Celebrating Pune: Bharat Forge, Force Motors, Hinduja Foundation, Bajaj Finserve,

Auto components and defence systems manufacturer Bharat Forge Limited has signed a contract to supply 184 indigenously developed Artillery Systems with the Ministry of Defence. This is the largest domestic contract accounting for 60 percent of the ₹6900 Cr. procurement by the MOD. The Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) jointly developed with DRDO is the most advanced 155/52 mm calibre artillery system. Bharat Forge chairman and managing director Baba Kalyani called this ‘a proud moment for the company’ and added the company sincerely appreciates the unwavering support of the MOD, the Indian Army, DRDO, ARDE and our team at Bharat Forge for their invaluable efforts and collaboration.
Commercial and passenger vehicles manufacturer Force Motors Limited has received an order to supply 2,978 vehicles from the Indian Defence Forces. These vehicles are tailored to meet the diverse operational requirements of both the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force, showcasing Force Motors’ capability to deliver mission-ready vehicles designed to perform in demanding defence environments. This significant order underscores Force Motors’ enduring commitment to supporting India’s defence capabilities through its robust range of General Service Vehicles, the company said.
Hinduja Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the 110-year old Hinduja Group, under its flagship Jal Jeevan initiative, has set-up rainwater harvesting and wastewater recycling projects at State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) Group 5 in Daund, Dist. Pune. Implemented under Jal Jeevan, the Foundation’s flagship Water CSR program, the initiative comprised construction of six new ponds and deepening of three existing ponds at SRPF Group 5, improving local water storage. Additionally, 11 recharge wells and overflow trenches have been developed to replenish groundwater and prevent runoff. Daund, known as the “granary of Maharashtra,” faces severe water shortages in summer despite its lush greenery and proximity to the Bhima and Pavana rivers. Extreme heat, groundwater decline, and rapid urban expansion with little or no storage facilities have led to several areas being declared draught-affected. To alleviate Daund’s escalating water scarcity crisis, the Foundation has successfully implemented its water conservation initiative with 9 ponds at SRPF Group 5, along with the introduction of a Wastewater Recycling Initiative. This initiative builds upon the Foundation’s earlier intervention at SRPF Group 5, where a large-scale Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) project was implemented to address the region’s escalating water crisis, in collaboration with its NGO partner, the Centre for Environmental Research & Education (CERE).
Financial services powerhouse Bajaj Finserv Ltd. has appointed Rajeev Jain as an Additional Director (Non-executive and non-independent). The company had earlier announced the promotion of Rajeev Jain to Vice Chairman of Bajaj Finance. Jain joined the Bajaj Finserv Group in 2007 as the Chief Executive Officer of Bajaj Finance Ltd and became the company’s Managing Director in 2015. Before joining Bajaj Finance, Jain worked with GE, American Express and the American International Group (AIG), serving in various senior leadership roles. Jain is a management graduate from the T. A Pai Management Institute, Manipal, with a bachelor’s degree in commerce from the American College, Madurai.