Bengaluru, 29th June 2020: Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) is mandated to promote old age income security i.e. pension in India and to protect the interests of subscribers of pension systems and schemes. As part of its developmental mandate and to increase the outreach of National Pension System (NPS), PFRDA has taken series of steps to ensure ease of NPS on boarding through various convenient modes.
In its endeavor to provide digital solutions, PFRDA has already enabled opening of online NPS Account in a paperless manner through e- signature. In order to further facilitate ease of NPS Account opening, the subscribers are now permitted to open their NPS account through One Time Password (OTP) also.
In this process, the customers of banks (registered as POPs- Points of Presence), who wish to open NPS Account through internet banking of the respective banks, can open NPS Accounts using OTP received on their registered mobile number.
However, for opening of NPS Accounts through non internet banking digital mode, through POPs (Banks as well as Non – Bank POPs), OTP received on their registered mobile number and email can be used for paperless NPS Account opening.
Post completion of KYC, POPs have to submit the NPS Subscriber’s data/information to Central Record Keeping Agencies (CRAs) along with his photo and image of signature with an undertaking that the KYC/AML guidelines/rules have been duly complied with.
POPs and CRAs have been advised by PFRDA to provide the required functionality of OTP based authentication. This process would ensure seamless account opening, end to end digitization and optimizing of investment returns by deposit of contributions in a faster way.
PFRDA administers more than 3.60 crore subscribers under National Pension System with an aggregate Asset under Management (AUM) of more than Rs. 4.55 lac crore. Out of total subscribers, 2.25 crore subscribers are under Atal Pension Yojana (APY).
~ A Child Plan that offers guaranteed returns for a secured future~
Mumbai, June 2020: Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance (ABSLI), the life insurance subsidiary of Aditya Birla Capital Limited (ABCL), has launched a one-of-its-kind insurance plan called ABSLI Child’s Future Assured Plan.It aims at assured returns combined with protection, to financially secure a child’s future milestones.
This child plan offers guaranteed returns and is a non-linked non-participating life insurance plan. ABSLI Child’s Future Assured Plan enables you to plan for child’s two significant milestones – education & marriage by providing the required cash flow to help you meet your goals for your child’s future. It has an in-built Waiver of Premium element that ensures that the policy continues in case anything unfortunate happens to the life insured. This plan offers the flexibility to choose periodic pay-outs of 3, 6 or 9 years to plan for child’s education and a lumpsum at the desired milestone, to plan for marriage. The customer can also avail the option to receive both, guaranteed regular income to plan for their child’s high school, graduation, and post-graduation expenses and guaranteed lump sum as corpus for marriage related expenses.
Plan at a glance
Entry Age
Minimum: 18 Years
Maximum: 65 Years (50 years if Enhanced insurance cover is chosen)
Age at Maturity
75 years
Minimum Premium
Rs. 30,000 p.a.
Max No Limit
The plan can be tailor-made and customized basis an individual’s requirement by opting for solutions such as flexible benefit options, premium paying term, death benefit, and additional riders. It offers the choice to enhance risk cover up to 200% of Sum Assured. This plans also enhances the benefits by providing Loyalty Additions of 20% of each pay-out for policies, where all the premiums have been paid through the premium paying term (PPT).
Policyholder can avail assured pay-outs and high sum assured rebate with maximum guaranteed benefits, to plan for his/her child’s education, marriage, or both together by opting from any of the following options:
· Education Milestone: Option to receive guaranteed annual pay-outs for 3/6/9 years as per the need for child’s education preferably on child’s age from 15 to 21 years.
· Marriage Milestone: Option to receive a guaranteed lump sum on maturity for a child’s marriage fund preferably on child’s age from 24 to 32 years.
· Education and Marriage Milestones: Option to receive both guaranteed income and a lump sum for a child’s education & marriage.
Death Benefit: In the event of unfortunate death of Life insured, any premiums due thereafter will be waived off and nominee will continue to receive scheduled Assured pay-outs. The nominee can also avail the option to receive a lump sum of future Assured pay-outs at a discounted rate.
Commenting on the launch, Kamlesh Rao, MD & CEO, Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance said, “Building and sustaining wealth corpus for child’s important milestones has always been the topmost priority for every parent. During such unprecedented times, protection for your child’s dreams and goals becomes a matter of utmost importance, hence the need for creating a tailored solution, which provides guaranteed returns for addressing your child’s future needs. We believe that ABSLI Child’s Future Assured Plan is a distinctive product with assured pay-outs, which will cater to suit financial goals of parents and a defined corpus will ensure peace of mind”.
· Offered its beverages to meet the immediate hydration needs of the people working on the ground
· Bolstered initiatives for mass feeding of poor during the pandemic
· Made available lakhs of surgical gloves, masks and personal protective equipment (PPE) kit for health workers
India, June 29, 2020 – Responding to the medical and humanitarian crisis of COVID-19, Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (HCCB), one of India’s leading FMCG companies, helped expand the relief efforts to more than 2 lakh people impacted by pandemic in its local communities across India.
As an immediate measure, HCCB in partnership with the government agencies and several NGOs started distributing its beverages among the health workers, police officials and daily wage earners to meet their hydration needs. The much-needed initiative reached the beneficiaries when they were braving the soaring heat out in the open while working on the ground.
Additionally, HCCB offered and delivered more than 1 lakh bottles of beverages including water, juice and soft drinks at various railway stations for the migrant labourers who were returning home by the Shramik Special trains. Continuing with its concerns for the marginalised communities of the society, HCCB with the help of its NGO partners also distributed its products among Safai Karmacharis to appreciate their contributions during the pandemic.
The company also responded promptly to the local government’s requests of providing water, juices, soft drinks, tea and coffee for the people put up in several relief camps. Among other initiatives, the Bengaluru based company partnered with Akshay Patra Foundation which worked tirelessly to feed lakhs of needy people especially from the underprivileged background in different parts of the country. Some of the other NGOs with whom HCCB tied up with for extending the community outreach programme during the pandemic are Red Cross Society and American Indian Foundation. Based on the needs evaluated locally, the company also leveraged its country-wide sales network to identify smaller and local NGOs to support community programmes.
Besides, HCCB helped provide safety and hygiene kits – Personal Protective Equipment (PPE’s) among thousands of healthcare workers and police officials who were fighting like a warrior to defeat the corona virus. The PPE consisted of Hand Sanitisers, Dispensing Bottles, Face Masks, Hand Gloves and Safety Jackets.
The company’s efforts have been recognised by several government agencies, administrative bodies and local communities across the country including local municipal corporations, Indian Railways, various NGOs and industrial associations. The support extended by HCCB is in line with the company’s objective of making a lasting and positive difference towards the communities that it serves.
** Shareholders to receive 2019 dividend of 50% by shares**
New Delhi, June 29, 2020 – Vietjet Aviation Joint Stock Company (HOSE: VJC) held its 2020 Annual General Shareholders’ Meeting (AGM) on 27th June 2020, to review the business results from 2019, vote for the approval of audited financial statement and discuss the company’s development plan for 2020.
According to the Executive Board’s report from the AGM, 2019 continued to reveal the airline’s strong growth and sustainable development with positive business results. 2019 also marked an important milestone in the new-age carrier’s journey as the airline celebrated transporting 100 million passengers.
2019 Milestones and Achievements
In 2019, Vietjet commenced its operations in India which led to intercultural exchange of tourists from both the nations. It launched two routes Hanoi – New Delhi and Ho Chi Minh – New Delhi which opened up trade and tourism opportunities. The new routes helped boost the economies of both countries while connecting India to Vietjet’s expansive flight network across Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and many more ASEAN countries) and East Asia (South Korea, Japan, China).
In 2019, the audited air transport revenue reached VND 41,252 billion (approx. INR 13.46 Crores) and VND 3,869 billion (approx. INR 12.63 Crores) in profit before tax, an increase of 22% and 27% respectively compared to 2018. Vietjet’s consolidated pre-tax revenue and profit in 2019 were VND 50,603 billion (approx. 16.52 Crores) and VND 4,569 billion (approx. 14.83 Crores) respectively.
Also in 2019, Vietjet added 34 new routes, increasing the flight network to 139 routes, which was composed of 44 domestic routes and 95 international routes, carrying more than 25 million passengers, reaching the accumulated transported passenger up to 100 million, creating a solid base for Vietjet’s post-pandemic rebound.
In the same year, Vietjet Aviation Academy continued to invest, aware that expansion will play a critical role in the airline’s sustainable development plan. The airline’s academy is now one of the region’s leading modern-scale, specialized institutions for aviation training.
Vietjet was also honored by prestigious awards in 2019 such as ASEAN’s Best Aviation Enterprise Award from ASIAN-BAC. The airline was also named ‘Asia Pacific Low Cost Carrier of the Year’ by CAPA and one of Vietnam’s 50 best listed companies in 2019 by Forbes. The airline was also listed in the Top 50 airlines for healthy financing and operations for the second consecutive year by AirFinance Journal.
These successes achieved in 2019 have helped Vietjet become a major airline that have significantly contributed to the development of Vietnam’s aviation industry and the national and global economic recovery.
2020 Outlook and Development Plans
Since the beginning of 2020 up to now, Vietnam aviation industry has been impacted severely by the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the country has quickly resumed all domestic operations and is on its way to recovery.
As soon as the domestic market resumed, Vietjet quickly implemented a campaign called “Returning to the sky” and inaugurated eight new routes, increasing the domestic flight network to a total of 53 routes. Thai Vietjet is also the first airline to reopen operations in Phuket Airport, expanding its network with five new domestic routes in Thailand.
After completing the resumption and expansion of the domestic flight network, Vietjet and the Vietnam aviation are ready for its return to international skies from July onwards, with a careful preparation to control the epidemic and ensure medical safety for its passengers and staff while contributing significantly to economic and investment recovery.
The Vietnamese government is currently implementing a number of initiatives to support airlines, such as tax and fee reductions and loans with low rates. With the government’s support, it is expected that Vietjet will be able to operate 90 aircrafts with over 118,000 flights to transport more than 20 million passengers by the end of 2020.
Vietjet is aiming for its core business of air transport to reach break-even point by the end of 2020. The airline will prioritise its resources on cost-optimising solution with measures such as such as fostering cargo services, aircraft purchases, diversifying credit loans solutions and expanding self-serving ground operations. The carrier will also continue to grow its customer base and activities on its e-commerce platforms while digitally transforming its operating systems and procedures with advanced management software and technology.
Despite the current challenging climate in the aviation industry globally, Vietjet shareholders are looking to vote on paying the dividends for 2019 up to 50% by share. The positive business results are an indication of the airline’s growth with a robust business strategy and management systems, and the airline is looking forward to upcoming opportunities for development in 2020.
Bangalore, June 29, 2020 – Amazon India today announced that it has achieved a significant milestone in its efforts towards sustainability by eliminating all single-use plastic in packaging originating from its 50+ fulfilment centers in India. In September 2019 the company had pledged to meet this goal in an accelerated timeframe by June 2020, in an effort to build an environmentally sustainable supply chain.
Amazon India has taken several steps to achieve complete elimination of single-use plastic in its own fulfilment network. The first milestone towards this goal was achieved in December 2019 when the company replaced plastic packaging material, such as bubble wraps and air pillows, with ‘paper cushion’ in its packaging. The company then introduced 100% plastic-free and biodegradable paper tape earlier this year, which is used to seal and secure customer shipments. Additionally, the company has replaced thin cling films for customer deliveries among other material with packaging options that are not single-use plastic in nature. All other plastic packaging material originating from the Amazon Fulfilment Centers is 100% recyclable through available collection, segregation and recycling channels. Amazon India continues to educate sellers, who directly fulfil customer orders, to join in this directional change in packaging.
Amazon India has carried out several pilots while developing innovative single-use plastic-free solutions, to gauge the in-transit strength of its packaging. The company has also collaborated with manufacturers to design sustainable packaging innovations to minimize waste in packaging. The pilots have enabled the company to make significant steps towards it sustainability goals without impacting the customer experience or product safety.
Prakash Kumar Dutta, Director,Customer Fulfilment & Supply Chain, Amazon India said, “The elimination of single use plastic in our packaging across our fulfilment centers marks an important milestone in our relentless journey towards building a sustainable supply chain. Our aim is to minimize environmental impact while elevating customer experience. While navigating through unprecedented challenges with the lockdown and pandemic in the last few months, we have continued to take progressive steps towards ensuring that we meet our commitment. We strongly believe that moving towards sustainable practices is good for the planet, the customers and the business, and we will continue to invest and innovate on this front.”
Earlier this month, the company announced that it has expanded its India-first initiative, Packaging-Free Shipping (PFS) to over 100 cities, and now more than 40% of Amazon customer orders shipped from Amazon India’s Fulfilment centers are now either packaging-free or have significantly reduced packaging. The company has also been collecting and recycling plastic waste equivalent to its usage at a national level from September 2019, and has identified collection agencies to help collect equivalent 100% plastic waste generated from usage across Amazon fulfilment network.
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