A Taste Of Tradition: MTR Brings Back Its Annual Cultural And Culinary Fest-MTR Karunadu Swada 2026

* Inauguration of MTR’s flagship festival blends regional flavours, cultural experiences, and celebrates the iconic sambar with a Sambar Song in collaboration with Vasu Dixit

MTR successfully inaugurated the latest edition of its flagship food festival, MTR Karunadu Swada, held from April 24th, 2026 at Jayamahal Palace, Bengaluru. The event was inaugurated by Shri Maheshwar Rao M, I.A.S., Chief Commissioner GBA and Administrator- All Bengaluru City Corporations. It brings together food enthusiasts, cultural connoisseurs, and culinary experts to rediscover the depth and diversity of Karnataka’s rich food heritage.

Centred around the theme of ‘the story before the recipe’, this year MTR Karunadu Swada celebrates indigenous ingredients of Karnataka. This year’s opening night showcased an immersive culinary journey across six regions of Karnataka—Uttara Karnataka, Kalyana Karnataka, Kodagu, Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and Hale Mysuru. With a showcase of 75+ dishes, the spread stands out as a rich culinary archive bringing together both well-loved classics and lesser-known, almost-forgotten flavours under one roof.

Curated by MTR’s culinary experts along with home-cooks, the festival places a strong emphasis on hyper-local, seasonal ingredients, celebrating the authenticity, sustainability, and regional identity of Karnataka’s cuisine. A distinctive highlight is the concept of “One Region. One Unique Ingredient. One Forgotten Recipe.,” with each region also featuring a traditional summer cooler, rooted in local wisdom and climate-responsive food practices.

MTR also unveiled the second edition of its coffee table book at the inauguration, an ode to Karnataka’s culinary legacy. The book titled “The story before the recipe” celebrates ingredients that grow in the 6 regions of Karnataka and have shaped its rich culinary tradition. Adding a memorable cultural layer to the celebration was acclaimed musician Vasu Dixit, who took centre stage with the launch of a specially composed Sambar song, performed live at the festival. The composition stood out as a heartfelt tribute to Sambar, celebrating the everyday rituals, warmth, and nostalgia that celebrates the dish, elevating the beloved Sambar into a symbol of shared memories and togetherness.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Sunay Bhasin, CEO, MTR, said: “For over a century, MTR has been deeply rooted in Karnataka’s culinary heritage, steadfast in its commitment to preserving and celebrating the authenticity of regional cuisine. MTR Karunadu Swada has now become an annual fixture on every food enthusiast’s calendar, serving as a platform that celebrates Karnataka’s local ingredients, revives forgotten recipes and spotlights the state’s regional diversity, and bringing people closer to Karnataka’s food traditions.”

Beyond the food, the festival offers a vibrant cultural showcase with folk and classical performances, bringing alive the spirit of Karnataka through music, dance, and art, making it a truly immersive cultural experience.

The festival is expected to witness an enthusiastic response, with 3000+ visitors over the next two days, further strengthening its position as one of Bengaluru’s most anticipated culinary and cultural platforms.

UNSW And Deloitte Collaborate To Build Industry Ready Talent In India

Strategic collaboration will focus on industry-integrated learning, applied research, and a Centre of Excellence in emerging technologies

UNSW Sydney has announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for strategic collaboration with Deloitte India to establish a Centre of Excellence (CoE) in AI & Innovation at the new UNSW Bengaluru campus in India. Bringing together a global top 20 university with AI and innovation leading practice in India, this strategic collaboration aims to link academia, students and industry to accelerate future-ready talent for India’s dynamically evolving economy. The strategic collaboration will focus on creating a platform that integrates education with industry-relevant practice, applied research and knowledge exchange, with UNSW Bengaluru students to benefit from direct exposure to real-world problem solving and practical industry insights from India’s leading-edge AI and innovation network of practitioners.

Aligned with India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 vision, the CoE will serve as a multi-dimensional platform that brings together academic excellence, industry engagement, and innovation. This strategic collaboration is designed to address the growing demand in India for globally competent, industry-ready graduates across high-growth sectors such as artificial intelligence, data science, cyber security, and digital transformation.

At its core, the CoE will embed industry-integrated learning into the student experience through real world challenge projects, experiential workplace learning, and practitioner-led teaching. Students will benefit from direct access to Deloitte’s advanced innovation infrastructure, including AI labs, cyber simulation environments, emerging technology platforms and professional networks, enabling them to engage with real-world challenges from the outset of their learning journey.

The MoU will also enable future joint applied research initiatives, with UNSW faculty and Deloitte experts collaborating on industry-relevant problem statements to author white papers, and deliver innovation-led solutions. A dedicated start-up and innovation lab will also support student and faculty entrepreneurship, fostering a culture of experimentation, problem-solving, and enterprise.

Another key pillar of this strategic collaboration is lifelong learning and upskilling, with the goal of introducing executive education and professional development programmes in the future, serving India’s working professionals and corporate organisations seeking to grow AI and innovation capabilities in emerging technology domains.

Professor Sarah Maddison, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education & Student Experience) at UNSW Sydney, said: “This exciting partnership reflects UNSW’s commitment to delivering education within a connected, industry-engaged ecosystem, exposing students to hands-on applied learning and preparing graduates for the work of today and the future. As Australia’s number one university for employment outcomes, UNSW’s strategic collaboration with Deloitte India creates pathways to accelerate students with the confidence, adaptability, and purpose required to thrive in a rapidly changing world. The partnership supports UNSW’s 10-year ‘Progress For All’ strategy and our long-term commitment to India as an education and innovation partner”.

Kamlesh Vyas, Partner, Deloitte India, added: “This partnership with UNSW Sydney is a defining step towards harnessing our tech capabilities to equip future-ready talent and catalyse the next phase of India’s digital transformation. It underscores our commitment to accelerating innovation and driving sustained economic impact. In the current landscape, strengthening the link between workplaces and classrooms is a shared priority, starting with deeper integration across education, applied research and real-world practice. Fundamentally, this COE will serve as a comprehensive platform that brings together academic excellence and industry engagement to harness capabilities in AI and innovation for solving industry-relevant problem statements, extending beyond students to working professionals”.

The collaboration, set to commence from April 2026, with a phased rollout of programs, research initiatives and industry engagement activities, aims to strengthen India’s position as a global hub for technology and innovation by building a robust pipeline of skilled talent, advancing applied research, and supporting entrepreneurship. 

Godrej Showcases Next-Generation Locks And Security Innovations At Smart Home Expo 2026

Godrej Enterprises Group (GEG), a pioneer and one of India’s most trusted brands in safety and security solutions, will participate in Smart Home Expo 2026, unveiling a comprehensive portfolio of smart, connected, and future-ready security solutions designed for modern Indian homes, commercial establishments, and evolving urban lifestyles.

At the expo, hosted from 28–30 April 2026 at the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai, Godrej Enterprises Group will showcase its smart safety and security solutions portfolio at Stall No. K-40. The Showcase will highlight how digital-first innovation and intelligent access control are reshaping safety, convenience, and peace of mind in today’s increasingly connected environments.

The showcase will feature a wide range of advanced, ‘Made in India’ digital lock solutions, alongside interconnected home safety offerings. Strengthening its leadership in home lockers, Godrej has also introduced a new portfolio designed with next-generation, lifestyle-led features that resonate with today’s India.

Together, these innovations reflect the brand’s focus on addressing the evolving needs of modern consumers, while continuing to set benchmarks in delivering dependable, future-ready safety and security solutions. Through its participation at Smart Home Expo 2026, Godrej reaffirms its commitment to innovation-led, digitally driven solutions that cater to the evolving needs of India’s rapidly expanding smart home ecosystem.

Smart Home Expo 2026 is India’s premier platform for smart home technologies, home automation and IoT-enabled living. The expo brings together leading global and domestic brands, technology innovators, architects, developers, system integrators, and industry stakeholders to showcase solutions shaping the future of smart living in India.

India Autism Center Celebrates Neurodiverse Athletes And Advances Inclusive Sporting Ecosystem Through Sports For All

As part of World Autism Awareness Month, India Autism Center (IAC), a leading not-for-profit organization supporting individuals with autism and related neurodevelopmental conditions, hosted the ‘Sports for All: Building an Equitable Sporting Ecosystem for All’ initiative, in collaboration with The Quantum Hub, Special Olympics Bharat and The Accessibility Coalition, which brought together policymakers, practitioners, para and special athletes, and inclusion advocates to drive conversations around equitable access and participation in sports. The initiative reinforces IAC’s commitment to fostering inclusive opportunities while advancing its long-term vision of Samaavesh - a sustainable, community-based India’s largest residential ecosystem for lifelong care and support. The programme featured felicitation ceremony honouring young neurodiverse athletes, led by Dr. Mallika Nadda, President, Special Olympics Bharat, Smt. Geeta Mandaviya, Patron Member, Special Olympics Gujarat, along with Mr. Jaishankar Natarajan, Director and Chief Executive Officer, India Autism Center, Ms. Sakhi Singhi, Governing Body Member, Head of Communications, Partnerships, Fundraising and Talent Acquisition, India Autism Center, and Mr. Rohit Kumar, Founding Partner, The Quantum Hub. It also included a multi-stakeholder panel discussion on ‘Building an Equitable Sporting Ecosystem: Bridging Training, CSR, and Policy’, moderated by Nipun Malhotra, Chief Executive Officer, Nipman Foundation & Director – Disability and Inclusion at The Quantum Hub.

At its core, the initiative reflects a larger vision to embed inclusion within everyday ecosystems such as sports creating structured pathways that go beyond participation to enable skill-building, confidence, and long-term development for neurodiverse individuals.

The Felicitation ceremony recognized the outstanding achievements of 4 young neurodivergent swimmers, Meka Sri Ashvath (age: 11), Gunturu Lav (age: 9), Gunturu Kush (age: 9), and Thanvesh Navin (age: 10) for completing a 60 km open water relay swim across the Palk Strait, from Dhanushkodi, in Tamilnadu to Talaimannar, in Srilanka, and back - within an extraordinary span of only 18 hours. Trained by the coaches of Yadhavi Sports Academy for Special Needs, by their Head Coach - Sathish Siavkumar, these athletes began swimming at an early age and have steadily progressed from pool training to competitive open-water events, including the 5 km ‘Samudra Veer’ Porbandar Swimathon 2026, where they competed alongside significantly older participants. Their journeys reflect exceptional discipline, endurance, and determination, with many emerging among the youngest achievers at the national level. As they conclude this extraordinary 60 kms expedition, they continue to undergo rigorous ocean-training, further strengthening their capabilities on an international stage.

Beyond the felicitation, the summit convened a multi-stakeholder panel discussion, moderated by Nipun Malhotra, featuring Sonali Philip (Director of Operations, People & Culture, GoSports), Suvarna Raj (Managing Director, Sugamya Accessibility & Inclusion), Damini Ghosh (Lead, Disability & Inclusion Access, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy), and Aditya KV (Founder & CEO, Umoya Sports), to explore pathways for systemic change, accessibility, and inclusive participation in sports. Discussions underscored the importance of “sports for all” and the need for structural policy reforms, while also focusing on strengthening training pathways, leveraging inclusion, improving accessibility standards, and fostering collaboration between policymakers, organisations, and the sports ecosystem. The programme also featured a lightning talk moderated by Sakhi Singhi, offering first-hand perspectives from the coaches of Yadhavi and the parents of the Swimmers.

About the initiative, Mr. Jaishankar Natarajan, CEO and Director, India Autism Center, shared, “Sports have the power to transform lives by nurturing confidence, resilience, discipline, and a deep sense of belonging. The young athletes felicitated today stand as a powerful reminder of what becomes possible when individuals are met with the right opportunities, encouragement, and support systems. Their journey, perseverance, and achievements did challenge and redefine conventional perceptions of ability and potential.”

Dr. Mallika Nadda, President, Special Olympics Bharat, said, “Building a more inclusive sporting culture demands collective effort from institutions, policymakers, educators, and communities. Initiatives like these are important in driving that conversation forward - bringing together diverse voices to reflect on accessibility, training, representation, and the pathways needed to create more inclusive sporting ecosystems.”

Nipun Malhotra, CEO, Nipman Foundation & Director – Disability and Inclusion at The Quantum Hub, said, “Building an equitable sporting ecosystem requires intentional collaboration across policy, infrastructure, and community engagement. Initiatives like ‘Sports for All’ play a critical role in bridging these gaps by aligning stakeholders and creating pathways that are not only inclusive but also sustainable. The focus must now shift from isolated efforts to systemic integration, ensuring that accessibility and inclusion are embedded into the very design of India’s sporting landscape.”

Through strategic partnerships, IAC is driving systemic change by advancing accessibility, nurturing talent, and embedding inclusion in mainstream sports building an ecosystem that recognises ability and removes barriers to participation.  

Punjab National Bank Drives Sustainable Mobility With Induction Of Tata EV Fleet

Punjab National Bank (PNB) one of India’s leading public sector banks has taken a significant step towards promoting sustainability and reducing its carbon footprint by introducing Tata electric vehicles into its official fleet.

As part of this initiative, the Bank has inducted 12 Tata Nexon EV vehicles for use by its senior executives, marking a milestone in its commitment to a greener future.

As a part of the bank’s proactive approach towards eco-friendly transformation, the EV fleet was flagged off by MD&CEO Shri Ashok Chandra along with Executive Directors Shri M. Paramasivam, Shri Bibhu Prasad Mahapatra, Shri D. Surendran, and Shri Amit Kumar Srivastava, in the presence of other senior officials of the Bank and representatives from Tata Motors.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Vishesh Kr Srivastava, CGM, PNB reiterated, ”By adopting electric mobility solutions, PNB aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower dependence on fossil fuels, and contribute to a cleaner and healthier environment. This initiative aligns with the Bank’s broader Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) goals, as well as India’s transition towards sustainable development.

PNB remains committed to embedding sustainability into its core operations and leading by example within the banking industry.”

Through this move, PNB aims to:

Support India’s transition to electric mobility

Encourage sustainable practices across the banking ecosystem

Inspire employees and stakeholders to adopt environmentally responsible choices

With this step, PNB reinforces its role as a responsible organization, actively contributing to a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future. 

Nihilent Launches nSEPIA Beta, World’s First Emotional Wellness Platform Built To Measure And Improve Emotional State

* nSEPIA Beta opens its first phase of market testing

The platform combines emotion measurement, personalised intervention, and outcome validation within one system

Nihilent has announced the launch of nSEPIA Beta, marking the first market testing phase of the world’s first emotion wellness platform designed to help users measure their emotional state objectively and improve it through personalised interventions within minutes. The beta is now available for market testing.

The opening of nSEPIA’s private beta was marked with a symbolic ribbon-cutting ceremony by Mr. Kiran Deshpande, Executive Council Member, SemiX IIT Bombay and Board Member, 14Trees Foundation, signifying the beginning of a transformative journey in emotional wellness. The evening also brought together the first “Founding Circle”, a select group of early participants who will actively engage with the platform and contribute to shaping its evolution.

Built as a closed loop system and grounded in a clear belief that emotional wellness should be accessible, understood, and available on demand, nSEPIA has been developed to bring structure and measurability to emotional wellness. The platform first detects a user’s emotional state through a quick scan, then recommends interventions aligned to that state and finally enables the user to validate change through a rescan. In doing so, it moves emotional wellness away from assumption and subjective interpretation toward clearer understanding and measurable response.

At a time when stress, anxiety, burnout, worry and emotional strain are becoming a growing part of everyday life, nSEPIA addresses a gap that has remained largely unresolved. While physical health can be assessed through established indicators, emotional health has continued to rely on self-report, expression or broad wellness content. nSEPIA has been built to change that by enabling users to understand, track, and improve their emotional state in a clear and consistent way.

The platform begins with a 30 second scan that captures emotional state in real time. Powered by Emoscape, a clinically validated emotion AI engine that objectively extracts emotional signatures independent of expression, language and culture the scan is intended to give users a more objective understanding of how they actually feel. Following this, users are presented with a visual representation of their emotional state in the form of an emotion orb, and observation-based guidance that explains the state in simple language.

At its core is the Emoscape engine. An AI-led system that scans the face for subtle, involuntary signals to map emotional state in real time, independent of expression or language. The goal is simple: to help people understand what they truly feel, and work with it more effectively.

Based on the emotional state detected, nSEPIA offers exclusive, science backed emotion interventions including music, breathwork, yoga, and meditation. These are not generic wellness options, but experiences aligned to the user’s current emotional state. The platform also includes an emotion scale, progress tracking, and a rescan option that allows users to observe whether their emotional state has shifted after an intervention.

This combination of emotional clarity, personalised action, and measurable proof defines nSEPIA’s value and sets it apart from existing offerings in the wellness space. Rather than functioning as a meditation app or a therapy alternative, nSEPIA introduces a new category that combines emotion measurement, personalised intervention, and outcome validation within one system.

The beta launch will allow Nihilent to test nSEPIA in the market, understand how users engage with the platform, and gather feedback that will help shape the next stage of its development. The beta phase is expected to offer early insight into user behaviour, intervention preferences, and the role such a platform can play in everyday emotional wellbeing.

Speaking on the launch, Mr. L. C. Singh, Founder and Executive Chairman, Nihilent, said, “Technology has measured almost everything around us, but very little within us. nSEPIA is a step toward changing that. nSEPIA Beta represents an important step in bringing a new way of looking at emotional wellness into the market. While emotional health affects everyday life in profound ways, it has largely remained outside the reach of structured measurement and response. nSEPIA has been built to address that gap. It gives users a way to understand their emotional state more clearly, act on it through relevant interventions, and track change over time. With the beta now available for market testing, we look forward to seeing how this platform begins to shape real world use.

With the launch of nSEPIA Beta, Nihilent takes an important step in opening early market access to a platform built around clarity, response, and measurable progress, while introducing a new approach to emotional wellness.

IKS Health Announces Agreement To Acquire TruBridge To Strengthen Access To Rural And Community-Based Healthcare

Inventurus Knowledge Solutions, Inc. (“IKS”), the U.S. subsidiary of Inventurus Knowledge Solutions Limited (NSE: IKS) (“IKS Health”), a global leader in care enablement solutions, today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire TruBridge, Inc. (NASDAQ: TBRG) (“TruBridge”), a prominent provider of healthcare technology solutions for rural and community hospitals. This proposed strategic acquisition underscores a commitment to broaden access to high-quality care and support the clinicians and hospitals that serve communities across the United States.

Today, nearly one in five Americans face challenges accessing care. By bringing together IKS Health’s comprehensive care enablement capabilities that serve a range of healthcare organizations with TruBridge’s deep expertise in supporting rural and community hospitals through revenue cycle management and electronic health record (EHR) solutions, the combined healthcare technology company is expected to strengthen local healthcare systems, and enable patients to receive essential care closer to home while also enhancing care delivery across the ambulatory and acute care continuum.

Post closing, the combined company will deliver continuous improvement and connected workflows to the core of rural healthcare and to medical groups overall, combining agentic artificial intelligence (AI) with human-in-the-loop expertise to proactively address complex operational challenges. As the platform incorporates a broader range of clinical and financial data, it is designed to become increasingly intelligent and efficient. This growing intelligence, reinforced by human insight, is anticipated to ensure community hospitals and medical groups have the financial resilience and advanced support needed to focus on the health of their patients.

“By welcoming TruBridge, IKS Health is extending its proven, clinician-first experience to the vital rural and community hospital market,” said Sachin K. Gupta, Founder and Global CEO of IKS Health. “This new entity supports our long-term vision of building a comprehensive care ecosystem for all types of healthcare organizations. By pairing TruBridge’s essential system of record with our AI-driven system of action, we are moving beyond simply recording data to actively solving the complex operational challenges facing providers today. The combined entity will work toward ensuring community care teams have the same access to advanced technology and financial resilience, enabling them to deliver exceptional care close to home.”

Together, the organization will bring modern revenue cycle management, predictive analytics, and advanced EHR capabilities to support more than 2,000 healthcare organizations and over 150,000 clinicians with a broad portfolio of AI-driven and human-led solutions designed to improve clinical, operational, and financial excellence.

“I am excited for TruBridge and IKS Health to combine forces and expand the focus on strengthening rural and community healthcare,” said Chris Fowler, President and CEO of TruBridge. “IKS Health shares our passion to improve provider experiences and financial results, ultimately leading to healthier lives and positive patient outcomes. It’s rewarding to know that our employees will have more ways and opportunities to deliver exceptional value to our customers and their patients.”

Under the terms of the agreement, TruBridge shareholders will receive $26.25 in cash for each share of common stock. The acquisition has been approved by the Boards of Directors of IKS Health, IKS, and TruBridge, and is expected to close during the third calendar quarter of 2026, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including the requisite shareholder approvals and the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) notification and waiting period. In connection with the transaction, TruBridge has entered into voting and support agreements with TruBridge’s largest shareholders, Pinetree Capital Ltd., L6 Holdings Inc. and Ocho Investments, LLC, who have agreed—subject to the terms of the agreements—to, among other things, vote the shares they control, representing in total approximately 27% of TruBridge’s outstanding shares of common stock, in favor of the transaction.

IKS will finance the acquisition primarily through the incurrence of new indebtedness, including a term loan underwritten by Citibank, JPMorganChase, and Deutsche Bank, which is subject to satisfaction of customary conditions (including approval of the shareholders of IKS Health).

Advisors
Solomon Partners Securities, LLC is acting as the exclusive financial advisor to TruBridge, and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, and Maynard Nexsen PC, and Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas are acting as legal counsel. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Citigroup Global Markets India Private Limited are acting as financial advisors to IKS Health, and Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP and Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co. are acting as legal counsel.

About IKS Health
IKS Health (NSE, BSE) reduces the administrative, clinical, and operational burdens that slow healthcare down, giving clinicians and care teams the freedom to focus on delivering exceptional care. Through its Care Enablement platform, IKS Health integrates agentic AI workflows with human expertise to create smarter, more accurate operations, better outcomes, and financially sustainable growth across the care journey. Founded in 2006 and recognized by Black Book as the top provider of AI-driven RCM services, by KLAS for performance and client satisfaction, and by Google Cloud with a DORA Award for “Augmenting Human Expertise with AI,” IKS Health partners with the largest health systems, physician groups, and specialty practices across the United States. Learn more at ikshealth.com.

Inventurus Knowledge Solutions Limited is listed on the National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE) and BSE Limited (BSE). {Scrip codes: NSE - IKS and BSE - 544309}

About TruBridge
TruBridge (NASDAQ: TBRG) proudly supports rural and community healthcare providers in their efforts to stay strong, independent, and deeply rooted in the communities they serve. Backed by more than 45 years of healthcare experience and trusted by over 1,500 clients nationwide, TruBridge offers a mix of technology, services, and strategic expertise — including revenue cycle management (RCM), electronic health records (EHR) and analytics — all designed singularly for the realities of rural and community healthcare. With a steadfast commitment to keeping care local, TruBridge helps hospitals flourish as the economic heart of their communities, delivering high-quality, deeply personal care close to home. Learn more at trubridge.com.