Archive: June 2, 2022

Union Bank of India signs MOU with SIDBI for Co-Financing arrangement of MSMEs

Mumbai – June 2022: Union Bank of India today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) for a Co-Financing arrangement for MSMEs. The MoU was signed by Shri Lal Singh, Chief General Manager, Union Bank of India and Shri Vivek Kumar Malhotra, Chief General Manager, SIDBI. SIDBI is country’s principal financial institution engaged in the Promotion, Financing and Development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).

Under the MoU, Union Bank of India would consider Joint financing/ Co-Financing with SIDBI to Projects/Units in the MSME. This MoU would help the Banks to increase their customer base, while helping the MSMEs to meet their funding requirements. The key highlights of the arrangement include joint identification of viable projects and term loan and working capital financing to MSMEs. Initially the arrangement would be at specific centers and once the arrangement stabilizes at these centers, more locations would be covered.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Lal Singh, CGM (MSME), Union Bank of India, said “MSME is one of the key sectors of our Indian Economy contributing to GDP, Exports, Manufacturing Output, Employment, Women Empowerment etc. MSME is one of the focused areas of the Bank and at Union Bank of India, we aim to become Bank of 1st choice for MSMEs. This tie-up with SIDBI aids in realizing the Bank’s vision to have increased credit flow to the MSME sector and extend operational convenience to the MSME clientele. Under partnership, Union Bank of India through its Pan India branch network can provide general Banking products like Current Accounts, Savings Accounts, Working Capital facilities and other related services to the MSME Customers of SIDBI.” 

Also, speaking on the tie-up arrangement, Shri Vivek Kumar Malhotra, CGM, SIDBI reiterated SIDBI’s commitment towards timely financing for MSMEs across all sectors.

Next level speed and comfort; Under Armour ‘HOVR MACHINA 3’ Launches in India

Under Armour’s human performance and product development teams continue to bring athletes the best footwear from the UA Innovation Lab in Baltimore and UA Human Performance Center in Portland. Fully tested and validated by UA Athletes, the brand has now launched the all-new third iteration of the UA HOVR™ Machina running shoes, the HOVR Machina 3 in India. Priced at INR 14,999/-, this shoe continues to meet the needs of the consumer by providing the latest in tech and innovation.

The UA HOVR Machina 3 features a firmer and more responsive forefront HOVR that ensures runners have that extra edge, and the plate’s upgraded composite, softer heel HOVR, and updated Energy Web and heel capture system make for a fast and comfortable run every single time.

The shoe delivers softer landings without losing efficiency or speed. The totally new midsole design of the UA HOVR Machina 3 enhances smooth landings without losing responsiveness or explosive lift-offs. Every element of the design – from the aerodynamic heel to the engineered spacer mesh upper – delivers everything the runner needs and nothing they don’t.

These shoes mix the speed of a racing shoe with the comfort of a long-distance trainer — and they coach you too. Connect your shoes to UA MapMyRun™ for real-time Form Coaching tips based on your cadence, pace, and stride. An embedded sensor tracks, analyzes and stores detailed running metrics to inform ways to improve performance.

HOVR MACHINA 3 is available across all Under Armour retail stores for INR 14999/-
PRODUCT DNA:
• CONNECTS TO UA MAPMYRUN™: tracks &analyzes your running metrics to help make you a better runner
• Engineered warp spacer upper for optimal lightweight containment & breathability
• Strategically mapped design without any overlays or seams so you can put in the miles without irritation
• Aerodynamic heel design & external TPU heel wrap for added support & lockdown fit
• Molded EVA sockliner provides added comfort, resiliency & cushioning for high-mileage performance
• Responsive UA HOVR™ cushioning reduces impact, returns energy & helps propel you forward
• Channeled rubber outsole mapped for durability in high-wear areas & flex zones to promote natural movement

Antica Ceramica launched Terratile Tiles Collection

A leading tile manufacturer in India, Antica Ceramica recently introduced the “Terratile Tiles Collection” at its flagship store and other retailers nationwide. The Terratile Tiles Collection is considered a premier product that has been known for many decades in the tile manufacturing industry and has been designed to enhance and improve aesthetics around any home or office space.

The Terratile Tiles Collection is ideal to be used in commercial and residential interiors. With their striking feature of the white patches effect, these tiles come with a Rosso, Grey, Blue, Verde & Azul finish that will add a visual pop to any kitchen or floor of your home or business. Boasting UV and slip-resistant features that make them soft but incredibly strong for those high traffic areas, you can count on these tiles to stand up firmly through anything. Available in the size of 600 x 1200 mm with a thickness of 10 mm, you can trust that these tiles are exactly what you need to give your next project a unique new look!

According to Mr. Rahul Bhugra, Director- of Antica Ceramica, ” Terratile Tiles Collection in white patches complements any room. These tiles are highly durable having a thick layer that absorbs the stains and dirt while being resistant to water and bacteria. These tiles are also produced with non-slip textures to strike the right balance between functionality and design. Aesthetics aside, they make space look elegant and interesting”.

The Renovated destination for party lovers in Punjabi Bagh Delhi

A place that can elevate every somber moment to splendorous jiffies at any point in time.

Yes, you heard it right! Clue Lounge and Bar, Punjabi Bagh, has everything you might be seeking for a perfect occasion.

Ankur Bhatia, Owner; says “Really grateful for the response & stellar reviews we consistently receive for our endeavors and wish to carry on the servings with excellence always”.

The alluring ambiance and interiors are what one can look at the whole day without even blinking. The clue is prominent for enrapturing the hearts of youth who like to party all night long.

The terrace is said to be the most attractive point to raise the standards of every special celebration. The appealing view of every corner is sufficient enough to brighten up the smiles of everyone having the best moments of their lives.

The best magic happens & stories are created when customers are catered to with a bunch of appetizing flavors from the special and first-rate menu of Clue.

Not only this but the aroma of new cuisines and succulent Arabic food has proven to be a must-try and game-changer. No one can leave this place without getting stuffed with a palatable meal cooked by chefs with appreciable culinary skills. The top-notch servings will absolutely par your expectations. Their wide range of cocktails & beverages has successfully enchanted the taste buds of people and now they just can’t resist it at any cost.

Dilip Rawat, General Manager; states that “The team strives for making a connection with customers through our admirable servings & services. Seeing a customer leaving the restaurant with a happy face is what keeps us motivated to be the best every time”.

Kriti Nagar Felicitated In GlantorX Women Leadership Awards 2022

GlantorX is widely recognised as one of the fastest-growing market research companies in India. Its custom-crafted algorithms are proven to be quite efficient and are known to be impactful through segregation and customer base analysis. Its algorithms are highly effective and are known to be flexible to acquire desired results. GlantorX is known for its implementation tactics to generate a wider reach. The company boasts that the secret behind the success of GlantorX is its dedicated team and its research methodologies.

Being a philanthropic company, GlantorX recently hosted a string of events called to identify, honor and appreciate the struggling personalities who are striving to bring a positive change in society. Such personalities are struggling regardless of the personal gain to make this society a better place to live and grow. It recently hosted ‘GlantorX Women Leadership Awards 2022’ to honor all the hardworking women of society. Regardless of the societal standards and pressures, women who are striving to rise above all the stereotypes to contribute to society and prove that women are capable of anything should be honored and appreciated for daring to dream big.

Commenting on the felicitation, Kriti Nagar, Delhi based Writer and Film Director of Kalakriti Films Production said, “I have started my film production company Kalakriti Films Production from the scratch and I am so honoured to be awarded for my immense hard work and consistent contribution to society, via helping budding artist and technicians to become a part of the film industry. I have always helped many passionate and talented people to pursue their dream in film industry and I will continue the same in coming years.”

She founded Kalakriti Films Production, with a sole purpose of making films and web-series which can make our society a better place to live. The quality of films and web-series are deteriorating with weak storylines, bad re-makes and over use of unnecessary abusive language which doesn’t even support the story’s demand. Also, these days, new talents are not included in the film fraternity, and many times they have been discouraged- even when these “legit outsiders” are far more talented and hardworking.

Therefore, She believes that it’s the need of the hour to step-up and collaborate with real talent, in order to uphold the rich legacy of our Bollywood Industry.

Co-curricular learning platform Homi Lab raises Rs. 5 Cr in a Pre-Series A by Inflection Point Ventures

A co-curricular futuristic learning platform Homi Lab has raised Rs. 5 Cr in a Pre-Series A round by Inflection Point Ventures.

The funds raised will be utilized for development of the cutting-edge technology platform and high-quality unique content creation. The organization aims to continue ongoing research on futuristic skills, development cycle involving stakeholders and enabling the backbone which will create top notch content for the young learners.

Ankur Mittal, Co-Founder, Inflection Point Ventures says, “Exposing young minds to futuristic learning programs through technology to enrich their understanding of non-academic but deeply insightful subjects like space, time travel etc., enabling them to charter an unexplored territory is a commendable initiative by Homi Lab. This futuristic platform will help India to nurture young learners right from a nascent age and mold them to be explorers in the field of science and beyond. At the same time the product and content will have creators from all over the world and hence will be relevant to a large global audience. While focused on kids, I personally found some of the content extremely fascinating. Homi Lab is founded by Srijan who is the founder of Kalam Centre and has authored many books which will form the base on which the content will be created making Homi Lab a good founder – product fit. PV looks forward to extending their support and helping them build and deliver quality content through technology.”

Homi Lab was founded by Srijan Pal Singh, renowned children’s author and former Advisor to the 11th President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. The leadership team has exposure to global methods of education and various global laboratories across streams bringing the art of creating an interactive and engaging learning experience. Homi Lab is committed to enabling all young learners to view the world with an expanded vision. Homi Lab students have successfully discovered 71 preliminary asteroids in space using real-time data. Almost one thousand students were trained to take pictures of planet Earth by programming a camera on the International Space Station through Sally Ride EarthKAM Space Camp. It has successfully brought the idea of futuristic learning to almost 40,000 young learners from across the world in the past one year.

Srijan Pal Singh, Founder, Homi Lab says, “Homi Lab is on a continued journey to build a brighter future for humankind by transforming the learning space with our model of training. IPV not only provides us the necessary fuel in our journey in terms of capital, but also in terms of ideas, partnerships and people.”

According to a report by RBSA Advisor, growth in the Indian Edtech sector will be backed by growing demand as well as strengthening business models, aided by facilitative governmental policy. The New Education Policy, 2020, has also provided policy impetus to the Edtech sector by recognizing the role of technology in education.

Moreover, income inelasticity of education in India is estimated at 0.93 vis-à-vis other expenditure, implying that at any income level, Indians are more inclined to spend on their education.

AirAsia India launches Splash Sale with fares starting at Rupees 1,620

AirAsia India announced the launch of a splash sale with fares starting at ₹1,620, while riding on the launch of its loyalty marketing campaign and inviting flyers to sign up on its website or mobile app to “make the most of fast bookings, fab deals and fantastic value” with the NeuPass.

Special sale fares are open for advance booking till 3rd June for travel from 20th June till 14 Dec 2022 and include fares such as Bengaluru-Chennai at ₹1,620.

The sale fares are bookable on AirAsia India’s website www.airasia.co.in, mobile app and partner booking channels.

As reported by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), AirAsia India topped the charts with 94.8% On Time Performance while also having the lowest cancellation percentage (0.00%) in April 2022.

Cashfree Payments partners with NPCI for tokenization of RuPay cards

Cashfree Payments, a leading payments and API banking solutions company, today announced that it has partnered with National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to provide tokenization solutions on RuPay cards for its merchants. Cashfree Payments’ tokenization solution ‘Token Vault’ helps merchants to provide their customers the option to save cards on the merchant website or app and process card payments securely while being RBI compliant. With this partnership, Cashfree Payments becomes a certified and compliant payment tokenization service provider across key card networks like RuPay, Mastercard, and Visa.

Token Vault supports all major card types: credit cards, debit cards, prepaid cards, and corporate cards. Businesses can integrate Token Vault API with their platform with a single integration. Once integrated, Cashfree Payments takes care of both saved card function & processing payments.

Akash Sinha, CEO & Co-Founder, Cashfree Payments said, “We are glad to partner with NPCI to enable tokenization for RuPay cards and empower our merchants with a secure and compliance-friendly payments inflow system. At Cashfree Payments, it is our focus to build innovative and effective solutions, to help provide a simpler, safe and seamless experience to our merchants. Our business, products, vision and mission support a digital and an inclusive Indian economy.”

GaurishKorgaonkar, Head- Fintech Solutions, NPCI said, “This partnership with Cashfree payments to provide tokenization solutions on RuPay cards will enable cardholders to enjoy a seamless payment experience backed by best-in-class security. We believe that this is yet another step towards further strengthening the overall digital payments environment with increased safety and security. We are confident that this initiative will help various merchants in the digital ecosystem meet the RBI deadline.”

As per RBI guidelines, with effect from 1st July 2022, neither businesses nor payment aggregators can save customer card details on their platforms. The card details can only be saved by the card networks or issuing banks. Card tokenization is the process of replacing sensitive card information like card number, and card expiry with a cryptographically generated random string, referred to as the card token. Once a card is tokenized, the generated card token can be used for processing payments as a substitute to card details, thus eliminating risk of loss of sensitive card information while making card payments.

Cashfree Payments’ was among the first few players in the industry to go live with its tokenization solution in December 2021.

With over 50% market share among payment processors, Cashfree Payments today leads the way in bulk disbursals in India with its product Payouts. Recently, India’s largest lender, SBI invested in Cashfree Payments underscoring the company’s role in building a robust payments ecosystem. Cashfree Payments works closely with all leading banks to build the core payments and banking infrastructure that powers the company’s products and is also integrated with major platforms such as Shopify, Wix, Paypal, Amazon Pay, Paytm, and Google Pay. Apart from India, Cashfree Payments products are used in eight other countries including the USA, Canada, and UAE.

Colors Bangla launches the story of a girl in search of her ideal mother

The relationship of a mother and child is supposed to be the purest one. A daughter always sees a role model, a friend and a confidant in her mother. But what happens if an eight-year-old child doesn’t have her mother and takes up the responsibility of searching an ideal mother for herself? Bringing forth one such heart-warming story of a mother- daughter relationship, Colors Bangla is all set to present Tumii Je Amar Maa.

Little Aru doesn’t have her mother and tries to find the perfect one which fits her bill like long hair, bright eyes, beautiful smile. The show produced by Acropolis Entertainment will go on air from 6th June every day at 9 pm only on Colors Bangla.

Set against the backdrop of a small township near Kolkata little Aru has everything in life except one, the most important, her mother. The motherless child is pampered by all and she is not used to getting ‘no’ as an answer. But the child has one constant demand that of getting a mother. Her dad Aniruddho Roy Chowdhury played by Suman Dey runs the family business of a hotel chain. A smart and intelligent man he plays the role of both the parents. Aniruddha loves his only daughter and feels helpless that he’s unable to fulfill Aru’s wish of getting a mother. Arohi played by Priya Mondal takes up familial responsibility after the demise of her mother. To support her family, she wants a good job. Life has its own ways of showing us new avenues. Arohi lands up getting the job of a mother to little Aru. Through their encounter, Aru and Arohi come close to each other and they develop a beautiful

bond- a bond which is beyond blood ties. Will Arohi turn out to be a loving and caring mother to Aru? Will she be a mother and a fitting bride for Aniruddha?

Speaking on the launch of the new show,Sagnik Ghosh, Business Head, Colors Bangla said, “Mothers are magicians as they turn pain into hope and tears into laughter. The narrative of the show is very different and is about an unconventional story of a little girl who lacks motherly love, affection and so tries to search for an ideal mother for herself. In this journey, she bonds with a woman who might not be her biological mother but has all the qualities that a child sees in her mother. She responds to her physical and emotional needs. We are sure the girls’ emotional journey will melt hearts and have a universal resonance because of the mother child bonding.”

With an ensemble cast of Suman Dey, Priya Mondal, Mallika, Suchismita, the show is an ode to all the children who miss the motherly love in their life.

The Channel has planned a robust marketing campaign for the launch of the show involving television, radio and print. The channel will also explore high-impact properties in MSO networks as part of their TV plan and activate social media through interest-based targeting, enabling content engagement. There will also be on-ground engagement activities to drive in the show’s key messaging with live audience engagement.

While the bond a mother shares with her child is boundless, the mother-daughter relationship is especially wonderful. To know more aboutlittle Aru’squest for her ideal mother watch Tumii Je Amar Maa starting 6th June everyday at 9 pm.

Infinix augments its HOT portfolio; Launches HOT 12 Play for a fully-loaded entertainment experience

Mumbai, June 2022— After the grand success of its HOT 10 Play last year, Infinix – the premium smartphone brand from TRANSSION Group – has today unveiled a new addition to its fully loaded budget-friendly smartphone segment with first-in-segment upgrades. The newest entrant in the block, HOT 12 Play, promises an uninterrupted entertainment experience to the new-age users and will be available on Flipkart on sale from May 30th onwards at an introductory price of Rs.8499/-. Available in 4GB RAM/64GB with 3GB of expandable memory variant, HOT 12 Play will come in four exciting colour alternatives: Racing Black, Horizon Blue (Hero Colour), Champagne Gold and Daylight Green.

HOT 12 Play will have the best display, best battery, the best performance in the segment, and some key upgrades from its precursor in the HOT series. Packed with an array of outstanding features, a powerful processor, the latest OS, expandable memory and an improved camera, the fully-loaded smartphone promises an immersive, engaging and all-rounder experience.

Bigger and Brighter Display: Infinix’s refreshing new HOT 12 Play stands out for its 6.82” display with HD+ resolution, biggest in the segment with a first-in-segment 90 Hz Refresh Rate & 180 Hz of Touch Sampling rate, making the device supremely smooth. It is also the only device in the price segment to have a middle punch-hole display. Along with the big screen, the smartphone also has one of the brightest displays in the category of 480 NITS and a 1500:1 contrast ratio for a superior visual experience. Meanwhile, a 90.66% screen-to-body ratio will deliver an immersive viewing experience. The Panda King MN228 glass protection on top of the display makes the device absolutely durable.

The engaging viewing experience of HOT 12 Play is backed by a superior audio experience enabled by the DTS Surround Sound speaker for maximum engagement.

Refreshing design: HOT 12 Play has been designed keeping in mind the aesthetics and comfort factor while using a big-screen smartphone. The premium and the stylish smartphone comes with a Fingerprint sensor on the back panel.

Superior performance and Massive storage: Operating on the latest Android 11, Infinix HOT 11 2022 comes installed with a UniSoc T610 processor with a CPU clock speed of Upto 1.82 GHz speed and a highly efficient 12nm production process. Available in a 4GB RAM/64 GB memory variant, the device comes with an expandable virtual RAM of up to 3GB. It also comes with the latest XOS 10 skin enabling users to enjoy a smooth and faster software UX with refreshed icons, colour theme design, refreshing wallpapers, and a cleaner interface.

Improved Camera: The all-new HOT 12 Play continues the tradition of Infinix in offering the best-in-class camera. It features a 13 MP Dual rear camera with a dedicated quad-LED flash, the only device in the segment with the feature. On the front, the smartphone has an 8MP in-display selfie camera with a dedicated Dual LED flash, yet again the only device in the segment with this feature.

Massive Battery: HOT 12 Play is backed by the biggest battery in the segment of 6000mAh, which keeps the smartphone operational even after long hours of heavy usage. It is also the only device in the segment to have a 10W charge support with a Type C cable, giving users the freedom to do their favourite things, for as long as they want, without bothering about frequently recharging the phone.

Commenting on thelaunch, Mr. Anish Kapoor, CEO – Infinix India, said, “The Infinix HOT series was launched in 2017 to bring meaningful innovation to consumers and has since gained a phenomenal fan base with its many FIST(First In Segment Technology) features like superior display, performance and battery. The HOT Series epitomises that belief by making flagship-like features accessible at aggressive price points. By democratizing technology, we strive to create strong connections with our customers through game-changing innovations and enhanced smartphone experience. Our fans have shown a strong affinity towards the HOT Series consistently and this has led to us being recommended by their friends and family, which is our core strength. The immersive and robust experience of the HOT 12 Play is a result of constant fan and consumer engagements to craft a device that is the right fit for the larger audience. This aspirational device backed with a virtual RAM, heavy-duty 6000mAh battery and the 6.82-inch punch hole screen boasts of a perfect amalgamation of performance and aesthetics, making it a power-packed- offering under 9K”

Considering the customer-centric approach, Infinix has developed a robust network with 915+ service centres across 700 towns in India. This allows users to enjoy after-sales experiences. Infinix devices come pre-installed with the Carlcare App that empowers the users to locate their nearest service centre and also indicates to them the availability of parts at the service centres.