New Delhi: The Automotive Skills Development Council (ASDC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with PES University, a renowned Higher Education Institution with a legacy of 50 years in delivering quality education. The collaboration will enable ASDC to assess PES University’s Advanced Skilling courses in the Automation and allied domains, ensuring alignment with industry standards and enhancing career opportunities for students.

The MoU was signed and exchanged on 13^th March between ASDC represented by Mr. Arindam Lahiri, CEO and PES University represented by Dr. J Surya Prasad, Vice-Chancellor, in the presence of Mr. F R Singhvi, President – ASDC and Joint MD, M/s Sansera Engineering Ltd. This partnership marks a significant step in strengthening industry-academia collaboration, ensuring that students acquire practical skills along with industry-recognized certifications in the skilling domain of their choice.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. F R Singhvi, President, ASDC, quoted, “The automotive and manufacturing industries are rapidly evolving with the integration of robotics and automation. Through this collaboration of ASDC with PES University, we aim to equip students with future-ready skills, bridging the gap between academic learning and industry requirements. ASDC’s assessment will ensure that students meet industry benchmarks, enhancing their employability in advanced manufacturing and automation sectors.”

PES University has been at the forefront of technical education, nurturing talent across multiple disciplines. With this initiative, the university reinforces its commitment to offering industry-aligned curricula, empowering students with the skills required in an increasingly automated world.

Dr. J Surya Prasad, Vice-Chancellor, PES University, said, “At PES University, we are committed to equipping students with cutting-edge skills that align with industry demands. This collaboration with ASDC reinforces our focus on practical through skilling initiatives, future-ready education with embedded curriculum in automation, robotics, smart manufacturing etc., ensuring our students adapting to evolving technological landscape.”

This partnership underscores ASDC’s dedication to enhancing skill-based education in the automotive sector and fostering a workforce that is ready for the challenges of Industry 4.0.

Prof. D Jawahar, Chancellor, PES University emphasised that “PESU is always on the forefront of creating relevant infrastructure that aligns industry and academia needs. The Skilling Centers on Campus and collaboration with ASDC will profile the students with a competitive edge, equipping them with hands-on expertise along with industry certifications opening the doors to new career opportunities”.

Federal Bank is pleased to announce the appointment of Virat Sunil Diwanji as the National Head – Consumer Banking and a Senior Management Personnel of the Bank, effective April 10, 2025.

Virat-Sunil-Diwanji

Mr. Diwanji brings over 30 years of extensive experience in Consumer Banking to Federal Bank. Prior to joining Federal Bank, he served as Group President and Head of Consumer Bank at Kotak Mahindra Bank. His illustrious career also includes significant roles at Ford Credit and A F Fergusion & Co. Additionally, Mr. Diwanji serves on the Board of several companies as a Non-Executive Director/Independent Director. He holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Mr. Diwanji’s vast experience and proven track record in the banking sector is expected to bolster Federal Bank’s scale and growth ambitions into new markets – geographies and segments, and businesses.

Hyderabad, April 11, 2025: Saridon Woman, has set a Guinness World Record for the largest participation in a national gesture aimed at raising awareness about menstrual pain in India. The campaign, titled ‘No Pain, Period’, brought together over 5,000 participants from across the country, each joining in an iconic crossed-arms gesture in solidarity for women, as they experience period pain. The campaign aims to raise awareness about accessible solutions for menstrual pain, encourage open discussions on women’s health, and eliminate pain, ensuring that no one has to endure it—reflecting Saridon’s core mission.

Saridon Woman is an innovative first-of-its-kind period pain solution to provide holistic relief from abdominal cramps, backaches and headaches under Bayer’s Consumer Health Division. This unique solution for period pain combines the effectiveness of Paracetamol with Hyoscine Butylbromide, a plant-based molecule, providing quick relief from abdominal cramps, body aches, and headaches associated with menstruation.

The campaign offers a groundbreaking moment, celebrating the power of community and sparking vital conversations about managing menstrual pain that affects millions of women every month. The crossed-arms gesture has become a symbol of support, urging individuals to stand united in the fight to deal with issues around menstrual pain and to embrace the mantra: No Pain, Period.

“We are incredibly proud of this achievement,” said Sandeep Verma, Cluster Head – South Asia, Bayer Consumer Health. “This Guinness World Record underscores the collective strength of Indians in recognizing the importance of addressing menstrual pain. The conversation around women’s contribution to the economy whether it is from home or the workplace, is rightfully gaining momentum. However, we also need to talk about the challenges they face every month while still doting on their families or acing it at their places of work. This added layer of conversation around menstrual challenges, will help us all approach woman with a greater understanding and empathy.”

Ritu Mittal, Head of Marketing and Digital, Bayer Consumer Health added, “At Bayer, we remain deeply committed to empowering women by providing effective solutions for menstrual pain relief. The ‘No Pain, Period’ campaign and this Guinness World Record mark a significant step forward in breaking taboos and fostering open conversations about period pain. Together, we are paving the way for a future where women can take charge of their well-being, live pain-free and with confidence.”

 Ameer Ismail, President, Lintas Live, commented, “We are proud to have played a role in the ‘No Pain, Period’ campaign by Saridon Woman, and to have brought this innovative initiative to life. Saridon Woman is a category-first brand that is reshaping the conversation around menstrual health. We recognised the need for a powerful move to help create meaningful discussions about menstrual pain. Through this strategic collaboration with Guinness World Record we have gone beyond raising awareness, challenging outdated norms, eliminating stigma, and creating lasting change in how menstrual health is understood.”

The success of the ‘No Pain, Period’ campaign marks a significant milestone in Bayer’s commitment to women’s health, emphasizing the importance of accessible solutions and helping women live pain-free during their cycles.

Vogue Eyewear, celebrated for its versatile and fashion-forward designs, proudly announces the launch of the 2^nd drop of a co-curated collection with renowned actress and brand ambassador Taapsee Pannu. The brand and the actress have once again come together to create a distinctive line, with each style thoughtfully designed to complement different looks. This exclusive collection features trendy shapes that empower individuals to express their own unique style.

The new collection showcases five stunning styles – three statement sunglasses and two chic optical frames – all brought to life in a bold and refreshing Bordeaux hue, designed to elevate and add an edge to any look. From oversized butterfly silhouettes to sleek cat-eyes and retro-inspired irregular shapes, this versatile range offers the perfect fit for every mood and occasion. Each piece is thoughtfully crafted with intricate details, including contrasting metal nose bridges and exclusive debossed patterns, blending sophistication with contemporary flair.

“I’m thrilled to present my second collection with Vogue Eyewear,” said Taapsee Pannu. “For this collection, we chose Bordeaux as the signature color – it is rich, versatile, and effortlessly elevates any look. I wanted a shade that speaks to confidence and individuality, and Bordeaux felt like the perfect choice. Every style in this line reflects my personality– bold, self-assured, and unapologetically unique.”

The collection further includes subtle co-branding ‘Taapsee x Vogue Eyewear’ inside the eyewear temple and the actress’ initials on temple tips. All the eyewear styles are designed with high-quality materials, ensuring comfort and durability, and complemented with a beautiful, personalized packaging box. The lenses provide 100% UV protection.

National – April 11th, 2025 – Onix, a leader in cloud, data, and AI-driven solutions, today announced the launch of Wingspan, an industry-first multi-capability agentic AI platform poised to accelerate data-to-AI transformation and deliver substantial returns on investment (ROI). Unveiled at Google Cloud Next 25, Wingspan empowers enterprises to create advanced, context-aware data platforms and deploy domain-specific AI agents, leading to enhanced user productivity and actionable AI-driven insights.

“Wingspan is engineered to meet the real-world complexities of modern enterprises,” said Sanjay Singh, CEO at Onix. “By leveraging a powerful context engine and autonomous AI agents, Wingspan delivers scalable intelligence that integrates seamlessly across environments. It’s not just about deploying AI — it’s about deploying AI that understands your business and drives measurable impact.”

Wingspan integrates Onix’s proprietary technologies for data modernization and context engine IPs, including Eagle, Raven, Pelican, and the synthetic data generator, Kingfisher.  The platform is embedded with new capabilities, including autonomous and deterministic AI agents. When combined with Onix’s consulting services, it offers a robust and comprehensive solution that enables 2-3X faster adoption of modern data platforms and domain-specific AI use cases as compared to traditional approaches. Launch customers have achieved significant value with Wingspan, accelerating AI initiatives to production within 4 weeks.

“New innovation from Onix gives our joint customers the ability to accelerate data modernization and AI adoption,” said Yasmeen Ahmad, Managing Director, Data Analytics, Google Cloud. “Onix’s Wingspan brings autonomous intelligence and an integrated agentic AI approach to the Google Cloud ecosystem, empowering businesses to leverage their data more effectively and accelerate AI-driven transformation on Google Cloud.”

At the core of Wingspan is a powerful context engine, powered by Eagle’s enterprise knowledge graph, which understands intricate enterprise data ecosystems and processes. The platform supports full integration with Google Cloud AI products, including an out-of-the-box seamless integration with the recently announced Google Agentspace. By unifying data, lineage, process, and AI, Wingspan empowers users with context-aware, adaptive, and aligned intelligence through AI agents that operate within the organization’s specific business language and processes.

“In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, enterprises face a continuous challenge with unstructured and fragmented data, which hampers their ability to adopt cutting-edge automation frameworks and AI technologies. Onix’s Wingspan platform will help companies seamlessly accelerate data modernization, integrate automation, and drive AI insights and recommendations to bridge this gap,” said Doug Howland, SVP Cloud and Security at Calix.

With the launch of Wingspan, Onix continues to innovate in cloud, data, application transformation, and AI enablement, providing enterprises with enhanced autonomy and operational efficiency. The recent recognition Onix received by winning the 2025 Google Cloud Partner of the Year Awards in the Data & Analytics – North America and Industry Solutions – Telecommunications categories and as a  partner for Google Agentspace, underscores Onix’s commitment to delivering intelligent, data and AI-driven industry solutions that simplify transformation and drive substantial business impact. Partnering with Google Cloud, Onix is helping enterprises unlock the full potential of their data and achieve significant financial returns.

New Delhi, April 11^th, 2025 – As Microsoft marks its historic 50th anniversary, global technology solutions provider Beyond Key is proud to celebrate a major milestone of its own—20 years of delivering intelligent business solutions, with over 16 years as a dedicated Microsoft partner.

This dual celebration reflects a partnership rooted in innovation, transformation, and a shared commitment to driving impact across industries and continents.

“Microsoft’s journey has inspired us since day one,” said Piyush Goel, CEO of Beyond Key. “Our long-standing collaboration has helped us grow into a global digital enabler—delivering AI, cloud, and data solutions that are smart, scalable, and future-ready.”

Founded in 2005, Beyond Key has harnessed the Microsoft ecosystem—from Azure and Power BI to SharePoint and Copilot—to empower organizations with secure, agile, and collaborative digital tools. With clients across the US, UK, and Australia,  the company has made significant strides in key sectors.

Microsoft’s own 50-year journey—from MS-DOS and Windows to AI-powered innovations and quantum computing—has not only transformed how we live and work but also shaped the technology landscape for partners like Beyond Key.

The Beyond Key-Microsoft partnership goes beyond just technology. It’s built on mutual trust, shared values, and a common mission: to enable digital transformation that’s accessible, inclusive, and sustainable.

“Together with Microsoft, we’ve helped businesses unlock new possibilities—from remote work solutions during the pandemic to next-gen data analytics and secure cloud environments,” Goel added.

As Microsoft pioneers the next era with AI, quantum innovation, and a deeper focus on ethical tech, Beyond Key is poised to amplify its impact as a solution provider, bringing these advancements to businesses large and small.

“We see this milestone not as a finish line, but as a launchpad. Our journey with Microsoft is just getting started,” said Goel.

New Delhi, April 2025 — In a development that underscores the rising importance of strategic dispute resolution in India’s corporate legal landscape, Aishwarya Kaushiq has been promoted to Partner at BTG Advaya. His elevation comes at a time when businesses — both domestic and global — are navigating increasingly complex legal environments and are seeking deep, commercially attuned expertise from litigation professionals.

Kaushiq has played a defining role in shaping BTG Advaya’s Litigation, Arbitration, and Dispute Resolution practice, under the leadership of the firm’s managing partners, advising marquee clients across sectors including aviation, energy, e-commerce, infrastructure, and data privacy. His portfolio spans high-stakes commercial disputes, cross-border arbitrations, insolvency proceedings, and regulatory challenges that often set precedents in fast-evolving areas of Indian law.

“Aishwarya’s elevation is a strategic recognition of his ability to not only navigate legal complexities but to anticipate business risk and design litigation strategies that align with larger commercial outcomes,” said a senior industry observer familiar with BTG Advaya’s work.

What distinguishes Kaushiq, peers say, is his full-spectrum involvement — from early risk assessment and pre-litigation strategy to courtroom advocacy and post-award enforcement. His ability to operate seamlessly across domestic tribunals and international arbitration forums has made him a trusted name among general counsels in India and Europe alike.

His appointment also signals the continued momentum of boutique law firms like BTG Advaya that are increasingly punching above their weight in a market once dominated by full-service giants.

Off the court, Kaushiq has made notable contributions to the country’s legal infrastructure — from helping redesign the Supreme Court Bar Association’s e-library to serving as Election Officer for the Harvard Club of India. He is also a sought-after voice in legal media and a published author on commercial law and arbitration.

At a time when India’s legal ecosystem is gaining greater global relevance, Kaushiq’s rise to partnership mirrors a broader shift — one where legal strategy is becoming as important as legal substance, and where nimble, forward-thinking litigators are driving the conversation.

New Delhi, April 11^th, 2025 | Lumikai, India’s premier interactive media and gaming VC fund, today announced an investment of $800K in AskMyGuru’s $1.2M seed round. The co-investment round, led by Lumikai and supported by MPL and select angels including ex-Match Group Americas CEO Amarnath Thombre, marks the fund’s first investment into the growing spiritual-tech space. The investment anchors AskMyGuru’s mission to rediscover, preserve, and share India’s spiritual teachings through the use of AI and interactive mechanics.

The brainchild of early MPL founding team alumni Krishna Mohan Vedula and Vivek Sadamate, AskMyGuru is a platform rooted in the teachings of the Vedic Shastras, that aims to reimagine spirituality and astrological guidance through new-age interactive experiences. With a unique blend of AI, gamification, and deeply researched Indic knowledge systems, the company is shaping a new genre of spiritual tech that is both culturally resonant and globally relevant.

The founding team brings significant expertise in scaling consumer and gaming platforms. Krishna Mohan Vedula, with over a decade of product leadership experience, previously scaled multiple products at MPL, India’s leading skill-based gaming platform managing P&Ls of $10-50M+, while Vivek Sadamate ex SVP-Branding at MPL, has over a decade of experience in building consumer brands across various categories, and also played a pivotal role in building MPL’s brand identity and led key viral marketing campaigns that contributed to MPL’s growth to over 100M+ users.

Commenting on completing a successful seed round, Mr. Krishna Mohan Vedula, Co-Founder, AskMyGuru, said, “We are delighted to have our seed round led by Lumikai, investors who truly grasp the seismic opportunity in redefining spiritual-tech with new-age interactive and immersive mechanics. Combined with Lumikai’s deep understanding of new media, expertise in scaling social platforms, and knowledge of culturally relevant IP, AskMyGuru aims to redefine the spiritual industry for the digital age, while empowering gurus with sustainable income. Together, we are building the definitive platform for billions of seekers who believe in Bharat’s rich culture and traditions, with tech that is as profound as the traditions it honours.”

Lumikai has previously backed social and interactive platforms at the intersection of new media, technology, and cultural experiences. For Lumikai, this investment aligns with the firm’s thesis of digital experiences becoming increasingly gamified, interactive, immersive, and deeply personalized. With spirituality playing a deep role in life decisions, the segment holds massive untapped potential for scalable, tech-led disruption. Thus, the spiritual-tech category demonstrates strong engagement metrics, high user retention, and proven monetization potential for Lumikai.

Commenting on why Lumikai backs AskMyGuru’s mission, Mr. Aditya Deshpande, Vice President, Lumikai, said, “AskMyGuru sits at the nexus of India’s spiritual heritage and next-generation interactive technology. The platform brilliantly reimagines spiritual guidance as an immersive digital journey, creating meaningful connections through thoughtfully designed interactions. The platform perfectly embodies our thesis on “Systems of Play”, i.e products disrupting legacy industries with lean-forward, interactive, and gamified experiences.

Multiplying public dependence on spirituality, and with an accelerating digitisation of consumer behaviour, the segment is lucrative, culturally sticky, and primed for tech-led disruption. Krishna and Vivek’s experience in scaling consumer platforms to 100M+ users and triple-digit millions in revenue proves how well they execute at scale. With AskMyGuru, we see category-defining innovation in interactive media, deeply aligned with India’s cultural fabric and digital habits.”

Lumikai’s investment will fast-track AskyMyGuru’s product roadmap, advancing its proprietary Ved Vyas AI-engine and expanding language support beyond English, Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, and Telugu. The platform also plans to deepen its domain expertise across financial, relationship, and career guidance.

Bengaluru, April 11, 2025: This National Pet Day, Instamart, India’s pioneering quick commerce platform and Vetic, India’s largest Pet healthcare organization have partnered to offer free vet teleconsultations to pet parents.

From April 8 to April 11, Instamart users can avail a free veterinary consultation with one of the 250+ veterinarians on the Vetic app. To ensure continued support, Vetic will also provide an additional 1,000 consultations over the following 30 days. Each user can avail one free teleconsultation during this extended window.

Speaking on the collaboration, Gaurav Ajmera, founder of Vetic, said, “Access to quality veterinary care remains a significant challenge across India, especially during emergencies. By partnering with Instamart—a platform trusted by millions—we’re breaking that barrier and making quality vet support available instantly. This collaboration is a step forward in our mission to provide 24/7, human-grade pet healthcare across India, that meets the needs of today’s pet parents.”

Mayur Hola, VP Marketing, said, “Instamart has always focused on making everyday convenience more accessible for our users.  Pet parents are one of the biggest user groups on Instamart, buying everything from pet food to toys on the platform. We are delighted to offer this service to the many pet parents in the Instamart community.”

How it Works

Once a user completes a purchase of any product on Instamart, a post-order screen banner directs them to the Vetic app. where they can learn more and schedule a free consultation.

• Users can book a preferred time slot on the Vetic App(slots open 2 hours in advance)
• Vetic’s  team will coordinate and confirm the teleconsultion
• A detailed doctor’s prescription is shared post consultation on the Vetic App
• Each eligible user from Instamart can claim one free teleconsult over the 30-day period

New Delhi : Vidyamandir Classes (VMC), the trailblazing institute renowned for preparing JEE and NEET aspirants, has secured a prestigious Excellence Award in the category of JEE and NEET Preparation for the year 2024-25 in the recently concluded Delhi Icon Awards presented by Radio City. The accolades celebrate VMC’s unwavering commitment to providing top-tier JEE and NEET preparations.

Vidyamandir Classes distinguished itself through experience, dynamism, preparedness, and a swift transformation to digital platforms, ensuring easy access for students during these challenging times. Radio City applauded every initiative taken by VMC in revolutionizing the realm of education for all.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Shyam Mohan Gupta – Co-founder VidyaMandir Classes, who received the prestigious awards on behalf of the entire VMC team said “We take immense pride in receiving these highest category awards and being recognized among the education industry. This initiative is building a global community of educators who are responsible for shaping the future of our country through innovation and creativity, and we are elated to be acknowledged as the top achievers in this category. The entire VMC family has tirelessly worked to meet these high standards, and we are committed to maintaining this excellence in the future,”

For decades, Vidyamandir Classes (VMC) has been synonymous with engineering and medical entrance exam preparation in India. VMC has instilled confidence in millions of parents and nurtured the dreams of countless aspiring engineers and doctors.

This award stand as a testament to Vidyamandir Classes’ unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation, and the future of education. The institute remains dedicated to nurturing the talents of tomorrow, with an ever-evolving approach to help students achieve their dreams.