Franchise India launches its Branch in Patna

Patna, 29th August 2015: Franchise India Holdings Limited (FIHL) is Asia's largest integrated franchise solution company since 1999, and an absolute authority on franchising and licensing opens its branch in Patna today. The company would provide hundreds of business opportunity to the people of Bihar and neighboring states. They have range of International & National Brands tie-up.

The customers can choose brands according to their financial stature. Franchise India has helped hundreds of investors in selecting the right franchise and, in turn, assisted numerous organizations in international and domestic franchise expansion. Knowledge, Opportunity, Network and Success are FIHL's key ingredients.

“In the last seventeen years of successful franchising we have laid these 3Ps as our foundation. Principle, People and Partnership and understands the importance of an investor centric to work towards his interest. All our businesses are dedicated to inform and assist the investor. As pioneers in Indian franchising, all our divisions are either franchise supply or profitable franchise opportunities. Along with principle, we believe in our PEOPLE. Franchise India is a people’s company” said Gaurav Marya, Chairman.

“People are becoming brand conscious in Bihar nowadays. So we are helping brands to expand their presence in Bihar. With emergence of brands, people’s living standard & lifestyle will also change and this change is what we want to bring “said Himanshu Sekhar, COO, Franchise India, Patna.

Ashley Madison founder quits

Noel Biderman, founder and chief executive of dating site, Ashley Madison has stepped down on Friday, according to media reports. Until the appointment of next chief executive office, top management of the firm will look after the operations. It is noteworthy that around 33 million accounts were stolen from the dating website. 

US India Business Council concludes Food Processing & Food Security Mission

August 28, 2015, New Delhi- The U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC) concluded a Food and Agriculture Executive Mission to India. The two-day mission in New Delhi focused on ways to increase investment in food processing and improve food security in India, and ways that industry in both the U.S and India can work with the central and state governments to achieve mutually beneficially solutions in the food and agriculture sector.

In meetings with U.S. and Indian Government officials, Council members discussed ways to partner with the Indian government to advance Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Make in India" initiative, which calls for greater foreign investment in production and manufacturing in India. The committee also discussed policies that the Government of India could pursue that would enhance foreign investment in the food processing sector, food safety and security, foster innovation, boost the competitiveness of local industry, and increase the speed at which new products are introduced to market.

"The Council's Food and Agriculture member-companies represent every aspect of the farm-to-market supply chain, which affirms the U.S. industry's position as a collaborator with shared interests in advancing India's agriculture economy and food industry," said Siraj Chaudhry, Chairman of Cargill Foods India and Mission Co-Lead. "Through this mission, and through our work in both the U.S. and India, our efforts are focused on enhancing bilateral commercial relations and engaging in a regular dialogue on the topic of agricultural productivity and food security in India."

Council members were able to connect with government and corporate leaders and reinforce industry's position as a collaborator with shared interests in advancing India's agriculture economy and food processing industry. The delegates held meetings with the Minister of Food Processing Industries, Harsimrat Kaur Badal and the Secretary of the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion, Amitabh Kant. The delegation also had productive discussions with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), presenting FSSAI CEO, Y.S. Malik with a plan for a capacity building program to make the agency more efficient and effective in its mission.

Following the mission, Shilpa Divekar Nirula, CEO, Monsanto India Region and Mission Co-Lead commented, "As India charts its growth journey, agriculture has tremendous potential of being transformed into a vibrant sector contributing to millions of our farmers and to the economy. This is an opportune time to recognize the needs of our farmers and synergize Central and State Government initiatives with public and private sector investments towards addressing those needs. Policy impetus and a predictable operating environment for participants will encourage solutions focused on enhancing agronomic practices, managing farm risk, leveraging information technology for capacity building and integrating the value chain thereby contributing to making agriculture productive, efficient, remunerative and sustainable for our farmers"

The mission also featured the first of what may become an annual event- the USIBC - Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) "Dialogue on Strategies to promote Value Addition in Agriculture". The event, sponsored by YES BANK and Blumberg Grain, focused on ways that U.S. and Indian government and industry can work together to improve the food processing industry in India and featured a discussion on how Indian states have partnered with Industry to promote food processing on a smaller scale.

Following the dialogue, Mr. Rana Kapoor, Managing Director, CEO and Co-Founder of YES BANK said, "India's economy is predominantly agrarian, with agriculture and allied sectors contributing 18.2% to our GDP (FY 2013-14). Growth in high value agriculture, increased farm productivity and enhanced investments will further boost the sector's contribution. YES BANK and USIBC believe that an efficient agri-marketing infrastructure is vital to facilitate effective price discovery and transaction functions of the rural economy. The Government's proposal to set up a Unified National Market for agri commodities, in close coordination with NITI Aayog and State Governments will promote seamless movement of produce from farm to fork, accelerate growth of the sector and ensure food and nutritional security for all Indians."

Quizmaster Siddhartha Basu motivates the Students

The father of Indian television quiz shows, Mr. Siddhartha Basu conducted an inter school quiz competition at Suncity School, Gurgaon today. 33 schools of Delhi NCR participated in this competition. The competition was open to students from VIII – XII standard. 100 pairs of students participated in the preliminary round. DAV School Sector 14 Gurgaon, DPS sector 45 Gurgaon, New Era Public School Mayapuri, Chiranjeev Bharti School, Amity School sector 43 Gurgaon, and Suncity School Gurgaon were selected for the final round. In the final round, Kartikay and Pankaj of DAV School sector 14 Gurgaon were adjudged as 1st, while Ishan and Shubham of the DPS School Sector 45 Gurgaon were adjudged as 2nd and Harsh and Dushyant of Chiranjiv Public School were adjudged as 3rd winners.

The inter school quiz competition ‘Quiz Decathlon’ was organized by Suncity School Gurgaon at their school premises. The quiz hall was jam packed with students and parents to witness the show being hosted by Basu. Mr. Laxmi Narayan Goel, Chairman,Suncity School, Mr. Ankit Goel, Vice-Chairman, Suncity School and Mrs. Rupa Chakravarty, Principal, Suncity School were also present on the occasion.

Mrs. Rupa Chakravarty, Principal said at the occasion, “We are delighted to have Mr. Basu at our School; it’s an honor for us that he is hosting Quiz Decathlon 2015. I thank all the schools for being a part of this.”

Basu thanked Suncity School saying, “I thank Suncity School and its management for having me here. It’s a privilege for me to be in Gurgaon and be with such a wonderful crowd. I congratulate Suncity for completing 10 years and wish them the best for the future. He also said that communication skills are the most important for the overall development of a child. We have been conducting quizzes in different schools across the country and our quiz competitions are knowledge based and audio/video interactive. ”

Foodhall celebrates Health & Wellness festival in August

National, August 2015: Motivation comes in many forms. Maybe it’s the inspirational poster on the kitchen wall, that weekly date with a running buddy, or simply going the Vegan way and learning how to cook them at home. Want to know where the health lovers are pumping up their proteins this monsoon? Head to Foodhall – India’s premium lifestyle food superstore for their Health & Wellness festival! The store is set to offer the latest in healthy living products, cooking demos, free workshops, fostering its patrons to celebrate a healthy life. The festival begins from 5th August to 5th September 2015 across all Foodhall stores in India.

A BRIGADE OF SUPERFOODS AT FOODHALL
Foodhall is synonymous with superfood. Packed with rich and powerful nutrients, this month Foodhall introduces superfood such as Cacao Nibs, Spirulina, Matcha powder, Kale Chips along with the existing range of Chia Seeds, Avocados, Goji Berries etc.

FOR OUR LIVE KITCHEN WORSHIPPERS
Healthy yet delicious, Foodhall’s live kitchen will make your mornings nutrition-savvy. Hop on to healthy breakfast habit with Mixed Berry Yogurt Parfait, Peach & Cinnamon Yoghurt Parfait, Coconut & Lime Parfait (dairy free), Vanilla Chai Chia Pudding and Chocolate Raspberry Chia Pudding. For those evening hunger pangs, Foodhall adds variety of snacks like Baked Sweet Potato chips, Baked Beetroot Chips, homemade granola such as Cranberry Almond & Walnut Granola, Blueberry Flax & Chia Seed Granola and Blueberry Hazelnut & Pinenut Granola. Boost up your energy with delectable energy balls such as Coconut & Raw Cacao balls and Raw Ginger & date balls at Foodhall.

FOR THE LOVE OF BREAD
Following a low-carb diet doesn’t mean you have to give up your favorite sandwiches or morning toast. You just have to make a few swaps for your regular slices of bread. Foodhall has introduced range of gluten-free, sugar-free breads, Walnut Almonds & Oats bread, Gluten-free Pizza Base, Multigrain Bread which are extremely rich in fibre.

SETTING THE TREND OF ON-THE-GO HEALTHY SNACKS
Thank Foodhall later. Those days when we are completely occupied with work and cannot focus on our eating habits, Foodhall brings varied healthy on-the-go food options such as Vegetable Sticks with Mint Greek Yoghurt, Whole Wheat Pita Chips with Carrot Hummus and Raw Zucchini Noodles to keep your diet in check. If you are a salad lover, Foodhall is whipping out some delicious Salad in a Jar options for you such as Seven Layer Grain & Vegetable Salad with Basil Vinaigrette, Sprouts Salad in a Buttermilk Dressing and Lean Chicken Salad with Creamy Salsa Dressing.

Google to Mentor the Top 5 Shortlisted Teams announced by MyGov

MyGov today announced the final shortlisted top five teams to build the official mobile app for India’s Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). This contest, initiated by MyGov and Google in March, is a first of its kind crowdsourcing effort to build a mobile app for a public office. One app out of the five will be chosen as the official app of the PMO.

In Phase 1 of the contest, MyGov had invited ideas for the mobile app. Based on over 50,000 ideas received, MyGov prepared an app blueprint for developers, who could register as teams to build and submit mockups. In Phase 2, more than 110 mockups were received, and ten were shortlisted. A Jury of eminent professionals and government representatives chose five teams to build the app on the basis of detailed presentations.

The shortlisted teams represent the breadth and diversity of talent in India. They come from across the country – two from Chennai, two from NCR and one from Pune – and from a wide range of backgrounds – two of the teams are led by students, while one of the teams is led by a female entrepreneur.

The shortlisted teams will now be mentored for the next six weeks by Google engineers, who will help them develop a world class app based on the latest design and Android technologies.

Speaking on the occasion, Chetan Krishnaswamy, Country Head Public Policy, Google India said, “As increasing number of Indians get online with their smartphones, we’re delighted to be working MyGov in an effort to build a world class mobile App for the citizens to connect with the Prime Minister's Office. Easy access to information and empowering citizens with the benefits of Internet are a big part Prime Minister Modi’s “Digital India” initiative, and this app is one step in that direction.”

Gaurav Dwivedi, CEO MyGov said “With the short listing of the finalists, the contest has now entered its last phase of actual App development. The role of Google’s team in mentoring will be critical at this stage and we are working closely to unveil of the official Mobile App for the Prime Minister’s Office”

Orient Electric bags ‘Make in India Awards for Excellence – 2015’

Orient Electric, part of the diversified Indian conglomerate CK Birla group, has bagged the prestigious ‘Make in India Awards for Excellence – 2015’ in the Consumer Electrical Products category at a grand ceremony held last week at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar in Gujarat in presence of Sh. Kalraj Mishra, Hon’ble Minister, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME). The award ceremony was attended by Ministers from State & Central Government, senior government officials and renowned industrialists from Gujarat.

Rakesh Khanna, Chief Executive Officer at Orient Electric expressed his delight and cited, “It’s truly an honour to receive this award. At Orient Electric, we believe in ‘Make in India’ and understand the importance of indigenous manufacturing in economic development of the nation. We are today the largest manufacturer of fans in India and we are also the largest exporter exporting to over 30 countries having a share of 60% in fan exports.

We take pride in our in-house R&D capabilities, spirit of continuous innovation and manufacturing prowess. We are amongst the very few who have started producing the LED range of lighting in India with standards comparable to the best in the international markets. We have state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities based in Kolkata, Faridabad and Noida manufacturing Fans, Lighting & Switchgears.”

He further added, “Following the brand vision of ‘Switch to Smart’, Orient Electric is committed to manufacture cutting-edge lifestyle electrical products that meet the needs and expectations of evolving Indian consumers. We have already earned the status of being one of the India’s most trusted brands in the year 2014, and this new recognition further serves as a testimony to Orient Electric’s commitment to deliver the best to the consumers. “

The Make in India Awards for Excellence is a unique initiative that recognizes valued contributions enabling India to establish its position as a global leader. It honours the contributions of companies, organizations, institutes and individuals who have shown exceptional performance and growth in their respective areas of interest.

Odisha Sishu Bhawan Toll 26

As many as 26 infants died at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Post Graduate Institute of Paediatrics, popularly known as Sishu Bhawan in Cuttack, Odisha in last five day.

On Tuesday, one more infant died at the hospital. Odisha government formed a panel to conduct enquiry into the tragic incident. On the other hand, some political leaders alleged of tender scams in the institution. On Monday alone, four children died at the hospital. Parents those lost their infants alleged the health official negligence as s the major reason for the such tragedy.

Odisha Human Rights Commission has sought a report from the hospital authorities over the death of infants. The commission has issued notice to the state government and hospital authorities and asked them to file details over the issue within a week.  

SpiceJet spices up Air Travel with “Red Hot Offers”

SpiceJet, the country’s favourite low-cost carrier, has teamed up with popular retailers such as Kingdom of Dreams, O2, Archies, Thyrocare, Babyoye, Mom & Me, and Ferns N Petals to offer special discounts ranging from 15% upto 70% to SpiceJet passengers for purchase of products such as kids apparel, gifts and collectibles, health care, footwear, entertainment, and hospitality sectors.

Customers can obtain their discounts simply by producing their SpiceJet boarding pass at these retail outlets, or by using a promo code for online shopping. The promo code will be sent to the registered email ID upon the completion of travel.

The offer is applicable on bookings made on www.spicejet.com, through SpiceJet’s mobile app, airport ticketing counter and SpiceJet call centre. Offers are valid within six months of the issuance of boarding card for all offline redemption. For all online redemptions offers are valid with six months of the booking made.

Discounts can be obtained only on completion of the air travel when you produce your boarding pass or your promo code. Customers can visit the SpiceJet website for more information related to the partner offerings.

Tata Power ramps up CSR Programs

Tata Power, India's largest integrated power company, has always undertaken various initiatives with an aim to improve the quality of life, and ensure holistic development of its surrounding communities. The strategic approach ensured focus on sustainable long term programs across all locations while also looking into location specific needs as well. The company brought in further robustness to systems and processes to align to the intended outcomes, thus benefitting more than 250 villages across 7 states in FY15 through community development initiatives. The Tata Power Community Development Trust acts as development vehicle for driving these initiatives.

At present, the CSR outreach covers half a million people through various initiatives in education, health, livelihood, social capital, and nurturing sustainability. The total CSR spend of the Company in FY15 stood at Rs. 31.1 crore as against the required 2 per cent (Rs. 29.8 crore) as per the Companies Act. In addition to the above, the CSR spend of subsidiaries and joint ventures of the Company was Rs. 18.2 crore, as against the required Rs. 17.2 crore as per the Act.

Responding to the need of the hour, Tata Power distributed more than 3500 relief kits as part of the flood relief efforts in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K), and 2000 solar lamps and helped restore power network to those impacted by Cyclone Hud-Hud in Vishakhapatnam district. Various educational initiatives undertaken by the company had a positive impact on more than 1 lakh students across 350 schools. The company also extended Vocational Training and Employability programme to 1000 youth from over 96 villages.

Speaking on these initiatives, Mr. Anil Sardana, MD & CEO, Tata Power, said, “We at Tata Power have always believed that companies must give back to the society on a sustainable basis. Led by its motto of inclusive growth, these initiatives have augmented the potential of the target communities, thereby strengthening our belief of being a Neighbour of Choice. As a part of collective responsibility towards nation building, Tata Power will continue to engage with key stakeholders including community to sustain the desired outcomes in the long run.”

In FY 15, Tata Power launched its flagship initiative, the Model Village program which aims at transforming 53 villages on development with a sustainable approach to work closely with stakeholders at large. These villages would be taken up in phased manner spreading over a decade through a participatory approach based on key priorities of community.

As a part of the ‘Invisible Goodness’ initiative for the centenary year, Tata Power has launched various new initiatives including empowering individuals to become sustainable through the ‘Be Green’ initiative. In line with nation’s vision of Skill Development, Tata Power has set up Tata Power Skill Development Institute (TPSDI) wherein the company plans to train 2 lakh skilled workers over the next decade. Under the ‘Be Green’ initiative, the company aims to motivate consumers to opt for e-bills to donate the collected savings for a noble cause.

The company has also launched ‘Act for Mahseer’ – the largest and the most comprehensive campaign on Mahseer conservation, reaffirming the company’s commitment to the cause of saving the endangered species. Multiple similar initiatives are being worked upon and positive impact is anticipated from all.

Adani to invest Rs.25000 Cr in Two Projects in Chhattisgarh

Adani Group, a global integrated player, today signed a MOU with the Government of Chhattisgarh to develop two critical projects in the state. The project cost for both the projects is estimated to be around INR 25, 200 crore. The MOU was signed in the presence of Mr. Raman Singh, Hon’able Chief Minister, Chhattisgarh, Mr. Amar Agrawal, Hon’able Minister of Industry, Mr.Vivek Dhandh, Chief Secretary of State and Mr. Rajesh Adani, Managing Director, Adani Enterprises Ltd.

The two projects comprise of a Coal to Poly‐generation (CTP) Project and a Rice Bran Solvent Extraction Plant &; Refinery. The MOU was signed by Mr. Subodh Kumar Singh, Secretary-Industries of the State and Mr. Rajesh Jha and Mr. KS Varshney from the Adani Group.

Speaking on the development Mr. Gautam Adani, Chairman, Adani Group, said, “The Adani Group remains committed to helping India on its path to attaining energy sufficiency. These projects will help the state of Chhattisgarh strengthen its overall socio economic status. We also feel these two projects will play an instrumental role in assisting the larger national agenda of inclusive growth for all and is demonstrative of our continuous efforts of nation building”.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Raman Singh, Hon’able Chief Minister, Chhattisgarh said, “We are delighted with this development and glad to be associated with the Adani group. Both these projects will not only enhance the economic growth of the state but will also create substantial employment opportunities for the people of Chhattisgarh”.

The first project to be set up is a Coal to Poly‐generation (CTP) Project consisting of Ammonia/Urea and Substitute Natural Gas (SNG) Complex via gasification of Indian high ash coal sourced from within the state. The project cost is estimated to be more than INR 25, 000 crore and includes Coal to Urea, Coal to SNG Plant and Coal based Thermal Power Plant.

The CTP project has the potential to generate 5000 jobs as well as substantial revenue to the state of Chhattisgarh. In addition to this, the project will strengthen the overall socio‐ economic status of Chhattisgarh State.

The Proposed CTP Project of Adani Enterprises Ltd. (AEL) is a unique Project, being set up for the first time in India, based on Coal to Synthetic Energy. Based on the various studies, Adani Enterprises Ltd. believes that the CTP, project would add significant value to the Indian economy. The project will not only help ensuring energy security for India but also drive macroeconomic growth through the coal based fuel.

The second project comprises of setting up a Rice Bran Solvent Extraction Plant and a physical Refinery packing plant at Rajnandgaon in the state of Chhattisgarh. The project cost is estimated to be around INR 200 crore and has the potential to generate more than 600 jobs in the state of Chhattisgarh. The proposed project will not only help in increasing the potential of rice bran oil production in the state but will also help in generating employment and economic growth in the region of operation.

Honeywell Showcases Technology Innovations for Process Industries

Honeywell (NYSE:HON) Process Solutions (HPS) will showcase the latest developments in automation and process control at the Honeywell India Users Summit, Aug. 24 and 25 in Mumbai. More than 170 representatives from across process automation industries will attend the annual event.

The summit will focus on issues facing manufacturers in India, including the changing economic environment, increasing connectivity and the need for real-time insights that can improve operations. Attendees to the event represent critical industries such as refining, petrochemicals, oil and gas, chemicals, power, and minerals and metals.

HPS will showcase next-generation technologies for digital transformation, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), and best-practices in process control and automation that can help manufacturers improve business performance.

“According to recent research by Accenture, the IIoT could contribute US$14.2 trillion to world output by 2030. India has immense potential of benefitting from the technology if it improves its infrastructure and skills that will help support the adoption of new technologies,” said Bruce Calder, chief technology officer for HPS. “Honeywell has been leveraging the concepts and technologies behind the IIoT as part of the vision that we have been evolving towards for several years.”

As organizations adapt technologies to help them take advantage of the benefits of the IIoT, the increased connectivity also brings added risk. The summit will feature a panel of experts from the Indian government, Honeywell and industry, which will discuss how to build cyber security skills within organizations and ways to sustain it.

“With increasing connectivity, there is an immediate need for cyber security solutions that take a measured approach to managing the industrial IT lifecycle,” said Vikas Chadha, managing director, Honeywell Automation India Limited and HPS India leader. “Increasing plant reliability by using next generation cyber security solutions will be critical.”

Dalal Street Bloodbath: Sensex tanks 1700 Points

Investors lost around seven lakh crore in a single day today when the Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange crashed like never seen before. BSE Sensex crashed 1700 points and NSE Nifty shed 490 points on Monday leaving investors in huge loss to the tune of seven lakh crore. Both the markets fell heavily due to the weak global cues and governments stand on MTA. In January 2, 2008, the Sensex was fell by around 2000 points. Nifty closed at 7,809 points. The stock markets in China lost more than 8 percent.

News Stories from Odisha This Week

News paper headlines dominated the state of Odisha this week. There were many major stories happened that made us to have a special post on our business news this week portal.

Sarathi Baba Controversy: Self-styled Godman was arrested that was the biggest breaking news story hit the all the media section. People were in puzzle to see their God in different form on Social Media sites. In the digital age of communication, no actions go unnoticed. Same thing happened in this case. His son was arrested from Mumbai, who has been absconding from the day one. Odisha police tracked mobile and ATM card details to reach him. 

Sorcery Case: In a gruesome incident, two tribal people were lynched in Rayagada suspecting them of practicing sorcery. The incident happened in the district of Rayagada, tribal dominance village areas, in the wee hours. Some people reportedly killed two people and thrown their body into river after packing in bags. 

Odisha Assembly: The ongoing monsoon session of the assembly was the major news that interest everyone in the state. The session was started as usual and as per the speculation. Opposition parties left no stone unturned over the crucial issues like - Praksh Mishra, POSCO, Land Bill etc.,  The first day was adjourned after paying rich tributes to departed leaders including former President Dr. Kalam and former Chief Minister of Odisha JB Patnaik.Since second day, opposition stalled the assembly. Speaker called All-Party meet to end the deadlock and opposition parties reportedly supported the move to allow smooth functioning of Odisha assembly. Odisha Government has tabled important bills including - Odisha Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Bill, this week. 

Kashmir Issue: Indo-Pak NSA Level Talks called off

By Neel Achary 

Much awaited Indo-Pak NSA level talks derailed over the issue of Kashmir,that was not raised when the proposed talks were taken a form at Ufa meeting, and both the nations stick to their grounds. The issue of Kashmir was the main bone of contention that shadows the talks between two countries. The core issue has been terrorism and Pakistan has been on back foot to discuss about for two reasons. First the cross border terrorism - a terrorist Usman was apprehended by Indian police recently. And the second reason that the revelation of under world don Dawood Ibrahim residing in Pakistan.

Cross border terrorism is open truth that - it is being sponsored by Pakistan and Pak Army. Heavy firing along the border by the troops of Pakistan, as expected they do cover militants crossing border bid. This was evident from the Kargil War. A terrorist from Pakistan, has been captured and being interrogated by Indian officials. And, case of Kasab was the brightest example to

The country has been sponsoring terrorism for many decades and India is one of the soft target among other Asian countries. India witnessed biggest attacks like - Attack of Parliament and Mumbai Attack. Hardly do the people of this country would forget those coward attacks.

It is the greatness of Prime Minister of Modi, who during the Ufa meet, held talks with his counter part and gave ascent to visit Pakistan in 20165, but his commitments for peace back fired as Pakistan diplomatically avoided the NSA level talks with India.

The second reason, the revelation of Dawood Ibrahim, is said to be the biggest drawback for the country that has been denying his presence. According to media reports, the Don owned nine house in Pakistan, has phone connection, visits to various countries with Pakistan issued passport.

The two reasons are enough to understand Pakistan's policy on terrorism and stand of its leaders. They just used Separatist leader as trump card at a proper time, so that they can bailout self from international humiliation.

The failure of talks would work as eye opener for the countries those supporting Pakistan..

Develop Technology in Strategic Sector: Dr Harsha Vardhan

Union Minister of Science & Technology & Earth Sciences Dr Harsha vardhan asks scientists to develop at least one technology in strategic sector in each laboratory in India. Speaking to media at Raman Research Institute in Bangalore yesterday, the minister said that results of the scientific research should reach to the people and the Union government is striving to bridge the gap between scientists and the common people.

 Scientists in India cannot stand alone with their research papers but help the people Dr. Harsh Vardhan said. He said there should be a method for scientists to work set timeframes to achieve targets. The Minister said that declarations have been adopted in Dehradun and Hyderabad meetings, involving various scientists, to develop the technologies for National missions like Swatch Bharat, skill India, smart cities, digital India, Namami Ganga projects.

Indian laboratories are now expected to devise ways to develop industry driven technologies, including game changing technologies. He asked the scientists’ community to be a catalytic agent in evolving India into ‘Samarth Bharat-Sashakt Bharat’. Scientists should focus on developing technologies for improving quality of life of the common man and coming months would see each of the laboratories focusing its resources on developing specific lines of inventions which would contribute to the social and economic objectives of the Narendra Modi government for the poor and common man the minister said.

Dr. Harsha Vardhan said further studies and experiments in the field of earth sciences are underway for a better prediction of climate conditions. He added that the government is ready to pump in more funds into scientific researches.

 Due to the initiatives of the government, Indian born scientists are returning to their homeland. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modiji himself is focusing in this regard, the minister added. It may be noted here that the Prime Minister met 30 eminent scientists from various top institutions across the country three days back to discuss related issues.

Dr Harsha Vardhan visited the Raman Research Institute in Bangalore yesterday and had a first-hand exposure to the cutting edge experimental research at the institute. He has be visiting all the top research laboratories across the country to monitor and guide the scientific activities being undertaken there.

Govt to expedite Onion Import

Government of India has been keeping a close watch on the rise in prices of Onions. A decision has been taken by the Government to import Onions and a tender has also been floated for 10,000 MT of Onions which will be opened on 27th August, 2015.

To increase the availability of Onions in domestic market, it has been decided to raise Minimum Export Price of Onions further to US$ 700 per MT.

MEP was last increased from US$ 250 per MT to US$ 425 per MT. on 26th June, 2015.

The prices of Onions are being reviewed regularly. A meeting is again being held by Secretary (Consumer Affairs) on 24th August, 2015 with SFAC, NAFED, MMTC, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Agriculture and Govt. of Delhi to review the action taken to keep the prices of Onions in check.

To intervene in the market, Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) and NAFED have procured 5857 MT of Onion. This has been funded out of Price Stabilisation Fund meant to keep prices of essential commodities under control. SFAC has also procured 2511 MT of Onions for the Delhi Govt., making a total stock of 8368 MT of Onions. SFAC is supplying Onions at Rs.30.50 per kg. to SAFAL, which is retailing at Rs.39 per kg. in Delhi. SFAC is also selling Onions to consumers at Rs.35 per kg. through 120 milk booths of DMS. A decision was also taken by Govt. of Delhi to sell Onions at subsidized rate of Rs.40 per kg. through 280 Fair Price Shops, which was further reduced to Rs.30 per kg. w.e.f. 12.8.2015

Prices of Onions have been rising on account of a decline in total production from 189.23 lakh tonnes in 2014-15 as against 194.02 lakh tonnes in 2013-14 i.e. a decrease of 4.79 lakh tonnes. The shortfall has primarily been on account of adverse weather conditions including unseasonal rains which has impacted both the standing and harvested crop at the major producing centres.

In order to contain price rise of essential commodities a National Consultation Meeting was also held with all State/UTs Ministers in-charge of Food and Consumer Affairs on 7th July, 2015 which resolved to keep prices of essential commodities, especially Onions under control. It also recommended effective action against hoarding and blackmarketing to control prices of food items. Chief Secretaries of States / UTs are also being reminded regularly to keep a watch on price rise and take effective action.

Union Government made an amendment of EC Act, 1955 on 1st July, 2015 to enable State Govt./UTs to impose stock limits on Onions for a further period of one year till 2nd July, 2016.

Northeast to have its own Film Institute: Dr. Jitendra Singh

The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh has disclosed that the Northeast will soon have a Film Institute of its own. He was addressing a function for felicitating Shri Aribam Syam Sharma, world renowned “Grand Prix” and “National Award” winning film maker from Manipur, during the 3-day Northeast Film Festival being held at Siri Fort Auditorium, here today.

Dr. Jitendra Singh said, the entire region of Northeast is bestowed with scenic beauty which can match with the most beautiful locations in the world, but unfortunately this vast potential of the region has remained under - utilized by the film industry. He thanked the Union Finance Minister and I&B Minister, Shri Arun Jaitley who was generous enough to include in the Budget the setting up of a Film Institute in Arunachal Pradesh. This will not only help in boosting the film industry in Northeast but would also facilitate film makers from Bollywood, Tollywood and other parts of the country to explore the exclusive locales of the region, he added.

Dr. Jitendra Singh has said, Shri Aribam Syam Sharma’s work has reflections of some of the greatest Indian film makers like Shri Satyajit Ray, Shri Mrinal Sen and Shri Adoor Gopalakrishnan. He said, just before the award ceremony, he had the opportunity of watching “Ishanou”, a 1990 production by Shri Aribam which is not only rich in content and direction, but unlike most contemporary films, chooses the medium of visuals and silence to convey the theme instead of being loud or noisy. He suggested that the films made by Shri Aribam and other film makers of the same genre should be dubbed into other Indian languages so that these get wider exposure both for the film maker as well as the quality of cinema being produced in Northeast.

UBM Index Fairs launches India Kitchen & Bath 2015

UBM Index Fairs, host of the flagship show, Index today launched its pioneer exhibition for the kitchen and bath industry, India Kitchen & Bath 2015 (21-23 August at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi). The show was inaugurated by eminent industry designers and dignitaries like Ar. Karan Grover; Pratap Jadhav, President, Institute of Indian Interior Designers (IIID); Mohan Deshpande, Chairman, Hospitality Purchasing Managers Forum and celebrity Master Chef Ranveer Brar.

Supported by the Institute of Indian Interior Designers (IIID), All India Hardware Association and Hospitality Purchasing Managers Forum , the three-day trade fair brought together buyers and traders in kitchen and bath equipment, OEM white goods, accessories, kitchen and bath furniture and fittings, lighting products with architects, interior designers, builders, project managers, consultants, procurement heads across the hospitality, corporate and government sectors. Renowned companies such as Porcelanosa, Queo, Acrysil, Faber, Godrej Interio, Hafele, JB Glass, Kaff Appliances, Kohler, DS Doors, Marmo Home, Collins, Numobel, Oswal Hardware, Oyster Bath, Prestige, Royal Kitchens, TZ Panels, Unique Innovations, Victorinox, Viega Gmbh and Welcona, amongst others, displayed their products and offerings.

Highlights of the show include the Sculpture Zone, presented by Aura Art Development Pvt. Ltd. showcasing sculptures by artists such as Sidharth, Swati Pasari, Srinia Chowdhury, Asurvedh, Suresh Kumar and Hrishikesh, and KUDOS, the popular showcase honouring inspirational work of 12 eminent architects from New Delhi and Mumbai. The second day of the event will further see an interactive knowledge seminar by IIID on "DESign....V desi or Be Desi".

Yogesh Mudras, Acting Managing Director, UBM India, said, "Today in India, while the modular kitchen market is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 42.93% by 2018, sanitary ware will see growth between 12-15%. Both the segments have witnessed a shift from utility to luxury. With India's luxury market estimated to grow 86 percent in constant value terms between 2013 and 2018, urban India's growth in corporate environment and the rising middle-class population's per capita income, the industry is expected to further grow in the coming years. The potential and hence the need for a trade platform was echoed by the industry too, in their feedback to us as industry players. UBM Indexfairs India has thus launched India Kitchen & Bath here in the capital to tap and further harness the potential for this growing market in India."

Mr. L.A Khan, Managing Director, UBM Index Fairs further elaborated, "Owing to our flagship trade show, Index, we enjoy a close connect, with the community of architects, interior designers and builders/developers and with key trade and buyer delegations across India. In addition, through our strategic alliances, we have a standing relationship with industry's professional bodies. India Kitchen & Bath is a natural extension of our offering to the niche segment of the industry we have been catering to, since the last 26 years."

Encouraged by the overwhelming success of India Kitchen & Bath's launch edition, UBM India has announced the second edition of the show, slated for 8-10 July 2016.
UBM India hosts Index annually in Mumbai, India's biggest interiors, architecture and design event, hosting over 25,000 trade visitors and 300 exhibitors with country pavilions from China, Turkey, UK and Spain.

25,000 Students participate in 8th Wild Wisdom Quiz

New Delhi, 21 August 2015: The Delhi City Finals of the 8th Wild Wisdom Quiz was held today. An initiative of WWF- India, the Wild Wisdom Quiz is Asia’s largest and India’s only wildlife quiz at the national level. The quiz aims to provide students a unique opportunity to delve deeper into the wildlife of this country, build their interest towards the rich natural legacy and inspire them to work towards its conservation.

Keeping in tune with United Nation’s declaration of 2015 as the ‘International Year of the Soil’, this year’s Wild Wisdom Quiz highlights the importance and conservation of soil. The quiz tests children’s aptitude and knowledge on soil, minerals, evolution, climate change and sustainability, apart from issues of Indian wildlife and global biodiversity.

The quiz has received participation from 25,000 students, pan-India so far. The first city level quiz was held in New Delhi today and will culminate with the finals on 7 October 2015.

75 schools from Delhi participated at this event at WWF-India’s Auditorium in the Junior and Middle School category. The winners of the Junior level quiz were Susheel G Shenoy & Indra Deshmukh from Scottish High School. The Quiz culminates at this level for them whereas the Middle School winners, Dhriti Bindra & Aryashree Bannerjee from ASN Sr. Secondary School will go on to compete with 14 other teams at the National Level, to be held at New Delhi on 7th October 2015.

The winners were felicitated by Dr. N.Khare from the Ministry of Earth Sciences, which is also a supporter of the Quiz this year.

Forum for India Pacific Island Countries

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi in the Forum for India Pacific Island Countries (FIPIC) Family Photo, in Jaipur on August 21, 2015.

Fragrances from the North East

The Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports (Independent Charge), Shri Sarbananda Sonowal addressing at the inauguration of the Three-day North East Film Festival on the theme of “Fragrances from the North East”, organised by the Directorate of Film Festivals, in New Delhi on August 21, 2015.

This Week: Corporate Social Responsibility News Aug 12-19

The following releases focus on Corporate Social Responsibility and moved during the week of August 12, 2015 – August 19, 2015.

TACOMA, Wash. -- Give an Hour Receives $1.6 Million from United Health Foundation to Support Mental Health Care for Military Service Members Source: United Health Foundation

HOUSTON -- NAPE Partners Donate $100,000 to IPAA Educational Foundation Source: NAPE

APOPKA, Fla. -- Sam’s Club Set to Open in Apopka Thursday Source: Sam’s Club

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Axalta Coating Systems and Ducks Unlimited paint a bright future for wetlands Source: Axalta Coating Systems and Ducks Unlimited, Inc.

NEW YORK -- American Express Announces Grant to the Student Conservation Association to Help Preserve More Than 200,000 Acres of Parkland as Part of the Find Your Park Movement Source: American Express

BOULDER, Colo. -- Aurora Organic Dairy Publishes 2015 Corporate Citizenship Report, Progress Made toward Baseline Year Goals Source: Aurora Organic Dairy

DENVER & MONTREAL -- Molson Coors Releases ‘Our Beer Print’ Corporate Responsibility Report Source: Molson Coors Brewing Company

CHICAGO -- 100,000 Opportunities Initiative Launches in Chicago with More than 4,000 Participants and 600 Immediate Job Offers to Young People Source: Schultz Family Foundation

AUSTIN, Minn. -- Hormel Foods Awards First International Winner for Its Environmental Sustainability Best of the Best Award Source: Hormel Foods Corporation

YES BANK Art Bengaluru 2015

The Collection - UB City and Sublime Galleria in association with the Prestige Group is gearing up for 'YES BANK Art Bengaluru 2015'. One of India's most reputed art festivals, the 6th Edition of 'Art Bengaluru' aims to go beyond the canvas, celebrating art in its myriad forms.

Uzma Irfan - Conceptualizer and Organizer,'Art Bengaluru' said, "The Indian art market currently has both good quality and discerning buyers. Globally, art is also increasingly becoming an alternate investment option. In this year's edition of 'Art Bengaluru', we have attempted to bring together distinguished artists from across the globe, thus giving people an opportunity to experience, under one roof, the multitude of art forms available. This festival is not just for the art aficionados and collectors. We hope to promote the various art forms and create a greater understanding of art in the city with this initiative. We also encourage schools to bring in their students to make the most of this festival."

Sharing his thoughts on this festival, Mr. Rana Kapoor - M.D. & CEO, YES BANK added, "It is extremely encouraging and motivating to be a part of 'Art Bengaluru'; this leading global cultural event will bring together the best talent in modern and contemporary art. Our association with 'Art Bengaluru' is YES BANK's endeavour through its newly-launched YES CULTURE initiative, to further enhance India's stature in the global art landscape, strengthen the vibrant socio-cultural fabric of our nation and celebrate contemporary India's rich culture and heritage on a global scale. The amalgamation of the corporate sector and art fraternity will play a major role in augmenting India's cultural stature globally and provide new professional avenues for our nation's talented and creative youth."

Mr. Suresh Jayaram - Curator, 'YES BANK Art Bengaluru 2015' said, "This event is a confluence of creative energies that will challenge us. The curated section will contextualize the changing dynamics of an accelerated market economy. In the post-capitalist context, the mall is the new art destination for interaction in the urban scenario. It is here, that we wish to locate art amidst luxury. We want the audience to pause and contemplate the creative indulgence of the artist, and their ability to question reality. We wish to create new dynamics with the visual culture of our times. This interaction with art is another attempt to make art accessible and make it become an integral part of our life and public discourse."

Associate Sponsor for the festival, Mr. Satya Bagla - M.D., Exclusive Motors Pvt. Ltd. said, "Luxury and art have always gone hand-in-hand as they have two qualities in common - excellence and aesthetic. UB City is a landmark destination for all things related to Luxury, Art and Culture in Bangalore today. Bentley needs no introduction - it epitomises luxury and is considered an aspirational brand, the world over. As 'Art Bengaluru' enters into its 6th Edition, it was a natural choice for us to associate ourselves with this celebrated Art Festival, as it gives us a great opportunity to make our presence felt in Bangalore, while interacting with Bentley enthusiasts from across South India."

The theme for this year's festival is 'Paradigm Shift'. In keeping with this theme, 'YES BANK Art Bengaluru 2015' hopes to promote a discovery of the arts from a change-inducing standpoint. Traditionally, art was symbolized by paintings, classical sculptures and so on. However, over the years, the very concept of 'Art' has undergone a sea change. With technological advancements, today, we have the opportunity to embrace a whole new set of art forms -interactive and immersive installations, among others. The rich interiors of The Collection, UB City will also be transformed to complement this year's theme. The Bentley Mulsanne will be on display throughout the festival, further increasing the luxury quotient of the venue.

Moreover, unlike in previous years where the focus was on presenting different galleries from across the globe, this year will witness a global festival, celebrating national and international artists. There will be over 35 exhibits showcasing sculptures, installations, paintings and photography. There will also be a curated Video Lounge as well as a Photography Wall.

This year, the art is being curated by Suresh Jayaram. An artist, art historian, arts administrator and curator of national repute; he is a well-known name in the art world. There will also be curated walks by Mr. Jayaram, as well as trained art guides, to give visitors an in-depth and holistic understanding of the festival and the artworks on display.

Air China to commence Beijing-Mumbai Nonstop

Air China will commence Beijing-Mumbai nonstop service on October 25, 2015. As the forthcoming only service from Mainland China to Mumbai, it will spare passengers departing from Beijing for Mumbai the trouble of having to make a detour by transferring in Hong Kong, Singapore and Bangkok and make it much easier to get to the "Gate of India". The one-way flight takes about seven hours.

As India's largest seaport and an important hub of transportation, Mumbai has earned its reputation as the "Gateway in the West" of India. As India's center of commerce and entertainment, Mumbai is India's response to Manhattan, is home to Bollywood and boasts myriad World Heritage sites like the grottos on Elephant Island. Along the indented coast of the Mumbai Bay is a mixture of traditional and modern buildings, which, like a string of glimmering pearls, make the "Princess of India" even more charming.

As two BRICS countries, China and India have long had close political, economic and people exchanges and in recent years, inbound and outbound travelers of the two countries have been on the rise. From January to November 2014, bilateral trade volume experienced a 9% year-on-year increase. while in September of the same year, the two countries released a joint declaration on exploring new areas of cooperation through strategic economic dialogue and beginning the "China-India Cultural Exchanges Plan". In 2015, the two countries hosted "India Tourism Year" in China, and in 2016 will host 'China Tourism Year" in India. The new Beijing-Mumbai service will go a way towards meeting the ever increasing market demand for air services in the fields of economy, trade, tourism, culture and people exchanges.

In 2015, Air China is continuing to build its world-spanning route network with its hub in Beijing, and, at the same time, with the "One Belt, One Road" Initiative proposed by the Chinese government in mind, has started and will start more routes serving the countries along the "One Belt, One Road". Examples of the routes include Beijing-Minsk-Budapest opened in the first half of the year and Beijing-Islamabad-Karachi, Beijing-Kuala Lumpur, Beijing-Colombo, Beijing-Johannesburg and Beijing-Addis Ababa to be opened this October.

In this new era when China and the countries along the "One Belt, One Road" are jointly mapping out the future for the six major economic corridors, Air China's Beijing-Mumbai service is an important part of the endeavor to build the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Corridor. The service will increase the Asian-Pacific destinations Air China serves to 17, and bring the number of nonstop flights between China and India up to eight a week. It will make it much easier for both Chinese business and leisure travelers departing from Beijing for India to get to Delhi and Mumbai, cities whose developed transportation systems provide easy access to other Indian cities and tourist destinations. At the same time, the service will also offer an additional easy and fast option for travelers to fly from India and other parts of the Asia Pacific region to other parts of the world via Beijing.

SpiceJet adds New Flights

SpiceJet, the country’s favourite low-cost carrier, has launched more new flights to its schedule effective from 15th October, 2015. Amongst the new flights are the first ever direct flights between Varanasi and both Mumbai and Hyderabad, going onwards from Hyderabad to Bengaluru.

SpiceJet has also introduced daily flights between Agartala and Chennai via Kolkata, and has increased frequencies on its daily flights between Hyderabad and Bengaluru, Delhi and Agartala (second flight added), Delhi and Kolkata (third flight added), Agartala and Kolkata (second flight added), Kolkata and Chennai (second flight added), Hyderabad and Mumbai (third flight added), and Hyderabad and Bengaluru (third flight added). SpiceJet will deploy two new aircraft to operate the new flights.

Shilpa Bhatia, Sr. VP and Head of Sales and Distribution, SpiceJet, said, “These new flights and frequencies signal the continuing rebound of SpiceJet. We offer the lowest fares and fly the fullest aircraft in India, connecting more cities and bringing air travel to more Indians than ever before.”

Bookings for tickets are now open on spicejet.com and through online travel portals and travel agents.

ConveGenius launches Battle of Minds

ConveGenius, an edutainment start-up, focused on digitizing education and making it fun and affordable, today announced the launch of its gaming network mobile application - Battle of Minds for the Android users. Battle of Minds is a real-time multi-player contest platform where users can engage, interact, play and learn by competing against each other. It is a mixture of trivia, educational content, news, and skill based games.

The users derive twin benefits - learning via playing and the tokens they earn as they win which can then be redeemed for cash vouchers and goodies from leading brands like Flipkart, Freecharge, Jabong, Bookmyshow, Dominos, Zo Rooms, Vista Print etc. The platform is based on the concept of - ‘the more you learn, the more you redeem!’ and the essence of Battle of Minds reflects the brand philosophy- Edutainment.

The platform is being created in such a manner that it will be agnostic to third party games, new topics on the go, live and trending news, and participatory content contribution. It also acts as a social discovery platform for the users, by connecting them with like-minded people on the platform, based on the topic of their interest.
In one month from launch, the Battle of Minds beta app without any paid marketing has crossed 700,000+ screen views, 7000+ sign-ups, 800 daily active users, 100,000+ challenges played and more than 30,000 sessions averaging 21 minutes.

Speaking on the occasion Mr. Jairaj Bhattacharya, Co-founder of ConveGenius said, “Battle of Minds is a step towards creating disruption in the knowledge and digital media segment. We have observed a definite stickiness on our platform and our early adopters just cannot stop using it. Our vision is to scale this platform globally into the largest edutainment gaming network. Our platform for the first time will be able to create an ecosystem where brands can organize real time contests on mobile, educational institutes can choose students by conducting competitive exams, reaching out to 600x users for their campaigns.“

“It comes with a technology to detect web robots in a hack-free environment so that all contests can be completely free of cheats via code and deep learning methods. Shortly, we also plans to introduce game categories on topics of competitive exams like GRE/GMAT/IIT JEE/BANK-PO/Civil Services etc. thereby creating longer life-time value for users. We aim to reach the milestone of 1 million downloads, 100,000 daily active users by the end of 2015.” adds Shashank Pandey, Co-founder, ConveGenius.

Bharti Airtel and Uber announce Strategic Partnership

Mumbai, Aug 20: Bharti Airtel Limited (“Airtel”), the third largest mobile services provider globally with operations in 20 countries across Asia and Africa, and Uber today announced a first-of-its-kind strategic partnership in India. As part of this partnership, Uber riders across India can now pay for their trips using Airtel’s mobile wallet service - Airtel Money. Additionally, Mumbaikars will now be the first in India to enjoy free high-speed internet from Uber, powered by Airtel 4G. This service will soon be rolled out for Uber riders pan India.

“Our partnership with Uber is directly in line with our commitment to offer innovative and relevant services for our customers. Now, Uber riders can enjoy the convenience of paying through their Airtel Money wallets, while also experiencing the power of blazing internet speeds with Airtel 4G on the move. We are excited that Uber has chosen Airtel to fulfill its telecom needs, and look forward to supporting the company’s rapid growth across India”, said Srini Gopalan, Director – Consumer Business, Bharti Airtel.

“We are thrilled to join forces with Airtel to deliver solutions that elevate the Uber experience for riders and drivers throughout India. This unique partnership is built on our shared visions and strengths of broad, reliable networks and connecting people to their world, anytime, anywhere,” said Amit Jain, President, Uber India. “Airtel is leading the way for wireless connectivity, and as our telecom partner, will help us in our quest toward transforming urban mobility for hundreds of millions of commuters in India.”

This integration will provide riders with another hassle-free payment option and will make Uber the first technology platform to officially launch Airtel Money. For a limited time, new Uber riders who top up their Airtel Money wallet will earn up to Rs. 500 for free. Additionally, starting with Mumbai, every Uber vehicle in India will soon be equipped with free WiFi, powered by Airtel 4G. Whether riding to work or a night out in the town – Uber will offer commuters high-speed internet at no data charges, powered by Airtel 4G.

Airtel will also become Uber’s official telecom partner across India, and support the company’s rapid growth in India by offering mobile, data and device plans to Uber driver-partners. As part of this alliance, Uber will also offer exclusive promotions, discounts and experiences to Airtel customers - including Rs. 500 off their first ride upon using Airtel Money.

Airtel is India’s largest mobile operator with a customer base of over 230 million customers. In 2011, Airtel’s subsidiary Airtel M Commerce Services Limited (AMSL) launched the company’s flagship semi-closed wallet under the brand name Airtel Money - India’s first prepaid mobile wallet by a telecom services provider. Registered Airtel Money customers can link their account on Uber’s mobile app now. To do this - select “Payment” from the menu in Uber app, tap “Add Payment”, tap “Airtel Money” to add account. Afterwards, they can select Airtel Money as their payment method and take a ride. To sign up for Airtel Money, customers can now know more by visiting airtel.in/money/.

Airtel has led the 4G story in India, having launched India’s first 4G network in Kolkata in April 2012. Now, customers across the country will be able to experience high speed wireless broadband on Airtel 4G and get on to the digital superhighway to enjoy uninterrupted HD video streaming, superfast uploading and downloading of movies, music and images. Airtel 4G is available to customers across a range of smart devices including mobile phones, dongles, 4G hotspots and Wi-Fi dongles. For more on Airtel 4G, visit http://www.airtel.in/4g/.

Ministry of Minority Affairs launches Nai Roshni

The Union Minister for Minority Affairs, Dr. Najma A. Heptulla launching the Online Application Management System of “Nai Roshni”, in New Delhi on August 20, 2015.

Nirmala Sitharaman at Container Freight Station Inaugural Ceremony

The Minister of State for Commerce & Industry (Independent Charge), Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman addressing at the Container Freight Station inaugural ceremony, in Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh on August 20, 2015.

Piyush Goyal addressing 2nd FIPIC Summit-2015

The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Power, Coal and New and Renewable Energy, Shri Piyush Goyal addressing at the Business Interaction in honor of Heads of States and Government of Pacific Island Countries on 2nd FIPIC Summit-2015, in New Delhi on August 20, 2015.

Atal Pension Yojana (APY) Modified

The Atal Pension Yojana (APY) was launched by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at Kolkata on 9th May, 2015. APY provides a minimum guaranteed pension of Rs.1000 per month or Rs. 2000 per month or Rs. 3000 per month or Rs. 4000 per month or Rs. 5000 per month, at the age group of 18-40 years.

Certain suggestions have been received, including from the State Governments, regarding providing certain relaxations for informal sector workers, having intermittent incomes, from the provision of mandatory monthly contributions under the scheme of APY and also removing the penal provisions for non-contribution under APY to make the Scheme more viable. The matter has been examined and the necessary revisions have been made in APY to increase the acceptability of the scheme amongst informal sector workers.

The modified provisions carried out in the scheme are as under:

· The individual subscribers shall have an option to make the contribution on a monthly, quarterly, half yearly basis instead of on a monthly basis earlier
· Discontinuation of payment of contribution provision has been substantially modified in favour of the subscriber. The account will not be deactivated and closed till the account balance with self-contributions minus the Government co-contributions becomes zero due to deduction of account maintenance charges and fees
· Also the penalty on delayed payment has been simplified to Rs. One (1) per month for contribution of Rs. 100, or part thereof, for each delayed monthly payment instead of different slabs given earlier
· Similarly, premature exit from the scheme before sixty years of age was not permitted earlier except in exceptional circumstances, i.e., in the event of the death of the beneficiary or terminal disease. Now the modified provision permits the subscriber to voluntarily exit with the condition that –
· he shall only be refunded the contributions made by him to APY, along with the net actual interest earned on his contributions (after deducting the account maintenance charges) and ;
· the Government co-contribution, and the interest earned on the Government co-contribution, shall not be returned to such subscribers

BSE Institute Ltd. signs MOU with Tolani College of Commerce

Mumbai, India, Aug 20: BSE Institute Ltd. today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tolani College of Commerce, one of the premier colleges in Mumbai, to set up a Financial Literacy Mission Centre in their campus located at Andheri.

This Financial Literacy Mission Centre will offer various courses to students in the field of Finance and Financial Markets. These newly launched courses will include BSE Institute’s inimitable Global Financial Markets Professional (GFMP) program. On successful completion of the 12th grade, students willing to build a career in the field of banking and financial services can apply for this course with BSE Institute. Apart from providing coaching to enrolled students under certified faculties, BSE Institute will also help these students by providing hands-on assistance for internship and final placement.

Speaking on the occasion, Vinod Nair, Head Academics and Product Development at BSE Institute said, “Financial managers cannot operate in a vacuum—they make decisions within a large and complex financial environment. This environment includes financial markets and institutions, tax and regulatory policies, and the state of the Indian economy. The environment we are present in determines the available financial alternatives and affects the outcomes of various decisions, both. Thus, it is crucial that financial managers have a good understanding of the environment in which they operate. Currently most formal qualifications at both, the undergraduate and postgraduate level, are very academic in nature and do not provide the in-depth understanding required to make sound decisions. The Global Financial Market Professional (GFMP) program has been created to fill this lacuna. This program is designed, developed, and delivered by industry professionals to ensure that students get the desired exposure to edify them about current market practices.”

Dr. A. A. Rashid, Principal at Tolani College of Commerce said “The needs of today’s industry are very dynamic. Thus, our education system too has to adapt to these requirements. Education needs to go beyond class room teaching to make students ready to face challenges of the real world and also to make them proficient to survive, sustain and conquer in their field of choice. We are very glad to launch the Global Financial Market Professional (GFMP) program in collaboration with BSE Institute for the academic year 2015-16. This specialized program along with their regular courses for graduation will provide them with a blend of the basic knowledge of the subject in question along with the desired professional skills, which will help them to choose their futuristic career path. This will enable the students to be job-ready from the day they graduate and will be a preferred choice by recruiters. We look forward to the successful growth and development of the students with the help of this course, and we are sure to set a superior bench mark to achieve excellence.”

BSE Institute Limited (BIL) is a wholly owned subsidiary of BSE Limited. BSE Institute offers a bouquet of courses related to financial markets for students interested in achieving and upgrading their skills in this field, ranging from 5 international PG programs to more than 100 short term certifications.

Naukri Job Speak Index sees 11% Increase in July’15

New Delhi, Aug 20: Naukri Job Speak Index for the month of July 2015 was at 1835, registering an 11% increase hiring activity over July 2014. While the BFSI and Telecom industries recorded the maximum increase in hiring activity, the hiring scenario in the Oil and Gas and real estate industries continues to be dismal. In continuation with the trend witnessed previous month, consulting and medical/pharma professionals continue to witness a high growth in demand in the July’15 index as well. While the hiring activity in Delhi-NCR continued to be stable, Bangalore, Pune and Hyderabad let the tally registered a Y-o-Y growth between 15% - 20% in hiring activity in July 2015 as reflected by the Naukri Job Speak Index.

V Suresh, Executive Vice President and Chief Sales Officer, Naukri.com said, “Job market continues to sustain the momentum gained in the first quarter with an impressive 11% YOY growth in July. Sectors like IT, Banking and Pharma have been leading this growth for the past few months and we can expect the other sectors to pick up in the next six months or so. In my view the financial year 2015-16 will be a year to cheer for the job-seekers.”

Industry Sector Analysis:
Apart from the BFSI and Telecom industries, which led the pack as aforementioned
IT-Software and IT-Hardware industries reported a Y-o-Y growth of 26% and 21% in hiring activity in the July’15 index
The media and internet industry saw a 19% Y-o-Y growth in hiring activity
Pharmaceutical and Healthcare industries too saw an increase in hiring activity to the tunes of 16% and 15% respectively in July’15 over July’14
Core sectors like Oil and Gas, Real Estate and Auto continue to witness a decline in hiring activity to the tunes of 27%, 22% and 15% respectively in July’15 over July’14

City Wise Analysis:
As mentioned above, Bangalore took a lead in hiring activity in the June’15 index
Pune and Mumbai witnessed a growth in hiring activity to the tune of 17% and 16% respectively in July 2015 over July 2014
Hyderabad and Chennai registered a Y-o-Y increase of 16% and 8% respectively in hiring activity in the July’15 index
The hiring activity in Delhi-NCR remained stagnant according to the July’15 Index
Functional Area Analysis:
As has been reported above, the demand for Pharma and Consulting professionals saw the maximum increase in the July’15 index. Following that
The demand for IT-Software professionals recorded a Y-o-Y increase to the tune of 23%, in the July’15 index
Demand for professionals in Accounts / Finance, HR, and Banking / Insurance also recorded a Y-o-Y growth of 22%, 20% and 19% respectively in July’15 index
The demand for professionals in Pharma also witnessed a Y-o-Y growth to the tune of 5% July’15 over July’14
The demand for professionals in Marketing and Advertising witnessed a 15% Y-o-Y growth in demand in July’15 index
ITES and Engineering Design professionals saw a decline in demand of 3% and 6% respectively in July 2015 over July 2014

SpiceJet launches the ‘Freedom to Fly’ Sale

Gurgaon, India, Aug, 20: SpiceJet, the country’s favourite low-cost carrier, today announced the launch of its ‘Freedom to Fly’ sale, putting more than 1,00,000 seats on offer with one way fares starting as low as Rs. 799/- (excluding taxes). An additional 10% percent discount will be available for those booking through SpiceJet’s mobile app on Apples iOS and Android.

The one-way fare for this sale ranges from Rs. 799/- to Rs. 2,699/- and covers popular destinations such as Delhi, Mumbai, Goa, Bengaluru, Srinagar, and many more.

The lowest fare of Rs. 799 is available on routes such as Delhi-Chandigarh, Mumbai-Goa, Bengaluru-Kochi, Madurai-Chennai, Jammu-Srinagar, Kolkata-Agartala and many more.

The three day sale starts from 20th August 2015 and will remain open till midnight, 22nd August 2015. The travel period covered in this sale is 25th August 2015 to 26th March 2016. The sale is valid only for direct flights within SpiceJet’s domestic network.

Shilpa Bhatia, Sr. VP and Head of Sales and Distribution, SpiceJet, said, “We are known as the airline that has made air travel more affordable for more Indians than ever before, revolutionizing the industry and driving record growth in passengers in the process. With this sale, we continue to promote the Freedom to Fly for more Indians in our long standing tradition."

Tickets for this sale can be booked on www.spicejet.com, SpiceJet’s official mobile apps of iOS and Android, on online travel portals, and through travel agents. The sale is not available at SpiceJet’s call centre or at SpiceJet Airport Ticket Offices.

Tickets under this offer are non-refundable (taxes and fees are refundable) though they are changeable with a change fee and fare difference.

There is limited inventory under the offer, and seats will be available on First-Come-First-Served basis. Sales fares are not applicable on group bookings. Fares vary from sector to sector depending on the travel distance and flight schedules and timings are subject to regulatory approvals and change(s).