Author: Tanisha Cardozo

Automobiles

Montra Electric Delivers India’s First PM E-DRIVE–Certified Electric Truck

Tanisha Cardozo

Montra Electric, the e-M&HCV business vertical of TI Clean Mobility Private Limited and part of the Murugappa Group, has achieved a significant milestone in India’s clean mobility journey by becoming the first heavy-duty electric truck manufacturer in the country to receive certification under the Government of India’s PM E-DRIVE Scheme. Marking this achievement, the company has also delivered the nation’s first PM E-DRIVE–certified electric heavy truck, the Rhino 5538 EV 6×4 tractor trailer, to UltraTech Cement Limited, India’s largest cement and ready-mix concrete company.

The milestone was commemorated in the presence of Shri Arun Murugappan, Chairman, Montra Electric, Jalaj Gupta, Managing Director, Montra Electric, and Shri Sathia Raj, Chief Procurement Officer, UltraTech Cement Limited, underscoring the importance of this achievement for India’s evolving clean mobility ecosystem. The certification strengthens the commercial viability of electric heavy-duty trucks by enabling direct customer incentives under the PM E-DRIVE scheme.

This development is expected to accelerate the adoption of electric trucks across sectors such as logistics, mining, infrastructure, and manufacturing by significantly improving fleet economics. The certification allows large fleet operators to transition away from conventional fuels without compromising on performance, uptime, or operational efficiency, marking a decisive step towards cleaner and more efficient freight movement in India.

The first PM E-DRIVE–certified Rhino 5538 EV was flagged off and handed over to UltraTech Cement by Shri Arun Murugappan. The ₹10,900 crore PM E-DRIVE scheme has an allocation of ₹500 crore dedicated to electric trucks, translating into a customer incentive of up to ₹9.6 lakh per vehicle for the Rhino 5538 EV. This incentive lowers operating costs, reduces exposure to fuel price volatility, and supports compliance with evolving sustainability and emission norms.

Commenting on the occasion, Shri H.D. Kumaraswamy, Hon’ble Union Minister for Heavy Industries, said that the PM E-DRIVE scheme reflects the growing strength of Indian innovation in the heavy-duty electric vehicle segment. He noted that electric trucks are pivotal to achieving India’s Net Zero goals and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to decarbonising logistics while strengthening domestic EV manufacturing under the vision of Atmanirbhar Viksit Bharat.

Arun Murugappan, Chairman, Montra Electric, said that decarbonising freight is one of the most critical challenges in India’s energy transition. He expressed gratitude to the Government of India for introducing progressive policy frameworks like the PM E-DRIVE scheme, which play a transformative role in accelerating electrification in heavy commercial vehicles. He added that Montra Electric is proud to contribute to this national mission by delivering reliable, scalable, and technologically advanced electric mobility solutions.

Designed specifically for Indian operating conditions, the Rhino 5538 EV tractor trailer range is available in 6×4 and 4×2 variants. The 4×2 version offers both battery swapping and fixed battery options, supports six-minute battery swaps, and is powered by a 282 kWh LFP battery delivering 380 HP and 2000 Nm of torque, with a range of nearly 198 km under standard test conditions. These features make it suitable for high-utilisation and fixed-route applications across ports, mining operations, cement logistics, steel plants, and long-haul freight corridors.

With heavy-duty trucks accounting for a disproportionate share of freight emissions, the PM E-DRIVE–certified Rhino 5538 EV represents a critical lever in India’s journey towards net-zero and sustainable industrial growth. Montra Electric plans to work closely with customers, policymakers, and ecosystem partners to accelerate the deployment of electric heavy-duty trucks across India’s core economic sectors.

Travel

MakeMyTrip Introduces Women-Centric Safety and Assurance Signalsin Stayand Bus Bookings

Tanisha Cardozo

MakeMyTrip, India’s leading online travel company, has introduced women-centric safety and assurance signals across accommodation and intercity bus bookings, leveraging artificial intelligence, user-generated content, and partner data to enable more confident travel planning for women.

Insights from platform behaviour indicate that women travellers adopt a more deliberate approach while planning trips. They spend more time reviewing ratings, exploring maps and street views, and examining guest-uploaded photos before confirming bookings. Booking data further reveals that women book 50 percent more stays at least 15 days in advance and show a 16 percent higher preference for premium and branded properties compared to men. This preference becomes more prominent as women travellers move from Tier 1 to Tier 3 cities, where branded accommodations often serve as a key signal of assurance.

Based on these insights, MakeMyTrip now surfaces safety-related cues more prominently when a woman is detected to be planning a stay. Ratings submitted by women are highlighted, while AI-led summaries bring attention to factors such as staff behaviour and location safety during the search process. Women-specific amenity indicators including CCTV, door eye, door chains, and full-length mirrors are also displayed more clearly. Travellers can additionally use the Street View feature to visually assess the surroundings and approach to a property before making a booking decision.

A similar approach has been applied to intercity bus bookings. AI identifies reviews from women-only journeys and filters them based on parameters such as safety, punctuality, and cleanliness, assigning sentiment tags for quicker assessment. For added assurance, when a woman books one side of a double berth, the adjacent berth is automatically restricted to female passengers, reducing mixed proximity—particularly during overnight or long-distance travel.

Commenting on the initiative, Rajesh Magow, Co-Founder and Group CEO of MakeMyTrip, said that women travellers already demonstrate careful and thoughtful planning behaviour. By leveraging rich data and AI, the company aims to simplify this process and enable more informed decision-making.

The initiative is supported by two foundational layers—AI-driven insights drawn from millions of user reviews and behavioural signals, and structured partner data spanning nearly 97,000 accommodation properties and over 3,500 intercity bus operators. Together, these efforts aim to make travel planning clearer, safer, and more reassuring for women across the country.

Sports

Dubai Royals to Face Pune Panthers in World Legends Pro T20 League Final

Tanisha Cardozo

The World Legends Pro T20 League is set for an exciting conclusion as Shikhar Dhawan-led Dubai Royals prepare to face Kieron Pollard’s Pune Panthers in the final on 4th February 2026 at the 1919 Sportz Stadium in Goa. The much-anticipated clash follows two high-intensity semi-finals that showcased the enduring class and competitive spirit of cricket’s biggest legends.

Dubai Royals booked their place in the final with a hard-fought 17-run victory over league table toppers Delhi Warriors in the second semi-final. Put in to bat first, the Royals faced early pressure as wickets fell regularly. Once again, Shikhar Dhawan stood tall, anchoring the innings with calm assurance. The left-hander continued his rich vein of form, crafting a composed 71 and holding the innings together when partnerships were hard to come by.

While wickets continued to tumble at the other end, Delhi Warriors skipper Harbhajan Singh kept his side in the contest with a disciplined bowling spell, picking up two crucial wickets. A late surge from Yusuf Pathan, who smashed 34 off just 19 balls, proved vital in pushing Dubai Royals to a competitive total of 192 for 7.

In response, Delhi Warriors began positively, but timely breakthroughs shifted the momentum. Parvez Rasool provided the first opening, and Piyush Chawla followed it up with a match-defining spell. Chawla’s figures of 3 for 25 choked the middle order just when Delhi threatened to accelerate, swinging the game firmly in Dubai Royals’ favour. Despite resistance from Shreevats Goswami and a late flourish by Seekkuge Prasanna, Delhi Warriors fell short at 175 for 7.

Earlier in the first semi-final, Pune Panthers showcased their depth and composure with a six-wicket win over Rajasthan Lions. Angelo Perera’s unbeaten 96 went in vain as Pune’s bowling, led by DJ Bravo, kept things under control before S Shinwari and Robin Uthappa guided a steady chase to seal their spot in the final.

With Dhawan’s consistency, Pollard’s firepower, and a host of legendary names on display, the final promises a fitting end to a memorable World Legends Pro T20 League season. Tickets for the matches are available on BookMyShow.

Social

JCI Vasco Organises Blood Donation Camp at St. Joseph Vaz College, Cortalim

Tanisha Cardozo

JCI Vasco, in collaboration with the GMC Blood Bank and St. Joseph Vaz College, Cortalim, is organising a Blood Donation Camp on 5th February 2026 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at the college premises. The initiative is aimed at promoting voluntary blood donation while spreading awareness about the critical role blood donors play in saving lives.

Blood donation remains one of the simplest yet most impactful ways to contribute to society, and initiatives like this help bridge the gap between demand and availability. By bringing together students, staff, and members of the local community, the organisers hope to inspire a culture of compassion, responsibility, and service.

JCI Vasco continues to play an active role in community-driven initiatives that focus on health, awareness, and social well-being. With the support of GMC Blood Bank and the cooperation of St. Joseph Vaz College, the camp aims to ensure a safe and organised donation process while motivating more people to come forward for this life-saving cause.

Everyone is encouraged to participate and be a part of this meaningful initiative, because a single blood donation can give someone hope, health, and a second chance at life.

Sports

Goa’s Madar Basappa Shines as India Legends Storm into Asian Legend Cup 2026 Final

Tanisha Cardozo

Goa’s Madar Basappa produced a match-defining performance with the ball as India Legends registered a thumping 104-run victory over Hong Kong in a league match of the Asian Legend Cup 2026 in Thailand, sealing their place in the tournament final. The win marked yet another dominant display by the Indian side in an impressive campaign.

After opting to bat first, India Legends piled up a massive 240 for 4 in their allotted 20 overs, powered by aggressive knocks from Bhanu Seth, Parminder and Amer Khan. The imposing total put Hong Kong under immense pressure from the outset, setting the stage for India’s bowlers to take control of the contest.

Madar Basappa emerged as the standout performer with the ball, delivering an exceptional spell of 3 wickets for just 17 runs in his four overs. Bowling with sharp control, variation and discipline, the Goan all-rounder struck at crucial moments to dismantle Hong Kong’s chase. He removed Kamal as the batter attempted to steady the innings, dismissed Ibrez soon after, and then produced a key moment by stumping Iftikhar to halt any hopes of a recovery. His economy rate of 3.75 reflected the pressure he consistently applied on the batters.

Hong Kong were eventually restricted to 136 in 20 overs, never able to recover from the damage inflicted by Basappa and the disciplined Indian bowling unit. While Bhanu Seth was named Player of the Match for his explosive batting performance, Madar Basappa’s spell stood out as one of the defining highlights of the encounter.

Basappa’s contribution brought pride to Goa as he showcased his talent on a major international stage. The all-rounder has also represented Gomanchal Warriors in the GVCL tournament and continues to strengthen his reputation as a dependable match-winner. India Legends have enjoyed a dominant run in the tournament, beginning with a six-wicket win over Sri Lanka, followed by a comprehensive 77-run victory against arch-rivals Pakistan and a close 12-run win over Bangladesh, underlining their strong form heading into the final of the Asian Legend Cup 2026.