iPhone 18 Pro Lineup Pre-Bookings And Never Before Prices On iPhone 17Pro And 17 ProMax At Croma

* Croma Opens Pre-Bookings for New iPhone 18 Pro Line-Up with Exclusive Exchange Bonus of up to ₹12,000

* Simultaneously Unveils Never-Before Prices on iPhone 17 Pro Starting at ₹69,990* ~

Croma, India's leading omni-channel electronics retailer from the Tata Group, have announced the pre-booking for iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max is live. Customers can secure Apple’s latest devices through a flexible pre-booking offer available nationwide across Croma stores, croma.com, the Tata Neu app, and Big Basket.

The new Pro lineup brings Apple’s latest advances in performance and photography, including the powerful A20 Pro chip, Apple’s in-house C2 wireless modem and a new 48MP Fusion main camera with a physical variable aperture.

Pre-bookings will be available across more than 560 Croma stores in over 200 cities, as well as on croma.com, the Tata Neu app and Big Basket. For complete pricing and availability details, customers can visit their nearest Croma store or croma.com.

Pre-Booking Details for the iPhone 18 Pro Lineup

Customers can pre-book the iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max at Croma stores for ₹5,000. Pre-bookings through croma.com, Tata Neu and BigBasket will require full payment

Customer can avail an exclusive exchange bonus of up to ₹12,000 at Croma

Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4 and AirPods can be pre-booked at Croma stores for ₹2,000. Pre-bookings through croma.com, Tata Neu, and Big Basket require full payment and is going live already.

iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max continue to deliver value

Exclusive Offers for iPhone 17 Pro:

iPhone 17 Pro 256 GB available in stores at ₹69,990* and 512 GB at ₹88,490*. How to get this offer:

Avail ₹4,000 bank cashback on select credit cards

Exchange your old iPhone15 pro for up to ₹44,500 (depending on condition and model)

Avail ₹12,000* exchange bonus

The phone can also be availed on croma.com at ₹1,26,490* (256GB) and ₹1,45,990* (512GB) inclusive of ₹4,000 bank cashback starting 15th September.

Exclusive Offers for iPhone 17 Pro Max:

iPhone 17 Pro Max 256 GB available in stores at ₹74,990* and 512 GB at ₹94,990*. How to get this offer:

Avail ₹4,000 bank cashback on select credit cards

Exchange your old iPhone15 pro max for up to ₹53,000 (depending on condition and model)

Avail ₹12,000* exchange bonus

The phone can also be availed on croma.com at ₹1,39,990* (256GB) and ₹1,59,990* (512GB) inclusive of ₹4,000 bank cashback starting 15th September.

Commenting on the announcement, a spokesperson at Infiniti Retail Ltd. said, “A new iPhone Pro launch is always met with strong anticipation, and customers increasingly want a simple and seamless way to secure their preferred model. Through our nationwide store network and digital platforms, we are making the pre-booking journey easier, from choosing the right model to exchanging an existing device and completing the purchase. Alongside the new lineup, the continued availability of the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max at compelling prices allows customers to select a Pro model that best suits their priorities and budget.”

For more information about the exclusive offers and to explore the full range of products, customers are encouraged to visit their nearest Croma store, or shop online at Croma.com and through the Tata Neu app. With an expansive presence across more than 560+ stores across 200+ cities, Croma remains committed to delivering the latest technology, unmatched service, and rewarding shopping journeys to its customers.

*Disclaimer: Offers are time-bound and valid only subject to eligibility, availability, and brand guidelines. NeuCoin issuance/redemption is governed by Tata Neu's programme rules. Please check in-store or on Croma.com for the latest details.

About Croma:

Infiniti Retail Ltd. is India’s first large-format electronics retailer in India operating under the brand name Croma. With over 560+ stores across 200+ cities, the company continues to open new stores to expand its presence nationally. Croma offers its customers a world-class ambience to shop both in-store and staged at www.croma.com, and allows for a seamless omnichannel shopping experience. Through its deep integration with the Tata Neu ecosystem, products from Croma are also available on the Tata Neu app and Big Basket. Croma has been featured among the 100 most valuable Indian brands by Brand Finance India 100 report for three years in a row. 

Hero MotoCorp Launches Glamour X With Integrated-ABS Across India

* India’s most tech-forward 125cc motorcycle now combines uncompromised safety with bold new aesthetics

Hero MotoCorp, the world's largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters, today announced the launch of the highly anticipated Glamour X with Integrated-ABS. Setting a new industry benchmark, the Glamour X becomes the first motorcycle in 125cc segment to feature Single-Channel ABS paired with an Integrated Braking System (IBS). This feature drastically improves vehicle stability and reduces braking distance, reinforcing Hero MotoCorp’s commitment to democratizing advanced technology and delivering rider-first mobility solutions.

Speaking on the launch, Ashutosh Varma, Chief Business Officer - India Business Unit, Hero MotoCorp, said, "The 125cc segment is witnessing a rapid evolution, with customers increasingly demanding a blend of contemporary styling, advanced technology and uncompromised safety. The Glamour X has already disrupted this space with category-first features including Ride Modes and Cruise Control. By introducing first-in-segment integrated ABS, we are not just upgrading a motorcycle; we are reshaping the safety standards for the entire category. This launch strengthens our portfolio and offers intelligent, future-ready mobility solutions that empower the new-age Indian rider."

Enhanced Safety with ABS

The Glamour X 125 features Integrated Anti-lock Braking System technology for the first time, delivering sharper, more responsive and more assured braking performance across varied road conditions. This adds to the Glamour X's existing safety suite, which includes Panic Brake Alert - fast-flashing LED winkers that instantly alert trailing traffic during emergency braking and Hazard Lamps for signaling emergencies.

Futuristic Styling and Bold Design Language

The Glamour X 125 arrives with a muscular, sculpted design language crafted for riders who want their motorcycle to command attention. It’s Full LED Lighting Package with ‘H’ Signature and sporty graphics give the motorcycle a distinctive on-road presence.

Smart Technology and Connected Riding

Elevating its appeal is a 10.7 cm adaptive multi-colour console that comes with ambient lighting and with over 60 features - including Gear Shift Advisory, Distance-to-Empty and Real-Time Mileage Indicator. Riders stay connected with Bluetooth connectivity, Turn-by-Turn Navigation with ETA display, along with call and SMS alerts, bringing a truly tech-enabled riding experience to the segment.

Performance and Efficiency

The Glamour X 125 with integrated ABS is powered by the Sprint-EBT engine, delivering 11.4 BHP (8.5 kW) at 8250 rpm, engineered for smooth power delivery and low NVH. Riders can also choose between three Ride Modes - Eco, Road and Power, to suit different riding needs. Cruise Control reduces fatigue and improves fuel efficiency on longer journeys.

Convenience and Comfort

Designed for effortless everyday riding, the Glamour X 125 offers a wide handlebar for a relaxed riding posture, a long flat comfortable seat and a low seat height for easy accessibility. Adding to rider convenience is dual under-seat mobile storage along with a C-Type USB charging port.

Colours & Pricing

Complementing its futuristic design, the Glamour X 125 with ABS has been introduced with two new colour options - Gun Metal Grey and Matt Axis Grey in addition to two existing colours – Black Pearl Red and Black Teal Blue, expanding the Glamour X's next-gen colour palette. The new variant is available at Hero MotoCorp dealerships across the country at an attractive price of INR 101000/- (Ex-Showroom, Delhi).

Axis Bank And Hitachi Payment Services Unveil AI-Powered Solutions For Smarter Banking And Merchant Payment Experiences

* Launches Express Banking: Digital Banking Point 2.0 and AI Soundbox with conversational, multilingual and real-time intelligent capabilities

Axis Bank, one of the largest private sector banks in India, in collaboration with Hitachi Payment Services, a leading end-to-end payments and commerce solutions provider, unveiled two AI-powered innovations—Express Banking: Digital Banking Point 2.0 and AI Soundbox.

Extending AI across key customer and merchant touchpoints, Express Banking: Digital Banking Point 2.0 enables customers to access banking services and receive assistance through natural-language interactions, while the AI Soundbox allows merchants to ask payment-related questions by voice and receive real-time responses. Together, the solutions embed conversational intelligence into everyday banking and payment experiences, making them more intuitive, accessible, and connected.

Express Banking: Digital Banking Point 2.0: From navigating screens to having a conversation

Express Banking: India’s first Digital Banking Point was unveiled at Global Fintech Fest 2025. Taking the next leap, Express Banking: Digital Banking Point 2.0 embeds conversational AI into the physical banking experience. The earlier version of the solution has been deployed across high-footfall educational institutions and corporate campuses, including IIM Ahmedabad, Lovely Professional University, Chandigarh Group of Colleges, Capgemini and Sattva Knowledge City. These deployments have validated a scalable, 24x7 branch-lite banking model that brings banking closer to customers where they study and work. The platform has served diverse segments including students, salaried professionals and corporate employees, while reducing dependence on traditional branch formats for everyday banking needs.

With the latest proposition, customers can interact with an AI assistant using natural language, with multilingual capabilities and receive guidance to access services, and fill, validate and complete forms, reducing the need to navigate multiple screens and menus. The solution also incorporates responsible AI principles and built-in guardrails to help ensure interactions remain secure, relevant, and appropriate.

Available in both self-service and assisted modes, Express Banking: Digital Banking Point 2.0 enables services including account opening, instant card issuance, fixed deposit booking, loan applications, utility bill payments, cheque deposits and passbook printing among others. The solution can be customized according to branch layouts, service requirements, and customer journeys.

The enhanced design also improves serviceability and seamlessly integrates with Hitachi Payment Services’ Android-based ecosystem, including Cash Recycling Machines (CRMs), enabling a more connected omnichannel banking experience.

AI Soundbox: From payment notification to intelligent merchant assistant

The new AI Soundbox takes the familiar payment notification device a step further by transforming it into an intelligent, voice-enabled assistant for merchants.

With the press of a button, merchants can ask payment-related questions and receive instant voice responses – for example, “What is my total sale value today?” The service is available in 12 Indian languages, making everyday interactions more convenient for merchants and customers alike across diverse markets.

The AI Soundbox brings proactive intelligence to merchant operations by dynamically adapting to the merchant’s counter environment, optimising power and connectivity, identifying and resolving select operational disruptions on its own. By keeping the device transaction-ready, it helps reduce the risk of missed sales caused by connectivity or device-related issues.

Sanjeev Moghe, Group Head – Branch Banking, South, Axis Bank, said, “At Axis Bank, we are focused on using technology to make everyday banking simpler, smarter and more responsive to customer needs. Developed in collaboration with Hitachi Payment Services, Express Banking: Digital Banking Point 2.0 marks another step towards building more seamless and future-ready banking experiences.”

Vinit Bajaj, Group Head – Acquiring & Cards, Axis Bank, said, “At Axis Bank, we are focused on building solutions that simplify business operations and create meaningful value for merchants. Our partnership with Hitachi Payment Services on the AI Soundbox brings together trusted payments infrastructure and intelligent, voice-led technology to help merchants access business insights, manage daily operations, and transact with greater confidence. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to making innovation practical, accessible, and impactful for businesses across India.”

Sumil Vikamsey, MD and CEO – Cash Business, Hitachi Payment Services, said, “With Digital Banking Point 2.0, we are bringing conversational AI into the branch banking environment, enabling customers to access banking services with greater ease. Together with Axis Bank, our focus is on creating intelligent, accessible banking touchpoints that bring more services closer to customers while enabling banks to deliver a more connected experience.”

Anuj Khosla, CEO-Digital Business, Hitachi Payment Services, said, “With the AI Soundbox, we are taking merchant payments beyond transactions, transforming the Soundbox into an intelligent assistant at the merchant counter. Together with Axis Bank, our focus is to make AI practical and purposeful—helping merchants spend less time managing technology and more time serving customers and growing their businesses.”

About Axis Bank:

Axis Bank is one of the largest private sector banks in India. Axis Bank offers the entire spectrum of services to customer segments covering Large and Mid-Corporates, SME, Agriculture, and Retail Businesses. It has 6,295 domestic branches (including extension counters) and 12,564 ATMs and cash recyclers spread across the country as on 30th June 2026. The Bank’s Axis Virtual Centre is present across eight centres with 1,700 Virtual Relationship Managers as on 30th June 2026. The Axis Group includes Axis Mutual Fund, Axis Securities Ltd., Axis Finance, Axis Trustee, Axis Capital, A.TReDS Ltd., Freecharge, Axis Pension Fund and Axis Bank Foundation.

For further information on Axis Bank, please refer to the website: https://www.axis.bank.in/

About Hitachi Payment Services:

Hitachi Payment Services is an end-to-end payments and commerce solutions provider empowering banks and fintechs with a comprehensive array of solutions focused on security, reliability and innovation. A pioneer in the Indian payments space, it has over 70,000 ATMs under management (including 40,000 Cash Recycling Machines and 10,200 White Label ATMs). In addition, it manages over 3.5 Mn POS devices and processes over 10 Mn transactions daily. The company is committed to delivering exceptional customer experiences and driving financial inclusion across India.

For more information on Hitachi Payment Services, please visit the company’s website at https://www.hitachi-payments.com/

Antara Care Homes And Actor Priyamani Spotlight The Silent Gap In Senior Recovery With New Campaign

Photo Caption: Actor Priyamani in Antara Care Homes’ latest campaign that spotlights one of the most under-addressed needs of seniors and caregivers: Post-hospitalisation recovery. Photo credit: Antara Senior Care

Antara Care Homes, part of Max India Limited, has joined hands with national award-winning actor Priyamani for its latest digital campaign, “Hospital Discharge Does Not Mean Recovered”, to spotlight one of the most under-addressed needs of seniors and caregivers: Post-hospitalisation recovery.

For seniors recovering from major surgery, acute illness, heart attack and stroke, or other neurological conditions, return from the hospital does not mean a return to everyday life. This transition often carries significant risk of re-hospitalisation and adverse events. Antara Care Homes’ latest digital campaign focuses on this critical gap between hospital discharge and complete recovery, when seniors and their families are emotionally and logistically most vulnerable. It invites families to recognise this important phase of recovery journey and adopt the right support.

Ishaan Khanna, CEO, Antara Assisted Care Services, said, “For a senior and their family, hospital discharge can bring a sense of relief, but it can also mark the beginning of one of the most demanding phases of recovery. Families can find themselves becoming caregivers overnight, managing medication, infections, physiotherapy, mobility and support with activities of daily living without necessarily having the training or resources to do so at home and while juggling professional work. This is where structured post-hospitalisation care, or transition care, can make a meaningful difference. Through this campaign, we want families to recognise that recovery requires planning and care in its own right, and it actually starts with hospital discharge. Antara Care Homes brings together doctor supervision, nursing care, multidisciplinary rehabilitation and technology-enabled interventions. It helps seniors regain good health, strength and independence, while giving caregivers the reassurance of recovery with professional support.”

Strengthening post-acute care in South India

The campaign comes as Antara Care Homes strengthens its presence in South India, with facilities in Bengaluru and Chennai, where a changing demographic demands specialised services to age with dignity and independence.

With its professionally managed post-acute and transition care model, Antara Care Homes offers personalised recovery plans based on individual patient needs and designed under the supervision of the treating doctor. It is supported by PMR-led rehabilitation delivered in state-of-the-art facility with robotic assistance.

An ecosystem for post-hospitalisation care

Antara’s transition care or post-hospitalisation care model caters to patients recovering from stroke, heart attack, organ transplants, spinal cord injury, cancer, major orthopaedic, cardiac and neurological procedures, or severe illness. It provides a structured environment for those who may no longer require acute hospital care but are not yet ready to recover independently at home.

Its care ecosystem includes physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy, round-the-clock nursing and attendant support, doctor supervision and clinical monitoring, recovery-focused nutrition and medication management, in-house pharmacy support, and end-to-end insurance and TPA coordination.

For caregivers, this creates an opportunity to remain closely involved in their loved one’s recovery without having to manage every aspect of rehabilitation and clinical care on their own.

To watch the campaign video, please click here.

About Antara Senior Care

Launched in 2013, Antara is the senior-care business of Max India Limited, part of the USD6.3-billion Max Group. It is an integrated ecosystem for senior care, operating in two main lines of business – Residences for Seniors and Assisted Care Services. Antara’s first senior residential community in Dehradun, comprising nearly 200 families, caters to their social, recreational, educational, wellness, and health-related needs. Its second senior living community in Noida’s Sector-150 has started welcoming families into the 340 apartments built in Phase 1. Expanding its footprint in Gurugram, Antara will manage senior living residences, dedicated spaces for senior living, and primary healthcare services at Estate 360 and Estate 361, developed by group company Max Estates. Antara’s Assisted Care Services include Care Homes and Services, AGEasy, and Antara Integrated Wellness Clinic. This line of business caters to seniors, who need more immersive interventions in their daily lives due to medical or age-related issues. With eight facilities and 485 beds across Gurugram, Noida, Bengaluru and Chennai, Care Homes provide long-term care to seniors who require constant medical and nursing supervision, and short-term care services for recuperation of seniors. Its care at home services, offered in Delhi NCR, Bengaluru and Chennai, provide well-equipped, trained professionals offering care to seniors inside their home’s comfort. AGEasy, the direct-to-consumer business arm focusing on senior-specific products and solutions for active ageing, has touched over 9 lakh lives since inception in 2023. Antara Integrated Wellness Clinic combines modern medicine with evidence-based traditional therapies through a multidisciplinary team of doctors to deliver personalised care plans.

Instagram Launches New Feature To Add Tagged Posts Directly To Your Profile Grid

Your profile is how you express yourself on Instagram, and now you can bring your favorite group photos, creator collaborations, and memories front and center, giving you more control over your profile and the moments you want to show off.

You can add a tagged post to your main grid in three ways:

• From the DM notification you receive when you’re tagged

• From the three-dot menu on a post you’re tagged in

• By pressing and holding a post in your Tagged tab

Once added, tagged posts will appear on your main grid in reverse-chronological order by default, unless you reorder your grid. You can remove a tagged post from your main grid at any time without deleting the original post or removing it from your Tagged tab.

Google Trends, Breakout Drinks, And AI - What’s Brewing?

Walk into any café these days and the menu feels a little different. India’s urban beverage scene has quietly turned into an experimental playground. Matcha still holds its green ground, but purple ube lattes are now appearing next to it, and the roasted, nutty notes of Hōjicha are starting to win their own regulars. These distinctive, slightly functional drinks are no longer niche.

Google Trends shows how people in India are gradually diversifying their sips. Here are the latest trends (as of end August 2026). People are not just ordering these drinks. They are learning how to make them, mixing them with unexpected flavours, and letting the colours spill into the rest of their lives. So what are you sipping on among these three right now?

A few signals that stood out:

Matcha remains the biggest conversation starter: “How to make matcha” has jumped 1,300% over the past year, and searches for matcha whisks and bowls broke out in August 2026. At the same time, the flavour has jumped categories: matcha shoes, matcha enzyme scrub, matcha candles, face wash and perfume all appeared as strong or breakout queries.

Ube, the sweet purple yam, hit an all-time search high in August 2026: Hyderabad and Telangana are leading the national interest, with people actively looking for ube latte, ube café, ube matcha and ube coconut combinations.

Hōjicha reached its own all-time high in March 2026 and saw another breakout surge in August 2026: Searches for “hojicha vs matcha” hit breakout growth, while “what is hojicha” and “hojicha latte” continue to climb as more people discover the roasted alternative.

This tells us a simple story. Indians are expanding their daily sip list beyond the familiar, and the next wave is already visible in both Google Search and on café counters.

And once curiosity kicks in, AI can help take the journey further - from comparing Matcha, Ube and Hōjicha in AI Mode in Search, to finding local spots with Ask Maps, to getting hands-free guidance from Gemini Live while making your own cup.

Curious to see where the rabbit hole goes? We’ve got the full story on the blog, some visual assets to bring the trends to life, and the Gupshup with Google video if you fancy a watch.

36 Young Indian Innovators Take Their Ideas To The National Stage With Samsung Solve For Tomorrow 2026

* Top 20 finalists represent the most promising tech & AI solutions, with more than half coming from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities

* Participants will advance to Grand Finale, with continued mentorship from FITT-IIT Delhi and Samsung experts, and exposure to the startup ecosystem through an Investor Meet

* Finalists will receive a cumulative grant of INR 20 lakh and a Samsung smartphone for each participant for prototype enhancement

Samsung India today announced the Top 20 finalists of Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2026, a programme that combines technology and education to help youth grow into future leaders with creative thinking and problem-solving skills.

A global problem-solving platform, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow helps youth around the world use STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) to build a better future. Participants identify problems in their communities and develop creative solutions with the help of technology.

In its fifth edition, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2026 is bringing together young innovators from across India who are turning problems they see around them into technology-led solutions. More than half of the participants in the Top 20 come from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, with the finalists representing 18 cities across 12 states – reflecting how youth-led innovation is expanding beyond India’s traditional technology hubs.

“What stands out about this year’s Top 20 is not just the technology they are building, but the problems they have chosen to solve. Young innovators from across India are looking closely at challenges in their own communities – from accessibility and healthcare to agriculture, pollution and sport – and asking how technology can make a difference. Samsung Solve for Tomorrow gives them the opportunity, mentorship and resources to take an idea rooted in a local need and build it into a solution with the potential to create wider impact,” said SP Chun, Corporate Vice President, Samsung South West Asia.

A defining trend among this year’s finalists is the focus on making technology more useful and accessible. Across the four themes – AI Living for India, Environmental Sustainability, Health and Education, and Sport & Tech – young innovators are applying AI, computer vision, sensors, voice technology and low-cost wearables to challenges ranging from low literacy and disability access to agricultural waste, pollution, neurological health and para-sports.

Several solutions are being designed for people who have traditionally had limited access to technology. These include an offline AI application that explains complex documents to people with low literacy, real-time Indian Sign Language translation, a voice-first learning companion for visually impaired students, technology to anticipate sensory meltdowns among children with autism, and assistive technologies to help visually impaired swimmers train more independently. Other finalists are tackling environmental challenges through ideas that seek to convert agricultural residue into clean energy and useful carbon materials, reduce textile waste and construction-site pollution, and mitigate human-wildlife conflict.

The geographical spread of the Top 20 reflects this expanding innovation map. Finalists come from Sundargarh in Odisha, Chittoor and Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, Raebareli and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, Amritsar and SAS Nagar in Punjab, Sonipat in Haryana and Raipur in Chhattisgarh, alongside Bengaluru, Chennai, Coimbatore, New Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai.

The Top 20 teams emerged from a semi-final phase that brought together 40 teams for an experiential, hands-on Prototyping Programme conducted in collaboration with FITT-IIT Delhi. Through Innovation Bootcamp, the teams worked with mentors to strengthen their solutions, better understand the people they were designing for and gain practical exposure to the innovation process.

As part of the Bootcamp, the teams also visited Samsung Design Delhi (SDD), Samsung R&D Institute India – Noida (SRI-N), Samsung R&D Institute India – Delhi (SRI-D), Samsung R&D Institute India – Bengaluru (SRI-B) and Samsung’s Head Office in Gurugram, gaining exposure to Samsung’s approach to design, technology, innovation and Research & Development.

The journey culminated in a National Pitch Event, where 20 experts comprising mentors from Samsung R&D and Samsung South West Asia evaluated the teams and selected five finalists from each of the four themes.

Meet the Top 20

AI Living for India

4 Percentage – Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu: MicroLearning AI, a voice-first multilingual platform that converts complex healthcare and government-scheme information into simple spoken micro-lessons in Indian languages.

itzFOD – Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh: VaakSetu, an offline mobile application that uses AI to read documents such as loan papers, land deeds, FIRs and hospital forms and explain them in simple spoken language.

JARVISS – Chennai, Tamil Nadu: SafePath AI, a smartphone and IoT-assisted platform that uses AI and sensor data to detect road hazards, assess their severity and provide safer-route recommendations.

QuantHunt – Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh: An AI-based cybersecurity solution designed to identify encryption vulnerabilities and help organisations prepare their digital systems for emerging quantum-computing risks.

SignBridge AI – Kolkata, West Bengal: An AI-powered platform that translates Indian Sign Language into text and speech in real time, helping improve communication in schools, hospitals, workplaces and public spaces.

Environmental Sustainability

AeroShield – New Delhi: A low-cost construction debris net, designed to capture and degrade airborne pollutants while integrating with existing scaffolding.

AgriVolt – Amritsar, Punjab: AgriVolt Carbon AI, which aims to use agricultural residue to generate electricity and recover biochar and other carbon-rich materials while reducing emissions.

IndieJeanous – Mumbai, Maharashtra: A circular denim initiative that converts discarded denim and textile scraps into lifestyle products while creating livelihood opportunities for women artisans.

InnoBotix – New Delhi: Sentinel, a solar-powered AI edge device that uses cameras, radar and seismic data to detect wildlife approaching human settlements and provide early warnings.

KINVA BIO – Sonipat, Haryana: An AI-based platform that seeks to optimise the production of protein-rich mycoprotein from sugarcane bagasse using bioreactors.

Health and Education

404NotFound – Bengaluru, Karnataka: StepSense, a sensor and edge-AI system that turns footwear into a gait-monitoring platform to identify indicators associated with fall risk, neuropathy, fatigue and other health conditions.

Equinox – New Delhi: SARA AI, a voice-first study companion that enables visually impaired students to access textbooks, explanations, quizzes and personalised learning support without relying on a screen or keyboard.

morphism – Raipur, Chhattisgarh: An AI system designed to help autistic individuals better understand emotions by analysing subtle facial expressions and other behavioural signals.

NeuroTrace – SAS Nagar, Punjab: A smartphone-based AI solution for post-stroke monitoring that analyses changes in voice, facial movement and reaction time to identify potential neurological deterioration.

VB SenseGuard – New Delhi: Sense Guard, a low-cost AI wearable designed to identify physiological patterns associated with sensory meltdowns in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and provide caregivers with early alerts.

Sport & Tech

Code Blooded – Sundargarh, Odisha: ParaSync, an AI-powered platform that analyses smartphone videos of para-athletes to assess sporting technique, track progress and help connect talent from underserved regions with scouts.

Para-athlete swimming solution – Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh: A wearable navigation system that detects when visually impaired swimmers veer from their intended direction and provides haptic cues for course correction.

Rogue – Chennai, Tamil Nadu: NeuroStride, an AI-powered wearable that seeks to distinguish involuntary Parkinson’s tremors from intentional muscle movement and provide targeted electrical stimulation.

Somatrace – Hyderabad, Telangana: A wearable IoT training tool that measures spinal angles and load during training to help precision-sport athletes and coaches better understand injury risk.

Untethered – Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh: Smart swimming goggles using ultrasonic sensing and haptic feedback to warn visually impaired swimmers as they approach the pool wall.

Taking Solutions to the Next Stage

The Top 20 finalists will now receive continued mentorship from Samsung experts and FITT-IIT Delhi as they prepare for the Grand Finale on October 14 and 15.

The Grand Finale will feature the final pitch presentations, followed by an Investor Meet for all Top 20 teams. The interaction will give the young innovators an opportunity to engage with the startup and investment ecosystem and understand the next steps involved in developing their solutions further

The competition will culminate in the Winner Announcement and Awards Ceremony. The Top 20 teams will receive a cumulative grant of INR 20 lakh for prototype development, with INR 1 lakh awarded to each team. All 36 participants in the Top 20 will also receive the latest Samsung Galaxy Z Flip smartphone. Four winning teams – one from each theme – will collectively receive an incubation grant of INR 2 crore from Samsung through FITT-IIT Delhi. The incubation support will help the winning teams further develop and validate their solutions while exploring their potential to evolve into market-ready ventures.

The programme will also recognise participants through special awards at the Grand Finale, including the Digital Impact Award of INR 50,000 and two Community Choice Awards of INR 1 lakh each.

Guided by its global CSR vision, “Together for Tomorrow! Enabling People,” Samsung India is committed to empowering young Indians through its focus on Smart Education and Skilling Youth, providing equal access to the knowledge, skills and resources needed to shape a better future.

Find the full list to the Top 20 finalists here

250 Lives Touched: Samvaad Distributes Free Hearing Aids To The Needy And Underprivileged

Samvaad Institute of Speech and Hearing distributed 250 hearing aids free of cost to needy and underprivileged individuals with hearing impairment as part of its 21st anniversary celebrations.

The week-long camp, held from August 11 to 18, 2026, at the institute’s Hebbal centre, aimed to support economically disadvantaged beneficiaries and help improve their quality of life through accessible hearing care.

Ms. Radhika Poovayya, Trustee, Samvaad Foundation, said the initiative reflects Samvaad Institute’s continued commitment to supporting the hearing-impaired community through affordable and accessible assessment, treatment, rehabilitation, and hearing care services.  

Citi Launches eFPI @ Citi, Reducing Foreign Portfolio Investors Registration Timeline To Five Business Days

* The first-to-market solution was announced at India’s Global Fintech Fest

Citi announced the launch of eFPI @ Citi, fast-tracking the registration process for Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) to five business days from anywhere between a few weeks to a few months previously.

The launch of this first-to-market solution comes as India continues to gain prominence among global investors. As international investors increasingly evaluate India as a strategic allocation, the ease of navigating market entry is crucial.

With oversight of approximately a third of the FPI Assets under Custody in the country, Citi’s Services business in India is well-positioned to address this need at scale and with greater relevance for global investors.

Tuhin Kanta Pandey, Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) said, “We appreciate Citi's initiative to provide faster registration timeline of 5 days for FPIs in India. It aligns with SEBI's thrust on utilizing technology to facilitate FPIs to access Indian Capital markets expeditiously."

Citi launched eFPI @ Citi at the Global Fintech Fest where Citi is Banking Innovation Partner. Mridula Iyer, Head of Services, Asia South, Citi noted, “The attractiveness of any market hinges on how easily investors can enter it. India has long been recognized for its immense opportunities, and this initiative is a significant step in realizing this potential. eFPI @ Citi is an outcome of our continued focus on innovation, simplification and client-centricity.”

Vijay Chandok, MD & CEO of The National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL), was the Chief Guest at the eFPI @ Citi launch. Speaking on the occasion, he said,

“For FPIs, the eFPI @ Citi initiative which leverages digital tools and efficient processes is set to transform FPI onboarding. This initiative will significantly minimize turnaround time and deliver a frictionless onboarding experience for new FPI clients. Further, the collaboration between NSDL and Citi will leverage API integration to create a seamless, end-to-end digital connection between our systems. The newer APIs will build on the success of our existing APIs that have already simplified the opening of demat accounts.”

The service is being rolled out in phases, with the first phase now live and covering regulated public funds — including mutual funds and unit trusts — from the United States, Ireland and Luxembourg. Phase II will cover additional jurisdictions, such as Singapore, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

About Citi

Citi is a preeminent banking partner for institutions with cross-border needs, a global leader in wealth management and a valued personal bank in its home market of the United States. Citi does business in more than 180 countries and jurisdictions, providing corporations, governments, investors, institutions and individuals with a broad range of financial products and services.

Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com | X: @Citi | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/citi |

YouTube: www.youtube.com/citi | Facebook: www.facebook.com/citi

Marriott International Launches Project Prarambh To Empower Youth With Skills, Opportunity And Pathways To Careers In Hospitality

* New initiative, in partnership with The Job Plus and Tourism & Hospitality Skills Council, aims to equip youth from vulnerable communities with employable skills, workplace exposure and access to formal employment

Marriott International has launched Project Prarambh, an initiative guided by the company’s Serve 360 sustainability and social impact framework, to create pathways to formal employment and long-term careers in hospitality for young people from vulnerable communities across India.

In collaboration with The Job Plus and the Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council (THSC), the initiative will support youth between 18 and 30 years of age through industry-relevant training, workplace exposure and mentorship, helping them build the skills and confidence needed to enter the formal workforce. Project Prarambh will be delivered through an extensive network of training partners across India.

Kiran Andicot, Senior Vice President, South Asia, Marriott International, said: “People have always been at the heart of our success. Our people-centric culture is what enables us to create exceptional experiences for our guests, and investing in people has always been central to who we are as an organisation. At the same time, the hospitality industry continues to face a significant need for skilled, industry-ready talent, making it important that we play our part in creating pathways for young people to build careers in the sector. Through Project Prarambh, we are bringing these two priorities together, building people while supporting the community we operate within, and strengthening the industry’s talent pipeline. We are grateful to The Job Plus and the Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council for their collaboration and expertise in helping us take this ambition forward.”

Over the next two to three years, Project Prarambh aims to train 500 young people, equipping them with the skills, workplace readiness and confidence to pursue and build careers in the hospitality industry.

For many beneficiaries, Project Prarambh could represent their first formal employment opportunity, their first regular income and their first experience of a professional career. For young people who are among the first in their families to enter formal employment, the opportunity can extend well beyond the individual to support greater financial independence and open new possibilities for their families.

Vinay Jaswal, Vice President, HR Ops (South Asia), HR Tech & Analytics (APEC), Marriott International commented, “Our approach to People & Culture at Marriott goes beyond creating a great workplace for our associates; it is also about thinking more broadly about how we can contribute to people’s journeys at different stages. Initiatives such as Project Prarambh reflect this belief, each addressing a different opportunity to enable greater participation, growth and inclusion. By investing in their development at an early stage, we can help them take that first step with greater confidence and open possibilities that can have a lasting impact on their lives and those of their families. For us, this is an important part of what it means to put people first.”

Natwar Nagar, Founder, The Job Plus, said: “We are very pleased to partner with Marriott and THSC on Project Prarambh. We look forward to building on this association over the long term and working together to create more opportunities for young talent to enter, grow and build careers in the industry.”

Rajan Bahadur, CEO, Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council (THSC), said: “As the Tourism and Hospitality sector continues to grow rapidly, the need for a skilled and industry-ready workforce has never been greater. CSR-led skilling initiatives can play a critical role in bridging this gap by providing young people with the right skills, practical exposure, and opportunities to build sustainable careers. This initiative is a step towards strengthening the talent ecosystem and preparing our youth for the growing opportunities in the sector.”

For The Job Plus, the opportunity is to help bridge the gap between talent and access by identifying young people with the potential to enter the organised workforce and equipping them with the skills required to succeed in a formal workplace. THSC’s role in the partnership supports this objective by bringing industry-aligned training, assessment and certification into the initiative, helping young people develop skills that are relevant to the evolving needs of the sector.  

Nurturing India’s Next-Gen Space Innovators: La Fondation Dassault Systèmes, India Concludes New Aerospace School Program

* “My First Aerospace Program,” a multi-city STEM initiative, inspires 150 school children across Bengaluru, Chennai, Gurugram, and Pune by enabling them to design, test, build and launch their DIY rockets, CubeSats, and rovers.

La Fondation Dassault Systèmes, India today announced the final stage of its new landmark STEM initiative, “My First Aerospace Program,” concluding in Pune. Designed to nurture young minds and ignite their curiosity about the growing space sector and associated education pathways, the multi-city program has successfully inspired 150 school children aged 13–16 across four key technology hubs: Bengaluru, Chennai, Gurugram, and Pune.

La Fondation Dassault Systèmes, India is conducting “My First Aerospace Program” in collaboration with SSERD (Society for Space Education Research and Development), a not-for-profit body working in the space sector.

The program establishes an experiential learning corridor across India, guiding students through a structured path. Supported by skill volunteers from Dassault Systèmes, participants progress from understanding basic STEM concepts to using 3D technology to nurture their ideas and bring them to life.

By combining hands-on learning with virtual validation, students develop crucial problem-solving, creativity, and collaborative engineering skills through end-to-end rocketry, satellite, and rover activities. The initiative forms the foundational layer of La Fondation Dassault Systèmes, India’s comprehensive educational ecosystem designed to bridge early school education with higher-level industry readiness programs across India’s evolving space ecosystem.

"Nurturing early curiosity in science and engineering is essential to sustaining India's progress in the space sector. By connecting early school learning with university initiatives like ConnectNext-Industry Readiness for Space and CubeSat Design & Development, we are empowering students and educators across disciplines to actively contribute to the nation's space ambitions,” said Sudarshan Mogasale, Chairman of Board of Directors, La Fondation Dassault Systèmes, India.

“At SSERD, we believe India’s future in space will be built in classrooms today. ‘My First Aerospace Program’ proves that when we give a 13-year-old the tools to build a rocket or a CubeSat, we are not just teaching STEM, we are igniting a career and giving them a powerful motive to excel in academics, while building skills and creating talent pipeline for NewSpace India,” said Nikhita Chadde, Co-founder and Trustee, Society for Space Education, Research and Development (SSERD).

Beyond school education, La Fondation Dassault Systèmes, continues to strengthen higher education engagement in the space domain. As part of its ConnectNext-Industry Readiness for Space program, it enables undergraduate students and educators to participate in national CanSat and model rocketry competitions through technical coaching and mentoring. It also empowers undergraduate students with future-ready skills to engineer space missions and design CubeSats using virtual twin technology.

ABOUT LA FONDATION DASSAULT SYSTÈMES

La Fondation Dassault Systèmes supports transformative, public-interest projects in education, research and heritage that leverage virtual worlds. Its mission is to spark young people’s interest in science and technology, inspire them to pursue careers in these fields and help students build the skills they’ll need for tomorrow. It also supports innovative scientific research and heritage projects to push the boundaries of knowledge. Beyond funding, La Fondation Dassault Systèmes engages a network of employee volunteers to share their expertise, helping partners bring their projects to life and explore new possibilities. It operates through three foundations in Europe, India and the United States.

In India, it is incorporated as a company with non-profit objectives dedicated to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities under the name “Dassault Systèmes Foundation.”

www.lafondation3ds.org 

Bengaluru NGO “Hand in Hand India” Is Runner Up at Bridgestone India’s Mobility Social Impact Awards 2026

* Through the Hygiene on Go (HOG) initiative the NGO has provided mobile sanitation facilities at Bengaluru Traffic Police duty locations

Bengaluru NGO “Hand in Hand India” was declared runner up at the 6th Edition of Bridgestone India’s Mobility Social Impact Awards 2026. The NGOs Hygiene On Go (HOG) is the first such initiative for Traffic Police Personnel in our country, supported by the CSR of Renault Nissan Technology and Business Centre India Pvt. Ltd. (RNTBCI), and implemented by Hand in Hand India. This project has significantly improved the health, dignity, safety, and operational efficiency of Bengaluru Traffic Police personnel by bringing sanitation facilities directly to their duty locations. Since its inception in December 2025, three GPS-enabled mobile sanitation vehicles have covered 103 traffic junction halts, recorded 20,466 service usages, and supported 2,012 personnel during special bandobust duties. The initiative has particularly strengthened inclusive access through separate facilities for men and women, benefiting women personnel with safe and gender-sensitive sanitation. By reducing the need for officers to leave their posts in search of sanitation facilities, HOG minimizes duty interruptions and enables uninterrupted traffic regulation and emergency response. GPS tracking, QR-based feedback, and optimized routes further enhance service efficiency. The model demonstrates strong potential for replication across cities, supporting healthier personnel and safer, more efficient urban mobility.

“Serving Society with Superior Quality is at the heart of Bridgestone’s purpose, and the Mobility Social Impact Awards are dedicated towards honouring those who are using mobility to foster meaningful and lasting social impact. We are proud to recognize them and their endeavours towards making roads safer, empower communities and drive positive social change across India.” Said Mr. Rajarshi Moitra, Managing Director, Bridgestone India.

“The 3 Hygiene On Go (HOG) Mobile Sanitation Units are the first-of-its-kind initiative for Traffic Police Personnel in our country, supported by the CSR of Renault Nissan Technology and Business Centre India (RNTBCI), and implemented by Hand in Hand India. This project has significantly improved the health, dignity, safety, and operational efficiency of Bengaluru Traffic Police personnel by bringing sanitation facilities directly to their duty locations. Since its inception in December 2025, GPS-enabled vehicles have covered 103 traffic junctions, recorded 20,466 service usages, and supported 2,012 personnel during special bandobust duties. The initiative has particularly strengthened inclusive access through separate facilities for men and women, benefiting women personnel with safe and gender-sensitive sanitation. HOG vehicles minimise duty interruptions and enable uninterrupted traffic regulation and emergency response. GPS tracking, QR-based feedback, and optimised routes further enhance service efficiency. We thank Bengaluru City Traffic Police Dept. and traffic personnels for their unwavering support for this initiative.” Said Mr. Krishnan, Managing Trustee, Hand In Hand India.

Instituted by Bridgestone India in 2021, the Mobility Social Impact Awards aim to identify, recognize, and promote innovative solutions in sustainable mobility that address social challenges and advance inclusive development through the efforts of not-for-profit organizations. The initiative reflects Bridgestone’s mission of driving social progress through safe and sustainable mobility for all.

The Mobility Social Impact Awards reflect the “Empowerment”, “Ease”, “Emotion” and “ Efficiency” values of the Bridgestone E8 Commitment,* which outline Bridgestone’s corporate commitment to contributing to a society that ensures accessibility and dignity for all (Empowerment), to bringing comfort and peace of mind to mobility life (Ease), inspiring excitement and spreading joy to the world of mobility (Emotion) and maximizing productivity through the advancement of mobility (Efficiency). Through initiatives like MSIA, Bridgestone continues to advance its mission of “Serving Society with Superior Quality” by driving positive change and building safer, more inclusive communities across India.

About Bridgestone India

Bridgestone India Private Limited is a group company of Bridgestone Corporation, a global leader in tyres and rubber building on its expertise to provide solutions for safe and sustainable mobility. Headquartered in Pune, Maharashtra, the company employs 3000+ people and offers a diverse product portfolio of premium tyres and advanced solutions backed by innovative technologies, improving the way people around the world move, live, work and play.

About Bridgestone Corporation:

Bridgestone is a global leader in tires and rubber building on its expertise to provide solutions for safe and sustainable mobility. Headquartered in Tokyo, the company employs approximately 130,000 people globally and conducts business in more than 150 countries and territories worldwide. Bridgestone offers a diverse product portfolio of premium tires and advanced solutions backed by innovative technologies, improving the way people around the world move, live, work and play.

The Bridgestone Group established its corporate commitment, the "Bridgestone E8 Commitment," to help it realize its vision: "Toward 2050, Bridgestone continues to provide social value and customer value as a sustainable solutions company." This commitment will serve as the Group's axis to drive management while earning the trust of future generations. The "Bridgestone E8 Commitment" consists of eight unique Bridgestone values starting with the letter "E" (Energy, Ecology, Efficiency, Extension, Economy, Emotion, Ease, and Empowerment) that the Group will commit to creating through distinctly Bridgestone purposes and processes, together with employees, society, partners, and customers to help realize a sustainable society.

Highlights AMFI Mutual Fund Industry Monthly Data August 2026

Mutual Fund Industry’s Net AUM stands at 87,07,887.74 crores for the month of August 2026. Net AUM for the month of July 2026 was ₹ 85,75,656.52

The AAUM for the month of Aug 2026 is ₹ 88,30,776.45 crores

Mutual Fund Folios are at 28,35,19,085 crores as of Aug 2026 with 26.54 lakh net folios being added during the month, up 0.9% from 28.09 crore in July.

Retail MF AUM (Equity + Hybrid + Solution Oriented Schemes) stood at ₹ 51,72,576 crores for the month of Aug 2026 as against ₹ 50,68,667 in July 2026

Retail Folios (Equity + Hybrid + Solution Oriented Schemes) are at 21,62,19,837 for Aug 2026 and 21,39,96,603 for July 2026

66th month of positive equity Inflows, starting from March 2021, amounting to Rs 29,329 crore

SIP assets stood at ₹ 18,61,652.14 crores in Aug 2026, rose by 2.8% constituting ~21.4% of the industry's AUM

SIP contribution for Aug 2026 stood at ₹ 32,297 crore

The number of Contributing SIP accounts stood at in 10,01,78,903 in Aug 2026

A total of 26 schemes were launched in the month of Aug 2026, raising a total of ₹ 7110 crores

SIF data

SIF assets stood at Rs 31,175 crore in Aug 2026, marking a 34.5% on-month rise

The category recorded positive inflows of Rs 7,699 crores during the month driven by hybrid investment strategy and equity-oriented investment strategy.

Three new investment strategies under equity-oriented were launched which collectively mobilised Rs 1,420 crore.

Commenting on Monthly data for August 2026, Mr. Venkat Chalasani, Chief Executive, AMFI said:

The Indian MF industry's AUM grew 1.5% on-month to Rs 87.08 lakh crore in August, driven by a combination of sustained investor inflows and market appreciation.

Notably, equity MFs saw inflows of Rs 29,329 crore, marking a 66th consecutive month of inflows. The growth momentum was further reinforced by robust SIP contributions of ₹32,297 crore during the month.

Investor confidence in mutual funds as a disciplined and long-term wealth creation vehicle continues to strengthen, as reflected in the crossing of a significant milestone of 10.02 crore SIP accounts.

As an industry, our unwavering focus remains on deepening investor awareness, enhancing financial literacy, and empowering savers to achieve their financial goals. We remain committed to encouraging disciplined investing and helping investors participate in India’s long-term growth story, supported by the country’s strong economic fundamentals and resilient growth outlook. 

Pearl Academy And British Council Bring Indian And UK Higher Education Together To Bridge Creative Futures

* A year-long academic partnership brought Indian and British design students into the same studio, without either side ever crossing borders

Pearl Academy, in partnership with the British Council, is bringing Indian and UK higher education together through design education, creating a platform for cross-border collaboration, cultural exchange and knowledge sharing. Over the past year, students from Pearl Academy, four UK higher education institutions and an independent British contemporary artist have worked together across time zones, developing design projects without ever sharing a physical space.

The collaboration now comes together publicly through Design Without Borders: Creative Futures Collective at the British Council in New Delhi, showcasing the outcomes of this year-long academic exchange. The opening reception was attended by distinguished guests including Ben Mellor, British Deputy High Commissioner, alongside leading voices from academia, design and sustainability. The programme featured a panel discussion, “Creativity is the New Currency of the 21st Century,” with Rachelle V. Knowles, Head of International at Manchester School of Art, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK; Sunita Kohli, President and Co-founder, K2 India; Payal Jain, Indian couturier and sustainability advocate; Shannon West, Deputy Director India and Director North India, British Council; and Aditi Srivastava, President, Pearl Academy.

The partnership brought Pearl Academy together with Manchester Metropolitan University, Nottingham Trent University, London College of Contemporary Arts, and Birmingham City University. The collaboration used Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL), an approach that enables students in different countries to work together on academic projects through digital platforms. The exhibition also features a parallel collaboration between fashion design students of Pearl Academy and contemporary British artist Alexander Gorlizki, who worked directly with students to reinterpret traditional Indian block and screen printing techniques.

Across the projects, Indian craft traditions met contemporary design and technology, as students from India and the UK reimagined materials, techniques and ideas across cultures. With the London College of Contemporary Arts, students collaborated on a khadi collection inspired by the idea of Satyagraha. With Birmingham City University, discarded cricket material (including gloves, pads, uniforms, etc.) was transformed into two garments finished with Kantha embroidery, exploring women’s place in the sport. With Nottingham Trent University, students turned a broken clamp into a functional lamp and reclaimed mesh into a necklace, both finished with 3D printing, as well as exploring textiles under the coveted Rebel Tartan Project. With Manchester Metropolitan University, students worked on AI-assisted fashion, a satirical take on greenwashing, and a garment built around public transport safety. Pearl Academy’s Interior Design students designed the exhibition space, centered around a textile installation in the British Council’s foyer.

The collaboration reflects a shift in design education towards more international and interdisciplinary models of learning, allowing students to work continuously with peers in other countries while bringing different cultural and academic perspectives into the creative process. Rather than relying solely on physical mobility or study abroad programmes, the model enables students to experience international collaboration as part of their everyday academic learning.

The British Council is a key collaborator in bringing the outcomes of this year-long India–UK academic exchange to a wider audience, providing a platform for the outcomes of the India–UK academic exchange to be presented to a wider audience and creating opportunities for dialogue around international education, culture and creative practice. The exhibition, Design Without Borders: Creative Futures Collective, is on display at the British Council’s premises on 17, KG Marg, New Delhi. Running until 31st October, the exhibition will be accompanied by panel discussions, masterclasses and workshops for school and college students, bringing together industry professionals, educators, government representatives, diplomats and other members of the creative community.

Commenting on the partnership, Aditi Srivastava, President, Pearl Academy, said: “Centuries of shared history between India and the UK have shaped the creative landscapes of both nations. This collaboration gives our students the opportunity to contribute to that evolving story, working across cultures and time zones to co-create in a truly global classroom. It demonstrates how international collaboration can become an integral part of design education, opening new ways for students to learn, create and see the world through different perspectives”

Alison Barrett MBE, Country Director India, British Council added, “Creative partnerships like this one between the British Council and Pearl Academy demonstrate the depth and impact of India-UK international collaborations in design education. Connecting students across borders through innovative models can enable creative exchange and intercultural learning as well as be the catalyst for future engagements. We are pleased to showcase the creative outputs of these collaborations at the British Council and hope it will inspire more institutional creative partnerships between our countries.”

The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to creative education that enables students to learn, create and collaborate across cultures, disciplines and geographies.

About Pearl Academy:

Established in 1993 under the aegis of the Creative Arts Education Society (CAES), Pearl Academy is India’s AI-first design institution with campuses in Delhi-South, Delhi-West, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Jaipur. The institution offers undergraduate (B.Des/ BBA) and postgraduate programmes (M.Des/MBA) across Fashion, Styling, Product, Communication, Textile, Business, Gaming and XR, etc. in affiliation with Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development (RGNIYD), with a strong focus on industry integration, global exposure, and future-ready learning.

With over 33 years of legacy, 15,000+ alumni, and a consistent 99% placement record, Pearl Academy collaborates closely with leading industry bodies and global partners to nurture the next generation of complete professionals.

For more information, please visit: www.pearlacademy.com.

NikeLab Running Brings Together Performance, Craft And Style For Every Run

What is NikeLab Running?

NikeLab Running is a running apparel collection built from athlete insights. It brings together performance innovation, refined materials and modern style in a wardrobe designed to support runners before, during and after the run.

Who is NikeLab Running designed for?

NikeLab Running is a collection for runners who care about how their apparel performs just as much as how it feels. The collection is for athletes who want running apparel that keeps up with the demands of training while fitting seamlessly into the rest of their lives.

How is NikeLab Running different from other Nike Running apparel collections?

Most running apparel is made for the run and nothing else. NikeLab Running was built around everything the run touches. Every piece works together as part of a head-to-toe system that supports athletes through training, recovery, changing conditions and the moments that surround the run.

When is the NikeLab Running collection available?

The collection will launch globally October 1 at nike.com and select retail partners.

Runners have always had to choose: gear built for the run or clothes built for the rest of the day.

NikeLab Running refuses the choice.

It starts with the athlete and studies everything around the run: the commute, the cold, the recovery and the rest of life. Then it builds one intentional system that moves through it all.

Featuring tops, bottoms and outerwear in women’s and men’s styles, the debut seasonal collection channels the look of speed into designs that move with the runner. Every piece is intentionally considered, from material mixing and lightweight finishes to distraction-free layering, weather-ready outerwear and thoughtful storage.

At the center of the first collection, the women’s offering includes wool-blend tops that balance breathability, insulation and versatility, alongside shorts, leggings, vests and outerwear. For men, lightweight woven jackets and pants combine stretch, comfort and refined tailoring across changing conditions.

Nike Sport Research Lab data mapping helps inform where materials are placed across each garment, including ventilation where runners run hottest and heat retention where they need it most. Those placements are considered across layers so breathable zones align and the full system works together. Targeted stretch, reflective details, secure storage and minimal-seam construction stay out of the runner’s way.

“The most interesting challenge wasn’t designing for a single run, it was designing for everything that surrounds it,” says Sarah Gardner, Director, Global Women’s Running Apparel. “The commute to your favorite running path, the weather that changes halfway through a workout, the extra layer you may or may not need. We wanted every piece to feel considered, purposeful and ready for whatever the day brings.”

This new era arrives as Nike deepens its focus on sport and the ideas that will shape the future of running. NikeLab Running isn’t a nostalgic return. It’s an opportunity to explore what comes next — a platform to test, learn and advance ideas that can influence how Nike serves runners more broadly over time.

Every piece is brought to life through Nike’s Swoosh TC athletes, a collective of elite distance runners whose training and personal style show how the collection moves from hard efforts to the rest of the day. Their experience, alongside insights from runners of all abilities and intensities, will continue to inform what NikeLab Running becomes.

The debut NikeLab Running collection launches globally October 1 at nike.com and select retail partners.

View and download additional assets here.

UTI Mutual Fund And Multipl Launch ‘Investment UPI’, Creating New Category Of Investment-Led Spending

* New category enables spending balances to remain invested in a liquid mutual fund while being accessible for UPI payments, bill payments and brand gift cards

UTI Mutual Fund, one of India’s leading fund houses, in collaboration with Multipl launches ‘Investment UPI’, at the Global Fintech Fest 2026. This offering enables users to keep their spending money invested in liquid mutual funds while accessing it instantly for everyday UPI payments.

The proposition addresses a familiar consumer behaviour – money set aside for everyday or near-term expenses is typically spent within weeks yet sits in a deposit account for the entire period in between. Investment UPI seeks to bridge the traditional separation between investing and spending. Unlike a wallet, which holds prepaid money, or conventional UPI, which draws from a bank deposit, Investment UPI changes what the spending balance is actually invested in.

In essence, when a user adds money to their Multipl’s Spending Account, the money is invested in the underlying UTI liquid fund. When the user chooses to make a payment through UPI, the required amount is redeemed from the investment to facilitate the transaction, subject to applicable mutual fund terms, conditions and processes. Users can also use the Spending Account for services such as bill payments and brand gift cards. Any unspent money continues to remain invested in the liquid fund until the user chooses to spend or redeem it. This has been piloted with approximately 20,000 users, with an AUM of approximately INR 20 crores.

The partners expect the proposition to scale close to 10 times over the next 6 to 12 months. The offering operates within the UPI framework governed by NPCI, with Multipl participating as a licensed Third-Party Application Provider (TPAP).

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Vetri Subramaniam, MD & CEO, UTI AMC, said, “For decades, investing and spending have existed as two separate financial behaviours. Investment UPI represents an opportunity to bring these two experiences closer. The launch is aligned with UTI Mutual Fund’s broader objective of making mutual funds more accessible, and relevant to the changing ways consumers manage their finances digitally. Through our collaboration with Multipl, we are exploring how a liquid mutual fund can become part of a digital financial experience. The objective is not simply to add another feature to UPI, but to demonstrate a fundamentally different way of thinking about the money consumers keep aside for their everyday needs.”

Mr. Paddy Raghavan, Co-founder & CEO, Multipl, said, “With this launch, UTI Mutual Fund marks a step towards reimagining how mutual funds can participate in consumers’ day-to-day money management. UPI has transformed the way Indians make payments, making digital transactions an integral part of everyday life. Investment UPI explores the next layer of this evolution—bringing an investment product into the payments journey rather than treating investing and payments as separate activities. As the category develops, similar models could potentially emerge across the financial ecosystem, subject to applicable regulatory, mutual fund and payments frameworks.”

Mutual Fund investments are subject to market risks, read all scheme related documents carefully.

Bengaluru's H1N1 Surge Raises Need For Timely Diagnosis And Vigilance

* Greater Bengaluru records 2,070 laboratory-confirmed influenza cases till August 22; experts urge residents not to ignore persistent flu-like symptoms

With Bengaluru witnessing a seasonal rise in H1N1 and influenza infections, healthcare experts are urging residents to pay closer attention to persistent fever and respiratory symptoms and seek timely medical evaluation rather than relying on self-diagnosis or medication.

According to the latest surveillance data reported through the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP), Greater Bengaluru recorded 2,070 laboratory-confirmed influenza cases till August 22, 2026, compared with 2,587 cases during the whole of 2025. Bengaluru Urban reported another 1,011 cases, taking the combined number across the two Bengaluru areas to 3,081 cases. Across Karnataka, 4,212 laboratory-confirmed influenza cases have been reported this year.

Dr. Divya C , Microbiologist,Neuberg Anand Reference Laboratory , said, “The rise in H1N1 and influenza activity in Bengaluru is a reminder that persistent fever and respiratory symptoms should not simply be dismissed as a routine seasonal infection. H1N1 can present with symptoms that overlap with other respiratory illnesses, making clinical evaluation important. Where indicated, appropriate diagnostic testing can help identify the infection and support timely medical management.”

H1N1 symptoms can look like other respiratory infections

H1N1 is a strain of influenza A and commonly presents with fever, cough, sore throat, body ache, headache and fatigue. However, several respiratory infections can produce similar symptoms, making it difficult to identify the cause based on symptoms alone.

Experts therefore advise individuals against assuming that every fever or cough is H1N1. Medical evaluation becomes particularly important when symptoms are persistent, severe or worsening, or when the individual belongs to a higher-risk group.

Who should be more cautious?

While influenza infections may be mild in many individuals, certain groups can be more vulnerable to complications. These include:

Older adults and young children

Pregnant women

Individuals with chronic respiratory conditions

People with underlying heart, kidney or metabolic conditions

Individuals with weakened immunity

Patients experiencing persistent or worsening fever, difficulty breathing, chest discomfort, severe weakness or deterioration after an initial improvement should seek medical attention promptly.

Don't self-medicate based on symptoms

The current rise has also highlighted the importance of avoiding unnecessary self-medication. Antibiotics do not treat viral infections such as influenza and should not be taken without medical advice.

Dr. Divya added, “Testing should be guided by the clinical picture and the treating physician's assessment rather than undertaken out of panic. The objective is to identify patients who may benefit from early intervention, particularly those at higher risk of complications. At the same time, people with mild symptoms should follow medical advice, rest adequately and take precautions to avoid spreading the infection.”

Bengaluru's monsoon season calls for greater respiratory hygiene

The Karnataka Health Department has noted that influenza typically shows seasonal peaks between July and September, placing the current increase within the state's usual seasonal pattern. The department has also strengthened surveillance for influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infections (SARI).

With Bengaluru's high population density, extensive commuting and crowded workplaces and public spaces, maintaining basic respiratory hygiene remains important. Residents are advised to cover their nose and mouth while coughing or sneezing, wash their hands regularly, avoid close contact when symptomatic and stay away from crowded places when unwell.

The Karnataka Health Department has also advised residents to avoid self-medication and seek medical care when symptoms require attention.

As Bengaluru moves through the ongoing seasonal influenza period, experts emphasise that awareness, timely medical consultation and appropriate diagnosis , influenza vaccine when recommended are key to managing the H1N1 surge effectively. 

Tata Power And Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd Expand Fast-Charging Footprint Across 10 locations In India

* Clock 70,000+ Charging Sessions

* 10 Tata Power x TATA.ev Mega Charger hubs across four states clock 70,000+ charging sessions and 85,000+ charging hours, strengthening intercity and intracity EV mobility

* 25 fast chargers and 56 charging guns add 2.7 MW of charging capacity, supporting 75 lakh+ green kilometres and helping avoid 6690 tonnes of CO₂ emissions

Tata Power, one of India's leading integrated power companies and the country's leading EV charging solutions provider, in partnership with Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd. (TATA.ev), India’s largest 4-wheeler EV manufacturer has crossed a major milestone in India's EV charging infrastructure buildout — its 10 co-branded Tata Power x TATA.ev Mega Charger hubs have together clocked 70,000+ charging sessions and over 85,000 hours of charging, supporting 75 lakh+ electric kilometers and helping avoid 6690 tonnes of CO₂ emissions.

Strategically deployed across Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, the network comprises 25 fast chargers, 56 charging guns and 2.7 MW of cumulative capacity, with individual hubs ranging from 180 kW to 600 kW, enabling multiple EVs to charge simultaneously.

Four hubs line the Yamuna Expressway connecting Greater Noida and Agra, three sit on the Hyderabad–Vijayawada corridor (including 7 Midway Plaza – Suryapet, Hotel Vivera Narketpalle, and ILabs Hyderabad), one serves the Bengaluru – Tirupati route (Retreat Restro), and one anchors the Pune – Bengaluru corridor (Sai International, Sangli) – alongside two hubs supporting intra-city mobility in Mumbai and Hyderabad.

The flagship site – The Leela Mega Charger in Mumbai, near Terminal 2 of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport – offers 16 charging guns (six 60 kW and two 120 kW fast chargers) and 600 kW of capacity, enough for 16 EVs to charge simultaneously. Positioned on a high-footfall corridor linking business, travel and logistics hubs, it's designed to serve private EV owners, taxis, ride-hailing fleets and other high-frequency users.

Beyond mobility, the network signals the emerging commercial potential of India's EV charging ecosystem. It forms part of Tata Power's larger charging ecosystem of 6,700+ public and captive charging points, 2.5 lakh+ home chargers and 1,200+ bus charging points across 690+ cities and towns – with the company targeting 10,000 public charging points and 7.5 lakh home chargers by 2030 as India accelerates its shift to green mobility.

The TATA.ev Mega Charging Hub is a flagship initiative by Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd., aimed at accelerating EV adoption by building high-speed, reliable charging destinations with multiple charging bays and customer-friendly amenities across key highway corridors and urban EV hotspots. Many of these charging hubs are seamlessly accessible through the Tata Power EZ Charge app.

Locations:

 

Charging Station Name	Charger Capacity	No of Guns	State	Zone	Connects
TATA Power x TATA.EV 7 Midway Plaza – Suryapet	240 kw	4 guns	Telangana	South	Hyderabad Vijayawada
TATA Power x TATA.EV Hotel Vivera Narketpalle	120kw + 120kw	4 guns	Telangana	South
TATA Power x TATA.EV ILabs	360kw	6 guns	Telangana	South	Heart of Hyderabad
TATA Power x TATA.EV Retreat Restro	120 kw + 60kw	4 guns	Andhra Pradesh	South	Bengaluru Tirupati
TATA Power x TATA.EV Sai International Sangli	120 kw + 60kw	4 guns	Maharashtra	West	Pune Bengaluru
Tata Power x TATA.ev Yamuna Expressway LHS 107 KM Charging Station	120kw + 120kw + 60kw	6 guns	UP	North	Greater Noida & Agra
Tata Power x TATA.ev Yamuna Expressway LHS 35 KM Charging Station	120 kw + 60kw	4 guns	UP	North
Tata Power x TATA.ev Yamuna Expressway RHS 100 KM Charging Station	120kw + 120kw	4 guns	UP	North
Tata Power x TATA.ev Yamuna Expressway RHS 16 KM Charging Station	120 kw + 60kw	4 guns	UP	North
Tata Power x TATA.ev The Leela Mega Charger Hub	60kw (6 nos) + 120kw (2 nos)	16 guns	Maharashtra	West	Heart of Mumbai