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Award for Manappuram Finance’s Skill Development Initiatives
Manappuram Finance has been honoured with an award for the ‘Best Skill Development Initiative of the Year’. The recognition was bestowed upon the lending institution at the 4th BFSI Excellence Awards, organised by Quantic India. Manappuram’s upskilling and employee training program emerged as the standout initiative among BFSI institutions nationwide. Sujit Chandra Kumar, General Manager of Manappuram Finance’s Corporate Communications Department, and Chief Learning Officer Dr Renjith P R were present at the function in Mumbai to receive the prestigious award.
On this achievement, Mr. V. P. Nandakumar, the MD and CEO of Manappuram Finance Limited, expressed his happiness and said, “We are proud of this recognition. At Manappuram, we are committed to enhancing the skills and capabilities of our workforce. We believe in providing specialised training in various career fields related to the banking and finance sector, both internally and in collaboration with esteemed higher education institutions.”
BorderPlus Commits ₹10 Crore in Scholarships over the next 2 years to Indian Nurses
This International Nurses Day, BorderPlus, a leading workforce mobility platform, reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the nation’s healthcare champions. Recognizing the importance of nurses and the world’s urgent need for their expertise and skills, BorderPlus today announced a significant investment in their future, committing INR 10 crore in scholarships over the next 2 years. The initiative will support deserving and aspiring nurses, enabling them to build successful international careers.
Marking a key milestone in this mission, BorderPlus also unveiled its first regional Training & Support Center in Kochi, a hub aimed at nurturing nursing talent from the southern region through personalized guidance and resources. The center currently supports over 120 candidates, with plans to expand this capacity to more than 500. It offers in-person exam preparation, personalized counseling, and comprehensive documentation support. Through this center, BorderPlus will also provide digital offerings, directly supporting nurses across Kerala and neighbouring regions. The Kochi center will be operated by a trusted local franchisee partner and enrollments have already started.
Mayank Kumar and Ayush Mathur, Co-founders of BorderPlus said, “The global healthcare sector faces a significant nursing shortage, presenting a unique opportunity for India’s vast pool of skilled and dedicated nurses. At BorderPlus, our mission is to empower these professionals by providing structured, ethical, and transparent pathways to international careers. This scholarship initiative is a powerful testament to our commitment to supporting Indian nurses in realizing their global aspirations, ensuring they are equipped to make meaningful and valued contributions to healthcare systems worldwide.”
Despite India’s rich nursing talent, candidates exploring global career pathways often face hurdles such as end-mile skilling gap, prohibitive exam costs, complex documentation requirements, and a lack of reliable guidance. The scholarship, open to Indian nurses, aims to address these fundamental barriers by offering crucial financial support and structured guidance enabling Indian nurses to pursue overseas careers with greater confidence and clarity. Empowering Indian nurses to pursue global careers not only enhances their professional growth but also contributes to India’s remittance economy, as they continue to support their families back home.
Candidates will be carefully selected based on their merit, clear intent, and long-term career alignment. Each applicant will undergo a thorough screening and interview process, ensuring that the support reaches those with both strong potential and a well-defined vision for their global journey.
Bosch GS’Tech support enables the first secure & sustainable Elephant Care Facility
The Karnataka Forest Department, in partnership with the Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (WRRC) and Bosch Global Software Technologies (BGSW), has opened the first Elephant Care Facility in the state. The facility is located in Lakshmisagara, Kolar District and is surrounded by over 100 acres of reserve forest. It has been established in response to the growing number of elephants in private ownership, which are being exploited in captivity. There are over 180 captive elephants in Karnataka alone, many of whom are subjected to abuse and neglect in private custody. The new facility will provide the rescued elephants with a safe and healthy environment.
They will have access to nutritious food, adequate water, as well as a space to walk and socialize. Trained professionals will also provide regular medical care to the elephants. V Yedukondalu, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Kolar, Karnataka Forest Department, said, “The Elephant Care Facility is a historic moment for Karnataka, highlighting the need to address the challenges faced by captive elephants, many of whom have endured hardship and neglect. Our cultural and natural heritage includes these majestic beings, who deserve care, respect, and freedom.
This facility is not just a refuge but a commitment to ensuring that every rescued and needy elephant in our state has a chance to thrive in an environment that mirrors their natural habitat as much as possible, providing them with a healthy and natural diet, socialising opportunities, and the chance to indulge in other natural behaviours which aren’t possible in captivity. We are proud to collaborate with WRRC and BGSW in setting a benchmark for ethical wildlife conservation.” The facility is managed by the Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (WRRC), a Bengaluru-based non-profit organization. WRRC has a team of experienced veterinarians and mahouts who are dedicated to providing the elephants with the best possible care. Suparna Baksi Ganguly, Honorable President and Co-founder, WRRC, “Elephants, as majestic and gentle creatures, deserve the utmost dignity and respect. This facility is a testament to our unwavering commitment to their welfare
We are deeply grateful to our partners, Bosch Global Software Technologies and the Karnataka Forest Department, for their dedicated support in making this safe haven a reality. Together, our efforts have set a new precedent for ethical wildlife conservation across the nation.” Bosch Global Software Technologies is an instrumental partner, enriching the essential foundation by securing the facility through setting up a CCTV surveillance network (2 areas under CCTV surveillance) and fencing enclosures (3000 square ft), an elephant weigh bridge with 10-tonne capacity to understand progress on health parameters, an off-grid solar-powered system to ensure energy self-sufficiency (Hybrid solar Inverter 5KW, 500L capacity solar water heater and 36W solar lights), two container cabins converted into a research and welfare hub to enable wildlife observation and studies, with residential capability, and a training and sensitization hub to promote awareness and capacity building of relevant stakeholders
British Asian entrepreneur fights against reports of “knock-off” Indian medicines
A British Asian entrepreneur has launched what he says could be a “landmark” legal battle against a major British tabloid newspaper, after he branded a report a “witch hunt”
The move comes after Nottingham-based Sukhi Ghuman reacted angrily to a Sunday Mirror article that reported that chemotherapy medicine imported from an Indian- based firm to the US was “knock-off”.
Nottingham-based Sukhi Ghuman returned to the UK from US in 2023, where as a “silent investor” he had built a group of seven successful cancer and rheumatology treatment clinics across Arizona and California.
He had begun treatment for his own cancer whilst in the states but last year returned to be closer to his Sikh family in the East Midlands.
Currently in remission and taking a sabbatical while he recovers, Ghuman was rocked by reports from The Sunday Mirror in early January revealing that he and his wife (a part-time bookkeeper) face extradition to the States for procuring goods without a licence.
Sukhi Ghuman says the charges had come “out of the blue” in November 2023 and were in danger of sullying his reputation as a respected entrepreneur.
However, he was even more taken aback by what he describes as “lazy” reporting after the paper branded the medicines “knock-off”;
“Frankly, I’m shocked and appalled. I’m stunned that a professional media outlet would casually use words like “knock-off” to describe medication from another country, especially a country (India) that manufactures 20% of the world’s global generic medication and 60% of the world’s vaccines were from major multinational corporations.”.
He added: “I am not sure where they got the story from – although I have my suspicions. I would expect more care from such an historic newspaper in terms of their phrasing. I do not dispute that the clinic practices, which were in existence before I became involved, were technically incorrect, however these are bona fide proper medication, without a single complaint in five years of operation.”
Sukhi Ghuman insists they were not “knock-off” or in any way harmful to anyone’s health.He added: “We treated thousands of patients, many of whom could not afford to have been treated otherwise, what was the doctor and clinic meant to do, turn them away?.
‘We spent $35m dollars on US medicine in addition to that limited quantity imported from India. However, despite what the Sunday Mirror report says they do not amount to ‘smuggling’ or ‘exploitation’ – the medication was shipped over correctly by cold chain mail from established companies like INTAS, BSV, Zydus Lifesciences, Sun Pharma and Cipla, not to mention three different pharma companies in IPSEN, Baxter and Bristol Myers Squib. I wonder, would these organisations find such language be acceptable?”.
Ghuman says he is “dismayed” as the clinics were operated passionately and diligently by professional cancer doctors and support teams.He added: “Although my intervention was minimal, having recently checked the buying records, we spent in excess of $35m buying medication from the USA. The existing practices of the clinic had utilised an overseas wholesaler, for those vulnerable that could not afford to buy the same product in the USA – which was ten times more expensive.,
“In the UK the laws are different as this is not related to profit, and you can purchase from overseas to treat oneself. Indeed, recent reports show that Florida can import medication from Canada as people cannot afford the astronomical cost of healthcare in the USA. However, with hindsight I would have paid more attention, than allowing the two clinics to run themselves with the current buying practices.
“I’m upset that The Sunday Mirror published sensitive news without proper validation that left me and my former USA colleagues dumbfounded, causing extreme distress to my family as I personally chose that medication for my recovery under my clinic.
“The case will be considered with proper background verification; however, it is time to address the situation where words live longer in this current Internet age. These medicines have the identical active ingredients which are approved and licensed for use in the US so hereby any ‘knock-off’ status is purely a false claim for page hits.”
CASE India Expands Network in Maharashtra, inaugurates New Dealership in Nashik
CASE Construction Equipment, a brand of CNH, further strengthens its presence in Maharashtra with the inauguration of a new dealership, Gulati Cranes, in Nashik. Located on Nashik Airport Road, Adgaon, the new dealership will ensure seamless access to sales, service, and spare parts for customers across Nashik, Dhule, Nandurbar, and Jalgaon.
Speaking on the inauguration, Mr. Shalabh Chaturvedi, Managing Director, CASE Construction Equipment – India & SAARC region said, “Creating a presence in Nashik, the inauguration of this new dealership marks a strategic move for us to expand our footprint in Maharashtra. At CASE India, customer centricity is a core principle for us in our operations. We believe this new facility will help us offer seamless access to advanced equipment, genuine spare parts, and expert service—all under one roof. Beyond expanding our presence, this dealership allows us to contribute to the region’s progress while playing a part in the nation’s infrastructure development.”
This state-of-the-art facility will offer CASE’s full range of construction equipment and deliver a comprehensive customer experience. Apart from the equipment fleet, the facility is designed to meet customer needs with amenities such as a fully equipped workshop, availability of genuine parts, a training and conference room, a telematics centre, and a customer lounge. The outlet is supported by highly trained technical advisors and service engineers to provide seamless sales, service and expert guidance.
A global leader in Construction Equipment since 1842, CASE has been present in India since 1989. It has consistently remained a market leader in the Vibratory Compactor segment and a leading player in the backhoe loader segment, since inception. The company produces Made-in-India products in its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Pithampur, Madhya Pradesh for the domestic and export markets in over 105 countries.
Ceigall India Limited Appoints Dr. Sudhir Rao Hoshing to Its Board of Directors
Ceigall India Limited, one of the fastest-growing EPC companies in India with expertise in elevated roads, flyovers, bridges, tunnels, highways, expressways, and runways, announced the appointment of Dr. Sudhir Rao Hoshing to its Board of Directors. With nearly four decades of experience in highways, airports, and transport infrastructure, his addition strengthens Ceigall’s Board with proven expertise and strategic insight.
Dr. Hoshing has led several of India’s top infrastructure firms, including as Chief Mentor & CEO of IRB Infrastructure Developers Ltd., Joint Managing Director & CEO of IRB Infrastructure Ltd., Managing Director of Modern Road Makers Pvt. Ltd., and CEO of Reliance Infrastructure’s Road Business. He has also held senior roles at GMR Group, Punj Lloyd, and Oriental Structures.
With extensive hands-on experience in the design, construction, financing, and maintenance of road projects across India, as well as involvement in civil and defense airport projects, Dr. Hoshing brings unmatched expertise to the Ceigall Board. He holds a Ph.D. in Road, Highways & Infrastructure Management from Oxford College of International Studies, a Civil Engineering degree, and a Management degree from ICFAI.
Commenting on the appointment, Ramneek Sehgal, Chairman & Managing Director, Ceigall India, said
“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Sudhir Rao Hoshing to our Board. His deep understanding of the infrastructure sector, combined with his vast leadership experience, will provide valuable guidance as Ceigall continues its journey of growth and innovation in building world-class infrastructure for India.”
Dr. Sudhir Rao Hoshing added “Ceigall has built a strong reputation in the infrastructure space. I look forward to contributing my experience and working with the leadership team to support Ceigall’s vision of delivering transformative infrastructure projects that drive progress for the nation.”
Recognized as a thought leader in the sector, Dr. Sudhir Rao Hoshing is actively engaged in industry associations and policymaking forums. He is a Life Member of the Indian Road Congress (IRC) and the International Road Federation (IRF), Chairperson of the PHD Infrastructure Committee, Executive Member of the FICCI Infrastructure Committee, and Co-Chair of the CII North Infrastructure Committee. His views are widely sought at both national and international industry forums, and he contributes regularly to leading publications.
With this addition to the board, Ceigall India further strengthens its leadership team, reaffirming its commitment to building sustainable, high-quality infrastructure projects that align with India’s rapid economic growth and development priorities.
CORE Energy Systems Raises ₹200 Crore Funding to Boost India’s Nuclear and Defence Capabilities
CORE Energy Systems Ltd., a Mumbai-based engineering firm with over 25 years of experience in India’s nuclear sector, has successfully raised ₹200 crore in a fresh funding round. The investment was led by Ace investors Pankaj Prasoon and Ashish Kacholia, along with a consortium of strategic investors aligned with India’s long-term national goals.
This capital infusion, one of the largest for a nuclear-focused company in India, underscores renewed investor confidence in the sector’s growth potential.
The funds will be utilised to expand CORE’s infrastructure, manufacturing, and RCD capabilities, strengthening its capacity to deliver large-scale nuclear projects in alignment with India’s nuclear energy roadmap. This investment will accelerate CORE’s expertise in precision nuclear engineering and the high-tech manufacturing of critical equipment and components. Notably, it will also reinforce efforts supporting India’s Small Modular Reactor (SMR) and Bharat Modular Reactor (BMR) programs—key pillars of the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, aimed at advancing nuclear self-reliance and ensuring sustainable energy security.
India currently operates 25 nuclear reactors generating 8.88 GW with eight more under construction. The Government has set an ambitious target of achieving 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047, central to the Viksit Bharat vision and the country’s Net Zero emissions goal. As nuclear power provides stable, carbon-free baseload energy, it is increasingly seen as critical to meeting the demands of AI-driven data centres and energy security.
This funding round also marks a pivotal transition for CORE, as early institutional investor IDBI Capital Markets C Securities Ltd. (ICMS) exits after supporting the company through its Maharashtra Defence and Aerospace Venture Fund (MDAVF)— a SEBI-registered Category II AIF established by the Government of Maharashtra to promote indigenous innovation in defence and aerospace.
Mr. Amey Belorkar, Senior Vice President at ICMS, said, “CORE Energy Systems exemplifies the kind of deep-tech, homegrown enterprise that MDAVF was designed to support. Their achievements in sensitive domains like nuclear and defence demonstrate the powerful impact of strategic capital.”
CORE is on the verge of completing a landmark project: the refurbishment of India’s oldest nuclear facility at Tarapur, commissioned in 1969. This first-of-its-kind engineering initiative – unprecedented globally – aims to extend the plant’s operational life and establish India as a pioneer in nuclear life-extension technologies.
As one of the few Indian companies certified with ISO 19443— a stringent nuclear- specific quality and safety standard— CORE stands apart for its integrated capabilities across manufacturing, EPC (Engineering, Procurement C Construction), and OCM (Operations C Maintenance) in the nuclear industry.
Driving India’s Nuclear Growth
With India aiming for 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047, CORE is strategically positioned to:
- Undertake reactor refurbishments and advanced coolant systems
- Develop indigenous materials meeting global performance standards
- Foster international collaborations to strengthen India’s nuclear supply chain
Mr. Nagesh Basarkar, Managing Director at CORE, said, “The nuclear sector demands uncompromising focus on safety, quality, and precision. This investment gives muscle to our commitment to shaping India’s civil nuclear future.”
Customers will now’ be able to discover and try designs from CaratLane’s iconic collections
CaratLane, India’s leading omni-channel jewellery brand, launched its 2nd store in the city of Nagpur today. The store was inaugurated by customers and Shri Nitin Gadkari, Hon’ble Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India, with the tradition of a coal-breaking ceremony at the store location, signifying the birth of a new store and prosperous times ahead.
Mr. Atul Sinha, Chief Operation Officer at CaratLane, expressed his excitement about the store launch, saying, “Seeing the overwhelming response at our first store and the growing interest from customers in the pin codes near Pratap Nagar, we felt the need to expand. As the festive season approached, it seemed like the perfect time to open our new store. Having Shri Nitin Gadkari and our wonderful customers inaugurate this new store together is a true honour. It’s a testament to the amazing support we receive from our community and our excitement to serve them better.”
The location has been a strong catchment for the brand and hence was identified as the ideal location for this store. The brand is focused on making all forms of trial available in every pin code where it has strong customer interest, and this store will address the needs of one such catchment. Customers will be able to discover and try designs from CaratLane’s iconic collections, like Butterfly, Ombre, Adaa, the exclusive launch- Harry Potter x CaratLane, along with their latest collection, Alpona, that draws inspiration from the mesmerising traditional Bengali art style and its eight unique motifs, crafted with modern aesthetics.
Mr. Avnish Anand, Chief Executive Officer at CaratLane, added, “We are delighted to inaugurate our new store in Pratap Nagar, Nagpur and increase our foothold to 58 stores in the West region. With every new store, we are enabling more and more consumers in a catchment to browse and discover jewellery designs they like and try the designs in a store near them using features like Try At Home and Find In Store.”
CVs – Weak MHCV truck sales; industry retails flat after 4 months of decline
Auto dispatches were generally muted, save for the strong performance sustained at EIM (Royal Enfield; RE), TVSL, and a generally strong exports show across players/categories. 2W industry retail growth sustained at a mid-single digit; domestic dispatches at RE/TVSL/HMCL grew ~16%/10%/7%, resp, with BJAUT underperforming (16% domestic decline); 2W exports grew 57%/18% for TVSL/BJAUT. M&M continued to outperform in PVs, with double-digit YoY growth, though sequential volumes fell 10%; PV industry retail growth was muted at ~2%. Domestic MHCV dispatches remained weak at AL/TTMT (down 2%/9% YoY due to double-digit decline in trucks), while industry retails flattened after 4 months of decline. Tractors were a mixed bag, with domestic volume for M&M’s up ~13% and flat for Escorts. E-2W penetration improved to 7.3% vs 5.5%/6.1% in Apr/May; TVSL retained pole position, followed by BJAUT and Ola; HMCL’s share improvement also continued. E-3W penetration sustained at ~31%.
2Ws – RE and TVSL continue to lead the pack; improvement at HMCL
EIM’s RE continued to outperform, with total volumes up ~22% YoY to 89.5k units (16%/79% growth in domestic/exports); TVSL recorded ~20% growth in 2W dispatches to ~386k units, comprising of ~10%/57% growth in domestic/exports. HMCL’s domestic growth accelerated to 7% vs 2% in May, with overall dispatches at 554k units, up 10% YoY. BJAUT underperformed, posting 16% domestic decline to 149.3k units, though exports performance was healthy – up 18%; overall 2W dispatches dipped 2% to 298k units. 2W industry retails witnessed ~5% growth vs ~3%/8% in Apr/May, led by RE/TVSL, with BJAUT/HMCL posting muted performance. E-2W industry retails grew ~32% YoY to ~105k units, with E-2W penetration rising to 7.3% vs 5.5%/6.1% in Apr/May; TVSL retained leadership, followed by BJAUT, Ola; HMCL’s improvement also continued.
PVs – M&M outperforms, though volumes range-bound
M&M continued to outperform peers, with domestic PV volume up ~18% YoY at 47k units as against 12-15% YoY decline at peers; however, absolute volume at M&M was lower on sequential basis (range bound in recent months, despite benefit of new launches), like most competition. MSIL’s total dispatches witnessed a 6% decline YoY to 168k units, dragged by both—cars and UVs (down 17% and 9%); UV mix fell, to 28.5% (vs 30.5% in May-25); however, exports were at an all-time high of ~38k units. TTMT/HMIL saw a ~15%/12% decline in domestic PVs, while HMIL’s exports grew 15% YoY. PV industry retail volume grew 2%; M&M topped, with ~11% growth; MSIL growth was flat.
CVs – Weak MHCV truck sales; industry retails flat after 4 months of decline
AL’s total volumes rose 2% YoY to 15.3k units led by exports; domestic MHCVs declined 2%, dragged by 12% degrowth in trucks. At TTMT, domestic CV volumes fell ~9%; MHCV volumes were also down, by ~9%, dragged by the 17% fall in heavy trucks. MHCV industry retails were flat in Jun-25 after 4 consecutive months of decline; AL outperformed strongly in retail terms, with 6% MHCV growth vs ~9% dip in TTMT retails.
Tractors –M&M posts double-digit growth; Escorts growth flat; outlook positive
M&M’s domestic tractor dispatches were up ~13% YoY vs flat dispatches at Escorts. Per mgmt commentary, industry performance was helped by healthy farm liquidity and timely arrival of monsoons; also, sentiment remains conducive to continued growth on the back of prediction of an above-normal monsoon season and anticipated record Kharif harvest.
Dale Carnegie Recognized Among the Top Training Companies of 2024 for Leadership Training by Training Industry
Training Industry, Inc. has announced its prestigious selection of Dale Carnegie as one of the top companies in the Leadership Training sector for 2024. This recognition underscores Dale Carnegie’s exceptional contributions and innovative approach within the corporate learning and development (L&D) market.
Selection to the 2024 Training Industry Top Leadership Training Companies lists was based on a comprehensive evaluation of various criteria. This included assessing the breadth and quality of program and service offerings provided by each company, examining their industry visibility, innovation, and impact within the leadership training market, analysing the representation of clients and customers served by these companies, and evaluating their business performance and growth metrics. Each criterion was meticulously considered to identify the most outstanding and impactful leaders in the field of leadership training, ensuring that the selected companies excel not only in delivering effective programs but also in making significant contributions to the evolution and enhancement of leadership development practices across industries.
Pallavi Jha, Chairperson and Managing Director of Dale Carnegie India, shared her perspective on this achievement, stating, “We are honoured to be recognized by Training Industry, Inc. as a top provider of leadership training. At Dale Carnegie, we are committed to empowering leaders with the skills and confidence they need to drive meaningful change and success within their organizations.”
The company’s innovative methodologies and dedication to excellence have earned it widespread acclaim and trust among leading organizations across sectors. This recognition underscores Dale Carnegie unwavering commitment to elevating leadership standards and driving organizational growth here in India as well, empowering leaders to navigate complex challenges and achieve lasting success in their professional journeys