~Breaking the Valentine’s Day Clutter with Exclusive Travel Deals for everyone~

This Valentine’s Day, Niyo, India’s leading travel banking fintech platform, is taking a stand with its unique anti-Valentine’s Day campaign #EiffelSingle. While the world celebrates love and couples, Niyo is celebrating the joy of solo travel because sometimes the best company is yourself.

Paris, the city of love is also home to one of the world’s most iconic landmarks:  the Eiffel Tower. But did you know its relationship status? It’s single! And it’s tired of being surrounded by cheesy couples all the time. With #EiffelSingle, Niyo is flipping the narrative, giving everyone a reason to travel and explore the world on their own terms.

Niyo’s “EiffelSingle” campaign includes a Flight Flash Sale on February 14th, offering ₹499 off on domestic flights and ₹999 off on international flights. This offer will be valid for 24 hours and open to all users. Additionally, from February 5th-14th, travellers can enjoy up to 40% off on Schengen Visa, making European adventures more accessible.

“Travel is one of the most liberating experiences and at Niyo, we believe in making travel effortless and accessible With #EiffelSingle, we are encouraging solo travellers to embrace their independence and take advantage of these exciting travel deals” said Sushanth Ravikumar, SVP and Head of Marketing and Growth at Niyo.

With Niyo’s International Debit and Credit cards, travellers can enjoy seamless international transactions, zero forex markup, and exclusive benefits making their solo journeys even more rewarding.

So this Valentine’s Day, skip the couple clichés and embrace the joy of traveling solo with Niyo’s #EiffelSingle campaign!

Video Link: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFsRI6IP0Rx/?igsh=cmg4MnBiNDRzaTU3

Powering Livelihoods is an initiative by the independent think tank Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) and Villgro, which is dedicated to advancing livelihoods through clean technology innovations that have the potential to impact 37 million livelihoods in India's agriculture and textile sectors. This initiative is aimed at scaling commercial deployments of decentralised renewable energy (DRE) based livelihood technologies including cold-storage startups with sustainable, energy-efficient, and scalable technologies.

By helping startups scale innovative technologies and by facilitating commercial partnerships between entities like go-to-market partners, end-user financiers, etc, Powering Livelihoods seeks to improve large-scale commercial adoption of DRE livelihood technologies in rural areas. The large-scale adoption of these technologies would lead to improving opportunities for higher sustainable income, decrease in drudgery, increase in market access, reduction in food loss, and thus empower communities, all while promoting gender equity and environmental sustainability. The cold-storage solutions that the programme supports, particularly in regions where food waste and supply chain inefficiencies are widespread, has a variety of solutions designed for prevention of food loss right from the farm gate to the last mile retailer node.

As the global demand for food security and sustainable agriculture practices continues to rise, the need for energy-efficient and environmentally responsible cold storage solutions has never been more urgent, especially in the scenario of climate change and rising heat affecting food loss more than ever. Cold storage systems are essential in extending the shelf life of agricultural produce, reducing waste, and ensuring that products reach markets without spoilage all while providing a better alternative to farmers against distress sale or throw-away of surplus produce. However, the existing cold storage infrastructure in many regions remains limited or outdated, often relying on conventional, energy-intensive methods that exacerbate climate change.

Key focus areas of the powering livelihoods initiative are:

●        Commercial Scale-Up through Support to Startups: The initiative is committed to driving the growth of startups by providing tailored support, strategic guidance, and resources to scale their operations effectively in the market

●        Awareness Generation through Demand Ignition: They focus on creating targeted awareness initiatives designed to stimulate demand, educating consumers and driving market engagement for innovative products and services

●        Affordability through Affordable Financing Solutions: They further aim to enhance affordability by offering flexible and accessible financing options that empower consumers and businesses to access the products and services they need without financial strain

●        Accessibility through Channel Partnerships: By fostering strategic channel partnerships, they enhance accessibility, ensuring that products and services are available to a wider audience through diverse and reliable distribution networks

Game-changing solutions in the cold storage sector: – 

The Powering Livelihoods initiative highlights several key startups that are revolutionizing the cold storage sector with their sustainable and innovative solutions:

●        Rukart – Subjee-Cooler (Cold Storage): Based on evaporative cooling, Rukart'sSubjee-Cooler is designed to extend the shelf life of leafy vegetables and fruits by 2-7 days. Ideal for retailers, the Subjee-Cooler preserves produce without the use of chemicals, preventing income loss due to spoilage. It also doubles as a ripening chamber, offering further versatility

●        Temperate – Multi-Commodity Cold Storage: Temperate addresses India’s cold chain infrastructure gap with its low-power, cost-effective cold storage technology. Consuming 80% less power than traditional refrigeration systems, Temperate maintains optimal conditions for fruits and vegetables, increasing shelf life and reducing waste

●        CoolCrop – Solar-Powered Farm-Gate Cold Storage:CoolCrop offers energy-efficient, portable, modular cold storage units powered by solar energy. Designed for farm-gate use, these units provide cooling services to farmers, cooperatives, and entrepreneurs, enabling them to store produce sustainably and make informed market decisions with predictive analytics

●        Newleaf – Biomass-Based Refrigeration System:Newleaf’s patented refrigeration technology is powered by farm waste, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional cold storage. The system is versatile, supporting cold storage, pre-cooling, ripening, and even mushroom cultivation, helping farmers increase shelf life and negotiate better prices for their produce

●        Saptkrishi – SabjiKothi (Vegetable storage for cart vendors):Sabjikothi is a highly affordable, low weight and space effective cooling box based on evaporative cooling technology, that cart vendors can use to sell their commodities without fear of it perishing. The cooling box keeps the commodities fresh for about 2 weeks with anti pathogen coating to keep them from perishing. Thus Fruits and Vegetables can also be procured in bulk at a negotiated price from wholesalers by the cart vendors.

As cold-storage startups like Rukart, Temperate, Newleaf ,CoolCrop and Saptkrishi continue to innovate, they are paving the way for a more sustainable and efficient cold chain system. The programme believes that the partnerships created between such technology providers, the go-to-market partners and end user financiers would create an ecosystem that would thrive on its own and subsequently create more such partnerships in future, even without support of a programme like PL.  

By leveraging renewable energy, low-power technologies, and environmentally friendly solutions, these startups address the dual challenges of food waste and sustainability. With the support of Powering Livelihoods programme, evidence of use cases where commercial viability of such technologies are being generated. This helps the ecosystem partners like market distributors, financiers, government entities and the end users like the farmers, micro entrepreneurs and food producing companies to confidently embrace sustainable cold storage technologies for such use cases.

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Customers can avail of quick gold loans at competitive rates and stand a chance to win exciting prizes

Muthoottu Mini Financiers Ltd. (Muthoottu Yellow) has announced a Lucky Draw Contest for customers availing gold loans, offering them a chance to win smartwatches, home appliances, and other exciting prizes. The contest, open until March 31, 2025, aims to strengthen customer relationships and make credit more accessible to those in need of quick financial support.

With a focus on small business owners, daily wage earners, and entrepreneurs, Muthoottu Mini is offering small-ticket gold loans at low interest rates to help customers manage their financial needs without strain. The initiative is expected to generate over ₹150 crore in business, reinforcing the company’s commitment to financial inclusion.

“Gold loans have long been a trusted financial tool, and through this initiative, we aim to make borrowing even more rewarding for our customers,” said Shri P.E. Mathai, CEO, Muthoottu Mini Financiers Ltd. “Beyond just providing credit, we want to offer convenience, flexibility, and a seamless borrowing experience that truly benefits our customers.”

In addition to the Lucky Draw Contest, Muthoottu Mini offers customers a range of hassle-free digital loan services, including:

·         Instant loan disbursal directly into the customer’s bank account.

·         Online renewal and repayment options for seamless loan management.

·         Relax Gold Loan – No change in the interest rates for the entire tenure.

·         Super EMI Loan – A flexible repayment plan that allows customers to pay back their gold loan in instalments.

For more details on the Lucky Draw Contest, customers can visit their nearest Muthoottu Mini branch, call 1800 2700 212, or visit www.muthoottumini.com.

Prominent attendees included Secretariat Employees’ Association President Giri Srinivas Reddy, General Secretary Prem, Treasurer Kailash, and others.

Jindal (India) Limited, part of prestigious B.C. Jindal Group and one of the leading downstream steel products manufacturers in India, successfully hosted Milaap, a retailers meet, in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. The meet which was organized in collaboration with company’s authorized dealer Kanha Steel was graced by senior company officials along with 60 retailers from surrounding regions.

In line with Jindal (India) Limited’s strategy to further strengthen its geographical presence across India, the company, at the event, showcased its range of advanced coated steel products, each designed to meet the specific demands of various industries while ensuring high performance and durability. Among these was Jindal Sabrang, an offering from Jindal (India) Limited that redefines the aesthetics of steel by introducing a vibrant array of colour-coated options with exceptional corrosion resistance in outdoor applications.

In addition, the company apprised the retailers about Jindal NeuColor+, a range that represents the pinnacle of premium coated steel products, offering a combination of advanced technology, aesthetic versatility, and long-lasting durability. The product offering from Jindal (India) Limited, is engineered with a special coating process that makes the steel sheet exceptionally resistant to corrosion and colour fading.

“A leading national player, Jindal (India) Limited has a strong foothold in the East and South markets of India. The company will continue to penetrate the current markets and, simultaneously, strengthen its presence in the Northern and the Western regions of the country. Through this retailer meet, we aim to strengthen relationships and raise awareness about our premium and innovative products, including coated sheet offerings, which are witnessing strong demand in the Kanpur market,” said a spokesperson from Jindal (India) Limited.

As part of this initiative, Jindal (India) Limited’s representatives also discussed the company’s plans for the region, gather first-hand feedback from the retailers and address any challenges that they may be facing. This proved beneficial to Jindal (India) Limited to network with the retailer partners driving growth across the region for the company and further strengthening the company’s position as a trusted and evolving company.

Since its inception, Jindal (India) Limited has been committed to nation-building initiatives, strongly supporting the Government of India’s push for modern infrastructure. Recently, the company also announced a strategic capacity expansion of 0.6 Million MT, a 60 per cent increase from its current capacity of 1 Million MT per annum with a capex spend of over INR 1,500 Crore. This expansion will primarily focus on ne

EDITOR’S SYNOPSIS

·         Over 14 students from Maharashtra have won medals at the International Karate Championships and other events.

·         Recently student Anushka Mandavkar from Chandrapur has secured 2^nd position in 300m running at Nagpur and progressed to become a state-level 800m runner.

·         Ambuja Cements fosters physical literacy and inclusiveness through its sports programme in rural schools.

·         Students have shown over 70% improvement in endurance, agility, and core strength since 2018.

Ambuja Cements, the cement and building material company of the diversified Adani Portfolio, is transforming rural education in Chandrapur, Maharashtra through its innovative CSR programmes in physical literacy and sports promotion. Fourteen students from Ambuja-supported ZP Upper Primary School, Upparwahi, Chandrapur, participated in the 2024 International Karate Championships in Hyderabad, winning one Gold, five Silver, and seven Bronze medals.

Similarly, Anushka Mandavkar, a seventh grader from Nadgaon School, has progressed to become a state-level 800m runner under the Khelo India initiative. She recently secured 2^nd position in 300m running at an event in Nagpur. Since 2018, the initiative has empowered thousands of students, enhancing physical fitness, building sports skills, and inspiring participation in national and international competitions.

The programme started as a pilot in 10 schools in Darlaghat, Himachal Pradesh, and later expanded to include 15 schools in Chandrapur, Maharashtra. It focuses on developing core physical competencies like endurance, agility, strength, and speed. Due to Ambuja Cements' efforts, a 2023 assessment by ELMS Sports Foundation reported a 73-74% improvement in students' physical fitness in addition to creating inspiring success stories.

Ambuja Cements is championing holistic development in underserved communities by collaborating with sports organisations, local authorities, and schools. The initiative also boosts school attendance, enhances discipline, and promotes inclusivity, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to unlock their full potential.

–       Strengthens Paytm Money’s governance framework with Shri Agarwal’s appointment, reinforcing its commitment to compliance and good governance

Paytm Money, a wholly-owned subsidiary of One97 Communications Limited (OCL) and a leading wealth-tech platform that simplifies wealth management and equity investments through a technology-first approach, has announced the appointment of Shri Rajeev Krishnamuralilal Agarwal as an additional Non-Executive Independent Director on its Board. Shri Agarwal will also serve as a member of the Audit Committee as well as  the Chairperson of the Risk Management Committee and the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Committee at Paytm Money.

Shri Agarwal brings more than 40 years of valuable experience, including a distinguished 28-year tenure with the Indian Revenue Services. During his time as a Whole-Time Member of SEBI, he played a pivotal role in driving key market reforms, including the revival package for the mutual fund industry in 2012 and the landmark merger of the Forward Markets Commission with SEBI in 2015. He also spearheaded major initiatives such as enhancing transparency through IPO reforms, introducing the offer-for-sale mechanism for PSU disinvestment, and championing the growth of the SME exchange, which significantly expanded funding opportunities for small businesses and startups.

In addition to his role as a Non-Executive Independent Director on the Board of Paytm Money, Shri Agarwal currently serves on the board of One97 Communications (Paytm) as well. He holds key positions as Chairman and Independent Director at Trust Mutual Fund, and as Independent Director at ACC Ltd., Star Health Insurance, UGRO Capital Ltd., and MK Ventures Capital Ltd. His wealth of experience will bring invaluable insights and guidance to Paytm Money, strengthening its commitment to innovation, transparency, and investor empowerment.

Rakesh Singh, CEO – Paytm Money said, “Our mission is to democratize access to financial markets and simplify the investment journey for millions of Indians. Having made significant strides in enhancing our governance framework, we continue to innovate and expand our investment offerings. With Shri Agarwal’s deep expertise in governance and risk management, we are confident that his guidance will further strengthen these efforts and drive long-term, sustainable growth.”

Shri Agarwal joins the illustrious Board of Paytm Money, which also includes the likes of Shri Narasinganallore Venkatesh Srinivasan and Mr. Cyrus Khambata, both of whom bring over 4 decades of experience in banking, capital markets, finance and risk management. With these veterans on the Board strengthening the Company's governance, Paytm Money remains committed to drive compliance-first innovation in wealth-tech.

The platform also offers ‘Margin Pledge,’ allowing traders to use their stock holdings for leverage in trades, along with the Pay Later (MTF) facility for further leverage. The platform has expanded its range of services, including the launch of BSE Futures & Options (BSE F&O) trading, enabling traders to trade SENSEX and BANKEX Option contracts. Recently, the company launched a major revamp of its app, designed to make investing simpler and more seamless than ever. The redesigned app offers a more intuitive interface, personalized dashboards, and smarter tools to empower investors at every stage of their journey. With enhanced portfolio insights, smoother transaction flows, and actionable dashboards for Stock and F&O trading, the upgraded experience caters to the evolving needs of today’s investors, making informed decision-making easier and more efficient.

Students to leverage free learning platform WongaWits to master fundamentals of investing

·         WongaWits LMS offers four comprehensive financial modules, enhancing financial literacy among students.

·         WongaWits Season 1 successfully engaged 300+ teams from 30+ colleges, fostering financial awareness and competition.

YES SECURITIES, a trusted name in financial services, today announced that it will empower 1 million students as future-ready investors by FY’28.

YES SECURITIES pioneered ‘WongaWits Season 1’ an on-ground inter-collegiate quiz competition in the BFSI sector, culminating in a thrilling Grand Finale on January 2025 at the headquarters, YES BANK House. The competition saw enthusiastic participation from 300+ teams across 30+ colleges, fostering financial literacy. S. P. Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR) clinched the championship title, followed by Thakur College and Nagindas Khandwala College.

The company then subsequently launched WongaWits LMS, a comprehensive learning platform offering four financial modules and certifications, empowering students to master financial literacy.

These comprehensive learning modules on WongaWits LMS include:

·         Basics of Stock Market

·         Investor Journey 101: Mutual Funds

·         Inside Forex, Currency & Commodities

·         The Best of Both: Fundamental & Technical

The company also intends to beef up this LMS platform by offering additional courses in financial tools like Bonds, Futures and Options, Exchange Traded Funds, Systematic Investment Plan, Risk Management and Taxation in investments.

Mr. Anshul Arzare, MD & CEO, YES SECURITIES said, “At YES SECURITIES, we believe financial literacy is a fundamental life skill that empowers individuals to make informed decisions about their future. Our commitment to educating 1 million students through our various student centric initiatives like WongaWits, The Wize Whispers is a step toward creating a financially aware and responsible generation. We believe in empowering generations to invest wisely, securely and seamlessly. In the today's world, which is deeply coloured by all sort of unverified social media, it’s important for generations to be able to filter. Financial literacy has both the aspects – to be able to manage finances better and most importantly not fall prey to unverified approaches, protecting money is equally important aspect along with making the best out of investments. We are proud of the enthusiastic participation in our recently concluded WongaWits Quiz and look forward to expanding our outreach to more students across the country.”

To achieve its goal of reaching 1 million students, YES SECURITIES will deploy a comprehensive marketing strategy encompassing digital engagement, social media campaigns, and student-focused programs. On-campus initiatives, including finance workshops, guest lectures, and interactive events at colleges, will further enhance participation. Additionally, strategic partnerships with universities, student organizations, and digital education platforms will help broaden the initiative’s reach and impact.

·       Airtel is utilizing Nokia's Qualcomm-based 5G Fixed Wireless Access outdoor gateway receiver and Wi-Fi 6 access point to facilitate high-speed broadband connectivity

·       Nokia's FastMile 5G FWA outdoor receiver enables Airtel to offer innovative, high-speed, and reliable broadband services in regions where fiber connectivity is unavailable 

Bharti Airtel has awarded a contract to Nokia, and Qualcomm focusing on the expansion of 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) and Wi-Fi solutions to facilitate high-speed internet access to millions across India.

As part of the arrangement, Nokia will supply Airtel with its 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) outdoor gateway receiver and Wi-Fi 6 Access Point, utilizing Qualcomm® Modem-RF and Wi-Fi 6 chipsets. This initiative will enable Airtel to provide superior broadband services in areas where fiber connectivity is either scarce or challenging to implement. The deployment of fixed wireless broadband access via 5G networks stands out as a significant application of 5G technology, especially in India, which faces low fiber penetration and a high demand for digital services. 

Airtel will leverage Nokia's FastMile 5G outdoor receivers, which are tailored for multi-dwelling units and capable of serving two households concurrently, thus facilitating a reduction in connection expenses. These receivers feature high-gain antennas that enhance broadband access over extended distances while efficiently managing radio resources. Furthermore, the FastMile 5G outdoor receiver utilizes Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) technology, enabling simple installation on various surfaces such as walls, balconies, or poles. 

Airtel will implement Nokia's Wi-Fi 6 access point within residences to enhance the in-home experience. This solution offers intelligent mesh capabilities and self-optimizing network features, ensuring that customers can enjoy an exceptional broadband experience throughout their homes.

Nokia's 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) and Wi-Fi 6 access point devices will be produced in India and packaged in fully recyclable materials.

Randeep Sekhon, CTO of Bharti Airtel, said: “This collaboration with Nokia and Qualcomm underscores our dedication to delivering an exceptional network experience for our customers. We are confident that Nokia's 5G Fixed Wireless Access and Wi-Fi 6 Access Point solutions will help provide high-speed internet to underserved areas and fulfil the need of a superior and uninterrupted broadband experience.”

Sandy Motley, President of Fixed Networks, Nokia, said: “India’s vast size and population density presents unique challenges for broadband connectivity.  In those communities where fiber is difficult to deploy, FWA can be used to provide reliable wireless broadband connectivity.  With our 5G FWA and Wi-Fi 6 solutions built in collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies, Bharti Airtel will be able to provide customers with fiber-like speeds which are becoming essential in today’s digital economy.  We look forward to supporting Bharti Airtel in its vision to connect more communities to high-speed broadband access.” 

 “We are excited to be part of this new generation of products by Bharti Airtel and Nokia which are designed to deliver optimized performance, coverage, and user experiences. 5G FWA combined with Wi-Fi 6 access point is ideal for connecting the unconnected, making it an extremely versatile solution for Indian homes and businesses,” said Rahul Patel, Group General Manager, Connectivity, Broadband & Networking, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.

Nokia has been a trusted partner by Airtel for providing all network equipment. Recently, they also got an extension on the deal for deploying 4G and 5G equipment across key Indian cities and states  

Resources and additional information Web page: https://www.nokia.com/networks/in-home-connectivity