ISACA Bangalore Chapter Hosts The 29th Annual Karnataka Conference At The Taj Vivanta, MG Road, Bengaluru

* With The Theme “Fortify The AI Backbone And Agentic AI – Govern, Secure, And Thrive”

The 2-day complete power packed session held on July 24th and 25th July , 2026, at Taj MG Road, Bengaluru

The 29th edition of the Annual Karnataka Conference, themed “Fortify the AI Backbone and Agentic AI – Govern, Secure, Thrive,” was inaugurated today at Taj MG Road, Bengaluru. The two-day conference will be held on July 24 and 25, 2026

Chief Guest Address: Mr. Mr. Praveen KN, Zonal Commissioner, South Zone, BDA, Government of Karnataka and Mr. Upendra Upadhya -Chief Operating Officer, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, Government of India and Director Analytics at My Gov and AI'in the work Place, People, Processes, and Technologies – An Organizational Perspective Special Chief Guest Address: Mr. Subramanian J IT Risk & Compliance Practice – SQ1 Security Technology Private Limited consented to be the Chief Guest of the 29th Annual Karnataka conference. Conference inaugurated in presence of Mr, T R Rajesh, President – ISACA Bangalore Chapter, Ms Lalitha Satheesh, Vice President – ISACA Bangalore Chapter with other dignitaries were present.

The Guest of honour address delivered by Mr T R Rajesh, President – ISACA Bangalore Chapter who discussed the importance of “Fortify the AI Backbone and Agentic AI – Govern, Secure, Thrive,”. The conference edition of the ISACA newsletter was released by the Chief Guest. The theme of this year’s conference intends to explore the interesting opportunities for Information Security professionals, which stem out of the challenges in Cyber India and Artificial Intelligence. Senior industry professionals, Government representatives, and academicians shared their knowledge and insights at the Conference.

After a successful largest-ever conference held in 2025 with 300 delegates, the excitement to network and meet in person was high among all the delegates. With more than 400 registrations, it is the largest conference ever held by ISACA Bangalore since inception. With power-packed sessions, the conference is a huge knowledge boost.

Mr T R Rajesh, President – ISACA Bangalore Chapter welcomed all the delegates as for the largest ever conference held by ISACA Bangalore and shared the insights. The conference chair and VP of ISACA Bangalore Chapter, Ms.Lalitha Satheesh gave an overview of the action-packed schedule and thanked the dignitaries, chief guest and the speakers for sharing their valuable time.

Post inauguration, as part of Plenary session

Some of the interesting sessions delivered during the conference are

AI's Role in People, Processes, and Technologies – An Organizational Perspective Special Chief Guest Address: Mr. Subramanian J IT Risk & Compliance Practice – SQ1 Security Technology Private Limited

Chief guest distributed the awards for the rank holders of the recent ISACA Certification exams, also felicitated.

Awards Ceremony: Recognizing Outstanding Achievement and Honouring the Top Scorers of the ISACA Bangalore Chapter in the ISACA Certification Examinations conducted during the period June 2025 – December 2025, including: Advanced in AI Audit (AAIA), Advanced in AI Security Management (AAISM), Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT), Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC ) Certified data Privacy Solutions Engineer (CDPSE)

About ISACA Bangalore: ISACA is an international professional association focused on IT governance and Security. ISACA currently offers 8 certification programs as well as other stackable certificates. It has 1,85,000 strong members across 188 countries and cover a variety of professional IT-related positions in the disciplines of IS/IT audit, risk, security and governance as well as educators, consultants and regulators. ISACA Bangalore Chapter has more than 2,800 members and has the largest member base in India. The members have diverse expertise in domains on IS/IT audit, risk, security and governance. 

Growth Is No Longer Just a Bengaluru Story: Kotak Mahindra Bank

* Economic activity across Karnataka's emerging business hubs is creating fresh opportunities for SMEs

Karnataka, one of India's most vibrant SME markets, is home to more than 8.5 lakh MSMEs employing over 55 lakh people. Economic activity is increasingly extending beyond Bengaluru, with cities such as Mysuru, Mangaluru, Hubballi-Dharwad and Belagavi emerging as important economic and industrial centres. Rising investment, infrastructure development and industrial growth across the state are creating new opportunities for SMEs to expand, access new markets and participate in larger supply chains.

According to Kotak Mahindra Bank, SME customers across Karnataka are showing growing interest in business expansion and market diversification. The bank has also observed rising demand for business banking and credit solutions from SMEs in emerging business hubs across the state, reflecting increasing confidence among entrepreneurs. Kotak is, at its core, an SME-focused bank. As on June 30, 2026, the bank had an SME loan book of Rs. 1,25,826 crore, growing 20% year-on-year and accounting for 24% of the Bank's advances mix.

"Growth ambitions are no longer confined to Bengaluru. We are seeing entrepreneurs across Mysuru, Mangaluru, Hubballi-Dharwad, Belagavi and other emerging centres showcasing Hausla by investing for growth and entering new markets. The growing demand for business banking and credit solutions from these cities reflects increasing confidence among SME owners. As a long-term banking partner to SMEs across India, we remain focused on supporting entrepreneurs as they scale their businesses with confidence," said Shekhar Bhandari, Head - SME, Kotak Mahindra Bank.

Karnataka's growing technology, manufacturing and GCC ecosystem is creating new opportunities for SMEs to participate in larger value chains. As businesses scale, entrepreneurs are increasingly seeking banking partners that can support both their business and personal financial needs.

"Entrepreneurs today want more than a lender. They want a banking partner who understands their business and supports them through different stages of growth. Our House-Bank approach is built around this belief. We work closely with SME owners to support their business, personal banking, transaction banking and growth needs through a single relationship, helping them seize opportunities and grow with confidence," Bhandari added.

Kotak Mahindra Bank continues to strengthen its footprint across Karnataka, with operations across key markets including Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mangaluru, Hubballi-Dharwad and Belagavi. Through its relationship-led approach, sector expertise and digital capabilities, Kotak remains committed to helping Karnataka's entrepreneurs seize new opportunities and grow with confidence   

Tata Power Strengthens EV Connectivity To Coorg With New 60 kW Fast Charging Station On NH-275

Tata Power, one of India’s leading EV charging network, today announced the commissioning of a 60 kW DC Fast Charging Station at Sri Krishna Cafe, Bannikuppe, strategically located along the Mysore–Madikeri Highway (National Highway 275 (NH-275).

Strategically located on NH-275, the key corridor connecting Bengaluru and Mysuru with Kodagu (Coorg), the new charging station strengthens EV infrastructure along one of Karnataka's busiest tourism routes. The station provides a convenient high-speed charging stop for EV travellers heading towards Coorg, enabling them to recharge before continuing their journey into the hilly regions of Kodagu.

Key Highlights

Strategic Highway Location

Located on NH-275 at Bannikuppe, Hunsur, the charging station serves as a convenient stop for EV users travelling between Bengaluru, Mysuru, and Coorg. Its location helps improve charging accessibility along a key tourism and commercial corridor in Karnataka.

High-Speed Charging

The station is equipped with a 60 kW DC dual-gun CCS2 charger, capable of charging compatible electric vehicles from 20% to 80% in approximately 30 minutes, reducing charging time during long-distance journeys.

Convenient Charging Experience

Located at Sri Krishna Cafe, the charging station enables travellers to take a short break while their vehicles recharge, with access to food, refreshments, and basic traveller amenities.

Seamless Digital Access

The charger is integrated with the Tata Power EZ Charge ecosystem, allowing users to locate the station, monitor charger availability, initiate charging sessions, and make cashless payments through the Tata Power EZ Charge mobile application or RFID cards.

Supporting Sustainable Mobility

The addition of this charging station further strengthens the EV charging network along the Bengaluru–Mysuru–Coorg corridor, improving charging accessibility for electric vehicle users travelling to one of Karnataka's key tourism destinations while supporting the wider adoption of electric mobility.

This deployment reinforces Tata Power’s commitment to expanding high-capacity green corridors across key economic and tourist routes throughout South India.

step in the company's purpose-led storytelling journey, bringing alive the transformative role of energy in shaping lives and communities across India.

About Tata Power

The Tata Power Company Limited, a vertically integrated power company and part of the Tata Group, India’s largest multinational business conglomerate, has built a diversified portfolio across the entire power value chain, with its total operational and pipeline capacity surpassing 26 GW. This includes approximately 17.5 GW of clean and green energy capacity (including projects under construction) and around 8.9 GW of thermal generation capacity, ensuring a balanced and resilient energy mix. The Company also has a strong transmission and distribution footprint, with over 7,400 circuit kilometres of transmission lines, including pipeline projects, and serves nearly 13 million customers across its distribution businesses, making it one of India’s largest private power distribution companies.

Further strengthening its leadership in future-ready energy solutions, Tata Power has established 4.9 GW of integrated solar cell and module manufacturing capacity, signed 2.8 GW of pumped hydro storage projects, and expanded its EV charging network to over 7.000 public charging points across 706 cities and towns in India.

As a pioneer in India’s clean energy transition, Tata Power remains committed to achieving Net Zero by 2045 and continues to partner with public and private stakeholders to deliver reliable, sustainable, and technology-led energy solutions across the country.

Disclaimer:

The following press release/announcement may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws and regulations. These statements are based on management's current views, expectations, assumptions, and projections regarding the Company's future performance, business plans, growth prospects, competitive and regulatory environment, and other related matters. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in the forward-looking statements are not limited to changes in economic conditions affecting demand/supply and price conditions in the domestic and overseas markets in which the Company operates, alterations in the business environment, fluctuations in Government regulations, laws, statutes, judicial pronouncements, and other incidental factors. The Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements based on subsequent events, information, or developments, except as required by applicable laws and regulations.  

Maaza® Marks 50 Years With Special Cover; Mango Farmers Felicitated On National Mango Day

* The Special Cover, released by Shri Chirag Paswan, Hon'ble Union Minister of Food Processing Industries and Department of Posts, celebrates India’s enduring mango heritage

India’s homegrown billion-dollar fruit-based drink, Maaza® celebrates 50 years of bringing the authentic taste of Indian mangoes from orchards to millions of consumers. On National Mango Day, Coca-Cola India and the Department of Posts, Government of India, released a ‘Special Cover’ celebrating 50 years of Maaza®. The occasion also honoured mango farmers associated with Project Unnati by Anandana – The Coca-Cola India Foundation, recognizing the generations of farming communities whose contribution has helped preserve India's mango heritage and made Maaza®'s five-decade journey possible.

The Special Cover was released by Shri Chirag Paswan, Hon'ble Union Minister of Food Processing Industries, Government of India, in the presence of Col. Akhilesh Kumar Pandey, Chief Postmaster General, Delhi Circle, Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications; Devyani Rana, Vice President – Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability, Coca-Cola India & Southwest Asia; Coca-Cola India's bottling partners; mango supplier Foods & Inns Ltd. and NGO partner CENDECT.

Since its launch in 1976, Maaza® has been a familiar part of India’s households, carrying the taste of the beloved mango that is grown in orchards across India. For five decades, the brand has continued to connect consumers with the taste of India's favourite fruit throughout the year.

The Special Cover serves as a lasting philatelic record, capturing Maaza®'s association with the Indian mango through an illustration inspired by mango orchards and the iconic Maaza® bottle. Titled 'Celebrating 50 Years of Mango in a Bottle', the design pays tribute to the brand's five-decade journey while honouring the farming communities behind it.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Chirag Paswan, Hon’ble Union Minister of Food Processing Industries, Government of India, said, "India has achieved self-reliance in food production, and our next priority is to create greater value through food processing by strengthening infrastructure and expanding market opportunities for our farmers. Our farmers are our ‘annadatas’, and every effort to strengthen the agricultural value chain is an investment in their future. It is encouraging to see homegrown beverage brands like Maaza celebrate this legacy of India’s beloved mangoes ‘aam’ by bringing its authentic taste to millions of households while supporting farmers and contributing to local economies. The release of the Special Cover by the Department of Posts is a tribute to India's mango heritage and the farmers who sustain it."

Sundeep Bajoria, Vice President - Integrated Operations, Coca-Cola India & Southwest Asia said, “For five decades, Maaza has brought the authentic taste of Indian mangoes including Alphonso to millions of consumers, making the country’s favourite fruit available all year round. Rooted in the goodness of delicious Indian mangoes, Maaza has built a lasting connection with generations of consumers while humbly supporting Indian farmer families with procurement, technology support and value chain partnerships. This milestone is a testament to an efficient value chain, from sourcing and processing to bottling and distribution, that ensures our products reach consumers across the country. The Special Cover from the Department of Posts recognizes this shared journey and the ecosystem that has made it possible over the past 50 years.”

Paritosh Ladhani, Joint Managing Director, SLMG Beverages, said, "Behind every bottle of Maaza is a seamless value chain driven by farmers, processing units, manufacturing facilities, truckers, distributors, and retailers working together every day. We are proud to play our part in ensuring that authentic taste of mangoes reaches millions of consumers through a reliable and efficient supply chain. As Maaza celebrates 50 years, this recognition belongs to every individual across the entire ecosystem whose efforts have helped make Maaza a household name across India."

The Special Cover builds on Maaza®'s golden jubilee celebrations, which included the national campaign ‘50 saal se, sip-sip mein aam’, and stands as a lasting tribute to the brand's fifty-year association with India's national fruit and the farmers behind it.

About Coca-Cola:

Coca-Cola in India is one of the country’s leading beverage companies, offering a range of high-quality and refreshing beverage options to consumers. The company, in line with its vision of ‘Beverages For Life’ offers a wide portfolio of products which includes hydration, sports, sparkling, coffee, tea, nutrition, juice and dairy based products. In India its beverage range includes Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Diet Coke, Thums Up, Thums Up XForce, Charged, Fanta, Limca, Sprite, Sprite Zero, Kinley Soda, Rimzim, Maaza, Minute Maid range of juices and Honest Tea. The Company also offers hydration beverages including Limca GlucoCharge, Smartwater, Kinley, Kinley Copper, Dasani and Bonaqua packaged drinking water. Premium products constitute Schweppes’ range and Smartwater. In addition, it offers a Costa Coffee range of tea and coffee. The Company is constantly transforming its portfolio, from reducing sugar in its drinks to bringing innovative new products to market.

The Company along with its owned bottling operations and franchise bottling partners has a strong network of over six million retail outlets through which it refreshes millions of consumers across the country. It seeks to positively impact people’s lives, communities, and the planet through water and packaging initiatives, sustainable agriculture and emission reductions across its value chain.

Globally together with its bottling partners, The Coca-Cola Company employs more than 700,000 people, helping to bring economic opportunity to local communities worldwide. Learn more at www.cocacolacompany.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Payten Launches In Bahrain,, Advancing The Kingdom's Digital Payments Ecosystem

* A business centric platform that supports all major currencies, INR settlements, and built-in compliance

Payten B.S.C. (c), one of the region's leading alternative payment providers, today formally announced the expansion of its operations in the Kingdom of Bahrain, building on the successful launch of the Pay10 Bahrain App for consumers and the Pay10 Biz Bahrain App for merchants in April this year.

Since entering the market, Pay10 has been focused on scaling its consumer and merchant ecosystem, driving adoption of secure, interoperable, and customer-centric payment solutions that simplify everyday transactions. As the company continues to expand its footprint, it remains committed to delivering innovative, cost-effective financial technology solutions that support Bahrain's rapidly evolving digital economy.

Licensed by the Central Bank of Bahrain as an Ancillary Service Provider, Pay10 enters the Bahraini market with a strong foundation of regulatory compliance, security, and trust. Backed by a robust payment’s infrastructure, the company is committed to delivering secure, reliable, and seamless digital payment experiences that meet the evolving needs of consumers and businesses while supporting the Kingdom's vision for a digitally enabled economy.

The Pay10 Biz Bahrain App is a merchant-first solution designed for SMEs and businesses looking for a cost-effective and more efficient alternative to traditional payment systems. Available on both the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store, this enables merchants to accept digital payments securely, monitor transactions in real time, access funds seamlessly, and benefit from faster settlement cycles, all within a more competitive and transparent pricing model.

By addressing longstanding industry challenges such as high transaction costs and delayed settlements, Pay10 empowers businesses to improve cash flow, reduce operating costs, and accelerate growth through a modern digital payments platform.

Pay10 has also launched the Pay10 Bahrain App, its consumer-facing digital payments application, which is available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Designed for citizens, residents, and digitally connected consumers across the Kingdom, the app delivers a secure, seamless, and intuitive payment experience that simplifies everyday financial transactions.

Through the Pay10 Bahrain App, users can instantly send and receive money, make local bank transfers, pay merchants by scanning QR codes, and manage their daily payments through a single, secure digital platform. By combining convenience, speed, and security, the app is designed to support the growing adoption of cashless payments and deliver a modern financial experience aligned with Bahrain's digital economy.

A key differentiator of Pay10's offering is its interoperability with BenefitPay, enabling merchants and consumers to continue using familiar local payment experiences without disruption. Consumers can simply scan dynamic QR codes using either the BenefitPay App or Pay10 App to make instant payments, while merchants can accept payments from a growing base of digital users without changing their existing processes or infrastructure. This seamless compatibility eliminates switching barriers, simplifies adoption, and strengthens Bahrain's evolving digital payments ecosystem.

“The launch of Pay10 in Bahrain represents another important milestone in our vision of building a truly interconnected payments ecosystem across the region,” said Mr. Harry Gill, Founder & Chairman of Pay10. “Bahrain has built a dynamic fintech ecosystem, underpinned by a robust regulatory framework and a commitment to digital innovation. We are proud to support this vision by delivering secure, interoperable, and customer- and merchant-centric payment solutions that simplify everyday commerce, empower businesses, and enhance the digital payment experience for consumers across the Kingdom.”

Mr Gill added, “Our ambition extends beyond enabling payments. We are building a trusted financial infrastructure that powers digital commerce, accelerates financial inclusion, and helps businesses thrive in an increasingly connected economy. By combining regulatory excellence, cutting-edge technology, and deep local market integration, Pay10 is well-positioned to support Bahrain's vision of a cashless, innovation-led future while creating lasting value for merchants, consumers, and the broader financial ecosystem.”

Pay10 Consumer App and Pay10 Biz Bahrain App are now available for download on App Store and Play Store. For more information, visit https://pay10.bh/

BitDelta India Launches CrypTution, India's First Structured Crypto Assets (VDA) Learning & Certification Ecosystem

* The first-of-its-kind initiative combines structured learning, simulation and certification to support more informed participation in India’s VDA ecosystem~

* CrypTution's foundational Padho curriculum is developed in partnership with the American Academy of Financial Management (AAFM®️ India)~

BitDelta India, an FIU-IND-registered Virtual Digital Asset trading platform, today announced the launch of CrypTution, India’s first institution grade crypto assets (VDA) learning and certification ecosystem.

CrypTution has been developed with an aim to support the growth of India’s VDA ecosystem through informed and prepared participation. While access to crypto assets and related information has expanded, formal education has not kept pace, leaving many participants to navigate a complex and evolving market through fragmented sources.

The initiative aims to bridge this gap by combining guided learning, simulated market exposure and competency-led certification before participants transition to live-market environments. With Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities already accounting for nearly 40% of India's crypto user base, the initiative is designed to make structured VDA education more accessible across geographies, languages and participant profiles.

Commenting on the launch, Vikaas M Sachdeva, Chief Executive Officer, BitDelta India, said, “Major financial asset classes in India have followed a similar path - from early access and fragmented understanding to broader participation supported by stronger investor education. Mutual funds and direct equities matured as awareness improved, and crypto is now approaching the same inflection point. Awareness of Virtual Digital Assets remains below 30%, while nearly one in five active participants acknowledge that they are still learning and exploring the market. CrypTution has been developed to provide structured learning, practical exposure and certification needed to support the category’s next phase of responsible growth.”

Built around the pillars of Padho. Seekho. Badho. CrypTution follows a progressive learning journey.

· Padho (Study) provides the academic foundation through a comprehensive curriculum covering blockchain, Virtual Digital Assets, market fundamentals, security and risk awareness.

· Seekho (Learn) enables learners to apply this knowledge through simulated market environments without deploying actual capital

· Badho (Grow) supports participants who demonstrate readiness to progress towards live-market participation on the BitDelta India platform.

The academic learning component is delivered in partnership with the American Academy of Financial Management India (AAFM®️ India), the Knowledge and Education Provider for the Padho pathway. With 30+ years in BFSI education and over 100,000 finance professionals trained, AAFM India brings globally benchmarked education standards to its collaboration with BitDelta India. Learners gain access to a comprehensive curriculum, competency-led assessments and specialised certification pathways.

Romit Barat, Executive Director, American Academy of Financial Management India, said, "Credible financial education must be structured, measurable and anchored in recognised standards. Through our collaboration with BitDelta India, CrypTution brings the rigour behind AAFM India's globally benchmarked education a defined curriculum, transparent assessments and specialised certification pathways helping learners build demonstrable competency and participate responsibly in the evolving VDA ecosystem."

Recognising different learner needs, CrypTution offers three specialised pathways: Certified Virtual Asset Investor for foundational investing knowledge; Certified Virtual Asset Practitioner for enabling advisors with the holistic approach and insight on this asset class,; and Certified Virtual Asset Trader for advanced trading, market analysis and risk management.

Beyond certification, CrypTution brings together guided learning, practical simulations, market intelligence, assessments, webinars, mentorship and community engagement within a single ecosystem. Through this integrated approach, BitDelta India aims to foster a more informed, capable and responsible VDA ecosystem in India.

72% In South India Prioritise Balanced Diet, Bengaluru, Hyderabad Touch 75%, Finds ManipalCigna India Health Quotient* 2026

ManipalCigna Health Insurance, one of India's leading health insurers, has released insights specific to South India from India Health Quotient (IHQ) 2026. The IHQ is a proprietary multi-dimensional index measuring self-assessed health across five dimensions: Physical, Mental, Financial, Occupational, and Social. The study covered urban Indians across 16 cities, including Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi and Coimbatore from the southern region.

India's overall health score stands at 65 out of 100, while South India recorded an overall score of 63 out of 100. Across urban Indians, physical health is leading at 68, while financial health trails at 62, the lowest score across all dimensions and a critical aspect requiring greater attention.

Interestingly, 72% of respondents from South India prioritize eating a healthy, balanced diet in their top 5 aspects of physical health vs 65% in rest of India. This is most notable in the new age tech metros of Bengaluru, Hyderabad (75%). It reflects a larger shift across urban India, where people are consciously moving towards healthier lifestyles and making food choices a part of how they manage their overall wellbeing. On the other hand, the findings also highlight opportunities to strengthen mental well-being, with only 49% reporting strong focus and clarity of mind and 47% feeling confident in their ability to adapt to sudden change.

The study also reveals that health insurance ownership is one of the most promising predictors of overall wellbeing in India. Indians with health insurance score 68/100 on the India Health Quotient, compared to 62/100 for uninsured urban Indians, a 6-point gap that remains consistent across every cohort, region, age group, gender, and stress level. Across the cohorts and stress level tested in the study, insured Indians reported higher wellbeing scores than their uninsured counterparts on physical, mental and financial dimensions alike.

This "Wellbeing Premium" is notably larger than the gender gap (men and women both score 65/100) and exceeds regional differences between major metros like Mumbai (62/100) and Bengaluru (63/100) and surpasses the gap between India's youngest and oldest age groups (63/100 vs 65/100). The gap does not diminish even when controlling for stress levels, suggesting that health insurance ownership is associated with meaningfully better wellbeing outcomes across all population segments.

Sapna Desai, Chief Marketing Officer, ManipalCigna Health Insurance, said, “The India Health Quotient asks a simple question: how does India actually feel? It shows that health is multi-dimensional, with people balancing physical, mental, financial, and work and social wellbeing, and gaps in one area often affecting the others. South India stands out for its focus on healthy eating, with 72% prioritizing a balanced diet, rising to 75% in Bengaluru and Hyderabad. However, this physical discipline does not fully offset everyday pressures. Across regions, we also see that health insurance ownership helps narrow wellbeing gaps, reinforcing that protection is an important part of overall wellbeing.”

As Karnataka continues its growth journey, the need for greater awareness around healthcare financing and financial protection remains important. With changing healthcare needs and rising medical costs, health insurance can play a critical role in helping individuals and families manage healthcare expenses while ensuring access to quality care when needed.

The ManipalCigna India Health Quotient 2026 underscores the company's commitment to going beyond traditional health insurance by developing a deeper, evidence-based understanding of how Indians experience wellbeing. With this, the company reaffirms its focus on building more responsive, holistic health solutions for a rapidly evolving India

For the complete report and insights, visit India Health Quotient 2026.

About India Health Quotient

The India Health Quotient (IHQ) is ManipalCigna Health Insurance’s proprietary research initiative that tracks the evolving health perceptions and behaviours of India. Designed as a multi-dimensional index, it evaluates self-perceived well-being across five key dimensions, physical, mental, financial, occupational, and social health, by combining the importance individuals assign to each dimension with their self-assessed performance. This approach offers a more holistic and real-world understanding of health, going beyond clinical measures to capture how people experience well-being in their daily lives, while also highlighting emerging trends, gaps, and opportunities for more informed and preventive health choices.

Disclaimer

*The India Health Quotient (IHQ) 2026 was conducted by YouGov India on behalf of ManipalCigna Health Insurance. The online survey was administered using YouGov’s proprietary research panel. Fieldwork was conducted between December 2025 and January 2026. The survey included robust 2,600 respondents drawn from 16 cities across India, with equal representation (25% each) from four geographic zones: North (Delhi NCR, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Jaipur), East (Kolkata, Guwahati, Patna, Bhubaneshwar), West (Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Surat/Vadodara), and South (Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kochi/Coimbatore). The Health Quotient score (0–100) is a composite measure combining self-assessed performance across five health dimensions (physical, mental, financial, occupational/educational, and social/relational health) with each respondent’s personal weighting of dimension and aspect importance. The Quotient is a measure of self-perceived and self-reported wellbeing; it is not a clinical assessment. All percentages are based on total respondent base (n=2,600) unless otherwise specified. No representation is made as to the completeness or accuracy of the findings. The results are indicative in nature and should not be construed as medical or professional advice. The Company disclaims any liability for reliance placed on this report.

About ManipalCigna Health Insurance Company Limited

ManipalCigna Health Insurance Company Limited is a joint venture between Manipal Group, an eminent player in healthcare delivery and higher education in India, and Cigna Healthcare, a global health services company with over 230 years of experience. ManipalCigna is headquartered out of Mumbai and has over 120 branch offices covering significant metros and towns. The company has built a strong multi-distribution network of over 1 lakh agents and 500+ distribution partners across the country. ManipalCigna also has presence in 500+ cities in India through its distribution network and has a network of over 16,000 hospitals across cities including tier I, tier II, and tier III towns in India. To learn more, visit
www.manipalcigna.com

About YouGov:

YouGov is a global research data and analytics group. Our mission is to offer unparalleled insight into what the world really thinks and does. With operations in the Americas, Mainland Europe, UK and Asia Pacific, we have one of the world's largest research networks. Above all, YouGov is powered by reality. That stems from a unique panel of millions of registered members across 64 markets, encapsulating some 18 million shopping trips and millions of interconnected data points. Our unique approach to recruiting and engaging with our panel, combined with our state-of-the-art technology platforms, enables us to deliver real-world, real-time insights that lead to better decision-making and a competitive advantage for our clients. As innovators and pioneers of online market research, we have a strong reputation as a trusted source of accurate data and insights. Testament to this, YouGov data is regularly referenced by the global press, and we are consistently one of the most quoted market research sources in the world.

For further information, visit yougov.com.

Felix Plaza Reinvents The Modern Mall Experience With Immersive Lifestyle And Entertainment Experiences

Felix Plaza, Gurugram's newest lifestyle destination, is redefining the way people experience malls by bringing together shopping, dining, entertainment and leisure under one roof. Designed as an experience-first destination, Felix Plaza offers visitors a vibrant space where every outing transforms into a memorable day of discovery, recreation and connection.

Spread across approximately 8 lakh sq. ft., the destination houses 150+ Indian and international brands across fashion, beauty, lifestyle and electronics. Shoppers can explore leading names including H&M, Marks & Spencer, Lifestyle, Westside, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Guess, Birkenstock, Aldo, R&B Fashion, Skin Bae and Style Union, offering an extensive selection for every style, age group and occasion.

Beyond retail, Felix Plaza delivers an engaging entertainment ecosystem designed for families, friends and young professionals alike. Visitors can catch the latest blockbusters at the four-screen Cinepolis multiplex, enjoy interactive gaming experiences at Fun City, Fun Block and GameX, browse everyday essentials at Mr. DIY, or simply spend quality time exploring the destination's thoughtfully curated spaces.

The culinary experience is equally diverse, with a vibrant mix of cafés, quick-service outlets, restaurants and a bustling food court serving a wide variety of cuisines. Whether it's a casual coffee catch-up, a family lunch, an indulgent dinner or a quick bite between shopping, Felix Plaza offers dining experiences to suit every mood and occasion.

Reflecting the growing preference for destinations that seamlessly blend retail with leisure, Felix Plaza has been envisioned as more than a shopping centre. From discovering the latest fashion trends and enjoying immersive entertainment to exploring new cuisines and spending quality time with loved ones, the destination offers everything needed for a complete day out, making it one of Gurugram's newest lifestyle and experience hubs.

About Felix Plaza

Felix Plaza is Gurugram’s go-to destination for shopping, dining and entertainment. Drop by for a casual hangout, meet friends or simply enjoy a moment to yourself in a vibrant and stylish set-up. More than a mall, it’s a place to celebrate everyday joys and special occasions. With a curated mix of brands, experiences and social spaces, Felix Plaza makes every visit feel effortless, memorable and truly yours.  

BUSINESSNEXT Raises USD 40 Million From ServiceNow To Accelerate Autonomous Banking

* The collaboration with ServiceNow further boosts India’s role in global AI technology for financial services

ServiceNow (NYSE: NOW), the AI control tower for business reinvention, today announced an investment of USD 40 million in BUSINESSNEXT, an autonomous operating platform for banking and financial services.

The series C round, valuing BUSINESSNEXT at USD 700 million, will strengthen the company's efforts to drive autonomous operations and private AI solutions across banking and financial services.

BUSINESSNEXT’s customer relationship management (CRM) verticalized AI capabilities and digital lending platform for financial services combined with ServiceNow's commitment to delivering industry-specific AI solutions underscores the significant growth potential in working together to accelerate the autonomous banking across the Asia Pacific region.

“Autonomous banking is not a vision we are chasing — it is a category we have been building for years. Today, as AI has matured, this investment will further accelerate our efforts to deliver Private AI solutions, meeting the unique needs of banking and financial services, helping ensure the highest level of security while meeting all regulatory governance frameworks and sovereignty aspects” said, Nishant Singh, CEO, BUSINESSNEXT.

“India's financial services sector is at an inflection point — institutions are moving from digital experimentation to full-scale AI-led operations. ServiceNow's investment in BUSINESSNEXT is a direct bet on that transformation, bringing together deep banking intelligence and enterprise-grade AI orchestration to help Indian banks and insurers move faster, serve customers better, and operate with far greater efficiency." – Kulmeet Bawa - GVP & Managing Director, India & SAARC, ServiceNow

Front-to-Back Orchestration: BUSINESSNEXT and ServiceNow together will create a unified autonomous operating fabric for financial services enterprises., tapping into a market that is expected to grow to USD 3.59 Billion by 2035 with a CAGR of 20.28% according to the Market Research Future report.

BUSINESSNEXT manages customer-facing acquisition, engagement, and real-time customer signals, while ServiceNow's Financial Services Operations (FSO) platform orchestrates middle and back-office operations—including case management, complaints handling, and agentic AI workflows.

This combination along with ServiceNow’s AI Control Tower helps eliminate fragmentation and enables financial services organisations to deliver a seamless system of execution for creating future ready autonomous operations with regulatory sector guard rails at scale.

Commenting further on the announcement, Nishant added, “the collaboration with ServiceNow marks a turning point for the global banking industry — one that finally connects customer intelligence with enterprise execution in real time. Additionally, with deep banking intelligence and AI-led customer engagement capabilities, financial institutions can now operate with greater speed, intelligence, and coordination across all customer and operational touchpoints”.

Already powering 1 million+ users, 75,000+ branches, and over 1 billion end customers globally, BUSINESSNEXT brings over 15 years of deep banking intelligence — combining AI-led decisioning, customer context, and agent-driven execution — built specifically for financial institution

Notably, BUSINESSNEXT was positioned as a Leader in the Forrester Wave™: Customer Relationship Management Software for Financial Services, Q1 2025, achieving the top ranking globally for its platform offerings ahead of leading global vendors. Forrester highlighted BUSINESSNEXT's out-of-the-box BFSI workflows, ease of customization, and AI capabilities—including predictive, generative, and agentic AI—as standout differentiators.

About BUSINESSNEXT

BUSINESSNEXT is an autonomous operating platform powering the next generation of financial services operations. Deployed across 75,000+ branches, contact centres and digital customer touchpoints, serving more than one billion end customers globally, the platform delivers native agentic AI orchestration, customer experience management and lending automation.

Visit-www.businessnext.com

About ServiceNow

ServiceNow (NYSE: NOW) is the AI control tower for business reinvention. The ServiceNow AI Platform integrates with any cloud, any model, and any data source to orchestrate how work flows across the enterprise. With more than 100 billion workflows running on the platform each year, ServiceNow helps organizations turn fragmented operations into coordinated, autonomous workflows that deliver measurable results. Learn how ServiceNow puts AI to work for people at- www.servicenow.com.

Uber Intercity Travel Index: Bengaluru To Mysuru Among India’s Most Popular Intercity Routes

* Mysuru becomes one of the leading Popular Heritage & Pilgrimage Destinations

Uber Intercity Travel Index points to the role of India’s growing highway network in a new travel story. As improved road infrastructure makes driving between cities faster and more convenient, Indians are increasingly choosing the open road for everything from weekend escapes to longer leisure vacations. The data reveals while some of India's busiest Intercity corridors continue to connect major metros, the fastest growth is now coming from regional routes linking Tier-2 cities and popular leisure destinations.

Based on aggregated Intercity trip data on Uber from the April-June 2026 period, the Index found that Mumbai-Pune, Delhi-Agra, Bengaluru-Mysuru, Lucknow-Kanpur and Ahmedabad-Vadodara remained among India's most popular Intercity routes. At the same time, routes such as Ahmedabad-Vadodara, Delhi-Dehradun, Bengaluru-Mysuru, Delhi-Chandigarh and Chennai-Puducherry emerged among the fastest-growing corridors, signalling rising demand for regional road travel.

Weekend getaways to destinations such as Dehradun, Puducherry, Nashik and Aurangabad, alongside journeys to heritage and pilgrimage centres including Agra, Mysuru, Prayagraj, Ajmer and Udaipur, also saw strong demand over the summer travel season.

Shiva Shailendran, Director – Revenue & Category Management, Uber India & South Asia, said: "A combination of safer intercity travel options like Uber Intercity along with an expanding and improved road infrastructure is driving road trips across India - not just between major cities, but increasingly across regional corridors and to destinations that offer unique cultural, spiritual and leisure experiences. This edition of the Uber Intercity Travel Index reflects how travel behaviour is evolving, with increased volume of road trips, new emerging intercity routes, and continued demand."

Travellers cashing in on long weekends

The Index also points to a growing preference for experience-led travel and planned leisure leaves around long weekends. Uber Intercity demand spiked around May Day (May 1) and Bakrid (May 28) long weekends. Road travel aficionados let loose with some riders completing close to 30 Intercity trips while others travelling nearly 1500 kilometers in intercity trips over a three-month period.

Convenience and safety focused features driving preference

As India continues to invest in road connectivity, Uber Intercity remains focused on making city-to-city travel more convenient, reliable and comfortable, helping riders discover more destinations while providing drivers with more earning opportunities. New features such as Call2Ride (C2R) that enable riders to book an Uber Intercity trip by simply calling a phone number (05227122822) - without needing to logging into the app, has made it easier for riders across smaller towns with lower app penetration to get access to Uber. Similarly, the flexibility to book round trips has appealed to many riders who can experience hassle-free travel to their desired location without the tension of needing to find a return ride.

In addition, the growing number of Intercity routes and tech-driven safety features including a 24X7 Safety Line, Share Your Trip, RideCheck, and Audio Recording, among others has made Uber Intercity a preferred choice among travellers.

Inside the Uber Intercity Travel Index: The Great Indian Road Trip (April-June 2026)

India's Most Popular Intercity Routes (by trip volume)

Mumbai ↔ Pune

Delhi ↔ Agra

Bengaluru ↔ Mysuru

Lucknow ↔ Kanpur

Ahmedabad ↔ Vadodara

Fastest-Growing Intercity Corridors (YoY)

Ahmedabad ↔ Vadodara

Bengaluru ↔ Mysuru

Delhi ↔ Dehradun

Delhi ↔ Chandigarh

Chennai ↔ Puducherry

Summer Travel Highlights

Popular Heritage & Pilgrimage Destinations

Agra

Mysuru

Prayagraj

Ajmer

Udaipur

Popular Beach & Hill Destinations

Puducherry

Dehradun

Kochi

Most Popular Weekend Getaway Routes

Mumbai ↔ Nashik

Mumbai ↔ Aurangabad

Delhi ↔ Dehradun

Delhi ↔ Agra

Chennai ↔ Puducherry

Emerging Travel Trends

Tier-2 Corridors Driving Growth

Ahmedabad ↔ Vadodara

Thrissur ↔ Kochi

Indore ↔ Ujjain

Kanpur ↔ Lucknow

Ranchi ↔ Jamshedpur

Most Booked Round Trips

Hyderabad

Hyderabad ↔ Yadagirigutta

Hyderabad ↔ Kurnool

Delhi

Delhi ↔ Agra

Delhi ↔ Sikar

Bengaluru

Bengaluru ↔ Nandi Hills

Bengaluru ↔ Magadi

Bengaluru ↔ Dharmapuri

Bengaluru ↔ Mandya

Pune

Pune ↔ Ahmednagar

Pune ↔ Satara  

Union Minister Chirag Paswan Celebrates India's Mango Farmers With Anandana – The Coca-Cola India Foundation

India’s homegrown billion-dollar fruit-based drink, Maaza® celebrates 50 years of its journey in country. Anandana – The Coca-Cola India Foundation, honoured the mango farmers behind the brand's legacy through its flagship agriculture initiative, Project Unnati which supports mango farmers with modern cultivation practices to improve productivity, fruit quality and efficient water use. Marking National Mango Day, the event included the release of a ‘Special Cover’ in collaboration with Department of Posts. Shri Chirag Paswan, Hon'ble Union Minister of Food Processing Industries along with Col. Akhilesh Kumar Pandey, Chief Postmaster General, Delhi Circle, Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications released the Special Cover.

Farmers from various parts of country were felicitated in the presence of Coca-Cola India leadership, bottling partners, implementation partner CENDECT and mango supplier Foods & Inns Ltd.

Addressing the gathering, Shri Chirag Paswan, Hon’ble Union Minister of Food Processing Industries, Government of India, said, "India has achieved self-reliance in food production, and our next priority is to create greater value through food processing by strengthening infrastructure and expanding market opportunities for our farmers. Our farmers are our ‘annadatas’, and every effort to strengthen the agricultural value chain is an investment in their future. It is encouraging to see homegrown beverage brands like Maaza celebrate this legacy of India’s beloved mangoes ‘aam’ by bringing its authentic taste to millions of households while supporting farmers and contributing to local economies. The release of the Special Cover by the Department of Posts is a tribute to India's mango heritage and the farmers who sustain it."

Devyani Rana, Vice President – Public Affairs, Communications & Sustainability, Coca-Cola India & South West Asia, said “Behind every bottle of Maaza - one of India’s most loved fruit-based drinks is the dedication and expertise of India’s mango farming communities. Through Anandana’s Project Unnati, we have been working alongside farmers and our implementation partners to strengthen productivity, improve fruit quality, and promote more resilient farming practices. As Maaza celebrates 50 years, it is equally a celebration of the farmers whose commitment has helped shape India’s mango heritage. We remain committed to supporting their journey through sustainable agriculture and long-term partnerships.”

According to P. Patchaimal, Founder and Chairman, Centre for Development and Communication Trust (CENDECT), "Celebrating Maaza's 50-year journey is a celebration of the farmers behind it. Project Unnati has demonstrated the value of combining scientific knowledge with sustained on-ground support. We look forward to continuing this work to enable more farmers to strengthen their orchards and build resilient livelihoods.”

The beneficiary farmers associated with Project Unnati shared how scientific cultivation practices have transformed their orchard management ability and productivity. R. Rajendran, a mango farmer from Theni, Tamil Nadu and Project Unnati beneficiary, said, “Project Unnati has given us the knowledge and confidence to adopt better farming practices. Today, we are seeing improved productivity and better-quality mangoes, helping us build a brighter future for our families.”

According to Milan Dalal, MD, Foods & Inns Ltd., “Building a resilient mango value chain begins with strong partnerships at the farm level. Initiatives like Project Unnati are helping farmers adopt scientific cultivation practices that improve fruit quality, productivity and consistency creating long-term value for farming communities while strengthening India’s fruit processing ecosystem. As a long-standing sourcing partner, we believe such collaborative efforts are essential to supporting sustainable growth across the value chain.”

Project Unnati is Anandana's flagship agriculture initiative that works with the fruit-growing communities to improve agricultural productivity and farmer livelihoods. The programme supports fruit-growing communities by helping farmers grow more and better-quality mangoes through modern cultivation practices including Ultra High-Density Plantation (UHDP), Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), drip irrigation and scientific orchard management. These modern mango farming practices help improve orchard management, increase productivity and strengthen India's fruit processing value chain. The program's mango initiative has helped farmers nearly double per-acre yields while significantly reducing the time between planting and commercial production, strengthening India's mango value chain and supporting the country's food processing ecosystem.

The felicitation of mango farmers paid tribute not only to Maaza's 50-year legacy, but also to the farming communities whose dedication continues to strengthen India's mango farming sector, food processing ecosystem and India's position as the world's largest producer of mangoes.

Nestlé India Delivered Robust 25.4% Sales Growth Led By Strong Volume Growth

* All four product groups recorded strong double-digit growth

The Board of Directors of Nestlé India today approved the results for the first quarter of financial year 2026-2027.

Commenting on the results, Mr. Manish Tiwary, Chairman and Managing Director, Nestlé India, said: “We delivered a strong quarter with sales growth of 25.4% led by volume growth. Sales stood at INR 6,363.3 crore, powered by continued consumer trust in our brands and a strong focus on execution. Exports delivered 35.6% growth, despite ongoing geopolitical headwinds.

During the quarter, we further accelerated operational cost savings and continued to step up investments behind our brands with advertising spends increasing by over 40%, with a healthy EBIDTA margin of 24.2%. Profit After Tax for the quarter stood at INR 975.1 crore, up 47.9% over the corresponding quarter.

All four product groups delivered strong double-digit growth, supported by high double-digit growth across channels.

The Confectionery product group recorded another strong quarter of volume led double-digit growth that was bolstered by premiumisation and e-commerce, with strong underlying transaction across powerhouse brands. KITKAT continued to gain market share.

The Powdered and Liquid Beverages product group recorded another quarter of strong and consistent performance, marking the 20th consecutive quarter of double-digit growth. This performance was powered by increased coffee penetration, accelerated premiumization, and deeper category relevance across consumer segments, supported by sustained brand-building that continues to strengthen our equity and by an expanding footprint.

Over the past year, NESPRESSO has expanded its presence across Delhi NCR, Mumbai and Bengaluru through a range of retail formats, including boutique, pavilion and pop-up. The launch of the NESPRESSO pavilion in Bengaluru this quarter marks another step in taking the brand closer to discerning consumers, meeting them in the spaces and moments where they seek premium coffee experiences.

The Prepared Dishes and Cooking Aids product group recorded strong double-digit growth, driven by sharper engagement with urban consumers, continued expansion in rural markets and focused innovations. This translated into gains in both market share and penetration.

The Milk Products and Nutrition product group recorded strong, broad-based performance built on underlying volume growth across key brands and channels. The delivery was supported by disciplined brand investments in strengthening category fundamentals, including digital activation, consumer-needs oriented portfolio refinement and continued focus on execution excellence across the portfolio.

The Pet Food business delivered strong double-digit growth, supported by portfolio expansion, wider distribution and sharper consumer engagement. We strengthened our presence in cat food with the launch of FELIX Gravy Lover and PRO PLAN Cat, addressing evolving pet parent needs across mainstream and premium offerings.

Nestlé Professional continued its robust momentum and delivered double-digit volume-led growth, evolving its portfolio into a total solution provider for operator needs across all channels in the Out-of-Home space.

General Trade continued to deliver strong double-digit growth across town classes, with rural markets leading the momentum. Rural distribution touchpoints expanded during the quarter, strengthening direct reach and improving the quality of coverage. This progress was underpinned by technology-led interventions, including DMS adoption at the sub-distributor level, which helped deepen retailer engagement and improve execution across rural markets.

Even as we delivered strong business performance, we remained focused on building the capabilities, partnerships and value chains that strengthen our business for the long term. This is especially evident in our sustainability journey, particularly in the work we are doing to build a more resilient dairy value chain. Across our milk procurement network, we continue to work closely with dairy farmers to promote climate-resilient and resource-efficient practices that are meaningful on the ground. These efforts help strengthen livelihoods, reduce environmental impact and create a dairy ecosystem that is more productive, resilient and future-ready.

Near our Moga factory in Punjab, Bachitter Singh, a third-generation dairy farmer, offers a compelling glimpse of how sustainability can strengthen the future of dairy. On his farm, improved feeding systems, modern infrastructure, energy-efficient operations and scientific manure management are making the farm more productive and resilient. Technologies such as total mixed ration feeding, automated milking systems and a biodigester are helping convert waste into value, generating renewable energy and returning nutrients to the soil. Stories like Bachitter Singh’s are made possible by the collective effort of many hands across our ecosystem.

My sincere appreciation to our esteemed Board, shareholders, employees, retailers, distributors, government stakeholders and other partners for their continued trust, commitment and support. Their efforts enabled us to stay close to consumers and execute with agility and discipline, even in a demanding environment.”

Financial Highlights: Quarter 1, 2026-2027

Total Sales of INR 6,363.3 crore

Total Sales Growth at 25.4%, Domestic Sales Growth at 25.0%

EBITDA margin of 24.2%

Profit After Tax stood at INR 975.1 crore, up 47.9% over the corresponding quarter

Earnings Per Share of INR 5.06

Business Comments – Quarter 1, 2026-27:

E-commerce: Sustained strong growth momentum, with Quick Commerce emerging as a key growth lever. Performance was supported by improved product availability, a more tailored platform-specific pack portfolio across relevant categories, focused on- and off-platform media investments, and strong participation during key festive occasions.

Organized Trade: Delivered double-digit growth across key categories, driven by sharper in-store execution, impactful consumer activations, enhanced visibility, and continued expansion of the store footprint.

Out-of-Home (OOH): Delivered strong customer acquisition, supported by innovation and premiumization across categories, including expansion of the beverage portfolio with NESCAFÉ® Duo Gusto (hot and cold offerings) and the introduction of low- and zero-sugar beverage options. Recipe led innovations included MAGGI® Coconut Milk powder’s expansion into coastal cuisines and tapping into emerging café and bakery applications for MILKMAID®.

Exports: Expanded its international footprint through new variants of MAGGI® Noodles SKUs in Canada, larger sauce pack formats for the HoReCa channel, and a wider MAGGI portfolio across Europe. Following the successful launch of NESCAFÉ® Sunrise in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, exports to Lebanon commenced. In recognition of its growing export contribution, Nestlé India was accorded 4-Star Export House status, reinforcing its contribution to the Make in India initiative.

Product Groups Performance (Domestic) – Quarter 1, 2026-27:

Prepared Dishes and Cooking Aids: MAGGI® continued to focus on building brand love by doing exclusive product drops and collaborations, be it the exclusive limited edition MAGGI® bowl on the emerging Q-com platforms and the on-ground collaboration with Uniqlo on merchandise. MAGGI® also launched two exclusive seasonal flavours to ring in the monsoon season with MAGGI® tandoori masala and curry masala. Focus remained on building the MAGGI® spicy range with the launch of Spicy Green Chilli nationally. The brand also launched the new MAGGI® Veg Atta now with MAGGI® masala tastemaker to help increase brand penetration.

Milk Products and Nutrition: Science-based portfolio of nutritional products for infants continued to deliver sequentially strengthening performance, supported by amplified efforts to protect and grow the trust that parents and healthcare professionals place in these products. EVERYDAY® returned to positive momentum in priority markets and the toddlers-specific products continued to deliver strong growths and market share gain.

Confectionery: Continued to outperform the category with strong penetration gains. Increased investments behind key brands, impactful partnerships such as KITKAT® with One Piece and a sharp focus on premiumisation were key drivers of growth.

Powdered and Liquid Beverages: Driven by high double-digit, volume-led growth in NESCAFÉ® CLASSIC and NESCAFÉ® SUNRISE, alongside robust growth in the premium portfolio, led by NESCAFÉ® GOLD. The Ready-to-Drink (RTD) business scaled rapidly during the quarter, reinforcing NESCAFÉ® RTD as a key pillar of future growth by addressing the emerging consumer need for indulgence.

Commodity Outlook:

Commodity markets remain mixed. Coffee is expected to remain well supplied, supported by higher production in Brazil and Vietnam, though short-term volatility may persist due to fund activity and weather-related harvest delays in Brazil. Cocoa and sugar remain under pressure, with cocoa impacted by erratic rainfall across key producing origins and sugar strengthening on lower-than-expected crop estimates, with uneven monsoon conditions linked to El Niño posing a risk to the next crop. Edible oil prices remain stable at elevated levels. Wheat and milk are expected to remain range-bound, while the protein complex (including dairy based proteins) continues to face inflationary pressure as demand from nutrition and protein-fortification trends outpaces supply expansion.

Cautionary Statement:

Statements in this Press Release, particularly those which relate to outlook, describing the company’s projections, estimates and expectations may constitute ‘forward looking statements’ within the meaning of applicable laws and regulations. Actual results might differ materially from those either expressed or implied in the statement depending on the circumstances.    

From Dharavi's Potters To Counter-Drone AI, Groww Foundation Backs 35 Young Innovators At IIT Bombay

* The 19 ideas proposed by these young and talented innovators are being backed by Groww Foundation to empower their evolution into a real and viable solution

Groww Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Groww, today announced the first cohort of the INV.ENT program, backing 19 ideas by 35 young innovators at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay). Chosen from nearly 400 submissions across disciplines, the winning ideas range across a marketplace that takes ceramics from Dharavi's potters to customers, a wearable sleeve that coaches physiotherapy patients through their exercises, a platform that turns CO2 into edible protein and an AI system built to guard critical infrastructure against rogue drones.

The first cohort spans the program's two tracks. 3 student teams have been named the program's inaugural Grand Challenge Fellows and are eligible for milestone-based annual support of up to Rs 25 lakh each. The 16 remaining student teams enter the POC Support Track with a catalytic grant of Rs 30,000 each.

On top of the grant, this cohort will receive mentoring and a 15,000 sqft dedicated space, called Groww Innovation Space, located at IIT Bombay's Desai Sethi School of Entrepreneurship (DSSE). This space will be used to build, test a core assumption, speak to real users and assemble a prototype, thereby allowing a steady influx of new ideas from students into this ongoing program that doesn't come with a submission deadline - just a commitment to fostering fearless innovation.

Across the cohort, the ideas stretch across agri-tech, robotics, climate-tech, assistive-tech, retail, design, edtech, gaming and defence, several leveraging AI and ML to tackle the hitherto unsolved problems. The full portfolio of the selected ideas is at: growwfoundationiitb.org/portfolio

"At Groww Foundation, our mission since day zero has been to empower India's youth with opportunities to learn, build and innovate. INV.ENT is a program born out of that belief," said Kalpana Swaminathan, Head of Groww Foundation. "We see this as a launchpad, the place where young innovators get the mentorship, financial support and trust to take their first real shot, long before the world is watching. We're excited to work closely with this cohort of innovators as they turn their conviction into something real, and we hope to look back one day and call this the starting point for some of India's most impactful builders."

The grants are the entry point of a program that will support over 100 student teams a year, with the strongest ones rewarded the Grand Challenge Fellowship with its larger, milestone-based support.

Reflecting on what the first INV.ENT cohort represents for student innovation at IIT Bombay, Prof. Shireesh Kedare, Director, IIT Bombay, said, "At IIT Bombay, we believe that the distance between an idea and its impact is often determined by whether someone believes in it early enough. Our partnership with Groww Foundation through INV.ENT is built on that shared conviction. Young innovators deserve the freedom, resources, and encouragement to test bold ideas before the world expects results. Together, we are creating an ecosystem where students do not have to wait for permission to build. They can test, fail, learn, and move forward. That is how enduring innovation ecosystems are built."

Mukund and the Team BeBrust, one of the winning teams, shared, "The overall experience of selection has been really helpful in improving our clarity. We understood the caliber of the team. We are now more confident in the innovation of our idea and in our mission, opportunity, and ability to perceive and experiment. We are looking forward to getting a bigger network and being at least one year ahead of our plan."

About IITB-Groww INV.ENT Programme

The IITB-Groww INV.ENT programme is a four-year initiative, anchored at IIT Bombay's DSSE, with a total allocation of Rs 23.63 crore. It pairs a dedicated 15,000 sq. ft. Innovation space with early-stage POC grants (Track A) and a deep-tech Grand Challenge Fellowship (Track B) to help students validate, build and translate high-impact ideas. This programme aims to step in where raw/developing ideas are converted into a functional prototype, even all the way to a market ready product.

About Groww Foundation

At Groww Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Groww, we believe in the power of knowledge, community, and sustainability to shape a better tomorrow. Through our commitment to advancing learning, empowering innovators and entrepreneurs, we are creating opportunities that endure—leaving a lasting, positive impact on the people and places we serve.

For more, reach out to: gunjanna@groww.in     

Villa Swagatam, The Indo-French Residency Programme, Selects 35 Laureates For Its 4th Edition

* With residencies across France and South Asia

Indian and French creatives to build new bridges through Villa Swagatam as part of the India-France Year of Innovation.

The French Institute in India is pleased to announce the selection of 35 laureates for the fourth edition of its flagship residency programme, Villa Swagatam, which will unfold from August 2026 to August 2027. Bringing together artists, designers, authors, graphic novelists, translators and researchers from France and South Asia, the programme fosters cross-cultural dialogue and creative collaboration through our immersive residencies of one to three months across a network of 30 residency partners in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and France.

The fourth edition of Villa Swagatam takes place within the framework of the India–France Year of Innovation 2026, embracing innovation not simply as a theme, but as a method. Expanding into new geographical, artistic, material and intellectual territories, our residencies encourage mobility, interdisciplinarity and experimentation, while creating fresh opportunities for dialogue between cultural ecosystems across France and South Asia.

Commenting on the launch of this new edition, H.E. Mr Thierry Mathou, Ambassador of France to India, said: "Villa Swagatam has become a remarkable laboratory for Indo-French cultural cooperation and innovation. Each residency creates conditions for artists, writers and thinkers that are conducive to experimentation, unexpected encounters, and imagination of new forms of collaboration. These cultural Passeurs are weaving lasting connections between our two countries, enriching our creative landscapes and giving new depth to the friendship between France and South Asia."

The open call for the fourth edition of Villa Swagatam ran from 17 April to 7 June 2026, inviting candidates from France and India to apply. The programme received 540 individual applications in total.

A striking observation from this year's open call has been the remarkable interest shown by the Indian diaspora in Villa Swagatam. While these artists and authors have built international careers and developed their practices across continents, many remain profoundly connected to India, drawing on its histories, aesthetics and cultural traditions as enduring sources of inspiration. Contemporary dancer and choreographer Aishwarya Raut embodies this transnational dialogue. During her residency at the Centre National de la Danse in Pantin, she will develop a new choreographic work rooted in Indian movement vocabularies, using the time and space of the residency to deepen a practice that, despite its international trajectory, remains intrinsically connected to India In the same vein, multidisciplinary artiste Kirti Virmani, who is based in London, will be in residency with Fondation La Napoule’s international collective residency.

EXPANDING OUR CREATIVE HORIZONS

Crafting new futures: Building on the momentum of the Indo-French textile exhibition Ce qui se trame, presented at the Mobilier National in Paris in December 2025, Villa Swagatam continues to expand its commitment to artistic practices rooted in craftsmanship, material research and sustainability.

For this edition, Kaanchi Chopra will join the Manufactures Nationales, while Gargi Chandola will undertake a residency at the Fondation Thalie in Arles. Through their distinct practices, both artists share a deep engagement with traditional knowledge systems and ecological thinking. Kaanchi Chopra works with wool as a material for artistic expression, exploring its tactile and narrative potential, while Gargi draws on the rich tradition of Indian miniature painting, staging with her characters our contemporary relationship to nature. During their time in France, both artists seek to place their practices in dialogue with new material cultures, artisanal expertise and sustainability.

Villa Swagatam is also broadening its exploration of craftsmanship in Kishangarh, India: StoneX Global will welcome artists Sophia Taillet and Vincent Voillat, whose distinct practices will engage with the region's centuries-old traditions of marble and stone craftsmanship, while drawing on StoneX Global's exceptional technical expertise and extensive repertoire of possibilities for working with these materials.

One of France's leading contemporary art institutions, macLYON will welcome the young and promising Indian ceramist Ayantika Sajwal who recently graduated from the Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda, to experiment with clay as both a sculptural medium and a repository of artisanal knowledge in the rich geological context of Lyon, making this her first international residency experience outside of India.

Marilou Laneuville, Head of Exhibitions and Publications at macLYON, affirms: "At macLYON, supporting young artists and emerging talents at pivotal moments in their careers is central to our mission. Residencies such as this one offer not only the time and space to experiment, but also the opportunity to enter into dialogue with new artistic, cultural and material contexts. We are delighted to welcome Ayantika and look forward to seeing how her encounter with France's ceramic traditions and our ecosystem will enrich her practice and give rise to new forms of artistic expression."

The Graphic Novel takes centre stage: Graphic storytelling emerges as one of the defining threads of this fourth edition, reflecting the remarkable vitality of the medium in both France and India. French graphic novelist Pierre Dawance will kickstart the upcoming edition with a residency at VAST Bhutan, drawing inspiration from the country's landscapes, architecture and living cultural traditions to develop a new body of graphic work and storytelling. In France, Debangshu Moulik, will undertake his residency at Villa Gillet × Lyon BD (Lyon), where he will also participate in the Lyon BD festival as well as the Littérature Live Lyon.

At the same time, the Maison des auteurs of the Cité internationale de la bande dessinée et de l'image will host Indian graphic novelists Mia Jose and Charbak Dipta for a residency in Angoulême. Immersed in one of Europe's leading centres for comics and graphic storytelling, they will have the opportunity to develop their projects while engaging with the vibrant creative ecosystem that has made Angoulême an international reference for the ninth art.

Finally, graphic novelist Vidyun Sabhaney will be heading to La Marelle in Marseille, where she will develop a new graphic novel project rooted in speculative fiction and exploring the realities and imaginaries of climate change.

Fanny Pomarède, General Director of La Marelle, comments: “It is a great pleasure to welcome Vidyun Sabhaney to La Marelle as part of Villa Swagatam. Following Parismita Singh’s residency in the previous edition, we are especially delighted to continue supporting the work of women graphic novelists from India whose practices are expanding the possibilities of the form. These residencies create a space where different visual languages, storytelling traditions and creative imaginations can meet. Vidyun’s work, at the crossroads of speculative fiction and ecological reflection, promises to open up a particularly rich and meaningful dialogue between our creative communities.”

Ideas and debates at the foreground of Villa Swagatam: This year, Villa Swagatam also reaffirms its commitment to critical thinking about contemporary social, ecological and cultural challenges. Artist, curator and researcher Aastha Chauhan will join the Institut d'études avancées de Nantes, where she will explore how artistic initiatives are shaped by, and in turn shape, the communities they engage with. Meanwhile, acclaimed novelist Shubhangi Swarup will become the first Villa Swagatam resident in La Réunion, undertaking a residency with LERKA and Banyan - Centre d'art contemporain de la Cité des Arts de la Réunion. Her project will investigate the intertwined ecological histories of the Indian Ocean, tracing connections between La Réunion and the Indian subcontinent through literature.

Laureates 2026 - 2027:

The Villa Swagatam network consists of 30 residences across France and South Asia:

Residencies in South Asia :

Alice Boner Institute (Varanasi) – Olivier Liron, author

Alice Boner Institute (Varanasi) – Marina Chiche, author and musician

Eklavya Foundation (Bhopal) – Cheyenne Olivier, illustrator

Sangam House (Bengaluru) – Paul Greveillac, author

Lakmahal Library (Colombo) – Frank Smith, poet

VAST (Thimphu & Punakha) – Pierre Dawance, graphic novelist

Itinerant Residency (India) – Atiq Rahimi, author

Red House (New Delhi) – Sarah Maeght, author and playwright

Cosmos Foundation (Dhaka) – Saena Delacroix, calligrapher

Hampi Art Labs (Hampi) – Kelly Eng and Marie Piplard (Studio EngPiplard), designers

Jaipur Rugs (Jaipur) – Colombine Jubert & Laëtitia Rouget (Pangea), artists and designers

Kalhath Institute (Lucknow) – Martin Schepkens & Manuel Leromain, artist and designer

Nila House (Jaipur) – Erika Povilonyté, artist

Public Arts Trust of India (Jodhpur) – Jérémy Demester, artist

Vastrakala (Chennai) – Naomi Lulendo, artist

StoneX Global (Kishangarh) – Sophia Taillet, artist and designer

StoneX Global (Kishangarh) – Vincent Voillat, artist

Residencies in France :

La Maison de la Poésie de Nantes (Nantes) – Jonaki Ray, poet

Cité internationale de la bande dessinée et de l'image (Angoulême) – Mia Jose, graphic novelist

Cité internationale de la bande dessinée et de l'image (Angoulême) – Charbak Dipta, graphic novelist

La Maison Julien Gracq (Saint-Florent-le-Vieil) – Khalid Jawed, author

La Marelle (Marseille) – Vidyun Sabhaney, graphic novelist

Villa Gillet × Lyon BD (Lyon) – Debangshu Moulik, graphic novelist

Chalet Mauriac × Villa Valmont (Nouvelle-Aquitaine) – Vasumathi Badrinathan, translator

Institut d'études avancées de Nantes (Nantes) – Aastha Chauhan, artist, educator and curator

LERKA × Banyan - Centre de l’art contemporain (La Réunion) – Shubhangi Swarup, author

Centre National de la Danse (Pantin) – Aishwarya Raut, contemporary dancer and choreographer

La Napoule Art Foundation (Mandelieu-la-Napoule) – Kirti Virmani, artist

Art Scribes Award × Prameya Art Foundation (Mandelieu-la-Napoule) – to be confirmed soon

Manufactures Nationales (Paris & Sèvres) – Kaanchi Chopra, artist

Fondation Thalie (Arles) – Gargi Chandola, artist

macLYON (Lyon) – Ayantika Sajwal, artist

Thums Up Accelerates India's Biking Culture With The Return Of ThunderWheels®, Featuring Jasprit Bumrah

* Thums Up invites a new generation of riders to unlock the Toofani world of biking through ThunderWheels®

Thums Up, Coca-Cola India's iconic billion-dollar homegrown brand, is revving up India's biking culture with the return of ThunderWheels®, its flagship biking platform. Fronted by cricketing icon Jasprit Bumrah, the campaign marks a renewed commitment to champion biking culture in India, inviting the next generation of riders to embrace the thrill, and freedom that defines the open road.

Driving the campaign is an action-packed brand film featuring Bumrah, bringing alive the toofani world of ThunderWheels, challenging every aspiring rider to chase experiences that are bold, thrilling and unapologetically Toofani. More than a campaign, ThunderWheels is a gateway into the world of biking, designed to bring together enthusiasts, creators and aspiring riders through immersive experiences, community engagement and opportunities that celebrate India's growing biking culture.

As part of the campaign, specially marked Thums Up packs become the gateway to unlock the Toofani biking experience. Consumers can scan the pack to enter the world of ThunderWheels and stand a chance to win exclusive biking rewards, including the coveted ThunderWheels bike through a lucky draw, making every pack an invitation to step into the world of biking.

Sumeli Chatterjee, Category Head – Sparkling Flavours, Coca-Cola India and South-West Asia, said: "At Thums Up, our signature strong taste and high fizz represent a bold, adventurous spirit that has defined the brand for generations. Biking is more than a passion point for us; it's a natural expression of the Toofani spirit that drives everything we do. In its third year, ThunderWheels 3.0 brings riders closer to unforgettable experiences, stronger communities, and the thrill of the riding. We hope it inspires a new generation of young Indians to discover the joy of riding and live the Toofani spirit with every ride.”

Beyond the film, ThunderWheels will spark conversations across digital and social platforms by encouraging biking enthusiasts from across the country to share their own riding stories, adventures and passion, building one of India's largest celebrations of biking culture.

Through ThunderWheels, Thums Up continues to build on its Toofani legacy, celebrate and experience the exhilarating world of biking, one ride at a time.

About The Coca‑Cola Company

The Coca‑Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is a total beverage company with products sold in more than 200 countries and territories. Our company’s purpose is to refresh the world and make a difference. We sell multiple billion-dollar brands across several beverage categories worldwide. Our portfolio of sparkling soft drink brands includes Coca‑Cola, Sprite and Fanta. Our water, sports, coffee and tea brands include Dasani, smartwater, vitaminwater, Topo Chico, BODYARMOR, Powerade, Costa, Georgia, Fuze Tea, Gold Peak and Ayataka. Our juice, value-added dairy and plant-based beverage brands include Minute Maid, Simply, innocent, Del Valle, fairlife and AdeS. We’re constantly transforming our portfolio, from reducing sugar in our drinks to bringing innovative new products to market. We seek to positively impact people’s lives, communities and the planet through water replenishment, packaging recycling, sustainable sourcing practices and carbon emissions reductions across our value chain. Together with our bottling partners, we employ more than 700,000 people, helping bring economic opportunity to local communities worldwide. Learn more at www.coca-colacompany.com and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.  

Malabar Gold & Diamonds Announces 'Ashada Shubha Labh' Festive Offers Across Karnataka

Malabar Gold & Diamonds, the Responsible Jeweller and one of the world's largest jewellery retailers, has announced its 'Ashada Shubha Labh' festive offers across all showrooms in Karnataka, bringing customers attractive savings on a wide range of jewellery during the auspicious Ashada season.

As part of the limited-period festive campaign, customers can avail up to 30% off on Making Charges on gold, uncut and gemstone jewellery, along with up to 30% off on diamond value. Customers can also benefit from 0% deduction on old gold exchange, making it an ideal opportunity to upgrade existing jewellery or invest in new designs while celebrating the season. The offers are valid from 15 July to 12 August 2026, across all Malabar Gold & Diamonds showrooms in Karnataka, subject to applicable terms and conditions.

Commenting on the festive campaign, M. P. Ahammad, Chairman, Malabar Group, said:

"Festivals and auspicious occasions have always held a special place in India's jewellery-buying tradition, symbolising prosperity, new beginnings and cherished family moments. Through our 'Ashada Shubha Labh' campaign, we are delighted to offer customers exceptional value while reaffirming our commitment to quality, transparency and trust. We invite customers across Karnataka to celebrate the season with our extensive collections and enjoy a rewarding shopping experience." Customers can explore an extensive range of gold, diamond, platinum, uncut, gemstone and silver jewellery, including Malabar Gold & Diamonds' signature collections, thoughtfully curated for weddings, festive celebrations, gifting, contemporary styling and everyday wear. Combining timeless craftsmanship with evolving design sensibilities, the collections cater to a wide range of customer preferences.

Customers will also continue to benefit from Malabar Gold & Diamonds' customer assurance framework, including One India One Gold Rate, transparent pricing, HUID-compliant gold jewellery, IGI/GIA-certified diamonds, lifetime maintenance support, buyback assurance, and detailed product disclosure, ensuring complete confidence and transparency with every purchase.

As the Responsible Jeweller, Malabar Gold & Diamonds continues to strengthen its customer-first approach by offering exceptional value, world-class craftsmanship, and an unwavering commitment to responsible business practices across its growing retail network.

About Malabar Gold & Diamonds

Malabar Gold & Diamonds was established in 1993 and is the flagship company of Malabar Group, a leading diversified Indian business conglomerate. With an annual turnover of $9.41 billion, the company currently ranks as the 5th largest jewellery retailer globally and operates a strong retail network of over 445 showrooms across 14 countries, supported by offices, design centres, wholesale units, and manufacturing facilities across India, the Middle East, the Far East, the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The group, owned by more than 3,500 shareholders, has over 30,000 professionals from more than 26 countries working towards its continued growth.

ESG has been a core commitment of Malabar Group since its inception. The Group’s CSR focus areas include health, housing, hunger eradication, education, environment, and women empowerment. The Group contributes five percent of its profits to social responsibility initiatives in the same country of operation, with programmes designed to create sustained community impact.