Homefoodi Comes to the Rescue of the Migrant Workers; Offers Food to the Stranded

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Coronavirus COVID-19 has created panic across the globe and the government has rightly called for ‘Janta Curfew’ to contain the spread of the virus. To minimize the loss of earning, economists have been advocating ‘Direct Income Transfer’ to the poorest sections of the society. To cushion the economic impact, especially for the poor section of the society, the central government has announced some fiscal measures and supporting budgets, packages of free ration and allowances are helping and will continue to help, but we have a very large society to feed. A huge percentage of labourers are daily wage workers, who migrated to big cities in search of work.

The on-going lockdown and stay at home advisory by the government has hit the poor and daily wage labourers the most who are struggling to make ends meet. With the work completely drying up these migrant workers are left almost no savings or ration to survive this dire situation. Since transportation has also been halted, most of them are stranded and are unable to go back to their native places. 



Homefoodi took up the initiative to feed these stranded migrant workers. With the help of volunteers, Homefoodi team distributed ‘Home-cooked meals’ to the workers stranded at the Ghazipur border. Standing true to their commitment of “Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas” and “Unity in Diversity” Homefoodi took it up as their responsibility to serve the needy during the time of crisis and plans to support on a massive scale during the trying times. 

“We at Homefoodi believe there is no bigger joy than the joy of giving. We as a company have always strived to give back to our society and there is no better way to do the same as it is by helping the needful during the time of crisis” commented Dr. Mona Dahiya, Co-Founder and Director, Homefoodi.

The mass exodus is leading to a situation where people are most vulnerable and are left with no food and resources. Every human being is equally susceptible to the virus, thus every individual needs to be home and safe, and this can only be possible if these workers have a shelter to live in and food to survive by. This certainly makes it a part of our duty to be kind enough to aid the destitute help themselves out of the current scenario.

 “We are overjoyed to serve food to the needy whenever we can and we will continue to do so whenever the situation demands. There is no guideline to help, so we need to provide help in our own little ways. For those of us who can simply go to the grocery stores and purchase food for our families, let’s buy a little extra for people who might need it more than us” added, Dr. Dahiya.

About Homefoodi:

Homefoodi was launched with a mission of “Ghar-Ghar Start-Up”, and aims to create India’s biggest self-employment opportunity for women by offering a platform to earn from home being a Home Chef. Homefoodi is India’s 1st Mobile App for Home Food prepared by Genuine Home Chefs from their Home Kitchens. Homefoodi is reviving the Culture of Home Food by giving everyone a variety of cuisines across home food and Bakery choices. Endless variety of cuisines from across the country will leave you not just drooling but will also take care of you and your loved ones’ health. Homefoodi has been very selective and responsible in selecting Home Chefs. As a practice, the Homefoodi team visits the aspiring Home chef to check for Food Tasting, Food quality, hygiene and cleanliness of their kitchen and Packaging standards. All Home Chefs are 100% FSSAI Certified. Download the App: Homefoodi on Play Store OR Homefoodi on Apple Store. Currently available in Noida, G. Noida & Indirapuram.

Suncity Students Commended by Satya Nadella for Advanced Air Monitoring System

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Students of Suncity School showcased their project - An Advanced Air Monitoring System before Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft during his visit to India. It had earlier won the third prize in AI Challenge at Microsoft EDUDAYS which witnessed a participation of 700+ schools across India to expose the educators to the state-of-art learning and innovation practices in education. The project is a brainchild of four students of Grade 9, namely Diya Bhatnagar, Yashita Manglick, Saksham Diwan and Arush Lall.

Ms. Rupa Chakravarty, Director, Suncity School, said, "We are elated to receive recognition from Microsoft. The project demonstrates the innovative and creative spirit of the students and is a step forward in transforming education through Transversal learning. We are grateful to Microsoft for providing us with the opportunity to discuss and deliberate on the innovative means to transform education and think empathetically while changing the world."

Aerocras comprises a computing system and sensors that can be used to carefully monitor the amount of Suspended Particulate Matter in the surroundings. Through IoT, the project can improvise on current air purifiers by switching it on automatically when the amount exceeds the safe limit, thereby conserving energy.

These four students had undertaken the project as a part of their assignment. Diya Bhatnagar was the leader of the project who enjoys coding and designing using Photoshop. She has programmed various applications such as Dishi which is a messaging application. Another member, Arush Lall had won the TCS Ion 2019 - Creativity and Innovation - First in India. Wherein, he was awarded with a cheque amount of Rs. 50,000. He has also been a part of the World Scholar's Cup - 3rd best team in South Asia. The other two members, Yashita Manglick and Saksham Diwan are proficient in editing.

Diya Bhatnagar, the project lead and a student of Suncity School, said, "It was an amazing and enriching experience to meet Satya Nadella. He commended us for recognizing the magnitude of air pollution as a massive challenge. Going forward, we intend to leverage AI to assess the causes of not only air pollution but also noise and water pollution and facilitate informed decision-making."

The second edition of Education Days 2019 witnessed a participation of 700+ schools and students across India. It recognized the efforts of schools on the usage of technology in day-to-day classrooms to enable next-level collaboration. It also aimed to instil critical thinking, problem-solving, self-management and responsible decision-making skills among students. The annual event is in line with Microsoft's vision to evolve the educational landscape of the country through the integration of technology.

Suncity School was earlier selected to represent its Multiple Intelligence Lab by Microsoft through Skype in Virtual Field Tour (VFT).

Meet Aham! Your New Virtual Assistant Providing Information on COVID-19 in 7 Indian Languages

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In these concerning times, ever wondered you had a diligent buddy with authentic and relevant information about COVID-19? Well, that's Aham! for you. Here is a virtual assistant helping you with answers to your concerns on COVID-19 in 7 Indian Languages! This virtual assistant Aham! is created by DheeYantra, the pioneers in Indian Languages NLP and conversational AI. Their product is employed by Banks and Insurance companies across India to automate client on-boardings and customer support through conversational AI, in multiple languages.

To combat the rise of fake news related to COVID-19 contagion across India and the world, one can now visit Aham.ai. In reply to your questions, Aham will provide you with factual information curated from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MHFW). Currently you can converse with Aham on www.aham.ai and on facebook messenger.

Currently Maharashtra and Kerala are the most affected states followed by Karnataka, Telangana, Delhi and others. This edition of Aham, quite responsive to the situation, will interact with the public in Marathi, Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu, Hindi and Tamil, in addition to English. DheeYantra is adding more Indian languages meanwhile to cater to vernacular speakers from other states too.

Aham majorly provides information about COVID-19 (Coronavirus), and the precautions one should take not to contract or contribute to the contagion. The bot also helps people to perform self-diagnosis to identify their risk profile. One can also get the statistics of worldwide spread of the contagion, emergency numbers to contact, information about covid-19 diagnostic and treatment centers designated by the Govt. etc.

Unlike traditional chatbots which work only with templated questions and answers, Aham is built over the conversational AI platform dhee.ai. This is highly relieving, as people need not stick to the templates given. They can ask their questions and respond to the bot like they do when they normally converse. Users can either speak to Aham using a microphone or type in their queries in their language of choice. Here too, if you are a native language user, but haven't been using a local language keyboard, you can key in your query using English (Latin) alphabets via the normal QWERTY keyboards. The underlying Dhee platform will take care of the rest.

India is a country with a 1.3 billion population, of which only about 300 million understand English. It's important that the rest of the populace has easy access to factual information from trusted sources, in the same language they speak and comprehend. DheeYantra, has thus taken this initiative to help this huge segment of people. If you don't see your native language in the initial list that Aham supports, don't worry, the team is working on it and other languages will be available shortly.

The only way we can stop COVID-19 from permanently disturbing our lives is by understanding the steps taken by the govt., adhering to the prescribed guidelines and taking all the precautions that we personally can. Let's stay informed through Aham and stay strong. Rest assured, language won't be a barrier for the same.

About DHEE.AI / DheeYantra:

Dhee.AI is a cognitive conversational AI platform from DheeYantra, an Artificial Intelligence startup. Dhee is the first and only publicly available platform to build conversational AI solutions over Indian Languages. Made for India and made in India, Dhee can understand conversations in English, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Marathi, Malayalam, Gujarati, Bangla and Oriya. Dhee has filed over 5 patents on the Indian Language NLP (Natural Language Processing) till date and is a pioneer in the segment. Dhee helps businesses to build conversational AI automations across 30+ channels such as IVR, WhatsApp, Alexa, Google Assistant, Website widgets, Social Messengers, Mobile Apps etc. For more information on Dhee.AI, one may mail to contact@dheeyantra.com.

Paras Healthcare Ramps up Preparedness for COVID 19; Scales up Tele-Consultation Services Across 8 Hospitals

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  • Demand for video consultations has shot up by 30 per cent at Paras Healthcare due to COVID-19 epidemic



Leading healthcare provider Paras Healthcare has thrown open tele-consultation services at all its hospitals across India with an objective to allow a greater number of patients to seek medical consultation from the safety of their homes, as the country locks down to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Paras Group of hospitals across Gurugram, Patna, Darbhanga, Panchkula, Ranchi and Udaipur are actively offering tele-consultations to patients seeking medical opinions for a wide variety of ailments including suspected cases of COVID-19 who require monitoring under quarantine.

Paras Healthcare is also working to scale up its preparedness for the impending rise in cases of COVID-19 by initiating a series of measures such as procuring adequate safety and protection equipment for doctors, ventilators as well as creation of isolation wards.

"In view of the COVID-19 outbreak, we have opened tele-consultation services across our 8 hospitals in the country. This will work to reduce crowding at hospitals and will ensure that a sizeable number of patients who need medical care for different health conditions do not need to visit hospitals at this critical time. In fact, the demand for our tele-consultation services has shot up by 30% in the past week as more and more people try to stay at home. To ensure faster accessibility, we have increased the number of executives manning our tele health helplines and have also strategically co-opted time from doctors to ensure faster availability," said Dr Shankar Narang, COO, Paras Healthcare.

Patients seeking medical help virtually include a number of people with flu-like symptoms that overlap with symptoms of COVID-19. The symptoms of such patients are assessed carefully and they are advised to monitor their temperature and alert the doctors in case there is any worsening of the symptoms.

Among measures initiated to boost hospitals' preparedness to meet any eventuality, the administration is training medical staff as well as doctors to make them abreast about the guidelines to be followed in treating COVID-19 patients.

"We have trained our medical staff and doctors so that they are ready to follow the required protocols in treating COVID-19 patients. We are also procuring requisite supplies of protective gear and equipment for our doctors and medical staff to ensure their safety. With the recently announced decision of NHA, we have also included COVID-19 treatment in the Ayushman Bharat scheme at Darbhanga unit," added Dr. Narang.

The organization is advising patients to increasingly seek virtual consultations and visit hospitals only in cases of medical emergency. To register for online consultation with Paras Healthcare, one can download the Paras Healthmate App, links given below :

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.parashospital.patientapp

IOS: https://apps.apple.com/in/app/paras-health-mate/id1391068251

About Paras Healthcare

Paras Healthcare was founded in 2006. The key specialties that are mainly focused in all units are - cancer care, neurology, neurosurgery, orthopaedics & joint replacement, urology, nephrology, kidney transplant, cardiology, cardiac sciences, gastroenterology & GI surgery, general & lap surgery along with plastic surgery to list a few. Approximately each unit has at least 30 specialties and super specialties.

How To Choose The Best Term Insurance Plan?

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While looking for a term insurance plan, people generally compare the price offered by various insurance companies. Price is, after all, a highly important deciding factor. One tip to decrease the cost is choosing an online term plan, which is cheaper, as there is no involvement of an agent whose commission adds up to the entire plan.

But if you only consider the price and ignore other essential factors, you may end up comprising the financial security of your family. To ensure that the future of your family is not affected, there is a list of some crucial features to help you in selecting the best term insurance plan or the right online term plan


  1. Solvency Ratio 



It tells you whether an insurer is financially capable to settle the claim in case the need arises. IRDAI makes it compulsory for every life insurance company to maintain the solvency ratio of a minimum of 1.5. This is important because when the insurer will obtain huge number of claims in short time span, such as in case of natural disaster, an insurer with low solvency ratio would not be able to settle claims quickly.

 So, if you do not want your family to suffer in case of an emergency, consider the solvency ratio. Yes, the likelihood of a natural disaster ruining everything is highly unlikely, but doing so is important considering the uncertainties climate change brings along.


  1. Claim Settlement Ratio 



It shows the proportion of claims settled out of the complete filed cases in a year. A higher ratio implies that it will be easier for your survivors to claim the insurance amount in your absence and lead on their lives comfortably. You should also consider the total number of cases an insurer has solved. 

The aim of investing in term plan is to make sure that your loved ones do not suffer in your absence. A high claim settlement ratio means your family’s financial future is more secured. Also, you should disclose all your health comditions, lifestyle, income, etc. while investing in the policy so that when the company cannot deny to settle your claim. 


  1. Additional Covers 



Every life insurance plan will offer a basic life cover but if you want complete financial security for your loved ones, you should choose a term plan with comprehensive benefits and cover. The added benefits to look for are – 


  • Accidental death – This benefit raises the sum assured in case the death takes place due to an accident. 

  • Waiver of premium – Here, life insurance cover will not cease if you are unable to pay the premium due to permanent disability.

  • Income benefit – Some plans let your family members receive a regular income instead of a lump sum amount. If you wish that your loved ones get a monthly income in your absence, you should look for this feature. 



Apart from these, there are several other benefits to consider, such as terminal illness benefit, increasing monthly income benefit, and flexibility to raise sum assured at certain milestones. 


  1. Critical Illness Cover 



Death is not the only major event where the bread-winner’s family needs money. Fighting a critical illness like brain surgery or cancer can drain your finances and cripple the overall financial situation of your family. In critical illness cover, the cover amount is paid immediately on diagnosis upon submission of medical documents proving the same. 

The amount can be used to cover high costs of the treatment and make sure your family has sufficient amount of money to sustain their regular everyday life. The premiums paid against cricital illness cover are eligble for rebate under u/s 80D. 


  1. Term 



The term of the plan is an important aspect while choosing a policy. Ideally, you should buy a policy until the age you plan to work. Earlier the retirement age used to be 60 years but now people prefer to work till 65 years because they get married late, they have kids late, and their financial requiements are more.

 The idea to choose the tenure of the policy upto your retirement age is that by the time you retire, your financial responsibilities reduce, your loans are paid off, and so, you do not require as much money after a certain age. However, you should invest in the policy at a young age because during your youth, you are healthier. And if you are healthier, your premiums would cost lesser. Premium and age have a direct relationship. The more is your age, the more will be the premium. 


  1. Sum  



Term insurance should be able to cover your outstanding loans as well as income. The general rule of thumb is to choose the sum that is 8-10 times your yearly income plus your outstanding debts. This is important because, in case of demise, an insufficient sum assured would mean the family has to struggle to pay off the debt and maintain their lifestyle like it was before the demise. 


  1. Premiums



You will be offered varying premiums bt different insurance companies for the total cover your require. However, you must know that low premiums do not guarantee the liability of the insurer and your plan’s efficinety. It is better to pay higher premiums to reputed insurance companies with higher claim settlement ratio. You may be quoted higher premium prices because of additional benefits the company is offering. 

New companies tend to charge lower premiums to build customer base. But they cannot be relied upon. However, this does not mean such companies will not function efficiently. So, while choosing a policy, consider the premium amount. If the company is charging higher premiums, know the reason behind it and then decide for yourself. Avoid going for the policy with lowest premiums. 

Conclusion 

Once you have analyzed term insurance plans on the basis of the above-mentioned parameters and narrowed down your choices to a few, then you should look at the cost to make the final decision. However, you must not compromise on any of these parameters just due to cost. Also, you must know that you receive tax deductions for term insurance premiums. 

Fermentation Process Development by Bio-Technical Resources

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Fermentation is a process in which microorganisms are used to create products such as an alcohol or an acid. This is done by using the metabolic system of the enzyme to break down carbohydrates such as sugar to create the bi-products. The uses of the fermentation process can range anywhere from the production of bread to the cleaning of sewer pipes.

Many organizations utilize this process to carry out their tasks, such as brewery using the process to make beer and other alcoholic beverages. However, oftentimes, it is difficult for such companies to acquire the catalyst. The quality of their product also depends upon the breed of catalyst and this can be a difficult thing to maintain. In this case, companies such as Bio-Technical Resources help make sure its clients meet their needs by providing them with improved strands of the catalyst required. 

Fermentation from BTR allows companies to minimize their risk factors when it comes to developing the process as well as developing and maintaining the standard of their product. BTR is well equipped in dealing with some of the bigger challenges encountered while carrying out the process of fermentation. Their experience of over 55 years in this field allows them to have a refined service and provide their clients with the best of the best.

Their scientists have numerous achievements under their name that BTR proudly highlights on their online website. Some of these achievements include increasing the fermentation yields and improving the results of various kinds of fungi and enzymes by improving their genetic makeup. 

Apart from providing the valuable service of strand development and improvement, BTR also offers its clients the opportunity to minimize their risk factors and maximize their efficiency by carrying out various experiments and developing a process most suitable to the client’s unique needs.

This means that their clients don’t have to take the risk of carrying out these experiments and can rely on the expertise of the scientist at Bio-Technical Resources to develop a process entirely focusing on their requirements. BTR provides their client with the complete facility of the transformation of an enzyme including the practicality of using that particular enzyme, the budget required to carry out the process, the goals that their client is trying to reach, the risk factors involved in the process, and the time it will take for their client to go from production to commercialization of their product. 

This valuable service provides the client with all the information they need to decide on the use of a potential process and whether or not to go ahead with the commercialization of that product while minimizing the time and effort put in by them. It is, therefore, beneficial for such organizations to utilize the valuable services of Bio-Technical Resources in their production process, making it much easier for them to carry out major processes within a time frame and with improved efficiency. And as we are all aware, an increased efficiency often translates to a higher profit margin for the company. 

upGrad launches COVID-19 Awareness Program, Aims to Donate ₹ 1 Million to PM-CARES Relief Fund

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Mumbai-based edtech major upGrad announced the launch of a ‘COVID-19 Awareness Program’, through which it will be facilitating donation towards the PM-CARES Relief Fund. The ‘COVID-19 Awareness Program’ is a 5-day long online program, where domain experts will give live talks on safeguarding one’s finances, and career along with mental health in the current scenario. The program can be accessed by anyone FREE of cost, on prior registration. For every participant who registers and completes the online program, upGrad will be contributing ₹ 10 per participant to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recently announced COVID-19 Relief (PM-CARES) Fund.

“Infodemic has superseded pandemic, aggravating the panic and negativity around us. From complex questions like - Will the economy head for a super recession; Should I save now or invest now; to personal questions like - Will my kids be able to complete education this year – there are a thousand questions and a zillion opinions floating around. As a leader in the education space, I take it as our duty to now educate the masses with the correct information and implication of the situation,” said Mayank Kumar, Co-Founder & MD, upGrad, who will also be taking one of the sessions during the awareness drive.

The expert sessions will be hosted live, allowing for active interactions and query resolution for the participants. Given the diversity of topics from workforce management to mental health management, upGrad is expecting participation from every nook and corner of India, be it college students, homemakers, c-suite executives or retired professionals.

“The coronavirus situation is a tough one personally for all of us. What's the way to reduce the financial impact on our lives? To ensure future security, I will be discussing investments and managing finances through a time when you have very little control over what you can do,” said Deepak Shenoy, Founder, and CEO, Capitalmind, who will talk about the current financial market scenario and how one goes about making financial decisions.

“Given the current lockdown, from mere boredom to frustration and to post-traumatic stress and depression, a longer period of quarantine is likely to encourage a negative psychological impact on individuals, if not dwelt right. We might overcome the havoc in the coming future, but such a psychological crisis and irrationality would become another challenge, thus creating a larger setback across the society,” said Dr. Naazneen Ladak, practicing psychiatrist - M.D. (Psychiatry) and physiotherapist, who will take a session on the Do’s & Dont’s during the period of social distancing.

upGrad seeks to onboard 1 lakh participants, and thereby plans to contribute Rs. 1 million to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recently announced COVID-19 Relief (PM-CARES) Fund. The program launches on 1st April 2020 and the registration for the same is now open: https://events.upgrad.com/covid-19-awareness-program

Founded in early 2015, upGrad offers online programs for working professionals. In a short span of around 5 years, upGrad on-boarded over 21.5K paid learners and impacted more than 370K individuals globally, making it India’s largest online higher-education company, basis gross revenue generated from the Indian market in FY18-19.

upGrad provides programs in the areas of Data Science, Technology, Management and MBA to college students, working-class and enterprises. These programs are designed and delivered in collaboration with top-notch universities like IIT Madras, IIIT-B, BITS Pilani, MICA, NMIMS Global Access, Duke CE, Deakin University, Liverpool John Moores University and others. To further enhance the learning experience, a comprehensive ecosystem has been built which includes one-on-one mentoring, peer-to-peer learning, industry networking and most importantly expert career guidance providing learners holistic support to elevate their careers to the next level.

The company has been awarded the title of ‘Best Tech for Education’ by IAMAI in 2019. The company received the ‘Best Education Brands’ award by Economic Times and has made it to LinkedIn’s ‘Top 25 Startups’ two years in a row in 2018 and 2019.

Tips for Choosing The Best Life Insurance

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Death is not an option. It’s only that time isn’t ripe. However, death shouldn’t scare you. It’s a natural happening. It was designed to happen. But where will you leave your family after death? How are you going to leave your family? Will they go to school? What about those bills you left behind? Hard questions, right? Well, don’t leave your family suffering when you are gone. Take a life insurance cover and leave your family with peace. Choose the best policy and cushion your family from future expenses. Here is how to get the best policy.

Duration



Do you need a short-term or a long-term policy? If you need a medium period policy of about five to 30 years, consider investing in term insurance. As compared to other policies, term insurance is less expensive. However, it doesn’t work for those who want lifetime coverage. People who’ve higher obligations and regular income often prefer term insurance. And this is mainly because of the cash value feature that somehow works as a retirement fund.

Affordability



It’s always advisable to choose a plan with affordable premiums. Should you need coverage for a longer period of time, life insurance gives you the flexibility to change to your preferred policy.

If you want to have comprehensive coverage for your entire life, then purchase permanent life insurance. Of course, you’ll pay a higher annual premium, but in the long run, the total cost will be considerably lower.

Investment



Most life insurance proceeds are usually free from taxes. However, there are certain cases where the accumulated money value is on a deferred basis. Thus, if you’ve enough funds to invest, consider purchasing a permanent policy with cash value. Of course, you’ll have to pay more in terms of premiums but while insured, you’ll be able to build up an investment account within your policy.

Cash Value



Do you want a policy that will help you invest and reap benefits? Well, if so, invest in UL policy. With UL policy, you have a coverage that comes with an investment option. This means you get covered while investing. With time, you gain cash value from your investment.

Term Life Insurance



Term insurance is a popular option when purchasing life insurance. Normally, this is a policy that provides you with coverage for a certain period of time. For instance, if you want your kids to be assured of going to college, you can build a college fund through term insurance cover.

Lower Premiums



Term insurance is for those who are looking for large insurance coverage but have a limited amount of budget. The beneficially can only access the funds of the insured passes on during the life of the policy. However, if you don’t die after the expiry of the policy, the coverage is voided.

The Bottom-Line



It’s not all about getting any insurance policy. The deal is in purchasing the right type of coverage. Compare life insurance packages here and get coverage with the features that fit into your explicit needs. The above article will help you choose a policy you can be proud of.

Microsoft Introduces New Microsoft 365 Personal and Family Subscriptions

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Microsoft announced the refresh of Office 365 to Microsoft 365, a subscription that will better help people make the most of their time, connect and protect the ones they love, as well as develop and grow. This refresh will be fully rolled out by 21 April 2020.

An evolution of Office 365, Microsoft 365 builds on the foundation of Office 365, infusing new artificial intelligence (AI), rich content and templates, and cloud-powered experiences to empower people to become better writers, presenters, designers and finance managers, as well as deepen people connections. These experiences start rolling out immediately and will reach over 38 million Office 365 subscribers over the next few months.

“Now more than ever, as many of us work and learn remotely, we are acutely aware of all the different ways life can interrupt work and work can interrupt life. It’s never been more important to stay connected and on top of the things that matter. Today, we offer a powerful set of free applications and services that help users create, share, connect, and collaborate with their friends and family across the web and on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android devices. Used by more than a half billion people, free Office, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Skype, Outlook, OneNote, and OneDrive apps enables people to co-author, video chat, organize, and come together. We are committed to improving and innovating on these experiences every day,” said Yusuf Mehdi, Corporate Vice President, Windows and Devices Group.

In addition, Microsoft unveiled two new Microsoft 365 experiences that will be available for preview in the coming months. Firstly, a new Microsoft Family Safety app designed to keep families safe across the digital and physical worlds. Next, to provide one application to help manage work and life and deepen connections with those who matter most, Microsoft also previewed new features coming to Microsoft Teams for users’ personal life. With these new features, users can connect, stay organized, and collaborate with family and friends. They will be able to connect in group chats, make video calls, collaborate over shared to-do lists, assign tasks to specific people and coordinate schedules, as well as share photos and videos all in one place.

The new Microsoft Edge browser also takes a step forward with new features to protect users on the web with Password Monitor, and to simplify research with Collections. You can learn more about all the new Edge features here, as well as the entire suite of new features available with Microsoft 365 below.


  • AI-Powered Microsoft Editor:

    To help people put their best foot forward at home and at work, Microsoft Editor – an AI-powered service available in more than 20 languages – is now accessible across Word and Outlook.com, and as a standalone browser extension for Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome. Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscribers have access to advanced grammar and style refinements such as rewrite suggestions and additional style critiques to allow greater clarity and conciseness.


  • Presenter Coach Features in PowerPoint:

    An AI-powered Presenter that helps correct monotone pitch and refine speeches. This will be available as a free preview, and then eventually only to Microsoft 365 subscribers.


  • PowerPoint Designer: This feature effectively boosts creativity, such as transforming text into a beautiful timeline, or even auto-generated slide layouts. Microsoft is providing Microsoft 365 subscribers with exclusive access to over 8,000 beautiful images and 175 looping videos from Getty Images, plus 300 new fonts, 2,800 new icons and 200+ new premium templates to create high-impact and visually appealing documents.


  • Managing Finances Seamlessly with Money in Excel: A new solution for Microsoft 365 subscribers that help users seamlessly manage, track and analyze their money and spending all in one place through a secure and simple process that connects to the user’s bank and credit card accounts, including major retail banks and community credit unions.


  • New Data Types and Smart Templates in Excel: This presents a different and less time-consuming way to interact with data, providing deeper meaning for over 100 topics. Microsoft 365 subscribers have exclusive access to the over 100 new data types powered by Wolfram Alpha.


  • Organizing Time Across Work and Life with Outlook:
    New features in     Outlook on the web help users manage all commitments, across work and life, in one place. With these new features, they can link their personal calendar to their work calendar to show their real availability, while still maintaining their privacy.


  • Deepen Connections with Family and Friends with Skype and Microsoft Teams:

    Skype has seen an increase in usage with 40 million people using it daily, up 70% month over month and, we are seeing a 220% increase in Skype to Skype calling minutes month over month. To help people get connected even faster, Microsoft recently introduced a new feature in Skype called Meet Now, that allows users to easily create video meetings in as little as three clicks for free, with no sign ups or downloads required. 




  • Protecting Families in the Physical and Digital Worlds with Microsoft Family Safety:

    This application empowers families to help protect their loved ones by giving them the tools and insights to discuss healthier habits online and in the real world. The new Microsoft Family Safety app is the only app that manages screen time across Windows PCs, Android, and Xbox while providing parents a peace of mind when the kids are not home.



The new Office features start rolling out to current Office 365 customers immediately. Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscriptions will be available worldwide on April 21st. These include premium desktop Office apps, 1 TB of OneDrive cloud storage per person, 60 Skype minutes for calling mobile phones and landlines, advanced security features to protect users from malware and phishing attacks, ongoing technical support, plus all the new features and benefits just announced. Microsoft 365 Personal costs ₹4199 a year. For the best value, a family of up to six people can use Microsoft 365 Family for ₹5299 a year. 

Read about the full suite of new Office features and access more press information here. To learn more about Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscriptions as well as the market and language availability of these new features, visit this page. For more information on Microsoft 365 business and Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise plans, visit this page here.

Incubation Program for Fintech Startups by NSRCEL, IIMB and ICICI Securities Invites applications for its 1st Cohort

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India’s financial technology (fintech) sector is growing rapidly, which is primarily fueled by the emergence of new Fintech startups, abundance of technical know-how and friendly government policies and regulations. 

ICICI Securities (I-Sec), India’s leading financial services firm, as a part of its CSR initiative, has joined hands with the N.S. Raghavan Centre of Entrepreneurial Learning (NSRCEL), the startup hub at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB), in supporting promising startups in the fintech space through a structured program. 

“India is a young nation with over half its population at under 25 years. While the country has made significant strides in digitalization and technological innovation which has made it more competitive in the global landscape, there exists a larger challenge on creation of employment opportunities and jobs for the young population. With the immense potential of the Fintech Sector in jobs creation and economic growth, I-Sec, as part of its CSR initiative, is happy to partner with NSRCEL, one of the oldest incubator cells in the country, to provide mentorship to these startups. We do hope that that this joint initiative will lead to many successful ideas which will provide large employment generation opportunities,” said Mr. Vijay Chandok, MD & CEO, ICICI Securities.

“We had largely remained sector-agnostic in 20 years and this is our first attempt to create impact in a particular domain. Our motivation is simple – focus on an area where there are highly renowned faculty, sufficiently interested students, a large roster of illustrious alumni in that area and finally a thriving Centre of Excellence with deep connections to the industry. Fintech became the natural choice and we are excited to partner with I-Sec to kickstart our maiden program,” said Professor Venkatesh Panchapagesan, Chairperson of NSRCEL at IIM Bangalore.

Startups in ideation to early customer stage will be guided by mentors through need assessment, one-on-one interactions and workshops. The 15-month program is for professionals in Insurance, Trading, Personal Finance, Banking, Wealth Advisory, Lending and Payments and Taxation. These startups can then glide through to the Go-to-Market stage and work on scaling up through guidance, workshops, shared learning, funding, goal-setting through launch of POCs and extensive business growth opportunities. Startups will be getting exclusive access to IIMB resources and industry connections in Fintech. At the end of the program, select startups will also be receiving funding support. 

Apply now to take your fintech startup to the next level!

For more info visit- WWW.NSRCEL.ORG/FINTECH

About NSRCEL

With programs specifically catering to entrepreneurs with profit ventures and social ventures, also student and women entrepreneurs, NSRCEL offers its support to various players of the startup ecosystem.

NSRCEL at IIM Bangalore brings together startups, industry mentors, eminent academicians from its parent institution Indian Institute of Management Bangalore and researchers who thrive on continuous interaction of theory and practice.

NSRCEL is also the first incubator with a program for tailored for social entrepreneurs and their unique challenges.

Visit www.nsrcel.org to know more

About ICICI Securities

ICICI Securities Limited (I-Sec) is a subsidiary of ICICI Bank Ltd. The company began its operation in May 1995 and continues to grow its operation through expanding its client base and providing different type of services.

I-Sec operates www.icicidirect.com, India’s leading virtual financial supermarket, meeting the three need sets of its clients- investments, protection, and borrowing. Through its three lines of businesses -- broking, distribution of financial products, and investment banking-- I-Sec serves customers ranging from the retail and institutional investors to corporates to high net-worth individuals to government.

Pune-based Tech Startup Develops Ion Generator that can Curb Virus Load in Infected Areas

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A Pune-based start-up has developed a negative ion generator that reduces the viral load of infected areas within a room significantly within an hour, the Department of Science and Technology (DST) said on Monday.

The DST has released Rs 1 crore to the start-up 'Jclean Weather Technologies' to manufacture and scale up the product, and 1,000 of them will soon be ready for installation in various hospitals in Maharashtra, it said.

The technology has been developed under the NIDHI PRAYAS programme initiated by the Department of Science and Technology, it said.

"The negative ion generator titled Scitech Airon, which helps to control the virus, bacteria, and fungal infections in a closed environment, could clean up the air and disinfect areas which are exposed to the infection through COVID-19 positive cases and suspects," DST said in a statement.

One hour of operation of ion generator machine reduces viral load within a room by 99.7 per cent depending on room size.

It could ensure the wellbeing of the staff, doctors, and nurses who are working round the clock in the quarantine facilities by enhancing their disease resistance power and ability to fight the virus, it added.

Its usefulness in killing disease-causing viruses and bacteria has been scientifically tested by various globally renowned labs in different types of closed environments like houses, hospitals, schools, farms, industries, and so on, the DST said.

Elaborating on the technology, the DST said the Scitech Airon ionizer machine generates negatively charged ions at approximately hundred million per 8 seconds (10 ions per seconds).

The negative ions generated by the ioniser form clusters around microparticles such as airborne mold, corona or influenza viruses, mite allergens, bacteria, pollens, dust and so on and render them inactive through a chemical reaction.

"The efficacy of the Ion generator has also been observed on different types of pathogens like the influenza virus, coxsackie virus, polio virus, human coronavirus, a range of allergens, bacteria, and fungi, DST said.

It could also be useful against floating viruses in the air on public transport, train stations, or airports, or especially within a confined space like a plane cabin, house, hospital ward. PTI PR

L&T Supports India's Fight Against COVID-19

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Larsen & Toubro, India's leading technology, engineering, construction, manufacturing and financial services conglomerate, is committed to participate in corporate India's response to COVID-19 through funds, community welfare plans and through leveraging its expertise to offer assistance. Responding to the call given by Hon'ble Prime Minister of India, the company will donate Rs. 150 Crore to the PM-CARES Fund.

The project management conglomerate has set aside an outlay of over Rs. 500 Crore per month to support about 1,60,000 contract workers by continuing to pay their wages during the ongoing lockdown and providing them with food and basic amenities at labour camps, while maintaining the COVID-19 prevention and containment protocol.

[caption id="attachment_143587" align="alignleft" width="296"] Mr. AM Naik, Group Chairman, Larsen & Toubro[/caption]

Commenting on the company's preparedness to fight this pandemic, Mr. AM Naik, Group Chairman, Larsen & Toubro, said, "L&T has always stood by the nation in its hour of need. We are helping India's fight against COVID-19 by way of immediate funding, and through a range of welfare initiatives including converting our training schools into Isolation Centers. We are also leveraging our engineering and construction expertise to help the authorities deal with the crisis."

L&T is considering transforming all company-owned training centers and other select establishments into isolation wards. It is exploring to supply critical healthcare equipment to hospitals engaged in treating COVID-19 patients. The company has also committed to offer use of its community Health & Medical Centers 24X7 and use ambulances to transport patients to nearest hospitals.

L&T Smart World & Communication, a business unit of Larsen & Toubro, has installed smart technologies in over 20 major cities, including Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Prayagraj, Ahmedabad, Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad and others. These technologies will help various state governments and local authorities to fight COVID-19 pandemic effectively.

Here is a summary of other efforts undertaken by L&T in this fight against COVID-19:

Welfare Initiatives:


  • Remitting timely wages to Workmen and Subcontractors despite the lockdown. Payment to the workmen being made directly to their linked bank accounts.

  • Extra vigilance across the labour camps attached to project sites to ensure that proper hygiene, catering, waste management, cleanliness and preventive measures including social distancing is being rigorously maintained.

  • 24X7 availability of Ambulances, Doctors and other Medical Facilities for medical assistance to workmen and employees across all locations.

  • Use of mobile application (Workforce induction and Skills Application - WISA) to send SMS alerts, in English, Hindi and other vernacular languages, to workmen and employees on the nature of COVID-19, its symptoms, testing facilities available locally



Employees Initiatives:


  • Relaying various health advisories and related messaging to 1,20,000 employees, daily.

  • Closure of all offices and other establishments as per the directives of Government of India and various state governments/local authorities. Employees encouraged to work from home.

  • Formation of COVID-19 Response Teams (CRT) across businesses to take timely action and Decision Response Team (DRT) at the corporate level to keep a constant vigil on the evolving situation and take necessary actions.



Background:

Larsen & Toubro is an Indian multinational engaged in technology, engineering, construction, manufacturing and financial services with over USD 21 billion in revenue. It operates in over 30 countries worldwide. A strong, customer-focused approach and the constant quest for top-class quality have enabled L&T to attain and sustain leadership in its major lines of business for eight decades.

Huawei Rolls out Doorstep Repair Service for its Smart Watch Customers in India

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Consumers can get Huawei Watches including Huawei GT and Huawei GT2 replaced without any cost during the warranty period for any performance and functional related default.

As per the new policy, customers can also get the spare parts replaced for out of warranty Huawei Watch GT and GT 2 (46mm).

Huawei will now provide pick and drop services for its select smart watches in India.

Huawei is not only appreciated for high quality products but also for the company's excellent after-sales services for its valued customers. Furthering its commitment to provide the most exceptional customer services, Huawei Consumer Business Group India (BGI), announced VIP Customer Services for the newly launched Huawei Watch GT 2 and its predecessor Huawei Watch GT.

Being a wearable device, smart watches are highly prone to damages, like any other hand-held technological devices such as mobile phones and tablets. Considering the same, Huawei Consumer BGI has exclusively rolled out initiatives in India that helps customers enjoy their Huawei smart watch.

Of the many initiatives, Huawei has introduced no cost replacement policy for Huawei Watch GT 2 and GT during the warranty period. In case a Huawei smart watch shows manufacturing defects or performance related issues, Huawei will replace the watch if it is in the warranty period and as per its warranty policy. For those consumers whose watches are out of warranty, Huawei has introduced a special repair solution for its out-of-warranty watches.

Huawei smart watch users can get spare parts, including strap, charging base, back cover, screen and main board, replaced for the out-of-warranty Huawei Watch GT 2 (46mm) & Huawei Watch GT. The spare part charges for out-of-warranty repair can be checked on Huawei India Website or Support App. Customers will also get 90 days warranty for the parts replaced during the out of warranty repair.

Taking a major step towards ensuring consumer satisfaction, Huawei Consumer BGI will now provide pick and drop services for its smart watches in India. The group has also announced that the services will be marked by a record speed turnaround time with fast and best-in-class repair time service.

Speaking on the service features and the repair policy, Huawei India Spokesperson, said, "Customer delight and satisfaction forms the core of our very DNA, be it in terms of product innovation or service delivery. The repair and doorstep services is yet another step on our part to provide the best-in-class service to our esteemed consumers across India. The offer is applicable for Huawei Watch GT 2 (46mm) variant and Huawei Watch GT, irrespective of the purchase method, online or retail."

"India is a very important market for Huawei and such services are the perfect embodiment of our commitment to providing only the very best experience to the Indian consumers," he added.

Additionally, there will also be dedicated expert support. To avail the services online, customers can access the dedicated IVR/toll-free number 1800-209-6555 between 9 AM and 9 PM, which is attended by expert professionals at the Contact Centre.

About Huawei Consumer BG

Huawei's products and services are available in more than 170 countries and are used by a third of the world's population. Fifteen R&D centres have been set up in the United States, Germany, Sweden, Russia, India and China. Huawei Consumer BG is one of Huawei's three business units and covers smartphones, PC and tablets, wearables and cloud services, etc. Huawei's global network is built on almost 30 years of expertise in the telecom industry and is dedicated to delivering the latest technological advances to consumers around the world.

For more information, please visit: consumer.huawei.com.

For regular updates on Huawei Consumer BG, follow us on:

Facebook: facebook.com/HuaweiMobile

Twitter: twitter.com/HuaweiMobile

YouTube: youtube.com/HuaweiMobile

Instagram: instagram.com/huaweiMobile

Huawei's Announces the Grand Launch of its Next Image Awards; World's Leading Online Mobile Photography Competition

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Huawei has also announced the launch of the fourth edition of its legendary Next Image Awards. Huawei's Next Image Awards is one of the world's best online photography awards that is committed to broaden the horizon of visual culture and encourage mobile photography worldwide.

The "NEXT" in NEXT-IMAGE refers to the next generation of photographers using the next generation of tools to create and spread the next generation of visual content - all with new forms of interaction and feedback. The "IMAGE" part of the name refers to both static imagery and new forms of dynamic visual expression.

Huawei has proposed the "NEXT-IMAGE" concept not only to highlight the many years of innovative spirit it has brought to the field of visual expression, but also to create a new word that conveys its insight into what it believes is growing into a new school of photography. In 2019, more than 150 + countries participated and over 520,000 entries were received.

The competition requires the participants to send their best photograph, which will be meticulously judged by the jury members. Under the umbrella of the competition lies six categories, one of which a participant must stick to while submitting his/her entry. The participants have to send their entries and brownie points will be awarded to shots taken through a Huawei phone. Apart from the 3 grand prizes of USD $10,000 each, each of the 6 categories will have its own winners. Fifty runner ups can also win the flagship Huawei P40 Pro smartphone each.

The six categories are as follows -


  1. Near Far - Discovering new places and new experiences thereby using new features of phone camera, for instance tele-photo, super-wide angle or macro-shooting lens.

  2. Good Night - Capturing fun moments in low light.

  3. Hello Life! - Sharing the emotion or the inspiration in everyday experiences.

  4. Faces - Experimenting with identity and the power of portraiture of you yourself, her/him/it or them.

  5. Live Moments - Filming stories in less than 10 minutes (at least 10 seconds, mp4 only).

  6. Storyteller - Sequencing 3 to 9 photos to express the emotion, to record the changes or to find a trend.



The jury consists of eminent photographers such as Steven McCurry and Elizaveta Porodina, along with Li Changzhu, Vice President of Handsets Product Line of Huawei CBG and Andrew Garrihy, Western Europe CMO of Huawei CBG.

"Huawei's Next Image Awards is one of the world's most well-known online photography competitions. Since 2017, more than 150 countries have participated and we have received more than 1 million submissions. We extend the invitation to all photography enthusiasts worldwide to participate in the contest and win exciting prizes of upto USD $10,000. We truly believe that a photograph is worth a thousand words and has the ability to capture the beauty all around us," said Huawei's spokesperson.

The entries are open from March 26th 2020, and will close on 31st July, 2020.

About Huawei Consumer BG

Huawei's products and services are available in more than 170 countries and are used by a third of the world's population. Fifteen R&D centers have been set up in the United States, Germany, Sweden, Russia, India and China. Huawei Consumer BG is one of Huawei's three business units Smartphones, PC and tablets, wearables and cloud services, etc. Huawei's global network is built on almost 30 years of expertise in the telecom industry and is dedicated to delivering the latest technological advances to consumers around the world.

For more information, please visit: consumer.huawei.com/in.

For regular updates on Huawei Consumer BG, follow us on:

Facebook: facebook.com/HuaweiMobile

Twitter: twitter.com/HuaweiMobile

YouTube: youtube.com/HuaweiMobile

Instagram: instagram.com/huaweiMobile

mCaffeine Partners with Clinikk to Provide free medical facilities for the Employees and their Families in the Current COVID-19 Pandemic

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mCaffeine, India’s fastest growing caffeine infused personal care brand has partnered with Clinikk, the healthcare startup to provide free medical facilities for the employees and their families in this current 21 days lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic.  

This association will help mCaffeine employees and their families to get access to 24*7 medical support and unlimited and free consultations with doctors on call through their helpline number. All doctors are qualified (MBBS or specialization), with extensive training in telemedicine. Post the consultation; a signed prescription will be shared on SMS/WhatsApp & the Clinikk App. If a further diagnosis requires lab tests, the sample will get collected at home. Employees can also order medicines online and can get benefited from discounts. 

Tarun Sharma, co-founder & CEO, mCaffiene said, “The need of the hour is to extend maximum possible support to your employees and their families. Besides assuring the job and financial security, it is pertinent to take care of their physical and mental well being. In a lockdown scenario when one cannot step out of their home more so because of the spread of a highly contagious virus, its our responsibility to take care of their health needs. We don’t want them to compromise or neglect themselves. In such a panic scenario one may not know whom to approach or where to go. 

While all employees are working from home; we want them to be tension free regarding any health problems of themselves and their families by providing them door-step medical facilities. Clinikk app which gives a one-stop solution will provide the much required ease and convenience. Employee wellness is prime at mCaffeine. More than 400 people will benefit from this association.’’

Bengaluru based health tech startup, Clinikk is revolutionizing the approach to healthcare in India, by building a one-stop solution for all healthcare needs at just one-phone-call-away. The ability of Clinikk is to diagnose and treat certain ailments using remote technology instead of person-to-person contact, thereby creating ease of access to medical care. 

“At Clinikk we believe in becoming the first point of contact for any medical need that a family might have. Being there for them 24*7 ensures that we are able to detect any medical problem proactively at its onset and make necessary intervention before it manifests itself as a more serious issue", Said, Bhavjot Kaur, co-founder of Clinikk Healthcare.

Apart from doctor consultations, if any medical information is required for eg. partner hospitals, it can be directed to the Health Assistants, who provide relevant, accurate information. Based on seasonal change, medical history etc. - Clinikk provides personalized awareness building information through WhatsApp, SMS and IVR calls. The languages currently supported are; English, Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Bangla, Assamese, Marathi.

About mCaffeine

India is now seeing innovations in areas which were once dominated by imported products and foreign brands. Confidence over colour; this simple thought guided the development of MCaffeine as a personal care brand. Inner beauty trumps everything else was an idea that Vikas and Tarun, the co-founders of MCaffeine were absolutely convinced about. While conceiving the identity and character of the brand, the duo also laid out strict boundaries for it. They wanted to do research based products that connect with people, says Vikas. The market is full of brands that make you look down upon yourself. We decided that we will never sell insecurities as a brand, says Tarun. They believe that beauty has no colour or gender, it's all about well-being.

With caffeine at the heart, they make premium world-class products using Coffee, Tea and Chocolate. Caffeine present in Coffee, Tea, and Chocolate has magical properties of Hair and Skin Care. Caffeine penetrates the surface and helps in growth and shine in case of hair and glow and glide in the case of skin. The effectiveness of Caffeine is well researched and documented in the latest dermatology and Trichology.

Caffeine does its magic on hair by going to the hair follicles and strengthening the hair roots and hence delays Hair Fall. On Skin, it removes the dead skin, delays the ageing process and works as a powerful antioxidant. Add to it the omnipresence of caffeine as a social lubricant and a lifestyle indicator - they see a Global Brand emerging from India.

MCaffeine is India’s first caffeinated personal care brand. mCaffeine as a brand is for the Bold | Young | Confident. mCaffeine largely targets young millennials of India. The brand is focused on the millennial lifestyle with mass premium offerings. mCaffeine as a brand is gender neutral and never supports colour discrimination. The brand’s promise to the world is that they will never sell fairness creams. 

They are positioned as a unisex brand for emerging and evolving millennials aged 20 to 28. MCaffeine focuses on India for now with global potential for the future. The brand embodies the millennial ethos with key principles of: clean label (natural as a choice), why hurt (no animal testing), confidence over colour (don't sell insecurities or fairness products).

About CLINIKK

Healthcare in India continues to be broken and chaotic, especially for people with limited means or access to quality care. Running pillar to post for prudent and quality medical counsel in time of need, is regrettably, the norm today.

Clinikk is revolutionizing the approach to healthcare in India, by building a one-stop solution - for all healthcare needs - “one-phone-call-away”. Clinikk deliver affordable and accessible services, to your doorstep, on-demand, and 24*7. By helping our customers navigate the healthcare system, and safeguarding their interests, we are building a healthcare experience like never before - centralized, convenient, affordable, and above all, worthy of our customer’s trust.

Union Bank Of India reduces EBLR by 75 BPS w.e.f April 1, 2020

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To provide relief to individual, small and medium borrowers in line with benefit of 75 bps repo rate reduction by RBI, Union Bank of India today in its ALCO meeting reduced its External Benchmark Based lending rate (EBLR) to 7.20%.   EBLR of 7.20% will be applicable for all floating rate personal or retail loans (housing, auto, etc.) and floating rate loans to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises to the customers of Union Bank of India from 01.04.2020 onwards.  

The above reduction in rate shall also be applicable to the customers of Andhra Bank and Corporation Bank which shall become part of Union Bank of India w.e.f. 01.04.2020.  Customers who have availed loans under External Benchmark based schemes of these two banks shall automatically get benefit of reduction of interest rate w.e.f. 01.04.2020.

RevFin gives Instant Loan of Rs. 2100 rupees to its E-Rickshaw Customers during COVID-19 Crisis

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India's leading digital lending start up, is extending help for its e-rickshaw customers by providing a loan of Rs 2100/-  at 0% to support them during the global crisis. In this the customers can repay the loan in up to 8 installments. Also, the company will allow EMI repayment moratorium up to 3 months to its customers who have earlier taken loan for e-rickshaw, amidst the lockdown. This step is taken as a measure to curtail the lockdown and avail loan during the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. 

The company provides loans to individuals and charge them interest on the amount. The main objective of RevFin is to promote financial inclusion. For this, it provides loans to customer segments that do not have access to formal and affordable lending. The loans are given out for productive purposes like employment generation. 

We are concerned about the impact of the lockdown on our customers, who are primarily daily wage earners. As a responsible lender, we are committed to ensuring the financial well-being of our customers and to put their minds at ease during this global crisis. I believe our efforts will help our customers navigate out of the present situation with relative ease. We look forward to building a long term relationship with our customers built on mutual trust and support during all times, says Sameer Aggarwal, Founder & CEO, RevFin.

RevFin has recently partnered with PNB MetLife India Insurance Company Limited (PNB MetLife), one of the top 10 life insurance companies in India to provide protection to the customers through life insurance on their loans. 

About RevFin

RevFin is a financial technology (Fintech) start-up that is aimed at building the world’s most advanced digital platform. The platform will be used to underwrite and manage consumer loans through our own NBFC. Through the unique approach to underwriting, rich value proposition, and a differentiated distribution model, RevFin plan to build a lending book of Rs.3000Cr in the next 5 years, with ROE of 20%+. Their vision is to create a lending platform that is agnostic of language, literacy, geography, and culture. Once the platform has been proven successful, they will use it to rapidly scale the lending book in India while leveraging the platform in other geographies. RevFin Services Private Limited (RevFin) is a privately owned digital lender based in New Delhi.

COVID-19: Ola in talks with States, Centre to offer vehicles, kitchen services

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Ride-hailing major Ola is in discussions with various state governments and the Centre to offer its transportation and kitchen services amid the 21-day lockdown across the country.

Ola, which is already working with the Karnataka government, is in talks with other States and the Centre to extend its transportation services to help facilitate transit of healthcare professionals, senior citizens, government officials and quick response teams who need mobility options.

Ola co-founder and CEO Bhavish Aggarwal in a tweet said: "Thank you Sir! We‘re humbled to join hands with GoK and other state Governments in offering all support we can in these times. @Olacabs driver-partners and @Olafoods_India kitchen staff are proud to join various essential service providers in #IndiafightsCorona #StrongerTogether".

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister C N Ashwath Narayan in a tweet said Ola has agreed to provide 500 vehicles for COVID-19 related activities in Karnataka.

He added that these vehicles will be used for commuting by doctors and for COVID-19 related activities.

According to sources, Ola is engaged in conversations with Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Telengana, and similar proposals have also been sent to Health Ministry and Prime Minister's Office.

A source said government departments are helping with required permits and procurement of protective gear wherever applicable to ensure safety of the drivers.

Also, driver earnings on a cost to cost basis are being provided by the government.

Ola has also offered to prepare food from its cloud kitchens (over 40 in six cities) and transportation of the food to major nodal centres for the government to supply to medical professionals, daily wagers, migrant labourers, and security teams on ground, the source added.

An e-mail sent to Ola did not elicit a response.

On March 23, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a three-week national lockdown as part of efforts to combat the coronavirus outbreak in the country.

Over 1,000 people in India have tested positive for coronavirus so far with 29 deaths being reported.

With the implementation of the lockdown , the government has allowed only people in essential services like healthcare, banking and media to commute. Limited mobility options have made it difficult for these people to travel to their workplace. PTI SR

PNB Unveils New Logo

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Punjab National Bank (PNB) has unveiled a new logo as it merges United Bank of India and OBC with it, with effect from April 1.

The new logo will bear distinct signages of all the three public sector lenders.

With this, PNB is set to become the second largest lender in the country.

"#PunjabNationalBank is here with #OrientalBankofCommerce & #UnitedBankofIndia in an all new avatar. Be a part of the #TogetherForTheBetter journey with us and experience a smoother and smarter way of banking," PNB said in a tweet on Monday.

Assuaging concerns regarding the merged entity, PNB also said there is no reason to worry as the three banks are coming together to be better, bigger and stronger.

"Together we are bigger, stronger & faster. People & Banking will now be closer than ever before. You will have products fine tuned to your needs," it said in another tweet.

PNB also appealed to its customers to stay indoors due to the coronavirus outbreak and access its services through net banking and PNBONE app.

"Now, pay your tax, get interest certificates, track your investments and more with just one app. Have you downloaded #PNBONE app yet? #BankFromHomeAndStaySafe #COVID 18," the lender said.

Ten state-owned banks are to be merged into four bigger and stronger banks with effect from April 1. PTI KPM

Edtech Startup Lido Learning Raises $3 Mn from Paytm Exec, Picus Capital, others

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Ed-tech platform Lido Learning on Monday said it has raised USD 3 million from Rocket Internet founder Alex Samwer-backed Picus Capital and Paytm President Madhur Deora, among others.

The Mumbai-based company had previously raised USD 3 million in November last year led by investors like Ronnie Screwvala, Ananth Narayanan, Vikrampati Singhania and others.

"Lido Learning is actively disrupting the K-12 market. Considering the current global pandemic, learning online has become the need of the hour. This is pulling the Indian market towards adopting online tutorials much faster than initially expected and is a huge tailwind enabling us to become a dominant category creator within a short span of time," Lido Learning founder and CEO Sahil Sheth said in a statement.

Lido Learning provides live, interactive tutoring sessions to students and parents that push learning outcomes through a 6:1 student-teacher ratio, frontier technologies, and personalised content. It is expanding from metros to Tier II and Tier III cities.

According to a Google and KPMG report, primary and secondary supplementary education will be the largest category in online education by 2021 growing at a CAGR of 60 per cent.

"The tremendous growth in the months since launch has proved the great product-market fit they have found. We are excited to be a part of the vision of improving the access to and quality of education - one of India's largest and most important sectors - together with such a strong team," Florian Reichert, partner at Picus Capital, said in a statement.

Lido Learning is Picus' first investment in the education-technology space and one of its first in India. PTI SR

TVS Motor Company and Group Companies Pledge Rs. 25 Crores to PM's Relief Fund (PM-CARES) Dedicated to Fight COVID-19

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TVS Motor Company, a reputed manufacturer of two-wheelers and three-wheelers and its Group Companies TVS Credit Services Ltd., Sundaram-Clayton Ltd., and others today announced their commitment to donate Rs. 25 Crores to the PM's Relief Fund (PM-CARES) to aid the battle against COVID-19. This is in line with the company's continuous endeavour to ensure prosperous and sustainable communities. It is in addition to the ongoing activities being already undertaken through Srinivasan Services Trust, the CSR arm of the group.

"The COVID-19 pandemic marks an unprecedented time in modern history and it will require the best of humanity to overcome the battle. We applaud the Govt's strong resolve and numerous actions to fight this. Now, more than ever, it requires all of us to cooperate and support each other as a nation,'' said Mr. Venu Srinivasan, Chairman, TVS Motor Company.

Srinivasan Services Trust (SST), the social arm of the group is implementing various measures ranging from manufacturing and supplying supportive equipment such as masks, to providing cooked meals to those in the frontline - from healthcare workers to police officers. Some of the key initiatives that have already begun include:

Making and supplying 1 Million protective face masks for essential service providers

Deploying vehicles and disinfectants to municipalities and helping produce medical equipment

Employing factory kitchens at the manufacturing units in Hosur, Padi and Mysuru to make pre-packed cooked meals. These will be supplied to all essential care workers in the vicinity, from police personnel, municipal staff to healthcare workers

In Baddi, Himachal Pradesh, dry rations will be supplied to daily wage workers who have been displaced and to villagers without food supplies

The company is evaluating collaboration with 3D printing companies to make ventilators to support the hospitals

About TVS Motor Company

TVS Motor Company is a reputed two and three-wheeler manufacturer and is the flagship company of the USD 8.5 billion TVS Group. We believe in Championing Progress through Mobility. Rooted in our 100-year legacy of Trust, Value, and Passion for Customers and Exactness, we take pride in making internationally aspirational products of the highest quality through innovative and sustainable processes. We endeavor to deliver the most superior customer experience at all our touch points across 60 countries. We are the only two-wheeler company to have received the prestigious Deming Prize. Our products lead in their respective categories in the J.D. Power IQS and APEAL surveys for five years. We have been ranked No. 1 Company in the J.D. Power Customer Service Satisfaction Survey for consecutive four years.

For more information, please visit www.tvsmotor.com.

Unicorn India Ventures announces 1st Close of 2nd Equity Fund

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  • First close announced at $12 million 

  • Funds raised from domestic investors from a mix of family offices and investors from the first fund

  • Also announces first investment from the 2nd fund

  • Invests in neo diagnostics startup SaScan 

  • Trivandrum based startup has developed a tech to early detect cancer in an affordable and painless way 



Mumbai-based early stage fund house Unicorn India Ventures has announced first close of its 2nd equity fund at $12 million. The second equity fund of Rs 400 crore was announced last year. Unicorn India has raised funds from domestic investors comprising of family offices and investors from the first fund. 

The Fund expects to reach final close in next 12 months, which is expected to see participation from large institutional investors. With the first close, Unicorn India has also announced its first investment in a Trivandrum -based startup SaScan Meditech.

SaScan is an innovative Neo-Diagnostics startup developing integrated hardware and software solutions for medical diagnostics. Founded in 2016, currently Sascan is focusing on bringing OralScan to the market, a handheld fully automated solution for non-intrusive Oral Cancer screening. The company is also working on clinical trials for a device to screen for another common type of cancer. With the new funds, SaScan will explore the possibility of developing its proprietary technology for the diagnosis of other types of epithelial cell carcinomas and pre-cancerous abnormalities with a vision to build a comprehensive diagnostics solutions range for easy, accessible and early cancer detection.

Anil Joshi, Managing Partner, Unicorn India Venture, says, “Our commitment to nurture Indian startups is unwavering and we will keep scouting for innovative ventures as done in fund-I. Having announced our first investment from fund-II simultaneously is a testimony to that. SaScan is building a range of devices and solutions to detect early signs of cancers. Their methodology of making cancer detection less painful and more accurate in pre-diagnosis impressed us to invest in it."

From the new fund, Unicorn India will participate in Pre Series A and upwards rounds. The cheque size is expected to be a million dollars. The Fund House expects to invest in 20 companies from the second fund. 

Bhaskar Majumdar, Managing Partner, Unicorn India Ventures says, “Our first fund has been performing quite well. Many companies from the first fund like Open Bank, Genrobotic, Sequretek, Smartcoin are scaling up faster than its peers. They have already caught the attention of many top-notch international funds. With this second fund, we hope to continue our track record of identifying innovative business models with faster scalability across sectors B2B, SaaS, healthTech, robotics, gaming and digital content."

About Unicorn India Ventures

Unicorn India Ventures is a Mumbai-based fund house started in 2015 by Anil Joshi and Bhaskar Majumdar. The Fund House has also launched a UK India cross border fund for funding UK startups looking to enter India and have invested in 6 UK startups so far. From its first fund, UIV has invested in 18 companies like VLCC VanityCube, Inc42, Sequretek, Pharmarack, GrabonRent, Inntot, Genrobotic, SectorQube, Perfit, NeuroEquilibrium, SmartCoin, Open Bank, Boxx.ai, Clootrack and Openapp.

GoMechanic offers Free Service* & Mechanic on Call to Ambulances, Police & other Essential Service Vehicles

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GoMechanic, India’s largest network of technology-enabled car service centres announced the #OpenForHeroes initiative to support emergency and essential vehicles such as ambulances, police vehicles, etc across the top metro cities they operate in. As the entire country is on a lockdown, local authorities are realizing that the society needs critical support of technical persons who provide essential maintenance to ensure smooth running of water, electricity, sewerage and repair & maintenance of essential vehicles. Gurgaon Police have directed their officers to allow free movement of such technicians & mechanics.

When someone (of an emergency or essential services vehicles only) books an order via GoMechanic (which is free of charge), the team will quickly send it to a functional workshop as per that city's policy. They will also ascertain the nature of the vehicle and do basic validation to ensure the benefit reaches the right and intended ones. *All labour and service charges will be completely waived and only actuals charged as per consumption besides applicable taxes. If as per the state law, the centres cannot be open, then GoMechanic will find and send the nearest available mechanic to the spot for repairing. Their workshops & mechanics are following strict sanitization methods. The number to call is 08398970970. 

Commenting on #OpenforHeroes, Kushal Karwa, Co-Founder, GoMechanic said, “Emergency and essential services cannot afford to stop even moreso when India is under a lockdown. Ensuring they get access to the best service and their vehicles keep running is the need of the hour and we felt it is our duty to offer the same. At the same time, we wanted to show our appreciation for these real life heroes in whatever way this is of help to each of them. Join us and the GoMechanic team in saluting and appreciating the contribution and sacrifice of these real life heroes.”

About GoMechanic:

GoMechanic, founded in 2016 by Kushal Karwa and Amit Bhasin, is currently India’s largest network of technology-enabled car service centres, offering a seamless car service experience at the convenience of a tap. They were joined by Rishabh Karwa and Nitin Rana, who brought in their unique and complementary competencies to that of Amit and Kushal. GoMechanic’s asset light model with centralized bulk procurement of spare parts from OEM’s, zero real-estate overheads and technology-driven efficiency, results in significant savings which are passed onto the customers. GoMechanic has 260+ car repair workshops across Delhi-NCR, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Jaipur & Chennai. It currently services 2+ million cars annually and is targeting 10 million customers by 2021. 

Analytics Vidhya Opens its Data Science Induction Program - Initiate AI for Companies

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Analytics Vidhya, India’s largest community based knowledge portal for Analytics and Data Science professionals opened its induction program 'Initiate AI' for companies to onboard data science talent for free. The program initiates a data scientist in SQL for Data Science, Data Visualization and Machine Learning. This online program aims to benefit more the 500 organizations worldwide.

According to Kunal Jain Founder & CEO of Analytics Vidhya, “The recent global events have caused disruption in corporates at several levels. Most of the operations and work in corporates has moved. Online. However, most of the companies do not have an online training platform. In order to help members of our community and our clients, we decided to offer our onboarding program for data science - 'Initiate AI' to organizations looking to on-board data science talent in next few months. This is one of the ways we are giving back to our community."

According to a UN agency, up to 25 Million jobs can be lost across the globe because of Coronavirus. With current economic uncertainties, companies are delaying joining and on-boarding of talent across the globe. To mitigate the impact on Data Science community and enable organizations to use data science in these difficult times, 'Initiate AI' is available free of cost till May 31stfor unlimited number of students. The program offers online courses, assignments and several real life industry hackathons.

Benefits of 'Initiate AI'


  1. Saves the time and efforts of HR of the organisation in training the new joinees.

  2. Helps in tracking the performance and process of the new joinee seamlessly.

  3. Doesn't require any physical workplace for the training.

  4. Can be easily accessed across the geographies



Analytics Vidhya:

Analytics Vidhya is India’s Largest & world’s leading data science community with more than 4,00,000 data science enthusiasts from 150+ countries across the world. Analytics Vidhya serves all the learning & career needs of data scientists through latest blogs & articles, machine learning hackathons, data science trainings, online courses & programs, conferences, meetups and a job portal. Our aim at Analytics Vidhya is to provide the community with a structured approach to pursue and build a career in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning or Data Science through state-of-the-art engagement and learning platforms.

PhonePe Launches Donation Drive for COVID-19, Aims to Contribute Rs 100 cr to PM Fund

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After Paytm, Flipkart-owned PhonePe has launched a donation drive and said it aims to contribute up to Rs 100 crore to PM CARES Fund towards fighting coronavirus crisis.

PhonePe said it will contribute Rs 10 for every user, who donates to the PM CARES Fund via the PhonePe App using UPI by April 30, 2020.

"In total, PhonePe has pledged to contribute a maximum of up to Rs 100 crore," a statement said.

Paytm had on Saturday said it aims to contribute Rs 500 crore to PM CARES (Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund), and will contribute up to Rs 10 for every contribution or any other payment made on Paytm using the wallet, UPI and Paytm Bank debit card.

Sameer Nigam, founder and CEO of PhonePe, said the 100 crore pledge is an attempt to lift the mood of the country in this period of crisis.

"We are asking every Indian to unite together and donate, even if it's just Re 1, to the PM CARES Fund. Our mission is to get 10 crore people to donate to this cause and create a world record for the highest ever number of donors for a cause in history," he added. PTI SR

Labour Ministry Allows EPF Withdrawal Amid Lockdown

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The labour ministry has allowed over 6 crore subscribes of retirement fund body EPFO to withdraw an amount not exceeding their three months basic pay and dearness allowance from their EPF account in view of the lockdown to fight COVID-19.

Besides, Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) also introduced online claim settlement facility without manual intervention on Saturday morning for all KYC complaint subscribers during the lockdown.

The ministry has issued a notification in this regard on March 28, 2020 to amend the Employees' Provident Fund Scheme 1952, a labour ministry statement said.

The decision is taken in view of lockdown across the country to fight COVID-19.

The notification permitted non-refundable withdrawal not exceeding the basic wages and dearness allowance for three months or up to 75 per cent of the amount standing to the credit of their EPF account, which ever is less, the ministry said.

The COVID-19 has been declared pandemic and therefore employees working in establishments and factories across entire India, who are members of the EPF Scheme, 1952 are eligible for the benefits of non-refundable advance.

A sub-para (3) under para 68L has been inserted in the EPF scheme, 1952.

The amended Employees Provident Fund (Amendment) scheme, 2020 has come into force from March 28.

Following the notification, EPFO has issued directions to its field offices for promptly processing any applications received from members to help them fight the situation.

In its communication, EPFO has stated that officers and staff must process claims of EPF subscribers promptly so that relief reaches the worker and his family to help them fight with COVID-19.

"We are happy to inform that our online claim filing facility for Covid-19 withdrawals has been successfully launched at 11 am today (Saturday). IT (information technology) division of the EPFO has devised a system of auto settlement of claims through our centralized server in respect of all such members whose KYC (know your customer) data is fully updated and compliant.

"It is going to be a paradigm shift in claim settlements that will be possible to settle within 3 days. This facility will stop manual intervention. The EPF claims will be settled fully online," an official said.

Top Image ~ by Disha Sheta from Pexels

Jack Ma Foundation, Alibaba Donate Medical Supplies, COVID-19 Test Kits to India, Other Nations

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Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Foundation on Sunday announced donation of essential medical supplies, including face masks and COVID-19 test kits, to India and six other nations to help combat the spread of coronavirus.

"Collectively, these seven countries will receive a total of 1.7 million face masks, 1,65,000 test kits as well as protective clothing and medical equipment such as ventilators and forehead thermometers," the two foundations said in a statement.

Chinese billionaire Jack Ma is the co-founder of multinational technology behemoth Alibaba Group.

Besides India, the medical supplies will be donated to Azerbaijan, Bhutan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.

The first batch of medical supplies for India arrived in Delhi last night and were received by the Indian Red Cross Society.

Similar to the arrangement with the Italian Red Cross Society in Italy, the Indian charity will facilitate the distribution of these supplies in the country, the statement said, adding that the remainder of the donation is expected to reach the country in the coming days.

With this, the two foundations have now donated essential medical supplies to 23 Asian countries totalling 7.4 million masks, 4,85,000 test kits, 1,00,000 sets of protective clothing along with other medical equipment.

Indian Red Cross Society Deputy Secretary Neel Kamal Singh took receipt of the deliveries from Vivek Sehgal, Manager, Alibaba Cloud India, acting on behalf of Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Foundation in the presence of Ma Jia, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of China in India.

"We are one with the global community in the intense battle to protect all families against COVID-19. We are committed to doing everything we can to make a difference, most importantly by sourcing these supplies and overcoming logistical challenges to get the medical supplies to where they are needed as fast as we can," the statement said.

The move is among a slew of aid initiatives from the two foundations to support the areas of the world affected by the COVID-19 crisis, sourcing and delivering various types of medical supplies to countries across Asia, North America, Latin America, Europe and Africa, the statement said, adding that more initiatives and donations may be announced in the coming days and weeks.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced a complete lockdown of the entire country for 21 days in an unprecedented move to halt the spread of the pandemic shortly after which the Centre said all road, rail and air services will remain suspended during this period.

The pandemic has claimed 25 lives in the country and number of COVID-19 cases have touched 979 in India. PTI MBI
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