Kolkata, 11th March 2025: The Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) hosted an industry interaction with Dr. Subrata Gupta, IAS, Union Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India on Monday, 10^th March 2025 at The Lalit Great Eastern, Kolkata. The session focused on strengthening India’s food processing sector, reducing wastage, and enhancing value addition for farmers and entrepreneurs. Other notable figures include D. Praveen, IAS, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India; Deepti Thakur, Senior Manager, Invest India; Shrikant Goenka, Chairman, Agriculture & Food Processing, Indian Chamber of Commerce; and Dr. Rajeev Singh, Director General, Indian Chamber of Commerce.

Dr. Subrata Gupta, IAS, Union Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India, said, “While processing is sometimes criticised, it has been part of our culture for centuries—our grandmothers made pickles, papads and batters to preserve and enhance food. Today, India is one of the largest producers of rice, wheat, milk, fish and meat, yet we process only around 10% of our total food production. This low processing rate leads to wastage and loss of income for farmers. Processing ensures better price realisation for farmers and a wider variety of food for consumers. Despite our strength in production, processing levels vary—21% in milk, 36% in meat but only 34% in fruits and vegetables. Fresh food is ideal, but not always accessible. Processing fills this gap, allowing us to enjoy seasonal produce year-round. This gap also presents immense opportunities for entrepreneurs. A small entrepreneur I met in Madhya Pradesh turned pumpkin and bottle gourd into powder, supplying both domestic and international markets with an annual turnover of ₹300 crores. Stories like his highlight the vast potential in food processing. The demand for processed food is growing, especially with urbanisation and changing lifestyles. People seek quick, nutritious options, creating a market for ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook products. Recognising this, the Ministry of Food Processing Industries has launched multiple initiatives to support businesses of all sizes. The PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme has already helped over 1.24 lakh small businesses. Larger initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana provide end-to-end infrastructure support, including cold storage, processing units and food testing labs. The food processing sector is resilient, as seen during COVID 19 when demand remained strong. It is a sector with immense potential, driven by increasing consumer demand, abundant raw materials and supportive government policies. The future of food is here and it is processed, innovative and promising.”

Praveen, IAS, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India, said, “Kolkata, known for its rich culinary heritage, is a major producer of rice, pineapple, brinjal, cauliflower and globally recognized brands like Darjeeling tea. However, despite our strengths, India remains one of the largest contributors to food wastage. Strengthening food processing is key to reducing this and increasing farmers’ income. The Ministry of Food Processing Industries is committed to fostering growth across micro, small, medium, and large enterprises. Under the ₹10,000 crore PMFME scheme, 140 micro-entrepreneurs in West Bengal have received assistance, along with 1,800 SHG members benefiting from seed capital. For SMEs, PMKSY supports infrastructure development, with 50 projects approved in West Bengal, 40 completed and over ₹900 crores invested. Additionally, under the PLI scheme, six projects with an investment of ₹180 crores have been sanctioned. To boost market access and collaboration, the Ministry launched World Food India—a global platform for industry stakeholders. The 2024 edition expanded to 70,000 sq. meters with 1,587 exhibitors, hosting technical sessions, G2G, B2G and B2B meetings, along with the Global Food Regulatory Summit. Encouraged by industry response, we are making World Food India an annual event. The next edition, scheduled for September 25–28, 2025, at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, aims to exceed 1 lakh sq. meters. This is India’s premier food processing platform—our own global opportunity.”

Deepti Thakur, Senior Manager, Invest India, said, “World Food India 2024 showcased India’s food processing potential with innovation, sustainability, and global partnerships. The event saw participation from 10 Indian ministries, 26 states & UTs, 16 international delegations, and 20 exhibiting countries, with Japan, Iran, and Vietnam as Partner and Focus Countries. Over 809 international buyers from 109 countries took part in 80,000+ reverse buyer-seller meetings. Four Partner States (Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh) and seven Focus States exhibited their strengths, alongside 1,500+ exhibitors across 70,000 sq. meters. The Start-up Grand Challenge 2.0 and a high-level round table with 100+ industry leaders further drove sectoral growth. Key highlights included 40 thematic sessions with 250+ speakers, six bilateral meetings and the India-Japan Joint Working Group on agriculture. The Great Indian Food Street featured celebrity chefs, while MoUs were signed between NIFTY and industry stakeholders. Building on its 2024 success, World Food India 2025 will expand to 100,000 sq. meters at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, from 25th to 28th September.”

Shrikant Goenka, Chairman, Agriculture & Food Processing, Indian Chamber of Commerce, said, “This session holds special significance as we engage with a ministry that plays a pivotal role in bridging agriculture and industry—a connection that directly impacts India’s farmers, entrepreneurs and consumers. The food processing sector is a key driver of economic growth, contributing significantly to the Gross Value Added (GVA) of our country and emerging as one of India’s Sunrise Industries. The ministry’s initiatives, such as the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana, Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for the Food Processing Industry, Mega Food Parks and Cold Chain Infrastructure, are instrumental in strengthening organised linkages between farms and factories. These efforts ensure that agricultural produce is processed efficiently, reducing wastage and enhancing value addition at every stage. India is already the world’s largest producer of milk, second largest producer of fruits and vegetables and a global leader in grains and spices. However, without robust food processing capabilities, much of this potential remains underutilised. The ministry’s leadership in policy formulation, infrastructure development and technology promotion is therefore crucial in transforming our agricultural abundance into higher farm incomes, increased exports and greater employment opportunities. For us in the industry, food processing is not just a business opportunity—it is a national priority. It ensures food security, empowers rural entrepreneurs and enhances India’s global standing in the agri-food sector.”

Dr. Rajeev Singh, Director General, Indian Chamber of Commerce, said, “The Ministry of Food Processing Industries has various arms, including NIFTEM, CFT, APEDA, state governments, NABARD and other key players who can provide guidance, support and mentorship to businesses in the sector. With World Food India on the horizon, ICC is eager to contribute in every possible way, as the Ministry deems fit.”

Hyderabad, March 11, 2025……The Federation of Telangana Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FTCCI) organised a Conference on Navigating Corporate Failure and Digital Fraud: Pathways to Success at FTCCI Surana Auditorium, Federation House, Hyderabad on Monday evening

The program was organised to explore how good governance practices can help companies prevent fraud and corruption. It also covered the consequences of failing to do so.

Giving his opening remarks, Dr Suresh Kumar Singhal, President of FTCCI, said the program was a platform for dialogues, learning and collaboration to prevent digital frauds.

Naresh Chandra and Dr Tasneem Shariff, Chair and Co-chair of the Corporate Laws, IBC & ADR Committee set the tone for the meeting, introduced speakers.

 Sri V C Sajjanar, IPS, Vice Chairman & Managing Director, Telangana State Road Transport Corporation was the chief guest.

Addressing a 150-plus audience, Mr. Sajjanar said he was a hardcore police officer, then tasked to manage TGRTC as MD.  I didn’t know business.  When I took over, the Corporation was not doing well and it was loss-making.  The total turnover of the corporation in September 2021, when he took over, was Rs 3800 crore. We turned it around now in four years.  Today it is a billion-dollar company. The turnover next year is likely to reach INR 10,000 crore.

The historical transformation happened because of passion, commitment, determination and hard work of our 50,000 employees, he shared

This was also possible due to the strong government support, without which we couldn’t have navigated the scenario. You need to have strong internal controls, and transparency. We have been paying TGRTC employees without defaulting salaries and paid salaries on the first of the month due to a bit of financial engineering, he shared

Speaking about digital frauds, Mr. Sajjanar said we have reached a stage, we can’t do without technology.  We depend heavily on it.  The rise of AI and Big Data also increased the scope of digital fraud. Digital Frauds have been rising at an alarming pace. The cybercriminals are exploiting the increasing reliance on online platforms to steal personal information, money, and disrupt businesses.  Hence, digital frauds have to be boardroom priorities of all the corporate houses.

Sajjanar, a former top cop, suggested that AI-powered fraud detection must be used to analyze data and identify suspicious activity. Use Blockchain technology to secure financial transactions, which ensures tamper-proof and resistant to alteration.  Training the staff on cybersecurity is important to prevent digital frauds, and focus on educating them about basic security practices.  Digital fraud is no longer a business risk, it is a societal concern, Sajjanar said.

A.J. Jawad, Registrar of International Arbitration & Mediation Centre (IAMC), Guest of honour, a seasoned advocate, Senior Mediator and Trainer said business and marriages have a similarity.  In both cases we don’t anticipate trouble.  The courts in India have 5 crore pending cases, to dispose of them we need 324 years, provided there are no more new cases added.  Further, when the dispute gets locked, 1.5% to 2% of GDP is lost due to the delayed outcomes in the country.  The only way out for this is mediation and arbitration.  Don’t wait for judicial reforms.  Mediate the deal before you seal the deal.  Then, if there is any dispute that arises, mediation can be

FTCCI and IAMC signed a letter of support between the two organisations to spread knowledge and create awareness about the same.

Aruna Ravikumar, Journalist and Author, talked on Red Flag in detecting corporate frauds, be aware, be prepared.  She spoke about MLM (Multi-Level Marketing) and Ponzi scheme

We believe the popular saying that an idea can change a life.   But an idea can also destroy your business, she said.

Answering a question, Aruna said fraud is not gender based.  Women want to get into men’s world.  We see many women involved in digital fraud now.  Though it is not gender specific, you need to be alert, use common sense, and don’t fall prey to easy money.

Chartered Accountant Sharath Kumar delved into Leadership Strategies for Navigating Fraud in Digital AI. AI-driven frauds are on the rise.  Blind trust on it can be suicidal.  AI is a double-edged weapon. He gave a lot of case studies of recent frauds and how many corporate executives fell prey to cyber cheaters.  Digital frauds happen when human intelligence fails. Human observation and common sense are very important.

The father and son duo of Niloufer Cafe Mr. Babu Rao and his son Shashank Anumula, MD of ABR Cafe & Bakers Pvt Ltd spoke about The Silver Lining of Setbacks: Turning Failures into Strategic Advantage. They shared their success, challenges and future plans.  The café, which had 30 people in 1978, has now risen to a 2000-employee café.  We are the only café in the world to have 2000 employees with just five outlets.  We have one lakh walkins into our cafes every day. Mr. Babu Rao shared that they were coming out with another outlet in Gachibowli in 40,000 sft on the 19^th April.

Sairam Palabindela, Founder of Cyber Security Solutions, talked about Strategies for Prevention, Recovery, and Growth. 

March 11, 2025 – B3, an open gaming ecosystem built by Coinbase alums to power the next-gen of gaming experiences, has partnered with SuperGaming, developer of Indo-futuristic Battle Royale hit Indus to launch their own GameChain on B3’s Open Gaming Ecosystem. SuperGaming, a game studio with over 200 million users, will be able to scale its gaming ecosystem on-chain, unlock new gaming experiences for users, and open doors to collaboration with other Web3 gaming studios. Furthermore, the partnership unlocks the power of SuperGaming’s in-game economics beyond the games themselves, giving players endless opportunities to move seamlessly between games in a unified environment.

“SuperGaming is once again proving its position as a first-mover in the gaming space,” said Saemi Kim, Director of Player1 Foundation, the governing body of the B3 protocol. “Armed with technology developed by NPC Labs, SuperGaming can leverage the benefits of Web3 while fostering collaboration with other developers in the Open Gaming ecosystem. The team at SuperGaming can focus on what they do best and take gameplay experiences for their millions of users to the next level.”

This partnership comes on the heels of the success of SuperGaming’s latest game Indus. An Indo-futuristic battle royale launched only in India in October 2024, Indus has over 6 million installs and was awarded Google Play’s Best of 2024 – Best Made in India Game award. SuperGaming’s portfolio also includes MaskGun, Tower Conquest, and Silly Royale, which boast over 100 million users and are built in-house on SuperPlatform, a hyper-scalable, real-time multiplayer platform also used by third-party games including the original PAC-MAN.

Roby John, CEO at SuperGaming said: “B3’s technology makes it easy for us to bring our games onto the blockchain, giving us the amazing opportunity to serve our Web2 and Web3 players via our launched games like TCME. The ability to build our own GameChain gives us the best of both worlds — the ability to fully customize the experience for all our players while taking advantage of Open Gaming’s network effects and shared incentives with other GameChains.”

Hot off its highly-anticipated token listing on Coinbase and other exchanges, B3’s Open Gaming has already attracted major studios who are building B3 GameChains, including Infinigods and the Echelon Prime Ecosystem. The Open Gaming model creates a unified experience where games can thrive together. When players discover and move between games in the ecosystem, both the original and new GameChains receive ongoing benefits through a revenue share.

“At the end of the day, gaming should be fun,” said Daryl Xu, NPC Labs Co-founder & CEO and core contributor to the B3 protocol. “Early blockchains were designed for financial applications. As they built on blockchain, game developers were forced to overemphasize tokenomics, which led to poor player experience. B3’s Open Gaming model shows there’s another way – one where developers and players can build and engage in an ecosystem that rewards creativity and collaboration.”

Since launch, B3’s ecosystem has demonstrated unprecedented traction, having onboarded over 6 million wallets and processed over 200 million transactions. BSMNT.fun serves as the gateway to this ecosystem, where players can instantly access games across multiple chains with a single login – removing the complex barriers typically associated with blockchain gaming. The platform’s rapid growth to over 140,000 daily active players demonstrates the demand for accessible, enjoyable gaming experiences that put fun first.

March 11,2025:The University of Tasmania (UTAS), is now inviting applications for its Master of Public Health program for 2025.

The course Master of Public Health provided by the University of Tasmania, will offer a student to be to change their community. They will hone their systemic thinking skills and gain confidence in navigating the interaction between research policy and practice. In both domestic and international circumstances, a student will gain the ability to plan, carry out, and assess intricate evidence-based policy and practice interventions.

The design of interventions to prevent or lessen the burden of disease and disability, epidemiological monitoring, health promotion, health systems planning and administration, and evidence-based public health practice will all be covered in this course. In addition, environmental health, health economics, non-communicable illness prevention, and communicable disease epidemiology are covered in the course. Those who work in the health sector and those who wish to pursue a career in public health will find the Master of Public Health course equally relevant.

Program Delivery: The postgraduate program is provided full-time in English for two years. In the first year of the Master of Public Health program, students will learn about global health systems, public health intervention practice, health research, and systems thinking to earn a globally acknowledged degree. In the second year, the students gain specific knowledge in the fields of health economics, communicable disease epidemiology, environmental health, and noncommunicable disease prevention. Additionally, they will have the option of finishing elective coursework units or working on a solo research project under the guidance of a subject-matter expert, which may serve as a springboard for a PhD.

The MPH curriculum is benchmarked against competency standards articulated by the Council of Public Health Institutions in Australasia (CAPHIA). There is currently no professional accreditation required for public health tertiary qualifications.
Entry Requirements: The majority of the University of Tasmania’s postgraduate courses require credentials equal to an Australian bachelor’s degree to be admitted. For applicants to be eligible for an offer, they must meet the English language criteria, obtain the necessary grades in their qualifying studies, and pass any preparatory courses.

English Entry Requirements :
• IELTS (Academic) 6.5 (no individual band less than 6.0)
• TOEFL (iBT) 88 (no skill below: Reading 21; Listening 21; Speaking 21; Writing 25)
• PTE Academic 65 with no score lower than 58
• Cambridge English C1 Advanced 176 with no less than 169 in any skill

Application Deadline: While there is no deadline, students are expected to apply for their COE 2.5- 3 months prior to the course start date.

Course Start Date: 21st July, 2025.

Tuition: $75,748 AUD Approximately for the total course

How to Apply: https://www.utas.edu.au/study/apply

Career Outcomes: Public health graduates play vital roles in ensuring health system resilience and reform in all countries.

Graduates find employment in local, state, and national government ministries and health services, non-government health agencies, international health agencies, humanitarian organizations, and universities. The many career options include:

• Health policy analyst and advisor roles leading strategy and policy development, monitoring and evaluation, and health system reform
• Epidemiologists and health data analysts involved in the surveillance and monitoring of infectious and non-communicable conditions and epidemiological reporting of the patterns of disease
• Public health expertise within the disciplines of medicine, nursing, midwifery, and allied health
• Program managers designing, implementing, and evaluating health promotion and prevention interventions
• Emergency, disaster, and humanitarian response coordinators
• Public health academics teaching across the public health discipline and leading public health research

National, 11^th March 2025: She’s often the first one to wake up and the last one to go to bed, managing a thousand things in between. But do you know all it takes is an extra 11 minutes of sleep for her to be more present, focused, and at her best in every aspect of her life?

Marking the intersection of International Women’s Day and World Sleep Day, Titan Smart Wearables has unveiled a thoughtful new film that highlights the often overlooked yet incredibly important role sleep plays in a woman’s life. The narrative of the campaign follows a woman whose mind ‘never truly clocks out’—juggling decisions, and emotions, processing more, multitasking more, and caring more, long after the day is done. Through an intimate portrayal, the film captures the quiet power of pause as the protagonist chooses to reclaim her essential 11 minutes of sleep lending a new meaning to the adage “small actions make a big difference”. The legendary Titan symphony ties the film together, creating a powerful emotional connection with viewers.

Speaking on the launch of the campaign, Seenivasan Krishnamurthy, Chief Marketing and Sales Officer, of Titan Smart Wearables division said, “Take 11 emphasizes how the smallest, seemingly unimportant changes can have a significant impact. It taps into a simple yet powerful insight: women need extra sleep to function at their best. This campaign aligns with Titan’s approach to creating thoughtful technology addressing real needs.”

Suvajyoti Ghosh, Chief Creative Officer speaking on the campaign said, “The ‘11-minute’ insight was a powerful revelation—highlighting our collective need for better rest. This film beautifully captures a woman cherishing those extra minutes of sleep, reinforcing Titan Smart’s commitment to women’s wellness with thoughtfulness and purpose.”

Emerging from compelling research by the Sleep Foundation, the heartwarming film reinforces Titan Smart’s positioning as a brand that recognizes and addresses the wellness needs of women through thoughtful technology and inclusive messaging. In a world where women often prioritize others over themselves, this campaign highlights how even a small act of self-care – like taking those extra minutes of sleep- can refresh the mind, enhance cognitive function, and help reclaim control of the day.

Chennai, 11th March 2025: Raptee.HV announces ARAI certification of India’s First Electric two-wheeler with High Voltage Technology used in Electric Cars, making T30  the only Electric two-wheeler in India compatible with the Electric cars’ CCS2 DC Fast charging standards.ARAI (Automotive Research Association of India) is India’s highest authority for automobile certification, and its approval is mandatory for any vehicle to be road-legal and registered in India. Raptee.HV’s vision since 2019 was to lead the transformation to electric mobility by bringing globally advanced electric car technology at an optimized price to two-wheeler enthusiasts in India and across the globe.

The Company has also reached another milestone since its launch in Oct 2024. Raptee.HV received more than 8000 registrations which will help the company meet its first-year sales plan of $25M.

Dinesh Arjun, CEO & Co-Founder, Raptee.HV commented, “We are setting a precedent here, and we believe the entire motorcycle ecosystem will inevitably transition to High Voltage, much like the electric car industry due to its innate advantages. Certification of an entirely new architecture means, developing not just the subcomponents but also the performance, safety, and validation standards, co-creating the supplier ecosystem, and then actively working with the regulatory body to get the new standards through. While it has taken us around  6  years to build the HV architecture for our first motorcycle, our platforms are now in place to support the launch of a new motorcycle every 12 months from hereon.”

The T30, the first Motorcycle from Raptee.HV’s High Voltage lineup has been developed to deliver a superior riding experience compared to a 300cc ICE motorcycle with its HV tech powertrain, vehicle ride dynamics, and industry-leading software features for the riders. One of the significant achievements of Raptee.HV has been able to achieve price parity with its 300cc ICE counterparts at Rs 2.39 lakhs ex-showroom price, which further translates to a lower on-road price due to the EV road tax subsidies in addition to the total cost of ownership savings.

Jayapradeep Vasudevan, CBO, Raptee.HV, said, “This certification from ARAI is the true validation for all that our team had been working on for the last 6  years. This is a phenomenal milestone for any Auto OEM and more so for Raptee.HV where we have built an incredibly new High Voltage technology for the Electric Two-wheelers. Our HV technology not only helps us to deliver a superior riding experience to our customers but also additionally helps  to break some of the significant EV industry barriers like Reliability and Charging anxiety. Since we are entering the mid-size  segment with T30, a product which has a globally proven superior High Voltage Technology, we have also designed our ownership experience initiatives in line with our product benchmark to meet our Customers’ high expectations. We would be starting the deliveries in Chennai and Bangalore and further expand to other markets in a phased manner. While our focus market is going to be India, T30 has a natural global market fit due to its compatibility with the DC fast chargers across the Globe and its price competitiveness. We are super excited and eagerly awaiting to see our customers experiencing a new way of motorcycling in the days to come.”

Apart from the advantages over ICE Motorcycles, T30 also scores significantly over their EV two-wheelers by providing never before charging convenience both Out of Home and At-Home to our consumers. With HV tech and the globally accepted

CCS2  charging standards, T30 becomes the first and  only  two-wheeler to gain access to India’s DC Car charging ecosystem which is currently at 22,000+ and expanding aggressively. In addition to its CCS2 charging convenience, the HV tech also offers significant In-house charging convenience yet again with industry leading benefits like, fastest charging speeds, most powerful on-board charger, and finally the lightest and most portable external charging cable.

The T30 motorcycle also addresses EV reliability barriers ,  through their technology innovation. Since the T30 comes  with the same reliable technology used in electric cars ,the motorcycle  comes with a standard battery warranty of 8 years which is the current standard in electric cars.

With significant advantages over their ICE & EV counterparts, T30 is all set to disrupt the Indian two-wheeler market and subsequently the global two-wheeler markets as well.

Raptee.HV raised its previous round of capital in Oct ’23 led by Blue Hill Capital and Artha 99 along with a few Indian and International family offices. Currently Raptee.HV is in talks to raise $19Million to bolster up their upcoming working capital demands and an aggressive expansion plan.