Engineering Students Gear Up as Registrations Open for TCS TechBytes 2025
BENGALURU, March 11, 2025: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) (BSE: 532540, NSE: TCS), a global leader in IT services, consulting, and business solutions, and the Board for IT Education Standards (BITES)—an autonomous body promoted by Government of Karnataka, have opened registrations to the 16th edition of TCS TechBytes—the Engineering IT Quiz. This quiz is open to engineering students (BE/BTech) of all streams and semesters across Karnataka.
TCS TechBytes challenges and encourages students to expand their knowledge in technology trends and its diverse application across industries. The objective is to enhance awareness in emerging areas, enabling them to compete in the fast-paced technology intensive industry. Each institution can share names of up to 20 students to participate in the regional finals of the quiz. No participation fee is charged. Entries have to be sent by the respective institutions on or before March 16, 2025, to manager@bites.org.in
Regional rounds of the quiz will be conducted across six locations—Mangaluru (March 18), Mysuru (March 20), Kalaburagi (March 25), Hubballi (March 27), Tumakuru (April 2) and Bengaluru (April 8). The finals will be held in Bengaluru on April 8, 2025. Winners and runners-up of each regional round will receive gift vouchers worth Rs 12,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively, as well as the opportunity to compete at the State Finals to be held in Bengaluru on April 8, 2025. The final prize for the winner and runner-up includes an educational scholarship worth Rs 85,000 and Rs 50,000 respectively, among other vouchers.
The quiz will focus on the application of technology across various sectors and aspects such as: the technology environment, the business, its people, new trends, legends, etc. It will also focus on emerging areas such as: artificial intelligence, digital, cloud computing, automation, biometrics, mobility, robotics, telecom, social media and big data, personalities – international and national, software products, history of IT and areas where IT has made an impact such as education, entertainment, books, multimedia, music, movies, internet, banking, advertising, sports, gaming, social networking, cell phones, etc. For more information visit www.bites.org.in.
Indian Bank Honors Women Achievers on International Women’s Day 2025
Chennai, March 11, 2025 – Indian Bank commemorated International Women’s Day 2025 with a series of events celebrating the strength, resilience, and achievements of women. The celebration was attended by Shri Binod Kumar, MD & CEO, along with Executive Directors.
A special webinar on “Work Life Balance for a Woman and a Counterpoint” was hosted by the Bank, wherein Justice Prabha Sridevan (Retd) addressed the key issues faced by women in the society.
To empower women, under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, Bank provided aids and appliances to physically challenged women and girl beneficiaries from Akshaya Trust, Chennai.
As part of the celebrations, Indian Bank also felicitated two eminent women in the field of mental health, Dr. Thara Rangaswamy, Co-Founder of SCARF and Dr. Lakshmi Vijayakumar, Founder of SNEHA, for their outstanding contributions. Dr. Thara Rangaswamy has shed light on the impact of social media in our daily lives. Dr. Lakshmi Vijayakumar stressed that motivating the younger generation is the key to develop healthy young minds.
Indoor and outdoor sports activities were organized engaging employees in a spirit of camaraderie and teamwork. With these celebrations, Indian Bank continues to champion gender equality and empowerment, ensuring that women remain at the forefront of progress in both professional and societal spheres.
Spykar Skips Traditional Women’s Day – Because Every Day is for Women
India, March 11,2025:This year, Spykar, India’s leading denim brand, is turning the idea of Women’s Day on its head with its latest campaign, #HerDayEveryDay. Because let’s be honest—why should celebrating women be limited to just one day when they own every single one?
Spykar isn’t here to preach about empowerment. Instead, it’s making a statement: whether at work, at play, or just kicking back, every day is already a woman’s day. With #HerDayEveryDay, the brand is championing this simple truth through fun, engaging initiatives, real conversations, and a whole lot of denim.
“At Spykar, we don’t believe in setting reminders to celebrate women on a specific day,” said Sanjay Vakharia, CEO and Co-Founder at Spykar. “Women own their space every single day, and we’re here to acknowledge that in a way that feels natural, smart, and unapologetically real.”
Spykar is teaming up with dynamic women across entrepreneurship, fashion, lifestyle, and beyond to highlight their everyday wins—big or small. Through social media takeovers, digital storytelling, and interactive content, the brand is keeping the conversation fresh, witty, and engaging.
Encouraging its audience to join in, Spykar is inviting people to share those everyday moments where women are just being their amazing selves—whether that’s killing it in a boardroom, acing street style, or simply saying “no” to something that doesn’t serve them. Using the hashtag #HerDayEveryDay, these moments will be featured across Spykar’s platforms, because every day deserves its highlight reel.
WLSA 2025 Winpe Marks Five Years of Championing Diversity in PE-VC
Mumbai, 11th March 2025: Marking five years of championing gender diversity in private equity (PE-VC) and venture capital, Winpe, a gender diversity-focused not-for-profit platform, is all set to host the third edition of its Winpe Leadership Summit and Awards. The event will take place on 20th March 2025 at Taj Lands End, Mumbai.
At a time when diversity commitments in global investing are being questioned, WLSA 2025 stands as a timely and necessary counterpoint. With a strong track record of impactful programs, WLSA 2025 will showcase how integrating DEI with financial performance is shaping the future of investing. As the PE-VC industry evolves, diversity is no longer just a moral imperative—it’s a business advantage. In this dynamic landscape, WLSA 2025 will build on the success of its two previous editions, which collectively saw over 850 attendees, 275 firms, and 100 speakers. This year, the summit will feature insightful discussions on global economic trends, business scaling, and the evolving PE-VC landscape, highlighting the role of diversity in driving sustainable success.
At the heart of the event are the Winpe Leadership Awards, recognising firms and individuals across 10 categories for their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). These awards uniquely blend financial performance with DEI progress, reinforcing how inclusive leadership fosters long-term industry growth.
“Over the past five years, Winpe has worked relentlessly to turn conversations on diversity into concrete action. While women-led startups in India raised over $930 million in 2024—a remarkable 94% YoY surge—these numbers are just the beginning. True impact lies in sustained industry-wide commitment to inclusion, where diverse leadership is not an exception but the norm. With WLSA 2025, we aim to set new benchmarks for diversity in investing, ensuring that equitable representation becomes a fundamental driver of financial success,” said Nupur Garg, Founder, Winpe.
India ranked 129th out of 146 countries in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2024, underscoring the urgency for stronger DEI efforts across sectors. With WLSA 2025, Winpe is not just sparking conversations but driving measurable change. By bringing together thought leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs, the event seeks to shape a more inclusive, forward-looking investment landscape—where diversity is embedded in decision-making, not just discussed as an aspiration
Radical Collaboration Fuels Innovation at What Design Can Do’s 19th Global Gathering
New Delhi — March 11, 2025: For the first time ever, the 19th edition of What Design Can Do (WDCD) Live Delhi 2025 took place at the iconic India Habitat Centre on March 08, 2025, and featured an immersive program of talks, workshops and exhibitions on design and climate justice. A sold-out crowd of 450 designers, innovators, and changemakers gathered to explore how design can help reshape lives in the face of a planetary crisis. In partnership with Unbox Cultural Futures, Quicksand, and The Design Village, WDCD Live Delhi 2025 explored innovative and regenerative solutions for a fairer and more resilient future. The festival was supported by Global Methane Hub, The Rockefeller Foundation, The Netherlands Embassy, and Pro Helvetia – Swiss Arts Council.
Leading the conversation with a potent mix of urgency and optimism were over 30 of the world’s finest changemakers from The Netherlands, the UK, the USA, Mexico, and India. Richard van der Laken, Co-Founder and Creative Director of What Design Can Do (WDCD) captured it insightfully: “Though perspectives were diverse, one message rang clear: in turbulent times, creativity can offer a hopeful way forward. Design can be a powerful tool for disruption, as we learned from the innovators at WDCD Live Delhi 2025 — all of whom are paving the path ahead.”
As Ayush Chauhan, Co-Founder of Unbox Cultural Futures and Quicksand put it, “WDCD Live Delhi 2025 made it amply evident that change will come only when we challenge the dominant ways of working and thinking. Alongside designers and creative changemakers, who demonstrated how they are subverting unsustainable economic models, there were those from fields of policy, philanthropy, and technology, that threw down the gauntlet for how the design community needs to respond to the unique challenges of our population and region. There was a restless creative energy in the room that comes when a new vision is discovered and new alliances are formed and WDCD Live Delhi gave us both.”
Sourabh Gupta, Co-Founder of The Design Village said, “At The Design Village, we believe that community is everything, and at WDCD Live Delhi 2025, we truly saw that in action. It was an inspiring and motivating day filled with incredible sessions, speakers, and an incredible turnout.”
South Indian Bank Launches ‘Women Like You’ on Women’s Day
Bengaluru: South Indian Bank celebrated International Women’s Day by launching ‘Women Like You’, a special coffee table book chronicling the inspirational journey of 52 remarkable women from diverse fields. Ms. Lakshmi Ramakrishna Srinivas, Director, South Indian Bank, unveiled the book at a grand event in Bengaluru in the presence of distinguished guests, industry leaders and women customers.
South Indian Bank is happy to launch Women Like You on International Women’s Day. This unique coffee table book showcases inspirational stories of ordinary women who have overcome challenges with strength and resilience, ultimately achieving lasting success. Much like the evening’s celebration, the book honours women achievers who have broken barriers and paved their own paths to success. Their journeys serve as a testament to the fact that behind every successful woman lies a story worth reading and emulating.
It was an inspirational evening at Radisson, Bangalore headlined by international para-athlete, and Padma Shri and Arjuna awardee Dr. Malathi Holla. She shared her extraordinary journey in a session titled “Wings to Fly – An Inspiring Journey.” Subsequently, the versatile sports and celebrity anchor Madhu Mailankody moderated a panel discussion on “The Art of Balance”. The panel brought together many women achievers to discuss strategies for achieving personal and professional fulfilment.
The panellists included:
- Sreedevi Ragavan – Founder, Tattvamassi & Board of Governors, IIM Kozhikode
- Rasika Iyer – Co-founder & CMO, Tata Soulfull
- Priya Sunder – Co-founder & Director, Peak Alpha Investments
- Simi Sabhaney – Chief Growth Officer, Dentsu India
The celebration concluded with a mesmerising performance by Saxophone Subbalaxmi, the first female saxophonist to hold a world record for playing the instrument for the longest duration.
The evening reaffirmed the bank’s ethos to empower women by recognising their achievements while strengthening its engagement with customers and the community.
BollyHop Dance Workshop Commends Performers in a Dazzling Showcase of Unity
March 11,2025:Gillco International School hosted the highly anticipated BollyHop Dance Workshop, a vibrant celebration of womanhood that brought together students and faculty in an energetic display of strength, grace, and unity. The event, infused with boundless enthusiasm, highlighted the joy of dance while promoting empowerment and creativity.
A unique fusion of Bollywood and Hip-Hop, the BollyHop Dance Workshop allowed participants to experience the exhilaration of movement while embracing diversity and self-expression. The workshop served as a powerful reminder of the role of the arts in fostering confidence and camaraderie.
Dr. Kritika Kaushal, Principal of Gillco International School, shared her thoughts on the event, stating:
“At Gillco International, we believe in nurturing not only the academic excellence of our students but also their overall growth, including physical, emotional, and creative development. The BollyHop Dance Workshop was a fantastic way to celebrate womanhood, emphasizing the importance of strength, grace, and unity. It was heartening to see our students embrace the joy of dance and come together in this empowering experience. We hope to continue such celebrations that foster creativity, unity, and confidence among our students.”
Arena Animation’s National Students Meet 2025 Showcases Strong Industry Insights and Hands-On Learning
Reflecting on the impact of NSM, Mr. Sandip Weling, Chief Business Officer, Global Retail Business, Aptech Limited and Brand Custodian, Arena Animation, said, “National Students Meet 2025 was more than just a student conclave; it was a transformative experience that equipped students with the industry exposure and practical skills necessary to excel in their careers. By bringing together industry veterans, thought leaders, and young creative minds under one roof, we aimed to foster innovation, skill development, and meaningful connections that will shape the future of the AVGC sector. Through National Students Meet 2025, Arena Animation reaffirms its commitment to empowering students with industry-relevant education and experiences, ensuring they are well-prepared to thrive in the ever-evolving Media & Entertainment sector.”
Rupal Patel Encourages Fans to Embrace Eshaa Pathak as Gauri in Rishto Se Bandhi Gauri
When two strong women come together, they create something unforgettable! Rupal Patel won hearts with her iconic role as Kokila Ben, and now, she is here to celebrate another powerful woman—Gauri, the lead of Sun Neo’s upcoming show Rishto Se Bandhi Gauri, played by Eshaa Pathak. The two ladies shot together for a special promo, making it an exciting and unmissable moment for viewers.
While welcoming Gauri and giving her blessings, Rupal Patel says, “I’m so happy to share some wonderful news with you all. For the very first time, I’m coming to Sun Neo with a very special project—Rishto Se Bandhi Gauri. With all my heart, I introduce you to Gauri. And I, Rupal Patel, whom you have always loved and supported, am bringing her into your lives. The love you have given me over the years, I now ask you to shower even more on Gauri. Welcome her into your hearts, your homes, and your families. Make her your daughter, your daughter-in-law. Bless her, love her, and embrace her with open arms.”
Reflecting on the strength of womanhood, Rupal Patel shares, “I want to say how proud I am to be a woman—a daughter, a mother, a wife, and a daughter-in-law. Each of these roles is filled with love, respect, and honor. My heartfelt wishes go out to all the incredible women out there—may you continue to uplift your families, society, and the nation with your strength and grace.”
She further offers words of wisdom to Gauri, saying, “My advice to Gauri is—step forward with love, open your arms, and connect with people with warmth and positivity. The love and blessings you give will always come back to you. Stand by your family in tough times, and they will always stand by you.”
India’s REIT Market Welcomes Expansion with Premium Assets & New Launches: CareEdge
Mumbai, 10th March 2025: According to CareEdge ratings, India presents significant opportunities for the development of REIT-able assets, driven by strong demand for institutional-grade real estate, increasing investor interest, and evolving regulatory frameworks. CareEdge Ratings anticipates a sustained expansion of India’s REIT portfolio in FY26 and ahead, fuelled by a combination of upcoming REIT launches and the abundant availability of high-quality, REIT-worthy assets.
According to CareEdge Ratings, the Indian office REIT segment has witnessed remarkable growth, with total operational stock expanding at a CAGR of 7% over the six years ended CY24. Additionally, REITs have consistently accounted for over 9% of the total office stock across India’s top eight cities, reflecting their growing prominence in commercial real estate.
Rajashree Murkute, Senior Director & Head – Corporate & Infra Ratings, CareEdge Ratings said, “The Indian REIT market is poised for sustained expansion, fueled by a combination of upcoming REIT launches and the abundant availability of high-quality, REIT-worthy assets. This growth is expected to be driven by a robust pipeline of Grade A commercial real estate and increasing investor interest in diversified sectors”.
India entered the REIT space in 2019 with the launch of Embassy REIT, followed by Mindspace REIT and Brookfield REIT in 2020. In 2023, Nexus REIT—India’s first retail-focused REIT—was listed on domestic exchanges, marking a significant milestone for the sector. Additionally, Knowledge Realty Trust (sponsored by The Blackstone Group and The Sattva Group), with an operational leasable area of 37.1 msf, is proposed to be listed as a REIT by H1 FY26.
From a financial standpoint, Indian REITs maintain a conservative leverage profile, with a Net Debt to Gross Asset Value (GAV) ratio of 28% as on December 31, 2024. Furthermore, stringent regulations enforced by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) have strengthened the structural integrity of REITs, enabling them to access external debt at competitive interest rates.
Development of REIT-able assets
CareEdge Ratings sees a Large Pipeline of Grade A Commercial Real Estate, Strong Demand for Commercial Properties, and Expansion Beyond Office REITs and SME REITs as Opportunities for the Development of REIT-able Assets. India has a substantial inventory of high-quality office spaces, particularly in top eight cities. Many of these assets are already leased to blue-chip MNCs, ensuring stable rental income.
The growth of IT, BFSI, and Global Capability Centres (GCCs) in India is driving strong demand for high-quality commercial real estate. Companies are increasingly seeking sustainable, well-located, and technology-enabled office spaces, creating opportunities for developers to build REIT-ready assets that cater to corporate occupiers.
while the current REIT market in India is office-focused, there is growing interest in diversifying into retail and hospitality sectors. The organized retail is witnessing rapid growth due to rising e-commerce penetration and strong demand for modern retail spaces. This presents an opportunity for developers to create REIT-able assets in this sector.
SEBI has recently introduced SM REITs wherein the minimum asset value for investment is set at Rs.50 crore as against Rs.500 crore for traditional REITs. As per CareEdge Ratings, the move is likely to widen market participation, enhance liquidity, and boost real estate development in Tier-1 and Tier-2 cities.