BUSINESSNEXT Raises USD 40 Million From ServiceNow To Accelerate Autonomous Banking

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

About BUSINESSNEXT

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

Visit-www.businessnext.com

About ServiceNow

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Travellers cashing in on long weekends

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

Convenience and safety focused features driving preference

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

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

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

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

Mumbai ↔ Pune

Delhi ↔ Agra

Bengaluru ↔ Mysuru

Lucknow ↔ Kanpur

Ahmedabad ↔ Vadodara

Fastest-Growing Intercity Corridors (YoY)

Ahmedabad ↔ Vadodara

Bengaluru ↔ Mysuru

Delhi ↔ Dehradun

Delhi ↔ Chandigarh

Chennai ↔ Puducherry

Summer Travel Highlights

Popular Heritage & Pilgrimage Destinations

Agra

Mysuru

Prayagraj

Ajmer

Udaipur

Popular Beach & Hill Destinations

Puducherry

Dehradun

Kochi

Most Popular Weekend Getaway Routes

Mumbai ↔ Nashik

Mumbai ↔ Aurangabad

Delhi ↔ Dehradun

Delhi ↔ Agra

Chennai ↔ Puducherry

Emerging Travel Trends

Tier-2 Corridors Driving Growth

Ahmedabad ↔ Vadodara

Thrissur ↔ Kochi

Indore ↔ Ujjain

Kanpur ↔ Lucknow

Ranchi ↔ Jamshedpur

Most Booked Round Trips

Hyderabad

Hyderabad ↔ Yadagirigutta

Hyderabad ↔ Kurnool

Delhi

Delhi ↔ Agra

Delhi ↔ Sikar

Bengaluru

Bengaluru ↔ Nandi Hills

Bengaluru ↔ Magadi

Bengaluru ↔ Dharmapuri

Bengaluru ↔ Mandya

Pune

Pune ↔ Ahmednagar

Pune ↔ Satara  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

* All four product groups recorded strong double-digit growth

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Financial Highlights: Quarter 1, 2026-2027

Total Sales of INR 6,363.3 crore

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

EBITDA margin of 24.2%

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

Earnings Per Share of INR 5.06

Business Comments – Quarter 1, 2026-27:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Commodity Outlook:

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

Cautionary Statement:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

About IITB-Groww INV.ENT Programme

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

About Groww Foundation

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

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

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

* With residencies across France and South Asia

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

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

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

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

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

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

EXPANDING OUR CREATIVE HORIZONS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Laureates 2026 - 2027:

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

Residencies in South Asia :

Alice Boner Institute (Varanasi) – Olivier Liron, author

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

Eklavya Foundation (Bhopal) – Cheyenne Olivier, illustrator

Sangam House (Bengaluru) – Paul Greveillac, author

Lakmahal Library (Colombo) – Frank Smith, poet

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

Itinerant Residency (India) – Atiq Rahimi, author

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

Cosmos Foundation (Dhaka) – Saena Delacroix, calligrapher

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

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

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

Nila House (Jaipur) – Erika Povilonyté, artist

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

Vastrakala (Chennai) – Naomi Lulendo, artist

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

StoneX Global (Kishangarh) – Vincent Voillat, artist

Residencies in France :

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

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

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

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

La Marelle (Marseille) – Vidyun Sabhaney, graphic novelist

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fondation Thalie (Arles) – Gargi Chandola, artist

macLYON (Lyon) – Ayantika Sajwal, artist

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

About The Coca‑Cola Company

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