The summit was themed “Future-Ready HR: Shaping People, Technology and Talent” and witnessed participation from leading industry experts, policymakers, and HR professionals across the automotive sector. The platform facilitated thought-provoking discussions on HR transformation, ESG integration, and the application of Artificial Intelligence in the evolving labour ecosystem.

Expressing his pride on the occasion, Farrokh N. Cooper, Chairman and Managing Director of Cooper Corporation Pvt. Ltd., said, “This recognition at the ACMA Best HR Practices Competition is a proud moment for all of us at Cooper Corporation. ‘e-Ekalavya’ represents our belief that technology-enabled learning is fundamental to building a future-ready organization. Our people are our greatest strength, and initiatives like these ensure that we continuously upgrade skills, enhance capabilities, and remain competitive in a dynamic industry environment. I congratulate our HR and Training teams for their dedication and innovative approach.”

The award highlights the successful implementation of “e-Ekalavya,” an internally developed Digital Learning Management System (LMS). Under the leadership of Chief Human Resources Officer Nitin Deshpande, the system was designed to standardize, streamline, and amplify the effectiveness of training and development across the organization. Developed by Swapnil Sandage and executed by the Training & Development team, “e-Ekalavya” reflects the company’s drive toward digital transformation and a future-ready workforce.

The recognition reflects Cooper Corporation’s sustained focus on digital transformation, operational excellence, and building a future-ready workforce aligned with the rapidly evolving automotive landscape.

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The occasion was graced by key customers and partners, including leaders from Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, Hero MotoCorp, Mahindra & Mahindra, Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, and TVS Motor Company, underscoring the Group’s long-standing relationships across the Indian automotive ecosystem.

The new centre will serve as a nucleus for advanced research and product development in key areas such as in-cabin experiences, ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems), connectivity, and embedded electronics. It is designed to deliver next-generation solutions that align with the evolving needs of automotive manufacturers and end consumers.

Anmol Jain, Managing Director, Lumax Auto Technologies Limited, said, “This centre marks a major step toward our Tier 0.5 vision, enhancing our strengths in electronics, mechatronics, and digital systems. We aim to lead the transformation toward intelligent, connected, and sustainable mobility, and Bengaluru’s dynamic tech ecosystem provides the ideal environment for this journey.”

The automotive component industry is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by electrification, digitisation, and autonomous technologies. As vehicles become increasingly software-centric, Lumax Group is integrating intelligent systems and delivering seamless user experiences. The establishment of the SHIFT Technology Centre reflects the Group’s commitment to staying ahead of these trends and contributing to India’s emergence as a global innovation hub in mobility.

“The launch of our Technology Centre reaffirms our long-term commitment to customer-centric innovation and technological leadership. As the industry transitions toward software-defined Vehicles (SDV), the future of mobility will increasingly be driven by intelligence, connectivity, and digital integration”, said Deepak Jain, Promoter Director, Lumax Auto Technologies Limited. “SHIFT will enable Lumax Group to accelerate innovation, strengthen collaboration, and shape intelligent mobility solutions of the future.”

The SHIFT Technology Center is equipped with advanced electronics labs for hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing, rapid prototyping, and product validation, enabling end-to-end innovation from concept to commercialisation.

Satish Sunderesan, CTO, Lumax Auto Technologies Limited, said, “With SHIFT, we aim to converge talent, technology, and transformation to engineer software-defined and digitally driven vehicles and evolve from smart systems to autonomous intelligence.”

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• Strengthen Pune’s creator ecosystem
• Open doors for collaboration among brands, creators & entrepreneurs
• Provide insights from leading industry voices
• Educate & inspire the next generation of digital talent
• Highlight Pune as a rising cultural hub for creators

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PUNE: The small and medium businesses (SMBs) of Pune are entering their most confident decade yet. New LinkedIn research finds that 92% of SMBs are already investing in or planning AI adoption, indicating how technology has moved from experiment to infrastructure. At the same time, around 91% of SMB decision-makers expect business growth in the next 12 months – signalling a sector rebuilding itself around smarter systems, skilled talent, and measurable digital impact.

For Pune’s SMBs, evolution is survival, not optional

Behind their confidence lies urgency. AI is no longer a buzzword, but the new baseline for growth. The research shows that 60% of SMBs prioritise adopting AI and automation for efficiency and operational efficiency, while 49% are focused on digital transformation.  

Kumaresh Pattabiraman, Country Manager, LinkedIn India, said, “Pune has been an enduring powerhouse for entrepreneurial progress, and its SMBs are carrying that legacy forward with decisive investments in AI and skilled talent. This is a city that scales with intent, choosing platforms that deliver trust, insights, and real ROI. Our focus at LinkedIn is to help accelerate this journey by offering the right network, the right clients, and the right talent, all in one place – so, every small business can operate with the confidence and capability of a large enterprise.”

AI becomes the new operating system for growth

AI has become the engine behind how SMB’s hire, market, and grow. Nearly all surveyed businesses say they use or plan to use it to automate workflows (94%), strengthen analytics and business intelligence (96%), and streamline hiring, marketing, and sales (over 90%). 

Hiring models are being rebuilt around capability, not credentials. SMBs now value digital literacy and AI fluency (67%), problem-solving (63%), and digital communication (50%). To find this talent, 63% already use AI hiring tools, citing better assessments and higher engagement.

Marketing and sales are also becoming increasingly intelligence-driven. Nearly 78% SMBs are using AI marketing tools, with 96% investing up to half their budgets in them. 78% now rely on AI in sales for sharper targeting and automated follow-ups, allowing them to operate with the sophistication of larger enterprises.

Rahul Karthikeyan, Chief Marketing Officer, Scaler, said, “Scaler’s recent campaigns have seen strong performance through precise audience targeting and data-driven optimisation. Sponsored Content, especially vertical formats, delivered a 20% higher lead-to-payment conversion than static formats on other channels. In August alone, LinkedIn generated about 70–80 new payments with a return on spend (RoS) of 2.2. We plan to further scale this high-impact channel while maintaining cost-per-sale efficiency.”

Trust is the new competitive advantage

Even as they adopt AI at speed, Pune SMBs are discerning about where they place their trust. 95% say their decisions are guided less by cost and more by credibility. Their top considerations are security and data privacy (77%), seamless integration with existing systems (84%), and clear ROI (78%). Together, these shifts signal the rise of a smarter, more resilient SMB ecosystem – one that is not just adapting to the AI era but actively shaping it.

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INDIA: InCred Money, the retail wealth-tech arm of the InCred Group, announces the launch of Digital Gold & Silver in partnership with MMTC-PAMP, a joint venture between PAMP SA (Switzerland) and MMTC Ltd., a Government of India enterprise, and India’s only LBMA-accredited Good Delivery Gold & Silver refiner. With a starting investment of just ₹10, the product aims to turn India’s everyday spenders into everyday savers.

In an era of impulse spending, where ₹100 snacks and ₹300 online deals are just a swipe away, the habit of saving is fading. InCred Money is bringing it back — with a minimum ₹10 Digital Gold & Silver purchase at a time – making gold and silver accessible to everyone.

What makes this product truly unique is the flexibility it offers. With just a click, your holdings can be redeemed anytime, 24/7, with money instantly transferred to your bank account. For the investors or consumers, preferring holding physical gold or silver products can also redeem them for 24K, 999.9 (99.99%+ purity) purest gold and silver coins and bars from MMTC-PAMP delivered securely to your doorstep with guaranteed purity and safety. Every MMTC-PAMP product is crafted with the Finest Swiss Craftsmanship, carries a unique number, and comes packaged in Assayer Certified Minted Cards.

“Savings should feel as natural as spending.”
“People need a convenient and relevant way to begin their savings,” said Vijay Kuppa, CEO of InCred Money. “Digital Gold & Silver on our platform blends seamlessly into daily life, much like spending does. Whether it’s a chai break, a quick recharge, or a late-night snack, now every ₹10 saved can build something meaningful.”

“AtMMTC-PAMP, we cater to the ever-evolving needs and purchasing preferences of customers. This platform allows for consumers and investors to avail the purest gold and silver minted products with 99.99%+ purity as a means to diversify their investment portfolio or for any traditional celebration,” said Samit Guha, Interim CEO and CFTO, MMTC-PAMP.

The biggest advantage lies in the ability to invest in small amounts digitally and gradually build a meaningful holding. Once your accumulated savings reach a desired size, you can choose to redeem them in cash or physical form. This approach not only makes disciplined saving easier but also allows you to lock in gold or silver prices at any point in time, protecting you against future price fluctuations.

Unlike traditional gold purchases, Digital Gold & Silver offer the same value without the hassle — no storage concerns, no high entry barriers, and complete liquidity. It’s wealth you can build flexibly, securely, and at your own pace.

Key Features of InCred Money Digital Gold & Silver
– Start Small: Saving from just ₹10
– Full Flexibility: Buy or sell instantly on the InCred Money app
– Live Market Prices: Transparent and real-time updates
– Safe & Insured: Vault-stored by MMTC-PAMP, India’s most trusted refinery
– Automated SIP: Set up SIPs — daily, weekly, or monthly
– Easy Redemption: Convert to cash anytime or receive physical gold/silver at your doorstep
– No Demat Required: 100% digital and hassle-free

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Until now, such work has been typically outsourced to independent contractors outside the Uber ecosystem. By bringing it into the driver app, Uber is offering drivers an additional stream of income, especially during downtimes when ride demand is low.

“This pilot is about giving drivers more choice, flexibility, and ways to earn,” said Megha Yethadka, Global Head, Uber AI Solutions. “Drivers can face downtime at certain times of the day, and digital tasks offer a way to make that time productive. Early engagement has been strong, with many thousands of tasks already completed.”

Uber AI Solutions works with global companies to deliver services like data labelling, localisation, and product testing, which are the building blocks of high-performing AI systems. If successful, the India pilot may become a template for similar initiatives worldwide, giving Uber’s vast network of drivers and delivery partners a role in the fast-growing AI economy.

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This is not just another awards show. Screen Awards 2025 represents a powerful blend of editorial credibility, cultural legacy, and digital reach. Backed by the Indian Express Group’s journalism-first ethos, the awards are defined by integrity and merit. Winners are chosen by the Screen Academy — an independent, not-for-profit body of acclaimed filmmakers, artists, and cultural voices committed to recognising true excellence.

Anant Goenka, Executive Director of the Indian Express Group, said:

“Indian cinema deserves a stage that celebrates creativity beyond collections. Our storytellers carry 1.4 billion dreams — rooted in tradition and racing toward an exciting future. This award will honour that spirit and spotlight India’s boldest, most original voices. We’re thrilled YouTube shares our enthusiasm for this endeavour.”

Taking a digital-first approach to content and format, the Screen Awards will stream on YouTube — offering open access to global audiences. For the first time, Bollywood’s biggest stars will share the spotlight with YouTube’s most influential creators, who will be woven into every leg of this three-month-long festival — from red carpet and behind-the-scenes content to creator-led storytelling and fan engagement.

This digital-first approach reflects a fundamental shift in how audiences consume entertainment, driven by significant trends in India’s entertainment landscape, including surging internet penetration, rapid growth in Connected TVs (CTV), and increasing mobile consumption. In fact, CTV has been YouTube’s fastest-growing screen in India for the last five years, reinforcing the platform’s unique position to make premium content accessible on every screen and in every format. It brings together the richness of cinema with the intimacy and immediacy of digital storytelling — bridging generations, platforms, and communities.

Speaking on the collaboration, Gunjan Soni, Managing Director – India, YouTube, said:

“We are thrilled to be the digital home for the Screen Awards, bringing a cultural icon to its next chapter. YouTube is where billions of fans connect with the entertainment they love, and we’re excited for them to experience one of cinema’s biggest nights in an immersive way. By bridging Bollywood’s biggest stars with YouTube’s most influential creators, we’re building an engaged community for an iconic event and unlocking the power of fandoms.”

With unparalleled reach in India and globally, YouTube is an ideal home for the Screen Awards. According to ComScore, YouTube reaches four out of five internet users in India aged 18 and older, while entertainment videos on the platform generated over 7.5 billion daily views worldwide in 2024.

Adding to the announcement, Priyanka Sinha Jha, Curator of the Screen Awards, stated:

“Established in 1995, Screen Awards has a legacy of firsts: the first jury-based film award in India, the first award show the Oscars management attended and vouched for, and the first accolade earned by several of today’s superstars. With the inception of The Screen Academy and our partnership with YouTube, we mark another first for India — building on our reputation for presenting the nation’s most credible and coveted awards, delivered with path-breaking entertainment.”

Screen Awards 2025 offers unprecedented visibility, cultural relevance, and multi-format storytelling opportunities for brands looking to connect with India’s most engaged audiences — both online and offline.

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PUNE: BHIM Payments App, developed by NPCI BHIM Services Limited (NBSL), combines innovation and simplicity to redefine digital payments in India. It supports 15+ Indian languages, including Marathi, making digital payments accessible across urban, rural, and semi-urban users. The app is optimised for low connectivity, ensuring smooth transactions even in weak network areas. Designed for seamless use across all age groups, the app has an ad-free, clutter-free interface.

BHIM has steadily scaled in reach and usage, reflecting growing user trust. In June 2025, the app processed 79.58 million transactions worth ₹12,110 crore, a growth of nearly 212% in volume and 46% in value compared to June 2024. It also provides advanced money management tools to track, manage, and split expenses, helping users stay more organised in their financial routines.

NPCI BHIM Services Limited (NBSL) was incorporated in 2024 as a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). The new BHIM Payments App, introduced in March 2025, represents the third evolution since its launch in 2016 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Lalitha Nataraj, MD & CEO, NBSL, said, “BHIM Payments App is designed to meet the needs of today’s users in the fast-evolving world of digital payments. Built for Bharat, it prioritises safety, convenience, and inclusion. It reduces cash dependency with seamless small-value transactions, even in low-connectivity areas. The App enhances the user experience while promoting financial empowerment across all sections of society.”

Enhanced Features for Users

• Split Expenses – Users can now split bills with friends and family seamlessly. Whether it’s dining out, rent payments, or group purchases, the BHIM app allows users to divide expenses and make payments directly, ensuring hassle-free settlements.
• Family Mode – Users can now onboard family members, track shared expenses, and assign specific payments. This feature enables better financial planning by giving families a consolidated view of their expenses.
• Spends Analytics – The new dashboard offers an intuitive view of a user’s monthly spending patterns for the spends done on the BHIM App. It automatically categorises expenses, helping users analyse and manage their budget without needing complex spreadsheets.
• Action Needed – A built-in task assistant that reminds users of pending bills linked to the BHIM app, prompts them to enable UPI Lite, and alerts them when their Lite balance is low. It ensures users stay on top of their financial activities.
• UPI Circle (Partial delegation for UPI transactions) – Empowers users to extend limited payment rights to trusted individuals. A primary account holder can authorise up to five secondary users to initiate payments from their account. Every transaction initiated by a secondary user requires explicit approval through the primary user’s UPI PIN on the BHIM app. The app also provides real-time visibility of all such transactions, ensuring complete transparency, control, and oversight for the primary user.

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This debut marks a significant moment for Indian luxury—a seamless fusion of timeless craftsmanship and modern accessibility, set to redefine how fine jewellery is discovered, admired, and owned in the digital age.

A Legacy Goes Live

Crafted at the legendary Sabyasachi Calcutta atelier, the online boutique will house the largest digital collection of the designer’s coveted Fine Jewellery to date. Each piece is a testament to the House’s ethos: refined, rooted, and timeless.

The collections are all crafted in 18 carat gold, using VVS-VS EF colour brilliant-cut diamonds, natural pearls, precious gemstones, and the unmistakable Bengal Tiger insignia—a Sabyasachi signature.

A Curated Glimpse into the Boutique

The Royal Bengal Heritage Gold Collection
Features the classic Sabyasachi Mangalsutra, with pure gold interpretations of the Bengal Tiger motif.

The Royal Bengal Diamond Collection
A high-luxe edit of diamond-studded heirlooms, complete with natural gemstones and intricately set charms.

The Royal Bengal Pearl Series
A poetic play of natural, cultured, and South Sea pearls, celebrating elegance in its purest form.

The Sunderbans Collection
Inspired by nature, this line evokes floral and faunal motifs, merging ancient craft with modern storytelling.

Tiger Stripe, Shalimar & Tiger Eye
Contemporary classics featuring gold lacquer, enamel artistry, and diamond-dusted Bengal Tigers.

Expect earrings, bracelets, pendants, and rings designed not just for special occasions, but for everyday elegance.

Crafted with Soul, Priced with Integrity

“Our pricing isn’t aspirational; it’s grounded,” says designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Founder & Creative Director of Sabyasachi Calcutta.
“This jewellery remains everything you’d expect from the House of Sabyasachi: integrity, craftsmanship, and lasting value. With this digital boutique, we’re bringing the soul of the atelier into people’s homes.”

Luxury Meets Digital Access

For Tata CLiQ Luxury, the partnership is a proud addition to its growing portfolio of world-class luxury experiences.

“This collaboration with Sabyasachi brings together two icons of Indian luxury,” says Gopal Asthana, CEO, Tata CLiQ Luxury.
“We’re making heritage accessible—not just to urban centres but also to discerning customers in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. The fine jewellery collection enhances our curated offering with timeless Indian artistry.”

The digital boutique offers personalised shopping assistance, where trained experts help customers choose pieces that reflect their story—be it a wedding heirloom, a personal indulgence, or a meaningful gift.

Now Live: India’s Most Iconic Jewellery, Just a Click Away

As digital luxury becomes more experiential, this launch stands as a shining example of how craftsmanship and e-commerce can coexist without compromise. The platform goes beyond transaction—it promises discovery, emotion, and elegance.

“We’re ready to see our jewellery create new stories in new homes,” says Manish Chopra, CEO, Sabyasachi Calcutta LLP.
“This is a new chapter, and it’s one that stays true to everything the brand stands for—quality, value, and emotion.”

Shop the collection exclusively on luxury.tatacliq.com
Boutique goes live: August 21, 2025

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PUNE: Xtelify, a fully-owned subsidiary of Bharti Airtel (‘Airtel’) housing all of Airtel’s digital assets and capabilities, today launched a sovereign, telco-grade cloud platform – ‘Airtel Cloud’. Tailored to handle 140 crore transactions per minute for Airtel’s use in India, this sovereign cloud platform is now being extended to meet the ever-evolving needs of businesses in India. Hosted on next-gen sustainable data centres, with Gen-AI-based provisioning, and managed by 300 certified cloud experts, the highly secure and reliable Airtel Cloud offers IaaS, PaaS, and advanced connectivity and guarantees secure migration, effortless scaling, lower costs, and no vendor lock-ins.

Xtelify also launched an AI-powered, future-ready software platform that will help telcos all around the world rid themselves of underlying complexity, improve customer experience, lower churn, and raise ARPU. Addressing every layer of the telecom value chain, the solution comes with a converged data engine for AI-led insights and intelligence at scale, a Workforce platform for real-time task streamlining, and an experience platform for managing every element of the customer journey for a telco.

Xtelify signed three global partnerships for the newly launched platform.

• With Singtel, Xtelify will deploy an enterprise-grade, plug-and-play transformative platform – ‘Xtelify Work’ equipping Singtel’s field teams in Singapore with AI-powered capabilities like fleet optimization, automated task management, and real-time tracking and governance that will enhance their productivity.
• With Globe Telecom, Xtelify will deploy its cutting-edge, next-generation, AI-powered customer services platform – ‘Xtelify Serve’ in the Philippines. This will help Globe Telecom in elevating its customer experience at scale through omni-channel service assurance, streamlining business processes, and intelligent data-driven operations.
• With Airtel Africa, Xtelify will provide its software platforms, which include Data Engine, Work, and IQ. Deploying Xtelify Data Engine and Xtelify Work will empower Airtel Africa’s 150K-strong field team across 14 countries with market insights for micro-targeted strategies and unlock critical use cases like spam and fraud protection for their customers across Africa. Xtelify IQ will enable secure, real-time, omnichannel customer engagement, enhancing both service quality and customer experience.

Gopal Vittal, Vice Chairman and MD  ̶  Bharti Airtel, said, “It is a very pivotal moment in our history as we take our world-class, home-grown platforms of Airtel Cloud and software solutions to businesses in India and telcos all over the world. We are privileged to have signed on partnerships with three top-tier companies already – Singtel, Globe Telecom, and Airtel Africa.”

“Within Airtel, we have been actively harnessing digital innovations at an unmatched scale to transform our services and enhance customer experience at Airtel for many years now. This has involved powering over 590 million customer touchpoints and solving some of the most complex telecom challenges in the world. All this is enabled by Airtel Cloud, where all our applications run at a very compelling cost. Today, we are also excited to take our telco-grade, sovereign-cloud platform and help businesses in India innovate faster, scale smarter, and stay secure in today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape. All controls of our cloud will reside strictly within the country, ensuring zero possibility of any entity outside India being able to access any part of this data or its working”, Vittal added.

Ng Tian Chong, CEO – Singtel Singapore, said: “We are always looking for ways to better equip our field engineers so we can deliver the best possible experiences to our customers. This platform enables us to reimagine our workflows with AI at the core, improving both efficiency and customer service. By optimising dispatch and resource management, our engineers can reach customers more quickly, resolve issues with greater accuracy, and reduce our overall carbon footprint. We’re also able to enhance productivity, strengthen governance, and ultimately deliver more value to our customers.”

Carl Cruz, President and CEO – Globe Telecom, said, “At Globe, our North Star has always been our deep desire to help uplift the lives of Filipinos by creating meaningful, reliable, and human-centered experiences. This partnership with Airtel and Xtelify is a bold step forward in that aspiration, empowering us to serve our customers with greater empathy, intelligence, and speed. By integrating Xtelify’s AI-powered Case Management Platform into our operations, we bring to life our commitment to best-in-class service across every journey, from the first touchpoint to final resolution. This transformation enables a more seamless and transparent experience for our customers, where concerns are addressed with clarity, accountability, and genuine care.”

“We are proud to collaborate with Airtel and Xtelify, two like-minded partners equally committed to raising the bar for customer experience globally. Together, we are not just launching a platform, we are building a new standard for service excellence, one that helps bring our shared vision of a more admired and more customer-centric telco to life”, Cruz added.

“We are excited to have Xtelify as a core technology partner, enabling us to deliver meaningful digital advancements and enriching the lives of millions across Africa,” said Jacques Barkhuizen, Group Chief Information Officer – Airtel Africa.

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