10, Aug 2026
AI and Creators Transform India’s Digital Marketing Landscape
A new kind of partnership is taking shape in India’s digital world. Artificial intelligence is becoming a powerful tool for content creators, while creators are helping brands communicate with audiences in a way that feels more personal and relatable.
The change is easy to see on social media. A campaign that once required a large advertising team can now be developed with the help of AI tools, a smartphone and a creator who understands what their audience wants to see.
For marketers, this is changing the question from simply asking, “How many people can we reach?” to asking, “How well can we connect with them?”
From idea to content, AI is speeding things up
Creating content takes time. A creator may spend hours writing a script, editing a video, preparing captions and studying what worked in previous posts.
AI is increasingly helping with these tasks.
Creators can use AI to brainstorm ideas, organise scripts, improve images and videos, analyse audience responses and handle repetitive production work. This gives them more time to concentrate on the part of content creation that audiences value most — their personality and storytelling.
For someone working alone, these tools can make a significant difference. Technology that once required specialised teams is becoming accessible to individual creators and small businesses.
Why brands are turning to creators
Consumers are surrounded by advertisements every day. As a result, a traditional promotional message can sometimes struggle to hold their attention.
Creators offer something different. They have already built communities around their interests, experiences and personalities.
A food creator recommending a local restaurant, a technology creator explaining a new product or a travel creator sharing an experience can make a brand message feel more natural.
This is why companies are increasingly looking beyond follower numbers. Engagement, credibility, audience quality and relevance are becoming important factors when brands select creators.
A creator with a smaller but highly engaged audience can sometimes have a stronger influence within a particular community.
The rise of creators beyond big cities
India’s creator economy is no longer limited to major metropolitan centres.
Young people in smaller cities and towns are using smartphones and social platforms to share local stories, skills, knowledge and experiences. Many are building audiences in regional languages and connecting with communities that large advertising campaigns may find difficult to reach.
AI could make this growth even more accessible.
Creators who may not have professional editing or design skills can use AI-assisted tools to improve the quality of their work. This does not eliminate the need for creativity; instead, it can give more people the tools to turn an idea into finished content.
But people still want something real
The rapid growth of AI also raises an important question: if machines can create content, what makes a creator valuable?
The answer may be authenticity.
Audiences do not simply follow creators for polished videos. They follow people because they trust their experiences, opinions and personalities.
An AI tool can help edit a video, but it cannot replace the personal experience behind the story. It can suggest a caption, but it does not have the relationship a creator has built with an audience.
That human connection is likely to remain at the centre of successful creator marketing.
A new generation of digital jobs
The combination of AI and creator marketing is also creating new opportunities for young professionals.
Content strategy, video production, social-media management, audience analytics, influencer partnerships and AI-assisted marketing are increasingly becoming connected areas of work.
Someone who understands both technology and communication can potentially build a career across several of these fields.
For small businesses, the change could be equally important. AI tools and creator partnerships can provide affordable ways to promote products and reach customers without the budgets traditionally required for large advertising campaigns.
The future is likely to be human and AI together
AI is changing digital marketing, but it does not necessarily mean that human creativity is becoming less important.
In many ways, the opposite may be true.
As AI makes content production faster and easier, audiences may place even greater value on originality, personality and trust. The creators who stand out could be those who use technology intelligently without losing their individual voice.
For brands, the challenge will be to use AI for efficiency while preserving genuine communication.
The next chapter of India’s digital marketing story may therefore not be about AI versus creators. It could be about what happens when technology gives creators more freedom to do what they do best — understand people, tell stories and build communities.
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- By Neel Achary
10, Aug 2026
Bringing the Spirit of Onam to Every Table: JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar’s Curated Sadya Experience
Mumbai, Aug 10: Known for turning every season into a memorable culinary affair, JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar is bringing the spirit of Onam to life with a celebration that goes far beyond the dining table. This year, the hotel transforms Kerala’s most cherished festive feast into an experience that travels, with beautifully curated Sadya boxes available through Marriott Bonvoy On Wheels for festive gifting, office celebrations, and intimate gatherings at home, and a grand festive finale with an expansive Onam Sadya Lunch at JW Café.
Running from 16th to 26th August, Marriott Bonvoy On Wheels presents a beautifully reimagined 26-dish Onam Sadya that honours tradition while embracing the ease of modern celebrations. Available on pre-order with a minimum lead time of 24 hours, the Sadya is served in a 12-compartment banana leaf-lined bento box that captures the ritual, flavours, and balance of a classic feast in a format designed to be enjoyed anywhere, without losing its authenticity.
Inside, every compartment tells a story of Kerala’s rich culinary heritage, from Palakkadan Matta Rice with Parippu and Kerala ghee to comforting Sambar, creamy Avial, earthy Thoran, delicate Olan, Kalan, refreshing Pachadis, crisp banana chips, sharkara varatti, pappadam, inji puli, and mango pickle, before ending, as every great Sadya should, with a warm serving of Ada Pradhaman.
The celebrations conclude on 26th August with a special Onam Lunch at JW Café, where the festive spirit comes alive in its most traditional form. Bringing together authentic flavours, festive hospitality, and the joy of gathering around a shared meal, it marks the perfect finale to the hotel’s Onam celebrations.
More than a festive feast, the Onam Sadya is a celebration of heritage, community, and the simple joy of sharing a meal. With experiences designed both for home and the hotel, JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar brings the spirit of Kerala’s harvest festival to every kind of celebration.
What: Onam Sadya
When: 16th August – 26th August 2026 MBOW; Special Lunch at JW Café on 26th August
Where: JW Café on 26th August
10, Aug 2026
RMZ’s Ecoworld 30 and RMZ Infinity Earn British Safety Council Five-Star Rating
Mumbai, Aug 10: RMZ, India’s largest privately owned real assets platform, announced that RMZ Ecoworld 30, and RMZ Infinity, Bengaluru, have been awarded the British Safety Council Five-Star Rating. The recognition follows a comprehensive assessment of the assets’ employee health, safety, wellbeing, and environmental management systems. Conducted by British Safety Council officials, the evaluation reviewed RMZ’s processes and procedures, as well as the improvements implemented across both properties since the previous audit cycle.
With this achievement, RMZ Ecoworld 30 and RMZ Infinity are now eligible to apply for the British Safety Council’s Sword of Honour, one of the most prestigious international accolades recognizing organizations that demonstrate excellence in occupational health, safety, and environmental management.
The Five-Star Rating further strengthens RMZ’s portfolio of high-performing commercial assets and reinforces the company’s commitment to responsible asset management, operational excellence, and the creation of future-ready workplaces aligned with global ESG, health, safety, and wellbeing standards.
10, Aug 2026
Safety for sustainable energy – mayr® at WindEnergy 2026
mayr® power transmission presents smart solutions for wind power; pitch and yaw brakes provide safety for all situations
ROBA-stop M® servo pitch brake: Application-optimized design of the proven ROBA-stop M® brake series specifically for pitch servo motors and controlled AC drives.
Fig.: mayr® power transmission
New regulations raise the bar even higher. A current example is the standard EN 81-44, which defines the safety requirements for the design and installation of power-driven elevators that are permanently installed in wind turbines. The regulation covers the safe transport of persons and goods as well as rescue and evacuation procedures. Safety brakes, as an integral part of the safety architecture, are particularly affected here. An important aspect of DIN EN 81-44: According to the standard, components must function reliably under the environmental conditions of a wind turbine, specifically at temperatures down to -25°C. However, many manufacturers only rate their brakes down to -20°C and therefore fall outside the standard. The temperature range of mayr® brakes, by contrast, extends down to -40°C; for corresponding tests, mayr® operates its own climate chamber.
The ROBA® brake-checker®: Sensorless, networked brake monitoring for efficient and predictive machine maintenance.
Fig.: mayr® power transmission
mayr® power transmission is headquartered in Mauerstetten in the Allgäu region; plants in India, China and Poland complement the production at the headquarters. At the plants in Halol, India, and Zhangjiagang, China, production primarily targets the respective local market. This results in local value creation, cost-efficient manufacturing, fast service worldwide and short routes to the local market. Comprehensive inspection is a central element of mayr® quality: Identical test stands at the plants ensure the high standards.
Perfect variety – The right solution for every application
In general, mayr® offers a wide range of braking solutions for servo motors in the pitch segment. In addition to the ROBA-stop M® pitch brake, mayr® power transmission offers further braking solutions in the ROBA® servostop® series, which can be installed on the A-side or B-side of the motor and are designed for temperatures up to 120°C. They have an impressive low mass inertia. For A-side flanged designs, the company offers solutions such as the ROBA® alphastop® brakes. Please observe that the motor then has to have an extended shaft, or the brake system has to be designed with an integrated shaft. One important characteristic of these solutions is: When the motor is removed, for example for maintenance work, the safety brake is also missing. Then safety measures are necessary to avoid any unwanted movements of the rotor blades or nacelle. The solution: Safety brakes, such as the ROBA® topstop®, which remain on the system even when the motor is removed and reliably hold the drive line in the de-energized state. Modular systems are available with custom-fit mounting flanges, and can thus be integrated flexibly into existing drives. In addition to the pitch segment, users can also rely on mayr® safety brakes specifically developed and tested for yaw drives.
The products of mayr® power transmission (shown in blue in the adjacent diagram) are used in many different ways in wind power plants.
Fig.: mayr® power transmission/Michael Paetow
Sensorless monitoring – data for intelligent safety
With the ROBA® brake-checker®, mayr® offers a module that monitors the safety brakes without the need for additional sensors. The module monitors the movement of the armature disk and outputs the determined switching condition via a control terminal, the signal output.The signal offers users a clear added value: The function monitoring enables an early and robust warning before the condition “brake no longer engages”. This facilitates planned maintenance and enables the user to specifically investigate critical boundary conditions such as supply voltage that is too low, incorrectly dimensioned supply lines, elevated coil temperature and an enlarged air gap. The ROBA® brake-checker® complements conventional wear monitoring in terms of condition-based maintenance It provides highly meaningful data on the switching function and enables a targeted search for error causes such as increased wear, rising coil temperature, decreasing supply voltage or voltage drop on the feed lines of the brake. The safety and reliability of brakes increase, while maintenance planning can be optimized at the same time.
Via the additional ROBA® gateway module, the solution can be made network-capable, for example to integrate the acquired data into existing remote maintenance systems or to build digital twins.
mayr® power transmission at WindEnergy 2026 in Hamburg: Hall B5, Booth 425.
10, Aug 2026
Bosch Home Comfort Group Highlights Real Summer HVAC Performance as Gulf Buildings Enter Peak Cooling Season
The air365 Max VRF system is designed for high-ambient regions, supporting efficient cooling performance, stable comfort and easier serviceability.
UAE, Dubai | Aug 10– As the Gulf region enters the peak hot season, Bosch Home Comfort Group is highlighting the growing need for regional buildings to look beyond rated cooling capacity and assess how HVAC systems perform under real summer operating conditions.
Within this context, Hitachi Cooling & Heating, part of Bosch Home Comfort Group, is drawing attention to its air365 Max variable refrigerant flow (VRF) system, which is designed for high-ambient regions and supports efficient, stable cooling across commercial and large-scale buildings.
The air365 Max VRF system, built for hot climates, offers efficient cooling and easy servicing. (Source: Bosch Home Comfort Group)
Fatme Bahlawan, Product Management, Bosch Home Comfort Group Middle East, said: “Cooling performance in the Gulf Cooperating Council (GCC) cannot be measured by capacity alone. During summer, buildings need systems that respond to real operating conditions, maintain stable comfort, support energy efficiency and simplify service. The air365 Max VRF system reflects this approach by combining high-ambient cooling performance, intelligent capacity control, flexible system design and connected tools that support consultants, contractors, building owners and facility managers across the HVAC lifecycle.”
The air365 Max T3 model maintains approximately 90% cooling capacity at 46°C and 85% at 48°C, compared with nominal capacity at 35°C, under stated testing conditions. The system also offers a cooling operation range of up to 54°C under specific temporary operating conditions, subject to installation and technical requirements.
High-ambient cooling for real building conditions
The air365 Max VRF system combines an all-new heat exchanger with gas-injection scroll compressor technology to support cooling performance and energy efficiency in demanding climates.
Smarter part-load operation with SmoothDrive 2.0
Because VRF systems often operate under part-load conditions, the air365 Max VRF system uses SmoothDrive 2.0, Hitachi Cooling & Heating’s direct capacity control technology, to help balance cooling output with actual demand.
SmoothDrive 2.0 combines temperature sensing with precise compressor control, helping reduce on/off cycles and support more stable indoor temperatures. Under the stated testing conditions in the product material, SmoothDrive 2.0 demonstrated 39% less energy consumption at 33% part-load operation, supporting more efficient performance during everyday operating conditions.
Flexible design and easier serviceability
The air365 Max VRF system is designed as an end-to-end solution for HVAC professionals, from design and installation to operation and maintenance.
With single-module capacity up to 22HP, combinations up to 88HP, and indoor unit connection ratios of up to 200% for applicable system capacities, the system supports flexible design across different building types and project requirements.
Installation flexibility is further supported by piping length of up to 200m, height difference of up to 110m, and external static pressure settings of up to 80Pa, enabling outdoor units to be located in ventilated machine rooms where project conditions allow.
Connected tools for operation and maintenance
The air365 Max VRF system is supported by digital tools designed to simplify commissioning, operation and service.
The airCloud Tap app uses NFC technology to support faster configuration and access to operational data. For building managers, airCloud Pro supports remote monitoring and control, allowing system status, schedules and operation to be managed more efficiently across commercial building environments.
“The system reflects Hitachi Cooling & Heating’s focus on creating balanced indoor environments through technologies that support comfort, efficiency and ease of use. As regional buildings prepare for the months of highest cooling demand, the air365 Max VRF system offers a practical example of how high-ambient performance, part-load efficiency and connected serviceability can work together to support real summer performance,” Fatme concluded.
Hitachi Cooling & Heating products are manufactured and sold by Bosch Home Comfort Group.
10, Aug 2026
BigMuscles Nutrition strengthens retail footprint with the launch of its experiential store in Zirakpur
Zirakpur, Punjab, Aug 10: BigMuscles Nutrition, one of India’s leading sports nutrition brands, has strengthened its retail presence with the launch of its newest experiential store in Zirakpur, Punjab. This milestone marks the beginning of Phase 2 of the brand’s retail expansion journey, following the successful establishment of 20 experiential stores across North India, further reinforcing its commitment to making trusted sports nutrition more accessible to consumers.
Strategically located at Singhpura Chowk, Zirakpur, the new 300 sq. ft. store has been designed as an experiential destination where consumers can discover, understand, and experience the brand’s comprehensive portfolio of sports nutrition products. Moving beyond the traditional retail format, the store offers personalised product guidance from trained experts alongside live sampling opportunities, allowing fitness enthusiasts to experience proteins, pre-workouts, BCAAs, and other nutritional supplements before making a purchase.
The new store showcases BigMuscles Nutrition‘s extensive portfolio of sports nutrition products, catering to a wide spectrum of fitness goals ranging from muscle building and strength enhancement to endurance, recovery, and overall wellness. Complementing the in-store experience, the brand will also conduct dedicated consumer engagement programmes across gyms within the surrounding catchment area through product sampling sessions and fitness-focused activations, enabling the brand to connect directly with local fitness communities.
Speaking on the launch, Jitika Gupta, Co-founder & CMO, BigMuscles Nutrition, said “At BigMuscles Nutrition, we believe that retail should be more than just a point of sale. It should be a destination where consumers can learn, experience, and make informed choices about their fitness journey. Our experiential store format allows us to engage directly with consumers, understand their nutritional needs, and build trust through expert guidance and product trials. The launch of our Zirakpur store marks the beginning of the next phase of our retail expansion, and we remain committed to strengthening our presence across underserved markets while making high quality sports nutrition more accessible across India.”
Yogesh Garg, Retail Manager, BigMuscles Nutrition, added, “Our experiential stores are designed to bring consumers closer to the brand by creating a more interactive and personalised shopping experience. At the Zirakpur store, customers can receive expert guidance based on their individual fitness goals, explore our complete product portfolio, and try products through live sampling before making a purchase. We look forward to building a strong fitness community in the region and becoming a trusted destination for sports nutrition.”
Building on the success of its first 20 experiential stores, the brand has now commenced Phase 2 of its retail expansion strategy. The company plans to further strengthen its presence across underserved cities in North India while expanding into Rajasthan and key South Indian markets, including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai. Through its decentralised retail-led growth strategy, supported by omnichannel consumer engagement, the brand aims to build one of India’s most trusted and accessible sports nutrition retail networks.
Located at Singhpura Chowk, Zirakpur, Punjab, the store invites fitness enthusiasts and consumers to experience BigMuscles Nutrition‘s complete range of sports nutrition products in an immersive retail environment designed to support every stage of their fitness journey.
10, Aug 2026
Researchers achieve long-lasting and renewable chemical production with photosynthetic microorganisms
Aug 08: Finnish researchers have taken an important step toward long-lasting production of renewable chemicals and fuels using photosynthetic microorganisms. By entrapping cyanobacteria engineered for ethylene production in thin nanocellulose films, the researchers enabled sustained ethylene production for more than four months and generated approximately twice as much ethylene as comparable suspension cultures.
Photosynthetic microorganisms can use light energy to convert carbon dioxide into useful compounds under mild, environmentally compatible conditions. However, many current photosynthetic production systems rely on cells growing freely in large volumes of liquid. This creates a substantial demand for water and requires extensive mixing to keep the cells evenly distributed and exposed to light, increasing the resource and energy requirements of the process.
“For practical chemical production, photosynthetic microorganisms need to function not only as growing cultures, but as stable and long-lived biocatalysts,” says Senior Research Fellow Sergey Kosourov from the University of Turku in Finland. “One major limitation of suspension cultures is self-shading: cells near the light source block light from reaching cells deeper in the culture. This reduces the efficiency of light use and creates challenges when scaling the technology toward industrial applications.”
To address these limitations, the researchers entrapped the engineered cyanobacteria within specifically designed nanocellulose films. The nanocellulose scaffold, developed by researchers at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, provides a supportive environment for the living cells. These films act as living biohybrid catalysts in which the cells perform photosynthesis and produce the target chemical from atmospheric carbon dioxide, while the surrounding material maintains hydration, supports cell fitness, and facilitates light penetration.
“The important advance is that we are combining engineered photosynthetic cells with supporting materials to create functional living systems for chemical production. This biohybrid approach combines the natural abilities of the cells with the controllable properties of the surrounding material. Entrapping the cells within the matrix restricts cell division and excessive biomass accumulation, allowing more of the captured carbon and energy to be directed toward the desired product,” says Professor Yagut Allahverdiyeva-Rinne, leader of the Photosynthetic Microbes research group at the University of Turku.
Living films sustained photosynthetic production for more than four months
The nanocellulose films containing ethylene-producing cyanobacteria were tested in a continuous-flow biofilm reactor, where they remained moist while exposed to the reactor headspace. This configuration facilitated the release and collection of ethylene from the films. Under these conditions, the cyanobacterial films remained productive for more than four months and generated up to approximately twice as much ethylene as comparable suspension cultures.
“Most studies of photosynthetic bioproduction focus on the highest production rate achieved over a relatively short period,” says Sergey Kosourov. “For practical applications, however, it is equally important to know whether the cells can remain productive for weeks or months and function as long-lived biocatalysts.”
The researchers also evaluated the biodegradability of the nanocellulose formulations and confirmed that the matrices could be broken down after the production phase. This finding supports the further development of biodegradable and potentially recyclable materials for photosynthetic production.
Engineering biocatalytic architecture to improve light use
The ethylene study focuses on long-term operation, but it forms part of a broader research programme at the University of Turku to develop effective living photosynthetic catalysts. In an earlier study, the team demonstrated that engineered living materials can be organized in innovative ways to improve light utilization. By layering cells with smaller light-harvesting “antennae” above cells with larger antennae, the researchers distributed light more evenly throughout the biocatalyst, substantially increasing light-to-product conversion efficiency.
“Together, these studies show that the biocatalysts can be designed for both long-term operation and more efficient light use. By engineering the photosynthetic cells and controlling their spatial organization within the biocatalytic architecture, we can improve light management and address limitations that are difficult to overcome in suspension cultures,” Kosourov explains.
The technology is still at the laboratory stage, and further work is needed to increase productivity, improve product recovery, and scale the platform to larger reactors suitable for pilot-scale operation.
“Our next challenge is to translate the performance of small laboratory films into larger, reliable production systems. This requires us to engineer the cells, materials, and reactors together so that light, water, and carbon dioxide are distributed efficiently at larger scales. If successful, this platform could support a new generation of low energy biohybrid technologies for the production of renewable chemicals and fuels,” says Professor Yagut Allahverdiyeva-Rinne.
Together, these efforts aim to move biohybrid photosynthetic materials from laboratory demonstrations toward practical solar-driven biomanufacturing.
The new study was published in Trends in Biotechnology on 2 July 2026.
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10, Aug 2026
Paradip Fish Finds Global Buyers as Odisha’s Indigenous Seafood Gains International Demand
Paradip, Aug. 10 (UDN): Odisha’s seafood industry is making waves in international markets, with indigenous marine fish varieties from Paradip increasingly finding buyers across the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
Representational Image
While Odisha has long been known for its prawn exports, local varieties such as Borei, Paniakhia and Kantia are now emerging as sought-after seafood products in overseas markets.
Among them, Borei fish, particularly its oily variety, has witnessed strong demand abroad. According to government data, around 8.568 million kg of Borei, also known as croaker fish, was exported from Paradip over the past eight years, highlighting the growing importance of the fish in the international seafood trade.
Local Fish, International Market
Fishermen and seafood exporters in Paradip say the demand for locally caught fish has expanded significantly in recent years.
Kambal P, a fisherman from Paradip, said several varieties of fish caught along the Odisha coast are now being shipped to foreign markets.
“Different varieties of fish are being exported to other countries. People here also consume these fish, while the growing overseas demand has opened up new opportunities for the local fishing community,” he said.
Seafood exporter Duryodhan Ray said Borei is exported in three varieties, with China and several Middle Eastern countries among the major destinations.
“Borei has a good market overseas. Apart from Borei, there is also strong demand for cuttlefish, jellyfish, ribbon fish and octopus,” he said.
Paradip Emerges as Key Seafood Hub
The Paradip Fish Harbour has steadily strengthened its position as one of India’s important fishing and seafood-export centres.
Over the last eight years, besides Borei, the harbour has handled exports of large quantities of ribbon fish, sole fish, Paniakhia and Kantia.
The seafood export basket from Paradip is also highly diverse. Marine products from around 81 species, including prawns, crabs, octopus, lobster and squid, have reached international markets.
Traditional Value Adds to Demand
Borei is valued not only as a food fish but also for its traditional uses. Its scales are reportedly used in the preparation of certain traditional soups, adding another dimension to its commercial value.
The growing international demand for Odisha’s indigenous marine fish could provide a significant boost to the state’s fishing communities, seafood processors and exporters.
With Paradip strengthening its role as a gateway for marine products, Odisha’s traditional coastal catch is increasingly finding a place on dining tables far beyond the state—and even beyond India.
10, Aug 2026
Axis Mutual Fund Launches Nifty Energy Index Fund and ETF NFOs to Tap India’s Evolving Energy Sector
Chennai, Aug 10: Axis Mutual Fund, one of India’s asset management companies, announces the launch of the Axis Nifty Energy Index Fund and Axis Nifty Energy ETF providing investors with a simple and transparent way to participate in India’s fast-evolving energy ecosystem. The Axis Nifty Energy Index Fund, one of the first funds in the Index category, opened on August 07, 2026 and closes on August 21, 2026. The Axis Nifty Energy ETF opens on August 12, 2026 and closes on August 21, 2026. The ETF will be listed on the exchange. Both schemes aim to provide returns, before expenses, that correspond to the performance of the Nifty Energy TRI, subject to tracking error.
Powering India’s Next Decade of Growth
India’s energy story is still in its early stages. Per capita electricity consumption in India remains significantly lower than many developed and emerging economies, highlighting the potential for long-term demand growth. At the same time, the country is witnessing a broad transformation across the energy value chain, spanning conventional energy sources, renewables, power generation, transmission infrastructure, energy equipment and emerging technologies.
The scale of this opportunity is reflected in the infrastructure being built to support future demand. India is projected to add over 580 GW of power generation capacity over the next decade, more than the capacity added in its history thus far. Renewable energy is expected to account for a significant share of this expansion, while investments in transmission networks, storage solutions, natural gas infrastructure and grid modernisation continue to accelerate.
Axis Nifty Energy Index Fund & Axis Nifty Energy ETF
The Axis Nifty Energy Index Fund and Axis Nifty Energy ETF seek to replicate the Nifty Energy TRI, providing investors with a simple and cost-efficient way to participate in India’s energy growth story. The funds offer diversified exposure across the energy value chain, including oil & gas, power generation, transmission & distribution, renewable energy, energy equipment, and related infrastructure.
Commenting on the launch, B. Gopkumar, MD & CEO, Axis AMC, said,
“Energy remains one of the most critical building blocks of economic progress. As India advances towards higher levels of industrialisation, urbanisation and digitalisation, demand across the energy ecosystem is expected to grow significantly. At the same time, the sector is undergoing a structural transformation led by renewable energy adoption, transmission expansion, energy security initiatives and technological innovation.”
He further added,
“With exposure spanning conventional energy, renewable energy, transmission infrastructure, utilities and energy-enabling businesses, the Axis Nifty Energy Index Fund & Axis Nifty Energy ETF offers investors a single-point solution to participate in a theme that is expected to remain central to India’s economic growth, industrial expansion and energy transition over the coming decades.”
The underlying index currently comprises up to 40 stocks selected from the Nifty 500 universe that are associated with the energy theme. Constituents are weighted based on free-float market capitalisation, while stock-level and industry-level caps are incorporated to prevent excessive concentration. No individual stock can have a weight of more than 10% and no industry can exceed 25% at the time of rebalancing, helping maintain diversification within the index.
The index is reconstituted and rebalanced semi-annually in March and September to ensure that it continues to reflect the evolving structure of India’s energy sector. This rules-based methodology allows investors to gain exposure to emerging opportunities across the energy landscape while maintaining transparency and consistency in portfolio construction
The funds are suitable for investors seeking to participate in India’s long-term energy growth story through a passive investment solution. By providing diversified exposure across the energy ecosystem, the Axis Nifty Energy Index Fund and Axis Energy ETF can serve as a thematic allocation within investors’ portfolios. The funds will be managed by Nandik Mallik and Rohit Gautam.
10, Aug 2026
Kotak Launches Hybrid Home Loan, Enables Customers to Lock Interest Rates for Up to 65 Months
Bengaluru, Aug 10: Buying a home is only the beginning of a customer’s financial journey. In the years that follow, families often manage interiors, education, savings and everyday expenses alongside the monthly EMI. Kotak Mahindra Bank today announced the launch of its Hybrid Home Loan, enabling customers to lock their home loan rate for 39, 52 or 65 months and plan these important early years with greater visibility.
Nakul Saxena, Head – Mortgages, Kotak Mahindra Bank, said, “A home loan can span decades and move through several interest-rate cycles. For many borrowers, every rate review raises the question of how the next change may affect their EMI or household budget. Families are also balancing important life expenses as income, priorities and financial commitments change over time. By allowing customers to lock their rate for up to 65 months, the Kotak Hybrid Home Loan creates a meaningful planning cushion during the early years of home ownership.”
How It Works
Customers can choose a fixed-rate period of 39, 52 or 65 months, during which their interest rate and EMI remain unchanged even if the Repo Rate rises. This gives them a defined window in which to plan household and life expenses. After the selected period, the loan automatically moves to a floating-rate structure linked to the Repo Rate plus a predefined spread disclosed at sanction.
The product is available as a Home Loan and Loan Against Property at a price comparable to the Bank’s floating-rate home loans, with no separate premium for choosing the hybrid structure.
Interest Savings Illustration
Illustration: 25-year tenure, 7.60% starting rate, 65–month fixed period and an assumed 125 basis point Repo Rate increase.
The illustration assumes home loans of ₹1 crore and ₹75 lakh with a 25-year tenure, a fixed interest rate of 7.60% for 65 months and a cumulative 125 basis point increase in the Repo Rate, from 5.25% to 6.50%, during that period. A Repo Rate of 6.50% is the highest recorded in the past decade. Actual savings will vary by customer. All loans are subject to Kotak Mahindra Bank’s credit and risk assessment policies and applicable terms and conditions.
Eligibility
The Hybrid Home Loan is available across India to eligible salaried and self-employed borrowers.
Key Features at a Glance:
- Fixed interest rate for 39, 52 or 65 months
- Protection from Repo-linked rate increases during the fixed tenure
- Predictable EMIs during the fixed-rate period
- No premium versus comparable floating-rate home loans
- Upfront disclosure of future spread
- Automatic transition to floating-rate structure after the fixed tenure
