Author: Neel Achary

Zomato launches PackSwitch, a guide to help restaurants find sustainable packaging for every dish

Aug 18: Zomato, India’s food ordering and delivery platform, announced the launch of PackSwitch, an interactive website to help restaurants and other interested users find the right sustainable packaging for each item on their menu. The platform offers information on alternative packaging materials, their functionality, business viability, and environmental impact in three simple steps: find your dish, view relevant sustainable packaging material, browse information of relevant suppliers. The launch event was graced and addressed by Prashanth Prakash, Founding Partner, Accel India. 

Packaging accounts for a significant share of global plastics production, and food delivery is one of its fastest-growing use cases. While awareness of sustainable alternatives has grown, restaurants are often left navigating a fragmented, hard-to-verify market, weighing performance, cost, availability, and end-of-life disposal with little credible guidance. PackSwitch is designed to bridge that gap by providing restaurants with an accessible informational resource to speed up adoption of sustainable food delivery packaging. 

PackSwitch provides:

• Practical information on sustainable packaging materials
• Packaging recommendations tailored to different food categories
• Information regarding a network of 100+ verified suppliers across India 

Speaking at the launch, Prashanth Prakash, Founding Partner, Accel India noted “The responsibility of protecting our cities from plastic pollution rests with each and every one of us. Sustainable food delivery packaging adoption by restaurants often stalls at good intentions because knowledge, awareness and products are not aligned. With Zomato‘s PackSwitch initiative, restaurants now have a tool that simplifies decision-making around sustainable packaging. I hope to see more restaurants use PackSwitch to transition away from plastic packaging paving the way for greener cities.” 

Anjali Ravi Kumar, Chief Sustainability Officer, Eternal Limited, shared “Sustainability is embedded in how we do business across Eternal companies. Over the last two years, we’ve invested in building consumer awareness through Zomato‘s Plastic-Free Future program which awards restaurants a ‘low plastic packaging tag’ on the app to recognize them for moving away from plastic to pack main dishes. PackSwitch focuses on building restaurant awareness through dish-led sustainable packaging information. Now the question – what sustainable material can I pack biriyani in? becomes a much easier one for restaurants to answer and find solutions for.” 

The launch builds on Zomato‘s ongoing efforts to encourage restaurants to adopt sustainable food delivery packaging. Its Plastic-Free Future Packathon, run in collaboration with Startup India, DPIIT,  has spotlighted innovators building plastic-free packaging alternatives to restaurants. The Plastic-Free Future Program has recognized more than 10,000 restaurants across 500+ cities for using alternatives to plastic packaging for their main menu items. As of March 31, 2026, restaurants part of the program have collectively delivered over 100 million ‘low plastic packaging’ orders. PackSwitch aims at widespread adoption of sustainable food delivery packaging by restaurants across the country. 

To mark the launch, Zomato brought together restaurant partners, packaging manufacturers, sustainability practitioners, and investors for an immersive exhibition on the future of food delivery packaging. Curated by Shashwat Das and Jyoti Shrestha, the centerpiece exhibit set out eight sustainable materials and a range of coatings used in the category. Through exhibits and expert-led discussions, attendees explored how these materials perform in delivery operations, their commercial feasibility, and their environmental trade-offs.

As part of the supplier directory made available on PackSwitch, restaurants and other interested users may also explore the sustainable packaging solutions provided by Hyperpure, Eternal’s B2B supply platform serving 100,000+ restaurant outlets across India. 

Restaurants already using lower-plastic packaging can be identified through the ‘low plastic packaging‘ tag on the Zomato app and discovered using the filter of the same name, making it easier for customers to support businesses adopting more sustainable packaging practices.

Funskool India Ltd. Acquires License to Manufacture and Distribute Spin Master’s PAW Patrol Collectible Toys in India

New Delhi, Aug 18: Funskool India Ltd., India’s domestic toy manufacturer has made a landmark move by acquiring the license to manufacture and distribute the popular Paw Patrol Merchandise “Collectible Toys” across Mom-and-Pop Stores and Online Platforms.

Funskool has obtained the license from Spin Master, the Canadian multinational toy and entertainment company headquartered in Toronto to launch the PAW Patrol collectible toys in India.

Commenting on the partnership, K. A. Shabir, CEO of Fuskool India, commented:

 “Our collaboration with Spin Master reflects Funskool’s continued commitment to bringing globally loved brands and characters to children and families across India. With our strong distribution network and deep understanding of the Indian toy market, we look forward to making PAW Patrol collectibles more accessible to young fans across the country and creating opportunities for imaginative play.”

The association marks another step in Funskool’s strategy of expanding its licensed portfolio with well-known global entertainment properties. The addition of PAW Patrol strengthens Funskool’s portfolio of character-led products, offering families new ways to engage with the much-loved franchise.

The merchandise will be available through mom-and-pop stores and major e-commerce platforms, combining Funskool’s extensive offline presence with the convenience of online shopping.

With the latest addition, Funskool continues to create new avenues for globally recognised franchises to find a place in the everyday play and collecting experiences of Indian families.

Atom Group Acquires Amaltas Partners, Secures DFSA Approval For Dubai DIFC Entry Amidst Deepening India–UAE Financial Ties

Dubai, UAE/ Aug 18: Atom Group, a diversified financial services conglomerate spanning wealth management, insurance advisory and investment banking across India, the UAE and Singapore, today announced it has received formal approval from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) for a change in control of Amaltas Partners Limited, a DIFC-regulated firm. The approval gives Atom Group a direct presence within the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and marks a landmark step in its international expansion.

Under the transaction, Atom Privé Global Holdings becomes the controlling entity of Amaltas Partners, bringing the firm under the Atom Group umbrella as a DIFC-based platform. The DFSA’s clearance followed a rigorous review, underscoring the strength of Atom Group’s governance, ownership and compliance framework.

A Strategic Gateway Through DIFC

DIFC remains the pre-eminent financial centre linking the Middle East, Africa and South Asia with global capital markets, offering a common-law legal framework and deep institutional infrastructure. For Atom Group, a foothold here is a natural extension of its multi-jurisdictional strategy across Dubai, India and Singapore.

“DIFC represents the gold standard for financial services oversight and infrastructure in this part of the world. Establishing our presence here is not just a milestone for Atom Group; it’s a statement of intent,” said Harsha Vardhana, Founder and Group CEO, Atom Group. “This approval lets us serve clients with greater institutional credibility and reinforces Dubai’s role as the bridge between Indian wealth, Gulf capital and global markets.”

Leadership Transition at Amaltas Partners

Naveen Rastogi, current Global CIO, Multi-Family Office, Atom, has been appointed CEO and Group CIO of the newly acquired entity. He will lead Amaltas’ integration into the Atom ecosystem while continuing to oversee investment strategy and advisory for global families.

“Amaltas has built a high-quality, client-centric franchise within DIFC, with deep relationships across entrepreneurs, professionals, and family offices,” said Rastogi. “Our focus now is on ensuring continuity and stability for existing clients, while progressively bringing the full breadth of Atom Group’s capabilities to bear, from multi-family office and risk advisory to investment banking and cross-border solutions.”

Pradeep Chandra, outgoing CEO and owner of Amaltas Partners, will step away from day-to-day leadership following completion of the transaction.

“When we founded Amaltas, the vision was a focused, DIFC-based advisory platform built around client interests and governance,” said Chandra. “Joining Atom Group is a natural next chapter — one that brings scale and breadth while staying true to the values we built the firm on.”

Strengthening the India–UAE Financial Corridor

The India–UAE relationship has accelerated in recent years, anchored by the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), with bilateral trade now crossing USD 100 billion. A growing number of Indian entrepreneurs, family offices and high-net-worth individuals are choosing Dubai as a base for global wealth structuring and cross-border expansion.

With a base in DIFC alongside its established India operations and Singapore holding structure, Atom Group is positioned to offer seamless, compliant and well-governed advisory solutions to families and businesses moving capital, wealth and ambition between these markets.

“India and the UAE are no longer just trade partners. They’re becoming deeply intertwined financial ecosystems,” Harsha added. “Our DIFC presence lets us walk alongside Indian families as they globalize their wealth, while giving international clients a trusted gateway into India’s growth story. This is about building the financial corridor of the future between two of the world’s most dynamic economies.”

India’s senior living market likely to exceed INR 1 trillion by 2030, almost 4X times current levels: Colliers

New Delhi, 18 August 2026: India’s senior living market has emerged as one of the most promising alternative real estate asset classes in the country supported by growing demand for age-focused housing and increasing participation from developers, healthcare operators and investors. While the segment is still at a nascent stage, it has evolved beyond conventional retirement housing to an organized market where senior housing is replete with health care facilities. India’s senior living market has seen strong traction in recent years with the segment currently standing at around INR 300 billion, almost 70% higher than 2024 levels. Given the growing demand backed by strong investor appetite, the segment is expected to grow at an accelerated pace and exceed INR 1 trillion by 2030, rising ~4X times compared to current levels.

Trends in India’s senior living market size

Note: Market size is estimated/forecasted basis overall inventory (supply side) | E-Estimate, F-Forecast

Source: Colliers 

This ongoing growth in senior living market is underpinned by structural shifts in India’s demographic and socio-economic profile. Rising life expectancy, nuclearization of families, rising income levels, enhanced retirement preparedness with greater focus on health & wellness are driving demand for age-appropriate curated residential solutions. In fact, the share of India’s population aged 60 years & above is expected to rise to ~21% by 2050 from ~11% currently. Further, at over 0.3 billion, India is likely to account for about 16% of the ~2.1 billion global elderly population (aged 60 years & above) by 2050, positioning it among the world’s key growth markets for senior housing. 

Trends in India’s population

Note: Senior population refers to 60 years of age and above | E-Estimate, F-Forecast

Source: UN World Population Prospects, 2024 

“India’s senior living market is entering a period of accelerated growth, driven by strong demographic shifts and evolving socio-economic dynamics. With a rapidly expanding elderly population and rising demand for professionally managed senior housing & care solutions, the market presents significant long-term growth opportunities. In fact, on the supply side, India’s organized senior living inventory is expected to quadruple over the next 3-4 years and become a trillion-rupee market by 2030. Moreover, increasing policy support, growing investor participation and collaboration among leading developers & healthcare operators are likely to redefine senior living offerings across the country,” said Badal Yagnik, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Colliers India. 

Senior living penetration rate to reach almost 4% by 2030

Colliers estimates current senior living demand at around 20-22 lakh units while the inventory in the organized market is only around 25,000 units. This translates into a penetration rate of about 1.3%, highlighting significant headroom for future expansion.

As India’s elderly population (aged 60 years & above) is projected to double from around 170 million currently to over 340 million by 2050, demand for senior living care is expected to witness a substantial increase over the coming decades. In fact, demand for senior living units is projected to reach nearly 30 lakh units by 2030, driven by increasing acceptance of organized senior living communities, rising life expectancy and growing preference for aged-focused housing & care-solutions. Meanwhile on the supply side, driven by aggressive expansion of leading operators & real estate developers, organized senior living inventory is set to scale up multi-fold times and reach around 1 lakh units by 2030, driving overall penetration levels to ~4%.

India senior living market landscape

Note: Penetration refers to the proportion of organized senior living supply/inventory relative to the overall demand for senior living units during a particular year | E-Estimate, F-Forecast

Source: Colliers

Over INR 130 billion of capital commitment by senior living developers/investors since 2025; investments to materialize over next 3-4 years

India’s senior living segment is likely to see significant supply addition of close to 75,000 units over the next few years, supported by strong capital commitments from leading real estate developers, senior living operators and investors alike. Over INR 130 billion of investments have been announced since 2025 and are likely to be deployed towards development of senior living projects over the next 3-4 years. While developer-led investments continue to account for majority of the envisaged capital deployment, the segment is also witnessing rising traction in strategic partnerships with healthcare service providers. Interestingly, select institutional investors are increasingly forming joint venture platforms with leading real estate developers and are planning to aggressively expand their senior living footprint across key markets of the country.

“Growing capital commitment towards senior living projects reflects the conviction of developers and investors in the segment’s long-term growth potential. With leading developers & operators announcing more than INR 130 billion investments since 2025, we are likely to witness acceleration in fund deployment in senior living projects over the course of next 3-4 years.  The senior living market is set to witness a stronger development pipeline across categories including independent living & assisted living formats. Overall, these investments are set to strengthen operator offerings, enable expansion into newer markets and accelerate the segment’s transition towards a relatively mature real estate asset class,” said Vimal Nadar, National Director and Head of Research, Colliers India.

Emerging Tier II/III cities and spiritual hubs to gain momentum

While Tier I cities[1] currently account for majority of India’s organized senior living stock, the segment is gradually expanding into Tier II & III markets. Cities such as Coimbatore, Puducherry, Dehradun, Vadodara along with spiritual hubs like Tirupati, Vrindavan and Ayodhya are emerging as attractive destinations for senior housing due to evolving lifestyle preferences and cultural appeal. These locations offer a compelling value proposition in the form of lower cost of living, improving healthcare infrastructure, relatively affordable real estate price points and a slower pace of life in general. Looking ahead, as awareness and acceptance of senior living projects continue to grow and expand beyond Tier I cities, emerging Tier II/III cities are expected to account for a growing share of around 30-40% in new project launches and broaden the segment’s geographic footprint across the country.

Wellness, innovation and policy impetus likely to shape the future of senior living

Developers to embrace integrated and wellness focused solutions: India’s senior living landscape is witnessing a gradual shift from standalone developments to integrated living and care ecosystem. While in case of both independent & assisted living formats, 1,2 & 3 BHK configuration units continue to remain dominant, real estate developers are increasingly incorporating senior living clusters within villas, large mixed-use developments & integrated townships wherein senior residents can benefit from shared amenities, social interaction, healthcare access & community engagement. Going ahead, developers are likely to increasingly broaden their offerings and cater to diverse needs such as dementia care, emergency support, rehabilitation and wellness services. At the same time, operator-led models could gain further traction as leading real estate developers partner with local healthcare providers, unlocking investment opportunities in both established and emerging markets.

Technology, sustainability & innovation to shape the next phase of senior living: Technology and sustainability are set to play an increasingly important role in the evolution of India’s senior living market across multiple facets. To enhance living experience, developers and operators are increasingly integrating smart home features, telemedicine & remote health monitoring services, and AI-enabled emergency response systems into their offerings. Additionally, during the construction stage, advanced technologies such as Building Information Modelling (BIM), automation, robotics, artificial intelligence, and 3D printing have the potential to improve project efficiency, reduce development costs and enhance the accessibility of senior living facilities across a wider range of income segments. At the same time, growing emphasis on sustainability, energy efficiency and wellness centric design will increasingly drive developers and investors towards green certified, future-ready senior living developments.

Regulatory reforms to strengthen senior living ecosystem across cities: The regulatory environment for senior living in India is expected to strengthen further in the coming years, following recent reinforcement of model guidelines for senior living projects, which were originally issued by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in 2019. This renewed emphasis is set to encourage states and union territories to develop guidelines that will strengthen the overall regulatory framework for senior housing in India. These guidelines along with mandatory Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) compliance requirements will bring greater standardization, transparency, operational efficiency and accountability across senior living projects. Select states like Haryana and Maharashtra have already taken proactive steps towards establishing dedicated guidelines/policies for senior living projects, signalling the growing need for regulatory oversight in the segment.

Government Proposes Five-Year Extension for Cleaner Commercial Vehicles Under National Permit Rules

New Delhi, Aug 18: The government has proposed extending the permissible age of battery-operated, hydrogen-powered and natural gas-driven commercial vehicles by five years under the national permit system, a move aimed at encouraging cleaner transport and making alternative-fuel vehicles more attractive to fleet operators.

 Pic Credit: Pexel

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has proposed the changes through draft amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. The proposal applies only to vehicles covered under the national permit framework and would not extend the age limit for all commercial vehicles.

If approved, the move could give operators more time to recover the higher upfront cost of cleaner vehicles. This could be particularly helpful for businesses that are considering electric, hydrogen or natural gas vehicles but remain concerned about initial investment and financing costs.

The draft amendments also seek to simplify the national permit system. Operators could be allowed to obtain permit authorisation electronically for up to five years at a time, while the annual fee would remain at Rs 16,500. This would allow operators to avoid the need for annual renewal.

The government also plans to expand the use of the VAHAN database to reduce paperwork. Vehicle and registration details already available on the portal could be automatically retrieved during applications, allowing users to provide only information that is not already recorded.

Additional changes have been proposed for vehicle registration and documentation. These include information related to insurance, pollution certificates, fitness certificates, pending challans and previous national permits.

The draft also proposes bringing eligible automotive component manufacturers involved in research and development within the trade certificate framework, which could support testing and development activities in the automobile sector.

The proposed reforms come as India seeks to modernise its commercial transport system while encouraging greater adoption of cleaner vehicle technologies.

For transport operators, a longer operating life could improve the economics of investing in alternative-fuel vehicles. At the same time, a more digital permit system could reduce administrative delays and make compliance easier.

The government has invited objections and suggestions on the draft amendments for 30 days. The proposals will become effective only after their final publication in the Official Gazette.

If approved, the changes could give cleaner commercial vehicles a longer operating window while supporting investment, reducing paperwork and accelerating India’s transition towards more sustainable road transport.

Different Genes, Same Result: How Flies Evolved Multiple Ways to Define Heads and Tails

One of the most important milestones in the early life of an organism is when the embryo breaks symmetry and arranges itself to form the head (anterior) at one end and tail (posterior) at the other end. Scientists have used the common fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) for decades as a model species to study the process for forming the anterior-posterior body axis, along with countless other early developmental and genetic processes.

In fruit flies, a gene called bicoid controls this process. This is a unique gene that only exists in some fly species, but in 2019, Urs Schmidt-Ott, PhD, Professor of Organismal Biology and Anatomy at the University of Chicago, and his team discovered three unrelated and more widely conserved genes that adopted the same job in other fly species. This is an extreme example of developmental systems drift—when developmental gene networks diverge while preserving the outcome—in this case, the head-to-tail axis.

Since then, Schmidt-Ott and his lab developed new genetic tools to study these genes in different fly species. They hope to understand whether the genes work like bicoid or have a different mechanism, and how such substitutions affect the embryo’s gene network further downstream.

In a new study published recently in PLOS Biology, they examined the mechanism by which a gene called odd-paired establishes the head-to-tail axis in a moth fly, Clogmia albipunctata. Also known as a drain fly, this harmless species can be found hanging around hot, moist environments like sewer drains, plant pots, or stuffy public restrooms in the summer. To better handle their muggy habitats, they have a dense coat of hair that makes them look like little moths, hiding the fact that they hold keys for understanding how new axis determinants, acting like the well-known bicoid gene, emerged in the course of evolution. 

“We knew that the majority of flies lack this bicoid gene, although it’s super important in Drosophila,” Schmidt-Ott said. “That triggered our search for such factors in other fly species. It turns out each of these other species has its own interesting story.”

Taken together, these stories reveal the principle of an evolutionary process in which a different version of the same protein produced from a single gene (known as an alternative transcript isoform) is co-opted as a cue for the embryo’s developmental gene network. 

In both moth fly and fruit fly embryos, expression of the odd-paired gene ensures that the correct number of body segments form as the larval body plan develops. However, moth fly mothers also express odd-paired earlier, during formation of the egg. This transcript provides a nearly identical protein but at a different time and in a different location—the prospective head region of the egg. This localized early activity of odd-paired is what lets it be reused to break axial symmetry in moth flies.

But the researchers also wanted to know how odd-paired functions at the molecular level in moth flies to break the symmetry. The new study provides answers to their questions about its downstream targets, and if they are the same as the targets of bicoid in fruit flies.

Both bicoid and odd-paired affect chromatin accessibility in the genome, which describes how open or closed a region of DNA is inside the cell nucleus. DNA is packaged with associated proteins to form material called chromatin. Open chromatin is loosely packed and more accessible to be expressed and regulated; closed chromatin is tightly packed and less accessible to genetic machinery.

Fruit flies and moth flies both break symmetry by managing chromatin accessibility in regions of the genome that promote the expression of genes required for developing the head, but their target genes differ. While bicoid has dozens of direct target genes (the earliest and best studied is one called hunchback), the odd-paired substitute of moth flies may not target this gene at all. Instead, moth flies start developing the head by activating two different genes called homeobrain and sloppy-paired.

It is still unclear if these two genes are sufficient to break axial symmetry in most fly species, or if the early embryonic gene networks of other flies are far more diverse. If so, researchers hope that comparing the developmental gene networks of many fly species will help to answer questions about which of these genetic network features are most resistant to change, and why.

Schmidt-Ott said the example of axial patterning in fly embryos shows the value of studying multiple species, even when there is such a well-established model as the fruit fly. “One big benefit of going with these multi-species approaches is that you can see how nature solved the same problem in different lineages,” he said. “There are 150,000 described fly species out there, and there is a huge variation in how they achieve the same job of establishing head tail polarity of the embryo. By looking into these natural experiments, I think we can better understand principles of how these mechanisms work and change in the course of evolution.”

The study, “Asymmetric chromatin accessibility underlies anterior-posterior axis specification in moth fly embryos,” was supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health. Additional authors include Ezra E. Amiri, Muzi Li, Ayse Tenger-Trolander, Maxwell Devine, and Koray Kasan from UChicago; Alexander Thomas Julian from the Illinois Institute of Technology; Sheri A. Sanders from the University of Notre Dame; and Shelby A. Blythe from Northwestern University.