Archives June 2025

“Boson is not just another cell manufacturer—it’s a symbol of India’s technological prowess in powering sustainable solutions to address the requirements of the burgeoning futuristic industry that are looking for banking on renewable energy.” said Guru Punghavan, CEO of Boson Cell. “We’re not only replacing imports but building smarter, cleaner, and more scalable energy solutions that can power the future of every Indian household, enterprise, and innovation. The cells manufacture in three variants namely Economy, Advanced and Extreme can aid the multi-dimensional requirements of battery manufacturers as well as individuals who have a requirement in a smaller scale. Quality is at the heart of Boson’s promise, with each lithium cell undergoing rigorous multi-stage testing to guarantee safety and superior performance. These cells are designed for wide compatibility, powering a diverse range of applications including electric vehicles, drones, solar energy systems, power tools, and more.”

• Deliver high energy density
• High discharge current
• Low minimum order quantity
• No inventory carrying cost for customers
• 1000 recharge cycles compared to 350 recharge cycles of Chinese cells
• Enhanced safety for drone manufacturers and operators

New Delhi, June 4, 2025 — On a sun-drenched Sunday afternoon, Comet, India’s fearless indie sneaker brand, brought a full scoop of nostalgia, street culture, and sneaker heat to the capital with its ice cream parlour-themed pop-up, launching its latest drop: “Extra Toppings Only.”

Bengaluru, June 4th 2025: Global technology brand OnePlus is set to unveil its first-ever compact flagship smartphone, the OnePlus 13s, tomorrow, i.e. June 5, 2025, at 12 noon IST. The OnePlus 13s, part of the 13 Series line-up, debuts exclusively for India market and offers flagship performance, OnePlus AI features and a refreshed design language, all in a sleek, compact form ideal for one-handed use. 

The launch event will be livestreamed on the OnePlus India YouTube channel on June 5, 2025 at 12 noon IST. Meanwhile, let’s take a closer look at what we know about the device so far.

Stronger and without compromises

The OnePlus 13s delivers flagship power in a compact form, perfectly suited for modern users who value performance without compromising portability. Powered by the latest Qualcomm® Snapdragon® 8 Elite Mobile Platform, the device ensures smooth multitasking, gaming, and on-device AI effortlessly. In fact, the OnePlus 13s may be the most affordable smartphone in India powered by the Snapdragon® 8 Elite platform.

During a stress test of Battlegrounds Mobile India® (BGMI), one of India’s most demanding mobile games, the device maintained a stable frame rate for 7 hours, from full battery to empty. The OnePlus 13s delivers the best battery life ever seen on a compact smartphone. 

The device comes with an innovative internal layout that maximizes power featuring a cutting-edge 4400mm² Cryo-Velocity Vapor Chamber, one of the largest in its class. This is also backed by an industry-first cooling layer on the back cover, which helps dissipate heat and keeps the device cool to the touch.

Smarter with OnePlus AI – Intelligently Yours

Recently, OnePlus announced its vision with OnePlus AI to deliver a more personalized and intelligent smartphone experience, and the upcoming OnePlus 13s will be the first to witness this. The device introduces the all new Plus Key — a major upgrade designed to bring the power of AI to your fingertips. Building on the legacy of the Alert Slider, the Plus Key is a customizable hardware button that can be programmed to launch frequently used actions such as switching sound profiles, launching the camera, enabling Do Not Disturb, starting voice recordings, initiating translation, or activating AI features.

At the heart of this innovation is Plus Mind, OnePlus’ next-gen productivity assistant. With a simple press of the Plus Key or a three-finger swipe, users can instantly capture, save, and organize key on-screen information into a dedicated Mind Space. Whether it’s a meeting schedule, restaurant reservation, or event listing, Plus Mind intelligently extracts and stores only what’s relevant, helping users manage information overload with ease.

Beyond just saving, Plus Mind leverages OnePlus AI to analyse the content contextually—automatically pulling out dates, times, or action items and integrating them into useful apps like the calendar. 

Not only that, OnePlus is actively developing a suite of tools leveraging OnePlus AI to enhance user efficiency and creativity like AI VoiceScribe, AI Call Assistant, AI Translation, amongst others. 

The Per-Fit daily driver 

The OnePlus 13s embraces a new design philosophy defined by clean lines, minimalism, and thoughtful craftsmanship. With flat glass on both sides, a streamlined middle frame, and rounded corners, it offers a sleek, yet comfortable in-hand feel. At just 8.15mm thin and 185g, the device is designed for effortless one-handed use and all-day comfort, thanks to perfectly balanced 50:50 weight distribution.

Available in three colour variants —Black Velvet, Pink Satin, and India-exclusive Green Silk—each finish tells a story. Green Silk, inspired by the olive tree, symbolizes growth and continuity, while the Pink and Green models debut Velvet Glass, a soft-touch, skin-like finish that feels as premium as it looks.

 Fast Network, Smart Link

The OnePlus 13s sets a new benchmark in network performance with an upgraded 360° antenna system with 11 antennas, including 3 high-performance modules for better gaming and streaming and a four-mode ultra-wideband low-frequency antenna to optimize signal reception. A self-developed signal-balanced mode further enhances reception by up to 60%, minimizing interference from hand grip and surroundings for smoother gaming and streaming.

For connectivity, the OnePlus-exclusive G1 Wi-Fi chipset—India’s first independently integrated Wi-Fi solution, ensures fast and stable performance, whether you’re streaming on the metro or on calls in elevators. The device also supports 5.5G in India, offering advanced signal slicing and multi-cell connectivity across towers, enabling faster, more reliable connections on the move.

Flagship-Quality Cameras

The OnePlus 13s features a flagship-level camera setup designed for exceptional image capture. This commitment extends to the front-facing camera, which boasts a 32MP sensor with an autofocus lens.

Bangalore, 04 June 2025 – Bessemer Venture Partners today announced the appointment of Pankaj Mitra as Partner in its India practice. The tech industry veteran will focus primarily on investments in enterprise tech, AI, and cybersecurity.

With more than 25 years of experience, Pankaj joins Bessemer from Cisco’s corporate development team, where for the past seven years he led investments and M&A activity for its global Customer Experiences portfolio as well as for India. Some of his investments include Fiddler (AI observability), Uniphore (contact center AI), and Whatfix (digital adoption). He has also worked at Infosys in a similar capacity and was part of the founding team for its $500 million innovation fund. His investments at Infosys included Ideaforge (NSE: IDEAFORGE) and Whoop. Earlier in his career, Pankaj helped launch VMware’s first cloud services as a product manager and was also a management consultant at Deloitte.

Pankaj Mitra

An Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur alumnus, Pankaj also holds an MBA from UC Berkeley Haas School of Business.

Commenting on the appointment, Vishal Gupta, Partner, said “We are delighted to welcome Pankaj to the Bessemer family. Pankaj brings a breadth of experience which is a unique blend of investing prowess as well as deep industry knowledge. This will be invaluable as we look to deepen our commitments in AI, enterprise-tech, and cybersecurity in India.”

Pankaj himself commented, “I am thrilled to join Bessemer at this pivotal time.  The ongoing AI platform shift offers a once in a generation opportunity for builders to usher in the next wave of tech evolution across industries.  With its stellar track record, Bessemer is poised to partner with this new generation of ambitious, world-class founders in India addressing pain points domestically and globally, and I’m excited to be part of this journey.”

Bessemer has been active in India for the past two decades. The firm’s legacy investments include Mediassist, Perfios, Swiggy, Urban Company, among others. Some of its more recent partnerships have been with Boldfit, Easebuzz, Protectt, Shopdeck and more. Bessemer announced its second India fund with $350 million of capital in March this year with a focus on AI, fintech, enterprise-tech, digital health, consumer, and cybersecurity.

Launched in 2021, the RISE* Program accelerates the development of uncompromising new propulsion technologies that will pave the way for the next generation of aircraft. With cutting-edge technology and strong partnerships, GE Aerospace is helping create a future of flight that’s more fuel-efficient while meeting expectations for durability and reliability.

CFM International (a 50/50 joint venture between GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines) is leading the next revolution in propulsion technology with the RISE Program, which aims to improve fuel efficiency by more than 20% compared to engines today.

5 Quick Facts About the RISE Program

1.Open Fan Engine Architecture

At the heart of the RISE Program is the Open Fan engine architecture, which removes the traditional casing, allowing for a larger fan size with less drag to improve efficiency. It will also be equipped with carbon-fibre composite blades for weight reduction, strength, and durability. Leveraging supercomputing, RISE Program engineers are designing a fan that maximizes efficiency while minimizing noise.

2.Compatibility with Unblended Sustainable Aviation Fuel

The core is being designed for compatibility with next-generation fuels, including unblended sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), as well as with hybrid electric systems. It also uses adaptive engine technologies for improved thermal efficiency and cooling to boost performance while allowing safe and efficient operation at every stage of a flight.

3.Extensive Global Testing

To date, the RISE Program has successfully completed more than 250 tests across research facilities worldwide. In 2024, over 300 hours of wind tunnel testing were conducted at ONERA — the French national aerospace research center — using a one-fifth scale model of the Open Fan by Safran Aircraft Engines. Meanwhile, endurance testing of high-pressure turbine (HPT) blades and nozzles was conducted earlier this year, with over 3,000 operational cycles completed.

4.Advancing the Science of Non-CO2 Emissions

Beyond CO₂, GE Aerospace is also helping to advance the industry’s understanding of non-CO2 emissions while it develops next-generation combustion technology. GE Aerospace recently partnered with NASA to conduct groundbreaking contrail analysis tests, leveraging state-of-the-art Lidar technology to capture three-dimensional imagery.

5.Ground and Flight Tests this Decade

As part of the RISE Program’s push to revolutionize next-generation aircraft propulsion, CFM, in collaboration with Airbus, is preparing for an Open Fan Flight Test Demonstration to evaluate performance, safety, noise, and aerodynamics under real-world conditions. These efforts are key milestones in the development of disruptive engine technologies, which could potentially enter service in the latter half of the 2030s depending on airframer strategies.

By-Mohit Kamboj is a visionary leader, entrepreneur, and philanthropist dedicated to progress, unity, and transformative change across India

The recent trial run of Metro Line 9 Phase 1, popularly known as the Red Line, marks a pivotal leap forward in reshaping urban mobility for Thane, Mira-Bhayander, and the broader Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). The Red Line is more than just another metro corridor—it’s a symbol of progress and urban transformation.

With Maharashtra Chief Minister recently flagging off the trial run between Dahisar (East) and Kashigaon, the long-awaited dream of seamless metro connectivity for residents of Mira Road, Bhayander, and adjoining areas is finally materializing. This significant milestone, coupled with a successful technical inspection, signals that the project is steadily advancing toward operational readiness.

Once operational, Metro 9 will drastically cut commute times, reduce road congestion, and enhance accessibility to key economic and residential hubs across Mumbai. Residents who once had to endure packed local trains and hours of road traffic can now look forward to a faster, safer, and more comfortable alternative.

Engineering Marvel: India’s First Double-Decker Metro-Flyover

What sets Red Line 9 apart is its innovative double-decker bridge design—a first-of-its-kind in India. The structure ingeniously integrates a road flyover on the first level and the metro line on the second, maximizing the utility of urban space and minimizing land acquisition challenges. This engineering feat spans the bustling Mira-Bhayander Road, with the flyover starting near the upcoming Shivaji Chowk Metro Station and extending into Bhayander (West).

This smart infrastructure solution not only eases metro construction in a densely populated area, but also enables simultaneous enhancement of road traffic capacity—addressing two transit problems with one visionary design.

Strategic Connectivity Across Mumbai Suburbs

Spanning 11.386 km, the Red Line 9 extension is designed to carry up to 1.112 million passengers daily by 2031. More importantly, it will function as a crucial connective tissue in the city’s transit grid—linking the Western Express Highway, Mumbai’s Western Railway Line, and other metro lines like Line 2 and Line 7. This level of integration will empower commuters to switch modes of transport effortlessly, fostering a more interconnected and efficient urban ecosystem.

Economic and Social Upliftment

The improved accessibility brought by Metro Line 9 is expected to unlock immense economic potential in Thane, Mira Road, and Bhayander. Areas once considered on the periphery of Mumbai will now become more attractive for businesses, real estate development, and investment, spurring growth and job creation.

Moreover, the metro will significantly enhance the quality of life for lakhs of daily commuters, offering a modern, air-conditioned, and eco-friendly alternative to traditional transport modes. Reduced travel stress and time savings will translate to more productive days and healthier lives for countless families.

Looking Ahead

The trial run is a promise of a better-connected, more sustainable Mumbai. As work continues toward full-scale operations, the residents of Thane, Mira-Bhayander, and beyond can look forward to a future where distance no longer dictates opportunity. It is not just a transport project, but the pulse of a modern, progressive metropolis in motion.

Mr. Manoj Mittal, Chairman and Managing Director, Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) said: “The MSME sector plays a crucial role in generating employment opportunities and contributes to export growth. Though the credit flow to the sector has improved over the years, the sector still has an addressable credit gap. Providing support to MSMEs can help the sector’s growth and aid the overall economic growth of our country. By fostering innovation, enhancing skill development programs and improving access to financial resources, we can empower MSMEs to become more competitive on a global scale. This in turn will bolster the sector and drive sustainable economic development and inclusive growth across the nation.”

Mr. Bhavesh Jain, MD and CEO, TransUnion CIBIL said: “For MSMEs to achieve sustainable growth, it is imperative that they receive assistance in accessing formal credit and guidance in debt management. Additionally, fluctuations in the business cycle affect these enterprises disproportionately, as they often lack the financial reserves or support necessary to navigate adverse conditions. Therefore, it is crucial to extend support to this sector and equip them with tools for effective financial management.”

By Peter Jay, Vice President & Managing Director of South Asia & APAC Channels, Jabra

We’ve all seen the movies – AI takes over, humanity fights back, chaos ensues. But here’s the twist: in reality, AI isn’t coming to destroy your job – it’s coming to save it. While you’re stuck in back-to-back meetings and drowning in emails, AI could be doing the grunt work for you. The only thing standing in your way? Your hesitation to embrace it.

Jabra surveyed 4,200 knowledge workers and 1,800 decision makers, asking for their input of how AI will reshape their work in 2025. According to the Jabra Great ExpectAItions Report 2024, while 90% of professionals are aware of AI, only 27% are actually using it at work. Just imagine how much potential is just sitting there untapped for your business. It’s like knowing electric cars exist but still riding a horse to work. The AI revolution isn’t just coming – it’s already here. 

AI is the personal assistant you never knew you needed

Let’s debunk the biggest myth upfront: AI isn’t some rogue robot plotting to replace you. Instead, it’s more like the ultimate office assistant, handling the mundane, repetitive tasks so you can focus on the work that really matters.

The report shows that employees spend 62% of their time writing emails and 57% occupied in meetings – the very definition of busywork. Meanwhile, only 23% are dedicating time to creativity and innovation – the things that actually move businesses forward.

AI isn’t about taking over. It’s about taking work off your plate. I don’t know about you, but I would gladly give up a few of my repetitive daily tasks.

The AI skills gap: Ready to learn something today?

While awareness of AI is high, adoption remains embarrassingly low. Why? Because most employees (and let’s be honest, a lot of leaders, too) don’t know how to use it effectively. Over 60% of employees admit they need to acquire AI-related skills to stay competitive. There are many businesses out there today with AI experts just waiting to share the wealth and are worth every cent of your investment. 

Businesses that prioritize AI training and upskilling aren’t just keeping up with the trend – they’re future-proofing their workforce. The ones who ignore it will simply be left behind. 

Meetings, emails and the death of the keyboard

We spent years mastering the keyboard – memorizing shortcuts, perfecting our typing speed – only to find out it might not matter much longer. One of the most surprising findings from our report is that the future of AI interaction is shifting away from typing and moving toward voice commands. With AI becoming more adept at understanding natural speech, the workplace is moving toward a keyboard-free reality – where talking is faster, easier and more efficient than typing.

35% of employees prefer voice input when working with AI. The reason is simple: talking is faster than typing. People want seamless, human-like interactions – not clunky, manual inputs. (Just for the record, I am manually typing this report while dreaming of voice prompts instead.) This means businesses need to think beyond text-based AI tools. If your AI strategy doesn’t include voice-first experiences, you’re already behind the curve. 

AI is a productivity booster – but it’s also a well-being game-changer

AI isn’t just about efficiency – it’s about sanity. Let me explain: The data shows that employees feel most drained by emails, meetings and admin work, but thrive when engaging in creative thinking, strategy and collaboration. AI can help shift that balance, automating the numbing tasks so employees can focus on what makes them happy and productive.  

What does all this mean for your business? Besides happy, smiling employees, it means that companies that use AI the right way will have a workforce that’s not only more efficient but also more engaged and less burned out. And in a world where burnout costs businesses billions, that’s a competitive advantage you can’t afford to ignore.

The bottom line: AI isn’t optional – it’s inevitable

If you’re still on the fence about AI, here’s the harsh truth: you don’t really have a choice anymore.

The companies that incorporate AI now will be the ones dominating their industries in five years. The ones who hesitate? They’ll be wondering why their competitors are moving faster, doing more and attracting top talent. Basically, getting left in the dust.

So, stop worrying about killer robots and start thinking about killer efficiency. AI isn’t here to take over the world – it’s here to make your work better. 

Vikram Solar Limited, one of India’s largest solar photo-voltaic (“PV”) modules manufacturers in terms of installed capacity, with more than 15 years of experience in the industry as of 31, March 2024, has received final observation from the capital markets regulator, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), to raise funds through an initial public offering (IPO).

The IPO, with a face value of Rs 10 per equity share, is a mix of fresh issue of shares up to Rs 1,500 crore and an offer for sale (OFS) of up to 17.45 million equity shares by promoter and promoter group selling shareholders.

The company intends to utilize the Net Proceeds from the fresh issuance to the extent of Rs. 793.36 crore for partial funding of capital expenditure through investment in its wholly owned Subsidiary, VSL Green Power Private Limited, for setting up of an integrated 3,000 MW solar cell and 3,000 MW solar module manufacturing facility at the Project Site. Rs 602.95 crore will be used to fund the expansion of the solar module manufacturing facility set up under Phase I at the same site—from 3,000 MW to 6,000 MW (Phase II of the project), also through investment in VSL Green Power Private Limited; and general corporate purposes.

Vikram Solar Limited is one of India’s largest solar photo-voltaic (“PV”) modules manufacturers in terms of installed capacity, with more than 15 years of experience in the industry. With 4.50 GW of installed manufacturing capacity for solar PV modules, it has one of the largest enlisted capacities among pure play non-captive manufacturers in the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy’s Approved List of Module Manufacturers (“ALMM”)

The company has manufacturing facilities at Falta SEZ in Kolkata, West Bengal and Oragadam in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. To meet growing demand, it is currently undertaking significant greenfield and brownfield expansion plans, it plans to increase its installed manufacturing capacity to up to 10.50 GW by Fiscal 2026 and up to 15.50 GW by Fiscal 2027. Furthermore, it is backward integrating into the solar value chain by establishing a 3.00 GW solar cell manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu.

Vikram Solar’s portfolio of solar energy products consists of the following high-efficiency solar PV modules such as n-type  monocrystalline silicon based Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact (“TOPCon”) modules; n-type monocrystalline silicon based heterojunction technology (“HJT”) modules; p-type monocrystalline silicon based Passivated Emitter and Rear Contact (“PERC”) modules; and all of these being either bifacial (glass-to-glass/ glass-to-transparent back sheet) or monofacial (glass-to-white/black back sheet) modules.

Vikram Solar’s revenue from operations grew by 21.11%, from ₹2,073.23 crore in Fiscal 2023 to ₹2,510.99 crore in Fiscal 2024, driven by increased domestic and export volumes. EBITDA was ₹398.58 crore as of March 31, 2024 compared to an EBITDA of ₹186.18 crore as of March 31, 2023.

JM Financial Limited, Nuvama Wealth Management Limited, UBS Securities India Private Limited, Equirus Capital Private Limited, and PhillipCapital (India) Private Limited are the book-running lead managers, and Link Intime India Private Limited is the registrar of the issue.

Mumbai, 4^th June 2025: Ujaas, an initiative by the Aditya Birla Education Trust, recently conducted a series of menstrual health awareness programs across Maharashtra, reaching over 900 participants through a range of community-based engagements. The initiative aimed to promote menstrual health education and break the stigma surrounding periods through interactive and inclusive activities.

Between 23rd and 28th May, Ujaas led Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) awareness activities across six districts, such as Nandurbar, Amravati, Yavatmal, Washim, and Chandrapur. Each location hosted uniquely engaging events such as rallies, poster-making competitions, storytelling sessions, and quizzes. In Washim and Amravati, women and girls participated in awareness marches through villages, carrying posters and slogans, sharing personal experiences, and fostering community dialogue around menstrual health.

In Chandrapur, adolescent girls took part in innovative learning formats like the Fish Pot Quiz and a group reading of a book authored by Dr. Vaishali Deshmukh. These formats made menstrual health education approachable and engaging.

Ujaas also extended its outreach to urban communities by organizing focused awareness sessions at four shelter homes with girls and women in Turbhe, Deonar, and Dongri. Designed for survivors of Human Trafficking, these sessions were led by trained professionals and covered essential topics such as menstrual hygiene, safe product usage, and busting common myths. Around 150 participants received Ujaas green cloth pads, promoting eco-friendly menstrual hygiene practices.

By combining grassroots participation with educational outreach, Ujaas created safe spaces for open conversations about menstruation. Supported by ASHA and Anganwadi workers, SHGs, and community leaders, these efforts reaffirm Ujaas’s commitment to ensuring that every girl and woman can manage her period with dignity, safety, and confidence.