Archives January 2024

New Delhi, 18 January 2024: Orion India, a leading South Korean snack company, proudly announces Bollywood actor Palak Tiwari as the brand ambassador for their salty product line, Turtle Chips in India. The popular Korean snack Turtle Chips is known for its 4X crunch because of its unique 4-layer shape, which resembles the shell of a tortoise.   

Palak Tiwari, as the face of the brand, takes center stage in their newest commercial, showcasing the Spicy Devil Flavour of Turtle Chips. Palak’s bold and playful persona effortlessly aligns with the crunch and intense flavor of Turtle Chips, making her the ideal choice to represent the brand.

The Spicy Devil flavor, in particular, is a favorite in the Indian market that sets taste buds on fire with an explosion of tantalizing flavors, leaving everyone craving more. In fact, in the commercial conceptualised by Orion India Marketing Team, Palak can be seen transforming into a devil upon consuming the Spicy Devil flavor of Turtle Chips, depicting the irresistible and intense taste experience that sets this variant apart. As she indulges in the tantalizing crunch of the chips, the playful transformation adds a captivating visual element to convey the fiery and bold nature of the Spicy Devil flavor.

Link to the commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edDni6e7ovY

Saurabh Saith, CEO, Orion India, expressed his excitement about the partnership, saying, “In recent years, there has been a notable shift in consumer preferences towards differentiated flavours, international tastes, as well as spicy flavours within the snacking category. The younger demographic in India has developed a strong affinity for bolder options, prompting brands across various categories to adapt to this changing taste preference. Within our Turtle Chips lineup, the Spicy Devil variant has successfully introduced the distinctive Korean spicy taste to the Indian chips market, garnering a considerable and dedicated fan base. The same goes true for the Mexican Lime flavour, a very distinct and international flavour. Not to mention the product itself is a propriety of Orion where we give distinct 4 layered corn-based snacking options with a great crunch to the consumers.

As we aim to expand our market presence, very happy to share the appointment of Palak Tiwari as our brand ambassador; it’s a strategic move to enhance awareness, especially among the dynamic Indian youth. Palak’s infectious personality, coupled with her playful wit and charm, perfectly embodies the essence of Turtle Chips and in particular Spicy Devil flavour – offering a spicy twist to the everyday snacking experience. With this collaboration, we are confident in elevating our brand visibility and reaching new heights in engaging with our target audience largely sitting in GenA, GenZ and to some extent Millennials.”

Sharing her enthusiasm for the collaboration, Palak Tiwari remarked, “I am thrilled to be associated with Orion’s Turtle Chips. Filming the commercial for its popular Spicy Devil flavour Turtle Chips was an absolute blast. The energy and fun we had on set are clearly evident in the commercial, effectively conveying the brand attributes of being cheerful and quirky.

Raje Suneet Jain, Senior Category Marketing Lead, Orion India, added, “As part of this partnership, we aim to dial up brand awareness of Turtle Chips, our 4 layered patent snacks in India. Palak’s incredible on-screen presence, playful personality, and relatability among the youth complement the vibrant and intense nature of the brand. We look forward to captivating our consumers with our latest campaign that spotlights the spicy & crunchy nature of our Chips.

Introduced by Orion, Turtle chips offer a 4X crunch, providing a distinctive snacking experience, and are available in five vegetarian flavors: Spicy Devil, Masala, Sour Cream and Onion, Mexican Lime, and Tangy Tomato.

The campaign has been rolled out today across multimedia platforms with digital film, print, radio, outdoor, and across key markets in India.

Mumbai, India 18th January, 2024:  Apollo Supply Chain, a leading logistics service provider, is proud to introduce ‘alfa’, a comprehensive e-commerce fulfilment and shipping service for D2C brands. With strategically locating fulfilment centers across cities including Delhi NCR, Kolkata, Guwahati, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad, alfa aims to cut logistics cost, improve delivery speed and has plans to expand its network for even swifter and efficient logistics service.

In response to the prevailing issues encountered by Direct-to-Consumer brands in the e-commerce fulfilment space, alfa identifies and tackles key pain points to ensure a seamless experience for e-commerce customers. alfa addresses a major industry challenge related to limited control in fulfilment centres. These centres are often outsourced to third-party providers, leading to frequent breaches of order processing service level agreements (SLAs). alfa’s strategic solution involves in-house operations, providing superior control and ensuring adherence to industry standards.

Further, to enhance operational performance, alfa focuses on employing methodologies such as Kaizen, Lean practices, and global benchmarking along with timely audits of the services. The company follows a hybrid resource allocation approach, optimizing manpower to efficiently handle demand surges. A dedicated client focused team engages in proactive analysis, and driving improvements through Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA). In tandem with a commitment to efficiency, alfa is directing its efforts towards minimizing returns and enhancing the handling of return processes. alfa has established specific parameters to be scrutinized during the pick-up of return orders, ensuring the avoidance of wrong product pickups. Additionally, alfa is implementing an RTO prediction tool for clients, a proactive measure to reduce Return to Origin instances.

Mr. Akshat Pushp, Chief Business Officer, Apollo Supply Chain, stated, “India’s consumer commerce business is witnessing an influx of D2C companies with a potential to become a USD 60 billion sector by 2027. Through alfa, Apollo Supply Chain aims to be at a part of India’s D2C success story by ensuring tailored supply chain solutions. alfa specializes in e-commerce fulfilment and shipping services, catering to a diverse clientele encompassing D2C brands in early, growth (venture funded), and late stages, as well as traditional brands seeking PAN India or multi-region distribution. The introduction of alfa is a commitment towards transforming how e-commerce fulfilment is executed in a seamless manner, enhancing cost efficiency and customer satisfaction at the same time.”

New Delhi 18th January 2024: SaveIN, the leading Gurugram-based healthcare fintech platform, has expanded its product suite by launching groundbreaking no–cost EMI plans, exclusively tailored for over 5 crore credit card holders across various banks. This initiative aims to revolutionize healthcare accessibility, offering customers unparalleled ease in availing a wide range of healthcare services through SaveIN’s extensive network of over 5000 healthcare providers.

With these EMI-based healthcare plans, SaveIN ensures that Credit Card holders can effortlessly access services in Dermatology, Elective Surgeries, Hair Transplant, Dental, Ophthalmology, Wellness, Alternate Therapies, Fertility, and more. The key features of this pioneering initiative are designed to enhance customer experience and affordability in segments that are not covered by traditional health insurance plans and hence require very high out of pocket expenses.

Customers can now visit any healthcare provider in the SaveIN network, select their credit card offer by scanning SaveIN QR code and pay their bills using customized EMI based payment plans on their cards, basis eligibility. The entire process is conducted in a secure environment, utilizing a RBI approved payment gateway. SaveIN prioritizes the security and transparency of the transaction process to ensure a seamless experience for users.

The payable amount will be collected in monthly installments, seamlessly integrated into the regular credit card billing cycle. This approach ensures convenience and flexibility for customers, allowing them to manage healthcare expenses in a manner that aligns with their financial preferences.

The Y-Combinator backed startup already has a completely digital process for offering on demand credit to customers across their healthcare partners. Applicants are assessed for credit worthiness in real time and allotted a credit limit for their specific healthcare needs, from banks and non-bank finance partners of SaveIN. Over 2 lakh such customers have applied for no–cost EMIs on SaveIN in the first two years of its business.

Commenting on this innovative initiative, Jitin Bhasin, Founder and CEO of SaveIN, said, “As we pave the way for a healthier future, SaveIN remains committed to facilitating positive change and a forward-looking approach in healthcare accessibility and payments. With the launch of our no–cost EMI plans for credit card holders, we aim to make quality healthcare available and affordable for millions of credit card customers in India at the click of a button. This product not only provides financial flexibility for need based events in personal health, but also ensures a secure and transparent process for our users.”

Taking a customer-centric approach, SaveIN ensures that, in most of the offers available on the platform, customers are not required to pay any incremental interest. This feature makes healthcare services more accessible and affordable, aligning with SaveIN‘s overarching commitment.

India, 18th January 2024: Radio City, India’s leading radio network, brings to you – “One path, countless stories, and a moment to touch your hearts!” The radio network proudly announces, ‘City Chale Ayodhya Dham,’ their new 15-day campaign celebrating this creative endeavour that is poised to engage with millions of people as it unfolds an assortment of intriguing shows and on-ground activities.

Radio City, renowned for its immersive hyper-local shows, elevates this campaign on the digital platforms. Ayodhya holds profound significance in India for being the birthplace of Lord Ram. Radio City’s campaign comes at a historic moment that symbolises with faith, unity, and cultural richness.

Radio City’s ‘City Chale Ayodhya Dham’ promises an immersive on-air experience with creatively crafted sound that tries to capture the pride and the emotions associated with this campaign.

In addition, on-air contest gives its listeners an opportunity to become a lucky winner and experience a soulful Darshan in Ayodhya. The audio journey will continue with RJ Akhil’s “Kahani Pauranik Bharat Ki” and RJ Saurabh Shukla’s “City Chale Ram ke Dham,” offering captivating explorations of Ayodhya and the grandeur of Ramayana. 

Radio City’s top national RJs and digital influencers are going to converge to capture the campaign’s essence through engaging videos, live sessions, and reels. Furthermore, amplifying Ayodhya Development Authority’s vision to make ‘Plastic Mukt Ayodhya,’ Radio City owns the initiative by distributing plastic free bags in the city. 

Mr. Ashit Kukian, CEO of Radio City, commented on this campaign stating, “Ayodhya, the heart of our heritage, resonates with the spirit of devotion and unity. ‘City Chale Ayodhya Dham’ is not just a campaign; it’s a soulful journey connecting the diverse threads of our culture. With each beat of Radio City, we embrace the profound significance of the sacred city, celebrating with millions of devotees worldwide.”

In addition to the ‘Plastic Mukt Ayodhya’ campaign, Radio City will also be activating a mobile van in Ayodhya Dham covering length and breadths of the city wherein RJs and influencers will keep offering unheard stories, historic moments and development of the City which is supported by ADA (Ayodhya Development Authority). The campaign kick starts from 17th January in the presence of the ADA authorities. 

Mr. Vishal Singh (IAS), Vice Chairman, Ayodhya Development Authority, said “We are happy to have Radio City as the “Vibrant Content Partner” amplifying the experience of Ayodhya City across 39 Markets of Radio City. I also wish to extend my gratitude to the radio station for driving its green initiative of ‘Plastic Mukt Ayodhya.’ Such initiatives are crucial steps in our endeavour to develop Ayodhya as a sustainable and world-class city.”

“City Chale Ayodhya Dham” is set to become a nationwide celebration and Radio City’s vibe will reverberate globally, weaving together spirituality, culture, and entertainment through their extensive digital presence.

The third edition of the La Polo Indian Polo Awards was recently held at the most iconic Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai. The event was a great success as many national and internationally renowned personalities in Polo came together. The event was graced by the presence of Mr Naveen Jindal and his wife, Mrs Shallu Jindal-  Chairman of Jindal Steel and Power Limited, Chancellor of O. P. Jindal Global University, H.E. Hiroshi Suzuki- Ambassador of Japan, Mr Mudit Paliwal-CEO, Delta Corp, Dr Aishwarya Paliwal, Chairperson, Delta Polo Foundation, Mr Taljinder Singh, Senior Vice President and Brand Custodian IHCL, Lt Gen Manoj Kumar Singh Yadav, AVSM, SM (retd), Lt Gen Preet Mohindera Singh, VSM, Director General of Supplies and Transport, Rear Admiral Manish Chadha, Flag Officer Commanding, Maharashtra Naval Area. Mrs Parul Rai, Patron for Rajnigandha Achievers, Mr Vikram Rathore, Patron for Rajnigandha Achievers,Mr Shishir Bajaj, Chairman, Bajaj Foundation,Mr Ravindra Singhal, IPS, Additional Director General Police Maharashtra, Mr Dattatraya Karale, IPS, Joint Police Commissioner, Mr Vijay Suryavanshi, IAS, Maharashtra Excise Commissioner, Vinita Singhal,IAS, Chief Secretary, Maharashtra, Shikha Durlabhji Founder, Code Silver, Pavan Ananad, Jewellery Designer (PAFJ). The event also saw the top players – Simran Singh Shergill, Christopher Mackenzie, Abhimanyu Pathak, Gerardo Mazzini, Phil Seller, Siddhant Sharma, Dinyar Madon and many more.

The red carpet event was followed by an evening of fraternizing where the whole polo fraternity and community united to celebrate the best of polo. The award ceremony began with thunderous applause for the evening’s hosts, Bollywood actress Zoya Afroz and polo commentator Sharad Saxena. The award ceremony had 21 categories, and the beautiful trophy crafted by Code Silver in the shape of ‘The Gateway of India’ woven with the Indian Polo Awards logo was presented to the winners. Lenskart was the gifting partner, and an equine-inspired coffee table book by Nilanjan Das was also presented. The culmination of the ceremony was followed by dinner and drinks, after which a live band was played, which all the guests enjoyed.

The Indian Polo Awards is a one-of-a-kind featurette, it honours the two-thousand-year-old heritage of the sport, highlighting its contribution to the sporting world. Acknowledging the relentless work on and off the pitch, these awards are a token of appreciation for the continuing efforts of people from different walks of life, from prodigious players to meticulous, stable keepers. Keeping with the tradition of celebrating the timeless elan and the undaunted spirit of skilled sportsmanship, this year’s edition focuses on the calibre and the dedication innate to the polo sports person’s persona.

This year, an additional 3 categories, ‘Polo Commentator of the Season’, ‘Emerging Patron’ and ‘Polo Club of the Season’ were introduced. After meticulously keeping a record of each match and chukker in the 2022-2023 season, the team at La Polo carefully selected the winners on a merit basis, backed by statistics. The player’s handicap, performance ratio, goals per match, match wins, and tournament wins were the criteria upon which the winners were announced. Here are the winners whose remarkable performances in the 2022-2023 season made a memorable mark on the Indian polo universe:

1. Baroda Traditional Polo Player: Mohammad Abiddin
2. Alwar The Polo Trainer (Civil): Mr Angad Singh
3. Alwar The Polo Trainer (Army): Nk Irfan Khan of Arty
4. The Polo Groom: Havaldar
5. Gwalior The Best Polo Pony: Rapper
6. Bhopal Pataudi The Best Polo Ground: Jindal Polo Club
7. Polo Club of the Season: Amateur Riding Club
8. Emerging Lady Polo Player: Shivangi Jai Singh
9. The Emerging Polo Player: Savir Mehraj Godara
10. Emerging Patron: DELTA Corp
11. Polo Commentator of the Season: Shailendra Singh
12. Jammu & Kashmir The Army Polo Player: Maj Mrityunjay Singh Chouhan
13. The Young Polo Player: Vishwarupe Bajaj
14. Patiala The International Polo Player: Christopher Mackenzie
15. Jaipur The Polo Patron: Rajnigandha Achievers
16. The Promising Polo Player: Dino Dhankhar
17. The Best Team (Low Goal): Army Service Corps

Acknowledging the romance of the sport, the Indian Polo Awards aims to shine a light on the most fundamental characteristic the sport nurtures, which is romancing the sport. This love affair lasts a lifetime. The annual polo fete deeply believes in fostering these values that inspire an exquisite and purpose-driven life. With this belief at heart, the event convenes to honour the brilliance and flair of people who have carved a distinctive niche for themselves in this mesmerizing sport.

Maninder Sethi, Editor-in-Chief, LA POLO said, “The third edition of LA POLO The Indian Polo Awards stands on the firm resolve of making polo sing through the chapters of history and honouring its present and past custodians who have made the sport a legacy of dedication, resilience and diligence as these champions stand in unity to take polo further into a glorious future.”

Preeti Singh, Events and Marketing Head, LA POLO said, “The Indian Polo Awards stand not just as a celebration of excellence within the polo community but as a testament to the enduring legacy of a sport that has gracefully transcended time. It has been a privilege to curate an event that not only honours the outstanding achievements within the polo arena but also weaves seamlessly into the fabric of a legacy that spans generations.”

The event was powered by Jindal Panther Polo and co-powered by Delta Corp, along with associate partners Wedding Asia and Code Silver. The gifting partner was Lenskart, while paintings by Nilanjan Das graced the event. Studio Exponent was the on-ground partner as all the organizers mentioned above tuned up the energy of this edition as the whole polo fraternity stood in unity to celebrate the legacy and unity of polo.

18th January, 2024: In a pioneering effort to understand the way urban Indian women plan, prioritise and manage their money, DBS Bank India, in partnership with CRISIL, have undertaken a comprehensive study entitled ‘Women and Finance’. The first of three reports was launched today, based on the survey that was designed to reveal the financial preferences of women, both salaried and self-employed, across various life stages. Over 800 women were surveyed across 10 cities in India on a wide range of behaviours, including their involvement in financial decision-making, goal setting, saving and investing patterns, adoption of digital tools as well as their preferences for different banking products.

In the context of the stagnating rate of female participation in the workforce and a persistent gender pay gap, the insights from this study are pertinent for businesses, regulators and financial institutions as well as a revelation when it comes to understanding the variations of Indian women’s relationship with their finances. The survey findings pointed to factors like age, income, marital status, presence of dependants and home location as major influencers of the financial behaviour of women.

Decision making dynamics and evolution of goals

Whether it’s charting out their children’s educational paths or balancing multiple, competing financial goals, women are not bystanders, but are at the helm, shaping the future of their families. An encouraging 98% of salaried and self-employed Indian women actively participate in long-term family decision making. In fact, the findings revealed that about 47% of them make independent financial decisions, a reflection of women’s growing financial autonomy. Age and affluence play a pivotal role in shaping these decisions. Women over 45 years old, with their wealth of experience, emerge as the leaders, with 65% making independent financial choices compared to 41% of those aged 25-35 years. 

The report provides a fascinating glimpse into the growing empowerment of earning, metropolitan women. Across India, a woman’s primary long-term financial priority evolves with age. Buying/upgrading a home is priority number one for those between 25-35 years, while it evolves to children’s education for those in the 35-45 year category and to medical care for those above 45 years of age. Expectedly, retirement planning is seen entering the consideration set for the first time in the 35-45 year age cohort. 

Prashant Joshi, Managing Director and Head of Consumer Banking Group, DBS Bank India, said “The insights from the survey highlight the importance of financial stability in the aspirations of independent female earners across India. Ownership of financial decision making, diverse investment and borrowing choices and growing adoption of digital channels are all evidence that the modern Indian woman is not just a participant, but a planner of her journey. More than 35% of our own DBS Treasures customer base are female and we have seen many inspiring examples of how women can take charge of their own finances. The DBS Women and Finance study is a step forward in the much-needed movement to a more equitable financial playing field and it underlines our commitment to enabling all customers to ‘Live more, Bank less’.”  

Saving, borrowing and investment behaviour

Women earners in the metros tend to be risk-averse with 51% of their investments parked in fixed deposits (FD) and savings accounts, followed by 16% in gold, 15% in mutual funds, 10% in real estate and just 7% in stocks. This tracks with behaviours from DBS Bank India’s own customer insights where 10% of female customers have an active fixed deposit, while just 5% of male customers have opened an FD.

The presence of dependents understandably plays a major role in women’s investment behaviour. Specifically, 43% of married women with dependents conservatively allocate 10-29% of their income to investing, while in contrast, a quarter of married women without dependents choose to invest over half of their income. Regional variations lend greater depth to the insights. For example, Hyderabad and Mumbai lead the way in credit card usage, with 96% of women in Mumbai relying on credit cards, while only 63% of women in Kolkata use them. More significantly, the report revealed that half of the salaried women stated that they have never taken a loan. Among those who have borrowed, the majority opted for a home loan, which reflects the deep cultural importance associated with homeownership in India. 

The study also deep dived into women’s usage of different banking and payment channels. 33% of those in the 25-35 age bracket prefer to use UPI for online shopping, while only 22% above 45 years use UPI. This finding aligns with the customer profile of digibank by DBS, the mobile-first, digital bank where more than 78% of the female user base is below 40 years of age. The report showed that UPI stands out as the preferred choice for urban women for a variety of payment needs: money transfers (38%), utility bills (34%) and e-commerce purchases (29%), signalling decreasing dependency on cash. Although regional nuances were stark in some cases with only 2% of women in Delhi opting for cash payments, while 43% of women from Kolkata favoured this option.

DBS has been a part of India‘s journey since 1994, and it is the largest foreign bank in the country by branch presence with a physical footprint of 530 branches in 350 locations. With the study Women and Finance and its three-part report, DBS Bank India aims to gain a deeper appreciation of the evolving needs and aspirations of women in India in order to better support holistic financial management and growth.

New Delhi, 18th January 2024: On National Startup Day, Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest producer of aluminium, is celebrating its collaboration with nearly 60 cutting-edge technology startups on 90 diverse projects. Going beyond conventional notions of manufacturing, the company is utilising Industry 4.0 technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Natural Language Processing (NLP), Machine Learning (ML), Drone technology, Computer Vision, Robotics and more, to drive operational excellence and innovation across its functions.

In celebration of National Startup Day, the company invited several leading startups for a multifaceted knowledge-sharing session to showcase the successful outcomes of their collaboration and demonstrate the impact of emerging technologies across Vedanta Aluminium’s critical operations. These include diverse scenarios such as the company’s smelters, alumina refinery, power plants, mines, material handling, supply chain, and HSE (Health, Safety, and Environment) practices.

Aligned with the ethos of ‘Startup India’ and ‘Make in India’, this endeavour was an integral facet of the company’s initiative, Vedanta Spark, a unique global corporate innovation, accelerator, and venture program that empowers startups to create large-scale impact by leveraging transformative technologies to solve business challenges at scale. Under the Vedanta Spark project, Vedanta Aluminium has fostered partnerships with deep tech startups for projects like predictive and prescriptive analytics to enhance operational efficiency in smelters, IOT solutions for continuous monitoring of critical production parameters, advanced modelling for quality control of finished goods, startup optimization of power plants, AR/VR/XR simulations for safety training of employees, drone-based surveillance, and many more.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. John Slaven, CEO, Vedanta Aluminium said, “The rise of India’s economy to global prominence is fuelled by its youthful dynamism and unwavering entrepreneurial zeal. The nation is home to one of the world’s most thriving startup and entrepreneurial ecosystems. As India’s largest producer of aluminium, Vedanta Aluminium complements the relentless drive radiating from these startups, leading to collaborative efforts for global excellence. With aluminium emerging as the cornerstone for a sustainable future, our path to exponential growth relies on being digital-first and future-ready. Therefore, we actively collaborate with tech startups, infusing cutting-edge technologies and global expertise to elevate our manufacturing and operational excellence.”

Commenting on the collaboration, Raju Yadati – Founder & Director, Glovision Techno Services Pvt. Ltd. says, “At Glovision, we build cutting-edge cloud-based IOT applications for Vedanta Aluminium to optimize logistics and transportation, thereby contributing to safer and more productive mining operations. It has been our privilege to work with the company.”

Adding his views, Himanshu Srivastava, Director – Customer Success, ZestIOT, “We have deployed our propriety deep tech AI/ML algorithms which are used at the company’s Jharsuguda smelter operations to enhance accuracy and transparency in critical operations. We thank Vedanta Aluminium for their mentorship, which has been invaluable.”

To cultivate a culture of innovation and transform employees into intrapreneurs, Vedanta Aluminium has established ‘Innovation Cafés’ across its business units. These vibrant spaces serve as incubators for passion projects, where employees and business partners collaborate to tackle diverse business challenges, pooling internal expertise and producing innovative solutions. Simultaneously, the company actively nurtures an extensive ecosystem of rural and micro-entrepreneurs in its operational regions, which lie in the hinterlands of the nation. Vedanta Aluminium’s expansive value chain, customer network, and supplier network have not only fostered numerous MSMEs but have also elevated many to the status of valued suppliers and esteemed business partners for the company, helping them become a part of the global value chain.

Vedanta Aluminium, a business of Vedanta Limited, is India’s largest producer of aluminium, manufacturing more than half of India’s aluminium i.e., 2.29 million tonnes in FY23. It is a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. Vedanta Aluminium ranks 2^nd in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) 2022 world rankings for aluminium industry, a reflection of its sustainable development practices. With its world-class aluminium smelters, alumina refinery and power plants in India, the company fulfils its mission of spurring emerging applications of aluminium as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a greener tomorrow. www.vedantaaluminium.com

18th January 2024: ACC, the cement and building material company of the diversified Adani Group, has taken a transformative yet sustainable approach to improve the quality of life in India’s villages through water and land management. By conserving and managing water and soil resources, the company aims to regenerate degraded landscapes, conserve biodiversity, enhance crop production, and expand sustainable livelihood opportunities. It recognizes that effective water governance is crucial in achieving these goals.

ACC has been able to promote ecosystem-based integrated watershed development and facilitate efficient water management through the numerous water stewardship initiatives undertaken by them. One of the key activities include the construction and repair of 32 dams and counting. In addition, they also constructed 72 gabion structures to help prevent erosion and promote soil conservation.

ACC has also focused on excavation and de-siltation of ponds, naalas, and rivers and have completed 59 such projects under this category. Moreover, they also constructed 1,400 metres of irrigation channels that act as reliable sources of water supply to agricultural lands. To further enhance water storage capacity, the company has constructed around 55 structures of water storage tanks and farm ponds. They have also constructed 17 recharge pits and ditches to facilitate groundwater recharge and prevent water runoff.

ACC has achieved remarkable outcomes and impact under the water governance and management initiative. This includes development of water harvesting capacity of 19,57,574 cubic meters, which benefits 12,852 farmers and 41,184 individuals. Moreover, 5,356 hectares of land have come under irrigation, enabling farmers to improve agricultural productivity and secure their livelihoods. ACC has also contributed to the recharging of 391 bore wells and wells, further ensuring the availability of water resources for the community.

Mr. Ajay Kapur, CEO, Cement Business, said, “We believe that sustainable water governance and management is pivotal in addressing the existential threat rural communities’ face due to climate change. We have taken significant steps to not only conserve and manage water and soil resources, but also to revitalise degraded landscapes and protect biodiversity.  There is a deep sense of satisfaction in knowing that we are making a positive impact on the lives of farmers and communities through initiatives such as ecosystem-based integrated watershed development and proficient water management.

ACC and Adani Foundation remain committed to water conservation, sustainable land management, and effective water governance, and continues to lead the way in improving the quality of life in India’s villages.

Bengaluru, 18th January, 2024: Happiest Minds Technologies Limited (NSE: HAPPSTMNDS), a ‘Born Digital . Born Agile’, Mindful IT Company, organized the 7^th edition of its Annual Tech Fest – Blitz 2024 at St. John’s Auditorium, Bengaluru, on Thursday, 11^th Jan 2024.

The theme for this year’s Blitz, “Ignite Inspire Innovate”, perfectly encapsulated the company’s technology mission and ignited a spark of creativity and innovation in 5000 plus Happiest Minds. The teams from Electronic City and Madivala campuses of Happiest Minds joined the celebration at St. John’s Auditorium. Happiest Minds from all other locations – Noida, Pune, Bhubaneswar, Madurai, and Coimbatore, joined the celebration virtually and had cultural events and celebrations in their respective locations.

The Blitz Finale was inaugurated by Ashok Soota (Executive Chairman), Venkatraman Narayanan, (MD & CFO), Joseph Anantharaju ( Executive Vice Chairman), Ram Mohan (President & CEO of IMSS), Sridhar Mantha (President & CEO of GBS), Priya Kanduri (Senior Vice President & CTO, IMSS), Aurobinda Nanda (President – Operations & Deputy Chief Executive Officer, PES) and the Chief Guest, Dr. Kris Gopalakrishnan. Dr. Kris is the Chairman of Axilor Ventures, a Co-founder of Infosys, and the President of the Infosys Science Foundation (ISF). Kris is also the Chairman of the Council of IISc, Chairman of BoG of IIIT Bangalore, and Chairman of RBI Innovation Hub.

During his welcome address, Joseph Anantharaju greeted the audience and emphasized the importance of technology for business growth and touched upon the journey of Blitz since its inception in 2014. Dr. Kris spoke about the role of technology in his life, and the importance of reading and the readiness to keep learning in his keynote address. The tech note, a tradition of Blitz, was delivered by Sridhar Mantha and he elaborated on ‘Top 10 Strategic Technology Trends 2024’.

Ashok Soota, in his valedictory address, appreciated the entire team for pulling off ‘the best Blitz ever’ and elaborated on his vision for the company, encouraging everyone to be a salesperson.

Blitz 2024 – The winning team Trailblazers

The Blitz Grand Finale was the culmination of 11 events, Booths, Ideation, One Minute Video/Talk, Tech Debate, Innovation Talks & Events, Tech Quiz, Technical Whitepapers, Hackathons, Question of the Week/Day, Vlog (Women Only), and Treasure Hunt with various cultural events and award distributions. This year’s Blitz saw active participation from all locations, and Team Trailblazers emerged as the Champions of Blitz 2024, securing 644 points.

Blitz 2024 – Booth Day

Blitz booths, held on Jan 10^th, 2024, had 25 booths showcasing ideas, prototypes and working models based on the most recent technologies such as Generative AI, digital twin, cyber security, and many more. ‘iShop – Shopping Made Interactive’ won the first place for its innovative ideation and engaging presentation. The first runner-up was Digital Twin for Industrial Applications, and the second runner-up was Automotive ECU Test Automation Framework.

Prizes for all winners were distributed by Joseph Anantharaju, Venkatraman Narayanan, Ram Mohan, Aurobinda Nanda, Raja Sekher, Sridhar Mantha, and Priya Kanduri.

Mumbai 18th January, 2024: India is set to witness a revolutionary moment in the digital entertainment space with the launch of ‘The nAIna Show’, a unique and groundbreaking series hosted by Naina, India’s first AI superstar. This podcast marks a significant milestone as the country’s first AI-driven podcast series, featuring in-depth and insightful interviews with some of the most celebrated personalities in the entertainment industry.  

The guest list includes Sobhita Dhulipala, Sanya Malhotra, Richa Chadha, Saiyami Kher, Esha Deol, Hansika Motwani, Ridhima Pathak, Nargis Fakhri, Kritika Kamra and many more.

Naina, known for her remarkable AI capabilities blended with a uniquely Indian perspective, will engage with celebrities from various fields, including Bollywood, sports, music etc. This platform offers an unprecedented opportunity for fans to experience their favorite stars through the lens of advanced artificial intelligence.

The podcast series aims to delve deep into the lives, careers, and personal stories of these celebrities, providing listeners with a rare and intimate experience. Naina‘s ability to analyze and ask thought-provoking questions promises to bring out the most candid and engaging responses from her guests.

Listeners can expect a blend of insights, emotion, and humor in each episode, making ‘The nAIna Show’, not just an entertainment venture but an enlightening journey into the minds of India’s most influential figures.

The podcast will be available on Naina’s and Pop Diaries’ YouTube channels, ensuring easy access for audiences worldwide. It’s interactive format will also allow listeners to submit their questions and comments, creating an engaging experience.

Naina‘s foray into podcasting is not just a technological marvel but a cultural phenomenon, showcasing the potential of AI in reshaping media and entertainment. This series is a testament to India’s growing prowess in the field of artificial intelligence and its application in creative industries.

Stay tuned for the first episode of ‘The nAIna Show’, where Naina, the AI superstar, takes the art of conversation to a new level, redefining the way we engage with media and technology. The podcast promises to be a trailblazer in the digital era, seamlessly integrating AI innovation with the rich tapestry of Indian culture and celebrity stories.

Link to the trailer – https://youtu.be/-gLQTo5ryfo?si=__CZXX-XGJDZb1Ji