Author: Neel Achary

We Women Want Conclave & Shakti Awards 2025 Unite Leaders to Drive Women-Led Growth

August 9, 2025: The We Women Want Conclave & Shakti Awards 2025, presented by NewsX and an initiative of iTV Network, concluded with standing ovations, heartfelt moments, and an unshakable message — India’s progress is inseparable from the empowerment of its women. What began as an extension of the acclaimed We Women Want show has now evolved into a formidable national movement, celebrating courage, dismantling stereotypes, and placing women at the centre of India’s growth story.

The 2025 edition was nothing short of historic, graced by Smt. Rekha Gupta, Chief Minister of Delhi (Chief Guest), Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (Guest of Honour), and Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Member of Parliament & Keynote Speaker, whose speeches added gravitas and urgency to the cause. Smt. Rekha Gupta’s rallying call — “You don’t need to wait to be empowered, you already are. The time to lead is now.” — drew thunderous applause and set the tone for a day that celebrated leadership without hesitation.

This on-ground conclave hosted a stellar line-up of powerful and thought-provoking panel discussions, each addressing pressing issues and presenting transformative solutions. The session on Drone Didis and Lakhpati Didis highlighted rural women breaking technological and economic barriers, while War Against the Beasts saw Nirbhaya’s mother Asha Devi and advocate Seema Khushwaha demand fearless justice. Women & Ayurveda offered deep insights from Dr. Upasana Vohra on blending ancient wellness wisdom with modern living, and sessions like Real Estate & Her and Women Mean Business showcased entrepreneurs like Aishwarya Bansal, Shirin Mann, and Dr. Shweta Singh redefining the business landscape. Panels such as Bringing Up Girls & Boys challenged parenting norms, From IVF to Menopause broke health taboos, and Breaking Biases brought together women MPs Priyanka Chaturvedi, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Supriya Sule, and Sushmita Dev to discuss systemic political change. Emotional and inspiring moments came from Women in Uniform with Lt Gen. Sadhna Saxena Nair, Beyond the Mainstream with Shabana Azmi, The Sunny Story with Sunny Leone, and What Women Want with Ekta Kapoor — each conversation reinforcing the belief that empowerment is achieved by leading change, not waiting for it.

At the heart of the conclave were the Shakti Awards 2025, instituted in memory of Smt. Shakti Rani Sharma, celebrating over 80 exceptional women whose achievements span industries, geographies, and causes. Honourees included:

Sussanne Khan (Interior Design), Nimrat Kaur (Pathbreaking Performances), Charu Singh (Philanthropy), Dr. Payal Kanodia (Philanthropy), Asha Devi (Women’s Activism), Sara Abdullah Pilot (Women Empowerment), Aishwarya Bansal (Innovation & Design in Real Estate), Radhika Bharat Ram (Women Empowerment), Shalini Passi (Powerpacked OTT Debut), Prof. Himani Sood (Women Leadership), Shaifalika Panda (Philanthropy), Kalyani Saha Chawla (Entrepreneurship), Ritu Beri (Design), Bahaar Rohatgi (Visual Art), Adv. Seema Samridhi Khushwaha (Nari Shakti), Ratna Debnath (Nari Shakti), Dr. Kashika Jain (Clinical Psychology), Dr. Mamata Dhiraj Jain (Real Estate), Dr. Upasana Vohra (Ayurveda & Social Health Services), Neha Arora (Architectural Glass & Hardware Design), Dr. Shweta Singh (Business Analysis), Dr. Shilpi Mohan (Preventive Cardiology & Tarot Astrology), Reema Patne (Life Coaching), Taniya Tikoo (Entrepreneurship), Arunima Malik (Communications), Ms. Neeraj (Rural Entrepreneurship), Ms. Lalita (Rural Entrepreneurship), Ms. Ambika Rana (Rural Entrepreneurship), Ms. Lata Sharma (Rural Entrepreneurship), Amna Khatoon (Agricultural Entrepreneurship), Sakshi Lalwani (Nutrition), Ishi Khosla (Nutrition), Dr. Anjali Hooda (Preventive Health), Shirin Mann (Entrepreneurship), Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj (Gender Activism), Dr. Alkanshree Dahar (Law), Apoorva Pandey (Entrepreneurship), Dr. Radhikaraje Gaekwad (Philanthropy), Kamakshi Khanna (Vocal Artistry – Promising Talent), Shahat Gill (Vocal Artistry – Upcoming Talent), Simran Choudhary (Singing), Uorfi Javed (Fashion), Anuradha Das Mathur (Women Empowerment), Dr. Tanya Buckshee Rohatgi (IVF Reproductive Medicine & Onco-Fertility), Dr. Jayasree Sundar (Gynaecology & Obstetrics), Dr. Gita Prakash (Family Medicine), Dr. Anjila Aneja (Gynaecology & Obstetrics), Dr. Jai Madaan (Motivational Speaking), Sonia Garg (Fashion Content Creation), Sahiba Bali (Promising Performances), Sayali Bhagat (Women Empowerment), Ambika Seth (Gastronomy), Sunny Leone (Powerful Performances), Dr. Purnima Devi Barman (Ecological Leadership), Shabana Azmi (Entertainment), Ekta Kapoor (Entertainment), Neha Dhupia (Empowering Women), Dia Mirza (Environmental Impact), Malavika Mohanan (Style), Nikita Luther (Gaming), Nomita Kohli (Interior Design), Chanda Narang (Applied Art), Dr. Ankita Menon (Water Stewardship & Sustainability), Glorywebs (Most Trusted IT Partner for Businesses), Devyani Jaipuria (Education & Healthcare Leadership), Lt Gen. Sadhna Saxena Nair (Leadership in Uniform), Ambassador Bhaswati Mukherjee (Public Service), Surveen Chawla (Powerhouse Performances), Vimla Kumari (Rural Entrepreneurship), Seema (Rural Entrepreneurship), Manisha Kumari (Rural Entrepreneurship), Usha Devi (Rural Entrepreneurship), Pooja Elangbam (Cultural Promotion), Rima Das (Filmmaking), Anupama Raag (Leadership), Niti Batra (Women’s Leadership), Prikansha Luthra (Business Leadership), Payal Garg, and Ishika Sharma.

Reflecting on the event’s impact, Dr. Aishwarya Pandit Sharma, Chairperson of The Sunday Guardian Foundation, said, “The We Women Want Conclave & Shakti Awards 2025is our declaration to the world — we will not wait to be invited into decision-making spaces, we will claim them, transform them, and build new ones. Every awardee here today has defied the odds, turned challenges into opportunities, and in doing so, has rewritten the narrative of what it means to be a woman in India. The We Women Want Conclave and Shakti Awards are not a once-a-year celebration; they are the start of an everyday revolution. We are here to prove that women’s progress is not just about representation — it is about leadership, ownership, and unstoppable influence.”

With its spirit of openness, constructive dialogue, and wholehearted celebration, the We Women Want Conclave & Shakti Awards 2025 reaffirmed its place as one of the nation’s most powerful platforms for women’s voices. The event not only brought together inspiring stories and practical solutions but also created an atmosphere of hope, collaboration, and shared purpose. Every conversation was forward-looking, every award a recognition of possibility, and every moment a reminder that women’s leadership is not an aspiration for the future but a vibrant reality of the present. By sparking meaningful discussions, setting a progressive agenda, and celebrating achievements across every sphere, the conclave inspired a generation to step forward with confidence, conviction, and a renewed belief in their power to shape a more inclusive and empowered India.

Ice Make Refrigeration Reports Strong Revenue Growth in Q1 FY26; Strategic Investments to Drive Long-Term Expansion

Hyderabad, August 09, 2025: Ice Make Refrigeration Limited, a leading manufacturer of 50+ innovative cooling and refrigeration solutions, announced its unaudited financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2025 (Q1 FY26), demonstrating continued momentum in revenue growth despite temporary headwinds in profitability.

During the quarter, the company reported consolidated revenue from operations of ₹111.50 crore, registering a year-on-year growth of over 30 percent compared to ₹85.23 crore in Q1 FY25. This performance reflects consistent demand across key verticals including cold rooms, industrial refrigeration, and transport refrigeration segments, backed by strong order execution and growing market penetration.

However, due to seasonal input cost fluctuations, elevated finance costs, and inventory adjustments, the company recorded a net profit of ₹ -1.47 crore in Q1 FY26 compared to a profit of ₹3.64 crore in the same quarter last year. The management emphasized that this is a short-term impact and the underlying fundamentals of the business remain strong. Ice Make continues to maintain a sharp focus on operating efficiencies, cost optimization, and working capital discipline.

The Board of Directors recently approved a final dividend of ₹2.25 per equity share for FY25 and cleared the proposal to increase authorized capital, paving the way for future growth-oriented investments. The company is actively exploring strategic initiatives including capacity expansion, potential acquisitions, and the development of ESG-compliant and technology-driven cold chain solutions to cater to new-age industries and export markets.

Speaking on the results, Mr. Chandrakant P. Patel, Chairman and Managing Director, said, “We are encouraged by the strong top-line momentum and the sustained trust of our customers. Despite temporary cost-related pressures, we remain confident of delivering profitable growth in the coming quarters through our multi-pronged expansion strategy and upcoming fund-raising plans.”

With a robust order book, expanding product portfolio, and a clear long-term roadmap, Ice Make remains committed to supporting India’s growing need for energy-efficient and sustainable refrigeration infrastructure across agriculture, food processing, healthcare, and logistics sectors.

India’s innovation story gets a new chapter; Nasscom launches the Makers Honor to celebrate India’s engineers

Bengaluru, August 9, 2025: Nasscom today announced the launch of the inaugural edition of Makers Honor, India’s most prestigious recognition for engineers, developers and technologists who power the country’s $224 billion tech export industry. At a time when the nation celebrates founders, valuations, and IPOs, this initiative shines a spotlight on the unsung heroes, the builders, optimizers, and quiet revolutionaries whose work sustains the present and defines the future of technology.

This initiative is guided by a distinguished council of India’s most respected technologists — Nandini Harinath (Scientist, ISRO), Anand Deshpande (Founder, Persistent Systems), Kailash Nadh (CTO, Zerodha), and Ankit Mehta (CEO & Co-Founder, Ideaforge Technology Ltd). With GitHub as the outreach partner, it will spotlight engineering excellence across AI and DeepTech, large-scale digital infrastructure, open-source innovation, and societal impact solutions.

Nandini Harinath, Scientist, ISRO, “Some of the greatest leaps in science and society are made not in the spotlight, but in silence. The Makers Honor is an excellent initiative from Nasscom to celebrate minds who push the boundaries of possibility and bring science and technology closer to everyday life.”

Anand Deshpande, Founder, Persistent Systems, “Engineering is not just about building systems, but also about solving the right problems with creativity and compassion. This is a tribute to those who build with skill, vision and create impact that transcends code and systems.”

Kailash Nadh, Chief Technology Officer, Zerodha, said, “I am happy that Nasscom is shedding light on the people who actually push technology forward meaningfully-the engineers. This is a refreshing break from the Indian industry’s relentless techno-business obsession.”

Ankit Mehta, CEO & Co-Founder, IdeaForge said, “India’s engineers have always risen to meet the world’s most complex challenges with extraordinary ingenuity and resilience, but often without fanfare. Through Makers Honor, we are recognizing not just technical excellence but also the spirit of problem-solving and purposeful innovation that drives our nation forward. This initiative will inspire young minds to dream beyond conventional boundaries and reaffirm the pivotal role of engineers as the architects of a better, more inclusive future.”

Martin Woodward, VP, Developer Relations at GitHub, said, “Software is shaping the future, and with more than 18 million developers building on GitHub in India and the second-largest contributor to open source, the country is leading the charge. We are honoured to partner with Nasscom to help them bring much deserved recognition to the individuals who are driving this global technological revolution from the cities, towns and villages all across India.”

The initiative is co-curated by author and journalist Pankaj Mishra, who has tracked India’s technology industry for over two and a half decades, inspired by the engineers behind it—and driven by a shared belief that great engineering deserves to be seen as a cultural and social force.

The Makers Honor will identify and celebrate exceptional engineers across five foundational domains:

1. The Innovators – Visionaries redefining industries with groundbreaking technologies, new business models, and pioneering solutions for Viksit Bharat, sustainability, and healthcare innovation.
2. The Scale Builders – Engineers behind platforms that serve billions, power national digital public goods, and safeguard mission-critical systems.
3. The Open-Source Titans – Contributors advancing global ecosystems with India-first AI/ML frameworks, secure open infrastructure, and collaborative technology foundations.
4. The AI & Deep-Tech Pioneers – Builders pushing the frontiers of science and advanced technologies across AI, space tech, life sciences, autonomous systems, and next-generation materials.
5. The Problem Solvers – Engineers addressing societal, environmental, and civic challenges through impactful digital solutions for inclusion, water security, disaster resilience, and more.

A special Jury Spotlight Award will further recognize extraordinary engineering contributions that may not fit conventional categories but carry deep national significance.

The inaugural edition was unveiled at the Nasscom Tech Developers Confluence which brought together coders, architects, researchers, and student innovators for a full day of hands-on exploration. Earlier last month, Nasscom also announced two dedicated hackathons, offering developers the opportunity to build real-world solutions around critical industry challenges.

The first award is to be presented at the Nasscom Technology & Leadership Forum 2026.

Rakshabandhan 2025: 5 Unique Ways to Celebrate with Your Siblings

Family, nostalgia, fun – these are the very first words that come to mind whenever Rakshabandhan is mentioned. The festival, an eternal marker of the strong bond shared by siblings, falls on August 9 this year. To celebrate the spirit of sibling love, we bring you 5 unconventional ways to celebrate this Rakshabandhan with your siblings and extended family, irrespective of whether you’re together in the same city or miles apart. After all, it’s a special day to slow down, have fun, and remind each other how much you care.

1. Fun Game Night with Zupee Ludo

Play the online skill-based ludo and turn your festive hangout into a lively mix of skill, strategy, and laughter. Whether you’re in the same room or catching up over a video call, Zupee lets everyone play their matches at the same time.

Each game wraps up in under 8-10 minutes, so you can squeeze in multiple games without missing out on all the festive fun. Share your skills, go-to strategies, cheer each other on, and celebrate every little win together – it’s all part of the vibe.

The best part? It’s not just about winning rewards; it’s about creating memories. From those hilarious game moments to epic comebacks, capture it all and relive the fun later. It’s the perfect way to bond with your siblings – full of energy and connection.

2.Shopping Session

Turn your regular gift exchange into a fun shopping adventure. Instead of just buying something quickly, make the entire shopping experience part of your celebration. Head out to the local markets together, browse through different stores, and help each other pick out the perfect gifts. Take your time exploring different sections and asking for each other’s opinions. Siblings who live far apart can try virtual shopping. You can even surprise each other by ordering something during the call and having it delivered on Rakhi day.

3.Movie Marathon

What better way to spend Rakshabandhan than having a movie day featuring films that celebrate sibling relationships? Bollywood has some amazing movies that perfectly capture what it’s like to have a brother or sister. You can spend the day watching them together. Some great options include Dil Dhadakne Do, Iqbal, Fiza, Josh, and Hum Sath Sath Hain.

4.Cozy Day Out

Plan a relaxed outdoor picnic or organize a cozy potluck at home. This will give you plenty of time to chat, enjoy good food, and just hang out without any pressure or time constraints. For a picnic, choose a nice park or even set up in your backyard. Pack some outdoor games like ring toss or bring a ball to throw around. If the weather doesn’t cooperate or you prefer staying indoors, you can transform your living room into a picnic spot with floor seating and casual vibes. Use this relaxed time to share childhood memories, catch up on each other’s lives, and just enjoy being together.

5.Virtual Hangout via Video Calls

Distance doesn’t have to ruin your Rakshabandhan celebration. A well-planned virtual hangout can be just as special and memorable as being together in person. Start by coordinating your schedules and time zones well in advance. Dress up in traditional clothes and decorate your respective spaces to create the festive mood. Prepare your rakhi thalis, light some diyas, and have sweets ready for the virtual ceremony.

To make it even more special, you can create a shared photo slideshow of childhood memories to go through together, or try cooking the same recipe simultaneously while staying on the call. Alternatively, you can have a trivia session about each other, or simply share your favorite playlists and sing along together. The key is planning and being creative.

Making It Count

Each of these ideas offers a different way to strengthen your sibling bond while keeping the spirit of Rakshabandhan alive. The important thing is picking something that fits your relationship and personality as siblings. So, this Rakshabandhan, make sure your celebration reflects what makes your sibling relationship special.

GoDrivo.com launches 100% Loan Facility and Buyback Guarantee in India’s Used Car Market

New Delhi, 08/08/2025: India’s used car market is being revolutionized by increasing demand for affordable mobility, greater acceptance of pre-owned vehicles, and the adoption of digital platforms in the car purchasing process.

Aligning with this change, GoDrivo.com, a digital platform for certified pre-owned vehicles, has launched 100% loan approvals and a buyback guarantee to make car ownership more convenient, cost-flexible, and transparent for Indian buyers.

Industry reports have stated that the used car market in India is slated to surpass new car sales in the next few years, driven by first-time buyers in growth cities, higher vehicle replacement cycles, and better financing options. But issues such as trust, quality guarantee, and resale risk continue to repel several prospective buyers.

GoDrivo.com’s new product overcomes these issues through a combination:

Finance Access – 100% loan sanction with no down payment, facilitating buyers from all income segments to purchase cars without a heavy upfront burden.

Resale Security – A buyback guarantee with a structured format that guarantees customers a fixed resale value during a specified time horizon.

Quality Confidence – Every listed car is carefully inspected and certified to provide buyers with authentic vehicles.

“The used car industry is no longer about affordability anymore; it’s about providing the same level of convenience, transparency, and assurance that buyers get from buying a new car. By solving finance and resale issues, we hope to enhance consumer confidence and drive growth in this segment, “ said Abhay Verma, Founder of GoDrivo.com.

With online discovery, price transparency, and doorstep delivery, GoDrivo.com’s business is the mirror image of the new trend towards digitally-enabled, trust-based used car buying. The company is expanding its services to several Indian cities and attempting to take the gap between urban and semi-urban buyers closer to zero.