SmartTerra and Solinas Integrity Awarded INR 1 Crore and 75 Lakhs Each as Winners of The/Nudge Prize

Pune – The/Nudge Centre for Social Innovation (CSI) and Ashirvad by Aliaxis, in partnership with the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, announced SmartTerra from Pune and Solinas Integrity from Nagpur as the winners of the Ashirvad Water Challenge (AWC) on September 18, 2023. The start-ups were awarded INR 1 crore and 75 lakhs respectively after being shortlisted from among 140+ applicants through a rigorous selection process involving expert evaluations and field assessments. The competition, which began in February 2022, aimed to address the critical issue of Clean Drinking Water for All. Smarttera and Solinas’ platforms are already operational in Pune & Nagpur among other cities across the country.

‘The/Nudge Prize: Ashirvad Water Challenge’ supported by Ashirvad, an Aliaxis company, aims to find innovative, scalable and impactful technology-driven solutions to India’s water crisis, and widen clean drinking water access to improve health and hygiene across urban and rural communities.

SmartTerra’s AI-powered data analytics platform helps water utilities find leaky pipes and suspect/faulty water meters to reduce water loss, while Solinas Integrity’s “Endobot” robotic solution secures pipeline infrastructure by detecting leaks and contaminations.

The winners were selected by a jury on the basis of their solution’s impact, economic feasibility, sustainability, scalability and its ability to address water purification, storage, distribution, recycling, and accessibility.

“From Challenge to Change – the journey of this leg of the AWC would have been incomplete without the support and guidance of our advisors, ecosystem partners and the indomitable spirit of the contestants! The 7 finalists have each unlocked innovations and disruptive value within the water value chain – from developing more efficient, secure, reliable waterways to delivering source sustainability. From creating economic value from wastewater to making consumption measurable to ensuring safe water! I am confident that these solutions will enable India to move forward in delivering clean water for all – technology has been a key lever, but their passion to deliver impact and value is what assured me of their success in this endeavor!”, shared Kanishka Chatterjee, Director of The/Nudge Prize.

The grand finale of The/Nudge Prize: Ashirvad Water Challenge was held at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, on September 18, 2023 and was attended by several key dignitaries from the water sector. This event also marked the announcement for the launch of the second edition of the Ashirvad Water Challenge which is expected to open for applications in November 2023. This challenge is one of the largest to be seen in India, to address innovation & scale for developing sustainable livelihoods at the intersection of Water and Livelihoods.

FADA releases Dealer Satisfaction Study’23 (DSS’23) results and key findings

New Delhi, Wednesday, 21st September 2023: The Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA), India’s premier organization for automobile retail, today unveiled the results of its comprehensive Dealer Satisfaction Study 2023. Conducted in collaboration with Singapore-based PremonAsia, a leader in consumer insights and advisory services, the study offers an unparalleled look into the auto retail landscape.

Commenting on the release of the study, FADA President, Mr. Manish Raj Singhania said, “The YoY improvements underscore the indispensable value of this annual study in identifying critical issues to fortify the Auto OEM-Dealer partnership. While Auto Dealers are increasingly optimistic, concerns related to dealership viability and policy collaboration with OEMs require immediate attention. Going forward, high-impact areas such as unsold inventory clearance and actions against MBOs (Multi-Brand Outlets) offer ample scope for improvement.”

FADA Treasurer and Director DSS’23, Mr Amar Jatin Sheth added, “In its third edition, DSS’23 has grown more robust, drawing participation from over 1,800 Dealer Principals and approximately 3,500 outlets, representing a balanced mix from all four geographical zones in India. The study utilizes six evaluative dimensions and 70 attributes to arrive at its findings. While dealer satisfaction is generally improving, aspects like dealer involvement in OEM policy-making remain areas for potential progress.”

PremonAsia Director and COO, Mr Rahul Sharma remarked, “The Dealers continue to assign higher importance to After-sales and Business Viability related issues. While there have been improvements made by OEMs in all the areas, the expectations on ensuring Dealer viability, particularly related to OEMs buyback/deadstock inventory and understanding the dealer cost structure are still flagged as concern areas across the industry. Addressing these concerns through involving dealers in the policy-making and hearing them will certainly go a long way in managing dealer expectations better.”

Distinctive Achievements in Dealer Satisfaction Across Segments

While the leaders in the Two-Wheeler Mass Market and Commercial Vehicle (CV) segment maintain their positions from the previous year, the Four-Wheeler Mass Market segment has seen intriguing shifts. Hyundai now spearheads the category, followed by notable entrants Maruti-Suzuki and Mahindra & Mahindra in the top three.

Exceptional Performers Deserve Recognition:

Honda Cars India: Demonstrating the most significant leap in this year’s study, Honda Cars India escalated its ranking by 153 points, settling at the fourth position in the Four-Wheeler Passenger Mass segment.
Two-Wheeler Mass Market: With an industry-level improvement of 84 points, Royal Enfield distinguished itself by boosting its score by 96 points to secure the runner-up position.
Commercial Vehicles: While VECV continues to occupy the pole position, Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland have significantly narrowed the gap, improving their scores by 68 and 67 points, respectively. This sets the stage for an intensely competitive landscape in the forthcoming years.
Brand Dynamics: Hyundai has surpassed Kia in rankings, attaining the leadership position. Honda emerges as a standout performer, notably benefiting from its new product launches and unwavering dealer support, particularly in areas concerning Business and Viability.

The continuous performance improvement across OEMs and intense competition underscores the evolving nature of the auto retail industry, reflecting its readiness for future challenges.

Industry-Wide Insights on Dealer Satisfaction and Emerging Trends

At the aggregate industry level, the Average Dealer Satisfaction Score has marked an encouraging increase, rising by 48 points YoY to a current score of 767. Notably, ‘Product’ stands out as the highest-scoring factor across all categories. This trend underscores the industry’s commitment to meeting contemporary consumer demands with world-class products.

Despite its notable improvement from the previous year, the ‘Business and Viability’ criterion remains the lowest-scoring factor, signaling a critical area for ongoing attention and development.

Source: FADA Dealer Satisfaction Study 2023 in association with PremonAsia

Segment-Specific Observations:

Commercial Vehicle: The study highlights an increased level of satisfaction, particularly in business viability. This is significant, given the industry’s recent transition to BS VI-compliant vehicles. However, concerns remain about deadstock management and OEM inventory buyback policies.
Four-Wheeler Mass Market: While dealers express high satisfaction with product reliability, concerns persist regarding deadstock and inventory buyback policies, as well as the extent of dealer involvement in policy-making decisions with OEMs.
Two-Wheeler: Similar to their counterparts in other segments, two-wheeler dealers are generally satisfied with product reliability and range. Yet, concerns about OEM buyback and deadstock policies, along with decision-making involvement, remain.

Opportunities for Enhancement:

Inventory Management: There is a consensus on the need for more supportive measures in inventory and carrying-cost management.
Dealer Involvement: Initiatives like active Dealer Advisory Councils could play a pivotal role in driving dealer satisfaction, particularly by involving them more closely in decision-making processes.

These findings present valuable insights for OEMs to refine their strategies, focusing on both product excellence and strengthening dealer partnerships, to navigate the industry’s evolving landscape effectively.

Commercial Vehicles Segment

Source: FADA Dealer Satisfaction Study 2023 in association with PremonAsia

2- Wheeler Market Segment

Source: FADA Dealer Satisfaction Study 2023 in association with PremonAsia

4-Wheeler Mass Segment Rankings

Source: FADA Dealer Satisfaction Study 2023 in association with PremonAsia

MotoGP arrives in India, Repsol Honda Team ready for the newest challenge

Greater Noida, September 21, 2023: India becomes the latest nation to host a MotoGP World Championship round, the Repsol Honda Team pairing of Marc Marquez and Joan Mir excited to meet their Indian fans in person.

Round 13 of the 2023 MotoGP World Championship season lands in India at the Buddh International Circuit, a new venue and a new host country for the sport. With millions of motorcycles and scooters used daily in the world’s second most populous country, it’s safe to say India is full of motorcycle racing fans. The 4.96 kilometers of the Buddh International Circuit look set to produce another thrilling round of racing, a mix of long straights, tight hairpins and technical sections offering up a variety of overtaking opportunities.

Marc Marquez has always been a quick study and will be aiming to get up to speed and understand the 13 corners of Buddh as soon as possible. The #93 arrives on the back of a progressive weekend in Italy which culminated in seventh place, continuing his steady progress across the year. With a new track to learn, the work of the weekend will need to be balanced between learning and continuing to work on making improvements to the Honda RC213V.

On the other side of the garage, Joan Mir is hoping that a new venue will bring new fortunes after a tricky end to the San Marino GP. Despite the end, Mir was able to make steps forward in improving his feeling with the Honda RC213V. More track and bike time will be the key to continuing this trend and the intense schedule at the end of the year will provide exactly this to the #36.

It’s set to be a history-making weekend in India no matter what. Teams, riders and fans won’t have to wait long for their next fix of MotoGP action as the paddock will fly directly to Japan for Honda’s home race: the Japanese GP. This starts an intense period of eight GPs in ten weeks as the championship charges into the end of the season.

Marc Marquez

“I am really excited to meet all of the fans in India. It’s always a nice moment when we bring MotoGP to a new country, new people and new fans to share our sport and our passion. We will need to work a lot to understand everything about the track and about our own situation with the bike. The objective is to put together another weekend like Misano, build over each day and have a good pair of races. Let’s get ready for India and to meet everyone!”

Joan Mir

“Visiting a new place is always really exciting, you see a lot on social media how many fans there are from India so I think it’s really important and great to go see them. The track itself looks like it will be interesting with a lot of different elements. There are many things to understand when you go to a new circuit so it’s important to do every step well, from walking the track when we arrive to making the most of every session on track.”

Logistics trade & festive rush-Lobb ready for challenge

Bengaluru September 20, 2023– Deloitte’s annual holiday retail forecast pegs festive retail sales to rise to between 6-8%. On the home-front, online festive sales are expected to rise by 28% from last year, touching over $12 billion in view of Deepawali and Christmas.

To meet the rising purchases in the festive season and also appease the harder-to-fulfil customers, a unified and robust logistics process is critical for:

• Fresh/repeat purchases
• Ad hoc demand surges
• Last mile deliveries
• Timely delivery
• Reverse logistics

All of these are to be done — quickly, accurately and efficiently. So, let’s understand how the logistics industry will add shine to peoples’ festive buzz this year.

This is why logistics companies have spruced up their operations more than ever by:

-Upgrading warehouse capacity

-Building more fulfilment centres and delivery hubs to strengthen last-mile delivery

-Hiring in-house resources in hundreds across verticals, such as sales, servicing and operations

-Outsourcing/hiring a huge gig workforce to meet demand escalation across the business-to-business (B2B), business-to-consumer (B2C) and direct-to-consumer (D2C) segments.

Venu Kondur CEO Lobb Logistics says, “With precise planning, before-time advancements in operations and rising technology interventions, the logistics industry continues to reinvent the game every passing year. Perhaps, the greater good it does while fuelling this festive rush is delivering smiles to a million faces easily, effortlessly and enthusiastically. Tirelessly and unfailingly”.

Few important observations from Lobb also highlights:

1. Increased Consumer Demand: Festive seasons in India often see a surge in consumer spending as people shop for gifts, clothing, electronics, and other goods. This increased demand for products leads to a higher requirement for logistics services to transport and deliver these goods to retailers and consumers.
2. Inventory Stocking: In preparation for the festive season, businesses, especially retailers, tend to stock up on inventory to meet the anticipated demand. This results in larger shipments and storage requirements, driving up the need for logistics services to manage and move inventory efficiently.
3. E-commerce Boom: The rise of e-commerce in India has significantly impacted logistics. During the festive season, e-commerce platforms run promotional sales and discounts, which attract a massive influx of online shoppers. This surge in online orders creates a substantial demand for last-mile delivery and fulfilment services.
4. Transportation Challenges: The increased demand for logistics services often leads to transportation challenges, including congestion on roads and highways. Logistics companies may need to plan their routes carefully to ensure timely deliveries.
5. Seasonal Workforce: Many logistics companies hire seasonal workers to cope with the increased demand. This includes drivers, warehouse staff, and delivery personnel. Recruiting and training these temporary workers is a logistical challenge in itself.
6. Warehouse Space: Warehousing capacity may become a bottleneck as companies require additional space to store excess inventory during the festive season. Securing and managing additional warehouse space becomes crucial to meeting demand.
7. Timely Deliveries: Timely deliveries are critical during the festive season, as consumers expect their orders and gifts to arrive on time. Logistics companies need to ensure that their supply chain operations are well-optimized to meet delivery deadlines.
8. Technology Integration: Logistics companies often invest in technology solutions such as route optimization, GPS tracking, and inventory management systems to enhance efficiency during the festive season.
9. Price Fluctuations: The increased demand for logistics services can sometimes lead to price fluctuations, with transportation and warehousing costs potentially rising due to high demand. In some routes, prices could go up as high as 20-30% due to high demand and lack of trucks.
10. Planning and Coordination: Planning and coordination become essential to ensure smooth operations. Companies need to forecast demand, optimize routes, and coordinate with suppliers and carriers effectively.

Issued by Social Amplifiers

A Month of August Extravaganza: Celebrations Galore at Growel’s 101 Mall

August unfolded as a month of remarkable jubilation at Growel’s 101, marking its illustrious 13-year reign as the cherished family haven in the Western Suburbs of Mumbai. The anniversary was commemorated with an array of fun activities, featuring a grand cake cutting and mesmerising performances by professional dance groups.

Throughout August, an array of exceptional occasions graced the calendar, including Friendship Day, celebrating the profound bonds of friendship; Raksha Bandhan, honouring the cherished ties between siblings; Independence Day, paying tribute to our martyrs and the spirit of India; and the momentous Chandrayaan 3 Lunar Landing, an achievement that filled every Indian’s heart with pride.

Speaking about the crafting engaging activities at Growel’s 101 Mall, Gerald Mathew, General Manager Operations, Growel’s 101 Mall, said, “At Growel’s 101 Mall, we take pride in crafting an immersive and enjoyable experience for our valued customers. We firmly believe that malls are not merely shopping spaces; they are vibrant community hubs that foster connections and craft enduring memories. Our commitment is to continue nurturing these bonds and creating moments of joy that resonate with each visit. We envision Growel’s 101 Mall as a place where families and friends can come together, celebrate life’s milestones, and forge lasting connections, making it more than just a mall; it’s a place where memories are born and cherished.”

To commemorate Friendship Day, Growel’s 101 Mall in Kandivali organised a series of captivating events, such as the group Treasure Hunt, aptly titled ‘Unite Your Squad for Dosti Manao and Prize Le Jao’, Tarot Card Readings, and a 360-Degree Photobooth for memorable Instagram Reels. These engaging activities offered patrons the opportunity to delve deeper into meaningful connections, forging new memories through delightful experiences. The Treasure Hunt witnessed the enthusiastic participation of 60 individuals, forming ten groups of six each. Two teams that successfully reached the endpoint ahead of the rest were declared winners and were presented with generous hampers valued at Rs. 15,000 and Rs. 10,000, respectively, for the first and second positions.

In celebration of the bond between siblings, Growel’s 101 Mall organised the ‘Spread the Joy’ workshop in collaboration with the Suryoday Trust, an NGO dedicated to empowering specially-abled children to become self-sufficient and well-integrated members of society. The Rakhi Making workshop saw children aged 4 to 16 participating with enthusiasm. Suryoday Trust also exhibited handmade rakhis, bags, and other products for mall visitors to purchase, thereby supporting these exceptional children.

Commemorating India’s Independence Day on the 15th of August, Growel’s 101 Mall conducted its annual flag hoisting ceremony, led by the dedicated security team and attended by employees and staff. Furthermore, the mall organised photography contests, quiz competitions, a Rubik’s Cube corner installation, and a Blood Donation Camp to amplify the festive fervour.

August’s excitement reached its zenith with the triumphant landing of Chandrayaan 3. The momentous event was streamed live within the mall, saturating the atmosphere with national pride and unbridled enthusiasm. Indeed, the excitement seemed to transcend even the boundaries of our planet. At the onset of August, in anticipation of the pride swelling in the hearts of every Indian over ISRO’s lunar mission, Growel’s 101 Mall unveiled an Instagram selfie-point adorned with a lunar and Chandrayaan 3 theme. Make your way to Growel’s 101 Mall today to capture a selfie against this cosmic backdrop!

Adding a culinary twist to August’s festivities was an exhilarating cookery workshop organised by Nestle during the monthly ‘Funbola’ activity wherein volunteers from the ‘Funbola’ participants were free to demonstrate their favourite recipes.

In retrospect, August was a month of unparalleled jubilation at Growel’s 101 Mall, blending celebrations of milestones, relationships, patriotism, and scientific accomplishments into a tapestry of unforgettable experiences.

Mosaics Fine Art Festival Presents Best of Show Award

Artist Neshama Roash awarded first place prize at 28th annual fair

(St. Charles, Mo., Sept. 20, 2023) Missouri resident Neshama Roash was recently awarded “Best of Show” at Mosaics Fine Art Festival’s 28th annual event. She was among over 100 juried artists from more than 15 states.

Roash received $1,000 as the first-place prize for her photography. Eight artists received an “Award of Recognition” prize along with $500 each. They are Lucinia Estep, jewelry, from St. Louis, Mo.; Mel Fleck, printmaking, from Louisville, Ky.; Hien Luu, clay, from Bunker Hill, Ill.; Lois Neal, jewelry, from Squires, Mo.; Christina Nunez, oil/acrylic, from Columbia, Mo.; Brian Schmidt, oil/acrylic, from St. Paul, Minn.; Steve Springmeyer, photography, from St. Louis, Mo.; and Yuliya Wolf, leather, from Hartford, Wisc.

“Neshama’s photography truly highlights her connection to nature,” said Mosaics Fine Art Festival president Denise Wulff. “Her artwork stood out from the rest in terms of capturing the perfect balance between composition and contrast.” Wulff added that “Neshama’s work was very distinctive given that the judges selected her work from more than 100 artists.”

The Mosaics Fine Art Festival is a nonprofit organization that showcases local and regional artists while educating the community’s children and adults in how art can enhance their lives. The festival features a wide array of artwork produced by a mix of emerging, mid-career and established artists in all media. For more information, call (314) 406-2067 or visit Mosaics Fine Art Festival.

India Housing Woos NRIs Amid Pandemic Rebound

– by Akash Pharande, Managing Director – Pharande Spaces

Many COVID-related restrictions were lifted by Q3 2021, except for some limitations on international travel, which were eliminated by early 2022. Soon thereafter, the Indian residential real estate market began witnessing the return of a very important customer segment – non-resident Indians, or NRIs.

NRIs currently account for 10-15% of housing sales in major Indian cities, from just 5% in 2019. This makes them an indispensable factor in the overall housing sales equation, especially in the luxury segment. Almost 30% of NRI property buyers opt for luxury or ultra-luxury properties priced above INR 1.5 crores.

NRIs bring valuable foreign exchange capital into India’s real estate market, and their buying activity indirectly influences other homebuyers as well. In fact, NRIs are major housing market influencers at several levels.

Increased real estate construction activity due to NRI investments has a multiplier effect on job creation, revenue, and GDP growth through extensive linkages with allied industries.

NRIs are primarily focusing on the metros, and Pune figures highly on many of their wish lists, for good reasons.

NRIs Zero in on Pune

Pune’s popularity among NRI housing investors is no accident. The city has a thriving IT/ITES, auto, and manufacturing industry, leading to strong job creation and overall demand for housing. Compared to other tier-1 cities like Mumbai and Delhi-NCR, residential prices in Pune are still relatively affordable and offer value-for-money, while capital appreciation potential is high.

Perhaps most importantly, Pune offers high-quality urban living with a vibrant cosmopolitan culture, pleasant climate, modern amenities, and a family-friendly environment. This appeals to NRIs.

As per World Bank data in 2019, India had the largest diaspora population in the world, with around 17.5 million NRIs living abroad. Maharashtra is one of the major source states for migration and NRIs. As the second-largest city in Maharashtra after Mumbai, Pune is a hub for education and IT/ITES jobs, resulting in skilled migration to other countries.

The US accounts for over 2.4 million NRIs from India. Other top destinations are the UAE, Saudi Arabia, the UK, Canada, and Australia. Most professionals migrate for jobs in tech, finance, healthcare, and academia. Pune contributes hundreds of thousands of NRIs living and working abroad across various countries.

Not surprisingly, NRI techies have their sights trained on Pune’s IT-heavy areas. IT parks like Hinjewadi, Magarpatta, and Kharadi are driving demand for residential investment by NRIs working in the IT sector.

Pune is not just an IT hotbed – its multi-faceted economy has a lot more going for it. The Indo-German Chamber of Commerce affirms that Pune has been the single largest hub for German companies for the last 60 years. A number of major German automobile brands and other industries have a presence in the city.

Back In Force

According to one leading real estate consultant, H1 2022 saw NRIs accounting for nearly 10% of housing sales across the top 7 cities, up from just 5% a year ago. Data by another property agency shows that NRI’s contribution to housing sales has doubled since 2019.

NRIs are drawn by the attractive rupee-to-USD values that make property purchases lucrative. Many are investing in real estate back home for end-use – buying homes for retirement or when they eventually return to India. Affordable home loan interest rates and property prices in cities like Pune, Hyderabad, and Bangalore, are driving NRI demand.

Premium and Luxury – the ‘New Normal’ for NRIs

Seeking homes that can replicate their lifestyles in more developed countries, NRIs are focused mainly on premium and luxury properties priced above INR 80 lakhs. Integrated townships are the prime beneficiaries of this NRI appetite for high-end residences.

Integrated townships offer a comprehensive lifestyle within their secure gated enclaves and provide amenities like landscaped gardens, clubhouses, swimming pools, and gymnasiums. Maintenance services and 24/7 security add to the appeal. NRIs are willing to pay premiums of 10–15% to purchase homes in such townships, as per recent surveys.

In Conclusion

The growing NRI interest after an interlude of almost three years is indeed important for the Indian residential real estate market. Even before they return to India for retirement or job opportunities, NRIs send massive foreign remittances back home to India – and a big share of this money finds its way into the housing market.

The Indian government has astutely taken steps to encourage NRI participation in the housing sector through relaxed investment norms, simpler home loans, and other measures.

Meeting the housing needs of its growing NRI population allows India to leverage their capital, experience, and networks for the development of its real estate and housing sector. Their demanding tastes for superior products are constantly raising the bar on quality and lifestyle quotient. Overall, the return of NRIs to the Indian housing market is good news all around.

About the Author:

Akash Pharande is Managing Director – Pharande Spaces, a leading real estate construction and development firm famous for its township projects in West Pune and beyond. Pharande Promoters & Builders, the flagship company of Pharande Spaces and an ISO 9001-2000 certified company, is a pioneer of townships in West Pune.

FICCI Homeland Security Conference 2023 discusses emerging challenges in safeguarding National Security

FICCI Homeland Security Conference 2023 discusses emerging challenges in safeguarding National Security from cyber threats and how AI & data analytics could be leveraged for internal security

New Delhi, September 15, 2023:

The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has successfully organised its flagship Homeland Security Conference 2023 in association with Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF), today at the FICCI House in Delhi. This landmark event provided an invaluable platform for profound discussions and the exploration of cutting-edge advancements in internal security and policing strategies.

One of the highlights of the conference was the presentation of the prestigious FICCI SMART Policing Awards during the inaugural program. These awards celebrated the remarkable contributions of State Police Departments, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), and Central Police Organizations (CPOs) in the realm of homeland security and policing. They stand as a tribute to the dedication and innovation exhibited by these organizations in safeguarding our nation.

Mr. Prakash Singh, Former Director General of the Border Security Force (BSF) and Former Director General of Police (DGP) for Uttar Pradesh and Assam, emphasized the growing digitalization in India, which has increased vulnerability to cyber threats. He highlighted the potential and risks associated with AI, particularly in military applications. Despite a delayed start in technology adoption, India is striving to catch up and enhance law enforcement capabilities. Mr. Singh stressed the importance of strengthening armed forces and law enforcement to stay ahead of evolving threats posed by technology.

Ms. Manjari Jaruhar, Advisor to FICCI Committee on Private Security Industry and Former Spl DG, CISF, GOI, spoke about the journey of FICCI SMART Policing Awards and mentioned that in last seven years, more than 1100 nominations have been evaluated by the jury awarded 208 initiatives which encouraged LEAs to complete among for achieving higher level of expertise and proficiency. She specifically applauded police departments for their ‘Smile’ and ‘Muskaan’ initiatives, which have had a positive impact. She also commended the Delhi police for their effective management of the G20 event. Ms. Jaruhar acknowledged the continuous innovation and crime management efforts of the police, as well as initiatives by the NCB and CRF, contributing to the overall improvement of law enforcement in India.

Dr. Arvind Gupta, Director of the Vivekananda International Foundation and Former Deputy National Security Advisor, GoI, noted that technology and cybersecurity have become critical factors in recent years. He highlighted the transformative impact of technological developments and underscored technology as a game-changer in internal security domain. He stressed on the need for combining efforts to strengthen police forces in being a step ahead from negative forces.

Mr. Praveen Jaiswal, Co-Chair of FICCI Homeland Security and Director of Vehere, expressed immense satisfaction in successfully organizing the FICCI Homeland Security Conference, underscoring the commitment to facilitating essential dialogues on matters affecting the security of the nation. He said that it is very important for a nation like India, which is leading as a knowledge economy, to develop cutting-edge indigenous capabilities to minimise cyber susceptibility and enhance cyber defence resources. Indian industry is set to join hands with government agencies and LEAs on this front.

Dr. Gulshan Rai, Former National Cyber Security Coordinator, GoI, emphasized the transformation brought about by the rise of the IT sector in Homeland Security. He noted that AI has introduced a unique landscape characterized by efficient planning, suggesting that access to such technology could have potentially prevented events like the 26/11 attacks more effectively.

Technical sessions at the conference covered following areas:

Session 1: AI, ML, and Data Analytics for Internal Security.

Session 2: Cybercrime Management for Effective Law Enforcement.

Session 3: Emerging Technologies for Internal Security.

Session 4: Best Practices in SMART Policing.

The FICCI Homeland Security Conference 2023 was indeed an intellectually stimulating and informative event, offering a platform for the exchange of ideas and the exploration of innovative solutions for the complex challenges facing our nation’s security. FICCI extends its gratitude to all participants and stakeholders who contributed to making this conference a resounding success.