Archive: October 31, 2022

Federal Bank offers Group Credit Shield for its Credit Card holders in association with Ageas Federal Life Insurance

New Delhi, 31st October 2022: Federal Bank, one of India’s leading Private Sector Banks, today announced an extension of its partnership with Ageas Federal Life Insurance by offering Group Credit Shield for Federal Bank’s Credit Card holders. Group Credit Shield is an exclusive cover and equals the credit limit, up to a maximum of Rs. 3 Lakh for a term of 1 year.

This hassle-free and innovative sachet product requires no additional documents, no medical examinations, and is a single premium plan. Catering to customers, especially millennials, who desire ease and convenience, while at the same time ensuring safety and security, the Group Credit Shield plan can be bought online within 3 minutes with just a few clicks.

Federal Bank currently has three variants of Credit Cards namely Celesta, Imperio, and Signet in association with Visa, Mastercard, and Rupay respectively. Each card is designed to cater to the needs of different segments of customers.

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Karthik Raman, Chief Marketing Officer, and Head – Products, at Ageas Federal Life Insurance said, “We are delighted to partner with Federal Bank to introduce our Group Credit Shield for Federal Bank’s Credit Card customers. Group Credit Shield provides customers a life insurance cover that will secure their credit spending and protects their loved ones from having to shoulder the burden of repaying the debt in case of an unfortunate incident.”

Ms. Shalini Warrier, Executive Director, of Federal Bank said, “The Group Credit Shield product is designed to enhance Federal Bank’s credit card proposition. The ease & convenience that a completely digital process provides will surely add to customer convenience. By offering such bite-sized, bundled products, we hope to further increase insurance penetration in the country.”

Elista raises the bar for soundbars in India with the launch of its MusiBar ELS Bar 6000

New Delhi, October 31, 2022: Homegrown Electronics and Home Appliances brand Elista is expanding the lineup of its audio products and has today launched its first soundbar – MusiBar ELS Bar 6000. With this launch, Elista aims to replicate the success it has seen with its range of Smart TVs, Powered by webOS TV and speakers. The MusiBar ELS Bar 6000 is the perfect companion to smart home products like a smart TV, offering a wide range of features that will make the consumer’s entertainment experience richer than ever.

Elista has already been a favorite brand among Indian customers who want a high-quality entertainment experience. With the MusiBar ELS Bar 6000’s 60W output with a digital amplifier, high-quality audio has been taken care of. The soundbar also comes with a premium shiny design that will also add to the premium feel that users seek in their entertainment setup.

Connect anywhere, anytime with multiple connecting options like Bluetooth, AUX, Coaxial, and USB connectivity. The MusiBar ELS Bar 6000 soundbar also comes with HDMI ARC, so that one doesn’t need additional cables when connecting the soundbar with HDMI. There is also a 7-segment LED display that shows the user all the relevant information that they will require at any given time.

The easy remote control on the Elista MusiBar ELS Bar 6000 allows users to control their soundbar with ease. The ergonomic design of the easy remote control allows for a better grip and perfectly complements the premium shiny design of the soundbar itself.

Speaking on the launch, Mr. Pawan Kumar, CEO of Elista said, “At Elista, we have constantly sought to push the envelope to develop high-quality, cost-effective consumer electronics gadgets. The Indian Consumer Speaker Market is expected to grow by registering a CAGR of 9.38% during the forecast period (2022-2027). MusiBar ELS Bar 6000 reflects India’s love for music, and Elista has incorporated this in designing the product. A truly innovative product created specifically for Indian consumers, loaded with features that our customers will surely enjoy. This is the first of a series of unique launches planned in this product range and we have many more exciting announcements lined up for this quarter. Compact, affordable and lightweight, our audio products are ideal for customers that don’t want to compromise on the sound experience.”

Sports centric podcast: Bingepods by Ideabrew Studios

1. Coffee, Cricket Aani Barach Kaahi

Conversations over coffee with cricketers.

2. The Totally Indian Football Show by Humans of Indian Football

With The Totally Indian Football Show, we aim to bring you the stories from the playing field as our favourite players, coaches etc. vie to be crowned as champions & also conversations from across the Indian football field. Find us talk and discuss about the season & more with expert panelists & guests on the show. This will be a podcast for all you Indian Football fans!

3. Inside Line F1 Podcast

Hosted by FIA-accredited print & TV journalists, the Inside Line F1 Podcast is a weekly show that offers an alternative view on the sport, business and politics of Formula 1. On our channel, you will find race reviews, previews, interviews and features through the Formula 1 season.

4. Sports Weekly India

What’s up in the world of sports? #Ashes, #India in South Africa, EPL, Formula 1, Tennis, Hockey and a whole lot more. The most insightful weekly sports show is here! Join Radhakrishnan Sreenivasan (RK), Ayaz Memon, Soumil Arora and the whole team as we dive deep into all that’s happening around the sports world.

Tune in every week as we travel the sporting world.

5. Extra Time | Weekly Football Podcast

A weekly podcast from Onmanorama, Extra Time brings together news, views and analysis from the world of football. Hosts Arun George and Kannan make sense of the major matches, club transfers and the players who made the difference.

Hindujas Host Their Celebrated Annual Diwali Reception in London After Three Years of the Pandemic

India, 31st October 2022: The Hinduja Diwali Reception, which has become a part of London’s fabled social calendar and attended by successive past PMs, was hosted yesterday in all its pomp and glory after the forced break of 3 years owing to the Pandemic. While the invitations had already gone much in advance, the turn of the political events in the UK provided an auspicious restart to this august event.

Only a few days ahead of Diwali, Rishi Sunak became the United Kingdom’s first British Asian Hindu Prime Minister. The Hinduja family was delighted to welcome over 300 guests, including peers, MPs, Ambassadors and diplomats, top business leaders, and journalists to their Diwali Reception at their London Heritage Home, the Carlton House Terrace. It was the family’s first in-person Diwali celebration since the beginning of the Covid 19 pandemic.

Proceedings began with Sir Clive Alderton, Principal Private Secretary to HM King Charles III delivering special Diwali wishes from the new Monarch, highlighting King Charles’s commitment to all faiths and communities.

Welcoming the guests, Gopichand Hinduja, Co-Chairman of the Hinduja Group, along with his brothers, Prakash and Ashok Hinduja, spoke of the significance of Diwali, about Goddess Lakshmi, and how real wealth comprises blessings and contentment earned through the acts of giving. GP Hinduja fondly mentioned missing his elder brother, SP Hinduja, who couldn’t join the Reception owing to his ill health.

Representatives from the Conservative, Labour, and Liberal Democrat parties who joined the celebration included the new Conservative Party Chairman, Nadhim Zahawi MP, former Health Secretary during the Covid-19 pandemic, Matt Hancock MP, Foreign Office Minister Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, and the globally recognized Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. They all thanked the Hinduja family for bringing so many people together from across the faiths, communities, and political spectrum for this Diwali celebration. Mrs. Kamal Prakash Hinduja, and Mrs. Harsha Ashok Hinduja, presented the mortise of Goddess Lakshmi to the dignitaries.

Arjun Rampal with his partner, Gabriella, and playback singer, Kanika Kapoor were there from Bollywood. Mrs. Usha Mittal, the wife of Arcelor’s LN Mittal, who was traveling, also attended along with 22 High Commissioners from the 38 countries where the Hinduja Group is directly present.

Invoking the Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesh for the success of the new Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, Gopichand Hinduja, Mayor Sadiq Khan, and Lord Tariq Ahmed emphasized the richness of diversity in the United Kingdom today with a Christian monarch, a Hindu Prime Minister and a Muslim Mayor of London drawing reference to the famous Hindi movie ‘Amar Akbar Anthony’ which incidentally was financed by the Hinduja Family only. Praising the half-a-million-strong Hindu community in London, Mayor Sadiq Khan stated, “London is the greatest city in the world, and one of the reasons is the immense contribution made by the Londoners of the Hindu Faith”.

Keeping in line with the tradition of Diwali and the Hinduja Family ethos, the guests were served an eclectic menu of the choicest vegetarian Indian food.

Microsoft and byteXL sign MoU to develop ‘future-ready’ technology talent pool in Tier 2 & 3 cities

Hyderabad, 31st October 2022: byteXL, one of the leading experiential learning platforms for IT career aspirants, today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Microsoft. The MoU is directed to transform educational institutes in Tier 2 and 3 cities across the nation and cater to the 360-degree developmental needs of its students. The pan-India initiative – ‘XLerate’, supported by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), aims to impart training in new age and emerging technologies. This collaboration is aligned with the national vision of providing one crore internship opportunities by 2025.

In a short time of two years, byteXL has demonstrated strong capabilities of creating a significant impact on raising the employability of 1 lac engineering students across 90 institutes in 7 states. This established success of byteXL has been achieved by imparting the training through its seamless hybrid learning model and in-house developed analytics tool that assists in keeping a close track of every aspect of the student’s progress whilst undergoing the program. While byteXL will spearhead the training program and conduct the comprehensive programs, Microsoft will support the endeavor with the necessary infrastructure, including sophisticated Artificial Intelligence (AI) Labs that provide contemporary programs for specialized education. Students can also earn Microsoft certifications, once they complete the required learning and industry-ready skills. Students from this program will have access to Microsoft Azure and AI certifications, along with industry-approved training modules. byteXL’s role in this collaboration will amplify Microsoft’s global skills initiative, which has already provided digital skills to more than 42 million people worldwide.

The strong need – raising technology employability in Tier 2 & 3 cities

Students in Tier 2 and 3 cities have faced challenges ranging from lack of access to quality educational material to exposure to global trends, and lack of industry exposure to scarcity of financial means to complete high-quality education. As a result, many bright students are forced to compromise on their higher education or move to Tier 1 cities for better educational opportunities. This initiative – ‘XLerate’ will be focused on addressing these concerns and ensuring that new-age, quality education and required industry exposure are made available at highly affordable costs. These would play a critical role in not only enhancing the ‘Employability Quotient’ of students but also help in the transformation of the institutes and empower them to produce quality industry-ready talent in the longer run.

Speaking at the MOU signing ceremony, Mr. Karun Tadepalli, CEO & Co-Founder, byteXL, said “This MOU with Microsoft is a critical step in enabling a developmental ecosystem for youth in India’s Tier 2 and 3 cities. The collaboration aims to transform technical education and reimagine the skills ecosystem through a robust and career-intensive curriculum. Our in-house futuristic instruction methodology, coupled with Microsoft’s learning infrastructure will surely produce brilliance in employable students. Our collaborative efforts are directed towards the redefining of the traditional engineering colleges and in creating a globally in-demand growth spectrum for the new graduates.”

Ms. Indrani Choudhury, Chief Learning Officer, Microsoft India said, “Digital technologies will be key in addressing the skills challenge that we are facing today. Democratizing access to skilling with a focus on employability, especially in Tier 2 and 3 cities of India, can empower large talent pools for the digital economy. At Microsoft, we believe we can combine the best in technology with strong collaborations like byteXL to better serve young people and create more opportunities for them.”

byteXL’s Trends Report – Deep Tech Insights 21-22 based on a large sample size of 55,000 students from 60 Tier 1, 2, and 3 institutes also revealed the changing trends and aspirations of the engineering students. The student enrollment rates for specialized technology courses were witnessed at over 90% and 67% in Tier 3 and Tier 2 respectively as compared to 63% in Tier 1. This is a clear indication of the increasing inclination of Tier 2 & 3 students to move up into the value chain. The trend for upskilling is also gaining momentum in Tier 2 students at 68.81% male students and 43.96% female students. Tier 3 students show a similar inclination to Tier 2 with 57.13% male students and 54.63% female students.

According to various industry reports, in the past 10 years (2012-2022) the Employability rate of graduating engineers is less than 8% and 93% of the graduating engineers in India lack the required IT skills to work in IT companies.

JSW Paints Launches Vogue to create Fashionable Effects on Walls

New Delhi – October 31, 2022: JSW Paints, India’s leading environment-friendly paints company and part of US$ 22 billion JSW Group, has introduced Vogue range of finishes that offers curated wall-effects to enhance décor at home. The company extends its “Think Beautiful” promise to Vogue by offering luxurious effects to create fashionable walls for the modern, cosmopolitan Indian consumer. Vogue is inspired by the latest trends in fashion and culture to bring alive walls at home.

Vogue encourages imagination and creativity in creating effects for walls that bring out luxury, style & uniqueness. To kick-start the imagination, Vogue has introduced 8 exclusive wall effects. They are inspired by elements of nature and culture. Bandhej captures the aesthetic beauty of one of the oldest Indian techniques of fabric pattern. On the other hand, the Ikat effect captures the blurry yet charming technique of colouring fabric permeating luxury across the living space.

While the Blaze effect embodies passion & confidence, the Stacks effect infuses a classic, relaxed look that creates a lovely accent on the wall. If one is a fan of pastels and loves the serene look, then Horizon brings forth that feeling.

The Thatches effect gives a country-style décor look. It is rustic, timeless and feels homely. While Thatches helps connect one with their roots, the Orbital effect takes one on an adventurous journey into space. Continuing with love for astronomy, the Meteor effect is meticulously designed to replicate the mesmerising beauty of a meteoroid shower.

A S Sundaresan, Joint MD and CEO, JSW Paints said, “Vogue by JSW Paints is a designer collection of luxurious visual effects for walls. We are delighted to bring forth a curated collection of fashionable effects, inspired by India, Nature and Space. These aim to unleash your imagination and delightfully decorate homes with rich visual effects and textures.”

Vogue is available in a wide range of metallic and non-metallic colours to transform the walls of every Indian home.