Hikvision India Introduces Eco IP Video Door Phone Series to meet evolving security and communications needs

Hikvision India has Introduced the Eco IP Video Door Phone(VDP) DS KIS302 P Series to meet the evolving security and communications needs in the market. VDP products address a crucial part of the security, communications and convenience needs in both residential and business sectors. They have evolved over time alongside the rapid development in technologies created for better and safer living environments.

The Eco IP VDP Kit with 1 IP indoor station and 1 four-wire HD door station. It has a User-friendly control with a convenient touch screen. It offers convenient management via the Hik-Connect mobile client. It has more cost-effective. Easy installation as the doorbell requires no exclusive power supply.

The transition from analog to IP technologies
The VDP market is witnessing a significant transition from analog to IP. Traditional analog systems feature relatively poor audio and image quality and limited functionality. For example, they cannot be accessed using a mobile app or networked management systems. Although analog systems are often a more economical option, more manufacturers and installers have recommended their customers shift to IP-based VDPs for their wider range of capabilities – including higher image resolution, mobile control, remote operation, and a series of smart functions.

IP VDPs bring a new level of convenience
Mobile control
IP VDPs let owners receive calls, play video, and open locks from anywhere through just a simple touch. For example, people often receive calls on their mobile devices for package deliveries or other services when they’re not at home. IP VDPs, however, allow users to give temporary access remotely to those who need it, just using a simple mobile application. This is more convenient and much safer than manually giving out passwords or key cards.

User-friendly interfaces
IP VDPs commonly provide a user-friendly screen with a clearly visible interface, simple touch interaction, intuitive operation, and multi-functional information display (e.g., weather, news, announcements, etc.). These easy-to-use features help get modern consumers accustomed to using IP VDPs since they operate very similarly to mobile phones.

High image quality
Compared to purely analog solutions, IP VDPs provide excellent imaging with higher resolutions and wider field of view. Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) and night vision are also supported to help users see clearly despite challenging light conditions, such as direct sunlight or high contrast environments during the day and darkness in the evening and night time.

IP VDPs provides excellent imaging with higher resolutions and wider field of view
All-in-one management
IP VDPs also offer opportunities for integration with other security systems, such as video and alarms. A unified control center ensures all-in-one linkage among various devices and systems and facilitates convenient device operation and management, improving security for businesses and homeowners.

Enter Hikvision
Hikvision’s IP VDPs serve a wide range of scenarios including apartment buildings, single-family homes, and SMB offices. In residential applications, these advanced VDPs combine a better user experience with elegant design to suit any decor, as well as a touch-friendly screen for easy operation. Users can remotely open doors and talk to visitors by simply tapping the Hik-Connect mobile app on their smartphone or tablet.

For Business applications, Hikvision’s IP VDPs enhance safety levels and management efficiency with strong integration capabilities. Hikvision’s All-in-One Indoor Station Series controls and manages all Hikvision access control, video security, and alarm devices through the built-in Hik-Connect app. The product series can also be converged with third-party applications to satisfy customized or personalized needs.

Valley Insurance Agency Alliance Promotes TJ McCoy

McCoy was promoted to Personal Lines Manager for Alliance’s sister company Powers Insurance & Risk Management

(St. Louis, Mo., Feb. 23, 2023) Valley Insurance Agency Alliance (VIAA), a cohesive family of more than 160 independent insurance agencies in Missouri and Illinois, recently promoted Thomas “TJ” McCoy IV to Personal Lines Manager for VIAA’s sister company Powers Insurance & Risk Management, one of the largest family owned and operated independent insurance agencies in the bi-state region,

McCoy’s responsibilities include managing and overseeing the agency’s personal lines service team. He also will service a high net worth book of business, as well as assist in the training and best practice standards supervision of eight team members.

TJ McCoy

McCoy previously served as a Personal Lines Service Coach for VIAA. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Marian University in Fond du Lac, Wisc. McCoy holds licenses for both Life Insurance, as well as Property & Casualty Insurance. He is actively involved in the community and is a member of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Gateway Chapter for Tomorrow’s Leaders.

“TJ has been a tremendous asset to our alliance, so we look forward to all he will accomplish at our sister company,” said VIAA’s co-founder Henry Powers. “TJ is a leader who has built strong relationships throughout his career, and we are proud to have him at the helm of our growing personal lines team.”

Founded in 1991, Powers Insurance & Risk Management provides personal and business insurance, surety, risk management, and employee benefits. Founded in 2006, sister company Valley Insurance Agency Alliance generates more than $600 million in written premium and is the regional founding member for the Strategic Insurance Agency Alliance (SIAA), a $11 billion national alliance. The companies are headquartered at 6825 Clayton Ave. For more information, call (314) 725-1414 or visit www.powersinsurance.com or www.viaa4u.com.

LoveChild partners with Myntra, forays into Face Category with the launch of ‘Shaadi’ inspired Blushes and Highlighters

Mumbai, 23 February 2023: LoveChild, the cosmo-wellness and beauty brand by multi hyphenate entrepreneur & actor Masaba Gupta, has launched the perfect beauty pick-me-up this wedding season for flushed cheeks and contoured cheekbones! Adding to its existing products categories like lipsticks, eye makeup, skincare, fragrances and wellness, the brand is now stepping into the face makeup category with a splendid new range of products to reinforce the brand’s commitment to growing their portfolio with inclusive products.

Infused with the goodness of nourishing oils and skin loving ingredients, Highlighted Nakhre and Band Baaja Blush are formulated keeping all Indian skintones and undertones in mind. Inspired by the joy of self-love and the grandeur of Indian weddings, these products bring to life the energy and vibe of such celebratory moments through the packaging design. All formulations and shades are tailor-made for every mood and occasion, paving their way to strengthen the makeup category at LoveChild.

In a bid to penetrate the ever-evolving and dynamic beauty segment, LoveChild has partnered with leading e-commerce destination, Myntra Beauty, to launch the all–new Highlighted Nakhre highlighter palettes and Band Baaja Blush crème blushes. With 1400+ brands and 75,000+ products, the Beauty and Personal Care category has been one of the fastest growing categories on Myntra and continues to rampantly scale its scintillating selection of international, domestic as well as D2C brands with an emphasis on catering to the various need states and niches of consumers.

Commenting on the association and new launches, Masaba Gupta (Founder, of LoveChild) said “These two new launches are my current favourite beauty products – nothing like a good highlighter and some blush! Each shade has been curated to suit everyone from a light skinned girl to the brown kudi! With immense love from across the country, this time around we have partnered with Myntra to drive discoverability for the brand across the country & to emerge as a powerful player in the beauty segment. I am thrilled to kick off this association & what better way to enter the face makeup category with ‘band,bajaa & a 100 watt glow!

Touching upon the addition of Lovechild’s new range on Myntra, Sharon Pais, Chief Business Officer, Myntra said said, “We are excited to be Lovechild’s destination of choice as they step into the face makeup category with the launch of their stellar highlighter palettes and crème blushes. Youth icon Masaba Gupta’s signature style truly reflects in the products that are poised to strike a chord with our thriving base of beauty enthusiasts looking for high-quality, conscious and trendy make-up and wellness choices at accessible price points. Myntra Beauty has been witnessing an uptick in demand in the makeup and wellness category and we are certain that Lovechild’s new launches are set to elevate our portfolio, further strengthening our relationship with our shoppers.”

‘Highlighted Nakhre’ is available in 2 exciting palettes ‘Chandni’, which is specifically formulated for fair to medium complexions and ‘Sitara’, specifically formulated for dusky skintones. These palettes are each priced at INR 1,800 each. These luxurious highlighters melt like butter on your cheeks, thanks to their special cream to powder texture. Its unique 3D rainbow reflection leaves you with a 100 watt glow so you always ‘Slay the Spotlight’. This wedding season, show some nakhre, and get ready to shine bright, the Chandni and Sitara way.

‘Band Baaja Blush’ is a range of highly pigmented creme blushes, available in 6 vibrant shades that are suitable for all Indian skintones. The never seen before shades include ‘Bubblegum Baraat’, ‘Shocking Sharbat’, ‘Lal Lal Land’, ‘Cinnamon Choli’, ‘Brown Kudi’, and ‘Peach Puchka’ and are priced at INR 750 each. Made with nourishing oils and infused with HA, Squalene and Shea Butter, these blushes give you a dewy finish with a long lasting matte effect.

Beauty is also a top-performing category on Myntra’s live commerce proposition, M Live with 100% engagement rates being witnessed across its sessions coupled with a significant growth in its live streaming traffic too. LoveChild’s Founder, Masaba Gupta will also be participating in a M Live to interact with her beloved fans and beauty enthusiasts alike on 22nd February as she showcases the brand’s latest launches ‘Highlighted Nakhre’ and ‘Band Baaja Blush’ which shall be simulcasted on Myntra Studio, Myntra’s Instagram page, Myntra Beauty’s Instagram page, Lovechild’s Instagram page and Masaba’s Instagram page.

All LoveChild products are PETA certified, vegan and cruelty-free, and are available online at lovechild.in, Myntra Beauty and at House of Masaba stores across India.

Suraj Rana first Indian dancer to win International Poppin dance championship in Singapore

Suraj Rana also known as POPPIN MI from Himachal Pradesh was the first Indian to win the International Poppin dance championship in Singapore in 2022. The event name was 5 of a Kind Street Dance Festival Singapore 2022. date of the event and it was concluded on 18th September 2022. It was a proud moment for India and the state of Himachal Pradesh. Dancers from Japan, China, Australia, South Korea many other countries participated the event. 

 

pic credit suraj rana

Pic Credit: Suraj Rana

suraj rana1

Pic Credit: Suraj Rana

“Launch of ‘FUND CITY’ by NAREDCO at Finance Conclave to Bolster Real Estate Investment”

New Delhi, 23 Feb 2023: The National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO) announced to unveil the ‘FUND CITY’ on the sidelines of the upcoming NAREDCO Finance Conclave to be held at New Delhi on 3rd February. The Fund City is a consortium of Fund Houses, Banks, specialized funds, and other financial institutions. The Fund City will work in partnership with NAREDCO to address the financial requirements of the real estate sector in India.

The main aim of Fund City is to address the funding requirements of stalled as well as new real estate projects across all segments of real estate development in the country. The Fund City also consists of investment bankers and consultants who will analyze and assist in the processing of these stalled or new project funding.

Fund City is very similar to the TV show Shark Tank, with a group of fund houses eager to invest. Developers seeking funding must apply to Fund City, and proposals will be selected by fund houses on a first-come, first-served basis. The pressure of peers will encourage quick completion of selected proposals.

Fund City’s main objective is to secure funding for all stalled, stressed and new projects without any discrimination of size , geography or stage The terms and conditions of funding will be determined by the relevant fund houses and project promoters. Our aim is to assist in completing projects without imposing any specific conditions. Most projects have a positive cash flow upon completion, although negative cash scenarios can occur in rare cases. In such situations, promoters and home buyers may negotiate an arrangement with specific escalation terms, while ensuring definite returns to the lending funds.

NAREDCO Fund City provides new project financing through a specialized approach in order to support deserving real estate projects. Leveraging a network of banks and fund houses, the organization focuses on identifying projects that can create value for stakeholders such as developers, investors, and end-users. By recognizing the unique challenges faced by the real estate sector, NAREDCO Fund City offers customized solutions that cater to the specific requirements of each project, utilizing their expertise to make it happen.

NAREDCO Fund City aims to disburse funds to a significant number of projects and promoters to bring them out of the red. The Fund City also aims to rescue a significant number of home buyers, repay and close a considerable number of loans, and close indirect liabilities. The Fund City will also aim to encourage entrepreneurship in the real estate sector, ease of business, and increase the happiness quotient.” Said Mr. Rajan Bandelkar, President, NAREDCO

“The launch of NAREDCO Fund City is expected to have a great impact on the Indian economy, employment market, organizing the unorganized market, creating CAT A developers of all sizes, working as a financial think tank and encouraging best practices. The Fund City will also reduce the cost of funds for projects, which will impact an increase in profits or reduction of sales prices for buyers and become competitive.” Mr. Sathish Kumar, Chairman, NAREDCO Finance Committee

Developers of all sizes, across all tiers of cities, will have access to Fund City. This initiative is poised to bring about a revolution in the Indian real estate market, with significant secondary and cascading positive effects.

Getting funds from Fund City will be a simple process, with just a single-sheet application needed to express interest from the fund houses. Within 7 days, funds will provide their expression of interest, and once promoters have completed all the necessary formalities, the full process of allocation by the chosen fund house will typically be completed within 30 working days. NAREDCO Fund City has a committed group of banks and fund houses, with more expected to join soon. The full group of fund houses will be shared after the conclave. This initiative is a win-win for all stakeholders, including bankers, builders, government, and most importantly, home buyers. NAREDCO Fund City aims to revitalize the real estate sector and contribute to the growth of the Indian economy.

South Indian Bank CEO and Managing Director Mr. Murali Ramakrishnan awarded – ‘Business leader of the year’

Mumbai: At a glittering ceremony held in Taj Lands’ End, Mumbai, ET Ascent bestowed Mr. Murali Ramakrishnan, MD, and CEO, of South Indian Bank, with the ‘Business Leader of the Year award. It was the 21st global and the sixth Indian edition of the recognition.

ET Ascent’s ‘Business Leader of the Year award is a singular platform to recognize leaders for their transformational leadership. Over the years, it has felicitated leaders who have succeeded in making a difference in their organizations during challenging circumstances. Mr. Ramakrishnan was awarded recognition for his role in captaining the restructuring of the bank and putting it on a course of growth. His accomplishments at South Indian Bank have been hailed by various stakeholders of India Inc.

Mr. Ramakrishnan expressed his joy at the event by saying, “I am pleased to receive acknowledgment for the collective action that our organization has worked in achieving. Our dedication and passion have propelled us to realize the corporate objective. I sincerely appreciate the support my team has given me to create a successful transformational journey. I thank the organizers and jury for recognizing me with the prestigious title.”

South Indian Bank went through a transformation in the last two years after Mr. Murali Ramakrishnan had taken charge as CEO of the bank. He started the journey by formulating a ‘6 C’ strategy towards achieving the bank’s vision of `Profitable growth through quality credit’. The 6 Cs were: (a) Capital adequacy (b) CASA (c) Cost to Income ratio (d) Competency building (e) Customer focus (f) Compliance. This led to the successful turnaround of the company in terms of its profitability and he believes, it is a continuous process.

India and Afghanistan, both countries are source of inspiration to each other: His Excellency Farid Mamundzay, Afghanistan Ambassador in India

Hyderabad, February 23, 2023…..An interactive meeting on Exploring Business Opportunities with Afghanistan was held in the city at FTCCI on Wednesday. His Excellency Farid Mamundzay, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in India was the Chief Guest.

Other dignitaries who graced include Mr. Qadir Shah, Counselor (Head of Trade Office) Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Mr Sayed Mohammad Ibrahimkhil, Acting Consul General, Consulate General of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and Mr Sediqullah Sahar, Education Attaché Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, FTCCI President Mr. Anil Agarwal, Ms Khyati Nirawane, CEO of FTCCI, Mr. Chakravarthy AVPS, Chair of- International Trade & Business relations Committee

It was jointly organized by The Federation of Telangana Chamber of Commerce and Industry(FTCCI) and the World Trade Center.

Addressing a gathering composed of trade, travel, import, and export professionals, community looking at export opportunities and FTCCI members. His Excellency Farid Mamundzay asked India and Telangana to look at Afghanistan as a potential future for bilateral trade. India is a natural trade destination he said. .

Five hundred plus Afghanistan students are studying in Telangana in Osmania, Maulana Azad National Urdu University, JNTU, and The Central Institute of English and Foreign Languages. Hundred plus are studying at Osmania University alone. Telangana is contributing to the soft development and capacity building of our youth. Thank you for hosting them, he said.

Later Sediqullah Sahar, Education Attaché Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan added that Afghani students prefer India for their higher education. We have over 60,000 Alumni who studied in India in the last twenty years. Nearly 10,000 alumni are from Telangana alone. Telangana is the top choice destination for many students in Afghanistan, he added.

Continuing to address, the Ambassador said, we have deep-rooted history between the two countries. And, also with Telangana. That is the reason why we opened a second Consulate in India at Hyderabad. This is very significant, he said.

The ambassador said the first provisional Government of India was a provisional government in exile established by Raja Mahendra Pratap from Kabul in Afghanistan. We stood against British, he said. Thirty years after that event India got its Independence. India and Afghanistan, both countries are a source of inspiration for each other. We are an extension of India. We have a 1900-year-old Mandir and it is located in Kabul.

Speaking further he said the purpose of my maiden visit is to tell the business community more about Afghanistan. The current trade between both countries is about Rs 12000 crore. India exports more to Afghanistan than we do to India. We export dry fruits, precious stones, semi-precious stones, spices, saffron, and others. India exports Pharma products, textile chemicals, and others. With increasing ties the trade potential can be doubled in a couple of years, he told the gathering

We need help in mining from India. We seek time investment from Indian companies. Our mining is worth over $ 3 trillion US dollars. We also need investments in infrastructure projects, and solar plants, the ambassador shared.

He said that air connectivity between the two nations needs to be improved. Currently, we have two weekly flights, from Delhi to Kabul. We want air connectivity between Hyderabad and Kabul, he said.

I know you are all worried about political stability in Afghanistan. Trade continuity is a sign of stability. In the last 19 months, not a single incident happened which should worry the business community. Our currency is also stable despite inflation. We also offer to export high-quality coal, and base metals to India. We can help India with raw materials and you can give the finished material to us. Amritsar is just 700 km away from Afghanistan. We are not very far away. We are very close to India. We must boost trade relations, the ambassador said.

Nearly 20,000 people in Afghanistan are suffering from Cancer. And 16000 people out of 20,000 die from late diagnosis and lack of medicine. I recently visited Tata Memorial in Mumbai to explore how we can help our people. The market for pharma products is about $ 1 billion US. It is a big market worth exploring, he told Indian pharma companies more so the ones in Hyderabad

Giving his opening remarks, Mr Anil Agarwal, President of FTCCI invited the Afghanistan Government to be part of the growth story of Telangana. Afghanistan is an important trade partner of India. He also urged them to participate in the Industrial Innovation Technology Expo to be held in June.

Ms Khyati Narawane, CEO of FTCCI said the 106 years old chamber provides market access to its members on international trade.

Mr. Chakravarthy AVPS, Chair of the International Trade & Business relations Committee said Afghanistan should have been what Singapore is today. Because it is 1000 times more potent than Singapore.

Let us rewrite history by reconnecting Afghanistan with the people of the rest of the world. He also requested His Excellency Farid Mamundzay, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in India to address the safety and security concerns that people have about Afghanistan.

Weather Risk Management Services (WRMS) Presented SecuFarm – an income guaranteeing farming solution – at Krishi Darshan Expo 2023

WRMS team at Krishi Darshan Expo 2023

23/02/2023, Haryana – Weather Risk Management Services (WRMS), a pioneer in smart and sustainable farming in India, recently participated at the 11th Krishi Darshan Expo, India’s one of the largest Agriculture events held at Hisar, Haryana. As a leading provider of precision farming solutions, WRMS showcased a wide array of farm IoTs that help farmers optimize their crop yields, reduce costs and improve sustainability. WRMS displayed functional IoTs like Automatic Weather Station (AWS), Automatic Pest Traps (APS), and Automatic Irrigation Switch (AIS) and enlightened the attendees about the WRMS flagship SecuFarm App and SecuTrak solution.

The gala event brought together the major players of the industry via the interaction of farmers, agribusiness, industry entrepreneurs, researchers, technocrats, extension workers, and students under one roof. It facilitated a productive environment for constructive discussions among industry leaders and decision-makers.

Mr. Anuj Kumbhat, Founder and CEO, WRMS, said “Krishi Darshan Expo gave us an opportunity to have enriching conversations with farmers, understand their challenges, and offer them the SecuFarm– our income guaranteeing flagship product. With every conversation we realized that it is extremely crucial for these farmers to overcome the barriers of traditional farming practices & medieval mindset. They are living a life of uncertainty where they are always worried about their crop health and farm income, forcing them to use excess pesticides & water. That’s why SecuFarm remains a holistic solution which provides them with complete downside risk protection and higher yield. This gives them the confidence to invest in the latest technology & drives them towards sustainable farming. “

WRMS flagship SecuFarm app bridges farmers across the country with the latest digital technology in agriculture and handholds them right from the seed selection stage to make sure that they get a better yield by following the package of practices shared with them in their own language. WRMS is currently affiliated with over 10 million farmers; 1 million acres of land have been geo-tagged; 1.5 lakh SecuFarms have been created; and over 15,000 farm IoT devices have been deployed.

WRMS is massively contributing to the manufacturing of low-cost agriculture IoTs not in India but globally. Ingen Technologies Private Limited, a fully owned subsidiary of WRMS, is a leading IoT manufacturer of automatic weather stations, automatic irrigation systems, pest traps, survey drones and soil moisture sensors. The company recently collaborated with the Regional Meteorological Centre, Guwahati, Assam, India, the Meteorological Department (IMD), and the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Government of India, and bagged the contract for procurement, installation, and maintenance of Automatic Rain Gauge Stations in the North East States of India. The company is working with many government organizations like Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre, Andhra Pradesh State Development Planning Society, and more.

Workruit aims to partner with over 500+ Colleges to offer resume-building & career growth opportunities through its SaaS platform.

Hyderabad, 23 February 2023: Workruit, an AI-powered career and recruitment platform, has announced plans to collaborate with over 500+ colleges in Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities to prepare students for the workforce with their flagship product, Resume Builder empowering job seekers to achieve their career goals. The technology-enabled platform shall also extend employability services to its students. Workruit aims to equip students with digital skills that will make them future-ready and allow them to have a competitive edge in the race for employability.

Workruit ambitions to fill gaps in existing learning by offering various career advancement opportunities, particularly in non-metro areas. With the partnership, students from the colleges shall get access to the platform to build their cover letters and critical first-copy professional resumes. Students can avail of features like Resume Templates, Video resumes, AI-resume analysis, job description to resume compare and analysis, tips and suggestions, grammar checks and many more. Workruit’s Resume Builder will also support college-selected templates (with college branding). The SaaS platform will provide tips, recommendations, and AI review analysis based on its data bank of over 200,000 HR-approved statements, jargon, and other information compiled by 40+ HR experts.

Students will have a real-time unique Resume URL that can be accessed forever and shared with any employers instantly. Furthermore, students can track the progress of placements in one place, saving management, administration, and the placements team much time. The college also gets access to companies which are a part of Workruit (2500+) for internships, placements, guest lectures; mentor connect and many more activities. The platform will automate hiring and selection via its Tinder interface.

Manikanth Challa, Founder & CEO, Workruit

“India’s job market is both competitive and diverse. Recruiters face numerous challenges while screening resumes, making it difficult to identify the right talent. Parallel job seekers are also unable to display resumes that distinguish them as standout candidates. Understanding that, Workruit Resume Builder, with our advanced AI & ML technologies, is addressing a critical issue for the industry by creating a level playing field for both applicants and employers. Also, Workruit Resume Builder is a web and mobile tool that will be helpful for users to explore the tool in their preferred medium.” says Mr. Manikanth Challa, CEO of Workruit.

We have been using the Workruit Resume Builder services for our students and have seen a significant improvement in the quality of their resumes. The platform is user-friendly and provides a wide range of templates to choose from. The students have also appreciated the step-by-step guidance provided throughout the process. We are happy to recommend Workruit to other colleges and universities.” says Mr Delhi Babu, VP – Placements, Mohan Babu University

Mr Raghuveer, Principal, Indian Institute of Management & Commerce (IIMC) said, “The Workruit Resume Builder has been a game-changer for our college placement program. Not only has it helped our students create professional and polished resumes, but it has also provided them with valuable guidance and tips for the job application process. We are thrilled with the results and highly recommend Workruit to other colleges and universities.”

Workruit Resume Builder has built over 1.5+ million resumes on the platform and has users from across the globe. The company has collaborated with many educational institutions and colleges, including the Indian Institute of Management Commerce, Vasavi Engineering College, Mohan Babu University, and the BLDE Association.

The company has recently raised over $500,000 in pre-Series A round led by the family office of Kantamaneni from the US.

Bank of Baroda organises Industry-Level Symposium on “Digital Journey in Banking – Legal and Business Challenges”

Bank of Baroda organises Industry-

New Delhi, February 23, 2023: Bank of Baroda (Bank), one of India’s leading public sector banks, conducted an industry-level symposium with the theme “Digital Journey in Banking – Legal and Business Challenges” on 17th February, 2022. Against the backdrop of a rapid increase in digital transactions, the aim of the symposium was to provide a platform for dialogue and discussion amongst banking and legal experts on the spectrum of changing laws and their materiality in the current market framework.

The topics covered during the symposium included Fintech – Legal Aspects & its Impact; Revolution in Digital Lending & its Impact on Banking; Digital Documents, its Execution & e-Bank Guarantees; Automation of the Loan Process including Co-lending Arrangements – Business and Legal Challenges and Cyber Security & Preventive Measures.

The event was organised by the Corporate Legal Department at Bank of Baroda. Shri B Meher Kumar, Head – Legal & RTI hosted the symposium with Shri Lalit Tyagi, Executive Director, Bank of Baroda delivering the keynote address. The symposium witnessed the participation of Shri Debadatta Chand, Executive Director, Bank of Baroda, Shri Surendra Kumar Dixit, CVO, Bank of Baroda, leading legal and banking professionals including Mr. Subhojit Sadhu & Mr. Gaurav Gupte, Partners at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas; Mr. Rajeev Dewal, Sr. Advisor Legal, Indian Banks’ Association (IBA); Mr. Ameya Khandge, Partner, Trilegal; Mr. Manan Jain, Director – Sales, Leegality; Mr. Nilanjan Sinha, Head – Legal, ICICI Bank; Ms. Anusha Dubey, ICICI Bank; Mr. Satish K Patnaik Chief Law Officer, Union Bank of India; Mr. Soumitra Majumdar, Partner, JSA Legal; Mr. Debajyoti Ray Chaudhuri, MD, National E-Governance Services Ltd. (NeSL); Dr. Balsing Rajput, DCP, Cyber Cell, Maharashtra Police; Advocate (Dr.) Prashant Mali, Cyber Law Consultant as well as Mr. Akhil Handa, Chief Digital Officer and Mr. Dhrubashish Bhattacharya, Head-MSME of Bank of Baroda with delegates from a few public and private sector banks in attendance.

In addition, the proceedings of the symposium were live-streamed for the benefit of all the zones, regions and participants at remote centres.

Key takeaways from the symposium:

  • Fintech – Legal Aspects & its impact: The legal framework pertaining to digital lending, the credibility of digital /electronic signatures as well as the need to establish a viable robust regime for E-stamping were key issues discussed. The speakers also discussed the importance of seamless documentation in the banking industry, the role of machine learning in taking instant credit decisions and automated grievance redressal.
  • Revolution in Digital Lending and its impact on Banking: The panel explained the E-stamping process and the need for online notarization. Given the centralised nature of digital lending, the place of paying stamp duty can become a contentious issue.
  • Cyber Security & Preventive Measures: The speakers highlighted the need for bankers to strictly follow the well-laid out principles for financial transactions. They sensitized the audience with real-life cases where the system was compromised and explained the modus operandi of cyber frauds.
  • Automation of the Loan Process including Co-Lending Arrangements: Business and Legal Challenges: The panelists were of the opinion that the genesis of co-lending has to be customer-centric. The several ways of Recourse such as arbitration in case of a default in a co-lending arrangement were also extensively discussed.
  • Digital Documents, its Execution & e-Bank Guarantees: NeSL elaborated on the digital document (DD) and the 3-point check on the NeSL platform before the DD goes for execution. One need not take a printout of the DD, which reduces the instances of fraud.