One-of-a-kind opportunity for India’s youth to choose from 64 universities for pursuing their study abroad dream.

upGrad, one of Asia’s largest integrated online skilling and lifelong learning majors, has partnered with State University of New York (SUNY) Delhi to expand its footprint in India. SUNY is the largest public university system in the United States, with 64 campuses through its initiative, Global Academy, to enable Indian learners to pursue undergraduate education in some of the leading Top 100 American schools at a significantly lower cost, including Cornell University, an Ivy League school.

For study abroad aspirant, largely coming out of from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, studying abroad often feels out of reach due to high costs, cultural unpreparedness, and complex credit transfers. With limited seats and intense competition, these hurdles block countless talented students from accessing global education.

This exclusive partnership offers transfer opportunities to prestigious institutions like Stony Brook University, University of Buffalo, and University of Albany and introduces an innovative pathway model for India’s high school graduates. It allows learners to pursue Year 1 credits from SUNY GA Online and transfer them to any of the 64 campuses within the SUNY system.

Some of the broad areas of study include the most sought-after domains like Computer Science, Business, Engineering & Tech, Nursing and Health, Architecture, Economics, Law, and Liberal Arts, among others. Learners receive academic support, transfer advisory, and career guidance from SUNY advisors and upGrad coaches to ensure a tailored experience from the beginning.

The curriculum entails both academics and experiential leadership development, offering Harvard Business Review case studies, leadership modules, research opportunities, and academic mentorship from SUNY advisors to ensure learners are set up for success in academics and culturally in the U.S. From career advisory to a seamless integration in the U.S., every step has been designed to set learners up for a successful global migration. The shortlisting process involves an entrance exam and two interview rounds to assess academic aspirations.

Talking about the expansion and opportunity, Sarah Bjorks, Executive Director, SUNY, said:
“We are excited to introduce this prestigious partnership, a collaboration rooted in our shared commitment towards undergraduate studies for students in India. Together, we aim to develop academic readiness, provide pastoral care, and ensure students are holistically supported

throughout before they transfer on-campus. This partnership with upGrad will allow students to transfer to SUNY campuses with an advanced academic standing and empower them to make an informed decision on which major to choose. This partnership is dedicated to helping students develop a sharper career foresight and a deeper understanding of their academic goals, positioning them for long-term success. We are confident that our collaboration will play a critical role in shaping not only their educational path but also their personal and professional future in the United States.”

Mayank Kumar, Co-founder, upGrad, added:
“It is very interesting to witness the internationalisation of India’s higher education space—the increasing scale and size of student mobility to some of the world's leading universities. There’s a significant rise in affluence levels among Indian households and a growing aspiration for world-class education among families to send their children overseas. We are one of the largest and most favorable talent platforms for global universities looking to expand into hybrid modalities, and this collaboration will drive that opportunity. It is an enabler that will empower Bachelor’s aspirants in India with access to high-quality American education while also elevating our global standing as the talent capital.”

upGrad’s Co-founder also highlighted India’s significant brain gain potential, emphasizing the $125 billion+ in inward remittances the country continues to receive year-on-year. The skilling major has opened enrolments for their first cohort scheduled for early 2025, and more details can be found here: https://www.upgrad.com/suny-bachelors-year-1/

Hosted by esports star Jonathan Gaming, the Goal Ke Rang esports tournament engaged millions of fans!

Konami Digital Entertainment, B.V. (KONAMI)’s flagship football sim eFootball has successfully wrapped up its month-long Holi celebration. Led by esports star Jonathan Gaming and featuring football icon Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, the festival brought together football fans, gaming enthusiasts, and top influencers for a series of exciting activities, including the Goal Ke Rang esports tournament.

After weeks of intense competition, danial0710 has been crowned the champion of the Goal Ke Rang esports tournament, the highlight of eFootball’s month-long Holi celebration. In a thrilling grand finale on March 26, the champion secured victory in front of thousands of viewers and walked away with the prize money, a Holi-themed jersey signed by Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, and more.

The road to victory saw fierce competition, with the best players battling across multiple matchups before reaching the final showdown. The tournament semi-finals and final, streamed live on Jonathan Gaming’s platform, drew widespread engagement from the eFootball community, capping off a month of high-energy football action.

Beyond the tournament, fans showcased their skills in the Moments of Glory Challenge, where the best goal—selected during Jonathan Gaming’s livestream on March 22—was awarded to Lalit Choudhary, recognizing an outstanding display of in-game mastery.

The competition extended beyond the virtual pitch, with a Meet and Greet event in Bengaluru on March 13, where over 250 fans took part in penalty shootouts and influencer matchups. Local hero SMR Gaming and his partner Shiva Shankar S emerged victorious in an exclusive eFootball showdown. The tournament and supporting events collectively garnered millions of views across social media, underscoring the passion and competitive spirit of eFootball.

Having run from 1^st March to 26^th March 2025, the campaign spotlighted India’s thriving eFootball community and included top gaming personalities like Gamerfleet, Sharkshe, RK Reddy, Snax, and SMR Gaming. Even India’s football captain Gurpreet Singh Sandhu appeared on an exclusive in-game Show Time card, amongst other special Holi-themed in-game kit and in-game rewards to build up the festival spirit.

Speaking of the success, KONAMI’s eFootball General Producer Makoto Igarashi said “There has been a massive positive response to the eFootball Holi celebration. The passion of our community made this campaign truly special. Through this initiative, we aimed to bring fans closer to the game, celebrating the festival of colors in a way that resonates with our players. We look forward to creating more such experiences for our eFootball fans in India, who are very important to us.”

With electrifying matchups, intense rivalries, and an unforgettable grand finale, eFootball’s Holi celebration reinforced the franchise’s commitment to India’s community and competitive gaming—giving players the stage to prove their skills and claim glory.

About “eFootball” 

“eFootball” was the rebranding of KONAMI’s popular gaming series “PES”. The change marked a great leap forward as the branding changed alongside the addition of a new football game engine, advancements in gameplay, and the remodelling of the title as ‘free-to-play’ across all compatible devices. 

“eFootball” is an ever-evolving platform with over 800 million downloads worldwide to date. 

“eFootball”, “e-Football” and “eFootball logo” are registered trademarks or trademarks of Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd. in Japan and other countries or regions.

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

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

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

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

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

• Fully clears high-cost debt pertaining to the 2024 auctions that carried interest rates of 8.65%

• Cumulative prepayment of Rs 66,665 crores of spectrum liabilities as on date, fully clearing all liabilities with interest rates at 10%,9.75%, 9.3% and 8.65%

• Prepayments made approximately 7 years ahead of average residual maturities

• Residual spectrum liabilities (ex AGR) carry average interest rate of 7.22% & extend till FY 2042

• Voluntarily calls and redeems $1 billion in Perpetual Debt

Bharti Airtel Ltd. (“Airtel”) and its subsidiary Bharti Hexacom Ltd. have prepaid additional Rs. 5,985 crores to the Department of Telecom thereby fully prepaying the high-cost interest liabilities of 8.65% pertaining to the 2024 auctions. Airtel's subsidiary Network i2i Ltd. has also voluntarily called and redeemed $1 billion in Perpetual Notes.

Underscoring its commitment to financial prudence, operational efficiency, and its strong capital position, Airtel continues to prepay its high-cost spectrum liabilities, lowering its debt and cost of debt.

Airtel has now prepaid Rs. 25,981 crores of high-cost spectrum liabilities for the current 2025 fiscal year and has cumulatively prepaid spectrum liabilities of Rs 66,665 crores as on date. The average interest rate on the cumulative liabilities prepaid was approximately 9.74%. Airtel had earlier fully prepaid liabilities that had interest rates of 10%, 9.75% and 9.3%. These prepayments have been made about 7 years ahead of their average residual maturities. 

The prepayments have resulted in Airtel clearing Rs 116,405 crores of scheduled instalments that would have otherwise been payable on their respective dates over the original tenure of the liabilities.

Consequent to these payments, Airtel has also lowered its cost of debt on spectrum liabilities to an average of approximately 7.22% on the residual Rs. 52,000 crores of spectrum liabilities (excluding AGR liabilities). The residual spectrum liabilities carry a long repayment profile payable in annual instalments until FY 2042.

Additionally, Airtel’s subsidiary Network i2i Limited has voluntarily exercised a call option and redeemed $1 billion in USD Perpetual Notes issued in FY 2020. Perpetual notes otherwise had no contracted maturity and carried an interest rate of 5.65%. Post the redemption of $1 billion in perpetual notes, Airtel will have approximately $479 million of perpetual notes outstanding, which were issued during FY 2021. These notes can be called in FY 2026.

Financial Software and Systems (FSS), a global leader in payments technology and transaction processing, has appointed V. Vaidyanathan (Vaidy) as the Head of Global Digital Delivery.

Vaidy, a banking and financial services (BFSI) industry veteran, will drive transformation, strengthen delivery capabilities, and enhance customer experience by driving impactful solutions for the evolving BFSI landscape.

With more than 35 years of experience across BFSI, IT & Business Consulting, and Technology, Vaidy holds deep industry expertise in business management, program execution, alliances, and P&L ownership.

Vaidy is going to lead the advancement of FSS’s digital delivery framework, thereby reinforcing the company’s position as a trusted technology partner for banks and financial institutions across the globe.

He has held many key leadership positions, including Chief Information Officer at Unity Small Finance Bank, Director at Rainmakerz Talent Solutions, Director – Banking & Financial Solutions at SAP SEA, and Regional Director & Head – Southeast Asia at TCS.

A strategic leader with substantial global exposure, Vaidy has a proven track record of collaborating with CXOs, regulators, and cross-functional teams to provide transformative BFSI solutions.

Expressing enthusiasm about his new role, Vaidyanathan said, “I am excited to join FSS and contribute to its mission of delivering cutting-edge digital payment solutions. The payments landscape is rapidly evolving with AI, machine learning, and automation playing a pivotal role in redefining customer experiences. I look forward to working with the talented team at FSS to strengthen our global digital delivery capabilities and leverage AI-driven innovations that empower businesses and financial institutions worldwide.”

Speaking on the appointment, V. Balasubramanian, CEO of FSS, said, “We are thrilled to welcome Vaidy to FSS at a time when the payments industry is undergoing rapid digital transformation. His extensive experience and strategic vision will play a critical role in enhancing our digital delivery capabilities and ensuring that we continue to provide innovative, future-ready solutions to our customers. As AI and automation redefine the payments ecosystem, Vaidy’s leadership will be instrumental in driving FSS’ AI-powered initiatives, ensuring seamless, intelligent, and secure digital transactions for the future.”

Based in Chennai, Vaidy will report to V. Balasubramanian. His appointment is part of FSS’s broader strategy to enhance its digital delivery framework, ensuring continued innovation and excellence in serving global financial institutions.

In its 12^th edition, the global coding competition attracted a record number of registrations from over 537K students across 96 countries

‘Top Woman Coder’ title won by Ankitha Varma from India and ‘Top Emerging Coder’ title was won by Zhou Jingkai from People's Republic of China

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) (BSE: 532540, NSE: TCS), a global leader in IT services, consulting, and business solutions announced the winners of its global coding contest CodeVita at a grand finale held at the TCS Siruseri campus in Chennai. Jeffrey Ho, 24, from Taiwan took home the winning title at the competition that holds the Guiness World Record^TM as the world’s largest computer programing competition.

Building on the theme ‘United by Code’, this season of CodeVita brought together the brightest minds in programming, pushing the boundaries of coding excellence. In its 12^th edition, the competition attracted over 537K registrations – the highest ever – from across 96 countries.

TCS CodeVita takes a gamified approach to promote coding awareness among students. Over the years, hundreds of students have completed internships at TCS, with the top three coders each season being given the opportunity to intern directly with the TCS Research and Innovation team. CodeVita consists of three rounds of coding challenges. In Round 1, contestants must solve at least one challenge to advance. In Round 2, they face a new set of complex problems. Every year, only the top 25 contestants make it to the final round.

Harrick Vin, Chief Technology Officer, TCS, said, “TCS Codevita not only challenges participants to elevate their coding skills but also offers a unique opportunity to explore real-world applications and emerging technology trends. Now in its 12^th season, this global coding competition continues to raise the bar for talent, inspiring fresh perspectives and nurturing engineering excellence. Through platforms like TCS CodeVita, the organization is empowering the next generation of problem solvers and building a community of young leaders that will shape the tech landscape of tomorrow.”

The TCS Research & Innovation team has developed a framework that automates the submission, compilation, and evaluation of contestants' code. They also support the submission, compilation, and evaluation of code across eight programming languages for CodeVita. The challenges are curated by experienced TCS coders in The Philacodist Club. This year's questions ranged from formula-based problems and algorithmic challenges to real-life applications and data structure-related tasks.

While Jeffrey was awarded the winning cash prize of $10,000, the runners-up Martin Andrighetti, 24, and Ignacio Munoz, 22, from Chile were awarded $7,000 and $3,000 respectively. Notably, Andrighetti won the competition in 2024. This season also recognized Top Woman Coder Ankitha Varma, 20, from India and Top Emerging Coder Zhou Jingkai, 19, from People's Republic of China.  

Jeffrey Ho, winner of TCS CodeVita Season 12, said, “This is my fourth year at the TCS CodeVita, and this journey has been nothing short of incredible. Each year brought new challenges, tougher competition, and valuable lessons. Standing here as the winner today makes all the hard work, perseverance, and passion truly worth it.”

Held on March 21 in Chennai, the grand finale brought together 25 finalists from eight countries including Spain, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, China, Taiwan, and India. Apart from the contestants, the 12^th season of TCS CodeVita was also attended by His Excellency Javier Paulinich, Ambassador of the Republic of Peru and Sunita Shahaney, Honorary Consul of Chile in Chennai along with TCS business leaders and academicians.

For highlights, winner details, and insights from this season, visit TCS Global Official Social Media handles.  

Nova IVF Fertility remains committed to spreading awareness on reproductive health and providing access to cutting-edge fertility treatments. The Continuous medical education program in Hyderabad was a significant step in bringing together leading specialists to discuss the latest trends, challenges, and solutions in infertility care.

Actis, a leading global investor in sustainable infrastructure, has acquired a 100% stake in Stride Climate Investments (“Stride”), a solar generation asset portfolio in India, from a fund managed by Macquarie Asset Management.

The deal sees Actis take charge of Stride’s 371MW (414MWp) portfolio of operating solar PV assets spread across 21 projects in 7 states, the majority of which are concentrated in the state of Gujarat. The Stride portfolio, which has close to a decade of demonstrated track record, features long-term pay-as-produce power purchase agreements with a diversified pool of off-takers, from central and state governments as well as the private sector, and a distributed asset base.

Actis has deployed more than US$7.1 billion in Asia since inception across different strategies and, as a leading energy investor, has built or operated more than 8GW of installed capacity in the region, including more than 5.5GW of renewables.

With this acquisition, Stride joins BluPine Energy and Athena Renewables to become Actis’ third current energy generation platform in India.

Adrian Mucalov, Partner, Head of Long Life Infrastructure at Actis, said: “The acquisition of Stride aligns nicely with Actis’ long life infrastructure investment approach. The business has a 10-year operating history, compelling cash generation and low existing leverage. We believe Stride offers strong prospects to deliver cash yields to investors while also being in a dynamic, rapidly growing market.”

Abhishek Bansal, Partner, Energy Infrastructure at Actis, commented: “Actis has a long experience of successful investment in the Indian renewable energy sector, exemplified by Ostro Energy and Sprng Energy previously as well as by our current renewables platforms. The Indian economy is continuing to grow rapidly and its energy transition is accelerating apace, with the government aiming to secure 50 percent of the country’s electricity from renewables by 2030. This environment is therefore creating ample opportunities, especially for an investor such as Actis with expertise in driving efficiency and creating value in this market.”

EDITOR’S SYNOPSIS

·         ACC and Adani Foundation upgrade a 927-metre road, widening it from 3 m to 4.5 m and adding a 930-m drainage system to prevent waterlogging.

·         The improved road reduces congestion and enhances accessibility for 30,000 residents, especially during the monsoon.

·         Better infrastructure boosts local businesses and daily commutes, ensuring long-term benefits for the region.

ACC, the cement and building material company of the diversified Adani Portfolio, has upgraded a 927-metre road from Bogda Bridge to the ACC plant gate in Jamul, benefiting 30,000 residents. Through this project, ACC along with the Adani Foundation, has widened the road from 3 m to 4.5 m and added a 930-m drainage system, addressing the issues of traffic congestion and monsoon waterlogging for smoother, safer travel.

The upgraded road has significantly enhanced safety, accessibility, and economic activity in the region for commuters including Jyoti Sahu, a teacher at Adani Foundation’s Utthan Coaching, while businesses benefit from improved transport links.

“Earlier, monsoon flooding and traffic congestion made my daily commute stressful. Now, with a wider road and better drainage, I no longer worry about getting stuck there in the rain,” says Ms. Sahu.

ACC’s commitment to community development and infrastructure enhancement is highlighted through this initiative, ensuring long-term benefits for residents and businesses alike.

WOL3D, India’s pioneering and one of the leading SME in the 3D printing industry, has announced a strategic expansion with the launch of new experience centres in five key cities across India. This milestone marks a significant step toward making 3D printing more accessible to Indian consumers and businesses, reinforcing WOL3D’s mission to bridge the gap between ideation and manufacturing.

The new experience centres are being inaugurated in Pune, Ahmedabad, Indore, Vijayawada and Guwahati this month in a phased manner. These centres will serve as immersive hubs where retail buyers, manufacturers, and consumers can explore the potential of 3D printing first-hand. Customers will have access to WOL3D's comprehensive product portfolio, including 3D printers, filaments, pens, and prototyping services. The centres will also provide hands-on demonstrations and enhanced after-sales support, ensuring a seamless customer experience.

“Our goal is to make 3D printing as common and accessible as traditional printers and laptops in every household,” said Mr. Rahul Chandalia, Founder and CEO of WOL3D. “The new experience centres will introduce more people to the power of 3D printing. Our success stories have demonstrated 3D printing as a key tool for skilling and education – such as its installation at the Atal Tinkering Labs to schools and universities. We also endeavour to provide opportunities for businesses of all scales to explore how this technology can revolutionize their manufacturing and design processes. With such an expansion, we believe igniting the imagination of young minds and empowering the next generation of innovators.”

3D printing has the potential to transform how we approach problem-solving and design thinking. By integrating it into educational institutions and skilling programs, WOL3D aims to inspire young students and empower women to explore new career opportunities in technology and manufacturing. The experience centres will serve as a launchpad for these initiatives, creating new possibilities for creativity, entrepreneurship, and growth.

With a diverse portfolio spanning multiple industries such as aerospace, healthcare, and automotive, WOL3D continues to lead with innovation and sustainability. Its eco-friendly filament manufacturing and initiatives to make 3D printing more affordable are central to its mission of empowering Indian businesses and consumers. This strategic expansion reinforces WOL3D’s leadership position in the Indian 3D printing market and aligns with its broader goal of creating a 3D printing use-case in every household — a vision that reflects the company's commitment to driving technological progress in India.

The development follows WOL3D’s brand transformation including unveiling of new logo to reflect business alignment pertaining to STEM domain as a fundamental focus. Established in 2017, WOL3D has established itself as a pioneering 3D printing manufacturing player. It is listed under SME listing on National Stock Exchange and has also been featured on Shark Tank India.