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AIC-SMUTBI CELEBRATES NATIONAL START-UP DAY

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"National startup Day celebration"

On 16th January, 2023, AIC-SMUTBI, Sikkim celebrated National Start-up Day at a local hotelhere Gangtok in collaboration with Start-up India and Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor to Government of India, as their initiative of Innovation Week 2023. 

Start-ups are the backbone of the ‘New India’ and Hon’ble Prime Minister of India announced 16 January as the founding day of National Start-up Day, to celebrate the spirit of entrepreneurship across the country.

AIC-SMUTBI witnessed the gathering of entrepreneurs in hybrid mode with a total of 38 in person and 23 online Startup Founders onNational Start-up Day. CEO, AIC SMUTBI, Prof (Dr.) Tej Chingtham welcomed all the Start-up Founders to the event where he praised the entrepreneurs on making a difference and contributing to the society and world as a whole. 

A keynote session on “Leveraging Innovations through the Manthan Platform” was conducted by Mr. Soumanil Mukherjee, Office of the PrincipalScientific Adviser to Government of India; which was set up in 1999, under the leadership of our former President of India, Late Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. He gave an introduction to Manthan web-app which is based on the 4 pillars: 1. Opportunity creation and early-stage invasion 2. Defining people and proposal 3. Exhibition by partners 4. Webinar conference. He also highlighted various opportunities that can be leveraged by Start-upFounders through Manthan.

AIC-SMUTBI conducted Start-up Founders Hustle where the founders expressed their hardships and achievements during their journey.Founders also expressed their aspiration to connect with start-up ecosystem and provide a platform where all innovative minds can share their stories and experiences. They also highlighted points on how CSR funds can be leveraged for the benefit of the country through Start-ups. 

Start-up Founders talked about various sectors like tourism, education technology intervention etc and pointed out the immense opportunities in Sikkim and in the North East of India.

The event concluded with an end note that to build a successful venture one should “Fall in love with the customer’s needs, and not the idea else it will end up becoming a research rather than an entreprise.”

Local Kung Fu fame Mahesh Deori breathes his last

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" Mahesh Deori "

Simple yet powerful; that’s Mahesh Deori left his image on the modern Assamese film industry.

Deori, who delivered the iconic and famous “haga lagise na ki oi” monologue, breathed his last today.

Mahesh Deori
From 1961-2023

He was born in Shillong in 1961 and completed his schooling there. “He was the first of five siblings to get a job. He was also the first to own a car – an ambassador numbered BHA 222, from his days in Mughalsarai. Momai Motte (as my brother and I addressed him) had exquisitely beautiful handwriting. In the days of handwritten letters, he wrote down the lyrics to three Johnny Lee country songs and posted them to us, and those pages remained an invaluable treasure for a long time.” Mentioned Kenny Deori Basumatary while remembering the fallen actor.

Kenny Deori Basumatary was the director and played an essential part in films such as Local Kungfu.

Mahesh Deori had lung cancer for a few years, but according to the post made by Basumatary, he never let his condition come in the way of his confidence. So much so that, even though he wasn’t feeling well, he could still dance with his family last Christmas. He was also an accomplished player of his favourite guitar, which also interred with him.

The well-known actor claimed that Momai Motte was a rock for him and their entire family. His ability to strike a balance between seriousness and playfulness helped shape the lives of many people, including his children Ronnie (Local Kung Fu’s KK – “Peace; I mean peace”) and Jenny (Local Kung Fu’s silkworms and snails), who attended TISS and is currently employed in Australia.

In the post, he also mentioned several stories and occurrences involving Mahesh Deori and said that he would have been engaged in their future endeavour.

Based on inputs from a post by Kenny Deori Basumatary.

Read more on Sikkim Today.

Central Nepal’s Pokhara region witnessed it’s third deadliest plane crash in last three decades leaving 68 people dead

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Rescuers scour the crash site in the wreckage of a passenger plane in Pokhara, Nepal, Monday, Jan.16, 2023. Nepal began a national day of mourning Monday as rescue workers resumed the search for six missing people a day after a plane to a tourist town crashed into a gorge while attempting to land at a newly opened airport, killing at least 66 of the 72 people aboard in the country's deadliest airplane accident in three decades.(AP Photo/Yunish Gurung)

Tezpur, Assam: On 15th January 2022, Nepal’s Yeti Airline’s ATR 72-500 crashed near Central Nepal’s Pokhara region. Resulting in casualties of around 68 and a search for four people under process. According to government officials, this was one of the deadliest crashes in the last three decades. On Sunday, a video clip shared on social media captured the final seconds before the plane crashed. The video, which appears to have been shot from a Pokhara rooftop, shows the plane flying low over a busy area and tumbling before it vanishes. After the video, a loud explosion can be heard.

Plane crash video captured by the residents of Pokhara, central Nepal region.

According to the Yeti Airlines spokesperson Sudarshan Bartaula, out of 68 people, four were crew members, and 64 were passengers. Nepal’s Civil Aviation Authority reported that out of those passengers, 37 were men, 25 were women, 3 were children, and 3 were infants.
As per the data retrieved from Aviation Safety Network, the incident was the third deadliest crash in the history of the Himalayan nation. The first two were the crashes involving aircraft run by Pakistan International Airlines and Thai Airways, which left 167 and 113 people dead which happened in July an September 1992.

Rescuers scour the crash site in the wreckage of a passenger plane in Pokhara, Nepal, Monday, Jan.16, 2023. Nepal began a national day of mourning Monday as rescue workers resumed the search for six missing people a day after a plane to a tourist town crashed into a gorge while attempting to land at a newly opened airport, killing at least 66 of the 72 people aboard in the country’s deadliest airplane accident in three decades.(AP Photo/Yunish Gurung)

Of the casualties, 53 passengers and all four crew members belonged from Nepal, whereas the rest belonged to 15 different nations: five were Indian, four were Russian, and two were Korean. The rest were individual citizens of Australia, Argentina, France and Ireland.

Around 18 minutes after departure, at around 10:50 a.m. local time, the aircraft lost contact with Pokhara Airport. Following that, it crashed into the neighboring Seti River Gorge. The Nepal Army and many police agencies have sent first responders to the crash scene to conduct a rescue effort, according to a statement from the civil aviation authorities.

A five-person committee has also been created to determine what caused the collision. According to Nepal’s deputy prime minister and government spokesperson Bishnu Paudel, the quintet must deliver a report to the government within 45 days.

The flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder are displayed after they were retrieved from the site of the crash of a passenger plane in Pokhara, Nepal, Monday, Jan 16, 2023. Jagannath Niraula, a spokesman for Nepal’s Civil Aviation Authority, said the boxes were found on Monday, a day after the ATR-72 aircraft crashed, killing 68 of the 72 people aboard. He said they will be handed over to investigators. (AP Photo/Anish Bhattarai)

Before Sunday’s tragedy in Nepal, 11 tragic events involving various ATR 72 types had been reported to the Aviation Safety Network. Twenty-two people were on board on Tara Air flight that crashed into a Himalayan mountain last May at the height of roughly 14,500 feet. According to the Aviation Safety Network database, that was the nation’s 19th plane disaster in the past ten years and its 10th deadly one.

An ATR 72-500, a twin-prop turbojet popular among low-cost carriers in the Asia-Pacific area, was the plane that crashed on Sunday. ATR airplanes usually have an excellent reputation. ATR is a joint venture between the European aerospace giants Airbus and Leonardo. They have, however, been in collisions previously. In February and July 2015, two ATR 72s flown by the now-defunct Taiwanese carrier TransAsia were fatally crashed. Taiwanese authorities temporarily grounded all ATR 72s registered on the island due to the second incident.


“Our first thoughts are with all the individuals affected by this,” the statement read. “ATR specialists are fully engaged to support both the investigation and the customer.”, ATR said in a statement.

For further updates, stay tuned.

AIX Connect (operating as AirAsia India) announces 21 weekly direct flights between Surat and Bengaluru, Delhi and Kolkata

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" Direct flights between surat and Bengaluru"

Air India group airlines increase connectivity to Surat to 21 weekly flights; launch Surat-Bengaluru as a new route

National, January, 2023: AIX Connect, a subsidiary of Air India, announced the launch of daily direct flights connecting Surat, Gujarat with Bengaluru, Delhi, and Kolkata, and connecting itineraries to Bhubaneswar, Kochi, Guwahati, Goa, Hyderabad, Ranchi, Bagdogra, Lucknow, Chennai, Jaipur, Visakhapatnam, Srinagar starting March 03, 2023. The addition of Surat, Gujarat, lays the foundation of the airline’s expansion plans in the region. The launch fares are ₹4,499 for Surat-Bengaluru, ₹4,299 for Surat-Delhi and ₹5,499 for Surat-Kolkata. Bookings can be made through the airline’s website www.airasia.co.in, mobile app and other major booking channels. Members of the Tata NeuPass rewards program can look forward to earning NeuCoins with every booking. 

AirAsia India will begin operations to and from Surat, with 21 weekly flights at convenient times. Surat is the second largest city of Gujarat and is known for its diamond-cutting and polishing industries. Surat is a thriving commercial center with a rich history and culture and offers a range of business opportunities, as well as a variety of tourist attractions, including temples, museums, gardens, and more. 

AirAsia India currently operates in two union territories and thirteen states, including Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Assam, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Manipur. The airline is committed to providing convenient and affordable travel options.

Talking about the launch of the new destination, Ankur Garg, Chief Commercial Officer, AIX Connect, added “We are excited to announce our network expansion in the west of India, to Surat, Gujarat. The city has shown a robust demand for business and SME travel, and we believe it has great potential for future growth. We will be offering 21 weekly direct flights connecting Surat with Bengaluru, Delhi, and Kolkata, providing our guests with convenient and enjoyable travel experiences.”

Flights commence from 03 March, 2023 and are open for booking for the below routes: 

Sl. NoFromToDepartureArrivalFrequency
1BengaluruSurat14:2516:15Daily
2SuratBengaluru16:4519:00Daily
3DelhiSurat08:2010:00Daily
4SuratDelhi11:0012:40Daily
5KolkataSurat13:5516 :30Daily
6SuratKolkata17:0519:40Daily

The airline remains committed to driving operational excellence and an enhanced guest experience with pioneering digital and marketing initiatives like cloud-tech powered in-flight experience hub AirFlix, its award-winning website and mobile app, AI-powered conversational chatbot Tia, and integration with innovative service providers to enable products like FlyPorter baggage delivery services, and seamless Single Sign-On, profile management and personalisation built on the Tata NeuPass loyalty program.

This is how the youth can helm the climate agenda in 2023

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"Climate agenda in 2023"

On National Youth Day (January 12), environmental expert Supriya Patil recommends five ways in which young people can serve the environment

The enormous impact of young activists like Greta Thunberg on the conversation around climate change is undeniable. Greta was just 15 when she started the weekly strike, ‘Fridays for Future’ and her evolution into an international advocate who in 2019 was named as one of the world’s most influential people by Time magazine, demonstrates the power of a lone, determined young person. There are many young change makers in India also who are working towards the 2030 agenda for sustainable development put forward by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015. But can India, with its large youth population, do more?

Environment expert Supriya Patil who works with social organisation Grow-Trees.com has a few suggestions about how more youngsters can contribute to the fight against climate change.

Consume and waste less

Heedless consumption generates enormous waste and as per CNN’s December 2022 report, India has more than 3,100 landfills, with the biggest standing at 65 metres. These landfills let out methane gas, a more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Buying reusable cups, cutlery, bags, and recyclable products and setting up compost bins will reduce the emission of methane and improve carbon sequestration in soil. Young shoppers can also patronise thrift stores and speak up for the planet on their social media sites.

Plant more trees

The Youth of today should maximize the use of technology to their advantage and support organisations that enable people to plant from the comfort of their homes. Grow-Trees.com as one such organisation here which is planting millions of trees across India and creating urban forests  to improve poor Air Quality Index.  In 2019, Grow-Trees.com  also conducted environment awareness and plantation programs with the Youth Development Society of Sikkim (YODESS)

Support sustainable agriculture

A 2022 UNEP article notes how sustainable agriculture uses 56 per cent less energy and creates 64 per cent fewer carbon emissions. Young consumers can support organic farm to table practices, buy local produce, learn more about indigenous farming traditions and even start their own community kitchen gardens to help reduce food miles. Community gardening projects in urban areas, also help in improving the air and soil quality and nourishing the micro-climate.

Consume more plant-based food

A 2014 Oxford University study states that “people who eat meat are responsible for almost twice as many dietary greenhouse-gas emissions per day as vegetarians and about 2.5 times as many emissions as vegans”. Vegans refrain from consuming eggs, dairy and any product that exploits animals. Veganism is not just a fad but a mindful choice that can contribute enormously to the health of the planet. Following a vegan diet can also help preserve habitats, prevent livestock emissions, and stabilise oceans as the meat industry pollutes the marine ecosystem.

Follow energy-efficient practices

Youth can take the lead in advocating energy-efficient practices at their homes, educational institutions, and workplaces. This includes switching off the lights and fans when not in use, curtailing water wastage, using energy efficient gadgets, installing solar panels etc. Supporting sustainable businesses, investing in green initiatives and sensitising others to the need to conserve and preserve the environment can also make a huge difference to the well-being of the planet.

Bengal MP Locket Chatterjee visit Sikkim

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"MP Locket Chatterjees visit to Sikkim"

Smt Locket Chatterjee along with the team of Hon’ble MPs, Chairpersons and officers from Lok Sabha Secretariat arrived Sikkim today.

The four-day visit is primarily a study visit of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Food, Consumer Affairs and the Public Distribution System(PDS) in Gangtok.

The team was accorded a warm welcome at Rangpo Tourist Facilitation Centre by Mrs Deepa Rani Thapa, Secretary,Food and Civil Supplies Department, Mr.Jigmee Wangchuk, Additional Secretary,Food and Civil Supplies Dept., Mr. John Gurung, Deputy Secretary,Home Department and FCI Deputy Manager V.Chakma along with government officials from concerned departments.

The visiting members comprised Smt Locket Chatterjee, Chairperson, Shri Anil Firozia(M.P), Shri Rajendra D. Gavit (MP), Shri Khagen Murmu(MP), and Smt. Himadri Singh(MP), Shri Rajmohan Unnithan( MP), Mr Ve.Vaithilingam(MP) and Shri Sakaldeep Rajbhar(MP).

The visit also had officials from Lok Sabha Secretariat, Dr.Vatsala Joshi(Director),Dr Mohit Rajan(Deputy secretary), Shri Dong Lianthang Tonsing(Under Secretary), Smt Sonia Walia,(Pvt Secretary).

Thereafter the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Food, Consumer Affairs and the Public Distribution System(PDS) along with officials were escorted to FCI, FSD Rangpo depot.

The Chairperson in her visit to the godown enquired about the stock, procurement and transportation of grains including fortified rice and wheat.

𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐫𝐢 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐚 𝐛𝐲 𝟔𝟕 𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐎𝐃𝐈 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬.

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𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐫𝐢 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐚 𝐛𝐲 𝟔𝟕 𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐬
𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐫𝐢 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐚 𝐛𝐲 𝟔𝟕 𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐬

FINAL SCORE:
INDIA: 373/7 (50 OVERS)
SRI LANKA: 306/8 (50 OVERS)

For India, Virat Kohli hit his 73rd international and 45th ODI hundred as he scored 113 runs off 87 balls.

Apart from Kohli, captain Rohit Sharma scored 83 runs off 67 balls and Shubman Gill scored 70 runs off 60 balls.

Umran Malik was the pick of the Indian bowlers. Umran finished with figures of 8-0-57-3. Further, Mohammed Siraj picked up two wickets and Mohammed Shami, Hardik Pandya, Yuzvendra Chahal picked one wicket each.

For Sri Lanka, captain Dasun Shanaka was the top scorer. He scored unbeaten 108 runs off 88 balls.

Governance at the Doorstep” in Dzongu

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" Governance at the Doorstep in Dzongu"

Mangan, January 10, Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Prem Singh Tamang under the banner “Governance at the Doorstep”, met with the public of Dzongu Constituency at Namprikdang, Forest Guest House.

Chief Minister, at the outset briefed the public where he mentioned that the public meeting is being done to have direct contact with the citizens to understand their grievances and address their issues.

The meeting witnessed huge amount of public gathering from the Dzongu Constituency, wherein orderly manner was maintained to provide a stage for public to voice their concerns.

On the mass public meeting, HCM provided medical assistance and government services to those in need.

The meeting also had the presence of Minister Shri Sonam Lama, Minister Shri Samdup Lepcha, MLA Dzongu Shri Pintso Namgyal Lepcha, Chairmans , Political Secretary to HCM, Additional Political Secretary to HCM North, Zilla Adakshya Mangan, Zilla Up- Adakshya Mangan, Secretaries , D.C Managn, A.D.M Managn, ADC (Dev) Mangan, ADC (Dev) Chungthang, SDMs, BDOs, Officers & Officals, Councillors and Panchayats.

G20 events across different states capture the imagination and interest people

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" PM Narendra Modi at G20event"

“G-20 is not just a diplomatic event, but it should be turned into a historic event of public participation where one can witness the spirit of ‘AtithiDevoBhava’”: PM Modi at PravasiBharatiyaDiwas in Indore

Gangtok, January 2023, Various G20 events across the country captured the interest and imagination of the citizens as the first Finance Track meeting of 2023 got underway in Kolkata on the 9th of January. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar celebrated the 17th PravasiBharatiyaDiwas with members of the India diaspora in Indore while the University of Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala organized a special G20 themed University Connect event.

The City of Joy, Kolkata, held the 1st Meeting for the Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI) under the Finance Track of India’s G20 Presidency from 9th-11th January 2023.  Day 1 of the meeting consisted of a symposium on Unlocking the Potential of Digital Public Infrastructure for Advancing Financial Inclusion and Productivity Gains, where Queen Maxima of the Netherlands delivered the keynote address. Panel discussions were held on the topics of Leaving No One Behind: The Role of Digital Public Infrastructure in Financial Inclusion & Productivity Gains and Digital Financial Ecosystem based on Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI): A Policy Perspective. Besides, an exhibition on “Digital innovations for Financial Inclusion” showcased India’s achievements and efforts in advancing digital financial inclusion, financial system infrastructure, emerging technologies, and achievements in various stakeholders such as Public Sector Units, Public Sector Banks, Fintech companies, etc. A cultural outing followed the meetings in the evening on a river cruise where the G20 delegates experienced the scintillating heritage of Bengal. 

Meanwhile, the Day 2 of the 17th PravasiBharatiya Divas Convention 2023, held at the street food capital of India, Indore, witnessed a sensational keynote address from India’s Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, who also inaugurated the first-ever digital PravasiBharatiya Divas exhibition on the theme ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’- Contribution of Diaspora in Indian Freedom Struggle. Speaking about India’s G20 Presidency in Indore, Prime Minister Modi highlighted that “G20 is not just a diplomatic event, but it should be turned into a historic event of public participation where one can witness the spirit of ‘AtithiDevoBhava’”. He also went on to describe that “the skill, values and work ethics of Indian youth can become the engine of global growth.”

The session also witnessed welcome remarks from India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, along with an address from Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh. Besides, the meeting witnessed special addresses from dignitaries such as Mr. ChandrikapersadSantokhi, the president of the Republic of Suriname, and Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, the president of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. India’s G20 Sherpa Shri Amitabh Kant and G20 Chief Coordinator Shri HarshvardhanShringla also addressed India’s diaspora during a town hall session and gave an overview of India’s G20 Presidency. Besides, the release of the commemorative postal stamp ‘SurakshitJaayen, PrashikshitJaayen’ and two plenary sessions on the topics of the Role of Indian Diaspora in promoting Indian Healthcare Eco-system in Amrit Kaal: Vision @2047 and Leveraging the soft power of India – Goodwill through craft, cuisine & creativity were also conducted.

Besides, God’s own country, Kerala, also adorned the colours of India’s G20 Presidency as it welcomed the University Connect programme on the theme “One Earth, One Family, One Future” at the University of Kerala in Thiruvananthapuram. The interesting lecture series to engage the youth minds of the country was hosted by the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) in line with the upcoming 1st Health Working Group Meeting under the Sherpa Track of the Indian G20 Presidency which would be held at Thiruvananthapuram on 18th-20th January. The lecture series witnessed addresses from key speakers, such as former ambassador T.P Sreenivasan on the topic of the ‘Indian Presidency of G20’ followed by remarks from prominent speakers.  

Lastly, G20 was the theme of the International Kite Festival held at Gandhinagar, Gujarat, from the 8th to the 14th of January, 2023. The G20 nations took part in the festival, attempting to achieve a Guinness World Record for the maximum number of kite enthusiasts from various countries flying kites simultaneously. The kites with the G20 logo soared in the skies of Gujarat. An immense gathering of people taking selfies was also seen near the special G20 photo booth that had the G20 logo along with the theme of “One Earth, One Family, One Future.” 

KFC’s cruncheesiest blockbuster ‘Chizza’ is back! 

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"KFC CHIZZA"

Cult favouritereturns on popular demand; in-restaurants from 10th January

Siliguri2023:This new year just became happier, as KFC announced the return of Chizza. Yes, you heard that right! Thecult favKFC Chizzais back with a bang, promising to be the biggest blockbuster of 2023. Bringing together the 2 things foodies loves most – chicken and cheese – KFC Chizza is sure to leave you drooling! The product is all set to make a comeback on popular demand after it received immense love by KFC fans over the years, thanks to its flavorful taste and the shockingly delicious crust. What crust you ask? Well, it’s KFC’s crispy chicken on top, and more crispy chicken at the bottom, that has made it a fan favourite. 

The all-chicken, no crust Chizzaconsists of two zinger fillets of crispy chicken, topped with delectable pizza sauce, molten cheese, a smattering of onionsand mixed peppers, finished with an herb sprinkle. Trust us, this irresistible crispiness and cheesy pull, will leave you wanting more! Starting at INR 299/-Chizza will be available across all 600+ KFC restaurants 10th January onwards.

The delectable Chizzacomes withKFC’s 5X Safety Promise of Sanitization, Screening, Social Distancing, and Contactless service with Vaccinated teams. All surfaces and frequently touched areas in a restaurant are regularly sanitized, team members and riders are screened regularly for their temperatures. You can get your favChizzain a completely contactless & safe manner – through delivery, takeaway, KFC to your Car/Bike and during dine-in. All dine-in and takeaway orders also come with the added promise of Express Pickup, where orders are readied for pick-up within 7 minutes, failing which, customers are offered a complimentary piece of Hot & Crispy chicken. Chizza and other KFC favorites can also be ordered on the all-new convenient KFC app, available on Google Play and the App Store. 

So, what are you waiting for?Chizza, the crispy cheesy delight is back at a KFC near you. Order now and feel the cheesy ‘pull’.