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Showing posts from June, 2018

Mahindra to resurrect iconic JAWA motorcycles in India; to begin production in July

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Classic Legends Private Limited (CLPL), subsidiary of Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd., will start production of JAWA motorcycles – which were discontinued in the mid-1990’s – in July, at their Pithampur facility in Madhya Pradesh. In 2016, Anand Mahindra, Chairman of the Mahindra Group, had struck a deal with the Czechoslovakia-based iconic motorcycle company, which will allow CLPL to launch and market bikes under the JAWA brand name in Indian and East Asian markets. With just a few days left for production to hit the floor, Anand Mahindra sent out a Tweet which contained a meme of a motorcyclist driving a bike in the rain, bearing the quote “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to ride in the rain.” The bikes are expected to be modeled around the JAWA 250, and will compete directly with Royal Enfield. No details have been released regarding the specifications of the bike, however, it can be presumed that the retro look of the iconic bike would be kept intact

Machine Learning Helping Doctors To Generate Precise and Faster Prescriptions

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For Immediate Release Mumbai, 2018:  A brainchild of Dr. Atish Laddad, The Pediatric Network (TPN) is an alternative child health support program that aims to acquire a holistic healthcare and wellbeing for every child. Its chief objective has always been to bestow children across India with a healthy and sheltered lifestyle by making positive alterations and advancements in the treatment methods and functioning of paediatricians. Keeping this perspective in mind, TPN is all set to take its first steps towards embracing the path of digitalization by introducing Machine Learning a contemporary way to revolutionize the delivery procedure of medical prescriptions. This digital marvel is all set to change the traditional and mundane scenario typically witnessed in a medical clinic, wherein the patient enters the clinic’s reception to take an appointment and waits for hours until the examination to get a medical prescription.                                                                

Firms now decide hereditary commissions in life insurance

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Life insurance is a product that’s sold and not bought. At least that’s what the insurance industry believes and therefore banks on its army of agents to convince you to buy life insurance. For this, the agent gets a cut from the premium that you pay. So, every time you cut a premium cheque, the agent makes money too. In other words, agents are entitled to a commission not just on selling a policy, but also when you pay renewal premiums. Renewal commissions are given as an incentive to keep the agent’s skin in the game so that he remains motivated to service your policy. You would think that this steady pipeline of commission stops when the agent leaves you, right? Wrong. The agents can get commissions even after they stop servicing your insurance policy. Till 2015, this was the law, but the Insurance Laws Amendment Act, 2015, repealed the law and subsequently the decision moved to the board of insurance companies. Read on to understand the old rules and how they have changed now, and

Things To Consider Before Buying A Two Wheeler in India

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Two wheelers are the most affordable and convenient form of personal transport. In a country like India, where the traffic congestion is increasing with each passing day, hence travelling in cars can be frustrating. Two wheelers are at an advantage as they can be maneuvered easily and can be parked even in cramped spaces. Which is why many individuals turn to two wheelers such as bikes and scooters for their daily commute. If you are planning to buy a two wheeler, you will be inundated by the numerous choices existing in the market today. Hence it is important to do a little research by yourself so that you make the right purchase decision. Here are some important pointers to keep in mind before buying a two wheeler in India: – Pick the Brand Carefully Buying a two wheeler is a long term investment, hence you need to make the decision carefully. It’s always a great idea to buy your vehicle for a well-established brand as quality is of utmost importance. Some of the top two wheeler man

Indian Railways to repaint 30,000 coaches, give complete makeover

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In a bid to give a fresh identity to the 165-year-old Indian Railways, the Railway Board is all set to revamp the traditional dark blue colour coaches with a new colour scheme – beige and brown. To follow this through, close to 30,000 coaches of mail and express trains would be repainted in coordination with the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) and National Institute of Design (NID). The 16-coach Delhi-Pathankot Express will be the first train to flaunt the new look, and is expected to hit the tracks by June end. While interacting with IANS, a Railways official said, “A complete makeover of coaches was long overdue, and the new colour scheme was applied in trains after it was finally approved by the Railways Minister Piyush Goyal.” In order to provide a better travelling experience to the passengers, the Railways has been trying since the past few years, to enhance the overall look and feel of the trains. Few of the changes introduced include substitution of traditional

KTM 390 Adventure to be launched after its global debut in November

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KTM 390 Adventure is all set to launch later this year. Pictures of the adventure bike have been leaked for months now. But Bajaj has finally confirmed about its arrival by March 2019 after its global debut at the EICMA show in November. According to a RushLane report, Amit Nandi, President (Pro-biking), Bajaj Auto Ltd, said KTM is a niche brand and it will enter the niche premium dual-sport segment with the 390 Adventure. He also said the bike was apt for Indian roads. The new bike will be modelled on the Duke 390 and will include many features in common with the 950 Adventure, the 1190 Adventure and the 1290 Super Adventure. Other features for the 390 Adventure include longer suspension, dual purpose tyres and a large fuel tank. The bike would also give more comfort over long distances because of its upright seat position. The bike would feature design specifications like a tall windshield, ergonomically designed rider and pillion rider seat, LED projector headlamps, underbody prote

Indivior shares dive after Dr Reddy’s gets US FDA approval for generic

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Bengaluru:  Britain’s Indivior PLC fell by more than 20% on Friday after the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first generic versions of Suboxone Film, an opioid addiction treatment that generates 80% of its revenue. Dr Reddy’s Laboratories received FDA approval for a copy-cat version of the treatment, which has been rapidly losing market share due to competition from generics. Mylan NV also received approval to market the substitute drug. Shares in Indivior, which was spun out from Reckitt Benckiser in 2014, were down 22.7% at 0925 GMT and the biggest loser on the FTSE midcap index. Dr Reddy’s said it would launch its therapeutic equivalent of Suboxone, which is a composition of buprenorphine and naloxone, at risk, with an approved risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS) program. One analyst said the at-risk sudden launch was a surprise and could threaten Indivior’s 2018 guidance. A spokesman for Indivior said the company was preparing to release a statement.

Things That Health Insurers Won’t Tell You

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When it comes to health insurance, ignorance is not bliss. What you don’t know can be turned against you at the time claim settlement. Hence, it is very important to have a thorough knowledge of mediclaim plan s . While you can read up the policy details on the policy documents, there are certain things that your health insurance company won’t tell you. Knowing these things will certainly help you understand the policy better and help you avoid problems later. You Can Get Coverage for Out-Of-Network Hospitals Whether you have enrolled in a regular health insurance online or a critical illness insurance plan, you can get coverage even if you choose to get treatment from an out-of-network hospital. You can deliberately choose to seek treatment from your preferred healthcare provider, even if it is not listed on your insurance company network. So if you already know that you will opt for an out-of-network provider, you can ask your insurance company for a written contract about the same

Soon, you may be able to see your Royal Enfield getting built

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If all goes well, you may be able to see your Royal Enfield motorcycle getting built at their factory. Eicher Motors-controlled niche bike brand Royal Enfield is considering the proposition to allow some of its bike buyers  witness the actual manufacturing process of their bikes. Automotive companies have in the past taken stakeholders, analysts and journalists to witness the manufacturing process at their plants. But if the proposal gets accepted at Royal Enfield, it will be the first of its kind customer experiment done by a vehicle manufacturer in India. Sources told Moneycontrol that the maker of Classic 500 and Himalayan has appointed a small internal team to oversee these plans. While it may not be possible to entertain requests of every Royal Enfield buyer, considering more than 60,000 of their bikes get sold every month, the company will have to look at ways to keep the number of visitors to minimum. While the concept of taking buyers to witness the manufacturing process of th

Bajaj Pulsar 150 Classic launched at Rs 67,437 in India

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Bajaj Auto has added a low-priced offering to the Pulsar portfolio. Bajaj Pulsar 150 Classic has been launched in India with an attractive price tag of Rs 67,437 (ex-showroom Mumbai), albeit with lesser features than the higher placed models. The Pulsar 150 Classic comes without the laser-etched graphics, rear disc brake, split-seat, and fuel tank extensions that one gets on the Pulsar 150. Also, the Bajaj Pulsar 150 Classic has only been launched in Maharashtra for now. The motorcycle has reportedly been spotted in some dealerships in the state and is expected to be announced across the country in coming weeks. The talking point about the Bajaj Pulsar 150 Classic is that it is the second-most affordable offering in the Pulsar portfolio after Pulsar 135LS. It undercuts the standard Pulsar 150 Twin Disc by Rs 10,118, making the Pulsar 150 Classic an attractive option for buyers looking for an affordable 150cc premium motorcycle while compromising on some features. The Bajaj Pulsar 150

Issues raised by USFDA on Halol resolved: Sun Pharma

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New Delhi:  The quality cloud over the Halol plant of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd has lifted, with the company stating that all the issues raised by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have been satisfactorily resolved. “Sun Pharmaceutical Industries has received the establishment inspection report (EIR) from the US FDA for the inspection conducted at its Halol facility (Gujarat, India) during the period February 12-23, 2018. The agency concluded that the inspection is now closed and the issues contained in the Warning Letter issued in December 2015 have been addressed,” India’s largest drugmaker said in a statement. The facility had been under FDA scanner since September 2014. In December 2015, it was served a warning letter, following an inspection that revealed quality issues. Since then, there have been no FDA approvals for drugs made at this plant. The resolution of the issue paves way for Sun Pharma to resume selling to the US market from this facility. The US busine

ONN Bikes to foray into dock-less Scooter Sharing

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Mumbai : ONN Bikes, India’s fastest growing scooter/motorbike sharing start-up, has announced the launch of OTP based ‘Dock-less scooters’ from Bengaluru that will allow commuters to hire two-wheelers for point to point connectivity. ONN Bikes has been piloting this model for over two months in certain pockets and will soon introduce this service across all its service locations across India. The Dock-less service will further enhance last mile connectivity and provide commuters with an additional commute option that is efficient and affordable. Namit Jain, Founder of ONN Bikes    With the Dock-less service, commuters can rent two wheelers on the ONN Bikes app for a one way route and post the journey can park the vehicle at an accessible location for others to utilize the same service. Namit Jain, Founder of ONN Bikes informs ‘Dock-less scooter sharing  service for point to point connectivity is the way forward for this industry.ONN Bikes launched the hourly rental model which became

10 bikes that are expected to launch in India during second half of 2018

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While the country is fuming over sky-rocketing fuel prices, the automobile industry is still brimming with excitement. The first half of the year is almost at a close; nevertheless, the second half appears to be quite promising for biking enthusiasts. Here are few bikes that are expected to land on Indian shores by the end of this year: Suzuki Burgman (June 2018) First unveiled at the Auto Expo 2018, Suzuki is all set to launch the Suzuki Burgman, a 125 cc maxi scooter, first of its kind in India. Internationally, the Burgman is available in ranges from 125 cc up to 638CC. However, Indians would have to be content with only 125 cc power, at a price range of Rs.65,000 – Rs.70,000. Hero Xpulse (June 2018) The Hero Xpulse is projected directly as a competitor to the Royal Enfield Himalayan. While the Himalayan is heavy and pricey, Xpulse promises to be lightweight and easy on the budget. There would potentially be many takers given its price range of Rs.1 – Rs.1.2 lakhs. Norton Dominator

Northern Railways to facilitate cleanliness in trains through WhatsApp groups

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The Railways is more often criticised for the lack of cleanliness and poor delivery of services. However, this will change soon as the Northern wing of the Indian Railways is all set to use WhatsApp for monitoring cleanliness in trains. With the help of technology, the Railways aims to bring about greater transparency and accountability in its functioning. Besides, the Railways has also set up a new plant at the Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station in Delhi, which would assist in cleaning coaches within minutes. Additional sanitary measures are being taken by building bio-toilets, which would preserve the cleanliness of the station and railway tracks. Various departments of a train, viz. pantry, bed rolls, etc will have a separate WhatsApp group, which would be monitored by a senior railway official. Passengers can send in their requests on the group and the same would be forwarded to the authorized representatives by the official overseeing the group. “WhatsApp groups have been created

Ducati sees India among top five markets: MD Sergi Canovas

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Mumbai:  Italian superbike maker Ducati expects India to feature among its top five global markets “in the long-term”, said Sergi Canovas, managing director (MD), Ducati India Pvt. Ltd. Ducati India, which is owned by Audi AG, a member of the Germany-based Volkswagen Group, aims to aggressively expand with the launch of two more motorcycles in 2018. It had entered India in March 2015. The company will launch a more powerful variant of the sports adventure bike Multistrada 1260 in July, which comes “with improved touring capabilities”, said Canovas, adding that the new Scrambler 1100, which will be launched later this year, will be a “post-heritage bike with an engine above 1,000cc”. The bike will open up a new segment in India. While an emission norm-compliant Monster 821 was launched in early May, a refresh of the high-performance sports bike Panigale V4 made its way into the country in late January. “We continue our strategy to bring in as many models as possible, so that we can off

Sun Pharma’s Halol plant resolution could repair more than its financial health

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Is this the beginning of something good for Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd? More importantly, will investors regain their long lost faith in the company, whose shares have halved from their high levels of April 2015? Consider the 8% jump in its share price on Friday.  News reports  said the US Food and Drug Administration had delivered a voluntary action indicated (VAI) verdict after an inspection of its Halol facility. This was apparently interpreted by investors as a sign that a re-inspection was not required. In turn, that implied a shorter resolution timeline after which pending generic drug approvals could get cleared. The significance of this resolution, if it does actually happen, is not in question. The plant’s non-compliance has held up approvals for nearly four years now and is partly responsible for Sun Pharma’s US business underperformance. But this development should not have been news to Sun Pharma’s shareholders. In a conference call on 25 May, after its March quarte

10% drop in punctuality rate of trains: Northern Railways

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Days after being reprimanded by Railway Minister Piyush Goyal over the declining punctuality of trains, the Northern Railways (NR) today clarified that despite large-scale works underway in the zone, there was only a 10-per cent drop in the timelines of trains as compared to last year. At a press conference, Vishwesh Chaube, General Manager (GM), NR, said as of June 8, 2017, the punctuality rate in the zone was 63 per cent, adding that on June 8, 2018, it had declined to 53 per cent. “The punctuality of trains is now being recorded through data-loggers whereas, earlier it was done manually. Now, even if a train is late by a minute, it is counted as a train arriving late. This has made a difference in the punctuality figures of this year. Also, despite a lot of work going on, there is only a 10-per cent drop in the punctuality rate,” he said. Chaube added that while the number of trains in the zone had increased from 1,300 in 2008 to 1,800 in 2018, the infrastructure had not grown at t

IL&FS Transport raises €23.4 million from KfW IPEX-Bank

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Mumbai:  IL&FS Transportation Networks Ltd (ITNL), the infrastructure development arm of Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services Ltd (IL&FS) Group, on Thursday said it has raised €23.4 million (₹186.11 crore) in debt financing from KfW IPEX-Bank. KfW IPEX-Bank is a German Exim bank and provides financing for international projects and export finance. It offers medium- and long-term financing to support key export industries, to develop economic and social infrastructure and to fund environmental and climate protection projects. IL&FS Financial Services Ltd acted as the financial advisor to ITNL for the transaction. The financing will be used for the Rapid Metro South Extension Project in Delhi that ITNL is working on. The project is an extension of the existing dual-track metro line by approximately 7 km and five stations connecting the IT industrial park in Gurgaon to Delhi’s metro system and the southern part of Gurgaon. A consortium comprising of entities of a lar