29, Apr 2025
C.K. College of Engineering and Technology Charts New Path with UGC Autonomy and Innovative Programs
Tamil Nadu, India | 29th April 2025: In a significant milestone, CavinKare patronized academic institution C.K. College of Engineering and Technology (CKCET) has been awarded Autonomous Status by the University Grants Commission (UGC) for 10 years from 2025 to 2035, marking a leap forward in its journey to redefine engineering education. Located in Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, CKCET’s autonomy empowers the institution to independently design curriculum, introduce industry-aligned courses, emerging technology modules, and implement flexible real-world pedagogy through initiatives that empower students to take ownership of their learning journey.
Celebrating this milestone, CKCET also announced upcoming collaborations with over 15 leading industry partners to provide students with real-world, hands-on learning experiences. In addition to this, the college is also set to launch a blended program with specializations in Artificial Intelligence (AI), preparing students for the evolving global job market. The conferment of autonomy was based on CKCET’s outstanding academic governance, consistent student success, and commitment to educational excellence.
Commenting on the occasion, Ms. Amudhavalli Ranganathan, Executive Director, CK Group of Educational Institutions, and Director, New Initiatives & E-Commerce, CavinKare Pvt. Ltd., said “This achievement is a proud moment for CKCET. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to our principal and the dedicated faculty team whose relentless commitment has brought us to this milestone. Our journey to autonomy reflects years of focused effort, innovation, and student-centric growth. With this momentum, we believe CKCET will not only continue to excel but also transform Cuddalore into a thriving educational hub, fostering talent and innovation for the future.”
Building on its new autonomy, CKCET continues to offer a wide range of innovative and future-focused programs. As the No.1 Engineering College in Cuddalore District, the institution is recognized for its consistent academic results, high placement records, and emphasis on holistic student development. CKCET students have showcased innovation at national platforms such as Smart India Hackathon (SIH) and Road Safety Hackathon, with several venturing into entrepreneurship through on-campus incubation centers, developing prototypes, and filing patents. Faculty members actively contribute to the research ecosystem through publications, funded projects, and industry collaborations, further strengthening CKCET’s academic leadership. Signature initiatives like Invest in Yourself (IIY), Win@Life, CK Hackathon, and Life-Oriented Classes continue to empower students with technical prowess and life skills.
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29, Apr 2025
C.K. College Secures 10-Year UGC Autonomy, Unveils Industry Tie-Ups and Future-Ready Courses
Tamil Nadu, India | 29 April 2025: In a significant milestone, CavinKare patronized academic institution C.K. College of Engineering and Technology (CKCET) has been awarded Autonomous Status by the University Grants Commission (UGC) for 10 years from 2025 to 2035, marking a leap forward in its journey to redefine engineering education. Located in Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, CKCET’s autonomy empowers the institution to independently design curriculum, introduce industry-aligned courses, emerging technology modules, and implement flexible real-world pedagogy through initiatives that empower students to take ownership of their learning journey.
Celebrating this milestone, CKCET also announced upcoming collaborations with over 15 leading industry partners to provide students with real-world, hands-on learning experiences. In addition to this, the college is also set to launch a blended program with specializations in Artificial Intelligence (AI), preparing students for the evolving global job market. The conferment of autonomy was based on CKCET’s outstanding academic governance, consistent student success, and commitment to educational excellence.
Commenting on the occasion, Ms. Amudhavalli Ranganathan, Executive Director, CK Group of Educational Institutions, and Director, New Initiatives & E-Commerce, CavinKare Pvt. Ltd., said “This achievement is a proud moment for CKCET. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to our principal and the dedicated faculty team whose relentless commitment has brought us to this milestone. Our journey to autonomy reflects years of focused effort, innovation, and student-centric growth. With this momentum, we believe CKCET will not only continue to excel but also transform Cuddalore into a thriving educational hub, fostering talent and innovation for the future.”
Building on its new autonomy, CKCET continues to offer a wide range of innovative and future-focused programs. As the No.1 Engineering College in Cuddalore District, the institution is recognized for its consistent academic results, high placement records, and emphasis on holistic student development. CKCET students have showcased innovation at national platforms such as Smart India Hackathon (SIH) and Road Safety Hackathon, with several venturing into entrepreneurship through on-campus incubation centers, developing prototypes, and filing patents. Faculty members actively contribute to the research ecosystem through publications, funded projects, and industry collaborations, further strengthening CKCET’s academic leadership. Signature initiatives like Invest in Yourself (IIY), Win@Life, CK Hackathon, and Life-Oriented Classes continue to empower students with technical prowess and life skills.
29, Apr 2025
Electrify Your Festive Season: Ola’s 72-Hour Electric Rush Brings Akshaya Tritiya Benefits
Bengaluru, April 29, 2025 – Ola Electric, India’s largest pure-play EV company, today announced 72-Hour Rush including special offers and benefits on the entire S1 portfolio ahead of the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya. As part of the 72-Hour Rush, customers can avail discounts of up to ₹40,000 on Gen 2 and Gen 3 models, along with free extended warranty. Customers in select states can enjoy #HyperDelivery (same-day delivery) on their new Ola scooters, making their Akshaya Tritiya celebrations even more special. The offers will be valid starting today, till 30th April.
Ola Electric also rolled out same-day delivery and registration of vehicles under #HyperDelivery. Pilot of #HyperDelivery has started in Bengaluru, and is being scaled up across India during this quarter in a phased manner. Customers can now complete their purchase online or at an Ola Electric Store and ride home on their fully registered vehicles in just hours.
The company recently rolled out the first Roadster X motorcycle from its Futurefactory. The Roadster X series offers a breakthrough in motorcycle technology and comes with first-in-segment patented brake-by-wire technology with single ABS, and smart MoveOS 5 features such as advanced regeneration, cruise control, and reverse mode. The battery system of the Roadster X series gets an IP67 waterproof and dust-proof certification, advanced wire bonding technology, and a serviceable Battery Management System (BMS) enabling easy maintenance.
29, Apr 2025
Ola Electric Launches 72-Hour Electric Rush with Festive Akshaya Tritiya Offers
Bengaluru, April 29, 2025 – Ola Electric, India’s largest pure-play EV company, today announced a 72-Hour Rush including special offers and benefits on the entire S1 portfolio ahead of the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya. As part of the 72-Hour Rush, customers can avail discounts on Gen 2 and Gen 3 models, along with a free extended warranty. Customers in select states can enjoy #HyperDelivery (same-day delivery) on their new Ola scooters, making their Akshaya Tritiya celebrations even more special. The offers will be valid starting today, till 30th April.
Along with the expanded Gen 3 portfolio of scooters, the company continues to retail its Gen 2 scooters, including the S1 X (2kWh, 3kWh, and 4kWh) and the S1 Pro.
The company’s Gen 3 portfolio consists of the flagship S1 Pro+ (5.3kWh and 4kWh), and the S1 Pro, available in 4kWh and 3kWh battery options. The S1 X range is also available in 2kWh, 3kWh, and 4kWh variants, with the S1 X+ offered with a 4kWh battery.
Ola Electric also rolled out same-day delivery and registration of vehicles under #HyperDelivery. Pilot of #HyperDelivery has started in Bengaluru, and is being scaled up across India during this quarter in a phased manner. Customers can now complete their purchase online or at an Ola Electric Store and ride home on their fully registered vehicles in just hours.
The company recently rolled out the first Roadster X motorcycle from its Futurefactory. The Roadster X series offers a breakthrough in motorcycle technology and comes with first-in-segment patented brake-by-wire technology with single ABS, and smart MoveOS 5 features such as advanced regeneration, cruise control, and reverse mode. The battery system of the Roadster X series gets an IP67 waterproof and dust-proof certification, advanced wire bonding technology, and a serviceable Battery Management System (BMS) enabling easy maintenance.
29, Apr 2025
India, Egypt Explore Strategic Collaboration in Skill Development
Mumbai, April 29, 2025- The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India, today hosted a high-level Egyptian delegation led by H.E. Prof. Dr. Ayman Bahaa El Din, Deputy Minister of Technical Education, for a pivotal round of deliberations at Kaushal Bhawan, New Delhi. This engagement marks another milestone in the ever-strengthening India-Egypt relationship, building on the momentum of the 2023 elevation of bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership and the recent recognition of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi with Egypt’s highest civilian honour.
Shri Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary, MSDE, highlighted the enduring people-to-people and institutional linkages between the two nations. He emphasized India’s vision to become the “Skill Capital of the World” through the Skill India Mission, under which already close to 400,000 individuals have already been trained in advanced domains such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and big data, while nurturing over 1.3 million entrepreneurs.
India’s efforts to align its vocational education and training (TVET) ecosystem with global standards, and the establishment of world-class Skill India International Centres, were presented as models for international collaboration.
The Egyptian delegation shared insights into Egypt’s comprehensive TVET reforms, including the EU-supported TVET Egypt Reform Programme and the establishment of Sector Skill Councils, which resonate with India’s scalable and affordable skilling models. Both sides acknowledged the success of ongoing collaborations, such as the 2024 MoU between India’s NIELIT and Egypt’s Information Technology Institute, the El-Sewedy Group’s partnership with Amity University, and the Indian-supported Vocational Training Centre in Cairo.
Looking ahead, the two countries identified several promising avenues for future cooperation. These include joint certification programmes, faculty and student exchanges, digital skilling and entrepreneurship initiatives, and the establishment of Centres of Excellence in priority sectors like information technology, agriculture, tourism, and green skills. Both delegations expressed a shared commitment to creating a globally competitive, future-ready workforce and to using their partnership as a template for broader South-South cooperation.
29, Apr 2025
India and Egypt Forge Stronger Partnership Focused on Skill Development
Mumbai, April 29, 2025- The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India, today hosted a high-level Egyptian delegation led by H.E. Prof. Dr. Ayman Bahaa El Din, Deputy Minister of Technical Education, for a pivotal round of deliberations at Kaushal Bhawan, New Delhi. This engagement marks another milestone in the ever-strengthening India-Egypt relationship, building on the momentum of the 2023 elevation of bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership and the recent recognition of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi with Egypt’s highest civilian honour.
Shri Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary, MSDE, highlighted the enduring people-to-people and institutional linkages between the two nations. He emphasized India’s vision to become the “Skill Capital of the World” through the Skill India Mission, under which already close to 400,000 individuals have already been trained in advanced domains such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and big data, while nurturing over 1.3 million entrepreneurs.
India’s efforts to align its vocational education and training (TVET) ecosystem with global standards, and the establishment of world-class Skill India International Centres, were presented as models for international collaboration.
The Egyptian delegation shared insights into Egypt’s comprehensive TVET reforms, including the EU-supported TVET Egypt Reform Programme and the establishment of Sector Skill Councils, which resonate with India’s scalable and affordable skilling models. Both sides acknowledged the success of ongoing collaborations, such as the 2024 MoU between India’s NIELIT and Egypt’s Information Technology Institute, the El-Sewedy Group’s partnership with Amity University, and the Indian-supported Vocational Training Centre in Cairo.
Looking ahead, the two countries identified several promising avenues for future cooperation. These include joint certification programmes, faculty and student exchanges, digital skilling and entrepreneurship initiatives, and the establishment of Centres of Excellence in priority sectors like information technology, agriculture, tourism, and green skills. Both delegations expressed a shared commitment to creating a globally competitive, future-ready workforce and to using their partnership as a template for broader South-South cooperation.
29, Apr 2025
M1 NXT Partners with Singapore-based Air8 to Expand Global Trade Financing for SMEs
April 29, 2025: M1 NXT, an international trade financing platform, has announced its strategic partnership with Air8, a global supply chain financier, to enhance cross-border trade finance accessibility for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) worldwide. This strategic partnership aims to make cross-border trade financing more accessible, helping businesses navigate the complexities of cross-border trade and mitigate risks associated with international buyers.
The Indian MSME export sector has witnessed remarkable growth, with total export value reaching ₹12.39 lakh crore in 2024-25. The number of MSME exporters has surged to 173,350, since 2020-21. On the global front, the MSME credit gap is estimated at $5.7 trillion, highlighting the urgent need for accessible trade financing solutions presenting a vast opportunity for Trade finance.
Air8 is a digital venture of LFX, an affiliate of the world’s leading supply chain solutions manager, Li & Fung group, nurturing SME exporters in the emerging markets for a sustainable future. Since its inception in 2021, Air8 has achieved over USD 1 billion in annual Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) and has financed suppliers across multiple countries.
M1 NXT is a subsidiary of Mynd Solutions Pvt Ltd, India’s leading TReDS platform operator. M1 NXT, operating under the International Trade Financing Services (ITFS) framework at GIFT City, connects exporters and importers with global financial institutions, simplifying access to working capital.
Through this partnership, Air8 joins M1 NXT as a financier, expanding financing opportunities for businesses engaged in global trade. With expertise in risk assessment and supply chain financing, Air8 will provide fast, reliable, and cost-effective financing solutions, enabling SMEs to optimize working capital and scale their international operations. This will further allow M1 NXT to offer tailored financial solutions, ensuring greater access to trade finance for SMEs navigating global markets.
“This partnership strengthens M1 NXT’s mission to bridge the global trade finance gap for SMEs,” said Munindra Verma, CEO of M1 NXT. He added, “By integrating our robust ITFS platform with Air8’s deep experience in supply chain finance, we are accelerating financial inclusion and liquidity for companies that participate in international trade. We are creating a more inclusive and streamlined ecosystem, one that allows SMEs to gain access to working capital, reduce risks, and grow into global markets with confidence.”
Ankit Verma, India Lead of Air8 said, “The global MSME credit gap of $5.7 trillion underscores the urgent need for accessible and efficient financing solutions. This gap highlights the urgent need for accessible and efficient financing solutions. Our collaboration with M1 NXT will empower businesses by providing them with the financial tools to scale operations, manage risks, and explore new opportunities. Together, we aim to bridge the credit gap and support the growth of vibrant SME ecosystems worldwide.”
29, Apr 2025
Leeds University to Guarantee Industry Experience for Masters’ Students from 2025
India, April 29th, 2025: The University of Leeds is raising the bar in postgraduate education with the launch of a guaranteed industry consulting project for every taught postgraduate (Masters) student enrolling from the 2025/26 academic year. This exclusive opportunity is designed to equip students—including those from India—with real-world, global experience and the professional skills employers value most.
Building on successful pilot programmes involving over 400 students, the Leeds Global Industry Programme (GIP) ensures that each student will work in a small, diverse teams to tackle genuine industry challenges presented by UK or international organisations. These projects are delivered virtually, allowing students to collaborate across borders while solving real-world problems in areas such as business strategy, technology innovation, sustainability and social impact.
Talking about the University of Leeds GIP, Greg Miller, Deputy Director of Student Opportunity, University of Leeds said, “This is a game-changing initiative for students preparing for global careers. We’ve designed this programme to offer every student—regardless of subject studied, background or prior experience—the opportunity to work on high-impact, real-world projects that strengthen their CV and professional direction.”
Focussing on the impact of the programme on Indian students, in particular, “Indian students bring strong analytical and collaborative skills—this programme enhances their employability and professional confidence before they graduate.” added Greg.
The programme is open to students from all subject areas and is designed to fit around their studies. Participants will receive a live company brief, conduct research and analysis, and develop solutions before presenting their findings in a professional consultancy report. The experience is supported by dedicated staff, culminating in a certificate and digital badge to strengthen students’ professional portfolios.
As per the finding from the pilot programme, the impact is clear – 91% of students report greater confidence in their ability to contribute to future employers, 87% say they have increased career clarity and awareness, 89% note development of key skills including communication, teamwork, and problem-solving, and 91% gain practical, relevant work experience.
Industry partners also find the projects valuable and rated 93% of student final reports being of high and outstanding quality.
“Fantastic, the platform and framework surrounding the programme is absolutely awesome. There is a real feel for the client/consultant relationship here. It also allows students to appreciate working with professionals and understanding the nuances of the professional world.” said one of the employers.
This initiative complements the University of Leeds’ comprehensive employability and careers support, which includes internships and paid work, leadership programmes, start-up and enterprise guidance, mentoring, careers fairs and employer events throughout the year as well as becoming part of a global network of over 312,000 alumni across 197 countries.
With a strong Indian student community and a growing focus on global, virtual opportunities, the University of Leeds remains a top destination for ambitious students looking to build international careers.
29, Apr 2025
AIBI Hosts 2nd Edition of SME Conclave in Kochi with BSE, NSE, and ICAI
Kochi, 29 April 2025: The Apex body of Investment Bankers of India; AIBI, in collaboration with the National Stock Exchange (NSE), BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange), and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), organized the second edition of Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Conclave in Kochi on 22nd April 2025 at Hotel Radisson Blu. The goal of this Conclave was to increase awareness about SME IPOs, opportunities and challenges.
Shri Ashwani Bhatia, Whole Time Member, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) graced the event as the Chief Guest and shared his insights on the evolving SME ecosystem and regulatory support for capital formation. The conclave also featured a series of high-powered panel discussion with representatives from NSE, BSE, ICAI and AIBI. This discussion delved into critical and strategic aspects of the SME IPO journey, including market readiness, regulatory compliance, due diligence, and the role of intermediaries in nurturing credible SME listings.
Themes discussed during the conclave included:
- Transparency and Disclosure in Indian Capital Market
- Success Factors for SMEs in Public Capital Markets
- Role of Merchant Banker in the journey to listing
- Opportunities for CA Professionals in Primary Markets.
The Conclave bought together key stakeholders from the financial ecosystem — including Investment Bankers, Chartered Accountants, Company Secretaries, SME promoters, and policy influencers, to promote awareness, collaboration, and best practices in the SME capital market ecosystem. Some of the notable key dignitaries at the event were Shri. Deep Mani Shah – CGM, SEBI, Shri. Jitendra Kumar – GM, SEBI, Shri. Ankit Sharma – CRO, NSE, Dr. Milind Dalvi – CEO, AIBI, Ms. Radha Kirthivasan – Head Listing & SME, BSE, Shri. Venkatraghavan S. MD, Equirus Capital (Director, AIBI), CA. Babu Abraham Kallivayalil, Central Council Member, ICAI, Ms. Parvathi Moorthy – AVP, SME Business Development, NSE, CA. Durgesh Kumar Kabra, Chairman, CFMIP, ICAI, Shri. Alok Harlalka – MD, Gretex Corporate Services Ltd. and CA. Dayaniwas Sharma, Vice-Chairman, CFMIP, ICAI.
Elaborating on significance of SMEs in the financial ecosystem of India, Dr. Milind Dalvi, CEO, AIBI said, “Our SME Conclave highlighted the critical importance of nurturing and supporting Small and Medium Enterprises, the backbone of India’s economy. Through this initiative, we sought to create a platform for awareness, guidance, and empowerment, enabling SMEs to successfully navigate the complexities of regulatory compliance, financial management, and investor expectations, ultimately paving the way for successful public listings and sustained growth. AIBI endeavours to curate more such interactive events across regions to empower SMEs and help them elevate to the next level.”
29, Apr 2025
Palo Alto Networks Launches AI-Driven Cortex XSIAM for End-to-End SecOps
Mumbai, India, April 29, 2025 — Palo Alto Networks® (NASDAQ: PANW), the global cybersecurity leader, today unveiled Cortex XSIAM® 3.0, the next evolution of its industry-leading SecOps platform, bolstered with proactive exposure management and advanced email security, enabling customers to further consolidate on Cortex for significantly better, faster and more cost-effective security operations.
Three years ago, Palo Alto Networks anticipated the future of security operations by introducing Cortex XSIAM, which consolidates and normalizes all cybersecurity data to fuel advanced, real-time analytics and automation, making disjointed point products obsolete. The best-selling platform surged past $1 billion cumulative bookings in FY25 Q2, making it our fastest offering to reach this milestone. Earlier this year, Palo Alto Networks doubled down on cloud security with the introduction of Cortex Cloud, converging its industry-leading CNAPP and CDR capabilities on the unified Cortex platform.
Cortex XSIAM 3.0 continues its relentless disruption of the security operations market by upending decades-old approaches to vulnerability management and email security. It further expands the scope of the SOC from reactive to proactive security to prevent breaches before they happen, in addition to its current powerful incident response capabilities. These new XSIAM innovations will help customers modernize legacy offerings across a total TAM of $37 billion.
Gonen Fink, SVP of Products, Cortex at Palo Alto Networks:
“Cortex XSIAM harnesses the power of the world’s largest and most comprehensive set of security data to transform our customers’ ability to rapidly counter evolving attacks with advanced AI and automation. This expansion of our groundbreaking SecOps platform merges best-in-class reactive with proactive security measures, allowing customers to achieve unprecedented risk reduction across their entire enterprise, from code to cloud to SOC.”
Cortex XSIAM 3.0 will enable customers to stop attacks at scale using AI-driven threat defense with Cortex Exposure Management and Advanced Email Security.
Cortex Exposure Management: Cut vulnerability noise by up to 99% with AI-driven prioritization and automated remediation spanning the entire enterprise:
- See every exposure: Uncover risks with a unified solution spanning native network, endpoint and cloud scanners — extended with integration from any third-party source.
- Cut alert noise based on actual risk, not compliance: Use AI to prioritize high-risk, exploitable vulnerabilities with no compensating controls, eliminating false alarms.
- Close the loop with industry-leading automation to prevent future attacks: Seamlessly create new protections for critical risks in native network, endpoint and cloud security solutions. Automate remediation across first- and third-party tools with playbook automation.
Cortex Advanced Email Security: Stop sophisticated email-based attacks missed by other solutions, with advanced AI and automation:
- Outsmart GenAI-powered threats: Detect advanced phishing and email-based threats based on attacker intent with LLM-powered analytics that continuously learn from emerging threats.
- Stop attacks in real time with built-in automation: Automatically remove malicious emails, disable compromised accounts, and isolate affected endpoints with best-in-class workflow automation.
- Extend industry-leading detection and response with complete email context: Correlate email, identity, endpoint and cloud data for unparalleled visibility into the full attack path for effective incident response.
Chris DeBrunner, VP of Security Operations, CBTS:
“The transition to Cortex XSIAM has transformed our SOC operations at CBTS. Previously, we struggled with alert fatigue due to multi-console complexity, multiple data sources, disparate vendors, and labor-intensive tasks. With the consolidation of major security capabilities into one platform, we have achieved remarkable efficiencies. Our incident close-out rate has reached 100%, and we have significantly reduced our median time to resolution (MTTR) from days to, in some cases, seconds. The automation provided by XSIAM has been crucial in managing the alert overwhelm we faced, making our team more effective and less error-prone.”
Chase Hymel, CISO, State of Louisiana:
“Discovering the capabilities of Cortex XSIAM was a game-changer for the State of Louisiana. It’s helped us to modernize our security infrastructure and set an example for other states to follow. By adopting XSIAM, we have significantly improved threat visibility and response effectiveness. Cortex XSIAM has allowed us to consolidate our security tools into one integrated platform, enhancing our security operations and protecting citizen data effectively. We have reduced MTTR from over 24 hours to under two minutes and automated the resolution of 86% of incidents.”
Availability: Exposure Management and Advanced Email Security are expected to be generally available to customers globally in FY25 Q4. For more details on Cortex XSIAM 3.0, read our blog here.
Register to attend: On Tuesday, April 29, 2025, from 2:30-4:30 p.m. PDT, join Palo Alto Networks Chairman and CEO Nikesh Arora for a virtual event: Hello Tomorrow, and dive into how innovations in AI-driven SecOps are redefining security from the inside out.
Don’t miss the launch event: Register for a one-hour virtual event June 4-5, 2025, to be among the first to see Cortex XSIAM 3.0 in action.
