My City Beats

This Women’s Day, Bank of Baroda bats for the Financial Empowerment of Women with “Special Offers on Savings & Current Accounts”

Women customers can avail Preferential Interest Rates on Retail Loans, 100% Waiver on Processing Charges, 50% discount on Locker Charges & Other Benefits on opening

bob Mahila Shakti Savings Account or bob Women Power Current Account

Bangalore, 7^th March 2024On the occasion of International Women’s Day, Bank of Baroda (Bank), one of India’s leading public sector banks announced attractive offers and benefits for its women accountholders on the opening of either a bob Mahila Shakti Savings Account or a bob Women Power Current Account – accounts designed specifically for women. This offer is applicable for accounts opened till June 30, 2024 and loan facilities availed till December 31, 2024.

The bob Mahila Shakti Savings Account and the bob Women Power Current Account now come with a bundle of offers exclusively for women including up to 25 basis points interest rate concession on Retail Loans (concession of 0.25% on two-wheeler loan, 0.15% on education loan, 0.10% on auto loan, home loan and mortgage loan); complete waiver of processing charges on retail loans (including personal loans) and a 50% discount on Annual Safe Deposit Locker charges.

Shri Debadatta Chand, Managing Director & CEO, Bank of Baroda said, “Bank of Baroda has been a trusted banking partner to generations of women. On this International Women’s Day, we are pleased to extend our support to women and women-led enterprises and champion their journey towards financial empowerment and independence with a range of tailored offerings that provide enhanced value.”

The bob Mahila Shakti savings account goes beyond savings to offer customers a free RuPay Platinum Debit Card with Personal Accident Insurance Cover up to Rs 2 lakh, free Domestic Airport Lounge access (2 per quarter), free SMS Alerts, 30 free cheque leaves per year and an Auto Sweep facility.

The bob Women Power current account is a dedicated current account tailored for women entrepreneurs and businesses with women as beneficial owners. The bob Women Power current account provides women entrepreneurs with enhanced privileges and features to support their businesses such as concession in Cash Deposit charges, complimentary 2 Soundbox with QR code and 1 POS/MPOS, collateral-free overdraft facility up to Rs 25 lakh, free RTGS/NEFT/ IMPS/UPI (through online mode), sweep facility and a lower Monthly Average Balance requirement of Rs. 10,000 only, among many other advantages.

Key features of the bob Mahila Shakti Savings Account:

Concessional Interest Rates on Retail Loans (concession of 0.25% on two-wheeler loan, 0.15% on education loan, 0.10% on auto loan, home loan and mortgage loan)
100% discount on processing charges on retail loans – Personal Loans, Auto/two-wheeler Loans, Education Loan, Home Loan, Mortgage Loan
50% discount on Annual Safe Deposit Locker charges
Free issuance of RuPay Platinum Debit Card with attractive offers on leading brands with Free Personal Accident Insurance Cover up to Rs 2 lakh
Complimentary Domestic Airport Lounge access (2 per quarter)
Free 30 cheque leaves per year
Free SMS Alerts
Auto Sweep Facility available

Key features of the bob Women Power Current Account:

Concessional Interest Rates on Retail Loans (concession of 0.25% on two-wheeler loan, 0.15% on education loan, 0.10% on auto loan, home loan and mortgage loan)
100% discount on processing charges on retail loans – Personal Loans, Auto/two-wheeler Loans, Education Loan, Home Loan, Mortgage Loan
50% discount on Annual Safe Deposit Locker charges
Concession in Cash Deposit Charges up to Rs 1,00,000/- per day subject to 10 times of MAB
Free 2 Soundbox with QR code and 1 POS/MPOS
Collateral free Overdraft up to Rs 25,00,000/-
Free RTGS/NEFT/IMPS/UPI (through online mode)
Auto Sweep Facility available
Free 50 cheque leaves
VISA Vyapar DI Debit Card
Lifetime Free Corporate Credit Card (subject to eligibility)
Curated Baroda Cash Management Services & Internet Payment Gateway (IPG) Facility available
Monthly Average Balance of Rs 10,000/-

For details and to apply for the bob Mahila Shakti Savings Account, click here.

For details and to apply for the bob Women Power Current Account, click here.

K.R.BALAJI

Taste the Wonders of Australia at “Aahar 2024”

Bangalore, 7^th March 2024 : To leverage the opportunities from the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA) and the increasing demand from the Indian middle class for premium agrifood products, Australian premium food & beverage companies will showcase the best of Australian premium agrifood products at Aahar 2024 to connect with the Indian businesses and consumers.

The Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) in partnership with the state governments of New South Wales and Victoria is bringing together 20+ Australian brands to showcase their products at the Australian Pavilion located at Hall No.1, Stand No.1G-02A in Aahar 2024.

The Australian pavilion at Aahar 2024 will showcase products across different categories ranging from sheep meat, seafood and aquaculture, horticulture, grains and pulses and premium health food products.

Australia’s reputation for clean, green and safe produce makes Australia a compelling destination to develop, commercialise, scale and source the next generation of agriculture and food technologies.

celebrity Chef Saby using the Australian ingredients and produce.

The event is being delivered in partnership with ANZ Bank, HCL Technologies, Linfox, HSBC Bank and Qantas Airways. Products featured have been generously provided by Avocados Australia, Meat and Livestock Australia, Tassal, Western Australian Government, Treasury Wine Estates and Saint Andrews Beach Brewery.

Speaking about the Australian participation at Aahar 2024, Mr John Southwell, Trade and Investment Commissioner – South Asia, Australian Trade and Investment Commission said, “India and Australia’s bilateral ties have seen remarkably strengthened over the years, and our produces in various sectors have grown exponentially. It is this partnership and shared prosperity that has motivated us to bring our products to India and collaborate with local importers to enhance trade relations and further strengthen the bond between our two nations. We can see Australian products featuring more and more in Indian cuisine, from dals to lamb biryani paired with premium Australian wine. If you are after fine high-quality, great tasting products – come and visit us at Aahar.”

K.R.BALAJJ

India’s largest horticulture fair ‘National Horticulture Fair 2024’ gets inaugurated at ICAR-IIHR, Hesaraghatta.

Bengaluru; 05 March, 2024.

The ‘National horticulture Fair 2024 being held from 05th to 07th March 2024 at ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru was inaugurated on 05.03.2024. Shri Bhanu Prakash Srivastava, Chairman and Managing Director, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bengaluru was the chief guest and Dr.V.Venkatasubramanian, Director, ICAR-ATARI Zone-11, Bengaluru was the Guest of Honor. Prof. Sanjay Kumar Singh, Deputy Director General (Horticultural Sciences), ICAR, New Delhi chaired the program.

In the inaugural address, Shri Bhanu Prakash Srivastava appreciated the efforts of IIHR in meeting the needs of farmers, entrepreneurs and students through exhibitions like National Horticulture fair and several capacity building programs. Shri Srivastava also emphasized on the collaborative programs for the benefit of various end users in horticulture.

Prof. Sanjay Kumar Singh, Deputy Director General (Horticultural Sciences), ICAR, New Delhi in his presidential address, reiterated the horticulture sector’s relevance in the Indian economy, especially after the COVID pandemic, in income generation through farming, entrepreneurship, and employment generation. He also emphasized on the development and adoption of Nextgen technologies for the growth of this sunrise sector and extended best wishes for the success of the National Horticulture Fair 2024 and the continued growth of the horticulture sector in the nation.
The Guest of honour Dr.V.Venkatasubramanian, Director, ICAR-ATARI Zone-11, Bengaluru expressed his happiness for recognizing and honouring the innovative farmers, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), start-ups, and budding entrepreneurs in the field of horticulture. He also appreciated that the IIHR technologies are contributing immensely to the horticulture sector, especially in the remote areas of the country including Lakshadweep islands in doubling the farmers’ income and generating women employment.
During the inaugural ceremony, 12 progressive farmers adopting institute technologies (including five from North-Eastern Hill region), 4 entrepreneurs, 5 FPOs and 5 KVK officials were felicitated for their contributions in horticulture sector. Besides, publications such as NHF 2024 Souvenir, Technical bulletins on Plant tissue analysis and interpretation for horticultural crops and Post harvest technology & Agricultural Engineering, Status of Agri-business Incubation Centre: Paves the way for Horti Start-Ups, Extension folder on ‘A Guide for Soilless Cultivation of Medicinal Herbs and Augmented reality post cards on IIHR Technologies were released during the event. Further, MoUs for two technologies ‘Arka Floral Agarbathi & Dhoop to M/s ICAR-KVK, Tumkuru and ‘Arka Supreme Avocado Variety’ to Mr. Ramesh S. Ponnathmotte, Kodagu were also exchanged.

In the beginning, Dr. Prakash Patil, Director, ICAR-IIHR welcomed the dignitaries and applauded the efforts of institute scientists in keeping the flag of IIHR high, not only in the country, even in the south–east Asian region.

Dr. M.V. Dhananjaya, Organizing Secretary of NHF2024 while briefing the fair activities, mentioned that farmers from 20 states of the country are participating in this 3-day fair, wherein 238 live demos of IIHR technologies are presented in the field, 50 ICAR institutes and KVKs are also participating in the fair and other governmental and NGOs, FPOs and start-ups are showcasing their innovations and technologies in more than 250 plus stalls. He also appreciated the efforts of press and media (~ 49 nos.) for the coverage and wide publicity of NHF 2024.

K.R.BALAJI

Blue Dart recognized as a “Well-Known Trademark” by the Indian Trademark Registry.

Bangalore, 4^th March 2024 : Blue Dart Express Limited, South Asia’s leading courier and integrated express package distribution company, has been recognized with the prestigious ”Well-Known Trademark” status through the Indian Trademark Registry. This adds another significant milestone to its journey of excellence and solidifies its position as the Trade Facilitator of the nation.

A “Well-Known Mark” brings forth a multitude of benefits, further amplifying Blue Dart’s competitive edge in the market. This acknowledgement ensures enhanced protection under the Trademarks Act, safeguarding the brand from unauthorized use or infringement, even from marks that are deceptively similar, even if used for different goods or services. This protection not only secures Blue Dart’s intellectual property rights but also maintains market clarity, preventing consumer confusion. Additionally, being recognized as a well-known mark significantly increases the brand’s value, strengthening trust and credibility among customers and stakeholders even further.

Balfour Manuel,Managing Director, Blue Dart Express Limited, expressed his pride in the company’s achievement, stating, “This milestone reaffirms Blue Dart’s eminent position in the logistics industry and emphasizes its commitment to excellence. As the company continues to innovate and redefine standards, it remains dedicated to delivering unmatched service and value to its customers.

Notably, Blue Dart was also recently conferred with the Top Employer 2024 in India by The Top Employers Institute, the Best Express Cargo Service Provider at the Indian Cargo Award 2023, and India’s Top Value Creator 2023 by Dun & Bradstreet, among other awards.

K.R.BALAJI

Inspiring Journeys from Nowhere to Pinnacle of success: Siddharth Injeti Celebrates Storytelling Across Screens, Honoured at Ballari Institute’s Alumni Gathering 2024 Bangalore.

Bangalore, March 2024 : The Ballari Institute of Technology and Management (BITM), formerly known as BEC, held its annual alumni meet, Punarmilana 2024, yesterday. The event was marked by the felicitation of renowned alumnus Siddharth Injeti, a former student of the esteemed institution and a name synonymous with success in the Indian entertainment industry. Injeti was also Part of Hindi Big boss Hosted by Salman Khan,He has directed 20+ ad films, Tv Series including Miss India,Miss supranational where KGF Girl Srinidhi Shetty was launched , Fashion shows like Amazon Fashion week and Webseries with Viacom18 Dinsep Plus Hotstar & Balaji telfilms(ALTT)

Siddharth injeti has served in different leadership capacities with Viacom 18 , Disney plus Hotstar Allu entertainment and ALTT balaji his illustrious career spans across diverse dimensions of the entertainment industry. As a series director, he has helmed over 300 episodes for renowned shows like Bigg Boss Telugu, Siddharth has left an indelible mark on the Telugu entertainment industry.

Siddharth Injeti says ”I want to Direct films in Telugu & Hindi, Create Content across pan India”
Siddharth has orchestrated the release of 15+ web series across various platforms. From the noir-esque intrigue of ‘Bijli – Ek Rosy Dastan’ to the spine-chilling thrills of ‘Talab,’ and the light-hearted romantic comedy Honeymoon 911, his creations have garnered widespread acclaim. Injeti cites the works of iconic filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma as a source of inspiration, highlighting the enduring impact cinema can have on viewers.For him, a film truly begins in audience Mind when the end credits roll on the big screen—a sentiment that echoes through his own remarkable journey.

Siddharth’s creative genius extends beyond the director’s chair his work as a Show creator & Writer for acclaimed series such as “Talab” and “Ek rosy ki dastan – Bijli”. He has also ventured into production, producing the gripping shows different OTT platformsAs the former Core Team Member of PocketFM, a leading audio OTT platform, witnessed groundbreaking success, with milestones like 100 Million plays achieved under his guidance. Blockbuster audio series like Yeh Rista, Amarpali, Yakshini, and Insta Millionaire stand as testaments to his influence in the audio entertainment space.

Siddharth’s dream is to create pan-India films that resonate with diverse audiences. His multilingual upbringing—conversing fluently in Hindi, Telugu, and Kannada—has equipped him to tell compelling stories that transcend boundaries.

Punarmilana 2024 promises to be a memorable event as they celebrate Siddharth Injeti’s achievements reconnect with fellow alumni, and ignite new aspirations. Siddharth Injeti’s presence will undoubtedly add a special touch to the occasion, serving as an inspiration to current students and alumni alike.

K.R.BALAJI

Union Bank of India successfully raised ₹ 3,000 Crore Equity Capital via Qualified Institutions Placement (QIP).

Highlights of the Issue

The QIP received an encouraging response from the market & saw participation by a diversified investor base, which includes Banks, Asset Management Companies, Insurance Companies and Foreign Portfolio Investors.
Allotment of 22.11 crore shares at ₹ 135.65 per share (including premium of ₹ 125.65 per share) aggregating to ₹ 3,000 crore (Three Thousand Crore).
The amount of capital raised through the QIP issue will augment the Bank’s Common Equity Tier I ratio & overall Capital Adequacy ratio.

Bangalore, 1^st March 2024 : Union Bank of India, one of the largest Public Sector Banks in India, has successfully raised equity capital of ₹ 3,000 crore via Qualified Institutions Placement (QIP) on February 26, 2024. The Issue was opened on February 20, 2024 and received strong interest from high quality Domestic and Foreign Portfolio Investors. Bank has allotted 22.11 crore Shares at price of ₹ 135.65 per share (including premium of ₹ 125.65 per share) aggregating to ₹ 3,000 crore representing a discount of approximately 5% to the floor price determined as per Regulatory guidelines

and prospects. The QIP Proceeds will augment the Capital base and help us pursue growth opportunities as we endeavour to create value for our Customers & Shareholders”.

As on December 31, 2023, the public shareholding in Union Bank of India stood at 23.01%. Consequent to the equity capital raising, the public shareholding in the Bank increased to 25.24% and consequently, the shareholding of Government of India becomes 74.76%. Bank has complied as per SEBI and Securities Contract (Regulations) Rules, 1957 (“SCRR”) & its further amendments i.e. to maintain a minimum public shareholding of at least 25.00%.

The Book Running Lead Managers (BRLMs) to the QIP issue were IIFL Securities Ltd., J M Financial Ltd., IDBI Capital Markets & Securities Ltd., HDFC Bank Ltd. and BNP Paribas. The Legal advisors of the transaction were Luthra & Luthra Law Offices, Saraf & Partners and Duane Morris & Selvam LLP. The Statutory Auditors were N B S & Co., Chhajed & Doshi, G S Mathur & Co., P Chandrasekar LLP and M/s. V K Ladha & Associates.

K.R.Balaji

Honda Cars India registers over 17% growth in domestic sales in February’24 with 7,142 units.

Clocks highest ever monthly export volume of 5,936 units with 510% growth

Bangalore, 1^st March 2024Honda Cars India Ltd. (HCIL), leading manufacturer of premium cars in India, registered monthly domestic sales of 7,142 units in February 2024 with a strong growth of over 17% in comparison to the corresponding month last year. The export numbers for HCIL stood at 5,936 units in Feb’24. This is the highest ever monthly export volume clocked by the company that has been fuelled by strong export performance of cars made in India and exported to multiple global markets.

Sharing thoughts on Feb’24 sales performance, Mr. Yuichi Murata, Director, Marketing & Sales, Honda Cars India Ltd. said, “Our performance in February has been as per our plan. The Honda Elevate maintains its strong performance, further strengthening its presence in the market. The Honda City and Amaze also continue to perform well in their respective segments. In addition, our export performance has also been robust.”

The company had registered 6,086 units in domestic sales and exported 973 units in February’ 23.

K.R.BALAJI

Shapoorji Pallonji Real Estate eyes a revenue potential of close to INR 500 crore at its project “Parkwest 2.0 in Bengaluru.

iconic development will exceed the expectations of our esteemed customers, reinforcing our commitment to delivering excellence in every project we undertake.”

Mr Sumit Sapru, Business Head, Shapoorji Pallonji Real Estate, added, “Introducing Sequoia, the last tower at Parkwest 2.0, signifies a new standard for luxurious living in Bengaluru. With impeccable design, unmatched quality, and world-class amenities, Sequoia caters to the discerning residents of the city, elevating the Parkwest 2.0 experience.”

Parkwest 2.0 has a total saleable area of over 18.4 lakh square feet. Sequoia, the last tower of the project, offers an exquisite selection of over 180 meticulously crafted 3 and 4BHK luxury apartments with a saleable area of 4.3 lakh square feet, presenting a revenue potential of nearly INR 500 crore. Sequoia stands tall at 30 floors, setting a new benchmark for urban living by seamlessly integrating smart features amidst lush greenery. Each apartment is thoughtfully designed to maximise natural light and ventilation, creating a serene oasis within the bustling cityscape. To date, the company has handed over ~1,000 apartments to satisfied homebuyers.

Commenting on the launch, Mr Venkatesh Gopalakrishnan, Director Group Promoter’s Office, MD & CEO – Shapoorji Pallonji Real Estate (SPRE), stated, “Sequoia, the last tower at Parkwest 2.0, is a testament to our meticulous planning and unwavering dedication to craftsmanship. This iconic development will exceed the expectations of our esteemed customers, reinforcing our commitment to delivering excellence in every project we undertake.”

Parkwest 2.0 offers easy connectivity to the Metro Station, Majestic Bus Stand, and City Railway Station, making it an ideal choice for those seeking proximity to the Central Business District, shopping malls, schools, hospitals, commercial complexes, restaurants, and entertainment options.

K.R.BALAJI

Renowned Aviation Engineer Dr. Kota Harinarayana and, U.S. Consul General Chennai Christopher W. Hodges, inaugurate the MURTI Research Centre at GITAM. Bengaluru.

Bengaluru, Karnataka, February 28, 2024 – On the occasion of National Science Daple of research as a corequisite for outstanding education and development, GITAM Bengaluru has inaugurated they, in keeping with the momentum of the National Education Policy 2020’s fundamental princi Multidisciplinary Unit of Research on Translational Initiatives (MURTI) Research Centre today.

This pioneering multidisciplinary research initiative brings together top minds to collaborate, innovate, and drive meaningful change. By bringing together researchers from various fields onto a common platform, MURTI aims to harness the collective expertise of researchers from varied backgrounds to tackle challenges that transcend individual disciplines.

The launch event witnessed the presence of distinguished dignitaries, including Dr. Kota Harinarayana, Programme Director, and Chief Designer of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas program, along with Christopher W. Hodges, Consul General of the U.S. Consulate in Chennai. GITAM Vice Chancellor Prof. Dayananda Siddavattam, and ProVC Bengaluru Campus Prof. KNS Acharya added prominence to the event.

Dr. Kota Harinarayana, renowned engineer, academician, and Programme Director and Chief Designer of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas program, said, “There is a need for total rethinking about how sustainable technology must grow. I am happy GITAM has established (MURTI) in a record time. It is the right beginning with 13 areas that have been identified, and these are the areas where we make a change. Not only GITAM but also society at large will benefit. Our aim is now to connect the university with industry and the society.”

He further added “There is a need to re-engineer the engineering. It is a fundamental need. The way we generate energy, the way we store energy, the way we transmit energy, the whole thing has to be re-looked at. I believe that Mr. Christopher W. Hodges’ presence should ensure a strong collaboration between U.S. academia, U.S. industry, Indian academia, Indian industry, and, in general, the society at large.”

U.S. Consul General Chennai Christopher W. Hodges, highlighted, “MURTI is the kind of integrated and dynamic research model we need for innovation and partnership that helps drive our economies and relationship forward.”

ProVC, GITAM, Bengaluru Campus, Prof. KNS Acharya emphasized, “Research and Development is incredibly crucial for academic institutions in India. It is pivotal in fostering innovation, advancing knowledge, and keeping academic curriculums and programs updated with the latest developments. It addresses critical challenges, fostering entrepreneurship, and developing solutions for industry and society. Viewed from the perspective of student-centered education, the MURTI initiative empowers students to transcend mere memorization and actively engage in real-world problem-solving within cutting-edge laboratory settings. It nurtures a mindset that embraces failure as a natural part of the experimentation process, fostering the development of both critical thinking and practical reasoning skills.”

MURTI Research Centre boasts 13 modern labs equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and staffed with faculty and researchers from renowned global universities. From Drone Technologies to Quantum Infocomm, each lab is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of knowledge and driving real-world impact.

The launch event offered exclusive insights into the research initiatives undertaken by the centre, providing attendees with a tour of the state-of-the-art facilities and opportunities to engage with esteemed faculty and researchers.

GITAM Bengaluru welcomes researchers, innovators, and collaborators worldwide to join us in our mission to harness the power of multidisciplinary research to drive positive change and create a brighter future for all.

K.R.BALAJI

iOPEX LAUNCHES COMPLIANCE AND GOVERNANCE ADD-ON FOR SERVICENOW CREATOR WORKFLOWS.

iOPEX is ServiceNow’s lead launch partner for Creator Workflow Solutions to enable adoption and developing solutions focus towards, compliance, governance & optimizing cost to serve and cost to book.

• iOPEX’s industry expertise and solutions to drive byte-size transformation powered by ElevAIte AI-led platforms, integrated with ServiceNow’s Creator Workflow platform enables end-to-end digital transformation.

• iOPEX newly assembled ServiceNow Creator workflow Business Group will bring in an integrated offerings to deliver next-generation, easy to implement, cost-optimized digital solutions for clients.

Bangalore, 26^th February 2024 : iOPEX Technologies, a leader in innovative digital transformation solutions, proudly announces its latest offering: a Compliance and Governance add-on designed exclusively for ServiceNow’s Creator Workflows. This state-of-the-art add-on is specifically engineered to enhance the capabilities of ServiceNow by integrating comprehensive compliance and governance functionalities, including advanced integrated risk management strategies.

This add-on empowers organizations to proactively manage compliance and governance challenges within their ServiceNow environment. By automating compliance tasks, risk assessments, and reporting, the add-on ensures that businesses can adhere to regulatory requirements more efficiently and effectively. Features include streamlined compliance processes, enhanced risk visibility, and automated governance controls, all built on the flexible and powerful platform of ServiceNow Creator Workflows.

Building custom apps and intelligent workflow automations that ensure all business procedures, operations and practices comply with legal standards, industry regulations, and internal policies is a growing requirement in the market as clients rush to digitally transform as much as possible. Because all organizations run and operate a bit differently, ServiceNow’s Creator Workflows has the flexibility required to build any solution for automating intelligent workflows, and custom applications for use cases we don’t have out of the box”, said Craig Steel, Global VP ServiceNow – Creator Workflow.

“Our Compliance and Governance add-on, enriched with integrated risk management capabilities, signifies our commitment to providing robust, innovative solutions that address the complex needs of modern enterprises,” said Shiva Ramani, CEO of iOPEX Technologies.

iOPEX’s experience with ServiceNow allows them to leverage Creator Workflows to build custom solutions unique to an organization and business on the ServiceNow platform. ServiceNow and iOPEX have a great partnership that customers can leverage to streamline operations, scale business, drive smart innovation at optimal cost to build and improve operational efficiencies.

K.R.BALAJI