Bank of Baroda Enters Pension Fund Arena, Second PSU Bank to Enter Market

Marking a significant milestone on the occasion of NPS Divas 2026, Bank of Baroda received the PFRDA Certificate of Appointment as Sponsor of the Pension Fund under Section 27 of the PFRDA Act, 2013. With this, Bank of Baroda becomes the second Public Sector Bank to enter the pension fund business, marking an important step in its expansion in the retirement and long-term savings space. The certificate was presented by Shri Sanjay Lohiya, IAS, Secretary, Department of Financial Services (DFS) to Dr. Debadatta Chand, Managing Director & CEO, Bank of Baroda, in the presence of Shri S Ramann, Chairperson, PFRDA and Shri Dinesh Kumar Khara, Chairperson, NPS Trust.

During the event, the Bank also became amongst the first few banks to onboard Tatkal NPS on the BHIM App as part of the second phase rollout of Tatkal NPS. The integration of Tatkal NPS with the BHIM App is expected to significantly enhance the accessibility and reach of the National Pension System by enabling seamless digital onboarding through the widely used BHIM platform.

On the occasion, Dr. Debadatta Chand, Managing Director & CEO, Bank of Baroda expressed, "Today marks an important milestone for Bank of Baroda as we become the second Public Sector Bank to enter the pension fund business. We have also onboarded Tatkal NPS on the BHIM App. These milestones reinforce our commitment in expanding access to retirement solutions and leveraging digital innovation to make pension products more accessible and convenient for customers across the country. We remain focused on supporting greater pension penetration and encouraging long-term financial security for all."

Organised by PFRDA, NPS Divas brought together representatives from public and private sector banks, Central Recordkeeping Agencies, NPCI BHIM Services Limited and senior officials from the Department of Financial Services to discuss the growth and future of the National Pension System.

About Bank of Baroda

Founded on 20th July, 1908 by Sir Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III, Bank of Baroda is one of the leading commercial banks in India. At 63.97% stake, it is majorly owned by the Government of India. The Bank serves its global customer base of over ~180 million through around 65,000 touch points spread across 15 countries in five continents and through its various digital banking platforms, which provide all banking products and services in a seamless and hassle-free manner. The Bank’s vision matches the aspirations of its diverse clientele base and seeks to instill a sense of trust and security in all their dealings with the Bank.

Visit us at https://bankofbaroda.bank.in/

Kuehne+Nagel Expands Digital Engineering with New Tech Centre in Chennai

Kuehne+Nagel has opened a state-of-the-art Tech Centre in Chennai, India, reinforcing its global engineering network and enhancing its ability to design, scale, and deliver proprietary digital logistics solutions.

Founded in 1890, Kuehne+Nagel is one of the world’s largest logistics providers, headquartered in Switzerland, with a strong global presence across nearly 100 countries and more than 1,300 offices. It is the global leader in sea and air freight forwarding, while also holding significant positions in road and contract logistics.

As supply chains worldwide become increasingly technology-driven, customers demand greater visibility, speed, resilience, and superior experiences. Meeting this demand requires access to top-tier engineering talent—an area where India has established itself as a global leader. Chennai, with its mature business ecosystem and proven support for international operations, was chosen as the strategic location for this new investment. The centre complements Kuehne+Nagel’s existing technology footprint worldwide.

By early 2027, the Chennai Tech Centre will host around 250 experts contributing to the advancement of global platforms such as SALOG, Kuehne+Nagel’s flagship digital forwarding solution for managing sea and air freight shipments. To accelerate the centre’s scale-up, Kuehne+Nagel is partnering with Accenture to build and strengthen the workforce.

Christina Raab, Market Unit Lead Central and Eastern Europe at Accenture, noted: “The launch of Kuehne+Nagel’s Tech Centre in Chennai highlights the strength of our partnership. By combining our technology expertise with local talent, we are laying the foundation for scalable growth.”

Marcus Claesson, CIO at Kuehne+Nagel, added: “Digital capabilities are now a key differentiator in logistics. Developing our platforms in-house enables faster innovation, global scalability, and continuous customer experience improvements. The Chennai Tech Centre enhances our engineering strength and supports the next generation of digital logistics solutions.”

About Kuehne+Nagel

With 88,000 employees across 1,300 sites in nearly 100 countries, Kuehne+Nagel is among the world’s leading logistics providers. Headquartered in Switzerland and listed on the Zurich Stock Exchange, it is the global leader in Air and Sea Logistics and holds strong positions in Road and Contract Logistics. Serving around 400,000 customers worldwide, the Group leverages its global network, logistics expertise, and data-driven insights to deliver end-to-end supply chain solutions across industries.

Cloudflare Launches Basin: Unlocking Open Data for the World

Basin gives any team the tools to collect, store, and analyze data at scale without dedicated servers, vendor lock-in, or fees to move data between clouds.

Cloudflare, Inc. (NYSE: NET), the leading connectivity cloud company, today announced Cloudflare Basin, a data platform that gives developers and enterprises a simpler, more affordable way to build applications powered by their own data. Built on Apache Iceberg and Cloudflare R2, Basin gives teams an open, serverless way to ingest, store, catalog and query analytical data across the tools they already use.

Sophisticated data analytics has long required a dedicated data engineering team and the budget to match. Running a modern data stack usually means standing up dedicated servers sized ahead of demand, stitching together separate systems to collect and analyze data, and paying fees every time data moves between clouds. The infrastructure has been expensive enough to build and operate that the teams who could do it well were the ones who could already afford to. Basin changes that. Data is stored in an open, industry-standard format that any compatible tool can read directly — no copying, no converting, no lock-in. Collection, organization, and analysis all run on Cloudflare's network on demand, with no dedicated servers to manage and no fees to move data in or out.

“Developers shouldn’t need to become data infrastructure operators just to answer questions from their own data,” said Dane Knecht, CTO at Cloudflare. “With Cloudflare Basin, we are bringing the same serverless model that developers expect from Cloudflare to analytics: no clusters to manage, no unnecessary data movement, and open standards that keep customers in control of their data.”

With Basin, customers can:

• Own their data, not just access it: Data is stored in Apache Iceberg, an open, industry-standard format, so teams can analyze it with any compatible tool and are never locked into a single vendor.
• Skip the server setup: Basin runs on Cloudflare’s global network which allows developers to ingest, store, and query data in seconds without provisioning or managing infrastructure.
• Eliminate data transfer fees: Querying data using tools from different clouds, platforms, or regions carries no transfer fees.

Cloudflare Basin is generally available today. Developers can get started with Cloudflare Basin by visiting https://developers.cloudflare.com/basin

About Cloudflare

Cloudflare, Inc. (NYSE: NET) is the leading connectivity cloud company. It empowers organizations to make their employees, applications and networks faster and more secure everywhere, while reducing complexity and cost. Cloudflare’s connectivity cloud delivers the most full-featured, unified platform of cloud-native products and developer tools, so any organization can gain the control they need to work, develop, and accelerate their business.

Powered by one of the world’s largest and most interconnected networks, Cloudflare blocks billions of threats online for its customers every day. It is trusted by millions of organizations – from the largest brands to entrepreneurs and small businesses to nonprofits, humanitarian groups, and governments across the globe.

Learn more about Cloudflare’s connectivity cloud at cloudflare.com/connectivity-cloud. Learn more about the latest Internet trends and insights at radar.cloudflare.com.

Delhi’s AI Traffic Revolution

Delhi is set to undergo a transformative shift in how its roads are managed, with the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approving the Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) project at a cost of ₹1,789.52 crore ( ~ $1.87 billion USD). This ambitious initiative, to be implemented by Delhi Police, promises safer, smoother, and more efficient travel across the capital’s busiest corridors.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved implementation of the ITMS Project by Delhi Police at an estimated cost of Rs.1,789.52 crore, inclusive of taxes. The project will cover 42 identified traffic corridors and will be implemented in three phases over 24 months, followed by five years of operation and maintenance.

C-DAC will provide technical support as Project Management Consultant, including technical scrutiny, monitoring, validation and acceptance during implementation and operation and maintenance.

One Network, Smarter Traffic: Delhi’s Leap into Real-Time Traffic Management

Designed on open standards and APIs, the system ensures seamless future integration and scalability. Covering 1,092 adaptive traffic control systems and 1,029 enforcement points, the rollout will be strictly performance‑driven, with each phase contingent on successful evaluation of the preceding stage against defined testing, commissioning, and acceptance benchmarks. The Delhi Police will oversee implementation through a competitively selected Master System Integrator.

The Vision Behind ITMS

Delhi’s traffic woes are no secret. With nearly 71 lakh registered vehicles and road expansion lagging behind vehicular growth, congestion has become a daily struggle. Traditional fixed signal timings and manual regulation are no longer sufficient. The ITMS aims to change this by introducing AI-enabled adaptive traffic signals, automated enforcement, and real-time traffic intelligence.

The project will cover 42 identified traffic corridors and will be implemented in three phases over 24 months, followed by five years of operation and maintenance.

Key Benefits for Citizens

• Smarter signals: Adaptive Traffic Control Systems will adjust signal timings dynamically, reducing unnecessary stoppages and delays.
• Priority for ambulances: Emergency vehicles will benefit from green corridors, ensuring faster passage through congested stretches.
• Quicker response: Real-time detection of congestion and accidents will allow Delhi Police to respond swiftly with diversions and operational measures.
• Commuter information: Variable Message Sign boards and digital platforms will provide live updates on congestion, diversions, parking availability, and traffic conditions.
• Automated enforcement: AI-powered systems will detect violations such as speeding, red-light jumping, helmet/seatbelt non-use, and illegal parking. They will also help track stolen or blacklisted vehicles.

Integrated City-Wide Management

The ITMS will unify regulation, enforcement, and information dissemination through Traffic Command and Control Centres, backed by secure data infrastructure. With 1,092 adaptive traffic control systems and 1,029 enforcement locations, the project will be rolled out in phases, each evaluated against strict performance benchmarks.
Delhi Police will lead the implementation, supported by C-DAC as the Project Management Consultant, ensuring technical scrutiny, monitoring, and validation.

A Step Toward Smarter Mobility

By leveraging technology and real-time intelligence, ITMS will complement ongoing infrastructure projects, making Delhi’s roads safer and more predictable. Citizens can expect smoother traffic flow, faster emergency responses, and consistent enforcement — a major step toward modern urban mobility.

Several Indian cities like Bengaluru, Pune, Surat, and Visakhapatnam, along with global leaders such as Singapore, Barcelona, London, and Los Angeles, have already deployed intelligent traffic management systems using AI, IoT, and adaptive signals to reduce congestion and improve safety.

Bengaluru has implemented AI-driven signal control (“BelTrak”) that integrates with Google Maps data and sensors to predict congestion and adjust cycles in real time. Pune has large-scale deployment of adaptive traffic lights reduces average wait times by ~25%. Surat has an AI-powered optimization of bus rapid transit in place and city bus systems improved punctuality by 10% and reduced delays by 12%.

Singapore's GLIDE system synchronizes signals island-wide, reducing delays and fuel consumption. Stockholm: MaaS integrates public transit, e-bikes, and car-sharing into one platform, cutting transport emissions by 43%.Amsterdam's Smart signals stalled due to privacy concerns, highlighting the importance of data governance. Barcelona has Smart streetlights and AI-enhanced signals cut electricity use by 30% and reduced congestion by 15% in pilot corridors.

Nagpur & Mumbai have AI/ML-powered Advanced Traffic Management Systems (ATMS) cut travel times by up to 48% and reduced accident fatalities by 73%.

Indian cities face hurdles with heterogeneous traffic and inconsistent connectivity. Moreover, Costs & maintenance is an another challenge where in High upfront investment and long-term O&M requirements demand PPP models and phased deployment.

CEAT Expands Chennai Plant Capabilities to Strengthen Global Premium Tyre Play

• Expanded manufacturing capabilities span premium passenger car and SUV, commercial vehicle and two wheeler tyre segments. 
• Chennai facility supports advanced products for India, Europe and the US, including CEAT's first made in India 22 inch SUV tyre, seven advanced Truck and Bus radial tyre sizes and racing and sport touring tyres for two wheelers

CEAT Limited today announced an expansion of the manufacturing capabilities at its Chennai plant across passenger car and SUV, commercial vehicle and two wheeler tyre categories. The expansion strengthens the plant's ability to manufacture advanced, premium products for customers in India as well as key international markets including Europe and North America.

Among the key products manufactured at the plant is 4SeasonDrive+, which brings European standard all season tyre capability to India, with performance designed around changing weather conditions and a particular focus on wet grip.

The plant also manufactures CrossDrive RT, CEAT's rugged terrain tyre developed around the requirements of the US rugged and off road tyre market. The product combines rugged terrain capability with the versatility required for regular road use and expands CEAT's premium SUV offering for Indian customers.

CEAT has also developed the manufacturing capability for SportDrive SUV ZR22, making it the first Indian tyre company to manufacture 22 inch tyres in India. Designed for large rim, ultra premium SUV applications, the range also features CEAT CALM technology and is being introduced for sale in India.

Arnab Banerjee, Managing Director & CEO, CEAT Limited, said, "The Chennai plant is an important part of CEAT's growth in India and international markets. The expanded capabilities allow us to manufacture increasingly sophisticated products across passenger vehicles, two wheelers and commercial vehicles, while responding to the distinct requirements of customers in markets such as Europe and North America. This investment strengthens our ability to compete in premium segments with products developed and manufactured in India."

Advanced commercial vehicle tyre capability

CEAT has also expanded the plant's Truck and Bus Radial (TBR) manufacturing capability to address the changing requirements of commercial vehicle fleets in Europe, North America and other advanced markets.

The plant can now manufacture seven advanced TBR sizes that will cater to some of the fastest growing premium TBR segments in Europe and North America.

Fleet requirements are moving beyond durability and mileage to include lower fuel consumption, improved ride comfort, better handling and readiness for electric mobility.

The newer wide base tyres developed, can replace the traditional two tyre arrangement on each wheel, making the vehicles lighter, improving fuel efficiency and freeing up additional capacity for carrying more load. The low profile sizes are designed for applications including modern tractors, regional haul, trailers and urban distribution fleets, where good stability, control and ride comfort are important.

Alongside its heavy commercial vehicle portfolio, the Chennai facility is scaling up manufacturing capacity for CEAT's light truck steel radial tyres in 15 inch, 16 inch and 17.5 inch sizes. The segment is seeing increased adoption in India and overseas as vehicle manufacturers introduce newer-generation light trucks and buses.

Expanding CEAT's premium two wheeler portfolio

The Chennai facility also supports CEAT's investment in advanced two wheeler tyre technology and premium performance segments.

CEAT's latest SportRad Racing Slick range has been developed for racing applications and tested under demanding track conditions by expert riders. The tyres are engineered to deliver high levels of grip and performance on the racetrack.

The company's premium portfolio also includes SportRad ST, a sport touring range designed for motorcycles above 650cc. The tyres are developed for long distance and high performance touring, with a focus on high speed stability and cornering grip.

Located in Sriperumbudur, Kanchipuram, the 163 acre Chennai plant incorporates connected machinery, real time data analytics and advanced automation across its manufacturing operations. The facility is the second CEAT factory and one among the only four tyre factories in the world to be awarded the Lighthouse designation from WHO. It has also received the British Safety Council 5-Star Award and Sword of Honour for its safety practices.

The plant has a 25% green cover and sources a significant share of its energy from renewable sources, including a 9 MW rooftop solar installation. It is also a zero liquid discharge facility.

The expanded capabilities across categories strengthen the Chennai plant's role in CEAT's manufacturing operations and increase the range of premium, technology led products that can be developed and manufactured in India for domestic and international markets.

About CEAT Ltd (www.ceat.com):

Founded in 1924 in Italy, CEAT is a leading tyre manufacturer with a strong presence in over 110 countries. Headquartered in Mumbai, India, CEAT is the flagship company of the RPG group. It produces more than 41 million high-performance tyres, catering to various segments like 2-3 Wheelers, Passenger and Utility Vehicles, Commercial Vehicles and Off-Highway Vehicles.

CEAT is the first tyre brand in the world to receive the prestigious Deming Grand Prize from the Union of Japanese Scientists and Engineers (JUSE), for outstanding achievement in the field of Total Quality Management.

It is also the first tyre brand in the world to be awarded Lighthouse Designation by the World Economic Forum for its use of fourth industrial revolution technologies.

About RPG Group (www.rpggroup.com):

RPG Group, established in 1979, is one of India’s fastest-growing business groups with a turnover of US$ 5.2 billion. The group has diverse business interests in the areas of Infrastructure, Tyres, Pharma, IT and Specialty as well as in emerging innovation-led technology businesses, with a footprint in over 135 countries.