17, Mar 2026
U.S. headquartered ScienceLogic Opens New Office in Nanakramguda, Hyderabad, India
HYDERABAD – ScienceLogic, a United States-based technology company whose agentic AI platform powers modern IT environments, today announced its entrance into India with the opening of a new office in Nanakramguda, Hyderabad. Located at Sohini Tech Park in the Nanakramguda Financial District, the company is marking the opening with a small ceremony at the new office, which represents a strategic investment in one of the world’s fastest-growing technology markets and reinforces the company’s commitment to supporting customers across the Asia-Pacific region.
This expansion builds on ScienceLogic’s existing global presence in Reston, Virginia near Washington D.C., London, Sydney, Taiwan, and Singapore, and enhances its ability to serve enterprises and government organizations navigating increasingly complex, distributed IT environments. India’s rapidly growing digital economy, expanding cloud adoption, and rising demand for AI-powered operations make it a key growth market for the company.
“We are thrilled to open our first India location in the Nanakramguda Financial District,” said Dave Link, CEO and Co-founder of ScienceLogic. “As enterprise IT environments grow more distributed and complex, IT teams now face a sometimes insurmountable number of alerts, telemetry, and tickets spread across siloed systems. By establishing a presence in Nanakramguda, we will be able to much more rapidly meet the needs of our India-based customers who rely on the ScienceLogic AI Platform to consolidate fragmented tools and deliver complete observability.”
“Hyderabad is one of India’s premier technology corridors, with a strong ecosystem of enterprise innovation and technical expertise,” said Vamsi Krishna Ivaturi, Director, India at ScienceLogic. “With the India observability market forecasted to see a double-digit compound annual growth rate (CAGR) throughout this decade, this expansion positions ScienceLogic to partner more closely with customers as they modernize infrastructure, consolidate tools, and adopt AI to drive operational resilience.”
ScienceLogic delivers intelligence that accelerates outcomes through service-centric observability, AI-driven operations, and intelligent automation. Its flagship ScienceLogic AI Platform and Skylar AI suite — including Skylar One™ (formerly SL1), Skylar Automation™, Skylar Compliance™, and Skylar Analytics™ — enable organizations to unify monitoring, automate workflows, ensure compliance, and gain deeper operational insight across hybrid and multi-cloud environments.
- 0
- By Neel Achary
16, Mar 2026
This Tiny Cellular Portal Could Open Vast Possibilities for Medicine
Inside each of your cells, there lies the nucleus, its master command center. Protected inside each nucleus are your chromosomes, containing all the genetic instructions for making proteins. To keep the body operating smoothly, proteins, RNA molecules, and molecular signals must constantly flow in and out of this cellular HQ, mediating which genetic instructions are used when.
Nearly all of that two-way traffic passes through the same gateway: the nuclear pore complex.
The nuclear pore complex, or NPC, is far more complex than a simple doorway. Hundreds of individual proteins come together to form the NPC, which acts as an active player in controlling how genetic information is used. When it doesn’t function right, some cellular messages don’t make it to their final destinations. The consequences can range from cancer to neurodegeneration to life-threatening viral infections.
Michael Rout, the George and Ruby deStevens Professor and head of the Laboratory of Cellular and Structural Biology at Rockefeller University, has spent his career parsing the inner workings of the NPC. We spoke with him about what makes this molecular machine so remarkable and how this work could open a new frontier in medicine.
You’ve been studying the nuclear pore complex for several decades. How has the field’s thinking about the importance of the NPC changed in that time?
When I started, the prevailing view was that the NPC was like a Swiss watch—an enormously complex, precisely tuned machine where if you damaged any part of it, the whole thing would simply shut down. But when we actually started taking it apart, we found the opposite was true. You could delete the genes for many of its components and cells kept growing. It turned out to be tremendously redundant and resilient. That changed our thinking completely. We now know that the NPC can tolerate partial disruption and keep functioning.
The downside of that resiliency is that diseases can exploit it. Hundreds of diseases—cancers, neurological disorders, viral infections—are now known to be associated with defects in nuclear transport or the NPC itself.
At the same time, it has emerged that the NPC is really a nexus for a lot of crucial processes. It doesn’t just passively sit there and allow nuclear transport, but rather acts as an organizer for this whole assembly line that’s in place to keep our cells alive. This infinitesimal portal is what maintains communication between the genetic material in the nucleus and the entire rest of an organism.
How do you study something this small and complex?
It requires the ability to make sense of a staggering amount of data. The approach we’ve taken is to gather and combine as much information as possible about the NPC, using many different complementary methods, and integrating all of that into a single, comprehensive picture. Early on, that meant isolating the NPC and using mass spectrometry to identify every protein it’s made of. From there, we could start asking where each piece sits within the structure.
Over the years the technology available to do this work has become extraordinary. With cryo-electron microscopy, we can now flash-freeze the NPC and visualize it at near-atomic resolution, which was simply unthinkable when I started. More recently, we’ve been able to watch the NPC in action in real time, at millisecond resolution. When we get all this data, we put it together into computational models that let us simulate how the whole system behaves.
Your lab proposed a model called the “virtual gate” to explain how the NPC controls what passes through. What does that mean in plain terms?
For a long time, people assumed the NPC must work like a physical gate, either dilating and contracting like an iris, or using motor proteins to actively pull cargo through. When we identified all the NPC’s components and found no motor proteins, we had to fundamentally reevaluate the science—nature was making it made clear that our previous ideas were wrong. What we found instead was that the central channel is packed with flexible, constantly moving protein chains—so dense and so mobile that they create a barrier without being a physical wall.
We called it a virtual gate because whether it’s open or closed depends entirely on whether you can bind to those protein chains. If you’re carrying the right molecular signal, you get through. If not, you’re excluded. It’s like a crowded dance floor where only those with the right partner can move.
What we’ve discovered more recently is that transport factors don’t just pass through. They continuously reshape those protein chains, making the barrier even more dynamic than we first thought.
How is the NPC linked to disease?
Many diseases gain a foothold by disrupting the flow of molecular messages in and out of the nucleus. What’s really interesting is that different cancers and viruses keep targeting the same small subset of NPC components to do it.
Pretty much every virus that’s been sufficiently studied seems to have evolved to target the NPC of human cells very early in infection. The viruses hijack the transport machinery so that the cell’s innate immune response can’t kick into action and produce new proteins to fight the viruses.
With cancer, the picture is similar. Normally, cells produce proteins that can trigger the cells to self-destruct if they begin growing too quickly and aggressively. Often, cancer cells subvert this by ramping up nuclear export, hustling those protective proteins out of the nucleus before they can act. Selinexor, an FDA-approved drug for certain blood cancers, works by blocking that excess export through the NPC, keeping those protective proteins inside the nucleus where they can do their job. Because we now know that the NPC can be targeted therapeutically, this could represent a major untapped area for future medicine in multiple diseases.
You’ve been building increasingly detailed computational models of how the NPC works. For a while now, scientists have dreamed of creating a virtual model of an entire cell, which could dramatically accelerate all kinds of discoveries. Do you see your work contributing to that larger quest?
Because the NPC sits at the crossroads of so many cellular systems, a complete enough model of it could let us begin to simulate how all those systems work together. That’s the dream of the virtual cell: a computational model of a living cell detailed enough that you could test, for example, how a disease mutation changes the flow of molecules in and out of the nucleus, or screen potential drugs without ever stepping into a wet lab. We’re not there yet, but the NPC is a remarkable place to start because so much has to pass through it. Understanding this one machine in full detail gets you surprisingly far toward understanding the whole cell.
What’s the biggest open question you’re still trying to answer?
We still don’t fully understand the details of how the virtual gate actually works at the molecular level. The protein chains that fill the channel aren’t the same all over; there appear to be different zones with different behaviors, possibly even separate lanes for different types of cargo. Figuring out that internal organization is where a lot of our energy is focused right now. I think getting that worked out could be the key to being able to control the flow of traffic through the NPC for therapeutic purposes.
I think this field is a perfect example of how studying the fundamental machinery that keeps our cells running yields discoveries that can offer powerful new insights into human disease.
16, Mar 2026
Audi India appoints Wondrlab as brand communication partner
Mumbai, March 16: Wondrlab, India’s platform-first marketing network, has been appointed as the communications partner for Audi India, following a rigorous multi-agency pitch across various networks. The mandate marks a significant win for Wondrlab, reinforcing its growing role as a long-term brand-building partner for marquee global brands.
Under the mandate, Wondrlab will lead Audi India’s brand communication through a platform-first approach, moving beyond standalone campaigns to build a unified and connected brand ecosystem across consumer touchpoints. The partnership will focus on creating integrated brand experiences that live seamlessly across digital, social, content, media, and emerging platforms.
Wondrlab will develop integrated solutions that interpret Audi’s global brand philosophy through a contemporary Indian lens, ensuring relevance, consistency, and cultural resonance. Powered by Tech first, data oriented, sharpened by intelligence, scaled on platforms and optimised continuously for measurable growth.
Speaking on the win, Rakesh Hinduja, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Wondrlab, said, “Audi is one of the most iconic luxury brands in the world, with a clear point of view on design, innovation, and progress. Winning this mandate is a strong validation of our platform-first thinking and our belief that brands today are built through connected ecosystems, not isolated campaigns. We’re excited to partner with Audi India to create work that is sharp, distinctive, and built for long-term brand impact.”
Commenting on the appointment, Gaurav Sinha, Head, Marketing and PR Audi India, said, “Audi India’s decision to partner with Wondrlab aligns with our focus on innovation, craftsmanship, and progressive thinking; values that are central to Audi’s global identity. Wondrlab’s solutions have been very refreshing through its integrated, platform-first capabilities across creative, digital, media, content, and technology, we look forward to Wondrlab helping Audi India build cohesive and scalable full-funnel brand experiences across touchpoints.”
16, Mar 2026
Manchester, Dubai and Channel Islands based firms achieve CISI Chartered Firm™ status
Showcasing its global breadth, the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) is delighted to confirm Manchester based Depledge Strategic Wealth Management, Jersey and Guernsey based Titan Wealth (CI) and Dubai based Abacus Financial Consultants LLC have all achieved CISI Chartered Firm™ status.
CISI Chartered Firm™ status is awarded when a financial services firm demonstrates commitment to the highest levels of professionalism. Firms must meet rigorous criteria to achieve the prestigious accreditation, including having a professional development programme that aligns with the CISI’s continuing professional development (CPD) requirements.
Chartered status plays a powerful role in fostering high standards of professionalism and trust. Helping firms and professionals adapt and firms grow in financial services is vital, particularly as opportunities in the sector increasingly become trans-national.
Andrew Day CFP™ Chartered FCSI, founder of Depledge Strategic Wealth Management (left) said: “Achieving CISI Chartered Firm™ status is a significant part of our journey to build a firm that is synonymous with high level financial planning advice and service. This is the accumulation of many years of hard work and the result of all the team at Depledge believing in our ethos to strive to be the best and to do so with our clients at the very centre of our endeavours. Four of our team have qualified at the CFP™ level and two others are working on the qualification which exceeds the minimum qualification level to be a CISI Chartered Firm™. This is important to us as we all feel that obtaining CISI qualifications has made us better financial planners which benefits our existing and new clients.”
Mark Bousfield Chartered FCSI, Managing Director, Titan Wealth (CI) (left) said: “Becoming a CISI Chartered Firm™ marks an important achievement for Titan Wealth in the Channel Islands and reflects the sustained effort our team has made over many years to uphold the highest professional standards.
“This recognition demonstrates our commitment to acting in the best interests of our clients and reinforces our dedication to delivering expert advice, integrity, and exceptional client service. It provides clients with the reassurance that they are supported by a firm committed to excellence throughout their financial journey.”
Con Lillis Chartered MCSI, Chief Executive Officer (right) of Abacus Financial Consultants, said: “Being recognised as a CISI Chartered Firm™ by the CISI is a proud moment for our entire team. It reflects the culture we have built at Abacus – one centred on professionalism, transparency, and putting clients first. Our advisers are committed to maintaining the highest standards in the industry, and this recognition demonstrates the strength of that commitment.
“As we continue to grow, maintaining these standards will remain central to our strategy, ensuring our clients benefit from trusted expertise and forward-thinking financial guidance.”
Tracy Vegro OBE, CISI chief executive, said: “We are delighted to welcome Depledge Strategic Wealth Management, Titan Wealth and Abacus Financial Consultants to our select group of organisations holding CISI Chartered Firm™ status. We are delighted to welcome each of them to our global CISI community.”
16, Mar 2026
‘DNT–NT Federation of India’ Launched; Representatives Demand Census Inclusion in 2027
New Delhi, March 16, 2026
Representatives of Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (NT-DNT) from across India have announced the formation of the “DNT–NT Federation of India” following a national consultation held in Delhi on March 14–15, 2026. Community representatives have demanded that the Government of India include a separate column with a unique caste code for NT-DNT communities in the 2027 Census. They also warned that if the identity and recognition of these communities continue to be ignored, a nationwide democratic movement will be launched.
The announcement was made during a press conference at the Press Club of India, attended by Balkrishna Sidram Renke, Digambar Rathod, Lalji Raika, S. P. Singh Labana, Gopal Keshwat, Kamlesh Rathore, Dr. Abhay Jadhav, and Deepa Pawar.
According to the representatives, the Nomadic–Denotified Council meeting held in Delhi on March 14 and 15 was attended by delegates from 22 states across India. During the meeting, organisations working among Denotified and Nomadic communities decided that the time had come to raise their concerns through a unified national platform.
As a result, the DNT–NT Federation of India was formally established. Digambar Rathod and Lalji Raika have been appointed as National Conveners of the federation. The organisation aims to bring together thousands of grassroots groups and community networks working among Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic communities and to raise issues related to their rights, identity and dignity at the national level.
Demand for Recognition in the 2027 Census
Community representatives stated that without proper enumeration of Denotified and Nomadic communities, their real socio-economic conditions remain invisible in official data. Many of these communities are still inadequately recorded in government statistics, which leads to their exclusion from policy planning and welfare programmes.
Therefore, the representatives demanded that the 2027 Census should include a separate column and a unique caste code for NT-DNT communities, so that their actual population and conditions can be accurately reflected.
In addition, community leaders put forward the following key demands:
• 10 percent reservation in government employment and political representation
• Land rights and permanent housing for Denotified and Nomadic families
• Constitutional and legal protection in cases of atrocities against community members
• Dedicated and adequate budgetary allocation for the development of NT-DNT communities
Renke Commission Recommendations Yet to Be Implemented
Speaking at the event, Balkrishna Renke recalled the recommendations of the commission he chaired. The Government of India had constituted the National Commission for Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes in 2005, and the commission submitted its report in 2008.
The report estimated that over 10 percent of India’s population belongs to Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic communities and highlighted their extremely marginalised socio-economic conditions. The commission recommended separate enumeration of these communities in the census, issuance of identity documents, and targeted programmes in education and employment.
However, the representatives noted that most of these recommendations remain unimplemented, which has kept these communities outside the mainstream of development.
During the press conference, S. P. Singh Labana emphasised that the absence of proper enumeration continues to keep these communities outside policy frameworks.
“We are not asking for charity. Our only demand is that we be counted properly. Unless our identity is recognised in the census, our problems will never become part of policy-making.”
Community representatives also stated that millions of Denotified and Nomadic families continue to live without access to clean drinking water, permanent housing, or basic civic amenities. Reliable data on atrocities against these communities is also unavailable because their identities are not clearly recorded in official systems.
They added that despite being citizens of India, Denotified and Nomadic communities have often been deprived of their fundamental rights, dignity and equal opportunities, which contradicts the principles of social justice and democracy.
Warning of Nationwide Agitation
Community leaders warned that if the government fails to include a separate column for NT-DNT communities in the 2027 Census, a nationwide movement will be launched.
They stated that for decades—both before and after independence—these communities have faced systemic neglect and discrimination. The time has now come to ensure constitutional recognition, equal rights, and a life of dignity and honour for Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic communities across India.
16, Mar 2026
University of Birmingham Future-Proofs its Campus Learning Experience
The University of Birmingham is one of the UK’s largest universities with almost 30,000 students in attendance. As with many established universities, it faced the challenge of how to modernise its diverse estate to meet the contemporary learning-styles that have arisen in recent years. Student expectations around audiovisual technology have changed and the University of Birmingham’s LRAT / Libraries and Learning Resources in-house AV team worked with GVAV, its longstanding integration partner, to upgrade dated equipment over the Summer of 2025.
Conceived as a campus-wide initiative to be carried out over the long-term, the university team initially soug
“Some of our older rooms were saddled with dim, non-interactive projection systems and related connectivity issues,” says James Ball, LRAT – AV Designer and Project Lead. Lecturers had become reluctant to use the technology, and students could find the group-work experience frustrating. Our goal was simple: to improve the visual
Avocor was deployed across several distinct teachi
The X Series was chosen specifically over a standard projector wall or LCD videowall for its superior brightness and contrast. This ensures content can be viewed effortlessly and clearly by every person in the room, even those seated at the very back. The high-resolution, high-contrast wall serves as a central focal point, displaying content with unparalleled visual clarity – for sports analysis work, clarity and zero latency are non-negotiable. The Avocor DVLED provided the brightness and the visual scale that simply couldn’t be achieved with a standard projection system, making it a truly immersive experience for our students.
Opting for the X Series also provided a significant logistical advantage during the installation. Projection is notoriously expensive and time-consuming to install due to the requirement for specialist scaffolding. The X Series install was much quicker, delivered to site by Avocor, streamlining the process for GVAV. To maximise adoption, the system was designed for simplicity, and the control panel layouts are intuitively designed, ensuring lecturers can operate the powerful new system with minimal training.
The project also completely redesigned key spaces Muirhead 112 (featuring 8 x 55″ K-Series displays) and Y3 G28 (with 5 x 55″ K-Series displays) to move away from traditional lecture-style seating. These rooms were re-envisioned as highly flexible “collaboration pods,” specifically tailored to facilitate and enhance small-group active learning. Students can connect their personal devices—laptops or tablets—to the Avocor K-Series 55″ displays enabling immediate collaboration. The system also provides the lecturer with effortless monitoring and control over all screens. This capability allows them to quickly share a central content source to all pods simultaneously. The K-Series was selected for its blend of performance and form factor to enable seamless group collaboration.
In further teaching environments, Muirhead 109 and 118, the team implemented a dual-display configuration to support the dynamic requirements of hybrid teaching. A large 98″ K-Series display is expertly paired with a second, smaller 65″ K-Series screen. This setup dedicates the primary 98″ screen to displaying core teaching content, such as slides, digital whiteboards, or lecture materials. The secondary 65″ screen can mirror the content on the 98” screen or can be used independently for group work.
The University of Birmingham’s campus-wide AV transformation stands as a testament to what can be achieved when an integrator partner like GVAV works in close partnership with the client team (LRAT), truly understanding their needs and aspirations. By leveraging Avocor’s versatile range of high-quality display solutions, each tailored to the unique requirements of specific learning environments, the project has delivered flexible, impactful spaces that empower both students and lecturers. This collaborative approach ensured every installation was not only technically robust but also aligned with the university’s vision for modern, engaging education. The result is a series of innovative learning spaces that exemplify best practice in AV integration, demonstrating
16, Mar 2026
Ortec Finance Launches GLASS PRISM: A New Standard in Strategic Asset Allocation Powered by Scenario-Based Machine Learning
Rotterdam, Mar 16 — Ortec Finance today announces the launch of GLASS PRISM, a targeted Strategic Asset Allocation (SAA) optimization tool powered by its Scenario-Based Machine Learning (SBML) methodology – marking a major evolution in how institutional investors design long-term investment strategy.
In a world defined by volatility, persistent macro uncertainty and ever more complex investor objectives, traditional optimization approaches are increasingly outdated. GLASS PRISM moves beyond static assumptions and linear relationships by applying machine learning within a forward-looking, multi-scenario framework, enabling investors to design Strategic Asset Allocations that are more adaptive, more robust, and better aligned with their objectives.
“Strategic asset allocation is the most important investment decision institutions make, yet many tools still lack a targeted approach to optimizing SAA’s,” said Linda Hooft, Managing Director Insurance Strategy at Ortec Finance. “GLASS PRISM fundamentally changes that. By combining the accuracy of brute-force methods with the efficiency of advanced optimization techniques, our clients can optimize asset portfolios based on any objective or constraint required.”
Unlike conventional mean-variance models, GLASS PRISM:
Insurers can directly target the balance sheet metrics that matter most—within the constraints under which they operate
- Non-linear and multi-period objectives and constraints are handled natively, without proxies
- A set of SAAs is produced that best satisfies institutional objectives, rather than approximating these objectives
- Results are delivered faster, more targeted, and within existing processes
Designed for insurers, asset managers, pension funds, and other long-term investors, GLASS PRISM transforms complex SAA analysis into a scalable, decision-ready framework. By embedding SBML within a dedicated SAA optimization tool, GLASS PRISM transforms what has historically been a highly technical and time-intensive process into a scalable, decision-ready framework.
With GLASS PRISM, Ortec Finance reinforces its leadership in forward-looking risk and return management — equipping institutional investors with the tools needed to build resilient portfolios in an uncertain world.
GLASS PRISM is now available globally as part of Ortec Finance’s advanced risk and return management solutions. https://bit.ly/4utDqCl
16, Mar 2026
Aza Fashions Hosts an Exclusive Showcase of designer Rocky S’s Summer Festive Collection
Mumbai, Mar 16: Luxury multi-designer destination Aza Fashions recently hosted an exclusive in-store showcase celebrating the launch of celebrated designer Rocky S’s Rocky Star Summer Festive Collection 2026 at its flagship store in Bandra, Mumbai. The intimate evening brought together fashion enthusiasts, loyal patrons, and members of the designer’s close circle for a special unveiling that celebrated craftsmanship, couture and the renewed creative partnership between the designer and the luxury retailer.
The showcase marked a significant moment for both the designer and the brand, as Rocky Star returned to Aza in what he described as a meaningful “homecoming.” With deep roots in Mumbai and a long-standing association with the city’s fashion community, presenting his latest collection in Aza— added a special emotional resonance to the evening. The highlight of the evening was the unveiling of the collection, a soft, feminine and elegant festive edit designed specifically for modern celebrations. It blends delicate craftsmanship with contemporary glamour, offering styles that are both celebratory and versatile for the summer festive season.
Commenting on his collection launch, designer Rocky S said,
“Returning to Aza feels incredibly special to me. It’s where part of my journey began, and coming back with a new collection feels like completing a beautiful circle. I am excited to share this moment and this collection with everyone who has supported my journey. This collection is soft, feminine and elegant. featuring beautiful prints and delicate embroidery. It’s designed especially for the festive and wedding season. perfect for resort and destination celebrations
Devangi Nishar Parekh, Managing Director of Aza Fashions added, “Rocky S has always brought a distinct perspective on glamour to Indian fashion. His work has shaped celebratory dressing for decades, while continuing to evolve with changing times. Aza was one of the first platforms to showcase Rocky’s work, and we’ve shared a long association over the years. We’re excited to present his Summer Festive collection at our Aza Bandra store; it’s a celebration of craftsmanship, glamour, and modern Indian celebration fashion, which both our brands champion.”
Aza Fashions has historically played an important role in championing India’s most iconic designers and curating their creations for discerning clients. Rocky S was among the designers who began his retail journey with Aza in the early years of his label. The designer’s return to the platform marks the revival of a creative partnership built on trust, legacy and a shared vision for contemporary Indian couture.
The collection features statement sarees, glamorous gowns and sculpted draped silhouettes crafted for festive occasions, summer weddings and evening celebrations. Crafted with lightweight fabrics suited to warmer climates, the designs combine intricate embellishments with fluid cuts that allow for effortless movement and elegance.
True to Rocky S’s signature aesthetic, the pieces reflect intricate embellishments, dramatic silhouettes, and modern glamour. It seamlessly merges traditional Indian craftsmanship with contemporary couture sensibilities. The colour palette transitions gracefully between soft pastels, metallic tones and classic festive hues, creating pieces that feel both timeless and modern.
Beyond the collection launch, the event was designed to create an immersive retail experience for customers. Guests had the opportunity to interact directly with the designer, understand the inspirations behind the collection and explore the festive edit in a personalized luxury retail setting. The evening reinforced the growing role of experiential retail in luxury fashion — where storytelling, designer interaction and curated environments enhance the overall shopping experience.
Seen attending the event were Ameesha Patel, Raveena Tandon, Manushi Chillar, Shama Sikander, Sussanne Khan, Sophie Choudry, Sunny Leone and Daniel Weber, Giorgia Andriani, Reshma Bombaywala, Avni Gupta, Abel Biju, Monica D’souza, Parul Yadav, Pooja Chopra, Rahul Jhangiani, Ruhi Singh, Samita Bangargi, Shevam Singh, Shubham Sharma, Arslan Goni and several others.
For Aza Fashions, the showcase reflects its continued commitment to creating meaningful fashion moments that connect designers with their audiences. By hosting exclusive launches and in-store experiences, Aza continues to strengthen its position as one of India’s leading luxury multi-designer destinations, known for its carefully curated portfolio of celebrated designers and couture labels. Over the years, Aza has played a pivotal role in presenting iconic designers to fashion-forward clients, while offering customers access to some of the most sought-after creations in Indian couture.
16, Mar 2026
FSSAI Approves 17 rPET Plants, Unlocking 3 Lakh Tonne Capacity for India’s Circular Packaging Goal
New Delhi, Mar 16th: In a significant move, the FSSAI has granted authorization to seventeen recycled PET manufacturing plants unlocking 3 lakh tonne capacity for the country’s circular packaging economy. FSSAI’s move granting final licences will help strengthen India’s packaging supply chain at a time when Virgin PET faces global pressures in the wake of Iran-Israel war, Association of PET Recyclers (APR) Bharat, said.
With the receipt of these authorizations, the industry will now have a combined FSSAI authorised capacity to produce 3 lakh MT per annum of r-PET to meet the demand for food-contact packaging from Indian beverage/bottling industry.
The companies that have received the FSSAI authorization include Rungta Eco Extrusions Private Limited, Dodhia Industries Limited, Ganesha Ecopet Private Limited, JB Ecotex Limited, Alpha Ecoplast Private Limited, Ribotl Solutions Private Limited, Dalmia Polypro Industries Private Limited, Revalyu Recycling Limited and Srichakra Polyplast Private Limited among others.
Applauding FSSAI on granting final authorizations to these nine units, Mr Goutham Jain, Director General, APR Bharat, said, “The authorization granted by FSSAI to seventeen recycled PET manufacturing plants mark a significant move in the country’s circular packaging economy. The timing could not have been more appropriate when global markets for virgin PET and polymers are facing uncertainty amid geopolitical developments such as the ongoing Iran–Israel conflict. Capacities at these plants will help ensure adequate supply of r-PET in the market, enabling beverage manufacturers to meet the regulatory guideline mandating 40 per cent recycled food-grade plastic content in PET packaging bottles in 2026-27. This move is not only timely but also aligns with the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of building a circular economy.”
Adequate capacity to meet the demand
It is to be noted that the Plastic waste Management Rules 2016 (as amended from time to time) mandates the use of 30 per cent recycled content in rigid plastic packaging effective from 2025-26 with gradual increase of 10 per cent every year until 60 per cent in 2028-29 and onwards. Aligned with this mandate, 15-18 food-grade rPET recycling facilities were established across the country with a total capacity of approx. 3 lakh MT at an estimated investment of INR. 9,000 – 10,000 Crores.
These companies have adopted state-of-art technology and set up their factories adhering to standards approved by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) had, in September 2021 allowed use of r-PET as a food contact material. However, in a draft notification issued on June 3, 2025, MoEFCC allowed brands and producers to carry forward shortfalls in meeting the 30% r-PET target for food contact applications for 2025-26 over the next three years. The delay in issue of final notification has caused uncertainty and impacted the immediate demand significantly for r-PET by beverage and bottling industry.
“With these seventeen recycled PET manufacturing plants receiving final authorizations, there will be surplus r-PET available in the market. This can help fill any gap in the supply of polymers due to the ongoing war and volatility in global markets,” Jain said.
“We would also like to extend our sincere gratitude to Shri. J.P. Nadda, Hon’ble Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Shri Rajit Punhani, CEO, FSSAI and Dr. Alka Rao, Advisor, FSSAI for their timely and continued support to the r-PET industry,” he added.
16, Mar 2026
Something’s cooking in Chef Ranveer Brar’s Kitchen
An exclusive Tasting Table hosted by celebrity chef Ranveer Brar is set to bring together a curated mix of food, innovation, and culinary storytelling in an intimate setting. The gathering is expected to draw a number of well-known faces from the culinary world, along with lifestyle influencers, creators, and select members of the media.
Adding to the buzz, the chef recently sent out a series of creatively curated bento-box invites to select creators and influencers. Each box featured two of his favourites – biryani and momos, along with a cryptic note hinting that “something exciting is cooking.” The unusual invite has sparked curiosity across social media, with several creators sharing glimpses of the boxes and speculating about what Chef Ranveer Brar might be preparing to unveil at the upcoming gathering.
While details about the event remain tightly under wraps, industry buzz suggests that the evening could feature the reveal of a new kitchen innovation designed to revolutionise everyday cooking for Indian homes.
At the chef’s table, Brar is expected to showcase how modern kitchen tools can help prepare a wide variety of dishes with ease, while preserving the flavours and authenticity that define Indian cuisine. In Further details about the innovation, including its features, availability, and market rollout are expected to be revealed closer to the official announcement.
