Sanjay. It so happened that the team later approached me to essay the role of Sanjay. I was really looking forward to playing the part that I was initially offered because it seemed far from who I was, and brought something new to the table. But when Sanjay was offered to me, I was obviously super excited. After all, he is the protagonist, and the show revolves around him. It was an opportunity I didn’t want to miss.”

Adding to this, Vishal also shared his opinion on the current start-up scenario in the country, saying, “First of all, the fact that people of India have the courage and the vision to venture into the start-up ecosystem is commendable in itself. It’s also wonderful how so many individuals are coming up with their unique contributions to society as well as the nation at large.”

Produced by Rainshine Entertainment and headlined by Vishal Vashishtha, Samir Kochhar, Maharshi Dave, Anjali Barot, and Anurag Arora, Hustlers: Jugaad Ka Khel is streaming exclusively on Amazon miniTV for free, available on Amazon’s shopping app, Fire TV, and Play Store.

Bellary, February 6, 2024: Kotak Mutual Fund conducts its investor education and awareness initiative, ‘Seekho Paiso ki Bhasha’, in partnership with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in Bellary. This initiative is set to pave the way for financial literacy by conducting an extensive series of education and awareness programs aimed at empowering teachers fostering their growth of financial understanding, and ultimately which can help contribute to India’s journey towards a potential progressive future.

The initiative aims to educate and create awareness about financial literacy among over 6000 CBSE teachers in Karnataka and over 375 teachers in Bellary. Out of these, 50% are expected to be female, underscoring to fostering of equitable growth and development.

As part of the initiative, Kotak Mutual Fund has brought on board over 500 proficient trainers from the Centre for Investment Education and Learning (CIEL) who lead the impactful sessions, ensuring that quality and relevance were upheld throughout the program.
Nandi School (Bellary), Principal Sayyed Imran said, “We are thankful to Kotak Mutual Fund and CBSE for this investor awareness program on Financial Literacy that our teachers are being allowed to learn about financial planning and investing, which are essential skills for everyone. We are confident that this program will help them to achieve their financial goals.”

Mr. Kinjal Shah, Head – Digital Business, Marketing and Analytics, Kotak Mutual Fund said, “Through this Investor Education and Awareness Program ‘Seekho Paiso ki Bhasha,’ we are deeply committed to cultivating financial empowerment. We believe that teachers play a vital role in shaping our nation’s destiny and moulding the new generation. Our partnership with CBSE is to educate and create awareness amongst esteemed educators about financial literacy and investment. Collectively, we can shape a future where financially aware teachers may help improve the economy.”

This initiative represents a significant step towards the realization of a financially empowered India, with an aim of aligning perfectly with the nation’s aspiration for progress and growth. With ‘Seekho Paiso ki Bhasha’ hope that it helps to shape the financial fabric of the country.