Archives November 2025

From Mother’s Trust to Baby’s Love: Himalaya BabyCare Celebrates its Leadership as a Brand ‘Loved by Babies’

Hyderabad, Nov 28: Himalaya BabyCare celebrates its position as a brand ‘loved by babies’ with a heartwarming new campaign that puts babies at the front and centre of its story. Titled “Prescribed by Doctors, Trusted by Moms, and Loved by Babies,” the campaign highlights the brand’s unique strength of being loved by babies, trusted by mothers, and recommended by doctors.  Built on this strong foundation of trust, the campaign reaffirms Himalaya BabyCare’s leadership in the category through a playful and emotionally resonant narrative which captures the innocent yet powerful voices of babies, placing them at the heart of the brand’s message of trust and care. Using creative visualization, the film imaginatively gives a voice to babies, expressing what parents already believe—making the narrative both heartwarming and symbolic.

The film playfully steps into a press conference setting after an ‘All India Tiny Talk Summit’ where reporters gather to interview the most honest opinion-holders in the world: babies. When asked about their favourite influencer, one baby sweetly answers, “Maa,” reminding us that a mother will always be a child’s first and most trusted guide. Another baby, when asked whose advice they rely on, responds with “Doctor,” reinforcing the trust parents place in pediatricians.

The campaign cleverly culminates with a simple yet impactful message that while trusted by moms and prescribed by doctors, Himalaya BabyCare is a brand loved by babies, conveyed in a humorous, endearing, and warm tone.

Speaking on the campaign, Mr Rajesh Krishnamurthy, Business Director, Himalaya Wellness Company, said:

“At Himalaya BabyCare, our journey has always been guided by the belief that babies come first. This campaign beautifully captures that sentiment by giving a voice to the very ones we care for the most—babies. Being loved by babies is the highest form of trust we could earn, and it is made possible by the confidence mothers and doctors place in our products. This campaign reinforces our belief that babies are our top priority, and safety is at the forefront when we design products to meet their specific needs. At Himalaya BabyCare, we remain committed to delivering Nature’s best for babies and a worry-free experience for moms—continuing our journey of nurturing babies with care and confidence.”

The campaign has been adapted across eight languages English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, and Bengali, ensuring that the message resonates deeply with parents across India. Adding to the innovation, the film leverages AI to create talking babies, amplifying the sweetness and humor of the narrative.

As India’s most trusted baby care partner, Himalaya BabyCare continues to contemporize Ayurveda to create products that are gentle, safe, and effective earning the trust of doctors and moms over the years.

The campaign #Himalaya BabyCare, ‘Prescribed by Doctors, Trusted by Moms, and Loved by Babies’ is launched across Himalaya BabyCare’s digital and social media platforms.

DIDAC India,Nov 28:- Asia’s largest and India’s only B2B education and skilling exhibition, spotlighted the country’s rapidly evolving learning and workforce-development landscape this year. Making a strong debut, a high-level delegation from Queensland engaged with Indian leaders and policymakers to showcase innovative models in educational leadership, career training, and future-focused STEM learning. Backed by key Indian government ministries and global partners such as Global Victoria, the showcase brought together seven Queensland organisations exploring strategic collaborations aligned with India’s National Education Policy (NEP 2020) and the nation’s FutureSkills agenda.

Alongside the featured exhibitors, Queensland’s delegation also included:

• APAC
• Signet Institute of Australia
• eSkilled
• CTI – Canterbury Technical Institute
• Vibe College
• Switch4Schools
• Science Adventure Books e

These providers collectively represent Queensland’s strength in VET, digital learning platforms, wellbeing solutions, and creative education.

AI and Power Skills for the Workforce;

Lynne Stephens, the founder of the Australasian Leadership Academy (ALA), is utilising the occasion to present a novel blended learning approach. “We see a strong connection between ALA’s mission and India’s goal of providing accessible, industry-relevant lifelong learning,” Stephens said. Technical training is only one aspect of ALA’s solution. To develop critical “power skills” such as leadership, resilience, and problem-solving, which are increasingly in demand in India’s quickly expanding industries, it integrates accredited VET programs with AI simulations. For faculty training and B2B workforce solutions, the company wants to work with academic institutions, technical schools, and governmental organisations.

Hands-On Innovation in STEM;

STEM Punks in addition, is reaching out to the next generation of innovators and concentrating on the professional workforce. Fiona Holmstrom, co-founder, highlighted that their programs provide practical, industry-relevant education in critical areas like AI, robotics, and design thinking. Holmstrom said, “We see India not just as a market but as a partner in shaping the global innovation ecosystem.”

eSkilled’s Focus on Vocational Training in India ;

eSkilled was inspired to explore the Indian EdTech space by India’s large skill development mission and saw their AI Course Creator as a high impact solution to efficiently scale good quality, vocational and employability training through ITIs, universities and L&D teams. eSkilled is a specialized AI Course Creator for skills and workplace training, providing not only interactive, user-friendly courses but also guided vocational education and compliance. Scott Rogers, CEO, eSkilled, believes that over the next two-three years, eSkilled is aiming at forming strategic partnerships with the government and key enterprises, building a strong partner ecosystem which is also supported by Queensland’s innovation ecosystem.

Switch4Schools: Bringing Neuroscience and Wellbeing to India’s Classrooms;

Driven by its mission to assist schools in striking a balance between tradition and digital adoption by making learning enjoyable and grounded in science, Switch4Schools is entering the diverse Indian education market and the company’s distinctive value is found in its translation of psychology and neuroscience into straightforward, eye-catching educational materials that emphasize on attention management, energy regulation, and habit formation. Their strategy is to implement easy-to-use digital and printable modules that require little infrastructure are part of their solution which also can be accessed in settings with limited resources and provide educators with data-driven reports on engagement and switching behaviours.

The companies emphasised that Queensland’s robust innovation scene provides a foundation for the expansion into the Indo-Pacific. This paves the way for sustainable partnerships in long-term leadership and employability growth across India.

Kindly let us know if there is any additional information you would like us to provide as well.

India’s Best Women’s Festival We The Women by Barkha Dutt unveils star-studded line up 

Mumbai, Nov, 28: After setting London ablaze with its unmistakable energy, We The Women, India’s best Ideas festival, returns to Mumbai, louder, bolder and more unforgettable than ever. Curated and moderated by award-winning journalist Barkha Dutt, the festival remains what it has always been: a shared space for conversation, celebration and community – where both women and men achievers from varied walks of life are honoured as Changemakers. 

In this edition, in the year of Operation Sindoor, the festival carries an especially powerful heartbeat with the presence of Women in Uniform. The participation of Women Soldiers and Air Warriors from the Army and IAF is not just symbolic; it is a reminder of the courage, discipline, and uncompromising duty that India’s armed forces embody every day.

And joining them on stage is a constellation of voices that have shaped culture, imagination, public life, and history. From World Cup champion Harmanpreet Kaur, who redefined Indian cricket’s possibilities one blistering innings at a time, to Jaya Bachchan, a parliamentarian and cinema legend whose authenticity remains her fiercest armour. From Rani Mukerji, an actor whose craft has for decades mirrored the evolving power of Indian women on screen, to Janhvi Kapoor, who carries the legacy of cinema while boldly carving out her own distinct chapter.

Actors Vijay Varma and Ishaan Khatter join them, men who are unafraid to amplify women-led stories both on-screen and off. Shobhaa De, with her razor-sharp pen and fearless commentary, brings a voice that has shaped social conversations for generations. Manish Malhotra, the couturier who transformed fashion into a language of aspiration, joins fellow disruptor Masaba Gupta, whose bold, rule-breaking design philosophy has become a cultural movement of its own.

The stage widens further with voices like Neha Dhupia, who has used her platform to challenge stereotypes around motherhood, body image, and identity; Malaika Arora, whose unapologetic ownership of self continues to dismantle ageist and sexist norms; Dia Mirza, whose advocacy for sustainability makes her one of India’s leading environmental storytellers; and Rasika Dugal, whose nuanced performances and uncompromising choices reflect the new grammar of Indian acting.

Together, they form a chorus, diverse, dynamic, and deeply resonant, reflecting the many Indias that coexist within us all.

We The Women returns not as a festival alone but as a declaration. A celebration of voice and vulnerability, of power and possibility. A reminder that when women and men speak honestly, fearlessly, and without filters, something shifts in the world.

New Delhi,  Nov 28: The Association of Indian Forging Industry (AIFI), the apex body representing India’s forging sector, recently organised a Special Session on “Emerging Technology in Forging” in Bengaluru. The knowledge-focused session brought together senior industry leaders, technology experts, and forging professionals to discuss how innovation, automation, and digital transformation are reshaping the future of the forging ecosystem. The event aimed to spotlight opportunities that new-age technologies offer for enhancing operational efficiency, productivity, and sustainability within the sector.

The session commenced with welcome remarks by Mr. Vivek Bansal, Director, Bansal Precision Forge Pvt. Ltd., setting the tone for a focused discussion on technology-led growth. This was followed by a detailed presentation by Mr. Senthil Kumar R, Nasscom Centre of Excellence  IoT & AI, on how Artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of things (IoT) and automation are reshaping the forging industry. He highlighted practical use cases and the growing relevance of smart, connected manufacturing.

This was followed by an engaging session on “Driving Digital Transformation in the Forging Sector” by Dr. Amit Goyal and Dr. Manju Gupta from BizSol Technologies. Their presentation showcased how advanced ERP systems, digital integration, and data intelligence are enabling forging companies to transition into the Industry 4.0 era with greater agility and efficiency. Adding further depth, Mr. Ajit Gaikwad, Yeskolube India Pvt. Ltd., spoke on the “Importance of Forging Die Lubricant” and its direct role in productivity and die life. The final presentation by Mr. Ramakrishna D, Orb Energy, focused on “Powering Indian Enterprise with Solar,” highlighting how renewable energy adoption is becoming a strategic advantage.

Commenting on the session, Mr. Yash Munot, President of The Association of Indian Forging Industry (AIFI), said,

 “At AIFI, our priority has always been to empower the forging industry with knowledge, capability, and a clear roadmap for the future. As the sector enters a new phase driven by digital and technological advancement, it is essential that our members understand and adopt these innovations at the right pace. This session reinforces AIFI’s commitment to enabling industry-wide transformation through meaningful collaborations, continuous engagement with technology leaders, and creating platforms that help our members stay globally competitive. We remain focused on strengthening India’s forging ecosystem and ensuring it continues to play a pivotal role in the country’s industrial and economic progress”.

AIFI continues to lead the forging sector by promoting innovation, driving policy conversations, and empowering members with advanced solutions. The organisation is focused on helping the industry adapt to emerging challenges while contributing to India’s broader industrial growth and global competitiveness

Chandigarh, Nov 28: 105Arts, founded by Mehak Bhan, is proud to announce its winter exhibition “Blueprint: What Lines Say”, a landmark group show dedicated entirely to the art of drawing. Curated by Kolkata-based contemporary artist Avijit Dutta, the exhibition opens on 5 December 2025 at the 105Arts gallery in Chandigarh and will run until 5 January 2026.

The exhibition brings together a wide spectrum of artists  from classical masters and modern icons to established seniors and emerging talents  offering audiences a rare opportunity to experience drawing in its most direct, expressive, and potent form. From meticulous draftsmanship to figurative explorations, abstract impulses to experimental contemporary studies, the show positions drawing not as a preliminary step but as a complete and compelling art form.

Marking the fifth year of 105Arts, the exhibition arrives at a significant moment for Chandigarh’s cultural landscape. It invites young audiences, students, collectors, and art enthusiasts to witness drawing as the purest blueprint of artistic imagination, where ideas first take tangible form on paper.

Mehak Bhan, founder of 105Arts, says;
“105Arts has always aimed to be a thoughtful space for contemporary art. This fifth anniversary felt like the perfect moment to present a show with depth and ambition. ‘Blueprint’ brings some of the strongest voices in Indian contemporary art under one roof, showcasing drawing not just as an intimate, foundational practice, but as an art form in its own right. Our goal is to let viewers experience the raw, honest, thinking-on-paper quality up close.”

Avijit Dutta, curator, adds;
“Much like a newborn beginning life, this exhibition serves as a blueprint for a young, promising gallery like 105Arts. It is a journey to discover raw talent among emerging voices and to uncover the core of an artist’s psyche, often first visible in their drawings  a form that eventually shapes their entire artistic trajectory.”

“Blueprint: What Lines Say” promises to be an ambitious, thought-provoking celebration of drawing, highlighting its enduring relevance and power in contemporary art.

Bangkok/New Delhi, Nov 29: Sanjay Laul, Founder & CEO of Laul Global and the architect behind the global education powerhouse MSM Unify, has been recognized as “Asia’s Most Inspirational Leader 2025” at the prestigious Asian Brand & Leadership Conclave 2025, held in Bangkok.

Organized by The Brand Story, with EY as Process Advisors, and supported by the BRICS Chamber of Commerce & Industry as Industry Partner, the conclave brought together distinguished leaders and institutions shaping the future of business, innovation, and impact across Asia.

This recognition honors a leadership journey defined by conviction, resilience, purpose, and an unwavering belief in the transformative power of global education.

From the early vision of building transparent and scalable international education pathways, Sanjay Laul has led MSM Unify to become one of the fastest-growing education and mobility platforms globally, prioritizing long-term impact over short-term outcomes.

A first-generation entrepreneur with more than 25 years of leadership experience, Sanjay has built an ecosystem that empowers universities, workforce institutions, and students worldwide, advancing fair access to education and economic mobility.

He has founded and scaled a portfolio of global institutions and education businesses—including MSM Unify, Eton College, Taylor Pro College, Multihexa, Innivec, and Q Academy—enabling working professionals and international students to access world-class academic and career opportunities.

On receiving the award Sanjay Laul Said; “I am honored to receive the title of Asia’s Most Inspirational Leader 2025. Leadership is never a solitary journey—this recognition reflects the collective belief, perseverance, and responsibility shared across our teams, partners, universities, and stakeholders worldwide. Our commitment remains focused on shaping meaningful global education pathways where every deserving learner can access opportunity with transparency, dignity, and empowerment.”

Sanjay is widely recognized for pioneering transformational models such as: Global Marketing Office (GMO)

• A scalable in-country partnership framework enabling universities to:
• Strengthen global brand presence
• Improve student engagement
• Increase conversion rates by 30–40%

The GMO model is now adopted by leading universities across Canada, the UK, Australia, and Europe, setting a global benchmark in ethical and transparent international recruitment.

Through AI-powered program matching, digital counseling tools, virtual engagement infrastructure, and real-time application tracking, MSM Unify connects students and partners to:

• 1,500+ institutions
• 180,000+ students
• 70+ countries

It operates with a team of 750 professionals across six continents, delivering 100–300% YoY growth, and expanding market leadership across education, workforce development, and technology-led employability.

During the COVID-19 shutdown, Sanjay led MSM Unify’s rapid digital transformation, building a virtual admissions and recruitment ecosystem that enabled uninterrupted learning and engagement worldwide—a turning point that reshaped sector dynamics.

Sanjay’s leadership philosophy centers on clarity, accountability, and the belief that education transforms nations. His impact initiatives include:

• Scholarships and skill-building programs through the Laul Foundation
• Digital learning access for Tier-2 and Tier-3 regions
• Partnerships with global certification leaders such as Microsoft and AWS
• A diverse workforce representing 20+ nationalities
• 47% women in leadership across MSM Group

He also champions leadership development through the “Leaders in Motion” program, building future-ready global education operators.

With strong double-digit growth momentum and rapidly expanding international presence, Laul Global’s portfolio continues to advance cross-border education, employability, and technology-enabled learning pathways that equip individuals and economies for the future of work.

Mumbai/Bengaluru, Nov 28: NutrifyToday Academy has appointed Dr Balkumar Marthi as its new President, tasking the veteran foods leader with accelerating university-originated research into products that can be scaled and commercialised across the industry.

The Academy’s Founder, Amit Srivastava, says, “Dr Marthi’s appointment is a turning point for the Academy. He is the best person to connect university labs with commercial markets because he has a unique mix of global R&D leadership, regulatory knowledge, and academic innovation. Our goal is still the same: to make the supply chain more open so that innovation doesn’t have to wait. With Dr Balkumar in charge, we’re ready to speed up that mission and turn groundbreaking research into products that can really grow.”

A microbiologist by training (PhD, University of Delaware), Marthi brings three decades of experience spanning global R&D, industry associations, and science-based regulatory engagement. He used to work for Unilever in senior research roles, such as an Expertise Director at the company’s R&D centre in the Netherlands. He has worked on improving food safety and innovation in many areas.

Most recently, Marthi held academic leadership roles at GITAM (Deemed to be University), including Dean of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, where he helped drive venture development and industry partnerships that brought student and faculty ideas closer to real-world application. Public statements and coverage from 2023 highlight his work mentoring student innovators and strengthening GITAM’s innovation ecosystem.

Marthi is a well-known figure in India’s food safety and regulatory scene, both in corporate and campus hallways. He chaired the Scientific Advisory Committee of the CII-HUL Initiative on Food Safety Sciences (CHIFSS). This platform works with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to advance science-based risk analysis and training. He has also spoken on these subjects at CII’s Food Safety, Quality & Regulatory Summit.

At NutrifyToday Academy, Marthi will steer programs that knit together universities, researchers, and industry to fast-track new product development. The Academy has already convened senior faculty and industry leaders in courses such as New Product Development & Commercialisation, where Marthi has served as Head of Department and curriculum lead.

A central pillar of his mandate will be to leverage NutrifyGenie AI—Nutrify Today’s curated AI engine that maps ingredients, clinical evidence and multi-country regulatory guardrails—to help teams move from ideation to commercialisation with greater speed and compliance. The platform supports formulation design, claims architecture, and label/regulatory checks across key markets. It has also been profiled in industry outlets for its role in compressing go-to-market timelines.

Dr Balkumar Marthi, President of NutrifyToday Academy, says, “I’m excited to join Nutrify Today Academy when the nutrition industry needs faster, smarter ways to get research into the market. I’ve spent decades dealing with the complexities of food safety,regulations, and product innovation. I’ve seen how great ideas can go to waste without the right environment. The Academy is a one-of-a-kind place where researchers, industry partners, and regulatory experts can all connect. It helps innovators go from coming up with ideas to making money with both speed and scientific rigour. Our goal is to work together to get more people access to functional nutrition that tastes good, faster.”

Given rising demand for great-tasting functional products, the Academy under Marthi is also expected to emphasise flavour design and taste-masking—a perennial barrier in nutraceuticals—by combining formulation science with vendor ecosystems spotlighted on the NutrifyGenie knowledge base. Industry literature points to techniques ranging from flavour modulators to microencapsulation to neutralise off-notes without compromising efficacy.

 Nov 28:-Learning Spiral successfully organized the Skilling Conclave Skills Roadmap for New Age India in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and the Department of Higher & Technical Education, Government of West Bengal. Held at The Park Hotel, Park Street, the event brought together senior government officials, leading academicians, and technology experts to discuss India’s evolving skills ecosystem.

The keynote address was delivered by Shri Binod Kumar, Principal Secretary, School & Higher Education, Government of West Bengal, who highlighted the state’s commitment to strengthening digital learning, fostering industry–academia collaboration, and preparing students for a tech-driven future. The event highlighted that the future of India’s education system hinges on how quickly and effectively we integrate modern skills into our academic framework.

Mr. Manish Mohta, Founder, Learning Spiral, said;

“The future of higher education, future-ready skill development, a national skills roadmap, and the transformative power of AI for education, it has become evident that institutions must embrace cloud-based learning ecosystems and emerging technologies without delay. This is no longer optionalit’s essential for building an agile, employable, and innovation-driven generation. We believe that collaboration between government, academia, and tech leaders will be the key to preparing students for a rapidly evolving digital world.”

The conclave witnessed active participation from key dignitaries, including the Secretary, DHE, Govt. of West Bengal; Director, DTE, Govt. of West Bengal; Prof. Amlan Chakraborty, Director, A.K. Chowdhury School of IT, University of Calcutta; and AWS leaders Sumita Gupta and Rohit Sharma.

The Skilling Conclave reaffirmed LSL’s commitment to enabling a future-ready India by fostering dialogue, innovation, and partnerships that support the next generation of learners, educators, and institutions.

India’s wedding spending has become a significant contributor to short-term personal loan demand, especially among self-funded couples. With inflationary pressures, higher venue and service costs, and rising gold prices pushing wedding budgets beyond initial estimates, last-mile credit requirements have increased sharply.

A 2023 IndiaLends survey found that about 26% of brides and grooms who planned to self-fund their weddings considered personal loans, underscoring how widespread and mainstream the use of digital credit has become during high-spend wedding cycles.

Fintech lenders, with their instant disbursals, lean documentation, and small-to-mid ticket loan ranges, are playing a pivotal role in meeting this surge. Here are the platforms that actively support instant wedding-driven borrowings and address the growing demand for quick, reliable personal credit during peak spending cycles:

RupeeRedee;

Tech driven digital lending platform, founded in 2018 to provide quick and hassle free personal loans to underserved segments of the Indian population. By leveraging advanced technologies and robust data protection, RupeeRedee Simplifies the borrowing process for individuals who may not have access to traditional banking services. The platform focuses on offering medium-sized loans (up to 1,49,000) with minimal documentation, making it accessible to individuals from lower-income groups, especially those in need of immediate financial assistance. RupeeRedee operates through its captive Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC), FincFriends Private Limited, ensuring faster loan disbursals and a seamless KYC Process.

MoneyView;

MoneyView is a leading digital lending platform that provides fully paperless personal loans to salaried and self-employed individuals across India. Established with a focus on accessibility and financial inclusion, the platform uses proprietary credit models to evaluate borrowers beyond traditional credit scores. MoneyView offers flexible loan amounts and repayment tenures, supported by a fast disbursal process and minimal documentation. Its technology-led underwriting enables wider credit access, especially for users with limited credit history.

CASHe;

CASHe is an AI-driven digital lending platform offering short- to medium-term personal loans tailored for young professionals. Founded to bridge the gap in instant credit availability, CASHe leverages machine learning–based credit evaluation through its proprietary Social Loan Quotient (SLQ) scoring system. The platform provides quick approvals, flexible tenures, and app-based KYC, making it suitable for borrowers seeking time-sensitive funding. Its product suite addresses small-ticket requirements with a strong focus on speed and convenience.

True Balance;

True Balance is a mobile-first fintech platform focused on extending small-ticket personal loans to underserved and new-to-credit users across Tier II and Tier III markets. Backed by alternative data-driven credit assessment, the platform simplifies borrowing for individuals with limited access to formal banking. True Balance offers quick-disbursal loans with minimal documentation, designed to support day-to-day liquidity needs. Its inclusive approach aims to strengthen financial access for lower-income and first-time borrowers.

KreditBee;

KreditBee is a rapidly growing fintech lending platform that provides instant personal loans to salaried and self-employed individuals. Using streamlined digital onboarding and robust risk assessment models, KreditBee enables borrowers to access medium-value credit with quick approvals and short processing times. The platform offers flexible tenures and transparent pricing, catering to users seeking reliable and convenient credit solutions for planned and unplanned expenses. Its strong penetration among young earners makes it a key player in India’s digital lending ecosystem.

Fibe (formerly EarlySalary);

Fibe, earlier known as EarlySalary, is a consumer-focused fintech brand offering instant personal loans and Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) solutions to salaried professionals. The platform combines fast digital onboarding with advanced credit scoring to provide affordable, short-term credit. Fibe’s offerings include salary advances, shopping credit, and personal loans designed for users needing immediate financial support. With quick disbursal and flexible EMI options, the platform caters to customers seeking convenient, app-based borrowing without extensive paperwork.

Bengaluru, , Nov 28: The State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC), Karnataka, in collaboration with the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), organised an Atal Pension Yojana (APY) Outreach Programme to enhance awareness and accelerate enrolments across the state, particularly among low-income and unorganised sector workers.

APY, a flagship guaranteed pension scheme of the Government of India, provides social security to citizens aged 18–40 years. The scheme offers a fixed monthly pension of ₹1,000 to ₹5,000 upon attaining 60 years, with lifetime benefits for the spouse and return of the accumulated corpus to the nominee.

The programme was chaired by Shri Pravesh Kumar, Chief General Manager, PFRDA. Shri M. Bhaskara Chakravarthy, Convenor  SLBC Karnataka and General Manager, Canara Bank, delivered the welcome address, followed by the inaugural address by Smt. K. B. Geetha, General Manager, SLBC Karnataka, Canara Bank.

Senior officials, including Shri Arunkumar P and Shri Saket Kumar from NABARD and RBI, and Shri Sunil Kurtkoti, Financial Advisor, Government of Karnataka, emphasised the importance of banks and Lead District Managers (LDMs) targeting uncovered populations in semi-urban and rural areas, and conducting focused drives for contractual state government workers.

Karnataka Achievements under APY (FY 2024–25)

• Enrolments: 6.17 lakh against a target of 7.75 lakh (80% of state target)

• State Ranking: 9th among large states | 14th nationally

Outstanding Performers Recognised;

1. Annual Awards of Lead District Manager FY 2024–25
   Districts Covered: Yadgir, Bidar, Kalaburagi, Koppal, Vijayanagar, Chitradurga, Raichur, Vijayapura, Gadag, Chamarajanagar, Ballari, Davanagere, Belagavi, Bagalkote, Haveri, Kolar, Mysuru, Mandya, Tumkur

2. Annual Awards of State Controlling Head of Banks FY 2024–25
   Awarded Teams: Kotak Mahindra Bank, Tamilnad Mercantile Bank, Karnataka Grameena Bank, IndusInd Bank, South Canara DCC Bank, IDBI Bank, IDFC First Bank, South Indian Bank, Yes Bank, Karnataka Bank

Shri Ajay Kumar Podishetty, Assistant Manager, PFRDA, provided a detailed presentation on APY operations, including best practices for enrolment.

The programme also included a comprehensive review of bank-wise and district-wise performance, with banks and LDMs urged to intensify outreach efforts to achieve remaining targets for FY 2024–25.

The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Shri Pradeep Kumar, Divisional Manager, SLBC Karnataka.