Archives September 2023

Mumbai, India, 5th September 2023 – AVEVA, a global leader in industrial software, driving digital transformation and sustainability, has been recognized as ‘Digital Partner of the Year’ at the 4th Edition of Downstream India Excellence Awards 2023 in New Delhi.

Held in association with the Global Refining & Petrochemicals Congress (GRPC), India’s flagship downstream industry forum dedicated to facilitating the transition to an agile, lean and sustainable future, the Downstream India Excellence Awards celebrates the expertise, achievements, and milestone accomplishments of the Indian downstream Oil & Gas industry.

AVEVA was awarded for the successful deployment of its Value Chain Optimization Solutions,which have enabled increased levels of data usage, performance transparency, and operational agility in downstream operations of AVEVA’s Oil &Gas customers in India.

Ajit Kulkarni, Vice President – Asia Pacific, AVEVA, said,“We are proud to be recognized for our efforts in simplifying processes and driving digital transformation for our customers in the downstream industry. With the productive deployment of big data, AI, industrial IoT, Digital Twin and autonomous plant technologies, we have been able to help organizations significantly improve their performance, sustainability and business resilience; while reducing related cost structures and carbon footprint.”

Recognizing industry leaders and organizations, the awards accredit new standards of excellence across thought leadership, management, research, technology, innovation, and overall operations.

Extending his congratulation to AVEVA on winning the award, Dr. R K Malhotra, Chairman of the Governing Council of GRPC 2023, said, “The ‘Digital Partner of the Year’ award highlights the innovation, sustainability and industry best practices maintained in AVEVA’s software and solutions for their customers in the Indian downstream oil &gas industry. Further I hope our oil & gas companies will gain in terms of efficiency and profitability by adopting such digitalizing technologies.”

AVEVA’s end-to-end engineering and operations management solutions optimize refinery performance and sustainability. Companies can leverage real-time optimization, production planning and scheduling, asset management, and plant monitoring tools for maximum process unit performance and increased margins. Additionally, hydrocarbon loss can be minimized for increased efficiency with CO2e emissions managed for greater compliance.

The energy industry is volatile. Societal, technological, and political trends are reshaping the environment in which oil and gas companies can operate. Agility in operations will help these companies react faster to overcome market challenges and stay ahead of the curve. Oil & Gas operations must leverage necessary and available tools to unlock insights across the value chain. AVEVA’s Value Chain Optimization solutions help oil and gas companies seize valuable opportunities to improve agility and sustainability, enabled by advanced technology. Sustainable organizations will be ready to tackle new goals or regulatory requirements. By focusing on three key areas – agility, sustainability, and advanced technology – Oil & Gas companies can usher in a new era of energy.

5th September 2023, Bengaluru: Digit Insurance, one of India’s fastest-growing general insurance companies, launched its latest Pay As You Drive (PAYD) brand campaign “Drive Less, Pay Less” with its brand ambassador Virat Kohli. The ad campaign was launched ahead of the much-coveted Asia Cup 2023.

Virat Kohli, who appears in a bobblehead form for the ad campaign, is seen grooving to the “Do the Digit-Digit” anthem on the car dashboard, unable to keep calm knowing Digit customers will pay less car insurance premium if they drive less. The PAYD add-on offers a discount of up to 85% from erstwhile motor tariff in Own Damage Cover of car insurance to customers who drive less than 10,000 km in a year (around 28 km/day).

The 45-second fast-paced ad film, through its vibrant youthful connect showcases different cohorts of people the PAYD discount will be most relevant to. It ranges from an employee who works from home or in hybrid mode and drives less to a woman who drives her second car-less to a retired elderly person who doesn’t take his car out every day. The campaign also showcases people living in metro cities who use taxis or public transport to travel to work or only drive their car within the city limits.

Speaking about the newly launched ad campaign, Tanya Marwah, Head – of Marketing and Corporate Communications, at Digit General Insurance, said, “The discount offered under PAYD add-on is relevant to rather a large part of the Indian population, especially as many people living in cities don’t drive excessively and use the public transport or cab services despite having cars at home. But since people hardly track their daily commute or look at their odometers regularly, they don’t realize how less they drive in a year. These add-ons are for such people, who honestly shouldn’t be paying as high as people who drive a lot. And at Digit, we have made sure that the process to get this discount is super simple as it is not based on future driving behavior, or telematics or app to track the driving, but just the average kilometers driven per year since you had the car, which can easily be seen in the odometer reading.”

‘Pay As You Drive’ is a tech-enabled add-on cover by Digit Insurance that one can take when buying an ‘Own Damage’ or Comprehensive Car Insurance cover. Staying true to its mission of simplification, Digit has made the process of availing the add-on very smooth by offering a discount based on historical driving data. To avail the discount, a customer simply needs to share the car’s odometer reading and the yearly average usage of the car needs to be below 10,000 km. For example, if a car that is four years old has an odometer reading of 40,000 km, the average yearly usage of the car is 10,000 km, allowing the customer to avail the discount.

Digit Insurance in July 2022 became one of the first insurance companies to offer a ‘Pay As You Drive’ add-on to its customers, launching the same in less than two weeks after IRDAI’s announcement. The insurance regulator IRDAI on July 6, 2022, allowed general insurance companies to offer PAYD add-on cover to their customers.

Motor Insurance is one of the biggest lines of business for Digit Insurance. It had a market share of 5.3% in motor segment in the nine-month period ended December 31, 2022, and clocked a Gross Written Premium of Rs 31.24 billion in the same period. Impressed with Digit’s vision, Kohli invested in the Company in February 2020 and also became the brand ambassador.

Credits:

• Concept: Digit Brand Marketing Team
• Creative Agency: Stirred Creative
• Production House: Supari Studios
• Film Director: Sonal Batra
• First AD: Karan Juneja
• Second AD: Chaitanya Jain
• Music Director: Raghav & Arjun
• Director of Photography: Parth Sayani
• Producer: Benezir Ansari
• Executive Producer: Divyashree Thacker

Barcelona, September 2, 2023: A positive Saturday for Marc Marquez who surpassed his early weekend expectations, earning entrance into Q2 and fighting for the top ten in the Sprint. Joan Mir meanwhile aims for more on Sunday.

Faint spells of rain couldn’t keep the fans away as the grandstands around the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya steadily filled through the day. Marc Marquez did his best to give the home fans something to cheer about as he hustled his Repsol Honda Team RC213V around the track. A near-perfect lap in Q1 saw the eight-time World Champion secure a spot in the top two and advance through to Q2 to secure 12th, a result he believed would be impossible less than 24 hours ago.

From the fourth row, the #93 gave his all in the opening half of the race to stay with the leading group, able to match their pace. As the race went on and the leaders opened their advantage, Marquez settled into his rhythm to bring his Honda home once again. Crossing the line in 11th, Marquez is content with the overall speed he showed on Saturday – the Q1 lap providing a welcome confidence boost.

On the other side of the Repsol Honda Team garage, Joan Mir’s work continued. Improved grip was once again his and the team’s primary objective during practice. Qualifying and the Sprint race highlighted that there is still work to be done overnight for the 2020 MotoGP World Champion.

Sunday’s feature race is scheduled to start at 14:00 Local Time with higher temperatures currently predicted. This combined with the full 24-lap race distance will present the 22 MotoGP riders with a very different challenge when the lights go out.

Marc Marquez (11th)

“I had an important day today, for me, for my feeling and my confidence. It was just Q1, but we were able to do a really strong lap and be much faster than we expected. In the Sprint race I was able to stay with the top group for half the race more or less, pushing to the limit, but we were able to do it. Both of these things give me a bit of extra motivation to keep carrying out our work in this way. Tomorrow will be a much longer race, so let’s see what we can manage in that.”

Joan Mir (21st)

“Today’s race was very difficult, this is clear. We continued to struggle with grip and the reality is that there are many corners here which highlight our weaknesses. The team and I will spend tonight looking at everything deeply to try and improve the situation for tomorrow. I am still able to brake and enter the corner well, but we need to work on the other areas.”

Catalan GP – Sprint Race

Coimbatore, 4th. Sep.2023– SSVM Institutions proudly announced the winners of the Studentpreneur Awards 2023 at the second edition of the Transforming India Conclave, held at SSVM World School. These prestigious awards are designed to promote entrepreneurship among school students and recognize their innovative solutions with a significant social impact.

The awards ceremony was graced by the esteemed presence of Thiru. V. Balakrishnan I.P.S., Commissioner of Police Coimbatore City, who had the honor of presenting the awards.

The Studentpreneur Awards 2023 witnessed an overwhelming response from young talents across the nation, with more than 1,000 students registering their startup ideas. This year’s challenge revolved around creating innovative business ideas and models focused on waste segregation, social development, and sustainability. Among the remarkable submissions, 15 exceptional and innovative pitches were selected for recognition.

Thiru. V. Balakrishnan I.P.S., Commissioner of Police Coimbatore City, remarked,”I am truly impressed by the remarkable talents and creativity displayed by the young minds participating in the Studentpreneur Awards 2023. It is heartening to witness students, regardless of their age or background, coming forward with innovative solutions that address critical societal challenges. SSVM Institutions have taken a commendable initiative in encouraging entrepreneurship among our youth, aligning with the spirit of progress and innovation that our nation needs. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the winners and all participants for their outstanding contributions to the betterment of our society.”

Dr.Manimekalai Mohan, Founder of SSVM Institutions, shared her perspective on the initiative, stating,”The awards and the conclave aim to encourage students who develop innovative, practical solutions with a significant societal impact. With the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, skill development has gained immense importance. We believe in providing a platform for students to showcase their entrepreneurial skills, regardless of their age or educational background. This year, we received over 1,000 applications, demonstrating the enthusiasm and creativity of our young entrepreneurs. Their projects ranged from recycling e-waste to devising solutions for natural disasters like landslides and building safety.”

The Studentpreneur Awards represent a unique opportunity for students, ranging from the age of three to 17 or 18, to present their entrepreneurial concepts and ideas. The awards recognize their innovative spirit and reward those who deliver compelling pitch presentations.

Day 2 of the Transforming India Conclave featured a lineup of influential speakers who inspired the students of SSVM Institutions, including Manu S Pillai, Indian Writer and Historian; PreethiRamdoss, Founder of Manithee Herbal Skin; SaranshGoila, Indian Chef and Co-founder of Goila Butter Chicken; Kishen Das, Indian Actor, Content Creator, and YouTuber; Aman Gupta, Co-founder and Marketing Director of boat, Meghna Suresh, Singer; and Harun Robert, Host of MAD Show.

SSVM Institutions remains committed to nurturing entrepreneurship among students, thereby contributing to the development and progress of the nation. The Studentpreneur Awards serve as a testament to their dedication to fostering the future leaders and innovators of India.

Actor Navneet Malik’s phone hasn’t stopped buzzing ever since his latest series, The Freelancer created by Neeraj Pandey released. From calling it an intense and sharp portrayal with layers to calling him a complete package with acting, looks, and performance, appreciation and love have been pouring in from all corners for his role as Mohsin. The actor debuted in a negative role in the web series after his turns in positive roles in Sajid Nadiadwala’s Heropanti 2 and Red Chillies Entertainment’s Love Hostel.

Needless to say, Navneet was excited about the show and confident about his portrayal. Turns out he had every reason to be, as compliments have not ceased to come his way. Everyone from the industry, stalwarts, colleagues, friends, and acquaintances in general, have been reaching to him to laud him for his performance. The same is the case with people from outside the industry. Navneet’s family, relatives and friends are proud of him cheering him after watching the show.

While Navneet is grateful for all the praises and compliments, he is especially humbled as he’s put his heart and soul into making this happen. More than that, the opportunity to share the screen space with a stalwart such as Anupam Kher and the super-talented actor Mohit Raina has thrilled Navneet.

The actor said, “Being on the sets with them and a great creator such as Neeraj Pandey was a tremendous experience as an actor. It was so gratifying to face the camera with them. Anupam Kher is an institution in himself, and there was so much to learn from him just by observing him in action. Similarly with Mohit. They are so dedicated. I got to learn a lot from them, and I think that’s what enhanced my performance.”

He added, “I’m elated that everyone is liking the series and my performance. The love I’m receiving is truly humbling. All I want to ssay in SRK style is, ‘Picture Toh Abhi Baaki Hai Mere Dost.’ There’s more to come and I’m hopeful that viewers will support me in my journey going forward too.”

Navneet is certain that the show will open many more doors for him. He cannot wait to wow audiences again! The Freelancer is streaming on Disney+Hotstar

4th September 2023, Mumbai: A renowned name in the culinary industry, celebrity chef Ranveer Brar, launches his first restaurant in the Middle East. An upscale authentic restaurant ‘Kashkan’ located at the first floor of Dubai Festival City Mall, Dubai, opened its doors on the 2nd September, 2023. Kashkan, Indian Kitchen By Ranveer Brar is a gastronomic haven that blends innovation with tradition, redefining the dining experience for India Food at Kashkan.

The name Kashkan is of profound significance, derived from Kashmir and Kanyakumari; two states of India located at the extreme north and south of India’s map. Elevating your dining experience, you have a plethora of dishes to select from, panning each region and state of India. The first-of-its-kind concept in the Middle East, promises a unique and unparalleled dining experience. The restaurant operates from 1130 am to 12 am, offering both indoor and outdoor seating options, with a maximum capacity of up to 160 guests. A glimpse of his menu includes Chef Ranveer’s signature Kebab platter from his hometown, an exclusive Bhoot Jolokia (hottest chili) competition, and many more such thought-inspiring dishes to select from.

With plush indoors that include private cabanas along with group seating options, the bright outdoor overlooks the fountain views of Dubai Festival City Mall, which is a delight to the eye. The restaurant is exquisitely designed with vibrant and colorful décor that eloquently embodies its rich concept and culture. It boasts five distinct private dining rooms, each intricately portraying a unique state and its captivating narrative. The bistro section graciously faces a live kitchen, seamlessly blending chic sophistication with a laid-back aura. Another distinctive feature is the nick-knack corner; an alluring space showcasing an array of pan-Indian nibbles available for purchase. The al fresco area’s serene ambiance is accentuated by a captivating fountain display that harmonizes beautifully with the restaurant’s natural essence. Additionally, an intriguing photographic exhibition curated by Chef Ranveer Brar adorns a wall in the dining areas, capturing soulful moments and adding a personal touch to the overall dining experience.

Celebrity Chef Ranveer Brar expressed his excitement following the launch of Kashkan, “Kashkan is a conversation, about the diversity & versatility of our cuisine. Opening my first restaurant in the UAE, I wanted it to be a connecting thread between the innumerable flavours and stories that I have experienced and collected in my culinary journey. The menu I’ve curated brings together handpicked (or unique) dishes from the Indian cuisine, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari (hence the name ‘Kashkan’), that seamlessly blend nostalgia with innovation to create memories on your plate.”

Kashkan pays homage to the roots and essence of India food. It sets the tone for a dining experience that is both flavorful and harmonious with the culturally rich country. Each element is focused on building an ultimate experience. Kashkan – An Untold Story Awaits You.

Bollywood star Vicky Kaushal went sleepless for three straight nights to shoot for Kanhaiya Twitter PeAaja from YRF’s upcoming release The Great Indian Family (TGIF)!

Vicky says, “Kanhaiya Twitter PeAaja is my entry sequence in TGIF. A massive set was built that replicated a heartland town of India. The environment was infectious, there were countless dancers and crew who added to the vibe. We have constantly shot for 3 whole nights! Yes, I was sleepless, we all were but we were loving the vibe!”

The song is growing on the charts as the big Janmashtami song of the year! Vicky says YRF went all out to give massive scale to his entry sequence because he is playing a singing sensation from heartland India!

He says, “YRF really mounted Kanhaiya Twitter PeAaja to showcase the popularity of Bhajan Kumar in his hometown. My character is a singing icon in his town and the people of this town adore him.”

Vicky adds, “The scale of the song had to match the love that the people have for Bhajan Kumar. I had an amazing time shooting this song. I hope that people love this song too and it becomes the song to listen to this Janmashtami!”

India,4th September 2023 Distinguished IIT-Delhi professor Tapan K. Gandhi, Cadence Chair Professor of Artificial Intelligence and Automation along with his team recently conducted an extensive study affirming that Poker and Rummy are games of skill. The study “Online Poker and Rummy- Game of Skill or Chance?” reinforces the importance of cognitive and other skills required for success in Poker and Rummy. It further analysed the impact of experience and learnable skills in the game and the role it plays in the player’s long-term success in the Sport.

Commenting on the report, Tapan K. Gandhi, Associate Professor in the Dept. of Electrical Engineering, Cadence Chair Professor of AI and Automation, IIT Delhi said, “Amidst ongoing conversations around online gaming and biased perception terming it as a taboo owing to preconceived notions, the exhaustive study examines the gameplay of various players to understand if the game in reality focuses on skill or element of luck prevails. Throughout our research, we were presented with compelling cases that made it clear that these sports indeed require a level of innate understanding that aided in building the cognitive abilities of the players. Not just limiting the skill aspect to the sport, we also noticed that the player’s softer skills like that of understanding social cues, taking decisions under high pressure situations, memory retention amongst others advancing throughout the time they were playing consistently.”

“We are elated to share our study, ‘Online Poker and Rummy- Game of Skill or Chance?,” that will debunk the yesteryear myth of the games being driven by luck and highlight the skill required in order to be successful.” Added Tapan Gandhi.

Deepak Dhayanithy, Associate Professor, Strategic Management, IIM Kozhikode who was instrumental in publishing an earlier report verifying Poker as game of skill shared his views on the research, “In the realm of online card games like Poker and Rummy, the analysis leaves no room for doubt: skill, not chance, is the driving force behind long-term success. The non-linear trends in skill variables and winning percentages defy randomness, pointing unmistakably to players’ expertise and patience. Both online and offline, skill reigns supreme, reducing variability like in other sports such as Cricket, Golf, etc., as players rise to the challenge. The research establishes that skill prevails, enriching our comprehension of cognitive prowess in the gaming arena.”

The IIT study provides a quantitative analysis using mathematical tools to determine whether long-term success in online poker and rummy can be attributed to skill. The data was analyzed covering a larger set of user data who had played between 30 to 100 games in 2-player, 3-player, and 6-player formats. The findings indicated that in both poker and rummy, skill variables improve as users play more games. Furthermore, the measured correlation between users’ win rates was 0.904, indicating a positive relationship and emphasizing the persistence of skill in the game. This highlights the significance of skill over mere chance in shaping outcomes over consecutive periods of time. The consistency in win rates highlights the fact that mastering the game’s nuances and strategies can significantly enhance one’s performance. Such a strong correlation suggests that players who invest time and effort in understanding the game’s intricacies have better chances of maintaining a higher win rate.

Therefore, the study concluded that: 1) there is no difference in online and offline versions of rummy and poker from the perspective of the requirement of skills and 2) In rummy and poker, there is a preponderance of skills over chance to succeed.

Hyderabad,4th September 2023….Dr. K. V. Rao Scientific Society presented its 23rd Annual Science Awards in a function held in B. M. Birla Science Centre, Hyderabad on Friday night

KVRSS has been involved in the promotion of Science by spotting and recognizing talent at the School and university levels for the past 23 years.

Dr Tata Narasinga Rao, Director, International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI), Hyderabad and Adjunct faculty at IIT Hyderabad delivered the 23rd Annual Memorial Oration “Nanomaterials Based Technologies for Energy, Health and Environment” and Mr P V V R Sarma, Director-in-Charge (Chemistry), Geological Society of India, Hyderabad graced as the guest of honour.

Mr Anil Kumar Kutty, President of the society said Science is part and parcel of our human race.

Dr. Tata Narasinga Rao said Science is very important because it helps us understand how world works. It enables us to explore and develop new technologies, innovations, gadgets, medicine etc. He appreciated the efforts of the foundation which has been promoting science for the past 23 years.

Dr Tata Narasinga Rao and Mr. PVVR Sarma presented the 23rd Annual Research Awards, 18th School Talent Awards, 12th SPARK Innovation Awards and 3rd SMART (Science Meets ART) Awards during the meeting.

The 23rd Annual Research Awards were presented to encourage research in basic sciences. The Society has instituted these awards in the broad fields of Bhoutikam, Rasayanam, Jeevanam and Ganitam. Students below the age of 30 years and actively involved in research in various states of India will be recognized with awards.

18th School Talent Awards are initiated in collaboration with the Andhra Pradesh State Council of Science & Technology (APCOST). Students from various districts, particularly the government schools, present projects based on the theme given by the Department of Science and Technology. The projects are scrutinized by the KVRSS panel and students are selected for scholarships till their schooling.

The 12th SPARK Innovation Awards were also given to stimulate the young minds of India, Students present Science Models with Concepts. 40 Projects were selected for final presentations

3rd SMART (Science Meets ART) Awards were too presented. These awards were initiated to celebrate National Science Day and to let school students visualise science.

The Society has diversified to learning and mentoring through the establishment of a Science Innovation Centre and Mobile Science Lab for school children. The Society plans to extend its reach in the coming years informed Ms. Ratna, secretary of the Society.

Aditya Chopra is building the YRF Spy Universe brick by brick and his next offering is Tiger 3 starring Salman Khan & Katrina Kaif which releases this Diwali!

YRF, today, launched the first poster of Tiger 3 and it promises an insane, jaw-dropping action spectacle as two super-spies Salman & Katrina take on their most deadly mission yet!

Tiger aka Salman Khan is the OG of the YRF Spy Universe as Ek Tha Tiger (2012) silently put the plan in motion to create slick super-spies that Indian cinema has never seen before! It was EkTha Tiger & Tiger ZindaHai’s success that cemented Aditya Chopra’s belief that he could incorporate two more larger-than-life agents Kabir aka Hrithik Roshan in WAR and Pathaan aka Shah Rukh Khan into his ambitious plans.

It was in Pathaan that Aditya Chopra officially revealed that he was building the YRF Spy Universe, which is now the biggest IP in Indian cinema! The crossover of characters from this ambitious spy universe also started with Pathaan, which saw a union of Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan in an adrenaline-pumping action sequence that celebrated the superstardom of these two cinematic icons.

YRF has officially revealed in the first poster of  Tiger 3 that the plot of this film, the fifth from the blockbuster YRF Spy Universe, will follow the events of Tiger ZindaHai, War &Pathaan! It signals YRF’s intent to tell audiences and fans that every film featuring these super-spies will be interconnected!

Tiger 3 has been directed by Maneesh Sharma.