Category Archives: News

Reviving a River, Rekindling a City: Groundbreaking Report Maps the Path to a Cleaner Yamuna

New Delhi, June 6, 2025: On the occasion of World Environment Day, a landmark knowledge report titled “Beyond the Froth: 22 Kilometres of Crisis, Over 20 Million Reasons to Revive Yamuna” was launched online. This report offers one of the most comprehensive, ground-up assessments of the Yamuna River’s deteriorating condition in Delhi. It is the result of extensive field research by Primus Partners, with direct inputs from stakeholders including fishermen, boatmen, priests, farmers, and vendors who live and work along the river. This initiative has received support from the Government of Delhi, which has made Yamuna rejuvenation a key urban and ecological priority.

The report highlights alarming trends:

Delhi contributes a staggering 76% of the Yamuna’s total pollution load despite accounting for just 2% of its length.
Untreated and partially treated sewage discharge remains the primary culprit —while the city generates 792 MGD of sewage, only 618 MGD is treated. Nearly 30% of this treated water still fails to meet prescribed discharge standards.
Over 500 unauthorized colonies and 160 villages still lack sewerage access.
37 of the city’s sewage treatment plants (STPs) fail to meet discharge norms, and several industrial areas continue to release hazardous effluents, compounded by a lack of environmental flow during lean seasons.
The Najafgarh and Shahdara drains—fed by waste from Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh—together contribute an estimated 80% of the river’s pollution load within the city.
What makes this report distinct is its powerful focus on community voices. These voices reveal that the crisis is not just ecological, but deeply social and economic. Fishermen report a tenfold drop in catch. Boatmen and vendors cite declining livelihoods due to reduced footfall. Priests say many ghats are no longer usable for religious rituals.

Residents living near the Yamuna and dependent on it lament the loss of a public space and their traditional way of life. These interactions underscore a deep emotional connection to the river and a shared concern for its health. These community members shared how pollution has disrupted their daily lives and contaminated water sources. Despite their profound sadness about the Yamuna’s condition, these communities still maintain a strong emotional bond with the river.

On the other hand, a survey of non-riverine residents found that while 83% of citizens agreed on the extreme importance of cleaning the Yamuna for the city’s health, there are signs of a waning emotional connection to the river. This highlights the need to revive the people-river relationship.

The report underscores that the Yamuna’s revival demands more than infrastructure upgrades. It calls for reimagining governance, rethinking public participation, and rebuilding trust between people and the river. It proposes a two-pronged strategy: addressing structural and systemic issues alongside reviving the people-river relationship. This includes bold reforms such as establishing an Interstate Yamuna Rejuvenation Compact and a Yamuna Cleaning Board, introducing a Treated Wastewater Reuse Policy, enforcing stricter zero liquid discharge norms for industries, and developing an integrated sewerage master plan.

Equally important is the second prong: reconnecting people to the river. The report recommends a Yamuna Citizen Connect Campaign that promotes grassroots-led action through cultural programming, micro-grants, promotion of innovation and community-managed ghats. These efforts aim to ensure that the river’s revival is not just a technical challenge, but a cultural and social renewal as well.

The Government of Delhi has responded with an action plan that includes constructing 40 new decentralized STPs, upgrading treatment capacity by 118 MGD, installing real-time water quality sensors, and reviving 1,600 hectares of floodplain.

Launched exclusively on June 5 to mark World Environment Day, the report offers a blueprint for inclusive and sustainable river restoration—one that blends engineering fixes with ecological thinking and deep public engagement.

CloudThat Wins Google Cloud New Training Partner of the Year Award 2025

BENGALURU, India – June 6th , 2025 – CloudThat, a leading provider of cloud training and consulting services, revealed that Google Cloud Learning Services has named it the Google Cloud New Training Partner of the Year for 2025, an honour announced at a dedicated, private event held at the Google Cloud Next conference in Las Vegas recently. This prestigious award recognizes CloudThat’s remarkable contributions in empowering learners through innovative training programs that have driven significant skill development and accelerated cloud adoption worldwide.

CloudThat achieved this milestone in its first year as a Google Cloud Authorized Training Partner, training close to 1,100 professionals and delivering 50+ impactful sessions across diverse industries with a customer satisfaction score (CSAT) of 4.60. The company also established training partnerships with Fortune 500 companies in sectors such as fintech and IT/ITES, where their tailored programs accelerated cloud adoption and innovation. A global IT company collaborated with CloudThat to enhance its cloud capabilities, overcoming challenges in utilizing cloud infrastructure through customized training that improved the team’s technical expertise and enabled successful cloud-based projects.

“We are thrilled to be recognized as the Google Cloud New Training Partner of the Year from Google Cloud Learning Services,” said Bhavesh Goswami, Founder and CEO of CloudThat. “This award reflects our team’s dedication to empowering learners with the skills to succeed in a cloud-driven world. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Google Cloud to shape the future of cloud expertise.”

CloudThat’s expert team of Google Authorized Trainers has been instrumental in delivering high-quality training, reinforcing its role as a partner that transforms organizations. With a proven track record, CloudThat has established itself as a trusted leader in Google Cloud training across the APAC region. The company remains committed to advancing cloud education, delivering innovative training solutions that enable organizations across industries to harness the full potential of cloud.

Muthoot Finance MD Hails RBI’s 50 bps Rate Cut as Timely Boost for Credit Growth and Financial Inclusion

By-George Alexander Muthoot, MD, Muthoot Finance

“The Reserve Bank of India’s decision to cut the repo rate by 50 basis points to 5.50% reflects a decisive intent to boost economic momentum and improve systemic liquidity. While the immediate impact can be seen in softening of lending rates and improved access to credit, the larger opportunity lies in translating this into long-term financial inclusion and demand-led recovery.

For NBFCs, this is an encouraging move as it creates a favourable environment by lowering borrowing costs and extending affordable credit to underserved communities. The move, coupled with a lowered inflation outlook, is likely to support domestic consumption and stimulate credit demand, in the coming quarters. Overall, we view this as a timely and positive intervention that can support a stronger credit cycle in FY26.”

Ryan International Academy, Sarjapur Celebrates World Environment Day through a Green Pledge

Bangalore, June 6, 2025 – Ryan International Academy, Sarjapur celebrated World Environment Day with a colorful observance that emphasized student action and education for sustainability. The school infused life into its campus through a range of environment-focused activities based on the world theme for 2025, #BeatPlasticPollution.

The Principal, Ms. Sripurna Sarma, inaugurated the celebration with a thoughtful reflection about the importance of World Environment Day, which was first initiated by the United Nations in 1972. She highlighted the need for individual and collective responsibility in safeguarding the planet.

One of the main attractions of the event was the release of the school’s bold green mission to plant more than 1,500 saplings. Students, faculty, and staff came together in a school-wide movement under the slogan “Each One, Plant One,” whereby each of them donated by planting a sapling — a first step toward a greener, healthier tomorrow.

To reinforce the environmental stewardship message, students also signed a sustainability pledge, outlining personal actions to minimize plastic use and create environmentally friendly habits.

Engaging, hands-on activities made the cause come alive:

Paper bag-making workshops encouraged alternative uses to single-use plastics.

Dry leaf art and leaf painting merged art with environmental education.

“Today was not about celebration alone but about action,” stated Ms. Sarma. “These initiatives significantly contribute to teaching lifelong values of sustainability and responsibility to our students.”

Ryan International Academy’s World Environment Day celebration mirrored its commitment towards creating environmentally conscious citizens who lead through empathy, action, and responsibility.

Bank of Baroda, Chennai Zone celebrates World Environment Day with a range of Green Initiatives

Chennai, 6th June 2025: On the occasion of World Environment Day, Bank of Baroda, Chennai Zone joined the international community in reaffirming its commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainability. In line with this year’s theme, “Beat Plastic Pollution,” which emphasizes the urgent need for collective action against plastic waste, the Bank undertook various green initiatives across its branches in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, including cleanup drives, walkathons, and awareness campaigns to promote the principles of the 4 Rs – Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.

A key highlight of the celebration was the inauguration of a Vertical Garden at Baroda Pride, Chennai Zonal Office, by Shri T. N. Suresh, General Manager & Zonal Head, Bank of Baroda, in the presence of Shri V. G. Senthil Kumar, DGM (Compliance & Assurance) and Shri Sreenivas Ravipati, DGM (Business Development). This initiative, under the BOB Earth umbrella, is a testament to the Bank’s green mission. The garden features oxygen-generating plants such as Money Plant and Song of India, contributing to improved air quality and enhancing the office environment.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri T. N. Suresh, General Manager & Zonal Head – Chennai Zone, Bank of Baroda said, “I’m delighted to inaugurate the Vertical Garden at the Baroda Pride, Chennai Zonal Office. This initiative under the BOB Earth programme is a powerful symbol of our ‘Go Green’ commitment. It not only beautifies our office premises but also supports cleaner air and urban greening.”

Nissan Motor India Champions Sustainability on World Environment Day

Bengaluru, 06 June 2025: Reiterating its commitment to sustainability, Nissan Motor India has announced a series of green initiatives to mark World Environment Day. The dealers have installed grid-based solar electricity generation systems at seven of its dealerships across the country — Acuity Nissan (Baroda), Aarav Nissan (Mehsana), EVM Nissan (3 dealerships in Kerala), Dada Nissan (Jalandhar), and Roshan Nissan (Jaipur).

These installations power 100% of the workshop and showroom operations with excess energy redirected to the power grid for later use. This initiative reduces dependency on conventional energy sources and exemplifies Nissan’s move towards cleaner dealership operations.

Saurabh Vatsa, Managing Director, Nissan Motor India, said, “At Nissan, we are committed to sustainability and our global environmental philosophy goes beyond short-term goals. It’s a long-term dedication to a cleaner, safer, and more inclusive future. We are focused on reducing environmental impact and minimizing resource consumption. Every step we take is guided by our vision to drive sustainable mobility and protect the world for future generations.”

Nissan will also conduct a tree-sapling plantation activity at all dealerships and workshops nationwide on 5th June. Customers will be invited over to plant a sapling each. Those saplings will be tagged with the customer’s name and vehicle number, symbolising their personal contribution to a greener tomorrow. Participants will also receive a “Green Service Certificate” and seed packets to encourage more tree planting beyond the dealership premises. Additionally, Nissan has also reduced packaging plastic usage by 15%, reinforcing its broader commitment to responsible environmental practices.

Recently, Nissan Motor India introduced a government-approved CNG retrofitment kit for the New Nissan Magnite at an additional cost of INR 74,999/-. Designed for sustainability-aware and environment-conscious customers, the CNG kit offers a cleaner alternative to conventional fuels, delivering enhanced fuel efficiency without compromising on performance. In the first phase of the rollout, the retrofitment kit is available across seven states, including Delhi-NCR, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Kerala, and Karnataka.

Nissan Motor India continued consistent and sustainable growth in India with a consolidated sale of 99,000+ units for FY2024-25, delivering best single year performance for in the last seven years. The year was marked by the continued success of the New Nissan Magnite, which remains a key pillar for Nissan’s domestic business, selling 28,000+ units annually, and expanding export operations from 20 markets to 65+ international markets, resulting in an unprecedented export sale of 71,000+ units, making India an export hub.

Essar Leaders Applaud RBI’s Bold 50 bps Rate Cut as Catalyst for Growth, Investment, and Energy Security

By-Mr. Srinivasan Vaidyanathan, Operating Partner, Essar Capital

“The RBI’s front-loaded 50 basis points rate cut, is a decisive decision amidst internal and external disturbances. It should give confidence besides catalysing growth. The shift to a neutral stance, is indicative of supporting initiatives and measure to engender economic growth while maintaining price stability. With borrowing costs easing, demand is expected to rise, boosting consumption and lifting market sentiment. Together, these dynamics provide a solid runway for India’s GDP growth to accelerate.”

By-Mr. Dhanpat Nahata, Managing Partner, Essar Capital

“Amid ongoing geopolitical tensions and softened FPI inflows, India Inc was looking for clear direction and prioritisation—and the RBI’s monetary stance has delivered just that. The 50 bps cut signals a strong push toward boosting capital investments, supporting domestic expansion, and reinforcing policy support for infrastructure, industry, and macroeconomic stability. It reflects a decisive step toward sustaining India’s growth momentum in a complex global environment.”

By-Mr. Pankaj Kalra, CEO, Essar Oil & Gas Exploration & Production Ltd

“The RBI’s bold rate cut is a clear signal to industry — accelerate. With inflation anchored and liquidity improving, this pivot supports long-gestation investments across energy value chains. For upstream and transition-fuel players, it opens up room to scale exploration, enhance output, and back India’s energy security goals with confidence.”

SBI Chairman CS Setty Calls RBI’s 50 bps Rate Cut and CRR Move Bold and Timely, Says Policy Boosts Banking and Economic Growth

By-Mr. CS Setty, Chairman at SBI & Chairman at IBA

“A 50-bps policy rate cut, a staggered 100 bps CRR cut and change of stance to neutral, RBI today’s monetary policy communication was action packed – innovative, out of the box and an unanticipated surprise. The MPC has broadly addressed any concerns on slowdown in growth on account of global uncertainties and fully capitalized on the softening domestic inflation to deliver a frontloaded rate cut, staggered durable liquidity injection yet conserving the space for future action.

The policy is definitely positive for all sectors of the economy, particularly for banking and finance. In particular lower cost of borrowing will act as a counterbalance to any uncertainty.”

Bajaj Finserv AMC’s Siddharth Chaudhary Hails RBI’s Bold 50 bps Cut and CRR Reduction as Timely Support for Economy Amid Global Uncertainties

By-Mr. Siddharth Chaudhary, Head- Fixed Income, Bajaj Finserv AMC

“The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) delivered surprises on three fronts. First, it implemented a 50-basis point rate cut, exceeding market expectations of a 25-basis point reduction. This move aims to support the economy amid rising trade uncertainties and easing inflationary pressures. Second, the MPC shifted its monetary policy stance from “accommodative” to “neutral”, with the Governor emphasizing that future actions will be guided by incoming data. Third, a 100 bps CRR cut.

Prior to the policy announcement, we had highlighted a strong likelihood of a 50-basis point cut, noting that any further easing would depend on a significant deterioration in global growth and trade conditions. With today’s decision, short- to medium-term bonds are expected to perform well, supported by a substantial liquidity surplus following a 100-basis point cut in the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR). Core liquidity surplus is now projected to be around INR 8 trillion. However, as market expectations approach the terminal rate, profit booking is evident in longer-term bonds.

It is also worth noting that the pre-policy real interest rate of 2% was relatively high, especially in the context of heightened global uncertainties. Given the domestic growth-inflation dynamics, a more accommodative stance was justified to sustain economic momentum. With the FY26 inflation forecast revised downward to 3.7% from 4%, the real interest rate now stands at 1.8%, which remains elevated. Going forward, further rate cuts will only be feasible if inflation projections decline further in upcoming policy reviews.”

RBI’s 50 bps Rate Cut Lauded as Timely Boost for Housing Demand and Economic Growth, Experts Urge Effective Transmission

By-Mr. Amit Bhagat, Co-Founder, CEO and MD, ASK Property Fund

“RBI’s announcement of a further rate cut of 50 bps is a significant proactive step at a time when demand for residential real estate is seeing signs of slowing down across segments due to increased prices. Home ownership continues to be an aspiration and dream for every Indian household, and these rate cuts, followed by reduced home loan interest rates, will strengthen home buyer confidence.

A cumulative rate cut of 1 per cent in the last 6 months is likely to benefit the affordable segment significantly, which was most impacted due to affordability”.

By-Dr. Bharath Supra, Associate Professor – Finance & Programme Chairperson, SBM, Navi Mumbai Campus

The 50 basis point reduction in the repo rate, bringing it down to 5.5% is a surprise move, something that surpassed market expectations. I congratulate the Reserve Bank of India’s MPC, under Governor Sanjay Malhotra, for this shot in the arm. It is exactly what India needed now to spur economic growth in the face of global uncertainties.

However, the rate cut’s impact hinges critically on how effectively banks and financial institutions pass them on to end borrowers. The transmission of rate cuts to retail and SME segments has remained a sticky point. Without stronger transmission mechanisms, the RBI’s monetary easing may not translate into actual credit growth or consumer spending. I am confident that the banks and financial institutions will rise up to the occasion and do their part for the country.