NewsVoir

India's Defence Drone Ecosystem Enters a New Phase as Domestic Manufacturers Scale Up

India's defence drone ecosystem is moving beyond pilots and prototypes into a phase defined by manufacturing scale, procurement visibility and operational deployment. The government's continued push for indigenous defence production, combined with lessons from recent conflicts and evolving battlefield requirements, is creating a stronger pipeline for homegrown drone manufacturers.

Gamma Rotors

The policy direction has become increasingly clear. Addressing the National Defence Industries Conclave, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said India must become a global hub for drone manufacturing, describing indigenous drone production as critical for strategic autonomy and defence preparedness. The government also highlighted that 676 startups, MSMEs and innovators are now part of the iDEX ecosystem, with 58 prototypes worth Rs 3,853 crore receiving procurement clearance and 45 procurement contracts valued at Rs 2,326 crore already signed. (via Press Information Bureau)

This policy push is beginning to translate into procurement. India is preparing what could become its largest-ever military drone acquisition programme, with domestic orders expected to exceed USD 2 billion (over Rs 17,000 crore) this year. (as per Reuters)

Operational capability becomes the new differentiator

To bring this vision to life, manufacturers are increasingly being judged not only by technology but also by their ability to manufacture, deliver and support systems at scale.

Delhi-based Gamma Rotors is among the companies benefiting from this shift. The defence UAV manufacturer recently announced that its order book has crossed Rs 60 crore, while projecting FY26 revenue of approximately Rs 30 crore.

The company had earlier raised Rs 27 crore in January 2024 by issuing 19.72 lakh shares at Rs 137.42 per share, implying a post-money valuation of approximately Rs 180 crore based on its 1.30 crore outstanding shares. The capital has since been deployed towards expanding manufacturing capacity, strengthening in-house R&D, and building a resilient supply chain to cater to rising demand from the Indian Armed Forces, central paramilitary forces and state police units.

Gamma Rotors says its growth has been underpinned by operational deployments rather than demonstration projects. During Operation Sindoor, the company executed urgent deliveries of its Nighthawk, Powersorous and Striker UAV platforms for the Indian Army, leveraging its in-house 3D printing and digital manufacturing capabilities to significantly compress production timelines.

The company has also accumulated more than 10,000 flight hours, delivered over 650 drones, serviced more than 2,000 UAVs (including third-party platforms from ideaForge, Asteria Aerospace, Prox Dynamics and DJI), while training over 3,000 defence personnel.

Strengthening investor confidence with large order books

Listed drone manufacturer ideaForge Technology continues to remain one of the largest organised players in the segment.

For FY26, the company reported its highest-ever annual order bookings of approximately Rs 530 crore, while executing nearly 40% of its open order book during the fourth quarter. Importantly, ideaForge has announced its entry into the combat drone segment, including long-range strike drones and loitering munitions, to address upcoming military procurement opportunities beyond its traditional intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) portfolio.

Investor confidence in the sector is also reflected in market valuations. ideaForge currently commands a market capitalization of around Rs 4,268 crore against annual revenue of approximately Rs 226 crore, translating to a price-to-sales multiple of nearly 18x. Such premium valuations indicate that the market is pricing in strong long-term growth expectations, driven by expanding defence procurement, a robust order pipeline and the increasing role of indigenous drone manufacturers in India's evolving defence ecosystem.

Another rapidly expanding player is Raphe mPhibr, which has invested heavily in manufacturing infrastructure. The company recently expanded its production footprint in Noida through the acquisition of an additional 11.5-acre industrial site, complementing its existing defence manufacturing facility where it has reportedly invested around Rs 800 crore. Raphe has also developed indigenous military-grade autopilot systems and drone engines, with its platforms seeing operational deployment during Operation Sindoor.

Manufacturing depth will define the next phase

The competitive landscape is also evolving beyond startups. Larger defence companies including Tata Advanced Systems, Larsen & Toubro and Adani Defence have expanded their unmanned systems capabilities, while DRDO-backed programmes continue to create opportunities across surveillance, logistics, loitering munitions and armed UAV platforms.

For emerging manufacturers, however, competitive advantage is increasingly shifting towards manufacturing readiness rather than simply platform development. The ability to rapidly fulfil defence orders, maintain indigenous supply chains, support lifecycle maintenance and train operators is becoming as important as technological innovation.

As India's procurement pipeline expands and the military increasingly favours indigenous platforms under the Atmanirbhar Bharat framework, companies that combine proven operational performance with scalable manufacturing are likely to capture a growing share of the market.

Fortis Hospitals Mumbai Launches 'Har Ghar Hero', A City-Wide Mission to Make Mumbai CPR-Ready

Fortis Hospitals Mumbai today announced the launch of 'Har Ghar Hero', a first-of-its-kind, community-led CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) preparedness movement aimed at empowering Mumbaikars with the knowledge, skills and confidence to respond effectively during cardiac emergencies. Bringing together citizens from the length and breadth of Mumbai, across housing societies, corporates, schools, colleges and civic bodies, under one unified movement, the initiative reinforces a simple message - every household should have at least one person trained in CPR, a 'Hero' who can step forward when every second counts.

Fortis Mumbai launches ‘Har Ghar Hero’ initiative to build CPR-ready Mumbai with (L-R) Dr Gore, Dr Gaikwad, Dr Singh, Hon. Ms. Hemangini Patil, Dr S. Narayani, Dr Gore & Dr Nabar

The initiative was inaugurated by Hon. Ms. Hemangini Patil, Regional Transport Officer, Thane Region, and Dr. S. Narayani, Business Head – Fortis Hospitals, Maharashtra. They were joined by Fortis Mumbai's leadership team and emergency medicine specialists — Dr. Sandeep Gore (Director, Emergency Medicine, Fortis Hospital Mulund), Dr. Amit Nabar (Director, Emergency & Community Medicine, S. L. Raheja Hospital, Mahim - A Fortis Associate), Dr. Preetam Gaikwad (Head, Emergency Medicine, Hiranandani Hospital, Vashi - A Fortis Network Hospital) and Dr. Sudhir Gore (Head, Emergency Medicine, Fortis Hospital Kalyan), who spoke about the importance of building CPR preparedness beyond hospital settings. The launch was also supported by Dr. Manjeet Singh Arora, Senior Consultant-General Physician, Fortis Hospital Mulund, who has spearheaded CPR trainings in the community for the past two decades, and won multiple accolades for his contribution to community preparedness.

In a sudden cardiac emergency, the first few minutes are often decisive. Through 'Har Ghar Hero', Fortis Hospitals Mumbai aims to bring CPR awareness and training closer to communities, building a wider network of people who are prepared to act until professional medical help arrives. What sets the initiative apart is its scale and reach; it is designed to unite residents from every corner of the city, from South Mumbai to the far suburbs, in a single, sustained movement toward a common goal - a CPR-ready Mumbai.

As part of the initiative, Fortis Hospitals Mumbai will partner with civic bodies, utility and service providers, transport operators, quick-commerce platforms, housing societies, corporate hubs, educational institutions and other community groups to expand CPR awareness across the city. The focus for the coming year would be on equipping 2 lakh Mumbaikars of all ages and backgrounds with essential CPR skills, and building a growing base of trained first responders who can act swiftly in a cardiac emergency, before EMS teams arrive.

Fortis Mumbai will also launch a community perception survey to gauge current levels of emergency preparedness among Mumbaikars, and awareness about application of Basic Life Support (BLS), CPR and use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs). These insights that will help identify gaps and shape future training efforts.

Speaking at the launch, Dr. S. Narayani, Business Head – Fortis Hospitals, Maharashtra, said, "With 'Har Ghar Hero', Fortis Mumbai is taking an important step towards making CPR preparedness a community priority. In a cardiac emergency, the first responder is often not a healthcare professional but a family member, colleague, neighbour or passer-by. Our aim is to build a culture where every household has at least one person who knows what to do when it matters most. Through sustained partnerships and community-led training, we hope to create a city that is better prepared to respond to emergencies."

Over the past few years, emergency medicine specialists from Fortis Hospitals Mumbai have collectively trained and certified 1.5 lakh Mumbaikars in CPR, and engaged with 1,000+ housing societies, 350+ corporate set-ups, 300+ colleges and schools, 100+ government bodies and civic institutions, and 600+ NGOs and community groups. Through 'Har Ghar Hero', Fortis Mumbai aims to build a sustained movement around CPR awareness, growing a network of trained citizens who can act as 'Heroes' in the moments when immediate action makes the difference.

To get your workplace or housing society trained and certified, call 022 4111 4111.

About Fortis Healthcare Limited

Fortis Healthcare Limited is a leading integrated healthcare delivery service provider in India. The healthcare verticals of the company primarily comprise hospitals, diagnostics, and day care specialty facilities. Currently, the company operates 36 healthcare facilities (including JVs and O&M facilities) across 12 states and union territories. The Company’s network comprises over 6,000 operational beds (including O&M beds) and 400 diagnostics labs.

For more information, please visit www.fortishealthcare.com/

About IHH HEALTHCARE (“IHH”)

IHH is a leading multinational healthcare provider shaping the future of care. Driven by our aspiration to Care. For Good., we unite medical excellence and innovation, pushing boundaries through our trusted brands such as Acibadem, Gleneagles, Fortis, Island, Mount Elizabeth, Pantai, Parkway and Prince Court. Across 10 countries, including Malaysia, Singapore, Türkiye, India and Greater China, our 70,000-strong team delivers world-class excellence every day, within and beyond our 140 healthcare facilities, including more than 80 hospitals. Our comprehensive services span the full healthcare continuum, from primary and ambulatory to quaternary care, complemented by diagnostics, imaging, rehabilitation, telehealth and home care. In partnership with our stakeholders, IHH is advancing value-based care, building a sustainable healthcare ecosystem and creating meaningful impact, as we work towards our vision to become the world’s most trusted healthcare services network.

For more information, please visit www.ihhhealthcare.com

VAHDAM® India Ranks Among India's Top 5 Great Workplaces 2026

VAHDAM® India, a leading homegrown wellness brand bringing India’s finest teas, herbs, botanicals, and wellness products to the global stage, has been ranked among India’s Top 5 Great Workplaces 2026 by Great Place To Work®. The company has also been recognized among India’s Best Workplaces™ in FMCG 2026, India’s Great Mid-size Workplaces 2026, and Best Workplaces in Manufacturing 2026.

VAHDAM® India Ranks Among India’s Top 5 Great Workplaces 2026

This prestigious recognition underscores VAHDAM® India’s unwavering commitment to fostering a progressive, people-first workplace culture. With a strong focus on empowering employees through continuous learning, leadership development, transparent leadership, and meaningful ownership, the company continues to set new benchmarks in employee experience and organizational excellence.

VAHDAM® India’s journey reflects sustained progress over the years, moving from Rank 71 among India’s Top Workplaces in 2024, to Rank 17 in 2025, and now securing a place among India’s Top 5 Great Workplaces in 2026. This consistent upward trajectory reflects the trust, engagement, and shared purpose that continue to define the company’s culture.

Adding to this milestone, VAHDAM® India has also been recognized among India’s Best Workplaces™ in FMCG 2026, India’s Great Mid-size Workplaces 2026, and Best Workplaces in Manufacturing 2026. These accolades build upon the company’s previous recognitions, including Best Workplaces for Women, Best Workplaces in Asia, Best Workplaces for Millennials, and Best Workplaces in FMCG, reflecting a sustained commitment to creating an exceptional workplace rather than a one-time achievement.

Bala Sarda, Founder & CEO, VAHDAM® India, said, “This recognition is a reflection of the incredible people who make VAHDAM® what it is today. Our journey from Rank 71 to Rank 17 and now among India’s Top 5 Great Workplaces demonstrates what can be achieved when people feel trusted, empowered, and inspired by a shared purpose. From the very beginning, we’ve believed that building a truly global brand from India starts with building a workplace where people can do their best work and grow alongside the business. As we continue to scale globally, nurturing a culture rooted in ownership, innovation, and continuous learning remains at the heart of everything we do.”

Kalpesh Tiwari, Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), VAHDAM® India, added, “We’re proud to be recognized among India’s leading workplaces once again. At VAHDAM®, our culture is built on collaboration, accountability, and continuous growth. We remain committed to investing in our people by strengthening leadership capabilities, fostering learning and wellbeing, and creating opportunities for every individual to thrive. This recognition reflects our belief that when our people succeed, the business succeeds with them.”

The recognition comes as part of a rigorous evaluation conducted by Great Place To Work®, the global authority on workplace culture, which identifies organizations that create exceptional employee experiences through trust, pride, and camaraderie. VAHDAM® India continues to be recognized for its inclusive leadership, dynamic work environment, and people-centric culture that encourages innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

About VAHDAM® India

Founded in 2015 by Bala Sarda, VAHDAM® India is on a mission to build a homegrown Indian brand for the world. With direct sourcing from farms and estates across India, in-house manufacturing at its 100,000 sq. ft. BRC-certified facility, and a strong presence across more than 140 countries, including the USA, Canada, the UK, and Europe, VAHDAM® has grown into a leading global wellness brand.

Backed by strong customer love and organic endorsements from global icons like Oprah Winfrey, Mariah Carey, and Martha Stewart, VAHDAM® has raised over Rs 290 crore in funding. The company is Certified Plastic Neutral and Climate Neutral, and contributes 1% of its revenue towards supporting the education of tea growers’ children through Digital Learning Centres and scholarships.

Learn more at www.vahdam.in and follow VAHDAM® India on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Spread the Goodness: Homemade California Walnut Spreads You'll Want to Keep on Hand

A good homemade spread is one of the easiest ways to add flavour, texture and wholesome goodness to everyday meals. Whether sweet, savoury or a little indulgent, these versatile recipes made with California walnuts are perfect for everything from breakfast toast and sandwiches to snack boards and desserts. Make a batch, store it in a jar, and enjoy delicious possibilities throughout the week.

Wild Blueberry California Walnut Chutney

1. Wild Blueberry California Walnut Chutney

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 small yellow onion, minced

1 tablespoon grated ginger

2 cups wild, frozen blueberries

1 cup red seedless grapes

2 tablespoons sugar

1 bay leaf

1 cinnamon stick

Zest of 1 lemon, white pith removed (cut in large strips with a small sharp knife)

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

Salt to taste

Serving Suggestion: Spread on whole grain crackers or toast and top with toasted walnut pieces.

Preparations

1. Heat oil over medium heat in a medium saucepan.

2. Add onion and ginger and cook until soft. Add all remaining ingredients except vinegar and bring to a boil.

3. Reduce heat and simmer until the mixture thickens and reduces, about 30 minutes.

4. When chutney has thickened, stir in vinegar and season to taste with salt.

5. Allow to cool and remove bay leaf, cinnamon and lemon zest.

6. Store tightly covered in the refrigerator. Makes about 2 cups.

Cinnamon Fruit and California Walnut Spread

2. Cinnamon Fruit and California Walnut Spread

Ingredients

1/2 cup dried Mediterranean apricots
1 cup California walnuts
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons apple juice concentrate
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Preparations

1. Place apricots in a food processor and pulse to chop.
2. Add remaining ingredients and pulse again until finely chopped.

3. Store tightly covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
4. Serve on whole grain bagels, apple slices, toast or graham crackers.

Variations
1. Reduce apricots to 1/4 cup and add 1/4 cup dried cherries.
2. Replace apricots with dried apple rings.

Choco-California Walnut Spread

3. Choco-California Walnut Spread

Ingredients

2 cups lightly toasted walnut halves
1 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips (can be a tad more)
Scant 1/4 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
2 tablespoons oil
2 tablespoons agave nectar
Optional:
1/2 to 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
A touch of heavy cream, stirred in just before using

Preparations

1. Combine everything in a food processor and whip until very smooth (or slightly textured, if you prefer).
2. Transfer to a container with a lid, store at room temperature in a dark place.
3. Use as desired, and if you like, stir in a few drops of cream just before serving, for added richness and best spreadability.

Loan Fest 2026: Apply for a Bajaj Finance Personal Loan Online with Attractive Offers

Bajaj Finance, one of India's leading financial services providers, has announced the launch of Loan Fest 2026, a limited-period campaign designed to make online borrowing more rewarding for eligible customers. Running from 10th July to 31st August 2026, the campaign enables customers to apply for a Bajaj Finance Personal Loan through a simple digital process while offering attractive rewards on successful loan disbursal. Alongside the campaign benefits, customers can access loan amounts ranging from Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 55 lakh, flexible repayment tenure of 12 months to 108 months, competitive personal loan interest rate options ranging from 10% to 30% per annum, and quick access to funds.

Bajaj Finance Personal Loan

The campaign aims to help customers finance both planned and unexpected expenses, including home renovation, higher education, weddings, travel, and medical emergencies. With minimal documentation, collateral-free borrowing, and a fully digital application journey, the Bajaj Finance Personal Loan offers a convenient solution for customers looking for quick and flexible financing.

Attractive rewards during Loan Fest 2026

As part of Loan Fest 2026, eligible customers whose Bajaj Finance Personal Loan is successfully disbursed during the campaign period may receive an exclusive reward bundle. The bundle has been curated to provide additional value by combining entertainment, dining, music, and lifestyle benefits alongside the loan. These rewards are available only to eligible customers and are subject to the applicable campaign terms and conditions.

The reward bundle includes:

Zee 5, Sony Liv & 14 other OTTs – 6 months free membership
JioHotstar membership – 3 months
Free 3-month Zomato Gold Membership
Free 3-month JioSaavn Pro
Free 45 Day Gaana membership
Free 40+ Vouchers

The exclusive rewards complement the standard features of the Bajaj Finance Personal Loan, making the borrowing experience more rewarding during the campaign period.

Why apply for a Bajaj Finance Personal Loan online?

Applying for a Bajaj Finance Personal Loan online enables customers to complete the borrowing process conveniently without visiting a branch. The end-to-end digital application journey requires minimal documentation and allows eligible customers to check their loan offer, complete the application, and submit the required details online.

Eligible applicants may receive quick approval, and funds can be disbursed within 24 hours* after approval and successful verification. The digital process is designed to provide customers with a faster and more convenient borrowing experience.

Flexible borrowing with repayment tenure of up to 108 months

One of the key highlights of the Bajaj Finance Personal Loan is the flexible repayment tenure ranging from 12 months to 108 months.

The extended tenure gives customers greater flexibility to choose a repayment schedule that suits their financial goals and monthly budget. A longer repayment period may help reduce monthly EMIs compared with a shorter tenure for the same loan amount, enabling borrowers to manage larger financial commitments more comfortably.

The personal loan interest rate ranges from 10% to 30% per annum, depending on factors such as the customer's eligibility, credit profile, income, and internal assessment.

Features of Bajaj Finance Personal Loan

The Bajaj Finance Personal Loan is designed to support a wide range of personal financial requirements while offering a convenient borrowing experience.

Key features include:

Loan amount ranging from Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 55 lakh
Repayment tenure from 12 months to 108 months
Personal loan interest rate from 10% to 30% per annum
Collateral-free loan
Quick approval for eligible applicants
Funds disbursed within 24 hours*
Minimal documentation
Fully digital application process

These features enable customers to borrow according to their financial requirements while choosing a repayment option that aligns with their budget.

Estimate your EMI before applying

Customers can use the personal loan EMI calculator available on the Bajaj Finance website before submitting an application. The calculator helps customers estimate monthly EMIs based on the selected loan amount, applicable interest rate, and repayment tenure.

It also enables customers to compare different repayment options, understand their repayment commitments, and make informed borrowing decisions before applying for a Bajaj Finance Personal Loan.

How to apply for a Bajaj Finance Personal Loan online

Applying for a Bajaj Finance Personal Loan is simple and can be completed in a few steps:

Visit the website: Customers begin by visiting the Bajaj Finance website and navigating to the Personal Loan page.
Check loan eligibility: Customers enter the required loan amount and select the preferred repayment tenure. They then click "CHECK LOAN OFFER".
Enter personal details: Customers provide their personal, financial, and employment details to receive a personalised loan offer.
Review the loan offer: Customers review the available loan offer and may adjust the loan amount or repayment tenure based on their requirements.
Complete KYC verification: Customers complete the KYC process and verify their bank account details to facilitate disbursal.
Application assessment: The application is submitted for assessment, following which a loan specialist contacts the customer regarding the next steps in the process.

Eligible applicants may receive funds within 24 hours* after approval and successful verification.

A rewarding digital borrowing experience

Loan Fest 2026 reflects Bajaj Finance's continued focus on providing customer-centric lending solutions through a seamless digital experience. By combining attractive rewards with flexible repayment tenure, competitive personal loan interest rate options, collateral-free borrowing, and quick access to funds, the campaign provides additional value for eligible customers applying for a Bajaj Finance Personal Loan online.

Eligible customers can visit the Bajaj Finance website to check their loan offer and apply online during the Loan Fest campaign period.

Terms and conditions apply*

About Bajaj Finance Limited

Bajaj Finance Ltd. (‘BFL’, ‘Bajaj Finance’, or ‘the Company’), a subsidiary of Bajaj Finserv Ltd., is a deposit taking Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC-D) registered with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and is classified as an NBFC-Investment and Credit Company (NBFC-ICC). BFL is engaged in the business of lending and acceptance of deposits. It has a diversified lending portfolio across retail, SMEs, and commercial customers with significant presence in both urban and rural India. It accepts public and corporate deposits and offers a variety of financial services products to its customers. BFL, a thirty-five-year-old enterprise, has now become a leading player in the NBFC sector in India and on a consolidated basis, it has a franchise of 69.14 million customers. BFL has the highest domestic credit rating of AAA/Stable for long-term borrowing, A1+ for short-term borrowing, and CRISIL AAA/Stable & [ICRA]AAA(Stable) for its FD program. It has a long-term issuer credit rating of BB+/Positive and a short-term rating of B by S&P Global ratings.

Galgotias University Hosts Japanese Delegation to Explore Academic and Research Collaborations Amid Growing Ties Between India and Japan

Galgotias University welcomed a high-level delegation of government officials, industry leaders and academic experts from Japan, along with representatives of the Governments of India and Uttar Pradesh, for discussions on academic and research collaboration. The talks prioritised three technologies central to the global sustainability agenda, Green Hydrogen, Electric Vehicles and Semiconductors, while keeping the door open to partnerships across a much wider range of disciplines.

Galgotias University welcomes the Japanese delegation to advance India-Japan collaboration in green hydrogen, EVs, semiconductors and academic research

The deliberations explored joint research programmes, technology exchange and academic partnerships, opening new pathways for the University's students and researchers to contribute to clean energy, sustainable mobility and next-generation manufacturing. The engagement reflects the growing role of universities as bridges between global policy leadership, advanced research and emerging talent.

Speaking on the visit, Dr. Dhruv Galgotia, CEO, Galgotias University, said, "Hosting such a high-level delegation on our campus is a proud moment for the University. It also demonstrates the growing importance of Greater Noida as a critical academic, industrial and transportation hub. We intend to convert these discussions into joint research projects, exchange programmes and industry partnerships that our students and faculty can participate in directly."

India and Japan share a natural affinity rooted in centuries of civilisational and cultural exchange and reinforced today by common democratic values and complementary strengths. Japan brings deep expertise in precision manufacturing, clean energy technology and industrial innovation, while India offers scale, a vast pool of young engineering and research talent, and one of the world's fastest-growing economies.

As the two nations deepen their Special Strategic and Global Partnership, academic and research collaborations are emerging as new avenues of engagement alongside trade and investment. Joint research programmes, faculty and student exchange, co-supervised doctoral work and university-industry partnerships are increasingly the channels through which the two countries turn shared intent into shared innovation, and Indian universities are positioning themselves at the centre of this exchange.

The visit also comes at a time of deepening cooperation between Uttar Pradesh and Japan in clean energy and advanced manufacturing, positioning the state as an emerging hub for green hydrogen, EV components and semiconductor investment. By engaging directly with government delegations, Galgotias University aims to align its research capabilities and talent pipeline with these national and international priorities.

The visit is a precursor to deeper engagement in the coming weeks, with follow-up discussions expected to translate the initial conversations into concrete research programmes, exchanges and partnerships. The University will continue to pursue collaborative research, faculty and student exchange, and industry-linked innovation in sustainable technologies, reinforcing its commitment to education and research that serve society.

About Galgotias University

Galgotias University is one of India’s leading multidisciplinary universities recognised for academic excellence, research, innovation, global collaborations, and industry aligned education. With a vibrant student community of over 50,000 learners and a global alumni network of more than 100,000 graduates, the University has built a rapidly growing ecosystem focused on technology, entrepreneurship, interdisciplinary learning, and real-world impact.

In the QS World University Rankings 2027 by Quacquarelli Symonds, Galgotias University was placed in the 1201-1400 global band and ranked 16th among private universities and 46th among all universities in India. In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026, the University was placed in the 1201-1500 global band and ranked 27th among private universities and 65th among all universities in India. The University is also accredited with NAAC A+, one of India’s highest institutional quality ratings.

Galgotias University offers programmes across engineering, artificial intelligence, computer science, semiconductors, business, law, media, design, health sciences, hospitality, liberal education, and emerging interdisciplinary domains. In 2026, students secured more than 5,500 job offers from over 1,250 recruiters. The University has built strong industry and innovation partnerships with organisations including Apple, Infosys, IBM, Intel, Cisco, Tata Technologies, L&T EduTech, Capgemini, and Salesforce, while continuing to strengthen its global academic engagement and startup ecosystem.

ET Money Expands its Long-term Investing Offerings with Global Investing

ET Money, India’s long-term investment app and part of the 360 ONE WAM group, today announced the launch of Global Investing. This addition further expands the long-term investment solutions available on the platform.

Invest in the world's biggest and most innovative companies with one tap on ET Money

The new offering gives Indian investors multiple ways to invest across global markets—from individual US Stocks and International ETFs to Global Mutual Funds and Managed Portfolios. The global investing infrastructure is powered by Vested Finance.

Indian investors today are increasingly focused on building well-diversified, long-term portfolios. Having embraced diversification across asset classes, they are now taking the next logical step—looking beyond India to diversify across markets, access global businesses and build more resilient portfolios.

However, investors looking to diversify globally have continued to face uncertainty. Fresh investments into international mutual funds by Indian AMCs have been subject to RBI’s overseas investment limits, with subscriptions opening and closing over time as industry limits were approached.

The alternative meant starting a separate investing journey—using another app and tracking international investments separately—making global investing feel disconnected from the rest of an investor's long-term portfolio.

ET Money's offering removes these barriers by making global investing a seamless part of the app experience. Investors can now access global markets alongside Mutual Funds, FDs, Bonds, NPS and other long-term investments—all in one place.

Investors can:

Invest directly in individual US Stocks
Diversify across countries, sectors and investment themes through International ETFs
Start SIPs or invest lumpsum in Global Mutual Funds managed by some of the world's leading asset managers
Choose professionally managed global portfolios for a guided investing experience

Commenting on the launch, Mukesh Kalra, Founder & CEO, ET Money, said, "Indian investors have evolved significantly over the last few years. The conversation has shifted from simply choosing investments to building well-diversified long-term portfolios. Increasingly, that also means looking beyond India.

With Global Investing, we're expanding our long-term investing offering to make that next step simpler. Whether an investor wants to own individual global companies, diversify through ETFs, invest with leading global fund managers or choose professionally managed portfolios, they can now do it within the same investing experience they already trust for their long-term wealth."

Commenting on the partnership, Viram Shah, Co-Founder & CEO, Vested Finance, said, "Global investing in India is moving from a niche to a default part of how people build long-term wealth, and distribution is what makes that shift real. ET Money has one of the largest and most engaged mutual fund audiences in the country - a natural home for global investing. Their users can now add US stocks, managed portfolios and, most naturally, Global Funds (UCITS structures) run by the world's leading asset managers, all in one place. For an audience that already invests in funds, that's the most familiar way to go global."

To celebrate the launch, ET Money has also introduced a limited-period Go Global Offer, under which investors can invest globally with Rs 0 brokerage until 15 August 2026.

About ET Money

ET Money, a 360 ONE WAM group company, is India’s leading full-stack wealth platform, helping Indians invest with clarity and confidence.

It brings the most important, retail-friendly investment products together in one place. From mutual funds and stock portfolios to fixed deposits, bonds, insurance and pension solutions, ET Money curates investment-worthy choices and makes them accessible through seamless, paperless digital journeys.

The platform leverages technology and thoughtful design to enhance decision-making with research-driven insights, personalised recommendations and active portfolio supervision. Its suite of investment intelligence includes the ET Money Fund Report Card, Fund Verdicts, Portfolio Health Check and Multi-Asset Allocation Strategies.

ET Money envisions a future where every Indian investor gets unmatched support across every stage of their wealth-building journey — enabling disciplined, long-term investing with exceptional ease, clarity, and confidence.

Cashfree Payments Announces Zero Percent Payment Gateway Fees for its New Businesses Till March 2027

New businesses signing up on Cashfree pay zero payment gateway fees on their first Rs. 20 lakh sale, valid till 31st March 2027
Sellers go live within minutes, get next-day settlements and a dedicated account manager through the entire festive season
The offer is the best among India’s payments industry, pairing a full fee waiver with fastest onboarding and settlements

Cashfree Payments, India’s leading AI-native payments company, today announced it is offering 0% payment gateway fees for all new businesses signing up on its platform, on the first Rs. 20 lakh of Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) until 31st March 2027. The offer targets early-stage and growing sellers across their own online channels.

Offer aims to provide a launchpad to SMBs ahead of the festive season

Through this offer, Cashfree Payments aims to give businesses a genuine launchpad ahead of the festive season. This period is when most small businesses do the bulk of their annual business, but it typically comes with its own cost pressures. Discounts and offers eat into margins just as sales peak, and payment gateway fees eat into that margin further. By removing its own fee from this window entirely, Cashfree is handing sellers back real margin and cash they can redirect into inventory, ads, or logistics instead.

Akash Sinha, Co-founder & CEO of Cashfree Payments, said, "An average SMB or D2C business makes 40% of their annual sales during the festive season. Getting the payments layer right during these weeks matters more than at any other point in the year. We've also seen that 90% of new sellers signing up ahead of the season record a GMV under ₹20 lakh during the entire period, which means this offer effectively covers their entire festive run. That's significant breathing room for a business to put money into offers, inventory, or wherever it's needed most. This is the kind of launchpad we want every SMB to have with us."

Alongside the fee waiver, new merchants can go live on Cashfree within minutes of signing up, against the industry norm of multiple days. They also get next-day settlement, against the standard two-day cycle, improving cashflow to fund the next round of ads or restocking during peak sale days. Every merchant onboarding under the offer is assigned a dedicated account manager from the point of signup, so sellers get support during the critical sale period. Taken together, the offer combines zero-cost onboarding with the fastest go-live and settlement cycle available to SMBs in India today, making it the strongest festive-season offers in the industry.

Businesses looking to go live ahead of the festive season can sign up on Cashfree Payments at cashfree.com to claim the 0% fee offer before it ends on 31st March 2027.

About Cashfree Payments

Founded in 2015, Cashfree Payments is India's largest payments platform, processing over USD 80 billion in transactions annually for more than a million businesses–from high-growth startups, ecommerce & D2C brands, SMBs, and enterprises.

Businesses use Cashfree Payments to collect payments across 180+ payment modes, provide seamless one-click checkout to their customers to improve conversions, and conduct cross-border payments across 176+ countries and 140+ currencies. Built for scale, Cashfree’s infrastructure handles an industry-leading 12,000 transactions per second, processing peak volumes without friction.

Alongside payments, Cashfree Payments offers Secure ID, an identity verification stack with a comprehensive suite of APIs and KYC components. Secure ID enables fintechs and startups to streamline compliant onboarding and KYC flows by minimising user inputs, thus reducing drop-offs, intelligently verifying identity documents, and detecting fraud and anomalies with high accuracy.

Cashfree Payments is India’s first AI-native payments platform, enabling AI agents to process invoices and conduct payments autonomously through its MCP server, and allowing businesses to embed payments natively within AI chatbots through Cashfree Here.

The company was one of the first fintech companies to hold all three RBI licenses of Payment Aggregator (PA), Payment Aggregator-Cross Border (PA-CB), and Prepaid Payment Instrument (PPI). Cashfree Payments is backed by Silicon Valley investor Y Combinator, Apis Partners, State Bank of India (SBI), KRAFTON, and was incubated by PayPal.

Shiksha Finance Raises INR 43 Million Through PTC Deal with DMI Housing Finance

Chennai-based Shiksha Financial Services India Private Limited (“Shiksha Finance” or “Shiksha”) announced the conclusion of a securitisation transaction with DMI Housing Finance Private Limited, a National Housing Bank (NHB)-registered housing finance company committed to expanding access to affordable housing finance, particularly for lower-income and economically weaker sections. With a presence across 9 states and a network of 67 operational branches, DMI Housing Finance participated in the transaction as the investor. The transaction marks Shiksha’s first debt fundraising from a housing finance company.

The transaction involved the issuance of pass-through certificates (PTCs) by “Micro-LAP Empower June 2026”, a special purpose vehicle trust set up exclusively for the transaction. The Series A1 PTCs of INR 43.4 million were fully subscribed to by DMI Housing Finance. The PTCs are backed by a pool of mortgage-backed loan receivables from 148 loan contracts originated by Shiksha Finance.

The Series A1 PTCs have been assigned a provisional rating of ICRA A- (SO), with the credit enhancement in the structure being in the form of (i) a CC (Cash collateral) of 11.00% of the initial pool principal provided by Shiksha Finance, (ii) subordination of 10.00% of the initial pool principal for Series A1 PTC, and iii) the EIS of 41.80% of the initial pool principal for Series A1 PTC.

The PTC transaction with DMI Housing Finance is the third in a series of similar transactions concluded by Shiksha Finance. With this transaction, Shiksha has cumulatively raised over INR 200 million through the securitisation route. The rating of PTCs from the previous two transactions has been maintained at A- (SO) by ICRA after their annual review.

“The transaction with DMI Housing Finance is an important one for us at Shiksha, as this adds a new investor and a new class of investors to our list of supporters and stakeholders,” said Mr V L Ramakrishnan, CEO of Shiksha Finance. “We see PTCs and direct assignments as significant avenues for debt fundraise and treasury management in the future.”

About Shiksha Finance

Shiksha Finance provides secured (mortgage-backed) loans to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and to informal sector workers. As of June 2026, Shiksha operates in two southern states of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh with 19 branches with total outstanding portfolio of INR 742.1 million under the micro-LAP product. Shiksha believes that the micro-loan against property (micro-LAP) product enables access to finance for MSMEs by unlocking the value of their residential property. Shiksha has funded nearly 2500 underbanked entrepreneurs and informal workers since launching the product. By providing micro-loan against property (micro-LAP) loans to eligible borrowers, Shiksha Finance enables borrowers to increase their income, driving higher business accruals and structurally enhancing their credit profiles.

Parimatch Releases a New TV Commercial Featuring the Cricket Star David Warner

Parimatch, has just released a new promotional video featuring the cricket star and the brand's Ambassador, David Warner. The video symbolises the beginning of a new era for Parimatch as a platform for all kinds of fan enjoyment - from dramatic and thrilling moments to pure sports cheering.

Parimatch Releases New TV Commercial Featuring David Warner

The video features the legendary cricketer in a series of surprising and humorous situations inspired by the moments that have made him a fan favourite. Warner breaks into a Bollywood-style dance, a nod to his viral TikTok videos inspired by Indian culture, rides a mechanical bull in a playful reference to his fan-given nickname, and delivers his signature cricket shot. The real fun, however, begins on Parimatch, where the brand's new philosophy comes to life: "We entertain. You win."

According to the Parimatch Press Office, David was the natural choice to lead the campaign. Charismatic, authentic, and fully dedicated to his craft, he perfectly embodies the brand's evolved positioning.

"David's openness to new experiences, combined with his genuine passion for the game, perfectly reflects the values that lie at the heart of Parimatch's brand. Alongside the innovative gaming approach, we offer our users endless opportunities for fun, thrilling wins, and lasting enjoyment," said the Parimatch Press Office.

The new video marks another milestone in the long-lasting and fruitful partnership between Parimatch and David Warner, united by a shared commitment to promoting sportsmanship and responsible gaming among millions of cricket fans worldwide.

Watch the new campaign video on Parimatch's YouTube channel.

Environmental CSR in India: Rs. 17,000 Crore Deployed Over A Decade, But Climate-Vulnerable Regions Remain Underfunded

Environmental CSR in India has grown steadily over the past decade, with Corporate India investing Rs. 17,377 crore across environmental sustainability, conservation of natural resources and agroforestry initiatives. However, a new report by Sattva Consulting, powered by India Data Insights (IDI), finds that while environmental CSR has expanded, funding remains concentrated among a relatively small group of companies and is not always aligned with the geographies and sectors facing the country's greatest environmental challenges.

The report, A Decade of Green Spending: What Rs. 17,000 Crores of Environmental CSR Reveals About Corporate India, lands at a moment when India, ranked the 9th most climate-vulnerable nation in the Climate Risk Index 2026, is under growing pressure to align corporate giving with climate resilience goals under Viksit Bharat 2047 and its 2070 Net Zero commitment.

Environmental CSR spending fell to a post-pandemic low of 4.4% of total CSR outlay in FY2020-21, as companies redirected funds towards health and relief efforts. It has since recovered, stabilising at 8.4% of total CSR spend in FY2023-24, still well behind enduring priorities such as education and health. The report notes that with an estimated $2.5 trillion needed to meet India's Nationally Determined Contributions by 2030, and $10 trillion required to build a climate-resilient economy by 2047, CSR capital has a distinct role to play in bridging gaps where public systems face capacity or resource constraints.

While environmental CSR is growing, corporate philanthropy is not yet fully aligned with India's highest climate risks, especially sectors with the greatest environmental footprint.

A Concentrated Funding Base

Just one out of five companies that report CSR spending direct any of it towards the environment. Less than a fifth of smallest CSR spenders allocate funds towards climate action. In contrast, nearly all of the companies with CSR budgets over Rs. 50 crore reserve a portion of their outlay for environment-related projects.

European-headquartered MNCs operating in India show markedly higher participation (about two-thirds) than Indian companies (54%), a gap the report links to the influence of stringent European regulatory frameworks, including the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

Growth Without Scale

The growth in environmental CSR is being driven almost entirely by a rising number of small and mid-sized projects rather than larger, systemic investments.

The number of environmental CSR projects grew 20% over the past three years, while aggregate spending grew only 6% in the same period, leaving the average project size flat at Rs. 45 lakh. Only 29 projects in FY2024 carried budgets of Rs. 10 crore or more, barely up from 22 such projects in FY2020-21.

Divergence In Environmental Footprint And Funding

The report finds a marked disconnect between industries' environmental footprint and their environmental CSR behaviour. Sectors with some of the largest environmental footprints, including Energy, Mining, and Oil, Gas, Coal & Petroleum, show relatively low participation in environmental CSR. Even where companies in these sectors do undertake environmental initiatives, they allocate only 5-7% of their CSR budgets towards environmental causes, well below several consumer-facing industries. By contrast, consumer-facing sectors such as FMCG, Food and Beverages, and Automotive, despite a comparatively lighter environmental footprint, allocate over 10% of CSR spend to environmental causes, a pattern the report attributes to brand positioning and consumer-facing ESG commitments rather than direct impact alignment.

Climate-Vulnerable Districts Underfunded

The report's starkest finding concerns geography. Nearly 45% of environmental CSR funding is directed to pan-India or multi-state programmes, and a further 22% flows to Tier-1 cities, leaving just over a third of funding for more localised, place-based interventions.

States including Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh, all classified as highly climate-vulnerable, receive less than Rs. 25 per capita in environmental CSR. The pattern sharpens at the district level: among India's 50 most climate-vulnerable districts, 30 of them received only 1% (Rs. 106 crore) of total environmental CSR spending over the past three years, with a handful of districts in Assam alone accounting for 60% of what little vulnerable-region funding exists.

Traditional Themes Dominate

Among high-value environmental CSR projects (Rs. 50 lakh and above) in FY2023-24, Water Management (15%), Renewable Energy (12%), and Biodiversity (11%) together account for 38% of all high-value project funding. Air quality, despite its acute public health relevance, received just Rs. 14 crore, around 5% of the high-value project pool reflecting the longer gestation periods and more complex measurement frameworks associated with system-level environmental interventions.

The report identifies Rs. 243 crore directed over the past three years towards emerging themes such as public transport and climate.

The report identifies Rs. 243 crore directed over the past three years towards emerging themes such as public transport, climate governance and carbon MRV, and circular economy alongside nearly Rs. 500 crore embedded within Health, Livelihoods, and Education CSR programmes that integrate water, clean energy, and climate-resilience programmes.

What This Means For Corporate India

"India's climate ambitions will require every form of capital to work more strategically. As climate risks increasingly affect business operations, supply chains and communities, CSR has an opportunity to evolve from project-based philanthropy into catalytic capital, supporting climate-vulnerable regions, strengthening ecosystem resilience, and complementing broader sustainability and ESG efforts," said Srikrishna Sridhar Murthy, Co-founder and CEO, Sattva Consulting.

Looking Ahead

The report's authors argue that as ESG disclosure norms tighten and climate risk becomes more immediate for business operations, CSR has an opportunity to evolve from a fragmented, theme-led funding mechanism into a more targeted, catalytic lever for climate resilience. It should align more closely with industry's environmental footprint, channel funding towards India's most climate-vulnerable geographies, and complement existing project-led giving with longer-horizon, systemic interventions in areas such as air quality, circular economy, and climate governance. Realising this shift, the report notes, will require coordinated, collective action across corporates, philanthropy, and ecosystem actors, rather than standalone funding approaches.

The report is based on an analysis of CSR disclosures filed with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) for FY2014-15 to FY2023-24, covering ₹17,377 crore in spending across Environmental Sustainability, Conservation of Natural Resources, and Agroforestry.

The full report is available at www.sattva.co.in/quick-read/environmental-csr-in-india-lessons-from-%e2%82%b917000-crore-of-investments/.

About Sattva Consulting

Sattva Consulting is a global impact consulting firm from India. Since 2009, we have engaged with communities, business, and government to achieve societal impact at scale. We believe that Civil society, Business, and Government all have a critical role to play in building an equitable and sustainable world, and we actively partner with all stakeholders to enable impact through our advisory and orchestration services, knowledge and data platforms—built as public goods for the ecosystem, and collaborative solutions and partnerships.

To know more, visit sattva.co.in.

About India Data Insights

India Data Insights (IDI), an initiative by Sattva Consulting, aims to empower India’s development sector with actionable, ready-to-use data insights to enable sharper decisions and maximise impact. Built as a public good, IDI consolidates public data across SDG practice areas on one, unified platform, offering insightful visualisations, interactives, blogs and ready-to-use-charts and dashboards.

To know more, visit indiadatainsights.com.

Sky City Mall Brings the Spirit of Football to Life with an Immersive Fan Experience

Known for creating memorable experiences beyond shopping, Sky City Mall recently brought the excitement of the FIFA World Cup closer to home through a football-themed fan experience that welcomed sports enthusiasts, families, and shoppers for an action-packed weekend.

Freestyle football and Bboying at Sky City Mall

The mall was transformed into an immersive football arena with FIFA World Cup-inspired décor, vibrant installations, and interactive zones, creating the perfect setting for visitors to celebrate the spirit of the game. The activation offered an engaging blend of entertainment, competition, and community, drawing football enthusiasts of all ages and creating a lively atmosphere across the mall.

The event witnessed an enthusiastic response, with audiences participating throughout the activation. Visitors tested their skills through a range of interactive challenges, including the Football Precision Challenge, where participants aimed at numbered targets against the clock to demonstrate speed and accuracy, and the Build the Football Puzzle Challenge, where individuals raced against time to assemble a football from scrambled puzzle pieces in a fun test of teamwork and problem-solving. These activities encouraged friendly competition while offering visitors an opportunity to engage with the sport in a fun and interactive way.

Adding to the excitement were B-boying and freestyle football performances, featuring an electrifying mix of football tricks, music, and street culture. The performances transformed the mall's atrium into a vibrant fan zone, where visitors cheered, interacted, and celebrated together, creating an energetic atmosphere throughout the event. Families, children, and football enthusiasts gathered to witness the high-energy acts, making the activation a memorable weekend outing for visitors of all age groups.

The football-themed experience reinforced Sky City Mall's commitment to offering engaging lifestyle experiences that extend beyond retail. By combining interactive activities, live entertainment, and immersive décor, the activation offered visitors a memorable destination where they could connect with family and friends while celebrating one of the world's most-loved sports. The event also reflected the mall's focus on curating experiences that encourage community participation and create moments of shared celebration.

As one of Mumbai's leading lifestyle destinations, Sky City Mall continues to redefine the shopping experience by seamlessly blending retail, dining, entertainment, and experiential events under one roof. Through a thoughtfully curated calendar of seasonal activations, cultural celebrations, and family-focused engagements, the mall consistently offers visitors new reasons to return and discover something unique with every visit.

With its expansive retail offerings, diverse culinary experiences, and vibrant entertainment initiatives, Sky City Mall remains committed to creating an inclusive space where people can shop, dine, unwind, and celebrate together. Through initiatives like these, the mall continues to strengthen its position as a community-centric destination that brings people together through immersive experiences, interactive entertainment, and memorable engagements that resonate with visitors long after the event concludes.

Indo-Africa Cleft Conference 2026: Smile Train's Largest Regions Come Together to Share a Decade of Cleft Care Learning

The world’s largest cleft-focused organization, Smile Train, concluded the Indo-Africa Cleft Conference in Goa today. Building on the initiative first established in 2012, Indo-Africa Synergy 2026 brought Smile Train's India and Africa teams together to exchange knowledge and experience and collaborate towards advancing sustainable cleft care.

Indo-Africa Cleft Conference Synergy 2026: Excelling Together

The conference brought together surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, speech therapists, orthodontists and multidisciplinary cleft care professionals from Smile Train’s two largest regions, reaffirming its commitment to stronger, locally led sustainable healthcare systems through collaboration, continuous learning and knowledge exchange.

Over the past decade, both India and Africa have made significant strides in expanding access to comprehensive cleft care in their own regions. Each region has developed unique areas of excellence shaped by real-world experience and field-led innovation. Indo-Africa Cleft Conference 2026 was designed to bring these learnings together, creating opportunities to exchange proven approaches, adopt best practices and jointly develop solutions that strengthen cleft care across both regions while contributing to Smile Train's global pursuit of ensuring every child born with a cleft has access to safe, timely and comprehensive care.

Speaking on the occasion, Mamta Carroll, Senior Vice President and Regional Director, Asia, Smile Train, said, "Indo-Africa Synergy represents much more than a conference; it reflects how Smile Train believes sustainable change happens. Over the past decade, both India and Africa have built remarkable expertise through locally led program, and today we can learn from one another as equal partners. By sharing knowledge, strengthening skills and co-creating solutions, we are investing not only in healthcare professionals but also in better outcomes for every child born with a cleft. This collaboration demonstrates that when expertise is shared across borders, its impact extends far beyond any one country."

Nkeiruka Obi, Vice President and Regional Director, Smile Train, Africa, added, “India and Africa bring together two of Smile Train’s largest and most experienced programs, each with deep expertise gained over years in providing safe and high-quality comprehensive cleft care within diverse local contexts. In our shared commitment to healthcare equity, this conference offers a valuable opportunity to learn from our experiences, share practical solutions, and innovations, while strengthening capacity of cleft care professionals. By advancing South–South collaboration, we truly can accelerate access to quality cleft care for more children and families in our communities.”

The two-day program featured expert discussions, knowledge sharing and hands-on workshops covering surgical excellence, patient safety and comprehensive cleft care. Participants also exchanged experiences on advocacy, engagement and healthcare system strengthening, recognizing that sustainable cleft care extends beyond surgery to encompass the entire continuum of care.

The conference truly reflects Smile Train's sustainable model of strengthening local healthcare systems by investing in medical professionals through continuous training, mentorship and global knowledge exchange. By fostering collaboration between India and Africa, Smile Train is building stronger local capacity and advancing comprehensive cleft care for children in both regions.

Smile Train programs in Africa began in 2002 and since then, they have spread across nearly 40 countries, transforming the lives of 200,000+ cleft-affected individuals.

Since 2000, Smile Train has supported more than 800,000 free cleft surgeries across India through a network of 130+ partner hospitals. For cleft treatment-related queries or support, please call the India toll-free helpline number: 1800 103 8301.

For more information, please log on to www.smiletrainindia.org.

India's Iconic Landmarks Glow in Teal Green for World Fragile X Awareness Day

From the Taj Mahal Tower Mumbai to Apollo Children's Hospital Chennai, the nation unites today to shine a light on the leading inherited cause of autism.
‘Fragile’, the first-ever Indian short film dedicated to shedding light on Fragile X Syndrome now on YouTube

India's architectural landscape is transforming into a visual beacon of hope as major cities across the nation illuminate their most recognizable landmarks in vibrant Teal Green. Spearheaded by the Fragile X Society India, this massive nationwide campaign is officially underway today to bring Fragile X Syndrome (FXS)—the world's most common inherited single-gene cause of autism and intellectual disability—out of the shadows and into the mainstream public consciousness.

The Iconic Taj Mahal Tower in Mumbai lit up on the occasion of World Fragile X Awareness Day 2026

The scale of this year's activation is unprecedented. A massive network of corporate partners, medical institutions, and educational hubs are actively participating today. While many iconic buildings are lighting up their massive exterior facades in teal green tonight, others are driving the message home internally right now with dedicated awareness posters, educational standees, and interactive community displays.

Several prominent landmarks and institutions across India joined the global initiative by illuminating their buildings today. Participating locations included the Taj Mahal Tower (IHCL), Planet Godrej and Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai, City Centre New Town, Salt Lake Kolkata and the Amrit Somani Memorial Center in Kolkata, The Connaught (IHCL SeleQtions) in New Delhi, Apollo Children's Hospital in Chennai, WOW Crest (IHCL SeleQtions) in Indore, Daiwik Hotels in Rameswaram, and educational institutions such as The Cathedral and John Connon Senior School and Thomas House.

Alongside the physical illuminations taking place today, Fragile X Society India is breaking new ground in advocacy with the recent release of ‘Fragile’, the first-ever Indian short film dedicated to shedding light on Fragile X Syndrome. Available to stream on the premier digital platform Pocket Films' YouTube channel, the film beautifully and accurately captures the emotional and diagnostic roller-coaster experienced by families navigating the condition.

To ensure the message resonates deeply with the public, the film features a stellar ensemble of mainstream Indian talent, including Rajniesh Duggall, Amruta Khanvilkar, and veteran actor Govvind Namdev. Their powerful performances are bringing critical emotional gravity to a genetic condition that remains deeply misunderstood and frequently misdiagnosed.

"For over two decades, our absolute mission has been to ensure that no family walks this path in the dark," said Shalini Kedia, Chairperson and Founder of Fragile X Society India. "An accurate diagnosis doesn't just explain a child's present behavioral challenges; it fundamentally re-charts a family's reproductive future. By lighting up our country's proudest landmarks in teal green today, we are breaking the silence. We are building a nation-wide system of support, recognition, and early medical intervention for the estimated 400,000 affected individuals across India."

Citizens across the country are invited to be part of the movement by visiting the illuminated landmarks in their cities, capturing photos against the teal green facades and sharing them on social media. They can also watch the short film Fragile on the Pocket Films YouTube channel and share it with friends, family and medical professionals, while helping spread awareness by sharing the official Instagram page, @fragilexindia, to encourage conversations around genetic health and autism awareness.

Fragile X Syndrome is a genetic condition that causes developmental delays, intellectual disabilities, learning challenges, and behavioral traits often overlapping with autism. Because general awareness remains low, millions of individuals across India remain undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, and countless others are unaware that they are silent carriers of the mutated gene. Simple genetic testing and early clinical intervention can completely transform the quality of life for an affected individual and provide families with vital clarity.

Fragile - A film on Fragile X Syndrome Awareness | Social Awareness Short Film: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qyaRA6bZMw

About Fragile X Society India

Founded in 2003 by Shalini Kedia, Fragile X Society India is the country's premier support network dedicated to individuals and families affected by Fragile X Syndrome. The society acts as a critical bridge between families and the medical community, offering vital resources, directing families toward accurate genetic testing, providing professional counseling, and fostering a deeply supportive national community.

Elpro International School Celebrates Remarkable CBSE Class 10 Results with a Perfect 500/500

Elpro International School has once again reaffirmed its position among the country’s leading educational institutions with an exceptional performance in the CBSE Board Examinations 2025–26. The highlight of this year's results was Neehar Lohade, who achieved a perfect 100% (500/500 considering the Best 5 subjects as per CBSE norms) in the Class X CBSE Board Examination—an extraordinary accomplishment that places him among the country's highest achievers.

Elpro International School Celebrates Remarkable CBSE Class 10 Results

The school's overall results reflected consistent academic excellence across both Class X and XII. Out of 494 students who appeared for the Class X examination, 287 students scored above 90%, 142 crossed the 95% mark, and students secured 104 perfect subject scores, with the school maintaining a 100% pass rate. The Class X batch recorded an impressive school average of 88.7%, with a median score of 91.4%.

Dr. Amrita Vohra with CBSE class 10 achievers

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Amrita Vohra, Director Principal, Elpro International School, said, "Neehar's remarkable achievement of securing a perfect 100% is a proud moment not only for Elpro International School but for the entire education fraternity. Such milestones are never the result of talent alone—they are built on years of disciplined effort, passionate teachers, supportive parents, and a learning environment that encourages every child to pursue excellence with integrity. While we celebrate outstanding scores, we remain equally committed to nurturing compassionate, confident and future-ready individuals who will make meaningful contributions to society."

Neehar Lohade

The school also recorded strong outcomes in Class XII, with a 100% pass percentage, a school average of 83.17%, and 39 students scoring above 90% across Science, Commerce and Humanities streams. The school's success extended beyond board examinations, with its Class XII students earning admission offers from some of the world's leading universities, including IIT Madras, King's College London, University College London (UCL), The University of Hong Kong (HKU), University of Leeds, Leiden University and other prestigious institutions. The placements reflect Elpro's growing reputation for nurturing globally competitive students through strong academics, personalised counselling, and a future-ready learning environment.

Elpro's academic journey has shown consistent year-on-year growth, with the Class X school average rising from 84.8% in 2022–23 to 88.7% in 2025–26, while the proportion of students scoring above 90% has nearly doubled during the same period. The school attributes this sustained success to rigorous academics, personalised mentoring, data-driven interventions, and a strong focus on holistic development.

With this year's outstanding board results and Neehar Lohade's perfect score, Elpro International School continues to strengthen its reputation as an institution committed to nurturing excellence, character, and future-ready leadership.

MCG and The Art of Living Sign MoU for Pond Rejuvenation in Gurugram

In a significant step towards restoring Gurugram's urban water bodies, the Municipal Corporation Gurugram (MCG) and The Art of Living Social Projects signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 17 July 2026 for the Rejuvenation and Sustainable Management of Ponds in Gurugram, Haryana.

A shared commitment for a water-secure Gurugram

Rapid urbanisation has placed Gurugram's urban water bodies under significant stress. Encroachments, unplanned development, sewage inflow, solid waste dumping, the loss of feeder channels, and shrinking catchment areas have contributed to the degradation of the city's lakes and ponds. Many of these water bodies have suffered from siltation, declining water quality, reduced storage capacity, and weakened groundwater recharge, impacting biodiversity, ecological balance, and the city's long-term water security.

Recognising the need for scientific and sustainable restoration, MCG has partnered with The Art of Living Social Projects, the social service arm of The Art of Living, which brings extensive experience in pond and lake rejuvenation, watershed management, ecological restoration, and community-led environmental initiatives.

Under the partnership, The Art of Living Social Projects will provide technical expertise and implementation support for the rejuvenation of selected urban ponds. The work will begin with detailed technical assessments, including baseline surveys, pond condition assessments, and catchment mapping to develop site-specific restoration plans.

The restoration process will include desiltation, removal of accumulated waste, strengthening of pond embankments, restoration of water-holding capacity, and improvements to inlet and outlet systems. Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) will be implemented to improve water quality, support native aquatic biodiversity, and strengthen the surrounding ecosystem through native tree plantation and biodiversity enhancement measures.

Community participation will remain central to the initiative. Capacity-building programmes, awareness campaigns, stakeholder consultations, volunteer participation, and improved waste management practices will encourage local ownership of restored water bodies while creating cleaner, healthier public spaces for residents.

To ensure lasting impact, the initiative also includes periodic water quality monitoring and continuous assessment of restoration outcomes, helping build a sustainable framework for the long-term management of Gurugram's urban ponds.

By combining scientific expertise, ecological restoration, and community participation, this collaboration aims to revive urban water bodies, improve groundwater recharge, strengthen biodiversity, and enhance climate resilience, contributing to a healthier and more water-secure Gurugram for generations to come.

About The Art of Living Social Projects

The Art of Living, a non-profit, educational, and humanitarian organisation founded in 1981 by the world-renowned spiritual leader and humanitarian Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, is committed to addressing India’s pressing water challenges. Through its large-scale water conservation projects, the organisation works to mitigate water scarcity by restoring rivers, reviving ecosystems, and improving the quality of life for communities across the country.

To learn more about these initiatives or explore CSR partnerships, visit: Best NGO for CSR projects in India.

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TelkomGroup, Nongsa Digital Park, and BW Digital Strengthen Indonesia's Digital Gateway through the NCC Submarine Cable System

PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia International (Telin), an operating company of PT Telkom Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (Telkom), together with BW Digital and the support of Nongsa Digital Park (NDP) as one of strategic partners, today marked a significant milestone in the development of Indonesia's international digital infrastructure with the successful landing of the Nongsa Changi Cable (NCC) at NDP, Batam, on 20 July 2026.

TelkomGroup, Nongsa Digital Park, and BW Digital Strengthen Indonesia's Digital Gateway through the NCC Submarine Cable System

The NCC cable landing ceremony was also attended by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia Airlangga Hartarto, Deputy Prime Minister & Minister for Trade and Industry of The Republic of Singapore Gan Kim Yong, Indonesian Ambassador to Singapore Hotmangaraja Panjaitan, Managing Director Business-2 of Danantara Indonesia Setyanto Hantoro, Deputy Governor Of Batam Nyanyang Haris Pratamura, as well as members of the Boards of Directors of Telkom, Telin, BW Digital, and Nongsa Digital Park.

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia Airlangga Hartarto stated, "Indonesia's digital transformation needs to be supported by robust physical infrastructure and increasingly strong connectivity. NCC serves as the physical foundation for a new digital corridor connecting Indonesia and Singapore, while further strengthening Batam's position as Indonesia's digital gateway. The presence of NCC is expected to reinforce the strategic position of both countries in the global digital ecosystem and value chain, while creating opportunities for greater investment, innovation, and new technology-driven economic activities."

The Cable Landing Ceremony celebrates the successful deployment of NCC, a strategic subsea cable system that connects Batam and Singapore through one of the shortest and most direct routes across the Singapore Strait. NCC is one of two new Batam–Singapore subsea cable systems developed by Telkom Group, alongside the Indonesia Singapore Cable System (INSICA), to further strengthen digital connectivity between Indonesia and Singapore. As a key segment of the Indonesia Cable Express (ICE) ecosystem, NCC strengthens international connectivity while supporting Indonesia's ambition to become a leading digital hub in Southeast Asia.

"Strategic investments such as the NCC are fundamental, as strengthening digital sovereignty and infrastructure can serve as a catalyst for innovation, competitiveness, and growth across various industries. This infrastructure is expected to generate a broader economic multiplier effect by driving the growth of industries in Batam and across Indonesia, ultimately contributing to stronger national economic growth and resilience," said Setyanto Hantoro, Managing Director Business-2 of Danantara Indonesia, during the press conference.

Spanning approximately 50 kilometers and equipped with 24 fiber pairs, NCC is designed to deliver high-capacity, low-latency connectivity to meet the rapidly growing demand for cloud services, hyperscale platforms, artificial intelligence (AI), and data center interconnection across the region. Landed successfully in the latest international cable touch point in Batam, NCC represents a critical milestone toward the system's operational readiness and reinforces the shared commitment of Government of Indonesia to ensure the development of world-class digital infrastructure in Indonesia.

Beyond enhancing regional connectivity, NCC is expected to accelerate Indonesia's digital economy by attracting investment in digital infrastructure, supporting the expansion of AI-ready data centers, enabling enterprise digital transformation, and strengthening the resilience and diversity of international network routes between Indonesia and Singapore. The project also reinforces Batam's position as Indonesia's strategic digital gateway, creating new opportunities for innovation, business growth, and high-value digital investments.

Dian Siswarini, President Director of Telkom Indonesia, added, "Through the continued development of sustainable digital infrastructure, TelkomGroup is committed to strengthening Indonesia's digital sovereignty while delivering tangible impact on the growth of the national digital economy. NCC represents a strategic collaboration between Indonesia and Singapore in building a more connected and competitive digital ecosystem. This strategic infrastructure not only strengthens Indonesia's digital connectivity and resilience, but also provides greater route diversity and enhanced connectivity for Singapore as a regional digital hub, creating mutual benefits for both countries," Dian concluded.

Budi Satria Dharma Purba, Director of Wholesale & International Service of Telkom Indonesia, said, "NCC establishes a new digital corridor between Indonesia and Singapore as part of the Indonesia Cable Express ecosystem. Together with future ICE developments, it will strengthen international connectivity, support AI-ready digital infrastructure, and provide greater network resilience for enterprises, hyperscalers, and digital businesses across the region."

Ludovic Hutier, Chief Executive Officer of BW Digital, stated, "The successful landing of NCC demonstrates the power of strategic partnerships in delivering critical digital infrastructure for Southeast Asia. Together with Telin, we are creating a future-ready connectivity platform that supports the region's accelerating demand for cloud, AI, and data center services. NCC is also a critical component of BW Digital's broader digital ecosystem, which includes Citra Connect's terrestrial fibre network and NDP1 144MW data centre campus in Batam, providing the end-to-end infrastructure our customers need to support their regional expansion."

Mike Wiluan, Chief Executive Officer at Nongsa Digital Park, added "Today's cable landing is more than the completion of digital infrastructure, it represents the strengthening of an ecosystem. At Nongsa Digital Park, we are bringing together connectivity, data centers, cloud platforms, AI innovation, digital talent, and global enterprises into one integrated hub. Through our collaboration with TelkomGroup, BW Digital, and the support of both the Indonesian and Singaporean governments, we are creating a gateway that connects Indonesia to Singapore and beyond. Together, we are building the digital bridge that enables Indonesia to play a greater role in the global digital economy. NDP is now officially a new destination point for domestic and international subsea fibre optic cables, and we look forward to welcoming more in the near future."

As part of the broader Indonesia Cable Express (ICE) initiative, NCC complements TelkomGroup's long-term strategy to expand international connectivity infrastructure and strengthen Indonesia's role within the regional digital ecosystem. By combining resilient international networks with the continued growth of digital infrastructure in Batam, the project is expected to support the expansion of cloud services, digital platforms, and emerging technologies that will shape Southeast Asia's digital future.

The successful cable landing marks another important milestone in realizing a more connected, resilient, and future-ready digital landscape, reaffirming TelkomGroup's commitment to powering digital growth across the region.

About Telin

Founded in 2007, Telin is a leading global digital enabler delivering premium international mobility, connectivity and tailored solutions for wholesale, enterprise, digital, and retail customers. Telin supports its customers through global offices in Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Taiwan, the United States, Timor Leste, the United Arab Emirates, and Myanmar, with representatives in the United Kingdom, the Philippines, India, Australia, Vietnam, and Canada.

Telin infrastructure spans over 306,376 kilometers of submarine cable systems across 27 global networks, backed by 162 Points of Presence in 35 countries, and part of more than 19 Tier II to Tier IV data centers in strategic locations including Singapore, Hong Kong, Timor Leste, and Indonesia. Telin is dedicated to changing the way you connect and drive digital transformation worldwide.

For more information, visit www.telin.net.

About BW Digital

Headquartered in Singapore and part of , BW Digital develops, builds and operates digital infrastructure in high-potential markets. Our vision is to create a sustainable digital ecosystem for cloud and AI workloads by combining data centres, connectivity and renewable energy assets.

Our infrastructure portfolio notably includes the 15,000km Hawaiki submarine cable connecting Australia, New Zealand and the US since 2018, and the BW Digital Campus at Nongsa Digital Park, comprising the 144MW NDP1 data centre, the NCC submarine cable between Singapore and Batam and the Citra Connect terrestrial fibre network.

About Nongsa Digital Park

Nongsa Digital Park (NDP) is Indonesia's premier digital investment destination, strategically located within the Nongsa Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Batam. Covering 188.04 hectares, NDP offers a future-ready platform for companies seeking to expand across Southeast Asia through world-class digital infrastructure, a business-friendly environment, and seamless regional connectivity.

Purpose-built to support the digital economy, NDP integrates hyperscale data centers, digital and creative industries, technology education, hospitality, marinas, resorts, and recreational facilities into a single ecosystem. This Work, Learn, Live, and Play environment enables businesses to innovate, attract talent, and scale efficiently.

Positioned at the crossroads of Indonesia and Singapore, Nongsa Digital Park provides investors with access to a growing digital market, a skilled talent pipeline, competitive operating advantages, and a supportive investment ecosystem. More than a business location, NDP is a strategic gateway for long-term growth, digital innovation, and sustainable investment in one of Asia's fastest-growing digital economies.

Follow NDP on: www.linktr.ee/nongsadigitalpark

Easy Ways to Love Your VinFast Battery: 5 Simple Habits for Peace of Mind

Keep your VinFast EV performing at its best for years to come with five simple habits, backed by VinFast engineers and grounded in the science of battery care.

VinFast engineers design their electric vehicles to be Indians’ ultimate companion on the road—robust, smart, and built to handle the daily life with ease.

One of the questions VinFast engineers hear most often is: "How do I make sure my vehicle's battery stays strong and healthy for years to come?"

VinFast engineers design their electric vehicles to be Indians’ ultimate companion on the road—robust, smart, and built to handle the daily life with ease

The wonderful news is that modern EV batteries are incredibly smart. They have their own "brain" (the Battery Management System) that constantly works behind the scenes to protect themselves. You do not need to be a tech expert, stare at voltage screens, or stress over tiny details to keep your battery happy.

Whether you are cruising in a VinFast VF 6, VF 7, MPV 7, or Limo Green, here are five simple, stress-free habits recommended by VinFast engineers to help keep your drive feeling like day one.

1. Enjoy a Smooth, Steady Ride

Think of your battery like a runner. A steady, comfortable jog is much easier on the heart than constant, sudden sprints.

What to do: Practice smooth and progressive acceleration in your daily commute. Your VinFast EV will always have power when you need it, but gentle inputs during everyday driving are one of the simplest ways to support long-term battery health.

Why it helps: While VinFast EVs offers thrilling acceleration, practicing smooth and progressive acceleration in your daily commute keeps your battery’s "heart rate" stable and cool.

The bonus: It makes your drive incredibly comfortable for your passengers and naturally squeezes more miles out of every single charge!

2. Choose the Right Pace for Your Daily Charge

Just like how a slow, relaxing meal is better for digestion than rushing through a heavy feast, your battery loves a steady flow of energy.

What to do: Reserve Super Fast Chargers (SFCs of 120 kW and above) for road trips and time-sensitive top-ups. For everyday charging, VinFast engineers recommend using standard DC chargers, such as a 60-kW charger whenever available, to provide an excellent balance between charging speed and battery care.

Why it helps: Higher charging speeds generate more heat inside lithium-ion batteries. Managing this heat is one of the key factors in preserving battery State of Health (SOH) over the long term. Therefore, it’s recommended to use standard chargers for routine charging to keep the temperature low and keep the battery cells in peak condition. Think of it like a gentle spa treatment for your battery.

3. Keep It Cool (Seek the Shade)

On a very hot summer afternoon, we naturally look for shade to cool down. Your VinFast battery feels the exact same way!

What to do: Whenever possible, park your car in covered spaces, basements, or shaded areas.

Why it helps: Again, prolonged, intense heat is the enemy of any battery. VinFast engineers recommend keeping battery temperatures below 40°C whenever possible. Elevated temperatures accelerate the electrochemical ageing process in lithium-ion cells, even when the vehicle isn't being driven.

No stress: If you have to park in the sun occasionally, don’t worry! Your car is built to handle it. But over the lifespan of your vehicle, choosing the shade whenever you can is a small habit that makes a big, beautiful difference.

4. Find Your Daily "Sweet Spot" (20% - 80%)

Batteries are happiest when they sit comfortably in the middle.

What to do: For everyday driving and city commutes, aim to keep your battery level between 20% and 80%, the so-called "sweet spot." But if you're preparing for a longer journey, go ahead and charge it to 100%. That's exactly what it's designed for. Just try to hit the road shortly after reaching 100%, rather than letting the car sit fully charged for extended periods.

Why it helps: Lithium-ion batteries experience greater electrochemical stress when they remain at very high or very low charge levels for long periods. Operating within the 20% to 80% window for daily use helps minimise this stress and supports slower battery degradation over time.

5. Going on Vacation? Leave a Little "Juice"

If you are planning to travel or leave your VinFast parked in the garage for a few weeks, your battery needs a stable resting state.

What to do: Before leaving your vehicle in storage, make sure the battery has at least 30% charge.

Why it helps: Storing a battery at very low State of Charge (SoC) for prolonged periods can affect cell chemistry and battery readiness. Maintaining a moderate charge level provides a stable buffer for the battery and helps ensure that all the smart, silent safety systems inside the car have enough energy to stay alert, so your car is perfectly ready to greet you when you return.

The Big Picture: Just Enjoy the Drive!

Battery wear is a very slow, gradual process that happens over many years. In a recent analysis of nearly 10,000 EV battery health tests, many popular EVs retained 95% or more of their original battery capacity after 100,000 km of driving.

So, think of the above 5 habits not as strict rules, but as simple, loving ways to care for your vehicle.

Want to chat more about your vehicle? We are bringing Care & Share to the VinFast App in August 2026! It is a friendly, dedicated space where you can ask questions and get direct, stress-free advice from VinFast engineers.

Until then, enjoy the quiet, powerful, and clean ride of your VinFast EV!

About VinFast

VinFast (NASDAQ: VFS), a subsidiary of Vingroup JSC, one of Vietnam’s largest conglomerates, is a pure-play electric vehicle (“EV”) manufacturer with the mission of making EVs accessible to everyone. VinFast’s product lineup today includes a wide range of electric SUVs, e-scooters, and e-buses.

VinFast is currently embarking on its next growth phase through rapid expansion of its distribution and dealership network globally and increasing its manufacturing capacities with a focus on key markets across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Learn more at: vinfastauto.in.

SmartKargo Signs Strategic Agreement with Sun Phu Quoc Airways to Power Digital Transformation of Airline's Cargo Operations

SmartKargo, the leading provider of cloud-native air cargo management solutions, today announced the signing of a strategic agreement with Sun Phu Quoc Airways, Vietnam's premium full-service airline developed by Sun Group. Under the agreement, Sun Phu Quoc Airways will deploy the SmartKargo platform as the foundation of its cargo management operations, enabling the airline to build a modern, scalable, and fully digitized cargo business.

The partnership reflects Sun Phu Quoc Airways’ strategic intent to establish cargo as a key pillar of its commercial growth, backed by technology that is purpose-built for the demands of the modern air freight industry. SmartKargo’s platform will equip the airline with end-to-end cargo capabilities, delivered through a single, unified cloud architecture.

As Sun Phu Quoc Airways continues to expand its international network and strengthen Phu Quoc's role as a new aviation gateway in the region, cargo will become an increasingly important contributor to network efficiency, commercial growth and long-term operational competitiveness. The airline's introduction of Airbus A330 wide-body aircraft from September 2026 will significantly increase belly cargo capacity across its international routes — making the deployment of a robust, scalable cargo management platform a strategic priority at this stage of growth. The deployment of SmartKargo also represents another milestone in the airline's broader digital transformation journey, supporting its ambition to become a five-star international airline.

Vietnam’s air cargo sector is experiencing accelerating growth, underpinned by the country’s booming export economy, rapid e-commerce adoption, and its emergence as a strategic manufacturing and logistics hub in Southeast Asia. By anchoring its cargo operations on the SmartKargo platform from inception, Sun Phu Quoc Airways is positioning itself to capture this momentum with the agility, operational precision, and commercial intelligence that the market demands.

Truong Ngo Quoc, Chief Information Officer, Sun Phu Quoc Airways, said,“We are building Sun Phu Quoc Airways’ cargo business with a clear mandate: to be technology-led, commercially agile, and ready to scale. After a rigorous evaluation, SmartKargo stood out as the partner that could not only meet our requirements today but grow with us as our network and ambitions expand. Their platform gives us the digital infrastructure to compete on a regional and global stage, and we look forward to bringing a new standard of cargo excellence to Vietnam’s aviation market.”

Olivier Houri, Chief Revenue Officer, SmartKargo, said,“Southeast Asia represents one of the most dynamic and high-potential air cargo markets in the world, and Vietnam sits at the very heart of that opportunity. We are proud to partner with Sun Phu Quoc Airways as they chart an ambitious course for their cargo business. This agreement is a testament to our shared belief that technology is the most powerful lever for building a cargo operation that is both commercially competitive and operationally excellent. We are committed to being the platform that powers their success.”

About SmartKargo
SmartKargo empowers airlines and small package shippers with the technology platform to leverage the speed only an airline can provide. Whether it's a cargo company shipping from Miami to Bogota, or a retailer looking to send a package from New York to Los Angeles – SmartKargo is the innovative solution that enables shippers to battle the status quo. With deep expertise in air cargo, technology, and e-commerce, SmartKargo enables airlines to open new revenue streams through e-commerce package shipping and delivery. SmartKargo is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with key offices in India, the Philippines, Brazil, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and Canada.

Learn more at: www.smartkargo.com

About Sun Phu Quoc Airways
Sun PhuQuoc Airways (SPA) is Vietnam's premium full-service airline, launched by Sun Group in November 2025. With Phu Quoc as its strategic hub, the airline is building an international network connecting Vietnam with key destinations across Asia, including Seoul, Taipei, Hong Kong, Singapore and Bangkok, with further expansion planned to Malaysia, India, Japan, Russia and Kazakhstan, while delivering a five-star "Resort in the Sky" experience on every flight. Alongside passenger services, SPA is developing cargo as a strategic business pillar, supported by digital innovation and operational excellence.

For more information, visit: www.sunphuquocairways.com/gl/en.

Chennai's World-Class Healthcare Infrastructure - A Great Boon and Lifesaver for Patients Worldwide

Reinforcing Chennai's reputation as a global destination for advanced healthcare, Kauvery Hospital, Chennai, successfully performed a complex Ventricular Tachycardia (VT) ablation on a patient from Poland, providing him lasting relief from recurrent palpitations and significantly improving his quality of life.

Kauvery Hospital Chennai

The individual discovered Kauvery Hospital, while researching advanced treatment options for his heart rhythm condition online. Following a teleconsultation with a senior Cardiac Electrophysiologist, he chose to travel to Chennai for treatment. Throughout his journey, Kauvery Hospital's dedicated International patient Services team provided end-to-end support, including travel coordination, visa assistance, accommodation guidance, and personalized care during his stay.

Dr. Deep Chandh Raja, Senior Consultant & Director of Cardiac Electrophysiology, Kauvery Hospital, said, “Heart rhythm disorders from the lower chambers of the heart lead to unwanted extra beats called Premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) and dangerous conditions called Ventricular Tachycardia. Using advanced 3D mapping technology and intra-cardiac echo imaging, we are able to accurately identify the abnormal electrical circuits causing the arrhythmia and perform precise catheter ablation while preserving healthy heart tissue. This approach improves procedural success, reduces recurrence, and helps patients return to normal life with greater confidence. We are pleased that the patient has recovered well and is doing extremely well following the procedure."

Dr. Aravindan Selvaraj, Executive Director, Kauvery Hospital, said, "Chennai's healthcare infrastructure is a great boon and lifesaver for patients worldwide. We are proud that patients from countries like Poland are choosing Kauvery Hospital for advanced procedures such as VT ablation. Our state-of-the-art Cardiac Electrophysiology facilities and expert specialist team deliver world-class outcomes with compassion and precision. This reaffirms Chennai's position as the Healthcare Capital of Asia."

Kauvery Hospital is equipped with advanced Electrophysiology (EP) infrastructure, including the latest Pulsed Field Ablation, 3D electroanatomical mapping systems and cutting-edge technologies like intra-cardiac echo imaging for diagnosing and treating complex cardiac arrhythmias. These advanced capabilities enable the hospital's Heart Rhythm Services team to perform highly precise procedures with excellent clinical outcomes.

The procedure was completed successfully, and the patient is recovering well. He expressed his heartfelt appreciation for the expertise of the clinical team, the seamless care provided throughout his treatment journey, and the warm hospitality extended by the hospital's International Patient Services team.

RAG Holdings Earns Great Place to Work Certification, Reinforcing Its Commitment to Building Great Businesses Through People First Approach

RAG Holdings, a leading organization, with premium business centres in Dubai, enabling entrepreneurs to operate and scale in the UAE, has been officially Certified as a Great Place to Work®, one of the world's most respected recognitions for workplace culture and employee experience.

The RAG Holdings Team celebrates its Great Place to Work Certification, recognizing a workplace culture built on trust, collaboration and shared success

Awarded entirely on confidential employee feedback, the Great Place to Work Certification recognizes organizations that consistently foster trust, collaboration, inclusivity, and professional growth.

For RAG Holdings, this recognition represents more than a workplace achievement—it reflects a philosophy that has guided the organization since its inception: Building great businesses starts with great people.

As Dubai continues to strengthen its position as one of the world's leading destinations for entrepreneurship, innovation, and foreign investment, RAG Holdings believes that exceptional businesses are built on two foundations: an environment where companies can thrive and a culture where people can flourish.

Today, RAG Holdings has evolved beyond traditional business setup by creating a comprehensive business growth ecosystem. Through its network of premium business centres and flexible office spaces across Dubai, combined with integrated corporate services, RAG empowers entrepreneurs, startups, SMEs and multinational organizations with everything they need to establish, operate and expand successfully in the UAE.

Its ecosystem includes premium office spaces, coworking environments, meeting facilities, Mainland and Free Zone company formation, PRO services, Golden Visa support, accounting and bookkeeping, corporate compliance, trademark registration, and strategic business advisory-all delivered through a seamless, client-centric experience.

“At RAG Holdings, we have always believed that our greatest investment is our people. This certification is particularly meaningful because it comes directly from the voices of our employees. It reflects the culture we have built together-one founded on trust, collaboration, learning and shared success. As we continue expanding our Business Growth Ecosystem and supporting entrepreneurs from around the world, our people will remain our greatest strength.” Rassal Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer, RAG Holdings.

The Great Place to Work® Certification™ marks another significant milestone in RAG Holdings' journey as it continues to redefine how businesses establish and grow in the UAE.

More than a provider of business services, RAG Holdings has built an integrated ecosystem that supports businesses throughout every stage of their journey, from securing premium office infrastructure and launching operations to managing compliance, accessing strategic advisory, expanding into new markets and building long-term business success.

The milestone was celebrated with employees, founder & CEO Rassal Ahmed and the leadership team, recognizing the people whose passion and dedication continue to drive the organization forward. The celebration was further made memorable with a congratulatory message from Dr. Shashi Tharoor to the entire RAG team.

The company believes that exceptional employee experiences create exceptional client experiences. By continuously investing in its people, leadership, and workplace culture, RAG Holdings strengthens its ability to deliver outstanding service while contributing to Dubai's vision of becoming the world's preferred destination for entrepreneurs and global businesses.

As RAG Holdings continues its regional expansion, the company remains committed to attracting exceptional talent, developing future leaders and building a workplace culture that inspires innovation, collaboration and sustainable growth.

About RAG Holdings

RAG Holdings is a leading business growth ecosystem enabling entrepreneurs and enterprises to establish, operate and scale in the Dubai, India, Qatar & Singapore.

At the heart of its ecosystem are three flagship business centres across Dubai:

RAG Global Business Hub – Al Qusais
RAG Biz HQ – Sheikh Zayed Road
RAG Tower – Al Barsha

Together, these flagship business centres provide premium office spaces, flexible workspaces, coworking environments, meeting facilities and business infrastructure designed to help entrepreneurs, startups, SMEs and multinational companies build a strong presence in the UAE.

Complementing its workspace ecosystem, RAG delivers an integrated portfolio of business solutions including Mainland and Free Zone company formation, PRO services, Golden Visa solutions, accounting and bookkeeping, corporate compliance, trademark registration and strategic business advisory,providing everything businesses need to establish, operate and grow under one roof.

Driven by innovation, operational excellence and a people-first philosophy, RAG Holdings is redefining how entrepreneurs and enterprises build, grow and expand in one of the world's most dynamic business destinations.

About Great Place to Work®

Great Place to Work® is the global authority on workplace culture, employee experience and leadership behaviours proven to drive business performance. Great Place to Work® Certification™ is awarded based entirely on confidential employee feedback and is recognised globally as one of the most credible employer recognitions.

Captain Rahul Bali Delivers Inspiring Keynote at International Wedding and Tourism Conclave 2026

Renowned Indian Army Veteran, internationally acclaimed Bollywood Film Producer, Festival Curator and Cultural Diplomat Captain Rahul Bali delivered an inspiring keynote address during the high-profile panel discussion titled "Global Wedding Challenges – The Story of Both Sides" at the International Wedding & Tourism Conclave (IWTC) 2026, held at the iconic Fairmont Jaipur.

Alla Balram Babu, Nguyen Trung Hieu, Captain Rahul Bali, Islam Choudhary and Jean Luc Benhaim

Organized by the Federation of Rajasthan Event Managers (FOREM), the conclave brought together eminent leaders from the global wedding, tourism, hospitality, aviation, destination management and events industries to deliberate on emerging opportunities and challenges shaping the future of international wedding tourism.

The event was graced by Hon'ble Ms. Diya Kumari, Deputy Chief Minister and Tourism Minister, Government of Rajasthan, as the Chief Guest, while Hon'ble Shri Kandula Durgesh, Minister for Tourism, Culture & Cinematography, Government of Andhra Pradesh, attended as the Guest of Honour, reaffirming the growing importance of wedding tourism as a catalyst for economic development and destination branding.

Captain Rahul Bali shared the distinguished panel with prominent global industry leaders including the Country Head of Vietnam Airlines India - Mr. Nguyen Trung Hieu, French Luxury Hotelier - Mr. Jean Luc Benhaim, Director of Taj Hotels - Mr. Islam Choudhary and Director of FTCCI - Mr. Alla Balram Babu, making it one of the conclave's most anticipated and engaging sessions.

Wedding Tourism: A Powerful Instrument of Cultural Diplomacy
In his keynote address, Captain Rahul Bali emphasized that destination weddings have evolved far beyond grand celebrations and today represent a dynamic intersection of tourism, culture, diplomacy and economic growth.

He highlighted how weddings are increasingly becoming platforms that promote international travel, preserve cultural heritage, generate employment and strengthen people-to-people relationships across nations.

During his address, Captain Bali said, "A wedding today is no longer merely the union of two individuals—it is the coming together of cultures, traditions and communities. Every destination wedding tells a story, creates lifelong memories and builds bridges between nations. When thoughtfully planned, weddings become powerful ambassadors of tourism, cultural exchange and sustainable economic growth."

Drawing upon his extensive experience in international filmmaking, tourism promotion and cultural diplomacy, Captain Bali explained how destination weddings create significant economic opportunities for airlines, hotels, local artisans, transport providers, wedding planners, entertainers, photographers and thousands of small businesses that collectively contribute to the tourism ecosystem.

Cinema: Inspiring Travel, Weddings and Destination Branding
As the Producer of the internationally acclaimed Indo-Vietnamese feature film "Love in Vietnam" and the upcoming international feature film "SILAA", Captain Rahul Bali spoke about the transformative role of cinema in influencing global travel and destination preferences.

He observed that films often introduce audiences to spectacular locations, which subsequently emerge as preferred destinations for weddings, honeymoons and experiential tourism. He further added, "Cinema inspires dreams, tourism transforms those dreams into journeys, and destination weddings turn those journeys into lifelong memories. Together they create an enduring economic and cultural impact that benefits communities long after the celebrations are over."

Luxury with Responsibility
Addressing the future of the global wedding industry, Captain Rahul Bali urged stakeholders to embrace a balanced approach that combines luxury with sustainability and cultural authenticity. He advocated greater collaboration among governments, tourism boards, airlines, hospitality companies and wedding planners to promote sustainable and environmentally responsible celebrations while preserving local traditions and cultural heritage. He remarked that the destinations of the future will be those capable of offering meaningful experiences while preserving their cultural identity and protecting the environment.

Rajasthan Sets a Global Benchmark
Captain Rahul Bali applauded Rajasthan for successfully establishing itself as one of the world's most admired wedding destinations. He noted that the state's magnificent palaces, royal heritage, world-class hospitality, vibrant culture and tourism infrastructure have made it a preferred choice for luxury weddings and celebrations attracting guests from across the globe.

The participation of senior government leaders, international tourism experts, hospitality professionals and destination marketers reflected the increasing recognition of wedding tourism as a strategic pillar of economic growth, destination branding and international cultural engagement.

Strengthening India–Vietnam Tourism Partnerships
Speaking during the conclave, Mr. Nguyen Trung Hieu, Country Head of Vietnam Airlines in India, emphasized the growing opportunities for deeper collaboration between the aviation and wedding tourism sectors. He said, "India and Vietnam are the fastest-growing tourism markets in South Asia, and we see tremendous potential for destination weddings and premium leisure travel between our two countries. By working closely with tourism boards, filmmakers, event professionals and cultural ambassadors like Captain Rahul Bali, we can create unforgettable travel experiences that strengthen bilateral tourism and deepen the friendship between India and Vietnam."

A Shared Vision for the Future
The session concluded with a strong consensus that the future of global wedding tourism lies in creating experiences that are culturally authentic, environmentally responsible and economically inclusive.

Captain Rahul Bali's keynote received widespread appreciation from government representatives, tourism professionals, hospitality leaders, wedding planners and international delegates for presenting a compelling vision of weddings as transformative platforms for tourism promotion, cultural diplomacy and sustainable development.

About Captain Rahul Bali
Captain Rahul Bali is an Indian Army Veteran, internationally acclaimed Film Producer, Festival Curator, Entrepreneur and Cultural Diplomat. He is the Producer of the landmark Indo-Vietnamese feature film "Love in Vietnam" and the upcoming international feature film "SILAA", besides serving as the Curator of the globally recognised Namaste Vietnam Festival.

Through cinema, international festivals, tourism initiatives and strategic cultural partnerships, Captain Rahul Bali has played a pioneering role in strengthening cultural, tourism and economic relations between India and several countries, positioning creative industries as powerful instruments of international cooperation and people-to-people diplomacy.

With Culture as Strategy, Unitile Wins in India's Great Mid-Size Workplaces 2026 Top 100 at Rank 61

Across industries, the conversation around business performance is changing. While technology and operational excellence continue to shape any organisation’s success, new age business leaders are progressively recognising that sustainable performance is ultimately human-driven.

Unitile has been named among India’s Great Mid-size Workplaces™ 2026 – Top 100, reflecting its strong culture, employee empowerment, collaboration and growth

Unitile (United Access Floors Private Limited. United Office Systems Private Limited & United Acoustics Private Limited) has been recognised among India's Great Mid-size Workplaces™ 2026 - Top 100 (Rank 61), while also being honoured for India’s Best Workplaces™ in Cement & Building Materials 2026 and India’s Best Workplaces in Manufacturing 2026 (Top 30).

Presented under the Unitile brand, the recognition extends across the organisation's group companies - United Access Floors Private Limited, United Office Systems Private Limited and United Acoustics Private Limited, reflecting a shared culture that transcends individual business verticals. Evaluated as a single organisation, the recognition honours the shared employee experience and workplace culture across the group's businesses.

As workplace culture remains a core driver of innovation, collaboration and long-term success, Unitile’s triple recognition from Great Place To Work® India reaffirms its commitment to building a high-trust, people-first organisation.

For Unitile, India's number 1 raised access floor brand, this recognition validates their philosophy which has helped their growth over the years that exceptional workplace are formed only by a people-first approach. Alongside continuous expansion in sustainable manufacturing excellence and product innovation, the company has remained equally committed in fostering a workplace that allows its employees to voice their ideas, collaborate across departments and grow with the organisation. This approach has shaped a workplace where leadership is accessible, ownership is encouraged and collaboration extends beyond departments.

The recognitions are awarded by Great Place To Work®, the global authority on workplace culture, employee experience and leadership behaviours that drive market-leading business performance, employee retention and innovation. Based on one of the world's most rigorous workplace assessment methodologies, the recognition primarily reflects confidential employee feedback, offering an authentic measure of how people experience their organisation.

Commenting on the achievement, Idris Rajkotwala, Executive Director, Unitile, said, “We are truly humbled to be acknowledged by Great Place To Work® India with these awards. What makes us truly humble is the recognition from our valued employees who have trusted us and dedicated themselves wholeheartedly. We at Unitile believe that the culture of the organization forms the basis for success. When people are respected and empowered, they perform to the best of their abilities.”

These latest honours build on Unitile's consistent recognition among India's leading manufacturing workplaces, reaffirms that its culture is grounded in a lasting commitment to its people. As the company strengthens its position in the building materials sector, it remains focused on an environment where people and performance advance together.

About Unitile
With over three decades of industry leadership, Unitile is India's leading raised access flooring brand and a prominent manufacturer of premium building material solutions. Renowned for its engineering excellence, advanced manufacturing capabilities and customer-centric innovation, the company serves a diverse range of sectors including commercial workplaces, data centres, healthcare, education and infrastructure. Guided by a philosophy of continuous innovation and operational excellence, Unitile continues to set benchmarks for quality while fostering a workplace where people remain central to its long-term growth and success.

AI-infrastructure Platform InfoBay.AI Crosses Rs 100 Crores in Revenue in FY 2025-26

The startup has achieved 10x growth in revenue in the last two fiscal years, with Rs 50 cr Profit After Tax in FY 2025-26
It has also expanded footprints in five countries- India, Indonesia, Kenya, the Philippines and Uganda

Lucknow-headquartered AI-infrastructure platform InfoBay.AI. has crossed Rs 100 crores in revenue and Rs 50 crores in Profit After Tax (PAT) in FY 2025-26. While Profit Before Tax (PBT) increased to 3x, the platform clocked a Net Revenue Retention (NRR) of 140%-160% in the last fiscal year. This 10x revenue growth over the past two years is supported by a structural Gross Margin of 80%+, a hallmark of a scalable software infrastructure business.

InfoBay.AI has also expanded into five countries: Indonesia, Kenya, the Philippines and Uganda, besides India, as part of its expansion plan to 14 countries by 2027. In line with its expansion plans, it has also strengthened its leadership team with a new Chief Financial Officer, VP-Global Sales and R&D Manager on board. These key hires reinforce its governance and capacity for international enterprise scaling.

"AI is here to dominate, pivoting to a mission-critical AI-infrastructure platform, InfoBay.AI, is in line with our commitment to playing an even bigger role in India's growth story. It is also a testament to our unwavering belief in continuous evolution to cater to the changing needs of the industry. We are among the most profitable AI- powered companies in India, powering half of the world's frontier labs," said Rohit Manglik, Founder & CEO, InfoBay.AI.

"InfoBay's success is founded on a strategic evolution that converted EduGorilla’s legacy assets into proprietary AI infrastructure. It is not merely a rebranding; it is a sophisticated asset-repurposing strategy that leverages years of building complex STEM and reasoning content into structured data that now fuels the TIBET engine and provides a unique "reasoning trace" foundation for AI- driven models. The team structure and operations are now entirely aligned with this structurally superior, pure-play AI mandate," he added.

InfoBay's proprietary Asset Layer now includes a massive repository of structured data, including 2 million de-identified medical patient records and 34 million vertical videos. It has an expanded linguistic moat, with audio coverage in 40 languages and educational data in 15. The platform is actively leveraging multimodal capabilities (video, audio, text) to build deeper, vertical-specific datasets in adjacent, high-value domains like Physical AI.

As InfoBay continues to expand, its focus remains laser-sharp on being the Mission-Critical AI Infrastructure Platform. Every expansion, hire, and product roadmap decision is engineered to strengthen our moats—technical (TIBET), operational, and relationship-driven—ensuring sustained, high-margin growth.

Truecaller Joins the GSMA to Help Shape the Future of Safe and Trusted Mobile Communications Globally

Truecaller, the leading global platform for verifying contacts and blocking unwanted communication, today announced it has joined the GSMA, the global organisation that unifies the mobile ecosystem. The membership reflects Truecaller's growing role in mobile security and caller identity, and the company's commitment to making phone calls safer and more trusted worldwide.

Truecaller joins the GSMA, the leading industry association within the mobile ecosystem

The GSMA is the leading industry association within the mobile ecosystem, bringing together more than 1,200 mobile operators and organisations to foster innovation, establish technical standards and interoperability, advocate for policy, address societal challenges, and serve as the convening body of the MWC series of events, including MWC Barcelona, recognised as the world’s largest connectivity event.

As a GSMA Member, Truecaller will participate in working groups focused on mobile security, fraud prevention, and caller identity. With more than 500 million active users across Africa, Asia, and beyond, Truecaller brings data-driven insight into spam and fraud at a scale that is difficult to match. The company will contribute its expertise to help the industry develop stronger standards for call authentication and consumer protection.

“Joining the GSMA is a natural next step for us as we continue to grow our role in the global mobile ecosystem,” says Kari Krishnamurthy, Chief Commercial & Strategy Officer (CCSO) at Truecaller. “Spam calls and fraud are a global problem that no single company can solve alone. We look forward to collaborating with operators, regulators, and technology leaders to help drive the standards and collective action needed to make every phone call safer.”

Colin Bareham, General Manager, Membership at GSMA, says, “We are pleased to welcome Truecaller as an Industry Member of the GSMA. Industry Members are vital to driving innovation and practical solutions across devices, networks, platforms and services. We look forward to collaborating with the Truecaller team across our programmes and member platforms to accelerate impact for the mobile ecosystem.”

About Truecaller
Truecaller is an essential part of everyday communication for over 500 million active users worldwide, with more than one billion downloads since launch and 68 billion spam and fraud calls identified in 2025 alone. The company is headquartered in Stockholm and has been publicly listed on Nasdaq Stockholm since October 2021.

For more information, visit www.truecaller.com.

About GSMA

The GSMA is a global organisation unifying the mobile ecosystem to discover, develop and deliver innovation foundational to positive business environments and societal change. Our vision is to unlock the full power of connectivity so that people, industry, and society thrive. Representing mobile operators and organisations across the mobile ecosystem and adjacent industries, the GSMA delivers for its members across three broad pillars: Connectivity for Good, Industry Services and Solutions, and Outreach. This activity includes advancing policy, tackling today’s biggest societal challenges, underpinning the technology and interoperability that make mobile work, and providing the world’s largest platform to convene the mobile ecosystem at the MWC and M360 series of events.

We invite you to find out more at gsma.com.

Media OutReach Newswire Strengthens USA Distribution Network

Media OutReach Newswire - 20 July 2026 - Media OutReach Newswire, the first global newswire founded in Asia Pacific, has expanded its USA distribution network with additional guaranteed news postings.

Guaranteed news postings on USA Today

Through new strategic agreements, Media OutReach Newswire now provides clients with guaranteed online postings in flagship American media outlets like USA Today, Yahoo Finance, and The Associated Press, alongside more than 650 trusted news sites with domain authority. This latest service upgrade specifically targets guaranteed online news postings in media with domain authority to empower AI visibility. By combining distribution with JSON-LD Schema Markup that provides context and meaning to the press release for search engines and AI models to interpret its content accurately, Media OutReach Newswire's press release distribution structures answers for AI discoverability and AI citation. Media OutReach Newswire's press release distribution service has been helping companies and government agencies to actively build their AI visibility.

Media OutReach Newswire guarantees news release placements in the official, public-facing press release section of USA Today. With a Domain Authority (DA) rated between 92 and 94 out of 100, USA Today ranks as one of the most trusted news sources for Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). Attracting more than 120.5 million unique monthly visitors, this integration delivers the public visibility necessary to build client brand credibility and trust on a national stage. Additionally, the newswire has secured guaranteed news postings on real local and regional news websites, including The Arizona Republic, Detroit Free Press, Indianapolis Star, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, The Tennessean, and The Oklahoman.

"By improving the quality of our guaranteed news postings on trusted, Google-indexed news sites with domain authority, coupled with the direct delivery of press releases to journalists' inboxes, Media OutReach Newswire has successfully helped many Asian corporations to build their brand reputation in the US market," said Jennifer Kok, Founder and CEO of Media OutReach Newswire.

"We are pleased to have built a USA press release distribution network that focuses exactly on what PR professionals need, a distribution that reaches journalists and provides quality news postings on real media. Our comprehensive journalist database built by in-house media researchers covers more than 500 trade news categories and 65,000 journalists and editors across quality media titles. This has helped our clients secure earned media coverage and journalist inquiries from business, technology, ESG, automotive, travel, and many other media sectors in the USA. In addition, Media OutReach Newswire's partnership with The Associated Press delivers clients' news releases directly into newsrooms across the United States," added Jennifer.

Earned media coverage

Over the years, the newswire has cultivated brand trust with journalists at USA media outlets who actively engage with its client releases. Through its Media and Journalist Insights, Media OutReach Newswire is able to report on how many journalists by publication in the USA have opened its clients' press releases and the earned media write ups achieved.

Media and Journalist Insights per release

Through its Total PR and Communications Solution, Media OutReach Newswire's global distribution network delivers client press releases directly to journalists, guarantees verbatim news postings on trusted news sites with domain authority to empower SEO and GEO, and provides post-release reports packed with data insights and PR Campaign Intelligence that tracks performance over time.

PR Intelligence Report for all releases

This total solution addresses the needs of PR and communication professionals from press release distribution through to reporting with data insights and PR Campaign Intelligence across both in-country and global PR campaigns. It has been entrusted by hundreds of clients in China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and across APAC to expand their business and brand awareness overseas to markets in Canada, USA, UK & Europe, Latin America, Asia Pacific, ASEAN, Southeast Asia, Middle East, Gulf States and Africa.

About Media OutReach Newswire

Media OutReach Newswire is Asia Pacific's first global newswire, serving as a trusted partner to media, corporations, agencies and governments across the region and the globe.

Founded in 2009 as a champion of the PR industry, Media OutReach Newswire leverages AI and SaaS technology to redefine press release distribution with a Total PR and Communications Solution. The newswire is focused on its core service of delivering press releases to journalists and editors in targeted media, posting client news releases on real media sites with domain authority (DA), and providing post release reports with data insights along with PR Campaign Intelligence that tracks performance over time. In March 2026, the newswire integrated JSON-LD Schema Markup into its online news postings to empower AI visibility for its clients.

With a global network of over 200,000 journalists and editors, 70,000+ media titles, 1,500+ media partners, and more than 40 languages, Media OutReach Newswire's focus on providing guaranteed verbatim posting on real media sites powers SEO and GEO for building brand trust and AI visibility, as press releases published on authentic media with domain authority are trusted by search engines and AI models.

Headquartered in Hong Kong SAR with global press release distribution network spanning USA & Canada, Latin America, UK & Europe, the Middle East, Gulf States, Africa, Asia Pacific, Southeast Asia and ASEAN.

For more information about our services, solutions, and network, please visit www.media-outreach.com

MSM Unify Hosts First Edition of 'Elevation' in New Delhi, Strengthening Partner Network Ahead of Canada Fall 2026 and Winter 2027 Intakes

MSM Unify, a leading global platform for international student recruitment, has launched Elevation, a new flagship partner engagement series, with the inaugural Elevation by MSM Unify - New Delhi Chapter, bringing its strongest North India recruitment partners into one room to deepen collaboration and unlock new opportunities for students across upcoming international intakes.

Mr. Avinav Sharma, Executive Director, Global Partnerships at MSM Unify

Held in New Delhi, the day-long event brought together some of North India's most trusted education consultants and recruitment partners for a focused programme of institutional showcases, strategic discussions, and recognition anchored around the theme of shared growth: rising together.

A central highlight of the event was the Canada Fall 2026 & Winter 2027: The Opportunity session, which presented admission pathways, programmes, and intake insights from eight Canadian institutions - Vancouver Community College (VCC), Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU), NOIC Academy, St. Thomas University (STU), Saskatchewan Colleges, Selkirk College, Northern Lights College (NLC), and Mount Allison University (MTA).

The programme also spotlighted MSM Unify's wider portfolio of online programme management (OPM) and transnational education opportunities including Davis, Woolf, and Florida Coastal University, expanding the range of pathways partners can offer students beyond traditional study destinations.

The event concluded with the inaugural Elevation Awards, recognising outstanding partner contribution and celebrating the consultants and teams driving successful student outcomes.

“International education has always been built on trust — between students, institutions, and the partners who guide them. Elevation is our way of honouring that trust,” said Sanjay Laul, Founder, MSM Unify. “When we bring our partners into one room, we are not just sharing opportunities; we are building the future of global education together. Elevation is not about rising alone. It is about rising together, and today in New Delhi, we saw exactly what that looks like.”

“The energy in the room today reflected the strength of our partner network in North India,” said Avinav Sharma, Executive Director – Global Partnerships, MSM Unify. “With the Canada Fall 2026 and Winter 2027 intakes ahead of us, our focus is clear: give partners direct access to institutions, transparent information, and the on-ground support they need to convert opportunity into real student outcomes. The commitments made today set a strong foundation for the intakes ahead.”

Building on the success of the New Delhi Chapter, MSM Unify announced that it is looking forward to hosting more such partner engagement events in the near future, with plans to extend the Elevation series to additional cities and partner markets, reinforcing its commitment to relationship-led, partner-first growth.

About MSM Unify

MSM Unify is a leading global student recruitment platform connecting students, recruitment partners, and higher education institutions across the world. Serving the 360-degree international student journey, MSM Unify empowers its partner network with access to a diverse portfolio of institutions and programmes across North America, Europe, and beyond, with a focus on compliance-led, outcome-driven recruitment. MSM Unify is part of the Laul Global portfolio of education brands.

Bangalore Watch Company Returns to the Oscars of Watchmaking

Bangalore Watch Company™, an Indian luxury watch brand, has entered the 2026 edition of the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) – widely regarded as the most prestigious award in the world of watchmaking.

Bangalore Watch Company - Peninsula Carbon

Following its debut at the GPHG in 2025, the brand returns this year with the Peninsula Carbon, introducing a world-first material innovation in mechanical watchmaking.

A first in the world, the Peninsula Carbon uses carbon captured from our atmosphere as the dial material. The brand has developed a proprietary material called ReforgeCarbon™ using industrial waste and atmospheric pollutants.

“This is a proud milestone for us,” said Nirupesh Joshi, Co-Founder of Bangalore Watch Company. “Last year, our participation at the GPHG was an important moment for Indian watchmaking. We were the first independent watch brand from India to be on the list. Returning for a second consecutive year is both encouraging and humbling. It reinforces our belief that contemporary stories from India can find appreciation around the world, when paired with thoughtful design and world-class craftsmanship.”

Inspired by India's rapidly growing cities, the Peninsula Carbon explores the relationship between human ambition, urban growth, and the traces they leave behind. Through ReforgeCarbon™, the watch offers a distinctly contemporary perspective on modern India.

In addition to the innovative dial material, the watch carries a 200 Meter water-tight case, a Swiss automatic movement for high-accuracy, and scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, making it fit for the same standards that would apply for luxury Swiss watchmaking.

The watch also features a display inspired by the Air Quality Index (AQI), replacing the traditional minute track with a scale that serves as a subtle reminder of the relationship between urban growth and its consequences.

“We have always believed that meaningful watchmaking begins with meaningful stories,” said Mercy Amalraj, Co-Founder of Bangalore Watch Company. “The Peninsula Carbon reflects a subject that is relevant not just to India, but to the world. By combining material innovation with a distinctly Indian perspective, we wanted to create a watch that remains true to our vision of bringing modern storytelling to high-quality watchmaking.”

Established in Geneva, Switzerland, the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève is considered the watch industry's highest distinction. Each year, an international jury evaluates watches from some of the world's most respected brands, recognizing excellence in design, innovation, engineering, and craftsmanship.

“India is becoming an increasingly important market for luxury watches,” added Joshi. “I believe India should not only be viewed as a consumer of luxury watches, but also as a place capable of producing brands that can be appreciated globally for our storytelling, design, and craftsmanship. This is perhaps the finest example of that thesis.”

About Bangalore Watch Company™
Founded in 2018, Bangalore Watch Company™ creates high-quality mechanical watches that tell stories of a 21st-century India. Drawing inspiration from Aviation, Cricket, Space, and the Great Outdoors, each collection captures modern Indian narratives that go far beyond stereotypes.

With several firsts to its name including watches made from recovered fighter planes and aircraft carrier materials, India’s first watch qualified for Spaceflight, and a proprietary Cerasteel™ material that is a fusion of Steel and Ceramic, the brand blends storytelling with technical innovation and contemporary design. Recognised by leading global publications such as The New York Times, Forbes, and Hodinkee for its originality and craftsmanship, Bangalore Watch Company™ stands at the forefront of modern Indian watchmaking.

Founded by husband-and-wife team Nirupesh Joshi and Mercy Amalraj who left their tech careers overseas to pursue a passion for modern Indian storytelling, the brand has built a quiet but enthusiastic following with customers in over 30 countries.

Orientation Ends, Induction Begins: Manipal University Jaipur Welcomes Freshers from Every State and Union Territory

Manipal University Jaipur (MUJ) has successfully concluded its three-day Orientation Programme for the newly admitted undergraduate and postgraduate students of the 2026–27 academic session, recording a remarkable footfall of over 15,000, including students and their parents. Conducted through 13 meticulously planned sessions, the programme witnessed participation from students representing all the States and Union Territories of India, reaffirming MUJ's position as one of the country's leading destinations for multidisciplinary higher education.

President Dr N N Sharma addressing the new students and their parents

The orientation programme, organised across various faculties and schools of the University, provided the incoming students and their families with a comprehensive introduction to MUJ's academic ecosystem, research culture, innovation-driven learning environment, global collaborations, student support services, campus life, and future-ready educational framework.

The various orientation sessions were addressed by President, Manipal University Jaipur, Prof. (Dr.) N. N. Sharma; Registrar, Prof. (Dr.) Amit Soni; Provost, Prof. (Dr.) Nitu Bhatnagar; Dean, Faculty of Science, Technology and Architecture (FoSTA), Prof. Kuldip Singh Sangwan; Dean, Faculty of Management, Commerce & Arts (FoMCA), Prof. Brajesh Kumar; Dean, Faculty of Law (FoL), Prof. Vijay Laxmi Sharma; Dean, Student Welfare, Prof. Madhura Yadav and Associate Dean, School of Arts, Dr. Trishu Sharma. Through their addresses, they welcomed the freshers to the MUJ family and encouraged them to embrace academic excellence, innovation, interdisciplinary learning, ethical values, and holistic development while making the most of the opportunities available on campus.

Addressing the students, President Prof. (Dr.) N. N. Sharma urged them to make the best use of the opportunities available at the University and uphold the values envisioned by the University's founder, Late Dr. T.M.A. Pai. He encouraged students to cultivate curiosity, discipline, innovation, and lifelong learning while preparing themselves to become responsible global citizens. Dr. Sharma Motivated students through storytelling and sharing anecdotes from life experience. He also highlighted MUJ's growing academic excellence reflected in national and international rankings, advanced research facilities, AI-enabled learning ecosystem, Cyber Labs, AR/VR laboratories, industry partnerships, and global academic collaborations.

The orientation programme featured dedicated sessions for students from the Faculty of Science, Technology and Architecture (FoSTA), Faculty of Management, Commerce & Arts (FoMCA), Faculty of Law, and the Faculty of Health Sciences. Students enrolled in engineering, computer science, architecture, biological sciences, management, commerce, economics, liberal arts, media and communication, fine arts, psychology, law, hotel management, biotechnology, and several postgraduate programmes participated in programme-specific sessions designed to familiarise them with their academic disciplines and future learning pathways.

Besides introducing students to the University's academic regulations, examination system, research opportunities, innovation ecosystem, entrepreneurship initiatives, placement support, and student welfare services, the sessions also highlighted MUJ's emphasis on experiential learning, interdisciplinary education and holistic development.

Following the successful completion of the Orientation Programme, the University commenced its Departmental Induction Programme on Monday to facilitate students' transition into their respective academic departments. The induction program will continue from 20th to 24th July 2026.

During the induction sessions, students were welcomed by the Heads of Departments, Deans, programme coordinators, and faculty members, who introduced them to the academic structure, curriculum framework, credit system, departmental regulations, laboratories, studios, research facilities, innovation centres, mentorship programmes, and the various academic and co-curricular opportunities available within their disciplines.

The induction programme also enabled students to interact closely with faculty members, understand departmental expectations, explore research and project opportunities, and become acquainted with the learning environment that will shape their academic and professional journey over the coming years.

Speaking on the successful completion of the orientation programme, University officials noted that the overwhelming participation of students and parents from across the country reflects the growing trust reposed in Manipal University Jaipur as a premier institution of higher education. They added that the University's integrated orientation and induction model has been carefully designed to ensure that every student experiences a smooth transition into university life while becoming part of an academically enriching, research-oriented, and student-centric environment.

With the successful conclusion of the three-day orientation and the commencement of departmental induction programmes, Manipal University Jaipur has formally welcomed the newest members of its academic community. As the academic session gathers momentum, the University looks forward to empowering the 2026–27 batch with world-class education, cutting-edge research opportunities, industry engagement, innovation-driven learning, and holistic development, preparing them to emerge as competent professionals, visionary leaders, and socially responsible citizens.

To know more about Manipal University Jaipur please visit – www.jaipur.manipal.edu.

Galgotias University Partners with Felix Hospital to Advance Clinical Education and Healthcare Training

Galgotias University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Felix Hospital, Greater Noida, to strengthen clinical education and skill development for students of the School of Allied Health Sciences (SAHS) and the School of Nursing.

Felix Hospital runs two NABH-accredited multispecialty hospitals in Greater Noida, with a combined capacity of 400 beds. Under the partnership, students will receive structured clinical exposure, compulsory internships, competency-based education, and hands-on training with advanced medical technologies, along with practical experience in NABH quality standards, patient-safety protocols, and professional healthcare practice.

Galgotias University's state-of-the-art nursing simulation lab and optometry lab give students hands-on mastery of clinical skills before they enter hospital practice

Speaking on the partnership, Dr. Dhruv Galgotia, CEO, Galgotias University, said, "Healthcare education is complete only when classroom learning meets the realities of patient care. Our students first master their skills in our cutting-edge nursing simulation lab, and this partnership with Felix Hospital now takes them from simulation to the bedside, giving our allied health and nursing students the clinical immersion they need, in a NABH-accredited environment, to graduate as confident, compassionate professionals ready to serve from day one."

The collaboration spans the full breadth of the University's healthcare programmes. At SAHS, students of Physiotherapy, Cardiovascular Therapy, Laboratory Sciences, Optometry, and Medical Radiology and Imaging Technology will gain clinical exposure in their respective specialties at a working multispecialty hospital, complementing the school's on-campus facilities such as electrotherapy labs and its outpatient department.

For the School of Nursing, the partnership strengthens the clinical rotations that are central to its B.Sc. Nursing programme, a four-year degree recognized by the Indian Nursing Council and the Uttar Pradesh State Medical Faculty. Actual clinical experience at Felix will build directly on the University's cutting-edge nursing simulation lab, where students first master clinical procedures and emergency response on advanced mannequins in a safe, controlled setting before applying those skills at the bedside with real patients.

Working under experienced clinicians, technologists, and nurses, students will develop clinical competencies aligned with the curriculum prescribed by the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions.

Beyond clinical training, the collaboration will foster interdisciplinary learning, joint research, workshops, and continuing professional education, helping students connect classroom and laboratory learning with real-world healthcare delivery and develop the technical, ethical, and interpersonal skills that modern clinical practice demands.

The MoU adds to the University's growing engagement with the region's healthcare ecosystem. Galgotias University recently upgraded the Community Health Centre at Dadha, Greater Noida, in coordination with the Office of the Chief Medical Officer, Gautam Buddha Nagar, strengthening its physiotherapy and rehabilitation unit with modern therapy equipment and trained physiotherapy support to improve rural access to care.

About Galgotias University

Salesforce Launches SMB Growth Kit to Simplify Growth for Small Businesses in India

Salesforce, the #1 Agentic CRM*, today announced SMB Growth Kit, a connected offering for India’s small and medium businesses (SMBs) that brings Agentforce Sales, Slack, and Tableau into one platform designed to meet the needs of fast-growing Indian businesses. This powerful platform helps SMBs replace disconnected tools and apps with a simpler, smarter way to run their business—improving visibility, accelerating collaboration, supporting revenue growth, and going live in four - six weeks.

Agentforce Sales brings structure and visibility to the revenue engine. Instead of relying on spreadsheets, manual updates or one individual to maintain customer records, businesses get a real-time view of every lead, opportunity and pipeline. Automated lead assignment, workflow automation and mobile access help sales teams move faster, while built-in AI capabilities—including opportunity scoring, forecasting and intelligent recommendations—help teams focus on the opportunities that matter most without requiring specialist expertise.

For many SMBs, the biggest challenge isn't adopting new technology—it's getting people to use it. That's where Slack becomes a powerful advantage. Already familiar and loved by many growing businesses, Slack has evolved beyond team messaging to become the "work operating system" where employees collaborate, make decisions and keep work moving. From sales and customer support to HR, IT, operations and external collaboration, teams work together in one place. For smaller businesses, where employees wear multiple hats, every hour saved has an outsized impact on productivity and growth.

Tableau completes the picture by turning business data into actionable insights. Rather than waiting for static reports or manually compiled spreadsheets, founders and business leaders can monitor pipeline health, revenue trends and business performance through live, mobile-friendly dashboards. Its intuitive drag-and-drop interface makes analytics accessible to every business user, while native connectivity with Salesforce provides real-time visibility into sales performance without the complexity of separate data warehouses or extensive integration projects.

Together, Agentforce Sales, Slack and Tableau create a connected operating system for growth—helping Indian SMBs sell smarter, collaborate faster and make confident decisions, all from a single platform that can be deployed in just four-six weeks. The SMB Growth Kit will be available immediately and includes structured onboarding, hands-on setup and post-go-live support. Teams can adopt AI-ready systems without turning implementation into another operational burden. The offering will be delivered in collaboration with select Salesforce reseller partners across India, helping ensure SMB customers receive a consistent onboarding, implementation and go-live experience.

Additional Comments on the News:

Mankiran Chowhan, Managing Director, Salesforce India, said, “India’s SMBs are moving quickly toward AI, but ambition alone is not enough. Many businesses are investing in AI, but far fewer have implemented it because their customer data, team conversations and business insights are still scattered. SMB Growth Kit gives growing businesses one connected system where sales activity, team conversations and live insights work together — helping teams act with more confidence, fewer blind spots and less guesswork.”

Swaroop Kaja, RVP - Sales, Salesforce India, said, “We launched SMB Growth Kit to give growing businesses one connected way to run sales, collaborate on deals and understand business performance in real time. With Agentforce Sales, Slack and Tableau working together, teams can spend less time chasing updates and more time moving customers forward. That is the immediate value: clearer pipeline, faster decisions and fewer blind spots. As these businesses grow, that connected data foundation also gives them a stronger base for using AI in ways that are trusted, useful and grounded in the reality of their business.”

Availability

SMB Growth Kit is available in India for small and medium businesses, exclusively through select Salesforce reseller partners. Salesforce teams support customers with structured onboarding, hands-on setup and post-go-live support, with businesses designed to be live and operational within four-six weeks of starting.

*Salesforce, the #1 CRM, powered by AI technology and capabilities.

About Salesforce

Salesforce helps organizations of any size become agentic enterprises - integrating humans, agents, apps, and data on a trusted, unified platform to unlock unprecedented growth and innovation.

Visit www.salesforce.com/in/ for more information.

Disclaimer: Pricing and packaging are subject to change. Availability may vary by region and is governed by customer agreements. Customers should base purchasing decisions on products and services currently available.

CloudifyOps Launches MIXIMO, an AI-Driven Cloud Migration and Modernization Platform

CloudifyOps, an AI Transformation Partner for enterprises, today announced the launch of MIXIMO, an AI-driven cloud migration and modernization platform designed to simplify the full cloud transformation lifecycle, from discovery and assessment to migration and modernization planning and execution.

CloudifyOps | MIXIMO

Built with an AI-first approach, MIXIMO helps organizations understand their infrastructure and applications, map dependencies, and make migration decisions based on real utilization data rather than guesswork. Supporting AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform as both source and target environments, it enables both on-premises-to-cloud and multi-cloud transformation through one platform.

Sushanth Bellapu, Founder and CTO, CloudifyOps / MIXIMO, said, “The industry has long treated cloud migration as a logistics problem. MIXIMO reframes it as an intelligence problem. Built by engineers who have navigated large-scale transformations firsthand, MIXIMO applies AI to understand applications, dependencies, and modernisation opportunities before a single workload moves. The result is predictable outcomes, lower risk, and infrastructure that is truly cloud-native not just cloud-hosted.”

MIXIMO combines automated infrastructure and application discovery, portfolio assessment, dependency mapping, and AI-driven instance and service recommendations in one platform. Discovery supports agent-based, agentless, and repository-based approaches, enabling assessment at scale.

The platform supports three migration strategies: Rehost, Replatform, and Refactor, making it suitable for different cloud transformation journeys. Its tri-mode instance recommendations provide 1-to-1, cost-effective, and high-performance mapping based on actual source utilization. MIXIMO also automatically generates a visual and actionable End State Blueprint for individual workloads, helping teams plan their migration architecture with greater clarity.

“We are not entering the migration tooling market; we are creating the migration intelligence category,” said Vaitheeswaran Krishna Subramanian, CEO, CloudifyOps. “MIXIMO turns years of migration expertise into a platform, making intelligence-led migration available to any engineering team, at any scale.”

MIXIMO is designed for startups, SMBs, and enterprises across healthcare, BFSI, SaaS and technology, e-commerce, logistics, and manufacturing. For organisations with data sovereignty and compliance requirements particularly in BFSI and healthcare MIXIMO supports self-hosted and hybrid LLM deployment, ensuring sensitive infrastructure data remains within the organisation's own environment.

With MIXIMO, CloudifyOps aims to make cloud transformation more intelligent, predictable and accessible for businesses at every cloud maturity stage.

CloudifyOps is India's leading AI Transformation Partner, helping enterprises move from manual complexity to autonomy through AI, cloud, and intelligent operations. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Bengaluru, with offices in Chennai, Dubai, and the United States, CloudifyOps combines over a decade of mission-critical cloud engineering with purpose-built AI capabilities.

An AWS Advanced Consulting Partner and one of the few organisations in India to hold the AWS AI Services Competency across both Generative AI and Agentic AI, CloudifyOps serves businesses across BFSI, healthcare, SaaS, and enterprise technology sectors in India, the Middle East, and the United States. With a team of over 150 cloud and AI specialists, CloudifyOps delivers AI Transformation, Cloud Transformation and Managed Services.

For more information, cloudifyops.com and miximo.ai.

ANHAD Group Enters the Delhi-NCR Real Estate Market, Building on a Legacy of Over Three Decades

With a distinguished legacy spanning more than 30 years, ANHAD Group has earned a reputation for excellence in one of India’s most demanding industries-mining. With operations across India and international markets, the Group has consistently demonstrated precision, resilience, operational excellence, and uncompromising integrity.

ANHAD Group Enters the Delhi-NCR Real Estate Market, Building on a Legacy of Over Three Decades

Today, ANHAD Group marks a significant milestone by entering the Delhi-NCR real estate sector through ANHAD Developers, bringing with it the same values that have defined its success for over three decades.

The Group’s transition into real estate is a natural evolution of its enduring philosophy: building with transparency, creating long-term value, and delivering with unwavering commitment.

Every development by ANHAD Developers will be guided by a customer-first approach, sustainable planning, superior quality, and timely execution.

Leading this vision, Mr. Pramesh Singh, Chairman, ANHAD Group, said: “Gurugram is one of India’s most dynamic and discerning real estate markets, where quality and credibility are valued above all else. Our entry into this sector is driven by a simple yet unwavering commitment - to deliver transparency, uncompromising quality, and projects completed on time. At ANHAD Developers, we aspire to build not just exceptional developments, but lasting trust an enduring relationships with our customers.”

ANHAD Developers aims to create iconic developments distinguished by thoughtful architecture, sustainable design, meticulous planning, and worldclass execution. Every project will reflect the Group’s long-standing philosophy of responsible growth while creating enduring value for customers and stakeholders alike.

Recognising Gurugram as India’s most vibrant luxury real estate destination, ANHAD Developers has established its corporate headquarters at Worldmark, Gurugram, and is assembling a highly experienced leadership team committed to redefining benchmarks in the sector.

As part of its initial growth strategy, the company is developing three flagship projects comprising a luxury residential development, a premium plotted township, and a landmark high-street commercial destination. Together, these projects represent an estimated development value of approximately INR 7,000 crore.

Every ANHAD development will be driven by four uncompromising principles:

Prime and strategically connected locations
Exceptional quality and craftsmanship
Timely delivery with complete transparency
Long-term value creation for homeowners and investors

With the strength of a trusted legacy and a clear vision for the future, ANHAD Developers is poised to emerge as a distinguished name in Delhi-NCR’s premium real estate landscape -building spaces that inspire confidence, enrich lifestyles, and stand the test of time.

Global Chip Equipment Spending Surges, Creating New Opportunities for India's Semiconductor Ecosystem

Global semiconductor manufacturing equipment sales are projected to reach a record USD 165.9 billion in 2026, a 23.2% increase over the previous year, and continue their growth trajectory to USD 229.5 billion by 2028, according to SEMI’s Mid-Year Total Semiconductor Equipment Forecast. This marks five consecutive years of industry growth, driven by accelerating investments in Artificial Intelligence (AI), advanced logic, high-bandwidth memory (HBM), advanced packaging and next-generation semiconductor manufacturing technologies.

The forecast highlights robust growth across wafer fabrication equipment, semiconductor test systems, and assembly and packaging equipment as chipmakers worldwide expand capacity to support AI-driven computing, hyperscale data centres, automotive electronics and intelligent edge devices. Wafer Fab Equipment (WFE), the largest segment, is expected to reach USD 143.9 billion in 2026, while semiconductor test equipment is projected to grow 31% to USD 15.3 billion.

“AI is accelerating demand for more powerful and efficient chips, driving increased investment across the semiconductor capital equipment market,” said Ajit Manocha, SEMI President and CEO. “The mid-year forecast points to a higher equipment spending trajectory as chipmakers invest in the leading-edge logic, advanced memory, test and packaging capabilities required for the AI era.”

For India, this global investment cycle comes at a pivotal time. The country has already approved 12 semiconductor manufacturing projects spanning fabs, ATMP/OSAT facilities, compound semiconductors and display manufacturing, representing investments of over USD 20 billion. Along with initiatives such as the SEMICON India Programme, PLI , ECMS, EMC, RDI, AI Mission and continued policy emphasis for semiconductor design and manufacturing, India is steadily building a comprehensive semiconductor and electronics ecosystem.

"The strong global growth in semiconductor manufacturing equipment investment reflects the beginning of a new technology cycle powered by AI, advanced computing and intelligent electronics. For India, this momentum aligns perfectly with our national semiconductor mission. As India rapidly builds fabs, OSATs, display manufacturing and a robust ecosystem for equipment, materials and components, the country is becoming an increasingly attractive destination for global investments. This presents a significant opportunity not only for semiconductor manufacturing, but also for developing a strong domestic supply chain, fostering innovation, creating high-value jobs and integrating India more deeply into the global semiconductor value chain," said Ashok Chandak, President, SEMI India.

The report further underscores sustained investments in advanced memory technologies, including HBM, DRAM and NAND, and leading-edge logic manufacturing. As the global semiconductor industry races towards AI-driven, cutting-edge technologies, an equally important opportunity is emerging in mature and specialty semiconductor nodes, where demand remains strong across automotive, industrial, power electronics, communications and consumer applications. India's current manufacturing roadmap and design focus is well positioned to capitalise on this shift, enabling the country to become a competitive and trusted global manufacturing base while progressively moving up the technology value chain in future, commented Mr. Ashok Chandak.

The accelerating global demand for semiconductor manufacturing equipment also presents significant opportunities for equipment manufacturers, specialty material suppliers, automation companies, precision engineering firms, component manufacturers and technology service providers to expand their footprint in India. As global companies diversify supply chains and governments promote resilient semiconductor ecosystems, India is well positioned to emerge as an important manufacturing, innovation and supply chain hub for the global semiconductor industry.

Semiconductor Equipment Sales by Region

China, Taiwan and Korea are expected to remain the top three destinations for equipment spending through 2028. China is projected to maintain the leading position over the forecast period, though growth is expected to moderate in 2026 following elevated investment levels in recent years. In Taiwan, spending is supported by leading-edge capacity builds for AI and high-performance computing, while Korea’s equipment spending is driven by advanced memory technologies, including HBM. Other regions tracked are expected to see equipment spending increase in 2027 and 2028, supported by regionalization efforts, government incentives and targeted specialty capacity expansions.

MediaTek Outlines Roadmap to Advance Smartphone Imaging with Next-Gen Camera Technologies

MediaTek, the world’s leading fabless semiconductor company powering nearly 2 billion connected devices a year, reiterated its focus on the smartphone imaging ecosystem and expanding its edge-to-cloud technology portfolio as it showcased its latest chipset innovations at its flagship MediaTek Tech Day- Beyond the Lens, in New Delhi. Further, the company demonstrated imaging technologies enabled by its MediaTek’s SoCs for flagship smartphones and outlined its broader 'One MediaTek' vision spanning automotive, data centres, AI PCs and other connected computing platforms beyond smartphones.

Anuj Sidharth, Director, Marketing and Corporate Communications, India and SEA, MediaTek and Anku Jain, Managing Director, MediaTek India

Key industry voices, including media representatives, tech analysts, professional photographers, KOLs and OEM stakeholders from, Vivo, Motorola and Xiaomi shared their viewpoints at insightful discussions on the next frontier of imaging technology. These conversations also underscored the overarching One MediaTek vision, a unified strategy showcasing the vast scale of the company's evolving technological ecosystem and seamlessly connecting intelligent solutions from Edge to Cloud.

Speaking at the event, Anuj Sidharth, Director, Marketing and Corporate Communications, India and SEA, MediaTek, highlighted breakthrough imaging innovations such as 18EV HDR Fusion for extended dynamic range and 4K120 Super EIS for smooth, cinematic capture. He also outlined the brand update, highlighting MediaTek's continued momentum and leadership in high-performance computing across India's fast-evolving multi-device ecosystem.

“Beyond the Lens” featured dedicated experience zones that showcased MediaTek's imaging technologies through devices such as the vivo X300 Pro powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9500, the OPPO Find X9s powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9500s, and the Motorola Edge 70 Pro and the Xiaomi 17T powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8500.

On the sidelines of the event, Anuj Sidharth, Director, Marketing and Corporate Communications, India and SEA, MediaTek said, “Smartphone photography continues to shape consumer expectations and with the MediaTek Dimensity 9500 flagship SoC and the MediaTek Dimensity 8500 Premium SoC, we are meeting that demand head-on. Equipped with next-generation AI-ISPs, the chipsets elevate computational photography without compromising on power efficiency. At MediaTek, we believe that truly brilliant technology is about more than just creating products, it's about delivering incredible experiences that positively impact people's lives. With our ecosystem partners, we continue to deliver innovations that empower users to capture every moment with greater clarity, creativity, and intelligence.”

The event also witnessed an interactive panel discussion, titled 'Who Really Takes the Photo?', moderated by Rajiv Makhni. The panel brought together Rahul Jhangiani, professional photographer, Anuj Sidharth, Director, Marketing and Corporate Communications, MediaTek India & SEA, Paigham Danish CTO, Head of Product & GTM, vivo India, Gautam Batra, Associate Director - Product Marketing, Xiaomi India and Shivam Ranjan, Marketing Director - APAC, Motorola Mobility. Each panelist brought a unique perspective to what truly makes a great photo – the chip, the camera hardware, or the person behind the lens. Together, the panelists highlighted how human perspective, advanced camera sensors, and the processing power of the ISP work together to deliver the perfect shot.

Additionally, the MediaTek Tech Day also witnessed insightful conversations around the MediaTek roadmap and its latest technologies:

Latest Flagship & Premium chipsets: Showcased the MediaTek Dimensity 9500s, Dimensity 9500 and Dimensity 8500 SoCs that delivers leadership in AI, imaging, gaming, connectivity and power efficiency.
One MediaTek – MediaTek’s expansion beyond smartphones into automotive, data centers, AI PCs and more, streamlined its portfolio as it scales across categories: Dimensity for smartphones, Dimensity AX for automotive, and Dimensity CX for compute platforms.
Automotive Momentum – 20+ partnerships with leading automakers worldwide and 190+ ongoing projects under the Dimensity AX platform.
Compute Momentum – Demonstrated MediaTek's growing focus on AI compute platforms and next-generation computing technologies.
Discussions on the MediaTek’s broader technology roadmap spanning smartphones, connectivity, Imaging capabilities, AI computing, and intelligent edge devices.

MediaTek remains the No. 1 smartphone chipset brand in India, with a 49% market share in Q2, 2026, a position it has now held for 24 consecutive quarters.

The MediaTek Technology Day is an interactive platform to showcase the latest innovations that are reshaping everyday life. 'Beyond the Lens' is in tune with MediaTek's philosophy of making great technology available to help consumers connect seamlessly with the things that shape our daily lives, by enhancing, enriching, and making us smarter and more creative.

DS Group Introduces 'Pallu Protection Equipment' Awareness Campaign in Uttar Pradesh

DS Group, a leading FMCG conglomerate and multi-business corporation, has launched a comprehensive initiative to address the occupational health risks faced by women farmers due to exposure to agricultural pesticides and chemicals. Moving from awareness to action, the initiative not only educates women farmers about the health risks associated with pesticide exposure but also provides them with access to a practical, culturally relevant protective solution designed specifically for agricultural use. Currently being implemented across seven villages in Baghpat district of Uttar Pradesh, Pali, Katha, Bandpur, Sunehra, Basi, Mavikala and Sankrodh, the initiative combines awareness, preventive healthcare and innovative protection solutions to promote safer farming practices.

DS Group introduces ‘Pallu Protection Equipment’ Awareness Campaign in Uttar Pradesh

As part of the initiative, DS Group has introduced its Pallu Protection Equipment (PPE) filter, an advanced washable nano-fibre filter designed to be stitched into a saree pallu or dupatta, transforming it into a protective barrier during agricultural work. Offering protection against pesticide particles, dust and harmful chemicals, including PM2.5 pollutants, the solution has been developed as a practical and culturally relevant intervention for women engaged in farming activities. The nano-fibre filters, integrated into saree pallus, dupattas and similar coverings, will be made readily available, free of cost, through identified tailor shops, pesticide outlets and chemist stores across the seven villages in Baghpat district.

DS Group introduces ‘Pallu Protection Equipment’ Awareness Campaign in Uttar Pradesh

The ongoing initiative has engaged rural communities through mobile awareness vans, traditional puppet shows, nukkad nataks (street plays in local language), free health check-up camps and door-to-door educational outreach. Conducted with the support of local authorities as well as local communities, the programme has encouraged conversations around the hidden health risks associated with pesticide exposure and the importance of adopting safer agricultural practices. Health camps have offered blood pressure and blood sugar screenings, basic health counselling and the distribution of the PPE protective masks to women farmers. Additionally, every woman participating in the programme has received mirrors and calendars carrying messages that reinforce the importance of safe farming practices.

Mr Rajeev Jain, Senior Vice President, Corporate Marketing, DS Group, said, “Women farmers play a vital role in India’s agricultural economy, yet awareness of the occupational health risks they face remains limited. Our field research revealed that the saree pallu and dupatta are often used as informal protective coverings during pesticide-intensive agricultural work, despite offering inadequate protection. This highlights the urgent need for simple, practical and culturally appropriate solutions that women farmers can seamlessly adopt. Through the Pallu Protection Equipment’ Awareness Campaign, DS Group combines awareness with action, providing accessible solutions that can help make agricultural work safer and healthier for women.”

This initiative forms part of DS Group’s broader FarmHER programme, which recognises and supports the contributions of women farmers across India. By making essential health and safety information accessible, practical and culturally relevant, the programme seeks to bridge the gap between awareness and action, empowering women farmers to adopt safer and more sustainable agricultural practices. The PPE kit can also be used by male farmers, as a special version has also been designed that’s integrated into the gamcha (cloth used on the shoulder to wipe sweat/ dust, etc) that the male farmers use.

About DS Group

The DS Group (Dharampal Satyapal Group) is a one of the leading FMCG conglomerates and a Multi-Business Corporation with a strong Indian and International presence. Founded in the year 1929, it is an inspiring and successful business story that blends a remarkable history and legacy with visionary growth. It has an extensive and diverse portfolio with presence in Food and Beverage, Confectionery, Mouth Freshener, Hospitality, Agri, Luxury Retail businesses, and other investments. Catch, Pulse, Pass Pass, Silver Pearls, Ksheer, Rajnigandha, Ovino, L’Opera, Le Marche, Birthright, LuvIt, Chingles, Golmol, Namah are some of the leading brands, the Group proudly shelters today.

As a corporate, DS Group is guided by a clear set of values that are built on a strong foundation of collective good to give back to society and protect the planet. The DS Headquarters has been awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification, under the USGBC (US Green Building Council) existing building O&M (Operation and Maintenance) program version 4.0. The DS Headquarters has also received LEED Zero Carbon Certification, by the USGBC. DS Group has aligned its financial performance with global ESG priorities with the launch of a pioneering Double Materiality Assessment across all businesses. Further demonstrating its environmental leadership, the DS Group has a water positivity index at 1.8 across its business units in 30 locations of India.

For details, log onto www.dsgroup.com.

NCAHP's New Framework: Ensuring Standards Without Slowing Workforce Expansion

The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions’ direction dated 8 April 2026 is an important regulatory development for allied and healthcare education in India. The communication clarifies the framework for institutions and courses for Academic Year 2026–27 and notes that 17 competency-based curricula covering around 28 professions have been released for implementation.

The concern lies in the practical implication of this direction. New programmes can move forward only where an NCAHP-approved curriculum is available. Therefore, professions recognised under the NCAHP framework but still awaiting curriculum release may not be open for new programme launch.

This matters because India is simultaneously pursuing a major expansion of its allied healthcare workforce. The policy challenge is not whether regulation is needed. It clearly is. The challenge is how to ensure standardisation without delaying the development of trained professionals required by India’s healthcare system.

Why Standardisation Matters

Standardisation in allied and healthcare education is essential. For years, allied health programmes across India have varied widely in nomenclature, duration, admission eligibility, curriculum depth, clinical exposure, assessment methods and faculty requirements. Such variation can affect graduate competency, professional mobility and public confidence.

The NCAHP Act, 2021 was introduced to create a national framework for regulating education and services in allied and healthcare professions. Its mandate includes institutional assessment, maintenance of professional registers, and promotion of access, research and adoption of scientific advancement.

Competency-based curricula can help align education with defined clinical skills, patient safety standards and healthcare service needs. The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in collaboration with NCAHP, launched competency-based curricula for ten allied and healthcare professions in April 2025, describing the initiative as a step toward uniformity and quality.

Thus, NCAHP’s intent is appropriate. India needs nationally comparable standards. The concern is not standardisation itself, but whether incomplete curriculum coverage may unintentionally slow workforce expansion.

The Emerging Policy Gap

A. Approved curricula versus recognised professions

NCAHP has released curricula in areas such as Physiotherapy, Optometry, Nutrition and Dietetics, Dialysis Therapy, Radiotherapy Technology, Medical Radiology and Imaging Technology, Anaesthesia and Operation Theatre Technology, Health Information Management, Physician Associates, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Occupational Therapy, Respiratory Technology, Medical Physics and Nuclear Medicine Technology.

These releases are significant, but they do not yet cover the full range of professions recognised under the NCAHP framework. The April 8 communication itself states that the released curricula cover around 28 professions. This leaves several recognised professions outside the current curriculum structure.

This creates a policy gap: a profession may be recognised, but institutions may still be unable to start a new academic programme because the approved curriculum is pending. In effect, legal recognition exists, but educational expansion is paused.

B. Impact on institutions

Universities across India are looking to invest substantial resources in allied healthcare education. These investments include simulation laboratories, skill labs, diagnostic and therapeutic equipment, hospital partnerships, faculty recruitment, digital learning systems and quality assurance processes.

However, institutions may hesitate to invest if they are unsure whether a proposed programme can be launched. This is particularly relevant for private universities, healthcare groups and regional institutions that are willing to build capacity but need regulatory clarity.

Programme launch also requires advance academic planning through Boards of Studies, Academic Councils, statutory approvals, clinical training agreements and admission processes. Uncertain curriculum timelines may therefore delay programme development, reduce student choice and weaken institutional responsiveness to healthcare sector needs.

Implications for India’s Workforce Goals

The April 8 direction must be viewed in the context of India’s broader allied health workforce agenda. In Union Budget 2026, the Government announced plans to upgrade existing allied health institutions, establish new institutions in both public and private sectors, and train one lakh allied health professionals over five years in selected disciplines, including optometry, radiology, anaesthesia, operation theatre technology and applied psychology.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s post-budget consultation on “Scale-up Allied Health Professionals” also focused on adding 1,00,000 Allied Health Professionals over five years. The discussion linked this requirement to demographic transition, non-communicable diseases, healthcare infrastructure expansion and increasing use of advanced medical technologies.

The existing education base is sizeable. The Ministry noted that India has over 500 government institutes offering around 48,000 seats, and about 3,800 private institutes offering more than 3.6 lakh seats, while also acknowledging variation in infrastructure, laboratories, equipment and trained faculty.

These figures show that India requires both expansion and quality improvement. If programme development is limited only to disciplines with released curricula, workforce growth may become uneven. Some fields may expand rapidly, while other recognised professions remain underdeveloped.

In the short term, universities may delay investments and admissions. In the medium term, hospitals may continue to face shortages in specialised technical roles. In the long term, India may struggle to produce the right mix of allied health professionals across disciplines, geographies and levels of care.

This is especially important because modern healthcare depends on allied professionals in diagnostics, imaging, emergency care, operation theatres, dialysis, rehabilitation, radiotherapy, critical care and chronic disease management. If formal education capacity does not expand across all required professions, hospitals may continue to rely on informal training or limited talent pools.

The larger risk is therefore not merely delayed academic approval. It is a possible mismatch between regulatory implementation and national workforce planning.

A Balanced Way Forward

India should not treat quality and capacity as competing priorities. A balanced transition model can protect NCAHP’s standard-setting role while allowing responsible programme expansion.

First, NCAHP could publish a time-bound curriculum release calendar for all remaining recognised professions. This would help universities, hospitals and state authorities plan investments and admissions more confidently.

Second, institutions meeting defined requirements for infrastructure, faculty, laboratories, clinical exposure and governance could be considered for provisional programme approval in professions where curricula are still awaited.

Third, any programme approved under such a transitional mechanism should be required to adopt the NCAHP curriculum once released. This would preserve national uniformity while avoiding unnecessary delays.

Fourth, during the interim period, institutions could use benchmark curricula from established universities, national skills frameworks or internationally accepted competency models, subject to regulatory review.

Fifth, regulatory oversight should focus not only on documents and infrastructure but also on student competencies, clinical exposure, assessment quality, internship standards and graduate readiness.

Finally, curriculum development should involve universities, hospitals, professional associations, state councils and industry stakeholders so that academic standards remain connected to healthcare delivery realities.

Conclusion

The NCAHP’s April 8, 2026 direction is a significant step toward standardising allied and healthcare education in India. Its emphasis on approved curricula, common standards and institutional accountability is important for quality assurance and patient safety.

However, if curricula for all recognised professions are not released in a timely manner, the framework may unintentionally delay programme development, institutional investment and student opportunity. It may also create uneven workforce growth across disciplines.

At a time when India aims to train one lakh allied health professionals over five years, regulation must support both quality and scale. A calibrated transitional pathway would allow NCAHP to function not only as a regulator but also as an enabler of India’s future-ready allied healthcare workforce.

Art in Hong Kong: Where Creativity Spills Beyond the Canvas and Into the City's Very Core

From the well-curated museums to the neon-soaked alleyways of Temple Street, Hong Kong surprises art connoisseurs and novices alike.

Hong Kong has long worn its financial identity with pride — a forest of gleaming towers, an efficient harbour, the pulse of a global capital flowing through every district. Yet beneath the spreadsheets and stock tickers, a parallel city thrives with colour and form. Art in Hong Kong is increasingly the main character of the city buzzing with life.

Art in Hong Kong

The city's art scene is as layered as its topography: ancient craft traditions rub shoulders with cutting-edge installations, heritage transforms into contemporary stages, and annual international fair circuit lures collectors, curators, and dreamers from every corner of the globe.

Year-round Art Celebrations

One of Hong Kong's most compelling offerings to the art-curious traveller is its cultural calendar. The city plays host to world-class events almost every month of the year. The curtain typically rises in February and March, when the Hong Kong Arts Festival transforms the city into a stage. One of the biggest events on the city's art calendar, the festival brings together performances spanning drama, dance, music, and opera by international and local artists alike. Beyond the headline performances, the festival includes master classes, backstage visits, exhibitions, and film screenings.

Then, just as spring deepens, Art Basel Hong Kong lifts its curtains. A glittering intersection of European curatorial expertise and Asia's dynamic collecting culture, this annual fair showcases works from hundreds of galleries worldwide. Having established itself first in Switzerland over five decades ago, the fair's Hong Kong edition has grown into a defining fixture of the international art calendar.

May and June bring an entirely different flavour with the French May Arts Festival, which has become an iconic part of Hong Kong's cultural scene. Spanning visual art, music, dance, cinema, and even puppetry, it promotes the fusion of East and West at cultural centres, shopping malls, public spaces, and the shores of Victoria Harbour.

West Kowloon: Hong Kong’s Art Hub

No development has reshaped Hong Kong's cultural landscape more dramatically than the West Kowloon Cultural District. Today, the harbour-front precinct houses two institutions that together form the beating heart of modern Hong Kong art.

M+, which opened in November 2021, is Asia's first global museum of contemporary visual culture. This vast edifice, designed by Basel-based Herzog & de Meuron (also known for designing Tate Modern in London) exhibits art, design, architecture, and moving image from the 20th and 21st centuries. Its programme reaches from major retrospectives, including a landmark Yayoi Kusama survey, a collaboration with the Musée National Picasso-Paris, and even exhibitions by emerging Hong Kong voices.

Beside it stands the Hong Kong Palace Museum, which opened in July 2022. Drawing on the collections of Beijing's Palace Museum, it brings treasures from the Forbidden City to Hong Kong for the first time, offering a window into Chinese art and imperial culture.

Heritage Wonders

For all its contemporary ambition, Hong Kong never forgets its roots. The Hong Kong Museum of Art, established in 1962 and sitting proudly on the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront, remains the city's first public art museum. After a major renovation, it reopened with a new annexe block, housing over 19,700 items across its four key areas: Chinese antiquities, modern and local Hong Kong art, Chinese painting and calligraphy, and China trade art. International showcases of modern installations and Western art rotate through its galleries alongside local exhibitions.

Then there is Tai Kwun. The former Central Police Station compound on Hollywood Road has been reimagined as an arts and heritage hub; its Victorian-era cell blocks and drill yards now alive with contemporary exhibitions, film screenings, music, and theatre.

The Hong Kong Arts Centre has championed the city's creative scene since 1977 from its Wan Chai home — a non-profit institution that promotes cultural exchange and frequently gives a platform to under-the-radar theatre, dance, and indie cinema. The Hong Kong Cultural Centre, meanwhile, has been the city's premier multi-purpose performance complex since it opened in 1989, hosting the world's leading orchestras, choirs, ballet troupes, and soloists in its legendary concert Hall.

Beyond Gallery Walls

One of Hong Kong's most distinctive qualities is the way art spills beyond galleries onto the streets and markets. The city's iconic neon signs (picture cascades of Chinese characters advertising everything from tailors to noodle shops) are increasingly recognised as an art form. Hotspots for experiencing this luminous tradition include Temple Street Market, Tung Choi Street in Mong Kok, and Lockhart Road in Wan Chai.

At PMQ in Sheung Wan, the former Police Married Quarters has been transformed into a creative hub housing over a 100 young entrepreneurs and design studios under one roof. Meanwhile, the Affordable Art Fair, which began in London in 1999 with the explicit mission of democratising art collecting, brings works from galleries worldwide to Hong Kong at prices that welcome newcomers to the market.

Alongside the world-class museums and the glamour of Art Basel, there are free lunchtime concerts, open public squares showcasing sculptures, and galleries that keep their doors open into the evening. The Hong Kong Arts Centre runs residency programmes and cross-cultural exchanges. Non-profit spaces like Para Site and Asia Art Archive provide depth and scholarship to complement commercial spectacle. Put simply, Hong Kong delivers an arts experience unlike any other city on earth.

Paninian Unveils Yantur 4.5 kN Turbofan Engine Programme-India's First Private-Sector Development in its Class

Paninian India Private Limited has unveiled the Yantur 4.5 kN Turbofan Engine Programme, believed to be India's first privately developed turbofan engine in its class. The programme represents a significant step towards establishing indigenous private-sector capability in compact aerospace propulsion for next-generation autonomous systems.

Yantur 4.5 kN Turbofan Engine for Cruise Missile Applications from Paninian Aerospace

The Yantur engine is being developed to power Svayatt L1, Paninian's long-range autonomous cruise missile platform, conceived to address the operational requirements of the Indian Ministry of Defence's Make-I programme for the Long-Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LRLACM). The programme has successfully completed its conceptual and detailed design phase and is now progressing towards subsystem testing, validation and full engine certification.It is worth noting that the same Engine core could be expanded further up to 12.5 KN for powering the Svayatt CCAV platform

The Yantur programme seeks to establish a sovereign Indian capability in compact turbofan propulsion—one of the most strategically important technologies underpinning future long-range autonomous aerospace systems. By developing critical propulsion technologies within India's private sector, the programme aims to strengthen national self-reliance while contributing to a resilient indigenous aerospace ecosystem.

Commenting on the programme, Dr G. Gouda, former Group Director (Propulsion), CEMILAC, who has supported and overseen certification of numerous propulsion systems over the past four decades, including the GE404 and GE 414 programme review for India’s LCA program, said, "The programme represents an important step towards establishing sovereign Indian capability in compact turbofan propulsion, engine controls, accessory systems, advanced manufacturing and propulsion-airframe integration. It complements the pioneering efforts of DRDO scientists, whose work has laid a strong foundation for indigenous propulsion development."

The Yantur and Svayatt L1 programmes incorporate five patent claims covering innovations in engine family architecture, combustor and diffuser-nozzle design, compressor technology, digital-twin health monitoring and advanced manufacturing techniques. These technologies are intended to support a scalable family of propulsion systems for future autonomous aerospace platforms.

The programme brings together expertise across propulsion engineering, autonomous systems, materials science, advanced manufacturing and digital engineering through Paninian's multidisciplinary team, supported by distinguished advisors and an expanding ecosystem of technology, manufacturing, incubation, testing and supply-chain partners. Notable contributors include propulsion specialist Dr G. Gouda, engine controls and sensors expert Mr Vaman Kulkarni, and materials and advanced manufacturing specialist Dr Vikas Kumar Saxena.

Raghu Adla, Founder of Paninian India Private Limited, said, "Yantur represents a pioneering private-sector effort to build sovereign Indian propulsion capability for future strategic autonomous systems. This milestone belongs to our young engineering team, advisors and partners who have transformed an ambitious vision into a credible engineering programme. We are now seeking strategic support from government, industry and investors to accelerate engine testing, subsystem qualification and full-system validation while helping establish a sustainable indigenous propulsion ecosystem."

Paninian is initiating a USD3 million funding round to accelerate engine testing, subsystem qualification, full-engine validation and integration with the Svayatt L1 platform.

The Yantur programme reflects Paninian's long-term vision of developing a family of indigenous propulsion systems for next-generation autonomous aerospace platforms, contributing to India's growing strategic aerospace capabilities.

On World Cleft Awareness Day, Smile Train India Marks 800,000+ Free Surgeries and a Renewed Push for Early Diagnosis of Clefts

World Cleft Awareness Day (WCAD), observed globally on July 20, was introduced by Smile Train in 2025 to bring cleft lip and palate into mainstream public health conversations and ensure every child born with a cleft has access to timely, comprehensive treatment. This year, Smile Train India, the country's leading cleft-focused NGO, celebrates a proud milestone: over 800,000 free cleft surgeries supported for children across the country since 2000. Building on this achievement, the organisation is now turning its attention to the next frontier of impact, raising awareness so that every child born with a cleft is identified early and given the chance to thrive.

World Cleft Awareness Day, Smile Train India Marks 800,000+ Free Surgeries

Nearly 35,000 children are born with clefts in India every year, yet many miss the critical window for treatment due to myths, misinformation, and stigma. Delayed care can lead to feeding difficulties, malnutrition, speech and hearing impairment, and long-term social and emotional challenges. Early diagnosis and timely surgery are key to better outcomes and access to comprehensive care. World Cleft Awareness Day seeks to raise awareness, dispel misconceptions, and ensure every child born with a cleft receives timely treatment.

Smile Train India treats surgery as one part of a larger picture. Its holistic model includes nutritional support, speech therapy, and orthodontic treatment, helping children thrive fully in life. Underpinning this is a sustainability-first strategy: Smile Train India trains and empowers local surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses, and multidisciplinary cleft teams to deliver care locally. By strengthening partner hospitals, the organisation ensures children can access high-quality, free cleft care close to home, while building healthcare capacity that outlasts any single intervention.

This year's awareness push has drawn wide-ranging support, with partners, donors, ambassadors, cleft affected individuals and families, well-wishers, and the broader community coming together to mark WCAD, many taking to social media and other platforms to share their voices and extend the conversation beyond the medical community and into everyday households.

"We've made real progress expanding access to treatment, but awareness remains our toughest battle," said Mamta Carroll, Senior Vice President and Regional Director – Asia, Smile Train. "Every day, children arrive at our doors months or even years later than they should have — not because treatment wasn't there, but because their families never knew cleft could be treated or feared the stigma that so often surrounds it. If we can close that awareness gap, we can reach these children in time and make sure not a single one is left waiting."

This World Cleft Awareness Day, Smile Train India urges parents, caregivers, healthcare professionals, policymakers, media, and communities to play an active role in raising awareness, encouraging early diagnosis, and challenging misconceptions surrounding clefts.

To learn more about how Smile Train India’s sustainable approach, please visit smiletrainindia.org. For cleft treatment-related query or support, please call our toll-free helpline number: 1800 103 8301.