The Institute of Company Secretaries of India

CS Atul H. Mehta, President, The Institute of Company Secretaries of India, speaking at the Press Conference stated that, “The Institute of Company Secretaries of India is a premier national professional body established by an Act of Parliament in 1980 is fully engaged in the propagation and promotion of Company Secretaries as Governance Professionals. With 39000 members and over 4,00,000 students, the Institute is in constant endeavor towards the transitioning of Company Secretaries as Governance Professionals.”

The President outlined the major initiatives of ICSI as under:

STUDENT SERVICES

NEW EXAMINATION CENTRES ANNOUNCED BY ICSI

The Institute is pleased to announce opening of new Examination Centres at following cities on an experimental basis w.e.f. June, 2015 examination onwards:

1. Ahmednagar (Gujrat )

2. Akola (Maharashtra)

3. Amravati (Maharashtra)

4. Beawer (Rajasthan)

5. Chittorgarh (Rajasthan)

6. Gandhinagar (Gujrat)

7. Jhansi (Uttar Pradesh)

8. Panipat (Haryana)

9. Rourkela (Odisha) 10. Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh) Accordingly, candidates can opt for new examination centre at the aforesaid city(ies) while enrolling for June, 2015 examination. Last date for Enrolment for June 2015 exams is 25th March 2015.

A Merit Scholarship Scheme through ICSI Students Education Fund Trust has been developed under which highly meritorious students will be granted monthly scholarships for three years subject to the passing the various stages of CS Course at the first available opportunity. The Corporate and the benign Individuals may contribute to this ICSI Students Education Fund and get the tax benefit under the Income Tax Act 1962. The contribution to the Fund is as per the CSR rules of the Companies Act 2013. So, all corporate shall use the same for their compliance on CSR.

Student Education Loan in collaboration with CANARA Bank .

Online facilities for syllabus switchover, claiming qualification-based paper-wise exemption, change of           elective subject, etc have been made available on www.icsi.edu.

ICSI Call Centre has been established with centralized contact numbers 011-33132333 and                 01166204999. The Call centre is operational from 7 AM to 11 PM on all days.

The Institute has completely switched over to Online Mode for Registration of Students w.e.f. 1st January, 2014.

The Institute has completely switched over to Online Mode for Examination Enrollment w.e.f. 1st October, 2013.

The Class Room Teaching Guidelines have been thoroughly reviewed and liberalized to enhance the quality of coaching.

A Re-Registration Policy has been introduced in terms of which students who have passed the Executive Programme Stage of CS Course/Intermediate stage under old course, under any past syllabus but not eligible for seeking Denovo, may register directly to Professional Programme and resume the course.

A Student Assistance Committee has been operationalized which will look into the problems faced by the students while availing the services from the Institute and recommend remedial measures to the TEFC and other Committees of the Council.

A Grievance Solutions Cell has been established to look into the grievances of the students through a Grievance Portal and also through a dedicated E-Mail Id grievance.solutions@icsi.edu.

The cut-off dates fixed for seeking registration de-novo/ extension and Paper-wise exemption based on higher qualifications have been revised and students can now submit their requests for the same upto 9th April/ 10thOctober for appearing in June & December Sessions of Examinations.

A simplified system with standardized fee for seeking Registration Denovo/ Extension has been implemented with effect from 1stDecember, 2013 with online facilities for submitting the application and fee for the same.

The syllabus of Foundation Programme, Executive Programme and Professional Programme have been revised.

In Professional Programme, a new concept of Elective Paper with specialization in different areas has been introduced. The Institute has also introduced Open Book Examination(OBE) system for the Elective Papers where student can select one subject out of five subjects and give an Open Book Examination for the same .

OMR based Examinations and Computer-based Examinations were conducted for Foundation Programme Stage. First Computer-Based Examination for Foundation Programme was conducted in June, 2014 Session.

OMR based Examinations for three papers under New Syllabus of Executive Programme was held in December, 2014 Session.

The Study Materials have been made optional and soft copies are freely available for download for students.

An online English Learning course has been launched . Students can register online for the same onwww.icsi.edu.

The Study Materials are available in PDF Format as well as E-Book form which can be downloaded by the students free of cost.

Important communications are being sent to the students through bulk E-Mail and SMSes.

50% Concession in Registration and Examination Fee has been introduced for War Widows and Wards of Martyrs of military and para-military forces.

‘ICSI MOBILE CS’ – Android enabled Mobile APP HAS BEEN Launched by the Institute for easy access of ICSI website facilities on Android based Mobiles .

MODIFIED TRAINING STRUCTURE FOR STUDENTS

The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) has introduced a New Modified Training Structure for the Students of Company Secretaryship Course w. e. from 1st April 2014.

Under the modified Training Structure a student who has passed the Final examination or Professional Programme examination of the Institute shall be eligible for Associate Membership of the Institute only after he/she has undergone the practical training for a period of-

i. three years on registration for Executive Programme; or

ii. two years after passing the Executive Programme examination; or

iii. one year after passing the Professional Programme examination;

The practical training may be exempted for a student who possesses prescribed work experience to the satisfaction of the Council.

MEMBERS

Institute has 39000 Members across the country and abroad. As a major outcome of Institute’s efforts, the Practising Members have also received recognition under Maharashtra VAT Act for appearing before Tribunals.

The Institute aims to constantly develop competence of its members and the profession by providing specific trainings at various platforms, bringing out effective guidelines on various professional development activities and harnessing many National and International tie-ups, added, President, ICSI.

PRACTISING COMPANY SECRETARIES :

PCS Induction programmes are being organised throughout the country and are getting overwhelming response from the members .

The Institute will be coming out with PIP Videos for the members located at remote places and who are unable attend the programmes physically.

PEER REVIEW BOARD:

Empanelment of more Peer Reviewers.

Senior Practitioners from each region are being requested to empanel themselves as Peer Reviewers.

TRAINING PROGRAMMES FOR PEER REVIEWERS.

Training Programmes for Peer Reviewers are being held throughout the country after mapping the number of PCS in each region with the number of Peer Reviewers available from that region.

1000 Practice Units have been identified using random sampling software for being peer reviewed during the current year.

WORKSHOPS ON CAPACITY BUILDING.

Launched PMQ Course in five specialized subjects, namely, Banking Law and Practice; Insurance Law and Practice; Capital, Commodity and Money Market; Intellectual Property Rights – Law and Practice; and International Business – Law and Practice.

Launched PMQ course in Competition Law

Restructured PMQ Course in Corporate Governance.

Course on Valuation launched .

Database of IDs launched.

The workshops on Capacity building of professionals under the new Company Law are being organised by the Institute across the country.

The Corporate Laws Committee has identified topics for conducting Capacity Building Workshops on various aspects of the New Company Law. These topics are Secretarial Audit, NCLT, Restructuring and Insolvency, Valuation, Annual Return and e-forms.

Creation of dedicated email ids pcs@icsi.edu; companiesact2013@icsi.edu and efiling@icsi.edu for receiving queries relating to PCS, various provisions under Companies Act, 2013 and issues relating to filing of e-forms.

MASTER CLASSES ON COMPANIES ACT, 2013.

Master classes on Companies Act 2013 will be organised for the members across India.

INVETSOR EDUCATION & PROTECTION FUND (IEPF)

The Institute is organizing Investor Awareness Programmes through Regional Councils, Chapters and Resource Persons in coordination with Regional Directors/Registrar of Companies , MCA.

COMPANY SECRETARY INDUCTION PROGRAMME

After taking membership of the Institute , the institute organizes an Induction programme for its New Members.

PLACEMENT PORTAL

The Portal provides “24X7” free of cost online platform for placement service to the corporates and members.

TIE-UPS AND MOUS

CERTIFIED BANKING PROFESSIONAL COURSE

COMPLIANCE, GOVERNANCE AND RISK MANAGEMENT COURSE

MOU WITH NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF SECURITIES MARKETS (NISM)

ICSI PROGRAMS

SERIES OF ICSI SEMINARS ON INDIAN FINANCIAL CODE

ICSI provided Thought Leadership on INDIAN FINANCIAL CODE, and the Report of FSLRC (Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission). ICSI has conducted 6 Seminars on Indian Financial Code till date.

CAPACITY BUILDING SEMINARS ON COMPANIES ACT 2013

For capacity building of the Members Seminars/ Workshops on Companies Act 2013 will be conducted across India.

FULL - TIME INTEGRATED COMPANY SECRETARYSHIP COURSE.

The new session for the Full Time Integrated Company Secretaryship course will be announced soon ,The Full Time Integrated Company Secretaryship was launched in June 2014 last year. Details are available on ICSI website:www.icsi.edu.

Mahindra First Choice Wheels (MFCWL) Raises $15 Million From San Francisco Based Valiant Capital

Mahindra First Choice Wheels (MFCWL) Raises $15 Million From San Francisco Based Valiant Capital

Mahindra First Choice Wheels Ltd. – USPs ·      India’s No.1 multi-brand certified used car company, Mahindra First Choice Wheels Ltd. (MFCWL www.mahindrafirstchoice.com), has a network of nearly 500 Franchise outlets spread across 240+ towns in the country which includes metros, mini metros and smaller towns. Used car sales for the company have grown at a CAGR of 40% over the last 5 years. The cumulative retail footprint under the Mahindra First Choice brand is in excess of a million square feet   o  The company has created a unique franchisee driven  business model and is on a mission to transform the  way used cars are retailed in the country. It’s also the winner of the prestigious “Franchisor of the year” award in the Automotive business category by Franchisee India and the Mint Strategy award in 2015   o  MFCWL’s mission is to help consumers find, buy and own a pre-owned car with confidence. Its strong brand is supported by industry leading certification and warranty products ·         Market leader in the online wholesale auction space, having sold over 2,25,000 vehicles through the eDiig auction platform (www.ediig.com) ·         Created India’s first organized third party vehicle inspection product Autoinspekt (www.autoinspekt.com). Launched in June 2013, over 1,50,000 inspections have been conducted for vehicles in all categories – passenger cars, commercial vehicles, tractors and two wheelers ·         MFCWL has recently launched India’s first and only analytically driven used vehicle pricing guide,  Indian Blue Book – IBB (www.indianbluebook.com) which has fast become the industry standard for used car pricing. Enhancing the model, the company has also launched a used tractor pricing guide IBBTractor (www.ibbtractor.com). Additionally, to enable users to assess vehicle residuals, the company has also launched a residual estimator IBBResiduals (www.ibbresiduals.com)

Mahindra First Choice Wheels Ltd. (MFCWL), India’s No. 1 multi-brand used vehicle company, has signed a definitive agreement to raise $15 million (Rs. 94 Crores) from San Francisco based investment advisor firm, Valiant Capital for a minority stake in the company. This is the second round of external private equity raised by MFCWL, with the first one in 2008 from Delhi based Phi Capital, who continues to be an investor in the company.

MFCWL has experienced rapid growth in its retail, wholesale and technology enabled businesses. The capital will be used to fund its growth plans over the next few years.

Founded by Mr. Anand Mahindra, MFCWL’s mission is to “organize” every facet of the used car industry and most important of all provide the used car consumer with a choice of certified pre-owned vehicles and a purchase experience that mimics the new car buying experience. “MFCWL is yet another example of innovation and entrepreneurship within the Group, where new business models are being explored and implemented with persistence.  It is exciting to see marquee investors attracted to MFCWL and participating in its growth story where much is yet to come!” said Mr. Anand Mahindra, Chairman & Managing Director, Mahindra & Mahindra and also the Chairman of Mahindra First Choice Wheels.

MFCWL is the only true used car business with a successful “hybrid” business model bridging the consumer experience online and on the ground. With the physical presence critical to the used car business, the company has invested aggressively to provide consumers with a consistent omnichannel experience. Commenting on this strategy, Mr. Rajeev Dubey, President (Group HR, Corporate Services and After-Market) & Member of the Group Executive Board, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. said, “We believe the “brick + click” ecosystem is very powerful in the used car business and over the years we have seen our consumers and dealers appreciate this value proposition. We will continue to invest in the overall growth of the hybrid model in the years to come”.

To enable the hybrid used car ecosystem, MFCWL has launched several technology enabled products and services to address the key drivers of trust deficit in a used car transaction namely – vehicle condition, paperwork, pricing and experience. “Consumers are looking for more tools and insight related to used vehicles. We are leveraging our deep wholesale and retail experience on the ground to launch a slew of technology enabled products that will materially increase the confidence with which they can transact on used vehicles – whether buying or selling”, said Dr. Nagendra Palle, CEO & Managing Director of MFCWL. He added, “We have had a very successful partnership with Phi Capital over the years and we welcome Valiant Capital as a new partner to support us in our endeavour to become a world class used car company.”

The company plans to use the fresh funds infusion to accelerate its growth both of the physical network as well as adoption of its technology enabled products and services used by all stakeholders in the industry – NBFCs, Banks, OEMs, Dealers and Consumers. MFCWL is planning to end this fiscal year (2015) with 500 franchise outlets and grow to 1,800+ outlets in the next 5 years. In addition, it plans to use the funds to broaden its reach for its products and services across other used vehicle categories. In Fiscal Year Ending 2015, MFCWL used vehicle volumes sold will be 140,000 between its retail and wholesale and it will complete 140,000 Autoinspekt inspections,

The used car market, with an estimated size of 3.2 million units, is already larger than the new car market and is growing faster than the new car market. The current slowdown notwithstanding, it is expected that the used car market will become almost double the size of the new car market in the next 5 years.

About Mahindra First Choice Wheels Mahindra First Choice Wheels Ltd. (MFCWL) (www.mahindrafirstchoice.com)  is the country’s preferred used car mart and is India’s number one multi-brand certified used car player. The company plans to expand this number to 1000 outlets over the next three years. This implies that customers will soon be able to choose from a range of certified used cars throughout India, including the metros and tier-2 towns and cities. MFCWL closed F-14 with sales of 57,000 used cars, which is 30% growth over the last financial year. The company also provides value added services including but limited to third party inspections (www.autoinspekt.com) and pricing guides (www.indianbluebook.com) About Valiant Capital San Francisco-headquartered Valiant Capital Management, L.P. (“Valiant”) currently manages over $2.5 billion of assets and was founded by Chris Hansen in 2008.  The Fund has a strong track record of investing in private and public markets globally.  Prior private investments include Facebook, DropBox, Pinterest, Uber, and Evernote in the US, and Yatra Online, Shriram Housing Finance, FreeCharge and First Cry in India.

About Mahindra The Mahindra Group focuses on enabling people to rise through solutions that power mobility, drive rural prosperity, enhance urban lifestyles and increase business efficiency. A USD 16.5 billion multinational group based in Mumbai, India, Mahindra employs more than 200,000 people in over 100 countries. Mahindra operates in the key industries that drive economic growth, enjoying a leadership position in tractors, utility vehicles, information technology, financial services  and vacation ownership. In addition, Mahindra enjoys a strong presence in the agribusiness, aerospace, components, consulting services, defence, energy, industrial equipment, logistics, real estate, retail, steel, commercial vehicles and two wheeler industries. In 2014, Mahindra featured on the Forbes Global 2000, a comprehensive listing of the world’s largest, most powerful public companies, as measured by revenue, profit, assets and market value. The Mahindra Group also received the Financial Times ‘Boldness in Business’ Award in the ‘Emerging Markets’ category in 2013. Visit us at www.mahindra.com

Mahindra Insurance Brokers receives Celent Model Insurer Asia Award in Data Mastery & Analytics category

Mahindra Insurance Brokers
receives Celent Model Insurer Asia Award in Data Mastery & Analytics category

Mahindra Insurance Brokers Ltd. (MIBL), one of India’s leading insurance brokers, received the Celent Model Insurer Asia Award in the “Data Mastery & Analytics” category at the 5^th Annual Celent Model Insurer Asia Awards ceremony held in Singapore on March 11, 2015. MIBL won this prestigious accolade for its ‘FunDo T90’ initiative which aims to align company strategy with team goals and individual aspirations by way of an innovative and engaging gamification application.

“Teamwork and collaboration is an integral aspect of our success at Mahindra Insurance Brokers Ltd. and this unique concept has really encouraged the spirit of healthy competition across the organisation. The team has worked very hard to create and implement this initiative and we are very proud to have been recognised for our endeavours on a global platform,” said Ramesh Iyer, Managing Director - Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services Limited, and CEO - Financial Services Sector of the Mahindra Group. 

“In addition to driving strategy and performance, ‘FunDo T90’ aims to engage employees and encourage a spirit of collaborative competition. It helps us focus on business and financial parameters and operational targets. And what better platform than India’s most loved sport which breaks all barriers of language and culture! ‘FunDo T90 utilises a ‘T90’ format, inspired by Cricket’s T20 International Premier League or IPL competition. This unique initiative not only improved performance levels but also inspired employees to regularly contribute to enhancing workplace effectiveness,” said Dr. Jaideep Devare, Managing Director, Mahindra Insurance Brokers Ltd.

 ‘FunDo T90’ was conceptualised with the aim of encouraging employees to achieve their professional targets in an entertaining manner. Accordingly, MIBL developed a learning model christened ‘4E’ which presented information in a pictorial format to ensure better retention. ‘FunDo T90’ reflected the actual structure of the IPL, complete with Players, Teams, Groups, Scores and Leagues. ‘T90’ denoted the 90 days that made up each quarter. A total of 19 teams were formed across the country, including the Head Office, which were then further divided into 4 groups competing against each other. Celent is a research and consulting firm focused on the application of information technology in the global financial services industry. Every year, Celent recognizes excellence in insurance technology in the Asia-Pacific region through their Model Insurer Asia Awards program. The Model Insurer Asia Awards recognize an insurers’ effective use of technology in specific areas. 

The Mahindra Group has a significant footprint in rural India through the sale of utility vehicles, tractors, commercial vehicles, two-wheelers, and rural home loans. Mahindra Finance's rural financing is considered to be the cornerstone of poverty reduction, rural development and inclusive growth in many parts of the country.

MIBL, with its focus on rural and semi-urban India, offers protection of health, wealth and life to the underserved markets by providing innovative insurance solutions.

About Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services Limited 

Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services Limited (MMFSL), part of the USD 16.5 billion Mahindra Group, is one of India's leading non-banking finance companies. Focused on the rural and semi-urban sector, the company has over 3 million customers and an AUM of over USD 5 billion. The Company is a leading vehicle and tractor financier and also offers fixed deposits and loans to SMEs.

The Company has over 1000 offices across the country and is the first finance company from India to feature in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index.

The Company's Insurance Broking subsidiary, Mahindra Insurance Brokers Limited (MIBL), is a licensed Composite Broker providing Direct and Reinsurance broking services.

Mahindra Rural Housing Finance Limited (MRHFL), another subsidiary of MMFSL provides loans for purchase, renovation and construction of houses to individuals in the rural areas of the country. The regulator, National Housing Bank (NHB) has a 12.5% equity stake in the Company.

The Company has a JV in the US, Mahindra Finance USA, in partnership with De Lage Landen, a subsidiary of Rabo Bank, for financing Mahindra tractors in the US.

Visit us at http://www.mahindrafinance.com

About Mahindra

The Mahindra Group focuses on enabling people to rise through solutions that power mobility, drive rural prosperity, enhance urban lifestyles and increase business efficiency.

A USD 16.5 billion multinational group based in Mumbai, India, Mahindra provides employment opportunities to over 200,000 people in over 100 countries. Mahindra operates in the key industries that drive economic growth, enjoying a leadership position in tractors, utility vehicles, information technology, financial services  and vacation ownership. In addition, Mahindra enjoys a strong presence in the agribusiness, aerospace, components, consulting services, defence, energy, industrial equipment, logistics, real estate, retail, steel, commercial vehicles and two wheeler industries.

In 2014, Mahindra featured on the Forbes Global 2000, a comprehensive listing of the world’s largest, most powerful public companies, as measured by revenue, profit, assets and market value. The Mahindra Group also received the Financial Times ‘Boldness in Business’ Award in the ‘Emerging Markets’ category in 2013. 

Visit us at www.mahindra.com

J D Birla Institute Textile Science, Clothing and Fashion Studies students present their ramp walk on ‘GRADUATING FASHION SHOW’

J D Birla Institute Textile Science, Clothing and Fashion Studies students present their ramp walk on ‘GRADUATING FASHION SHOW’

The Department of Textile Science, Clothing and Fashion Studies students present their ramp walk on ‘GRADUATING FASHION SHOW’ at Vidya Mandir Auditorium on Annual day of   J D Birla Institute. The theme for the ramp walk was Kai Po Che( Kites), Vamacara (Aghoris), Ilk Rage(Tribal), Monochrome (Zebra Crossing) . The Chief Guest Sanjay Jhunjhuwala, Managing Director Turtle Limited, and the Guest of Honour Shrimati Sharbari Datta, a well known Designer, Ms. Rita Bibra and Dr Deepali Singhee, Principal J.D. Birla Institute opened the show by lighting the lamp on the stage.

Addressing the students Mr. Jhunjhuwala, MD Turtle Ltd. said “Take things in life in a positive way, keep our thoughts & ideas on the correct path, work from your heart and set your mind while working in any sector. However he wishes and motivated the students to do well and congratulate them for reaching to this outstanding levels”.

Ms. Sharbari Datta was highly impressed with the students work and said that nowhere had she seen students prepare full collections like the one made by JDBIANS.

About the J.D. Birla Institute:

 J.D. Birla Institute, which is a private un-aided autonomous college affiliated to Jadavpur University, was established in June 1962 when late Smt. Sushila Devi Birla established a college for girls to provide scientific education to young women from Kolkata's. Over the 50 glorious years, JDBI has grown with the needs and demands of the changing times. The Institute has made rapid strides over the decades to emerge as a centre of excellence. The name was changed to J.D. Birla Institute in 2002 with the launch of a satellite campus to house the co-educational

Department of Management. Today the Institute, which has an `A' grade from National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), provides graduate, post-graduate degrees under affiliation to Jadavpur University and several short term courses. The college has been conferred an Autonomous status by the UGC. The Department of Textile Science, Clothing and Fashion Studies of the Institute undertakes a three-year undergraduate B.Sc (Hons.) and a two-year postgraduate M.Sc course which focuses on interdisciplinary study on various subjects related to ‘Textiles and Clothing’. The curriculum covers a diverse range of subjects like textile science, textile dyeing, printing and processing, pattern making, traditional textiles of India, textile and fashion design. Apart from these areas, the course also focuses on the study of natural dyes, its practical application traditional textiles of India and costumes of the world.

Cisco Selected by Videocon d2h to Enable 4K Broadcast in India

Cisco Selected by Videocon d2h to Enable 4K Broadcast in India

Global launch of Cisco’s 4K Encoder

Videocon d2h, one of the fastest-growing Direct-to-Home (DTH) companies in India, has chosen the Cisco® AnyRes Live UHD Encoders to launch its 4K-enabled Ultra High Definition viewing experience. This is the global launch of Cisco’s 4K Encoder and a redefinition of TV viewing. The 4K Encoder brings best-in-class quality for real-time media delivery applications such as live sports and 24-hour programming. The strategic announcement comes during the biggest sporting event in the country – the Cricket World Cup 2015.

4K resolution offers a whopping 8.3 million pixels to display a virtually flawless picture even when viewed up close, delivering vivid colors and picture details of the highest quality. Powered by an array of Cisco AnyRes Live UHD Encoders, Videocon d2h will deliver an unsurpassed television viewing experience to cricket enthusiasts in the country during the much-anticipated Cricket World Cup. This comprehensive, reliable platform can be scaled up to stream multiple formats to any device, including iPhone, iPad, feature phones, and smartphones, as well as delivering pristine Ultra HD video to televisions.

Technical highlights:

•       Delivers highest quality encoding using an HEVC/H.265 codec developed by Cisco

•       Wide range of frame rates from 24 fps all the way up to 60 fps

•       Virtually flawless pictures achieved with 10 bit color depth

•       Reliable transmission with an UHD input front end offering robust synchronization to the live signal feeds

•       Capable of SD, HD, Full HD or Multi format ABR encoding using H.264 as well as H.265

•       Various baseband graphics processing features, including logo insertion.

The launch of 4K encoders on the Videocon d2h platform marks the first ever deployment of Cisco AnyRes Live UHD Encoder in the world and will be followed shortly by two more customer deployments in Asia Pacific. Powered by state-of-the-art Cisco UCS® servers, these encoders promise a faster time-to-market and provide the strongest technical foundation to the 4K infrastructure.

Supporting Quotes

Mr. Saurabh Dhoot, Director, Videocon Group, said, “Videocon d2h is bringing path breaking technology into the Indian homes through this wholesome experience of 4K Ultra HD using its 4K Ultra HD set top box and 4K Ultra HD Multi Genre Channel. We are the first in the country to provide this experience. The launch of 4K Ultra HD with Cisco reinforces our commitment to this market. The futuristic user experience will be eons ahead compared to anywhere else in the world. Keeping pace with the global market trends, we will continue to redefine the television viewing experience of our customers in India.”

Mr. Anil Khera, CEO, Videocon d2h, said, “The whole journey of developing the 4K Ultra HD environment has been very fulfilling as this 4K Ultra HD Multi Genre channel completes the consumers’ 4K experience. Now the consumers can optimally utilise their existing 4K LED TV and get the full value out of it. We continue to be committed to providing the best service to our customers. Customer delight remains our prime objective. This overall 4K Ultra HD experience using the Cisco® platform on Videocon d2h will greatly enhance the brand image of Videocon.”

Sue Taylor, Vice President Sales, Asia Pacific, Cisco Service Provider Video Software Solutions:

“It is our top priority to provide our customers with the best technology experiences. Therefore, we are excited to be partnering with Videocon d2h and to be among the early entrants in the 4K space in Asia Pacific. We will continue to bring many more innovative solutions and services as part of our commitment to provide a leading edge to our customers across the globe and in India.”

Tags/Keywords:

Cisco, Videocon d2h, Videoscape, PCs, Tablets, DTH, set top box, High Definition, Video on Demand, Advanced User Interface, OTT, DVR, Pay-TV, advanced TV viewing, 4K

  

About Cisco

Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in IT that helps companies seize the opportunities of tomorrow by proving that amazing things can happen when you connect the previously unconnected. For ongoing news, please go to http://thenetwork.cisco.com.

# # #

Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the US and other countries. A listing of Cisco's trademarks can be found at www.cisco.com/go/trademarks. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company.

About Videocon

Videocon d2h is India’s fastest-growing DTH service provider which offers 500 channels and services. Videocon d2h also has 29 Asli “HD” channels and services and 239 regional channels and services on its platform. Videocon d2h offers India’s first 1000 GB High Definition Digital Video Recorder and is the first DTH service provider to have Radio Frequency Remote Control (available with High Definition Digital Set-Top Box with unlimited recording). Powered by the MPEG-4 and DVB-S2 technology, Videocon d2h offers services like 12 PIP Mosaic, d2h Cinema, weather updates and multiple tickers to transform your TV into a hub of entertainment and knowledge. It offers High Definition channels in 1080p, HDD Sound and 16:9 aspect ratio. It also has Active Music which includes 41 Audio/ Video active music channels, 24 hours a day. In addition, Videocon d2h provides round-the-clock, prompt and efficient customer support in eight languages from the dedicated customer care team present in six locations.

10th Edition of META chooses the year’s best Indian plays to share a common stage

10^th Edition of META chooses the year’s best Indian plays to share a common stage

-          Most plays selected for META-2015 from North East region

-          Plays from across India to showcase best of Indian Theatre

With the advent of spring, it is that time of year when the best of Indian theatre is celebrated. Theatre aficionados can look forward to the 10^th edition of the Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards (META) which is one of India’s premier theatre awards, bringing together the very best productions from across the country.

The 10^th Edition of the Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards (META) has already begun to feature in conversations across art and culture hotspots, with theatre enthusiasts looking keenly at the list that META has picked for this year’s awards. The selection committee this year, comprising theatre stalwarts like Anup Hazarika, Deepa Punjani Krishnan, Sajitha Madathil, Sudhir Tandon and Vinod Nagpal have chosen 10 plays, from close to 300 entries, celebrating the rich diversity of Indian Theatre. 

Jay Shah, Head, Cultural Outreach, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. said, “At Mahindra, we are committed to supporting the Arts to culturally enrich the communities we operate in. We believe in selecting specific Art forms and participating in their long term progress.  Our vision in 2006 was to celebrate Indian theatre by creating a national platform for performance and recognition. As we complete a decade, we are proud that META has become an institution of prestige for theatre groups across the country. For Mahindra, META is yet another expression for Rise for Good which is the overarching ethos of everything we do as a Group – making a positive difference in the communities we are present in.”

The 10 plays nominated for META 2015 are:

1.    A Straight Proposal; Dir: Happy Ranajit; Produced by Unicorn Actors’ Studio  (Delhi, Lang: Hindi )

2.    Aaydaan; Dir: Sushma Deshpande; Produced by Awishkar Theatre (Mumbai, Lang: Marathi)

3.    Chitrapata; Dir: Manjunath L Badiger; Produced by Samasthi (Bengaluru, Lang: Kannada)

4.    Dhou… The Wave; Dir: Gunakar Dev Goswami; Produced by Purvarang (Guwahati, Lang: Assamese)

5.    Dreams From My Room; Dir: Chingtham Banikanta Singh; Produced by Pan Manipuri Theatre (Manipur, Lang: Manipuri)

6.    Fall of a King- Burha Manuhor Babe Desh Nai; Dir: Palash Protim Mech; Produced by Oftas (Assam, Lang: Assamese)

7.    Kaumudi; Dir: Abhishek Majumdar; Produced by Riad Mahmood Education and Arts Foundation and Indian Ensemble (Bengaluru, Lang: Hindi)

8.    Matthi; Dir: Jino Joseph; Produced by Kathuparamba Malayakalanilayam (Kerala, Lang: Malayalam)

9.    Rage and Beyond: Irawati’s Gandhari; Dir: Sanjukta Wagh; Produced by Beej (Mumbai, Lang:  English)

10.  Still and Still Moving; Dir: Neel Chaudhuri; Produced by Tadpole Repertory (Delhi, Lang: English & Hindi)

The shortlisted productions will be staged at LTG Auditorium and Kamani Auditorium in Delhi from 21^st March till 26^th March 2015. The META 2015 Jury and the full schedule for the META 2015 Festival will be announced soon.

Delhi audiences will be thrilled to know that this year, after a gap of three years, plays from Delhi make a comeback to META with two delightful acts - ‘A Straight Proposal’ by Happy Ranajit and ‘Still & Still Moving’ by Neel Chaudhuri. The 2015 edition of META will showcase to its audience these two productions from Delhi along with two from Mumbai, two from Bengaluru, one from Kerela, two from Assam and one from Manipur.

The diversity of META 2015 is evident in the 7 languages represented in total by the nominations, with 6 plays in regional languages (two in Assamese and one each in Manipuri, Marathi, Kannada and Malayalam), two in Hindi, one in English and one bilingual play (Hindi + English).

Issues plaguing the society at large have always been highlighted at the META stage. This year, META nominees have highlighted issues like that of the LGBT community, concerns of Dalit women, the common man’s woes, problems in conflict zones, and economic concerns. The festival also features plays with contemporary interpretations of the Ramayana and Mahabharata, looking through these epics with a fresh perspective. META 2015 nominees thus offer a vivid, yet hard hitting showcase for theatre lovers, as some provide solutions while others open up new dialogues and debates.

Ravi Dubey, Creative Director of META said “The results reflect the ever increasing quality of theatre being produced across the country by groups that are hitherto not known at the national level, leaving behind some of the better known productions. This is a matter of great pride and joy for the theatre community in India. We are proud at META to be playing a small yet significant role in encouraging such theatre groups to come to the forefront.”

The nominated plays will be judged across 13 categories, making META the most comprehensive awards recognizing Indian theatre. Awards will be given for Best Play, Best Director, Best Stage Design, Best Light Design, Best Innovative Sound Design, Best Costume Design, Best Actor in a Lead Role (Male), Best Actor in a Lead Role (Female), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Male), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Female), Best Original Script, Best Ensemble, and Best Choreographer. The META 2015 awards night will be held on 27th March 2015 at the Taj Mahal Hotel, No. 1 Man Singh Road, New Delhi.

Celebrating its 10^th Edition, a commemorative book on the Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards was launched recently by renowned actors Shabana Azmi and Girish Karnad at the ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival. The tastefully designed coffee table book, ‘Curtain Call: Celebrating Indian Theatre’ chronicles the journey of Indian theatre over the past decade, as it unfolded on META’s glorious stage.

For more information on the nominees and full list of category wise nominations, please visit www.metawards.com

About Mahindra

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A USD 16.5 billion multinational group based in Mumbai, India, Mahindra provides employment opportunities to over 200,000 people in over 100 countries. Mahindra operates in the key industries that drive economic growth, enjoying a leadership position in tractors, utility vehicles, information technology, financial services  and vacation ownership. In addition, Mahindra enjoys a strong presence in the agribusiness, aerospace, components, consulting services, defence, energy, industrial equipment, logistics, real estate, retail, steel, commercial vehicles and two wheeler industries.

In 2014, Mahindra featured on the Forbes Global 2000, a comprehensive listing of the world’s largest, most powerful public companies, as measured by revenue, profit, assets and market value. The Mahindra Group also received the Financial Times ‘Boldness in Business’ Award in the ‘Emerging Markets’ category in 2013.

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