Vedica Himalayan Spring Water Partners with Nykaaland 2026 as Hydration Partner
 

Vedica has been associated with Nykaaland since its inception in 2023, continuing its engagement with the platform through this year’s Delhi edition. As Hydration Partner, Vedica will have a dedicated on-ground presence at the festival.

The partnership marks Vedica’s continued engagement with premium beauty, culture and lifestyle platforms, creating an opportunity for the brand to connect with audiences who increasingly see wellness and hydration as an integral part of their everyday lifestyle. Through Nykaaland, Vedica will bring its distinctive take on hydration to a vibrant space that celebrates beauty, self-expression and contemporary living.

Tushar Malhotra, Senior Director, Sales and Marketing, Bisleri International, said, “Our partnership with Nykaaland brings Vedica into a space where luxury, beauty and lifestyle come together, allowing us to connect with consumers who value premium experiences. The association is a natural fit for Vedica, as we continue to position the brand around purity, refinement and contemporary living. Through this collaboration, we look forward to making Vedica a part of the experiences that define today’s evolving luxury and lifestyle culture.”

About Bisleri International Pvt. Ltd.

With a legacy of over 50 years, Bisleri International Pvt. Ltd. has grown to become one of the largest premium beverage businesses in India. Being the makers of the country's largest-selling packaged drinking water, Bisleri follows a stringent process of 90 quality tests and a 10-stage purification. It remains true to its core value of providing consumers with pure, safe and healthy water.

Bisleri International has a strong presence with 130 operational plants and a robust distribution network of over 6,000 Distributors and 7,500 Distribution Trucks across India and UAE market. It offers a range of beverages that are produced for all occasions. Whether it is the promise of goodness, trust, and purity with Bisleri packaged drinking water, or a daily dose of health offered through Vedica Himalayan Spring Water. Besides, Bisleri International has ventured into fun-filled refreshments with a diverse range of carbonated drinks available in multiple flavours, such as Bisleri Limonata, Bisleri Pop and Bisleri Soda. These Bisleri products are also available on the e-commerce platform - Bisleri@Doorstep. This D2C platform reassures customers that they will receive a safe and uninterrupted supply of their most trusted brand at their doorstep.

The core values of Bisleri International lie in yielding growth and embedding sustainability by being responsible in all aspects of the business. The organization has unveiled Sustainability 2.0 with Bisleri Greener Promise that focuses on creating greener future for all through implementing initiatives under the program of recycling, water conservation, and sustainability.

For more information on Bisleri International, our people, brands, and OSR initiatives, visit www.bisleri.com.

BRICS+ Fashion Summit

The international fashion business forum of fast-growing economies has become a  decisive venue for shaping the commercial and creative strategies of emerging markets, and this year gathered experts from more than 60 countries to discuss economic trends, production technologies, consumer behaviour, traditional crafts, brand influence and AI. Discussions considered fashion markets across Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Europe, where design, manufacturing and retail practices continue to evolve.

Kanika Goyal explains why AI cannot replace creative judgement

Kanika Goyal, Founder and Creative Director of KGL, examined whether AI should be considered a creative partner or a tool for designers.

Recognised in Forbes 30 Under 30 and Entrepreneur 35 Under 35, Goyal has dressed M.I.A. and Priyanka Chopra Jonas. Her brand has also collaborated with Adidas Originals.

“AI can help with the design process, but it cannot understand how a model feels or whether an embroidery detail is in the right place. AI is more of an assistant because it has no emotions or life experience,” Goyal said.

She emphasised that effective AI use depends on how designers formulate instructions and critically assess the results. Decisions about which elements to improve, change or reject must remain with the designer rather than being delegated entirely to technology.

Goyal also highlighted how AI could help emerging designers explore concepts without the substantial investment previously needed for visualisation, photography and 3D specialists. Yet, while AI makes creation more accessible, she emphasized that aesthetic judgment remains human.

“Democratising the tools doesn't democratise taste. Everyone can potentially generate an image. But not everyone knows which image is worth pursuing," she warned.

Indian textile heritage offers opportunities in international markets

Subhendu Ghosh Dastidar, Business Head at Ezma Fine Cashmere, addressed the commercial importance of traditional craftsmanship during the session “The Cultural Code: From Historical Archives to Worldwide Impact.” 

Dastidar argued that cultural heritage alone cannot secure international market success. Products must also meet customer expectations for quality.

He described historical archives as repositories of knowledge extending beyond decorative patterns to materials, cultural practices and techniques passed down through generations. Contemporary designers, he suggested, must translate this inherited expertise into clothing relevant to modern consumers.

KGL reinterprets traditional embroidery through contemporary design

Goyal illustrated how traditional techniques can evolve through new materials and silhouettes.

“At KGL, we work extensively with hand embroidery, but interpret it through very contemporary materials, techniques and silhouettes. I think that is how craft survives, when it continues to evolve and becomes relevant to a new generation.” 

Her Arc Echo collection was presented through a partnership between the Fashion Design Council of India and Moscow Fashion Week, which took place in the Russian capital alongside the BRICS+ Fashion Summit.

The collection features jackets and trousers constructed from narrow strips of upcycled denim, with embroidery completed by artisans in New Delhi. Mosaic knitwear and interwoven fabrics explore the idea of fragmented memories.

Sunil Sethi highlights the international appeal of Indian craftsmanship

Sunil Sethi, Chairman of the Fashion Design Council of India, pointed to designers combining established artisanal techniques with increasingly expressive approaches to fashion.

He cited Anamika Khanna's chikankari embroidery paired with relaxed trousers and washed indigo, Rahul Mishra's use of zardosi, Falguni and Shane's intricate beadwork and sequins, and Sabyasachi's handloom creations.

For Sethi, these examples demonstrate how Indian fashion is moving beyond conventional interpretations of traditional aesthetics towards greater creative freedom.

He also identified international demand for handmade products as an opportunity for India's fashion exports.

“The foreign customer appreciates handmade crafts, as they represent true luxury through their timeless quality and reflect our rich textile traditions and processes that have withstood the test of time,” Sethi said.

Founded with the vision of reimagining waste management, 3R ZeroWaste was established to challenge the traditional linear economy "use-and-dispose" model by creating circular solutions that maximize resource recovery and minimize landfill dependence. Today, with operations across India and the United Kingdom through the sister concern, the company is enabling organizations to replace virgin and fossil-based resources with recovered materials, creating sustainable value across the waste management ecosystem.

India currently faces one of the world's most pressing waste management challenges, with an estimated 1.8 billion tonnes of legacy waste accumulated since Independence and nearly 80 million tonnes of municipal waste generated every year, out of which 50% is collected and only 25% is processed. A significant portion, equivalent to 60 million tons, still ends up in landfills or is openly burned. This is going to grow exponentially to 5 billion tons by 2100.

Against this backdrop, 3R ZeroWaste has emerged as a trusted sustainability partner, helping organizations and citizens become sustainable by reducing waste, reducing energy consumption, reducing water consumption and approaching a circular economy-type lifestyle, improving ESG performance and contributing meaningfully to national climate goals.

During FY 2025–26, the company achieved several significant milestones that underscore its growing impact:

• 9,63,379 kilograms of waste responsibly managed and diverted towards resource recovery

• Over 18.5 lakh citizens engaged through sustainability and awareness initiatives

• Presence expanded across 50+ cities in India

• 22,83,208 kilograms of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions avoided

• Rs 1.1 crore in revenue generated, while sustaining 15–20% year-on-year business growth

Beyond waste management, 3R ZeroWaste has evolved into a comprehensive sustainability solutions provider, offering services in Waste Management, ESG Consulting and Reporting, Resource Recovery, Circular Economy Advisory, and Citizen Engagement Programmes.

A key differentiator in the company's approach is KarmaVer$e, its innovative digital sustainability platform designed to transform environmental responsibility into everyday action. The platform uses KarmaCoins, its digital currency, to encourage citizens to adopt sustainable habits such as waste segregation, recycling and responsible disposal. By rewarding sustainable participation through KarmaCoins, KarmaVer$e gamifies sustainability, fosters long-term behavioural change, increases citizen participation and strengthens community ownership of environmental action.

The company's integrated approach combines technology, community engagement and ESG-driven business solutions to help organizations meet regulatory requirements, improve sustainability performance and create measurable environmental outcomes. As global demand for responsible business practices continues to rise, 3R ZeroWaste remains committed to delivering scalable solutions that support both economic growth and environmental stewardship.

Commenting on the company's continued growth, Shiv Rao Challa, Founder, 3R ZeroWaste, said,"At 3R ZeroWaste, we believe waste is not a liability—it is a valuable resource waiting to be recovered. Our consistent growth reflects the increasing commitment of businesses, governments and citizens towards sustainable practices. Every kilogram of waste recovered, every citizen engaged and every tonne of carbon emissions avoided brings us one step closer to a truly circular economy. Sustainability is not a destination; it is a continuous journey of responsibility, innovation and collective action. Together, we can build a cleaner, greener and more resilient future for generations to come."

As India advances towards its sustainability and climate commitments under the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030, 3R ZeroWaste continues to position itself at the forefront of the circular economy movement. By combining innovation, responsible resource management and community participation, 3R ZeroWaste is not only helping organizations achieve their ESG goals but also creating lasting environmental and social value.

To view Sustainability Report FY2025-26, click here.

About 3R ZeroWaste

Founded in 2020, 3R ZeroWaste is a circular economy and sustainability company with operations in India and the United Kingdom. The company specializes in integrated waste management, ESG services, resource recovery, circular economy consulting and citizen engagement programmes. Through innovative solutions such as KarmaVer$e, its digital sustainability platform powered by KarmaCoins, 3R ZeroWaste empowers businesses, governments and communities to reduce waste, lower carbon emissions and create a more sustainable future.

Celebrating World Sight Day (8th October) in India, OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation, Government of Karnataka and World Health Organization released a report titled ‘Advancing integrated, people-centred eye-care,’ today.  The Report highlighted the integration of ‘Asha Kirana’ as a specialized services into primary health infrastructure in Karnataka.  The document summarised the phased studies conducted from 2022 up till now, comprising a total of eight districts in Karnataka: 14 million primary screenings were conducted, over 4.5 lakh free spectacles provided, and more than 2.5 lakh cataract surgeries were performed during this period. Most importantly, the document spotlit the institutionalisation of 393 vision centres (Drishti Kendras) as a permanent part of the state health system to deliver integrated, community-anchored eye health services at scale, focusing on equity, clinical quality, and sustainability. Each of these vision centres have been mapped to secondary surgical centres to address advanced intervention, such as cataract surgery or specialized management of complex ocular pathologies, thereby providing holistic eye care management in the State.

Bhavna Singh, EssilorLuxottica; Gurudatta Hegde, IAS, Health Commissioner; Dr Vivek Durai, Joint Director; Venu Ambati, OneSight Foundation; UT Khader Minister & Dr Krishna Prasad K

With the shared commitment of providing equitable eye care, the Report was released by Hon’ble Minister of Health, Government of Karnataka, Shri U T Khader Fareed in the presence of Venu Ambati, President Greater India, EssilorLuxottica and Director, OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation, and Dr B Mohammed Asheel, National Professional Officer, Non-Communicable Diseases, WHO India (online presence).  

Speaking at the release, Shri U T Khader Fareed, Hon’ble Minister of Health, Government of Karnataka, said, “We are proud to be one of the few progressive States in India with a clear vision of becoming blindness-free.  Our systematic approach towards addressing access to healthy vision is now a documented case study for a holistic approach to eyecare in India. The 393 Drishti Kendras spread across community health centres, taluka hospitals and district hospitals are in line with the mission of Asha Kirana:to prevent and mitigate avoidable blindness and visual impairment in Karnataka state by addressing the two conditions responsible for most of the avoidable vision loss, uncorrected refractive errors and cataracts. We are thankful to the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation for partnering with us in our journey towards institutionalizing Asha Kirana- a successful model of integrating eye care in the public health system."

Additionally, the Hon’ble Minister stated, “The OneSight Foundation has been consistently working with Asha Kiranas, developing their skill, capability and knowledge towards delivering universal, community-based door-to-door vision screenings and reducing avoidable blindness across the region.  I am pleased to note that the World Sight Day 2026 celebrations will witness 40,000 Asha Kiranas receiving free sunglasses from the Foundation.  To mark this occasion, the Foundation had organised a Blind Walk from the Vidhan Saudha that includes participation from citizens from all walks of life. I congratulate the OneSight Foundation for their concerted efforts towards moving vision forward.” 

Venu Ambati, President, Greater India, EssilorLuxottica and Director, OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation, said, "We are proud, through our foundation OneSight, to partner with the Government of Karnataka in our journey towards providing equitable eye care. The success of the Asha Kirana model in Karnataka, along with the 393 Drishti Kendra is a proof point of scalability: from a state innovation to a globally replicable model.  In line with our commitment towards building a healthier vision, we look forward to partnering with States for a potential roll out of Asha Kirana as a model for national programme implementation.  States could be encouraged to adopt the core principles of the WHO’s Integrated Patient-centred Eye-care while working on community-anchored screening through health worker networks, and the setup of permanent vision centres, as part of the primary healthcare mechanism.  We continue to remain thankful to the State of Karnataka for co-creating this model and are proud that the WHO has, through this Report, documented the steps that each State can take to build a collaborative ecosystem that encourages holistic eye care management.”

Dr Mohammed Asheel, Country Focal Point, Eye care, WHO India said, "The significance of Asha Kirana extends far beyond eye care in Karnataka. The initiative provides an example of how WHO’s vision for Integrated People-Centred Eye Care (IPEC) can be operationalised in a resource-constrained setting. Asha Kirana demonstrates how these principles can be translated into operational strategies, including community-based service delivery, workforce empowerment, the use of technology to strengthen accountability, targeted approaches to equity, and the creation of enabling environments. The model illustrates the importance of systems thinking, political commitment, and the translation of policy principles into operational mechanisms. For this reason, Asha Kirana offers valuable lessons for documentation, learning, and adaptation in other settings. It illustrates how WHO frameworks can be translated from policy into implementation within a public health programme.”

About OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation
The OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation is committed to expanding sustainable access to vision care in underserved communities worldwide. Inspired by EssilorLuxottica's mission to Empower Humans, the Foundation provides free eye exams and glasses, strengthens local vision care systems, and partners with NGOs, governments, and like-minded organizations to deliver scalable, long-term solutions. As the first Global Collaborating Partner of the World Health Organization's SPECS 2030 initiative, the Foundation supports the integration of vision care into primary healthcare systems and advances progress toward universal access. To date, its work has reached more than 140 countries and enabled access to vision care for over one billion people.
 

About World Health Organization 
The World Health Organization (WHO) is the United Nations' specialized agency for health. WHO India works closely with the Government of India and state governments to strengthen health systems, advance Universal Health Coverage, and improve health outcomes across the country. The WHO Country Office for India is headquartered in New Delhi and has a nationwide presence.

Website: www.who.int/india

LogiXair Founders Pulla Kapil and Bhanu Teja Chidura (right), alongside the Winghead 002 flight demo in an operational environment, validating TRL 6
 

Founded by Bhanu Teja Chidura and Pulla Kapil, LogiXair is closing a critical gap in India's logistics: fast, reliable short-haul cargo movement of up to 600 km between metros, industrial hubs and Tier II and III cities, without conventional runways, with a roadmap built for international markets as well. Its engineering-led team, spanning aerospace engineering, autonomous systems, robotics and software, with experience across both research and commercial technology systems, has validated a hybrid-electric powertrain, flight-tested sub-scale prototypes and built six IP assets at TRL 6. Working with DRDO and other aerospace and defence OEMs, the team tests its technology against real operational requirements, and the resulting revenue supports a capital-efficient path to commercialisation.
 

The L560, an autonomous hybrid-electric VTOL carrying up to 300 kg over 600 km, together with modular cargo containers, autonomous ground handling and fleet operations software, forms a new logistics layer alongside road, rail and conventional aviation, giving it a scalable platform for India's fast-growing logistics market and for export to international markets. The investment will fund continued engineering development, technology validation and commercialisation, with partnerships across logistics, industrial and strategic sectors to be explored.
 

LogiXair's progress comes amid growing momentum in India's deep-tech and aerospace ecosystem, supported by initiatives such as the government's Rs. 1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme aimed at accelerating indigenous technology development and commercialisation. With increasing interest in autonomous aviation, advanced mobility and strategic technologies, the company sees significant opportunities to build globally competitive aerospace solutions from India.
 

“Our vision is to build a new layer of logistics infrastructure that makes regional cargo transportation faster, more flexible and less dependent on traditional transportation networks. We are developing an integrated platform that combines autonomous aviation, hybrid-electric propulsion, and intelligent cargo handling. GrowthCap Ventures' backing, together with support from experienced aerospace professionals, strengthens our journey towards building scalable aerial logistics infrastructure for India and global markets,” said Bhanu Teja Chidura, Co-founder, LogiXair.
 

“Logistics is one of India's largest and most underserved infrastructure opportunities, and LogiXair is attacking it with rare engineering depth. Bhanu brings more than eight years in aerial robotics and holds an EASA pilot's licence; with Kapil and a team backed by advisors from Honeywell and IIT Hyderabad, he has taken the company from concept to a flying hybrid-electric VTOL, built six IP assets and a revenue-generating defence engineering business. That platform can serve defence and offshore logistics first, then India's middle-mile cargo, with Europe and Asia-Pacific as natural international markets. That execution is what gave us conviction, and it shows that India has the engineering talent to build globally relevant deep-tech companies,” said Pratekk Agarwaal, Founder and General Partner, GrowthCap Ventures.

About Growth Cap Ventures: The Operator VC Backing India's Early-Stage Deeptech, Fintech and AI Founders

Growth Cap Ventures is a SEBI-registered Cat2, operator-led fund that invests from seed alongside founders in deeptech, fintech and AI. Deeptech accounts for about 40% of its portfolio. The fund is led by Founder & General Partner Pratekk Agarwaal, an IIM-Kozhikode alumnus whose career spans Bajaj Finserv, Fullerton India, IndoStar Capital and BharatPe. It combines Pratekk's operating experience with capital, advice and an institutional network for founders.

Tamil Nadu Governor Shri Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar presents the award as the company targets 10 million sq. ft. in land sales by 2029

The award was presented by the Honourable Governor of Tamil Nadu, Shri Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, recognising Propshell’s journey and growth in the plotted real estate segment.

Since its inception in 2007, Propshell has steadily expanded its project portfolio while building enduring relationships with customers, landowners and channel partners. Its journey reflects nearly two decades of entrepreneurship, driven by a focus on expanding land ownership opportunities and strengthening its presence in the real estate market.
 

Reflecting upon the milestone and Propshell’s growth ambitions, G. Jayaram, Founder of Propshell, said, “This recognition is a proud moment for me and the entire Propshell family. When we began our journey in 2007, our vision was to create meaningful opportunities for people to own land and participate in real estate growth. Having sold 12 million square feet over the years, we are now working towards achieving another 10 million square feet in sales by 2029. Our ambition goes beyond business growth. We want to enable more families to own land and move closer to building their dream homes. Through responsible plotted development, customer trust and long-term value creation, we aspire to contribute to the broader national vision of ‘Housing for All’.
 

“This achievement belongs to our team, channel partners, landowners and customers who have supported us throughout the years. The award inspires us to build on this foundation and pursue our next phase of growth with greater commitment and ambition," he added.
 

With its 2029 sales target, Propshell aims to build on its established presence across key markets while expanding its plotted development portfolio and creating further opportunities for prospective landowners.

About Propshell

Founded in 2007 by G. Jayaram, Propshell is a real estate company focused on plotted developments and land ownership opportunities. With more than 80 projects, over 10,000 customers and 12 million square feet of land sold, the company has a presence across Chennai, Trichy, Coimbatore and Kodaikanal, as well as in Dubai. Propshell continues to focus on expanding its portfolio, strengthening customer relationships and creating opportunities in the plotted real estate segment, with a target of selling an additional 10 million square feet of plotted land by 2029.

Zaitoon honours employee loyalty in Chennai & Bengaluru

Speaking on the occasion, Noufal Narikkoli, Chief Executive Officer, Zaitoon Restaurant Group, said, “As Zaitoon celebrates its 17th anniversary, we take pride in how far we have come since our journey began in Chennai in 2009. Today, with 24 branches across India, Qatar and the UAE, and an annual customer footfall of approximately 15 million, our growth reflects the dedication of the people who have grown with us. Honouring over 210 colleagues who have completed more than a decade with Zaitoon is a heartfelt expression of our gratitude for their loyalty and contribution to the brand.”
 

Fardan T. K., Chief Operating Officer, Zaitoon Restaurant Group, added, “Behind every decade of service are countless busy days, challenges overcome and responsibilities carried with dedication. Many of these colleagues have helped us build teams, open branches and welcome generations of guests. Honouring their contributions with gold coins and motorcycles makes this anniversary especially meaningful.”
 

The initiative reflects Zaitoon’s commitment to recognising employee loyalty and fostering a culture of appreciation. As the group continues to expand, it remains focused on creating opportunities for its people while strengthening its presence across markets.
 

About Zaitoon Restaurant Group

Established in Chennai in 2009, Zaitoon is a multicuisine restaurant group operating 24 branches across India, Qatar and the UAE, with an annual customer footfall of approximately 15 million. Known for its diverse culinary offerings and family dining experiences, the brand continues to grow guided by its philosophy of “Serving Moments.”

VinFast makes the switch to EV easier with lower running costs, free charging until March 31, 2029, and attractive ownership benefit

Imagine you have owned the same petrol SUV for five years. It has been reliable, familiar and easy to live with, but fuel prices are eating into your wallet, the next service bill is coming up and the odometer is climbing. You start looking at what to buy next, and an electric SUV catches your attention. Its price is a little higher than the petrol equivalent, but every trip to the fuel station could disappear.

The question is whether those savings will ever break even with the higher purchase price.

The answer can be surprisingly specific. A driver covering 20,000 kilometres a year and charging mostly at home could recover the extra cost of an EV in only a few years. Someone driving 8,000 kilometres a year, especially without access to home charging, could take most of a decade. The difference comes down to a handful of numbers: annual mileage, energy cost, purchase price, taxes and how long the car is kept.

The odometer is where the EV starts earning its keep
The easiest place to start is the cost of moving the car one kilometre. Take petrol at around INR 102 a litre in Delhi. If an SUV manages 13-14 km per litre, its fuel cost comes to roughly INR 7.3-7.8 per kilometre.

With an EV, assuming the vehicle travels around 6-7 km per kWh and using household electricity rates ranging from about INR 3/kWh in Delhi to INR 8.98/kWh in Maharashtra, the raw energy cost can range from roughly INR 0.4 to INR 1.5 per kilometre, depending on the local tariff and household consumption. In practice, because an EV can push a household into higher electricity slabs, a more useful working estimate is around INR 0.9-1.3 per kilometre for home charging.

That means the home-charging advantage is roughly INR 6-7 per kilometre in the example above. Let’s use INR 6/km as a conservative estimate of the savings to make the calculation simple.

Now add a representative INR 4 lakh upfront premium for the EV. If the EV saves INR 6 for every kilometre driven, the calculation is INR 4,00,000 ÷ INR 6, which equals about 66,700 kilometres. That is the point at which fuel savings alone have recovered the initial price difference, with every additional kilometre adding to the savings.

A driver covering 8,000 km a year would need roughly 66,700 ÷ 8,000 = 8.3 years to get there. At 12,000 km a year, it takes about 5.6 years; at 15,000 km, around 4.4 years; and at 20,000 km, about 3.3 years.

Of course, that’s for home charging. With public charging, the gap between EV and ICE is smaller, but the EV still has an energy-cost advantage. At INR 15-25 per kWh, the same 6-7 km of driving costs roughly INR 2.1-4.2 per kilometre, before accounting for charging losses. That is still below the INR 7.3-7.8/km fuel cost of the petrol SUV.

Maintenance can bring that breakeven point forward. Petrol and diesel cars typically require around INR 7,000-10,000 a year in scheduled servicing, while comparable EVs can be around INR 2,000-4,000. That creates a potential annual saving of roughly INR 5,000-8,000 before other ownership costs are considered. EV owners can face higher insurance premiums and potentially faster tyre wear, however, so those costs should be included rather than treating all maintenance savings as pure profit.

Taxes can also materially change the calculation. In states offering substantial road-tax exemptions for EVs, part of the upfront price gap can disappear before the car even leaves the showroom. For a representative INR 20 lakh vehicle, an ICE road-tax bill of 8-15% would amount to roughly INR 1.6-3 lakh, although the actual amount varies by state and vehicle.

That’s a lot of numbers to chew through, but if you have to take one thing away from it, it’s this: the more a car is driven, the more opportunities an EV has to recover its initial premium. There is no single mileage at which every petrol owner should trade in for an EV. Instead, the calculation becomes increasingly favourable as three things happen together: annual mileage rises, charging costs fall and the ownership period gets longer.

VinFast is trying to make that transition easier
The financial calculation is only part of the decision. Someone moving from a petrol car to an EV is also changing how they refuel, maintain and think about the vehicle.

VinFast is attempting to reduce some of those barriers in India with a combination of product specifications, warranty coverage and ownership incentives.

Its B-SUV VF 6 offers up to 468 km of MIDC range and can charge from 10% to 70% in about 25 minutes, while the VF 7, its C-SUV, offers more performance and space, with up to 438 km of MIDC range and charging from 10% to 70% in about 24 minutes. The VF 6 comes with a 7-year/160,000 km vehicle warranty and a 10-year/200,000 km battery warranty, while the VF 7 offers a 10-year/200,000 km warranty for both the vehicle and battery.

The company is also offering measures aimed directly at the transition from ICE ownership. Its current programme includes free maintenance for three years or 36,000 km, free charging at V-Green charging stations until March 31, 2029, and cash support for customers who sell an existing ICE vehicle and purchase a VinFast EV. These incentives change the breakeven calculation because they reduce the effective cost of moving into an EV. 

For the petrol-car owner standing in a showroom and wondering whether this is finally the moment to go electric, the answer starts with the odometer rather than the badge. Look at how many kilometres you expect to add each year, calculate what each of those kilometres costs in petrol or electricity, and then ask how many of them you can power at home.

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

Maybelline New York's India-exclusive limited-edition collection: Super Stay Vinyl Ink Mithai

At the heart of the campaign is Maybelline New York brand ambassador Kiara Advani, celebrating the many little moments that make the festive season what it is: getting dressed up, catching up with friends and family, indulging in one more piece of mithai and heading straight from one celebration to the next.

YouTube link: youtu.be/R7KwCYVyvCY?si=dqYFJMF6KoPknFiD

With its mithai-inspired shades and signature Super Stay Vinyl Ink formula, the collection is made for a season when the plans keep coming and the lipstick needs to keep up. The campaign will also feature exclusive slice-of-life moments with Kiara across social media.

The festive fun continues with the Maybelline New York tribe featuring Leisha Patidar, Rida Tharana, Ishani Mitra and Ambika Nayak (Kayan). Representing different cities across India, each bring their own regional take on festive beauty, with different looks, personalities and ways to celebrate, showing that there is no one way to do festive glam.

Maybelline New York’s Brand Ambassador Kiara Advani said, “I think what I love most about Indian festivities is that there’s never just one celebration. It’s a whole season of dressing up, getting ready, meeting people you love, eating far too much mithai and making plans on the go. I had so much fun bringing that energy into this campaign, especially because it celebrates these little moments that make the festive season feel so special. And I love that the Super Stay Vinyl Ink Mithai Collection brings that same festive spirit to beauty, with shades inspired by some of our favourite mithais and a lipstick that can keep up with all those never-ending celebrations.”

 From North to South and East to West, no celebration is complete without a box of mithai and Maybelline New York is taking the mithai connection beyond beauty, by collaborating with Saffron & Mishri, a contemporary luxury mithai house known for reimagining Indian craftsmanship through unexpected flavours and artistic expression. 

Gunjan Srivastava, Founder, Saffron & Mishri said, “Mithai is at the heart of every Indian celebration, and at Saffron & Mishri we love reimagining it with unexpected flavours and artistry. We look at global tastes and techniques and blend them with the Indian flavours we grew up with, so every piece feels familiar and surprising at the same time. Collaborating with Maybelline New York to bring mithai into beauty has been a joy, and we hope every limited-edition set brings a little extra sweetness to the season's celebrations.”

With this landmark campaign, Maybelline New York reinforces its commitment to creating beauty experiences that resonate with the aspirations, traditions and individuality of Indian consumers. Championing this vision to life, this festive season, Maybelline New York invites their consumers to step onto the “Maybelline New York Festive Express” which celebrates India’s festive season in motion. A season of multiple occasions, endless plans and celebrations, festive season in India is a whirlwind of getting ready, stepping out, hosting and hopping between festivities. The Festive Express captures this ever-moving spirit of the season.
 

Festivals in India have never been about the calendar. They’re about the people we find our way back to. With the Maybelline Festive Express, Maybelline New York is following that feeling from city to city, celebrating the music, culture, food and traditions that makes every city special. In Kolkata, Maybelline New York took inspiration from pandal hopping in Kolkata during Pujo and kicked off with a Pujo-coded “Maybe It’s My Stage” concert with artist Temsu Clover and then moved on to the capital city- Delhi, where the night turned golden with singer Rashmeet Kaur headlining a Diwali-bash celebrating the uniqueness of the city.

Maybelline New York then took the Festive Express to Mumbai, bringing its festive campaign to life against the backdrop of the iconic Asiatic Society of Mumbai. Through large-scale projection mapping, the landmark was transformed into a canvas for Maybelline’s festive world, illuminating the city with the campaign’s colours, energy and festive identity. With this, Maybelline became the first beauty brand to bring projection mapping to the iconic Asiatic Society. As the city came alive in celebration, the activation brought Maybelline’s festive world beyond screens and into the heart of Mumbai, creating a striking moment where the city’s heritage met the excitement of the season.

Maybelline New York brought its festive campaign to life against the backdrop of the iconic Asiatic Society of Mumbai

Each stop brings Maybelline New York closer to its consumers; in the places and moments they celebrate most. 

Maya Aramouni, General Manager, Maybelline New York India said, “With our first-ever festive collection for India, we wanted to create more than a seasonal beauty edit – we wanted to celebrate the many ways India experiences and expresses the festive season. The festive calendar is packed, with back-to-back plans, celebrations and moments that call for makeup that can keep up. From our mithai-inspired Super Stay Vinyl Ink shades to the campaign led by Kiara Advani and our creator community, the campaign brings together product innovation, cultural relevance and beauty designed to go the distance through every festive moment.” 

Stay tuned as Maybelline New York brings more exciting experiences to the festive season.

 Maybe it’s festive. Maybe it’s Maybelline. 

About Maybelline New York

Maybelline New York is the number one cosmetic brand in the world, available in over 120 countries. By combining technologically advanced formulas with on-trend expertise and New York City edge, Maybelline New York’s mission is to offer innovative, accessible, and effortless cosmetics for all. In 2020, Maybelline introduced Brave Together, a long-term program to support anxiety and depression worldwide. Brave Together provides critical one-on-one support, an online education hub, a variety of programming to help destigmatize the conversation around mental health and has committed to donate $10 million over the next five years to global and local organizations.

For more information log on to maybelline.co.in or www.maybelline.com/bravetogether.com.

The platform brings strategy discovery, customisation, automated execution and trade monitoring into a single interface. users can explore available strategies, review their objectives, risk profile and margin requirements, and choose to subscribe based on their individual preferences and risk considerations.

For users looking to build their own strategies, the platform offers a strategy builder with configurable indicators, entry and exit conditions, execution parameters and position sizing. Users can define parameters such as trading direction, operating hours and trading days, and configure target, stop-loss and trailing stop-loss mechanisms in line with their strategy requirements.

Risk management is integrated into the platform through configurable controls at both strategy and account levels. Users can set maximum profit and loss thresholds, limit the number of trades for a strategy, and pause individual strategies or stop algorithmic trading through a dedicated stop control. The platform also provides a consolidated view of open positions, pending orders, trade history, execution details and strategy signals, enabling users to monitor activity and execution status.

Ready-made strategies include exchange-registered black-box strategies offered by SEBI-registered Research Analysts, while customised strategies are built using exchange-registered white-box indicators. Strategy information, applicable disclosures and consent requirements are presented as part of the subscription process.

Commenting on the launch, Anurag Misra, Chief Technology Officer, Bajaj Financial Securities Limited, said, "With this launch, we are expanding the range of tools available to users to participate in the markets with greater flexibility and control. By bringing ready-made strategies and custom strategy-building capabilities alongside risk management and trade monitoring, we aim to make rule-based trading more accessible, with clear visibility of their strategies' activity and execution. Our focus remains on building technology-led solutions with transparency and informed decision-making at the core of the experience."

The launch marks another step in Bajaj Broking's continued investment in its digital trading capabilities, supporting a more structured approach to market participation.

Rakul Preet Singh at the Bata store in Vegas Mall, Dwarka, New Delhi

The campaign finds a relatable connection in Rakul’s own experience. Having spoken about stepping away from heels while recovering from a back injury, the actor brings a personal perspective to making comfort a priority in footwear choices. Her preference for flats connects with the campaign’s central thought: comfort is an essential part of feeling dressed and ready for every celebration.

Rakul Preet Singh said, “Bata’s festive collection brings a fresh, contemporary feel to the comfort I’ve always associated with the brand. The detailing makes the flats feel special, and the extra cushioning matters to me now that I’m more mindful of my footwear choices. It’s exciting to see how Bata is evolving and bringing in styles that are of the moment. That’s what celebrating festivals means to me: feeling dressed for the occasion and completely at ease.”

Extending the campaign beyond digital engagement, Bata India partnered with Vegas Mall, Delhi, to host a special Dandiya Night on 18th October, bringing ‘Comfort, but make it festive’ to life through an on-ground consumer experience. The event witnessed over 6,000 footsteps, reflecting strong participation and adding to the festive spirit of the celebration. By taking the campaign directly to consumers, Bata created an opportunity to connect its message of combining style with comfort to the energy of festive celebrations, reinforcing the role of comfortable footwear in enjoying every moment of the season.

Commenting on the campaign, Jasleen Kaur, Head of Marketing, Bata India said, “Our festive campaign builds on a simple consumer insight: people want to feel dressed for the occasion and comfortable enough to enjoy it. With ‘Comfort, but make it festive’, we bring that thought to life through contemporary designs that combine festive style with comfort. Rakul’s personal experience and her approach to footwear make her a relatable voice for this message. Through the campaign and our consumer experiences, we invite people to discover how Bata is evolving its styles while keeping comfort at the heart of the brand.”

The campaign extends beyond the film through a social media contest inviting consumers to tag a friend who would pick comfy flats over heels, for a chance to win exclusive Bata hampers.  The festive collection is available across Bata stores, the Bata app and leading e-commerce platforms. Across every occasion, Bata’s message remains simple: comfort comes first, and it can look festive too.

Link to the film: www.youtube.com/watch?v=WP_wOkkX8mw

About Bata India

For close to a century, Bata India has been a symbol of trust and quality for Indian consumers, serving over 250,000 customers every day. Throughout this journey, Bata has continuously evolved to cater to the diverse needs and preferences of its customers to become the largest footwear retailer and manufacturer in the country. Its expansive retail network consists of 2,000+ stores, supported by thousands of Multi Brand Outlets and a robust omni-channel presence across D2C and marketplaces.

Bata India sells close to 50 million pairs annually. Bata India is on a mission to make global trends and premium fashion accessible to all consumers through its extensive retail network. It is redefining the intersection of fashion and comfort through brands including Bata Red Label, Bata Comfit, Power, NorthStar, Floatz, Bubblegummers and Hush Puppies among others.

Omaxe The Resort unveils its sample flat amid vibrant Dandiya Night celebrations in Lucknow

At its core, setting the tone for the festivities, artists from Gujarat presented traditional Garba performances, bringing cultural authenticity to the occasion. Meanwhile, Bollywood dance troupes captivated the audience with energetic choreography, and live band acts enriched the programme with contemporary musical entertainment. Together, these performances created a zestful blend of folk heritage and modern celebrations, offering families and visitors an engaging way to celebrate Navratri.

Moreover, complementing the cultural line-up along with the sample flat unveiling provided interested buyers with a closer look at the home interiors. Attendees could view the layouts and visualise the possibilities of future living, gaining first-hand insight into the property's design. In this way, the presentation connected the festive atmosphere with the practical considerations of discovering a potential residence.

Commenting on the initiative, Mohit Goel, Managing Director, Omaxe Group, said, “Festivals bring people together through shared traditions and create opportunities to strengthen community bonds. At Omaxe, we believe that a home is closely connected to the experiences and relationships that shape everyday life. By bringing a Dandiya celebration together with the unveiling of our sample flat, we sought to create an occasion where guests could enjoy the cultural festivities while viewing our living spaces. We remain focused on building meaningful relationships with prospective residents and helping them envision their future homes.”

Further, the event brought together everyone in a shared festive setting. Beyond the immediate festivities, integrating traditional performances with a property presentation added a lifestyle dimension to the occasion. This approach linked cultural expression with home discovery while offering prospective residents a more engaging way to view the project.

Through initiatives that combine community involvement with property-related activities, Omaxe The Resort continues to create opportunities for interested buyers to connect with its development. By bringing together the vibrancy of Navratri and the aspirations associated with finding a future home, the Dandiya Night linked festive traditions with the experience of discovering a new address.

About Omaxe

Established in 1987, Omaxe remains one of India’s leading and most trusted real estate development companies. Omaxe Limited is listed on both the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd. and BSE Ltd. since 2007.Omaxe Group delivered approximately 140.17 million sq. ft. of real estate across 31 cities in 8 states, including Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh. Its diverse portfolio spanned residential, commercial, and integrated township projects. With over three decades of experience, Omaxe has consistently focused on delivering high-quality developments that cater to the evolving needs of urban India. Omaxe played a key role in transforming urban landscapes with iconic projects like Omaxe New Chandigarh Township, World Street in Faridabad, Omaxe Chowk in Delhi’s Chandni Chowk, and Royal Residency in Ludhiana. Omaxe is also developing The Omaxe State in Dwarka, a cutting-edge mixed-use destination featuring retail, hospitality, sports, and entertainment.

With a robust land bank, innovative designs, and a vision for creating vibrant communities, Omaxe gained the trust of millions of customers and investors. Omaxe continued to set benchmarks in the real estate industry, solidifying its position as a leader in shaping the future of urban India.

Sathiya Narayanan, Production Head, Nishanth, Research & Development Head, Arun Titan, Founder & CEO, Sowmya, Co-Founder & CFO, Ragul Kishan, Chief Production Officer, Midhun Mohan, Marketing Head

The recipients - Ragul Kishan - Chief Production Officer, Midhun Mohan - Marketing Head, Nishanth - Research & Development Head, and Sathiya Narayanan - Production Head - have consistently demonstrated commitment and gone beyond their responsibilities. In a special touch, each recipient’s family was invited to choose the car, making the occasion a milestone for the entire family.

A Thought That Became a Meaningful Gesture

The idea originated at a family function attended by SILAII CEO and Founder Arun Titan, where he noticed a long-serving team member arriving on a two-wheeler with his entire family after a long journey. The sight prompted him to reflect on how the people who helped build SILAII could share in the comfort and security he enjoyed in his own life.

The initiative was kept under wraps until the employees were invited to a dinner, where each received a personal letter revealing the surprise. Their families were subsequently invited to select their preferred cars, turning the announcement into a shared celebration.

Speaking on the occasion, Arun Titan, CEO and Founder, SILAII, said, “I go back home safely in my car every day, and I wanted the people who have built SILAII with me to enjoy the same comfort and safety with their families. This initiative is a way of expressing our gratitude to them and sharing the success we have built together.”

“At SILAII, we believe India has immense artistic talent, but what is needed is an ecosystem that enables artists and craftspeople to build sustainable livelihoods. Today, we have a team of over 250 people, with nearly 80% of our factory workforce comprising women, many from rural communities who have found their first formal employment and an opportunity to develop their artistic skills with us. Our vision is to make art accessible while creating meaningful careers for the people behind it. We hope to take this forward by establishing an arts college that will enable more young people to pursue art as a respected and viable profession. We want our people to grow alongside SILAII, creating opportunities that extend beyond the workplace and benefit their families as well,” he added.

About SILAII

Founded in 2019 by Arun Titan, SILAII is India’s first sculptural home decor brand and one of India’s finest sculpture brands, driven by the vision of making art accessible to everyone. Rooted in craftsmanship, culture and storytelling, the brand creates finely detailed, IP-certified handcrafted sculptures ranging from 5 inches to 50 feet — from devotional sculptures, levitating sculptures and car dashboard god idols to temple replica sculptures, leaders and icons bust sculptures, official movie merchandise, and customised sculptures for corporate gifting.

With more than 2,00,000 products sold and a presence in over 50 countries, SILAII’s portfolio spans home decor, bespoke creations, corporate gifting and large-scale public sculpture installation, including more than 50 government projects. Among its landmark creations is the 30-foot Nilgiri Tahr, Tamil Nadu’s state animal, installed in front of the Tamil Nadu Secretariat. Its latest endeavour, SILAII Artscape, extends the brand’s vision to designing landscapes through art.

SILAII operates its flagship sculpture store in Adyar, Chennai, along with a store in R.S. Puram, Coimbatore, and a massive sculpture store in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad.

For more information, visit www.silaii.com.

Beyond direct employment, the development is expected to create demand for construction materials, transportation, logistics, equipment and other support services, benefiting suppliers, contractors and local businesses across the wider ecosystem.

Construction Underway Ahead of Sales Launch
Prateek Group has commenced on-site construction ahead of the project's official sales launch, reflecting its focus on preparedness and execution. As work progresses, the development is expected to engage skilled and unskilled workers, engineers, technical specialists, security personnel and other professionals.

The construction activity is also likely to benefit material suppliers, transport operators, logistics companies and service contractors, creating additional economic opportunities across the region.

Supporting Local Economic Activity
The employment impact is expected to extend beyond direct project jobs, with increased activity potentially benefiting local shops, food outlets, catering businesses, transport providers and other service establishments.

Contributing to Noida’s Growth
Noida and Greater Noida continue to witness growth supported by infrastructure development, improved connectivity and expanding residential and commercial activity. In this environment, Prateek Group’s employment initiative is expected to contribute through job creation while supporting businesses and services linked to the construction ecosystem.

As construction progresses, the economic impact is expected to extend across workers, suppliers, vendors, contractors and local service providers, further supporting economic activity in Noida.

About Prateek Group
Prateek Group was incorporated in 2005 with a vision of quality and on-time delivery. The company was founded by Mr. Prashant Tiwari, a Civil Engineer by qualification and a visionary & futuristic by traits. Prateek Group stands tall as the first luxury developer of Noida with the launch of Noida’s first luxury project Prateek Stylome in 2011, followed by Prateek Edifice in 2013. Hence, the group created symmetry of similar projects with each one raising the standard high in the realty market of NCR. With 20+ years of expertise, the group has delivered 20 million square feet, catering to more than 50,000+ happy customers. The group’s commitment to quality construction and timely delivery has earned it the trust of both homebuyers and investors, establishing itself as a leader in the NCR’s real estate market. Some of the salient construction projects that have enabled the Prateek Group to achieve superlative industry acclaim include residential projects in NCR like Prateek Stylome, Prateek Edifice, Prateek Royal Cliff, Prateek Fedora, Prateek Laurel, Prateek Wisteria, Prateek Canary, Prateek Grand City township.

Mr. Avinash V. unveiled the trophy and Dr. Anand V, unveiled the jerseys in the presence of Dr. S. K. Rao, Dr. M. Veeraraghavan,, Dr. R. Prabhu, Dr. Harish Kumar and captains

Chief guest and cricketer Mr. Avinash Vaidya unveiled the championship trophy and Dr. Anand Venugopal, COO, MAHE, unveiled the team jerseys in the presence of Dr. Sharath K. Rao, Vice Chancellor, MAHE, Prof. (Dr.) Madhu Veeraraghavan, Pro Vice Chancellor, MAHE Bengaluru, Dr. Raghavendra Prabhu, Additional Registrar, MAHE Bengaluru Campus, Dr. Harish Kumar S., Director-Corporate Relations, corporate leaders and captains of the participating teams. 

Speaking at the launch, Mr. Avinash Vaidya said, “Cricket builds teamwork, discipline, leadership and the ability to perform under pressure, qualities that are equally important in the workplace. By bringing corporate teams together through this championship, MAHE has created a meaningful platform that goes beyond competition to strengthen professional relationships, encourage collaboration and build lasting connections through sport.”

Dr. Sharath K. Rao said, “Institutions and industries grow when they engage with each other consistently and work towards shared goals. The MAHE CCC provides a platform for the corporate community and the university to come together in a spirit of teamwork and collaboration. We hope this engagement will strengthen our existing relationships and lead to meaningful, long-term associations.”

Prof. (Dr.) Madhu Veeraraghavan said, “Corporate leaders across sectors bring different experiences, perspectives and approaches to solving real-world challenges. The CCC creates an informal setting for these perspectives to come together, allowing conversations and ideas to develop beyond conventional boardrooms. For MAHE Bengaluru, the value of this initiative lies in creating a vibrant space where the university and the corporate community can exchange ideas and discover areas of shared interest.”

The championship features teams from prominent organisations across technology, healthcare, consulting and financial services. Participating organisations include ARM, Bosch, Carelon, EY, Google, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, JPMorganChase, KPMG, LinkedIn, Manipal Hospitals, Microland, Microsoft, Novo Nordisk, Salesforce, Thomson Reuters and Unisys.

The championship will follow the T20 white-ball format, with weekend matches scheduled at the MAHE Bengaluru Campus. The teams are divided into four pools, with each team playing three league matches. The tournament will feature 27 matches, including two semi-finals and the final.

The concluding phase will be held at MIT Sports Park, MAHE Manipal. The semi-finals are scheduled for December 5, followed by the final under lights on December 6.

Team and individual performances will be recognised throughout the championship. Awards will be presented to the winner and runner-up, along with honours for Man of the Match in each fixture, Man of the Series, Best Batsman and Best Bowler.

Through the championship, MAHE aims to bring competitive sport and corporate-academic engagement together. The initiative gives corporate professionals, team representatives and the university community an opportunity to build relationships and explore common interests beyond conventional institutional settings.

About Manipal Academy of Higher Education
Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) is an Institution of Eminence Deemed to be University. MAHE offers over 400 specialisations across Health Sciences (HS), Management, Law, Humanities & Social Sciences (MLHS), and Technology & Science (T&S) streams through its constituent units at campuses in Manipal, Mangalore, Bengaluru, Jamshedpur, and Dubai. With a remarkable track record in academics, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and significant contributions to research, MAHE has earned recognition and acclaim both nationally and internationally. In 2020, the Ministry of Education, Government of India, awarded MAHE the prestigious Institution of Eminence status. Currently ranked 3rd in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2025 rankings, MAHE is the preferred choice for students seeking transformative learning experience and enriching campus life, as well as for national and multinational corporations seeking top talent.

BotLab Dynamics’ giant peacock formation created with 3,473 drones, set a Guinness World Record at the Mysuru Dasara Drone Show 2026 in Bannimantap
 

Click here to see the clip of this Guinness World Record drone show formation!
 

The Mysore Dasara Drone Shows also recorded a 154% spike in footfall from 2025. The drone shows have become a much-anticipated attraction during Mysuru Dasara, drawing families, tourists and drone-show enthusiasts. BotLab Dynamics have been performing these Mysore drone shows since 2022 every year. This is their fifth consecutive year performing the Mysuru Drone Shows. Now it has become a must-see night-time attraction of Mysuru Dasara 2026 for families, tourists and drone show lovers alike.
 

Torchlight Parade Ground at Bannimantap drew exceptionally large crowds during the first two evenings of the Mysuru Dasara Drone Shows. Attendance went above 40,000 against a formal seated capacity of 33,500, while more than 20,000 people gathered outside the venue to catch the Mysuru Dasara Drone Show. Many watched from home terraces, balconies and restaurants across the city, turning rooftops and dining tables into front-row seats for the Mysuru Dasara Drone Show. “Large-scale drone shows can be visible from distances of over 10 km under suitable viewing conditions,” said Neha Verma, Marketing and Comms Lead at BotLab Dynamics.
 

For many locals, the Mysore Dasara Drone Shows have grown from a new attraction into an annual ritual, planned as carefully as a visit to the palace illuminations or the Chamundi Hills temple. Audiences described the Mysuru Dasara Drone Show in their own words:
 

"We come as a family every year. The drone show has become as much a part of our Dasara celebrations as the illuminated palace,” said Raghuvendra, a Mysuru resident who attended with three generations of the family. "My daughter kept asking if the peacock was real. I have never seen a Dasara crowd this quiet and this amazed," said a visitor from Bengaluru. "From our restaurant balcony the whole drone show was visible in the sky," said Vinod, restaurant owner, Mysuru.
 

The first night's Mysuru Dasara Drone Show had already gone viral, with videos shared widely across social media and messaging groups. The news of the Mysuru Dasara Drone Show setting a Guinness World Record with the spectacular peacock formation is now spreading even faster, making the Mysore Dasara Drone Shows one of the most talked-about moments in India right now.
 

CESC lights up Mysuru every Dasara, with a 146-km illuminated road network this year, and has made the Mysuru Dasara Drone Show its newest night-time highlight. Returning to Mysuru Dasara for the fifth consecutive year, BotLab Dynamics has expanded the scale of its drone shows with each edition: 250 drones in 2022 & 2023, 1,500 drones in 2024, a 3,000-drone fleet and a Guinness World Record tiger formed by 2,983 drones in 2025, and now a 3,473-drone peacock in 2026.
 

The 2026 line-up also included a welcome to the Chief Minister with a Dasara greeting in Kannada, a spiralling galaxy, a soldier raising the national flag, a butterfly, a roaring lion, the Karnataka map with welfare-scheme symbols, Lord Vishnu's Sudarshana Chakra, Lord Shiva, Nandi, the Ambari elephant and Goddess Chamundeshwari.
 

"This record belongs to the people of Mysore. We have seen the Mysuru Dasara Drone Show become a family tradition in five years, and a Guinness World Record is proof of what happens when a festival and technology grow together," said Aayush Bector, Head of Business, BotLab Dynamics. "Record-setting moments like this are why immersive entertainment and experiential marketing are moving to the sky, because few experiences bring thousands of people together like a shared moment of wonder."
 

"When we see a massive crowd inside the ground and thousands more on terraces and balconies waiting, we know our Mysuru Dasara Drone Show has connected with the people," said Dr Sarita Ahlawat, Founder and MD, BotLab Dynamics. "Forming a world record with our national bird with Indian-made drones for the people of Karnataka is a moment we will always be proud of, and we thank CESC for their trust."
 

The Mysuru Dasara Drone Show is part of a bigger festive story. BotLab Dynamics is currently executing one of the biggest drone show campaigns in Punjab and recently lit up Eden Gardens in Kolkata with a 3,000-drone Durga Puja show on Mahalaya, followed by another Durga Puja Drone Show in Digha. Together, these productions show how Drone Shows in India are changing the way festivals are celebrated, from Dasara in the south to Durga Puja in the east. With more than 700 shows, a fleet of over 10,000 drones and now eight Guinness World Records, BotLab Dynamics is among the leading names in drone light shows and Drone Shows in India.
 

There is still time to watch. The Mysore Dasara Drone Shows continue on October 20 and 21, 2026, at 7 pm at the Torchlight Parade Ground, Bannimantap, Mysuru, as part of Mysuru Dasara 2026 and the Nada Habba celebrations.

Swan Realty, the real estate arm of the century-old diversified industrial conglomerate Swan Corp Limited, has announced the launch of luxury project ‘Bodhi’ in Jayanagar, Bengaluru, offering a rare combination of privacy, nature, and refined living. The project marks Swan Realty’s second development in the city, following the successful delivery of Cardinal One in Yeshwanthpur.

Artistic Impression of Bodhi

Designed to bring together the experience of an independent home with the convenience of apartment living, Bodhi comprises 24 four-bedroom residences, each spanning over 4,000 sq. ft., with only two apartments per floor. Located in Jayanagar, one of South Bengaluru’s most established neighbourhoods, the low-density development is designed to offer residents greater privacy, space and a close connection with nature.

Designed by Kembhavi Architecture Foundation (KAF), Bodhi follows a ‘biophilic amorphous’ approach that mimics nature through fluid forms and a design language that creates a seamless connection between the built environment and its natural surroundings. Expansive residences, large landscaped private decks, abundant natural light and panoramic views extend this philosophy into the homes, while elements such as the Sky Garden, Sundowner Court, a Koi pond and a stargazing deck further integrate nature into the residential experience.

The development also offers a curated range of amenities including a temperature-controlled swimming pool, wellness and fitness centre, a celebration lounge and recreational room.

Jay Shah, Head of Business, Swan Realty, said, “The successful delivery of Cardinal One in Bengaluru validated our conviction that homebuyers increasingly value space, privacy and liveability alongside location. Jayanagar is one of Bengaluru's most established residential neighbourhoods, with limited opportunities for new development. Bodhi addresses this gap through a low-density residential format that combines the privacy of an independent home with the convenience of apartment living. At Swan Realty, we believe successful real estate development goes beyond creating buildings. It is about shaping environments that remain relevant over time through thoughtful design, quality execution and a clear understanding of how people aspire to live.”

The project is RERA-registered (PRM/KA/RERA/1251/310/PR/170126/008409) and is scheduled for completion by March 2028.

About Swan Realty

Swan Realty, the real estate arm of Swan Corp Limited, has been shaping residential and commercial landmarks since 2004. With over 20 years of experience and more than 40+ lakh sq. ft. developed across Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad.

The company focuses on residential communities and office developments. Swan Realty’s portfolio is centered on design-led development, functionality, and execution quality, with projects planned around evolving urban lifestyles and workplace needs.

Website: www.swanrealty.co.in 

Pulse Ka Pandal 2026 Brings Immersive Digital Experiences to Navratri, Durga Puja and Dussehra

The campaign roll out is from 11 to 20 October 2026, in line with the festive calendar. Each experience combines culture, personalisation and gamification, drawing from the essence of its festival while inviting deeper consumer participation.  In the ‘Pulse of Tradition’ Navratra  segment, participants dress digital characters in festive outfits, accessories and Dandiya elements, creating a contemporary, cosplay-inspired expression of Navratri. In Durga Puja 'Pulse of Shakti' participants virtually create and personalise their own Durga Puja pandal. They select design, decorative and cultural elements to build a unique digital pandal. For Dussehra, 'Pulse of Victory,' participants take aim at a virtual Ravan, with each target representing a negative habit or personal trait they wish to overcome. The experience concludes with a personal pledge to leave that habit behind, drawing from the larger symbolism of the victory of good over evil.

Pulse candy campaigns have consistently used technology not merely as a media channel, but as a way to make India's cultural moments more participative and relevant for a new generation. Pulse Ka Pandal 2026 takes this further, using adtech, gamification, personalisation and immersive digital experiences to turn tradition into something people can step into and make their own. Select few participants will also get rewarded for the same.

Speaking about the campaign, Mr Arvind Kumar, Senior General Manager, Marketing, Confectionery, DS Group, said, "Pulse Ka Pandal has grown into a festive IP that sits at the heart of our Pulse of India commitment. Rather than treating festivals as occasions to communicate, we have created a space where young India can discover, take part in and express these traditions in their own way. Whether it is getting ready for Dandiya, building a pandal or making a pledge this Dussehra, the celebration always comes first and Pulse Candy is simply a part of it.”

With three culturally distinct festivals, three gamified experiences and one integrated digital platform, Pulse Ka Pandal 2026 reinforces Pulse's ambition to be a culturally rooted yet future-facing brand. It celebrates the Pulse of Tradition, the Pulse of Shakti and the Pulse of Victory with the new generation of India.

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.

L – R: Rajesh V. Shah, Founder, Chairman and Managing Director, Mr Karan Singh, CEO, Asset Division, Evolve Energy Group, Mr Ravinder Pareek, Group Head of Finance

The roadmap builds on the Group’s capabilities across solar manufacturing, engineering, procurement and construction (EPC), and operations and maintenance (O&M). By integrating these capabilities with asset ownership, Evolve aims to strengthen control over project execution, optimise costs and build a portfolio of contracted electricity revenues over an expected asset life of 25 years.

Commenting on the roadmap, Rajesh V. Shah, Founder, Chairman and Managing Director of Evolve Energy Group, said, “Every megawatt we commission is a 25-year annuity. We manufacture it, build it, own it and run it. That integration is our moat. Every year builds on the last. Three gigawatts by 2030 is how we turn fifteen years of execution into decades of predictable, compounding value.”

“With approximately 130 MW of capacity expected to become operational during the current financial year, and a portion already supplying power to industrial customers, our focus is on translating the 3 GW roadmap into a portfolio of well-executed, high-performing renewable energy assets. By bringing together Evolve’s manufacturing, EPC and operations capabilities, we aim to maintain greater control over project timelines, quality and lifecycle performance while delivering reliable clean power to our customers,” said Karan Singh, CEO, Asset Division, Evolve Energy Group.

Structured Debt Funding to Support Project Pipeline

Evolve is raising structured debt for a pipeline of more than 300 MW of projects under development. The broader 3 GW roadmap is expected to be financed through a combination of project debt, strategic equity and a future public listing. The Group’s financing relationships include Tata Capital, IREDA, Aseem Infrastructure Finance and YES Bank.

“Our financing approach is to align capital with the development and operating lifecycle of each project. As we raise structured debt for the pipeline of more than 300 MW, our priority is to balance growth with financial discipline and build a funding framework that supports the Group’s long-term asset ownership strategy,” said Ravinder Pareek, Group Head of Finance, Evolve Energy Group.

Once fully operational, the planned portfolio is expected to generate more than 4 billion units of clean electricity annually and over 100 billion units across its projected lifetime. According to the company’s estimates, the portfolio could also help avoid approximately 3 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually.

An Integrated Platform for Growth

Founded in 2011, Evolve Energy Group expects to cross Rs. 700 crore in revenue during the current financial year. With more than 350 employees and operations across over 15 states, the Group serves commercial, industrial and residential customers.

Its businesses span five key areas:

• Manufacturing: Solar modules, inverters, mounting structures and electrical panels under the EVVO brand.

• EPC: Delivery of rooftop and ground-mounted solar projects.

• Renewable energy asset ownership: Development, ownership and operation of solar power projects as an independent power producer (IPP).

• Operations and maintenance: Services supporting the long-term performance of solar installations.

• Residential solar: Solutions offered through Evolve Green Homes.

According to CRISIL, Evolve Green Energies ranks among the leading solar companies nationally in both the rooftop EPC and rooftop OPEX developer categories. Its customer portfolio includes JK Lakshmi, Hitachi Energy, LG, Wheels India, Subros, Caplin Point and Shyam Metallics, among others.

Evolve to Showcase “The Whole Chain” at REI Expo 2026

Evolve will showcase its integrated capabilities at REI Expo 2026 through its pavilion, “The Whole Chain”. The showcase will highlight the Group’s capabilities across manufacturing, project execution, asset ownership and lifecycle maintenance, demonstrating how its integrated business model supports its long-term growth strategy.

About Evolve Energy Group

Headquartered in Chennai, Evolve Energy Group is an integrated solar energy platform spanning manufacturing, engineering, procurement and construction (EPC), renewable energy asset ownership, and operations and maintenance (O&M). Founded in 2011, the Group serves commercial, industrial and residential customers across multiple Indian states, with residential solar solutions offered through Evolve Green Homes.

Mr. Ashutosh Goenka, Chairman & Managing Director, Meenakshi India Limited
 

Background: recent BSE listing
BSE approved the Company's direct listing on the Main Board effective July 22, 2026, and trading began on July 28, 2026. The stock opened at Rs. 281.99, and the Company remains listed on the Calcutta Stock Exchange. The listing was a direct listing and not an IPO.
 

Rationale
The sub-division is intended to make the Company’s equity shares more liquid and affordable, encouraging greater participation from retail investors and widening the Company’s shareholder base. The Board believes that the sub-division is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.
 

What it means for shareholders

• More shares: Every shareholder on the record date will hold two shares for each share held before. For example, 100 shares of Rs. 10 face value become 200 shares of Rs. 5 face value.

• Lower face value: Face value per share moves from Rs. 10 to Rs. 5.

• Same ownership: Shareholders' proportionate ownership in the Company is unchanged.
  ​

Key dates

Further details on implementation will be communicated through the stock exchanges as required.
 

Management Comment
Commenting on the development, Mr. Ashutosh Goenka, Chairman & Managing Director, Meenakshi India Limited, said, "Meenakshi India has built a strong base of investors who share our long-term vision. This stock split is a step towards making our shares more accessible to a wider set of investors, especially retail shareholders. We believe it will improve liquidity in the stock and let more investors take part in the Company's growth journey.”
 

About Meenakshi (India) Limited

Meenakshi (India) Limited (CIN: L74300TN1987PLC014678) is an apparel manufacturer and exporter headquartered in Chennai and listed on BSE and the Calcutta Stock Exchange. The Company is committed to delivering value to its shareholders and to transparent communication with the investment community.

For more information, please visit the Company’s website at www.milgroup.in.
 

Investor Contact
Kanchan Rathi
Company Secretary & Compliance Officer
Meenakshi (India) Limited
New No. 29/16, Whites Road, Royapettah, Chennai – 600 014
Phone: +91-44-4263 6795 / +91-44-2858 2862
Email: investor.relations@milgroup.in
 

This press release is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to buy or sell securities. It is based on the Company's regulatory intimation dated September 30, 2026.

On stage Founders of Pour'd Cocktails (RTB Consumer Brands) accepting the honour

The recognition reflects a wider shift in India's alcobev industry. A growing number of homegrown startups are challenging a market long dominated by established brands and conventional formats. They are introducing new products built around how younger, urban consumers actually socialise. Ready-to-serve cocktails are one of the clearest examples. IWSR projects that India's ready-to-drink segment will grow at a compound annual rate of about 6% through 2034, ahead of several traditional beverage alcohol categories (Beverage Daily, September 2026).

Consumer tastes are also moving. Flavoured spirits, botanical gins and cocktail-led drinking have gained ground as Indian drinkers explore beyond straight pours and familiar mixers. Many are looking for variety, discovery and experiences they once found only at bars. Until recently, cocktails meant going out or mixing drinks at home. Ready-to-serve formats offer a third option: a pre-mixed, bottled cocktail, ready to pour over ice or top up with soda, cola or water. Several international and domestic brands have entered the space over the past year. Analysts, including Euromonitor, note that state-level taxation and regulation still limit how quickly the category can scale.

“Indian drinkers today are more curious and more experimental than ever. You can see it in the rise of flavoured spirits and in how quickly cocktail culture has grown beyond bars,” said Sahith Sethuraman, Co-founder, RTB Consumer Brands. “We build all our cocktails to taste the way they would at a good bar, every single time, and winning a blind tasting tells us that consistency comes through in the glass. It’s also encouraging to see Indian startups being recognised for bringing new formats to a category that hasn’t changed much in decades. There’s a lot of room to grow from here.”

Recently founded, Pour'd set out to make bar-style cocktails available beyond bars and restaurants. Its range removes the preparation involved in making cocktails at home while keeping the character of classic recipes.

About Pour'd

Pour'd is a ready-to-drink cocktail brand from RTB Consumer Brands Private Limited that brings bar-quality cocktails home. Three friends who share a love of great cocktails and good company founded it. The brand makes full-strength, balanced bottled cocktails with premium spirits, built on quality, consistency and convenience.

With 75% of Sky Towers and 95% of Highliving District sold, prices rise after Vijayadashami

The revision comes amid sustained buyer interest, limited inventory and rising land and construction costs. With 75% of Sky Towers sold and 95% of the Highliving District sold out, the price revision reflects strong demand for premium residences and the increasing cost of development.
 

The revised pricing also accounts for inflationary pressures and the rising cost of land across Chennai. Periodic price revisions are necessary to support the long-term financial sustainability of the project while maintaining its planned quality and scale.
 

SPR City offers an integrated township experience, bringing together residential communities, retail destinations, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, landscaped spaces and lifestyle amenities within one urban ecosystem.
 

Pricing will be reviewed periodically based on market conditions, construction costs, inflation and future project requirements. Further revisions may be considered in the coming months, depending on the evolution of these factors.
 

For prospective buyers, the period before the revised prices take effect after Vijayadashami offers an opportunity to purchase at current prices. With limited inventory remaining, particularly in the Highliving District, buyers looking to secure their preferred configuration at existing prices are encouraged to act promptly.
 

The upcoming revision reflects SPR City’s commitment to balancing strong customer demand with the evolving costs of developing a large-scale integrated township in Chennai.
 

About SPR City

SPR City is an integrated township in Perambur, Chennai, envisioned around the philosophy of Work, Live, Play, Learn and Commune. The development brings together residential communities, retail destinations, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, landscaped spaces and lifestyle amenities to create a comprehensive urban living destination.
 

For more information, please contact us @ 81000 81000 or visit our website www.sprindia.com.

Key findings: What India really thinks about pet adoption

• 56% of Indians surveyed have had a shelter or rescue adoption experience, compared with 42% globally.

• 69% of 25–34-year-olds have adopted, making younger Indians the strongest adoption cohort; 23% of this age group say they are ready to adopt today.

• 44% say housing rules have prevented them from getting a pet: more than double the 20% global figure.

• 54% of working Indians say their work arrangement makes them more likely to adopt, versus just 34% globally; this rises to 66% among 25–34-year-olds.

• 89% of adopters in India change their pet’s food after adoption, compared with 71% globally; almost half switch immediately rather than transitioning gradually.

• 44% of Indian pet owners trust a veterinarian most for feeding advice, compared with 57% globally, highlighting an opportunity to strengthen access to trusted veterinary guidance, particularly during the crucial period after adoption. 

Mars Global Adoption Survey reveals that uncertainty about an animal's background and a lack of expert advice can deter prospective pet adopters, highlighting a critical need for guidance throughout the adoption journey.

Mars Global Adoption Weekend drive across India

Launched ahead of the 2026 Mars Global Adoption Weekend, the study builds on findings from the 2023 Mars State of Pet Homelessness survey, which estimated that 69.3 million pets in India are homeless. The latest survey takes a closer look at the barriers that may prevent people from adopting pets and explores how to address these challenges so more pets can find loving homes and stay with their families for life. 

A survey of 2,000 people in India found encouraging potential for pet adoption: 25% of current pet parents who did not adopt said they would consider adoption in the future with the right guidance and support.

Navigating the Rescue Reality with Confidence
Among those considering adoption, the most common concerns stem from the unknown, including undiscovered medical history (34%), behavioral background (23%) and household compatibility (27%).

The study also highlights an opportunity for greater nutrition expertise and guidance. With 89% of adopters in India changing their pet’s diet after leaving the shelter, expert support can play an important role in helping pet parents navigate the transition and ensure their pets receive appropriate, complete and balanced nutrition in a safe and informed way.  

According to Manish Syag, Managing Director, Mars Pet Nutrition, India, said “Every pet deserves to be safe, healthy, and loved. Adoption is one of the most powerful ways we can help give animals that future. Our research shows encouraging momentum for adoption in India, with 56% of respondents having had a shelter or rescue adoption experience, compared with 42% globally. But creating a better world for pets goes beyond finding them homes; it requires sustained action across animal welfare, responsible pet ownership, and the communities in which pets and people live. At Mars, we are working across this ecosystem through animal birth control, vaccination, and community education programmes. This also includes supporting Humane World for Animals’ National ABC Training Centre in Lucknow through the Mars Impact Fund. Our efforts also include Adoption Weekend initiatives, feeding programmes in partnership with leading NGOs, and our Better Cities for Pets work in Bengaluru.  Through Mars Global Adoption Weekend, we want to build on this initiative by bringing more prospective pet parents and animals together, while helping adopters access the information and support they need to make adoption a confident, lifelong commitment.”

Clearing the Path to Responsible Adoption 
To help clear the path to pet adoption, the company launches a new online Mars Adoption Hub that offers expert-backed advice, drawing on the Waltham Petcare Science Institute's extensive knowledge and practical resources for pre- and post-adoption support.

When the right support is in place, the reward of adopting a pet is clear: Pet parents cite seeing an adopted pet become relaxed and comfortable in their home (40%) and feeling like part of the family (43%) as the most fulfilling milestones of adoption.

Geeta Seshamani, Vice President, Friendicoes, said, “As more people open their homes to pets, it is important that adoption remains at the heart of the conversation. We were delighted to collaborate with Mars to encourage more people and families to consider adopting rescued pets and to understand the responsibility that comes with welcoming a pet into their lives. Through initiatives like these, we hope to create greater awareness around responsible pet parenting and help more animals find loving homes.” 

Veterinarian and Pet Nutrition & Health Science Expert - Esther Bijsmans, DVM, PhD Mars Pet Nutrition comments: “Adopting a pet is an exciting and rewarding experience, but practical guidance is key to building confidence and helping pets and their owners thrive together. 

“When welcoming home a new pet, we encourage pet parents to follow the 3-3-3 rule: the first three days are about helping a new pet feel safe, the first three weeks are about establishing routines, learning the household dynamic and building trust; and by three months, most pets will have begun to settle in. Patience and bond-building play a central role.

“Nutrition also plays a vital role in a pet’s overall well-being. A common mistake is switching food too quickly. Instead, gradually transition to a new diet over 7–10 days to support healthy digestion and help pets adjust comfortably.” 

Global Impact, Local Action
Building on the incredible success of last year, the 2026 Mars Global Adoption Weekend expanded to over 30 countries, supporting shelters around the world, helping more pets find homes.

As part of Mars Global Adoption Weekend, a worldwide initiative to help pets find loving homes, adoption drives are being held across eight Indian cities: Bengaluru, Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Coimbatore, Jaipur, Ranchi and Hyderabad. In partnership with trusted local shelters and rescue organisations, including Friendicoes, Street Dogs of Ranchi, Humane Animal Society, Ubasti Cat Café, Help in Suffering and YODA, these drives connect prospective adopters with pets ready for adoption and provide expert guidance throughout the process. 
Ready to adopt? Visit the Mars Adoption Hub to find participating shelters in India during Global Adoption Weekend and access resources to help you prepare for life with your new pet.

References: 
Global: The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 26,002 General Consumers across the UK, USA, France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Mexico, India, Poland, Philippines, Canada, Italy, and Japan (18+). The data was collected between 16.07.2026 - 29.07.2026. Censuswide is a member of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the British Polling Council (BPC), and a signatory of the Global Data Quality Pledge. We adhere to the MRS Code of Conduct and ESOMAR principles.

India: ¹The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 2,000 General Consumers across India (18+). The data was collected between 16.07.2026 - 23.07.2026. Censuswide is a member of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the British Polling Council (BPC), and a signatory of the Global Data Quality Pledge. We adhere to the MRS Code of Conduct and ESOMAR principles.

Real Feedback, Real Improvement, A better Ai+ Experience

Across its smartphone portfolio, customers have appreciated Ai+Smartphone for its design, camera capabilities, battery life, performance and value for money. The Nova 2 Neo 5G has received positive feedback for its battery performance and accessibility, while the Nova 2 Power 5G has been appreciated for its overall experience and dual-tone design, particularly the Blue Fusion colour. The Nova 2 Ultra 5G has been recognised for its photography experience, performance and AMOLED display. Similarly, the Nova 2 5G and Nova 2 Pro 5G have received encouraging responses for their overall experience and value, while the Ai+ Pulse 2 has been appreciated for its battery, display and design.

Beyond positive reviews, Ai+Smartphone is actively using customer feedback to identify and address areas for improvement. Concerns related to camera stability, connectivity and device performance have been shared with product and technical teams, informing targeted over-the-air (OTA) updates and product refinements. The Nova 2 Ultra 5G, for instance, has received software updates aimed at improving camera stability. These insights are also being considered during product reviews and pre-launch testing to strengthen the experience offered by future devices.

Ai+ Smartphone has also made independent pre-launch evaluations an integral part of its product development approach through Project Open Review, inviting external feedback on its devices before they reach consumers. As of now we have over thousand registrations, from reviewers, creators, journalists, tech enthusiasts and, for the first time, ethical hackers to independently evaluate our devices. The initiative enables the brand to gather honest, unscripted feedback and incorporate necessary refinements into its products ahead of launch, reinforcing its commitment to Trust through Transparency.

Commenting on the approach, Archi Gogoi, Head of Brand, Marketing & Growth at Ai+ Smartphone, said, “At Ai+ Smartphone, we believe that building better technology starts with listening to the people who use it. Customer feedback helps us understand what we are getting right and where we need to improve. Whether through software updates, stronger product testing or more responsive after-sales support, our focus is on translating these insights into meaningful action. As we grow, we want our customers to know that their voices play an important role in shaping the Ai+ experience.”

The brand is also strengthening its after-sales operations through daily feedback collection, improved case tracking and closer coordination between customer support and technical teams. Dedicated teams conduct pre-launch testing to identify potential concerns, while software-related issues identified through customer interactions are being addressed. Where spare parts availability affects repair timelines, handset replacements are arranged wherever required and feasible to minimise customer inconvenience.

To make customer support more responsive and personalised, Ai+ Smartphone has strengthened its social media feedback and escalation process. Dedicated teams regularly monitor customer messages, comments and mentions, ensuring concerns are reviewed, prioritised and coordinated with Customer Service for timely action. The process focuses on proactive engagement, structured follow-ups and tracking cases through to resolution, helping deliver a more consistent and accountable customer experience. Ai+ Smartphone currently aims to resolve most service concerns within three to four days, depending on the nature of the issue and spare parts availability.

Ai+ Smartphone also plans to introduce customer experience videos following service resolution to better understand customer satisfaction and identify opportunities for improvement. Alongside product reviews and service feedback, these insights will help the brand refine its support processes, improve turnaround times and incorporate customer learnings into future product and service decisions.

As Ai+ Smartphone continues to expand its portfolio, customer feedback will remain central to how the brand evolves. By connecting real-world experiences with product development, software enhancements and after-sales improvements, Ai+ Smartphone is reinforcing its commitment to building technology not just for its users, but with them.

About Ai+ Smartphone

Ai+ Smartphone is a next-generation brand built in India, delivering reliable and high-performance mobile experiences. Powered by NxtQuantum OS, India’s first sovereign mobile operating system. The brand focuses on delivering a clean design, ensuring long battery life, and maintaining trusted software performance, all while keeping prices accessible without compromising the user experience.

From redefining smartphones to pioneering AIoT products as part of the company's Connected Ecosystem, Ai+ Smartphone is creating a new standard for trust, immersive experience, and accessibility. Rooted in a privacy-first architecture and a commitment to equitable access, Ai+ Smartphone stands for more than specs — it stands for India’s next era of user-owned, future-ready technology.

About Ai+ and NxtQuantum Shift Technologies

NxtQuantum Shift Technologies is a deep-tech Indian company building secure, sovereign digital platforms for a digital-first world. Founded by Madhav Sheth, the company develops NxtQuantum OS, India's first sovereign operating system, and is committed to building technology that is designed, engineered and developed in India while remaining globally competitive.

Elephants in Haathi Gaon in Jaipur in Rajasthan Photograph Credit : Shubhobroto Ghosh

“As the global community observes World Food Day on October 16, 2026, under the guiding theme “Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow.” attention turns intensely toward building truly sustainable food and agricultural systems. In India, achieving comprehensive food security requires looking far beyond food availability to address the profound confluence of agriculture, animal welfare, and ecosystem conservation. True food security cannot exist in isolation from how we treat sentient creatures and the fragile natural networks that sustain all life on Earth,” says Gajender Kumar Sharma, Country Director of World Animal Protection in India.
 

Livestock farming for food is also linked to the destruction of pristine forests, and World Animal Protection has been promoting plant-based diets for a more responsible and environmentally friendly footprint. Proper labelling of vegetarian, non-vegetarian, and vegan products also goes a long way toward making consumers aware of their impact on the planet. The recently concluded BRICS Summit in India declaration mentions zoonotic diseases and includes cooperation on zoonotic threats and global health security, as well as biodiversity conservation, conservation of rare species and big cats, and sustainable livestock development. The government of India has very kindly informed World Animal Protection that animal welfare and wildlife trade will be addressed in future BRICS gatherings, where appropriate.
 

The government of India is positive toward embracing the concept of One Health, which encompasses animal welfare, human health, and environmental protection. Factory farming exacerbates the risk of zoonoses and the risks of epidemics. In the wake of coronavirus, it has become an imperative to treat animals humanely in all situations and to make systemic changes to animal rearing processes that are utilised to produce meat, fish, dairy, and eggs. World Animal Protection has welcomed the second Anti-Microbial Resistance Plan of the Government of India to address the damage to animal welfare, harm to human health, and the destruction of the environment that accompanies the irresponsible use of antibiotics in the chicken and livestock rearing industries. World Animal Protection continues to engage with various stakeholders on both wildlife and food systems to eliminate cruelty to animals.
 

Engaging with important stakeholders on the occasion of World Animal Day and Wildlife Week, World Animal Protection conducted a sensitisation programme with over two hundred and fifty students, parents, and teachers during an NGO gathering organised by the Cambridge School, Srinivaspuri on the occasion of the Parent-Teacher meeting. The occasion was a very fruitful one that resulted in many memorable interactions that brought to light many instances of animal abuse in food, fashion, and wildlife in entertainment. Several individuals expressed their interest in finding humane alternatives to cruel animal products like fur, leather, feathers, and silk, and also resolved not to patronise animal abuse in the wildlife entertainment sector by avoiding elephant rides and refusing to attend close-contact sessions with big cats in captive tiger venues in countries like Thailand.
 

As part of the ongoing corporate engagement, five tour companies, UnBound Expeditions, Going Wild Tours, Hetalbon Resort , North East Travels and Wild Paw Adventures have taken the wildlife friendly pledge of World Animal Protection and do not offer elephant rides in their itineraries. Engagement continues on developing humane food systems with relevant government and non government agencies as well.
 

Highlighting the importance of keeping wild spaces in India and free from the impacts of factory farming needs robust research and investigation. In this regard it is notable to read the book, ‘Rewilding India: The CWS Story’ written by Deepa Padmanaban and edited by Dr. Krithi K. Karanth. There is considerable work to do in India to determine how rearing animals for food impacts our wild spaces and this book gives us food for thought on the importance of wild areas in India and beyond.
 

Today we are witnessing unprecedented cases of wildlife trade all over the world, and India has become a hotbed of wild animal seizures that point to a growing demand for non-native exotic pets. World Animal Protection is also grateful to influencers like Bhagyashree and Koneenica Banerjee for promoting compassion to animals in all walks of life. Our campaign for humane treatment of all sentient beings continues in all possible ways.
 

For more information, please contact

Contact Person: Mr. Gajender Kumar Sharma, Country Director, World Animal Protection in India

Email: gajenderksharma@worldanimalprotection.org.in

Mobile Phone: +91 9313333283

Highlights of L&T Finance Ltd.'s financial performance in Q2FY27

L&T Finance continues to advance its Lakshya 2031 ambition of becoming a risk-first, technology-first and AI-native retail financial services institution. The Company is embedding intelligence across customer acquisition, underwriting, portfolio management, servicing and cross-selling.

In Q2FY27, the Company’s flagship PLANET app reinforced its status as a core digital engine for the Company - surpassing 2.7 crore downloads. The application now services 94% of the total service requests generated by its customers, and has driven collections of Rs. 2,168 Crore during the quarter, coupled with a business generating of Rs. 5,934 Crore in business.

Further strengthening its rural reach, PLANET app introduced a dedicated rural interface with a clear, intuitive and clutter-free UI, offering multilingual capabilities, including Hindi. This enables rural customers to navigate the app more easily, access services in a familiar language and complete transactions with greater convenience and confidence.

The Company’s Partner PLANET app has emerged as a dedicated digital platform designed to strengthen engagement with its dealer network by bringing key business information, retail performance insights and operational services onto a single interface. The platform enables dealers to access business metrics, monitor retail performance, manage Trade Advance requirements and track operational requests, enhancing transparency, convenience, and efficiency across the dealer ecosystem.

Commenting on the financial results Mr. Sudipta Roy, Managing Director & CEO, LTF, said, "Q2FY27 has been yet another strong quarter for L&T Finance with strong delivery across all business parameters, laying a solid foundation for our Lakshya 2031 journey with a sustained business momentum. These outcomes reflect the strength of our diversified retail franchise, the discipline of our execution and our continued focus on delivering sustainable, risk-calibrated growth. Despite uncertainties in the macroeconomic environment, inflation pressures, and seasonal headwinds, our resilient business model enabled us to navigate these macro dynamics effectively while expanding key focus verticals like Gold Finance, Micro Loan Against Property, Personal Loans, and Two-Wheeler Finance. Our approach will continue to be guided by disciplined underwriting, strengthened risk guardrails, granular portfolio monitoring and a strong collections framework. We believe that responsible growth and superior portfolio quality must go hand in hand.

As we progress on our Lakshya 2031 journey, we remain focused on strengthening our granular distribution channels, expanding our branch footprint and enhancing our digital acquisition capabilities. Our investments in artificial intelligence, particularly through our AI-powered credit administration and portfolio management frameworks are expected to further enhance credit decision-making, identify early warning signals and drive greater operational efficiency. These capabilities will help us build a more agile, scalable and resilient organisation.

Our priority remains to sustain profitable growth, improve returns and strengthen the quality of our franchise. We are confident that our investments in technology, distribution and risk management will help us navigate evolving market conditions while progressing towards our long-term strategic ambitions.”

Key Highlights:

Building a diversified retail franchise:

Retail disbursements for Q2FY27 stand at Rs. 24,027 Crore vs. Rs. 18,883 Crore in Q2FY26, a growth of 27% YoY. The Retail Book size for Q2FY27 stands at Rs. 1,34,600 Crore vs. Rs. 1,04,607 Crore in Q2FY26, registering a growth of 29% YoY. Growth was driven by all business segments across rural and urban geographies with a focus on high yielding loan products.

Rural Business Finance:

• Book size up 22% YoY to Rs. 33,465 Crore vs. Rs. 27,460 Crore in the quarter ended September 30, 2025 (Q2FY26)

• Quarterly disbursements for the quarter ended September 30, 2026, at Rs. 6,356 Crore vs. Rs. 6,316 Crore, up 1% YoY

Farmer Finance:

• Book size up 9% YoY to Rs. 17,397 Crore vs. Rs. 15,943 Crore in Q2FY26

• Quarterly disbursements for the quarter ended September 30, 2026, at Rs. 1,643 Crore vs. Rs. 1,654 Crore, down 1% YoY

Two-wheeler Finance:

• Book size up 24% YoY to Rs. 16,158 Crore vs. Rs. 13,013 Crore in Q2FY26

• Quarterly disbursements for the quarter ended September 30, 2026, at Rs. 3,170 Crore vs. Rs. 2,512 Crore, up 26% YoY

Personal Loans:

• Book size up 72% YoY to Rs. 18,664 Crore vs. Rs. 10,878 Crore in Q2FY26

• Quarterly disbursements for the quarter ended September 30, 2026, at Rs. 4,233 Crore vs. Rs. 2,918 Crore, up 45% YoY

• Partnered with Pine Labs to introduce Agentic Commerce and Payments on L&T Finance PLANET App

Housing Loans and Loan Against Property (LAP):

• Book size up 20% YoY to Rs. 32,846 Crore vs. Rs. 27,407 Crore in Q2FY26

• Quarterly disbursements for the quarter ended September 30, 2026, at Rs. 2,926 Crore vs. Rs. 2,713 Crore, up 8% YoY

SME Finance:

• Book size up 27% YoY to Rs. 9,495 Crore vs. Rs. 7,465 Crore in Q2FY26

• Quarterly disbursements for the quarter ended September 30, 2026, at Rs. 1,820 Crore vs. Rs. 1,468 Crore, up 24% YoY

Gold Finance:

• Book size up 242% YoY to Rs. 5,043 Crore vs. Rs. 1,475 Crore in Q2FY26

• Quarterly disbursements for the quarter ended September 30, 2026, at Rs. 3,237 Crore vs. Rs. 983 Crore, up 229% YoY

• Launched an integrated marketing campaign featuring brand ambassador Jasprit Bumrah under the tagline "Koi Bhi Sapna Hold Mat Karo, L&T Finance Gold Loan Karo," covering key markets across eight states and one union territory, and reaching consumers through approximately 150 LTF branches

About L&T Finance Ltd. (LTF)

L&T Finance Ltd. (LTF) ( www.LTFINANCE.com ), is a leading Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC), offering a range of financial products and services. Headquartered in Mumbai, the Company has been rated ‘AAA’ — the highest credit rating — by four leading domestic rating agencies. LTF is also rated by International Rating Agencies. S&P Global Ratings has affirmed LTF with long-term Issuer Credit Rating at “BBB/Stable” and short-term issuer credit rating at “A-2”. Fitch Ratings has affirmed LTF Long-Term Foreign and Local-Currency Issuer Default Ratings of “BBB-” with a Stable outlook. It has also received leadership scores and ratings by global and national Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) rating providers for its sustainability performance. The Company has been certified as a Great Place To Work® and has also won many prestigious awards for its flagship CSR project – “Digital Sakhi”- which focuses on women's empowerment and digital and financial inclusion. Under Right to Win, being in the ‘right businesses’ has helped the Company become one of the leading financiers in key Retail products. The Company is focused on transforming into a Risk-first, Technology-first, AI-native Retail financial services institution as part of the Lakshya 2031 plan. The Company has over 3 Crore customer database, which is being leveraged to cross-sell, up-sell, and identify new customers.

Meet “Hey, I'm DG”, the Digital Genie and new conversational AI feature within DocuGenie.AI, designed to make enterprise information easier to access

Positioned as the Digital Genie, the new feature allows enterprise users to interact with documents and connected business information through natural-language questions. Instead of manually searching lengthy records, reviewing multiple files or navigating different systems, users can ask questions and receive relevant answers, summaries and supporting references.

The launch also marks a step towards SecureKloud's vision of an AI-powered digital workforce, where intelligent assistants work alongside people to simplify everyday enterprise operations.

From Document Processing to Conversational Intelligence

Enterprises manage large volumes of information across financial statements, loan files, customer records, operational documents and business applications. Finding specific information often requires teams to review multiple sources, compare details and interpret complex data.

DocuGenie.AI already helps enterprises ingest, classify, extract and validate information from structured and unstructured documents. With "Hey, I'm DG", SecureKloud extends these capabilities to conversational AI, allowing users to explore processed information through simple, everyday questions.

The feature is designed to help users move beyond document search towards contextual understanding. Responses can be traced to underlying source information, supporting more informed review and decision-making.

Making Enterprise Information Easier to Access

"Hey, I'm DG" supports document-intensive business workflows across industries. In banking and financial services, users can ask questions about factors contributing to loan defaults, identify applications awaiting review or examine missing documentation and pending legal checks. These use cases complement DocuGenie.AI capabilities in Bank Statement Analysis and Loan Against Property (LAP) Automation.

When connected to relevant enterprise systems, the feature can help bring together information from documents and lending platforms such as Loan Origination Systems (LOS) and Loan Management Systems (LMS).

In logistics, teams can use conversational queries to investigate shipment exceptions, review supporting documents and understand operational discrepancies without manually searching through multiple records.

By making information easier to retrieve and interpret, the feature aims to reduce repetitive investigation and help teams focus on the decisions that require their attention.

Bringing AI Closer to Everyday Enterprise Work

"Hey, I'm DG" reflects SecureKloud's approach to making enterprise AI more accessible within existing business workflows. Rather than requiring users to learn complex search methods, the feature introduces a conversational interface for working with document intelligence.

It builds on the capabilities of DocuGenie.AI, which supports document automation across lending, onboarding, logistics and manufacturing workflows.

With this addition, SecureKloud continues to expand DocuGenie.AI from intelligent document processing towards more interactive, decision-ready enterprise intelligence.

"Enterprises have invested heavily in digitising information, but accessing the right insights at the right time remains a challenge. With 'Hey, I'm DG', we want to change that. Whether in banking, lending, logistics, legal services or healthcare, teams should spend more time making decisions, not searching for the information behind them. That is the value we aim to deliver with our Digital Genie. It also marks an important step towards our vision of an AI-powered digital workforce, where intelligent assistants work alongside people to simplify operations and improve productivity," said Venkateswaran Krishnamurthy, Chief Revenue Officer and Whole-Time Director, SecureKloud Technologies Limited.

As the Digital Genie evolves, SecureKloud aims to explore new ways for AI-powered assistants to support enterprise workflows, making business information easier to access, understand and act upon.

About SecureKloud Technologies

SecureKloud Technologies Ltd. is a global technology company with over 17 years of expertise in AI-powered digital transformation, cloud-native SaaS enablement, intelligent cloud managed services, and intelligent automation. Its portfolio spans Intelligent Document Automation through DocuGenie.AI, AI and data engineering, cloud transformation, FinOps, SaaS delivery, and 24x7 operational support.

Backed by industry-recognised certifications and compliance frameworks, including SOC 2, ISO 27001:2022, DPDP, GDPR, ISO 9001, ISO 20000, and CMMI Level 3, SecureKloud delivers secure, scalable, and compliant digital operations for modern enterprises.

For more information:

Website: www.securekloud.com.

DocuGenie.AI™: www.docugenieai.com.

Bigg Boss 20 Winner Prediction Showdown

While the final result will depend on audience voting and what happens in the coming weeks, ScoutOP, Yung DSA and Kanika Mann have emerged as three contestants worth watching closely.

Based on their current gameplay, audience engagement, public profile, and astrological indicators, astrologers currently see ScoutOP as the strongest contender for the Bigg Boss 20 trophy.

Three Contestants of BB20 Who Could Go All the Way

1. ScoutOP: The Digital Star With a Competitive Edge

Tanmay Singh, popularly known as ScoutOP, entered Bigg Boss 20 with an advantage that few contestants can match - a large and highly engaged digital audience.

The gamer and streamer has built his career through esports, livestreaming and digital content, giving him a strong connection with India's gaming community. Reports around his entry into the show have highlighted his substantial social media following, including around 4.4 million Instagram followers.

His competitive background could also play an important role inside the Bigg Boss house. Esports requires:

• Quick decision-making

• Strategic thinking

• Performing under pressure

• Adapting to opponents

• Maintaining focus during competition

These qualities can translate well into Bigg Boss, where contestants have to constantly respond to changing alliances, tasks and house dynamics.

An unofficial Bigg Boss fan leaderboard currently places ScoutOP among the leading contestants in terms of fan engagement. However, these numbers are not official voting figures and should only be viewed as an indication of online interest.

2. Yung DSA: The Contestant Willing to Take Charge

Harsh Machare, better known as Yung DSA, represents a different kind of threat.

The rapper and hip-hop artist has already demonstrated that he is willing to take responsibility and put himself in competitive situations. His victory in the first captaincy task gave him an early opportunity to establish his presence inside the house.

His strengths include:

• A strong and outspoken personality

• Willingness to participate in house dynamics

• Competitive temperament

• Ability to take responsibility

• Strong screen presence

His challenge, however, will be maintaining a balance between being outspoken and avoiding unnecessary conflicts.

In a show where public perception can change quickly, how a contestant handles disagreements can be just as important as how they perform in tasks.

3. Kanika Mann: Experience Meets a Strong Television Connect

Kanika Mann brings a different advantage to the competition.

Having already established herself through television and reality programming, she entered the Bigg Boss house with familiarity among a significant section of the Hindi television audience.

Her previous experience could help her understand the demands of a reality-show environment, while her willingness to express her opinions has kept her involved in the house's major conversations.

• Her key strengths include:

• Existing television fan base

• Previous reality-show experience

• Strong communication skills

• Ability to express her opinions

• Familiarity with the entertainment audience

She also recently received public support from actress Mouni Roy, who praised her Bigg Boss journey and the way she has been conducting herself in the house.

ScoutOP vs Yung DSA vs Kanika Mann: Who Has the Edge?

The three contestants bring different strengths to the competition.

Based on these factors, ScoutOP currently has an interesting combination of digital reach, competitive experience and visibility.

But there is another factor that makes his candidature particularly interesting for astrology apps like Neo Astro from an astrological perspective.

What Does Astrology Say About ScoutOP?

ScoutOP was born on July 30, 1996, according to publicly available profiles, making him a Leo according to Western Sun-sign astrology.

Leo is traditionally associated with qualities such as:

• Confidence

• Leadership

• Self-expression

• Determination

• Visibility

• Competitive spirit

These characteristics can be relevant in a reality-show format where contestants need to establish a distinct identity and remain visible throughout the season.

However, astrology also suggests that strong personalities need to manage their reactions carefully. In a confined environment like Bigg Boss, disagreements and emotional reactions can quickly influence public perception.

Therefore, ScoutOP's ability to combine his competitive nature with patience, emotional control and relationship management could become an important factor in his journey.

Why ScoutOP Could Win Bigg Boss 20

When the different factors are considered together, ScoutOP currently has a particularly strong winning profile.

His biggest advantages are:

• A large existing audience: His popularity was established long before entering Bigg Boss, particularly among gaming and digital audiences.

• Competitive experience: His esports background has exposed him to pressure, strategic decision-making and high-stakes competition.

• Strong visibility: A Bigg Boss winner needs to remain part of the audience conversation. ScoutOP's personality and digital following give him an advantage in this area.

• Leadership-oriented personality: His Leo Sun sign is traditionally associated with confidence, leadership and a desire to stand out.

• Online audience momentum: Unofficial fan-poll indicators currently show significant interest around his candidature, although these should not be confused with official Bigg Boss voting results.

Neo Astro's Bigg Boss 20 Winner Prediction: ScoutOP

After considering gameplay, audience momentum, digital following, competitive experience and astrological indicators, Neo Astro astrologers currently give the edge to ScoutOP.

This astrology prediction isn't based on astrology alone. His existing digital community gives him a potentially strong voting base, while his competitive background could help him handle tasks and strategic situations.

At the same time, his biggest challenge could be managing the intensity that makes him competitive in the first place. Maintaining relationships, avoiding unnecessary conflicts and staying consistent with viewers will be crucial as the competition becomes tougher.

If he manages to combine his competitive instincts with emotional balance and continues building a genuine connection with the audience, ScoutOP could emerge as one of the strongest candidates to lift the Bigg Boss 20 trophy.

Yung DSA and Kanika Mann remain serious contenders, and the dynamics of the Bigg Boss house can change rapidly. But based on the factors available at this stage, ScoutOP has the edge in Neo Astro's winner prediction.

Disclaimer

This prediction is based on publicly available information, contestant performance, audience trends and astrological interpretations. It is intended for entertainment and informational purposes only and should not be considered a guaranteed prediction of the Bigg Boss 20 winner. The final result will depend on the contestants' performance, nominations and the show's official voting process.

Polymarket assigns a 65% probability to Bitcoin reaching USD90,000 before year-end. The odds fall to 44% for USD95,000 and 29% for USD100,000. These contracts concern Bitcoin touching the specified price before the deadline. They do not predict its closing price on 31 December.

The gap gives traders a useful starting point. A recovery towards USD90,000 has majority backing on that market. A move into six figures would require a stronger advance than participants currently consider likely.

“Bitcoin at USD100,000 remains possible, but traders putting money behind that outcome give it roughly a three-in-ten chance,” said Rajagopal Menon, Vice President, WazirX. “We would watch whether ETF inflows persist as Bitcoin rises and whether spot buying strengthens near resistance. Continued demand at higher prices would give us more confidence in the rally.”

Traders see scope for a recovery, but a six-figure Bitcoin price remains a minority expectation heading into the final months of 2026

Do prediction markets deserve attention

Platforms such as Polymarket and Kalshi allow participants to buy contracts tied to specific outcomes. Winning contracts pay out according to their terms. Participants risk their own capital, giving them a financial incentive to assess new information and revise their positions.

These markets attracted widespread attention during the 2024 US presidential election. On 4 November, Reuters reported that Polymarket assigned Donald Trump approximately a 57% chance of winning, while conventional polling averages showed an exceptionally close contest. Kalshi narrowly favoured Trump at 51%. He subsequently won the election.

Earlier that year, Polymarket had put the probability of Joe Biden withdrawing from the presidential race at approximately 80% on 18 July. Biden announced his withdrawal three days later.

Those outcomes helped establish prediction markets as another source of information for investors. Their prices remain sensitive to liquidity and large positions. Polls and prediction markets also measure different things: voting intentions in one case and the probability of an outcome in the other.

Expectations have already weakened

Kalshi’s own report on 6 October placed Bitcoin’s probability of reaching USD100,000 this year at 40%. The market reading reviewed on 14 October was approximately 30%.

That ten percentage point decline shows how quickly expectations can change within a supposedly favourable seasonal window.

Bitcoin’s year-end record also gives traders reason to examine the conditions behind each rally. Strong fourth-quarter gains in 2023 and 2024 were followed by a sharp correction in 2025. CoinGecko recorded a 23.7% decline in total cryptocurrency market capitalization during Q4 2025.

What could improve the odds?

The Federal Reserve raised its benchmark rate by 25 basis points in September to a range of 3.75–4%. Further tightening would make the setting more difficult for Bitcoin, particularly if Treasury yields and the dollar strengthen. In 2026, US equities have shown signs of consolidation after their mid-year rally, with the Dow Jones trading near 51,670, while the VIX around 15 suggests relatively contained equity-market volatility.

ETF demand could help absorb selling pressure. Its persistence will matter as much as individual daily inflows. Several weeks of net buying, alongside stronger spot-market activity, would provide better evidence that investors are willing to increase exposure. Institutional ETF flows have shown a noticeable shift entering Q4 2026. CoinGlass data indicates that September witnessed approximately USD3.3 billion in net crypto ETF inflows, supported by several strong institutional buying sessions. However, early October has seen a reversal, with approximately USD900 million in net outflows through October 12.

Derivatives data can help assess the strength of a price move. A rally accompanied by rapidly rising leverage can become vulnerable to forced selling. Continued spot purchases would provide firmer support.

For Indian traders, USD/INR movements also affect rupee-denominated returns. Bitcoin’s international price and its domestic value can move by different amounts.

WazirX will track whether the probability of USD100,000 rises alongside sustained buying. If Bitcoin advances while those odds remain subdued, traders should examine how much conviction sits behind the move.

Times Higher Education Asia Universities Summit 2027
 

The 2027 summit will focus on “Talent, transition and scale: Leading in an era of expansion,” with discussions on the opportunities and challenges shaping higher education, including talent development, technological transformation, internationalisation, research and innovation, demographic change and climate resilience.
 

The summit will also feature the live reveal of THE Asia University Rankings 2027 and the winners’ ceremony for THE Asia Awards 2027, bringing together leading institutions and higher-education professionals from across the region.
 

Dr H S Ballal, Pro Chancellor, MAHE, said, “Hosting the Times Higher Education Asia Universities Summit in India highlights the nation's growing role in global higher education. MAHE is proud to host this international event at our Bengaluru campus and to participate in discussions that could shape the future of universities, education, and research across Asia.”
 

Speaking about the summit, Dr Sharath K. Rao, Vice Chancellor, MAHE, said, “Hosting the Times Higher Education Asia Universities Summit 2027 at MAHE Bengaluru is an important opportunity to promote meaningful dialogue about the future of higher education in Asia. As the summit comes to India for the first time, MAHE looks forward to welcoming university leaders, academicians, policymakers and industry representatives to Bengaluru and to creating opportunities for knowledge exchange, collaboration and innovation.”
 

The summit will showcase MAHE Bengaluru's technology and innovation environment and provide international delegates with an opportunity to engage with the university’s academic and research ecosystem.
 

About Manipal Academy of Higher Education

Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) is an Institution of Eminence Deemed to be University. MAHE offers over 400 specialisations across the Health Sciences (HS), Management, Law, Humanities & Social Sciences (MLHS), and Technology & Science (T&S) streams through its constituent units at campuses in Manipal, Mangalore, Bengaluru, Jamshedpur, and Dubai. With a remarkable track record in academics, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and significant contributions to research, MAHE has earned recognition and acclaim both nationally and internationally. In 2020, the Ministry of Education, Government of India, awarded MAHE the prestigious Institution of Eminence status. Currently ranked 3^rd in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2025 rankings, MAHE is the preferred choice for students seeking a transformative learning experience and enriching campus life, as well as for national and multinational corporations seeking top talent.
 

Event: THE Asia Universities Summit 2027
Dates: 20-22 April 2027
Venue: MAHE Campus, Govindapura, Yelahanka, Bengaluru
Theme: Talent, transition and scale: Leading in an era of expansion
Host: Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE)
Organiser: Times Higher Education (THE)
 

For more information, please click the link: shorturl.at/oOQRi

JagPaavani, offered by The Art of Living - Sri Sri Naisargik, is a fermented plant-based extract designed to support plant nutrition, enhance soil fertility, and improve crop productivity. Enriched with beneficial microorganisms, essential nutrients, organic acids, and bioactive metabolites, it supports soil biological activity and plant growth. By encouraging efficient nutrient utilisation and reducing dependence on chemical inputs, JagPaavani aims to support resilient farming systems and the gradual restoration of soil vitality.

From Chemical Inputs to Natural Growth: JagPaavani Empowers Farmers, Revives Soil, and Nurtures Tomorrow’s Harvests

Modern agriculture has significantly improved crop productivity, but prolonged dependence on synthetic fertilisers and chemical inputs has raised concerns about soil health and long-term farm sustainability. Repeated chemical applications can affect soil organic carbon, beneficial microorganisms, and natural nutrient cycles, gradually increasing farmers’ dependence on external inputs to maintain yields.

JagPaavani by Sri Sri Naisargik: Reviving Soil, Nourishing Plants, Enriching Harvests Naturally

Healthy soil is a living ecosystem that depends on organic matter, balanced nutrition, and microbial diversity. As awareness of sustainable agriculture grows, natural farming solutions are gaining attention for their potential to restore soil vitality, improve nutrient availability, and support resilient crop production.

JagPaavani, a fermented plant-based formulation offered under Sri Sri Naisargik, is designed to support plant nutrition, enhance soil fertility, and promote crop growth through natural biological processes. Rich in beneficial microorganisms, essential nutrients, organic acids, and bioactive metabolites, the formulation serves as a natural fertiliser and plant growth promoter, supporting farmers seeking sustainable approaches to cultivation.

Supporting Plant Growth Through Soil Biology

JagPaavani’s effectiveness lies in its biologically active composition, which supports multiple processes involved in plant development. Natural growth-promoting substances, including auxins, gibberellins, and cytokinins, play important roles in root development, flowering, and fruit formation.

Beneficial microorganisms help improve nutrient availability by supporting processes such as atmospheric nitrogen fixation and the solubilisation of minerals, including phosphorus, potash, and zinc. Organic acids contribute to soil structure, moisture retention, and microbial activity, while enzymes support the decomposition of organic matter and composting processes.

Together, these biological mechanisms help create favourable conditions for plant growth and contribute to soil fertility. Such formulations can complement balanced nutrient management practices, particularly for farmers looking to gradually reduce their dependence on synthetic agricultural inputs.

Strengthening Soil Vitality and Crop Resilience

Regular use of JagPaavani as part of an appropriate crop nutrition programme can support nutrient absorption, root development, and overall crop vigour. By encouraging beneficial microbial activity, the formulation supports natural nutrient cycling and the long-term improvement of soil quality.

Improved soil structure and moisture retention can also help create better growing conditions, while healthy root systems support more efficient nutrient uptake. These benefits are particularly relevant as farmers face challenges associated with changing climatic conditions, water availability, and declining soil fertility.

Biological inputs also play a role in supporting ecological balance by encouraging natural soil processes. Their integration into farming practices can contribute to more sustainable nutrient management and help farmers transition towards cultivation methods that prioritise soil health alongside crop productivity.

Integrating Natural Solutions into Farming Practices

JagPaavani can be incorporated into existing farming systems as part of a balanced soil and crop management approach. Its application across cereals, pulses, fruits, and vegetables offers farmers a natural biological input that can complement other sustainable farming practices.

Under Sri Sri Naisargik, JagPaavani forms part of a broader approach to promoting agricultural solutions rooted in natural processes and an understanding of soil biology. The initiative focuses on improving soil vitality, supporting nutrient availability, and encouraging cultivation practices that work in harmony with nature.

By integrating biological formulations with appropriate agronomic practices, farmers can work towards improving soil health while maintaining productive agricultural systems. Results may vary depending on crop type, soil conditions, climate, and application practices.

Building a Sustainable Agricultural Future

Sustainable agriculture begins with recognising soil as a living resource that requires continuous care. Restoring microbial diversity, strengthening soil organic matter, and improving nutrient cycling are important steps towards building resilient farming systems.

Through JagPaavani, Sri Sri Naisargik seeks to support this transition by promoting natural biological processes that nurture soil health and plant development. By placing soil vitality at the centre of agricultural decision-making, such solutions contribute to the broader goal of productive, environmentally responsible, and future-ready farming.

About The Art of Living – Sri Sri Naisargik

As a flagship initiative of The Art of Living, Sri Sri Naisargik is an innovation-led enterprise developing sustainable, nature-based and technology-enabled solutions for environmental protection, resource recovery, rural development and climate resilience. Its portfolio addresses land, water, air and odour pollution mitigation, along with solid waste management through practical solutions that combine innovation with measurable environmental, economic and social impact.

Web: srisrinaisargik.com 

Email: executiveoffice@projects.artofliving.org  

Phone: +91 9036 254 532

Follow: www.instagram.com/artofliving.ssn

Like: www.facebook.com/srisrinaisargikssn

Message: www.linkedin.com/company/sri-sri-naisargik

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@SriSriNaisargikSSN

Loyola Institute of Business Administration (LIBA)

Elaborating on the exclusive opportunity and the gradual increase in numbers, Rev. Dr C. Joe Arun, SJ, Director of LIBA, stated, “We have consistently seen interest from students whose parents are working in the Gulf, and this year the level of enquiries around the CIWG category has been particularly encouraging. For eligible candidates, the category provides an opportunity to explore LIBA’s PGDM programme while availing themselves of the applicable domestic fee structure, subject to the prescribed eligibility and admission criteria.”

LIBA, a Jesuit business school in Chennai, combines industry-oriented management education with its philosophy of “Excellence with Ethics”. Its experiential approach to learning has also attracted students from Indian families based overseas, including the Gulf region. Students admitted under the CIWG category account for approximately 15% of each PGDM batch.

“Over the last few years, we have seen growing interest from students from Gulf-based Indian families. Many of these students have already completed or are pursuing their undergraduate education in India, making a PGDM a natural next step as they prepare for careers in a competitive global business environment,” added Rev. Dr. C. Joe Arun, SJ.

While candidates under the CIWG category are required to meet the prescribed eligibility and admission criteria, including applicable entrance-test requirements, the category provides eligible children of Gulf-based Indians with a distinct pathway to apply to LIBA’s PGDM programme. Final selection remains subject to the institution’s admission process and verification of the required documents.

Admissions for LIBA’s 2027–29 PGDM programme are now open. Eligible students interested in exploring the CIWG category can contact LIBA’s admissions team for information on eligibility, documentation and the application process. Further details are available at LIBA’s official website.

About LIBA

A Jesuit business school, LIBA (Loyola Institute of Business Administration) is known for its industry-oriented approach to management education, combining academic rigour with experiential learning. Its Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) programme is designed to equip aspiring business leaders with the knowledge, skills and ethical perspective needed to navigate a dynamic global business environment. Guided by its philosophy of “Excellence with Ethics”, LIBA continues to nurture responsible leaders who can create meaningful impact across industries.