26 March  2025: Epsilon Foundation, the CSR wing of Epsilon Carbon Private Limited, inaugurated a 26-bed Mother & Child Care Unit at Jindal Sanjeevani Multi Speciality Hospital (JSMSH) in Vijayanagar, Ballari, Karnataka. This initiative will improve the maternal and paediatric care in the region with best-in-class equipments and facilities.

Mr. Vikram Handa and Mrs. Tarini Jindal Handa inaugurated this new Mother & Child Care unit which features a 10-bed maternity ward equipped with a dedicated labour operating theatre (OT), coupled with a 6-bed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), and a 10-bed Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), with potential to expand this into a 30 beds facility. The Mother & Child Care unit is projected to support 1,500 safe deliveries, provide life-saving care to 1,000 neonates and 2,000 paediatric patients annually.

A dedicated 6-bed Burns Unit with a full-time plastic surgeon is set to launch in April, offering specialized treatment and care for approximately 100 burn patients annually.

Jindal Sanjeevani Multi Speciality Hospital (JSMSH), a 150-bed facility, has served as a trusted healthcare provider for over 15 years in Vijayanagar district, catering to communities across 150 villages within a 30-kilometer radius. The addition of these specialized units will significantly enhance JSMSH’s capability to deliver high-quality medical care, particularly for women and children in need.

Speaking on the inauguration, Mr. Vikram Handa, Director, Epsilon Foundation, emphasized that enhancing healthcare infrastructure from primary to advanced care is at the heart of Epsilon’s CSR vision. He highlighted that for pregnant women and newborns in the region, access to critical care has long been a challenge, with many having to travel over 70 kilometers for medical check-ups and treatment, making it both risky and far-fetched. He stated that the Mother & Child Care Unit shows the foundation’s commitment towards essential medical services, ensuring safer deliveries, and improving neonatal and paediatric care. Quality healthcare is a fundamental right, and that Epsilon Foundation is dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the communities it serves, he added.

 Further strengthening its commitment to community well-being, Epsilon Foundation is introducing a Community Welfare Health Scheme which aims to provide comprehensive, free maternal care for expectant mothers, ensuring safe deliveries and improved maternal health outcomes. Additionally, the program will offer plastic surgeries for accident victims, helping them regain confidence and rebuild their lives.

Artificial Intelligence has become an important part of our daily lives. Startups are now leveraging AI to streamline operations, enhance customer experiences, and drive efficiency. However, the debate over ethical AI use and the fear of AI replacing human jobs continues. Despite this, several startups are pushing the boundaries of AI, using it in unique ways tailored to their respective industries. Here’s a look at such startups making a difference with AI-driven innovations.

1. Healthians
Healthians, founded by serial entrepreneur Deepak Sahni, is a trusted name in diagnostic testing in India. Operating in over 250 cities with a network of 22+ certified laboratories, the company ensures accessible healthcare. Healthians is investing heavily in AI and has developed several features which are industry firsts. For example, they have launched Video Analysis Feature which is designed to help users better understand the key parameters in their test reports and their significance, along with offering personalized recommendations. Healthians is the first in the industry to introduce such an innovation. Additionally, Healthians has launched WelliO, an AI-powered personal health chatbot that answers users’ health-related queries, enhancing accessibility and patient engagement. These advancements position Healthians as a pioneer in AI-integrated diagnostics.

2. Ikonz Studios
Ikonz Studios is a pioneer in hyper-realistic AI-powered digital avatars and holographic experiences. Ikonz specializes in hyper-realistic, multilingual digital avatars and holographic technology. By leveraging generative AI, Ikonz is transforming the way people engage with digital content, bringing iconic personalities to life through interactive and intelligent digital experiences. One of its most notable projects is the AI-powered digital avatar of Amitabh Bachchan, launched in partnership with IDFC FIRST Bank. Founder Abinav, with a background in tech and finance, aims to integrate AI-powered digital assistants across banking, healthcare, education, and entertainment. The startup is backed by Village Global, which counts Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, and Jeff Bezos among its supporters.

3. Ola Krutrim
Founded by serial entrepreneur Bhavish Aggarwal, also the co-founder of Ola, developed Ola Krutrim in just 7 to 8 months with financial backing from close networks. Ola Krutrim became the first AI unicorn in January 2024 after raising $50 million, bringing its total funding to $74 million. Focused on delivering advanced AI solutions specifically for the Indian market, the company is developing India-specific large language models (LLMs) capable of working with 10 Indian languages. Competing with other industry players, Ola Krutrim distinguishes itself through its focus on creating “AI for India,” with a mission to craft AI models that understand and express Indian cultural nuances. The company has recently partnered with Lenovo to establish a 700-billion parameter based model ‘Ola Krutrim 3’.

4. Razorpay

Razorpay, one of India’s leading fintech unicorns, is leveraging AI to enhance financial services. The company recently launched RAY, an AI chatbot for payments and payroll management, offering seamless solutions to ecommerce companies through voice and text commands in multiple languages. Additionally, Razorpay introduced Engage, a full-stack intelligent marketing growth suite designed to help businesses acquire and retain customers with AI-powered personalization. Other AI-driven innovations include FraudShield, aimed at reducing chargebacks and safeguarding businesses from fraud, and AI-Powered RTO Suite, designed to mitigate return-to-origin losses. The company is aggressively expanding its AI offerings, making payments and financial management smarter and more efficient.

5. MakeMyTrip

MakeMyTrip, India’s leading online travel company is also leveraging the powers of AI to server it’s users in the best way possible. They have introduced ‘Collections’, an AI-powered feature that personalizes hotel and homestay discovery. By analyzing traveler insights, search history, and booking patterns, the AI curates accommodations into themed collections, helping users navigate over 86,000 options across 2,000+ cities. The feature continuously learns from user interactions, refining recommendations to enhance traveler experiences. Currently live in 30+ leisure and pilgrimage destinations, it is expanding rapidly to cater to a wider audience.

6. Fenado AI

Founded in 2024, Fenado AI enables users with zero coding expertise to build apps and websites in minutes. The platform is designed for startups, small businesses, and larger organizations, providing end-to-end tech solutions. Fenado AI has already onboarded over 200 global paying customers and aims to reach 10,000 by 2025. Fenado Ai is founded by the Shark Tank India Judge Azhar Iqubal who is also the Founder of India’s famous news app Inshorts. The platform is focused on underserved regions, making it accessible for entrepreneurs across tier-2 and tier-3 cities. It provides scalability and continuous AI-driven support, helping businesses build digital products without the need for dedicated tech teams.

7. LimeChat
LimeChat, founded in 2020 amid a pandemic-driven e-commerce boom in India, delivers personalized and engaging conversational experiences on platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger. Through its AI-powered automated conversational commerce platform, LimeChat helps brands replicate a store-like buying experience, boosting conversion rates by up to 10x. Serving over 300 brands, including HUL, ITC, Mamaearth, and Wow Skin Science, LimeChat specializes in the fashion, beauty, health, and wellness verticals. Backed by Stellaris Venture Partners, Google, and IFC, the startup has raised $5 million to date, including $750,000 in a seed round led by Pi Ventures. Competing with Noogata, TUNGEE, and Slang Labs, LimeChat enables instant customer query responses across WhatsApp, Meta Messenger, and Instagram, solidifying its position as a leader in conversational commerce.

8. Beatoven.AI
Beatoven.ai is co-founded by Mansoor Rahimat Khan, a seventh-generation sitar player of the Dharwad Gharana, and Siddharth Bhardwaj. The app uses generative AI to create original, royalty-free music for video, podcast, and gaming content creators. The platform uses open-source large language models (LLMs) to generate mood-based music by analyzing key elements like genre, mode, and duration. With close to 1 million users globally, primarily outside India, Beatoven.ai is revolutionizing music creation. The startup has raised over $2.4 million from investors like Capital2B (Info Edge), IvyCap Ventures, and Upsparks Capital. It aims to reach 5 million users and achieve a 10x increase in annual recurring revenue (ARR) in the next two years. Backed by a diverse team of musicians, technologists, designers, and writers, Beatoven.ai is making music creation accessible and intuitive for creators worldwide.

 26^th March 2025: With the onset of summer and temperatures already picking up, the Appliances Business of Godrej & Boyce, part of the Godrej Enterprises Group, unveiled its new AC portfolio, spanning multiple capacities, tonnages, energy ratings and technologies. Buoyed by its 2X growth in the category this year and the already climbing temperatures, the brand is targeting further 50% growth in the coming summer.

 Building on its nature-inspired Vogue series from last year, the brand introduced new wood finish ACs and extended it further to a new marble series, strengthening its commitment to offering décor friendly designs. The design focus extends to window ACs as well with new top throw window ACs. Additionally, the brand is also expanding its consumer base by venturing into the commercial AC segment with Tower and Cassette ACs, designed to meet the unique needs of large residential spaces and commercial spaces.

 With more SKUs in the 5-star AC portfolio and high cooling capacities spanning to 3 and 4 Ton, new designer models, a large AI powered range apart from existing Anti-Leak ACs and Hot & Cold ACs, the brand is banking on its robust portfolio to deliver on its growth ambitions. The biggest focus area for the brand this year has been the smart AC segment with multiple new model introductions. The Godrej Smart AC range with AI–powered technology, IoT connectivity and WiFi-enabled controls, redefines user convenience with its insight-based feature design and will be taken to consumers through a 360-degree campaign.

 Speaking about the launch, Kamal Nandi, Business Head & EVP at Appliances Business of Godrej Enterprises Group, said, “We continue to abide by our philosophy of thoughtful innovation to unlock value for our consumers. Our new range of Smart ACs go further than the regular offerings of remote connectivity and voice commands and instead, offer compelling, insightful solutions that enhance the core cooling performance or add real convenience. With advanced value laden features like smart filter cleaning notifications for uninterrupted cooling performance & improved efficiency; smart schedulers that make remotes and voice commands redundant by switching on and off by itself and operating at your preferred temperature at your preset schedules; smart energy monitoring, remote diagnosis, easy service access and a lot more – these voice and app enabled Smart Air Conditioners are designed keeping the Indian consumers in mind. From AI powered machines to patented anti-leak technology, unique wood finish ACs to compelling Smart ACs and powerful commercial ACs, our endeavour is to meet the premium aspirations of our consumers.”

 Further, Sabyasachi Gupta, Product Group Head – Air Conditioners at Appliances business of Godrej Enterprises Group, said, “Consumers today seek a blend of style, performance, and smart features. We are happy to introduce our comprehensive new AC portfolio that caters to the varying needs of our consumers with high cooling capacities to high energy ratings, design forward, AI powered, smart connected portfolio to heavy duty commercial ACs. The new smart AC range will be backed by a high decibel campaign. To further AC adoption and aid consumers, we are also offering a one of its kind 5-year comprehensive warranty with no hidden costs – with waived off service visit charges, gas refill charges and even remote replacement costs for five years, apart from easy EMI options. With summer temperatures rising on one hand and a robust lineup of new premium home air conditioners on the other, we aim to achieve over 50% growth in AC sales this summer compared to last year.”

Mr. Gautam Dutta has been with PVR for over 16 years and has 28+ years of experience. He has lead PVR’s operations as CEO and has been instrumental in driving box office, media sales and F&B verticals and establishing superior operating metrics.

 Mr. Dutta started his career in Sales and has about 18 years of advertising industry experience working with agencies like Lowe Lintas (where he spent 8 years), Saatchi & Saatchi and Rediffusion DY & R. Mr. Gautam Dutta was awarded CEO of the Year by ET Now Global Awards for retail excellence (multiplex, cinemas & entertainment category) in 2018. He was also honoured with the CEO with HR Orientation award during the 2018 World HRD Congress.

Chandigarh, March 26th, 2025: Bank of India, one of India’s leading public sector banks, announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Air Force to extend the BOI Rakshak Salary Package to Air Force Personnel, Veterans and Agniveers (recruited under the Agnipath Scheme). The MoU covers special benefits including enhanced free comprehensive Personal Accident Insurance Cover (PAI), attractive offers on Debit and Credit Cards and a host of other offers.

The ceremony for the exchange of MoUs was held on 20th March, 2025 at the Air Force Headquarters, New Delhi. Air Vice Marshal Updesh Sharma, VSM ACAS (Accts & AV) of the Indian Air Force chaired the ceremony. The event was also attended by Shri Sharda Bhushan Rai, Chief General Manager, Bank of India and other Senior Officials of both the organizations.

AVM Updesh Sharma thanked BOI for extending the bouquet of financial services to all Personnel and Veterans of Indian Air Force and said IAF is committed to take the relationship forward.

Shri Sharda Bhushan Rai, CGM Bank of India said, “We are proud to be associated with the Indian Air Force and happy to extend the Benefits of our Rakshak Salary Scheme. He assured best banking products and customer service, supported by state-of-the-art digital infrastructure”. On Behalf of Bank of India he expressed his gratitude towards the Indian Air Force. This is for the first time that Bank of India entered into a MOU with the Indian Air Force.

BOI’s Rakshak Salary Scheme is a specially crafted salary account tailored to meet the needs of Personnel working with the Defence Forces, Paramilitary, and State Police by offering Personal Accidental Insurance cover of upto 100 Lakhs, Air Accidental Coverage of Rs 200 Lakhs and many others.

March 26, 2025: Bank of India, one of India’s leading public sector banks, and New India Assurance Co. Ltd.(NIACL), India’s premier insurance company entered into a strategic partnership on 24^th March 2025, at its Head Office in Mumbai to offer a wide range of general insurance products to the Bank’s customers.

With this tie-up, Bank of India’s customers will have access to insurance solutions, including health, motor, personal accident, home, and commercial insurance products offered by NIACL, a systemically important insurance company.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Rajneesh Karnatak, MD & CEO, Bank of India, stated “The tie-up is a step forward in offering comprehensive insurance solutions under one roof“

Ms. Girija Subramanian, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, NIACL, expressed confidence that “The partnership will enhance insurance penetration for Bank of India customers and provide them with quality service and protection”

Bank of India has over 5,200 branches across the country, while New India Assurance Co. Ltd. brings with it over 100 years of excellence in the general insurance sector, making this partnership a powerful alliance in India’s bancassurance ecosystem.

25th March 2025: TreadBinary, a leading technology and consulting (TechCon) company, is pioneering a rural IT empowerment initiative in Dapoli, Maharashtra, with the goal of creating a self-sustaining ecosystem that nurtures untapped talent, provides global exposure, and transforms small-town professionals into industry leaders. This initiative is not merely a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) effort but a long-term, business-driven model ensuring economic growth, skill development, and IT decentralization.

Recognizing the immense, untapped potential of skilled professionals in non-metro regions, TreadBinary has launched this pilot project to create sustainable IT job opportunities. Spearheaded by founders Darshil Shah and Yuvraj Shidhaye, the initiative seeks to empower deserving talent often sidelined by their distance from major IT hubs and limited access to premier campus placements. By cultivating a self-reliant tech ecosystem, the company is poised to narrow the urban-rural divide in India’s technology sector.

At the core of this vision, TreadBinary will establish a new Dapoli-based entity, primarily owned by the company and its key stakeholders. The initiative begins with recruiting and training local talent over six months, equipping them with cutting-edge skills and global exposure to excel in competitive IT roles. Unlike traditional outsourcing, this model fosters a thriving, independent enterprise by reinvesting all initial revenues into the entity. This ensures long-term viability, positioning Dapoli as an emerging hub of innovation with the potential to contribute significantly to the global technology landscape.

“Talent should not be confined by geography,” said Yuvraj Shidhaye, Founder and Director, TreadBinary. “Many bright minds in smaller towns lack access to the opportunities they deserve, and our mission is to change that. By bringing IT jobs to rural India, starting with Dapoli, we aim to create a thriving ecosystem where potential is nurtured, careers are built, and local economies flourish. This is just the beginning of a larger movement to redefine how talent is discovered and empowered.”

The ripple effects of this initiative promise to revitalize Dapoli’s local economy. By enabling IT professionals to prosper in their hometowns, TreadBinary will ignite growth in ancillary businesses, strengthen infrastructure, and elevate community well-being. With a clear blueprint to scale this model beyond Dapoli, the company envisions rural India as a powerhouse in the global IT arena.

Darshil Shah, Founder and Director, TreadBinary, TreadBinary is committed to bridging the urban-rural talent gap, promoting global careers from small towns, and proving that top tech talent doesn’t have to come from metros. This initiative is a scalable model for IT decentralization, setting an example for India’s digital workforce evolution. It underscores the company’s commitment to innovation, inclusivity, and sustainable progress, setting a new benchmark for technology-driven empowerment across the nation.