GRT Hotels & Resorts Wins Prestigious Travel Award
Chennai, April 2025: GRT Hotels & Resorts has been awarded the “Best Emerging Hotel Chain – India” at the prestigious PATWA International Travel Awards 2025 held at ITB Berlin. This recognition highlights the brand’s exceptional growth, innovative offerings, and unwavering commitment to hospitality excellence across South India.
In addition to this esteemed accolade, Mr. Vikram Cotah, CEO of GRT Hotels & Resorts, was honored with the “Best Professional Hospitality Growth – India” award. This award acknowledges his visionary leadership and remarkable contributions to the Indian hospitality industry, which have significantly propelled the brand’s expansion and success.
Mr. T. Nataraajan, Deputy Managing Director of GRT Hotels & Resorts, remarked, “It is truly an honor to receive these awards on a global platform like ITB Berlin. This recognition is a testament to the hard work and passion of our entire team at GRT Hotels & Resorts. We remain committed to delivering unparalleled experiences that reflect our brand’s promise of Excellence, Innovation and ‘The Promise of More’.”
Expressing his gratitude, Mr. Vikram Cotah, CEO, GRT Hotels & Resorts said, “Our journey to ITB Berlin was driven by a vision—to showcase the essence of GRT Hotels & Resorts on a global platform. As we stepped into this prestigious event, we carried with us a legacy of blending tradition with innovation, sustainability with luxury, and hospitality with heart. Amidst the world’s most influential voices in travel and tourism, it was a moment of pride and inspiration to be recognized on this platform. This achievement is not just ours alone—it belongs to every member of the GRT family, every guest who has trusted us, and every partner who has supported our journey.”
With a diverse portfolio of 22 properties across Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, and plans for further expansion, GRT Hotels & Resorts continues to set new benchmarks in the hospitality industry.
National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme: Engage More
Chandigarh, India – April 9, 2025 – National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) has partnered with Pandit Deendayal Energy University (PDEU), a leading autonomous state technical university, to launch a state-of-the-art Centre of Excellence for Skill Development. The two organisations formalised their alliance through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed at the Startup Mahakumbh in New Delhi. The initiative aims to equip learners with hands-on experience in manufacturing skill sets across critical sectors such as Energy, Health, Water, and Food.
The Centre of Excellence will focus on delivering specialized training in emerging technologies, including VLSI Design, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, Internet of Things (IoT), Data Science, Cloud Computing, Cybersecurity, Smart Manufacturing, Blockchain, and more. With over 40 online and hybrid courses designed for students across ITI, Diploma, undergraduate, and postgraduate programs, this collaboration marks a significant milestone in advancing Skill India Mission, National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, and National Credit Framework by integrating vocational education and skill development into mainstream academia.
Shri Ved Mani Tiwari, CEO, NSDC & MD, NSDC International said, “Today, we partnered with Pandit Deendayal Energy University (PDEU) at the Startup Mahakumbh to strengthen the skilling ecosystem in the energy sector. This collaboration will support the development of training infrastructure in smart manufacturing, along with Centres of Excellence focused on automotive, EV charging, renewable energy, and semiconductors. Training in the semiconductor domain is already underway, paving the way for youth to gain practical exposure in high-demand, future-oriented fields.”
Dr. S. Sundar Manoharan, Director General, Pandit Deendayal Energy University, said, “We are proud to collaborate with NSDC under the visionary leadership of Mr. Ved Mani Tiwari. With their support, PDEU has transformed its infrastructure into a hub for advanced skill training, especially in high-demand sectors like renewable energy and semiconductors. Our newly launched ATMP Semiconductor Packaging Centre is designed to train students in back-end packaging, encapsulation, and other critical skills, creating a strong pipeline of industry-ready talent.”
PDEU has been at the forefront of energy education and skill development since its inception in 2007. The university has empowered students by integrating industry-standard manufacturing lines within its academic campus, including a 45 MW Solar PV Manufacturing Line and an ATMP Semiconductor Packaging Line. These facilities bridge the gap between academia and industry while fostering innovation in renewable energy technologies such as solar and wind energy, lithium and vanadium energy storage systems, carbon capture solutions, and smart hybrid grids.
“This marks a significant shift—where industry is now turning to academia for manufacturing-focused skilling. For the first time, experiential learning of up to 225 hours is being integrated into academic credits through the National Credit Framework. We deeply value NSDC’s continued guidance and support in building this impactful and scalable education model.” added Dr Manoharan.
Through this collaboration with NSDC, PDEU will further enhance its infrastructure by incorporating advanced manufacturing capabilities into the Centre of Excellence. The CoE will serve as a hub for skill development programs nationwide, targeting students from Tier-1, Tier-2, and Tier-3 institutions. It is aligned with key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG-4 (Quality Education), SDG-7 (Affordable & Clean Energy), SDG-13 (Climate Action), and SDG-17 (Partnerships for Goals).
To ensure seamless operations and sustainability, a Section 8 company will be established as part of this initiative. Jointly owned by PDEU and NSDC Trust, this entity will manage the CoE’s activities while creating an independent revenue stream through course fees. It will also support flagship national initiatives like Make-in-India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat by preparing students for core manufacturing processes and fostering self-reliance in critical industries.
The Centre of Excellence is expected to play a pivotal role in addressing India’s growing demand for skilled manpower as it prepares to have the largest working-age population by 2030. Through practical exposure delivered by industry-certified trainers provided by NSDC, the initiative seeks to enhance employability among students while contributing to India’s socio-economic development.
Anil Agarwal Foundation’s flagship Nand Ghar Reaches 8,000
Chandigarh, 9th April 2025: Nand Ghar, the flagship initiative of the Anil Agarwal Foundation (AAF), has achieved a significant milestone by transforming 8,044 Anganwadis into modern centres of holistic development for women and children. Spread across 15 states in India, this expansion underscores Vedanta’s commitment to rural development, impacting over 3 lakh children and 2 lakh women with early childhood education, nutrition, healthcare, and skill development.
Nand Ghars are modernised anganwadis with provision of state-of-the art facilities. In addition to enhanced infrastructural facilities, Nand Ghar incorporates smart education tools, interactive e-learning modules, BaLA designs, and smart TVs to make learning engaging for children aged 3-6 years. Each center is equipped with child friendly furniture, access to electricity, safe drinking water, and hygienic sanitation facilities, fostering a safe and nurturing environment. Beyond education, Nand Ghars combat malnutrition by facilitating fortified meals to children and essential nutritional support for pregnant and lactating mothers. Integrated healthcare services, including immunization drives and routine check-ups, further strengthen community well-being. Nand Ghar is also strengthening women empowerment by engaging community women in skill-building activities such as handicrafts, food processing, and retail, enabling them to earn an average monthly income of up to INR 10,000.
As Nand Ghar continues to scale its impact, last year marked significant achievements for the program. To combat malnutrition, Nand Ghar launched a two-phase distribution of protein-rich millet shakes, benefiting children across six states. Patented and FSSAI certified, this millet shake contains 23 essential vitamins and minerals and is crafted from a blend of ragi, bajra, foxtail and kodu millets. With the government’s focus on promoting the consumption of millets in daily diet, Nand Ghar’s initiative reaffirms its alignment with the national vision of fostering nutritional security through sustainable and locally sourced superfoods.
In March this year, AAF proudly inaugurated Maharashtra’s first-ever Nand Ghars, launching 25 new centers in Thane. Expanding its reach further, the Foundation is committed to establishing 20,000 more Nand Ghars across Rajasthan over the next two years, transforming rural communities on a scale.
The initiative is well-aligned with the Government of India’s vision for women and child development. The Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) empowers and supports mothers and their children under six years through various programs ensuring comprehensive childcare support in a secure environment with trained staff, educational resources, nutritional support, and activities for holistic child development. With around 14 lakh Anganwadi centres serving over 7 crore children under six years across the country, Nand Ghar’s model contributes significantly to enhancing the existing ecosystem and amplifying the government’s efforts in ensuring the well-being of children and women in rural India.
Speaking on the achievement, Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Chairperson, Hindustan Zinc Ltd. and Non-Executive Director, Vedanta Ltd., stated, “The journey of building 8,000 Nand Ghars reflects our deep commitment to transforming lives at the grassroots. These centers are not just reimagined Anganwadis, they are spaces of opportunity where children learn, grow, and thrive, and where women gain the tools to lead empowered, self-reliant lives. It is incredible to witness how Nand Ghar is evolving into a nationwide movement- one that is creating real change. Our partnership with the Government and the Ministry of Women & Child Development continues to strengthen this mission, helping us scale with purpose and bring meaningful change to communities across India.”
Adding to this, Mr. Shashi Arora, CEO, Nand Ghar, commented, “At Nand Ghar, we are committed to holistic community development, where impact is measured not just in numbers but in the lives we transform. By integrating smart learning, digital tools, and sustainable nutrition programs, we are redefining the Anganwadi ecosystem in India. Over the past year, we have introduced cutting-edge digital learning modules and expanded nutrition programs to ensure that every child receives a balanced meal daily aligned with the Poshan 2.0 guidelines. Flagship initiatives such as Khaana Khaaya Kya?, the millet bar and shake distribution drive, and our digital smart learning model have further reinforced our commitment to child development and women’s empowerment. We will continue to deepen our impact within communities, ensuring that early childhood education, nutrition, and women empowerment drive for meaningful and sustainable change.”
WCD’s Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Department is celebrating its 50 years in 2025, and Nand Ghar continues to set benchmarks in early childhood care and women’s empowerment. With this milestone, the program is reaffirming its mission to uplift India’s rural communities, ensuring that the nation’s children and women have access to quality resources for a brighter and healthier future.
Axis Bank Launches B2B Collections Solution for Fortune 500 on Bharat Connect
Chandigarh, April 04, 2025: Axis Bank, one of the largest private sector banks in India, today announced that it has partnered with a Fortune 500 company in India to provide B2B collections utilising NBBL’s Bharat Connect (Erstwhile BBPS). With this, Axis Bank becomes the first Bank to go live in implementing this pioneering solution, leveraging its best-in-class, robust API stack.
The solution can integrate multiple ordering applications across sectors; FMCG, Pharma, Automotives, Healthcare facilitating collections for the company’s wholesale distributors, stockists. Retailers can initiate invoice payments directly from the application. As the Biller Operating Unit capable of offering this unique service, Axis Bank has developed this seamless, agile, scalable and customisable solution and with support from NBBL Bharat BillPay.
Commenting on the launch, Neeraj Gambhir, Group Executive & Head – Treasury, Markets & Wholesale Banking Products, Axis Bank said, “Axis Bank has been at the forefront in rolling out pioneering digital payments & collections for its clients. Our partnership with the corporate in coming up with a first of its kind B2B collections solution is a testament to our best-in-class Corporate API banking stack. This initiative is an example of innovation in India’s Digital journey that ensures high customer convenience and seamless payment experience.”
Noopur Chaturvedi, CEO, NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd. (NBBL) said, “Bharat Connect is expanding its horizon with the introduction of Business to Business (B2B) invoice payment and financing platform with an aim to streamline manual processes of large supply chain and distribution networks. We are happy to have Axis Bank as our key partner and the first bank to go live with the expanded solution. This further deepens our already strong relationship with the bank and reflects our shared commitment to democratizing the payments and collections space.”
Infinix India Launches Bold ‘Question the Noise’ Campaign
India, March 24, 2025: Infinix, a rapidly growing new-age technology brand, has launched its latest brand film titled ‘#QuestionTheNoise’. In a market saturated with flashy advertisements, Infinix takes a refreshingly honest approach by highlighting its dedication to product excellence rather than marketing hype. The film features rising star Piyush Khati, known for his performance in Netflix’s acclaimed series Class, in a satirical narrative that resonates with the discerning new-age audience.
At the heart of this campaign is the launch of Infinix Note 50x 5G+, a smartphone designed to redefine performance, processor and user experience. Breaking away from traditional marketing strategies, Infinix introduces a witty concept in the film that portrays how the company’s marketing team was left with minimal budget for advertisements because the engineers invested every resource into perfecting their products. This tongue-in-cheek approach cleverly conveys Infinix’s commitment to innovation and quality, suggesting that superior products don’t need excessive promotion.
The core message of ‘#QuestionTheNoise’ centers on Infinix India’s unwavering focus on creating breakthrough technology that delivers genuine value to consumers’ lives. By taking this bold and strong stance against industry norms, Infinix reinforces its dedication to providing best-in-class features at accessible price points. The brand film adopts a chaotic, high-energy approach to its surroundings. Amidst this frenzy, Piyush injects humor, playfully navigating the chaos while steering the focus back to what truly matters—the product.
“As a new-age brand, we understand that today’s consumers seek authenticity and real value. With #QuestionTheNoise, we emphasize that true innovation speaks louder than marketing hype,” said Anish Kapoor, CEO, Infinix India. “This film playfully showcases our commitment to investing every resource into building a smartphone that redefines performance and user experience. At Infinix, we believe that great products speak for themselves. The Note 50x 5G+ is a testament to that—designed to deliver the right innovation at the right price. With #QuestionTheNoise, we invite consumers to focus on what truly matters: real value, meaningful features, and a smartphone that delivers where it counts.”
The Note 50x 5G+ boasts cutting-edge technology with Android 15-based XOS 15, offering features like improved personalization, fluid animations, and smarter AI features, a powerful MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Ultimate SoC, ultra-fast charging, and Military grade certification, all packaged in a sleek, stylish design. With this launch, Infinix continues to challenge industry norms by prioritizing innovation and real value for consumers over extravagant marketing spend.
Infinix has established itself as a pioneer in new-age technology, with an expanding portfolio spanning smartphones, laptops, TWS, Tablets and smart TVs designed for the tech-savvy new-age demography. Known for exceptional design, quality craftsmanship, and cutting-edge technologies, Infinix products consistently deliver value that goes beyond marketing promises.
iQOO Seeks Gen Z Chief Gaming Officer with INR 10 Lakh Reward
New Delhi, March 21, 2025: iQOO, a high-performance smartphone brand, is on the hunt for its Chief Gaming Officer (CGO) for 2025 to co-create its smartphones, lead the brand’s eSports vision, and actively engage with India’s top eSports gamers. The opportunity offers young gaming enthusiasts, under the age of 25, a chance to turn their passion into a fulfilling and rewarding career. The CGO will gain access to iQOO’s latest products and represent the brand at major gaming events across the world.
Talking about the quest for Chief Gaming Officer, Nipun Marya, CEO, iQOO, said: “We have always believed in the power of India’s gaming community, and the phenomenal response to our previous CGO hunt reaffirmed this. After receiving countless requests from our community, we knew we had to bring it back. At iQOO, we are committed to empowering young gaming enthusiasts by giving them a platform to step into the eSports industry and shape the future of mobile gaming in India. With CGO as an I.P, we continue to create opportunities for Questers to turn their passion into a profession and be a part of the vision.”
The number of gamers in India has grown at an annual rate of 14.6% over the past six years, from 2018 to 2024, with the latest estimate of gamers reaching approximately 48 crore, based on trends from the IMARC report. In 2023, the gaming population stood at 43.9 crore, according to the same report. With the CGO 2.0, iQOO aims to further engage its rapidly expanding community, fostering innovation, and empowering young gaming enthusiasts to shape the future of mobile gaming in India.
iQOO recently teamed up with seven of India’s biggest gaming icons—Dynamo Gaming, GamerFleet, Mortal, Payal Gaming, Scout, Shreeman Legend, and UnGraduate Gamer—in the largest co-creation initiative in mobile gaming. These top gamers are putting iQOO’s gaming smartphones to the test, providing real-time feedback, and certifying devices.
In December 2024, the brand also joined forces with six top BGMI eSports teams and over 100 gamers to fuel the eSports boom in India.
Somany Ceramics launches six State-of-the-Art Showrooms in Karnataka
Bengaluru 19 Mar 25; Somany Ceramics, a leader in the tiles, sanitaryware and bathware industry, has marked a significant milestone with the launch of six new showrooms across Bengaluru, Tumkur, and Mysuru. Spanning a total area of over 16,000 square feet, this strategic expansion under the ‘Karnataka Rising’ initiative – reinforces the brand’s focus on bringing world-class surfaces and innovative designs closer to homeowners, architects, and interior designers in the region.
Speaking on this landmark expansion, Amit Sahai, CEO, Somany Ceramics, said, “Karnataka remains a key market for us, and this expansion reinforces our commitment to premium surfaces. With six new showrooms launched today and three last month in Bengaluru, Tumkur, and Mysuru, we are strengthening our retail presence in critical regions. These showrooms enhance accessibility while elevating the customer experience, serving as hubs for consumers and architects to explore our diverse range of contemporary and high-performance surfaces.”
With each showroom offering a carefully curated selection of the latest in tiles, bathware, and sanitary solutions, customers can explore a diverse range of premium products that merge cutting-edge technology with artistic craftsmanship. The newly launched showrooms include Somany Atelier, Somany Duragres Lounge, and Somany Exclusive format stores – each designed to provide an immersive experience, showcasing the brand’s extensive portfolio in an inspiring environment.
Located in prime areas such as Hosur Main Road, Hennur Main Road, Bannerghatta, and Tumakuru, each showroom is set to redefine the retail experience in the ceramic industry. The collections on display include Somany’s flagship Coverstone 15, Duragres, Vitro, and newly launched collections like Colorato, Sedimento, Porto, Everstone, Eternastone, and Harmony ranges, featuring advanced surfaces and trendsetting finishes.
ConfirmTkt Renews RCB Partnership for T20 2025
Mumbai, 19th March 2025: ConfirmTkt, India’s leading online train-utility and ticketing platform, has renewed its association with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) as their official Train Ticketing Partner for the T20 season of 2025. This year, ConfirmTkt’s brand logo will be prominently displayed on the sleeve of RCB’s official and training jerseys.
This partnership marks an exciting milestone for both brands, with ConfirmTkt strengthening its association with RCB through engaging fan-driven initiatives. As part of this collaboration, ConfirmTkt will roll out a 360-degree marketing campaign across television, outdoor, and digital platforms, featuring RCB stars Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Krunal Pandya. ConfirmTkt is also bringing back its popular and exciting in-app game with a new edition, Ticket to Cricket, for the second year in a row, along with social media contests, giving RCB fans a chance to win match tickets, signed merchandise, and travel vouchers.
Expressing his enthusiasm, Dinesh Kumar Kotha, CEO, ixigo Trains & ConfirmTkt, said, “We look forward to another exciting season with RCB as we continue to simplify travel for cricket fans. This collaboration goes beyond just the game – it’s about bringing the excitement of cricket into every journey. Whether fans are traveling to catch a live match or celebrating victories on the go, we want to be a part of their experience, ensuring they stay connected to the action both on and off the field.”
Rajesh Menon, COO, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, said, “We’re thrilled to renew our partnership with ConfirmTkt. This collaboration will bring the excitement of cricket to every journey, ensuring our fans stay connected to the action and their favourite team.”
Entering its 18th season, the T20 league remains a global spectacle, with the last edition drawing a television viewership of over 54.6 crore. As ConfirmTkt renews this strategic partnership, it is set to keep the cricket fever alive, ensuring fans stay engaged long after the cheers fade.
TimesPro & AWS Drive Innovation with GenAI Hackathon
March 18, 2025: Amazon Web Services (AWS) successfully concluded the inaugural ‘AWS Hackathon’ in Mumbai in collaboration with TimesPro a leading higher edtech platform—an event designed to drive GenAI-powered innovation, accelerate AI adoption, and develop cutting-edge automated solutions. This milestone initiative not only fostered an innovative mindset but also equipped employees with future-ready skills through hands-on experimentation with GenAI technologies.
The three-day hackathon brought together 14 teams comprising over 80 participants, who tackled critical challenges in education and business. Participants developed AI-driven solutions aimed at improving post-class support, automating interview processes, and enhancing competition tracking—key factors influencing learner experience, operational efficiency, and workforce development. The most promising prototypes are set for further refinement to meet production standards and integrate into future product roadmaps.
Among the standout innovations was a GenAI powered resume builder trained on a dataset of 32,000 resumes. This tool enables users to generate professional CVs through text or voice commands in multiple regional languages, significantly enhancing accessibility. Another groundbreaking solution was a GenAI-driven academic companion designed to provide personalised post-class support. This tool assists students with step-by-step answers to queries, generates interactive quizzes, summarises lectures using word clouds and enables precise topic searches with timestamps for efficient revision.
Additionally, an AI-based interview automation platform was developed, featuring proctoring capabilities such as human-object detection and eye-tracking to ensure integrity and efficiency in hiring. The hackathon also produced an AI-driven career guidance tool that helps users define career goals based on their profile and aspirations. By leveraging cutting-edge technologies, including Amazon Bedrock, Claude, these innovations not only addressed pressing business challenges but also provided employees with hands-on experience in AI-driven problem-solving.
Reflecting on the event’s impact, Anish Srikrishna, CEO, TimesPro, stated, “Technology will be the driving force behind all services and the TimesPro-AWS Hackathon is a testament to our commitment to tackling core challenges that shape our industry. Learning is transforming at an unprecedented pace and will be unrecognisable in five years. Our teams have demonstrated remarkable dedication, leveraging GenAI to build innovative solutions that will enhance student learning and drive business impact for TimesPro and the industry. The outcomes of this hackathon will play a pivotal role in shaping the future and we look forward to continued collaboration with AWS to drive innovation.”
AWS played a crucial role in supporting the hackathon, conducting GenAI-centric workshops for TimesPro’s engineers to enhance their AI competencies and providing a robust infrastructure to enable seamless AI and ML integration. A panel of experts, including TimesPro’s leadership, AI specialists, business heads and AWS representatives, evaluated the projects based on criteria such as technical feasibility, business impact and scalability, ultimately identifying the most promising innovations for further development.
The hackathon also served as a foundational step in embedding AI across TimesPro’s digital initiatives. It reinforced TimesPro’s commitment to integrating AI into future projects, ensuring a scalable and customisable approach that caters to specific use cases and extends across partner institutions. Looking ahead, TimesPro aims to deepen its collaboration with premier institutions such as IITs, IIMs and IISc, fostering knowledge exchange and co-creating innovative solutions with a lasting impact.