Archive: October 30, 2021

McGraw Hill launches new book for UPSC aspirants: ‘Modern India’ by Poonam Dalal Dahiya

Poonam Dalal Dahiya, ASP, Haryana Police (Ex-IRS) presents her book ‘Modern India’ to Haryana CM, Shri M L Khattar

New Delhi 30th Oct 2021: McGraw Hill recently launched their latest offering ‘Modern India’- a book authored by Poonam Dalal Dahiya; an author popular among the UPSC community for her subject-matter expertise. The first copy of the book was gifted by the author Ms. Poonam Dalal Dahiya to the honourable Chief Minister of Haryana Shri Manohar Lal Khattar during the book launch event. The book provides comprehensive information on the history of modern India. The book launch happened on 29th Oct in the presence of the Haryana Chief Minister among various other delegates.

The book gives an in-depth coverage and thorough analysis of all the crucial events helping the students to gain conceptual understanding of the subject and is equally beneficial for both preliminary and mains examination. The quick reckoner four colour detachable charts, along with the extensive insertion of quotations from the historical events, not only make the book more interesting but also help the students to understand the multi-dimensional perspective related to various historical events. The relevant information regarding all the topics is also presented in a student friendly Poonam Dalal Dahiya signature style i.e., through flowcharts, info boxes, point wise bullet form, tables, diagrams, maps, etc. The important keywords are highlighted and to help the students assess their performance previous year questions are provided at the end of every chapter. In a nutshell, the book provides comprehensive information on the history of modern India in a student-friendly way to help students excel in UPSC Civil Services Examination and other competitive exams.

The author of the book, Ms. Poonam Dalal Dahiya is one of the finest authors who has been helping and mentoring students develop their knowledge, skills, and confidence for different public service examinations. An alumnus of University of Delhi, she holds a postgraduate in Humanities and is also a certified teacher who possesses rich and varied administrative experience of different professions. She has cleared different competitive examinations ranging from SBI P.O., SSC Graduate Level, State Civil Services and UPSC. After working in Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax) for about 4 years, she has now switched to policing and is presently working as the ASP, Gurugram.

Speaking at the event, Ms. Poonam Dalal Dahiya said, “I am excited to present my second title “Modern India” which will help the students to understand history in an interesting way. Almost all aspects pertaining to Modern India, starting from the British conquest of India to the attainment of freedom by India are aptly covered in the book which is based on extensive research from various authentic sources to provide an extra edge to the students to excel at UPSC Civil Services Examination and other competitive exams”.

Mr. Tanweer Ahmad, Product Director at McGraw Hill further added, “I express my gratitude to Ms. Poonam Dalal Dahiya for writing a book based on thorough research to help students succeed in the exam. Just as Ancient and Medieval India, a bestseller in the field, has helped students understand history better, Modern India will do the same and definitely make Modern India more interesting. It is a student-friendly book with chapters written and arranged in an extremely organised and structured manner.

About the Author:

Poonam Dalal Dahiya is one of the finest authors who has been helping and mentoring students develop their knowledge, skills and confidence for different public service examinations. An alumnus of University of Delhi, she holds a postgraduate in Humanities and is also a certified teacher who possesses rich and varied administrative experience of different professions. To her credit, she has cleared different competitive examinations ranging from SBI P.O., SSC Graduate Level, State Civil Services and UPSC. After working in Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax) for about 4 years, she has now switched to policing and is presently working as the Assistant Commissioner of Police in Gurugram.

Yes Madam Partners with Patanjali

Delhi NCR gets its own ayurvedic treatment at home with Yes Madam and Patanjali.

Oct 2021: Today etches another benchmark in Yes Madam’s success journey as we proudly enter an exclusive partnership with Patanjali. This is an amalgamation of at home services and Ayurvedic treatments and therapies, to uplift your mood, refresh your mind and heal you from all ailments, without even stepping out of your homes.

Yes Madam is an at-home unisex salon service brand, that provides all beauty and wellness services at the convenience of your home. And we at Yes Madam are extending our wellness services to Patanjali’s special therapies and treatments as well. Serving PAN India, Yes Madam is now creating the benchmark by providing the best in the industry facilities, hygiene and beauticians who only use genuine branded products.

Starting from 2nd of November, Patanjali and Yes Madam will be coming together, to bring wellness treatments to the masses at the convenience of your homes. We believe it is a big step forward in bringing Wellness treatments from the pioneers to the households.

The treatments will be provided at the comfort of your homes by Yes Madam professionals who have procured training from the main center of Patanjali and are certified for Patanjali Treatments. The main objective behind it is to bring all Patanjali treatments at the comfort of your home, as not everyone can go to the Patanjali services centre. As an inaugural deal we will also be giving out Doctor’s Consultation for free and then the customer can choose to take the treatments on their own or post consultation.

The inspiration to collaborate with Patanjali came from the sheer motivation of bringing wellness and treatments at the convenience of your home, which fulfills the purpose of our brand, that is making the lives of our customers easier by providing them services as per their convenience and requirements.

“People had to travel long distances to take Patanjali’s special therapies and treatments, and that’s where the idea came from. With this collaboration we wanted to bring wellness to your home, keeping in mind that they still remain affordable and the essence is also not lost. So basically, Haridwar se aapke dwar tak”
Says Mayank Arya, The Co Founder of Yes Madam.

As we are seeing especially after the pandemic, people have understood the value of natural ayurvedic products and treatments and Patanjali is the perfect example for the same. So, Yes Madam looks out to book at least 50,000 sittings for wellness in the next three months.

The services will be starting from the heart of India, Delhi NCR.

Download the Yes Madam app now, get your prescription on the phone and the therapist at home to get that rejuvenating treatment!

Launching November 1st and marking the brand’s first property in the Middle East, Habitas AlUla, Saudi Arabia charts a new course across a land unfamiliar to the modern traveler

Habitas, the sustainable, experience-led hospitality brand which continues to fortify its status as an industry disruptor with the recent launch of its Namibia and Bacalar properties, will open its next “home” – this time even further off the map, in the uncharted AlUla region in the Northwest of Saudi Arabia. Opening November 1st, 2021, Habitas AlUla rests within an ancient oasis in the desert canyons of the Ashar Valley, surrounded by sandstone cliffs and palm groves.

The serene resort pathways lead guests up to each of the 96 guest rooms which span three tiers: premium Celestial Rooms, Alcove Rooms and Canyon Rooms, as well as to the yoga deck, wellness and fitness centers, restaurant, and swimming pool. Each of these spaces is constructed from ethically-sourced organic materials which blend seamlessly into their natural surroundings. This minimally invasive build model, along with the property’s sustainable construction methods, are the Habitas calling cards: modular-build, low impact design that does virtually no harm to the environment, creating an organic space in which meaningful experiences of all kinds will spring to life.

Habitas AlUla is the true embodiment of the brand’s six programming pillars: music, wellness, adventure, culture, learning, and culinary, all of which are meticulously developed to immerse guests within the region’s authentic culture and natural environment. This is illustrated through programming that accommodates art and culture walks, canyon trekking, yoga, meditation and breath work. Habitas will leverage its musical roots to create and curate sounds from the region’s unique talents, and showcase them for guests through the medium of a concert series.

AlUla’s on-site restaurant Tama, aptly named after the word “here” in Aramaic, is in line with one of Habitas’ core brand experiences, the essence of being present, and keeping people in the here and now. Tama is a gathering place using sustainable agricultural methods to bring guests along an unforgettable culinary journey. The food & beverage concept marries Saudi and Middle Eastern cuisine, sourcing local fresh ingredients and bringing the unique flavors of Saudi Arabia to life. Dishes included on Tama’s dinner menu include Middle Eastern Muhammara, Kabsa, Singari Fish Sayadiyah, Mandinah Hashee, and more.

Guests are invited to gather and expand their knowledge of this historical region with weekly outdoor cinema screenings featuring regional cultural films and documentaries in addition to open discussion lectures relating to local initiatives, culture, and history. Numerous Arts & Culture activities, like the hosted artworks of Mohammad Ahmed Ibrahim, Superflex and Nadim Karam, complement these learning experiences. This also includes a guided walk through the remains of the ancient city where the Nabateans once lived.

Located along the original pilgrimage route to Mecca and described as an open-air museum, AlUla spans 22,561 km2 of land, enveloped in both the immense beauty of the natural world and the dramatic splendor of human creation. The ancient site was a hub of trade and cultural exchange for millennia and abounds to this day with traces of those who passed through over the years. AlUla is home to thousands of burial places including +100 tombs, 94 of which remain elaborately carved at Hegra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They stand majestically among mammoth structures carved and refined by the natural elements.

Rates: Canyon Rooms at Habitas AlUla will start from $600 USD or 2,250 SAR per night.

Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company Limited (CIFCL) Unaudited Financial Results for the Quarter and Half Year Ended 30th September 2021

Key Financial Results (Q2 & H1 FY22):

• Disbursements at ₹ 8,706 Cr for the quarter (Up by 35%) and ₹ 12,341 Cr for the half year (Up by 23% YoY)
• Total AUM at ₹ 75,063 Cr was marginally higher than H1 FY21
• Net Income Margin up at ₹ 1,393 Cr for the quarter (Up 11% YoY) and ₹ 2,756 Cr for the half year (Up 23% YoY)
• PAT at ₹ 607 Cr for the quarter (Up 40% YoY) and ₹ 933 Cr for the half year (Up by 8% YoY)

Chennai, OCTOBER 29, 2021: The Board of Directors of CIFCL today announced the unaudited financial results for the quarter and half year ended 30th September 2021.

Highlights:

The last quarter had several positives (i) the waning of second wave (ii) India outpacing other countries in terms of increased vaccination drive and (iii) A good monsoon. These events have led to expectations of a swift revival of Indian economy.

These expectations have been supported by uptrend in economic indicators like tax collections, power consumption, vehicle registrations, highway toll collection and e-way bills. This economic revival has led to a sharp recovery in Chola’s disbursements and collections during Q2 FY22.

We continue to hold Management and additional overlay provisions at 700 Cr. Apart from this, we have created 10% additional provision for all restructured accounts as per RBI guidelines.

Performance Highlights:

• Aggregate disbursements in Q2 FY 22 were at ₹ 8,706 Cr as against ₹ 6,457 Cr in Q2 FY 21 with a growth of 35%. Disbursements in H1 FY 22 were at ₹ 12,341 Cr as against ₹ 10,046 Cr registering the growth of 23% Y-on-Y.
• Vehicle Finance (VF) disbursements were at ₹ 6,161 Cr in Q2 FY 22 as against ₹ 4,781 Cr in Q2 FY21, growth of 29%. Disbursements in H1 FY 22, were at ₹ 9,007 Cr as against ₹ 8,012 Cr in the previous year, reporting a growth of 12% Y-o-Y.
• Loan Against Property (LAP) business disbursed ₹ 1,736 Cr in Q2 FY 22, as against ₹ 1,052 Cr in Q2 FY 21, with a good growth rate of 65%. The Disbursements in H1 FY 22 were at ₹ 2,122 Cr as against ₹ 1,171 Cr in the previous year, registering a good growth rate of 81% Y-o-Y.
• Home Loan (HL) business disbursed ₹ 494 Cr in Q2 FY 22, as against ₹ 381 Cr in Q2 FY 21. The Disbursements in H1 FY 22 were at ₹ 693 Cr as against ₹ 571 Cr in the previous year, registering a growth of 21% Y-o-Y.
• Assets under management as of 30th Sep 2021, stood at ₹ 75,063 Cr as compared to ₹ 74,471 Cr as of end Sep in FY21.
• Profits after Tax (PAT) for Q2 FY 22 were at ₹ 607 Cr compared to ₹ 432 Cr in Q2 FY 21, reporting a growth of 40%. PAT for H1 FY 22, were at ₹ 933 Cr as against ₹ 863 Cr in the same period last year registering a growth of 8%.
• PBT-ROA for Q2 FY 22 was at 4.5% and for the half year was at 3.5% as against 3.4% in half year of FY21.
• ROE for the H1 FY 22 was at 18.7 % as against 20.0% in previous year.
• The Company continues to hold a strong liquidity position with ₹ 5,401 Cr as cash balance as at end of September 21 (including Rs 1500 Cr invested in Gsec shown under investments), with a total liquidity position of ₹ 9,800 Cr (including undrawn sanctioned lines). The ALM is comfortable with no negative cumulative mismatches across all time buckets.

Asset Quality

CIFCL asset quality as at end of September 2021, represented by Stage 3 assets stood at 6.16% with a provision coverage of 36.45%, as against 6.79% as at end of June 2021 with a provision coverage of 35.51%. The total provisions currently carried against the overall book is 4.09% as against the normal overall provision levels of 1.75% carried prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, representing more than twice the normal pre-covid provision coverage level.

Total restructuring Book (1.0 & 2.0) stood at ₹ 4,749 Cr as on September 2021 representing 6.85% of the total Book in Stage 2. Restructuring 1.0 and Restructuring 2.0 stood at 1.27% and 5.58% respectively as on September 2021.

Note: Sep-20 and Dec-20 numbers are before considering Supreme Court Interim orders, which had directed the accounts which were not declared NPA till 31-Aug-2020 shall not be declared as NPA till further orders. This is done to facilitate comparative numbers. The interim order granted stands vacated on March 23 and hence company has continued with the asset classification as per ECL model under INDAS for the quarter and year ended 31st March 2021.

Considering the Supreme Court Interim orders directions Stage 3 % for Sep-20 and Dec-20 works out to 2.75% and 2.57% respectively.

Capital Adequacy:

The Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) of the company as on 30th September 2021, was at 19.63% as against the regulatory requirement of 15%. Tier-I Capital was at 16.67%.

Equity Investment in Paytail:

In Current quarter Q2-FY22, we have made an investment of ₹ 9.75 Cr in Paytail commerce Private Limited for a holding of 16.29%.

‘Pride of Telangana Awards 2021’ to be presented to unsung heroes’, for bringing about a silent revolution in the community!

Hyderabad, 30^th October 2021: Round Table India, will present “Pride of Telangana”, for the third time, the earlier Awards were presented in 2018 and 2019 and took a break in 2020 due to pandemic. Pride of Telangana is a unique initiative to honour the achievers and felicitate the emerging personalities in the state of Telangana. As part of the prestigious awards, Round Table identifies and honours the unsung heroes who are instrumental in bringing about a silent revolution, as they make the community and society rich through their stupendous contribution. The details of the Awards categories were announced by the committee of ROUND TABLE INDIA, today at Novotel HICC.

We are overwhelmed and grateful to have a high powered Panel of Judges from diverse backgrounds who have excelled and created a mark in the society at large. The Judges will be shortlisting the award applicants, says Mr Ishan Agarwal, Table Chairman, Round Table India.

The high powered panel of judges comprises of :

1. Mr. Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary, I & C and IT, Telangana;
2. Dr G.V. Rao, Director, AIG Hospitals
3. Mrs. Kamini Saraf, Fashion entrepreneur, Past chairperson Hyderabad FICCI FLO.
4. Mrs. Lakshmi Manchu, Actress
5. Mr. Manish Bhartiya, Director, Ratnadeep Retail
6. Mr. Boyapati Mahender Reddy, Chief Executive Officer, St. Mary’s Institutions

Advisory Board Members

1. Mr. Yashwant Jhabakh, Founder & Chairman – Mahavir Group
2. Mr. Sandeep Agarwal, Managing Director, Ratnadeep Retail

The Grand Awards ceremony is slated for the 26^th of November, 2021.

Round Table India has always emphasised on the fact that education is a greatest enabler and helps individual to achieve their dreams. To fulfil this aspiration, Round Table India will contribute the entire proceeds from this event towards improving the infrastructure in the government schools and towards welfare of children from underprivileged sections, says Mr Chaitanya Dev Singh, Area Chairman, Round Table India. As before, The Categories for the 2021 Awards have been curated with great care and thought process. The Thirteen categories for which Awards will be presented are Sports, Special Award for Women, NGO, Retail, Film Artist, SME, Administrative Services, Food & Beverage, Medical, Start-ups, Arts & Culture, Education, Inner Wellness.

Each category will have two awards, one for the accomplisher, the ‘Achiever Award’ and the other for the most promising talent in the field, the ‘Emerging Award.’ Individuals or Organisations who achieved name and fame in their respective fields and are a role model to budding aspirants in the category, will be eligible for the Achiever Awards. The Emerging Award is an attempt to identify and recognise the budding aspirants for their achievements and contribution in their respective fields. Decisions taken by the board of Jury members will be final.

The aspiring candidates, who satisfy the criteria in their respective categories, can apply for the award or recommend worthy candidates they know off. The nominations, should be filled online at www.prideoftelangana.com or, be mailed to info@prideoftelangana.com with appropriate supporting documents, on or before 9th of November, 2021. Interested aspirants may visit www.prideoftelangana.com, for more information. From amongst the shortlisted nominees, who satisfy the criteria, the jury members will select the top 3 in each category and finalise the most deserving amongst them.

We welcome all residents of Telangana to apply for the nomination themselves and encourage their friends and family to apply. These awards will provide immense publicity the good work done by these unsung heroes. The last day of nominations is 9^th of November 2021.

About Pride of Telangana Awards

In the 2018 edition, The Pride of Telangana website was opened for nominations across 12 categories. The response was excellent.  Three hundred and twenty six nominations were received. The site was then opened to public voting. Thirty three thousand three hundred and twenty three votes were received. The public had voted for a winner in each of the 12 categories.

In the 2019 edition, The Pride of Telangana website was opened for nominations across 12 categories. The response was marvellous.  Three hundred and ten nominations were received. The site was then opened to public voting. Thirty thousand six hundred and seventy five votes were received. The public had voted for a winner in each of the 12 categories.

About Round Table

The Round Table is internationally, a friendship organization, founded in Norwich, England by Louis Marchesi, then a Rotarian in 1927. From a small group of 8 members, today it has grown to over 43,000 members across 52 countries representing every corner of the world. Round Table came to India in 1957 with the formation of Madras Round Table No 1 on November 14^th 1962, by John Barton. Over the past four decades it has grown to become a 4,000-member strong association.

Round Table India (RTI) has around over 324 Tables located over 105 cities and towns, comprising of businessmen, entrepreneurs, technocrats and professionals, men who can rise above personal concerns to seek and serve the larger needs of the community. Since 1997 RTI, under “Freedom through Education“, has built over 7505 class rooms in 3149 School projects at an outlay of over 317 crores, impacting the education of over 7.9 million children.

On the administration front, Round Table India has a very active National Board, which guides the affairs of the association. Round Table India is divided into 16 Areas, which have their own Area Board to administer them. The National Secretariat, the hub of all activities of Round Table India, is located in Chennai.

Round Table India, is a zero overheads organization. Meaning, every rupee of funds raised goes towards our charitable goals. Our National goal is to ‘Build Schools for the Underprivileged’. Round Table is currently building a multiple classroom block with multipurpose sports area and 100 seater gallery at Pinjerla Village, near Shamshabad.

Blue Dart announces Q2 results with new all-time highs for revenue and earnings

Mumbai/ Hyderabad, October 29, 2021: Blue Dart Express Limited, South Asia’s premier express air and integrated transportation & Distribution Company, declared its financial results today for the quarter ended September 30 2021, at its Board Meeting held in Mumbai today.

The company posted ₹895 million profit after tax (previous year corresponding quarter was at ₹414 million) for the quarter ended September 30, 2021; Revenue from operations for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 stood at ₹11,236 million. Revenue from operations for the half year ended September 30, 2021 stood at ₹19,884 million and profit after tax at ₹1,189 million.

Performance Highlights: Q2 FY2122 vs. Q2 FY2021

Performance Highlights: H1 FY2122 vs. H1 FY2021

Balfour Manuel, Managing Director, Blue Dart says, “The company witnessed strong pull back in demand during the quarter as wave II of pandemic started slowing down. All economic indicators like GDP growth, Index for Industrial Production, GST collections, etc. reflected strong recovery. Growth during the quarter is testimony to heightened business activities of key industrial verticals.”

Revenues during the quarter stood at ₹11,236 Mn with a growth of 30% over previous year same quarter, sequentially quarter revenue growth is at 30%. EBITDA for the quarter is ₹1,690 Mn, a growth of 46.6% over last year. EBITDA margin was also improved to 14.96% as compared to previous year at 13.31%. Revenues for the half year stood at ₹19,884 Mn with growth of 55% over previous year. EBITDA at ₹2,582 Mn which was negative ₹7 Mn last year. Consolidated EBITDA margin for the quarter stood at 22%. Healthy top-line growth with better realization, continued cost efficiency program and financial re-engineering helped the company to improve its margin. The company together with its wholly owned subsidiary paid off majority of bank borrowings during the quarter which would help company in reducing its finance cost. Recently, Blue Dart Aviation purchased one more leased aircraft in its pursuit of improving efficiency to create value for stakeholders.

Pandemic during last quarter created unprecedented situation in the Country. Without much bothering about adverse situation, Blue Darters played vital role in reaching medicines, testing equipment and other emergency material which was highly appreciated by the customers. To appreciate their efforts, the company has proposed a token ex-gratia payment of €300 equivalent in rupee term to all employees except senior management. A cost of ₹359.50 million towards ex-gratia has been recognised in the current quarter financials as exceptional item.

During the quarter, the Company successfully launched the Blue Dart Med-Express Consortium, which leverages the use of drone technology to provide a robust healthcare infrastructure to the interiors of the nation.

The organisation’s commitments to being a ‘Great Company to Work for’ All and a ‘Highly Trusted Company’ focusing on Diversity & Inclusion remains unfaltering. Blue Dart has always believed in providing equal employment opportunities to all those who are willing to contribute towards the brand’s success. Company is working on sustainable solutions to reduce carbon emission including deploying electrical vehicles, reducing paper consumption, green facilities etc. The company has also planted over 555,000 trees to offset carbon footprint. Blue Dart is committed to its highest standard of compliance under its ESG journey.

Exceptional Service Quality remains one of the organization’s major pivots alongside automation and technology, providing customers a one-stop, hassle-free solution to all their logistics requirements. In its journey to delight customers, the company carried 116.25 million shipments weighing 422,933 tons during the half year ended September 30, 2021.

Government’s focus on improving infrastructure like constructions of new roads including dedicated corridors, logistics parks, economic zones, dedicated rail corridors, waterways is expected to smoothen movement of goods. Further, schemes like “Make in India” “Atmanirbhar Bharat” extension of PLI scheme to various sectors is likely to give boost to economic activities. Strong vaccination drive by the Government is also expected to improve pandemic situation. All these initiatives are expected to boost overall economic scenario in the Country. Blue Dart with its air and ground infrastructure, passionate Blue Darters and world class service delivery experience is well poised to encash the opportunity sustainably.