Beta Tank Robotics Pvt Ltd, (BetaTANK) has developed the 2nd generation of robots for cleaning petroleum crude oil tanks. This application of moving thick viscous sludge out of the large crude oil storage tanks by robots, has been known to be a difficult robotic application. These Deep Tech robotic machines costing around half-a-million-dollars each, are highly specialized and usually powered and controlled by hydraulics to avoid sparking risks.

BetaTANK Robot and the thick sludge pumped out by the robot

The current generation of tank cleaning robots worldwide, employ suction method to remove sludge, and do not have a pump on the robot. These have not been very successful, since suction is limited by nature to only one bar pressure. BetaTANK robot has a pump on the robot and uses the pump discharge pressure of 10 bar. This ‘technology leap’ solves the main limitation in the performance of the 1st generation of robots.

In a completely different product, BetaTANK has made a robot with foldable arms to enter the neighborhood petrol pump underground storage tanks and clean it.

DC Sekhar, the founder of BetaTANK – an Ex merchant navy oil tanker captain with extensive petroleum tank cleaning experience, says – “The petroleum industry sector, which includes many Fortune 500 companies, is quite underserved by the robotic technologies“. Industry reports peg the growth of this niche petroleum industry robotic sector to between 6 and 13 billion USD in the next decade.

BetaTANK patented robot has received the IECEx Zone ‘0‘ standard certification for its robot. This is the highest international safety standard worldwide, for operating within hydrocarbon environments. BetaTANK has also secured the patent for its robot.

BetaTANK is currently receiving enquiries for robotic solutions, from Steel, Pharma and other industrial sectors. These industries are seeking to derisk their maintenance operations in hazardous tank spaces, by eliminating man entry, using robotics.

Sekhar shared that pioneering technological capabilities & effectively meeting customer needs, shall remain the strategic growth ‘Mantra‘ of BetaTANK.

The Banyan, Indias leading preschool and corporate daycare provider, today announced its groundbreaking integration of artificial intelligence technology across its centers. The initiative introduces an advanced AI companion designed specifically to enhance early childhood education through safe, interactive, and personalized learning experiences.

Swati Jain – Director, The Banyan

This historic milestone positions The Banyan at the forefront of educational innovation, leveraging AI technology to revolutionize how children aged 6 months to 12 years learn, interact, and develop critical skills. The integration builds upon The Banyans 22-year legacy of excellence in early childhood education and reinforces its commitment to preparing children for a digitally integrated future.

The introduction of AI represents a paradigm shift in early childhood education, offering children access to responsible AI with built-in safety guardrails developed in collaboration with Meta. The AI companion features advanced capabilities including voice recognition, sentiment detection, and personalized learning adaptation, creating an engaging and safe environment for young learners. As the global AI in childcare and parenting market is valued at USD 4.7 billion in 2024 and predicted to reach USD 35.2 billion by 2034, The Banyans pioneering initiative positions the organization at the center of this rapidly expanding sector.

“We are thrilled to pioneer this revolutionary approach to early childhood education,” said Swati Jain, Director at The Banyan. “By integrating AI into our curriculum, were not just keeping pace with technological advancement – were defining the future of how children learn, grow, and develop essential skills in an increasingly digital world.“

AI companion’s sophisticated technology suite encompasses multiple educational and developmental tools designed specifically for young learners. The AI companion teaches STEM concepts, languages, and general knowledge through fun, interactive activities while responding to childrens questions and commands with conversational AI. Its friendly voice is comforting and perfectly tailored to childrens needs, incorporating sentiment detection that recognizes and adapts to kids emotions, offering empathetic responses or tailored interactions.

Recognizing the paramount importance of child safety in AI interactions, The Banyan has implemented comprehensive safeguards including parental control applications that allow monitoring of usage and setting limits. The system features safe design with non-toxic materials, rounded edges, and kid-friendly interfaces to prioritize safety.

“Our commitment to safety is unwavering,” added Swati. “Every aspect of AIs integration has been carefully designed with child protection as the primary consideration, ensuring parents can have complete confidence in their childrens AI interactions.“

This AI integration announcement comes following The Banyans recent recognition as “Most Influential Preschool of the Year 2024” and “Best Daycare of the Year 2024”, further solidifying its position as an industry leader. The organization operates centers across Delhi, Noida, Jaipur,

Gurgaon, Karnataka, and other major Indian cities, serving thousands of families through both standalone facilities and corporate partnerships with major organizations including HCL, Taj Hotels, Indigo Airlines, Ashoka University, and MetLife.

Founded in 2003 by Mr. Nitesh Jain and spearheaded by Swati Jain, The Banyan is Indias premier preschool and corporate daycare provider, serving children ages 6 months to 12 years. With a mission to empower working parents, particularly women, The Banyan operates multiple centers across India and maintains partnerships with leading corporations. The organization is recognized for its innovative curriculum, commitment to child safety, and exceptional parent satisfaction rates.

Himachal Pradesh has emerged as one of India’s leading states in education reforms. Under the leadership of Shri Rajesh Sharma, IFS (2000 batch), the state has moved from Rank 21 in PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2021 to being among the Top 5 in PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024. Under his leadership, Himachal Pradesh has also achieved near-universal enrollment and one of the lowest dropout rates in government schools across the country.

Shri Rajesh Sharma receiving award from Anupam Kher

Sharma’s focus on data-driven governance, global collaborations, and student learning outcomes has positioned Himachal Pradesh as a model of education reforms for other states.

In recognition of these achievements, Sharma was conferred the ET Leadership Excellence Award – North 2025 by the Times of India Group at a ceremony in New Delhi. The event was graced by Chief Guest Anupam Kher. The award celebrates leaders across India for their contributions in governance, corporate leadership, social service, and public administration.

Sharma’s career reflects a rare blend of academic depth and administrative experience. He holds a degree in Forestry from the Indian Forest College, Dehradun, and an MBA in Public Policy and Management from MDI Gurgaon with an international module at George Mason University. He has also attended training programs in Japan, the UK, and Singapore, giving him valuable global exposure.

Before becoming State Project Director in 2023, Sharma held diverse roles including Regional Passport Officer (MEA), Managing Director of HP Skill Mission, Chief Conservator of Forests, and Director of Youth Services & Sports. These roles gave him a 360-degree perspective on governance, combining fiscal discipline with people-focused reforms.

As State Project Director, Samagra Shikasha, Himachal Pradesh, Sharma has ensured 100% fund utilization under flagship schemes like STARS, PM SHRI, and Samagra Shiksha. He has championed international partnerships with UNESCO, Cambridge University, and the Principal Academy of Singapore, and tied up with IITs and IIMs for training government schools teachers in pedagogy and assessments.He also pioneered India’s largest tablet-based diagnostic assessment for nearly 50,000 students, embedding remedial learning for students in government schools through strong education data-governance systems in Vidya Samiksha Kendra (VSK) Himachal Pradesh.

His tenure has also seen a utilisation of ICT infrastructure in schools, reducing the urban-rural divide through digital classrooms and technology-based monitoring. He has further strengthened institutions by activating School Management Committees, decentralizing leadership, and aligning state and national education priorities.

From conserving forests to shaping classrooms, Sharma’s journey reflects a consistent vision-whether protecting trees for a greener tomorrow or shaping schools for a brighter future. Just as he nurtured ecosystems for sustainability in his early career, he now brings the same commitment and innovation to shape the future of education and prepare the next generation of India’s leaders. The Leadership Excellence Award is therefore not only a personal honour but also a recognition of Himachal Pradesh’s enduring success story in education governance.

Hong Kong
The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has successfully concluded its annual Hong Kong Travel Mission to India, held from August 18th to 26th across five major cities that started from Bengaluru, Mumbai, New Delhi, Hyderabad and concluded in Chennai.

This year’s mission featured a strong delegation of 41 Hong Kong tourism industry partners, including iconic attractions, theme parks, leading hotels, destination management companies (DMCs), airlines, and cruise lines. The Hong Kong team engaged with over 750 Indian travel agents and tourism professionals, including representatives from key satellite markets. Against the backdrop of a strong recovery in India market, the travel mission highlighted how Hong Kong is evolving its offerings to appeal to leisure, business, and family travellers alike, and is known for its visa-free and direct flight options.

Hong Kong Tourism Board delegation connects with 750+ travel partners during its 5-City Travel Mission to India

The timing couldn’t be better. Between January and July 2025, Hong Kong welcomed 233,000 Indian visitor arrivals, an 8% year-on-year growth in arrivals, reaching 94% of pre-pandemic levels. India now ranks 11th among key visitor source markets, with travellers staying an average of four nights, and nearly two-thirds choosing overnight stays. Connectivity is also stronger than ever, with 53 weekly flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, and Hyderabad, making Hong Kong India’s most accessible international destination in Asia.

The data tells a promising story. More Indians are discovering Hong Kong for the first time (43% in 2025), family and group travel is on the rise (up from 29% in Q1 to 43% in Q2), and India ranks 5th in per capita spending, reflecting demand for premium travel experiences and services among Indian visitors to Hong Kong. On the business travel side, MICE travel has registered a strong rebound, with arrivals up 33% year-on-year and 55,587 Indian delegates visiting Hong Kong in the first half of 2025 for Business Travel and MICE.

Puneet Kumar, Director – South Asia, Hong Kong Tourism Board, said, “There is no place like Hong Kong that is such a super cosmopolitan city with world class theme parks, attractions, best in class infrastructure, unique experiences that are only available in HK such as Derby racing, yachting, island hopping, our city’s culinary & nightlife is second to none, world famous Art & Cultural events yet you can find the nature’s calm within few minutes as we have oceans, mountains, hiking trails, beaches, 263 island, water sports that attracts active adventure seekers from around the world. Hong Kong is a year-round destination with a packed calendar of mega events, festivals from Summer Viva to Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance to Halloween to Hong Kong Wine & Dine to WinterFest and most spectacular New Year Countdown Fireworks. There is never a dull moment in Hong Kong making it the perfect destination for leisure & cruise holidays, family trips & celebrations, or MICE travel.”

With a near full recovery in arrivals, visa-free travel and an expanding portfolio of events and cruise offerings, Hong Kong is set to welcome even more travellers from India in the future to experience leisure, family holidays, or business incentives. The city offers experiences that are fresh, diverse, and rewarding throughout the year.

About Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB)
The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) is a government-subvented body tasked with marketing and promoting Hong Kong as a travel destination worldwide and enhancing visitors experience once they arrive. These include making recommendations to the Government and other relevant bodies on the range and quality of visitor facilities.

The HKTB’s missions are to maximise the social and economic contribution made by tourism to the community of Hong Kong and to consolidate Hong Kong’s position as a unique, world-class, and most desired destination.

• The event witnessed the announcement and felicitation of the winners of the Energy Transitions Innovation Challenge (ENTICE) 2.0

• To further promote clean tech development, investment partners signed MoU to unleash catalytic capital and fund the winning solutions of ENTICE

• BRPL and GEAPP announced signing of MoU to launch the Digitalization of Utilities for Energy Transition (DUET) program at two sub-stations in Delhi

The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) hosted its Alliance in Action Convening on 29 August 2025 at the Hyatt Regency, New Delhi, bringing together key stakeholders, investors, innovators, and DISCOMs to advance India’s clean energy transition. The event featured the announcement and felicitation of the winners of the Energy Transitions Innovation Challenge (ENTICE) 2.0, along with the signing of MoUs to scale winning solutions and unlock catalytic capital for clean-tech innovation.

ENTICE 2.0 winners felicitated at Alliance in Action Convening, hosted by GEAPP in New Delhi

GEAPP also announced the launch of the Digitalization of Utilities for Energy Transition (DUET) program with BSES Rajdhani Power Limited (BRPL), to be piloted at two substations in Delhi.

ENTICE, GEAPP’s flagship India program, addresses the funding gap faced by clean-tech innovators by providing grants, mentorship, and market access. The second edition focused on two problem statements:

• Developing AI tools to analyze behind-the-meter (BTM) energy consumption patterns and create digital twins of appliances.

• Using AI to analyze smart meter data, identify large-scale flexible assets, and detect inefficiencies in industrial energy use.

By partnering with distribution companies like Jaipur Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (JVVNL) and BRPL, ENTICE provides startups access to real-world data and pilot opportunities, bridging the gap between innovation and deployment.

The winning solutions to the first problem statements were Enlog and Flock Energy. Enlog delivers autonomous energy intelligence via a compact, patented plug-and-play loT device + Al. It cuts electricity use and improves appliance-life without manual effort. Flock Energy uses a modular, Al-powered platform to disaggregate smart meter data into appliance-level insights, tailored for Indias 15/30-minute intervals.

Trillectric and Faclon Labs were announced winners for the second problem statement. Trillectric offers a modular system that analyzes smart meter data to flag inefficiencies and flexibility using standardized, structured data. Its lightweight architecture emphasizes usability and integration-readiness, making it ideal for rapid industrial deployment. Faclon Labs uniquely integrates Al, Big Data, and energy systems to optimize consumption. With 400+ projects executed across India and tens of thousands of energy meters digitized, Faclon’s Al tools enable real-time diagnostics, anomaly detection, and demand forecasting.

To accelerate deployment of these solutions, investment partners AWE Funds, Synapses, Theia Ventures, ZeCa Capital, Spectrum Impact, and Ankur Capital signed MoUs pledging funding support and implementation assistance, subject to due diligence.

Gurdeep Singh, Chairman & Managing Director, NTPC felicitated the winners and remarked, “Innovation thrives when diverse minds come together to challenge conventions and co-create solutions. The Alliance in Action event demonstrates how constructive disruptors can address some of our toughest energy challenges, turning today’s problems into tomorrow’s possibilities.”

Woochong Um, CEO, GEAPP, added, “India’s strides in clean energy show how innovation and strong policy support can drive transformation. The urgency of the climate challenge demands collaborative action, where governments, businesses, civil society, and philanthropy come together to unlock capital, deploy solutions, and share knowledge at scale. India’s example offers both inspiration and practical models for the Global South to accelerate an equitable and inclusive transition.”

The convening also featured a fireside chat with Ashish Khanna (DG, International Solar Alliance), Woochong Um (CEO, GEAPP), and Saurabh Kumar (VP – India, GEAPP) on the role of the Multi Donor Trust Fund, which aims to mobilize funds for high-impact solar projects. A panel discussion on ‘Economic Development through Decentralized Renewable Energy (DRE)’ followed, moderated by Samit Mitra, Managing Director, Country Delivery – India, GEAPP.

Saurabh Kumar, Vice President – India, GEAPP, noted, “India’s journey towards a sustainable and energy-independent future is an alliance-driven mission. Initiatives like ENTICE provide a collaborative platform for innovators to scale the climate-tech solutions needed to build a smarter, more resilient grid.”

Building on this momentum, GEAPP will soon launch ENTICE 3.0, which will expand focus on deep tech innovation, grid resilience, and digitalization-driven energy efficiency, further advancing India’s renewable energy transition.

About Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP)
The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) is an alliance of philanthropy, governments in emerging and developed economies, and technology, policy, and financing partners. Our common mission is to enable LMIC’s shift to a clean energy, pro-growth model that accelerates universal energy access and inclusive economic growth, while supporting the global community to meet critical climate goals during the next decade. As an alliance, we aim to reduce four gigatons of future carbon emissions, expand clean energy access to one billion people, and enable 150 million new jobs. With philanthropic partners, IKEA Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation, and Bezos Earth Fund, GEAPP works to build the enabling environment, capacity, and market conditions for private sector solutions, catalyze new business models through innovation and entrepreneurship, and deploy high-risk capital to encourage private sector solutions and assist just transition solutions.

Eating a daily serving of about one handful of walnuts (40 grams) with dinner may help improve measures of overall sleep quality and reduce daytime sleepiness in healthy young adults, according to a new randomized controlled trial published in Food & Function.^1*

A handful of California walnuts

Researchers from the University of Barcelona aimed to study the potential impact that daily walnut consumption could have on specified urine biomarkers (6-SMT, a biproduct of melatonin), sleep quality parameters (sleep latency, wake after sleep onset, awakenings, and efficiency) and daytime sleepiness.

The study evaluated the effects of consuming 40 grams of walnuts daily with dinner over an eight-week period among 76 healthy young adults ages 20-28 (85% female), who completed both walnut and control phases in a crossover design. Researchers found that eating walnuts boosted a key biomarker of the sleep-regulating hormone, melatonin, which was significantly increased in evening urine samples after a four-week intervention period when participants consumed walnuts, as compared to the control period.

The walnut intervention also shortened the time it took participants to fall asleep by 1.3 minutes, improved overall sleep quality scores, and reduced self-reported daytime sleepiness compared to a control, nut-free period. While global sleep quality scores improved, there were no significant differences in measures of circadian-related variables between the intervention and control conditions. With these findings, the researchers suggest that walnut consumption could potentially be a simple, food-based approach to supporting healthy sleep.

California Walnuts

“This is the first randomized controlled trial to show that daily walnut consumption measurably improved objective sleep quality and increased melatonin levels during evening hours after an intervention period,” said Dr. Maria Izquierdo-Pulido, lead researcher of the study out of the University of Barcelona. Insufficient sleep is seen as a global health concern, with multi-faceted public health implications, ranging from chronic illness to cognitive and economic impacts.³

The researchers explain that walnuts’ unique combination of sleep-supportive nutrients such as tryptophan (84.6mg) – a precursor to melatonin, plant-based melatonin (118mg), magnesium (45mg), and B vitamins (0.2mg each vitamin B5 and vitamin B6) may help explain the positive outcomes seen in the study. These findings suggest walnuts may help naturally support sleep quality, though more research is needed to understand the mechanism.

Dr. Mara Fernanda Zeron-Rugerio, Co-leader of the study explains, “While the observed effects in this study came following walnut consumption at dinner, we believe that the daily intake, rather than the timing, led to the sleep-supportive benefits.”

This study is among the first to demonstrate walnuts’ potential as a sleep-supporting food. As such, the study contained a number of limitations, including unmeasured dietary tryptophan and melatonin intake, that restrict the applicability of the study findings to the general population. While further research is warranted to examine these effects, these initial findings add to the growing body of evidence supporting the role of diet and specific nutrient-dense foods, such as walnuts, in promoting sleep health.

To learn more about the breadth of research supporting walnut consumption, along with recipe ideas and inspiration, visit californiawalnuts.in.

About the California Walnut Commission
The California Walnut Commission (CWC) represents more than 3,700 California walnut growers and nearly 70 handlers, grown in multi-generational farmers family orchards. California walnuts, known for their excellent nutritional value and quality, are shipped around the world all year long, with more than 99% of the walnuts grown in the United States being from California. The CWC, established in 1987, promotes usage of walnuts through domestic and export market development activities as well as supports health research with consuming walnuts.

References

*This research was funded by the California Walnut Commission. The funder made no contribution during the design or implementation of the study, nor in the interpretation of findings or the decision to publish.

1. Zeron-Rugerio MF, Ibarra-Picon A, Diez-Hernandez M et al. Daily Walnut Consumption Increases 6-Sulfatoxymelatonin Urinary Levels and Can Improve Sleep Quality: A Randomized Crossover Trial (published online ahead of print August 12, 2025). Food & Function. DOI: 10.1039/d5fo00971e
2. CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), 2013-2022. Sleep is not assessed on the core survey in the following years: 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2021. Percentage of adults not getting enough sleep, adjusted for age.
3. Chattu VK, Manzar MD, Kumary S, Burman D, Spence DW, Pandi-Perumal SR. The global problem of insufficient sleep and its serious public health implications. Healthcare (Basel). 2019;7(1):1. doi:10.3390/healthcare7010001.

On 25th August 2025, winners of #KLRahulSeMilo contest hosted by Bajaj Finserv met KL Rahul in person. The event was held at the elegant Sette Mara Lounge at St. Regis Hotel, Mumbai.

KL Rahul with contest winners and Bajaj Finserv employees

The #KLRahulSeMilo contest was designed to reward Bajaj Finserv customers who actively engaged with the brand’s digital services and offerings. After weeks of enthusiastic participation, 11 top scorers emerged as winners, earning the chance to meet KL Rahul in person.

The meet-and-greet began with a warm welcome for KL Rahul, followed by a relaxed and engaging conversation. Each winner had the chance to ask their questions-ranging from cricketing strategy to Rahul’s personal inspirations. KL Rahul responded to every question thoughtfully and with genuine warmth, creating an inspiring and memorable experience for the fans.

The interaction was followed by a photo session and signing of personalised collectibles, ensuring each winner left with unforgettable memories. The intimate setting allowed for a genuine connection between the star and his fans.

In total, the event was attended by the lucky contest winners along with Bajaj Finserv employees. The evening was a celebration not just of cricket and fandom, but also of how finance and customer engagement can come together in unique, experiential ways.

About the #KLRahulSeMilo Campaign:

The #KLRahulSeMilo Challenge that ran from 30th May to 30th June 2025 invited customers to engage with Bajaj Finserv’s suite of services. This ranged from EMI card usage and bill payments to credit score checks and social media engagement. Points were awarded for each activity, and the top performers were rewarded with this exclusive meet-and-greet experience. The campaign was promoted through a dedicated microsite, multilingual videos, and social media content, reinforcing Bajaj Finserv’s commitment to customer engagement through innovative and rewarding formats.

From exclusive experiences to everyday savings

While the #KLRahulSeMilo contest gave customers a chance to meet their cricketing hero, Bajaj Finserv continues to enhance everyday customer value through smart financial tools like the newly launched Maha Bachat Savings Calculator.

This smart savings tool helps customers get the best deals on electronics and home appliances by combining:

• Brand offers from manufacturers

• Dealer offers from partner stores

• EMI benefits including zero down payment plans

Instead of hunting for individual discounts across websites and stores, customers can now view their total savings in one place-and even locate the nearest partner store with these offers. So, whether it’s an unforgettable event or an everyday purchase, Bajaj Finserv is committed to delivering value, rewards, and convenience to its customers-every step of the way.

Bajaj Finance Limited

Bajaj Finance Ltd. (‘BFL’, ‘Bajaj Finance’, or ‘the Company’), a subsidiary of Bajaj Finserv Ltd., is a deposit taking Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC-D) registered with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and is classified as an NBFC-Investment and Credit Company (NBFC-ICC). BFL is engaged in the business of lending and acceptance of deposits. It has a diversified lending portfolio across retail, SMEs, and commercial customers with significant presence in both urban and rural India. It accepts public and corporate deposits and offers a variety of financial services products to its customers. BFL, a thirty-five-year-old enterprise, has now become a leading player in the NBFC sector in India and on a consolidated basis, it has a franchise of 69.14 million customers. BFL has the highest domestic credit rating of AAA/Stable for long-term borrowing, A1+ for short-term borrowing, and CRISIL AAA/Stable & [ICRA]AAA(Stable) for its FD program. It has a long-term issuer credit rating of BB+/Positive and a short-term rating of B by S&P Global ratings.

To know more, visit www.bajajfinserv.in