Category Archives: News

Cloud for a Cause: VergeCloud Powers Sri Sathya Annapoorna Trust’s Digital Infrastructure

18th, June 2025: VergeCloud, a burgeoning edge-cloud solutions provider, has extended lifetime access to its core digital infrastructure services to Sri Sathya Sai Annapoorna Trust and SaiSure Nutritions LLP. This CSR initiative includes VergeCloud’s Professional CDN, advanced DDoS protection, and Web Application Firewall (WAF) services. The goal is to enhance security, performance, and uptime for the NGOs’ digital platforms, which serve as vital connection points for donors, corporate partners, and government stakeholders.

Commenting on the initiative, Amin Habibi, COO and Co – Founder at VergeCloud, said, “This partnership reflects VergeCloud’s commitment to supporting India’s social backbone. NGOs like Sri Sathya Sai Annapoorna Trust are delivering real change at the grassroots. We believe that safeguarding their digital operations is as important as the physical work they do on the ground. Our CDN and security tools are designed to help them scale their efforts without fear of cyber threats or performance issues. We are honored to be a catalyst to the NGO’s mission.”

“Partnering with VergeCloud has been incredibly beneficial. As a non-profit serving morning nutrition to school children across rural hinterlands of India, using VergeCloud’s CDN and edge infrastructure has significantly reduced our digital media downtime alongside our content load time. VergeCloud’s real-time monitoring tools and AI-based DDoS protection have provided our tech team with the required tools to monitor and secure the incoming traffic. With their unwavering support, we, as an NGO, can scale up till our vision of ‘Let no child go to school hungry ever’ is fulfilled,” added Vibhavari K, National Manager – IT Communications, Sri Sathya Sai Annapoorna Trust.

With this initiative, VergeCloud continues its mission to empower changemakers by delivering secure, scalable, and future-ready cloud solutions that can help nonprofits grow their reach and resilience.

Sri Sathya Sai Annapoorna Trust plays a pivotal role in combating child hunger in India, serving nutritious morning meals to over 10 million school-going children across 25 states and 4 union territories. As the NGO continues to expand its footprint, having a resilient and secure digital backbone has become critical to managing scale and sustaining its impact.

Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card Unveils Surreal New Ad Film, Narrating the Origin of Extraordinary

New Delhi, 16th June, 2025: Since its grand launch at the historic Gateway of India in December, the Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card has made a remarkable impact on the industry. Following its meteoric rise, the brand has now launched a short film that narrates the origin story of the card. Designed to cater to the needs of its discerning members, Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card, powered by Visa, is forged to introduce a ‘new you’.

The visually stunning brand film takes viewers on a surreal journey through dreamlike landscapes and transformative moments, embodying the visionary concept behind the Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card. It beautifully narrates the card’s origin story, emphasizing its unique position as a premium offering designed for those who seek the exceptional.

“Born from the powerful convergence of The Times of India Group’s legacy of trust and influence with ICICI Bank’s unwavering banking heritage, the Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card is rapidly establishing itself as a legacy of distinction in the world of premium banking. The film subtly highlights this powerful synergy, underscoring the card’s foundation of heritage and innovation.” said Harshita Singh, Business Head – Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card.

This informative film is an elegant, self-explanatory piece designed to articulate the core proposition of Times Black. This multifaceted video clearly defines what the Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card is, what it offers, and what it truly means to own one. Beyond enhancing brand perception, the film is intended to serve as a powerful communication tool, helping audiences understand the card’s unique positioning and aspirational value with clarity and conviction.

Ramakrishnan Gopalan, Head – Products & Solutions, India & South Asia, Visa, added, “Today, true luxury is not just in premium materials or exclusive access; it’s about creating meaningful moments that elevate everyday experiences. Visa is proud to be the partner of choice powering the Times Black ICICI Bank Credit Card with our worldwide reach and superior global standards of security and excellence. This co-created film captures the very essence of what the card stands for – convenience, curated experiences and the consumer at its center.”

This film represents a joint commitment to redefining what premium means in the fintech space: a seamless blend of heritage, innovation, and personalization that anticipates our members’ needs before they even arise. We’re not just launching a credit card; we’re crafting a new standard for how discerning individuals engage with their finances and experience the world.

Bajaj Allianz Life Offers Fast-Track Claims Support After Ahmedabad Tragedy

Chandigarh, June 16, 2025: Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance, one of India’s leading private life insurance providers, expresses its deepest condolences to the families affected by the tragic aircraft crash in Meghani Nagar area of Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025. In response to this unfortunate incident, the Company has activated special measures to assist families of its policyholders affected by the crash.

Understanding the immense challenges faced by the affected lives assured’s families during this difficult time, Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance has established a dedicated special claims settlement desk to prioritize the processing of death and disability claims for its customers impacted due to this tragedy. With utmost urgency, an expeditious process has been established to swiftly settle these policy claims.

To simplify the process, Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance has listed a minimal documentation process that nominees, legal heirs or policyholders need to submit to process their claims. In case the Death Certificate is not immediately available, a certificate issued by the municipal authority or hospital will also be accepted to initiate the claim process along with nominee KYC and bank mandate. Claims can be notified, and details can be submitted through any of the following convenient modes:

Honda 2Wheelers India Leads PAN-India Green Drive During Environment Week

PAN-India Push for a Greener Tomorrow: Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India marks Environment Week with Nationwide initiatives

Mumbai, 16th June 2025: Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) marked Environment Week 2025 with a series of sustainability-focussed activities across its nationwide network, beginning 5th June (World Environment Day). The initiative aimed at raising environmental awareness and encouraging responsible practices, culminated in a special event at Hindon Honda, Ghaziabad, in the presence of HMSI’s senior leadership including Mr. Sheshank Razdan, General Manger, Regional Business Central and Mr. Ravikumar Annasaheb Firagannavar, General Manger, Regional Business Central-Customer Service.

This year’s World Environment Day theme, ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’ shaped the direction of the on-ground activities. As part of the week-long celebration, HMSI’s dealerships and service outlets across India actively engaged with customers and local communities. Key activities included distribution of saplings to all customers visiting at dealership, awareness campaigns on the harmful impact of plastic pollution and 1,25,000 tree plantation drives across multiple cities and towns. Free Pollution Under Control (PUC) check-up camps were also conducted to promote cleaner and more efficient vehicle usage.

In its 25th year of operations in India, HMSI has reached a significant production milestone, crossing 70 million units of cumulative production since the start of local manufacturing in 2001. This milestone contributes to Honda’s achievement of cumulative global production of motorcycles which has reached 500 million units, since 1949. As the production scales, HMSI remains aligned with Honda’s global vision of realising zero environmental impact not only with its products, but throughout the entire product lifecycle including all corporate activities, through its Triple Action to ZERO initiative focusing on carbon neutrality, clean energy and resource circulation. The company continues to strengthen operational efficiencies while promoting cleaner technologies and manufacturing processes across its facilities. The Environment Week initiative highlights the role of collective participation- from customers and dealers to employees and leadership- in shaping a cleaner, greener tomorrow.

These efforts were designed to create grassroot impact, reinforcing the message that even small, everyday actions can contribute meaningfully to environmental health. The event brought together HMSI associates and local representatives for a tree plantation drive and an employee awareness session which focussed on integrating sustainability into workplace and community practices.

In parallel to these on-ground efforts, HMSI continues to integrate sustainability into its operations. The company’s third factory in Narsapura, Karnataka currently meets 98% of its energy requirements through renewable sources. Across all manufacturing locations, HMSI is expanding its capability to source over half of its total energy needs from renewable inputs.

To reduce dependency on freshwater sources and promote long-term environmental resilience, HMSI continues its journey toward water conservation by adopting advanced rainwater harvesting techniques at all its factories. The Third factory at Narsapura (Bangalore) meets its maximum water requirements through rainwater alone. All four manufacturing plants operate as Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) facilities.

All HMSI plants have been awarded the prestigious GreenCo World Class rating, achieving Platinum and Platinum plus levels. The company has also received several national accolades, including the National Energy and Water Awards, in recognition of its unwavering commitment to sustainability.

Two-Days long ’10th International Incense and Perfume Expo 2025′ Begins today at Yashobhoomi in Delhi

Over 150 companies from across India and international delegates from more than 10 countries including Indonesia and Switzerland participate in the International Agarbatti and Perfume Expo

New Delhi, June 16, 2025: India’s leading B2B media platform for the incense, fragrance, and puja materials industry — Incense Media organised the 10th International Incense and Perfume Expo 2025 at Yashobhoomi – India International Convention and Expo Centre, Dwarka, New Delhi, on June 15 and 16 . The event was inaugurated by Ms. Mercy Epao, Joint Secretary, Ministry of MSME, Government of India. The occasion was also graced by *S. V. Shukla , Director of FFDC, Deepak Goyal ,Founder ,Incense Media and Organizer of Expo, Praveen Goyal, Rohit Seth, President of the Fragrance Trade Association, along with several exhibitors and attendees. Following the inauguration, Ms. Mercy Epao visited all the stalls and encouraged the exhibitors.

The exhibition witnessed a significant footfall on its first day.The grand two-day expo showcases over 150 companies from all Indian states, including international representatives from countries like Indonesia and Switzerland.

Deepak Goyal, Founder of Incense Media and organizer of the exhibition, stated that the event is expected to host over 10,000 business visitors in two days and delegates from more than 10 countries making it the largest platform in India for the incense, fragrance, and puja materials sector.“ We aim to create a massive opportunity for the industry to scale up and tap into new markets.”

The expo features innovations in fragrant products, machinery, packaging, and logistics, with special emphasis on puja materials, further highlighting its cultural significance. The event is supported by AFF Aromatics, Kolkata (Title Sponsor), Hari Darshan (Main Sponsor), Devdarshan (Power Sponsor), and Delta Dhoop, JB Fragrances, Aromatica, Gangotri Kapoor, Ashapura Aroma as Co-Sponsors. Rohit Seth, President of the Fragrance Trade Association, has also extended his strong support to this initiative.

Why Indian Salons Are Shutting Down Within 6 to 18 Months of Opening

By- Chirag Manochaa Director Anayil Ventures (OPC) Pvt Ltd

A growing number of salon businesses across India are struggling to stay afloat, with many shutting down within 6 to 18 months of launch. Despite stylish interiors and strong branding efforts, industry experts point out that most salon owners are neglecting the foundational aspects required for long-term success.

Key Gaps Hindering Salon Sustainability

A recent analysis reveals four major gaps in execution:

• Lack of Business Systems:
  Most salons operate without standard operating procedures (SOPs), proper financial controls, or structured client management systems.
• Poor Feasibility Study:
  New salons often open in unsuitable locations without conducting proper market research or analyzing rental viability and local demand.
• Weak Leadership & Team Management:
  Owners frequently lack training in leadership and staff management, leading to high attrition rates and inconsistent service quality.
• Neglecting Client Retention:
  There is a heavy reliance on walk-in traffic with no long-term strategies in place to convert one-time visitors into loyal clients.

 Proven Solutions to Build a Sustainable Salon

To counter these challenges, experts recommend a structured approach:

1. Conduct Detailed Feasibility and Location Analysis: Ensure the space is viable both financially and demographically.

2. Implement SOPs: Streamline day-to-day operations, enhance service consistency, and improve client experience.

3. Develop Leadership & Training Programs: Equip salon owners and managers with essential leadership and staff development skills.

4. Focus on Client Retention: Introduce loyalty programs, regular follow-ups, and upselling strategies to nurture long-term relationships.

5. Set Up Financial Monitoring: Track profitability, manage costs, and maintain a healthy cash flow through robust financial systems.

6. Invest in Business Education: Enroll in mentorships and professional training to stay updated with industry best practices.

As the Indian salon industry continues to grow, sustainability lies not in glamour but in groundwork. Building a successful salon isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about systems, people, and strategy.

Motion Education Celebrates Outstanding NEET 2025 Results with 7 Students in Top 100 and 18 in Top 500

Mumbai, 16th June, 2025:
Motion Education, a leading coaching institute for NEET and IIT JEE (Main + Advanced), has delivered exceptional results in NEET-UG 2025, with 7 students securing positions in the Top 100 All India Rankings and 18 making it to the Top 500. These outstanding achievements in India’s most competitive medical entrance examination reflect Motion’s continued excellence in preparing students for success.

 A celebration was held on Saturday evening at Motion’s Daksh Campus to honor the NEET 2025 achievers. Chairman Surendra Vijay, Director Sushila Vijay, Dr. Swati Vijay, Deputy Director & NEET Division Head Amit Verma, and senior faculty congratulated the toppers and selected students.

 Nitin Viijay (NV Sir), Founder and CEO of Motion Education, stated that due to NTA server issues, there has been a delay in compiling the complete result data. However, as of Saturday evening, Keshav Mittal from Motion secured an impressive All India Rank (AIR) 7. Other high achievers include MD Yusuf with AIR 18, Darshan Mule with AIR 19, Prateek Singh with AIR 50, Raghav Goyal with AIR 62, Anushka Shukrawal with AIR 72, and Jatin Kumar with AIR 85. Additionally, 18 students from Motion ranked within the Top 500.

 During the celebration with the toppers they expressed many benefits to their preparation program, from the experienced Motion faculty staff, and academic system, to Kota’s environment. They elaborated on the full syllabus test series that helped discover and temporarily solve weaknesses at that moment of time. They talked about success being based on consistency, discipline and focused study, and assigned importance to the Brahmastra Test Series that provided exam level practice that was equally important to their upper tier performances.

 Counseling is soon to be upon us, and as CEO Nitin Viijay (NV Sir) says – students will need equally good strategy in addition to good marks. The availability of seats is subjective to many factors annually – from newly approved colleges and recognition updates to the number of seats there are available to students to choose from. Students will need to evaluate the availability of seats, with respect to their category and quota – as well as the variations in domicile rules for state counselling. Knowledge about exact counselling dates and upgrade choices will equate to removal of ambiguity.

 In NEET UG 2025, a total of 22.7 lakh candidates registered, and around 20.9 lakh appeared. There are almost 2.4 lakh admissions available in MBBS, dental and AYUSH programs. There are approximately 1.18 lakh MBBS seats available, although last year, there were a total of 1,15,250 MBBS seats filled! NEET 2025 is one of the toughest exams so far and has produced the lowest numbers in qualifying cut-offs you will find across all categories! In stark contrast to last year’s easy paper, that resulted in 67 perfect scorers – the highest score in NEET 2025 was 686 out of 720! The cut-off for General and EWS categories is 144, and for OBC, SC and ST categories it is 113. This has resulted in downwards, qualifying cutoffs of 18 points for the General and EWS category. The OBC, SC and ST categories have a downwards qualifying cut-off of 14 marks than in 2024.

Inaugural IGF Archer Amish Award to Spotlight Contemporary Indian Stories on Global Stage

16 June 2025, London: India Global Forum is set to announce the winner of the inaugural IGF Archer Amish Award for Storytellers next week. Launched at IGF London 2024, in partnership with internationally acclaimed authors Jeffrey Archer and Amish Tripathi, and sponsored by the House of Abhinandan Lodha, this distinguished literary prize, honours contemporary Indian fiction that reflects the diversity, aspirations, and vibrant energy of modern India, strengthening cultural bridges and fostering richer global dialogue.

With a generous prize of $25,000, one of the biggest for fiction globally and alongside the ranks of some of the world’s top literary prizes, the IGF Archer Amish Award positions Indian literature prominently on the world map, celebrating exceptional Indian authors whose works vividly capture the complexity and dynamism of modern India.

Rt Hon Lisa Nandy MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media, and Sport, UK Government, will present the award along IGF Chairman Manoj Ladwa and authors Archer and Amish. Her presence highlights the UK’s evolving cultural policy and funding vision, particularly the increased significance of India as a pivotal creative partner post-FTA.

The distinguished finalists vying for this prestigious accolade include Nitya Neelakanthan, author of Navapashanam – The Quest for the Nine Magical Poisons; Yogesh Pandey, author of The Kill Switch; and Dr. Shalini Mullick, author of The Way Home.

Commenting on the vision behind this pioneering initiative, Manoj Ladwa, Founder and Chairman of India Global Forum, says “The IGF Archer Amish Award embodies our commitment to amplifying Indian voices globally, championing narratives that spark cultural conversations and deepen mutual understanding at a critical juncture in UK-India relations.”

“Awards are very important because they give recognition, and they allow someone who had slaved night and day to achieve something to realise they’re not on their own, stuck in a box,” says Lord Archer, the prolific British author of bestsellers such as ‘Kane and Abel’ and ‘The Clifton Chronicles.’

Renowned author Amish Tripathi, who co-conceived the award and leads the judging panel, adds ” This is an award that aims to encourage the gift of storytelling itself, and that is one of the key drivers. It is also around Indians talking about themselves, their own stories. The way Westerners see India, in a lot of ways through the Western lens, it is one narrative, one lens, which is very different from how Indians see India.”

The award ceremony is scheduled to take place at the prestigious Queen Elizabeth II Centre in London on 18 June, as part of IGF London 2025, marking a significant moment in the ongoing cultural dialogue between the UK and India.

Aakash Launches Invictus Campus in Delhi for Next-Level JEE Prep

Aakash Educational Services Limited Launches Aakash Invictus Campus – The Ultimate Game-Changer JEE Preparation for Aspiring Engineers – In New Delhi

New Delhi (Gagan Vihar), 16th June, 2025: Aakash Educational Services Limited (AESL), the national leader in test preparatory services, today launched the Aakash Invictus Campus at Plot No. 08, Gagan Vihar, New Delhi, a groundbreaking and first-of-its-kind advanced facility for JEE preparation, specifically designed for the best and brightest engineering aspirants. This elite, high-intensity, personalized, AI-driven, and result-oriented initiative is tailored to support students preparing for IITs or reputed universities abroad.

The Aakash Invictus Campus offers ample space for an advanced learning experience. The campus features 13 modern classrooms designed to provide a focused and personalized JEE preparation environment. With its state-of-the-art infrastructure and spacious layout, the Aakash Invictus Campus accommodates 1,300 students in two shifts, ensuring they receive world-class education with access to the best resources for success.

Aakash Invictus brings together around 500 best JEE Faculty, offering unparalleled mentorship backed by a track record of success in guiding over one lakh students to IITs. The curriculum is cutting-edge and meticulously designed for ambitious students aiming for top IIT ranks. The program features integrated phygital learning and exclusive study resources, ensuring precision-focused, AI-enabled, and adaptive preparation for JEE Advanced.

The rigorous program includes a comprehensive revision and testing module that emphasizes targeted preparation during the final stages before the JEE (Advanced) exam. Students will benefit from specialized curriculum, doubt-clearing sessions and a meticulously crafted test series aimed at maximizing their performance. Aakash Invictus will have small batches so as to give more personalized attention to students.

Dr. Yash Pal, Chief of Academics and Business Head in Aakash Educational Services Limited, emphasized the program’s significance, stating, “Aakash Invictus is not just a coaching program; it is a transformational journey for students aiming to secure top IIT ranks. This Campus brings together top-notch faculty with decades of experience, cutting-edge teaching methodologies and personalized, AI and tech-driven learning. Over the years, our educators have successfully mentored millions of students to secure admissions in top IITs. The study material has been completely revamped, covering the entire curriculum and developed by some of the best experts in the industry. We firmly believe this is the best—if you can create better material, we will award you and welcome you to our team.”

He further added, “This programme, which started a few months ago has already attracted 2500+ top students. Built on three key pillars – innovative pedagogy and courseware, expert faculty and advanced AI tools – Aakash Invictus will set new benchmarks in JEE preparation. All these brand-new features are backed by the credibility, trust, and technical expertise of Aakash.”

A significant highlight of the program is its focus on innovation in study resources. Students will receive chapter-wise practice worksheets embedded with QR codes that provide detailed solutions and stepwise marking schemes, ensuring they excel in school and board exams alongside JEE preparation. Additional features include workshops for competitive Olympiads, access to an extensive archive of past JEE question papers with chapter-wise breakdowns and solutions, and the JEE Challenger resource, which offers detailed insights, practice questions and analysis to refine their strategies.

Furthermore, the program integrates phygital study materials, combining the strengths of physical and digital resources to simplify complex problems, and provides recorded video lectures by expert faculty for flexible, on-demand learning.

Admission to Aakash Invictus is highly selective, with students chosen through a specialized entrance test to ensure only the brightest and most committed minds join the program. Designed as a two-year program for 11th joining students or a three-year program for 10th joining students, Aakash Invictus will be available at 40+ cities across India- Delhi NCR, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Meerut, Prayagraj, Kanpur, Varanasi, Jaipur, Kota, Patna, Ranchi, Bokaro, Kolkata, Durgapur, Bhubaneswar, Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Indore, Bhopal, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore, Dehradun and Madurai among others. A dedicated team of researchers has developed the course to align with the highest academic standards and evolving exam patterns, ensuring a transformative educational experience for its participants.

Ravin Group Wins ‘Outstanding Component Supplier for Railway Infrastructure’ at ET Infra Rail Show Awards 2025

Mumbai, June 16, 2025: Ravin Group, India’s pioneering cable manufacturing and EPC solutions company, has been honoured with the ‘Outstanding Component Supplier for Railway Infrastructure’ award at the prestigious ET Infra Rail Show Awards 2025. This recognition highlights Ravin Group’s critical contribution to India’s most complex railway project — the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) — and affirms its position as a leader in engineering innovation for infrastructure.

 Ravin Group was recognised for supplying 790 km of custom-engineered, fire-safe cables, including its proprietary IGNAMO fire-survival cables, specifically developed to withstand the harsh and demanding conditions of the Himalayan region. The standout among these was Tunnel T13, a 9.3 km-long segment in the Katra-Dharam section — one of the longest and most treacherous tunnels in the project. This zone experiences sub-zero temperatures, seismic activity, steep gradients, and high humidity — conditions far beyond the scope of traditional urban cabling solutions.

 To meet these unique demands, Ravin Group developed halogen-free, low-smoke, fire-safe cables that could operate efficiently under extreme thermal stress. Select cable sizes weighed up to 12 tonnes per 500-meter drum, requiring significant logistical planning to transport massive drums across rocky, narrow mountain paths with limited or no road access. These engineering feats were complemented by thermal-resistant sheathing, and extended fire integrity performance exceeding 120 minutes, ensuring circuit continuity in case of fire in the enclosed tunnel environments.

 “This project was not just about sending cables up a mountain — it was about engineering trust under pressure,” said Mr. Vijay Karia, Chairman & Managing Director, Ravin Group. “We are proud to have innovated solutions that not only met the technical demands of the USBRL project but also stood strong against the forces of nature. This award affirms the strength of Indian engineering when backed by vision and resolve.”

 Despite the rugged terrain, unpredictable weather, landslides, and security challenges, Ravin ensured timely deliveries by adopting a batch-wise modular manufacturing strategy and deploying technical teams at critical locations for real-time troubleshooting and support. The company also overcame severe constraints in power supply and transportation, proving its mettle in executing projects of national importance in the most testing environments.

 Ravin’s journey from powering metros and urban projects to enabling connectivity across the Himalayas reflects its commitment to building a futuristic, unified India. As a 75-year-old Indian multinational, Ravin proudly upholds the “Make in India” mission, designing and producing these cables entirely within India, connecting the nation both physically and symbolically.