Archive: October 14, 2022

IESA Releases Its Report on ESDM State Preparedness Index at 17th Vision Summit & India Embedded Electronics Show

Bangalore, October 14, 2022: India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA), the premier industry organization representing the Semiconductor and Electronics Systems Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) sector in the country, today released its findings on State Preparedness Index for the ESDM industry. The report was launched during IESA’s annual flagship event, the Vision Summit & India Embedded Electronics Show 2022.

The states in India have recognized industry as the key to economic development where domestic and foreign investment have the potential to generate revenues and employment opportunities. The young population profile adds to the urgency to create capacities that can lay the foundation for gainful engagement. Hence states have been working hard to enhance their investment attractiveness and become worthy of investors’ interest. To assess the efforts of the states, NITI Aayog has standardized the criteria for measurement which has helped states to evaluate their areas of improvement and position themselves favourably. The competition among states for attracting investment in ESDM is emerging as a positive development with states reinforcing their inherent strengths and attempting to acquire others. The ESDM attractiveness of a given state is dependent of a set of factors that offer potential investors a scientific basis to aid their investment decisions

The report presents the State Readiness Index (SRI) is developed from a 360-degree examination of each state’s ecosystem in order to attract investments from design and manufacturing firms. The index is derived from multidimensional data points relating to the ESDM ecosystem. The report covers 20 states on their competitiveness in attracting the ESDM investments and categorizing the states as nascent, emerging, developing and well-established markets for ESDM industry.

IESA’s report also shows that some states have taken the initiative for developing the sector at a rapid pace. These states hold great potential to grow into the future hubs for the ESDM sector by inching towards a mature market through the development of necessary business climate and human capital, amongst others.

According to the report, the ESDM attractiveness of a given state is dependent of a set of factors that offer potential investors a scientific basis to aid their investment decisions. The report will aid the stakeholders including policymakers to formulate provisions that will further bolster the growth of ESDM sector in their respective states.

‘The Blue Mic’ turns one! Hungama Artist Aloud, BIG FM celebrate first anniversary of the show

National, 14 October 2022: Hungama Artist Aloud, a one-stop destination for commercial Independent Entertainment, in association with leading radio network BIG FM, one of the leading radio networks in India, celebrate the one-year anniversary of their IP #TheBlueMic on 13th October. After a glorious year of uniting music lovers with some of the most happening indie acts across genres and languages, the partnership raises a toast to the journey accompanied by star performers Nikhita Gandhi and Shalmali Kholgade.

Curated as an end-to-end platform to promote independent talents and their music, The Blue Mic was launched in October last year as a partnership between BIG FM and HAA. Its first edition thrilled the audience with an ever-evolving slate of content line-ups that opened doors for independent artists. The show kick-started with the sensational band Euphoria and saw several artists flaunt their trademark musical styles. Post the success of the first edition, the two powerhouses upped the ante with The Blue Mic – English Edition in June 2022, demonstrating a new wave of talents such as Easy Wanderings, Aditi Ramesh, Druv Kent, and many more.

Soumini Sridhara Paul, Senior Vice President, of Hungama Artist Aloud, said, “The genesis of Hungama Artist Aloud has always been to be the one-stop destination for independent music and content. The Blue Mic, in association with BIG FM, originated with the purpose to bring deserving independent talent to the forefront. We are delighted that the property has reached its one-year mark and hope for The Blue Mic to progress limitlessly hereon.”

Adding on, Mr. Sunil Kumaran, COO, of BIG FM said, “The Blue Mic IP was curated with the purpose of building a platform that would act as a trailblazer for independent artists to showcase their musical talent and individuality on a bigger platform. At BIG FM, the endeavor has always been to be pioneers and industry firsts in purpose-driven campaigns. We are ecstatic to achieve this milestone in association with Hungama Artist Aloud and to be able to touch countless hearts through this IP. Striving to build an ecosystem for independent talent to thrive, we at BIG FM congratulate The Blue Mic for turning a year old with many more to come!”

Raising the bar, the IP will be back with an action-packed season 2 on 31st October. Kicking off the season will be Amit Trivedi, followed by performances from The Yellow Diaries, Indian Ocean, and much more.

This Diwali, Acer India Celebrates the Special Bond of Father-daughter in Its New Campaign: Bring Home an Acer, Bring Home Prosperity

Mumbai, 14th October 2022: Ahead of Diwali, Acer India has launched its new film conceptualised by Contract Advertising. The short video follows the emotions of a father as he is about to meet his daughter for Diwali, after she married someone of her choice without his permission. But over the course of meeting her new family, the father discovers that the daughter’s world is indeed one of happiness and prosperity.

Acer India wishes to celebrate such a world and the joy of being a part of it in more ways than one.

The film starts with the father being grumpy about going to meet his daughter and her new family since she had married without consulting him. He worries about if his son-in-law will care for her or even take the necessary steps for her asthma. But as the parents enter the new home and their world, they see the little ways in which the young couple care for and complement each other. Acer is a trusted part of their new lives opening the doors to better health and wealth, representing true prosperity. The reunion does soften the father’s stance towards his son-in-law and we see him even playing a part in invoking more prosperity in their lives.

According to Sooraj Balakrishnan, Head of Marketing for Acer India, “Diwali is a season of many emotions across generations – We tapped into the joy of reuniting a multi-cultural Indian family for the biggest festival of the year. As a brand that many Indians trust when it comes to prosperity, Acer is delighted to present this heartwarming story where a father-daughter reconnects during Diwali. And the part that we play in this story and in real life, is to empower a prosperous life for all in aspects of health of wealth.”

Campaign Credits:
• Brand Name: Acer
• Campaign Name: Bring home an Acer, Bring home Prosperity
• Campaign elements: TVC
• Creative agency: Contract Advertising
• Production House: Farbe Productions

DEassy – A donation platform by 17 year-old Student enables mass Donors for donating food and essentials to underprivileged people

New Delhi/Gurugram, 14th October 2022: With the world advancing in terms of technology, a 17-year-old resident of Gurugram and a student of DPS RK Puram, Manan Khanna has ideated and implemented an artificial intelligence and video-based mobile application “DEassy Donation Platform”.

Deasy platform enables mass Donors to seamlessly connect to recipients or Point-of-Contacts (PoCs) for easily donating food and essentials to underprivileged people while sitting at their homes. The donations can be scheduled under multiple categories including Food/Ration, Clothes, Footwear, Books/Stationery, Sports, Toys, Furniture, Phones/Computer, Birthday celebrations, etc. One of the other key features is SOS (emergency alert). If any poor person or family needs urgent help in terms of expensive medicines, blood, etc., this platform can be used by recipient PoCs to trigger SOS which will be received by all the people registered to this platform and hence can offer help immediately. DEasyy App is now available on Playstore and Appstore.

The solution introduces a Video-based Mobile App Platform that can be used by Donors anytime from anywhere to post and schedule their donations. Recipients directly or through agencies/organizations’ PoCs are notified of the scheduled donations and pick-up/drop can be arranged internally or through 3rd party pick-up agencies.

Manan Khanna, a student of DPS RK Puram, New Delhi, is working on this startup venture with his team for the last 1 and a half years and at present few pilot deployments are being done in some Gurgaon locations with reference to NGOs. Manan is deeply passionate right from his childhood days to helping underprivileged people. Strong willingness to fill the gaps in the existing donation ecosystem that Manan identified during the groundwork while he was a member of a couple of NGOs.

Also, the lack of trust in the existing system and the missing flexible global connectivity platform are the critical gaps identified. His keen interest in Computer science from class IXth and his social service exposure led to the idea of developing an automated, trustworthy and transparent techno-social platform that provides seamless connectivity between mass donors and end beneficiaries through existing NGOs.

Talking about his inspiration to develop this app, Manan said, “The main inspiration is the feeling of gratification that I receive once I’m able to find the look of happiness in the eyes of the underprivileged. Another thing that drives Manan to create and maintain a platform like DEasyy is inequality. The unfair distribution of resources motivates me to fulfill an undeclared duty to help those with fewer assets.”

Computer science and coding as a whole have inspired him to practically apply the knowledge that he has to deal with the problems in his immediate surroundings. Manan further said that “Being the first bystander to see the wastage of easily reusable stuff due to lack of convenience also inspired me. Waste for one is gold for another. I wanted to make the gold available to those who needed it.”

A team full of technical experts has pushed Manan forward to look towards the final goal in mind irrespective of the hurdles needed to be overcome. The whole process from the ideation to the deployment took a great deal of investment in terms of effort, time, and capital. The time and effort needed for proper analysis of the problem at hand through groundwork as a part of NGOs were followed by proper ideation and team formation.

Choosing a well-balanced team with a variety of skill sets was a necessity. Soon after, reaching out for mentorship from top industry and social experts was achieved. A technical team with proper mentorship worked their heart out to provide a fully functioning app that is published in both the Play and App Store. Funding and investment in terms of capital by an MNC were the essential components that allowed the project to reach the level it is at today.

Manan worked on conceptualization and brainstormed end-to-end idea feasibility with mentors (from Industry, school, and social service organizations). He did research/PoC on this and his research paper got selected and published in IEEEXplore at the 2022 6th International Conference on Computing Methodologies and Communication (ICCMC). Manan presented this at the same conference as well.

“Few pilot developments are already done using DEasyy through drives (in association with some NGOs) in reference to Slum clusters of Gurgaon to help underprivileged people. This initiative is now being launched at the society and school levels. Few drives are planned, and advertising through social media is also planned to increase the coverage of this initiative so we can help more & more underprivileged people,” Manan said.

Baby Forest Launches new baby care products…

New Delhi, 14th October 2022: Cocooning your baby in the luxury of nature through holistically crafted formulations, renowned baby care brand launched new baby care products. A one-stop shop for everything that a baby and the new mother needs, the product range comprises bath rituals, baby essentials, feeding rituals, play rituals and organic care.

Baby Forest is all about bringing back age-old formulas and delivering them to the modern mother, who seeks the trusted old ways of caring for a child. A brand driven by message ‘Soham of Ayurveda’, which means not to compromise on the health of the babies, aims of imbibing the best of natures’ offerings in their all-natural baby care products.

The USP of these products are its organic ingredients, authentic ayurvedic formulations, paraben and sulphate free, Derma safe, Cruelty free and all the products are handcrafted within the country.

Apoorva Pandey, Entrepreneur and Business Head of Baby Forest said, “The brand firmly believes that baby care is not simply limited to skin care, and also offers products for bathing and feeding rituals such as organic ubtan and body wash, and milk bottles respectively under their Organic Care range that outlines a journey towards healthier lifestyle choices while maintaining an infant’s comfort.

Their play care range is designed as holistic development tools like the beach and stacking toys, to help expand a little one’s sense of discovery, exploration, and creativity. “adds Apoorva.

How Faridabad connectivity in the coming years is boosting the real estate?

Faridabad is one of Delhi’s most important satellite cities. This industrial hub has been added to the second list of Smart Cities Mission. It is a part of the National Capital Region and one of the largest cities in Haryana. Many people prefer it because of its proximity to New Delhi. And NewFaridabad is the crowning jewel of Faridabad. Despite the fact that New Faridabad is a part of the National Capital Region, the future appears even brighter. Because much is being planned to transform Faridabad into a global city. New Faridabad puts you in a better position, closer to everything you need and everything you’ll ever want. Let us take a look at some of the recent developments in New Faridabad.

Delhi Mumbai expressway

The 1380 km long Delhi Mumbai expressway, is being built at a cost of 98,000 crores and will be India’s longest expressway. It will improve connectivity between Delhi, the national capital, and Mumbai, the financial capital. The expressway will connect urban centers in Delhi via the Delhi-Faridabad-Sohna section of the corridor, as well as a spur to Jewar Airport and Jawaharlal Nehru Port, to Mumbai via a spur in Mumbai. The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, envisioned as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘New India’ vision, was inaugurated in 2018, with the foundation stone laid on March 9, 2019. The new expressway is expected to cut the commute time between Delhi and Mumbai in half, from nearly 24 hours to 12 hours, and to shorten the distance by 130 kilometers.

Manjhavli bridge

The Manjhawali bridge, which connects the two major cities of the Delhi-NCR region, is regarded as the lifeline of Greater Noida and Greater Faridabad. Despite a seven-year delay in construction, it is now expected that traffic between many cities will begin on this bridge in the year 2022. After the bridge is built, the distance between Haryana’s Faridabad and several cities in the Delhi-NCR, including Greater Noida and Ghaziabad, will be reduced to minutes. That is, where people have to travel for many hours to reach Noida, Ghaziabad, and Meerut, once traffic on the Manjhawali flyover begins, this journey will not only become jam-free but the hours-long journey will be completed in minutes. It is being told that after the construction of the Manjhawali flyover, it can also be connected with the country’s largest highway Delhi Mumbai Express.

Jewar airport

Faridabad has a unique strategic location due to its proximity to the national capital, New Delhi. It is one of the most rapidly growing cities in the region. It is well connected to well-known places such as Noida, Gurgaon, and New Delhi via national highways, railways, and airways. The Jewar airport, located southeast of the nation’s capital and connected by the Yamuna expressway, is important to the future growth of the extended National Capital Region (NCR) and Uttar Pradesh.

Amrita Hospital

One such development is setting up the new Amrita Hospital, the biggest private sector hospital in India, spread across 133 acres of land in Faridabad. According to the management, the ultra-modern Amrita Hospital in Faridabad will be one of India’s most significant green building healthcare projects with a low carbon footprint. With the opening of Amrita Hospital, not only the people of Faridabad and Haryana state will be facilitated but the entire population of Delhi NCR will also get treatment facilities here.

Conclusion

The rising real estate prices and limited growth opportunities in Gurugram and Noida have made investment opportunities in Faridabad and areas near it like Naharpur more appealing. These residential and commercial constructions will make Faridabad the epicenter of real estate investments offering handsome returns and state-of-the-art living, working, and entertainment & rejuvenation opportunities.

Zinc from Vedanta to add Midas touch to Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon medals

Bangalore, October 14, 2022: Vedanta Group, the title sponsor for the prestigious Delhi Half Marathon 2022 which is promoting #RunForZeroHunger cause, is contributing its own metal in crafting a specially designed winner’s medal for the prestigious race. The medal will made out of Zinc metal mined by the Vedanta Group company, Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL) in the heritage state of Rajasthan. As many as 15,000 medals will be up for grabs for all finishers in the mega run to be presented at the end of the sporting extravaganza. Vedanta has supplied around 3 tons of the purest and most special grade zinc to make these unique medals from HZL’s Zawar Mines in Rajasthan which is also one the oldest zinc mines in the world.

Zawar is the largest and oldest mine of Hindustan Zinc in the western state and the first traces of zinc mining & smelting in the region date back to 2,000 years when the locals used retorts to obtain pure zinc. Thus, the metal in the medals also symbolizes the rich history of zinc mining in the state and how it has evolved over multiple centuries. In addition to the Zawar Mines, the zinc for the medals has also come from the world’s largest underground zinc mine at Rampura Agucha in Bhilwara district of Rajasthan. Further, the medal not only represents a participant’s will and determination to go the distance, but also symbolizes the string of stories of valor and pride from different parts of Rajasthan.

Ms. Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Non-Executive Director, Vedanta Limited says, “The Vedanta Family is pleased to honor and celebrate the runners’ spirit and zeal of acing the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon 2022 by joining the #RunForZeroHunger. The Finisher’s medal is made from the purest, highest-grade Zinc from the world’s largest and oldest mines in the heritage state of Rajasthan and is produced by our Hindustan Zinc Limited. It is not just a symbol of victory and accomplishment, but also carries the stories of valor and pride of Rajasthan and its people through many centuries. Above all, it embodies the love and respect of our local communities.”

Every single medal winning kilometer will add an equivalent number of meals, for children in need as part of Vedanta’s Zero Hunger commitment. Vedanta has set a goal of pledging 1 million meals through the run. For each km run by a participant, the company will pledge a meal through their flagship social impact initiative ‘Nand Ghar’. Aimed at eradicating malnutrition from the country, Vedanta’s #RunForZeroHunger is a mass movement to create awareness to make sure that no child goes to bed hungry. With transformation for a sustainable future and responsible mining for developing metals at the heart of its business operations, Vedanta’s commitment to giving back to society has been a part of its core ethos.

Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon has been a catalyst for transformation. The event is cemented on five key pillars — health & fitness, communal harmony, philanthropy, a boost to Indian athletics, and pride & prestige to the host city. Each of these pillars has grown into testimonies of success with tangible results. Be it encouraging an active lifestyle, women empowerment, harnessing an entire ecosystem around running, to creating a springboard for Indian middle and long-distance runners with representation and laurels at the international level. Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon is one of the largest sporting platforms for philanthropy and inclusivity that brings together the community at large.

The union of Vedanta and the Delhi Half Marathon accelerates the ability of both to be a catalyst for change and positive impact.

The 17th edition of the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon will be held in the Indian capital on 16th October 2022. The event will be flagged off from the iconic Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and registration for both the physical and virtual races opened on Friday, 2nd September 2022.

How start-ups can leverage the festive bonanza..

The festive season has always played a vital role for all businesses. This is the time for standing out at its best! And, especially this year being one of the most longed for. With all brands across sectors approaching their consumers with full power, innovative content, and some heart-warming campaigns, this festive season is seamlessly creating a mark.

The advent of ‘Fashion Startups’ has vastly impacted consumer buying behavior, altering the way consumers buy and shop. The pandemic was somewhere a blessing in disguise for ‘start-ups’. The ‘start-up’ ecosystem, as they say, has significantly marked its existence in creating history. As of 2021, India had more than 800 D2C startups operating in the country. Of this, fashion or clothing startups accounted for the largest share as the country’s fashion industry has the highest potential and is expected to grow to $43.2 Bn by 2025, according to an Inc42 report.

Therefore, the advent of new brands as well as changing consumer shopping behaviors are pushing companies to be in tandem with these ever-evolving consumer preferences, needs, and demands to adapt and align themselves at a much faster pace than before.
This is the season.

Two categories that stand out differently every festive season are consumer electronics and fashion. Fashion is the most upvoted category in India. As the country is considered to be a land of festivals and stylish clothing plays a vital role. As per reports, 63 percent of consumers are anticipated to spend on fashion categories compared to 56 percent last year while 53 percent of consumers are going to spend on electronics compared to 44 percent last year. And, it significantly tops the charts here too. So, below are some pointers to boost your festive sales and marketing plans:
 Embrace eCommerce: The Indian eCommerce industry is on an upward swing and how! India’s eCommerce sector is expected to reach US$ 111.40 billion by 2025 from US$ 46.20 billion in 2020, growing at a 19.24% CAGR, anticipated to surpass its foreign counterparts. While fashion entrepreneurs are increasingly expanding outside eCommerce, however, eCommerce should be at the helm. Though we entered the normal festive days and people have been longing to visit the stores and shop with that essence of look and feel, however a major chunk of consumers still prefer ordering at the convenience of sitting at home and having gifts getting delivered to their loved ones across geographies.

 Discounts: Well, a must to do is to have a festive IP. Selling your sale is definitely an art. All the brands have their annual-festive sales along with marketplaces. For instance, Flipkart’s Big Billion days and Amazon’s Great Indian Shopping festival, and more. Such IPs create a brand mark in the consumer’s head. We all love discounts, don’t we? So, the best offers produce the best results. This has stood true for ages and discounts help grab more footfall then and now more eyeballs. However, consumers clearly expect quality over quantity. Therefore, brands need not forget what their actual value proposition is and what they stand for.

So, this IP needs to be inculcated in your brand identity, do not do a sale or offer discounts just for the sake of doing it.

Leveraging digital advertising: The brands need to be omnipresent digitally too. Seize the opportunity to grab the ad spots at all possible mediums but be cautious. Do not overdo and be relevant. Your advertising content needs to be seamless and you should advertise on eCommerce marketplaces without any doubt. It is the most used place. Well, this accounts for strategic planning and execution too. Undoubtedly, clarity plus consistency is the key.

 A targeted reach: As digital gives the opportunity to signify and focus your targeting, then why not leverage it with your expertise and innovation? Experiment with a key target audience but experiment and performance need to go hand-in-hand. As we all know, reach plays the most important part in your marketing funnel therefore, the more you focus on a targeted reach, the more you will be able to provide your customers with your strategic offerings. Place your media campaigns pan India audiences as well as regional ones, do not leave it in the middle.
While leveraging the festive season is a must for all fashion start-ups, doing it right should be the core essence. Because, if tapped right, the season can add wonders to your sales scale.

Polo in the Pink City…

INDIA, 14th October 2022 – It was a star-studded weekend of Polo in the Pink City with The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts celebrating its inaugural sponsorship of the royal sport in India with The Leela Maharaja Sawai Man Singh Polo Cup 2022, in a unique collaboration with Rajasthan Polo Club.

The Leela Maharaja Sawai Man Singh Polo Cup 2022 was a perfect vantage to experience the richness of India at its luxurious best with the coming together of a brand that is the epitome of true Indian luxury and a sport famed to be the sport of kings. HH Maharaj Sawai Padmanabh Singh of Jaipur led The Leela Polo Team.

As a prelude to the final match, The Leela Palace Jaipur hosted a Royal Soiree at Mohan Mahal, the specialty Indian restaurant inspired by the famed Sheesh Mahal, welcoming prestigious guests which included an eclectic mix of royalty, glitterati and well-known faces from the world of Polo.

The brand hosted a Champagne Afternoon Tea to celebrate the association. Hosted by Anuraag Bhatnagar, Chief Operating Officer of The Leela Palaces , Hotels and Resorts and Chandrashekhar Joshi, General Manager The Leela Palace Jaipur, also present were Maharaja Narendra Singh, Rajkumari Gauravi Kumari, Kajal Aggarwal, Gautam Kitchlu, Elli AvrRam, Shobhaa De, Pria Kataria Puri, Vikram Madhok, Aneesha Madhok, Karen Anand and many high-profile dignitaries.

Commenting on the inaugural sponsorship, Mr. Anuraag Bhatnagar, Chief Operating Officer, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts, said, “We feel honoured to associate with the royal family and Rajasthan Polo Club for our inaugural sponsorship of Polo in India with The Leela Maharaj Sawai Man Singh Polo Cup 2022. We are also very grateful to our guests for their wonderful feedback on experiencing our curated weekend of Polo. We look forward to our coming years of partnership and taking the game of polo to greater heights.”

The Leela is always focused on curating experiences that resonate with the evolving needs of today’s discerning luxury traveler. As the brand gears up to embrace the next phase of its growth trajectory, it continues to evolve and focus on experiential and conscious luxury while remaining true to its ethos of “Atithi Devo Bhava – Guest is God.”

CriticalRiver bestowed with the three awards by Comparably…

~ Selected as Best Company for Perks & Benefits, Best Company for Work-Life Balance, and Best Company for Compensation ~

Hyderabad, 14th October 2022: CriticalRiver, a global digital and technology consulting services company, today announced that it has once again been rated as one of the best places to work based on work-life balance, compensation, and other perks and benefits. The organization has swept the board in all three categories in the Q3 Workplace Culture Awards 2022 from Comparably, the leading corporate brand reputation platform.

The fast-growing company with a strong focus on people has been awarded in 3 categories this quarter. These include Best Company for Perks & Benefits, Best Company for Work-Life Balance, and Best Company for Compensation .Inclusive of these awards and five earlier this year, CriticalRiver has won a total of eight Comparably Awards in 2022, reflecting its growing status as one of the best employers globally. The best company for career growth, best CEOs for diversity, best CEOs for women, best company Bay Area, and best company OUTLOOK are among the five accolades from earlier this year.

On receiving the awards, Mr. Anji Maram, CEO, CriticalRiver said “Creating an environment that allows for a work-life balance has been central to CriticalRiver culture from the beginning. It has always been our aim to cultivate a healthy lifestyle together with a perfect work-life balance, be empathetic, and focus on a good future,” said Anji Maram, CEO CriticalRiver. He also added, “We strive to bring positivity and productivity among the employees, and I’m humbled that our employees acknowledge it.”

Comparably Awards are derived from ratings anonymously provided by employees about their workplaces in numerous categories on Comparably.com for 12 months. Winners are then decided based on 20 core culture metrics, ranging from work-life balance and environment to compensation and career growth.

CriticalRiver was also recognized as a Great Place to Work in the year 2021.