Priya Agarwal Hebbar: $1.7 Trillion Needed for Energy Transition Mining

Chandigarh, January 27, 2025: World will need an estimated investment of US $1.7 trillion in its mining sector for energy transition, Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Chairperson of Hindustan Zinc and Non-Executive Director Vedanta Limited has said. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Priya also stressed on India’s unique potential to drive global energy transition. She added that while countries like US, China, and the Middle East have extensively harnessed their natural resources to fuel their economies, India has explored less than 15% of its reserves. This presents a unique opportunity for India to unlock its resource wealth and contribute significantly to the global shift toward clean energy.

Priya acknowledged the Indian government’s proactive measures in opening up the mining sector and said, “The Indian government is already taking steps in this area by launching the critical minerals mission and auctioning of critical mineral blocks. This has already seen Vedanta emerge as the preferred bidder for six blocks, paving the way for significant progress in this sector”. She also emphasized Vedanta’s commitment to sustainable mining by leveraging advanced technologies to ensure that mining operations have minimal or zero impact on the environment.

“Our commitment to achieving Net Zero Carbon by 2050 is not just a goal—it’s a responsibility we hold toward future generations. I’m proud that three of our largest companies—Hindustan Zinc, Zinc International, and Cairn Oil & Gas—will reach this milestone within the next five years. By embracing renewable energy and deploying battery-operated vehicles, including fully battery-powered logistics by 2030, we’re proving that sustainability is not just essential for the planet but also the smartest path for long-term business growth. At Vedanta, we are committed to turning ambition into action”, she said.

Detailing Vedanta’s plans and innovations in developing zinc-based batteries as a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to lithium, Ms. Priya Aggarwal Hebbar said, “We are already conducting some pilots in this area. Hindustan Zinc, as the world’s largest integrated zinc producer, is collaborating with IITs and global institutions to advance this technology, which could disrupt the energy storage market by offering environmentally friendly solutions”.

She concluded by outlining Vedanta’s ambitious plans to double production across multiple verticals, including increasing zinc and silver output to 2 million tons annually, aluminium production to 4 million tons, and doubling oil and gas output through substantial capital investments.

Dinesh Karthik & Dipika Pallikal Celebrate Valentine’s in Mia by Tanishq Film

Chandigarh, 27 January 2025: Mia by Tanishq, one of India’s leading precious fine jewellery brands, presents its Valentine’s Day campaign featuring celebrated sports icons and real-life couple, Dinesh Karthik and Dipika Pallikal. Conceptualized by Famous Innovations, the campaign captures the essence of modern-day love and thoughtful gifting through playful yet emotional visuals, showcasing the couple’s dynamic bond in a heartening and authentic narrative.

The campaign beautifully captures the essence of meaningful gifting, amalgamating humour and genuine emotion. Set to a soft, uplifting soundtrack, the film opens with Dipika waking to find Dinesh, apron-clad, humorously narrating her morning routine in his signature commentary style while carrying a breakfast tray. Beneath the cloche lies a Mia box which Dinesh opens to show a dazzling Mia Toi-et-Moi ring. This sparks a tender moment between the couple as Dinesh transitions from playful commentator to doting husband, delivering a wholesome Valentine’s proposal. Dipika matches his charm with her own cheeky wit, culminating in an intimate, touching moment as he places the ring on her finger, celebrating their love with warmth and smiles.

Known for their inspiring journey of unwavering love and shared success, the charming duo perfectly embody contemporary relationship values of celebrating each other as individuals and together, that Mia by Tanishq celebrates. They push the audience to take Valentine’s as the perfect opportunity to celebrate their partners for the love, understanding and unwavering support that they offer every day.

Speaking about the campaign, Ms. Shyamala Ramanan, Business Head, Mia by Tanishq, said, “At Mia, we believe love is woven into the fabric of everyday moments, the whispered promises, the thoughtful gestures that speak louder than words. This Valentine’s Day, we celebrate the beauty of these delightful surprises and the joy of gifting through our heartwarming film featuring Dinesh Karthik and Dipika Pallikal. Just like their story, we hope every Mia piece you gift your partner becomes a romantic gesture that echoes in their heart, a love that grows brighter with each passing day.”

George Kovoor, Chief Creative Officer, Famous Innovations (South), said, “Every year, couples strive to make Valentine’s Day unforgettable. This year, Dinesh Karthik and Dipika Pallikal provide them the perfect inspiration. In this film, they craft a truly romantic moment—with a dazzling twist. The highlight comes when DK transforms a simple gesture into an extraordinary memory by gifting Dipika a stunning Mia diamond ring. Together, DK and Dipika not only make this Valentine’s Day film exceptional but also beautifully embody everything Mia represents in their own unique and heartfelt way.”

Suzlon, Torrent Power Hit 1 GW Wind Energy Milestone with 486 MW Order

Chandigarh, January 27, 2025: Suzlon Group, and Torrent Power Ltd. have achieved a remarkable milestone together, now powering 1 GW of wind energy for India with a new 486 MW hybrid order. This strategic collaboration is pivotal in supporting India’s ambitious target of achieving 50% of electricity from renewable sources and strengthening the Make in India initiative.

Under the agreement, Suzlon will supply 162 state-of-the-art S144 wind turbine generators (WTGs) with Hybrid Lattice (HLT) Towers, each rated at 3 MW capacity in the Bhogat region in Gujarat.

Girish Tanti, Vice Chairman, Suzlon Group, said, “We are proud to partner with Torrent, a pioneer in integrating renewables into their energy portfolio. Our decade-long collaboration has reached a remarkable milestone – 1 GW of cumulative orders across Gujarat and Karnataka. Built on trust, innovation, and a shared vision, this partnership has leveraged advanced technologies to deliver quality power to nearly 1 million households. Together, we remain committed to driving India’s energy transition and building a sustainable future.”

JP Chalasani, Chief Executive Officer, Suzlon Group, said, “Torrent Power has been a valued long-term partner in our journey, and together, we share a vision of providing reliable, sustainable, and quality power to the nation. The success of our S144 wind turbine, known for its ability to deliver optimal power performance even in low-wind conditions, has been a key driver of this collaboration. This milestone highlights the strength of our partnership and the impact of advanced technology in accelerating India’s renewable energy future.”

Dr. Fixit marks its 25 Years with KBC’s Silver Jubilee Season

Chandigarh, January 27, 2025 – Dr. Fixit, the leading waterproofing solutions brand from Pidilite Industries Ltd., announced its collaboration with Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) for its landmark Silver Jubilee Season airing on Sony Entertainment Television. Both brands celebrate their 25th anniversary this year. The partnership will run across 40 special episodes, delivering impactful visibility and meaningful audience connection.

Speaking about the collaboration, Sandeep Tanwani, Chief Marketing Officer, Pidilite Industries Ltd., said, “Over the last 25 years Dr. Fixit’s expert waterproofing solutions have ensured that consumers’ most significant investment—their home—is protected against leakage and damage. Our association with KBC aligns perfectly with the ethos of using one’s expertise to bring meaningful change to lives. This partnership is a step forward in reinforcing our commitment to providing pioneering solutions to Indian consumers.”

Celebrating its 25th year, KBC continues to inspire millions with its intellectually inspiring and captivating format. This collaboration will see Dr. Fixit seamlessly integrated into the show’s format, strengthening its positioning as the ‘Waterproofing Expert’ through various high-engagement elements.

Leveraging the platform’s prominence, Dr. Fixit’s key integrations will include featuring in the “Expert Play of the Day” segment during every episode. Additionally, some winners who have used their expertise to reach a milestone in the show will receive an exclusive Dr. Fixit hamper—enhancing the brand’s association with expertise and reliability.

The collaboration aims to build awareness and engage meaningfully with audiences while further cementing Dr. Fixit’s position as the preferred expert in waterproofing solutions.

Sahiba Bali Energizes Coldplay’s Pre-Concert Show in Ahmedabad

27 January 2025: While the Coldplay phenomenon sweeps Indian fans, Ahmedabad was entertained as Sahiba Bali hosted the pre-concert show for the Ahmedabad leg of the band’s iconic ‘Music of Spheres’ tour on January 26th, 2025.

The Grammy-winning quartet delivered an epic performance, but not before Sahiba pumped up the energy for both fans and celebrities through a fun, interactive prelude to the memorable evening. Sahiba Bali is on her way to becoming the ultimate millennial icon. She is smart, witty, and grounded. Straddling the corporate and entertainment worlds, she has developed the ability to connect with the audience through quick wit and intelligence. This versatility helped her keep the fans engaged before the musical experience. She has done everything from hosting to acting to being a sports presenter, and with great skill!

For the pre-concert show, she became the hype queen, keeping the spirits of around 1.2 lakh audience members alive with fun games, trivia, and celebrity interviews. The fans enjoying the concert from their homes on Disney+ Hotstar also witnessed the allure of Chris Martin and co., as they painted the arena into colors of love, peace, and hope! This was not Sahiba’s first rodeo! She has proven her mettle at major sporting events in the past. Sahiba has carved her niche in the sports world, having a successful association with Star Sports for the IPL season and the T20 World Cup.

The pre-concert show highlighted that she can easily command any environment, be it a film set, concert arena, or boardroom. From being a marketing maven to delivering a critically acclaimed performance in ‘Laila Majnu’ and hosting Zomato’s star-studded food series on YouTube (racking up millions of views), this Delhi girl’s limit is beyond the sky. With the Coldplay moment, she has proved that staying grounded, smart, and passionate is the ultimate recipe for success.

ParkMate Welcomes Union Budget 2025-26: Boost for R&D and Startups

By: Dhananjaya Bhardwaj, CEO And Founder, ParkMate

At ParkMate, we’re thrilled with the incredible opportunities presented in the Union Budget 2025-26. The announcement of a 1 lakh crore fund for private sector R&D, backed by a 50-year interest-free financing scheme, is a game-changer for us. It empowers our team to dream bigger, work on groundbreaking ideas, and develop innovative solutions that can transform parking and mobility as we know it. This isn’t just about research-it’s about creating technologies that solve today’s challenges while preparing for a smarter sustainable tomorrow. On top of this, the extension of tax benefits for startups until March 31, 2025, is a significant boost for companies like ours. It reinforces the government’s trust in startups and provides the support we need to stay focused on building advanced parking solutions that genuinely make life easier. These measures fuel our commitment to innovation and inspire us to contribute even more to the nation’s progress.

Fleetguard Filters Supports ‘Prabhaar’ to Promote Girl Child Education

Pune, 27th January, 2025: On the occasion of International Day of Education, a short film titled ‘Prabhaar’—a poignant narrative promoting girl child education was released. Directed by Rahul Panshikar and inspired by a true story of Heena Mistry, ‘Prabhaar’ sheds light on the deeply ingrained patriarchal attitudes that hinder the educational aspirations of young girls in certain communities.

The film revolves around the journey of Neena, a determined young girl who defies societal norms and overcomes significant hardships in her quest for education and self-reliance. Through its emotionally charged storytelling, ‘Prabhaar’ captures the resilience and indomitable spirit of Neena as she navigates the challenges posed by her environment.

Speaking at the event, Heena Mistry today a practicing Bombay High Court Lawyer, shared her emotional and inspiring story with the audience highlighting the struggles of girls to get an education and its prevalence to this date in society. She wishes to motivate many other girls facing similar circumstances and take control of their lives.

Saloni Kumari, another student who faced similar challenges spoke of her journey from Darbhanga to Delhi facing similar challenges. Navnath Shinde also told from his own experience of getting educated and spoke of how one can live a golden life by getting education if he/she gets help at the right time.

Speaking at the launch, Mr. Sanjay Kulkarni, President of FFPL, said “Today, the issue of girls’ education is a serious issue at various levels in the country. Many problems such as the lack of toilets in schools stopping girls ‘ education after menstruation and the patriarchal male mentality, hinder the education of girls. We under FFPL’s CSR have constructed toilets for girls in over 30/35 schools so far.” He also expressed that when mothers stand firmly by their girls, girls get the strength to face problems and can progress well in academics. He also highlighted the need to shift the community mindset regarding girls’ education.

FFPL has long been committed to driving positive social change through its comprehensive Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, which span Health & Safety, Education & Promotion of Art & Culture, Environment & Local Community Infrastructure Development, and Social Justice. With ‘Prabhaar,’ FFPL continues to reinforce its dedication to education and empowerment as key pillars of its CSR efforts.

Jyoti Mayal Calls for New Era in Indian Tourism on National Tourism Day 2025

By: Mrs. Jyoti Mayal, CEO of Redhat Communications and Chairperson of the Tourism and Hospitality Skill Council (THSC)

 

National Tourism Day ‘25 is an opportunity to celebrate India’s incredible journey in travel and tourism while welcoming the future with renewed aspirations. As Indian travellers increasingly venture beyond borders and explore global destinations, Mrs. Jyoti Mayal, CEO of Redhat Communications and Chairperson of the Tourism and Hospitality Skill Council (THSC), highlights how the World Travel & Tourism Festival 2025 will set the stage for a more empowered and inclusive tourism industry.

Scheduled from February 14 to 16, 2025, at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, India Gate, the festival represents a landmark collaboration between TV9 Network and Redhat Communications. This one-of-its-kind event aims to bring the entire travel and tourism ecosystem together, from industry leaders to grassroots entrepreneurs, while creating immersive and memorable experiences for attendees. Spanning over 45,000 sq. ft., the festival offers an unparalleled immersive experience with personalized travel consultations, expert-led talks, and extensive networking opportunities with industry leaders. The event features a top music concert, cultural performances, a food zone, travel tech showcase, competitions, and more.

Reflecting on the significance of this year’s National Tourism Day, Mrs. Mayal remarked, “Tourism is not confined to discovering new places. It is also about connecting hearts, instilling understanding, and driving economic growth. With India’s tourism sector on the cusp of a new era, the World Travel & Tourism Festival 2025 will provide an unparalleled platform to celebrate, collaborate, and innovate.”

The festival is set to redefine how travel is experienced and celebrated. From cultural performances that showcase India’s heritage and global traditions to travel technology exhibits that highlight the role of innovation in transforming the travel experience, the event will explore every facet of the industry. Attendees will also have access to personalised travel consultations, allowing them to craft itineraries tailored to their unique preferences. Culinary enthusiasts can look forward to a dedicated food and cuisine zone, while families, solo travellers, and adventure seekers can engage in a variety of competitions and activities designed to inspire wanderlust.

Mrs. Mayal also emphasised the need to prioritise skilling within the tourism sector, an area she has championed tirelessly. She explained, “For India to emerge as a global tourism leader, we must invest in our people. Skilling is the backbone of this industry. Right from training hospitality staff to meet international standards or equipping artisans and small business owners with the tools to thrive, skilling ensures that every part of the tourism value chain is prepared for the future.”

The festival’s vision goes beyond creating extraordinary experiences. It promotes collaboration and opening up opportunities for small businesses, artisans, and entrepreneurs who form the backbone of India’s tourism ecosystem. It is set to provide a unique platform for these stakeholders to connect with a global audience, unlocking new avenues for growth and visibility.

Motu and Patlu Join BSF at Attari-Wagah for Republic Day Celebration

Hyderabad, January 2025: Republic Day is a time to celebrate the values of equality and liberty in the Constitution of India that make our nation so special. Nick India celebrated the day this year by partnering with the Border Security Force (BSF) at the iconic Attari-Wagah Border. True to their tradition of engaging children in meaningful ways, Nick India brought kids from FTE School of Round Table India and their favourite Nicktoons, Motu and Patlu, to experience a day filled with pride and joy alongside our brave jawans.

The day started with the beloved Motu and Patlu, known for their humour and playful charm cheering with the crowd. Euphoria filled the air with infectious energy. The National Flag was hoisted after the ceremony followed by the kids from FTE School of Round Table India, and Motu Patlu standing proudly alongside the BSF jawans as the tricolour waved against the backdrop of the border – a true symbol of the Republic Day spirit of togetherness and respect for those who serve the nation.

TR Anterpreet Singh Sahni, Chairman Area 18, Round Table India and TR Nitin Mehra, Chairman, Amritsar Round Table said, “It was a wonderful experience for our children from the FTE School of Round Table India to celebrate Republic Day at the Attari-Wagah Border with Nick India and the Border Security Force (BSF). Witnessing the ceremony up close, especially with their favourite Motu Patlu, truly made them feel connected, proud and excited about the significance of Republic Day”

The kids learned about the significance of Republic Day and the values embedded in the Constitution. As part of the celebrations, children were asked questions like “What does Republic Day mean to you?” and “What are some ways people can help the country?” The answers were simple but powerful, like, “Helping others makes our country stronger.” and “keeping our surroundings clean”.

SPPNPA Hosts Blood Donation Camp for Thalassemia on 76th Republic Day

Hyderabad, January 27, 2025: To commemorate the 76th Republic Day, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy in partnership with the Thalassemia & Sickle Cell Society, organized a special successful blood donation camp at the National Police Academy. The camp aimed to provide vital support to individuals suffering from thalassemia, a hereditary blood disorder. All the blood units collected was donated to the Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Society.

SVPNPA Director, Amit Garg, IPS and Dr. Chandrashekar along with Dr. Chandrakant Agarwal, President of the Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Society and Mr. Aleem Baig, Joint Secretary, TSCS attended the event and expressed their gratitude to the organizers, volunteers, and blood donors.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Chandrakant Agarwal, President, TSCS said, “We are truly grateful to the donors and others who have come forward and donated blood to meet the blood requirements of thalassemia patients. We are extremely honored that the National Police Academy members have participated in the blood donation camp.”

Aleem Baig, Joint Secretary of TSCS, spoke about the blood donation camp, saying, “TSCS has been at the forefront of conducting mega blood donation camps in Hyderabad. We thank all the guests and donors who have extended their support to us and also promise to continue promoting awareness of thalassemia and its eradication.”