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20 February 2023 (New Delhi), The Broadband India Forum (BIF) today welcomed Smt. Aruna Sundararajan IAS (Retd.), Former Secretary (Telecom), Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications & Chairperson, Digital Communications Commission (DCC) and one of the most respected persons of the sector, as the Chairperson of the organization with immediate effect. BIF shared that Smt. Sundararajan accepted to chair the forum and to guide the organization in its mission of improving affordable broadband proliferation and usage access in India.

Smt. Sundararajan has served as the Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministries of Steel, Information Technology, and Telecom; and retired as Chairperson of the Digital Communications Commission in July 2019. During her tenure, Smt. Sundararajan played a pioneering role in steering various important tech policies and initiatives across the domains of telecom and hardware manufacturing, e-governance, digital payments, data protection, cyber security, and tech start-ups.

Post her retirement, Smt. Sundararajan served on the Boards of leading companies including Delhivery, Infoedge and Bharat FIH, India’s National Bank of Infra Financing and Development (NabFID), Cochin International Airport, and a neo-banking start-up Digi Vriddhi. She is also an active member of various tech mentoring and angel financing initiatives.

Announcing the Chairmanship of.Smt. Aruna Sundararajan, Mr T .V. Ramachandran, President of Broadband India Forum, stated, “We are most fortunate and honored to have the leadership of Madam Smt. Aruna Sundararajan in our avowed mission of ‘Broadband for All’ in a technology-neutral and all-inclusive manner. We are confident that she would guide us to higher heights of excellence in serving the economy, the nation, and the consumer”.

Smt. Sundararajan has had several firsts to her credit during her illustrious career. As the Chairperson of DCC, she was one of the primary forces behind the creation of the highly-acclaimed world-class telecom policy – NDCP 2018 and has been keenly involved in giving initial support and encouragement to the unique WANI architecture. She was the Chairperson of the 5G High-Level Forum and played a key role in formulating the way forward for India to go to 5G.

Commenting on her joining BIF and sharing her vision for digital India, Smt. Aruna Sundararajan said,”I am absolutely delighted to accept the invitation to be Chairperson of Broadband India Forum and contribute my best efforts to lead the think tank in its pursuit of ‘Broadband for All’ and the digital transformation of India.”

Hyderabad, 20th February 2023: Women empowerment dominated Day 2 of ELECRAMA 2023, the world’s largest electrical show of the Indian Electrical & Electronic Manufacturers’ Association (IEEMA), as the second edition of ‘Women in Power’ – a special initiative aimed at celebrating women in the power segment – got off to a spectacular start at the India Expo Mart, Greater Noida on 19th February.

This year’s Women in Power featured a series of engrossing and inspiring conversations from the leading ladies of the power sector across various domains including the likes of Ms. Lakshmi Singh, Police Commissioner, Gautam Budh Nagar,  Ms. Charu MathuDirector General, IEEMA, Aarya Satyanarayan Director of Venson Electric Private Limited and Chairperson Women in Power Committee of IEEMA, Renuka Gera Director (Industrial Systems and Products) Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL and several other dignitaries.

Ms. Lakshmi Singh, Commissioner of Police, Gautam Budh Nagar, said, “In the modern world, gender inequality is recognized as a major constraint to economic growth. Thus, we’re witnessing accelerated efforts to promote women’s participation in leadership roles. When it comes to the power sector, the participation of women – especially in realizing the goals of a sustainable economy – remains pivotal. Since India is rapidly establishing itself as the new hub for sustainability, harnessing the power of women across roles in the energy sector is integral to realizing the country’s vision. Having participated in such a thought-provoking session at ELECRAMA 2023, I hope our ‘Women in Power’ pavilion promotes gender equality which, in turn, can boost innovation in the energy industry.”

Mr. Rohit Pathak, President of IEEMA, said, “Power and energy sector remains a major contributor to the economic growth and development of our country. With India being the world’s third-largest producer of electricity, the participation of women in the power sector needs to increase. As the energy sector moves towards innovative clean energy solutions to pave the way for a sustainable future, the industry can leverage the untapped talent pool of the highly-skilled women workforce by increasing employment opportunities for them. Our Women in Power initiative was conceived to fulfill that and more. This year’s edition will continue to bring forth the voices of global women leaders pertaining to their industrial experiences and journeys, inspiring others and increasing participation in the sector.”

Ms. Charu Mathur, Director General, IEEMA, said, “The last edition of ELECRAMA saw the introduction of the ‘Women in Power’ pavilion which was the much-needed stepping stone for the formation of the ‘Women in Power’ chapter in IEEMA. We’re now well-equipped and more structured to connect career-oriented women in Power and Energy with like-minded individuals to discuss and overcome challenges in the ever-changing work culture. This year’s edition of Women in Power will continue to deliver on its promise of bringing women leaders under one roof and giving them a platform to discuss workplace challenges for a better future. With this special initiative, we’re looking to inspire more women to choose the electricals and electronics industry as an attractive career choice in India.”

Aarya Satyanarayan Director of Venson Electric Private Limited and Chairperson, IEEMA WIP- said, “Today, gender equality remains an unfinished business in every country in the world, which is why companies should be more focused on employing more women starting with hiring more female students so that the talent stays in the industry. Along with this, I think creating a healthy and safe environment is also an important aspect of any company which will help maintain a work-life balance for women and foster an inclusive work culture. I am happy to see that ELECRAMA 2023 is focusing on such significant issues that India is facing today regarding women’s empowerment and I hope we all get to see the change soon.

Renuka Gera Director (Industrial Systems and Products) Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), said,’ I believe in today’s world, strength and power are not identified by gender. That’s why there is a greater emphasis being laid on gender equality with the promotion of women in leadership roles becoming the need of the hour. Recent studies also suggest that the Indian economy will grow by 25% with an increase in the participation of women. Additionally, 43% of women are contributing globally to the development. These are valid indicators of the influence highly-skilled women can have on contributing towards a sustainable economy.

ELECRAMA 2023, with ‘Reimagine Energy – For Sustainable Future’ as this year’s theme, will have the largest public showcase yet of industry innovations by over 1000 exhibitors from India and abroad occupying 1,10,000 sqm of exhibition space over the course of the next five days. The much-anticipated event is expected to witness 3,50,000 footfalls and over 15,000 pre-scheduled meetings between buyers and sellers. The mega event will also see national and international industry experts and policymakers deliberate upon industry challenges, innovations, and business models through a series of leadership summits and meetings.

Apart from ‘Women in Power’, the five-day congregation will also enthrall delegates with multiple concurrent events. It will also host the world’s largest confluence of power transmission and distribution communities at the 5th Reverse Buyers Sellers Meet (RBSM) and Domestic Buyers Sellers Meet (DBSM). The mega event will also be seen focusing on building stronger electrical systems for homes, offices, and industries, and discussing the way forward for the complete electrification of railways. Digital technologies, IoT and AI-powered electrical systems, and other smart-tech solutions are being showcased at the event.

Hyderabad, 20th February 2023: In a big push towards widening the pool of women workforce in the automotive manufacturing sector, Pinnacle Industries has announced one of the largest women-only recruitment campaigns christened as ‘Evolutionary’. Pinnacle Industries is India’s leading manufacturer of seating systems, automotive interiors, railway seating & specialty vehicles. This distinctive campaign aims to provide a platform for talented and experienced women professionals and engineers to reboot their professional journey who have taken a career sabbatical due to various reasons such as family commitments, relocation, or other pressing commitments. ‘EvolutioNARI’ recruitment campaign will offer them a chance to restart their career, polish their skills, gain new proficiencies, and help them reassimilate into the corporate culture enabling them to thrive in a supportive and diverse work environment.

The first recruitment drive will be conducted from 23rd to 24th February 2023 at the manufacturing facility of Pinnacle Industries in Pithampur, Madhya Pradesh. Interested female candidates can register and apply through https://pinnacleindustries.com/evolutionari-campaign/ or through QR Code available across Pinnacle Industries’ digital platforms, or walk in on 23rd or 24th February at the company’s Pithampur facility. The company encourages all women engineers and professionals who meet the job qualifications and requirements to apply, regardless of their career break duration.

Speaking on the launch of the women-only recruitment campaign, Mr. Arihant Mehta, President of Pinnacle Industries Limited, said “We are excited to launch “EvolutioNARI”, to promote gender diversity and inclusivity in the manufacturing, engineering, and automotive industry. We strongly believe that with the increased women talent pool, we will be able to create a more holistic and inclusive workplace, which is a strong growth driver for innovation, precision and outclass performance. We recognize that women’s talent continues to represent an underutilized resource, especially in the automotive & manufacturing sector. With this initiative, we are looking to gain a competitive advantage by hiring skilled women professionals looking to reboot their careers. By creating a workplace where women can thrive and contribute, we are confident that we will attract and retain the best engineering talent and continue to be at the forefront of our industry.”

To kick off, Pinnacle Industries is targeting to hire mechanical, electrical, and robotics women engineers with at least one year of experience. The company is also looking at hiring skilled professionals under R&D, Purchase, Tool, Operations, Tailoring, Stores, Administration, HR, and Finance functions. The company is also providing immediate joining to qualified women candidates with a reduced probation period and retention bonus.

Pinnacle Industries is known for its exceptional engineering solutions and cutting-edge technology and has been leading the commercial vehicles seating & interiors market for over 26 years. The company is confident that the women professionals and engineers hired through this recruitment campaign will bring fresh perspectives, inclusivity, creativity, renewed energy, and innovation to the table and help the company achieve its growth objectives.

Pinnacle Industries is committed to providing a supportive work environment and opportunities for professional growth. The company values diversity, equality, and inclusivity and believes that promoting these values can create a culture of excellence that benefits everyone.

Huge economic and social benefits are presented by the new era of digitalization, but it also affects the form and scope of cyber risks and generates new vulnerabilities that threat actors might take advantage of. Leading international corporations and government agencies are being targeted nowadays. By 2025, the number of supply chain threats is predicted to rise by threefold from 2021 to affect 45% of businesses worldwide. It takes a data-centric approach to keep up with innovation, data accessibility, compliance monitoring, and data loss protection for organizations to safeguard their data. Data loss prevention (DLP) is crucial for preserving the privacy of a company’s most valuable resource. This technique enables data owners and security teams to advocate data loss prevention (DLP) with certainty within their organization.

Here are the top 5 IT companies providing cutting-edge technologies that businesses should be aware of in 2023:

Arete – Transforming the way businesses and government manage cyber risk through proven incident response, tech-enabled managed services, and powerful data insights. Working on the front lines of thousands of ransomware attacks and some of the largest nation-state attacks, their team combines hundreds of investigative, technical, and cyber risk management practitioners with best-in-class data and software engineers. They bring a relentless passion for innovation and a commitment to stopping cybercrime bring that same passion to positively impact the collective defense of businesses, governments, and infrastructure from cyber criminals and give back to the communities they serve.

Quick Heal – It is a global cybersecurity solutions provider. Its products are designed to manage IT security better across a wide range of platforms and devices. Its solutions can be tailored to fit the needs of consumers, small companies, governmental organizations, and corporate houses. The brand has spent 27 years concentrating its R&D on computer and network security solutions. Its current array of powerful machine learning-enabled solutions for cloud-based security thwarts threats, attacks, and malicious traffic before they happen.

Forescout – Delivers automated cybersecurity across the digital terrain. It is the only platform that provides complete coverage of the digital terrain by discovering, assessing and governing compliance of every connected device. Aimed at empowering their customers to achieve continuous alignment of security frameworks with their digital realities, across all asset types – IT, IoT, OT and IoMT, the company is on a non-stop journey, managing cyber risk through automation and data-powered insights.

Barracuda – It has been working towards making the world a safer place by delivering access to cloud-first, enterprise-grade security solutions that are easy to buy, deploy, and use. It protects email, networks, data, and applications with innovative solutions that grow and adapt to our customer’s journey. More than 200,000 organizations worldwide trust Barracuda, the company claims.

Noventiq – It is a global solutions and services provider in digital transformation and cybersecurity, which has been headquartered and listed in London. The company enables, facilitates and accelerates digital transformation for its customers’ businesses, connecting 75,000+ organizations from all sectors with hundreds of best-in-class IT vendors alongside its own services and solutions.

Bengaluru, India, February 20, 2023. Technology company, Continental hosted a delegation comprising German members of parliament, in Bengaluru. The German delegation was received and welcomed by senior Continental India leadership, showcasing India as a growing market and innovation hub with a strong engineering talent pool for the global technology company. The delegation was organized by the India Office of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung.

The delegation from Germany comprised
Mr. Thorsten Frei is a Member of Parliament, a lawyer, and the first Chief Whip of the CDU/CSU Parliamentary Group. From 2018 – 2021, he served as the Deputy Chairman of the CDU/CSU in the fields of Domestic and Judicial policy.

Dr. Hendrik Hoppenstedt, a Member of Parliament, is the former Minister of State for Bureaucracy Reduction and Federal-State Relations at the Federal Chancellery. He is a lawyer and Vice Chief Whip of the CDU/CSU Parliamentary Group. Since 2021, he has been serving as a Member of the Council of Elders and in the Conciliation Committee between the German Parliament and the Federal Council.

Mr. Stefan Müller, a Member of Parliament, and a banking specialist are the Vice Chief Whip of the CDU/CSU Parliamentary Group. Also since 2018, he has been a member of the parliamentary executive of the CSU state group.

Mr. Patrick Schnieder, Member of Parliament, is a lawyer and MP of the CDU who currently serves as a Chief Whip of the Parliamentary Group ‘Belgium-Luxembourg’ since 2022. From 2011 until 2018, Mr. Schnieder served as the General Secretary of the CDU in the Rhineland- Palatinate.

What: World Premiere of the dance shows, ‘Om-Mani-Padme-Hum’ and ‘Svarupa & Vyakta’ by Stefano Fardelli.

Where: Kolkata Centre for Creativity, 777. Anandapur, E.M.Bypass, Kolkata – 700107

When: Saturday, 25th February 2023 & Sunday, 26th February 2023 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

What to expect: This forthcoming weekend the people of the City of Joy are going to witness an outstanding World Premiere of the globally recognized dance shows, ‘Om-Mani-Padme-Hum’ and ‘Svarupa-Vyakta’ by Stefano Fardelli.

Both Om-Mani-Padme-Hum’ and ‘Svarupa & Vyakta’ are acclaimed works by the celebrated dancer, choreographer, and teacher, Stefano Fardelli. Through ‘Om Mani Padme Hum’ the artist is going to portray the history and rituals of the Tibetan Buddhists of the Yellow Hat Order with a particular connection to Shaolin monks. In this particular performance, the audience is going to view Umberto Gesi (Italy), Tejaswini Loundo (India), Marco Hernandez (Mexico), and Jesus Rea (Bolivia) on stage.

On the other hand, ‘Svarupa-Vyakta’ is an award-winning work by Stefano Fardelli. The dance will be presented before the viewers after the premiere of ‘Om Mani Padme Hum’. ‘Svarupa & Vyakta’ is influenced by Stefano’s visit to Varanasi whose vibrant culture and wonderful ambiance have made a lasting impression. The artist is going to highlight the same concept in this upcoming on-stage performance. ‘Svarupa-Vyakta’ will present the artists Marco Hernandez (Mexico) and Jesus Rea (Bolivia) illustrating before the audience.

The Crowne Plaza Pune City Centre, an IHG hotel is delighted to announce the appointment of Subhajit Sadhukhan as the new Executive Chef.

With a meritorious experience of over 22 years, Subhajit has worked with renowned hospitality brands across the country including Hindustan International, Pride Hotel, Oakwood Worldwide, Hyatt Regency Kolkata, and Quality inn Golden Park. In his last assignment, Subhajit was associated with Hotel Hindusthan International as the executive chef. His strong foundation and seasoned experience in culinary operations as well as avant-garde gastronomy make him the perfect fit to spearhead the diverse food & beverage offerings at Crowne Plaza Pune City Centre.

Subhajit’s culinary expertise ranges from specialization in European, and Asian to North Indian cuisines. He is a master of curating exclusive food festivals and ensuring the highest standards of quality while keeping the food cost under the budget.

Subhajit has earned many accolades to his merit, including the award as a best team member from Times for Pre-opening for OGCC. He is also been awarded by HHI “Best Cost saver of the year 2015”.

When he is not strategizing or experimenting in his kitchen, Subhajit likes to take time off to work for the betterment of underprivileged children.

Mumbai/ New Delhi, February 20, 2023: A new survey has been conducted by aral Credit, a fin-tech platform that makes getting a personal loan easy and quick, to understand the key behavioral drivers which are driving the Personal Loan product in India. The Personal Loan product offers access to timely funds for an eligible individual to meet short-term fund requirements without inquiring into the end use of the loan proceeds. This survey conducted with 512 respondents aims to provide insights into the factors that drive the growth of personal loan disbursals in India.

The survey results indicate that personal loans have witnessed a 46% growth in Originations (by value) from FY-2021 to FY-2022. According to the survey, 67% of respondents in India have taken a personal loan at some point in their lives to meet their fund requirements. The survey also revealed that 36% of respondents took a loan for home purchases or renovations, while 9% took personal loans for travel and vacation.

The interest rate remains the most critical factor for borrowers in choosing a loan provider, with 63% of respondents indicating that their decision to take a personal loan would be based on the charged interest rate. Additionally, 77% of respondents preferred to take personal loans from banks, while 14% preferred non-banking
financial institutions.

Milind Satpute, Director of Saral Credit said, “The Personal Loans market in India is experiencing a red-hot growth rate, and yet, until now, little has been done to truly understand customer behavior in this segment, which banks and NBFCs have traditionally dominated. That’s why the findings from the Personal Survey of 2023 are
so important. This survey squarely addresses the key questions everyone in the industry should ask: Why do customers take personal loans? What are the most important factors they consider when choosing a loan? Which channels do they prefer? At Saral Credit, we believe that the answers to these questions are crucial to unlocking the full potential of the Personal Loans market, and we’re excited to share the insights we’ve gained.”

The Personal Survey of 2023 sheds light on the increasing importance of creditworthiness in financial fitness, as individuals with a credit score regularly review their score and report. The survey also reveals that the majority of respondents are from the middle-class segment, with 91% of graduates and 78% of individuals earning above Rs 30,000.

Participation from both men and women is a good sign of inclusiveness and women’s independence. While loan amount, repayment period, and convenience are essential factors for borrowers, 30% of respondents find the Personal Loans process time-consuming, and 20% find it complicated. Another 16% of respondents
were unable to connect with the right provider.

According to the survey findings, the personal loans sector in India is experiencing significant growth, and borrowers are exhibiting a growing appreciation for the role of creditworthiness in obtaining such loans. Furthermore, the survey results indicate that the majority of respondents still prefer to get personal loans from banks, with the
the interest rate being the primary consideration in selecting a lender.

20th February 2023: Samvardhana Motherson Automotive Systems Group BV (SMRPBV) a 100 % subsidiary of Samvardhana Motherson International Limited (SAMIL) has entered into an agreement to acquire 100% stake in SAS Autosystemtechnik GmbH (Germany) (“SAS”) from Faurecia, a company of the FORVIA Group (an entity listed on Paris stock exchange).

“SAS” is a leading global provider of assembly and logistics services for the automotive industry. This strong market position is founded on deep technical expertise. It has strong customer relationships with leading European and American OEMs, some of which span almost 3 decades. The company’s gross revenues were ~Euro 4.4 Bn on a principal basis with net revenues (IFRS) of Euro 896 million for the year ended December 31st, 2022, with almost half of it contributed by EV programs. The orders in hand already secured are of over ~3 Bn Euro in cumulative Net Revenues over the next 3 years. It has more than 5,000 employees in over 24 manufacturing locations in Europe, Asia, and America.

The transaction will be another step in further enhancing Motherson’s integration in the global automotive supply chain and increasing its customer proximity. With its strong capabilities in assembly, automation and logistics, “SAS” is well-positioned to benefit from the secular trend of outsourcing of module assembly by OEMs to trusted suppliers.

The enterprise value of the business is Euro 540 million and the transaction will be funded by a mix of debt and internal accruals The transaction remains subject to information or consultation with employee representatives. Completion of the envisaged transaction will be subject to customary regulatory approvals and would be expected by Q2 FY24 (July-Sept 23).

Commenting on the deal, Mr. Vivek Chaand Sehgal, Chairman, Motherson said,

“We have always added new products and technologies to closely serve our customers in a more cohesive way. The acquisition of SAS is an important step in this direction. By adding complementing capabilities which SAS brings, we will be able to further enhance our tier 0.5 position with our customers. With this acquisition, we will be even more diversified in our customer base and products. This acquisition will transform Motherson Group to be a leading assembler of cockpit modules globally, with a special focus on EV models. We look forward to welcoming over 5,000 new members into the Motherson family”.

Kolkata, 20th February 2023: The Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) organised an interactive session called Vision East- Green Initiatives led Growth & Employment. The session witnessed valuable insights on the central government’s initiatives for a greener economy from Mr. Bhupender Yadav, Hon’ble Minister, Ministry of Labour and Employment and Environment, Forests & Climate Change, Govt. of India, Mr. Mehul Mohanka, President, ICC and Managing Director & Group CEO, Tega Industries Ltd, and Dr. Rajeev Singh, Director General, ICC, and Mr. Sudhir A. Merchant Director, M/s Encore Natural Polymer Pvt Ltd.

Commenting on the initiative by the central government towards strengthening the economy, Chief Guest, Hon’ble Minister, Ministry of Labour and Employment and Environment, Forests & Climate Change, Govt. of India, Mr. Bhupender Yadav, said, “India, in the post-Covid era has become the fastest growing economy, attaining 30.6 percent of the GDP growth, which is still a challenging concept for many other countries. The Indian economy has strengthened due to the ease of doing business and the rapid growth of the unorganised sector and MSMEs. According to last year’s government initiative, 39,000 unnecessary compliances were removed, along with several legislative reforms. The Union Budget 2023 promotes a technology- and knowledge driven economy. The budget is based on the seven principles, which emphasise inclusive development, reaching the last line, youth power, the financial sector, infrastructural investment, unleashing the potential, and green growth. The development model implemented under our honourable Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi’s visionary leadership has been an exemplary development model. This model reflects the vision of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikash, and Sabka Prayas, which is why this green initiative and new innovations have been taken into account. The government is working on our culture and various spectrums for our country at the same time, such as the new Vishwakarma Kaushal Yojna, contributing for strengthening women’s self-help groups and creating a single district for product promotion. These are several unique ideas introduced by the government that will help the country fulfil its necessary requirements in the development spectrum.”

Speaking about the session, the Director General, of ICC, Dr. Rajeev Singh, said,” Our honourable chief guest has been working to solve relevant environmental issues by taking full authority, starting from the ground level. The green initiative as discussed in the budget has shown us a clear path to work on reducing carbon emissions and climate change that would eventually lead to sustainable development for our country.”

Commenting on the theme of the session, President, ICC and MD & Group CEO Tega Industries Ltd, Mr Mehul Mohanka, said, “As we all know, the effects of climate change are no longer a prediction of the future but today’s reality, as we have been affected by droughts, frequent cyclones, and prolonged heat waves, among others. Climate change has been a major topic of discussion and action not only in our country but throughout the G20 summit. The budget prioritised energy transition and climate action. To that end, India has taken some noteworthy initiatives. Green growth was recorded as one of the Saptarshi which reflects the government’s commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2030 and aligned climate growth.”

While delivering the Vote of Thanks, Director, M/s Encore Natural Polymer Pvt Ltd, Mr. Sudhir A. Merchant, said, “I would like to appreciate the government’s initiative to go green as this would have a meaningful impact on the growth of our country across the world. We all must give our inputs to make this initiative successful.”