Aromatic Biryanis To Teriyaki Salmon: Air India Elevates Its Inflight Dining Experience With Refreshed Global Menu

· New menu incorporates Indian and global influences, and geo-specific star dishes

· The food will be sourced, prepared, packed and handled with care for the environment and community

Air India, India’s leading global airline, announced the introduction of its new global menu across its fleet. The menu draws inspiration from India’s diverse culinary tapestry, from the royal kitchens of Awadh to the coastal flavours of southern India, while incorporating global influences through Pan-Asian, European Bistro, and geo-specific star dishes.

The new menu has been introduced on most international ex-India routes, including flights from Delhi to London Heathrow, New York, Melbourne, Sydney, Toronto and Dubai; from Mumbai and Bengaluru to San Francisco; and from Mumbai to New York, to name a few. It will be progressively rolled out across all international sectors as well as on domestic routes.

The menu weaves a delicious story that combines the flavours of India with influences from global cuisines. To strike a chord with every traveller, there is a portfolio mix of region-inspired meals and global cuisines such as European bistros and pan-Asian. The region-inspired meals like south-Indian cuisine brings alive the heritage of India giving the travellers an authentic dining experience.

Guests travelling First Class will enjoy gourmet meals, artisanal breads, signature desserts, and bespoke wine and champagne pairings. Business Class offers multi-course gourmet meals with customisable options and curated beverage pairings, while Premium Economy and Economy feature upgraded meal trays with balanced, wholesome options with familiar regional flavours and enhanced presentation.

Highlights of the new menu include:

· Signature Indian dishes: Awadhi Paneer Anjeer Pasanda (Veg Awadhi Thali), Murgh Massalam (Non-veg Awadhi Thali), and south Indian platter in First and Business Class. Rajasthani besan chilla, malabari chicken curry, and malai palak kofta in Premium Economy

· International cuisine: Japanese Teppanyaki Bowl, citrus tiger prawns, and oriental napa cabbage and tofu rollmops in First Class and Seoul flamed prawns, manicotti forestiere, and Mediterranean tapas in Business Class

· GenZ Delights: chicken bibimbap and matcha delice in Business Class

· Home-made comfort food: homestyle masala dal khichdi and homestyle stuffed parantha in Business Class

· Plant-Based & Special Dietary Options: A dedicated vegan, gluten-free, and allergen-conscious menu

The exquisite new menu has been curated by Chef Sandeep Kalra, who joined Air India recently as the airline continues with its transformation programme, with new and upgraded aircraft joining the fleet and the introduction of new cabin and the new Air India experience across its fleet. The new menu has taken inspiration from the diverse culinary experiences that India offers from the classic Delhi Street food to the real southern India tiffin, apart from international cuisine that appeal to today’s young travellers such as Korean Bibimbap and Matcha. The Air India cabin crew have also gone through specialised training to enhance customer experience onboard.

“At the very core, the new food and beverage enhancements draw inspiration from Air India's commitment to continuous innovation and transforming the customer experience. We are reimagining the inflight dining experience that resonates with the tastes and preferences of global travellers. Our thoughtfully curated menu caters to guests from different cultural affinities who prefer delectable gourmet meals. We endeavour to master the art of menu design and presentation to ensure every inflight meal goes beyond taste into serving care and culinary excellence,” said Mr. Rajesh Dogra, Chief Customer Experience Officer, Air India.

Air India will also offer over 18 special meal types, one of the few airlines worldwide to do so, accommodating modern travellers’ lifestyles and dietary preferences for a truly inclusive and personalised experience. Guests can choose from thoughtfully curated choices ranging from international cuisine, homestyle comfort food, to health-conscious fare that caters to contemporary dietary lifestyles. Guests can also pre-select meals online using the Air India app with chef's notes, allergen information, and customisation capabilities.

The airline is also trying to reduce its environmental impact across the cycle such as in responsible sourcing, packaging, and waste reduction. Using locally sourced seasonal food to support local farmers and keep food miles down, Air India also ensures freshness of ingredients from the time of produce till the final serving onboard. There is also increased emphasis on environmentally friendly initiatives such as compostable utensils, paper meal boxes, less single-use plastics, and segregation of onboard waste for recycling and composting to reduce the carbon footprint.

About Air India group

The Air India group – comprising of full-service global airline, Air India, and value carrier, Air India Express – is spearheading a new era of Indian aviation. The Air India story began in 1932 when JRD Tata piloted the airline’s inaugural flight and opened the skies for aviation in India. Today, Air India group employs more than 30,000 people, operates over 300 aircraft and carries customers to 57 domestic and 48 international destinations across five continents.

Returning to the Tata Sons in 2022 following 70 years under Government ownership, Air India group is in the midst of a five-year transformation program, Vihaan.AI. As part of the transformation, Air India has placed an order for 570 new aircraft. In 2024, sister airlines Air Asia India and Vistara were successfully merged into Air India Express and Air India, respectively, and the Airline opened South Asia’s largest aviation training academy. A new flying school is scheduled to open in 2025, and construction of a greenfield maintenance base, to be operational in 2026, is underway. In addition to receiving new aircraft, all existing aircraft are progressively undergoing a full interior refit.

With transformation underway across all facets of the business and India’s rich legacy of hospitality, Air India is committed to being a world class global airline with an Indian heart.

For more stories on Air India, visit http://www.airindia.com/newsroom

Adyasha Foundation presents ‘ShishiraChhanda 2025’ – 9th Annual Dance Festival At JSS Auditorium

Renowned Odissi dancer and Guru Smt. Sarita Mishra, through her Adyasha Foundation, is set to present ShishiraChhanda 2025, the 9th edition of its annual dance festival, on Saturday, 20th December 2025 at 6.00 PM, at JSS Auditorium, Jayanagar, Bengaluru.

The festival celebrates the rich legacy of Indian classical dance and brings together distinguished performers from India and abroad.

The evening will feature a Bharatanatyam solo recital by an acclaimed dancer from the USA, Smt. Padmini Sirish, followed by an Odissi solo presentation by Smt. Indu Vijay. The highlight of the evening will be “Mādhaveti”, an Odissi production portraying the sacred journey of Neelamadhava to Jagannatha, a tale of divine discovery, devotion, and destiny, expressed through lyrical movement and soulful rhythm.

Gracing the occasion as Special Invitees will be: Dr. Veena Murthy Vijay, Dr. Shobha Shashikumar, and Guru Sri Murali Mohan Kalvakalva.

Speaking about the festival, Smt. Sarita Mishra shared, “With Shishirachhanda, we aim to build a space where artists, students, and audiences come together in celebration of our shared cultural heritage. It is our humble effort to keep these classical art forms alive, vibrant, and relevant for today’s world.”

Event Details:

Date: Saturday, 20th December 2025

Time: 6:00 PM

Venue: JSS Auditorium, Jayanagar, Bengaluru

Ticket link - https://tikkl.com/adyashafoundation/c/shishirachhanda2025/?

Organiser: Adyasha Foundation

Artistic Director: Smt. Sarita Mishra

For tickets and further details, contact +91 96867 64573

o9 Welcomes AI visionary Dr. Ashwin Rao As Executive Vice President, Next-Gen AI & Technology

09, a leading software company that is powering enterprise planning and decisioning models across 30-plus industry verticals with its groundbreaking, AI-powered Digital Brain platform, today announced that Dr. Ashwin Rao, a multi-faceted leader in applying technologies for elevating enterprise intelligence, has joined the Company’s leadership team as Executive Vice President, Next-Gen AI and Technology.

Dr. Ashwin Rao brings more than two decades of extensive experience across business, academia and Wall Street. As Chief AI Officer and Chief AI Scientist at distributor and retail enterprises, he led AI, data science and engineering teams that built leading-edge capabilities for merchandising, pricing, forecasting, supply chain and adjacent domains. Before that, he spent 15 years at Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, leading teams that developed quantitative algorithmic models and solutions to power trading decisions. He is currently an Adjunct Professor at Stanford University’s Institute for Computational and Mathematical Engineering, where he researches and teaches graduate-level courses on the topic of AI/ML for sequential optimal decisioning under uncertainty. Additionally, Dr. Rao is a published author on several topics, including a textbook on Reinforcement Learning and Financial Trading. He holds a Ph.D. in Theoretical Computer Science from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, and a B.Tech. in Computer Science from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. Dr. Rao resides in Palo Alto, CA., where he’s an active member of the AI community.

At o9, Dr. Rao will build upon the company’s founding premise: Connecting the siloes of enterprise planning and execution to transform end-to-end decision-making is the top value-creation driver in a world of rising volatility and uncertainty. He will engage with o9’s premier customers and partners on the challenges of making enterprise AI deliver on its promise. He will work closely with o9’s world-class R&D team and direct the Company’s strategic, cutting-edge architecture initiatives.

“Upon delving into the o9 technology, I was immediately drawn to the power of its platform and Enterprise Knowledge Graph technology,” Dr. Rao said. “AI has been a fundamental component in o9’s platform, and I believe the combination of advancements in generative and agentic AI with the strength of the powerful Enterprise Knowledge Graph models it pioneered is the key that will shape the future of enterprise planning and decisioning. I am thrilled to join the team to make a significant contribution to value creation in enterprises across industries.”

Chakri Gottemukkala, o9’s Co-Founder and CEO, added, “Ashwin brings a rare combination of talents to accelerate our drive to help build the next generation of Agile, Adaptive & Autonomous Planning & Execution Models that enterprises will need to achieve business plans with greater predictability in an increasingly volatile, uncertain and dynamic marketplace. We look forward to his contributions in raising the bar on value creation and time to value for our customers.”

Bluspring Enterprises Unveils Refreshed Brand Identity Post Demerger From Quess Corp

Bluspring Enterprises Limited (NSE: BLUSPRING, BSE: 544414), India’s leading integrated infrastructure management services company, today unveiled its refreshed brand identity, introducing a new logo and visual language. The brand marks Bluspring’s evolution as an independent, listed entity post its demerger from Quess Corp, and reinforces its role as a trusted partner for organizations seeking tech-enabled, compliance-first solutions across essential infrastructure and people services.

Rooted in Bluspring’s ethos of unity, ambition, and progress, the new identity brings together its specialist capabilities and legacy brands under a cohesive platform. The visual identity is anchored by the new tagline, ‘Infrastructure. People. Progress.’; capturing the belief that seamless infrastructure is built by empowered people and together they accelerate nation’s progress. The new logo, composed of interconnected blocks forming the letter ‘B’, represents how diverse teams and services integrate to create collective strength, while its forward-leaning form signals growth and transformation. The blue–green palette reinforces trust, stability, and renewal.

The updated brand architecture reflects a service-line-first model with 'powered by' endorsements for category-leading brands such as Terrier, Hofincons, and Vedang - enabling clients to benefit from sector expertise alongside single-contract accountability and nationwide delivery. The company today operates at scale across integrated facility management, food and hospitality, integrated security (powered by Terrier), engineering asset management (powered by Hofincons), and telecom networks (powered by Vedang). This structure unifies the company’s narrative for clients, partners, and stakeholders, while preserving the equity and specialist strengths of its legacy brands.

A Distinct Position in India’s Infrastructure Services Landscape

Bluspring addresses a critical gap in the industry; no other company in India offers integrated capabilities across all infrastructure service sectors. As India undergoes rapid infrastructure transformation, supported by the Government of India’s INR 11.21 lakh crore capital expenditure outlay, Bluspring’s positioning aligns with the country's growth priorities and supports sectors including healthcare, education, BFSI, IT, telecom, manufacturing, commercial real estate, and government institutions.

The company’s footprint includes a 90,000+ workforce operating across 28 states and 34+ cities, serving 1,000+ clients nationwide.

Commenting on the announcement, Kamal Pal Hoda, CEO, Bluspring, said, “Bluspring’s refreshed identity is a clear expression of who we are and what we stand for as an integrated infrastructure services enterprise. It unifies our category-leading service lines and specialist brands into one coherent story for our clients, our people, and our partners.

As organizations look for partners who can manage critical infrastructure with agility, compliance, and human-centric care, our new brand platform signals our intent to be that trusted extension of their teams. It honours the heritage of brands like Terrier, Hofincons, and Vedang, while aligning them behind a common purpose—Infrastructure. People. Progress.”

Shilpa Kona, VP – Marketing, Bluspring said, "Our new identity reflects a brand moving forward with clarity and confidence. Every element has been designed to signal momentum and collaboration. This refresh gives us a unified platform to tell the Bluspring story and engage more meaningfully with clients and our people as we continue to scale."

The refreshed identity will be rolled out across all brand touchpoints, including digital and social media platforms, corporate collateral, signage, print and digital ads and employee communications over the coming months.

Interpretations Of 2025: Srishti Manipal Institute unveils winter showcase

Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design and Technology invites art enthusiasts to witness their interpretation of 2025 through distinctive exhibitions this December. The winter showcase, titled "Interpretations of 2025," presents the creative explorations of students responding to contemporary complexities through crafting, critical thinking, and experimentation across multiple venues in Bengaluru from December 18–21.

"Practices of Attunement" themed art will be displayed on December 18–19, between 10 AM–7 PM at Bangalore International Centre, #7, 4th Main Road, Bengaluru, featuring the postgraduate students exploring trans-disciplinary research through engagements with bodies, narratives, and communities.

"Prologue - Make New Worlds" themed art will be displayed on December 20–21 between 10 AM–7 PM at Venkatappa Art Gallery, Kasturba Road celebrating the discipline-specific works of the graduating batch, demonstrating how art and design reveal fresh perspectives on the world and ourselves.

"Crafting our Actions 2025" will be held at the SMI campus at MAHE Bengaluru (Govindapura, Yelahanka) from December 18–20. This exhibition features collaborative works by undergraduate students and visiting practitioners created during the Institute's 'Interim' program.

More details : https://srishtimanipalinstitute.in  

Aditya Vikram Birla Kalashikar Puraskar Bestowed Upon Padmabhushan Vidushi Begam Parveen Sultana

Addressing the august gathering at the glittering 29th edition of the Sangit Kala Kendra’s (SKK) Awards. Rajashree Birla, President of the Sangit Kala Kendra in her welcome address, traced the genesis of the Sangit Kala Kendra.

Speaking on the occasion, she stated, “The Sangit Kala Kendra Awards, year after year stir, a lot of beautiful memories. Traditionally, this evening we pay homage to our beloved founder of the Sangit Kala Kendra – the legendary Aditya Vikram Birla, my husband whose life symbolised, the triumph of creativity and imagination. I would like to share snatches of conversations on his philosophy: his timeless values, from thoughts of his Father, as expressed by my son Kumar Mangalam.

It goes like this. “There is so much one can learn from his life. That you can be successful without having to negotiate on your values and principles, and on your own terms. With hard work, passion, and unfailing commitment. That at the same time there is more to life than work alone. Live life to the fullest – work with undivided focus and play with unbridled passion too. Follow your dreams – there is nothing you cannot learn or achieve if you put your mind and heart to it. That you can touch the lives of many people, more than you can perhaps imagine, through your genuine concern for their well-being, through small gestures and by being a role model to so many. We all realise that he is always with us and that he really never left us.” Unquote.

Today and every day, I feel that Adityaji never truly left us. His aura, his legacy of values, his desire to live life to the full and yet be a complete karmayogi continues to be his legacy bestowed upon us. It is also the rock solid principle at the core of the Sangit Kala Kendra.”

This year, the focus was on Indian Classical Music. Padma Bhushan Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty was the Chief Guest. The distinguished jury comprised of eminent theatre exemplars pan India with the renowned Pandit Ulhas Kashalkar, as the jury chair. Pandit Venkatesh Kumar, Vidushi Ashwini Bhide Deshpande, Kavita Krishnamurthy Subramaniam and Devaki Pandit, were the other esteemed members of the jury.

The Sangit Kala Kendra has immortalized glorious moments of Aditya Birla’s life. The SKK Awards celebrate the memory of its visionary founder. Kumar Mangalam graced the occasion.

The coveted Aditya Vikram Birla Kala Shikhar Puraskar, its premier award was conferred upon Padma Bhushan Vidushi Begum Parween Sultana by Rajashree Birla. The versatile genius is known for her creativity across all genres- ranging from Indian Classical Music to Film Music.

The high voltage evening saw the crème de la crème from maximum city in full attendance. Spectacular performances by legendary actress Rekha, Shreya Ghoshal, Aditi Mangaldas, and Raghav Sachar, had the audience on their feet, screaming for an encore.

Earlier luminaries upon whom the Kala Shikar Puraskars were bestowed included Lata Mangeshkar, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Naseeruddin Shah. Ustad Zakir Hussian, Pt. Shivkumar Sharma, Pt. Vijay Raghav Rao and Pt. Ram Narayan

The Aditya Vikram Birla Kala Kiran Puraskar was conferred on Sammehan Kashalkar, Kumari Ankita Joshi, and Sagar Morankar.

For more than twenty-five years, the Aditya Vikram Birla Puraskars bear testimony to the evolution and tremendous growth of performing arts in India.

Paragon Footwear Redefines In-Store Experience With Next-Gen Retail Format

Paragon Footwear, one of India’s leading footwear brands, today announced the launch of its next-generation retail store format with the opening of its first outlet at Ramamurthy Nagar, Bangalore. This marks a strategic step to strengthen its direct-to-consumer presence, enhance the in-store shopping experience, and capture the fast-growing Gen Z and young urban consumer segment.

The rollout, starting mid-December 2025, aligns with Paragon’s broader premiumisation and market expansion strategy, aimed at driving higher per-store revenue, enhancing brand equity, and deepening engagement with younger audiences.

The new stores are designed as lifestyle experience hubs, blending comfort, style, and community. This reflects Paragon’s shift from a legacy retail presence to a brand-led experiential ecosystem.

Key features include:

● 1,000+ sq. ft. store formats for better footfall management and immersive browsing

● Curated product showcases to drive higher discovery and conversion

● Youth-centric color palette and premium interiors designed for social media appeal

● Premium leather range crafted with emphasis on material quality, refined detailing, and elevated style expression

Speaking on the store opening, Nakhul Joseph, Executive Vice President – Retail, Franchise & Human Resources at Paragon Footwear, said, “We’re reimagining what a footwear store feels like — not just a place to shop, but a space that mirrors the energy, individuality, and creativity of today’s youth. Our new retail identity brings together the best of Paragon’s portfolio under one roof — from everyday comfort wear to trend-driven sneakers and premium leather styles under Carmicci. Designed to be fresh, inspiring, and easy to explore, these stores reflect our evolution as a brand that listens, adapts, and grows with its customers.”

Alongside Paragon’s core collections, the new retail format will spotlight its portfolio of brands from the House of Paragon — Eeken for bold, Gen Z styles, Stimulus for everyday comfort designed for Millennials, and Carmicci for premium leather footwear. Together, these brands address distinct consumer needs and style preferences across segments and price points.

This portfolio strategy is aimed at expanding Paragon’s share in the mid to premium-footwear category, while retaining its stronghold in the value segment. As a key strategic initiative, Paragon is driving its expansion through a franchise-led model, supported by a hybrid business framework that reduces partner risk through shared investments and operational support. The model is designed to uphold brand standards and customer experience, while enabling faster scale-up and sustainable market expansion.

The retail expansion comes at a time when Paragon’s outlets continue to gain strong traction, with Stimulus emerging as the top retail contributor at 28%, followed by Eeken at 22% and Carmicci at 12%, demonstrating growing demand across Gen Z fashion, everyday comfort, and premium leather footwear categories.

India’s footwear market is projected to reach $15 billion by 2028, fueled by rising urban consumption and a growing demand for affordable premium products. Paragon’s new retail model is designed as a strategic growth lever to capture this opportunity by accelerating direct-to-consumer revenue contribution, enhancing brand experience parity with global and digital-first competitors, driving higher per-store productivity through curated merchandising, and expanding its footprint in Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities with high-growth potential.

The first set of new-format stores will open across key metros and Tier 1 cities in mid-December 2025, with a wider expansion planned through 2026. These stores will blend physical and digital experiences, serving as a core pillar in Paragon’s omnichannel retail strategy.

About Paragon

Paragon was founded in 1975 and since then it has emerged as a marquee brand in the footwear industry, for its steadfast dedication to excellence, durability, and fashion. The brand offers a wide range of footwear products, including shoes, sandals, flip-flops, and slippers. Their product line caters to various age groups and demographics, from children to adults, making it a complete family brand. Paragon's products are accessible through a vast network of multi-brand stores, both online and offline, making quality footwear available to all. Paragon’s distribution network spans 12 strategically located depots across India, facilitating efficient supply chain management.