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VMSIIHE Welcomes Portuguese Student Delegation For the First Time after Pandemic

Mumbai/Panaji, February 2023: Students and academics from 12 Portuguese cities have arrived in Goa, to familiarize themselves with Indian hospitality, cuisine, and culture, as part of a broader cultural exchange program between India and Portugal. The delegation received a traditional welcome on arrival to the V. M. Salgaocar Institute of International Hospitality Education (VMSIIHE) campus.

The Portuguese delegation hosted by VMSIIHE will undergo a four-week intensive program that features a packed curriculum including field trips, practi-cum-work sessions, and visits to various companies in Goa as part of the “Collaborative International Training and Education Program” with Turismo de Portugal, a government body which is also responsible for selecting the visiting students from various hospitality institutes in Portugal.

This is the first cultural exchange program organized by the Institute post the pandemic.

The visiting delegation of students and faculty will get a first-hand experience of classic Indian hospitality through a well-planned itinerary put together by the faculty of the Goa-based institute. Their intensive itinerary in Goa also includes activities like an insightful visit to the Margao market which is well-known for having a wide assortment of traditional fruits and vegetables. They will also be attending several lectures from experts on tourism trends in Goa and India.

Going beyond the theoretical world of hospitality studies, there will also be several instructional demonstrations by faculty and guest chefs who will introduce the international delegation to the vast, flavorful world of Indian cuisine. The delegation will also be introduced to the wonders of Feni, Goa’s indigenous liquor, on their visits to various farms and distilleries in the state. They will also be introduced to several culturally diverse experiences, which includes visits to historical temples, UNESCO World Heritage sites in Old Goa, tribal villages, among other locations of significant interest.

The Portuguese delegation will participate in Holi festivities on the campus, in order to familiarize them with an exciting slice of Indian culture. The three-day celebration of Carnival is slated to take place in the state during their visit which they will be witnessing as well.

The objective of the exchange program is to improve professional expertise and cultural integration in the hospitality and tourism sectors between Portugal and India, as well as to increase interaction between teachers and students. The highlight of this year’s program will be Indian cuisine and hospitality.

Indian cuisine is known globally for its richness and variety. The diversity of the soil, climate, culture, ethnic groups and occupations all play a definitive role in making the cuisine stand out globally. Classes on Indian meat and poultry preparations and variations of Indian vegetables and spices will also be conducted for the delegation.

“In 2017, we collaborated with Turismo de Portugal to bring forward this exchange program. Tourism is a thriving industry in Portugal. We can work together to improve the level of instruction we provide to our students. We are carefully collaborating with the Portuguese student group to give them a taste of India’s rich gastronomic and cultural legacy. This is the first time we are hosting the students after the pandemic, and we are ecstatic to have such a versatile and enthusiastic group of budding hoteliers at our campus. We hope this visit truly helps an exchange of ideas and knowledge between the two countries.” opines Professor Irfan Mirza, Director & Principal of the V. M. Salgaocar Institute of International Hospitality Education.

The four-week-long program will conclude with the VMSIIHE issuing certificates of training to the visiting students and teachers. The second leg of the cultural exchange program will involve students of VMSIIHE visiting Portugal on a similar trip soon to raise awareness of the value of training for the growth and sustainability of the tourism industry in both countries.

BrightCHAMPSGoes ‘Phygital’, Launches Next-gen Hubs to Offer Hybrid Stem-accredited Classes in 4 Crucial Life Skills

Bangalore, February 16, 2023: In the post-pandemic era, as parents around the world look for blended learning solutions for their children, award-winning global live-learning platform BrightCHAMPS has launched its phygital model for life-skills learning, aptly named the BrightCHAMPS Next-Gen Hub.

The tech platform is planning more such Hubs across major cities in India, Indonesia, and UAE in the next 2 years.

The first-of-its-kind life-skills learning center offers hybrid STEM-accredited classes based on a curriculum extensively reviewed by an independent Global Curriculum Advisory Board with world-renowned experts from Roblox, Kyron Learning, GEMS Education, and Nous Group. The courses are in crucial subjects such as coding, robotics, financial literacy, and communications – things that are often overlooked in traditional schooling systems but are necessary for success in a digital world without borders. The first Hub opened its doors this week in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, while the second is slated to follow soon, in May 2023, also in Vietnam.

Speaking at the launch, BrightCHAMPS Founder and CEO, Ravi Bhushan said, “Our number one priority has always been to help our students achieve the best possible learning outcomes across all four next-gen skills. Our research with over 5,000 parents and students across India, US, UK, UAE, Australia, and South East Asia showed us a strong preference for a blended approach that combines the best of both worlds – the convenience of online tools and social learning in group sessions at offline Hubs. We’ve also learned that parents look towards global companies like BrightCHAMPS to simplify their lives by being the one-stop destination for all life skills learning for their kids. So we’re definitely looking to establish more BrightCHAMPS Next-Gen Hubs in the coming year.”

In the recent Budget, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the launch of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 4.0 to promote formal skill training, especially in new-age courses such as coding, AI, Robotics, and 3D Printing. This will lead to the creation of a job-ready workforce and increase the overall employability in the youth of the country. The ultimate goal is to reap the benefits of India’s demographic dividend, help kids and youth grow into adults who are well-equipped to be a part of the global workforce, and transform the country into the skilling capital of the world.

Elaborating on this, Aditya Gupta, the global head of the BrightCHAMPS Next-Gen Hub project, said, “The BrightCHAMPS Next-Gen Hubs is our attempt to upskill our kids and help them become global citizens. Through blended courses that cover entrepreneurship, finance, tech, coding, communications, robotics, and AI, our Champs will be encouraged to explore their interests and experiment with different disciplines to help them feel more confident when they step into the real world and pick their professional fields. We also rigorously ensure that only the Top 5% of teachers are appointed at all Hubs, after evaluation on 12-point evaluation criteria and certified by top universities in the world.”

A study conducted by the Center for Digital Education showed that 73% of teachers who use hybrid learning reported increased student engagement, 60% of teachers said it improved their students’ academic ability and up to 94% of all students engaged in a blended learning program finished the selected course successfully. Yet another study done by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation found that students who learn using a “blended phygital” approach, report better levels of understanding in reading as well as Maths.

Cummins Group in India successfully completes Bharat Stage-VI OBD II emission standard compliance certification tests with ARAI

Pune, February 16, 2023: Cummins Group in India, a leading power solutions technology provider recently completed the Bharat Stage-VI (BS-VI) OBD II emissions standard compliance certification tests with the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI).

On this accomplishment, Cummins India Leadership received the certificates for BSVI OBDII certification at an ARAI event organized in Pune. Dr. Reji Methai, ARAI Director, presented the certificates to Pradheepram Ottikutti, Chief Technology Officer, Cummins Group in India, in the presence of senior officials from ARAI and Cummins. The certification process comprised Engine testing, On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) demonstration, and vehicle-level emission testing using the Portable Emission Measurement System (PEMS). Cummins completed all testing requirements for B5.6 and B6.7 successfully.

As a part of India’s net zero ambitions to combat climate change, the automotive segment in India will be moving to BSVI OBD Phase II emissions from April 1, 2023. OBD Phase II makes On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) threshold stringent and introduces In-Service Compliance (ISC).

Speaking on this occasion, Ashwath Ram – Managing Director of Cummins Group in India, said, “We support India’s objective to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2070. Cummins envisions a Zero carbon world through its “Destination Zero” promise to be a “Zero Carbon” company by 2050. With a promising combination of our strong, global technological expertise and our deep understanding of the Indian market owing to our 60+ years legacy, we are well positioned to contribute to our nation’s goal of reducing the carbon footprint. Currently, we have over 2,20,000 Cummins BSVI OBD I engine-powered commercial vehicles plying on Indian roads. The certification for OBD II from the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) is a significant step to progress on our commitment to power a cleaner and greener India.”

Cummins’ engines with SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) after-treatment systems have been pioneering clean air technologies in the country since their launch in the BS-IV era in April 2017. Globally more than 1 million BS-VI equivalent and higher emission vehicles are running with Cummins engines and after-treatment systems. All the major commercial vehicle OEMs across the world have selected SCR technology to meet new and upcoming BS-VI emission standards. Cummins SCR technology allows engines to operate at a more optimal combustion temperature providing better fuel efficiency with lower NOx and particulate matter generation. At the BS-VI stage, Cummins added DPF and DOC after-treatment technologies to achieve additional robustness and margins on particulate matter, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides.

Cummins is a global technology leader in diesel engines and emission solutions. Cummins has global experience in various emission regimes across the US, Europe, and other geographies. Along with engines, Cummins also makes aggregates like the Turbocharger, Fuel system, electronic control modules, and exhaust after treatment, which gives it a unique positioning and capability in integrating technologies for stringent emissions. Recently Cummins group launched a whole fuel-agnostic and hydrogen-powered platform in India, demonstrating its leading technologies for the Indian market.

EKA Mobility Receives Letter of Allotment for 310 Electric Buses from CESL

Mumbai, Wednesday, 16th Feb 2023: EKA Mobility, an electric vehicles & technology company, and a subsidiary of Pinnacle Industries Limited, today announced that it has received a letter of allotment (LoA) for the procurement, operation, and maintenance of 310 electric buses on gross cost contracting, from Convergence Energy Services Ltd’s recently concluded tender for 6465 electric buses. The tender was rolled out by state-owned Convergence Energy Services Ltd, a wholly-owned Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) subsidiary under the National e-Bus program Phase 1.

EKA’s e-buses will be deployed in the Transport Department Haryana, Department of Transport, Arunachal Pradesh, Kerala State Road Transport Corporation for intra-city operations as part of the government’s efforts to provide clean, sustainable, and efficient transportation options for millions of people. The deployment of these 310 electric buses for 12 years is expected to save ~140,000 tons of CO2 emissions. With this order, EKA’s order book has grown significantly, with more than 500 electric buses and 5000+ electric light commercial vehicle orders in the pipeline.

Speaking at the occasion Dr. Sudhir Mehta, Founder & Chairman of EKA by Pinnacle Mobility Solutions, said, “We are thrilled to have been selected by multiple state transport authorities to operate electric buses as part of the National e-Bus program Phase 1. This order is a testament to the fact that design and making in India is now a reality and is a viable alternative that can replace the Chinese products that are coming into the market. With EKA, we are confident to build an ecosystem for sustainable transportation, that is efficient, reliable, and profitable.

This is another milestone achievement for EKA, and we are excited to be an integral part of India’s zero-carbon journey. Would like to also laud the Government’s continuous support & thrust toward green mobility. It has given the opportunity to startups & new market entrants to bring innovation to the sector and become an OEM, in the segment that has been dominated by traditional OEMs for decades. We now look forward to ramping up our production, delivering our electric buses to the respective authorities, and continue transforming the mobility sector sustainably & profitably.”

The deployment of electric buses will create jobs and stimulate economic growth in the local areas where they will be operated. The company is committed to working with local communities and governments to ensure that the deployment of electric buses is carried out smoothly and successfully.

EKA Mobility is an automotive and technology company that will introduce sustainable, profitable & efficient new energy commercial vehicles across the country. The company has also developed a 9-meter city bus on a hydrogen fuel cell platform, that is uniquely designed and optimized to suit Indian road transportation needs. Going forward, the company plans to introduce multiple variants of electric and hydrogen fuel-cell buses, along with an e-LCV range.

DKMS Increases Access to Transplantation for Underprivileged Patients in India

16th February 2023, Bangalore: This International Childhood Cancer Awareness Day, DKMS announces DKMS-BMST Patient Funding Programme. With the program, the organization aims to support financially underprivileged blood cancer and blood disorder patients in India by covering a part of the treatment costs for patients meeting the eligibility criteria. Each case is evaluated against a set of pre-defined socio-economic criteria. In addition, eligible funding requests are reviewed by a Medical Advisory Committee consisting of experienced transplant physicians. As an international and multifaceted non-profit organization, DKMS employs a wide range of programs and services to help patients worldwide.

With an aim to improve the situation for patients in India, the DKMS-BMST Patient Funding Programme and the DKMS-BMST Thalassemia Programme are initiated under the umbrella of the DKMS mission to increase Access to Transplantation for underprivileged patients.

Help, where help is needed

Every year, over 1 lakh people are diagnosed with blood cancer or a blood disorder such as Thalassemia or Aplastic Anemia in India. With over 42 million carriers, the country is also known as the Thalassemia Capital of the world. The most effective treatment for such life-threatening diseases is a blood stem cell transplant, ideally at an early age. Even for those patients who do get access to therapy and appropriate health care, this often results in heavy social and financial burdens on patients and their families.

For Indian patients, particularly from middle and lower-middle-class families, the situation is not just dire, but also very challenging. Guidance related to treatment, financial support, and planning, are the most critical factors affecting access to transplantation in India.

Success story

The organization has already started enrolling patients under the DKMS-BMST Patient Funding Programme.

One of the patients who benefitted from the program, was Diganth, a 10-year-old boy from Bengaluru, Karnataka. He was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a type of blood cancer, in 2017, when he was just 5. Since then, he underwent chemotherapy and other treatments to manage his leukemia. But in the year 2021, his condition further deteriorated and doctors recommended a stem cell transplant as his only chance at survival. Diganth’s family had to struggle a lot to manage the cost of his treatment.

His father, a carpenter said, “The doctors told us that only one thing could save my son, a stem cell transplant, which we could not afford. We had to beg for money from everyone around us. There was no stone left unturned where we didn’t have to spread our hands to ask for money to save our boy. Although I was matched as a donor for his transplant, we had no means of affording the procedure.”

Diganth was being treated at Narayana Health and his treating physician Dr. Sunil Bhat, Director & Clinical Lead, Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Blood & Marrow Transplantation, referred his case to DKMS BMST Foundation India. DKMS-BMST considered his case and supported him under the Patient Funding program and he successfully underwent his Haploidentical Bone Marrow transplant in September 2021. Today Diganth is doing well and studying in 4th standard.

OnePlus joins hands with Myntra;

Bengaluru, February 15, 2023: India’s leading fashion, beauty, and lifestyle shopping destination, Myntra, has announced its association with consumer tech behemoth, OnePlus, presenting shoppers with its bestseller audio products, which include the Nord buds, Nord buds CE, Buds Z2, Bullets Z2 neckband, and the brand’s latest product launch, the Buds Pro 2.

A global technology brand, OnePlus was founded in 2013, centered on the ‘Never Settle’ philosophy. The brand creates products to deliver an experience that is not only user-centric but one that challenges conventional ideas around consumer technology. Today, OnePlus caters to users across categories and price segments, with a complete ecosystem that consists of smartphones, wearables, audio, smart TVs, and tablets.

OnePlus’ latest premium offering in the audio segment, the OnePlus Buds Pro 2, set a new standard for spatial audio stability and compatibility for Android users. Co-created with Dynaudio, the MelodyBoost™ Dual Drivers bring stereo-grade audio quality on portable earphones which bring a deeper, fuller, more textured, and dynamic bass. The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 is also equipped with industry-leading Smart Adaptive Noise Cancellation (ANC) technology that eliminates ambient noise up to 48 dB. To round up the signature OnePlus experience, the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 delivers up to 39 hours of music playback with multiple additional charges in the case.

The brand also teased its collaboration with the legendary Hans Zimmer and announced that the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 will be equipped with an equalizer HQ, named Soundscape, tuned by the Oscar-winning music composer himself.

The premium positioning and the extensive popularity of OnePlus among metro as well as growing markets, enable the brand to cater to Myntra’s extensive customer base in these segments.

Talking about the association, Sharon Pais, Chief Business Officer, Myntra, said, “We are delighted to associate with OnePlus to offer an array of premium and high-quality audio products to our extensive customer base across the country. Being one of the few e-commerce platforms offering Buds Pro 2, we are sure that the products’ stylish and sleek design with top-notch audio technology will certainly delight our fashion-forward customers who love music on the go, while elevating the overall style quotient. We look forward to our customers experiencing their much-loved brand, OnePlus, through its latest product offerings.”

Marking the announcement, Navnit Nakra, India CEO and Head of India Region, OnePlus India, said “As India continues to be one of our most important markets, we are always looking out to partner with leading market players who share the ‘Never Settle’ spirit, delivering top-notch quality of service to customers across the country. To this end, we are excited to partner with Myntra, bringing our community-favorite audio offerings to an even wider young and fashion-forward audience.”

Paytm Payments Bank awarded by Government of India for lowest technical decline rates in UPI; continues to lead in P2M payments as a beneficiary & acquiring bank

Mumbai: 15th February 2023: India’s homegrown Paytm Payments Bank Ltd. (PPBL) has won the Shrestha Puraskar (श्रेष्ठ पुरस्कार) at Digital Payments Ustav by the Digidhan Mission, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) for maintaining one of the lowest average technical declines in UPI transactions. The award is a recognition of the superfast and secure transactions powered by Paytm UPI. This award was given by Sh. Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Railways, Communications, and Electronics & Information Technology.

PPBL has once again outperformed all major banks in India in terms of the success rate of UPI transactions. It has one of the lowest technical decline rates because of its robust in-house technology infrastructure.

In UPI, the Bank is a leader in P2M (Person to Merchant) transactions, with the highest number of merchant partners in its ecosystem. Paytm Payments Bank continues to be a leader in UPI as the largest beneficiary bank, acquiring bank, and leading remitter bank.

Paytm Payments Banks drives UPI transactions on its own without any third-party app provider. It leads digital payments in the country driven by merchant payments and increased adoption across small cities and towns. Both customers and merchants are increasingly preferring to use Paytm Payments Bank for sending and receiving money via UPI, given its superior in-house technology that ensures the fastest payments and highest success rates.

Paytm Payments Bank continues to be the leader in UPI. According to the latest report by NPCI, as a beneficiary bank PPBL has registered over 1,765.87 million transactions and as a remitter bank, it has registered more than 389.61 million transactions in January 2023.

Island Romance at Four Seasons Resort Maldives, Kuda Huraa

Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa invites you to celebrate your love with their beautiful Island Romance Package valid from February 2023 to December 2023.

Gently rising from a sheet of turquoise, at Kuda Huraa it’s hard to tell where the ocean ends and sky begins. As captivating beneath the waves as above them, you can embrace these stunning surroundings that bring you closer to the sea and its secrets. Discover the welcoming embrace of a lagoon, flower gardens, a private spa island and spacious new Beach Pavilion hideaways in a charming village setting at these unforgettable locations.

The Island Romance package from the hotel is valid for stays of more than 4 nights and especially designed for just you and your loved one in this intimate garden paradise with gourmet food, spectacular sunsets and the reassurance of intuitive Four Seasons service. Romantic getaways don’t get more perfect than this.

The package includes round-trip airport transfers by shared speedboat between the Velana International Airport and Four Seasons Resort Kuda Huraa for two guests. The rates are inclusive of daily breakfast in Café Huraa, a bottle of champagne in your villa on arrival and to make your celebration memorable, a candlelight dinner for two guests.

AirAsia India commences operations from the newly launched Terminal 2 at BLR Airport in Bengaluru from 15th February

Bengaluru, 15th February 2023: AirAsia India commenced operations from the newly launched Terminal 2 at BLR Airport in Bengaluru today. Bengaluru is the largest hub for the airline, with 43 scheduled daily departures connecting Bengaluru to Delhi, Goa, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, Pune, Bagdogra, Lucknow, Ranchi, Kochi, Chennai, Visakhapatnam, Jaipur, and Surat. The airline also operates connecting flights from Bengaluru to Imphal and Srinagar.

The inauguration ceremony was conducted by management from AirAsia India and Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), including lamp lighting and cutting of the ribbon at the AirAsia India check-in counters. A large customized cake with the theme “I5 in T2” was cut and distributed to the guests taking flight from T2 in celebration of the terminal becoming the new home for the airline in Bengaluru, the main hub of AirAsia India. AirAsia India employees donned customized t-shirts with the “I5 in T2” message and lanyards with icons showcasing the four pillars of the new terminal – terminal in a garden, sustainability, technology and art & culture. The airline presented a member of its loyalty program amongst the first guests to fly from T2 with a commemorative boarding pass and gave away airline merchandise and apparel to guests who posted from T2 on their social media accounts.

Terminal 2 offers a comprehensive shopping and dining experience with a host of partners. AirAsia India offers Priority Check-in, Boarding, and Baggage for guests who have booked Priority Services, as well as for Jetsetter and Highflyer tier members of the Tata NeuPass Rewards Program and guests with reduced mobility or special needs. Air-conditioned airport shuttle services operate round-the-clock to offer seamless connectivity to the airport from across the city, supplemented by shuttle buses at regular intervals between both terminals.

The airline recently announced the expansion of its network to the city of Surat, Gujarat, with operations commencing on 3rd March 2023. Surat will have direct flights to Bengaluru, Delhi, and Kolkata, as well as convenient one-stop itineraries to other destinations, including Bhubaneswar, Kochi, Guwahati, Goa, Hyderabad, Ranchi, Bagdogra, Lucknow, Chennai, Jaipur, Visakhapatnam, and Srinagar. This expansion is in keeping with the airline’s ongoing commitment to delivering seamless connectivity and service to its guests and patrons.

Fasten your seatbelts. Futuristic. Ferocious. The all-new Hyundai VERNA ‘Bookings Now Open’

Bangalore February 15, 2023: Hyundai Motor India Ltd., India’s first Smart Mobility Solutions Provider and the largest exporter since inception, today opened bookings of the all-new Hyundai VERNA for INR 25 000. Customers can book the all-new Hyundai VERNA at Hyundai Dealerships across India or by clicking on (Link).

Commenting on the commencement of bookings for the all-new Hyundai VERNA, Mr. Tarun Garg, Chief Operating Officer, Hyundai Motor India Ltd., said, “Today, we are glad to announce the commencement of bookings for the next generation of our iconic sedan – the all-new Hyundai VERNA. With a strong cult following across diverse geographies of India, VERNA has a resilient legacy of 16 years, garnering over 4.6 lakh happy customers. The all-new Hyundai VERNA is set to enthrall customers with superior performance and deliver a thrilling driving experience like never before. We are certain this benchmark sedan from Hyundai will elevate our customer aspirations and drive a strong resurgence in this segment.”

To induce exciting driving experiences, the all-new Hyundai VERNA has been equipped with a range of 4 powertrains. HMI has equipped the all-new Hyundai VERNA with a new, sporty, and thrilling 1.5 Turbo GDi Petrol engine that is available with 6-speed Manual Transmission (6MT) and 7-speed Dual Clutch Transmission (7DCT). These powertrains are geared to churn out maximum power and torque performance which will set a new benchmark in this segment. Hyundai is also offering the proven and reliable 1.5 MPi Petrol engine that is available with 6MT and Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT). The range of powertrains will ensure customer delight with superior driving performance. Further, all these powertrains are RDE-compliant eco-friendly engines that are also E20 fuel ready.

HMIL will offer the all-new Hyundai VERNA in 4 trim options – EX, S, SX and SX(O). The all-new Hyundai VERNA has been packaged to deliver advanced safety, convenience and comfort, thereby ensuring segment benchmarks are re-established.