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Sony India Launches its First 800 mm Super Telephoto Zoom G Lens™

Sony India today announces the FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS (SEL400800G) – Sony’s first(i) 800 mm super-telephoto zoom G Lens. This brand-new Alpha lens flaunts high resolution performance across the entire zoom range, beautiful bokeh, as well as fast, precise, and accurate AF (autofocus). In addition, the inner-zoom design, which minimises change in the center of gravity, allows for stable framing. It is also compatible with the separately sold 1.4x and 2x teleconverter(ii) that can extend the maximum focal length to 1600 mm making this lens ideal for shooting birds, wildlife, sports, aircraft and landscapes.

Sony 800 mm Super Telephoto Zoom G Lens™

“The FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS redefines super-telephoto photography with outstanding clarity, stunning bokeh and lightning-fast autofocus. Its advanced design ensures stability and precision, whether handheld or tripod-mounted, empowering photographers to capture distant subjects with unmatched ease and detail,” said Mukesh Srivastava, Head of Digital Imaging Business, Sony India.

1. Go long with the Alpha lens of 800 mm super telephoto zoom

The FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS is the Alpha lens to cover a 400 mm to 800 mm super telephoto range and can even be extended to a maximum focal length of 1600 mm with a 2x teleconverter. With an inner-zoom mechanism, the length of the lens does not change, so the centre of gravity remains almost unchanged for stable handling and control. The lens features a smooth, easy zoom ring rotation for precise zooming, whilst careful design prevents any accidental focal length changes.

2. Beautiful rendering and natural bokeh throughout the zoom range

The FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS has an 11-blade circular aperture that helps to create beautiful ball bokeh in smooth, creamy background when shooting with a narrow depth of field. Six ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements effectively control chromatic aberration, whilst flare and ghosting in backlit conditions are also thoroughly suppressed for beautiful photography.

3. Fast, precise AF captures even the quickest subjects

Two precision linear motors drive the FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS ‘s focus group for fast, accurate focusing. Tracking keeps up with the 120 fps(iii) maximum burst speed of the Alpha 9 III, and quiet operation expands the array of possibilities. A focus range switch (FULL/10m-NEAR/∞-8m) can also be used to optimise control for different subject distances. Focus breathing is suppressed for refined movie quality.

4. Solid support for handheld or tripod-mounted shooting

The FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS can easily be used handheld without shake-induced blur by the built-in Optical SteadyShot TM image stabilisation. What’s more, stabilisation is even better with an Alpha body that includes image stabilisation. Durable components, optimised balance, and a non-removable foot maximises reliability and performance. And when using a tripod, the tripod mount foot can be quickly rotated for horizontal or vertical orientation, that supports a wide range of shooting subjects.

5. High-level control and reliability for any situation

Three focus hold buttons at 90 increments around the FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS ‘s barrel allow easy access in any orientation and other functions can be assigned to the buttons as needed. The internal zoom and a dust and moisture resistant(iv) design maximises reliability with a front element that has a fluorine coating that repels contaminants and makes the lens easier to clean. Additionally, Full-time DMF automatically engages manual focus when the focus ring is operated, making it easy to apply fine manual adjustments or change the focus entirely. Lastly, the lens hood has a new design with a lock button and filter opening for easy operation.

Pricing and Availability

The FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS lens will be available across all Sony Centers, Alpha Flagship stores, Sony authorized dealers and major electronic stores across India from 17th March 2025 onwards.

Model

MRP (in Rs.)

Availability

FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS

264,990/-

17th March 2025 onwards

About Sony Alpha Community

In an effort to build a robust Alpha community with a strong network of amateur and professional photographers on one platform, a special initiative has been undertaken by Sony India where users can now avail several benefits by simply registering their Alpha cameras, lenses and accessories on the Alpha Community. Some of the benefits of registration include an extended warranty of 3 years (2-year standard warranty + 1 Year extended warranty) and free exclusive workshops by Sony experts and Artisans. Customers can also avail attractive discounts on photo tours (50% discount on photo tours for their first trip and 25% discount for the consecutive trips) and a chance to participate in photography/videography contests to win exciting prizes like cameras, lens and professional camcorders and a lot more. The platform will be a one-stop destination to get all latest updates, firmware updates, free service camps, workshops and new launches for Sony Alpha.

For more information, visit Alpha Community.

Alpha Classroom: Alpha Classroom is a series of tutorials where experts will take you through the nuances of photography & Videography, advise you on the right gear and help you explore your creative potential to reach its fullest expression. Come, learn with us and together, we will conquer the world of your dreams. alphacommunity.in/alpha-classroom/courses.

Ask an Expert: Ask an Expert is a one-stop platform to get all your questions related to cameras, lenses, gear and more answered by a Sony Alpha Expert. It’s easy, convenient and absolutely free! Yup! You heard it right. Choose your slot and book an appointment with an expert today! alphacommunity.in/ask-an-expert.

About Sony India Pvt. Ltd.

Sony India Private Limited (Sony India), a private limited company with its ultimate holding company as Sony Group Corporation, Japan, has established itself as a premium brand in various product categories including television, digital imaging, personal audio, home entertainment, gaming, car audio, and professional solutions. The company places a strong emphasis on customer satisfaction and maintains high standards in sales and services. Sony also prioritizes environmental sustainability, aiming to achieve a zero environmental footprint throughout the lifecycle of its products and business activities to contribute to a healthier and enriched life for all of humanity and future generations.

A-18, Mohan Co-operative Industrial Estate, New Delhi – 44 | www.sony.co.in.

(i) As of the February 2025 product announcement

(ii) Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter SEL14TC Lens and 2x Teleconverter SEL20TC Lens

(iii) Sony test conditions. Maximum continuous shooting speed may be lower in some conditions. Continuous shooting speed may vary in the AF-C focus mode.

(iv) Not guaranteed to be 100% dust and moisture proof

PREMO S.L. and Delta Manufacturing Ltd Announce Strategic Joint Venture to Advance Soft Ferrite Component Manufacturing

PREMO S.L.(“PREMO”), a leading Spanish company specializing in the development and manufacture of electronic components, and Delta Manufacturing Ltd (“DML”), a prominent Indian manufacturer of soft ferrite cores, are pleased to announce a strategic joint venture aimed at enhancing the production and innovation of soft ferrite components for the domestic and global electronics industry.

https://www.newsvoir.com/images/article/image1/31521_premo_s.l..jpeg

PREMO S.L. & Delta Manufacturing Ltd Partnering to power next-gen magnetic solutions & advance soft ferrite manufacturing

This collaboration leverages PREMOs extensive expertise in inductive components and RFID technology with DML’s advanced manufacturing capabilities in soft ferrite cores. The joint venture will focus on developing high-performance components to meet the growing demands of industries such as automotive, telecommunications, smart grids, and the Internet of Things (IoT).

Key Objectives of the Joint Venture:

  • Innovation: Combine research and development efforts to create cutting-edge soft ferrite components that offer superior performance and efficiency.

  • Manufacturing Excellence: Utilize state-of-the-art production facilities and processes to ensure high-quality and reliable component supply to global customers.

  • Market Expansion: Capitalize on the strengths of both companies to expand market reach and better serve customers worldwide.

“We are excited to partner with DML in this joint venture,” said Mr. Andres Garcia, CEO of PREMO. “By combining our technological expertise with DML’s manufacturing excellence, we will leverage the strengths of both organizations, driving innovation, operational efficiencies, and an expanded product offering.” Mr. Fernando Gomez, CFO of PREMO, added, “This Joint Venture is aimed at enhancing our combined capabilities and reinforcing our competitive position in the automotive industry whilst widen opportunities in other sectors.“

Mr. Abhilash Sunny, CEO of DML, added, “This partnership with PREMO represents a significant step forward in our commitment to providing high-quality soft ferrite components. Together, we will drive innovation and set new standards in the industry.”

The joint venture is expected to commence operations in the first quarter of 2025, with plans to establish a new manufacturing facility equipped with advanced technologies to support the development of next-generation soft ferrite components.

This is a first step towards Deltas ambition to offer value-added products to OEMs and PREMOs vision to integrate ferrite-core design and manufacturing capabilities in its solution portfolio. This merged vision will offer significant opportunities for both companies as well as domestic customers to tap into world-class technology products in India.

About PREMO S.L.
PREMO S.L. is a Spain-based company engaged in the development, manufacture, and sale of electronic components with a special focus on key enabling technologies of the 4th Industrial Revolution, including IoT, M2M, VR, and connected and electric vehicles. Their product portfolio includes RFID antennas, AR/VR motion tracking sensors, power transformers, inductors & chokes, current sensors, EMC filters, and PLC components.

About Delta Manufacturing Ltd.
Delta Manufacturing Ltd is a leading manufacturer of magnetic components, including soft ferrite cores, magnetic assemblies, and other related products, serving industries such as automotive, telecommunications, consumer electronics, and industrial automation. Delta Manufacturing Ltd, specializes in the production of soft ferrite components, including a wide range of cores such as POT, RM, E, ETD, EP, Balun, and Toroidal, as well as beads and rods. Located in Nashik, India, MMG India has evolved from serving the domestic market to supplying international markets with customized solutions focused on high-frequency and high-power applications. Through this joint venture, Delta Manufacturing Ltd aims to enhance its technological capabilities and expand its global footprint in the soft ferrite industry.

KaarTech Earns Fourth Consecutive Great Place to Work Certification

KaarTech has once again been certified as a Great Place to Work, achieving this recognition for the fourth consecutive year. This milestone highlights the company’s ongoing efforts to build a work environment where employees feel valued, supported, and motivated to grow.

KaarTech celebrates its fourth consecutive Great Place To Work certification, reaffirming its commitment to a thriving and inclusive workplace culture

At its core, KaarTech operates with a clear mission, “To remain a socially responsible corporate entity, which will instill a sense of pride, joy and accomplishment, in every facet of its interaction, to everyone associated, be it the employees, customers, vendors or stakeholders.”

Two decades of growth have shaped KaarTech into a global leader in digital transformation, not only through technological advancements but also by building a culture where people thrive. The company has continuously introduced multiple initiatives that enhance employee growth and engagement, including structured mentorship programs, leadership development tracks, physical and mental wellness initiatives. These programs have helped create an environment where employees are not just contributors but active participants in the company’s success.

Vignesh Ramesh Kumar, Global HR Head at KaarTech, highlighted the significance of this recognition, “A strong workplace isn’t built overnight – it’s shaped by the people who bring their best daily. This recognition isn’t just about policies or programs; it’s about the collective effort of every Kaarian who contributes to our culture of excellence. We listen, we adapt, and we ensure that every employee feels valued. This milestone is proof that we’re on the right path, but we know there’s always more to do. As we celebrate this achievement, we’re also excited to share that, this year, we anticipate joining the ranks of the Top 100, with our sights set on reaching the Top 10 in the near future.”

The company remains focused on creating opportunities for career advancement, fostering collaboration, and enhancing employee experience. Moving into its third decade, KaarTech continues to set new benchmarks in workplace excellence, ensuring that it remains a preferred employer in the years ahead!

About KaarTech
KaarTech is a digital transformation, consulting, and technology solutions provider, supporting clients globally on their digital journeys since 2006. With over 3,500 professionals, KaarTech has completed 3,200+ projects for 440+ clients across 15 countries. Our core offerings include Digital Transformation Consulting, Managed Services, and Intelligent ERP Solutions, driven by AI, automation, and IoT, and supported by partnerships with SAP, Microsoft Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud. KaarTech’s proprietary platforms KTern.AI and KEBS enable seamless automation and real-time project optimization. Recognized with 36+ industry awards, KaarTech is dedicated to delivering scalable, client-centric solutions worldwide.

For more information, visit www.kaartech.com

About Great Place to Work Certification™
Great Place to Work Certification™ is the most definitive “employer-of-choice” recognition that companies aspire to achieve. It is the only recognition based entirely on what employees report about their workplace experience – specifically, how consistently they experience a high-trust workplace. Great Place to Work Certification is recognized worldwide by employees and employers alike and is the global benchmark for identifying and recognizing outstanding employee experience. Every year, more than 10,000 companies across 60 countries apply to get Great Place To Work-Certified.

About Great Place To Work
As the global authority on workplace culture, Great Place To Work brings 30 years of groundbreaking research and data to help every place become a great place to work for all. Their proprietary platform and For All™ Model helps companies evaluate the experience of every employee, with exemplary workplaces becoming Great Place To Work Certified™ or receiving recognition on a coveted Best Workplaces™ List.

Oakridge Hosts Bengaluru’s First Overnight Relay for Life Walkathon

Oakridge International School Bengaluru students, parents, & staff came together on 21st March evening for Relay for Life, an overnight walkathon organised in association with Indian Cancer Society. The night was dedicated to celebrating cancer survivors, honouring the loved ones lost, and raising funds for the work that aids cancer patients.

Student-led Social Outreach Team of Relay for Life

“I have been privileged to be part of many school events over the last 32 years, and this is one of the most innovative and more importantly impactful events I have experienced – around such a crucial topic,” said Mr. Christopher Short, Managing Director for Nord Anglia Education – India region, in his address.

Mr Kamath from Indian Cancer Society Bangalore, Mr Raghav (sports physiotherapist), Mr Cedric (mechanical engineer), Sham Gopalakrishnan from Karunashraya (a seasoned corporate professional), Veena Krishnamurthy, (software professional) and Ramya Srinidhi (acclaimed performance storyteller) shared inspiring testaments of navigating the challenges of cancer. The guests appreciated how the event was organized at a school, as it could spread awareness about what the survivors go through physically and mentally, while encouraging empathy among participants from a young age.

“As educators we look for teachable moments and learning experiences for our children. This is what an event like this does,” remarked Principal Kavita Sukhani. “For the cause it’s like a drop in the ocean, but for all who participated, this drop will make a mark for lifetime, and that is what counts.” she added.

Participants were engaged through the night with activities such as karaoke, yoga sessions, and zumba workshop. Ms Reema, Vivaan Sharmas (DP1A) mother reflected on Relay for Life: “We walked around 14-16 kilometres throughout the night, and it was an amazing experience. I would definitely love to do it again.” Activities centred on celebrating survivors, remembering those lost, and raising awareness, namely the Luminaria Ceremony and Survivors Lap.

This Social Impact initiative steered by the student-led Social Outreach Committee at Oakridge successfully raised funds for the Indian Cancer Society. “Relay For Life was very close to my heart and is something we were passionate about as a committee. I hope this becomes an annual event at Oakridge!,” said Nidhi Vasishtha (DP1), President of Social Outreach Committee. Vice-presidents Tanvi Srinivasan (MYP 5), Rishita Borah (MYP 5), Aditya Agarwal (MYP 4) echoed the same sentiment.

About Nord Anglia Education

As a leading international schools organisation, were shaping a generation of creative and resilient global citizens who graduate from our schools with everything they need for success, whatever they choose to be or do in life.

Our strong academic foundations combine world-class teaching and curricula with cutting-edge technology and facilities, creating learning experiences like no other. Inside and outside of the classroom, we inspire our students to achieve more than they ever thought possible.

No two children learn the same way, which is why our schools around the world personalise learning to what works best for every student. Inspired by our high-quality teachers, our students achieve outstanding academic results and go on to study at the worlds top universities.

Our Nord Anglia global family includes 80+ day and boarding schools in 33 countries, teaching over 90,000 students from ages 3 to 18.

To learn more or apply for a place for your child at one of our schools, visit www.oakridge.in/bengaluru.

Red Hat Boosts Enterprise AI Across the Hybrid Cloud with Red Hat AI

Red Hat, Inc., the worlds leading provider of open-source solutions, today announced the latest updates to Red Hat AI, its portfolio of products and services designed to help accelerate the development and deployment of AI solutions across the hybrid cloud. Red Hat AI provides an enterprise AI platform for model training and inference that delivers increased efficiency, a simplified experience and the flexibility to deploy anywhere across a hybrid cloud environment.

Even as businesses look for ways to reduce the costs of deploying large language models (LLMs) at scale to address a growing number of use cases, they are still faced with the challenge of integrating those models with their proprietary data that drives those use cases while also being able to access this data wherever it exists, whether in a data center, across public clouds or even at the edge.

Encompassing both Red Hat OpenShift AI and Red Hat Enterprise Linux AI (RHEL AI), Red Hat AI addresses these concerns by providing an enterprise AI platform that enables users to adopt more efficient and optimized models, tuned on business-specific data and that can then be deployed across the hybrid cloud for both training and inference on a wide-range of accelerated compute architectures.

Red Hat OpenShift AI

Red Hat OpenShift AI provides a complete AI platform for managing predictive and generative AI (gen AI) lifecycles across the hybrid cloud, including machine learning operations (MLOps) and LLMOps capabilities. The platform provides the functionality to build predictive models and tune gen AI models, along with tools to simplify AI model management, from data science and model pipelines and model monitoring to governance and more.

Red Hat OpenShift AI 2.18, the latest release of the platform, adds new updates and capabilities to support Red Hat AI’s aim of bringing better optimized and more efficient AI models to the hybrid cloud. Key features include:

  • Distributed serving: Delivered through the vLLM inference server, distributed serving enables IT teams to split model serving across multiple graphical processing units (GPUs). This helps lessen the burden on any single server, speeds up training and fine-tuning and makes more efficient use of computing resources, all while helping distribute services across nodes for AI models.

  • An end-to-end model tuning experience: Using InstructLab and Red Hat OpenShift AI data science pipelines, this new feature helps simplify the fine-tuning of LLMs, making them more scalable, efficient and auditable in large production environments while also delivering manageability through the Red Hat OpenShift AI dashboard.

  • AI Guardrails: Red Hat OpenShift AI 2.18 helps improve LLM accuracy, performance, latency and transparency through a technology preview of AI Guardrails to monitor and better safeguard both user input interactions and model outputs. AI Guardrails offers additional detection points in helping IT teams identify and mitigate potentially hateful, abusive or profane speech, personally identifiable information, competitive information or other data limited by corporate policies.

  • Model evaluation: Using the language model evaluation (lm-eval) component to provide important information on the model’s overall quality, model evaluation enables data scientists to benchmark the performance of their LLMs across a variety of tasks, from logical and mathematical reasoning to adversarial natural language and more, ultimately helping to create more effective, responsive and tailored AI models.

RHEL AI

Part of the Red Hat AI portfolio, RHEL AI is a foundation model platform to more consistently develop, test and run LLMs to power enterprise applications. RHEL AI provides customers with Granite LLMs and InstructLab model alignment tools that are packaged as a bootable Red Hat Enterprise Linux server image and can be deployed across the hybrid cloud.

Launched in February 2025, RHEL 1.4 added several new enhancements including:

  • Granite 3.1 8B model support for the latest addition to the open source-licensed Granite model family. The model adds multilingual support for inference and taxonomy/knowledge customization (developer preview) along with a 128k context window for improved summarization results and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) tasks.

  • A new graphical user interface for skills and knowledge contributions, available as a developer preview, to simplify data ingestion and chunking as well as how users add their own skills and contributions to an AI model.

  • Document Knowledge-bench (DK-bench) for easier comparisons of AI models fine-tuned on relevant, private data with the performance of the same un-tuned base models.

Red Hat AI InstructLab on IBM Cloud

Increasingly, enterprises are looking for AI solutions that prioritize accuracy and data security, while also keeping costs and complexity as low as possible. Red Hat AI InstructLab deployed as a service on IBM Cloud is designed to simplify, scale and help improve the security footprint for the training and deployment of AI models. By simplifying InstructLab model tuning, organizations can build more efficient models tailored to the organizations’ unique needs while retaining control of their data.

No-cost AI Foundations training

AI is a transformative opportunity that is redefining how enterprises operate and compete. To support organizations in this dynamic landscape, Red Hat now offers AI Foundations online training courses at no cost. Red Hat is providing two AI learning certificates that are designed for experienced senior leaders and AI novices alike, helping educate users of all levels on how AI can help transform business operations, streamline decision-making and drive innovation. The AI Foundations training guides users on how to apply this knowledge when using Red Hat AI.

Availability

Red Hat OpenShift AI 2.18 and Red Hat Enterprise Linux AI 1.4 are now generally available. More information on additional features, improvements, bug fixes and how to upgrade to the latest version of Red Hat OpenShift AI can be found here and the latest version of RHEL AI can be found here.

Red Hat AI InstructLab on IBM Cloud will be available soon. AI Foundations training from Red Hat is available to customers now.

Supporting Quotes

Joe Fernandes, vice president and general manager, AI Business Unit, Red Hat, “Red Hat knows that enterprises will need ways to manage the rising cost of their generative AI deployments, as they bring more use cases to production and run at scale. They also need to address the challenge of integrating AI models with private enterprise data and be able to deploy these models wherever their data may live. Red Hat AI helps enterprises address these challenges by enabling them to leverage more efficient, purpose-built models, trained on their data and enable flexible inference across on-premises, cloud and edge environments.”

Regis Lesbarreres, advanced analytics and AI innovation manager, digital innovation, Airbus Helicopters, “At the outset of our AI journey, Airbus Helicopters was looking to integrate AI into our existing architecture, reduce shadow IT, unite our data scientists under a singular AI platform and optimize costs at scale. With Red Hat OpenShift AI, we’ve been able to accomplish all of these goals, which led to our first business use case for AI. Red Hat’s vision for AI aligns with our business objectives and allows us to meet them while maintaining flexibility, accessibility and transparency.”

Javier Olaizola Casin, Global Managing Partner, Hybrid Cloud and Data, IBM Consulting, “Businesses are increasingly applying AI to transform core business processes, and they need AI solutions that are flexible, cost-effective and tuned with trusted enterprise data to meet their unique needs. Red Hat AI brings the consistency, reliability and speed that organizations need to build and deploy AI models and applications across hybrid cloud scenarios. Combining IBM Consulting’s domain, technology and industry expertise with Red Hat’s AI technologies, we are helping our clients drive ROI from their technology investments.”

Torsten Volks, Principal Analyst, Application Modernization, ESG, “Leading organizations harness AI-driven, data-centric decision making across teams and business units. Therefore, the ability to rapidly and cost effectively develop, deploy, integrate, scale and govern AI-based capabilities across the enterprise becomes a critical success factor. Establishing this capability requires an open and extensible AI foundation that ensures seamless integration with existing systems and processes, operational agility and continuous governance. Enabling staff and customers to benefit from AI capabilities faster and in a more comprehensive manner is crucial for continued business success.”

Anand Swamy, Executive Vice President and Global Head of Ecosystems, HCLTech, “In order to realize the full potential of generative AI, organizations need to prioritize agile and flexible infrastructure. By combining the capabilities of Red Hat AI, encompassing RHEL AI and Red Hat OpenShift AI to deliver an end-to-end AI application platform, with HCLTech’s leading AI expertise and cognitive infrastructure services, a part of HCLTech AI Foundry solution, customers get a streamlined path to unlocking AI innovation, helping them overcome common challenges such as data security, scaling AI workloads and minimizing infrastructure costs.”

Additional Resources

About Red Hat, Inc.

Red Hat is the world’s leading provider of enterprise open source software solutions, using a community-powered approach to deliver reliable and high-performing Linux, hybrid cloud, container, and Kubernetes technologies. Red Hat helps customers integrate new and existing IT applications, develop cloud-native applications, standardize on our industry-leading operating system, and automate, secure, and manage complex environments. Award-winning support, training, and consulting services make Red Hat a trusted adviser to the Fortune 500. As a strategic partner to cloud providers, system integrators, application vendors, customers, and open source communities, Red Hat can help organizations prepare for the digital future.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for the historical information and discussions contained herein, statements contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based on the company’s current assumptions regarding future business and financial performance. These statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially. Any forward-looking statement in this press release speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Except as required by law, the company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.

PingCAP Strengthens their Commitment to Database Innovation in India with TiDB User Day 2025

PingCAP, powering open-source distributed SQL database TiDB, reaffirmed its commitment to driving database innovation in India by hosting the inaugural TiDB User Day India 2025 in Bengaluru on 26th March 2025. As India becomes one of the fastest-growing markets for TiDB, the event served as a forum to honour the contribution of TiDB in India. The event brought together technology leaders, database professionals, and industry innovators to explore real-world use cases, best practices, and the future of distributed databases in Indias rapidly evolving digital landscape. By recognizing the role of its users and partners, TiDB aims to further empower Indian enterprises with scalable and innovative solutions to accelerate digital transformation in the country.

Team Pingcap at TiDB User Day 2025 India

The event highlighted TiDB’s growing adoption in India and its impact on powering next-generation applications. The summit featured insightful keynotes and panel discussions led by experts from Flipkart, Databricks, ElasticRun, Mydbops, and other leading organizations, covering topics such as scaling databases, performance optimization, and AI-driven innovations. Attendees engaged in deep-dive technical sessions, networking opportunities, and discussions on the evolving role of TiDB in modern data infrastructure. Demonstrations included a live TiDB Performance Tuning session for high concurrency workloads, coupled with special recognition of the open-source community members who actively contribute to TiDB’s development and innovation. Awards were presented to community members for their significant contributions, exceptional knowledge, and passion. Over 200 attendees participated in person, reflecting the event’s broad reach and the growing interest among TiDB customers and community members.

Commenting on the event, Bhanu Jamwal, Head of India Business at TiDB, stated, “India’s rapid digital transformation is driving an unprecedented surge in data. Businesses need future-proof database solutions that can scale effortlessly while supporting real-time decision-making. TiDB’s distributed architecture and HTAP capabilities position it as a game-changer for companies looking to modernize their data infrastructure. As part of our long-term vision for India, we are targeting a 5x revenue increase over the next three years, driven by expanding our local team, deepening partnerships with cloud providers like AWS and Google Cloud, and strengthening community engagement through workshops, training sessions, and hackathons.”

Adding to this, Sunny Bains, Chief Architect at TiDB, said, “With the growing integration of RAG in AI applications to enhance accuracy, vector search has become a critical component. Traditional databases often fall short in supporting RAG-based applications. TiDB offers a unified system that seamlessly combines vector search capabilities with relational database features, eliminating the complexity of managing multiple databases. At TiDB User Day, we demonstrated how enterprises can leverage TiDBs vector search capabilities to optimize AI performance.”

“TiDB has proven to be the missing piece in the scaling puzzle. This event provided a valuable opportunity to deepen our understanding of the product while allowing us to connect with other TiDB users to exchange insights on how distributed SQL can address the evolving data needs,” added Ajit Pendse, Director, Technology, ElasticRun.

“TiDB User Day was a great experience-getting to hear from experts and fellow users about real-world challenges and solutions was really insightful. The hands-on sessions gave me a lot of ideas to take back to my team. It’s always great to connect with the community and learn from each other,” said Raj Suvariya, Software Engineer, Stripe.

As India accelerates towards a $1 trillion digital economy, TiDB remains committed to empowering businesses with cutting-edge distributed SQL technology. Through strategic partnerships, community-driven initiatives, and continuous innovation, TiDB is poised to become a cornerstone of India’s data infrastructure, enabling enterprises to build for scale, optimize performance, and drive digital transformation.

For more information about the event, visit TiDB User Day India 2025.

About PingCAP

PingCAP is the company behind TiDB, the most advanced open source, distributed SQL database. TiDB powers modern applications with a streamlined tech stack, elastic scaling, real-time analytics, and continuous access to data-all in a single database. With these advanced capabilities, growing businesses can focus on the future instead of complex data infrastructure management. Some of the world’s largest companies across FinTech, eCommerce, Web3, and Gaming trust TiDB to handle their business-critical workloads. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, PingCAP is backed by Sequoia Capital, GGV Capital, Access Technology Ventures, Coatue Management and others.

Refex Group is the Official Sponsor of Chennai Super Kings

Refex Group, a leading diversified business conglomerate, is proud to announce a strategic association with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) – one of the most successful and iconic franchises in the world. Marking its first-ever association with CSK, this collaboration embodies a shared commitment to excellence, leadership, and environmental impact-both on and off the field.

(L-R) Anil Jain, MD, Refex Group; CSK players – Rachin Ravindra, R Ashwin & Rahul Tripathi

It also underscores the growing synergy between industry leaders and sports franchises, paving the way for a future driven by innovation, growth, and people engagement. Together, Refex Group and CSK aim to push boundaries, inspire change, and create lasting value beyond the game.

Commenting on the partnership, Mr. Anil Jain, Managing Director, Refex Group said, “At Refex Group, we are strongly committed to advancing sustainability and shaping a better future for generations to come. We are proud to partner with Chennai Super Kings – a strategic association to champion sustainability in India’s most beloved and followed sport – cricket. CSK’s resilience, excellence, leadership, and unwavering winning spirit align perfectly with Refexs ethos, making this association truly special. It is an amazing opportunity to inspire individuals and businesses to embrace sustainable practices and drive change. We look forward to an exciting season, cheering for CSK while reinforcing our shared vision of a greener, more inclusive future.“

Mr. KS Viswanathan, Managing Director, Chennai Super Kings said, “We are pleased to partner with Refex Group. Their commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility aligns perfectly with our values at Chennai Super Kings. Together, we aim to create a positive impact, both on and off the field, by promoting eco-friendly initiatives and raising awareness about a greener future.”

For more details, please visit: www.refex.group.

About Refex Group

Refex Group is a diversified conglomerate with a strong presence across multiple sectors, including logistics (ash and coal handling, green mobility), healthcare (medical technologies pertaining to imaging devices manufacturing, and pharmaceuticals), and airports retail. With over 22+ years of operations and offices in 15+ states and UTs in India, Refex Group is the largest organized player in ash and coal logistics and a pioneer in Made-in-India Imaging devices. The Group also operates a fleet of 1,300+ four-wheeler electric vehicles across Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Hyderabad, reinforcing its commitment to sustainability. Currently, Refex Group has two publicly listed entities: Refex Industries Limited (RIL) and Refex Renewables Infrastructure Limited (RRIL)

Bengaluru Unites for World Accessibility Day: Over 150+ Volunteers Conduct Accessibility Audits Across the City

Over 150 volunteers conducted accessibility audits of public spaces across Bengaluru to assess the inclusivity of the citys infrastructure for people with disabilities and the elderly. The audit drive was organized by the Association of People with Disability (APD) to commemorate World Accessibility Day, an initiative conceptualized by Svayam and supported by APD, aimed at raising awareness about the urgent need for accessible public spaces.

Students from Ramaiah College of Law conducting an accessibility audit in Gandhinagar

Volunteers included students, grassroots workers, and community groups who came together to evaluate public infrastructure through a series of accessibility audits. The audits were carried out using Yes to Access-APD’s crowdsourced mobile application designed to map and assess accessibility features in real time.

The app combines artificial intelligence with user inputs, enabling volunteers and citizens to evaluate public places for essential elements such as ramps, railings, accessible toilets, tactile pathways, and clear signage. The data collected through the app not only highlights existing barriers but also serves as a valuable resource for driving change toward more inclusive urban spaces.

Participants included the Centre for Disability Law and Policy at Ramaiah College of Law, Village and Urban Rehabilitation Workers from Bangalore Rural, the Rotaract Club, Melton Fellowship, students from BMS Institute of Technology, and the Federation of Voluntary Organizations for Rural Development in Karnataka (FEVOURD-K). Their collective effort reflected a growing movement toward making Bengaluru’s public spaces more inclusive and accessible.

Speaking about the campaign’s impact, Bhumika Modh, Project Lead of the Yes to Access initiative, said, “Today, we witnessed what collective action can achieve. By engaging students and grassroots volunteers, we are not just collecting data but building awareness that accessibility is fundamental to dignity and equal opportunity.”

A representative from Svayam emphasized, “World Accessibility Day, observed every year on March 27, was initiated by Svayam to bring national attention to the need for inclusive environments for people of all abilities. As we mark the third year of this important observance in 2025, we are proud to see communities like Bengaluru stepping up to lead the way. Accessibility is not a special feature-it is a foundational principle for a more equal and inclusive society. Every person, regardless of their mobility, deserves the freedom to live with dignity, independence, and equal opportunity. This collective action by over 150 volunteers is not just about data collection-it is about challenging the status quo and creating cities that work for everyone.We urge civic authorities to treat this data as a roadmap for transformative change.”

Mr. Krishnamurthy.K, District Disability Welfare Officer (DDWO), Bangalore Urban, said, “Technology offers powerful tools to assess and improve accessibility in our cities. Integrating such solutions supports the government’s efforts to make urban spaces more inclusive and responsive to the needs of every citizen.”

Mr. Jagadish, District Disability Welfare Officer (DDWO), Bangalore Rural, added,, “Collaboration between communities, organizations, and government is essential to advance accessibility. Initiatives like this reflect a shared commitment to creating environments where everyone can participate fully.”

The findings from these audits will be compiled and shared with civic authorities, urban planners, and stakeholders to ensure Bengaluru takes tangible steps towards becoming more accessible and inclusive for persons with disabilities and the elderly.

About The Association of People with Disability (APD)
The Association of People with Disability (APD) is a non-profit organization based in Bengaluru, working since 1959 to empower people with disabilities from underprivileged backgrounds. APD’s comprehensive programs span early intervention, education, healthcare, livelihoods, and advocacy, reaching children and adults with physical, intellectual, and multiple disabilities. With a strong focus on creating sustainable impact, APD partners with communities, corporates, and governments to build a more inclusive society where persons with disabilities live independent, dignified lives.

For more information, visit: www.apd-india.org.

About Svayam
Svayam is a leading accessibility organization that aims to reform infrastructure and transportation to make it accessible for people with reduced mobility. Accessibility aids individuals and gives them the freedom to independently explore the built environment around them, irrespective of their physical capabilities. This was on philanthropist-business visionary Sminu Jindals mind when she founded Svayam in October 2000. An initiative of the Sminu Jindal Charitable Trust, Svayam is a not-for-profit accessibility pioneer that focuses on creating a barrier-free world for all.

For more information, visit: www.svayam.com

STPI Felicitates Trailblazing Startups at SANGAM 2025

Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), a premier S&T organization of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, successfully hosted SANGAM 2025-a landmark event celebrating innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital transformation. Held at the Bharat Mandapam Convention Centre, New Delhi, this flagship initiative under MeitY’s Next Generation Incubation Scheme (NGIS) brought together an inspiring confluence of startups, investors, industry leaders, mentors, and policymakers committed to nurturing India’s vibrant startup ecosystem.

STPI Felicitates Trailblazing Startups at SANGAM 2025

The highlight of the event was the felicitation of 16 Rising Star startups which are NGIS beneficiaries. These startups represent a new wave of Indian innovation across a wide range of sectors including healthtech, fintech, edtech, agritech, cybersecurity, deeptech, and social impact technologies. With STPI’s extensive incubation support, mentorship, and funding assistance, each of these ventures has scaled new heights-creating impact at national and global levels.

Speaking at the event, Shri Arvind Kumar, Director General, STPI, said, “At STPI, we believe startups are the driving force of India’s digital economy and innovation-led future. Through NGIS, we’ve created an enabling platform where disruptive ideas are nurtured, mentored, and brought to life. The startups we felicitated today are not only solving real-world problems but also making India proud on the global stage. Their success is a testament to the power of public-private collaboration and India’s unstoppable entrepreneurial spirit.”

Among the recognized ventures was Arficus Pvt. Ltd. (Bhilai), which has revolutionized healthcare diagnostics through AI-driven genomics with its MEDHINI platform, while Coratia Technologies (Bhubaneswar) is pioneering unmanned underwater vehicles for critical environmental and defense applications. From Devnagri AI (Mohali) redefining multilingual communication using neural machine translation, to IntelleWings (Mohali) advancing AML and fraud detection solutions globally-these startups are reshaping industry frontiers.

Nayan India (Lucknow) is leveraging crowdsourced data for road safety and smart mobility, and Sequretek (Guwahati) is simplifying enterprise cybersecurity for global clients. Women-led startups like Empfly Services (Mohali) are innovating in AI-driven healthcare, while Ezymind Healthcare (Dehradun) merges neuroscience and wearable tech to promote mental wellness through its InnerGize device.

In the field of clean tech, Felis Leo Widgets (Bhubaneswar) is producing biodegradable EV batteries from agricultural waste, and Nemocare Wellness (Vijayawada) is transforming maternal and neonatal healthcare with its flagship wearable solution. Paymart India (Mohali) is enhancing financial inclusion with India’s first Virtual ATM for cardless cash withdrawals in underserved areas.

Making strides in inclusive innovation, DeepVisionTech (Bhubaneswar) is empowering the Deaf community through accessible AI-driven communication platforms. In agri-tech, Ekosight Technologies (Dehradun) is enabling real-time soil diagnostics to drive sustainable farming, and Innogical Innovation (Dehradun) is advancing rural education and e-governance through tech-enabled science centres.

Furthering employment and learning, Kaushal Circle (Bhubaneswar) is connecting blue and grey-collar workers with dignified jobs, and Schooglink (Patna) is transforming rural education through affordable hybrid learning solutions designed for underserved communities.

The event was graced by distinguished dignitaries including Shri S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, as Chief Guest;, MeitY; Shri Arvind Kumar, Director General, STPI; Shri K.K. Singh, Joint Secretary, Ms. Farzana Haque, Investor and Global Business Leader; Shri Pradeep Gupta, Chairman & MD, CyberMedia; Shri Sanjay Shah, Chief Operating Officer – India & Southeast Asia, Wadhwani Foundation; Dr. Apoorva Ranjan Sharma, Co-founder, Venture Catalysts++ and others.

In addition to the felicitation ceremony, SANGAM 2025 featured, Inaugural session, investor-connect sessions, Thematic sessions showcasing innovative solutions by successful startups, and networking forums. It served as a platform to celebrate achievements, unlock new partnerships, and spark conversations on emerging technologies, scalability, and inclusive innovation. With 24 Centres of Entrepreneurship and multiple NGIS hubs spread across the country, STPI continues to democratize innovation by enabling promising entrepreneurs not only from Tier I cities but also from Tier II and Tier III cities to access world-class infrastructure, expert mentoring, growth capital and more.

SANGAM 2025 proved to be more than just an event-it was a celebration of Indias spirit of innovation, a reaffirmation of STPI’s mission, and a bold step forward in realizing the vision of a self-reliant, tech-driven nation.

Easily Bring Home Your Dream Car with Shriram Used Car Loan

In today’s rapidly evolving world, owning a car has become more essential than ever. For many, purchasing a new vehicle can be financially overwhelming, but Shriram Finance, a reputed name in the NBFC (Non-Banking Financial Company) sector, with its tailored used car financing solutions makes this dream of getting behind the wheels possible. With affordable interest rates and flexible tenure options, Shriram Finance offers an accessible pathway to vehicle ownership.

Buy your dream car with Shriram Finance Used Car loan

What Makes Shriram Used Car Loan the Perfect Choice for Customers

Shriram Used Car Loan brings a hoard of features on the table, making it a much sought-after choice while researching car loan options. Some of the features that prospective customers can benefit from are:

  • Competitive Interest Rates: With interest rates starting from just 10%* p.a., customers can save up on the total cost of the loan.

  • Flexible Repayment Options: Customers can choose from tenures of 18* to 48* months and plan their EMIs in a way that does not strain their finances.

  • High Financing Amounts: Applicants are eligible to get up to 85%* financing on the value of the chosen used car, eliminating the need for a significant down payment.

  • Streamlined Application Process: Quick and seamless online application ensures that customers can concentrate on choosing the desired vehicle and not waste time completing the loan application.

  • Minimal Documentation Required: Only basic documents are required to apply for Shriram Used Car Loan, therefore eliminating the need to fill out dense paperwork.

  • Quick Approvals: Customers applying for Shriram Used Car Loan may also enjoy quick approval if all the eligibility criteria are met.

  • Simple EMI Calculator: The Shriram Used Car Loan EMI Calculator helps customers calculate their monthly instalments and the total interest outgo, allowing them to plan their finances comfortably.

  • Regular EMI Reminders: Regular reminders allow customers to stay on top of their payments and never miss a due date.

Conclusion

Owning a car should not be an unattainable dream, and with Shriram Used Car Loan, it becomes an achievable reality. The combination of competitive interest rates, flexible repayment terms, high financing amounts, and an easy application process makes Shriram Finance an ideal choice for anyone looking to purchase a pre-owned vehicle.

Take the first step towards owning your dream car today by applying for a used car loan with Shriram Finance.

*Above mentioned rates and tenure are as per the company’s Digital Used Car Loan Policy

About Shriram Finance

Shriram Finance is a leading diversified financial services company in India, offering a wide range of financial products and services across consumer, wholesale, and business finance segments. The company has a strong presence pan India with a network of 3,196 branches and an employee strength of 79,405 with an AUM of Rs. 254,469 crores. With a focus on financial inclusion and customer-centricity, Shriram Finance continues to empower individuals and businesses to achieve their financial goals.