Author: Neel Achary

HE DATO Dr. Bhargav Mallappa & HE DATO Dr. S. Selvaganesh Selvaraj Ink Kampung Bharu 2.0 Twin-Tower MoU

Indian Investor & Entrepreneur HE DATO Dr Bhargav Mallappa & HE DATO Dr S. Selvaganesh Selvaraj Meets Yam Raja Izzuddin Iskandar Shah Al-Haj Ibni Almarhum Sultan Idris Afiffullah Shah, Seeks Blessings for Kampung Bharu 2.0 Project

 Signs Major MoU to Speed Up Iconic Twin-Tower Plan, Boost FDI, Create High-Value Jobs, Modernize City Infrastructure, and Strengthen Malaysia–India Ties

Malaysia / India, Feb 20: HE DATO Dr Bhargav Mallappa, a prominent Indian investor and entrepreneur from the MBRA Group, along with HE DATO Dr S Selvaganesh Selvaraj, recently met Yam Raja Izzuddin Iskandar Shah Al-Haj Ibni Almarhum Sultan Idris Afiffullah Shah, a Member of the Malaysian Royal Family (Perak), on February 15 at the Mid Valley Hotel in Kuala Lumpur.

During the meeting, HE DATO Dr Bhargav Mallappa sought His Highness’s blessings for the ambitious Kampung Bharu 2.0 redevelopment project. The discussion focused on shared vision, mutual respect, and long-term cooperation aimed at transforming one of Kuala Lumpur’s oldest and most historic neighbourhoods.

Following the meeting, a major strategic partnership was formalized with DSAT Private Equity Sdn. Bhd., under which HE Dato Dr Bhargav Mallappa is committing substantial investment to accelerate the redevelopment initiative. A key highlight of the project is the proposed iconic twin-tower development, designed to redefine the city’s skyline while carefully preserving the cultural and historical identity of Kampung Bharu.

As part of the agreement, HE DATO Dr Bhargav Mallappa has acquired equity in DSAT Private Equity Sdn. Bhd., a company licensed and regulated by the Securities Commission Malaysia. The regulated structure ensures that all investments follow strict legal, regulatory, and governance standards, maintaining full transparency and accountability.

Speaking about the initiative, HE DATO Dr Bhargav Mallappa said:

“Malaysia stands out for its economic resilience, stable governance, and vast opportunities in urban transformation. Kampung Bharu 2.0 presents a unique opportunity to create a landmark that honors heritage while embracing modern progress. Our commitment is to invest responsibly, transparently, and with a long-term development vision.”

Adding to this, HE DATO Dr. S Selvaganesh Selvaraj stated:

“This collaboration reflects the growing strength of Malaysia–India partnerships in strategic development. By combining international expertise with local vision, we aim to contribute meaningfully to sustainable growth, job creation, and long-term economic value.”

Welcoming the engagement, Yam Raja Izzuddin Iskandar Shah Al-Haj Ibni Almarhum Sultan Idris Afiffullah Shah said:

“We appreciate the confidence shown by international investors in Malaysia’s growth story. Development must be forward-looking while respecting our cultural roots. Initiatives like Kampung Bharu 2.0 have the potential to generate economic value, create skilled employment, and further strengthen Malaysia–India relations.”

The partnership is expected to attract foreign direct investment (FDI), create high-value jobs, upgrade urban infrastructure, and deepen economic ties between Malaysia and India, while supporting inclusive and sustainable national development goals.

It Is Time to Exit the Macaulay Mindset and Lead India into Viksit Bharat — Dharmendra Pradhan

Dharmendra Pradhan Announces Conversion of SRCC GBO Diploma into Full-Fledged Master’s Degree Programme at Yugantar ’26

Feb 20| New Delhi: The Education Minister on Friday called on institutions to “exit the Macaulay doctrine” and align higher education with the vision of Viksit Bharat, and announced the conversion of SRCC’s Post Graduate Diploma in Global Business Operations (PGDGBO) into a full-fledged Master’s degree programme.

He made these remarks while inaugurating Yugantar ’26, the Annual Management Conclave of SRCC’s Post Graduate Diploma in Global Business Operations (PGDGBO), themed “AI for Sustainability & Startup Innovation.”

The inaugural session at the Shridhar Shriram Auditorium was graced by Dharmendra Pradhan, Hon’ble Union Minister of Education, Government of India, as the Distinguished Chief Guest. The ceremony was presided over by Prof. Yogesh Singh, Vice-Chancellor, University of Delhi, and hosted by Prof. Simrit Kaur, Principal, SRCC. Senior faculty members, industry leaders, alumni, and students attended the event, along with Dr. Misha Govil, GBO Coordinator, SRCC; Dr. Sapna Bansal, Convener, Yugantar 2026; and Dr. Sunita Sharma, Co-Convener, Yugantar 2026.

The programme opened with a tribute to Sir Shri Ram, followed by the ceremonial lighting of the lamp.

“We Must Not Be Afraid to Accept Change”

In his keynote address, the Education Minister described the National Education Policy (NEP) as a structural reset of India’s academic framework.

“We have to get out of the Macaulay doctrine that enslaved India academically. The National Education Policy, envisioned by Prime Minister Modi ji, will ensure that Bharat becomes a Vishwa Guru. Institutions like SRCC must lead this transformation. SRCC is sowing the seeds to achieve the vision of Viksit Bharat.”

He emphasised technological sovereignty and institutional reform: “In this age of technology, the nature of competition has fundamentally changed. We know that change is needed — but we must not be afraid to accept it. India must move toward sovereign AI ecosystems, strengthening institutions like IIT Madras and IIT Bombay, and building indigenous capabilities so that Bharat becomes a leader in Artificial Intelligence.”

He urged higher education institutions to embed research, patents, startup incubation, and AI-led innovation into their academic structures.

PGDGBO to Be Upgraded into Master’s Degree Programme

The Education Minister announced that SRCC’s two-year Post Graduate Diploma in Global Business Operations (PGDGBO), offered by Shri Ram College of Commerce, University of Delhi, will be converted into a full-fledged Master’s degree programme.

The transition is expected to strengthen academic recognition, align the programme with National Education Policy reforms, and enhance its global academic equivalence while integrating greater research and innovation components.

Universities Must Build Market-Ready Innovation

Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh said universities must convert research into commercially viable outcomes.

“Only three words can safeguard the future of young minds — innovation, creativity, and originality. Universities must go beyond publications; we must develop patents, prototypes, and commercially sustainable products.”

He cautioned institutions against resisting technological shifts and called for stronger university–industry collaboration.

AI Must Be Ethical and Inclusive

Principal Simrit Kaur said institutions must guide artificial intelligence with responsibility and human judgment.

“Artificial Intelligence has the capacity to shift both demand and supply curves, improving productivity and efficiency. But without the intelligence of humans, there is no optimal solution. AI must be coordinated with humanity and adopted responsibly.”

She added, “We are committed to viewing Artificial Intelligence as our destiny — ensuring that its growth remains inclusive, accountable, and sustainable.”

Day 1 of Yugantar ’26 featured corporate panels on AI-enabled sustainability, founder sessions on startup scaling, and case simulations across finance, marketing, analytics, HR, and international business.

The Education Minister also visited the Viksit Bharat Startup Expo 2026, where student-led ventures showcased innovation prototypes.

With the announcement of the Master’s degree upgrade for SRCC GBO and a push toward NEP-led reform and sovereign AI capabilities, Yugantar ’26 positioned SRCC within the broader roadmap toward Viksit Bharat 2047.

Asia’s Protein Buyers Still Trail Global Best Practice — But Momentum is Building, New ARE Benchmark Finds

SINGAPORE, Feb 20 - Asia’s largest food retailers, manufacturers, restaurant chains, and hospitality groups remain behind international better practice on sustainable and responsible protein sourcing, but progress is accelerating across the region, according to The Asian Protein Buyers 100: An Assessment of Responsible and Sustainable Sourcing released today by Asia Research & Engagement (ARE). 

The APB100 is a benchmark based on investor-backed priorities – assessing how 100 of Asia’s largest listed protein-buying companies — headquartered or operating across Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mainland China, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam — manage environmental, social, and governance risks embedded in meat, dairy, poultry, and seafood supply chains. Collectively, the companies assessed represent more than USD500 billion in market capitalisation and sit at the choke point of Asia’s protein system, where procurement decisions shape production standards, risk management and food-system outcomes. 

The companies assessed include some of Asia’s most recognisable food and retail groups. These include China Mengniu Dairy, Yili Group, Yonghui and Yum China (Mainland China); AEON, Seven & I Holdings, Meiji, Nissin and NH Foods (Japan); CJ CheilJedang, Lotte and E-Mart (South Korea); Charoen Pokphand Foods and Thai Union (Thailand); Jollibee, Century Pacific Food and San Miguel Food & Beverage (Philippines); Vinamilk (Vietnam); and Hindustan Lever, Nestle India, Jubilant, Devyani, DMart, Westlife Foodworld (McDonald’s India) (India), among others. 

Scores are improving, but the baseline remains low 

Now in its second edition, the benchmark shows clear momentum since 2023 — but also highlights that most companies remain at an early stage of credible implementation. 

The average overall score increased from 9% in 2023 to 16% in 2025, with around 80% of companies improving year-on-year. More than half of comparable companies moved up at least one performance tier. 

However, no company reached the top two performance tiers, underscoring a persistent gap between sustainability commitments and on-the-ground execution. 

A growing group of leaders is emerging 

The number of companies in the leading Tier 3 group more than doubled from 10 in 2023 to 26 in 2025, while the lowest-scoring group halved from 44 to 21 companies. 

Progress, however, remains uneven and concentrated among a subset of early movers and sustainability themes, while a significant minority of companies continues to disclose little or nothing across several material risk areas. 

Climate, labour, and waste are moving fastest 

Companies performed strongest on Water & Waste, Labour , and Climate Change, reflecting wider uptake of international disclosure frameworks and growing expectations around supply-chain due diligence. 

Climate and labour show the fastest improvement since 2023, driven by emerging regulatory pressure and investor scrutiny, particularly around Scope 3 emissions and labour standards in supply chains. 

Governance and protein diversification remain critical gaps 

Several material risk areas continue to show weak performance. Governance in relation to protein sustainability, remains the lowest-scoring theme, averaging just 4.5%, with most companies scoring zero. Few have board-approved protein sustainability strategies, capital allocation plans, or accountability mechanisms. 

Protein diversification also remains underdeveloped at 7.4%, indicating that most companies have yet to articulate how they will shift product portfolios toward truly low carbon plant proteins at scale. 

Disclosures on deforestation and biodiversity, animal welfare, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) also remain thin and rarely quantified. The intersection of climate and deforestation is still not being duly harnessed. Similarly, policies and procurement practices that strengthen animal welfare and enable antibiotic reduction remain a low point, with average animal welfare performance at just 14.1% and only one company aligned with recognised higher-welfare standards or independently certified disclosure. 

Why this matters: Asia is the decisive region for global protein systems 

Compared with innovative international peers, many of Asia’s protein buyers remain behind on deforestation-free sourcing, antibiotic stewardship, higher-welfare policies and procurement, plant-protein targets and science-based climate transition planning. 

However, Asia now represents the most important opportunity for global leadership in responsible protein systems. And with less than five years to implement meaningful change towards various 2030 United Nations and related targets, the vision of a more responsible and sustainable food system is at risk. 

“Asia is the world’s fastest-growing protein market, which means what happens here will determine the future of global food systems,” said Kate Blaszak, ARE Director, Protein Transition. “ThisAPB100 shows that disclosure and awareness are improving and aims to trigger a shift from Policy to Practice. With a realm of better practice examples in the report to also assist companies, the next phase must focus on full supply-chain coverage, measurable targets, and annual progress with board-level accountability.” 

Judge India Solutions Plans Strategic Hiring Drive to Boost U.S. Staffing

Noida, Feb 20 : Judge India Solutions, a leading IT solutions company and the India arm of The Judge Group, today announced an active strategic hiring drive to expand its U.S. staffing team, reinforcing its role as a critical growth engine for the company’s global talent solutions business.

As part of this expansion, Judge India Solutions plans to onboard specialized recruiters across high-impact domains, including Information Technology, Engineering, Healthcare, Aerospace, and Banking, Financial Services, & Insurance (BFSI). The initiative is aligned with rising demand from U.S. enterprises for high-quality, domain-specific talent and reflects the company’s continued investment in building scalable, future-ready staffing capabilities.

On this announcement, Mr. Abhishek Agarwal, President – Judge India & Global Delivery at The Judge Group, said,

“Demand for specialized talent in the U.S. market is accelerating across multiple industries. This strategic hiring drive strengthens our ability to deliver speed, precision, and expertise to our clients, while reinforcing India’s role as a center of excellence for global staffing operations.

The company supports over 10,000 placements each year, partnering with many of the world’s most respected corporations, including 60 Fortune 100 companies. With over five decades of experience, Judge has evolved into a global organization with more than 30 offices across the United States, Canada, Europe, and India.

Established in 2016, Judge India Solutions serves as The Judge Group’s Center of Excellence (CoE) for technology-led innovation and talent delivery. The organization employs over 300 professionals across Noida, Bangalore, and Hyderabad, supporting global clients through technology, staffing, and consulting solutions.

This expansion underscores Judge India Solution’s growing importance in The Judge Group’s global delivery model, particularly in supporting U.S. staffing operations with specialised recruitment expertise, advanced sourcing strategies, and technology-enabled processes.

Prego at Westin Gurgaon Brings Italy to the Table with New Sunday Brunches

The Westin Gurgaon, New Delhi invites guests to slow down their weekends with the launch of Sunday Brunches at Prego, a refined Italian dining experience curated by Expat Chef Davide Di Domenico. Designed as an elegant yet leisurely escape, the brunch brings together soulful Italian flavours, artisanal craftsmanship, and the comforting warmth of a true Italian table.

Hosted every Sunday from 11:30 AM to 3:30 PM, the brunch celebrates Italy’s timeless culinary traditions where meals are unhurried, conversations linger, and indulgence is embraced without guilt. At the heart of the experience is Chef Davide’s passion for authentic Italian cooking, drawing from regional classics, handcrafted pastas, and wood-fired favourites.

Sunday Brunch at Prego

Every Sunday

Time : 11:30 AM – 3:30 PM

Venue : Prego, The Westin Gurgaon, New Delhi