4, Dec 2025
Renowned foot artist Nadeem Riyasat Ali Shaikh performs live at Oberoi Mall
Mumbai, Dec 4: This World Disability Day, Oberoi Mall turned its atrium into a space filled with awe, warmth and community spirit as it partnered with the Mouth & Foot Painting Artists (MFPA) for a live art showcase that moved customers and visitors alike.
The mall hosted a vibrant art showcase featuring extraordinary artworks and products handcrafted by MFPA artists. The highlight of the evening was an extraordinary live painting session by MFPA artist Nadeem Riyasat Ali Shaikh, who created a stunning artwork using only his feet. As Nadeem brought colours to life on canvas, visitors gathered around, some pausing mid-shopping, some bringing their children forward to watch, but each one captivated by his remarkable talent and quiet determination.
Born without hands, Nadeem discovered his passion for drawing in school and has been painting using his feet ever since. He has been a part of MFPA since 2008 and continues to inspire many with portraits and sketches of personalities who motivate him.
Ms. Tanu Prasad, CEO Malls, Oberoi Realty, shares;
“We are honoured to support and celebrate art and creativity at Oberoi Mall today on the occasion of World Disability Day. Today’s showcase was a reminder of how powerful creative expression can be when people are given the space to be themselves. We remain committed to fostering an environment that is warm, inclusive, and welcoming to every member of the community.”
Oberoi Mall continues to enhance its commitment to accessibility with features such as ramp access at all entry points, complimentary wheelchairs, designated parking, separate accessible washrooms etc. for those who need them. The mall strives to be a place where people of all abilities can enjoy meaningful experiences, whether they’re shopping, dining or taking part in community events.
The World Disability Day celebration served as a beautiful reminder that when communities come together to appreciate talent, share stories and cheer for each other, inclusivity thrives.
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- By Neel Achary
4, Dec 2025
Cairn Oil & Gas attains UNEP’s ‘Gold Standard Pathway’ recognition under the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0 initiative
“Achieving OGMP 2.0’s Gold Standard Pathway reflects a company’s commitment to transparency and to improving the accuracy of methane emissions data. Measurement-based reporting is essential to improving operational excellence and driving the emissions reductions needed to meet global climate goals.”
“Cairn Oil & Gas is fully committed to reducing methane emissionsfrom our operations. This recognition by UNEP underscores our resolve to advance India’s energy security through sustainable operations. With renewable energy integration, flare reduction, Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS), adoption of low carbon technologies, and extensive nature-based carbon solutions, we are inching closer to our Net Zero goals and setting new benchmarks in sustainable energy production for the future.”
4, Dec 2025
SUNROOOF Launches India’s First Wellness Lighting E-Commerce Platform
Mumbai, Dec 04: India’s wellness technology landscape is rapidly advancing, with lighting now recognized as a crucial contributor to health-focused spaces. SUNROOOF, India’s pioneering wellness lighting brand specializing in scientifically developed daylight solutions, has launched its e-commerce platform to enable access to premium human-centric lighting for residential, commercial, and institutional environments in India & UAE.
The platform enables customers to explore a thoughtfully curated portfolio of daylighting solutions designed to elevate mood, enhance productivity, regulate day-to-day rhythms, and improve overall well-being. With intelligent product recommendations and personalized expert guidance, SUNROOOF ensures that every space, regardless of layout or location, can experience the science-backed benefits of sunlight.
In a remarkable trajectory, SUNROOOF has achieved INR 15 crore revenue within just 12 months and is targeting to achieve INR 50 crore this year, driven by its expansion into larger markets and high-value projects.
“Today, we’re fundamentally changing how customers experience SUNROOOF. Our e-commerce platform eliminates the friction from discovery to purchase you can now explore designs, check if they fit your space with exact measurements, and make an informed decision, all in minutes. Whether you’re a homeowner or architect, every piece of information you need is at your fingertips. We’ve made it incredibly simple: browse designs, pick your size, select your colour, and start your wellness lighting journey with just a ₹5,000 booking. This is about removing barriers and making transformative lighting accessible to everyone,” said Mr. Ishat Jain, Co-Founder, SUNROOOF.
To deliver a seamless digital-to-physical experience, SUNROOOF offers:
- End-to-end consultations with certified wellness lighting specialists
- Multiple design and customization options to suit diverse spaces
- A dedicated point of contact for smooth execution and installation
- Convenient EMI and secure payment options, including the ability to book with INR 5,000 under the SUNROOOF Easy Payments Plan.
With this launch, SUNROOOF is setting a new benchmark in the wellness technology category turning natural light into a lifestyle essential rather than a luxury.
4, Dec 2025
HyFun Foods Champions Sustainable, Soil-Driven Farming on World Soil Day
Mumbai, Dec 04: HyFun Foods is one of India’s leading frozen food manufacturers, built on a robust seed-to-shelf model that ensures quality, consistency, and traceability. As the country’s largest processor of processing-grade potatoes, HyFun combines advanced agronomy, efficient value chains, and world-class manufacturing to deliver premium frozen snacks to consumers in India and across global markets.
Supporting this engine is HyFarm, HyFun’s dedicated Agri Business unit and farmer connect brand, which works directly with over 8000 farmers through scientific crop planning, precision agronomy, and technology-led advisory systems. With initiatives like Paathshala, VigyaanShala, and soil-health programs, HyFarm strengthens farm productivity while promoting sustainable, soil-smart practices, making HyFun and HyFarm naturally aligned with the mission of World Soil Day, which emphasises that strong food systems begin with healthy, well-nurtured soil.
Underlining the foundational role of soil in HyFun’s agri ecosystem, Haresh Karamchandani, MD & Group CEO, HyFun Foods, stated: “World Soil Day is a reminder that the strength of India’s food system begins long before the end product reaches the shelves of a supermarket. It’s rooted in the strength of our soil. At HyFun Foods, we work closely with farming communities to promote soil-smart practices.
Our R&D initiative, VigyaanShala, strengthens this effort by bringing experts from across the world to study, test, and refine our agronomic practices – that in turn will over time improve soil health. The insights developed there are carefully evaluated and then shared with farmers through our Paathshala program, ensuring the knowledge is translated into clear, actionable practices that farmers can apply directly in their fields.
Further, our farmer-support app, FarmOji, ties this ecosystem together by giving growers real-time tracking, updates, and advisories to keep their crop health on point. For us, nurturing soil health isn’t a box to tick, it’s the foundation of stronger harvests, better quality, and a resilient Indian food ecosystem.”
3, Dec 2025
PhonePe’s Indus Appstore and Motorola India announce Partnership
Dec, 3: Indus Appstore, India’s homegrown Android app marketplace, announced today that it has entered into a partnership with Motorola. This partnership enables Indus Appstore to be available on Motorola devices in India. It enables wider distribution for Indus Appstore and delivers a personalised app discovery experience to Motorola users in India.
Indus Appstore offers Indian consumers a meaningful alternative in the app ecosystem, designed specifically around user preference and the country’s diverse cultural context. The platform is committed to reaching every Indian smartphone user by offering the experience in 12 Indian languages and English, complete with an AI-powered voice search feature that bypasses the need for typing complex vernacular compositions. Additionally, the video previews feature allows users to visually experience an app’s functionality before downloading.
Indus Appstore creates a favourable environment for developers and apps in India with its fair app store policies. It reduces dependency on a single source of distribution and has paved the way for a viable, competitive alternative. This will only empower and enable an increasing number of local developers and catalyze the Indian developer ecosystem to succeed on the global stage.
Priya M Narasimhan, Chief Business Officer, Indus Appstore expressed her excitement on this landmark development saying;
“We are delighted to partner with Motorola to offer an extended set of Indians seamless access to the Indus Appstore experience, reinforcing our commitment to serving the entire breadth of the Indian market. The app store, that truly embodies the Made-for-India spirit, is looking at an inflection point to revolutionise the Indian app economy. The partnership solidifies our effort to offer Indians a meaningful, viable alternative to not just download but discover regionally relevant apps.”
Sharing the excitement T M Narasimhan, Managing Director, Motorola Mobility India said;
“At Motorola, we have always prioritized delivering a premium and locally relevant experience to our users in India, and Indus Appstore perfectly fits this vision. By integrating this homegrown platform, we are offering an innovative app discovery medium that enriches our users’ experience that is culturally relevant. This partnership holds the added advantage of supporting Indian developers by connecting them with the right users through Indus Appstore’s unique distribution model.”
3, Dec 2025
Next revolution will be bio-driven; RDI Fund a unique step to power India’s deep-tech future: Dr Jitendra Singh
Dec 03: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology; Minister of State for Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space, Dr Jitendra Singh today said that the next major global revolution will be bio-driven, and that India is uniquely positioned to lead this transformation on the strength of its deep-tech capabilities, robust startup ecosystem and rising domestic institutional capital.
In an exclusive “FireChat” session organised by the “Indian Venture and Alternate Capital Association” (IVCA) in New Delhi, Dr Jitendra Singh described the recently announced ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) Fund as “one of the most unique and forward-looking initiatives taken by the Government” to support high-risk, high-reward research in frontier technologies, and to catalyse a new era of partnership between Government, industry and investors. He said the Fund has been designed with a liberal and long-term mindset, with low-interest, patient capital and risk-sharing features that send a clear signal of the Government’s intent to crowd-in private investment rather than crowd it out.
The Minister highlighted that India is rapidly emerging as a deep-tech and science-led innovation power, backed by strong political will at the highest level. He said that, unlike in the past when India often lagged by a decade or more in adopting new technologies, the country is now among the first to frame dedicated biotechnology policies and to open strategic sectors such as space and atomic energy to private participation. He credited the leadership and vision Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for breaking long-standing taboos and bringing science, technology, and innovation to the centre of the national development agenda.
Elaborating on the structural change underway in India’s innovation landscape, Dr Jitendra Singh said that the last decade was defined by the digital revolution in areas such as IT, fintech, e-commerce and software, but the coming decade will be led by deep-tech India across sectors like space, bio-manufacturing, green hydrogen, quantum technologies, and advanced materials. He noted that these sectors are science-intensive, capital-intensive, and IP-intensive, and therefore demand a very different kind of risk-tolerant, patient capital than traditional manufacturing or infrastructure.
Dr Jitendra Singh pointed out that the global success stories of advanced economies have been written through the active participation of the private sector, philanthropic investors, and domestic institutional capital. For many years, he observed, India’s mindset was to look up to the Government for everything, and even in sunrise sectors like space or nuclear, the private sector did not anticipate the scale or speed at which reforms would be undertaken. “Even the private sector was not prepared for the kind of proactive, liberal and decisive approach that this Government has brought in sectors like space, nuclear and biotechnology,” he said, adding that the RDI Fund is also intended to help the private sector overcome legacy hesitation and step into frontier areas with confidence.
Referring to India’s fast-growing startup ecosystem, the Minister emphasised that innovation is no longer confined to the big metros. He informed that out of nearly 1.75–2 lakh startups that now place India as the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem, around 60,000 belong to Tier-2 and Tier-3 towns. Calling it a myth that cutting-edge innovation happens only in Bengaluru, Mumbai, or Hyderabad, he said that many of the most determined and aspirational founders are emerging from small towns and government schools, driven by a strong desire to prove themselves and create value.
Sharing his interactions with young innovators in aspirational districts, Dr Jitendra Singh said that the aspiration and awareness levels among students in remote areas are now often higher than those in big cities, thanks to digital connectivity and focused schemes like Vigyan Jyoti. He cited the example of a schoolgirl from an aspirational district who was well-versed with national science schemes and was already demanding that eligibility be expanded to younger classes. “This illustrates how deeply the ecosystem has penetrated, and how the next generation is growing up with a completely different mindset,” he remarked.
The Minister said that, in addition to deep-tech, India has unique strengths in sectors such as the Himalayan ecosystem, the coastal and blue economy, agriculture, aroma and natural products, where thousands of successful startups have been built by founders who are sometimes not even graduates but possess passion, aptitude and an instinct for value creation. He highlighted the Aroma Mission as an example of how science-based interventions can create thousands of rural entrepreneurs, generate export-quality products, and attract international competition.
Dr Jitendra Singh stressed that India today stands at an inflection point, transitioning from being merely a fast-growing major economy to becoming a science-led, innovation-driven global leader. He said that India’s ambition to become a Viksit Bharat by 2047 requires technological strength, economic resilience, and financial self-reliance, for which domestic institutional investors such as pension funds, insurance companies, banks, sovereign-linked entities and family offices will play a critical role. He welcomed the growing participation of domestic Alternate Investment Funds (AIFs) and noted that India today hosts nearly 1,700 registered AIFs with commitments of over ₹15 lakh crore, reflecting deepening capital markets and investor confidence.
Describing the RDI Fund as a cornerstone of this new architecture, the Minister said it will support frontier R&D in areas such as AI, semiconductors, clean energy, biotech, advanced materials, defence-tech, and space-tech, and help India “invent in India, not just Make in India”. He underlined that the Fund is designed to strengthen the entire innovation pipeline from discovery to deployment, and to bring together industry, academia, startups, investors, and public institutions in a unified national innovation framework.
Dr Jitendra Singh also highlighted the complementary role of institutions such as the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), sectoral interfaces like IN-SPACe in space and BIRAC in biotechnology, and industry bodies like IVCA. He said these platforms serve as scientific and financial interfaces to structure collaborations, determine optimal partnership models and match investors to appropriate opportunities, avoiding ad-hoc or random engagement and ensuring that each player fits into the most suitable slot within the ecosystem.
Responding to suggestions from fund managers during an interactive conversation, the Minister acknowledged the importance of crowding-in corporate and philanthropic capital for earlier-stage research, including work at lower Technology Readiness Levels. He noted that international philanthropic investments have already begun flowing into India’s science and innovation ecosystem in significant volumes and said this is creating positive examples for domestic philanthropists and corporates to emulate. He emphasised that the Government envisages a “wholesome combination of collaboration” spanning Government, private sector, corporates, philanthropists, and NGOs rather than limiting the innovation partnership to any single segment.
On questions related to interest rates and operationalisation of the RDI Fund, Dr Jitendra Singh said the Government is approaching the initiative with an open and learning mindset. He indicated that the margins could be calibrated based on the first calls and the response pattern, and emphasised that both Government and investors must be willing to learn from each other’s constraints, strengths, and inputs. “This has to be built in a spirit of very close mutual understanding and trust, not as a contest where one side tries to appear better than the other,” he said.
The Minister said that a major, and often under-appreciated, change is the shift in mindset among Indian youth and professionals. He observed that while earlier generations going abroad often had no clear timeline to return, a growing number of young Indians today are planning their return journeys in advance because they see comparable opportunities at home in research, innovation, and entrepreneurship. He noted that more than half of Indian residents working in advanced research ecosystems abroad today are of Indian origin who were born, educated, and trained in India, which demonstrates that the domestic ecosystem is now capable of nurturing world-class talent end-to-end.
Looking ahead to 2030 and beyond, Dr Jitendra Singh said that India will increasingly be defined by its capacity to leapfrog traditional development stages, just as it moved directly from landlines to mobile telephony and emerged as a global IT leader. He mentioned the Deep Ocean Mission, the long coastline, the Himalayan range, and India’s biodiversity as strategic assets that will open up new frontiers in deep-sea mining, fisheries, climate technologies and regenerative solutions, creating fresh opportunities for investors and innovators alike.
Reiterating that no reform or revolution in science and technology can happen in isolation, the Minister called upon fund managers, domestic institutional investors and entrepreneurs present at the Forum to view the coming decades as a “once-in-a-generation moment” to shape the global innovation landscape from India. He said that as the world gradually shifts from a purely manufacturing-centric paradigm to one centred on regeneration, recycling, genetics and bio-driven solutions, India must position itself as a solutions provider for the world, powered by its own capital, scientists, and entrepreneurs.
Dr Jitendra Singh assured the investor community that the Government is committed to providing a predictable, enabling, and forward-looking policy environment and invited them to partner with Government institutions to identify the most suitable areas and models of collaboration. “We are now part of the global scenario, and this is the right time for venture capitalists, domestic institutions, and innovators to invest in India’s new frontiers. Together, we must ensure that India does not only participate in the technologies of the future, but leads them,” he said.
2, Dec 2025
New General Manager at The LaLiT Laxmi Vilas Palace Udaipur
The LaLiT Laxmi Vilas Palace Udaipur Appoints Mr. Arjun Belliappa as General Manager
Udaipur, Dec 02: The LaLiT Laxmi Vilas Palace Udaipur is proud to announce the appointment of Mr. Arjun Belliappa as its new General Manager. Bringing over 20 years of diverse hospitality experience, Mr. Belliappa has established a distinguished reputation for elevating guest satisfaction, enhancing operational efficiency, and driving business growth.
Mr. Belliappa began his career as a Hotel Operational Management Trainee with JW Marriott, Juhu, before taking on roles at The Taj Mahal Palace & Tower, Mumbai. His career further flourished during his seven-year tenure with The Oberoi Group, where he contributed to operations at The Oberoi Mumbai, Trident Nariman Point, and Trident Gurgaon, eventually rising to Assistant Front Office Manager.
His professional journey includes senior leadership roles across prominent hospitality and service organizations such as Park Hyatt Hyderabad, Radisson Blu Atria Bengaluru, Mantri Square Mall, Lemon Tree Premier, Sunbird Trust, and Betta Living Resorts, giving him extensive exposure to luxury hotels, large-scale operations, and mission-driven projects.
Most recently, Mr. Belliappa served as General Manager at Hotel Lakend, Udaipur, where he successfully leveraged his deep market understanding to strengthen service standards and business performance.
Speaking about his new role, Mr. Arjun Belliappa said, “It is an honour to join The LaLiT Laxmi Vilas Palace Udaipur, a landmark property that captures the splendour of Rajasthan and a bygone era. I look forward to working with the team to create memorable guest experiences that uphold the brand’s legacy of warmth, luxury, and inclusion.”
Welcoming him to the organisation, Mr. Vivek Shukla, CEO, The LaLiT Suri Hospitality Group, stated, “We are delighted to have Mr. Arjun Belliappa join The LaLiT family. His leadership, expertise, and dedication to excellence will further strengthen our commitment to offering unparalleled guest experiences at The LaLiT Laxmi Vilas Palace Udaipur.”
2, Dec 2025
Devam partners with Madhusudan to launch India’s first AI-powered micro devotional content series on historic temples
This collaboration brings unknown temple stories to Indians through AI, starting with Shakumbari Devi Temple, Saharanpur
New Delhi, Dec 2: Devam has partnered with leading FMCG brand Madhusudan to launch India’s first AI-generated temple micro-series, marking a pioneering moment in brand-led spiritual content creation. The partnership debuts with a Hindi-language series on Shakumbari Devi Temple, Saharanpur.
This launch comes as India’s spiritual tech sector experiences unprecedented growth. The devotional products market is projected to reach $9.5 billion by 2035, while micro-content consumption has surged 300% year-over-year.
“This partnership represents a new era where AI meets ancient wisdom to preserve India’s spiritual heritage. Young Indians are curious and seeking authentic storytelling. Through devam, we want to bring these temple stories to every Indian. This can have a huge impact.” said Nihal Rustgi, Cofounder, Devam.
The series uses advanced AI to create 60-second episodes featuring photorealistic temple visuals, authentic hindi narration, and interactive elements that let viewers virtually participate in temple rituals.
“Madhusudan has been part of Indian households’ spiritual rituals for generations. This partnership allows us to evolve that connection for the digital age. We’re not just advertising – we’re investing in cultural preservation through technology,” said Amit Aggarwal, Director, Madhusudan.
The 10-episode series will premiere on the devam platform, with daily episodes on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. Following the Hindi launch, the partnership will expand to Tamil, Telugu, and Bengali in Q1 2026, with more significant temples in the pipeline.
This marks the first time a major FMCG brand has invested in AI-generated devotional micro-content, setting new standards for brand partnerships in spiritual tech and demonstrating AI’s potential in cultural preservation.
2, Dec 2025
JMR Infotech Showcases AI-Powered Banking Platform at CAB Annual General Meeting & Conference 2025
Bogotá / Dubai / Bangalore – Dec 2: JMR Infotech, a global leader in digital transformation and banking technology solutions, and a service member of the Caribbean Association of Banks (CAB), participated in the CAB Annual General Meeting & Conference 2025, held in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, from October 28 to November 1, 2025. The event brought together banking and financial industry leaders from across the region to discuss emerging trends, innovation, and the future of financial services in the Caribbean.
JMR Infotech was represented by CEO Jayafar Moidu, who engaged with senior representatives from banks and financial institutions across the Caribbean. Discussions focused on how AI-driven Banking Platform as a Service (BPaaS) models can help institutions accelerate modernisation, improve compliance, and enhance customer experience.
At the conference, JMR Infotech highlighted its Banking Platform as a Service (BPaaS), a complete, API-first, cloud-enabled, and AI-powered technology stack built on Oracle banking product processor to deliver next-generation, immersive, and intelligent banking experiences. The platform integrates automation, predictive analytics, and composable architecture to help banks achieve operational agility, risk resilience, and scalability.
Jayafar Moidu, CEO, JMR Infotech, emphasised that the Caribbean’s banking ecosystem is at a pivotal stage, where innovation and inclusion will define the next decade of growth. He noted that the region’s collaborative spirit and willingness to adopt digital-first strategies position it well for transformation driven by AI and cloud technologies.
“Across the Caribbean, banks are ready to embrace technology that empowers efficiency, compliance, and customer-centricity. Our AI-powered BPaaS model offers a secure and scalable pathway to modernisation, enabling financial institutions to move from manual processes to intelligent, self-optimising operations,” said Jayafar.
JMR Infotech’s presence at the conference reflects its ongoing commitment to supporting the region’s financial sector with flexible, future-ready technology solutions. With a regional delivery center in Bogotá and support and delivery centers in St. Kitts and Jamaica, the company continues to strengthen its footprint across the Caribbean and Latin America, combining local presence with global delivery excellence.
1, Dec 2025
Tech Firm announces WFH amid deteriorating air quality in Delhi-NCR
New Delhi, Dec 1: Considering severe air pollution and deteriorating AQI levels in Delhi NCR, and following the Government advisory, Noida-based deep-tech firm, BUSINESSNEXT, has announced a work-from-home policy to protect the health and well-being of its employees.
Under this temporary work arrangement, employees have been advised 2 days Work-from-home with immediate effect for its Noida office employees.
The announcement came under the Graded Response Action Plan level 3 or GRAP-3 which is determined by the Commission for Air Quality Management
According to an internal health pulse-check conducted over the past week, nearly one-third of employees have reported cough and throat-related issues for the past few days, while about 25% have complained of skin and eye irritation, including a burning sensation in the eyes. Additionally, within just a week, around 10% of employees applied for sick leave. Gen Z employees formed the majority of leave requests, citing poor residential air quality
“We are witnessing a visible spike in pollution-related health issues,” said Lipika Mohanty, Head of People and Development at BUSINESSNEXT.
“Most of the recent leave applications mention air quality as the root cause. In line with our people-first culture, this flexible work arrangement will ensure employees can take care of their health while staying productive”, She added.
Additionally, several working mothers have requested flexible work hours to better manage their kid’s health and work responsibilities as air pollution levels remain hazardous across the region.
