4th April 2025: CRIF Highmark a leading credit bureau released the thirtieth edition of ‘CRIF MicroLend Vol XXX – Dec 2024’. MicroLend is a quarterly publication from CRIF High Mark on Microfinance lending in India. The publication presents trends & analysis of key parameters such as Gross Loan Portfolio, Growth, Market Share, Borrower Leverage, Compliance and Portfolio Risks. The report also slices the data for major states and Urban/Rural geographies. Semi-urban portfolio is reported as part of urban split in the report.

Key Insights from the Report:

• As of Dec’24, the microfinance portfolio stood at ₹391.5K crore, marking a YoY decline of 4.0% compared to Dec’23 and a QoQ decrease of 5.4% since September 2024
• Originations faced additional pressure in Q3 FY25, with significant contractions of 34.9% YoY in value and 41.7% YoY in volume compared to Q3 FY24
• Active loans dropped from 15.7 Cr in Dec’23 to 14.6 Cr in Dec’24, indicating a decline in supply
• The live customer base showed a slight YoY increase initially but declined from 8.7 Cr in Mar’24 to 8.4 Cr in Dec’24, marking a reduction in the active customers
• NBFC MFIs and banks continued to dominate the market, collectively holding a 71.3% share
• While loans with a ticket size of ₹30k–₹50k remain the largest category in the portfolio, their share declined from 47.8% in Dec’23 to 43.3% in Dec’ 24
• Bihar leads the GLP, followed by TN and UP with the three states collectively accounting for 38% of the national total. Most states saw a YoY decline in GLP, with Kerala recording the sharpest drop at -15.8% YoY, as many players strategically reduced their portfolio exposure to microfinance loans in the region
• SFBs have seen notable declines, recording a YoY drop of -10.8% and a QoQ reduction of -8.9%
• While other ticket sizes saw a QoQ decline, the ₹1L+ segment continued to exhibit steady growth. YoY, originations for loans above ₹1L increased, whereas those under ₹1L decline

April 4^th, 2025: Tech Mahindra (NSE: TECHM), a leading global provider of technology consulting and digital solutions to enterprises across industries, announced a partnership with ServiceNow to deliver next-generation broadband solutions tailored for Communication Service Providers (CSPs). The partnership offers a comprehensive vertical solutions stack that covers every aspect of a broadband CSP’s journey, including planning and building networks, managing operations, enhancing customer experience, and monetizing services.

The partnership leverages Tech Mahindra’s netOps.now platform, a pre-integrated end-to-end solution built on ServiceNow^® Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) product suites, to unify customer care, operations, order management, and partner ecosystems for CSPs. Additionally, the solution provides AI-driven analytics, Network-as-a-Service (NaaS), Cloud-native Open Source Software (OSS) systems and intelligent automation to streamline operations and capitalize on the fast-growing “Everything-as-a-Service” opportunity. Through the solution, the CSPs will be able to improve operational efficiencies by up to 50%, ensuring accelerated time-to-market and scalable broadband rollouts.

Atul Soneja, Chief Operating Officer, Tech Mahindra, said, “The telco industry faces increasing pressure to modernize legacy systems, streamline network management, and enhance operational agility. Our partnership with ServiceNow will address these challenges and empower broadband providers to deliver high-speed connectivity, drive digital inclusion, and create value for communities globally. With an industry-leading zero-touch broadband operations platform, we will enable customers to seamlessly address connectivity challenges across rural, suburban, and urban markets.”

The partnership marks a significant step in Tech Mahindra’s continued expansion in the global broadband market, accelerating digital infrastructure and enabling CSPs to scale efficiently.

Erica Volini, Executive Vice President, Worldwide Industries, Partners, and Go-to-Market, ServiceNow said, “Partnerships succeed best when we lean into our unique skills and expertise and have a clear view into the problem we’re trying to solve. Tech Mahindra’s solutions with ServiceNow will help our customers provide the seamless experiences that their customers expect today. I am thrilled to see the continued innovation we will achieve together to help organizations succeed in the era of digital business.”

Recently, Tech Mahindra and ServiceNow successfully implemented this solution for a leading FibreCo in Germany, demonstrating its transformative impact. By leveraging the full ServiceNow TMT suite, Tech Mahindra streamlined the customer’s assurance experience, automated fulfillment processes, and enabled comprehensive end-to-end tracking of fiber rollout. This implementation on the ServiceNow Platform significantly improved operational performance, including a 20% reduction in fiber rollout time and major reductions in order fallouts. By consolidating 22 legacy systems into a single, unified platform, the solution has streamlined execution, enhanced efficiency, and accelerated service delivery.

As broadband demand continues to surge, this partnership positions Tech Mahindra and ServiceNow at the forefront of driving digital inclusion and seamless connectivity. This next-generation broadband solution will serve as a game-changer, unlocking new opportunities and driving sustainable growth across the global broadband market.

New Delhi, India –Smiling Tree, a leading environmental initiative, collaborated with Ramjas College, University of Delhi, for its 1st International Conference on “Global Perspectives of Medicinal Plants: From Traditional Systems of Medicine to Nanomedicine.” The prestigious event brought together eminent academicians, researchers, and policymakers to discuss the evolving role of medicinal plants in modern healthcare.

The conference was presided over by Prof. Yogesh Singh, Vice-Chancellor, University of Delhi, and witnessed the esteemed presence of Prof. Mahesh K. Dadhich, CEO, National Medicinal Plant Board; Prof. Ajay Kumar Arora, Principal, Ramjas College; and Prof. Dr. Suresh Kumar, Chairman, Department of Botany.

As a gesture of commitment to environmental sustainability, Smiling Tree planters were gifted to distinguished guests, students, and faculty members, symbolizing a collective effort towards a greener future. Dr. Mukesh Kwatra, Founder of Smiling Tree, emphasized the importance of integrating environmental consciousness with academic initiatives, stating, “Our collaboration with Ramjas College highlights the vital role of medicinal plants in sustainable healthcare and the environment. Through such initiatives, we hope to inspire a new generation to value and preserve nature’s resources.”

The conference successfully provided a platform for scholars to exchange insights on the integration of traditional medicinal systems with cutting-edge nanomedicine research. Smiling Tree remains committed to fostering environmental awareness and will continue to support initiatives that promote sustainability and scientific advancement.

4^th April 2025 – On March 27, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the base of Atomflot FSUE in Murmansk, including the Headquarters of Marine Operations of the Northern Sea Route General Administration, Federal State Budgetary Institution (NSR General Administration FSBI).

The meeting was attended by Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom; Yakov Antonov, Acting Director General of Atomflot FSUE; Sergey Zybko, Director General of NSR General Administration FSBI; Alexander Skryabin, Captain of the lead nuclear icebreaker Arktika (via videoconference), and other officials.

Sergey Zybko reported that at the time of the visit, 50 ships were navigating the waters of the Northern Sea Route (the NSR), with a group of nine nuclear and non-nuclear icebreakers in operation. “I would like to point out that the headquarters’ operations are demonstrated using Russian software of a unified platform for digital services. Now, you can see satellite radar imagery being displayed on the screen. We have begun employing artificial intelligence to analyze these images. It is worth noting that the ice situation has been worsening in recent years. Despite widespread discussion about global warming, the current research by the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institutes does not prove it. According to these studies, no significant changes in ice cover are anticipated during winter and spring months until 2050.

From the waters of the Yenisei Gulf, Alexander Skryabin reported to Vladimir Putin on the operations of the vessel and the advantages of Project 22220 icebreakers. “Universal nuclear icebreakers are excellent vessels,” he noted. “I was the captain of the nuclear icebreaker Vaygach for more than 13 years. I may say that the new generation icebreakers are much better than the previous ones in maneuverability, and accordingly, in icebreaking capability. Project 22220 is unique. These icebreakers have better entrance lines. As mentioned, this results in a wider channel, which is crucial for the safe ice breaking assistance in the Arctic waters. I believe that these nuclear icebreakers will make the NSR a viable transportation route of Russia.”

Underway is the construction of the universal nuclear icebreakers Chukotka, Leningrad, and, in the Far East, of the lead nuclear icebreaker Rossiya. Additionally, another nuclear icebreaker under project 22220, Stalingrad, will also be laid down. Alexey Likhachev stated that two more universal nuclear icebreakers are required to maintain steady operations.

During his visit, Vladimir Putin also spoke with participants of the children’s scientific and educational expeditions “Icebreaker of Knowledge“, organized by Rosatom. 12 schoolchildren from different regions of Russia took part in the conversation with the head of state. They gave the president their impressions of the voyage to the North Pole and told him about the prospects that such projects and nuclear technologies offer to young talents. They pointed out the significance of the opportunity to participate in large-scale educational and scientific programs both in general and for children from smaller towns, in particular. These expeditions broaden young people’s horizons and help them understand their role in their country’s and world’s development. Participants spoke about their plans for the future and emphasized the importance of the work done by the expert mentors who accompanied them during this expedition.

A significant issue discussed at the meeting was the cultivation of patriotism among the youth. Pavel Yakushev, a veteran of the Special Military Operation and patriotic education advisor at Rosatom, shared his experience. He told the participants about his expedition to the North Pole as part of the “Time of Heroes” program, and the mission he has undertaken due to his involvement in Rosatom’s projects.

Speaking about the program, Dr. Raj Singh, Vice-Chancellor of JAIN (Deemed-to-be-University) said, “Digital transformation is reshaping businesses, driving the demand for skilled professionals in digital marketing and e-commerce. The Online MBA program in Digital Marketing and E-Commerce will equip learners with industry-relevant knowledge and practical expertise and prepare them for leadership roles in a competitive field. As job opportunities in these domains are set to expand globally in coming five years, the program following the same aligns with the growing need for expertise in performance marketing, AI-driven analytics, growth hacking, influencer marketing, and e-commerce management with a well-structured curriculum, exposure to essential tools, and engagement with industry experts.”

APRIL 4, 2025: ACME Solar Holdings, India’s leading renewable energy company and flagship business of the diversified ACME Group, has secured Rs 2,491 crore long term project finance facility for project life of 18- 20 years to refinance its existing debt facilities and reduce cost of financing of its 490 MW operational renewable energy projects in Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Punjab.

This refinancing of state counterparty projects has been secured from SBI and REC at reduced weighted average interest rate of 8.8%. This has helped to improve the credit profile and obtain higher credit rating for Andhra Pradesh and Punjab entities under co-obligor structure. This aligns well with group’s goal of credit upgrade and bringing overall interest cost down for all operational projects. The operational track record for AP (160 MW) & Punjab (30 MW) Project is ~9 years and Rajasthan (300 MW)  is ~3 Years.

According to Purushottam Kejriwal, Chief Financial Officer of ACME Solar Holdings, “The refinancing initiative aligns with our strategy to create an efficient capital structure while consistently reducing cost of debt. We have been able to improve our projects’ credit ratings by demonstrating our commitment to financial discipline and stability. The reduced cost of debt enables us to further strengthen our financial position as we pursue capacity growth over the next three years.”

ACME Solar Holdings is at the forefront of India’s transition to clean energy with an operational capacity of 2540 MW capacity and a robust target of achieving 6970 MW capacity within the next three years.