Archives June 2025

By-Mr. Dilip Modi, Founder & CEO of Spice Money

“The record-breaking milestone of 18.68 billion UPI transactions worth ₹25.14 trillion in May 2025 is a resounding testament to India’s growing digital payment ecosystem and the deepening trust in UPI as a preferred mode of transaction. Across urban centers and into the heart of India, digital finance is no longer aspirational,  it has become foundational. The scale and spread of adoption underscore a silent digital revolution underway, driven by accessibility, simplicity, and trust in the system.

At Spice Money, we are witnessing digital adoption on the back of our 1.5 million-strong Adhikari (non – bank business correspondents) network that are not just facilitating transactions, they are trusted enablers of financial inclusion across India. The increased UPI usage also underscores the urgent need for continued innovation in fraud prevention, customer education, and infrastructure readiness to sustain this growth responsibly.

We believe that empowering rural India with inclusive, and secure digital payment tools is key to achieving true financial inclusion. This milestone by UPI reflects a collective national effort, and Spice Money is proud to be playing a significant role in enabling Bharat to transact digitally with security and convenience.”

A desktop computer that operates for businesses and working professionals, isn’t merely equipment—it’s a key part of the infrastructure that supports daily operations towards strategic goals. So, for business, selecting the right workstation requires balancing immediate needs with long-term value.

Consider these Key aspects on what truly matters when investing in a business desktop, which will serve as the foundation of your professional productivity.

• Focusing on Processing Power

The beating heart of any professional system lies in its processing architecture. The ASUS ExpertCenter P500’s up to 13th Gen Intel Core i7 processors paired with next-generation DDR5 memory standards don’t just run faster, they fundamentally change how we work. When your ExpertCenter P500 handles heavy work environments without hesitation, the time savings compound daily, creating space for innovation rather than frustration.

• The Sound of Productivity

Often overlooked until it’s a problem, acoustic performance dramatically shapes our work environment. The work desktop should be famous to whisper, rather than constantly announcing their presence — it’s about maintaining the mental space needed for complex problem-solving. This quiet efficiency, combined with the P500’s energy savings upwards of 34%, demonstrates how ASUS’s thoughtful engineering serves both immediate comfort and long-term sustainability.

• Security as Fundamental Infrastructure

In our connected work environments, security is not an afterthought. There is a standard requirement for integrated solutions like TPM 2.0 chip, sophisticated BIOS protection, easy management, along with AI-enhanced productivity tools to transform how teams collaborate across distances. These ASUS ExpertCenter features represent the evolution from computers as mere tools to computers as collaborative partners in our professional endeavors.

• Think Beyond Hardware to Excellence in Ecosystem

When evaluating business technology investments, the hardware specifications represent only part of the equation. The most sophisticated components mean little without the supporting ecosystem of enterprise-grade service, solution integration, and brand reliability that transforms a computer into a complete business solution. ASUS brings this holistic approach to the ExpertCenter P500, complementing its robust hardware with comprehensive business services, global support infrastructure, and the reliability earned through decades of engineering excellence. This integrated ecosystem approach—where hardware, services, and support form a seamless continuum—represents the true foundation of business computing value.

• Not Falling to the Temptation of Cutting Corners

We’ve all been tempted by the allure of the price tag, but true efficiency runs deeper than initial cost. A thoughtfully selected business workstation—like the ASUS ExpertCenter P500 with its advanced thermal engineering—transforms from expense to investment. When a system like the P500 maintains optimal temperature without excessive fan noise, it’s not just preserving components; it’s preserving your concentration and electricity budget simultaneously.

With the right PC, businesses can ensure smooth operations today and scalability for tomorrow, all while keeping costs in check.

The modern business workspace deserves technology that quietly exceeds expectations rather than constantly drawing attention to its limitations. In this light, the true value of systems like the expertly engineered ASUS ExpertCenter P500 Mini Tower becomes clear—not as a premium indulgence, but as the logical foundation for sustained professional excellence.

Times Music is pleased to announce the appointment of Dextryl Ferrao as Head – Catalogue Exploitation and Marketing. A seasoned industry leader, Dextryl’s appointment further strengthens Times Music’s focus on aggressive local and global growth.

Times Music is home to one of India’s most diverse music catalogues and in his new role, Dextryl will lead strategic initiatives across catalogue monetization, international collaborations, artist services, and content marketing. He will oversee Times Music’s iconic catalogue, spanning Spiritual, Pop, Hindi, and Punjabi genres, as well as recently acquired regional catalogues, including ARC Musicq and Symphony Recording Co. Dextryl will also work closely with Primary Wave, one of the world’s leading music publishing houses, with whom Times Music has a strategic partnership in India.

Mandar Thakur, CEO, Times Music, said, “Dextryl’s deep expertise and understanding of music monetization come at a crucial time as we unlock the full potential of our catalogue. His leadership across our iconic and newly acquired catalogues will be key to accelerating Times Music’s global footprint. We’re delighted to welcome him to our management team.”

“I’m thrilled to join Times Music at a pivotal time in the Indian and global music landscape, where the value of content is being reimagined,” said Dextryl Ferrao. “With Times Music’s rich repertoire and its partnership with Primary Wave, there’s tremendous opportunity to unlock long-term value for a new generation.”

With over 25 years of experience at two global majors, Sony Music Entertainment and Universal Music, Dextryl has built a reputation for bridging creativity and strategy. He has led key catalogue initiatives, artist marketing, and high-impact licensing deals, and has spearheaded global campaigns for artists like Daft Punk, Beyoncé, Michael Jackson, and A.R. Rahman.

Dextryl’s deep understanding of India’s music landscape positions him to unlock legacy value and scale Times Music’s reach in the evolving global music ecosystem.

The Monetary Policy Committee of the Reserve Bank of India in its February 2025 meeting reduced the policy repo rate for the first time since February 2023 by 25bps showing greater confidence on the disinflation path. It followed it up with another 25bps cut in April 2025 to bring the repo rate to 6%. Like the RBI, many central banks globally followed an easing cycle in 2024, however, faced with exacerbated trade related uncertainties, they remained guarded in their rate action in the first quarter of 2025, reducing rates either with caution or taking a pause.

The MPC will convene on June 4 where it is expected that another round of 25bps repo rate cut will be initiated. According to a Reuters poll of economists, the RBI to support a weakened economy may initiate another rate cut in August, too. India’s GDP grew by 6.5% in FY 25, hitting a 4-year low while CPI dropped to 3.16% in April 2025, the lowest since July 2019.

The transmission of policy repo rate changes to banks’ deposit and lending rates continued during 2024-25 albeit at a slower pace.

Bengaluru-based real estate developer Sanjeevini Group Chairman and Founder, Umesh Gowda H.A said home loan interest rates have dropped below 8% in some banks which is a good sign of timely transmission of two repo rate cuts by the RBI.

“We expect another 25bps cut in repo rate and hope that more banks quickly pass on the benefit to borrowers. This will provide a much-needed relief to not just existing homebuyers in the form of reduced EMI but also those who have been postponing their decision to buy a home. Real estate sales have been steady and a decline in interest rates will also benefit developers in the form of reduced financing expenses thereby translating into improvement in project viability and cheaper working capital.”

According to PropEquity, housing sales in India’s top 9 cities fell by 19% while supply dropped by 28% in Q1 2025. Similar trends were seen in tier 2 cities as well, pointing to some slowdown in India’s housing market. Experts attribute the drop to rising property prices and demand-supply mismatch as lesser number of homes priced below Rs 1 crore are being launched, a price segment that has the maximum demand. However, rapid infrastructure development, job opportunities in IT and manufacturing, growing startup ecosystem and declining interest rates are the positives that will sustain housing demand.

Garvit Tiwari, director and co-founder of property consulting firm InfraMantra said the RBI has initiated two interest rate cuts in 2025. With record low inflation and stable economic growth, another 25-bps cut is imminent as the apex bank will look to stimulate growth by making lending affordable for businesses and consumers.

“The three consecutive quarters of sub-1 lakh unit launches in top 9 cities and sales declining by 19% in Q1 point to some prevailing caution on the part of both developers and homebuyers. A cut in interest rate will give a spur to housing demand and encourage new entrants to make real estate purchases.”

PropEquity report on housing sales and supply in 2024 suggests 8% and 15% drop respectively. However, the decline in unsold inventory is a silver lining for the sector and dispels fear of supply built up.

Vijay Harsh Jha, founder and CEO, VS Realtors said India’s economy is poised for a strong growth in FY26.

“The need of the hour is a continued focus on keeping interest rates low in order to support the growth momentum. India’s housing sector, though, have shown some weaknesses for the past couple of quarters, the momentum must be maintained by making loans accessible and affordable in order to drive housing demand.”

While a low-interest rate regime benefits borrowers, savers have been bearing the brunt with deposit rates falling across banks. With housing market witnessing saturation due to slow sales, rising prices and demand-supply mismatch; and stock market exhibiting volatility, the avenue for parking money in return generating asset is diminishing. Moreover, having a traditional real estate in the portfolio has become equally difficult.

Ankur Jalan, CEO, Golden Growth Fund said investors can look at Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) as a means to not just have real estate in their portfolio but also to earn handsome returns.

“In such a scenario, those looking to earn good returns, and have real estate in their portfolio can look at alternative investments like AIFs which are regulated by SEBI, provides diversification across properties and geographies, are professionally managed, require relatively smaller investment and have tax advantages.”

Golden Growth Fund (GGF) is a category II Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) focused on premium real estate in South Delhi.

The RBI in its annual report FY25 said that going forward, domestic economic activity is expected to strengthen from the lows of H1:2024-25. Headline inflation is expected to ease and move further towards the target in 2025-26.

“Monetary policy is committed towards achieving durable price stability, which is a necessary prerequisite for high growth on a sustained basis,” the apex bank said.

New Delhi, June 2, 2025 –  Tenable® Holdings, Inc., the exposure management company, today announced its intent to acquire Apex Security, Inc., an innovator in securing the rapidly expanding AI attack surface. Tenable believes the acquisition, once completed, will strengthen Tenable’s ability to help organizations identify and reduce cyber risk in a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.

Generative AI tools and autonomous systems are rapidly expanding the attack surface and introducing new risks — from shadow AI apps and AI-generated code to synthetic identities and ungoverned cloud services. In 2024, Tenable launched Tenable AI Aware which already helps thousands of organizations detect and assess AI usage across their environments. Adding Apex capabilities will expand on that foundation — adding the ability to govern usage, enforce policy, and control exposure across both the AI that organizations use and the AI they build. This move reinforces Tenable’s long-standing strategy of delivering scalable, unified exposure management as AI adoption accelerates.

“AI dramatically expands the attack surface, introducing dynamic, fast-moving risks most organizations aren’t prepared for,” said Steve Vintz, Co-CEO and CFO, Tenable. “Tenable’s strategy has always been to stay ahead of attack surface expansion — not just managing exposures, but eliminating them before they can be exploited.”

“As organizations move quickly to adopt AI, many recognize that now is the moment to get ahead of the risk — before large-scale attacks materialize,” said Mark Thurmond, Co-CEO, Tenable. “Apex delivers the visibility, context, and control security teams need to reduce AI-generated exposure proactively. It will be a powerful addition to the Tenable One platform and a perfect fit for our preemptive approach to cybersecurity.”

Founded in 2023, Apex attracted early interest from CISOs and top investors, including Sam Altman (OpenAI), Clem Delangue (Hugging Face), and venture capital firms Sequoia Capital and Index Ventures. The company quickly emerged as an innovator in securing the use of AI by developers and everyday employees alike — addressing the growing need to manage usage, enforce policy, and ensure compliance at scale. 

“The AI attack surface is deeply intertwined with everything else organizations are already securing. Treating it as part of exposure management is the most strategic approach. We’re excited to join forces with Tenable to help customers manage AI risk in context — not as a silo, but as part of their broader environment,” said Matan Derman, CEO and Co-Founder of Apex Security.

Following the acquisition close, Tenable expects to deliver integrated capabilities in the second half of 2025 as part of Tenable One — the industry’s first and most comprehensive exposure management platform. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The deal is expected to close later this quarter.

Noida, June 2, 2025: Inox Wind Limited (IWL), India’s leading wind energy solutions provider, today announced its financial results for the quarter and financial year ended March 31, 2025.

IWL continued on its strong growth journey, delivering its highest ever quarterly profit in Q4 Fy25. Order execution increased 83% YoY to 236 MW, with order book at ~ 3.2 GW at the end of FY25. During FY25, Inox Wind’s PAT increased to Rs 438 cr. Further, consequent to the approval of the scheme of arrangement (merger) between Inox Wind Energy & IWL by the Hon’ble NCLT, Chandigarh Bench, the liabilities on IWL’s balance sheet reduces substantially, by ~ Rs 2,050 crores, strengthening IWL’s robust balance sheet further.

Key financial and operational highlights for the quarter & financial year ended March 31, 2025:

Commenting on the results, Mr. Devansh Jain, Executive Director, INOXGFL Group, said, “Inox Wind continues to deliver strong results reporting its highest ever quarterly profit, a testament of the efforts of the company over the past quarters. I am also delighted to announce that the Hon’ble NCLT has approved the scheme of arrangement between Inox Wind Energy and Inox Wind, which further fortifies Inox Wind’s balance sheet. With the strong and favourable macroeconomic environment for the Indian renewable energy sector, our Group is well positioned to capitalise on the opportunities as one of the leaders in energy transition with our presence across wind, solar, EVs, BESS and renewable power generation.”

Mr. Kailash Tarachandani, Group CEO, Renewable Business, INOXGFL Group, said, “I am delighted to announce that through our focussed and committed approach, Inox Wind has been able to deliver another quarter of strong financial growth, concluding FY25 on a strong note. Our well diversified order book stands at a healthy 3.2 GW comprising of marquee customers including NTPC, CESC, NLC India, Continuum, Amplus, Hero Future Energies, amongst others. Our efforts to improve our operational efficiencies and execution continues, which is reflected in the strong margins reported. We believe that with the robust outlook for the wind industry in India, demand for wind OEMs and service providers will continue to be strong going ahead.”

Bangalore, 02 June 2025: Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) continues to uphold its sales momentum, registering a growth of 22% over the same period last year. The company sold 30,864 units during the month, including 29,280 units in domestic sales and 1,584 units exported. In May 2024, TKM had sold 25,273 units.

The company also recorded 27% growth in the first two months of FY 2025–26, selling 58,188 units, compared to 45,767 units in FY 2024–25.

Speaking on the sales momentum, Varinder Wadhwa, Vice President, Sales-Service-Used Car Business, said, “In May, we achieved a growth of 22%, a testament to the enduring trust and support of our valued customers, for which we are deeply grateful. With the onset of the monsoon and forecasts indicating a normal to above-normal season, we remain optimistic about improved market sentiment in the coming months, particularly across rural and semi-urban regions. This, backed by our vast product portfolio and innovative campaigns, we are well-positioned to maintain this growth trajectory.

In line with overall market trends, our MPV and SUV segments continue to be the primary growth drivers—reflecting a clear shift in customer preference towards dependable and versatile mobility options.
During April–May FY 2025–26, combined sales of MPVs and SUVs recorded a robust 34% increase compared to the same period last year, underscoring the strong traction these segments enjoy. Reinforcing this momentum, we marked a significant milestone this month with the Toyota Fortuner and Legender crossing a cumulative 3 lakh units sold in India—further cementing their position as benchmarks in the premium SUV category.”

Meanwhile, Toyota also enhanced its MPV lineup with the launch of the Innova HyCross Exclusive Edition, featuring 19 thoughtfully curated upgrades that bring added sophistication to its hybrid offering. The edition has been met with an enthusiastic response, underscoring strong customer appreciation and market traction.

Mumbai, 2 June 2025: Lotus Electronics, India’s leading electronics retail chain, proudly announces the exclusive availability of the Samsung 65” Neo QLED QN900F 8K Vision AI Smart TV (Model QA65QN900F) — an innovation that sets a new benchmark for home entertainment. Combining advanced Vision AI technology with stunning 8K resolution, the QN900F delivers a breathtakingly immersive experience tailored to its environment in real time.

Crafted with Infinity One Design for a virtually bezel-less look, the QN900F features intelligent picture and sound adaptation, cinematic colour accuracy, and a smart TV interface for seamless content access. This premium smart TV is complemented by a complimentary Samsung Soundbar AV Receiver HW-S700D/XL , delivering a complete surround sound experience.

Exclusive Availability Offers – Only at Lotus Electronics
Lotus Electronics is offering limited-time exclusive offers:

● Zero Down Payment
● EMIs Starting at ₹2,999/month
● Flexible Tenure: Up to 30 Months
● Up to 10% Cashback + Additional 10% Cashback on Samsung Axis Bank Credit Card*
● Offer Valid Till: 4th June 2025

These offers are available across all Lotus Electronics showrooms and online at www.lotuselectronics.com.

Key Highlights of the Samsung QN900F 8K Smart TV:
● 8K Neo QLED Display for unmatched depth and clarity
● Vision AI Technology for intelligent picture and sound optimization
● Infinity One Design with an ultra-slim, bezel-less form
● Smart TV Interface with intuitive navigation and voice control
● Premium Samsung Soundbar Bundle for an elevated theatre-like experience

New Delhi, 2 June 2025 The University of Warwick marked its 60th anniversary on 1 June 2025 with an exclusive media event at The Shangri-La, New Delhi, celebrating six decades of academic and research excellence, innovation and global influence.

The high-profile event brought together Warwick’s senior leadership, including the Global Chief Communications, Marketing and Content Officer Ajay Teli, and Director of Communications – Corporate Brand, Satnam Rana-Grindley, who traveled from the UK to engage with Indian media and reaffirm the university’s commitment to nurturing talent and fostering impactful international collaborations.

The milestone celebration of the university’s growing legacy of excellence and influence, both in the UK and India, highlighted pioneering research, world-class education and longstanding industrial partnerships, including a 25-year collaboration with Tata Group. The event also paid tribute to the university’s vibrant alumni community whose achievements continue to bridge continents and industries, creating meaningful change across borders and giving back to India in powerful, entrepreneurial ways.

Mamta Marasini exemplifies the global reach and creative spirit of Warwick alumni. A graduate of Warwick Business School with an MSc in Business with Marketing, Mamta has channeled her education, entrepreneurial drive, and creative acumen into founding Roar Corp, a boundary-pushing creative agency headquartered in both New Delhi and Kathmandu.

Launched in November 2023, Roar Corp specializes in strategic brand consulting, event production, social media marketing, and influencer campaigns. In less than a year, Mamta as CEO has led Roar Corp to deliver bold, high-impact campaigns for global brands that blend technology, data, and storytelling to create lasting audience connections.

Known to her clients and team as the ‘Chief Lioness’, Mamta’s vision for Roar was born not from convenience but from conviction. “Roar was built on pure passion and relentless hard work—no shortcuts, ever,” she says. “Every project we take on is rooted in a deep commitment to curating experiences that are bold, thoughtful, and strategically aligned with our clients’ goals. Whether it’s designing a high-energy launch, building a content engine, or orchestrating influencer-led storytelling, our focus remains the same: to move people and build brands that matter.”

Her campaigns are data-informed, human-led, and creatively daring. By combining cutting-edge tools like AI with human insight, Roar delivers results that are measurable and memorable. Mamta has also successfully delivered events and activations for renowned lifestyle brands including Superdry, G Star Raw, Yamaha, and Mothercare. Her approach is holistic, blending research, media coordination, and creative design into marketing strategies that resonate.

Mamta’s Warwick journey was the catalyst that gave her the confidence to lead. “I stepped into Warwick unsure of how to begin, but I walked out a changemaker,” she reflects. “It was Warwick that gave me the clarity to pursue the service side of marketing and eventually take the leap to build my own agency.”

Warwick’s impact remains close to Mamta’s heart. “Warwick truly cleared the fog for me,” she says. “The education, the peers, the challenges: all of it helped me understand what I wanted to do, and more importantly, why I wanted to do it.

“I feel super proud to be a part of the Warwick community. I have great stories to tell to my friends and family: what a stellar institution I got my knowledge from!”

At the helm of Roar Corp, Mamta’s just getting started. With a team of passionate creatives, a cross-border footprint, and a belief that marketing should move people, Mamta is building a brand that helps others do the same.

Bengaluru, June 2, 2025: Canara Bank, one of the India’s leading public sector banks, in a landmark move, announced the complete waiver of the Average Monthly Balance (AMB) requirement across all SB account types, which includes Savings Accounts, Salary Accounts, NRI SB Accounts etc.

Shri K. Satyanarayana Raju, MD & CEO

Effective June 01^ST 2025 this initiative establishes Canara Bank as the leading Public Sector Bank (PSB) providing a genuine no-penalty for minimum balance requirement across a wide variety of SB accounts. As a result, no SB customer of Canara Bank will face penalties or fees for not maintaining a minimum balance in their SB account.

Previously, customers of the Bank had to maintain a minimum Average Monthly Balance based on their account type. Failing to maintain these criteria usually led to penalty charges. With this new policy, all Canara Bank SB account holders will now enjoy true “no penalty on minimum balance” for all SB accounts free from any AMB-related penalties or fees.

This move is anticipated to benefit millions of Canara Bank customers, including salaried individuals, senior citizens, students, NRIs, and first-time users of banking services, facilitating everyday banking without penalties.