Month: November 2024

The prestigious Vishwa Samudra Golden Eagles Golf Championship is set to return for its much-anticipated 8th edition at the renowned Classic Golf & Country Club in Gurgaon. Known for bringing together elite athletes, celebrities, and corporate leaders, this year’s championship promises an unforgettable experience filled with competitive spirit, luxury, and entertainment.

This year, participants will compete for the coveted title while vying for incredible prizes, including a chance to win a BMW XM for the Hole-in-One and a Rolex Oyster Perpetual for the overall champion. Additional rewards such as iPhones, PXG irons, and exclusive gift vouchers add further allure to the competition.

Mr. Chinta Sasidhar, Chairman of the Vishwa Samudra Group, expressed his excitement for this year’s event, saying, “The Vishwa Samudra Golden Eagles Championship is not just a golf tournament; it’s a celebration of excellence and a gathering of visionaries. We are thrilled to see it grow year after year, bringing together sports icons, industry leaders, and enthusiasts who share a passion for the game. This year’s edition will undoubtedly be our most spectacular yet, and we look forward to creating memorable experiences for everyone involved.”

In line with the event’s theme- Golf, Glamour, Glory– this year's championship will feature a dynamic mix of professional and celebrity golfers, elevating the competition's intensity and making it a highlight in India’s sporting calendar. Indian cricket legend Kapil Dev and Indian Pros like Neha Tripathi and Ridhima Dhilawari are expected to join, bringing star power and a touch of nostalgia, honoring the legacies of Indian sports heroes.

International Ladies-pro Camila Lennarth from Sweden & many more are set to grace the greens, competing head-to-head in this premier event.

The championship’s signature evening entertainment promises to be a grand spectacle, with live performances by top artists, including India’s rap sensation Badshah, who will set the stage ablaze during the award ceremony. In true Golden Eagles style, the event will also feature other world-class acts, ensuring an evening of unforgettable entertainment for all attendees.

Originally founded by Mr. Chinta Sasidhar, Chairman of the Vishwa Samudra Group, the Golden Eagles Golf Championship has grown exponentially since its inception in 2015. It has earned a reputation as India’s premier corporate golf event, consistently blending the thrill of the sport with high-profile social interaction, all while celebrating those who have brought glory to the country.

Date: November 17, 2024
Venue: Classic Golf & Country Club, Gurgaon
Entertainment and Awards Ceremony: 7:30 PM Onwards

Don’t miss this exciting blend of sport, style, and stardom. Reserve your spot now for a front-row experience of India’s most glamorous golf event of the year.

NueGo coaches are 100% green. These are AC electric buses with innovative technology and zero tailpipe emission. They offer noiseless travel and are safe and comfortable with features such as live tracking, CCTV surveillance, mobile charging point, ample leg space, reclining seats and much more.

Titan Eye+, India's leading eyewear retail brand from Titan Company Limited, announced the launch of its new premium store format with the opening of its first flagship store in Bengaluru. The 1800-square-foot store marks a significant milestone in Titan Eye+'s premiumisation journey, offering an elevated eyewear shopping experience that combines international luxury brands with state-of-the-art eye care technology.

Conceptualised by renowned designer Michel Foley, the new format store presents a sophisticated retail environment with four distinct lifestyle sections catering to kids, young adults, men and women, and international brands. The store showcases an extensive collection of over 20 international luxury brands including Cartier, Gucci, and Tom Ford, alongside Titan's own premium offerings from Titan, Fastrack, and Dash. Distinguishing itself from traditional Titan Eye+ stores, the new format introduces innovative elements including coffee shop-themed transaction areas that create a relaxed consulting environment for shoppers. The store layout is thoughtfully designed to enhance the customer journey, with specialized zones that cater to different consumer segments. A team of 11 specialized staff members, including three expert optometrists, ensures personalized attention and professional service for every customer.

Mr. N.S. Raghavan, CEO, Eyecare Division at Titan Company Ltd., stated, “India is witnessing a remarkable shift towards premiumisation across categories, with consumers increasingly seeking products and experiences that reflect their global exposure and refined tastes. Our new flagship store format is strategically aligned with this trend, offering discerning customers access to premium international brands and exemplary service under one roof. This launch represents a significant step in our premiumisation journey, as we continue to evolve our retail approach to meet the sophisticated needs of today's Indian consumer.”

The store also features a unique cutting-edge eye care clinic equipped with ZEISS VISUCORE 500 technology, representing the latest advancements in diagnostic capabilities. This advanced high precision automated unit combines objective & subjective refraction in one cycle, completing comprehensive eye examinations in less than 5 minutes while maintaining exceptional accuracy. This gives our clinic staffed by experienced optometrists who have collectively conducted over 1.1 lakh eye examinations, more time to consult your eyecare needs better.

“As Indian consumers continue to embrace premium lifestyle choices, we're seeing a growing appreciation for quality eyewear that combines fashion with functionality,” added Mr. Raghavan. “Our new store format creates an environment where customers can explore the finest international brands while receiving world-class eye care services, truly elevating the eyewear shopping experience.”

The launch in Bengaluru is part of Titan Eye+'s broader premium retail strategy, with the next flagship store scheduled to open at South City, Kolkata in November 2024. The company currently operates 108 premium stores across India and plans to expand this premium format to other major metropolitan cities.

EDITIORS SYNOPSIS

·         Ambuja Cements celebrates ‘Poshan Maah’, a month-long nationwide campaign highlighting its dedication to improving health and nutrition in rural communities.

·         Through CSR efforts, the Company is working towards eradicating malnutrition by focusing on nutrition education, community engagement, and health awareness.

Ambuja Cements, the cement and building material company of the diversified Adani Portfolio, is making promising efforts in improving health and nutrition in rural communities with the celebration of ‘Poshan Maah’ across the nation. This initiative focuses on combating malnutrition and anaemia, especially among children and women, by promoting health awareness and nutrition education in its core areas of operation.

‘Poshan Maah’ is a nationwide celebration dedicating the entire month of September to promoting nutrition awareness and driving action towards building a healthier India. The CSR team implemented key activities like nutrition camps, health awareness sessions, and community outreach programs.

These initiatives aim to educate families on the importance of balanced diets, provide vital health screenings, and offer support in tackling malnutrition. The CSR team is also collaborating with local health workers and volunteers to ensure that these programs reach the most vulnerable populations, making a tangible impact on the community.

Ambuja Cements' commitment to human capital is further strengthened through the celebration of ‘Poshan Maah’. The Company continues to drive change at the grassroots level, working tirelessly to reduce malnutrition rates and improve the overall well-being of rural communities across the nation.

The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe), in collaboration with the Astronautical Society of India (ASI) and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), has launched the IN-SPACe Model Rocketry India Student Competition 2024-25 to create awareness and inspire technological talent in the field of rocketry among Indian students. This initiative supports the growth of a skilled STEM workforce with a specific emphasis on space technology.

The event, aimed at promoting innovation and technical expertise, has drawn participation from 86 student teams nationwide. After thorough evaluation and design reviews, 55 teams have advanced to attend the “Essentials of Model Rocketry Workshop,” held in partnership with the Indian Air Force. The workshop is hosted at Air Force Station, Jalahalli (West), Bengaluru, from November 9 to 15, 2024.

The workshop was inaugurated by esteemed Chief Guest Padma Shri Dr. B N Suresh, Chancellor of the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST). Dr. Vinod Kumar, Director, PD, IN-SPACe, Executive Secretary ASI who has conceptualized the Model Rocketry Workshop and other nationwide student competitions briefed the gathering on the workshop curriculum and importance of Model Rocketry.

Participants from all over the country will get a chance to gain a deep understanding of the fundamental principles behind model rocket design, propulsion systems, deployment and separation mechanisms, and mission design from industry leaders and academia from ISRO, VSSC, NGEs and IIST.  The inaugural session was also graced by AVM Premkumar Krishnaswami VM VSM, Commandant of the Weapon Systems School; Air Cmde Santhosh KP Hegde, AOC, AFS, Jalahalli; and Gp Capt. Santhosh Kumar Vayakodan, CO, CTI, AFS, Jalahalli.

Dr. Vinod Kumar, Director, PD, IN-SPACe said, “This unique workshop will help to ignite the passion for space exploration among young people by giving them an insight into rocketry and space technology. The workshop has been envisioned to encourage children to learn and innovate through practical sessions. We believe that empowering these young innovators today will lead to their contributing to India's journey to a leadership position in the global space arena.”

“As an Aerospace Combatant, I understand and recognize the importance of nurturing young minds for the future growth of space technologies. The aim of this workshop is to instill a culture of innovation and critical thinking, and inspire our youth to pursue a career in aerospace engineering, thereby contributing to our nation’s growth in this domain,” said Air Vice Marshal Premkumar Krishnaswamy

This unique collaboration between IN-SPACe, ASI, ISRO, and the Air Force highlights India's commitment to building a new generation of space enthusiasts and innovators.

Launches brand campaign to engage and inspire audiences nationwide

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the backbone of India’s digital payments ecosystem, today announced the launch of its new brand positioning, ‘Always Forward,’ reinforcing its commitment to continuous innovation and inclusivity within India’s financial and payments landscape. NPCI’s new positioning highlights its belief that digital financial transactions are key drivers of individual and national progress, empowering millions to move forward, one transaction at a time.

For over a decade, NPCI has led India’s digital payment revolution with innovations like UPI, IMPS, RuPay, BHIM, AePS and NETC FASTag among others. These platforms have made secure digital transactions accessible nationwide, driving India toward a digital-first economy. NPCI’s robust payment infrastructure enables seamless, low-cost transactions across the country, empowering every Indian to access digital financial services with ease and confidence.

At the heart of the ‘Always Forward’ positioning is India’s evolution into a ‘striver’s economy,’ where millions of individuals are motivated to seek continuous progress, investing time and resources to achieve their goals. NPCI aims to empower these strivers, sharing their optimism for a brighter future. By offering cutting-edge payment solutions, NPCI is transforming this optimism into real progress, helping individuals move forward with confidence and ambition.

Ramesh Yadav, Chief of Marketing, NPCI, said, “’Always Forward’ will resonate with the inner striver in everyone, who aspires for a brighter future and leverages technology to advance it. This positioning reflects our dedication to making financial transactions not only easy and secure, but also a catalyst for personal and national progress. NPCI’s ‘Always Forward’ is a celebration of progress, innovation, and the transformative power of digital payments to shape India’s future.”

As part of this initiative, NPCI is launching its brand campaign under the same name. The campaign will feature dynamic creatives across print, digital, ambient media, and cinema, all designed to inspire and engage a diverse audience nationwide. The campaign highlights how NPCI’s solutions empower individuals to move forward in life with ease and confidence.

In addition to showcasing real-life use cases, the ‘Always Forward’ campaign aims to inspire India’s next generation of strivers—young students, tech enthusiasts, and entrepreneurs—to embrace digital payments and actively participate in the evolving digital economy. The campaign seeks to build trust, emphasize NPCI’s impact, and foster greater inclusivity in India’s payments landscape. ‘Always Forward’ is not just a campaign but a movement reflecting NPCI’s enduring commitment to driving innovation and inclusivity, ensuring that every Indian, from every corner of the country, has the tools to participate fully in a digital future.

Kolkata-based Haldiram Bhujiawala Limited has announced the successful closure of its Private placement round, with Pantomath’s Bharat Value Fund (BVF) investing INR 2350 Mn in the Company for minority stake. Haldiram Bhujiawala Limited retails its products under the brand “Prabhuji” 

The snacks market, one of the fastest-growing sectors in India, was estimated to be worth INR 426 billion in FY24, which is expected to reach ~ INR 955 billion by FY32, registering a CAGR of 11%. Organized players in this market, who enjoy a substantial market share, are expected to be the key contributors to this growth. Their persistent focus on product diversification, coupled with a strong commitment to quality, convenience, and safety standards, will position them for further expansion. 

Haldiram Bhujiawala Limited has a strong legacy of more than 6 decades in snacks and savoury industry. The Company retails its products under the brand name of “Prabhuji” offering a broad product portfolio with 100+ SKUs, which enjoys strong brand recognition, especially in Eastern and North-Eastern Indian markets besides running the quick service restaurants in West Bengal and North-Eastern States. The modern brand, ‘Prabhuji’ has become the buzz word, which is backed by the Company’s new-age marketing strategy. The brand ambassadors are Bollywood legendary actors, Shahrukh Khan and Rashmika Mandanna. 

Haldiram Bhujiawala Limited has a potent mix of its retail business as well as distribution business. The Company has distribution network of approximately 2000 distributors servicing more than 200,000 retailers across the country. Company operates 19 retail outlets and 60 franchise stores establishing its direct consumer reach. Currently, Company’s markets include West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, and the North-Eastern regions. The Company will use the funds to expand its manufacturing and markets outside of Eastern and North-Eastern Indian markets. Haldiram Bhujiawala Limited operates three manufacturing units with a combined capacity of 6,035 Metric Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA). 

Mr. Manish Agarwal, Managing Director, Haldiram Bhujiawala Limited, said on the occasion, “In the last 60+ years, we have cultivated a loyal customer base by offering delectable snacks and sweets. Our Company has been a trendsetter, revolutionizing food habits and tastes of India.” 

“Leveraging our industry insights alongside BVF’s support, we are strategically positioned to enhance shareholder value and drive growth. This partnership lays a solid foundation for generating long-term economic benefits, ensuring a prosperous future for all stakeholders” Mr. Manish Agarwal added. 

Speaking about its investments in Haldiram Bhujiawala Limited, Ms. Madhu Lunawat, CIO of Bharat Value Fund said, “ We are pleased to partner with Haldiram Bhujiawala Limited. With over six decades of market insight since its founding as a proprietorship in 1958, the company has a deep understanding of consumer behavior and market trends. The new generation’s sharp focus on the modern brand, ‘Prabhuji,’ is particularly noteworthy. We are highly optimistic about the food, FMCG, and consumer goods sectors, and Haldiram is well-positioned to achieve substantial growth in the years ahead.” 

BVF, one of the prominent fund houses in mid-market sector, focuses on investing in profitable, growth-stage companies to foster long-term success. The investment in Haldiram marks the BVF’s 6th overall investment and 3rd investment in consumer space within last 3 months. Earlier in last month, BVF invested in a personal hygiene brand, BumTum (Millennium Babycare Limited), and consumer durables company, Aniket Metals Pvt Ltd., amongst others. 

~The airline will offer One-Way Fares from INR 5,555 and 20% Off on Business Tickets~

Vietjet, Vietnam’s leading new-age carrier, is excited to launch two exclusive promotions for Indian travellers. On November 11, for just 24 hours (12:00 am to 11:59 pm), the airline will offer – one-way Eco fares between India and Vietnam starting at INR 5,555 (plus taxes and fees). Travelers can use the promo code VJ11 for flights from January 1 to May 22, 2025.

Additionally, from November 13 to 19, the airline is offering a 20% discount (excluding taxes and fees) on Business and SkyBoss tickets across all routes, both domestic and international. Passengers can Use promo code LEADERNOV at checkout for travel between March 1 and May 22, 2025 (taxes and fees not included).

These offers can be availed by visiting Vietjet’s official website https://www.vietjetair.com/en or using the Vietjet mobile app.

In 2024, the airline expanded its global presence with a network of 168 across Asia and Australia. Since 2019, Vietjet has pioneered direct connections between Vietnam and India, continually expanding its routes to meet rising demand. Currently, the airline operates 68 weekly flights between the two countries connecting key Indian cities—New Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Kochi—to major destinations in Vietnam such as Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City.

Panasonic Energy India Co. Ltd. (PECIN) a part of Panasonic Holdings Corporation today announced its financial results for the quarter ending September 30, 2024. In the Q2 FY2024-25, the company recorded a modest increase in revenue from operations to INR 686.4 million, a 0.42% year-over-year rise compared to INR 683.5 million in Q2 FY2023-24. Despite the modest revenue growth, the company’s profit after tax (PAT) witnessed growth, rising 17.39% to INR 38.81 million. The company posted a growth of 12.72% on EBITDA margins signifying a strong balance sheet with a market cap of INR 3667.13 million.

For the first half (H1 FY2024-25), PECIN demonstrated strong profit growth despite a 9.33% decline in revenue from operations, which totaled INR 1,316 million. The dip in revenue was primarily due to additional sale to the Election Commission in the first half of FY2023-24, which contributed approximately 11.4% to that period's revenue. Excluding the impact of this one-time sale, however, the company achieved a 2% increase in overall sales in H1 FY2024-25, underscoring a strong underlying demand. The PAT for the first half of the current fiscal year reported a robust growth of 35%, increasing to INR 81.82 million from INR 60.52 million last year.

While announcing the results, Mr. Akinori Isomura, Chairman and Managing Director Panasonic Energy India Co. Ltd. (PECIN) said, “The strong profitability underscores our commitment to operational excellence and adaptability in dynamic market conditions. Driven by the company’s strategic focus on cost optimization, especially in materials amid declining zinc prices, we remain focused on enhancing stakeholder value and building momentum for sustained growth in the quarters ahead.

He added, “We have several strategic initiatives underway to support our growth trajectory. These include expanding our reach in the rapidly growing rural markets, capturing our market share in high-potential areas, enhancing brand recognition, and increasing the share of premium products in our sales mix. With these, we are confident to further solidify our performance and market competitiveness.

The PECIN factory in Pithampur (Madhya Pradesh) is a Carbon Neutral Factory and has received a Certificate of Verification Carbon Unit (VCU) Retirement from Verra. Additionally, it has been certified by the International REC Standard. The wastewater treatment at the factory results in zero discharge of wastewater and furthermore, 50% of factory land has a forest cultivated by PECIN. In the view of further Co2 reduction company is expanding the installed solar capacity to ensure 30% solar coverage up from current 19%.  At present, company uses approximately 6% recycled materials in their products which is in-line to the direction of 3R (Reduce, Reuse Recycle). The company is committed to invest more on plantation of trees for the 2^nd year under its Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives in line with Schedule VII of the Companies Act, 2013.

On manufacturing front, PECIN aims for better quality of human life and preservation of the planet. Majority of the products manufactured by the Company are eco-friendly in nature with no addition of (Mercury) Hg, (Cadmium) Cd, (Lead) Pb. Company’s manufactured products are compliant with the limits set by RoHS Directives (EU) 2015/863. Currently, the product portfolio is around 87% zinc carbon batteries and 5% alkaline batteries, 5% rechargeable batteries, and 3% Lithium coin batteries.

Numbers at a glance:

With the objective of creating an Equiverse- a Universe where gender equity is the norm, TalentNomics India and KAS SOPAS, convene key stakeholders to discuss the transformative role education can play to build Gender Equity in South Asia 

TalentNomics India, in partnership with KAS-Japan, successfully organized a roundtable discussion centered on “Education for Gender Equity” at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, on Thursday, November 7^th. The day-long event brought together a diverse group of stakeholders from the education, gender, and policy sectors, focusing on identifying key changes needed in our education system to promote gender equitable mindset and skill set in students in South Asia. 

The event focused on creating a more inclusive education ecosystem at all levels, from primary schools to higher education. Discussions acknowledged the progress made in mitigating gender bias in the education institutions, but also discussed the current practices that still exist leading to persistence of gender stereotypes in the thinking of both boys and girls.  The experts recommended key actions that can be taken by the educational institutions, the government, school leaders and the industry, both independently and in collaboration with each other to drive this change. 

Opening the event, Ipsita Kathuria, Founder and CEO of TalentNomics India, set the tone with her inspiring remarks, highlighting the urgency for this change and calling for a collective effort to transform the educational landscape. Paul Linnarz, Head of KAS Country Office in Japan, also welcomed the participants and further highlighting the importance of global collaboration in addressing gender disparity in education. Their leadership and vision framed the  dynamic series of sessions throughout the day. 

Ratna Viswanathan, CEO of Reach to Teach India in her keynote speech, iterated the importance of education for South Asia to leverage its demographic dividend. She stressed on the vital role education plays in addressing the inequities in homes, at workplaces and societies. She emphasised the fact we should just not focus on universal education and equity in enrolment but also on enhancing learning outcomes and quality of education. Another critical area that needs to be addressed is the “hidden gender inequities” in the educational content via textbooks and curriculum. She mentioned that “education is a supply chain” and we need to address all components of the system by simultaneously addressing various barriers.  

The first panel discussion was on Promoting Equity in Primary Education, moderated by Sandeep Hooda, Co-Founder of Vega Schools, presented powerful insights. Dr. Rukmini Banerji, CEO of Pratham Education Foundation, presented findings from the ASER annual survey, suggesting that while learning outcomes between boys and girls are fairly balanced at school levels, access to learning resources, technology and attendance remains a crucial metric of gender inequity. Rita Singh, CEO of ARISE, Bihar Chapter, gave examples of many schemes introduced to encourage girls to access and advance in school education. She also shared firsthand stories of the challenges faced by school principals and stressed the importance of continuous training to overcome these barriers. Dr. Mahesh Prasad, Principal of Step by Step School in Noida, spoke about embedding equity through sports and curriculum reform, along with leveraging the potential of AI in addressing educational gaps. 

Another major highlight of the day was keynote by Dr. Avantika Tomar, Partner at EY-Parthenon and Guest Faculty at IIM Calcutta. She shared personal anecdotes to highlight gender inequities in sports, engineering colleges, and consulting firms. She presented compelling data on literacy rates and female labor force participation, noting that while India surpasses global averages in gender equity in enrolment, a significant gender gap persists in the workforce, suggesting that young girls are set up for success but face systemic barriers as they progress. Using data, Dr. Tomar illustrated the “leaky pipeline” from education to workforce: while female net enrolments in secondary education stands at 61%, only 25% of STEM students in higher education are women, and just 10-14% reach C-suite positions in STEM fields. She emphasized the urgent need for an enabling ecosystem—one that includes supportive family structures, societal encouragement, and gender-sensitive policies in schools and colleges—to sustain and uplift women’s journeys from education into impactful careers.  

The second panel discussion of the day – Promoting Equity in Higher Education & STEM, moderated by Dr. Rajat Kathuria, Professor of Economics and Dean, School of Humanities & Social Sciences at Shiv Nadar University. This session brought forward a comprehensive discussion on increasing women’s participation in higher education and STEM fields. Among the distinguished panellists were Dr. Rubana Huq, Vice-Chancellor of the Asian University for Women, Bangladesh, who shared the impactful work being done by her institution to support underserved women, including those from Afghanistan, the Rohingya refugee community, and marginalized workers in the garment industry, to help them participate in the workforce in a meaningful way and drive social change. Amanat Boparai, Senior Policy Enforcement Manager at Google, spoke about initiatives such as “Girls Who Code” and scholarships for women in STEM that are breaking down barriers in the field. Yet barriers persist for women to join STEM fields especially in the traditional engineering and futurist technology areas. Srikant Sastri, Chairman of the GDPDC, progress made in women’s participation in education and emphasized the need for measurable frameworks to increase female participation in selected STEM fields. 

As the day's focus shifted to bridging the transition from education to the workforce, the third panel discussion commenced. Moderated by Lata Singh, Partner at IBM Consulting, the discussion explored how stereotypes continue to hinder women’s career progression and how these barriers can be overcome through mentorship, continuous learning, and resilience. 

The panellists included Vasanthi Srinivasan, Professor at IIM Bangalore, Anuradha Das Mathur, Founder and Dean of Vedica Scholars, and Dr. Anushila Chatterjee, Chief Impact Officer at Vigyanshaala International. Vasanthi Srinivasan highlighted that while families are beginning to value educational and job identities, women's career identities still need broader recognition. She spoke about IIM Bangalore's initiatives, such as integrating gender into course curricula and establishing an Office for Diversity and Inclusion to foster a more inclusive environment. Anuradha Das Mathur emphasized the importance of shifting women’s own attitude towards having a career as being non optional as well as their ability to navigate the challenges of world of work.  Dr. Anushila Chatterjee, underscored the importance of learning technology in supporting women’s career choices and skill development. She emphasized the need for women not only to participate in the workforce but also to access leadership roles in high-growth, particularly, emerging fields. 

The TalentNomics India and KAS SOPAS roundtable represented a significant advancement toward embedding gender equity at every level of education. The day concluded with a strong call for more inclusive policies, practices and essential interventions in both education and employment. Together, these insights offer a blueprint for ensuring that gender equity becomes a core pillar of education, ultimately fostering an environment where all students can achieve their full potential.  

 #Equiverse #EducationForGenderEquity