LGE India Recognised As “Top Organisation With Innovative HR Practices”

* CHO Conferred With “Most Impactful HR Leader Award”

LG Electronics India has been honoured with dual accolades at the 25th Asia Pacific HRM Congress Awards 2026, held in Bengaluru, reflecting its commitment to building a people-first, future-ready organization. LG Electronics India was recognized among the Top Organizations with Innovative HR Practices for its initiatives in Leadership development, Organizational capability, Workplace culture, Employee experience, and Talent development. Alongside this award, Mr. Jwa Nam Kim, Chief Human Resources Officer (CHO), LG Electronics India, was also conferred the Most Impactful HR Leader Award for his leadership in driving HR transformation and positioning people as a strategic enabler of business growth.

“This recognition belongs to every member of LG Electronics India. Our HR practices have always been closely aligned with business transformation initiatives. As we enter our next chapter of growth, our responsibility is to build the leadership, capabilities, culture, and organization that enable our people and our business to grow together,” said Mr. Jwa Nam Kim, CHO, LG Electronics India.

These initiatives are closely aligned with the company’s strategic vision of “Make in India, Make for India, and Make India Global,” positioning people and organizational capability at the core of sustainable growth and India’s emergence as a global manufacturing, innovation, and export hub.

The latest honours build on LG Electronics India’s sustained track record of HR excellence. The company has been Great Place to Work® Certified for two consecutive years (2024 and 2025) and has also received National Best Employer Brand award 2026 from World HRD Congress. Additionally, Mr. Jwa Nam Kim, CHO, LG Electronics India, was also conferred the Top HR Iconic Leader Award, in recognition for his contribution to build high performing and people centric organisation. Earlier this year, LG Electronics India also received the Most Innovative L&D Program Award 2026, the HR Distinction Diamond recognition from HR Association of India (HRAI). Awarded for continued investment in learning and workforce capability.

Together, these recognitions reflect LG Electronics India’s continued journey towards creating an inclusive, agile, and high-performing workplace – one where talent, leadership and organizational capability remain the foundation of innovation and long-term business growth.

About LG Electronics India Limited

LG Electronics India was established in January 1997 in India. It is focused on various consumer electronics and B2B businesses, from home appliances and media entertainment to HVAC and commercial displays. LG Electronics India manufacturing units at Greater Noida and Ranjangaon, Pune has the capacity to manufacture LED TVs, air conditioners, commercial air conditioning systems, washing machines, refrigerators, and monitors.

A Year On, ‘Arz Kiya Hai’ Continues Its Chart-Topping Run At No. 1 On Spotify India

Some songs trend for a moment. Some find a life of their own. Arz Kiya Hai has done both. The Coke Studio Bharat collaboration featuring Anuv Jain and Lost Stories has reached No. 1 on Spotify India’s Top Songs chart, making it the first Coke Studio Bharat song to achieve the milestone. The track has been in the Spotify India Daily Chart for over a year, with its momentum extending globally as it also peaked at #71 on Spotify’s Global Top Songs chart.

The collaboration brought together Anuv Jain’s songwriting with Lost Stories’ electronic-fusion sound, within the distinctive musical world of Coke Studio Bharat. For Jain, joining Coke Studio Bharat was a long-held ambition, while the track gave him an opportunity to explore the world of shayari through his own intimate songwriting style. The song, shaped by Rishab Joshi’s contribution, brings together a deeply personal narrative with Coke Studio Bharat’s collaborative sound.

Since its release in August 2025, Arz Kiya Hai has amassed 484+ million audio streams, 260 million YouTube views and over 17.7+ million pieces of user-generated content. Its resonance has continued well beyond the country to global charts. Ahmedabad, Pune, Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Guwahati are where the song has found strong listener engagement. Its sustained presence on Spotify’s charts points to a song that continues to find new listeners well beyond its release moment.

Singer-songwriter Anuv Jain said, “When I made Arz Kiya Hai, I hoped it would find its way into people's lives, but I never imagined that even a year later it would still be finding new listeners and reach No. 1 on Spotify India. Being part of Coke Studio Bharat was a long-held dream, so bringing this song into that world was incredibly special. I think the most beautiful thing a song can do is live beyond the moment it was created, and Arz Kiya Hai has continued to do that in ways I couldn't have predicted. I'm deeply grateful to everyone who has listened, shared it, and made it part of their own moments.”

Shantanu Gangane, IMX (Integrated Marketing Experience) Lead at Coca-Cola India and Southwest Asia, said, “‘Arz Kiya Hai’ captures the spirit of what Coke Studio Bharat stands for, bringing together distinctive sounds, creative perspectives and artists to create music that resonates across boundaries. Its continued presence on the charts a year after release is a testament to the song’s enduring ability to connect with consumers and the love it continues to receive. It is incredibly rewarding to see the song continue to travel across audiences and geographies, while Anuv Jain’s distinctive storytelling finds lasting resonance through Coke Studio Bharat.”

Devraj Sanyal, Chairman and CEO, India & South Asia, and Senior Vice President of Strategy for Asia, Middle East and Africa (AMeA), Universal Music Group, said, ““Arz Kiya Hai’ has gone beyond being a hit. It has become part of the musical memory of a generation. Our philosophy has always been simple: back great artists, give them the freedom to be themselves, and great music will find its moment. Anuv Jain and Lost Stories created something honest, beautiful and unmistakably theirs, and India made it its own. That is what Coke Studio Bharat represents: an India confident in its culture, its artistry and its own voice. Hits come and go. When a song becomes part of people’s lives, that’s culture. That’s the magic.”

The milestone adds to the strong momentum of Coke Studio Bharat Season 4, which has continued to bring together a distinctive mix of artists, genres and regional sounds from across India. With tracks such as Ae Ajnabee, Bulleya Ve and Kachaudi Gali, Hoor and Hivde Ro Haar, finding strong audiences across streaming, video and social platforms, the season continues to spotlight the breadth of India’s musical landscape and create music that resonates with listeners at home and around the world, long after release.

Axis Mutual Fund Partners With Grip Invest To Offer Its Schemes On The Platform

* Grip Invest’s Auto-SIP feature enables bond investors to redirect their returns into Axis Mutual Fund schemes

* Investors can now access and invest in Axis Mutual Fund's equity, debt and gold schemes through the Grip Invest app

Axis Mutual Fund, one of India’s leading asset management companies, today announced its partnership with Grip Invest, one of India's fixed-income investments platforms. The schemes of Axis Mutual Fund will be available for Investments on the Grip Invest app.

Axis Mutual Fund continues to expand its digital distribution footprint through strategic fintech partnerships that make investing more accessible, simple and convenient for investors. The partnership with Grip Invest is aligned with Axis Mutual Fund's philosophy of enabling investors to access a wide range of investment solutions through various platforms. Through Grip Invest, investors will be able to access select equity, debt and gold fund offerings from Axis Mutual Fund, helping them build diversified portfolios aligned to their financial goals and risk preferences.

The app will offer an automated reinvestment facility that enables investors to deploy returns from bond investments into Axis mutual fund schemes. By automating the reinvestment process, the feature seeks to encourage disciplined investing and support investor’s aim for long-term wealth creation through compounding.

Boniface Noronha, Chief Digital Officer, Axis Mutual Fund, added, "Investors today increasingly seek solutions that are simple, seamless and integrated into their financial journey. Through our partnership we aim to provide a convenient way for investors to invest into mutual funds, helping them diversify their portfolios and participate in broader wealth-building opportunities. We are excited to partner with Grip as they continue to develop solutions that address evolving investor needs. This partnership reflects our continued focus on leveraging fintech partnerships and digital innovation to make investing more accessible.”

Nikhil Aggarwal, Founder and Group CEO, Grip Invest, said, "Compounding is the #1 principle to wealth generation. Infinite solves that effortlessly for Bond investors by making sure that their money is always earning. With the option to now reinvest returns from Bonds in equity, debt and gold funds from Axis Mutual Fund, investors can also choose how and where they want these returns to compound. The best part - investors retain the ability to exit anytime and retain full flexibility.” 

DesignCafe Deepens Its Bengaluru Footprint With A New Experience Centre On Kanakapura Road

* The 2,750 sq. ft. facility marks the brand's 5th hub in Bengaluru and 24th nationwide, bringing personalised, end-to-end home interiors closer to one of south Bengaluru's fastest-growing residential corridors.

Marking a major milestone in its nationwide retail expansion, DesignCafe has officially opened its doors in Kanakapura. Following four established hubs in Bengaluru, the new space marks the brand's 5th Experience Centre in Bengaluru and 24th nationwide. This 2,750 sq. ft. experiential space signals a deliberate move to meet homeowners right where the city's residential boom is happening.

Kanakapura Road has become one of south Bengaluru's most sought-after residential destinations, with a steady mix of new apartments and lived-in homes. It is a catchment of homeowners who want organised, reliable, end-to-end interiors rather than the uncertainty of the unorganised market, and the new centre places DesignCafe's designers within easy reach of exactly those families. Visitors can explore modular kitchens, wardrobes, and living and bedroom vignettes set in real, functional formats, alongside a wide range of premium materials, finishes and space-saving solutions. The space is designed to help homeowners visualise their interiors with clarity and confidence, long before a single decision is finalised.

Speaking on the launch, Gita Ramanan, Co-founder & CEO of DesignCafe, said:"Bengaluru is where DesignCafe began, so every new centre in this city carries some weight for us. Kanakapura Road sits in the middle of the residential growth we are seeing across South Bengaluru, and the families building homes here want something specific: interiors created around how they actually live, not picked off a catalogue. At DesignCafe we take the time to understand a family's routines, their habits, the way they actually move through a day, and design a home around that, rather than around a picture. This centre brings that process closer to homeowners in South Bengaluru, with the materials, layouts and design choices right there for them to see and touch, so the decision feels considered rather than rushed. This fifth centre also reflects a shift in how we are growing. Alongside entering new cities, we are going deeper into the ones we already operate in, because that is where our reputation already does some of the talking. Homeowners here have friends and neighbours who have lived in a DesignCafe home. Bringing our design approach and our material and finish choices closer to them, rather than asking them to travel across the city for it, is the next phase for us."

At the heart of the DesignCafe experience is a commitment to personalisation, transparency and craftsmanship. Every project is designed around how a family actually lives, backed by in-house manufacturing, rigorous quality checks, and a long-term warranty that reflects the brand's confidence in its work. The new centre extends this promise to a wider set of Bengaluru homeowners, making the journey from first idea to finished home simpler, clearer and more personal.

The Kanakapura Road Experience Centre is now open to visitors, offering homeowners the opportunity to explore DesignCafe's interior solutions, meet its designers, and begin their own design journey.

About DesignCafe

India's only home interiors brand founded by award-winning architects, DesignCafe has delivered over 15,000 homes across major Indian cities. DesignCafe's projects are supported by large, multiple company-owned manufacturing facilities equipped with precision German machinery. Each home undergoes multiple quality checks, uses trusted material partners, and is backed by a long-term warranty. The brand specialises in personalised, space-saving interiors backed by transparent pricing, reliable execution and high-quality craftsmanship.

One Festival, Many Moments: Coca-Cola India Expands Its Presence This Festive Season

The festive season brings people together across homes, neighbourhoods and shared spaces, creating multiple occasions for community celebrations. Reflecting this inclusive spirit, Coca-Cola India is bringing its diverse beverage portfolio closer to consumers, offering refreshment and hydration across the occasions that shape their festive experience.

This year, Coca-Cola India, together with its bottling partner Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (HCCB), is significantly scaling its festive presence across Maharashtra and other states. The initiative brings together a wide network of festive partnerships and local touchpoints, including festive pandals and Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), while strengthening engagement with neighbourhood markets, eateries and other key locations.

The festive journey also extends from in-store to at-home occasions, with consumers able to access beverages through neighbourhood retailers, retail and trade partners and quick-commerce platforms. With affordable pack choices and a strong retail and distribution network, supported by cooling infrastructure and last-mile availability, consumers will have easy access to chilled beverages, whether they are pandal hopping, sharing a meal, gathering at home or looking for refreshment on the go.

Desmond Nikhil D’Souza, Vice President - Integrated Operations (HCCB) & Commercial, Coca-Cola India & Southwest Asia, said, “The festive season has a special significance across Maharashtra, bringing people together through traditions, shared experiences and a strong sense of togetherness. We’re honoured to play a small role in these moments by keeping consumers refreshed and creating engaging experiences across the different ways they celebrate - at home, over shared meals or on the go. Backed by the strength of our bottling partners and retail ecosystem, our focus is on making refreshment accessible, while also creating economic opportunities for local vendors and retailers.”

Vinay Nair, Chief Commercial Officer, Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (HCCB), said, “Maharashtra’s vibrant festive season brings communities, neighbourhood businesses and local markets together in a unique way. Our manufacturing and distribution capabilities, strengthened by a robust last-mile retail network, help ensure seamless availability of Coca-Cola’s beverages across the state. Beyond availability, we remain focused on strengthening the wider retail and supply chain ecosystem, supporting the local businesses and partners that play an integral role in these celebrations.”

The initiative also builds on Coca-Cola India’s 'Locally Yours' campaign, with neighbourhood retailers forming an important part of this wider network of touchpoints and helping make beverages conveniently accessible during the festive period.



Extending their efforts beyond refreshment, Coca-Cola India and Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages are partnering with pandals on used PET bottle collection initiatives and bringing discarded materials back to life through upcycled street art. Additionally, in association with street artists Doodle Mapuls, bottle caps and labels have been transformed into a ‘Waste to Wonder’ live art, giving discarded materials a new creative expression. These initiatives encourage collective responsibility while supporting the recovery and recycling of used PET bottles during the festive season.



Through these initiatives, Coca-Cola India continues to bring together refreshment, community and local partnerships, making its beverages accessible, while supporting the neighbourhood businesses that help bring celebrations to life.



About Coca-Cola:

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



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



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

Sushilkumar Agrawal Elected Vice President Of Producers Guild Of India

* At the Guild’s 72nd Annual General Meeting, held in Mumbai.

Mr. Sushilkumar Agrawal has been elected as Vice President of the Producers Guild of India at the Guild’s 72nd Annual General Meeting, held in Mumbai. Mr. Shibasish Sarkar was unanimously re-elected as President of the Guild.

The Producers Guild of India is the premier body representing producers of film, television and digital content in India. It represents leading producers of audio-visual content and plays a significant role in the growth and development of India’s entertainment industry. The Guild works closely with the Government and industry stakeholders on key issues including regulatory and policy matters, copyright protection, taxation, ease of filming and other challenges impacting the production ecosystem.

Mr. Sushilkumar Agrawal, a first-generation entrepreneur and CEO of Ultra Media & Entertainment Group, has been a Council Member of the Guild for the past 20 years. He began his entrepreneurial journey in 1982 by acquiring diverse rights to classic, old and new films and was instrumental in introducing VHS and VCD technology to India.

Today, Ultra Media & Entertainment is a professionally managed entertainment conglomerate with a presence across content production, acquisition, distribution and syndication of Indian and international content, with a library comprising over 3,500 films, 18,000 television episodes and 25,000 film and non-film songs. The company has also established a growing digital presence through its OTT platforms, including Ultra Play, Ultra Jhakaas and Ultra Gaane, offering films, regional content and music to audiences across India and globally.

Mr. Sushilkumar Agrawal is currently focused on promoting regional cinema through film production in Marathi, Gujarati and Malayalam, as well as music across multiple languages.

Commenting on his election, Mr. Sushilkumar Agrawal said: “It is a great honour and privilege to be elected to this post, and I sincerely thank all the members for their trust and support. The Guild has always been at the forefront of protecting and promoting the interests of producers. I look forward to working with my colleagues to address the challenges facing our industry and contribute to its continued growth.”

Mr. Sushilkumar Agrawal also serves as a Director of The Indian Performing Right Society Ltd. (IPRS). He is currently a Committee Member & former President of Entertainment Content Owners Association of India.

Mr. Hiren Gada has also been elected as Vice President of the Producers Guild of India. Mr. Manish Goswami, Ms. Madhu Bhojwani, Mr. Ankur Garg and Mr. Aashish Singh have been re-elected as Vice Presidents, while Mr. Ashim Samanta and Ms. Fazila Allana have been re-elected as Treasurers.

The Guild’s Council of Management for 2026–27 comprises:

President

Ø Mr. Shibasish Sarkar

Vice Presidents

Ø Mr. Sushilkumar Agrawal
Ø Mr. Hiren Gada
Ø Mr. Aashish Singh
Ø Mr. Ankur Garg
Ø Ms. Madhu Bhojwani
Ø Mr. Manish Goswami

Treasurers

Ø Mr. Ashim Samanta
Ø Ms. Fazila Allana

Other Council Members

Ø Mr. Aamir Khan
Ø Mr. Anil Kapoor
Ø Mr. Ashutosh Gowariker
Ø Mr. Hrithik Roshan
Ø Mr. Pallab Bhattacharya
Ø Mr. Rajan Shahi
Ø Mr. Rajkumar Hirani
Ø Mr. Ritesh Sidhwani
Ø Mr. Sharad Patel
Ø Mr. Siddharth Roy Kapur
Ø Mr. Utpal Acharya
Ø Mr. Vishesh Bhatt
Ø Ms. Zoya Akhtar

Permanent Members

Ø Mr. Amit Khanna
Ø Mr. Kiran V. Shantaram
Ø Mr. Manmohan Shetty
Ø Mr. Mukesh Bhatt
Ø Mr. Randhir Kapoor

Member Emeritus

o Mr. Kamalkumar Barjatya
o Mr. Ramesh Sippy

About Producers Guild of India

The Producers Guild of India was established in 1954 as The Film Producers Guild of India Ltd. by stalwarts of the Indian film industry, including Raj Kapoor, Mehboob Khan, Sasadhar Mukerji, B. N. Sircar, V. Shantaram, Vijay Bhatt and B. R. Chopra. In 2004, the Guild incorporated the television sector and adopted the name The Film & Television Producers Guild of India. With the growth of new media and digital content, the Guild expanded its mandate in 2017 to represent producers across Film, Television and New Media, adopting its current identity as the Producers Guild of India. The organisation continues to formally operate as The Film & Television Producers Guild of India Ltd. (CIN: U92100MH1954PLC009244).

For further information, please visit www.producersguildindia.com.

India's Home-Buying Age Is Falling: Gen Z Borrowers Rise 86%: Kotak

* The Generation Expected To Rent Longer Is Buying Homes Sooner, Often Before 30

The age at which Indians are buying their first home is falling, with Gen Z emerging as the fastest-growing segment in the home loan market, according to data from Kotak Mahindra Bank.

The bank's data shows that the number of home loan borrowers aged between 25 and 30 years increased by 86% between FY24 and FY26, rising from 1,234 to 2,290. Gen Z’s share in Kotak’s individual home loan borrowers has moved from 6% to 9% in two years, a 50% rise in contribution, making them the fastest-growing younger cohort in the bank’s home loan book.

In comparison, the number of home loan borrowers aged 30-45 years grew by 26% during the same period.

The trend points to a shift in the way younger Indians approach homeownership. A milestone that earlier generations often pursued later in life is increasingly being achieved much sooner.

For years, Gen Z was expected to rent longer, delay major financial commitments and prioritise flexibility. However, the data suggests that when it comes to housing, many young Indians are making long-term decisions earlier than expected.

“Homeownership continues to hold a special place in Indian households,” said Nakul Saxena, Head – Home Loans, Kotak Mahindra Bank. “What is changing is the age at which people are taking that decision. We are seeing younger borrowers entering the market with greater clarity and confidence than before.”

In many families, young professionals are buying homes at an age when their parents were still saving towards one. In some cases, children are helping fulfil their parents' homeownership aspirations through their own earnings. In others, dual-income households are accelerating decisions that previous generations may have postponed for years.

The pandemic appears to have played an important role in reshaping housing priorities. Extended periods spent at home led many younger households to place greater importance on space, privacy, natural light, construction quality and community living. A home became more than just a place to stay; it became a place to live, work and build a future.

The shift also reflects a broader change in mindset. Instead of waiting for every piece of the puzzle to fall into place, many younger buyers are choosing to act earlier on their aspirations. For previous generations, homeownership often came after years of career and financial progression. Today, many young Indians increasingly see a home as something that can help create stability rather than something that must wait until complete stability is achieved.

At the same time, higher education levels, earlier career progression and income growth is helping many young Indians reach homeownership milestones earlier than previous generations.

"What we are seeing is greater conviction. Younger buyers are showing the confidence to act on their aspirations earlier in life rather than waiting years to feel completely settled,” Saxena said. "At Kotak, we are proud to support them on that journey by helping turn that conviction into action.”

The trend is also changing how younger buyers enter the housing market. Instead of waiting to purchase a large ‘forever home’, many are buying homes that fit their current budgets and life stages, viewing the first purchase as a stepping stone to future financial growth.

According to Kotak, the rise in younger borrowers points to a broader shift in India's housing market.

For a growing section of Gen Z, it is becoming one of the first major financial decisions they take. Homeownership remains a deeply held aspiration, but younger buyers are pursuing it differently from previous generations. Rather than waiting for the perfect moment, many are choosing to take the first step earlier, using homeownership as a way to build stability, create long-term wealth and move forward with confidence.

For a generation often associated with flexibility and constant change, homeownership is emerging as an early expression of stability and if anything, it is arriving sooner than before.