India, 10th May 2023: Exciting news for filmmakers across India! Pratilipi, India’s largest publishing platform has inked a major deal with the Newcomers Initiative. Collective Artists Network has also joined the collaboration. With millions of successful stories in their digital repository, the endeavour is to create captivating content in various formats and multiple languages and offer exciting content from their treasure of literary bestsellers, to all filmmakers across the country.

Pratilipi, one of India’s largest digital storytelling community of readers and writers across 12 Indian languages, has announced a collaboration with Newcomers Initiative and Mahaveer Jain—most recently known for the Amitabh Bachchan starrer & Sooraj Barjatya directorial film Uunchai—to create & share content with other filmmakers across the country, in multiple formats across genres and languages. Securing a 21-month deal with the production house, Pratilipi will be foraying into the world of video storytelling format.

This partnership will add to Pratilipi’s exhaustive portfolio comprising e-books, podcasts, paperbacks.

Leading filmmakers across the nation have come together for the Newcomers initiative to bring forward fresh talent in the entertainment sector.

Collective Artists Network [CAN] is India’s leading talent management agency and marketplace for pop culture.

Ranjeet Pratap Singh, Co-founder and CEO, Pratilipi said, “With over 10 million stories published on Pratilipi till date, we can proudly state that we have access to the biggest library of quality content on our platform. We believe that everyone has the right to premium content in whichever format they want to consume. Our partnership with Mahaveer Jain Films is a testament to our unstoppable commitment of creating multi format content for a wide & varied audience. This partnership reiterates the strong hold we have when it comes to quality stories which can be re-created into audio, video, films, graphics and establishes Pratilipi as the home to some of the best stories.”

Commenting on this partnership, Mahaveer Jain, the force behind Newcomers Initiative said “Content is our backbone and we are excited to bring forward an ocean of fresh stories and new voices for all the storytellers to make best use of. This partnership will strengthen the entire creative ecosystem of our entertainment industry, everyone should check out the platform, www.pratilipi.com.”

Vijay Subramaniam, Founder and Group CEO, Collective Artists Network said, “We are excited to be a part of this association; it would bring forth many new writers with fresh stories and widen the landscape of the entertainment industry. We are extremely motivated to take these stories to maximum filmmakers across our country”

HLM Group of Institutions successfully conducted its Scholarship SCAT Aptitude Test on 8th May 2023, which witnessed the participation of more than 1300 students. The aptitude test was aimed at assessing the school-level knowledge and IQ of the students and rewarding them based on their merit and performance in the exam.

The test was open to students from all streams, Science, Arts, Commerce & Technology, who had passed their 12th standard board exams. The test was conducted to provide scholarship benefits to merit students to ensure that financial restrictions did not hinder students’ chances of creating a better future for themselves.

Tanvi Miglani, COO of HLM Group of Institutions, said, “The HLM SCAT Aptitude Test was conducted to recognise and reward students’ academic excellence and to provide financial aid to top students for further education. The first 100 toppers will get up to 100% scholarship, and the next batch of 100 best-scorers will get up to 50% scholarship, whichever stream they choose.”

The Scholarship SCAT Aptitude Test consisted of multiple-choice questions on different subjects, and the students had the opportunity to assess their preparation levels for the upcoming career programs with scholarships in the HLM.

The scholarship program benefits will be given to 200 intermediate young scholars based on a set of criteria such as academic merit, diversity and inclusion, and financial need. The HLM SCAT Aptitude Test has been created with the intent to reward students’ academic achievement in accordance with their upcoming educational progression.

Delhi, 10th May 2023: Second feather added for Pooja Khanna, senior HRBP Manager and legal advisor of K12 Techno Services. Once again, she has been awarded as ‘HR Rising Star’ in 2023 by the HR Distinction Award 2023, organised by HR Association India, VATS Consulting, World HR Federation and HR Distinction recently in New Delhi. Ms. Khanna was awarded for her spectacular initiatives at K12 and contribution to the HR industry.

While receiving the award, Ms Pooja Khanna said, “Dedication, confidence, loyalty, continuous learning, passion, and commitment towards HR & Legal concepts for the past 20 years of hard practice made me earn this award today. I would like to thank HR Association India, VATS Consulting, World HR Federation and HR Distinction for honoring me with this award.”

The HR Distinction Awards (HRD Awards) is a platform to recognize and honour Excellence in HR and Related fields/services. It aims to bring together the entire spectrum of HR professionals across the globe and give you a chance to witness what it takes to become an epitome of the industry. Accredited by The Human Resource Association India (HRAI), a national-level association representing human resource and people management professionals through their network of 22,000 members from India and across the globe.

Hyderabad/Jaipur, May 10th, 2023: AU Small Finance Bank has partnered with RuPay to introduce the Business Cashback RuPay credit card, an innovative solution tailored to meet the financial requirements of self-employed customers. This latest offering is aimed at providing a diverse range of benefits to small businesses. The Credit Card was launched in the esteemed presence of Mr. Dilip Asbe, CEO of National Payments Corporation of India and Mr. Sanjay Agarwal, MD & CEO of AU Small Finance Bank.

AU Small Finance Bank’s Business Cashback RuPay Credit Card simplifies financial operations for businesses with benefits like upto 2% cashback, 48 days interest-free credit, and instant loans. It also offers fire insurance, burglary, and housebreaking coverage, making it a one-stop solution for businesses.

“At AU Small Finance Bank, we understand that the small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) are the backbone of Indian economy and we have been serving this segment since the last 28 years. We are committed to providing innovative financial solutions that cater to the unique needs of this segment and Business Cashback RuPay credit card is a testament to our commitment to the MSMEs. As the self-employed customer segment is at the heart of our bank, we are focused on adding value to these customers and promoting credit inclusion. Going forward, we shall work towards bringing customized benefits to MSMEs through our other Credit Card variants too,” said Mr. Sanjay Agarwal, MD & CEO of AU SFB.

The credit card also provides lifestyle and travel benefits. Their Silver Spoon Dining Program also offers cardholders up to 30% off at over 300 restaurants, 8 complimentary railway lounge access per annum, and 1%* fuel surcharge waiver.

“I am delighted to attend the launch event and witness the introduction of AU Small Finance Bank’s Business Cashback RuPay Credit Card. National Payments Corporation of India is committed to promoting innovation in the banking sector, and this credit card is a clear example of that. AU Small Finance Bank has consistently demonstrated their dedication to excellence and innovation in the banking industry. This credit card is a fantastic solution that empowers self-employed individuals and promotes financial inclusion. I’m confident that this credit card will be a great success and benefit numerous businesses. Congratulations to AU SFB, keep up the great work,” said Mr. Dilip Asbe, CEO, National Payments Corporation of India.

AU Small Finance Bank is one of the leading providers of innovative and reliable financial solutions for self-employed individuals and businesses. With an unwavering commitment to excellence and credit inclusion, the bank continuously improves and deepens its services, offering a comprehensive range of benefits. AU SFB is poised to bring unprecedented efficiencies to the banking and business ecosystem, contributing to the growth of the Indian economy and empowering the SME sector.

Mumbai / May 10, 2023: The C20 Summit on Technology and Security for One World is going to be held at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore, on May 12-14, 2023, hosted by an official Engagement Groups of the C20: Technology, Security and Transparency.

Several key dignitaries would be present during the inaugural ceremony. These include Shri RN Ravi, Hon’ble Governor of Tamil Nadu; Ltd Gen Dr. Rajesh Pant, National Cyber Security Coordinator, PMO, India; Swami Amritaswarupananda Puri, Vice Chairman, Mata Amritanandamayi Math and Troika Member C20; Vijay Nambiar, Sherpa C20 and Former UN Secretary Generals Special Advisor; Vilas Dhar, President and Trustee of the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation; Micha Weis, Strategic financial cyber-leader and advisor for the Israeli Ministry of Finance; Bharati Ghosh, National Spokesperson of BJP & Member of National Executive Committee of BJP; Dr. Venkat Rangan, Vice Chancellor of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham. Virtual Participation includes Sonya Kilkenny, Member of Parliament, Victorian Government, Australia; and Ah Mafuthan, Troika member C20, Indonesia.

World-renowned spiritual leader and humanitarian Mata Amritanandamayi (Amma) is the Chair of C20. Amma said “Amma sees the world as a flower. Each country is a petal of the flower. The foundation of all positive change is true education. Along with knowledge about the world, we have to understand ourselves. Only then will our education be complete. Technology has truly revolutionized human life, but its negative aspects raise alarming concerns about the future of human kind.” Swami Amritaswarupananda Puri “The C20 Working Group on Technology, Security and Transparency is focused on access and affordability of innovative technologies for social impact, and the value the CSOs provide towards fostering consistency, accountability, and scale for technology development and diffusion. It is imperative that Civil Society Organizations have their voices represented, along with the private and governmental sectors. We are looking forward to this Summit to launch key initiatives that are essential for CSOs and NGOs to learn about key technology that help their business for additional impact to help society.”

Dr. Vint Cerf, Vice President and Chief Internet Evangelist, Google and co-founder of the internet and Nguyen Anh Tuan, CEO of the Boston Global Forum, and will address the delegates virtually.

Marco Teixeira, United Nations Representative on Drugs and Crime for South Asia; Marcele Frossard, Policy advisor, National Campaign for the Right to Education, Brazil; Dhayalan Matthew Chetty, Impact Area Manager, e-Government at Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), South Africa; and Lindy Wafula, Village Ventures Kenya will also be speaking at the Summit.

Across two days of the Summit, hundreds of delegates from Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the technology landscape will participate in policy meetings, discussions, and workshops to formulate policies on the access and use of technology, enhanced security, and improved transparency for advancing societal wellbeing. The sessions would focus on four key areas, namely, Technology for Empowerment, Artificial Intelligence and Data for Society; Transparency, Trust & Disinformation; and Security, Safety and Resilience. The participants would identify the gaps in these areas and brainstorm innovative solutions which will directly impact the policy recommendations to be launched at the C20 Summit in July 2023.

Mr. Vijay Nambiar, Sherpa C20 said “Technology impacts all areas of society and each of the engagement groups of the C20. From education, healthcare, youth, women, environmental and sustainability issues, technology plays a key role for all of the population. Given the emergence of AI, cybersecurity, disinformation and the need for transparency, the C20 Summit on Technology and Security for One World, will be an important meeting of minds to develop policy for now and the future.”

Said Dr. Krishnashree Achuthan, National Coordinator of C20 Summit on Technology, Security and Transparency and Dean, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham: “Technology has a huge role to play in society’s progress and prosperity, but over-reliance on it can lead to detrimental behavior, especially amongst children and youth. The C20 Working Group on Technology, Security and Transparency is focused on access and affordability of innovative technologies for social impact, and the value the CSOs provide towards fostering consistency, accountability, and scale for technology development and diffusion. The Working Group is deliberating issues like the security of susceptible communities, especially women, children, and the disabled, and the responsible use of Internet and media.

The Summit is aimed at furthering the civil society narrative to long-term solutions for building societies that are technology-empowered, secure, and held accountable by their transparency to their citizens.”

Organizations participating in the Summit include well-known names like Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), Synergia Foundation, Women 20, Youth 20, Think Tank 20, ICANN, Genworks and many more.

The G20 (Group of 20) is a forum comprising 19 countries and the European Union. It works to address major issues related to the global economy. C20 provides a platform for Civil Society Organizations (CSO) around the world to voice people’s aspirations to the world leaders in G20.

Students of The Class of One (TCO1), India’s leading online-only school, celebrated World Laughter Day in the school with great zeal and a series of activities. The celebration was held in two sections for the students of different grades. ‘Hasya Kavi Sammelan’ was the first event held by and for the students of classes 3-5. While the second event for Nursery to 2 grade was ‘Hasna aur Hasna League’.

The poetry competition comprised the presentation of satirical comedy by students through Hindi poems. Their humour, powerful expressions and intonation in recitation added more effects to the activity, compelling the audience to burst into laughter. Simultaneously, the students of junior grade, in the second event, enjoyed watching comedy movies by popular comics, including Mr. Bean and Sir Charlie Chaplin. Programs like laughter breathing, milkshake laughter exercises, etc., were also held for their joy. They also presented jokes and riddles for added fun and entertainment.

Ms. Divya Jain, Director, The Class of One, said, “Laughter is the best therapy, and as the great actor Charlie Chaplin said, ‘a day without laughter is a day wasted’. Hence, we decided to dedicate a day at our school to the mental well-being and heinous by organising multiple events and competitions for our students. It was only because of the tireless efforts of our teachers and the enthusiastic participation of students that we witnessed such a wonderful celebration at our school. It was an immense pleasure to witness the happiness on the faces of our tiny tots.”

Mumbai, 10th May 2023: ABP Majha, one of Maharashtra’s leading news channels, hosted the second edition of its popular conclave, ‘Majha Maha Katta’. The event was held at The St. Regis in Mumbai to commemorate the 11th anniversary of Majha Katta on 5th May, 2023.

Majha Maha Katta 2023 featured interviews with some of India’s most distinguished figures, covering broad range of topics including the guests’ life experiences, career trajectories, achievements, challenges and their perspectives on various issues. Hosted by Rajiv Khandekar, Executive Vice President, ABP News, and ABP Majha, the event was a resounding success, drawing a diverse and engaged audience.

The second edition of Majha Maha Katta boasted an impressive line-up of notable guests, including Eknath Shinde, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, and his son, Shrikant Shinde, MLA. Also in attendance were Raj Thackeray, Chief of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and his mother Madhuvanti Thackeray, prominent politician and social activist Narayan Rane, Union Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Narayan Rane and his sons – MLA Nitesh Rane and Nilesh Rane, National Secretary of BJP Pankaja Munde, and her sisters Dr. Pritam Munde and Yashashri Munde. Prakash Ambedkar, President, Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh, his son and author Sujat Ambedkar, MP Sanjay Raut and his brother MLA Sunil Raut, also graced the event.

In a riveting conversation, Actor & Singer Ayushmann Khurrana, Film Director Rohit Shetty, Actor Kangana Ranaut, Singer & Composer Shankar Mahadevan, and his son Film Composer Siddharth Mahadevan, Former Indian Cricketer Sandeep Patil, Actor Chirag Patil, Director Chandrakant Kulkarni, and Writer Prashant Dalvi shared their insights on the film industry and glimpses of their respective journeys.

Majha Maha Katta’s success was a testament to its popularity and impact on the audience. The event has the ability to give the audience an intimate look into the lives and experiences of the people being interviewed, and its hard-hitting content resonates with viewers, creating a deep connection between the show and its audience. ABP Majha continues to set the benchmark for quality journalism in Maharashtra and the country, and this event is a testament to its commitment to providing insightful and thought-provoking content to its viewers.

ABP Majha will air five special episodes of Majha Maha Katta every Saturday at 9:00 PM (Original) and every Sunday at 9:00 AM (Repeat) till 4th June 2023.

Majha Maha Katta was presented by Quick Heal, RCC, Jagannath Gangaram Pednekar Jewellers and Aaryans Group of Companies. It was Co-Powered by Wild Stone, Dear Government Lottery, Sudhir Mandke Lighthouse Guhagar, Chitale Flavoured Milk and Green Harvest. The event was partnered by Jeep Meridian. The Tea Partner was Sapat Tea, Print Partner was Loksatta and Digital Partner was ABP Live.

Bengaluru, May 10th, 2023: Embarking on its journey to become a billion-dollar company by the end of December 2024, NIBAV Home Lifts, India’s largest home lift brand, today announced the expansion of its India-made home lift manufacturing operations. The company has announced the launch of its fourth manufacturing facility, spread across 50,000 Sq.Ft. and located in Akkarai on ECR – Chennai, which will accommodate new state-of-the-art home elevator production equipment with the world’s most advanced technology. The additional manufacturing capacity will allow NIBAV to increase the supply of its Indian-made European standard home lifts to 14 foreign countries, while India continues to be a primary market.

NIBAV Home Lifts also announced its ongoing recruitment plans of adding over 4,500 employees by the end of December 2023, taking the total headcount to 6000. While expanding the company’s ECO network (Experience Centre and Office) in India and worldwide will drive most of this recruitment, the newly opened high-tech corporate office, four manufacturing facilities, and 2 R&D centers in Chennai will also be further strengthened with the addition of the industry’s best talent pool.

Commenting on the occasion, Mr. Vimal R. Babu, CEO and Founder of NIBAV Home Lifts said, “Right from its inception in December 2019, NIBAV Home Lifts has seen strong business growth. While we have grown from the sales value of Rs. 150 crores in 2021 to Rs. 400 crores in 2022, we have already crossed the product sales milestone of 1000 lifts in Q1 of this calendar year 2023. Our international expansion started in the year 2022, is proof that we can deliver exactly what homeowners need when it comes to in-home mobility solutions, and we are confident that the new manufacturing unit will accelerate the company’s growth in the global home lift segment too. With the demand for in-home mobility solutions increasing worldwide and the growing preference for Indian-made products, we are aiming to emerge as the number one home lift-selling brand in the world by December 2024 and mark our entry into a billion-dollar revenue club in a more meaningful manner.”

Commenting on the recruitment plans, he added, “We have been witnessing a great customer demand for NIBAV’s home elevators not just in India but from countries such as Canada, Switzerland, Australia, Malaysia, Thailand, and elsewhere. To cater to this demand, we have already strengthened our core HR team and are now in the process of on-boarding a global staffing firm to welcome over 4500 industry-best minds joining the NIBAV family. With over 6000 NIBAVians by the end of the current calendar year 2023, we will further establish our market leadership in countries with the largest number of older adults and stay committed to enhancing the in-home mobility experiences for homeowners by providing the world’s best and safest Indian-made home lifts.”

As part of these two announcements at a press conference, NIBAV Home Lifts also unveiled its latest home elevator product – SERIES 3 MAX. The SERIES 3 MAX lift is the world’s largest in-home lift product that covers G+3 with a capacity of 240 KG and is designed with enhanced safety features, improved energy efficiency, and a sleek, modern design. With this new product, NIBAV Home Lifts is setting a new standard of excellence in the industry, and customers can look forward to a superior user experience.

Engineered to European standards, NIBAV has been installing pneumatic in-home elevators that transformed the quality of life in every home – allowing homeowners to embrace the sustainable eco-friendly home lift, safely enter and exit for those using a wheelchair or walking frame, those wishing to travel with loved ones, affected by a reduction in mobility, recovery from a medical procedure, retirement, disability or suffering with severe asthma. Nibav’s patented home elevators use less power than conventional hydraulic systems and with industry-leading features such as Zero Civil Work, Self-Supporting Structure, Grease Less Technology, and Wheelchair Compatibility.

Kochi, May 10, 2023: Cambridge University Press and Assessment recently conducted a series of OET roadshows across Kerala in Kochi and Kottayam. The workshops focused on Advanced OET Teaching Strategies and specifically empowering healthcare professionals to prepare for the OET test. The face-to-face intensive workshop provided tailored help to healthcare professionals, skills-specific insights, and an introduction to Cambridge resources for OET preparation.

The first two workshops were held on Wednesday, 3rd May 2023 and 5th May at Apollo Dimora Thampanoor in Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) and Holiday Inn Cochin respectively. The final workshop is scheduled for Saturday in Trivandrum for 6th May 2023, at Hotel Aida in Kottayam. The workshop will run from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and include a lunch break at 1:15 p.m.

The roadshows centered around teaching strategies for Advanced OET (Occupational English Test), with the aim of empowering healthcare professionals to improve their English language proficiency for working in English-speaking nations. The workshop featured intensive in-person sessions on OET teaching strategies, customized support for healthcare professionals who are getting ready for the OET, and targeted guidance on specific skills, as well as an overview of Cambridge resources for OET.

Arun Rajamani, MD, South Asia, Cambridge University Press & Assessment, said, “We are delighted to host the OET Roadshows in Kerala and offer healthcare professionals the opportunity to enhance their English language proficiency for working in English-speaking countries. At CUP&A, we are committed to providing high-quality resources and tailored support to help healthcare professionals prepare for the OET. We look forward to empowering healthcare professionals with the tools they need to succeed in their careers and make a positive impact on patient care.”

OET is designed to meet the specific English language needs of the healthcare sector and has been developed for twelve healthcare professions, including Dentistry, Occupational Therapy, Podiatry, Medicine, Pharmacy, Speech Pathology, Dietetics, Optometry, Radiography, Nursing, Physiotherapy, and Veterinary Science.

To support the delivery of Upskill for Healthcare as well as to use the range of learning resources for healthcare, Cambridge is offering a series of Teacher Training programs across India. Interested preparation centres in Kochi, Kottayam, and Trivandrum can register their Trainers with Cambridge to avail of this free support.

Since 2013, OET has been owned by Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment, a venture between Cambridge University Press and Assessment and Boxhill Institute. Cambridge University Press & Assessment has announced a series of support products to enable success for test takers from India. OET supports global mobility to the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore, and has recently been added to the list of recognized English tests for immigration to the USA. The opening of OET centres in Kochi, Kottayam, and Trivandrum is a significant milestone for healthcare professionals in Kerala, allowing them to assess their English language skills and pursue their dreams of working in an English-speaking environment.

Mumbai, 08 May 2023: EaseMyTrip.com, one of India’s largest online tech travel platforms, has today launched its first offline retail store in Patna, Bihar. This is a strategic move aligned with the company’s expansion plans and objective of tapping customers who prefer ‘meet and greet’kind of an experience.

As the brand is keen to spread its footprints and scale its operations, the new office has been launched in the prime location of Maharaja Kameshwar Complex on Frazer Road in Patna. The store interior is made keeping in mind the latest designs including brand colours to have a solid customer’s brand recall. The store will offer marque services like flight and hotel bookings, purchasing bus, train and group fare tickets, and availing holiday, cruise and charter packages. The add-on services of visa application and related formalities will also be offered by EaseMyTrip’s Patna store.

Speaking on the same, Mr. RikantPittie, Co-Founder, EaseMyTrip, said, “We are happy to officially launch our first store in Patna as we intend to establish a strong pan India presence through our franchise model. This is one of the significant steps in long-term objective of expandingfootprintsin the Indian market.”

Early this year, the company announced establishing offline retail stores under their flagship franchise business in India. The store launch in Patna is a part of this strategy and will help the company provide the customers an opportunity to have an in-store retail experience.