Author: Neel Achary

Budget 2026 Must Accelerate MedTech Innovation and Expand Equitable Healthcare Access

By: Dipu Bose, Head, Medical Technology, ZEISS India & Neighboring Markets

We are optimistic that the upcoming Union Budget will introduce transformative reforms to address critical gaps in India’s healthcare access and infrastructure. The focus should be on reducing tax burdens, expanding incentives for innovation, and significantly increasing public health spending to build a more inclusive and robust healthcare system that benefits every citizen, regardless of income or location.

Expanding Production Linked Incentive (PLI 2.0) schemes for medical devices is vital to fostering innovation and reducing import reliance. Complementing this with phased manufacturing programs (PMP) and globally-aligned incentives for biosimilars, novel therapies, and research and development (R&D) will strengthen India’s healthcare ecosystem and bolster global competitiveness. 

Increasing public health spending to over 2.5% of GDP is essential to improving primary care and addressing decades of underinvestment in rural healthcare. Strategic investments in district hospitals, rural facilities, and telemedicine, particularly in Tier II/III cities, will bridge healthcare gaps, reduce financial strain on lower-income communities, and ensure equitable access for all.

India faces pressing challenges in delivering affordable and accessible healthcare, especially in underserved regions. Aligning GST rates for essential medical devices to the 5% slab and reducing cumulative taxes such as Basic Customs Duty (BCD), GST, and Health Cess will make critical medical devices more affordable for consumers, particularly in areas with limited domestic manufacturing capacity.

Simplifying import-export procedures by aligning with global best practices and reducing regulatory barriers can expedite device registration, classification, and clearances, enabling faster market entry for imported MedTech products. Implementing accelerated depreciation or tax incentives for hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic centers investing in ophthalmic equipment such as OCTs, surgical microscopes, fundus cameras, lasers, and perimeters can help offset the significant upfront costs associated with these critical investments.

The Science of Warm vs Cool Light: What Most Homes Get Wrong

Jaipur, Jan 21: One of the most persistent misconceptions in residential interiors is the belief that lighting decisions begin and end with brightness. In reality, colour temperature plays a far more influential role—shaping how architectural volumes are perceived, how materials respond, and how spatial depth unfolds throughout the day. Warm and cool light are not merely stylistic preferences; they are scientific tools that directly affect comfort, clarity, and visual balance.

At Lumeil, lighting is approached as a calibrated design element. By understanding how colour temperature interacts with form and material, designers can move beyond trial-and-error solutions to create interiors that feel cohesive, composed, and visually effortless.

What Warm and Cool Light Really Do

Warm light, typically ranging between 2700K and 3000K, produces a soft, inviting glow that promotes relaxation and visual ease. Cool light, usually above 4000K, appears sharper and more neutral, supporting alertness and precision. Problems arise when these temperatures are applied without spatial intent.

One of the most common mistakes is treating cool light as a universal solution for contemporary interiors. While it has its place, excessive use can flatten textures, exaggerate contrast, and make living spaces feel sterile rather than refined.

“Light temperature directly influences how surfaces behave and how people feel within a space,” says Naman Jain, Founder of Lumeil. “When temperature is treated as an afterthought, even well-designed interiors can lose their sense of balance.”

How Materials Respond to Light Temperature

Materials reveal their true character only under the right light. Warm illumination enhances depth in wood, stone, metal, and textured finishes, allowing surfaces to appear richer and more dimensional.

A sculptural fixture such as the Allure Golden Orb Crystal Chandelier performs best under warm light, where the crystal diffuses illumination softly across volumes instead of producing harsh reflections. Similarly, the Adonis Premium Chandelier benefits from warmer tones that support material warmth and visual calm.

Under overly cool lighting, these same finishes can appear flat, disconnected, and visually unresolved.

Room-Specific Lighting Decisions

Living Areas
Living spaces benefit from warm to neutral light that encourages conversation and relaxation. Ambient fixtures like the Allure Golden Orb Crystal Chandelier or the Adonis Premium Chandelier establish visual hierarchy while preserving the natural warmth of materials. Accent lighting, such as the Outline Wall Light, adds depth without clutter when used in warmer tones.

Dining Spaces
Dining areas require clarity without harshness. The Panache Pendant Light, paired with warm or neutral illumination, highlights the dining surface while maintaining intimacy. Colour temperature here directly affects how food, finishes, and skin tones are perceived making warmth essential.

Bedrooms
Bedrooms are especially sensitive to light temperature. Cool light can disrupt rest and visual comfort. Soft, warm illumination through fixtures like the Aura Table Lamp or the Roseate Floor Lamp creates an atmosphere conducive to relaxation while allowing materials to retain their softness and depth.

Work and Study Zones
Cool or neutral light has a role when used selectively. In task-oriented zones, clarity takes precedence over ambience. The Duo LED Wall Light provides focused illumination that supports concentration without spilling glare into surrounding spaces.

“The mistake isn’t using cool light,” notes Jain. “The mistake is using it everywhere. Good lighting design is about containment and balance.”

Why Many Homes Feel Overlit

Homes often feel visually uncomfortable because warm and cool light sources are mixed without intention. When colour temperatures clash, materials appear inconsistent and spaces lose cohesion.

Today, designers consider light temperature alongside fixture selection—not as an afterthought. Even the most well-designed pendant or wall light performs only as well as the quality and tone of light it emits.

A More Informed Approach to Lighting

Understanding the science of colour temperature allows interiors to align naturally with daily rhythms. Warm light supports winding down, while cool light supports activity. Thoughtful transitions between the two enable spaces to evolve from day to evening without visual fatigue.

At Lumeil, lighting collections are curated to function within these principles. Each fixture is designed to work as part of a considered lighting scheme rather than as an isolated statement.

Warm and cool light are not opposing forces—they are complementary tools that demand restraint and understanding. Homes that feel calm, balanced, and architecturally resolved are rarely the result of brighter lighting. They are the result of better lighting decisions.

By recognising how colour temperature shapes perception, material response, and human behaviour, designers and homeowners alike can create interiors that feel coherent, comfortable, and enduring.

The Hosteller scales rapidly in 2025, driven by inventory expansion and strong repeat demand 

New Delhi,  Jan 21: The Hosteller, India’s largest backpacker hostel chain, announced strong growth in 2025, driven by inventory expansion, rising repeat demand, and an increasing share of direct bookings. During January–December 2025, the brand added 2,100 new beds, a 72% year-on-year increase in bed inventory, and expanded its footprint to 5,100 beds across 72 hostels in 56 cities. In total, the company added 19 new hostels, marking a 25% growth in the number of hostels during the year.

The brand served 496,554 guests in 2025, reflecting robust demand in domestic travel. A key highlight of the year was the rise in guest loyalty, with the repeat guest rate increasing to 38.3%, up from 16.4% in 2024, representing 133% year-on-year growth. Direct bookings accounted for 55% of total reservations, demonstrating strong customer trust and engagement.

The Hosteller operates on a self-operated model, maintaining full control over guest experience and operational standards. In 2025, 95% of the company’s revenue came from self-operated hostels, with the remaining 5% from operational management contracts. By building a geographically diversified network, The Hosteller has been able to reduce the impact of seasonality, while standardised operations, technology-driven revenue management, and a community-first approach have supported efficient growth.

Commenting on the performance, Pranav Dangi, CEO & Founder, The Hosteller said, 

“2025 has been a strong year for us. We expanded our network to 56 cities and added 2,100 beds while maintaining operational control across all hostels. The growth in repeat guests and direct bookings demonstrates the trust in our brand and the strength of our community-led, self-operated model.”

Looking ahead, The Hosteller plans to continue expanding across key travel destinations in India, focusing on strengthening repeat guest engagement, direct bookings, and operational efficiency.

Awfis Becomes First Coworking Brand in India to Achieve Three Simultaneous WELL Accolades

Awfis, India’s largest flexible workspace provider, in partnership with the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI)—the global authority advancing health in buildings, organisations, and communities—today announced a major milestone in creating healthier, safer, and more inclusive workplaces for India’s coworking workforce.

Through the WELL at Scale pathway, Awfis has achieved:

• WELL Health-Safety Rating across 35 locations nationwide

• WELL Equity Rating across 35 locations nationwide

• WELL Coworking Rating for 15 coworking centres, in collaboration with The Instant Group

This makes Awfis the first coworking brand in India to earn three WELL accolades simultaneously.

These achievements highlight Awfis’ leadership in people-first workplace design, prioritising physical, mental, and social well-being and moving beyond the traditional notion that health is merely the absence of illness. By aligning its spaces with the globally recognized WELL Standard, Awfis is setting a new benchmark for future-ready work environments in India.

“We are proud to mark a milestone that places Awfis at the forefront of healthier, safer, more inclusive, and future-ready workplaces in India,” said Amit Ramani, Chairman & Managing Director, Awfis Space Solutions Ltd. “These ratings reflect our unwavering commitment to creating environments where every individual can truly thrive. By embedding health, safety, and equity into the foundation of our spaces, we are not just providing workplaces, we are building communities that empower people and businesses to perform at their best.”

The WELL Health-Safety Rating recognises Awfis’ operational excellence in implementing health and safety strategies across its operations. Occupants benefit from enhanced confidence, reduced health risks, and robust business continuity measures, including rigorous cleaning, emergency preparedness, indoor air quality management, and stakeholder engagement. Organisations operating from these spaces enjoy environments that actively promote employee well-being, engagement, and productivity.

The WELL Equity Rating underscores Awfis’ commitment to fairness, inclusion, and accessibility. This recognition reflects robust policies to prevent discrimination, promote equitable access, and ensure barrier-free movement across facilities, creating workplaces that foster belonging and support diverse teams while strengthening employer branding.

The WELL Coworking Rating, introduced by IWBI in partnership with The Instant Group, focuses on people-first strategies for the coworking environment. The rating includes over 50 features across all 10 WELL concepts, highlighting Awfis’ dedication to:

• Advanced indoor air quality management with continuous monitoring and filtration

• Regular water quality testing

• Health-conscious food and nourishment guidelines

• Workspaces intentionally designed to enhance comfort, performance, and overall experience

“Awfis’ achievements reflect the leadership the flexible workspace sector in India needs today,” said Prateek Khanna, COO, IWBI. “As India’s coworking workforce grows, so does the need for healthier, more engaging, and equitable workplaces. By engaging WELL at scale, Awfis is setting a strong people-first benchmark for the market and redefining quality in flexible work environments.”

“Awfis achieving multiple WELL Ratings across its portfolio is a significant milestone. It is encouraging to see Awfis set a new benchmark for people-first flexible workspaces, demonstrating clear leadership in workplace health, safety, and equity across the region,” said Sam Pickering, Executive Director, Head of Sustainability, The Instant Group.

Care.fi, Backed by Peak XV, Acquires Aldun to Deliver a Unified, Patient-First Discharge Experience at National Scale

New Delhi, Jan 21: Care.fi, a healthcare-focused fintech founded by Vikrant Agrawal and Sidak Singh, today announced its acquisition of Aldun, a discharge-automation platform recognized for enabling near-instant, 10-minute patient discharges. Aldun currently supports around 10,000 discharges per month across hospital networks including Aster, Apollo, Manipal, Sir Ganga Ram, Fortis, KIMS, Narayana, and Cloudnine, impacting over 1 lakh lives and saving hospitals more than 10 lakh administrative hours.

Through this acquisition, Care.fi plans to scale the combined solution to 300 hospital units and approximately 1 lakh monthly discharges, creating a unified, transparent patient experience from admission to settlement.

By integrating Aldun’s last-mile orchestration with Care.fi’s revenue-cycle management (RCM) and financing rails, the acquisition addresses a critical system bottleneck—slow, manual discharge processes—unlocking measurable capacity and cash flow for providers. Hospitals will benefit from higher bed turnover, faster claims closure, reduced denials, and finance teams gain real-time visibility into receivables and working capital. Faster discharges also increase daily effective capacity without new capex, improving access and service levels for patients.

“Discharge is the last mile of care and the first memory a family takes home. By bringing Aldun into the Care.fi fold, we’re turning hours into minutes and queues into capacity. Coupled with our RCM and financing rails, including our single-window claims platform, hospitals get one operating layer for faster discharge, cleaner books, and a measurably better patient experience,” said Vikrant Agrawal, Co-founder, Care.fi.

Once the final bill is generated, patients typically head home in ~10 minutes, avoiding the traditional full-day wait. This reduces non-clinical costs such as parking, attendant time off work, and extra room charges, lowers anxiety at discharge, and supports earlier recovery at home with clearer, digital instructions and follow-ups.

“At scale, discharge delays aren’t just an operational issue—they distort cashflows, capacity planning, and patient confidence. This acquisition lets us redesign discharge as a predictable, system-level outcome rather than a daily firefight. By unifying financing, claims, and settlement into one workflow, we’re helping hospitals release locked capacity, accelerate collections, and deliver a consistent patient experience across cities and care settings,” said Sidak Singh, Co-founder, Care.fi.

The acquisition is a strategic fit, combining convenience, compliance, and cashflow with national-level distribution, delivering a consistent patient journey across partner hospitals. Standardizing 10-minute discharge processes across multi-specialty hospitals—especially in Tier-2 and Tier-3 markets—will unlock throughput, lower administrative overheads, and improve operational efficiency without adding beds.

Backing from investors such as Peak XV (Care.fi) and 2am VC (Aldun) underscores growing confidence in practical, implementation-ready solutions that simultaneously enhance patient convenience and RCM discipline.