14, Feb 2023
Inaugural edition of International Aluminium Conference 2023 concludes on a high at Jharsuguda

New Delhi; 14th February 2023: Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest producer of aluminium, hosted the inaugural edition of the International Aluminium Conference 2023 on 9th & 10th February 2023, at its operations in Jharsuguda, Odisha. Held in partnership with the Aluminium Association of India, the event featured the who’s who of the global aluminium industry and allied sectors, with nearly 400 customers and industry leaders from across 13 countries in attendance. Themed on ‘Making India the Aluminium Capital of the World’, the International Aluminium Conference was conceived as India’s largest B2B platform for facilitating greater collaboration amongst players in the aluminium manufacturing value chain, industry forums and the government.

The roster of participating companies includes Siemens (Germany), ABB (Switzerland), REEL ALUMINIUM (Canada) and Simonsen (Denmark), in addition to representatives from domestic giants such as Indian Oil, Ultratech and Grundfos who displayed their industry solutions as part of the exhibition.

Experts and industry leaders from aluminium manufacturing companies, customers, business partners and technology providers, came together for nearly 45 in-depth technical sessions from industry experts operating in wide-ranging domains such as leading technologies in aluminium manufacturing, electric mobility, smart engineering and digital technologies. For instance, Mr. Matthieu Arlettaz, CEO – R&D Carbon (Switzerland), spoke on ‘World Class Smelters – Key Performance Indicators with Benchmark Anodes’, while Mr. Dagoberto Schubert Severo, Director of CAETE (Brazil), spoke on ‘Recent Numerical Simulation Innovations in the Aluminium Smelting Industry’.

Customers, suppliers, and industry players interested in partnering for the upcoming Vedanta Aluminium Park took part as well. The two-day event also featured an international exhibition by over 30 companies hailing from the aluminium sector and associate industries, showcasing their technological and manufacturing capabilities.

Another highlight of the conference was the launch of Vedanta’s 12 mm Aluminium Wire Rod that is set to cater to the needs of the global electricals industry. The 12 mm wire rods are the latest addition to Vedanta’s top-of-the-line offerings in the wire rod segment, which include 7.6 mm, 9.5 mm and 15 mm EC-grade wire rods, alloy wire rods (8xxx series) and flip coils. With a production capacity of 560 kilo tonnes, Vedanta Aluminium is the largest producer of high-quality electrical conductor (EC) grade wire rods, widely used in producing wire and cables for transmission & distribution networks, coils & windings, and heating & cooling tube, among others.

The vibrant showcase of Odisha’s rich art and culture at the conference was an added attraction for the delegates. Set up in partnership with the Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society (ORMAS), the cultural showcase also featured artisans who did live demonstrations and exhibits of their artwork, such as Saura paintings and Dhokra art. In addition, as a display of Odisha’s vibrant culture, there were live performances by classical dancers and musicians as part of cultural events.

Sharing his views about the event, Mr Rahul Sharma, CEO – Aluminium Business, Vedanta Limited, said, “We are delighted to have hosted some of the world’s most innovative minds, experts in the metal & manufacturing field, and key players in the aluminium manufacturing value-chain at our mega aluminium smelter in Jharsuguda. This confluence of thought leaders and industry stalwarts has paved the way for new opportunities in international collaborations and insightful exchange of ideas & best practices to bring about a step change in the manufacturing excellence and sustainability of the aluminium industry. With insightful takeaways from the maiden edition of the International Aluminium Conference, we look forward to working with our customers, partners, and stakeholders to make India the Aluminium Capital of the world.”

Sharing her experience, Petra Mühlen, CEO, SpectraFlow Analytics Ltd., (Switzerland) said “I am very happy that I took the opportunity to attend the conference which was hosted here by the Vedanta team. I have to say that I travel a lot, I see a lot of conferences worldwide but this one was nicely and expertly organized. It was very nice to see peak attendance from the Indian producers and have a lot of interesting interactions. Thank you very much that you provided the opportunity in a beautiful place and made this a memorable moment.”

Vedanta Aluminium, a business of Vedanta Limited, is India’s largest producer of aluminium, manufacturing more than half of India’s aluminium i.e., 2.27 million tonnes in FY22. It is a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. Vedanta Aluminium ranks 2nd in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) 2022 world rankings for aluminium industry, a reflection of its sustainable development practices. With its world-class aluminium smelters, alumina refinery and power plants in India, the company fulfils its mission of spurring emerging applications of aluminium as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a greener tomorrow. www.vedantaaluminium.com

14, Feb 2023
Vietjet to welcome 77 lucky couples with a dream “honeymoon” in famous coastal cities in Vietnam

Mumbai, February 14, 2023: To celebrate the 2023 Valentine, Vietjet organized a Gala Night to award their iconic “Love Connection 2023” for 77 Indian couples in Mumbai, India. The list of winners is published on the website: https://loveconnection.vietjetair.com

After more than 4 months of competition, the show has attracted more than 150,000 views of couples from all over India with countless unique romantic love stories. Overcoming hundreds of competitors, with a romance characterized by unique storytelling, 77 couples deserved to be the winners of this year’s Program with prizes of air tickets and romantic honeymoons at Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Phu Quoc – famous cultural, economic and tourist centers of Vietnam with departure time from February 13, 2023, to June 30, 2023 (*). In particular, couples will experience the world’s leading accommodation service provided by Vietjet’s partners including Vin Pearl, Ana Mandara, Royal Ha Long, and Furama..

Representing the winning pairs, the couple Manubha – Asha said, “The gift from Vietjet is meaningful, embellishing the love story nurtured from childhood friendship full of memories. You hope that Vietjet will continue to accompany the Indian people to bring good flight services, especially to young people in the near future.”

Speaking at the Gala Night, Vietjet Vice President, Mr. Do Xuan Quang, congratulated the winning couples and shared, “Love Connection is a special program designed by Vietjet to give Indians opportunities to fly with Vietjet. It is also the airline’s gratitude to the love and support of Indian passengers during the time. He hopes that Vietjet will be able to serve more Indian tourists for their Vietnam arrival, especially couples in their vacations to explore the beauty of Vietnam; and create significant contributions to the bilateral cooperation relationship between Vietnam and India in various fields”.

Vietjet is currently the airline with the most routes between Vietnam and India on direct flights connecting Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang with New Delhi, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad – the largest cities of India.

(*) Terms and Conditions applied.

14, Feb 2023
5 leading organisations around the world assisting businesses in enhancing data security

Data is the new gold. Irrespective of a company’s size, data protection is imperative for all business strategies and daily operations. In fact, it is now required by law in many nations. In 2022, the average global cost of a data breach had risen to $8.24 million; this increase was attributed to higher regulatory fines as well as the pandemic’s effects on remote work.

Since work environments have changed from the office to our homes, cybersecurity has become a top priority for businesses across all industries. Cybersecurity firms and their professionals work around the clock to stay one step ahead of hackers as they try to take advantage of vulnerable systems and devise inventive new ways to breach networks.

The use of these cybersecurity companies’ services is essential for preserving the security of priceless data and infrastructure because a large number of businesses are devoting a significant amount of operational focus to digital transformation. Here are some of our suggestions for the top cybersecurity technology providers worldwide.

  • Noventiq

Noventiq is a leading cybersecurity and digital transformation solutions provider present in over 50 countries. Noventiq’s services span the Aerospace & Defence, Banking, Capital Markets, Communications & Media, Health, and Oil & Gas industries. The company connects 150,000+ organisations from all sectors with 6,000+ best-in-class IT vendors, along with its own services and solutions, to allow, facilitate, and accelerate digital transformation for the businesses of its customers.

  • Fortinet

Fortinet (FTNT) was in the number two slot last year, and we see no need to change that this year. Despite sales clearing the $4 billion mark, analysts are projecting a 35% annual growth rate for the next five years. The network security vendor is another that doesn’t shy away from rigorous testing, landing the company on 16 of our top cybersecurity software and hardware lists. Fortinet is strongest in its core network security area but boasts strength in other key security areas like SIEM and EDR.

Unsurprisingly, Fortinet has turned its networking expertise into leadership positions in adjacent markets like SD-WAN. Customer satisfaction ratings are high in key areas like product capabilities, value, ease of use and support, which have given it inroads into small business markets too. Analysts have also lauded the company, joining Palo Alto and others in frequent appearances in Gartner Magic Quadrants and Forrester Wave reports. Here are the eSecurity Planet top product lists that Fortinet has made:

  • One Trust

With revenue up roughly 200% since our last update, OneTrust has backed up its early promise as few startups can. With annual revenue estimated at $669 million, the $933 million that venture investors have sunk into OneTrust is beginning to look like a bargain, and its $5.3 billion “unicorn” valuation is reasonable. In the crazy market for cybersecurity startups, OneTrust is starting to resemble a blue-chip company. The 7-year-old privacy compliance technology startup has ridden data privacy laws like GDPR and CCPA to rapid growth and high rankings on our risk management, third-party risk management, and hot cybersecurity startup lists.

  • Proofpoint

Proofpoint cleared the $1 billion revenue mark before being taken private by Thomas Bravo in 2021. Proofpoint has made securing end users its focus, and the Sunnyvale-based company’s SECaaS product portfolio made five of our top product lists, including CASB, data loss prevention (DLP), zero trust, threat intelligence and email gateways. The company provides email protection, network sandboxing, security awareness training, cloud protection and more. Its move into security awareness training via the 2018 acquisition of Wombat Security put the company in a good position to address the biggest security vulnerability of all: the mistakes made by a company’s end users.

  • Intruder

Intruder is a cybersecurity company that operates globally, it helps organizations minimize their attack exposure by providing state-of-the-art cybersecurity solutions. Intruder’s product is a cloud-based vulnerability scanner that finds security weaknesses across the whole digital infrastructure. Offering robust security checks, continuous monitoring and an intuitive-to-use platform, Intruder keeps businesses of all sizes safe from hackers. Since its inception in 2015, Intruder has been awarded multiple accolades and was selected for GCHQ’s Cyber Accelerator

14, Feb 2023
Forescout’s Vedere Labs details Deep Lateral Movement in OT Networks, provides Mitigation Strategies

India – February 14, 2023: Fore scout’s Vedere Labs, today released its research report on Deep Lateral Movement: how advanced adversaries can move laterally among devices at the controller level – also known as Purdue level 1 or L1 – of OT networks. This is the first systematic study into deep lateral movement, a type of infiltration method adopted by attackers to gain deep access to industrial control systems and cross often overlooked security perimeters, allowing them to perform highly granular and stealthy manipulations as well as override functional and safety limitations.

This research demonstrates that there is a lot of ‘network crawl space’, that is, space that is not on asset owners’ radars, such as links that run between security zones at deep system levels that might not receive the attention they deserve. To close these gaps, an L1 device that sits between segments still needs a corresponding perimeter security profile.

Commenting on the latest research, Daniel dos Santos, Head of Security Research at Forescout, said, “Unsecure OT L1 devices often become the target of cyber attackers through deep lateral movement, largely due to gateways enable direct communications between L1 devices on the edge and cloud platforms amidst the rise of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) that potentially exposes the soft underbelly created by limited perimeters beyond the traditional hardening at the intermediate Purdue levels. Our research deeply assesses the issue, which also provides the cybersecurity community with methods to mitigate risk.”

In the proof-of-concept developed for this research, Vedere Labs uses two new vulnerabilities that we are publicly disclosing for the first time: CVE-2022-45788 and CVE-2022-45789. They allow for remote code execution (RCE) and authentication bypass, respectively, on Schneider Electric Modicon programmable logic controllers (PLCs) – one of the most popular families of PLCs in the world, used in several critical infrastructure sectors. These issues were found as part of our OT: ICEFALL research in 2022 but were not disclosed then at the request of the vendor. More details about the issues are available on Schneider Electric’s advisories SEVD-2023-010-05 and SEVD-2023-010-06.

“There is little prior work on lateral movement for L1 devices, which has primarily focused on worms moving between identical L1 devices on the same segment or upstream hacking to L2 and above (e.g., from a PLC to an engineering workstation). We hope that with this new research, we increase the cybersecurity community’s understanding of deep lateral movement and how to mitigate attacks,” said Jos Wetzels, Security Researcher at Vedere Labs.

OT L1 devices such as PLCs are notoriously insecure. RCE has been demonstrated against many of them using techniques such as insecure engineering interfaces (see OT: ICEFALL), malicious logic or firmware downloads and memory corruption vulnerabilities (see Project Memoria). Additionally, malware such as TRITON has shown that real-world threat actors are both capable of and interested in developing such capabilities.

The newly uncovered issues, summarized below, only affect the Modicon PLC Unity line. CVE-2022-45788 is an example of RCE via an undocumented memory write operation, while CVE-2022-45788 exemplifies a broken authentication scheme. As we explain in the technical report and demonstrate in the proof-of-concept for L1 lateral movement, when combined, these vulnerabilities can lead to RCE on Modicon Unity PLCs.

With the access attackers achieve through deep lateral movement, things might become possible that magnify the impact of an attack. Mitigating the risks of deep lateral movement requires a careful blend of network monitoring to detect adversaries as early as possible, visibility into often overlooked security perimeters at the lower Purdue levels, and hardening the most interconnected and exposed devices.

14, Feb 2023
Love is in the Pair: Step up Your Style Game this Valentine’s Day

While you plan the most out-of-the-world date with your partner, here are some expert tips from Ankur Rastogi, Head of Collection, Bata India, on how to ace your Valentine’s date look with the right footwear.

NORTH STAR BEIGE SNEAKER FOR WOMEN

Sneak in some Love

If your partner is a sneakerhead, then this is just the footwear you need for your casual day out. Impress your partner with the right balance of comfort and romance in these chunky pink and white sneakers. Whether it’s a coffee date, a pizza binge or a romantic hike, a good pair of kicks is all you need. Don’t worry if you are running late, these shoes will help you run for your love!

I Formally Declare

HUSH PUPPIES LIGHT BROWN FORMAL SHOES FOR MEN

Going out for a fine-dine date with your loved one? This pair of light brown shoes is just what you need. The sleek lace and pointy toes are the right amount of edgy for your fine dining soirée. So, suit up and amp up your look with the pair of Hush Puppies Light Brown Formal shoes to woo your partner this Valentine’s!

MARIE CLAIRE SILVER STILETTOS LHEELS FOR WOMEN

Head Over Heels

Heels are the date night classic. Be it that sizzling neon suit or the classic black dress, you can never go wrong with some glamorous heels. After all the fuss with your outfits and makeup, don’t forget that footwear could make or break your ensemble! Get yourself some kitten heels, pumps, or platforms for that matter, and amp up the look to a complete 100.

You Make Me Blush

MARIE CLAIRE NUDE CHAPPAL FOR WOMEN

Who said you have to compromise on glamour just because you don’t want to put on a pair of heels? This pair of blush flats is the perfect example of glam meets comfort. The strap is intricately sequined in accents of purple, white and gold to add to the glimmer of your ensemble. A pair of flats like these can make sure you breeze through your date and also make heads turn!

Slip in love

BATA TAN SLIPON FOR MEN

Slip-ons are the epitome of cool comfort. These tan slip-ons are here to express your ‘easy-breezy, cuddle-squeezy’ love for your significant other. Whether you choose a jacket, hoodie, or even a semi-formal look, they can elevate any look with a cool style quotient.

14, Feb 2023
Muscle & Strength India Signs renowned fitness influencer Tarun Gill as Its Brand Ambassador

New Delhi, February 14, 2023: Muscle & Strength India, one of the country’s leading retailers of fitness supplements & nutritional products has signed renowned fitness influencer and athlete Tarun Gill as its Brand Ambassador. As part of this association and one of the biggest deals in the fitness industry, Tarun will be spearheading several initiatives for the brand in the space of health, wellness and nutrition and also appear in multiple campaigns which will run across multiple platforms promoting the brand. The regional connection coupled with the immense popularity of Tarun Gill in the fitness arena will help the brand create solid footholds and increase brand recall as well as market share especially in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. This partnership also showcases the brand’s commitment to the local and regional athletic scene and drives the message of healthy supplements for active lifestyle & good health.

After working with leading corporates, Tarun took up fitness as a full-time career, becoming India’s first full time fitness Youtuber and his transformation has won him accolades globally. With a fan base of over 10 million across his social networking platforms, Tarun Gill has inspired many with his fitness journey and is a classic example of willpower and determination. His interviews have garnered more than 10 billion views and have changed the lives of over 200 Indian athletes helping them with sponsorships and recognitions. In his YouTube talk show TG Talks, Tarun has featured over 500 Indian athletes cutting across all sports including bodybuilding, wrestling, kabaddi, and athletics. Tarun had also launched India’s biggest fitness league, IFL, along with Bollywood actor, Suniel Shetty.

Muscle and Strength India, which currently has 25 stores spread across multiple cities has the widest range with over 1000 fitness supplements and nutrition products from 42+ brands. The company offers a comprehensive range of genuine high-quality fitness supplements and nutritional products across categories such as proteins, vitamins, minerals and herbal supplements etc manufactured by international fitness brands under a single roof. These products are used for athletic performance, fitness and overall wellness. The company is looking to expand aggressively in the country through franchisee route as it seeks to deepen its presence in India’s growing nutritional supplement space.

Speaking on the association Mr. Praveen Chirania, Founder, of Muscle and Strength India, said, “We needed a credible face who could help people understand the role of supplementation in addition to a balanced diet. We are immensely happy to have Tarun Gill onboard as our brand ambassador he has carved a distinctive niche of himself in the fitness sector and hence our association with him is a natural choice. His transformation in recent times has been truly inspirational to many across the globe. His versatile, vibrant, energetic and lively personality knits a perfect horizon and panache for our brand. This association aligns with our plan to further fortify our footprint across the country, especially in tier 2 and tier 3 cities where he has a strong fanbase and create many more captivating stories fuelled by healthy fitness supplements & nutritional products.”

“It’s an honor for me to partner with one of India’s fastest growing brands as we share a common set of values. I am more than happy to endorse Muscle and Strength India because I have been using these products for the last couple of years and the results are clearly visible. Our lifestyle today is fast-paced and it is difficult to keep up with all the required nutrients that are essential on a daily basis for the body and general well-being. People should understand the virtues of being fit, healthy, and eating right.” said Tarun Gill.

“Tarun exemplifies our commitment to fitness which is unparalleled. This makes him the perfect partner to further amplify our ethos of helping people live better, healthier lives. With the increasing focus on fitness and healthy living, it is important for us to come to the forefront and provide customers with options to get fit the right way and also provide them with the energy required to fulfill their responsibilities in different facets of their daily lives. The brand also lends its support to aspiring bodybuilding athletes from across the country and also associates with the major bodybuilding and fitness events in an effort to keep the culture of fitness alive.” added Praveen.

India is at an apex of a fitness revolution where the larger population embraces the fitness industry. In a short span of time, Muscle & Strength India has already made its mark with its authentic and genuine health supplements and endorsed by celebrities and athletes like Mika Singh, Prince Narula, and Shreyas Talpade amongst others. Muscle & Strength India has also won the award for Best Health Supplement Chain in India recently which was presented by renowned Indian actor and film producer Arbaaz Khan.

14, Feb 2023
InsuranceDekho Raises $150M in Series A Funding

Mumbai, 14th February 2023:InsuranceDekho, India’s leadingInsurtech player, today said it has raised $150 million in Series A funding consisting of a mix of equity and debt, the largest ever series A round by an Indian Insurtech company. The equity round was led by Goldman Sachs Asset Management and TVS Capital Funds with participation from Investcorp, Avataar Ventures, and LeapFrog Investments.

InsuranceDekho was founded by Ankit Agrawal and IshBabbar in 2016. Since its inception, the company has seen significant premium growth and aims to achieve annualized premium run rate of INR 3,500 crores by March 2023.

The latest funding will be used to scale up InsuranceDekho’s product and technology functions, expand to new markets, launch new innovative products in the health and life categories, grow the company’s Micro, Small & Medium Enterprise (MSME) insurance business, strengthen its leadership team and pursue inorganic growth opportunities.

Ankit Agrawal, CEO and Co-founder, InsuranceDekho, said: “We need to go beyond the urban regions when it comes to insurance penetration in the country. To realize our goal of democratizing insurance for the general public, we are expanding our reach and will continue to build on our tech-based solutions and empowered advisors so that they can serve every village and region of India by the end of the year. India is on the verge of a revolution in insurance, and InsuranceDekho is well positioned to meet the insurance needs of every Indian.”

IshBabbar, CTO and Co-founder, InsuranceDekho, said: “Insurance distribution in India is a complex problem that needs innovative solutions. The fundraise will enable us to deploy scalable Insurtech solutions in the areas of data analytics, Artificial Intelligence, last mile servicing and claims management while keeping customer experience at the core of everything.”

India’s current insurance penetration is 4.2%[1] of GDP compared to 12%[2] in the USA and 7%2 globally. Almost 85%1 of India’s existing insurance premium is centered in the metros and Tier 1 cities. InsuranceDekho aims to change that. As part of its mission to provide access to insurance throughout the country, InsuranceDekho gets 82% of its premium from Tier 2 and beyond regions. It is present in more than 1,300 towns covering 98% of pin codes in India and is working towards establishing 100% penetration in the country.

By the end of this calendar year, InsuranceDekho aims to have more than 200,000 insurance advisors active on its platform. In (Interstate) ID is expanding its team very aggressively and aims to have a network of (XX) insurance advisors in near future. Typically, most InsuranceDekho insurance advisors observe a threefold[3] increase in total household income within six months of being associated with the company. The advisor’s ability to earn more allows them to significantly improve the quality of living for their families.

InsuranceDekho works with most insurance providers and has direct integration with 46 insurance companies across India offering more than 380 insurance products including 175 products for health and life. InsuranceDekho intends to expand its portfolio by offering more products in near future.

Haitong Securities India acted as the sole financial advisor to the fundraising.

Amit Jain, CEO and Co-founder, CarDekho Group, said: “Celebrating the spirit of entrepreneurship and thriving on the robust value system, CarDekho Group has promoted the culture of being a ‘House of Founders’ who have fostered various disruptive ideas and propelled these businesses to the orbit of sustainable growth with profitability. It’s heartening to see that InsuranceDekho under Ankit’s leadership, has come a long way as it continues to disrupt the Insurtech space in India by leveraging its unparalleled unit economics, the best technology, phenomenal partner practices, and innovation to set new benchmarks in stakeholder experience.”

RajatSood, a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs Asset Management said: “Technological innovation is transforming the Indian insurance industry by making coverage more accessible and affordable. InsuranceDekho has demonstrated a proven ability to bring new-to-insurance channel partners to their platform, while empowering them through technology-based solutions and working closely with insurers. We look forward to leveraging our global domain expertise and supporting the management team in its expansion to provide broader coverage and more solutions nationwide.”

Praveen Sridharan, Partner, TVS Capital Funds said: “Though insurance is vital for the financial security of everyone, its penetration is still at 4.2% of Indian GDP compared to a global overage of 7.4%. The key for this is to access the middle and lower middle-income class—the next 400 million—living in the next 1000 towns of India. InsuranceDekho, with its agency model and digital DNA, offers a powerful mechanism for this penetration to expand. We are convinced of the InsuranceDekho model. Of course, we always back founders who can demonstrate bringing alpha and were impressed with Ankit and the team basis their execution capability, operational excellence, and superior technology skills. We are delighted to partner in their journey of enabling access to insurance products to the 600,000 villages of India.”

VarunLaul , Partner, Investcorp said: “InsuranceDekho has adopted a very innovative approach in addressing the underserved insurance industry in India, under the leadership of Ankit and Ish. This is Investcorp’s first investment into the Indian Insurtech market and we are excited to support InsuranceDekho in its journey to make insurance more readily available to people.”

Nishant Rao, Founding Partner of Avataar Ventures added: “We are big believers of the immense growth opportunity from better serving Bharat. The pandemic also taught us all the precious value of life and the adverse impact of disrupted household financials. In Ankit and team, we found the unique combination of the best tech, the right culture and deep operational rigor required to create innovative insurance offerings needed for the Tier 3+ markets – key to unlocking success here differs greatly from metro India. GivenAvataar’s Operating VC model, we will work closely with the InsuranceDekho team to deliver on its ambitious growth goals!”

Stewart Langdon, Partner, LeapFrog Investments, said: “InsuranceDekho is leading the way in the Indian Insurtech space, equipping consumers across the country with access to insurance, providing families with the tools to improve their financial security. This investment aligns with LeapFrog’s impact objectives to enhance financial inclusion in underserved communities by protecting families from incidents that could contribute to them falling into poverty. We are pleased to have contributed to what is the largest ever Series A fundraise by an India Insurtech business, and to continue to support the business on its impressive journey.”

14, Feb 2023
Migraine and Mental Health: Understand the Impact of This Head-Pounding Pain on Your Wellbeing

 By Dr Bhakti Gajjar, Consultant Neurologist, HCG Hospitals Ahmedabad

People who live with migraine know the actual grief they bring in – rattling auras, throbbing pain, nausea, pain in the eyes, and seeing spots of flashlights, sensitization to various environmental factors. It may look like just another kind of headache for a common person, but people accustomed to it know what a nightmare it can be. Whether they happen continuously or are episodic, migraine attacks can cause stress. Also, stress can trigger migraine episodes, a vicious cycle that may be difficult for you to escape.

Migraine commonly affects young age group and is triggered by work pressure, anxiety, stress and many environmental factors. Most people who suffer from migraine find difficult to give their full in work or do routine activities during an episode, so it affects many aspects of person’s daily life.

What Is Migraine?

Migraine is a neurological condition, a type of primary headaches that leads to pulsating headaches, mainly on one side of the head but can involve whole head. The symptoms can be mild, moderate, or severe that vary from person to person. Migraine episodes can last a few hours to days, and pain can be so bad that it impedes your normal routines. There are many trigger factors like light, stress, lack of sleep, empty stomach for long time, sudden change of atmosphere, cold weather, hormonal changes and many more. It is variable from person to person.

Common types of migraine include migraine with aura and migraine without aura.

1)Migraine without aura develops in phases. Premonitory phase-person experience symptoms like fatigue,mood changes,sensitivity to light and sound. Headache phase-moderate to severe headache lasting for 4-72 hours, throbbing and worsen with physical activity. Postdrome follows the migraine attack, have symptoms like fatigue and low mood.

2) Migraine with aura-An aura is a term used to describe the symptoms a person may experience before sometime of headache attack. An aura presents with temporary vision issues like flashes of lights or blind spots or other hindrances such as a tingling sensation on one side of the face or in the arm or leg and problems speaking.

3) Chronic migraine-A headache on at least 15days per month, with 8 of those days featuring migraine symptoms, must occur for more than 3 months. When people overuse pain relievers, they may develop drug overuse headache.

Other types :

  • Migraine with brainstem aura
  • Hemiplegic migraine
  • Retinal migraine

Diagnostic criteria vary depending on the type of migraine. We clinicians look for a pattern of recurring headaches and accompanying symptoms. Also duration and intensity of symptoms. Migraine diary with type, duration and frequency of symptoms could be of great help.

What Is Association Between Migraine And Mental Health?

Well, both migraine and mental health are intimately related. It is essential to understand the potential impacts of migraine on mental health and vice versa. Moreover, regulating one often involves managing both. At times people with migraine develop anxiety, while mental health condition comes first for a few people. Not only anxiety but many mental conditions like depression, stress disorders, and sleep disorders are interconnected with migraine. These conditions are more likely to affect a person if someone else in the family has them. Migraine and many mental health disorders affect similar chemicals in the brain. Following areas are involved in migraine and mental conditions.

There are several reasons why chronic migraine can affect a person emotionally. Thinking about when the next episode will spurt can cause anxiety, and living with persistent worry can also lead to depression. Also, chronic pain itself is so stressful for both the mind and body. Long-term stresses are known to impede the balance of hormones and chemicals in the brain and nervous system, affecting moods, and eventually, stress can make migraine bad.

Migraine, in most situations, can intrude with work, home, and social well-being, making you feel isolated and affecting your mental health. Also, the impact of chronic migraine can harm your self-esteem.

Current hypotheses on the neurobiological mechanism underlying the contribution of depression and anxiety to progression of migraine include shared dysfunction of the serotonergic system.

If you have chronic migraine:

  • Take measures to look after your mental health
    Do things that can lessen stress and anxiety
    Seek medical help when needed

Cause Or Effect?

The cause-effect relationship between mental ill-health and migraine is unclear , with possibility of bidirectional relationship. Depression is believed to be a strong predictor for episodic to chronic migraine; however, treatment for migraine does not ease anxiety or depression.

This link is bidirectional, with both contributing to the progression of the other. Some studies reveal that both migraine and depression may be caused by an underlying genetic factor, an environmental trigger, or both. Also, serotonin dysfunction plays a remarkable role in developing anxiety and depression. Genetic mutations can impede serotonin signalling in individuals with stress as well as those with migraine.

In addition, certain medications that treat migraine (triptans) work by targeting serotonin receptors in the brain. Thus, serotonin also controls the relationship between migraine and mental wellbeing.

Hormones also play a role.

Some women experience menstrual migraine, which develops immediately before or after the cycle. In addition, oestrogen levels are low during menstruation, which indicates that oestrogen deprivation may play a vital role in the development of migraine and mental ill-health.

Treatment

Migraine attacks are commonly managed by abortive medications like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Preventive medications like antidepressants, antiepileptic drugs are added to treatment. For a few people, combining antidepressants with other medications that directly treat migraine may be very beneficial. We can use mono-therapy for both migraine and headache, different treatments for both conditions or sequential treatments.

Behavioural treatments are often used to treat migraine. Biofeedback therapy measures stress signals like muscle tension or body temperature to help people recognize the causes of stress so that they can react in real-time to enhance relaxation. Since psychiatric comorbidities so intricately affect migraines, their management becomes essential part to screen in patients with migraines.

Biofeedback therapy is mostly combined with relaxation training, which is a proven technique to ease stress which includes:

  • Deep breathing
  • Gradual muscle relaxation relaxation routines

Simple Tips to Manage Your Mental Well-being

Well, following a disciplined lifestyle help a person control emotional health, which can eventually help you have lesser or milder headaches.

  • Stay connected with family and friends
  • Get sound, restful sleep
  • Exercise regularly

Practice relaxation techniques to mitigate stress

14, Feb 2023
Eaton showcases its advanced sustainable aerospace technologies and products at Aero India 2023

Bangalore, India. Power management company Eaton participates in the 14th edition of Aero India 2023—biennial Aero show and aviation exhibition in India from February 13–17, 2023, at Bengaluru’s Yelahanka Air Force Station. With a footprint spread across 41 global facilities, Eaton’s Aerospace Group manufactures hydraulic, fuel, oxygen, air conveyance, electrical, motion control, and engine solutions; and serves the leading OEMs in the industry.

Commenting on Eaton’s presence in India, Desmond Goh, Managing Director – Asia Pacific, Aerospace Group, Eaton, says, “Eaton has been in the Indian skies for decades. Eaton’s Aerospace Group takes pride in being a distinct contributor to the growth of both military and commercial aviation sectors, along with the platforms being introduced to these markets by global OEMs. Eaton in India is uniquely positioned to serve as a strategic location to enhance Eaton’s global competitiveness.”

During the 5-day expo, Eaton will showcase a diverse range of its advanced sustainable aerospace technologies and products, which include conveyance, electromechanical actuators, engine solutions, hydraulic pumps and motors, and fuel systems.

Nikhil Joshi, Country Manager, Aerospace Group, Eaton, India, adds, “Aero India Expo is one of the largest congregations for players in the aerospace industry. Platforms like these are instrumental in enabling businesses to explore the latest product and technology trends in the industry. Our participation exhibits Eaton’s commitment to delivering safe, reliable, and efficient solutions for the Aero segment.”

Eaton’s aerospace footprint in India includes two manufacturing plants in Coimbatore and Bangalore, three sales offices in Coimbatore, Bangalore, and Delhi, and engineering support from Pune. In the aerospace industry, Eaton’s portfolio includes hydraulic, fuel, oxygen, air conveyance, electrical, motion control, and engine solutions, as well as aftermarket service and support. Eaton serves commercial and military aerospace, marine, and defense markets worldwide.

Eaton is an intelligent power management company dedicated to improving the quality of life and protecting the environment for people everywhere. We are guided by our commitment to do business right, to operate sustainably, and to help our customers manage power ─ today and well into the future. By capitalizing on the global growth trends of electrification and digitalization, we’re accelerating the planet’s transition to renewable energy, helping to solve the world’s most urgent power management challenges, and doing what’s best for our stakeholders and all of society.

Founded in 1911, 2023 marks Eaton’s 100th anniversary of being listed on the New York Stock Exchange. We reported revenues of $20.8 billion in 2022 and serve customers in more than 170 countries. For more information, visit www.eaton.com. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

14, Feb 2023
CheQ crosses INR 60 Crore in transactions during 30 days of beta, opens waitlist for public launch

India, 14th February 2023– Bengaluru-based fintech startup, CheQ Digital Pvt Ltd, has announced the public launch of its flagship CheQ app, after a successful beta campaign that saw it clock INR 60 Crore worth of transactions in 30 days.

Starting today, users will be able to download the CheQ app (available on Android & iOS) and join a waitlist. Once on the waitlist, they can unlock early access by referring 2 more users to the app. To incentivize early adopters, the company is offering 100 CheQ Chips as a signup bonus and an additional 100 chips on every successful referral.

CheQ Chips are the app’s in-app currency received as a reward for every payment on CheQ. They can be redeemed for vouchers from the top 40 brands in the country or converted to cash & taken to the bank. The beta period saw more than 16,000 vouchers being redeemed by users, with those from Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, Swiggy & Zomato being the most popular.

Commenting on the launch of the waitlist, Aditya Soni, Founder & CEO, CheQ said, “We are thrilled with the results of our beta program, which saw more than 7,000 active users make over 45,000 transactions over a short period of time. This success far surpassed our original goal of onboarding 500 users and serves as a huge confidence boost for us. With the launch of our waitlist, we take our first step toward making CheQ India’s best credit repayment platform.”

Founded in 2022, CheQ aims to help users understand, manage and leverage credit in ways that augment their lifestyle choices. And while doing so, make the experience fun and rewarding. The CheQ app will allow users to pay their credit card bills, loan EMIs from one place and get 1% back as CheQ Chips on every payment.

The company raised $10 million in July 2022 in a seed round that saw participation from marquee investors like 3one4 Capital, Venture Highway, Multiply Ventures, Mars Shot Ventures, and Veda VC.