Engineers Have Critical Role In Building Intelligent Systems: Sanket Deodhar, India Head, Anaplan

By Sanket Deodhar, India Head, Anaplan

* National Engineering Day 2026

* That brings together data, human judgement, and AI to support faster, better-informed decisions.

“Engineering excellence today is increasingly about designing systems that can adapt to change rather than simply perform under predictable conditions. As organisations navigate interconnected economic, operational and technological challenges, engineers have a critical role in building intelligent systems that bring together data, human judgement, and AI to support faster, better-informed decisions. AI will expand what these systems can do, but its true value will depend on trusted data, strong design and the ability to apply innovation responsibly. For India, strengthening its technological capabilities will increasingly depend on developing the talent and expertise to design and govern intelligent systems that are transparent, adaptable and resilient. The engineers of the future will therefore need to think beyond individual technologies and understand how data, AI and business decisions connect across the enterprise, helping organisations model change, evaluate different scenarios and respond with greater confidence.”

Engineers At The Centre Of How Data Is Managed, Secured And Tech Evolves Efficiently: Sanjay Agrawal, Hitachi Vantara India and SAARC

By Sanjay Agrawal, Hitachi Vantara India and SAARC

* National Engineering Day 2026

* This calls for a new generation of engineers who bring together deep technical expertise with cyber resilience awareness, energy efficiency and ethical innovation.

“As India accelerates its digital transformation, engineering excellence will increasingly be defined by the strength, intelligence and sustainability of the systems we build. AI, automation, and data-driven innovation are opening new possibilities and shaping the infrastructure required to support India’s digital future. This places engineers at the centre of how data is managed, systems are secured and technology evolves efficiently at scale. Technological sovereignty is strengthened through the capability to build, secure and sustain advanced technologies with confidence and responsibility. This calls for a new generation of engineers who bring together deep technical expertise with cyber resilience awareness, energy efficiency and ethical innovation. Their ability to create intelligent, trusted and resilient systems will play an important role in shaping a technologically advanced and sustainable India.”

Trellix SecondSight Threat Hunting Report highlights Espionage And Supply Chain Risks

* Very much relevant to Indian organizations

* New report finds repeat diplomatic espionage campaign in Asia, a Southeast Asia-targeted credential stealer, and a global open-source supply chain compromise

Trellix, a global leader in cyber resilience for the AI era, highlighted findings from its latest Trellix SecondSight Threat Hunting Report with implications for Indian organizations. Examining five critical campaigns observed between January and June 2026, the report details diplomatic espionage in Asia, credential theft targeting Southeast Asia, and a global open-source supply chain compromise. These investigations illustrate how attackers exploit trusted accounts and software, offering lessons for Indian security teams assessing exposure in their own environments.

Trellix SecondSight Threat Hunting Report highlights:

A repeat diplomatic target in Asia: A June 2026 spear-phishing campaign against a European embassy located in Asia, attributed to Bitter APT, used a compromised diplomatic mailbox from an African country and a FIFA World Cup themed lure to deploy the BDarkRAT remote access trojan. Trellix SecondSight hunters traced the campaign's command-and-control domain back to an October 2025 attack on the same embassy, confirming a sustained, calculated espionage effort rather than an isolated intrusion.

A stealthy credential stealer targeting Southeast Asia: Active through the first half of 2026, the JSCeal campaign used an encoded PowerShell script to deploy a legitimate Node.js runtime alongside an encrypted, in-memory payload built to harvest browser-stored passwords, session cookies, and cryptocurrency wallet data from Southeast Asia-based organizations. Trellix SecondSight hunters traced the intrusion by following the PowerShell-to-Node.js execution chain back to its source and reverse engineering the payload's decryption logic.

A widely used open-source package compromised at the source: The March 2026 compromise of Axios, a JavaScript library downloaded roughly 100 million times weekly, followed the takeover of a maintainer's npm account and the publication of two malicious package versions installing a cross-platform remote access trojan. Working from public threat intelligence, Trellix SecondSight hunters identified the indicators in Trellix telemetry, reconstructed affected environments, and notified impacted customers, including organizations whose development environments may have been exposed through the compromised dependency.

“For organizations in India, these findings are a reminder that exposure can come through the software, accounts and suppliers they rely on every day,” said Ganesh Iyer, Managing Director, Trellix, India & SAARC. “A familiar application or a trusted sender does not guarantee that the activity is safe. Security teams need to connect what they know about emerging threats with what is happening in their own environments. Proactive threat hunting helps them investigate those connections early, so they can act before an intrusion becomes a wider business disruption.”

The report also examines an APT28 espionage campaign targeting European organizations and a nation-state iOS exploit chain. Across the five investigations, it shows how threat intelligence, AI-powered automation and human expertise can help security teams connect seemingly isolated activity and turn findings into defensive action.

To read the full Trellix SecondSight Threat Hunting Report, see here.

Additional Resources:

Trellix SecondSight Threat Hunting Report, September 2026

Trellix Threat Intelligence

Trellix Advanced Research Center Reports

The Search For Bengaluru’s Next Modelling Talent Begins; Registrations Open From September 10-23, 2026

* The Search for Bengaluru’s Next Modelling Talent Begins Gopalan Mall Model Hunt 2026 opens registrations for aspiring models, with city-wide auditions, grooming and industry-led masterclasses leading up to the October 10 finale.

For aspiring models looking for an opportunity to step into the spotlight, Model Hunt 2026 is opening its doors. Registrations for the talent discovery initiative are now open from September 10 to 23, inviting aspiring models across Bengaluru to participate in a journey that goes beyond a conventional audition.

Hosted by Gopalan Mall, BLR Model Hunt 2026 will bring together multiple rounds of auditions, followed by training, grooming and industry-led masterclasses designed to help shortlisted participants build confidence, sharpen their presentation and gain exposure to the fundamentals of the modelling industry.

The initiative will begin with auditions at Gopalan Arcade Mall on October 1 and a Mega Audition at Gopalan Signature Mall on October 4. Those who make it through the audition rounds will enter an intensive five-day training and grooming programme from October 5 to 9, featuring masterclasses, fitment sessions, grooming activities and preparation for the final stage.

The journey will culminate in the Grand Finale at Gopalan Signature Mall on October 10, where the shortlisted finalists will compete for the top honours.

Mr. Prabhakar, Director, Gopalan Enterprises, said, “Model Hunt is about creating an
opportunity for fresh talent to be seen, heard and experienced. Beyond the competition, we
want participants to gain confidence, professional exposure and an understanding of what it
takes to present themselves on a larger platform. We look forward to discovering some exciting
new talent from Bengaluru.”

From First Audition to Final Spotlight | BLR Model Hunt 2026 – Important Dates

Registrations: September 10–23, 2026

Mall Audition: October 1, 2026 – Gopalan Arcade Mall

Mega Audition: October 4, 2026 – Gopalan Signature Mall

Training, Grooming, Masterclass & Fitment: October 5–9, 2026

Grand Finale: October 10, 2026

Inviting Registrations

Aspiring participants can register between September 10 and 23, 2026 by scanning the registration QR code featured across the Model Hunt 2026 campaign promotions. Shortlisted participants will be contacted and invited to participate in the audition rounds.

Model Hunt 2026 is designed to give emerging talent a platform to experience the audition process, learn from professionals, build confidence and showcase their potential—with the opportunity to take their first step towards the modelling industry.

Young India Hustles. NESCAFÉ Puts It To A Beat

* NESCAFÉ teams up with Spotify to give a soundtrack to young India’s many hustles with an iconic anthem

What does hustle sound like? For some, it is late-night study sessions. For others, it is chasing a creative passion, building something of their own, or simply refusing to stop moving. NESCAFÉ is bringing these many expressions of hustle together with its new Hustle Anthem – a rap track created as the soundtrack to the energy, ambition and individuality of young India.

In collaboration with Spotify, the anthem takes NESCAFÉ’s long-standing connection with youth into culture through music. Reinforcing the culture-first approach, the launch was led by an immersive brand experience with creators and cultural trendsetters, designed to spark participation and conversation among young audiences.

The song is accompanied by films celebrating different hustles – from coding and music to art and group study. Promoted across Meta, Spotify, and YouTube, these films reinforce the Anthem’s relevance with 360-degree cross-platform visibility.

Mr. Sunayan Mitra, Head – Powdered and Liquid Beverages, Nestlé India, said, "Young India is redefining what it means to hustle. It is no longer just about work or ambition, but about pursuing what matters to you, in your own way. With the NESCAFÉ Hustle Anthem, we wanted to capture that spirit in a form that feels truly native to youth culture — music. It is our way of saying: whatever your hustle, we are with you as you keep creating and making your world."

The initiative marks a shift in how NESCAFÉ speaks to Gen Z – from being a brand that talks about their hustle to one that empowers it. With creators adding their own voices to the campaign, the Hustle Anthem aims to travel beyond advertising and become part of the everyday rhythm of young India.

Link to Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/52nMSXYHJpQIl2h5H9GYS3?si=K76Pi298Q22jxqd6F1AIew&utm_source=whatsapp&nd=1&dlsi=1a9f600c8b074635#login

Link to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tec1S9Z4_Mg&list=RDTec1S9Z4_Mg&start_radio=1  

Zudio Crosses 1,000-Store Milestone In 10 Yrs, Expands To 300 Cities

* The value-fashion chain, launched in 2016, has served more than 100 million customers over the past decade as Trent rapidly expands its retail footprint across India.

The value-fashion chain, launched in 2016, has served more than 100 million customers over the past decade as Trent rapidly expands its retail footprint across IndiaTata Group retail firm Trent Ltd on Saturday said its value-fashion retail chain Zudio has crossed the 1,000-store milestone in the country.

Zudio offers affordable propositions and has expanded rapidly since its launch in 2016, according to a regulatory filing by Trent.

The brand's network now spans over 300 cities and has served more than 100 million customers over the past decade, the company said.

Besides Zudio, Trent operates Westside, which is a large-format fashion store. It also pwns grocery business Star.

As of June 30, 2026, Trent's store portfolio included 301 Westside and 29 stores across other lifestyle concepts, operated with a footprint of over 18 million sq ft across its fashion brands.    

Five SST Students’ Built Drone To Help Solve Bengaluru’s Civic Challenges

*  Built entirely in-house at Scaler School of Technology’s Innovation Lab, the hexacopter was flown over  * Bengaluru to capture aerial video that ELCIA used in its ELCIA Smart City Drone AI hackathon, where 183 teams developed AI-led solutions for traffic congestion, waste management and road conditions.

Five students from Scaler School of Technology’s (SST) deep tech innovation lab have built a hexacopter drone that has now been taken from the lab into a real-world civic application in Bengaluru. Developed entirely in-house by these students, the drone was flown over the city, in collaboration with the Electronics City Industries Association (ELCIA), capturing aerial video footage that was subsequently used as an input for ELCIA’s annual hackathon.

The drone was developed in-house by students Joe Daniel, Shreyansh Malviya, Raaghav Rathi, Pushkar Desai & Rama Krishnan. An indigenous chip serves as the drone’s main flight controller. The hexacopter is capable of flying autonomous missions and carrying payloads of up to 2 kg. It uses sensors for self-levelling and heading, along with GPS-based waypoint navigation, allowing it to follow pre-defined flight paths. An indigenous chip serves as the drone’s main flight controller. For the field exercise, the drone carried a camera mounted on a two-axis gimbal to capture aerial footage of traffic movement, waste accumulation and road conditions.

“Building a drone in the lab is very different from flying it in a real neighbourhood. Once we took it out of the lab to fly, we started seeing the city differently and understood how it really operates. It made me realise that the real challenge is not just building drones, but understanding how the information it captures can be used to solve real-world problems.” said Joe Daniel, a third-year student at Scaler School of Technology and part of the team that built the drone.

The footage was subsequently used by ELCIA as part of its annual Tech Summit and Drone AI Hackathon, where 183 teams comprising around 650–700 participants worked on technology-led solutions to real-world civic challenges. Teams were provided with the drone footage and data and tasked with using AI and other technologies to address the civic challenges.

“At ELCIA, we support innovation and startups… The entire ecosystem has evolved in such a way that there is a lot of scope for co-creation, collaborative manufacturing and support for innovative products and ideas. So, with this kind of innovative thought and problem statement of solving basic problems of smart cities, I believe that the concept that technology should be for public good.”, said V Sriram Kumar, President & CEO, ELCIA

Following the initial rounds, five teams were shortlisted as finalists and presented their solutions at the ELCIA Tech Summit in the presence of industry leaders and the wider audience. The finalist solutions included AI-powered waste and illegal-dumping detection, fire and smoke intelligence, road-hazard detection and civic-risk monitoring. ELCIA will now take three of the five finalist solutions forward for further refinement, with the aim of making them deployable for tech enabled government operations.

About Scaler School of Technology

Scaler School of Technology (SST) is a full-time, residential undergraduate institution in Bengaluru focused on training the next generation of engineers and AI professionals. Founded by IIIT Hyderabad alumni Anshuman Singh and Abhimanyu Saxena, SST offers four-year undergraduate programmes in Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence and AI & Business, designed for an AI-first world.

Its curriculum is co-developed and continuously updated by over 100 engineers, founders, and technology leaders from companies such as Google, OpenAI, and PhonePe. Through practitioner-led learning, hands-on projects, startup incubation, and advanced AI and robotics labs, students gain real-world experience alongside academic training.

Based in Bengaluru, SST brings together high-potential students from across India in a collaborative residential environment with direct access to the country's technology and startup ecosystem, preparing graduates to build and lead in the AI era.

For more information, visit www.scaler.com/school-of-technology