Archive: November 18, 2022

Mphasis expands commitment with Ashoka University, strengthening the Tech ecosystem for interdisciplinary Innovation and Industry-academia collaboration

Mumbai, November 18, 2022; Mphasis (BSE: 526299; NSE: MPHASIS), an information technology (IT) solutions provider specializing in cloud and cognitive services, through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm, Mphasis F1 Foundation, today strengthened their commitment to Ashoka University with a grant of INR 18 Crores, for a period of three years towards the expansion of Mphasis Laboratory of Machine Learning and Computational Thinking at the University. The partnership will also lay the foundation of Digital Makerspace to intensify engagement and experiential learning within the student community.

The expansion of the lab will offer spaces for experiential learning through live projects and hackathons and flexible spaces for industry-academia engagement through lecture series and workshops. The Digital Makerspace will provide Computer Science (CS) and non-CS students with an equal opportunity to benefit from Ashoka’s interdisciplinary environment. The Digital Makerspace will be a collaborative workspace for making, learning, exploring, and sharing using high-tech to no-tech tools, that will enable the ideation of tech-enabled solution-centric startups

“At Mphasis, we believe that to truly embrace the digital learning paradigm, one must advocate for accessibility and nurture a new lens of industry-academia partnerships. With our partnership with Ashoka University, we aim to inspire students across all academic fields to foster innovation and harness their potential to create a lasting impact on society. With the growing digital edge, it has become imperative to build a culture of innovation to have a future-ready generation with unmatched capabilities and skillsets. The expansion of the lab and creation of the Digital Makerspace at Ashoka University will enable students to draw on diverse perspectives, skills, and partnerships and create value through immersive and application-based learning,” said Nitin Rakesh, Chief Executive Officer, and Managing Director, Mphasis.

Mphasis, part of the Blackstone portfolio companies, laid the foundation for the partnership in 2020 with the creation of the Laboratory for Machine Learning and Computational Thinking at Ashoka University. Being a first-of-its-kind collaboration in an interdisciplinary institution in India, nine projects were initiated under the three pillars of Digitization and Society, Health Analytics, and Dissemination.

“We are pleased to support our investee company, Mphasis, in the expansion of the laboratory and the creation of Digital Makerspace for students at Ashoka University. At Blackstone, we believe that it is important to educate and equip future leaders with digital skills that can help prepare them for a rapidly evolving world shaped by technology. We’ve made several investments in education technology around the world including Aakash Education, Renaissance, Ellucian, and Articulate, and it’s also been a passion of mine, where I’ve made contributions to its success in India over the years,” said Amit Dixit, Head of Asia Private Equity, Blackstone, and Director on Mphasis board.

“The follow-on grant from Mphasis is a testament and recognition of our commitment towards building India’s premier multidisciplinary University. We are delighted to witness how our collaboration has resulted in creating best-in-class infrastructure and facilities for academics and research and has transformed the lives of the next generation of young leaders. Our Build Ashoka plan outlines a bold vision for interdisciplinary research in our accelerated growth phase. With this extended support from Mphasis, we will raise the bar in academic excellence with a pioneering vision as we collaborate to fuel research-based solutions for real-life challenges and long-term sustainable impact that lasts beyond our times,” said Pramath Raj Sinha Chairperson, Board of Trustees, Ashoka University.

The lab would scale existing high-impact projects and pilot new initiatives such as the Ashoka Centre for Health Analytics, Research & Trends (CHART) to develop India-specific metrics and visualization tools enabling policymakers to identify appropriate strategies and schemes. The lab will also be the foundation ground of BharatSim, an open-source, large-scale, agent-based simulation framework built to help the scientific community.

The new vision will witness the expansion of the lab, to be housed in a dedicated space within the Ashoka Innovation Centre (AIC). The Ashoka Innovation Centre will be a 40,000+ sq. ft. state-of-the-art building included in the Build Ashoka expansion plan and will be set up by 2024 under the Ashoka@125-acre mission. The lab under the broad scope of Computer Science + X at Ashoka (CS+X aims to bring the power of computing to other disciplines through curriculum integration & building more interdisciplinary research centers), will co-create a summer program with Ashoka Innovation Centre, for school students to experience problem discovery, ideation, and user innovation in a learning-meets-work environment. The partnership will also co-run projects with the Centre for Data Sciences and the School of Advanced Computing to engage in data visualization and actionable insights for complex problem-solving.

About Mphasis

redRail from redBus, authorized IRCTC partner, paints platforms no. 8 and 9 of New Delhi Railway Station red, with platform naming and brand promotional rights

November 18, 2022: redRail, the authorized IRCTC partner and rail ticketing app from redBus, is one of the few brands that have obtained platform naming rights, including other brand promotional rights, at platforms no. 8 and 9 of New Delhi Railway Station. The pilot program launched by the railways is the first of its kind, allowing brands to utilize the vast stretch within platforms of the New Delhi railway station to promote themselves in innovative ways, such as naming a platform after the brand and putting up extensive displays with promotional content, among others.

The unique engagement approach that offers a high-end experiential connection between brands and customers is poised to garner over 20 million eyeballs monthly, captive for a minimum of 30-45 minutes. This is achieved, through the sheer volume of footfalls at New Delhi Railway Station, one of the busiest in the country, elevating brand connection, a few notches.

redRail has obtained the rights to various elements on platforms 8 and 9 at New Delhi Railway Station.

The key offerings include brand name on the signage of the platform, the color scheme of the platform, wrapping/painting on seating benches, branding on the fence of the potted plants, branding on 3D gantry – exit/entry of foot over bridge/escalators on the platform and branding on pink cubicles for women seating on each platform and product display.

This initiative also comes against the backdrop of redRail successfully completing its first year of operations. To celebrate the anniversary with all rail travelers, the enterprise is rolling out special offers and a contest to make it memorable. The three main offers are free tickets, a coupon for 50% off up to Rs. 100, and a flat Rs. 50 off for all customers. These offers can be availed of by participating in an exciting “Spin the Wheel” contest, where users spin a wheel on the redRail app between November 3 and November 17.

People using the redBus app can avail of a 10% discount on train tickets, up to Rs. 75, by using the code RRFIRST.

Speaking on the new initiative from the Railways and redRail’s participation, Pallavi Chopra, Sr. VP & Head, Brand Marketing, at redBus, said, “New Delhi railway station caters to more than 400+ trains every day, with about 5 lakh passengers using the facility on a daily basis, allowing us to engage with an audience that matters. With extensive visibility for the brand at the station, we are sure of garnering 30 minutes of confirmed attention from travellers. We greatly appreciate this novel approach from the Ministry of Railways, which would allow brands to engage with their audiences in powerful ways and is a win-win for both. We are also celebrating the first anniversary of redRail and are delighted to announce exciting offers on tickets for our travellers.”

CHATT Lauds Up Cabinet Nod to Tourism Policy 2022

Lucknow, 18 November 2022: The go-ahead to the New Tourism Policy 2022 by Uttar Pradesh Cabinet is a very welcome decision, industry body CHATT said today.

“Special focus on developing religious tourism circuits will give a big boost to pilgrimages and encourage people from across the country and the world to travel to Uttar Pradesh,” said Anwar Shirpurwala, secretary general, Confederation of Hospitality, Technology and Tourism Industry (CHATT).

“With 22 new activities including adventure/eco-tourism/caravan tourism units, budget/heritage/star-rated hotels, homestays, pilgrimage dormitory, wellness resorts, all-weather seasonal camps, and others given a place in the new policy, this will definitely help unleash the untapped tourism potential of Uttar Pradesh,” said Anwar.

He further said, “Besides, the focus on promoting eco-tourism will lead to sustainable management of natural resources and also help in wildlife conservation, development of indigenous and local communities.”

The CHATT secretary general also complimented the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath as well as Tourism and Culture Minister, Jaiveer Singh for coming up with a very forward-looking and proactive tourism policy that will take the hospitality and travel sector in the state to new heights.

Anwar added that these policy initiatives would also attract more investments into the state, generate more employment opportunities for women and youth, boost the growth of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and also help in the sustenance of micro-entrepreneurs engaged in various activities locally.

Chai Point is all set with the biggest launch of the year, delights customers with 10 NEW delicious food offerings across 9 cities

Bengaluru, 18 November 2022: Chai Point, the world’s largest Chai-led beverage platform, has introduced 10 new food items to its existing menu of over 50 items, thus making it the most robust menu ever for an elevated Chai-led experience. The new menu features delectables like the best Buddy to your Chai – Mini Samosa Binge Pack, childhood school favorite – the Bread Pakoda Binge Pack, Delhi’s most loved Aloo Tikki and Samosa Chaats and the evergreen Peppy Rolls in Paneer Tikka and Chicken Tikka. The menu additions also feature all-day bakes like Cheese Croissant, Egg & Cheese Multi-seed Croissants, Pesto Paneer Croissant, and Gluten Free Brownie with Amaranth to compliment your choice of hot or cold brews.

With the addition of 10 new, ever-indulgent food items to an already wide menu of 50+ food items, Chai Point is clearly the go-to place for those looking for the right variety of food options to go with their Chai at any time of the day. This menu will serve as the ‘perfect add-on’ making those conversations with friends and family so much more gratifying and indulgent. The new menu not only comes with new food items but also new formats like the Mini Samosa Binge Pack with a choice of 3 new seasonings – Mint Masala, Masala POP, and Peri Peri to gorge on. The new food items are available in Delhi NCR and selectively available in Hyderabad, Mumbai, Bangalore, and coming to Goa, Pune, and Amritsar soon. By mid-December, customers in all these cities will be able to enjoy all the new launches.

Speaking about the launch Amuleek Singh Bijral, Co-Founder & CEO, of Chai Point, said, “Every Indian has the go-to favorites that they like to consume when having their cup or Chai or Coffee. Keeping this in mind, we at Chai Point have always strived to offer numerous choices in our menu for an elevated Chai-led experience. Over the years, we have studied the Indian market and customer trends which has helped us to carefully curate a menu that is not only delicious & extensive but also in line with India’s most loved and evolving tastes. With 10 new food items across the menu, we are sure that customers will be spoilt for choice. With the introduction of mini-Samosa Binge packs, we are confident of leveraging the $4 Billion samosa category market in India”.

With over a decade of expertise in brewing great cups of Chai, Chai Point has expanded its menu for creating a wholesome experience for customers’ changing needs. The new range has been launched after in-depth research and a deeper understanding of the food preferences of customers in various regions.

Omaxe announces possession of The Lake, New Chandigarh

New Chandigarh, 18th November 2022: Omaxe Ltd., one of India’s leading real estate developers has announced the possession of its ambitious residential project, The Lake, New Chandigarh. Spread across 25 acres, The Lake consists of ultra-luxurious and elegant high-end residential apartments. The project has 16 towers and 1300+ units in total.

In the first phase, the company has started giving possession of its two towers i.e., Towers A and B, consisting of 84 and 86 apartments, respectively.

Ms. Kamal Rekhi, President of Sales, Omaxe Ltd., said, “We are delighted to hand over the units of Tower A and B to its owners. With an array of luxury amenities necessary for a comfortable lifestyle, we intend to transform this residential development into a sought-after residential hub in New Chandigarh for aspirational buyers looking to buy a luxury home.”

With its theme-based architecture, this strategically located luxury residential development offers a range of amenities, such as high-tech security, a health club, a jogging & cycling track, a parking lot, club facilities, a meditation center, a health club with a Jacuzzi, a swimming pool, a fully-equipped gym with spa, basketball & tennis courts, restaurant, children’s play area, firefighting, etc.

Mr. Siddharth Katyal, Group Director & Business Strategist, Omaxe Ltd. said, “We are delighted to announce the possession of this grandeur project, passionately built, keeping in the conscience of the new-age construction technology to let you cherish each moment of your aspiring lifestyle.

This premium group housing project is located on Airport Road, New Chandigarh– the first eco-city of Punjab. With its proximity to the Shivalik Range, the well-connected city is home to many environmentally friendly industries. Further, Medicity and Education City are coming up nearby, making it the most desirable address for residents.

Omaxe has always been committed to luxury lifestyles. With the futuristic approach, the company intends to combine architectural excellence with state-of-the-art amenities to create residences that will last for aeons.

Range Rover and Range Rover Sport Awarded Five-Star

November 18, 2022, Bengaluru – The New Range Rover and Range Rover Sport have both been awarded maximum five-star ratings in the latest Euro NCAP safety tests. The luxury SUVs draw on more than 50 years of expertise in delivering an exceptional breadth of all-terrain capability, refinement and safety.

The new models are the latest in a long line of Range Rovers to gain a five-star rating under the stringent Euro NCAP star rating safety protocols introduced in 2009, stretching back to the Evoque in 2011.

Both models are based on a new mixed-metal, flexible Modular Longitudinal Architecture, which provides solid foundations for a suite of state-of-the-art driver assistance technologies to work in harmony for a responsive and refined drive. New Range Rover, which is available with four-, five- and seven-seat configurations, is up to 50 per cent stiffer than its predecessor while the Range Rover Sport is 35 percent stiffer than before.

The award-winning New Range Rover scored 87 percent for Child Occupant Protection and 72 percent for Vulnerable Road Users, while the Range Rover Sport achieved an 85 percent rating for Adult Occupant Protection. Both SUVs obtained 82 percent for Safety Assist.

Thomas Mueller, Executive Director of Product Engineering, Jaguar Land Rover, said: “These excellent Euro NCAP results are a direct result of the hard work and expertise that goes into designing, engineering and manufacturing vehicles that have combined safety, capability and luxury for more than five decades. Our strong, mixed metal MLA-Flex body architecture provides solid foundations for a suite of cutting-edge active safety systems that combined, work in harmony to protect occupants and other road users. These Range Rovers are a technological triumph.”

New Range Rover and Range Rover Sport share a range of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) designed to support the driver and protect occupants, including:

• 3D Surround Camera and ClearSight Ground View – the surround camera system provides a 3D, 360-degree view around the vehicle and can display several views simultaneously on the touchscreen display when maneuvering – giving the driver detailed information about their surroundings. ClearSight Ground View allows drivers to see the hidden area directly ahead of, and beneath, the bonnet on the central touchscreen display.
• Driver Condition Response – brings the vehicle to a halt and initiates the hazard warning lights if the driver fails to respond to a series of audio-visual prompts.
• Pre-emptive suspension – the suspension automatically switches to Dynamic mode when the Forward Collision Warning system detects a collision risk, assisting the driver if evasive maneuvers are required by delivering the most agile responses.
• Adaptive Cruise Control and Steering Assist – Adaptive Cruise Control maintains a set cruising speed for the vehicle. The vehicle’s speed automatically reduces if a slower-moving vehicle is detected in the lane ahead. Steering Assist helps the driver keep the vehicle in the centre of its lane by making minor steering adjustments.
• Park Assist – detects available parking spaces and maneuvers the vehicle into parallel and perpendicular spaces. Park Assist controls the vehicle during a maneuver using the steering, acceleration, gear selection and braking.

Alongside the active safety systems, New Range Rover and Range Rover Sport makes use of technologies that aim to improve driver alertness and reduce the potential for distraction.

Both vehicles are also available with Cabin Air Purification Pro¹, a pioneering system that takes interior air quality to the next level. Not only does the PM2.5 filtration and Nanoe™-X technology help to significantly reduce odors, bacteria and allergens, it enhances wellness and alertness by monitoring CO₂ levels inside and automatically introducing fresh external air when required. High concentrations of CO₂ contribute to drowsiness, so the system proactively contributes to optimum driver alertness.

The Player Hunt Season 3 is Back

Mumbai , Nove mber 18th 2022: After an overwhelming response to the 2nd season of The Player Hunt, India’s first poker reality show, Selections for Season 3 have started this November 2022 and Season 3 promises to be bigger and more entertaining.

The Player Hunt provides a platform to the poker community to showcase their skill and talent. Season 3 like Season 2 will focus on PAN India and will be bigger with Round 1 of Season 3 scheduled to happen over December and January in 3 cities – Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore thus giving an opportunity to aspiring poker players from across the country.

1000’s of participants can participate from across India in the online selections which will be announced shortly. Out of the selected online players, a few will be given a chance to participate in the physical selections tournaments in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Kolkata. The finals will be held in an undisclosed location and shall be a gala affair. This time there are multiple channels for selections, details of which will be announced from time to time.

Season 2 was designed in a format of 16 Semifinalists, whereas Season 3 is looking to give more than 100 contestants a chance to compete… season 3 has already got 40+ players who have won their entry into the 1st round. These players have earned their positions by playing on Pokerhigh and participating in competitions establishing their right to the seat at Round 1

Season 3 will again be hosted by power-packed brothers Rannvijay Singha and Harman Singha.

Season 2 had 7 episodes in total and was the 1st Youtube series on the official Rannvijay Singha youtube channel with the brothers hosting India’s and possibly the world’s only Poker Reality show format.

Celebrity VJ and actor Rannvijay Singha and host of Player Hunt Season 3, said, ” I am so excited to bring to you guys season 3 of player hunt. The response to our last season was terrific. There is a poker player in each and every city of this country and this time we will go to our players and get them on board. Am looking forward to interacting with our participants who will add to the flavor of our country this season .”

Speaking on Season 3, Gaurav Gaggar, promoter of pokerhigh said, “The Player Hunt season 3 is a show for our desi poker lovers not only in India but across the world. The show enables poker players to showcase their talent and skill, this is truly a one-of-a-kind reality show in the country.”

Pranav Premnarayen of Prem Associates Advertising & Marketing and director of The Player Hunt shared, “ With each passing season, I can only say that combing entertainment with gaming has truly been an enriching experience, going ahead through season 3, by going in different cities we aim to showcase the story of our players and what makes them tick on and off the screen.”

CarDekho Group pledges to become Carbon Neutral by 2050 under United Nations framework

New Delhi, November 18, 2022: CarDekho Group, one of India’s leading and most prominent technology unicorns, has announced that it will be a carbon-neutral company by 2050. It has taken the pledge by signing up on CNN (Climate Neutral Now) of UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change). To meet its targets, the company is developing a robust ESG strategy to achieve climate action goals along with a focus on Social & Governance aspects also.

The organization’s strategy is to motivate and support all stakeholders to achieve its net zero goal. Through improved disclosures, the company is committed to enhancing business resilience and lowering climate risk. The organization believes in the power harnessed

by adopting ESG Philosophy in its day-to-day operations. Growth is not only about revenue numbers but about resilient business continuity and conducting operations in a sustainable manner.

CarDekho is the first Indian unicorn to take decisive action with a UNFCCC –CNN Pledge to reduce its carbon footprint and achieve net-zero emission targets.

The climate crisis is one of the most pressing issues of our time. Everyone, including all individuals and corporations, must do their part to avoid the unthinkable consequences of inaction. CarDekho group runs on the ethos of building large businesses by solving customer needs on the foundation of a sustainable and environment-friendly approach. Towards this goal, CarDekho is addressing the risks posed by climate change through a comprehensive strategy that involves lowering emissions, implementing new sustainability practices, and creating cutting-edge technology and products that are better for the environment,’’ said Mr. Amit Jain, CEO and Co-founder of CarDekho Group.

. It is noteworthy that the founders of the company Mr. Amit Jain & Anurag Jain have offset their family’s annual carbon footprint on the UNFCCC carbon offset platform on a Solar Project based in Rajasthan. This emphasizes the importance of climate action from the top of the management at CarDekho Group.

The group will promote climate action through its communication channels as a participant in the CNN – Climate Neutral Now initiative. The goal is to raise awareness about the importance of achieving climate neutrality. A person or organization’s “carbon footprint” is the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that they emit each year because of their actions. Governments across the world aim to limit temperature increases to 1.5°C, by 2050.