Month: August 2024

Blenders Pride Four Elements: A Bold Evolution in Premium Whisky Experience

Blenders Pride, the iconic leader in premium whiskies, unveils its latest innovation: Blenders Pride Four Elements. It’s a meticulously crafted blend that embodies the four elemental forces of nature, each lending a unique expression to the whisky. With a strategic focus on capturing the taste palates of both seasoned whisky aficionados and newcomers alike, this exceptional blend marks a significant milestone in Blenders Pride's journey of excellence and innovation.

At the core of the creation of this new spirit, Master Blender Kevin Balmforth uses four styles of Scotch Malts along with select Indian grain spirits. He seeks his inspiration from the four elemental forces of nature – Earth, Air, Fire, and Water – each adding its distinct essence to the whisky-making process. Earth's finest barley & grains bring richness of the land's bounty, while the Air of Scottish Highlands breathes complex flavours through the maturation process. Fire blazes passionately, toasting oak casks and infusing the whisky with depths of flavors & textures that ignite the soul, while the purity of Water, drawn from the dual terrains of Scotland and India, brings forth the symphony of unique flavours.

Together, these four elements converge to create vibrancy of flavours in every amber drop and invite to an experience that’s a delicate interplay of mellow woody sweetness and fresh, rich fruits.

Kartik Mohindra, Chief Marketing Officer, Pernod Ricard India, said, “Our dedication to innovation and excellence has propelled Blenders Pride to the forefront of the whisky industry. Today, we're thrilled to introduce Blenders Pride Four Elements, set to be a vibrant addition to our portfolio and the evolving whisky landscape. It embodies our vision of crafting a flavour-rich experience that pushes category norms and connects with a dynamic demographic that values authenticity, innovation, and exploration. Our intricate packaging brings to life the elemental forces influencing the whisky's character, that offers a unique and rich consumer experience. From its vibrant colours to the detailed 'Amber Drop' mnemonic, every aspect embodies Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. Blenders Pride Four Elements is positioned to appeal to the experimentative consumer, offering a journey of discovery and delight.”

Talking about this unique creation, Master Blender Kevin Balmforth added, “With Blenders Pride Four Elements, we offer a unique and differentiated experience to consumers. This premium whisky is meticulously crafted with a blend of four styles of Scotch malts and Indian grain spirits, embodying the elemental forces – Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. From the exquisite barley sourced from Scotland to the verdant fields of India, each component plays a pivotal role in crafting the whisky's character and lending it an intricate flavour profile.”

Planned for a pan-India launch, Blenders Pride Four Elements whisky will first be witnessed by markets of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Goa & Orissa. 

Chakr Innovation, a leader in retrofit emission control technology for diesel generators, is proud to be an associate partner at the 2nd Real Estate & Infrastructure Conclave 2024, organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in Pune. This event at the Hyatt Regency brings together key industry stakeholders to explore trends, technologies, and best practices in real estate and infrastructure, with a strong focus on sustainability and innovation. As part of its participation, the company will showcase the Chakr Shield, an advanced solution designed to reduce emissions from diesel generators in real estate projects.

 

The Chakr Shield, India’s first  pioneering cleantech innovation, has received type approval from CPCB-recommended labs for diesel generators. This device effectively captures 80-90% of particulate matter and harmful pollutants emitted by diesel generators, offering a practical solution for reducing air pollution at construction sites and operational buildings. By partnering with the CII event, the company reinforces its commitment to the green building initiative, providing the real estate industry with a valuable tool to meet sustainability goals.

 

Kushagra Srivastava, Co-Founder of Chakr Innovation, highlights the importance of sustainable practices in the sector: “The real estate and infrastructure industries are at a critical juncture where adopting eco-friendly practices is vital. Our emission control device provides a practical and efficient solution to address the pollution caused by diesel generators, which are widely used in various construction and real estate projects. By reducing emissions directly at the source, we not only enhance air quality but also contribute to better health outcomes for urban residents and construction workers.”

 

Srivastava also expresses appreciation for the opportunity to engage with industry leaders at the CII Real Estate & Infrastructure Conclave: “We are grateful for platforms like this conclave, which bring together key players to address environmental challenges and promote the adoption of sustainable technologies. Such events are essential in driving innovation and sustainability within the sector.”

 

The conclave, themed “Sustainable Development and Green Building Practices,” serves as a vibrant forum for industry professionals to exchange insights and explore collaborative opportunities aimed at advancing environmentally responsible practices. Key discussions demonstrate a commitment to responsible development.

 

The event highlights a renewed dedication from participants to fast-track the adoption of sustainable practices and technologies, recognizing their vital role in fostering a more environmentally conscious future for the real estate and infrastructure sectors. Chakr Innovation's involvement underscores its commitment to promoting sustainable development and supporting the green building movement within the industry.

 

Farmers will be able to use Community Pass card, supported by Mastercard, to make payments for purchases in remote, offline areas

Mastercard today announced a collaboration with Gramophone, a leading agritech platform, to enable 2 million smallholder farmers on the Mastercard Community Pass platform in India with access to agri inputs. The two entities will work towards powering offline payments for farmers in rural and remote areas throughthe Community Pass financial inclusion card.Gramophone is also expected to enable their existing five lac farmers with offline payments and credit.

Community Pass provides a digital ecosystemfor buyers who are looking for sustainable sources of quality produce at favourable market prices and supply chain financing; and for smallholder farmers looking for reliable markets, fair prices and access to credit. The platform brings together various agrisector stakeholders in a centralizedagricultural marketplace, amplifying the collective positive impact on farming communities.Community Pass services also include anoffline payment card, and inputs credit that will be rolled out in the coming months.

This collaborationwith Gramophone will ensure that farmers are able to buy the right inputs at a fair price. The service will be rolled out later this year, starting with inputs and offline payments, while access to credit will be launched early next year. In addition, Gramophone plans to rollout innovative loyalty/cash-back schemes for its members via the offline-enabled card. Through this collaboration,Gramophone also seeks to enable easier access to working capital for their farmer producer organizations and small retailers for driving inputs and scaling business.

“In line with the Government of India’s vision to digitize the agriculture sector, Mastercard has been working  to bring key stakeholders in the agri ecosystem onto one platform to ease credit and input access for farmers and enhance their incomes. This collaboration with Gramophone will ensure that farmers can access quality inputs of their choice, on easy credit terms, as well as the benefitsof digital payments even without internet connectivity or smartphone availability,” said Ricardo Pareja, Head of Community Pass Markets, Mastercard.

“At Gramophone, we have consistently delivered top-tier agronomy advisory and quality products through our, in-house technology platform enabling Input Commerce. Now, we are excited to add Mastercard’s advanced technology stack and partner networks to further enhance India’s agricultural ecosystem. Starting with a pilot in Madhya Pradesh, we will aim to support farmers across India by increasing their incomes by 50-60%, through access to inputs and credit,” said Tauseef Khan, Co-founder, Gramophone.

Mastercard Community Pass isa shared, interoperable digital infrastructure for rural populations that has benefitted over 2 millionIndian farmers across 25 districts in eight states, to date. 

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Femina Miss India 2024 co-powered by Tops & Rajnigandha Pearls, in its diamond jubilee edition, has announced its state winners who will compete at the grand finale. The winner of the 60th Femina Miss India will get an opportunity to represent India at the 73rd Miss World competition. This development takes the pageant a step closer to discovering India's next global beauty icon. The historic edition of the pageant is poised to be a grand spectacle, paying tribute to the pageant's rich history while embracing the future of Indian womanhood.

The pageant's rigorous nationwide selection process, which spanned five months, received an overwhelming response. After holding online screenings, the pageant toured five cities from each zone of the country, namely North (Delhi-NCR), East (Kolkata), North East (Guwahati), South (Bengaluru), West (Mumbai) and held regional auditions that saw participation from thousands of contestants competing for their respective state titles.  The Top 5 finalists from each state were shortlisted and invited to Mumbai for the mega auditions, wherein the state winners (30) were selected, each representing an Indian state (29 including Delhi) and a common representative for the Union Territories (1), making it to a batch of 30 contestants who will compete at the grand finale event.  The esteemed Jury Panel of industry experts and former pageant title holders at the said auditions evaluated the contestants on various criteria, including aesthetics, fitness, communication skills, intellect, personality, stage presence, body language, and confidence. These state winners embody the essence of self-empowered and modern Indian womanhood.

The Femina Miss India 2024 state winners are: Aabha Katre (Femina Miss India Himachal Pradesh 2024), Amrita Sethi (Femina Miss India Punjab 2024), Sakshi Joshi (Femina Miss India Uttarakhand 2024), Supriya Dahiya (Femina Miss India Haryana 2024), Sifti Singh Sarang (Femina Miss India Delhi 2024), Divyanshi Batra (Femina Miss India Uttar Pradesh 2024), Nikita Porwal (Femina Miss India Madhya Pradesh 2024), Vishakha Rai (Femina Miss India Chhattisgarh 2024), Ananya Panda (Femina Miss India Odisha 2024), Riya Nandini (Femina Miss India Jharkhand 2024), Aditi Jha (Femina Miss India Bihar 2024), Dolly Singh (Femina Miss India West Bengal 2024), Sahara Subba (Femina Miss India Sikkim 2024), Arundhuti Saikia (Femina Miss India Assam 2024), Tadu Lunia (Femina Miss India Arunachal Pradesh 2024), Jentiren Jamir (Femina Miss India Nagaland 2024), Chanchui Khayi (Femina Miss India Manipur 2024), Lalsangkimi (Femina Miss India Mizoram 2024), Nikita Ghosh (Femina Miss India Tripura 2024), Angelia N Marwein (Femina Miss India Meghalaya 2024),Bhavya Reddy (Femina Miss India Andhra Pradesh 2024), Prakruthi Kambam (Femina Miss India Telangana 2024), Malina (Femina Miss India Tamil Nadu 2024), Akshatha Meetinay (Femina Miss India Kerala 2024), Apeksha Shetty (Femina Miss India Karnataka 2024), Shruti Raul (Femina Miss India Goa 2024), Arshia Rashid (Femina Miss India Maharashtra 2024), Aayushi Dholakia (Femina Miss India Gujarat 2024), Vaishnavi Sharma (Femina Miss India Rajasthan 2024), Rekha Pandey (Femina Miss India Union Territory 2024).

The Femina Miss India 2024 state winners will be participating in a boot camp, which will include a host of activities such as training programs, digital content shoots, promotional visits, subtitle competitions, personal interview rounds, and an awards night ceremony, culminating in the grand finale coronation night.

Over its six decades of legacy, the pageant has served as a springboard for countless women, propelling them to national and international recognition. Many of them have become icons in the glamour and entertainment Industry. Femina Miss India has been an integral part of India's social fabric, shaping the lives of exceptional women who have made significant contributions to society. In its 60th anniversary, the pageant is committed to upholding its legacy of empowering women and providing them with a platform to showcase their talent, intelligence, and beauty.

·         ACC and the Adani Foundation empower widowed mother’s journey from adversity to success by turning her small garment business into a stable income source.

·         The SHG supports establishment of micro-enterprises to involve women in income generating activities for economic empowerment and self-sustainability.

ACC, the cement and building material company of the diversified Adani Portfolio, along with the Adani Foundation are proud to empower sustainable livelihoods for rural women entrepreneurs. After the untimely death of her husband, Mrs. Sarojini Kerketa was finding it hard to provide for her children. Becoming a member of the Ghanteswari self-help group (SHG) in Piplipali village near the ACC Bargarh plant, has completely transformed her situation from adversity to success.

The SHG helps in establishment of micro-enterprise involving women in income generating activities for economic empowerment and self-sustainability. With support from the SHG Mrs. Sarojini set up a garment business. Through a combination of her relentless determination and guidance from the Adani Foundation, Mrs. Sarojini’s business now consistently earns Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,000 per week.

Subsequently, she took a bold step and secured a Rs 15,000 loan from a Trust in 2023, which she not only repaid on time but also reinvested Rs 20,000 back into the business, building the financial foundation for its growth.

Grateful for the support and opportunities provided by the Adani Foundation in the face of adversity, Mrs. Sarojini hopes to inspire other women facing similar challenges.

ACC and the Adani Foundation are proud to be part of Mrs. Sarojini Kerketa’s journey towards empowerment and self-sufficiency. It is such success stories which exemplify their commitment to improving the quality of life and self-dependence for women from diverse communities.

Avesthagen Limited (Avesthagen) and ApolloAyurVAID, a unit of Kerala First Health Services Private Limited, an Apollo Hospitals Group Company, announced their strategic partnership to design, validate, manufacture, and market a range of breakthrough, scientifically validated medical-foods and dietary supplements, aimed at setting a new industry benchmark for quality, efficacy, and safety.

The products to be marketed under the joint brand “AvestaAyurVAID” aims to promote the integration of medical nutrition with Ayurvedic principles for a new generation of consumer and prescription health products. They shall address specific dietary management of a specific disease or syndrome or disease state for which distinctive nutritional requirements has been established by systematic medical evaluation.

Natural bioactives based on promising Ayurveda botanical candidates shall be developed and validated throughAvesthagen’sADePt^®, a proprietary bioactive discovery engine, and MetaGrid^®, an exclusive bioactive testing methodology. The collaboration shall emphasize rigorous scientific and clinical validation to ensure industry-leading product safety and efficacy profile.

Avesthagen and ApolloAyurVAID shall synergistically combine their expertise, and knowledge to design, manufacture and market precision medical foods utilizing innovative strategies that enhance patient care, promote holistic wellness, and advance the field of integrative medicine and modern medical nutrition.

Key areas of focus include managing chronic diseases such as diabetes, weight regulation, cardiovascular conditions, and metabolic disorders. Additionally, the partnership shall addressonco-nutrition, immunity, cognitive health and mental well-being, ensuring a comprehensive approach to modern medical nutrition.

Avesthagen subsidiaries, Avesta Nordic  Research Pvt Ltd. and Avesta Good Earth Foods Pvt.Ltd., shall be responsible for the manufacture of products, and Apollo AyurVAID shall be responsible for the marketing of products under this agreement. Product development shall be a joint responsibility.

 

Dr. Preetha Reddy, Vice Chairperson of Apollo Hospitals and Chairperson of Apollo AyurVAID, said, “At Apollo Hospitals, our unwavering commitment to patient care drives us to continuously seek innovative solutions that enhance health and well-being. This strategic partnership between Apollo AyurVAID and Avesthagen represents a significant step forward in integrating the timeless wisdom of Ayurveda with cutting-edge scientific validation. By developing AvestaAyurVAID’s range of scientifically validated medical foods and dietary supplements, we are not only addressing the unique nutritional needs of our patients, but also pioneering a new approach to holistic healthcare that promotes healing from within. Together, we are setting new standards in medical nutrition and reinforcing our dedication to delivering personalized and effective care to every individual we serve.”

 

Dr.VillooMorawala Patell,Chairperson and Managing Director of Avesthagen Limited expressed enthusiasm about the partnership's potential, stating “We are thrilled by the opportunities this collaboration with Apollo AyurVAID presents. By combining modern cutting-edge bioactives with Ayurveda we can offer patients more personalized nutrition and effective treatment options. AvestaAyurVAID shall develop and commercialize a range of breakthrough plant-based nutritional products designed to prevent or mitigate disease conditions, thereby supporting lifestyle management and overall health. Through the consumption of healthy, medically validated foods, individuals can proactively address potential health issues and reduce the need for pharmaceutical interventions.”

Rajiv Vasudevan, Managing Director and CEO, Apollo AyurVAID, added“We are delighted that Apollo AyurVAID’s expertise and insights in Ayurveda medical care can now be leveraged through Avesthagen’s cutting edge scientific validation platform for a new generation of precision designed Avesta AyurVEDIC Medical Foods and Dietary Supplements. This first of its kind, synergistic collaboration leveraging precision Ayurveda medical  science with the power of biotechnology, systems biology and nutrigenomics shall result in botanical-bioactive powered personalised health solutions that uniquely benefit patients.” 

The study proposes a data-driven approach that policymakers can use to resolve the ongoing debate on skill and chance in online gaming

Researchers from the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, and SP Jain Institute of Management & Research recently published a joint report, which objectively concludes that the effect of the user’s skill is significantly more than that of chance, in determining the winnability in a fantasy sports contest. The study, “Decision Support System for Policy-Making: Quantifying Skill and Chance in Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS)”, further proposes a data-driven approach to determine, through empirical evidence, whether any game is a game of skill or chance. This is the second paper by Professor U Dinesh Kumar, which focuses on studying the statistical aspects of online games. This study goes beyond measuring the effect of skill and chance on a user’s performance. Also, it focuses on quantifying several other indicators of skill, such as the effect of user’s past performance, experience and recent participation, which have not been studied previously.

This peer-reviewed study offers an integrated decision support framework that:

●        Evaluates the relative importance of skill and chance,

●        Studies a contestant’s observed and unobserved characteristics,

●        Tests for other indicators of skill,

●        It can be replicated in other games, subject to data availability.

The framework proposed in the study can help policymakers adopt a more science-oriented and quantitative approach to resolving the ongoing debate on skill and chance. The lack of such a standardized and objective approach to evaluating online games has led to inconsistencies in regulation and hurt the ease of doing business for legitimate gaming companies in India.

By analyzing performance data, the study helps identify how much of a player’s success is due to their skill and how much depends on chance, providing a clear picture of what drives success in fantasy sports. By analyzing users’ performances across 2,951 matches and 160,000 contests, the study concludes that the effect of users’ skill is significantly more than that of chance in determining winnability in fantasy sports. The study also quantifies other indicators of skill, like user’s past performance, experience and recent participation and finds that these significantly affect their performance in fantasy sports contests.

U. Dinesh Kumar, Professor, IIMB, emphasized the significance of these findings: “Thisresearchprovidesadecisionsupportsystemthatcanallowpolicymakerstoobjectivelyandquantitativelydifferentiatebetweengamesofskillandchance.Theframeworkproposedinthestudycanbereplicatedforanyonlinegame,subjecttodata availability. We believe that such frameworks are key to formulating regulations based on data science and better suited to address the challenges stemming from emerging technologies and new age sectors, such as online gaming.”

Key findings from the study include:

●     Experience improves winnability: There is a positive correlation between users’ experience and winning consistency, i.e., users with more experience exhibit higher winnability in fantasy sports contests.

○        This indicates that users learn from experience and improve their future performances. In a game of chance, on the other hand, experience will not affect a user’s winnability. 

●     Consistent high-performers fare better: Users who consistently performed well in the past also perform better in the current fantasy sports contests.

○        This indicates that users’ capabilities matter in fantasy sports contests. In a game of chance, on the other hand, past performances would not determine a user’s present performance.

●     Recency positively affects winnability: Users who participated recently in fantasy sports contests exhibit higher winnability.

○        This indicates that the score gap increases with an increasing number of days since the users’ last participation, i.e., users who participated recently exhibit higher winnability. This is also consistent with the concept of skill depreciation used in human capital theory.

●     Choice of contest influences relative performance

●        The variance of unobserved skill is higher than the variance of chance: The study found that the unobserved components of skill play a far greater role in determining winnability than pure random shocks.

Chaitanya Ramalingegowda, Director & Co-founder, Wakefit.co, said, “The inspiration behind the Wakefit Sleep Internship was our unwavering belief in the importance of quality sleep for a healthy and productive life. We believe that The Wakefit Sleep Internship is a powerful way to drive this narrative. By incentivizing people to prioritize their rest, we aim to change the perception of sleep from a non-essential and ignored activity to a vital component of well-being.”

He also added, “With the proposed bill to increase work hours for the Indian workforce in certain parts of the country, the importance of quality sleep has become all the more crucial. The Sleep Internship aims to highlight the critical role that sleep should play in everyone's lives while also encouraging people to take their sleep health seriously. We strongly believe that this initiative will positively impact Indians, while also improving productivity, and promoting better health.”

Kunal Dubey, CMO, Wakefit.co, said, “The tremendous response from Season 3 of The Wakefit Sleep Internship has inspired us to elevate this year's program with more engaging and impactful elements. As we open registrations for Season 4, we invite sleep enthusiasts from across the country to join us in this unique initiative. Through the Sleep Internship program, we aim to instil the mindset that quality sleep is essential for productivity and holistic wellness.

He also added, “Staying true to Wakefit.co's quirky and vibrant brand persona, we have designed the Sleep Internship program to not only promote the importance of quality sleep but also to make the journey as enjoyable and memorable as possible. This initiative strongly aligns with our dedication to making quality sleep a priority for all.”

Arun Iyer, Founder, Spring Marketing Capital, said, “The Wakefit Sleep Internship has been a sensation since it first launched in 2019, garnering over a million applications across three seasons. With this strong response, it is clear that the excitement around this unique initiative continues to grow. Wakefit.co is now inviting all sleep enthusiasts to register for Sleep Internship Season 4, where the journey to becoming India’s next Sleep Champion promises to be more enriching than ever.”

He also added, “Participants will be equipped with a high-quality Wakefit.co mattress and an advanced sleep tracker to help them excel in their sleep journey. Additionally, the interns will also dive into a series of fun and engaging sessions with sleep experts, fitness professionals, nutritionists, and wellness coaches, all designed to improve their sleep quality and health.”

Wakefit Sleep Internship has been one of the most viral campaigns since its launch in 2019. With over 10 lakh applications across 3 seasons, the company now invites people to register for Wakefit.co’s Sleep Internship Season 4 and compete for the title of India’s next Sleep Champion. The interns will be selected through a rigorous process, and will be provided with a state-of-the-art Wakefit.co mattress and a sophisticated sleep tracker. Through the course of the 60-day internship, the interns will be engaged in various empowering sessions and activities with sleep specialists, fitness professionals, nutritionists, wellness experts, etc that are specially curated to help improve the quality of sleep and overall wellness.