Archives April 2024

India,26th April 2024 – Siegwerk Druckfarben AG & Co. KGaA, one of the leading global providers of printing inks and coatings for packaging applications and labels, has again been awarded an EcoVadis Silver Medal rating. The year-over-year improvement in total points underscores the companies’ unwavering commitment to sustainability across all business units and regions. The current EcoVadis rating places Siegwerk among the top 18% percent of companies in its industry regarding sustainability performance. EcoVadis is a global sustainability ratings provider that evaluates companies based on the maturity of their environmental, social, and ethical management systems. It provides a comprehensive analysis of a company’s performance in areas such as environmental impact, labor and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement.

Key Highlights:

Environmental Performance was a 2023 scorecard highlight. Strong sustainability management systems, emissions reduction targets, and circular packaging solutions contribute significantly to this achievement. Siegwerk achieved an impressive score of 80 points, out of a possible 100, in this category.

Approved Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) validation signifies Siegwerk’s greenhouse gas reduction targets align with scientific evidence and contribute to global climate goals. The SBTi targets reinforce an ambitious climate transition strategy.

Global GreenCATs are Siegwerk’s sustainability change agents, driving sustainable solutions and ideas throughout the organization, multiplying the effects of internal environmental and social training.

The increased rating performance is a testament to the effort and focus we have placed on sustainable business practices in the inks and coatings industry,” said Sarah Mah, Siegwerk’s Senior Global Sustainability Manager. “We are proud of our achievements and remain committed to further enhancing sustainability across our operations and value chain.”

New Delhi,26th April 2024 In a remarkable initiative, School of Health and Allied Sciences, GD Goenka University, one of the prominent educational institutions in the country, is elevating healthcare services for its students, faculty, and the local community by inaugurating the Park Hospital Outpatient Department (OPD).

The OPD has been established in collaboration with the Park Hospital, marking a pivotal moment in the institution’s journey towards a healthier future for all. The Health & Wellness Centre is a beacon of unprecedented healthcare, offering consultations, diagnostics, and specialized medical care, all aimed towards enhancing the overall well-being of the university community.

The inauguration ceremony was graced by the presence of esteemed guests, including representatives from Park Hospital and GD Goenka University. The occasion was an opportunity to celebrate the joint efforts of both institutions towards delivering top-notch healthcare services.

”This collaboration with Park Hospital is a testament to our commitment to ensuring comprehensive medical services at the School of Health and Allied Sciences, GD Goenka University. The OPD is equipped to treat a wide range of medical conditions, including routine check-ups, vaccinations, and specialist treatments. In addition, the centre boasts highly qualified medical professionals who have been trained to provide the best possible care to patients,” said Ms. Kim Menezes, Vice Chancellor, GD Goenka University.

Located within the university campus, the Health & Wellness Centre is conveniently accessible for all. It will also offer a range of health education programs to promote healthy lifestyles and preventive healthcare practices in the university.

26th April 2024, Mumbai – With the Indian Premier League (IPL) kicking off its 17th edition to a record-breaking start, Justdial, India’s leading local search engine, has observed a significant surge in searches for DTH (direct-to-home) installation services across the country.

Justdial reports a 19% increase in searches for DTH installation services compared to the period before the IPL season began. This trend is expected to continue and potentially surpass last year’s impressive 26% rise as the tournament progresses.

Among major cities, Pune takes the lead with a surge of 29% in DTH installation searches, followed closely by Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Bangalore, each witnessing a 26% increase.

The most popular searches within this category include DTH service providers like Tata Play and Airtel Digital, along with installation services for Dish TV and Tata Play set-top boxes.

According to Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) data, a staggering 35 crore viewers tuned in to watch the live broadcast of the first 10 IPL matches, with the opening day itself registering a record-breaking 16.8 crore unique viewers and a total watch time of 1,276 crore minutes. This immense viewership has translated into a heightened demand for DTH services.

As the IPL continues to captivate the nation, Justdial anticipates a sustained rise in DTH installation searches, reflecting the unwavering passion for cricket among Indians and their desire for a superior viewing experience.

26th April 2024 Tata Motors, India’s leading automobile company, has yet again achieved a significant milestone towards intellectual property rights (IPR) creation with a record-breaking number of 222 Patents and 117 Designs applications filed during the year FY24, the highest in its history. These filings span a wide spectrum of product and process innovations, addressing key automotive megatrends such as Connectivity, Electrification, Sustainability, and Safety (CESS). They also cover various vehicle systems such as powertrain, body & trim, suspension, brakes, HVAC, and emission control. Tata Motors also received its highest-ever grant of 333 patents during the same period, taking its total tally of granted patents to over 850.

Tata Motors’ strong commitment to engineering excellence, cleaner powertrains, design, connectivity, and intelligent safety features ensures that its innovations seamlessly align with real-world needs. By prioritizing both consumer well-being and environmental stewardship, the company’s purposeful research and innovation efforts have yielded more efficient, greener, and safer vehicles, benefiting end-users and transforming the industry. In FY24, Tata Motors received five prestigious accolades and honors of global repute for its excellence in intellectual property rights (IPR).

Commenting on the milestone, Rajendra Petkar, President & Chief Technology Officer – Tata Motors expressed, “Tata Motors’ unwavering commitment to research and innovation has propelled us to new heights in innovation & value creation through intellectual property. With a record number of patents filed and granted, we continue to redefine automotive excellence. Our cutting-edge technologies, greener vehicles, and customer-centric approach position us as trailblazers in the industry. As mobility evolves, Tata Motors remains at the forefront, shaping a smarter, more connected future for all.”

Mumbai 26th April 2024, NSE Academy Limited (NAL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) has signed an agreement with Oxford University Press (OUP) to offer joint certificate courses on in-demand professional skills for professionals and students.

Under this collaboration, short courses of OUP on key professional skills such as Design Thinking, Negotiation, Problem Solving, Creative Thinking, and Storytelling among others, will be offered through NSE Knowledge Hub, an AI-powered learning experience platform. NAL and OUP will co-certify candidates who successfully complete these short-duration self-paced courses.

Speaking about the partnership, Mr. Sumanta Datta, Managing Director of Oxford University Press India, stated, “As a pioneer in higher education and academic publishing, OUP has played a pivotal role in furnishing top-tier content to learners across pivotal disciplines including engineering, computer science, business, economics, and beyond. Our alliance with NSE Academy stands poised to enrich skill seekers and learners, facilitating their engagement with contemporary courses tailored to meet the dynamic requisites of the job market. Moreover, this collaboration underscores our commitment to furthering the Government’s #SkillIndia initiative.”

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Abhilash Misra, CEO, NSE Academy Ltd. said: “We are thrilled to announce our partnership with OUP to enhance professional skills education and empower individuals with the knowledge they need to succeed in today’s dynamic workplace. Corporates will be able to deploy these future-ready skills courses to support the diverse learning and development needs of their workforce.”

Pune, 26th April 2024: Road safety stands as the foremost priority of HMSI. To foster responsible behavior on the roads and contribute towards creating a more vigilant and safety-focused society, the company regularly organizes Road Safety Awareness Campaigns across diverse regions in the country. HMSI firmly believes that such campaigns encourage individuals to adopt safe driving practices, fostering a culture of caution and consideration on the roads.

Among various activities, one such campaign was recently organized in the city of Pune which left a notable imprint on the participants. Continuing its focus on educating young minds, HMSI witnessed the active participation of over 2500 school students and staff members at the premises of Army Public School.

HMSI underscores the necessity of teaching road safety principles to children from an early age, and thus, promotes the inclusion of road safety educational curriculum at both school and college levels. Understanding that young minds are receptive to learning, the company aims to empower the next generation with the knowledge and skills necessary for navigating roads responsibly. The road safety awareness campaign consists of highly interactive and engaging activities such as Road Safety Games, Safe Road Theory Sessions, Slow Bicycle Riding, Road Signage and Riding posture training.

Since its inception, HMSI has imparted Road Safety Education to nearly 5 Lacs individuals including children and adults in the state of Maharashtra, striving to promote Safe Riding an everyday habit for all.

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India’s CSR Commitment towards Road Safety:

In 2021, Honda globally made a vision statement for the year 2050 where it will strive for zero traffic collision fatalities involving Honda motorcycles and automobiles. In India, HMSI is working in line with this vision and the Government of India’s direction of reducing fatalities to half by 2030.

One critical aspect of achieving this goal is inculcating a positive mindset towards road safety in our children by the year 2030 and continuing to educate them thereafter. Road safety education at schools and Colleges is not only to create awareness but to inculcate a safety culture in young minds and turn them into safety ambassadors. It empowers future generations to become responsible and significantly contribute to a safer society.

HMSI wants to be a company that Society wants to exist and is strongly focusing on Road safety awareness to all sections of society with unique ideas catering to each segment from school kids to Corporations and society at large.

HMSI’s set of skilled safety instructors conducts daily programs at our 10 adopted traffic training parks (TTP) across India and 6 Safety Driving Education Centers (SDEC) to make road safety education accessible to every part of society, and the initiative has already reached over 5.7 million Indians. HMSI’s National Road Safety Awareness program made learning fun yet scientific through:

SCIENTIFICALLY DEVISED LEARNING MODULE: Honda’s skilled instructors set the foundation with theory sessions on road signs & markings, driver’s duties on the road, riding gear & posture explanation and safe riding etiquette.

1. PRACTICAL LEARNING: A special training activity on Honda’s virtual riding simulator was executed for all to experience over 100 possible dangers on road before actual riding.

2. INTERACTIVE SESSION: Participants were given danger prediction training known as Kiken Yosoku Training (KYT) which helps in enhancing rider/driver’s sensitivity to danger and ensures safe driving behaviour on roads.

3. EXISTING DRIVERS HONING RIDING SKILLS: Students & school staff members who are already existing riders tested & honed their riding skills through slow riding activities and riding on narrow planks.

India,26th April 2024 Fabindia, India’s much-loved lifestyle brand, has launched their latest umbrella theme for the summer, capturing the mood of ‘Celebrate every day’. It’s about living in the moment, cherishing the hustle and bustle of daily life, whether be it for work or play, and all the little moments of our life.

This collection highlights gentle pastels to earthy shades, elegant craftsmanship, and the easygoing comfort we all need. It’s light, airy, breezy, and ready for summer! With capsule collections for different aspects of your wardrobe and home, they present 3 key offerings- Indian Summer, Elemental, and PLaY.

Elemental- Western Wear Summer’24

Showcasing the harmony between contemporary fashion and timeless traditions, earthy tones, fluidity, warmth, and breathable fabrics rule this campaign. With the ever-growing popularity of Fabindia’s western wear collection, this edit seamlessly integrates nature-inspired designs into contemporary Western Wear, with something for every style aesthetic. With each piece telling a story of artisanal crafts, women can explore a range of silhouettes for dresses, prints, and embroideries on shirts, tops, and more. Men can browse through a myriad of options for fabric, prints, and colors for their summer shirts.

Indian Summer- Ethnic Wear Summer’24

This collection encapsulates Fabindia’s most loved kurtas for men and women, saris, dupattas, and intricate jewelry. This is your summer diary, your everyday go-to essentials, it speaks to you on a day-to-day basis. It’s a take on familiar elements of summer reflected in comfortable ethnic wear. With motifs inspired by the Peepal tree and enchanting florals, light pastel shades woven in cotton are what you will find, with styles for the entire family.

PLaY by FabHome

Limitless possibilities! That’s the theme for your home this season. Play by Fabhome encourages everyone to embrace their inner interior designer, mixing and matching cushions, curtains, throws, bed linen, and table settings. Your home is your playground and every aspect of your personality should shine through. The collection caters to the ever-changing moods and aesthetics of your home during the summer.

Speaking about the ‘Celebrate Everyday’ collection, a Fabindia spokesperson said – “We want people to look at Fabindia as an everyday solution, not just for weddings, festivals, and special occasions, but as a one-stop-shop where everyone, from adults to kids, can find something they identify with every day. This collection has its own identity with inspiration taken from the moments we all experience every day, which is woven into its fabric. This makes it stand apart from the rest.”

Mumbai, 26th April 2024: Ecofy, India’s leading green-only Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC), and Vidyut, a pioneering EV ownership platform specializing in making electric three-wheeler acquisition more affordable, today announced a strategic partnership aimed at revolutionizing the electric vehicle market and fostering sustainable transportation solutions. While Ecofy will finance the loan, Vidyut will offer a subscription-based battery-as-a-service model to ensure affordable EV solutions.

This collaboration marks a pivotal shift towards making EV ownership as accessible and seamless as that of conventional ICE vehicles. With a hybrid financing model that significantly reduces the cost of acquisition and introduces a pay-per-kilometer battery leasing model, Ecofy and Vidyut aim to make the adoption of EVs stress-free and risk-free.

Speaking on the partnership, Kailash Rathi, Head of Partnerships & Co-Lending at Ecofy, said, “This collaboration underscores our shared commitment to promoting sustainable mobility solutions. Ecofy has already made meaningful strides in the 3W EV space with its unique product and boasts partnerships with all top OEMs. As a dedicated green financier, we have been pioneering innovative and bespoke solutions to drive green penetration in the country. In line with this, by combining Ecofy’s expertise in green financing and Vidyut’s subscription model, we aim to democratize EV ownership in the country.”

Our battery subscription-based vehicle ownership model provides customers with a 30-40% cheaper alternative to traditional ICE vehicle ownership. This solution broadens access to electric vehicles by eliminating the necessity for significant upfront payments and providing flexible payment options based on usage, making EV ownership more accessible to a wider audience.

Xitij Kothi, Co-founder at Vidyut said, “We are excited to partner with Ecofy to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles and contribute to a greener future. Our subscription-based holistic ownership model aligns perfectly with Ecofy’s mission to drive positive environmental impact through sustainable financing solutions. Together, we aim to empower solo entrepreneurs and small businesses to make the transition to electric vehicles seamlessly.”

Between 2019 and now, India saw a notable surge in electric vehicle adoption across various segments. Passenger cars experienced a robust growth rate of 37%, capturing 3% of the market. The commercial vehicle sector witnessed even stronger growth, with electric three-wheelers commanding 65% of the market share. Two-wheelers also saw significant adoption, comprising 7% of total sales.

26th April 2024, New Delhi: PRable Global, one of India’s new-age PR agencies, has been awarded strategic communications and PR mandate from BOOTES, India’s first net zero company working towards Mr. Modi’s ambitious vision of achieving net zero by 2070.

The partnership is founded on a shared vision for technological innovation and sustainability. In this new collaboration, PRable

Global will implement comprehensive strategies to enhance BOOTES positioning as a forefront leader in the NetZero construction-tech industry.

India’s first Net-Zero company, BOOTES, is synonymous with innovation in India’s construction landscape, spearheading a paradigm shift towards sustainable Net-Zero infrastructure. The company is committed to revolutionizing the industry, one eco-friendly project at a time. In their quest for a greener, healthier Bharat, BOOTES is not just building structures but rather crafting a sustainable legacy. The company’s vision transcends traditional construction norms. As architects of change, they envision a future powered by 100% on-site energy generation, thereby reducing carbon footprints and operational costs. Their projects, like the Net-Zero Jhansi Library, Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta Museum, Haryana, Pradhan Mantri Sangralahaya, Delhi, 354 Hudson Street, New York, World Expo India Pavilion, Dubai, etc., spanning the length and breadth of India, echo their unwavering commitment to PM Modi’s vision of a Net-Zero nation by 2070.

Speaking on the collaboration, Deepak Rai, Managing Director BOOTES said, “We are delighted to have PRable Global as our strategic communications partner because of their strong capabilities across verticals. I am confident that our partnership will lead to increased awareness and appreciation of our brand presence.”.

Commenting on the mandate, Aman Singh Madaan, Founder at PRable Global, said, “BOOTES is a revolutionary company that is helping achieve India’s net-zero goals. We are excited to partner with them for PR. We believe that with our impactful tools and approach to media relations, we can showcase BOOTES’s ethos that is rooted in Aatmanirbhar Bharat.”

PRable Global will take on a pivotal role in positioning BOOTES’ as a market leader. With a history of successful collaborations with renowned brands like MG Motor, SEPC by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Big Boy Toyz, Intellect Design, Landmark, Muffin, Netmeds, Adrenaline e-Systems, Lectrix EV, Ankur Suman, and more, PRable Global brings a wealth of experience to further amplify BOOTES market presence.

Arete incident response engagements and explores the rise and fall of ransomware variants, trends in ransom demands and payments, impacts on critical infrastructure, and what Arete expects to see in 2024.

Here are the key findings:

• · Arete observed threat actors continually evolve their operations to become faster, stealthier, and wealthier. These changes ranged from new methods to bypass security defenses to new techniques for exfiltrating and posting stolen data.
• · A ransom was paid in just 31.3% of engagements in 2023, driving threat actors to become more aggressive in negotiation techniques and demand notably larger ransoms.
• · Threat actors faced increased pressure from law enforcement, including the successful disruption of the Hive ransomware operation and a temporary ransomware takedown of ALPHV/BlackCat

Arete transforms the way organizations prepare for, respond to, and prevent cybercrime. With decades of industry experience, Arete’s team combines hundreds of investigative, technical, and cyber risk management practitioners with best-in-class data and software engineers. This elite team of experts provides unparalleled capabilities to address the entire cyber incident life cycle, from incident response and restoration to advisory managed security services.