Gina Lollobrigida: Italian screen star dies at age 95
Italian actress Gina Lollobrigida, a sultry Mediterranean diva who came to represent Italy’s vibrant rebirth after World War Two, has died aged 95, her former lawyer said on Monday.
After a humble upbringing, Lollobrigida played opposite Hollywood stars such as Humphrey Bogart, Rock Hudson, Burt Lancaster, Tony Curtis and Frank Sinatra, becoming one of the most recognizable cinema icons of the 1950s and 60s.
But she never clicked with the Hollywood studio system and her best known films remain those she made with Italian directors before and after her American parenthesis.
“La Lollo”, as she was affectionately known in Italy, died in a Rome clinic, her former lawyer, Giulia Citani said.
Lollobrigida became a photographer and sculptor after stepping away from the movie world. Last September, she failed in a bid to win a seat in the Italian parliament for a leftist political party at national elections.
A spokesperson for Sophia Loren, a superstar diva in her own right in Italy’s heady post-war years, said Loren, 88, was “very shocked and saddened” by Lollobrigida’s death.
“La Loren” and “La Lollo” had an ongoing rivalry in the 1950s and 1960, much of it encouraged, and some say even at least partly invented, by publicity agents.
“Farewell to a diva of the big screen, protagonist of more than half a century of the Italian film history. Her charm will remain immortal. Ciao Lollo,” Italian culture minister Gennaro Sangiuliano wrote on Twitter.
When she stopped making films full-time, Lollobrigida developed new careers as a photographer and sculptor and was also a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and its Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
Between 1972 and 1994 she published six books of her photographs, including Italia Mia (My Italy), The Philippines, and the Wonder of Innocence, photographs of and for children.
In 1975 she made a documentary film “Portrait of Fidel Castro,” and for years there were rumours that she had had an affair with the Cuban leader.
One of her last appearances was a cameo in an Italian film in 2011.
In her later years she spent much of her time divided between a secluded villa behind walls on Rome’s ancient Appian Way in the southern part of the Italian capital and the Tuscan artists’ colony of Pietrasanta, where she kept a sculptor’s studio.
In an interview with Reuters in the Rome villa in 2006, she complained about intrusive photographers, saying they were still trying to invade her privacy.
She had a one-woman show in Pietrasanta in 2008 and dedicated it to her friend, the late opera singer Maria Callas.
When asked how she felt turning 90 in 2017, she said it was feeling like “30 plus 30 plus 30”.
Plastindia Foundation set to host Asia’s largest plastic exhibition - the 11th edition of PLASTINDIA 2023
New Delhi, January , 2023 – Plastindia Foundation, an internationally recognized organization devoted to promoting excellence in the field of plastics is all set to host the 11th edition of the International Plastics Exhibition, Conference, and convention – PLASTINDIA 2023 from01st to 05th February 2023, at newly revamped Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. Asia’s largest plastic exhibition will bring together over 1800 Exhibitors from across the world. Besides India, Germany, Austria, Japan and Singapore are some of the key participating countries.
PLASTINDIA 2023 will focus on innovation, sustainability, and growth, facilitating modern techniques that will help to maintain the development of the plastics industry in India and will work towards developing India into a preferred sourcing hub for plastics globally. The five-day event will provide an excellent opportunity for Exhibitors to showcase their new innovations in Processing, Machinery, Moulds, and Dies, Auxiliary Equipment, Printing and Packaging, raw material, and more.
Innovative products/ technologies to be showcased by leading participants like RIL, IOC, HMEL, Alok Masterbatches, Fine Organics,Kuraray, OQ, SABIC, in raw material; Lohia, Mamata, Rajoo, Pelican, JP, Milacron, ASB, Husky, ENGEL, Rifenhauser, W&H, Bruckner in machinery;UFLEX, EREMA,Starlinger in recycling equipment; Supreme, Vishakha, in Finished Products.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Jigish Doshi – President of Plastindia Foundation said, ”We are delighted to present PLASTINDIA 2023. After an unwilling pause of four years due to the pandemic, Plastics industry professionals from all over the world will again get a chance to present future perspectives and solutions for the plastic and polymer industry. The mega exhibition will be the biggest one till date and is expected to consolidate its position as one of the largest pure Plastics exhibitions in the global plastics scene.”
“This event will truly be an incredible platform and opportunity for Indian plastics industry. Not just the main exhibition itself, there will be a stunning bouquet of associated offerings that make Plastindia exhibitions a ‘must not miss’ affair for global plastics honchos,” added Shri Doshi.
Shri Ajay Shah – Chairman, National Executive Council, PLASTINDIA 2023 said, “PLASTINDIA has grown into a global experience, covering the entire gamut of plastics producers, processors and users of plastics, together with recyclers of plastics and it witnesses intense participation by both Indian and International Plastics Fraternity”.
“This exhibition is likely to change the face of plastics as it will help create more awareness about sustainability and recycling. All the participants will be part of this change. If you are in the plastics industry, you simply cannot miss the opportunity of being in the show of such magnitude. I urge everyone from the plastics industry to come forth and be a part of PLASTINDIA 2023.”
Over the years, the plastics industry has reinvented itself with advanced innovations and developed environment-friendly processing and utilization techniques that do not affect the environment.
About the Show
PLASTINDIA series of exhibitions under the aegis of Plastindia Foundation stays as a permanent date in corporate calendars across the world, providing investors and industrialists with a compelling doorway to global markets of commerce and success.PLASTINDIA has grown into a global experience, covering the entire gamut of plastics producers, processors and users of plastics, and it witnesses intense participation by both Indian and International Plastics Fraternity. The PLASTINDIA editions have transformed marketing opportunities into convincing sales potential, and have empowered businesses, big and small, with the stamina to compete during tough economic times.
About Plastindia Foundation
Established in 1987, PLASTINDIA FOUNDATION is the apex body of the major association, organizations, and institutions connected with Plastics focused to promote the development of the plastics industry and assist in the growth of Plastics and related materials. The Foundation is committed to the nation’s growth through the development of the Plastics sector. The aim of the Foundation is to facilitate the export-led growth of the Indian Plastics industry and help boost exports both in volume and revenues. It aims to make India the number one destination and the preferred sourcing base of Plastic products in the world.
Shilpa Shinde returns to television with Sony SAB’s Maddam Sir “Playing a cop has always been on my bucket list”, she quips
Sony SAB’s Maddam Sir has been keeping its audience hooked to their seats with the action-packed cases at the MPT (Mahila Police Thane). The female cop drama has a new addition to their exciting cast. Shilpa Shinde is all set to enter with a bang as Naina Mathur, a cop with her heart in the right place but her mind with its little tricks! She’s full of spunk and loves taking risks. Don’t be led astray! Naina has a crystal-clear record and has closed every case she’s ever been handed.
Shilpa Shinde talks about her comeback to television and offers insight into playing a cop for the first time.
Talking about making her comeback on television with Maddam Sir, Shilpa says “I am very happy toreturn to television with a special show like Maddam Sir not only entertains but also highlights the warm hearted yet responsible, side of the police force. I think the show does an excellent job of mainlining multiple issues. I am excited to play Naina Mathur and I hope the audience will love her, her quirks and embrace her for who she is.”
Talking about her character and playing a cop for the first time, Shilpa adds “Playing a cop has always been on my bucket list! Women officers are truly remarkable and deserve utmost respect. Getting the chance to play a cop as a woman is very exciting and I can only hope I will do justice to the role. Naina is a character who gets the job done, no matter what comes her way. She may use some unorthodox methods, but she has never left a case unsolved. Her rapport with Haseena is what shows the polarity of the characters in a manner that is very natural. Haseena and Naina are academy friends who share a very interesting camaraderie. They areopposite ends of the same stick, and they bring out the best in each other in ways one wouldn’t expect. I’m sure the audience will give Naina as much love as they’ve given the show and hope she lives up to her mischief.”
Tune in to watch Maddam Sir on Sony SAB every Monday to Saturday at 10.00 PM
Stand-up comedy show by Kunal Kamra live in the Nagpur city
Kunal Kamra is a Bombay-based stand-up comedian and host of the popular political-comedy podcast Shut Up Ya Kunal. After 8 years in advertising, Kunal started doing stand-up in 2013.
He rose through the ranks at a blistering pace and is currently well-established as one of India’s most important and popular voices on stage and social media, known for his fearless, incisive, and often polarizing material.
He is also one of the very few from the Indian scene who is a comedian’s comedian as well as popular amongst the masses who sells out venues regularly across the country.
Kunal Kamra will be performing live in Nagpur city on January 22, 2023, at Chitnavis Centre, Nagpur from 7.30 pm onwards.
Tickets for the show are available on the Book My Show application starting from Rs 499/- which is in the early bird category that is currently sold out and the regular category costing Rs 999/- which is filling fast currently.
Kunal Kamra will be performing live in 8 other cities including Chandigarh, Chennai, Gurugram, Delhi (NCR), Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Pune. The details for his shows at other venues are also available on the Book My Show application.
SS Rajamouli is ‘on top of the world as Avatar director James Cameron confesses to have watched RRR twice
SS Rajamouli’s directorial RRR has been winning appreciation galore internationally. After bagging prestigious awards, the movie is also getting noticed by the international audience. The movie has now won appreciation from none other than James Cameron. The Avatar director not only praised the film but also watched it twice.
In the first image, the two legends are seen having a discussion. The second image shows, Rajamouli holding Cameron’s hands as the two talk.
Fans soon reacted to SS Rajamouli’s tweet, one of them wrote, “Incredible. Yesterday Spielberg. Today Cameron. #RRRforOscars this appreciation from Hollywood legends were more than award.” The second one said, “This is priceless waited for this moment for many years Kicku ra kickuuu.”
RRR bags Critics Choice Awards for best song and best foreign film
Here is some more good news for RRR fans as the movie after bagging the Golden Globes. SS Rajamouli’s period action drama has bagged two more awards at the 28th edition of the Critics Choice Awards. One for Naatu Naatu as Best Song, and the other is the Best Foreign Language Film Award.
Earlier, MM Keeravani also received the best music score award at the Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA).
‘RRR’ features Jr NTR and Ram Charan in the lead roles of freedom fighters Alluri Sitarama Raju and Komaram Bheem. The movie also features Alia Bhatt, Ajay Devgn and Shriya Saran in pivotal roles.
Mumbai, January 2023: As per the State of Mobile 2023 Report by Data.ai (formerly App Annie), India’s leading OTT platform, MX Player has further cemented its leadership status with yet another milestone. The report stated that MX Player ranked #1 in India beating Hotstar, Zee5 and JioTV and is ranked #3 worldwide, after YouTube, Netflix, in terms of downloads in video streaming, The entertainment super app has seen consistent successes in 2022 with an extraordinary slate of MX Original Series from Campus Diaries to Aashram Season 3 to Dharavi Bank amongst many other top rated series.
MX Player continues to witness exponential growth given the rise in OTT content consumption in India since its launch in February 2019. Known for its superlative narratives in diverse genres catering to vast age groups, MX Player ranked #4 in India by MAU by likelihood of use amongst the age group of 18 to 24 years. While it ranked #9 in India in terms of Top Apps by Monthly Active Users (MAUs), it managed an impressive ranking of number #3 amongst the most searched iOS AppStore Keywords in 2022 in the Entertainment OTT category.
The OTT platform has not only established a stronghold in India but strengthened its base in the global entertainment market with rank #3 worldwide and rank #4 in Singapore in terms of downloads. It also has a global reach of 17+ markets including UAE, US, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Nepal, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and Maldives amongst others.
Commenting on the report, Nikhil Gandhi, Chief Operating Officer of MX Player said, “2022 has been a defining year for MX Player for many reasons. From understanding the pulse of the viewers to creating diverse content, we focused on establishing the platform for giving a holistic user experience. The growth has been phenomenal and we’re proud to have rightfully worked towards fulfilling our mission of providing entertainment to the masses, large and wide. We’re privileged to be acknowledged and trusted as a go-to-platform for entertainment and are encouraged to offer top-notch engaging content in the coming years.”
According to the report, 11% growth was witnessed in app downloads in 2022 as a total of 255 billion new apps were downloaded by iOS, Google Play, and Third Party users. The data also highlights the jump in the time spent by users, which encompasses 5 hours per user daily which accounts for a total of 4.1 trillion hours by users collectively. The State of Mobile 2023 report provides an in-depth analysis of the spending by users. It mentions that $167 billion was spent on app stores, while India would be #44 largest country globally for an enormous $336 billion being spent on mobile ads in 2022.
MX Player is the homegrown streaming platform from Times Network, and the Time Group also achieved a staggering rank #8 in India amongst the Top Companies app by download.
Adding a feather to cap of highly recognized Wockhardt Hospitals, they have been awarded as one of the best brands by Economic Times for their exemplary patient connect across channels and interfaces & building a distinct brand identity.
Speaking on the occasion Ms. Zahabiya Khorakiwala, Managing Director, Wockhardt Hospitals spoke about the institution’s exemplary clinical contribution during the COVID- 19 crisis in the nation with an unwavering commitment to its motto- ‘Life Wins’.
The honour was received by Dr. Clive Fernandes, Group Clinical Director & COO Maharashtra.
Wockhardt hospitals have been one of the best hospitals in the region with capability to handle high-end cases and many achievements.
About Wockhardt Hospitals Ltd.:
Wockhardt Hospitals is a chain of tertiary care super-specialty hospitals with facilities in Nagpur, Nasik, Rajkot, South Mumbai & North Mumbai. All Wockhardt Hospitals have state-of-the-art infrastructure and globally benchmarked processes to enable Patient Care & Safety. Wockhardt Hospitals Ltd. is one of the few professionally managed corporate hospital groups in the country which prioritizes patient safety and quality of care at the core of its strategy. The guiding philosophy is to serve and enrich the Quality of Life of patients.
New study finds eating almonds promotes muscle recovery and reduces fatigue from exercise
January 2023, India – Engaging in exercise promotes a healthful lifestyle, but even when performed correctly, exercise causes fatigue and muscle damage. Recovery from exercise is important because it leads to muscle gain and improved fitness over time. A new study involving people who exercise occasionally (less than three times per week) demonstrated that snacking on almonds reduced feelings of fatigue and tension, increased leg and lower back strength during recovery, and decreased muscle damage during the first day of recovery.
David C. Nieman, DrPH, FACSM, Professor and Principal Investigator, Human Performance Laboratory, Appalachian State University, led this novel research, supported with funding from the Almond Board of California. Dr. Nieman’s team wanted to see if an almond snack compared to a high-carbohydrate cereal bar snack would improve inflammation and recovery in adults engaging in 90-minute exercise sessions.
“What we found tells us definitively that almonds should be added to sports nutrition strategies to help people recover better from exercise,” explained Dr. Nieman. “Almonds are food for fitness. Carbs get most of the attention when it comes to fueling for exercise, but almonds offer a nutrition package, including good unsaturated fats, the antioxidant vitamin E, and proanthocyanidins (class of polyphenols, which are protective compounds in plants) that help explain the beneficial outcomes in our study.” One serving of almonds (28g) has 13 g of good unsaturated fat and only 1 g of saturated fat.
Almonds: Food for Fitness
Study Design
In this trial, researchers included 64 healthy adults with an average age of 46 years. Participants were included if they exercised less than three (3) sessions per week. The experiment used a randomized, parallel group design, where treatment participants (n = 33) ate 57 g (2 ounces) almonds daily, split between morning and afternoon, for 4 weeks. Control participants (n = 31) consumed a calorie-matched cereal bar, also in split doses.
Participants submitted blood and urine samples and responded to mood and muscle-soreness questionnaires. Height, weight, and body composition were measured. Then, people in the study were instructed to perform muscle function tests (exercises), and once complete, they initiated the 4-week supplementation period—taking either almonds or cereal bars. At the conclusion of 4 weeks, participants submitted dietary intake records, blood and urine samples, and another set of questionnaire responses. Muscle function testing was repeated and then participants engaged in 90-minute eccentric exercise bouts comprising 17 different exercises.
Examples of eccentric exercise include slowly lowering a load to the floor, lowering into a squat, or lowering during a push-up. People in the study returned the following day to submit additional blood and urine samples and questionnaires as well as to perform additional physical fitness tests. Researchers assessed changes in plasma oxylipins, which are bioactive, oxidized lipids involved in the post-exercise inflammation response, and urinary gut-derived (from the large intestine) phenolics (antioxidants from plants), plasma cytokines, muscle damage biomarkers, mood states, and exercise performance.
Results
Almond consumers experienced:
reduced post-exercise fatigue and tension as well as higher levels of leg and lower back strength;
lower levels of serum creatine kinase, which is a marker of muscle damage, immediately and one day after exercise;
higher levels of the oxylipin (molecules that affect muscle function, recovery, and fat burn) 12,13-DiHOME and lower levels for oxylipin 9,10-DiHOME;
increased urine levels of phenolics derived in the large intestine (indicates consumption of polyphenols from almonds, and polyphenols are naturally occurring plant compounds that protect plants and may benefit human health);
some improvement to mood state following the intervention.
Of the oxylipin finding, Dr. Nieman explained, “Oxylipins are normally generated during exercise. Some oxylipins are considered good ‘players,’ such as 12,13-DiHOME, which helps muscle burn more fat for fuel during exercise. Other oxylipins are pro-inflammatory and cause more harm than health. That’s 9,10-DiHOME; a bad ‘player.’ This bad oxylipin can decrease muscle function, and it’s elevated in certain disease states. Our almond consumers had a lower level of the bad 9,10-DiHOME compared to the control group.” These oxylipin findings are exciting to Dr. Nieman and will be of interest to the physical performance and sports nutrition communities. “The almond-related increase in 12,13-DiHOME and decrease in 9,10-DiHOME after vigorous exercise is an ideal outcome to support muscle function and recovery.”
A limitation of the study is that it only included non-smoking participants without obesity who exercised occasionally; therefore, we cannot generalize the findings to other demographic and health status groups.
A one-ounce (28 g) serving of almonds provides 4 g (14% DV) fiber and 15 essential nutrients, including: 77 mg (20% DV) magnesium, 210 mg (4% DV) potassium, and 7.27 mg (50% DV), making them a perfect nutrient-rich snack to promote physical fitness.
The Board of Directors of HDFC Bank Limited approved the Bank’s (Indian GAAP) results for the quarter and nine months ended December 31, 2022, at its meeting held in Mumbai on Saturday, January 14, 2023. The accounts have been subjected to a ‘Limited Review’ by the statutory auditors of the Bank.
STANDALONE FINANCIAL RESULTS:
Profit & Loss Account: Quarter ended December 31, 2022
The Bank’s net revenue, grew by 18.3% to ₹ 31,487.7 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2022 from ₹ 26,627.0 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2021. Excluding net trading and mark to market income, the net revenue grew by 22.1% over the quarter ended December 31, 2021.
Net interest income (interest earned less interest expended) for the quarter ended December 31, 2022 grew by 24.6% to ₹22,987.8 crore from ₹ 18,443.5 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2021. Core net interest margin was at 4.1% on total assets, and 4.3% based on interest earning assets.
The four components of other income for the quarter ended December 31, 2022 were fees & commissions of ₹ 6,052.6 crore (₹ 5,075.1 crore in the corresponding quarter of theprevious year), foreign exchange & derivatives revenue of ₹ 1,074.1 crore (₹949.5 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year), net trading and mark to market income of ₹261.4 crore (₹ 1,046.5 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year) and miscellaneous income, including recoveries and dividend, of ₹ 1,111.8 crore (₹1,112.5 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year). Other income, excluding net trading and mark to market income, grew by 15.4% over the quarter ended December 31, 2021.
Operating expenses for the quarter ended December 31, 2022 were ₹ 12,463.6 crore, an increase of 26.5% over ₹ 9,851.1 crore during the corresponding quarter of the previous year. The cost-to-income ratio for the quarter was at 39.6%.
Pre-provision Operating Profit (PPOP) was at ₹ 19,024.1 crore. PPOP, excluding net trading and mark to market income, grew by 19.3% over the quarter ended December 31, 2021.
Provisions and contingencies for the quarter ended December 31, 2022 were ₹ 2,806.4 crore as against ₹ 2,994.0 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2021.
The total credit cost ratio was at 0.74%, as compared to 0.94% for the quarter ending December 31, 2021.
Profit before tax (PBT) for the quarter ended December 31, 2022 was at ₹ 16,217.6 crore. After providing ₹ 3,958.1 crore for taxation, the Bank earned a net profit of ₹ 12,259.5 crore, an increase of 18.5% over the quarter ended December 31, 2021.
Balance Sheet: As of December 31, 2022
Total balance sheet size as of December 31, 2022 was ₹ 2,295,305 crore as against ₹1,938,286 crore as of December 31, 2021, a growth of 18.4%.
Total Deposits showed a healthy growth and were at ₹ 1,733,204 crore as of December 31, 2022, an increase of 19.9% over December 31, 2021. CASA deposits grew by 12.0% with savings account deposits at ₹ 535,206 crore and current account deposits at ₹ 227,745 crore. Time deposits were at ₹ 970,253 crore, an increase of 26.9% over the corresponding quarter of the previous year, resulting in CASA deposits comprising 44.0% of total deposits as of December 31, 2022.
Total advances as of December 31, 2022 were ₹ 1,506,809 crore, an increase of 19.5% over December 31, 2021. Gross of transfers through inter-bank participation certificates and bills rediscounted, total advances grew by 23.6% over December 31, 2021. Domestic retail loans grew by 21.4%, commercial and rural banking loans grew by 30.2% and corporate and other wholesale loans grew by 20.3%. Overseas advances constituted 2.8% of total advances.
Nine months ended December 31, 2022
For the nine months ended December 31, 2022, the Bank earned a total income of ₹ 138,949.8 crore as against ₹ 116,177.2 crore in the corresponding period of the previous year. Net revenues (net interest income plus other income) for the nine months ended December 31, 2022 were ₹ 85,974.1 crore, as against ₹ 75,009.7 crore for the nine months ended December 31, 2021. Net profit for the nine months ended December 31, 2022 was ₹ 32,061.3 crore, up by 19.2% over the corresponding nine months ended December 31, 2021.
Capital Adequacy:
The Bank’s total Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) as per Basel III guidelines (including profits for the nine months ended December 31, 2022) was at 19.4% as on December 31, 2022 (19.5% as on December 31, 2021) as against a regulatory requirement of 11.7% which includes Capital Conservation Buffer of 2.5%, and an additional requirement of 0.2% on account of the Bank being identified as a Domestic Systemically Important Bank (D-SIB). Tier 1 CAR was at 17.2% as of December 31, 2022 compared to 18.4% as of December 31, 2021. Common Equity Tier 1 Capital ratio was at 16.4% as of December 31, 2022. Risk-weighted Assets were at ₹ 1,536,272 crore (as against ₹ 1,267,426 crore as at December 31, 2021).
NETWORK
As of December 31, 2022, the Bank’s distribution network was at 7,183 branches and 19,007 ATMs / Cash Deposit & Withdrawal Machines (CDMs) across 3,552 cities / towns as against 5,779 branches and 17,238 ATMs / CDMs across 2,956 cities / towns as of December 31, 2021. 51% of our branches are in semi-urban and rural areas. In addition, we have 15,815 business correspondents, which are primarily manned by Common Service Centres (CSC). Number of employees were at 166,890 as of December 31, 2022 (as against 134,412 as of December 31, 2021).
ASSET QUALITY
Gross non-performing assets were at 1.23% of gross advances as on December 31, 2022 (1.00% excluding NPAs in the agricultural segment), as against 1.23% as on September 30, 2022 (1.03% excluding NPAs in the agricultural segment), and 1.26% as on December 31, 2021 (1.04% excluding NPAs in the agricultural segment). Net non-performing assets were at 0.33% of net advances as on December 31, 2022.
SUBSIDIARIES
The Bank’s subsidiary companies prepare their financial results in accordance with the notified Indian Accounting Standards (‘Ind-AS’). The Bank for the purposes of its statutory compliance prepares and presents its financial results under Indian GAAP. Hence the Bank’s subsidiary companies, for the purposes of the consolidated financial results of the Bank, prepare ‘fit-for-consolidation information’ based on the recognition and measurement principles as per Indian GAAP. The financial numbers of the Bank’s subsidiary companies mentioned herein below are in accordance with Ind-AS.
HDFC Securities Limited (HSL) is amongst the leading retail broking firms in India. As on December 31, 2022, the Bank held 95.6% stake in HSL. For the quarter ended December 31, 2022, HSL’s total revenue was at ₹ 504.9 crore, as against ₹ 535.6 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2021. Profit after tax for the quarter was at ₹ 203.2 crore, as against ₹ 258.0 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2021.
As on December 31, 2022, HSL had 210 branches across 147 cities / towns in the country.
HDB Financial Services Limited (HDBFSL) is a non-deposit taking non-banking finance company (‘NBFC’) offering wide range of loans and asset finance products to individuals, emerging businesses and micro enterprises. As on December 31, 2022, the Bank held 94.9% stake in HDBFSL.
For the quarter ended December 31, 2022, HDBFSL’s net revenue was at ₹ 2,233.4 crore as against ₹ 1,981.6 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2021, a growth of 12.7%. Profit after tax for the quarter ended December 31, 2022 was ₹ 501.2 crore compared to ₹ 304.0 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2021.
The total loan book was ₹ 65,103 crore as on December 31, 2022. Stage 3 loans were at 3.73% of gross loans. As on December 31, 2022, total CAR was at 20.5% with Tier-I CAR at 16.0%.
As on December 31, 2022, HDBFSL had 1,421 branches across 1,020 cities / towns.
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL RESULTS
The consolidated net profit for the quarter ended December 31, 2022 was ₹ 12,698 crore, up 19.9%, over the quarter ended December 31, 2021. Consolidated advances grew by 19.2% from ₹ 1,312,142 crore as on December 31, 2021 to ₹ 1,563,799 crore as on December 31, 2022.
The consolidated net profit for the nine months ended December 31, 2022 was ₹ 33,403 crore, up 21.0%, over the nine months ended December 31, 2021.
Note:
₹ = Indian Rupees
1 crore = 10 million
All figures and ratios are in accordance with Indian GAAP unless otherwise specified.
It’s a blockbuster, as league leaders Napoli take on second-place Juventus in a battle at the top of the Serie A table on Friday night. Serie A leaders Napoli will host runners up Juventus on Friday at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona for what could be a pivotal encounter in context to the 2022-23 season Scudetto race.
The Partenopei currently sit seven points clear at the top of the Serie A table heading into matchday 18 of Serie A, placing themselves in a strong position to win their first Scudetto in over three decades.After starting the year with their first loss of the season in domestic circuit, Napoli bounced back from their defeat to Inter Milan with a 2-0 victory at Sampdoria in their most recent league fixture.
Serie A top-scorer Victor Osimhen opened the scoring early in the contest, before Eljif Elmas clinched all three points from the penalty spot late in the second half.
Luciano Spalletti’s side now face another stern test of their title credentials as they host a resurgent Juventus in Friday night’s highly anticipated Serie A clash.
Juventus have recovered admirably after their sluggish start to the season, and a win in Campania would cut the gap to four points, putting title-favourites Napoli under even more pressure.
Napoli’s outstanding season has been helped by their imperious home form, as they have yet to taste defeat in front of their fans. But, the Bianconeri will still fancy their chances of getting a result out of this one, as they are riding high on positive momentum after winning their eighth straight league match with a 1-0 win over Udinese last time out.
Napoli have the best attack in the Italian top-flight, having found the back of the net 39 times so far this season, while Juventus have the meanest defence in the league, conceding just 7 league goals as of yet. So, it’s like a confrontation between an unstoppable force and an immovable object. It will be fascinating to watch who triumphs in this war.
Napoli and Juventus’ upcoming fixtures
Following their crucial encounter with Juve, the Partenopei will host beleaguered Cremonese in the Coppa Italia round of 16 before continuing their Scudetto march with a trip to minnows Salernitana on 21st January.
The Old Lady of Turin, meanwhile, will welcome Monza in the last 16 of the Italian cup. They will return to league action with a home game against Gian Piero Gasperrini’s Atalanta in a tricky-looking fixture, followed by another league encounter against Monza at the Allianz Stadium to cap off the month of January.
Napoli vs Juventus confirmed lineups
Napoli XI (4-3-3): Meret; Di Lorenzo; Kim Min-Jae, Rrahmani, Rui; Zambo-Anguissa, Lobotka, Zielinski; Politano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia
Juventus XI (3-4-3): Szczesny; Danilo, Bremer, Sandro; McKennie, Rabiot, Locatelli, Kostic; Chiesa, Milik, Di Maria
Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari attends Media Launch of Hyderabad Circuit of ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, in Mumbai
Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari attended the Media Launch of the Hyderabad Circuit of Formula E World Championship, in Mumbai yesterday. Titled Hyderabad EPrix, the race will be held on 11th February in Hyderabad and is a part of the 2022-2023 Formula E World Championship. Formula E, officially the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, is a single-seater motorsport championship for electric cars. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari used the opportunity to highlight India’s initiatives in the e-mobility sector.
Speaking at the media launch, the Minister said that by focusing on electric vehicles India looks to address the twin problems of a huge fuel import bill and air pollution. He stated that conducting such a prestigious event on Indian roads will further popularize electric cars in the country. Describing a few Highway projects planned for the near future, he stated that a time will come when Indian Highways will be considered a better fit to conduct such racing championships than even professionally constructed race tracks.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari also shed light on India’s plans to transition from Fossil fuel based cars. Noting the progress made in Green Hydrogen Technology, he stated that the country aims to be a net exporter of energy in the next 10 years. Not only will this objective provide a boost to the country’s economic growth, but it will also create jobs for the youth, he added. He observed that it is through improvements in e-mobility and advancements in clean, green energy technology that India can become Atma Nirbhar.
Also present at the event were Chief Minister of Maharashtra Eknath Shinde, Minister of Municipal Administration and Urban Development of Telangana, K.T. Rama Rao, Founder, Greenko and Ace Group, Anil Kumar Chalamalasetty and others.
NEET-PG 2023 Internship completion date extended till June 30 by National Board of Examination (NBE)
On March 5, 2023, at various examination centres across the nation, the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) will conduct the NEET-PG 2023 on a computer-based platform. The deadline for completing an internship in order to qualify for the NEET-PG 2023 was originally set for March 31, 2023, but the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India, has revised that deadline to June 30, 2023.
The cut-off date for completion of internship as mentioned under “important dates” of the information bulletin for NEET-PG 2023 therefore should be read accordingly. Rest of the terms and conditions as detailed in the bulletin shall remain unchanged.
The last date for submission of online applications is January 27, 2023 (Till 11:55 PM).
The online applications for NEET-PG 2023 currently being invited at https://natboard.edu.in or https://nbe.edu.in
For any query, please contact NBEMS Candidate Care Support at 022 – 61087595 or write to NBEMS at its helpline portal accessible through applicant login or NBEMS Communication Web Portal https://exam.natboard.edu.in/communication.php?page=main
The festival of Makar Sankranti is very much loved and celebrated across India. The festival brings people of different communities together and is most enjoyed in groups. Every year, a huge crowd of people can be seen gathering together at the terrace and enjoying the festival of kites along with various sweet delicacies.
This year, it is no different. Bharatvarsh Nature Farms is organizing a Sankranti Utsav on January 14 and 15, 2023 at Post Virli, Taluka Umred District, Nagpur from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm.
The entry fee for the festival is Rs 200/- per person per day. Interested people can bring their own kite and Manja (Nylon/Chinese Manja is strictly prohibited). Additionally, there will be a kite and Manja stall available at the location.
Attractions for this Utsav will be:
Activities for all age groups
Playzone for the kids
Punjabi Dhol
Food stall/ Buffet available
Outside food is strictly not permitted on the premises. Interested people can contact on 8603214214
GST Nagpur II Commissionerate detects non-payment of Rs. 1.92 crores in GST
The GST Commissionerate Nagpur II’s Anti Evasion Department has found an evasion of Rs 1.92 crore GST under the Reverse Charge Mechanism (RCM) of ineligible input tax credit (ITC) of compensation cess on the purchase of raw cotton.
The Department gathered the information from its staff engaged in intelligence gathering about the evasion. They found that inspection was conducted at the declared principal place of business (PPOB) of M/s Shri Ratan Ginning and Pressing Factory situated at Plot no: 1, Survey No. 70/1A, Mouza- Dattapur, Dhamangaon, Amravati, recently.
During the inspection, the statement of Ravi Ratan Lal Bhutada, Partner of M/s Shri Ratan Ginning and Pressing Factory was recorded.
Bhutada accepted that his company had not paid the Goods and Services Tax (GST) under the RCM on the purchase of raw cotton as per Notification No. 43/2017( CT)- Rate dated November 14, 2017 read with Notification No. 4/2017 dated June 28, 2017.
The total tax liability for the period November 15, 2017, to March 2020 was found to be Rs 1,92,72,171.
On January 14, the Ayyappa Temple will host the Makaravilakku festival
On January 14, a Makaravilakku festival will be held at the Shree Harihara Dharmasastha Temple in Harihar Nagar, Besa, to commemorate “Makar Sankranti” Day.
The Harihara Dharmasastha Temple team will perform a ‘bhajan’ at 9.30 am, followed by ‘Neyabhishekam’ and ‘Usha Pooja’ at 6.30 am, ‘Maha Ganapath Homam’ at noon, and ‘Sasthapreethi’ (food distribution) at 12.30 pm.
The Makaravilakku will be lit at 6:15 pm. Fireworks, “Chendamelam,” and “Deeparadhana” will come after. ‘Genamela’ (‘Utsava Raavu’) by Shruthilaya, Nagpur is presented at 7:00 pm. At 9:00 pm, “Athazha Pooja” and “Mahaprasadam” distribution will take place.
According to a press release issued by R.R. Pillai, President, and Santhosh Nair, General Secretary, the managing Committee of the temple has urged all devotees to attend all pooja and programmes and seek the blessing of Lord Ayyappa and other deities on the auspicious day of “Makar Vilakku.”
CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), in association with Vigyan Bharati, will organize a Public Outreach Programme on 13 January 2023 as a precursor event of India International Science Festival (IISF)-2022.
Prof. Chetan S Solanki, Professor, IIT-Bombay, Founder, Energy Swaraj Foundation and Brand Ambassador Solar Energy M P will be the Chief Guest and deliver a talk on ‘Understanding of Climate Change and Corrective Actions’ in the NEERI Auditorium at 3.00 pm. Various programmes have been organised to mark this occasion including competitions for students of schools and colleges, theme based briefing and practical demonstrations at CSIR-NEERI Laboratories, scientist-student interaction, etc.
Nagpur : Its finally here!! Comp-Ex of Nagpur once again under the clear skies of Nagpur. The 29th edition of Central India’s largest IT Event Comp-Ex’ 2023 was opened for the IT infrastructure and knowledge seekers. The Guest of Honour Dr. Brijesh Dixit, Managing Director, Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation formally lighted the traditional lamp and declared the four-day expo as open in the presence of Mr. Vinay Dharmadhikari, President, VCMDWA, Mr. Dinesh Naidu, Vice President, Mr. Lalit Gandhi, Secretary, Mr. Jayant Patel, Treasurer, Mr. Ranjit Umathe, Joint Secretary, Executive Members Sanjay Chaurasia, Rohit Jaiswal and Shahzad Akhtar besides other VCMDWA members and thronging visitors.
Dr. Dixit in his address to the audience stated that the work which used to take ten years to finish now gets rapidly over in just one year due to the technological advancements in the field of Information Technology. Dr. Dixit emphasized on the two lost years due to the pandemic and said that yet India is lucky to be back untouched and the life is back to as normal as it was in 2019 before covid struck. Having started the first phase of Mahametro Rail in Nagpur, the daily ridership of metro users is two lakhs which is growing fast and will touch three lakhs very soon. With the second phase approved, the ridership will double when the second phase gets completed.
Dr. Dixit thanked the people for Nagpur for the support and co-operation extended to the Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation in completing the project on time and providing people the commutation option which saves time, money, is safe and is also environmentally congenial.
Nagpur being the central city of India, Dr. Dixit envisages his vision for Nagpur to become the fifth metro city of India after the existing four metros.
Mr. Vinay Dharmadhikari, President, VCMDWA in his address lauded the team efforts and the participants response to Comp-Ex over its long 32 years of hosting this IT Extravaganza. The 29th edition is indeed a commendable, sustained, noteworthy and highly successful enterprise of VCMDWA. The core objective of Comp-Ex’ thus far has been to keep people abreast of the dynamics of IT industry, inform about the revolution going on in the IT world, to introduce the latest products, applications and services to the people and to also make sure that the visitors enjoy some attractive bargains, offers and schemes.
Driven at a neck-breaking speed fueled with need and desire, the advancement in the field of Information Technology has been always in a state of constant and rapid upgradation. With the unexpected, sudden pandemic that had engulfed the world, new IT need-based solutions, apps and helplines emerged. Thus, the Comp-Ex 2023 promises showcasing newer technology, new hardware and new software that would impact human lives in terms of needs, benefits, safety and entertainment.
With Internet services and mobile phones technology all set to see an enhanced usage with highly improved 5G technology the opportunities, services and convenience to the users across the cross section will have an immense impact. Wide-ranging products at wide ranging price bands suitable for all pockets will be there with low-cost machines, tabs, laptops, low-cost printers. One can get high configuration laptops and desktops at a very good bargain.
Over the four days of Comp-Ex’ 2023 from 12th to the 15th of January, the event at the sprawling Reshimbagh Grounds promises surely promises to be an enriching experience for the avid visitors. With more than 75 participants, there would be more than 200 brands and thousands of products on display and for know-how interaction from the IT industry giants like HP, Canon, Epson, Asus, Brother, Dell, Digisol, D-Link and Lenovo just to name a few.
This much awaited flagship event from VCMDWA is being backed in its efforts by Government of Maharashtra and Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation.
MG Motor India unveils Next-Gen Hector with Autonomous Level 2 (ADAS) Technology
MG Motor India today unveiled the Next-Gen Hector which has a host of exciting new technologies, intuitive features and driving comfort. The Next-Gen Hector is built to further enhance the on-road experience with even better levels of safety and driving convenience. The new SUV, with its all-new striking bold exterior and mesmerising interiors, evolved safety features, and elegant design elements offer an unprecedented drive and user experience. The Next-Gen Hector, which is being offered in 5, 6, and 7-seater configurations, offers intelligently designed seating options, plush interiors, and ample space.
THE MG HECTOR 2023 was unveiled by Mr. Akshit Nangia and Mr. Abhimanyu Nangia of Nangia Cars at Nagpur. The Autonomous Level 2 SUV offers 11 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) features including Traffic Jam Assist (TJA) and Auto Turn Indicators to deliver complete peace of mind, safety, and comfort. The intelligent Traffic Jam Assist (TJA) ensures minimal effort and maximum safety in a traffic jam situation by keeping the vehicle in the middle of the lane and maintaining a safe distance from the vehicle in front.
The newly introduced Smart Auto Turn Indicators in Next Gen MG Hector also offer a hassle-free and safe driving experience. Based on the steering angle, the respective indicator light automatically gets ON/OFF. This automatic signal will be useful when the driver fails to put on the indicator while entering the road from a parking space or during a U-turn.
The new SUV has India’s largest 35.56 cm (14-inch) HD portrait infotainment system along with a brand-new user interface. The technological innovation is also manifest in the first-in-segment Digital Bluetooth® Key and Key Sharing capability. In case of an emergency or loss of a key, the Digital Key can be used to lock, unlock, start, and drive the vehicle. Using the Remote Lock / Unlock feature, the car can be unlocked from anywhere. With the key-sharing function, one can share an additional key with up to two people.
Moreover, the Next-Gen Hector now has more than 75 connected features including 100 voice commands, thanks to the revolutionary i-SMART technology that combines hardware, software, connectivity, services, and applications for smarter, enjoyable drives.
The Next-Gen Hector’s voice commands, included with the i-SMART tech, include segment-first features such as touch-screen control for the sunroof, voice commands for ambient lights, navigation voice guidance in five Indian languages,50+ Hinglish commands, and other helpful apps such as Park+ for parking discovery and booking and the Jio-Saavn App for music. The premium audio system by Infinity comes enabled with wireless Android Auto & Apple Carplay and delivers truly immersive, 360-degree rich sound.
The Next-Gen Hector also has other key safety features such as 6 airbags, a 360-degree HD camera, Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Traction Control System (TCS), Hill Assist Control (HAC), all four-wheel disc brakes, a 3-point seat belt for all seats, electric parking brake (EPB), and front parking sensors.
The Next-Gen Hector Plus, which is being offered in 5,6, and 7-seater configurations, offers intelligently designed seating options, plush interiors, and ample space. The interiors are available in a dual-tone argil brown and black theme with a wooden finish. The 6-seater SUV seats come in a captain configuration while the 7-seater vehicle is offered with bench seats.
The Hector, India’s first Internet SUV, was introduced by MG Motor India in 2019 and has since set a new bar for SUVs in India by giving shape to its philosophy of connected, autonomous, shared, and electric mobility. The Next-Gen Hector brings with it the unique car ownership program “MG SHIELD” after-sales service options. Also, customers will be offered a standard 5+5+5 package i.e., a warranty of five years with unlimited kilometers, five years of roadside assistance, and five labour-free periodic services.
A handful of almonds for mindful eating and prioritizing family health
Nagpur, 12th January 2023:With an aim to educate consumers on the importance of mindful eating, Almond Board of California, today, hosted a session around ‘Prioritising mindful eating: the new mantra for holistic family health’. The discussion focused on the importance of eating healthy foods to ensure holistic health for our families and us. The session featured well-known Film and TV Actress, Mrinal Kulkarni, as well as Neha Ranglani, Integrative Nutritionist and Health Coach, andwas moderated by RJ Anushree.
In the fast-paced lifestyle we live in, we often see people binge eating sometimes due to work stress, sometimes due to the way consumption patterns have been since ages, and sometimes itis just habitual. Intake of calorie-dense foods like sweets and sugar-based foods is also a routine when it comes to certain delicacies or occasions. Hence, mindful eating becomes even more necessary as it aids in gaining control over one’s eating habits. Mindful eating helps in maintaining an in-moment awareness while consuming food. Foods such as almonds have been a part of the Indian traditions and food habits for thousands of years now, and their health benefits have been widely quoted in Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha texts. However, a lesser-known fact of almonds is that a handful of almonds may have satiating properties that promote feelings of fullness, which may keep hunger at bay between meals. Snacking on healthy foods like almonds not only keeps us from munching on junk foods but also ensures that our body gets nutrition, as almonds are a source of 15 nutrients such as vitamin E, magnesium, protein, riboflavin, zinc, etc.
A handful of almonds for mindful eating and prioritizing family health
Speaking about the benefits of regular almond consumption, the panellists spoke about howalmonds, which are a source of protein and are high in dietary fiber, can help in maintaining blood sugar levels, may improve blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes and help lower the blood sugar impact of carbohydrate foods, which affects fasting insulin levels.Nutrients like zinc, folate and iron, that are present in almonds and other foods, contribute to normal functioning of the immune system. Focusing on the significance of healthy eating, the panellists discussed the multiple lifestyle disorders likeweight management, type-2 diabetes and heart health,and that making minor alterations like adding a handful of almonds as part of one’s daily routine can easily help in maintaining good health, and in staying fit consistently. Through the session, the panellists also urged families across the city to inculcate healthier eating habits and inspire other friends and extended family members to instil this change. During the discussion, both panellists also shared anecdotes from their personal lives, how they also consume almonds through festivealmond dessert recipes,as well as suggestions for dietary and lifestyle adjustments that families can make towards a holistic health.
Film and TV Actress, Mrinal Kulkarni said, “For the health of your family and yourself, one must be cognisant of the kind of lifestyle and eating habits that we practice at home. Any habit that does not add up to your health
goals must be avoided and even better, be replaced by something healthy or nutritious. For instance, when I leave for my shoots,
I make sure to keep a small tin of almonds in my handbag as they are convenient to store and carry. The reason why my family and I prefer to eat almonds regularly is because almonds are known to have satiating properties and keep us full for a long time. It also helps us to keep a check on mid-meal hunger and at the same time remain energetic through the day. Hence, I would recommend everyone to ensure eating a handful of almonds regularly so that even you are able to reap their several health benefits.”
Neha Ranglani, Integrative Nutritionist and Health Coach, said, “Awareness of good food choices and snacking habits is key to leading a healthy lifestyle. Studies suggest that intervention techniques that enhance mindful self-awareness improve well-being, including anxiety and depression, eating disorders, food cravings, and weight loss.A study conducted by the researchers at King’s College London found that almond snacking led to improved heart rate variability in response to mental stress. My top recommendation for mindful snacking is to includenutrient-rich foods like almonds, a variety of fruits, and vegetables.Almonds are a source of nutrients such as protein, vitamin E, magnesium, riboflavin, zinc etc., and are known to provide energy through good fats, which makes them a healthy yet tasty treat.”
Although habits are hard to break, modifying dietary habits and making corrective lifestyle adjustments is one of the best ways for families to ensure holistic health in the long term. Besides feeling lighter and energetic, a healthy lifestyle sustained over time will also help in reducing the risk of chronic and lifestyle diseases, which are on the rise in India. Smalldietary and lifestyle changes like incorporating nutritious foods such as a handful of almonds everyday,can make a healthy difference to our lives.
ASCI’s EdNext study lays down a progressive and responsible approach to advertising for the EdTech industry
Mumbai, 12 January 2023: The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) released a comprehensive report on advertising in the education technology sector (EdTech) and the impact it has on parents and students. The report aims to decode the challenges and opportunities for EdTech sector advertising. The report also identifies ways in which the sector can shape a more responsible narrative, and move away from opportunistic advertising which many consider problematic.
EdTech as a sector holds immense promise in being able to address the infrastructural and learning challenges in India, hence it is critical that the advertising of the sector does not undermine its potential. The study, done with the active participation of both industry and non-industry stakeholders identifies opportunities and challenges and proposes a framework that could guide advertisers to more balanced advertising.
The EdNext study was undertaken by ASCI with Sprint Studio.ai as the research partner and UNICEF as the knowledge partner. A total of 100 EdTech advertisements across print, TV, digital video and static mediums were analysed by a wide set of stakeholders including parents, students, policymakers, educationists, child development experts, as well as representatives of the industry from the marketing and creative fields. The study was conducted across the cities of Delhi, Bangalore, Indore, Kanpur, Patna, Kolhapur, Warangal and Bardhaman.
The analysis revealed that:
Ads have a huge impact on parents’ choice of EdTech platform, with 49% of parents choosing platforms based on advertising
Like traditional education ads, Ed-Tech ads too, have a huge focus on marks and ranks. Math and science dominated the subjects depicted
While 81% of parents trust EdTech ads, 73% felt that ads showed high pressure of studies
None of the endorsers/ role models were from the academic field
Stereotypes of gender, physical appearances, and mother’s roles crept in to these ads
The findings also noted some positives. Some of the key positives identified were:
Ads featuring parents represented them as supporting partners to students, and thereby provided positive role models for progressive parenting (21 out of 23 ads)
Parents and experts also felt that ads that focused on conceptual learning were progressive and enjoyable
The EdNext study proposed a framework to elevate the communication around EdTech mindfully. Titled ‘RAISE’, the framework provides stakeholders a set of lenses to evaluate the creatives and develop messages that could be considered more progressive. Following the checklist guide provided in the framework will help marketers and creative experts review concepts at the inception stage of the ad itself.
The framework is based on five principles which include:
R – Relationship of the student with learning
A – Authenticity of situations, promises and claims
I – Inclusive representation of characters to depict diversity in gender, age, physical attributes, personality types, learning styles and pace along with regional inclusion
S – Spectrum of pedagogy where there is information on learning methods and how they contribute to holistic learning outcomes
E – Excellence markers to focus on overall development as a measure of success over ranks and marks
Manisha Kapoor, CEO and Secretary General, ASCI, said: “EdTech has emerged as a very important sector in recent times, especially in the pandemic era where parents engaged with these companies to supplement their children’s education. Ed-Tech has the ability to solve some fundamental infrastructure and content challenges and revolutionize Indian education. However, given the particular asymmetry between vulnerable parents and students on the one hand, and large organizations on the other, it is critical to ensure that advertising is responsible and does not exploit these vulnerabilities. EdTech advertising has a massive opportunity to build a positive and future-facing narrative, which makes for compelling brand stories that also build confident and multifaceted learners.”
Mayank Kumar, Chair at Indian Ed-tech Consortium, and Co-founder UpGrad said: “The EdNext report shines light on the sheer scale of the EdTech sector and highlights the need for raising the bar on advertising in the industry along with providing a roadmap on how that can be achieved. The report also shows huge acceptance of the benefits of EdTech products by students, parents and teachers. The in-depth research we undertook along with ASCI will help the industry get a clear picture of how the sector can benefit through responsible advertising, which it is already constantly working towards.”
Divya Gokulnath,Co-chairat Indian Ed-tech Consortium and Co-Founder BYJU’S said: “The EdNext report highlights that almost all parents are appreciative of the ads which show children enjoying the process of learning, which is something we live by, work for, and showcase in our ads. We prioritize building strong and sustainable relationships based on first principles. While it’s natural for advertisers to highlight the best outcomes achieved by their users, the EdTech industry strives to present a balanced picture at all times. As a nascent industry that is constantly evolving, we must adapt in our effort so that we can make learning effective for everyone. This initiative by ASCI will help us design even more responsible and effective ad campaigns as we continue to grow and improve.”
Read the full study here: https://ascionline.in/ednext-study.pdf
Mastercard, LEAF and BASIX digitally empower over one million smallholder farmers in India
New Delhi, 12January 2023: Mastercard today announced that it has reached the milestone of benefiting over one million smallholder farmers in India through Farm Pass, its scalable rural and agriculture digitization solution. Leveraging Farm Pass, Mastercard processed agricultural produce sales worth nearly INR 180 crores in 2022. Working with Lawrencedale Agro Processing India (LEAF) and BASIX Social Enterprise Group, the payments technology firm has now set a target of covering 10 million farmers by 2025.
Since 2020, Mastercard, LEAF and BASIX have partnered to improve digital access and financial inclusion for farmers in four Indian states: Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. With its rich experience and expertise in digital and payments technology as well as agritech, in 2023, Mastercard will extend its Farm Pass solution to five more states including Himachal Pradesh, Assam, Odisha, Telangana, and West Bengal.
Mastercard’s Farm Pass is a digital ecosystem platform for rural areas that also works offline in remote unconnected areas and encourages stakeholders in the agriculture sector to come together and serve the farmer community. The platform enables digitization of agricultural marketplaces and farmer data to create a commercially sustainable ecosystem, enabling farmers to be part of the formal economy.
Mastercard and its ecosystem partners are committed to empowering farmers by directly connecting them to buyers, enabling them to achieve greater value for their products, providing access to agronomic knowledge and services, and supporting Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs).
Farm Pass is part of Community Pass, a shared, interoperable digital infrastructure for rural populations. It facilitates access to critical services and reduces the cost to serve them for all stakeholders, including governments, banks, agricultural entities, and NGOs.
Tara Nathan, Executive Vice President, Humanitarian & Development, Mastercard, said, “Community Pass, which includes Farm Pass, is designed to help smallholder farmers get paid more and faster. Mastercard is proud to have supported one million farmers in India last year. In line with the Government of India’s vision to ensure financial inclusion and double farmers’ income, Community Pass addresses the barriers smallholder farmers face when trying to access reliable markets and financial services.”
Palat Vijayaraghavan, Founder & CEO, LEAF, said,“Leveraging our deep expertise in agritech, this partnership with Mastercard has led to the development of several digital products and solutions that have transformed the lives of smallholder farmers. Through comprehensive training and capacity building programs, we will continue to further empower farmers and make them more resilient.”
D Sattaiah, CEO, BASIX, said, “We are proud to collaborate with Mastercard in our endeavor to empower Indian farmers. BASIX’s Farmers Market (BFM) uses Mastercard’s technology to ensure complete transparency in agriculture transactions and enable greater price realization for farmers.”
Last year, Mastercard announced plans to expand its Farm Pass program to more markets in Asia Pacific in 2023. The company is also in the process of launching a unique agricultural invoice discounting platform, a rural financial inclusion card, as well as additional solutions to digitize the rural ecosystem.
South Central Zone Cultural Centre (SCZCC) is conducting the 29th Orange City Crafts Mela-cum-Folk Dance Festival from January 13 to 22 at SCZCC premises in Civil Lines, informed Dr Deepak Khirwadkar, Director, SCZCC in a press conference.
Handicraft from all over the country will be exhibited during the exhibition whereas tribal and folk artist from every corner of India will participate in this 10-day event.
Dr Brijesh Dixit, Managing Director, Maha Metro will inaugurate the exhibition on January 13 at 6 pm. Ravindra Thakre, Additional Commissioner, Tribal Development Board, Nagpur and Sanjay Dashpute, Chief Engineer, PWD will be the guests of honour.
The exhibition will remain open for public from 2 pm to 9:30 pm daily. The folk dance programme will be held from 6:30 pm daily. More than 150 varieties of handicrafts will be displayed for the visitors and
they canbuy it also. More than 200 artists from every corner of the country will participate in this event.
Saungi Mukhwate, Dangi dance, Hojagiri dance, Bihu dance, Bhapang song, Chitkor dance, KaksarGodi will be held during the January 13 to 17 at 6.30 pm onwards. On January 18, a fashion show by Divyang students of SVK Shikshan Sanstha will be the major attraction of the event.
Siddhi Dhamal dance, Raif Dance, Teratali, Gusadidance, Chhau dance, Khapri dance and Rannapappa dance will be performed by artists from January 19 to 22.
Toyota Kirloskar Motor Commences Bookings for The Iconic Hilux
Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) today announced the opening of bookings for its iconic lifestyle utility vehicle – The Hilux. Needless to mention, since its launch in early 2022, the Hilux has received overwhelming customer response, appreciated for its great styling, and driving comfort.
Owing to Hilux’s high demand and various factors impacting the supply, the bookings for legendary Hilux was temporarily halted. However, with today’s announcement, the order taking for the much-celebrated global legend have commenced at the dealer outlets as well as on-line bookings are accepted.
Globally, the Hilux sales have surpassed 20 million units winning hearts of many discerning customers from over 180 countries. Through more than five decades and eight generations, the Toyota Hilux has created extraordinary experiences and an unbreakable bond with those who desire awesome drives, whether they are on business or with their families.
Hilux’s global reputation as a powerful performer is attributed to its rigid Innovative Multi-purpose Vehicle (IMV) platform. It is the same platform (body-on frame chassis construction) that underpins the Fortuner which has been a runaway success in India and across many countries.
Toyota Hilux is aimed to fulfil the needs of customers seeking an awesome lifestyle utility vehicle that is best suited, not only for off-roading adventure drives on tough terrains, but also for everyday city use. Furthermore, this versatile machine, is perfectly suited for multiple purpose usages that can cater to new emerging business customers be it campervan, farming, defense, mining, construction, rescue van, etc.
Commenting on the announcement, Mr. Atul Sood, Vice President of Sales and Strategic Marketing – Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “It gives us immense pleasure to announce that we have begun the bookings for Hilux – an iconic vehicle which has been accepted by generations world over. Our desire is to excite our customers with lifetime experiences to fulfil their aspiring needs by providing greater mobility choices. We are confident that the globally celebrated Hilux will continue to set new standards of unmatched toughness & awesomeness in India market to suit varied lifestyle utility requirements be it
personal or business.
We at Toyota truly understand that for who owns Hilux, the purpose of life is to do more than the normal, to be able to go on adventures, to be able to make memories and to utilise every opportunity and go forth. It is as much function as it is form. It is as much utility as it is exploration to lead a complete life, full of memories. With our flagship model Hilux, we aim to call on our valued customers to do everything they wish to, to Live a Fuller Life.
As a brand that continually evaluates market trends and evolving preferences, we recognize the increasing aspiration for a rugged, sturdy lifestyle utility vehicle and the Hilux ticks all the right boxes. Being a fine example of world-class engineering with unparalleled safety, and best-in-class comfort, Hilux is perfectly channelled to aid seamless mobility in difficult road conditions. We strongly believe that our patrons will carry on the legacy of this vehicle on Indian terrains, for many years to come.”
The Hilux with its powerful powertrain system of 2.8 L Four Cylinder Turbo-Diesel Engine, is available in option of 6- Speed Automatic and 6-Speed Manual Transmission. All the variants of Hilux are equipped with 4X4 drive capabilities along with many first-in-segment features such as Drive modes options (Power & Eco), Tire Angle Monitor & Front Parking Sensors for a smooth drive. In addition to a variety of remarkable features coupled with a robust engine, the Hilux also offers exceptional endurance, low maintenance cost, and great practicality for a variety of usage purposes. Furthermore, the Hilux’s water wading capability of 700mm makes it suitable for driving through Indian trails, setting new standards in its off-road capability.
Further, to supplement the amazing experience of Hilux, we are much excited to offer the specialised range of accessories for adventure-oriented customers’, truly reflective of the design concept. These range of recommended accessories will amplify the versatility of the Hilux. To know more about such accessories, we urge the customers to visit and explore at their nearest Toyota touchpoints.
The details of the Ex-showroom Price (grade-wise), are as follows:
Grades 44 MT Standard 44 MT High 4*4 AT High
Ex-showroom Price Rs. 33,99,000/- Rs. 35,80,000/- Rs. 36,80,000/-
Bookings for the Toyota Hilux opened today. Customers can make their bookings online on www.toyotabharat.com or also visit their nearest Toyota dealership. With Toyota’s virtual showroom, now the customers can seamlessly get a 360-degree external and internal views, check out all the available variants and colours and experience the key features as well.
Cabinet approves low-value promotional incentives for the Rupay debit card, transactions using BHIM-UPI
As per sources, the Union Cabinet has approved promotional incentives for BHIM (UPI) low-value transactions and Rupay debit cards.
As per multiple information, incentives of around Rs 2,600 crore have been approved for FY2022-23. These incentives will be given in exchange for using BHIM UPI and Rupay debit cards on a P2M (Person to Merchant) basis.
The Union Cabinet presided over by PM Modi, had earlier in 2021 approved a reward program to encourage the use of RuPayDebit cards and low-value (up to Rs 2,000) BHIM-UPI transactions (Person-to-Merchant (P2M)) across the nation.
What is a RuPay Debit Card?
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) established RuPay, a global financial services payment network in India, in 2012 with the goal of transitioning away from a cash-based economy.
A RuPay debit card is a plastic card that the bank issues to a customer who has an account with them and is used as a form of payment. There are many different varieties of RuPay debit cards, including the RuPay Classic, RuPay Platinum, RuPay Select, Contactless, and Government Schemes Debit Cards.
What is BHIM-UPI?
In 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the locally created payment software BHIM (Bharat Interface for Money). It is a biometric payment system software that relies on the Aadhar platform and a Unified Payment Interface (UPI) to enable e-payments made straight to banks.
Any mobile device, including smartphones, feature phones, and phones without an internet connection, can utilize it.
Panel Discussion on “Challenges of HR in MSMEs – Bharat Aatma-Nirbhar” on Jan 13
VIA HRD Forum, IMT Nagpur, Global Talent Company & NIPM Nagpur Chapter are jointly organizing a panel discussion on “Challenges of HR in MSMEs – Bharat Aatma-Nirbhar” on Friday, 13th January, 2023 from 6.00 pm to 7.30 pm at VIA Auditorium, Udyog Bhawan, Civil Lines, Nagpur – 440 001
Chief Guest, D K Bakshi, Chief Mentor & CEO of Global Talent Company, New Delhi. Other eminent panelists will be Dr Suresh Pandilwar, Co-Chairman of VIA HRD Forum, Dr Smita Singh, Associate Professor of IMT Nagpur, Shalu V Pillai, Leader HR OD of Global Talent Company, Harsh Kumar, OD Specialist of Global Talent Company will moderate the discussion.
The discussion will be held on Global Perspective & Challenges, Leadership Challenges in India & Opportunities for MSMEs; Challenges Faced in MSME VIDARBHA Region, Importance and Role of Industry & Academia Interface and Employee Engagement Leading to Cultural Transformation.
The event is supported by Ankur Seeds, Nagpur. For details & registration contact VIA : 0712-2561211 / 9922386398 or Suresh Pandilwar, Co-Chairman of VIA HRD Forum (9881012443) or Neelam Bowade, Convener of HRD Forum (9860264860), Saurabh Singh NIPM (9096464942).
Program is open for industrialists, Entrepreneurs, HR Professional / Managers, Management Students are cordially invited to attend the session at VIA Hall, says press note issued by Paramveer Sancheti, Chairman of VIA HRD Forum.
Watch Doordarshan in the coming days without set-top boxes
With the aid of digital television receivers with built-in satellite tuners, viewers will soon be able to watch all free-to-air channels of official broadcaster Doordarshan without set top boxes.
These tuners would make it possible to receive free-to-air TV and radio channels by simply connecting a dish antenna with an LNB mounted on the building’s roof or side wall.
On Monday, the release of specifications from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for digital television receivers with integrated satellite tuners. These requirements would have to be followed when creating such television sets by television manufacturers.
Currently, set-top boxes must be purchased in order for television viewers to access both paid and free channels.
Even for the reception of Doordarshan’s non – encrypted free-to-air channels, the viewer must use a set-top box.
Right now, analogue transmission is being phased out by Doordarshan. Doordarshan will continue to use digital satellite transmission to broadcast free-to-air channels.
Tata Motors commences deliveries of the Ace EV to start a new era in last-mile deliveries
Tata Motors, India’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturer, today marked a significant leap forward in offering sustainable mobility solutions for intra-city cargo transport by commencing deliveries of the all-new Ace EV,India’s most advanced, zero-emission, four-wheel small commercial vehicle. The first fleet of the revolutionary Ace EVwas delivered to leading e-commerce, FMCG and courier companies, and their logistics service providers: Amazon, Delhivery, DHL (Express & Supply Chain), FedEx, Flipkart, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health, MoEVing, Safexpress andTrent Limited.
The new Ace EV, unveiled in May 2022 and co-developed in rich collaboration with its users, has successfully completed stringent real-world market trials. Supported by a diligently curated ecosystem, the Ace EV comes with a holistic solution for hassle free e-cargo mobility and 5-year comprehensive maintenance package. Its robust performance with 100% uptime received an overwhelming response from customers. The Ace EV’s supporting ecosystem includes development and deployment of charging infrastructure, setting up of dedicated Electric Vehicle Support Centres for maximum fleet uptime, deployment of Tata Fleet Edge – the next-gen optimal fleet management solution, support of Tata UniEVerse, the proven enabling eco-system of relevant Tata Group companies, and partnerships with the country’s leading financiers for availing funding.
Flagging the first fleet of Ace EVs, Mr. Girish Wagh, Executive Director, Tata Motors, said, “The introduction of the Ace EVs on Indian roads marks a big step forward in the journey towards zero-emission cargo mobility. The holistic solution co-created with our partners effectively caters to a variety of intra-city distribution needs and delivers a superior value proposition to all stakeholders.We are grateful for the trust and support of our customers. Their encouraging response to Ace EV inspires us to accelerate our endeavour of sustainable mobility and support the nation’s net-zero aspirations.”
The Ace EV is the first product featuring Tata Motors’ EVOGEN powertrain that offers an unparalleled certified range of 154 kilometres. It delivers a safe, all-weather operation with an advanced battery cooling system and regenerative braking system to boost the driving range. The vehicle allows regular and fast charging capabilities for high uptime. It is powered by a 27kW (36hp) motor with 130Nm of peak torque, to ensure highest cargo volume of 208 ft³ and grade-ability of 22% allowing easy ascend in fully loaded conditions. The Ace EV’s container is made of lightweight, durable materials that perfectly suit the requirements of e-commerce logistics.
UIDAI sets guidelines for entities performing offline Aadhar verification
On Tuesday, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) called on a number of hygiene-related concerns and provided Offline Verification Seeking Entities (OVSEs) a set of guidelines regarding enhanced safety precautions at the user level and techniques to further boost residents’ trust while using Aadhaar voluntarily for legal purposes.
OVSEs are the entities that do offline verification of an Aadhaar number holder for a valid purpose.
Offline verification is the use of Aadhaar for carrying out identity verification and KYC processes locally, without connecting to the Central Identities Data Repository of UIDAI.
“Entities have been informed to perform verification of Aadhaar after explicit consent of the Aadhaar number holder. These entities need to be courteous to residents and assure them about the security and confidentiality of their Aadhaar while conducting offline verification,’ the authority said in a press release.
According to the press release, entities are required to keep a log or record of the citizens’ express consent for any upcoming audits by UIDAI or other relevant legal authorities.
Instead of accepting Aadhar in physical form, the UIDAI asked OVSEs to verify Aadhaar via the QR Code present on all four forms of Aadhaar (Aadhaar letter, e-Aadhaar, m-Aadhaar, and Aadhaar PVC card).
The authority insisted that as far as a person is able to prove their identity through other acceptable methods, no resident will be refused services because they choose not to or are unable to submit to offline Aadhaar verification.
It has been underlined that OVSEs need to provide residents with viable alternative means of identification in addition to Aadhaar, for rendering service.
“Verification entities, generally should not collect, use or store the Aadhaar number of the resident after having conducted offline verification of Aadhaar, UIDAI has informed OVSEs. Post verification, if the OVSE finds it necessary for any reason, to store a copy of Aadhaar, the OVSE must ensure that the Aadhaar number is redacted/masked and irretrievable,” UIDAI said.
Tampering with Aadhaar documents can be detected by offline verification, and tampering is a punishable offense and is liable for penalties under Section 35 of the Aadhaar Act.
In cases of misuse of information, verification entities need to inform UIDAI and the resident concern within 72 hours.
UIDAI has cautioned OVSEs not to perform offline verification on behalf of any other entity or person and ensure full cooperation with the Authority or law enforcement agencies in case of any investigation involving the misuse of Aadhaar.
Government establishes quality standards for digital TV receptacles and USB Type-C chargers
Standards for USB Type C plug, cables, and receptacles have been published by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in an effort to provide uniform charging options for smartphones and other electronic devices sold in the nation.
Three “significant” Indian Standards in the field of electronics have been published by the BIS, according to a statement from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution. For digital television receivers with built-in satellite tuners, the first standard is the Indian Standard. A specification for televisions with built-in satellite tuners called Indian Standard IS 18112:2022 has been published by the Bureau of Indian Standards’ technical committee. When using a dish antenna with an LNB mounted in a suitable location on the building’s roof or side wall, TVs made to this Indian standard can receive Free-To-Air TV and Radio channels.
Indian Standard for USB Type C plugs, receptacles, and cables is the second norm. The Indian Standard IS/IEC 62680-1-3:2022 USB Type-C® Cable and Connector Speci?cation has been made available by the Bureau of Indian Standards. According to the statement released on Monday, this Indian standard is an adoption of the current international standard IEC 62680-1- 3:2022.
“This standard provides requirements for USB Type-C port, plug, and cables for use in various electronic devices, such as mobile phones, laptops, notebooks, etc.,” as per the the statement.
For the smartphones and other electronic devices available for purchase in the nation, this standard would offer standard charging solutions. As a result, consumers would need fewer chargers overall because they wouldn’t need to purchase a different charger each time they bought a new device. According to the statement, this would aid in the Government of India’s mission to reduce e-waste and advance sustainable development.
Previously, consumers had to keep a variety of chargers for the various electronic devices they owned, which resulted in additional costs, an increase in e-waste, and a great deal of inconvenience. Worldwide efforts are being made to address these issues, it said.
As per the statement, “The third Standard is Indian Standards for Video Surveillance Systems. Bureau of Indian Standards, through its technical committee on Alarms and Electronic Security Systems has developed a series of Indian Standard (IS 16910) on Video Surveillance Systems for use in Security Applications. IS 16910 series of Standards is an adoption of the International Standard IEC 62676 series.”
The standard provides a detailed outline of all the aspects of a Video Surveillance System such as requirements for its components like camera devices, interfaces, system requirements and tests to ascertain the image quality of the camera devices and also speci?es guidelines on e?cient installation of the system,” the statement said.
“Considering the constantly evolving technology in the security industry and the abundant options of VSS to choose from it has become cumbersome for the common person, be it the installers/ specifiers/ users, to pick the right set of VSS that exactly ?ts his intended use. This series of Standards would assist customers, installers and users in establishing their requirements, determining the appropriate equipment required for their intended application, and also provide means of evaluating objectively the performance of the VSS. This will also help in making the surveillance system more secure, robust and cost effective,” it said.
“Video Surveillance System (VSS) is an essential security component that is used almost everywhere to capture any unwanted activity. Due to the multitude of video cameras o?ered for sale in the marketplace, and the seemingly in?nite variety of camera features and options available, e?orts to procure the right video surveillance system that produce images of suitable quality for the intended use have become confusing and technically challenging. Also, the owners and or installers do not have a clear idea of the purpose of each video surveillance system and the level of detail needed to achieve that purpose,” it added.
The action follows the ministry’s actions regarding the common charge issue. An interministerial task force had been established by the ministry to address the problem.
A “broad consensus” had emerged among stakeholders on adoption of USB Type – C as a charging port for electronic devices like smartphones, tablets, laptops, during a meeting of the task force on November 16, 2022.
Nagpur’s Joshi sisters shines at Maharashtra State Olympic Games 2023
Nagpur’s Joshi sisters Snehal and Sanjana once again proved their dominance in the Triathlon events in the state, clinching the gold and silver medals respectively in the Maharashtra State Olympic Games 2023 here at the Balewadi Stadium here on Saturday.
The Joshi sisters, who had last year competed in the Asian Triathlon Cup in Nepal, trailed Pune’s Manasi Mohite after the swimming and cycling rounds but took charge in the 5000m road run to push the local favourite to the third spot.
Wardha’s Angad Ingalekar topped the men’s triathlon standings ahead of Pune’s Parth Mirge and Kolhapur’s Hrishikesh Patil.
In Aurangabad, which is hosting the fencing competition, local favourites Sayyad Ambir and Vaidehi Lohiya clinched the Men’s and Women’s Foil gold medals respectively. Ambir defeated his teammate Tejas Patil in the Men’s final while Lohiya got the better of Mumbai’s Vaibhavi Ingale in the Women’s summit clash.
In the archery events being held in Amravati, Nashik’s Men and Amravati’s Women clinched the Recurve Team gold medals while Pune’s Men and Women grabbed both golds on offer in the Compound category.
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